It was dark by the time Samara made her way back to the dorm. She quickly made her way through the abandoned corridors. When she opened the door to the shared livingroom it was just as abandoned. Making sure that no one saw her, she walked in one straight line towards her bedroom. As soon as she opened the door, a ringing sound pierced her ears. Her phone, that was on her nightstand was ringing. Samara stared at it for a few seconds, contemplating if she should answer. She picked it up and saw her brothers name in the screen. Anger rose inside her again. She pushed the green button a little harder than intended.
"What?"
"Wow you look terrible." Sky said with a bit of worry in his voice.
Samara took a quick glance in her mirror and saw that her eyes were bloodshot and dried up tears stained her face.
"Well who's fault would that be?" She bit towards the prince.
"Listen, we're so sorry that you got caught in the middle of all this." Sky said. "It's just…man we screwed up so bad."
His voice was shivering a bit and Samara saw tears well up in his eyes. She felt her anger subside slowly.
"I just…I just wanted a normal life for a change…" He continued. "I never wanted all this to happen."
Samara sighed. "Nobody wanted all this drama to happen." She said softly. "Stella and Bloom didn't deserve this, they really liked you guys."
Now the tears were actually running down Sky's face. Samara didn't know what else to say, she had never seen her brother so heartbroken.
"Maybe…maybe you can try to talk to her again, explain your reasons why you swapped identity's with Brandon." Samara said. "Bloom is a sweet and understanding girl, she might forgive you and give you another chance."
"I don't see that happening…" Sky sighed. "She was devastated, I really broke her heart."
Samara kept silent, but mentally agreed with Sky.
"Anyway, I have to go, we have a test tomorrow and I need to get some sleep." Sky said. "Thanks for listening sis."
"No problem, I really hope you can work things out." Samara said.
Sky gave her a sad nod and disconnected. Samara put her phone down and fell onto her bed. Suddenly something he said came up into her mind. A test, crap the Transformation test is tomorrow. She groaned and quickly grabbed her textbook from her cabinet. Seemed like she wouldn't have much sleep this night.
The next morning, Samara woke up with a startle. Her textbook had fallen off of her while turning around and the thud had woken her. After throwing on some clean clothes and pulling her hair into a ponytail she walked into the livingroom. Flora and Musa were sitting at the table in the corner with a cup of tea.
"Morning." Flora greeted her with a smile.
"Goodmorning." Samara answered surpressing a yawn.
"You look terrible." Musa said with a frown. "Trouble sleeping?"
"I remembered Wizgiz's test just when I wanted to go to bed." Samara said.
"Yeah I'm not really looking forward to it either." Musa said. "The whole class will be watching…"
"So…where are the others?" Samara asked as casually as possible.
"They already went ahead." Flora said a bit too fast.
Samara nodded and filled her own cup of tea.
"Sou uhm…"Musa started a bit reluctant. "When you were gone, we kind of …came up with something."
Samara shot her a questioning look.
"We're going to break in to Cloud Tower tonight." Musa said.
"You're what?!" Samara asked with a high voice. "Why?"
"Stella wants her ring back." Flora sighed.
"And you're going with her?" Samara asked still not believing what she was hearing.
"Of course, we're a team." Flora said. "Although I'm kinda nervous…"
"Are you kidding me?!" Samara said beginning to get angry. "We already got into trouble last time we sneaked out of the school."
"We can't let those witches get away with all they did." Musa said also getting angry. "We need to strike back."
"And get kicked out of school." Samara said.
"That's the risk we'll take." Musa said standing up. "I'm going to find the others." "Coming Flora?"
Samara watched as Flora stood up as well, shot Samara an apologetic look and followed the fairy of Music, leaving Samara alone. Tears started to well up in the corner of her eyes, but the princess of Eraklion rubbed them away and made her way to the classroom by herself.
