- Edited -

"We're back!" Icy called as the Trix teleported into the room. Rhythma turned her head to watch them cautiously and stood up, knowing exactly what she was supposed to do.

She walked over to Icy until she stood about three feet from the witch.

Icy raised a brow and smirked, before grabbing Rhythma's arm and jerking her forward, forcing the fairy to her knees painfully. She choked out a cry, but knew it was useless as Icy walked around Rhythma until she was standing behind the fairy, keeping tight hold of her wrist. Rhythma's arm was now in a tight lock behind her, sending agonizing pain through her entire body.

She cried out, but that led to more pain.Rhythma's heart began to race as she pleaded for mercy.

She had been planning this.

One arm was still free. Her right one.

Inside her sleeve was a knife.

And she planned to use it.

Rhythma clenched her fist.

She stood up, startling Icy.

She whirled around, a knife made of steel appearing from her sleeve.

And aimed it at Icy's heart.

But the witch caught her wrist when the dagger was just a millimeter from her skin.

Her expression remained eerily calm.

Icy squeezed both of Rhythma's wrists, forcing a pained squeal from her throat. Then the witch leaned forward.

"Drop it."

Rhythma didn't listen, and instead tightened her grip on the weapon. She narrowed her eyes in a challenge.

Icy's brow furrowed, but still she didn't change her expression. "Drop the knife, little fairy." Her voice was neutral, and the grip on her wrists tightened even more.

Rhythma shook her head, glaring coldly into Icy's eyes and trying to keep the pain inside.

The witch bent one of her wrists backward, making Rhythma scream and drop the dagger in her right hand out of pain. Icy shoved the fairy back, pushing her into Stormy's arms.

Once sure that Rhythma was secured, Icy stepped back and picked up the knife, which gleamed in the torchlight of the room. She approached Rhythma once again.

"You tried to kill me." Her voice still hadn't changed. "That was uncalled for, little one. You'll be punished."

Then, without warning, Icy plunged the tip of the dagger into Rhythma's face, causing the girl to scream in surprise and pain. With no mercy, the ice witch drew the knife slowly across her face, leaving a thick gash where blood welled out like a volcano. Icy traced over the corner of Rhythma's green eye, and continued on until she had reached the fairy's cheek.

She pulled the dagger out.

Now Rhythma could see the malice in Icy's eyes, heated with a fire that terrified the young fairy.

"You'll live with that scar for the rest of your life." Icy snarled. "Every time you look in the mirror, you'll be reminded of this day - and if the fact that you belong to us."

She dropped the knife at Rhythma's feet.

Stormy released the fairy, who fell to her knees.

Rhythma felt the blood run down her face.

She looked at the knife.

She looked at Icy.

And then she closed her eyes.

She heard snickers from her tormentors.

There was no point in trying to use the knife. It was useless to end her own life now.

She closed her eyes.

Darcy's voice came to her mind.

"One day left. If you're not here by sunset tonight, we will hunt you down."

Rhythma turned over to face the witch, now standing over her. "I hate you." She spat out, feeling the now-faded scar on her face from that night two years ago.

Darcy smirked and crouched down in front of Rhythma, putting her hand on the weakened fairy's head. "If you hate me so much, why don't you destroy me with your powers?"

Rhythma paused, before looking away from the witch. "I can't." She mumbled.

"Why not?" Darcy tilted her head to the side. "Are you scared?"

"No." Rhythma hissed, clenching her fists. "I can't use my powers."

Darcy chuckled. "Too weak?"

"They're gone."

The purple witch gave her a cruel look. "No they're not." She said. "You're just not who you think you are."

Rhythma looked up sharply. "What's that supposed to mean?" She demanded. "And how do you know?"

"I know you better than you know yourself, fairy." Darcy took a step back. "You're not the Fairy of Emotions, wretch." She hissed. "I thought you would have figured that out by now."

"Tell me what you mean!" Rhythma cried, but Darcy was fading.

"If you're so desperate to know, go ask your headmistress." The witch smirked. "I'm sure she has the answers." She winked. "But remember the time limit."

