Last time we found out just how badly hurt Sky was. Just when it seemed that he was doomed to months, possibly years of painful recovery, and Bloom condemning herself to eternal self pity, Jake arrived with three newly found survivors of Domino, one of which was a doctor whom promised to get Sky back into shape in a matter of weeks. Bloom and The Winx returned to Alfea, with Brandon staying behind to help Sky with his recovery.
Meanwhile on Xaldo, Zahidia told Vicky and her sisters to go after two Construct pieces that were located on Magix; one at Alfea, the other at Cloud Tower. The witches decided to go after the piece at their old school, resulting in the capture of Cloud Tower, the enslavement of its students and teachers (except for Griffin), and leaving Carmen with a concussion and Morgan missing. The biggest shock of the day was when it was revealed that Mirta's friend Lucy was the one responsible for the fall of Cloud Tower. 'Nuff said, on with the show!
Chapter 14: …To Worse
Vicky stood in Griffin's office, admiring it from a new perspective. For four years of her youth she dreaded being called to the headmistress' office for whatever punishment Griffin had in store for her. Even on a good day when she wasn't in trouble, and those days far outnumbered the ones where she was in trouble, Vicky felt intimidated by this room and its occupant, especially by Griffin. But now things were different. Vicky wasn't a student any more, now she was in charge. Now was the time for Griffin to experience fear, her and everyone else.
It was easy locating the Construct piece once Cloud Tower was secure. My former headmistress had no idea that a component of the most diabolical device in the universe was right here in her office, thought Vicky as she picked up the small piece of the Construct. This small off-white piece of ordinary looking stone had been serving as a paperweight to several previous headmistresses for hundreds of years, none of them suspecting its true purpose.
Holding the piece in one hand, Vicky used the speed-dial on her cellphone to call Xaldo, "My Lady Zahidia, I have the next Construct piece in my hand, which I will send to you now," she then cast a sending spell, teleporting the piece to Xaldo, "and I have the privilege to report that Cloud Tower has fallen; I'm in charge now."
"You have outdone yourself yet again, Vicky," said Zahidia.
"I thank you, Lady Zahidia," said Vicky, "I also wish to report that all of the students of the school are now under mind control, as well as nearly all of the staff. Unfortunately we were unable to capture Griffin, as well as three visiting witches. By now they've informed Faragonda and Saladin of the situation, but they will be dealt with in due time."
"As I'm sure you will handle it in your usual manner," said Zahidia, "I do regret the loss of Griffin; the addition of a witch of her caliber would have greatly benefited the new empire."
"There may yet be a chance to bring her into the fold," said Vicky, "As soon as we can be ready, my sisters and I will go to Alfea and retrieve the next Construct piece. I assume I have your blessing to destroy the school and it's inhabitants?"
"You have it indeed," said Zahidia, "I want Alfea completely obliterated, and every sickening fairy exterminated. Make sure that you destroy Bloom, I want her heart as proof of her demise. I admit I was wrong in not allowing you to finish her on Andros. Once again the scryers have proven themselves not entirely accurate. This time I demand that Bloom's life be extinguished, forever."
"I shall deliver her heart to you on a silver platter if you so wish," said Vicky.
"I wish it," said Zahidia, "but before you depart, Vicky, remember, make sure you don't take any unnecessary risks. I want Alfea erased from the map, but don't do it if it means exposing you and your sisters as servants of the empire. We're still not ready to make our presence known publicly, though I wish it were otherwise."
"I understand," said Vicky, " It shall be as you command."
"Then go forth and carry out your duty to the empire, Vicky," said Zahidia.
"I live only to serve you, Lady Zahidia," said Vicky as she bowed, even though she knew that Zahidia wasn't there to see it. She then hung up her phone.
She looked around Griffin's office again, then decided 'what the hell,' and sat in Griffin's chair. Vicky stretched her arms out as she leaned back and put her feet up on Griffin's desk, just as Darcy came through the door.
"Making yourself comfortable?" Darcy asked.
"I always imagined myself as headmistress of Cloud Tower one day," said Vicky, "what a foolish little girl I was back then. Now I have more 'realistic' goals in mind."
"So what's the next step?" Darcy asked, "When do we pay a visit to Alfea?"
"Well first we have to collect your sisters and Toro," said Vicky as she stood up, "just where are Icy and Stormy?"
"They're making the 'zombies' torment each other," said Darcy, referring to the now enslaved students of Cloud Tower, "but they're not really having fun."
"Oh really?" Vicky asked, "You'd think they'd enjoy such a treat. Let's see," she then commanded Griffin's crystal ball to show Icy and Stormy, who were directing the zombie witches to hurt themselves. But it was clear that Icy and Stormy really weren't having such a good time being human puppeteers.
"It's no fun unless they really are in anguish," said Stormy in a disappointed tone, "all these blank faces and no screams, it just doesn't feel right."
"You're right," said Icy as she yawned with boredom, "I'm done with this."
Darcy and Vicky then teleported in beside them, "You'd think that being in charge of your old school would liven things up with you," said Vicky, "You two are a pair of wet blankets."
"I'll show you a wet blanket," said Stormy. She then conjured up a soaking afghan and had it hit Vicky, "now that's a wet blanket!"
"You so got served!" laughed Icy, while Darcy and Stormy also giggled.
"You think that's funny?" Vicky asked as she smiled mischievously, "Let's see if you like this!" She conjured up several water balloons and had them hit her sisters. This lead to an all-out water fight among the four sisters.
Just then Toro walked into the room, just in time to get hit in the face with a bucket of water that Icy called forth, which incidentally happened to be very cold water.
Fortunately, Toro dodged it, only to be hit in the chest with a bucket of warm water that Stormy called forth.
"Okay!" said Toro, "That's it, you girls are so gonna get it! Darcy, some ammo if you please!"
