Here is chapter 5, Please review.

I'm searching for a second Beta to better the quality of the fic even more. Pm me If you're interested.

Disclaimer : I don't own Witch, Winx or the prequel of this story.


Company of Shadowed Light

Chapter 5 : White Lie.

The next morning came fast, too fast for some. Some like Musa and Hay Lin had to wake before the sun to prepare sandwiches for the trips, while others like Stella would just never have enough beauty sleep. For her part Kadma woke early just because she knew Cassidy wouldn't and someone had to get everyone in order for what was essentially an outing of girls barely out of their teens.

In the end it took them a little over one hour and a half to join with Roxy waiting in front of the city bus stop

"Is everyone ready?" Kadma called when she saw the bus that would take them to the countryside coming down the street. It seemed that they were just in time.

They could have gone by flying, but the ranch was far enough that they would be hard pressed to fight once there. As for translocating, the only one who had been to the ranch was Roxy, and no one wanted to end up in a tree. So the only choice left had been the good old bus.

"Yes!" The girls exclaimed almost in unison.

"Flora, Aisha, you'll see the boys when we get back." Cassidy teased the girls who were still in their boyfriends' arms.

"She is right Flora, you've got to go. Don't worry about me." Helia said as he kissed his girlfriend.

"Oh Nabu~, I'll miss you so much." Aisha wept.

Taranee facepalmed "Really? It won't be for more than a day . Even Hay Lin on her worse day wasn't that cheesy"

"And she lost her boyfriend, right ?" Stella snarled back.

"Not that you're doing much better right no. " Taranee retorted.

"Hissss" Stella and Taranee started yet an other glaring match. Well, Stella did. Taranee was just staring back.

Brondon had not even bothered to come. His excuse had been that if Roxy wasn't at the bar one of them should remain to help.

Kadma frowned , those two were almost as bad as Cornelia and Will, and everyone knew how That ended. "Could you please stop for a moment?" She asked.

"It's not me. She is just getting herself angry." Taranee smirked.

"Why are you so... grr." Stella stormed off to van.

"Will everything be alright?" Roxy asked as Stella passed her.

"Don't worry. They do that all the time." Bloom waved her off . "It's their way of bounding."

At that almost everyone laughed.

Bloom gave Roxy a once over and smiled mischievously. "Now, we can't have you like that. We are going to a ranch after all."

"Well, those are the only clothes I have." Roxy said sheepishly.

"Don't worry. Here is another lesson in fairy magic." Bloom's hand illuminated and soon after Roxy's attire changed to a more 'western' style.

"Whoa! They look good." Roxy exclaimed looking at her changed clothing. "Thanks." She tipped her hat.

"Not bad, I admit it." Hay Lin acknowledged. "Are they your designs?"

"Nope." Bloom belied. "They're from Stella, she wants to be designer later."

"Why am I not surprised?" Taranee said with a shadow of a smile.

"Well, now that's taken care of we should move or our transport will go without us." Tecna said as she entered the bus, followed by Musa, still at cold war with Riven.

"Take care my love." Sky waved before Bloom entered the bus and she sent him back a kiss.

As Kadma's turn came she noticed the strange gazes that drivers and non-magic passengers were giving to their fluttering wings but shrugged them off. The limbs were now physically part of their being, even if magic was still what she supposed made them fly. Case in point, Hay Lin being by far the fastest of them all.

But it wasn't the only change brought about by their definitive act back in Kandrakar. Rather, it was only the first of what she anticipated may be many. As limbs, their wings were all growing, now twice as big as when they arrived on Domino. They were also individualizing. While still clearly of the same set her wing membranes were becoming longer, pulling more strength than before while allowing far less agility than for example Hay Lin's whose wings were now slimmer, but longer, getting her even more speed at the same time. For their part Cassidy's had the membranes fusing which in turn called to mind the fins of a fish and Taranee had gained an articulation in them.

"Thinking about something?" Flora asked seated behind her. As she was thinking the vehicle had already started its road.

"Nothing really, just how little things can mean a lot." She retracted her wings the most she could. "I don't even know if what we are doing really matters."

"It does" Flora grinned jovially." If we put it all together, Nothing is impossible. Look how much better we got since the first time "

Kadma looked into Flora's eyes." You may be right." She answered scratching her head with a half smile. There was so much innocence in the two green orbs that she couldn't help but want to believe "I just can't help but worry."

" Hum? Why? Roxy is with us now and we are on our way to find a clue to find her mother. With a little luck we might be able to free the Earth's fairies and then, all will be right" Flora was an optimistic girl, that was for sure.

"If only. Liberating the Earth fairies is clearly a priority. And I do believe we will find a away to beat Ogron."

"You see. So why are you so worried ?" Flora was gently clenching her hand, green fixing brown.

"That it might not be enough" Her eyes wandered to Roxy " I fear that darker shadows might be closing in on us."

"Again about that Will?." Flora sighed "If what you said is true then I can understand. However, we won't be able to move on if you fear the next step."

Kadma laughed "You're right I guess. I can't believe I'm being admonished by a girl more than half a century younger than me."

"Heh ?!"

"Valor does not wait the number of years." She heard Hay Lin quote in front of her, Musa sleeping on her shoulder.

"That's quite right Hay Lin " She smiled. "Experience does. We shouldn't let our guard down."

"On that , I can't fault you. I don't want a repeat of the attack on the Frutti bar" Flora nodded, the look in her eyes reminding her the one of Angelo. She was sure the two would have hit off.

They started to talk about what they could do to bring the Wizards down as fast as they could, or at least how they could limit the material casualty.

There was no death from that fight , but if she knew her classic villains, they would start killing if they thought it was taking too long.

