Posted May 1, 2022. Happy Beltane!
CHAPTER 32: THE ARCTIC CIRCLE
On the Matter of the Third Chakra
The fire chakra is located in the stomach. It represents willpower and is blocked by shame. Its representative gemstone is the topaz.
In order to unblock this chakra, one must renounce all shame and find solace in oneself.
North Pole, Arctic Circle
The ice tower glided across the ocean, coming to a stop at the North Pole. Aurora gazed down at it, admiring how perfectly and geographically it lined up at the magnetic North Pole's center. She stood in the central chamber, watching her power-source light up the entire tower.
It was a clear, circular vial, with snowflakes glittering inside. She held the vial to her chest, sensing its power. Power which she had not felt in over a millennium. She concentrated on the magic, feeling it envelope her self.
The Blizzard had been passed down from successor to successor. Unlike the Faerie Queens, the power of the Major Fairies did not pass down through hereditary succession; rather, they were chosen, out of each of the Major Fairies' courts, as successors. In Aurora's case, one of her female Arctic Fairies would succeed her upon her death.
"Aurora," a voice called to her. High Faerie Queen Morgana entered the tower, a look of displeasure on her face. Aurora bowed down low to her. The Queen continued on, looking grim.
"Lady Diana of the Amazon failed to stop the Winx," she said. "She also tried to convince me that humans have the ability to change."
Aurora stared at Morgana in shock, her eyes darkening. The Winx did what? "No," she breathed aloud.
"We must strike," Morgana declared. "We must use our magic to defeat the Winx as well as the human race. Therefore, I need you for a mission."
"Yes, Your Majesty," Aurora answered, clenching her fists. I will do anything to make humanity pay… Morgana continued, her voice like ice.
"Ice over the world," she commanded. "Use the power of the Blizzard to freeze all major human habitats. That'll make them pay."
"I will do so." Aurora concentrated on the power of the Blizzard.
She could feel its power freezing her to the core, filling her with incredible strength. A blue light shot out of the Blizzard.
Then, ice began to crystalize over the North Pole. Glaciers began to form, and water began to freeze. She smiled, letting out a cackle as she thought of the Winx, who would not be expecting this.
"Oh, and one more thing," Morgana added. "You and your fairies are not to lay a hand on the youngest fairy, Roxanne." Her eyes flashed. "Understood?"
"Yes," Aurora answered, bowing down. Morgana nodded.
"Good," she said. "Now off with your mission."
It was a warm summery day. The Winx were situated in the town, walking around together. Musa smiled as the pleasant breeze lifted her hair, and it billowed in the wind. As they walked, many people stared at them, and then bowed in deference upon seeing them walk the street.
"Celebrity treatment," Stella grinned. "I like it."
"As if you weren't a celebrity before," Musa said wryly, noticing, not for the first time, just how big Stella's ego was. She let out a sigh, a frown appearing to her mouth.
It had been two weeks since they'd convinced Diana to cease her revenge. It was now May 1, which, according to the Celtic calendar, was the first day of summer. Nebula's promise to spare Gardenia was certainly over now. And yet, nothing had happened to Gardenia.
Don't think of that, she told herself sternly. They deserved some rest and relaxation, especially after all that had happened. They headed to the park, where the Specialists were waiting.
"Brandon!" Stella immediately squealed, running to his arms.
She acts like she doesn't see him every day, Musa thought, watching as the other Winx headed up to their partners. The Pixies grinned as they watched. Musa saw Riven standing by himself, his arms crossed.
"Hey," she greeted him awkwardly. "How's it goin'?"
"Okay, I guess." Riven had a rather guarded look on his face. Musa let out a sigh.
She still couldn't forget how Riven had saved her in the Amazon Rainforest. Does that mean he's changing? Could it be that Riven was now reforming, having abandoned his thirst for drugs and alcohol?
"Um, how was rehab?" she managed to say.
Riven let out a sigh. "Boring," he muttered. "Most of the time I was just pining around, waiting to be let out."
"I'm sorry you had to go through that," Musa said sympathetically. "But it seems to me like you've really turned your life around."
"You think so?" Riven gazed at her.
"I know so," she answered confidently. Riven smiled.
"Thanks," he said, awkwardly. "That means a lot to me." The two of them stood silently, each in his or her own thoughts.
"Guys, it's getting cold," Stella complained. "Can we, like, turn on the heat or something?"
"You're right – it is getting chilly," Layla shuddered. Since she and Stella were from warmer climates, the cold always bothered them, especially during the winter months. "What's going on?"
Flora frowned. "I sense this isn't a natural chill," she said. "Something is happening to make it this way."
"You mean" – Musa began.
She never got to finish her sentence. Just then, ice appeared all over the buildings. The humidity in the air turned straight into ice, appearing over the roads as well, too. The people of Gardenia yelled as their vehicles were frozen straight to the ground.
"Oh no!" Stella gasped. "We have to do something!"
"My parents!" Bloom unexpectedly yelled. "Where could they be?"