By the time she reached the classroom, everyone was sitting already, waiting for Wizgiz. Samara walked to the back of the room and took a seat at the window. Professor Wizgiz came in just after her.
"Alright girls, let's not waste any time and start with the test right away." He said with a smile.
All the fairies sighed simultanously. Wizgiz called all fairies to the front one by one and they had to change something of their faces by his choice.
"Alright Musa, change the form of your ears for me." Wizgiz said.
Musa closed her eyes and concentrated. Her ears slowly enlarged until they had the shape of the ears of an eliphant. Everyone laughed except Samara. She was staring out of the window.
"Samara, you're next." Wizgiz said as Musa's ears turned back to normal.
Samara walked up to the front, making sure to avoid the corner where the rest of the Winx were sitting.
"I would like you to change the color of your eyes." Wizgiz said. "Whatever color you want."
Samara closed her green eyes and focussed. Standing there with her eyes closed made her think about her practise with Palladium. Somehow she was afraid someone would push her over. She repeated the incantation in her mind and felt a slight tingling in her eyeballs. After a minute she slowly opened her eyes.
"Good job." Wizgiz said. "Most students try a striking color like yellow or red but it is the smaller changes that are the hardest." "Going from green eyes to brown is really good."
He made a note on his clipboard and told Samara to change her eyes back to their original color.
"You've passed the test, you may sit down."
Samara thanked the professor and quickly walked back to her seat. She watched as Stella was appaled to the fact that she had to change her nose and nearly failed her test by refusing her task. Last was Tecna, who of course, passed by adding some freckles to her pale face.
"Good job to you all!" Wizgiz said as he clapped his hands together. "You all passed the test."
He waited a few seconds, clearly expecting some kind of reaction, but was met with silence.
"So the coming weeks we'll be focussing on transforming objects into other objects." He continued. "And as usual, this chapter of Transformation is also ended by a test."
The entire class groaned.
"Oh come on, have some faith in yourself." Wizgiz said.
The class bell rang.
"No homework today as we are starting a new chapter next class." He said as the students packed their stuff.
This time he was answered by a small applause.
The hallways were crowded by students making their way to the dinging hall to have their lunch. Samara was looking for a spot for herself when she saw Flora waving her over.
"Hey." She said as Samara sat down across from her.
"Why aren't you sitting with the others?" Samara asked. She had seen the other girls a bit further.
"I didn't want you to sit alone." Flora said. "Tentions are running a bit high in the group at the moment."
"Yeah, you could say that again." Samara said.
She filled her plate with salad and started to eat.
"Are you coming with us tonight?" Flora asked nervous. "I'm sure the others will let you."
Samara snorted. She slowly shook her head while swallowing her food.
"No Flora and honestly I don't know why you are going." She said. "It's dangerous to sneak into Cloud Tower."
"I know…but the others count on me." Flora said. "And Stella deserves to get her ring back, it's an heirloom of Solaria, it's important to her."
Samara kept her gaze on her plate. She kind of wanted to go with them but if she got caught again, it would mean the end of her time at Alfea. Not to mention that the rest of her dorm members wouldn't exactly be happy with her right now.
"I'm sure everything will be fine soon enough." Flora said as if she could read Samara's mind. "Bloom and Stella just need some time."
"Do you think I should have told them?" Samara asked.
Flora took some time to think, slowly chewing on her sandwhich.
"I don't know what I would have done in your position." She said. "It's clear Stella and Bloom still have feelings for the boys, they're just really hurt." "If you would have told them right away, they would never have fallen in love."
Samara sighed, burrying her face in her arms.
"Love is a powerful thing, it can withstand the heaviest of storms." Flora said while laying a hand on Samara's arm. "Just give it some time, that's all you can do now."
"Thanks Flora." Samara said. "Promise me you'll be careful tonight?"
"Of course." Flora said.
