Author's Note: Still trying to get back on track with updates so please be patient with me. It's been hard, but I'm trying my hardest. Also this chapter will focus on Stella a lot, as I do doddle in my spare time I've been working on a set of pictures for this fic, if I finish them to a quality I like I'll post links to them.

Disclaimer: Rinse and Repeat from every chapter previous to this one. I don't own either the Winx Club or Ronin Warriors.

Warning: Minor illusions towards memories of torture.

Chapter 22) Escape

The second that Bloom had gotten the okay from Faragonda she nodded to Tecna. It was all Tecna needed to get proposed her idea. "Kayura you escaped the dynasty with your magic. If I give you all the information on where we are going can you get us there." Tecna asked and Touma smirked. Such a simple gesture from the ronin made her feel wonderful like she was on a roll here.

"Yes I think I could." Kayura nodded. "Even if the staff alone doesn't have the power I can give it some of my energy." She summoned the staff again and looked at it. It seemed for the first time since the specialist had joined up with them that they weren't going to argue against the plan.

"What about Shin? How will we get him?" Musa asked looking at the others worried.

"Musa we have to get out of here… Don't worry about Shin, we'll come back for him. Right now though we can't do anything pinned like this." Ryo explained and while he hated leaving Shin. It was Shin who had urged them to leave him. Kayura felt like it was just fleeing the dynasty all over again but none of them could stand up to the witches magic. Shin only could because of the water surrounding him.

Roxy hummed as she saw Stella moving towards the edge of the barriers she was murmuring something. Roxy didn't think anything about it till the injured fairy of the sun and moon started moving through the barrier.

"Stella?" Roxy called worried. Before she could open her mouth to speak again the staff started to chime the gold light flowing around them.

"Stella! Stella wait!" "Stella no!" Both Shu and Brandon yelled at the same time. Shu hand reaching for the confident blonde but his fingers were just shy as they golden light took them all. Shu couldn't believe that she'd slipped by him. He didn't want to think of the dynasty capturing her, as that is what the ronin and warlords all believed would happen to those left behind on earth.

The gold light faded and the group found themselves outside the barrier with Alfea on the other side. Yet there was no relief at their safety, no awe at the school before them. There were just worried looks exchanged by all.

"Have your friend go back now!" Brandon demanded getting right into Anubis's face. "We have a mission to complete!"

"She can't. Kayura needs to rest." Ryo explained and quickly moved Brandon back so that Anubis wouldn't get into a fight.

"We that's not good enough. We promised to return with all of the winx. We've never failed a mission!" Sky started to add.

"Shut it Sky! You think your mission matters! We left Shin and Stella… We should have come up with something else!" Musa yelled as Tecna wrapped her arms around her.

"Stop it all of you. We didn't have a choice, and Shin is with Stella. They'll be fine together. We need to stop fighting each other and regroup so we can get to them." Nasuti chimed in before anyone else could start yelling.

"Yeah… You're right…. Come on girls lets show them Alfea. We can see if maybe Miss Faragonda has an idea." Bloom said though her tone was dull and it made the ronin worry. This was clearly not easy for the winx, but it wasn't easy for them either. The ronin just knew that they had to trust Shin. That they would see him again, and with him Stella. The group began to trudge towards the school in the distance. Naaza was holding Lady Kayura and while the two of them passed through the barrier without issue, the rest of the warlords and Ronin found themselves stopped by the invisible wall.

"What the?" Ryo questioned as he placed his hand against the invisible barrier.

"See they shouldn't be here. This is a mess and a bad idea." Helia sighed shaking his head.

"How is it that Naaza and Kayura got through?" Rajura wondered but before they could investigate they watched a light shimmer across the barrier and it parted for them.

"Welcome back girls."

"Miss Faragonda!" The girls chorused as the old head mister stepped closer. "I wasn't sure if your friends would make it through the barrier…. It seems that concern was well founded."

"Miss Faragonda, we got separated before we were able to get here. Stella and Shin they're still on earth!" Aisha filled in the head mistress before the specialist could open their mouth.

"Oh my. Come we should speak with everyone. Since there is much grave new to share with you as well." Miss Faragonda sighed. It would be hard to tell the girls now but they had found already that this new enemy the dynasty weakened the powers of fairies, and it had grown strong enough that even if the company of light reformed they wouldn't be able to recuse the two from earth. They would need an option that didn't rely on the magic or technology from the realms here.

