Chapter 71
Face To Face Part Two
- Quick recap, each one of us has been sent to her mental projection where an evil copy is waiting for them, and she wants to take her place in reality, all copies are aware of being the copies but also have some sort of memories, and to get out of here I only have to unleash all my powers at once? - asked Lzzy, not believing that it was really that easy.
- Exactly, but don't think it's a walk in the park. When you'll wake up you'll feel awful and maybe you won't be able to use magic right away. - Elizabeth warned her.
Lzzy summoned her powers and found herself enveloped by a white, pulsating aura. She felt the energy press against the invisible barrier that separated it from the world, like it was a bomb waiting to explode. She was about to let it detonate, but she hesitated for a second.
- One last thing. - she said, looking at Elizabeth, - What's it like, having a daughter? -
Elizabeth smiled sweetly.
- It's the only thing I regret leaving. -
Lzzy nodded and, before tears fell down her eyes, broke down the barrier.
§§
- You haven't yet told me why we're here, wherever "here" is. - Icy told her tiny self.
She had started walking in a random direction and the other had followed her, her wings twinkling at every change of direction.
- We're in your head, and we're here because you have to give me a chance. -
Icy suddenly stopped. It's not like they were getting anywhere, anyway.
- Excuse me? -
- You have to give me the chance to live in the real world. You lived the life of a witch, now I can live the life of a fairy that you wanted. The Ancestral Witches are no more, you can be what you always wanted to be. - the teen explained enthusiastically.
Icy was confused. It would have been great to have that possibility, she could barely imagine it: everything would start again from when things had gotten worse and worse, she would study in Alfea and she would become a great fairy like in her childhood dreams, she would have a normal life. And yet, something felt off.
- It was Valtor who sent me here, and surely not to make me a favor. - she said.
The fairy landed light in front of her.
- He couldn't foresee the effect the spell would have, it is very subjective. Wouldn't you want to live like an ordinary girl, go to the disco and to parties… you could go to Alfea's ball without feeling out of place! - She stopped, seeing that her points didn't fully persuade the witch. She walked to her and took her hands. - Don't you want to be happy? - she asked.
- Yes... -
It was what she wanted after all, she always wanted that. To start anew. To not make mistakes. To not remember all those wasted years and the pain that came with them.
- Then give me your place. Say it: "I give you my place in the world". -
- I give you... -
A powerful memory prevented her from finishing the sentence. She remembered Lzzy, their real first kiss that night on the bus, her soft and warm lips. She remembered her hugs that made her feel protected and loved, she remembered every detail of her body and every sensation it brought along. She remembered that night on the clouds over Lake Roccaluce, and the night they had met. She also remembered the tears Lzzy had cried on her shoulders and she understood that she couldn't console her if she gave her place to thirteen years old Icy, because Lzzy didn't need a child, Lzzy was not bound to a child. She was bound to her, to everything she was and had been.
With a knot in her throat and burning eyes, Icy freed her hands from those of the little fairy and stepped back.
- No! I can still be happy, even as a witch! - she exclaimed.
The other her got angry.
- You're really a selfish witch! Don't you care at all about me?! I have the memories of a life I didn't even live, your memories, and they're awful! I wanna make my own, I have the right to have my memories! I am what you always wanted to be, but if you're too coward to give me a future, I'll take it myself! -
Surprised by the sudden change of register and still on the verge of tears due to the memories that had overwhelmed her, the witch couldn't protect herself from the attack in time and fell down. She expected another hit, but it didn't come. She looked at her alter ego and saw a figure standing between them, protecting her. It looked like Lzzy, but it was so transparent she feared it was her ghost.
Lzzy probably heard her thoughts, because she rushed to reassure her:
- Don't worry, I'm fine. I'm alive, I broke Valtor's spell but he doesn't know yet. - She blocked another attack, - I can't get a less creepy form, sorry. I'm not really in good shape, getting out of here hurts. -
Icy got back on her feet and stood by her.
- It was you who sent me all those memories, wasn't it? - she asked.
Lzzy glared at her.
- Yeah, in the nick of time I'd say. -
- I... what she said... -
- We'll talk about it later, okay? Now think about getting out of here, we must help the others! -
- How do I do it? -
- Free all your powers at once. I'll cover for you. -
Icy finally noticed the tears rolling down her cheeks.
- Thank you, Mae. -
- Don't mention it. Blow up this place, come on! -
Icy closed her eyes. She imagined that nothingness was made of crystal. She imagined to shatter the crystal.
