Last time found Bloom, Sky, Carmen and Jake, delving into the frozen depths of Omega in search of their friends. They found Tecna alive and well, whom happened to be in the company of one of the twelve adult survivors of Domino. After a brief encounter with a large set of doors that contained a race of magic-destroying robots, Bloom and the others encountered Euripides, Riven's elder warrior sister. Euripides had been sent into Omega to clean out the rampaging inmates. One thing lead to another, resulting with Bloom being reunited with the rest of The Winx and freeing a race of Frost Basilisks. 'Nuff said, on with the show!
Chapter 25: Crossroads of Destiny
After a hard day's schoolwork, Bloom dragged herself into bed. A lot had happened since she and her friends had rescued Tecna from the frozen vaults of Omega. First of all, she and Sky had finally gotten some alone time. They went a private resort on Eraklyon where they enjoyed two whole days horseback riding, picnicking in the woods and mountains, and other activates where they enjoyed each others company. Nothing too physical happened though, they were saving that extra special activity for their marriage night.
But the vacation ended when Bloom had to go back to Alfea the following Monday. She and her friends were still behind in the curriculum. Add the fact that now all six of the Winx had their Enchantix meant that Griselda and the rest of the Alfea were pushing the girls to their limits.
Take today for example. Faragonda and Planaium had set up an exorcise where The Winx used their Enchantix to repel an generic monster without harming it. Musa and Flora managed to pass with flying colors, while Tecna and Layla could only keep the creatures at bay, and Stella needed help just to get the furry, but harmless creature off of her.
Bloom on the other hand did more than repel her monster. In the words of Morgan, whom happened to be watching, "repel my eye, you sent that thing into orbit!"
Just when Bloom thought she had control over her full powers, she discovered that she still needed to work on controlling them. Even though she was no longer in danger of exhausting herself to the point of death, Bloom's Enchantix were still a potential danger to herself and to others. What Bloom needed was to make sure she didn't use too much of her full powers without losing control of herself.
This and other problems haunted Bloom's mind as she tried to relax and sleep. There was still the fact that Vicky and the Trix were still at large, as well as their strange but dangerous allies. Then there was the fact that they were all in allegiance to the apparently vile Zahidia and the R'lyeh Empire. And the biggest question of them all; what is their overall plan?
All this kept running around in Bloom's mind as she tossed and turned in her sleep, awaking long after dawn with hardly any rest. Fortunately it was the weekend again, and as luck would have it, The Winx were all caught up in their schoolwork again and had two whole days to relax.
For Stella, relaxation meant shopping. "Something that no one can have enough of," she would say.
The girls went into the city for the day. On the way it started to rain, but the ever fashionably resourceful Stella provided Bloom and the other with very chic outfits that kept them warm and dry on this wet and dreary Saturday.
Despite the rain, Bloom and her friends were in good spirits as they rode the bus into town, except for Layla. "My parents are really going to do it," she said in a defeated tone, "they're going to force me to marry against my will."
"They can't do that!" said Musa.
"Apparently they can," said Tecna, "even though it would mean the end of a dynasty, the monarchs of a planet can disown their heir on such grounds. It hasn't happened in The Magical Dimension in years, but it has happened, I looked it up."
"Which is why I'm so miserable," said Layla, "if I don't marry 'the jerk,' I'll be banished from Andros." she looked at Bloom and the others with eyes full of despair, "I can't choose between my home and my personal feelings. I love Tatewaki with all my heart, but I love Andros just as much. If I give Tatewaki up, I'll still be Queen one day, but I'll be stuck in a loveless marriage. If I stay with Tatewaki, I'll lose my home forever."
"As they say on Earth," said Bloom, "caught between a rock and a hard place."
"What can we do?" Flora asked.
"I don't know," said Layla, "I…I just want…I don't know what I want." By now she was on the edge of crying.
"That won't solve anything," said Stella, taking charge, "crying will only make you feel worse late on."
"Well what do you suggest I do?" Layla asked, "the arrangements for the wedding are being made right now. The only thing that's holding it back is the legal issue from a few years ago, when my 'fiancé's' cousin swindled a cousin of mine. My cousin and 'his' cousin are still arguing over whom was in the right, and they both have a team of lawyers, so the case will be open for a while, but they could come to an agreement at any time.
"So I'll ask you again, Stella, what do you suggest I do about this?"
"For now, nothing," said Stella, "except enjoy a day of free shopping."
"How are you going to pull this off?" Flora asked.
"With this," said Stella as she smiled slyly. She pulled out from her purse a charge card, "Elise did a favor for me last night. I asked her what we can do to upset my, ahem, stepmother to be. Elise then hacked into Cassandra's private accounts. The usurping cow is paying for our expenses today, girls."
"That is quite possibly the worst thing you've ever done, Stella," said a shocked Bloom, she then smiled, "so, do we hit the designer boutiques? Or the electronics apparel stores? I've been wanting to get a new MP3 player."
"I've wanted one that can also take pictures," said Musa.
"Mine will also be able to play games and send email," said Tenca.
"Aren't we forgetting something?" Flora asked, "if we spend a large amount of money, Cassandra is going to know that something is wrong. She'll trace the expenses…"
"Elise assured me that it can't be traced," said Stella, "not to me anyway. I can't wait to see the look on that cow's face when she finds out that she's completely broke."
"Won't that make her more desperate?" Tecna asked, "and make her want to marry your father that much quicker?"
At that Stella paused, "oh, I didn't think of that. Well," she hesitated, "well, that'll mean that we'll just have to go back and save Solaria from the usurping bitch that much sooner."
"In that case," said Layla as she smiled, "let's enjoy ourselves before we have to go save Stella's world. I think I'll buy the most expensive pair of shoes I can find."
