Chapter Seven: Dark Siege: Part Two

Bloom and the girls were gathered in the cafeteria. Layla had finally left her room and joined the Winx girls for lunch. They were all gathered at two of the large window tables. The pixies zipped by overhead with Piff leading them, a cookie in her hands.

"So, I wonder what they're gonna do about this Anubis guy," Layla said.

"Yeah, if he stays with Darker that can only mean more bad news," Bloom replied. Suddenly Griselda rushed into the cafeteria and came over to the girls' table.

"You all have to come with me, right now."

"What's wrong?" Bloom asked. The look on Griselda's face made her worry.

"I'll explain on the way. Now come on!" Griselda said. The girls followed her as she hurried out of the cafeteria, the pixies hurrying after them.

"There's been an attack on Red Fountain," Griselda explained as she hurried through the corridors. "The boys are holding their own for the moment, but they need your help. Your new powers should help you defend the school."

"Do we know anything about the army?" Techna asked.

"Not much, except that they're strong and appear to be led by the Witches." The girls entered Ms. Faragonda's office. Griselda sat at the desk and fiddled with some controls. "I'm going to teleport you directly to Red Fountain, so you'd better transform now."

"Right, let's go girls!" Bloom called. The Winx girls clutched their crystals and felt the power surround them. When they opened their eyes their wings were out and their gems were set into their uniforms. "We're ready."

"Good luck girls," Griselda said before the girls were surrounded by a field of yellow energy and vanished.

…

Sky slashed his sword through another snarling Jackal Warrior, causing it to crumble into dust and vanish. Watching his back, Brandon threw his boomerang and severed the wings of a Flyer, sending tumbling to the ground.

"Man, there's just no end to these things," Brandon said as he caught his flying weapon and blocked a shot of bile from a massive monster that was climbing a wall. An arrow from an archer ricocheted off its chest armor. "And what the hell are those things?"

"No idea, but we could certainly use some help." Suddenly there came a flash of light and a fireball torched the monster's head, sending it squealing to the floor.

"Somebody call for help?" Bloom asked as she hit the beast with more fireballs, reducing it to cinders.

"Good to see you. Most of these guys aren't that tough, but there seems to be an endless wave of them."

"Bloom, those ten floating creatures over there seem to be generating a levitation field," Techna called over, pointing to the ten Mage Golems. Each was surrounded by a large group of Jackal Warriors and Flyers. "If we can destroy them they shouldn't be able to bring any more warriors up from the surface."

"Great. Let's do it!" Bloom replied.

The Mage Golems saw a group of fairies approaching to attack so they clustered together and launched volleys of ice and fireballs.

"Take this!" Stella fired a Sunburst at the closest Mage Golem, but the group turned and a black shield sprang into existence and blocked.

"You cannot defeat us, the Mages whispered, their voices sending a chill up the girls' spines. The Flyers guarding the Mages swept in around the Winx girls, thirty in all.

…

Darcy glided along the inner corridors of Red Fountain, Icy and Stormy right behind her. After taking care of the boys' fighters, Lord Darkar had told the Witches to make their way to one of the inner chambers and retrieve the first piece of the Codex.

"Hey, looks like they're expecting us," Stormy said. In the room just ahead of them seven guards waited. They were armed with arm mounted shields and halberds. They also had cyber eyes, which meant they wouldn't miss when they attacked. "Let's take 'em!"

"Just what I was thinking," Icy replied. "But first, let's cool them off a bit." She pressed her staff to the floor and a wave of ice flashed cross the floor, freezing two of the guards. Then the witches burst through the door.

"Hey boys, get a load of my newest attack. Razor Wind!" A howling gale ripped through the chamber, loaded with millions of needle blasts. The guards were slammed against the all so hard it splintered. Leaving long stains of blood they fell to the floor, barely alive.

"Well that was a pathetic defense," Icy remarked. "Ok, now for the Codex." The next challenge to confront the Witches was a scale that locked the entrance to the Veritosh Chamber. "Hm, what equals the weight of Red Fountain?" Icy read. "I hate riddles."

"Let's just blast it," Stormy said, firing a lightning blast, but the scale reflected her attack and knocked her to the floor. "Ow, that hurt."

"Guess we'll have to solve it. Let's see. These boys are always trying to prove how brave they are, so maybe the sword. No, that would be too easy. Oh, I know. Whenever they have a ceremony they always wear those dorky robes. They think they're so deep." Icy grabbed a wooden man wearing a Red Fountain formal robe and placed it in the scale. It tipped a few times before a section of the floor shifted, revealing a staircase. Icy smiled. That was too easy."

…

Bloom blocked another ice ball attack with her wings and incinerated another Flyer as the Mage Golems continued to launch magical attacks. They appeared to be the only magical beings in the attacking army. Still, they were strong.

