Oh my god. I like tried forever to get these next few chapters up and finally its working for me. I was going out of my mind because it just wasn't uploading and it consumed my life. I was doing it at work when I should have been, well working. But it's just sitting in front of a computer anyways. Amounts to the same thing. Anyways, go! Read! Enjoy! (hopefully)

Chapter Three – Sweet Dreams

"Finished!" Musa announced to Tecna, thrusting her paper in the air as proof. Her roommate calmly observed the elevated paper from her spot on her bed, typing on her computer as she waited for Musa to finish so she could turn off the light and go to sleep.

"You should have completed your homework hours ago," Tecna informed her as the musical fairy began packing away her notes so she could find them all again in the morning.

"And miss out taking on Layla in hallway hockey? No way!" Musa grinned, taking her hair out of their pigtails and climbing under her covers. Her raised voice had managed to wake Tune, who sat up in her bed with a disapproving look.

"It's inconsiderate to be so loud while others are trying to sleep," Tune scolded as politely as she could, but a simple telling off couldn't dampen Musa's mood.

"Sorry Tune, but I did beat Layla so it was worth it," Musa beamed sweetly. Tune huffed and rolled back over in her bed, muttering something about bad sportsmanship, making Musa's smile widen.

"You've been in an extraordinary good mood the last few days," Tecna noted, looking up from the screen before her. She had never seen Musa stay this happy for such a long period of time. Something would usually happen, usually some comment by Riven, which would drop the cheerful fairy's mood, though it was never long before Musa was her usual smiling self. Recently, however, Musa's delightful disposition had been increasing with each and every passing day.

"So what if I am?" Musa said quietly, suddenly feeling bashful.

"I'm not saying that there's anything wrong with it. It's just that you tend to be a bit of an emotional rollercoaster and I'm worried that you might come off this emotional high into a serious low."

"I appreciate your concern Tec, but I'll be fine. I've just been happier than I have been in years, is all. It's nothing to get all worked up about."

"I'm just trying to look out for you. Although you statistically have a high possibility for success, you do have to admit that you and Riven don't exactly have a desirable track record."

"What makes you think this has anything to do with Riven?"

Tecna gave Musa a hard look. "Musa, please. Don't think you're fooling anyone, especially your best friends. We all know why you've been so cheerful and we know you're the reason Riven's been more approachable recently. We just want to make sure that you're aware that this high may not last. Like I said, you two don't have the best history."

"Well, no offence, but 'til recently neither did you and Timmy," Musa pointed out. "You were so awkward around each other for ages, but you guys are fine now. And it's the same thing with Bloom and Sky, and Stella and Brandon. Sky's engagement to Diaspro isn't exactly part of a perfect relationship history, now is it? And that whole deal with the swapping of identities isn't something you'd normally find in romance tales. So you can't dis Riven just because things were a little complicated before."

"Such as him going out with Darcy," Tecna reminded her and then instantly regretted her words when Musa glared angrily at her. "I'm sorry. That was uncalled for."

"I'll say," Musa agreed.

"We just don't want to see you get hurt," Tecna said softly.

Musa sighed. Although she sometimes wished her friends would stay out of her relationship with Riven – particularly a certain Princess of Solaria – she couldn't blame them for caring. That's what friends were for and she wouldn't trade them for all the privacy in the universe. "I know and I dig that you guys are watchin' my back, but I honestly believe that this time things are different. Riven and I are getting along and I'm slowly getting him to open up to me. I don't see how things could go wrong. It's just right, I know it."

"Yes well, you also thought you knew how you felt about Riven last year and yet you still got a crush on Jared."

"That was nothing," Musa told her, physically flinching. She had never told Riven about her date with Jared, mainly because she didn't want to hurt him, but also because she didn't want Riven to hurt Jared. After all, she and Jared were still friends and he dropped his crush on her to go out with a fairy he hooked up with at prom last year.

"Just be careful," Tecna pleaded, powering down her computer for the night.

"Okay, but you gotta chillax. Me and Riven are fine," Musa assured her friend, slipping down into her bed and tucking her blankets up to her chin. "Night Tec."

"Goodnight Musa," Tecna replied, switching off the light and plunging the room into total darkness.

