- Edited -

"Wake up!"

Something hard came into contact with Rhythma's head, forcing her to open her eyes and automatically groan when her vision remained dark.

What had happened? What had the monster done? She closed her eyes again, refusing to let Icy see her face.

Icy chuckled once she realized the fairy was awake. "Good. Be lucky I let you sleep that long, anyway." There was a pause, and then footsteps came closer to the young fairy. "Open your eyes." The command was sharp.

Rhythma squeezed her eyes shut and didn't move.

"Break her bones." Icy suddenly ordered. "Until she complies. When there are no bones left, make her suffer in any way possible."

The fairy screeched as the creature supposedly in the same room as her slammed its clawed arm onto her shoulder, smashing the bone upon impact. "Stop! Please!"

"Then open your eyes." Darcy snapped. Rhythma didn't even know the witch was in the room as well. "And hurry. Fairy bones are very easy to break."

Stormy laughed, making Rhythma wince. "He might accidentally hit your spine. Then you'll never walk again."

The fairy whimpered as she felt the monster draw its arm back again, ready to strike.

It paused.

And finally, Rhythma groaned and opened her eyes. "W-wait." She croaked, her voice laced with fear. "Please stop."

Icy chuckled, and must have told the monster to stop, because Rhythma heard it take several steps back. "Come here, fairy." The witch's tone was sharp.

Slowly, the prisoner stood up and walked over to the witch, almost feeling the smirk of Icy as the witch brushed her face with her cold hands.

"Speak, fairy." She ordered. "What happened?"

"I'm b-blind." Rhythma stuttered, looking down. She didn't even know how she was blind. She just was.

Icy's hand suddenly gripped her chin, forcing her to look up so the witch could examine the supposedly milky eyes. Rhythma squeaked in pain, but didn't struggle.

Rhythma heard Darcy step toward her. "Let's strike a deal, shall we?" Her tone suggested that it really wasn't a question.

"You don't ever keep your word." The fairy spat, fear lacing her voice as she gained some of her confidence back. "Why should I listen to you?"

Stormy chuckled. "Because you don't have a choice." Her eyes sparkled. "Unless you want to have truly broken arm next." As if to prove her point, the storm witch grabbed her injured arm and twisted it painfully, making the girl scream.

"Please! Don't break it!" She cried. Stormy jerked it again, and Rhythma went silent, her clouded eyes watering. "What do you want?"

Darcy spoke. "I will give you back your sight, little fairy," she said, causing Rhythma to look up sharply, "as well as repair your shoulder - and arm, if you like - if you kneel down and tell us that you belong to us."

Rhythma croaked. "No way." Her voice was horrified. They couldn't make her say such a lie. She would never belong to them.

"Let me rephrase that," Darcy spoke in a very low tone, and suddenly the monster from earlier grabbed the girl by the neck and lifted her high in the air, slowly strangling her. "You WILL kneel before us unless you want to die."

Rhythma screamed as her neck bones began to snap one by one.

"Well?" Darcy's tone was menacing.

Rhythma gasped. "I'll do it!" She cried, tears running down her face. "Please, just don't kill me."

The monster released the fairy.

Icy stepped forward and hauled the girl to her feet quite harshly by the hair.

"Now kneel." Her order made Rhythma flinch.

"A-alright." She whispered, lowering herself onto one knee and bowing her head.

Silence.

Icy snorted.

"Say it."

Rhythma whimpered, tears in her eyes again. "I belong to you." She mumbled.

Chuckling. "Say it again." Stormy sneered. "Louder."

"I belong to you." She said, still softly, but loud enough for it to echo across the room she was currently occupying.

Icy walked forward and seemingly waved the monster behind the fairy away, as it took several more steps back and left Rhythma on one knee before her captors. She was sure they could all see the terror in her milky eyes.

Darcy stepped forward until she was standing over Rhythma, arms crossed. "Stand up."

