Chapter 44: Rescue Mission
Layla was sound asleep in the clinic when she was completely recovered, her eyes fluttered to find the room was dark and felt it was better to get out of bed to stretch some of her sore muscles. Turns to see Gomamon at the end of her bed sleeping. Smiles to see her partner well and didn't want to disturb him. Walks over to the curtains and opens them, only to be briefly blinded by the bright light of the sun. "AH!"
Gomamon stirred and felt the bright lights of the sun hitting his eyes. "Uh, is it morning?" Rubbing his eyes to wake up with his clawed flippers.
"Oh, sorry, Gomamon." Layla smiles and apologies to him, when she looked out in the window, she caught sight of Piff flying about on her own. Layla feared something could happen to the infant pixie when she has no idea where she could go or get hurt. "Piff!"
Gomamon was fully awake and heard her cry of her bonded Pixie. "Wha? PIff? Where?" But Layla did not answer and ran out of the clinic to chase after her, which made Gomamon to jump off the bed to follow her.
The difficult thing about the school was their lack of knowledge of the directions to take, Layla did not have time to think and almost run into a yellow skinned ogre with a broom that startled her. Almost terrified her by his size when Gomamon saw her thinking she was in danger was about to defend her.
"Hey, Knut is something up?" They hear the sound of a man's voice, spotted a red-haired male with his hair spiked and green eyes. He noticed Layla in her pajamas and Gomamon. "Oh, you must be the guest I heard about. Don't mind him, he's just a big softie."
Knut thought it was best not say anything or ask why she was suddenly out of bed, so he went on with his work.
"You shouldn't leave the ward yet. You're still very weak." The nurse, Ofelia stood beside Faragonda with a trolley.
"Well, now. So you're the pixies' friend." The headmistress said and noticed Lea beside her. "And I see you arrived, Lea. I was just about to call you."
Lea gave a soft chuckle and smiles. "Yeah, sorry about that. Couldn't find anyone around to mention it." Took a glance at the girl who seemed confused when she stared at the two.
"Uh, do we know each other?" Layla asks the headmistress.
"My name is Faragonda. I'm the director here at Alfea. I visited your father many years ago but you were too young to remember. You really do look like him, though." She explains
Lea was thinking of where he met her before until his mind snapped of an image. "Wait a sec! From Andros? As in King Teredor's kid?"
Curious to how he knew of her father and her royal status. "You know me?"
"Yeah, met him long ago when we fought against a force of pirates many years ago." Lea explains to her from his previous events.
"In any case, the pixies have always said good things about you." The headmistress told her, but noticed the concerned look on the princess' face.
"Piff! Have you seen her? She was flying in the garden and I think she fell asleep in mid-air!" She explains to them of what happened, surprising the adults of what she told them.
"What?" Faragonda was curious as to why the little Pixie was by herself without anyone watching her.
"A Pixie?" Lea pondered of what was going on.
Layla didn't had time and was desperate to find her before anything could happen. "Which way is it to outside?"
Fargonda could only point to the direction behind Layla. "Uh, that way."
"Thanks." Not able to stick around and ran off with her Digimon behind her.
"Wait for me!"
The headmistress was astonished of how enegetic and spirited the princess was to find her bonded Pixie. "My, what a willful young lady."
"She forgot her clothes." Realising they had her clothes ready to put on but were too late to stop her.
Lea could only wonder what was going on and felt out of the loop on this. "Anyone wanna fill me in on what is going on?"
Layla ran through the corridors in a desperate attempt to find Piff, but the doors were locked and still nowhere to find her. Gomamon was too small and not as fast as she was, so she let him grab on to her back to not fall behind.
"Look, that must be the way outside!" He pointed his claw to the door and she immediately sprinted towards it, forced the doors aside to make way and finally outside. Ignoring the looks she was giving of her pajamas or her Digimon.
"Gomamon, she has to be somewhere!"
The digimon looked about and spotted Piff. "Up there!"
However, the infant Pixie began to fall when she stopped flying, she was too high up and was falling straight to the ground.
"No! Piff!" Layla's cry was just enough to wake the Pixie from her sudden nap and now drifted about in the corridors. Her curiosity and child-like nature took interest in the class and flew into the open window. Layla was too late to catch her and needed to get inside. "Piff!"
Piff flew about in the corridors and once again found another open window to flew through before Layla or Gomamon could catch her, unaware of wondering into a classroom.
Wizgiz was giving one of his lectures to the class. "Magic is based on the principle of inconsistent continuity. And so, there is no direct cause-effect relationship between..." Stopped from the middle of his lecture when everyone spotted a Pixie flying about with no sense of directions. She was so exhausted from her flying, Piff once again let out a yawn and falls asleep and falls straight down to the ground.
Fortunately, Layla came just in time and about to catch her, but Gomamon made a jump to catch the Pixie in his arms and caught in his partner's arms.
Bloom watched the whole thing and was greatly relieved to see the Pixie unheard, she gave a cheer for the two. "Yay!"
Everyone else joined in until the teacher stepped forward of what just happened and relieved that no one was hurt. "Report to the Director's Office straight away, lass!"
Layla understood that she disrupted a class but didn't mean to, but was relieved that Piff was safe and sound in her arms as she was fast asleep.
Layla decided to explain of what she remembered to the Headmistress while Piff was still asleep and Gomamon sat beside her. "And so, after the underground river carried me outside, I managed to run all the way here through the Dark Forest."
"Do you have any idea why the pixies have been kidnapped?" Faragonda could not understand for what reason for doing such a thing to the Pixies and hoping Layla could provide the answers.