"Why settle for one pair?" said Morgan's disembodied voice, "get two, or four, or eight," Morgan then appeared on the bus next to Musa, startling her, "dream big!"
"Don't scare me like that!" said Musa.
"You're going to give us all heart attacks one of these days, Morgan," said Flora.
"Just keeping you girls on your toes," said Morgan as she smiled innocently. She was wearing an orange and green windbreaker and green boots, and carried a yellow and white umbrella. She looked at Bloom, "Carmen asked me to go with you into town. She and the other 'Dominians' are having a meeting and couldn't come."
"Everyone?" Bloom asked, "I thought Jake would at least send someone."
"Well, not everyone," said Morgan in a reluctant tone, "Carmen told me that you and the Winx needed some time to yourselves, without having to worry about everything that's going on. You were supposed to have a stress free day without Jake, Carmen and the others hounding you, but the turn is that they are following you.
"What happened on Wallach VII really had Jake and Carmen freaked out, what with that Zahidia bitch being the one pulling all the strings. They're scared that the baddies are going to come after you fairies, especially Bloom. So they'll be keeping an eye on you six while you enjoy yourselves. If there's any sign of trouble, they'll be there in a flash to help."
"I understand completely," said Bloom, "and when you see Carmen, tell her that I said thanks."
"That still doesn't explain why you're here, Morgan," said Musa.
"Elise told me about her and Stella's plan to bankrupt and drive Cassandra crazy," said Morgan as she smiled eagerly, "I'm hoping you would let me in on the action."
"I'm not doing this to drive her crazy," said Stella, "I wan Cassandra publicly humiliated, like she humiliated me in front of the Solarian royal court, and in front of my father. Whatever hold that snake has over my father, I still love him and I want to help him. When the time comes, and it will come girls, believe me, I'm going to drag that cow away from my kingdom by her bleached hair."
At that Morgan laughed.
"What's so funny?" Stella asked.
"I just had a thought," said Morgan, "had things been different, Stella, you would have made an awesomely bad witch, and that's saying something."
"And with your passion and gift for making people laugh," said Bloom, "you, Morgan, would have made one incredibly good fairy."
At that Morgan laughed again, "you may be right, Bloom, you ,may be right!"
This made everyone, even Layla, laughed. Things were looking a bit brighter for Bloom and her friends, despite the still gloomy weather. Yet as they got off the bus in the shopping district, Bloom and her friends had no idea that dark forces were once again conspiring against them.
"They're right there in the open!" snapped Stormy as she, Icy, Darcy. Vicky, Toro, Trabon, Kevin, Naz, James, Sara, Rolf, Johnny and Plank, stood on the rooftops of downtown Magix. "We have Bloom and The Winx in our sights, even that bitch Morgan is with them, so why can't we attack and destroy them!"
"Have you forgotten the plan so quickly, dear sister?" Vicky asked in a disapproving tone, "or has your brief jaunt in Hell addled your brains even further?"
"You're one to talk, Vicky," said Naz, "since it was your ineptitude that got us in trouble in the first place."
"I'm not the one who failed to kill Bloom on Wallach VII," said Vicky, "if anyone is to blame for Zahidia punishing us as she did, it's Sara."
"Why is it my fault!" the irate shape shifting girl asked, "what did I do?"
"Imbecile!" snapped Rolf, "has Sara-girl forgotten that she had a task and had failed!"
"You were supposed to kill Bloom while we fought off her protectors," said Toro, "we had a plan, and you botched it!"
"It's that big white bufflo that's to blame, not me!" snapped Sara, "I would have ripped Bloom in half if that thing hadn't butted in."
"We've been through this already," said Vicky, "we explained to Zahidia that we would have completed our mission, if it weren't for the interference of The Avatar and his companions. We told her the truth, and we still got punished."
"You don't have to remind me," said Icy, whom had changed her outfit, now a dark blue shortslieved top with matching skirt and boots, while her hair had been evened out. The memory of what happened to her & her sisters and allies still made her shutter.
FLASHBACK
Zahidia glared at Vicky, The Trix, Toro, Trabon and the others as they knelt in front of the throne. The empress to be had just heard the events that happened in the dragon preserve.
"It's not our fault, Lady Zahidia," said Kevin, "we had Bloom dead to rights, but The Avatar, he…"
"I know full well that the newest incarnation of The Avatar, along with his companions, were on Wallach VII," said Zahidia, "I know that they stood in your way and prevented you from destroying Bloom. But you still could have succeeded, despite being overwhelmed by the elemental Benders, as well as those handful of Domino survivors. Do you wish to know how?
"I will tell you how. You could have asked for help. Yes, had you but asked, I would have willingly sent assistance in whatever form the situation deemed necessary. I would have sent soldiers, dark magic users, demons and monsters, I might even have sent some of Diaspro's pets, am I right, Diaspro?"
"I would have parted with some of my lesser, yet still vicious creations," said the mad princess as she stood to one side and idly filed her nails, "anything to ensure the future of our mutual cooperation."
"All the help you needed would have been yours if you had but asked," said Zahidia, "but instead you ran from the battlefield like cowards," she stood up from her throne and looked down at Vicky, The Trix and the others, "if there's one thing I have no tolerance for, it is cowardliness, am I making myself clear?"
"Crystal clear, Lady Zahidia," said Naz, "but it wouldn't have made a difference if we did ask for help. Bloom had her Enchantix."
"A fact that I still find unacceptable," said Zahidia, "now you wretches will have to work twice as hard to destroy her. There is still time to eliminate Bloom, and The Winx, and the Specialists, and the Children of Domino, and any other allies the dragon princess has."
