Chapter Nine- The Freshman Ball

The rest of Terra's weekend went off without a hitch. She brought Sadie back home after her date with Cain, and on Sunday she spent the day with her father. She made her promised call to Astraia and her friends that same afternoon, while her father made her favorite meal- chicken and dumplings- for dinner that night. It was a bittersweet departure when the Winx came to fetch her for her return back to Alfea that evening.

"Don't worry, you'll be back for Halloween, then the Holidays, so we'll be having some fun then too, kid." Carl put a hand on his daughter's head, looking over at Cain who'd come with the Speacialists to help escort them safely back to the school for Fairies.

"Now all we have to worry about is making sure the Freshmen Ball goes off without a hitch!" Stella said.

"What do you mean?" Asked Terra as they walked away from the apartment buildings.

"Well, during normal years we host a Freshman Ball as you know. And each year, the Witches of Cloud Tower are not invited." Techna explained in her matter-of-fact textbook voice.

"Yeah?" Blinked a now curious Terra.

"So, each year the Witches respond by trying to crash our party or curse the gifts to the Fairies by the Specialists. In our Freshman Ball, the Trix tried using that as a distraction to find Stella's ring because it was formed from a part of the dragon flame eons ago." Bloom went on.

"But fortunately, that was when Bloom's Winx kicked in, and those nasty Trix didn't get my ring!" Stella said, showing off the Ring of Solaria on her right hand.

"Wow, that's a beautiful ring, Stella." Terra's eyes were wide at seeing the otherworldly piece of jewelery.

"Oh yes, isn't it? Unfortunately, I haven't had a need to use it in years, not since our Magic Charmix days. But I always keep it on me." Stella flipped her hair, a gesture that Terra had no difficulty in realizing that Stella was where Astraia got that movement from.

"Well, enough with the chit-chat, we have to get you ladies back to Alfea so we can return to our posts, and Cain here can meet with the other Freshman Specialists to figure out what they are giving to the Fairies this year." Sky said as though he were talking about the weather while Sadie decided to start barking in excitement.

"You know, I'd better get started on some practice since I'll be D.J-ing this thing." Musa said while they were walking through the gates to enter the Alfea college grounds minutes later. The Specialists parted ways at the front gates, Cain going back to Red Fountain in the air ship Timmy piloted.

Sadie was jumping around in an excited manner, her tail held high as she barked in greeting to other Alfea fairies as they passed. In return, the other fairies smiled and waved back before moving on to their destinations.


At the dormitories, the Winx said farewell for now, and Terra was met by her friends in her dormitory.

"Girls!" She exclaimed in surprise as Astraia's arms were wrapped tightly around her neck in a sudden embrace.

"We were so worried! When we heard what happened, we wanted to go straight to Earth to help you, but Ms. Faragonda forbade it." Sniffed Kaelea as Chita zoomed forward to collide with Terra's head.

"I'm all right, guys, really." Smiled Terra, plucking Chita from the top of her head, holding the pixie in her hands instead. "The Winx and Speacialists were there, and I managed to give one of the two witches a what-for, so we're good now." She walked into the room as Marcie closed the door.

"While you were gone, when we came back, we decided to do some training for a bit. I mean, if we're going to be facing some real trouble in our future, we've gotta be at our best, right?" Liona said with a smile.

"Exactly, and right now we are no where near as strong as the Winx, statistically speaking. We still have a long ways to go before we can challenge the Fairy Hunters." Ion nodded in agreement. "Logically, the sooner we start, the sooner we can level up just like the Winx have done."

"That sounds great. But how do you expect us all to do that? I mean, I feel a power jolt whenever someone back on Earth believes in fairies and magic. And I felt like I got loads better at that obsticle course the Winx set up for us before we left for the Parents Appreciation weekend thing." Terra agreed, and she recalled an incident back at the Magix Mall when she felt such a rejuvenating jolt of power after passing out that it was hard to explain properly at the time.

"You know, all this talk about battles and training before a big dance is a wee bit depressing-" Marcie sighed, flopping into one of the bean bag chairs in the dormitory in mock-depression as her pixie, Scarlett, fluttered over to her to sit on her lap.

"Yes, let's talk about something else, like what the Red Fountain boys will be giving the fairies this year!" Astraia agreed with Marcie.


