Last time our heroes reunited on Flora's homeworld of Lynphea. After exchanging stories of their exploits on the edges of The Magical Dimension, Bloom and the others watched as Flora finally introduced Helia to her family, among whom was Flora's eldest younger sibling Chrysanthemum or Chris as she liked to be called.
While waiting for permission to go to The Black Willow, our heroes encountered a group of Shinobi who were on Lynphea to help with a trade agreement between Lynphea and their world.
Unknown to our heroes as they set out to collect the Black Willow Tears, The Trix and Toro had also arrived on Lynphea, but with a twist. Earlier in the day, the traitor witch Lucy had really put the whammy on our favorite baddies, leaving the four dark souls in serious discord that culminated in a fight, one that Vicky stopped just in time.
With their mojo back in proper order, The Trix and Toro attacked Bloom and the others at The Black Willow. One thing led to another, resulting in Flora saving Chris, thereby earning her Enchantix. But then our heroes found themselves nearly exhausted from the efforts of the past days, while The Trix and Toro were just getting started.
But then the Shinobi Bloom and the others met earlier showed up and trounced The Trix and Toro. Vicky then showed up, having already found another Construct and sent it to Xaldo, and battled the Shinobi to a standstill that resulted in an exchange of hostages. In the end everyone went home more or less in one piece. 'Nuff said, on with the show!
Chapter 19: Tides of Sorrow Verse 3
"Home sweet home," said Bloom as The Night Rider made her approach to Magix.
"I never thought I'd be so glad to be back here as I am now," said Stella as The Sapphire Blaze lowered her landing gear.
The Night Rider and Sapphire Blaze had both returned to Magix from Lynphea. They landed at the space port within seconds of each other, Riven's ship landing first, but according to Tecna's calculations, it was The Night Rider who had the best overall time for the mission.
"Sorry, Riven," said Tecna, "but The Night Rider completed her trip approximately 3.368441 seconds before The Sapphire Blaze did. Amanda and the twins won the bet."
"Yes!" exclaimed Amanda ecstatically, "F#ck Yes! In your face, Riven!"
"Looks like you get to pick up the tab for our repair bills for the next month," said Beauregard."
"I'll write you a check," grumbled Riven.
"Don't let them get to you," said Musa in a sympathetic tone, "we'll win the next race."
"'We?'" Riven asked.
"Yes," said Musa, "you, me," she patted the ship that she named, "and Sapphire Blaze makes three."
"I hate to sound impatient," said Bloom, "but we've got a lot to do, and not much time to get it done."
"Ms. Faragonda has less than four hours before her body is permanently petrified," said Tecna as she rechecked her calculations on her wrist computer.
"Then why are we still doing here?" Stella asked, "let's go!"
Less than half an hour later found Bloom and The Winx back in the forest clearing where the stone form of Faragonda stood waiting for them.
"Ms. Faragonda!" said Bloom, "are you still there?"
"Well I haven't gone dancing," said the disembodied voice of Faragonda.
"At least her sense of humor hasn't been affected," said Flora.
"My mind and soul are still as strong, Flora," said Faragonda, "but I'm afraid my body has very little time left before it is too late."
"We know," said Bloom, "but we have the azonite, the travecite and the Tears of the Black Willow."
"I knew you would find them!" said Faragonda, "you can regale me of how you obtained the items when I'm able to relax again. First things first…"
Faragonda then instructed The Winx as to the means of freeing her from her petrified prison. They divided the two stones into twelve pieces, six of azonite and six of travecite, then infused each stone piece with a sample of Black Willow Tears. The girls then placed the stones in a circle around Faragonda so the arrangement resembled a clock face.
Carmen, Helia and the others watched as Bloom and The Winx took up positions around the 'clock;' Bloom stood at '12', Flora at '2', Musa at '4', Stella at '6', Tecna at '8' and Layla at '10.'
The girls then began chanting, as per Faragonda's instructions, causing the stones to glow brightly. The stones then began pulsing brightly, then rose to waist height around Faragonda. The stones then began moving counterclockwise.
"I'm not sure I understand what's happening," said Riven.
"Bloom and the others are using the stones as a makeshift time machine," said Timmy.
"Aren't time machines illegal?" Payton asked.
"Not in this sense," said Elise, "the stones are being used to reverse time around Faragonda. It won't be long before the event that petrified her in the first place is undone."
"Like now?" Carmen asked. She pointed to the stones and they spun faster and faster around Faragonda. Within seconds the stones were a whirling blur that formed a circle of light around the area. That circle expanded to from a dome around Faragonda.
Then, with a bright flash that left everyone blinded for a second or two, the stones and the dome of light vanished. This was the way the spell was to end, or so Faragonda instructed. Regardless as to how, Bloom and her friends were unprepared for the incredible drain on their energies. Their efforts completed, they collapsed to the ground in near exhaustion as their fairy forms dissipated and they reverted back to their human attire.
"That was trippy," said a dazed Musa.
"It was a psychedelic experience," said Tecna as Timmy and the boys helped The Winx stand up, "but not one I'd like to repeat anytime soon."
"But did it work?" Flora asked.
"See for yourself," said Helia. There in the middle of the area was Faragonda, back to her flesh and blood self.
"Ms. F!!!" exclaimed Stella, "You're alright!!" With that The Winx rushed forward to embrace their revived headmistress.
"I never doubted you girls for a second," said Faragonda.
A short time later found our heroes and Faragonda back at Alfea. The staff and students were overjoyed at the return of their beloved headmistress. The happiest she had ever been, Griselda declared, as deputy headmistress, that all classes for the day, and the next, were canceled in celebration of Faragonda's recovery. Both Tecna and Stella were stunned at Griselda's compassionate actions.
It was then that Griffin walked up to Faragonda, "I should have known that you wouldn't be destroyed so easily, Eleanor," said Griffin, using Faragonda's first name, a rare event indeed.
"You didn't think I would abandon my school and students, Christine," said Faragonda, using Griffin's first name. "I'm not insinuating you or Cloud Tower, but…"
"But the fact that I've lost my school and students," said Griffin.
"Means nothing," said Faragonda, "except that we will save your girls and your school."
"Darn right we will!" said Musa.
"Vicky and The Trix couldn't stop us from saving Faragonda," said Bloom, "and they won't stop us from saving the witches and Cloud Tower." Stella, Flora and the others then nodded in agreement.
"Of that I am sure," said Griffin, "those vile creatures who violated my students and school are already dead, as far as I'm concerned. Oh, while you were away, Faragonda, Saladin said to tell me to tell you that he wanted to talk to you as soon as you were feeling better."
"I'm sure Armando does wish to speak with me," said Faragonda, using Saladin's first name, "but before that, I do believe that Bloom and her friends have quite the story to tell."
A few minutes later found Bloom and The Winx in Faragonda's office as they told their headmistress of their travels. Bloom, Flora and Layla were very eager to tell what they learned about Elde Raids, while Stella, Musa and Tecna were barely able to contain their excitement as to the exploits of the Armor Riders they met. Then all six Winx told how they met and fought along side several Shinobi against The Trix and Vicky.
