Note: Regarding the additional character of Ameena in this chapter, we are not medical experts and are only as good as our research. If you have a problem or spot an inaccuracy let us know privately by PM and we will amend it, thank you.
Warning: This chapter contains dark themes, violence and some course language, you have been warned.
Chapter 6
Betrayal – Part 2
Landing in Alfea's quad the girls and guys were quickly met in the dark by Faragonda and Ophelia. They wheeled a bed their way and Riven carefully placed Tecna down on the covers before they pushed it back towards the school infirmary, all of them running hastily behind.
Tecna was wheeled inside and Ophelia started her observation by removing their makeshift bandages. "What happened?" Faragonda asked looking up from the young fairies bloodied face.
"It was Sky," Timmy replied, "he just attacked us, he was trying to get to Bloom and Tecna…she-"
"Everyone outside now!" Ophelia yelled, forcing them all back through the double doors which closed before them, leaving them once again in a stunned silence.
"Timmy, I'm sorry," Brandon apologized, placing a hand on his shoulder. He turned to look his friend in the eyes and shook his head, blood still on both Musa and his own hands, crusted and dry. "You shouldn't be sorry; Sky is the one who should be!" He yelled, pulling himself away and toward the window where he stared outside. "Sky is the one who did this; he's the one who should pay for it."
Normally Bloom would have defended her boyfriend's actions, it was a painful kind of loyalty, but she couldn't do it this time. Timmy was right, what he had done was inexcusable.
Petal stood quietly against the wall, looking at Bloom's unblinking eyes. She willed herself to her side, some kind of magnetic field pulling her towards the heartbroken fairy. She placed a hand on hers and Bloom squeezed it tight to acknowledge her offer of support. Neither said a single word until Faragonda opened the door and those sitting stood and those standing turned.
"How is she?" Timmy asked and Faragonda swallowed slightly before answering, Petal's hand fell from Bloom's.
"The gash over her face isn't too deep. Musa, Timmy and Riven did a good job to stop the blood flow when they did. Facial wounds, and any above the neck, tend to bleed a lot when they are caused but, Tecna will be okay." Sighs of relief echoed around the room.
"However," Faragonda added, making them stop. "The sword that Sky used to cut Tecna had been laced with some kind of magic… and because of it Tecna's gash will still heal but she will be left with a scar for the rest of her life." Timmy's hands clenched and his jaw became rigid.
"It can't be fixed with magic?" Musa asked, "Not even fairy dust?" The headmistress's head shook. "I'm afraid not, fairy dust can cure most dark curses but not this one."
"Can we see her?" Timmy asked and Faragonda nodded, "yes but I think just three at a time would be best."
"Musa and Riven can go with Timmy," Flora spoke up and the two nodded to say thank you. The three of them walked inside.
"I know some of you also have other injuries and Ophelia will be able to treat you soon, I suggest that you all get as much rest as you can tonight." She turned to Petal and noticed a glimmer of confusion in her eyes.
"Petal, is there something wrong?"
"No," she shook her head, "it's just, when we were pinned down on Eraklyon, something happened."
"What do you mean?"
"There was this kind of glow and I had a charm or something on my chest." Faragonda's face beamed as did Layla's and the other girls. "Congratulations, Petal, you earned your Charmix."
"My Charmix?"
"You overcame a personal flaw, overcame your fear, and earned the next stage of your transformation." Layla's arms wrapped themselves around her friend before Flora congratulated her as well, Stella and Bloom remained quietly happy, both still reeling from the nights events. "And congratulations must go to Stella as well, for earning her Enchantix." Faragonda smiled. "Well done girls, once Musa has had her arm seen to and they have finished visiting you can all go in and return to your dorms, try and rest up for the next few days, you've all had a nasty shock to the system."
The minute that Timmy laid his eyes on his sleeping beauty his heart snapped in two. She had a bandage wrapped around the top of her forehead and across where the gash was; a padded gauze pad beneath to catch any further escaping liquid. Ophelia passed him a basin of water and he washed the blood from his hands before drying them on a towel and taking her hand in his own, kissing her knuckles tenderly. Musa and Riven stood at the end of the bed and did the same, before Ophelia removed the tie from Musa's arm and cleaned the flesh wound before adding another dressing.
"She'll be okay," Riven replied and Timmy nodded.
"I know… I just wish all of this was a dream, now she's scarred for life because of that prick. What got into him anyway?"
"I don't know," Riven answered, releasing a sigh and looking over his shoulder at Musa grimace slightly when she lifted her arm too high. "But we'll get to the bottom of it, before anyone else gets hurt."
It had been a week since Eraklyon's millennium ball. Tecna was finally sleeping in the dorm again though Musa had been keeping a close eye on her to make sure she didn't pull her stitches or open the gash accidentally again. She didn't attend classes and spent most of her days resting on painkilling spells while the others were forced to watch. Petal, on the other hand, couldn't stop thinking about her Charmix, about how she earned it. Was it because she had such a difficult time trusting men and she actually trusted Evan? Or was it something else that she didn't know about. She wasn't entirely sure why she did trust him, whether it was because they were inside a life threatening situation or whether it was because of something else entirely. But she had to admit that for the first time, when he took her hand and lead her away, she felt safe. For even the smallest second she lost all her doubt and followed his lead.
