Here's a bit of a longer chapter to apologize for the long wait XD I hope you guys enjoy!

Chapter 15: Lost Control

Darkness. Nothing but darkness. I'm used to it, though. It's who I am.

There's a small light in the distance. What is it? I feel so drawn to it.

"Onyx…"

That voice…!

"Palladium!"

He's here! Is he that light? I extend my hand to the light, desperately trying to reach him. I start running towards him. The more I run, the farther he gets.

"No! Palladium! Don't go!"

I need you! Please…

Darkness. The light is gone. Palladium is gone. Once again, I am left in pure darkness. But this time… I'm scared. I'm scared of the darkness. I'm scared of being alone. I want that light back! Palladium!

"Onyx!"

I open my eyes and find Flora shaking me by the shoulders.

"Huh…?"

I rub my eyes, trying to understand what's going on. So… it was a dream.

"Onyx! Get up! It's an emergency!"

This is not the first time that Flora's barged into our room to wake both Stella an I up. I bet it has something to do with Bloom.

"Guys! Bloom is doing it again!"

Stella yawns and collapses back on her bed.

"Doing what?"

She says all groggily. Flora then drags me and Stella back to her and Bloom's room. When we do get there, we witness Bloom mumbling and shaking in her bed.

"You see? She's talking to someone in her sleep."

Flora worriedly whispers to us.

"That's not so unusual. She's probably just having a nightmare or something."

A nightmare, huh… I hope I didn't say anything weird during my nightmare.

"You don't understand! This is no ordinary nightmare!"

Flora exclaims as she pulls the covers off Bloom. That's when we see her glowing.

"She's transforming in her sleep!"

Stella's right. Bloom is transforming back and forth in her sleep. How's that possible?

"We should do something! Maybe we should go get the others or the nurse! Miss Griselda or even Miss Faragonda!"

Flora's panicking. And that means that Stella's going to get pissed at her.

"Cool it, Flora! It's not like she's dying!"

"Shhh! You'll wake her up!"

I hush at Stella, but it's too late. Bloom's already awake.

"What are you guys doing here? Again?"

I swear, it's always the same scenario lately. Flora panics, gets Stella and I, Stella complains, Bloom wakes up from how loud we are, and…

"What is it this time, guys?"

Musa and Tecna wake up from the noise too. Since we all have classes the next day, we all decide to go back to sleep for the few remaining hours. Bloom denies that she's having nightmares. She says that they're more like visions. Never had those myself, so I wouldn't really know. Nightmares, on the other hand, I've had plenty of those. Way too many to count. Like last one. Is Palladium really that much on my mind?

The next morning, we all wake up and head to our classes. After the class that we all have together, we head out together. Bloom starts talking about her visions again. Stella doesn't really seem impressed about it.

"Look, Bloom, they're just dreams. You need to stop making such a big deal out of them."

While they're arguing, Tecna is taking note of everything Bloom's saying about her visions to be able to get a clear image of what she's going through.

"They're not just dreams, Stella! I'm telling you they're visions!"

"Yeah, yeah, whatever you say."

"You don't believe me, do you?!"

"From what I've gathered so far, I think this might be the person you're referring to?"

Tecna shows a hologram of Nymph Daphne on her electronic device.

"Yes! That's her! I feel like I've see her somewhere…"

Nymph Daphne? Why would she be in Bloom's visions?

"Now I get it. It was indigestion."

"My stomach is fine, Stella."

"I meant mental indigestion. You've got a lot on your plate now with the finals coming up. You earthlings are just not used to such hard work, know what I mean?"

That's going a bit far there, Stella…

"No, I don't know what you mean!"

"Listen, you had a dream, that's all."

"It wasn't just a dream!"

"You're just blowing things out of proportion."

"Are you saying I'm making things up?!"

Stella is obviously just ignoring her at this point.

"I did see her and I'll prove it to you!"

Bloom storms off. We all look at Stella disapprovingly.

"What? What'd I say? Why the long faces?"

Sometimes Stella just doesn't know how to have the tact to shut up. We all then head up to Musa's room since she wanted to study.

"Hey, Onyx. How's the studying? Light magic isn't too difficult for you?"

I sigh at Stella's remark.

"I'm still trying to grasp it."

Stella comes and sits next to me as we all go into Musa and Tecna's room.

"I don't understand what Bloom is so upset about. I didn't say anything wrong. I just made an innocent remark, that's all!"