"In short," said Bloom as she and the others finished their tales from Guardia, The Endless Illusion and Lynphea, "we saw many strange and wonderful things."
"And made a lot of new friends," said Stella.
"But what really makes me mad that both Guardia and The Endless Illusion were worlds that Vicky visited," said Layla, "visited, took something and left something unpleasant, just like what she did on Andros."
"She did say something about claiming a prize she found on Lynphea," said Flora, "I don't know if she left us any of her surprises for later, but we stopped her and The Trix before they could do any more damage."
"She's up to something," said Bloom, "something terrible."
"Well whatever Victoria is planning," said Faragonda, "she isn't planning it alone. I'm convinced that she is working for someone, someone who is manipulating events to further their own gain."
"But who?" Stella asked, "who could be so terrible as to make someone like Vicky to what they want?"
"I have my suspicions," said Faragonda as she looked out her office window, "I've had a lot of time recently to think things over. When I fought Victoria, I noticed that she had two necklaces; one a 'V' charm, similar to the charms The Trix wear around their necks. But I didn't get to see what the other necklace Victoria had was."
"I noticed the other necklace as well," said Bloom, "when I fought her on Andros. But I didn't see what it really was either."
"There's something else," said Flora, "when we battled The Trix on Andros, and then here at Alfea and on Lynphea, didn't anyone notice the weird earrings Icy and Stormy had?"
"I saw them," said Stella, "can you say 'tacky much?'"
"And Darcy had a ring," said Musa, "and that Toro creep, he had this really ugly belt buckle, like an octopus head."
"An octopus head?" Faragonda asked.
"Yeah," said Tecna, "it was an octopus head, but one with vague humanoid features. I distinctly remember that the accessories The Trix had also were of a humanoid octopus head."
"What does it mean, Ms. Faragonda?" Bloom asked. She felt like she heard of such a symbol before, but she just couldn't remember from where.
"Again, I have my suspicions," said Faragonda, "I won't jump to any conclusions until I've had to discuss things with Griffin and Saladin. Ah, speak of the old devil."
At that time Saladin, headmaster of Red Fountain, came into the room. "Eleanor!" said Saladin, "I can't tell you how wonderful it is to see you up and about."
"Not as wonderful to be up and about, Armando," said Faragonda, "and I owe it all to Bloom and her friends, The Winx."
"Whom have outdone themselves once again," said Saladin, "or so my grandson Helia and his friends have told me. Unfortunately I must spoil the good mood at Alfea."
"The saboteur," said Bloom, "the one who wrecked the Red Fountain ships, did you find out who it was?"
"Indeed we did," said Saladin, "your friend, Jake Avatar, he was of great assistance in the investigation."
"I'll be sure to thank him for helping you," said Bloom.
"Never mind that," said an impatient Stella, "who did it? Who wrecked the ships?"
"It was one of my students," said Saladin, "or rather, someone impersonating one. The culprit had created a fake student profile in the school registry and inserted himself into the student body, clearly waiting for his chance to carry out whatever foul mission he was assigned."
"Well it's clear that his mission was to sabotage the Red Fountain ships just when we needed help from your students, Saladin," said Faragonda.
"That may be the case," said Saladin, "but this 'sleeper' student has been at Red Fountain since the start of term."
"Well I'm glad he's been caught," said Bloom, "so he can't do any more damage."
"But who is he?" Stella asked.
"Give me five minutes alone with this imposing creep," said Carmen, "I'll loosen his tongue."
"I'm afraid that would be impossible, Ms. Carmen," said Jake as he came into the room, causing Carmen to blush nervously.
"I was right," Stella whispered to Bloom, "Carmen is so crushing on Jake."
"Later," Bloom whispered to Stella, then spoke in a normal voice, "what do you mean, Jake?"
"Princess Bloom," said Jake as he bowed, "first of all, I must express…"
"Yes, I know you're sorry you couldn't have gone with me to the edges of civilization and back," said Bloom in a slightly irritated tone, "I promise that the next time I leave for a dangerous mission, you can come with me. Now, please tell us, why can't Carmen get the saboteur to talk?"
"He's dead," said Jake, "once I had discovered the truth about the cretin, he swallowed a suicide potion of some sort. He died before anyone could attempt a cure."
"Oh," said Carmen in a slightly disappointed tone, "I was hoping to have some 'fun' with the creep."
"And to add to the mystery," said Jake, "his body then disintegrated less than a minute after death."
"So we can't examine the body to try to figure out who he really was," said Bloom. She sat down, both physically and mentally exhausted, "if this gets any more complicated, my head will explode."
"Don't," said Carmen, "'cause of your head explodes, who's gonna clean up the mess?"
"Not me," said Stella.
"Let's not have any exploding heads in my office," said Faragonda, "Bloom, the best thing you and your friends can do is get some rest. With refreshed minds and bodies, I'm sure this mystery will become much clearer."
"As will your grades," said Griselda as she entered the room, "which I must say, aren't in the best of shapes, especially yours, Stella."
"You really do enjoy making us miserable," said Stella.
"I enjoy making the students of Alfea be the best they can be," said Griselda, "I know you Winx have responsibilities far beyond that of normal fairies, but that doesn't excuse you from your academic duties. I know i declared a holiday, but you six still have work to catch up on."
"We'll get back to work in just a second, Griselda," said Bloom, "I just need to talk to Faragonda for a minute."
"Technically that would be more than a second," said Griselda, "but I'll allow it."
"How are you, Bloom?" Faragonda asked once they were alone.
"Alright, I guess," said Bloom, "all in all things with me and the others are going as well as they can be. I know things are tough, what with Sky still recovering, and with Cloud Tower still under Vicky's control. Somehow we have to figure out why she's strong."
"Indeed," said Faragonda, "and from what you told me about when you fought The Trix on Lynphea, I feat that Vicky and her sisters will only become more powerful. Bloom, it is imperative that you gain control over your Enchantix as soon as possible, for as challenging these past days have been for you and your friends, it is most likely that the challenges to come will only get tougher."
"But how can I control my Enchantix if Domino is still cursed?" Bloom asked.
"That is what I will attempt to discover," said Faragonda, "but the best you can do now is to continue your studies here at Alfea, and most of all, to stay by with your friends; your greatest strength lies not with The Dragonfire, but with your heart, and the hearts of your friends."
This was almost the same message Daphne gave to Bloom in her vision. "You're right, Ms. Faragonda," said Bloom, "I'll do everything I can and more."
"I wouldn't ask for anything less," said Faragonda, "now I do believe you should get some rest, for tomorrow…"
"I know," said Bloom as she stood up to leave, "tomorrow my friends and I have to catch up on all the work we missed, and I know Griselda would be very unhappy with me for not being there."
Bloom was almost at the door, when she remembered something else she wanted to ask. "Ms. Faragonda, there is one more thing I want to talk about." She then told Faragonda about the dream she had where she saw all the faces of her friends, loved ones and allies, as well as indistinct faces of people, she believed, she would meet.