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Shin groaned as where he'd fallen had been rather uncomfortable and the fall had definitely broke whatever he'd fallen on. Shin held Stella close as he maneuvered to get up. Seeing the broken wood and glass that was under them he was grateful for his armor. As he stepped away from the mess of few thick wooden pieces clunked and clattered over the floor. Once he was away from the broken mess Shin turned his attention to Stella.

"Stella?" He questioned softly as he brushed back her blonde hair. Her eyes didn't even flutter, yet he could tell that she was breathing, steadily by the flickering of the hair stuck to her lips. "Well you're not bleeding, and your breathing, so I hope you'll be fine till I can figure out where we are and get some help." Shin mused and shifted his hold on the fairy of the sun and moon. He held her bridal style with her head resting against his shoulder before he started to move through the dully lit room.

He was just about to open the door when it was thrown out and he jumped back. Glowing yellow blades and some normal steel ones were pointed at him by guards dressed in golds and oranges with accents of blue and yellow.

"Who are you?!... Wait that's-! Why do you have Princess Stella what have you done to her?!" One of the men ordered in a loud voice and Shin blinked stunned.

"Nothing I wouldn't hurt Stella, she's my friend." Shin stated backing up again only to have the men come closer and surround him. He was pretty sure he could take them but he didn't want to fight.

"Hand over the Princess!" Another man ordered and Shin nodded.

"Sure, alright. Look I am her friend, you have to trust me. I would never hurt her, and it was Stella who brought us here-Ah! H-hey!" Shin had handed Stella over and wanted to explain but a soldier grabbed his wrist and forced his arms behind his back cuffing them there. He wasn't to worried until they started taking Stella a different way then they were taking him. "Wait, where are you taking Stella?" Shin called out trying to follow but it wasn't possible without fighting them. Shin could feel the rush of his blood the power in the armor but he hung his head. He couldn't. He couldn't hurt someone who was just not understanding that he was Stella's friend, ally, and that he would never hurt her.

Shin wasn't surprised by the rough way he was lead to the cells, it was normal. The cell wasn't like the ones from the dynasty as there was light and Shin could see the bars but the guards didn't uncuff his hands only shoved him in and slammed shut the cell door. Shin hurried back to the barred door watching the guards go through one other door and while most seemed to leave he noticed that two were still stationed there. Shin swallowed drily as his heart pounded. This wasn't the dynasty but it didn't stop the memories, the feelings, smells, and sounds from clouding his mind.

"It… it's not the dynasty. Keep your head together." Shin murmured to himself and prayed to god that Stella would wake soon. He tried not to blink because every time he did he would see the dynasty around him, in his mind instead of the well lit cell he was in.

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The walk to Alfea had been a quiet one as the most were worried over the fate of their friends Shin and Stella. The Specialist even hung their heads, though for them it was over the idea that they had failed their mission. Yet they weren't so down that Sky and Helia could spare stinging glares at Touma and Seiji. Touma's arm was wrapped around Bloom holding her close to him while she clung to his shirt. Ryo had a hand on Tenca's shoulder and was insisting none of this was her fault. Rajura had taken up the post as rear guard with Aisha and was clearly trying to think of a solution, while his brothers were at the sides of Kayura, Musa, and Roxy. Nasuti was comforting Shu and trying to cheer up the warrior of Hardrock, as he fretted over his best friend and Stella who he was supposed to protect. Flora's head rested against Seiji's shoulder, while her hand touched his arm and his hand rested over hers in mutual comfort.

Miss Faragonda sighed as she could feel the worry and fear that the group was feeling. It had to be hard for all of them, that much the headmistress of Alfea was certain of. As they reached the front door of her school Faragonda stopped and turned to face all of the weary warriors, winx, specialist, and the two ladies. She knew what was best for her girls just by looking at them and she was going to make sure that what needed to be done was done. She would give her girls the help she couldn't earlier.

"Girls, why don't you head to your old rooms, there are no students or guests in them, and I believe there are more rooms in that wing that are free. You look like you could use a moment. I let everyone know you need a moment to rest. Boys you may go to report in." Miss Faragonda instructed and the boys nodded splitting off from the group but not before glaring at the ronins.

"This is their fault. We would have succeeded if not for you." Brandon spat and Shu and Ryo looked even more guilty. Anubis growled at the boy as he left but didn't dare leave the side of Roxy and Aisha.

