Stella let out another yawn. These past few days she hasn't got any proper sleep. Saving Roxy from the Wizards' attempt of kidnapping her, fighting the Wizards, and then meeting Duman the next night as if they hadn't been against each other. And last night she couldn't sleep either, after taking some animal thieves she had gone to the park to meet Duman and get an explanation that he had promised he would give her. But he never showed up. Was he still hurt after the fight or was he afraid that Bloom or any of the other girls was near? But the question remains to Stella;
Why do they chase fairies?
She was heading back towards the Love and Pet shop, she had decided before it would open she would go to a cafe shop and eat breakfast there, and read the Book of Fairies. She didn't want to put energy on making a simple breakfast, Stella did actually deserve a luxury breakfast after all this work. She had brought her fairy pet with her as a company but the puppy was sleeping in the bag and had done it the whole morning. So much for a company.
"Sometimes I really miss Solaria," Stella mumbled while looking at her phone.
She scrolled through the news from a gossip site about the latest in Solaria. Of course, there were always rumours about her father or mother in those gossip articles but she had always scrolled past those. A little bit nostalgic was it for her to scroll through the media and see her home planet.
"Excuse me!" a grumpy voice was heard and Stella looked up from her phone to the angry girl. "There is a line here!"
She pointed with her thumb behind her and Stella followed with her gaze. She had arrived at the Love and Pet shop, but when she was looking on her phone, she had completely missed the line.
Stella glanced down at her phone and saw the clock was 10.30 am, the shop opened 30 minutes ago.
"Is it already this many people?" Stella groaned, feeling more tired just looking at the line.
"Duh," the girl answered. "you should have been here earlier if you wanted to get first in line. They won't let us in yet until others have come out of the store."
Stella rolled a bit with her eyes, she didn't ask for that comment.
"Wait a minute!" a young teenage girl says. "You look like the fairy! The fairy of the shining sun!"
Now people peaked their heads up and looked at Stella.
"Now when you say that," a man comments. "she really looks like the fairy!"
"It's true! It's really her!"
"Can I get your autograph?" another woman says and is about to pick up a pen while holding her fairy animal in the other hand.
Stella started to shake her head. "I'm sorry, you must have mistaken me for someone else!"
She started to go the opposite way of the entrance. "Sorry, I really have to get to work."
The people seemed a little bit disappointed, did they really mistake an ordinary girl for a fairy? But she looked so alike! But that was the point of being a hero, Stella couldn't reveal that she is a fairy to them.
Instead of thinking if people caught Stella being a fairy, she could already imagine how many people it would be inside of the shop, she had hoped it would be a calm day. But the size of the line tells her it will be overwork today. A figure caught her attention when she saw someone waving, standing in the line, waving towards her.
"Stella!"
It was Brandon. She smiles when he steps out of the line to approach her.
"What brings you here?" Stella crossed her arms instead of her usual tossing herself in his arms.
"Aw c'mon," Brandon said with a smirk. "what's up with the attitude? Tell me what's going on."
Stella felt how it was moving in the bag she was holding, probably the pet had woken up. "I don't know, what's going on with what?"
"Let's see, you're still jealous of Mitzi, aren't you?"
As if.
"Mitzi? Yeah right, such a horrible dresser, I can't see why I should be jealous."
"When a girl is jealous," a noisy girl started to speak who stood in the line next to them. "there is usually a pretty good reason."
Stella wanted to snap at the girl and tell her to not deal with someone else's business. But with that singing tone and that look the girl gave to Brandon, it was no doubt that the girl found Brandon hot.
"What if I say he was kissing her?" Stella answered with a bit of attitude which made the girl drop her smile.
Another customer turned around, she let out a snort. "Shame on him."
This is something Brandon doesn't like, humiliation. He had stopped smiling a while ago but this was probably the breaking point.
"But I can explain," Brandon tried to save the situation.
"No need to," Stella leaned closer to Brandon. "I am just teasing you."
Stella started to giggle a little and grabbed Brandon's arm. He knows it was a fake laugh coming from her. But Stella kept smiling and laughing. She would rather not discuss this in front of a bunch of strangers.
"Let's take the back door," Stella said to Brandon and started to lead him. "so you don't need to stand in line."
"I'm actually here to meet you," Brandon said and held his arm around her shoulder. "I hope I'm not interrupting your work."
"It's fine," Stella said when they were a bit further away from the customers, she stopped her smiling. "I just arrived anyway."
Both Stella and Brandon let go of each other when they were alone. "What was up with bringing up that I kissed her? I said it was her who kissed me."
"Oh sorry," Stella opened the bag so the fairy animal could fly out after that nap. "I thought you wanted to talk about Mitzi when you brought her up."
"I was just joking around," Brandon explained. "I thought you were tougher than that to handle a joke."
Stella was silent, they had arrived at the door and her fairy animal was eager to rush in to meet the others. Stella wasn't. "Hey Brandon, can we not discuss this? I really didn't appreciate the joke, after all, I really thought you were cheating on me. Even if that wasn't the case, it still. . . leaves a bitter taste in my mouth thinking about it."
Brandon hadn't expected such a comment from Stella, hardly she hadn't expected such an answer from herself.
"I'm sorry," Brandon said, almost speechless. "I didn't think it through. I promise to not bring her up again."
"Thank you," Stella said. "and I apologise for making you look like a dick in front of people."
"I can take it," Brandon said with a smile.
They looked at each other and in normal cases, Stella would probably kiss him. But now it didn't feel necessary to kiss. This felt more like actual adult conservation.
"Wanna stay here and watch me work?" Stella asked, holding her hand towards the door and unlocking it with magic. "Or do you have other plans?"
"If it is okay I stay here for a little bit," Brandon answers. "I kinda want to see how you are in workplaces."