But Layla did not seem to know it herself from the look on her face. "I'm not sure. I've been wondering that myself. Maybe he wants to blackmail them, or maybe he's trying to get something from them."
"Yes, that's what I'm afraid of. Especially since our enemy's ability to absorb magic is dangerous." It was certain that whoever was behind this can not be ignored and needed to investigate on this possible new threat before the repeat of the last war with Tezzeret.
"Do you know him? Do you have any idea who or what he is?" Layal asks Faragonda if she knew. "Headmistress, please, if he is dangerous, you have to tell me. The pixies are in trouble."
Much as she hoped to have such answers, she was unable to know until they found some knowledge of this being she spoke about. Walks around her desk and gently strokes the sleeping Piff with her finger. "Honestly, I'm not sure who this enemy of ours is, but we will find out. And no matter what, we must find the underground entrance and free the pixies. That's the bottom line."
Much as she hates to do this but perhaps needed those who could help and already called for a little extra help to be sure they be safe.
After the classes were over, Faragonda called for the Winx Club in a private conversation of what she had to say to them. "My dear girls, as you may have guessed, the reason I've asked you to come here is to organize a rescue mission. As you know, fairies and pixies have always been the closest of friends. So we must free them at any cost."
Hearing those last words came into Stella's interest of what that could mean. "At any cost, huh? Does that mean we get to skip classes and still get full credits?"
"After everything Layla's gone through, can't you think of something other than skipping classes?" Fargonda criticises Stella's priorities of a person's life over.
Thinking she may have used the wrong choice of words and tries to come up with another answer. "Well, actually, it's just that if its such a dangerous mission why not send the professors?"
Her friends wondered why she would choose to give away a chance of helping someone to the professors
"What?" Stella asks while she was giving such looks from everyone apart from Faragonda who seems to understand from her point of view.
"No, no, that's all right. Stella has raised a very good point." This made Stella smile while Fargonda continues to explain to the others. "As professors, our job is to guide our students. And in case of an emergency, we have to be available to help everyone."
"So we may not be able to handle this?" Musa asks the headmistress.
"You've all shown great skill in the fight against the Trix and Tezzeret with your new friends and abilities." Faragonda could not be proud of how far they've achieved since then and gave it their all against the army of Grimm and Tezzeret's followers. But this new enemy Is unknown to them and know nothing of his abilities and limits of his power. "However, the pixies are your priority now. It is not wise to challenge an unknown enemy."
"So we should avoid direct confrontation?" Bloom asks if that is what she was trying to say.
"Exactly." Faragonda says. "Don't forget, this dark knight absorbs magic energy."
"That means he can turn our powers against us." Tecna realises if he had gained their powers, or if he discovered their Titans it could mean trouble for the Winx.
Fargonda nods her head to confirm the possibility. She rests her hand on Layla's back. "Layla will be your guide. She's the only one who can find the entrance to the cave. I want you to look for clues that could help us discover the identity of this evil creature. Now, follow me." She leads the girls through the hallways to prepare them.
"Now, I'd like to point out that some of you will not be taking part in this rescue mission." Much as she can understand how strong they are now, but still have much to learn from getting into danger.
This surprised the Winx that not all of them will be coming together. Both Bloom and Flora rushed over to the headmistress.
"But we do everything together." Bloom tried to give reason why they should remain as a team.
"Yes! And no one gets left behind ever!"
Understanding of their reason for it and decided to explain. "Each of you has powers better suited to some missions than others. Would you send a frog to live in a hot, dry desert?"
"I wouldn't want to be the poor frog. I'd dry out in about 1.4 hours." Tecna responds to her question and now understood if they had some disadvantages.
"You don't have to worry about that, Tecna. You'll stay at Alfea." Faragonda told her while walking up the stairs.
Flora thought it may not be a good idea since Tecna was the brains of the team and could be lost without her. "Uh, excuse me but her techno-magic-"
"Will help us monitor the situation from here. Bloom and Stella will go on the mission." The headmistress made up her decision.
"But why only us two?" Bloom asks her
"Yeah. Why?" Stella eagerly wanted to know and not like the idea of going someplace scary and dangerous.
"Because Bloom possesses the Dragon's Fire, the strongest magic of all, while Stella's Sun magic will be very helpful should they ever come up against the Shadow Monsters."
"What about Flora's plants? My sound waves? Or our Titans? Aren't they worth anything?" Musa argued and wanted to be part of the mission to help.
Faragonda decided it be best to give a demonstration to the Winx as she feels they will have to adjust to the changes in the future from relying too much on each other. "Come into the hall, please."
Leading the girls into the middle of the halls until the headmistress reached out her hand to stop them. "Wait here, girls.
"What is she doing?" Flora asks, curious to know what the headmistress had planned for them while she stood by the main doors.
"Nimbus fallax orere et cinge fatas!" Casting an illusion spell to create the entire hall into an underground cavern environment. "Musa, Flora, use your spells."
Taking on their Fairy forms for combat, Flora was the first to take action. "Ready!" The moment she tried to use any magic, nothing happened and felt no trace of any form of plants near her. "Nothing is working. There are no living plants down here."
Musa thought that it might have been a minor set back, but she wasn't going to give up. "But we still got sound. Everyone stand back!" Creating a sphere of sound magic, thinking it could give some echoe location to find their way through. However, the sound magic she used proved too strong for the cave to handle and inadvertently started a powerful tremor. "Oh, no! It's echoing!"
The girls gasp when the rocks started to fall on them, Tecna realised what was happening around them. "The vibrations are causing a cave-in!"
