Earth was a strange place to the fairies and Specialists with the exception of Bloom only because she had lived here all her life and was properly accustomed to the environment. The girls have been here twice, one for skipping school and hitting a club and the other was going to a cool Halloween party, both having very odd moments and unexpected endings, but they still weren't used to the fact they couldn't use that much magic. But in a way it made sense.
Who knows what someone walking down the street would say if they saw a couple of fairies carrying their boyfriends as they soared through the sky? That was either made the gang attention-worthy and have everyone staring at them like a new test subject yet to be discovered or land that the person who saw them in the loony-bin if they repeated about what they saw to another.
Unlike the girls though, it took quite an awhile for the boys to adjust to things and see Earth was most definitely not like their homes. They were staring in astonishment as they watched people wheel by them on skateboards and motorcycles that weren't hovering in the air, that the cars were nothing like ships they were used to controlling and fixing, and had to get used to the fact no one has ever heard of Specialists before.
Luckily it was still a busy school month in Gardenia, so Bloom didn't have to worry about Mitzy and her clones questioning about the new guests she brought along. Stella had them be teleported at Bloom's mother's flower shop, which thankfully was empty of people expect her parents who listened politely as they told them everything that has happened to them recently and what was going on at Magix.
"The most important thing is all of you were able to make it out, alive." Vanessa tried to comfort, but saw it wasn't moving anyone.
"Wish me could say the same for our family and other friends." Stella murmured, unaware of loud the words coming out from her mouth were.
Until they could figure out how and when exactly they were going to beat Libitina, save Flora, and not the mention the rest of the universe, it was better that they stayed at Earth for a little awhile. Knowing Libitina, as Helia recalled from Julio's memory, she would know exactly where they were if they remained at Magix but, unlike the last time when she knew where her friends were and decided not to attack them, she would swarm them with demons to finish them off for her. The only problem was, including Bloom, they were eleven people and Bloom's house only had enough room for a few. They could go to a hotel, but none of them had any money except for Stella with her credit cards that wouldn't work here. Bloom's parents, being the kind people they were, helped paid for two huge suites at a nice inn with five bedrooms for the girls to share and one for the boys across the hall, and said they would be more than happy to help with anything they can.
There wasn't much to do at suites, certainly not unpacking since they had no luggage with them in the first place. A few days had pass and things were not going the way they wished it to be. The magical universe was still at the mercy of a powerful witch, who was no doubt laughing at all the pain and torment she was causing innocent people, and they still had absolutely no plan on how to defeat her.
"The problem is," Tecna conducted, taking a nibble of her honey chicken. "Libitina has an intense amount of power. According to my calculations, far more power than any villain we fought has ever hoped to have and is too powerful to defeat just by ourselves."
It was late midnight and they were all gathered around the living room in the girls' suite, dressed in their pajamas and eating the huge buffet of Chinese take-out they ordered.
After taking a few bites of his sesame noodles, Timmy continued where Tecna left off "Tecna and I had spent hours going over calculations on what success we would have against Libitina and our numbers turned out quite low."
"Are you sure?" Bloom asked, unable to believe it.
"Pretty sure," Tecna stated. "Data and logic don't lie, Bloom. Libitina is surrounded by bitter, negative emotions from her tormentors, which she sucks to add to her power and with each sucking, raw emotion her powers are increased ten times more. No doubt she killed people along the way, and according to the book a soul can increase her power by a thousand. With all that power verses even our Enchantix powers we would lose for sure."
"Then that's not good at all." Musa said.
"But are you really sure?" Sky questioned. "She was packed with power back then, but our relatives were able to beat her."
"They had thousands of rebel fighters to back up them up. Don't forget, Libitina has herbs of Shadow Demons to do the dirty work for her so she won't have to lift a finger," Timmy said. "Everyone we know who would be able to help is either captured or killed. We're on our own. If we had an army to back up us, then we might have a slightly better chance. But success without an army is very low."
"Extremely low," Tecna clarified. "About less than four percent. And that's only if the boys use absolutely they learned in their years at Red Fountain and us, including you, Nabu use every drop of magic in our bodies against her, and somehow are lucky enough to get to Magix without getting captured or killed first."
"Libitina knew exactly where Melody and the others were, but decided to play nice and not hunt them down," Musa recalled. "But after what happened between them in the end, I have a very strong feeling she's not going to be so nice anymore."