Rhythma groaned, but slowly rose to her feet. The purple witch chuckled and grabbed the fairy by the front of her shirt, pulling her closer.

"Welcome back, little fairy." She hissed. "I think you'll find your stay most terrible."

Icy cackled cruelly. "You're going to tell us exactly how to defeat the Alfea fairies." She ordered. "And then we're going to tear your pretty new wings off as a punishment for escaping a few weeks ago."

Rhythma's eyes widened in fear once again, but she didn't struggle as the Trix forced her walk in front of them toward Griffin's former office. Stormy held firmly into the back of her shirt, probably because she was cautious about the young fairy and her sudden change in attitude.

Once in the office, the witches restrained Rhythma - chaining her to a pillar - and stood in front of her, smirking. "Darcy," Icy said evilly. "Uphold your end of the promise. I want her to see exactly what we're going to do."

Rhythma whimpered. But a moment later, the world that was once shrouded in darkness became a blur of light. The pain in her fractured arm dulled and eventually vanished along with the shattered bone in her shoulder. The fairy could see the Trix standing in front of her, menacing smiles causing her to groan in horror. "Please don't do this," She croaked. "I'll do anything."

Stormy walked forward and placed her hand on the young girl's chest. "So you'll tell us everything now?"

Rhythma froze. She couldn't give in so easily. They would know something was up.

"No?" Stormy shrugged. "Then let the fun begin."

The fairy screamed as the storm witch surged and let the electricity flow through her victim's body. She thrashed against her restraints, but it proved useless as the chains that bound her arms held her tight to the pillar.

Icy stepped forward once Stormy put her hand down to let the prisoner breathe.

"First question." The ice witch said, putting her hand under the fairy's chin to force her head up. "Who is the most powerful student at Alfea right now?"

Rhythma groaned, but didn't reply.

Icy sighed and stepped aside, letting Rhythma's head fall limply. "Stormy."

"With pleasure."

More pain speared the prisoner's body, but this time she didn't struggle or scream. Rather, she let a low moan escape her lips and closed her eyes, trying to block it all out.

The witch paused her assault again.

"I'll repeat the question one more time." Icy whispered into Rhythma's ear, dangerously quiet. "Which fairy is the most powerful at Alfea?"

Stormy held up her hand, a ball of electricity forming. Rhythma felt the tears run down her face.

"Well?" Icy taunted. "Last chance." She tucked a strand of hair behind Rhythma's ear, mocking the fact that she could do whatever she pleased and that the fairy could do nothing to stop her.

Rhythma met Stormy's eyes and gritted her teeth. She wasn't going to let them break her so easily.

The Trix all sighed in exasperation, including Darcy. Stormy walked over to Rhythma again and held up the energy ball parallel with the fairy's lips.

"Eat it."

Rhythma's eyes widened. "W-what?"

The magenta witch glowered at her, aqua eyes filled with menace. "You heard me."

Icy's grin faltered. "That's a little extreme, sister."

"I don't care." Stormy scowled. "She's going to tell us, or she's going to eat it. I'm not giving her any other choice."

Rhythma began to shake. "You can't make me eat it." She croaked, knowing full well how wrong she was.

Stormy raised a brow. Then, without another word, she punched Rhythma in the gut, forcing a scream of shock and pain from her lips. The witch then forced her thumb and index finger into her mouth, prying the fairy's jaws apart. Stormy smirked. "I can make you do whatever I want."

Rhythma began to tremble as the witch held up the electric ball once again.

"Are you going to tell us?" Icy asked, crossing her arms. "Or eat it?"

The fairy met Icy's gaze, feeling misery crawl up her spine, before she bowed her head and remained silent. Stormy smirked again and forced the ball between her prisoner's lips.

At first, there was only a cooling sensation.

Then, Rhythma jerked back with a shriek of pure agony.

Stormy stepped back and watched the fairy's slow electrocution through slitted eyes. Her screams reverberated around the room as she hunched over in an attempt to ease the pain.