"I'm better than you think," Stella grinned and walked in, Brandon following behind.
When coming in, it was filled with customers, Brandon took a hold of Stella's hand when she started to guide him through the store. Stella told Brandon to take her pet to her station where there was hair products for the animals while she informs Bloom she has arrived. Brandon nodded and walked over there, pretending to be a customer among the others so they didn't start asking him questions.
Stella found Bloom at the desk and approached her from behind.
"Your total will be 15 dollars," Bloom glanced back at Stella.
"Hi Bloom," Stella said low. "there are a lot of customers today."
Bloom handed over some coins back to the customers to then fully turn around to Stella. "I know, we had to close to be able to handle fewer customers inside. What's up with you? Your watch broke?"
"Sorry Bloom, I really forgot the time. I keep hoping this is a nightmare and I will wake up soon at Solaria."
"Hello, welcome to Love and Pet," Bloom said, ignoring just what Stella had just said, telling the customers where to go before looking at Stella again. "Is everything okay with you?"
"Just wonderful Bloom," Stella responded, not feeling wonderful.
She walked over to her station and started immediately working. Some extra dirty animals did Stella bring behind the scenes, away from customers' sights and fixed them with a little bit of magic to get them clean.
"I can recommend this shampoo for your penguin," Stella talked with a customer while fixing a squirrel that had a lot of tangles in its fur. "since they love swimming and take baths regularly, you only need to take this shampoo once in a while. Perhaps two times in a month you can smooth it in. It will be gentle with the skin and leave a good smell afterward that lasts for a good couple of days. If you do it too often, its fur can become more oily and the penguin will have trouble cleaning it on its own."
"Thank you, Stella," the customer grabbed the shampoo and went over to the desk to immediately buy it.
"Never did I think my girlfriend was so good in custom service," Brandon said from where he sat.
"You're her girlfriend?" an elderly lady asked Brandon, he made an unsure nod. "Then why aren't you helping around here? Can't you see I need help?"
"Miss," Stella said. "he isn't working here, he is here visiting me."
The lady only snorted and still held her puddle close to her. Those were the worst customers that Stella knew.
"I'm looking for Stella."
Well, she hates one more type of customer. Stella glanced towards the desk. It is hard to miss who that black hair belonged to.
Mitzi.
Stella handed over the squirrel to the customer and walked to where Bloom was.
"Or is it possible she is still sleeping?" Mitzi said and her two friends giggled.
"Someone looking for me?" Stella said, coming up next to Bloom, giving a bit of a teasing smile. "Hi, looking for a pet?"
Stella felt a hand on her shoulder and by the look on Mitzi's face, it was Brandon. Mitzi's hard cold eyes turned unsure and uncomfortable.
"Um," she started, glancing between Brandon and Stella. "actually, I wanted to speak to you."
"Hi Mitzi," Brandon said, sounded way too cheery for Stella's taste.
"I'm sorry," Stella began. "but if you aren't a customer you have to come after work and speak with me. I hope you won't mind that."
Stella placed her hand around Brandon's waist and escorted him away from Mitzi's and her two little devil friends.
"I don't mind at all," was heard from Mitzi who stormed out of the shop.
Brandon looked over his shoulder when he saw Mitzi leaving and smiled down towards Stella.
"That was handled well," Brandon said encouragingly.
"You think so?" Stella said when they were back at her station.
"Of course, I don't know why but it feels like… nah it is nothing. You handled it great."
"Glad you thought so," Stella said. "I have to be prepared to handle much worse people when I get back home."
Even if Brandon didn't say it, Stella knew what he meant. It felt like she handled this as an actual adult. Stella got handed over the next pet, she got right in to work with a cute hairstyle for the animal. But while doing that, she glanced at Brandon from time to time. He was looking on his phone and made a casual talk with some of the customers. That didn't bother her, but something else was.
• • •
"Nice place you got here," Mitzi said, and it was hard to miss that she was sarcastic.
Having the hideout in sewers is not nice. Duman had his arms crossed and looked up and down at the girls. "There is a lack of furniture though." Mitzi turned to the wizards.
"Our first headquarters was at a warehouse in the suburbs," Gantlos explained. "but it turns out the city's underground is much more useful."
"Useful for what?" Mitzi asked but Gantlos didn't explain further.
The only useful feature of the sewers was to hide. They had been down there for some days now to regain their power but now they were equally strong to the Winx Club, that wasn't acceptable. They had to make them weaker.
Duman heard what the three non-sorcerers girls whispered about but chose to ignore it. He has been silent ever since picking up those girls. He glanced at Ogron who has also been quiet ever since taking them down to the sewers but didn't seem to dislike these girls. They had the same goal after all.
"Quiet," Mitzi hissed. "they're gonna say something."
"Do you want to be like them?" Anagan had help with magic to show a dizzy image of the Winx in their fairy form.
The girls shared some gaze with each other. Who wouldn't want to be able to fly or have magical powers?
"Sure," Mitzi said and tried to sound casual.
"Do you want to be more than them?!" Ogron asked aggressively.
"Yes!"
"Hell yeah!"
"You bet!"
All the girls didn't seem to have a second thought about what they had followed, and this maybe will be a bad outcome. The wizards united to lend over powers to the human girls, and all the girls grew wings from their backs, their hair got styled just like Winx has, and some outfits, so they would look just like their fairy friends.
The next part was something Duman wouldn't quite enjoy, teaching these girls how to use magic. They don't want to lend out their power too long, they rather have these girls be ready to attack for tonight.
"So," the girl, Darma, Duman believed her name was, spoke. "what kind of cool special powers did I get?"
"Nothing," Anagan answered. "we gave you basic magic, perhaps in the future, we can make sure you guys get some extra powers. If you do well against the Winx, of course."
