I've just got to say that I am so proud of the last thing Darcy says to Riven. I was faced with the dilemma of how do I get Darcy to go away and stay gone, and I think I hit pretty close to the mark. And I am in love with what she says before she goes, so while you read those . . . what is it? Eight words? That sounds right. As you read those eight words, just know that I'm in the great land down under swelling with pride.

Chapter Twelve – Revelations

Musa had been studying Riven's face to memory as he connected himself to the mental link with Darcy. She had a feeling that this was going to be dangerous, but Riven hadn't given her time to get all the information. He had already made up his mind it seemed and Musa wouldn't be able change it not matter how hard she argued in the same way he would never be able to convince her to leave. They were both too stubborn like that. Regardless, they were out of time and options.

As Musa waited for Riven's command, she found herself regretting so much about her relationship with Riven. She wished she would have told him how she felt about him earlier and then maybe they would have been together longer. She wished she would have trusted her feelings for him and avoided that whole episode with Jared. She wished she would have believed more in their relationship instead of falling so easily into Darcy's mind games. She wished she could go back and not be so shy around him. She wished she'd never said that comment about his family and hurt in so deeply. And she wished she had told him she loved or kissed him or done something before he had begun establishing the link.

Unfortunately all those opportunities were lost to her now and all she could do was hope for Riven's plan to succeed. She felt sick to her stomach from knowing what Riven expected her to do. All she could do was to trust in Riven but even that didn't comfort her or prepare her for when Riven finally gave the word.

"Musa! Now!"

Flinging herself away from the impact zone, Musa dropped the shield she had tried so hard to maintain. The blackness completely engulfed Riven and she saw Darcy go ridged in pain. Trying to block it all out Musa focus her power. It wouldn't work if it was just Darcy's magic and Riven would go through all that for nothing. As much as it killed her, Musa knew this was the only way.

"Boogie Blaster!"

When Musa's magic sunk into the blackness that surrounded Riven, Musa could see the sudden change in the magic. The dark sphere quivered and then began to expand and contact and then expand again. Blazing red energy juxtaposed the blackness and the air seemed to come alive, simmering and crackling around Musa.

In the sky, Darcy was surrounded by crackling black, purple and red energy as if she was caught in a strange, multi-coloured lightning storm. Her back was arched in pain and she was screaming in unspeakable agony. Her dark magic cut deep into her skin, leaving deep purple brandings across her pale skin and Musa's attack left big red burns in her flesh. A pale shroud fell across her body, plunging her into a terrible coldness and her ears were ringing from Musa's magic.

As the shroud descended onto Darcy, the blackness that had surrounded Riven lifted slightly and Musa could see him. The magical squall he was caught in was intense enough to levitate him off the ground a few feet and his body was twisted from the torture he was experiencing. His already injured body was suffering further and so he was beyond crying out in pain. He reeled as his mind and Darcy's crashed against each other to the point were Riven felt like he was drowning in the deluge of both their memories. It was so overwhelming he felt himself slipping into a never-ending blackness.

Musa felt the magical energy start to burn her skin, but she refused to move any further from Riven then she already was. The air was becoming more dangerous as the two magical forces began to swell. Darcy continued to hang in the air, no longer screaming due to the fact that she was in so much pain she couldn't find her voice. It was a ghastly sight.

And then the powers exploded, sending the three people flying and knocking them all unconscious.

Every inch of Darcy's body screamed in agony as she slowly regained consciousness. Never before had she experienced pain like that, but then again, never before had someone used her powers against her. She was impossibly weak, but she knew she couldn't stay here. Musa's loser friends had seen her take Musa and they knew she was going to go after Riven. That meant they would have contacted those Red Fountain wannabe's and they'd all be searching for them. Darcy couldn't be here when they arrived.

Forcing herself to stand on unstable legs, Darcy paused to calculate how much power she had left. About enough to conjure one spell, she figured. That didn't do her any good if the Winx Club and their pathetic boy-toys showed up. She needed to get out of here and the fastest way to do that was with a teleportation spell.

Darcy was a second away from translocating herself when, lying across the clearing, she saw the unmoving form of Musa. Darcy no longer had the energy to even feel any anger towards the fairy, but she did contemplate using her last spell to destroy that pixie. It would be easy. Musa had transformed back out of her Winx form, so she was completely vulnerable. The only real downside was it would mean Darcy would have to walk home, but it would be worth it. The Winx Club would never be able to recover from that grief and it would make Riven suffer.

