Last time we saw as Bloom and Aang arrived at the mountaintop home of Maya the Dragon Sage. The former Alfea headmistress informed Aang that to succeed in his quest, reviving the Airbenders back home, was to find those among the Fire Nation, Water Tribes and Earth Kingdoms, who had Airbending abilities awakened in them at the end of the war. As for Bloom's problem, Maya instructed her in going into a meditative trance that would allow Bloom to confront her inner darkness.
On Xaldo, Diaspro announced that she was ready to try out her genetic manipulation skills on Trabon in an attempt to reverse the ravages of time that had afflicted his body. The result was a stunning success that pleased Stormy very much. Vicky, The Trix and their baddie allies were then given the mission of destroying Bloom once and for all. An old friend of Zahidia had come to Xaldo with the means to this end. The Baddies arrived on the mountain where our heroes waited. Rather than resorting to an all out fight, a sort of tournament was arranged.
Elsewhere, Stella, Brandon and the others had reached the Omega Prison Dimension to rescue Tecna, but their efforts were stalled as they ran into the inmates of the infamous prison.
(note; this chapter has elements and characters from the hit show 'Avatar: The Last Airbender,' which I'm using without permission, so please don't sue me)
'Nuff said, on with the show!
Chapter 23: The Dragon Sage part 3
"Hello, Bloom," said Dark Bloom in a voice that was dripping with malice, "it's been a while."
"It's you," said Bloom, "you're my dark half that got out that one time."
"I was also in control of you when Darkar put the whammy on you," said Dark Bloom as she stood up, "Everything was perfect them. I had the ultimate power in my hands and I was seconds away from betraying that armored idiot. He set me free, expecting that I'd share the ultimate power with him, like that would ever work.
"But instead you had to take back control of yourself, Bloom. You and your goodness, your love for your friends, especially that Sky," she spoke his name with utter contempt, "you ruined everything. With the ultimate power in my hands we could have ruled all of The Magical Dimension, the universe, all of existence, and then you wouldn't be in this mess with Vicky and with your powers all messed up."
"You're the one holding my powers back," said Bloom in an accusing tone.
"Yes," said Dark Bloom, "I am keeping you from using your Enchantix. The curse that afflicts Domino is only part of the problem, and I have part of the solution. I'd be more than willing to help you use your Enchantix form, as well as most of the abilities that go with it. But you have to do something first."
"What's that?" Bloom asked hesitantly, expecting the worst.
"You have to beat me first!" exclaimed Dark Bloom. She assumed her fairy form, identical to Bloom's only that the color was dark blue instead of light blue. "And here's the best part; if I win, I get to take control of your body again, only this time it's permanent!"
Bloom also transformed just in time to avoid a fireball. She countered with two of her own, which Dark Bloom easily swatted aside.
"Too slow," said Dark Bloom as she blocked another fireball, then threw three of her own.
Bloom dodged these and then shot a stream of Dragonfire at her dark half, whom dodged it effortlessly.
"I know every move you've got!" taunted Dark Bloom as she sent a double blast of Dragonfire at Bloom, who also dodged it.
"The same could be said in reverse," said Bloom, "We equally powerful in terms of magic and physical skill. So it'll come down to whoever makes a mistake first."
"Well that'll make things go quick," said Dark Bloom, "'cause I never make mistakes!" But then Bloom surprised her dark half by slapping her across the face
"Guess again!" said Bloom. The two halves of the same fairy continued to battle it out.
While Bloom contended with her inner darkness, another battle was about to take place on the ledge below the summit of the mountain. On one side of the ledge was Carmen, Jake, Karen, Rei, Travis, Katara, Suki, as well as Kiko and Momo. On the other side of the ledge was Stormy, Darcy, Trabon, Naz, Rolf, Sara, James, Johnny and Plank
In the middle of the ledge were eight people, four from each group facing off against their opposites. On one side was Aang, Toph, Sokka and Zuko. On the other was Vicky, Toro, Kevin and Icy.
"Just so we're clear," said Aang as he faced against Vicky, "if my friends beat you and your friends, you walk away."
"And if my team beats yours in this game," said Vicky, "Bloom is ours."
"You'll have to defeat us first," said Zuko.
"And we're sort of hard to kill," said Toph.
"What she said," said Sokka as he drew his sword.
"We're not so easy to kill either," said Toro.
"And if we die," said Icy, "we can always come back."
"Care to enlighten us as to the secret of your resurrection, Icy?" Carmen asked.
"That's our dirty little secret," said Stormy
"Then we'll just have to kill you again," said Carmen, "and again and again and again, until you bitches stay dead."
"Keep dreaming," said Icy, "one death was enough for me, but for you, Carmen, a million deaths won't even come close to be enough."
"I just like to kill 'em dead outright," said Kevin as he used a low-level summoning spell to call forth a wicked looking axe, "and as for you dorks, I eat losers like you for lunch."
"Eww!" said a disgusted Aang, "you're a cannibal?"
"I think he means that he likes to beat people up, Aang," said Katara.
"What I mean is that I murder pathetic losers like you on a regular basis!" snapped Kevin
"Pathetic!" Sokka asked in an insulted tone.
"You obviously have no idea whom you are dealing with," said Zuko.
"I have a reasonably good idea," said Vicky. She pointed at Aang, "baldy here is the latest incarnation of The Avatar, but he's still just a kid, so I'll have no trouble eliminating him from the game."
She then pointed at Sokka, "this kido here, he's a swordsman, but his skills are mediocre at best. You'll be done with him sooner than you'd like, Kevin."
"And I was hoping to get a workout today," said Kevin.
"Mediocre!" exclaimed Sokka, "just you wait until we start, I'll show you who's mediocre!"
"I'm sure you'll try," said Vicky, "moving on," she pointed to Toph and Zuko, "the girl, she's well versed in manipulating rocks, while the boy's got fire on his side. You might want to be careful with him, Icy, but as for the girl, she's blind, so Toro shouldn't be too troubled."
"She's blind?" Toro asked, "and here I thought I would get a challenge out of this trip."
"You'll get more than you bargained for, creep!" said Toph.
"You obviously have no idea who we are," said Zuko, "so permit us to introduce ourselves. I am Zuko, lord and protector of The Fire Nation!"
"And I am Toph Bei Fong, the greatest Earthbender in all the Earth Kingdoms!"
"And I'm Sokka of the Southern Water Tribe! And I'm not mediocre!"
"And I'm Aang, nice to meet you."
"Well, aren't you all special," said Icy in a mocking tone.
"All the more satisfying when we destroy you," said Toro.
"It'll be even more satisfying when I wipe that smug look off your face," said Toph.
"Never happen," said Toro, "wait, how do you know what look I have on my face? You're blind!"
"But I can hear your voice," said Toph, "and I can tell by your tone of voice that you were feeling pretty smug just now."
"Enough bantering!" said Vicky, "let the game begin!"
"You really think this is all just a game," said Aang, "that innocent lives are nothing more than toys for you to play with."
"Life is a game," said Vicky, "and those who have the most fun win. I can't help it if I play differently than everyone else, and if you can't follow my rules, then tough sh$t, kido."
