Chapter Nine: A Dangerous Mission

Stella tried so hard not to scream out in searing pain, she knew it would just break Brandon's heart if he continued to hear it. However it was not too long before she couldn't help herself, and let out ear piercing cries every time the sharp pains returned. Brandon had to call Helia and Timmy, there had to be a way to stop this from spreading to the rest of the Winx. As Helia answered his phone, Brandon was in a panic.

"Helia, Stormy managed to infect Stella with the magic virus. We have to do something before all the girls die!" He began frantically.

"They aren't going to die." Helia attempted to reassure his friend, "My uncle told me about a powerful wizard that can grant us only one wish. It will take great courage and strength to get to him."

"So are you and Timmy going to try to get him to grant you the wish to cure the girls?" Brandon asked, "If so, I'm coming with you!"

"We have no time to waste, Timmy is going to pilot an Owl into Magix and we can pick you up." Helia pressed hurriedly, "We are leaving immediately." Brandon sighed, because like the rest of the guys, he knew that if he was going to find a way to cure him beloved Sunshine, he would have to go on this mission, but leave her in the capable hands of the doctors of Magix. As the squire of Eraklyon agreed and ended the call with Helia, he looked back at Stella with agony in his eyes.

"What.., what did he say?" She asked before screaming once more, in a instant reaction, Brandon reached over to place a gentle finger on her lips.

"Please don't scream, Princess, I can't stand to hear you in such pain, everything will be okay now." He whispered quietly, "But, I have to leave, I know a way to end this, Timmy and Helia are already going on a very dangerous mission.., but you know that I would do anything, even if it means putting my life at risk, to spare you harm."

"Shnuckums, you can't leave, I need you!" Stella begged in a painful shriek.

"Stella, you know I never want to leave you in a time like this, you are in so much pain and you're scared. I hate to just go, but you know that if I don't, I can't wish you better. If I succeed in this mission, Helia, Timmy and I will be granted one wish, and we are going to use it to cure you girls of the magic virus."

"Brandon, that's too dangerous, do you know the risk your taking when you only have one wish to use, it could be a big mistake!" She protested frantically.

"I really don't want to argue with you about anything, especially when you're in this condition. I don't have much time before Timmy gets here with the Owl. Just know that the doctors are going to take away the pain for a while, and then you won't have to endure this for too long. I'll return to you, you know I will." Brandon pressed, he learned over his beautiful ray of light, and kissed her lips passionately, Stella couldn't help but pull him into her and make the kiss last as long as she possibly could.

"Brando.., please don't go!" Tears began to fall from the Solarian princess's golden eyes, and the Eraklyon squire's heart suddenly shattered into countless pieces.

"I have to, Sunshine, I love you with every single breath I take, and knowing that I have to go on this mission and leave you in pain and terrified of what is yet to come.., seeing you cry makes it even more hard for me to go." He told her softly, wiping the tears from her eyes, then he pecked the top of her bright blonde hair quickly, and turned to leave the room. He could hear her calling out for him, pleading for him to come back, and it was just so heart wrenching. Tears of his own began to fall from his eyes as he ran down the hallway to meet up with the other guys outside the hospital.

"Forgive me, Stella, I'm doing this for you." He whispered through tears of agony.

The Owl landed

in the parking lot of the Magix Hospital for a quick moment while Brandon went on board. He took a seat next to Timmy at the controls but the expression on his face told the other two gentlemen that he had to do something he never thought he'd have to do in his life.

"I know it's hard, Brandon, believe me, I never wanted to leave Flora the way she was, at least the doctors will give her what she needs to ease the pain." Helia tried to reassure him sadly.

"So, did Saladin give you the coordinates for our destination?" Timmy inquired, to avoid losing focus on getting there and fulfilling their quest, he resorted back to his logical way of thinking, forcing every bit of emotion to the back of his mind. Every time he envisioned his beloved Cupcake being put under a seemingly endless sleep to slow down the virus, he would break down in tears, he couldn't stand it.

"He said the wizard lives on a far away star, able to preserve life of magical beings, The Star of Hope." Helia answered, passing the ginger haired Specialist an electronic map of where they needed to go, and Timmy entered the coordinates into the ship's controls. They were off in seconds, not even hesitating to reach the outer atmosphere of the realm of Magix. Hours passed before the three boys were in deep space, there was not a trace of inhabitant life to be seen for miles.

"Are you sure these coordinates are correct, Helia?" Brandon asked, "We're in the middle of nowhere!"

"Relax, Brandon, we're on the right course, this is to be expected." Helia attempted to reassure his good friend, "My uncle said it would be like this." Just as soon as he said this, a swarm of asteroids began bombarding the Owl.

"What the..." Brandon called out as Timmy tried every manoeuvre he possibly could to avoid getting hit by the debris. Though they were unsuccessful, because a giant asteroid hit one of the ship's runners, unbalancing it until it was out of control.

"There's no where to land, but we got to crash somewhere!" Timmy shouted.

"I'll try to keep the ship as level as I possibly can, but I don't know how long I can do it for!" Helia responded back, trying desperately to maintain control of the ship while Timmy continued to attempt to find a place to land. Suddenly a bright, blinding light shone in front of them, making them lose more focus than they already had.

"What is that?" Helia asked in astonishment, still trying to remain in control of the Owl, though they were pulled into a gravitational force toward the light.

"If I die now, I'll never forgive myself for not being able to cure my beautiful carnation," Helia whispered to himself, "I'll love you forever, Flora. You are everything to me and I told you that I would return to you, and believe me I want to. I want to hold you, kiss your lips until the end of time.., I want to take away your pain any way I possibly can. My heart will always belong to you."

"And I'll never be able to keep my promise to Stella, I promised her, and myself that I would return to her. And if I die, then she'll never be cured." Brandon added softly and painfully, "I love you so much Sunshine, never forget that I'm risking my life for you. You are the princess that rules over the kingdom of my heart, and the only star in my sky. If your light burn out, I'll have nothing left to live for, I live for you every day."

"Tecna, knowing that I almost lost you once, I never wanted to fully experience that torture. If I die now, I'll know that I died for you, and I would do it until the end of time if I must. You've helped me experience true passionate love, and you're the best thing that's ever happened to me, I love you always, Cupcake." Timmy replied broken heartedly, finally letting the image of Tecna in the hospital bed envelope him in agony. The blinding light surrounded the ship, and no one knew what was going to happen next. The three men were ready to face their death if that's what was coming.