Last time, Bloom and her friends accompanied Layla to her home world of Andros. Someone or something is causing the mermaids of Andros to mutate into hagfish. In truth, it was Vicky who delivered the cause of the mutations to Andros. Upon learning that The Winx were on Andros, Zahidia dispatched Vicky and The Trix to stop them. Tecna, Flora, Layla and Musa managed to hold their own against Icy, Darcy and Stormy. As for Bloom, she barely survived her encounter with Vicky, who then delivered a curse onto Layla. 'Nuff said, on with the show!

Chapter 8: The Tides of Sorrow part 2

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!!"

"Are you sure!?" Tecna asked hastily as she held her hand in front of Layla's eyes, "How many fingers am I holding up?"

"I don't know!!" exclaimed Layla, "I can't see anything! Everything's all dark!"

"Just calm down, Layla," said Bloom, "Everything's gonna be alright."

"How can you say that!?" shouted Layla, "I'm blind!!"

Bloom, who was already stressed from her encounter with Vicky, was in no mood to be yelled at. She then slapped Layla across the face, not to hard, but hard enough to get Layla's attention.

"Get a hold of yourself!" said Bloom, "Now listen to me, Layla, you're going to be alright, somehow, I promise. Do you hear me?"

"I hear you, Bloom," said Layla in a much calmer tone.

"Good," said Bloom, "and I'm sorry I had to hit you."

"And I'm sorry I yelled at you," replied Layla, "I'm just scared."

"So am I," said Bloom, "You know how I get when my friends get hurt."

"We all know," said Flora, "But how did this happen to Layla?"

"It was that witch," said Bloom, anger entering her voice again, "Vicky, she hit Layla with a curse."

"There is dark magic at work here," said Tecna as she scanned Layla, "But it's unlike any curse I've encountered. Wait…that's odd. The curse has the same background resonance as the spell that cause the mermaids to mutate."

"So the two curses are connected," said Musa, "great. We couldn't help the mermaids, and now we can't help Layla."

"Don't say that, Musa," said Flora, "I'm sure we can find a way to cure Layla's eyes."

"It's more than her eyes," said Tecna as she finished her scan, "The dark magic resonance, I've detected it throughout Layla's body. It's mostly concentrated in her eyes, but minute traces of it have spread to the rest of her. There's no telling how this curse might affect her further."

"You mean this could get worse!?" exclaimed Layla, "How worse?!"

"I can't give any conclusions without further data," said Tecna, "This is a new form of dark magic. But if I were to venture a guess…I'd say there is a 18.9635% chance of you eventually mutating."

"Into what?" Flora asked.

"That," said Tecna, "I'd rather not think of."

"Well this is just perfect," said Layla, "Here I am; my parents hate me, I've all but been forbidden from being with the man I love, the mermaids of my world, whom I've been friends with since I was a little girl, are turning into monsters, and soon I'll be like them."

"No you won't!" said Bloom firmly, "Listen to me, Layla, we're going to fix this, somehow."

"We may not have to fix anything more than necessary," said Tecna as she analyzed the data she collected from Layla, "As far as I can tell, the curse has stabilized within her eyes. All we need to do is remove the curse, and Layla will be able to see again."

"Well that's a relief," said Musa, "But still, how do we remove the curse? If it's from the same source as the curse that mutating the mermaids, then we're no better off then before Layla was cursed."

"Well we won't help anyone just hovering around here," said Bloom, "I think the best thing we can do now is to head back to the lab and take a breather."

"I agree," said Flora as she nervously looked over her shoulder, "We should leave; I think the hagfish are getting restless."

Out in the water several mutated mermaids were creeping towards the island were Bloom and the others were, and the hagfish were looking pretty riled up.

"I so don't want to get bitten by one of those things," said Musa in a slightly nervous tone.

"Me neither," said Bloom, "Layla, can you fly?"

"I think so," said Layla in an uneasy tone. She flapped her wings and hovered for a few seconds, "Yes. But what good will that do me if I can't see?"

"I'll be your eyes," said Bloom as she took hold of Layla's hand, "Trust me, I won't let go."

Layla nodded in acknowledgment and both she and Bloom took flight. They were soon followed by Flora, Tecna and Musa. But just as Musa got off the ground, one of the hagfish slithered out of the water and nearly bit her on the foot.

"Oh no you don't!" said Flora, "Nobody tries to bite my friends!" With that she cast a spell that ensnared the hagfish in seaweed.

"Try biting me now!" said Musa as the entangled hagfish trashed about. As the mutated mermaid wriggled back into the water, Musa stuck out her tongue at it.

"Please don't do that," said Tecna, "It's bad enough that we couldn't help the poor creatures, so don't start antagonizing them."

"Sorry," said Musa, "it did try to bite me though."

"It did," said Flora.

"Let's just go," said Bloom, "hold on, Layla."

They flew at a clam pace back to the island research post so as not to disorient Layla. Waiting for them was Ann. "What happened? Did you reverse the mutations?"

"We're still working on it," said Bloom as she and the others landed, "It's okay, Layla, we're on the ground."