"Make sure I get some lightning powers then," Mitzi said and looked down on her outfit. "I want to zap that girl Stella."
Unbelievable how people haven't connected that the Winx are also the same girls who own the Pet Shop. But they're humans after all.
Duman looked up and down on Mitzi. He has done it before. When she jumped into the arms of Brandon, when she met up with the Winx, and of course when she met the sun fairy. Looking at Mitzi, Duman can't understand what a man, like Casanova, saw in Mitzi when he had the sun itself.
• • •
Stella looked at the girls who were sitting down and were exhausted. She was as well tired, it had become overwork as she had expected but it had gone well at least.
"Warn me the next time it will be so much work," Stella smiled at the group. "I'll leave you a farewell card and you'll never see me again."
"At least business is going well I say," Bloom looked up at Stella.
"Yeah, for my masseur," Stella put her hand on her shoulder and rubbed carefully.
"Guys," Aisha said loudly. "guess who came here to stop by?"
They all turned around and it was Roxy. "Hi guys! Tough day at work?"
"We just closed," Bloom said. "it was much more than we thought."
"We went up with 57% more customers today," Tecna looked up from her phone. "new record than last week."
"Way too much for my liking," Stella made another comment and looked at the clock.
It was still some hours to midnight.
"Oh that's right," Musa said with a grin on her face. "didn't Mitzi say she would come here after work to speak with you?"
"Guess she changed her mind," Stella said with a playful smile back. "didn't dare to come back."
"I came here to ask you guys to come with me to the park," Roxy peaked in. "it's a beautiful evening and it's actually quite warm!"
"That's due to climate change," Tecna explained. "but I wouldn't mind getting some fresh air."
"Being inside all day has made me tired," Flora said. "I wouldn't mind being close to nature tonight."
"Then there is one thing," Aisha said and everyone turned their heads to her. "the last one out has to clean up!"
But they had to make a stop at Fruit Bar, mostly because the other girls wanted to. Both Stella and Musa weren't too much for it but they didn't protest either. Musa didn't want to because she and Riven were arguing again, Musa had got permission to sing at the wedding that was for producer Jason, and Riven was jealous.
And Stella, because it felt odd. Nothing more than it felt odd.
"Hey, Timmy!" Tecna said and waved to Timmy who sat at a table and went over to him. "Guess what code I was able to crack yesterday?"
And so the girls started to walk to their boyfriends, except Musa and Stella.
"So," Musa dragged it out. "all fine between you two?"
Stella didn't even need to ask who she meant.
"I hope so," Stella crossed her arms. "but it feels a bit off now to meet him."
"I completely understand that," Musa says. "Riven seems to never change even after the fights we have."
"Oh," Stella looked down on her feet. "he is still jealous over Jason?"
"More or less. I haven't told him the misunderstanding so, he doesn't know I will sing at Jason's wedding tomorrow."
"When will you tell him?" Stella asked.
"Through a text I think," Musa gave a shrug "seems the easiest nowadays at least. . . your boyfriend is waving."
Stella looked towards the bar and saw Brandon smiling at her. Stella gave a smile towards Musa, as in saying 'I'll be back soon' and Musa returned the smile but it would fade fast away when she stood on her own.
"Hey," Brandon said. "didn't even have time to greet me?"
"I didn't want to make Musa feel left out," Stella half lied, she knew how hard Musa has it and doesn't mind being the company to her.
"I think she and Riven will solve it all soon," Brandon assured. "but you seem a bit down, everything alright?"
"Yes, just tired after work… and a bit homesick I think."
She rested her chin in her hands when she leaned on the desk. She did think a little bit of Duman again, she really wants to know why they chase fairies before going home of course. She had tried to look in the book of fairies that they got to borrow from Miss Faragonda, but it just stood a bit of the mighty fairies, and what other important fairies. Nothing about the humans or the Wizards.
Brandon leaned in and held his two hands on Stella's arms. "Soon the mission is over. As fast as the wizards are defeated we can go back home. Then you really can be the princess of Solaria."
"Yes," Stella smiled. "it will be nice to go back home, to where some stuff is normal."
"Don't worry too much, tonight will be a good evening. Nothing out of the ordinary won't happen."
• • •
Out of the ordinary, did that include that Mitzi and her little snake friends became evil fairies?
It had been a tense fight, Mitzi and her friends really made a wreck of the park, put it on fire, and tossed trees at people. A few got hurt but with the help of the fairy dust, they were back on their feet. Stella stood with Flora and Aisha to help fix the park again.
"And some sun to make it grow," Stella said and shone up over the new plant to let it grow up to a tree.
"I can really feel nature thanking us," Flora had her eyes closed while listening to nature.
The three girls stood there in silence, feeling the wind gently stroking them, seeing the leaves that wiggled along, and hearing the water which passed through. Until a buzzing sound interrupted them. Aisha picked up her phone and had a smile.
"From Nabu I suppose," Stella grinned.
"Yes," Aisha didn't look up, her smile slowly fainting. "he says he wants to tell the news to his parents about our engagement."
Aisha had told the girls to not tell the whole Magic Dimension about their engagement, they wanted it to be a secret for a little bit longer. And that included their parents too.
She put the phone back in her pocket. "It is so weird to think about how over a year ago I was against the idea of marrying a stranger. And now I stand here, head over heels for him."
"I even remembered how we had a plan to kidnap you so you wouldn't be able to marry him," Stella let out a laugh.
"Me too," Aisha giggled. "but it really became different when meeting him and actually got to know him. But it is still kinda hard to forgive my parents for doing this to me."
"I thought you were even with them," Flora peaked up.
"No," Aisha gave a shrug, not really showing a sad emotion. "I still hold a grudge against them. Not only did they plan who I would marry, but also how they had me isolated as a kid. I know they tried to protect me but forced so much on me since I was a kid, only because I was a princess."
