Chapter 13
The Earth fairy.
The Winx flew off, in search for the unknown fairy. Tecna, of course, was leading the way. Flora loved the view of being hundreds of feet in the air. When she first learned to fly, it scared her to go to high. But now, it seemed to be one of her favorite things.
"How much longer?" Stella called
"We're almost there!" Tecna said.
The Winx had all figured it was too late to tell the girl she was a fairy. But once they found her, the next day, they would come back and explain everything. Bloom had decided that mostly out of courtesy, because she had experienced the same thing. But, come to think of it, so had everyone in the group. They flew into a neighborhood.
"She's in there." Tecna said, pointing to a two storied house.
The girls examined some windows. Flora felt kind of weird peeking into window, but it was better than letting the wizards find her first. She stopped by a window with open curtains and examined it, there was a girl sleeping in a bed. She had long purplish hair and a dog on the floor sleeping next to her. Her room was filled with clutter and she had pictures of animals everywhere.
"Do you think this is her?" Flora called to the rest of the fairies. They flew over and looked in the mirror.
"Let me do a quick scan." Tecna said. She pulled out a hand held thing and a glowing green light scanned the girl.
"That's definitely her." Tecna said "I'll put a tracking device on her dog, so we can find them tomorrow."
"Why the dog?" Stella complained.
"We can't put it on her, Stella, if we put them on her pajamas she'll change in the morning and if we put it in her hair or something and she takes a shower she'll get electrocuted." Musa said.
"Exactly" Tecna said putting the chip onto the window sill. "Okay everyone, go hide in those trees."
Everyone sat in a big tree by the house, Flora used her powers to make it stretch over them. They watched as Bloom threw rocks at the window until it opened. The girl was looking outside as Tecna had the chip fly into the room. Flora could see her better now. Her hair was long and she had dark eyes. She was probably fifteen or sixteen years old and Flora thought she had seen her somewhere before, but she wasn't sure.
"Okay" Bloom said after the girl closed the window "Let's go home"
When they got home, it was almost two in the morning. They all walked in yawning and exhausted. Flora's little love and pet's cat, Coco, flew up to her, tiered, but happy. She followed the girls up the stairs and into the bedroom, they all shared.
The whole room was painted pink, and they each had a much decorated bed and desk. Flora's blankets were green with a light pink floral lace trim. It was a canopy bed with pink curtains and flowery vines twirling around the bars of the bed. Her desk had potted plants all over and journals and books in the drawers and she had a garden outside the shop. Her desk has a mirror and the picture of her and Helia taped to it.
The picture was taken when they were in Lynphea earlier that summer. Rose had gotten a camera for her birthday and was taking pictures of everything and anything. Flora and Helia were sitting on the edge of the fountain in the middle of the palace gardens. They were holding hands and weren't expecting it when Rose snuck up and said
"Say cheese!"
In the picture, Helia was looking at Flora like she was gold, rather than at the camera.
Flora dreamt about that day. It was perfect. Her parents loved Helia, although it took them a while. She knew it couldn't last forever, though. Helia isn't a prince, and, in order to be queen, Flora had to marry a prince. He knew that, too, so she figured that's why he hadn't purposed like Sky had to Bloom, or Brandon had to Stella. She's a maid of honor in both weddings; Musa Layla and Tecna are just bride's maids. But that's a story to tell later.
In the morning, Flora woke up earlier than everyone else. She planned on going to the book store and checking out some novels before they look for the fairy again. She took a shower, put on a blue dress and cropped white sweater. Then pinned flowers in her hair, slipped on shoes, grabbed her purse and walked out the door.
She walked down to the book shop and saw it was closed until seven
Figures she thought, and then walked to the Fruity Music Bar. It looked like they had just opened because there was only about five people in it, and the girl working there looked like she was about to pass out. Flora sat at the booth next to the counter where she worked. She looked kind of familiar.
"Good morning, welcome to the Fruity Music Bar can I take your order?" The girl yawned.
"Rough morning?" Flora asked with a smile
"You have no idea! You would think that I could have a break on the weekend but no! Instead dad makes me work." She sighed as Flora laughed.
"Yeah my friends and I just opened a love and pets shop down near the park." Flora said "It gets pretty crazy."
"You own the love and pets shop?" The girl cheered "I love that place! How do the pets fly?"
"Magic" Flora said sweetly. The girl laughed
"I'm Roxy" She said, holding her hand out.
"Flora" Flora said, shaking it "And, huh, may I have the Blueberry Blast?"
"Sure, no thing Flora." Roxy said and turned towards the blender.
"So are you from around here?" Roxy asked giving Flora the smoothie "and that'll be $2.25"
"Nope." Flora said giving her the money.
