Chapter 18

Everyone lost more than just one friend that day, and in more than one way. They never thought they would hit rock bottom. Everything just seemed to go downhill. Layla left with Nebula, crying and angry. Ogron and the Wizards had successfully escaped. There wasn't a trace of them. After Helia and the specialists left the pet shop, Flora started crying. Layla was her best friend. Now she was lying in her bed, with Bloom and Stella on the edge trying to convince her it wasn't her fault. Like she had times and times before.

"But it is my f-f-fault" Flora sobbed "If I h-h-hadn't-"

"No one knew, Flora." Bloom said calmly "everyone agreed to give them a chance."

"B-b-but, Layla-"Flora began

"Was in denial; She could've blamed anything. She didn't want to believe he is actually gone." Stella finished. Talking as smooth as she possibly could.

"Exactly" Bloom said. Then thought about when Flora comforted her like this. She always made some special tea.

"It cures almost every emotional wound: Harmony, my nanny/maid gave it to me whenever I was feeling low." She had said with a smile. And it did, it always cheered Bloom up.

"Do you want some tea?" Bloom asked.

Flora looked at her, with puffy red eyes, and nodded

"Yes please" she said, burying her head into a pillow. Then began to hum a soothing song, one not one of the winx had ever had to hear her hum before. But it works, every time.

It wasn't that Flora cried like this without reason. She felt, somewhat, responsible for what had happened. She knew no one was going to ever see Nabu again. He was a good friend and she knew his passing was like a kick in the gut for everyone. It hurt, but, it hurt Layla the most. And being the source of everyone's pain is really what upset her.

When Bloom and Stella came back with a cup of tea, Flora was done crying, she just didn't feel… Right…

"Roxy's here. Do you feel like going to the Fruity Music Bar?" Bloom asked. Flora shook her head no.

"Are you sure? We can stay here if you'd like." Bloom said. Stella shot her a glance.

"No, its okay, you go ahead." Flora said quietly "Thanks for everything."

"Okay, but if you need anything, give us a call." Bloom said, and then she and Stella left the room. Flora put her tea down and fell asleep.

At the music bar…

The winx walked in, sad but doing better. Helia noticed Flora wasn't there.

"Where's Flora?" He asked Musa

"She isn't doing very well. She's in bed" Musa explained halfheartedly

Flora….

Woke up to the sound of the door opening slowly. She sat up and was about to tell Bloom she was fine. But Helia popped his head in.

"Hi" He said. "How are you feeling?"

"Better, thanks." She said. He walked in and sat on the edge of the bed.

"I rented some movies." He said.

They went into the living room and put a movie on, it made Flora feel a lot better. Before she knew it she was laughing at some of Helia's stories, and telling her own. It was as if nothing bad had ever even happened.

A few days later, the Winx were looking for at least a hint of where the wizards could possibly be hiding. The universe is so big; no one knew where to start. Faragonda had friends in every magic dimension keeping an eye out for them. It was time to end things. Now. And everyone was ready for anything.

Well, almost anything. Riven and Musa got back together the day of the incident. They, as everyone figured, had never gotten over one another; and forgot why they had even broke-up. But both of them were too stubborn to admit it.

Right when everyone figured the Wizards had completely when everyone figured the Wizards had completely disappeared, Faragonda called the Winx. They are in the Omega dimension. A cold and icy place that is said can freeze anyone's heart.

"It makes sense" Tecna had said "The wizards probably figured that would be the last place anyone would look for them."

So they all left, taking the red fountain ship with them. They had even let Roxy tag along. This is good. Flora had thought it's almost over, finally.

"It's hard to find a place to land here girls." Sky said "Hold on tight."

The ship rocked and went down faster than anyone would've liked it. But they landed on the frozen dead ground. Flora always hated the Omega dimension. They transformed and exited only to see Nebula's army of Earth fairies.

"Thanks for pointing the way." Nebula had said. "But, we'll take it from here."

"Stop your violence, Nebula!" Bloom called "This isn't a competition!"

They said something, after that, but Flora began to block them out. She caught eye-contact with Layla. So she smiled at her sad eyes, and waved a little. But Layla only looked away. Flora couldn't tell if she were still angry, or simply sad. Helia reached over and held Flora's hand.

How did it end up this way? Flora thought.

When everyone finally went their separate ways, finding the wizards was no problem at all. They had left foot prints everywhere. It was as if they were arrows pointing the way. After a lot of walking, they found their hideout; before Nebula. They entered it, armed and ready.

"Ah, Winx. We expected you'd be here." Ogron's voice echoed in the room. But it was pitch black.

"Don't even go there, Ogron" Bloom said "You've gone too far."

"Oh no, my dear fairy, the fun has just gotten started." He said, it made Flora mad, he was too cocky.

Suddenly, an orb of magic knocked Bloom to the ground. As the wizards emerged from their hiding spot: confident, cautious, and not afraid of their own demise. This annoyed Flora the most. Then, the Earth Fairies were behind the Winx. As if they had been there the whole time. There were at least fifty of them, not including Layla and Nebula. It was about sixty-three against four. They were extremely out numbered.

"Ogron lets retreat" Gantlos, the tougher-looking one with blond hair, said.

"No way" Ogron said "This is exactly where we've been trying to get to. We're not giving up now!" He turned back to the crowd.

"Since we are so out-numbered." He said. "I declare a fair fight. Three fairies to each wizard at a time. What do you say?"

"You never gave us a fair fight!" Layla yelled "And Nabu was the one who had to pay for that!"