"So... the fairies are holding a ball right now in Alfea?" Ogron frowned.

"That's what I heard." Nodded Dumon.

"How sickening." Adena frowned in disgust.

"We should take advantage of their being busy, we need to search more for the White Circle here on Earth." Stated Ogron. "If we can find it before the Winx and Terra, then we will be one step ahead!"

"And what are we to do while you're off looking for this circle thingy?" Asked Delta, feeling annoyed and put off.

"We'll give you two options... First, you can stay here and cause havoc that distracts the Winx from our mission, or you go to Alfea to do that." Snarled Ogron.

"Ooooh... I like the Alfea idea. I can destroy that place in my sleep!" Adena's smile was now a nasty one, even though she was blind still, with her sister's help, she was just as dangerous as before.

"Then get to it. The powers we gave you should help increase your odds at success while we search this rock of a planet for the White Circle." Nodded Ogron.

In response, Delta grabbed Adena by the arm, and with a nod to the Wizards of the Black Circle, the two vanished into what looked like a black hole that appeared behind them.

Reappearing, hovering high above the school of Alfea, the two sisters smirked.

"The school is right below us, sister." Delta said, while the pair hovered unnoticed by anyone.

"I say let's lay in wait, then attack when the party is going. After all, the Fairies never invite the Witches to their little parties." Adena was simply itching with excitement at the thought of the fairies running in fear from them.


In the dormitories, Sadie sniffed something she didn't like and hurried to the windows. Once she was there and saw two witches hovering above, she barked an alarm, which summoned Terra from the bathroom.

"Sadie, what is it girl?" She asked, still brushing her hair after having just showered. She could see where her dog was looking at and barking, but when she looked out as well, there was nothing in the skies above Alfea. "You need to calm down, Sadie. There's nothing out there. I think you're just all worked up from the excitement."

Sadie's eyes narrowed in frustration that her master did not clearly see what was going on out there. Somehow the Witches had seen Terra approaching her window, and vanished just in the nick of time.

"Is everything all right?" Chita had been woken from her afternoon nap, and came flying out of her little house on Terra's dresser top.

"It's fine, Sadie's just gotten excited from all this energy going around today." Terra smiled as Sadie gave a frustrated grumble before planting herself next to the window, from that point on refusing to move.

"Here we are!" Kaelea was out of breath as she ran through the dormitory entrance, skidding on the floor and nearly crashing into a book case until her pixie cast a spell that slowed her down enough to gain her footing.

"Woah! Thanks, Flicka dear!" She panted.

"What was that all about?" Blinked Terra.

"Terra, make youself presentable! We have guests coming!" Kaelea pointed out the window where Sadie was now standing guard.

"Huh?" Blinked an apparently oblivious Terra, holding her hairbrush in her right hand mid stroke still, then she looked out the window again to see a Red Fountain ship approaching, followed by many others behind. "Holy cow! I can't believe I spaced it on what time they were coming! Tell the girls I'll be right down!"

Kaelea sighed, rolling her eyes and turning away as Terra changed into something that wasn't a lilac tank-top and light blue slacks while Chita helped with her hair- putting it back in a headband after making sure every last strand was in order. Kaelea herself was wearing a knee length pink dress with a light blue, silk jacket over it apart from flat bottomed blue shoes since Astraia was making sure that today was going to be a perfect day weather-wise for a ball.

Terra came back around, wearing a blue jean tiered skirt, a violet blouse with magenta lines around the collor and bottom as well as semi-transparent sleeves, and black flat-bottomed shoes with a magenta strap around her ankels that matched her hair.

Once the two met up with their friends- Sadie and the pixies stayed behind to watch from the windows- Ion was the one who greeted them.


"Isn't this fascinating?" Ion asked, she was in her bright green t-shirt, black cut-off pants, and shoes with white socks today. "A coming together that celebrates the Freshmen students from two schools. Though I hear last time they had this, it was on a weekday two days in to the school year."

"Man, why couldn't we have been so lucky?" Sighed Astraia, who had her hair up in a butterfly clip pony tail.

"Oh please, you just would like an excuse to not have to go to school for a day. That little comment had nothing to do with the dance." Marcie stuck her tongue out at Astraia. Today for the occasion, she wore a bright pink lacey, tierd tank-top, a violet skirt that matched her eyes with a blue lace on the bottom and pink high-heeled platforms about an inch tall. Her ginger-red hair was tied back in a knot at the nape of her neck with a blue headband around her head to keep her bangs back.

