Here is chapter 7. A special Thank to Poliamida for helping me with the Fight scene, and as usual Thank to TTigerZ for having written the prequel and being here when I need someone to bounce ideas.

This chapter is the first of what I would call the second phase of this story, Were the WInx and Guardian will suffer the most before they grow in the third phase. If I got it right the second phase is about 9 chapter long and end With the first Real big fight(as in probably 2 chapter long fight) between the involved parties.

It has come to my attention that I may have rushed the story a little until here. If you think so don't hesitate to tell me.

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


Company of Shadowed Light

Chapter 7 : First strike : A Scar that Never Heal

"I can't believe we're going back so soon" Flora sighed, closing the door after giving a last look at their flat.

"It's for the best, believe me." Kadma answered in her usual motherly tone which still felt as strange as it had the first time, a reminder that her true age was not what her youthful body showed.

Checking her bags for the umpteenth time Stella had a wry laugh. "At least I didn't have the time to feel at home here."

"What do we do the keys?" Flora asked.

"Give them I'll give them back to Dad." She said and Flora gave her the keys.

"So? Your parents won't be coming with us in then end?" Cassidy asked, looking at her with concerned eyes.

"No." Bloom bowed down her head.

"Bloom. I"m..."Stella wanted to smooth her, show her she was not alone, but since they had known they would be back Bloom had been a little distant from her.

"Do we really have to?" Bloom asked pleadingly. There was that betrayed look in Bloom's eyes when she looked at her which Stella knew meant she had to wait, even if it broke her heart.

"I already explained you why it was the best choice." Cassidy answered sternly, unyielding in her decision.

Bloom gave a resigned grunt and turned down the stairs. "I know."

It had taken them three long days to pack everything. Three nights were they rolled in their bed, trying to find an elusive sleep while they wondered when the dark angel would attack them again. Three days asking themselves if it was really alright to let Earth in her hands or if they should fight as Bloom was so adamant they should.

Bloom had tried all along to convince Cassidy again and again, but Stella knew that her best friend was fighting her own fear, jumping when one of the Guardians talked a little too loud.

They also had to close the shop, but they didn't have the heart to sell it and decided to let it to Bloom's parents. Tecna had put an add on the site to warn the customers and pet's owner that there would be no-one at the shop for the foreseeable future but that they would still help them take care of the deary online if they needed them. It was the least they could do.

Sensing the slowly tensing mood, Aisha called to her friend at the back of their group. "Tecna. Did you call Miss Faragonda to tell we're getting back?" A part of her couldn't wait to be back. She still had that weird felling in her mouth and an instinctive fear when she drank.

"No. I tried but there are strange interference, I'll try again when with Timmy when we meet wit the boys" Tecna explained, fidgeting as she played with her omni.

"Ok, then we go. The specialists should already be waiting us in the park, they lived close by." Taranee said turning left in the street, not caring that everyone in the street looked at them with curious eyes.

"We have to give the key to Blooms parents. We will meet you there later." Hay Lin nodded, turning right in that same street.

"You know I could go there alone." Bloom complained, defeated.

"No you can't." Kadma deadpanned, following Bloom and Hay Lin, Flora and Musa both going after her while Cassidy, Stella, Aisha and Roxy followed after Taranee and Tecna. They had chosen to separate because it would be faster that way to ready the portal.

And they couldn't leave the boys alone in the middle of the park either. Not with Will and her followers in the city. Aisha was pretty sure the Fallen Angel was not above attacking their boyfriends to get to them.

"Roxy, did you explain everything to your father?" Stella asked trying defuse the silence. Bloom hadn't talked to her for more than three days and the rest of them were too tense.

"No. I showed him my fairy form and told him I was going to find my mother." She said on an even tone. "Told me not to bother to come home when I'll be coming back crying."

They all stopped in their track, looking for the joke. 'How can a father say that to his own daughter?'

"Does he values you so little?" Taranee asked as the temperature went up, which was an usual fact when the fire Guardian was getting angry. 'At least this time her hair aren't fire, she must still be pretty calm.'

"He loved me enough, But he really hate my mother." Roxy said, crying a little while giving a disturbing smile. "I guess seeing me in my fairy form was the last straw. He really did know about it ... As she said."

Aisha shuddered, trying to forget the flash of red and black in her mind. "I still can't believe you spent so much time with... her."

"She is not interested in hurting me, directly at least." Roxy answered, wiping her tears. "In fact I don't know what she want from me. It's just that when she call, it's hard to resist."

"I think I can understand." Tecna muttered darkly. Aisha hadn't yet worked the courage to ask what had happened to Tecna that evening, but she had been really withdrawn since then and had obviously a lot on her mind.

"... She was also the first girl my age I felt I could get along with." Roxy confessed.

"She is good at manipulating people without you knowing. She was even before she turned dark in fact, that's one of the things that irked Cornelia to no end." Taranee smirked, at least looking happy she was rid of the former Earth Guardian.

'I can see the sequels she was talking about when they do that.' Aisha thought, taking a step away from the Guardian.

"I don't think she was lying." Roxy said doubtfully.

"She didn't. She don't need to." Cassidy granted grimly. "But lets not talk about that."

Stella pouted. "I agree. How did we even got to that subject?"

