In the meantime, they got on with things as best they could. It was lunchtime, with all pupils and staff present in the main dining hall taking on their midday meal. As usual, Tegryn was sat with the Starz, attempting to teach Polli how to eat Spaghetti Bolognese with less-than-successful (not to mention messy) results. Of course, he would've loved to be sat together with his sweetheart Musa, but even after all this time Griselda was still putting her foot down when it came to seating arrangements.
And Anyuna, poor Anyuna... she was doing her best to get over her crush, but it wasn't helped by sitting right opposite Tegryn, where she knew it was all too easy to catch crafty looks at those blue eyes of his, or to accidently brush his legs with her own. Instead, all she could do was try and to concentrate on chatting with Mimi and Nini, who were sitting next to him.
Yes, despite Layla's absence, the pupils and staff of Alfea were carrying on as normal... but once again that was about to be rudely interrupted by a group of unwelcome visitors...
Icy, Darcy and Stormy walked arrogantly through the main gate, accompanied by Kaiser carrying his glittering prize.
"Hmph! No pixies around? That's a shame, I was really looking forward to kicking some fairy booty today." Stormy grumbled.
"I guess they're out to lunch."
"We knew that already Darcy, but where are they?" Icy replied, laughing at her own joke (or attempted joke, anyway).
"It doesn't matter." said Kaiser as they stopped at the centre of the courtyard. "It'll just make our job quicker and easier. Are you ready?"
The witches nodded and formed a circle as they all began to chant.
Fairies, pixies, leprechauns, elves
All of you are in too deep
If you know what's good for you
You'll close your eyes and fall asleep.
As the spell was completed, Kaiser drove the sceptre into the ground. A blinding golden flash erupted from it, quickly rippling from it through the school.
Back in the dining hall, the pupils and staff of Alfea were still chatting and eating, totally unaware of what was happening outside. Charlotte was busy trying to explain to Tegryn the finer points of transmogrification when all of a sudden she let out a huge yawn.
"Oh dear. Late night was it?" Tegryn joked.
"No, I was in bed... nice and... early..." she said, her voice trailing off before slumping forward where she sat, narrowly missing her bowl of soup.
"Charlotte!" Tegryn shouted, trying to shake his friend awake. "What's wrong?"
All of a sudden, Anyuna also yawned and she slumped forward, fast asleep. Soon, he became aware of more and more yawns filling the hall. He looked around to see everyone else falling asleep - the girls, Faragonda, Griselda, the other teachers, the school cook - even Polli, who was now sprawled across his shoulder and snoring rather loudly for such a little pixie.
"Teggy, what's happening?"
"Mirta! You're feeling alright?"
"Yes, I feel fine... I think."
They both looked around them. "It looks like we're the only ones awake here. What do you think caused this?"
"It's obviously a sleeping spell, and probably a witch's one too - I remember doing a project on sleeping spells back in Cloud Tower - but why aren't we asleep with the rest?"
"I don't know - this is too wierd." he said as he walked over to the Winx girls. His dear sweet Musa was dozing away, just like the others. He chuckled as he saw Stella, resting her weary head on her plate of pasta, her beautiful golden hair splashed in sauce. "Oh dear... I wouldn't want to be in those witches' shoes when she wakes up!" has said as he moved the plate and did his best to clean her up with a napkin.
Mirta chuckled. "We'd better look around - maybe somebody else is awake too."
They did exactly that, going out into the corridors in their search, but it was the same everywhere - all were sleeping. All too soon, Mirta spotted something outside.
"I might have known." she growled as she recognised the gruesome foursome. "Come on... let's see what they want." Bravely, they marched out to confront them.
"Oi!" Tegryn yelled at the top of his voice. Kaiser and the witches turned around and gawped at them with astonished looks in their faces. "What do you think you're doing?"
"How is this possible?" Kaiser said. "That sleep spell has never failed me before."
Darcy tutted. "You idiot! It didn't affect them because they aren't fairies, or pixies, leprechauns or elves - she's a witch and he's a... well, I don't know what HE is exactly, but he ain't a fairy."
Kaiser turned and glared at his sister. "Idiot? IDIOT! How DARE you insult me like that, and in front of these pixies too!"
Tegryn sniggered and nudged Mirta. "Aww, look at 'em fighting - if I didn't know any better, I'd say they really were boyfriend and girlfriend!"
Kaiser and Darcy stopped bickering and glared at Tegryn.
"You think you're so funny, don't you Tegryn?" Darcy yelled. "Well, pretty soon you won't be laughing at all!"
"And what exactly have you lot got planned?"
"You'll find out after we've taken the Codex!" Kaiser boasted. "The Celestial Sceptre is great, very great indeed... but it's not enough. We won't rest until ALL the power in the universe is ours!"