Author's Note: Hey guys! Sorry it's taken me so long but I've been studying for finals while also trying to focus on my Twilight story, Runaway Pixie. But now that that story is finished, I have more time for the Quest for Power Series. So last time, we had the rest of the group enter Fergal and we saw the somewhat rescue of Layla from Nezaro, somewhat because they still have to get out of the realm. Maybe that'll happen this time, maybe it won't. Happy reading!
Chapter 8: Run for the Ship
While Flora, Musa, Helia, Riven and Jason were helping Layla, the rest of the girls and their boyfriends were having a rough time keeping the witches and the rest of the guards at bay. The girls were losing their strength faster than they could breathe and the more magic they used, the more quickly the spell's work progressed on then.
"We can't keep this up much longer!" yelled Stella.
"Bloom, we have to do something!" yelled Nirvana.
"Yeah, or else we're going to get creamed!" yelled Guinevere. She saw Icy coming towards her and yelled, "Diamond Storm!"
"World Wide Web!" yelled Tecna, trapping several of the guards in one cage and sending them to another part of the realm.
The boys weren't having much luck either. Carlos and Andrew were lying on the ground, each sporting a few cuts and bruises. Timmy and Brandon were still trying to fight but both were exhausted. Sky was the only one who still had any spirit left in him. He fought as hard as he could, all his thoughts centered on protecting Bloom from the guards and the witches.
"Ok guys, fall back!" yelled Bloom. "We've given the others all the time we can! We have to regroup and form a new plan!"
"The problem is I don't think there's a safe place in this realm to come up with one!" said Nirvana. She was proven right in another thing as well that they would be hard pressed to get away so they could find a safe place. At that moment, she felt a hand grip her hard on the shoulder and another hand on the back of her head. The next second, her vision went black and she hit the ground hard and it didn't take a genius to see that she'd been hit with one of Darcy's darkness spells.
"Nirvana no!" yelled Carlos, dashing over to his girlfriend.
"Relax Carlos, I'm all right," said Nirvana, as he helped her up.
"Nira, hold on a second!" yelled Stella. She flew over to her friend, placed her hand over her eyes and cast a quick spell so her eyesight was restored. Nirvana blinked several times trying to get herself reoriented.
"Thanks Stella!" She looked up flew at Darcy and saw that she had turned away to go and sneak attack Bloom. With a newfound vigor inside, Nirvana flew up towards Darcy before Carlos could stop her and yelled, "Heaven's Charm!" Darcy, not prepared her and really not liking bright lights, fell back when a pink beam of light hit her in the back. She turned back towards Nirvana and growled under her breath.
"That was a big mistake, pixie," she said.
"Oh, I'm so scared," said Nirvana sarcastically. "Angel's Light!" An even brighter light shone from her hands and Darcy had to cover her eyes to keep from being blinded by it.
"What do we do now?" asked Guinevere, as they all backed up. They were surrounded, guards on all sides and the witches laughing their heads off. This was a jam they weren't going to get out of unless help came to them right that second, which in a place like this wasn't a very likely thing to happen. But fortunately, luck was on their side today.
"Tidal Wave!"
A surge of water came bursting down the corridor and the guards were all washed away with the tide. They looked and saw Layla, Flora and Musa flying towards them, their boyfriend's right behind them. The girls all breathed a sigh of relief to see Layla was unharmed and the boys smiled to see that they had some backup in fighting off the witches. Unfortunately, the witches still had some power to spare.
"So, the water pixie managed to escape," said Icy. "Well enjoy it while you can! Ice Crystals!" The darts flew at the girls, but Stella raised her staff into the air and a second later, the ice crystals were nothing more than a puddle of water on the floor. The witches weren't going to admit it, but they were starting to get a little tired themselves. The spell wasn't affecting them, but so many battles against the fairies were as draining for them as they were for the Winx girls.
"Dragon Blast!" yelled Bloom. She fired her strongest attack at the witches and they were forced to fall back.
"Don't think this is over pixies!" yelled Icy as she and the other two made their escape. "You still have Nezaro to deal with!" The girls drifted to the ground after they received the all clear from the boys. When Riven, Jason and Helia got there, they had managed to round up the rest of them easily, considering Riven was one of the best fighters of the group and Helia could trap several people at once with that glove he always wore.
"Are you all right Layla?" asked Tecna, reaching up to hug her friend.
"I'm fine, let's just get out of here!" said Layla.
"Easier said than done, look!" said Guinevere, pointing out a nearby window.
"What is it?" asked Musa. Then she shouted, "no way!"
"What's the matter, Musa?" asked Riven.
"There are even more guards surrounding the ship," Guinevere explained to them. "We'll be hard pressed to find a safe way out of here."
"What do we do then?" asked Stella.
"How about surrender?" said a voice from the other side of the corridor, which turned out to be Nezaro. He was walking towards them, an angry look on his face and energy balls beginning to form in the palms of his hands.
"We don't have the strength to fight him," said Tecna. "We're still tired from fighting the witches."
"Why do I get the feeling that was their plan?" asked Bloom.