"Lock and load, darling!" said Darcy as she summoned a vary large water gun for Toro, it was more like a water cannon, and proceeded to chase Icy, Stormy and Vicky throughout the castle corridors, with Darcy providing support. It was a rare moment of innocent fun for the dark souls, only to be interrupted all too soon.
"Oh for the love of all things dark and chaotic!" said a deep feminine voice, "you people are really immature, you know?" standing in front of them stood a witch with long, unkempt green hair over a gaunt, pale face with dark eyes. She wore a short plaid skirt and green boots, a white shirt and black fingerless gloves.
"I stand corrected," said Vicky, "now there's a wet blanket."
"Well this wet blanket is the one who got you inside the school without tripping the alarms," said Lucy, "so you should at least show some respect."
"And why should we show you any respect, Lucy?" Icy asked in a scornful tone.
"Because I say so, Icy," said Lucy as she glared at said witch, clearly unafraid of her former classmate, "and you know it. And now is the time for you to get the other Construct piece, before those losers at Alfea are ready for you."
"Since when did you know about the Construct?" Stormy asked.
"Who do you think told Lady Zahidia where the Cloud Tower piece was?" Lucy asked, "That's another that you owe me."
"We owe you nothing," said Darcy, "And just how long have you been affiliated with the new R'lyeh empire?"
"I've always been a loyal subject of Lady Zahidia," said Lucy as she showed her right forearm to The Trix. What appeared to be normal pale skin soon revealed itself to be something else as Lucy released the illusion spell that concealed a Cthulhu tattoo.
"I received this gift from Lady Zahidia just before I started here at Cloud Tower; I've just been waiting for the right opportunity to reveal my true colors."
"Well, I'll be the first to admit it," said Icy, "I misjudged you, Lucy, you truly are a witch among witches."
"I'm so glad to hear you say that," said Lucy. Then, without any warning, she slapped Icy across the face, not really hard, but hard enough to deliver a profound shock.
"What the hell was that for?!" exclaimed Icy.
"You didn't think I'd forget the horrible way you treated me," said Lucy, "did you? Well I didn't. Which reminds me," she then slapped Darcy and Stormy, "Now we're even."
"Now I'll admit," said Darcy as she and Stormy carefully felt where they got slapped, "she really is a witch."
"So what's the next move?" Toro asked.
"We get the next Construct piece," said Vicky, "while at the same time, hopefully, destroying Alfea."
"That's what I'm talking about," said Stormy eagerly.
"And I know just how to do it," said Lucy, "here's my plan."
"Since when are you the one who gets to make the plans?" Icy asked.
"It wouldn't hurt to hear her idea," said Vicky, "do continue, Lucy."
"As I was saying," said Lucy as she glared at Icy, who glared back, "before I was so rudely interrupted, here's my plan…"
...ONE PLAN EXPLAINED LATER…
"That's my plan," said Lucy.
"I hate to admit it," said Darcy, "but that is one wicked plan."
"I agree," said Toro.
"It is kind of nasty," said Stormy.
"Oh alright," said Icy in an annoyed tone, "I'll go with it."
"Well if you don't like my plan," said Lucy, "just say so. I'm sure we'll like your plan, assuming you've got one."
As hard as she tried, Icy just couldn't think of a better plan. She looked at Vicky in a pleading manner, as if asking for help. But Vicky only shrugged, as if saying that no help was to be given.
"That's that then," said Lucy, "we'll go with my plan."
"I do have one little suggestion to add to the plan," said Vicky, "leave Faragonda to me. I'll deal with Griffin later, Zahidia wishes to give Griffin a chance to join us, but I've got something special planned for Faragonda. I plan to personally eliminate the old woman from the game."
"Fair enough," said Icy, "as long as you leave Bloom and her loser friends for us."
"You've got yourself a deal, little sister," said Vicky, "so long as you cut her heart out as proof of her demise."
"It'll be my pleasure," said Icy.
"Something's still bugging me," said Stormy, "We never did find Morgan, I still owe her for what she did to me."
"And I have a score to settle with Carmen," said Icy, "but she and the other one, Elise, she got away with Griffin."
"We'll deal with them all," said Darcy, "it's time we settled all our debts."
"I still want to deal with Morgan," said Stormy, "I can't for the life of me figure out how she got away. I know Griffin and the other two losers used an emergency teleporting scroll, but I just can't figure out how Morgan did it."
"That's why you've got us to think for you," said Darcy. She then spoke to Toro, "I'm convince that the wayward troublemaker Morgan is still in the castle; would you be a dear and find the troublesome Morgan Rodgers for us, Toro darling?"
"It would be my pleasure to hunt the little bitch down," said Toro. He then spoke to Stormy "How do you want her?"
"Alive," said Stormy, "And unspoiled if you can. I want to enjoy taking her apart myself."
"Consider it done," said Toro as he grinned viciously in anticipation of the hunt to come.
One hour later…
As she helped her friends and classmates prepare Alfea for defense, Bloom (who, along with the other Winx, were already in their fairy forms) had a nearly overwhelming sense of déjà vu.
"This is almost like back when The Trix used the Dark Army," said Flora, "nobody knows what to expect."
"But this time we've got Bloom to help," said Musa.
"And how," said Bloom. True, neither Bloom or anyone else had any idea just what Vicky would do next, but one thing was sure; Bloom would be there to help her friends. This time around she would be there to fight back with everything she had and more.
Already things were going as best they could for Alfea. Faragonda, Griselda and the rest of the staff had activated every protection spell already built into the school, as well as several recently added charms and shields. If anyone tried to break into the school from the outside, they'd have a really hard time doing it.
Other protective measures had also been taken to insure that nobody teleported inside or phased through the walls. As another precaution, Faragonda had ordered every 1st and 2nd year student to take shelter inside the school, leaving Bloom and The Winx to help coordinate the 3rd and 4th years.
"Now all we need are several dozen Red Fountain heroes to complete things," said Stella. She then sighed, "I wish my snookums was here."