"We'll help the civilians." Sky drew out his flying saucer. "Winx and Pixies, go find Bloom's parents!"
Musa immediately transformed. Following her friends, they flew over the Frutti Music Bar, staring down at it. Digit pointed.
"Look!" she shouted.
Ice monsters were walking into the Frutti Music Bar, their expressions demonic. Musa caught sight of Roxy, transformed to her Winx form, and Krithi, holding her iron blade out. Artu was growling angrily at the ice monsters. They flew down to the Frutti Music Bar, where Roxy's father, Bloom's adoptive parents, and the rest of the customers were cowering in fear. Musa landed on the ground.
"Took you long enough!" Roxy shouted, dueling one of the ice-monsters. Musa lifted her hands.
"Tornado crash!" she yelled. Instantly, the ice-monster hit the wall, breaking into a thousand pieces. Stella grinned.
"That's easy," she declared. "Flaming arrow!" She shot another spell at another ice-monster.
Soon, the Winx had made quick work of the monsters. "It's safe to come out now," Bloom called. The customers of the Frutti Music Bar came out, staring around. Musa did too, letting out a gasp.
The entirety of Gardenia was covered in ice. She shivered fiercely, feeling the cold pierce through her body. Bloom stared around in disbelief as a vortex appeared in the front of the Frutti Music Bar. Then Nebula appeared out of it.
"I've come to deliver all of Gardenia a message," she said. "The ice that now forms around the world is your punishment for forgetting the fay and disrupting nature. I bring greetings from the Major Fairy of the Arctic, Faerie Lady Aurora, who says that the ice will remain here for eternity. You're welcome!" Cackling, she disappeared.
"We've got to save these people!" Flora cried out, looking stricken.
"We can't unfreeze all of Earth by ourselves," Tecna pointed out. "It's a physical impossibility."
"Then how are we going to stop the fairies of vengeance?" Layla wanted to know.
Bloom let out a sigh. "Pixies, you stay here and guard the Frutti Music Bar." To the others she said, "Let's reconvene back in the apartment and figure out what to do."
"Aurora is certainly behind this," Eldora said as soon as they arrived at her doorstep. "As the Major Fairy of Winter, she has the power to freeze over the entire world if she so wishes. She will send the Earth into the next Ice Age, freezing it to its core."
Bloom listened to Eldora in silence. Roxy stepped forward.
"So that means we've got to attack Aurora at her source, right?" she said. "We have to go to her palace and defeat her."
"You are correct," Eldora smiled. "Off you go, now."
The helicopter soared over Iceland, heading towards the Arctic Circle. Sun shined, though it got dimmer and dimmer the farther north they went. As the spring equinox had passed in the Northern Hemisphere, the sun would be shining all day long at the Arctic Circle. Roxy sighed as she stared out the window, her eyes narrowed.
She couldn't help but think about how low Morgana was stooping to find revenge. Bitterness rose in her throat as she thought of her mother, how cruel and vengeful she was. Glaring at the ground, she felt nothing but anger in her heart.
"Roxy?" Krithi had walked up to her, concern in her face. "Are you okay?"
"Fine," Roxy answered tersely. Krithi gazed out the window, and let out a gasp of alarm.
Roxy stared at where Krithi was pointing. It was a ship, stuck in the ice. She halted in surprise, staring at the Winx.
"The ice must be recent," she realized. "Aurora's work! And now she's going to freeze the rest of Earth!"
"We have to save these men," Flora declared. The Winx transformed, heading down towards the ship. Roxy flew downwards, determined to figure out what was going on –
"Roxanne!"
Roxy spun around, fury in her heart as she heard the familiar voice. She glared as Nebula came into view.
The fairy of vengeance laughed mockingly as she stared at Roxy. "Hello," she cackled. Instantly, Roxy drew the Black Circle, and Krithi drew the White Circle.
"Want to fight?" Roxy challenged.
Nebula laughed. "You're on." The two of them circled each other in the air, glaring at each other.
Roxy lifted her Black Circle, feeling nothing but rage in her heart. She's gonna regret making me angry… Lifting the Circle, she shot a black dart at Nebula.
But the Warrior Fairy dodged easily, laughing. "You think you're so special?" she jeered. "Just because you're a Faerie Princess doesn't mean you amount to anything."
"I am not a princess!" Roxy roared. Nebula only laughed harder.
"You think anyone cares about you, silly girl?" she laughed. "Your mother doesn't want you, your father has shamed you – nobody cares about you. You stupid, foolish girl."
Roxy felt her heart twisting into a thousand pieces. She's lying, she's lying… She glared at Nebula, rage and shame filling her heart.
"Bee's sting!" she roared, sending a spell at Nebula. Nebula darted to the left, smirking.
"Such a foolish, foolish child," she laughed. "Let me be clear: you are nothing."
Roxy lowered her head, feeling the shame overtake her. She remembered all of the fights she'd gotten into in school, all of the anger she'd held in her heart. How she was truly hopeless. She closed her eyes, nothing but shame overcoming her mind –
"That's a lie."
