~~~~Previously~~~~~

The Scoutix break up into teams and go in search of eight special items in order to get through to Rachel. Carmen, Rexx, and Draegan head off to Zevia in order to obtain the fire stone from its volcano. After Carmen found the stone, they were attacked by the demon Shezac. Carmen was able to earn her Charmix and put an end the fire serpent. ~~~~

Aquatica

"So this is Aquatica." Felicity said.

Rafe nodded and looked around at the area. The town floated above the water with bridges connecting each building. "All the homes and businesses float on the water. The moon flower should be in a place where the moon shines brightest."

"That could be anywhere." Felicity said.

Rafe sighed and smiled a little. "We'll find it Filly. Let's first look for a lush area. Somewhere with a lot of plant life."

Felicity nodded and transformed, flying up into the air. "There's a small forest on the other side of the lake. Perhaps we can find it there."

Rafe and Felicity made their way across the lake, looking around the forest. "It's a lot bigger than we thought."

"It seemed smaller in town." Felicity said. "Do we even know what it looks like?"

Rafe shook his head and leaned up against a tree. "Not a clue, but something tells me that we will know it when we see it."

"You won't be seeing much of anything after this." Krista said, throwing her boomerangs at Rafe.

Rafe winced and looked at Krista. "Let me guess, Rangda sent you."

"You're a sharp one." Neva said. "How long did it take you to figure that one out?"

Felicity turned to Neva and glared. "You must be Neva."

Neva snickered, turning her attention to Felicity. "And you must be a blonde bimbo. I'm going to enjoy ripping you apart. Frost Arrow!"

Felicity dodged the attack and readied one of her own. "Orb of Light!"

"Twin Shadow Boomerangs!" Krista called out, throwing her weapons at Felicity.

Felicity cried out in pain and fell to the ground. "Cheap trick."

"Felicity?!" Rafe called out, running over to her. "Listen to me. You go on ahead and find that flower. I'll hold them off for as long as I can."

Felicity shook her head and sat up. "I can't let you face them on your own."

"I'll be fine." Rafe said. "If you don't get that flower, you won't be able to help your friend. Get out of here while you still can."

Felicity nodded and flew off through the forest. 'Don't let him die. Where could that flower be? And it's getting darker, which will make it more difficult to find.'

"Do you really think that you can take us both on?" Krista asked.

"You have no idea who you're messing with." Rafe said.

Neva smiled and moved a little closer to him. "You're the one that doesn't know who he's messing with. We're not just pretty faces."

Rafe smirked and stood up. "You two are the ugliest girls I've ever seen."

Krista growled a little and readied another attack. "Shadow Bind!"

"Ice Bullets!"

Rafe dodged the attacks and fired off one of his own. "Star Shower!"

Felicity found herself crashing to the ground in front of small flower bed. "There's no sign of the flower anywhere. Maybe there aren't any left."

At that moment, a strange light shone down through the trees and landed on the flower bed. The entire area started to glow, making the flowers more vibrant than ever. Growing from the center was white and blue flower with a silver center.

"It's beautiful." Felicity said. "Your lucky little flower. You can grow and be beautiful without having to worry about what people think."

"It's going to take more than that pretty boy." Krista said.

Neva laughed and walked up to Rafe. "It's a shame that we have to fight you. I'd really hate to mess up that pretty face."

"I can handle you two no problem." Rafe said. "Starlight Ray!"

Neva winced and dropped to her knees. "He's got more power than we thought."

Krista glared and threw her weapons once more. "I'm not finished yet. Shadow Boomerang Blast!"

Rafe dodged the attack and smirked. "I expected more. Starlight Shower!"

Krista cried out in pain and fell to the ground. "This isn't over." With that, the girls disappeared without a trace.

"I only wanted to be like the other kids." Felicity said. "Rafe was the only one that cared about what I wanted. I know that everyone thinks I'm stuck up, but that's not who I want to be. The truth is that I'm afraid people won't like me if I'm not on top of all the latest fashion. Or if I don't look the way they want." At that moment, a brooch and bag appeared. "Charmix." She smiled and used her magic to gently pick up the flower. "It's easier to talk to a flower. And thanks to you, I earned my Charmix. Now to get back to Rafe."

