Chapter 5 – Past

When she woke up, Layla looked around her and didn't recognize her bedroom.

"Yes… We're not at Alfea." She remembered, slowly going off the bed. She took her clothes and put them on before going out of the house. The sun was shining this morning, and it was hot outside, just like Alessia, the old woman who welcomed her told her. She was really a kind person, just like Michelle.

"Good morning."

Layla looked down and saw Roy, sitting on a little stone bench. He slept in the opposite house.

"Morning." She sat next to him. The silence was really deep, the only noises where the ones of the wind flowing on the trees around. "We're the first one to wake up." Layla said, trying to break it. "Usually, Tecna is awake at five in the morning."

"Well, in fact, Helia is awake." Roy said, still not looking at Layla. "He went out of Michelle's house a little before me. I saw him through the window; he didn't seem to be well."

"You think he's ill too? Oh god, I hope he had not been hit by Astronomia too..."

Roy shook his head. "No. He didn't seem ill. He seemed scared. Really scared. He went back to the house, even if he didn't seem to feel better."

"He's hiding something to us?" Layla asked, her eyes wide opens.

"I don't think. Flora might know everything."

Layla knew he was right. She and Helia were friends since a long time now, he was like her first friend of the specialist group after Sky, and she knew how close he and Flora were. Even if she had been angry with him because of what Flora felt because of Krystal, she still considered him as a big brother, just like she considered Flora as her big sister.

She and Flora were one of the closest friendships of the club: there wasn't any secret between them. Flora was the only one with whom she talked about Roy. Her confused feelings, his way to act with her, the way he reminded her of Nabu. Flora advised her to talk with him about that, so their feelings would be clearer. But Layla was afraid. Afraid of doing a mistake, afraid of lying to herself, afraid of making him sad.

"You know, even if I'm happy for them, I can't help being envious." Roy whispered slowly, looking down.

"Why?"

"All your friendships, you're all so close… I'm all new in the group…" He stopped for a few seconds. "And all their… romances…"

Layla opened her eyes wide. She felt Roy taking her hand and taking her chin in his other hand.

"You know, since I met you, I never thought I'd feel what I feel now… I wasn't really sure about it before, but now I am… I really like you, Layla."

He leaned closer, but Layla put a hand on his mouth and pushed him away. "I'm sorry, Roy… I don't want to be more than a friend for you…"

Roy leaned back, and slowly stood up, before going away. Layla knew he was hurt, and the look he gave her before walking away showed only anger. She felt so guilty for not having told him how she felt sooner…

"I'm really sorry, Roy..." She sighed to herself while she brought her knees to her face…

Flora opened her eyes and sat up slowly, and stretched her arms before rubbing her eyes. She looked at her side and saw Helia, sitting on the edge of the bed. With a smile on the corner of her lips, she sat up and wrapped her arms around his shoulders, burying her face on the crock of his neck, while he had his elbows on his laps and his fits in front of his eyes. When he jumped, Flora noticed that he didn't seem well at all. He had huge bags under his eyes, and his face was looking paler than before. It was true that she always had found his natural pale skin attractive, but this time, it was different: what if he was ill to? What if he caught that virus too?

"What's wrong? Are you okay?" Flora asked, in a really concerned tone.

"I didn't hear you waking up." He said, looking at her and smiling, clearly avoiding her to see that he wasn't feeling well. "I'm okay, don't worry."

Flora pouted. "You said that to me last night. When are you really going to tell me what's wrong?"

Helia was about to reply, but caught the look on her face: it was really obvious that she was worried. He couldn't bear seeing her worrying like that. That's why he couldn't lie to her. He knew that. So, he sighed and sat next to her on the bed. "Okay, I'm going to tell you. But keep it for yourself, okay?"

Flora nodded. He looked down and said. "Since Bloom and Sky were touched by the virus, I'm… I'm having strange nightmares."

Flora raised her eyebrows. "Nightmares?"

He nodded. "Well, they are always the same, but… I never fully remember them, but each night they become more and more clear." He made a pause. "And more and more violent. From what I remember, I see a woman, a princess, of whom I don't see the face, dancing with her father, on a palace full of people who are clapping hands. I remember his name: King Andrea. Then I see someone entering the palace, with a crow on the shoulder, and flashes of lightning all around him." He stopped again. Flora put a cold hand on his warm, bare shoulder, making him look at her. It was comforting to know that his girlfriend was taking his words seriously. "And then?"

"Then, nothing. I just see blood everywhere; I heard someone panting hardly, and then, a man voice screaming "Astronomia." I know there is something after that. But I don't remember it."

Flora's eyes opened widely. Astronomia? Wasn't it the name mentioned in the prophecy? Then… Would it really be the name of the virus? Or would it be the name of something else? Then, she remembered.

The 10th March 2014, Astronomia will be released.

Maybe the virus Astronomia isn't completly released right now? Or could it be...

Her thoughts were interrupted when a loud and ear broking was heard. Flora quickly recognized Stella's voice. As her and Helia ran out of the house, they saw Michelle kneeling down in front of the worried Winx. Flora came closer and saw Tecna lying unconscious on the floor, with a green fluid growing all around her ankle. Sweat was dripping on her forehead; she looked like she got a huge fever.

"Tecna!" Timmy kneeled next to her also, taking her hand.

"Don't worry." Michelle reassured him. "She may have walked on an Indrengea. These plants are toxic but do not kill if the person is healed in time."

"What will happen to her?"

