Chapter Nine – Spelled

"How did this happen?" Timmy demanded two days after the Day of the Rose. He had returned to Red Fountain to discover that Riven had moved out and he was now rooming with Bourne and Kane. He was ignoring any attempts his former friends made to speak with him and he had completely ripped into Timmy when he had tried to talk some sense into him. What Riven had said was hurtful, direct and Riven knew that they would fester within Timmy's mind, shattering confidence.

"I don't know," Sky admitted. "He was moody all day but he was promising to make things right once the race was over and then . . . blagh!"

"He's totally out of control," Brandon sighed, rubbing his forehead in frustration. He had no idea how to make this right. Riven was going to fight them every step of the way as normal but this time his rebellion could end him up in real trouble. Riven was the kind of person that reflected the people he hung out with. He basically had no limitations both physically and morally, so his boundaries tended to be set by others and if that someone had to ethics of Darcy . . .

Brandon didn't even want to think about how much a disaster that could turn out to be.

"Yeah, but what do we do now?" Sky asked. "Just sit by and be patient and hope he comes to his senses? I'm sorry but . . . I don't know if I can do that. I know how that sounds but he just knows how to push my buttons. I don't think I can stand it."

"He can be absolutely horrible when he wants to be," Brandon agreed. "And he knows how to get under our skin. This might be harder than we think."

"You guys aren't giving up already, are you?" Timmy asked, shocked at how easily those two could turn their back on someone they called their friend. Would it be the same if it was one of them in Riven's position?

"We're not giving up on him," Sky assured Timmy. "If he realizes his mistake we'll forgive him cause that's what friends do, but I'm not going to sit around and mother him. If he pushes me I'm gonna fight back, I promise you that."

"Oh that's great Sky. That's really helping," Timmy spat, running his hands through his hair. He's gone for two days and all hell breaks loose. He should have put his friends on a leash or gotten a babysitter while he was gone to try and keep them under control.

"Timmy, I didn't mean . . . It's just . . . I . . ." Sky stuttered.

"We're just not going to take any of his crap," Brandon explained. "As soon as he sees that we're not going to put up with his attitude he'll get tried with it and move on."

"You know that will never happen," Timmy pointed out to them. "He's going to enjoy seeing you getting angry more than anything."

"Where's Riven right now?" Sky asked.

"Dunno," Brandon shrugged. "Why?"

Sky sighed. "I don't know. I don't know what to do with any of this."

"I don't know how things could get any more messed up," Brandon sulked, collapsing back onto his bed. It was weird having his friends splinter like this. Even though they had been strangers in freshmen year – with the exception of Sky and Brandon of course – they had stuck together from the start. Red Fountain was the kind of place that demanded teamwork and the students tended the stalk the halls like packs of wolves looking for a straggler or a loner to hunt down. For Brandon, warring someone he cared for as dearly as a brother went against everything he considered to be normal.

And it didn't just stop at Red Fountain. Brandon knew that Bloom was really upset for causing everything that happened on the Day of the Rose and poor Musa must be hurting even though she was doing pretty good at hiding it. Brandon just didn't understand it. He was certain Riven was crushing Musa and then like that he flips over to Darcy. What the hell? Anyone can see that Musa was a million times better than Darcy. That witch was dangerous. What was Riven thinking?

'Darcy can offer him something you wonnabe's can't,' Icy's voice lingered in his mind and then very thought of one of those witches made Brandon's blood boil. 'I have confidence in Darcy's powers of persuasion.'

Brandon knew what the witch was hinting at, but he didn't think Riven would fall so easily under Darcy's control no matter what she was offering. Riven needed to be in complete control of his emotions and his life all the time, and Brandon knew he wouldn't let Darcy manipulate him just to satisfy desirer.

At least he didn't think so. He was still contemplating the thought when his phone went off. Not looking at the caller ID, he answered it and lifted it to his ear.

"Hello," he greeted glumly.