The rest of the day went by quietly. Samara kept Flora's words in her mind and decided to stay clear of the other Winx. She focussed on her lessons in the afternoon and went to her room after dinner. She was reading when there was a soft knock on the door. Flora and Tecna entered.
"We're about to leave." Tecna said. "We shouldn't be gone too long according to my calculations."
"Just be carefull." Samara said. "Those witches are dangerous."
"We know, if all is going to plan, we shouldn't even see them." Flora said. "You see the plan is…"
"No, no I don't want to know anything about it." Samara said. "If someone knocks at the door I'll tell them you all have a cold and are in bed, but that's all."
"Thank you." Flora said. "See you in a bit."
Both girls left Samara's room. Samara sighed and regained reading. After an hour she reached the end of the book and put it back in her cupboard.
She walked into the dark livingroom and made herself a cup of tea. There was a nagging feeling in the back of her head. She should have gone with them. What if something bad would happen?
"Okay I need a distraction." She sighed.
After finishing her cup of tea, she decided to start preparing for her classes of tomorrow. She was just making a summary of the magical plants needed to create a healing potion when there was a firm knock on the dorm's door. Samara quickly opened and was surprised to see Griselda.
"Uhm…good evening Mrs Griselda." She said.
Griselda huffed. "Mrs. Faragonda requests your presence in her office right now."
There was something omnious about the glint in her eyes.
"Why?" Samara asked defensive.
"No questions, just follow me."
Samara sighed and complied. As they walked through the corridors Samara's mind was racing. Were the others caught? What if something bad happened? What if someone got hurt?
Finally they stopped in front of a large door. A small sign with golden letters hung in the middle. Headmistress Faragonda it read. Griselda knocked twice and waited.
"Come in."
Griselda opened the door a little too enthusiastic for Samara's liking. The two of them walked inside and Samara was surprised to see the other Winx already standing inside. Mrs Faragonda was sitting behind her desk, looking very very upset.
"Thank you Mrs. Griselda." Faragonda said. "Samara I think you know why you are here?"
"Yes headmistress." Samara said.
"What you girls did was very stupid." Faragonda continued.
It was clear she had waited her speech until after Samara arrived.
"You can imagine my surprise when the headmistress of Cloud Tower called me in the middle of the night to inform me that five of my students broke into her school." Faragonda said. "Mrs. Griffin was delighted to tell me in detail what had happened."
The headmistress looked to the six girls over the rim of her glasses. "Never have I been so ashamed by the behaviour of my students."
Although the old woman did not yell, the tone in her voice was enough to make the Winx stare at the ground.
"This of course will not go unpunished." Faragonda said.
"Might I remind the headmistress that this is the second time these students left schoolgrounds after hours." Griselda chimed in.
Stella shot her an angry glare.
"Yes I am aware of that." Faragonda said. "The consequences will not be light."
She stood up from her desk and paced around her office.
"Samara." She suddenly said.
The fairy of the Moon gulped. "Yes headmistress…"
"She was not involved in this." Flora said. "She shouldn't get punished for something she didn't do."
"Thank you miss Flora." Faragonda said, silencing the fairy of Nature with a raised hand. "I know that Samara kept herself out of your plan and I will take that in consideration."
"Let's not forget that miss Samara was perfectly aware of the plan of her roommates." Griselda said. "She could have tried to stop them, or at least warn a staffmember."
"Yes thank you mrs. Griselda." Faragonda said. "You will get an official warning." She continued looking at the princess of Eraklion.
Samara gave a small nod, feeling again a wave of relief.
"For the rest of you…"
The five remaining fairies looked up at their headmistress.
"I will take your powers from you for the next week." Faragonda said. "Every day after classes you will help with kitchen duty and cleaning duty until you get them back."
Musa and Stella were about to complain but abandoned that idea when they saw the stern look in Faragonda's eyes. The headmistress clapped her hands and one by one, the five Winx lost their powers.
"Now, off to bed." Faragonda said.
The six Winx nodded and left the office.