Chapter 11: Junior league

Amber's POV:

"Flora, why don't you take your hippy dippy research, and go save a different planet?" Stella screamed on the top of her lungs. I am sure all of Alfea heard her. But why is she shouting so much? Right, because of Flora's plants.

"That's not nice!" Flora countered.

"Hey come on guys stop fighting." I interjected trying to break the two apart. Bloom helped me.

"Her flower power has gone too far." Stella declared annoyed.

"I am close to finishing my new potion; it will protect us from the witches." Flora said shrugging.

"Like homeopathy can work against dark magic. It'd be like don't you DARE mess with us or we'll hit you with a daisy and go all herbal on you!" Stella remarked.

"Hey it could actually work! You never know." I tried to break the fight again.

"Yeah it can be an alternative." Bloom agreed.

"Huh, it's out of control." Complained Stella. "It wasn't enough to turn your room into a stinky 24 hour potion lab; she had to invade MY room with her veggies."

"You know it's my room too." I mentioned. "But I am not complaining." I walk behind Stella as she walks into our room.

Well Stella totally ignored me. "And now she crossed the line with those bratty little fashion victim plants. The shrinking my clothes, using my makeup, they are self absorbed mirror addicts."

"They are adapting to their environment." Flora defended.

"That's my Goblin Giovanna, that's my favorite dress." Stella shrieked. "You see what's happening in our room?" She asked turning towards me. "Oh my poor poor clothes." She whined leaning against me.

I sighed out loud. "They are just clothes Stella." Bloom and I said at the same time.

"No, they are couture! You know what that means? They are one of a kind. The shrinking is bad enough but they are also mixing stripes with floral! It's like a horror show." She pointed towards some plants who were trying Stella's dresses and makeup. I noticed the condition of clothes but didn't comment anything. Actually it was kinda funny and I was having a hard time holding back my laugh. It was the first time in my life I had seen such plants. Well I guess there are many firsts waiting for me in the future.

"Maybe I can fix this. Tecna might know a counter spell." Flora suggested walking into Tecna and Musa's room. "He Musa have you seen Tecna?" She asked as soon as we entered their room.

"Nah. She is been off the radar." Musa answered whilst reading a music book.

"I need to find a spell to unshrink couture." Flora said moving towards Tecna's closet.

"Hey doesn't the nocturnal ivy do that?" Musa asked looking up from the sheets she was reading.

"Oh yeah, I could combine it with a drop of sparkly parsley oil." Flora thought whilst opening the door to the closet. I gasped as soon as I saw the scene inside. Oh my god. Flora turned towards the closet and her eyes widened too. "Tecna!" Inside the closet was Tecna with long wines wrapping her and covering her mouth who was trying to break free of those vines.

"Uhhmuphh…" Flora waved her finger and freed Tecna from the vines. "Where have you been? All I wanted was a jacket and I got kidnapped by this psycho plant!" Tecna complained sounding exasperated.

"You see what Flora is doing to our leaving conditions?" Stella questioned dramatically.

"Here it Flo? That stuff is not cool. Not cool at all." Musa supported Stella and Tecna.

"Your plant also happened to eat my notebook. Is there any way to get it back?" Tecna asked twisting her wrists.

By the guilty expression Flora had I knew there was no way. "Get it... uh… back? Uh… no."

"What about a spell?" Tecna questioned angrily.

"Whatever the ivy eats is pretty much gone." Flora answered wincing. For a second I was angry at Flora too.

"I really didn't know it would grow so fast! I am so sorry." Flora apologized bending on her knees. At that time I forgave her. Afterall she is our friend she needs our help. She is not doing all these purposely. And who doesn't make mistakes? I think we should help her in her experiment.

"What am I supposed to do?" Tecna scowled. "Tell the teacher that a plant ate my homework? Oh yeah… she would believe that!" She said walking towards her bed and sitting on it. She started combing her hair all the while frowning. I guess combing hair releases her anger.