Outside the girls' dorm, perched on a thick branch of one of the trees surrounding the building, a figure stood waiting for the fairies to fall asleep. When the final light switched off, she gathered her power and slowly released it so as not to alert her victim.

"Sweet dreams," she whispered to the night and with a slight chuckle, vanished.

~Dreaming~

Musa loved dreaming about Riven.

Her dreams were completely private, even from Riven, and only in that kind of privacy could she indulge in thrills she would never be allowed in reality. When she was awake, Musa's shy, insecure side made her rather hesitant around Riven at times and his stubbornness could be so frustrating that there was no way he would behave the way she wanted him to. In dreamland, however, there were no such restraints. Here, she could be as bold as she wanted without the fear of rejection and Riven was warm, charming and not a jerk. It was completely innocent, but with a dash of devilish delight.

As a fairy from Harmonic Nebular, Musa tended not to dream in words. Instead, her dreams were over scored by music much like an orchestra may accompany a ballet; though even in her dreams she could rarely get Riven to dance. When she dreamed of Riven, they were usually accompanied by wind instruments such as flutes and panpipes, together with a soft selection of strings. Everything was basked in either a soft golden or a pale red light, making Riven look absolutely delicious.

And he tasted just as good as he looked, Musa thought to herself as Riven softly kissed her while his hands lightly caressed her skin. Her fingertips gently traced the thin barrier that was his shirt, knowing that he would not resist if she wanted to discover exactly what the skin underneath felt like but also not pressing her to commit to more than she was ready for.

"Musa," he breathed, his voice husky and heavy with passion, sending shivers of delight down her spine. There was no way he would be as gentle and affectionate in reality, so she was going to enjoy this fantasy while it lasted.

"Oh Riven," she panted as he cupped her face with his hands and tenderly kissing her again. That was one part of her dream that was consistent with reality; he was such a good kisser.

Normally her dreams of Riven would continue on like this until morning, when she would awake feeling very content with herself, but tonight something was different and her dream started to take a turn towards something nightmarish.

The pale red light suddenly became deeper, flooding her mind with a bloody tinge. The golden light vanished completely and was replaced with a harsh purple colour. The soft string instruments suddenly exploded forth with an ugly, scratchy screech that almost sounded electrical, drowning out the wind section. And that wasn't all that changed.

As the lighting and music shifted, Riven simultaneously kissed her hard on the mouth, all gentleness forgotten. His body thrust against hers and his hands were all over her. Musa started to panic slightly as Riven started to instigate something she knew she wasn't ready for, but he ignored her ridged stance and continued to ravish her.

Then, just as suddenly as it changed, everything went back to how it was originally. The red light faded and the purple vanished completely as the gold returned. The music changed back into its original score and Riven was no longer pressed so forcefully against her.

"You're so beautiful," he whispered, his hand delicately stroking her cheek. The distance between their bodies had widen back to where they had been before the change and slowly the panic and fear Musa had felt started to disappear. With a hesitant but hopeful smile, the musical fairy reached up to resume excahgning gentle kisses.

Musa was just getting back to the stage where she was enjoying the dream, when it happened again. The lights darkened and the music blasted harshly, making Musa's' heart pound in fear. One of Riven's hands dug into her flesh, while the other clawed desperately at her clothes. He forced her close to him, his eyes burning with an animal like delight. Musa struggled to get free for his embrace, but his hold on her was too strong.

"Riven," she gasped as he bit into her neck with a deep, throaty growl. Even in her dreams, Musa could never remember being scared like this before.

And then, just like before, the light became brighter and the music softer. Riven was holding her tenderly in his arms, his face buried in her hair. Musa was trembling violently and her heart was racing as the flight response surged through her. Even though at that very moment she felt comforted and safe in his arms, she a large part of her still desperately wanted to get away in case that changed again.

"What's wrong?" Riven asked in a voice no more than a whisper. He softly cupped her face and lifted it until she was looking at him. His violet eyes were soft and gentle, staring at her with a loving tenderness and Musa felt her fear slipping away as she looked into those eyes.

"Nothing," she smiled gently. "I've got you."

"You certainly do," he assured her, but even as he spoke, the lights started to darken.

