Last time Bloom fretted over the fact that Layla was in love with two men, Tatewaki and Nabu. But then the two men met face to face and found that they like deach other enough to share Layla, if she was willing to share them, and she was. Elsie then found a loophole in Andros law that allowed her to have two husbands, and then Tatewaki['s sister Kodatchi showed up with evidence that said that the Kuno family was of noble blood, and therefore eligible to be her husband. Things were finally right with Layla and her parents after so long.
Elsewhere, it was determined that Toro's reproductive abilities had been tampered with so that he cannot sire a child. The Trix accused Diaspro with violating Toro, but it was revealed that Marissa used Diaspro to violate Toro, and that Marissa was her hooded mistress all the time. Marissa hates Zahidia and originally planned to put the four Tirx under her control and use them as weapons to kill Zahidia. But what with Vicky's unstable condition and Darcy wanting to have a child, Marissa was willing to release her hold on Icy and Stormy, while resorting Toro's violated manhood. 'Nuff said, on with the show!
Chapter 32: Assault on Ginaz
So here's things are," said Bloom as she and the others sat in the Alfea library, "we know The Trix and their allies want this thing," she indicated the small white form of the Construct piece, "and we can't destroy it.
"It's only a matter of time before the baddies try to take it again, so I think the best thing we can do is get it as far away from Alfea as possible."
"Dump it into the ocean on Andros?" suggested Musa.
"My world already had one of those things in the ocean," said Layla, "and one didn't do any good at all."
"Well we're not keeping it on my world," said Stella, "no thank you. Solaria is still recovering from Cassandra's evil."
"And I sincerely don't want it on Lynphea," said Flora.
"Nor on my world," said Tecna.
"I don't think any world will want to take it," said Sky.
"No place is safe from The Trix," said Brandon.
"But there has to be someplace where we can take this thing," said Morgan.
"This is assuming we're just going to leave it somewhere where we hope our enemies won't find it," said Carmen, "but I have a different idea altogether. We know the baddies will try to get the piece, so why not use their desire to our advantage."
"Set a trap?" Jake asked.
"One where we can get rid of The Trix and their allies once and for all," said Carmen, "all we really have to focus on is Darcy and Vicky. The others, we can mop up later, but those two are the key to ending the curse on Domino forever."
"But there's still Zahidia and the R'leyh empire," said Helia.
"We'll deal with them later," said Carmen, "the important part is to free Domino from the curse."
"Are you sure that's most important?" Layla asked suspiciously, "for all of us? Or just for you?"
"What are you talking about?" Carmen asked as she stroked the black dragon tattoo on her right arm, "this is for the entire Magical Dimension. Domino was once the center of our universe. With the curse lifted, things will finally be put to right."
"I guess that makes sense," said Flora, "but there are other problems to worry about."
"I agree," said Elise, "I admit, I'm all for eradicating Darcy from the universe, and Vicky as well, and the rest of The Trix, come to think of it. But the biggest problem at hand is the Construct Piece. I'm 99% certain that this is part of a machine that, when assembled, can control minds across dozens of worlds, if not hundreds.
"All those items Vicky has been stealing from across the Magical Dimension, they all have similar characteristics, thereby making them all part of a greater whole. If this new R'yleh empire has indeed been assembling a Construct, then the whole Magical Dimension is at risk. We have to prevent them activating that mind control machine."
"Which is why we'll use the piece as bait to lure the baddies out," said Carmen, "we choose a highly defendable place and load it with traps and wait for The Trix and their freaky friends to show up, then, spring the trap."
"You're forgetting two things," said Jake, "first, it became clear on Wallach VII that The Trix and their allies were merely subordinates to Zahidia. She is the 'queen bee,' the pillar upon the darkness that which is the source of the troubles plaguing our universe in recent times. We have to find a way to destroy this new empire before it rises."
"We need to find a way to destroy the machine," said Elise, "I'm convinced that the Construct is the primary plan of Zahidia, the gamble she's betting everything on. Whatever plans she also has are tribulations compared to this plan."
"Well if you know how to destroy it," said Riven, "I'm open to suggestions."
"I'm working on that right now," said Elise, "but I do know one thing; using the piece as bait in a trap is not a good idea."
"Which brings me back to my other point," said Jake, "where are we going to set this trap? Assuming we do use this plan."
"I think I may know just such a place," said Riven, "I don't want to say it, but my sister may be willing to help."
"Euripides?" Bloom asked, remembering how much Riven's sister helped her and the others in Omega.
"She's back on Ginaz," said Riven, "teaching hand to hand combat."
"Ginaz has a lot of warrior schools," said Brandon.
"My folks wanted to send me there," said Riven, "I probably would have liked it, but I insisted on going to Red Fountain. No way was I going to let my big sister be such a big shot without some competition."
"I can tell that you're reluctant to ask your sister for help," said Bloom, "but this is a 'beyond the call of duty' situation."
"We all saw how strong your sister was back in Omega," said Sky, "if anyone can stand up to Vicky and win, it's Euripides," he then looked at Bloom, "no offense."
"None taken," said Bloom.
