Chapter three is finished, chapter four not yet started. I changed a bit more in this one that the last two chapters.
Previously on Vixen:
When Angel stepped off the royal ship and onto Alfea's grounds, she felt a shiver run up her back. This was it. She was really starting her magic school.
"Hi, I'm Princess Angel of Domino."
"My name is Kaida, I'm from Draco."
"I'm Emma of Jewel."
"Cicada from the realm of Insectus"
"My name's Trend."
"I feel that this year is going to be epic," Angel said. "And we need to commemorate this important point in history. Vixen."
—
Avery kept her eyes down. She overheard girls gossiping about her as she passed. She bit the inside of her cheek and kept walking, now allowing anyone to see her breath grow shallow.
The songs of birds seem to fill the wood
That when the fiddler plays
All their voices can be heard
Long past their woodland days. - "Mummers's Dance" by Loreena McKennitt
Episode 3: Crack in the Earth
In the years since the Winx Club had attended Alfea, there had been many changes to different classes, but one thing that hadn't changed was that Professor Palladium was still teaching the Voice of Nature and still bringing the girls on a practical outside the school as a test.
"Don't forget, girls, tomorrow's practical will be graded," Palladium reminded the girls as they all started breaking themselves into groups. "And dress appropriately, as it will begin in a swamp."
"Eww!" a few girls squealed, including both Trend and Angel. Emma laughed at the two and Cicada smiled.
"What, don't tell me you're afraid of a little swamp water," Emma said.
"Not afraid," Trend said. "But what if it smells bad?"
"Swamps are no more likely to smell bad than a forest," Kaida said, looking up from her notebook where she had well outlined and detailed notes. "They're just wetter."
"What's the point of this exercise?" Avery asked, not bothering to look up from her notebook, where she was obviously not taking notes because she was still on the same page that she had been on during Wizgiz's class.
"You girls need to learn that not everything can be solved with magic," Palladium said. "There are realms where magic is not accessible, after all."
"I doubt that," Avery said. She closed her notebook finally and stood up. "Now, are we free to leave?"
The girls all turned to Avery as she grabbed her things, walking out of the classroom. No one noticed the water in her eyes as she passed, all too focused on how rude she had been to a professor, and how Palladium hadn't stopped her from going either.
Finally, the professor sighed. "If there are no more questions, you may go," he said. "I'm sure you're all eager to prep for tomorrow." As the girls all filed out, he mumbled to himself, "Please, Avery won't be a problem. She'll be a joy in class and a wonderful fairy for Alfea to brag about for years to come." He huffed a bit. "Lousy, no good brother-in-law."
—
"Don't worry, Angel," Helena's voice said from Angel's computer screen as Angel was digging through her closet for a proper outdoors outfit. "The Voice of Nature is super easy. Nearly everyone in my year got good marks."
"Nearly everyone?" Angel asked, finally finding a pair of capris that were made for hiking.
"Well, this one girl decided to take the most direct path and tried to swim across a lake and one girl couldn't read a map for the life of her, went the totally wrong direction and Phillip and Jake ended up finding her the next morning after they sent out search parties, but, still, you're going as a group, right?"
"Yes," Angel said. "My suite mates are all going with me."
"Then you will do fine," Helena said. Suddenly there was a yell in the background and Helena turned from the computer for a moment. "I have to go. Our clothes washing unit is overflowing with bubbles and we're debating if we should just have a foam party or actually clean it up."
"Good luck with that," Angel said and laughed. The screen went blank for a moment before returning to Angel's usual desktop items.
"Angel, we're planning," Emma's voice called the girl from the common room of their suite.
Angel walked out to the common room and took a seat on the couch next to Kaida. The short fairy was the best note-taker, and the overall best student of the year when it came to homework and written exams, even if her magic was still a little shaky. As far as magical skills went, Cicada was actually quite well versed, as she was the only one that had been going to a magic-teaching school before Alfea. Trend and Angel had been home-tutored until Alfea while Emma kept mostly quiet about her past, tending to insist in living in the 'here and now.'
"I still think that this doesn't apply to me," Cicada said, attempting to walk on her hands. It was obvious that she was using magic to keep herself upside-down. "After all, I can listen to bugs, in or out of a magic realm."
"Well, truth or not, it's still important to take this seriously," Kaida said, flipping her notebook open to her notes on The Voice of Nature.
"So, how are we looking?" Emma asked.
Kaida nodded. "Well, I do think that it will be an easy examination if we just follow Professor Palladium's instructions."
