Chapter 26
Hi, everyone, how have you been? I've been good, I guess. It's been a scary time, with the whole pandemic going on, though in Europe it seems minor or less stabilised. At least, in the country I live in. Be safe and look after yourselves - QueenNothingness
Sidenote: The summer is coming, and since it is getting warmer and warmer, it is possible I will not be uploading much in the next three months. I am often not in the mood to write nor upload when it's hotter than hell outside! Enjoy! ;)
I suggest you listen to:
Noah Cyrus - Young and Sad
Era Istrefi - Nuk E Di
2Wei - Insomnia
Soft and cheerful tunes filled Mirta's and Ember's living room, the balcony doors wide open, catching a last glimpse of the setting sun. A soft breeze went through those doors, the hottest days of summer finally gone.
Ember had never been one for too hot weather. Yes, she loved spring and she liked the summer, unless it was so hot you wanted to melt in place. That she did not like. Thank god for airconditioning.
And since she was the fairy of air, she was not above using her powers to make sure she and her friends did not die from a heatstroke.
The soft wind tickled Mirta's feet, which were draped over the armrest of the chair she was sitting in, a book in her hands as she occasionally turned a page.
Ember smiled softly to herself as she hummed along to the cheerful song, sipping from a cup of tea she held in her hands. Lisna sat on her shoulder, letting out a blissful sigh as she took in the aroma of her drink.
Mirta looked up as she heard Ember snort, her darkhaired friend doing her best not to burst out laughing. 'What?' Mirta asked, eyebrows raising in question, her hand accidentally hitting Abidin in his side, the fairy animal growling as he was woken up from his nap.
Mirta threw an apologetic grimace at her fairy animal, the big beast grumbling as he turned and curled around the chair once more, but the fairy of illusions could see there was no anger in Abidin's eyes, only fond exasperation.
The animal resumed snoring in mere moments, as Toffee also yawned and laid herself down on the mountain crawler's back, making herself comfortable.
'You look like the Grinch!' Ember yelped as her best friend threw a pillow her way, Mirta remembering the movie about the green creature they had recently seen.
'You should look at yourself!' Mirta called back, taking another pillow to throw at Ember. 'You look like there is about a pound of butter smeared on your face!'
One, two beats later, and both girls were hysterically laughing, the masks they had put on their faces making them look ridiculous all the same. What a girl does to look beautiful, right?
As the giggles of the two friends subsided and a relaxed and serene silence bar the music filled the room, Ember closed her eyes once more. They had needed this.
Just a day and night to relax, without thinking about the looming threat that was Nagendra and his evil plans. They had spend the day with going into town and going to dinner, just all the Winx together.
And when Mirta suggested a girl's night, just for the two of them, Ember was more than happy to oblige. She was friends with all of them, but Mirta was still her very best friend, and always would be.
The next few days were filled with classes and catching up with homework, and while it may seem mundane and boring to other fairies, Ember welcomed the change. The simplicity of structure and school was what she needed at the moment.
It made her forget, for a time, that the fate of the magical dimension was lying in her friends' and her hands. Just for a little while.
Not that she particularly liked to do homework, but it was a welcome change after everything she had recently learned. Alas, it was not to last.
Ember sighed, her posture becoming stiff when Tecna motioned for her to come over. They were heading towards the Headmistress' office, and Ember knew from experience that meant some new development had surfaced.
She was not sure it was always something positive.
'No specialists this time?' Emma muttered, the curlyhaired fairy sighing when she saw Ember's closed off face.
She was apparently not the only one who thought something seemed to be off. Emma just had this feeling, and judging from Clarissa's and Ember's reactions, her gutfeeling was right.
'Winx, welcome.' Headmistress Faragonda said, but she fell silent afterwards, as if not sure what to say.
'There is something wrong, isn't there?' Mirta asked, heart starting to pound when Faragonda let out a breath, as if trying to calm her own nerves.
'I know where you can find the feather of Wind.' The headmistress admitted, leaning back into her chair.
'But...?' Stella asked, the tension in the room so thick it could be cut with a knife. 'You can tell us, Miss Faragonda.' Bloom coaxed. 'We are ready for whatever needs to be done.'
'The issue is not how to get the feather. The problem is the place.' Flora and Musa shared an unsettled look, Toffee bundling her powers once more to keep the rising nerves and tension at a minimum in the room.
Especially Ember's heart was going haywire, the tremors going through her body making clear just how nervous she really was.
'You can find the feather on Odos' third moon.' Roxy's expression went from a nervous one to one of confusion. 'What is the problem than exactly?'
