Last time we saw as Icy, Darcy, Stormy and Toro were given their first assignment in the new R'lyeh Empire. Teaming up with Vicky, they traveled to Arcadium Prime, a world boasting a large population of Alchemists. They arrived in the capital city of one of the larger nations and proceeded to wreck havoc and chaos on their way to recovering one of the missing Construct pieces. After making some vengeful enemies, the Trix and Toro returned to Xaldo with their prize. Unknown to the dark ones, two heroes have at last returned to their world. 'Nuff said, on with the show!

Chapter 7: The Tides of Sorrow part1

"Bloom," said Flora, "Hey, Bloom, is there anyone in there?"

"Huh?" said a slightly dazed Bloom, "Oh, Flora, I guess I spaced out there just now."

"That's understandable," said Tecna, "Considering what's happening in the next room."

Bloom, Flora, Tecna and Musa sat outside the throne room of the royal palace of Andros, trying not to be disturbed by the shouting coming from the other side of the door. Try as they might, Bloom and her friends couldn't completely block out the unpleasant argument between Layla and her parents.

Family strife was the last thing on Bloom's mind earlier that day as she and the Winx partook in their first full week of class at Alfea, and with it more schoolwork than before.

But things weren't all study-study for Bloom and her friends. For one thing, she texted Sky whenever possible, while Stella and the others kept in contact with their respective boyfriends, who were off-world on separate assignments for their respective homeworlds. Sky and the boys responded in kind when they could, never staying out of contact for more than a few hours.

Another thing that made things brighter around Alfea was the fact that Mirta, a witch who befriended Bloom and wound up spending several weeks as a pumpkin, got her wings over the summer.

As it turns out, Mirta, who decided to take classes at Alfea after the initial defeat of The Trix, is biologically half a fairy, that is, according to the DNA experts. Elise discovered this just before the final battle against The Dark Army, so when The Trix were defeated and everything was returning to normal, Mirta asked to stay at Alfea to help develop her fairy powers, and both Griffin and Faragonda said yes.

Bloom and the girls tried not to laugh as Mirta experimented with her recently discovered wings. True, witches are more adapt at flying with the use of the mind, and Mirta was no eagle herself, but she had fun learning to fly with wings.

Yes, things were going great for Bloom, despite the fact that her powers weren't as reliable as before, and that she was separated from her one true love. But despite that, Bloom felt confident that things would turn out alright as they always did.

But then one week after term began, Layla received an urgent message from her homeworld of Andros; some dark force was mutating the native mermaids of the ocean.

"This is horrible," said Layla, "The mermaids and humans of Andros live in a symbiosis existence; what effects one race effects the other. If something isn't done to help the mermaids, it'll only be a matter of time before things on Andros begin to fall apart at the seams."

"Then what are we waiting here for?" Bloom asked, "Let's go!"

Yet it wasn't as simple as that. First of all they had to get permission from Faragonda to take an academic leave of absence for an unknown length of time, which was twice as hard since a test was coming up.

Stella did suggest that they just go anyway and deal with the consequences later. Had this been one of her earlier years at Alfea, Bloom would have agreed. Yet all that had happened had left the mark of patience and maturity on Bloom, so she decided to reason with the headmistress.

Faragonda eventually agreed once Layla explained that this was a call for help from her parents. The headmistress of Alfea did have one condition; they could go to Andros, provided that the girls take the test once they return from the mission.

But then Griselda had her say. Apparently, Stella didn't complete her summer assignments. Stella professed that she had a very good reason for not doing her homework.

Stubborn as ever, Griselda refused to concede; "family strife is no excuse for academic slouches, Miss Stella. You are not to leave school grounds until you are caught up with your classmates, and that's final!"

Stella tried pleading her case with Faragonda, but the headmistress had to agree with Griselda on this; "Bloom and the others completed their summer homework. I'm sorry, Stella, but this is one mission you'll have to sit out."

At this Stella was distraught; not only for being separated from her friends, but having to be stuck at school to catch up on homework, with Griselda no less, it was almost more than she could take. But Bloom assured her friend that it would be alright, and that she and the girls would be back in no time to help out.

An hour later Bloom and the others teleported to Andros, where they were greeted by Layla's parents, the king and queen of Andros. At first things were civil between parents and daughter; the former informing the later and her friends of how the situation with the mermaids began:

About a month ago a strange woman appeared on Andros, apparently looking for something in the world-spanning ocean. Nobody knew who this woman was, where she came from or what she was looking for. What was known was that her overall appearance and energy resonations marked her as a witch. Yet she didn't cause any trouble, nor did she ask for any help in her search. Despite her seemingly non-threatening mannerism, the strange witch was watched at all times from a distance.

Eventually she found whatever it was she was looking for, then dropped something into the waters and vanished as mysteriously as she came. Two days later the first mutated mermaids were sighted. These mutated mermaids, now labeled as hagfish, attacked anything that tried to get close.

At first there were only one or two at a time, then four in a group, then a dozen, than scores were appearing all over the planet. The rate of mutations was increasing exponentially. It was estimated that before the next month was out, the entire mermaid race of Andros would have mutated into hagfish.

Thus far no one had been able to get close enough to a hagfish to examine one, so nobody had any idea as to the cause of the mutations. But there was one unified suspicion; The strange witch was somehow responsible.

Bloom assured Layla's parents that, whatever the cause of the mutation, the remaining mermaids would be saved, while those afflicted with the mutations would be eventually cured. Layla's parents were relieved at Bloom's confidence.

But then Layla's mother, the queen, had to bring up the subject of Layla still going out with Tatewaki. This lead to Layla shouting at her mom and dad, and them shouting at her. So there Bloom, Flora, Musa and Tecna were, sitting outside the throne room, waiting for all the shouting to stop.

"How long have they been at it?" Musa asked.