Icy came up beside Stormy. "How long will this last?"

The magenta witch grinned cruelly. "Until she talks. Only that can ease her suffering now."

Suddenly, Rhythma couldn't take the pain anymore. She opened her eyes, and through the tears she saw the Trix watching her.

"Please stop!" She begged, her voice desperate. "Please, I'll talk! Just stop it!"

Stormy cackled evilly and crossed her arms. "It won't stop until you tell us what we want to know."

A few more seconds passed, the pain causing Rhythma scream once more. "Stormy, please!" Her voice cracked. "I'm begging you!"

"I don't care." The witch growled. "I'm not taking it away until you talk."

Rhythma knew that she had been defeated. With a whimper, she slumped down, pain still racking her body. "T-the strongest fairy a-at Alfea is a f-fairy n-named Hope." She croaked, suddenly arching her back as the electricity intensified. Another scream filled the air.

Stormy scoffed. "Talk faster, wretch."

"I-I can't." Rhythma wailed. "It h-hurts too m-much." She was full-on sobbing now, the pain too much for her mind to take.

"You better figure out how, soon." Stormy smirked at the crying fairy. "Or else you're going to be there for a while."

Rhythma whimpered and spoke as requested. Anything to get rid of the pain at this point. "H-Hope is a fairy o-of Life." She rasped. "She c-can bend any o-object to her w-will."

At once, the electricity ceased, leaving the young fairy gasping for breath. Icy grinned and put her hand on the side of Rhythma's face. "Very good." She said cruelly, watching the tears run down her prisoner's cheeks. "But the pain isn't over yet."

Rhythma groaned as Darcy and Stormy approached her. Not very gently, they released the young fairy from her binds and dragged her out into the hall. Icy walked behind her.

The four came to the Cloudtower cafeteria and Rhythma gave a cry of horror once she realized what they were here for.

The Trix laughed cruelly and tightened their grips.

Icy stepped in front of Rhythma as the stove came into view. "You broke the most important rule when you escaped, little fairy." The witch said. "So now you're going to live with the scars forever." She motioned to the stove, and the two witches forced Rhythma to move closer to the hot surface.

"Icy . . ." Rhythma cried. "Please don't do this to me."

But her plead fell on deaf ears as Icy placed on hand on the back of the fairy's head and chuckled. "Lay your head down, little fairy." She ordered.

Rhythma didn't move.

There was a growl form the ice witch, and then Rhythma felt her cheek make contact with the stove. The fairy thrashed, screaming as the skin on her face was burned away. Icy cackled evilly. "Now that you're listening, there are going to be some rules changed." She held the fairy easily, actually leaning down with her elbows on the back of Rhythma's neck.

Rhythma howled in pain, tears falling and evaporating as they hit the stove.

"One." Icy leaned forward and spoke venomously into her victim's ear. "You are never to address us by our names."

The fairy coughed, her voice hoarse as she stopped struggling to listen. She could smell her flesh beginning to burn. "What do I address you as, then?"

Icy tightened her grip on the fairy's hair, which she was using to inflict even more pain. "I think we'd prefer Mistress or Ma'am." Then she laughed. "Now repeat what I said."

"No." Rhythma spat, struggling to free herself from the witch once again and relieve herself of the pain. The tears still fell freely.

The ice witch dug her nails into the side of the fairy's head, refusing to let her up. "Say it."

Rhythma let out another scream - which came out more like a groan due to her sore throat.

"Well?" The witch smirked. "Say it, or I'll chain you up and let you stay like this the rest of the night."

The fairy whimpered. "I a-am to address you as M-Mistress or Ma'am." She said quietly. "Nothing else."

Icy chuckled. "Very good." Her voice seemed to dripping with poison. "Now say it loud enough for us all to hear you."

"Please no," Rhythma croaked. It was killing her to beg to Icy, but she didn't think she could live with saying those words again.