The six girls joined the rest of the crowd of alfea fairies to welcome their guests for that day. Nearly all of them were dressed in semi-formal wear as well, as requested by Ms. Griselda during the announcements in the caffeteria at breakfast.

The Red Fountain ships landed in the front courtyard, and the opening of the hatches was met by many giggles and blushing faces as Ms. Faragonda and Ms. Griselda went to greet Headmaster Saladin.

"Welcome, Headmaster! I hope you had an enjoyable journey from Red Fountain?" Ms. Faragonda said.

"Oh yes, smooth sailing so to speak. I'm looking forward to tonight, I hear it's going to be quite the party." Saladin replied with a wide smile.

"Indeed, Headmaster Saladin. Some of our best allumni will be hosting it this year, and they are very excited."

As the two Heads of the schools conversed, the freshmen of Red Fountain started coming off the ships, each carrying what looked like ancient treasure chests. Cain, who was at the head of the group with Aaron at the other side of the chest caught Terra's eyes, gave a small wink, and continued walking at the front before someone crashed into him and Arron.

"Last time I hear the gift was a beatiful golden egg with etherial butterflies that came out of it." One of the fairies in the crowd whispered rather loudly.

"Really?" Her friend replied, a little more reserved than her friend. "I wonder what it is this year then!"

Terra saw Cain wink at her, she grinned back then found herself blushing when Marcie saw what was happening and slapped Terra on the back.

"Ooh, check out the boys this year!" Astraia practically squealed. In particular, she spotted Arron, one of the members of Cain's group, rather quickly.

"Please, Astraia!" Sighed an annoyed Ion. "They're just like all the other Red Fountain boys we've met. Nothing to fuss over."

"Ladies, please!" Ms. Griselda's sharp voice cracked like a whip, calling an abrupt end to all the conversation about the boys, and what the gifts could be that they brought with them. "Once the Red Fountain boys have settled in, then made their preparations for tonight, then you may socialize with your random banter. Until then, you will be dismissed."

As though in protest to Ms. Griselda's statement, the young class of fairies volume in talking went up while the crowd thinned.

"Really..." Huffed Ms. Griselda.

"Calm down, can you blame them? We haven't had a Freshmen Ball in a few years with everything that's happened. I'm sure they're just excited." Ms. Faragonda smiled, amused at how aghast Ms. Griselda was.


Back in the dormitories, the fairies were all busy getting ready for that evening's big event. In one particular dormitory, Terra, Ion, Kaelea, Marcie and Liona were standing in front of Astraia.

"Come on, Astraia, you said you had a surprise for us?" Asked Marcie, eagerly.

"Well yes. I had asked my cousin Stella for a favor, in regards to this special occasion. I asked her during Parents' Appreciation. And she couldn't pass up an opportunity like this." Astraia flipped her hair imperiously before grinning. "So, why don't you close your eyes, and I'll reveal the big surprise!"

The five girls all looked at each other, rather amused, then did as they were asked. Astraia, using a spell Stella taught her, directed the palms of her hands at her friends. A bright green and blue aura sparkled around each of the girls- who could feel new clothing wrapping around them, replacing their standard semi-formal outfits.

"All right, go for it ladies." Smiled Astraia.

When the girls opened their eyes, they saw that they were in completely new dresses designed specifically for the ball. It was as though each dress was tailored to the personality of each girl. Terra's dress was a knee length high-low, with a feathery layered front and back. The front portion being the knee length, while the back was a foot above the ankles. At her waist was a wrap-around fuschia feather lace, as well as a semi transparent lilac transparent sash with bright glimmering fuschia gems. The neck line was straight, with the same semi-transparent lilac cloth wrapping around her neck. Her sleeves were the same shade of purple as the dress, with the shoulders being exposed. Three slanted rows of amethyst gems held the light fabric of the sleeves. Her shoes were now flat bottomed violet shoes with a strap around the ankle, and up her feet from the shoe itself.

