Some five hours had passed since leaving Bekisan, and it was time for a sleep period. All four of them were very tired,
and with good reason. They were at the control consoles making adjustments.
"Okay," said Lucy, sitting at the port console, "I've set the sensors to alarm if the Witches' ship comes within range,
but I doubt it will. We've got too much of a head start."
"Me either," said Timmy, "You really did a number on them."
"Well, yeah, they deserved it," was the reply.
A few minutes later they were settling down. Since Zing had bonded with Mirta, room on her bunk was put aside for the Pixie.
It was only about fifteen minutes since they had laid down, but Zing could tell by Mirta's regular breathing that she had fallen asleep. Lucy, on the other hand, was still awake and a bit restless. Zing left her spot on Mirta's pillow and flew down to the lower bunk.
"Lucy?" Zing said, softly.
"What?" replied the Witch, turning over to face the Pixie. Her green eyes reflected the low light in the room.
Zing landed on the edge of the bed and sat down. "Can we talk some more?"
After a moment's silence, Lucy said, "Why not? It's not like I can sleep right now anyway."
"Were you really going to kill those Witches?" asked Zing.
"I was ready to, until Mirta stopped me," was the reply.
"I'm glad she did. I don't want anything to happen to you," said the Pixie.
Lucy made no reply, but her eyebrows lifted.
"Her Enchantix form is beautiful, isn't it? I can't describe the feeling I got when I saw it," said Zing.
"Yeah, it is. But getting it was the last thing on her mind. All she wanted was to protect me." Lucy paused, then added "I wonder if a Witch has ever caused a Fairy to get that form before."
"I don't know. but Ms. Faragonda might," said Zing. "You really love her, don't you?"
"You know I should swat you for asking that," said Lucy, sharply.
Zing gulped, and started to move away from her.
"But since we're friends now, and you're her bonded Pixie, I won't. I'm not gonna answer, though," she added.
Zing stood up and started to fly off, then stopped and turned back to Lucy and sat down again.
"Was there something else?" asked the Witch.
"I want to say I'm sorry," started the Pixie. "I'll lift the punishment from you. It was wrong of me to do that, anyway."
"No, you won't lift it," answered Lucy, "You'll leave it just like it is."
This unexpected reply stunned the Pixie of Insects. She took a moment to recover her senses. "Why would you submit to it? Don't you hate it, and me for putting it on you?"
"Speaking as a Witch, yeah, I do," said Lucy, then she chuckled. "But accepting it is making you suffer, so I can have my revenge without lifting a finger."
After a long silence, Zing said, "I don't understand."
"You wouldn't; it's Witch logic," was the reply. "But other stuff is involved, too. See, when I first came to Cloud Tower, I really admired Icy, Darcy, and Stormy. I SO BADLY wanted to become one of the Trix. Mirta tried to warn me, but I pushed her away, thinking she was jealous. Then they humiliated me badly, and that made me see who my real friend was. But it was still a long time before my pride would let me admit it."
Lucy turned onto her back and put her hands behind her head.
"Except for Mirta, I've never had any close friends. I've never been part of a group. With the Trix I saw an opportunity to become powerful, popular, and feared." She glanced at the Pixie, who was looking a bit confused. "Those are the kinds of things Witches want. You wouldn't understand because you've always been part of a group, and don't care about power."
"Oh..." said Zing.
"With the Winx Fairies, I'll never be one of them, but they accept me as I am, and are my friends," said Lucy, "I guess that's close enough. The punishment you gave me isn't so bad, and I don't really hate you for it. You're making me be a friend to all Pixies, but what I want to know is, will other Pixies be MY friends?"
"I-- I don't know," admitted Zing, "That's one reason why I wanted to lift it."
Lucy snorted with laughter. "I see. You obligated me to something that has to go both ways without knowing if the 'other way' will work. That makes my revenge sweeter, especially if I'm rejected. But I'll keep my promise anyway."
Zing sighed. "You've really got me good, even though it's supposed to be you being punished."
It was all Lucy could do not to laugh out loud and wake Mirta.
wcwcwc
At the fifteen-hour mark, Timmy called Red Fountain. A three-way call was quickly set up, and the ship's data and mission records were forwarded.
"I gather everything went well?" asked Saladin.
"We got the... uh, artifact, sir, but we did have a couple of run-ins with some witches," said Timmy.
"I see. Good job, Timmy. I'll be looking at the logs with much interest." Saladin replied.
"Lucy, report," said Griffin.
"Mission successful, Ms. Griffin," the witch replied, "And... I've tapped into new depths of power within. I'm stronger now than I've ever been."
"We'll test that claim when you get back," was the reply, and the Cloud Tower Headmistress fell silent.
"Mirta?" asked Ms. Faragonda.
"Guess what, ma'am? I got my Enchantix!" said Mirta with a big grin.
"Wonderful! You'll have to tell me all about it!" said Faragonda, "And I can't wait to see you in that form! I've wondered what you would evolve into."
"She looks great!" interjected Timmy. "Uh, please don't tell Tecna I said that."
"That's not all! Zing has bonded with me! I finally have a pixie!" Mirta almost squealed.
"I'm sure the Winx Club girls and their pixies will be very happy for you! I'll let them know, and tell Tecna you're fine, Timmy. I promise not to mention the other comment."
Timmy blushed red. "Thanks, ma'am."
wcwcwc
They did not realize that the witches ship, still far behind and outside sensor range, was slowly catching up with them.
"Don't worry," said Zee, "We'll catch them before they reach Magix."
"We'd better," said Inez, "You know what will happen to us if we go back to the Coven empty-handed."
All three witches tried to repress a shudder, but were unsuccessful.
"Blasted Mirta!" raged Inez, "It's all her fault! When I've got her in my power, I'm gonna rip her wings off, and stuff them down her throat."
"I want that witch," said Zee, "Imagine her defending those... those goody-goodies, when she should have been on our side!"
"And I want the Specialist!" said Megan, "Instead of keeping him for a pet, I'll just rip his knowledge of mechanics and electronics out of his head, and leave him a vegetable!"
The three laughed, enjoying their fantasies.