Roxy snapped her eyes open. Krithi was staring at Nebula, a fierce expression on her face.
"Roxy isn't nothing," she said, her voice uncharacteristically defiant. "She is brave, strong, loyal – everything a great heroine is. You? You're just a bitter, vengeful woman who wants to destroy everything in her path."
"How dare you?" Nebula glared at Krithi, her eyes darkening. "Want to face my wrath up-close, human?"
Roxy stared at Krithi, seeing her in a new light entirely. She really thinks that way of me? She thought back to her fear.
Now she knew that Krithi was right. She was brave, strong, and loyal – after all, she had faced so many enemies on her own. She had faced down the Wizards of the White Circle, Merlin, and the prison of the Earth fairies. Sure, she'd had help, but that didn't make her worthless. She glared up at Nebula.
"I have the power to defeat you," she declared. "I am not ashamed of any part of myself, nor should I be. And now, I will face you down." She lifted her hands.
Just then, a yellow glow appeared at her stomach. She watched as the fire chakra opened up, filling her with incredible strength and power. She smiled, facing Nebula, whose mouth was agape –
Suddenly, Nebula squealed as a black spell hit her. "What was that?" she snarled. Hitting the ice, she turned up to stare at who it was. Roxy stared too, letting out a gasp.
High Faerie Queen Morgana was flying towards them, her expression austere. She glared at Nebula.
"My orders were crystal-clear," she said. "You are not to touch a hair on Roxanne's head."
Roxy turned towards Krithi, who had a worried expression on her face. "Go find the Winx," she hissed. "I'll deal with her myself." Krithi looked startled.
"Are you sure that's" – she began.
"Go!" Roxy insisted. With a sigh, Krithi turned her flying saucer around, heading back towards the Winx.
Morgana gazed at Roxy evenly, a cold expression on her face. "I think it's time you and I had a little talk."
Bloom stared forward, gazing at the ice-monsters on the ship. She let out a gasp as she saw what was going on.
Ice-formed monsters were attacking the men of the crew. They screamed out in terror, begging for help. One of them latched onto Layla.
"Fire arrow!" Bloom yelled, shooting the ice-creature into ice chunks. The monsters around them grumbled furiously.
"You're gonna regret making us angry!" Stella shouted.
"Shattering wind!" Bloom shot a spell at the monsters. The wind knocked them against the ship's walls.
"Well, that wasn't so hard," she grinned, turning towards the Winx. "Now it's your turn to finish them off" –
Suddenly, she let out a scream. An ice-monster had taken ahold of her arm, and was sending ice up her body. She watched, transfixed, as ice formed around her legs, freezing them in a frigid, wet hug –
"Fire arrow!" Her entire body enveloped in flames. Bloom watched as the ice-monster melted at her feet, falling to the ground. She stared around.
She could see Stella and Bloom dueling a monster together, and Flora and Tecna using convergence. She rose into the air. "It's time to finish them all off!" She lifted her hands.
"What're you doing?" Layla called.
Bloom lifted her hands. Flames formed all around her aura, and she felt the fire burning her inside. She pointed the hands at the ice-monsters.
"Inner flame!" she roared, using her sacred Etherix spell. Fire formed all around the monsters, and they let out a cry as they turned to water, falling down. Flames engulfed the ship. Layla raised her hands.
"Jet of water!" she shouted. Water soaked the ship, dousing the flames. Bloom smiled, grinning at Layla.
"Nice teamwork," she said. "Thanks for the help."
"Thank you," a man's voice called. The crew of the ship had appeared, and were staring at the Winx and Specialists with admiration. "You saved us!"
"In all our journeys, I've never seen anything like this!" an older man rasped.
"This is the handiwork of Aurora," Layla said grimly. Tecna nodded.
"We'll go and defeat her," she said. "Then we'll be able to unfreeze this whole area. You'll be able to go back home, safe and sound!"
"Not on my watch."
Bloom spun around and let out a gasp. A glacier-like formation was floating towards them, in the shape of a tower. Aurora's ark… She watched as Aurora flew out towards them, her eyes demonic. Her followers, the Arctic Fairies, flew after her. She lifted a blue, icy crystal sphere in her hands.
"This is my power-source, the Blizzard," she said. "In here I have enough ice to freeze the entire planet. Humans will face my wrath by dying out in a cold, frigid desert!"
"How will that help you?" Stella demanded. "You'll die out then, too! Fairies also need nature to survive!"
"She's right, you know." Krithi had just appeared, and was staring at Aurora. "You can't keep with the revenge like this!"
Aurora narrowed her eyes. Lifting her hands, she shouted, "Prism of ice!"
An ice-cage appeared around the Winx. Bloom stared in horror as Aurora smiled, staring down at them. She shook her head.
"Foolish fairies," she said sternly. "Now prepare to meet your doom."
Next chapter:
– The Winx watch Stella battle against Aurora.
– Stella uses her special Etherix spell.
– Roxy opens her fourth chakra.