"Just so long as you stick to the rules," said Aang.
"I intend to," said Vicky. Yet even now, Vicky had an ace up her sleeve. The plan of the baddies called for Sara to wait until the battle was well underway, and when everyone was distracted, Sara would morph into a creature that was very fast and could climb the sheer mountain side to the top and destroy Bloom.
Yet Aang and the rest of our heroes had anticipated that Vicky had a fast one planned. Carmen, Katara and the others were ready as well as they could be for whatever the baddies had plan.
"Wait a second," said Toro, "we never said who would start the battle."
"That's right," said Sokka, "we never choose someone to say 'go!'"
"What?" Kevin exclaimed, "how could we have missed that."
"In that case I'll be the one to start the battle," said Trabon.
"The hell you will!" said Rei, "I'll do it!"
"I want to do it!" said James.
"No! Me!" said Sara.
"Rolf wishes to initiate the conflict!"
"Not this millennium, weirdo!" said Travis.
"Plank want's to say 'go!'" exclaimed Johnny.
"That settles it!" said James, "Plank get's to do it!"
"Then do it already and stop wasting everyone's time!" snapped Carmen.
There was a few seconds of tense silence as the fighters and spectators waited for the inanimate object to say the word.
"Did he say it?" James asked, "wait, why am I even asking?"
"Plank want's to know why everyone's still standing still," said Johnny.
"So he said 'go!' already?" Kevin asked.
"He said go like 30 seconds ago," said Johnny.
"Oh, in that case," said Vicky. She then threw a black fireball at Aang, while Icy shot a hail of ice daggers at Zuko. Toro and Kevin then charged at Toph and Sokka.
Aang deflected the black fireball with a blast of wind from his staff, then countered with a levitated boulder and a several small fireballs of his own.
Zuko countered Icy's ice daggers with a sheet of fire from a leg-sweep, then punched the air several times, each punch sending a fireball at her.
Toph dodged every attack Toro threw at her. It was like she could predict every move he made five minutes before he made them.
As for Sokka and Kevin, they were locked in a stalemate, each warrior's attacks were blocked. Sword and axe clashed in showers of sparks, yet neither could pass each other and cut their respective wielders.
Zuko and Icy were too wrapped up in their battle to banter, while the same could be said for Toph and Toro. But the others had plenty to say.
"Not bad kid," said Kevin as he tried to hack Sokka's head off, but Sokka blocked with his sword.
"You're not so bad yourself," said Sokka as he tried to stab Kevin, but Kevin blocked with his axe, "you think we could have been friends if we met under better circumstances?"
"Dream on, dork!" snapped Kevin as he blocked another sword strike, then tried to chop Sokka's head off again.
"You ain't bad for a little boy, kido," said Viky as she tried to blast Aang, but he countered with a wall of rock, then broke the rock into small pieces, then directed those pieces to smash into Vicky. Vicky countered with a shield that blocked the rocks.
"Would you believe that I'm almost 114?" Aang asked as he dodged a death curse, then shot two fireballs and a high-powered stream of water at Vicky, which she easily dodged.
"You're kidding!" said Vicky as she tried to envelope Aang in a cloud of acid, which he blew away with a gust of wind, the acid cloud drifting into the atmosphere where it dissipated harmlessly, "114? What's your secret?"
"I got frozen in an iceberg when I was 12," said Aang as he tried to knock Vicky off balance with multiple wind blasts, but the witch kept recovering, "spent a hundred years like that. It's a long story, but let's just say I did it to myself."
"Really," said Vicky as she blocked a fireball, then shot a curse at Aang, "hey, Icy! This kid froze himself in an iceberg for a hundred years, maybe you two should talk."
"I'm a little busy right now, Vicky!" snapped Icy as she barely dodged Zuko's fire attacks. But talking with Vicky distracted the frosty witch enough to slow her down a bit. One of Zuko's flaming kicks nearly caught her in the side. Instead the attack hit Icy's cape, which burst into flames.
Icy froze the fire, but not in time to prevent her cape from turning into a charred ruin.
"We tried to tell Icy to get rid of that stupid thing," said Stormy to Trabon, "I kept telling her that capes were a…a…what's the word I'm looking for?"
"A liability," said Darcy, "you could get a cape stuck in a revolving doorway, or someone could grab it, or you could get it snagged on something and accidentally hang yourself with it."
"And now it's a fire hazard," said Trabon.
"My mom always said never to wear capes," said James, "And she was right."
"Fine then!" snapped Icy, "I'll ditch the cape!" she took off the charred remains and threw it into the wind, never to be seen by human eyes again, "I've been meaning to try out a new look."
"I won't give you the chance," said Zuko, "I can tell that you're rotten to the core, like my sister."
"Your sister?" Icy asked.
"You're not as insane as my sister," said Zuko, "but like her you're pure evil."
"Flattery will get you nowhere," said Icy as she threw a sphere of ice at Zuko, intending to crush his head in, "you're not my type."
"I wasn't complimenting you," said Zuko as he melted the sphere of ice, "I can also tell that you think you're better than everyone around you. My sister has the same problem."
"Why are you comparing me to your sister?" Icy asked as she dodged two fireballs.
"That's a good question," said Zuko, "then let me change the subject. I doubt you know it, but the title of Firelord wasn't always hereditary."
"So what?" Icy asked as she tried to catch Zuko in an ice coffin, but missed.
"So, had I been born in the old days," said Zuko, "for me to become the leader of The Fire Nation, I had to prove myself first. In the old days, they held a contest to determine the next Firelord, 'cause in the old days to be Firelord was to be the best."
"And you think yourself the best?" Icy asked.
"I'm not so narcissistic to think that way," said Zuko, "I know that there'll always be someone better than me," he looked at Aang, "he's not The Avatar for nothing you know."
"Speaking of nothing," said Icy, "your boots are untied."
"What?" Zuko asked as he looked down.
Icy then used the distraction to catch Zuko in an ice coffin, "get's 'em every time!"
Just then the ice coffin exploded, leaving Zuko standing there drenched, but not frozen, "my uncle taught me how to stay alive when facing extreme cold," he then produced flames that circled this body and dried him out.
"What else did your uncle teach you?" Icy asked. She then had to get out of the way of a flamethrower attack at Zuko spat at her.
"That move was one of the reasons why they call my uncle 'The Dragon of the West!'" said Zuko. He then spat another flamethrower at Icy.
"Your friends aren't doing so good," teased Toph as she dodged another attack from Toro. All the blind Earthbender had been doing was dodging Toro's attacks.
"Hold still, you little maggot!" exclaimed Toro as he threw another punch, then tried to kick Toph. She dodged them both with a smile on her face.
"I'm guessing that Toph can predict what Toro's going to do next," said Rei, awed at the prowess of the blind girl.
"She's not predicting anything," said Katara, "you see that Toph isn't wearing any shoes? Well, she's always been like that. Toph relies on her other senses, especially her sense of hearing and of touch."
"And the soles of feet are the most sensitive areas of skin on the body," said Jake, "Ms. Toph can sense vibrations in the ground with her feet."