As they talked Taranee was relaying bits of the other groups' conversations among them. They had been forced to separate upon sitting by people already in the transport but they were all pretty much talking about the same things .

In the back corner, Tecna was compiling all the data about their precedent run in with the Wizards and coming around with her own theory which she explained to Taranee and Roxy who seated with her on the back. Taranee pointed out that what they had was good for the Wizards, but was far off against Will. Which again raised the questions from the fairies if she was that strong.

At the same time in the front rows Stella, Aisha, Cassidy and Bloom were talking about leadership, which obviously also brought back the subject of Will.

The Girl was a specter on their minds, eating at them from the inside. With a little luck she had enough of Earth after Heatherfield and was now destroying life on some other planets. But they knew fate did not work that way.

The four Guardians were all on accord that she was probably there, somewhere, bidding her time or already taking action they could not see. In their minds it was possible that she had already contacted Roxy or the Winx without them knowing.

In fact, Hay Lin had just reminded her that she and Elyon could be there, inside the Bus with them,0 and they would still be none the wiser. "Don't be that paranoid Hay Lin. I think we would feel it. You said yourself that when she entered The Silver Dragon you felt bad. Do you feel that way now?"

"No. I don't." Hay Lin acknowledged. " I even feel better than in the city, ... I might be going paranoid." She laughed dryly, which for her was the closest thing to a smile.

"Going paranoid?" Musa muttered as she woke up. "Those last two weeks you almost literally talked my ears off with your worries."

"Well yeah, sorry about that. But I can't help it." She sighed. "Not after what happened."

"No Big. That did help me forget about Riven last night" Musa lowered her head.

"I'm sure everything is going to be alright. He just need time" Hay Lin said smoothly. The two of them had had a rough start, but since her break up with Riven, Musa had needed a shoulder and Hay Lin had been it. She may have forgotten how to smile from the numerous traumas they had lived through but she was still a really sweet girl deep inside.

" I ... don't know." Musa said, tearing up. "Maybe I should really not go to the studio."

A vein popped on Hay Lin forehead. "Don't let him hurt you. It's your dream right?" She almost shouted, startling those around them.

Her cheeks reddening from the embarrassment Musa nodded, gesturing Hay Lin to not talk so loud.

"Good, If he is too stupid, just let him rot." Hay Lin hissed. " Or better, make him feel really sorry for it." She grinned.

"Hay, You're scaring her." Kadma muttered. Musa was slowly backing off in the deep of her seat.

"Ah.. sorry. I meant ... you know... Showing him you don't need him." Hay Lin sweatdroped.

"I see... Eric?" Musa asked knowingly, regaining her composure.

"Yeah." Hay Lin answered sheepishly. "I think I still love him." Tears swelled up in her eyes.

Kadma remembered Yan lin last word to Taranee. "Hay Lin may be strong, but I know how much frail she is too " She was still very much emotionally unstable. ' I'll do my best Yan' Kadma swore once more to herself.

...

Behind them a couple of raven-haired youngster grinned. For them the trip was full of fun.

"I can't believe this worked." The boy said.

"Were you doubting me?" The girl looked at him with contrariety.

"Yes, I did. You're nothing like her after ouch."

"Not so loud." She whispered. " And I'm still the best out of us."

"Nothing on that." They boy bowed. "Still , I'm sure my coworker would love to see that" he cocked is head to the girl in front.

"Oh yes. The sigh is really beautiful." She grinned. "You would love to see that back there, right?"

"I so do. But it was never the style." He said longingly. "How does the sun look like on your end? "

"Not so bright." She hid a stifled laugh. " Burning itself out before the night starts. It will be so fun to take away the light "

"How will you do it?" The boy asked.

"To quote her, 'That's for me to know.." She started

"And for me to find out'. I see. I still wonder why the others were called back." He scratched his chin.

"To participate, I suppose... Looks like we arrived to our first stop." She said as the bus got near the terminus. It had been faster than they had expected.

"Ah right. Now time to take a ride in the wild " He smiled " I always wanted to try riding a horse."

"I can tell you, it is not that great." She pouted. "I think I'll follow you by my own means"

"If you want, Just be sure not to lose me. We don't want anything bad to happen, do we?" He looked behind toward a girl he knew very well, one with articulated, fairy like wings. Without her he wouldn't be here. He stroked the scar on his cheek, littlest reminder that his live wasn't his own. Contrary to the girl next to him he still cared, even if he would never betray her.

As the girl passed next to him to get out he smiled at her, like he had done when everything wasn't so screwed up. She looked at him in puzzlement. 'Can't even recognize me? ' He though bitterly, reaching for his side.

"Now lets go, brother. We should not waste our time." The girl he had come with took him by the hand and they got out of the bus.

Once out the black haired girl pointed to the cottage "I think I'll see what they sell here first" Then without waiting for an answer she skipped to the back of one of the farms.

"Girls." He scratched is back once she was out of earshot. Then, looking around for what he wanted, he decided he would wait for them to exit the vicinity before going out himself.

He hadn't heard where the girls were heading but he was petty sure he'd be able to follow them wherever they went. You didn't pass so much time close to what was probably the two strongest magical beings alive without learning something.
He had learned to feel magic from afar. For him the heat waves rising from his prey's back were beacons he would never lose sight of.

The girls went out into the forest, followed by an eagle.

He went to rent a horse to follow them . The man he took it from tried to scam him
He wouldn't do that ever again.