Stella and Layla moved out of the way when a stalagmite broke off and almost impaled them. Flora felt helpless to do anything when she narrowly avoided a falling debris, but more were falling everywhere until a larger rock from above came loose.
Bloom realise it could fall and crush them and thought of something fast, picked up her medallion and summoned her Titan. "Join us. Sorceral!" Calls forth her Titan, the Draco-Titan immediately took action and created a barrier to save her friends from being crushed.
However, the boulder never came and everything around them returned to normal by the headmistress as the danger had passed. The girls realised it was over and now understood she meant after the demonstration if it were reali.
Stella let out a breath she did not realised was holding. "Is the cave really like that?"
"Wow. That was even better than the computer-controlled simulator." Tecna had to admit how realistic it was and had to rethink her strategies.
Faragonda came towards the watery eyed Musa who was trying not to cry and decided to give some comforting advice for the student. "Musa, listen to me. You're just as important as your friends. Your powers will be needed soon enough."
Flora reached out to hold Musa's hand for support and gave a warm smile to her, feeling better and take what her headmistress said to remember them.
Faragonda did not forget of Bloom's idea of using her Titan and "And Bloom, good thinking of summoning Sorcerel to save your friends. Don't forget your Titans are also limited to what abilities they have, only use them when you need them in any sign of danger."
This was the first time Layla had ever seen a Titan but never heard of such a being as a summon before, she approached Sorcerel and felt strong magic coming from her. "Amazing, what is she?"
"Oh, right, you've never seen one. This is Sorcerel, my Titan. They're kinda bonded in some way like your Pixie." Bloom tries to explain to her but can fill in on the rest during the mission.
For Layla, this was all new to learn from these Winx and what they went through to gain the headmistress' trust to help her.
With Bloom, Stella and Layla prepared to set of for their mission when dressed in their safari outfits from their previous assignment, everyone gathered around to see them off. Lyala was allowed to bring her Digimon partner with her, but has to leave behind Piff for her own safety.
And she did not take it well, unable to hold back the tears and burst out crying in Layla's hand. "Come on, it's okay. Me and Gomamon will be back soon." Comforting her Pixie to stop her crying and managed to do so. "There you go. Now that's better. You'll see, Piff. When I come back, I'll have all the pixies with me."
Held in the headmistress' hand were several seeds and came to offer them to Layla. "Layla, take these special seeds of light with you."
Hading them over to Layla, curious to what they were for before putting them into her pocket. "Do they have magic powers?"
"Yes. In an emergency, they will drive away any kind of Shadow Creatures, but only once. Faragonda explained to her. "Well, girls, are you all ready for your mission?"
"With only three fairies, I don't think it will be sufficient." Tecna pointed out.
"A small group can move quickly and is much less noticeable." Faragonda gave a reason for her choice.
"And besides, they're not going alone." Saladin told them as three Specialists students arrive to the school's entrance.
"Yes! The Specialists!" Stella could not be able to hide the excitement while Bloom thought that it nice to go on an adventure with her boyfriend, Taren, if he wasn't far away from Magix.
"No fair! You two get to have all the fun!" Musa complaint.
Tecna saw something from the sky and pointed her finger towards the sky. "What's that?"
Soaring through the air was a large ship with the inward curves at the ends of the outer prongs, with the center prong flush with them, and with a concave curve to the vertical line. The ship's mass filled out the stern to the shape's midpoint and left only a small prong on the starboard side. It was painted primarily grey with the three prongs accented in blue on the bow, as well as the dorsal and ventral sides. Making a soft landing in the open feels, the hatch below opens as to leave many to wonder who could be piloting the mysterious ship when they hear a couple of voices.
"I told you to take the first right when we went passed the forest."
"How was I supposed to know, I didn't built the thing! Nothing like the Gummi Ship!"
"Least you don't have to smile to get it running." The first voice stated.
Coming out were Sora and Riku who caught everyone by surprise of their entry.
Riku felt a little awkward of their sudden entry and possible surprise them. "Sorry about that, we just had a little tricky with this new ship."
"Riku? Sora? What you guys doing here?" Lea was surprised to see them but turned his attention towards the ship. "And where did you find this?"
"Well, allow us to introduce the Ebon Hawk, at least as what its name was. Found it some time ago drifting in space and Cid wanted to fix it up for us." Sora smiles and turns his head over his shoulder. "Hey, what's the hold up? You wanted to come here, didn't you?"
Riku gave a soft chuckle. "Especially your two ladies."
"Coming! Gimme a chance!"
Both Bloom and Flora knew who that voice was and could not be any happier when they saw Taren make his appearance and waved to everyone. "Hey guys!"
"Taren!" Bloom was happy to see him and gave a wave to him along with Flora, thinking it wouldn't be so bad now that he was here with them.
"We figured to drop Taren off for this mission you mentioned while we got our own little assignment." Sora told them.
"That's perfectly fine, Sora." Faragonda appreciated the help from them and turned to Saladin. "I'm very happy that you've come to help, Saladin.
Saladin nods his head. "It's my pleasure to answer your call, Faragonda. I will lend you two of my best Red Fountain Specialists, Sky and Brandon."
"All right!" Stella smiles and excited to find out Brandon was coming with them.
"Stella and Brandon. Bloom and Taren. Goodness gracious. What a coincidence." Tecna found it amusing and leans towards Layla. "Layla, looks like you'll have to play chaperone."
"You mean that love is their specialty?" Layla asks when she had a clear idea of what Tecna was saying.
Brandon was able to hear them perfectly and replied back to her. "You can say that again, cutie. Are you the new girl?"
Layla felt it embarrassing and felt her face flushed."Uh oh, He heard me."