"Then, you aren't going to kill us?" James hesitantly asked.
"You're still useful to me and the new empire," said Zahidia, "though I am rapidly running out of patience with your recent lack of success."
"We won't fail you again, Lady Zahidia," said Vicky, "I swear it."
"We'll get them next time!" said Johnny, "won't we, Plank?"
"That you will," said Zahidia, "but there's still the matter of your punishments."
"Punishments?" Icy asked.
"What punishments?" Trabon, Stormy and Darcy asked.
"For your acts of cowardliness," said Zahidia, "that cannot go unpunished. Consider this a sample of what will happen to you if you fail me again."
"There's just one problem with that," said Toro, "you have no dirrect power over us."
"What are you doing?" Darcy hissed.
"Idiot!" snapped Naz, "you're going to get yourself killed!"
"I don't think so," said Toro, "this isn't like The Shadow Riders, were we have no control over our situation, where we had lost our freedom the moment we signed up," he took of his cthulhu belt buckle, "in The Shadow Riders, the rings we received bound us to their leaders, and we couldn't take them off. But not here. Here we are free to come and go, and if we don't want to be punished, we won't."
"He's right," said Darcy, "you can't force us to do anything! We're not tattooed, like Chimera and Cassandra!"
"That may be," said Zahidia, "you aren't marked as my lesser minions are. I do not have that level of control over you," she then raised her hand that had the chtulhu mark on the back, "but my will is stronger than yours!" He eyes glowed bright purple, as did the chtulhu mark on her hand.
"Don't look her in the eyes!" Stormy shouted, but it was too late. Zahidia's dark will had overpowered our anti-heroes, forcing them to look in her eyes.
"Now," said Zahidia, "you are going to experience your darkest fears brought to life. You are going to relive your worst memories over and over again. Each of you are going to spend the next thirteen minutes in your own personal Hell!"
The next thing Icy knew she was surrounded by fire. The whole room seemed to be a raging inferno that had no way out. She tried to freeze the flames, but her dark magic didn't want to work.
The flames then began consuming her body. It was agony that shouldn't be described by words. Yet even though her entire body was on fire, Icy wasn't dieing. Rather, the flames were burning and regenerating her at the same time, prolonging her agony.
As her body was being tortured, her mind was assaulted by the memories of every defeat and humiliation she suffered at the hands of her enemies, especially Bloom. Every time she and her sisters thought they had won, only to be defeated by The Winx. Every time they had Boom at their mercy and ready for the kill, someone or something came along and saved the fairy.
And the torment went on, and on, and on, and on until it seemed like it would never end.
But then it stopped, in both mind and body. After what seemed like an eternity of unyielding suffering, it stopped, and Icy found herself back in the throne room, on the floor, along with her sisters and allies.
"Now you know what awaits you if you fail," said Zahidia as Icy and the others got back up, "I'm sure all of you are right now regretting ever joining the new empire. You can regret all you wish. But remember, you can leave whenever you wish, but that wish will be granted whenever I say it to be. You will stay with the new empire as long as you are useful. Afterwards, you will be free to go. But until then I will not accept any further failures, is that understood!"
Icy, her sisters and the others had no choice but to say, "we understand, Lady Zahidia, and we obey."
END FLASHBACK
"I knew this was a bad idea," said Stormy, "I knew right from the start. We should never have joined with that bitch!"
"Well I'm glad I joined," said Vicky, "otherwise I would never have found you, sisters. You, Stormy, and Icy would still be floating blobs of flesh in tanks. If it weren't for my connectins in the empire, Diaspro wouldn't have come and brought you back."
"You don't have to remind me," said Icy though gritted teeth.
"There's nothing we can do about our current situation with Lady Zahidia," said Naz, "other than succeed in this plan. If we fail, we're screwed."
"And just what is the plan?" Darcy asked.
"I'd like to know that myself," said Toro.
"Nincompoops!" exclaimed Rolf, "has Darcy-witch and Toro-freak-boy forgotten the plan so quickly! Has thou the brains the size of sheep droppings?"
"My brain is as big as yours, asshole!" said Toro, "and if you insult Darcy and me one more time, I'll rip your face off and staple it back on upside down!"
"He'll have to frown to smile, Plank!" said Johnny.
"Everyone shut up!" snapped Sara, "I'm in a bad mood."
"When are you not in a bad mood?" Stormy asked, "just answer me that? What, did your parents not give you enough attention? Or maybe they gave you too much attention."
"Shut up!" exclaimed Sara as the irate girl began morphing into a cross between a wolf, a gorilla and a shark.
Trabon then diffused the situation by sending out a thunderclap that stunned everyone on the roof, knocking them to the ground. He timed it to coincide with another, more natural thunderclap from the storm over the city, so as not to attract any unwanted attention from the pedestrians below.
Trabon waited for everyone to regain their sense of balance and hearing before speaking, "all of you, stop this! Fighting among ourselves will only aid our enemies, both without and within the empire."
"you're making it sound like Zahidia wants us to fail," said Vicky.
"It crossed my mind," said Trabon, "It's possible that Zahidia thinks we're no longer viable assets to the empire and seeks to have us eliminated. She may want us to fail so we won't be a potential threat in the future.
"On the other hand, if my theory is just that, a theory and Zahidia still holds us in regard, then we still shouldn't fight each other. The Winx and their allies are the real enemy."
"He's right," said Vicky, "and that brings me back to what the plan is. We're going to lure Bloom and The Winx into a situation wehre we'll destroy them for sure. And if we do this right, we'll also obtain not one, but two Construct pieces."
"Two is better than one," said James.
"Then what are we waiting for," said Stormy, "let's do this already!"
