[)15C141M3R: I do not own Winx Club, or 1337-5p34k. Thank goodness. Thank you to Ultimate Bohab for the review!
Chapter Eight: Gathering
Mirsia... Alfea slowly made her way back to Magix Castle, still enraged over what had happened in the village Ekini had been calling home. Mirsia... The name echoed in her mind. A name which Alfea had long associated with a cheerful girl who was kind to whoever she met, had become a haunting whisper; now the name of the one who had killed Ekini and countless others. Mirsia! looked down at the two necklaces in her trembling hands. Ekini's dragon, and Mirsia's heart. The castle was not far ahead, but Alfea began to fear the worst. If Ekini's gone, what could have happened to everyone else? She touched her hand on her chest, and could feel her heartbeat, together with the powerful warmth of the Dragon-flame deep within her. One thing was certain. Darkar's war had begun, and the time to fight was near. Alfea quickened her flight, and soared back to the castle. She was relieved when from outside of the gates she could see that Kalina, and Tressia were talking, while Lask had been leaning on the stone wall of the castle. Alfea quietly landed near the three other girls, with her head hung. The only sounds she made were hushed sobs.
"Alfea!" Lask shouted. Looking over Magix's guardian fairy, Lask could see that Alfea was bleeding from her left arm, which was covered in what appeared to be bite marks. Judging by appearances alone, something had gone horribly wrong. She swallowed nervously before proceeding. "What happened? Where's Ekini?"
Alfea shuddered as she continued to weep. "She's... gone. I couldn't help her." She stood completely still, like a statue.
"Ekini can't be..." Lask took a few steps back in shock. "But how?"
"What happened?" Kalina asked, her voice still steady and firm. "The other villages were each attacked by one of the mother witches. By the time we each arrived, they had long gone. Who was left to attack the fourth? Darkar himself?"
Alfea shook her head. "It wasn't Darkar... it was Mirsia."
"What?!" Lask quickly processed the information. "Ekini's friend?" Alfea nodded. Lask felt her entire body go numb.
"Who is this Mirsia?" Kalina asked, seeking clarification.
"Mirsia was Ekini's best friend," Alfea said. "And she was mine too. She... killed Ekini." The images of what happened were etched into her mind, and brought a feeling of nausea with them; strong enough to bring her to her knees.
"Then we're in trouble," Tressia said, finally joining in on the conversation. "Without the Dragon-flame, we won't be able to even come close to matching the Phoenix."
"We still have the Dragon-flame," Alfea said sombrely. She raised her arm out in front of her, and created a small fire within her palm, like the flame of a dying candle. The two other fairies gasped out in shock.
"Then there's still hope." Lask helped Alfea back up on her feet. "We can still fight Darkar!"
A rare smile formed on Kalina's face. "We haven't lost yet! As long as that flame burns, we will protect all of Magix."
Alfea wiped away her tears, and took on a face of determination. "We need to get ready," she said. "Darkar will probably come after us next." She began to take flight once more. "I've got something to take care of first."
Lask quickly shook her head, and lifted her open palm forward, glowing like a small star, before quickly closing it. "Sun's gravity!" Alfea exhaled sharply as she was pulled back down to the ground.
"What was that fo-"
"You're not going anywhere until the old lady heals you." Lask pointed at Alfea's bleeding arm. The sun-fairy looked as though she were choking back tears. "I don't want to lose any more of my friends..." Tressia and Kalina nodded in agreement.
Alfea bowed her head, and let Lask drag her back into Magix Castle. When she looked down at her own wound, her mind wandered. I don't even remember how this happened. I was too focused – too angry... at her. Mirsia.
"Everyone get into the temple!" Lucius waved his arm as he directed a crowd of villagers into an elegant building made of fine stone and expensive metals, perched on top of small hill. It was the largest building in the small town, and at the moment, everyone needed to be in the same place; so they would be easier to defend. Two Enchantix fairies had aided him in the task, by flying the children to safety inside of the structure. When the last villager was inside, Lucius turned to look down the hill, on to the rest of the town.
The streets were filled with fetid, long-snouted, black-furred creatures that walked with a severely hunched posture. Despite their bestial natures, they were not entirely devoid of intelligence. Many of the creatures had wielded makeshift weaponry; tree stumps, rocks and the like. They all appeared to be in great pain, as all sorts of parasites had nested in their fur, slowly devouring them alive. And now, it seemed they intended to take out whatever frustrations may have plagued them out on the villagers.
The two fairies flew up to the top of the temple, holding each other's hands. They were two tan skinned girls, one with short, messy green hair, and the other with long, tidy seafoam blue hair, who also kept her eyes closed.