"You're about that one, Musa," Layla agreed. "She'll thrown us in the dungeons in two seconds flat and make us chew toys for her pets, or just kill us right where we're standing."
"There has to be some way to defeat her." Riven grumbled.
"If there was a fairy friend Ms. F knows on Earth who can help us, then we would have a good chance of beating her." Stella said, saying her thoughts out loud.
"As great as that would be, Stella, wishes don't seem to be on our side." Bloom said.
"I just don't understand," Brandon said. "Stella, you said when you first met Bloom here on Earth, there was a strong magical connection around here. There could be a chance there might be another fairy here, too."
"Yes, but Bloom was born at Sparks and was only brought here for protection." Sky reminded.
"It's true that they were so fairies on Earth over hundreds of years ago, when it decided Earth use could a little magic," The girls spent a month of Ms. Faragonda's Magix history discussing it, and the subject seemed to shock all the students that there were actually magical beings who lived in a non-magical dimension, at the last place where anyone would ever find one. Tecna was so fascinated by the subject, she read and downloaded everything piece and article written about it and actually knew nearly everything from heart thanks to all the reading she has done. "Flora's own aunt, Diana, was chosen to be one of the twelve fairy Guardians to come to Earth, and serve legendary queen, Morgana, but soon they were being hunted by fairy hunters who wanted their powers. Diana was able to make it out alive, but there was no word about the others. Legend says after the hunters got what they wanted, the fairies were immediately killed or simply disappeared without a trace."
"Wish they were alive though, so then they can help us," Bloom murmured. "We're really on our own."
"But we'll find a way." Nabu was certain of it, but the others were so convinced like he had hope they would be and Riven was rolling his eyes at his friends' enthusiasm.
Bloom stole a glance at Helia, whose back was turned to them as he watched the fierce storm brewing outside. He had pretty much been quiet all day and night, was distant and mostly withdrawal from his friends since they've arrived here on Earth, and hasn't even touched his food that was now lukewarm.
She excused herself from the table while her friends tried to figure out a plan and went over to him, just standing behind him and waiting. He hasn't moved an inch from his still position even though he could feel her behind him. Most would say the gesture was cold, but Bloom wasn't most people and a bit more understanding.
He was in much pain like the rest of them were from the loss of someone close and dear to him.
"If you want to talk, I'm a pretty good listener," When he made no reply, Bloom only sighed and continued "I miss her a lot, too. She was my roommate for the past three years and quickly grown into the sister I never had. When the witches stole my power and I found out the truth about myself, I felt so horrible. I was given the responsible for caring for the power, but let witches who are descendants of the same witches who destroyed my planet. I was the princess of this amazing planet, but I couldn't even protect it. There are so many things in life I wish I could switch back in time."
"Every time I close my eyes, every passing second of the frigging day, I always see what happened," Helia said, his voice cracked like it was bone-dry but low with such sadness and pain Bloom could never imagine another person feeling. "I see Flora stepping back from us before that shield formed around us; see her walking up those steps, and disappearing right before our eyes. And it's all my fault."
"Helia-" Bloom was cut off by him.
"When I died and knew I was going to be reborn again, I swore I was going to do everything to protect her. But once again, I failed and let her fall into the hands of that devil demon."
He tried everything he could to escape the horrible memories, but they were always there to haunt him and repeatedly showing that horrible moment till pain was so much he was so numb to the touch. Everything on this odd planet never failed to bring her to his mind. Every time he would pass a planet, he would picture her humming happily as she watered it. Every beautiful flower always had him thinking of countless times she would lean down to get a sweet whiff of the flowers and laughing her musical laughter under her breath. The color emerald reminded him of her breathtaking eyes, like the shade of caramel would always bring to mind her beautiful, long hair. Once he saw a young woman coming out from the flower shop carrying a vase of fresh daises, her emerald eyes twinkling, caramel hair shimmering from the bright sun, and the soft smile brightening her face he nearly forgotten how to breathe for a moment. But of course, the pain-sticking disappointment would slam against him hard when he realized she wasn't her.
