One-Eyed Fairy

by RedRosey10

Kaneki somehow find himself at Alfea after being snatched away from his world. With little idea on how to get back he agrees to become a student while the teachers assist in finding a way back home.

10. Chapter 10

I hated this chapter so much because of how long it took but hopefully, it's good. If you guys find anything wrong or something doesn't make sense in this chapter or previous ones then feel free to tell me.

Alfea - Night - 20th September 2005

Night had fallen long ago, many of the students had fallen asleep as did some teachers but certain students like Flora, Musa and Tecna were still awake, unable to sleep until their friends returned safely from harm.

"It's getting late, shouldn't they be back by now?" Flora inquires worried as she glances out the window.

"Don't worry, I'm sure they'll be back any minute," Musa reassure before the trio hears the whirring of a familiar ship.

"They're here!" Tecna exclaims as she, Flora, Musa and Piff all rush outside to greet their friends. Aisha and Stella squeal in excitement as they rush out the Owl to hug the trio, most of the pixies followed after the two and some realised that they met their bonded fairy. Digit to Tecna, Tune to Musa and Chatta to Flora. Kaneki and the Specialists strolled out the ship at a more leisurely pace.

"Oh, no. What's wrong with Bloom?" Flora gasps clapping her hand over her mouth.

"She was injured during the mission, Kaneki treated her wounds but we didn't have the proper equipment," Sky informs as he canters to the infirmary with everyone following at a distance.

Infirmary

Flora separated from the group to inform Ofelia of the team's arrival and the injuries they've sustained. Ofelia traipsed down the hall with Flora following close behind.

Ofelia slams the door open and marches right into the room much to the shock of the occupants due to her unusual attire. The nurse hadn't even bothered to change into her uniform simply doning on a robe. Her hair no longer in a neat bun but out with strands splayed all over her face. This didn't her skill in the slightest as she barked out orders without a hint of embarrassment. "Those injured on the bed now. What's the damage?" Ofelia demands as she hastily ties her hair back.

"Bloom has 2nd-degree burns on three locations on her back, each about 3.5cm in diameter. The burns are from me cauterising her stab wounds-"

"What?!" Flora, Musa and Tecna exclaimed in horror.

"The hell is wrong with you?!" Musa seethes as if he committed a grave sin.

"You know what? Save it," Kaneki interjects harshly. "Yell at me when your friends aren't going to die from their wounds."

"Enough. If you have the energy to mouth off then you have the energy to get my supplies," Ofelia chastised in disappointment before she heads towards the sink and fervently cleansed her hands, ensuring she got the dirt under her nails and in between fingers. "Flora, you're in charge of tending to the others. Tecna, Musa, you two grab the first aid kit and whatever Flora needs, you get."

Sky places Bloom on a bed further away from the group while Ofelia quickly gathers her supplies before closing the curtain around the bed thus cutting off the others.

Tecna and Musa raid the large cabinet of most of its supplies while Flora inquires of anyone else has any serious injuries. Brandon reveals that he'd been beaten by Amentia's guards for 'disrespecting' her much to the dismay of Stella who cursed out the fish-faced tramp.

Realising that Brandon's bruises were concealed with makeup, Flora grabs a few paper towels and dips it into a container of petroleum jelly before rubbing it over his skin but ensuring she wasn't too rough as to damage it further.

Not wanting to do nothing, Kaneki offers to treat the cuts on Aisha who is grateful and propounds to do the same. Kaneki politely turns her down, "No need. All I need is a shower but thank you."

"Damn, you guys look like cr*p," Riven comments chuckling as he leaned against the wall.

"Thank you, Riven, for your oh-so-comforting words," Sky retorts dryly.

"You're welcome," Riven responds just to spite him further.

Sky just rolls his eyes before focusing on the drawn curtain which contained his girlfriend. It was then he remembered he was indebted to Kaneki for his sacrifice. "Thank you, Kaneki."

"For what?" Musa questions.

"You knew that Bloom would react like that to you and that's why you wanted me to hold her down," Sky reveals and the enigma behind Kaneki further complicates. "You saved me from being feared by her."

Aisha chooses to speak up after the room is encased in silence.

"Um, Kaneki, are you sure you don't want me to do the same?" Aisha inquires once Kaneki finished covering all cuts with plasters and he returns the same reply.

"Are you really sure?" It was Sky who spoke this time. "You never got healed like us by that mystery man."

"What?" Kaneki winced at Aisha's exclamation, she then goes onto a full-blown rant on his rashness. "And you still decided to go off on your own? What were you thinking?!"

"I'm alive, aren't I?" Kaneki counters shrugging.

"You-You could've been killed!" Aisha stammers outraged with Kaneki's lack of care for his own life.

"Believe me when I say this Aisha but there's no one who can kill me," Kaneki attested confidently without a moment's hesitation which leaves Aisha dumbfounded.

"That's some confidence," Timmy whistles.

"At least you have the strength to back it up," Brandon acknowledged, cringing at the stinging sensation when Flora applies disinfectant to his wounds.

"What do you mean?" Riven queries.

"Kaneki destroyed a majority of the city and defeated Amentia's army," Sky reveals.

"He did it all alone as well!" Faith acclaimed jubilantly, high-fiving Glim.

"You took on a whole army?" Tecna quirked a brow at that. How could 1 guy defeat an entire army? "That feasibly isn't possible," Tecna argues.

"I have to agree with Tecna," Timmy pipes up, nudging his glasses up.

"Urgh, wedi cau! Can't a girl get some sleep?" A voice growls with a Welsh accent as a privacy screen is ripped open revealing a girl with tri-coloured hair but her hair wasn't what was weird, it was her skin that was dotted blue like a dalmatian, shocking the other occupants of the room. (Shut up!)

"Elidyr! What happened to your skin?" Flora exclaims flabbergasted.

"Oh, I'll tell you what happened," Elidyr huffs removing the bed cover of her form before swinging her legs over the side exposing her nightie which was a camouflage tank top and black shorts. She appeared unfazed that a decent amount of her skin is exposed to the boys. "Those rich b*tches from Isis is what happened. Carina and her hussies thought it'd be funny to spike my sister's drink with polka-berry juice."

"Why'd they do that?" Stella queries, cocking her head to the side.

"'Cause they have this outdated idea that only 'normal' girls can be fairies," Elidyr rolls her eyes as she air quotes the word 'normal'.

"How is your sister not normal?" Sky hums, his brows furrowed.

"Spina bifida. Been in a wheelchair all her life. They think that she's useless and doesn't deserve to be at Alfea," Elidyr seethes clenching the sheets in her fists.

"That's horrible," Musa whispers.

"If they spiked your sister's drink then why is your skin like that?" Stella questions scratching her head.

"I swiped it to annoy her," Elidyr waves off lacklustre.

"Why?"

"Because we're sisters and meant to p*ss each other off," Elidyr responds as if it were obvious.

"How do you know her, Flora?" Stella inquires in a hushed tone.

"She's in the same year as us," Flora informs.

"Then how come I've never seen her in class?" Stella scratched her head at that.

"I said same year, not same class," Flora corrects rubbing her temple to soothe the incoming headache.

"Not the sharpest pencil in the box, is she?" Elidyr remarks coolly.

At that moment, Ofelia drew the curtain open attracting the attention of everyone else.

"Nurse Ofelia, how's Bloom?" Flora inquires worried, getting up from the bed. She had just finished bandaging Brandon's wounds, the latter now fixing his uniform.

"Just fine. Luckily the burns weren't deep enough for her to require surgery," Ofelia reports and a huge sigh of relief sweeps through every occupant. The nurse began to place her stainless steel surgical equipment into a fabric tool roll and packs away gauze, bandages, cotton buds, a bottle of rubbing alcohol and many other types of equipment into a box. "The burns should heal in about 2-3 weeks with no scars though there may be some discolouration on her skin. Apply this ointment to her back every day when she wakes up and before she goes to bed, make sure you also replace the gauze with sterile new ones. Oh, and Bloom should switch long shirts instead of belly shirts, the sun would cause more damage. I'm going to keep her here overnight for observation."

"Of course," Flora listens attentively to Ofelia's advise closely, memorising it word for word.

"Now it's late so get to bed. That also includes you, Specialists," Ofelia adds which surprises them.

"Ooh, the boys get to stay over," Stella giggles into her hand as her mind wandered into forbidden territory.

"Yes but don't think you can mess around with your boyfriends," Ofelia chastised firmly almost glaring at them.

"We wouldn't!"

"Whoa!"

"As if!"

"Ooh la la," Elidyr teases with a huge grin.

Responses varied but the shock was the same.

"Good, now get some sleep. Boys, you're in Kaneki's dorm," Ofelia shoos them away. "I'll inform Saladin."

"Bye Elidyr," Flora waves as she departs with her friends, Elidyr throws a response before curling up under the covers once again. The team leave the infirmary and head towards the dorm, chatting the whole way. Lockette refused to leave Bloom so she stayed in the infirmary.

"I cannot believe Ofelia. How irresponsible does she think you are Stella?" Tecna queries rolling her eyes.

"What? Me? What about you and Musa?" Stella retorts in outrage.

"Musa and I do not have boyfriends," Tecna countered coolly with a raised brow. Timmy visibly deflated at that, he continued to walk but with his shoulders hunched over. Brandon pats his back sympathetically.

"Enough of this, why don't we have some fun?" Riven suggests with a mischievous gleam in his eyes.

"Like what?" Sky queries.

"Well, we could have a party with those numerous bottles of 'juice' in the Owl," Riven hints and the others understood immediately.

"Is that why Sponsus winked when he passed the bottles?" Brandon mutters to himself.

"But we're underage," Tecna argues not wanting to get in trouble.

"Come on, it'll be fun," Aisha pipes up brimming with excitement.

"I can't drink, it'll damage my voice," Musa informs disappointed.

"None of you should drink," Kaneki argues, as the oldest of the group he knows that he shouldn't encourage such behaviour plus Faragonda would have his head on a platter.

"Don't be such a spazz, Kaneki," Stella reprimands bumping his shoulder.

"Yeah, it'll be fun," Aisha reinforces Stella and Riven's points, she wraps her arms around Kaneki's arm to convince him further since it was clear he had a soft spot for her.

Kaneki admits that it has been a while since he last had a drink, it made life so much easier. Tsukiyama was more than willing to supply him with blood wine and Kaneki just chugged it down without a second thought. Those nights where he could just forget about the restaurants, about Yamori... about leaving Anteiku and his friends.

Plus Faragonda did want him to watch over Bloom and since she's always with the Winx, it would do him good to get close with them. Maybe having just one drink won't hurt...

"Sorry but no," Kaneki informs, his tone shutting out any form of argument then speeds ahead of the group, Faith and Glim following close behind.

The group watched as Kaneki disappeared into his dorm, some of them were a little disappointed that he wouldn't spend time with them. It was the perfect opportunity to get to know him better and the alcohol would lower his inhibitions thus allowing him to share.

"Spazz," Stella mumbles pouting at the lost opportunity.

"Come on, Stella, if Kaneki doesn't want to drink then he shouldn't," Flora advises before mulling over words. "In fact, none of us should be drinking."

"It's just a bit of fun. You don't have to drink but if we want to then we can," Stella made a valid point.

"I guess we'll get the booze and meet back in your dorm," Sky speaks up and they split into 2 groups; the Winx plus Brandon headed to the girls' dorm while Sky, Riven and Timmy went to go grab the bottles.