"Brandon? Are you okay?" Bloom asked him on the other end of the line, driving Riven out of Brandon's mind. Sitting up right, Brandon tried to improve his phone manner. He knew Bloom had been feeling a bit guilty about everything that had happened, and he didn't want to make her feel worse.

"Hey Bloom. I'm fine. I'm just a bit tired I guess. Lady woke me up last night and I had trouble getting back to sleep after that," Brandon lied. "You know how it is."

"Um, yeah. Sure."

"So, what's up?"

"Okay, can I ask a massive favor?"

"Sure Bloom. Go ahead. I'll be happy to help you in any way," Brandon told her, while silently wondering if offering to be on twenty-four hours massage call would be a bit to forward for her.

"Can you guys come over and give me and the girls a lift to Magix? If you're busy, it's fine. We'll find another way."

"There is no other way!" Brandon could hear Stella in the background. "We've missed the last bus!"

"It's fine," Brandon told Bloom, smiling slightly for the first time in a while. "We'll be over soon, okay?"

"Thanks Brandon. I owe you. See you soon."

"Bye."

"What's up?" Sky asked, but he was already getting ready to go.

"Warm up the ship, Timmy. We're going to Alfea."


Riven had no idea what he was doing.

The last few days had gone by in a blur for him and he had somehow found himself in a café downtown with the company of a girl that deep down he knew he couldn't stand. She was saying everything he liked but he was smart enough that he knew that she was just buttering him up.

But Darcy was very attractive, and every time she spoke it was as if he drifted into a trance.

"Riven, you are so cute. Babe," Darcy started before laughing coyly. "I can call you babe, can't I? Because I mean you are the hottest guy at Red Fountain."

Riven put down his drink and placed his head in the palm of his hand. The way Darcy looked, the way she spoke and the way her foot lightly brushed up his leg totally enthralled him, but a part of his mind was awake enough to make him doubtful of her words. However, his ego and his infatuation buried that doubt deep within him. "Oh? Tell me more?"

"You're sizzling," Darcy continued. "You've got brains and you're so full of potential. You're incredibly talented and your talents shouldn't be wasted. With me as your partner you can get the fame and recognition that you have always deserved."

"Go on."

"Well, there is no formal arrangement sweetie, all you have to agree that you'll be mine and then, just like that, you will belong to me," Darcy told him, her hand covering his.

Riven's mind suddenly awoke up at the contact. He knew he didn't like to be control, and this witch was defiantly trying to get him under her thumb. Jerking back, Riven went on the defensive "Hey, hold on a sec."

"Look at me," Darcy ordered, not willing to give up without a fight. When Riven failed to jump to her commanded, she reached over and took his hand in hers, entwining her fingers through his. "Look at me, Riven."

Riven had a strange sinking feeling and his mind became sluggish. Everything became distant, like he was lost in a fog. But there was a voice whispering to him and echoing through the vaults of his mind.

"You know can't fight it . . . You might as well give in . . . I always get what I want eventually . . . I cannot be stopped . . . There's only one path for you now . . ."

"You're mine," Darcy informed him, her dark magic infecting his mind.

"I belong to you, Darcy," Riven agreed, his voice distant. Darcy slipped her fingers free from him, and Riven suddenly broke free from his lethargic state of mind. Shaking himself, Riven glanced about him as Darcy returned to concluding her business-like relationship merger.

"Excellent. Now, I would not call myself a clingy girlfriend but I will be needing a reliable link to contact you," Darcy told him, flicking a lock of her hair over her shoulder.

"I already gave you my phone number."

"I said reliable," Darcy repeated. "I don't trust phones. Too many people can over hear conversation or come across text messages. I was put in a rather awkward position some time ago when one male friend of mine read a message I received from another. Since then I've tended to stick to more private means of communication."

"What?" Riven asked, not understanding what she was going on about. Utterly confused, Riven tilted his head to one side and looking at her with searching eyes. Darcy suddenly laughed.