"Do you have a boyfriend?" Roxy asked. Flora smiled
"I do, he's the best, do you?" Flora asked
"Nope" Roxy sighed
Flora laughed. "Eventually." She said.
"Yeah, maybe, how did you guys meet? What's he like? Is he nice?" Roxy asked.
"Well, we met at school, I ran into him…. And he's the nicest person I know." Flora said.
"Roxy?" A man with brown hair came up. "I'm sorry miss, excuse her she never stops talking" He said awkwardly.
"Oh it's not a problem at all. She was keeping me company." Flora said and stood up, grabbing her smoothie. "See you around Roxie." She said.
"See ya" Roxie said.
Flora headed back to the book store she wanted to go to in the first place. That girl seemed strange, there's something about her that seems so familiar, but what is it…. She examined a book. Reading the back of it and putting it back onto the shelf and made her way to the poetry aisle to look for something for Helia.
She ended up buying Romeo and Juliet By William Shakespeare and Emma by Jane Austen for herself and a poetry book for Helia. She felt strange as random people complimented her and called her beautiful as she walked back to the shop. It wasn't like she's never heard it before, but it's usually just happened for Stella or Bloom.
"Flora!" a voice called behind her. She turned to see Helia run up and twirl her.
"Hi Helia! What are you doing?" Flora asked laughing.
"Nothing much. How's the fairy search going?"
"Well it's going okay... We think we found her but now we just have to explain it to her, which will probably be the hardest part." Flora explained
"I'm sure you'll do great, you always do" Helia said.
"I hope so, thank you. Oh, I bought this for you, I hope you like it." Flora said, pulling the book out of its bag.
"If it's from you, I'll always love it. Thanks Flora" Helia said examining the book Flora smiled when her cell phone rang.
"Hello?" Flora asked.
"Flora! Where are you? We're about to open shop and you've just disappeared! Today's not a good day for you to walk around! We have to search for the lost fairy, and we still have the wizards to worry about! Layla thought you were kidnapped or something! Haven't you heard of notes?" Stella yelled into the phone so loudly Flora had to hold it away from her ear.
"Yes Stella, I'm sorry, I just went to the book store down the street. I'll be home in no time. Don't worry" Flora said.
"Alright, but you better be home in five got it? Fly if you have to! Shop opens in ten!" Stella said
"Stella you could be nicer." Flora heard Bloom say in the background as Stella hung up.
"Sorry Helia got to go. I'll see you later" Flora said running off. She didn't want to ruin his
When Flora came to the shop she was out of breath. It was getting kind of hot outside and there was a long line outside the doors.
"Hey! No cutting lady!" a little boy said at the front of the line.
"I'm sorry sweetie I work here" Flora said quickly opening and shutting the door. She took a deep breath before turning around to see exactly what she thought, all the Winx standing by the door with their arms crossed.
"Okay, I know what you're about to say, but I have something important to tell you." Flora said.
"No time." Stella said and snapped her fingers. Flora's outfit turned into her work clothes. Bloom handed her a water bottle and Layla grabbed her hand and pulled her to her post.
"We're late" Layla said as Bloom opened the front doors.
Later…
Flora had felt guilty about what had happened all day. No one had really seemed to bring it up again Stella cooled down a lot and the customer service had been running smoothly all day. Work wise, it was one of the best days ever. A rich lady had come in with a sick pet Flora had taken care of, and she ordered a pretty expensive medicine from her and was so happy with how nice Flora was, she decided to pay double plus a bonus. All the Winx were excited about that.
When they closed shop for lunch, everyone acted like nothing happened at all. Which Flora, embarrassed as is, was very grateful for.
"Okay, so for finding the fairy tonight, should I wear my orange dress or my pink blouse with the sparkles?" Stella asked Flora and Bloom.
"It doesn't really matter." Bloom said
"Says you! I like looking fabulous at all times!
"The orange one, it makes your eyes sparkle" Flora said.
"Aww thanks Flora; this is why you're the sweet one." Stella said sticking her tongue out at Bloom, who laughed.
"So I found the perfect bridesmaids dresses for everyone! The maid of honor ones are red and the bride's maids one is blue. They'll look great on everyone! I'm so excited for the wedding! I know it's still a couple months away but still. Sky and I will finally be together forever." Bloom said.
"That's right! When is it again? I need to mark it on my calendar." Layla asked.
"First day of spring" Bloom said "You two will come earlier than that, right Stella? Flora? It's a Domino tradition that the maids of honors help with the preparations and I honestly don't think I could do them without you." Bloom said.
"Alright Bloom, chill! It's still at least six months away!" Stella laughed. "My wedding, on the other hand, is next summer! We finally decided!"
"Congratulations Stella" Flora said
"Stop acting so stressed out." Musa said "At least Sky and Brandon purposed to you. I don't see Riven doing it any time soon with his attitude."
