Chapter 23: The Search for the Flame.
Celeste's POV:
We were successful in defeating the first wave of Army of Decay. Right now, I was sitting with my new friends, Flora, Musa and Tecna. They were amazing and didn't make me feel left out. At first I felt that I wouldn't fit in because I came in later but they were awesome. They didn't make me feel left out and included me in all their conversations. I felt so blessed to have such nice fairies as my friends. "Aren't you worried that the Army of Decay is recharging while we are sitting here?" Musa asked worriedly.
"Well the only thing we can do is be ready, right?" Flora countered sweetly.
"This whole thing is majorly whack!" Musa groaned scratching the back of her head.
"You said it," I said agreeing with her completely.
"Seriously the semester is almost over," Musa pulled her legs to her chest and rested her elbow on her knees with a palm of left hand touching her cheek. "This time of the school year we would be getting ready for prom and I was going to submit my demo the DJ," She complained.
"Just forget prom Musa," Tecna started, "We will never have an opportunity this important again. We are at a critical point in time. Think about it, the fate of entire universe is in our hands. This is much more meaningful and exciting than prom! This is history!" Tecna stated her face lightening up. She really does find this nice huh?
"Who cares about making history if you are not around to tell about it?" A girl with dark blue hair of about waist length and square framed glasses scowled. She wore an orange tank top with pale grey jeans matched with orange shoes. I guess her name is Ortensia. "And stop dissing prom! I am on the committee. In fact I picked the theme- it's under the sea."
"So, when's your mom going to get here?" Dahlia, a fair-skinned girl with long chest length brown hair and sea blue color eyes questioned Ortensia. She wore a light blue midriff top with a sleeve on one arm and strap on another, pairing it with a pale pink skirt and purple knee high boots.
"She is not picking us up; I couldn't get in touch with her," Ortensia mumbled sadly looking up at the dark sky.
"You can't leave; we are the only ones standing between those monsters and realm wide destruction," Flora said.
"Flora's right! There's more to being a fairy than cute outfits. We have the responsibility to protect the realm." Musa agreed standing up and squeezing both the girls in a side hug.
"Even Kiko, Troy and Pepe are ready to fight," I said pointing at the pets. Kiko and Pepe were on Troy's back who was walking proudly. "Look how small they are and they are going to march right into the field," I concluded as Troy stood proudly with his head held high. Suddenly Pepe fell down his back and Kiko followed while Troy just looked at them in sympathy. "You know what I mean," I sighed shaking my head.
"You know the only way we can stop the witches is if we work together," Musa mentioned. "Ortensia, you have the best counter spell skills and Dahlia, no one can fly as fast as you can, we need you," Musa stated looking at them.
"No one's gonna beat us!" Flora said enthusiastically.
"That's right! We are Alfea girls!" I smiled pumping my fists up.
"They are right! We have to fight for our school!" Ortensia nodded.
"Yeah, we will battle even better than the fairies before us," Musa declared.
"Centuries of fairies build Alfea and we are not allowing anyone tear it down." Flora said standing up.
"We will fight till we wipe every single monster that will try to harm our school," I agreed standing up, myself.
"What do you say girls?" Tecna asked, standing up as well.
"Bring it on!"
"We will rock 'em down, shake 'em up and show 'em what we've got!" Musa said pumped up already.
Suddenly a ringing sound was heard from Tecna. "Hold on, that's my pager," Tecna said and removed a small triangle like device from her shirt. It lit up to display a hologram of Timmy.
"Tecna I have to see you right away!" Timmy demanded urgency clear in his voice. He hung up after that.
"O-oh!" She stammered. "Oh dear! What would Stella say?" She said scratching her head. "How long should I wait to call? Ohh! Hmmm…" She thought about it for a second. "I can't really wait for two days to call him back right? Not with the witches happening! I'll go see him," She decided before taking off in another direction.
"Wait a minute! What's up with those two?" Musa questioned looking around confusedly. I wonder when they will admit their feelings! "Are they going out?"
"They are working on a project," Flora answered, "Some kind of mathematical research thing."
"Well Timmy sure knows the way to Tecna's heart." Musa giggled.
Amber's POV:
"Are you sure the witches can't see us?" Stella asked still suspicious. We were continuing our journey, in the cloudtower.
"Tecna downloaded the latest anti-detection spell, so it should work against their surveillance system," I assured.
"Let's hope it does!" Bloom said and Knut suddenly stopped and glanced around. "What is it Knut?"
He turned to us, "A monster!" Knut pointed out. "I guess he can't see us." And sure enough, at the end of the hall stood a large monster, with bugs creeping on its feet and joining it.
