The auditorium was buzzing with all the third years happily talking about either their dates of the previous day or their expectations of the coming year. All except for the Winx, who were sitting at the back in silence.
Samara yawned for the third time in five minutes. Flora and Musa followed her example.
"Could I get in serious trouble if I skip the first class of the year?" Stella asked as she was applying more make-up around her eyes.
Tecna sighed. "We all didn't sleep last night Stella not just you."
"Yeah deal with it." Musa growled.
Samara had stayed up until the rest of the Winx had come back from their dates and told them everything she knew. Layla tried to sleep but gave up and joined her friends in the living room. No one could sleep and they all tried to support Layla the best way they could.
The chattering stopped as Faragonda walked in. Even though she tried to be as excited as usual, Samara could see that she was worried.
"My dear fairies!" She said her voice magically empowered. "Welcome to your third and final year at Alfea!"
A small applause sounded.
"This year will be extra special, this is the year that you will achieve Enchantix form." Faragonda went on. "Enchantix is the final step in becoming a guardian fairy for your home planets." "A fully new transformation and more abilities."
Several girls began to whisper to each other.
"But be warned!" Faragonda said.
It went silent right away.
"Enchantix is not easily earned, you will have to make a sacrifice to save someone from your own planet."
Samara could hear Bloom gasp next to her. One girl in the front row raised her hand.
"Yes Clarice?"
"Does that mean that we will not have any lessons this year?"
Faragonda smiled. "You will have a regular schedule to follow lessons this year." "But you will have more time to visit your home." "Do not force anything, the right situation will present itself at the right moment."
Clarice seemed a bit disappointed.
"Now if there aren't any more questions I suggest you all head towards your first class."
The headmistress snapped her fingers and a schedule appeared in everyones hand. The students stood up and made their way out.
"First up is Wizgiz." Musa said. "Then in the afternoon Palladium."
Samara stared at her own schedule. "I am free this afternoon."
"How come?" Layla asked.
Samara felt her cheeks grow a bit red. "I don't have classes from Palladium anymore, I catch up on his lessons with professor Avalon instead."
Layla frowned.
"Because they're dating, they are not allowed to be teacher/student." Stella explained not too subtle.
Samara felt her face grow even hotter.
"Yeah…so let's grab our bags." Samara said as she walked away.
"Nice job Stella!" Musa said.
"What, it's the truth." Stella said.
"You could've been a bit more tactfull." Flora said. "I thought you worked on that."
Stella, Musa and Flora walked towards the door still discussing Stella's tact.
Tecna and Layla followed them but turned around when they noticed there was someone missing.
"Bloom are you coming?" Layla asked. "Are you okay?" She added when she saw the distraught look on Blooms face.
"You go ahead,I need to talk to Faragonda first." Bloom said.
Tecna and Layla nodded and walked on, somewhat reluctant. By the time they arrived at the dorm, Samara was already good to go, her bag hoisted over her shoulder.
"Where's Bloom?" She asked.
"She stayed behind to talk to miss Faragonda." Tecna said.
"Oh I see…" Samara muttered.
"Enchantix sounds very exciting." Flora said as she packed her books in her bag. "But the whole sacrifice part is a bit scary…"
"It is logical that that is part of the transformation process." Tecna said. "After all that is what a guardian fairy is all about."
"Well I can tell you who I will not make a sacrifice for, Countess Cassandra and her brat of a daughter!" Stella said.
"Who?" Layla asked.
"I'll talk about it during lunch." Stella said.
Bloom came into the dorm with a sad face.
"Oh honey what's wrong?" Flora asked.
"How am I supposed to become an Enchantix fairy if there is no one left from Domino to save?" Bloom sobbed.
"What did Faragonda say?" Samara asked.
"That she would look into it."
"I'm sure she'll think of something." Flora said. "Let's head to class and get your mind off of this."
The Winx soon found out that Wizgiz's thirdyears classes were so extreme that there was indeed no time to think of something else. Everyone was exhausted by lunch.
"Is this going to be the pace for the entire year?" Musa asked as she helped herself to some vegetable soup.
"I don't hope so…" Stella muttered.
"Well it is senior year after all." Tecna said as she took a bite of her egg sandwich.
"And next up is Palladiums class, I don't think my brain can take any more information." Bloom said.
Samara didn't reply and focussed on her own sandwich.
"And what are you going to do Samara?" Flora asked. "You have the whole afternoon to yourself."
The fairy of the Moon swallowed her bite down before answering.
"I am meeting Sky in Magix and I have to prepare for professor Avalons extra lesson tomorrow morning."
A hopefull glint appeared in Musa's eyes. "I forgot we have the first two hours free tomorrow morning, at least we can sleep in a bit."
"With all the homework we're getting I highly doubt it." Layla grunted.
After lunch the other Winx said goodbye to Samara.
"Say hi to my boyfriend for me!" Bloom said as they went their seperate ways.
"Of course, do the same for me will you?"
It was out her mouth before she knew it. Her cheeks grew red as she turned back to Bloom.
"Sorry, you don't have to do that…just forget that I…"
"No problem, I will tell him you said hi." Bloom said with a wink.
Samara's face grew even warmer and it took the wind on her face as she walked to the busstop to get rid of it.
"So how are things?" Sky asked.
"Okay so far, the first lesson was intense though…" Samara said as she took a sip of her coffee.
"Yeah they're really hard on us this year too."
"I forgot you already have a week of lessons behind you."
Sky shook his shoulders. "Better than being home, mother and father drove me crazy with all the preparations for the anniversary."
Samara took a big gulp of her coffee. "Yeah I'm glad I missed that."
"They really want you to come you know." Sky said.
"Why, because they miss me or they miss a Royal princess to stand next to them?" Samara asked.
Sky sighed. "It's not easy for any of us."
He took a swig from his beer. Samara stared out of the window of the cafe they were in. Some people walked by and she noticed a lot of them were in pairs…holding hands.
"I'm finally happy Sky." She said still looking out of the window. "Everything is fine, why would I risk that with unnecesary drama?"
"Are you really fine?" Sky asked looking at his sister.
"Yes, why do you ask?" Samara asked back turning her green eyes towards his blue ones with a frown.
"It's just…if you have any troubles say panic attacks or something…you would tell me right?"
Samara's eyes narrowed. "Did Bloom tell you something?" She bit to him.
"No no, I just asked how you were doing when we were on our date and she mentioned something about a dress…" Sky fell into defense.
"Yes well, I can speak for myself and I tell you right now that I am fine." Samara said as she stood up. "I was just tired that evening that's all."
She took money from her wallet and put it on the table. "I need to get ready for my lesson of tomorrow."
"Okay, I'll tell father that you won't come than." Sky said taken aback by his sisters behaviour.
Samara saw yet another couple happily crossing the window.
"You know what, tell him that I am coming and that I am bringing my boyfriend with me."
Sky stared at her with open mouth.
"You are right, I should be there." Samara said. "If I want to become the guardian fairy of Eraklion, the people need to see me, the real me not the fake perfect princess they have been seeing all my life."
"O…okay I will inform them." Sky said. "I don't know how they'll react though."
"I don't care."
And with that she left the cafe and headed back towards Alfea.