"By the way, guess who managed to gain the next level. For those of you who haven't this be a first time." Taren pulls out his Digivice out of is belt, unaware of Layla who was surprised to discover he had one just like her's, only it was red.
'Another Digivice?'
"You mean Koromon changed?" Flora asked him.
"Who's Koromon?" Musa asks her as she and Tecna never met their Digimon when they heard about it from their friends.
"Not anymore." Taren decided to show them and beamed his partner out and revealed to be Agumon.
Agumon stood on his feet and gave a soft yawn. "Morning, hey this isn't the islands?"
"Whoa, dude, your Digimon changed again?" Sky asked him as to him and the others, Agumon looked like a baby dragon or large lizard.
"That's amazing, he certainly looks different." Bloom smiles and kneels down to his level. "I almost thought you have those boney ears last time we met.
Agumon looked at Bloom and recognised her. "Bloom! Is there any more pizza, or those egg rolls? They're so yummy!" Bloom let out a giggle knowing it was the same Digimon and stroked his head.
"Oh, yeah, this is him alright. And Inot to worry, 'll make some for you and your friends when we get back."
"Everyone, this is my Digimon partner, Agumon. Agumon, these are my friends, the Winx Club and the Specialist." Taren introduced Agumont o everyone.
Agumon raised his right claw up after being introduced. "Hi."
Tecna found herself curious and wanted to get some research on this new species called 'Digimon'.
"So these are the creatures, Yen Sid spoke about. Very interesting." Faragonda said and would be worth learning about their abilities.
"Is that really a Digimon?"
The three keybearers turned to see a new face that was unknown to them but possibly the girl that was mentioned. She walked towards Taren and looked at his Digimon who was confused as his partner was.
"Um, yeah? Sorry, uh, not sure we met."
Bloom came forward to clear some questions for them. "Sorry, Taren, this is Layla and I think she has something you won't believe."
Layla pulled out what surprised the others of her own Digivice and summoned her partner, Gomamon.
"Wait a sec, she's got a Digimon of her own?" Taren was speechless and wondered how did she have one. Didn't the professors got only three?
"But I thought there were three. How… what is going on here?" Sora tried to understand what was happening here.
"Maybe figure this out on the way." Riku suggested. Knowing when the others hear about this, they will be as surprised as they were. The teachers understood and could not waste any more time.
They watched Gomamon and Agumon first get a look at each other and almost surprised to meet another.
"Hey, you're a Digimon? I thought I was the only around here?" Gomamon said. "I'm Gomamon."
"Hi, my name's Agumon I didn't think there be others like us outside the Digital World."
"This is gonna be a long day for sure." Taren would probably call the others and let them know what he found out, no doubt they be surprised as he was.
"Layla, you'll be riding with Riven for now." Saladin said, much to Musa's shock that some other girl would ride with him, much as she hate to show a sign of jealousy of someone riding with her crush.
The Specialist ship Owl flies above them, opening the side hatch to reveal Timmy standing and waving to them.
"Hey, girls! How's it going?"
Tecna was happy to see him and waved her hand."Hi, Timmy!"
With their ride here, Sora and Riku would be ready to leave, but something else came to mind. "Uh, headmistress, don't suppose you could do a little favour while we're away for a bit."
"Why of course, nothing wrong to lend a hand." Faragonda said and wondered what he needed.
Taren sighs and turns around. "Let's just say we had an… extra guest."
Stepping out of the Ebon Hawk was none other than Hana, Taren's sister and Sora's daughter who gave a little nervous expression.
Most of those who know her back from Destiny Islands were surprised to find her out here.
"Hana? But what are you doing here?" Flora asks.
Hana scratches the back of her head to answer Flora's question. "Uh, funny thing is I sort of… got lost."
"Found her napping in one of the sleeping quarters when me and Agumon were cleaning up the cargo." Taren gave a blunt reply, ignoring the comical glare from his sister.
"I needed a place to do my homework and dozed off! You should have checked before taking off!" She argued with her brother.
Sora groaned and facepalmed his face, he can imagine the worry Kairi was until he told her and no doubt be in trouble.
"So we might have been in a little rush and didn't want to risk endangering Hana." Riku explains to the staff.
Faragonda nodded and understand not wanting a young child like Hana into danger. Gave a warm smile and accepted the offer. "Of course, I don't see why no reason."
"We can keep an eye on her, miss Faragonda. She can use the spare bed while Bloom is away." Flora offered as the rest nodded.
"Thanks Flora!" Hana smiles and caught sight of what she belived to be a white seal with a red Mohawk. But her attention turned to the sight of a tiny Pixie that looked like a baby. She gave a gasp and instantly ran straight towards Piff in Layla's hand, she was so excited and awed by the little pixie, Hana swatted both Taren and Agumon aside to make way to see the cutest thing she ever saw. "SO CUTE!"
Piff was taken by surprise and looked at the girl who smiled, making baby sounds, only to make Hana squeal of how adorable it sounded and gently stroked her finger. Causing Layla to giggle of the scene and could keep Piff busy, only to noticed Taren and Agumon on the floor after being pushed aside and groan in annoyance.
"A little warning be nice, sis." Taren muttered as Bloom helped him up on his feet. While trying to hold in her laughter of how funny it was.
"Aw, come on, at least she gets to make Piff happy while Laya's away." Bloom assured him.
"Well, we better go. You two be good while we're gone, okay?" Sora told them and sees his daughter waving to him goodbye.
"Yeah dad." Taren assured him that he would be fine.
"Be just like the good ol' days." Lea eagerly followed to check out the ship.
