Posted August 1, 2022. Happy Lughnasadh!
CHAPTER 45: HOME
On the Matter of the Humans' Power
Like fairies, humans are capable of acquiring immense magical powers. However, they are not born with magic; they have to develop it. It is extremely hard work to manifest magic, and to become skilled at sorcery and spells.
Therefore, only the priests of each society were likely to develop magic. In pagan times, priests and priestesses both wielded incredible power. They used magic to communicate with the fay, therefore bringing the rest of humanity under their control. Although kings and warlords were powerful, it was the priesthood which truly had power over society. They used the magic for many skills, including healing, prayer, and meditation.
In current times, women have been banned from practicing magic. Any woman who develops magic has a risk of being arrested and burned at stake for witchcraft. Powerful women with no such magical ability are in danger of this as well.
The Fairy Hunters, in fact, have developed their powers from sorcery as well. As humans themselves, they had to work hard to gain such power. Now on equal footing with the fairies, they've figured out a way to fight them. Using their armies of sorcerer-knights, they are marching on the fay, determined to destroy them for once and for all.
– from the Book of Fay
Gardenia, Italy
Roxy flew over Gardenia, staring down at the city below. Unlike the rest of the world, which was currently covered in vines, this part of the world was a pristine city, standing completely still.
It was now August 1. According to the Celtic calendar, it was the first day of autumn. Soon the autumn equinox would be there, ushering them into the beautiful foliage that they all knew so well.
Flying forward, she let out a gasp as she hit an invisible barrier, Aonbharr rearing in the air in fright. Krithi stopped Chai immediately.
"Oh," she said, sheepishly. "I forgot about the barrier." She frowned. "How are we going to get in, anyways?"
"Who's at the barrier?" a voice called. Roxy stared as she saw a Simurgh flying up to them, her expression confused. "Who's" – Her eyes widened as she saw Roxy and Krithi on their respective steeds.
"Open the barrier!" she shouted behind her. Roxy reached forward, feeling a hole appear. She flew inside, Krithi right behind her. They landed neatly on the ground just as the barrier closed up. A dog bounded towards her, and she let out a cry.
"Artu!" she yelled as he leapt into her arms. She hugged him tightly, tears rolling down her cheeks. "It's so good to see you again!"
"Who's that?" a voice called. Artu scampered down as Klaus and Nandini rushed forward, looking confused. "Who's" – Daidí's eyes widened as he saw Roxy; he rushed up to her.
"You're home!" he gasped, grabbing her off the pegasus and in a hug. Nandini did the same with Krithi.
Roxy held her father tightly, a smile on her face. It feels so good to be home… Then Daidí suddenly let go of her, his voice harsh.
"Where have you been?" he demanded. "What makes you think you can go wandering off, on your own?"
"I" – Roxy didn't know what to say. Daidí glared at her, but before he could yell any further, there was a sound. Roxy looked up, and let out a cry of amazement.
Several fairy animals were flying towards them. She could make out families of phoenixes, sphinxes, dragons, simurghs, and aluxes. There were also the two boys from Greece and several warriors from the Lacandón Tribe. Morgana appeared, her eyes wide.
"My precious daughter!" she cried, grabbing Roxy. Daidí glared at her.
"Don't be so quick to congratulate her," he said. "First let's talk to her about what she's done."
The temperature seemed to have dropped twenty degrees. Daidí glared at her, while Morgana stood frowning. They stared at Roxy, and she stepped back.
"So," she asked, tentatively, "how are things on the outside?"
"Terrible," Daidí snapped. "The world doesn't stop turning just because you decide to disappear off on your own. What you did was unacceptable."
"You had us worried sick!" Morgana added severely. "You were gone for all that time – did you ever stop and think about how we might feel? How worried we were, especially given your condition?"
"But I'm doing great now," Roxy said. "Except, well" – The trauma obviously still wasn't gone; it had prevented her from striking the final blow with Nebula. Daidí glared at her, then shook his head.
"How can we trust you now?" he asked. "Especially after you left us behind?"
"I needed to find myself!" Roxy cried. "And I have found her – I think, at least."
"'I think' is not going to let you off the hook," Morgana said sternly. "We're very disappointed in you, Roxanne."
And with that, they disappeared, leaving Roxy with her heart in the pit of her stomach.