"Nearly an hour," said Tecna as she checked her wrist computer, "In about seven seconds…yes, one hour exactly and counting."

"This is just wrong," said Flora, "Parents and their children shouldn't fight like this."

"Well if you can figure out how to convince Layla's mom and dad to accept her choice of boyfriend," said Musa, "I'll be all for it, 'cause I've got nothing."

"I can't seem to draw a solution to Layla's predicament either," said Tecna.

"I'm sure we'll figure out how to help Layla," said Bloom, "And Stella. But first thing's first; we need to help the mermaids."

Just then Bloom heard Layla shouting louder than before; "It's my god-dammed life! I'll love whoever I want to love, and you can't change that! Now if you'll excuse me, my friends and I have some mermaids to save!" With that Layla stormed out of the throne room.

"Umm…" said Flora as she and the others followed Layla towards the palace entrance.

"I wouldn't talk to her just yet," said Tecna, "I'm sure Layla wishes to be alone for a while."

"I'm perfectly fine," said Layla, her voice had taken on a slight rasp from all the shouting.

"You don't sound fine," said Musa.

"Well I feel fine," assured Layla as she gave her friends a reassuring smile, but on the inside she was still seething with rage.

"I doubt that," said Bloom, "look, Layla, you and your parents, you need help."

"What my parents need is to get off my back," said Layla through gritted teeth, "They don't get it that I'm not a little girl anymore, and that I'm old enough to make my own decisions. I don't care about proper royal behavior, especially the parts about who I can and can't date. I love who I love, but mom and dad just don't get it."

"Well you still need to work this out," said Musa, "Otherwise you'll end up like Stella and get yourself banished."

Over at Alfea, Stella was trudging her way through the missed homework, under Griselda's strict supervision of course, when she suddenly sneezed.

"Is there something the matter, Stella?" Griselda asked in an accusing tone.

"No, Ms. Griselda," said Stella. She didn't say it out loud so as not to incur Griselda's wrath, but Stella knew that someone, somewhere, was talking about her.

Back on Andros, Bloom and the others kept trying to get Layla to see reason, but Layla remained stubborn on the subject of her parents. Sensing that they wouldn't get anywhere right now, Bloom and the others decided to let the subject go, for now.

They took a hover-transport out to an island outpost 500 miles from the main island chain where the majority of the land dwellers resided. It was near this island, hardly anything more than a rock about the area of a football field, that the largest concentrations of hagfish had been sighted.

The transport dropped Bloom and the girls off onto the island at a makeshift landing port. The pilots were more than reluctant to stay on the island, since there were reports of hagfish attacking anything made of metal. But Layla assured the nervous pilots that they would be properly compensated for overtime and work-related hazards, "Just send the bill to my mom and dad," said Layla with more than a hint of malice.

The island had just three buildings; a communications hut with a satellite link to the palace, a bunkhouse that also served as a kitchen and a infirmary, and a medium sized laboratory, set up to study deep-sea life in a nearby volcanic trench.

It was as the girls approach the lab building that someone came out. Said someone was a girl about 17 or 18, as tall like Bloom and the others, had waist length orange hair done up in pigtails, had brown eyes and wore a blue and green shirt and pants.

"That must be one of the research assistants," said Bloom. But apparently Layla recognized the girl.

"Ann!!" Layla shouted joyfully.

"Layla!!" shouted the girl in an equally joyful tone. The two girls embraced like old friends, which they were.

"So that's the one who taught our Layla how to dance," said a smiling Musa, "Cool." Bloom and the others were also smiling at the sight of Layla finally happy again.

Yes, this was Layla's childhood friend Ann, whom Layla met and learned to dance from. Their brief friendship was ended when Ann had to move away when the girls were 12; Layla never saw Ann since, until now.

"It's been so long," said Layla after properly introducing Ann to Bloom and the others, "Where have you been? What have you been up to?"

"I've been right here on Andros," said Ann, "studying the sea life. Aside from dancing, I hope to be a marine biologist, as well as a marine physician."

"A doctor who specializes in aquatic medicine," said Tecna, "very prodigious."

"It is," said Ann, "I've learn so much since I began my studies," her expression then grew grave, "But it'll all be for nothing if the mermaids can't be helped."

"That's what we're here to do," said Bloom in a reassuring tone.

"We'll help the mermaids," said Layla, "I promise."

"I know you will," said Ann,

"So how is this mutation spreading?" Tecna asked.

"Like a virus," said Ann, "It started when that strange witch dropped that thing into the ocean before she left. Nobody managed to get a good look at it, but apparently whatever the object was, it possessed some sort of energy that infused itself with the first living thing that touched it; a mermaid."

"I didn't see it, but it took less than an hour for the first mermaid to mutate. After that the hagfish sought out another mermaid and bit her. An hour later that mermaid turned into a hagfish. Everyone who got near her was bitten and became another hagfish. Naturally some tried to reason with the mutations, but the hagfish are like wild animals and attack anything that gets too near. Before anyone knew it, we had a genuine epidemic."

"Looks like whoever was responsible has seen one too many zombie movies," said Bloom.

"How can you make a connection between the walking dead and what's happening right now?" Tecna asked.

"I think it's the fact that the hagfish spread the mutation by biting," said Musa.

"Exactly," said Bloom.

"What about humans?" Tecna asked, "What happens if a hagfish bites a human?"

"We're not really sure," said Ann, "Only one human has been bitten so far, and that man is no longer among the living."

"The mutation is fatal to humans?" a shocked Flora asked.

"Maybe," said Ann reluctantly, "The man who was bitten, he didn't wait for the effects of the mutations to take place."

"He killed himself," said Bloom gravely as she guessed what happened, "Before he could change."

"I'm afraid so," replied Ann.

"This is horrible!" said Layla.

