Last time we checked in on Darcy and Toro, who had been doing their best to remain outside the reach of the law, while having as much fun as they could; their definition of fun being different from what others would call it. Just as they were about to bring chaos and misery to another outback world of the magical dimension, they were caught, not by any law enforcement agency, but by the estranged sister of The Trix; Vicky.

The abrupt family reunion was made complete when Darcy took Vicky to the asteroid where Icy and Stormy were slowly but surely being resurrected. Vicky, needing all of her sisters, called in the mad princes Diaspro to help speed up the regeneration of the slain witches. Once Icy and Stormy were fully reborn as they were before their untimely deaths, Vicky explained that she now works for a group hoping to restore the lost R'lyeh Empire. Always ambitious, and hoping for revenge against a certain red headed fairy, The Trix and Toro agreed to work with Vicky. Little did they know that Diaspro has not only her agenda, but an agenda of her true mistress. 'Nuff said already, on with the show!

Chapter 3: Concerning Enchantix

It was dark and somewhat cold where Bloom was, and surprisingly, wet. Even more surprising was the fact that, not only was she underwater, but she was breathing as if the water was air. It was then that Bloom realized that this was a vision of some sort and that she was at Lake Roccaulce, where she first fully spoke to her transcended sister, Daphne. But why was she here now?

"Daphne," said Bloom, "Are you here?"

"Bloom."

"Daphne!" exclaimed Bloom, "Where are you?"

"I'm always with you, Bloom," there over the water was Daphne. "Bloom, your greatest challenge awaits you and your friends. It will take all the courage and strength of heart you possesses to survive and return our home to its former glory."

"You mean Domino," said Bloom, "But what challenge are you talking about? What's coming?"

"I'm afraid I cannot tell you, Bloom, even though I wish I could."

"Why can't you tell me?"

"I cannot tell you that either. But I promise you, in time, you will understand." With that Daphne began to fade back into the murky depths of the lake.

"Daphne! Wait!"

"Trust your friends Bloom, and your loved ones, for they are your greatest strength." And just like that, (insert finger snapping sound) she was gone.

END DREAM SEQUENCE

As Bloom slowly regained her senses, the first thing she notices that the air was warm, much warmer than it's been on Domino. She then vaguely heard familiar voices around her.

"She's waking up!"

"About time if you ask me."

"Somebody go get Faragonda!"

"On it!"

"Somebody go get Sky!"

"I'll do that as well."

I must be back at Alfea, Bloom thought. She opened her eyes. When they came into focus, she saw that she was in the Alfea infirmary. Standing around the bed she was in was Helia, Morgan, Tecna and Timmy. With them were the three martial artists that Jake found on Ginaz: Mace Heath, Payton Dubach and Kegan Sykes.

"Welcome back, sleepy head," Morgan said.

"How long have I been out?" Bloom asked.

"A bit over three days," Helia said.

"Seventy-four hours, eleven minutes and 23.8675309 seconds to be exact," Tecna said.

"How can you tell?" Mace asked. He spoke with an accent that resembled someone from New York City.

"She's something you're not," said Payton, who's accent resembled someone from Boston, "Smart."

"I am smart!" protested Mace.

"Of course you are," said Kegan, whose voice resembled someone from New Orleans.

"You three knock it off," Bloom said sternly, "I've warned you about pushing each other's buttons, back on Domino. We're going to be working together to rebuild our world, and the last thing we need is to be fighting each other." Indeed, when the three fighters first met Bloom they were nearly constantly arguing with each other. It took nearly all of Bloom's strength of will to get the three of them to calm down.

"But he started it," whined Payton, pointing at Mace.

"Did not!" said Mace, "You did!"

"You both started it," said Kegan.

"Enough!" exclaimed Bloom, "For crying out loud, you're acting like a bunch of kids. Well if that's how you want it, that's how you'll get it."

Bloom then used her magic to summon a pen and pad of monogrammed stationary with her name on it, then wrote a note, "This is a direct order from your princess; I want the three of you to take this to Ms. Griselda's office, she's usually here the week before school starts." She finished writing, folded the note and sealed it with a summoned blob of wax and a stamp with the royal crest of Domino.

"It shall be done, Princess Bloom," said Mace as he took the note from Bloom. He, Payton and Kegan bowed and left the infirmary.

"What was that about?" Helia asked.

"If those three want to act like children," said Bloom, "They're gonna be punished like children. That note I gave them, it's a request to Griselda for a favor. It won't be long before Mace, Payton and Kegan will be running laps around the school."

"For how long?" Tecna asked.

"Until they've burned out their aggression," said Bloom, "So they'll be at it for a while."

At this Morgan laughed, "You are one awesomely bad fairy, Bloom."