Then she was gone.

"Tell me the truth." Rhythma looked Faroganda in the eyes as she spoke. "I have to know the truth."

The fairy had just told Faroganda about the dream she had the night before. Now her headmistress was sitting with her head down and her hands folded neatly on her desk.

A minute passed in silence.

Then two.

Faroganda looked up with a grim expression in her eyes. "Come with me." She abruptly stood up and exited the room, and Rhythma followed.

The two walked in silence for a moment.

"From the moment I met you, I knew you were special." Faroganda told her quietly. "You showed no strength in class when you trained with your emotion powers. This led me to think that your destiny lay elsewhere."

Rhythma turned to look at her headmistress quizzicaly. "Where?"

Faroganda led her to a dead end hallway with a portrait. Rhythma noticed that the portrait was of the very same hallway they were in, but on the picture, there was a door.

She turned to ask Faroganda what was going on, but there was a click, and a door appeared.

Faroganda beckoned to Rhythma and walked through the door. The young fairy followed, unsure. "Where are we?" She asked, looking around in amazement at the books.

"This is the Alfea Magical Archive." Faroganda told her. "A secret library where the most powerful knowledge is located." She gestured around her. "I believe the answers you seek lie here."

At that moment, a tiny fairy with a blue robe fluttered down beside a fairy seahorse. "Faroganda!" She said in a tiny voice. "What brings you here?"

The headmistress of Alfea bent her head. "Concorda, I have urgent business with this student. She needs to find the source of her power." She turned to Rhythma. "Dear, this is a pixie - pretty much a fairy, but with different kinds of power."

The pixie - Concorda - flew over to Rhythma and opened her mouth to speak, but suddenly stopped, staring into Rhythma's eyes with wonder.

The fairy felt very lightheaded - and everything around them disappeared. She stretched out her hand to Concorda. "My name is Rhythma." She whispered.

"I am Concorda, the Pixie of Alfea." Her new friend replied. Rhythma felt a sudden connection to this pixie - as if they were bonded by something more than a common goal.

Just as they came, those feelings vanished, and Rhythma was left standing before Concorda, feeling an unspoken connection between her and this pixie.

She looked at Faroganda.

"What happened?"

Her headmistress blinked in wonder. "You have bonded with a pixie." She replied. "It's a special bond - one which will never be broken."

"But that's impossible!" Concorda yelled, flying up to Faroganda. "I'm a Guardian Pixie. We don't bond with fairies!"

Faroganda's expression was grim. "Unless," she countered.

Concorda's eyes widened. "Unless . . . she's . . ."

Rhythma looked around. "What? Unless I'm what?"

Both of them were silent for a moment, before Concorda spoke.

"You are a Fairy of Pixies." She said in awe. "There is only one in the entire Magic Dimension."

"What does that mean?" Rhythma asked, confused.

Concorda flew over to the fairy and fluttered beside her head. "It means that you have amazing powers. A Fairy of Pixies has the ability to draw the powers from every pixie in existence."

Rhythma's eyes widened. "But what does that have to do with our bond?"

"Because you are a Guardian of Pixies, you will bond with three more Pixies." Concorda told her. "The Pixie of Cloudtower, the Pixie of Redfountain, and the Pixie of Pixie Village."

Faroganda stepped forward. "No fairy in existence has ever bonded with more than one pixie." She told Rhythma. "You will be the first - and the last."

Rhythma looked down at her hands in wonder. "I never expected to have such a powerful ability." She said softly. "How powerful is it?"

"The power of the pixies is second only to the Dragon Flame." Concorda explained. "Only because the bonds pixies share with fairies can destroy even the most powerful of enemies."

"Wow." Rhythma gasped. "I don't know what to say."

Concorda touched her shoulder lightly. "Say you'll do it." She urged. "You will learn how to control this power, and soon you'll know every pixie by name."

Rhythma clenched her fist, remembering the scar on her face from that night. When she opened her heterogeneous eyes again, she felt an invisible fire fill her heart - a sudden longing to protect the Pixies.

She looked Concorda right in the eyes.

