A/N: Updates might be coming slower now; I'm taking some time off to give my story 'Sting' some love, because I am neglecting it and it sits in a sad little lump in the corner of my 'My Stories' page, crying. :(
Princess Bloom of Sparx (soon to be Queen Bloom of Eraklyon after Erendor abdicated and she and Sky married) was sitting on her balcony, savoring time where she could just sit with her fairy-puppy and Kiko, instead of with all of her smothering maids.
"Isn't today beautiful?" she asked the blue rabbit that had been her best friend since before she met Stella. Then she sighed heavily.
Yes, every day was beautiful in her palace, the same beauty as the day before. Bloom was counting the days until she could see her friends again (9) the days until she married Sky (84 and eighteen hours, counting today), until she understood the war on his planet, until she could help with the Eraklyonion Civil War, until she could feel like a real fairy again, not a fairy statue, made of glass and kept in a case, where she could see the world but not touch it—
Bloom's cellphone rang, jolting her out of her not-quite miserable thoughts. Putting down her teacup, she crossed back into her bedroom, grabbing the phone off her bedside table. "Hello, Princess Bloom speaking. How may I help you?" inwardly, she rolled her eyes at the secretary-like words she was required to say.
Moments later, nothing but shock covered her face. "What?" she almost dropped the phone before regaining her composure. "I was there! I shook that Ms. Brand's hand! I—I—" she hung up, or maybe she was hung up on. She couldn't even tell. "I am going to look very, very stupid." she muttered, reaching for her dressing gown and hairbrush.
Bloom was not too surprised to see Tecna, Flora, and Layla already gathered at Alfea's gates once more when her craft landed. "Can you believe this?" she asked after obligationary hugs were exchanged.
"I sure can't," Flora piped up, frowning slightly. "I mean, I thought about them escaping again, but I was sure we'd be contacted."
Tecna bit her lip. "There was a forty-three-point-two percent chance of them escaping, and a seventy-five percent chance that they'd succeed. We can't say we're surprised."
"Look at what they did to the Omega Dimension," Layla added. "and the Lighthaven Therapy Simulation, and Red Fountain, and Cloud Tower, and—" she gestured to the school for fairies in front of which they were standing, "Alfea."
"Where're the other girls?" asked Bloom. Flora rolled her eyes, glancing at the doors. It was summertime here, and lots of girls had gone home for the vacation.
"Musa's father doesn't own a craft. Stella picked her up on her way, so they'll both be late."
"And possibly dead." laughed Layla. The other girl smiled in memory of the stark differences between the musical fairy and the sun-loving princess.
About fifteen minutes later, a brightly painted Solarian craft landed in the courtyard. Out stomped Stella, who stuck her nose in the air and made a point of not looking at Musa, who exited after her.
Bloom rolled her eyes at her best friend's dramatic actions. "What did you say, Musa?"
"Nothing, I swear," the dark haired fairy replied, throwing her hands into the air in defeat but still stubbornly refusing to apologize for the unknown transgression.
"Come on, guys, why don't—"
"Girls?"
Bloom turned in synch with the Winx, eyes widening when she realized it was her old headmistress as the fairy-wing gates opened. Normally the situation would be cause for hugs and pleasantries, but today was much more dire.
"We need to talk, Ms. Faragonda." she said, crossing her arms in what she hoped was a businesslike manner.
"Of course, girls. What about?"
"In your office." Layla added.
"Like you don't know what about." Stella muttered under her breath (but still loudly enough for everyone to hear). Faragonda flinched at the comment as if she had been hurt.
Bloom didn't mince words when they were standing around Faragonda's desk, as they had so many times before. "Why were we not contacted when the Trix escaped Lighthaven?"
Faragonda paused before speaking. "Girls, we couldn't give that information to anyone. It was confidential. The entire coven is noted as evil, but this generation of girls have especially gained a reputation. There are so many urban legends about them that to know that they were out and about would cause a riot...how did you find out, anyway?"
Tecna blushed and looked down at the floor, fingertips brushing the holographic visual stimulator on her wrist.
"I see."
"We had a right to know." Stella argued, elbowing Flora to contribute to the point. The brunette fairy nodded gently, her anger tempered by sweetness.
"The Winx Club has beaten the Trix every time, Ms. F."
"We've been fighting these witches from Day One." Layla added.
"Girls," Faragonda looked saddened by their anger. "Girls, if you feel like you should find the Trix, then do so. I'm sure you will have some ideas about where they are."
"Gardenia!" Bloom piped up. The headmistress pressed her lips together uncomfortably. "I'd be...careful there, girls. There have been lots of people around that area, asking questions."
"So? It's just police. We can deal." Stella waved her words away.
"Not police, this time, Stella. Earth is no stranger to combat, even if it is a stranger to magic, and Red Fountain and Saladin have been in contact with—well, you may have scared people, and scared people are people whose judgement isn't the best."
"I never liked this planet," Stormy complained as the Trix sat in the ruins of what had probably been an important building before something had wrecked havoc on it. "And when I'm queen of it, I want to destroy Gardenia myself."
Darcy held out another cigarette to her, a packet that had been full now only half-filled. "Try it again. And for Dragon's sake, not so hard this time."
Stormy held out one finger and allowed a tiny spark of electricity to light it, bringing her face close to it to observe it. "What does it do?"
"I'm not sure," muttered Darcy. "I just did what it said on the box. Smells good, though." she breathed deeply.
"Would you two shut up and think?" Icy said, irritated. "Can't even figure out how to use...one of these things." she grabbed the still-hit cigarette from Darcy, put half of it in her mouth, and promptly spat it out.
Darcy and Stormy politely said nothing.
"Icy, when will you tell us how you knew Darcy would get her memories back?" asked Stormy, scratching her head, accidentally igniting her hair, screaming and slapping at her head, and waiting for an answer in the span of five seconds.
"I didn't." was their leader's unenthusiastic reply.
"Then what did you know?" Darcy felt confused. "I thought this was the fail safe."
"No," Icy said, holding up her right hand. "This is."
Again, her sisters politely said nothing.
