- Edited -

Rhythma waited until the Trix left her alone for just a moment before she lunged for the door. She had to try again. It didn't matter if she didn't make it. Every attempt was another chance.

I'm going to make it! She thought, reaching for the door.

And suddenly, Icy was there. Rhythma screamed as the ice witch barreled into her and knocked her to the ground, crouching down.

Rhythma made another lunge, but this time, Icy jumped on top of her and straddled her, pinning her wrists beside her head.

The fairy whimpered as Icy brought her face close to Rhythma's, her silver hair falling around them. "Congratulations, tiny little wretch," the icy witch said with a frown. "You made it two steps farther than last time." Rhythma struggled as best as she could, but it was impossible. She was trapped.

"That's got to be a new record," Darcy snickered, standing beside Stormy and flashing a cruel grin at Rhythma.

Icy leaned even further down so that she and Rhythma were touching noses. "We told you what would happen if you tried to escape, little fairy." Her voice was filled with malice.

Rhythma closed her eyes and waited, knowing that it was pointless to try and fight back in this position. She felt ice crawl up her arms as Icy sat back, watching the thin layer of white frost make its way toward her neck.

Icy's POV

When Icy awoke in the middle of the night, it wasn't because of Stormy's snores, which could probably be heard at Alfea. In fact, that was the least of her problems.

It was because of the stupid little wretch's whimpers. Darcy had not eased up on the nightmares, and now everyone seemed to be suffering.

So now, here she was, shaking the pathetic little fairy harshly and trying to wake her. She had been at it for about ten minutes and she still hadn't woken up.

"Come on, you stupid little wretch," she snapped. "Wake up!" She was going make her suffer for this.

Icy gave the girl a rough shove, but it still did little to rouse her. The witch stood up and walked over to Darcy's bed, grumbling under her breath.

"Darcy!" She snapped.

The dark witch opened her yellow eyes and stared at Icy. "What do you want?" She mumbled. "It's the middle of the night!"

Icy crossed her arms. "Wake up the little wretch."

"Why?"

The ice witch narrowed her eyes, making Darcy wince ever so slightly. "Because her pitiful whimpers are keeping me awake."

The two glared at each other for a moment before Darcy sighed and waved her arm in the fairy's direction. At once, Rhythma sat upright in her bed with her wide, terrified eyes. The second she met Icy's gaze, she flinched back.

Icy smirked.

Rhythma's POV

"Come here."

Rhythma staggered to her feet and walked obediently over to the ice witch, still shaking from the nightmare she had just had.

She stood directly in front of Icy, waiting for her to say something. No doubt she's going to beat me. Just because she can.

Icy put a single finger under Rhythma's chin and lifted her head so that she was staring directly into the witch's eyes. She smirked cruelly and leaned forward, lips brushing the fairy's forehead.

"Turn around."

Rhythma did as she was told and put her back to Icy, feeling cold fingers wrap around her left wrist a moment later. The fairy let out a small squeak when the witch wrenched her arm behind her back in a painful lock, twisting her wrist for the extra effect.

"Mind if I use your bed for a moment, Darcy?" Icy asked, making Rhythma stiffen. She wanted to turn around and look at them, but if she turned, and Icy saw, the punishment would be much worse than torture.

A flicker of movement told Rhythma that Darcy shrugged. "Sure."

Icy chuckled darkly and pushed her toward Darcy's bed without releasing the grip on her arm. A moment later, Rhythma's chest hit the mattress and she was suddenly pinned down on her stomach.

"This is going to hurt, wretch," Icy told her. "So you might want to hold onto something."

That was all the permission Rhythma needed. Using her free arm, she gripped the edge of the bed tightly, feeling Icy put more pressure on her wrist as she did so.

All of a sudden, the ice witch jerked her arm forward, wrenching Rhythma's wrist in an awkward position. A snapping sound echoed across the room for a moment, and then Rhythma screamed.

Icy had literally just broken her arm.

Darcy watched Rhythma slip of the bed and lay on the floor, gripping her arm and whimpering softly. She looked at Icy. "Was that really necessary?"

"No." Icy said. "But it was fun." She turned back to the young fairy. "That was for waking me up. Get back in bed."

Rhythma did as she was told, curling up next to Pipsqueak. Her arm throbbed painfully and a dull ache had made its way to the back of her head. She heard Icy walk by her and get back into her own bed after giving a painful kick to Rhythma's stomach. A moment later, the witch's soft snores could be heard.

Rhythma lay awake the rest of the night.

The next day was one of Rhythma's least favorite days: The Day of the Rose. It used to be one of her favorite holidays - even if she didn't have a mother to celebrate it with. But now it was just a day where the Trix planned awful things to ruin the parade.

She was now standing beside Icy, her broken arm wrapped in a makeshift cast that Darcy had been so kind to let her use. Pip was on her shoulder, silent as always, while Pepe waddled around yelling at Icy like a rabid animal.

"Why is her duck so well behaved?" Stormy demanded, picking up Pepe by the tail and glaring at Rhythma. "I mean, Pip doesn't even talk."

Rhythma flushed and looked away.

Icy glanced at Rhythma thoughtfully, but didn't press the matter. Instead, the ice witch addressed her sisters. "Today is the Day of the Rose," she said seriously. "And Griffin wants us to ruin it."