Upon thinking of her ex, Darcy scanned the clearing for him. She found him lying in the dark shadows of the forest and staggered over to him. He was a sight to see. Blood and all kinds of injuries covered every inch of his body. Darcy was surprised he hadn't been killed in the explosion, but that only left her with the question of what was she going to do with him now? Take him back with her? She didn't have the strength to teleport them both. Leave him here? No, too unsatisfying. Kill him? She couldn't think of a reason too but she also couldn't find a reason not too.

"What a troublesome puppy you are," she told his still form. She had gone through so much time and effort for him and again he rejected her. He cast her aside as if she was nothing. He had violated her mind and had led to her downfall.

He had humiliated her.

Despite her weariness, Darcy felt an insane amount of anger build up inside her. That pathetic boy had made a fool out of her. She had given up everything for him; her heart, her image, her pride, and he had thrown it in her face. What had he done to her?

It was then that Darcy had a sickening revelation; he had the advantage over her. All this time she had thought she had control over him and yet he had altered her way of thinking in so many ways it was ridiculous. One comment about Icy had changed her views on her sisters. Two words had caused her to become so infatuated that she was willing to stop at nothing to have him again. One boy had become the very centre of her world and her only motivation.

Riven was no longer her puppet. She was his.

Darcy started to hyperventilate at the very thought and she collapsed to her knees. It wasn't possible. It just wasn't possible. She could risk this getting out. She'd be ruined. Her sisters would never be able to trust her if she could become so easily distracted by a boy. There was only one thing for it. After tonight, she'd have to give up Riven and give him up completely. She could no longer obsess over winning his affection or controlling him or even killing him. She couldn't think of him in any way. It was far too risky. She needed to have nothing to do with him. She needed to quit him.

Darcy was still struggling in the wake of her revelation when she heard a faint moan and sense movement from alongside her. Turning her horrified face, her golden eyes locked with the violet ones of the boy who had caused this drama. She needed to put a stop to it.

Crawling over to him like a cat stalking its prey, Darcy felt a thrill at the fearful way Riven watched her since he was too injured to move away. However that thrill was squashed by the slight glimmer of confidence Riven's face held, as if he was ready to accept any horror that she might unleash upon him. Darcy positioned herself so her face hung just over his, her golden eyes boring into him and her long hair spilling down around his face and chest. And then she decided to voice the one thing she had always been too scared to ever say out loud.

"I love you," she told him, dropping her face and brushing her lips across his gently. There was nothing dominating or hungry about that kiss like they usually were. Just soft, tender and loving. Her eyes, however, were cold when she drew back. "But I love me more."

And then, unleashing the last spell she could muster, Darcy let Riven's mind fill with darkness before getting to her feet and beginning the long walk home. Leaving Riven staring blankly at the sky above.

"Riven," Musa whimpered when she finally came too. She was too weak to stand, so she prayed Riven was able to come to her aid. Her body and mind were still reeling from the explosion. "Riven . . . Help me . . . Riven . . . Please . . . ?"

When she got no reply, Musa struggled to force herself to sit up and glanced at her surroundings. There was no sign of Darcy, but the entire clearing looked like it had been the site of a bushfire. The scorched grass crackled underneath her as she shifted around to see if she could spot Riven.

"Oh please, don't let Darcy of taken him," she whispered to herself. And then, hidden in the shadows, she saw the motionless form of the man that she loved. Dragging herself over to him, Musa was panting by the time she was by his side but no matter how heavily she needed to breathe, Musa clamped her mouth shut to try and stop the urge to be sick.

Riven was a mess. Blood was caked into his hair and over his flesh. He had several large wounds that needed immediate medical attention. His skin was a combination of black, indigo, purple, red and deathly white. His eyes were open and blank and he wasn't showing any signs of moving or waking up soon.

"Riven," Musa called, shaking him slightly. "Riven, wake up. C'mon. We need to get you to a doctor. Riven? Riven, please?"

He wasn't waking up.

Great silver tears welled in Musa's eyes and cascaded down her cheek. Her body trembled, but she didn't think it had anything to do with her exhaustion. Riven continued to stare with those horrible, lifeless eyes.

"Riven! Riven please! Wake up!"

He still didn't respond.

Musa looked around her hopelessly, her body shaking as her emotions threatened to overwhelm her. Where were her girls? They had seen Darcy take her. They should be looking for her so where were they? Where were the Red Fountain boys? They were supposed to be heroes in training and she was someone who needed rescuing.

"Somebody help me!" Musa shouted out to the night. The only one who heard her was the trees and they didn't look like they were going to offer her any assistance. "Somebody! Anybody! Please!"

The only answer was the slightly blowing wind that drifted through the trees. Finally, crying out in anguish, Musa collapsed into Riven's chest. He made no move to comfort her and Musa's body continued to heave with deep, shuttering sobs.

TBC