- Edited -

Stormy's POV
Icy groaned in anger as the Trix watched the other members of the Winx arrive in time to wake up the unconscious wretch.

"She could have been ours!" The ice witch screamed, slamming her hand down onto the desk. "We let her get away again!"

"Hey, Stormy?" Darcy walked over to the youngest sister. "How's your hand?" Her golden eyes seemed to hold concern - which was strange for a witch.

Stormy growled. "My hand is fine. My dignity, however, has diminished greatly." She clenched her fist in memory of the pain. "I'm going to make her suffer for this."

"We've already established that," Icy pointed out. "But how will we get her? The Winx won't leave her alone."

Darcy cut in, "Neither will those insects."

There was silence for a moment. Then Icy said, "Hey, Darcy? Remember that monster we learned about in class? The one that exhausts someone through nightmares and makes them weak?"

The dark witch grinned. "You mean the Nightmare Gargoyle?"

"Yeah." Icy smirked, making Stormy's frown quickly become a grin. "How exactly do we create one?" Her eyes glimmered.

"We'll use it to kill two birds with one stone." Stormy vowed. "The Dragon Flame and our fairy will both be in our hands."

Rhythma's POV

"Thanks, guys," the young fairy said softly as the Winx entered the gates of Alfea. "I'm sure the Trix would have come back if not for you."

Bloom sent a smile in her direction. "No problem. That's what friends are for." She then proceeded to address the rest of the Winx. "Parent teacher meetings are coming up. Time sure flies, doesn't it?"

Stella - walking on Rhythma's right - laughed. "It'll be nice to finally see my parents together again."

"Together or not, at least you get to see your parents," Musa - walking somewhat behind the group - said in a mournful tone. "Sadly, these meetings bring no music to my ears."

Humora - also at Rhythma's side - shook her head in disbelief. "I can't believe that both of our members from Melody have lost a parent."

Musa cast Rhythma a long look. "You're from Melody?"

The fairy opened her mouth to reply, but Flava beat her to it. "Her mother was the Princess of Melody," she said, winking at Rhythma and draping her arm around the smaller girl's shoulders. "Our fairy here was named after her mother because she died during Rhythma's birth."

"That's so cool." Musa told the fairy, smiling. Rhythma paused to let her catch up so they were walking side-by-side.

"Something's wrong." Flora said, suddenly alert. "It was as if Mother Nature were upset."

Rhythma began to feel uneasy and pressed closer to Musa, who looked around cautiously.

The hall was silent as the Winx walked toward their rooms - which now were all one. Faragonda had used her magic to make Bloom's complex bigger so that Rhythma's group could join them. It was strange at first, but practical. Now Rhythma was able to room with Lula and Humora.

"Wait." Tecna suddenly said, causing the group to pause. "Did you hear that strange rustling noise?"

Bloom scoffed, walking by Rhythma. "That was you, Tecna. You're just imagining things."

Rhythma doubted the fairy's confidence - as she felt someone's eyes on her. However, she followed Humora into their room after waving to the others. "Goodnight, guys. Thanks again."

"Night, Rhythma!" Stella said sleepily as she walked into her own room.

The black-haired fairy laid down in her bed, Lula beside her. "Wake me up if you need anything," her friend whispered. Rhythma nodded.

Pip joined her on the bed, and then, when sleep finally came, Rhythma allowed herself to succumb to the darkness pulling at her mind.

Punch.

Rhythma screamed.

Punch.

Her head dropped.

Someone laughed.

Stormy?

Rhythma forced her head up to face her attacker, groaning when Stormy smirked back at her. "Miss me, wretch?"

"Go away." Rhythma spat, feeling the chains dig into her wrists as Stormy frowned. They were holding her arms high above her, preventing escape.

"You don't give the orders here, fairy." The magenta witch snapped. "I do."

Rhythma shook her head. "Never again." She croaked. "I won't let you win."

Stormy smirked. "Look around you." She said. "Where are we?"

As Rhythma obeyed her tormentor, her mind pieced together exactly where she was.

Faragonda's office.

The fairy turned her head back to the witch. "What happened? Where is the Headmistress?" Her tone became one of fear, because Rhythma already knew the answer.

Stormy cackled. "You're speaking to her."

"What did you do to Faragonda?" Rhythma screamed, pulling against the restraints. Stormy scowled and grabbed her prisoner's chin, wrenching her head dangerously to the side.

"One - don't ever talk to me like that again." The witch hissed, watching Rhythma squeal. "Second, Faragonda's dead." She leaned forward. "Because I killed her."

"You wouldn't," the fairy whimpered. "I don't believe you."

Stormy jerked her head, taunting her, and spoke dangerously quiet. "Do you really think that she would let me take over her school without a fight?" She asked. Rhythma shook her head, tears falling down her cheeks. "Exactly. And once she was dead, guess who we killed next."

Rhythma's eyes widened. "You didn't." She croaked. "Please tell me you're joking!"

"Nope." Stormy laughed at Rhythma's horrified face. "The Winx fought bravely, I'll admit, but their efforts proved to be in vain."