"You're telling me," said Ann, "I've been here at the front lines almost since this started. The rest of the research staff left when their colleague bought the farm, so I've been pretty much been here myself."

"We'll you're not alone anymore," said Layla.

"So now what do we do?" Flora asked.

"Well, before my cowardly comrades abandoned ship," said Ann, "they set things up so that the outbreak would be contained, sort of," said Ann, "They set up a large force field in this part of the ocean, as well as in several other areas where hagfish had been sighted. We're not sure if all were contained, but a lot were.

"At the same time, I managed to get several mermaids out of harms way before they could be infected, but there's still so many in danger. I'm afraid that many more will be lost before we can fully halt the mutations."

"Then the next step is to stop the mutations and reverse it," said Bloom, "Here's how I see it; we'll find the nearest group of hagfish."

"Already on that," said Ann as she pulled out a GPS tracker, "We were lucky to put a homing beacon on one of them. There's a small group of hagfish about 3.5 miles to the west."

"Perfect," said Tecna, "if we can isolate one, I can scan it to determine exactly what is causing the mutations. From there I can extrapolate a means to reverse said mutations."

As the girls were discussing the more detailed aspects of the plan, something drew Bloom's attention to the north. She wasn't sure what it was, but her instincts were telling Bloom that there was something terrible beyond the horizon.

"Are you spacing out on us again, Bloom?" Musa asked.

"Huh? Oh!" said Bloom, "I'm sorry, it's just that… what's out there, to the north?"

"To the north?" Ann asked, "Nothing but open water for over 10,000 miles."

"That's not exactly true," said Layla, "I once heard that there's an island that's constantly under guard. On that island is a sealed portal that's connected to a maximum security prison; Omega."

"Omega," said Tecna as she ran a search on her wrist computer, "'The Omega Prison Dimension, a world sealed off from the Magical Dimension in order to contain the worst of the worst, the most vile of villains.'"

"Sounds creepy," said Musa.

"Indeed," said Tecna, "those criminals who are unlucky enough to be sentenced to Omega are placed in cryogenic sleep and dumped onto the planet, forever."

"They just leave them on the planet?" Flora asked, "Frozen alive? Forever?"

"I just said forever," remarked Tecna, "a handful have the barest of luck to receive a numbered sentence. I believe a fair number of Shadow Riders who were captured were sent to Omega; one of them was given 1,500 years in exchange for information on the headquarters of The Shadow Riders."

"This doesn't make sense," said Bloom, "Why put a portal to a prison full of the most dangerous criminals in the known universe on a planet full of nice people?"

"I've asked that myself," said Layla, "when was younger. You know what my mom said when I asked that? She said, 'children should be seen, not heard.'"

"I remember that," said Ann, "You told me about it after we met. It took me almost an hour to get you to stop crying."

"I know," said Layla, her voice mixed with anger, sadness and overall bleakness.

"We can reminisce about the past later," said Bloom, "Right now we've got some mermaids to help."

"When you're right, Bloom, you're right," said Layla. She then faced her friend, "Ann, we'll save the mermaids, I promise."

A minute or so later Bloom and the others were transformed and ready. Bloom, remembering what Faragonda told her, had to focus a bit harder to remain in her normal fairy mode and not tap into her Enchantix.

"I'm locked in on the signal," said Tecna as she linked the GPS tracker with her wrist computer, "The hagfish have turned southeast. We can catch them in less than half an hour."

"We will help the mermaids, Ann," said Layla again as she, Bloom and the others took flight. With that they flew towards the hagfish.

It didn't take them long to find their quarry. The patch of ocean the girls were flying over was dotted with small islands, barely more than rocks sitting above the waves, ranging in size from a table to a rooftop of a small house.

Swimming around these rocks were the hagfish. From a distance the results of the mutations repulsed Flora and Musa, and once they got closer, Bloom, Tecna and Layla were also disgusted.

The mutations had inflicted the once beautiful mermaids with reptilian attributes; scale-like skin all over, webbed hands that ended in razor sharp claws, and snake-like heads with needle-sharp teeth.

"Whoever's responsible for this is going to pay," said Layla grimly, "I know some of those poor creatures." she pointed at several of the hagfish who were wearing shell-like armor, "Those are the elite mermaid guard, who are charged in protecting the Omega Gate."

"We'll help them," said Flora as she put her hand on Layla's shoulder in a reassuring manner.

"First we need to find out whatever was done to them," said Bloom.

"Easier said than done," said Musa. The hagfish had realized that Bloom and the others were there. Many of the mutated mermaids were trying to get at them by jumping out of the water. Bloom and the girls were well over 50ft above the waves, but that didn't deter the hissing hagfish from trying to bite them.

"I've got an idea," said Bloom, "Layla, can your morphix contain one of them?"

"I think so," said Layla as she summoned a large sphere of the purple water-like substance that Layla could manipulate into any physical shape or size. Layla then made the purple sphere hollowed out in the inside, like a crystal ball, and also slightly permeable, so that things could get in, but not out.

"Okay," said Bloom, "wait until one of them jumps."

They didn't half to wait long. One of the hagfish, a rather big and nasty specimen, jumped to within ten feet of the hovering fairies. Just as the hagfish's ascent reached it's peak, Layla threw the morphix sphere, catching the mutated creature. Realizing it was trapped, the hagfish thrashed about in it's purple prison.

"Are you alright, Layla?" Flora asked as she saw Layla strain to keep the hagfish contained.

"I'm fine," said Layla, even though already she was sweating like she was running a marathon.

"Better get started," said Tecna as she and the others flew closer to the morphix sphere where Tecna began scanning the hagfish. The creature clawed and smacked its tail against the translucent purple shell, but Layla's magic had rendered the morphix as hard and strong as iron.

"Gross!" exclaimed Musa, "They're even uglier up close!"

"I think it want's out," said Flora. The futile attempts to escape the sphere were only making the hagfish even more agitated.

