Disclaimer: I do not own The Winx Club.

"You've got to be kidding me," Roxy growled, staring at the ice sculpture of Flora. "What kind of a twisted, demented person does this kind of thing?"

Roxy pulled her jacket closer around herself and huffed in annoyance. She glanced at a pale-faced Flora anxiously. After Musa had sent out the urgent message, everyone went rushing to her coordinates. What they found had them all under tense pressure.

"Apparently Decay," Tecna said worriedly, scanning the entire sculpture, "According to my data, this sculpture was not made through Icy's powers," she looked to Flora who had long since fallen to her knees in horror, "But rather through Stormy's. You see these jagged lines indicate that a shock wave went through the ice to create this."

"Is there a note?" Sky asked, peeking around the sculpture and tripping over a patch of ice.

He promptly landed face first in the snow. Shaking his head clear of it, he looked over to Bloom.

She pointed up the cliff behind the sculpture. "Up there, there are some words I can't quite make out."

Nabu, peering at the scrawl, read aloud, "'In this cage and in this heart, is a love that will never be torn apart. The sands of time may turn and the days may transform into years, but I will always love you Flora, even through your laughter and even through your tears.'"

Helia, kneeling beside Flora, still had yet to say a word. The couple looked at the work of art with blank stares, both entranced in its sickening beauty. Legs numb, Flora sank further into the snow, tears threatening to fall from her trembling jade eyes. Helia's gaze, ever so steady and ever so keen, flicked over the ice sculpture time and time again, memorizing this image, imprinting it in his mind so when he came face to face with Decay, he wouldn't hold back his rage.

"He knew we were coming," Musa concluded, the wheels in her head turning, "That's why he put the sculpture here. He knew we were looking for clues."

"But how?" Brandon asked, his breath coming out in puff clouds, "There's no way he could have known unless he's been spying on us."

"Maybe he has," Riven said, sitting on the cold ground with a 'thunk,' "Maybe this whole time, he's been watching us. He knows our next move, he knows where we're going…"

"Then he could be watching us right now," Layla thought out loud, rubbing her hands against her arms reflexively, "Ugh, that's so creepy!"

"But maybe he's not watching us," Timmy said, wrapping his arms around Tecna gently. He looked over to Flora.

"Maybe the one he's watching is me," she whispered the first words she had spoken since she had seen the monstrosity Decay called, 'art.'

Swallowing back bile, Flora shakily stood on her own two feet. Pain shooting through her stomach and heart, she winced and hissed but stayed standing. She looked toward the sculpture and held out her hands.

"Flora, what are you doing?" Tecna asked, approaching her cautiously, "You haven't been feeling well all day and if you exert too much energy, you could—"

Ground shaking erratically beneath them, one by one, Flora's friends fell to the snowy floor. Sprouting from her back, Flora's light pink wings ripped out. Body glowing green, she yelled, "Magic Climbing Ivy!"

Emerald vines rose from the ground, wrapping around the bars keeping her sculpture captive. Tearing at the cage, the creeper plant destroyed any and all frozen barriers that stood in her way. An exhausted Flora glanced upward toward the cave's ceiling.

"Decay," she called, wiping sweat from her brow, "I know you can see me," she swallowed, her body trembling from using so much power when she was feeling so sick, "and I know you can hear me."

Helia, watching her carefully with his blue eyes, sat helplessly as he watched her battle some unknown force with the power of her words. Seeing her exert such strength made his heart swell with pride. He didn't need to rescue her; rather, she was saving herself.

"I don't know who you are," she declared, hair flaring and eyes filled with anger, "But I am the Guardian Fairy of Nature."

There was a low rumbling beneath the ground but Flora continued glaring upward. She knew he could see her. She knew he was watching.

"And you listen to me, Decay," she whispered, the cold air carrying the weight of her words. "Like the very nature I protect…"

Shredding their way out of the ground, more vines wrapped around the sculpture, crushing it beneath its weight. Ice shards flew rampant, scratching Flora on the cheek, but she paid no heed. Blood trailing down the side of her cheek, she stared onward.

The rumbling died down, and the vines slowly receded, but Flora did not back down. She kept her gaze steady, knowing full well that Decay was watching her every move. She hoped in the back of her head that she was giving him a worthy show. It was taking every last ounce of courage she had to take a stand against him, even if he wasn't there in person.

Finding strength inside of herself to stick up for what was right, Flora clearly stated for everyone to hear, "I am untamable."


Decay looked at his crystal ball, a grin plastered onto his cold features. He couldn't help but look at Flora in all of her radiance with amusement. He leaned back against the red cushion on his throne and let out a throaty laugh.

"You hear that, Decay?" Stella called, walking toward Flora and placing a hand on her shoulder, "You can't control her. She's her own person!"

"That's right!" Bloom shouted, standing after being shaken to the ground, her blue eyes filled with determination. "Flora doesn't belong to you!"

"Leave her alone, jerk!" Layla yelled, fists trembling at her sides in anger.

