Author's Note: Okay so this chapter ended up pretty easy to write, so it's up sooner than I thought it would be. Please Enjoy.
Disclaimer: You all know the run down now, but just as a reminder. I do NOT own Winx Club or Ronin Warriors.
24) Friendship
Neither Stella or Shin were sure how Darcy managed to get ahead of them but she had. Yet the bad news didn't just end there. Standing back to back Shin and Stella were surrounded by knights of Solaria with Darcy grinning like a fox slightly behind them. There were a few scratches on Shin's armor from the weapons while Stella was holding the Full Moon shield spell in front of her.
"Let them go Darcy!" Stella demanded, pulling another laugh from Darcy. Stella shifted her weight as Shin's back pressed against her's for a second. The clash of the metal against the
photon blades cracked swiftly and faded just as quickly. "Shin, you're okay right?" Stella asked worried about him.
"I'm fine, though an escape route would be nice." Shin smiled in a joking manner. He winced as another man swung a spear at him, mid left. Shifting his grip and twisting his yari Shin easily blocked then deflected the incoming attack, only to block an overhead swing of a sword. "Nnggh!" Shin grunted in pain as a third knight landed a blow. The plasma bolt breaking through the armor and piercing his side. "Damn her cheap tricks." Shin hissed as he pushed back the swordsman and shifted his grip again.
"Let's make a little trade Stella. Your ring and I might let you run away." Darcy smirked and Stella growled. That witch had another thing coming if she thought she'd give up the Ring of Solaria. With the Ring and Kayura's staff they could go back to earth and save the Ronin's family. Stella didn't know if it would be possible without both powers.
"No way!" Stella yelled jumping over a low swinging sword and then blocking two bolts with the shield.
"Suit yourself. Kill them and bring me the armor and the ring!" Darcy ordered lifting her hand as her eyes turned red. Purple ripples waved through the air, and as they reached the knights of Solaria their eyes turned purple. "Now let's up this game. Shadow blast!" Darcy aimed her spell right at Stella as she was blocking another sword. Stella pushed back the knight so he wouldn't be hit but it left her wide open. Stella cringed waiting for the pain but instead she felt herself move pressed against cool metal and the shaft of a spear brushed over her arms.
"SHIN!" Stella yelled as she stared at his pain stricken face. Yet before Stella could even figure out if her fairy dust would work to help him another group of knights were charging in. She didn't even know what spells she had yet. She hadn't connected at all with this new transformation! They just needed to get out of there! His hand was on her shoulder pulling her in tighter while the spear was being raised to block another swing. Everything seemed so slow and fast at the same time. Stella could feel the weight of the conjured shield vanishing while her eyes burned with frustration. Why! Why was she always helpless! She didn't want to be! She wanted to be helpful to inspire her friends! "Star step!" Stella yelled not sure where the words came from but with a silver flash everything changed.
"Woah!" Stella gasped as the two of them tumbled onto the ground unable to regain balance after the surprise spell.
"What was that?" Shin groaned as he forced himself upright. "And where are we?" He couldn't believe what he was seeing. The building seemed normal enough but there were motorcycles without wheels just hovering over the streets. Everything seemed so far beyond Earth, like he'd stepped into a movie of the future.
"Oh… That might not have been the best idea…" Stella groaned and rubbed her shoulder. Looking around Stella grinned as she took in the sight of her favorite shopping city on Solaria. They were on the roof of the Lazuli Bistro a place that she'd had many great memories of. The best ones were of the times she'd come up here with old friends from Solaria to watch the shooting stars when she was little. Yet something was off. She was seeing hues around the people understanding them. She could tell who was doubting themself, who was falling to darkness from envy or rage, who was in love who'd been hurt by love. Then there was Shin, bright and comforting a steady source of Trust. She was seeing the soft welcoming glow to him despite the concern or pain on his face.