"We wouldn't ask you do this if it wasn't necessary," said Musa to Riven, "if you're really not comfortable with it, then…"
"No, it's okay," said Riven, "I'll ask Euripides if she can help us."
"Okay," said Carmen, "we have a setting for our trap. I have a few ideas for what little traps to set to wear down the baddies," she then touched her dragon tattoo again, "and I've just the sort of thing to use."
"What's with that thing on your arm anyway?" Musa asked, "it's kinda creepy."
"It's nothing," said Carmen defensively, "just my way of expressing myself artistically."
"Are you sure you are alright?" Jake asked, "you haven't been acting yourself since you got that tattoo."
"You have been acting rather irrationally," said Tecna, "like you're not using all of your mental facilities available to you."
"I'm perfectly fine," Carmen insisted.
Bloom looked at Carmen sternly, "you know I can tell when people are lying to me, and you're weaving a tapestry of lies right now."
"I forgot about that little power of yours," said Carmen in a guilty tone, "alright, I'll tell you, but first," she began setting up several magical wards designed to prevent eavesdropping.
Bloom and the other magic users soon followed suit and began setting up wards of their own, creating a multi-layered anti-eavesdropping shield.
"There," said Carmen once their work was done, "there's no telling when the enemy might try to peek over your shoulder."
"You think the enemy is watching us now?" Flora asked.
"I anticipated that they would be scrying us," said Carmen, "my whole plan was to let Zahidia know that we were going to move the piece and that we would be setting a trap. Also, I want them to believe that I'm not thinking with a full bag of marbles, that I'm making a mistake and that you all are following me to our dooms."
"Ah, subterfuge," said Helia, "lead the enemy in one direction and go in another. But what's your real plan?"
"And what does it have to do with that awful thing on your arm?" Stella asked.
"This 'thing' on my arm," said Carmen as she touched her tattoo, "has everything to do with my plan." She looked at Bloom, "after Vicky tricked you into letting her go, I did something I knew you wouldn't forgive so easily. I took matters into my own hands and convinced the other Domino survivors to promise that if you ever fell for Vicky's lies again and didn't do what you had to do to end this madness, then they would make sure you weren't a danger to yourself and everyone else.
"Nothing bad would happen to you, the others would just keep you occupied while I finished off Vicky, and Darcy if she hadn't been killed by then."
Bloom was both shocked and angry that her friend would plot behind her back, but she was also curious as to just how deep Carmen's plotting went, "Who else was involved in this conspiracy?"
"Just us Domino survivors," said Carmen, "Me, Payton, Kegan, Mace and the others. Oh, Jake as well."
"Forgive me, Princess Bloom," said Jake as he bowed in supplication, "I only had your best interest in heart."
"We were in on it too," said Elise, while Morgan nodded in agreement.
"We all tried to talk her out of getting that disgusting tattoo," said Morgan, "but she insisted."
"Who drew that tattoo?" Flora asked.
"Dawn Lewis," said Carmen, "she's a real artist."
"And just where did you find this design?" Tecna asked, "it looks familiar somewhat."
Bloom had other things to ask, "and just how were you going to finish Vicky if I wasn't in any condition to do it myself?"
"With this," said Carmen as she touched her tattoo again, "this dragon was drawn with enchanted ink. Ever since I got it I've been channeling small amounts of my magic into it, slowly but steadily building up a massive charge of magical energy."
"Like a storage capacitor," said Tecna.
"Exactly ," said Carmen, "I'm building up enough energy for multiple Dragon Slave attacks. If I end up facing Vicky, then I'll surely have the advantage. I doesn't matter if Vicky has a tainted ember of Dragonfire in her, nothing in this universe can stand up to six or seven Dragon Slave attacks one after the other."
"So that's your plan," said Riven.
"And here I thought she was going to do something really dumb," said Musa.
"Going over my head with the other Domino survivors was dumb," said an irate Bloom.
"I'm sorry I did," said Carmen, "I only had your best interests in mind. If you don't want me to use my new tattoo, I'll get rid of it somehow."
"I never said you should do that," said Bloom, "but I'm still upset that you got it in the first place. What would have happened if something went wrong, like the tattoo couldn't hold your energy or it sucked up all your magic."
"I took every precaution," said Carmen, "and I had an expert in magical tattoos do the drawing. Believe me, Bloom, I know what I'm doing."
"I'm still upset," said Bloom, "but, I appreciate the thought." she then smiled, "so, what else do you have planned that I don't know about?"
"I've got one or two irons in the fire," said Carmen. "I think we should take the wards down now. If the enemy is eavesdropping, we shouldn't let them get suspicious."
"Good idea," said Bloom. With that she and the others deactivated the anti-eavesdropping wards.
"So we're going ahead with my plan," said Carmen as she touched her tattoo again, "we'll move the piece to Ginaz."
Bloom and the others decided to play along, "assuming they'll let us take it there."
"If I know my sister," said Riven, "she'll convince the heads of the school she's teaching at to let them help us."
"Then we'll take the piece to Ginaz as soon as we get the ok from Euripides," said Sky.
"I guess that's that then," said Bloom as she and the others headed out of the library, "nothing to do but wait." But that wasn't 'that.' Bloom knew that Carmen hadn't told her the complete story about the black dragon tattoo, that there was far more going on. But that was something Bloom was willing to let go for the time being, for there were far more important things going on.