Next was Ion, who was now wearing a knee-length four tiered dress with the tiers being at the knee. Her dress was the same shade of dark green that she wore when she transformed into a fairy, with violet shoulder straps on the left shoulder to the right of the neckline and under her right breast. At her hip was a semi-transparent violet with emerald gems cloth held there with a violet sash that started at the right of her waist to go up on the left side. On her right shoulder was the same semi-transparent cloth on her waist, as a small sleeve. Her shoes were high-heeled platforms about two inches tall, emerald green tied on the outside with a violet shoe lace. On her right wrist she wore three green bangles, and on her upper left arm she wore two green bangles.

Kaelea's new dress was also a knee length high-low, the front being knee length while the back was barely ankle length. Her dress was a deep blue, with the waist and below being ruffled to look like an illusion of waves. Her shoes were the same shade of deep blue, with a ruby arched wrap around her ankles and high-heels. At her waist was a semi-transparent light blue sash, adorned with ruby gemstones. Just below her breasts was a light blue gem encrusted looping halter-top. Her shoulers were covered by the same fabric at her waist in the form of mini-sleeves. On her right shoulder the fabric wrapped from the top down across her breast to the other side underneath the halter top. On her arms was a semi-transparent red fabric that matched the ruby gems on her dress and shoes.

Marcie also was now in a high-low gown. The bottom was just above the ankle line, while the front arched down from the right of the hips to the left at the knees. It was a five tiered dress at the edges all around and at the hips with the colors intervaling between bright pink and light blue. A layer of pale blue lace acted almost like a cape around her legs. A semi-transparent sash of bright pink hung from her right shoulder to the left of her waist and around it, encrusted with sapphire jewels. The dress the waist up was light blue, as well as the wrap-around sleeves. Underneath the main fabric of her sleeves was the same fabric as the sash that went to her elbows. Her shoes were high-heeled light blue dress shoes with straps crossing her ankles and wrapping her feet above the shoe itself.

After Marcie, Liona was admiring her own new gown, also modeled in the high-low fashion. Her dress was four tiered, the back falling in a triangle shape. The main color of her gown was mulberry, with the tiered layers intervaling between mulberry, orange and pale green. At her waist was a small semi-transparent amber sash with ruby and emerald gems encrusted into it. A pale amber sash started at her right shoulder, wrapping down to her left underneath her left breast. Hanging from it on the right side were emerald and ruby gems. On her left shoulder was a mulberry wrap, making it appear to be a multicolored 'x' in the front. Hanging from the left shoulder fabric was pale amber semi-transparent cloth acting as a sleeve, adorned with the same gemstones as on her sashes. At her hands, she wore mulberry gloves. On her feet were now high-heeled platform shoes about two inches tall, with mulberry and amber fabric with her toes exposed.

"Excellente!" Astraia cried in excitement.

"Wow, Astraia! These dresses are fabulous!" Marcie exclaimed, turning herself around.

"I'm so glad you like them. These are the kind of dresses we can wear in future formal gatherings, ya know?" She giggled, still acting like a young school girl at the fact that her friends were enjoying their gifts.

"What about you? Didn't you get yourself one?" Asked Kaelea.

"Well, when my cousin asked me if I wanted one, I didn't want to sound too greedy or anything. I mean, she designed these wonderful dresses for my best friends. But after some talking, she did make me this-" She raised her right hand over her head, and her own magic aura- bright green and blue- wrapped around her as well. "She wanted to do a set of six gowns, just like how she does with the Winx." She said as the dress appeared on her. "And with a few of my suggestions, we were able to make this."

Astraia was now in a pale green high-low gown. The skirt was a mini skirt, while the back hung down to her ankles and wrapped around to the front in two layers. At her waist was a pale blue sash with bright emerald gems that covered above the cloth at her hips, then underneath the fabric from the tail of the dress. The fabric above the hips was the same pale green as the skirt, with pale green ruffles from the start of her right shoulder down to the left of her hips. Her left shoulder was covered in the same fabric as the sash acting as a sleeve. Around her neck was a diamond necklace that had a matching emerald gem mounted in the front middle. The back of the dress was three tiered, in a pattern of pale green and blue while her shoes were pale green with pale sapphire gems up to the fabric that wrapped around her feet and ankles in an arched manner.

"I think we will be mighty impressive to those boys from Red Fountain in these, don't you ladies?" Astraia was quite pleased with herself as the pixies tittered in excitement. "All that's left for us is getting our hair ready for the occasion."