"How much longer, Tecna?" Bloom asked.

"Nearly there," said Tecna, "Another five seconds…finished!"

With a gasp of relief, Layla released her hold on the morphix, allowing the now extremely riled up hagfish to fall back to the water.

"Are you sure you're alright, Layla?" Bloom asked.

"Just a little tired," said Layla, "I'll be fine."

"I don't think so," said Bloom, "You look like you're ready to pass out." She then took Layla's hand in her own, which then began glowing bright orange like the Dragonfire.

"What are you doing?" a confused Layla asked.

"I may not be able to use my full powers yet," said Bloom, "but I can use one or two new spells."

"I know what you're doing," said Tecna, "You're transferring a small portion of your energy to Layla."

Indeed, when Bloom was done, Layla was completely revitalized. "Thanks, Bloom," said Layla, who while feeling fully refreshed, also looked a lot better emotionally.

"Glad to help," said Bloom, "now, what's wrong with the mermaids?"

"Well aside from looking like they way they do," said Tecna, "They've been contaminated by a powerful curse, one that I've never seen or heard of before."

"How bad could it be?" Musa asked.

"Bad enough to turn mermaids into that," said Layla as she pointed at the hissing hagfish.

"It's worse," said Tecna, "I've yet to determine the exact nature of the curse. Whoever created this is highly adapt in the Dark Arts."

"Well we won't get anywhere just hovering around," said Bloom, "Layla, can you catch another one?"

"I feel like I could catch the whole lot of them," said Layla eagerly as she summoned another morphix sphere. A minute later they had another hagfish safely caught. But once again the experience of being captured only made the creature more angry.

"I should have thought of this earlier," said Musa. She sent a sonic pulse at the morphix sphere, stunning the mutated creature.

"Much better," said Layla. She then used her magic to seal the sphere so that she didn't need to constantly pour more energy into it.

"Okay then," said Bloom, "I think we should start with the basic set of counter-spells, then work our way upwards."

"We may be here a while," said Flora.

"I've got nothing else planned today," said Tecna.

"We'll stay here as long as it takes," said Layla.

Bloom nodded in agreement as Tecna and Flora began casting a counter-spell, but Bloom feared that she and her friends would be there longer than they thought, and then some.

Meanwhile…

"You have an original Necronomicon?" Darcy asked.

"See for yourself," said Zahidia as she ushered The Trix and Toro into the palace library, a room large enough to easily fit the libraries of all three schools of Magix. The walls were filled with countless tomes and grimoires of the most vile of dark magic.

Zahidia and Vicky led The Trix and Toro to one particular book that was placed on a black pedestal and kept under glass.

"What you are seeing is perhaps the only surviving copy of a first edition Necronomicon," said Zahidia, "Bound in human flesh and penned in blood."

A fascinated Darcy walked closer to the book to discover that Zahidia's words were true.

"So what's so special about a book?" Stormy asked.

"This isn't just any book, little sister," said Vicky, "The Necronomicon is full of spells and rituals designed for summoning upper-level demons and raising hoards of walking dead."

"Groovy," said Toro.

"If it's such a powerful book," said Icy, "Why haven't we heard of it before?"

"Most editions of the book have been destroyed," said Zahidia, "As I said, this text is the last of the original Sumerian edition. It has been translated into other languages, but only a handful of the more modern, less potent editions survive, and those are kept under constant lock and key. This book is so rare and so powerful, I only use it when I absolutely need it. I wouldn't get too close to it, Darcy."

"Huh?" Darcy asked. She was less than a yard from the book, her hand outstretched to remove the glass covering.

"Yeah, that's a really bad idea, Darcy," said Vicky, "Unless you wish to turn into a raving lunatic who thirsts for brains."

"What?" a confused Darcy asked.

"I'd get away from that right now," said Toro as he guided Darcy away from the book.

"Oh I do apologize," said Zahidia, "I forgot to mention that the book is alive. What happened to you, Darcy, you nearly succumbed to the call of the Necronomicon. Had you touched it your mind would have been destroyed. Yes, the book's seductive power will consume those who's prowess in the dark arts are, how shall I put it, not up to standards."

"Are you saying we're not evil enough for a dumb book?" Stormy asked.

"What I'm saying," said Zahidia, "Is that, while you and your sisters are well versed in the dark arts, some things are still beyond your experience. Maybe when you've past your first century, maybe you will be ready to touch the book, maybe."

"I think we've had enough of evil books for today," said Icy, "Or at least Darcy has." Indeed, Darcy was trying to get away from Toro and return to the dark book. Fortunately, Toro was more than strong enough to keep his beloved from destroying herself.

They left the library and moved to a large lounge. Already there were dozens of court retainers and officials waiting for Zahidia, all of them with imperial documents waiting for her approval. Also there were several upper-level minions, including Kevin and Naz.

"This is the worst part of rebuilding an empire," sighed Zahidia as she signed one document after another, "No mater what you do, it always generates mountains of paperwork." She sighed again before glancing at The Trix and Toro, "How I sometimes envy you younglings; you get to go out and have dark adventures, while here I am, trapped in a gilded cage."

Icy was about to ask Zahidia, "If you're so bored, why don't you just go somewhere exciting?" But Icy never got the chance to ask, for there was a disturbance at the entrance of the room.

"My Lady Zahidia!!" exclaimed a palace servant who just ran into the room, "Someone is interfering with the Andros operations!"

"What!?" Zahidia asked, "Show me!!" With a wave of her hand, a nearby wall was transfigured into a giant view screen. The image of Bloom and her friends trying to change the mutated mermaid back to normal flickered on.

"It's them!!" spat Icy, "That bitch Bloom and her bitchy friends, The Winx!"

"So that's Bloom of Domino," said Vicky as she watched Bloom and Tecna attempt another curse-removing spell, but to no avail, "Interesting, very interesting."