"Miss Faragonda?... Can you ask that our families meet us in Palladium's classroom in an hour? Stella's parents too?" Bloom asked and Miss Faragonda nodded. Miss Faragonda opened the doors and watched as the girls lead their guests up towards the dorms, and sighed. This was not going to be an easy talk but everyone needed to understand the stress and fatigue the girls were feeling, and she would make them see that.

"Come on this way." Bloom said taking the lead as the others followed up the stairs. It was a comfort to be back here to something familiar and yet it wasn't right. They weren't all together, after all they couldn't be the winx club when they were short a member.

"Shin's with her. So they'll be fine." Nasuti said breaking the tense silence and drawing out some unsure smiles. There was no doubt that Shin would do his best to protect Stella, the doubt and worry was over if the dynasty had gotten them. It wasn't something that Shu, or Seiji wanted to think about. As they reached the floor where their old dorms were it was clear which suites were empty and which were in use, for the ones not being used all had the main door open.

"So why don't we grab three extra suite rooms. One for the ronin, one for the warlords, and one for Aisha, Roxy, Kayura and Nasuti?" Bloom suggested and everyone nodded. Stella would most likely be thrilled about having her own room again. Even though that was stated none of them moved to separate. There was a long silence as they all stood in the hall until finally the warlords stepped away followed by Lady Kayura, then the Ronin and Nasuti. For now the girls watched the group head into one suite, and figured they would be trying to think of a plan.

The girls walked into their old suite and just like that they all found the spots were they used sit and talk in the common room, Roxy found her spot next to Bloom, while Stella's spot was empty. The silence continued as each of the girls tried to think of how they would tell Stella's family.

"She'll be okay. We all know that." Roxy stated and everyone nodded.

"It just doesn't feel right to have left them in the first place." Aisha sighed stating what they all were feeling. They hadn't wanted to even leave Shin, but they had and Stella had stayed with him.

"We have to go back and help them as soon as we can." Tecna said and Flora nodded in agreement.

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Icy, Stormy and Darcy hadn't gone back to report into Arago. No not yet, not with such a large failure looming before them. They hadn't even been able to trap Torrent thanks to the stupid fairy of the sun. Yet there was one thing on their side, as they knew Magix just as well as the winx did. Also they still could track the Ring of Solaria with their crystal like they had when they were trying to find the Dragon fire.

"Ready sister?" Icy asked and the other two nodded. "Then focus! We'll win this time." Icy demanded and Stormy rolled her eyes. Dark energy crackled around the witches as they hovered in the sky over the whirlpools calling on the crystals they hadn't used for many years. In flickers of magic the crystals appeared and soon dark electric magic connected them.

"Show us the ring of Solaria!" Stormy commanded and within the circle an image waved into clarity. First of a golden and ivory castle, slipping in closer to Torrent holding the passed out fairy and then to guards taking the fairy away and Torrent being cuffed.

"Hmmm… I think I have a plan. Darcy why don't you welcome the pathetic princess home. Stormy, we'll handle Arago." Icy gleamed as she thought of the harm they could and would do. It was time the realms of magix learned to fear them and bow to them.

"Oh I know just the thing." Darcy laughed as the crystals were dismissed. It was time to play with some foolish boys again.

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Stella groaned as she started to come to. Her body felt drained beyond anything she'd known, and yet she felt like a huge weight was gone lifted off her shoulders. She could left the sun, the moon and the stars so clearly as she stretched. Anything that had plagued her seemed like a bad dream as she took in the smells of her room and the soft silk of her bed. . . . .!

"Huh!?" Stella bolted up and looked around to see her room. The sun shining through her windows and the rays glittering as they reflected off of prisms and her golden decorated room. Stella blinked rapidly trying to remember how she had gotten here but nothing came to mind. She got up off the bed and unconsciously started to play with the ring of Solaria. She started to pace wondering what was going on and her third pass by the mirror Stella froze. Swiftly she turned looking at herself in the mirror, her hand lifting to touch the area between her collar bones. There was a golden mark almost like a henna design but it wasn't. A kanji just like the ronin had was there, surrounded by a sun design with the moon and stars.

Hope. It was hope. Her fingers traced over the kanji and she wondered why it had appeared. Stella wasn't given long to think on it as a knock sounded on her door. Stella looked but she didn't make a noise as the fairy of the Sun and Moon was still trying to comprehend what was going on.

