Jade kicked her bed hard when she entered her room her only sanctuary, how dare he the stupid idiot bring up Ascot her old stepfather. What was his deal anyway I fought as hard as I could, I won why in the world was he tripping.
"What was that all about," Bloom said pointing a questioning, "and while we're at it please tell us why we were kept in the dark in about this accident."
"It was very traumatic," Jade said putting on a teary eyed face as she started to carry some weights.
"Do not start that crap," Jones said entering the room with the rest of the Winx club, "You've gotten past that part of your life, now answer both questions."
"There is nothing to answer classic fairy tale story girl gets mistreated by her step father and gets sent to jail I've had years of therapy to deal with that," Jade said with a roll of her eyes.
"Why are you tripping," Musa said.
"I have no idea of what you're talking about, now excuse me, I have work to do."
"Not until you tell us what's wrong," Stella said, "I mean it's obvious that you like him and he likes you why won't you just go with it,"
"I do not and probably never will love Yusuke," Jade lied.
"You're lying," Jones snarled at her.
"Stop being the lonely Goth and talk to us," Tecna blurted out.
Jade was now ignoring them as she began to exercise.
"We will use spells on you," Jones threatened.
Jade who had been keeping her anger in check turned nasty, "You stupid half-breed your bonded to me just like your idiot mother was bonded to your stupid father. You have to do what ever I say," as soon as the words were out of her mouth she regretted them, Jade threw her weights at the wall and walked out heading into the street, moving quickly.
The girls stared at the door then at the dent Jade had made in the wall, "Maybe we should go after her we were a bit rough," Bloom said making her way to the doorway.
Jones blocked the doorway, "I think that she needs to be alone, she does this, just walks out and is gone for two or three days to clear her mind, and to heal," Jones flicked her tail dangerously, "We did however push all the wrong buttons at the wrong time."
"So will you tell us what the accident was, in more detail," Flora put in.
"I shouldn't but it is payback for the half breed comment earlier," Jones pondered loudly, "To be quite frank it wasn't an accident exactly it just a cover up Jade uses so people don't suspect she was abused when she was a kid. When Jade was 7 before she met Yusuke or the Renegades… well I shouldn't say that she went to little kid school with them but she didn't acknowledge them," Jones began. "Anyway her mother who is now on a business trip somewhere -which is highly convenient- married this guy whose name escapes me at the moment. Anyway this guy was huge muscles and all plus he was nasty and wanted Jade's fortune. So when Daine -Jade's mother- wasn't around he'd pick on her, and Jade never told anybody about it cause she was exceptionally dense back then. One day Daine went out of town for a month for a business trip, Ascot the guys name comes in and beats the crap out Jade and I mean worse than what I did when we fought, I tried to beat her but Ascot tried to kill her, breaking nearly every bone in her body, he threw her out on the streets to die, when Yusuke, and Remy found her and took her to the club which was once just a hangout for the beginning of the Renegades. They nursed her back to the health sort of Jade's a quick healer instead of the months of recovery it only took her two weeks to fully heal. So the young Renegades taught Jade everything they knew about fighting. But as the story has it Ascot had disappeared. But Jade still kept on training and fighting, hoping to get her chance at beating the ass clown. Her chance came but she formed a bond that drew her closer to the Renegades particularly Yusuke and Remy but mostly Yusuke. So close that soon she was making sarcastic comebacks to teachers at school like that one behind you her first ever sarcastic comeback at the age of 11 a bit late in my standards."
The girls turned around and read Jades first sarcastic note to a teacher.
'Dear Mr. Vernon: We accept the fact that we had to sacrifice a whole Saturday in detention for whatever it is we did wrong, but we think you're crazy for making us write an essay telling you who we think we are. You see us, as you want to see us: in the simplest terms, in the most convenient definitions. But what we found out is that each one of us is a brain, and an athlete, and a basket case, a princess, and a criminal. Does that answer your question?'