"You look like a poor little puppy dog when you do that," she told him before composing herself. Leaning forward, she reached across the table and put both her hands to his temples. "I'm going to create a link between both our minds so when can speak any time we want without the risk of anyone over hearing us."

"A mind link?" Riven repeated, and then suddenly flinched as Darcy's magic suddenly washed over his mind, chilling him to the bone. Every inch of his skin crawled as he felt her will seep into his mind, but that discomfort and cold suddenly vanished as Darcy finished establishing the link.

"All you need to do is place your fingers to your temples and picture me in you mind. The link should pretty much open on its own from there," Darcy explain, slouching back in her chair. "And, just for fun, I think we could come up with some code names for each other. I'm personally fond of Stiletto for myself."

"Isn't code names a little childish?"

"Just for that I think I'm going to stick with Puppy Dog for you."

"What?"

"Oh come on. It's kinda cute, you know."

"I don't want cute."

"Too late," Darcy smirked. Riven got ready to rip into her for that, when he realized he wasn't really angry about the nick name she had given him. He knew he didn't like it and that he should be flaring up right now, but he was oddly numb, and that hindered the normal flood of curses that should be flowing out of him. Before Rive could trying and work this out, however, a Cloud Tower witch suddenly burst into the center of the café from outside.

"Hey! Icy's gonna kick fairy booty! She's has a little Alfea baby. Let's go!"

In a loud frenzy of scraping chairs, the Hex Café was emptied in the space of a few seconds but Riven and Darcy made no effort to move. He was rather confused and Darcy seemed slightly irritated.

"Honestly," Darcy huffed. "You can't take my sisters anywhere."

"You don't approve of attack Alfea pixies?" Riven questioned.

"Approve? Please, I think it should be a professional sport. But I prefer to do it after I finish my drink. Come on. We better go join the fun," Darcy sighed, pushing away her half finished drink and getting to her feet. But then she paused when she saw the only witch that was left in the café, sitting alone at a table. "Or we can have our own fun here. Hey Mirta!"

"Huh?" the young witch asked, looking up from her hands. She was a little red haired witch with freckles and while she wore the usual odd attire of witches, it didn't look as sheik and stylish as the Trix sisters.

"Aren't you going to help us make some pixies cry, Mirta?" Darcy inquired, walking over to Mitra's table. Hesitantly, Riven followed.

"I . . . um . . ." Mirta stuttered, clearly terrified by the dreaded senior witch.

"Don't tell me you're still promoting the whole witch/pixie peace treaty," Darcy snarled, using her magic to overturn Mirta's table. The freshman flinched and tried to sink further into her chair. "You call yourself a witch? You really are pathetic, Mirta. Peace is an illusion created by weak people because they can't fight. You're such a loser. Don't you agree, Puppy Dog?"

Riven tensed slightly as Darcy's burning golden eyes turned to lock on him. Unfortunately, Riven wasn't sure if he had an answer for her. Although Riven had gotten into a fair few fights during his time at Red Fountain, he never considered himself to be a bully. He didn't purposely seek out people to torment them, he just smashed them if they happened to cross his path, but that didn't make him a bully. He was more an emotionally crippled narcissist who had violent tendencies than anything else.

But then that voice echoed through his mind, forcing him to become the cold, harassing intimidator Darcy wanted him to be.

"Don't tell me you've gone soft . . ?"

Leaning forward, Riven cupped Mirta's chin with one hand while grinned at her with a malicious smile. He would see the witch's eyes widen in fear as he put his face up right in hers.

"I dunno. Some guys like girls that let everyone walk all over them," he said in a flirtatious tone. Sometimes mockery was even more damaging than spiteful words, and this was defiantly one of those cases.

"Just leave me alone!" Mirta ordered, but her eyes were filling with tears as Magix's newest couple ganged up on her.

"But we're just getting started," Darcy informed her before she turned to address Riven. "I'll tell you what, Puppy Dog, why don't you go see if you can find my sisters and the fairy they're going to eliminate and I'll meet up with you guys as soon as I'm finished here?"