"That way she knows what her opponents are doing and can react accordingly," said Carmen, "she listens to the earth."
"Exactly," said Suki.
"Wish your boyfriend was doing as well," said Travis.
While it was clear that Aang, Zuko and Toph had the edge over Vicky, Icy and Toro, Sokka and Kevin were still evenly matched with no clear winner in sight. But Kevin wasn't one to admit that he was in a no-win situation.
"Face it, dork!" said Kevin as he blocked Sokka's attack, "you're nothing compared to me.
"I'll show you who's a dork!" shouted Sokka. He jumped back and pulled out his boomerang, "take this!" he threw the boomerang at Kevin, but the wind knocked it off course, sending it right for Icy.
Fortunately for the frosty witch, she had just dodged one of Zuko's flaming kicks and saw the boomerang coming for her head, so she ducked with plenty of room to spare.
"You'll have to do better than that, little boy," taunted Icy. She then noticed that everyone was staring at her, "what? Why are you looking at me like that? I'm fine." It was then that Icy realized that her head felt several pounds lighter. She reached up and felt along her hair, only to find that the boomerang had sliced right through it. Her hair, once nearly knee-length, now barely reached down to her shoulders.
Icy turned around and saw the rest of her hair on the ground. As if in a trance, she knelt down and picked up the severed locks, as if willing them to reattach to her head. But a sudden gust of wind blew the hair out of her hands and scattered it across the landscape.
"Oh crap," said Stormy, "that kid's done it now."
"If there's one thing we learned early," said Darcy, "is never mess with Icy's hair, it's her most prized possession."
Icy then snapped back to reality. She glared at Sokka with unquenchable hatred, her eyes blazing with cold fire, "You! You're dead, boomerang boy!" She shot a frozen curse at Sokka, one that would turn him into a meat popsicle.
But Katara rushed in front of Sokka and deflected the frozen curse into the ground. "Don't you threaten my brother!"
"How'd you do that?" a surprised Icy asked. All the fights had pasued to watch the unfolding confrontation.
"Your magic uses ice," said Katara, "and ice is just frozen water. I can take anything you throw at me and send it right back at you!"
"Oh yeah?" Icy asked in a daring tone, "then how 'bout this?" she then called forth an iceberg, one roughly the same dimensions and weight as the one that sank the Titanic, and held it over Katara. Icy then made the iceberg drop.
Katara threw her hands over her head and forced the iceberg to stop falling. It hovered barely a foot above her head, but the strain of holding up that much ice was beginning to tell on the Waterbender. Inch by inch, she lost hold on the iceberg as it dropped slowly towards her.
"Katara!" exclaimed Aang. He then used his Waterbending to help Katara hold the iceberg up. With most of the weight relieved from her, Katara saw that Aang was helping. They smiled at each other, then combined their Waterbending to throw the iceberg back at Icy. The frosty witch saved herself by forcing the iceberg to shatter into snow that blew away with the wind.
"Hey, that's two on one!" exclaimed James, "they're cheating!"
"Like you weren't getting ready to pull a fast one on us!" said Karen.
"Speaking of which," said Vicky, "Sara, now's as good a time as any."
"Here I go!" said Sara. She then morphed into a purple and green creature that was a cross between a cheetah and a mountain lion. The chimerical mixture gave Sara the edge in speed and climbing ability. She then sprinted towards the sheer rock face of the mountain and began climbing up to the summit, her claws allowing her to find purchase on the vertical surface, and where there wasn't anything to grip, she scratch her own holdings.
"Stop her!" exclaimed Jake, "we cannot let that abomination to get to Princess Bloom!"
"I'm afraid you're in no position to stop anything, Phantom Renegade!" said Trabon as he shot a blast of hurricane-force wind at Jake. Jake took the blast and then charged at Trabon.
All semblance of a tournament dissolved at both sides attached each other, while Sara scrambled her way to the top of the mountain. The teenaged shape shifter resumed her human form as she saw Maya's house, with Maya calmly sitting on a chair on the porch. Sara then saw Bloom sitting on a meditation mat, completely unaware of what was going on.
"There you are!" said Sara as she smiled viciously at the oblivious Bloom. Sara then saw Maya, "and you must be The Dragon Sage. It'll be so much fun to kill you both." She began walking to the house.
"I beg to differ, young lady," said Maya in a calm tone, unconcerned about the homicidal teenaged shape shifter approaching.
"As if a used-up husk of a fairy could stop me," Sara said. She then morphed into an 8ft tall minotaur that had green skin. She stomped towards Bloom, fully intending to squash Bloom one way or another, either with her hoofs or in her massive arms.
But then something big and white rushed at the morphed Sara and delivered a ten toned headbut that knocked the shape shifter down, forcing Sara back into her human form as she skidded almost to the edge of the summit. She stopped just in time to avoid plummeting to a screaming death below.
"What the fck?" snapped Sara as she got up and fully saw Appa, "what the hell are you?"
Appa then growled menacing at Sara, as if saying, "I'm a Flying Bison, what the hell are you?"
"You want to throw down with me, big fella?" Sara asked as she glared daggers at Appa, "let's throw down!" She then morphed into a purple-skinned elephant that had four razor-sharp tusks and a trunk that ended in a snake-head that had deadly venom dripping from its fangs.
The two large beasts bellowed challengingly and charged at each other. They met in the middle of the area and began grappling. Appa immediately grabbed the snake-headed trunk with one of his front paws, while using two more arms to hold back the tusks and maintained his balance with his other legs and his tail.
Sara tried to force Appa off balance, but the white bison was an experienced grappler. He turned Sara's attacks against her and pushed the shape-shifter to the edge of the summit. Appa then forced Sara off the edge, but she morphed into a pterodactyl-like creature. Appa took flight and gave chase.
Below, the fight had dissolved to a standstill with both sides fighting with everything they had, but with no side showing a clear winner in sight.
But as Aang continued his battle with Vicky, he saw the Cthulhu charm around her neck.
"That's the embalm of the R'leyh empire!" said Aang as he sent a fireball at Vicky, followed by a gust of wind, "where'd you get that?"
Vicky dodged both, "It was given to me," she sent a ball of black fire at Aang, which he deflected with a wind blast. Vicky then sent two black fireballs at Aang, which he blocked with a shield of raised rock, "and how do you know about the R'leyh empire?"
"I helped destroy it in a previous life," said Aang, "it happened so far back that I haven't met my incarnation of that time, but my predecessors, Avatar Roku and Avatar Kyoshi, they told me all about it."
"Well your previous life failed to destroy the empire completely," said Vicky, "it's only a matter of time before the empire has gathered its strength and spreads its reach across the stars, covering all in darkness!"
"Speaking of darkness," said Aang, "I know the secret of your power, Victoria."
"And what secret is that?" Vicky asked.
"That your ancestors, The Ancestress Coven, whom I have also met in a former life, they did something terrible, they took something that didn't belong to them and corrupted it. They then took it and put it inside you."