"Well after that Jade soon began to get into fights at school and she'd win and was expelled from nearly each one, so her mother Daine and her new hubby Aron made the punishment very simple get expelled one more time and it's of to Alfea. So she tuned it down on the fighting but continued to train, till Ascot came back. Yusuke witnessed the fight and according to him Jade refused to fight him and nearly got herself killed again but this time Ascot got caught and is now in jail, and Yusuke and Jade have been at odds on the whole fighting thing. Yusuke tries to perfect Jade, who is really a lazy fighter when she wants to be, of course that said Jade is a better fighter than Yusuke that's been proven on many occasions and now you know about the accident and you will all pretend you heard it from some one at the club," Jones pointed out and walked out.
"Yeah but why do they steal?"
"That's another story and right now I need to eat, I'll be out for a couple of hours." Jade replied
"What do you eat anyway?" Flora asked.
"You mean when I'm not eating regular food like you I need male souls to keep me alive but I can go months without one except when I'm stressed but don't worry about that I suck your boyfriends." Jones grinned.
Meanwhile…Jade had wondered off thoughts flying through her head and scolding herself for losing her temper again, as she sat down at a bench. A couple close to her had a radio on and a familiar tune drafted her way as she began to walk away.
I walk a lonely road
The only one that I have ever known
Don't know where it goes
But it's home to me and I walk alone
It was true in a sense she enjoyed being by herself and just walking helped clear her thoughts which as each passing seconds became more confusing.
I walk this empty street
On the Boulevard of Broken Dreams
Where the city sleeps
and I'm the only one and I walk alone
I walk alone
I walk alone
I walk alone
I walk a...
Jade remembered some things Yusuke talking about Ascot had brought back some painful memories, 'he of all people should know that I didn't refuse to fight him, I was afraid to fight him. I was afraid that if I lost than Ascot would hurt one them I guess that I am better of on my own with only my shadow beside me."
My shadow's the only one that walks beside me
My shallow heart's the only thing that's beating
Sometimes I wish someone out there will find me
'Til then I walk alone
Ah-ah, Ah-ah, Ah-ah, Aaah-ah,
Ah-ah, Ah-ah, Ah-ah
'Yet when I think about is there actually a chance that me and Yusuke could honestly ever be together would I be able to go against my parents, my real parents wishes to have something that I could never attain. Of course I can I'm Jade Halva I never listened to Daine before. But that was before I was… knew that I was a princess. So I guess the question is who the hell am I, Jade Halva the queen o'thieves, queen of shirking of reasonability's or Princess Jade the person whose decisions will effect the lives of the people.' The thoughts rang in Jades head as she continued through the now dimly lit street not knowing where she was headed.
I'm walking down the line
That divides me somewhere in my mind
On the border line
Of the edge and where I walk alone
Read between the lines
What's fucked up and everything's alright
Check my vital signs
To know I'm still alive and I walk alone
'I don't think I could handle all the responsibility I don't even consider my self royalty, I may act all cocky and overconfident but I'm not really, my life has truly been one big pot of gold at the end of the rainbow, I'm lucky and now that luck just ran out.' Jade kicked a can and stopped in front of an old man selling eggs.
"Fear defeats more people than any other one thing in the world. Ralph Waldo Emerson," the man said taking one look at her face.
"I know what I am fleeing from, but not what I am in search of. Michel Eyquem de Montaigne." Jade replied with a quote of her own, slightly impressed she could remember that from her philosophy class. "All I need is perfect bravery to help me in this situation,"
"Perfect bravery and sheer cowardice are two extremes rarely found. The space between them is vast, and embraces all other sorts of courage. The difference between them is not less than between faces and tempers. Men will freely expose themselves at the be François de la Rochefoucauld."
Jade sat down in front of the man, "What I plan to do is the impossible something that people have tried yet they have failed, and I don't want to be what I must become because I'm afraid of my mistake… my failures could cause other people harm."