"Princess Stella?"

"Yes?" Stella answered sighing with relief at the sound of one of the palace guards voices. She knew them all as most had worked here since she was little. Still after being on earth with no one around she was still on edge.

"We are glad you are okay Princess. We need to talk to you about the ring of Solaria could you bring it out with you?" The guard asked.

"My ring…." Stella looked at the ring and bit her lip. Something didn't feel right. Why wasn't their first concern about her health, or… SHIN! "Where is Shin?" Stella called through the door. She'd walked over and placed her hand on the handle ready to enchant it if need be.

"Princess who are you talking about?" The guard asked honestly confused.

"The man I was with! There had to be a guy in blue armor."

"... He isn't here my Princess. He left you in our care." The guard answered and Stella twirled her hair nervously. Something wasn't right here.

"I… I'll be right out I have to change." Stella called and she heard the guard step away from the door. Stella sighed but this wasn't good. Something was wrong, she knew it. She knew Shin, he would never leave her, and not leave a note or something. He was too kind like that. Stella challenged a bit of magic through her finger and enchanted the lock so that it would stay shut as she tried to figure out what to do.

"Okay Stella… What would the others do?" Stella murmured to herself as she paced the room. She wasn't the smart one in her group, or the leader, or even the clever one. She was a princess! She was a beauty and knew how to use that. She didn't know what to do alone, trapped in her home when something was clearly wrong! If… If she was here did that mean Shin was here too? Was he hurt?! What if he was in the hands of the dynasty? Had the Trix got him? Oh, there was so little she could do! She was just a princess…. Just a princess. Taught how to stay calm, how to take charge. Maybe.. Maybe she could do this.

"Okay I have to stay calm and focused. Collected just like I should be." Stella reminded herself out loud and looked around the room. She'd been with Brandon or the winx so much she'd forgot she could be strong on her own. She didn't need anyone to save her…. But still what could she do! "Come on Stella think!" She huffed as she traced her fingers over the kanji. Hope.

Stella gasped as she felt warm and full of energy at the idea. She stopped in front of the mirror again and blinked at her reflection. The kanji and design around it was glowing and she could feel a power ancient and strong within her. It made her realize that she would and could do what was needed, she just needed to believe and have hope. Hope that she would be okay, hope that they would beat the trix, because it was that hope that would guide her, like a star, or like the sun lighting up the day. The glow started to dim as she knew she could do this.

First she needed to find Shin, and then she needed to find the girls. Stella quietly transformed and while she'd been aiming for mythix the wand never came. Instead her power surged and she could feel her wings unfolding, her hair twisting and lifting. The soft jingle of beads near her ears and the light feel of make-up over her eyes and lips. Her feet touched the ground in heeled sandals. She looked over the shimmering gloves and fabrics on her body, the hair accessories with stars dangling from them and loved it. She looked amazing but, this wasn't mythix… Or any transformation she knew of.

"Princess?" Stella gasped at the guard's voice checking in on her.

"J-Just a minute! I'm still trying to find the right accessories for my outfit!" Stella called back and was statue stiff as she heard the grumbling of the guard. She took a quick deep breath trying to calm down and she felt it. Hope. Not her's but someone else's hope. "Okay, let's try this. Guiding star." Stella whispered casting a spell and in the mirror she could see Shin locked up in the holding cells of the castle of Solaria. Her home. Waving her finger she pulled the glowing star out of the mirror and dispelled it.

"Well at least this is my home." Stella smiled as she moved over to a secret passage out of her room. It was of course located in the closet behind all her clothes, but it would get her closer to Shin. "Just hang on. I'll be getting us out soon." Stella whispered as she shut the door behind her. She felt giddy and excited, for once she was going to be the hero and do something completely on her own for the first time in a long time.

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It had only been one hour and thirty minutes, and he'd been told to quiet down five times. Shin was barely able to hold on to his mind, even though this wasn't the dynasty. He swallowed hard as his throat felt dry, and his body was recalling all the pain from before. He'd never had a flashback like Shu or Seiji but night terrors he was used to. This, this scared him as he felt like he was losing his mind and sanity. Worst than being locked up, was silence. His time in the dynasty before Seiji was brought in had been pure silence with only his screams as the only sound he heard. He became dependent on Seiji's voice when the other was brought in, just talking about anything to keep his sanity. The silence had been just as bad as anything else they did to him, maddening at times. Silence that was back.

