A/N: I'm sorry for the ungodly long hiatus, loves. Honestly, I joined new fandoms, made more ideas, and lost inspiration for this story. The plot was running stagnant, and I was left with all this filler material, so I was debating just ending this story at the Interlude since it ends on a somewhat acceptable note. But, after the continued interest and after I worked a few things out, I've decided that I do want to continue this story. So, instead of ending at the Interlude and creating a sequel, I'm going to fast forward the story clock a year so I can catch up and go from there.
This chapter is kind of another interlude (those chapters will always have names instead of just 'chapter x'), but it sets the stage for the events to come. I hope you loves enjoy! XOXOX!
One Year Later
A shadowy figure ran through the labyrinthine streets of Magix City, sticking as close to the shadows as possible. Search lights were on her heels, seeking her out, hoards of dirty cops ready to take her down. But she was faster. She knew these streets, knew them like the back of her hand. Maybe one day she would get caught, but today was not that day, not when the forest was in sight. Once she slipped past the line of trees, she would be home free.
Sirens wailed, coming in closer, but she did not let them distract her. As soon as the first brush of pine needles scraped across her pale cheeks, she felt a burst of adrenaline. She was so close, almost to her destination.
The winged gates of what was formerly the Alfea College for Fairies stood bent but proud, marking the last vestige of what used to be the best school in the Magical Dimension. She passed under those gates, feeling the security charms and perception filters wash over her, recognizing her as friend and not foe. Flood lights lit up the Quad, a few of her sisters clad in black leather jumping out from behind the ruins to ensure that she was not an intruder. When they recognized her face, they greeted her with hugs and pats on the back. Even if they were not close when the school was still standing, they were close now, bound by unspeakable tragedy.
Inside the bunker, everyone was moving about faster than she had seen before. Specialists and fairies alike were busy at their tasks, making sure that reports were run and the defenses were guarded. She wondered what she had missed in her two days' absence.
"Musa, there you are," Headmistress Faragonda said, examining her pupil's appearance for any sign of injury. "We were beginning to worry when you would not answer you burner."
"It got lost in the chase," Musa apologized, not worried about losing a phone that could not be traced back to them.
"Hmmmmph," the Headmistress sighed, gesturing for Musa to follow her into her private office - a corner square with metal beams and glass for walls. Hardly private, but it created the illusion.
Stella was already waiting for them, her hands folded neatly behind her back. They did not greet one another with words, only a subtle nod of the head. Ever since this started, Stella had closed herself off, unwilling to open up to anyone like she used to. It was a strange thing to get used to, but Musa had come to accept that everyone dealt with tragedy in their own way, and losing one's best friend and romantic interest in the span of a few days was enough to make anyone cold and closed off.
"I need your full report," Headmistress Faragonda said as she sat down behind her desk, pushing her speaker forward and pressing record. She did this for every mission in order to keep track of every detail.
"In a week's time, the Trix are planning on moving the Army of Decay south towards Lake Roccaluce. They think that with the larger space, and the strong magical potential of the area, they can open up a stronger portal to the neighboring system."
"And you are sure this information is valid?"
"Riven said he checked it by Darcy herself."
"Very well," Headmistress Faragonda hummed, mulling things over. "If this movement is in fact happening, then it could really turn the tide of the war."
"We could finally get an upper hand on those witches," Stella added, her tone and gaze containing barely-suppressed rage. While Musa knew that her real anger was aimed at Bloom, the succubus was not around, and so the Trix were the ones to face the brunt of her fury.
"We don't have any time to waste. We're dying by the minute; I doubt we'll make it to the end of the month before the rations run out. We have to seize any chance we get, no matter how risky," Musa implored, hoping to get through to her superior.
Headmistress Faragonda was quiet for a few moments, thinking everything through. She had become exceedingly cautious ever since the initial attacks, not wanting to injure any more of her students. It was understandable, but a war with this much at stake was no time to play it safe.
"Musa, Stella, gather the girls for a meeting. I will go pass on word to Headmaster Saladin," Headmistress Faragonda instructed, already putting herself into battle mode. "If all goes well, this time next week, this war could be over."
It sounded hopeful, far more hopeful than anything any of them had heard in far too long. It was a nice feeling, to have something other than an oppressive weight bearing down on their shoulders.