Riku decided to give Taren a little advice before he leaves with Lea and Sora. "And Taren… don't do anything with your lady friends while we're gone… or if you're going for a harem." Gave a snickering grin to see Taren's face turn bright red and gave a glare at him.
"SERIOUSLY?!" Taren exclaimed, not aware of his girlfriends' flushing faces and looked stuttered at the thought of it.
Bloom's turned bright red as a tomato with the blood rushing to her brain as it matched her hair. Stella would have wanted to laugh at the looks on their faces but wanted to get on to same speeder with Brandon. "Ready when you are, big boy."
"Come on. Get on." Riven told Layla without showing some care and gave her a spare helmet.
"Who says you get to drive? What?" Layla said, catching everyone's attention. "You think I've never ridden a motorbike before?" Climbs on the front of the Wind Rider, Gomamon was beamed back into her Digivice before starting up the thrusters and showed them how skilled she was, the girls were impressed and waved them off.
Taren pulled out the baton he kept for emergency, activates it to transform into a Light Jet. Bloom gets on and held on to him before flying off to catch up with the Specialists. "Agumon, better get inside."
"Okay." Agumon was sent back into the Digivice before taking off into the air, they were able to reach the Owl and landed on the side hatch, Taren had to fold the wings in to land.
The rest of the girls watch and hope they be alright, Hana watched her brother go and her father with his friends take off in another direction. She felt a hand on her shoulder to see Faragonda. "Don't worry, dearie, I'm certain both your father and brother will be fine." Then turns to the rest of the three. "Come along girls. They will need our support."
"So who's the bad guy this time?" Brandon asks the group of what was going on. Both the Digimon were out of their Digivices to get to know each other while the rest know of the situation.
Stella turned around with her chair to answer his question. "Dunno, but we heard he's pretty tough."
Brandon didn't seem to be bothered and felt confident. "Yeah but the Specialists can tackle absolutely anything."
"What about Tezzeret or the Grimm and his army?" Taren brought up when they were caught by surprise. Layla listens and curious to what they were talking about.
Brandon remembered and thought he made a valid point. "Well, okay, maybe not all but this time we are for sure. You should see all the cool stuff we got for this mission. Rope, grapplers, techno-magic gear, and our Titans for sure."
"Nice." Taren sounded impress and wanted to try them out.
Layla rolled her eyes while Bloom softly chuckled of Taren's interests. "Guys."
Brandon nodded to him. "It's so cool. Look. It's a Demolecularizer T29.
"Demo... de-moisturizer what?" Stella could not pronounce the word right and looked confused.
"Uhh… say that again?" Taren asked and also confused.
Decided to give a little explanation for them to understand. "Codatorta, our teacher, says we can actually use it to pass through walls and other solid objects."
"Uh, Brandon-" Layla felt she needed to say something to the Specialists but he didn't seem to notice and focused on the gadget to show them.
"Timmy, show the girls what the Owl's new engine can do.
"Sure." Timmy typed in on the controls and everyone could feel the acceleration of the Owl ship gaining speed. For the girls, they were pulled back to their chairs, while Taren who was standing was flung to the floor with Agumon beside him, Gomamon yelped and clutched onto Layla's legs.
For Brandon, he was unaffected by the force and continued giving them more details of the upgrades. "Eighteen dragon-power, a titanium frame. What a dream machine!"
"Excuse me!"
"Yes, Layla?" Timmy asked Leyla who spoke out.
"The enemy's the other way!"
Realising their mistake, the boys were too busy showing off that they realised that Layla was right of the directions.
"Yeah, well, we'll do that."
Taren was able to get up and mentally groan over an embarrassing moment of their new mission.
Back at Alfea, Tecna was getting a signal of their location when with her laptop, her friends sat beside her to find out while Hana was wondering what was goingon.
Musa was the first to break the silence to find out. "Is it working?"
"Affirmative. But it's going to take a lot of work to keep track of them in the caves." Tecna replied.
"I hope they come back soon." Flora hopes her friends be alright and make it back safely, but feels less worried with no Grimm to cause trouble, but with no knowledge of this new villain Layla mentioned felt uneasy.
Taren looks over to the window to see the landscape change a little as they were much further from the forest he was familiar with, he could not help but wonder where his father, along with Riku and Lea be going that was important? He knew they said it was some investigation in the Magic Dimension but what was it? While sat beside Bloom just thinking of things going on and another important subject of what he would do in his future.
Another subject in mind is how did this Layla found a Digimon of her own?
"Um, excuse me? Taren, right?"
Taren was pulled back from his mind when he hears the girl as Bloom nudged him to respond. "Uh, sorry. I was miles away of something."
"Not to worry, I was going to ask about your Digimon? And is it true there are two others?" Layla asks him.
"Yeah, there are. Both Mal and Ben have one of their own when we were introduced to our Digimon when they were in their eggs."
Bloom nods her head to confirm it. "Yeah, we just met them when they just hatched, well when Agumon was just in his infant level." Mentions about Agumon's origins, watching both Digimon munch on their sandwiches they brought.
"So how did you find him?" Taren asks her, catching everyone's attention to know.
Layla took a moment before she begins her story. "It started awhile ago, after I was doing a simple stroll around the beach to get some fresh air.
Flashback
Layla wonders around the beach, listening to the sound the ocean waves and seagulls. "I thought to collect some seashells when I found something by the beach."
Drifted into the shores, she found an egg with strange patterns and connected to it with the other end of the cord was the Digivice. She rushed over to pick it up in her hand.
"At first, I thought there was nothing, but was surprise to find it was moving and brought it back to my room and waited for it to hatch. Luckily, my parents thought it be good to learn some experiences of taking care of something, but never thought it would hatch so sudden."