§§
Witch-Rebecca had talked continuously for ages, repeating the same things over and over. She didn't realize she was playing with fire. Fairy-Rebecca grabbed her arm, ignoring the terrible feeling of being able to completely envelop it with a single hand, then she pushed her to the ground with such strength that she wouldn't have been surprised if she stayed still like a broken doll.
- Now you listen to me! First, pink sucks and pink pants rolled up suck double and those ribbons on the boots make you look like an idiot. Second, boys don't swoon over skeletons, even if they shake their butt like that. Third, my idols never even tried playing twice the same way because they were brave and good enough to improvise, unlike people who play an electric guitar without plugging it in or sing with their mouth closed. And music as we know it was created by them! Fourth, regarding my friends, I consider them as such precisely because we're different, each one of us is her own kind of special and we're the best together! If a friend has to be a clone for you, your loss, you don't exist anyway. Cuz no, you don't exist and neither does this place! -
As soon as she stopped talking, Rebecca sent out all her powers against the witch, but also against that ill darkness that was her enemy.
§§
- I don't have to make you suffer, you know? You could simply recognize you're weak and give up your place in the real world to me. - said witch-Flora.
Her voice was cold and indifferent, like she was talking about something that didn't concern her, like it didn't make much of a difference.
Flora felt the dead grass sting her through her clothes. The pain was continuous and burning, but she didn't want to give up.
- Stop resisting, you stay a weakling. Your friends, your family need a strong person, like me. Give in and you'll make them a huge favor. -
Flora grit her teeth and closed her eyes while the pain became more intense. Perhaps the witch was right. Perhaps she wasn't strong enough to protect everyone, she wasn't confident enough to do what was needed, she wasn't enough.
- Don't give in! - exclaimed a familiar voice.
Ice blades cut the grass, freeing Flora.
Icy materialized by her side.
- You are strong, Flora, I know you are! I spent years fighting you and I know what you're capable of. And I know you're even stronger in teamwork. - said Icy, holding up the fairy before she fell.
Flora looked at her in the eyes and saw her sincerity.
- Thank you, Icy. -
- You're welcome. Come on, let's do it together. You must use all your powers. - she said.
Flora prepared to the convergence. She felt the energy of an entire forest, intense, indestructible, flowing through her. She casted the spell.
§§
Meanwhile, witch-Stella had examined all the reasons why the real Stella was totally inadequate for her role of princess and future queen, and she went on to attack all her emotional bonds.
- Your boyfriend doesn't love you, but your pretty face and your money. He's just a squire. And your so-called friends barely stand you, don't you remember how many times you made them mad and hurt them with your superficiality? You did it with everyone, from Musa to Bloom, ever since the first year, and you sure didn't get better. If you disappeared, they wouldn't care much and deep down you know it. -
Stella closed her eyes. She had refuged in a corner of the room, trying to get further away from her alter ego, as if the physical distance between them could also keep away her insecurities.
She knew she could be a handful sometimes, she herself regretted some behaviors she had had in the past. And she also regretted depending too much on other people's opinions, despite it being part of her social status. She opened her eyes and saw that part of the room had dissolved, replaced by a white empty space, like a giant rubber was erasing her mind.
- Stop! I won't let you take control! - she shouted, hitting the witch with a ray of pure light.
- I know I have flaws and I know that the people I love, love me regardless! I have already been a victim of a similar spell and I got out of it thanks to them! - she continued, referring to the nightmares that Neruman had inflicted on her and the others a few years earlier.
Flora, the only one Neruman hadn't hit, had done her best to help them and had made her understand that their bond was sincere.
- Ocean of light! - Stella shouted again, freeing her energy and her rage.
The witch screamed.
§§
Francesca's alter ego kept hitting her both physically and verbally, without giving her a break. Francesca defended herself as best as she could, but she felt incredibly weak, like she couldn't do everything she thought she could do.
- No one loves you nor will ever love you. - said the witch, - But I, I'll have all of Red Fountain at my feet. - and then she attacked.
- You're a disappointment for your parents, with your abilities you won't even get a diploma. And without finishing high school on Earth, what are you going to do? You don't want to live in Magix, so you'll go back home and will work as a cashier or a maid for your whole life, because you won't be able to make shifts and studying meet. And you can forget about university, and the research work too. I, instead, know what my place is, and if it isn't already waiting for me, I make it myself, just like I'm doing now! - and another electric sphere.
Francesca's shield flickered. It wouldn't last long.
- Francesca, don't listen to her. - said Lzzy, appearing by her side.
Francesca jumped. She looked paler than normal. Lzzy made a half smile.