"I Swear. If not for the order to remain discrete until the end I would have killed that man... In fact I think I will. "

Nigel started following the trail.
At one moment he was in forest so dense that he almost lost it. His only saving grace had been the flying Elyon still visible in the sky. "Great, now I'll have to thank her... That man almost made me fail the mission before it really started..."
As he was rambling he saw something else in the sky. "...Hum? Isn't that..." He looked up at a four shadows trail . "Well, looks like I have to hurry-up. Wouldn't want to get punished ... she never promised to not betray me after all." He lanced his mount faster.

...

"Is that it?" Bloom asked as they arrived to a wooden fence.

"It look like it." Cassidy nodded.

"It's the same farm as in the picture." Stella pointed out.

"It's been neglected. Look at the state of the barn."

"Roxy?" Hay Lin turned to the one who had already been there before. " Is that it?"

"Yes. It used to be so beautiful." Roxy said with a little sadness. It was still the place where she had lived the first years of her life

"Look a the trees, and there are weeds everywhere." Aisha pointed to the the vegetation around them. "Are you sure there is even someone here?"

"There was last time I checked. But he never was really friendly, so maybe..." For a moment she was unsure. She got down of the horse as they passed the fence. The others did the same

"I can hear the vegetation crying." Flora complained.

"When things are like this, it's better not to listen." Kadma said stoically, putting a hand on Flora's shoulder. The girl looked at her and nodded slowly.

"Can you feel the magic energy?" Musa asked, looking around.

Roxy could feel it too, something strange, and a little familiars. It somehow reminded her of Will, in a far lighter way.

"My omni is detecting a vast concentration of magic here, But I can't pinpoint it yet." Tecna announced.

"I feel it,... It kind of remind me of the Heart of Earth." Taranee remarked. "But it's not It "

Roxy let go of the breath she was holding. She had listened enough to know who was its current owner.

"Looks like there is no one home, we should hurry. There were suspicious people on the bus " Bloom said .

"So you felt it too, huh." Hay Lin looked at Musa "You see, I'm not that paranoid "

"You also said there was a bird following us " Musa retorted.

"In fact, there was." Roxy intervened. "But it wasn't a Bird, it didn't fell like a normal animal or the pets you make."

"See... It was probably Dunman. " Hay Lin said smug.

"Okay girls. We should.." Bloom started.

Hey! You! What are you doing here?" A man came out of behind the barn, axe in hands." Get out of my land!"

" Are you mister Batson? We were wondering if we could take a look around the farm." Bloom tried to calm him.

Roxy remembered him enough to know it wouldn't work.
And sure enough, he pointed his axe at them. "I don't care, just go away, it's my land!" He shouted.

"Now, now, don't get so angry mister " Cassidy stepped in front, her voice strongly melodic. "You see my friend here?" He nodded, letting his axe down. He hadn't even looked at her. The Guardian leader approached him a little more "She lived here before, when she was a child. She would like to show us around a little. There is no problem, is there?"

"Of course, you can." He said before going back from where he had came from.

"There. Now lets search." Cassidy declared as their normal clothes disappeared

"How did you...?" Roxy was speechless. She noted that the other Guardians were giving her harsh stare while the other Fairies were as baffled as she was.

"You don't want to know." Taranee answered in her leader's place.

" It's...what I think, right?" Stella said still aghast. "And I thought I had it bad."

"Probably, yes. But I don't like using it." Cassidy claimed sternly. "I only used it because we don't have time to lose and he was going to attack."

"Any other things I should know?" Aisha frowned at her bound Guardian. Roxy didn't understand, Cassidy had just done what was necessary so that they could start their search. She really felt something calling her here. It was like the other voice that came in the dream before Wilhelmina

"None, for now. Just the usual 'Will does it better'. As it is for all the things we can do." She told them. For that one Roxy could vouch, she had seen her do it and it was far more ... disturbingly normal. Here she had seen it right away that something was wrong, and it was only one person.

"I don't like it." Bloom complained, shooting an harsh stare to the Guardian.

"We don't always do what we like. If I learned something in my life, it's that." Kadma lectured them "I can assure you she don't like doing it much more than you"

"I hope..." She sighed. "Could you at least warn us next time you do that?"

"Understood." Cassidy nodded "Now we have to find what we're here for."

As they were about to disperse they were interrupted by a voice she had hoped not to hear today.
"Not so fast little fairies."

"Ogron!" Roxy vault-faced. "What are you doing here?"

"Same as always." He smirked. "Wizards, get rid of the pests. I'll capture our little Earth fairy."

"Never!" Roxy shouted back "Roxy, Fairy of animals" She transform, remembering the feeling of last time.
"Winx, Believix " The other fairies sang.

"Take that." Ogron lifted some dead trees with his power and hurled them at the fairies.

"Urk." Kadma whimpered, using her own power to change the direction of the projectiles as the others jumped up "That's the problem with transformation"

Ganthlos followed up. Jumping high to separated them he struck the floor with all his strength, shattering the ground and sending big rocks flying everywhere.

"Double Eclipse!"
"Super Prism!"

Both Stella and Tecna countered with their shields, protecting them all and sending back the rocks. The three other Wizards flew at them and the brawl started.

Hay Lin and Musa were harassing Anagan, dodging is black shots or out running him thank to the assistance of Flora's vines, making him stumble. When he tried to attack her he was sent into a tornado by Hay Lin and almost trapped by her Ivy.

Dunman was for his part having trouble changing from one form to an other dodging liquid water and solid Morphix barrages and getting exhausted. Nonetheless he was getting more and more dangerous as minutes passed and was closing on the water duo.

So she was left alone with Bloom and Taranee against Ogron and quickly losing footing. "How many times do I have to say it? Your hits only make me stronger." He snarled.