"And then on the way back from Lynphea," said Bloom, "I must have fell asleep for a few minutes or so, because I had the same dream again. Only this time I now saw Sakura, Hinata and the other Shinobi who helped us at the Black Willow.
"I'm pretty sure that the people I can't clearly see yet are people whom I'm going to meet, but what does it all mean?"
"I honestly don't know the answer to that, Bloom," said Faragonda, "yet this doesn't seem to be threatening dreams. On the contrary, I do believe that it may prove helpful in the future, but that truly is for the future. Bloom, I don't want you to worry about this. I do want you to tell me if you have another of these dreams though."
"I'll do that," said Bloom. She then headed for the door again, but paused to say one more thing, "I'm really glad that you're alright, Ms. Faragonda."
"As am I, Bloom," said Faragonda, "As am I."
********
"Am I the only one who thinks that no matter what we do," said Darcy, "no matter what vile, loathsome dark magic we try, no matter what manner of villains we team up with, we just can't get rid of Bloom and her pathetic posse?"
"You're not alone on this," said Toro, "those disgusting fairies are like roaches; no matter how hard you squash them, they always come back."
"Then we'll just have to try harder the next time," said Icy.
"And how many times after that?" Stormy asked after casting a low-voltage dark lighting spell at someone strapped to a torture rack. The Trix and Toro were enjoying themselves in one of Cloud Tower's dungeons, one that they had set up as a makeshift torture chamber in order to exact some personal revenge on one who had done them wrong.
"As many as it takes," said Icy, "those losers may have killed you an me once, but I promise you this, sisters, and potential brother-in-law, I will not be dieing by their hands, ever again." She then called forth a large piece of ice, then separated it into very small, very sharp and very cold needles, which she fully intended to insert into the exposed flesh of the victim on the rack who had already been on said rack for the past several hours. Said victim had been screaming almost nonstop, but had passed out when Stormy was electrocuting her, for the victim was a girl, and said girl was one other than the traitor witch Lucy.
It was then that Icy realized that Lucy was unconscious, "well that's no fun." she then slapped Lucy into awareness again, "wake up! Wake up, bitch! You haven't finished paying for what you did to us before we left for Lynphea."
"I already said I was sorry for the discord spell," said Lucy, her voice barely a rough whisper from the hours of near-endless screaming, "your sister already cut my ear off for it, what more do you want?"
"We want you to know just who you tried to fck with," said Stormy, "and who is the better baddies; us, not you, us."
"I know that!" screeched Lucy as tears fell from her half-blinded eyes, "I know you're the more evil witches! Just stop! Don't hurt me anymore! Please! For the love of all things evil, please!"
"What say you, sisters?" said Icy, "it does look like pour Lucy has learned her lesson, and I doubt she will ever forget it. Should we stop?"
"I don't know," said Darcy, "I'm not sure the traitor is being truthful. One of the things mom did tell us was never trust a traitor, even one who's on your side."
"No," Stormy said in a tone that implied that she didn't even have to think about Icy's question, "no, Lucy hasn't had enough, not nearly enough. She's still in one piece, more or less."
The ear that Vicky had cut off earlier had been sewed back onto Lucy's head by Toro, while Lucy had been fully aware of the dull needle Toro had been using, as well as the coarse, itchy thread. But then Darcy commented on how Toro's stitching wasn't good enough. She then ripped the stitches out, slowly, then sewed the ear back on again herself. But then Stormy said she didn't like Darcy's needlework. She then ripped the stitches out, but instead of sewing the ear back on, she used a stapler and some hot glue. By then the four dark souls had gotten tired of playing with Lucy's ear, so they moved onto more interesting 'games.'
"I'm not convinced that the traitor has learned her lesson either," said Toro, "girls, we still have a lot of teaching to do."
"No!!" exclaimed Lucy, "no more! I'm sorry! I'm so sorry I used that discord spell on you! I'll never do anything like that to you again! Please! No more!!"
"Come to think of it," said Toro, "she does sound like she's had enough."
"She does," said Darcy. She and Toro grinned wickedly, "but we haven't had enough."
"That settles it," said Icy as she also grinned wickedly. She held the first of the ice needles, "so, Lucy, where do you want this one?" Icy held the needle over Lucy's left eye, then the right one, then back to the left.
"Mercy!!" screamed Lucy.
"Mercy is for the weak," said Stormy as she also picked up a needle and traced it over Lucy's exposed stomach, before aiming it at the bellybutton. She and Icy were just about to plunge their needles into Lucy's body, when…
"Anybody home!?" said Naz eagerly as she opened the door to the dungeon and flicked the light switch on, temporarily blinding The Trix and Toro at the sudden brightness.
"Damn it, Naz!!" snapped Icy as she dropped the needle, it shattered as it hit the floor, "You've ruined the mood!"
"I did?" Naz asked with mock innocence, "gee, sorry," she hit the light switch again, plunging the dungeon into murky darkness again, "better now?"
"No, it isn't," said Stormy in a dejected tone as she threw her needle to the floor, which also broke, "now I don't want to do this anymore."
"Me to," said Darcy, "I'm bored now."
"Same here," said Icy as she vanished her remaining ice needles for later use, "sisters, and Toro, we're done with this." With that they headed for the door.
"Wait!" croaked Lucy, "you can't just leave me here!"
"Oh yes we can," said Icy, "but don't worry, Lucy. Cloud Tower has several custodial spirits who clean up the place on a regular basis. Something will come back for you and let you out, eventually."
With that she slammed the dungeon door shut, leaving Lucy strapped to the torture rack. What Icy didn't mention was that the custodial spirits only come to the dungeons once a month. That day of the month was tomorrow as it turned out, and it was nearly midnight, so Lucy would only be alone for only another hour or so, but again it was something Icy neglected to tell Lucy, just to prolong her suffering.
"So what brings you to Cloud Tower?' Stormy asked Naz.
"I thought you'd appreciate the presence of my company," said Naz as she looked at the décor of the corridors they were walking in towards the main terrace outside, "and I wanted to see Cloud Tower, I've never been here before."
"Where'd you learn your magic if not here?" Toro asked.
"I had private tutors when I was young," said Naz, "I grew up in a rich, overprotective family; they wanted the best education money could buy without sending me to another world full of dangerous strangers. I showed them up by running away, while ensuring that the bulk of the family's financial assets went with me, leaving those stifling bastards with nothing.
"I wasn't alone. Kevin came with me when I left home for the last time. He was on the family payroll, and the only person back home who wanted to get out and be bad. We eventually joined up with Lady Zahidia and the new empire."
"I always wondered how you two kooks got together," said Icy in a teasing tone.
"Huh?' said Naz, "no, Kevin and I aren't a couple, we're just friends."
"Sure you are," said Darcy.
"Where is the creep with the red hat anyway?" Toro asked, still annoyed at the way Kevin treated him when they first met on Xaldo.
"He's waiting for a few others to return to the palace from different assignments," said Naz, "they'll come over for a visit soon, but I went ahead to see this place."