"Thanks," said Bloom in a slightly uncertain tone, "I think. Anyway, what happened after I passed out?"

"Sky carried you to a shuttle," Timmy said, "He never left your side during the trip back to Magix. Riven and Helia had to drag him out just so that he would get some rest."

"What about the others?" Bloom asked.

"Elise and Kurt stayed behind on Domino to monitor the climate changes," Morgan said, "Carmen came with us. She just went to find Faragonda and Sky just now."

"That's a good idea," Bloom said. As much as she wanted to have Sky there, she also wanted to talk to Faragonda. If there were anyone who could explain what happened to her on Domino, it would be Faragonda.

A few minutes later Faragonda came into the infirmary, "Bloom, I hear that you've been up to incredible things lately."

"I'll say," said Morgan, "She blew away all those ice monsters with one blast."

"And I must comment on her new fairy from," said Tecna, "A little revealing for my taste, but it suits her."

"New form?" Faragonda asked.

"We think Bloom's powers may have evolved to the next level," said Timmy.

"But for some reason," said Helia, "Bloom lost control and collapsed."

"Is that so," said Faragonda, a look of serious contemplation on her face.

"Is something wrong, Ms. Faragonda?" Bloom asked.

"I'm not sure," Faragonda said, "For a fairy to achieve her full powers, her Enchantix, only to lose control a few minutes after, this is indeed a unique and mysterious situation. Bloom, tell me everything that happened."

So Bloom recanted the events of the recent battle, from when the proximity alarms went off, finishing at when she passed out.

"One minute I was feeling perfectly fine," Bloom said, "The next, I felt like I had no strength, as if I had exhausted my powers by that one blast."

"I see," Faragonda said, "First of all, allow me to congratulate you, Bloom. You're the first of your age group to earn her Enchantix. You've taken the last great step to becoming a real fairy."

"That's all peachy keen," Morgan said, "But why did she collapse like she did?"

"Of that I am not certain," Faragonda said, "Something like this has never happened to a fairy who received her Enchantix, at least that I know of. I can only speculate the cause of this problem. I believe that Bloom's loss of energy is connected in some way to the curse that still afflicts Domino, exactly how I do not know yet. It is possible that such a loss of energy could happen again. This must be looked into further."

Faragonda then gave Bloom a very serious look, "Bloom, for your own well being, I suggest that you refrain from using your Enchantix, unless in absolute dire need. Another episode such as what happened to you on Domino could possibly cost you your life."

Bloom sensed just how serious Faragonda was being, "Alright, Ms. Faragonda, I'll stick with my normal powers."

Just then Carmen came bursting into the infirmary. "How is she!? Is it brain trauma?! Something wrong with Bloom's blood? I'll donate mine if needed!!" She then ripped her left sleeve off to expose her arm for a blood transfusion.

"I'm fine, Carmen," said Bloom, "Seriously."

"Then what happened to you?" Carmen asked, "Why did you lose your powers like that?"

"I still have my powers," said Bloom as she stood up and summoned a normal fireball, "See? I'm perfectly fine," she extinguished the fireball, "But I'm not supposed to use my new powers for a while, at least until we figure out why I lost control."

"Oh," said Carmen in a deflated tone, "Well then, if you need me, I'm always there for you."

"I know," said Bloom, "And thanks, Carmen."

"Any time," said Carmen, "If there's nothing I can do right now, I'll head back to Domino."

"I wouldn't leave just yet, Carmen," said Morgan.

"Why not?" Carmen asked.

"Look down," said Tecna, "The answer is closer than you think."

"Oh, that," said Carmen as she saw her ripped sleeve, "I guess I need a new shirt."

"Leave that to me," said Morgan, "Honestly, where would you be without me to keep you in line?"

"I'd rather not think about that," said Carmen, "And you'd be in prison if it weren't for me."

"Me, locked up?!" mocked Morgan, "Never happen!"

"Oh really?" Carmen asked in a daring tone, "Well, if we never became friends, how long would you have lasted before your antics got you noticed by the police, hmm? I seem to remember this one stunt during the start our freshman year, where you switched all the soap and skin conditioner at Alfea with substances that dyed the skin and hair all sorts of colors."

"Oh I remember that one," said Morgan between giggles, "I couldn't stop laughing for hours. So what? I remember that you were there with me."

"I was there to prevent you from making an ass of yourself," said Carmen, "In your eagerness for some laughs you left something behind that would have marked you as the perpetrator," she then summoned something small, red and made of plastic

"My hair clip!!" exclaimed Morgan, "I thought I'd lost it for good!"

"You should feel lucky that we're friends," said Carmen as she handed Morgan the hair clip, "And that I've always been there to watch your back. Remember later that year, the stunt you convinced me to help you with during spring break? You know the one, with the hotel, and the welding."