Considering the previous events, and how close she had come to meeting her maker with the others, she felt it necessary to call her mum and tell her what happened, to tell her the good news and make sure she was okay. She waited for a moment as Mirta excused herself from the dorm for the morning with Alice and they both smiled as they left.
"Huh, that's weird," she muttered, hearing her mother's voicemail for the twelfth time that day.
"What's wrong, Petal?" Layla asked, walking away from the others in the cafeteria and to her side.
"Nothing, it's just… something's wrong, I can just feel it."
"What do you mean?"
"It's my mum, we organize particular days and times to talk to each other but I've tried calling all day today and haven't gotten a reply, it keeps going straight to voicemail."
"Maybe it's nothing and she's just busy."
I suppose," Petal replied, before grabbing her things and setting off for another day of study, the same uneasy feeling probing at the back of her mind.
Walking through the quad after the mornings classes she tried to call her mother again and received no answer, hanging up she looked to her screensaver. "Petal," Alice spoke from behind her, making her turn. "Is everything okay, you left class pretty early?"
"Yeah I'm just worried about something."
"Is there anything I can do to help?"
"No," Petal replied, shaking her head and walking forwards, Alice following beside her. "I'm just worried about my mum."
"I'm sure she's okay, after all, what could possibly be wrong?" Petal's eyes closed suddenly as her head burnt and she placed a hand to her heart, falling to her side. "Petal!" Alice cried, catching her to stop her from falling to the ground. "Petal, wake up!"
"Alice!" Layla, Musa and Flora yelled, rushing out to help.
"What happened?" Layla asked, slowly patting her friends face with her hand. "Petal, can you hear me?"
"I don't know…but-"
"But what sweetie?" Flora asked.
"She nearly collapsed like this the other day; I thought that it was just because she wasn't eating enough."
A beautiful woman's face entered Petal's vision, her red hair flowing from atop her head and eyes beautifully warm and welcoming. "How's my Petal?" she asked before looking to her left suddenly, losing the smile as some sort of order was called and she disappeared from her vision.
Petal's eyes opened. "Hey, you're awake, how are you feeling?" Musa asked, as the others leaned into her vision. She sat up carefully, placing a hand to her head.
"I'm fine," she replied, noticing that she was now inside the nurse's ward. "I just fainted, that's all."
"But what triggered it this time?" Alice asked. "I saw you eat and drink plenty at breakfast this morning so it can't be that."
"I'm not sure what it was." It was an honest answer, from the woman in her vision to the façade in Magix and the Dragon Fire tower. It all had to have some kind of significance, but exactly what she had no idea.
"We were just talking about her mom and then this happened," Alice explained.
"Maybe we should go to Faragonda about this," Layla explained. "Maybe you were having some sort of connection to her and, if your hunches and feelings are right, then we should check it out to make sure there is nothing going on."
Ms. Faragonda stood from her seat and walked to the large window of her office. Looking outside she could see fairies rushing off to their classes. "With the attack on Eraklyon by Valtor I do not think that now is the best time for anyone to leave the school."
"Please!" Petal pleaded. The headmistress turned at the sincerity of her voice to see tears forming in the young fairies eyes. "Something has to have happened to my mum," she sobbed, tears slowly leaking down her cheeks. "You let Bloom leave the school."
"Yes," Faragonda replied. "But that was under different circumstances."
"It was," Layla commented, remembering how the school was stormed by parents who complained about her being a danger to their daughters. "But Petal would not be leaving alone and we would only be there long enough to find out what has happened to her mother."
Ms. Faragonda took a deep breath before a smile appeared on her face as she looked at the two fairies, "Very well," She said with a nod. "You both have my permission to leave campus, but I want you back as soon as possible."
"Thank you, Ms. Faragonda," Petal replied.
"I'll use my magic to send you," she explained before holding her hands before the two and concentrating. They closed their eyes before feeling a tingling sensation against their skin. When it stopped they felt the sun on their faces and opened their eyes to find themselves standing on the beach front of Petal's home suburb.
Petal smiled, it felt good to be back, to see the beautiful blue ocean laid out before her, the green grass and the warm summer heat that pricked at her skin.
"Boy it's hot out here," Layla sighed, wiping her forehead with the back of her hand.
"Welcome to the Australian summer," Petal replied. "We don't have time to lose, maybe we should transform."
"Sounds good to me," Layla replied and, after finding an abandoned playground the two did just that and flew over the city, Petal leading the way. When they landed the two quickly changed back into their usual forms.
Something wasn't right, Petal could feel it the moment they stood on the driveway and saw her mother's car still sitting in the garage. She rushed forwards before Layla could stop her and she noticed the door was unlocked. With one hand ready with a blast she pushed it open and her heart sank.