"I wish your snookums was here as well," said Elise, "but that's just not in the program."
"We all wish the ones we love were here to help," said Bloom as she thought of Sky struggling to get back into shape. Flora, Musa, Layla and Tecna also sighed. Their respective boyfriends were currently at Red Fountain organizing the relief force.
"They shouldn't be too long getting here," said Tecna in an optimistic tone.
"I'm afraid you'll have to wait for a while, Tecna," said Faragonda as she walked towards Bloom and the others, "I just spoke with Saladin; someone has sabotaged all of the vessels in the Red Fountain hanger, every single one."
"Sabotaged?" Bloom asked in a shocked tone, while Stella and Flora gasped in surprise.
"Sabotaged," repeated Faragonda, "It'll take at least another hour before anyone can get here through other means of transport."
"Who would do such a horrible thing?" Layla asked.
"Do you really have to ask?" Mirta asked as she landed next to Flora, nearly tripping but quickly regaining her balance. Mirta had been helping strengthening one of the shield spells. "Who do we know want's to destroy Alfea and Red Fountain by any means?"
"I agree," said Tecna, "No doubt that Vicky and her sisters sabotaged the Red Fountain ships to prevent the Specialists from coming to help."
"So they can destroy us first," said Bloom, "Then finish off Red Fountain."
"A plausible theory," said Faragonda, "but one I happen to disagree on. No, this wasn't an act of dark magic. According to Saladin, this was purely mechanical sabotage."
"You mean someone took a wrench to the Red Fountain ships?" Musa asked, "that's just wrong."
Just then a proximity alarm went off. "They're coming!" said Faragonda as the sky above, which was already overcast, grew darker and more menacing as several dozen mind-controlled witches teleported above the school, outside the range of Alfea's protective spells. And hovering above the zombie witches was Lucy, clearly in charge.
"Destroy them!!" exclaimed Lucy. The zombie witches, their faces completely devoid of all emotion, began throwing curses as the school. The defensive shields held firm though, absorbing the energy of some of the curses, while deflecting others.
"We're fine for now," said Faragonda as she addressed her students, "but I honestly don't know how much longer before the shields collapse. When they do, make sure to use stunning spells only. Those witches may be here to wipe us out, but they are not in control of themselves."
"Try to contain them as best you can," said Griffin as she stood next to Faragonda, "I will attempt to remove the mind-control spell."
"Well there's one who knows what she's doing," said Stella as she pointed at Lucy, who was egging her 'slaves' on.
"Leave her to me," said Mirta, "I'm serious, I'll deal with Lucy myself."
"But she's your best friend," said one 3rd year fairy.
"Was my friend," said Mirta, her voice and face heavy with grim determination, "now she's just like any other villain to me."
"You're not going to kill her," said Flora, clearly concerned that Mirta's anger would have dire consequences for her, "Are you?"
"No," said Mirta in an angry tone, but it was controlled anger, "death is too good for the likes of Lucy. I'll hand her over to the cops back home. We may have grown up together on the same world, but she's all but dead to be now."
All Bloom could say to this was, "'hell hath no fury like a woman scorned.'"
Just then there was a loud CRACK as the shields began to break under the seemingly endless onslaught of the zombie witches. Another crack in the shield appeared, followed by another and another.
"Faragonda," said Elise in a determined voice, "Let me have the first move. I have an Old Tongue spell that will surely even the odds for us, without seriously harming our attackers."
Elise then looked at Mirta, "You may have renounced your friendship with Lucy, but she's still a witch, like me. Those enslaved souls up there," she pointed at the zombie witches, "they're my sisters in the dark arts; we take care of our own."
It was then that the shield shattered, the pieces dissolving before they hit anyone in the courtyard below.
"Get them!!" shouted Lucy. The zombie witches began diving towards the courtyard.
"Get this!!" shouted Elise as she raised her hands to the sky, "Zaker-ryuka!!" A bright yellow shockwave of electricity shot out from her hands, hitting half the zombie witches and knocking them out. They fell to the ground, each caught by one of the Alfea students with a hovering spell, which they used to lower the unconscious witches carefully to the ground.
"My turn!" said Stella eagerly. She took flight, and with her Enchantix enhanced powers, shot multiple streams of pure sunlight that blinded half the remaining zombie witches.
Layla then threw several small spheres of morphix at the blinded zombie witches, each sphere hitting its target and expanded, ensnaring each zombie witch in sticky goo that completely immobilized them. These too were caught by several Alfea fairies.
Bloom, Tecna and Flora then combined their magic to ensnare the remaining zombie witches with constricting vines that were also very hot with mild Dragonfire, and also electrically charged with green lightning. Musa completed the combination with a hip-hop blast that scrambled the equilibrium of the zombie witches. Bound, burned, musically disoriented and shocked, the last of the zombies plummeted to the ground and were caught and carried to safety. It wasn't long before all of them were restrained by magical ropes that blocked their powers.
"Oh you lousy, do-gooding fairies!!" spat Lucy as she flew down to the ground, obviously not caring that she was the one outnumbered and surrounded now, "You never make things fair for us witches!!"
"You want to know what else is unfair, Lucy!?" Mirta asked, her anger rising to the occasion again, "You siding with The Trix, that's what's unfair!!"
"Just where are The Trix anyway?" Musa asked. True enough, there was no sign of everyone's favorite dark trio.
"And where is Vicky?" Bloom asked.
"On the other side of the universe, as far as I'm concerned," said Stella as she and the other Winx quietly sighed with relief at not having to fight their more formidable enemies today.
"For your information, Mirta," said Lucy, "I wasn't aware that I would be joining forces with Icy and her sisters, they just happened to be along for the ride. You'll see them soon enough. I'm just here to keep you losers occupied."