"We're not ready yet," said Vicky in an annoyed tone, "you don't even know where we're setting the ambush for Bloom and her friends."
"Oh, right," said a subdued Stormy.
"I sometimes wish that we were just twins," said Darcy to Icy in a whispered tone.
"you're not alone," said Icy.
After a hectic morning of shopping in the most expensive stores in the city, all paid through Cassandra's personal funds, Bloom and her friends decided to have lunch at the best outdoor café in Magix. The rain had turned into a thunderstorm, which would make eating outside rather uncomfortable, but once Stella showed her special charge card to the restaurant manager, they had a table all to themselves, and they were perfectly dry thanks to a waterproofing spell from Layla.
"Looks like someone is feeling a lot better," said Musa.
"I am feeling better," said Layla as they all sipped their warm drinks and waited for their lunches to arrive, "for some reason, using someone else's money to purchase material goods just makes me feel happier, especially if the someone is someone who has hurt a friend of mine."
"Revenge is sweet," said Morgan as she idly stirred her coffee, "and I'm glad you've tasted and found you like it. I'll make a witch out of you yet."
"And you are just overflowing with compassion and kindness, Morgan," said Flora, "Bloom's right, you'll make an awesomely good fairy."
At that Morgan laughed, "I'll be a fairy the day Layla stops dancing and Musa gives up music."
"And I'll be a witch the day you give up laughter," said Layla, "and Elise burns all her books."
"You'd better not let Elise hear that," said Techa, "I heard that she has a very large collection of books. Not just magical texts and histories, but all sorts of books ranging to romance to science fiction, from stage play scripts to government records."
"Makes you wonder just what sort of projects Elise has been up to before she came to Magix," said Bloom.
"I asked her that once," said Morgan, "and so did Carmen. Elise looked at both of us and said 'can you keep a secret?' we answered yes, and she said 'so can I.'"
Just then the waiter came over and began serving the girls their lunches. He brought Bloom hers first, and with her lunch came a small note. Curious, Bloom quickly read it;
Heads up, you're being watched by someone wearing a hooded purple robe. 6 o'clock, behind the potted plants. Respond on secure line, text to 6636357.
C
Bloom knew the note was from Carmen. She then got a closer look at the waiter, whom was still serving the girls' lunches. Bloom then realized that the waiter was in fact Mace, whom had somehow sprouted a moustache.
Bloom then realized that the hostess whom showed the girls to their table was in fact Payton wearing glasses and had her hair done up.
Bloom inconspicuously took out her phone and sent Carmen a text on the secure line: Is hooded guy alone?
Carmen responded: Y, guy is just standing there, looking at U.
Bloom asked: At Me?
Carmen: No, at Layla.
Bloom thought for a minute, then decided to take a risk. She wouldn't have her day ruined by some peeping tom, and this was something that Layla didn't need at all.
Bloom: Let me handle this, trust me, ok?
Carmen: Ok.
Bloom then nodded to Mace, whom then nodded back and went inside.
Flora was sitting to Bloom's left, "some guy in the bushes behind us is looking at Layla."
"On it," whispered Flora. She then used her magic to move the potted plants, revealing a guy wearing a hooded purple robe. The man let out a supprised gasp and tried to run away.
But Bloom wouldn't have any of that. She sent out a wall of Dragonfire, not to hurt the trespasser, but to contain him.
Not knowing that the interloper was looking at her, Layla sent out a rope of Morphix that ensnared the hooded trespasser and dragged him over to the table.
"Looks like we've caught ourselves a spy," said Morgan.
"No," said Bloom, "just a peeping tom."
"Who was he looking at?" Stella asked as Layla and Musa dragged the unfortunate interloper onto the table.
"If you ladies would untie me," said the hooded stranger, "I can explain everything."
"Oh no!" said a shocked and terrified Layla said, "it can't be! Not him!" in her shocked state, she released her Morphix, freeing the man.
"I'm afraid so, Layla," said the interloper. He stood up and pulled down his hood, revealing a boy in his late teens, like Sky's age or so, with medium dark skin and asure eyes. He had a red dot on his forhead between the eyes and long brown hair tied back in a braid.
"It's been a long time, Layla," said the boy.
"Not long enough," said Layla. She was over her shock and fear by now and was feeling very angry. "We're you spying on me?"
"I wanted to see you," said the boy, "to say that I was sorry for everything. I've tried to talk to you several times, but I chickened out. I was afraid you'd take it the wrong way."
"Damn right I'd take it the wrong way!" snapped Layla.
"Who is this guy?" Stella asked.
"I think I now," said Flora, "he's Layla's fiancé, right?"
"Nabu of Andros," said the boy as he bowed to Bloom and the others, "wizard and adventurer, at your service. And yes, I am Princess Layla's reluctant husband to be."
"Not if I have anything to say about it!" snapped Layla.
"This is exactly why I was afraid to talk to you," said Nabu, now also getting angry, "you've always overreacted to everything."
"Well I have a very good reason to be angry with you," said Layla, "you put ink in my tea! Green ink! I had to walk around for a week with green teeth! Do you have any idea how embarrassing that is!"
"I said I was sorry," said the Nabu, "I said I was sorry when I was 12 and I'm still sorry. But it looks like you're still sore about a childish prank, a prank that I've regretted since we were kids. It's clear that you're still as stubborn and ill-tempered as before.
"I came here to try to talk to you, to make amends for all the things I did to you, to tell you that I've changed, that I'm not that mischievous little boy anymore. But it's clear that I've wasted my time here. You haven't changed at all, Layla, so I'll leave you alone," he bowed to Bloom and the others again, "good day, ladies." And with that he left.
It was a tense few seconds before Stella spoke, "wow, that could have gone better."