Glass pictures had been smashed; clothes and ornaments were all over the floor, the couch turned over and television broken. Looking to her right she could see a picture frame that was smashed to pieces. She walked over and carefully lifted the photo from the frame and flipped it over. It was a picture of Sophia, Ameena, herself and her mother at an amusement park when they were younger. This picture was taken on her friend's birthday just a few days before Ameena became sick. Tears began to fall from Petal's eyes as she heard Layla slowly walking into the house.
"Oh God," she sighed, hands over her mouth when she heard something and Petal turned and ran down the hallway. She reached her mother's room and barged through the door, attack at the ready.
"Hey it's okay, it's me!" Sophia yelled, holding her hands into the air and seeing the devastation in Petal's eyes, watching the ball of magic disappear from her hand. "Petal?"
"What happened?" Petal asked, leaning backwards. "Who did all of this? Where is my mum?"
"I-it was Kyle, he came here looking for you and, he attacked her."
"He what! How bad is it?"
"She's in the hospital." Petal's hands clenched as she turned on her heel and raced down the hallway, Layla and Sophia desperately chasing behind.
"Petal, stop!" Sophia cried, grabbing her friend by the arm which made her stop in her tracks. "Kyle's not worth it."
"I can't let him get away with this!" She snapped, turning to face her friends wide eyes, her tears now replaced with pure rage. "Nobody hurts my family and gets away with it." She turned again and aimed for the front door when Layla ran in front of her and blocked her path.
"Out of my way Layla."
"I can't do that," she replied, arms remaining outstretched.
"J-Just let me pass," Petal commanded, fingers clenching themselves into fists and back teeth biting hard against one another.
"No," Layla shook her head, and Petal raced forwards and pushed Layla sideways into the wall and continued out the door.
"Petal!" Sophia screamed as Layla got back to her feet and followed her out the door and raised her hands, creating a rope of Morphix that constricted her legs together so she fell onto the grass below. Expecting her to be mad the two girls approached slowly, each anticipating a harsh reaction or response from their friend. But nothing came.
Layla knelt before Petal who had her hands covering her face, her shoulders quacking with sobs as they shook her thin frame. "Are you okay? I didn't mean to hurt you. But you know that your mom wouldn't want you to do something drastic or to put yourself in danger." Layla clicked her fingers and the ropes disappeared.
"I'm fine," she answered, moving her hands away and getting to her knees. "I just can't lose her."
"She's going to be okay," Sophia spoke softly, "I think you should come and see her. We can walk to my place and use my car." Layla helped Petal from the ground and onto her feet before they locked Petal's home and walked down the street to Sophia's place.
"Layla," Sophia spoke, making the Morphix fairy look to her. "H-how did you do that thing with the rope to stop Petal? And what was that weird light coming from her hand?"
Petal giggled slightly making Layla confused. "Why are you giggling?" She leant forward and covered her mouth with her hand, whispering words into her friend's ear while Sophia stopped walking and stood with her eyebrows furrowed.
Layla smiled as Petal walked to Sophia and placed a comforting hand on her shoulder. "Layla could do that because she's a fairy and so am I." Sophia looked between the two before she laughed.
"Good one Petal."
"She's serious," Layla replied.
"But she can't be," she answered, looking to Petal. "You used to tease me all the damn time when we were kids about me believing in magic, you said it was stupid and that it didn't exist."
"Well I was wrong, you were right, it does."
"Prove it," Sophia replied, crossing her arms. "If you both are really fairies with magic then prove it to me."
"Alright," Layla nodded, taking her arm and pulling her further down the street. "But not here."
Turning the corner the girls entered the nearby park. Walking through the park the girls arrived at the nearby beach. Petal guided the other two to a large cave before entering.
"Okay I think this is far enough," Sophia said as she pulled her hand from Layla's hand. "If this is a joke like you used to play on me when we were kids then I'm not liking it."
"It's no joke," Petal replied with a smile before turning to Layla. "Let's do this."
"Layla Enchantix!"
"Magic Winx!"
A ball of light wrapped around each of the girls, causing Sophia to cover her eyes, when the light subsided she looked and was shocked to see the two before her with different clothes and a pair of wings on their backs, Layla's much larger then Petal's.
"This…this has to be some kind of trick," Sophia said with a shocked voice.
"It's not a trick," Petal replied.
"But," she stuttered, "I still believe in fairies but this can't be real."
"Tell me if this is real," Layla commanded before flying over and grabbing onto her arms, lifting Sophia into the air.
A few minutes later they landed outside the hospital and rushed in. Sophia directed them to Stephanie's room and when the parted the curtain new tears fell from Petal's eyes. Her mother's right arm was in a sling, she had a black eye and cut lip, her arms had visible bruises and hair had lost its signature shine. "Petal?" She sighed and the young fairy raced forwards, taking her mother into her arms.
"Shh," she consoled quietly, "its okay, I'm okay."