Unfortunately, there were only 6 bottles but there were qualms about sharing. Soon everyone had a full cup of either alcohol or just water in hand which they clink together in a toast, "To success!" Then down their drinks in one gulp. The pixies chose to play a card game.

"Wow, this is amazing," Stella marvels licking the droplet stuck on her lips before bursting out laughing when Aisha chokes on her drink, spluttering at the repulsive taste. "First time, huh?" Stella giggles at the reaction.

"It's good but nothing beats the wine from Dervinya," Brandon comments pouring himself another drink. This continues for another 20 minutes until the bottles are half empty, the only ones remaining sober were the pixies, Flora, Musa and Tecna, the latter furiously typing at her laptop while laying on Bloom's bed. Apparently, continuing research about some massive energy surge nearby even though it's old news but Digit was contributing this time.

Stella, seeing an opportunity, swipes Tecna's empty cup and fills it with alcohol before sneakily placing it back on the bedside table. Tecna remained oblivious to the whole thing, she raises the cup to her lips and takes a brief sip but that was all it took to lower her barriers. Soon Tecna is dancing/bouncing on Bloom's bed drunkenly singing 'Last Friday Night'.

"She's having fun," Riven snorts in amusement as he watched her have fun.

"Shut up!" A muffled voice exclaimed which was followed by banging from the next room.

"We wanna f*cking sleep!"

"Stella," Flora chastised disappointed, she shook her head at Stella's actions and the trouble it brought.

"Guys, I think Tim-Tim's dead," Brandon points out, words slurred, as he pokes Timmy's chest then starts to pull at his cheeks, ear and other face parts. Timmy had long since passed out from the alcohol but no one really noticed except Riven who simply manoeuvred Timmy in a position where he would not choke on his own vomit. Now Timmy is the plaything to his friends.

"Guh!" Timmy grunts when Tecna lost balance and slammed onto his stomach. Musa rolls her eyes and decides that she would head back to her own room to finish up the lyrics to a new song.

"Yay, we's alive!" Brandon cheers with Stella and Aisha joining in, they linked arms and began to square dance around the room. Riven rolled his eyes at the childishness but could not stop the laughter bubbling in his chest, Sky and Flora chose to check whether Timmy was okay, the latter had finished coughing now inquired where he was.

No one paid any attention to Tecna who had gotten back to her feet and stumbled around the room, mumbling to herself before noticing her cup was empty."I wansh muorre." Tecna resolved to find some more.

"I think I'm gonna be sick," Timmy mumbles, his face appearing pallid and began to heave and retch.

"Not here! Come," Flora panics as she and Sky haul Timmy to his feet and dragged him towards the bathroom where he vomited into the toilet. Sky assured Flora that he could handle Timmy and that she should watch over the others when they heard something disturbing.

"Where's Tecna?"

"Aaagghhh!"

Kaneki's Room

Faith and Glim zoomed into the bedroom just before Kaneki could close the door on him. "Hey," Faith whined when he was almost squashed like a bug on a windshield.

"Sorry," Kaneki winced when he realised that he nearly squished the pixies. Immediately, Kaneki shuffled towards his varnished oak wardrobe and pulls out his pyjamas.

"Your room is so plain!" Faith's jaw dropped as he examined the state of the room consisted of a single bed, wardrobe and desk with some books, a lamp and an alarm clock. The walls were simply painted white and bare of any designs, posters or pictures. The only form of colour was the bird bag sat innocently on his bed, Piff squeals and instantly dives towards the bag. "No offence."

"I'm a minimalist," Kaneki responds glancing back only for a second before placing his clothes on the bed.

"Kenny, I just want you to know that no matter what I'll always be by your side," Faith assuaged gently, he was sat atop a pile of books on Kaneki's desk with Glim who imitated the position Faith was in.

Kaneki stood there silently, staring right into Faith's eyes searching for any falsehood but there was none. "Why?" Kaneki questions in utter baffled, his voice cracked. "You barely know me. What did I do in those 4 hours to warrant your trust and loyalty?"

"Hmm, what did you do in roughly 4 hours for me to trust you?" Faith paraphrased, hand on his chin as he paced back and forth on the desk. He suddenly stops and turns on his heel and looks Kaneki straight in the eyes while listing his answers confidently. "You never hesitated when it came to helping Bloom, not even when she screamed when you came close, you instructed Aisha what to do and you were courteous when asking Bloom if you could examine her and when you volunteered to stay behind and fight while the others rescued Brandon, you wanted to keep them safe. Granted, you may have enjoyed fighting more than you should have considering all the blood and the enthusiasm but you did want to protect them. You even saved me."

"A few good deeds doesn't make me a saint, Faith. What I did to those guards is nothing compared to what I've done to my enemies, nothing compared to what I can do," Kaneki cautioned refusing to meet his gaze as he rests his head against the wood of the wardrobe. "You don't want me as your bonded fairy."

"I think that's for me to decide," Faith countered coolly before tilting his body to the side to get a better look at Kaneki who still refused to turn around. "And I'll tell you why I want to stay with you, you're really kind."

"Kind?" Kaneki echoes baffled. "You do realise I'm covered head-to-toe in blood from when I beat up all those guards and danced when their blood rained down. What part of that is kind?"

"You didn't kill any of them," Faith points out which makes Kaneki pause. "While your preferred fighting style is... passionate, you still had enough sanity to hold yourself back from murderlising them."

"That still doesn't make me kind, it just means I have restraint," Kaneki foils Faith's plan on convincing him that he's a good man. Their conversation (cough) argument (cough) was interrupted by annoyed babbling from Glim who appeared to be scolding Kaneki by the way she shook her finger at him.

"Adobadad babanha!"

Kaneki nods as if understanding what she was saying before turning to Faith and points a thumb in Glim's direction. "The hell did she say?" Kaneki didn't actually expect to receive a translation since she is a baby.

"She said, 'Stop putting yourself down and show yourself some goddamn respect!' I'm paraphrasing obviously," Faith admits shrugging his shoulders when he sees Kaneki looking at him knowingly with a raised brow.

Kaneki shakes his head and chuckles, "I wish I could Glim but I've been hating myself for nearly a decade. Old habits die hard."

"Dabfaba badada."

"'Then we'll help you,'" Faith translated.

"You two are determined, I'll give up that," Kaneki acknowledged running his hand through his hair for the third time.

"Yep, we never know when to quit. Right, Glim?!"

"Ya!" The two began to celebrate and dance on the desk until Faith stopped suddenly which made Glim trip and fall flat on her face. Kaneki couldn't help but take in a sharp breath but Glim stood up like nothing happened so he sighs in relief.

"Wait, I still haven't the most important question," Faith realised appearing disturbed that he missed something so vital. "Why are you an octopus?"

"I'm not-!" Kaneki started before smacking a hand over his face then pinched the bridge of his nose as he takes in a few deep breaths. "I... I'm not exactly human. I was born one but now..." Kaneki trails off hesitant in revealing his monstrous nature.

Faith and Glim's eyes meet for a brief second and they both nod sharing the same notion. "Kenny, you don't have to share everything right now. Go at your own pace," Faith advised gently as not to pressurise him.

"Thanks, but I think, I think I need to share this with you," Kaneki decided. "I am an artificial ghoul/human hybrid."

"What's a ghoul?"

"A humanoid species that can only consume humans, ghouls and coffee," Kaneki informs.

"So you can only eat your kind?" Faith inquired unfazed.

"Why aren't you freaking out over this? I just admitted to you that I'm a cannibal, you should be losing it."

"Maybe because I'm a pixie?" Faith shrugs but he still appeared unperturbed. "I think my underreaction is because of the difference in species. It's natural not to really care about other species when you hear about a lion eating a zebra, no one bats an eye because they're seen just as animals, not on the same level as you or me. If you told me that you eat pixies then I'd be flying around the room screaming bloody murder but I'm not." (1)

"I guess that makes sense," Kaneki acknowledged hesitantly.

"So those tentacles are normal to you guys?"

"They're called kagunes and there are 4 different types; ukaku, koukaku, rinkaku and bikaku. I'm a rinkaku," Kaneki elucidated further about kagunes such as where it is positioned on the body, how each differed from another in terms of stats, et cetera.

"Wow, could I see it again?" Faith requests hopefully alongside Glim who wiggled her fingers as if saying she wants to touch it.

"Another time, I promise. I gotta take a shower, the blood's dried and doesn't exactly feel comfortable," Kaneki informs before gesturing to their own grime-covered clothes. "And you two should take one as well. Gotta find you something new to wear," Kaneki mutters as he searches his wardrobe for a shirt he could cut for fabric and create an article of clothing.

"Don't worry. Basic pixie magic includes storing and summoning items such as clothes, which we can do," Faith admits proudly.

"Great," Kaneki responds opening the bathroom door and nods his head for them to come in. He plugs the sink then turns on the water thus creating a mini bath for the pixies, he adds a dollop of shampoo and conditioner on the porcelain sink and even broke off a part of soap for them to use.

Kaneki steps into the shower then tossed his bloodstained explorer outfit into his laundry basket. 15 minutes in, Kaneki was pretty sure the door to his room opened but he couldn't hear over the shower plus Faith's singing but he figured it would be one of the Specialists' mistaking his room for their temporary one so focused back on scrubbing his body clean.

Suddenly the bathroom door slams open, "Kanshi, givsh meee dwink!"

"Aaagghhh!" Kaneki screams slipping on the water and falling in the bath, his head banged against the porcelain. "What? The heck?" Kaneki fumbled about on all fours struggling to get back up so he settles on pulling back the curtain just so he could see who barged in on him. "Tecna?!" True to fact, Tecna staggered drunkenly into the bathroom without a hint of shame.

"Dwiink!" Tecna just raises her cup into the air, only a single finger was wrapped around the handle which meant it was just swinging around.

"Get out!" Kaneki screeched flapping his arm to gesticulate for her leave which unfortunately she didn't understand.

"Eh?"

Flora and Sky stumbled into the bathroom, almost tripping over their own two feet. "K-Kaneki?!" Flora stammers her face glowing red before burying her face into her hands and turning away from the scene.

"Seriously?" Kaneki facepalms before bellowing out a final warning. "GO AWAY!"

Sky seizes Tecna's waist and hauled her out of the bathroom, he throws Kaneki a quick apology before slamming the door shut.

"Oh, my god," Kaneki now sitting cross-legged in the tub holds his head in his hands in complete and utter mortification. He ignored the water batting against his body and the cold creeping into his skin. "How will I face them tomorrow?" Kaneki dreads looking Tecna and Flora in the eyes after this encounter.

"At least they didn't see your dong," Faith pipes in helpfully.

"Shut up, Faith."

With Sky and Flora

Sky mutters a quick apology before hauling Tecna out of there, he follows Flora out of the bedroom and out of the dorm where their friends and a gaggle of students stood, all curious about the shouts.

"What happened?"

"Why is a Specialist here?"

"What's going on here?" Griselda demands swiftly striding down the hallway to where everyone stood with Faragonda trailing close behind. "It is way past curfew."

"Griselda is correct," Faragonda apostle nudging her glasses up. Unlike Griselda, Faragonda was in a robe indicating that she herself had already gone to bed. "Why are you all up?"

"The Winx woke us up with all their shrieking and singing," one informs rubbing the sleepiness from her eyes. "There was also a scream."