"I know you've mentioned it before," Flora spoke. "it must have been terrible."
"Back then I didn't really know what was normal for a kid or not," Aisha responded. "I thought that was how children would have it. It wasn't until I actually ran into you guys how children should have it. I mean, fucking hell, they never let me go to school."
"Even I went to school," Stella commented. "well, a school for more royals and higher up kids."
"Exactly," Aisha nodded. "even you Stella, you're also a princess, you got to do normal stuff. And you met Brandon on your own! Your parents would never force anything upon you. So I have even thought about stepping…"
Both Stella and Flora raised their eyebrows when Aisha lowered her voice.
"You're thinking about stepping down from your throne?" Stella whispered.
"Maybe," Aisha didn't look at them. "it isn't for sure."
"We should bring this up to the others too," Flora laid her hand on Aisha's shoulder. "these are some big thoughts you have Aisha."
"I had plans to tell you guys after this Earth mission. Guess I have to do it earlier."
"Remember one thing Aisha," Stella said. "whatever you choose, you always have us who will support you."
She smiled towards Stella. "I know. It was the best decision ever to walk to Alfea."
"Hey guys," Musa shouted across the river. "are you done with planting? We thought about getting hamburgers!"
"Delicious choice!" Aisha shouted back.
"It wouldn't be wrong with fast food," Flora smiled.
Stella picked up her phone, it was closer to midnight now. Her stomach roared for food but she wanted to see if Duman had courage to meet her tonight. Everyone has left the park, all the civilians didn't want to go back after the evil fairies attack. And the police have closed off the park too.
"I'm actually going to meet Brandon if that's okay," Stella says to Aisha and Flora.
"Of course," Flora said.
"But you will miss the hamburgers," Aisha teased.
"I'll eat with him anyway," Stella lied.
And with that, they flew in different directions.
"What about Stella?" she heard Bloom ask.
"Oh she had to talk with Brandon," Flora explained.
"I hope it's all fine between them…"
Stella hid behind some bushes and transformed back into her regular clothes. And she saw the girls leaving the park. Their usual meeting spot is on the other side of the park, it would take time for her to walk over there but they didn't have scheduled to meet–
"May I ask why you're hiding in the bushes?"
Stella was fast to turn around. Duman stood there, not making a funny face or looking surprised either. The bruise from where Brandon had hit him was gone, and he looked kinda fine. Not hurt like he was last time.
"I can't go out of my fairy form in front of people," Stella said and stood up.
"Everyone left after the fairies destroyed the park," Duman said.
"Yeah, thanks to your help," Stella crossed her arms.
"It didn't go so well, I admit that. But they were too naive to get the powers."
"I'm surprised how well they were with their magic, were they naturally gifted with handling it?"
"You're kidding me," Duman chuckled. "they were a pain in the ass to teach. We only wanted to teach them how to destroy stuff but it turned out they wanted to learn more and they sucked with flying. They needed a lot of compliments to learn quicker."
Stella only snickered. "Sounds like you had a fun day with Mitzi."
"And you had a fun time with her. You had the chance to knock her out."
It became silent between them two. Not because Stella is shocked over what he said, no, she tried to feel with her magic energy to feel if one of the other wizards are near.
"I'm here on my own," Duman said as if he had read her mind.
"Really? How can I be so sure?"
"Our powers went down now when more people saw you. Ogron said we had to leave, but I took the responsible decision to stay and spy on you. Reporting if I see the White Circle or if you follow us."
Stella let her arms go down from her chest. "Well, I guess I have to trust you on that one. But I want to know why you are haunting fairies. You promised me you would tell me."
"Still not trusting me, can't understand why," Duman said with sarcasm. "after you cried out to me."
"That was only once in a lifetime you got to see me cry."
"Should have captured it then."
"Okay but now why do you chase fairies?"
Duman went silent, he looked past Stella and out of the park. The lamps were on and the park looked like its old self now when Winx had fixed it up. Flowers, trees, and green grass. It was very peaceful.
"Let's discuss that somewhere else," Duman said and turned around to walk.
"What?"
"I don't want to be at the park tonight, it is too boring anyway. Don't you find it boring to be here?"
He walked further. Stella looked at him for a bit and then started to follow behind him. Leaving the park? It felt like a safe spot for her to meet him. Always people around and knowing she was close to the apartment if something would happen.
It was quiet between them two while they walked. Duman walked across the forest that was in the park, at the end of it, there would be a gate that leads out of the park, out to the streets.
It felt odd to follow Duman so close behind him, it twisted in her stomach, nervous gaze towards the trees if someone saw them, even if she didn't want to show it, she was very nervous. But the way Duman walked, he looked confident, relaxed. As if nothing in this world could harm him.
"I heard your friend would step down from her throne," Stella raised her eyes a bit up to the back of his head when Duman spoke. "are all of you princesses?"
"No, the only one more princess is Bloom. But she hasn't known about it for too long though."
"That red hair really doesn't seem like a princess," Duman replied and Stella was prepared to defend Bloom at all costs.
"Hey! She will be a great princess!"
"Did I say she would be a terrible one?" Duman asked but continued before Stella could say something more. "I said she doesn't seem like a princess. She gives off too much earth energy."
"What is that supposed to mean?" Stella asked.
"Earth fairies had a different energy from Magic Dimension fairies. The only reason we thought she was the last earth fairy is that she spent all her years on earth and her magic got to develop there. You can say it as if the earth wanted to help her to become a fairy."
"Oh," was the only thing Stella could get out.
She hadn't met any other earth fairies before Roxy, she can feel it is energetic magic within her because she is the fairy of the animals, but some other energy? She has never felt it.
"Earth gifts those who deserve it," Duman said and now the gate came up closer to them.