"But Kyle, he did this to you…because of me." Her head fell.
"Petal look at me," she didn't want to, guilt filled every fiber of her body. "Look at me," she ordered a second time and she lifted her gaze, two tears escaping her eyes as she did. "This is not your fault, you understand, it's not your fault. You didn't do this and I won't have you blaming yourself, alright?" She nodded, lips quivering.
"How do you feel?"
"Not bad, still a little sore but I'm going to be fine. How is school?"
"School's good," Petal smiled, "but things have been a little hectic lately. Oh and I almost forgot, Mum this is Layla, one of my new friends." Layla stepped forwards and smiled.
"It's nice to meet you."
"And you Layla. I trust you've been looking after her properly."
"Of course."
"Excellent," Steph smiled, she was glad to see Petal making some new friends and to see her smile at least once. "Now what did you mean by things being a little hectic lately? I take it that it's not just the usual run of the mill assignments and exams?"
"It's a long story." Steph shrugged her shoulders.
"I've got time."
Half an hour, and several laughs and shocked expressions later, Petal finished her current tale and her mother beamed. "Well, sounds like you've finally gotten that adventure you were always looking for and you earned your Charmix, no doubt because of that Evan boy."
"Mum," Petal sighed, rolling her eyes, "you know it's too soon, especially after what Kyle has done."
"Not all men are the same Petal, try and remember that," she replied. "But on another note has Faragonda managed to discover your power source yet?"
"No," Petal replied. "She hasn't said anything to me so I assume that she's still searching but I'm hoping to find out soon."
"Please do let me know when you do, I might not be as well versed or accepting of magic as Sophia here is but I do understand how difficult it can be to wait for a result." Sophia checked her watch for a moment before apologizing.
"I'm sorry Petal but I have to go pick up my mum, she'll be waiting for me."
"Here let me," Layla whispered, pulling the curtains around and pointing her fingers to the young woman. "You'll feel a little funny when you land but you'll be there in a matter of seconds." She focused her energy and after a bright light she disappeared from sight, Steph's mouth widened in surprise. "I suppose I'll need to get used to that when the laundry needs doing at home," she joked and Petal and Layla laughed.
"I'm sorry mum but we should get going too, before Faragonda kicks us out."
"That's fine but before you go, Ameena is here."
"Here?" she asked her eyes full of concern. "But why?"
"Another tumor," Her mother replied, before urging her closer to her ear and whispering something before speaking up again. "She'll be staying in the hospital for the next week or so until she has her chemo therapy sorted. It might be a good idea for you to visit her, she hasn't seen you for a while."
Petal nodded her head before giving her mother one final hug and heading to the nurse's station, she asked for her location and was escorted to a private room, its window shutters closed by blinds to make the room darker.
"Thank you," Petal replied as the nurse walked down the hallway. She looked to Layla and released a breath. "If you want to come in with me then I need to explain a few things first." Layla nodded softly. "Ameena is Sophia's sister as you know, she has been sick her entire life with tumors spreading through her body, most of them are cancerous and when one is removed another one shows up," she paused, licking her lips nervously before taking a breath and looking away.
"What did your mom whisper to you?"
"This tumor is the worst she's had thus far… it's in her brain and affecting her sensitivity to light. She hates hospitals so I can only guess how difficult it must have been to get her here." Petal paused at the door and used the alcohol gel provided outside on her hands; Layla followed her friend as she opened the door quietly and stepped inside.
Ameena lifted the top half of her body. "Petal," she smiled as Petal walked to her side and gave her a hug, carefully wrapping her arms around her friend's very fragile and very thin frame. Carefully she lowered her head back to the pillow, baron of her previously beautiful long locks after years of fighting. "And who is this?"
"This is Layla, one of my new friends, Layla this is Ameena."
"It's nice to meet you," Layla replied as Petal took a seat on the bed and held her friends hand in her own. "How are you? And I want a serious answer."
"Exhausted, sore, bones are aching, impossible to eat anything even remotely solid and the lack of my lovely hair, nothing but the usual." Ameena relayed before smiling, making Petal understand how difficult it was to have a body fighting against her every movement. The chemo made her body weak and lying down for long periods of time affected her bones and joints, her ability to digest had become compensated after other tumors were removed near there.
"Come on don't look so down, you know how much I hate that." Petal smiled and nodded, putting on a happier expression. "So how have things been since you left for that new school of yours?" Ameena questioned. "I heard about what happened to your mother, I'm sorry, always knew Kyle was an A grade bastard." Petal released a chuckle and nodded.
"Yeah you were always right about him."
"I told you he wasn't for you, glad you dumped him when you did," Ameena replied before lifting her head again and beckoning Petal towards her. She leant forwards as Ameena whispered into her ear. "Any chance you could get me out of here?" She asked sincerely and Petal leant back to look at her.
"I can't Ameena, I'm sorry."
Layla stood quietly, wondering exactly what her new found friend had said not to.