"She'll just be ill for two or three days. Just like if she get the flu." Michelle stood up and whistled. Appeared then a running pink-haired elf, surrounded by two others. "She's Astrid apprentice and colleague; Alissa. She'll take care of her."

They all sighed in relief. Except Flora. She was looking more upset than when she saw Tecna unconscious a few minutes ago. Thoughtful, she turned heels and walked away.

Memories couldn't help coming back. She already walked into Indrengea once. Thankfully, Astrid was there to heal her. And thanks to that, she knew that these plants needed a spell to grow up. And she only knew one person who could use it.

Diala.

She knew Diala well. She wasn't really liked in the village, and the inhabitants were often scared of her. She was in a one-sided competition with Astrid: plus of being the older, both of them were the most powerful wizards. Flora remembered well how angry Diala was when she learned that Michelle was going to take care of the nature fairy.

"She must die!" Twelve years old Flora heard a conversation between Diala and her right-hand man while she was walking near her house with a basket of fruits Michelle asked her to come back with.

"Don't overdo it… She is just a little girl. She won't kill anyone here."

"She's human! Humans are a threat! Don't you remember what he did to our village?"

"I do. But no all humans are like him! Do you really think that a little girl will be causing you so many troubles?"

"I don't care! I already suffered from enough losses! This girl has to die, and I don't care about Michelle state of mind!"

Flora remembered well how she reacted after hearing that. She knew that Diala was talking about her: after all, she was the only human in the village. Not caring about the weight of the fruit basket, she had run towards her house –after falling three of four times- and had told Michelle what she heard. Nassima had heard the conversation too, and had gone to talk to the King. But it was not enough. Flora walked into the Indrengea Diala had put in front of her house once, while Michelle and Nassima had went to have a tea with a friend.

She couldn't forget how much she suffered this day: her whole body was shaking in pain, she barely could breathe, and the pain was so huge that it was nearly impossible for her to use her voice. But their neighbour saw her and quickly called Astrid, while whispering reassuring words to her. Astrid healed her quickly with a potion, and Michelle –after learning what happened- quickly accused Diala of wanting to murder Flora. Thankfully, everybody in the village was on her side, and it was sufficient for Diala to admit that Flora wasn't the only one she wanted to kill. The King, Eyal, banished her immediately, and even if Diala didn't seem sad at all, Flora knew that she was going to take revenge one day.

A few years after, when she was sixteen, Flora received two letters. The first one was a drawing: A bloody skull made with a fountain pen. The second letter was only a sentence, but the words were clears.

"You better leave, or I'll make sure that your friends' dead bodies will be as bloody as this skull."

To Flora, it was obvious: because she was accepted in the village and Diala was not, she wouldn't let her be happy. The nature fairy didn't talk to Michelle or Nassima for the rest of the day. She was caught into a mix of emotions: anger, fear, sadness, shock, and love. Because of the love and the debts she had towards her family, she couldn't stay.

She ran away to Alfea during that same night.

The nature fairy told everything to Faragonda. She told her about how Michelle found her in the forest when she was only a baby who couldn't even walk, about her life in the village, and about Diala. Faragonda, who was one of the nicest persons Flora ever knew at this moment, understood every word she said and gladly accepted her in the school. Griselda, who was listening to the conversation, scared her at first, but she understood that she wasn't a bad person when she told her that she understood what she felt while showing Flora her room.

Flora never wanted to come back to protect them from Diala. She thought that no one could ever make her smile again. But, by entering the Winx Club, she thought that like was made of sadness and happiness. She met extraordinary persons who could have helped her: Layla, Bloom, Stella, Musa, Tecna, and before all, the person she loved the most, Helia.

"Flora!"

Breaking her thoughts, Flora turned around to see Layla running towards her.

"Layla?"

The water fairy took her by her shoulders. "I saw you walking away earlier. Are you alright?"

Flora nodded. "Yeah… I'm sorry. I was just… remembering things."

"Are you sure it's alright?"

"Of course. You know I would tell you if something was wrong with me, right?"

The nature fairy looked up at her friend. She quickly noticed her best friend's sad expression. "What about you? Did something happen?" Layla looked down and didn't reply. "You know, if it's about Tecna, she will be…"

"I know she will be okay." Layla answered. "Tecna is strong. What upsets me is… Roy."

Roy?

Layla explained everything to her friend. "Since then, he didn't look at me like he used to do. I hope I didn't make him angry…"

"It's okay. I'm not in a boy position, but I think that it's not easy to be pushed away by the woman you like." Flora smiled at her friend. "Just give him time. You'll see."

Layla showed the hint of a smile. "Thanks, Flora. You truly are a friend, you know."

Flora gave her friend's smile back. Layla was her best friend since she helped her to find out Helia's feelings. Maybe Layla could help her feel better…?

"Layla… Can I talk to you about something?"

Oh god, I managed to finnish that chapter! I really have a lot of ideas turning around in my mind, but writing them isn't really easy. :O

Sorry for the RoyxLayla fan, but I can't stand them romantically. I have to admit that they're better than Nex x Layla [SPOILER - Don't read if you didn't watch the end of season 6: something got me really upset because: Season 4 episode 24: Nabu dies; Season 5 episode 24: Layla seems attracted by Roy; Season 6 episode 24: Layla seems to have chosen Nex. PLEASE. That's Layla we're talking about, the one who didn't want any boyfriend! ._.]

So, I hope you liked this chapter, which contains more revelations! The next one might be more romantic, and the one after will contain more revelations about Astronomia. Can you guess what it is? Reviews? :D