Rafe fell to his knees and breathed heavily. 'I'm more tired than I thought. Those two were strong, but I couldn't let them know just how weak I was.'

Rave smirked and walked out of the shadows. "Shadow Chains!"

Rafe struggled to break free, keeping his gaze on Rave. "Release me."

"Stop trying to fight." Rave said. "We both know that you're far too weak to do anything."

"How long have been standing in the shadows?" Rafe asked.

"Throughout the entire battle." Rave said. "All I had to do was let those two wear you down. They aren't exactly that smart. Otherwise they would've known how weak you truly are. It's just you and me."

Rafe winced and fell to the ground. "Felicity will stop you."

"I don't think so." Rave said. "She won't make it back here in time. I didn't come alone. My friend will make sure of that."

Felicity winced and leaned up against a tree. "I'm still tired from those attacks."

"Are you lost little girl?" A voice asked.

Felicity looked around, not seeing anyone. "Who's there?"

A figure formed in the shadows in the shape of a wolf. "I am Arric." He circled around her and growled a little. "I can't allow you to go any further."

"Get out of my way." Felicity said, wincing a little.

Arric laughed and pounced, pinning her to the ground. "It would be so easy to kill you right now. Although, you are quite useful." At that moment, shadow vines wrapped around her arms, legs and neck. "You're not going where now."

"What do you want with me?" Felicity asked, struggling to get free.

"Simple." Arric said. "I want you to be engulfed in the darkness. Become a puppet for my mistress."

'It's no use.' Felicity thought. 'I'm too weak to fight back and these vines are keeping me from using my magic. Lyon. I need you. Why am I calling out to him? He wouldn't care about me. That guy doesn't care about anyone. Still, I want him to rescue me. I can't possibly have feelings for him. He did protect me at one point. And now he's too far away. I have to send the flower back to Alfea.' At that moment, the flower disappeared in an orb of light.

"Stop struggling little girl." Arric said. "Give in to the shadow."

Felicity's eyes glazed over as her body became limp. "The...shadows..." Within seconds she was unconscious.

Arric laughed and disappeared with Felicity. "Another pet for my mistress."

"Felicity can handle anything you throw at her." Rafe said.

Rave laughed and smirked a little. "I wouldn't be so sure about that. My little friend has already captured her. Within no time, she'll be just another demon puppet."

Rafe winced and fell unconscious. 'Felicity. It can't be true.'

Rave smiled a little and disappeared with Rafe. 'I knew this wouldn't take long.'

Shadow Lair

"You've done well Rave." Rangda said, looking down upon Felicity and Rafe.

Arric released a small howl and stood beside his mistress. "Two for the price of one."

"Wake them." Rangda said.

Rave smirked and snapped his fingers, causing Felicity and Rafe to open their eyes. "These weaklings didn't stand a chance."

"Where am I?" Felicity asked.

Rafe struggled and glared at Rangda. "Let us go witch."

Rangda laughed as Felicity appeared beside her. "You're in no position to give orders. Poor boy. You couldn't even save your little sister." At that moment, a dark red aura engulfed Felicity.

"Felicity?!" Rafe called out. "Leave her alone! I'm the one you want."

Rangda smiled as the aura cleared, revealing Felicity as a demonic harpy. "Why should I settle for one of you when I can have you both? Rise Phynera!"

Felicity stood and stretched out her wings, letting off a loud screech. "Yes mistress."

"No." Rafe said, looking down a little. "Felicity."

Rangda laughed, focusing her attention on Rafe. "Now it's your turn."

Rafe kept his gaze on the floor, waiting to be turned into a demon himself. 'Filly. I couldn't protect you. Forgive me.' As Rangda came closer, a bright light engulfed him.

'Go now Rafe. I know you want to save Felicity, but there's nothing you can do now. You need time to regain your energy. I can't keep this up for much longer. Hurry.'

Rafe fisted his hands and disappeared in a flash of light. 'Thank you. Please. Help me save her.'

'You are not the one meant to save her. The only one that can get through to her is the one she loves.'

"Where is he?!" Rangda called out, growing angry.

'She intervened again, but I can't let Rangda know.' Asher thought.

"No matter." Rangda said. "I still have my newest pet. Phynera."