"Whatever you want, babe," Riven grinned, heading for the door. Once he was out of the café, a harsh purple light flashed through the windows, followed by Mirta crying out in alarm and pain.

Once outside, Riven realized he really had no idea which way the witches had chased the fairy off too. The Hex Café, despite the fact that it had been packed a few seconds ago, was completely deserted and he really didn't think Darcy wanted to be interrupted. But it didn't look like there was a single student from Cloud Tower left in the vicinity.

"They went that way," an indifferent voice informed him. Clearly, he had over looked one witch who was getting ready to leave the café at a tranquil pace.

She didn't look up at him, but three things stood out to Riven about her. One; she had the smallest pair of gym sorts in the world on. They the same size as Stella's winx form if not shorter, though it lacked the bright colours and it gave the witch a more sporty look than anything else. Two; her hair was two different colours. The bulk of it was such a deep shade of violet that Riven almost mistook as black and it fell freely just past her shoulder blades, but her fringe had been dyed burgundy purple and swept across her face. And three; she really did have the smallest pair of gym sorts in the world on.

Riven twisted his neck towards the direction she was pointing at, but when turned back to address the witch, she was no where to be seen.

Using the many back routs Riven had come to memorize during his time in Magix, Riven headed off in the direction the witch had pointed him and soon found signs that she hadn't been lying to him. The scorch marks in the footpath was a safe bet.

"They haven't been here yet," Riven noted aloud to himself as he stepped into a more crowded area of the street. He must have jumped ahead of the witches as he slipped through the backstreets, or he had gone off in the wrong direction at some point. Riven was just about considering going back and double checking his tracks when a fairy he recognized bolted around the corner and almost ran straight into him.

'Oh no,' he thought to himself. 'They're after Musa.'

The fairy's breathtaking blue eyes were wide as fearful, but that fear suddenly changed to hope as she saw who was standing in front of her. In a breathless voice, Musa begged him, "Riven, You have to help me."

For half a second, Riven was tempted to overlook her connection to Bloom and the others and do as she pleaded. He was still a hero and she was still hot after all, but then he remembered everything Darcy was offering him and the way his friends had betrayed him, and a wicked smirk crossed his face.

"I don't think so," he told her. "I'm with Darcy now."

Riven could see the hurt in her eyes and his cruel dismissal. Bloom had told him that Musa had a crush on him and the fact that he was equally attracted to her made it clear that Riven needed to sabotage anything between them. He was not going to let his life get messed up by a woman again, and Darcy offered him a way out of that and more.

He didn't even feel guilty as Musa ran off, shouting at him in hurt voice, "You're a two faced playa!"

Riven dropped his smirk as she bolted passed him. He knew he should feel bad for so causally throwing her to the wolves, but he didn't. He didn't feel anything at all.


Brandon continued to watch the screen of the monitor they were using to track down the missing Musa. He and the other two boys had responded instantly to the girls call, and they had quickened their hasted when they realized that Musa had gone off on her own and that there was a high possibility of her running into the witches. Brandon suddenly wished Riven as with them so they would feel more unified just like they normally were, and also because Riven new every ally way and back street of Magix like that back of his hand.

"Can't you get this piece of junk to go any faster?" Stella demanded to Timmy as he flew through Magix. The rest of the Winx Club had warned the boys about the mood swing spell that had been put on Stella, but at them moment none of them could be sure if she was being snappy from the spell or out of anxiety for her missing friend. All the girls seemed extremely worried, and it made the boys more determined to find her.

But so far, they were coming up empty handed.

"This is ridiculous," Sky growled, pacing in front of the control panels. "Where could she be?"

"There she is!" Brandon suddenly exclaimed as a small dot appeared on the screen. But he suddenly gasped when he saw all the other little dots following her. "There's a big group of witches after her. Okay, let's step on it, Timmy."