Musa lay on the floor of her prison, her eyes closed. She felt terrible; her stomach was hurting with fear. All she could think about was what she'd done.
Why did I do that? She had set Roxy free because she was her friend, of course; that there was no question of. But why had she betrayed Nebula, when she'd been so close with her?
Nebula is too dangerous. The realization came to her. She's out-of-control. She wants revenge at all costs. I have to stop her!
But how was she going to do that, when stuck in there? What was she going to do?
As if on cue, Nebula appeared. "Hello, girl," she drawled, throwing a plate of mush at her ground. Musa's hands were tied behind her back, so all she could do was lean down and eat. The magical-reduction bands drained her, and she stared hopelessly at Nebula. Nebula smirked.
"You won't be getting out," she declared. "Not when you're under my watch. I will make sure you rot in here for eternity. Don't worry, you'll have a front-view spot to watch while I destroy all of humanity!"
"You can't kill them all!" Musa stared at her. "They've done nothing wrong!"
"Funny you should say that," Nebula snarled furiously. "When you first got here, you were so adamant that they needed to be punished. Your darling Riven was dead, and so you decided they needed to go, too. And now, you – you've betrayed me! How dare you?"
It was the mention of Riven that made Musa grow stronger. Riven – he's going to always be with me! She knew he was watching down on her from the Otherworld, lending her his strength. I'm going to fight for him! She lifted her hands, feeling the magic return back to her body.
Nebula gasped as she broke free from the magical-reduction bands. Transforming into her Etherix, she glared at Nebula. "I'm going to take you down," she snarled. In response, Nebula backed up, her expression filed with hatred.
"Try to leave!" she bellowed. To her Warrior Fairies she added, "The prisoner is trying to escape!"
In response, Musa blasted herself out of the wooden cage. She flew forward, the Warrior Fairies coming at her. But Musa simply blasted them with a spell, her magic more powerful than ever. Nebula howled in rage as she disappeared out the tunnel.
"Get her!" she hollered. The Warrior Fairies flew at Musa, but she was too strong. Activating her speed-wings, she flew above the compound, disappearing into the sky.
Roxy glumly sat next to Eldora, who was doing her stitching. A few days had passed since she'd come back home, but her parents still didn't trust her. That wasn't surprising, of course, considering what she'd done.
She winced, remembering how the Warrior Fairies had nearly crushed her just a week before. How Nebula had almost killed her. She felt ashamed, thinking of how she'd fought before.
Why couldn't she have defeated Nebula? Ever since Merlin's attack, she'd simply become weak. She knew that she could do better, far better than that. She looked up as Eldora spoke.
"Well," she said, "it's good to see you back home."
"It's good to see you, too," Roxy answered automatically. She frowned. "I actually had a question. Is it normal to see visions of – well, things that aren't actually there – in front of you?"
"Oh yes, dearie!" Eldora answered cheerfully. "I used to see them all the time. Back when I was a fairy researcher, people used to think I was crazy for seeing fairies!"
"But fairies are real," Roxy answered through gritted teeth. "I'm talking about seeing something that isn't there. I saw Nebula covered in rainbow flames, wielding some kind of incredible power. At the last minute in the battle, I – I saw her and, well, I failed." She lowered her head.
"There, there now," Eldora said firmly. "No one expected you to do better the second you gained your transformation back. You still have a lot of healing to do. Trauma's a funny thing – it never truly goes away."
"So I'll be like this forever?" Roxy groaned.
"I didn't say that," Eldora answered. "I meant that your healing will not be linear. You will have many challenges to face before you can find success. Your trauma will always be a part of you – but it is not you. And you will learn how to compartmentalize it so that it's not always there – if you accept it for what it is."
"That doesn't even make sense," Roxy argued. "I have to push it away, but I also have to accept it?"
"I never said to push it away," Eldora said patiently. "All I said was" –
"Roxy?" a voice interrupted. Krithi had entered the room. "We need you to talk to some people. They're having a hard time accepting that they need to fight in this war."
Roxy sighed, transforming. She flew out the window, carrying Krithi in a blue bubble. They landed on the ground; Roxy looked up and saw several people arguing with Morgana, the High Queen of Fairies. She landed on the platform which Morgana stood on, asking, "What's going on?"