He tried not to think about her, in a desperate attempt to escape the numb pain, but it was difficult not to so with things tracing back to her and the memories rushing to his head, thinking about everything they've been through together. In both lifetimes, his dull life was suddenly brightened by the appearance of a breathtaking angel descending from heaven above. Fighting evil together with their friends, him helping her believe in herself and watching her blossoming into the true flower she was, finally confessing they had feelings for each other, and sharing so many moments together and kisses that never failed to feel as magnificent as the first one. Her face turning bright red whenever she saw him staring at her, the small and soft smile of embarrassment lifting the corners of her beautiful lips as she was given a compliment, and the twinkle gleaming in her eyes a person would be have to be blind to miss it.
After what had become of Rosalina and their tragic fates, he was given chance to redo the horribleness of the past and make sure the past won't interfere with their future. That was what he hoped her, that was the only thought in his mind the moment that lightening bolt went through his chest and he was dead, but in the end he had failed. Twice he let the love of his life fallen into the hands of the cursed devil-demon who ruined everything the moment he came into the picture and he had failed her.
"I know what I saw," he murmured, and Bloom had to lean in closer to hear what he was saying. "The scene keeps playing over and over again in my head, but…I still feel her. There's such a strong connection between us, so I can feel her but even with the feeling the connection is getting dimmer. It feels like she's still out there, like she's still here somehow and she's not really gone."
"That's because she isn't," The conversation chatter came to a end as heads quickly turned around to see the blonde-haired, beautiful devil himself coming out from the shadows with that pleasant yet smug smile on his face Helia desperately wished he would knocked right out.
"Alaric!" they all gasped while Helia was silent, gritting his teeth so tightly he was sure they would break.
"Hello kiddies," he greeted.
They didn't wait for him to explain what he was doing here or how he found them; after everything he has done the only thing they wanted from him was to see him dead. Musa quickly slammed him against the wall with a sonic clap, and Layla, following her friend's lead, stuck him tightly onto the wall with her Morphix glue.
"You son of a bitch!" Helia exclaimed. It was clear the tone of his voice showed how angry he was, and Timmy and Brandon had to hold him back from doing something stupid.
"I don't know what the hell you're doing here, but I do know it is that you made a huge mistake coming here." Layla told him, speaking for all of them.
It was clear from body language, voice tone, and facial expressions they were more than angry with him. Even the word furious doesn't seem to muster up all the hatred they felt for him. But seeing so hateful and angry was something incredibly for him not to smile at.
"You all have every reason in all the realms to hate me-"
"You bet your ass, you bastard!" Stella cut him off, her words low and cold as ice.
Alaric carried speaking like he wasn't interrupted, saying "No doubt you want to unleash all your anger and hatred on me, but I come bearing very interesting information regarding your friend you might want to hear first."
"He's lying!' Tecna immediately put in; with no doubt in her mind Alaric was placing them into some sort of trap. "We should take him down now!"
Everyone else, Helia especially, was more than on board with Tecna's suggestion while Bloom, on the other hand, was a bit more open-minded to things. "Listen we don't know exactly for sure."
Tecna looked at the red-head dumbstruck; like she misheard her or was speaking a foreign language she couldn't understand. "Bloom, let me refresh your memory. It's because of him that Flora's gone and the whole universe has been taken over by the angel of darkness."
"I'm going to have to go with Tecna on this one, Bloom," Layla glared Alaric down with cold hatred blazing in her eyes, wanting nothing more than to blast him clear to another dimension. "This guy has done nothing but gives us trouble the second we met him."
"For all we know he probably alerted Libitina where we're at and she and her goons are waiting for us outside the door right now," Musa said. "Or going to destroy us right now to save her the damn trouble."
Alaric thought about the suggestion for a moment, weighting it in. "Tempting."
"I don't know about the rest of you, but I say we get rid of this asshole once and for all!" Riven reached into his pocket and withdrawal his phantom sword, powering the weapon up.
"I'm with you." Nabu and the guys wasted no time bringing out their weapons and the girls-with the expectation of Bloom- transformed, with their powerful spells conquered up in their hands.
"Listen for a minute," Bloom had to raise her voice to get their attention. When she had gotten it, she lowered her voice just a bit but still kept it firm. "We have a lot of reasons not to trust and hate Alaric. So many reasons that the list is endless," Bloom turned to scowl at him, seeing him rolling his eyes at her, and then quickly turned back to her friends. "But if he knows anything, anything he's willing to share, that could be the slightest chance of saving the universe and Flora, then we should at least hear what he has to stay. It can't hurt us."