"You know how I feel about hospitals, only reason they got me in here was because I collapsed and couldn't fight them off, otherwise I sure as hell would be at home where I can look after myself." She stopped fighting. "You know how bad it is, don't you?"
Petal nodded, "mum told me…I'm-"
"Don't say you're sorry, you didn't cause this. It will all be okay. But enough about me," Ameena replied, looking to Layla. "Tell me about yourself Layla."
"Nothing really to tell," she lied simply. "I'm from the…" she paused, looking around the room when she remembered Petal saying something about there being a golden coast, "Gold Coast."
"Oh, so you're into surfing then?"
"You could say that."
"I used to love surfing, the waves and the sweet sea air, such happy days," she smiled, remembering a time when the world around her hadn't crashed into more then a thousand pieces, all hopes of outdoor adventure destroyed. "You must try our beaches too, though they are probably not as well suited."
"I will have to someday." Ameena nodded before she closed her eyes tight all of a sudden.
"Are you okay?" Petal inquired and she nodded.
"I'm fine." She knew it was a lie, even Layla could see it in the girls eyes when they opened, she was tired, her eyes were drooping closed, her breathing was shallow in preparation for some much needed rest.
"I think we should go, you need to keep on resting, okay, I'll come back and see you as soon as I can," Petal explained and Ameena squeezed tighter on her hand.
"You look after yourself too, Petal, and don't worry about me. I'll keep battling on as I usually do and you need to do the same."
"I will," Petal replied, her friend never knowing exactly how much battling and fighting of the magical kind she needed to complete. "I love you, take care."
Bloom ripped another drawing from her drawing pad and threw it to the ground in a crumpled heap before looking at a photograph hanging on the wall of her and Sky. They looked so happy with one another, ready to take on the world, and to do it together. They had defeated countless enemies, battled to save the Magical Dimensions and each other's love more then once, but now they had lost the fight. Sky had given into the darker side of his heart and rejected her for Diaspro, and the hurt burned deep within her soul like liquid lava soaring through her veins.
She clawed the photo from the wall and ripped it in half, sending the two pieces floating near the door where her mother Vanessa stood. "Bloom," she sighed, lifting the photo from the floor and walking to her daughter's side. "I know that you are hurt-"
"You have no idea how much," she turned, tears in her eyes. "He b-betrayed me, mom, I thought that he loved me but it turns out that he doesn't- maybe he never did."
"I'm sure that he does, but the only way you are going to get any answers is to go directly to the source and ask him." Bloom wiped the water from her cheeks. "Ask Sky what's going on, confront him and ask him all the questions you are now, rather then trying to grasp at straws to discover whether he truly loves you or not."
A bright light eclipsed the room and Stella appeared making Bloom stand from her chair and run to her embrace. Stella happily returned it, though her face was solemn. Vanessa offered a small smile before leaving the two alone and closing the door.
"How are the others?" Bloom asked once she leant away and looked into her friends golden eyes.
"They are okay but Bloom, I need to tell you something," she paused, feeling the worry in Bloom's eyes entering her own. There was no better way to say it, no easier way to utter the words that she knew would break her friends already shattered heart, but she had to say them. "It's official…Sky's getting married next week."
Bloom and Stella appeared in the dorm room just as Flora was helping Musa to change the dressing on her arm. She inspected the cut and smiled, it was healing well. "Bloom," Musa smiled. "Welcome back."
"Thanks," she replied, the tear tracks still visible on her features. Tecna lifted the television remote from the couch next to her and switched it off, the image of Sky and Diaspro waving to the crowds making them all sick to their stomachs.
"Girls I've been thinking, and taking some advice from my mom, and I think we need to talk to Sky."
"What the hell is wrong with you?" Musa snapped, standing to her feet suddenly. "You seriously want to go and talk to the idiot who hurt Tecna."
"Its okay, Musa," she sighed softly.
"No, it's not!" She retorted. "That bastard is the one who caused all this mess, he nearly killed all of us, you of everyone should know that Stella!"
"I agree with Bloom," the Sun fairy stated. "I think that she's made a good point and if we can get him alone without Diaspro then we might have a chance to understand."
"I don't want to understand." Musa's head shook from left to right. "I don't want to understand what warranted or justifies what he tried to do to us. I know you've been home for a few days but have you honestly forgotten the fear and the horror? Because I certainly haven't."
"I just want to ask Sky, if he ever loved me," the last few words hitched in her throat and she found it difficult to make the next one come. "I-If I can j-j-just ask him…then…maybe I'll be able to put it all behind me. Or at least understand if this is some kind of tactic or if Diaspro was planning something and he saved up or-"
"Or if he tried to brutally kill us, with dragons," Musa scoffed. "Dragons! Bloom! He would have told at least you what he was planning if this was some kind of tactical move. He wouldn't have invited you there in the first place to be in harm's way."
"Well if you won't go then I will," Tecna defended, standing to her feet firmly before feeling her head swoon and her body fall backwards. Musa helped catch her before she hit the chair and helped her down softly. "Tecna, you're still too weak, you can't push yourself just yet."
