I can't even count the weeks...when did I update last? When was my last break? What year is this? AnYhooo...I can do nothing but give my most sincere apologies to the readers who wanted me to update AGES ago. If you are sticking with me though I will personally...well...I don't know yet, but I shall think of something.

Heck, Stella is so mad at me right now she refuses to join me in the author's notes...*sigh*...what have I done?

Anyways, welcome to Episode 2 chapter 7 of A Fake Smile! Enjoy and review! ;D

CHAPTER SEVEN: Welcome to Magix! Part Three

~In the cafeteria~

"First things first, our code of behavior: the first rule is...you must follow all rules in the code of behavior!" Griselda said, her voice projected throughout the entire room with the aid of a magical spell that was preformed earlier.

"If you break the rules once, you will be turned into a frog. If you break the rules twice, your magic privileges will be suspended. And if you break the rules three times, you will be expelled, isn't that right, Princess Stella?" The sun fairy just grinned and rubbed the back of her neck with her hand in embarrassment.

"Last year, she destroyed the potions laboratory with an unauthorized magic spell, which brings me to the second rule: no unsupervised magic at any time!"

Bloom turned to Stella in astonishment."Y-you really did that?" she asked while Stella's face brightened.

"I was trying to create a new shade of pink!" she snapped, turning back to Griselda.

"Furthermore, we believe discipline is the only way to prepare you for the world out there, which brings me to the third rule: stay away from the witches of Cloud Tower no matter what! We don't have a punishment for that, since nothing we could do would be as terrible as what THEY will do to you if they catch you there!" Griselda continued and some of the students shivered at the mention about the witches of Cloud Tower.

'What's so bad about them?' Bloom thought, confused at why the students as well as the teachers were shaken-up by witches.

Just then an elderly lady appeared on the podium in a wave of flowers and sparkles which made most of younger students 'ooo' and 'ahh' at the sight. Bloom thought that it was a bit too eccentric, but she didn't complain.

"Welcome all. I'm Miss Faragonda, your headmistress," there was no need to capture the students' attention, since it was already caught with the previous stunt.

"I'm an Alfea alumna and a former fairy-godmother. This year we have quite a wonderful class. Some of you will fight evil, others will grant wishes and many are princesses that will take over your realms. Each of you is unique, you all have different sources of power, and diverse origins, but our mission is the same..."

"To help each of you be the very best you can be." Stella said in unison with the headmistress.

"She really loves saying that." Stella whispered to Bloom, which got a couple people around them to snicker.

"Now ladies, it's time to check in to your dormitories and meet your roommates." Griselda resumed her spot in the center of the podium with Faragonda.

"Remember, everyone! Let's make this a great year! Oh! And of course use every opportunity to connect to your Winx!" Faragonda said while Bloom turned to Stella again.

"It sounds like t-they prepare you for all k-kinds of stuff! You know what y-you're gonna be?" Bloom asked.

"Duh! I'm gonna, like, rule the Kingdom of Solaria!" Stella exclaimed proudly while flicking her hair again, almost hitting the person behind her with it.

"W-what did she mean 'connect to your Winx'?" Bloom continued to ask, since most of these things were confusing to her. All she knew what to do was make cool things happen, but she never really understood the meaning behind it.

"Winx is essentially three things. First, it's your source of power, as in your strength and energy. And second, it 's what guides you. Thirdly, it's like your magical identity." Stella explained while pointing her index finger up to the air like an instructor.

"I-I think I got it."

"You either got it or you don't, and you DO!" Stella gave her a thumbs up before moving to go to the exit of the cafeteria. Bloom didn't realize it, but the headmistress had already dismissed the students during their conversation.

~Inside the dorm~

BLOOM'S POV

It had taken us awhile to reach our dorm since Stella suggested meeting some of the teachers first. For the most part they were okay, but one of them shape-shifted into a rabbit in front of us! I thought it was pretty cool, but Stella said that he does that all of the time.

"I hope our roommates are more stylish than the ones I got last year. Of course I won't be bunking with any of them as I have a single." Stella boasted as she opened her dorm room and I looked around. This was at least three times the size as my small room on Gardenia.

"This room is r-really nice. Come on, let's see what mine is like." I said and crossed the hall over to my dorm. Luckily for us, we were rooming right across the hall from each other, so I wouldn't have to be alone.

I entered my room, but almost immediately step on what seems like a vine.

"Owwww! That hurt!"

"W-what is this?" I asked as I took my foot of the talking plant.