"This plant nonsense has gone too far. This is a dormitory not a rainforest." Stella stated annoyed.

"I understand." Flora said sadly hanging her head. "I'll move out to Black mud swamp and I won't come back until I am done with my potion." She started moving towards the door.

"You'll move out?" Bloom asked shocked.

"Yeah… I am so sorry for all the trouble I have caused you." She apologized sadly.

I could feel her loneliness right now. I don't know how but I could. "Hey Flora!" I called. "You can't move to Black mud swamp. There are keekbugs over there and not to mention subterrian sludge bugs! She should stay!"

"Amber's right. She should stay right guys? Tell her to stay." Bloom asked turning towards Stella, Musa and Tecna. But the just pretended as if Bloom just didn't say that. "This is unbelievable guys. You call yourselves her friends and you let her go like that?" she asked angrily.

"Her plants used all my makeup." Stella shrugged.

"And they ate my homework." Tecna pointed.

"Flora's our friend you guys. So what if she made a couple of mistakes. That doesn't mean she has to go leave in a swamp. I promised to help her and from where I come promises are never broken." I declared and walked out the door banging it to give an extra effect. Bloom followed me with all the other girls. I knew that would work. We then walked towards Black Mud swamp.

"Thank you so much for coming. Only true friends would follow me into this swamp." She grinned happily.

"Hey, wouldn't miss it for anything." Stella remarked while examining her wedges which were soaked in mud.

"Yo Flo, we are your peeps, for better or for worse." Musa smiled.

"Worst includes the occasional fashion fiasco, right Stel?" Bloom asked in an amused voice.

"You know what they say, all for one and one for all." Stella frowned.

"Oh wonderful." Flora chirped. "I would need your help to find this ingredient. It won't be easy. This is it; the cheerful gladiolus."

"If that's it couldn't you had it delivered?" Stella questioned folding her hands infront of her chest. "It's a flower!"

"Actually there is only one left in the world! The BMJL has it." Flora informed.

"Hey that sounds like a hip hop group!" Musa mused.

"Nah ah. It's the Black Mud Junior League. You know they do the volunteer work around here." Flora corrected.

"I've heard of them too." I commented remembering reading about this in a book.

"Oh that's like the Solarian junior league." Stella piped in. "I got their sweetest shoes at their selling auction."

"This one's run by the undines. Little water nymphs; they have ruled the swamp for centuries." Flora stated.

"Reality check Flora, you're asking them for the last cheerful gladiolus, why would they give it to you?" Stella frowned. I just shook my head at her question.

"I don't expect them too." Flora said removing a bottle which I guess contains a potion. "That's why I developed a potion especially for this. All I need is to borrow a flower and use a drop of my invention." She continued turning around a putting a drop on a plant leaf. "I call it the vegal cloner." I watched as the drop slid down the leaf and a whole new patch of the same leaves grew. Wow. It was amazing. Flora is truly a very talented fairy. "In this way the flower won't be endangered anymore."

"So let's go and get that flower. But we'll leave kiko here. He'll be safer that way." Bloom suggested.

"Troy be a good boy and take care of yourself and kiko." I commanded patting my loving dogs hed. He just barked in agreement and wagged his tail.

"Speaking of being safe, I think that I should stay here too." Stella chirped folding her hands behind her back and giving us a puppy face. Well no one's gonna fall for it.

"Get your booty moving now…" Musa ordered as we all walked inside the swamp and Stella followed.

"But I have this feeling, its creeping me out." Stella whined sounding like a 6 year old.

"Any place five miles away from the mall creeps you out." Musa said nonchalantly. I stifled a laugh at that. It was so true.

"No, I am telling you, I am feeling as if there is something out there." Stella said in a scared tone.

"Stop thinking so much Stel and move faster." I suggested.