"Well I hope you're not disappointed," said Stormy.
"Not in the least," said Naz. She then stopped, "there was something else, something Lady Zahidia wanted me to tell Vicky in person. There's something wrong with the phone service, solar storms or something like that, so it'll be very hard to make any calls to and from Xaldo for a day or so."
"What's the message?" Icy asked.
"That's the thing," said Naz, "I just can't remember."
"Well allow me to joggle your memory," said Darcy. She then cast a memory enhancement spell on Naz, one that does work, but hurts a lot.
"Damn!" exclaimed Naz as she clutched at her now throbbing head, "what the hell was that for!?" her expression then calmed as the pain eased, then realization dawned on her face, "now I remember! Where's Vicky?"
They found the elder Trix in the large room where they had the enslaved students of Cloud Tower hooked up to the energy draining machine. Vicky was monitoring the data display on the machine, when her sisters, Toro and Naz came into the room.
"Oh, hello, Naz," said Vicky, "I was just about to call Xaldo to let Zahidia know how far along the collection process was going."
"How long is it going to take?" Stormy asked, "the zombies have been plugged in for a few days now."
"And they'll be in for another few days," said Vicky, "in order to completely and surely extract as much energy as possible, the living batteries are kept alive as long as possible. But like all batteries, they eventually wear out. Another week, ten days at the most, and our friends here will be sucked dry."
"I'm sure Lady Zahidia will be glad to hear of it," said Naz, "but that's not why I'm here. There's been some communication disruptions around Xaldo, nothing serious, but Lady Zahidia ordered me here to deliver her next order to you, Vicky, you and your family."
"Well don't keep us in suspense," said Vicky, "What does the boss lady want?"
"Lady Zahidia," said Naz in an official tone, "commands that no matter what happens, no one affiliated with the new empire is to go anywhere near Andros for the next few days, no matter what. Those who do not comply will do so at their own risk."
"That's it?" Darcy asked.
"That's it," said Naz, "everyone is to stay away from Andros."
"Why?" Toro asked.
"I think it has to do with the present Zahidia asked me to deliver the last time we were there," said Vicky, "enough time should have passed for its full effect to activate. And if that's the case, then we definitely don't want to be anywhere near Andros at all, until it's over that is."
"What will be over?" Icy asked, "just what was that package you threw into the water?"
"Something really cool, little sister," said Vicky, "something worth staying at home and watching, for if I know Bloom and her friends, they'll try everything they've got to stop it from happening, and it will definitely be their undoing."
"And just what is it?" Toro asked.
"That would spoilt he surprise," said Vicky, "all good things to those who wait."
"I hate waiting," muttered Stormy.
"There's not much that you don't hate," said Naz, "is there?"
"I like what I like," said Stormy, "what I like isn't your business."
"Don't press her," Vicky said to Naz, "she's always been like this."
"I guessed that already," said Naz, "anyway, a few friends and I will be staying here at Cloud Tower for a few days. Zahidia wants some of us to act as messengers to our operatives throughout the Magical Dimension, until the communications disruptions end."
"The more the merrier," said Vicky. "Oh, has anyone seen Lucy? I thought she'd want to keep an eye on the zombies."
"She's tied up at the moment," said Toro. This caused The Trix and Naz to laugh so hard they had to clutch their sides.
"What?" Toro asked, "did I say something funny?"
"You certainly did, darling," said Darcy once she, her sisters and Naz calmed down, "you certainly did."
…Alfea, 24 hours later…
"Finally," sighed Stella as she, Bloom, Flora and Tecna collapsed into the various chairs and sofas in their dorm's common room, "all caught up." It was nearly midnight, and The Winx had just finished all the schoolwork they had to miss during their mission to save Faragonda. Fortunately it was now the weekend, or it would be Friday in a few minutes, leaving Bloom and her friends with three complete days before having to deal with whatever horrific curriculum Griselda set for them on Monday.
"Where's Musa?" Bloom asked.
"She went back to check on Layla," said Flora, "she got a message from Andros just as we left the library."
"I've got a bad feeling that it's more bad news from home," said Bloom.
"How bad could it be compared to before?" Tecna asked.
Just then Musa burst into the room, "Girls! You've got to help me! It's Layla! I think she's gonna do it this time!"
An instant later, Layla burst into the room, looking angrier than ever before, like she was out for blood, "I'm gonna do it! I'm going back to Andros and kill my parents!"
"Oh for crying out loud," said Bloom, "what now?"
"I'll tell you what now!" said Layla, "my parents are forcing me to marry against my will! How's that for what now!?"
"I must be really tired," said Stella, "because I think I just heard you say…"
"You damn well know what I said, Stella," said Layla, "my parents, the great sovereigns of Andros, they say I can't be with Tatewaki anymore. So they're making me marry someone else."
"They can't force you to get married," said Flora, "Can they?"
"Well I'm not going to let them try," said Layla, "I'm going right back to Andros and kill them! I'm going to throw them out the castle window and drown them in the ocean!"
"No you're not," said Bloom.
"Yes I am," said Layla.
"You're not going anywhere," said Bloom, "not until you've calmed down a bit."
"Don't try to stop me, Bloom," said Layla, "I'm dead serious about this."
"I can tell," said Bloom, "but I'm not about to let one of my best friends commit murder; even more so that it would be patricide, matricide and regicide at the same time. So just sit down and relax."
"No," said Layla, "my parents have pushed me too far this time; it's time I ended it."
"I'm sure you and your parents have tones of issues to work out," said Flora, "but that's no excuse to murder them."
"We won't let you ruin your life over this," said Musa.
"They're already trying to ruin my life," said Layla.
"Well killing them will only make things worse," said Tecna, "we'll stop you from making this mistake, one way or another."
"And how are you going to stop me?" Layla asked. Clearly her sense of reason was blinded by rage.
"Like this," said Tecna. Before Layla could react, Tecna grabbed her on her right side where her neck joined the shoulder and applied pressure, causing Layla to collapse to the floor unconscious.
"When did Morgan teach you that?" a slightly jealous Stella asked, "I want to know how to that neck-pinch trick."
"It's no trick," said Tecna as she, Flora and Musa helped carry the unmoving Layla to her bed, "it's a real pressure point that can knock most humanoid species. I looked it up."
"Well let's hope Layla's in a better mood in the morning," said Bloom as she tried to hold back a yawn, but failed, "we'll deal with this latest fiasco then."
"You'll get arguments from us," said Stella as she and the others yawned.
Flora then cast a spell on Layla that would ensure that she stayed asleep until everyone else was up the next morning, "goodnight, everyone."
…seven hours later…
"Don't ever do that to me again," grumbled Layla as she and the other Winx made their way down to breakfast, she rubbed her shoulder where Tecna used the nerve pinch technique on her, "I'm still half numb all over."
"Well you were still ranting about murdering your parents," said Tecna, "it seemed like the right way to calm you down at the time."
"You are feeling calm now," said Bloom, "right?"