Stella nodded sharply and left the room, not even bothering to wait for a proper dismissal. Musa watched her spread the word to those in the bunker, so Musa decided to start at the fringes.
The Quad was shielded by illusion and barrier spells, some of the strongest Griselda could summon. Still, despite the reinforcement, Musa hated being outside for long. It felt like playing with fire, taking an unnecessary risk. Besides, she already had nightmares of the bodies of her decomposing classmates turning out of this same soil and eating them alive. She didn't want to stumble across any of the bodies she happened to miss.
There was one woman, however, who courted danger. The one woman who was still a mystery even after she had shown up at Alfea's gates months ago.
In the center of the Quad, Princess Aisha of Andros was engaged in a sparring match with two other girls, a ring of both Specialists and fairies surrounding them. They were watching the fight with rapt attention, Aisha shouting things out as she struck her opponents, taking them down with ease. It was both impressive to watch, and difficult, as Musa would have thought that these girls would have been getting better at hand to hand combat after all their training. However, it remained that some people, no matter how hard they try, just were not cut out for the battlefield.
"You can't just knock them on their backs, you have to finish them," she said gruffly, pulling one of the girls up by her ponytail, yanking her head back as she exposed her throat. With her free hand, Aisha pulled out a long, serrated knife and held it to her throat. "You have to cut off the head, or cut out the heart. Then, you burn the body. It's the only way to make sure those bitches stay gone."
Aisha released the girl, who rubbed at her throat with shaking hands. She looked terrified, and Musa didn't blame her. Musa didn't think that she would trust Aisha with a knife that close to her throat either, not after seeing how intense the warrior princess could be.
"Get up," Aisha grunted at the other girl who was sporting a nasty red welt to the side of her face. "Anyone else want to go a round before sundown?"
Unsurprisingly, no one volunteered. Musa took that as her cue.
"Sorry to break up the party, but Faragonda needs everyone in the bunker. There's a meeting in five."
Everyone scrambled, eager for an excuse not to be tossed around like rag dolls. Aisha only seemed mildly annoyed, but Musa had come to find that was her resting face, so it was hard to tell what the princess was actually thinking.
With everyone gone, Aisha allowed her posture to relax. She reached down and picked up her canteen, taking a long swig of what Musa hoped was water but could not be sure. Her pixie was buzzing around her head now, burying itself in Aisha's wild curls. That pixie was the only thing that really seemed to take her edge off, the lines in her face smoothing out, the fire in her eyes dying to embers.
"I didn't know you were still offering succubus classes."
"Of course. Why wouldn't I?" Aisha asked aloofly, those turquoise eyes staring down at Musa, scrutinizing her. At first, Musa hated that gaze; it felt like Aisha was trying to tear her apart and look under her skin. After being around her for so long, Musa was desensitized to the intimidation now.
"I don't know, just doesn't seem to be practical with the Trix and the Army out there."
"Have to stay ready," she replied shortly, looking out into the distance, scanning the trees for any sign of intruders. It was a paranoid habit, one that Musa caught her doing often, but never said anything about. When Aisha looked back down, Musa was still staring, which Aisha did not seem to like. Her lips curled down into a frown, and she crossed her arms over her chest. "What? Why are you looking at me like that?"
"It's been a year since Bloom left. Magix Police Department closed the case. The Eraklyan Guard has given up. Maybe we need to accept that she's not coming back."
"If there's one thing I know about succubi, it's that they always come back. Always," Aisha said with full confidence, her gaze unflinching. Musa wanted to badly to believe her, but there were other more immediate problems at hand than a runaway sex demon. Then, Aisha's lips quirked up, her smile more tease than malice. "Besides, I thought you liked having me around."
"I do," Musa agreed. At first, Musa had resented Aisha, didn't trust her with anything. Now, she considered the wayward princess to be a close friend. She did not know how she would have survived these terrible times without her.
"No point in me staying if there's no succubus to catch."
"I thought we might have swayed you with our cause to stay anyway."
"There's a thousand other things I could be doing with my time than fighting your war," Aisha replied, her eyes boring holes into Musa's, pining her to the spot. "I choose to be here for one reason, and one reason only. Don't forget that."