"Layla, what's wrong?" Ann asked.

"Oh, nothing much," said Layla in a sarcastic tone, "except getting hit by a blindness curse that can't be cured."

"You're blind?" a shocked Ann asked, "But…but how?"

"It's a long story," said Musa.

One explanation later…

"You mean to tell me that that strange witch," said Ann, "The one who caused the mutations, she's the one who took away Layla's sight?"

"That's pretty much it," said Musa.

"Ann," said Layla in a distant, depressed tone, "I'll understand if you don't want to be my friend anymore."

"Are you kidding me?" Ann asked, "We didn't stop being friends when I was forced to move away when we were kids, and I'm sure as hell not gonna stop being your friend now, blind or not. The day we stop being friends is the day I die, and I'll still be your friend, even from the great beyond."

"That's a bold statement," said Flora.

It was then that something caught Bloom's eye; another transport ship from the main islands.

"That's odd," said Ann, "The next supply shipment isn't due until the day after tomorrow."

"Then it looks like we'll be having company soon," said Tecna.

The transport ship landed next to the first one and dropped off its passengers before leaving. Said passengers were Kurt, Mace, Payton, Kegan, Morgan and Tatewaki.

"Shame on you, Princess Bloom," said Mace, "Leaving us behind on Magix while you go off risking your life on a water world."

"You do realize that fire and water don't exactly mix," said Kegan.

"You two are idiots," said Payton, "First of all, Princess Bloom's power is The Dragonfire, which is immune to water. And second, she's an adequate swimmer, I know, I was her personal lifeguard her back on Domino." True enough, the royal palace of Domino has its own heated indoor swimming pool.

"That's beside the point," said Kurt, "Princess Bloom, I understand that you and your friends are a force to be reckoned with, but so am I and my companions, despite their childish antics."

"We are so not childish," pouted Payton.

"Of course not," said Kurt, "Anyway, you should have at least told us were you were going. We had to get the information from Morgan."

"Hi!" Morgan said eagerly as she waived at Bloom and the others.

"Why are you here, Morgan?" Flora asked.

"I was bored," remarked Morgan, "Being finished with school can be kinda dull sometimes."

"Gee, I wonder why," Musa said sarcastically.

"Kurt," said Bloom, "I know that you and the others are responsible for my protection, and I do appreciate it. And I also know that I should have told you where I was going, and I am sorry for not telling you. But you can't be hanging onto me all the time, I mean, Jake and Carmen aren't here."

"Jake Avatar has his mission," said Kurt, "And so do we.

Tatewaki meanwhile was kneeling in front of Layla, his hands clasped over hers.

"Oh sweet ebony angel of my heart!" said Tatewaki in a lamenting tone, "What has afflicted thee so?"

"She's been cursed," said Musa, "Some kind of blindness spell."

"Can't you break the spell?" Kegan asked, "I mean, that's one of the things fairies do best, counter dark magic."

"We've been trying to remove the curse," said Flora, "But it's based on a form of dark magic that we can't counter."

"Well that sucks," remarked Morgan.

"It does," said Layla, "so why don't you do something helpful, and figure out how to remove the curse?"

"Um…" said Morgan hesitantly

"Oh cruel fates!!" exclaimed Tatewaki, "If I could do so, I would gladly give up mine own eyes, so that the mate of my soul can experience the gift of sight once more!"

"Of for gods sake," muttered Mace, "Does he always do that? Overreact to everything?"

"Far as I know," said Kurt, "pretty much."

"Makes you wonder how he and Layla got together in the first place," whispered Payton.

"I sincerely doubt an eye transplant would help Layla, Tatewaki," said Bloom, "as far as we can tell, this curse is effecting her whole body. I'm just glad that the only part of Layla that's been harmed was her eyes, it could be much worse."

"It may yet get worse," said Tecna, "But as to you giving us your eyes, Tatewaki, it just won't work."

"Why not?!" exclaimed Tatewaki, "I am perfectly willing to undergo such an ordeal. I'd do anything for my beloved."

"I know you would," said Tecna firmly, "But an eye transplant just wouldn't work. You and Layla have completely incompatible blood types. Any organ transplants would be rejected. I'm sorry, but giving up your eyes won't help Layla."

"Well what can?" Kegan asked.

"I think I may know," said Ann, "Layla, do you remember the stories about the White-Star Lotus?"

"Vaguely," said Layla, "I mostly spaced out during primary school."

"I know what a White-Star Lotus is," said Flora, "it's quite possibly the rarest underwater plant in the known universe. Believed to grow only on Andros, the blossom of a White-Star Lotus is best known for its curative properties. When combined with the right mixture of magical ingredients, it can cure just about anything."

"Sounds like just the ticket," said Bloom, "Where can we find one?"

"A better question would be where we could find one," said Tecna as she checked her wrist computer, "the White-Star Lotus is on the endangered species list of Andros. It's a very short list, but that particular plant is on it."

"So we'll be really careful with it when we find one," said Flora, "With my latest growth formula, I could help repopulate the species."