I just feel like face-palming at this point.

"Right. Define innocent."

Flora spouts out.

"Follow your plants' example and be quiet, alright?"

Stella really did wake up on the wrong side of the bed today. After knowing her long enough, I've learned to kind of ignore when she does that.

"My plants know better than to speak before thinking!"

It's pretty rare to see Flora so worked up, though. Musa sighs at the whole situation. Stella turns her attention towards her. That's not going to be pretty…

"Now don't you start, Musa! Or I'm going to talk about something you don't want to hear, like boys for example."

"Boring."

Musa says in an annoyed voice. We're getting into a touchy subject here, especially with the situation Riven's in right now. Musa still doesn't know about it…

"Oh yeah? Just spill the beans already. Like, we all know that when she see Timmy, our friend Tecna blushes from head to toe."

"What?! That is not true!"

Tecna screams at Stella.

"And it's obvious that Bloom has a soft spot for Brandon. As for me, I do admit I find Sky kind of cute."

Stella then looks at me. I've been so avoiding talking to her today, because I just don't want to be the centre of her spiteful comments.

"And as for our little Onyx, I've noticed that there's a little something going on with one of the professors here."

"N-No! What are you talking about?"

"Stella, stop it!"

Flora defends me. Was it that obvious? Did they all actually know?

"Oh come on, it's so obvious that her and professor Palladium have a thing for each other. Did you see how they were dancing back at the ball."

I feel my face heating up as I try to avoid all eye contact.

"Professor Palladium is just being a good teacher…"

I mumble under my breath.

"Now let's talk about Riven."

I sigh internally in relief that Stella's switched her attention away from me.

"Riven, mmm."

Stella teases Musa more.

"Stop it! I need to study!"

"That guy doesn't even look at you."

"Stella! Stop it!"

Flora screams at Stella. I feel so powerless in all of this, though. I'm starting to feel so bad for Musa.

"Chill, Flora. I was just asking her if-"

"What did I just say? I don't care about stupid boys!"

Musa starts yelling at Stella.

"It was just a joke! And anyway since the Day of the Rose, the only one Riven cares about is Darcy."

Now she went and did it… That's really too far. I can actually see Musa's eyes watering.

"Yeah, well… What does it matter to me, huh? It doesn't matter one bit!"

Musa runs out of the room. No this is not good. Without thinking about it, I start running after her. The others stay behind and probably scold Stella. I can't just leave Musa alone in her current state. I see her taking the bus for Magix and it leaves before I can make it in. Oh great… The next one will be here in way too long. The fastest way for me to get there would be to just transform and fly there. And that's exactly what I'll do.

I transform and start flying towards Magix. I get there pretty fast, but still not as fast as the bus. How am I supposed to find Musa now? I fly up high and it doesn't take me long to witness a scene that makes my blood boil. The three witches, Icy, Darcy, and Stormy are talking down to Musa. I then see her slapping Icy. I need to get there fast before anything happens. As I get there, the three witches call out the other witches in the area and they start chasing Musa down the street towards a dead end. I won't let them hurt her! I fly down between her and the group of witches. Startled by my appearance, they all stop in their tracks.

"Onyx!"

A teary Musa runs towards me. I hug her while giving the witches a cold stare.

"It's alright, Musa. I'll handle it from here."

I turn towards the group of witches.

"W-What's an Ankelon doing here?"

I hear some of them whisper in fear. The three witches are standing right at the back of the group. This time… I won't let them get away this time. I conjure up a dark forcefield to block off the exit behind them, trapping everyone in the alleyway.

"You've really made me angry this time."

I say in a low menacing voice.

"Don't let her intimidate you! She's way outnumbered!"

That's Stormy's voice.

"Instead of cowering in fear behind your useless possy, come out and face me."

That's when I hear the wall behind me crumbling down. I immediately fly up with Musa in my arms to have a full view of what's happening. It's Riven. He has his sword out and he's the one who destroyed the wall behind us.

"Riven!"

Darcy comes out and runs into his arms. This brings more tears into Musa's eyes. I put Musa down in the open area behind the broken wall. Riven faces me.

"You cursed thing! Don't you touch my Darcy!"