"We're ready!" The green-haired fairy yelled.
"Alright!" Lucius yelled back. "I'll tell Cyrus!" Lucius flew down to a man waiting patiently near the bottom of the hill. He had long black hair, and a face that was fixed into a scowl. He had worn cheap plate armour which had been dented all over from innumerable blows, and he kept a long, sharp two-handed blade strapped to his back. When the man noticed Lucius's appearance, he raised an eyebrow. "Chica and Anthem are both in position."
"Good." A small smirk formed on the man's face. "I bet you regret not bringing your sword or your armour now, huh Lucius?"
"I can still kill more of them than you, Cyrus." Lucius chuckled a bit. "You're out of practice."
"We'll see. Just get back and kill as many of them as you can. I don't want Anthem to get hurt." Cyrus turned his attention forward, and saw that the beasts had come close. He took a deep breath, and gripped the hilt of his blade, ready to draw. One of the beasts opened it's mouth revealing its rotting yellow teeth, and the scent of its breath poisoned the air. The other beasts began to follow suit. Now! Cyrus dashed forward, and drew his sword. Mid-swing, his second hand took hold of the hilt, and he guided his blade into a horizontal strike, aimed where the mandible and the cranium met. The pressure from the blow warped the creature's brittle skull, and it caved in on itself, crushing the organs underneath. The blade continued to carve through, and soon enough, the beast's crown was separated from its body. Blood spilled out of cracks in the bones. However, that was not the end of Cyrus's attack. His sword stayed on its path, inflicting the same fate to two other unfortunate creatures who were standing nearby.
The monsters roared loudly as they saw their brethren fall. Some rushed to the swordsman, while others began to run by him and go uphill. Not far behind Cyrus was Lucius, who was floating in the air and chanting quietly. His hands were close together, holding a glowing orb. He quickly raised the orb into the air, and bolts of light began to fly from it, assaulting the beasts. Those that were touched by the bolts were singed by the harsh rays.
Yet still, there were creatures that passed by Lucius and still made a run for the temple on top of the hill. There were no more than four of them, but bloodthirsty grins formed on their faces when they saw the helpless villagers huddled in fear inside the building. Before they even reached the door, they had already been killed, taken by surprise from the fairies on top of the roof.
Alfea took a deep breath, as she waded into the moonlit sparkling waters. After being healed by Litra, she travelled to Lake Roccaluce. It was a pure and clear pool of blue, surrounded by trees on all sides. Water lilies of all colours had floated on the calm surface. Despite the hope her heart possessed, she could not help but feel disappointed by the emptiness of the lake. Ever so often, she'd hear a faint whisper, but it would be lost to the breeze.
"I don't know what to say," she thought aloud. "I thought you would be here."
Instead, to fight off her depression, Alfea focused on performing a meditation her teacher had shown her, so many years prior. Something to free herself from the aura of death that had gripped her in Brightfield. She closed her eyes, and kept them relaxed. She counted every breath she took. There was a small chant that formed in her mind.
"Fading whispers in the night, you shall never be forgotten. Forever I shall remember that which has transpired this night. And through my words, you shall live forever. Loquacious spectres, find peace. A world beyond the plane of suffering awaits you. I cannot guide you, but I know if you search you will find it. And there, you shall find the peace that death never brought you." Alfea opened her eyes, and looked up to the full moon. The constant din in her mind had slowly disappeared. She was finally alone with only her thoughts.
Alone. There was joy that the spirits had moved on and no longer screamed in her mind, but a sorrow that one spirit in particular was absent. Even if that one spirit had promised to haunt her. And despite that, Alfea felt a bit of reassurance in her heart. She took flight to return to Magix Castle and prepare for the coming day. As she flew, she took one final look back at the lake.
"We'll meet again. Soon."
"I got thirty-seven," Lucius said, as he dusted himself off. He slowly descended to the ground, where Cyrus was leaning on his sword, panting heavily. The long-haired warrior was covered in blood, dirt, and a few new wounds, but he still managed to crack a smile.
"Forty-one."
"Seriously?" Lucius had a skeptical look on his face.
"Go ahead and count 'em." Cyrus wiped the blood from his blade off on the fur of one of the bodies, before hanging it on his back.
Lucius looked down to the corpses and innards littering the bottom of the hill for a few seconds, as if entertaining the notion, before he began to walk back up to the temple. "I'd rather not stay around the smell any longer."
"Fair enough." The two walked up to the temple, where the fairies Chica and Anthem were waiting for them.
"Twenty-three," said Chica, the green-haired fairy.
"Shouldn't you know how many we killed already?" Cyrus asked. He wore a dull expression on his face.
"I can't concentrate my powers during a fight!"
