Chapter 9
Rescue.
"Ok, Flora, fold it this way." Helia said
"Like this?" Flora asked, folding the corner of the small piece of paper.
"Exactly!" Helia cheered.
They were in the middle of the forest, in-between Red Fountain and Alfea, where they picnicked together every Saturday. Helia was teaching her how to make a paper crane.
"Okay, now, pull out both ends and fold one forward. Then, if you really focus, it'll fly." He said.
Flora did as he said, and the crane flew off the ground and into the air, soaring. Then fell
"I guess I need a little more practice" She giggled.
And then, she woke up
Where am I? Flora thought, examining her surroundings. The room was incredibly dull -but you could tell people were living in it-like a dorm. Is this…. Is this Cloud Tower? She thought and looked for a door out of the room, but couldn't find one. So she turned towards the window.
With the Winx, Speacialist, and Pixies.
" Why Flora? Why is it always Flora?" Helia said, stressed.
"It's okay Helia, We'll get her back in no time" Timmy comforted him, as the everyone worked out a plan.
"I'm so sorry guys, this is all my fault. She was sleeping and I didn't protect her..." Chatta said.
"It's not your fault Chatta, Valtors magic is strange, and none of us could've protected her alone." Lockett soothed.
"But we don't know where Valtor is located. Wherever he is Flora should be. The magic Dimension is huge, there's no way we can-"Tecna began when a paper crane flew into the window. Helia smiled instantly and picked it up.
"She's at cloud tower" He said, lightly. "Does not know where but she thinks it's a trap and wants us to wait until she gets further information until we do anything. But she has no idea how she got there, so I'm going to send a reply" He said, his voice maddening at the 'getting further information until they do anything'
"Do we listen?" Stella asked
"I think we should wait until her next message before we do anything." Bloom said
So they all sat down, by each window and balcony, waiting.
She better hurry. Valtors a big threat, this is killing me. Helia thought.
Not one of them noticing Emma, standing in the shadows.
With Flora…
Flora continued endlessly, looking for anything to get out of. The window was too small, big enough for her head, at most. When a crane flew in, her face lit up Helia! She thought, tears of joy entering her eyes as she ran to the window. She picked it up and unfolded it.
Chatta said Valtor picked you up and disappeared, We're all in your dorm and agreed to wait a while, Stay in touch and reply once an hour, so we know you're safe, but take your time to tell us any news and when to come. I love you.
Helia.
Flora smiled and put the note into her pocket, looking at the dull clock on the dull wall. When she heard a voice behind her. "Well... Isn't that touching?" Darcy said, than squealed a laugh Flora turned around.
"Why am I here Darcy? And how did you get in?" Flora asked
"I control cloud tower and how am I supposed to know? Stupid fairy." She mumbled, grabbing both of Floras arms and dragging her out of a door, which was not there earlier.
Darcy led her, stumbling and pulling back continuously, through hallway after dull hallway. Flora would've transformed if she weren't hanging onto her. When they got to big double doors, Flora knew she'd have to face Valtor, alone. She held her breath as they walked into the doors. Then looked at the man, leaning on a big desk, smiling at her as if they were old friends.
With everyone else…
Helia was pacing, back and forth in front of the window.
It's been an hour he thought why hasn't she replied yet? This is the whole reason I taught her how to pass these notes. He let out a sigh.
"Relax Helia; I'm sure she's fine." Bloom said, barely believing herself
He just gave her a blank stare, and then continued pacing. She sighed and looked out the window.
Emma was still standing in the shadows, spying. When she decided to come out, Faragonda appeared. So she backed up into her hiding place.
"Any luck?" Faragonda asked.
"No, but she sent us a message saying to wait until she has enough information. This was an hour or two ago, we're beginning to worry" Musa said.
"Well, if we did it my way, we wouldn't have to wait at all. Just barge in there, defeat Valtor and take Flora. Done deal. Heck, I'll do it by myself." Riven said.