We were now walking in a more muddy part. "Uhh. I can't wait until we find the nymphs and head back to civilization." Stella declared whilst wiping the dirt on her wedges.

"Chillax." Musa said somewhat irritated by Stella's nonstop whining.

"Not that I can't handle a bit of swamp." Stella added as an afterthought.

"Yeah right! You couldn't even handle a kiddy pool if it was in the garden of your castle in Solaria." Musa said scowling.

"Please! I have travelled all around the world! I have been in far harsher environments than BLA…" Before she could finish her sentence she tripped and fell down in the pool of mud. I winced at the loud bang she fell with. We all ran towards her to check if she is okay.

"She is over there." I pointed towards the tree she was sitting against. "Are you okay?" I asked concerned.

"No, I am not okay. I am a princess," She said standing up, "I shouldn't be subjected to slimy environments and neither should my shoes." She started wiping the mud out of her hair, clothes and ofcourse shoes. "Just find those stupid nymphs."

"Uh… hey quiet." Flora whispered to Stella.

But does she ever listen? No. "No listen." She started shouting. "I bet those nymphs don't even exist…" But Flora shut her mouth by keeping her hands on her lips.

"That's them." Flora remarked pointing towards cute little creatures swimming under water. They looked like miniature mermaids with transparent flaps of skin under their arms which allowed them to fly, but had no real wings. They appeared to be of various colors like blue, purple and green but the most prominent being a very light shade of blue. Their whole body was like a mermaid's however, they were much smaller in size and their hands, aside from their thumbs were fused together. There were two light blue nymphs playing with each other.

"They are so little." Bloom commented.

"Is that why they call them Junior league?" I questioned in a whisper.

"They are like tiny mermaids." Musa observed.

"Yeah." I agreed. "They are so cute." They were adorable.

"Look, is that their crib?" Musa asked fascinated.

"Yeah that must be where they live." Stella gasped.

"Awesome! What are those things? Those little bubbles?" Bloom asked.

"It's really fascinating. Each bubbly is like a sleeping place that houses one nymph." Flora answered quietly.

"Hello," A cute blue nymph popped out of the water shocking me. "Welcome to the black mud swamp junior league headquarters ladies. I suppose you are here to get tickets for the literacy for the butterflies tea party benefit."

"There aren't any left," Another nymph popped out. "But we could put your names on the waitlist. Follow us." She finished and we followed them to their queen. As I walked I looked around at the divine nature. It was beautiful. The nature was so peaceful and amazing. I bet Flora loves it."

We soon reached to the queen. She just looked like other nymphs except she had golden skin and eyes. She wore a flower/leaf-like crown and wielded a small golden scepter with a small flower at the top. She sat on a throne made of golden moss and green leaves in a small golden audience hall made decorated with green moss and purple berries found at the roots of a large tree. Her name was queen Algae

"This event for the butterfly literacy will be an event to remember. It will be bigger than our Slump Palace Tour." The queen said.

"The thing is that's not why we are here your," Stella started but then turned to Bloom to whisper. "Should I call her your highness or your littleness?"

"Majesty. Try your majesty." Bloom suggested back in a whisper.

"Actually we are here to borrow your cheerful gladiolus." Flora said bending to the queen's level.

"A big request. May I ask why you need the last flower?" The queen enquired.

"Sure. It's the one ingredient I am missing in my witch repellant potion." Flora answered truthfully.

"Well that's interesting because I might need something from you." The queen said. Her face contracted into one of sadness and her voice became saddened too. "Please excuse if this is unladylike. Tell them Catrea."

"We're in very dire straits." A blue nymph informed in a very sad voice. "Are you at all good with monsters?"

We all gasped. "What? A monster's after you?" I asked surprised.

"Allow me to explain." The queen interjected. "That is Zilith Island." She said pointing towards an island. "It is the only place in the swamp where our food grows. We had full access to this island and its Zilith leaves until a giant water creature attacked us." We all frowned at that. "Now we cannot go anywhere near it or the monster will eat us."