"You really should have been nicer to him, Layla," said Musa in a disapproving tone, "he just wanted to say that he was sorry for the things he did, and you blew up in his face."
"I'm pretty sure Nabu isn't happy about being in an arranged marriage either," said Tecna, "but that's my logical guess."
"Was I really that mean?" Layla asked a deflated tone.
"In a nutshell, yes," said Morgan, "really, you need to work on your communication skills."
"I know the two of you have had a rough history," said Bloom, "but maybe you should try to see things differently, Layla. Maybe Nabu has changed. I'm not saying you should go through with the arranged marriage, but at least try to you the past behind you."
Layla was at a loss for words. Fortunately she didn't have to say anything, for Carmen and Jake appeared.
"I hope things didn't get too messy with your peeping tom," said Carmen.
"Nobody got hurt," said Tecna, "not on the outside at least."
"The spy is in fact Layla's fiancé," said Flora.
"More like unfortunate beau," said Musa, "there's still a lot of bad blood between them."
"I don't think it's as bad as that," said Stella, "from what I could tell, that Nabu really cared about Layla's feelings and didn't want to see her hurt any more. There maybe more to this than it seemed."
Layla again was going to say something, but Jake spoke first, "with all due respect to you and your friends, Princess Bloom, but we have more pressing matters at hand. Carmen and I would have been here to deal with the interloper, but we intercepted this," he pulled out a message crystal, "it was sent to you, Princess Bloom."
"It's from 'you know whom,'" said Carmen, "knowing them, they could have put a trap on the crystal, but Jake and I checked, it's just a message."
"Now what?" Bloom asked as she activated the message crystal. The image of Vicky appeared, "hello, Bloom. I hope this doesn't catch you and your friends in any compromising situations." she smiled viciously
"Like you care," said Bloom, even though she knew that she was talking to just a message.
"Anyway," continued Vicky, "I thought you and your friends should know that my sisters and I want to play a little game on this delightfully rainy day. And you will play my game, or else the while city and everyone in it will destroyed."
"Can she do that?" Morgan asked, "they can't destroy the city, can they?"
"Knowing Vicky and The Trix," said Bloom, "anything is possible, anything evil that is."
"Here are the rules," said Vicky, "you and your friends will meet us at the Museum of Magical History down town in exactly fifteen minutes. If you're late by even five seconds, we'll unleash a catastrophe the likes of which this world has never seen. It's your choice, Bloom. Either play my game, or be responsible for the deaths of hundreds of thousands of innocent people, and I know how much you fairies hate to lose even one innocent. See you soon!" She smiled viciously again and vanished. The crystal then began counting down from fifteen minutes.
"This has 'trap' written all over it," said Carmen.
"But we can't risk losing the city and all of it's people," said Bloom, "Vicky has us dead to rights; I will not allow an innocent to come to harm."
"Me neither," said Stella, while Flora, Musa, Tecna and Layla nodded in agreement.
"What is it you wish to do, Princess Bloom?" Jake asked.
"Get everyone downtown to the museum," said Bloom, she looked at the crystal, "we have less than fifteen minutes to save the city."
"You really think Bloom's gonna walk right into such an obvious trap?" Toro asked as he, Darcy and all the other baddies took up positions inside the museum. Vicky had already taken control of the security guards, staff and visitors, forcing everyone out so as not to distract them.
"She'll come," said Darcy, "she and her loser friends, if enough lives are at stake, and an entire city's worth of lives is more than enough," she looked around at the now empty museum, with only the other baddies and countless historical magical artifacts for company, "but I'd feel better about this working if we kept a few hostages, just in case."
"I feel better about not having hostages," said Toro, "that way none of us wouldn't have to look after any potential heroes, and we can focus on the real goal, killing Bloom."
"When you're right, you're right," said Darcy.
Stormy then walked over, "Trabon and I've been all over this place; there aren't any Construct pieces in here!"
"If Vicky said there are Construct pieces here," said Icy, "then they're here. You just need to look harder."
"They're probably in a vault or a restoration room," said Darcy, "wherever it is, we'll find them."
Just then Sara and James walked over, he was carrying two small, oddly shaped white objects, "we found them!" said Sara.
"What the…how did you…?" said a flabbergasted Stormy.
"They were being used as bookends in the rare books section," said James.
"We seem to find that a lot," said Icy, "evil artifacts being treated like ordinary objects."
"That's because most people are stupid," said Trabon as he took one of the Construct pieces to look at, "they don't know what they're dealing with, unlike us."
Vicky then came over and took the Construct piece from Trabon, then took the other one that James was carrying. "I'll just hold onto these until we get back to Xaldo."
"The hell you will!" snapped Sara, "James and I found them, so we get to present them to Lady Zahidia, not you!"
"Is that so," said Vicky in a playful tone, "well tell me, how many Construct pieces have you two brats found?"
"Just those two," said James.
"Well I've found more pieces than you'll ever hope to," said Vicky.
"All the more reason for James and I to give them to Lady Zahidia!" said Sara, "you've been hogging all the credit, but now it's our turn!"
"That's right!" said James, "it's our turn to get the credit!"
"Why you dirty little bastards!" said an outraged Vicky, "as if you deserve any credit. The only thing you deserve from Lady Zahidia is to lick her boots, for all the good you've been!"
"You wanna fight!" exclaimed Sara as she began to morph again into a monster, "bring it!"
"Here it comes," said Naz to Icy, "this is gonna be good."
"I was wondering which dork would try to take a shot at Vicky would be," said Kevin, "not that I would risk my neck. Better the shrimps try than me."
"My money's on James," said Johnny, "who do you think will win, Plank?"
"Rolf says that Vicky-witch shall emerge victorious."