"You could," said Tecna, "But according to the information I found, it takes a full twenty years for a White-Star Lotus to grow from seed to full blossom. But first we have to find one that's already bloomed, assuming there's any left."

"You mean to tell us that the best chance for Layla's eyes may already be extinct?" Musa asked.

"I'm just reporting what I've found," said Tecna.

"Don't get your fins tangled, girls," said Ann as she grinned eagerly.

"You know where there's a White-Star Lotus," said Bloom, "One that's matured."

"I do indeed," said Ann, "It's not far from this island, about a twenty-minute swim. And since I'm such a nice girl, I'll take you there."

"Okay," said Musa, "But there's just one problem."

"I'm way ahead of you, Musa," said Layla, "I may be blind, but I can still swim. I've a spell that can help everyone breath underwater. And if someone would hold my hand, I can go with you."

"Such an honor would naturally me mine," said Tatewaki boldly.

"Naturally," said Layla in an agreeing tone.

"You're not going anywhere, Layla," said Tecna as she checked the data on her wrist computer, "there's more to the curse than we thought. The primary symptom may be blindness, but your sense of balance, your equilibrium has also been affected. If you go into the water, you'll lose your orientation like that," she snapped her fingers (insert finger snapping sound) "I'm sorry, Layla, but if go with us, you'll only be a danger to yourself."

"No I won't," Layla insisted, "I'm perfectly capable of swimming, even without my eyes."

"I beg to differ," said Tecna, "And I'm going to prove it. Layla, stand up. Tatewaki, stay close to her, just in case."

"In case of what?" Musa asked as Tatewaki helped Layla up.

"You'll find out soon enough," said Tecna, "now, Layla, try taking five steps forward."

"Okay," said Layla. Carefully, she put one foot in front of the other, then again, and again. She was just about to take the fourth step, when she suddenly fell backwards. Fortunately, Tatewaki was there to catch her.

"I'm sorry it had to come to that," said Tecna in a sincerely apologetic tone, "but I needed you to understand that you'll only end up hurting yourself if you go into the water, and maybe kill yourself. I'm sorry, Layla."

"I understand, Tecna," said Layla in a depressed tone, "And thank you. I'll stay up here."

"Then I shall stay with thee!" said Tatewaki, "If my beloved is to remain on dry land, then I shall remain dry with her."

"That's not a bad idea," said Flora, "The way Layla is, I wouldn't leave her alone. I'll stay as well."

"I agree," said Bloom, "Anyone else want to stay with Layla?"

"I'll stay," said Mace, "Not that I wouldn't mind getting my feet wet, bit I to agree with Ms. Flora; someone needs to stay with Princess Layla."

"With all due respect, Princess Bloom," said Kegan, "I'd rather stay on dry land. I'm not that much a swimmer."

"Well I am," said Payton, "I'm going with you."

"Um…" said Kurt in a reluctant tone, "I'm afraid I'm gonna have to sit this one out."

"Why's that?" Bloom asked.

"It's kind of embarrassing," said Kurt, "But…let's just say that water and me don't get along well."

"You're afraid of the water," said Morgan as her inner witch showed itself through grinning teeth, "How delicious."

"You'd be scared to!" snapped Kurt, "If you nearly drowned as a child. I caught pneumonia from that; spent almost a month in the hospital, so I nearly died twice because of water."

"Kurt," said Bloom in a sympathetic tone, "I didn't know. Alright, you're excused."

"Thank you, Princess Bloom," said Kurt. He bowed than went over with Mace and Kegan, who were already with Tatewaki and Layla.

"What about you, Morgan," said Musa in a teasing tone, "Are you afraid of the water?"

"Oh I like the water alright," said Morgan, "But it doesn't like me."

"You mean you almost drowned once?" Flora asked.

"Well, more or less," said Morgan, "Turns out, I'm more susceptible to 'the bends' than others."

"Ah, decompression sickness," said Tecna, "nitrogen gas builds up in the body as you descend deeper into the water. If you surface too quickly, the nitrogen is released into the bloodstream as bubbles, and any gas in the blood can be potentially fatal."

"And Carmen would never forgive me if I allowed Morgan to get hurt," said Bloom, "Okay then, you're also excused, Morgan."

"Groovy," said Morgan.

A few minutes later, Layla, with the assistance of Musa and Tecna, had cast the spell on those who were to recover the White-Star Louts. She explained that the spell will last as long as it was needed, as well as allow Bloom and the others to talk to each other underwater as well as breathe.

"We'll be back before you know it," said Bloom as she, Musa, Tecna, Ann and Payton got ready. All five were wearing skin suits and had their hair tied back so as not to get in the way. Bloom's skin suit was black with orange lines, while Musa's had blue lines. Tecna wore green, while Ann and Payton had purple lines on their suits.

"Just don't take any unnecessary chances," said Kurt.

"If anything bad happens," said Layla, "If you get into trouble, just forget about the flower and come back. I'd rather remain blind than lose one of my friends."

"Never happen," Ann said confidently. With that they slipped into the water.

