Happy Holidays!

The Great Witch Invasion

Ali was one of the most interesting people Musa had ever met. She was not a nice person in any sense yet she seemed to get along with most people. And while Muysa had her close group of friends, the Winx Club, she and Ali had become quite close over the past year. Ali was, as she put it, the bitch that Musa is too scared to be, which was fine by Musa since she did fine Ali to be useful when she was feeling vengeful. One thing that Musa could never quite figure out was how she managed too keep herself so composed in such stressful situations.

In the past week or so the school had been attacked multiple times, all communication between the realm and other realms was on and off and most people were beginning to worry and get a bit edgy. Ali, on the other hand, treated it like it was just another day at the school for fairies and Musa couldn't tell if it was a front or not since Ali really didn't seem tense at all. "I have the biggest craving for some chocolate ice cream," the fairy in question said as she and Musa began to walk back to Musa's room from the back woods of Alfea. The two were talking to some of the heroes about what was going and that was when Musa really began to notice the eeriness of Ali's chronic calmness.

"Well I'm sure there aren't any lines over at crimson berry (1), if you wanna run over to Magix and pick some up," Musa joked

"Don't joke I would totally go," Ali stated and Musa laughed. "But I think maybe you should go with the hottie at twelve o clock," Ali suggested pulling Musa's attention back in front of her. Musa's heart suddently began to race when she saw Riven approaching the two and she wasn't sure if he had seen them until he looked up and met her gaze. The two looked at each other for a second before quickly looking away. But they were too close to each other to not say hello. And just to make things more awkward, Ali began to walk towards the staircase to leave Musa alone with Riven.

"Wait, Ali don't," Musa said quickly, almost afraid of being in the same proximity of Riven alone.

"And stop what is sure to be a deep and meaningful conversation," Ali said sarcastically as she walked away with a malicious smile. "Never,"

"Hey Riven," Musa said with an awkward wave as they met in the hallway right before the stairwell.

"Uhh….hey Musa," He said.

"Okay well I should go check on Flora's pumpkin," Musa said mentally slapping herself for not thinking of another excuse to get out of the situation.

"Yeah okay," Riven said as the two began to walk away from each other, at full speed, in opposite directions.

Musa walked back into her dorm room with every intention of finding Ali and slapping her for not staying with her when she heard Flora attempting to bring Mirta back. Musa let go of her plot of revenge on Ali and decided to help Flora since she had just used that excuse.

"Poor Mirta," Flora sighed after another failed spell. She had read through all of her different books on herbal remedies and spell and she couldn't find a single solution to help Mirta become normal again. She had even begun to study dark magic spells as well in some attempt to try to understand what it was exactly that Icy had done. "I feel like I've done everything I can,"

"You might as well toss it in Flo," Musa said as she put her hand on Flora's shoulder in an attempt to support her. She looked to the pumpkin sitting on the center of the table that had been there for almost the entire spring semester. There was very little hope left for Mirta and after everything Flora had done that had come out in failure, it was almost as if she were in denial.

"You don't mean give up do you?"

"Look if any of us can break Icy's spell its you," Musa explained trying to save Flora from stressing about this for any longer. "And obviously it's not happening, just let it go. It's better for everyone, right Stel," Musa said to Stella who had been out on the balcony for almost an hour now and for that entire hour she hadn't said a word, which had to be come type of record for her. Even she was beginning to get a little depressed, the constant atmosphere of doom that was outside their window was enough to make even the cheeriest person begin to feel bad. (2) And Bloom still hadn't returned, making worry gain a firm grip on her mind.

"It's sad but it's totally true," Stella agreed a couple seconds later as she walked into the room from the balcony. "There's no hope for Mirta as a human," (3)

"I think it's time to find her a nice sunny pumpkin patch," Musa offered trying to be helpful in some way but after she said it she realized just how mean it sounded. It's not that Musa was getting sick of Mirta being there, but she really felt that Flora needed to face the truth.