"You got it," Timmy confirmed, swinging the squad ship around and trying to find a suitable place to land. "We should intercept her here, but it's not open enough for us to land."

"She's cornered on the other side of that wall," Brandon reported, pointing to the wall what was right where they were trying to land. "Timmy, land this thing!"

"But I'll smash down the wall," Timmy protested.

"Those witches are going to do a lot worse if we don't," Sky pointed out.

"Right!" Timmy agreed. "Hold onto something, guys."

Slowly, Timmy began the decent down to the streets of Magix while trying to avoid hitting the buildings on either side. The nose of the ship, however, could not avoid hitting the wall, and the entire ship shock as metal scraped against rock. Fully conscious of what this might do to the people on the other side of that wall, Timmy let of a weak laser, breaking the wall apart and finally touched down on the ground. A second later, the Winx Club were at the door.

"Musa!" Bloom cried, jumping out into the dust filled ally way. Debris and dust covered the witches, and the wall was completely leveled. Frantically, the Winx Club and the boys search for a sign of the missing fairy.

"Guys!" Musa called, jumping about from behind one of the only bits of wall that had remained standing from the blast, and ran over to the group where she was instantly welcomed by the girls.

"Who invited you dorks?" Icy demanded, glaring at the group. "This event is RSVP only!"

"RSVP this!" Bloom spat, getting ready to throw an energy ball of magic at the witch that had threatened her friend. Brandon crossed his arms across his chest, silently swelling with pride because of Bloom's loyalty to her friends. But Blooms concentration and Brandans thoughts were shatter by a deep voice calling out to him.

"Brandon!"

With an almost animal like pace, Riven stalked through the witches to come face to face with his old friends, he cold eyes fixed on Brandon's blue ones. There was something different about him that was for sure. All the boys could sense it, but none of them could place it.

"You're hanging out with this crowd now?" Brandon spat, his blood chilling at the cold way Riven observed him.

"Yeah. This crowd is much more happening then you could ever hope to be," Riven answered, withdrawing his saber. "They're true friends."

Even Riven didn't believe his own words, but he did know his old squad and everything they valued and friendship was high on that list. The very thought of the Trix being more loyal than them was sure to get under their skin and strike a nerve, and by the looks of it, Riven knew he had predicted right.

"You've lost your mind and now you're going to lose this fight!" Brandon fumed. Driven by rage, Brandon unleashed blade and charged forward, ready to knock some sense into his 'friend'.

"Bring it, tough guy," Riven challenged, his saber meeting with Brandon's blue sword. Brandon glared at his classmate, who easily parried his attack, and Brandon almost shivered as Riven's cold eyes stared into him. Out of the corner of his eye, Brandon saw the other witches move in to attack the rest of his friends, but Prince Sky stopped them in their tracks by creating a barrier with his broad sword.

"You can't honestly think theses witches are your friends," Brandon hissed, blocking Riven's attack. The temperature dropped dramatically as Icy started to lose her temper.

"They're not without their issues," Riven admitted in an almost casual tone, glancing at Stormy for a second as she sent bolts of electricity into the air. "But I'm sick of your goody goody act."

"So you think siding with them is better? Don't be ridiculous," Brandon spat. Behind him, he felt the air shift slightly and he knew the fairies were transforming. It was the first time he had seen Tecna, Flora and Musa transform into the Winx, and it was always interesting to see how their magic would alter their outfits. All three suited their particular gift, and all complemented the girls greatly.

Turning his attention back to his adversary, Brandon noticed that the change in fairies forms didn't go past Riven either, and it effected the burgundy specialist in more ways then one. His offensive fighting stance instantly shifted to a defensive one and he seem almost confused of the position he was in.

"Huh? What?" Riven stammered, his eyes darting around him as if trying to understand why he was here. Brandon couldn't help but notice that his violet eyes would often drift back to Musa a lot.

