For Nicole, the first day of classes was strange. Half of her classes were on subjects she knew nothing about and she didn't share many classes with her roommates. Despite them all being first years, her roommates seemed to have this aura around them that made them godlike. Her first class was Metamorphosymbiosis, which sounded more like an AP honor class than a class in a magical school. She found that most had already chosen their seats, so she was stuck in the front of the classroom. As she looked around the classroom, she noticed something off about the professor's area.
"Why is there a mouse on the professor's desk?" She blurted out, she really wished she hadn't as her entire class decided to crowd around the front of the classroom with her trapped in the mob.
"Where?!" The blonde next to her shrieked.
"Aww, it's cute."
"It's not cute, it's a pest."
"Very observant, Ms. Michaelson." The mouse spoke, tipping his little green hat to her, "You're the first person to notice my presence."
In a flash of light, the mouse transformed from a rodent to a short leprechaun-like man wearing all green and a comically large hat on his head.
"Welcome to Metamorphosymbiosis and I'm Professor Wizgiz, your instructor for this class." He had a mischievous smile as he took in his students' shocked and surprised expressions. "That was just a simple presentation of what you can achieve in my class. Now the sooner we get the first day announcements over with, the sooner we can get to the real magic."
The class took it as their cue to sit back in their seats. While Professor Wizgiz went over the first semester spiel, Nicole pulled out her notebook and began doodling. She was drawing a fierce dragon until someone poked the back of her shoulder.
"Hey, that was pretty cool what you did." The blonde who had shrieked earlier, sat behind her "I didn't even hear him squeaking with my magic."
She shrugged her shoulders, "Not really, it just seemed unusual to see a furry little rodent on a teacher's desk."
"I'm Princess Lyra of Melody."
"Nicole of Earth." It still felt weird to her that she had to introduce herself by name and planet. Her world was slowly bigger the more people she met. "What kind of magic do you do?"
"Sound, I can hear a penny drop a mile away." She said with pride.
"Must be annoying when you're trying to sleep."
"It was when I was younger, but now I've got these special earmuffs that null all sounds."
"Lucky, I have to deal with my roommate's constant snoring."
The two girls laughed, feeling more at ease.
"What's your magic?"
"I'm…not quite sure." She said hesitantly, "I only did it once and I caused all of the water fountains in my school to explode."
"I would've loved to see that." Lyra laughed, "Maybe you're a fairy of water."
"I don't know, it felt different than water." She only recalled the anger and rage in that moment, how they made her feel weak.
Did you think I hung out with you because we were friends? Pathetic.
You're only useful for doing my homework, loser.
Did you think I liked you? Sorry, but I don't kiss weirdos.
"Hey, are you okay?" Lyra glanced down at her hands. Nicole didn't even realize her hands were clenched, her nails digging into her skin.
"Yeah, sorry, I just got lost in thought." Nicole smiled, relaxing her hands to the side.
"Do you want to partner up? I can help with the more advanced topics, I've had tutors teaching me this stuff since I was in diapers."
Nicole nodded, "Yeah, I definitely need all the help I can get."
During a study break, Nicole decided to check out the library to study up on the history of Magix. She knew nearly nothing about Magix (just that it was well magical) so it was probably a good idea to read up about it, especially if she was going to be tested on it.
The library was mostly deserted, Nicole wasn't surprised as it was the middle of the day and other students were most likely taking classes at the time. She wandered the place, hoping to find some attendee or a computer to help her, instead she found a golden podium with a butterfly symbol carved into it. There was a note placed on top of it.
Speak into me and I'll find what you need. It read.
"A magical Alexa, goodie." Nicole mumbled, then she spoke clearer, closer to the podium "Magix."
All at once, hundreds of books flew off their shelves, circling the podium in a whirlwind of information.
"Crap, I mean History!" At her words, the books stopped, falling to the floor with a thud. Some still remained levitating, hesitantly Nicole grabbed one. The remaining books fell to the floor as well.
"I'll clean that up later." Nicole walked away from the podium and the fallen books. She found a comfy armchair and nestled herself in it. She opened the book and began scanning its context. It was about recent history, detailing events as far back as two decades ago, some even farther than that. There were several chapters that caught her eye, they all featured the same word: Winx.
The Winx and the Battle of the Decay.
The Winx and the Shadow Phoenix.
The Winx and the Dark Wizard, Valtor.
The Winx and the Wizards of the Black Circle.
The Winx and the Corrupted Merprince, Tritannus.
Each story featured the same group of girls, the same fairies beating evil time and time again. Bloom, Stella, Flora, Musa, Tecna, and Aisha. There were illustrated pictures of the girls and their foes. Nicole could see the similarities in the Winx with their daughters. Bridgette was Bloom's clone, Rhea had Flora's green eyes, Andromeda had Stella's smile, and Undine had Aisha's determined stare. Each were now adults, started families of their own, now have children of their own, new responsibilities. They had become queens, advisors, rock stars, planting them and their descendants within history. Only she paused over a curious passage.
While the Winx have been in the spotlight, one member remains missing. Tecna Voltstein (35), her husband, Timothy Voltstein (35), and their young daughter Athena "Thea" Voltstein (5) vanished in a Zenith Polar Storm a decade ago in the harsh outlands of the planet Zenith. They were excavating ancient Zenith technology. There have been many search parties but all come back empty handed.