Magic beams, rays and shots flew left and right. The Winx were also tiring themselves trying to protect the house as they fought, pointing out that it was where someone lived, and so they had to protect it. Roxy found it stupid, the house could burn for all she cared; it would even make her happy.

The Wizards' casy immunity against fairy magic meant that they were almost forced to count on the Guardians to Hit, and the Wizard knew it.

"He is too strong." Roxy exhaled, slowly exhausting herself. Fighting while flying was harder than she thought, even after her precedent run in.

"Don't lose heart, we're strong too." Bloom encouraged her as she took her out of the trajectory of a dark ray coming from an other side of the battlefield.

"But he is sapping that strength." Taranee said as she let out a stream of fire. "I think he gave some of his energy to his goons, they're holding much better than last time"

"You're right." Bloom nodded.

Ogron was coming at them once more when the fire he had just eluded came back to him, splinting up to form a fire cage. "Gotcha." Taranee smirked.

"Rah!" Ogron roared, cutting the fire stream with his hand. But when he tried to move it coalesced back, burning his coat and his leg.

Seeing an opening, Roxy let out her strongest spell. "Wild rage!" She screamed, letting five turquoise, animal shaped stream toward her foe.

"Thanks" Ogron grinned as the spell made contact. He took the streams in his hands and fused them back. As he did that, the magical energy turned black

The blast that followed was so powerful that she was sent to crash into the barn. If not for her fairy transformation and the wheat , she would have died.

' Ouch' She tried to get back up.
But a shadow got her attention. Slowly looking up she saw the slightly burnt black coat and red hair of her foe.

"Now, Roxy, It's time. Stop struggling or it'll be even more painful." Ogron came to her.
She crawled backward, frightened.
She wasn't strong enough.

As he was about to catch her, a blinding light emerged from between them, forcing her to close her eyes.

"Impossible!" Ogron gasped as she open her eyes. "We had destroyed them all!"

Roxy saw the origin of her foe's bewilderment. It was a white circle, similar to the one Ogron had on his index.
But bigger.
And white.
'That's it' she thought.

Ogron gripped it his is hand, and yelled.
"Aargh!"
His hand and been seared by the circlet.

"Dragon's Rage!" Bloom shouted, shooting Ogron by behind. The leader of the Wizards was sent flying through the wall, making an other hole in the already unstable barn.

"Come Roxy, quick" She hurried her.

Roxy almost didn't hear her. From the moment Ogron had touched it she had been hearing whispers coming from the circlet.

"It's what we came for." Roxy said reaching her hand. " It's the key to those scum's defeat."

"Good, take it. Taranee, Stella and Flora won't hold long against Ogron, and Cassidy and Aisha are holding the fire down." She came to her.

" Fi... " The moment she touched the White circle, the whispers became screams.
Incomprehensible for the most part they filled her head.

Rage, sadness, hatred, suffering.

It echoed deeply within her. ' Vengeance ' The loudest voice said. She had to make them pay, all of them.

Roxy went limp.

One instant she was dragging Roxy out of the collapsing barn, the next she was sent tumbling to the other side oh the farm.

"Finally, after all those centuries." Roxy's voice came from the sky. Bloom followed and saw a White and Red light, almost blinding. "They will pay by these hands"

"Not that thing!" Anagan pleaded before being shot by one of the ray. He evaded it only thank to his speed but the shock-wave sent him to the ground.

She shouted " Roxy, NO! You'll only hurt yourself!" She had to stop her. The energy in her hands was too strong and raw.

"I Don't care!" Roxy answered.

"Hadn't we destroyed them all? " Whatever that thing was, the Wizards were afraid of it.

The light became brighter in Roxy's hand. Her red hair was floating and her eyes were glowing. Her fairy outfit had taken a shade in gray.

" Now, bow down to the power of the White circle!" Roxy shouted in glee. " And Die!... Ruina Columbae"

Magic beams were sent high to the sky, taking the form of Red birds before crashing down to the ground, destroying everything they touched.

"Bloom!" She heard Stella call for her. All the Winx were already in the sky, dodging the ascending rays. She called up her shield and tried to fly up but the bloody spell didn't make any difference between friend and foe. She wasn't sure Roxy did at that moment.

"Wizards, we have to fall back. The White circle is too strong." Ogron ordered trying to get away.

" You won't go anywhere." Roxy shouted, and the storm became fierier, the magic bird chasing after everyone, forcing them to use all their power to defend.

...

"We have to do something!" Tecna screeched. She was using as much power as she could power to maintain a wild area shield around them with Hay Lin and Musa. They were quickly getting tired but they didn't have the choice. If they stopped those spells would pierce them into strainers.

"I know, but what?" Stella panicked , she was the only one of them who could do something, and she was looking for a way to get to Bloom. Taranee, Flora and Cassidy were putting the Fire under control, making sure it didn't reach the forest from inside the protection they were giving. As for Aisha she was lifting the unconscious body of Mr Benton while Kadma was glowing green from the urgent healing she was giving to his concussed head.

The Wizards were not a problem right now, most of the fiery attack was focused on them. And for the first time she was seeing Ogron unable to do more than defend himself and his allies. He was unable to suck down that power, wherever it came from.

"You will all pay for our suffering!" Roxy shouted once more, her voice booming over the sound of the storm.

"BLOOM!" Stella cried in distress. Tecna saw that their leader had just gone limp . The spell had been too much for her shield. Stella got out of their protection and plunged toward Bloom, her own shield protecting her.

She wouldn't hold for long.

"Stella NO!" Tecna called her out. She frantically looked around for a solution, they had to get to Stella and Bloom before it was too late. As she was searching she saw a bright white light coming from the forest, aimed at Roxy.