"I see," Faragonda hums as she mulls this over then turns to the others which consisted of Stella, Aisha, Musa, Riven and Brandon. One look at them and she knew immediately what they were doing. Wasn't that hard since they're unsteady on their feet, bloodshot eyes, stinking of booze and she's pretty sure it's Timmy dry heaving in the Winx's dorm. Faragonda sighs before pinching the bridge of her nose, she's far too drained to deal with this right now. "Everyone back to bed. I'll deal with you girls in the morning. Boys, I will be informing Saladin of your little adventure here so do not think you are off the hook. Goodnight."

Griselda was left speechless as Faragonda walked away, presumably back to bed but respects her decision. Griselda stays behind for a bit longer, she crossed her arms across her chest and tapped her foot impatiently as the everyone rushed back into their dorms, not wanting to get on Griselda's bad side.

Sky and Riven drag both Brandon and Riven into Kaneki's dorm and choose their rooms before finally hitting the hay.

Kaneki's Room

Kaneki continued to grumble and moan about what happened as he wrapped a towel around his waist and steps out while fervently rubbing his hair with another towel as he walked into his room.

He grabs his clothes only to realise a certain article of clothing was missing, "Didn't I put out my underwear?" Kaneki figured that he probably just forgot to put it out and quickly got dressed.

"There we go, nice and dry," Faith hums happily as finished towel drying Glim's hair. Both were garbed in their pyjamas and they summon a bed for themselves, Faith tenderly tucks Glim in who fell asleep as soon as her head hit the pillow.

"You seem so close to Glim," Kaneki notes with a soft smile as he watched Faith care for her, "are you two siblings?"

"No, but recently, she's been in my care," Faith reveals stroking her hair which Glim cherished judging by her relieved sigh followed by snuggling further into her blanket. "One of Glim's mums was killed by a wild animal and her other mother hasn't been taking her death well so I volunteered to take temporary custody until she can sort out her problems."

"Oh," Kaneki mutters sympathetically focusing on the snoozing baby. That's what she is, a baby. She's far too young to remember her deceased mother and if her other mother does not get better then Glim will probably never see her in a positive light and could even believe she's been abandoned. But hopefully, she'll be truly loved with Faith now. "Was Glim okay with the change?" Kaneki inquires as he situates himself at his desk.

"Not at first," Faith answers hopping off Glim's bed onto the desk. "She cried nonstop for 3 days. But she's used to it now, her mum does visit her which helps."

"That's good, she needs at least one parent in her life" Kaneki established dolefully which Faith noted.

"Did you not have your parents?" Faith questions, head tilted to the side.

Kaneki froze, he stopped in his ministrations of fiddling with his pencil before putting it down and sighing, "Yeah. They died quite a while ago."

"I'm sorry," Faith gave his condolences.

"It's fine," Kaneki waves off, unaffected. "The only regret I have is that I won't be able to clean their graves this year."

"What?" Faith inquires with his brows furrowed.

"Grave Cleaning, also known as Ohaka Mairi, is an annual Japanese custom where Japanese people honour and respect the dead," Kaneki elucidates. "I've gone every year looks like that streak will be broken in a few days."

The two continued to chat until Faith yawned loudly while rubbing his eyes which were practically glued shut.

"Get some sleep, Faith," Kaneki ordered and immediately shuts down any form of complaint so Faith turns off the main light while Kaneki flicked on his lamp then summons out his bed and snuggles right in but not before reminding Kaneki to get to bed.

"It's not healthy to stay up," Faith chastised shaking a finger in his direction, "you're a growing boy after all."

"Goodnight Faith," Kaneki interjects and the room is submerged in silence except for the snoring of the pixies and the soft scratching of pencil on paper.

He sketched a flower with thin, elongated petals with outlines in the centre and 5 stamens. Kaneki bore his gaze into the picture trying to understand the significance behind the flower. He knew it to be important but not why.

Kaneki continued to study the drawing until an unknown amount of time passed. His eyelids grew heavy and he began to nod off until finally, his head crashed onto the desk.

Kaneki's eyes snapped open upon realising that he dozed off, he was about to get up from his desk when he finally noticed he was no longer in his own bedroom but rather a long dark hallway illuminated by lamps attached to the wall which were evenly spread out. In between each lamp was a door, each with a different symbol.

"Faith? Glim?" Kaneki called out leaning forward as he looks both left and right for his little companions but there was neither hide nor hair of them. "Where am I?" Kaneki muttered under his breath wondering what to do when something deep inside tells him to head right.

Despite common sense instructing him not to just wander off, he couldn't just stay there. Welp, if he meets a serial killer or maniacal monster like it's in those cheesy horror films Hide watches then he'll simply bite their heads off.

Kaneki continues on passing numerous doors sparing them only a single glance. The hallway did split into multiple other hallways but Kaneki stuck with the one he first landed in. He climbed a set of stairs before he finally stopped in front of a certain door which had the flower he sketched printed on the front.

"The flower," Kaneki inhaled sharply, perhaps now he will get some answers. With his resolve determined, Kaneki seized the polished bronze doorknob and turns it and the door opens with a bright light enveloping him.

The sound of rushing water surprises Kaneki so he opens his eyes to find himself in a cavern... the same cavern he fell into with Stella and Brandon.

He found himself pushing himself to his feet and hobbling towards the river bank where a certain flower stood.

'There it is,' Kaneki evoked before realising that he could not speak as he could earlier nor did he have any control of his body. He didn't even think that it was even his own body.

He must be experiencing this memory from the point of view of the person who initially searched and found the flower. Is this psychometry? But he never actually touched the flower then... maybe retrocognition dreaming since he did fall asleep.

"Finally," a hoarse voice breathes in relief, "Sel Mista."

Kaneki is snapped from his musings when he steps into the water which was deep enough to reach his abdomen. The current was tenacious with it threatening to crash over his head and sweep him away to his demise but through sheer will he reached the dirt mound and carefully plucked the flower out the soil.

Tiny droplets rolled off the petals as he examined the lustrous sterling flower which glowed dimly with a faint whiff of mist tickling his nostrils. It felt soothing.

-Come- a seductive voice enthralled him to follow.

'Don't go, dumb*ss. Don't go,' Kaneki warned but this is someone else's memory thus he can't change the outcome. Needless to say, the man actually chooses to follow the eerie disembodied voice despite the history of horror films, the man lacks common sense.

The man followed the voice and trekked forward until he reached a familiar rickety bridge and on the other side was a cliff edge with a pedestal that held a black and maroon flame that danced in the wind.

He holds out a hand and just as his finger touches the flame...

The Next Morning - 21st September 2005

"Kenny, wake up!" Suddenly, tiny hands begin to rain down numerous blow on Kaneki's face.

"Fai-Faith. Stop," Kaneki shoves the pixie away while ensuring to reel in his strength. Kaneki took note that his alarm clock was ringing furiously and smacks the off button.

"Oh so that's how you do," Faith hummed staring at the antique alarm with wide eyes while nibbling on his finger. "So this how people use to wake up in the olden days?" Faith questions poking it with the finger he was nibbling on before examining it closer. "Why don't you have an electric alarm that goes 'beep, beep, beep'? With the 24 hours instead of... that."

"God Faith, I really want to squish you right now," Kaneki gripes draping an arm over his eyes. Faith's exaggerated consternation was beginning to p*ss him off greatly considering that Kaneki grew up underprivileged and technically still is poor.

"Why?" Faith questions with his brows furrowed. Glim chose to answer this with her babbling which causes Faith to gasp in outrage, "I'm not annoying!"

"Heh, up top, Glim," Kaneki high fives the baby with his index finger.

"Meanies, I'm ever never ever speaking to you ever again... ever," Faith stuck his tongue out at the two before haughtily turning his away and ignoring them which worked for about 2 minutes until Faith got lonely and wanted to speak again. "So why are you up so early?"

Confused, Kaneki sat up and glanced at his clock which revealed it was 5 in the morning. He began to apologise to Glim for waking her up so early and Faith couldn't help but pout though he felt no animosity towards Glim.

"Oi, Kenny, can you hear me?"

"I thought you were never speaking to me again?" Kaneki smirks as he pulls his sweatshirt over his head.

"Aw, you know I was just joking, right Kenny?" Faith pauses when Kaneki gives no indication that he's heard so he tries again. "Um, Kenny? Kenny? Keeennny," Faith whines when Kaneki continued to spurn any attention Faith wanted which led to the pixie throwing a mini tantrum by flailing his arms and legs about while on his back.

"Alright, alright, you big baby. Sheesh, of course, I get the cumbersome one," Kaneki comments, neatly folding his pyjamas before placing them in his wardrobe. "I always wake up at 5 for a workout and training. I have to keep my skills up."

"A healthy habit," Faith notes his eyes sparkling with adoration. "You're so cool."

"I'll be back in 2 hours," Kaneki informs plucking the fruit of Rc Mediator. "You two can go back to sleep. Glim, babysit Faith, read him a story if need be."

"Yeah... wait what?"

Kaneki chuckles as he closes the door behind him before Faith could break out in childish hysterics again. There's never a dull moment with Faith and Kaneki doubts there ever will be.

Musa and Tecna's Room

"Morning Tecna," Musa greets full of energy as she pulls her shirt down.

"Urgh," Tecna groused into her pillow and despite gradually come back to the land of the living, her eyelids felt so heavy as if they were glued shut. Her head pounding as if someone was inside her skull bashing all the spots in her brain with a hammer.

"Come on, get up. We need to see Faragonda," Musa instructs drawing open the curtains which wasn't the greatest thing to do.

Tecna just groaned louder in response before hacking violently, thick and viscous mucus dribbled from her parted cracked lips and soaked into the pillow, her throat felt like it had been scrubbed raw with sandpaper.

Musa exhaled deeply, shaking her head before heading to the bathroom with an empty cup. "I don't have any aspirin so you just have to make do," Musa reveals as she assisted in Tecna sitting up before placing the cup between her lips and making her drink.

Tecna moans contently as the cool liquid soothes her burning throat, she guzzled down the water eagerly with it spilling out the sides staining her clothes which she didn't really matter.

"Thanks," Tecna was truly grateful for Musa's help, she swung her legs over the side and stood up only for her knees to give out and she collapsed to the floor.

"Oh!" Musa gasped covering her mouth with both hands, Tecna groans loudly and Musa can't help but facepalm, wondering how the others are fairing. Musa was about to help Tecna up when she noticed a black thing wrapped around her arm. "What's around your arm?"

Faragonda's Office

Recalling the events last night, Faragonda sent out a reminder to the Winx and Kaneki to come to her office in the morning. Faragonda intended to call them in after breakfast since she knew they had no lesson in 1st period but the drinking incident bumped up the time as the girls need a serious stern talking to.

Kaneki was the first to arrive which wasn't startling to the elder at all as she remembered seeing the male up fairly early in the morning jogging around the perimeter of the grounds. It was one of the reasons why he was cut out from P.E. from the rest of his class because he preferred his own regime plus some girls wouldn't be comfortable working out around a guy and not just cause of religion.

There was a knock at the door and it opens to reveal Kaneki who peeks his upper body to inform Faragonda he was here except he was distracted by something she couldn't see. "Morning Faragonda, I've-would you two stop fighting?" Kaneki hissed looking behind referring to the people Faragonda could not see. The door swings open and the Headmistress was astonished when Kaneki had arrived with not 1 but 2 pixies with him.

"She started it!" Faith whines before they break out in another silly girly catfight with Glim.

"Now, now," Faragonda soothed clapping twice to garner their attention, "this is no time for fighting. Kaneki, report everything that happened on the mission."