Aisha turned on her heel, yellow grass crunching under her boots as she stomped off. Musa let out a heavy sigh. She was used to being disappointed these days. At least the princess was here now, and that was all Musa could ask for.
Spying no one else on the Quad, Musa turned around and headed back inside. The halls that remained had been swept of debris, most of it used in the construction of the underground bunker. What was left was a crumbling shell of the building Musa used to call a school. She was almost to the entry point when a familiar voice distracted her.
"Musa, I did not hear you return."
She turned to see Tecna walking up to her, PDA in hand as she checked the travel logs.
"I just got back," Musa lied, having already been to the Headmistress' office and to the sparring range. But Tecna didn't need to know that. It would only hurt her unnecessarily. "I missed you babe."
"And I you," Tecna replied in turn, leaning down to accept the kiss offered to her. Even though the months had brought them closer, she was still hesitant to accept public affection. "I trust the mission went well?"
"Without a hitch."
Tecna started to frown, unable to stop her disapproval from showing. "You know, there is a seventy four point two three percent chance that Riven is in fact spying on you for the Trix."
"I am very aware, which is why I am always very careful," Musa assured, rubbing her hands up and Tecna's arms. "I want to trust him, babe. He's been on our side before; he was a Specialist, remember? There's still good in him. We have to believe that."
Tecna was not convinced. "And if he is not? If he is only participating in these illicit affairs for nefarious purposes? What then?"
Musa took a step back, sensing something else at play. "Tecna, are you...jealous?"
"Nonsense. I am aware that your relationship with Riven was fabricated strictly on the basis of gathering information," Tecna said, her face crumpling into something distasteful. However, there was no hiding the surge of anguish running behind those violet irises. Tecna reached out and framed one of Musa's cheeks, fingers tracing over delicate cheekbones. "I simply do not wish to see you, nor any of our friends, get hurt."
"I won't," Musa swore, leaning up on tip toes to press soft kisses to Tecna's cheeks and forehead, trying her best to soothe her lover. This was as close as Tecna would ever come to being emotional, to admitting any kind of weakness. Musa always felt privileged when she let her see the woman behind the machine. Tecna's heart was in her hands, and it was Musa's job to make sure it was always functioning at full capacity. There was only one way to convey the kind of affection Musa was feeling right now, the kind of love that threatened to consume her body and soul. "Come to bed with me."
"We have a meeting - "
"Please."
Tecna's eyes fluttered shut as she leaned forward to rest her forehead against Musa's, slowly nodding her consent, their temples rubbing together.
Musa reached down and laced their fingers together, pulling Tecna in the opposite direction of the bunker. Their old room was just up the stairs, still in tact despite a few added cracks and dents. There was nothing the meeting could tell Tecna that Musa could not fill her in on later. After Musa had reaffirmed her lover that she wasn't going anywhere in the only language she knew they would both understand.
Thunder rolled over what was once the Cloud Tower School for Witches. Now, it was the fortress for the Trix, their very own castle from which to rule Magix over.
There were no more witches there to give them trouble or take it back. The students that saw the light and chose to follow them were allowed to live, and those who defied them were either imprisoned in the dungeons or executed in a number of terrible ways. Icy had frozen some with her ice dragon. Darcy had driven a few to madness. Stormy had electrocuted far too many people to count, but they had to stop her from filling the halls with the stench.
Their kingdom was built on death, and it didn't seem likely to stop soon.
Icy picked at her nails and studied the map of Magix, trying to figure out her next move.
The Trix had been stagnant in their pursuit for power. One year, and they hadn't even left this Dragon-forsaken planet. It was annoying to say the least, but there was little they could do other than start a massacre every time the people in the city still clung to the hope that they would be freed. It was the damn Resistance's fault. Icy could feel it in her bones. That rag-tag group of rebel fairies had been nothing but a pain in her side since the destruction of Alfea. It was like they didn't know when to give up.
Icy slammed her fist on the mahogany table that once used to be Headmistress Griffin's. Now, everything in this lavish office was hers, and Icy had to admit, when she looked at her spoils, she felt good. However, no amount of sitting in a high-backed chair, ruling over her alma mater and shouting out orders would compare to finally getting off of this planet and conquering somewhere new.
"I'm bored," Stormy droned, her body draped over one of the settees. She was busying herself tossing a crystal ball in the air, catching it gracefully each time.