"I'll do it."

"Rhythma?" Concorda flew up to the scarred girl with a worried expression on her face. "What's wrong? You seem upset."

It was later into the day, and Rhythma was concerned about Darcy's warning. Tonight was the last chance she had to return to the Trix freely. "I'm fine, Concorda." She assured her bonded pixie. "Just trying to wrap my head around everything."

Pipsqueak waddled up and shared a concerned glance with the pixie.

Rhythma chuckled and picked up the tiny blue duckling. "I'm fine. Really."

Pip looked unconvinced, but didn't pressure her anymore. Rhythma put Pip down and watched him waddle away. She turned back to the window and sighed sadly, wishing there was a way to save both herself and the Magic Dimension from the Trix.

Concorda flew over to her. "I know you didn't want to worry Pip, but I know something is wrong." She said. "Why won't you trust me?"

"Because if you get involved, they will kill you." Rhythma replied.

Concorda gave her a frustrated look. "Who?"

"The Trix!" Rhythma said, exasperated. "The witches who did this to me!" She pointed to the scar on her face. "They want me to come back to them - and today is the last day I can return to them of my own free will. If I don't, they'll destroy the Magic Dimension until they find me."

Concorda put her tiny hand over her mouth.

Rhythma was about to say more, but then someone walked in the room. She turned, expecting Humora, and was surprised when Bloom came up to her instead.

"Can I help you?" She asked. Bloom gave her a smile.

"You're Rhythma, right?"

Rhythma nodded in response, noticing that Concorda had hidden behind her.

Bloom shook her hand. "My name is Bloom, and I wanted to ask you something."

"What's that?" Rhythma tipped her head to the side.

"I think it's very commendable that you survived almost three years living with the Trix." Bloom told her. "I can sense a powerful magic inside of you - and your friends." She looked down. "The Winx and I were wondering if you and your friends would like to join our group."

"Me?" Rhythma gasped. "Join the Winx?"

Bloom nodded. "Besides me, there are four other girls. With your friends and you, we would make ten fairies still willing to do whatever it takes to beat the Trix." She held out her hand. "What do you say?"

Rhythma paused. "Can I talk it over with my friends first?"

"Of course," Bloom's eyes brightened. "Give me your answer tomorrow."

"Alright."

She left.

Rhythma stood up, her eyes closed. "Concorda." She croaked.

Her pixie flew in front of her. "Yes?"

Rhythma stared into her pixie's eyes. "Take care of Pip for me." She turned to the window and opened it, feeling the tears well up.

She had made her choice.

Concorda gasped.

"No, Rhythma!" She cried. "Don't do it!"

Rhythma whimpered. "What choice do I have?" She demanded in a soft voice. "If I don't do as they ask, I'm sentencing the entire Magic Dimension to death."

Concorda opened her mouth, but Rhythma cut her off.

"What is my life worth compared to everyone else's?" She asked.

"Tell your friends." Concorda begged. "Tell the Winx too. They'll know how to help you."

Rhythma paused. She looked out of the window and watched as the sun set. Her time was up.

Sighing, she turned back to her pixie. "Alright." She whispered. "I'll talk to them."

Rhythma looked down at the ground, her eyes closed. Before her stood Humora, Statica, Lula, Flava, Stella, Tecna, Musa, and Flora.

"This is what they have revealed." She told them quietly. "Should I go?"

Flora stood up, a brave expression on her face. "No, you shouldn't." She said. "The Trix are just trying to scare you."

Rhythma nodded.

Musa winked at her. "We will protect you." She promised. "You're one of us now."

"You mean -?" Rhythma's eyes widened.

Stella walked forward and draped her arm around Rhythma's shoulders. "Welcome to the Winx, girl!"

"Welcome all of you," Flora stood and addressed Rhythma's friends. "You are all one of us."

Rhythma smiled. "Thank you." She said. "Where's Bloom? I need to tell her I accepted."

Tecna, Musa, Stella and Flora all looked down at the ground. "We don't know." Stella whispered. "She left late last night and didn't return."

"We have to go look for her!" Flava gasped. "She could be in danger!"