"Man can live about forty days without food, about three days without water, about eight minutes without air, but only for one second without hope. Or maybe this one- Remember that all through history the way of truth and love has always won. There have been tyrants and murderers and for a time they seem invincible but in the end, they always fall - think of it, always." The man paused for a second before continuing, "Self-confidence gives you the freedom to make mistakes and cope with failure without feeling that your world has come to an end or that you are a worthless person."
"Your pretty smart for someone who sells eggs on the side of the road," Jade glanced at her watch and sighed she should be heading back she had done what she had wanted and that was to clear her brain, but she needed to do something to fully leave her cleansed and that was a 1 day trip and the actual cleansing would take her another 24 hours plus the trip back would be three days, she shouldn't do this she had to train, she still hadn't fully mastered how to wield the Phoenix force or what it could do, plus she had to memorize maps of Shira and such.
"Oh and Jade, your mind knows only some things. Your inner voice, your instinct, knows everything. If you listen to what you know instinctively, it will always lead you down the right path." Jade nodded and got up and began to walk away.
"Wait I never gave you my na-" Jade said swivelling around on her heels, realizing the guy was gone. "Thank you," she whispered into the air.
Jade headed back home she needed a change of clothes to do the journey, and she had to apologize a rare thing coming from Jade. Jade stopped she truly didn't need a change of clothes she just preferred them but then again she had preferred to do many things that were really just a waist of time. Jade looked at the way home and the way to her journey her instinct telling her to be in both of the places but Jade was already of on her journey. Without a goodbye.
Three days later…
Yusuke sighed as he watched his Renegades train he should apologize to Jade she had after all tried her best, and she did win even if it was sloppy. "Skye how do you apologize to a girl namely Jade."
"Chocolate and Roses," Skye said
"Take her to the movies and dinner plus dancing," Brandon said.
"Take her to the museum," Timmy said causing the boys to shut up and stare at him try.
"Or if all else fails you could just say sorry," Riven said with a shrug.
"When does she comeback anyway she's been gone for three days now, shouldn't we be searching for her," Skye said.
Yusuke blinked and shuddered, "I sent one of my many eyes out searching for her and he found her alright and according to him Jade was in the middle of this waterfall… with a lot less clothing than usual. Of course being the stupid idiot that he was he stayed and got caught by Jade. This was three years ago might I add and the boy just got out of the hospital this summer. The poor idiotic lad," Yusuke finished off with a dramatic sigh, "I only curse that it wasn't me who had been there," he added quickly, as the guys laughed.
There was a knock on the door as Jones teleported herself into the room with the rest of the Winx Club.
"There this guy outside looking for Jade shady looking character real big said he's a close friend of hers and such, and it was important." Stella said quickly.
"Tell him that Jade will be back later, and if he doesn't go away, get him a drink of Poison the type Jade drinks, and you know the rest." Yusuke smiled evilly.
"Wait I thought Jade that stuff was non-alcoholic, so why are you giving the stuff to him?" Bloom said.
"Jades immune to alcohol she's so used to drinking the stuff that she doesn't consider it alcohol anymore." Yusuke answered as Jones popped back in a look of discomfort on her face as she whispered something into Yusuke's ear. Yusuke's usually tan face went pale. He quickly yanked out some daggers running his thumb on the edge to make sure they were sharp.
"What's wrong, Yusuke, you've look like you've seen a ghost," Flora said slightly worried.
Yusuke flicked his eyes over to Jones who nodded, "Ascots back, and Jades not here. He wants to fight her to the death, this time." Yusuke said.
"This is not good, Jades in no shape to fight him," Tecna said.
"Tell me something I don't know, she's injured and Ascots probably in full fighting mode," Yusuke said hyperventilating.
"I was talking about mentally, Jade without her fear including an injury has a 98.3 chance of defeating this is of course Jade filled with hatred and anger. With her fear, if Jade freezes then her chances go down to zero," Tecna pointed out.
"Jades not be afraid of Ascot more like terrified out of her skull of the man," Remy said entering the room a frown on his face.
