Chapter Twenty-One: Tecna's Big Decision

Jeremiah was the one who opened the bedroom door for Christa. She ran in to get Danika, but was even more worried to see her on the bed with an ice pack on her ankle.

"Danika, look at this wound," Christa pulled her sleeve down to reveal the bandage she put on her deep cut.

"I'm thinking this may be the work of your magic, " Danika replied, "Tecna's wounds are being transferred to us."

"Exactly what I expected." Christa pointed out, "We need to go."

"Does it look like Danika is in any position to fight?" Jeremiah protested.

"Jeremiah, this isn't Danika's wound, she's not hurt." Christa tried to reassure him. He just lowered his head.

"Okay, do what you must do, Dani-cake, but be careful." Jeremiah looked into Danika's milk chocolate brown eyes and pecked her lips softly. Christa gave Danika a supporting shoulder to walk on, and they were off to wake the rest of the Nanotroplis Council.

Meanwhile, Starla was still sleeping soundly in her bed, her dream was more like a vision of the near future than a movie of false events. It wasn't clear to her what was happening, but it looked horribly frightening. Christa was attacking the Ultimate Super Force, but she looked different then she did when she was in her Enchantix form. There was a dark vibe coming from the leader of the Nanotroplis Council, as if she was possessed by the darkness. This scared Starla out of sleep and into a state of alert. She ran into the bathroom to get dressed, then dashed out of her room and down the hall to wake Ariette and Feah. She banged hard on Feah's bedroom door, waking the sleeping council member.

"What's with the late night wake up call, Starla." she asked tiredly.

"I had a horrible vision, Feah." Starla panted, "I can't make out any details, but all I know is that in the vision… Christa looked really different."

"Different… how?" Feah asked, worried.

"She had a dark vibe surrounding her… but she was still on our side, fighting the Ultimate Super Force." Starla explained.

"Well we have to wake the others." Feah insisted, starting to a run down the hall as Starla followed.

Timmy ran down hallway after hallway, holding Tecna's hand tightly. His breathing was heavy, and so was his heart rate, for two reasons, one because he was running as fast as he could, and two, because he was so scared for Tecna's safety that he did not know what to do with.

"Timmy, where in Nanotroplis are we going?" Tecna panted, trying not to stop running. Then, the door to the safe room was ahead of them. Timmy hastily punched in the code and the door opened. He pulled Tecna into the candle lit room as the door closed behind them, and Timmy turned on the security system, which Christa showed him how to do. Then, he pulled Tecna close to him, his fingertips sliding through her hair. His hands were shaking uncontrollably, and he fought tears.

"We're done running, I know it." he whispered softly to her, "What kind of boyfriend am I if I can't keep the promises I made to the one I love. Why, why can't you just be left alone, for once I just wish I could bring back that wonderful world that you once had." The both sat on the bed, still in the tightest embrace, and Tecna knew she didn't have to say a word, "I'm just so glad you got away unscathed."

"I don't think I did." she admitted to him.

"What do you mean?" Timmy asked in horror as they parted, "Where are you hurt?"

"I'm not, but it's only because of the necklace," Tecna explained calmly to him.

"Right, I keep forgetting that." Timmy sighed.

"Don't you get it, Christa and Danika have my wounds." Tecna replied.

"I'd rather they did then you, I just want you safe." Timmy pulled her close to him again, "I'm sorry if it puts others in danger, but you're worth every beat my heart makes."

"This isn't who I am, I don't put others in danger, I help them get out of it." Tecna argued, she reached for the back of her neck, she was about to take the necklace off.

"Tecna, no don't!" Timmy begged her, "I can't let you get hurt… I just can't." there were tears about to roll down from his eyes, it was embarrassing to know Tecna could see him crying. She was silent, she had never been around, or even awake, to see tears in her boyfriend's golden eyes.

"I'm sorry you had to see that." Timmy said quietly after a minute of silence, "I usually try to bottle tears inside so they can fade away like a periodic depression. But lately, because of the nightmares… the sadness is more frequent."

"I get it, and if it makes you feel more at ease, I'll keep the necklace on. But I have to go fight with the rest of my friends." Tecna told him.

"Tecna, Christa made this room so that you could be safe while the castle is under attack." Timmy insisted, "And do you remember how painful it was for Icy's rot monsters to tear away at your skin, almost eating you alive… everyone promised you that you wouldn't suffer anymore. I don't want you to suffer."

"I know you don't, but there's just some things I have to do… I'm so sorry I have to do this to you Timmy." Tecna sighed sadly, she knew it was just eating him up to see her walk towards the door.

"As much as it pains me to let you do this… I can't force you to do something you don't want to do." Timmy tried not to let tears fall again. He embraced Tecna the tightest he possible could, "But I'll never forgive myself if you don't come out of this in one piece."

"Oh. Timmy." Tecna was pulled into a passionate kiss that made their world stand still, Timmy was so scared it my be their last.

Christa and Danika ran into the face of the battle, facing the Trix and the Wizards of the Black Circle. Since Christa was the less wounded one, she stood defensive for the cousin of her bonded fairy.

"If you're all right to converge your powers with mine, just give me your signal." Christa told Danika, "But if you're too wounded, I'll cover for you."

"No way, my baby cousin is in danger, I'm not taking this laying down!" Danika protested. Christa gave her a shoulder to lean on as they held hands and converged their powers.

"Force of Fury!" Christa shouted.

"Techno Fusion Fury!" Danika exclaimed in unison with Christa, their attacks were sent straight to the Trix and the wizards.

"Wow, that Christa has really strong powers." Orgon groaned, getting up from the ground.

"So does that fairy, Danika." Anagan agreed.

"We might need her later, but right now the strength of the fairy Christa would be greatly accepted on our side." Organ replied. Suddenly the rest of the Nanotroplis Council joined the fight.

"Mind if we join the party?" Feah asked jokingly. There, Starla, Ariette and herself stood there in their Enchantix forms, ready to fight.

"Nice timing, Feah." Christa replied happily, but her smile faded to a serious face, "but this is no party, this is war."

"There's more?" Icy asked in surprise to see more than just three fairies in Christa's team, "It's the Winx Club all over again!"

"Yes, except this club roots for the unappreciated ones, the ones who fought with their lives!" Christa exclaimed.

"Oh gag me." Stormy looked as if she was about to puke, knowing who Christa was referring to.

"Maybe I will!" Christa shouted, "Girls, are you ready to do some damage?"

"You bet!" Ariette supported Danika as the rest of the Nanotroplis Council held hands to conjure up their strongest attack yet, filled with strong amounts of Star Fire, Christa's golden magic, and Danika's technology powers. The Wizards of the Black Circle and the Trix flew backward down the hall.

"I'm ready to fight too!" a voice called from behind the Nanotroplis Council fairies.

"Tecna!" Christa turned sharply to see her bonded fairy, Timmy and Jeremiah, ready to join the battle.