"You're the one who's the loser, Lucy," said Elise, "just look around, you're all alone." Every zombie witch had been rounded up and secured with magical bindings, courtesy if Faragonda and Griffin. The displaced headmistress of Cloud Tower had then begun to try to find a way to remove the mind control spells. So far no good, but Griffin had been at it for only a minute or so to try. Griffin wasn't discouraged the least; rather, she enjoyed a challenge such as this.
"So this is how you want to play," said Lucy as she glared at Bloom and the others, "one lone witch, ganged up by dozens of pathetic fairies."
"Your friends The Trix have used that tactic on us more times than I'd like to count," said Bloom, "but we're better than them, aren't we?" this question was asked of everyone present. Stella, Flora, Musa, Layla, Tecna and the other Alfea fairies nodded in agreement.
"Mirta," said Bloom, "you wanted to deal with Lucy, she's all yours." Bloom then looked at Elise, "unless you want to help her."
"I wouldn't wish to deny Mirta her satisfaction," said Elise, "I'll just watch."
"Then let it be between the two of them!" said Griffin as she took a short break to make the dispute official, "This is to be a fight to the finish between two acolytes of the dark arts!"
"No!" said Lucy angrily, "Don't you group that half-blood freak Mirta with pure witches like me!"
"I may be only half a witch," said Mirta as she glared daggers at Lucy, "But I'm witch enough to be really pissed at you Lucy! You're nothing to me now! Not a friend, not a fellow witch, nothing but a villain that needs to be stopped."
"As I was saying before I was so rudely interrupted," said Griffin, "this is to be a fight to the finish between two acolytes of the dark arts! Anyone who interferes shall answer to me!"
"A fight to the finish?" a slightly shocked Flora asked, "you're really going to kill Lucy?"
"Well she's gonna do her best to kill me," said Mirta, "so I might as well return the courtesy. I'll try to keep her alive for the authorities, but if I have to, I won't hesitate to finish her for good."
"Well don't do anything stupid," said Musa, "like getting yourself killed."
"Never happen," said Mirta as she gave Flora, Musa and the others a confident smile.
"She's really a different person from that day in the forest," said Bloom as Mirta walked towards the middle of the courtyard, where Lucy waited.
"Our Mirta has come into her own," said Flora.
"So," said Lucy as she glared at Mirta, who glared back, "you ready to die?"
"Just answer me this, Lucy," said Mirta, "what made you go crazy all of a sudden?"
"What do you mean?" Lucy asked, "This is the real me. What you've believed to be your best friend, that was the illusion."
"If that's the way you want to put it," said Mirta as he anger began to rise again, this time for keeps, "then so be it! You were never my friend!!" with that she threw a double illusion spell at Lucy, one that would leave her blind and paralyzed.
Lucy jumped out of the way and took flight, blasting Mirta with several dark purple spheres. Mirta dodged these and also took to the air. She kept trying to capture Lucy in an illusion, while Lucy kept trying to blast Mirta downright.
"Mirta's flying skills have definitely improved," said Musa, "I honestly didn't know she had it in her."
"She's just angry," said Elise, "it's giving her new focus and purpose. Once the witch in her has been satisfied she'll be back to her normal, kind, awkward self."
Just then Vicky teleported next to Faragonda, grinning viciously. Before anyone could react, Vicky grabbed Faragonda by the arm, "Tag! You're it!!" and the two of them teleported out before anyone could do anything.
"What the hell just happened?" Bloom asked, the shock of it still not completely settled in her mind.
********
The next thing Faragonda knew she and Vicky were in a clearing in the middle of the forest.
"I did that so we could be alone, Faragonda," said Vicky in a malicious tone, "my sisters have their prize to seek, where as I desire to finish you off myself."
"You always were an ambitious one, Victoria," said Faragonda as the two magic users began to circle each other, "I guess ambition runs in the family, your sisters have more of it than common sense, as does you."
"Icy and the others have their faults," said Vicky, "but I've overcame mine long ago. I'm not the same slip of a witch who delighted in pulling the strings from the shadows. I'm a new and improved woman."
"You certainly are different," said Faragonda as she noticed the two necklaces around Vicky's neck, "any more accessories and you'll be a hippy. And all that makeup, that must run in the family as well."
"What I wear is my own concern," said Vicky, "You should be more concerned for yourself. Face it, Faragonda! You don't stand a whelk's chance in a supernova!"
"What does a whelk have to do with a supernova?" Faragonda asked.
"It doesn't stand a chance in one," said Vicky as she smiled cruelly, "just like you don't have one against me!!" She shot a stream of dark magic at Faragonda, who countered with a stream of light magic. The two beams met in the middle of the clearing.
At first it looked to be an even contest between the two magic users as they poured more energy into their spells, each trying to overpower the other. But the one minute went by, then two, then five. By that time Faragonda was beginning to tire. Inch by agonizing inch, her spell began to gave way to Vicky's.
"You've become weak in your old age!!" said Vicky gleefully as she now used both hands to amplify her attack. By now Faragonda had less than two yards of her magic blocking Vicky's vicious spell.
"With age comes wisdom, Victoria!" Faragonda shouted with effort. With her one hand she maintained her spell, while with the other began casting a reflective barrier right in front of her. She released the first spell, causing Vicky's dark spell to shoot towards its intended victim, only to encounter the reflective spell, sending it back to its caster.
Vicky dodged her own spell, the dark magic barely missing her head as it crashed through the trees. But as Vicky regained her balance, she realized that Faragonda used the second of inattention to get behind her.
Faragonda now used both hands to aim and shoot a full power stunning spell at Vicky, fully intending to capture the dark witch alive. But when the spell hit its target, Faragonda was surprised to see Vicky vanish.
Now it was Vicky's turn to get behind Faragonda and aimed a stunning spell. Faragonda nearly got out of the way, but enough of the spell hit her to knock her to the ground.
"You teleported," said Faragonda as she struggled to get back up, but the aftereffect of the spell was too strong for the moment.
"No," said Vicky, "That was pure speed." she aimed both hands at Faragonda and began chanting for a really nasty curse. A sphere of dark orange energy began forming in Vicky's hands.