"Or could get us killed." Riven said, ignoring the darkly irritated glare Bloom gave him.
The fairies and Specialists were at odds; unsure which would be better for them to do. Alaric has caused so much drama, tension, and trouble for them, was someone so cold and evil they was barely anything to be considered good in him, and was the reason why their families and friends are now in hell and their favorite nature girl was gone now while he was smirking away. He was scum, the son of the heartless and wicked Devil himself, but…if he did know something that could help turn things around, then hearing him out would at lease…be something.
After exchanging private looks with everyone, Bloom nodded and turned back to Alaric, instructing, "Thirty seconds. You have thirty seconds to explain what seem to know."
"Thirty seconds is all I need." Alaric simply said.
"What do you mean Flora isn't really gone?" Helia said.
"We saw her," Musa said. "We saw her…" It was extremely hard to explain what had happened to their friend, but in a way it was like she had become sort of a portal. But better term would be their souls switched, freeing one while imprisoning the other.
"Before I tell you anything, there is something you must know first. I believe the proper way for you to know is to see. Close your hands, held up your hand, and think about the worst memories or thoughts in your life. Memories that anger you, thoughts that make your body tense and filled with hatred each time something related to the particular moment."
For a moment they all thought he was joking with his silly instructions, but seeing the serious sternness in his expression made them believe otherwise. One by one, from Bloom all the way Helia, each person held up his/her left hand while they slowly closed their eyes as they pictured their most horrible memories, which not only make them sad but make them angry.
Bloom thought about her birth family, how her parents disappeared after trying to protect their planet and her sister, Daphne dying from protecting her. Sky thought how he allowed himself to be under Diasporo's spell, doing such horrible things by her command including breaking the heart of the love of his life. Stella thought about when her parents first told her they were separating, so eager to get away from each other they nearly forgotten they had a daughter who needed them both while Brandon thought about the possibility of losing his Stella to some other guy, like a prince with tons of money and power to get her everything and more while a poor squire like himself can never do such a things. Musa thought the death of her mother and her death as the end of music in her home, the end of something familiar to her and was a huge of her life and who she was. Riven thought about all the horrible things his horrible mother put him through, those things including when she decided she couldn't put raising a son and left him alone before he was even old enough to understand the world was anything but the crazed fairytale crap she was talking about. Tecna thought about the world with no technology, no computers, numbers or anything relating to science and how her whole world would go mad as Timmy thought about how their relationship was extremely close to calling it quits, how he blamed himself for being an idiot and not manning up. Layla and Nabu were oddly thinking the same things, how they didn't really had a childhood thanks to their duties as a princess and prince that required them to never have any real fun, always focus on being proper, and being seen and not heard unless they are spoken to. Helia was thinking about everything him as Julio and Rosalina and how things with him and Flora ended as horribly as they did in the past, all thanks to the devil-demon standing in front of him.
They were all so concentrated on horrible events taking place in the past, they failed to notice the strong energy vibrating from their bodies, the dark yet vivid bright light radiating around their bodies.
Noticing their process, Alaric nodded and said "Open your eyes."
Slowly they opened their hands and were staring in astonishment- their hands were all engulfed by fierce flames looking ready to burst and explode, but not just any flames. They were flames dark as midnight.
"I think you all know only one power that can do that sort of thing," Alaric commented.
It was all clear what and who was responsible for giving the power in the first place.
"How?" Bloom asked.
"While You were knocked out by those flowers, Flora decided to play nurse and heal all of you with her fairy dust, then decided to keep you extra safe by giving you some energy from the Midnight Raven. Not all of it, but definitely more than enough to defend yourself."
"Which means you should have enough power to fight, Libitina!" Stella proclaimed as they lit their flames hands die out.
"Sure, then while you're at it, you might wanna think about making your wills and arranging your funerals," Alaric sarcastically remarked with a snort, then deliberately ignored the chilled glance Stella flashed him. "You may be stronger than you were before, but you're still no match for Libitina. She's much stronger not only in power, but also in physically with the strength of over a thousand strong men combined. She'll snap your neck like twig in two seconds flat and tear you limb from limb."