"You have to be kidding Riven! You can't just pop out of nowhere and say 'hey we're going to attack you, even though we're totally un-prepared, and take our friend back.' You're not exactly the brightest star in the sky are you? Even I could figure this out!" Stella said
"And you can't do it on your own." Brandon said.
"Valtors too dangerous for anyone to do it on their own." Sky said
"Then why is Flora doing it? Has anyone thought of that? We have no idea if she's ok or if she's hurt or if she's alive! Why doesn't anyone else care?" Helia said. Everyone stared at him.
"We all care Helia." Faragonda said, sitting on Blooms bed next to Layla, Bloom, and Stella
He just looked back out the window, at the setting sun.
With Flora...
"Now, this really doesn't have to turn into such a riot"- Valtor said- "All your little friends have to do is give me the water stars, and I'll give them you. No harm done."
"Except the harm in the destruction you'll cause the universe… Let's not forget that" Flora said sarcastically.
"Well, only if you want to look at it that way. Or, I can destroy you-or threaten to- leading your friends here. With the help of my new creation, it'll be as easy as it was to get you here in the first place." Valtor said.
Right as Valtor said the words 'new creation' Flora noticed a girl, standing in the corner-who had whitish blonde hair and brown eyes. She looked like she could easily fit in at Alfea, which worried Flora.
"Emma, here"- Valtor said while walking up to the girl-"Has already easily made friends with the winx and can, by the looks of it, easily lead them here." Valtor said. "You, on the other hand, are like the cheese in the mouse trap, the bait. And you can play along smoothly or-"
"-Yes, well, 'playing smoothly' isn't exactly the option I'm looking for." Flora interrupted "and if Emma… or your 'creation'… or whatever she is harms my friends in ANY way I'll…" Flora paused, hesitating.
"You'll what?" Valtor said, smirking, and then added "Icy, I'm done with her"
Icy and Stormy then got ready to take Flora forcefully, but she just followed them. Looking at Stormy in the process, and remembering the almost friendship they'd once had. It's almost impossible, to believe. Flora thought that Stormy was once nice to me. Maybe, deep inside, she's still there.
When she got back to the room- she sat on the dull bed- staring out the tiny window, at the stars. She missed the smell of flowers. She missed color. She missed her garden. But mostly, she missed the ones she loves. And, with that, she quietly got out paper and a pen. Feeling a bit watched.
Dear Helia,
With everyone else…
All the pixies, except Chatta, were sleeping, along with Stella, Musa, and Tecna. They were all piled up on the couch and floor. While everyone else was sitting on Flora and blooms bed in their dorm, and on the floor next to the balcony door. When they heard a knock on the door, Bloom went to go answer it. It was nearing midnight in Magix- so it was hard to believe anyone would be up.
"Emma?" Bloom said Sky and Brandon standing behind her.
Emma walked into their dorm, in a white pajama shirt and grey pajama pants with pockets, gasping. Helia looked from the window, to her, and back.
"Hi Bloom." She gasped.
"Hey, um, are you okay? You look like you just ran ten miles" Bloom said with a yawn, then invited her in.
"Well I just saw-"Emma began, but couldn't finish her sentence when she saw a paper crane appear on the window sill.
"Flora wrote back!" Helia said, out loud. Everyone awake crowded towards him.
"It's about time." Riven said.
Helia unfolded the crane when Emma took it from him, reading it silently, and then stuffing it in her pocket. Everyone looked at her.
"Excuse me, but our friends life kind of depends on that letter. So if you could give it back… Now" Bloom said.
"But I have something important to tell you!" Emma said, grabbing every ones attention.
"I heard three witches, talking about a nature fairy that is most likely going to be killed if the other winx don't trade them the water stars, whatever those are. And the letter looked like a nicer way of saying the same thing." Emma said.
"No, we have to go rescue Flora…" Layla said.
"Finally, we're getting somewhere, so what's the plan?" Riven said
"Well, why don't we wake everyone up before we do anything illogical?" Timmy said
"Good idea Timmy" Sky said, walking out of the room and returning with sleepy-eyed people.