"Just what have you been up to, Victoria?" Faragonda asked as she ran a list of counter-spells in her mind, trying to anticipate was Vicky was about to do to her.
"More than you can imagine," said Vicky viciously as she prepared to hit Faragonda with the curse, "it's a pity you have to die here and now. I would love to see the look on Bloom's face. I'll have to remember that one; make Bloom watch someone she cares about die." With that she began chanting again, this time for the final verses to the curse, the orange sphere of dark magic reaching it's peak of potency.
Faragonda knew she had only seconds to disrupt the curse, so she decided that the oldest trick in the book would do, "Your boots are untied."
"What?" Vicky asked just before she would have said the final words to the curse. But the magic would not be denied. Even though it was unfinished, the curse prepared to shoot from Vicky's hands
With every ounce of power she had left, Faragonda threw an attack spell at Vicky, just as the curse was about to shoot, offsetting Vicky's aim enough that it would only graze Faragonda. She then shouted a protective spell just as the curse impacted
Faragonda's spell hit Vicky in the forehead, cutting the witch. It wasn't a serious wound, just a long cut above her left eye, but it was a would that she wouldn't forget. Vicky expected the cut to heal within seconds, but then she realized that her body's healing ability wasn't kicking in, the cut was still bleeding.
"Looks like you've still got it, Faragonda," said Vicky, but then she smiled venomously as she saw her curse begin to take effect, even though it was incomplete and it barely hit its target, "and it also looks like you won't be dieing just yet. But don't worry, you won't have to wait long."
"I beg to differ," said Faragonda. She knew that Vicky's incomplete curse wasn't fatal, her protective spell made sure of that.
"You're thinking about Bloom and her fairy friends," said Vicky as she held her hand up to her forehead to staunch the blood, "I'm not going to kill them just yet. No doubt they'll try to help you, but you'll be dead before that, I can promise you that. Now if you'll excuse me, I must attend to my sisters before they get into another mess that they can't clean up themselves." With that she teleported out, leaving Faragonda to face her cruel fate alone, but defiantly confident that all will be well.
********
Back at Alfea, Bloom and the others were fretting over Faragonda and was currently trying to decide if they should go look for her. The worst thing was that they didn't know where Vicky took Faragonda.
"She could have taken Faragonda anywhere on Magix," said Tecna, "or anywhere else in The Magical Dimension, or even the universe."
"Let's not jump to conclusions just yet, Tecna," said Bloom, "We'll find Faragonda."
"Well we can't leave just yet," said Flora, "Mirta might need us."
"I don't think she'd appreciate you interrupting her battle," said Elise, "she'd want you to do what you'd thought was right."
"Elise is right," said Layla, "Mirta would want to do this herself."
"Besides," said Stella, "it looks like Mirta and Lucy aren't going anywhere any time soon."
At that time Mirta and Lucy had called a time-out; they were so evenly matched, so they decided to take a break to catch their breath. The two former friends stood at opposite ends of the courtyard, glaring at each other as they regained their stamina for another round.
"How long can they keep this up?" Flora asked, "They're just as strong, they could be deadlocked for a long time."
"This will go on as long as it has to," said Griffin, "it is the ways of witchcraft; when one witch betrays another, nothing else matters until the outrage is settled. I know it must seem barbaric to you fairies, our ways, but that's how it is. But young Mirta is more than a witch. I do believe she will prevail in the end."
"I hope so," said Flora.
"What about the others?" Bloom asked, "the zombie witches. Any luck removing the mind control spell?"
"Not as of yet," said Griffin, "it is proving to be particularly stubborn. But I am a resourceful woman who has yet to exhaust her resources. I will find a way to free my students. And as for Faragonda, she's just as resourceful. If anyone has a decent chance against Victoria, it is your headmistress."
Now it was Stella's turn to say, "I hope so."
Just then Bloom had that familiar feeling of something bad going down. But it was different this time, like what she was sensing was someone needing help, desperately.
"Girls…" she said.
"I feel it to," said Tecna, "As if someone nearby is in terrible danger."
"The first and second years," said Flora, "They're all inside."
"And The Trix are nowhere to be seen," said Layla.
Just then Musa gasped in shock, as if she to sensed the danger, but was far more sensitive to it, "oh no! Not her!"
"What is it?" Tecna asked, "Who's in trouble?"
"It's my friend from home," said Musa, "Galatea, The Trix are attacking her in the library!"
Without another word the six fairies took flight, flying as fast as they could to the Alfea Library. What they found, they would remember for a long time.
…Five Minutes Ago…
With full knowledge that they would never get inside Alfea unnoticed, The Trix decided to try something else. They already knew that several underground passages connected Alfea with Cloud Tower, but they suspected that these to had also recently been warded against outside intruders.
But then Vicky once again proved herself to be the loving big sister by showing Icy, Darcy and Stormy one particular tunnel that Vicky herself made during her years at Cloud Tower, a tunnel that led right into Alfea near the school library, where as best Vicky could determine, was where the next Construct piece lay.
With the majority of Alfea occupied with the zombie witches, Icy, Darcy and Stormy faced no opposition as they exited the tunnel and walked right into the library.
"It is way too easy," said Darcy, "like blasting fish in a barrel."
"I know," said Stormy, "I'm so wound up, I need to relax. There's never a pathetic Alfea fairy to destroy when you really need one."
"We'll have plenty of fairies to destroy later, sisters," said Icy, "right now we've got a Construct piece to find. By now Vicky is doing her part, and it won't be long before that imp Lucy is out of the picture, so we need to find that piece fast."
"Can I at least burn a few of their books?" Stormy asked as they stood in the middle of the library.
"You can burn the whole school down," said Icy in a slightly irritated tone, "after we find what we're here to find."