Kaneki explained what happened in Downland from when they arrived at the caves, to the group involuntarily splitting, Bloom's injuries, him needing to cauterise her wounds; Faragonda's brows disappeared from under her hair and Kaneki fervently tried to explain but there was no need.

"Do not worry, Kaneki. I know you well enough that you would not willfully cause bodily harm to another student."

Kaneki continues with the group meeting the Trix who received power-ups from Lord Darkar while rescuing the pixies then going to rescue Brandon from a forced marriage in Downland but he made sure not to reveal anything about the debt.

Faragonda mulled over this new information, "This is getting dangerous. The girls were immediately overpowered by the Trix who now have the support of Lord Darkar. There's no doubt about it, you all need to focus on your studies."

There was another knock at the door so Faragonda invites the person in, it was Bloom.

"Bloom, why are you here? You should be resting," Faragonda scolded lightly, getting out of her seat to escort the injured girl out. Lockette lands on the desk and starts a brief chat with Faith.

"Thank you, Faragonda but I'm feeling just fine," Bloom assured and even makes a muscle with her right arm to show she was fit as a fiddle. "I would like to be here if you'd allow it," Bloom requested respectful yet gingerly as if Faragonda would demand that she return to bed immediately.

"If you feel up to it then I have no choice but to agree," Faragonda allows much to the happiness of Bloom. "However," Faragonda interjects pulling her glasses down until they rested on the edge of her nose, "I must implore that you sit. You may feel fine now but you shouldn't push yourself unnecessarily." Bloom had no trouble agreeing with Faragonda so she did just that then explained yesterday's mission from her point of view. In the middle of her explanation, there was an interruption by Stella who simply throws open the door without knocking.

"Stella!" The rest of the Winx hissed to the blonde who sheepishly grins at her actions but never apologises.

Faragonda shakes her head but clearly does not mind as she invites the girls in, "Now that you're here, we can get to business."

"What are you doing here, Bloom?" Stella questions.

"You should be resting," Flora adds fervently.

"Not so loud please," Tecna request wincing, still not over her hangover.

"I wanted to be here," was all Bloom told them.

"Enough. First I would like to congratulate you on completing your last mission successfully and express my relief at your safe return," Faragonda tells them. "After close examination of the evidence brought forth by Kaneki, we must conclude that our enemy is much stronger than we initially thought. Watch closely," Faragonda advises, she clicked her fingers and a magical screen appeared showing the fall of Domino. "16 years ago, the entire dimension of Magix was on the brink of destruction. At the beginning of time, a dark and evil power emerged from the void alongside the Great Dragon and the Water Stars which besieged your planet, Bloom."

"But it was the three old witches who destroyed my home planet, Domino. Isn't that what you told me?" Bloom questions, confused.

"Yes, but in truth, they were just carrying out the orders of the Shadow Phoenix who had managed to recruit the help of those 3 old witches," Faragonda explains, "but today it has the threat of the Trix too. I'm afraid that history is threatening to repeat itself."

"You mean Lord Darkar tried to conquer the whole of Magix and is intent on doing it again?" Aisha questions.

"Considering the description of the monsters, the spells that were cast and the transformations into the shadow phoenix, it could only be Lord Darkar."

"Why is he back? What could he be trying to achieve?" Tecna questions.

"The three witches were stopped by Griffin, Saladin and myself. The Lords of Templar dealt with Lord Darkar, they cast him into a deep slumber."

"That must mean that Lord Darkar wants revenge," Flora realises.

"Correct, he also wants all the power in the universe as to be absolutely invincible," Faragonda cautions.

"But why now?" Kaneki questioned garnering the attention of everyone in the room.

"What do you mean?" Bloom queried.

"If Darkar existed at the beginning of time then why did he choose to act 16 years ago instead of attacking a millennia ago when technology and weaponry were still in its infancy?" Kaneki alluded.

"Kaneki makes a valid point," Tecna advocated, rubbing her chin in thought.

"It appears you have misunderstood what I've said," Faragonda chimed shaking her head. "The Shadow Fire is the power that came from the void. Lord Darkar emerged 18 years ago on the planet Empyrea, almost laying siege on a large town."

"So the Shadow Fire and Lord Darkar are connected but not the same?" Flora derived.

"Darkar, or whatever his name was, was probably someone who took control of the fire or maybe the fire took control of him," Kaneki surmises.

"That would explain the delay in conquering Magix," Tecna theorises nodding her head. "Magic or power is useless unless there is a host, similar to electricity, without power lines, there's no point in generating it."

"But that still doesn't explain why he kidnapped the pixies," Musa calls attention to.

"He was trying to find their village, but why? What do they have that is so valuable?" Aisha questions.

Faragonda's eyes widened when she realised exactly what Lord Darkar wanted, she quickly gains composure and regains hold of the situation, "What's important now is to stay on guard. His powers are strong enough to affect us no matter where we are."

"Faragonda's hiding something from us," Tecna whispers to Stella in suspicion, "she's never done this before."

"So for now, the pixies will stay here at Alfea," Faragonda informs which makes the girls jump and cheer in celebration except Aisha.

"But I really should be getting back to the village with Piff," Aisha argues and the pixies pipe up.

"No! Under no circumstances must you go back. Lord Darkar is capable of spying on our movement, if you ever go back to Pixie Village, you might as well send him a map," Faragonda warns before comforting Aisha who looked uncomfortable with her decision. "And so Aisha, I would like to invite you to stay with us here at Alfea and welcome you to the school."

"Thank you, Headmistress, I am most happy to stay," Aisha accepts and the girls start jumping and cheering once again, the noise woke up Piff who also started to cheer in baby talk.

"That's great and all for Aisha but for how long should us pixies stay?" Faith inquires what the other pixies were thinking. "We have our own lives and jobs to get back to."

"I have to get back to my shop," Amore informed, "Otis can't take over for long before my potions run out."

"I'm probably in enough trouble with Mr Rollo for missing a week's worth of work," Lockette input with her shoulders slumped. "It would be a miracle if he doesn't fire me on the spot."

"I have my own school to manage," Tune added. Their responses bring an immediate response from Faragonda which wasn't positive.

"I'm sorry pixies but no like I told Aisha, Lord Darkar is watching us closely returning now would only put your friends and people in danger. You must stay here at Alfea until Lord Darkar has been dealt with."

The pixies visibly deflate at that, obviously homesick and wanting to return to their family and friends. Stella sought to cheer them up, "Never mind that, just think of this as an all-expense paid holiday! Think of all the fun we'll have together."

"Yeah, we could have sleepovers and eat popcorn," Musa began to list what they could during the stay and the pixies appreciating the gesture took part in what they could with their fairies.

"Let's go celebrate at the cafeteria!" Stella cheers.

"Not so fast girls," Faragonda intervened. "There's still an important matter to address at hand."

"Like what?" Stella whined.

"Like the underage drinking, you took part in," Faragonda answered.

"Oh."

The mentioning of last night caused traumatic to resurface in Kaneki and Flora who both flush in mortification which Bloom took note of.

"Flora, Kaneki, why are you red?" Bloom inquired which unfortunately put them under the scrutiny of everyone.

"Uh, well, I, um," Flora chuckled nervously as she cupped the back of her neck.

"No reason," Kaneki replies, his tone shutting down any form of inquiry.

"I'm actually wondering about your involvement in last night's events considering that Flora and Sky dragged an intoxicated Tecna out of your dorm and I presume your room."

"Really?" Aisha questions having absolutely no memory from last night, it is apparent that she's the type to forget everything when under the influence.

"What happened?" Bloom asked what everyone wanted to know.

Musa nudges Tecna with her elbow then whispers in her ear. Tecna chooses not to answer but simply shoves her hand into her bag and yanks out a black cloth and offers it to Kaneki. She never once glanced up at him or met the gaze of anyone else. That black cloth actually seemed really familiar.

"Is that my underwear?" Kaneki's jaw dropped as he was left flabbergasted over that fact that that was what she stole out of everything in his room.

"Not like you have anything else in your room," Faith comments off-handled then begins to whistle innocently when Kaneki shoots him a look of betrayal and annoyance.

"Just give it," Kaneki demands grumbling under his breath about how he'll eat Faith. "It wasn't enough just barging into the bathroom while I'm taking a shower, you had to steal my things?"

"Wow, Tecna, I have newfound respect for you," Stella giggles.

"You really did that?" Aisha inquires throwing her a sideways glance.

"So did you also barge into the shower, Flora?" Bloom questions.

"I had to get Tecna out!" Flora squeaks in mortification, burying her hands in her face.

"Did you get a looksie?" Stella couldn't help but ask with a cheeky but salacious grin.

"Excuse me, I'm still here!" Kaneki points out vehemently. "Could you please save it for when I'm not in the room... wait no, I take that back. Never speak about it ever again," Kaneki threatens.

"Those who partook in the drinking Stella, Aisha and Tecna will be on kitchen duty for the next 2 weeks cooking breakfast, lunch and dinner for you schoolmates," Faragonda commands before adding, "and you will not be using magic to cook."

"Aww."

"Now girls, it's time for you to go," Faragonda reminds, "you have quite a school year to get through."

"Bye Faragonda," the girls leave.

Kaneki stays behind due to his uneasiness, he turns to Faragonda and asks, "Do you really believe they can defeat Lord Darkar? We rescued the pixies from him. He will undoubtedly retaliate to get them back," Kaneki pointed out. "When he summoned me, I could feel his malicious nature and intents. It terrified me," Kaneki admits, he stared at the floor, deep in thought, as he reminisced the negativity he experienced with his time with Jason 13, "and it takes a hell of a lot to terrify me after that time." His screams and Yamori's deranged laughter echoed through his mind.

Faragonda focuses on Kaneki, her eyes expressing sorrow for him. While she didn't know what happened to him, she understands that he has suffered in a way that will haunt him till his death day.

"I can't deny that Lord Darkar will be an easy villain to defeat. He is a powerful primordial being who will most likely never truly die; he represents the evil and negative aspects of life and is a direct antithetical of the Dragon's Flame which implements the strength of his power," Faragonda explains.

"If you're trying to reassure me that the girls can defeat him, then you're doing a pi-gah! poor job of it," Kaneki remains unfazed when he's forced to bite his tongue again.

"I'm saying it won't be easy, but nothing ever is," Faragonda corrects, "you and the girls will receive lessons in technical magic and convergence."

"That's when multiple beings join in to make an extremely powerful spell, right?" Kaneki guesses and at Faragonda's inquisitive gaze, he adds, "I got bored with all the failed attempts of finding a way home so I read on ahead in my studies. Technical magic is quite interesting."

"Ah, if only the other students are as determined as you with your studies," Faragonda sighs before she throws Kaneki a smile, "you need to believe in them, Ken, for that is the strongest magic in the world."

"That will be much easier with me by your side Kenny since I'm your Pixie of Hope," Faith piped up, chest puffed out in pride.

"I feel like he is exactly what you need Kaneki," Faragonda advises.

"So I'm stuck with him? Fine, just stop crying every 15 minutes."

"I do not cry every 15 minutes," Faith argues in outrage.

"Right, you cry every 5 minutes," Kaneki counters without missing a beat.

"You two get along quite well," Faragonda chuckles into her hand at the playful banter before remembering something important, she opens her drawer and takes out an envelope which she hands to Kaneki. "The protective seal you need. Unfortunately, I couldn't make it myself since it's out of my field of expertise so I had this special ordered and calling in a few favours ensured it could be delivered to me today."