Everyone got lost in conversation. Except Helia and Layla. Helia, who was staring at Emma, who was smirking, in the corner of the room. Something is off about her. He thought I wonder what she's thinking.
And the trap snaps shut. Emma thought, eaves dropping.
But Layla... Layla felt watched. It almost scared her. She examined the room and saw nothing but: her friends talking, Emma smiling (For some odd reason, and Helia sitting silently. But at the corner of her eye, she saw someone she'd never seen before, wearing a coat and looking in the window. But when she turned to get a better view, no one was there. She went, then, and sat with Helia. Who looked pretty tense.
With Flora…
Flora was starring at the ceiling. The sun was rising, letting light into the small window. But a tower blocked the colors. She felt almost lifeless, as she wondered why Helia hadn't responded to her letter yet. It worried her. She figured it wasn't going to help her escape, but every time she got near the door, it disappeared. She figured it impossible to escape from a tower ruled by the person who captured you in the first place.
Well… I AM an Enchantix fairy….Maybe if I transform then shrink I can get out of that window… she thought my goodness! Why didn't I think of this earlier?
She stood up, off the bed. Closed her eyes and began to transform
"Enchanti-"She started
"What do you think you're doing?" Icy demanded, stopping the transformation
"I'm… Um… seeing how many times I can activate and de-activate my fairy power in 10 minutes." Flora said, nervous
Icy rolled her eyes "Stupid pixie." She mumbled and opened the door, grabbing Floras arm and walking down the long, dull narrow hall.
"Where are you taking me?" Flora asked
"Oh, I didn't tell you? You have guests. We thought we'd just put on a little show for them
Floras knees went weak. She stumbled a lot and tried to turn back, but Icy threatened her with an Ice coffin. And with her holding onto her so hard, she couldn't transform. So she just kept walking, expecting to somehow end up in an Ice coffin anyway. When they got to a big empty room, Stormy and Darcy appeared too. The three made Flora sit in a chair, and tied her with anti-magic chains. Covering her mouth.
"Don't worry, this is all for show… For now" Stormy said as Flora struggled to try and free herself.
The three witches laughed and left to take their places. But Flora noticed Stormy looking back, twice. When they shut the door behind them, it was completely dark in the room. Flora couldn't even look down to see her shirt. This kind of darkness a fairy would get weaker in by the second. She needed to think of something.
With everyone else…
Everyone, including Emma, was sitting in the Red Fountain ship. They were circling Cloud Tower and looking for a safe place to park. All the fairies were transformed; the pixies were ready for danger. Bloom, was surprised that Emma's Fairy outfit is Black. Usually, Fairy outfits are bright and exciting. She couldn't stop looking.
"You see it, too?" Helia asked quietly, noticing the staring.
Bloom nodded "Something isn't right" She whispered.
"Does anyone else feel watched?" Layla asked.
"Well… we are landing on an enemy's territory, it would be pretty logical if we are being watched" Tecna said
"No no not enemy wise…. Never mind" Layla said, slumping into a seat and holding Piff.
"You guys ready?" Sky asked everyone nodded, and they landed on a high point in cloud tower.
"Lockett, where's the safest place to get in from here?" Stella asked Bloom's bonded pixie.
"Well…" Lockett began
"Oh please." Riven mumbled, walking up to a big window on the balcony they landed on and breaking it with his sword. Then jumping in.
Everyone looked at Musa, who shrugged and followed.
Perfect. Emma thought while jumping through the window. "Everyone" She said "My power is finding things… It's sort of like having a map in your head of everywhere you go." Everyone just looked at her when she smiled and a green energy ball floated in the air. She pointed at it. "Follow that!" She called and everyone hesitantly obeyed, heading right for the trix.
At the end, there was a big room, with two doors. Immediately after they entered the room, both the energy ball and Emma were gone. Everyone stood staring at thin air when they all realized it was a trap. The door they had went through vanished behind them, leaving only the one small door with darkness seeping under the door crack.
"Should we go in?" Musa asked.