"Seems fair to me. I get Layla, Bloom, and Nebula first."

First? They're dangerous… But, not THAT dangerous, right? I mean, the darkness that consumed Nabu's body is what killed him, not them. Are they letting this get to their heads? Flora wondered

"No way!" Sky said "You want a fair fight; you get three fairies and a specialist. Or else you should say your prayers, now."

"We're actually going to even it out?" Flora asked Musa

"I guess" she replied "are you scared?"

"Kind of, but, it isn't like we've never done this before."

"Yeah, I know what you mean, I kind of feel as if they're distracting us from something."

"You're right!" Flora paused and looked around. "Come to think of it, there are only two wizards up there, where are the other two?"

"Are they still in the cave?"

"Good idea. We should check it out."

"Not without us." Riven whispered, and Helia nodded.

They used a silent zoomix to get into the cave, using Riven's sword as a flashlight once in. They traveled deeper and deeper. It was cold, and so dark Stella would've fainted by now. They were ready to turn back around, when suddenly. They heard it, the sound of voices.

"We're getting closer." Riven whispered as they saw a light up ahead. They stayed away from it, deciding to keep out of sight. They needed to hurry; fairies don't last very long in the darkness.

"So remind me again… When Ogron comes with the fairies…?" A voice asked

"We open up the black hole; make our escape, and then the Winx and all their friends get sucked into it." A different voice said. "I explained this to you three times!"

"Well, I know all of that, but how do you work it? I don't even know how to open the stupid thing, let alone, get this done in time." The first voice said

"You. Pull. The. Lever!" The second one said, annoyed.

"Oh, Like this?" the first one asked

"No! You idiot! Don't you dare!" the second one said.

"Fooled you again Anagain!" the first one said.

Flora, Helia, Musa, and Riven then heard battle noises.

"You hear that? Riven asked.

"Their coming." Helia said

"What are we going to do?" Musa asked.

Flora looked around. She didn't have any ideas down here, they had to be underground. So it wasn't like they could hide anywhere, and the boys can't fly. Without thinking, she cast a levitation spell professor Avalon had taught them during high school. They flew to the top of the cave Then Flora and Musa did the same.

"Nice thinking Flora." Musa said, there was no way anyone could see them in the dark of the tall cave.

"Thanks" Flora whispered. She grabbed Helia's hand, and led him deeper into the cave, more towards the light. Musa did the same. As long as no one looked up, or nothing fell, they were completely safe. It was so high-up, she doubted the wizards could hear them whisper.

Once they were in, they saw it. It was huge and frightening, ceiled up but bigger than the wall. With a lever resting un-touched close to the corner of the room.

"Whoa" Musa whispered.

Flora had heard about something like this in the Omega dimension. It was used to get rid of people who were overly bad. It sucked them into some dark nothing, where, she figured, they floated around forever.

"We're not going to… push them in there… are we?" Flora whispered. She's never actually destroyed an enemy. Most of her attacks are for self defense.

Musa and Riven looked at each other

"Of course not." Helia said "We'll find another way to get rid of them."

"Okay." Flora said. She examined the room.

Maybe we can send them to some kind of camp. With the Trix. She thought.

Then, Ogron ran into the room. Followed by Gantlos.

"Get ready." He said "They're coming"

Anagain ran to the lever, ready to pull it. Ogron blew the candle out, so whoever was chasing them wouldn't be able to see.

We have to act now. Flora thought it was dead silent in the cave when she heard a distant voice.

"You won't get away!" the voice- Layla- yelled "Not on your life!"

Flora heard lots of footsteps running towards them. But she had an idea. But she only had one shot. She flew to a spot above the leaver and examined it with her hands, ignoring the curious gazes of her friends. She found a nice clumpy spot.

"Musa" she whispered "I'm going to need your help."

With everyone else…

"They went this way!" Bloom called.

"IT's too dark in here, Bloom! I don't know how long I'll hold up!" Stella said, holding onto Brandon for support.

"And Flora and Musa are missing." Roxy said "Who knows where they could be. I'm glad the wizards didn't notice."

"I know. I know." Bloom said.

Layla had run ahead of them, trying to get to Ogron. And Nebula had kept pace with her. So now everyone else was using Tecna's computer to hunt them down. Worried Layla's rage had gotten her hurt.

With Layla and Nebula…

"We're almost there!" Nebula said "Just a little bit further."

"Then it's all over" Layla said "Just remember, Ogron is mine!"

But when they finally reached the end, the light turned back on. And they saw it.

"Welcome, my dear girls, to your demise." Ogron said.

"Now!" Flora said to Musa who nodded.

"Autumn wind!" She said

"Harmonic attack!" Musa said

And the roof began to cave in. They darted out, grabbing Helia's and Riven's hand, and then telling Layla to run for it. They went to speedix level and flew out of the cave, leaving the Wizards to fend for themselves.

The rest of the winx and specialists weren't very far into the cave, Stella had to stop and rest many times. So they got out easily. But the Wizards were gone forever.

They returned to Earth. Selling the last few pets in the pet shop then closing down, deciding to use it as a summer home. Layla took Nabu home to Andros and Roxy decided to join Alfea.

And, after a sad good-bye to Earth, The Winx and Specialists returned to Magix. Awaiting new adventures (and wedding planning) to come.

Authors note: I do not own Winx Club.

Thanks for reading! I hope that was okay! Please rate! Next and either last or second-to-last chapter is published on the week of January 10