"Okay then, so fighting is out, but what is this you were talking about Flora?" Brandon said.
"What this you're talking about she's still alive?" Musa questioned. "She can't be! She disappeared; we all know that because we saw what happened."
"Flora has fulfilled the prophecy of her birth," Alaric told him what they already knew. "That part of her is gone forever, but…there is still a part, a very frail and delicate part, that still exists and is living as we speak."
They didn't make a reply, on the account they were all staring at him speechless and dumbstruck, but in their eyes he could make out a question: what?
"You mean she's trapped inside Libitina, right?" Bloom asked.
Alaric shook his head, watching as shock was filling in their eyes. "Once again I must be the one to explain some reasoning to your dim-witted minds. Libitina was the original bearer of her soul, then when your friend was born she was the one who took charge of that soul. To make it easier for you, think of a cookie that you spilt right through the middle or perhaps yin and yang is a much better example. You have one half and another half. Two girls with the same soul, two halves of one soul. When the prophecy was fulfilled, the yang-Libitina-become whole once more and filled the whole soul with nothing but her dark aura. Yin-Flora-instantly was erased from the soul. She wasn't completely destroyed though; she simply went away somewhere."
"Where?" Helia asked. "Magix?" His mind immediately thought back to the green-eyed raven that helped lead him and his friends safely to Alfea, with that strong distinctive look in her eyes reminding him so much of the same look he would always see in Flora's eyes.
"Linphea?" Layla guessed.
"It is not a realm you know of or is at any planet in this dimension," He explained. "She's at a place only I know of. It's a dangerous place and an even more dangerous journey to come across, but I'll be willing to help lead you there. Choose which three of you will accompany me on this journey."
"I'll go," Helia turned to his friends to explain his reasons. "I lost her twice already and I don't plan to make it a third. If there is even the slightest chance of saving Flora, then I at least need to try. Even if that means-" He frowned at Alaric, who simply winked and smiled a bit smugly, too smugly for his own good in his opinion. "Putting up with him."
"This is going very interesting," Alaric said. "That makes one. Who else will be the brave souls for this little adventure?"
"I will." Bloom stepped forward, not a fragment of fear in her determined eyes, the eyes of someone on a mission and was determined to win. The Dragon fire may not be strong enough to take on the Midnight Raven by itself, but it was still strong and powerful, the perfect thing they were going to need for a mission like this.
"I'm going, too," Layla said. "It'll be good to have extra Winx just in case."
"Alright then, that makes three," Sky said. "Bloom, Layla, and Helia will go with Alaric to rescue Flora and bring her back while we go back to the Dark Dimension and take down Libitina."
"You are really this much of a buffoon?" Alaric asked. "It's only fair to warn you how much I know Libitina. I know she'll be waiting for us, picking the right moment to attack you like a predator after her prey. I know she won't make the same mistake twice because she is a very fast learner. Also, I know the moment you step into Magix; you'll all be killed before you can take in a breath."
"Well, then how you suggest we take her down then?" Musa frowned. "Since you're the expert and all?"
Chuckling under his breath, he smiled and answered "That's because I am. You all must understand this, learn it and drill into those tiny minds of yours. Libitina is someone who loves, absolutely loves playing games and using people as her dolls. This game is obviously fun by the way she's addicted to it, but as much fun as it is it's also extremely dangerous. So dangerous, very few are lucky enough they aren't severely tormented or suffered brutal deaths. Now I myself am not a true master of the game like Libitina is, but…I do know a few cheat sheets around it. Like how you might have a much higher chance than you already have if you really wish to take kill Libitina."
"We don't want to kill her," Bloom said. "There's not telling what kind of effect it can have on Flora. We just want to take her down."
Alaric shrugged, as if both were of the same thing. "Nevertheless, you are going to need some sort of backup if you plan to face Libitina."
"You mean you?" Stella questioned coldly.
"No," He pleasantly smiled. "I'm going to be too busy helping your friends get back your flower girl, but…I do know someone else who could be somewhat of assistance to you."