Vicky glared at Sara and James for a few seconds before backing down, "I can deal with this crap right now. Bloom and her friends will be here any minute."
"She's right," said Icy, "Bloom and her loser friends are the bigger issue. We'll worry about who gets what credit later."
"Fine with me," said Sara as she morphed back to her human shape, "I'll wait."
"Me to," said James.
"Then I will wait as well," said Vicky, "now everyone get in position," she smiled viciously, "it's almost game time."
"What would Vicky and The Trix want at a museum?" Bloom asked as she and the others arrived at their destination. With her and The Winx were Carmen, Morgan, Jake, Kegan, Payton, Mace, still with his moustache on, Rei, Travis and Karen.
"Who knows what vile workings goes on in the mind of a dark witch," said Jake, "for all we know, the enemy may try to use this battle as cover to steal a magical artifact or two."
"I've thought of that as well," said Carmen, "The Trix and Vicky seem to be stealing objects that are apparently worthless, but must have some value to them."
"Well whatever they're up to," said Morgan, "we're not going to let them get away with it."
"Hell no!" said Kegan as he pulled out his power pole, while Payton and Rei stretched for the coming battle.
"Ain't no way we're going to let them escape this time," said Travis as he drew his sword.
"I'm ready," said Mace as he cracked his knuckles, "just so long as none of the baddies touch my stash."
"Your what?" Flora asked.
At that Mace chuckled then pointed to his now rather fury upper lip, "moustache."
"Is that soup strainer real?" Musa asked.
"Oh it's real alright," said Payton, she then pulled sharply on a few hairs on Mace's face, earning a painful yelp from him.
Bloom then hung up her phone, "I just talked with Sky and the boys, they won't be able to get here for a while, so it's just us."
"Then just us it'll have to be," said Stella, "Winx Enchantix!" With that the six fairies transformed.
"Now that is an incredible sight," said Jake to Carmen, indicating the six fairies with their full powers.
"It is," said Carmen. She then sensed something and turned around, "well, looks like the peeping tom is coming back for more."
Everyone then saw Nabu running very fast towards them. He was using a speed enhancing spell and skidded to a halt in front of everyone, "looks I made it just in time."
"What do you want?" an irate Layla asked.
"If you'd get down off your high horse for just a second," said Nabu, "you'd realize that I'm here to help. Nearly every world in the Magical Dimension is aware that The Trix have been on the lose again, and now they're with their long lost sister, who's stronger than several witches combined."
"And what are we, chopped liver?" Carmen asked in an annoyed tone.
"We've held our own against all four Trix and their freaky allies," said Morgan, "we're ready for whatever they've got planned."
"I don't suppose you're prepared for the stunning traps they've set up in the front hall," said Nabu, "or the reverse-gravity traps, or the acid gas traps, or the mind-obliterating traps?"
"How do you know about those?" Bloom asked, while Tecna scanned the building for traps, then confirmed their existence with a reluctant nod.
"I'm a wizard adventurer," said Nabu, "making sure that the way ahead is free of traps is something I know best."
"What else do they have planned for us in there?" an impressed Stella asked.
"I'd like to know that myself," said Carmen, while Jake, Mace, Kegan, Payton, Rei, Travis, Karen, Tecna, Musa and Flora nodded in agreement.
They all then realized that Layla was glaring at them angrily, "what?" Carmen asked, "he seems to know what he's doing, so why not accept his help?"
"Because he's a total jerk!" said Layla.
"He hasn't been a jerk," said Stella, "not that I know."
"Well…I…that is…" Layla tried to justify her angry feelings, but she couldn't think of anything to say.
"I really do want to help, Layla," said Nabu, "seriously, I have changed for the better."
"Well, if you're serious about helping," said Layla in a defeated tone, "you can stay. But that doesn't mean that I'm gonna marry you!"
Bloom heard Nabu mutter, "stubborn." he then walked up to the front doors of the museum and cast a spell.
"He just deactivated the traps in the front hall," said Tecna as she checked with her wrist computer.
"I concur," said Carmen as she used her senses to search for traps, but couldn't fin anything.
"Okay then," said Layla to Nabu, "you do know what you're doing."
"Naturally," said Nabu as he smiled, then held the door open for everyone.
"He is smooth," said Stella, "almost likeable."
"Almost?" Musa asked.
"Well he still on my 'keep a close watch' list," said Stella.
"Since when did you have a list like that?" Flora asked.
"Since now," said Stella.
Everyone was now inside the museum. With Nabu in front clearing the way of traps, Bloom and the others soon found themselves in the exhibit halls. Right in the middle of the room was Vicky.
"You ruined all the traps I had set," pouted Vicky, "that was half of the game. You really are a wet blanket, Bloom, you and your friends."
"If a dozen death traps are your idea of fun," said Nabu, "then you are one sick lady."
"Don't try to reason with her," said Bloom, "she's just like her sisters. They're all evil through and through."
"Now that's just cruel, Bloom," said Darcy as she, Stormy, Trabon and Icy came out of hiding, "we may be evil, but we're not without heart. Dark hearts that is."
"And just who is this poser?" Stormy as she pointed at Nabu.
"He found and disabled all the traps," said Trabon, "I know who he is; Nabu of Andros. He's Layla's husband to be."
"No he's not!" snapped Layla. It was after the fact that Layla realized that her emotional outburst had worked against her.
"Well now," said Darcy as she, her sisters, Toro and Trabon smiled with wicked glee, "looks like we've found a new nerve to strike."
"This really makes my day," said Icy, "I've already got so many ideas to try out on Layla's boyfriend."
"He's not my boyfriend!" spat Layla as she formed and threw a spear of Morphix at Icy, whom then froze it out of the air.