"Ooh! We can help with that!" Flicka squealed in joy.

"That's ok, sweetie. But I think I wanna do my own hair for this event." Smiled Kaelea.

"I agree, and it's quite logical not to want all the work in preparing for this ball done by others. But I do appreciate the offer, my little ones." Ion smiled as Bibi looked crestfallen. She had something rather particular in mind for her hair.

"You're no fun," Bibi huffed, sitting cross-leged on Ion's right shoulder.

"Well, let's get going ladies. And not let anyone see the dresses!" Astraia suddenly clapped her hands.

So each fairy and her pixie left to their dormitories to spend some time working on their hair and make-up before dinner, since the ball would take place just after the meal. The six girls saw that many of the other fairies were all set and ready to go, the closer dinner approached.

Terra worked on curling her hair, since it was so short she couldn't really do too many fancy hair styles. But she still managed- with the help of a simple spell- to tie some fuschia streaks in her hair back to keep it out of her face.

Kaelea's hair became super curly,almost a perm, held up in a knot at the back of her head. Her bangs didn't need much curling since they were naturally curly.

While Astraia put her hair back in a single, giant knot at the right side of her head by her shoulders. She even brushed her bangs back in to the side-knot.

And Marcie had a battle with her thick, ginger-brown hair, taking her grown out bangs and braiding them to wrap around her head. She put half of her hair into a high, messy knot, then let the rest of it hang freely.

For Ion, she took her hair out of its standard braid. She then made two braids, twisting them twice around the back of her head and with the rest of the hair, put it into three mini-knots at the nape of ther neck.

Then there was Liona, who took a family heirloom that was given to her by her mother- a glimmering, old fashioned headband style tiara that matched her dress in color and shine. It held her naturally permed hair up, with her bangs also tucked behind the tiara. The tiara was large, with the bump starting on the right, getting smaller to the other side.

Finally the dinner bell rang throughout Alfea just as the final touches were being put on.

"Good luck!" Garnet called after Liona as she hurried into the hallway to join her friends. They could hear Sadie barking at the noise the bell was making.

"Everyone ready?" Asked Kaelea.

"Eyup." Marcie nodded.

"Then let's join the throng!" Astraia declared as though this were the start of a battle, to which Terra, Marcie and Liona giggled like mad.


In the Cafeteria the room- though large- seemed more crowded than usual.

"Welcome Fairies, and Specialists, ladies and gentlemen!" Ms. Faragonda's voice rang throughout the crowded Cafeteria. "The end of dinner will signal the start of the ball. Until then, please enjoy yourselves and remember, ladies, keep a good spirit about this event."

"The same goes to you young lads," Headmaster Saladin agreed. "Behave, have fun, and be mindful of one another as this event progresses."

"Behave huh?" Sneered Adena outside the cafeteria.

"As soon as the party is in full swing, I know just the thing to make those simps loose their dinner." Delta grinned, even though she couldn't see, she could still hear just as well.

"Best of all, they have no idea what's really going on back on Earth." Adena was still beside herself at how smoothly their plans were playing out. So far, no fairy or Specialist had been able to detect them. All thanks to the magic they were given by the Wizards of the Black Circle when they joined the four wizards.

The very air around the crowd seemed filled with excitement, as the students and teachers finished their meals, many of the fairies and young men started craning their necks or leaning back to see if Ms. Faragonda was done eating. Finally, a hush fell on the chattering crowd when she stood up.

"If you would all please rise-" She said, her voice ringing in the silence.

A few moments of scraping of chairs and benches.

"I declaire this ball officially started!" She raised her right hand, and all the tables vanished to reveal the ball room and its decorations to many 'wows,' and 'oohs'. At the other end of the room near the stage, the Winx appeared with Musa at the D.J. stand.


It was a couple of hours later, when the party was in full swing that the two witches outside appeared just beyond anyone's line of view.

"So where's the glass, sister?" Delta asked, and Adena grabbed Delta's right wrist to place it on the nearest window pane. "Ah..." Grinned Delta. Closing her sightless eyes, she dug her fingertips into the glass before sending a shockwave of black lightning through the first window pane. Then the attack spread around.