"You alright?" Brandon asked, slowing his attack for a second. Briefly, their eyes locked, and Brandon knew something wasn't right. He knew Riven was lost and confused, and he was certain that the Trix had something behind it. But just as suddenly, Riven's eyes shifted back into that cold dead state and he raise his blade ready to attack.

"This is going to be fun," a cold voice stated above the two boys, and Darcy levitated into the battle. She had finish tormenting Mirta and had arrived just in time to reinstate her hold over Riven's mind before he broke free from her spell. She had sensed Riven had harbored an attraction to one of those loser pixies when she had first entered his mind, and she was not going to lose her prize to anyone, let alone someone from cutesy academy.

Attacking Musa without hesitation, Darcy quickly gained the upper hand over the fairy. Gods, these freshmen's really were pathetic this year. First she had smashed Mirta, and now she was going to pulverize this musical misfit. Multiplying herself, Darcy moved in to end this lame excuse for a fight.

"Now me, myself and I are going to finish you off," she grinned, surrounding Musa and gathering her magic. She was almost disappointed that it was going to be over so soon, but she really didn't feel like playing around. Not when there were four other fairies she could pick on plus their boy toys.

"I got you Musa!" Sky cried, swinging his broadsword through one of the multiplies. It didn't hurt her as badly as it would have if he had managed to hit the original, but it was enough to rattle her. Her magic failed and she collapsed to the ground.

Sky couldn't suppress the smug grin that spread across his face. He believed that Darcy was the one responsible for turning Riven against them, and felt good to get some revenge. That jubilation was crushed, however, when he heard someone sniggering behind him.

"No we got you," one of the Cloud Tower witches that had followed the Trix sneered, and the next thing Sky knew he was flying backward to scrape across the pavement before coming to a stop along side Musa.

"Prince Sky!" she exclaimed.

"I'm okay," he assured her, though he didn't feel it.

"Good assit. Thanks."

"Go get Stella," he told her, and the fairy flew off. "I'll just lay here for a bit. It's quiet peaceful really."

Up in the sky, he saw Flora get absolutely snapped by Stormy's Voltage Slap, and he suddenly got the idea that maybe this wasn't the best place to have a break.


Tecna had taken an early hit from Icy, and she still hadn't recovered. Timmy had remained at her side, offering her any help he could while also being ready to defend her if chance demanded.

"You're going to be alright," he comforted her, while above him Stormy and Bloom went head to head. Riven and Brandon were still at it, and Sky was doing his best to help out the rest of the girls, but the witches clearly had the advantage, and they knew it.

"Sorry, I don't think she is," Icy smirked extending her hand out before her. "I call this geek alamode."

Timmy could help but cry out in alarm as a sheet of ice crept along the ground to encase Tecna slowly. The Digital Fairy still wasn't able to defend herself, so she was completely vulnerable, and Timmy was virtually helpless when it came to battle magic.

But that didn't mean he was going to just roll over and give up. This was his crush she was attacking "Back off Icy!"

Icy scoffed a laugh. "Oh please. Here's a double scoop!"

Timmy's eyes widened as Icy's attack headed towards Tecna and himself. He couldn't stop something like that, and Tecna's legs were still trapped be the ice, making escape impossible.

"Stop!" Stella suddenly demanded, throwing herself in the line of the attack. With a surge of sun magic, Stella deflected the ice attack, melting it with her warmth. Icy did not look too impressed, but she wasn't a witch to give up just because of one little hiccup.

"Okay. Triple scoop!"

"Solar Flare!" Stella shouted back, hurling her own beam of magic in Icy's direction. The two powers collided, and both girls continued to feed them as they struggled to overpower each others attack.

"Tecna!" Timmy called urgently, trying to wake the still unfocused fairy. "You need to wake up!"

"Timmy?" Tecna croaked, slowly coming too.

"Tecna! You need to get free from this ice!"

"I'm so tired."

"Tecna! Please!"

But the fairy's eyes closed. This was not good.


