Everyone waited as the portal grew bigger. Four figures were emerging. Samara created a silver orb in each hand, ready for the attack. Flora, Musa and Tecna stood up as well, despite not being able to transform yet. The teachers stood next to Samara. Palladium created a magical sword and stepped in front of the fairy of the Moon.
"Ready?" Faragonda asked.
Everyone nodded. The four figures stepped through the portal and immediately ran towards the group.
Samara hugged her brother tight. "I am so relieved to see you!" She said.
"Oh thank goodness you're alright!" Flora said as she embraced Layla.
"Bloom you're you again!" Musa said as she and Tecna embraced the red haired fairy.
"Yes, all thanks to you all!" Bloom said with tears in her eyes.
"Did you defeat that creep?" Stella asked.
A lot of conversations started at once. Suddenly a high sound interrupted.
Faragonda clapped her hands. "A lot has to be explained but now is not the right time."
"I believe it would be wise to return to Alfea, where we can discuss everything in peace." Palladium said.
"A very good idea indeed professor, come now hurry up." Faragonda said. "The specialists are waiting for us at the entrance, now that Darkar is defeated his minions should be gone as well." "They found the real Avalon in the dungeons, he is coming with us to Alfea."
"My boys did a good job defeating those horrid creatures." Codatorta said.
"What…BRANDON HONEY I'M COMING!" Stella screamed as she bolted, followed by Musa, Tecna and Flora.
Bloom and Sky walked after them, hand in hand. The teachers followed, still looking around.
"Ready to get out of here?" Samara asked.
"Of course." Palladium said as he pulled her close to him.
As they started to walk, the elf suddenly stopped and clutched his chest.
"What's wrong?" Samara asked startled.
"N…nothing." Palladium said with a frown. "Probably just a sore muscle."
"You've been through a lot." Samara said as she put a hand on his chest.
"We both have." Palladium said.
The two did not speak for the rest of the trip. Samara was dreading getting back to Alfea, now that everyone knew about her and Palladium there were questions they would need to answer. None of the others had attempted to speak to them for which she was grateful.
"Everyone of my students and staff to my office please." Faragonda said as they excited the aircraft.
The girls gave the specialists a quick goodbye and walked behind the headmistress together with Palladium.
"Well." Faragonda said as she sat down in her chair. "Let me begin with congratulating all of you for defeating Darkar and his helpers." "I would like to hear the entire story from you."
It felt silent for a moment and the Winx glanced at each other.
"Darkar kidnapped the pixies for information about Pixy Village." Layla said. "But I managed to get them out and ended up in Alfea."
"I know Layla…I meant how did you all end up in Darkars dungeon?" Faragonda asked.
"Avalon…I mean the fake Avalon, corrupted Bloom during their lessons about Blooms past." Tecna said.
"He turned her into some kind of dark Bloom and attacked the secret library together." Stella said. "We stood no chance."
"Palladium turned out to be Darcy in disguise, she fooled us all and then attacked us from behind." Musa said.
"And Samara turned out to be Celena, who knew exactly where the Codex was hidden." Flora said.
"We really stood no chance…" Musa said looking at the floor.
Samara felt a wave of guilt wash over her by the defeated faces of her friends.
"We called the specialists who informed us that Sky was missing." Layla said. "They came to Alfea as quickly as they could and we all flew to Darkars castle."
"You did all you could girls and remember that in the end you were victorious." Faragonda said.
"When we got to the castle, Darkar had already opened the portal to Relix." Musa said. "And that creep Salvador was back into our world."
"Salvador?" Faragonda asked surprised. "So the myth of king Nemor is real?"
Her eyes fell on Samara and Palladium who stared at the floor.
"Anyway, Darkar manages to get into the portal with Bloom after killing the Trix." Stella said. "But I managed to open a second portal so Layla Sky and myself went after them."
"When we were inside, Bloom was close to giving Darkar the Dragon Flame." Layla said. "We tried everything to stop them but it was no use, even with our Charmix."
"Then suddenly the Trix show up, apparently merged their annoying selves into one being." Stella said. "They…or she…no they…anyways it managed to hold Darkar off long enough for Sky to get close to Bloom."
