"Cloud Tower?!" Seven voices sounded as one.
The Winx were standing in Faragonda's office and had just been informed about their mission by Faragonda and Avalon.
"You've got to be joking, we are not going to spend a week with those horrible witches!" Musa huffed.
"I calculate that the chances of succes are zero." Tecna said.
"As if the witches are going to listen to us." Samara said.
"I don't know you guys…it might be our only chance to keep the codex out of the hands of the Trix." Bloom said.
"Yes but…a whole week at Cloud Tower?" Flora said while shivering at the thought.
"I'm with Bloom, we need to try something." Layla said.
"Now girls please calm down." Faragonda said.
"We wouldn't be asking this of you if we weren't sure you were up to the task." Professor Avalon said.
"And what if we simply refuse to go?" Stella asked threatening. "You can't force us."
"No we can't and believe me Stella that we are fully aware of what we are asking of you." Faragonda said.
"We have faith in you all." Avalon said. "If there is a group of fairies that can convince the witches to join our side against the Trix, it's you."
Samara noticed that the other girls started to blush.
"Okay Winx what do we think, ready to go to Cloud Tower?" Bloom asked while playing with a strand of her hair.
Samara rolled her eyes.
"Fine but I am not going to be friendly with those witches." Musa said.
Flora sighed. "If we really have to…"
"But what will we be doing all week?" Tecna asked. "The students of Cloud Tower will be spending most of the day in classes."
"As will you." Avalon said.
Samara frowned. She shot a look at Faragonda and saw that the headmistress looked conflicted.
"What do you mean professor?" Tecna asked.
"You will be following the same classes as the second years of Cloud Tower." Avalon expained. "The best way to get through to the witches is to connect with them as much as possible."
"So we need to follow lessons in dark magic?" Samara asked astonished.
"I am sure that you will manage, it's just for a week after all." Avalon said. "Protecting the codex is the most important thing right now."
There was a quick knock at the door. Nurse Ophelia popped her head through the dooropening.
"He's awake headmistress." She said.
"Thank you Ophelia, I'll be down shortly." Faragonda said.
Nurse Ophelia closed the door again.
"Alright girls, there will be a portal towards Cloud Tower ready within two hours, please pack your bags and be ready at the gate." Faragonda said in a definitive tone.
The Winx nodded, Tecna and Samara with a worried face, and left the office.
"Who do you think nurse Ophelia was talking about?" Samara asked.
"No idea, but it is a man so I guess one of the teachers?" Tecna said. "I have to be honest I really don't like this mission…" She continued.
"Me neither but there's nothing we can do about it." Samara said. "Let's just have each others back and don't let the witches get to us."
Two hours later, Faragonda watched through her office window as the Winx walked towards the portal.
"Are we sure this is the right decision?"
"Of course, I thought we agreed on that." Avalon said from the meeting table. "This is the only way to defend that piece of the Codex."
Faragonda nodded.
"How is professor Palladium?" Avalon asked.
"He is awake but has no memory of what happened to him." Faragonda said. "It's a good thing you found him so quickly professor Avalon."
Avalon waved his hand as to dismiss the compliment.
"Do we know what caused him to pass out just like that?"
"Nurse Ophelia thinks a combination of stress and overexhaustion."
"Ah…well that would explain his strange behaviour during our last meeting." Avalon said.
"Yes…we will make sure he gets all the time and rest that he needs to recover." Faragonda said.
She turned back towards her window to see how the fairies stepped through the portal one by one.
"Good luck girls…"