He's more of a jerk than usual. I don't have the patience for this. I point my finger at him and a small bullet of dark energy shoots from my finger and sends him flying back into the group of witches behind him. Some of them gasp and some of them scream at the impact while Riven let out a muffled cry. As I see Icy, Darcy, and Stormy's faces, something within me snaps. I'll make them pay for what they did to me before. My hands fill up with dark magic. It rages on like flames. The dark magic then quickly extends into three rope-like shapes and grab a hold of each of the three witches by the neck.

"Ah!"

They try to scream in pain.

"L-Let go!"

"As if I'd ever let go! I'll crush your air pipes!"

Rage was filling me up. I see Riven get up from behind the witches and run up to Darcy.

"Darcy! Baby!"

As soon as he tries to touch the dark magic around her neck, he gets electrocuted.

"Ah! Let her go! You monster!"

He comes to swing his sword at me. I hold it with one of my hands that's coated in dark magic. The impact breaks his sword. In shock, Riven's grip on his broken sword loosen up and lets it fall to the ground. The group of witches started running away, leaving only Riven and the three witches fending for themselves.

"Hahaha! You can't do anything! None of you are a match for me!"

I feel so powerful! So confident! Darkness! Dark magic is who I am! I am stronger than anyone!

"Onyx! Stop! You're going to kill them!"

I see Musa's panicked face and I immediately start feeling guilty. I undo my magic and stare at my hands in fear. The three witches collapse on the floor and start coughing and wheezing while rubbing the black burn marks on their necks. I… was actually going to kill them. What have I become? I am just a monster! I transform back into my human form and my knees give out. I feel tears streaming down my face. Then I feel arms wrapping around me. Musa…

"I-I'm a monster! I was going to kill them!"

"No! You're not a monster, Onyx! You just wanted to protect me!"

She comforts me. I'm supposed to be the one comforting her. Something then hovers over us. It's the Specialists' airship! It lands behind us and the girls come out with the guys from Red Fountain.

"Musa! Onyx!"

The girls run towards us and assess the situation at the same time.

"What happened here?"

Bloom asks us.

"Onyx… was protecting me."

Musa's covering for me. I can't let her though…

"I was going to kill them. I was going to kill every last one of them."

More tears stream down my face. The three witches were very angry.

"We're not going to let that one slide! You're all going to suffer!"

The fairies transform, preparing for battle against the witches. I want to help them, but… What if I get out of control again? What if I really kill them this time?

Fairy magic clashes with witch magic. All I can do is watch from the sidelines as all of my friends, one by one, falls. Riven is fighting Sky with his half broken sword. I need to help. I need to save my friends. Bloom is the only one still remaining. She's also witnessing all of our friends getting beaten up. Stormy blocks her way as she tries to get to Musa.

"Out of my way!"

Bloom gets angry and her whole body light up in a fiery flame. Blinding light fills the area and the witches are all blown away. They then run away with Riven as Bloom comes down, now back to her human form. She falls to the ground, exhausted from using her powers. I didn't know she had so much power. There's no mistaking this power. It's the Dragon's Flame. I'm knowledgeable enough in magic to recognize it.

Flora runs to me and helps me up.

"Onyx! Are you alright, sweetie?"

I nod weakly. I still can't get over the fact that I was so ready to kill the three witches. The Specialists bring us back to Alfea in their airship. I head straight to my room and collapse on the bed, muffling my sobbing in my pillow.

"Onyx…"

Stella comes in and puts a hand on my shoulder. I hope she doesn't have any snarky remark this time, because I'm really not in the mood.

"Musa told us… everything that happened."

They all know now.

"It's not your fault, Onyx. After what they did to you, it's normal to be this angry. Besides, you wanted to protect Musa, too. Don't feel too bad about it."

Stella pets my hair. I look up at her, eyes filled with tears.

"Stella… I was going to kill them…"

"But you didn't! And that's what matters, alright?"

"But what if I do it again?"

"We'll always be there to stop you. That's what friends are for!"

They still think of me as a friend. I dry my tears up and give Stella a genuine smile.

"Thank you."

"Don't mention it."

She smiles back.

"And about Palladium… Is it that obvious?"

Stella giggles.

"Well you do call out his name almost every night."

I feel my face flushing up.

"I do what?!"

"Don't worry. Only I know about that."

I can't believe this…

"If you need my help in anything, just say the word, alright?"

She nudges me as she goes back to her side of the room and starts putting on some nail polish. I actually say his name in my sleep now? What's wrong with me?!

Thanks so much for the support and tell me what you think in the reviews :D