"We still don't have a plan to get the Construct piece," said Icy as she, Darcy, Stormy, Vicky, Toro, Trabobn, Kevin, Naz, Rolf, Sara, James, Johnny and Plank, headed for the throne room, "why's Zahidia doing this to us?"
"If she's just going to torture us for no reason," said Kevin, "I won't take it. I've had enough!"
"Me to," said Naz, "everything was going great until we got involved with those disgusting Winx. They ruined things for us here on Xaldo!"
"Now you understand the pain we've felt over the years," said Darcy.
"I'm starting to think that Marissa's plan to usurp Zahidia may just be a good idea," said Sara, while James nodded in agreement.
"Rolf believes that Zahidia is no good for the empire, and Marissa make better empress."
"But she's still the top villainess around here," said Vicky, "and unless Marissa has a surefire plan to take Zahidia down, I don't even want to think about moving against her."
"So what do we do?" Stormy asked.
"That's what I want to know," said Toro.
"Go with the flow and hope for the best," said Trabon as they reached the throne room. They bowed to Zahidia as she sat on her throne.
"Ah, there you are," said Zahidia, "I've just heard from my informers at Alfea that the Winx and their allies are going to take the essential Construct piece to another world for safekeeping."
"At last, some good luck," said Vicky, "since the Construct piece will no longer be at Alfea, wherever they take it, The Winx won't have the advantage. The ball will be back in our court where it belongs."
"My thoughts exactly," said Zahidia.
"What world are the pixies taking the Construct piece?" Icy asked.
"Ginaz," said Zahidia, "one of the lovers of one of the Winx has a relative who moonlights as a combat instructor."
"Ginaz," said Kevin, "there's a lot of warrior schools there."
"Lots of warriors in training," said Toro, "we'll have our hands full if we go there."
"But they'll all still be in school," said Vicky in a contemplative manner, "the only real threat will be from the instructors, and we'll be sure to get the piece before a proper defense can be set up. Lady Zahidia, has the piece been taken to Ginaz yet?"
"The Winx are waiting for word of approval from Ginaz," said Zahidia, "they will not make their move until they have permission."
"Stupid fairies," said Sara, "always doing things by the book. Anyone knows that if you want something, you take it."
"Which is why us witches and other villains always win in the end," said Icy, "one way or another."
"I think the best thing we should do is go to Ginaz right now," said Darcy, "and wait for the Winx to show up. They'll have to bring the piece out into the open, and that's when we'll make our move."
"We'll work on the plan along the way," said Vicky. She then faced Zahidia, "we will not fail you again, Lady Zahidia."
"I know you won't fail me," said Zahidia as she glared down as Vicky and the others, "for my patience has been worn thin enough as it is. All that is required to activate the Construct is this one essential piece. The future of the new empire hangs on the balance of you recovering the piece.
"I will only say this once, Victoria. Either you, your sisters and allies return to Xaldo with the essentail Construct piece, or you will not return at all. Do I make myself clear?"
"Perfectly clear, Lady Zahidia," said Vicky. Icy and the others knew full well that they had just been handed an ultimatum, one that said that if they failed, they were as good as dead, one way or another.
"Then go," said Zahidia, "and do not fail me."
"We live only to serve you, Lady Zahidia," said The Trix, Toro, Trabon, Kevin, Naz, Rolf, Sara, James, Johnny and Plank.
"This may be our last chance to do anything," said Stormy as they left the throne room, "if we screw this up, we're dead."
"Don't you think we already know that?" an annoyed Icy asked.
"What are you two worried about?" a nearly frantic Darcy asked, "I'm the one who has all the hopes this family's future pinned on."
"And what about me?" Vicky asked, "if we both die, then the curse on Domino will be lifted. I'll burn in the deepest part of hell before that happens!" She then suddenly tensed, "this whole mission has 'trap' written all over it."
"What do you mean?" Icy asked. She then suddenly realized what Vicky was talking about, "you'd think that after all this time, The Winx would have realized that they've been watched from afar, that they would be more careful about making plans."
"That has crossed my mind from time to time," said Darcy.
"So what?" Stormy asked, "they're stupid, plain and simple."
"Just because they're stupid, doesn't mean we can't be careful," said Trabon. "If we don't take every precaution we can, then one of us, possibly more, may pay the ultimate price."
"We won't fail this time," said Kevin, "no matter what, we'll get that Construct piece from those dorks."
"If only for our sake," said Naz.
Just then Marissa came around the corner, giving our anit-heroes a disarming smile, "you wouldn't have to worry about your lives if I was in charge of the empire. I would never threaten you like Zahidia does."
"If you're looking for an answer to your offer," said Vicky, "don't hold your breath. We've still reason to be loyal to Zahidia."
"She'd probably reward us greatly if we told her of your plot to overthrow her," said Sara.
"Rewards beyond our wildest dreams," said James.
"Plank wants a new toothbrush and floss sticks," said Johnny.
"I'm sure she would reward you for your loyalty," said Marissa, "but you won't betray me to my friend from long ago. No, I don't think you would."
"What makes you so confident?" Icy asked.