"How to in theory is a lot different from it actually working," Angel said. She bit her lip. She didn't want to have to be found by search parties if she got lost, even if she was going with her four suite mates. "Maybe we should practice tonight."
"Let me guess," Trend said, poking Angel's side with the nails she hadn't begun painting yet. "You'd like the Voice of Nature to lead you directly to Prince Brandon's arms."
Angel's face flamed. "It was just a dance," she said.
"No, it was the entire ball," Emma said. She pointed at Angel. "You two were the only couple that didn't change dance partners the whole time."
"Anyway," Kaida said. "We just need to make sure that we don't accidentally stumble upon Cloud Tower witches tomorrow."
"Well, if you don't practice tonight, it won't lead you anywhere, Kaida," Cicada said. "Luckily, you'll be in my group and this will be my practical to conquer."
"Won't listening to bugs be cheating?" Trend asked looking up from painting her nails.
"First, insects is the politically correct term," Cicada said. "And second, no. It's a completely natural ability of mine and bugs are natural. Therefore, it's a form of the Voice of Nature." She stuck out her tongue. "See, I have been paying attention in class."
"You might want to pay attention right now," Emma said. However, it was too late as Cicada's head hit a small table as she was still trying to walk on her hands. The green fairy shook her head. "Not the place to be practicing that."
"Wait, why do you get to call them bugs and want us to call them insects?" Trend asked.
"Because it bugs her," Kaida said.
—
The next day, the girls followed Palladium to the swamp area. He handed out maps to each of the groups. "Remember girls," the elvish professor said. "This isn't a race. If you just listen to the Voice of Nature, it will lead you through safely. I'll be waiting for you at the finishing point marked on your maps." With that, he disappeared with a pop.
The groups were supposed to leave in fifteen minute intervals, half going one way and the other half going the other way. When it was time for the Vixen girls to go, they all turned to Cicada as they stepped lightly in the swamp water, mostly not wanting to get muddied up.
"Which way?" Trend asked as they were out of sight of the starting point. Footprints from the two previous groups led in all sorts of directions.
"Um…" Cicada looked around and approached the reeds in the water, bending forward to get close to a dragonfly. Her antennae grew from the edge of her hairline and wiggled a bit. Trend, Angel and Emma all tilted their heads and turned to Kaida, who just shrugged. "This way," Cicada said, following the dragonfly.
"You know," Angel said after a few moments. "This doesn't feel right," she said, catching up to Cicada. "I mean, your powers allow you to communicate with insects, but that's not was Palladium meant when he spoke about the Voice of Nature. He meant listen to the plants and atmosphere. Not animals or insects."
Cicada sighed and turned to Angel. "Can you hear the Voice of Nature? Cause I only hear are insects."
"The voice isn't actually a voice," Kaida said. "It's more of an internal feeling."
"For full points we should really do this on our own," Emma agreed. "Not with insect guides."
Cicada nodded. "Okay, then who has a feeling?"
Angel looked at the map Palladium had given her. "Well, Palladium will be on the other side of this plateau, so we should start that way and trust that nature will lead us safely."
The Vixen began in the direction of Palladium and quickly came upon a dirt path. The first fork in the road seemed like an obvious choice. One way lead into a flower field, with a thinner path, but in the direction of the plateau while the other led back into the swamp. Four girls immediately headed toward the flowers, though Trend stood back.
"What's the hold up, Trend?" Emma asked, noticing that the girl wasn't following.
"I don't know," Trend said, frowning. "It's just, well, I don't think that's the right path."
The girls looked at her. "Bright pretty flowers versus dark, dank swamp," Emma said. "What's the question?"
"Well, the flowers are all pretty individually," Trend said. "But together, the colors are all clashy." She pointed toward the swamp. "At least all the colors of the swamp blend well. It's like camouflage." She looked at the girls. "You can't really go wrong with camouflage."
Angel looked at the other girls. "Do any of you actually have a feeling?" she asked. "Or are you just heading toward the flowers because it's out of the swamp?"
Emma sighed. "Fine," she said. "But you had better be right."
"Honestly I don't mind the swamps," Cicada said. "More insects, less bees."
"Bees are insects," Kaida reminded her roommate.
"Yeah, but they don't like me," Cicada said. "They're my sister June's thing. She has a hive at home and it's how we get our honey."
"Anyway, let's keep moving," Angel said. "Race or not, we don't want to dawdle too long."
So the five girls began heading into the swamp road again. They stepped carefully, so as not to slip as the path was moist. However, the trail soon led to some stones to cross the swamp waters.