'Odos, it's sun and three moons have been locked off by Nagendra.' Ember answered, jaw straining as she tried to regain her composure. 'Those who even try to go near there, come to face with monsters and creatures from the deepest darkness of the magical dimension.'
'It is foly!' Clarissa bit out, shaking her head as a bitter laugh left her. 'This is not possible!' Bloom turned to her, angry expression on her face. 'We have no choice!'
'I know you might think you have a way out, Clarissa, since you and the others are new to the whole "saving the magical dimension thing", but we...'
Mirta bristled, hackles seeming to rise as her eyebrows raised. 'What are you saying exactly?' Emma turned to look at Stella as well, face closing off as her nerves made place for fury.
'That we are not good enough?!' Roxy spat out, the original Winx unconsciously banding together, as the new additions to the group stood together, having none of this bullshit.
'No, that is not what we meant!' Flora tried to intervene, but her words were lost in Stella's affirmative response, the room seemingly exploding into chaos.
Stella, Musa and Layla were shouting at Emma, Clarissa and Roxy, their angry and hurt voices all mushing together. While Flora, Bloom and Mirta tried to intervene and stop this fight before it became something it should not have.
This is my fault.
No one saw Ember slip out of the door, the fairy weighed down with guilt as the voices of the Winx travelled into the hallway.
This is my fault. I did this.
What are you doing? Howler asked in the privacy of her head, as Ember put some things into a bag, mind made up. Ember. There was some urgency in her fairy animal's voice now.
I am going to get the feather, alone. Ember emphasized, as Howler stood up.
Says who? The griffin answered, shaking his head and stretching out his legs. 'You are not going anywhere without me! Not this time, Ember!' Lisna interrupted, flying into her bonded fairy's room.
'Lisna...' Howler growled, shaking his head once again. 'We are both coming with you.' Howler finally said out loud. 'And there is nothing you can say about it to make us change our minds.'
Ember sighed but eventually a warm smile appeared on her lips, as she put on her sneakers, the backpack secured on her back. Lisna sat in one of the pockets, completely decked out for the trip.
'Book, please help!' Ember called out, the Book appearing before her. 'We need to find a way to get to Odos' third moon.'
I will show you. Come with me.
The book started to float, Howler stepping outside on the balcony, flexing his muscles, readying himself for a long flight.
Ember looked one last time at her room, remembering the note she left.
She hoped the Winx would understand.
That Mirta would understand.
That this, this is something she needs to do on her own.
Ember hopped onto Howler's back, grabbing his feathers as the griffin jumped up, flying into the air and up into the clouds in mere seconds.
The book floated next to them, with instructions.
There is a portal you can use. Follow me.
They stopped in a clearing, a flash of blue light opening a portal, the wind coming from it making Ember's hairs on her arms stand up.
Lisna looked behind her, Alfea in the distance, one last time, before she took a deep breath, nodded at her fairy, the three going into the portal as they faded into nothing.
'STOP! ENOUGH!' Toffee shouted, a deafening silence filling the room as the Winx stopped mid fight. 'I cannot find Ember, Lisna or Howler.'
The statement made the fairies jump into action, Mirta's eyes widening in fear as she spurted to her room, the door banging against the wall as she breezed in, the other Winx not far behind.
Her gaze fell on a note on her bed, the fairy of illusions' hands trembling as she picked it up.
Clarissa stopped in her tracks as she saw Abidin curled around his fairy, said girl standing with a crumpled note in her hands, her gaze zoning out, blinking but not seeing.
'Mirta?' Flora was afraid to ask, the fairy turning to her, tears filling her eyes.
'Ember has gone alone to get the feather.' Emma shook her head, muttering 'No, no, no, no' as she tried to understand what had been going on in their friend's mind.
'She has done what?!' Bloom almost snarled, but Mirta could tell it was from fear for their friend, not from anger.
'She feels guilty. She thinks all this fighting is her fault, since Nagendra is looking for the Diamond and by extension for her, since she feels she is supposed to protect it.'
Stella sighed, sitting down, head in her hands. 'Oh, Ember.' the fairy of the sun whispered, Emma putting a comforting hand on her shoulder.
'It's been a stressful time, of course we were going to fight at some point.' Layla cleared her throat, standing up as she balled her fists.
'Where are you going?' Roxy asked, not sure what to do. 'Going to make sure our friend does not do something stupid.'
The moon they were standing on, was for lack of better words, beautiful. The only of the three moons that bore life, the planet was vibrating with lush greenery, full of life.