"You guys must really be a bunch of dorks if you lost to those dinks so many times," said Kevin to Toro and The Trix.

"I'd like to see you try to take those losers down," said Darcy, "They're tougher than they look, even for fairies."

"Look at them," smirked Naz, "They actually think they can help those wretched creatures," a puzzled look came over her face, "can they?"

"Dr. Strangeheart," said Zahidia, "Is it possible for your transmutation serum to be reversed?"

"One moment, Frauline Zahidia," said a heavily accented man in a wheelchair. He wore a gray suit and tie, had short black hair and dark sunglasses. He wheeled over to Zahidia, "My mutation serum was, and is, still in the process of being perfected. The batch I developed for Frauline Victoria's trip to Andros, was an untested formula. In fact, the point of using it on the mermaids was to see if it was stable enough not to kill the test subject instantly. In that sense, it worked."

"I don't get it," said Stormy.

"After I found the Construct piece on Andros," said Vicky, "I dropped a small crystal into the water. That crystal contained a mutating energy serum that Dr. Strangeheart created. It's just one of the empire's little projects, one that's attempting to create a new breed of minions."

"And you tested it on the mermaids of Andros," said an impressed Toro, "you are one wicked witch."

"Thank you," said Vicky.

"But is it possible for the mutating effect of the formula to be undone?" Zahidia asked, "Can those fairies undo your work, Doctor?"

"That, I'm afraid," said Dr. Strangeheart, "I do not have enough data to give a proper answer for. However, if I were to estimate the possibility, I would say that there's a 40% chance that the intruding fairies will discover a suitable countermeasure to my formula, plus or minus 5%."

"That's a chance I'd rather not take," said Zahidia, "So be it. Vicky, go back to Andros and eliminate Bloom and her friends."

"If that is what you wish, Lady Zahidia," said Vicky, "However, if I may suggest, I wouldn't be so keen to destroy Bloom and her friends just yet. I like to play with my toys as much as possible before they break."

"You can play with them as much as you want," said Zahidia, "But I want Bloom dead as soon as possible. Better to get rid of such a threat before she becomes aware of our operations."

"If Vicky is going, then so are we," said Icy.

"We've got a score to settle with those losers," said Stormy.

"And just how many times have you faced these six fairies that keep beating you?" Vicky asked, "No offense, sisters, but this time you'd just be in my way."

"Oh really?" Darcy asked in a daring tone, "Well you've never faced them before."

"We have," said Toro, "And besides, this time it's just the five of them, I didn't see Stella, and there's no sign of their pathetic boyfriends either. I'd rather that that cross-dressing freakazoid Ranma was with them, but you take what you can. I think that between the five of us, we'll be able to take Bloom and her friends out with the trash."

"Pardon my intrusion," said Diaspro as she appeared next to Toro, "But I'm afraid it'll just have to be four for this excursion."

"Well look who decided to show up," said Icy in a disapproving tone, "And just what have you been doing lately?"

"Working my fingers to the bone to further advance the new empire," said Diaspro, "What have you been doing? All you witches have done since you got here was kill a few people and loaf about. Now if you'll excuse me," she grabbed Toro's left arm, "I'm gonna borrow tall, dark and delicious here for a few hours. Toodles!"

"What?" a very confused Toro asked.

"Nobody's borrowing my Toro for anything!" Darcy protested a she latched onto his other arm, "At least not until I know what you want him for."

"It's for my work," said Diaspro, "Your boyfriend has the power to change back and forth into a creature that is a cross between many animals. I wish to study this ability; observe on a molecular level the effects the change has on his DNA."

"That doesn't sound so bad," said Toro.

"It isn't," said Diaspro as she grinend eagerly, "I'm just gonna take a pint or two of your blood, then I'll drill into your thigh bone and suck out a few milligrams of marrow, then I'll probably finish up with taping out some of your spinal fluid, depending on what time it is."

"Hell no!!" spat Toro, "I'm not letting you stick needles into me and suck out my fluids!"

"Oh don't be such a baby," said Diaspro, "It'll be over before you know it."

"You won't lay a finger on him," said Darcy as she glared daggers at Diaspro, "I mean it! Vicky, do something!"

"Don't look at me," said Vicky, clearly not wanting to get involved, "This isn't part of my job description."

"It'll just be a little prick," said Diaspro with false reasurence, "One or two little pokes and that's that."

"You keep your pricks and pokes to yourself!" said Toro.

"This could go on for a while," Zahidia said out loud, "And time is precious. Toro, what if I give you my word that Diaspro's tests will not harm you in the slightest way. Will you submit to her examinations?"

"How can you make that promise?" Darcy asked, "How can you know it won't hurt?"

"Because I also had my DNA examined by Diaspro," said Zahidia, "When she first arrived here on Xaldo, I submitted myself to her tests. I figured that my predisposition for longevity and near eternal youth would help her research, and it has, but her projects, of which I whole heartedly approve, requires much more data."

"Well," said Toro reluctantly, "If it'll help, and if Darcy says it's okay."

"It's okay," said Darcy, "But I want you to tell me if she hurts you in any way. I mean it! If that bleached-haired hussy makes you uncomfortable or stressed out at all, I want to know about it!"

"I'll keep your property nice and safe for you," said Diaspro, "And for your information, my hair is all natural." With a toss of her so called natural hair, she lead Toro off to her laboratory.

"Sure it is!" Stormy teased.

"So, it's just the four of us," said Icy.

"As it should be," said Vicky, "the last living descendants of The Ancestress Coven, together. But if you, Darcy and Stormy don't mind, I'll hang back at first. I wish to see these Winx in action for a bit before making any moves myself."

"So you're just gonna let us do all the dirty work?" Darcy asked in an accusing tone, "so you can later take all the credit?"

