Chapter 12
Jade heads back through the forest to the wishing well connecting Alfea with Cloud Tower. She removes her Fairy disguise, changing back into her Witch form. She didn't know why she'd be so surprised, after all, Silver and Michael were meant for each other. They're both so positive and energetic, and her...not so much. She only wished that, maybe, maybe she could have a chance with him too.
"I see the Witch has decided to retreat back to her lair," a whiny voice mocks.
Jade turns around to find Balena standing behind her, her rainbow-highlighted hair blowing in the light breeze.
"What do you want, Balena?" Jade asks, returning to her normal, deeper tone of voice.
"Your silly little 'Fairy disguise' doesn't fool me Witch. It's probably for the best you're leaving, I'd hate to see what would happen to you if everyone knew there was a Witch among them…" Balena cackles.
Jade shakes her head, "Why do you ever care, Balena? If you really are one of the strongest Fairies at Alfea with her Charmix, why do you need to prove it by acting terrible toward everyone else?"
"Because I don't need a Witch like you, and a ditz like Silver cramping my style!" Balena bursts, as magical energy starts to build up in her fists.
Jade crosses her arms, and chuckles, "No, it's because you see our Winx Club as a threat. That it could steal your spotlight as the most popular, most powerful Fairy at Alfea. Gosh, who would remember the has-been Fairy that, surprise, no one really liked anyway?"
Enraged, Balena's eyes flash red, but this time the red light doesn't disappear, as she transforms into her Fairy form. Her single-strapped crop top, long chunky boots, and miniskirt all have a psychedelic rainbow pattern. Her headband turns into a tiara, and her wings have a rainbow pattern that circles both sides of her wings. On her waist, a bag shaped like a rainbow connecting two clouds appears, the source of her Charmix powers.
"How...dare...you! Rainbow blast!" Balena fires a ball of rainbow-colored energy that directly hits Jade, knocking her back.
With her eyes blazing with red, Balena sneers as she walks towards Jade. Jade lifts her head up, as Balena summons another rainbow blast in her hand. She keeps the ball of energy in her hands, as she steps on Jade's head with her boot, keeping her to the ground.
"Not so confident now, are we, Witch?" Balena mocks her, digging her heel into Jade's head, "Like my Charmix? It's the cutest thing, and makes an awesome accessory to boot. But...oh, wait! Witches can't get them, can they? That's right, they can't. They're stuck with their ugly clothes, and not to mention they never get any guys. Speaking of boys...that Michael isn't mighty attractive, but if he's Alrancian nobility, I think he's just what I need to secure the Alrancian crown. After all, what better than to steal Silver's boy, and also steal her crown-..."
With her hand on the ground, the grass under Jade's hand starts to smoke as she charges up her magic. Balena looks down at Jade just in time for Jade to raise her hand at her, "Raging fire!"
A stream of green fire hits Balena, and she's knocked off of Jade. Jade stands at the same time as Balena.
Balena laughs, "That's all you got, Witch? Ha, you're weaker than I thought."
"You haven't seen the half of it," Jade charges up her magic and fires a bolt of fire at Balena.
Balena flies up, dodging her attack. She fires another shot of rainbow magic, and Jade jumps back to avoid it. Jade flies up just as Silver and Ancrua run in behind Balena.
"Balena, leave Jade alone!" Silver demands.
Jade looks down at the forest floor and spots Silver and Ancrua, "Guys, I've got this-"
She's interrupted when Balena shoots a blast of rainbow energy at her, pushing her back. Jade hits a tall tree, and with pine needles in her hair, Jade snarls at Balena and flies toward her, charging her magic in her hand.
"Raging fire!" Jade braces herself as she fires her magic from both hands, the force of her energy pushing her back as she fires a beam of green fire.
"Rainbow blast!" Balena combats Jade's magic with her own stream of rainbow energy that directly collides with Jade's green fire.
The two magic energies explode upon impact, and both Jade and Balena are thrown back. The magic combines and spreads around the forest, setting the surrounding area ablaze. Jade and Ancrua gasp, and as Jade recovers from being knocked back, she opens her eyes and surveys the damage around her in shock.
"I...I...this...this is all my fault…" Jade realizes aloud.
When Balena recovers, she shakes her head, takes one look at the fire, and smiles, "Wow, look at all the trouble you've caused, Jade. I guess that's all Witches are good for...trouble."
With one more laugh, she flies off, leaving Silver, Jade, and Ancrua stranded in the fire.