"We're coming after you," Musa said threateningly, pointing a finger toward the cave ceiling.

"So you better run," Roxy laughed, throwing her head back to project her voice.

"Because you definitely can't hide," Tecna added.

"Hiding?" Decay chuckled, his red eyes flashing light heartedly, "I'm doing no such thing."

"They say talking to yourself is the first sign of insanity," Stormy sighed impatiently, lying back on the loveseat and filing her nails.

"It seems Flora has a wild side to her," he said, gazing into the crystal to look at her confident green eyes.

"So why'd you go and water her plants?" Stormy yawned, stretching and letting her feet fall to the floor. "Is she not taking care of them enough?"

She laughed as she stood and extended her back. Continuing to file her maroon nails, she looked into the crystal with an uninterested expression on her face. Heels clacking on the floor as she placed them on the floor, Stormy rolled her eyes in boredom.

"All in due time," Decay replied, smiling when he saw Flora fall to the ground in exhaustion. "What present shall I get her next?"

Stormy sighed. She wasn't one to help unfortunate souls, but since this unfortunate soul was so bent on having Flora to the point of her annoyance, she couldn't help but feel a need to reach out to him.

"Look, Decay," Stormy said, standing and walking to his side, placing a hand on his shoulder in sympathy, "I've only known you for a few days now, and I've gotta say, this doesn't seem right."

Decay tore his eyes away from the crystal and looked to her dark purple lips tilted in a frown. Trailing his gaze upward, he was surprised to see pity in her eyes. From his sources, he had known her to be a very unkind and uncaring person.

"Doesn't seem right?" he repeated in surprise.

"As much as I love seeing the Winx flounder about," Stormy said, tapping her index finger to her cheek, "And as much as I love seeing Flora completely miserable," she glanced to Decay, "I don't like being stuck with a love sick fool that's too obsessed to do any major destruction."

He grinned. Ah, yes. Stormy, the ever selfish and self-centered witch was only thinking of her benefits.

"What is it that you desire?" he asked, standing and offering a hand for her to take.

Grabbing his hand with a smirk, she played it cool and shrugged her right shoulder seductively. Blinking her dark hazel eyes at him, she puckered her lips.

"I just want to torture the Winx a little more," she pouted, guiding him away from the crystal and taking a round about the cave. "Not Flora," she added out of concern for his addiction to her, "But maybe…Helia?"

Decay thought for a moment, his red eyes flickering with delight through his white bangs. He looked to Stormy.

"He is a thorn in my side," he said slowly, his voice echoing throughout the cave, "And I do find his presence quite annoying but he is someone I can take care of myself…"

Stormy shook her head, and patted his shoulder, her fingertips resting the silk black fabric gently. "No, no. You're too busy with Flora to worry about someone like him. I'll take care of him so that way Flora is open for the taking."

Decay smiled. "I would very much so appreciate that, Stormy. But how exactly do you intend to get him alone?"

"He's a man without any magical abilities," Stormy said blandly, quirking an eyebrow upward, "How hard could it be?"


"Ah, it is so good to be back in Lynphea!" Flora sighed, leaning on Helia as they walked off of the owl once they had landed on the marble pad outside of the palace.

The sun was still high in the sky, but was leaning more toward the west than the east. Feeling the sun on her skin, Stella spun in happiness and grabbed Brandon's hand to pull him along.

"Yeah, seriously," she said, breaking out her compact and eyeing her complexion, "Freezing cold temperatures does not bode well for the skin!"

Tecna watched as Flora stretched in the sun, her earlier sickness seeming to have gotten slightly better. The color was returning to her face and Tecna was almost convinced that maybe it had been just the motion sickness that was causing Flora so much distress. Almost.

"It's strange," she said quietly to Bloom.

"What's strange, Tecna?" Bloom asked, turning her blue eyes to look at her.

"Flora," she hummed, her index finger tapping her lower lip in thought. "It might be just coincidence, but she's the only one feeling sick."

Walking toward the back of the group, Tecna watched as Flora's knees shook slightly beneath her weight. Slipping inside of the castle doors, they walked through the ballroom, eyeing the handy work that had been done on the previously destroyed roof.

"Maybe it's the stress of Decay," Bloom replied, fiddling with a strand of her red hair and blowing it out of her face, "I know I was majorly stressed out when Lord Darkar kept attacking me."

Bloom looked toward the ceiling, vines holding the glass chandeliers up. Flower petals fell down every once in a while, but they only added to the beauty of the golden room. The glass ceiling above let the light shine in, brightness the palace needed in such a dark time.

Ascending the staircase, Tecna replied, "I don't think it's the stress."

Letting her palm slide against the silky smooth banister, Bloom frowned. "What do you think it is then?"

"I'm not sure," she said, her feet thumping on the red carpet with each step she took, "But it might have something to do with Decay."

Bloom nodded, placing a hand on her hip when they reached the top of the staircase. Walking through the two open gold doors, they walked through the hallway leading to Flora's bedroom.