"Jade isn't afraid of Ascot she would have told me," Yusuke said.
"She froze the last time fool, and I don't think Ascot beating her the second time did a lot of damage to her self esteem," Remy continued.
"What damaged my self esteem and why are y'all talking about the ass-clown." Jade drawled from a window. The people in the room froze. Jade voice carried a dangerous edge though her face showed no sign of it.
Yusuke glanced at everyone in the room, "He's back Jade and he wants you in a last man standing fight,"
Jade raised an eyebrow, "A what?"
"One of you is going to die," Bloom filled her in.
"Thank you and now this is where I leave and not do something stupid like go and face the maniac, whose going to kill me," Jade said backing out of the room.
"Don't be stupid you can take him he's gotten fatter since last time," Jones said.
"You never met the guy hell I was just finishing healing when I fought you. Yeah and sorry about the comment three days ago didn't mean it."
"So you're just going to give up," Bloom said and Jade nodded quickly. "So how do you expect to be beat the SEDA: Shiran Espionage Defence Association, the toughest fighters in the world who know work for the people who took over your country."
"Yeah stop being a coward Jade I thought you weren't afraid of anything," Musa put in.
There was chorus of agreement all around.
"Fine whatever but if I die I'm blaming it on you Jones the package that I left on my dresser I will face him but only if none of you interfere," Jade said as she walked away and began to do stretches muttering something about being stupid and something that sounded highly like peer pressure.
Later…
The Renegades had made a circle around the where the battle would take place Ascot standing in the middle a smirk on his face as he stealthily hid two daggers in his shirt sleeves.
Jade who was with Jones and Musa had slid two daggers into her leg sheaths so you couldn't see them. Jade headed to the makeshift arena, slowly rethinking every move she had planned to do Bloom was right if she couldn't beat the ass-clown then how could she beat Shira's elite team, even with the Winx Club, specialists, renegades, and resident half-demon that battle would decidedly come down to her power. She couldn't let her fear get in the way of this fight. Jade was in her Renegades uniform specially designed for her. The two-piece outfit was just a tight tank top that bared her arms and a pair of seemingly baggy cargo pants. Each part of this suit had been custom made so that it tear proof, fire proof, bullet proof, and most weapon proof. Giving Jade a distinct advantage over the 42 year old man.
Jade stretched some more and looked at Jones and Musa, who smiled encouragingly. Jade nodded at them and slipped of her combat boots, she'd fight this bare foot she didn't want to ruin a good pair of boots.
"Tecna did an analysis for you, you shouldn't lose, Ascots out of shape and slow and stupid according to her, clever but stupid. And if he's just putting on a front you still got your Winx to back you up," Musa pointed out, "even if you think your magic is just a crutch for wining fights you need to win this, so be careful out there and win one for the home team."
Jade flashed a quick smile at her before doing some more stretching. "I'm not going to get more prepped than this so lets go before I chicken out of this," Jade said heading out the door.
Jade stopped as people cleared a path for her, patting her on the back and wishing her good luck. Jade stepped into the makeshift arena her eyes never leaving Ascots. "I've got more important things to do than fight you. Why the hell are you back anyway," she said her eyes turning into the split pupils and then shifting back into her regular eyes.
"Lets just do this, my employer just wants me to weaken you she knows that I can't beat you, of course if I can I will kill you. So lets get this party started," Ascot said as a swirl of magic went around him.
Jades mouthed dropped, as did many people in the room. Ascot had gone to being overweight to looking like a contestant on one of those bodybuilding contests, and that was only the beginning of the transformation as Jade would soon find out.
Jade quickly closed her mouth and took a defensive stance as both fighters waited looking each other up and down before making a move.
Jade slowly shifted her weight not expecting Ascot to attack first which he did throwing Jade into the air with a vicious uppercut to the chin. Years of experience came into effect as Jade a back flip in the air and landed squarely on her feet. Looking up she barely had enough time to put her left arm up to stop Ascots massive leg from taking of her head. Jade pushed him back with an effort and quickly threw a punch. Which Ascot blocked with a finger.