"Who said anything about confidence?" Marissa asked, "I'm just as in the dark about the future as you are." With that she walked away.
"That's one weird woman," said Toro.
"Rolf has seen weirder."
"Oh really?" Stormy asked, "where and when?"
"Never mind that," said Vicky as they headed for the room where the Tachyon Transporter would instantly send them to Ginaz, "we've a mission to accomplish. But we should also keep in mind that we have an option should the worse happen."
"If it looks like Zahidia's going to have us for lunch," said Trabon, "then we side with Marissa."
On impulse, Icy asked, "what about Diaspro?"
"Who cares about that psycho princess?" Naz asked, "Zahidia fixed her up with her own private asteroid where she can breed her army of super soldiers."
"At least she's finally out of our hair," said Stormy, "I never liked her."
"I know someone who'll miss the little psycho," said Sara to Icy in a teasing manner.
"I don't miss her!" snapped Icy, "I hate that psycho bitch! I hate her for what she did to me and tried to do to all of us. I hate every inch of her, from her long blond hair, to her perfectly shaped body, and her scent, oh…her scent."
"Way too much information there, sister!" said Darcy.
"Oh," said Icy as she realized that whatever whammy Diaspro had on her was still there, "I'll have to do something about that."
"But what about us?" James asked, "do we stay with Zahidia and hope she doesn't kill us? Or side with Marissa and bring Zahidia down, while we hope that Marissa doesn't kill us as well."
"That's assuming she does succeed in deposing Zahidia," said Vicky, "if that doesn't work, we're just as dead."
"There's a third option," said Kevin in a tone that said he was remembering something important, "we could run."
"Not a chance," said Vicky, "Zahidia has some of the best trackers in the Magical Dimension. They'd find us before we got ten parsecs from Xaldo. And when they bring us back, we'll wish The Galaxy Police had caught us after what Zahidia does to us for desertion. I should know, I saw what she did to a deserter once, it wasn't pretty."
"But they won't catch us," said Kevin, "not in the wheels that I'm thinking of. One of the projects of the empire is the development of a stealth battle cruiser. This starship would be undetectable by any sensing means, magical or non-magical. We'd be ghosts in the universe, going where we want, when we want."
"And you could get your hands on such a star craft?" Vicky asked.
"There's one right here on Xaldo," said Kevin, "the prototype has been built and is sitting in the palace's starship docks. The tech guys still need to work out a few bugs in the ship before they test it, but all they major systems work, including the stealth technology.
"We could steal it right from under their noses and be gone before anyone would know we were missing. What's even better is that they're installing a Tachyon Transporter. No place would be barred from us."
"That does sound like a good idea to me," said Toro.
"A very good idea," said Trabon.
"We'd kinda belike pirates," said Stormy, "I always did like pirate stories."
"I'd be nice to go someplace without having to ask permission first," said Darcy.
"If this is the plan," said Naz, "then I'm all for it."
"Same here," said Sara, while James, Rolf, Johnny and Plank nodded in agreement.
"Then that's our backup plan," said Vicky, "Kevin, if you can get us onto that ship, we'll leave if thing start going south for us."
"The keys are as good as in my pocket," said an eagerly grinning Kevin, "but if we take the ship, we'll have to give it a name. Zahidia's been so wrapped up with the Construct, she's forgotten all about the ship."
"I'll think of a name when I have the time," said Vicky.
Several light years from Xaldo was a city-sized asteroid where Diaspro had set up a massive biological factory where hundreds of her genetically engendered super soldiers had already been grown, partially from captive humans but also from clones of those humans.
"If tens of thousands of individuals were to suddenly go missing," said Diaspro to her small cabal of scientific assistants she choose from the imperial ranks, "one would surely notice. It's Zahidia's desire, and my desire as well, that this operation goes undetected for as long as possible.
"Therefore, we'll create as many clones of our 'guests' as we can, and therefore turn them into Perfectives as well as the originals. For every human, we can create as much as 10 clones from a single DNA sample. Naturally we'll want the best of baseline human stock, so progress will be slow at first.
"But I can guarentee this, ladies and gentlemen. Before the deadline Zahidia imposed on us, and monitored by our friends from the palace," she indicated several black uniformed guards that Zahidia assigned as 'observers,' "we'll have her army of Perfectives ready for her command. So let's get to work already, time is money."
With that she and her assistants got to work monitoring the equipment that governed the creation of the vile super soldiers. Several already completed Perfectives were in the control room, waiting for orders from Diaspro, orders that only she knew about.
Zahidia will get her army alright, thought Diaspro, I'll give it to her right down her throat. Then I'll deal with that bitch Marissa. No one uses me and gets away with it!
It was almost another day before Bloom and the others heard back from Euripides with the news that the headmasters of Ginaz would allow their world to be used as a safe haven for the Construct piece. From then it was only a matter of hours flight time onboard The Night Rider and the Sapphire Blaze.
Bloom still remembered the look of reluctant acceptance on Griselda's face as Bloom and The Winx left Alfea to go to Ginaz. "I think she's finally gotten into her head that our last year at Alfea isn't going to be a normal one," said Bloom.
"Since when did we ever have a normal year at Alfea?" Stella asked.