Morgana stared at her coolly. "These humans are refusing to accept their part in fighting this war. They insist that it is a fairy conflict, and that they shouldn't be a part of any of this. They're furious with us now."
"Of course we are!" one of Gardenia's citizens shouted. "Our lives were peaceful until you lot came into our world! We don't want you!" The rest of the people booed.
Roxy stared at the people before her; they were all looking very demoralized. One of the diplomats from the human delegation sent to Paradise raised her voice.
"How can you expect us to fight when we don't have any special powers?" she demanded. "How can you expect us to do – anything? Besides, none of this is our fault!"
Roxy's eyes widened. None of their fault… She raised her voice.
"You're right," she said. The people quieted down, staring at her in surprise. "None of this is your fault." The same way that what happened with Merlin and me wasn't my fault. "And at the same time, you are all a part of the world we live in – it is up to all of us to shape our own destinies."
"But how can we fight?" one of the people demanded. "We don't have powers!"
"You have plenty of powers," Roxy answered. "Think: the Wizards themselves were mere humans – and yet, they developed magical powers. My friend Krithi here doesn't have any powers herself, but she still joins in the effort. Remember: humans were the ones who locked up the fay in the first place; they had plenty of power then.
"But I don't say this to blame anyone for what happened. This is an important thing to remember. We are all part of this world, and we all have a part to play in this war. We need to join forces and fight against the Warrior Fairies, because we are Gardenia, the Home of the Fay. But I know confidence doesn't come that easily – it took a while for it to come for me. So, I am asking the humans here who do know magic – the people of Findias, Gorias, Murias, Falias, King Arthur's castle, and Sein Isle – will you offer lessons in combat for free to the people of Gardenia?"
"It would be my pleasure," the Lady declared. Roxy smiled.
"Very well, then," she said. To the humans she added, "Just remember that we are always on your side, and that we will do our very best to keep you safe. But we also need you to work to keep yourselves safe as well – otherwise, righteousness won't come back. Therefore, I am requesting all citizens eighteen and older to try and enlist in the fight. We will provide all households with an adequate number of weapons so everyone can be safe." She raised her hands. "Thank you for listening!"
Suddenly, cheering erupted. The people and fairies alike were shouting out to her, yelling in happiness. "Faerie Princess Roxanne!" they yelled. Roxy stared around, basking in the glory.
I'm a princess now… It felt so strange, thinking of herself as the princess of practically all of Earth. She stared around, gasping in surprise.
"Roxy?" a voice called. Roxy turned around, and had a shock.
Ana and Giovanni were walking towards her, looking very sad. Their heads were bowed; clearly, they thought she was going to hit them or something. Roxy stared at them, taken aback.
"What do you want?" she asked, not unkindly. Ana stared at her.
"I'm sorry," she burst out. "I'm sorry for everything. The way I bullied you, the way I said you didn't belong – all of it. I hope you can forgive me."
"I hope you can forgive me, too." Giovanni's head was still lowered. "I'm the adult here, and I acted like a child."
"Me, too," a voice called. Roxy stared up and saw Mitzi walking towards them, her face downcast. "I was so cruel to Bloom all throughout high school. You guys – you're braver than I could ever hope to be. If something happened to you guys" –
"What's going on?" a voice interrupted. Bloom and Stella were walking towards them, looking surprised. "What are you" – Bloom stopped as she saw Mitzi. The mayor's daughter rushed up to her.
"I'm so sorry," she said in a rush. "Will you please forgive me?"
"That depends." Stella's eyes were narrowed. "For bullying Bloom all throughout childhood? For getting us kicked out of the restaurant?"
"All of it," Mitzi whispered. "I'm so sorry."
"I" – If anyone could've told Roxy at age ten that, nearly six years later, her sworn enemies would apologize, she would've thought that was insane. But now they are. She stared at them, a million mixed emotions in her mind.
She saw all the hurt she'd gone through as a child. She saw all the pain, all the resentment. And in that moment, she realized she wasn't ready to let it go. She wasn't ready to forgive Ana and Giovanni for what they'd done.
But that didn't mean they deserved her hatred, either. They were just as hurt as she was, in their own way. She swallowed, turning towards them.
"Truce," she said. "I declare a truce." She smiled. "I'll give you that for now."
"Thank you," Giovanni said. "It's more than we deserve."