"That shouldn't be too hard," said Darcy. She walked to the side of the bookcase that Stormy was currently going through, the foul weather witch tearing books from their shelves. Darcy then cast a small spell that shook the entire bookcase, causing the remaining contents to fall onto Stormy, starting with a heavy bookend that hit her on the head.
"What the hell was that for!?" exclaimed Stormy as she carefully felt the top of her head. She wasn't bleeding, just very sore from where the bookend hit her.
"Well it worked the last time we paid a visit to Alfea," said Darcy as she held out her Cthulhu ring as a scrying tool over the fallen contents of the bookcase, "Oh, it's not here."
"Well it's got to be somewhere," said Icy as she took off her Cthulhu earring and used that as a scrying tool, while Stormy did the same.
But then Icy sensed that they were being watched. She got Darcy's attention and sent her a hand signal that told them that they were being watched. Darcy nodded in acknowledgement, then cast a spell that forced their observer out of hiding. It was a fairy wearing bright yellow and with wings shaped like cleft notes.
"Well look what we have here," said Icy with vicious glee, "fresh meat."
"It's been too long since we've had our way with a first year," said Darcy as she smiled venomously, while Icy and Stormy laughed cruelly at the terrified Galatea.
"I'm not afraid of you!" said Galatea, though she was nearly paralyzed with horror at facing the three infamous Trix alone. She immediately regretted leaving the safety of her friends, even more so the fact that her musical nature gifted her with above-average hearing that allowed her to hear a disturbance coming from the library.
"You should be afraid, little girl," said Icy as she smiled darkly, "you should be very afraid. Now, what to do with you?"
Galatea then thought of a desperate gamble, "let me give you something to listen to while you think it over!" she cast a sonic pulse at Darcy, knocking her into another bookcase. She sent another pulse at Stormy just as the witch began charging up a dark lighting spell. Knocked off balance, Stormy's lighting discharged into several more bookcases, starting several fires.
Icy had to duck to avoid the out of control lighting, giving Galatea the chance to send a sub-sonic SOS to Musa, the only other fairy from the Harmonic Nebula at the school, then took flight and raced for the door.
"Not so fast!!" spat Icy as she shot a frostbite spell at Galatea, hitting her in the back and freezing her wings. She cried out in pain and collapsed to the floor.
********
Halfway to the library, Musa sensed that her friend was in agony, "We have to hurry!!"
"One of these days someone has to come up with a turbo boost spell," said Bloom.
"Turbo boost?" a confused Stella asked.
"Well it worked on 'Knight Rider,'" said Bloom.
At the same time that this was going on, Carmen was pulling her act together. The infirmary window her bed was facing gave her a view outside the school grounds, away from the excitement. As soon as she head that the fighting had started, she began to get dressed.
Adorned once again in her usual black shirt, jeans and jacket, Carmen slipped her black boots on and headed towards the door. Blocking her way were two of the nurses.
"I appreciate the care you've given me," said Carmen, "but my friends are in trouble. Now, you can either let me go to their aid, or I can force you out of my way. It's your choice."
The nurses realized that their patient was back to normal and was ready to do anything to go help Bloom and the others. With some reluctance they stood aside, allowing Carmen to pass through the doorway and back into the school proper. She cast a quick locating spell, determining that Bloom and the others were heading towards the library, so that's where Carmen headed as well.
********
"You two alright?" Icy asked.
"What?" Stormy asked.
"What did she say?" Darcy asked as the two of them got back up. Neither looked injured, just a little out of sorts.
"I said are you two alright?" Icy asked again.
"Why are you mumbling?" Darcy asked in a slightly louder tone.
"Speak up!" said Stormy.
"Oh for crying out loud," said an irate Icy, "Are you telling me that this pathetic first year," she pointed at the incapacitated Galatea, "that she damaged your ears!?"
"I can't hear you so well!" said Darcy, "I think that first year damaged my ears!"
"What do you mean about fish years?" Stormy asked.
"Never mind," said Icy angrily, "I'll finish her off myself."
"Finish off who?" Darcy asked, "hey, the ringing has stopped."
"Bringing what?" Stormy asked.
"She's still deaf," said Icy, then focused her anger on Galatea, "And it's all your fault!" With a snap of her fingers, (insert finger snapping sound), Icy shattered Galatea's frozen wings, just as Bloom and the others entered the library.
"Galatea!!" shouted a shocked Musa.
"Icy!!" shouted Bloom.
"That's right!" said Icy proudly, "I did that!"
"It'll be the last thing you do!!" shouted Carmen as she ran into the library.
"You!!" exclaimed Icy, her face contorted with rage and fear at the sight of Carmen.
"I killed you too quickly last time!" said Carmen, her voice and face twisted with rage, "This time I'm gonna make sure that nothing brings you back!!" she took flight and tackled Icy, forcing the both of them into a window, which they crashed out of onto the courtyard.
"Well that was rude," said Darcy, "I think we should go help her."
"Icy really wouldn't like having to be cloned again," said Stormy. The two of them took flight, but not before leaving something for The Winx to deal with, "Catch you losers later!" with both hands, Stormy bright forth a strong wind that fanned the flames of the fires her misfired lighting started. The isolated hot spots started to grow out of control.
"Hey!!" shouted Bloom as Darcy and Stormy flew out the window, "Get back here!! We're not done!!"
"We've got bigger things to worry about, Bloom!" said Tecna. The fires were on the verge of becoming a raging inferno.
"We've got to stop this before the whole school goes up!" said Layla.
"Wait!" said Musa, "Where's Galatea!" Without really thinking, she flew further into the library, only to find that her friend was trapped underneath a fallen bookcase, which Musa easily took care of with another sonic pulse.
"I'm here, Galatea," said Musa as she tried to get her friend onto her feet and began heading back towards the others, but by now the fire was so hot and the smoke was so thick that both fairies could barely breathe.
"Musa," coughed Galatea, "don't get yourself killed over me. Just go!"