"They'll be fine," said Morgan, "If there's one thing I've learned about you fairies, is that you're tougher than you look."

"Indeed," said Tatewaki, "Beloved Layla, your friends shall anon return with that which is needed to restore sight to thine eyes, and such lovely eyes they be."

"I believe you," said Layla as she embraced Tatewaki, "All of it." They both laughed.

"So," said Kegan, "Nothing to do but wait."

"We should have gone with them," said Kurt as he paced back and forth, "I feel as if by staying behind we've failed Princess Bloom, somehow, her and her friends."

"Oh lighten up, Kurt," said Mace as he pulled out a pack of cards from a belt-pouch, "Payton is with them. If there's anyone of us who's best suited at protecting Princess Bloom and her friends underwater, it's Payton."

"And they've got Ann showing them the way," said Morgan as she and Kegan sat down with Mace for a game of poker, "From what I could tell, she's the best help they can get for these parts. Right, Layla?"

"I hope so," said Layla, "But I've got this terrible feeling that I've forgotten something." She then bolted upright, "Oh no! I just remembered!!"

"Remembered what?" Morgan asked.

"That if this is where I think we are," said Layla in a grave tone, "on Andros, that is, and the time of the year, then Bloom, Ann and the others are swimming into mortal danger."

The fact that she was breathing water and still be able to talk to her friends didn't bother Bloom all that much, she was used to magical surprises like that by now. Following Ann's lead, Bloom, Musa, Tecna and Payton were making good progress in their underwater venture.

Musa, on the other hand, she was the one who was having difficulty adjusting to the aquatic environment.

"I'm not sure I can keep going," Musa said in a slightly unsteady voice, "I feel like I'm being squished."

"That's just the underwater pressure," said Tecna in a reassuring tone, "With a bit of claustrophobia. It'll pass soon."

"Just take a few deep breaths, Musa," said Bloom.

"That' easy for you to say," Musa said in a sarcastic manner, "Aren't you worried about burning out in all this water?"

"Why would I be worried about that?" Bloom asked as she summoned a fireball into her hand, proving that Dragonfire works just as well underwater as it does on dry land.

"Actually, I'm surprised that you're not enjoying this more, Musa," said Ann, "I thought sound carried farther underwater."

"Have you ever tried playing a sax or a flute underwater?" Musa asked.

"Can't say I have," remarked Payton.

"Me neither," said Ann, "But let's not talk about that. The sooner we get the White-Star Lotus, the sooner we can cure Layla."

"Where exactly are we going?" Tecna asked.

"It's a hidden grotto that I discovered a few years ago," said Ann, "When the trouble with the hagfish started, I helped a few uncontaminated mermaids to the place. They've been hiding there since, waiting for me to come back for them. You don't mind if we bring them back with us, Bloom?"

"Not at all," said Bloom, "We're going there anyway."

"That's great," said Ann, "The others will be relieved. While you fairies were gone, I heard from the main islands that the majority of the uninfected mermaids had taken sanctuary near the royal palace. The ones I helped earlier will be happy to be back with their friends."

Just then Bloom tensed, as if sensing something terrible was going to happen. The feeling passed as quickly as it came.

"What's wrong, Bloom?" Musa asked.

"I don't know," said Bloom, for a second I thought something bad was gonna happen. It must have been my imagination, all this water, it must be messing with my head."

"Then my head is being messed with as well," said Payton, "for I also felt like something bad was coming our way."

"I didn't sense anything," said Musa.

"Nothing in range of my scanner," said Tecna as she checked her wrist computer, which is also waterproof.

"Just because you can't sense anything," said Ann in a serious tone, "Doesn't mean there wasn't something there. The oceans hold more mysteries than the depths of space."

"In that case," said Bloom, "I don't think It would be wise to just float around. We need to get moving. Ann, how much farther?"

"Less than a minute," said Ann. They were nearing a slight drop on the ocean floor that had a highly developed coral reef biosphere. Ann showed the girls a particular spot in the coral that was actually a hidden door. She triggered a switch that caused a round section of the reef to slide aside.

Bloom and the others followed Ann through a short tunnel into the grotto she mentioned. Within the room were half a dozen mermaids, each with a unique scale pattern on their tails. And in the center of the room was a plant with a single white flower.

"Ann!!" exclaimed one of the mermaids. All six mermaids swam to Ann and began speaking to her in a language that Bloom and the others couldn't understand.

To Bloom it sounded halfway between Greek and Russian, while Musa and Payton were hearing only gibberish, although pleasant gibberish to Musa, since mermaids have some of the most beautiful voices in the Magical Dimension. Tecna, on the other hand, was annoyingly baffled. She activated the translator program in her computer, but even that wasn't enough to make sense of the melodious language of the mermaids.

Bloom, Musa and Tecna were further dishelmed when they heard Ann speaking to the mermaids in their language as fluently as if she were a mermaid herself.

"Uh…" said Bloom.

"Oh, sorry," said Ann as if she had forgotten that the others were there.

"How are you able to speak their language?" Tecna asked.