"By all means no," said Vicky, "I'm just trying to get a better picture of what we're up against. All I ask is that you keep those pesky fairies occupied for…oh…five minutes. Then I'll come in and obliterate them."

"That's a bold statement," said Icy, "But even you will find these fairies hard to kill, especially Bloom."

Vicky chuckled before counting, "I'll worry about Bloom when the time comes."

"Before you go," said Zahidia as she snapped her fingers, a servant brought forward a small black crystal, "Vicky, I have another present for Andros that I wish for you to deliver. As with the mutation crystal, simply drop this into the waters of Andros."

"Consider it done, Lady Zahidia," said Vicky as she pocketed the crystal.

"Wait," said Zahidia, "I changed my mind, don't arbitrarily drop the crystal," she summoned a small piece of paper that had something written on it, "This is where I want the crystal to go."

"It shall be done as you wish, Lady Zahidia," said Vicky after she read the note.

"Oh won't they be surprised to see us alive," said Stormy eagerly as she and her sisters prepared to leave.

"They certainly will," said Icy, "Especially Bloom. I can't wait to see the look on her face when I destroy her; a real revenge from beyond the grave."

********

Back on Andros, Bloom and the others had cast one counter-spell after another, all to no avail. Tecna was dumbfounded that all of their efforts were having no effect on the mutations.

"It's as if whatever force of dark magic that caused the mutations is working against us," said Tecna, "Like it's anticipating our moves and counters it."

"A curse that counters counter-curses," said Musa, "How messed up is that?"

"Well," said Bloom after another unsuccessful counter-spell, "As the tree said to the lumberjack, 'I'm stumped.' No offense, Flora."

"None taken," remarked Flora.

"There has to be something else we can do," said Layla, "The poor mermaids, I just feel awful for them."

Just then the stunned hagfish woke up and began trashing about in it's morphix prison.

"You want me to stun it again?" Musa asked.

"No," sighed Layla, "I think this one has had enough." She released the spell on the morphix, allowing the hagfish to tumble back into the water.

"I think we've also had enough," said Flora, "For the time being. Maybe we just need a break to clear our heads."

"You're probably right," said Bloom. Suddenly she tensed, as if sensing something bad was about to happen, and this bad feeling was very familiar to Bloom.

"What's wrong?" Musa asked.

"Oh no," said Bloom in a scared tone, "Oh no, not them!"

"Yes, us!!" exclaimed Icy as she, Stormy and Darcy teleported in front of the Winx.

"Impossible!" exclaimed Flora and Layla.

"No way!" shouted Musa.

"Inconceivable!!" exclaimed Tecna.

"Oh look, sisters," said Darcy in a mocking tone, "the little fairies aren't happy to see our triumphant return."

"Typical," pouted Stormy.

"Surprised to see us alive and together, Bloom?" Icy asked.

"Not really," said Bloom in a firm tone, her composure fully restored, "deep down I always knew you'd be back someday."

"Well the sooner the better I say," said Icy venomously, "The better to destroy you I mean!!" Icy sent a wave of frozen darts at Bloom and her friends, forcing the five fairies to scatter in order to avoid the sub-zero projectiles.

Stormy then blasted Musa and Flora with a gust of wind that had the force of a hurricane. At the same time, Darcy cast a spell that made Tecna and Layla think everything was upside-down.

Bloom found herself several yards away from the fighting. She was just about to help her friends, when Vicky appeared in front of her, but Bloom didn't know who this was.

"I wouldn't be so hasty to fly off," said Vicky, "not when I'm in the mood for a little chat."

"Who are you?" a confused Bloom asked, anxious to help Layla and the others.

"How rude of me," said the witch, "Permit me to introduce myself."

The witch suddenly vanished, only to appear behind Bloom, "I'm the elder sister of the ones you and your friends have been giving so much trouble. As their big sister, I don't appreciate the way you've been treating Icy, Darcy and Stormy."

"You're their sister?" Bloom asked in a tone that was both confused and shocked. Come to think of it, there was a resemblance between this witch and The Trix.

"Yes," said the witch as she smiled maliciously, "Victoria, elder sister of The Trix, but you can call me Vicky."

"Well I'd say I'm please to meet you, Vicky," said Bloom as she regained her composure again, "But then I'd be lying."

"Witty as well as beautiful," said Vicky. She then teleported again, appearing behind Bloom, "All the more satisfying when I destroy you."

"I hate to spoil your day, Vicky," said Bloom in a smug tone, "But a lot of really nasty people have found out the hard way that I'm not easy to get rid of."

"Naturally," said Vicky, "You wouldn't have lived this long if you weren't. But between the two of us, this will be a walk in the park for me. Or rather, considering where we are, a drop in the ocean."

It was then that Bloom had a flash of shocking insight, "It was you! You're the one who's been mutating the mermaids!"

"More or less," said Vicky in a nonchalant tone, "All I did was deliver the package. But I did on one occasion have lunch with the one who was responsible for the mutations. I'll be sure to tell him you're appreciation of his work."

"Well you'd better tell him that he'd better come up with a cure for the mermaids!" said Bloom as her anger began to rise, "Or else!"

"You're in no position to make any threats, little dragon princess," taunted Vicky, "Quite the contrary, it is I who should be making all the threats."

"We'll just see about that," said Bloom as she formed a fireball in each hand and threw them at Vicky. The witch teleported to the left, completely avoiding the fireballs.

"You know, you really could have hurt someone with those," said Vicky.

Bloom didn't reply, she was too angry for words. Bloom then shot a stream of pure Dragonfire at Vicky, who blocked it with one hand.

"Oh that's so cute and pathetic," taunted Vicky, "And here I thought I'd expect more from the daughter of Oritel and Miriam."

"What do you know about my parents?!" Bloom demanded.