"I'm still pissed at my parents, if that's what you're asking," said Layla, "but I'm not so eager to get my hands bloody anymore."
"Good," said Bloom, "now, tell us what happened?"
"And don't get so worked up over it," said Stella, "stress is one of the leading causes of wrinkles."
"I could care less about my face right now," said Layla, "I already told you that my parents are going to force me to marry someone else."
"We know that," said Musa, "and you're right to be angry at them, but…"
"But not angry enough to want to kill them?" Layla finished, "I should have the right, because it's whom they're making me marry, that's what's got me so worked up. There was an arranged marriage drawn up when I was little, like 3 or something, between my family and another of the leading families of Andros, House Ofere.
"The actual arrangement was tied up in the courts for a while due to a legal dispute. A cousin in my family was swindled by a cousin in the Ofere family, or was it the other way around? I really don't remember, I was only 3 at the time. Anyway, the arrangement was put aside and forgotten, until now."
"And your parents dug up the arrangement just to stop you from seeing Tatewaki?" Flora asked, "that's just awful."
"It's worse than that," said Layla, "while the arrangement had been put aside, I still had to put up with my 'fiancée.' My parents and his parents were hopeful that the dispute would be resolved quickly, so I was forced to spend time with 'him' on a regular basis.
"'He' turned out to be alright, more or less. We were friends somewhat, and would still be friends, except I was always the victim of all these stupid particle jokes he pulled on me; Morgan would like him if only for his sense of humor.
"But then the last straw fell. The last time I saw 'him' was the day, I was 12 at the time, when 'he' put green ink in my tea. My teeth were stained green for a week."
"You're kidding," said Bloom.
"Wish I weren't," said Layla as she sighed at remembering such an embarrassing memory, "that was the worst week of my life. I couldn't speak or smile in public at all, I had to wait for the ink to wear off."
"Couldn't you have used a teeth whitening spell to get the ink out?" Stella asked, "I use that all the time," she then grinned to show off her perfect chompers.
"The ink had a spell that countered everything we tried to get it out," said Layla, "'he' happens to be a wizard by the way."
"I still don't get it," said Tecna, "you're parent's are making you marry someone of noble blood, that I get. But what I don't get is why the bridegroom is someone who was so mean to you?"
"He wasn't always mean to me," said Layla, "he'd always begged for my forgiveness after each of his 'jokes,' and I always wound up forgiving him, until the tea incident. I told him that if I ever saw him again, I'd shove him into a vat of ink and make him drink it all. I never saw him again after that. I guess I was the mean one that time, but that's still no excuse for forcing me to marry that jerk!"
"It isn't," said Bloom. She then held Layla's hand, "I promise you this, Layla, we'll figure out how to stop this."
"And we'll also figure out how you and Tatewaki can be together," said Stella, "it's just unforgivable for your parents to try and split you two up."
"We'll make things work out," said Flora, while Tecna and Musa nodded in agreement.
"You girls are the best," said Layla as she smiled.
"Just how did you get the ink out of your teeth?" Musa asked.
"A week of near constant brushing and more tubes of toothpaste than I'd like to count," said Layla.
A short time later, as The Winx finished breakfast and were heading back to their dorm to get ready for a three-day weekend of relaxing shopping, or at least Stella had planned, when they saw someone waiting for them in the main hall.
"Ann," said a surprised Layla as she recognized her friend from Andros, "why are you here?'
"I have a message from your parents, Layla," said Ann, a somber, serious expression on her face, "they would have called you, but something's disrupting communication spells all over the place."
"So they sent you as a singing telegram," said an irate Layla, "well you can go back to my parents, Ann, and tell them that I said that I would rather abdicate the throne of Andros than marry against my will, and I mean it."
"That's not what I'm here for," said Ann as her expression became that of wounded anger, "I'm on your side with this, so don't get snippy with me."
"I'm sorry, Ann," said Layla in an apologetic tone, "I'm kind of stressed out by this."
"I know," said Ann as her expression softened, "I would be if I were in your shoes." Her expression then became serious again, "but that's not important right now. Something terrible is happening on Andros and we need your help, you and The Winx."
"More Hagfish?" Musa asked.
"Or another kraken?" Tecna asked.
"It's worse," said Ann, "much, much worse; the Omega Gate is destabilizing."
Once again Bloom had a sensation of something terrible, just like she felt on Andros, and now felt that this was really bad news.
"What do you mean the Omega Gate is destabilizing?" Layla asked.
"Exactly that," said Layla, "the barriers that keep the Gate sealed are coming undone, reopening the portal to The Omega Prison Dimension. Dozens of inmates have already escaped onto Andros and are running amuck all over the place."
"Impossible!" said Tecna, "The Omega Prison Dimension is escape proof, completely impossible to break out from."
"Well apparently it isn't," said Ann, "somehow, not only has the Gate been unsealed, but the inmates on the other side have awoken from their cryogenic sleep, taken control of the prison itself, and passed through the portal to Andros.
"Our own law enforcement forces have managed to contain the fugitives to a small part of the main islands, but more and more inmates are coming through. It's only a matter of time before the main islands are overrun by the scum of the Magical Dimension."
"How many inmates are we talking about?" Musa asked.
"Hundreds of thousands," said Tecna as she checked her wrist computer, "Omega has been in service for over a millennia. It has been all too easy for a world to place a dangerous criminal in a frozen spell and leave him somewhere he can't get out from."
" Which is why we need help," said Ann. She looked at Layla, "I know you and your parent's are in the middle of a row, but now's not the time for family dysfunction. Andros needs you, Layla, now more than ever."
"Then what are we still doing here?" Layla asked, "let's go!"
"Do we have to?" protested Stella, "we just got back from one adventure."
"You can sit this one out if you'd like," said Musa.
"And be alone with Griselda all weekend?" Stella asked, "no thank you! Lets get out of here already!"
"We can't leave yet," said Bloom as she dialed a number on her phone, "I have a promise to keep first," the phone connected, "hello, Jake? I need you and the others."
A few minutes later, after the girls had made all the necessary calls for assistance to Red Fountain, they headed down the staircase to the main entrance of the school, when they passed Griselda.
"And just where are you ladies off to on this fine Friday?" Griselda asked.
"To save my world," said Layla, "we probably won't be back for a while."
"So don't wait to hold class on Monday for us," said Stella.
Griselda was about to give a very loud and verbal protest, when Faragonda stopped her, "don't try, this is beyond Alfea business."
********
A short time later our heroes were back on Andros. With Bloom and The Winx this time were:
Helia, Riven, Timmy, Tatewaki, Carmen, Elise, Jake, Payton, Kegan, Mace, Kurt, Rei, Karen, Travis, Emma and Ethan. All of them were especially eager to clean up the mess on Andros.
But before they had to deal with the escaped inmates, Layla had to speak with her parents. Fortunately this time there wasn't any yelling between them, for Layla had called a truce with her parents, promising not to talk about Tatewaki or anything concerning marriage, until the current crisis was over.
