Category: Winx Club

Rating: T

Couples: none

Warnings: Major AU

Chapter: 10

Copyright: © characters and places by Iginio; © Plot and OC by me

/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\

"I'll be your guide." Shimi told them later. Faragonda had left her students under her young niece's care. "We'll have to leave early though."

"Is it that far?" Bloom asked.

"Not really, if we manage to ask some dragons to give us a ride." She shrugged. "And even on foot we ought to make it by late midday."

"Well, some of us need our beauty-sleep." Stella huffed.

"And Vo'id does so too." Shimi snorted. "No offense, but I rather steal your sleep than his. He sleeps during late day and early night. And since we can't travel at night, we'll have to leave as soon as possible."

"What do you know of him?" Flora asked. The look the young woman shot her spoke of many hidden things.

"More than you." Shimi sighed. "The Great Dragon never changed this planet. It means the old ways, the old monsters still are alive here. We still must face Derondes and such. We all know off his lies and his treachery. Faragonda is living proof of an age before him."

"So why did no one ever tell the rest of the dimension?" Sky demanded. "If you knew, why did you never tell anyone?"

"Who were we supposed to tell? Who would have believed us?" She rounded on him. "You revered him. What would have telling you this caused you to do? You would have eradicated us, destroyed those who so obviously were 'evil'."

The others could not dispute her words.

Shimi herself seemed to realize what she had done, bowing apologetically. "Forgive me, my Lord. Skyggon, who you know as Darkar, is not the only one who might overreact over this subject."

"So you know." Tecna realized. "Do you know where we could find Sarana?"

"No. She disappeared long ago. Only Vo'id and perhaps Faragonda could tell you where to find her." Shimi shrugged. "I suggest you go to sleep. I'll send some servants with traditional clothes with which you can ride a dragon."

/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\

The clothes they wore reminded Bloom of the leather biker-clothes from Earth: especially the pants were of thick leather, but surprisingly supple. The jacket was thick as well and very well isolated.

Shimi wore different clothes: her pants were the same, but her jacket was more of a mantle, with a purple weapon on the back.

"I managed to convince some dragons to help us part of the way." She said, gesturing up into the sky. Seven dragons were circling above Faragonda's mansion. One by one they landed carefully on the gravel.

"They have no saddles." Brandon commented. He had to jump back when one of the dragons growled at him.

"Off course, they are not steeds like your dragons are." Shimi admonished. "They are fellow citizens of this planet and riding one is a favor from them to the rider, not a duty. Would you strap a saddle to your back for the occasional piggy-back ride you give Stella? So why should they?"

She bowed at the dragons. "I thank you for this favor, and I beg your forgiveness for my companion. He is not from here."

The massive beings looked from the bowing woman to the people behind her. The biggest one, a purple dragon with yellow eyes and massive spikes running down his spine, finally gave a soft growl. "We know their story, Shimi. Forgiven. This time." His voice was deep and rumbling as he lowered himself to the ground, stretching his leg out.

Shimi bowed once more, before climbing up the offered leg to a place just behind his shoulder-blades. "This is Na'dushan, he is training me to be part of the Dragon-guard." She introduced the dragon she was sitting on. "You must ask the other dragons if they would bear you. I suggest the boys do it, since they will be the primary riders. As for staying on their backs, it's the same principle as staying on a horse."

One by one the others too sat on dragon-back. Bloom found it a bit uncomfortable and plain dangerous: all those spikes could do serious damage.

"We must get as far north as you are willing to carry us." Shimi said to her dragon. "No doubt does Vo'id expect us."

As the dragons rose up in the air, Bloom saw Faragonda standing on the veranda, looking sad.