The light faded in a exasperatingly slow pace, but the result of the battle was more than clear. While one crashed down un conscious, the other's feet touched the ground lightly and gracefully.

"You never learn, do you?" Faragonda muttered and shook her head as if to a small child. She sighed inaudibly and let her magic flow from her finger tips to ensure that Mortuus wouldn't run off if he suddenly woke up.

Exhaustion lashed through her and she fell on her knees, which got scratched by the rough ground. She felt someone lift her arm over their shoulder, trying to hoist her up.

She took in a breath, gathered herself and rose. "It's okay, Bloom, you don't need to—" She was cut off by her own gasp when the redhead pulled her into a tight hug.

"We thought you dead." Bloom's tone was stable and yet so sad. She was a helpless child, lost and unsure if to believe what she clutched in her very arms. The woman, who still breathed, the woman, who was still there.

Faragonda closed her eyes when tears started to well up in them. "I'm sorry. So, so sorry."

"Why would you do something like this?" Bloom took a step back and wiped her eyes. "Everyone... They don't know. Even Griselda... How could you..?"

"Don't," Faragonda began in a raised voice, "ever think that I enjoyed this, that I wanted this. I can't expect you to understand, but I assure you that attending my own memorial was the hardest thing I've ever gone through."

"Why did you?" Tecna stepped up.

"Somnus-spell does have a downside, other than the fact that casting it takes nearly half an hour." Faragonda sighed. "It lasted for seven days, and during that time, I was in a coma-like state, but still conscious about my surroundings." She sucked in an unstable breath, holding it in for a while. She wished that as she'd exhale, she could get rid off every single memory from that time. Every pained word that had stung the inside of her chest, every salty tear that had been shed.

Amer came to her side, continuing where she had stopped, "We both knew Mortuus would be satisfied only when she's dead. I watched him fume every single day. It did give you some time, you know. Mortuus was so pleased that he let the groups rest for nearly a week."

"And that way he also gave me time to 'wake up' and come here," Faragonda explained. "Mortuus granted Amer one wish, which he used to get his 'wife' to live here. That way I had a perfect opportunity: I persuaded the groups to turn against Mortuus. As you can imagine, I didn't manage much in a couple of days, but enough for things to change here easily now that Mortuus is down." She briefly glanced at the man beside her. "Will you manage?"

Amer smiled. "Surely. With some help, I'll be able to devastate the protection spells, and we'll be free to go without seizures."

"Wonderful." Faragonda took his hand in hers, giving it one strong and firm shake. "I can't possibly thank you enough for what you've done."

"You can't. My brother will kill me for this." Amer let out a small laugh. "No, I should thank you." He turned to look at the Winx. "All of you. No hard feelings, right?"

Bloom frowned, cracking her knuckles. "Actually..."

"No," Flora stated, patting her friend's shoulder lightly. "We're good."

Amer smirked cheekily. "Would you mind taking him with you?" He nudged his head to the unconscious Mortuus. "I'd prefer not to have him wake up here."

"Of course." Faragonda snapped her fingers, and soon his limp body floated. "Come on, girls. Let's go back to Alfea."

Tecna slammed her palm on her forehead. "The portal opener! It's miles away from here and most likely stomped over at this point."

Stella groaned. "No way I'm going back outside. Why didn't you take it with you?"

"I wasn't thinking straight!"

"It'll only be some nice benefit of exercise," Layla mused.

"Now, calm down." Faragonda held her hand up. "We'll go the way I came here in the first place. Do you mind if I use your mirror, Amer?"

"Of course not." Amer smiled. "I guess this is a goodbye. I hope to hear from you soon."

"Likewise." Faragonda lowered her head as a farewell and brought her arms in front of her face. She swung them to her sides in a swift motion, moving herself, the fairies and their unconscious prisoner to an empty room.

"Miss... With all due respect," Tecna began. "But I've studied portals, including those with mirrors. You'd need someone else with a mirror to use this one."

Faragonda was already standing in front of the said full-body mirror, smiling to herself. She took a jewel out of her pocket and stroked its surface. The jewel started gleaming in brief flashes. "I must admit... I came across a situation and couldn't keep the secret. There is someone waiting us back home."