"That means you wizards were gifted too," Stella responded.
Duman took his hand towards the gate and opened it, but he entered first. Wasn't a proper gentleman who held the gate open to Stella.
"More or less," Duman said.
Stella closed the gate behind them, Duman was still walking ahead and Stella took the courage to walk beside him. It looked weird following behind him anyway, and people would probably question it.
"Aren't you scared people will recognise you?" Stella asked and turned her head to Duman, staring more at his piercing. "Most of them saw you when you attacked at the train station."
She hadn't really thought about his ear piercing before, she had seen it but not really thought about it. He doesn't have other piercings to match with it, neither did he have tattoos from what Stella could tell.
"If they recognise me then let them," Duman gave a shrug. "what are they going to do anyway? They can't hurt me."
"I guess you're right."
Stella turned her gaze forward. In some way, it felt like she had known Duman for a long time. But he is still a stranger. When pouring out your tears to someone, it feels like you have to be closer to the person or that the person now knows a part of you that no one else does.
"Where are we going?" Stella asked.
"For a swim."
"What? You're kidding me, right?"
"Nope. I felt it would be good with some water."
"Then I got some news for you, the ocean is the other way."
"We're not going to the ocean for a swim. What if Brandon sees us?"
"So you haven't forgotten about his name!" Stella made a playful hit on Duman's arm.
It was out of reflex.
Stella took back her hand and held it quickly. As if she had burned it.
"I haven't," Duman said with a smile on his face, not reacting that Stella had touched him. "but I think Casanova suits him. Have you figured it out with the meaning of Casanova?"
"I rather not," Stella let go of her hand. "I understand it is something bad."
"Depends on who you ask."
"Where are we swimming then?" Stella asked again.
"At the swimming pool, of course, I have seen some people go there."
Duman pointed forward and she followed with her gaze. They had come to a big parking lot and at the end of it was a big fence going around something that shined up. A turquoise light. But the parking lot was empty and there were no people to be seen. The metallic fence was big and high, the only entrance seemed to be through a door.
"It looks closed," Stella said when they got closer to the fence, raising her arms. "I guess swimming has to wait."
"Too bad I'm the villain," Duman teased when looking at Stella.
With his right hand, he shaped it to a big crab claw that easily cut through the fence.
"That's illegal," Stella hissed and looked around.
"Oh c'mon," Duman said and pushed down the hole he had cut, turning his hand to normal. "this is one of the most harmless things you can do."
Duman went through the hole and Stella sighed. Right, she can't disagree on that. She did actually break a lot of school rules when she was a student. And she did as well run away from the castle back at home, to go to parties and meet friends.
They went closer to the pool, it had a jumping tower that was only lit up by the water. There was one more pool but it seemed to be for younger kids and babies to be that one. Duman kneeled down and took his hand to feel on the water. Stella didn't go near the pool, it had a weird smell. It did sting in her nose a little bit when she sniffed, it clearly came from the pool. Was it even clean?
"Cold as hell," he said and pulled up his hand again.
"Then we skip swimming and you can just tell me–"
Stella stopped talking when Duman took off his shirt. Oh no.
No, she wouldn't see him dressing off. She spun around and held the hand that had touched him before. It felt awkward. But why? Stella has seen tons of men shirtless! There is nothing special that Duman will be shirtless! Then why is she ashamed of seeing him dressing off? Stella heard the sound of splashing water and she looked back.
Duman's clothes and his shoes stood at the edge of the pool. From the water popped Duman's head up and he rubbed his eyes before looking over at Stella.
"How can your hair still be up!" Stella pointed at his mohawk that was still perfectly up. "That's not how physics works!"
"I use my shapeshifting technique to keep it up," Duman explained, kicking with his feet to stay over the surface. "it won't really look good when it is down."
"You use your magic on your hair?" Stella asked and stepped closer to the pool.
"Yes, and?"
Before Stella could say something more, Duman splashed some water on her legs. She trembled backward. "Jump in."
"It is cold," Stella said and got goosebumps when the water got her. "and I don't want my makeup to be–"
"Just say you can't swim and I won't force you."
"I can swim!"
"Really? You seem so scared of water."
Stella glared at him and took off her heels, before she continued, she stopped and looked at Duman. "Look. Away."
Duman didn't say anything, he simply turned around and swam to the other side of the pool. Stella could have turned her underwear to a swimsuit, but she didn't have time to think of that, no one tells her she can't swim or is scared of water. Stella put the dress and the heels next to Duman's clothes. She looked over at Duman who was still on the other side, he rested with his arms at the edge and looked towards the child pool. Stella took a few steps back and sprinted to dive into the pool.
The cold water surrendered her and her body screamed after warmth. Stella opened up her eyes underneath the water and swam towards Duman. She could see his legs kicking, and thankfully he had some underwear on as well.
But something was odd with the water. It wasn't pleasant at all to have eyes open in the pool, it felt like they were getting dry. She closed her eyes and swam up, taking a deep breath of the night.
"I never thought you would actually do it," Duman said and Stella rubbed her eyes.
"What's wrong with this water?" Stella asked and blinked. "It smells odd, and it hurts to have your eyes open in the water."
"Have you never heard of chlorine water? That is what they use in all pools to help it to be clean."
"Never heard of that! At Solaria we use pure water from the mountains. Humans should really test that, I can already feel this is bad for my hair!"
Duman gave a soft smile and looked at when Stella grabbed at the edge as well. She took some breaths and each time she breathed out, a small fog came from her lips that disappeared into the night. Stella used a little bit of magic to help herself heat up to be in the water.
"Do you use your magic all the time on your hair?" Stella teased.
"Yep," Duman snickered. "I am the one who uses the most magic. Every second I spend all my magic and shapeshifting on my body."