Ann then showed The Winx to an area on the main islands were all the hagfish, the mermaids who had been contaminated by dark magic, had been rounded up and contained. The majority of the mermaid population had been spared the vileness of the plague, so all that was needed was to cure the hagfish.
This was done thanks to Layla, Musa, Flora and Stella. The four of them combined their Fairy Dust and used it to remove the curse, restoring the afflicted mermaids to their former beauty.
"That's one crisis solved," said Bloom, "now…"
Unfortunately Bloom didn't get to finish her sentence, for one of the escaped inmates, a particularly vicious and ugly berserker wearing ragged firs and rusty armor and carrying a very large, very sharp axe, attacked her.
Bloom flew out of the way as the berserker kept swinging his axe at her. But then, either by bad luck or unfortunate hesitation, Bloom was an instant too slow to dodge a swing of the axe, the wicked blade clipping one of her wings, cutting into the delicate appendage by half an inch, but it was enough to knock Bloom out of the air.
None of the others were close enough to stop the berserker from raising his axe to bring it down on Bloom's head, when…
BANG!!
A single shot from Kurt's gun hit the berserker right between the eyes, the bullet exploding out the back of his head, leaving a bloody mess on the ground as the berserker fell lifeless.
"Princess Bloom!!" exclaimed Kurt, "are you alright?"
"I'll be fine soon," said Bloom. She was about to cast a healing spell on her wings, when Karen interjected.
"Allow me, Princess Bloom," said Karen. She used her own healing spell, completely removing the damage to Bloom's wings.
"Thanks, Karen," said Bloom happily as she fluttered her wings, rising a few feet off the ground.
"Any time," said Karen.
"Wow!" said Rei as she admired Kurt's handling of the berserker, "you really blasted that creep."
"I had to," said Kurt, "he would have killed the princess."
"You did the right thing," said Bloom.
"I got a question," said Kegan, "Are we going to have to do this with every escaped inmate?"
"Kill them," said Elise in an abrupt tone, "kill them all. Even though Omega was constructed to be impossible to escape from, the builders did enchanted the place with safeguards should the impossible happen. Any Omega inmate who is lucky, or should I say unlucky to escape, has a cursed glyph put on him or her, marking said inmate for death. That mark gives us the legal authority to destroy the fugitives on sight."
"So we really shouldn't be focusing on capturing them," said Mace, "this time around it's just 'kill-kill-kill.'"
"More or less," said Bloom, "we should try to take a few alive, so we can find out what really happened inside the prison. But if you're in a situation where you're not absolutely positive you can capture, then yes, use lethal force."
It was then that Bloom had the same terrible feeling from earlier, the same feeling which she was now associating with The Omega Gate. "Something's happening, something really bad."
"I can sense it to," said Flora.
"Me three," said Stella, while Tecna, Layla and Musa nodded in agreement.
"The Gate," said Tecna, "whatever's wrong with it, it's getting worse."
"It is worse," said Elise as she used her PDA and Sonic Screwdriver to get a more detailed reading of the energy emanating from the north, "much worse, and it's going to get a whole lot more worse unless we do something about it."
"Then we'll do something about it," said Bloom.
"But what about all the escaped inmates?" Flora asked.
"We'll take care of those bastards," said Carmen, while Jake and the other Domino survivors nodded in agreement, "you fairies go do that stuff you do best."
"We'll be fine," said Kegan, "no bunch of fugitives can outmatch us."
"Damn right!" said Payton.
"Just don't get yourselves into too much trouble without us," said Mace.
"I could say the same of you," said Bloom.
Bloom and The Winx stood to one side, with Helia, Riven, Timmy and Tatewaki with them, while Carmen, Jake and everyone else stood on the other side. Elise was in the middle, unsure whom to go with.
"Go on," said Carmen, "I'm sure they'll need your brains more than we do."
"Of that I'm positive," said Elise, "just don't die."
"The thought never crossed my mind," said Carmen, "remember, we've till got to find Morgan." With that the two witches embraced, "take care."
"You to," said Elise. With that she walked over to Bloom and her group. Stella, Flora and Tecna then initiated a large-group teleportation spell, sending them up north to the source of the trouble on Andros.
"I should have gone with them," said Jake, "it is my duty to protect Princess Bloom, her and her companions."
"They have those Red Fountain Boys with them," said Payton, "and that super-hunk Tatewaki as well."
"Don't let Princess Layla hear you," said Travis, "she'll probably drown you in that pink gunk she uses." This earned a round of giggling from Emma, Ethan and Karen.
"Are we going to stand around talking all day?" Kurt asked as he pulled out the one spent cartage from his revolver and loaded fresh one, spun the cylinder for luck and closed it, "or are we going to kill some bad guys?"
"Definitely the later it seems," said Jake as several escaped inmates ran at them. "Ms. Carmen, are you ready?"
"I'm always ready," said Carmen as she blushed, but still smiled eagerly at the prospect of the coming battle, "boys, girls, let's go to work."
********
The next thing Bloom knew, she and the others were on an island in the northern part of the world-spanning ocean of Andros. The second thing she knew was the terrible sensation was much stronger now, not overwhelmingly stronger, but strong enough that she couldn't ignore.
The third thing she knew was the shape of the island; the small landmass about the length and width of four football fields arranged in a square, with several circular raised rocky areas atop each other. And atop the highest part of this step-hill was a swirling maelstrom of chaotic energy that was ten meters in diameter and extending up into the air nearly half a mile.
"So this is the island of The Omega Gate," said Flora in a tone that hinted at the inner turmoil in her heart, "it's horrible here, there's not a plant for miles."
"The ocean here is devoid of nearly all life," said Layla, "I can tell that all the fish and other sea creatures are avoiding this place, and they did that normally. Now it seems like everything within hundreds of miles from here is trying to get away before something horrible happens."
"More horrible than that?" Riven asked as he pointed at the maelstrom.
"It'll get a lot more horrible before it get's better," said an unknown male voice. Situated at the bottom ring of The Gate was a man in his early twenties with short blondish-brown hair and brown eyes. He wore blue and white wizard robes that were cut like a lab coat, while a dark purple badge adorned the left lapel.
"You!" said a surprised Tecna, "what are you doing here?"
"I could ask the same thing," said the strange wizard as he approached Tecna and the others, "Last time our paths crossed, you were on your way to start at Alfea."
"And you had just come back from Mentat training," said Tecna, "tell me, did they figure out what was wrong with your brain?"
"My brain has always been fine," said the wizard, "where as yours is still questionable. Still having problem expressing your feelings and having difficulty empathizing with others?"
"I've got those problems pretty much sorted out," said Tecna, "not only do I have lots of friends," she indicated Bloom and The Winx, as well as Elise, "but I also have a loving boyfriend," she held Timmy's hand. "What about you; still a dateless wonder?"
"I've been on plenty of dates!" said the wizard in a sharp, defensive tone, "they don't always end well, but I've had them."
"I'm confused," said Stella.
"Big shocker there," said Elise in sarcastic tone.
"I see your sense of humor has improved since our last dialog," said the wizard.