They could hear the startled fairies and specialists looking around in confusion as the glass began to shatter, sounding like tons of ice on a river cracking. But once the attack reached the top of the dome, that's when Terra apparently recognized the style of lightning.


"It's the Witches!" Terra called out over the now shouting fairies and specialists.

"They think they can crash OUR party?" Astraia said angrilly, having been in the middle of a dance with Kreon.

"Let's go girls! Magic Winx!" Terra called out their transformation before Bloom and her group had a chance to step in.

"Well, somebody's getting brave!" Stella said from the stage, seeing six Winx fairies appear from their aura's of light.

"That's good though, why don't we see what they can do?" Bloom asked, holding back a laugh at how much Terra and her friends were reminging her of herself and her friends back when they first started.

"You sure about this?" Aisha asked.

"It seems logical." Techna agreed with Bloom. "Sometimes the best way to see your students progress is to see how they handle them in real life chaos." There was suddenly a ping on her pager. "Oh...! An alert on my scanners on Earth?" She blinked, pulling it from her necklace.

"What is it?" Musa looked over from her D.J. equipment.

"Apparently our friends the Wizards are on the move. My sensors detect them going throughout Gardenia currently." Techna answered, staring at the holographic image that sprang up from her mini 'pager'.

"Right when we're attacked by witches? That's just too coincidental!" Flora stated.

"Well, so long as they are not harming anyone or anything, we should keep tabs on what's going on here." Bloom heard a loud crash from outside that made her wince.


"Ok you witches, we know you're out here!" Shouted Liona.

"If they won't show themselves, then perhaps I can persuade them to." Kaelea flew above Alfea college, before closing her eyes. Her dark blue aura surrounded her body, seeming to eminate from her, before a strange winged bird appeare in front of her, taking off. "You know what to do," She whispered.

"What is that thing?" Astraia asked.

"It's a type of hawk from her homeworld, I believe a Skylene?" Terra asked, to which Kaelea smiled with a shrug. "They work hand in hand with fairies of illusion, I think."

"Well, I dunno why I asked Kaelea when Terra knows anything and everything there is to know about animals." Astraia said in a light tone of voice.

Suddenly two outraged shouts brought an end to their conversation as Adena and Delta abruptly took to the air. The bird had found out their hiding spot without any problems.

With Adena pulling her sister up to the air, the multiple strange birds that found and attacked them forced them out of hiding.

"Little pest!" Shouted Adena as Delta aimed blindly at the birds nearest to her that she could see. "Ring of Black Fire!" She called out, while keeping her sister nearby. Black flames erupted around the pair, engulfing the birds which vanished upon contact with the flames.

"It's not only witches that can use illusions as trickery, don'cha'know?" Kaelea was obviously fighting hard the urge to burst out laughing at the witches.

Delta glared with clenched fists, gritting her teeth in anger and frustration. Adena hovered silently next to her.

Adena was the one who acted next. Even though she couldn't see, she could hear the fairies fluttering around them, taunting them. She could hear a set of fairy wings closest to her. Her temper broke when the fairy Kaelea tauneted them so recklessly.

"You like to make fun of us? Well, laugh at this!" Shouted Adena, raising her hands, knowing she'd hit a fairy, and she didn't care which fairy she'd hit.

The fairy nearest to her was Astraia, who realised quite quickly that if she moved, the school would be struck again, possibly some of their fellow classmates would be struck. When the witch raised her hands, and the black lightning shot from the fingers, Astraia braced herself.

A pair of alarmed shouts from Stella and her dance partner, Leon, told her there were still people down there as she suspected. Gritting her teeth, reaching out her hands at full length in front of her as the lightning approached, she 'caught' the attack in the palms of her hands. Even though it was in her hands the electricity from it seemed to engulf her. She let out a yell as she held on to it, closing her eyes against the pain from the attack.

"Astraia!" Terra shouted in shock at the sight.

She didn't respond, yet there seemed to be something changing about the black lightning as it appeared to be bleached white before she shot it right back at Adena. The witches weren't able to dodge it in time either.

"How's that feel, witches?" Snapped Astraia triumphantly, having never had the chance at this particular spell of catching, converting and redirecting lightning before.

"You know what they say, what goes around comes around, fairies-" Adena snarled, rebounding from the counterattack. With a battle cry, black flames combined with the lightning were aimed at the fairies.