Phynera flew up into the air and landed in front of Rangda, bowing. "What is your command?"

"Go to Tempesta." Rangda said. "Destroy the basilisk spores before those goody goods find them. And if you run into them. Well, I'm sure you can figure that out."

Phynera nodded and flew off into the night sky. 'I will not fail my mistress.'

Tempesta

"Try not to runaway when things get scary." Lyon said, walking with Rosella into a cave.

Rosella ignored Lyon, wanting to focus on finding the spores. "We're here to find the spores. According to the legends, they are somewhere in this cave."

Phynera flew through the sky and entered the cave through a hole in the ceiling. 'Found the spores.' She then landed and was about to destroy the spores, when she heard voices. 'That must be the ones I was told about.' Hiding in the shadows, she awaited for her prey to alive.

"Those look like spores." Lyon said, pointing some gold and black spores on the cave wall.

Rosella smiled and made her way over to them. "The legends were true. This is it." She then pulled out a bottle and filled it with the spores. "That should be enough."

Phynera watched from the shadows and smiled before screeching and flying up into the light. "Time for you to die."

Rosella transformed and flew up into the air. "I was hoping that things would go more smoothly."

"Nothing is ever easy sweetheart." Lyon said as his nunchuks formed. "Bring it on bird face."

Phynera glared and dived down towards Lyon. "Wind Blade!"

Lyon winced, barely blocking the attack. "You'll have to do better than that birdy."

"Light Arrow!"

Phynera smirked and dodged the attack. "You can't hit me fairy. I'm quicker in the air. Wind Blast!"

Rosella cried out in pain as she was slammed against the wall. "She's strong."

"What gave that away?" Lyon asked. "Terra Wave!"

Phynera laughed, not even phased by the attack. "Your little earth attacks won't work on me. I just have to stay in the air."

"Unicorn Rush!"

Phynera dodged the attack and screeched again. "None of your attacks can hit me. You can never win."

Lyon glared and prepared another attack. "This isn't over demon. Terra Blast!"

Phynera winced and charged at Lyon, ripping his shirt. "Stupid boy."

"Light Arrow!"

Phynera blocked the attack with her wing and snickered. "That's not enough to take me down." She then turned her attention back to Lyon and pinned him to the wall. "I'm going to enjoy this."

Lyon struggled, wincing a little. "You're even uglier up close."

"Stop trying to make her angry." Rosella said.

Phynera screeched as her claws dug into Lyon's shoulders. "You're going to die down here."

Lyon winced as he begun to bleed. "I'm not dead yet. What are you waiting for?"

"No on is going to save you." Phynera said. "Pony girl is too afraid to do anything. Even she knows that it's pointless to fight back against me."

Rosella breathed heavily, growing weaker by the minute. "You're wrong. I'm not afraid. The fear I once had is gone. No. I am afraid. Afraid of losing my friends. They've been there for me from the very beginning. Everyone has something their afraid of. You just have to have the courage to face that fear and break past it. I want to be strong so I can protect the people I care about."

"Are you finished yet?" Phynera asked. "That little speech of yours is so pathetic."

"I don't care." Rosella said. "I am afraid, but that won't stop me from fighting back." At that moment, a pink, flower-shaped brooch with a pink pearl in the center formed on her chest along with a pink bag with a purple lotus on her hip.

Lyon winced as he continued to bleed. "Would you just do something already?"

"It doesn't matter." Phynera said. "You still can't hit me."

Rosella kept her gaze on Phynera as she started to glow. "We'll see about that. Light Arrow Shower!"

Phynera cried out in pain and released Lyon, before flying up towards the hole. "This isn't over. You won't be so lucky next time." With that, she took off into the sky.

"Took you long enough." Lyon said.

Rosella nodded and returned to normal. "Better late than never. Let's get out of here."

"You're not half bad." Lyon said. "It's odd. That demon seemed familiar."

"How many demons do you know?" Rosella asked.

"None." Lyon said, as they headed back to Alfea.

Shadow Lair

"Phynera failed." Asher said.

Rangda smirked and chuckled a little. "It doesn't matter. Her wounds will heal quickly. That's why I chose that healing fairy. She's a demon they can't destroy."

Phynera landed in front of Rangda and bowed. "I will accept any punishment you see fit mistress."