"Wait, your whole body?" Stella breathed and kicked with her feet. "Not only your hair?"
"Hard to believe, right?" Duman chuckled.
"Soooo," Stella dragged it out. "you could take away the crooked nose of yours if you wanted?"
Duman looked at Stella as if she had said something offensive. "What? I'm just asking."
"Sure," Duman answered. "I could take it away and make it look better."
With that, his nose changed. It was now much longer, and thinner. It was almost as if it was a branch instead of a nose.
"Okay, I'm sorry! I didn't mean it like that!"
"Bet you did mean it like that," Duman changed back to his regular nose.
"I know you have turned yourself into other people and animals," Stella changed to the main subject. "but you make it sound like you keep using your shapeshifting when you're yourself."
"Correct."
"I was right?"
"What you're looking at now, is a body I created centuries ago."
"Centuries?! Don't you ever get tired and want to be… whoever you were before?"
"I don't remember who I was," Duman spoke like it didn't bother him, more as he gave history lessons. "or if I was even a person. I can't go back if I don't remember who I was."
"Oh… does that bother you?"
"Not at all," Duman said and pushed himself away from the edge and swam to the middle of the pool. "I like being this way."
"Does that mean you're not a human then?" Stella stayed at the edge.
"Probably not," Duman said. "but at the same time, yes. I'm everything and everyone. I'm nothing and nobody."
"No need to get poetic. But do you remember where you're from?"
"Kind of, I'm from Magix."
"Magix?! You're joking right?"
Duman only grinned towards Stella and she swam to him. "Actually, that explains why you turn yourself into the creatures that are from Magix. Did you go to the Red Fountain back then?"
"It didn't exist back in my days," Duman said and Stella was now in front of him, kicking with her feet. "I was only with witches and wizards back then."
"Couldn't have ever guessed that," Stella answered sarcastically. "what made you leave Magix?"
"Fairies," Duman answered simply. "they saw that using Dark Magic wasn't the same as Light. So we fought them. Didn't turn out well."
Stella was quiet. Right, she knows very much that they use Dark magic. "But Dark Magic is based on negative emotions and has only caused harm."
"Is that what they taught you?"
"No, I went to Cloud Tower for a week and got it confirmed."
"Then you only learned the basics of it," Duman leaned backward, still holding eye contact with Stella as he swam slowly away. "just because it comes from negative emotions, doesn't it mean it can't do the same thing as Light magic. But the fairies and mages didn't like that idea. Sure, there were some witches and wizards who took a step further with Dark magic. To steal from lives to form magic. Not all of us did it, it was those who were desperate to have some sort of magic to fit into the society.
What was worse back then was being powerless. So people who saw that Dark magic was the easiest way to be part of society took the cruel way. They stole from plants and animals, and sometimes other species. Fairies and mages declared war on us to defeat the evil ones."
"I think we studied about that in school," Stella swam towards the other side of the edge again. "it was the lesson before I blew up the class."
"You blew up a class?" Duman looked surprised.
"Not on purpose! I wanted to create a new shade of pink. But what happened?"
"Well, we lost obviously," Duman swam towards the edge too, next to Stella. "so I lost some of my friends."
"Sorry to hear about that."
"No need to be, I have forgotten most of their faces anyway," Duman had a soft smile when saying that. Stella couldn't tell if it did bother him, if he was sad, or if he didn't care. "but it was at that moment I fled, I couldn't stay at Magix and be haunted for crimes I didn't commit. So I travelled to a world where the Magic Dimension didn't really have contact with. Earth."
"And why is that?" Stella held up her hand. "Why hasn't the Magic Dimension included Earth as one of the magical planets?"
"Mostly because it is further away from it," Duman explained. "and mostly because of us."
"You took all the fairies on earth."
"Because we were tired of them," Duman had a cold tone now.
"When I came to earth, it was filled with magic. And who were the domestic ones? Fairies. They ruled the earth and helped people. Well, helped those who gave offerings to them."
"Really?"
"Really. Those that couldn't give them anything had to suffer and had to be aware to not anger the fairies. If they did, they would be in a lot of debt. People did believe in magic back in the days, but it was because they feared it."
"That doesn't sound like fairies at all!" Stella said and Duman only gave a shrug to that. "Are you sure you met the right fairies and not some fake ones?"
"Very sure. You know that fairies were here on earth, don't you wonder where the witches and wizards were?"
Duman took his hand on the edge and pushed himself up from the pool. He sat with his legs down in the water and Stella made the same gesture and sat down next to Duman.
"You're here," Stella answered. "that's what I know."
Duman gave a small smile, looking at the water, it gave little waves from where they sat. "Yes, I'm here. The others are dead."
Stella looked at Duman, she could tell he was bitter. She had imagined he would be more upset by talking about dead old friends.
"They persuade people that the other magical species are evil. So people did as they were told, forgot about those other magical species and let them die out, without any belief, they would fade away faster."
"But… I can see why you didn't vanish because you're not from earth, what about the other three?"
"There is a different story about them," Duman was short on it. "they were gifted by the earth as I mentioned before. But we four found a solution, we made a reverse technique. For everyone who stopped believe in magic, we would grow stronger and wouldn't vanish like the others–"
"Hold up," Stella interrupted. "you're not from earth and wouldn't get affected by people stop believing in magic. Why would you put that reverse spell on you? You can't even transform properly!"
"A small sacrifice," Duman gave a toothy smile at her. "if we wanted the spell to succeed, I had to give some of my powers to the earth, so earth gave me back its magic. We all had to give up a part of our magic to earth so we could get the reverse technique. And that's how I became affected as well, because now I'm part of the earth. With our newfound earth power we could create new spells, such as not being affected by the fairy's magic."
"Seems complicated," Stella admitted. It was a lot of information Duman gave her in one single night.