"Hmm, Oh this is Celesta… But what's with all this." Stella reached out trying to see if the light coming off Shin was tangible, yet she instead saw a light from her own hand growing more and more intense as she reached closer to Shin. The light sparked and flared knocking both of them over again.
Stella bolted up her hair falling slightly out of the complex buns and braids held there by crooked hair sticks. "Oh it's gone!" Stella exclaimed as the sight she'd been seeing had vanished. A groan pulled her back to the current troubles and she hurried over to Shin. The armor flickered before fading away to just his sub armor. "Shin! Oh I'm sorry!"
"It's fine Stella… Just what did you do?" Shin assured her as he held his side and got back up to a sitting position.
"I'm not sure, you were glowing and so was I and I've never seen anything like this. Or heard about it but that's par for the course." Stella shrugged and Shin smiled. He could see why Shu was so enthralled with Stella, there didn't seem to be much that would stop her sunny personality. Her eagerness and honest good will were such rare traits in people. Yet they were traits they noticed in all of the winx club ladies.
"Well we can figure it out later… Right now its just good that we're safe." Shin smiled. His hand was still gripping his side. He was bleeding, and this side injury wasn't the only injury he had. He was sure of at least two broken ribs from how much it hurt to breath, as well as a gash left from Darcy's spell. He just had to stay conscious and aid Stella till the other's got here.
"Shin. Shin why did you protect me?" Stella asked sitting next to him and pulling her knees up to her chest.
"For the same reason you didn't stay with the others. Stella you're my friend and if I can protect you I will. I don't want to see you, Flora, Aishia, Roxy, Bloom, Tecna or Musa hurt. None of us do." Shin explained and Stella rested her head on her arms that were folded over her knees.
"You don't think we can handle it right?"
"What? No! Stella not one of us believes that! Stella, you're strong and smarter than you think. It's amazing what you and your friends do. So when I say I protected you because you are my friend, it's the same way I would protect Ryo or Shu if I could." Shin elaborated and Stella smiled feeling better.
"Sorry if this is stupid, but with the guys…. It always felt like they protected us cause they thought we couldn't handle something. If it wasn't that then it was out of love but what did that really mean." Stella huffed and reached down to the roof to flick a small pebble away. "Well we should probably stay here. It'll be easier for Bloom and them to find us if we aren't moving." Stella sighed and Shin smiled.
"You're right there." Shin smiled and laid back down. His back hurt but at least the sub armor would keep the gash from collecting dirt. He just needed to stay conscious until Shu and Touma got here.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~(Scene Change)~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Darcy growled as the light faded to reveal that the warrior of Torrent and the pathetic sun fairy were gone. Damn it what ever this new power that the fairy had it was starting to annoy her. Not only that but this fairy seemed to be more self assured another thing that bugged Darcy. Before they could easily take down one fairy, even if it was Bloom. There was some new strength that this fairy had found and Darcy and her sisters needed to look into. That could wait till she claimed the ring of Solaria.
"Go find here!" Darcy snapped at the knights of Solaria. Darcy watched in distain as the knights scrambled off to search for the fairy and the warrior. She would get that ring no matter what. Last time she'd been so close thanks to the threat against the sun fairies friends. "Well since this is her home maybe I should give her a harder choice. Let the people see their princess." Darcy chuckled her eyes flashing red. She could feel the armors thanks to the powers of the nether spirit. There were three here. Two together and one alone. It had to be the one alone that Stella was with.
"I just need to beat those goody goodies to them." Darcy grumbled and teleported into an alleyway in the city. A noise of disgust left her mouth as she saw the busy streets of happy shoppers and other people. The shining sun made the day beautiful and perfect, and made Darcy wish Stormy was here to ruin it. Yet a big entrance wasn't what she needed. "Darkness Haze." Darcy smirked lifting both hands and a purple haze drifted out into the streets with the people slowly falling down as the haze passed by them.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~(Scene Change)~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Stella and Shin both noticed the subtle change. The noise below them growing softer and softer. Stella was first up and over to the edge of the roof looking down to the streets. Stella gasped as she saw every person on the streets collapsed on the ground.