Kaneki stares at the envelope before opening the flap and pulling out the seal which was a square piece of paper with a hexagram with tiny inscriptions, of what Kaneki to believe was Latin, inside the shape.

"The spell should last for 2 months if you take good care of it," Faragonda elucidates how to make the seal last like not wearing it while taking a shower or during a workout but should simply use when sleeping.

Listening attentively, Kaneki nodded to each of Faragonda's points and carefully put it in his pocket. "Thank you, Faragonda," Kaneki was truly grateful for her help.

"You're welcome. Now, why don't you continue your research with Concorda? She mentioned that there were a few books she found that could be helpful," Faragonda informs so Kaneki thanks her again before saying his goodbyes and was about to leave with Faith and Glim when the former speaks up about a matter that Kaneki desperately wanted to keep hidden.

"What about the bill for all the damages?" Kaneki silently curses Faith out while swearing to squash the miniature blabbermouth like a shnasty pimple.

"What bill?" Kaneki refuses to reciprocate Faragonda's gaze finding the nearby wall far more interesting. Beads of sweat ran down his face as he feels Faragonda's eyes practically boring into his soul.

It seems that Kaneki refuses to answer by using the actions of a petulant child who has been caught doing something wrong and refuses to admit their wrongdoings. Considering his immaculate intelligence how could he come up with such infantile notions?

"Ken, have you even used the bank card I gave you?" Faragonda queries.

"I... I can't," Kaneki murmurs to hide his cracking voice, clenching his fists tightly which cause his nails to tear into his tender flesh. "I can't be like her."

Faragonda recites his words in her mind coming to the realisation that Kaneki's distance and refusal of help wasn't a matter of pride but something far deeper, something within his past.

Shaking her head, Faragonda gets out of her seat and moves around her desk so she stood in front of Kaneki before placing her hands on his shoulders. "Ken, I hope that eventually, I could be someone you could talk to but for now I want you to trust me when I say it's okay to accept help. You shouldn't have to bare your problems alone. Now I presume this bill is from the mission," Faragonda wants to confirm as she holds up her hand gesturing for the bill to be handed to her.

"Kenny destroyed a whole town," Faith answers helpfully at least helpfully to Faragonda then yelps when Kaneki flicks his head.

"I was the one who sent you and the girls so the responsibility of the damages belongs solely to me," Faragonda assures kindly.

"But I'm the one who caused all the damage and it was needless," Kaneki argues refusing to give in. "Ergo, I should pay for all of it."

"And how will you do that?" Faragonda counters with a raised brow and a knowing smile. "Essentially you arrived only with that strange outfit and mask and nothing else. The only money you have is from the bank card I provided."

"I'd find a way," Kaneki reinforces the idea that he should bear all responsibility.

"No need," Faith interrupts with a huge grin which garners the attention of Kaneki and Faragonda. It was then they notice Glim holding a piece of paper which Kaneki recognises instantly. "Yep, while you were arguing Glim flew back to your room and brought Faragonda the bill."

"Thank you, Glim," Faragonda pats her on the back for the gesture.

"Why?" Kaneki questions offended by the betrayal.

"Because you're just repeating yourselves," Faith moans pulling at his face. "It was funny at first but it kept going on for too long."

Kaneki clicks his tongue at that reply while rolling his eyes but what else should he expect from Faith? "Was your pixie as troublesome as mine is?" The question was rhetorical so Kaneki didn't expect to get a reply.

"No. I used to believe so when I was young and naive but now I'm grateful for him," Faragonda closes her eyes as she reminisces the time she spent with him. "Though I wish he would understand that I am an adult and stop worrying so much."

"Your pixie is still with you?" That unusual, the only pixie Kaneki remembers ever seeing at Alfea is Concorda and she's bonded to the archive.

"Well, of course, Paragon is always by my side," Faragonda chuckles into her hand as if she held a secret.

Kaneki shares a look with Faith before they wordlessly agree to ask the Winx about Paragon. They say their goodbyes and leave with Glim and as they were strolling down the hallway, Faith speaks up about something on his mind.

"Why do you need a protective seal?" Faith queries flying ahead of Kaneki and floating backwards with his hands behind his head.

"I... Lord Darkar and I have a link, a sort of connection you could say. This is to help prevent further communication," Kaneki reveals.

Faith and Glim share a look, "How?"

Kaneki's eyes shift around the hall nervously searching for anyone lurking around, "Later. I can't say it out in the open, I'll tell you back in my room but now I need to head to Concorda for research, but you and Glim can play with Hippocampus and Mujina," Kaneki offers.

"I don't know who they are but okay," Faith agrees, he puts his hands behind his head as he explains about his adventurous morning with Glim, more specifically their most recent fight.

With the Winx

The Winx made their way to the cafeteria chatting amicably among themselves and the pixies. The plan was to stock up on some snacks and spend the whole morning in their dorm fraternising with their bonded pixie until their first class.

Aisha and Flora were discussing the new arrangements though it was more like the latter promising to help the former settle in her classes smoothly by sharing notes and updating her knowledge of lessons.

Aisha thanked her profusely for her help and the two crack some jokes as they continued on their way. Simply by chance, Aisha glances out the window then stops in her tracks as she sees Knut shuffling across the field towards a wooden shed. Recalling her harsh and heartbreaking scream of fear towards the ogre who did nothing wrong, Aisha resolved to fix her mistake.

"Flora, could you take me to Knut," Aisha requested softly before looking her straight in the eyes which glistened with determination. "I have to apologise for hurting his feelings."

Flora seemed surprised by this but that soon transformed into a kind smile so she agreed to lead Aisha to the outside but not before informing the rest of the Winx that they catch up with them later.

"I'm coming with," Chatta volunteered energetically.

"We'll get your favourite snacks," Musa promised.

"But if you take too long then I'll eat them all," Stella licks her lips at the thought of consuming all those delicious snacks, drool actually leaked out the corner of her mouth which she furiously wipes away when Tecna points it out to her.

The darker skinned duo were en route to the central courtyard where they found Knut placing small-scaled tarps atop some flower beds, he nailed wooden stakes to the ground then tied strings around some hooks attached the wall.

"Good afternoon, Knut," Flora greets jubilantly, bowing down with her hands on her knees.

Never once hearing or noticing the two students behind him, Knut stumbled due to being startled but regains his foot. He stands up while plucking his glasses from his front pocket then places them on the bridge of his nose; with his sight regained Knut recognised Flora immediately.

"Hi, Flora," Knut greets just as happily. "Are you here to check on the flowers?"

"No not today, I know you work hard to keep them healthy. Aisha wanted to speak to you," Flora gestures for Aisha to come closer and assures her that Knut will not harm her.

"Um, hi, Knut, I'm Aisha," Aisha introduces herself nervously, almost stumbling over her words. "You saved the ball from hitting me yesterday, I wanted to say thank you and to apologise for screaming at you... it's just that that was the first I've ever seen an ogre and I was scared and, look, I just want to say sorry."

"Oh, so you're the student found in the forest," Knut realises, scratching his head. "I thought you were part of the students who still think I'm evil but now I know, it's fine. I should say sorry for scaring you."

"So Knut why are you nailing down those tarps?" Flora questions in curiosity. She leans forward causing some strands of her hair to fall in her face which she pushes behind her ear.

"There's a storm coming," Knut informs hammering in another wooden stake into the ground. "The heavy rain will damage the flowers but the tarp will stop too much water reaching the soils."

"That's smart of you," Flora notes before inquiring if she could help with Aisha also volunteering.

"Of course," Knut happily hands them a couple of tarps as well as the hammer before finishing up the one he was working, he substituted the hammer by using his fist.

The girls worked hard in helping Knut but when they reached the next flowerbed which was right underneath the infirmary window, they see that these flowers were going to bud while the others had already bloomed.

"Hey Knut, why did you plant these later?" Aisha queries as she tied a tight knot on the hook.

"Hmm? Oh, those? The other flowers were squashed so I planted new ones," Knut stands up and walks past the girls to get to the other flowerbed beside them.

"How'd that happen?" Flora's brows were furrowed to show her distaste that someone could be so callous towards some innocent plants.

"Kaneki landed on them when he leapt out of the window he shattered," Knut enlightens not really paying to what he was informing them of. At their confused hums, Knut divulges further about Kaneki's sudden appearance at Alfea, "He showed up kinda like you did Aisha, some of the teachers found him outside the school near the forest badly injured and bleeding heavily."

"What? What happened to him?" Aisha gasps, not expecting to hear that.

"Dunno, but the next day he went ballistic. He leapt out the window, destroyed school property and even attacked the teachers. Faragonda stopped him before he could do any serious damage and he became a student."

"You saw all this?" Flora inquires.

"Well, only the first part when he broke the window and trampled on my flowers but I did fix everything he broke and he helped."

"How did he get so injured?"

"I don't know and I didn't ask."

The girls remain silent as they find themselves not knowing how to react with the new information.

"You really like flowers, don't you, Knut?" Aisha asks, wanting a change in topic.

"Yeah, flowers are amazing. I mean, they start out as little seed then with a bit of sunshine and water and a whole lot of care and love, they bloom into these big and beautiful plants," Knut explains and raises his arms to validate how big the plants would be to him. "For someone like me who could only make destruction with these hands, it felt nice to know that I could create and support life. It's kinda embarrassing actually," Knut chuckles falteringly as he scratches the back of his head.

"I don't think it's embarrassing," Flora assures.

"Neither do I," Aisha advocates. "How did you end up with the Trix anyway?"

"I met them 2 years ago. I left my home in Swamp Underfoot to a nearby city because my eyesight was bad and I needed to get glasses. The Trix were in another shop causing trouble," Knut informs as he wipes the sweat from his brow.

"Why did you agree to work for them?"

"Because they were strong and evil and... and because I'm a monster. It was a good opportunity for me despite them never paying me."

"A good opportunity?"

"Like I said, I'm a monster. There's not a lot of job opportunities for someone like me and even less people who would hire me. It's like Mama always said, 'There's no point in being anything other than what you are and what we are are ogres.' I always lived by her words," Knut quotes.

"I'm sorry Knut," Flora couldn't say anything but an apology because even she believed his kind to be nothing but evil, cruel monsters.

"No need to feel bad, it's normal."

"But-"

"If there's anything my brief stay at Alfea taught me is that we're always going to have stereotypical thoughts and ideas about others but as we get to know an individual our mindset changes." The girls were left speechless at the philosophical response Knut gave them. "Did that sound right? I feel like I said it wrong," Knut cups the back of his neck as heat pools into his cheeks.

"It was more than right, Knut. It was amazing," Flora assures kindly.

"Um, excuse me, but help," the trio turn their heads only to find Chatta somehow tied herself up with the tarp string while Piff tries to free her.

"Oh, Chatta."

Magic Archive

"-and then the robot drags Camelia through her garden destroying a lot of her plants until Fixit managed to deactivate his robot then we spent the next few days replanting everything. Fixit was so grumpy because he couldn't use any of his gadgets to help," Faith cackles as he recalls the look on Fixit's face with Glim and Hippocampus chuckling while Mujina slept through his story.

"Abaduba," Glim babble and Faith remain speechless at her statement.

"S-Shut up!" Faith grabs Glim's cheeks with his thumb and forefinger and pulls until she began to wail.

"Faith," Kaneki admonishes as he casts away the book he was reading before he stride towards them and plucks Faith away. "Face the wall for the next 15 minutes," Kaneki orders before holding Glim and stroking her stinging apple-red cheeks.