"Careful as you cross," Kaida said, as Emma stepped out onto the first one. Emma glanced back with her green eyes before smiling. She flipped over, landing on the next stone on her hands, quickly pushing off that and landing on her feet again on the next one. From there, she took a large leap, skipping over two stones, landing on the far shore.
"Come on, if I can do that so easily, you girls can get across the normal way," Emma said.
Angel went next, managing to get across without falling. Cicada nearly slipped on the last rock as she tried to jump in quick succession, but Angel managed to catch her before she fell totally in, so only one of her feet fell in the water. Trend and Kaida looked at one another, each trying to prompt the other to go first. Finally, Trend went, until her shoe, fashionable but not exactly hiking suitable, slipped on one of the rocks and she slipped in. Kaida hurriedly hopped the stones until she reached Trend and pulled the princess back up.
"Are you okay?" Kaida asked.
"Yeah, just very wet," Trend said.
"One would be suspicious if you weren't," Cicada said.
The girls continued on until they found a small clearing. They allowed themselves some rest as there was a fallen log and Trend stood in the center where the sun was shining and helped to dry her off.
"Is it me, or does she look perfect even when she's sopping wet?" Cicada asked as Kaida pulled out a small bag of trail mix she had been smart enough to bring.
"I think with anyone else, they'd think she was starting some new fashion trend," Kaida said.
—
Avery had been the last to leave the starting point, deciding she'd go on her own. It would be easy for her and she didn't want to argue with her classmates when she knew she'd be correct. She went the opposite way of the Vixen girls. She stayed quiet while near certain vines that didn't like loud noises. She left the path altogether when the swamp became more swampy to avoid certain creatures that preferred the deep water.
When Avery came to the field of flowers, she sighed and turned back into the forest, even though she saw two separate groups of classmates crossing through it.
She certainly was moving much quicker than any group, and had nearly finished the exam when she felt something was wrong. The ground seemed to be sending pulses where it shouldn't have been. She debated going back, maybe to warn her classmates, but decided against it. However, when she was just out of view of her uncle, she sighed. Something was very wrong. She turned back around.
—
The next fork in the road made the Vixen girls stop again. One way led into a dark forest where the path would be quickly lost, while the other led to an expansive green field.
"So much green, I think I might get sick," Emma said looking at the field.
"If you fell, we'd never find you again," Cicada snickered.
"Shut up," Emma said turning to the forest.
"The field looks safer," Trend said.
"We'll have to get through the forest eventually," Angel said, pulling out the map and looking at it. "Might as well start through it now." So the girls started in and quickly, the path disappeared. However, between the five of them, they managed to navigate through until they came to a rock wall.
"This isn't on the map," Kaida said, taking it from Angel.
"Well, let's follow it," Angel said. She looked at the rock wall. "But, let's not walk too close to it.
"Sounds like a plan," Trend said.
The girls walked just inside the tree line, able to see the rock wall, but still not too close to it. It confused them a little, but they weren't about to let it get them down.
"Maybe it's the plateau," Emma said.
"We shouldn't have even reached it yet," Kaida said.
"Not to mention it's too close to the forest," Angel said. "There should be a wide plain between the forest and the slope."
Cicada stopped. "Whatever this is, it happened recently," she said, walking out of the tree line.
"So, maybe the map hasn't been updated yet," Kaida said.
"No, I mean, this has been only days," Cicada said. "If not less."
"How can you tell?" Trend asked.
"The trail of ants," Cicada said. "They've been separated from their queen and they're worried."
"Then we should investigate," Angel said. "Let's go—"
"No!" Emma said. "No magic, remember."
"Then how do we figure out what's happened?" Trend asked.
"We need to listen to the Voice of Nature," Kaida said, though she looked a little worried. It was clearly not her strong point.
"What's the Voice saying now?" Emma asked.
Angel took a deep breath. "That we need to move, and fast," Angel said. They began walking, this time a little faster.
Emma suddenly gasped. "Run," she said. "Now." With that, they took off at a run, following the green fairy deeper into the forest. Behind them, they heard what sounded like an explosion and once Emma stopped, the others all turned. What they could see was that the rock wall had fallen.
"We would have been buried," Trend said.
Cicada looked a little sick. "Are you okay?" Kaida asked her roommate.
"I feel their pain," Cicada said. "There were a lot of deaths."
"Oh the dragon," Trend asked, her green eyes going wide. "Who?"
"The bugs," Emma said. She got a glare from Cicada. "I'm sorry, the insects."