"At least that way she'll be among friends,"

"Stop talking like that," Flora commanded with her arms crossed and a defiant look in her eye. She was not going to give up and Musa should have known that before she had made the comment about the pumpkin patch.

"Flora will never give up on her," Techna pointed out

"That's right I won't," Flora said

"Then use all you're Winx in one last try," Musa told her completely overlooking the fact that they were going to need all the help they could get to defeat the Army of Decay and the witches.

Flora did just that and began to focus all her energy on her friend entombed in the pumpkin shell. As Musa and the other girls watched, a bright light filled the room and all of them looked away. "Where'd she go?" Musa asked after the light dissipated from the room. She looked to the table where Mirta had been for so long and noticed that she had disappeared leaving a bit of fairy dust in her path.

"I'm right here," A voice said from behind then and in astonishment, Musa looked back and saw that Flora had finally freed Mirta. The two jumped around in excitement as Stella walked over to the balcony; clearly she couldn't get her mind to rest for a second.

"Not to upstage your grande entrance or anything Mirta, but there is a tall, dark bruting hunk of a guy pacing around under our balcony," Stella said as she looked off the balcony. "Why don't you go see what's troubling him Musa,"

Musa looked at Stella in confusion for a few seconds before she noticed the smug smirk playing on her face. "Is it Riven?" Techna asked before Musa had a chance to.

"Mr. Moopy himself,"

Musa had never been good at hiding her feelings for Riven from her friends and even when they didn't bring him up everyone knew that she had a thing for him. But the fact that either of them refused to acknowledge the fact that they liked each other made it nearly impossible for their friends to successfully bring them together. But Musa had always been a bit shy when it came to guys, she was never able to make the first move, but she did tend to have the flirting game mastered. Years with Daniel helped her pick up on the art. "Yeah what do I care," Musa said refusing to admit her feelings, although it was in vian since everyone knew that she wanted to see him. "But, I could go for a walk you know catch a little breeze,"

Musa left the room and walked through the hallway, her stomach was doing back flips and she had the sudden urge to turn around and walk away. Her meetings with Riven were sufficiently awkward already, but she couldn't help but feel amazing after them. She had never really felt like this before and she had no idea what it was about him that made her feel his way, but she loved the feeling.

There were a million ways Musa could have opened the conversation, she could have been cute and said something with some wit, but instead her mind went blank and she could only managed to spit out three coherently words in the most awkward way possible. "Oh…hey, Riven," She said as she if she wasn't expecting Riven to be there even though he was the reason she came down from her room. But Musa felt a lot better about what she had just said after she heard what Riven had to say.

"Oh, um, listen, they don't really teach this in Heroics class but, IgottasayIreallylikeyou,so,bye!" Riven blurt out and then promptly walked away before giving Musa the opportunity to even digest what he had just said. He walked away without looking at her which was good considering she had trying her hardest to stifle a laugh. She had no idea why she found it to be so funny considering she had been dieing to hear that sentiment come out of his mouth since she met him. Everything with their relationship was awkward or uncomfortable but that didn't change the fact that they liked each other, a lot.

Musa quickly turned around and walked back into the hallway leading to the staircase and let out a giddy laugh and jumped up and down a bit before gaining some composure. Riven had just told her that he liked her and for a second she let herself revel in how good it felt. Of coarse they were miles away from being anything more than what they were, whatever that was, but this was a step, a big one. After a few minutes alone in the hallway, Musa walked up to her room with an uncontainable smile painted across her face.

"I assume it well," Stella said at the door as if she were waiting for Musa to come back through the door, which she probably was.

"I assume you were listening," Musa pointed out. As she took a seat on the couch and turned on her laptop so that she wouldn't' have to keep looking at Stella while she explained what happened, not that Stella didn't already know.

"Not that there was much to listen to," Stella said. "But the smile on your face tells me heard exactly what you wanted to hear,"

Musa looked up at Stella as her computer loaded and continued to smile. "I did," Musa said happily just keeping the giddy giggle out of the conversation. She figured she had denied it enough and nobody was falling for it anymore so it was time that she was honest about her feelings for once instead of pretending Riven didn't mean anything to her.