"Can't you see what's happening?" Brandon hissed, his blade sliding across Riven's saber. "C'mon, Riven! These witches are bad news and you know it! We should be able to talk about this!"

Riven suddenly laughed, but it lacked any kind of amusement. "Same old Brandon. Still afraid of a fight."

"Excuse me? Do you not know what school I go to?"

"That's different. It's education. But if you move out of the classroom you lose your nerve. If you're faced with anything that doesn't fall under the schools code of conduct or your sense of duty you look for a way to step around it."

"Bull."

"No it isn't. You've been doing it ever since freshmen year. Things get too heavy or too personal and you run. You put up this good guy act, but underneath it all, you're a coward."

"And you're full of it, Riven!" Brandon growled, lunging forward. But like always, Riven words seeped into his subconscious and planted themselves firmly in his mind.

But before he could make Riven pay for his vicious words, a huge white light distracted the two Red Fountain students. Blinded by the sudden light, both boys were forced to stop and cover their eyes.

"What's that?" Brandon gasped, trying to see what was happening around him, but it was hopeless against such and intense light. That couldn't be coming from a person, could it? If if belonged to the Trix, then they were in trouble. But a second later, the three sisters fell from the sky and landed painfully onto the pavement.

"Darcy!" Riven called, running over to where his girlfriend had just face planted into the ground. She was not going to be in a good mood. After hesitating for half a second, Riven decided it would be worse if he didn't act so he quickly helped her to her feet. "Babe, come on."

"Retreat! Now!" Icy ordered the other witches, who didn't need to be told twice.

"I've never seen a power like this before," Sky gasped, no longer concerned about their retreating enemies. Although he didn't posses any level of magic, Sky was no stranger to it. But this was something else. "What is it?"

"I have no idea, bro," Brandon admitted. Slowly, the light started the fade and out of the middle of it materialized Bloom. Completely exhausted, she collapsed to her knees, and Brandon rushed to her side. "Bloom! Are you ok?

Groggily, Bloom raised her tired face to look at him. "What?"

"Whoa, you looked pretty wiped."

"I dunno what happened, but I'm so tired."

"Here. Let's get you back to Alfea," Brandon suggested, helping her to her feet. But as soon as she was standing, her legs buckled slightly and she almost fell again. Wordlessly, Brandon scooped her into his arms and carried her to the ship. And although he was still trying to figure out if it was possible that an Earth girl, who shouldn't have any magic to begin with, could have that kind of power, he couldn't help but notice how nice it felt to have her warm body cradled in his arms. Reluctantly, Brandon put her down on one of the equipment crates they had in the hold of the ship.

"Next stop; Alfea!" Timmy announced, starting up the engine. He had assisted Tecna into the ship, and she now sat beside him at the control panel. She was still a little groggy, but at least she wasn't an icicle.

"Timmy," she said almost shyly, her eyes fixed on the controls in front of her. "Thank you for everything you did back there."

"It was nothing," Timmy assured her, a bit of colouring entering his cheeks. "That's what us heroes do."

"You're too modest."

"Yeah man, take a complement," Sky told his friend before moving back through the ship to join the girls. Brandon had managed to find a powered sashay of heroes brew amongst their stores and mixed it with water before handing it to Bloom.

"Have some heroes brew," Brandon told the red head, handing her the cup. She was still looking pretty pale and tried, and heroes brew was the best way to counter something like that. "It'll bring you back to your self in no time."

Bloom managed to drink the cup in lightning speed, and her colour and strength instantly returned. She still looked drain, but it wasn't as bad as before. "Ah, I feel much better."

"We'll you don't look so good. Maybe you need some hero's makeup. Physce!" Stella teased cruelly. Her friends didn't seem to find it very funny, even though all the boys found the very idea of something like hero's make up was ridiculous.

"Come on Stella," Flora scolded in her pleasant voice. She and the other girls were clearing starting to lose patience with the princess.