Jade gasped silently as she drew back for a quick regroup but since luck really wasn't on her side at that exact moment or any moment she had Ascot in front of her as Ascot slammed his palm into her chest. A sickening crack was heard as Jade flew back. Jade let a whimper escape as she felt her broken ribs shifting as she got up. She saw the spots in her vision she was fairly close to passing out heck if she had been anyone else she would have been unconscious right now. Jade now had the distinct disadvantage, she was completely out of it, to the point where she didn't hear nor see people pointing to the phoenix on her chest which was glowing an angry red now. Jade blinked a couple of times as the pain began to reduce and she felt less prone to fall down. Jade snapped out of her reverie as Ascot began to unleash punch after punch and kick after kick. Jade blocked them all before fighting back with her own, all of them blocked by Ascot. Both fighters moved back from each other.
"Enough practice lets move on to the challenging stuff shall we," Ascot said with an unusual smile.
Jade touched her ribs only to find out they were fully healed. Jade quickly took her defensive stance again.
"When I was still around your Winx wasn't all that great in fact lets try it out right now." Jade blinked what was he getting at, this wasn't like Ascot. "You see my one of my employers want your phoenix force your highness, and since I have no powers to speak of they donated some magic to me. Interesting fact Pixies don't like cold. ICE COFFIN!" Ascot yelled as ice began to form around Jade. Jade jumped away, her eyes wide in fright.
Jade landed, "So you learned a few new tricks Ass Clown. Tricks that are based around ice, to be quiet honest with you I could have taken you out along time ago, but I chose quite stupidly of me to test your new powers, which nearly cost me this fight. Here's a simple lesson for you fire melts ice," Jade snarled as she went Winx. Jade smirked as she finished her transformation, Jade's eyes were back to the split pupil look and behind her there was a raging phoenix. "Let's see if you like the full power of my Phoenix force," Jade said tossing two fireballs at his feet.
Ascot laughed, "Is that it. I expected more from you."
Jade smiled an eerie grin, "Of course not, you wanted to see my Phoenix force well here it is, Fire Storm," Jade said pointing her fingers at him as fire erupted from her hands and created a huge spinning twister which was on fire.
Ascot blanched for a second a second, which he didn't have so it caught in its fiery twister sending him flying into a wall. Jade was already on top of him her hands on his throat. A fiery dagger appearing on her fist.
"Tell me Ascot, enlighten me who sent you here," Jade snarled.
"Darcy…" Ascot croaked before his throat tightened and blood poured out from his mouth gushing out and splattering Jade, who quickly got of.
"Who's Darcy?" Jade said trying to get the blood of her.
"Icy, Stormy and Darcy, the Trix sisters, they're the decedents of the witches who destroyed Sparx to get the Dragon fire and since that plan went sour," Bloom put in.
"They're after my Phoenix Power," Jade said, "So they're the bitches on my throne right now," Jade said returning to her regular clothes.
"Yeah I guess, what happened to him," Flora said pointing to a now dead Ascot. "You didn't kill him did you?"
"No poor sucker got stuck with a truth spell which Jade be accidentally setting of, those witches are brutal if they're sticking a truth spell on one of there lackeys." Remy shuddered. "Besides Jade is not a killer like some of the boys here she's more of a forgiver, ain't that right,"
Jade nodded as she stared into the face of her now deceased step-dad.
"So what do we do with the body Jade," Jones voice broke Jades reverie.
"Get rid of it, you dolts," Yusuke voice broke through.
"And after that, you guys got to train who knows what these bitchy witches got in store for us," Jade said with a snap.
A/N: In the next chapter it's of To Shira, and a power change in the Trix Club, a startling discovery for Jade and Bloom, Toying with the Gods, Heart ache for Flora, More fighting a bit of blood, and throw in a chance at immortality, and raising the dead and you get the next chapter of the Phoenix Force. So RR