"Timmy, either, but they're all a million light years away right now." Tecna said
Layla and Flora looked at each other, then smiled. "I think Nabu will any time now! Which is great because we were supposed to be married since, well, we were born." Layla said "If he does; Musa, Flora, would you two be my maids of honor?"
Gosh, for three weddings? Flora thought "I'd love to." She said.
"Me too." Musa said.
"What about you and Helia, Flora?" Stella asked.
"Well, I don't know. Lynphea isn't like Solaria Stella. If he did propose, I would have to choose between him and my kingdom." Flora explained.
Kingdom and family, that is. Rose would probably forgive me, but I can't say the same for my parents. All the Winx looked at each other.
"So which would you choose?" Bloom asked.
Helia immediately popped into her mind. But of course guilt took over after that. She loves Helia more than her own life, but, she's been preparing to become queen since she was born. She didn't know how to answer, because she didn't have an answer yet. Yes, she had considered just handing the thrown to Rose, and living her own life. But she'd probably be marked as a trader for that, it was tradition. What it all really came down to was choosing between happiness and duty.
"I, huh, I don't know." Flora said, sinking into her seat.
"YOU WHAT?" Stella boomed.
"I get it" Layla said.
Flora sighed when the house phone rang.
"I got it!" Bloom said, standing up and running over to the phone. Everyone fell silent and Stella was practically starring Flora down.
"Hello? Flora! It's for you!" Bloom said handing her the phone. Flora took it and stood up, walking into the living room.
"Hello?" Flora asked
"Hi Flora!" Rose said on the other line.
"Hi sweetie! I was just thinking about you! How are you?" Flora asked
"I'm great thanks! But Flora, what did I say to you about treating me like a kid! I'm twelve now remember!" Rose said, annoyed.
Flora laughed. "Of course I'm sorry sweetie."
"It's okay, so how's earth? Did you find the last fairy yet? How's Helia? I miss you!" Rose said
"Well, earth is beautiful. I love it here. We did find the last fairy! She just doesn't know she's a fairy yet. And Helia is great! I'll tell him you said 'hi'" Flora said.
"Make sure you do! Well I need to go to painting now! See you at your ball in March!"
"Wait, Rose, why am I having a ball in March?" Flora asked.
"Because you'll be twenty, and father says after you turn twenty you'll come home and become queen remember?" Rose said. "Well I must go goodbye Flora!"
"Bye." Flora said hanging-up and starring out the window for a minute.
I only have until March? But, I have so many other things planned. I can't become queen now. Not now. I thought I had more time than this. But what is time really? Saying that, every minute, no, every second I can't get back. I don't even know if we'll all survive this mission. Let alone, go back to Lynphea to become queen. She thought and hung up the phone.
The Winx had finished lunch and were about to head back downstairs to open shop. The 'Love and Pets' shop had three stories: the first was the store it's self, then second is the living room/kitchen and office, then third is their room and a small (compared to Flora's one at home) balcony. They always kept the balcony door unlocked so they could come home after a mission without worrying about unlocking and locking the front door.
After work…
The girls let their last customers out and as soon as they were out of sight, after transforming, the girls went on their search for the last fairy. Tecna pulled out her tracing device.
"Okay, this should lead us to her dog. If she's with her dog than it'll lead us to her in no time. It's only 7:30 p.m. so there's no way she's sleeping." Tecna explained
"So how are we going to lay this down?" Layla asked.
"We'll know when it's time." Bloom said.
The girls flew in silence each of them sort of nervous. They have all fought someone a thousand times: villains, wizards, witches, monsters, Trolls, Ogres, and even a sphinx. But none of them were an emotional battle. Flora remembered when she first found out she was a fairy. So many thoughts had run through her head. It was like her whole world had twisted up, but then, she was excited. Knowing that there was a plan for her and someway, somewhere, somehow. It was all going to fall into place. She could only hope the last fairy would feel the same way.
The device lead the girls to the Fruity Music Bar. The girls landed and deactivated their transformation. They followed Tecna, who was holding the tracking device, straight to the dog. Who was being walked by a girl with purple hair.
"Hey!" Bloom yelled the girl turned around she was in the shade, and no one could really see her from the distance.
Oh my gosh… Flora thought How could I have been so blind?
"Roxy?" she said, the Winx just looked at her.
"Flora?" Roxy asked
"Well done girls, I must admit, you're all smarter than I had first thought. Lead us right to her." A voice said, in the air, behind them.
"Ogron!" Bloom said, angrily. As Roxy stood in shock
So what will happen next? How will Roxy take this? Who is Ogron? Where are the specialists? Find out September 25th
Authors note: *I do not own Winx club* Thanks for reading! I love all my supportive readers, please rate and give any advice or opinions.