"I have no idea what you see in that boy," Stella said as she plopped down on the couch next to Musa as the other girls left the room to show Mirta around the campus. Musa logged into her email account and continued to listen to Stella.

"Let's not get into that Stella," Musa advised knowing it would only end in an argument. Stella was the one who had been hoping Musa and Daniel could make it work, she loved the idea of Musa being with a prince who – as she said – fit perfectly with her.

"Fine," Stella agreed. "But whenever he's around I can't seem to do anything to slap that goofy smile off your face. So I guess as long as you're happy I'll keep quiet,"

"I do not have a goofy smile on my face," Musa defended as she looked up at Stella. "I'm just happy that Mirta's back,"

"Oh yeah that's it," Stella said sarcastically. "This coming from the girl who wanted to put her in the pumpkin patch, but it's nice to see you happy,"

"Thank you," Musa said and then stared intently at her computer screen for a few minutes not saying a word, but the 'goofy' smile that Stella claimed Musa had on her face grew even larger as she read her email. "Oh. My. God."

"What's up?" Stella asked as she looked up from her nails and began to read the email that had Musa so enthralled. "What's Wizardapalooza, wait is it that big concert thing?"

"It's only the greatest concert thing ever," Musa exclaimed. Wizardapalooza was a huge weeklong concert even that you had to be invited to if you wanted to see the show. It took place in various venues all around the universe and for a month it was a nonstop party with the universe's hottest musicians and an event Musa and her friends attended every year, but that wasn't what made this so special.

"So you were invited?" Stella asked as she continued to read on not understanding why this was such a big deal. Musa was a the princess of the Harmonic Nebula, so it made sense that she was invited to exclusive events like this. But as the Solarian princess read on she began to understand why this was so important to her. "You're going to perform!"

"I can't believe this!" Musa said happily. You had to be super talented to perform among the ranks of the universe's most talented musicians and she couldn't believe she was just asked to do so. "This is going to be so amazing!" Musa said instantly deciding to take the offer that was presented to her.

"Congrats," Stella said. "Looks like you're gonna be busy this summer,"

"It's only a month long actually," Musa pointed out. "But considering everything that happens during that month, I'll probably need a month of detox to get ready for school,"

"Musa gone wild,"

"Hardly," Musa defended.

"Okay…" "

But it gets to be pretty crazy with everyone we usually end up taking care of a wasted Daniel, but it's still an awesome event. I'm so excited." Musa said before pulling out her phone and getting up to walk over to her room. "And speaking of them, I have to call Daniel and tell him!"

"I think I'm gonna find Techna and check on everything, I'll see you outside?" Stella asked as she began to walk out of the room.

Musa nodded as she dialed and walked into her room, waiting for Daniel to pick up him phone. She hadn't really spoken to anyone from back home since she got back from Sparx, there was way too much going on for that. But this was something she couldn't she couldn't wait till she got home to tell them. "Pick up, pick up," Musa said as she paced in her room desperately hoping Daniel would pick up his phone. "Come on…"

"Hello…" Daniel answered; sleep weighing heavily into his voice asked. Daniel was one of those people that could sleep for 14 hours and still feel tired. (4)

"Guess what!" Musa asked excitedly hoping he would wake up and start showing some enthusiasm.

"What?" He asked calmly through a yawn.

"Wizardapalooza this summer -,"

"Which we go to every summer…"

"Let me finish!" Musa commanded before continuing on with her exciting news. "I was asked to be a performer this year for the tour! I get to sing and everything!"

"Whoa no way," Daniel said in surprise. When they went to the exclusive tours they were usually spectators that enjoyed the show and they didn't do much else but enjoy themselves. Now Musa was going to be a part of the show, it was amazing. He wasn't surprised that Musa was asked to perform since he knew exactly how talented she was, but she was probably going to be the youngest entertainer there. It hardly mattered though, he and all of their friends would be there as well.

"Way, isn't this amazing?"

