Baltor did not lick his lips as he gently released Stella's neck. He had not drawn blood after all, he had just injected a Twilight Darkness spell into her, which would flow through her, replacing her Winx with Twilight. As he released her, she fell limp, which was only to be expected after such a powerful spell. Baltor had waited until midnight because he knew that would make it stronger. He scooped up Stella, and carried her to the largest of the caves in the Shadow Labyrinth. He chanted a spell, and two great stone walls tore apart, revealing the Shadow Palace gates. High and silver, majestic. Baltor liked the sound of that. He held Stella still as he opened the gates with a spell, and entered the Palace. Walking through the grand rooms, he eventually entered the throne room. He looked down at Stella, who was still unconscious. Placing her carefully on a throne, he gently brushed away her blonde fringe, and touched her forehead with his index finger. Almost at once, the Twilight reacted. Stella's hair began to turn a darker blonde, and her pink dress that she had been wearing at her Princess Ball turned to a black ballet type dress, with a short tutu and red and black striped, knee high socks which ran down into black boots. Her butterfly-esque wings had transformed to bat-like wings. Her eyes fluttered open, and Baltor was delighted to see that they had transformed to a pair of green cat-like eyes. Finally, a silver tiara, fashioned out of a twisted silver snake, formed elegantly in her hair. "My beautiful Stella." he murmured, running fingers through her hair, kissing her neck.

"Ahem." Baltor was interrupted suddenly by Darcy, who was levitating behind him, her eyes narrowed, and her hands planted firmly on her hips.

"So sorry to interrupt you," she said, her voice practically dripping with sarcasm, "but we have a little favour to ask you."

"A favour?" Baltor asked.

"Yeah, a favour. You see, if we have to put up with that little pixie, we want to have our Gloomixes back, you got it? You owe us that much. Icy hates Stella, and you've just paraded her around in front of her. Even if she is the 'new and improved' version, we still don't want her around." Darcy finished.

Baltor merely smirked. "Oh, so you think her powers have not been enhanced as well as her appearance? My dear Darcy, I am not so much of a fool as Darkar was. Stella, my darling, show her!"

As he spoke his order, Stella rose gently into the air, her new wings flapping rapidly. "Shadowball!" she screeched, making a bowling motion with her hands.

Darcy's eyes widened as the swirling ball hit her squarely in the chest, sending her flying back into the stone wall. Rubbing her head, she glared at Stella.

"Hypnosis!" she announced, sending rippling purples waves towards Stella, who sneered and held up her hands, making the ripples reflect back to Darcy. Darcy held her hands over her ears as her Hypnosis spell roared through her mind, a sound like static overpowering her, so she dropped to the ground.

"Make it stop!" she pleaded with an amused looking Baltor, who obliged.

Darcy sank to her hands and knees, breathing roughly.

"You see Darcy, she is mine." Baltor laughed, as Darcy turned, sulking, out of the room.

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The next morning, Tecna came running into the room. "I've discovered the second Guardian!" she panted.

"Really? Who is it?" Flora asked.

"Bloom!" Tecna answered.

"Bloom?!" Layla said in awe, as all eyes turned to the blushing redhead.

"Me?" she asked. "Are you sure?"

Tecna nodded. "Yes. Sparx was ruled by Miriam and Oritel, your parents, and Oritel was originally from Mars, which is actually Sparx in fairy terms."

"Woah. So Mars is really Sparx in the Magia dimension?" Bloom was confused.

"Exactly." Tecna said. "And the next planet I have to analyse is Jupiter."

Suddenly, Musa came bounding into the room, her long black pigtails flowing behind her. She was dressed in a one-sleeved white shirt with a musical note on the front, a short denim skirt, purple legwarmers and white ballet shoes. "Do I look OK?" she asked urgently.

"Yeah, you look great Musa, but why? What's the occasion?" Bloom asked.

"Riven's brother's coming today, and I really want to make a good impression. Quick, everyone get dressed and meet me downstairs in the lobby!" she cried, before racing out of the room.

"That was weird." Layla laughed, pulling on a red and brown patchwork dress. "Come on, we'd better get going."

All the girls, plus the group of boys from Red Fountain were waiting in the lobby, talking and laughing as Riven arrived with his brother, a tall, brunette boy, with green eyes. "Hey guys. This is Avery." Riven announced.

"Hey." Avery grinned.

"OK, Avery, this is Layla, Timmy and Tecna, Flora and Helia, Bloom and Sky, Musa, my girlfriend, and Brandon." Riven introduced everyone.

"Dude, what about you? Where's your girlfriend?" Avery laughed at Brandon, as everyone drew a nervous breath.

Riven turned to his older brother. "Well, Avery, we kind of need your help. There's this girl, Stella, who's Brandon's girlfriend, and she's been taken to the UnderRealm. So we need you to help us save her." he blurted out in one breath.

Avery look amazed, and then laughed. "Whatever floats your boat, little bro. I'll help."

Everybody cheered. It looked like they were on their way!

But are they really on their way? Who is the next Cosmic Guardian? R&R!