"You do realize that if we get through this alive," said Musa, "that we'll be just a few months away from graduation."
"I almost forgot," said Tecna, "I don't suppose we'll have time to study for finals."
"We've got bigger things to worry about than tests," said Layla.
A few hours later our assembled heroes were in orbit around the world made famous for its multiple warrior schools.
"We're going to St. Bradock's School of Martial Arts," said Riven, "that's where my sister has her internship."
The ships landed outside a large complex stylized after a karate dojo found in Japan. Hundreds of students wearing different colored training gi's were in the large practice yard performing complex kata's and other martial arts exorcises.
Our heroes were escorted to a meeting hall in the dojo, where after being served tea, were met by Euripides. Riven's older sister hadn't changed at all since Bloom first met her in Omega, except now the incredibly powerful warrior was wearing an instructor's gi over her elastic body suit.
"Well, little brother," said Euripides to Riven, "it looks like you and your friends are in another sticky situation. And as usual, I'm going to have to pull your sorry behinds out of the fire."
"We wouldn't be here if we didn't want to," said Riven in an irritated tone, "and we're not in that much trouble."
"We're here because there's no other place in the Magical Dimension that's safe enough," said Bloom, while Sky brought out a small red and gray box that had several protective spells and enchantments on it. Inside the box was the Construct piece.
"There's a lot of bad people after this thing," said Stella as she, Bloom, Carmen and Elise, undid the protective spells on the box and opened it, revealing the small white sphere.
"So that's the thing that's causing you so much trouble," said Euripides, "doesn't look all that evil to me."
"It may look harmless," said Sky as he closed the box, while Bloom and the others redid the protective spells, "but it's part of an even greater evil that could tip the balance of power in the universe towards the darkness."
"Say no more," said Euripides, "I know just the place on Ginaz where this dark object will be safe. There's an old temple in the mountains not too far from here. It's in a place that's very hard to get to. You probably can't even find it unless you know where it is already."
"And you know how to get there?" Carmen asked as she touched her tattoo again.
"I'll take you there right now," said Euripides, "assuming you're all up for a bit of a hike."
"We're ready when you are," said Sky.
Euripides left for a bit to change into more sutable clothing. "I don't like this," said Brandon, "I thought they would put the piece in one of the schools where a lot of people would guard it. Instead we're taking it to an old temple. What's to stop the enemy from finding it?"
"Just relax," said Carmen, "I've got everything taken care of. Iron's in the fire, remember, irons in the fire."
"Are you sure she's faking this?" Stella whispered to Bloom, "Maybe she really is losing it."
"All we can do is hope for the best," said Bloom.
A short while later Euripides, now wearing her jacket over her bodysuit, lead our heroes out past the dojo towards a nearby mountain range.
"Why is it that whenever we have to get some important magical item or take that item somewhere," said Brandon, "we have to climb a mountain or two first?"
"It's more fun that way," said Helia, "at least we'll get some exorcise out of it."
They hiked up the mountain, following Euripides who was following a trail that only she could tell from the uneven stone face of the mountain.
Eventually, after enduring an hour or so of Stella's complaining, they reached the ruins of an old temple. Only a few support columns and the foundations remained of what was once a grand place of worship to a forgotten deity.
"Do you really think the Construct piece will be safe here?" Flora asked.
Just then The Trix, Toro, Trabon, Kevin, Naz, Rolf, Sara, James, Johnny and Plank teleported in. "Oh I don't know," said Vicky in a nonchalant tone, "but I know were it will be."
"Hand over that box, Winx!" said Icy.
"I knew you jerks would show up!" said Bloom. She, Stella, Flora, Musa, Tecna and Layla all transformed.
"We all knew you'd show up," said Sky as he held onto the box with the Construct piece in it in one hand and activated his sword with the other. Brandon and the other Specilists also activated their weapons.
"You're not getting away with that Constrict piece!" said Riven as he pointed his sword at Vicky, "oh, have you met my sister?"
"He has a sister?" a surprised Stormy asked.
"I never guessed," said Darcy.
"So you are The Trix," said Euripides in a serious tone as she glared at Vicky and her sisters, then at all the other baddies with them, "I'll say this one, your days of outrunning justice are over."
"No chance in hell!" said Kevin, "we'll never be caught by justice!"
"We're having way too much fun being evil," said Naz.
"If anyone's days of running are over," said Sara, "it's yours!"
"I'll turn her brain into jelly!" said James.
"Plank wants to rip out her spleen!" said Johnny.
"Save a piece of her innards for Rolf!"
"Don't be fouls!" snapped Vicky, "you wouldn't last ten seconds against her!"
"How come?" Kevin asked, while Naz, Rolf, James, Sara and Johnny nodded in confused agreement.
"This woman can kill you with a single blow each," said Vicky, "she is the chosen master of a fighting style so powerful, so deadly, only one person per generation can fully master it."
Vicky then glared at Riven's older sister, "Euripides, famed graduate of Red Fountain and master of Fist of the North Star!"
"And you are Victoria," said Euripides, "one of the greatest witches to graduate from Cloud Tower in recent times. If only you haven't lost yourself to the darkness, what good you might have accomplished."