Alaric didn't reveal anything more about what he had in mind or said anything else except telling them to get dressed. The storm Helia was watching minutes ago from the window was taking full affect outside with rain pouring endlessly in huge lone drops heavily from the thick gray skies, the winds blowing fierce and so cold a person would be chilled to the bone if they stepped outside for even a second, and lightening bolts streaking across the sky. Except for Alaric, everyone else dressed in heavy, thick sweaters and pants, jackets and heavy raincoats, but as they stepped outside and walked through the streets through Gardenia with Alaric leading the way it didn't protect them one bit from the terrible weather outside.
They were standing in front of a house near the woods, which was the only house in sight. The house had a sort of adorable quite-ness to it with the blue/white trim and Victorian style of houses back in the day, and was big in an 2-story height. Everyone else was soaked and chilled through the bone while Alaric managed to stay dry with the rain pouring beside him instead of falling on him.
"You drag us all the way here to look at a house?" Stella demanded.
Yep, she is definitely Nathalie's relative, Alaric thought with a double roll of his eyes as he saw the young princess shared some identical traits with her elder yet terribly annoying relative. Ignoring her, he stepped forward and knocked on the door loudly, literally banging the door, and then waited patiently for someone to come answer it.
"I'm coming, I'm coming! Hold your damn horses!" The lights inside the house went on and ten seconds after that the door swung open, revealing a man in between his later thirties and early forties. Judging by the fact his hair was a tumble mess, trail of crusted drool was by his left cheek, and he was dressed in his pajamas, he was enjoying good night sleep till now. He eyed the girls and boys, saving Alaric for last, and looked at them all with narrowed, cool eyes showing nothing but annoyance and tiredness. "Can you I help you?"
"As a matter of fact you can," Alaric smiled. "I need to speak with her lovely, darling wife about a very important matter regarding something very crucial that might trigger her attention."
Unmoved by Alaric's pleasant smile and polite tone, then man rolled his tired eyes and grumbled, "Look, buddy, I'm not sure if you noticed but it is four o' clock in the morning. Whatever you need to talk to my wife about, it can wait till later in the morning when we're all fully awake for chatting. Now goodbye."
He swung the door over to slam to Alaric's face, but before it was completely closed, Alaric pushed it back hard and swung it wide open. Stepping inside uninvited, Alaric shoved the man hard to the ground and smirked down at his angry yet fearful face.
"What the hell-" His anger face was slowly melting away as he looked into the bright glow of Alaric's eyes, which were darker in a bright way and luminous.
"Now go tell your wife she has a visitor who has a very important message for her, and while you're at it, invite your daughter as well." Alaric commanded in a smooth, soothing voice.
The man shook his head, then quickly ran upstairs to call his wife and daughter. "Honey! Rox! You have a visitor!"
"So nice to see he has a good change of heart," Alaric turned back to the gang who were all frowning at him. "Unless you wish to stay wet and cold, I suggest you come inside."
As they stepped inside, a woman with another girl were heading downstairs. The woman was in her late thirties and didn't look all too happy to be woken up at this hour, but was pretty nevertheless with her timeless looks, unique dark violet eyes, and her chocolate brown hair tied up in a bun. The other girl was obviously her daughter, which can be easily told by the same exact shade eye color and familiar features in their faces. She looked at least fourteen, and, unlike her mother, her hair was hot pink with amber tips.
"Who on earth wants to talk at this hour-" The dark-haired woman stopped talking and was frozen in place as she looked up, soon holding out her hand to stop her daughter from taking another step down. The woman's shock-filled eyes slowly went from stunned to cool as they narrowed into slits. "Alaric."
"That's my name, don't wear it out," He smiled as her eyes chilled to ice-cold. "So good to see you again, Morgana. How long as it been? Days? Weeks? Centuries since you and I had a time to have a nice little chat."
"Not long enough." She frowned, her words cold and dripping with venom.
"You know her?" they asked him in unison as her daughter asked her "Mom, who is this guy?"
"Little Roxy," He acknowledged the girl with a slight smile and nod. "My, my, my. You have certainly grown."
Morgana quickly wrapped her arms around her daughter, as if to protect her from the harm Alaric was planning. "I suggest you and your friends leave my house immediately."
"We're not his friends." Tecna immediately put in.
"Fine," she regarded with a nod. "You all are welcomed to stay but he is leaving."
"Now is that any way to show Southern hospitality?" Alaric mocked, knowing he was pushing her buttons to a very high extreme.
"You have exactly five seconds to get out or else!" Morgana threatened.