"What's going on?!" Stella didn't know what to do. Before Shin could even place a hand on her shoulder she flew off the roof landing among the people. "Hey what's going on?" Stella landed next to a pair of young girls their shopping bags spewing out the clothes and shoes they'd picked up. She tried to summon her fairy dust but it wasn't working. She couldn't reach for it in this new form. The only form they'd achieved without any sort of guidance was their Bloomix every other form someone had told them about or someone knew about it. This though, was completely new to Stella.
Stella stood up to dismiss this form and transform back into her mythix, only to see Darcy standing there. Stella growled in rage as Darcy laughed. The witch's eyes flickering slightly behind Stella noticing the warrior joining the fairy. He wasn't in the full armor she was used to and she felt a certain smugness when she noticed the way he was holding his side.
"I'll ask again, hand over the Ring of Solaria. Or are you two really going to try and run?" Darcy asked.
"What did you do to the people!" Shin challenged stepping up next to Stella.
"Made them less annoying." Darcy scoffed and at that Stella screamed in rage and flew towards the witch.
"Dawn's Light!" Stella roared blasting the strong spell at the witch only to have the imaged flicker away. An illusion. Stella tensed instantly her body on edge as Darcy's location was now unknown. She looked to Shin to see if he was engaging Darcy but he looked just as worried as she was. This wasn't good. She barely landed on the ground when a noise had both of them turning to look. Stella gasped as she saw the hoverbike flying towards her. She needed her Silver Moon shield! Her hand was gliding over her forearm trying to conjure the shield while her eyes watched the hoverbike.
"Stella!" Shin yelled. He wanted to run to protect her but he had his own defense to worry about. Black spears were ripping through the concrete towards him. He was moving faster enough to get out of the way. The wound in his side was slowly him down!
"Stella, Shin!" Touma yelled as Shu, Musa and Bloom rushed forward.
"Dragon Shield!" Bloom called out the spell as Musa helped balance Shin.
Stella had barely blinked as the crashing sound of the bike hit. A smile breaking out wide on her face as Shu stood before her, the bike falling to the ground after crashing into his armored shoulder.
"And there's two saves for the good guys." Shu smiled straightening up.
"SHU!" Stella cried out and glomped on to Shu's back. It was so good to see everyone, to have back up. "I'm so happy you guys made it!" Stella said as she turned to look at her girls. She hurried over to them with Shu at her side, Touma was clearly scanning their surroundings while Musa and Bloom stayed close to Shin.
"You guys made it just it time it seems." Shin smiled trying not to lean on Musa too much at the moment. Bloom dropped her shield and smiled before embracing Stella then Shin.
"Yeah, we're just glad that you guys are okay." Bloom said staying close to Stella.
"Well mostly." Touma added with a smirk.
"Yeah but what happened to the people." Shu asked pointing out to the people. Stella wanted to explain but she saw Darcy's reflection in the glass.
"Darcy!" Stella growled and the witch laughed showing herself.
"So glad you didn't forget about me." Darcy levitating up into the sky. She scowled at Bloom, Musa, Touma and Shu as their presence meant she had to change her plans. "Well I was hope to eliminate two pest but I'll settle for the Ring of Solaria." Darcy smirked.
"I'm not giving it to you!" Stella snapped glaring at the witch.
"Just try and take it!" Shu challenge stepping in front of the group weapon in hand. Darcy's cruel smile only grew and both Touma and Bloom knew something was wrong. She was out numbered and matched but Darcy was calm. She was still in control.
~Shu be careful. Something's not right here.~ Touma warned as he knocked one of his golden arrows waiting for the witch's move. Shu and Shin both nodded slightly signalling that they understood the warning Touma gave.