"So you think you've figured it all out," said Vicky, "then tell me this, little Avatar; if you know the secret of my power, why didn't you stop The Ancestress Coven when you had the chance?"
"I told you, I heard about it from a previous life," said Aang, "why my earlier self didn't stop them, I don't know. But I can stop you now, and then I'm going to tell Bloom all about the R'leyh empire."
"You'll tell her nothing," said Vicky as she grinned viciously, "by now Sara has either squished Bloom or eaten her, depending on what kind of monster Sara became when she got there."
"I don't think so," said Aang as he glanced up, "looks to me like Sara has problems of her own." Vicky looked up to see Sara, now in the form of a two-headed hippogriff, dog fighting with Appa. The two flying creatures would circle each other, then one would dive at the other. Sara would try and rip and slash with her beaks and claws, but her attacks failed to penetrate Appa's furry hide. Appa would then try to grab at Sara, but the shape shifter was too fast for him, so it was evenly matched more or less.
"Of all the incompetent, little girls I had to team up with," muttered Vicky, "then again, I could have wound up with her nimrod of a brother, now that guy is incompetent, as is his two stooge friends."
She then looked at Aang, "sorry I got sidetracked like that, won't happen again."
"I know it won't," said Aang, "'cause I'm going to make sure you never hurt anyone again, ever."
"And just how are you going to do that?" Vicky asked.
"Like this!" said Aang. Just then the arrow tattoos on his arms and head began glowing bright blue, while his eyes also glowed bright blue. To everyone there who could sense energy, which was just about every hero and villain, they were nearly overwhelmed by the amount of energy Aang was exerting.
The sheer pressure of Aang's power startled everyone so that they all stopped fighting, even Appa and Sara, who both made hasty landings on the ground.
"What's going on?" Sara asked after she landed and reverting back to her human form.
"This guy is putting out some wicked vibes," said Darcy, "not the kind of wicked we like that is."
"What's with those tattoos and eyes?" Icy asked.
"He's in The Avatar State now," said Katara as she looked at Aang, "Aang can now draw upon the knowledge and power of all his past lives."
"And how many past lives are we talking about here?" Icy asked
"Hundreds," said Katara, "maybe thousands, the history of The Avatar goes so far back on my world, it's mind boggling."
"Victoria!" said Aang, only now his voice sounded like multitudes of men and women were speaking as one with him, "Your vile deeds have marked you as a villain of the worst kind. For all the suffering you've inflicted, for all the innocents you've destroyed, for all the atrocities you've committed, you shall be punished!"
""You think you and your past lives can kill me?" Vicky asked in a daring tone, but on the inside she was truly afraid for her life.
"We know we can kill you!" said Aang and his previous incarnations, "but that is not the way with our current life. Instead, we shall ensure that you never harm an innocent ever again. We shall take away your power, forever!"
"What?" a startled Vicky asked.
"He means he's going to seal away your magic," said Zuko, "the same way he can seal away the bending power of someone from our world."
"Is that possible?" Stormy asked, "can that bald brat permanently seal away Vicky's magic?"
"It's not only possible for him to do it," said Trabon, "he's going to do it. From what I've learned, an Avatar in The Avatar State is all but invincible.
"But there is a bright side to this. If we can kill him when he's in The Avatar State, he's dead, permanently, no more reincarnations."
"I don't know about you," said Toro, "but I really don't want to try to kill him. Call me a coward, I don't care."
"I'm in no mood to try either," said Darcy.
"But I am," said Kevin as he glared angrily at Aang, "no bald dork is going to push me around!" he charged at Aang.
Aang merely waved his hand, sending a tremendous gust of wind at Kevin, nearly blowing him off the mountain.
"Infidel!" snapped Rolf, "you shall not harm Victoria witch-person!" he sent a killing curse at Aang, who countered by raising a boulder to block the curse, then sent the boulder smashing into Rolf, knocking the warlock unconscious. This Aang did with just taking one step forward.
"You want to play, kid?" Stormy asked, "let's play!" she sent a large gust of cursed wind at Aang, a gust that would paralyze whatever it touched. Aang sent the cursed wind back at Stormy, paralyzing her instead. He took another step at Vicky.
Icy then sent several spears of ice at Aang. He melted the spears with a sheet of fire, then sent the water back at Icy, the water hit her like a freight train, knocking her out. Aang took another step at Vicky.
James then sent a psychic blast at Aang. He endured the blast, then responded by turning the ground underneath James into mud. James sank up to his shoulders before Aang made the ground harden again, trapping the dark psycho-flexer. Aang took another step at Vicky.
"You can't take away my magic!" snapped Vicky, "it's mine! Mine! MINE!" she then sent a double stream of black fire at Aang, which he walked through as if it were a summer shower.
By now Aang was right in front of Vicky. He grabbed her arms and forced her to end her black fire attacks. Aang then touched Vicky on her forehead with his left index finger, while his right index finger was above her dark heart.
To someone who could see chi and magic, they would see that the bright blue glow of Aang's tattoos and eyes then intensified until his whole body was bright blue. The light of his power then entered Vikcy's body, which to someone with enhanced vision was emitting a dark purple, almost black glow, nearly as black as her black fire.
Aang's blue light began forcing its way through Vicky's black light, dissolving the blackness. Within seconds nearly all of Vicky's dark light was gone, with only her black heart still glowing with its evil magic.
Then Vicky shouted "NO!" and by her own strength of will she forced Aang's blue light out of her body until her body's glow was all black again. Aang broke contact before Vicky's black light could enter his body.
The force of Vicky recovering control over her body caused Aang to snap out of The Avatar State, the glow of his eyes and arrow tattoos fading. The two of them then stepped back from each other, both of them looking and feeling like they had just run a marathon.
"You broke past my Energybending," said Aang in his normal voice as he wiped sweat from his brow, "you really are strong."
"And you nearly took my magic away from me," said Vicky as she also wiped sweat from her forehead, "not bad for a kid."
"I told you," said Aang, "I'm over 100 years old."
"You're still just a kid in my eye," said Vicky.
"I do get that a lot back home," said Aang, "so, what now?"
"That's a good question," said Vicky, "'what now?'" Both of them were barely in any condition to keep fighting, while the same could be said for all members of both sides. Either party could be defeated in the next move, it all depended on who would strike first.
Deep within Bloom's mind, another battle had also reached a standstill as Bloom and her dark half fought for control of her Enchantix and her body. Both fairies, light and dark, had knowledge of the original's spells and tactics, as well as their memories, so both of them were able to counter each other's attacks.
"This is pointless!" said Bloom, "every time one of us makes a move, the other blocks it. We're going to be at this forever."
"You may have a problem with that," said Dark Bloom, "but not me. I've got all the time in the world, but you have to be somewhere. I may be evil, but I'm patient, I can wait for you to make a mistake."
"In that case," said Bloom, "I'll just have to try harder. Oh, hi, Sky!"
"Sky!" exclaimed Dark Bloom in a tone that was mixed with hate and lust, "where?" she turned around, only to realize her mistake in time to avoid a fireball.
"You! You tricked me!" snapped Dark Bloom.
"You don't have to be evil to be crafty," said Bloom.