"Roxy!" She tried, but the spell was as fast as it could get and it touched Roxy head on.

And everything stopped. Not thinking a second more she flew right at Roxy's falling Body. If Bloom needed healing, Kadma would give it to her.

"Now, men. We go." She heard Ogron roar, followed by the distinctive sound of the dark mist they used to move around.
They were safe, for now.

Looking around, the farm was as if both an earthquake and a tornado at hit it, which was pretty much the case in fact. Bits of the barn and parts of the house could be seen around still fuming, or covered in dirt were the soil had been upturned. There were no more fences to be seen either and a pound had made its appearance were the forest had burned.

Settled down on the ground Tecna turned to the Wind Guardian. "Tell me Hay Lin, The bird that was following us, was it red and white?"

"Maybe, why?" Hay Lin said, helping Musa to walk. She had taken one of Anagan's ray to the leg and the wound would need healing.

"I think it just saved us." Tecna smiled. She had seen that same bird flying from the spot where the light had came from.

"You mean that a bird stopped Roxy's rampage?" Musa asked.

Flora crouched down and put her hand around Musa's leg " Do you have any idea what made her go like that? "

"I don't know, It was Bloom who was with her." Tecna looked at the sky, searching for any clues. "But it was not a bird that saved us. Remember? Roxy said it didn't feel right. We thought it was Dunman but then it wasn't... so Who ?"

"I'm afraid I have an idea." Taranee said "But It's not her style to help us and not boast after."

"Please Tara, don't make me even more paranoid." Hay Lin complained. Both Guardians looked at each other. She was about to ask who they were talking about when she heard Bloom moan. For a moment she had almost forgotten her friend was unconscious.

"She is waking up." Kadma announced, her hand still on Bloom. She could see her eyes opening.

"Ouch." Bloom complained, massaging her head.

"Is she alright?" Stella asked, worried.

"I'm alright Stella. Just don't talk so loud..." She frowned. "Is everyone alright?"

"Mister Benton is still unconscious but should wake up soon. He will want to know what happened to his house." Aisha sighed.

"We could rebuild it with our power... But I'm too exhausted." Flora slumped down.

"Maybe tomorrow." Tecna proposed. "The horses fled and night is coming."

"Good idea." Cassidy said with a tired smile "I always liked camping... you wouldn't happen to have tent in your mini bags ?"

"We have Cassidy." Musa said. "Now, can anyone explain what happened to Roxy?"

"It was the White circle." The girl in question muttered, moving around in her arm. Roxy had just woken up. "The Earth Fairies are inside"

As soon as she heard the words Tecna started searching in her data base.

"What? They're inside that thing?" Taranee asked, aghast. She had picked it up and was now studying it with distrustful eyes.

"Not really... It complex and my head hurt..." Roxy yawned "It's more like their prison is linked to it."

"The White Circles, or Fairy circles. Are magic items created by the Earth Fairies. They used them to communicate and share their power as well as in different rituals. They were all reported to have been the primary target of The Wizards during their Hunt. It is thought that they used one to create The Black Circle." Tecna read "Well look like they forgot one."

"I can understand why they destroyed them. That thing Is crazy powerful." Hay Lin deadpanned.

"It's not supposed to be... Roxy is the last free fairy on Earth. She might have been assaulted by the power of all the imprisoned fairies."

"They suffered so much... Not just from the Wizards." Roxy wailed. "Everyone betrayed them."

"I promise you, we won't let them down." Bloom said, finally getting up and extending her hand to Roxy.

"..." Roxy didn't answer, leaving Bloom's hand hanging in the air.

Tecna guessed it was not what Roxy had wanted to hear; she was still probably feeling all those foreign emotions inside her.
"Where is it?" She finally asked.

"Here." Taranee said. "You won't have it back before we're sure you won't go vendetta on us."

"Taranee!" Stella was Shocked, as were the other Winx. However none of them said a thing against the Guardian's decision. The Guardians were not nice, but she had learned that they often were justified in their action. They all had the same goal here.

"I understand... I can't be trusted with such a thing." Roxy said bitterly. "Can... I want to be alone for a moment." She turned around, walking to the other side of the forest.

"See what you did." Stella chided.

"You heard it right. The Earth fairies feel betrayed by everyone. That include fairies from other words. Do you think you could fight her off like that in the state you are?" Taranee growled."I'm not even sure we should free them anymore"

"But we have too. We promised, and it's the only way to save Earth." Flora intervened. "I'm sure if we talk with them, they could understand."

"I remember when I was so optimistic." Hay Lin said wistfully.

"And now you're so pessimistic... We won't get anything if we don't believe we can" Musa pleaded.

"Maybe you're right." Cassidy acknowledged." But to do that we would have to talk to them in person. Not to their collective hatred."

"That's right." Bloom conceded. "But we should let Roxy alone. I know how it is to feel yourself overtaken."

"I'm already maintaining an eye on her." Tecna said, showing the screen of her handheld. She had sent one scrying spell to make sure nothing happened to Roxy.

"Good." Bloom smiled. "Now let make that camps."

Having finished with Bloom, Kadma took care of other injuries while they got to build a camps for the night. In the middle of it Mr Banton woke up and started to scream at them until Bloom was forced to let Flora put him to sleep once more. They couldn't deal with him tonight.

...

When Roxy finally came back she didn't talk to any of them and directly went to sleep.

"We can't let her like that." Musa said, getting up on her still healing leg.

"Don't go now." Tecna stopped her.

"Why?"

"She is only back because she is out of targets to throw her power at. If you talk to her now she'll just break your leg."

"That bad?"

Tecna nodded, calling back her two remaining scrying spells.