The egg hatched and surprised her to find a small tear-shaped creature with red eyes.
End Flashback
"We had no idea what he was or where he came from, but the Digivice seem to have some basic knowledge and identified him as Pichimon, and then he changed into Bukamon, and then as what you see before him."
"So you have no idea how your Digimon came here?" Bloom remembered what she was told of where they came from and assumed if someone brought his egg to her world.
Layla softly shakes her head and responds. "No, it was strange but felt like he came to me for a reason." Stroking Gomamon's head as he sat on her lap.
It would be worth finding out as Taren thought. "That is strange, for how I got Agumon and two of my friends have their own, they were given to us by a professor named Ansem, maybe he could find out since they came from a place called the Digital World. "
"Have you ever been there before?" She asked him to find out more.
"Nope, but that be on the list of worlds I plan to visit. I wonder what sort of things live there." Taren said when he was interested of the creatures that come in all shape and form.
"I'm certainly eager to explore this Digital World you guys mentioned, a world of data sounds fascinating." Timmy sounded very eager to learn about the Digimon homeworld and find out more of the nature of the monsters.
Layla wanted to find out more until she recognised the landscape and called out to the Specialists to where she needed to be. "There's the valley. And that river is the one I used to escape from the cave."
"This is where I should drop you off then?" Timmy asks her while keeping the Owl airborne.
"No, it's easier to get inside through the old mines in the cave." She explained to him.
"Then let's go." Sky told them.
Timmy lowers the Owl further down without risk of getting too close to the cliffs until they found the entrance of the cave at the bottom and took the route as she told him. "Uh, is this the spot?"
Layla was very certain and pointed directly ahead. "Yeah! That's where the tar monsters went after kidnapping the pixies in the forest."
Finding it able to see with the glowing crystals illuminating the passageway and found a suitable spot for them to disembark with very little places to land. "There's no place to land. You'll have to jump out while we're airborne, guys."
This did not seem to concern Sky when he came prepared for something like this and pulled out a rope. "Fine by me."
The prince was the first to climb out of the ship and landed on solid ground, holds the rope for the others to follow. "Come on! Everybody out!"
Stella was the first until she dropped something from her pocket and looked alarmed. "Oh, no!" Tries to reach and grab for it before but lost her balance and fell, luckily she grabbed the robe, but the small object that was pink and heart-shaped was now lost in the caverns.
Concerned if she dropped something important, Sky calls out to her. "Everything okay? Was that something important?"
The annoyed Stella narrowed her eyes with frustration. "Yes! My make-up kit!"
Taren resisted the urge to smack himself when he heard her saying it was her make-up kit. If Mal were here now, she would think of a joke for it but wasn't here right now. "Seriously? Come on, Stella focus on the robe that's more important."
Sky would agree with him on it and tries to encourage her to climb down. "Forget it, just slide down the rope!"
Decides to follow his advice and when trying to slide down, there were words she never thought to say. "Must admit, for once, I miss school!"
The others followed, Agumon and Gomamon had to latched themselves onto their partners' backs for support but wasn't so hard. Riven stood by the edge to check and waved to them. "Good luck, guys!"
They waved back to him as he leaves the valley. Layla wanted to waste little time to save the pixies before something terrible could happen to them. "Follow me. This is the way in." They entered the cave she took and followed her lead.
"Anything that happened?" Hana asks Tecna to find out.
Tecna was about to respond when she lost the signal to their location. "Oh! They've gone in. I've lost video feed. I hope I can keep Geo-sensor contact." Tries to find a way to reconnect with them but hopes they be fine.
Sky took out a torchlight to see better in the tunnels while following Layla's direction of where she took to reach Darkar's underground castle.
"Sky! I know you want to save batteries, but give us some light back here. We can't see a thing." Stella complained as she was at the far back of the group, having a hard time to see without using too much of her magic, she failed to see where her foot had bumped into and fell to the ground. Everyone stopped to see Stella on the floor, not very pleased and reached the limit of her control. "That's it! I've had it. I'll deal with it myself!"
Stella transforms into her Winx form and summons her sceptre to her hand. "Scepter give us light!" Using her light magic to make the cave more tolerable to see.
"Uh, well, I think I liked it better before." Least Bloom was grateful to be able to see where they are.
However, Taren did not share her thoughts on it. "Stella, I don't think it's a good idea, try to dim it down a little."
Stella was confused of why he would think that. "Why? At least I can see where we're going."
"But now, we're a beacon for the monsters." Sky spotted a flock of bats above them and shared Taren's concern, if they make too much light it could draw a lot of attention and any hostile monsters that lurk within these caves.
Agumon picked up something and used his nostrils to smell. "Something's close."
Stella could hear the sound of a growl and now nervous. "Uh, guys, I don't know what that is, but let's... get moving."
Rather than stay in one place, the group made a run for it and found a pair of steal doors, however they were locked.
Layla had to think of something fast before her new friends could be at risk of being in danger. "I remember this gate. But it was open before."
Sky found the lock was sealed shut as it could not have been at a better time for them. "It's locked."
"Leave it to me!" Stella flew towards the gate and tried to open it with her magic, however, she found out that the seal was more than ordinary when it absorbed her light magic.
"No good. The gate absorbs magic. Our enemy thought of everything." Bloom said.
"Then lets see if it knows a bit of a Keyblade magic." Taren stepped forward and summoned his Light's Rebellion. "Maybe I can try and break it with some help
Brandon nodded and joined in. "Right, all locks are made to be broken."