"Well I hope you know how to fight dirty," said Dark Bloom angrily, "'cause that's my specialty!" she then tackled Bloom. They both rolled across the floor, pulling at each other's hair and clawing at each other's faces, a real cat fight if there ever was one.
Just then Daphne appeared and used her magic to separate the two Bloom's from each other. "For crying out loud!" said Daphne, "what's with you two?" This wasn't the wise ascended nymph who had guided Bloom since she discovered her powers. This was Daphne as Bloom's big sister.
"If this is what it's like having younger twin sisters," said Daphne, "then I'm better off being an ascended being."
"She started it!" snapped Dark Bloom as she pointed at Bloom.
"You attacked me!" said Bloom.
"Only because you're too weak to control your own mojo!" snapped Dark Bloom, "I should be in charge of the body! I'm the only one who has what it takes to use The Dragonfire properly."
"I think I've done a good job so far," said Bloom.
"Oh yeah?" Dark Bloom asked in a daring tone, "well what about the time The Trix convinced you that they had stolen your magic? You weren't doing so good then."
"I wasn't thinking straight at the time," said Bloom, "and I stopped The Trix before anyone got seriously hurt."
"Well how about the times Darkar took control of you?" Dark Bloom asked, "You were acting pretty irresponsible for a while. And let's not forget the time I broke free from you for a while."
"You came back to me in the end," said Bloom, "we both would have died if we remained separated. And I admit that I should have tried harder to remain myself when Darkar turned me to the darkness. But I came back to the light in the end, for both times."
"Only because you had your pathetic friends there to pull your ass out of the fire," said Dark Bloom, "every time you got in trouble, your friends came along and saved you. True, you did okay a few times alone, but when it really counted, you had that idiot Stella and the others there as crutches. Without your friends you're nothing!"
Bloom responded by slapping Dark Bloom hard across her face, "if that's true, then by yourself you're also nothing! I don't rely on my friends like a crutch; we complete each other. I'm always there for Stella, Musa, Flora, Layla and Tecna when they need me, just as they're there for me when I need them. If you think that strength comes from standing alone, that friends only make one weak, then you're just as pathetic as you say I am."
"I'll show you who's pathetic!" raged Dark Bloom. She powered up two fireballs, while Bloom did the same. But Daphne stopped them again.
"If you don't stop this and calm down," said Daphne as she used her magic to separate Bloom and Dark Bloom again, sending each other to opposite sides of the room, "then I'm going to have to tie you up and put gags over your mouths."
"I'm perfectly willing to calm down and talk this over like civilized girls," said Bloom, "I'm not the one with the attitude."
"Oh but you are," said Dark Bloom, "I'm part of you. You may think yourself better, but deep down you have all that is me in your heart; hate, rage, lust, desire. And doubt, let's not forget doubt."
"You don't have to remind me," said Bloom, "you can't have light without darkness in your heart."
"I'm talking about specifics," said Dark Bloom, "sometimes you hate yourself for not being stronger. You're angry that you can't defeat your enemies without getting others hurt. You want your beloved Sky in a more private manner, you desire to have him take you. And before you say anything, you doubt yourself. Oh yes, you doubt that you can control your full powers, you doubt if you can help your friends, you doubt that you'll ever see Sky again, and most of all, you doubt that you can restore Domino, reunite the scattered children, and even more so, you doubt you'll find your real parents."
These words were chilling to hear, but Bloom wasn't one to let negative words affect her convictions, not anymore, "I have my moments of doubt, just like everyone else. And just like everyone else, I have impure thoughts about my friends and loved ones. You have to be an emotionless robot to not have good and bad thoughts. I know myself better than you give me credit for. We need each other to live, you know that."
"Well I don't have to like it!" spat Dark Bloom. She then had a nasty look on her face, like she had one last card to play, one last potential weakness to exploit, "if you're so sure of yourself, but what about Daphne? Sure, she's always been there to give words of encouragement and wisdom, but has she really ever helped you? Has she ever been there for you like a big sister should?"
"If you're talking about helping me ride a bike, going on shopping trips and gossiping about boys and fashion," said Bloom, "then no, of course not. Daphne is an ascended being, and there's rules as to how much an ascended being can interact in the living worlds.
"True, she only gave me hints and vague clues as to who I was and why I have my powers, but it was the best she could do. Things like who we are and what we're supposed to do in life, these are things we have to figure out for ourselves.
"And yes, I know what you're about to say. I'm sure Daphne isn't telling me everything she can tell me. There are things she's keeping secret, important things, but I'm sure she has a very good reason for not telling me. I have no idea what that reason is, but I trust her like I would trust a living big sister."
At this Dark Bloom was speechless. She had ran out of verbal weapons to throw at Bloom, and even if Dark Bloom could think of something else to unsettle Bloom, Bloom would say something to completely counter the verbal attack.
"Why do you have to be so…so…so difficult!" snapped Dark Bloom.
"That's a question you should ask yourself," said Bloom.
At this Dark Bloom collapsed to the floor and began crying, "why? Why can't I win?"
Bloom sat down next to her dark self and put a comforting arm around her, "I guess it's because deep down, you know that you're wrong. It's said that there's good and evil in all things, and that in all things good, there's some evil and in all things evil, there's some good."
"Even Vicky and The Trix?" Dark Bloom sobbed.
"Well…" at that Bloom was at a loss for words, "I guess there are some exceptions in the universe."
"You and Bloom complete each other," said Daphne, now back in ascended nymph mode, "individually you are equally powerful, but together you form a power that no evil can defeat, a complete, balanced heart."
"I guess you're right," said Dark Bloom. She and Bloom stood up, "I sometimes wish we didn't share the same mind."
"We wouldn't be us if we didn't," said Bloom.
"True," said Dark Bloom, "very well, we'll work together and use our Enchantix. There's still the problem of the curse afflicting Domino, so we won't have all of our full magic, but we can use our Enchantix form without passing out."
"That's a relief," said Bloom.
"But know this," said Dark Bloom in a slightly menacing tone, "There will surely come a time when you will have to use your full powers in order to do something you will later regret, something which everyone will say is for the greater good, but in your heart you will know it to be wrong. When that time comes, at the moment of truth, I will be there. And if you don't have what it takes to do what has to be done, I'll be there to do it for you."
"Fair enough," said Bloom, "but you'll have a long wait ahead of you. I have no intention of hesitating when the moment of truth comes. Vicky and The Trix are beyond redemption. We've given them plenty of chances to change, but they've thrown them all away. Playtime is over."
"My sentiments exactly," said Dark Bloom. With that the two of them shook hands, causing Daphne to smile. A bright orange light shone from their hands, engulfing Bloom's mindscape.
Back in the real world, Bloom opened her eyes and smiled.
"I take it your journey within was a success," said Maya.
"You bet!" said Bloom. She then looked around, "what happened to Aang and Appa?"
"It would seem that your friends in the middle of a conflict of epic proportions," said Maya.
"Vicky," said Bloom, "I just know she and her sisters are here. I've got to go."