"The spell is working!" I smiled impressed.
"Honestly can a monster be anymore disgusting? Eww," Stella whined and I rolled my eyes.
"Shhh!" Knut quieted her holding his finger to his lips. He then faced his back to the wall and looked at the monster from the corner of his eyes. "Wait here!" He ordered in a whisper. I watched from a corner, as he rounded the corner and faced the wall and felt through the bricks with his hand. Slowly he pushed a brick inside, and the walls rumbled opened to show a path. "Let's go. This is the way to the witch's dorm room, they are probably there."
We walked down the dim lit stone walled path and soon reached an end where the doors opened to reveal the witch's stinky room. "No witches here," Stella observed.
"If you had the ultimate power and were trying to take over the world, where would you be?" Bloom questioned. Maybe where the head of the school sits? Or somewhere, I could access to more power or something like that?
"Let's see," Stella hummed, "Living it up in the royal faculty lounge perhaps." That can be it too.
"I know how to get to the lounge." Knut said. "That way," He pointed to a door turning around. "I know how to get to all their favorite places." He boasted.
I smiled and walked up to the door opening it. I looked to my right and noticed that the hallway was heavily guarded by the stupid ugly monsters. "I don't think we would wanna go this way, you guys," I whispered to them, after closing the door.
"No problem, we can use the kitchen," Knut shrugged. "I used to sneak in there at night for cookies and milk!" He chuckled and I giggled a little, rolling my eyes. "We can there by the back passage. It's right through the secret mirror door," Knut stated walking up to Bloom and pointing at an oval floor length mirror.
"Didn't we learn something about mirror doors and intro to dark magic?" Brandon asked walking forward.
"Yeah," Dylan agreed making me look at him in confusion. "They are likely to be traps." Ohh.
"Right traps," Brandon remembered.
"We could forget about the witches and go for the cookies!" Knut looked at us wide eyed. "Come on, they are really good!" He convinced pointing to the mirror.
"Forget it! Let's just go," Riven suggested.
"Lead the way Riven, after you," Brandon smiled sarcastically.
Bloom started to move towards it but Sky stopped her with his hands on her shoulder. "Hold on Bloom. Let me go first."
"Okay," She smiled.
"Oh, I was gonna go," Brandon interrupted but thought for a second. "Nah, I was just joking!"
Knut opened the passage and Sky walked first. "Let's get 'em." He said enthusiastically. Bloom followed him and I followed her. Dylan was behind me with Stella following him, with Brandon, Riven and Knut following her one behind the other. We climbed down the long staircase and followed the path to the kitchen.
3rd Person's POV:
The three witches were in Miss Griffin's office. "Look the arachnid cam's back!" Stormy noticed the crawling eyeball on the floor. It opened its lids to show the girls and the guys coming towards them.
"They are coming right towards us," Icy smirked.
"Good!" Darcy smiled coldly.
"Alright ladies," Icy announced standing up, "We need something really diabolic yet fun. So ladies lay you very best ideas infront of me."
"Let's freeze them first. Then we will crush them!" Darcy suggested.
"Been there, done that," Icy rejected bluntly.
"Ugh! Whatever!" Darcy huffed.
"I'll tell you what we'll do," Icy smirked as an evil idea came to her nasty brain, "We'll make Bloom think she can take Dragon Fire back, we'll raise her hopes up, she'll think its hers, then we'll snatch it out of her hands!"
"Nice," Darcy praised.
"We'll make her cry!" Icy laughed.
"We'll make her weak!" Darcy added laughing along.
"We'll make her wail," Stormy finished and the three of them laughed evilly.
Amber's POV:
"Knut, where are those witches?" Bloom asked. We walked quite a lot. We had checked every possible place they could be at! You name it, and we've been there.
"I don't know," Knut sighed, and we frowned.
I hummed. "We looked into the royal faculty lounge, the spelling armory and we checked the suspensory!" I listed.
"Come on Knut where could they be?" Bloom asked desperately, pushing him to think harder.
"Alright, let me think," Knut said, "They can be in the boom room where they play this topic game with mice or maybe that crypt over there," he pointed towards a hallway, "that's their secret conjuring spot."
"So how long does this spell last?" Riven questioned.
"Anti-detection spells don't last long," Dylan informed. "We don't have much time."
"Let's split up into two teams!" Sky suggested.
"Good idea! Riven, Dylan and I will go check the crypt," Brandon said.
"Text me if you need me!" Stella mentioned.
"Be careful," I mumbled.
"See ya!" Dylan smiled removing his sword and joining Riven and Brandon who waved at us too.