"Only that they were fools to oppose the Ancestress Coven," said Vicky, "And don't worry, Bloom, my sisters and I are so over trying to take possession of The Dragonfire; we're after something much bigger, so all I'm going to do is extinguish your power, and your life, forever."

"Extinguish this!!" shouted Bloom as she threw another pair of fireballs, then followed up with another two. All of which Vicky either dodged or blocked.

"So you want to play ball?" Vicky asked as she smiled venomously, "Let's play ball!" She formed a ball of black fire in her hand and threw it at Bloom. The dark fire rushed at Bloom much faster than her fireballs.

Bloom barely had time to focus her magic into a shield. The black fireball exploded upon impact, nearly stunning Bloom and knocking her down to the waves below. Fortunately, Bloom regained control, just as Vicky threw another black fireball.

This time, however, Bloom was ready. When she cast her shield spell, it was mixed with a repelling charm, so when the dark fireball hit the shield, it bounced back at Vicky.

However, this tactic proved to be hardly effective. Vicky yawned as she caught the fireball with one hand. Smirking at Bloom, Vicky then inhaled the black fire as if it were air. She then burped up a puff of smoke, "Now that's what I call a spicy meatball."

"What are you!?" Bloom asked in a shocked and appalled tone.

"It's a long story," said Vicky, "I might just write a book about it. Now, where were we? Oh yes, we were playing ball, but I don't think you're enjoying that game. I know, we'll play a different game," she teleported in front of Bloom and grabbed her arm, "Tag! You're it!!"

As if playing with a rag doll, Vicky swing Bloom around in a circle, before throwing her at the rocks below. Bloom managed to regain her balance in time to avoid being splattered on a rock about the size of two pool tables. Instead, she landed roughly, nearly falling into the water.

"Well, at least we have one thing in common," said Vicky as she hovered above Bloom, "We both have the devil's luck. But I'm afraid yours, Bloom, has just about run out."

"The same could be said for your sisters," said Bloom.

Back with Layla and the others, they had managed to incapacitate The Trix. First, Tecna stunned Icy with her green lighting when Icy tried to catch Tecna in an ice coffin. Tecna used the frosty curse to her advantage, since ice comes from water and water conducts electricity.

Musa then hit Stormy with an ultra-sonic pulse, effectively scrambling the equilibrium of the foul-weather witch. Flora then got behind Darcy and cast a ensnaring-vine spell that caught Darcy in a full body bind. Layla completed the combination by shackling the three witches with morphix chains.

"No!!" exclaimed Vicky. She then took flight and rushed at Flora and the others.

"You picked the wrong witch to f#ck with!" snapped Vicky.

"Who's this?" Musa asked.

"I'm the one who's gonna kill you all!" said Vicky as she threw four black fireballs at Tecna and the others. They were forced away as they dodged the fireballs.

With a single-word spell, Vicky released her sisters from their morphix shackles.

"Are you alright?" Vicky asked, sincere concern in her voice.

"I'm more angry than hurt," said Icy.

"Just let me at those losers!" spat Stormy.

"Ditto!" said Darcy.

"No offense, little sisters," said Vicky, "But from what I saw…well…let's just say that I was just in time."

"You're their sister?!" a shocked Flora asked as she and the others flew back towards the witches.

"There is a resemblance," said Tecna.

"Makes you wonder just how big their family is," said Musa.

"Hey, you!" Layla said to Vicky, "What do you know about a strange witch who's responsible for what's happening to the mermaids?"

"I'm the strange witch that you're talking about," said Vicky in a smug tone, "You got a problem with that?"

"You'd better believe I've got a problem with it!!" exclaimed Layla, "Come on, girls, let's sink this witch!!" With that she formed a long spear out of morphix.

"Now you're singing my song!" said Musa as she prepared a hip-hop crush spell, while Flora and Tecna readied their magic.

"Stand aside, sisters," said Vicky, "Let me show you how it's done."

"It's your head," said Icy as she, Stormy and Darcy flew out of the way.

"Get her!!" shouted Layla.

"Don't!!" exclaimed Bloom, but it was too late, her friends had already cast their spells.

As if it were nothing, Vicky waved her hand and worded a spell that neutralized the physical aspects of the girl's spells, while sending the energy of the spells back to their casters. Tecna, Musa, Layla and Flora were completely caught off guard as their magic came crashing back to them, knocking the four fairies out of the air.

Fortunately, Bloom was there to catch her friends on cushions of Dragonfire that didn't harm them the slightest. She carefully set her friends down on nearby rocks.

Bloom then glared daggers at Vicky, "You bitch! I'm gonna make you pay for hurting my friends!!"

"Please," said Vicky in a taunting tone, "Put it on my tab."

Bloom's reply was in the form of a really large ball of Dragonfire, which she threw at Vicky. The witch easily dodged the attack, but soon realized that it was a diversion so that Bloom could get behind her.

"Take this!!" shouted Bloom as she condensed as much of her magic as she could into a stream of pure Dragonfire and shot it at Vicky.

"Okay," said Vicky in an unconcerned tone as the lethal stream of fire charged at her, "I will!" She used both hands to deflect the blast.

Outraged, Bloom poured all her anger into her magic, increasing the power and intensity of her attack. Her ferocity was rewarded as Vicky cried out in pain, the intense heat of the blast was beginning to burn her hands.

"Enough!!" shouted Vicky as she teleported out of the way; the stream of Dragonfire shooting out towards the horizon.

Bloom ended the spell, her breath coming in short gasps as she tried to regain the energy she put into her spell. That moment of exhaustion was all Vicky needed to get behind Bloom.

"You burned my hands!" exclaimed Vicky. She backhanded Bloom across the face just as Bloom turned around. The force of the strike knocked Bloom out of the air, sending her crashing into another rock below.

"Nice," said an impressed Icy.

"Very nice," said an equally impressed Darcy.

"I could have done that," muttered Stormy, who was also impressed, but was too proud to admit it.