"Yeah, but what about your dad," Daniel asked. There were a few people that knew the details of Musa's family life and Daniel happened to be one of them. And he knew that her father wouldn't be happy if Musa were gallivanting all summer with musicians much less performing herself. Usually they got away with going to the tour because they would say they were staying at one of their beach houses or something and its not like their parents had the time to check up on them. But now, since Musa as a performer there was a good chance that she would be featured in pictures, basically there was a better chance that she would get caught.

"I was thinking maybe we could just restrict press access during the performances," Musa said. "and other pictures are not gonna make it all the way back to my dad,"

"Sounds good to me," Daniel said now sounding like he was fully awake now. "So when do you get back, I feel like I haven't seen you in such a long time,"

"It's been like a week,"

"Yeah that last visit doesn't count, I saw you for a whole hour," Daniel said.

"I'll be back soon," Musa said not really sure when she would be back. The news with Wizardapalooza was a great distraction from what was going on, but Musa had to remember that there was still a lot going on around here. "Promise,"

"How soon?" Daniel continued sounding like an impatient child.

"Soon," Musa insisted realizing that she would probably have to end the call before letting up too many secrets to Daniel, she was trying her best to keep this whole witch situation under wraps and talking to him much longer would lead to an interrogation and there wasn't much she could keep from him, even over the phone he could tell when she was lying. "Look I have to go I just wanted to tell you the good news,"

"Hmm…sounds like you're avoiding the subject,"

"How about you get back to sleep and I'll call you later," Musa offered.

"Okay, I'll talk to you later," Daniel said and the two hung up. With a contented sigh Musa closed her phone and shoved it back into her pocket and began on her way to the quad to meet her friends. Today was going a lot better than she had hoped, first their was Riven then their was Mirta and now she was going to have one of the greatest summers of her life. This was the best day ever, excluding the fact that the Trix were ready to attack and possibly take over the universe.

Musa walked back down through the corridor and down the staircase and into the quad. She looked around and saw her friends talking to Mirta over at the other end of the quad. Musa walked over to them as Flora asked whether Mirta had any info on the witches since she is a witch and she was frequently a pawn in their games.

"They're on a whole other level, they're totally dedicated to destruction," Mirta said, but after fighting the witches all year, it was pretty obvious. They would stop at nothing to get what they wanted and they really didn't care who they hurt, or killed, to make it happen.

"Maybe a manicure pedicure combo would chill them out," Stella joked even though it didn't go over too well. She tended to make a lot of jokes when she was in uncomfortable situations or situations that were too serious.

"Why are you turning this into a joke?" Techna scolded.

"I'm just trying to lighten the mood,"

"We'll be fine," Flora encouraged. "And so will Bloom, we just have to have hope and stay positive,"

"I think Flora is right, morale is very important in the battle," Techna added. "We have a better chance at winning if we all stick together and believe in ourselves,"

"At this point, I would love to just get this battle started," Musa complained as the girls took a seat by knut; who was sitting on the steps in front of the quad with a familiar look of impatience and anxiety.

"I'm with Musa," Stella added. Musa nodded and looked up and saw Brandon, Timmy and Riven walking towards them.

"What's the haps chaps," Musa said as Riven, Timmy and Brandon walked up to the group. She began to feel butterflies in her stomach when she looked at him and he only looked at her for a second before addressing the whole group.

"Why don't you tell us," Riven asked, occasionally stealing a glance at the musical princess.

"No one knows anything. This waiting is slowly driving me crazy," Timmy complained, Musa was no fan of waiting and she knew just how annoying it was to wait, especially for something you didn't want. What they needed was some news or a distraction.

"The sky is so threatening." Flora said as she gazed up at the gloomy sky. It was getting worse by the second, the natural light that used to peak through the clouds was almost all gone and now the entire sky was covered with a mucky black haze.

"Techna said that there's an eighty percent chance of – " Stella began before being cut off by a large flash of lightning and loud clap of thunder. Everyone flinched in surprise, even though they had been hearing it all day and night. "Ahh! Lightning striking every five minutes!"