"I know you do," said Maya, "take care, and give my regards to Eleanor Faragonda. Tell that youngling that I said hello, and that she needs to change the frames of her glasses. I know she still has the same style she had when she was a little girl."
"Will do," said Bloom, "I'll tell her all that. And thank you, Maya, thank you for everything." She then said to herself, "alright, evil me, you wanted to know what I'll do at the moment of truth, well here it is. Winx Enchantix!"
Just after Aang and Vicky asked each other 'what now?', both of them and everyone else who could, sensed an incredible power from the top of the mountain.
"Oh no," said Vicky, "it can't be!"
"What is it?" Naz asked, "What is that incredible power?"
"I'll tell you what it is," said Darcy, "bad news for us."
From atop the mountain flew Bloom in her Encahntix form. Her full powers gave Bloom the strength to fly through the crosswinds around the mountain.
"Yes!" exclaimed Carmen joyfully as she saw Bloom in her Enchantix form, "Yes! You go, girlfriend!"
"Well done, Princess Bloom!" said Jake, "well done!"
"Incredible!" said Zuko.
"Fantastic," said Katara.
"Now that is what I call an awesome outfit!" said Karen.
"Far out," said Sukoi, while Sokka nodded in agreement.
"Prodigious," said Rei.
"I'll admit that blue is definitely Bloom's color," said Travis.
"You're telling me," said Toph, despite the fact that she couldn't see Bloom in all her glory.
"Sorry I'm late," said Bloom as she landed, "I couldn't decide what to wear to the party."
"Even on my world it's okay to be fashionably late," said Aang.
"I'm sure Stella would love it on your world," said Bloom. She then saw Vicky, who had a flabbergasted look on her face, "oh, hi, Vicky, come to finish what you started on Andros?"
"You…" said Vicky, "with the outfit…and the large wings…how the fck did you get control over your Enchantix! The Ancestress Coven made sure you could never have your full powers!"
"Well they were wrong," said Bloom, "there's still some thing I can't do yet, but…" she focused on her wings, sending a brief shower of Fairy Dust from them, "there are some things I can do now."
"Zahidia isn't going to like this," said Stormy.
"You moron!" snapped Kevin, "you're not supposed to say the boss lady's name outside Xaldo!"
"You're not to say the name of that world in public either!" said Naz, "if anyone were to figure out that Xaldo is the seat of the new empire, that's it, game over."
"So it's true," said Aang, "the R'leyh empire is back."
"R'leyh?" Bloom asked.
"I'll explain later," said Aang.
"You won't get the chance, baldy!" snapped Vicky, "I may be halfway to exhaustion, but I've still got power enough to destroy you all!" She charged up a large ball of black fire and threw it at Bloom.
Bloom merely swatted the black fire aside, knocking it into the air where it harmlessly dissipated into the wind. Bloom then retaliated with a large fireball of her own, which knocked Vicky to the ground. The dark witch was completely caught off guard. She landed hard on her side, feeling the pain of impact, as well as the pain of recent and old injuries. To add insult to injury, she bit her tongue when she hit the ground.
"Vicky!" exclaimed Stormy.
"I'm fine," said Vicky after spitting out some blood, but she knew that if this fight were to go an further, not only would she die, but her sisters and allies could be destroyed as well.
But they couldn't run away, they gave their world to Zahidia that they wouldn't come back without destroying Bloom first. And if they did retreat, Zahidia would destroy them for sure. Caught between a rock and a hard place, Vicky felt something she hadn't felt since childhood; feat and despair.
"It would seem that we've underestimated Bloom's resourcefulness," said Zahidia as she and her entourage watched the events on Wallach VII via a large scrying spell that was projected on a wall, "while at the same time overestimated the prowess of Victoria, her sisters and her allies."
"What do you wish to be done, Lady Zhahidia?" one of the retainers asked.
"Looks like they are indeed in need of assistance," said Vo'kar.
"They are," said Zahidia, "to think that the current Avatar, a mere boy, could have the potential to seal away Victoria's powers. And now Bloom has control over her Enchantix. Yes, Victoria and the others are in need of help.
"But they won't get it. Why, you ask? Because they will not ask for it. Pride has always been a great weakness in the hearts of witches, and this is true in Victoria. She will not run from her duty. She will fight to the bitter end.
"As for her sisters and her allies, they appear to be close to taking the coward's way out. Prepare the Tachyon transporter. I will not risk losing such valuable assets, no matter how cowardly they are."
"You mean to save them after all?" another retainer asked.
"Indeed," said Zahidia, "The Trix, Kevin, Natasha, James, Sara, Rolf, even that lunatic Johnny, they are still of use to us and the new empire. I will have to remind them where their loyalties are when they return, but they will return to us, alive, as will Victoria. But first, I believe it is time I spoke to the little dragon princess."
"You sure don't look fine, Vicky," said Bloom, "and neither do your friends."
"What are you talking about?" Vicky asked in a bluffing manner, "my sisters and comrades are more than ready to wipe the floor with you, Bloom," she looked behind to where her sisters, Toro, Trabon, Naz, Kevin and the others were, "right?"
There was an awkward moment of silence from the assembled baddies, "right?" Vicky insisted.
"Oh would you look at the time," said Naz hastily as she looked at her watch.
"Is it that late already?" Kevin asked as he looked at his watch, "you know it has been a long day."
"And we have to get up early tomorrow," said James, "don't we have school tomorrow?"
"Yeah," said Sara, "and the bus comes real early."
"Plank's up way past his bedtime," said Johnny.
"Rolf has chores to complete in the morning."
"Oh you dirty, craven little cowards!" snapped Toro, "she's just one fairy!"
"A fairy with her full powers," said Darcy, "you saw how strong Stella and the other Winx were."
"Well Bloom's the strongest of them all," said Icy, "call me a coward, I don't care, but right now I really don't want to fight her."
"Me neither," said Stormy.
"Oh come on," said Bloom in a pouting manner, "just the other day you were so eager to destroy me once and for all. Nothing's changed really, except my wardrobe."
"And your hair," said Katara, "that's a really good look for you."
"You think so?" Bloom asked.
"Definitely," said Karen, "I'd love to have hair like yours."
"Me to," said Toph.
"How can you tell what her hair looks like?" an irate Sokka asked.
"I can't," said Toph in a smug tone.
"Well if you can't, how can you…" at this Sokka trailed off, a defeated look was on his face, "you're just messing with me again, aren't you?"
"Never get's old," said Toph as she smiled.
"I'm never one to run away," said Naz, "but we need to face facts; we're all tired and strung out, while Bloom is at full power, and she doesn't look to be in a merciful mood. Our chances of surviving aren't looking so good."
"But if we run," said James, "Lady Zahidia will skin us alive."
"And if we say we'll be burned to a crisp," said Kevin.
"I can live without my skin," said Sara, "I say we leave."
"We can't," said Darcy, "there's no teleporting inside the preserve."
Just then Kevin, Naz, James, Sara, Rolf, Johnny and Plank disappeared.
"Oh yeah," said Darcy, "I forgot about that." With that she, Stormy, Trabon, Toro and Icy vanished as well.