"I'm not leaving you!" shouted Musa. "I won't leave anyone behind!" Just then Musa felt this huge surge of energy welling up inside her. Whatever it was, it felt like it was a good thing.
Bloom and the others tried to go after Musa, but the flames were to high. Bloom, having the power of the Dragonfire, was immune to regular fire mostly, but the others weren't. She had just finished casting fireproofing spells on Stella and the others, when they both sensed that something good had just happened. The orange and yellow light of the fire was dwarfed by a different light, a light that was also musical.
"Is that from Musa?" Flora asked.
"I think so," said Bloom.
"There's no doubt about it," said Tecna, "Musa has just earned her Enchantix."
They then saw Musa emerging from the fire carrying Galatea. As she set her friend down out of harms way, Musa then realized the change in her appearance, and was equally stunned by it as Bloom and the others.
Musa was now clad in a puffy magenta diamond skirt with a matching magenta tube top. The top had a yellow cloth hanging from the right shoulder and the skirt another yellow cloth hanging from the left hip. She had pink, translucent above-the-elbow gloves on her arms and thistle barefoot sandals on her feet. Her wings had increased in size, like a butterflies', light yellow, square in shape, with bejeweled speckles of purple. A thistle tiara rested on her. Her black pigtails had lengthened to the back of her knees.
"Wow!" said Bloom.
"Prodigious!" said Tecna.
"Absolutely fabulous!" said Stella.
"You can say that again," said both Layla and Flora.
Everyone then noticed that the library was still on fire. "I'm on it!" said Layla. She used her Fairy Dust to enhance her morphix so that a single sphere divided into multiple spheres, which then expanded into larger spheres and scattered throughout the burning library. Each sphere then burst, releasing quenching energy that extinguished all the fires in less than ten seconds.
"There's one disaster averted," said Layla.
"And here's another one deleted," said Tecna. With the assistance of Stella's Fairy Dust, Tecna cast a spell that restored every book and scroll in the library, while Flora used her magic to undo the fire damage to the wooden bookcases. It wasn't long before the library was the way it was, with the exception of the window that Carmen and Icy broke.
Musa then took care of the remaining casualty of Icy's cruelty. "Just hang in there a second, Galatea. You'll be flying again in no time." Having already seen her friends in action, it only took Musa a few seconds to call forth her own Fairy Dust. She used it to heal Galatea's wounds from her fight with The Trix and from the fire. In less than half a minute, Galatea was fully healed, and her wings had grown back.
"Musa," said Galatea in an awed tone as she hovered on her restored wings, "I don't know what to say."
"You just spoke volumes," said Musa.
Just then there was a loud explosion from outside. "Oh no!" said Bloom, "Carmen!!"
They rushed outside to the courtyard to find that Carmen was fighting all three Trix by herself, and apparently winning. The four witches were in the air above the courtyard; The Trix flying around Carmen, who was clearly outlined by some sort of dark aura that absorbed everything that Icy and her sisters threw at her.
"What's going on?" Bloom asked, "What's that around Carmen?"
"It's an ability that I honestly didn't know that young Carmen had," said Griffin, "If you were to look closer, Bloom, you'd notice a more startling change to Carmen's appearance."
Bloom cast a spell that enhanced her vision so that she saw the fight up close. The first thing she saw was The Trix looking very angry and frustrated at the lack of any effect their attacks had on Carmen. Said witch was glaring at her opponents with a mixture of contempt and amusement. It was as if her inner darkness was in control, but with a righteous purpose other than reckless evil.
"What did she do?" Flora asked.
"It was incredible," said Mirta eagerly, "She and Icy came bursting out of the library, and there was this gush of flames after them. Stormy and Darcy followed them, and all four flew up; Carmen must have made them chase her far away enough so no one else would get hurt.
"She then shouted this Old Tongue Spell, I didn't hear it well, but then her aura flared up, then Icy and the others started blasting her, but nothing they did worked, they haven't been able to touch her, it's incredible!!"
"It was incredible," said Elise, "And the spell she used, 'Uroi-bakuos-zaorin,' it's one of the most powerful Old Tongue spells there is. I didn't know until today that Carmen was strong enough to use it."
"Young Carmen is just full of surprises," said Griffin, "that spell casts an absorbing field around the caster; any magic used against the caster is absorbed and eventually sent back at the attacker, or attackers in this case. All that The Trix are doing is contributing to their eventual destruction."
"Like I said," remarked Mirta in an eager tone, "incredible."
"I believe you," said an impressed Tecna.
"But what about you, Mirta?" Flora asked, "what happened with you and Lucy?"
"Oh, her," said Mirta in a slightly deflated tone, "I've got her trapped in an illusion. She thinks she's at the beach being waited on hand and foot by half-naked male supermodels."
"Well that doesn't sound so bad," said Stella. She noticed that everyone was looking at her like she said something stupid, "What? If you're gonna be stuck in an illusion, at least it should be a fun one."
"I'll have to give her points on that one," said Musa.
Just then everyone at Alfea heard Carmen shout as loud as she could, "Ion Gravirei!!" casting a spell that caught The Trix in the force of 100 times normal gravity, or, only 100 times had this been any other day. This time, Carmen's spell had been bolstered by the energy absorbed from all the attacks of The Trix, so now her spell had the effect of 200 times normal gravity. Unable to resist the downward pull, the three dark witches plummeted to the ground.
"What the f#ck just happened?" a dazed and confused Icy asked. She and her sisters were very battered and each had at least two broken bones.
"Why is the ground shaking?" Darcy asked.
"It's called…shellshock," said Carmen in a tired voice as she landed next to the fallen witches. The exertion of her spells gave Carmen the look of someone who was in the final stage of running a marathon, but still had enough energy for that last sprint to the finish line.
"You three have had your way for the last time, you goat-sucking whores!" said Carmen as she began gathering the necessary energy for a finishing spell, "this time there won't be any coming back for any of you!"