"Wall of waves!" Marcie called out, while Ion used her powers to magnify the water shield's effectiveness.

"You think your little shield can protect you from our black magic?" Shouted Delta over the roar of the noise. They increased the amount of power that went into their attack, to end the stalemate with the fairies flying backwards, almost landing hard on the floor of the caffeteria turned ball room.

"Are you guys ok?" Asked Stella, her voice rather higher than normal after what she'd seen her younger neice do.

"We're fine..." Panted Liona. "Diamond spears!" She shouted her attack spell before the witches got the better of them again.

Forced to dodge mid-air, Delta spun around with a wave of black fire halting the diamond made attack from the fairy. She remembered diamond was something that could not be destroyed entirely, but at least she could stall it and dodge.

Liona smirked, pulling her hands back like a puppettier. The Diamond Spears redirected themselves in mid-air, slamming into the back of Delta who yelled out in shock and outrage. Adena in return sent another series of random strikes at their targets. Listening for the sound of fairy wings as they spread out.

"Dragon shield!" Bloom called out as some of the lightning nearly struck Musa's D.J. equipment, and the stage.

"Marcie! Ion! I've got an idea!" Terra shouted over the racket, on sudden inspiration when she recalled a scene from an old story her father used to read to her about a quest to destroy a ring of power in a mystical, ancient land. "If this works, we should be rid of these two witches."

"What's the idea?" Ion asked at once when they regrouped above Alfea college.

"Marcie, you summon up the biggest wall of water you can, Ion, you use your techno-magic to enhance the power of it. I will combine with a little something all my own." Terra explained.

Delta and Adena, who were just far enough out of ear shot couldn't hear what was being planned. Adena gave a rather curious expression as the three fairies rose up even higher, and everyone else remained where they were.

A roar of thunder, and what appeared to be a small sphere of water that just grew until it was taller than any of them. The source being Marcie, who spread out her arms to full length on either side of her body. The result of which being the pillar of water became a wave hovering in mid-air with the sound of a giant waterfall.

A green electronic grid engulfed the wave, and when Adena heard Terra shouting 'NOW', she grabbed her sister's hand. She used the combined power of her black flames and Delta's black lightning to fire at the oncoming water attack. But it wasn't just water, now it was like a river had been released, with the heads and bodies of horses racing along with it at them. For a few moments it seemed to be a stalemate between the powers, then after Ion increased her power to its limit, along with Marcie and Terra's help, the waves over came the two witches, sending them flying well away.

It was a few moments before they realised they had won, but reality set in when Astraia, Kaelea and Liona all flew up to hug them with much shouting and joy.

Bloom lowered her flame shield when she saw it was safe to do so.

"Well done girls!" Ms. Faragonda, who'd witnessed the whole fight, stepped forward before anyone else could.

"Eh?" Terra blinked, having been caught in the moment of the battle, then being surprised at how quickly it was over this time.

"I think it's safe to say, though, that we will have to continue this party outside, with the mess those two witches left." Faragonda's gaze fell on the shattered glass and burn marks from the lightning Adena shot at them.

"Stella!" Astraia called as her cousin hurried over. "Why didn't you guys step in to help?" She demanded even though she was still out of breath. "I was nearly barbequed up there!"

"Yes, but you still had control of the situation." Techna replied when Stella hugged her younger cousin in relief. "This battle showed us you have indeed been working at improving your skills."

"And on our next mission back on Earth, we may just consider taking some of you with us. Especially if your Convergence training goes well." Bloom added in excitement.

"Sweet!" Astraia and Marcie called out.


So once everyone was moved outside into the front courtyard, Bloom and the Winx were at the stage once more. This time, Musa was playing loud music that they could really dance to.

"You've certainly changed from when we first met," Cain said to Terra- she and her friends were now back in their regular forms. "You weren't even ready to accept you could perform magic, or were a fairy to begin with, now look!"

"What? Does the fact that I've found my own group of friends and we are learning to hold our own really that surprising?" Smiled Terra as they danced amongst their peers.

"Not really. I'm just glad you gave us all a chance." Replied Cain. He glanced over at his friend, Kreon, who was dancing once again with Astraia.

"Me too... even with the Wizards, and the Witches. I wouldn't trade this for the world." Terra agreed.