"Why?" The fairy cried. "Why did you kill them?"

Stormy didn't answer. Instead, she released Rhythma's face and stepped back. "After they died, you were the last fairy still fighting. Icy managed to knock you to the ground, where Darcy and I held you." Her smirk widened. "Icy stood over you, an ice sword ready to end your life as she had the others. But she didn't kill you."

Rhythma shrieked.

"Instead, she sliced your wings off and said that you were going to be a prisoner at Alfea." Stormy leaned closer to her, so that their faces were almost touching. "You are a reminder to every fairy here of that night. No wings, no magic, and no freedom."

"No," Rhythma sobbed. "It can"t be true."

The witch laughed. "Oh, but it is. And you're completely helpless to change it." Then she slapped Rhythma, adding to the tears already falling down her face. "Now, tell me." Stormy took a step back. "Who do you belong to?"

Rhythma spat. "No one."

Stormy frowned, before sending a ball of lightning at her. The fairy screamed in pain and thrashed against her restraints - which proved to add more to her agony. The witch narrowed her eyes and gripped her chin once again. "Who do you belong to?" Her voice was laced with menace.

Rhythma paused, breathing heavily and staring into her captor's eyes before breaking their gaze. "You." She mumbled.

"I'm sorry," Stormy smirked. "I didn't catch that. Say it again."

Rhythma whimpered as Stormy's nails dug into her face, drawing blood. "I belong to you."

The fairy sat upright in her bed, gasping and feeling completely drained of magic. Lula was beside her, stroking her hair.

As soon as her eyes opened, the Sleep fairy took Rhythma's hand and looked deep into her heterogeneous eyes. "Are you okay, dear?" The two fairies who had become like sisters now stared at each other, as though trying to read one another

Rhythma groaned and shook her head. "I can't - I saw . . ." She broke down, crying into her friend's chest. "Oh, Lula! I saw the future! Everyone was dead, and the Trix . . ."

"What? What about the Trix?" Lula pressed.

"The Trix kept me alive," Rhythma sobbed. "Stormy was . . . She . . ." The fairy couldn't go on. Her friend already knew what had happened.

Lula held Rhythma close to her and they laid like that for a while, before Stella screamed from the other room.

At once, the two followed by Humora, Statica and Flava all rushed into the sunlight fairy's room, where she sat trembling on her bed. Bloom, Flora, Tecna and Musa were all there already.

"What's going on?" Lula asked, watching as Stella attempted to relax herself. "We heard a scream."

"Stella had a nightmare." Bloom explained. "She woke us all up."

The sunshine fairy gulped. "It was more than just a dream." She said nervously. "It felt so real, and I'm totally drained of magic." Her voice wavered. "I felt like someone was watching me!"

"Hmm." Lula put a hand on Rhythma's back. "Rhythma had a dream like that, too."

"I've said it before," Tecna announced. "There's something very strange in the air tonight."

Musa stood, startling a very jumpy Rhythma. "I don't understand what all the fuss is about. Stella and Rhythma had a nightmare, so what?" She turned. "I'm going back to bed."

Bloom sighed. "Let's all go back to bed, alright?" She looked at Stella. "And Stella, holler if you need anything."

Rhythma followed her friends back into her room and lay in her bed. Please be a dreamless sleep, she begged. I don't want another nightmare.

The fairy's wishes came true, as she fell into a black void of nothingness.

It didn't last long, however. Sometime later, Rhythma woke to a scream. At once, the black-haired fairy surged upward and out of her bed, Humora following.

The screams were coming from Musa and Tecna's room. The two fairies found Tecna talking to Musa quietly.

"What's going on?" Bloom came up behind Rhythma, who jumped up out of fright.

"We heard a scream," Flora said with worry, followed by Stella.

The golden fairy huffed in annoyance. "Ugh! My beauty sleep!"

Tecna waited until everyone - including Statica, Flava and Lula - was in the room. "I woke up," she whispered. "And I realized that something was wrong with Musa."

"I was dreaming about my mother." Musa croaked. "But then the dream turned into my very own worst nightmare - a place with no music."

"That's strange." Tecna said. "I, too, was having a very horrible dream."

Rhythma caught Kiko's eye and saw that the bunny as well as Pip looked kind of daunted.

Bloom was confused.

"First Stella and Rhythma and now you too?" Her voice held skepticism. "What is going on around here?"

"Girls." Stella's voice breaks into the situation. "Let's recap the situation, shall we? There are too many weird things."

Flava nodded. "First Tecna hears strange rustling noises,"

"Then we all have nightmares." Rhythma added, looking around.

Stella crossed her arms. "And finally there's Musa's world without music."

Flora tensed suddenly, and as did Rhythma. "Shhh." The black-haired girl snapped.

"Quiet fairies." Flora whispered. "Mirta."

Tecna tilted her head to the side. "What's Mirta got to do with this?"

Kiko suddenly jumped off Bloom's shoulder and into the main room. Pip quacked at Rhythma and followed the bunny.

Flora gave a determined look toward the others. "I think Kiko and Pip are sensing what Rhythma and I are sensing."