"If he's not," said Vicky, "then why do you care what we say?" She then smiled wickedly again, "I just had an idea. Get those two!" she pointed at Layla and Nabu.
Kevin, Naz, James, Sara, Rolf, Johnny and Plank, came out of hiding.
"What about all the stuff in here?" James asked, "if we fight, won't it all get smashed?"
"As if we care," said Vicky, "we have what we wanted from this place, so let's have some fun!" she then sent out several balls of dark fire. Bloom and the others dodged them, but several artifacts were destroyed.
All the baddies then attacked, and it was everything our heroes could do not to get hit.
"If we fight back," said Tecna as she and Musa dodged several ice shards and dark lighting bolts, "then more priceless artifacts will be destroyed."
"Let's hope this place is insured," said Musa.
Bloom and the others began fighting back, but all Bloom cared about was getting to Vicky, whom always seemed to be just out of reach.
Then after what seemed an eternity, but only three minutes or so, Vicky called a halt for her side. Puzzled, Bloom and her friends stopped as well.
Vicky smiled and pointed to where Sara, whom had assumed the form of a Manticore, had Layla and Nabu pinned under her claws.
"I have but to give the word and my little friend will slaughter them," said Vicky, "and I do believe Sara want's to taste some blood today."
"Don't you hurt them!" shouted Musa.
"You can't stop me," said Vicky, "but Bloom can. So here's the final stage of the game, Bloom. Your life for theirs," she pointed again at the helpless Nabu and Layla, "choose, Bloom, but we all know what that choice will be."
"Don't do it, Bloom!" said Layla, "I'm not worth it, and neither is Nabu!"
"I can speak for myself!" said Nabu, "and for once we agree. Bloom, don't sacrifice yourself!"
But Bloom already knew that she would. She'd gladly trade places with Layla, and even though she only just met him, Nabu as well.
Fortunately for Bloom, she didn't get the chance to make that terrible choice, for James then shouted, "Oh no! Oh no!" he was franticlly checking his pockets, "the pieces! They're gone!"
"What the f#ck do you mean they're gone!" exclaimed Vicky, "you had them just before the twerps got here!"
"Lady Zahidia's gonna kill us if we don't have the Construct pieces!" said Naz.
"What's a Construct?" Bloom asked.
"None of your business!" spat Vicky, "you're trying my patience, little dragon, so make your choice!"
But again Bloom didn't have to choose, only this time she was saved by two of the last people she'd ever expect to be saved by.
"Here they are!" said Stormy as she and Icy picked up the two Construct pieces and then vanished them to a safe place, "they must have fallen out of James's pockets."
This was the opening that Carmen was waiting for. She then cast a controlled gravity crush spell on Icy, focusing on her windpipe, choaking the frosty witch, while at the same time, Morgan got behind Stormy and delivered a neck pinch, knocking the dark weather witch out.
"NO!" shouted Vicky.
"Oh yeah," said Morgan as she, Mace and Payton tied Stormy up, while Carmen still had Icy in a magical choke hold. The frosty witch was barley getting enough air to stay awake, but that's about all.
"You let them go!" shouted Trabon, while Darcy and Toro prepared to attack.
"One more step," said Carmen, "and I'll crush her heart, it'd be easy, like squeezing a grape." Icy's eyes bulged in both fright and lack of oxygen.
"And I think I'll set her on fire again," said Morgan as she summoned a gallon-sized container full of flammable fluid and prepared to pour it on Stormy, whom by now had woken up.
Vicky ground her teeth angrily before speaking, "well, Bloom, I believe this is what they on Earth call a Bolivian Standoff."
"A Mexican Standoff," said Bloom, "but you're right, both of us are prepared to destroy those we care about. So here's my suggestion. You let Layla and Nabu go, and I'll let Icy and Stormy go, and that'll be that."
"You really think that I'll agree to that?" Vicky asked, "I wouldn't."
"But I'm not you," said Bloom, "I don't want anyone to be killed, even you, though the universe would be better off without you. But that's my offer. Take it or nobody wins today."
Vicky hesitated before saying, "give me a second, I need to have a conference with my colleagues." She then turned around and signaled for Toro, Darcy, Trabon, Kevin, Naz, Rolf, Johnny and Plank, to talk with her.
"You're not seriously considering agreeing with her," said a disgusted Darcy, "are you?"
"What choice do I have?" Vicky asked, "if I don't then we'll loose Icy and Stormy again. And personally, I'd rather not have to ask Diaspro to clone them again."
"I'd rather not have Icy and Stormy in that psychopath's clutches either," said Trabon, "and we have another reason to save them. They're the only ones who can summon back the two Construct pieces."
"Oh, he's right," said Naz, "when you vanish an object, only the one who vanished it can bring it back."
"Well that sucks," said Toro.
"Those are the laws of magic, Toro-shape shifter," said Rolf, "it is of no importance if you like it or not."
"Plank says we should rush them!" said Johnny, "attack the enemy and take their jawbreakers!"
"No way in hell," said Darcy, "I'm not gonna lose my sisters again, Johnny, so you tell Plank that if he makes such an idiotic suggestion again, I'll cut him up for firewood. Wait, that thing is just a piece of wood, so why am I even bothered?"
"We're just stressed out," said Vicky, "so let's just get Icy and Stormy back so we can get the Construct pieces back. Then we can all go back to Xaldo and we all can present them to Lady Zahidia."
"But she said that we were to kill Bloom as well," said James, "I don't want to fail her again. I don't want to go to my own personal hell!"
"Nobody's going to hell," said Vicky, "we'll tell Zahidia that we tried our best, but circumstances were against us, and we'll try harder next time, and there will be a next time."