"I'm sure she just need time" Aisha said. "She'll come to us when she calm down."

"What if she doesn't?" Flora asked, worried . "We can't leave our friend alone."

"We won't " Bloom assured her.

"I can understand why she'd freak out, though." Stella added. "Did you see all that power? I still have aches even after the Earth Guardian healed me"

"But we can't let her doubt herself." Musa insisted

"And , in case you've forgotten, the Wizards will be after her even more, now that we've got that thing. "

"It's true. They won't let us with that advantage for long. But what can we do about it?" Tecna asked. Psychology was not her fort and Roxy had always seemed a little unsettled to her.

"I'll do it." Bloom sighed. "If she's still closed up tomorrow I'll talk to her. I think I have the most experience with what she's going through."

There was a pause. They all new what Bloom meant, but they'd all rather forget. Stealing glances to the guardians they nodded.

"It might be the best solution." Tecna conceded.

"Just make sure you're not overheard." Musa agreed.

"Still not trusting them Musa?"

"With something like that? Not one bit."

The whole time, the Guardian remained on the side, silently listening. They knew the look Roxy had when she came back.
It was not only the one of some-one freaking out.

...

The morning after, when Roxy woke up she could still hear the echo of her circle's voice in her head. They were calling for her, even in her dreams and she wasn't sure if she wanted to resit.

After taking a moment to make sure she was still herself, she noticed that she was not alone in the tent. Stella and Musa had managed to not wake her during the night and were still sleeping to her right.

Making sure not to wake them, more to avoid any useless talk than anything else, she went out of the tent and was met with the smell of yesterday's ash.

"Good morning sweetie. Had a good night?"

She turned her head and saw Flora smiling at her while gathering something in her backpack.
" 'rn'ng" She answered still half asleep .

The next ten minutes or so were a blur. She just couldn't get the feelings she had had yesterday out of her head, all this hatred, but also all this power. Every minute she couldn't help but look at her hands, spying a red hue to them and wondering. What if that power was really hers? What would she do with it?

Sure she would rescue her mother, but then what ? With such power, never again would she be defenseless, never again would she be forced to see her dear friend or any other animal suffer and die.

She could lay so much destruction with it. Even the mighty Guardians had been forced on their defenses and she could have ... Killed.

She could have killed. That more than anything stuck a cord inside her. Sure the Wizards had to disappear, and their death would do good to the world, but did she want, was she able to kill innocents?.

She wasn't sure if those fellings had been hers or the hatred of her people?

Then Bloom called her aside with the excuse of gathering dead wood. And, looking at her back while they walked, an other thought popped up. All that power may have been hers, but for now she was weak, and unable to control it. She had been almost driven to madness by all those voices. She would have to work on it if she ever wanted to be strong. But would her work be enough? She had tried for hours yesterday to have even a sliver of the feeling she had in her madness but nothing had come but broken rocks and tree .Was it always like that when you gained powers. Was there always a cost to it?

Will seemed to think so, and seeing the Guardians or the Wizards seemed to point that statement as a truth. But in this case, would her price be madness, and what would be the Winx's ?
Even if they were not really her friends yet she couldn't help but care about the girls.

"Really, that won't do at all." Bloom said a little too loudly to be natural once they where far enough.

"What?" Roxy answered, just wanting to be over with whatever she wanted to say. She still needed to think for herself and the multiple Damocles' swords amassing up her confused mind didn't help.

"You! The way you're lost in your mind." Bloom boldly blurted out, sitting down a rock. I could have made you circle around yourself, you wouldn't have noticed. You've not even noticed we're not in a forest anymore."

"Hun? " Roxy looked around, and finally noticed they were up a rocky cliff, nearing a lake. How long did we walk?" She had been down there as a child with her father, it took a least half an hour by horse.

"Almost an hour. I had to go far enough to be sure Hay Lin wouldn't listen. Everything that will be said here will be between you and me."

Roxy looked at her suspiciously. "What do you want?"

"I want to be your friend ." Bloom looked at her in earnest "All the Winx want it."

Roxy frowned, dubious. "And the Guardians?"

"I can't talk for them. The things that happened to them made them... weird?"

"Really? They make more sense to me than you do."

Bloom sighed "In any case, I can see that what happened yesterday deeply wounded you. I know what you feel"

"How would you know!?" She shouted, pushing Bloom. Was she so weak that she was an open book anyone easily read?

Bloom held firmly and looked gently in her eyes. "I know it because the same thing happened to me."

"Huh?"

"You're second guessing yourself. Asking yourself what you'll lose for power. If what you felt then was you."

"How?"

I lived here in Gardenia too you know? I thought I was a normal girl until I found Stella chased by a troll and saved her by some miracle. That's how I discovered my power. I admit I had more luck than you." Bloom smiled shyly

Roxy growled "See, you're not like me." No one could really know how she felt. Save for Will but she sometime felt the Dark Angel may as well literally be one.

"However." Bloom cut her thought, following up on her story."One year later, when I thought I was getting used to it, three witches allied themselves with a Dark Lord and used their power to corrupt me. They forced me to hurt my friends. I totally lost control , I always told them I don't remember how it was, but I do. I remember how it was to have all that power, and be free to use it as I wanted. I remember how it was to not care. It scares me. "

"It is scary to lose yourself." Roxy nodded, hugging herself. Not being herself then at been the worst. She had been so lost in the middle of the voices.

"If I did not have Sky and my friends back then.. " Bloom was shuddering " I may have become a monster. But even after all of that they still trust me "

It was strange, seeing the leader weak before her, barring her a part of her heart. She had even told her a secret even her closest friends did not know just because theirs circumstances had some similarities . She did not know what to do. "Why are you telling me all this ?"