The group took a little laugh at Stella's expense when one of the Red Fountain juniors, Jason, shouted to Faragonda and Griffin. "Word from the dark forest. The nymphs have come with news!"

"Finally. Some info," Riven said as everyone got on their feet and walked up to Griffin and Faragonda. They walked up to the head of Alfea and listened as the water nymphs gave.

"Welcome to Alfea," Ms. Faragonda greeted warmly. "What news do you bring us?"

"It isn't good," One of the nymphs began in a hesitant tone. She looked at the head mistress and the students and the worry in her small face was enough to translate into worry on everyone else's face. The news wasn't going to be the least bit good.

"The army is taking the invisible road," Another nymph began

"They'll be here soon."

"And I'm afraid that's not all Ms. Faragonda." The nymph added.

"Icy, Darcy and Stormy are leading the charge,"

"We thought you should know,"

"Go rest up inside," Ms. Faragonda told them, they would be safe there and she then turned to address the students all around her. Ms. Faragonda tried her best to hide her worry and show confidence as she addressed the group. "This is it! Everybody to your positions! The final battle is coming to Alfea and Alfea will be ready,"

Musa and the girls exchanged looks; it was time that they got this over with once and for all. They split up since they were all given different starting positions, even through they usually ended up fighting alongside each other. Ms. Faragonda had set it up so that all of their strengths would be put to use, but they really did work best as a team. Musa began to walk towards her designated area, all of the others girls had done the same as well, when she felt someone brush past her.

Riven, who stopped and looked at her for only a second, was walking to his post next to Brandon but as he walked by he stopped for maybe a second and looked the princess in the eye. "Be careful," Was all he said before he walked away to prepare for the battle. Musa nodded as he turned to walk away and then happily scurried over to her position. While it wasn't much, it was clear that he cared for her and that was what she had been hoping for. He hadn't really said much, but in the little that he did say she knew how he felt, not that she didn't already know after this morning.

She had spent most of the year being jealous of Darcy, though she would never admit it, and angry at Riven. And in an attempt to soothe her own ego she had made an image of Riven in her head that made him so completely undesirable that she had no idea why she had ever liked him in the first place. But she was beginning to remember why, he was rude, grumpy and just plain mean at time, but she knew that there was so much underneath that, a part of him that he hid from everyone, a lot like she did. And that was what intrigued her so much about him, she didn't know much but she really wanted to know more.

Musa walked to her spot and her daydreaming was stopped abruptly by a ghastly screech that filled the air around her. It was time. She looked out to the horizon and saw much of the army of decay taking the skies. "Looks like it's time," Ali said as she walked right next to Musa, the dance team was still kept on the ground for hand to hand combat since they were very quick on feet and could maneuver on a dime.

"Yup, here they come," Musa said.

"The witches are leading the attack," Ali stated even though everyone already knew that. "You can get a shot at Darcy, I mean if you're not too mature for a little revenge,"

"Oh I'm sure she'll get what's coming to her," Musa said confidently as the army began to close in on Alfea's gates, she knew full well that Darcy was on e of the most powerful and brutal witches in the universe, but she also knew that the Trix were up against three schools. And if Musa could get a cheap shot at the witch, she'd take it. It might be a dirty tactic, but it wasn't like the Trix ever played fair. Musa had never felt so charged and ready to go before, but right now all she wanted to do was begin the fight.

She looked out onto the horizon and watched as the army grew closer and closer. The army of Decay led by the Trix was closing in on the school and the final battle was only minutes away.

1. Pink Berry is one of my all time favorite ice cream places - crimson berry is the pinkberry of Magix

2. Rainy and gloomy days have been shown to make people depressed because melatonin, the hormone inthe body that controls our day and night cycles and plays a part in mood, is released more when there is sunsshine. that is why people tend to be more tired and depressed on rainy days. Melatonin levels are also responsible for jet lag.

3. last time i checked, human cant fly or send out powerful attacks from thier palms. I don't think the beings in Magix qualify as homo sapiens

4. I'm one of those people.

one more chapter to go!

xoxo,
princessm