"Before we make any plans," Stormy interrupted. "Let's go see what we're dealing with."

Icy gave her a glare, but Darcy cut in. "That's actually a good idea."

"Fine." Icy rolled her eyes as Darcy waved her hands in the air and transported all five - because Knut was there too - to the center of Magix.

The Trix looked around with disgust written all over their faces. "All this positive energy is making me sick," Darcy complained, putting her hand on her stomach. The others nodded in agreement.

Pip gave a yawn from Rhythma's shoulder and looked around, his eyes instantly brightening at all the flowers around him. He jumped down and waddled over to a particularly large rose, picking it up and walking back to Rhythma. With a big smile, he jumped onto her shoulder again and tucked the flower into her black hair.

Rhythma's heart melted, but she managed to keep on a blank stare when the Trix looked over to make sure she was still there. There was a curious look from Darcy, but none of the witches said anything.

"Hey!" Icy called them over, and they walked to her just in time for Rhythma to feel a wave of negative energy come from a boy shoving himself roughly through the crowd. Icy leaned against the brick wall and watched him. "Did you see that?"

Darcy peeked out at the boy. "There's a whole bunch of negative energy surrounding him," she said, her voice full of awe.

Stormy opened her mouth to say something, but Icy cut her off and turned to face Rhythma. "I'm going to let you walk around for a bit." She said, startling the fairy. "But I want you back at two thirty, sharp. Don't try to run away, and don't try to get help."

Rhythma gave a slight nod and stepped back, walking into the crowd with her head down. Maybe I'll go unnoticed if no one sees my eyes. She was pretty sure that she was the only fairy in the Magic Dimension with one red eye and one green eye. So, pulling her hood over her head she slipped into a particularly large crowd of people.

It's so beautiful here, Rhythma thought, inhaling the wonderful scent of fresh roses. Pip rubbed his head against her neck and sighed in content. It was surprising that they were both happy for once.

Suddenly, someone grabbed her uninjured wrist, stopping the young fairy in her tracks. She turned around, surprised to see a young boy staring back at her. He wore a Specialist outfit, and it seemed that his color was dark blue. He had black, shoulder-length hair and shockingly bright blue eyes.

Rhythma jerked her wrist out of his grip and stepped back, her heart freezing when she saw him. Pip stiffened and let out something close to a squeak.

The boy put a hand on his chest. "Apologies," he said, his voice smooth like honey. "I didn't mean to startle you."

She tilted her head to the side, curious at this stranger. He looked kind of nervous.

"My name is Michael." He said. "I couldn't help but notice that you looked a little lonely. No one should be alone on the Day of the Rose." He held out his hand. "Would you care to watch the race with me?"

Rhythma shrugged and took his hand. One way to blend into the crowd was to act like she belonged.

Michael pulled her toward the front of the crowd, where the Specialists were getting ready to race. She noticed the boy from earlier - the one with the negative aura - wearing a helmet that made her eyes widen.

That was one of Darcy's creations.

Rhythma glanced toward the top of a nearby building, and saw that the Trix were watching the race, but Icy suddenly shifted her gaze and looked directly at Rhythma. A smirk came to the ice witch's face.

The race began.

Rhythma watched the racers take off, one with a blue helmet in the lead. From the way he and the Trix's victim were positioned, it was clear the two had a competitive edge toward the each other.

That's when Rhythma noticed a fairy flying behind the victim.

It was the same fairy the Trix had cornered in the alley some weeks ago, and the one who gave up Stella's ring to save Stella herself. Wasn't her name . . . Bloom?

Yes. Bloom.

Just as Bloom reached the Specialist, Rhythma saw him stiffen up. He suddenly lost control of his WindRider and slammed to the ground. At once, chaos erupted in the crowd.

Then Rhythma noticed another rider had stopped and was rushing toward the fallen Specialist. They took of their helmet to reveal . . .

. . . Darcy?

Wretch, come help me. The voice of the dark witch came into her head and she jumped the railing to reach her side.

"Wait!" Michael called, but Rhythma ignored him. She made it to Darcy's side and waited for orders.

Go help Riven, Darcy ordered. I'll deal with this stupid nuisance of a fairy.

Rhythma did as she was told and rushed over to Riven - the fallen Specialist. She gently touched his head. His eyes were open - which was a good thing. Darcy must have already healed him.

She grabbed his arm and pulled it over her neck, supporting him. Darcy came up a moment later and took his other arm.

Together, they helped Riven walk toward the alleyway where Stormy and Icy were waiting.

Later, toward the evening, the Trix were laying on their beds, looking incredibly bored. Icy had forced Rhythma to sit beside her on the edge of the bed while she messed with Rhythma's hair. She wasn't doing anything to it, just making Rhythma uncomfortable.

The young fairy's least favorite form of mental torture.

Pip waddled up with Pepe, who flapped his wings and stared at Icy. "Mama!" He cried. "Mama!"

Icy ignored him and continued to torment Rhythma.

Then Pip stared directly at Rhythma. There was something in his eyes that the fairy couldn't catch before the tiny duck opened his beak. What he did next shocked Rhythma, Icy, Darcy, and Stormy, who all froze at that moment.

Pip spoke.

"Mommy!" He cried.

A/N:

Question: Who is your favorite Specialist?

Mine is either Riven or Helia!

Please vote comment and enjoy!