Last time the battle against the incubus began. Both Carmen and Elise demonstrated to Bloom and the others their use of Old Tongue spells, which however had little, if no effect on the demon. The incubus then incapacitated Sky, Brandon, Helia and Riven. Stella, Musa and Flora tried a combination that immobilized the demon, leaving Elise and Bloom to strike. The incubus was burned and shocked, but then transformed to its true form. On with the show!

Chapter 7: Ballroom Brawl part 2

"Um guys," said Musa, "I hate to ruin the moment, but…" "But I'm still alive," said the demon in a raspy voice, for it's lungs were burned by Bloom's attack. "You really have a death wish, don't you?" "You're the one with a death wish!" yelled Elise, "Look at you, you're in no condition to fight! I can finish you off with a simple static bolt." "Is that so," said the demon, "Then it is time I showed you meddling children what I really am!"

To the horror of Bloom and the others, the incubus began a transformation that would haunt them for the rest of their lives. The demon had increased its height form 6'2", to 8'10". It grew a second pair of arms. Six razor sharp claws had extended form each hand, while three claws grew from its feet. It's jaw extended into an insect like mandible with razor sharp fangs. Large, bat like wings had sprouted from it's back. To complete the transformation, a 15 foot tail grew from it's back. "Now you know what it is you truly fight!" hissed the demon.

"Oh sh$t on a shingle!" exclaimed Elise. "You can say that again!" said Stella. The demon unfolded its wings and took to the air. It rose to the height of the ceiling and swooped down. It nearly slashed the heads off of Flora and Bloom. "So sorry," said Carmen to the demon, "The ballroom zone is for dancing and socializing only; there is no flying in the ballroom zone."

"What are you talking about?" asked Elise in an annoyed tone, "Just blast the damn thing!" "You never let me have any fun," grumbled Carmen as she pointed her hand at the flying demon, "Gravirei!" The demon suddenly fell out of the air like a stone. "A gravity spell," said an impressed Tecna, "striking the demon with at least 10 times normal gravity, very well done."

"You can thank me later," said Carmen, "It's not over yet." Sure enough, the incubus broke free of the crushing force of Carmen's imposed gravity spell. "It is futile to resist me!" hissed the incubus, "I cannot be destroyed by such pathetic magic!" "You're the one who's pathetic!" shouted Sky as he stood up, his wounds somehow healed.

"How did you heal your cuts?" asked Bloom. "It's simple really," said Timmy as Brandon and Helia healed their broken bones, while Riven recovered from his internal injuries, "This is a dream world, and when you know that you're in a dream, you have a certain measure of control here, it's called lucid dreaming."

"So you're saying that here we can do anything?" asked Stella. "What Timmy is implying," said Tecna, "Is just what he said, here we have a small measure of control over reality, such as healing wounds, it's logical that's how the incubus is able to withstand all of our attacks."

INTERRUPT DREAM SEQUENCE

Meanwhile in the real world, Morgan had decided that enough was enough. "F#ck it!" she exclaimed, "I'm going in! Is there any more of that dream potion left?" "There is enough for one more person," said Professor Griselda, she was holding the last of the potion in a glass vial, "But…" "But nothing," interrupted Morgan as she grabbed the potion out of Griselda's hand. She downed it in one gulp.

Five seconds later Morgan collapsed, completely asleep. "I tried to warn you," said Griselda, "But you wouldn't listen to me."

RESUME DREAM SEQUENCE

Back in the ballroom, the boys had rushed the demon together. However, despite their most valiant efforts, the demon just wouldn't go down. Sky, Rive, Helia and Timmy were on the ground, struggling to heal their wounds with their minds, while the incubus had ensnared Brandon with its tail. "This has gone on long enough," hissed the demon as it raised its tail to bring Brandon level to its mouth, "So say goodbye to your head!"

"NO!" cried Stella as the demon was about to bite down on Brandon. "Saisu!" A large, gold colored energy boomerang slammed into the demon's tail, cutting it off completely. Stella rushed over to get Brandon away from the incubus as it roared in pain and rage. "Who dares this insult?" shouted the demon.

"I dare!" shouted Morgan as she stood beside Carmen and Elise. "What changed your mind?" asked Carmen. "I have my reasons," said Morgan, "So I see you've got an incubus that needs slaying." "It is you who shall be slain!" exclaimed the demon, "I shall rip you apart and devour your souls!"

"My soul is not for devouring," said Elise, "And guess what? I too can alter the reality of this world somewhat, enough to make it so that you're standing in front of a metal column." True enough; a large metal column had appeared behind the incubus. "So what?" hissed the demon, "What good will it do?"

"Here's what good it will do!" shouted Elise as she pointed her hand at the incubus, "Jikerdor!" A bright ball of light shot from her hand and hit the demon in the face. Immediately the incubus was hurled back towards the metal column Elise had conjured up. "What is this!" roared the demon, "I can't move!"

"I've magnetized the demon," said Elise, "he's stuck to that metal column. But it won't last long. Anybody got a plan, 'cause I'm all out of ideas." Bloom had spent the last several minutes trying to come up with a plan, and one just occurred to her. "I got an idea," said Bloom eagerly, "But we need Layla for it." Layla haddn't moved at all since the battle began.

"Layla," said Bloom, "We need you." "I'm sorry Bloom, "said Layla in a voice barely louder than a whisper, "I don't think I can be much help." "You have to," said Bloom, "You're a part of the Winx Club, we all need you if we're gonna stop the incubus."

"Believe me there's nothing I want more than to kill it and get out of here," said Layla, "But the incubus took so much of my energy, I barely have enough life force to hold myself together." "We're too late," said Elise in a defeated voice, "The demon has drained her to the brink of no return." "No," said Bloom, "I won't let you give up! Fight it Layla! Fight to stay alive!"

