The Chapters are getting longer!
Alfea
As I'd predicted Bloom and Vanessa insisted that I slept over. Both Stella and I slept on the floor in Bloom's room. The night before, Vanessa had filled out the spare application form and Mike seemed to have been convinced about the existence of fairies. I'd sent the application, plus letter, off and hopefully Bloom had been added to the enrolment list.
They woke in the morning to an extremely excited Bloom who started frantically packing. Stella had disappeared into the bathroom for like forty minutes before coming back dressed in a short red skirt and a green tied crop top. I went to the kitchen and helped Mike do some cleaning. He was opposed to the idea of more magic being used in his house, so we were sweeping the debris up with a broom and putting upright things that had fallen but not broken.
Finally, Stella was ready and Bloom was packed. Stella was the first one to come downstairs, and looked around the room.
"You know it would be easy for me to straighten up everything with a little magic." Stella offered.
"Thanks, but I prefer this way." Mike turned down the offer.
"Mike likes doing things himself." I told Stella.
"Bloom's ready." Vanessa announced as they both joined us at the bottom of the stairs, looking into the living room.
"You're sure about this sweaty?" Mike asked worriedly.
"Yes dad, I'm going with Stella and Onyx to the realm of magic and Alfea castle." Bloom said determinedly.
"Call us as soon as you get there. And let us know everything. I still can't believe we agreed to this. What if you get sick? What if you meet those monsters again?"
"Dad, I'll be careful I promise." Bloom cut across Mike who was working himself into a panic.
"And I'll look after her." I promised. "And I'm sure Stella will to?"
"Of course." Stella agreed immediately.
"Bloom, we love you very much." Vanessa hugged her daughter. "Please come home as soon as the sessions over next summer. We'll miss you."
"And I'll miss you both so much." Bloom admitted.
"Did you really think we would just let you go, just like that? No, we're coming with you." Mike grabbed his fireman's jacket. Even when he wasn't working, he wore it. I don't think he actually owned another type of jacket.
"Really?" Bloom asked happily. "Wow, thanks dad, this is great. Stella, is it possible?"
"Well, the rules don't allow it. But as they say, rules are made to be broken." Stella took off her ring which turned into her staff. "Ready?"
"We were born ready." Mike announced.
"To magixs we go." Stella swiped her staff over the three of them.
I closed my eyes as we travelled. Portal travel when you weren't in control wasn't fun. It gave the feeling of falling and spinning at the same time. And you couldn't actually breath while travelling, which when travelling a distance was really bad because it took time. But they never travelled more than a minute - even if it feels longer.
They left the portal on some lush green grass on the boarders of Alfea. They were looking down at the school, which was an impressive purple and pink castle which stood out against the green grass and trees which surrounded it. I whistled, impressed. I'd only ever seen the castle in pictures, since I had no reason to visit in person.
"Wow, it really does exist." Mick said like he couldn't believe it.
"Do you believe us now?" Bloom asked with a typical teenage smugness.
"Come on, we've got to go." Stella said excitedly.
They set of towards the school, the closer they got the more detail they could see of the castle. There was plenty of windows around the school letting of a welcoming yellow light.
There were about ten minutes away from the school when Mike walked into the barrier which surrounded the school, cutting him of mid-sentence. Since I was walking at the back of the group, I hadn't felt the barrier before he ran into it, but now I walked forward and stood right on the border.
Closing my eyes, I focused on the feeling of Magix around me. The wards around Alfea had been standing since the school was formed, and had been getting stronger over the centuries. These wards weren't in their full form, instead they seemed to be on their weakest setting. There were wards stopping creatures such as trolls and orges from crossing the boundaries as well as preventing dangerous plants from taking root. Then there were also the wards which prevented those without magic from crossing the boundary.
I returned to the conversation to hear Stella's explanation about the fact that there is an invisible wall.
"But if it didn't stop me, why can't they get through?" Bloom asked confused.
"Simple: you're a magical being, my dear." Stella channelled some magic into a portion of the barrier so that it was visible where they were standing. "This barrier keeps non-magical beings out of Magix. Sorry, while I can't take you any further, I can show you the official Alfea slide globe. It comes complete with the school song!"
The globe created a holographic image which showed the insides of the school and a quick snap shot of the lessons, while the school anthem played in the background.
"So? What do you think?" Stella asked, putting the globe away.
