Disclaimer: I don't own Winx Club.
Cyborg, there's no need to be embarrassed. Your view of the characters' heights is almost certainly the result of how I've been portraying the characters. Dhalia is a strong, commanding presence, despite her tiny frame. Her personality probably adds a good ten inches or so. Perdi, on the other hand, I've been playing as a very vulnerable character, sort of the "little sister" of the team, so she comes off as much smaller than she actually is. They're both played in ways that don't match their physical appearances, which was kind of the point.
As for making canon make sense, I would say that's a hobby of mine. Gap in origin story? Excellent! Inexplicable powers? The term "inexplicable" means nothing to me! Highly convoluted and nonsensical history? Creative interpretation to the rescue! One of these days I will even figure out how to explain the timeline problems Winx suffers from. It's not going to be pretty, and will probably turn time into a pretzel (I'll try to keep that to a minimum, but no guarantees), but it will be done! I may even manage to incorporate the second movie into the timeline, mostly by getting rid of seasons five and six. I will make it make sense!
For now however, I have a story to write, so let's get on with it.
"Crystalized Dragon Flame?" Perdi's eyes widened.
"Yes. Now let's get moving. I'd rather not be here when they wake up."
Nyssa stalked over to the other Classix. Reyva and Dhalia were starting to stir, but Amelia and Artis were both completely unconscious. "Can you move?" Nyssa's harsh voice demanded of the girls.
"Yes," Dhalia said, "but we can't fly."
"Fine. Grab your friends. We're leaving this valley."
"Since when do you consider yourself one of us?" Reyva asked, slightly irritated.
"Since I saved your lives for the second time this week." Nyssa began walking, leaving the girls to stare at her in shock.
"She does have a point." Perdi said.
"Fine, but she has a lot of explaining to do." Dhalia said.
Reyva gently set down Amelia in the cave Nyssa had lead them to. Perdi and Dhalia carried Artis between them into the cave, then carefully lowered her to the ground as well.
"You." Nyssa pointed at Dhalia. "Sit down."
"Why?"
"You're injured."
"And?"
"And it's easier to heal you if you're not standing."
Dhalia grumbled but did as she was told. She was indeed injured. The fireball that had smashed into her had left some fairly severe burns on her stomach.
"Night's Touch!" Nyssa held her faintly glowing hands just above Dhalia's wounds. A strange sensation washed over Dhalia. It felt like night air on her burns, but somehow different. She watched as the burns quickly peeled, scabbed over, then faded as Nyssa's magic healed her. Nyssa repeated the process with Amelia, quickly healing the burn that traced from her left shoulder to her right hip. Then she turned to Artis. Artis took much longer, given the severity and scope of the burns she'd suffered, but soon she too had been healed.
Healed of their wounds, the two girls soon awoke.
"What happened?" Artis asked. "How did we end up here?"
"Nyssa and Perdi rescued us." Dhalia said.
"Then we carried you here." Reyva said.
Amelia sat up and turned to face Nyssa. "Why?" The word hung in the air as both a question and a challenge.
"You wouldn't understand." Nyssa turned her back on the Classix, her hair lifting to briefly reveal her earring. "You could never understand."
"Not if you don't tell us."
Nyssa remained silent.
"Fine then. Be that way." A taut silence hung between the two girls.
"What are those marble things you gave me anyways?" Perdi asked, trying to diffuse the tension.
"Weren't you listening?" Nyssa scowled over her shoulder at Perdi. "They're crystallized Dragon Flame."
"Wait, what?" Artis interrupted. "What are you talking about?"
Perdi pulled out the orbs. In her hand they looked like large orange marbles, maybe an inch across. "Nyssa took these from the Ember Blades."
"Yes." Nyssa snapped. "Something I should have done when they first arrived in Altivix."
"Could someone explain what these things are before I lose what little patience I have left?" Reyva growled. Losing did not sit well with her at all.
"The stones you now hold are called Ember Stones." Nyssa said. "The fire of life can be snuffed out, but the Dragon Flame is not so easily extinguished. Formed from the power of a slain Ember Blade, these are the last remains of five long dead knights."
"What?" Perdi held the innocent looking spheres away from herself.
"They won't hurt you. In fact, you can't even use their power." Nyssa turned back to face the Classix. "Only another Ember Blade can use them."
"So why did you give them to me?" Perdi asked, still holding the Ember Stones as far away from herself as possible.
"Two reasons. First, because it will weaken the Dark Ember Blades. Second, she may be able to use them." Nyssa pointed an accusatory finger at Amelia. "She may be able to tap into their power."
"And what power is that?" Amelia demanded.
"For an Ember Blade, just more of the Dragon Flame at their disposal. For you, who knows?"
"What else have they been used for?" Perdi asked.
"Many were used in the creation of the Vortex of Flames. Eight were not. You hold five of them. One of the other three was used in the creation of the Ember Tiara."
"What happened to the other two?"
"One belonged to the seventh Dark Ember Blade. I don't know what happened to it. The other was Darkar's, formed when Merina destroyed his body. It was tainted and unusable."
"A tainted ember of the Dragon Flame..." Perdi mused. "I've heard of something...like...that...before." Her eyes widened. "Valtor."
"Who?" Nyssa stared at Perdi.
"Valtor! Surely you know who he was!"
"Never heard of him."
"...Oh."
"Who was he?" A strange curiosity filled Nyssa's voice. It was sad, almost desperate.
"He was-"
"We'll tell you." Amelia said, cutting off Perdi. "On one condition."
"What?"
"You tell us where you got that earring from."
"...Deal."
"Good."
"As I was saying," Perdi continued, giving Amelia an evil look, "Valtor was a wizard created by the Ancestral Witches to help them attack Domino. They used a corrupted piece of the Dragon Flame to give him life. In the end it turned out he was a monster instead of a wizard."
"So they used Darkar's Ember Stone to create a wizard?"
"I guess so."
"Even for the Ancestral Witches, that was particularly devious."
"Wait, you know about the Ancestral Witches?" Amelia asked.
"Well of course I do! Darkar created them nine thousand years ago after all."
"What?" Dhalia looked like she'd been smacked right between the eyes. "Nine thousand years ago?"
"If you reach Melivon alive, ask for Luminé. She can explain it better than I can."
"Now you hold up your end of the bargain." Amelia said. "Tell us where you got that earring."
"Allanya gave it to me, before she brought me here." With that Nyssa turned and walked out of the cave, leaving five very confused fairies in her wake.
A/N: Yep. Allanya brought Nyssa to Altivix. Details to follow. Sorry for the short chapter, but Nyssa doesn't feel like talking anymore, and arguing with her just gives me a headache. Anyways, about the final Ember Stone. That stone was used eventually. In fact, it still exists. It was used in the creation of Oritel's sword, and resides within its pommel. Its power is what makes the sword so strong.
Okay, quick explanation for how Nyssa healed the Classix. Night air has been proven to help speed healing. This is that effect but amplified by magic, which is why the burns healed naturally, rather than simply vanishing. It's highly accelerated natural healing, not magical healing.
As for the Ancestral Witches, well, I have my own interpretation of them. After all, their origin was never really discussed.
Bonus points to anyone who can tell me where the inspiration for the Ember Stones came from. Do try not to spoil other series for people though.
That's all for now. See everyone later.
