The atmosphere of Zenith was cold and filled with electricity. The capital city had the most advanced technology in all Magical realms, and it was designed in maximum order and symmetry. The sight was really aesthetically pleasing. They landed their ship in front of the government building. Zenith had no castles, nor kings and queens. The power was shared equally between twelve Enchantix fairies.

And they were all waiting for them. The fairies stood in a straight line, with a cold expression on their face. They had identical pixie cut hair, in unusual colors, like rosy pink and neon green. Faragonda and Saladin were also there, waiting. Behind them, there was the army of Zenith. Half of them fairies, half robots with actual human intelligence. First, their sworn allies made the appearance, in small groups. Meanwhile, Icy and Valtor were getting ready for their deceiving game. If they could fool Faragonda and Saladin today, nothing would stop their victory.

Icy felt incredibly uncomfotable in Griffin's body. She felt the weakness of old age, and the lack of dignity in the whole body. Two witches helped with the chains, another with the scars. The result was the illusion magic in highest quality. Icy, disguised as Griffin, their hostage. She looked half starved, and in pain. They were playing on the emotions of the enemy. Seeing her like this, they would have to think twice.

Meanwhile, Princess Diaspro was disguising herself as Icy. She did not feel uncomfortable about this temporary roleplay. There was no woman there who did not wish to be in her place.

Finally, they showed themselves. At the sight of Griffin, the Company of Light froze, their eyes fixed with worry and anger. Saladin was the first to speak. "Valtor, if you intend to have a civilized conversation, release Lady Griffin from those chains immediately!" Faragonda demanded him to keep calm. But her attention was also on her century old friend. He plans something, that's for sure. We must act very carefully.

Icy faked a scared, pitiful expression. She wanted them to fear that she may have gone mad. Diaspro's job was standing beside Valtor all the time, and not speaking a word. Everything she would say might be off, and suspicious. But her silence was also something very unusual. Faragonda now adressed her, avoiding Valtor's gaze. "When this war is over, and you finally destroy yourself, that necklace of Bella will also burn your little queenie to the ground. Where are the other two? It seems like we don't have to do anything, you have already started to bite each other."

Valtor knew that she talked this way when she is unsure, anxious even. He smiled slightly. Before Diaspro could say anything stupid, he raised his hand. "I have made it clear that I do not want any fight today. Instead, we will have an exchange. I will release Griffin. I want the entire robotic army of Zenith, in return."

Saladin narrowed his eyes in suspicion. Why would he release her? Why did not he killed her already? As if sensing those questions, Valtor spoke again. "I have intended to kill her before, as you may have suspected. But then I realized that it would be such a waste. No, I do not want to destroy her. When all this is over, she will be one of my mindless servants. Such vast knowledge should not be wasted. But right now, you can have your friend, and give me my army."

Griffin seemed like she has suffered a great deal. Faragonda could not clear her head. This was personal. As unprofessional as that was, she was getting sentimental. This could be a trick. Maybe that is not Griffin at all. She did not want to believe that. Valtor had reasons to keep her alive. The guardians of Zenith and Saladin still looked unsure. Faragonda whispered something in one of the fairies's ear. She then turned to others, as if asking for permission. Then she nodded. Faragonda then made the greatest mistake of her life. "The army is yours. Now release Griffin."

The chains dissapeared, the impostor fell to the ground. Faragonda and Saladin gently took her in their arms. They had to watch the control of the army being given to Valtor's hands. He seemed pretty satisfied. Faragonda swore to destroy that. They entered their ship and left, without causing any trouble.

The company of light carried their friend to their own ship. During the flight to Magix, Faragonda never left her side. She said she was not hungry and just wanted to sleep. No one talked inside the ship during the whole flight.

Griffin was taken care of in Faragonda's bedroom. After hours of medical treatment, they have decided that she was okay. No one detected any suspicious magic. The spell was far beyond their knowledge of the dark arts. At midnight, Faragonda came to the room from her office, extremely drained.

Only, Icy was not drained at all. The invisible necklace had doubled her powers, if not tripled them. And she had been lying down for so long, her body was begging for her to move. The impostor sat straight slowly, observing the lady. Faragonda asked her how she was. In a dry tone, she said she was alright. She would commit another murder tonight. Because once you cross the threshold there was no turning back. "I hope your students are all right. They did not harm them, I sincerely hope? " "As far as I know, no. Somebody was hurt, though." What?

Her heart paced. Did she hear her wrong? "What do you mean? Someone is dead? Who?" Griffin's eyes were blank and cold. She had a chilling sensation. This was not her friend. No. For Dragon sake, please no. Icy undid the magic in a second. She returned to herself, her necklace was shining in a silver light. Fully charged and ready to fight. "Griffin is. Killed by myself, as you will also be, tonight."

She may be drained, or old, or look fragile. The pure anger and hate in her eyes made her look really mighty and powerful. She was called a lioness in her younger days. But Icy trusted herself, because Belladonna was with her. Still, she was taken aback by the sudden transformation of the Fairy. "You.. are. OVER." Her attack hit Icy in the shoulder, and it really burned, but she did not scream. Moving fastly, she escaped the other attacks, thrown in an unreal pace. The old fairy knew where to hit to kill. She was the ultimate peace lover of Magix. She was all for pacifism, forgiveness. But tonight, she would kill this girl. She wanted nothing else.