"Aww," Faith huffs crossing his arms across his chest but obeys knowing he went too far.

Kaneki exhales a deep breath and rubs his temple before collapsing into his seat beside Concorda.

"You certainly have your hands tied," Concorda comments calmly sipping her tea.

Kaneki responds by snorting and rolling his eyes before reopening the book he put down earlier, "Figures that I get a troublesome pixie that acts like a baby."

"I feel he parallels quite you well," Concorda responds, "he's lots of fun and you're no fun at all."

"I can't deny that," Kaneki admits, remembering all the times Hide called him a buzz kill. He flips to the last page of his book but finds it to be useless so he places it on his finished pile.

"No luck either this time," Concorda sighs, putting her cup of tea down.

"Nope," Kaneki responds already making move to grab another book. "But nothing is ever easy."

"I suppose so," Concorda responds before asking, "how are your studies going?"

"Good, I guess, it's only been a week since the school year started."

"Perhaps it was too soon to ask," Concorda hums before changing topics. "I hear from Faragonda that you have become close to the Winx."

Kaneki was about to correct her on that matter but pauses when he recalls when Bloom dubs him their friend. His mouth opens and closes numerous times as he tried to decide what to respond with. "Not really. I'm close to Aisha but the others... Bloom and Stella say I'm a friend but I haven't really... we barely spent any time together," Kaneki struggles on what to say unable to understand their line of thinking, maybe once he could when he was human but now... "I don't see how you could see someone as a friend when you barely know them."

"Maybe they know enough," Concorda proposes, her glasses down to the end of her nose as she gives him a knowing look.

"Doubt it," Kaneki shoots down instantly as he buries his face in the book, refusing to meet her gaze. "It'd take centuries to find any good in me and since I haven't seen them cowering away I doubt they saw my sins."

"You are quite... misanthropic," Concorda expresses. "Didn't you have any friends growing up?"

"Just Hide," Kaneki informs as he refuses to reciprocate her gaze, suddenly finding the wooden floor far more interesting. "I learned pretty quick to be wary of those who want to be friends. Kids can be quite cruel," Kaneki responds despondent, his head bowed and he nibbles on his bottom lip as familiar vicious, heartless words echo in his mind.

"Freak! You think we'd want to be friends with you? Go kill yourself."

"But it's fine," Kaneki assures lazily waving his hand as if to convince Concorda that he wasn't affected by her question. "I have Faith and Glim now and that's enough for me."

Unbeknownst to the two of them, Faith was listening in and with every word Kaneki says his heart grew heavier for his fairy.

"Just so you know, this world is different from yours. Now, I'm not saying that there's not any racism, discrimination or prejudice but I believe you don't have to be so guarded," Concorda places her hand atop Kaneki's and squeezes it as a comforting gesture which he appreciates.

Kaneki couldn't help but acquiesce with her opinion. During his stay, he took notice that everyone in Magix City was implausibly kind though that could be because they were trying to sell him all their sh*t.

"Hey Kenny, don't you have class now?" Faith reminds still facing the wall despite 15 minutes passing. Kaneki jolts then turn to the clock to see that his next class would start in 8 minutes before throwing his bag over his shoulder.

"I'll see you tomorrow, Concorda. Faith, Glim, you can go to my room," Kaneki reminds as he sprints out the room.

Evening

Aisha and Flora return to the Winx Dorm where they find their friends bonding with their pixies and they joined in for the next few hours until they had to get to their next class. After their final class finishes the girls walk down the hallway to get back to their dorm.

"I don't know, something doesn't add up," Tecna rubs her chin in thought after she goes over this mornings conversation for the umpteenth time.

"Hmm, you're right Tecna, this sandwich cost me more than a full facial and makeup session," Stella says, munching on a sandwich she saved in her bag.

"I think Faragonda is keeping some kind of secret from us," Tecna continues, ignoring Stella's unintelligent remark.

"And sharing it with Kaneki," Musa adds with contempt.

"What do you mean?" Aisha shoots back, irritated with the accusation thrown to one of her friends.

"Didn't Kaneki stay behind after we left? In fact, wasn't he in some secret room that Bloom came across by mistake? You even mentioned that he apparently got permission. Don't you find that a bit suspicious?" Musa inquires, throwing more and more accusations.

"Musa, that's a bit much, isn't it?" Bloom stammers, not wanting to think that way about Kaneki, "he's our friend."

"But Musa has a point," Stella backs up, making Bloom and Aisha look to her incredulous. "He does have some special treatment. Plus, remember his powers? I didn't get a proper look or feel, but they were totally dark, too dark for a fairy," Stella reminisces when they were first attacked in the cave after she transformed.

"Dark?" Flora reiterates, bewildered.

"So he's like Darcy?" Tecna assumes.

"No, it had a different feel to it," Bloom interjects, "but I don't believe Kaneki is evil or dangerous."

"Yeah, he helped us all throughout the rescue," Aisha argues, "and he's Faith's bonded fairy."

"Okay, let's forget about Kaneki for a moment, you can't deny Faragonda's abnormal behaviour. She knew what Lord Darkar wanted with the pixies but is intent on keeping all the data to hers," Tecna points and the girls could find no fault.

"Aisha, what about you? What do you know about it?" Musa inquires.

"Nothing, honest," Aisha swears a little too quickly.

"I don't get it. Why would Faragonda hide something from us?" Flora hums quietly to herself but everyone still heard.

"It's as if she doesn't trust us anymore," Musa scoffs placing her hands on her hips.

"Just think about what happened to the pixies, first they were kidnapped then they were set free," Tecna elucidates.

"And don't forget the Trix. How did they manage to escape from that Lightrock place?" Stella brings up turning her head to look back at her friends.

"What worries me is how did they get so strong?" Flora speaks up focusing her gaze on the ground as she hugs herself. "Lord Darkar, why is he doing this? What does he want so bad that warrants this much violence? It's scary, we know so little and with Faragonda keeping secrets, we're so unprepared. What will we do?"

"Flora," Bloom lovingly clasps her hands around Flora's and brings them up, she had a soft yet warm smile on her face. "You shouldn't worry. We've been through thick and thin together, we fought and survived together as a team because we're the Winx. There's nothing we can't do when we work together," Bloom hugs her friend before the others join in with their own words of comfort.

"Lord Darkar is nothing against us."

"We're the Winx."

"We go girls!"

Aisha moves forward lifting her arms intending to join when she notices that there was nowhere for her. It was then she had an epiphany, she's a stranger. She doesn't belong there with them, she hasn't known them as long as they had to each other. She's all alone thus is just left staring longingly at them.

Maybe that's why she defended Kaneki so fervently because she could see the loneliness within his eye. She knew exactly how that felt, she was isolated throughout her childhood and that left her sombre and empty especially when Anne moved away. From what she heard, Kaneki started this year, same as her, so he has no friends besides her, Bloom and Stella and he's the only male on campus, that's gotta be tough.

"Listen up everyone, urgent message from Faragonda," Livy informs flying by on her parchment paper.

"Who the heck are you?" Stella queries tilting her head to the side as she scans her memories for any indication that she actually knew this pixie.

"Livy," Aisha's eyes fill with tears and her voice cracks from the overwhelming relief she feels at seeing another one of her friends.

"The Pixie of Messages. I was sent to get help from Alfea," Livy informs jubilantly.

"The emergency. What is it? What happened?" Bloom reminds in worry.

"Actually, I forgot," Livy admits giggling embarrassedly then jumps off her paper, "but I did write it down, 'My dear Winx girls, please put on your heaviest coats and meet me by the lake. It's urgent, Faragonda'."

"I wonder what has happened," Tecna mumbles.

"Well, let's go," Bloom tells them.

Lake

"Look, there she is," Tecna points to the lone figure staring out at the lake.

"This is the reason I have sent for you," Faragonda tells them, turning around, "this strange boulder appeared mysteriously just tonight and judging by the events of late, I find its presence rather disturbing."

Tecna brings out her Omni-Detector and a metal ladybug flies out to the slab and scans it. "Unbelievable," Tecna mutters when she receives her analysis, "this is neither metal nor mineral. I can't scan it, it's as if it's not made of matter."

Faragonda called the names of all the Winx, "Use all your power to destroy it at all costs." The girls transformed and started to throw their spells at the slab which had no effect.

Magic Archive

After ordering the Winx to deal with the monolith, Faragonda returns to Alfea and makes her way to Concorda who flies down to meet her immediately and lands on the circular wooden table placed in the centre of the archive.

"Headmistress Faragonda, it's been a while since I last saw you," Concorda bows her head in respect.

"Contact the other Guardian Pixies," Faragonda demands immediately without responding with a proper reply as her eyes narrow. "It's time," she reveals taking a seat on a sofa placed by the table.

Concorda nods curtly not taking any offence to the rudeness before using her magic to send her longtime friends a message and they respond by teleporting instantly.

"How drab, Concorda. Isn't it boring to wear the same thing for years on end? Why don't you let me change it up?" Athena suggests already beginning to design alternative outfits in a sketchbook that appeared in a puff of smoke. She wears a white and red Greek goddess styled dress and her orange/red hair is styled as a high bun with a golden hair tie, her wings are yellow with a green outline.

"You're not going to get jealous if she likes another person's clothes, are you?" Discorda teases with an uncharacteristic grin hanging from the corner of her lips. She has short black hair with a purple and red headdress with a ruby diamond in the centre, she wore a light cloak/cape over her torn purple dress and had mulberry fin-like wings.

"Yes, the last thing we need is you cursing another imp elf (2) out of jealousy," Ninfea joins in with the teasing, her lilac eyes twinkling in amusement. Her short, green hair resembles a flower bulb with a golden crown with a lilac oval gem. Her clothes consist of a golden gale dress along with a gold cape with a lilac gem brooch and had lime-green wings. In her left hand was a golden sceptre with a round lilac jewel at the top.

"I did not curse her," Athena huffs, turning away from her friends as she crosses her arms across her chest.

"Then why was Arachne stuck as a spider for 3 months?" Concorda counters pulling her glasses down to end of her nose.

"It's because she cheated in our competition," Athena presses her lips into a thin line, her brows knitting into a scowl as she recalls the imp elf's despicable act. "She sabotaged my loom and spindle and continuously belittled my work. You girls know how much I take pride in my own work."

"That's true," the others shrug and agree.

"Perhaps her punishment was a little too harsh," Athena acknowledges before opening her eyes which reflect her resolve, "but justice needed to be served. After all, if one chooses to commit evil whether it'd be a single act or multiple acts throughout their lifetime then they must expect to receive justice."

"You girls haven't changed in the slightest," Concorda shakes her head fondly at the long-needed reunion.

"It's been quite a while since we last got together," Ninfea denotes, her shoulders shaking from laughter. "But it's just like when we were young."

"Group hug?" Discorda suggests hesitantly spreading her arms wide. The Guardian Pixies were about to accept when Faragonda regretfully interjects.

"I'm sorry to cut your reunion short but as you probably know by now the situation is critical," Faragonda digs her hand into her pocket before depositing 4 contrastingly brooches on the table. One for each to take. "These must remain secret. You know what to do."

Kaneki's Room

Kaneki sat at his desk, head held in his hand, as he reviews his history of magic notes. Faith and Glim chose to occupy their time by playing catch with a bouncy ball that the latter had stored with her magic.

Deep rumbling explodes in the distance garnering Kaneki's attention who stares out the glass balcony doors at the billows of ominous clouds rolling in from the west. The denseness of the clouds plunges Alfea in a dome of darkness with the only forms of light deriving from lamps within random students rooms.