"You idiot!" said Stormy, "no self respective witch will ever be good!"
"Who's the idiot now?" Morgan asked.
"If any witch can use her magic for good," said Elise, "you're looking at them."
"We're living proof that having dark magic doesn't automatically make you evil," said Carmen as she toughed her tattoo.
"What's with that thing on your arm anyway?" Icy asked.
"It's a surprise for later," said Carmen, "but I've got a few more to dish out first. Morgan?"
"I am so on this!" said Morgan. She then chanted a spell and the entire area within 300 ft around and above was encased in a magical shield.
"This is a little something I was saving for a special occasion," said Morgan, "an anti teleportation field."
"No way are you bastards and bitches running away," said Carmen in a vindictive tone, "not this time. This time it's to the finish."
"So, that's your game, is it?" Vicky asked, "you knew we were eavesdropping on you at Alfea, so you planned to lure us to another place and trap us."
"That's the plan alright," said Bloom.
"And you fell for it!" said Stella.
"Hook, line and sinker!" said Layla.
"Well we have a few plans of our own!" said Vicky, "Darcy?"
"With pleasure!" said Darcy. She then unleashed a curse that ensnared Bloom and the Winx, as well as Carmen and Elise. The girls then found themselves unable to breathe as the dark magic constricted their throats.
"Bloom!" shouted Sky while, Brandon and the other boys shouted their respective girlfriends names, while Morgan shouted Elise and Carmen's names.
"You may have stopped us from leaving," said Vicky as she smiled vindictively in turn, "but we've stopped your friends from breathing."
Bloom and the other girls fell ot the ground and were seconds away from passing out.
"So here's the deal," said Vicky, "you hand over the box with the Construct piece and drop the anti-teleportation field, and we'll let your girlfriends live."
"You bitch!" snapped Sky, "I'll…!"
"You're in no position to do anything about this!" said Vicky.
"But I am!" shouted Euripides as she tossed her jacket to Riven, "you, Victoria, you are a sow of a woman who has given her soul to the darkness! For all that you have done, I can never forgive you!" she then cracked her knuckles in her own manner.
"Did you just call me a pig?" Vicky asked in an unsteady tone, "oh, that does it!" she then took her jacket off and handed it to Stormy, "you want to throw down, let's throw down!"
The two of them faced off, with Vicky powering up for a massive curse, while Euripides took up a fighting stance. Vicky then shot several balls of black fire at Euripides, whom dodged all of them easily. She then got within striking range and begin delivering several devastating punches to Vicky's torso, hitting her multiple times in seven spots that formed a crucifix pattern.
"North Star Cross Kill!" shouted Euripides as she delivered the final punch, knocking Vicky down.
"Vicky!" shouted Icy, Darcy and Stormy.
Vicky tried to get up, but she fell back down, coughing up some blood.
"I've just signed your death warrant, Victoria," said Euripides in a tone that was completely without pity. "those seven pressure points I've hit will bring about your death," she held up her first three fingers of her left hand, "you've three minutes left to make your piece with god, then you die!"
"You think me so weak!" snapped Vicky. She the used her dark magic to forcibly heal her body before the technique used against her delivered its fatal blast.
"So you've a means to counter Hokuto Shin Ken," said Euripides, "it doesn't matter," she took up another fighting stance, "I can keep this up until you run out of magic."
"We could keep going all day," said Vicky as she stood up, though her body was on the verge of collapsing, "but you have other things to worry about."
"Your pathetic pixy and traitor witches are just about to die!" said Darcy.
True enough, The Winx, as well as Carmen and Elise, were inches away from death via asphyxiation.
"Give us the Construct piece!" said Vicky, "and drop the field!"
"Oh for the love of the gods, Sky!" shouted Brandon, "just do it!"
"Alright!" shouted an anguished Sky. He threw the case with the Construct piece to Vicky, "you have your damn piece, now let the girls go!"
"Do it already!" snapped Morgan as she released the anti-teleportation field.
"A deal is a deal," said Vicky as she picked up the box, "Darcy?"
"Of course," said Darcy as she released the curse, allowing Bloom and the others to breathe again.
"I'm sorry, Bloom!" said Sky as he helped her up, while Brandon and the other boys helped the rest of the girls up.
"No, it's alright, Sky," said Bloom, "you did the right thing."
"We have the last piece!" said Vicky triumphantly into her cellphone. She then teleported the box to Xaldo, "and now, to finish the job. Darcy!"
"Gladly!" said Darcy as she reactivated the curse, only now ensnaring all of our heroes, slowly choking them.
"We're going to get so many gold stars for this!" exclaimed Sara with vicious glee.
"We got the last piece and killed our enemies!" said James, "all in the same day! Hooray!"
"Oh how long I've waited for this," said Icy as she and the other baddies watched Bloom and the others struggle to breathe, "goodbye, Bloom, I'm going to miss you, not!"
"You…forget…one thing,…Icy!" gasped Carmen, "I…always have…a…plan!"
Just then Jake, Payton, Mace, Kegan, Kurt, Karen, Travis, Rei and the other Domino survivors emerged from a cloaking spell. Those with magic aimed and shot massive blasts at the baddies, while those without magic used high-powered energy basters to shoot Vicky and the others.
