Chapter 7- Off

Roxy looked up in fear when she heard a door open. Out walked Bloom and a man Roxy didn't recognize. Aidan's hand squeezed her shoulder reassuringly, but Roxy didn't feel reassured. She was scared, tired, and sore. But mostly, Roxy felt betrayed.

Bloom stopped and mentioned something to the man next to her. Roxy noticed how he kept glancing at Bloom, as though he couldn't believe it either. He nodded at something she had said.

There was a soft moan and Roxy glanced down at Ms. Faragonda in her arms. Ms. Faragonda's eyes opened and she looked around. "Roxy? Are you alright my dear?"

Roxy nodded and bit her lip. "Yes…I'm scared and shocked, but I'm alright."

"Ms. Faragonda."

Roxy flinched and slowly glanced up at Bloom approaching them, the man following at a fixed distance. Obviously he didn't want to get too close to Bloom. "Stay away from her Bloom." Roxy warned.

Bloom ignored Roxy and continued to gaze down at Ms. Faragonda. "It's a good thing I didn't kill you. I have need of you yet." She made a lazy motion toward the man. "You remember Baltor, don't you Ms. Faragonda?"

Ms. Faragonda just kept her eyes locked on Bloom. "Oh, Bloom. What have you done?"

Bloom's eyes flashed angrily. "I've done what I should've done a year and a half ago. I've finally discovered my true purpose! I'm not supposed to be some puppet for someone else to direct!" She turned and looked over the fearful students. "I've got my power for a reason. That reason is to rule the magical universe."

"No. No Bloom." Ms. Faragonda shook her head. "That's not your purpose."

"Why else would I have all this power!" Bloom shrieked angrily. She threw flames into the air, scaring several of the students. One began crying and Roxy became angry.

"Stop it Bloom! This isn't like you at all!" Roxy shifted Ms. Faragonda to Aidan and stood up. "What's happening to you Bloom?"

"This has always been me Roxy. I always knew I was like this deep down. It's about time I let my true nature out." Bloom laughed, a cold, cruel laugh that froze Roxy's blood. Roxy felt her heart ache and held back tears. "Baltor. Go take out that damn Red Fountain School and make it snappy. I don't have eternity you know."

"Sorry to make you wait then."

Roxy looked to her right and spotted Nabu running at Bloom, his scepter at hand. He leaped up and slashed downward toward Bloom with magic, but Bloom dodged. Nabu landed lightly on the ground and faced Bloom "What the hell, Bloom?"

"What the hell to you too, Nabu of Tides." Bloom sneered and threw flames toward him, but a shield flared to life between the two of them.

Nabu glanced toward Roxy and gave her a small smile. "You alright there Roxy?"

"Yeah, now that you guys are finally here." Roxy didn't smile back. She just returned her gaze to Bloom.

"Bloom!" Stella landed next to Nabu, her Believix glittering in the sunlight. "What are you doing? What is this?" Stella motioned toward the looming Army of Decay with her hand. The rest of the Winx girls were all in the air, their wings beating to keep them aloft. The Specialists all stood, weapons in hand, their looks of disbelief locked on Bloom.

"This? This is me finally expressing my true self, Stella. Baltor, take them out." Bloom made her way over to where Ms. Faragonda struggled to her feet. "Ms. Faragonda is going to give me some answers."

"Baltor?" Stella jumped when she noticed Baltor. "Baltor!"

Baltor just said nothing, and his face remained emotionless as fire sprang to life in his hands. With one swift sweep of his hand, flames rose up like a high wall between the rest of the Company of Light and Bloom. Then, and only then did he allow himself the smallest smirk. Roxy fought the sick feeling in her stomach and focused on her powers instead. "Believix!" Roxy cried out.

Immediately the magic within her burst forth like the roar of a lion and Roxy felt her confidence and strength increase. Her clothes melted away, revealing a sparkling fairy outfit made up of shorts and a one sleeved shirt. As soon as her wings popped on her back, Roxy took to the air and tackled Bloom.

"Roxy!" The voices of her friends were all crying out her name, but Roxy ignored them, focusing instead on taking Bloom down. Bloom threw her off easily and Roxy hit the ground not too far off.

"You've got gall enough to challenge me, Roxy." Bloom snarled angrily. "Heat storm!" she shrieked.

Roxy yelped. "Enchanted cloak!" A sphere of energy deflected the raging fire Bloom had given off, but only for seconds. Roxy was hit by the attack and she shouted out in pain.

"Back away from her!" Aidan's voice cried out from beyond the flames. The flames stopped and Roxy saw Bloom scrambling to her feet. Aidan was on his hands and knees gasping, his arms shaking.

"Aidan?!" Roxy rushed to his side. "Aidan? Did she hurt you?"

Aidan looked up at Roxy. "I'm…fine. What's…wrong with her?"

Roxy was about to answer when she saw the rest of the Company of Light locked in a fierce battle with Baltor. How could he keep them all so busy? Was he that strong. Her gaze fell back to where Bloom had Ms. Faragonda cornered against the school. "I have to help Ms. Faragonda." Roxy sprinted toward them.

"Where is it, Ms. Faragonda! Where is the Ultimate Power! I know it's no longer in Relix!" Flames ignited in Bloom's hands and she threw them at Ms. Faragonda directly. Ms. Faragonda threw up a weak shield, her body shaking with effort. "Fine! How do I get into the Hall of Enchantment? If you don't give me something Ms. Faragonda, it will be your students paying for it!" Roxy saw Ms. Faragonda's eyes widen in horror…and confusion?

Roxy ignored this. Enough was enough and Bloom needed to be stopped. "Wolf talon!" Roxy screamed. Her magic erupted in the shape of a wolf and attacked Bloom, throwing her away from Ms. Faragonda. Roxy noticed the Army of Decay seemed to flicker after she hit Bloom.

"Winx convergence!" The shout of the Winx girls echoed through the grounds.

Roxy turned and saw Baltor hit one of the walls of the school and fall to the ground. He got back up to his feet and was about to attack again, when he noticed Bloom on the ground. "Damn." Baltor hurried to Bloom's side and muttered something. The two of them disappeared in a flash of light. The Army of Decay disappeared as soon as they were gone.

"Roxy!" Flora was next to Roxy in a heartbeat, checking Roxy over in a motherly manner. "Are you okay? Are you hurt? What happened? Are you scared sweetie? Roxy? Roxy? Say something!" Flora squeezed Roxy's shoulders lightly, her green eyes filled with worry.

"Bloom…she's…how'd I…Flora…" Roxy stuttered. Her heart was still racing, her hands shaking, her head aching. Everything had just happened so fast.

Flora hugged her tightly. "Just calm down. Everything will be all right. Deep breaths."

"She'd breathe better if you weren't strangling her Flo." Musa called. She and Layla were kneeling next to Ms. Faragonda, who was still shaking badly.

"Ms. Faragonda!" Roxy ran over and fell to her knees next to the woman.

"You fought very well Roxy. Very well, and very hard." Ms. Faragonda gave her a weak smile.

"I know I did." Roxy bit her lip. Then she noticed one thing about everything that had just happened in that fleeting fight. "But Ms. Faragonda…I shouldn't have been able to beat Bloom at all."