"Just stop arguing, please," she replied softly. "Musa if it was Riven, you'd do whatever you could to help him wouldn't you? If he suddenly told everyone that Darcy was going to be his wife after promising you the same wouldn't you want answers?"
'Why does she have to be so logical' Musa wondered before nodding her head and looking back to Bloom. "Okay, so what's the plan?"
"Get into the palace, find Sky, keep Diaspro away and try to get some answers."
"And what if we can't get him alone?" Flora asked, "The palace is probably swarmed with guards."
"That's where we come in," a voice interrupted from Stella's phone, Brandon's face appearing before them all with Timmy, Riven and Helia behind him. "We can deal with the guards while you try and talk to Sky."
"But you, Tecna," Timmy interrupted, by shuffling forwards. "You are staying here and resting okay?"
"Alright," she responded. "Besides, you'll need to figure out a way to get back through the schools protective barrier. I can help you on your return."
"Excellent so it's all settled, is everyone in?" Bloom asked and Flora nodded, Stella did the same. With the absence of Layla and Tecna's inability it only left Musa who didn't look overly excited about returning. Finally she nodded.
When Petal and Layla returned to their dorm room it was a quiet and almost silent reunion. "Must all be in class still," Petal acknowledged, taking a seat on the edge of her bed and rubbing her temples with her fingers. It had been a long and tiring day and all she really wanted to do was lay down and get some sleep. But her mind was still running a mile a minute, her thoughts on an ever winding treadmill. They wouldn't stop and so sleep was not an option.
"It's been a big day, but your mom and friends are nice."
"Yeah they are, they've stuck with me through a lot of stuff and I've always been there for them. It's always kind of been the three of us against the world… well; it used to be until Ameena got sick. Sophia doesn't talk about it too much; it hurts her to talk about it but she rolls with the punches and looks out for their mum and dad. She normally visits with Ameena every day or two and brings her magazines and stuff to keep her company. She's been sick her entire teenage life so Sophia has been there from the beginning," Petal smiled slightly.
"It used to be funny… I'd watch them getting on so well and having each other's backs and I used to wonder what it would be like if I ever had a sister. If I ever had someone else who, against all odds, was there for me. Someone that I could always depend on," she laughed. "What am I saying? You probably think I'm crazy."
"No I don't," Layla replied when a piece of paper flew through their balcony window and landed on the table near them. Layla unfolded it and her smile disappeared slightly. "What is it?"
"I'm being summoned home."
"Why? Is there something wrong?"
"I don't know," she replied. "But whenever mom and dad want to talk it's usually not for something good."
Alice's phone rang and she answered it somewhat hesitantly. "Hi Mom…yeah I've made my decision," she paused, drawing a deep breath and finally uttering the words. "I want to stay with you, if it means that I can keep on attending Alfea then I want to stay with you."
"Oh honey, I'm so glad, do you want to tell your father or should I?" She asked and Alice knew it wouldn't be pleasant either way.
"I'll call him and do it," she replied before her mother wished her all the best until the holidays where they could finally be together again. "I love you too mom, bye."
She hung up the phone and found a seat in the quad, a quiet spot where she wouldn't be disturbed before dialing his number and waiting for a reply, waiting for anything. All she got was his answering machine.
"Dad, its Alice, I know you're probably busy at work but I wanted to call and let you know my decision. I don't feel comfortable doing it over the answering machine so if you could call me back then that would be great. I love you, bye."
A little depressed at the thought of having to hear his quietly suppressed sobs when he called her back she walked back to her dorm, deciding to give her last class of the day a pass. Palladium would understand, she was certain.
Upon entering the dorm she saw Layla give a simple wave before transforming and flying out of the window. "See you later!" Petal waved before turning. "Oh, hey, Alice, how has your day been?"
"Okay, I guess," she sighed and Petal knew something was wrong the moment she spoke.
"No it's not," she took a seat by her friend. "What's up?"
"I just told my mom that I want to stay with her."
"Well, isn't that a good thing?" Petal asked, "you finally made a decision and it benefited you, that means you'll be staying here with us won't it?"
"Yes," she replied, "but it also means that I have to wait for my dad to call so I can tell him that-"
"That you picked your mum over him?" Alice's head nodded as her eyes closed. "He'll understand."
"Speaking of parents," she began, opening her eyes again. "How is your mom, did you get a hold of her?"
"Yeah… she's in the hospital."
"What? What happened? Is she okay?"
"Yeah she'll be fine… it's a little complicated to explain but she'll get through it alright which is the main thing."
"I guess it is; where was Layla off to in such a hurry?" Petal lifted a piece of paper from the nearby table and passed it to her. 'Layla, Please return home immediately, we have an important subject to discuss with you. Mom and Dad'
"That doesn't sound too promising."
"No it doesn't," Petal admitted, retrieving it from her friend. "But do you know where all the others are? Layla was going to get Stella to transport her but they aren't in the dorm."