Bloom would be relieved until she spotted the monsters lurking from the caverns. "Guys! We've got company!"
The monsters appeared to be misshaped, but had sharp teeth and claws that were a sign that these creatures were not to be messed with. Their eyeless serpentine heads snarled towards the group as they crawled slowly to block their path.
"Taren, you open that gate with your Keyblade." Sky told him.
The red head nodded to confirm. "No problem, but will need some time to get it. Agumon, help them out!"
With no hesitation, Agumon was ready for action and eagerly nodded his head. "Right!"
Brandon turned to the girls. "Girls! Buy us some time!"
Agumon rushed in to join them alongside Gomamon who stood beside his partner. Bloom had no doubt that Taren can't break any lock with his keyblade and would his magic is strong enough to open the lock. "It's up to us."
To both Stella and Bloom's surprise, Layla stepped in beside them. "Let's all transform."
Bloom thought if Layla was a fairy like them and had to be sure. "You mean, you're a..."
"Of course, I am." Layla let out a battle cry and transformed, her Winx form was similar to theirs but was a mix of dark and light green for her outfit.
All three of them were ready for action along with Sky to ignite his lightsabers. Made the first move to attack, these creatures were unlike the Grimm they usually fought, but almost felt like them with their monstrous appearance and the dark feel of emotions.
Agumon and Gomamon stood before the monsters that thought the two were small and easy, little do they know that the Digimon were much tougher then they realised.
"Pepper Breath!" He spewed out a ball of far at the monster who cried out as it was being scorched.
Gomamon took the next strike. "Giant Water Current!" Blasts another enemy with water spewing out of his mouth. While it was drenched in water, it's head was hacked off by an unknown warrior with a blade until Sky stood beside it.
"Not bad, you guys are tough." Sky complimented to the Digimon.
"What's that? Smells different from the others." Agumon asks.
Sky figured this was the first time they ever seen a Titan before and introduced them to Caliban. "This is Caliban, he's a Titan and a lot more like him around." He struck down another through the chest and sliced one of the legs off when it tried to attack him.
"Take this!" Bloom threw an orb of magic at the next monster, but to her surprise it had no effect. "No effect whatsoever." She failed to notice another that snuck up behind her, but did not escape the Digimon who came to her aide.
Stella had an idea that could work to be rid of the monsters if they were nothing but dark magic. "In that case, I'll just have to enlighten them. Girls, shut your eyes." She flew over the monsters, everyone shielded their eyes from the blinding light Stella used to destroy the creatures, vaporising them to ashes.
"Good work, Stella." Bloom cheered for her that the plan worked and now safe for the time being.
Taren focused all he got to break through until it was over and succeeded. Sighs in relief and gave Brandon a grin. "Guess it was no match for a keyblade."
Brandon smiles and pats his friend on the back for a good job he did. "All right, Taren! That was better than what I would have thought."
Bloom was about to congratulate her boyfriend when she spotted another group of the monsters emerged and alerted the others. Watch out! There are more of them!"
This did not go as Sky thought would happen, knowing they can't keep this up forever and had to go further. "Come on! This way!"
They made a run for the gate, with everyone through, Brandon, Taren and Sky did not waste time to close the gate, but the creatures were not so easy to give up on the chase.
Layla knew for a certain the monsters won't give up and had to do something to help. "They're still trying to get through! Stand back!" Shooting out magic form her hands to seal up the gates with pick substance forming between them.
"What are you doing?" Sky asks her.
"It's magic glue. Brandon, Taren, watch out!" She told them and continued with the sides until the doors were completely sealed to prevent them from getting through.
Sky thought it could work but they may still be out there. "Hurry up, Layla."
However, Taren decided to give a hand and used his keyblade to lock the gates with his own magic just before she could wore herself out. "Sorry, but thought you could use a hand."
Layla appreciated the help but used too much magic she reverted back to her normal state and collapsed to the floor. Bloom was impressed by the effort she went through and smiles. "Good job, Layla."
Sky agreed and smiles at her. "It's good to have you on our team."
Layla accepted their comments with Sky offering a hand to help her up. "Thanks." She took his hand and got herself back on her feet to continue onwards.
"All right. Let's go. That won't hold them back forever." Bloom said and had to continue to find the Pixies.
"Agumon, you better rest up after the fight." Taren pulls out his Digivice. Agumon nodded before he was beamed back inside.
Layla decided to do the same to save her partner the energy. "You better do the same, Gomamon and great job you did."
Gomamon nodded his head when she congratulated him for the help. "Thanks, Layla." With both inside their Digivices, the group immediately makes a run to the path ahead of them with Stella's scepter as their main source light to use.
"See? Forget about the clunky flashlights. My sceptre's the only way to light up a room."
"You may be the light of my life but a good flashlight saved me more than once. Layla, you sure this is the right way?" Brandon asks Layla if they were going to the right direction.
"If it is, you must have had a lot luck to avoid those monsters." Taren brought up, he was beginning to wonder if she was able remember the exact detail of the caverns. But didn't want to bring up a moment of doubt on her.
The confused Layla was certain they be at their destination by now, but felt something was wrong. "I don't get it. We should've reached the crystals by now."
"Crystals?" Brandon asks.
"Taren! I... Wait, Taren." They hear Bloom who was a moment ago lively and energetic, now completely exhausted and drained of her strength that she could barely stand on her feet. "Help me."
Taren rushed over to help her before Bloom could loose her balance. He felt something was wrong and grabbed her when she changed back. "Bloom!"
"Is she alright?" Sky helped him to bring Bloom back on her feet. "Hey, what's the matter?"
