Chapter 8: When the Prophecy Comes True

The nymph's wings tore into dust and faded away as her transformation vanished and left her her usual outfit.

'Daphne', everyone cried 'What happened? Are you ok?' 'I'm fine', the nymph answered calmly 'But my power is gone for good' 'What?' Bloom screamed 'Why?' 'It must be Joshua's work', Flora guessed and told the others about their battle.

'The terrible thing is that Daphne didn't have enough time to use such a defensive spell', Musa commented 'It's my fault', Flora cried 'She did that to save me' 'It's not your fault, Flora' the nymph responded 'He shot you because he knew that I would shield you. It was a trap. You don't need to blame yourself for that.' 'But this means that from now on, you'll lose all of your power forever' Stella said. 'It's alright', Daphne replied 'I can live a life without magic.'

'It's not only a life without magic', Ms. Faragonda declared after hearing their conversation. She had been there since their arrival, but no one noticed that until now 'Come to my office. I have something to tell you.'

[…]

'A fortnight?' Stella shouted 'Is that the truth?' 'I'm afraid that's right', the headmistress nodded. 'It is too short, only half a lunar month. Is there anything…' Aisha requested. 'I know that all of you are shock about that, but it is an undeniable fact.'

'This means that Daphne, Daphne will…' Bloom looked at her sibling, words dying on her tongue. 'That is the truth', Tecna confirmed after looking at her laptop. Daphne stood still, her eyes widened in shock and despair.

Everyone who had magic couldn't live without it. The strong they were, the more their lives depended on magic. Bloom wasn't very strong when she first lost her power so she didn't suffer that day, but she nearly died when she shared a part of her away after years. Daphne had lost her one, but nothing happened because her spiritual life didn't need magic. However, now, the Nymph of Sirenix only could live for a fortnight more before perished due to the lack o f power. Everything happened just like the prophecy from the Book of Fate.

'There have to be a way', Musa said. 'No, as far as I know, there was no cure.' Faragonda answered. 'How about giving Daphne a large amount of power?' Tecna suggested. 'I can give her my power, all of them', Bloom determined. 'No, Bloom, don't', Daphne interrupted 'If you do, you'll…'

'That is impossible, either', Ms. Faragonda admitted 'First, Daphne lost all of her power because of an attack, not because someone took it away so it is impossible to send her power to recover. Second, even if all of us combine our power still not strong enough to help she gets her power back.'

Daphne fell to the ground because of her weightless legs. She didn't know what to do.

'It is my fault. I-I would have been the one who lost all of her power, who would die in the next fortnight, not Daphne. She risked her life to save me. I-I am killing her…' Flora cried and ran away.

'Flora', Stella shouted in a soft tone. Still, the fairy didn't stop. 'I think that I'd better go after her', Stella said. 'I'll go with you', Aisha proposed and left the office with Stella.

'Daphne', Bloom called her sister, who was still in shock. 'I'll think a glass of water will make you feel better.' Musa gave Daphne the glass on her hand, but the nymph didn't take it. Tecna took her phone out, Thoren needed to know about this.

The Nymph of Sirenix said nothing, but cried. Life seemed to close its door in front of her. Everything around her was stunting and withering, crumbling and dying. Everywhere around her was collapsing and falling apart. A beautiful lullaby turned into a heart-rending funeral song. The bright blue sky became the bloody chasm. Amorous and sweet fragrant wasn't much different from drily and oppressive smell. All the white light around her went red.

She didn't stop weeping. She had known that the shot would strip away all of her power, but she didn't know that she would die because of it.

Why? Why? Tell me why. I was under a curse for over 15 years. I have just only return to life in such a short time. And now, I am forced to leave it again, and forever.

Bloom dried her sister's tears. Daphne soon stopped crying and looked at her younger sister, with her sad eyes.

'Thoren is here', Tecna announced 'I think that you should meet him.' Daphne nodded. She stood up, and with the help of Musa, Tecna and Bloom, she walked out of the room.