- I know, I don't look that great. I was pretty much transparent earlier. Anyway, you mustn't listen to what she says. Valtor created her to make you doubt yourself, but this is your mind! Don't let her take control. You're smart and kind and there are so many people who love you! You have to resist, for them and for yourself. - she said.
- I can't, my powers don't respond like they should. - said Francesca.
- She makes you believe that, she's weakening you. Come on, I'll help too. Free all your energy. -
Francesca was scared, but she decided to trust Lzzy. She focused all her powers and, even though she felt like she was less powerful than normal, she did as she was told.
§§
Witch-Musa didn't give up. She kept insinuating doubts in the fairy of music, who was more and more confused and didn't know what to do. That witch was pulling out all her most hidden insecurities.
- Riven left you, wonder why? Maybe because he doesn't want to be with a girl like the one you've become. I think he'd come back to me, because it's me he fell in love with. Of the tomboy Musa, who doesn't flirt with the first producer who compliments her, who doesn't ask a million questions about every breath he takes, who looks beyond appearances. - she was saying.
Musa couldn't hold back the tears anymore. She missed Riven, she didn't even really know why. Before he decided to leave, their relationship was already worn out, they almost didn't talk anymore and they weren't able to share anything. She actually missed the Riven from before, who acted indifferent but actually cared, who was happy when she trusted him, who surprised her with awkward hugs after an argument.
She heard a voice in the distance, it sounded like Lzzy.
- Musa, Musa listen to me. I have no idea who Riven is or what happened, but you're awesome and people change, don't feel guilty for that. -
Icy appeared between the two Musa.
- Did you hear the voice of wisdom? Come on Musa, you're the personification of stubbornness. Don't let an illusion kick you down. - she said.
Witch-Musa attacked Icy, who dodged the blow flying up. She joined Musa and prepared to fight.
- Listen, in order to get out of here you have to free all your powers at once. I'll cover for you, you blow up that wannabe. - she said, shielding them from another attack.
Musa, still confused by her alter ego's words, didn't react at once.
- How can you be here? - she asked.
Icy sighed.
- Lzzy got me out of my limbo. Come on, we must help the others. -
"Come on Musa, they're right! Show her what you got!" thought the fairy of music to get some courage, she called to her every crumb of energy in her body and threw it against her alter ego.
§§
Dark Bloom had begun verbally attacking all of Bloom's insecurities and the fairy, fearing a direct clash with herself (the battles against Valtor had taught her to fear the Dragon Flame as much as her enemies did), couldn't find a better defense than covering her hears. Given how loud she spoke, it wasn't particularly effective.
She had examined everything she was insecure about regarding her life on Earth: for example, how Mike and Vanessa would have been better off with a normal daughter instead of her, who had been putting them in danger for years, or how all those who knew her on Earth never looked for her since she had moved to Alfea. And why did she think it would be any different in Magix? Her "friends" would be glad to not live in her shadow anymore, her pathetic boyfriend would finally be able to put aside the arguments with his parents, and her biological family would live in tranquility like it had before her birth, no more and no less.
- You're useless sweetheart, no one really loves you or will miss you when I will be you. -
- No, stop! Stop! - screamed Bloom, closing her eyes with the hope that, when she opened them again, she would be out of that nightmare.
- Oh, truth hurts, doesn't it? if you give me your place you won't feel a thing anymore, I assure you. - the other tried again to convince her, but faced with the umpteenth refusal she lost her patience.
She evoked a dragon of fire, a fire dark and corrupted by darkness.
- In that case, you leave me no choice. - she said, before letting the dragon go, jumping on the fairy.
Bloom, giving her back to her alter ego, was surprised by the attack and fell on the ground, the creature of magic fire pushing her down. She felt its heat unbearably close to her wings.
- I preferred not to, but I can take what I want by myself. - said Dark Bloom.
- Me too. - replied Bloom, radiating positive energy.
The dragon roared its pain and dissolved, leaving her free to get up.
- Volcanic attack! - Bloom exclaimed, aiming at her alter ego.
She took the blow with a shield and attacked back. Bloom made her own shield and attacked again. They flew up, attacking and dodging hits. As the duel continued Bloom felt more and more strong and confident, she felt she was able to defeat that part of herself, she already had. Not on her own, of course, but she had grown up, she was more mature and not hostage of events anymore. She could make it.
- Flame storm! - she shouted, unleashing her powers against the other Bloom and the black smoke that surrounded them.
§§
Witch-Tecna finally stopped going through the real Tecna's memories, still trembling on the floor. She looked at the fairy and grimaced.
- The only thing I feel for you is disgust. - she said.