"Why is he attacking you?" Bloom asked.

"We don't know! All the creatures in this swamp have lived in harmony for as long as anyone can remember." The queen answered shrugging.

"But all that's changed and I am afraid we're in terrible trouble." Catrea continued. "We might put up a good front but the truth is that our food supply is so low some of us won't last past tomorrow."

"Things have become so desperate that a few nights ago one of our members snuck over there all by herself. It was brave but foolish." The queen remarked. Catrea laid her head down the queen's thrones handle and sighed in sadness. I could actually feel the waves of helplessness and sadness coming out of them.

We all gasped sadly. "Oh no. What happened to her?" Bloom asked.

"She never came back." The queen answered ion a grave voice and we all looked at her terrified. Oh the poor nymph. Catrea was crying loudly and the queen tried to calm her down.

"That's horrible." Flora gasped.

"I hate to impose but you all are big and perhaps you could help us." The queen requested.

"Sure we will help you." I smiled standing up.

"Count me in." Bloom stated.

"We are all going to kick that monster's booty." Musa chirped.

"Let's go girls!" Bloom suggested.

"Yeah let's get that monster." Flora said standing up too. We all transformed into our fairy forms and started flying towards the island.

We all looked around for any signs of monster but found none. "Did you hear something?" Stella asked stopping suddenly.

"I don't think so." Tecna answered looking at Stella.

We were currently flying on the surface of water. "Girls I have a thought to offer." Stella said. "You know how the nymphs are saying that this monster is so way gigantic, but the nymphs are tiny and so may be its just giant to them and we can take it down easily! Right? You know?" We all turned towards her to see a large shadow rise up in the water. Stella frowned at us. "What you don't think I am right?" Suddenly a large head of a monster popped out of the water and all of us gasped loudly. "AAHHHAHHH!" Stella screamed turning around.

"Don't separate." Musa commanded as we moved closer to eachother.

"If we stick together it can't get us." Flora remarked. Nut she was wrong as monster dived in the water and then resurfaced again throwing us apart. We all flew out of its way but Musa was to late. The monster literally ATE her.

"Musa!" We al shouted and flew towards her. "We need a spell!" Tecna stated.

"Yeah! There is one palladium taught us, remember?" I said hurriedly. "Everyone together."

"Block out H2O and let the oxygen flow." We chanted and a bubble encased us. "And now for the light source. Digi illuminator." Tecna said clicking her fingers and providing us light. We dived inside the water and started looking for the monster. "We better hurry." Tecna suggested.

"There's the monster." Flora pointed. "It's asleep."

"Or maybe it's just pretending." Bloom stated.

We all flew to the very bottom near its cave. Its mouth was slightly open and I could see Musa lay on its tongue, her eyes closed. It looked as if she wasn't breathing. Before the monster could close its mouth and swallow her I dived right in his mouth. I picked Musa up and provided her with the oxygen bubble. I casted extrication spells and got Musa out of the monster's mouth. "You did it." Stella cheered as I carried Musa away from the now pissed off monster. "I see its time to go."

Musa gained consciousness and I set her down. "Yo what's up? Oh yeah the monster!"

"Quick everyone follow me!" Flora commanded and we did as she told. We all flew up and out of the water and onto the island and our bubbles popped.

"The island!" Stella said sighing in relief. "So where do we check in Flora?" Stella joked.

"Very funny, Stella." Flora replied smiling. "Now let's get the Zilith."

"This is weird. I don't see any of them around here." Bloom noted looking around.

"It has to be somewhere. A systematic search is in order." Tecna replied frowning.

"The nymph said it grows somewhere near a family?" Stella said yawning loudly.

"Yes, near the trees of the Everzile family." Tecna informed walking forward.

"Hey Flora, do you know which kind of tree this is?" Bloom asked touching a tree trunk.

"No. But I am pretty sure it's not Everzile." Flora replied and then yawned.