"Because I want you to understand that you are not alone. I know it may be hard to trust, but if you ever need someone to talk know that I'm here."

Roxy was not used to have any real kindness directed toward her and so she protested, more by reflex than any real reluctance. "I already have someone." She couldn't help but think Bloom may have an ulterior motive behind her smile.

"I know, that mysterious friend of yours." Bloom turned away. " We still don't know who she is."

"And I won't tell you ." She rebutted her. Was it what they really wanted ?

" I understand." Bloom said. "You made a promise. But remember that we are here for you too."

Roxy didn't know what to say. She wanted to trust Bloom, but Will's words still resounded in her mind along the voices of the past. Turning away to clear her mind she looked down the lake.

It couldn't be...Down there, drinking the lake's water by the by the shore "... "

Confused, Bloom walked by her side "Roxy. do you want to tell me something?"

She pointed down ."I think I found our horses."

...

When they came back about half an hour later with the horses in tow she was still as confused. However the little workout and being (almost) alone with animals had cheered her mood a little. At least enough to thank the Winx and Guardian when she saw they had rebuilt her old house while she'd been with Bloom.

She didn't really have any good memory there. But they weren't that bad either and in the end she was glad it was still there. It was at lest a momentum that her mother had really been alive.

Not long after Roxy and Bloom had been back they tied up the camp, and after they were gently sent off by Mr Benton they went on their way back to the ranch, the bus, and Gardenia.

The Balance of the weekend was mixed but at least there was now one more person to believe in Fairies on Earth and they were nearer than ever to the solution of the Wizards' problems.
They just had to find how in hell were they supposed to use the White Circle?

'More profound research in perspective.' She thought.

"It was a tiring weekend." Stella said as they got into view of the ranch where they'd loaned the horses.

"Yes, But... Why are the police here?" Bloom asked pointing the blue car of the officer. Looking around, the clients of the ranch were trouped around the horse's enclosure and she could hear whimper here and there.

"I don't like that." Taranee said, moving around as if she was waiting to be attacked.

"For once, I'm with you " Musa nodded. They hurried themselves towards the ranch. She doubted it would happen so soon, but the Guardians were always on edge, sometime seeming literally a breath away from blowing up.

"Misses, You shouldn't come here." An officer stopped them. He was sweating and you could hear in his voice that he was somehow shaken.

"What happened?" Tecna asked, getting down from the horse's back." We were here yesterday, those horses belong to that ranch."

"I see. Well, give them to me for now... The owner won't be able to get them back"

" You mean ... is he dead?" Flora asked, pale. Even after three years fighting evil, they almost never had faced death.

The officer nodded sadly. "It's not pretty girls, you shouldn't see something like that."

They gasped. "Can we help?" Bloom asked as was her nature.

"Just give us those horses and get back home." The officer said "The bus for the city should be here in 15 minutes."

They nodded and gave the horses to the officers who came.

They didn't talk until the bus was there. ' Who could have killed that man ?'

As they were waiting, she was sure she saw the sky turn purple for a instant.

...


...

"You're sure they didn't see you?" Will asked her two lieutenants . She was just back from her stay in Kandracar from where she'd laid her traps. Now the hunt could really start.

"Yes, they may suspect it was me from the shot, but nothing more." Elyon bowed down.
Will could feel the little spring of fear in Elyon's demeanor. She was by far the only one who could feel so little from how she glared at her.

"And I didn't use my hand or sword to kill that farmer" Nigel smirked. "Only his own gun."

" Good, I wouldn't want them to have any certitude before I give them one. " She grinned. " Now, do you know what was that thing Roxy found?" Of course she already knew but wanted to make sure they had Done their work right.

"From what I got, it's called the White Circle." Nigel started. "It's the opposite of The Wizards' Black Circle and the last one still existing."

"It seems to give Roxy the power to tap into the captured fairies' power, at the cost of her sanity." Elyon continued."Which mean almost no cost at all as far as we're concerned."

"Quite right Elyon. But I would like that she remain in control of herself for now." She walked past them. "Still, that discovery put in place some good things for us. Roxy is doubting herself and that's what we want. She is alienating the ones she also want near her." She grinned, "In wanting to protect her from herself, they're just helping me. The girl want power, the powers to finally stand on her own, and two days ago she saw the cost."

"Yet she still want it, inside. She need it" Elyon remarked, following her from the underground where she had called for them when she arrived to the loft. As she walked she saw that the modifications she had asked were going alright. Soon it would be ready to holds her private show.

"Quite so Elyon." Will acquiesced. "And if I know her she is disturbed by that. She feels something isn't quite right with her."

" ot quite right?" Nigel asked surprised. "That's an euphemism."

"Maybe... Too much time with me. You know how it can turned your head." She chuckled. All she'd done was talking with Roxy, showing her the truth of the world around her. How she understood it was up to her, but until now it was going exactly how she wanted. Sure the White Circle incident was not her deed, but it was going in her sense, putting trouble in the mist of her targets' hearts.

"I know." Nigel nodded. He knew that he was becoming more twisted as time passed. When he had joined her Nigel wouldn't have killed someone like that just for 50c. Not when money didn't mean anything for them. Now, he had done it just for the principle.

"Now, my Queen. What do you want us to do?" Elyon asked, impatient. They had already reached the top of the stairs to the living room.