"I think Bloom's going to have a great year…" Vanessa tried to smile, but it was clear she was holding back tears. This would be the first time that Bloom would be spending any substantial amount of time away from her parents.
"Mom…" Bloom said wide eyed.
"You'll have a wonderful time." Vanessa grabbed her daughter in a hug while composing herself.
"She sure will! I'll see to that!" Stella said excitedly, trying to reassure Vanessa and Mike who were clearly reluctant to say goodbye. "Bloom, we should get going, you know, while the getting's good."
"I'll be fine, guys." Bloom reassured her parents. "Don't worry about me."
"I'll send you back first class!" Stella summoned her staff. "Now just stand still… okay!" Vanessa and Mike moved so they were stood together. "Transportus Back Home-Us!"
"Bye Guys! See ya!" Bloom waved as Mike and Vanessa were teleported away.
"Come on. Entrances ends in an hour, in time for the introductory speech." I got them moving.
Stella was practically bouncing as they approached the gates. "It's time to make an entrance! A fabulous entrance is essential, dahling."
"I'm not sure what you mean, dahling, but I'll try." Bloom tried to be just as enthusiastic but she was clearly nervous.
"Okay, follow me! Just smile, slither and swivel!"
I rolled my eyes at her. Stella was a deva. I foresaw a lot of talk about clothes and shopping in my future. I looked around at the other students who were loitering in the courtyard. I'd noticed that on earth the clothing trend was towards crop tops and short skirts, but there was still a good portion of students who wore flared jeans like Bloom did and full t-shirts. Here, that just didn't seem to be the case. If students weren't wearing cropped clothes, they were wearing skin tight trousers.
"I'm nervous." Bloom admitted.
"Relax, you're with me! Fairy school is like normal school, but we all have magic powers and better outfits!" Stella exclaimed.
"I'm loving it already." Bloom admitted, taking in the other students.
"Ick." Stella paused when they noticed the older, strict looking women who was stood by the entrance with a clip board. "You're definitely not gonna love her."
"Who's that? She looks scary." Bloom asked.
"Griselda, head of discipline," Stella answered as they started walking towards her. "She is scary, and in a bad need of a makeover."
They got in the que behind a fairy who had arrived before them.
"First name and place of origin." Griselda demanded.
"Uh, Elanor of Delona. I sighed up online, I should be on the list." The fairy said hesitantly.
"Hmm, I don't see it." Griselda scrawled. "I don't see your name and you know what happens if you're not on the list, we turn you into…"
"Into guano." Elanor finished.
"There you are: Elanor of Delona, you may come in." Griselda announced.
"Thank you." Elanor quickly scurried past the head of discipline.
"Next." Griselda demanded angrily.
I walked forward, making sure to pull a suddenly apprehensive Bloom along with me.
"Long time no see, Ms. G." Sella smiled at the stern fairy.
I winced slightly. Did Stella not know how to show respect to authority? The disapproving glare she received was completely expected.
"Not long enough, Princess Stella! Not after the little incident last year! I don't know how your parents convinced the school board to take you back! It's beyond me." Griselda sniffed.
"They did donate the new computer lab." Stella pointed out like that made whatever she had done better.
"Who are your friends?" Griselda moved the conversation on.
"Onyx and Bloom, of earth." I answered for them. "I applied several weeks ago and Bloom's letter should have arrived yesterday."
"Hmm." Griselda looked over the list with a stern eye. "Yes, you are both here. Miss Bloom, we are having an issue finding a room for you. But the headmistress should have somewhere sorted by tonight."
"Oh, she can stay in the room that princess Veranda of Vallisto was supposed to stay in." Stella inputted excitedly. "She gave me this letter; she's decided to be home-schooled instead."
Griselda took the letter and quickly read through it. "Yes, that would be acceptable. I'll let the headmistress know. You may all come in."
"Thank you." I said politely as we travelled past her.
"Now what?" Bloom asked looking around with wide eyes.
"Well, there are the introductory speeches from Griselda and the headmistress and then we'll be free to go and see our rooms. Tomorrow, lessons start so we've got to make the most of today." Stella explained.
"What happened last year?" I asked curiously. Stella had said she was repeating the year, but it seemed she was repeating because she was expelled and or suspended for doing something.
"Oh, I may have blown up the potions classroom." Stella admitted. "It was a complete accident and my parents payed for the damage." She quickly defended when Bloom and I both shot her stunned looks.
"How do you accidently blow up the potions classroom?" I asked shocked.