The assembled baddies managed to either block or dodge the worst of the gargantuan barrage, but most of them were moderately hurt in one way or another. Vicky took a glancing blast to the ribs, while Icy twisted her ankle while dodging a blast, and Stormy fell on her arm, breaking it.
Toro got hit in the face, resulting in a 1st degree burn from his forehead down to his right eye. Trabon was burned across his back. Kevin and Naz both suffered broken arms, while Sara and James had dislocated arms and bruised ribs. Rolf and Johnny managed to get through unhurt.
The only one seriously hurt was Darcy, who tripped on a rock and hit her head on a larger rock, knocking her unconscious.
The massive sneak attack released the curse on Bloom and the others. Everyone could breathe now.
"Awesome timing, Jake," said Bloom as she and the others made sure everyone was alright.
"The one to be thanked was Carmen," said Jake, "this was all her plan."
"You mean you nearly got us all killed?" Musa demanded Carmen, "all just to blast the baddies?"
"I didn't know that they'd use a choking curse on us," said Carmen, "I just had a trap set, that's all. Just another iron in the fire."
"Well your iron nearly got us killed," said Riven. He then saw that Vicky and the others were gone, "and now they've gotten away again!"
"And they have the Construct piece," said Timmy.
"You mean this?" Carmen asked as she smiled happily. She then summoned a box identical to the one that had the Construct piece. She handed it to Bloom, who them opened it, revealing the piece.
"Is that the piece?" a confused Brandon asked.
"What just happened here?" Stella asked.
"I made a copy of the piece," said Carmen, "it was identical to the real Construct piece in every physical detail. But it's still a fake. I can't wait to see the look on Icy's face when she and the other baddies find out that they've been bamboozled again!"
"We won't get to see the faces of all of them," said Elise as she examined the rock that Darcy hit her head on, a rock that was soaked in blood. A closer examination of the rock revealed a large sharp point on the rock that had small fragments of bone and something else that could only be small bits of brains.
"Oh, that's not good," said a shocked Flora, "not good at all."
"Darcy hit her head on that," said an equally shocked Musa, "that means…?"
"If she's not dead already," said Elise, "then she's as good as dead."
"Then there is only Vicky to contend with," said Jake, "one more death and Domino will be free of the curse."
"Yes, free," said Bloom in a distant tone. Even though Darcy was one of her most hated enemies, second only to Icy, and Vicky of course, not to mention Zahidia, Bloom still felt sorry for Darcy, or anyone who would suffer such a sudden death like that.
"I don't believe it!" raged Toro as he held Darcy's unmoving body in his arms, "there has to be something that can be done! I won't let Darcy die!"
He and the other baddies were in the palace hospital getting their wounds looked over. Immediately upon arrival he demanded that a doctor examine the apparently unconscious Darcy. The prognosis wasn't good at all.
"There's nothing anyone can do," said an imperial healer, "I've examined her. I'm sorry, but she's dead. She was dead the second she fell on that pointed rock. The stone pierced her skull and entered her brain. Death was instantaneous and without pain, which is fortunate."
"Impossible," said a shocked Icy, "Darcy can't be dead. She can't be. She can't be!"
"She's always the smart one," said Stormy, "the reasonable one. The one who always figures things out. She can't be gone, she just can't!"
Vicky was numb with grief. She just sat in the corner, her head between her arms.
Trabon, Kevin, Naz, Rolf, Sara and James were silent, unable to find the words to express what they were feeling. Even Johnny was as quiet as his inanimate friend Plank.
"Diaspro," said Trabon finally, "we have to find Diaspro. She resurrected Icy and Stormy, she'll do the same for Darcy."
"That's right!" said Icy, "she brought us back to life, she can bring back Darcy!"
"We can bring her back?" Toro asked.
"We can definitely bring her back," said Stormy, "we'll get Diaspro to bring Darcy back. And if she won't cooperate, we'll make her bring Darcy back!"
"That's assuming you can find the little psycho bitch," said Marissa as she walked into the infirmary. She then gestured to all the healers, telling them to get out, which they did.
"Diaspro has her own asteroid again," said Marissa, "someplace in the universe you'll never find on your own. And even if you do find it, and if you do convinced the maniac to help you, who knows what sort of meddling she'll do to Darcy in the process of resurection?"
"She'll mess with Darcy's DNA like she did with mine!" said an enraged Icy.
"If she even tries to do that!" snapped Toro, "I'll kill her!"
"You could do that," said Marissa in a mischievous tone, "or, you could let me help you."
At that Vicky got back up, "If you expect us to betray Zahidia, to help you over throw her, as a price to bring back my sister," she balled up her fists in rage, "then…"
"Zahidia has already betrayed you," said Marissa. She handed a letter to Vicky, then handed another to Icy, and one to the rest of the group."
"What's this?" Vicky asked as she opened her letter.
"The final nail in the coffin," said Marissa, "no pun intended. I'll tell you all what that letter says. It's a doctored up pink slip, saying that Zahidia thanks you for all your hard work obtaining the pieces of the Construct. But now that the essentail piece has been recovered, the machine can be fully assembled and powered up, therefore leading to the rise of the new empire as dozens of worlds are enslaved by the mind controlling magic of the machine.