We turned in another direction and started walking. "Bloom you lead the way," Sky said.
"Wait guys, stop!" Bloom ordered as we came infront of a large door with a unique design. There was this weird energy coming from it. I somehow felt drawn to it.
"What is it?" Stella asked confused.
"The Dragon Fire, it's behind those doors," Bloom informed.
"How can you tell?" Sky questioned.
"I can sense its presence!" Bloom answered. "Let's go in." What? So am I sensing the Dragon Fire too? But why?
Bloom opened the doors and we entered it to see it illuminated by fire. The flames danced in the holder in a very fascinating way. I could feel its warmth and something stirred inside me. "Dragon Fire!" Bloom gasped moving towards the flames, fascinated. "Atlast I have it back. Now, I'll stop the witches." Suddenly the fire froze and turned into ice.
"I don't think so," A familiar voice cackled, and I turned around to see the damned witch, Icy. "Sorry Bloom, no Dragon Fire for you." Strong wind started to blow and I lifted my hands up trying to resist it. I gritted my teeth as I tried to keep my feet on the ground but the strong gusts of wind pulled me up and threw me smack on the wall. Unfortunately, Stella, Sky and Knut were carried by it and smashed into the wall too. I groaned as pain coursed through every nerve of my body.
"You witches!" Bloom growled. "I am going to get the Dragon Fire back!" I sat up and looked ahead on the scene. I tried to get up but my back hurt like hell. The witches entered and glared at us. "It's my destiny to have it!"
"That's not your destiny," Icy smirked, "Your destiny is to be locked I here for eternity," unknown rage boiled inside me. "'Cause that's what losers get! And you are the ultimate loser," She chuckled darkly. Bloom growled gritting her teeth. Those witches are so dead! I don't know why but this rage, it was something that I didn't know of. Was it Bloom's anger?
"You are powerless and responsible for the destruction of the whole realm," Darcy mocked walking while pointing at Bloom.
"You might be the biggest loser in history," Icy added walking next to a laughing Darcy. "They will have a whole book about you in Alfea."
"Except no one's gonna read it," Stormy laughed. "Cause there won't be any Alfea left." The witches guffawed even louder.
"That's not true." I said standing up on shaky legs. I rubbed my sore shoulder, and pushed the pain down for a while. After I was stable I walked next to Bloom and scowled at them.
"Look another sore loser," Darcy pointed doubling over her laughter. I scowled deeper and purple lights were shining on my wrists. I was going to attack them when there was a green flash and the witches were thrown away banging on the wall. Tit for tat. Thank God! I almost showed them. The voice in my head returned. What? Hello? Do you mind explaining? But it was gone.
"Miss Griffin!" Bloom gasped and smiled widely. "That was so awesome." In the doorway stood Miss Griffin her body illuminated in green light and her wrists burning with green fire. Woah she looked scary and intimidating!
"Thais is my school!" Miss Griffin announced walking past us to the witches.
Icy scowled. "We are not scared of you. We are not your students anymore and we are more powerful then you'll ever be"
"Hey Icy, then how can she knock us around like that?" Stormy questioned dumbly. I rolled my eyes and held back a smirk.
"Because you are a bunch of high school dropouts and I am the headmistress of the Cloudtower," Miss Griffin smirked. She is right. Even though the witches are stronger, Miss Griffin is much stronger. Her experience has made her stronger, if not her powers. I glanced at the door to see Brandon, Riven, Dylan and cloudtower students in dark blue cloaks. "I'll contain them while we go to Alfea and regroup. Everybody, prepare to leave, you too Bloom," I walked up to Dylan and hugged him. Thank God he was fine! He hugged me back with a chuckle. I pulled away and smiled at him.
"Oh yeah, that's right! You better run," Icy snarled angrily, snapping my attention back at them.
"I know, you'll get you power back and that you'll come after me," Miss Griffin said with her hands on her waist. "But, when we meet again I'll be ready for you. You've dishonored Cloudtower ad you will pay." She walked away from them and started chanting a spell.
"You better be ready Griffin, cause you're the one that's gonna pay," Darcy warned.
"That's right, we are gonna spell you and turn you into a school mascot," Icy announced.
Miss Griffin smartly ignored them and continued on her magic. "What is she doing?" Stormy asked a little bit fear lacing her voice.
"Looks like some kind of advanced magic," Darcy commented.