"He sacrificed himself to save me." Bloom suddenly said in a soft voice. "He cured me from the darkness."
"You saved him." Layla said. "Everything is okay."
"I know…it's just a lot that's all." Bloom said.
"And what happened before we arrived at Darkars castle?" Faragonda asked looking at the other fairies. "When we arrived Salvador was fading away."
"Yes well that was actually Samara..." Flora said. "She shared a special bond with professor Palladium and because of that…"
The fairy of Nature put her hands in front of her mouth and shot a look at her friend and professor.
"Thank you Flora." Faragonda said. "Please go back to your dorm and leave me, Samara and professor Palladium alone."
The girls did as they were told and when the door closed behind Musa, Faragonda gestured to the chairs opposite of her.
"I believe I owe you an explanation and my resignation." Palladium said.
"Let's not get ahead of ourselves, explain to me what has happened." Faragonda said. "From the very beginning."
Samara listened as Palladium began to talk. About the instant connection he felt between the two of them and how they decided not to act upon it. Instead trying to ignore their feelings. How he had transformed due to the True Love he shared with her. The truth about that night they found Layla. How they found out it was True Love due to the emotion energy sphere lesson. Celena who tricked him into the Simulation Room and overpowered him. Darkar who had tried to force all the True Love out of his heart and trapped him into the dark energy.
While listening to his voice, the fairy of the Moon began to cry silently. Suddenly a warm hand touched hers. She looked up to see both teachers look at her. Faragonda snapped her fingers and a box of tissues appeared in front of the girl.
"How did Celena manage to take control over your body Samara?" Faragonda asked kindly.
"Uhm…I suppose it all starts with professor Avalon." Samara said. "Or the imposter that is." "He told me that he had a book about Eraklion and mentioned that there used to be Elves at Eraklion so I got curious." "While reading that book I came across the legend of Salvador." "I went to Avalon and asked him if he thought that I was the cursed child in the legend and he said he thought I was."
"Thus planting a dark thought into your mind." Faragonda whispered. "Go on please."
"I began to think that all my feelings for professor Palladium were because of that curse." Samara went on. "That my magic came from that curse…that I was cursed."
Palladiums hand squeezed hers but he did not interrupt.
"When we went to Cloud Tower I felt even worse." "Like I would never be happy again."
"That explains the black orb you created." Faragonda said.
Samara nodded. "We were patrolling the corridors and Flora was talking about being scared to talk to a specialist she liked and I got so angry…" Samara swallowed. "I don't know what happened but for one second I…"
She couldn't say it out loud.
"You gave in to the darkness manipulating you." Palladium said.
Samara gave him a gratefull smile. "Yes…and suddenly I was trapped in some kind of dark energy."
"So you were trapped together?" Faragonda asked.
"Yes, but luckily we managed to get Samara out." Palladium said. "And that resulted in Celena being dragged inside the dark energy with me."
"Of course…Salvador and Celena shared a bond of True Love as well…at least before Salvador was sent to Relix where he clearly lost his mind." "The four of you could not be in this world all together."
"Salvador broke the barrier containing the dark energy." Samara said.
"Which unleashed the power of your True Love." Faragonda said understandingly. "And destroyed Salvador."
Samara nodded.
"Well it seems the both of you had a rough year."
"I'm just glad it's over." Palladium said. "Darkar is gone as are Salvador and Celena."
"Which leaves us with one single matter." Faragonda said.
"I still wish to resign, Samara needs to stay at Alfea." Palladium said strickt."
Samara wanted to protest but was silenced by Faragonda.
"There will be no need for that." She said. "I believe it is proven that your bond is stronger than a common "being in love with one another." "You are both adults…so I see no reason for me to object."
Samara looked at the headmistress with big eyes. Was she really hearing this correctly?
"But you cannot be her teacher anymore." Faragonda said. "I cannot have others call favourites during class." "I will ask professor Wizgizz and Avalon to teach you the subjects of Palladium next year." "And of course some descretion is to be asked."
"Of course Headmistress." Palladium said.
Samara was still looking at Faragonda in awe. Was this really happening?
Faragonda smiled. "I believe you have a lot to process." "Go and rest, you both earned it."