'Ms. Faragonda', Selina finally asked after ensuring the others had left 'I have something to ask you…'

'Flora', Aisha said in a soft and sweet tone 'It is not your fault and no one blames you for that.' 'Aisha is right', Stella agreed. 'You don't understand', Flora whispered in tears 'Protecting people is a job of a fairy. I not only didn't protect her, but I also made her sacrifice for me and would die for me. Am I still deserved to be a fairy?' 'Protecting people is also a job of a nymph', Aisha exclaimed. 'You can't say like that', Stella look at Flora with a compassionate feeling 'Sacrificing herself to protect you is her choice. She did it voluntarily. You didn't force her to do that. You didn't even know that she would do that.'

Still, Flora didn't agree. She shook her head and continued weeping.

'Maybe she will feel better after talking to Helia', Aisha suggested and took out the phone, but the Fairy of Nature grabbed it and threw away. 'Just leave me alone, I want the seclusion' she cried out loud as she put her palms on her head, immersing herself in guilt. Aisha and Stella stepped backward, knowing that their friend needed a silence.

Flora trembled and quivered as a cold wind passed her. Her beautiful emerald eyes swelled owing to a long time crying. Her body was hot like a burning flame. Her clothes were wet due to tears and perspiration. She didn't know how to face Daphne, face Bloom. She had promised Bloom to protect Daphne. But then it ended up that the one who was protected was her. She would have been the one who suffered, the one who would die in the next fortnight, not Daphne.

Memories, stories and a lot of things tangled in her mind. She wanted to have her demise in order to redeem her mistake. Daphne would perish and it was because of her. She could never forgive herself for it.

After a long time crying, her tears ran out. She stopped weeping and gave a few hiccups. Her tears dried up. Stella kindly gave her friend some water while Aisha folded her arms. 'Finished crying, haven't you?' she asked 'If yes, then listen to me.'

'Flora, Daphne sacrificed herself to save you and has to suffer, that is an unchangeable fact', Aisha glanced at her friend, ensuring that the other was listening 'She did it. But why? She wanted to save you.' 'I agree with Aisha', Stella consented 'Moreover, Daphne didn't know that losing her magic would lead her to death but I don't think that she didn't know that attack would strip away all of her power since she battled him 20 years ago.'

'Thus', Aisha continued 'She save you because she didn't want you to lose all of your power. She wants you to be safe and together with us, fight against the darkness.'

'Yes', Stella reasoned 'And I don't think she wants you to be sad. Also, I don't think that seeing you sad like this will make her feel better. It only makes her feel sad seeing you keep going on like now, losing yourself in remorse and want to die.'

'Because that would make her sacrifice means nothing', Aisha concluded. Flora stood up and hugged her friends. 'I understood', she mumbled 'I promised that I won't be like this anymore.'

The girls went back to their dormitory and startled as they opened the door. Daphne was happy again and was very optimistic.

'Thank you for saving me', Flora whispered in shock. That wasn't what she wanted to say. She wanted to say 'Sorry', but the word died on her tongue when she saw the nymph's smile.

'I lost my ability to fight because of you. So from now on, you have to stay strong and fight for me', Daphne asked 'Will you promise me that?' 'Yes, I'll, I vow', Flora swore with all her heart.

She ran, ran and ran along the long dark path. Everywhere around her was horribly scary. A shower rain was pouring by. Bitter cold winds blew terribly. The young girl kept on heading the place where she wanted to go. She finally stopped when a gorgeous mythical building appeared in front of her eyes. That was it, CloudTower.

Inside the school, headmistress Griffin walked out. The young girl bowed. Ms. Griffin also kindly responded and invited her in. The old woman took her to the school's archive. She put her mantle down.

'Since you're a former student here and you saved this school, I let you here. However, because you are a fairy, your time here will be limited.' said the headmistress. 'I know', the greenish hair girl replied 'Thank you.'

She ran through many bookshelves for a scan and then stopped at an old and full of dust one in the corner. Quickly swept her hand through the books to remove the dust and webs, the books' titles were reviewed.