"It smells so nice! Like designer perfume." Stella commented smiling sleepily. I let out a yawn too. Why did I feel like sleeping suddenly? What's wrong?

"I am so seriously exhausted!" Bloom said in a really sleepy voice. "I guess it's from all that swimming."

"I could go for a power nap myself." Stella stated stretching her hands.

"Its way too quiet over here." Tecna noticed. "Don't you think?"

"There are no birds." Stella replied.

"Yes that's right, there's no chirping at all!" Tecna said looking shocked.

"I miss my duvet so much right now." Stella remarked smiling sleepily.

"This is strange. I am going to analyze the air composition right now." Tecna spoke starting to analyze something.

"You know once you get used to this island it's pretty comfortable." Stella vocalized.

"Yeah…" I agreed.

"Everyone! Stop breathing! There appears to be sleeping gas in the air. Girls! Girls!" Tecna exclaimed.

"Ah… bring me an extra pillow and some of those mints, will you?" Stella said as she slept in the rocks sighing contently.

"Stella don't breathe! Stay awake." Tecna said moving towards her and shaking her. She formed a barrier between her face and the air using her helmet. Oh how I wish I could take a nap too. I feel so sleepy I just wish I had my bed. "Come on Stella don't close your eyes."

"It's okay!" Stella shrugged Tecna's hands. "I asked for a wakeup call." She turned towards the other side.

Tecna gasped and looked around. "Flora, Musa oh no, wake up. Don't let yourselves fall asleep. Don't"

"Can you tell us a bedtime story?" Musa asked.

"Yeah can you tuck me in?" Flora requested. I too wanted to sleep badly. I felt so low on energy that I could just take a nap.

"Tecna," Bloom called, "I've never ever been so tired." Tecna quickly grabbed Bloom as she was about to fall.

"Look over there Tecna. Look at that ugly tree." I pointed to the ugly tree falling onto my knees. It was the one emitting the sleeping gas!

"There must be where the sleeping gas must be coming from." Bloom continued. "Look at all the sleeping birdies. And look at the sleeping little nymph. She is taking a nap. What a good idea." Saying that Bloom fell asleep too.

"Amber," Tecna shouted running towards me and supporting me. "Don't fall asleep. Stay awake. Please."

"I am so sleepy and tired. Don't think I can hold up much longer." I said laying down on the ground. "Do something." I suggested as my eyes tried to close. It took all my willpower to keep them open.

"Oxygenous layerous." I heard Tecna say. I didn't quite catch the next words as I was almost asleep. But then suddenly I gained some energy. After a minute I didn't feel tired anymore. "Come on Amber. You have to help me."

"What do you have in mind?" I asked curiously.

"We have to use all the winx we can muster." Tecna ordered. "Oxygenous layerous." I gave all my energy and helped Tecna make the bubble bigger. "We need more!" She exclaimed. "Oxygenous layerous." The bubble expanded and everyone opened their eyes and stretched.

"Good Morning. I could so go for some pancakes." Musa remarked.

Stella sighed contently. "Let's get room service. I guess I want a continental breakfast." These two will never change, will they? She opened her eyes and noticed a bug crawling up her arm. "Ahh! It's a zit bug! Help! This thing is going to give me blemishes!

Musa and Flora just laughed. "Don't be drama tripping. It's just a little ladybug." Musa said.

Stella ran in circles screaming. "No, it's a zit bug!"

"No that can't be! They live in cold climates." Tecna pointed out while giggling.

I giggled along with her. "We will tell her that later. Now we need a bubble to cover the whole island."

"Let's power converge." Bloom suggested.

"Everybody ready? One two and three." Tecna said and we all converged our powers.

The nymph woke up and yawned. "Hey are you okay?" Bloom questioned smiling at the nymph.

"Yes please excuse my appearance. I just woke up and I cannot find my hairbrush." The nymph spoke sweetly.