Icy frowned out of the corner of Rhythma's eye. "I gave you an order, fairy." She snapped. "I expect you to follow it."

"You're a monster." Rhythma hissed, the pain dulling now that her skin was used to it. "I hate you."

There was a moment without any sound or shifting.

Then Rhythma felt another hand press flat against her back.

Icy smirked and clung tighter to the fairy's hair, giving a sharp tug and listening to the yelp that followed. "Unless you want Stormy to add to your pain, I suggest you repeat my words."

Rhythma paused, her breath hitching in her throat. Then, she let her body go slack. "I am to a-address you as Mistress or Ma'am." She said, louder than before. "Nothing else."

There was chuckling.

Then Icy spoke.

"Give her a jolt, anyway." The grip on her hair tightened even more. "Just to show her who's in charge."

Stormy smirked when Rhythma gave a weak groan. "Ready to bake, fairy?"

Rhythma whimpered and stared into the storm witch's eyes, feeling her hand move to a specific place between the fairy's shoulder blades. The jolt that followed was weak enough not to let Rhythma scream, but still added to the pain she was in.

Suddenly, Icy yanked her off the stove and slammed her into the wall, smirking when there was a satisfying crunch. Rhythma screeched once the pain flared through her entire body, but wasn't sure what had been broken this time.

"Transform, fairy," Icy hissed. "It's time to break those pretty wings of yours."

Rhythma paused, her heart stopping with terror. Not her wings. She just got them back.

But then she remembered Faragonda's words.

"Do whatever you have to. Just keep yourself alive. That is the only thing I ask. Stay alive, and that would be enough."

Rhythma sighed, and transformed into her Pixix form. She watched as Stormy and Darcy shared a surprised glance, shocked that their prisoner had complied so easily.

Icy leaned forward. "Get down on your knees."

Once again, Rhythma complied, feeling terrified.

The witch walked behind the fairy, chuckling. Rhythma suddenly felt the pressure of someone grabbing hold of her wings and let out a single wail in one more attempt to plead for mercy. She was once again crying, not even trying to hold back the tears anymore.

"Are you scared, little fairy?" Icy whispered in her ear. This was it. She would never fly again.

Icy laughed, giving a sharp tug and smirking when Rhythma groaned again. "Yes," She croaked.

"Yes, what?" Icy taunted, letting her nails dig into the girl's wings.

Rhythma gasped. "Yes, Ma'am." She whispered. "Please don't tear them off." As she said those words, a part of her heart shriveled up and died.

There was chuckling. "Are you so desperate to keep your wings that you'll stoop so low as to beg?" Icy demanded, forcing another squeal from the fairy as she twisted the wings at a strange angle.

"Y-yes, Ma'am." Rhythma stuttered, trying to keep her voice even as Darcy walked up to her and crouched down. There was a smirk on her face as she put her hands on the sides of the fairy's head and prevented her from moving. Rhythma was forced to look instead at Darcy as Icy laughed evilly behind her.

Then the ice witch spoke. "If I let you keep your wings," she pondered. "What can I do to you instead?"

Rhythma remained silent.

Icy growled and tightened her grip.

"I-I," Rhythma whimpered and tore her gaze from Darcy. "I don't know, Ma'am."

"Look at me," Darcy commanded, and Rhythma was forced to obey. The purple witch smirked slightly. "Good fairy." She looked behind the girl at Icy. "Have any ideas?"

Icy laughed, making Rhythma jump and the witch tighten her grip. "Actually, I do." She smirked. "I will let you keep these wings, if you help me test how long a fairy can hold her breath."

Rhythma's eyes widened.

A/N: If you're wondering how I wrote this so fast, I'll just say that I've had it on a document for a while. It was originally a draft.

Question: Who is your favorite Selkie from the series?

Mine is Sonna, Gatekeeper of Melody

Also, I haven't forgotten about Zing. She comes in in the next chapter.

Enjoy!