"How'd they do that?" Carmen asked, "I thought that the magic of the dragon preserve prevents teleporting."
"You'd be surprised as to the resources the empire has," said Vicky, "oh, I probably shouldn't have said that."
"Worry not, Victoria," said Zahidia as she appeared next to Vicky. This was only a projection of Zahidia, but the would be empress was there in all her dark glory.
"Lady Zahidia!" said Vicky as she fell to her knees, "forgive me, I tried my best to destroy Bloom, we all did. But The Avatar and his companions, and Bloom's companions, they were just too much for us. We tried our best! We tried!"
"I know you tried your best," said Zahidia, "but there was one thing you did not try. Had you asked for my assistance, I would have more than been willing to lend it."
"So you're the one pulling Vicky's strings!" said Bloom in an accusing tone, "you're Zahidia!"
"Guilty as charged," said Zahidia, "we meet at last, Bloom of Domino. You and your friends have proven yourselves to be quite the annoyance. But your efforts will all be for naught. The R'leyh empire shall rise again, and I shall sit on the dark throne and rule all of The Magical Dimension and beyond."
"Not if I have anything to say about it!" said Aang.
"My dear little Avatar," said Zahidia, "how I wish we could have a more personal conversation. But alas, your time in this reality is almost up. Oh yes, I know that you and your friends cannot survive for long outside your universe."
"What's she talking about?" Rei asked.
"Aang told us that we wouldn't be able to stay away from home for too long," said Katara, "something about the nature of this universe effecting our chi in a negative way."
"We will meet again, little Avatar," said Zahidia, "there's no doubt about that. Once I have this universe under my thumb, I will be coming to yours." Zahidia then focused on Bloom, "as for you, little dragon princess, enjoy your Enchantix while you can. When the time is right, I will destroy you myself, unless Victoria doesn't destroy you first."
"You're giving me another chance?" Vicky asked as she got back up.
"You have not truly failed in my eyes," said Zahidia, "but I must admit that I am very disappointed that you allowed your pride to confound your sense of reason. I am even more disappointed in your sisters, their friends, and even more so with Kevin and his fellowship. They will have to be taught a lesson, one that they will never forget."
"Your will be done, Lady Zahidia," said Vicky, even though she wished it weren't so.
"So shall it be done," said Zahidia. She then looked again at Bloom, "until next time, Bloom of Domino." With that her image faded away, while Vicky also vanished.
"Well that was weird," said Sokka.
"More weird than finding out that all your adventures had been turned into a play with a horrible ending?" Toph asked.
"She's got a point," said Suki.
"Just what was that all about?" Travis asked, "Who was that woman? And what's this all about some evil empire?"
"The R'leyh empire," said Aang, "a former life of mine came to The Magical Dimension thousands of years ago and helped defeat the empire before it covered this universe in darkness. But now the empire is back, and that woman, Zahidia, she's going to be the new empress."
"I remember now," said Carmen, "when I was little, my legal guardian told me stories of a dark empire that ruled with an iron fist, a fist made of machines that controlled peoples minds. It was supposed to be a bedtime story for witches, but it gave me nightmares instead. But the really scary part was that the embalm of the empire was that of Cthulhu."
"The accessories The Trix and the others have," said Rei.
"And that medallion around Vicky's neck," said Bloom, "they're all working for this new R'leyh empire."
"But where are they?" Jake asked, "they mentioned a world called Xaldo, but it is no world I have ever heard of, nor have any of my previous incarnations as The Phantom Renegade ever heard of it."
"We'll find them," said Bloom, "and stop them, whatever their plan is."
"I'd help you if I could," said Aang, "but I can't. That woman, Zahidia, she was right about my friends and I having to go back home soon. If we stay here we'll eventually lose our Bending abilities, and then thing's will really get ugly."
"How ugly?" Travis asked, "what, your bodies are going to fall apart at the seams?"
"Something like that," said Zuko, "I'd rather not think about it."
"Either way," said Aang, "my friends and I should be getting back home," he looked at Katara and the others, "we've got a lot of work to do and not much time to do it in."
"What kind of work?" Sokka asked.
"I'll explain when we get home," said Aang. He then hesitated, then looked at Bloom again, "I almost forgot. When I fought Vicky, there was something else I figured out. You know that she uses black fire, right?"
"Yeah," said Bloom, remembering all the times Vicky used said black flames on her, "what did you figure out about them?"
"I remembering from my predecessor," said Aang, "Avatar Roku, he visited The Magical Dimension shortly after he became Avatar. While there he helped some of your ancestors fight against The Ancestress Coven. This was over a hundred and fifty years ago, and those three witches have been around for close to a thousand years by then.
"The witches had tried to attack Domino then, but they didn't get very far in their plan thanks to Roku. But the Ancestress Coven managed to kidnap one person from Domino, a wizard, I forget his name, but what I do remember is that when he was eventually found, he was barely recognizable."
"The bitches must have tortured and mutilated the poor man," said Carmen, "it makes me even more glad that they are dead."
"I'm glad that they're gone as well," said Aang, "but the worst is yet to come. It was found out that not only was the wizard tortured and mutilated, he also had his soul ripped out, and with it the ember of Dragonfire that all people of Domino are born with."
"I believe I know what happened next," said Jake, "The Ancestress Coven, they took that Dragonfire ember and corrupted it, twisting the ember with dark magic. Where as the full magic of The Great Dragon can create as well as destroy, the dark witches made it so that that ember can only destroy."
"And now Vicky has it," said Bloom as full understanding came crashing into her mind. All the pieces began to fit together. She had originally sensed that there was something familiar about the black fire that Vicky used on Andros.
"You're telling me that Vicky has an ember of Dragonfire in her?" Karen asked, "you're telling us that she's like us?"
"How's that for a dramatic twist," said Travis.
"She's nothing like us!" snapped Carmen, "she's evil through and through."
"Damn right," said Rei.
"Well whatever she is," said Bloom, "she can't be allowed to work whatever dark plan Zahidia and this R'lyeh empire is working on."
"If anyone can stop them," said Aang, "it's you guys."
"Well in that case," said Bloom as she reverted back to her human attire, "I guess this is goodbye."
"But not forever," said Aang, "we may not be able to stay in this universe for long, but as soon as we can, we'll come back and help, count on it."
Everyone then said their goodbyes, with promises to see each other again in the future. Aang and his friends then stood to one side of the ledge. His eyes and tattoos then glowed bright blue again.
Aang then caused a circle of water to appear in the air, followed by a circle of earth, a circle of fire and a circle of air. Theses elemental circles revolved around each other like electrons in an atom. Faster and faster the circles spun, their energies creating a speck of white light in the middle. The white light got bigger and brighter until it formed a very large gateway to another dimension.
"So that's how you make a portal to The Spirit Realm," said Carmen, "I'll have to remember it."
"Only someone who's mastered all four elements can do that," said Aang, "but it's nice to know you're interested."
"You all take care of yourselves!" said Toph, "otherwise, we'll be back to set things straight."
"You do the same," said Rei.
"Until we meet again," said Jake.