Rhythma nodded. She and the rest of the Winx left the school courtyard and stood in front of the forest.

"Which way?" Humora demanded.

Flora narrowed her eyes. "Hold on." She began to glow brightly, and dust gathered on the ground. In a swift movement, the sparkling dust had created an arrow. "This way!"

Rhythma closed her eyes. "Rhythma Magic Winx!"

Her glowing violet wings appeared on her back, and her warm gray outfit changed to a silver one. Within seconds, she was flying alongside Humora and Lula - with Statica up ahead and Flava flying behind them.

Something's not right. A sick feeling came to Rhythma's stomach. Humora glanced over at her.

"What's wrong?"

Rhythma looked at her friend. "There's a familiar charge in the air." She said. "I'd recognize Stormy's presence anywhere."

"So the Trix are here?" Statica gasped.

Rhythma could only nod.

Not even a second later, there was a blast of lightning which sent Rhythma, Flora and Lula to the ground. Statica and Stella remained in the air, glaring at their attackers. Flava, Humora, Musa, and Tecna all landed in a defensive circle around the fallen group.

Rhythma stood up and flew to Stella's side. Sure enough, the Trix glowered back at them. Once Icy's eyes met hers, the witch smirked.

"Look who it is, sisters." Her voice was filled with malice. "Our little fairy."

Rhythma gritted her teeth. I need to use my powers. But how?

Suddenly, Concorda's voice came to her head. Reach out your mind to the forest. Sense for the Pixies, and once you find one, call upon their power!

Rhythma smiled, and let her mind search the entire forest. Almost instantly, she caught sight of a blonde pixie hiding in the trees, watching the fight. With a determined look toward Icy, Rhythma reached her hand in the direction of the Pixie - the name coming to her mind.

"I, Rhythma, fairy of the Pixies, call upon the Power of Solstice, the Pixie of Sunlight!"

Her entire body grew warm as she said those words, and her palms lit up with light. With a battle cry, she fired the light at the witches, knocking them all back.

Icy hit the ground, scowling. "How is she so strong?" With a growl, she got up and lunged for Rhythma, who dodged the assault with ease and flew down to where Bloom was imprisoned in an ice pyramid.

"Light of the Sun!" She yelled, shooting another ball of light at the pyramid. "Bloom, I need your help!"

At once, the ice sculpture melted, and Bloom was able to free herself and the young witch beside her. "Thanks, Rhythma!" She winked, and Rhythma beamed.

"Help!"

Rhythma whirled to face the sound, her eyes widening when she saw the rest of the Winx trapped between two tornadoes. "No!" She cried, and Bloom yelled.

Together, the two flew up toward Icy, but we're stopped by Darcy. "Go, Bloom!" Rhythma called. "I'll deal with her."

Bloom nodded and flew around Darcy while Rhythma shot a burst of powerful light at the witch. Darcy screamed, and shot a bolt of dark energy at the fairy, who dodged and fired another attack.

Then, out of nowhere, a monster blinked into existence. It startled Stormy and Icy, causing the ropes that bound the Winx to vanish. Rhythma wanted to cheer, but then she noticed that the freshman witch from earlier was standing with her arms raised. Had she created the monster?

"Ugh." Stormy squeaked out. "She broke my concentration!"

"Big mistake," Darcy hissed. She looked at Rhythma and smirked, sending a blast that knocked the young fairy to the ground. "At least we've got you, though."

Icy screamed. "That's it!" Her voice held so much anger. "I'm sick and tired of you, Mirta! You're a pain in the neck! A . . . a . . ." Icy looked around, trying to find something to call the pesky witch. "Pumpkin? Why not?" She smirked.

Rhythma gasped. "No!" But it was too late. In a blast of magic, Icy transformed the young witch into a pumpkin.

The rest of the Winx fluttered down to see if Mirta was alright, but Rhythma stared at the Trix. Icy met her gaze.

"We'll be back, little fairy." She hissed. "Like it or not, you belong to us. That scar proves it."

Then, in a wave of negative energy, all three witches vanished.