As the baddies were talking, Bloom was having an emergency conversation with her friends.
"I can't believe you're willing to let Icy and Stormy go!" said a shocked Stella.
"I can't believe that you're willing to risk loosing Layla and Nabu," said Flora.
"That's not what I meant," said Stella, "we should try to find a way where we can win, really win."
"I'm working on it," said Tecna, "but there's no solution I can come up with that won't get someone else in danger."
"I am prepared to do whatever you deem necessary, Princess Bloom," said Jake, while Payton, Mace, Kegan, Rei, Travis and Karen nodded in agreement.
"All I care about right now is getting Layla and Nabu back," said Bloom, "if that means letting the enemy go, then so be it. We'll stop them for good next time, and there will be a next time."
She then looked at Carmen and Morgan, whom then nodded in agreement, albeit reluctantly that their arch enemies were about to get away again.
At the same time, Vicky had gotten everyone in her group to agree. "Alright, Bloom, you have a deal, we'll let the two lovebirds go, once my sisters are released."
"You release Layla and Nabu," said Bloom, "then we'll release Stormy and Icy."
"You release your hostages first!" said Vicky.
"You release your hostages first!" said Bloom.
"Why don't you just release all hostages at the same time," said Stormy. Everyone them looked at her like something crazy had just happened, "What? I can have a good idea when I want to."
"And it is a good idea," said Bloom.
"It is," said Vicky, "okay, we'll do it. Sara, when I say so, let them go."
At that the transformed Sara let out a growl of anger.
"Sorry, Sara," said Vicky, "but that's how it is. Let them go."
Sara then roared in outrage.
"You'll do it!" snapped Vicky, "Or I'll rip you in half!"
Sara's transformed face blanched at the thought of being bisected, then nodded in agreement.
"Right," said Vicky, "on the count of three. One…"
"Two…" said Bloom.
"…three!" said both Bloom and Vicky.
Sara reverted back to her human form and freed Layla and Nabu, while Morgan untied Stormy and Carmen released her crush spell on Icy, whom then coughed for much needed air.
The four hostages then stood up. Stormy glared at Morgan, her eyes saying all that needed to be said, 'I'm going to kill you.'
Icy had actual words to say, "Next time, Carmen, next time."
"I'll be waiting," said Carmen.
Layla and Nabu had nothing to say to Sara. They stated walking towards Bloom and the others as Icy and Stormy walked over to Vicky and her group. The four of them said nothing as they passed each other in the middle of the room. Once Icy and Stormy were back with their group, the baddies vanished.
"Well I'm glad that's over," said Stella as she and the Winx powered down.
"At least they didn't touch my stash," said Mace as he ran his finger over his upper lip again.
"I ought to rip that off of you," said Payton, "it makes you look like an idiot."
"I don't really like it either," said Bloom, "but that's the least of what I'm worried about."
"About what?" Carmen asked, "besides the fact that two of our greatest enemies were at our mercy and got away with the rest."
"The problem is the fact that the enemy agreed to Princess Bloom's demands so easily," said Jake, "Vicky didn't agree just out of love for family. No, there is more to this than meets the eyes."
"Those white things," said Musa, "that Icy and Stormy vanished, they must mean a lot to Vicky and the others."
"And since only someone who vanished an object can bring it back," said Carmen, "it makes sense that Vicky would want her sisters alive, if only to recover the items."
"But what are these items that they're after?" Bloom asked, "they're part of this Construct, but what is it?"
Just then everyone heard somebody slap someone hard. The slapper turned out to be Layla, and the slappee was Nabu.
"What the hell was that for?" an outraged Nabu asked as he backed away from the irate Layla, for fear of being hit again. A hand-shape welt had appeared on his face.
"For nearly getting us both killed!" snapped Layla, "if you hadn't gotten in my way, we wouldn't have been caught by that shape shifter!"
"I didn't know the shape shifter was behind us," said Nabu, "I was too busy pulling you out of the path of a death curse one of the witches was about to cast. Oh yes, I saved you from certain death."
"I would have blocked it!" said Layla, refusing to let the interloper get the better of her, "or at least dodged it."
"Did you even know which witch was going to curse you?" Nabu asked, "well?"
Bloom could tell that Layla didn't know, yet her friend refused to allow herself to be in the wrong. "I would have figured it out."
"Oh forget it," said an exasperated Nabu, "you were right, I shouldn't have come here. You really haven't changed at all." With that he teleported out.
"I…" said Layla, but it was too late, he was gone.
"Awkward," said Morgan.
"In a nutshell," said Carmen.
"You really should have handled that better, Layla," said Flora.
"Not to make you look like the villain," said Stella, "but you really looked bad just now, in more ways than one."
Layla was still speechless as her resolve that she was in the right, began to crumble. Finally she spoke, "you're right, I shouldn't have been so hard on him. Nabu has changed, but I'm still the same stubborn little girl with green teeth."
"What are you gonna do?" Bloom asked.
"I think we should all get out of here," said Kegan as he looked around at the gratuitous destruction of the artifacts in the museum.
"We are so getting sued for this," said Payton.
"You think so little of us fairies," said Stella.
"One convergence-boosted repair spell coming up!" said Musa. The six fairies combined their magic and quickly repaired all the damage to the artifacts and museum building. Within seconds it was as if the fight had never happened.
"That's one crisis averted," said Tecna.
"But the bigger ones are still here," said Bloom.
The end of chapter 25.
The Dragon Princess and her companions will soon have to travel to the home of the Sun and Moon Princess in order to save her kingdom from a usurping serpent. An estranged family will be reunited as a shocking truth in uncovered.
Next chapter: Stella's Guide to Crashing Weddings
'for those with wings, fly to your dreams'