The party from that point forward went on without any disturbances. Techna kept a close watch on the Wizard's movements on Earth, and when Ms. Faragonda announced it was time for the gift exchange, silence fell on the large group as the young men from Red Fountain brought forward their trunks that carried the gifts. The trunks were opened, to reveal little shimmering boxes, one for each of the fairies.

Liona seemed to sense exactly what they were because her face lit up in excitement.

"These are rare gemstones," Headmaster Saladin said kindly, "Which will take the shape of the aura of the fairy that it is given to. Gathered from the dimension of Nymphyra, we hope you young ladies will enjoy this."

Terra looked around curiously as the young men walked up to each of the fairies with a small box in their hands. Cain approached her with a polite bow, handing her her own box. She opened it. The stone inside was glowing the same color as her violet magic aura, before taking the shape of an amethyst stone cut into a perfectly symmetrical paw print of a wolf.

"These are beautiful!" Liona exclaimed. "I'd always heard of the Auranite, but I never thought I'd get to see it." She smiled at the Specialist who handed her her own little box, Galen.


Later that evening, Terra was back in her room. Liona had taken each of her friends gifts, to make them into necklaces. The pixies were snoozing in their little homes on the girls' dressers as well.

Terra had gotten out of her dress, and let Chita uncurl her hair. She was now staring out of the dormitory window, the courtyard empty now with the party over and the Freshman Specialists returning. She was now back into her purple night gown with pink night pants, with Sadie curled up on her cushion.

"Everything all right?" Kaelea came out of the bathroom, now ready for bed herself with her hair hanging loosely, wearing a blue night shirt and light blue night pants.

"Oh yeah, just thinking about how crazy today was. With those witches attacking us, then Techna saying that the Wizards are on the move for some reason back on Earth." Terra shook her head. "Those witches didn't do a good job if they were trying to distract us or something."

"Maybe they were just trying to gate-crash the party. There's been a history of witches doing that for ages, ya know?" Shrugged Kaelea.

"Yeah. And tomorrow, we start our training for Convergence." Nodded Terra.

"Oh yes, after today, I don't think it will be much of a challenge." Kaelea flopped onto her bed.

"Back on Earth, this is when the teachers in my stories that I like always say 'we will see, we will see'," Terra hunched her shoulders and imitated Yoda's voice, to which Kaelea laughed at.

"Well, we'd better get some sleep. Tomorrow's going to be a big day from what Techna was alluding to." Kaelea rolled off the bed to strip back the covers and bounce in to cover herself.

"Yeah, I wonder what they will throw at us this time?" Terra voiced, kneeling over to scratch Sadie's ears before getting under the covers in her own bed.

"Dunno, but I think we can take it." Kaelea used a simple spell to turn out the lights in their dormitory.


Author's Comments-

Yes, lots of nerdy references in this chapter. Anyone who does a lot of reading, or even knows a lot about animated shows, and science fiction movies would be able to recognize some of my references right away. I couldn't help myself. I've been going on a Disney, D.C. Animated Universe, Batman, and Avatar: The Last Airbender/Legends of Korra kick lately since I got sick with a nasty flu/cold bug two weeks ago. There have been days when all I can do is lay around, so it's been a good chance to do some writing during these marathons. Thank heaven I have my lappy (lap top) and netflix on my iPad thanks to my brother letting me use his account. In short, being sick is enabling me to embrace my inner nerd.

I was excited to feel like I can write again. I haven't done as much as I used to since my Dad passed back in November. Today I'm watching History Channel 2 while I'm writing this.

This chapter means I'm getting closer to a part of the story I've been itching to get to. I won't spoil it, but let's just say it's my take on the White Circle. I've not forgotten it, it's a major part of the story!

And yes, a little something is happening with Astraia and another of the specialists. ;) And Astraia is growing in her power every chapter. Considering she IS the fairy of weather, and Stella's cousin. It'd be shameful if she never improved.

As for my deciding on Bloom and the Winx not getting involved with the fight against the Twitches, it's as Techna explained. Sometimes the best way to see how your students are improving is to see them and their performance in a 'real-life' situation. In this case, beating back the gate-crashers. That's how Bloom and her friends learned to hold their own, and it will be crucial to Terra and her friends.

Hope you guys enjoyed this chapter! On to the next!