Ms. Faragonda said that she knew almost everything. She said that there was no way to rehabilitate Daphne, I don't believe it. She told me she had read a lot of books about that, but it turned out that she only read books about pure magic. Besides, I remember that I had read a book about dark magic which tells how to undo spells and curses or cure things which seemed to be impossible. I'd better check it again.

Daphne was sitting in her room when she heard someone knocked the door. She opened it.

'Selina', she asked 'Why are you her at this time? It's almost midnight.' 'Daphne', Selina said calmly 'I found a way to save your life.' 'Really?' the young nymph invited the fairy to her room.

'Yes', Selina nodded 'Although they say that you only live for 14 days more, it's not true. I know there is way to help you. Gaining back your power is what I mean. You lost all of your power because a spell Joshua used to shoot you. A book I read tells me that when a magician is defeated, a large amount of energy from that person is released. That power can undo every single spell that person had made. If you are there at the time he is defeated, that energy will spread through you and give you back your magic.'

Daphne said nothing. Selina continued 'I'll tell the Winx this and we'll plan an exact day to meet him and take him down to save your life.'

'No', Daphne stopped her 'Don't tell them'. Much to the young fairy surprised, the nymph explained 'Listen to me, Selina. I battled him. I know that he is very powerful now. We can't defeat him at this time. What you and the Winx need to do are practicing more and learning more to be strong enough to take them down. You are too weak to win. I sacrificed myself to save Flora because I knew that I don't have enough power to defeat Joshua and I have a hope that one day, you will finish him off for me. I protect Flora's power so that in the future, she will together with all of you, fight against him. But now, I know all of you can't do that. If you fight against him and lose, my sacrifice will be nothing but a useless action. Do you want that? Do you want me to die for nothing?'

Selina was puzzled 'But you will…you will…' 'Me?' Daphne said 'Don't worry. I'm fine.' The nymph smiled at Selina 'Let think in a more positive way. I should have died over 15 years ago, but I didn't, I was only under a curse. Thanks to that, I was able to come back to life once again, see my friends and family, be with them, and touch them. Then I met Thoren and became a Crown Princess of Domino. He proposed to me, we married and had a happy life. Those greatest gifts would have come to me if I had died almost two decades ago. They are just like a dream, a beautiful dream. I wouldn't have had them. But destiny gave me a chance to live this life some more days. I enjoyed it. Time is running out, destiny takes back my life and I accept it. That's all. There is no regret.'

Selina said goodbye to Daphne and walked weighty back to the dormitory. She threw herself in bed, but she couldn't close her eyes. Bloom and Flora were asleep. Silent air covered all over the place. Selina gave herself some reading time, but she couldn't concentrate, her mind was busy thinking about something else.

Bloom and Flora, the Winx, all of them need to know about the cure. They have the right to know it. They have the right to save Daphne's life. But Daphne doesn't want that. She accepted her demise; she doesn't want the Winx to risk their lives to save her. If they all gone, she can't stand seeing that. Nevertheless, if they don't know about it and Daphne dies, it will be a great suffer to them. Flora may once again lose herself in guilt seeing the one who sacrifice for her perish but can't do such a thing while Bloom may feel deeply sad after her sister's death. What should I do? I can't… Is there another choice for me? I wonder why fate was too whimsically. Is there any way to make all of them not to be sad and suffer? I wish there is a way…

The next morning, the girls gathered around like usual. They were talking about their mission, but it was likely to be unusual. Yes. Not thing would be the same after what had happened. They were all concerned about Daphne although no one told. They half talking, half sighing. Not a determined decision was made. All of them were so dreamily.

The situation was getting worse. Selina wished she could tell the Winx about what she knew. It would lighten their pressure. But if she had told them, then, well it's… Destiny was unpredictable. She accepted to be a selfish and greedy person anyway. Daphne was right; the Winx weren't strong enough to beat him. Moreover, Selina didn't want the Winx to risk their lives despite knowing that they wanted to. That night was the greatest nightmare of her life…

Hope that the Winx could forgive her…

The sun heavily got up to the dark tragic orange sky. Birds all sang such a pathetic lullaby. Everyone woke up under the sad sky. Nothing would ever be the same, although it seemed to be provisionally ok yesterday.

