Guest: Thanks, I'll address them again later. I promise.

a fan: Thanks, I'm glad you're enjoying it. Timmy and Darcy are my favorite ship.

guest: Yes, there will be thirty chapters.

Chapter Twenty-Six: The Beginning of the End

Sky opened the door to a wing constructed almost two decades ago. He didn't have time to reconstruct it, but updated its furniture. It used to be the nursery for a little girl that never got to sleep there. He made it knowing his baby girl would never be there. It tortured him for eighteen years. The handmade bassinet was now gone. So were all the toys and books. Bright butterflies still glittered on the wall and the floor was still soft and pink. He smiled a bittersweet smile, he was starting to make it right. No longer a girl, Semiramis walked into her room. She looked around and didn't say a word.

"I'm sorry," Sky said pained. He meant it on many levels. She'd long outgrown the butterflies on the wall.

"I really like it." Semiramis admitted. She touched one of the butterflies. The painting was enchanted. The butterfly fluttered before it flew around her. Semiramis frowned. Flying, she no longer had that ability. She could no longer do anything. She couldn't even command the butterfly to stop.

"What's wrong?"

"I can't fly. My wings, my powers are gone."

Sky frowned. "Do you want to fly?"

Semiramis's face contorted miserably. She already had the best medical and magical experts look her over. Even Darcy was paid to help to no avail. There was no reversing the effects of the shadowfire. "There's nothing anyone can do."

"You can fly without wings, Semiramis. Do you want to see how I fly?" Semiramis sighed and followed Sky. She assumed her meant a hoverboard. They walked until they left the palace and eventually the Wall of Fire. Semiramis walked closer to Sky. Minus Shadowhaunt, she had never been to a place so desolate. There was death for miles. Nothing grew from the ground. Dust rose from the ground and stuck to the air. They were approaching what used to be a forest. The trees were black and scorched. Branches stretched to form a inconspicuous barrier. Although she was surround by ashes, she felt like she and Sky weren't alone. Sky whistled. Semiramis clutched his arm when she heard a great roar. He smiled as a white dragon landed in front of them. "Don't be afraid. Odysseus is very domesticated."

"I've never ridden a dragon." Semiramis's heart rate increased. She felt the heat and power radiating off the beast. He smelled of brimstone and looked rough and unfriendly. She took a step back. It definitely was no hoverboard.

"I'll be with you," Sky assured. He helped her on the dragon and sat behind her. He took the reigns and Odysseus took off. Semiramis felt her stomach lurch, but once it settled she smiled. She felt the familiar feeling of wind on her face. The world was underneath her. She was flying. Sky handed her the reigns. "Here."

"You might regret that," she joked. "I want to go faster, higher!"

Sky laughed. "Then by all means."

After a brief lesson, Semiramis took Odysseus into the clouds and made him spiral. She cheered with happiness and patted the beast. She had to get one of her own. For miles Semiramis looked at a large stretch of wasteland; but, then she saw green. There was grass, live trees, and fauna. She could see lots of small houses developed on this lush land. She looked at Sky. "What's that?"

Sky took the reigns and landed near the development. "This is the beginning."

"Beginning?" Semiramis looked around and didn't understand.

Sky petted Odysseus and answered her question. "This is the result of a decade of work. Missionaries, specialists, Flora and your friend Topaz... This is their life's work. This is Eraklyon's future." He picked a wild flower and put it in her hair. "The war devastated this planet. We tried to rebuild, but it was never enough. We couldn't restore Eraklyon to what it was before. So, I stopped trying to do that. This development stretches for miles. There are islands just like this. This will give people a chance, it's a fresh start."

"You're going to move the people here?"

"Those who don't want to settle here can choose to migrate. Andros, Solaria, Domino, Zenith, Linphea, Magix and Melody have agreed to open their borders. I imagine Isis will serve as a refuge for those who live in the City of Fire. They are established and wouldn't want this."

"No, it's humble."

Sky touched her shoulder. "Yes, but with time it will be more. I really hope you stay to see it, but only if you want to. I'm asking a lot of you through this ceremony."

"It's not a big deal..."

Sky frowned. "It is a big deal. Your ceremony will mark the last in the event inside the City of Fire. I will make the proclamation there and the walls will come down."

"Wouldn't that create a panic?!"

"No, I've already ordered the troops to relocate my people to safety. They'll have housing, food, water, power, medical care, education, the essentials... No more hiding Semiramis," he looked into her golden eyes. "From anything."

Meanwhile...

Bloom tucked Ethan into bed and touched his soft blonde hair. He would have thrown a fit if he knew she was doing this. He didn't like to be babied. Despite all the gossip about her, she loved her children and wouldn't change things. People thought so little of her. Even Sky thought she'd take down the wall out of spite. She threatened that once, but she was older, wiser and stronger. She was also divorcing Sky.