"Sounds like a ghost story." She glanced over at the attached picture of Tecna, her husband, and their young pink haired daughter. The three were smiling for the camera, dressed in warm, winter clothing overlooking a dig site. The family looked happy, unaware that they would be missing for over two decades.
"I knew her." Nicole jumped when a voice crept behind her. Of course, it was Rhea.
"What do you mean?" She asked.
"I was friends with Athena, my family used to travel to Zenith for friendly visits." Rhea explained, looking at the picture mournfully. "The last time I saw her, she was excited to be going with her parents to their work. She loved that kind of stuff, discovering new things and showing them off."
"I'm sorry."
"Don't apologize, I've moved on." Her voice wavered as if she wasn't entirely convinced herself.
"How are your classes? I haven't seen you or the others."
She tensed up, "They're…fine."
"Really? You don't look like it."
"I've just got more combat based classes." She rubbed her shoulder slightly, wincing when she moved it.
"Are you hurt? Do you need to go to the nurse?"
"Already been to the nurse, the bone's just setting back in."
"Oh okay." Nicole wasn't convinced, she had seen sports injuries, she had gotten some herself. This wasn't normal, what kind of combat classes was Rhea in?
"I'll see you later, okay?" Rhea walked off before Nicole could say any more. She decided it was best to stop reading and get to class. Nicole was walking down a hallway when she heard familiar voices.
"I just think you're pushing the girls too hard, it's their first day." She recognized one of her professors' voices. It was Professor Palladium, her potionology instructor, "Rhea dislocated her shoulder."
"They need to be ready for what's to come, they need to learn to work together as a team as quickly as possible." Headmistress Faragonda spoke with a stern tone. Nicole didn't recognize it at first. She recalled the soft, understanding headmistress that made the welcome speech. Her smile was warm, she walked with a cane. This wasn't the same person. Nicole hadn't been seen yet, she hid behind a corner and quietly listened in.
"I know, but they're faster to break if you keep pushing them like this."
"If they aren't prepared for what's to come, then the Magix dimension is doomed." That caught Nicole's attention. What were they training for? The end of the world?
"How do you know they are coming? All we know about them are from bedtime stories for children." There was doubt in his voice.
"They are real and they could strike at any moment." She said with a serious tone, "That's why the Neo Winx need to be ready for combat."
Headmistress Faragonda was talking as if they were preparing for war. Training the Neo Winx to be soldiers, to fight whoever or whatever they are.
"They are children, Faragonda. Not soldiers." His voice tensed up. He didn't shout, but Nicole could feel the anger in his voice.
"Do you want what happened to Tecna, her husband, and her daughter to happen to anyone else?"
For what felt like an eternity, there was silence as the words set in.
"No."
"Then we'll continue with the simulations and separate them from the rest of the freshmen."
"...Alright."
Nicole held her breath, praying not to be seen, until she heard their footsteps fade from the hallway. She stood there frozen, a thousand questions bouncing around in her mind.
What was going on at Alfea?
Rhea felt bad about lying to Nicole, but it was better she didn't know about this secret mission. Faragonda told them no one should know about their extra classes, not even their closest roommates or friends beyond the Neo Winx. The name left a bad taste in her mouth like a stale piece of bread. Her arms still hurt, even after being healed by Miss Ofelia. She was told that was normal, but she didn't believe it. She was weaker, frailer than the others. They had prior training, she didn't know how to land a single punch.
Why are you even here? We would be better off with one of your sisters than you. Bridgette's words cut through her like a knife. She had gotten hurt during their first training session, she screwed up and everyone blamed her for it. They didn't say anything to her about it, but she could see the disappointed glances at her. Her oldest sister, Lilith, had already graduated from Alfea and taken up the mantle as the guardian fairy of Linphea. Magnolia, the middle sister, was attending Linphea College. Then there was her, the black sheep, the fairy who would rather be a witch. She was always attracted to the more macabre, the darker parts of magic. Imagine her disappointment when her magic first blossomed, quite literally in her case. She was the Fairy of Briars, but she much preferred to be called the Fairy of Thorns.
She didn't want to hurt anyone yet Faragonda was expecting her, expecting them to fight an enemy the headmistress won't tell them about at all. It was frustrating, not knowing all of the information. Being led blindly into a battle didn't sit right with her. But she didn't have a choice, Magix was at stake…right?
"Rhea!" Nicole was racing up to her, out of breath and panting.
"Nicole what are you-"
"Do you want to sit together for lunch?" She asked rapidly, catching Rhea off guard, "It must be hard with the shoulder, I can carry the tray for you if you like. Or we could see if the rest of our dorm is available and eat all together. "
"No, I'm good with just the two of us." Rhea much preferred it that way, she connected a lot better with people one on one than with a crowd. That and Nicole seemed the most approachable out of the entire dorm. Sure, she knew the rest from her childhood, but they just didn't click like Nicole did. She was curious about everything and anything, though that may come from the whole 'a clueless girl from a planet clueless about their own magic.'
"Great! Get anything you want, it's on me." She smiled, "And I was wondering if you could tell me more about yourself? Besides the whole hero's daughter deal."
Rhea smirked, "I thought you would never ask."