Suddenly, Stella also felt weak and could barely hold her sceptre, Brandon realised something was wrong when they came to this part of the cave. "Stella, what's going on?"
"Here, let me get a flashlight on." Sky pulled out a light to help Taren see Bloom as he held her in his arms to sit her up.
"Bloom, what's the matter?" Taren was not sure and thought if something happened to her.
Bloom was uncertain herself and felt weak for a sudden. "I can't stand up."
Brandon became more concerned for his girlfriend. "Stella, Stella!"
This concerned Sky and kneels down before her. "Bloom, is everything all right?"
Bloom had Taren to support her as she was able to lift her hand up to her forehead. "Yes, but my... my powers are so weak."
"I don't like the sound of that." Taren wondered if it could happen to him as he can use magic as well, but why wasn't he affected like the girls. Unable to think of what happened to them, the boys helped her up on her feet when Brandon and the now tired out Stella were present.
"What just happened to us?" Stella asked and sounded very weak.
Layla had some idea in mind as to what was wrong with them. "You transformed an hour ago. You've been in fairy mode too long. I guess this doesn't just happen to the fairies from Andros."
"And our powers?" Bloom asks.
"You don't think it will happen to me as well, right?" Taren was concern should they run into the monsters again at the worse possible time if all the strongest members were weak.
"You'll be fine, this usually happens to some Fairies, but I doubt that could happen to a Keyblade Wielder, but I don't know much about them. Just lay off the magic for a while. Now let's keep moving. We have to find the pixies." Layla told them, giving the girls her advice to save their strength and not pus their limit too much.
Little do they know, that they were being observed by the malevolent entity that sits upon the throne, known as Darkar who was aware of their presence within his domain.
"She is a stubborn one, all right? Well, we'll just see how long that lasts." It was bad enough that the princess somehow survived from the fall as he was certain she would have met her death, but now has found allies to help her save the Pixies.
But another that concerned him that could stand in his goal. The boy he witnessed was the chosen wielder of the Keyblade! The rumors of their return to the Magic Dimension were proven true after all, and Darkar will need to find away to be rid of them.
The group carried on through the tunnels and noticed a growing number of crystals that light up the dark cave, which made Layla smile with excitement and joy. "At last! The crystals! Yes! It's not far now. Come on, let's go!" She encouraged them to follow her. "It's at the end of one of these tunnels. Let's go down this one first."
But Bloom was not fast enough to catch up with Layla as she was too much in a hurry. "Layla, wait for us. Where are you going?
Brandon decided to do some exploring of the tunnels to find out where they go. "I'm gonna go down that way. I'll catch up in a sec."
"Just watch out for those monsters." Taren reminded him, but least they were not dealing with the Grimm now, but who knows what could happen.
Meanwhile, Layla rushed towards the end of the path and found it was a dead end, but also a very long drop on the way down. "Wow! It goes on forever."
As she could admire the sight and feel the breeze, Bloom and Stella were able to catch up to her. "Finally! We made it!"
Layla was trying to find a way for them to climb down "We've got to get down to that level."
Brandon emerged from one of the passageways and waved to the girls. "Hey! Hey, girls! All these tunnels are connected! No matter which one we take, we end up out here."
"Brandon! We really shouldn't let ourselves get separated, you know!" Layla reminded him.
Before he could reply to her, the dark creatures surprised him and blocked his only escape route. Takes out his Phantoblade to defend himself. "Brandon, watch out!" Layla flies down there to help him, but ended up being stuck to the wall with the webbing, she found herself struggling to break free and called for help. "Help, I'm stuck!"
Taren arrived and saw the monsters. "Oh, no. Guys, hang on!"
Stella decided to help them from the monsters. "You ready?"
"Magic Winx!"
Unfortunately nothing was happening with their powers have not yet fully recovered. This made Stella realise they were in big trouble. Oh, no! It's not working! Brandon, watch out!"
"Just hold on!" Taren used a Strike Raid at the first Tar monster, making a direct hit to destroy it
Brandon appreciated the help but two more were coming towards him and decided to take them down at once. "Come and get it. Take this!" Raised his blade up high to strike down the first one down.
Something caught Taren's eye from one of the caverns, a figure with a finger pointed to where Brandon stood after he took down one of the monsters. Not certain why, but something was very wrong and had to get to Brandon before its too late.
"Brandon! Get out of there!" Decided to use Flowmotion to stop him, yet something unexpected happened when everything on Brandon's level began to collapse.
"Brandon, no!" Stella could barely watch as her beloved falls to his possible doom. Taren was too late to safe him in time and forced to struck his keyblade to the wall while watch in horror of his friend as Stella's voice screams with pain and suffering.
Bloom rushed to the side and found Taren stuck but safe, however she noticed Stella took a few steps and knew for certain what she was going to do. "Stella!" She tried to stop her but was held by Sky from doing the same. She watched her best friend jump to go after him and once more cried out her name."
Taren from below spotted the princess and could not believe what she was about to do. "No, Stella, don't!" Unable to reach her in time as his cry fell on death's ears when she took the jump.
"BRAANNNDDOOOONNN!"
They could not believe it or willing to accept what just happened as both Brandon and Stella fell to the bottom of the pit, uncertain what could happen but pray they were still alive if they made it to the bottom. They were not going to lose their friends and refuse to accept it.
7
What happens in the next chapter is uncertain so be on alert. Just received good news that the lockdown has been lifted in my area! Finally, was starting to get bored stuck inside every day and no where to go to visit friends or go places... but still need to wear the annoying masks and follow some restrictions cause of the pandemic! Anyway, wish everyone good health and hopefully the vaccine comes as I would like one very much to feel safe.