"How about this? They stay here, you stay there, and I do-" There was no indications leading to any movement because he was too fat for their eyes to keep track of. Through flashes of white, Alaric was suddenly standing besides the staircase, his arms in a tight, choking bound around Roxy's neck, suffocating her. "This."
"Roxy!" Morgana gasped. "Don't you dare touch my baby!"
"The I suggest you act a bit nicer and give me some time to explain my business here," As his grip tightened, Roxy's face was turning purplish-blue from lack of oxygen, trying and failing to break free from his grip. "And I suggest you hurry. You of all people know how strong I am. And also know I can easily break a neck like snapping a toothpick."
"Alright, alright." Alaric smiled and let the girl finally go. Roxy fell to her knees in a heap, taking in sweet air and then quickly running into the arms of her mother.
"You didn't have to do that!" Layla said.
"Sweetie, in life sometimes you have to have a bit of a…compromise if you really want to go what you want." Alaric answered, then turned his attention back to Morgana. "Are you going to properly introduce yourself or shall I do that for you?"
"I will do that," Morgana said, taking the final step down the stairs and tightening the knot of her bed robe. "But before any introductions are made, you all are soaking wet and look cold. Roxy, show them to the living room while I make something for them."
The gang found themselves places to sit in the living room and were more than happy to unzip and take off their soaked through jackets. Roxy started up a toasty fire in the fire place, which everyone crowded around for some nice warmth, and helped her mom carry in a tray of homemade cake she whipped up, tea cups and mugs, and a big tea pot of hot chocolate toppled with whipped cream and sparkled with cinnamon, with a hint of rose.
Just smelling the delicious drink made Helia sad again as it reminded him of her wondrous scent. He turned the tea away and ate instead, taking a new nibble of the cake but only played with it.
"This is wonderful." Bloom said after tasting the drink.
"Thank you." Morgana smiled, erasing the harsh, serious lines from her face and making her look even more beautiful.
"I'm Roxy." Her daughter smiled warmly.
"I'm Bloom," Bloom introduced, pointing to each of her friends as she called out her friends. "My best girl friends Stella, Layla, Musa, and Tecna. My boyfriend, Sky, and his friends, Brandon, Timmy, Nabu, Riven, and Helia. I'm pretty sure you already know who Alaric."
"Unfortunately." She grumbled with a frown, rolling her eyes as he winked at her direction.
"Ms. Morgana," Helia said. "I don't want to be rude, but we really need your help. The only problem is…I'm not entirely sure you're going to believe us if we tell you what's going on."
"I know why you are here," The dark-haired woman took a sip of her hot chocolate; still aware of the shocked glares she was receiving from every direction. Opening her eyes, she smiled gently at their shocked expressions and said "Nathalie was right to warn me about having you come see me. She was always aware this day would have come, but I only wish she was wrong."
"You know Nathalie?" Stella asked. "Who are you?"
"I know Nathalie because she and I are very good friends," she answered. "I had known her for quite some time now, and she warned about the arrival of the dark queen. Warned me the reincarnation was already born and Alaric knew exactly where to find her, and that the universe was going to be destroyed and the angel of darkness was going to be vengeful, more powerful and stronger than ever."
"And unfortunately Nathalie was right," Helia said sadly, and they all explained everything that happened from Flora meeting Alaric at the bus station to the very recent activity, like Flora saying her final goodbye and doing the spell.
Even though Morgana was already aware of it, she wasn't fully repaired to hear it. She gasped, jumping up from her seat, and turned her attention to Alaric who avoided her eyes and the hatred glance she was sending him. "Do you realize Alaric what you have done? Think about what's happening now! No doubt people have already been killed already."
"Fifty-six thousand and counting," He answered, acting like the wise ass he was. "I know what I've done. I'm only trying to help them. But we need your help."
"Why do you need my mom's help?" Roxy asked. "From what you said this Libitina chick is one bad-ass witch and is way too powerful to beat."
"I'm aware what I said, little girl," Alaric answered. "But thing is your mother might be the kind of backup we may need."
"And why exactly would she be that?" Roxy said.
"Because, Roxy, I was once the queen of the same guardians who come to protect the human race and spread magic to Earth. Even though I give my title to another friend, I still have some of my powers."