"It's easy enough to learn," said Ann, "They were telling me how happy there were to see me, then I told them that I could take them to the others at the main islands."

"Great," said Bloom.

"But what about the White-Star lotus?" Musa asked, "How are we going to move it without damaging it? I wish Flora came with us."

"If Layla were here," said Tecna, "she's isolate the plant and enough water to keep it healthy with some of her morphix."

Bloom suddenly laughed, "If I could trade elements with Icy for just one minute, I could freeze the water around the flower, like a globe, and carry it to the surface. But the cold might kill the plant before we got there."

"That's not a bad idea," said Tecna, "not the ice part, but a globe. Yes, that could work."

"What could work?" Payton asked.

"I knew there was a reason why I learned advanced alchemy," said Tecna. She then cast a spell that formed a crystal sphere around the plant. She carefully lifted the sphere from the floor. "That's it."

"Alright then," said Bloom, "Let's go. Ann, tell the mermaids that they'll be back with their friends before they know it."

Just as the left the grotto, Bloom and Payton both sensed that something bad was coming. "I'm certain of it this time," said Bloom, "Something's out there, something terrible."

"I feel it as well, Princess Bloom," said Payton, "We're definitely not alone down here."

"Hagfish?" Musa asked nervously.

"If there were any out there," said Tecna as she checked her computer, "my scanner would have picked it up by now; there's nothing within range. Wait a minute…whoa!"

"What?" Bloom asked.

"Something really, really big just swam in front of us," said Tecna, "It passed just inside the range of my scanner. It's gone now, but wow! It must have been over 60 meters long, possibly 70 or longer. There it is again! Great circuits above! It's more like 90m!"

"Maybe it's a wale," said Payton in a nervous tone.

"That was no wale," said Ann in a trembling voice, "by Lord Poseidon, how could I have forgotten!"

"Forgotten what?" Bloom asked. She then noticed that the mermaids were all huddle together, looking scared half to death.

"I think I know that it is," said Tecna, who now sounded excited by encountering something big and at the same time frightened, "The creature that's stalking us, it's a kraken."

"A kraken?" Bloom asked. She had heard of such a creature from various mythology stories back on Earth.

"It's a monster," said Tecna, "Roughly the same shape as a giant squid, but half again as long, and with twice as many tentacles. But what makes a kraken so dangerous is it's poison. Each tentacle has hundreds of suckers the size of a CD. Each sucker had a claw in the middle about four inches long, and each claw secretes a poison that has been known to kill a man. A simple scratch on the arm or leg is easily cured, but if enough of the venom enters the bloodstream, the chances of survival rapidly diminish."

Tecna's scanner detected that the creature was getting closer and closer.

"Here's a suggestion," said Musa, "Why don't we get the hell out of here!"

"I couldn't agree more," said Payton, "Not to sound like a coward."

"You're excused," said Bloom, "Let's go."

They swam back towards the island, all the while the creature kept circling them.

"That thing is messing with us," said Musa, "And I don't like being messed with."

By now the kraken was circling the girls close enough for Bloom to see it; it indeed matched the description Tecna gave, only much more hideous.

"Somebody should do something," said Ann, "The mermaids are starting to panic."

"I will do something," said Tecna, "just not yet."

"What are you waiting for!?" Payton asked in an exasperated tone.

"For that thing to get closer," said Tecna, "So I won't miss."

"How much longer do you want to wait?" Musa asked. By now the kraken was close enough for them to see almost every gruesome detail.

"Now!" exclaimed Tecna. She shot two bolts of green lighting at the creature. Everyone who's seen Pokémon knows that water conducts electricity, and since this spell of Tecna's is based on electricity, the spell was double charged when it hit the monster. The kraken let out a horrible shriek of agony, then swam away from the girls.

"That's that then," said Tecna.

"I wouldn't be so smug," said Ann, "Kraken are among the most vile and tenacious monsters in the Magical Dimension. It'll take more than one spell to get rid of this creature."

Sure enough, the monster had turned around and was coming for them again.

"Oh no you don't!" exclaimed Bloom. She then sent a pulse of Dragonfire at the kraken, superheating the water in front of its path. Bloom intended to flash boil the monster, but the kraken swam right through the area of hot water.

"Duck!" shouted Bloom. Everyone managed to get out of the way as the kraken passed over them, its tentacles searching for prey.

"That thing is faster than it looks," said Musa.

"And angry to boot," said Bloom, "Duck again!" This time when the girls tried to get out of the way, Bloom thought she heard someone squeal in sudden pain. But then the monster came around for another pass.

"If fire and lighting can't stop it," said Bloom.

"Then maybe sound can," said Musa eagerly, "Ann, tell the mermaids to cover their ears!" She then sent a pulse of high-powered hip hop music at the kraken. Sound does carries a lot faster underwater, and this was one of Musa's more louder beat samples. The sudden increase in volume scrambled the equilibrium of the monster, forcing it to swim away.

"It's not coming back," said Tecna, "The scanner is all clear."

"Then why are we still here?" Ann asked, "We've got to get this to Layla." She still had the White-Star Lotus.