He clenched his hand and focused on the one thing he could, Stella. She'd been with him and now he didn't know where she was. Shu would be very upset if anything happened to the bubbly fairy. He had to keep his head and mind for her. He hoped she was safe, and protected.

"Deep breathes, mate… Just try and calm down." Shin whispered to himself. He was trying to not let the guards catch him this time. Shin tried to breath deep but the concept escaped him, as he still felt like there was a vice around him. He was having a panic attack, great. He just couldn't shake away the feeling of the dynasty, or the memories.

…. Shin's gaze snapped up and over to the door the guard had been behind. There had been a soft noise, a shoe… Something with heels by the tapping and light scuffing sound. He let out a shaky breath as he stood and walked towards the bars of the cell. His eyes watching for the slightest of motions and he spotted the handle of the door turning slowly.

The tension in those moments were killing him, as he held his breath and waited for the door to open. Shin throat tightened at the sight of the dark purple clad witch with the long brown hair. He pulled at the cuffs that still held his hands behind his back as she sauntered closer to him. He was now worried for Stella, and everyone else here. There had been guards so what had become of them.

"You know I have to say I enjoy the look of you locked up." Darcy smirked and Shin narrowed his eyes at her. "Oh what's wrong? No comment? No more fighting spirit without those pathetic fairies, and your useless friend?" Darcy taunted.

"If you're trying to bait me, you'll have to do better than that. Your wit is a little dull compared to others." Shin said and Darcy was actually shocked by the biting comment. She hadn't thought the light blue warrior had it in him.

"You're full of surprises aren't you." Darcy smirked and Shin stepped back uneasy. Darcy had to admit that it was interesting that he seemed to be struggling to break the cuffs when earlier he was easily beating her sisters and herself. It was making her wonder if he was tired out or if it was something else. "So why don't you just break out?" Darcy asked reaching through the bars and Shin leaned away. He wasn't going to let the witch touch him.

"How bout instead you tell me what you've done here." Shin stated hoping to stall the witch while he figured out how to get out and by her.

"Easy we followed you and the fairy here, so we could collect another armor and the ring of Solaria and with some persuasion the guards will not lift a finger. After all Arago is eagerly awaiting both." Darcy said as she pulled her hand back through the bars. "There's a cell you should know well waiting for you." Darcy chuckled at the flash of fear over the ronin's face. It was rather delightful how Arago had managed to cause lasting damage that she could use now. Oh if only they'd thought to do the same to the winx and specialist, it would have been wonderful. "Still enough talking. Time to bring that armor to Arago." Darcy smirked the shadows started to grow and coil around the light blue armor clad man.

Shin felt a swell of panic as the shadows climbed over him. He pulled and struggled to break free from the tendrils wrapping about him but he wasn't strong enough to pull free. Even if he could there was nowhere for him to run. A glimmer of light pulled his eyes to flicker pass Darcy and he shook his head. He had to get her to run, he couldn't let her be caught to. They'd messed up and he couldn't put Stella in harm's way. He opened his mouth to shout to her but she beat him to it.

"Let him go! Dawn's Light." Stella thrust her hand forth a blast of shimmering light flowing from her. Darcy hadn't even turn completely around when the spell hit her and knocked her hard into the bars. The light also chased away the shadow's and Shin blinked at Stella in surprise. Stella smiled and quickly stepped around Darcy over to the lock on the cell.

"Not to seem ungrateful but you should have run." Shin said as he glanced at Darcy. There was a gash on the witch's head where she had collided with the metal bars. It didn't look like she'd get up any time soon.

"Well I wasn't going to leave you. You're my friend so I'm not leaving you." Stella huffed as she unlocked the cell with magic and waved for Shin to come with her. She glanced to the main door and held back a sigh. She wanted to help the guards knowing they were spelled but it would take to long and there was so much at stake.

"Stella?" Shin asked his armored hand touching her arm.

"I know. I know, so follow me." Stella said her voice trembling and Shin wished he could do more as she undid the photon beam cuffs. Stella glanced one more time at Darcy.

"She'll come after us, I'm pretty sure." Shin said trying to ease Stella's mind and the blond fairy nodded, the beads of the hair sticks jingling like chimes. They had to get out before anyone caught them. "Once we're away from the castle I can call the girls we'll be safe in no time." Stella smiled. She wondered if the transport stations were still running if not she was sure that she could get them back to the main group no problem.