"Oh, I'm sorry, Cicada," Trend said, placing her hand on Cicada's shoulder.
"Let's keep moving," Angel said. They all nodded. Angel stepped up next to Emma. "How'd you know to run?"
Emma stared at Angel with her green eyes. "I felt the ground rumble," she said, looking forward again. "And a few pebbles began tumbling down the side of the wall."
It was several minutes later that the girls heard cries. They all paused for a moment, before they took off at a run again. "That sounded like Cassandra," Cicada said as they dodged through the trees. They came upon a meadow, and in the middle, there was a huge crack in the ground. They heard a bunch of cries, and saw a few fingers clinging to the edge.
And Avery, who was helping to haul a brunette out from the crevice.
"Get us out of here, Avery," one girl cried.
"Hey, I'm only one girl," Avery said, clearly annoyed to be there at all.
The Vixen girls ran up, each to help someone. "Come on," Trend said, grabbing one girl's hand. She almost fell forward until Cicada grabbed the girl's other hand.
"I've got you, Cass," Emma said, grabbing the blonde girl's arm and hauling her over in one go. Angel and Kaida each helped the other two girls.
"Help us," Daniela said, staring up with brown eyes from inside the crevice. There were seven more girls.
"Just transform and fly up," Avery said, hands on her hips.
"That's against the exam rules," Kaida said.
"It's the smart thing to do," Avery said. "Unless someone wants to jump in—" she stopped as Emma did just that, landing easily on her feet, landing in the crouching position.
"I'll boost them up and you guys pull them over," Emma said, helping the first girl up.
"And how do you plan to get out?" Avery asked, staring down at the girl.
"I'm not injured," Emma said. "I'll climb."
About ten minutes later, all the girls were out of the crevice and Emma was getting helped out by Cicada and Cassandra.
"See, Avery…" Angel turned to where Avery had been, only to see the girl was gone.
"She ran off to finish the test first," Daniela said, offended.
"Then let her," Cicada said.
"Let's all just finish together," Trend said.
All the girls nodded. "Sounds like a plan," Angel said with a smile.
"Congratulations, girls," Palladium said once they were all back. The girls, aside from the Vixen, were all scratching at their legs, which had developed rashes. Avery sat to the side, sulking a bit. "And full marks to Angel, Emma, Trend, Cicada, and Kaida. Not only did you follow the Voice of Nature, but you helped save all your classmates. Everyone else, for those of you that chose to go through the flowers, I will distribute the cream for your rashes once we are back at Alfea and your legs should be cleared up in a few days time if you will only stop scratching."
The girls of Vixen all smiled and high-fived one another.
"Let's here it for the Vixen!" Cicada called out and the other girls all cheered.
—
A woman stared down from the top of the plateau, anger. She knew better than to attack with a professor present. As it was, it seemed their test was over. But, she was impressed. Six of the girls hadn't fallen into her traps. Five should have been crushed by her destroying the wall. But they had anticipated and outran it. The sixth girl, well, there was something about that girl. Gaea nearly suspected that the girl had known she was watching.
"If that was your attempt at a first attack against the filthy schools of Magix, it was rather pitiful," a man said, water coming up from the ground and forming into a shape of a man. It solidified.
The woman turned her mud brown eyes to the man. "It was merely a test," Gaea said. She brushed her hair off her shoulder, and a few clumps of dirt fell to the ground. "Or would you like to go. Test their limits?"
The man chuckled, his skin shaded blue. "No, no," he said, shaking his head. "You were chosen to go first. I'll allow you to have your fun." He mocked bowed, his black-blue hair falling into his blue eyes.
"Believe me," Gaea said, noticing his mockery, "when I attack, it will destroy them. The schools won't know what hit them."
I hope you've enjoyed this chapter. It took me a little longer than I expected because I changed a lot of scenes.
First, I've shown Avery a little bit more, being mean to Palladium. I want to better establish her as a character earlier this time around, because the first time around, we didn't see much of her until her project with Angel. I added a scene with her last chapter, and plan to do one next chapter as well.
I also started showing some of Emma's training in this chapter. Where it didn't really start until the second season the first time around, I wanted to establish that she's had Specialist training her whole life, not just one summer.
As well, there are two 'red shirt' characters now, Daniela and Cassandra. I now have two girls that can make comments in class and such, so yay for that. I'm thinking I'm going give Cassandra visions eventually.
Also, just a thought, what would you think about a side story about Helena, Phillip, and their friends. Totally separate from this.
So, how do you like this one compared to the original? Is the revamp worth it?