The energy ball Faragonda threw was made of pure light, and nothing is more painful for someone involved in dark magic. The last time she had formed such an attack, she had killed Belladonna. Now, she would kill her heir.

Only, it did not hit her heart. But the silver necklace. Valtor had placed it exactly on her heart for protection, because he knew that Faragonda could not be underestimated. She blinked. Icy gasped. But she was unhurt. She instantly felt delighted, because Faragonda's wrath was turning into hopelessness. "I thought you would be more intelligent, Professor, I really did. Because you acted quickly and emotional, you will die. Leaving your school, and students, to us." At the mention of her students, she suddenly felt weaker with panic and regret. She also felt her legs starting to freeze. Then her upper body. Her wings.

The woman's mind was already away. She had lost. Because of her mistake, many children were in danger. Bloom.Tears formed in her eyes. She was trusting to her. What would she do now, against the enemy? Icy froze the entirety of the fairy. In the blink of an eye, she was gone.

Valtor found Icy on the floor, staring at the ice pieces. "I knew you could take her by yourself." Valtor looked at her with a new kind of look in his eyes. "You defeated a Major Fairy, who was in complete health and strenght. I respect you even more now." Icy stood up and looked him in the eye, then spoke in sarcastic tone. "Is this a confession of love, trying to sound professional and all?" Valtor smirked at her, and kissed her passionately. "I can't wait for the morning to come." Icy whispered to him. "I have to see the look in Bloom's eyes when she realizes what happened."

The dining room of Alfea was crowded with students and professors. Voices of chatter and laughter rose from many tables, but the table of the Winx was more silent. Musa had her headphones on, and she was in her own world. Layla played with her food with a gloomy expression, can't stopping herself from feeling Tecna's absence each second. She sacrificed herself for my planet. Bloom was observing her mother's necklace, as if searching for a clue inside it.

Stella felt herself suffocating. When she rose from her seat to get some fresh air, her friends did not bother to ask what was wrong.

She had been a complete stranger to melancholy. Since her childhood, she had been called a fountain of joy, of happiness. Nothing ever destroyed her spirit. Even in the darkest moments, she could shine within.

She had realized this was not true, when real dark days had begun. When they saw people die in war, and lose their friend, too. Stella bit her lip, and tried to focus on the present moment. She was walking the empty corridors of Alfea. She intended to get some fresh air. Then, she heard a female voice, getting slowly closer. And she recognized the sound. She stopped walking. She hid in the corner and let her Enchantix appear.

The footsteps were getting closer. Stella planned to hit the Trix from behind, when they walk pass her. As she waited, she recognized another voice. But it was a male.

It can not be. Faragonda said that was impossible, as long as she was alive he could not pass..

It all dawned on her, all of a sudden. She could not control her breathing, nor her cry. "What is wrong, Princess? Can not cope with the darkness well?" Icy had the usual grin on her face. It was the most disgusting thing Stella ever saw. "How could you…" She attempted to attack, but Valtor cast his spell. "Stop, Fairy! Receive Valtor's Mark and surrender to me!" It appeared on her shoulder. The cursed sign, in the shape of a "V". Stella's eyes lost her spark. She suddenly looked empty, like a doll. "Get out now, and do nothing, till I say otherwise." Her lips moved automatically, her voice lacked charachter or emotion. "Yes, Master." She walked mechanically and slowly, out of their sight.

"What do you think?" Valtor asked, proudly. "I feel very positive about this." With the unusual answer, it was obvious that she was excited to see this. And he had guessed that much. "Let's make our appearance, shall we?"

"Good morning, ladies!" Silence. All eyes were fixed on Icy and Valtor as they placed themselves at Faragonda's usual place. All faces went white with fear. All, except the Winx. They did not waste a second to transform. All of them understood the meaning of this. Faragonda was gone.

There was no time to mourn. They had to silence their hearts, and turn their pain to anger and power. They almost succeeded. Before they could cast the Convergence spell, Valtor cast his own. "Fairies of Alfea. Receive Valtor's Mark, and surrender to me!" Within seconds, the room was filled with mindless slaves. But Icy's attention was on Bloom. Something was wrong.

She realized Bloom was wearing a necklace identical to hers, only it was golden. Even after Valtor's spell, the necklace kept shining. As the fairies lost their will power one by one, Bloom stood the same.

Valtor could not enslave her.

The fairy's eyes were closed. She was whispering an incantation, creating a protective barrier around herself. She did not bother to hide her anger as she spoke. "Do you think you can control me? Have you actually thought that?" She stepped closer to them. "I am protected by Queen Marion herself. And she will help me to finally destroy you."

Valtor saw the necklace vibrating. The object was so powerful, and he was not ready for it. He was not expecting this. Bloom eyed both of them, and spoke with confidence and determination. "Now, how do you want to die?"