"I've had help with that," said Elise.
"You know this wizard?" Helia asked.
"Mostly by reputation," said Elise, "we have corresponded over the years. This is Malcolm Douglas; wizard and Mentat. He's from the same realm as our Tecna here."
"You're both from Binary?" Bloom asked Tecna.
"More like the same neighborhood," said Tecna, "Malcolm's family and mine have been intellectual rivals for generations. There's never been any real bad blood between us, but we've never really gotten along well either."
"What's a Mentat?" Stella asked.
"A wizard or a witch who's been trained in supreme accomplishments of logic," said Elise, "like living computers."
"And what brings a Mentat to Andros?" Tatewaki asked.
"That's what brings a Menta to Andros," said Malcolm Douglas as he pointed to the chaotic vortex at the top of The Gate, "a very powerful and complex curse was used to destabilize The Omega Gate; the curse being of a form of Dark Magic that hasn't been seen in tens of thousands of years."
"It's been seen before?" Bloom asked.
"Why do you ask?" Malcolm inquired.
Bloom and the others then told Malcolm of all the times they've fought Vicky, as well as the effects of her 'presents' she left on Andros, Guardia, The Endless Illusion, and everything else.
"So this Vicky," said Malcolm, "is the elder sister of The Trix. Them I've heard of, but none of them are capable of generating this form of Dark Magic. I do believe I'm close to determining the exact nature of the curses and who made them, but I'm afraid that'll have to wait."
"Why?" Musa asked in an anxious tone. Bloom and the others were also anxious to know the source of Vicky's power.
"I'll say it again; A very powerful and complex curse was used here," said Malcolm, "whoever created it in the first place knew exactly how to sunder the protective enchantments of The Gate. The curse made its way through The Gate and onto Omega, there it did who knows how much damage to the prison infrastructure."
"Will any more inmates be able to escape?" Riven asked.
"Not through here," said Malcolm, "The Gate has destabilized so much that anyone trying to pass through from the prison will be killed instantly. The only other way in or out of Omega now is through the front door."
"What about The Gate itself?" Layla asked.
"It's still destabilizing," said Malcolm, "if the protective enchantments aren't restored within the next fifteen minutes, The Gate will explode, creating a rift in the fabric of reality, and a big one at that."
"How big?" Helia asked.
"It'll be about the size of a small country," said Malcolm.
"The exact size and dimensions of Belgium," said Tecna as she made her calculations with her wrist computer, "and we have less than 14 minutes."
"I concur," said Elise as she scanned the maelstrom above The Gate with her Sonic Screwdriver, "whatever we're going to do, it has to be now."
"Well what are we going to do?' Stella asked.
"The Gate has to be repaired on both sides," said Malcolm, "someone has to go to the other side and activates a repair spell, while another magic user performs the same spell here on Andros. Both spells cast at the same time would repair and permanently seal The Gate, forever"
"I'm sorry," said Musa, "I'm not sure I heard you right. You want someone to go through the unstable Gate, which would kill us, and go to the maximum security prison still packed full of baddies? Is that right?"
"In a nutshell," said Malcolm, "yes."
"Count me out!" said Stella, "no way I'm doing that. Call me a coward if you want, but I'm not doing it."
"Nobody said you have to do it," said Musa.
"Volunteering are we?" Stella asked.
"Um…well…" said Musa, who looked like she would rather tickle a sleeping dragon, something nobody should ever do, "if I have to, yes, I'll go through The Gate and seal it."
"No!" said Riven, "I refuse to let you sacrifice yourself like that, Musa!"
"She won't have to," said Malcolm, "despite Musa's impressive prowess in the fairy arts, she's just not qualified for this task."
"Well that's a relief," sighed Musa.
"Then I shall perform the deed," said Tatewaki, "allow me the honor of…"
"You're not sacrificing yourself either!" said Layla in a reprimanding tone.
"This is a bit awkward," said Bloom.
"I'm afraid only a few in all of The Magical Dimension are qualified to seal The Gate," said Malcolm.
"Well then just who is qualified?" Stella asked, "you tell us, if you're so smart."
"Well, I am," said Malcolm, "my mental capacity and speed are exactly what's required to compensate for the chaotic nature of The Gate and to make the necessary adjustments to the repairing spell. Then I'll just have to wait for the rescue to come, for I'm sure you won't leave me to die at the hands of a horde of villains."
"But you'll die before you'll even get there," said Flora, "you said that anyone who passes through The Gate now will be killed."
"I said they'd be killed if they passed through from Omega to Andros," said Malcolm, "not the other way around. The chances of surviving a crossing from this world to the prison is exactly 81.274% in my favor."
"81.273991 to be exact," said Tecna.
"Well aren't you feeling bright today," said Malcolm.
"But why?" Musa asked, "why you?"
"It can be any magic user who has an advanced mental capacity like mine," said Malcolm, "believe me, I'd rather not, but who else here can it be?"
"Hello?" said Tecna in a slightly sarcastic tone, "I'm here."
"And so am I," said Elise, "and don't you get snippy with me about sacrificing myself, Bloom, I'm not from domino, so you can't tell me what to do."
"But that's no excuse," said Tecna.
"It sure isn't," said Timmy, "Tecna, you don't have to do this?"
"And let someone else do it?" Tecna asked.
"This could be a while," said Riven.
"And we don't really have the time for deciding," said Bloom, "Malcolm, is there any other way to stop The Gate from exploding?"
"Not on the time remaining," said Malcolm, "and any shield spell to contain the explosion would fail, for the rip in time and space caused by the explosion would send out distortions in reality that would shatter Andros and make all of space around the planet for up to ten lightyears uninhabitable."
"Now you're telling us this!?" exclaimed Stella.
"Then we'll decide this now," said Elise, "Malcolm, Tecna, we're going to play a game. Winner get's to sacrifice themselves."
"Alright," said Malcolm.
"Fine by me," said Tecna.
The three really smart magic users; mentat, witch and fairy, played a round of 'Rock Paper Scissors,' which Malcolm won by playing Scissors to Tecna and Elise's Paper.
"Well," said Malcolm, "it looks like I get to be the martyr today." He spoke in a calm tone, with only the barest hint of mortal fear.
"You do realize that once you're on the other side," said Elsie, "you'll be on your own. Omega is immense; even if we could get inside, and who knows how long it'll take for us to do that, it could be a long time before we could find you."
"I'll do my best to stay alive," said Malcolm. He then looked at Tecna, "but if I don't make it, you will tell my family about this, right?"
"Of course I will," said Tecna. Malcolm then turned around, and before anyone could react, Tecna grabbed Malcolm by the shoulder and pinched him on the neck, knocking him out.
"Yeah right," said Tecna, "like I'll be the one who has to explain to your mom why you got yourself killed." She looked at the others, who were looking a little stunned at Tecna's abruptness, "let's just say that his family isn't exactly what you'd call normal."
"So you're doing it?" Elise asked.
"Unless you want to," said Tecna.