"I thought we promised that we weren't going to talk about that one," said Morgan in a slightly nervous tone.

"Oh yes," said Carmen, "That idea of yours nearly got us behind bars, not to mention almost killed. And let us not forget the time you we first tried to plant a stink bomb at Alfea. Bloom, you didn't know this, but while you were single-handedly facing off against The Trix during the start of the year dance, Morgan and I were attempting our own act of sabotage against the dance, which I for one didn't really want to go to, but Headmistress Griffin already had the girls at C.T. riled up about not being invited.

"But Icy and her ilk sisters had already beaten us to the punch with their plan. But Morgan and I decided to one up them and plant our little 'present' in the school ventilation system."

"You were there?" Bloom asked, "You saw me fight The Trix? I had no idea anyone was watching."

"What can I say," said Carmen, "I'm a creature of the night, I blend in more easily with the dark. Anyway, Morgan and I watched the fight, and once Icy and her bitch-sisters were gone, and I saw that you were alright, we continued on our way to plant the bomb."

"But something caused the bomb to go off before we were anywhere near the ventilation system," said Morgan, "It released the gasses when we were still outside and the wind carried the stink away, leaving Carmen and I smelling like yesterday's garbage. I still don't know what set the bomb off though."

"You 'spelled' the bomb to be voice activated, you dingbat!!" snapped Carmen, "We were halfway across the courtyard when we had to put the bomb down, it was so heavy. Anyway, we were laughing about how cool this would be, and how much 'brownie points' we'd get from Griffin, when you said and I quote:

"This is gonna be the best prank ever! All we have to say is 'Ka-boom!' and it'll release the gas!"

"Five seconds later the bomb went off and we got the full blast."

"I did that?" Morgan asked, "Well, I guess I'm sorry for ruining it."

"It took us over a week to get the smell out of us," said Carmen, "We had to wait for the top three layers of skin to die before we were remotely fit for human company. Speaking of human company, Morgan, remember when you told me about the time you accidentally turned that boy you liked into a slug, and you couldn't remember how to turn him back to normal?"

"No more of that talk!!" spat Morgan, "Or I'll put the f#ck$ng leaches on you, understand!?!"

"I'm just telling it like it is," said Carmen, "That's all."

"Well don't!" exclaimed Morgan, who really sounded upset, "That was the one time I almost had a real boyfriend. It's not that I couldn't brainwash a Red Fountain boy into being around me, believe me I could, but it's just not who I am. I want a man who will be with me and like me for who I am, not because I make him like me."

By now Morgan was on the verge of tears, "It's just not fair! Why can't I ever be happy, really happy?!" With that she sat down and started crying.

"It's alright," said Carmen as she put her arms around Morgan, offering her shoulder, which Morgan began spilling tears onto, "It's going to be alright, we'll find someone for you, someone you can really be happy with, I promise."

"You promise?" sobbed Morgan.

"I promise," Carmen repeated.

"This is weird," said Bloom, "Seeing a witch cry."

"I wasn't aware that they could," said Tecna.

"If you're done treating us like something out of a textbook," said Carmen as she helped Morgan pull herself together emotionally.

"We are," said Timmy.

"Where's Flora and Musa?" Bloom asked as she and the others exited the infirmary and walked down the corridor. She figured that it was a good point to change the subject.

"They went to Magix earlier today," said Tecna, "Musa said something about trying something new."

Outside they met up with Riven, who also asked where Musa, when said music fairy arrived on campus with Flora. But something was different, something very surprising; Musa's hair. Her pigtails were now several feet longer, reaching down past her shoulders.

"Great balls of Dragonfire!" Bloom exclaimed.

"You like it?" Musa asked, turning around to show off her new hairstyle.

"It's beautiful," Bloom said, "But I thought you said you'd never change your hair."

"I felt like trying a new look," Musa said, "I'm entitled."

"Well I think it's prodigious," Tecna said, "Very becoming."

"Indeed," Timmy agreed.

"Cosmic," Morgan said.

"It certainly is new," Carmen said.

Riven was speechless. For once he didn't have anything good or bad to say.

"You don't have to say anything," Musa said. She then kissed Riven on the cheek, earning a prompt blush from him. "So, anything happen while we were out."

"Morgan turned a boy she liked into a slug once," said Helia.

"You slimy scumbag!" exclaimed Morgan, "I ought to turn you inside out!"

"As long as you put me back to normal," said Helia, "You can do that, right?"

"Of course I can," said Morgan, "But I'll leave you inside out for a while, just to see that you get the point." She then winked at Helia as if saying that she was joking. But what part she was joking about, the turning Helia inside out or the turning him back to normal, Helia didn't know, or maybe he didn't care to know.