"I wouldn't put it past him," Bloom groaned, rubbing her temples, "But with all of his mystery, he's giving me one heck of a headache."

Watching Helia help Flora into her bedroom, Tecna stopped walking and stood with Bloom for a moment more. "We need to get rid of Decay as soon as possible. Nothing's adding up right." She leaned against the golden wall and sighed. "I don't know how long we can protect Flora from this guy. With her getting sick like this, she's vulnerable—"

"Not again!" Roxy yelled angrily from inside of Flora's room.

"Seriously?" Musa cried, "This guy just doesn't know when to stop!"

Bloom and Tecna skidded into the room, their mouths hanging open in shock. There, lying on Flora's bed was the largest ruby ring they had ever seen. Lying on the light pink bedspread, the sparkling red rubies blinded their eyes and Nabu had to put a hand over his face to see properly.

Flora standing with her hair on end, said quietly, "Out."

Sky, looking concerned, asked, "What?"

"I want them it out of here," she said calmly, "Now."

In silence, Helia watched as the asilika vines from outside moved on their own, wrapping their green selves around the silver and dragging it toward the balcony.

"Are you sure you want to do that, Flora?" Roxy asked, frowning, walking over to the edge of the balcony to watch the jewelry fly over the garden and into the bushes below, "It might make Decay angry."

"No, no, that's good," Bloom said, "Maybe if he's angry, he'll show himself."

"Or his stalker behavior could worsen," Timmy said thoughtfully, sitting on the green desk chair with a wary look on his face, "He could act out against this by sending more 'gifts.'"

"Then let them come," Stella said joyfully, "Although I don't know why you're throwing away such priceless gems. That ring is one in a million."

Tecna looked toward Stella. "What do you mean?"

"Um, hello," Stella said rudely, waving her hands, "Am I the only one who's concerned with the fact that Flora's throwing away the most prized possession in all of Magix?"

Musa's eyes narrowed. "So what? It was just a ruby."

"No way," Stella said, looking over to where the ring had fallen with a wistful look, "I'd know that jewel anywhere. That's a Red Jewel of Life."

"A what?' Roxy asked, folding her arms, "Uh-uh, that was a ruby."

Tecna's eyes widened. "I've got it!"

"What?" Riven asked, giving Tecna a look, "What is it?"

"I can't tell you now," Tecna said giddily, breaking out her digicom and sending a mass text, "It's not safe. Decay could be watching."

A unison ringing from the other's own cells rang throughout Flora's bedroom. Whipping out each of their digicoms, they read the text silently, "The Red Jewels of Life only come from Decomporsi, the Death Realm. I'm sure if we look there tomorrow, we'll be able to find Decay."

Flora's memory flashed and she frowned. Decomporsi rang a bell, but where had she heard of it?

"Then it's settled," Sky said aloud, winking at Tecna, "We'll go back to Alfea tomorrow."

"Alfea?" Stella asked, not quite understanding what was going on, "Why are we going there? I thought Decay was in—"

Brandon covered her mouth with both of his hands and glared.

"Well, we don't know who this Decay guy is," Bloom said, nudging Stella in the gut hard, "So maybe Ms. Faragonda has some insight."

"Hey, what's this?" Timmy asked, reaching for a note on Flora's desk. "Looks like another poem."

"I'll read it," Layla offered.

"No," Flora said, her fists clenched and looking steadily at Helia, "No more games. He wants a reaction out of me, and I won't give him one."

"But it could hold something important," Musa protested, walking next to Layla and peering over her shoulder to read the note.

"Please," Flora said exasperatedly, holding up her hand, "Let's just rip up the note and let's forget about him for today," she smiled genuinely, "I want to enjoy a nice night with my friends."

"So if this guy shows up out of the blue tonight," Riven concluded looking at Nabu, "What do we do? Leave the girls to fend for themselves while we're in the room next door?"

Helia turned to him, his blue eyes flashing dangerously. "I am not leaving her alone."

Flora shook her head. "Helia—"

"Until this guy is caught, I'm not leaving your side," Helia murmured, taking her hands in his and kissing them lightly. "You haven't been feeling well all day and I don't want to leave you unprotected."

"She won't go unprotected," Roxy said, swinging an arm around the nature fairy.

"Yeah!" Bloom said, hugging Tecna and Stella, "She's got us."

"Sorry girls, but I'm afraid Helia's right," Musa said, eyeing the letter before tossing it over to Tecna to read, "We need the guys here. Remember, Stormy and Decay are after Flora. The more protection, the better off she is."

"Then I'll go talk to the king," Sky said confidently, "I'll ask if the guys can stay in her room tonight—" He stopped himself and looked to Flora. "If that's all right with you."

Flora smiled and kissed Helia's cheek lightly, sending shocks of electricity throughout both of their bodies. "It's more than all right."

"Then let operation creepy stalker begin!" Stella shouted, pumping her fist in the air. "If he pops up in the middle of the night with poisonous chocolates, don't mind me if I'm the first to run!"

"Stella!"