"Well, I can't use the White Circle myself, those things are one of the fail safes against what I am." She frowned. "I suppose I could probably force my way around it, but it would be a hassle after using so much power to isolate the worlds from each others while letting us pass."
Will was still feeling the toll of all that work. Truth was she had finished two days ago, but it had taken her two days to be able to stand up again. It was worst than the time she had broken the veil.
In retrospection she should have expected it, she had build back three of those." I don't need it either way. It will come back to its rightful owner"

"The little princess is growing On you Will" Elyon pouted.

"Only as an interesting game device, and experiment. You know I don't feel much. I can't even pity her." She giggled.
"Now...Let see." Will seated on the Sofa. She used her power, enhanced by the slowly growing Oracle ones, to search for something. " Ha... Why don't you go out on a date together you two. I'm sure a little romantic diner would do you good, Nigel"

"Romantic ?!... I ..." Elyon stammered, between shyness and outrage.

Will laughed. "I know Elyon. I just want you to stall the Guardians in the City. Make sure they're all together and that the fairies aren't... Oh! and don't fight if possible."

"So, it's finally time" Nigel smirked, imitated by Elyon who had a nervous cackle.

"I was afraid for a moment." Elyon sighed. "Why now?"

"Because the Wizards are right now giving me an opportunity to show myself and I just finished to lay the webbing." Will opened a fold. " Now go. Taranee and the others are not far from the pool... I guess it make a long time since I took a dip."

...

In the middle of the City of Gardenia, four winged girls were walking. It had become a regular occurrence now and nobody asked them for explanation anymore. Even if someone noticed they had changed slightly since the first time they had showed up in town nobody saw a need to ask.

It was to the point that the four girls were even allowed inside the city's water center without being asked to change. Which permitted Cassidy to have the time of her life. At first she hadn't wanted to come but Kadma had dragged the four of them along and she was thankful.

Kadma had said that they needed a little time together and she had been right. They had to escape a little, find themselves back. Since they had found the White Circle their relationships with the Winx had taken an other bad turn.

In fact the Winx too had needed a time for themselves, to make the point with the ones they truly trusted with your life.

Even if she did like Aisha, Cassidy would sooner fight alongside Hay Lin or Taranee than with her. As for Kadma, she would put herself in front of the shot if Kadma said it was the way to get out, She had become like a big sister for her now.

Cassidy hated to admit it but Taranee was right, the Winx were still too soft. By the Nymphs, they had almost lost their life trying to save a building. She could understand Mr Benton, he was a human being, but a building did not matter in this war.

' I can't believe I'm calling this a war. But it's what it is; right?' She thought to herself as she seated back on her deck chair.

"Hey girl, Long time no see" she heard a call from behind, interrupting her thoughts. ' Please no... Not her'

"You're as beautiful always Taranee " An other voice, a boy this time. The Temperature suddenly upped " You're as hot as I remember too". She turned around.

There, at the table next to them, were two lesser nightmares.

...

At the same time, near Roxy's house. Four shadow examined a house, preparing an assault. The blonde one touched the wall, eyes closed.

"Are you sure she's alone?" Ogron asked Gantlos. It had taken them two days to mend the wounds and think about the next step. The appearance of the White Circle was bad for them, but only an Earth fairy could use it.

It was why they were here. They just had to get Roxy when she was alone and they would take with one stone two birds.

She was the weakest of the fairies. Ogron hated to admit it but the others were getting too strong for his companions to fight at the same time. He had been forced to lend them some of his energy so that they could stand up.

It shouldn't have been the case, but the one they called the Guardians had power they could not brush away, and were far more ruthless. When that fire user had gotten angry he had wondered if they were not just using the Winx for some nefarious project.

But now, he remembered enough about legends to know they were on the other side. Though they were lacking one member.

Finally Gantlos answered. "Yes, she only has that cat with her, a good snack for Dunman." He grinned at his colleague, opening his eyes.

"Good, I don't want anymore bad surprises. The Winx have the White Circle with them, she should be easy picking."

"And we finally will have the power." Anagan said scrubbing the scar left by the Dark Angel. "Seriously what is it with red hair and crazy power? I know only three and they all kick my ass."

"I don't know Anagan." He laughed. "Now lets go." They entered the house. But somewhere in his mind, as they slowly went up the stairs, he felt that something was wrong.

Opening the door he readied himself for any attempt " Don't move Roxy. Today you are ours"
His eyes fixated on a red-haired girl.

...


01/06/14

Himerish è_é : Well, took you long enough.

FoR T-T : Three week of exam in two month. Try working on anything while you have that to do?

Himerish : You could have. It didn't stop you last year.

FoR : I know. I also remember the result. °-°
Shouldn't you be happy I hadn't any time to make the little dear suffer?

Himerish : Don't try to change the subject and admit it, you were doing something else.

FoR -~-7 : Technically, it was all working on this project form different angles.

Himerish -_- : Angles the reader will never see.

For ^_,^: You never see the work behind the scene, that's what make the charm of a story. But since when are you lecturing me?

Himerish :Since I had the time to read your plan.

FoR '-_- : You read them all?

Himerish '-_- : We both did.

FoR : Then... where is Yan. Or should I ask how are you here?

Himerish : Dear Yan Lin is still sick after Chapter nine.

...

Yan *-*

...

FoR ']_]7 : I did go a little far there.

Himerish : A Little far? You had Will( Spoil) and then she(Spoil ). The Poor ( Spoil ) had no choice but to ( spoil) but even that was ( spoil) and ... are you censuring me?

FoR : Of course I am. There are still 3 chapter to go before that. You didn't even have the decency to try to spoil the next chapter. It also very interesting you know .

Himerish : You mean the one where Will finally show herself while ( Spoil)... I should have seen that coming didn't I?

FoR ;p : Yes, You should.
For those curious, see you next time in Chapter 6: "The Hunt Begin... with a greeting ".