'Hell of a storm,' Kaneki notes unable to tear his gaze away from the mesmerising sight of the rain as it continues to beat down against the glass like bullets, threatening it to shatter into knife-like fragments. Kaneki stands up from his desk and glides to the balcony doors. His history notes now shoved to the back of his mind.

Immediately, the subtle aroma of petrichor tickles Kaneki's nose as he presses his body close to the glass, the cool temperature feeling delightful against his natural body heat. Tonight's storm was so nostalgic despite him not understanding why when he had experienced other storms with little to no reaction.

"-then from Kagutsuchi's blood sprouts Kuraokami as well as several other deities. And that is the legend behind the birth of Shinto deity of snow and rain," a familiar voice echoes as he finishes explaining as the rain continues to patter against the ground before a gentle hand ruffles his hair. "Did you like the story, Ken?" Kaneki looks up but only saw a flash of black hair and a beneficent smile.

Suddenly, Faith invades Kaneki's line of sight, his navy blue eyes glimmering with worry. "Kenny?"

"Hmm?" Kaneki snaps out of his musings.

"You zoned out a little bit," Faith speaks up falteringly as his eyes scan Kaneki's frame for anything strange. "And Glim noticed random flashes of orange in the forest."

"The forest?" Kaneki reiterates peering out the window only to see nothing but darkness. "Are you sure?" Kaneki wants to confirm when nothing happens in 10 minutes.

"Yeah, I saw it as well."

Kaneki mulls this over before deciding to check it out just in case, he throws on his cobalt cloak provided by the school which was unusually short despite it being designed for heavy rain and snow as well as gale. He should discuss the design flaw with Faragonda.

"Stay here. I'll be back in 20 minutes," Kaneki flips his hood up and hustle towards the door when Faith demands to know why it has to be him instead of informing the teachers. "When I made my deal with Faragonda I promised not only to protect Bloom and the Winx but also the students. After all, Faragonda's done for me I have to keep my word. Don't worry, I'll be just fine," Kaneki reassures softly when Faith and Glim deflate, he lets them sit on his palm and uses his thumb to rub their cheeks as a form of comfort. "I won't be long," Kaneki swears, closing the door behind him before dashing down the hallway and out the building.

He really needs to discuss this ridiculous design flaw with Faragonda.

The cobalt cloak offers absolutely no protection against the heavy downpour. Honestly, he could have stood under a waterfall in his underwear and be less wet than right now.

Kaneki doesn't even slide to a halt when the distance between him and the main gate decreases instead he opts leaping over it which was made easy with his ghoul strength.

A bolt of white-hot lightning splits the sinister clouds and illuminates the forest in a brief second. Soon the flash is followed by the unmistakable boom of thunder that reverberates across the forest floor. Kaneki ignores everything around him such as the rain beating against his body and the burgeoning weight of his clothes and focuses on getting to the lake by leaping over boulders and sliding under partially fallen trees until he sees something that makes him stop dead in his tracks.

An unconscious Bloom being carried in the arms of a mysterious cloaked figure.

"Let go of her!" Kaneki cries as he leaps through the air and aims a punch at the cloaked figure who conjures a magic barrier that repels Kaneki's attack.

Kaneki growls as he lands far off on all fours, the burns he receives from the impact were smoking as they fade from existence. He glares up at the stranger and growls threateningly; if the intruder won't go down so easily then Kaneki should have no hesitation in using his full strength.

Four neon red kagunes rip through Kaneki's shirt and his cloak tears to shreds as they poise for an attack. The stranger takes a step back and gawks at the intimidating rinkaku's which were pointed straight at him. Knowing that he was in at a disadvantage with Bloom in his arms, he lays her against the base of a tree before preparing himself.

Kaneki allows this as he has no desire to bring Bloom any harm though the action leaves him baffled. Has he misjudged this character? No matter, he's still suspicious. No guest would arrive dead at night through the forest at a private college filled with teenage girls. The bus stop wasn't that far from the front gate and there's a car park behind the school where scheduled guests could be registered.

"Lux Trabem Egreditur!" The intruder casts and 3 beams of light slice through the air towards Kaneki who flips backwards, dodging all the beams which harshly embeds itself into the ground. Without missing a beat, Kaneki darts at light speed with his kagunes rushing past to impale the man who shouts, "Lux Obice!" And a barrier appears successfully blocks all of Kaneki's attacks.

"Tch," Kaneki kissed his teeth in irritation when he realises that the intruder is an expert in magic. If he couldn't get physical... time to fight fire with fire. "Carnage X," Kaneki crosses both arms like an X in front of him and two crimson energy rings, resembling circular saws, form around his torso which he launches towards the stranger.

The rings cleave through the trees like a knife through warm butter causing them to topple one after another like dominos. The crashes cause dust and dirt to fly up blinding the two.

"Dammit," the man curses bringing his sleeve to his face as he carefully surveys his surroundings trying to find where Kaneki could be. 'Where could he be?' He detects something dashing out of the corner of his eye.

"Lux Bomb!" A single sphere of light flies towards the fleeing figure and it explodes upon contact unexpectedly spraying splinters like projectiles. A log drops to the ground and a shadow overcomes him. 'From above?' The intruder gasps before Kaneki lands on his back and thrusts his knee right into the intruder's spine, his kagunes each seizing a limb and yanking them behind him in an excruciating position.

"Who are you? What did you do to Bloom?" Kaneki demands gradually adding more pressure to his spine.

Due to the position, Kaneki put the intruder in, both of his hands were on either side of Kaneki's head allowing the intruder a chance. "Utinam Illi, Somnia Retinere Animum Meum Tanto Hosti Dextra Quiescere," glittery particles of light float from his hands into Kaneki's mind.

Kaneki's iron grip slowly releases, his eyes droop and his head lulls to the side before finally giving into the sweet embrace of sleep.

The figure gently nudges Kaneki off his back then stands up brushing the dirt off his clothes. He spares the boy a single glance before grabbing the back of his shirt and throwing Bloom over his shoulder as he continues his trek to Alfea.

With the Winx

The girls were beginning to worry about Bloom who still had not returned from the lake. Suddenly, there was a knock on the door so Musa opens it to see the cloaked figure carrying Bloom over his shoulder and dragging Kaneki into the room.

"What have you done?" Flora gasps horrified.

"Nothing, your friend has just exhausted herself," the man replies as he places Bloom on her bed.

"What about Kaneki?" Aisha shoots back, accusingly.

"He thought I had attacked your friend so I was forced to subdue him with magic," the man informs the group, "Faragonda will explain everything tomorrow. Goodnight." The man then promptly leaves the room, the girls watching even when the doors had closed.

"So what do we do with Kaneki?" Stella points out to the unconscious male who was lying on the floor, showing no signs of waking up any time soon. The girls took the simplest option by seizing each limb and dragging him back to his room, Kaneki was surprisingly light so it was fairly easy to get to his room.

Shadow Haunt

'Sel Mista!' Darkar's eyes snap open when he perceives a presence in the room that he long since shoved to the back of his mind. Out of pure instinct, Darkar who was sleeping upside down like a bat leaps down and metamorphose into a phoenix before hurtling through the wide hall to the one room that he desperately tries to forget.

It'd better not be the Trix as he already warned them of the consequences of heading to that wing of the castle but he doubts that they are that foolish. Either way, someone's going to suffer.

Even when the door comes into view, Darkar refuses to slow down, his rage boiling over with a desperate need to slaughter the one who would invade that room but there was no one. Baffled, he reverts into a humanoid and scrutinises every inch the room only to find it untouched.

"You sure were in a rush. Didn't even open the door but I guess that's because we can't affect the physical world in this form," a familiar voice comments bored but there was some amusement lace in his words. Darkar whips right around to find Kaneki leaning against the wall in shadows with his hands shoved into his trouser pockets and one foot pressed flat against the wall before standing up straight. "I guess that flower really is that important to you," Kaneki gestures to the plant by jerking his head as he strolls closer to it.

Numerous streams ran from under the walls in different directions all leading to a pond close to a hole in the wall which makes a waterfall. In the centre of the pond stood a mahogany table with line engravings in the wood which sucks up the water into a mound of dirt that held Sel Mista thus keeping it alive.

Darkar is unable to grace him with a reply, remaining speechless throughout. It should be impossible but the proof is standing before him.

When Kaneki awoke to find himself back in a familiar throne room, he curses himself for letting his guard down against the intruder. He didn't put the protective seal over his brand because he didn't plan to go to sleep until much later which led to him now being in trouble.

Kaneki lifts his right hand and stares at it for half a minute before promptly slapping his own cheek. His cheek tingles but he expresses no pain neither discomfort as he comes to a conclusion.

Astral Projection. In his previous sleeping experiences, he never had control of his actions except that time with Darkar indicating that he was experiencing a memory from that person's point of view but this time it's different. His spirit is in Darkar's castle, it won't be long till the embodiment of darkness realises he's here.

Eventually, he came to the realisation that this was the perfect opportunity to test his mental/dream powers. This is day 4 of his dream powers, the first and third was retrocognitive dreaming essentially seeing a person's memories through dreaming while the second day and today is his spirit leaving his body in order to meet Darkar.

From what Kaneki calculates his retrocognition dreaming abilities are his own while astral projection may be due to his contract with Darkar but this was all speculation as there is no definitive proof since he hasn't displayed these powers for long.

His only option for further information is from Darkar himself.

"What's wrong? Cat got your tongue?" Kaneki chuckles but inside he was a mess. 'Really? 'Cat got your tongue?' The fu-ow! Seriously, I can't even swear in my mind?! Anyway, am I trying to get myself killed? Hide always said confidence is key and that is how he got away with a lot of stuff.'

Still, silence from Darkar.

"Judging by the centipede on your spine and the fact I still have free will, our contract isn't a master/slave binding but equal rights which means certain parts of our powers are linked. With Sel Mista, I can confirm that it's your memories I've been seeing and now I'm wondering what have you seen from my past?" Kaneki questions now standing right in front of the deity of darkness while internally screaming at his own idiocy.

Darkar finally chooses to speak but his words are not what Kaneki expected.

"It truly is you, Ri," Darkar breathes in one fell swoop as he cups Kaneki's cheek.

"Goodbye," Kaneki decides the information wasn't worth whatever this is and runs away with his kagune between his legs or rather disappears.

Kaneki's Room - The Next Morning - 22nd September

Kaneki's bolts up from the bed as if struck by lightning, his eyes flung wide open at the unexpectedness of what happened not even a minute ago. Ri, that name. What does it mean to Darkar?

Hesitantly, his fingers brush the cheek that Darkar held lovingly... urgh, lovingly. Kaneki buries his face in his pillow before letting out a muffled scream fueled by his confusion and annoyance then flopping onto his back.

This makes thing so much more complicated. It's easy to think of the antagonist as just a bastard who thinks for nothing but himself especially when that antagonist is a primordial being made of every type of evil thought and act.

But one show of kindness or contrition and everything you know turns upside down.

"No. Nothings changed. He's still a bastard and an enemy. I'll just put on the seal and never deal with him again. Yeah," Kaneki swears never to willingly deal with Darkar ever again.

"Kenny," Faith mumbles groggily rubbing the sleepiness from his eyes. "What's wrong? Why are you up so early?" Faith yawns and his head lulls to the side a couple of times as he fights the urge to return to sweet sleep.