"How did that happen?" Flora asked, "The turning a boy into a slug."

"I panicked," Morgan said reluctantly, "If you really want to know, it was my first real date. I was so embarrassed the whole time, it was a miracle I didn't blow him up. It took me hours to remember how to change him back and then wipe his memory of the whole fiasco. I haven't had a real date since."

"How old were you?" Bloom asked.

"Fourteen and a half," replied Morgan

"Well maybe you're ready to try dating again," said Flora.

"I'm sure Stella would be more than happy to help find Mr. Right for you," said Musa.

"And I'll be there to make sure there's no magical mishaps," said Carmen.

"Who will you be dating?" Helia asked.

"Nobody," said Carmen, "I'll be lurking in the shadows. I'm perfectly fine being single."

"That's not what Stella would say," said Tecna.

"Well you can tell 'Little Miss Sunshine,'" said Carmen, "That I'll date when I want to, and I don't want to right now. I'm more than occupied helping Bloom restore Domino."

"Speaking of Domino," said Musa, "Bloom, what happened with you?"

…a few minutes later…

"So Bloom's a real Fairy now," Flora said after Bloom and Carmen filled her and Musa in on what Faragonda told them, "That's wonderful. But what about the rest of us?"

"I'm sure we'll find out tomorrow," said Tecna.

"That's right," Flora said, "The new school year does start tomorrow."

"When are Stella and Layla due back?" Bloom asked.

"I called them on the way back from Domino," Musa said, "And again earlier today. They'll be back first thing in the morning. I hope they're alright, Layla sounded a bit angry, and Stella was kind of depressed about something."

"I hope they're all right," said Bloom.

It was then that Sky came around the corner, "Bloom! What happened? Shouldn't you be in the infirmary? I'll carry you if you wish."

"I'm perfectly fine, Sky," said Bloom in a reassuring tone, "The nurse gave me a clean bill of health."

"Oh," said Sky in a slightly disappointed tone, "I was kind of looking forward to carrying you."

"You can carry me all you want when we're married," said Bloom.

"Now that I can look forward to," said Sky, "But are you sure you're alright? I mean, after what happened to you on Domino…"

"That's the thing that's bugging me," said Bloom, "Faragonda said that when I saved Carmen's life, my powers evolved to their highest level, Enchantix. But I lost control for some reason. Faragonda want's me to stick with my normal powers until we figure out what caused me to lose control."

"Yes," said Sky, "That would be a problem, but still, what you did to those ice creatures was really awesome. And might I add, you never looked more beautiful."

"You think so?" Bloom asked, "What did you like best?"

"I'd say your wings," said Sky, "But I'd rather have the whole package."

"It may be a while," said Bloom in a depressed tone, "Faragonda said that if I lose control over my Enchantix and exhaust my powers again, it could be fatal." She sighed, "How can I be a real fairy if I can't use my full powers without killing myself?"

"I'm sure we'll figure out something," said Sky, he then embraced Bloom, while she wrapped her arms around him. It was a very tender scene.

"Before I forget again," said Sky, sensing that it was time to change the subject, "I was going to ask you something back on Domino; when do you want to get married?"

"I haven't really thought about that," said Bloom, "Well, I guess the best thing is to wait until after graduation, say, around the 15th of June."

"Okay," said Sky, "Yeah, one more year seems like a suitable wait. Yes, until next year then. Oh, another thing I almost forgot; next month Eraklyon will be celebrating it's 1,000th year as a unified kingdom, and we're having a huge party to commutate the event; a Millennium Ball. Of course, you, the girls and the guys are all invited. We're just waiting for the invitations to be printed."

"A Millennium Ball," said Bloom, "Can't wait. Oh, I just had an idea. What would you say if we were to formally announce our wedding date at the ball? Wouldn't that be something special?"

"It would be fantastic," said Sky. With that they kissed.

"So what will you be doing until the ball?" Bloom asked, "The school year begins tomorrow for the girls and I."

"There's some things that I need to take care of back on Eraklyon," Sky said, "But I'll call you every day, and there's always email and texting." They kissed again, then broke apart for their respective ways. "I love you," he said.

"I love you more," Bloom said.

And so the two of them went their separate ways for the time being, confident that they would see each other again before too long. As Bloom headed for her old dorm room, the only major thoughts on her mind, besides Sky of course, was what she would wear to the Millennium Ball? Naturally, Stella would drag her and the Winx on an extended shopping trip.

Little did Bloom know that Daphne's warning would soon prove true; her greatest challenge was close at hand, one that she and her friends might not survive.

The end of chapter 3.

The dark souls encounter those who are darker than themselves; that which was forgotten begins to rebuild, and threaten those who walk in light and freedom.

Next chapter: Dark Empire

'For those with wings, fly to your dreams.'