"Then what do you propose we do Bloom?" asked Sky.
"I say, we get out of here!" she said.
"Great idea!" said all the girls together. They started flying down the hallway, the boy's right behind them. They looked everywhere for a safe place to hide, but it seemed impossible.
"Now what?" asked Nirvana, as they reached a dead end. She looked back down the hallway. Nezaro hadn't rounded the corner yet, but he would at any second. He was moving painstakingly slowly, building the agony for them because they knew when he arrived, they were dead meat.
"Well, we'd better of think of something," said Stella. "If we don't, Nezaro will… whoa, ahhhh!" She had leaned back against the wall and a secret door had opened. She fell through it, landing hard on the ground.
"Are you okay Stella?" called Brandon.
"Yeah, I think so," she said. "Everyone get in here, there's room big enough for all of us to hide in."
The thought that this was a little too convenient and that this might be a trap crossed everyone's minds, but at the moment, they didn't have any other choice. It was either enter this room or stay out in the hallway and be pummeled into the ground by the prince of the realm. They all piled into the secret room and shut the door, just seconds before Nezaro peered down the hallway. He walked right past at first, but then doubled back when he remembered the storage room that was hidden behind one of the walls. He smirked as he made his way towards it.
"I think we're safe," said Guinevere, who couldn't hear the sound of Nezaro's footsteps approaching. "Stella, could you give us a little light?" Stella raised her staff in the air and a bright light filled the entire room. It was a hiding place all right, there were crates of food in all the corners and a few mattresses on the ground.
"We have to think of a way to get back to the ship," said Sky. "There has to be a way."
"If there is, we'd better find it soon," said Timmy, checking his watch. They'd been there for four hours, already much longer that he'd expected. Even if they still had twenty hours to find an escape route, twenty hours could still pass very quickly if they didn't use that time wisely.
"Does anyone else hear that?" asked Musa suddenly. They all listened and heard a sound coming from right outside the door. Too late, Bloom realized what it was.
"Oh no!" she said. She ran for the door and tried to open it but it wouldn't budge. "Nezaro's sealed us in! We're trapped!"
"Sealed us in?" asked Guinevere. "How are we supposed to get back to the ship if we can't get out of here?"
"I'll get us out of here," said Musa. "Sound…" but Riven cut her off.
"Musa no!" he told her. "That's exactly what Nezaro wants. He wants you girls to use up even more magic so you won't be able to fight him. We'll have to find another way out."
"What if there isn't another way out?" she asked him. He didn't answer.
"Tecna, can you do a complete search of the room for another exit?" asked Sky.
"No problem," she said. She pulled out her computer and did a quick scan. After a few seconds, she said, "there's another secret passage behind that wall. And it comes out fairly close to the ship."
"Is there a catch?" asked Bloom.
"Of course," said Tecna. "Did you expect there to not be one? The guards are not only surrounding the ship, but they're surrounding the exit as well. So, anyway we look at it, we're doomed."
"Well, I say fighting a bunch of guards is better than trying to force our way out that door and fighting Nezaro," said Layla.
"She's right," said Jason. "The secret passage is our best option."
"Where exactly is it Tecna?" asked Timmy.
"Right here," said Tecna. She walked over to the wall and pushed down on one of the torch brackets hanging there. A secret door opened, revealing a staircase going down underground. They all started down it, wondering if they were going to be able to make it to the ship. After about an hour, they hadn't made much progress and all were beginning to feel tired and wondering if they had walked into another trap.
"Does this thing ever end?" asked Stella.
"Good question Stella," said Brandon. "Are you sure this'll get us back to the ship?"
"Pretty sure," said Tecna. "Just keep walking."
"Maybe you girls should power down your Winx for a little while," suggested Sky. "You need to get some of your strength back."
"But our powers are already weak as it is, Sky. There's no guarantee we'll be able to transform again," said Bloom.
"She's right," said Nirvana. "We have to stay powered up."
"As long as you don't use up all your power in one sinning," said Carlos.
"Let's just get back to the ship," said Andrew. "You girls can get as much rest as you need and have more than enough time to regenerate your Winx once we're out of here."
Unfortunately, Nezaro had an unwelcome surprise for them. He wasn't satisfied with how slowly the spell was progressing on each of the fairies, even if one of them would be dead in less than twenty-four hours.
"They're not leaving," he said. Then he whispered a spell. "Falagra cutarana."
Back in the tunnel, the girls all cried out in pain as they felt the spell take hold of them much more rapidly. They knew in that instant that if they didn't get out of there soon, they would all be dead in less than a day.
"Girls, what is it?" asked Jason.
"It's Nezaro," said Layla. "He's increased the power on that dumb spell."
"We have to keep going," said Sky. "There isn't much time left." The problem was that all the girls were having trouble even walking by this time. Nirvana and Tecna were both forced to power down their Winx, having to lean on Carlos and Timmy just to be able to stand. Flora not only had to power down, but every time she tried to walk, her knees buckled underneath her, refusing to support her weight. After about five steps, she had to allow Helia to carry her. She tried to say she could walk and didn't want to be a burden, but he just shushed her and carried her tightly and protectively down the tunnel. Stella managed to stay in her Winx form, but she collapsed and had to be carried as well. Brandon held her firmly, determined to let nothing else happen to her. Stella couldn't help but smile slightly when she saw the determination burning in his eyes. They all breathed a deep sigh of relief when finally, they reached a dead end. It was the end of the tunnel, now all they had to do was get aboveground.