As they neared the island, Bloom noticed that Ann was having trouble keeping up with the others, "Are you alright?" Bloom asked.

"I think that thing scratched me," said Ann.

"Oh no!" exclaimed Musa, "The poison!"

"I'm alright," said Ann, "It's just a scratch, I'll be fine until we get back onto dry land. Don't worry about me until we help Layla and get the mermaids to safety."

"That's something that's been bugging me," said Payton, "if the other, uncontaminated mermaids are back at palace on the main islands, how are we gonna get these mermaids there? Do we have a boat? Or do the transport ships have indoor pools?"

"You'll find out when we get to dry land," said Ann.

Once they reached the island, Bloom and the others were surprised to see the mermaids literally walk out of the ocean. They were now covered in dressed that flowed like water, each the color of each mermaids' respective scales.

"Oh yeah," said Tecna, "I almost forgot, mermaids can assume human form for short periods of time."

"Layla!" shouted Musa.

Flora was reading a book, Kurt, Morgan, Mace, Kegan and Flora were playing cards, while Tatewaki was describing the game to Layla.

"You're back!" said Flora.

"And we have the White-Star Lotus!" said Ann as she held up the encased plant. She then winced and nearly dropped the crystal globe.

"Careful!" said Tecna, "If the flower is exposed to air before it's ready, it'll die and become useless."

"I know," said Ann, "It's just that…"

"She got scratched by a kraken," said Bloom.

"Oh no!" said Layla, "Ann, I'm so sorry, I should have warned you all, but I forgot."

"It's alright, Layla," said Ann, "I'll be fine. We'll take care of you first."

"Wait a second," said Payton, "Layla knew that there was a kraken down there all along? And she still sent Princess Bloom down there?"

"We already had this discussion while you were gone," said Kurt, "Kegan and Mace were exceptionally pissed."

"We were," said Mace, while Kegan nodded in agreement.

"But then they realized that Layla was too upset to remember at the time," said Flora, "so everything is alright."

"Indeed," said Tatewaki, "Now if you all don't mind, my one true love is still without her sight."

"Give it here," said Morgan, "I know what to do, it's a good thing I've always gotten straight A's in Potions. I'll have the remedy whipped up in ten minutes."

"I'll help," said Flora.

"Well in that case," said Morgan, "we'll have it ready in five minutes

"Did you hear that, Layla?" Ann asked as she handed the globe to Morgan, "In five minutes you'll…have your…eyes…" without warning, Ann collapsed.

"Ann!" exclaimed Bloom as she, Payton and Musa rushed over.

"What's happening!?" said Layla in a panicking tone, "What's happened to Ann?!"

"I'll tell you what's wrong with Ann," said Tecna as she examined Ann with her wrist computer, "She's bleeding to death."

"That's impossible!" said Musa.

"How?" Flora asked, "She said it was just a scratch."

"Does this look like a scratch?" Payton asked as she and Tecna carefully moved Ann onto her side, revealing a long cut on her back. It was then that Bloom and the others noticed the blood trail leading back to the water. They all were so intent on helping Layla, that nobody realized just how seriously hurt Ann was.

"This is really bad," said Tecna, "She's lost a lot of blood."

"But what about the poison?" Musa asked, "If that kraken did cut her, then Ann has been exposed to the toxin."

"Already on it," said Morgan. She placed her hands over Ann, "Saifogio!" her hands glowed bright white as waves of healing magic pulsed into Ann. A minute later the cut was healed.

"I've done what I could," said Morgan, "taking care of the cut was easy, but there's also internal injuries that my spell couldn't touch. The poison from that thing is still killing Layla from the inside. We've got to get her to a hospital."

"There's no time," said Tecna, "Ann's lost too much blood already. And we still have to neutralize the poison."

"Can the potion help Ann?" Layla asked.

"If we give it to her now, yes," said Tecna, "But, your eyes…"

"Damn my eyes!" exclaimed Layla, "save Ann!!"

"As you wish," said Morgan. Quick as a flash, she and Flora finished the potion. Tecna and Bloom then held Ann up so that Morgan could administer the potion.

"Will it work?" Musa asked.

"We'll know in about thirty seconds," said Tecna.

Within half a minute after forcing Ann to swallow the potion, she was conscious again.

"All trace of the poison has been neutralized," said Tecna, "Ann's gonna be fine."

"Thank goodness," said Flora.

"What happened?" Ann asked.

"We gave you the potion," said Bloom, "It was the only way we could save you in time."

"Layla," says Ann in a shocked and surprised tone, "You gave up your best chance to see again, to save me. Why?"

"You were my best friend," said Layla, "you taught me how to dance and express myself through dancing. More than that, you helped me realize that I shouldn't keep myself closed off from others. If we hadn't met, I would never had met The Winx. You're almost like a sister to me, Ann. What's a pair of eyes compared to that?"

Suddenly, Layla was engulfed in a bright light green light that radiated with goodness.

"What is this?!" exclaimed Tatewaki, "what is happening to Layla!?"