"I'm not sure," Alice replied, shrugging her shoulders a little. "But I know that Tecna is still here."
A light knock on the door sounded and Headmistress Faragonda's head snuck in. "Hello?"
"Yes Headmistress," Petal replied and she stepped inside.
"Good afternoon girls, Petal may I speak with you for a moment, and Alice shouldn't you be in Professor Palladium's class?" She nodded a little, but it was obvious that her family feud had flared up again. Faragonda pointed her index finger and circled it until a piece of paper appeared and landed in the girls lap. "Give this to Palladium the next time you see him, and make sure that you keep on top of your studies." She gave a kind smile before Faragonda's hand touched Petal's shoulder and ushered her from the room.
They reached the Headmistresses office and Petal took a seat. "Petal I'm sure that you are still curious as to the source of your powers, correct?" She nodded enthusiastically. "Sadly, I haven't been able to completely understand the origin of your winx; we know that it comes from water, that much is certain, but about why you were the only fairy to come from Earth since it became magic less more then a few centuries ago…well, that in itself is a mystery. I'm afraid that it will take more time for me to dig for answers, I have contacted my fellow colleagues from Redfountian and Cloud Tower to see if they have heard or know of anything but both of them are clueless as to how you have managed to manifest powers so strong from a world without magic."
"That's okay, Ms. Faragonda, I can wait."
"Is there anything else that is troubling you? Anything that you need to discuss with me? About your mother perhaps?"
"Is she okay? Nothing's happened has it?"
"No, everything is fine, and I'm sorry for not keeping in contact with her myself. Are you okay, considering the circumstances?" Petal nodded softly.
"I'm fine… I guess just a little overwhelmed."
"Ophelia told me that you fainted earlier today… do you know what caused it?"
"Lack of sleep or food or water perhaps, to be honest I'm not too sure, it might have been the stress of coming to a new place and meeting new people all the time." Faragonda wasn't sure whether it was just Petal's naturally quite pale complexion or whether she was indeed unwell. "But I'm settling in okay now, it's just been a bit of a change," she admitted and Faragonda nodded knowingly. To come from a world without magic and to never know you had powers was difficult, but to be plunged into the complete opposite was extremely daunting. "I suggest you go back to your dorm and rest, you look rather worn out. I'll have Chief Maestro send some food to your room for yourself and Alice, okay?" Petal nodded with a smile.
"Thank you." She stood and reached the door.
"Petal." she turned. "Don't worry, we will find out the truth, I promise you."
Appearing in the Eraklyon gardens by Stella's transportation magic, the group was quick to duck behind the nearby bushes to not alert the guards. Timmy checked his handheld for other life forms and added them onto the map so the others could see. Twenty exterior guards, at least fifteen more inside, and then what appeared to be their target in an upper drawing room with two others.
"I think that's him," Timmy replied, before taking the lady bug device Tecna provided him with before they departed and throwing it into the air. He controlled it to the window as Riven and Brandon kept an eye out. The video screen popped up and Diaspro and Sky were indeed together inside the drawing room. Diaspro leant into his lips and stole a kiss that made Bloom look away and Musa reiterate her point. They never should have come back.
"Okay here's the plan," Timmy whispered, three lines over the map. The first two belonged to Riven and Helia who would be in charge of checking the gardens and keeping the guards at bay. Timmy would take point ahead with Brandon as the radar with Stella and Bloom following closely behind. Musa and Flora would accompany their partners. They would all meet back with Stella to be taken home and, hopefully, their mission for answers would be complete.
"Okay everyone knows what they have to do?" They nodded before Timmy removed his Phantoblade and checked the map again. Riven took Musa's hand in his own just before she transformed and they filed out to the west while Helia and Flora took the east side, covering the palaces corners to keep watch.
Timmy raised his hand and waved it forwards before moving out, Brandon following closely behind with his own weapon drawn and the remaining two girls in turn. Stella's Enchantix and Bloom's winx were difficult to hide in the already large and brilliant building but they managed to keep themselves from view as Timmy hid under the stairs and another lot of guards passed them. Quickly they raced upstairs and turned right into another room, Stella and Timmy in one and Bloom and Brandon in another across the hall. He checked his map again; they were straight ahead and to the left. Another hand wave and Brandon backed onto the other three, covering the rear while Timmy held front point and they continued down the hall. Everything was going to plan.
Until they heard a bang from downstairs and the occupants of the room rushed to the doors. "Guards!" Diaspro screamed and they raced from all corners of the room towards them, Brandon quickly defended one from behind as Bloom blasted him in the stomach while Timmy and Stella did the same ahead. They raced forwards and managed to stop the doors before they closed and burst inside.
A blast hit Bloom into the opposing wall as Diaspro smirked to herself. "Coming back for more, haven't you learnt your lesson yet?" She asked, preparing another which Brandon defended.
"Keep going!" He yelled, helping Bloom back to her feet as Sky bolted up another flight of stairs. "We'll take care of them!" Hesitantly Stella left her best friends side but Timmy was already pulling her along by the arm. They raced after Sky, Stella releasing the odd shot or two from her hands as he darted to the left and right.