"Wait a minute," Tecna slowly put down her cup as she got up from the floor and took small steps toward Morgana, smiling with excitement dazzling in her eyes as she closely looked at the dark-haired woman. "You're Morgana, aren't you? The same fairy who was queen of the Earth Guardian fairies."
"The one and only." She said proudly.
"No way."
"Unbelievable."
"That is so rad."
"But," Musa said. "I thought the earth fairies were long gone. Hunters came after them for power and then were wiped off the face of the Earth."
"Yes-" Alaric interrupted, before Morgana had a chance to speak. "This is woman is much older than she appears to be. She's over hundreds of years old, but still has the appearance of a thirty-something year old woman. Been watching humans nearly forever with her other sisters, then met grumpy grouch you had the pleasure of meeting, fell in love and produced that," he nodded his head toward a frowning Roxy. "Who is the last born-Earth fairy. The wizards did captured all the Earth Fairies by defeating them one by one and stealing their powers, but little Roxy was able to help free them and the fairies defeated the Hunters. Even though the other fairies went to return to their realms, a few stayed including Morgana. "
"You're a fairy, too?" Layla asked the young girl.
Roxy's frown soon was forgotten when the questioned was asked. Her cheeks reddened a bit and she smiled sheepishly, rubbing her hand against the back of her head. "Kind of yeah. I mean, I have some powers but I'm not as powerful as my mom."
"What kind of powers do you have?" Musa asked.
"Powers of animals. I have energies of every animal known to man, have a deep connection with animals, and I'm able to understand them as they understand me."
"So, will you please help us, Morgana?" Tecna pleaded.
She stared at every fairy, every young hero in training, and then looked at Alaric for the longest time before speaking again, "What exactly do you purpose?"
"I will take Helia, Layla, and Bloom to where Flora is while you and the rest of them take down Libitina. Libitina has her eyes set on everywhere and will know where we are unless there is some sort of a distraction."
"Then I am in." Morgana answered.
"But know this," Sky walked over to Alaric so they would met face-to-face, man-to-demon. "If anything happens to them, any of them, then I swear I will take you down."
"Pity threats from a pity man, how appropriate," Alaric turned his three companions who will be joining him for their little adventure. "The journey we will be taking leads to the underground kingdom you all known it as hell. It's a very dangerous mission those who go on it barely make it out halfway, much less back alive."
"We can handle it!" Bloom said, speaking for them all.
"Then you and Layla should at lease be dressed appropriately for this kind of journey," He snapped his fingers, and black currents were snaking around the girls' bodies from chest to bottom, melting away their clothes into a new set of khaki cargo vest-shirt, matching cargo cuffed-shorts, and mid-calf hiking boots. The most ironic thing it was the same set of the clothes they were wearing when they went to the dangerous underground Shadow Haunt to rescue the pixies.
He snapped his fingers again and a wide black portal sliced opened in front of them, blowing hot air into the room and nearly knocking everyone else to the ground. "Our ride is here," He went over to Stella and dropped an object in her hand; it was a simple golden ring with the same sinister, red mark of the Midnight Raven in the center. "It was created by the wizards who imprisoned the Midnight Raven. In a way, it's like the opposite force of the power, is extremely powerful, and will protect you and your friends as long as you wear it."
"We'll bring Flora back." Bloom promised as she, Helia, and Layla hugged their friends goodbye.
"Be careful." Sky warned.
"The same for you, too," Layla had her arms encircled around Nabu's neck, with his arms wrapped around her waist. She pecked his lips and smiled at his worried expression.
"As much as I love goodbyes, which just warms my dear ole heart," Alaric didn't bother to hide his sarcasm. "We really have to get going so I suggest we get here."
They watched as Alaric stepped forward and instantly was sucked into the portal, disappearing from sight. Soon Bloom went after him, then Layla, and finally, after turning back to wave to his friends, Helia entered inside before it swirled up into a tiny spot that disappeared.
"You think they're going to be okay?" Stella asked.
"I know they will." Brandon said, even though he was very uncertain and tried not to show it.
"They will be okay. Right now, we have to other things to worry about like facing Libitina."
She was right. They had other things to worry about. In less than a few hours, they were going to be in the battle of their lives as they go against the darkest, most powerful witch known throughout all the realms. But just like the original Winx girls and Specialists, this was one battle they sure as hell are not planning of losing.