"You will give me the ring now!" Darcy demanded her eyes narrowing and irises turning a bright red. Her hand was outstretched waiting for them to comply. Darcy couldn't help but smile more at the glares from most of them and the worried looked on Torrent's face. It was amusing to her how he was the only one seeming to be aware of the darker power she'd consumed. "So you're not going to give it up? Fine then I'll just kill innocent person here." Darcy stated casually yet there was a smug smile on her face as shock took her opponents.
"You can't do that!" Shu yelled before anyone else could object to Darcy.
"I can and will. After all my dark magic is inside them already. I could snap my fingers and kill them." She laughed and the group fell silent.
They couldn't trust her, but if they didn't do what she wanted then innocent people would die. She'd caught them between a rock and a hard place, a masterful trap. One that seemed even more vicious than the traps Rajura had set for the Ronin before he was freed from Arago's control. Stella looked at the ring on her finger twisting it as she tried to think of some way out.
"This is low." Shin growled narrowing his eyes at Darcy.
"Isn't it? All the power the dynasty has, we're going to get our way this time so hand over the ring." Darcy smirked.
"I-... I have no choice." Stella whispered and Bloom placed a hand on her shoulder. She didn't want to hand it over but what choice was there. She needed to protect her people. "I swear Darcy you pull any tricks and I will make you regret it!" Stella growled as she pulled the ring off her finger. As Stella walked forward Shu and Touma kept their weapons pointed at Darcy. Stella hated the grin on Darcy's face the smug look of victory with nothing they could do. Stella's shoulders slumped with defeat as she placed the ring in Darcy's hand, yet none of the people in the streets moved.
"Darcy! Lift your curse!" Musa snapped and Darcy laughed as she levitated up.
"Why? I only said I wouldn't kill them. See ya losers!" Darcy vanished right before a golden arrow reached her.
"Damn it!" Shu cursed slamming the butt of his staff into the street and cracking it.
"Ugh! I hate that witch!"
"Hey it's okay our fairy dust should be able to lift the curse." Bloom pointed out as Touma took Shin. The two girls nodded and while Bloom and Musa were able to call on their fairy dust Stella couldn't. First she couldn't transform into any form but this and now she couldn't reach back to her old powers?! What was going on! Yet bad news just kept piling up, as Musa and Bloom couldn't shake off the curse the people of this town were under with their fairy dust.
"This is bad…" Bloom sighed her shoulders dropping a bit. There was no way the specialist would leave them be after this. They would claim that things would have gone better if they'd gone. Bloom hated that right now she was being pulled into worrying about their stupid egos and pissing contest because they couldn't help Stella's people.
"What do we do?" Shu asked looking for a bit of guidance. "We can't just leave the people here like this."
"You're right, I just don't know what to do." Stella felt horrible. The joy of being strong on her own was gone and she felt helpless and was sure that Brandon would rub it in her face. She hadn't told the others that the few times she'd run into him he'd been a royal jerk.
"Stella, why don't you, Bloom and Musa stay with Shin… Maybe you could try and heal him as well. Shu and I will move the people out of the streets and into buildings. We can have a large group come to rescue the people or examine them." Touma said as he set Shin down.
"Of course." Bloom answered trying to usher Stella over to Shin. "And Touma… Thank you." She smiled and he nodded. His cool head was helping them out very much as was Shu's strength. With Musa healing Shin there was only one thing left for Bloom to do. Bloom wrapped an arm around Stella's shoulders and gave her a quick hug. "Don't worry we'll talk to Faragonda about this new transformation. She'll know something about it, or someone will."
"Thanks Bloom." Stella smiled. She was more powerful and yet felt helpless.
"Don't feel bad Stella. We'll turn this around and get the ring back." Shin smiled as the cuts and gashes from all the fighting faded away thanks to Musa's fairy dust. Shin knew words could only do so much at this point. They had suffered a few loses and the girls were emotionally drained. They needed something to cheer them up again.