"Well, I don't know. This door could lead to something horrible." Sky said
"I'm not going in there! Look at all the darkness! It'll be horrible for me!" Stella complained.
"But Flora could be in there." Both Chatta and Helia said.
"We don't have anywhere else to go, but just to be safe, why don't we all go in single file. Pixies last." Bloom said, opening the door slowly followed by: Sky, Helia, Musa, Brandon, Stella, Riven, Layla, Tecna, Timmy, and the pixies. Everyone examined the dark room when the door closed behind them. They heard chains rattling, and couldn't see their own hand in front of their face.
Flora saw everyone walk in. She tried to get their attention by rattling the chains that tied her to her chair. But everyone seemed scared by it. She was losing energy, fast. She had been in the room for at least six hours, and barely had the strength to keep her eyes open, let alone get 16 people's attention in the dark.
"Stella, do you think you could get some light in here?" Amore- Stella's bonded pixie- asked.
"I'm on it." Stella said.
"I keep hearing something weird, guys, so brace your selves" Sky said.
Stella made a light bright enough to light up the whole room, and everyone gasped. Flora could barely stay awake, she watched as all her friends rush over to her, removing the thing tied around her mouth, as Lockett tried to find a way to unlock the chains.
"You. Guy's. Need. To. Get….. Get out of here" Flora said. Helia helped her stand. Wrapping an arm around her waist to hold her up.
"How long were you in the dark Flora?" Stella asked.
"Sunrise" Flora said, laying her head on Helia's shoulder.
"She needs to lay down" Helia said
"No time" Flora whispered. "You all have to go before Valtor…"
"Well. Aren't you guys having a nice reunion?" Valtor asked from behind them all. "I assume you brought the water stars… because if not, I'll just be taking your fairy friend back, thanks."
"Sorry Valtor, we must've forgotten." Bloom said in the same tone as Valtor.
Well isn't that a shame. Valtor said, walking through each person who tried to block him, straight to Flora and Helia.
Flora didn't have the strength to transformed, and she figured that was the reason why he'd put her in a dark room. But Flora did have the strength to stand up for herself, even if Valtor is dodging every attack thrown at him. She felt Helia get tense.
"Green Luxurious Ivy" She called, using her favorite attack. But it used her last bit of strength, and with that, she fainted
Helia did not see that coming. And neither Did Valtor. Floras Ivy pushed him back far enough where he would need help to escape all the winx, the pixies, and the specialist. He noticed Flora fainted and picked her up. Layla came to him
"Why don't you lay her over there?" She asked nodding over to a corner, far from Valtor. He put her down and watched as Layla put a protecting shield around her. Then they both went to help the others.
Later…
Everyone was at a weak spot. Somehow the trix got into the argument and broke Layla's shield, getting straight to Flora. Layla jumped in the way when suddenly a person no one had ever seen before in their lives came, and every single one of them were in the forest near Alfea.
"Princess Layla?" The man asked, walking up to her too casually.
"Who are you?" Layla asked.
"My name is Nabu…" The man-Nabu- said.
Just then Flora started to wake up.
"Flora!" Chatta yelled, hugging her. "Flora, I'm so sorry! You were sleeping and I didn't protect you! I would understand if you never, ever forgave me but…. Would you?" Chatta said.
"Of course I do sweetie…It's not your fault at all, no one can fight Valtor on their own." Flora said, looking around "What happened?" She asked
"We'll explain later" Bloom said, using healing power to regain Floras strength.
Flora caught eye-contact with Nabu. She looked at Layla.
"Who is he?"
So, who is he? What's going to happen now? What happened to the Trix and Valtor? Find out in chapter 10
Authors note: * I do not own Winx Club.
I apologize for the long wait for this chapter. I have UN fortunately been super busy lately. And I, also, apologize for the many ,many, many cheesy parts in this chapter. I had to find a way to get Nabu into the series. But I promise this next chapter will be a lot better. Thank you for all the adds and reviews. I really love logging onto my email and seeing that people read my story. Every comment makes a huge difference so please, don't hold back.