"Thank you all," said Vicky as she bowed to her sisters, as if putting on a show, "And now for the final act; the last move in a game that should have ended long ago on Domino," she then hesitated, "Unless you wish to join me in this momentous event."

"Okay!" Stormy said eagerly.

"No!" said Icy sternly as she grabbed Stormy by the shoulder, preventing her from moving, "It's not our place."

"She's right," said Darcy, "As much as I'd love to help get rid of Bloom once and for all, it just wouldn't seem right if we did. No, this is Vicky's victory, it's her kill."

"I hate it when you're right," muttered Stormy, but remained where she was.

"You hate everything, little sister," said Vicky, "But this time the forms must be obeyed. So be it."

As they neared the rock where Bloom crashed, it was Darcy who noticed Vicky's hands. "Uh…maybe you should get someone to take care of those."

"Huh?" Vicky said, "Oh, don't worry about my hands, they don't hurt that much." True enough, the burns were already beginning to heal, "I'll get someone to look at them."

The four witches landed on the rock. They saw that Bloom didn't look hurt, just incapacitated. But then Bloom began to regain consciousness.

"Oh what a shame," said Vicky in a malicious tone, "And here we were having so much fun. I do like to get as much enjoyment out of my toys as possible before they eventually break." The witch then summoned a large ball of black fire in her hand, "Alas, I made a promise, so farewell, Bloom of Domino, the pleasure has been all mine."

Just as Vicky was about to throw the fireball at Bloom, her cellphone rang.

"Oh for f#cks sake!" spat Vicky as she pulled the ringing phone out from her pocket, "why now?" she pressed the receive button and put the phone to her ear, "Yes?"

On the other end of the call, Zahidia spoke, "Vicky, how fare you against the waif Bloom?"

"I'm doing very well over here," said Vicky, "I'm standing over Bloom right now, she's completely helpless

"Excellent," said Zahidia, "now, Vicky, I want you and your sisters to return to Xaldo at once."

"You want me to what!?" exclaimed Vicky, "I'm sorry, but I can't just walk away from this."

"Are you contradicting me?" Zahidia asked in a tone that dripped with malice.

"No," said Vicky in a slightly nervous tone, "Of course not, I wouldn't dream of contradicting you."

"Because you do know what happens to those who dare to contradict my commands," said Zahidia.

"Yes, I know what happens to those who disobey your orders," said Vicky, "I'll be there directly."

"Good," said Zahidia, "And remember to bring your sisters with you."

"Yes, I'll be sure to bring them back as well," said Vicky.

"And don't forget to deliver the present before you leave," reminded Zahidia.

"I won't forget," said Vicky as she ended the call and pocketed the phone. "Looks like luck is with you today, Bloom. We'll finish our little game another time."

"You got to be f#ck$ng kidding me!" spat Icy, "We're leaving!? Now!? When Bloom is ready for the slaughter!?!"

"It's not like we have a choice," said Vicky, "Believe me, you don't want to know what happens to those who disobey her orders."

"How bad could it be?" Stormy asked.

"Well for starters," said Vicky, "How about being turned completely inside out, and still be alive. And then they put the leaches on you."

"Leaches?" Darcy asked nervously.

"Then they dump a dozen or so blood worms on you," continued Vicky.

"Blood worms?" a disgusted Icy asked.

"Uh-huh," said Vicky, "And then they…"

"You've made your point!" said Stormy, "We're leaving!"

"Glad you're seeing it my way," said Vicky, "You three go on ahead, I'll be there as soon as I deliver the package."

"Okay," said Icy, who then shuddered as the image of blood worms invaded her mind again.

As The Trix teleported back to Xaldo, Vicky pulled out the crystal Zahidia gave her and threw it to the north with all her magically enhanced strength. It went far beyond the horizon before finally splashing into the water.

"That takes care of that," said Vicky, then glared down at Bloom, who was almost ready to get back into the fight.

"We will meet again, little dragon princess," spat Vicky, "You can count on that." She then prepared to teleport away, when…

"No you don't!!" shouted Layla, who was the first of the girls to get back up. Layla flew in front of Vicky, "You're not going anywhere!"

"As if you could stop me," said Vicky in a nonchalant tone as she threw a curse at Layla; the dark spell hitting her square in the eyes. Completely caught off guard, Layla fell back to the rocks below

"Pathetic," remarked Vicky as she teleported away.

Thirty seconds later Bloom was back on her feet and back in the air. She saw Tecna, Musa and Flora recovering as well.

"Everybody alright?" Bloom asked.

"I think so," said Musa.

"I feel like I'm in one piece," said Flora.

"It appears that we are undamaged," said Tecna, "But my pride feels like it has been fragmented." All three fairies sounded like they were down in the dumps.

"What just happened?" Musa asked, "How did that witch beat us so easily?"

"She's the big sister of Icy, Darcy and Stormy," said Bloom, "It's no wonder she's so strong."

"Yeah," said Flora in a depressed tone.

"Where's Layla?" Musa asked.

They found Layla on a nearby rock, still unconscious.

"Layla," said Bloom as she gently shook her friend, "Layla, please wake up."

Slowly, Layla came around, "Bloom, what happened?"

"I'll explain later," said a relieved Bloom, "We're just glad that you're alright."

"We are," said Flora, while Tecna and Musa nodded in agreement.

"Flora?" Layla asked, "Where are you? Where is everybody? And why can't I open my eyes?"

"Your eyes are open," said Musa in a worried tone.

"They are?" Layla asked, "Oh my god! My eyes!! I can't see!!"

The end of chapter 7.

The fate of the water princess lies in the hands of her friends. As the dragon princess and her companions struggle to regain that which is lost, the water princess will be called to make a terrible sacrifice, one that will change her for life.

Next chapter: The Tides of Sorrow part 2

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