"Nothing," Kaneki replies quickly as he rifles through his drawers searching for the protective seal before attaching it to his chest. "Just go back to sleep," Kaneki soothes, getting back under the covers and snuggles right in. Faith didn't argue and within in a matter of seconds, he was back in la-la land.

The next time Kaneki woke up it would be later than he usually got up for his work out. A message from Faragonda requested that he come to her office again so he did along with his pixies.

Faragonda's Office

After the events of last night, Faragonda promised to explain in the morning so the Winx, Kaneki and the pixies had gathered in her office the next day.

"All right, now that you've successfully completed your introductory classes, it's time to begin your intermediate level subjects," Faragonda informs.

"Boring!" Digit complains rudely, "I'd rather watch a screen saver than listen to the Headmistress."

"Before that, shouldn't we address the elephant in the room?" Kaneki inquires, vehemently towards the cloaked figure. He was still a little sour about being defeated.

"What? An elephant?" Stella questions, looking around before throwing Kaneki a look of disbelief, "I think you have a screw loose or something Kaneki. I mean, how could an elephant fit in here?"

"Not a literal elephant. It's a metaphorical idiom for something unusual that no one will or is going to address," Kaneki explains with a surprising amount of patience despite wanting to smack his head into the wall. How did Stella make it this far in life? At least Hide had some form of common sense which was enough to reach university. "And to what I'm referring to is the intruder from last night," Kaneki jerks a thumb in the direction of the cloaked stranger.

In response, the mystery man pulls down his hood to reveal himself to be the paladin that saved them from the Trix.

"The paladin!" Bloom, Stella and Aisha exclaim in shock.

"He's a teacher?" Kaneki questions with a brow raised. That didn't make last night's events any less suspicious, what kind of teacher lurks in the forest after dark? 'Was he sent to pick up Bloom? In that case, oops,' Kaneki sweats upon the realisation that he attacked a teacher unprovoked.

"Indeed I am," Avalon responds before looking to Kaneki. "My dear boy, you were truly a formidable opponent. I must admit, had you not let your guard down my spine would have snapped in half," Avalon actually massages his aching back where a large purple bruise had formed.

"See? That means he's dangerous," Musa whispers to Tecna and Stella who nodded in agreement.

"Yeah, he nearly crippled a professor. What does that say about him?" Tecna adds eyeing him in suspicion.

"Hmph," Faith pouts, irritated, crossing his arms across his chest. He was close enough to hear what they were talking about.

Faragonda claps which garner the attention of the other occupants, "Now, I know you are all excited and have many questions for Professor Avalon, but I shall give an explanation at the lake along with the rest of your class."

The Lake

"Let me introduce a leading expert from the famous Malacoy Paladion Academy," Faragonda informs to the rest of the students who had met her at the lake for an afternoon lesson. "He'll be joining our faculty at my special request, Professors Avalon," Faragonda introduces and Avalon bows in greeting which makes the girls squeal and gossip on his handsome looks.

"He's making me a teensy bit nervous," Flora admits fanning her warm cheeks with her hand.

"Is this guy hot or what?" Stella inquires to Tecna quietly. "I can't take my eyes off him."

"I wonder what his speciality is," Tecna wonders far more interested in his abilities rather than his dashing good looks.

"Professor, will you please destroy that stone?" Faragonda requests. She heard Tecna and believed this would be a good display of his power. The Winx gasp, they couldn't even scratch it with all their combined efforts, what could the professor do to it?

"Lapus Sturei'et Feer'mai Tetfrangan Mit Cominuim," Avalon chants the incantation as he clasps his hand gently together and a small golden sphere forms which he launches at the stone, causing it to crumble and shatter into the lake which causes a mini tidal wave.

"How did he do that?" Bloom exclaims stunned by the display.

"What you've just witnessed is a technical incantation," Faragonda informs the girls which quell a part of their confusion, "until now you've been casting spontaneously, following your instincts. Those are the skills you have perfected last year. This is a whole new level of difficulty."

"Technical magic?" Flora reiterates, perplexed, "what's different about it?"

"These spells require cognitive analysis and accurate pronunciation, that's the subject of Professor Avalon's class," Faragonda explains.

"Um, a question please, Headmistress," Tecna requests raising her hand, "how did you determine which technical spell needed to effectively destroy the unidentified stone?"

"Easy. I created the stone," Faragonda replies, smiling at their shocked stares, before explaining the reason why, "I wanted to absolutely make sure that you would not underestimate the importance of your new classes."

"That does it. First, they obsess about a stupid stone, now a professor," Chatta rants and raves, the rest of the pixies fly up to listen to her in awe, "I can't believe our fairies have forgotten about us. What do you say we ask them to come flying with us over the lake?" Chatta demands, rapidly turning to her friends who started to cheer at her plan.

Faragonda speaks up again to allow them the chance to speak with Avalon, "Everybody, class dismissed, but if you have any questions I'm sure Professor Avalon will be happy to answer them."

"I have a question, Professor," Bloom runs towards him.

"As do I," Flora adds.

"Professor Avalon-" the rest of the girls began to crowd around him and bombard him with multiple questions, some not even about his classes and instead if he was single.

"Girls are weird," Kaneki states when he hears the last question, "he's in his 30's, maybe even older."

But Kaneki could see why the girls were swooning over the professor, eyeing him up like he's a fine lump of roast. After all, Avalon is a tall, muscular man with strong stormy grey eyes and a fair complexion with his long silky indigo mane tied into a braid held in place by a light blue clothed hair tie, and not a single strand of hair out of place. Clearly, he's a man of great eminence and professionalism garbed in a crisp pristine white and gold suit that couldn't cost less than £10,000(3) along with a red diamond shaped necklace and a yellow diamond-shaped ring on his right ring finger. Exuding an air of confidence that, rather than demands, requests for respect.

Faith flies over to Kaneki while the rest of the pixies give up on reaching their fairy counterparts. "Kenny, wanna go flying over the lake with us?" Faith asks, hopeful that he would agree.

"Don't feel like it," Kaneki replies making Faith deflate, Kaneki felt his stomach churn uncomfortably so he adds, "but I don't mind just hanging out in our room," that makes Faith perk up instantly and grin heartily.

Lockette tries another attempt in gaining Bloom's attention, but was accidentally thrown away and landed harshly on the ground. Lockette sat up and began to wail at the top of lungs, tears streaming down her cheeks as she rubbed her eyes, "I'm so sad. Bloom didn't even notice me." It was then Kiko the rabbit came up to Lockette as if wanting to comfort her only to blow a raspberry right in her face before running away, chortling evilly.

"Hey!" Kaneki yells, but Kiko was already quite far so he sighs before kneeling down and picking Lockette up and having her sit on his hands, he uses his thumbs to wipe away her tears and comforts her, "do you want to hang out with me and Faith while Bloom is busy?"

"Can I?" Lockette sniffs as she wipes away the snot. She looks up at him with hope glimmering in her eyes.

"Sure," Kaneki assures, smiling tenderly at the tiny pixie who gave him a watery grin. "In fact, the rest of you can come if you want," Kaneki offers. The pixies look to their respective fairy then to Kaneki and agree.

"Beats watching them," Digit points to the squealing cluster.

"I suppose it will be a nice change of pace," Tune adds tugging her sagging gloves back up.

"That's so nice of you," Amore sighs, dreamily.

Kaneki's Room - Later That Night

The Winx had left their rooms to head to the party, Aisha stopped by and asked if Kaneki would attend the party, but he refuses by saying that he wasn't a party person so he and the pixies were chilling in his room. He, Faith, Lockette and Amore were playing cards, Digit and Zing were playing against each other in a video game, Piff was sleeping and Glim was messing around with the switch on a small lamp on Kaneki's desk and Chatta and Livy playing on the latter's flying parchment.

"Go fish," Faith states his brows furrowed in complete concentration.

"Faith, we're playing blackjack," Kaneki chastises though was unsurprised.

"Oh, I thought we were playing poker," Amore intervenes lowering her cards.

"I'm playing crazy eights," Lockette adds, hesitantly.

"Lamp!" Livy shrieks before she and Chatta crash right into it leaving it hanging off the edge by the cord.

"Jeez," Kaneki sighs and puts his cards down, a muted jingle gains his attention and he looks to see Glim pressing her face against the window, peering straight into the dark. "What's wrong, Glim?" Kaneki opens the door to the balcony and sees two light zooming close to the forest.

"What's going on?" Zing inquires as the rest of the pixies joined Kaneki on the balcony.

"Sky and Brandon have come," Kaneki informs, his tone expressing suspicion and surprise when he realises that they're not heading to the party.

"Aw, they interrupted those lovey-dovey beavers," Amore moans in sorrow, "all they wanted to do was to kiss in peace."

Kaneki snorts at her words before quoting something Hide would definitely say, "I think they were rather getting their freak on."

"What does that mean?" Lockette asks, innocently. Kaneki froze at the question then slowly turns his head to see all the pixies, including Piff who just woke up, staring up at him in confusion and ignorance which makes him cringe at the cuteness, he can't corrupt that.

"Nothing, hehehe," Kaneki chuckles, falteringly.

"What are they doing here? Sky and Brandon, I mean," Zing asks.

"Dunno," Kaneki responds as he watched the duo scale the tree. Sky attached a thin spy glass device to his eye and started to spy in on the party while Brandon was focusing on the ground, he appeared to be looking for something in a wary manner.

"The tree is trembling," Digit points out, overwhelming her brain, "that is completely illogical. Trees don't move in such a way. Overload! Overload!"

"Don't have a breakdown," Kaneki chastised, still focusing on the duo.

"Oh no! The beavers-!" Lockette warns, hands on her cheeks as they watched the beavers chipped at the base of the tree, nearly chomping all the way through.

"Timber!" Zing exclaims when the tree crashes onto the ground.

"The beavers look so happy!" Faith bursts out laughing, holding his stomach when he sees the beavers high-five.

"Will they be okay?" Tune inquires, concerned.

"Don't worry, they're Specialists," Kaneki assures, heading back inside and closing the doors, "they've been training to fight for years, a small fall like that wouldn't leave a scratch. Now, let's get back to our game, a proper game," Kaneki adds as he shuffles the cards, they soon forgot about the Specialist duo with all the fun they've had and ended up falling asleep on the bed.

What ship do you like the best: Touken or Hidekane?

Guys and gals, I sincerely ask that you guys check out FoxyAtTheCorner's Deviantart account because she drew a lot for this crossover. Please leave comments and add it if you could (green star). If I see no changes then I won't start writing the next chapter that way it will take even longer.

(1) I didn't really know to write Faith's reaction to the reveal but I knew that he couldn't react negatively otherwise it would be detrimental to Kaneki so I tried to make Faith a bit understanding. An example would be from Trolls, the Bergens eat the Trolls out of pleasure not a necessity yet there was no animosity from the Trolls at the end, everyone just got along.

(2) I'm going to refer to the elves in Pop Pixie as Imp Elves as not to confuse them with Palladium's species. I will continually refer to Pop Pixie events and characters in my story.

(3) I'm changing euros to pounds since I know the latter better.

Latin Translations - Spells I've made up

Lux Trabem Egreditur - Light Beam Emissions

Lux Obice - Light Barrier

Lux Bomb - Light Bomb Blasts

Utinam Illi, Somnia Retinere Animum Meum Tanto Hosti Dextra Quiescere - Dreams are for him to keep in his mind oh-so-deep send my enemy right to sleep. (Sounds gay I know but I wanted something original).