Before they knew it the glass to their left hand side burst in as Flora landed with an unforgiving thud, Helia doing the same to their right as the guards dismounted their dragons and flooded into the room. Suddenly, Riven flew through the open window on his leva-board with Musa entering the other and they attacked and blasted the five or so guards covering their path.
"Keep going!" Riven yelled, rubbing the sweat from his forehead. "We've got these."
Stella and Timmy continued after Sky, she could see the sheer determination on his face. He was always someone prepared to work and work until he mastered a task but this determination was different, was darker, it was almost scary. They pushed though into what appeared to be the armory when the doors slammed shut and Sky held a board over the hinges. "No friends can help you now," he gloated, shooting an arrow blast directly at Stella, hitting her with a surge of electricity as she fell to the floor with a scream. He stalked closer to Timmy and threw the bow to the floor, removing his extremely sharp and extremely enchanted blade from its sheath.
"Let's see how you do on your own!" He taunted, racing forwards as Timmy defended himself. Their two blades hit so strongly they produced sparks and once Sky relieved the pressure Timmy took his chance and went for the stab only to have it fail. Sky slid his sword to the hilt of Timmy's, took a hold of the handle and pulled with so much force he fell backwards. Landing on his hands he kicked forwards and sent the young Specialist into one of the many heavy suits of armor. He remained winded for a moment, taking sharp breaths into his chest while Sky threw his weapon to the floor and stood on it, smashing it to pieces.
Reaching his hand behind his back Timmy felt something solid and gripped it with all his might. "Not so well I see, too bad your girlfriend isn't here to take the fall."
"AHH!" Timmy yelled, running forwards, swinging the oversized axe so it made contact with Sky's shirt, ripping the shoulder and leaving a small graze. He landed on the ground hard, his head hitting the stone floor. Slowly Timmy stalked towards him, confidently, ready to finally avenge what he had done to his one true love.
"Go ahead; take your revenge for that witch girlfriend of yours." Timmy raised the axe above his head just as the doors wood splintered open and Riven, Musa, Flora, Helia, Brandon and Bloom all barged in. "Timmy NO!" Brandon yelled in unison with Bloom, but it was too late.
The blade came down and they turned away, expecting to see his head role to the side or blood stain the stone. But instead they heard a clang of metal and opened their eyes. The axe head was stuck in the floor, mere inches from Sky's face. "Tecna would never forgive me if I became like you," he replied, resorting to kicking the blonde Specialist in the ribs before Riven and Helia restrained him away.
Bloom knelt by his side and watched the way he tried to creep away from her when she saw the mark. "Hey, guys, look at this." She pointed to the purple magical imprint and Stella stepped forwards.
"The V must stand for Valtor," Flora concluded and the others crowded around. Sky tried to move but the guys were already on him, holding him down. "If it's like the spell that he used on Layla, maybe your fairy dust can break it Stella."
Stella nodded and removed the dust from her choker before pouring it over the Specialist. His eyes flew wide as his body bucked up and down and to all sides before the mark disappeared and dissolved into nothing.
"Sky?" Bloom sighed, making him open his eyes and look to her without fear or hatred, but with a single spark of his old self. Her lips didn't even have time to curl into a smile before Diaspro stood at the door and commanded fifty or more troop's forwards. Quickly Stella removed her Solarian ring and told everyone to hold hands before they disappeared.
"Oh Sky!" Diaspro yelled, running to her lover's side and taking his head between her hands. "What did they do to you?"
The girls and guys landed outside the magical barrier but the time to enter had already passed. Stella slumped against a tree, breathing heavily from all the magical exertion it took to transport them so far away and Brandon helped to support her with a hand on her waist.
Musa held her phone to her ear. "Hey Tec, we're outside, ready and waiting to go." A small green material of some kind flew to the barrier and after saying a quick goodbye the girls entered the barrier through the hole and tip toed back to their room.
When they entered they heard crying from the next dorm and a concerned Musa walked part their own door to investigate. "Musa?" Flora asked.
"I can hear someone crying, I think its Layla," she replied before opening the dorm room door to see Alice, Francis and Mirta asleep in their rooms and Petal sitting next to a sobbing Layla with her arm around her. Quickly the Music fairy stepped in and knelt before her friend, the others following along.
"Layla, what's wrong?" Musa asked.
"I-It's my mom and d-dad," she stuttered. "They… they're forcing me into an arranged marriage."
"B-but how, I didn't think arranged marriages happened all that much in the magical dimension," Bloom wondered.
"They do," Tecna's voice interrupted from behind, "many realms still use the arranged system to secure their futures with other realms. In some cases it's the exchange of a princess or prince for the purposes of peace or food, whatever one of the two needs. Sadly most realms are sticklers for tradition."
"And my parents have done the same for me… they've set me up with someone I don't even know."
"What's his name" Musa asked.
"Nabu."
Thanks for reading and please review :)
