Thanks to: Meg (who is now officially an über-sweety for dedicating a chapter of her Winx Club Know Your Stars fic to me) and Kikurukina Bal Des'cagel, who it seems is something of a mind-reader.

Random Quote: "Please rush me my portable walrus polishing kit. Four super brushes that will clean even the trickiest of seabound mammals. Yes, I am over eighteen, though my IQ isn't." (Rimmer, from Red Dwarf)

"I don't believe it!"

"Incredible!"

The Specialists looked on amazed. There before them stood Charlotte, her terracotta-coloured summer dress flapping wildly in the scorching hot wind that had been drawn in behind the flames as they rushed quickly past her, her arms still raised in front of her, her eyes screwed shut in terror as she waited for her impending firey death...

...and waited...

...and waited...

...and waited.

"That's odd. It doesn't hurt."

Warily she opened her eyes and inspected her hands and arms in disbelief. No burns, no blisters, no charring... not even the slightest reddening of her skin. She looked down at herself and patted her body, as though she wanted to check that she was still in one piece. She couldn't believe it - she was fine. Totally fine. Her dress was spotless, no scorch marks... nothing. Even her glasses were still in mint condition.

Riven raced over to her and put his arm around her. "Charlotte! We were so worried. Are you okay?"

She looked up at him, dazed and still slightly confused. "Yes, I'm... fine. In fact, that actually felt quite nice!"

The Ifrit growled in frustration when he saw this. "You're a Nahriina?!?"

"Nahriina?" Brandon asked Charlotte.

"A fire fairy from Nahri, I guess." she explained. "And it seems rather annoyed that I'm one of them."

"Perhaps 'Nahriinas' are immune from its fire attacks... and perhaps it already knew this." Timmy suggested. "If so, it would explain why it's trying to drive your people off this world by cooking up this rather elaborate plan from down here instead of just going up to the surface and attacking them head on."

Without warning, the Ifrit suddenly launched itself at Charlotte, swiping at her with his huge fist. Luckily for her, Riven was able to pull her out of the way just in time. "You may be immune from its fire attacks, but it'll still clobber you given half the chance. It could even be gunning for you now... well, it'll have to get though me first! Stand back and let us deal with this."

Charlotte did as he said, hid around a corner and looking on wracked with worry as the boys lined up in front of the Ifrit, brandishing their weapons as they fanned out to surround it.

"This is your last chance - restore the water supply and leave this place now!" Sky yelled bravely, waving his sword in its direction.

"You fleshlings certainly are amusing!" the Ifrit responded with a deep chuckle which seemed to egg the young prince on.

"Right, that's it. Specialists, attack!"

On his word, he, Brandon, Jason and Riven rushed at the Ifrit, their swords held high above their heads and ready to strike, but as their blades made contact with the vicious monster they were struck down by a fiercely crackling field of energy, as though they had been foolish enough to stick forks into an electrical socket. Timmy fired off a volley of laser fire into the beast, but it barely seemed to notice. Unfortunately for Timmy, the Ifrit did notice enough to strike Timmy with the same electrical discharge that had floored his comrades. The Ifrit looked over the fallenheroes, proudly surveying the damage it had caused with such minimal effort, until it came across Riven, barely able to move but still able to glare at him furiously.

"It seems the cowardly little Nahriina is rather fond of you - therefore you shall be the first to die."

Laughing, the Ifrit picked him up roughly across the throat with one hand and slammed him against a wall. It stared at Riven in amusement as he tried desperately to prise himself free from his overwhelmingly powerful grip, before raising his free hand up behind him and clenching it into a huge club of a fist, winding itself up ready to strike a kíller blow... but then something persuaded him not to... something that made him drop Riven and sent him staggering backwards.

The something just happened to be a fireball slamming hard into his chest, followed by another, then another. The Ifrit looked over to see Charlotte standing bravely in front of him, clutching her Flame Ribbon in both hands, her auburn hair let loose and gently flowing in the warm currents that swam around her body. She glared at him with a look of pure rage that would have sent a lesser being cowering in fright.

"NO! YOU... DON'T... TOUCH... HIM!" she yelled at the top of her voice, whipping at him with her ribbon in time with every word. The Ifrit yowled in pain and reeled back, clutching at his chest - each of Charlotte's strikes had left an ugly red weal that seemed to sizzle as he stared at it. The Ifrit tried to regroup under her assault, but the fire fairy didn't give him the chance. She bombarded him with more and more fireballs and strikes with her fire-whip before letting out a cry and wrapping her ribbon around his neck. He screamed a scream of agony as the flames seared him, a scream that was so terrifying, it seemed to be on loan from hell itself.

But Charlotte wasn't put off. For the first time, she was filled with an incredible sense of strength and anger, and she was determined to make the Ifrit pay for daring to harm her beloved Riven. She took off and positioned herself over the edge of the bowl before, with a flick of her wrist, she somehow managed to haul the Ifrit off its feet and over her shoulder, sending it hurtling into what remained of the reservoir before taking off and giving chase.

"Charlotte, wait!" Riven croaked as loud as he could, gingerly rubbing his painfully bruised throat.

"Come on, we gotta follow her! Take those steps." Jason yelled.

The Ifrit landed heavily with a huge splash at the water's edge. Shakily, he picked itself up, the water around his ankles bubbling and boiling furiously where they came into contact. Suddenly, he found itself under attack once more as a bombardment of fireballs came raining in from the fast-approaching fire fairy. The Ifrit stood its ground, letting of a few fireballs of his own knowing full well it would have no effect on her. Sure enough, she easily flew straight through them as if they weren't there, before stopping and hovering above the ground in front of him. She and the Ifrit remained where they were, glaring at each other in a silent stand-off.

As the boys raced over along the smooth concrete of the reservoir bowl, Sky caught a glimpse of them up ahead.

"There they are!" he yelled. "Come on!"

"That's odd." said Timmy, a puzzled frown appearing on his face.

"What is?"

"The Ifrit... why is he just standing there? He knows that Charlotte's fire attacks hurt him, and he knows that his own fire magic doesn't affect her. He knows he's vulnerable - so is he just going to stand there and let her attack him?"

Riven gasped as she quickly realised what was happening.

"It's a trap! He's lulling her into a false sense of security!"