Rhythma and the Winx followed Pip and Kiko into the middle room, where Mirta in her pumpkin form was sitting on a table. Kiko jumped behind the plant and waved his arms.

"I think Kiko and Pip are trying to tell us something." Flora elaborated once Pip started to mimic Kiko's motions. The nature fairy leaned forward and squinted at the two pets. "It's about Mirta, right guys?"

Pip quacked and flapped his tiny wings while Kiko nodded.

Flora took a deep breath. Then, as Rhythma watched, she sprinkled some magic on the pumpkin and held out her hand.

"Flora!"

Rhythma's eyes widened at the familiar voice of Mirta, and a holographic image of the witch appeared before them.

"Thank goodness you were able to contact me!" Mirta continued, then turned to Bloom. "That creature hasn't been able to get to you yet, Bloom. But I saw it." Mirta cast her a sympathetic look. "I saw it creep around in here. Then, at the first light of dawn, it just took off!" Her gaze filled with determination. "We have to be ready for when it comes back tonight."

"Let me go, Icy!" Rhythma screamed, thrashing against her chains. "You'll never get away with this. Someone will stop you!"

The ice witch in front of her cackled evilly. "Not a chance, fairy." She put her finger on Rhythma's nose. "We're the most powerful witches in existence now."

"Bloom, Rhythma!" Flora yelled. "This is it!" Rhythma's eyes snapped open and she leapt from her bed, startling Pip.

She rushed out of her room to find the monster surrounded by the Winx. It was huge. Her eyes widened in shock. No way. "Is that . . .?" No. It couldn't be. Only the most powerful witches could create a nightmare gargoyle.

Sharing a look with Bloom, she knew they had the same idea.

"Magic Winx!"

Rhythma felt herself transform as her gray-and-white sweater became a dark gray sparkling outfit. Her violet wings appeared on her back and she flew up to hover beside Humora and Statica.

"Breath of the Books!" Rhythma cried, remembering the spell Concorda had taught her yesterday. The monster screeched at her and snapped its tail like a whip, barely missing Rhythma's face.

"Come on, let's tail that thing!" Bloom yelled, and the Winx all flew after the creature as it disappeared into the hall. Rhythma went to follow, but then turned to Pip and Kiko, now joined by Concorda herself.

She narrowed her eyes. "Stay here." The order was firm.

When Rhythma made it out into the hall followed by Flora, she was shocked to find the Winx - Bloom in particular - on the ground, only half conscious. Stella was shaking her.

"Where's the monster?" Bloom asked, standing up. "Where did it go?"

"Downstairs," Rhythma said harshly. "Let's hurry," she nodded at Stella, who used her scepter to transport the ten fairies into the school courtyard.

"Where is it?" Bloom asked, just as a shadow fell over the group. Rhythma gasped and lunged to the side as the monster dropped down from above.

Landing rather awkwardly on her feet, Rhythma raised one hand to draw the creature away from Tecna, who was defenseless against it due to her exhaustion. Rhythma herself did not know how much longer she could keep fighting.

"What's going on?" Bloom asked, helping Tecna. "We're all exhausted!"

"I don't know," a voice that frightened Rhythma out of her skin snarled. "but by the looks of it, you Winx could still beat us, even if you're all split up."

The Trix.

Rhythma scowled and flew up to face them, fighting the exhaustion that pulled at her wings. Icy smirked. "Hello, fairy. Miss me?"

"Not in a million years," Rhythma spat.

Suddenly, Icy blasted ice at someone directly behind Rhythma. She turned and gasped, seeing Stella and Flora encased in levitating block of ice.

"No!" She screamed, darting toward them. But Stormy was quicker. In a swift movement, the storm witch appeared in front of the fairy and gave her a powerful push to the chest, sending her back into Icy's waiting arms.

Rhythma thrashed, but she knew it was useless. She was trapped.

A terrible sensation overcame her body suddenly, and Rhythma cried out. "No! Icy, don't do this!"

The Winx were all down now, but they were awake. They all watched with horror as the monster grabbed Bloom and the Trix all levitated down to the ground with Rhythma still grasped in their arms.

Icy smirked.

"You have been a pain in the tail since you escaped, little fairy," she said. "You ran away because you wanted to be a free fairy, and now, you're going to lose that forever."

Then she did it.

Icy clenched her fist together and broke the ice around Rhythma's wings.

Meaning she broke the wings as well.

Rhythma was so horrified that she didn't make a single sound. Instead, she slumped forward and the Trix left her there to go deal with Bloom, knowing that she wasn't going anywhere.

Through her half-conscious ears, Rhythma heard Faragonda's voice.

"What is going on here?!" The voice was angry. "What are you doing to my girls?"

A few moments later, Rhythma felt a pair of arms gently lift her into the air.

"What happened to Rhythma?" Faragonda asked, worry lacing her tone.

There was silence. Then Bloom spoke.

It was a dark voice.

"They broke her wings."

That's when Rhythma surrendered to the darkness pushing at her mind, and allowed the cool nothingness take her over.