Sky, however, found it secretly funny. Stella really knew how to spot out somebody's flaws, but she normally had enough restraint not to point them out or at least she didn't do it intentionally. But not having a moral road block allowed her to produce thing she would never say under circumstances and it took all of Sky's will power not to laugh out loud. "Is that the spell you mentioned?"

"Yeah, she's not herself at all," Musa told him. Sky felt sorry for Musa. While she was physically fine after the run in with the witches, Sky could tell she was still pretty upset about what had happened back there. Or, more accurately, what had happened with Riven. Why did a good girl like her have to fall for a jerk like Riven? And with Darcy pair up with him, the couple were going to flaunt their relationship in front of the fairy just to upset her.

Suddenly, Sky hated Riven for the way he was hurting Musa. It just didn't make sense. Sky was certain that Riven was crushing Musa before Darcy messed everything up, and now Riven was going out of his way to hurt Musa. That was just cruel, and no amount of screwed up childhood could account for that.

How could anyone be that heartless?

"So what happened to you back there, Bloom?" Timmy asked the fairy, taking his eyes off the sky for a second. But he was a pretty confident flier in this particular area, so he figured he could risk it. He's curiosity was too strong for him to ignore.

Brandon was just as eager for answers. "Yeah, you had an insane amount of power, do you realize that?"

"All I really remember is getting super mad," Bloom told them in a soft voice. She still didn't understand everything about her power so she couldn't explain it. Hell, she had only just discovered it for the first time a little while ago.

"Interesting," Brandon commented, but he was as lost of an explanation as Bloom was.

Luckily, Tecna seemed to have an answer for everything, and she provided it as she joined the rest of the girls at the back of the ship. "Well, I believe Blooms powers have evolved to a completely high level."

"Whatever it is, let's give a big loud shout out to our girl Bloom!" Musa suggested, in her usual cheery voice.

"I'm giving her a shout out to put on lipstick and change her outfit," Stella shot down, forcing Musa to roll her eyes.

"Does anyone happen to know how long these mood swing spells can last?"

Before anyone could answer, Stella got to her feet and continued her friend trashing. "Musa, that one shoulder look is so last century."

Musa's eyes narrowed slight as Stella continued to torment her. "Yo girl, mood swing spell or not you're wearing my patience real thin so you better just chillax. And if she doesn't I suggest we slap her with a good strong opposidus spell."

"Oh yeah, just try it," Stella challenged.

"I'd rather not but if you keep pushin' . . ." Musa trailed off, leaving Stella to fill in the blanks herself.

"Look I happen to be a princess and I expect to be treated like one. I can't be treated like an average non princess," Stella told them all, pointing at Tecna before moving to Bloom, "or an earth girl."

Bloom groaned slightly, sinking in her seat. "Don't start with me again."

But Stella was not going to stop just because her friends asked her too. "Earth is like eww!"

Flora suddenly had enough. Gathering her magic and the spell she had learnt in the second week of school she put a stop to Stella's mood swings. "Reverous opposidus!"

The effect was immediate. Stella's bitchy attitude suddenly dropped and was replaced with a feel good spell that put her on a natural high. As a result, she became very warm and loving.

"You're all amazing and beautiful and its great and so are you!" Stella gushed, and everyone burst out laughing. "Tecna you're just so awesome, and Flora you the best and Musa I think you just rock, girl. I love from the bottom of your scuffed up sneakers to the top of your groovy pigtails. They're so cool!"

"Ah, the power of magic," Musa grinned as everyone continued to laugh.

"And we can't forget about the guys! You like totally saved our butts so many times! Brandon, you're so sweet! And Timmy, you're the coolest! Oh! And Sky! You're so hot! Come here you!"

Prince Sky suddenly found himself lock in her embrace as she smothered him in kisses, which made the prince go very red and his friends laugh even harder.

"I'd say this mission was successful," Brandon grinned at Timmy, who was looking over his should at the show that Stella was putting on for all of them.

"I'll second that!" Timmy laughed, before turning his attention back to where they were going.


TBC