Mirta opened her green eyes and blinked several times. Then she shook her head to clear it. "Water..." she said in a faint voice.
Flora had anticipated that need, and had a glass ready. She put a hand behind Mirta's back, and helped her sit up. She took the glass and drained the water, then handed it back to Flora. She lay back down, and closed her eyes for a few moments. Then they snapped open, as she suddenly realized who was sitting on the bed beside her.
"Lucy?" Mirta said, wonderingly.
"Hiya, kiddo," said Lucy, giving a faint smile. "Feeling better?"
Mirta raised up and grabbed her best friend in a strong hug. "Lucy, you came to see me..." she said.
Lucy returned the hug. "Of course I did. How could you doubt me?"
Suddenly Mirta let go of Lucy, lay back down and pulled the covers over her head. "Go away. Don't look at me. I'm so ashamed..."
Lucy put her hand on the lump under the covers. "Hey, it's all right. It's me, remember?"
"No, it's not all right," said the muffled voice, "I shamed my family by becoming a fairy, and now they've disowned me. I never should have come here."
Lucy opened her mouth to answer, then looked around at the fairies and pixies watching. A few seconds debate, and she decided that Mirta was more important than keeping up a cold, unfeeling front. Of being a "wi-otch".
"Yes, you should have," said Lucy, "I was angry and upset when you changed sides, but you never really fit in at Cloud Tower. Coming here was the best thing for you."
"It cost me my family, and everything I had!" wailed the girl.
"But you still have friends," responded the tall witch, "And they care about you, and want to help you." After a few seconds she added softly, almost a whisper, "And that includes me."
The bed covers moved back a bit, and red hair and green eyes peeked from under them. "Really? You're not going to abandon me too?"
Lucy snorted. "After knowing you all this time? I don't think so."
"That goes for all of us, too," said Bloom, and the fairies clustered around the bed to reassure the girl. Mirta emerged from the covers and sat cross-legged on the bed.
Suddenly uncomfortable, Lucy stood up and backed away from the fairies. She knew they needed a chance with Mirta too, but the closeness was a bit much for her.
Amore fluttered over and landed on Lucy's shoulder. The witch gasped, and had to resist an urge to swat the pixie.
"It's not very 'witch-like', I know," said Amore with a smile, "But you are showing Mirta the love of true friendship. Your being here means more to her than anything else possibly could."
In response Lucy's cheeks turned red. She didn't know what to say.
"And let me add this," said the Pixie of Love, "I can tell just by the strength of the love that your friendship will last the rest of your lives."
Lucy thought this over for a few seconds, then said with a tiny smile, "Thanks. That's good to know."
Amore smiled and nodded, then flew away to rejoin the other pixies.
"Boy, you took a chance," said Chatta, "You could have gotten crushed or zapped! Or worse!"
Amore gave her blonde friend a knowing smile. "It was worth the risk. Believe me, I know."
wcwcwc
Faragonda stood near the door, observing. Lucy had a good heart, if she was willing to break the rules of decorum for witches for her friend's sake. She sincerely hoped Amore was right. Unnoticed, she slipped the envelope and papers onto Mirta's desk.
After several minutes of the Winx Girls giving Mirta their reassurance that they would support her in any way needed, Mirta held out her hand to Lucy. The witch hesitated a moment, then returned to her spot on the bed. She still wasn't very comfortable, being on the Alfea campus, surrounded by fairies and pixies, but she knew perfectly well they meant her no harm.
"What are you going to do, Mirta?" asked Stella.
Mirta shook her head. "I don't know. My home and family is lost to me, and I'm not of legal age, yet. Maybe I'll go live in a shelter, or something."
"You could come stay with me," said Bloom. "You might like Earth and Gardenia."
Mirta looked at the redheaded fairy. "I, uh..."
"You'd be welcome on Solaria," said Stella.
The others extended invitations as well, which embarrassed the girl. She'd had no idea she was this well thought of.
Faragonda stepped forward. "Mirta, you are welcome to stay here for the summer, while you rest, get over the shock, and decide what you're going to do."
Mirta's face lit up. "Thank you, ma'am, that will make it easier for the time being."
"But to face facts," continued the teacher, "If you don't have the tuition, you can't stay when the year starts."
Mirta nodded. "I understand. Thank you."
Tecna got up and went over to Mirta's computer. She pulled a card out of her pocket. "This has our contact data on it, when and if you need us," she said, putting the card down by the keyboard.
"Why did you have two cards?" asked Stella.
"In case you lost the first one," answered Tecna, and the Winx Girls and pixies laughed. Faragonda smiled. She knew how Stella was. The joke was lost on Mirta and Lucy, though.
"When you have your immediate plans sorted out, let me know what they are," said Faragonda, and turned to leave.
"MISS FARAGONDA!" cried Mirta, who got off the bed and went to the headmistress. With surprise, Faragonda turned back to the young ex-witch.
"Ma'am, I've already decided. I want to stay here and finish my education. But I will not be a burden on the school." Mirta put a determined look on her lightly-freckled face. "I'm not afraid of hard work. Please, give me a job, and let me earn my keep and tuition."
Faragonda smiled widely. "Why, Mirta! That's a wonderful idea! I would like you to stay as well! You've been a good student, and I would like to see you to succeed! Come to my office tomorrow morning, and we will discuss your job."
The fairies, pixies, and witch cheered for her. "Way to go, Mirta! Thanks, Ms. F!"
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Somewhat later, they all had dinner together. Lucy had stayed to eat after some persuasion, and admitted the food was much better than what they were served at Cloud Tower. At least here she didn't have to check and see if a potion or spell had been added to the menu. She was sitting by Mirta at the end of the table, as far as possible from the fairies without being rude.
"Lucy, may I have your email and IM data, please?" asked Tecna, putting her laptop on the table.
The witch gave her a suspicious look. "Why?"
"As one of Mirta's friends, it's only logical that you be kept in the loop concerning her," answered Tecna.
"I'm... not so sure that would be a good idea," said Lucy.
"Lucy, we know you're not comfortable around us," said Flora, "But haven't you noticed we've relaxed around you?"
"Yeah," said Bloom, "After this, and working with you during that exchange program at Cloud Tower, I've come to think of you as a friend."
"I think we all do," added Layla.
"Don't worry, we're not going to ruin your reputation with the other witches," said Musa, "It'll be our secret."
"Ms. Faragonda and Ms. Griffin are friends, and have been for a long time," put in Mirta.
"Okay, okay," said Lucy, holding up her hands in surrender, "If it's kept secret, then maybe having fairies as friends won't be so bad." She gave Tecna the information, and in return got a card with the other's data on it.
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An hour or so later, Mirta and Lucy had a private good-bye, and the witch flew off to Cloud Tower. The Winx Club girls said good night to Mirta, and assured her that if she needed any of them, at any time during the night, to come wake them up.
The Winx Club would be scattering tomorrow, Lucy going home as well, and Mirta would begin the first day of her new life.