The night was silent, safe for crickets and animals that made the occasional sounds, the stars and other two moons in the sky shining brightly.
We are almost there. Come.
The Book changed into a little light, Ember transforming into Tynix just to be sure. Lisna sat on Howler's back, keeping an eye on their surroundings.
They stopped at a lake, the water dark but inviting, as the stars and moons shone on it's reflection.
You will find the feather here.
'What will we find down there?' Ember asked, the book fading out of their view, but it's last sentence resonated with them.
That is what this is all about. Do you have faith and do you take a leap into the unknown? Or do you let fear reign your heart?
Clarissa let out another shriek as she held onto Emma, their barrier starting to dwindle. Even Bloom's dragonfire did not do much against their foes.
Two giant snakes were circling them, venom falling from their teeth, as they hissed in anger and fury. And if that was not enough, the were caught in a giant tornado, the wind howling around them. The greenery, which had been so beautiful just moments before, seemed treacherous as they bend and danced in the wind.
'Hold on, Clarissa!' Flora shouted, grabbing the fairy with her other shoulder.
'We cannot keep on doing this!' Musa panted, throwing another series of blasts at the snakes.
'How did Ember get through this?!' Layla cursed, grabbing Mirta with her arm.
'HOLD ON!' 'BLOOM, WATCH OUT!'
This time, she was sure they would not make it. Mirta looked up to the sky, her thoughts desperate and pleading, unbeknownst to her, her best friend was listening.
Ember, please... HELP US! We, I need you, now more than ever.
Please.
Ember turned around, her mother's spirit giving her a warm but sad smile as she heard her best friend calling out for her.
'Mirta?' Ember whispered, Lisna biting her lip as Howler snarled in rage.
'You need to go, my darling.' Selia gave her daughter another warm smile, pointing to the exit.
'But the feather?' Ember muttered, her voice desperate. 'Otherwise, it will all have been for nothing.'
Selia chuckled, her eyes twinkling as much as the crown on her head. 'The feather has always been there. It was just waiting for you, in here.' Selia patted her chest, where her heart lay.
'While the feather of Gravity is all about sacrifice, the feather of Wind is all about believing in yourself and your friends. And helping them, when they need you the most.'
'But why?' Lisna asked, as a feather appeared in Ember's awaiting hand. Selia gave her daughter one last hug, before fading away, her voice a laughing tinkle in the darkness.
'The planet recognizes creatures of their own. Since Ember is fairy of air, you pixie of the wind and Howler a griffin who can control air as well, the planet did not react. Be not of those powers however, the planet will defend itself. A protection Nagendra set, to keep people out.'
Selia threw them one last grin before fading into nothing.
'He did not know of the loophole, that it does not apply to creatures of air. Go now, and save your friends, my darling. They will not last much longer.'
'Mirta, do not let go!' Bloom ordered, but the fairy was tiring out, and she was so done.
'Do NOT!' Tecna screamed, but Mirta's grip started to loosen, her wings useless against the wind.
'Hold on, Mirta!' A voice shouted, a blue light exploding into the tornado. Ember sat atop Howler, her powers gathering in her hands, as both Howler and also Lisna summoned every last drop they had.
A flash of blinding light appeared from the trio, a sound akin to thunder surrounding them.
The tornado and snakes disappeared, the calm and serene night coming to life once more. Mirta let out a disbelieving laugh as she flew to her friend, hugging her fiercely.
Ember grinned, but the guilt that had been shining in her eyes was gone. She seemed calmer and more free somehow, as if she had no longer a burden on her shoulders she had been carrying all this time.
'Mirta, look!' Toffee let out a shriek in surprise, as Mirta turned around, her arms still around her friend.
The stone and two feather appeared, and with a sound like thunder, it changed into a crown.
The fairy of illusions blinked, shocked at how beautiful and ornate the crown was, before it disappeared.
'Did you?' Ember gave her friend a warm and happy smile. 'Next time we transform, we will have Airix.'
The other Winx all blinked, not really knowing what to say. Ember's smile widened, eyes looking up to the beautiful nightsky.
'And I know how to defeat Nagendra.' Bloom flew up to them, Elas also not really knowing what to say.
'Really?' Ember nodded, closing her eyes as she yawned.
'Yes, and I found out some other things.' Clarissa dusted herself off, looking up to her friend.
'Like?'
Ember let out a chuckle, patting Howler on his neck, and tucking Lisna back into one of the pockets of her backpack.
'I am the wielder of the Diamond of Air. And only I can find it.'
A silence fell over the group of friends, fight forgotten, Ember starting to full on snicker when the others reacted.
'You what?!'