Tecna laughed weakly. She already felt much better, but it was better if her opponent didn't know.
- Does it amuse you? - the witch asked.
With another giggle, Tecna replied:
- A little, yes. I was like you before coming to Alfea, people made mistakes so rough and illogical that I was repulsed. But then, then I met the Winx and Timmy and I understood. - She stood up. - I understood the reason why, despite I always pushed to do my best, I was always unsatisfied. There was no one to share the work with me and waiting for me at the finish line. I was alone and I felt the weight of that loneliness. And if you took my place, you would always feel like I felt once. -
Having said that, Tecna took advantage of the witch's distraction and attacked her with all her strength. The book of memories fell with a loud thud and Tecna felt a burning pain through her head, but it was done. She was in full control of her mind again.
§§
Little Darcy was shocked. She couldn't understand for what reason the witch refused her offer. She couldn't complete her job, she couldn't find a crack, a concession that allowed her to take her place. In those conditions, even fighting was useless.
- But... but I'm what you wanted to be. - she said.
Witch-Darcy shook her head.
- You said it, wanted. I don't want it anymore. -
- Don't you want to erase the pain? - tried again the little fairy.
- I want to move on. - replied Darcy, stopping to think for a moment.
If her alter ego knew her past, it meant she could know hers too. She had to get to the book of memories, Valtor's spell probably created a duplicate and thanks to that she could find out how to break the spell. Before she could think of a way to get to the book without the other getting in her way, her alter ego played another card. Had she known it would be the last, perhaps she would've chosen a different one.
- Your parents want a daughter like me! -
The witch was taken over by a wave of rage. Her parents wanted their only child back, yes, but not her copy. They didn't want an alternative to the first one, but to know her and do their best to be by her side like she had kept them from doing for all those years, because that was the way they were.
- You aren't like me. - she said, furious, - If you were, you'd know who you're dealing with. -
She collected her rage, converted it into magic and unleashed it upon the incautious teen.
§§
The wooden floor in Maria's tower had numerous runes and symbols carved in it, magical or simply part of her imagination. In that moment they were completely covered with the books that had fallen from the shelves due to the fight between the witch of gems and her opposite. Now the former, now the latter ended up against the shelves, or dodged the spells that then turned entire sections of the library to ashes.
Maria's frustrations grew constantly, together with the consciousness that she couldn't best her mirrored image. What one did the other could do as well. She didn't know how to overpower her. She crushed on the ground for the umpteenth time. She had crossed the line.
- I've had ENOUGH! - she shouted, irradiating the tower with a wave of pure energy.
A blue light made everything around her fade, then she fainted.
§§
Desirè was extremely frustrated. No matter how hard she tried, she could never land a hit on her opponent, even when she thought she did she stood up and didn't move a finger. Not even a sneer. Instead, when the fairy attacked, Desirè could barely move and got hit every time. After she was hit by a wave of energy that made her fall to her knees she exclaimed:
- Come on, what am I supposed to do to get out of here?! -
- Definitely not what you're doing now. A sentence is enough. I give you my place in the world. Say it and I'll take your place and you'll take mine. We'll both be satisfied, trust me. - replied fairy-Desirè.
- You're joking. - replied the witch, uncertain.
- Why would I lie? I don't want to waste my time here either. -
- Don't listen to her! - exclaimed Lzzy, appearing between the two. - If you accept you fade into nothing and give Valtor a victory. You must hit her with all your powers. -
Desirè hardly got back up on her feet.
- That's what I tried to do until now, but it's useless. - she replied.
Surprised, Lzzy stared at the fairy, who now smiled like who knows they have the handle of the knife. She reminded her of something, someone... Darcy! She reminded her of Darcy during one of their trainings, when she left a copy in her place while she, invisible, flew around the monsters and completed her task.
- She's a copy! - she said.
- Well, that much is clear. -
- No, I mean, a copy of the copy. She's making you waste your energies so she can attack you when you can no longer defend yourself. -
- You have a smart friend. - said the real fairy-Desirè, appearing flying behind the witch, - Too bad you aren't the kind to think things through, or you would've noticed some details that gave it out. I made it in a rush, you know, I didn't have the time to make a work of art. - she laughed, covering her mouth with a hand, - Do you get the joke, at least? -
Desirè felt her cheeks burning. She had learned the lesson, she would try to be less reckless in the future, but now that Lzzy told her what to do she didn't need to. Without thinking twice she attacked with all the energy she had, and this time she hit the target.
§§
Fairy-Stormy got up from the grass.
- Stupid witch. Don't you see this is your problem? You react like this with everyone and everything, you isolate yourself! - she said.