Then, Jason saw a hatch in the ceiling. He pushed on it and a door opened. "Stay here," he said. He lifted himself out and looked around. He didn't see anyone, but he that if Tecna said there were guards surrounding them, then he had to keep on his guard. All the same, they had to get out of there and get back to the ship.
"The coast is clear," he whispered back down to them. He reached into the passage and pulled Layla out. One by one, they all climbed out of the passage, Nirvana and Tecna having to get extra help from the guys. Stella was able to fly out, but she couldn't go up very high. Helia lifted Flora out of the hatch and Bloom pulled her all the way out, then he swung himself out.
"The ship is just behind those rocks," said Riven. "If we can get back there, we may have a chance."
"Something's wrong, this is way too easy," said Sky.
"He's right," said Brandon. "I thought you said there were guards around here."
But he shouldn't have said that. The next second, there were guards surrounding them on all sides. They just seemed to pop up out of the ground, but knowing how strong Nezaro's magic was, they probably did. The boys all drew their weapons and the girls who still had powers prepared to attack. But they knew it would take a miracle to get out of this one. And if the witches or Nezaro showed up, they were done for. They had to come up with a very effective plan and fast.
"Okay," said Sky. "Timmy, Helia and Carlos, get the girls back to the ship. We'll hold these guys off."
"Sky, you won't stand a chance," said Bloom.
"Yeah, you guys will all get stomped," said Stella. "Snookums, come back to the ship with us."
"I'll be fine Stella," he told her. "But you girls have to get back to the ship."
"It's all right, we'll be fine," said Jason. "But you have to save what's left of your strength."
"Get ready to run when we tell you to," said Riven, holding his sword in the ready position, showing he was as ready for a fight as any of them.
"Go!" yelled Sky. He, Brandon, Riven, Jason and Andrew all jumped into the fray, taking out the guards that were closest to their escape route so the girls could get away. Timmy and Carlos helped them out and once the coast was clear, the girls all made a dash for the ship. Helia picked Flora up again and ran for it too. Whenever one of the guards made it away from the other boys and came after them, one of the girls was able to shoot a spell back at them that stopped them dead in their tracks. But it was getting harder and harder to stay powered up and they knew they couldn't hold the villains off much longer. The witches knew that too, for they reappeared, just as the group was almost back to the ship.
"Where do you think you're going?" asked Icy.
"If you're thinking of leaving, you can forget about it," said Darcy.
"Yeah, we've got other plans for you pixies," said Stormy.
"That is it!" yelled Musa. "Sound Blast!" She and the rest of the girls attacked the witches with what was left of their powers. Carlos stayed to help the girls fight, while Timmy and Helia ran for the ship. What they were counting on was the witches keeping totally concentrated on fighting the fairies, so they wouldn't notice the two of them trying to get away with one fairy in tow. But they weren't quite so lucky in that respect.
"Not so fast!" yelled Icy. She fired a series of ice crystals at Helia and he fell to the ground when several of them hit him in the legs. He gasped when he felt Flora roll out of his arms. He started to crawl over to her when a layer of ice started to spread over her. Within a few seconds, it had covered her entire body.
"No Flora!" yelled Helia.
Stella tried to fly over and melt the ice, but she found Darcy blocking her. "You're not going anywhere."
Suddenly, the witches were blown aside as a large gust of wind came shooting past them. Timmy had made it back to the ship and was ready to get the girls out of there. He opened the hatch so the others could get on and make it to safety. The rest of the boys came running up at that moment, all out of breath and panting, but with no guards following them.
"We managed to beat them, but they'll be back," said Jason. "Everyone on the ship!"
"Not just yet!" said Stella. She held her staff over Flora and in seconds, had melted the ice off of the flower fairy. Helia took her in his arms and carried her back to the ship. The poor girl was shivering and was having trouble breathing. But the other downside to that was that Stella used up the last of her Winx doing that. She powered down and fell to the ground and couldn't get back up.
"Stella!" yelled Brandon. "I'm coming!" He reached her a second later and picked her up in his arms. They all gathered inside the ship and as soon as they did, most of the girls powered down their Winx and fell to the floor, all of them exhausted. The only ones that stayed powered up were Layla and Musa. Riven and Sky joined Timmy at the controls and started to fly the ship out of Fergal. But they got another unexpected and unwelcome surprise when Nezaro decided to complicate their escape.
Author's Note: All right, so we have the good guys trying to make their escape and we have Nezaro making things difficult for them. You just knew he'd do that. Bad guys always do that. So again, sorry it's taken me so long to get this chapter out, but I hope you enjoyed it. Next one is going to see the gang returning to Tides and visit a place that was part of Layla's childhood. But I'm not giving you more details than that. Stay tuned!