"And I forgive you." Bloom smiled warmly at Mitzi. "I've been a princess of my own kingdom for about a year now. Throughout my time at Alfea, I learned the meaning of friendship. Though I was hurt during high school, there was no lasting harm done."
How is she able to forgive so easily? How was Bloom able to say that she forgave Mitzi, when the other woman had done so much harm to her? Roxy didn't know if she'd ever be able to forgive her bullies for what they'd done to her. She didn't know if she'd be able to move on.
"Besides," Stella added, "it was kinda worth it, seeing the ice cream fall all over your dress! You should've seen the look on your face!"
And just like that, everyone burst out laughing. The tension disappeared, and Roxy couldn't help but join in. When it was over, they all smiled at each other. A relaxed feeling came over Roxy's body, and she closed her eyes –
"Roxy!"
Roxy's eyes flew wide open again. She turned around, staring as two familiar figures appeared behind.
"That was an amazing speech." Morgana stared at her; next to her, Daidí looked awestruck. "Can we talk?"
Roxy nodded, waving a farewell to the others. Heading into the house, they went straight to Roxy's room. Daidí shut the door behind him, gazing at Roxy.
"You acted like a true leader out there," he said. "I – I wanted to apologize to you for ever doubting you. You were great. I love you with all my heart, Roxy."
Never had the words seemed warmer and more comforting to Roxy. She smiled, bowing her head. "Thank you," she said, gratefully. Morgana frowned.
"We just sometimes feel as if you don't need us anymore," she said. "I felt as if you should've told us how you felt when you were ill. You leaving was the scariest thing we've ever had to face, as parents – we had no clue where you were or what happened."
"Of course I need you," Roxy answered, uncharacteristically gently. I really do need them. "I need you for support, so that I can continue forward. I've always needed you, Daidí. And though I haven't known it for so long, I've always needed you… Mamaí." She gasped in shock, having, for the first time, referred to Morgana as her mother. Morgana looked amazed; then her face opened in a brilliant smile.
"Very well," she said. "I think I shall open myself up to better communication."
"And so shall I," Daidí nodded. "We'll all be better at communicating with each other. Just know we love you so, so much."
"I love you too," Roxy breathed. She grabbed both of her parents in a hug.
Nebula walked through the portal, watching as it shot her through the core. She laughed deliciously as she reached the other end, at the core of the planet. Walking forward, she gazed around, taking it all in at once.
The core of the planet was large, larger than she'd expected. Gravity allowed her to walk on all sides of the walls; she felt disjointed, however, not being able to see which direction was top and which was bottom. This is strange… She flew forward, flying through several of the chambers of the core.
It took her nearly an hour to find what she was looking for. She soon flew into the magnetic center of the core, through the southern door. She gazed at the chamber, looking astonished.
A brilliant rainbow sphere, large enough to fit two people inside, was suspended right underneath her, in the center of the circular chamber. It shimmered and swirled with magic, incredible power inside. The Heart of the Earth! Nebula touched it, smiling.
If I can find this power inside, I can destroy all of humanity. She could defeat all of the humans, thereby bringing power to fairykind. She frowned, flying backwards in surprise as a hologram appeared in front of the rainbow sphere.
A woman with long, dark brown hair and gray eyes was ahead of her. "Welcome, seeker of the Heart," she declared. "How may I assist you?"
"I need to get the Heart of the Earth," Nebula declared, "so I can wipe out humankind for once and for all!"
"My name is Meriwa," the hologram stated, "the fairy who opened this Heart in the past. I am leaving this message because I failed to activate the Heart of the Earth. But you can use the Heart for whatever ends you desire." She smiled.
"In order to do that, both portals must be opened – both North and South Poles. Only then will the planet be balanced. You will be able to then access the Heart of the Earth, using its magic to destroy your foes."
"Sounds perfect," Nebula grinned. Now all I have to do is capture Roxanne again… She turned around.
She was going to open the Heart of the Earth. She was going to defeat all of humanity, as well as any others who stood in her way. And once that is done, peace will come to Earth. She knew, without a doubt, that this was the way she was going to go.
Next chapter:
– The Winx go to Mount Meru.
– Musa follows behind the Winx to join them.
– Roxy sees the first High Faerie Queen of Paradise.
– Krithi sees her father, Merlin, in Gardenia's prison.