Bloom was going to attend the ceremony and she would play Sky's dutiful wife, but once it was over she and Ethan were going to Domino. She never had a connection with the Eraklyonese people and she didn't have the patience or heart to rebuild Eraklyon. She tried not to cry. She had been with Sky for over twenty years! She loved him more than anything, but she had to do what was right for her. Nobody could blame him for wanting to move in his kids, but she wasn't ready to look at living reminders of his infidelity for the rest of her life. She was already miserable. It was time. Her head and heart finally agreed.

Brandon looked at her from the doorframe. She smiled at him and followed him out the door. "It won't be long now."

"Yeah..."

"I wish you could come with me." Bloom said somberly.

"I have a duty here, a duty to Sky. I will never abandon him, especially now that he's doing what's good for our people."

"You're the perfect knight."

"Thanks." He wanted to return the compliment, but they both knew it would have been a lie. Bloom didn't do all she could as queen.

"Semiramis is beautiful." She said bitterly. She remembered seeing the slender girl with her pixie cut and blonde hair. Semiramis looked so much like her mother Diaspro, but the more she stared the more she noticed a resemblance to Ethan. It hurt. "Will Leon attend too?"

"Yes."

"Good for Sky."

Brandon put his arm around her shoulder and rubbed her arm to comfort her. "This isn't the end for you."

"But it is, what do I do now, Brandon? What now?"

Brandon took her in his arms. He had no answers.

Ismene begrudgingly knocked on a Red Fountain window. She was starting to lose her nerve. She didn't want to do this, but didn't have much of a choice. She would be in the spotlight. It would look good if she had a date and she couldn't think of a better guy. Orion opened the window and looked at her. "Hi."

"Hey..." Ismene put her hand on her hips. "Look, I know you already have a ticket and I know you don't have a date. Go with me."

Orion laughed. "You just want to go with me."

"I don't. Don't flatter yourself, feather-boy. I'll be wearing green."

"Alright."

"And you're just accompanying me. You get no benefits."

"I don't want them," he assured her.

Ismene took that offensively and went back to Alfea without a goodbye. The rest of the Winx were in Euphoria and Topaz's room. The wind fairy had gotten her dress altered by Stella. They helped Topaz put it on and fastened her onto it. She was stunning. The dress itself was modeled after a Flamingo dress. It hugged her curves, but was long enough to be modest and traditional. Euphoria and Topaz debated on what hairstyle she should chose while Regina listened in varying interest.

"Do you have a dress Regina?"

"Yes."

"What color?"

She smirked. "What else? Black."

"Are you going with Elliott?" Euphoria asked.

Ismene glared at Euphoria. Why would she ask that question? She knew Elliott most likely asked her. Regina folded her arms and looked directly at the star fairy. "I might. He asked me, but I'd rather go alone."

"Oh..."

Regina frowned. "I'm getting really tired of this threesome deal. If you want him back, get him. He's not my man."

Euphoria didn't say anything. It was awkward until the witches left. Topaz tried to cheer her up, but Euphoria had too much on her mind. Eventually she settled down and went to sleep earlier later than what she usually did.

There was nothing for a while, but then Euphoria started to dream of the ceremony. She imagined everyone in their dresses and dates. She dreamed Semiramis had her powers and was flying around the ball happily. She felt a familiar ripple and looked around. Nabu approached her. "You're early."

"I know."

The people did not notice him. He knew he wouldn't have that luxury in the real world. He'd probably never get it again. He was an Androsian fugitive. He plotted against several princesses and aided villains. He missed this life. He gripped his staff and was soon dressed in a tuxedo. Euphoria swallowed and looked at the wizard. He was so dark and handsome. Even though it was a dream, she knew he cleaned up that well in life. She closed her eyes and found herself in her gown. It was a deep red, the same as the rouge on her lips. Her hair was pinned into a braided bun. Her eyeshadow sparkled with her gloves. He held his hand out, offering her a dance. She took it and was swept into his arms.

Nabu was a graceful dancer. He held her, never veering from her eyes. The music continued to play around them. They spun around the dance floor. The guest started to become vague and no longer resembled her friends. They eventually disappeared. Nabu suddenly realized they were alone. He let go of Euphoria and backed away from her. "I got carried away."

"Nabu," Euphoria reached for him, but he ignored her touch.

"I wasted time... You're going to wake up soon."

"You can come back tomorrow can't you?"

"No, I can't. It's not that simple. This is the last time I can come here. I can't have Stormy and Kevin finding about this. They're about to do something terrible. You have to make sure nobody goes to Semiramis's legitimization ceremony."

"Nobody will listen to me! They think this is all in my head." She looked away. "Maybe it is."

Nabu grabbed Euphoria and glared at her. "You know this is not a dream. If you don't stop this ceremony, you will all die. My final plan was-"

BEEP! BEEP! BEEP!

Euphoria darted up and looked at her clock. She turned it off and wanted to through it. The Solarian princess got out of bed and noticed she was dressed in her ballgown. Was she going crazy? No, these weren't just dreams. What was Nabu trying to say to her? What was his final plan?

(A/N) I'm soooo excited for the next four chapters. The ending will be shocking.

Next Chapter: Pandora receives an invitation for the ceremony.