"I was trying to make a new shade of pink. But something went wrong." Stella admitted with a sheepish smile.
"Well, did you follow the experimental guidelines? No magic while mixing ingredients."
"There are actual guidelines for that?" Stella asked causing Bloom to laugh.
They spent a little while talking about the sort of things they could do at Alfea outside of lessons – which included visiting the Magix Shopping District which wasn't far – until Griselda called for everyone to gather.
"First things first, our code of behaviour: the first rule is, you must follow all rules in the code of behaviour! If you break the rules once, you will be turned into a frog. If you break the rules twice, your magic privileges will be suspended. And if you break the rules three times, you will be expelled, isn't that right, Princess Stella? Last year, she destroyed the potions laboratory with an unauthorized magic spell, which brings me to the second rule: no unsupervised magic at any time! A-hem!"
Stella just smiled sheepishly.
"We believe discipline's the only way to prepare you for the world out there, which brings me to the third rule: stay away from the witches of Cloud Tower no matter what! We don't have a punishment for that, since nothing we could do would be as terrible as what they will do to you if they catch you there!"
It was with that ominous warning that the headmistress – an old lady with white hair – and three of the professors left the school. One of the one was a lady in a red dress, another was a short man with animal like features and the last was a young elf.
"Welcome all." Headmistress Fargonda greeted them with a kind smile. "I'm Miss Faragonda, your headmistress. I'm an Alfea alumna and a former fairy-godmother. This year we have quite a wonderful class. Some of you will fight evil, others will grant wishes and many are princesses that will take over your realms. Each of you is unique, you all have different sources of power, and diverse origins, but our mission is the same…"
Stella finished the sentence with Fargonda, "…to help each of you be the very best you can be."
"She really loves saying that." Stella whispered.
"Naturally we expect you to do your best at all times." Faragonda finished her speech.
"Now ladies, it's time to check in to your dormitories and meet your dorm mates." Griselda clapped her hands to dismiss the students.
"Remember, everyone. Let's make this a great year! Oh! And of course, use every opportunity to connect to your winx." Faragonda spoke before the students could disperse.
"Stella you should lead the way to the dorms, since your familiar with the layout." I suggested as they started walking.
"It sounds like they prepare you for all kinds of stuff! You know what you're gonna be?" Bloom asked excitedly.
"Duh. I'm gonna, like, rule the kingdom of Solaria." Stella answered right away.
"I will likely become a battle fairy." I answered simple.
"What did she mean 'connect to your winx'?" Bloom asked since neither of them had mentioned the word winx yet.
"Winx is essentially three things. First, it's your source of power, as in your strength and energy. And second, it's what guides you. Thirdly, it's like your magical identity." Stella explained.
"I think I got it." Bloom frowned.
"You either got it or you don't, and you do!" Stella said strongly.
They walked through a few more corridors before coming to a stop. There was a list of six names on the door to their dorms, including Stellas, mine and princess Veranda.
"Our roommates. I hope they're more stylish than the ones I got last year. Of course, I won't be bunking with any of them as I have a single." Stella announced before pushing open the door.
The door led to an open space which was empty and designed only to separate the door to the bedrooms from the corridor without giving the impression of having only two people in a dorm – instead they were a dorm of six, separated into four bedrooms. The two doors on the left only had one name on the door – one for Stella and one for me. I knew that in most other dorms those two single rooms would be merge into a double room. Straight opposite the door to the corridor was a door to a double room, and on the left was another door to a double bedroom which was the room Bloom was assigned.
I left Stella and Bloom for a moment to dump my suitcase and bag in my room. There was no point lugging them around while I was meeting with the rest of the dorm. My room was larger than the tree house I'd been living it, and it was also open and light. The bed was a small double and looked really comfortable. There was a wardrobe, a writing desk, chest of draws and window seat. Plenty of storage, a place to sleep, a place to study and plenty of open floor to exercise in. This room was more than I'd hoped.
I left my things at the bottom of my bed and went to meet Bloom's roommate. It seemed Bloom's roommate was a plant lover because there was a talking plant by the door – which Bloom seemed to have stood on – and there was several other plans and plant pots dotted throughout the room along with what appeared to be the contents of the girl's wardrobe. Clearly, she was in the middle of unpacking.
"…isn't he? My theory is that if more plants could talk, deforestation would dramatically reduce. It's worth trying, if it just saves one tree. Hi I'm Flora." The girl was saying in a bright, but soft voice. Flora turned and accidently knocked the talking plant in question over, causing its pot to be shattered.