Miss Griffin raised her hands high and thick purple walls started to form. "What I am doing is putting you in detention," she informed. "And if you talk, or try to break it, the detention barrier will double in strength." She nodded towards us. "Come on." We quickly started running out of the room into the hallways. I ran besides Dylan, the Cloudtower witches were with us. We stooped as, Miss Griffin stopped and created some more barriers. "And don't even think about coming without a hall pass." She finished her spell and this time, thick earth spikes kind of thing emerged out, and ran towards us. "Come on, the kind of power they have is tremendous. The walls won't contain them for long." She walked to us and sighed. "I hope you all remember the mayhem drill procedure," She asked her witches who put their hoods of cape on their heads.
One of the witches nodded. "This is for you Miss Griffin." She said handing over a magenta colored cloak. "It is the fashion club's very own survival cloak. It'll protect you."
We were now walking besides Miss Griffin, the witches following us, in the long hallway. "Where are we going, Miss Griffin?" I asked.
"The terrace, we have to reach the highest elevation possible. We need to escape safely and calmly," She answered. "Did you do a head count?" She questioned looking towards her head student.
"Yes, we are all here." Her student answered politely.
"Good. Everyone, stay together," Miss Griffin ordered. There was a long pause and everyone was walking drowned in their own thoughts.
"Miss Griffin, what is gonna happen once they break down the wall?" A witch broke the ice.
"I am not sure, but believe me we don't want to be here to find out," Miss Griffin responded in a grave voice.
"So we are just gonna leave?" Stella frowned. "What about the flame? We went through a whole lot so we could get in here and take it back."
"Yeah and it will be a total downer if we return with nothing," I added.
"We do need to take it back and you fairies were very brave to come here by yourselves you should certainly get plenty of extra credits for your efforts," Miss Griffin nodded, "but the truth is that you don't have a chance against hem and neither do I, not when they have the Dragon Fire. I must combine my powers with Saladin and Faragonda. We stand for the three points of magix which must be drawn, only then we might be able to take their power back." Silence followed after those gloomy words. We all walked quietly hoping to escape safely.
3rd Person's POV:
"I hate them. I hate them. I hate them. I hate them. I hate them. I hate them." Icy growled shaking with anger. The purple wall infront of her turned into ice and then shattered into millions of pieces.
"I hate Miss Griffin the most," Stormy admitted.
"Not me," Darcy shook her head, "I hate Bloom followed by Amber followed by Stella and then Griffin."
"They are all a bunch of do goodie losers," Icy scoffed. "I am gonna burst us out of here and then we will go teach all of them a lesson they will never forget." Forming a white energy sphere she shot it at wall but could only destroy a little.
"I don't mean to be a downer," Stormy frowned, "but this is going to take a while." This made Icy even angrier.
"I don't want to wait a while!" She shouted scaring her partners. "But if we have to then let's atleast send them a parting gift." The three of them conjured their power and set the beasts behind the escaping group. "The spell energies will take a few minutes to reach the decay centuries, but when it does, they will go find Griffin and those fairies and they will destroy them!" Icy cackled loudly.
Amber's POV:
We had finally reached the highest altitude. Strong winds blew past us chilling my bones a little. I used a little bit of my energy to keep myself warm. "I'll conjure a portal tunnel to take us right to Alfea." Miss Griffin informed in a strong voice. "You have to allow the energy of the portal to sweep you up. It will not work if there is any resistance." Miss Griffin then mumbled some spell with her hands raised. Loud thunder rumbled from the sky and then a large portal formed. "Into the portal in alphabetical order. GO." The witches wasted no time to follow her orders and soon they started flying in the portal going to Alfea. I looked back to see the ugly monsters approaching us. Sweat beads had formed on Miss Griffin's face. "The monsters are coming! Everyone get in! Hurry!" Oh no! What I they get into the portal? "What are you waiting for? Hop in!"
"No." Sky shouted turning towards the monsters. "If the monsters get into the portal there will be no way to stop them. I'll stay behind."
"I'll help Sky." Dylan said stepping forward and grabbing his sword.
Miss Griffin used some of her magic to create two high-tech levabike. "Here use this to get back to Alfea."
"Sweet!" Both of them gasped in amazement. Walking forward they took a seat on the bikes. A grey suit covered over Sky's body and a dark red covered Dylan.
"Hold on!" I said. "You're gonna need help! I am coming with you."
"Me too. Sky and I sure make a good team." Bloom smiled.
"Good Idea." Sky nodded. "Hop on."
"I join you on the back after we defeat the monsters." I told Dylan.
"Okay." He agreed. "Now, let's get ready for some action."
Meanwhile Bloom took a seat behind Sky a similar body suit covering her. Sky started the levabike and I got ready in my fighting stance. "No let's get these monsters outta here." I said flying up and shooting some of the approaching monsters. Sky and Dylan pushed some of the monsters back using their bikes.