"Then why don't you get off your lazy ass and do something," Icy snapped. She hadn't seen Stormy contribute anything productive to the cause in the last few weeks. Her sister was dead weight, and Icy was getting tired of carrying her to greatness.
"Yeah Stormy, it's starting to get a little wide," Darcy quipped from across the room, lowering the ancient text in her hand to cast her sister an unapologetic smirk.
"Quit your witching, Darcy. As if you're any better," Icy scoffed, feeling satisfied when Darcy's face contorted into a scowl, burying herself back into her book. "You're both nothing but a hindrance, two irksome little children."
"Wow, for a second you started to sound like mom," Darcy said dryly, her eyes cutting daggers from over the tops of her glasses.
Icy's hands curled into fists, and the temperature in the room dropped ten degrees. If there was one thing she hated, it was being compared to that woman.
There was about to be a full blown fight when the doors to the office blew open, adding a fourth member to the party.
"The prodigal son returns," Stormy announced sarcastically, studying her nails.
Riven strode into the room, a smug look on his face as he presented himself to his mistresses.
"Did she buy it?" Darcy asked, patting the spot next to her, inviting him to join her on the sofa.
"Hook line and sinker. That dumb whore is so weak for me, I think she would believe anything I told her," Riven boasted as he settled on the black velvet cushions, arms tossed over the back while he spread his legs in the typical cocky male pose. Darcy curled up next to him, hanging on his every word. Icy was no longer sure what was an act, and what was true affection. "All she has to do now is see that the information I passed along is credible, and she'll be taking me to where she and her little friends are hiding in no time."
Icy did not like his overconfidence, her eyes narrowing dangerously in the hopes of knocking his ego down a peg. "For your sake, I hope that's true."
Darcy pouted, annoyed with her sister's brooding act. She placed a hand over Riven's heart, drawing his attention as she crawled into his lap.
"Ignore the frigid bitch. I am so proud of you. Someone deserves a reward for a job well done," Darcy teased, her tone low against the shell of Riven's ear. "I hope fucking that little fairy didn't tire you out too much,"
"Couldn't get it up thinking about anyone else but you, babe."
"Gag me," Stormy said and she stuck out her tongue, repulsed by the scene.
Icy was growing tired of the show as well. Her sister was acting juvenile, so far beneath the powerful queen she should be. Half of the time, Icy was torn between freezing the Specialist's balls off or freezing his heart. But, as loathe as she was to admit it, the boy did have some value. He was their closest shot at taking down the Resistance at the moment, and so, Icy would have to suffer. But that didn't mean she had to like it.
"If you miscreants are going to defile one another then it will be out of the sanctity of my throne room," Icy said bitterly, the temperature in the room lowering to match her frosty mood.
"Your throne room?" Stormy asked, affronted.
Icy rolled her eyes. "Our throne room. Happy?"
"Here, I did find this," Riven said, pulling something out of his pocket and tossing it towards Icy. She caught it with ease, the object no bigger than a phone.
In fact, it was a phone. Dirty and cracked from where it had no doubt been dropped, but it still lit up when Icy hit the power button.
"And what am I supposed to do with this?"
"It's Musa's. I thought maybe it could be useful."
"Maybe we could try a locator spell," Darcy suggested, now interested in the mission.
"Doubtful it would work. This looks like a burner; she wouldn't have had it long enough," Icy mused, scanning over every detail carefully. "But there could be something on it that could help us."
Riven wore that smug, self-satisfied smile again. "You're welcome."
Icy sneered, so close to shoving an icicle in his throat. "You should be thanking me for letting you breathe."
Both Riven and Darcy frowned, the couple getting up and leaving the office, probably off to the bedroom where Icy hoped they would remain until they got all of that disgusting energy out of their bodies.
"Stormy, take the phone to the others. One of them is bound to know something," she instructed, holding out the device for her sister to take.
"Do you really think this is going to work?" she asked, glaring at the place where Riven once sat. It was nice to know that Icy was not alone in her hatred of the Specialist.
"If it doesn't, we will take the Army and storm Alfea and make sure that this time, nothing remains," Icy swore, wearing her cruelest smile. "And then we can enjoy ripping that foolish little boy limb from limb."