Arric yawned and laid down. 'She is a perfect pet for my mistress.'

"I have no intention of punishing you my dear." Rangda said. "Instead, I will give you more power. All you have to do is sleep for a while."

Phynera nodded and stood up. "As you wish mistress."

"Good." Rangda said as a black bird cage appeared. "This is where you will stay until I say. You will regain your energy in this and remain in slumber until I summon you. Now step inside."

Phynera stepped into the cage and perched on the wooden beam, falling into a deep slumber. 'I will have my revenge on that fairy.'

Rangda smiled as the cage locked and disappeared. "Those fools won't know what hit them."

"Where did you send her?" Asher asked.

"She's locked away in a pit of hell fire." Rangda said. "Her power will grow stronger along with the hold I have on her. Now stop questioning my decisions." She then smirked and gave her amulet a squeeze.

Asher winced and dropped to his knees. "Forgive me mistress."

"That's good my pet." Rangda said, laughing a little.

Alfea

Carmen sat next to Rexx in the infirmary, hoping that he would recover fast. "I won't leave your side Rexx."

Rexx smiled and grabbed Carmen's hand. "I'm fine Carmen. The burns will heal in time. I don't blame you. None of this was your fault."

Carmen nodded and laid her head on the bed. "I know that. I just wish that there was something else I could do."

Rosella walked into the infirmary and smiled upon seeing Carmen. "You two seem to be doing alright."

"Rosella. I take it that you found the spores." Carmen said.

Rosella nodded and sat down. "Yeah. We barely got out of there alive."

"Why?" Carmen asked. "What happened?"

"A harpy." Lyon said, glancing over at Rexx. "You look like crap."

"How did things go for you?" Rosella asked.

"We found the fire stone." Carmen said. "I had to dive into molten lava, but I got it."

Rexx laughed a little and winced. "I could say the same to you. I'll be fine in a few days or weeks or months."

"I think that I can help with that." Rosella said. "Healing Light!"

Rexx smiled and looked to Rosella. "Thanks a lot. I feel much better."

"You still need to rest." Carmen said.

"What caused this?" Rosella asked.

"Just a lava snake demon." Carmen said. "I kicked its butt and even earned my charmix."

'A lava demon.' Rosella thought. "That makes both of us. I wonder if anyone else has."

"I'm not sure." Carmen said. "So far it's just me, you and Daniel. That's all I know anyway."

Rosella sighed and looked out the window. "I hope everyone else is having luck finding things."

"A flower did appear." Carmen said. "I haven't seen Felicity or Rafe though."

Rafe appeared in the infirmary, breathing heavily. 'I made it.'

"Rafe." Rosella said. "Healing Light!"

Rafe looked up at Rosella before sitting up. "Thanks."

"What happened to you man?" Rexx asked.

"I had a run in with a few of those Collectors." Rafe said, wincing a little. "Three of them. I managed to get rid of the girls."

Lyon sighed and helped Rafe on to a bed. "Don't mention this to anyone."

"Krista and Neva." Carmen said.

"What about Felicity?" Rosella asked. "Where is she?"

Rafe looked down and gripped his arm. "I told her to find the flower. The only trouble I had was with that guy, Rave."

"Rafe." Rosella said. "What happened to Felicity?"

Rafe continued to look down, not wanting to meet any of their gazes. "We were taken back to their hideout. That witch has Felicity. I couldn't save her. All I could do was watch as that witch turned her into that awful harpy."

"Harpy." Rosella said.

"Is something wrong?" Rafe asked.

"We were attacked by a harpy." Lyon said. "It was almost as if I knew her. That thing is Felicity."

Rosella looked down before walking over to window. "Not only do we have to save Rachel, but Felicity as well. Who else is going to get hurt?"

"That witch is bringing down our numbers." Carmen said. "Picking us off one by one."

Rosella sighed and turned back to face everyone. "It won't happen again. We're going to show that witch just who she's messing with."

Mystea

"The best place to find the vruenera would be the mountains." Catarina said.

Gale nodded and made his way to the mountains with Catarina. "Let's just hope that we are able to find a feather."

"It can't be just any feather." Catarina said. "We have to pluck it from the vruenera's tail. These birds are very hostile."