"In short, this is Zahdia's way of saying that she doesn't need you all anymore. You'll all be properly compensated for your time and efforts, but you are no longer valued members of her new order and suggests that you either submit fully as servents or be destroyed, and you have a few days to decide while the machine is powered up. The start-up sequence will take 96 hours, so you'd better start thinking about your futures, or at least, packing."
"I can't believe this!" exclaimed Vicky as she burned the letter away with black fire, "after all we did for her, after all I did for Zahidia, she's just tossing us aside like yesterday's garbage!"
"It doesn't have to be that way," said Marissa, "I can make sure that you always have a place in the new order, if I were on the throne of Xaldo. Even more so, I could use my magic to bring Darcy back, right here and now."
"You can do that?" exclaimed Toro, "you can bring her back!"
"With no ill effects," said Marissa, "everything will be the way things were with her. Even more so, I can ensure that the two of you finally have a child."
"That doesn't matter any more," said Vicky, "with Darcy dead, she's no longer connected to the curse on Domino. I'm the only one left keeping Domino an iceball."
"Perhaps," said Marissa, "but perhaps not."
"What are you saying?" Vicky asked.
"I'll tell you if you promise not to tell anyone else," said Marissa.
"You have my word," said Vicky, "now tell me."
Marissa then whispered something into Vicky's ears that made her eyes widen in shock, "you're kidding!"
"I would never kid about something like this," said Marissa.
"What did she say to you?" Icy demanded.
"Just something that made me feel a whole lot better about the situation," said Vicky.
"And now comes the question," said Marissa, "will you all help me bring down Zahidia? The one whom you slaved away for nothing in return? Will you help me kick her off the throne and earn yourselves a gratuitous reward? And to bring Darcy back of course."
"We'll do it!" insisted Toro, "just bring Darcy back!"
"You don't speak for the rest of us!" said Icy, "but if it'll bring my sister back, yes, we'll do as you say."
"Yes," said Stormy, "just do it!"
"We'll do it," said Nas, while Kevin, Rold, Sara, James and Johnny nodded in agreement.
"Assuming you can uphold your end of the bargain," said Trabon, "bring Darcy back, and I will be at your service."
"If you can bring my little sister back," said Vicky, "then yes, I will do as you say."
"Then you have your sister back," said Marissa. She merely snapped her fingers (insert finger snapping sound) "and she's back."
"What's going on?"
Everyone was startled to hear and see Darcy alive and well in Toro's arms, "what happened?" she asked, "where am I?" She suddenly found herself deep in a passionate embrace with Toro. The hug then became a group hug as Icy, Stormy, Vicky, Kevin, Naz and everyone else showered her with affection.
"Yeah, yeah, I care about you all too," said Darcy, "but seriously, what's going on? Last thing I remember, we were choking the life out of The Winx and their pathetic friends."
"It's a long story," said Toro.
"It was a bit of a successful failure," said Vicky, "we got the last Construct piece, but we didn't get to kill any of our enemies."
"We all got hurt," said Icy, "that bitch, Carmen, she pulled another fast one that got us all hurt."
"You were really hurt," said Stormy, "so hurt that we had to zap you to get your heart going again."
"So, I was dead?" a concerned Darcy asked.
"Only for a minute or so," said Vicky, keeping the lie going, "but it was long enough to separate you from the curse. I'm now the only one keeping Domino a giant ice ball."
"Well that sucks," said Darcy.
"It gets worse," said Naz, "now that Zahidia has what she needs to get the Construct going again, she decided to screw us over."
"Either we completely submit," said Kevin as he handed his copy of the letter of termination to Darcy, "or we leave. Either way, we're royally screwed."
Darcy read and reread the letter, a look of unadulterated rage on her face, "after all we did for that bitch, she's just tossing us out like yesterdays filth!" she then disintegrated the letter with a minor curse.
"Which is why your sisters and friends decided to accept my offer," said Marissa, "and I hope you accept as well."
"You're still planning to dethrone Zahidia," said Darcy, "well count me in as well. When do we kill her?"
"Just as soon as I can dump this extract of willow bark into her tea," said Marissa as she held out the packet of powder, "then she'll be weak enough to finally be put in her place."
"Extract of Willow Bark?" Stormy asked.
"To those of our race, it's like cyanide and arsenic combined," said Marissa.
"You mean that you and Zahidia can be killed with aspirin?" a shocked and confused Toro asked.
"Enough aspirin the size of a pill you would take for a headache would kill us in a manner of minutes," said Marissa as she put the packet away, "a few milligrams of this in her tea would weaken Zahidia to the point where you Trix and your friends would easily overpower her. Then I will move in to finish her off and claim the throne of the new R'leyh empire for myself."
Just then the whole palace shook from an incredibly powerful explosion.
"What was that?" Icy asked.
The end of chapter 32.
The Dark ones must allow the heart of their group to leave in order to face her doom, while the Dragon Princess is forced to confront her once and for all. The destiny of the realms will be decided on frozen Domino.
Next chapter: All Bets Are Off
'for those with wings, fly to your dreams'