"I'll tell you what's happening," said Morgan, "The same thing that happened to Bloom back on Domino."

"You mean her powers are evolving?" Kurt asked.

"Exactly," said Tecna, "By sacrificing her eyes to save Ann, Layla has earned her Enchantix.

When everyone could see again, they were in awe at the startling change Layla underwent:

Layla was now wearing a frilly cyan tube top decorated with magenta and yellow with a matching short skirt. Each part had hanging cloth parts on the bottom resembling waving seaweed. She had yellow, translucent above-the-elbow gloves on her arms and green barefoot sandals on her feet. Her wings had increased in size, like a butterflies', outlined with her signature lime green, decorated with pink pearls (referring to her ocean-based powers), and filled in with yellow and magenta to match her outfit. A cyan forehead tiara bearing pearls wraps around her head. Her dark brown curly hair had gained streaks, grew braided pigtails, and had lengthened to her ankles.

Nearly everyone was speechless, except for Morgan, "Now that's what I call setting a fashion trend."

"Oh my sweet ebony goddess," said Tatewaki, who had stars in his eyes, "How I wish thou could see thyself."

"So do I," said Layla, "I'm still blind."

"You got to be kidding me," said Musa, "After all that, and you still can't see? At the very least you could have gotten your eyes back on your own after saving Ann."

"It's okay, Musa," said Layla, even though her tone of voice said it wasn't fine, "I'll be fine. I'm sure I'll get used to being blind."

"No you won't," said Bloom in a defiant tone, "I'll be damned if I allow you to go without your sight any longer. One way or another I will help you see again."

"You know, hearing you say it," said Layla, "I almost believe you, Bloom."

"Almost?" Bloom asked. But then she had that all-too familiar feeling that something bad was about to happen. "Oh no, not again!"

"That bastard doesn't know when to quit," said Payton as she took a defensive posture in front of Bloom.

"What are you talking about?" Flora asked.

"Something's coming," said Mace as he, Kegan and Kurt also got in front of Bloom, protecting her from the coming danger the three of them also sensed was approaching, "Something big, mean and…"

The Kraken erupted from the water, howling in rage as it sent it's tentacles onto the island in search of prey.

"Whoa ugly!!" exclaimed Morgan.

"Persistent critter, ain't he?" Musa said.

"Persistent, yes," said Bloom, "But that doesn't make it less dangerous."

"I don't know about you, Bloom," said Tecna, "but I'm in need of a good recharging, if you know what I mean?"

"I'm tired as well," said Bloom, who was indeed worn out from the fight with Vicky and the underwater exertions, "Musa?"

"Sorry, Bloom," said Musa, "but I'm running on flat notes."

"And since Layla can't really fight blind," said Bloom, "That leaves Flora."

"It does?" Flora asked nervously.

"Say no more, fair ladies!" Tatewaki said boldly, "I shall face this foul creature!" he drew his sword, the same sword that he and Layla helped make last year when they fought The Shadow Riders, "With this blade that was forged with love, I shall smite this monster and send it to the underworld where it belongs!"

"Save a piece for me, loverboy!" said Morgan as she stretched and readied her own repertoire of dark magic.

"And us!" says Kurt as he drew his revolver, while Payton, Mace and Kegan took up fighting stances, "Princess Bloom, you and your friends stay behind us, we'll take care of this thing."

Before Bloom could protest, Kurt shot all six bullets in his gun at the kraken. Faster than the eye could see, Kurt reloaded his revolver and shot another six at the monster, each shot hitting its mark. One of the bullets hit the kraken in one of it's yellow eyes. The creature roared in agony, but then to the shock of everyone, the eye, as well as the other eleven wounds, healed completely.

"Oh now that's just f#ck$ng unfair!" said Kurt as he reloaded again.

"I never did like guns," said Morgan, "Stand aside, pretty boy, let me show you how it's done!" she chanted a spell that covered the kraken in a cloud of acid. But the creature wasn't even phased.

"Okay," said Morgan in a disturbed tone, "we've learned that krakens are immune to acid."

"Then let us see if this foul creature is immune to cold steel!" exclaimed Tatewaki. He charged at the monster, dodging tentacles that tried to ensnare him. He sliced the ends of two that got too close, then he severed third tentacle at the halfway point.

Tatewaki jumped back and dashed away when more tentacles came searching for him. But then he stopped out of the monster's reach and watched as not only did the severed tentacles and arm heal, but double; the damaged limbs split into two, so now there were two more tentacles and one more arm to deal with.

"This is really bad," said Bloom. But then she and the others had to withdraw to the center of the island when they saw the tentacles stretch out and try to grab them.

"You perverted bastard!" snapped Payton as one arm nearly grabbed her by the thigh, "You want to cop a feel, well feel this!" she kicked the arm away. A good six feet of kraken flesh was pulverized, but it was for naught when the wound regenerated and then grew another arm.

"How in the seven hells can we stop a monster that can regenerate!?" exclaimed Mace as he punched a tentacle, while Kegan smashed another with his power-pole, only to watch as the wounded limbs grew back and then split into two.