"And be on the receiving end of Morgan's little trick?" said Elsie, "no way. I'll perform the repair spell from this side, thank you very much."
"Then I'll go to the other side," said Tecna.
"You don't have to do this," said Bloom.
"Yes I do," said Tecna.
"You sure?" Stella asked as she looked at Tecna in a tone that implied that Stella thought that Tecna had lost her mind.
"It's pointless to argue with her," said Elise.
"I was just asking," said Stella.
"I'll be fine," said Tecna, even though deep down she was quite sure that, success or fail, she wouldn't live to see another day.
"Of course she'll be fine," said Timmy as he handed a small watch-like gadget he had just finished putting together, "take this with you, Tecna. It's a multi-dimensional transceiver. Once you're on the other side of The Gate and it's been sealed, activate the device; it'll let us know you're alright and help us find you."
"I don't know what to say," said Tecna.
"Thank you would be nice," said Musa.
"Just fly above the vortex and dive right down the middle of it," said Elise as she tried to give as much advice as possible. "You should punch right through the portal and emerge on the other side without too much trouble."
But Tecna wasn't exactly listening to Elise. No, she had only eyes for Timmy, and he had only eyes for her. Without any further hesitation they kissed, their arms locked around each other in a passionate embrace.
They stayed that way for about a minute, only braking contact for some much needed air, then they kissed again.
"Now this is awkward," said Riven.
"Why?" Helia asked.
"It just is," said Riven stubbornly.
"I hate to ruin the mood," said Elise as she checked her PDA, "but in just under ten minutes, we'll be right in the middle of a Belgium-sized hole in reality."
"We know that," said Musa, "just give them a minute."
"We've so got to find Elise a boyfriend," said Stella to Bloom.
"Later," said Bloom.
Tecna and Timmy finished their kiss, then kissed again, but briefly, for Tecna had somewhere to be.
"I love you," Timmy said to her as she took flight.
Tecna turned around to smile at him, "I know," then turned back to face the chaotic maelstrom.
********
"I'd say we'd outdone ourselves," said Carmen.
"Indeed," said Jake, "I admit, I know some of these foul wretches, or rather, knew them." Jake, Carmen and the other Domino survivors looked out at the bloody remains of over a hundred escaped inmates that they had destroyed. Though they managed to capture a handful of fugitives alive, eleven to be exact, the majority of the Omega prisoners who were running amuck on Andros were nor more.
"Those two over there," Jake pointed to a pair of corpses, "I was the one who sent them to Omega in the first place. Or should I say, I captured them when I was a different person."
"You're talking about yourself as The Phantom Renegade," said Kurt, "and his past incarnations."
"True," said Jake.
"Do you miss it?" Carmen asked, "being the legendary vigilante?"
"In some ways, yes," said Jake, "I confess, I enjoyed being the man behind the mask, and the power that came with it. When I first put the mask on, it was like being born again. I felt truly alive as I hadn't been since the fall of Domino. Yes, I do regret giving up the identity of The Phantom Renegade.
"But that is no longer relevant. I know my true purpose in life now; to serve and protect Princess Bloom, as well as reunite the survivors of Domino and restore our home to its former glory."
"And then what?" Kurt asked, "what will you do once you've accomplished your goals?"
"My duty to protect Princess Bloom will never end," said Jake, "as long as she lives I will defend that life with mine."
"Is that all?" Carmen asked in a voice that barely contained her anxious hope. But then her expression changed as she sensed something different, "the chaotic energy from the north, it's gone."
"The Gate must have been repaired," said Jake, "Princess Bloom and her companions must have succeeded."
Ten seconds later Bloom and the others teleported back to the island. "What happened here?" Bloom asked.
"We managed to take a handful of the fugitives alive," said Carmen, "the rest were so eager to kill us, we figured it would be best to get rid of them."
"All the better for the universe," said Kurt.
"And I take it," said Jake, "that since you and your companions have returned, Princess Bloom, you were successful at your venture."
"We were," said Bloom as her expression fell to one of deep sadness, "but it came with a price."
"What price?" Carmen asked. It was then that she noticed that everyone with Bloom had the same look of loss on them. She then noticed that someone that went with Bloom to The Gate was missing. "Where's Tecna?"
"We…we don't know," said Timmy, "well…we know where she is, but…"
"She sacrificed herself to save Andros," said Malcolm Douglas as he rubbed his neck where Tecna pinched him, "and to save my life."
Bloom and her group then informed Carmen and the others of what happened on the island of The Gate; "Tecna took Malcolm's place and flew over the vortex and dove right in."
"That's just insane!" said Payton, "she would have been sucked into The Gate."
"The maelstrom was spinning out from The Gate," said Malcolm, "a one-way exit portal from Omega, but when approached from the right direction and angle, one could have gone through the portal the other way from Andros to Omega, which is what Tecna nearly did."
"She managed to get a third of the way into the vortex," said Flora, "but the energy from the portal was too strong. It kept pushing Tecna away from it."
"But she kept trying," said Stella, "no matter how many times she got pushed back, Tecna kept trying."
"Even though the more she tried," said Elise, "the greater the chance that she would exhaust her energy and be pushed to death."
"But then something incredible happened," said Bloom, "Tecna earned her Enchantix!"
"How did that happen!?" exclaimed Kurt.
"I'm from the same world as Tecna," said Malcolm, "I would have gone through The Gate and sealed it from the other side; but upon retrospect, I would have died before I reached The Gate itself."
Bloom and the other Winx then described Tecna's Enchantix as a violet shorts and tube top ensemble. The top had a light green triangular front design that connected to a metallic outer short skirt wrapped around her shorts. She had silver, translucent above-the-elbow gloves on her arms and violet barefoot sandals on her feet. Her wings had increased in size, like a butterflies', orchid and light yellow in color, curled with a violet bejeweled outlining. A soft green beret clip was placed upon the left side of her head. Her previously short violet hair had lengthened to just past the shoulders.
"Now that her powers were fully evolved," said Elsie, "Tecna punched right through the vortex and passed through The Gate onto Omega. I then activated the repairing spell, while she did the same on the other side. The Gate then sealed itself; the danger to Andros is over."
"But that leaves Tecna trapped on Omega," said Carmen, "what about her?"
"That's what we don't know," said Timmy as he held out a scorched piece of what used to be a communications device, "we gave her a multi-dimensional transceiver to let us know if she was alright once The Gate was sealed."
"But when the portal closed," said Elise, "and the maelstrom dissipated, it sent out a backlash of chaotic energy that fried every piece of technology within miles, and we had the only machinery in the affected area," she held up her now ruined PDA and Sonic Screwdriver, "My accessories can be replaced, but that transceiver was part of a unique set, one that could breech the protective magic of Omega."
"Without it we can't contact Tecna," said Timmy in a defeated tone, "we have no idea if she's alive or dead."
The end of chapter 19.
Distraught at the loss of their friend, the dragon princess and her companions decide to take desperate actions against their enemies, the outcome of which may end up costing the dragon princess her life.
Next chapter: A dish best served hot
'for those with wings, fly to your dreams'