"Your friends are worried about you." I informed walking forward.

"I came here in the search of Zilith. I searched high and low but could only find one. Then I fell asleep." The nymph informed. Suddenly the ground below us started shaking.

"The monster! Its coming!" Musa exclaimed.

"Actually my dear, the monster is already here. Infact we are all standing on it." The nymph told us.

"What do you mean?" Bloom asked looking confused.

"This is not an island at all. This is the shell of a giant turtle. And the poor turtle's not evil. She is just under the willow's spell." Said the nymph.

"Why would a tree wanna put a spell on a turtle?" I asked even more confused.

"Yeah…" Stella agreed. "What is wrong with that willow? Aren't trees supposed to be peaceful?"

The nymph shook her head sadly. "This is a windigo willow. It's a type of a parasite and its sucking all the nutrients from the swamp. And if it isn't stopped soon, everything here will perish."

"Don't worry about it. We will take care of it. I mean how intimidating a tree possibly could be." Tecna said. As if on cue the willow roared loudly. "Ah! Spoke too soon!"

"Oh my! It's going to get all of us!" The nymph gasped.

"I am not for deforestation, but here we don't have a choice. I am going to turn this tree into charcoal." Bloom declared flying up and hitting it with her fire energy.

"It's fireproof." I said looking wide eyed. Nothing happened to it.

"I will cast a spell that will cause its roots burn." Flora suggested.

"Okay then! I will hit the roots and leave the rest to you." Bloom shouted and hit its roots with all her might.

"Trunkus incideratous." Flora chanted hitting the tree. The tree started burning from within and Flora hit it with a spell. The tree exploded into a stream of butterflies. "We did it." Flora and Bloom hugged eachother.

"That was a major flower power Flora." Bloom appreciated.

We all cheered for Flora and relieved the true sound of the nature awakening.

We were now standing infront of the queen again. "For centuries that windigo willow sucked the swamp dry and killed many creatures. I don't know how you did it but I am very grateful to you all." The queen said.

"I feel bad for the turtle." Stella said shrugging.

The queen smiled kindly art us. "The turtle is going to be just fine." She reassured pointing towards the turtle that was now swimming away.

"I never knew I would say this, but this swamp is really cool." Stella remarked grinning.

"Too bad we have to move on since there is only one Zilith leaf left." The queen said sadly.

"Wait you can't move away from the Swamp. You are the junior league of the swamp. The creatures here will need you." I told frowning.

"There is only one leaf left. We will soon run out of food. Even if we ration it slowly we will soon run out of food. We have eventually leave." The queen explained. "We do not have a choice. We cannot stay!"

"You are not going anywhere, your majesty. I have the solution to your problem." Flora smiled. She pulled out her potion and dropped it on the leaf. Soon the leaf multiplied into 50 leaves. It was incredible. The nymphs cheered and jumped in happiness.

"I was wrong! Flower power rules." Stella chirped.

"Hey you two," I nudged Stella and Tecna, "Don't you both have to apologize."

"I was a witch! Sorry." Stella apologized.

Tecna ran her hands through her hand looked awkwardly. "Although, conflicts are regular in one out of five friendships, I am sorry too."

"It's okay you guys," Flora said hugging them, "My experiments got out of control too."

"Ladies, you have done so much for us! We cannot thank enough! We would like to give you a small gift as a symbol of our gratitude." The queen thanked standing up. She gave us the Cheerful Gladiolus. "You deserve to have it in your possession." Flora gasped happily. "I hope it helps you with your new potion."

"I can promise I will take great care of it." Flora promised accepting the flower.

"So are you going to make copies of it?" I asked curiously.

"Yeah, but we may have to put it into Stella and your room. It has the best sunlight." Flora smiled.

"What?" Stella frowned. I nudged her hard in the ribs and she laughed. "Oh yeah great!" We all laughed at her dorkiness. Winx club is the best!