"Ah, Rising Sunburst!" Stella cried as he hit one of the Mage Golems with as much power as she could muster. The Golem took the hit in its midsection and came apart, the two halved turning into chunks of black stone that fell to the distant ground. Two Flyers zipped around Stella, both striking at her with strikes from their swords. Stella blocked the first strike with her staff, but the second scored a long, deep gash down her right arm.

"You all right!" Musa asked as she drove the second Flyer into a wall where Electra finished it with a lightning blast.

"I will be," Stella replied. She could feel her power healing her, but it would take time.

Flora finished off another Mage Golem by lacerating it with needles from a cactus plant. "We've almost beaten them." Just as the words left her mouth another Mage Golem hit Flora in the back with a barrage of wind blades, three of which lodged in her back. She let out a small cry and fell to the ground. She didn't get back up.

"Flora!" Bloom screamed. She remembered what had happened the last time Flora had been hurt that badly. This time though, there was no Oricalcos to take her over. Instead Bloom focused her power and created a sword of fire and dove toward Flore. Several Flyers attacked her, but each was cut in half and turned to ash. The other Winx girls fought the remaining four Mage Golems. Bloom landed by Flora and held her, casting a healing spell she'd learned. "You're going to be all right. I promise."

…

Brandon was thrown against a wall by a Bone Breaker and his shield was sent flying. He ducked just as the monster's club tore a column out of the stone. He cut into the beast's side, drawing a spurt of black blood, but it wasn't enough. The Breaker's second punch sent Brandon into a metal railing, his head hitting first. His vision swam and he felt blood leaking down his neck. All around him heroes were being thrown and battered. The Mage Golems had managed to set up several portals on the campus itself, through which poured an endless tide of beasts. He saw Riven take a sword to the gut and fall. Sky was fighting three Jackal Warriors at once and was already bleeding from several gashes.

"Brandon, are you all right?" Professor Saladin asked as he threw a sphere of energy into the Breaker, dissolving it.

"I think so," Brandon answered. His head was pounding, but otherwise he was fine. "I don't think we can hold them much longer.

"I agree. We should prepare to-" Saladin stopped as portal opened high in the air, but this one was different from the others. It was golden and shined with white light. An armored man with golden wings emerged from the portal and cut apart three Flyers with a glowing sword. He spoke a spell and the enemy portals closed.

"Who is that?" Brandon asked.

"I'm not sure, but I'm guessing he's on our side," Saladin answered. Overhead the new arrival flew across the battlefield, driving back groups of beasts and rallying the boys. The tide of battle began to turn.

…

The Witches emerged from the lower levels of the school and saw the army being demolished by an armored warrior with gold wings.

"Looks like we're needed," Icy smiled. "Let's go!"

"NO!" Came the voice of Lord Darkar as his shadow appeared on a nearby wall. "We have what we need. Come back for now."

"But we can take him!" Stormy said, her grip tightening on her weapon.

"Come back now. That's an order," Darkar said, and his image vanished.

"We're not just gonna run are we?" Stormy asked.

"No choice. You know what'll happen if we don't," Icy growled. With a glare that could melt steel Stormy nodded. Darcy just sighed. The Witches closed their eyes and vanished in a purple haze.

…

The last Mage Golem was cleaved in half by the winged warrior, and the tide of beasts was stopped. The remaining beasts were taken down and the school secured.

The Winx girls gathered in front of the armored warrior along with Saladin and Cortadora. The man removed his helmet, revealing a dignified face with short black hair and deep blue eyes.

"Thank you for your help," Saladin said, shaking the man's hand.

"You're welcome. I'm only sorry I couldn't get here sooner. My name is Avalon, and I am a paladin. I was on my way to Alfia when I learned of the attack. With your permission Professor, I will assist you with your wounded."

"Of course, and thank you again."

As Avalon walked off he glanced at the girls. "I'm very impressed with your powers young ladies. I'm going to be teaching a master workshop class at Alfia, and I would like for you all to participate. If you'd like that is."

"Of course," the girls replied. Love was evident in their eyes. Avalon smiled and walked off.

…

Icy slammed the Codex piece onto a table to hard it bruised her hand. "Why did you make us retreat! We could have taken that Paladin guy!"

"It was necessary," Darkar replied. "Now my agent is inside Alfia. That will make finding their piece of the Codex much easier, and as an added bonus the Dragon Fire will soon be added to our arsenal."

"Indeed," replied Anubis. "And with that power my deadliest creatures will be able to cross over. Once my true army is assembled, no force in all the realms will be able to stop us!"

So how was that? So Avalon is now at Alfia. Will he be able to capture Bloom, and will the army of the Shadow Realm cross over? And will the other pieces of the Codex be captured? Keep reading and find out. Well, see you all in the next exciting chapter, and don't forget to review! The Emperor protects.

ENTILZA