Just then Vicky teleported in, her forehead cut and still bleeding a little, and looking very angry. "You and what army!?!" she shouted, before blasting Carmen into a nearby wall.
Fortunately Bloom was there to cast a spell that caught Carmen in a net of Dragonfire that didn't harm her.
But then Bloom had to dodge another blast of dark magic that Vicky threw. Bloom countered with several fireballs, each of which Vicky blocked.
"You're a lot of trouble, little dragon princess," said Vicky viciously, "I think I'll skin you alive."
"Guess again, Victoria!" exclaimed Griffin as she shot a very powerful beam of dark magic at Vicky, who countered with a beam of her own. The two beams met in the middle and strained to overpower each other
"We never did get a chance to talk, Griffin," said Vicky as the two dark magic users poured more effort into their attacks, "You look well for your age."
"And you've changed for the worst, my former student," said Griffin, "You could have been the greatest witch of your time, yet you chose a more despicable path! I cannot help but feel that I've failed you in some way, Victoria, and for that I am sorry."
"Save your pity, old woman!!" snapped Vicky, "I have transcended the slip of a girl who cowered before you that first day at school. I am now the master! I have taken Cloud Tower from you! I have made your precious students my slaves!" with her beam maintained by her right hand, Vicky cast a spell with her left that freed the zombie witches from their restraints and reviving those unconscious, then they all teleported back to Cloud Tower.
"I have brought back my fallen sisters!" Vicky then cast a spell that revived Icy, Darcy and Stormy, as well as healed all their wounds, "And I have just eliminated your rival for you."
"Faragonda?" Griffin asked in a surprised tone. This minute break in concentration was what Vicky had been waiting for to break the stalemate. With another push of energy, Vicky overwhelmed Griffin's beam and blasted her to the ground. Griffin had a shield spell already in place, but the force of Vicky's attack nearly broke through that. Either way, the true headmistress of Cloud Tower was almost exhausted.
"This must really be my lucky day," said Vicky as she gloated, "I was going to convince you to join with me, my former teacher, but i've changed my mind. I think that, after sending you to the afterlife, I'll pay a visit to old Saladin. Wont she be happy to learn that the heads of the three schools of Magix all expired in the space of an hour."
"She who?" Griffin asked, "Is it that you're working for someone, Victoria?"
"Oops!" said Vicky in a slightly embarrassed tone, "nearly gave the game away. Won't happen again. Anyway, goodbye, Griffin, I will miss you, honestly."
But Vicky never got a chance to finish Griffin off, for Jake teleported in and slammed his palm into Vicky's side. Actually he barely touched her, but thanks to his experience as the last incarnation of The Phantom Renegade, Jake had the power to deliver incredible striking force with minimal contact. The incredible force of his attack sent Vicky slamming into the wall, and this time she hit the structure, causing part of the wall to collapse onto her.
"Are you injured, Headmistress Griffin?" Jake asked as she helped the elder witch up.
"I'll survive," said Griffin.
"What kept you, Jake?" Bloom asked.
"I was detained, Princess Bloom," said Jake, "My services were required at Red Fountain. Mr. Austin and I were occupied repairing the ships. Mr. Austin and Headmaster Saladin are currently attempting to discover who sabotaged the ships."
"Well I'm sure that Kurt will find out who did it," said Bloom.
"I think we're forgetting something, Bloom," said Stella.
"Or someone," said Musa.
Icy, Darcy and Stormy were standing near where Vicky had hit the wall and was buried under the rubble.
"Shouldn't we try to get her out?" Darcy asked.
Her sisters didn't need to answer, for Vicky came bursting out of the rubble. The elder Trix looked more angry than injured.
"Another of your Domino survivors, Bloom," said Vicky as she pointed an accusing finger at Jake, "I'll be sure to take my time with him."
"I do believe that you won't have much time for anything," said Jake. Just then several Red Fountain ships emerged from the overcast skies and aimed their weapons at The Trix.
"Another time," said Vicky, "Until then!" with that she and her sisters teleported out.
But then Vicky teleported back in next to Lucy, who was still trapped in her own private vacation. With one finger tapping her skull, Vicky shattered the illusion. Without a word, Vicky grabbed a very confused Lucy by the wrist and the both teleported out.
"Well, I'll say it," said Carmen, "This has been one f#ckd-up day."
"And how," said Musa.
Nobody was seriously hurt. Even so, the Alfea girls received a well earned comfort visit from the Red Fountain boys. Everyone's mood brightened as the clouds broke apart, especially Stella as the sun shone once again on Alfea.
It didn't take long for Bloom and The Winx to fill Helia and Riven on the events of that day.
"And we missed it all," said a disappointed sounding Riven as he held Musa's hand, "I should have been there for your big moment."
"You're here now," said Musa, who then gave Riven a kiss, "That's all that matters."
"That Vicky is one tough witch," said Helia, "she took a full-force strike from Jake and got back up without a scratch."
"She's definitely not the same witch as before," said Griffin.
"This Vicky is a conundrum," said Jake, "however, I shall do my best to discover how to defeat this foul witch, her and her ilk sisters."
"Well I could have taken her," said Carmen, "she surprised me, that's all. I'll get her next time."
It was then that Bloom noticed that someone was missing, "Oh no! Faragonda! Vicky…she said that she…"
"No!" said Griffin, "I refuse to believe that Faragonda has departed this life."
"We'll find her," said Tecna, "I believe that Vicky took Faragonda somewhere into the forest. There's only so much ground to cover. It's only a matter of time before we find her."
"And we've got plenty of eager Red Fountain boys to help," said Stella.
"Just hold on, Faragonda," said Bloom, "wherever you are, just hold on, we're coming."
The end of chapter 14.
The dragon princess and her companions search for their sagely teacher, only to discover that they must journey farther than they had ever before. The dark souls confide in one another, doubting their course of actions.
Next chapter: The Depths of Despair & The Heights of Hope
'for those with wings, fly to your dreams.'