"Oopsie." Flora smiled sheepishly. She seemed used to knocking things over, so she was probably a clumsy individual.
"Can't a plant get a break around here?" the plant grumbled.
"Sorry, honey," Flora righted the plant, and cleared some of the broken pot away.
"Anyway, I'm Bloom. I'm going to be staying here instead of Veranda." Bloom introduced herself.
"Cool, I'm Tecna." Two girls from the other room joined them in the doorway to Bloom's room. Tecna was wearing a purple-blue and green crop top and purple-blue three-quarter rousers that came away from the calve. Her hair was purpled and cut in a bob tight fashion with a spiked side fringe.
"Hey Tecna, I'm Stella. Nice to meet'cha." Stella waved.
"You are quite infamous." Tecna raised a half impressed, half amused eyebrow.
"That's the word on the street." the other girl added. She was wearing a red crop top and full body blue jeans. Her dark blue hair was pulled into two high puns on either side of her head. "Yo, if you plan to blow up more stuff, let us know ahead so we can bounce."
This quip caused everyone to laugh except for Stella who pouted.
"It was in the name of fashion, I don't regret it."
"I'm Musa by the way."
"I'm curious. Were you actually able to create this new shade of pink it is rumoured you were making?" Tecna asked curiously.
"No, but when I do it's gonna be the official colour of Solaria." Stella announced proudly.
"What if you don't like it?" I asked. "You never know, it could be too garish." I pointed out at her incredulous look.
"Says she who is opposed to colour." Bloom raised a challenging eyebrow, and I shrugged unrepentantly. I wasn't against colour; I just chose to wear black shirts and trousers – I was simple and low maintenance.
Their attention was drawn back to Bloom and Flora's bedroom where they found Kiko being held upside down by Flora's plant.
"Bad plant! Put him down right now!" Flora ordered sternly.
"It's okay. It's not the plant's fault." Bloom crouched and gently lifted one of the plant's vines which had teeth marks. "I'm betting that Kiko tried to eat it. He likes his veggies."
"You hungry little bunny?" Flora asked, picking up some seeds from a bag and placing them inside an empty plant pot which only had soil. "Here, they're organic." As she was speaking, she channelled some magic into the soil which caused some carrots to grow.
"Speaking of food, I'm famished." Stella announced.
"Yeah, me too." Flora admitted.
"We haven't eaten since breakfast, which was a while ago." It was past lunch time now. "We could probably get an early dinner."
"I have a brilliant idea. What do you say we get outta here and go downtown for pizza?" Stella asked excitedly.
"That sounds awesome. I've never visited before." Bloom smiled happily.
"Hay, what's your name?" Musa asked me, "you didn't say."
"Onyx." I answered simple.
"Like the stone?" Tecna questioned.
"Yes."
I remained silent as we got the bus to downtown, happy to simple listen to the chatter between the girls as they got to know each other.
The bus journey was only twenty minutes, but in that time the girls had bonded. It seemed Stella's ability to just talk and talk had pathed the way to friendship between them. And although I didn't form friends so easily, I wasn't going to leave Bloom's side which meant I would be getting to know these girls more over time.
Since Bloom was the only who hadn't seen the city before, Tecna covered her eyes as they got off the bus.
"What do ya say? Can I open my eyes now?" Bloom asked once Tecna had stopped directing her around.
"Yeah, go ahead, take a look." Tecna giggled, removing her hands from Bloom's eyes.
"Hmm." Bloom hummed disappointedly as she looked around. Downtown magix was literally the same as any town on earth, except for the hover cars and the occasional shop on magic.
"What do ya think?" Musa asked.
"To be honest with you, I'm kinda disappointed. This is it? Capital of the realm of magic, most enchanted city in the universe?"
"Well, what did ya expect?" Musa asked.
"I imagine she was imagining something more magical, like her books." I answered for Bloom who had blushed slightly.
"That's all, fairy-tale stuff. This is the real world. What's cool is that everyone here knows magic and unlike us, they get to use it for anything they want." To prove her point Stella pointed to a car which was trying to park and the driver widened the space with magic so he could do so.
"That was cool." Bloom admitted.
"Yup, and so way better than valet."
"Time for pizza." Flora announced getting the group moving.
"Yeah, chow time. My stomach's growling." Musa admitted.
"Mine too." Stella agreed.