Kegan was about to reply when a tentacle backhanded him hard into the laboratory. The force of impact was strong enough to collapse half the building

"Kegan!" exclaimed Bloom as she and Flora rushed to the now ruined lab. They found Kegan half-buried in the rubble.

"Kegan," said Bloom, "Are you alright?"

"Princess Bloom," said Kegan in a shaky voice, he was mostly in shock from the impact, but other than a few cuts and bruises he was unhurt, "I tried."

"You did a good job," said Bloom as she smiled, her voice heavy with relief.

At that time, Morgan was in the air, peppering the kraken with razor-sharp disks of magenta colored dark magic that, she intended, would slice the monster into ribbons. She threw these disks at the main body of the monster, but all they did was make it more angry as its wounds healed.

Mace, Payton and Tatewaki were just out of reach of the creature's seeking tentacles, waiting for an opening to strike at the main body, while Kurt had take up position atop the bunkhouse, continuing to shoot the kraken, despite the fact that all his shots had very little effect on the monster.

"This foul beast is beginning to try my patience!" said Tatewaki.

"Well I'm open to suggestions!" shouted Mace as he dodged a tentacle.

Morgan had flew low to slap several explosive tags onto the creature. The kraken responded by swatting her onto the island, she landed hard and formed a decent sized crater.

"Morgan!" shouted Tecna and Musa. They rushed to the crater and helped Morgan up.

She wasn't seriously hurt, but she was seriously dazed, "No more for me, thanks, I'm driving," Morgan then passed out.

"She's fine," said Tecna after scanning Morgan.

Bloom had gotten back to Layla and Ann, the later had stayed with the former since the battle started, describing the action to Layla.

"This is getting out of hand," said Bloom, "That monster has got to have a weakness. Layla, Ann, you know more about krakens than I do, surely they've got just one weak spot."

"I honestly don't know," said Ann.

"There may be one chance," said Layla, "But it probably won't work."

"What?" Bloom asked, "I'm open to just about anything right now."

"It's nothing," said Layla, "just something I barely remember from a story I heard when I was little."

"Tell me then," said Bloom, "For crying out loud, Layla, that thing won't leave us alone unless we can defeat it."

"I…I just can't remember," said Layla in a trembling tone.

"Listen to me, Layla," said Ann, "Right now the love of your life, your soul mate, he's fighting that monster for you and your friends. If you can't remember for yourself or your friends, remember for him."

Bloom saw that Tatewaki, Mace and Payton were desperately dodging the tentacles, barely one step ahead of the seeking arms.

"I do remember one thing," said Layla in a slightly distant tone, as if she was really trying to remember something long forgotten, "Something about how a kraken draws its power from its mother, the ocean."

It was as if a light bulb clicked over Bloom's head, "Anteas the Giant, of course!" she then shouted to Tatewaki, Mace and Payton, "You guys! You have to get it out of the water!!"

"No problem, Princess Bloom!" shouted Mace, "I just need two minutes to get ready."

"I think we can keep this scurvy bastard occupied for two minutes," said Payton.

"Indeed!" said Tatewaki. The two of them focused on speed instead of delivering striking power. The kraken kept trying to grab them, but Payton and Tatewaki were just too fast for it.

At the same time, Mace focused his energy on maximizing his strength. To Bloom and the others watching, it seemed that Mace's muscle mass was increasing, like he was getting larger.

"What's happening to him?" Flora asked.

"He's taping into the full potential of his body," said Tecna, "Normally the human body can use only 30% of it's physical potential, but somehow Mace is able to use the untapped 70%."

By now Payton and Tatewaki had confounded the kraken into twisting its tentacles and arms into knots.

"It would appear that we have given this cretin a run for its money," said Tatewaki.

"Now it's my turn!" shouted Mace. He grabbed the entangled tentacles of the kraken and with all his might, flung the monster onto an empty part of the island. The kraken thrashed about but could barely move out of the water.

"I was right!" Bloom said happily, "In the story of Hercules vs. Anteas the Giant, the Herc faced a monster that regained its strength every time it got knocked down. Anteas got his power from the earth, his mother, so Hercules grabbed Anteas and separated him from the ground and strangled him in the air.

"The same principle applies to the kraken; its power comes from its mother, the ocean, so separate it from the ocean and it loses its power."

"In that case," said Kurt as he reloaded his gun with incendiary bullets, each round containing a highly concentrated packet of napalm, "I'm in the mood for some cooking." he aimed and shot the helpless but still evil kraken six time, engulfing the monster with flames. It howled in agony as it writhed in the fire before finally becoming a blackened hulk.

"Charred squid anyone?" Morgan asked, clearly fully recovered.

The end of chapter 8.

The Dragon Princess and her companions return to Alfea, where the sage instructs the water princess in the ways of a fairy's full magic. The redeemed vigilante returns with more of those who were lost. As the Dragon Princess and her one true love anticipate a happy occasion, the psychotic shrew watches with wrathful envy, and plots revenge .

Next chapter: Concerning Fairy Dust

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