- No, I stopped isolating. The Ancestors are dead, I am free and I can rebuild a life for myself. - replied the other.
- And you want to take back the old one too, right? But Donnie wants the person you were once, not the one you became. Now he's blinded by the joy of being reunited, but soon he'll realize he found only the shell of the sister he remembers, and he'll hate everything that's inside! -
Stormy felt tears of anger coming to her eyes, but she held them back. She wouldn't give Valtor the satisfaction of making her cry. Purple lightnings cracked the clouds and new and stronger winds blew over the field, this time in the witch's favor.
- Let me remind you that this is my mind, you are nothing out of here. And I won't let you be anything even in here, there's only room for me! - said Stormy.
It wouldn't be like with Tharma, she wouldn't let others take control over her mind and body. She attacked again, with all her anger and strength.
§§
Cassandra felt weaker and weaker due to the Shaab stone her alter ego materialized, using her own knowledge against her.
She tried to remember everything she knew of mental duels. Eragon didn't help, she was against herself in her own mind and she couldn't close out the enemy. She doubted she had a literal conscience of her own, since she wasn't a real person (not yet), but a projection. If she was a projection, she could make her disappear. No, Valtor created her, wishing she wasn't there wouldn't be enough. But she could wish that bloody pink stone out of her mind. She focused on that thought.
- What are you doing?! - said the other Cassandra, noticing the stone was becoming paler.
- It's my mind. I don't want that rock in my mind. - hissed the real Cassandra, finally feeling better.
The stone was gone. She tried to transform, but she failed. Her alter ego laughed.
- Congrats, now you're stuck with me forever. You're basically in a coma. -
- What? -
- If neither of us can overpower the other, we'll stay here until it happens. -
"No" thought Cassandra, terrified. It couldn't end like that! But what could she do? Her powers were gone!
She felt a hand on her shoulder and turned around. Icy was behind her and glared at her alter ego.
- Icy! What are you doing here? - Cassandra asked.
- I got out of my limbo and I'm trying to help the others with Lzzy. You must use all your powers against her to get out. - replied the witch.
- My powers are blocked! -
Icy smiled.
- You don't have only positive magic, Cass. It'll work. - she said.
Cassandra closed her eyes. When she opened them she was in her Dark Witch form.
- Thanks Icy. - she said, but the witch was already gone.
No big deal, she would thank her in person.
- Supernova! - she shouted, casting her most powerful spell against her alter ego.
§§
- I'll take your place and I'll get rid of all the useless people you surrounded yourself with in all these years. You may need them, but I don't. I can look out for myself and I don't need others to confirm my value. - said witch-Aisha, preparing to attack the fairy.
Aisha took the blow with a morphix shield. Part of her was taking seriously the words of her double. Did she really base her behavior on what others thought of her? She had always hated the loneliness that suffocated her both when she was truly physically alone and when she was mentally alone, when she was just a child trapped in the rules of the court. So she had grabbed onto Anne, then Piff, then the Winx, and with them she had learned that being alone didn't necessarily mean to lose herself but also to take her own spaces.
Bloom's voice echoed in her head. "You have incredible powers, Aisha, you're more powerful than Icy and Stormy together!". She had told her that shortly after their meeting, after they fought the Trix together for the first time. It had meant a lot to her, because for the first time someone looked beyond her princess status and considered and appreciated her for her own value and nothing else.
She exchanged the umpteenth attack with her opponent who, taken aback, couldn't put up a shield or avoid it. She got up like nothing happened, but Aisha caught a grimace of pain on her face.
- Why do you resist? Do you know what happens if I take your place? - she asked.
- I don't care. - replied Aisha, ready to attack again, but the other spoke faster.
- I live, but you die. You die, understand? You'll be with your Nabu again. -
Her words froze Aisha. Nabu. She teared up at the thought of being reunited with him, of looking at him in the eyes, running her fingers on his hair and caress his warm skin. Then she snapped out of it. Nabu was dead. He wouldn't smile at her anymore, especially as a ghost. He would have been sad and disappointed if she had given up her life for the ephemeral existence of a ghost, if she had abandoned everyone and everything to be with the memories she had of him. That was why she hadn't taken her own life after his death, when pain was still fresh and burned constantly every day. That witch wouldn't make Nabu ashamed of her choices.
Furious, Aisha said:
- You should think twice before trying to use Nabu against me. -
Then she casted a spell against the witch, feeding it with every fiber of her body, with every ounce of anger that built up inside of her like a tidal wave. The witch tried to resist, but it was useless. Aisha was free.