It was not the sudden change as it had been before. Instead, it engulfed the pair at a much slower pace and Musa could see the effect this transaction had on Riven's face. His eyes became chillingly hard, but they burned with a terrible, insatiable hunger. His lips pulled back into a horrible sneer and his grip on her became tighter.

It was then that Musa noticed she was becoming distant from the whole situation. Like a story in third person, Musa found herself looking in on herself in Riven's arms. She saw Riven's desire and her fear, but knew she was powerless to stop it but after a beat she noticed that the Musa in his arms suddenly didn't look like she wanted it to stop. Her eyes started to glow with that same hunger and she grabbed Riven's face, forcing her mouth on his and pressing her body up in an almost desperate manner.

"What are you doing?!" Musa shouted, but the two were too enthralled in each other to notice her. The strings continued to wail and the deep purple light started to pulsate.

It was in this pulsating light that the Musa in Riven's arms started to morph into another. Her hair fell loose from their pigtails and grew longer. Her clothes became closer fitting and her eyes flashed gold. Musa felt sick as she watched the other woman passionately make out with her boyfriend.

"Darcy," Riven gasped, his voice throbbing with desire. Golden eyes locked on navy ones and a malicious smile spread across Darcy's face as she bit down on Riven's neck. Riven flinched and then groaned loudly in pure pleasure.

"He's mine," Darcy growled at their voyeur and with one clean movement she ripped Riven's shirt in two. Her nails dug into his back, leaving long, red scratches as he pulled at her clothes with fingers made clumsy by desperation.

"Riven!" Musa shouted, her eyes filling with tears, but he was too engrossed with Darcy for him to even acknowledge another presence. "Riven! Stop it!"

"What's the point, fairy?" Darcy challenged, her eyes smouldering. The purple light began pulsating brighter, leeching away Musa's ability to see, but that didn't mean she was going to give up.

"Riven! Riven, please!"

"I don't think so," he answered as it became impossible to see. "I'm with Darcy now."

Musa's body went numb as that familiar phrase echoed around her mind along with Darcy's wicked laugh. And with that, Musa woke up.

~End Dream~

Riven knew it was a mistake to go to sleep thinking about Darcy.

After she had snuck into his room, he hadn't been able to get her out of his head. The way she looked at him, the way she moved, that sweet, inviting way she smelt. It was all too much. He tried desperately to turn his thoughts towards Musa, but they always started to stray back to the witch. It was like she had infected him with herself and it had only got worse when he went to sleep.

Memories of everything they had done together came flooding back to him. They had tormented so many students' at all three schools together and Riven knew that some of them still avoided him. That witch Mirta usually fled whenever she saw him coming. Plus there was that whole thing with him spying on his friends and passing the information on to Darcy and her sisters. His part in their plans had almost killed Bloom on more than one occasion and had of course endangered the entire Magical Universe. He knew that it was only Headmaster's Saladin's unwavering belief that there was something worthwhile about the former thief that had save him from being carted off to Light Rock to be rehabilitated along with the Trix. Even at the best of times Riven knew he only had half the amount of faith in himself that Saladin did and memories of his time with the Trix only made things harder for him.

And then there were the activities they had gotten up to when he and Darcy were alone. Riven's friends had never asked for any real details on his and Darcy's relationship, but he was pretty sure that they suspected that it had gone passed what was normally in fairy tales. With Darcy's experience and her dark magic, she had been able to conjure erotic situations that most teenage boys only dreamed about. She was bold, dominating and she could multiply herself, and every single one of those memories had replayed themselves to Riven while he slept.

Riven had woken with a jerk, trembling and covered in sweat. Panting, Riven tried to calm himself down as his heart pounded, but his dreams, or rather memories, kept running through his brain. Helia was still asleep and the suns were faintly starting to rise.

"Damn you Darcy," he hissed through clenched teeth, kicking his sweaty sheets off him. He shouldn't be thinking like this. He was with Musa for crying out loud. He had a girlfriend and yet he was dreaming about his ex. Even without their messed up history, he knew that that was not a good place to be stuck in.

With a frustrated sigh, Riven got up and grabbed his towel off the back of the chair he had hung it on the night before. He needed another shower and this time he'd leave Helia all the hot water.

TBC