"I can understand that," Duman nodded. "want me to stop?"
"Well, I think I have kinda got the whole picture," Stella looked up towards the night sky. "you all four wanted revenge for the fairies who treated you badly. After the reverse spell, you all went down and hunted down fairies."
"Pretty much like that."
"Although… forgive me if I got it wrong, but it seems the fairies haven't done too much personal attack at you. Of course, killing your friends! But nothing else than that?"
Stella turned her gaze at Duman, he is staring at her in a way that only Brandon has stared at her like. But it is also with some sort of sorrow within that look.
"Killing my friends is cruel enough," Duman spoke quietly. "but there was once this girl I met."
"You had a girlfriend?" Stella showed a smile and raised her eyebrows.
"Aye," Duman grinned. "she was stunning. Fantastic even."
"What happened?" Stella could almost guess but she let Duman explain to her.
"I never told her who I was. It was in the days when I was new to earth, and I didn't want to show off too much of my magic. It would give too much attention and the fairies would probably not hesitate to get me. So I kept it a secret from the girl."
"What was her name?"
Duman didn't speak. He didn't stare at Stella anymore, he had his eyes focused on the water. "That's the worst part, I don't remember."
"How can you not remember the girl you dated?!" Stella squeaked. "I would have gone furious if the one I dated forgot my name!"
Duman had a smile on his face and opened his mouth, but no words came out. Even when his lips were sealed, he kept the smile on.
"What were you about to say?" Stella asked.
"That it was more than 1500 years ago I dated her," Duman answered, looking up at her. "I'm also very disappointed I don't remember her name. But it is for the better. She left me when she found out I was a wizard."
Stella raised her eyebrows but quickly they went down again. "What? She left you because you are a wizard? What kind of selfish girl was that?!"
"Whose side are you on?" Duman grinned. "First you get mad at me, and now at her?"
"I- no I am-" Stella stuttered. "I just think it is very unfair of her to leave you after finding out you were a wizard. Didn't personality matter at all to her?"
"She was afraid. The fairies had found out I was a wizard, made most of the people fear me, and then turned them against me. And when they found her, they gave her two choices. Take her punishment at her home town, or leave the town with me and forever be chased. So she said she would take the punishment instead of running away with me."
While Duman was talking, Stella looked down on his lips. They were a fade of colour blue.
"No one knew what her punishments were until the day came. Fairies declared she would die and gave her a poisonous apple."
"I'm so sorry," Stella whispered.
"At least they didn't kill her in front of an audience… and it wasn't painful. I swore to get revenge, for all the fairies have done towards me, towards us."
"Then how come you sit and talk with me?"
"Well you haven't killed my girlfriend or my friends," Duman gave a shrug. "and you aren't an earth fairy, it is only those who I have a problem with."
"And I am protecting the last one," Stella sighed and pouted with her lips. "you make it very hard for me to hate you right now."
"That's my charming character, no one can hate me."
Down along with his arm, Stella could see some goosebumps. "Are you cold?"
"Huh?" Duman followed her gaze and looked down on his arm. "Oh, well a little, I seem to not be able to control my body temperature. Thanks to you."
"Can't help that people like my charming character," Stella teased. "but…"
The only thing she could hear was her heartbeat, the only thing she could feel was her heartbeat.
Stella raised her hand and slowly took it forward to Duman's shoulder. Her fingertips touched his cold skin, a stray of water ran down next to her finger. She spread her fingers and her palm rested now on his shoulder. Stella closed her eyes and focused on warmth. On the positive energy.
Duman felt the warmth spreading across his body, it was almost as warm as the hug Stella had given to him when he was pretending to be Brandon. It was a wonderful feeling.
She opened her eyes and took away her hand from him.
"I hope I did warm you up."
"Yes," Duman spoke low. "I feel better. Thank you."
"Don't mention it," Stella took the opportunity to squeeze out water from her hair. "I can't let you catch a cold, how else are we supposed to fight?"
"Caring if I get a cold?" Duman chuckled and pushed himself up to stand on his legs. "Wasn't it like two weeks ago you hated me so much? Or was it a week ago?"
"If you keep saying like that I might hate you more," Stella giggled, watching Duman grabbing his clothes.
"That would be such a pity," Duman answered and put on his shirt first. "I was about to offer you something to eat."
"What could you possibly offer me?"
"You'll see," he said and took his skirt on. "get dressed already."
Her stomach made a small growl when thinking about food. The others would get burgers after all and she would have loved to have it. Of course, Duman must have heard about it when they talked about food.
Stella did cast a dry-up spell quickly and put on her dress and the heels. As they started to walk, the silence fell over them once more. In Stella's mind, a lot was going on; was everything true? Were fairies so horrible on earth that they forced people to forget other magical beings? Were they so cruel to only help those who could offer?
Or is it all a lie?
"Alright," Duman had a kind of laughing voice when he spoke that made Stella poke her head up. "now you have to tell me how you blew up a classroom."
"Really? That's what you want to know about me?"
"I haven't stopped thinking about it since you told me."
It didn't bother Stella to tell him about it, nor did it bother her to tell how she found Bloom on earth thanks to blowing up a classroom. She has always loved to be in the centre and tell people about what crazy adventures she has been on, including Duman.
It felt like he didn't get tired of her talking. Stella kept talking about the silly adventures in Magix, kept talking when they got each hot dog (that Stella had to pay for because Duman doesn't have money) and when they went back to the park.
"So Valtor came back?" Duman raised an eyebrow.
"You know him?" Stella asked as she took a bite of her hot dog.
"Not personally but you know, when someone takes down a whole planet you get pretty famous."
"Well he is now gone again so you don't need to get chicken thinking you have a competition."
"Oh thank god," Duman had a smile while he shook his head. "or thank you sun fairy for saving me from that horrible duel."