"He's cute, isn't he? My theory is that if more plants could talk, deforestation would be dramatically reduced. It's worth trying, if it just saves one tree. Hi I'm Flora." A girl appeared seemingly out of nowhere and picked up the potted plant. People around here sure know how to introduce themselves...

Suddenly she drops the plant, but I quickly wave my hand and make it levitate towards me.

"U-um...anyways...I'm B-bloom," I said as I handed her back the pot. Just then, a finger pokes me in the back and I turn around to see Stella shaking her head.

"Oh! uh, What I m-meant was Bloom is a name I l-like, but that's not my name. A-actually uh my real name is um V-veranda of um, Valisto," I stuttered, trying to cover up my mistake.

"Valisto: Fourth world of Magic Realms upper ring. Renowned for it's rich, artistic tradition. It's features are very popular with tourists." another voice entered the room, almost sounding electronic.

"R-right. That's w-where I'm from," I added, thankful for the pink haired girl across from me.

"Cool, my name is Tecna," she said, putting away a high-tech pager into her pocket.

"Hey Tecna, I'm Stella. Nice to meet'cha." Stella stepped out from behind me and waved at Tecna and Flora.

"You are quite infamous," Tecna replied, definitely not looking impressed.

"That's the word on the street. Yo, if you plan to blow up more stuff, let us know ahead so we can bounce," yet another girl entered the scene, and she looked like a mix between a DJ and a street performer. All I knew was that it was really getting crowded in here...

"It was in the name of fashion, I don't regret it!" Stella retorted while crossing her arms defensively. I guess I didn't notice it before, but I was slowly edging towards the door.

"Hey Veranda, where are ya going?" the girl in the pigtails asked, just as I was going to "escape".

"I-I u-um..."

"She's just shy guys," Stella covered and I gave her a thankful glance. The others nodded at Stella, but I could tell that there was still some awkwardness hanging in the air.

"Eeeee!" Everyone turned to see Kiko, who was being held upside-down by the plant.

"Bad plant! Put him down right now!" Flora rushed to the scene and the plant dropped Kiko on his head. The rabbit stuck his tongue out while rubbing his head to ease the pain. I bent down and scooped him up in my arms.

"It's ok. It's n-not the plants fault. I'm b-betting that Kiko tried to eat it. He likes h-his veggies," I explained as I petted him behind the ears. Flora seemed to have gotten an idea, so she walked across the room and came back with a small pot.

"You hungry little bunny?" she asked and Kiko hopped out of my arms to the side table in front of the pot. Flora waved her hand and carrots appeared which, in turn, made Kiko yip in happiness.

"Here, they're organic," she said once the carrots finished growing.

"Speaking of food, I'm famished," Stella suddenly blurted, making everyone realize that they were hungry as well.

"Y-yeah, me too," I looked down at my growling stomach and blushed, embarrassed.

"I have a brilliant idea! What do you say we get outta here and go downtown for a pizza?" Stella suggested.

"Great idea. Downtown Magix is so much fun!" Tecna agreed, already pulling out her pager to check places that were open.

"What is it like?" I asked, forgetting that I barely knew these people and we were already going some place to eat.

"It's fresh, you've never been?" Musa replied from the other side of the room. She was currently leaning against the wall with one earplug in her ear, no doubt listening to music.

"U-um no...but it s-sounds nice," I murmured as everyone headed towards the door.

~Someplace in the forest~

"This walk sucks! Why can't we just fly?" Stormy complained as she looked at Icy.

"I already told you! If we fly, the magical barrier surrounding Alfea is going to fry us into witch dust!" Icy said, continuing their trek to the fairy school.

"Oh, before we go there, I need to pick up something from the 'Witches Dugout' in Magix," Darcy suddenly recalled, making the other two witches sigh.

"Why are you so forgetful? It's not that book we were going to give Bloom, is it?" Stormy asked. Darcy could only give her a guilty half-moon-eyed smile as both Stormy and Icy face-palmed.

"Okay, lets go. But after that we are going straight to Alfea, got it?" Icy ordered as the Trix sisters switched their direction to Magix.

Because I felt bad for not updating in...quite awhile...I decided to make this chapter especially long. ^_^

I wonder what's going to happen in Magix? Will the fateful meeting happen? Find out next time on-

Stella: Oh shut it; I don't even want to hear it!

Me: What's your problem?

Stella: You abandon us and you DARE to ask me what MY problem is?!

Me: Okay...you have a point...

Stella: Of course I do! I'm ALWAYS right!

*Bloom enters*

Stella: We are leaving! Lets go dahling!" *grabs Bloom by the elbow and leads her out the door*

Me: Anyways...hopefully I will be able to update soon! Until next time!

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