Every single member of the Winx tried to act like normal. Daphne visited them, part because she wanted to know how they felt, part because she wanted to ensure that Selina didn't say anything. Bloom embraced her elder sister in her arms. She would miss her so much.

After Daphne left, Bloom felt even worse, Flora noticed that. It was hard to accept anyway. Just a few days ago, nothing went wrong, and now, Daphne went closer to her death.

Bloom walked out the balcony for some fresh air. The new day's breeze flowed into her sorrow heart.

'Look like you are the saddest person among us all', Flora said, breaking the silence.

Bloom turned to her friend, who was leaning on the handrail 'You know I really want to think that nothing had happened, but I, I can't…'

'I really wanted to ask you this, Bloom. I need the real answer', Flora sighed 'Have you ever…?'

'No, I have never blamed you for that, by heart. You did nothing wrong. I just blame myself for not being there to protect her.' Bloom replied.

'So do I', Flora whispered 'Even if I think that is not my fault, I still can't stand that'

'And I know that the others were no difference', Bloom mumbled 'They only act like they don't'

'They are doing the right things', Flora commented 'They do that in order not to upset Daphne, I am trying to do the same thing, but…'

'Whenever we see her, none of us can', Bloom continued. Flora gave an agreement sad smile 'But we have to act, as good as possible…'

Then, both of them walked inside.

But little did they know that Daphne had heard everything they had said through a covert listening device. She wanted to check if they were really alright, and the truth was easily revealed to her. The young nymph stood up. The battle was coming to its climax and she made them lost their aim. To her, it was all her fault. Their parents knew it, and none of them felt so upset. The Book of Fate would never tell wrong…

Daphne understood that she couldn't live much longer, and she didn't want them to sad anymore.

The sound of someone knocking the door broke her train of thought, she opened it. Selina again? Why was she always here?

Daphne was about to turned when Selina suddenly threw her her eavesdropping device.

'I don't understand what do you do this for?' Selina asked 'That only made you become more uncomfortable'

'I only want to check my sister', Daphne explained 'It is very important for me to know if she and the Winx…'

'And then what? If I hadn't found out about this eavesdropping device and took it away, Bloom would find it and notice that you knew her sadness, then she would think that she made you feel worse and then…' Selina frowned 'I had known that your visit earlier was not a normal checking out one, but I hadn't discovered this covert listening device until Bloom carelessly let me saw what was there in her cuff. Lucky for you that Bloom hadn't went near Tecna.'

'Thank you', Daphne smiled.

'So what are you planning to do next?' Selina asked, keeping the same tone as she was before.

'I'll leave', answered Daphne 'I'll resign and move back to Domino and live the rest of my life. I don't want to stay here. The more the Winx see me, the more they lose their fighting ideal. I'd better leave.'

'But, Daphne', Selina dissuaded. 'I have chosen this way', Daphne asserted 'If you respect me, please respect my decision.'

Selina looked at the young nymph, words dying on her tongue 'Ok, you win.' And she walked away.

An hour later, a hovering car landed outside Alfea. Daphne went to the Winx to announce her left. It worked. Her left was actually lightening everyone pressure since it gave them a thin hope that she could live happily till the end of her life. They finally talked freely like usual, asked if they could help, checked the luggage for her, and sent her souvenirs …

The Winx walked her to the school yard to see her off. Thoren helped her got onto the car and her luggage was moved on it too. Daphne gave a fake but natural smile to the girls. They smiled back. She hadn't seen them smile like that since the time they left Solaria. They could finally release the heavy air around them.

Daphne leaned on her beloved husband and commanded the robot to drive as fast as possible. She only wanted to get away from here as soon as she can.

The hovering car hastened and left. The Winx and Selina were looking at the car until it disappeared into the faraway horizon out there in the yellowish orange sky…