"Go guys we got it under control." Bloom assured while I shot some more of the creatures.
"Good luck." Riven shouted running off after giving us a worried glance.
"See you back at Alfea." Stella added flying into the Portal. Knut followed them. Miss Griffin was the last to go, the portal closing behind her.
"Okay, let's keep them away from the portal." Bloom suggested.
"I don't think it's the portal they are interested in." Sky spoke the words on my mind. "Hold tight Bloom."
I saw some of the monsters coming from behind them. Acting on instance I kicked the monsters away from them and shot some more. But they seemed to be never ending.
"Okay you drive, I swat." Bloom came up. "Go." Sky took off with Bloom throwing away ample of monsters.
"Amber hop on now." Dylan ordered. "It's time to leave." I nodded and quickly took a seat behind him. My hands snaked around his waist holding him tight. As soon as the suit covered me, Dylan took off. As Dylan drove down the castle I shot any monster that was in our way. The monsters were now behind us and we were driving in the forest. I could see Bloom and Sky in the front. "I totally have to get one of these." Dylan commented.
"Are you sure you can drive this fast?" I shouted over the wind.
"No, but we don't have much choice." He answered back as we speed through the way.
Suddenly Bloom and Sky halted. What? Are they faster than us? I quickly got off the back and flew up in the air. My eyes widened at the number of monsters. I could see both of them surrounded by the monsters. I flew upto them and Dylan followed me on his bike. "They are all over me!" Bloom shrieked.
"I'll hold them back. Sky you drive ahead." I ordered shooting the monsters with my most powerful spells. Sky complied with me and drove off with Bloom.
"Amber there is tons of them! You can hold them back alone!" Dylan screamed.
"I can!" I said flying a little more above. "I just have to conjure all my power." I closed my eyes and focused on my inner self where my powers resided. They said it was in my heart! After a second I felt tremendous energy flowing through me and a loud gasp. Before I knew it I had released the conjured power emitting a bright light. When the light turned to normal I saw all the monsters gone. Yes! I did it. I was about to say something when suddenly my wings felt heavy and I was falling down.
"Amber!" In mid fall I had gone back to my normal clothes and was about to hit the ground when Dylan caught me. "Are you okay?"
I nodded and stood up taking the seat behind Dylan again. "I don't think I can transform. Let's go quickly before the come again." Dylan started again and drove towards the forest road. My head suddenly spun and a bad feeling emerged in my heart. Oh no! Bloom! She is in danger! Before I could do anything a lightning struck from above. "Woah what was that?"
"We must have hit the defense system!" Dylan said. Another lightning struck throwing us off guard but Dylan managed.
"Should we stop?" I asked my voice unsure.
"The bike won't let me! It's not responding. Hold on tight!" I gasped as I saw the bike was broken. Suddenly Dylan lost control and the bike threw itself forward breaking a fence and carrying us down. Loud screams escaped past my lips and my body prepared itself for the impact. "Hold on, just hold on! I got it!"
"Are you sure?" I asked tightening my hold on his waist and burying my face in his back. I've never been this scared in my life. I know I am acting like a scaredy cat but I don't care. This is a little scary! A relief escaped me when Dylan stopped a bike after several bumps. I lifted my head up to see that we were in the middle of the forest.
"That was a little bumpy." Dylan smiled lightening up the mood and I laughed. But what to do now? We are separated from our friends, stuck in the middle of nowhere, the bike is broken and I can't seem to transform!
Tecna's POV:
I was currently sitting with Timmy working on our invention. "Don't be alarmed Tecna, this is the first time we are using this alarm system. The numbers could be wrong." Timmy reassured making me smile. So sweet of him, but was he, not sure of my magic? "Don't get me wrong, I am not underestimating your mathematical skills but, anyone can make a mistake, right? Did you check your results?"
"Ofcourse I did! I double checked them. And then I triple checked them!" I answered typing on the system.
"In that case, the witches will attacking Alfea with an army of with the like of a better word, BIG!"
"Uggh!" I groaned. "Timmy from the looks of it, the witch's army isn't just big! It's bigger than what we could've imagined." I frowned looking at the numbers displayed on the screen. Amber, Bloom, Stella, where are you three?
A/N
Hey guys,
I hope you all like the update. Sorry for not updating for three weeks but it was Diwali and I was really busy. School has started and I am a little busy but I will try to update as soon as possible. The next chapter will be interesting as we will know a little more about Amber. Anywho if you have any questions regarding anything you can post it in the comments.
Do comment your views! Thanks for reading and 131 hearts!