"We'll look forward to it," said Zuko.
"See," said Sokka to Katara, "I told you this trip would be worth it."
"No you didn't," said Katara, "I'm the one who had to convince you to come along in the first place."
"Siblings," said Toph in a slightly annoyed tone, while Katara and Sokka went through the portal, followed by Suki and Zuko, "can't live with 'em, can't live without 'em." With that she went through the portal.
On the ground, Momo and Kiko were shaking paws in goodbye. Momo then flew up to Aang's shoulder, while Kiko scampered to Bloom's shoulder.
"See you around," said Aang, while Appa went into the portal. Aang then went into the portal, which closed up behind him.
"Well those were really nice people," said Karen, "I'm glad we met them."
"Me to," said Carmen.
"Well I don't know about you people," said Travis, "but I am not looking forward to hiking down this mountain and all the way outside of the preserve."
"Oh, that's right," groaned Rei, "we can't teleport back home until we're outside the preserve."
"I don't know about that," said Bloom, "my ancestors built this preserve, and all it's protective enchantments. Now that I can use my Enchantix, I wonder…" she closed her eyes and focused her magic.
"What's she doing?" Travis asked.
"I think she's trying to turn the protective spells off," said Carmen, "just long enough for us to teleport back home," they then saw Bloom open her eyes and smiled, "and I think she's done it."
With a flash of magic Bloom, Carmen, Jake, Travis, Rei, Karen and Kiko had teleported away from Wallach VII.
As they left, Maya stood at the edge of the mountain summit. She had been there since Bloom flew down to confront Vicky and the baddies.
"Forgive me, Bloom," said Maya, "I should have told you that mastering your Enchantix was only the first step. From here your challenges will only get more horrific. I'm afraid the worst is yet to come."
"You couldn't have told her now matter how much you wanted to," said Daphne as she appeared next to Maya, "just as I cannot tell her any more than bare hints. The powers that be have made it clear that Bloom and her friends must have the freedom to make mistakes, no matter how costly those mistakes could be."
"I know," said Maya, "all we can do is show Bloom the path. It's her choice to walk it."
While Bloom had been achieving control over her powers, another battle had taken place, one that didn't have as happy an ending. Stella and her fellow rescuers were now in need of saving. Their fight with the Omega inmates had resulted in the team being separated into three groups.
Brandon, Riven, Helia, Timmy and Elise were stuck in one area, surrounded by vicious inmates all armed with makeshift but deadly weapons. The heroes and righteous witch had been forced into a ice-cave cul-de-sac. A barricade of rock and ice had been constructed by our heroes so that the inmates couldn't get in, but on the other hand the specialists and witch could get out.
"We've been in some tight spots before," said Brandon, "but this takes the cake."
"I'd give my right eye to be back at Red Fountain right now," said Riven, "with a nice slice of cake in front of me."
"Chocolate or yellow?" Helia asked.
"Both if I could have them," said Riven.
"Talking about food isn't helping," said Timmy as he and Elise nervously paced back and forth.
"And your wearing a rut in the floor isn't helping either," said an irate Riven.
"We're trying to come up with a solution to our dilemma," said Elise, "and getting snippy isn't helping at all."
"Well be my guess and think of something," said Riven. He then pointed to the makeshift barricade of rock and ice he, Brandon and Helia had hastily erected in their defense, "that's not going to hold those maniacs forever. It's only a matter of time before they break through, and then things get interesting again."
"You don't have to remind me," said Elise who, despite the bitter cold, was sweating nervously, "all those disgustingly vile villains out there, waiting to get their grimy paws on my body and have their way with me. And I heard that some of the inmates are cannibals. I'll be lucky to be physically violated and then killed before they start to eat me!"
"Nobody's getting eaten," said Brandon, "not on my watch!"
"Just calm down, Elise," said Timmy, "take a few deep breaths and clear your mind."
"You're right," said Elise as she began to calm down. She sat on a rock, breathed in and out deeply for a few seconds, then began to think again. She sat there for several minutes with her eyes closed in concentration.
But then finally she cried out in exasperation, "damn it! I've got nothing!"
"I am strangely shocked and appalled," said Riven.
"Me to," said Helia.
"I'm just stressed out," sighed Elise, "I can't think when I'm so stressed like this," she sighed again, "where's Morgan with a spontaneous idea when you need her?"
"Where's Elise with a brilliant plan when you need her?" exclaimed Morgan as she, Mace, Kegan, Payton, Tatewaki, Ryoga and Kurt ran like bats out of hell down one of the frozen corridors of Omega. Less than twenty paces behind them were dozens of inmates, all armed with makeshift but deadly weapons.
They had been running for several minutes since they had been separated from all the others in the heat of fighting the inmates. What made this a most heart pounding chase was that the inmates chasing our heroes were noted for their cannibalistic habits, as well as making leather out of the skins of their victims.
Having no desire to be eaten and then worn fashionably, Morgan and her ground decided that their best course was to run and keep running until they found more favorable ground to take a stand.
Yet they had found no place that would give them the advantage against the bloodthirsty inmates as they ran through the labyrinth-like tunnels of the prison. And it would seem that they would have to keep running.
But the ones in the most danger were The Winx. Stella, Flora, Layla and Musa had been separated from the others and had fallen to a much lower level of the prison. It was so cold there that even their Enchantix forms weren't enough to keep them warm.
The four fairies had huddled together, converging their magic on Stella, who had formed a shield of sunlight to protect them from the cold while they tried to think of how to get back to the others.
"Just hold on, girls," said Stella as she sued more of her magic to maintain the shield.
"I don't know how much longer we can," said Musa in an exhausted tone, "I'm already so cold my voice is half frozen." She, Flora and Layla had given just about their all to helping Stella keep the shield up. Already Flora had passed out, while Musa and Layla looked to be halfway there as well.
"We have to hold on," said Layla, "otherwise the cold will be the least of our problems."
Indeed they had other things to worry about. As they sat their, using up their magic to keep warm, they found themselves surrounded by the guards of Omega. While it is true that in normal times, human guards help patrol the ice caves and tunnels that house the frozen inmates. But it is the native life forms of Omega who are the true wardens of the prison.
Frost Basilisks; giant, albino snakes that have the power to freeze a man solid. While normal basilisks can turn one into stone with their eyes, the power of frost basilisks lay in their breath. One exhale is enough to turn anyone into a meat popsicle.
For countless generations the frost basilisks of Omega had kept order in the prison. But with the dark magic Vicky used disrupting that order, the white serpents found themselves confused, and in that confusion, they turned their cold sights on the four fairies. Stella's sun shield was keeping the snakes away, but without real sunlight to replenish her magic, it was only a matter of time before Stella's defenses failed, leaving the five fairies at the mercy of some of the most merciless creatures in the known universe.
The end of chapter 23.
The Dragon Princess returns to the place of learning and is reunited with her one true love. The reunion is brief as they must leave to save those they care about from a cold demise. Elsewhere, the dark souls realize that once again they have been placed in a less than an ideal situation.
Next chapter: Rescuing the Rescuers
'for those with wings, fly to your dreams'