Stella gave a smirk at him before finishing her hot dog. They had arrived at a small bridge and Stella noticed that Duman slowed down his steps.
"Everything alright?" Stella turned around when she noticed that Duman had stopped. "Is it your magic power?"
"Ah no," Duman said as he relaxed his back against the handrail. "I just wanted to take a stop."
"If you are tired of me babbling then you can say it," Stella stood next to him and put her hands on the handrail. "you won't be the first one to tell me that."
"No, I quite enjoy your chatter."
It got hot around Stella's cheeks when he said that, and she looked down on the small river. He enjoyed talking with her.
"Only quite."
"Deeply sorry your highness," Duman said. "I love hearing your chatter."
"Much better!"
"What are your plans after this earth mission? Go back and be a princess?"
"You mean after defeating you," Stella corrected him. "yes, I will go back to my homeplanet and make some preparations to join the royal committee and be part of the politics to help rule my planet."
"Sounds like an awful lot of work."
"Yes, but it is something I have waited for my whole life. I feel ready for it."
"I'm sure of it," Duman had a kind smile towards her.
"What do you plan to do?" Stella asked. "I mean, if you now success to capture Roxy, what is your plan?"
Duman's smile slowly disappeared. He thought for a while and gave a shrug. "I guess we have succeeded then. Ogron has mentioned that we will have access to control the nature forces. That would make us unstoppable. Perhaps we go and terrorise the other fairies around Magic Dimension. But nothing is for sure right now."
"What do you want to do?" Stella asked again. "You are your own person after all."
"I'm very aware of that," Duman answered dryly. "but… nah, nevermind."
"No! Please tell me what you were going to say!"
"Are you that interested in what I would do?" Duman asked.
"Duh, yes I am! C'mon it can't be anything worse than to go and kill every species in the dimension."
Duman avoided her eyes, making Stella believe that he would kill everyone, but when he studied him, he was more unsure. "I won't laugh if that's what you think."
He checked at her quickly before turning his eyes away again. "Nah, it is just silly. And unrealistic too."
"What is?"
"You sure are nosy," Duman quickly responded. "I'll let you know when we have won."
"What?" Stella laughed. "You mean when I have won! You will sadly have to tell me when you are in jail."
"Yeah, yeah, keep telling yourself that," Duman teased.
Stella's laugh slowly died out and she felt a vibration in her pocket. She picked up her phone, a new message from Bloom. It was sent at 11pm but it was now she had got it.
Remember you got customers tomorrow!
"You're kidding me!" Stella squeaked as she saw the time. "It is almost 3am!"
"Oh yeah," Duman looked around. "I think some birds are starting to wake up."
"It is impossible to get 8 hours of sleep! I was already late today, I mean- yesterday- if I'm late again the others will kill me!"
She put her phone back in her pocket, and looked down on her ring. She took it off.
"Aren't you going to run?" Duman asked. "Or is looking at jewellery a better option?"
"This isn't just a royal ring," Stella explained. "this is a royal staff. Solaria!"
Stella threw the ring up in the air and with a spin, a staff grew out and landed perfect in Stella's hand.
Duman made a whistle. "Impressive."
"It also helps me to teleport. Um, when do we see each other next time?"
Stella held the staff with both her hands, close to her chest as she stared at Duman. He smiled at her. "Probably soon, don't try to miss me too much though."
"I-" Stella was about to protest first but she didn't want this to end on bad terms. "I will try not to. It was fun to be with you tonight."
"Same goes to you," Duman said without any hesitation.
"See ya," Stella said and spun her staff and focused on the apartment.
With the blink of the eye, Stella had teleported away.
Duman stood still, his smile had faded away right when she said her last words. He turned around and had his chest resting on the rail, he looked down in the river and saw a very shady reflection of himself. The lamps made it very unrealistic how it looked but Duman wasn't too focused on that. No, his mind was already back on Stella.
"Fuck," he spoke softly.
He knew he had fallen hard for her.
He thought first it was her beauty that was just attractive, just nice to look at. So he couldn't resist himself speaking to her when he had the chance. It was just to see how she was on her own.
He loved teasing her, he got her attention. Then she started to willingly talk to him, he loved hearing her voice. She cried out to him, he wanted so desperately to hold her. And when Stella put her hand on his arm to warm him up.
Duman put his hand where she had placed her hand on his shoulder, it was still warm. Almost as if she was still holding him.
He enjoyed his time with her. Too bad he was the villain.
A/N:
Huge thank you to Nabhx for beta reading this chapter! And thank you Mary (and Nabhx ofc) for all the arts with Duman and Stella and throwing headcanons together for these two characters! 3
Hello!
I've never really interacted with you guys here on FF. Mostly because I'm not familiar with FF and didn't know how to interact here.
I'm sorry it has taken 1 and a half years to post this chapter! 2020 and 2021 have been busy for me!
2020 I got a huge future panic, both with Covid-19 and that I was stuck in 1 workplace, I got super scared of being in a depressed loop. That's how much I hated my work. So in early 2021, I applied to do a few simple studies to get my grades up. And in the summer of 2021, I applied to University and got in! I study to become a Preschool Teacher, 3 and a half years of study with that!
I've made some wonderful new friends, my social anxiety has almost dropped completely (some stuff still scares me), I don't longer feel trapped in a loop. I feel happy when I go to University (both physically and zoom) and I seem to dare to do more stuff than I did before.
With that said: THANK YOU FOR YOUR PATIENCE! I have seen your comments here on FF (I just don't know how to reply to them) and they give me the motivation to keep writing and finish this story! If you want to have updates or know more about Stella x Duman, you can check out my acc on tumblr: duman-anon and go for hashtag #fanfic: stay with me or #stella x duman to see some of the posts!
Thank you!3