"Thirty-seven," Lucius said.
"Forty-one," Cyrus said after. "Looks like I win this time."
Chica folded her arms and pouted. "Only 'cause you hogged the front lines. Right Anthem?"
The girl who kept her eyes closed sighed. "I don't really care."
The villagers inside of the temple looked to their saviours with reverence. A bald man adorned with all manner of jewelery came forth from the crowd, with his hands clasped together. "Thank you saving our village. I wish that things didn't have to be this way. The Bipir are normally such docile animals."
"I'll bet that the Cult of Darkar has something to do with this," Chica commented. "I'll meditate on it later."
"We owe you all for our safety." The man continued. "We haven't much to offer, but is there anything we can do for you?"
Cyrus looked over the man several times, making a note of just how many material possessions her had on his person. A necklace, two bracelets, and seven rings; and they didn't look like they were made of cheap metals either. "Haven't much to offer, my ass," Cyrus said. Chica nudged him, and wiped the gore off of her elbow shortly after, whilst sticking her tongue out in disgust. "What? We can't spend gratitude."
"We don't want anything," Anthem said sweetly. "We're just doing what was right." Cyrus groaned in frustration.
"I'm afraid you'll have some serious cleaning to do for the next couple of... months. Lucius said. "But there is something you can do to help us. Firstly, we'd like to clean ourselves off. Especially him." He pointed to Cyrus, who glared in return.
"That can easily be arranged," the man said, shaking slightly. What he did for the four was half out of gratitude, and half out of fear. These were not people he wanted to cross. Even if only one of them appeared to be outwardly threatening.
"Secondly..." Lucius leaned in, as if he were about to speak of an important secret. "Do you know where we can find a portus aboral?"
The long night had ended, and morning had come quickly. The events of the previous day still burned within everyone's minds. Even for those who were responsible for the dark deeds.
"Master, we've returned," Belladona said coolly. She, along with Lysslis, Tharma and Mirsia knelt down before Phoenix, who was seated on his throne. "The villages surrounding Magix are lifeless, and Cloud Tower is ours. We've even managed to gather some of the members of the cult."
"I am quite aware of your success," Phoenix said proudly. A bat-like creature hanging from underneath his arm swooped into the air and landed on Phoenix's shoulder. "I sent Kerbog here to watch you. You've proven yourselves to be the most powerful witches in the universe once again."
"Thank you, master," the three witches recited in unison.
"Your success has impressed me as well, young one," Phoenix said, as he looked towards Mirsia. "Killing the Dragon-fairy was something I had not foreseen."
"Thank you... master," Mirsia said. "But I wasn't able to take the full Dragon-flame from her."
"It is no matter," Phoenix said. "The flame is incapable of being entirely stolen from its possessor." He let out an irritable sigh. "I know, because I've tried. Regardless, the most powerful being in our way has been disposed of, and the new Dragon-fairy will be easily dealt with."
"There's a new Dragon-fairy?" Tharma asked.
"Yes," Phoenix replied, sounding uninterested in the fairy's existence. "A girl named Alfea." Mirsia let out a quiet gasp, causing Phoenix to chuckle. "She will be easily dealt with."
"Please, let me take care of her," Mirsia said. She knelt as she made her request.
"I do not wish to launch a full offensive at this time. And you four are currently indispensable," Phoenix said. He could see disappointment in Mirsia's eyes. "I have sent a suitable warrior to mete my current plans."
"Who is it?" Lysliss asked. She twisted her mouth, pondering over the possible candidates. Whoever it was, Lysslis had already instructed one of her own followers to tag along. Not so much as a spy, but as assurance that their job would be done.
"Dark fairy Kalrys. I am sending her along with several subordinates. While they battle in the city, we will take a little trip to a land below even us."
Belladona chuckled knowingly. "You want us to attack the Downland?"
"I must deal with them before they become a threat. I wish to leave Magix somewhat intact, in the hopes that they will request reinforcements. Then, I shall deal with them in one fell swoop."
"Then say no more!" Tharma exclaimed. "We'll be back in the hour."
"I shall accompany you on this mission." Phoenix stood up from his seat on the throne. "I want to deal with these pests personally. And maybe have a bit of fun."
"And what of the group attacking Magix?"
Phoenix held out a glowing hand and began to concentrate. He laughed to himself shortly after. "I can sense the battle has already begun."
"Author's" Notes: So many line breaks, so many different characters. I don't think I've introduced this many characters at once since the first chapter. Fun fact: The side story involving Lucius's team on whatever realm they're on wasn't in the original draft.
Thank you for reading, or skipping to the end of this story! Feel free to leave a review if you feel like it. Feedback is always appreciated!