"I'm so sorry Bloom," said Layla as her body began to fade from existence, "This is goodbye." "The hell it is!" exclaimed Morgan as she knelt beside the fading form of Layla, " No way an f#ck$ng incubus is taking the life of one of my friends!" "What are you gonna do?" asked Flora. "I'm gonna recharge her life energy," said Morgan as she placed both hands over Layla, "And with it, her Winx. Brace yourself Layla, this will only hurt once, but damn is it ever gonna hurt."

"Just do it already!" shouted Stella. "Don't rush me!" exclaimed Morgan, "Here it goes, Saifogio!" A bright light illuminated Layla as she cried out in agony. "What are you doing to her!" exclaimed Musa. "I'm helping her regain the energy she lost," said Morgan as the light faded. "Layla!" exclaimed Flora, "Are you alright?"

"I'm fine," said Layla as she stood up, "I'm more than fine," she transformed into her fairy outfit, "I'm pissed off! Where is the demon?" "He's up there!' shouted Brandon, for the incubus had broken free of Elise's spell and was circling above.

"So you've regained what I took from you," said the demon, "No matter, more for me to take. "You won't be taking any more energy you sack of sh$t!" yelled Morgan. "Such a foul mouth," said the incubus, "I think I'll shut it for you, TOUCH OF DARKNESS!" a hand shaped blast of dark energy shot at Morgan.

"Seoshi!" exclaimed Morgan and an energy shield formed around her, bouncing the demon's attack away. Meanwhile Bloom had related her plan to Layla, Carmen and Elise. "Everyone clear on what to do?" asked Bloom. "No problems with me," said Carmen. "Bring it on!" exclaimed Elise. "I'm ready," said Layla, "Let's finish this so we can wake up."

"You shall never wake up!" roared the demon, "You belong to me!" "I don't think so," said Carmen as she raised both her hands at the demon, "Time to bring you down to earth, Ion Gravirei!" This time the incubus with dragged to the ground with the force of 100X normal gravity.

"And I'm spent," gasped Carmen as she sat down on the floor, "I used up all my remaining magic for that spell." "Not surprising," said Tecna, "It was a very advanced spell." "That demon isn't gonna stay down for long," said Riven, "So now what?" "Now it's my turn," said Layla with much grim determination, "Take this!"

She launched water blast after water blast at the incubus, completely drenching it. "Is trying to drown me the best you can do?" sneered the demon. "That's only part of it," said Bloom, "Elise! Finish it!" The demon turned its head to see Elise standing lo less than ten paces behind it.

"And what are you going to do little witch?" asked the incubus. "Just a reminder," said Elise, "Water conducts electricity!" "NO!" exclaimed the demon as it realized why Layla got it all wet. "Take this!" shouted Elise as she pointed both hands at the incubus, "Baozekerga!" With a bright yellow flash, a golden, serpentine dragon composed entirely out of lightning emerged from Elise's hands.

"NO!" exclaimed the demon as the electric dragon reared up to strike. The dragon opened its great mouth as if to devour the incubus. It slammed down on the demon, electrocuting it.

The dragon faded away, revealing the charred, crispy and finally dead form of the incubus. "I told you I'd kill you," said Elise as she fell to the floor from the effort of her spell, "You ugly dead f#ck."

"What now?" asked Flora, "How do we get out of here?" As if to answer her question, a door appeared on one of the walls of the ballroom. "Is it that simple?" asked Bloom, "Is that what we need to get out of here?" "Only one way to find out," said Sky as he opened the door and walked through. He was followed by Brandon and Stella; Riven and Musa; Tecna and Timmy; Flora and Helia; Elise; Morgan and Carmen.

Bloom and Layla were the last to step through the door. There was a bright flash of white light, and Bloom found herself back in the real world. She saw her friends having woken up before her. She looked around, and saw Layla sitting up. Layla saw Bloom, and embraced her. "Thank you," said Layla, tears streaming from her eyes, "Thank you so much."

"Any time," said Bloom, "What are friends for?" "No I mean it," said Layla, "You saved me, I can never repay you enough," and before Bloom could say anything else, Layla kissed her on the mouth. "Oh my god!" exclaimed Sky. "I was right!" exclaimed Stella, "She does 'swing the other way!'"

Bloom woke up (for real this time) with a shock. "It was just a dream," she said out loud. "What was just a dream darling?" Bloom then realized where she was: in her dorm room, in bed, naked, with an equally naked Layla. "I have to tell you Bloom," said Layla with a sly grin on her face, "Last night was incredible."

Bloom woke up (this time I truly mean it) with a horrific shock. "Bloom!" exclaimed Sky, "it's okay! You were dreaming!" "What happened?" asked Bloom. "Apparently everyone else woke up when we went through that door," said Elise, "But for some reason you remained asleep."

"You must have had some kind of nightmare," said Stella. "You have no idea," said Bloom as she pinched herself to see if she really was awake. She was as she winced in pain. "Just checking that I'm back in the real world."

"It's the real world alright," said Layla, "Thank you Bloom, thank you so much." Layla reached over to hug Bloom, but Bloom stopped her. "No offence Layla," said Bloom somewhat nervously, "But a handshake would do."

Slightly taken aback, Layla shook Bloom's hand, "Well anyway," said Layla, "Thank you, you saved me." "We all did," said Flora, "And I'm sure you'd do the same for any of us." "Even me?" asked Morgan. "Yes Morgan," said Riven, "Even you."

The end of chapter 7. Next chapter, life at Alfeia returns to normal for Bloom and her friends, assuming you can call the situation normal. See you next time!