"The same way we always do for the last two weeks." Taranee laughed a little. "Some wounds are just too deep. But we were right to be paranoid about it."

"Why did you never told us what she did to you? You just said she hunted and tortured you, not that she made your head melt from overheating." Stella frowned, massaging her head at the phantom pain.

"You weren't ready. We didn't want you pissing in your sparkly pant." Taranee snarled. "But maybe we should have, that way maybe we wouldn't even have come."

"And you would have let me in the Wizards' clutch." Roxy growled and Lou hissed in her arms.

"Maybe. But one life isn't worth Ten." Cassidy noted. "Will already had her eyes on you, they'd never gotten to you."

"Then maybe I should remain with her." Roxy retorted.

"And let you finish like Elyon. No-way girl." Taranee said, taking her by the shoulders turning her around so that she looked at her. "Listen Roxy, I get why you wouldn't want to fight her. In a way things are better that way. But, please, don't follow that dark path. I don't want to see anyone getting there again."

"..." Roxy didn't answer, shaking her away and walking ahead for the rest of the road to the park.

From that moment it took them about ten minutes to get there, and all but one second to spot the guys. Back in their uniforms they were quit a sore spot on the green grass of park. The weapon they carried made the passer-by avoid them in a large circle.

"Hey Boys! We're here!" Taranee called. "Are things ready on your side?"

"You took your time." Brandon smirked when he saw them. "I guess Stella took too much time in front of of the Mirror again."

Aisha heard Stella growled. 'How can those two still be fighting after what happened.' Even Riven and Musa were getting back together on friendly term. It would take time for them to fall back as a couple, but at least they were mending the fences together.

"Stop that Brandon." Nabu admonished him, making her jump out of her thought in delight. He then looked at her and his eyes lit up. "Are you alright? I guess it was hard on you, you look dreadful."

"I still have nightmare but I'm getting better." Aisha answered, snuggling and moaning in her lover's arms. 'Infinite ocean did I miss him.' It was as if all her worry were melting away when she was in his arms.

"Where are Bloom and the others?" Sky asked when they came over, looking around for the red-head.

"Saying good bye to her parents, the others are with her." Cassidy answered. "They should be here soon."

"So they won't come with us, eh?" He bowed his head down. "She must be heart-broken." He knew better than anyone how much Bloom cared for her adoptive parents.

"Hay Lin and Kadma are with her to make sure she don't do anything foolish" Cassidy nodded, sitting down on the bench next to Timmy. "You came with that thing?" She asked, looking curiously at the little machine in his hands.

"Yes. But it broke when we came. I tried to repair it but I don't know if it works."

"Want me to check it ?" Tecna asked with a small smile.

"It could help, you're better than me when it come to mixing Magic and Technology." He praised her, handling her his machine.

"For the good that it does me." She sighed, sitting on his other side and starting to look the little machine over with expert eyes and small movement.

"Do you have a problem Tecna, I never saw you so down." Timmy asked, worried. It was a testament as to how much Tecna was looking terrible that he had noticed. He never noticed the little things.

"Nothing really." She tried to wave off. "I just can't seem to pass any message to Miss Faragonda. I even tried Griselda, or Zenith, but nothing works."

Aisha knew it was not the only thing, but Tecna was not willing to talk about her own nightmares and Aisha could respect that. She just hoped it wouldn't come back to bit them in the ass.

"Let me see." Timmy said, taking his own micro-computer.

He tapped on it awhile, frowning and moving it around as if to find a connection, but nothing came of it.

"I can't either." He finally said, worried and dejected.

"I have a bad felling about it." Cassidy said, looking at the screen. " Say, I don't know a lot about computer but... are parasites always purple on your little toys?"

"Hum ..?" Tecna shook her head, sparring her a glance before getting back to her meticulous work on the transport machine.

"Hey! We're here!" Hay Lin voice came form up, interrupting whatever Cassidy was about to say. " Are things ready here?"

'I suppose it was faster flying here.' Aisha shrugged

"I don't know." Cassidy answered, looking over to Timmy and Tecna. "They are having trouble with communications."

"Did everything went alright with your parents?" Sky asked when Bloom landed in his arms, obvious tears in her eyes. "I'm sure everything will be alright." He said smoothing her and she kissed him desperately.

"Rah... I don't understand." Timmy shouted. "It worked alright when we called her the other day for Roxy."

"Well. We don't really need to warn her to go back right? " Hay Lin asked, but Aisha didn't see what she meant. Nor did the other Winx from the look they were giving her. Hay-Lin sighed. "I mean, they don't have a Veil around Magix or anything that need to be lowered, right?"

"No, we just have to use the spell." Musa answered. She had remained a safe distance away from Riven and had been talking with Stella. A testament that she was not yet on 'Good' term with the purple haired boy, contrary to Flora who was wallowing in Helia's arms.

"Then we do it now." Hay Lin said hurriedly and Aisha finally noticed the disturbed wind rustling the trees around them.

They all joined around and readied themselves, checking one last time that they had everything. Bloom opened her hand, taking the crystal she used for the travel .

The crystal shone and magic flowed from it to a point in space, opening a small purple crack in the fabric of the dimension.

'It's not going as is should .' Aisha thought as the gash refused to open enough for them to pass.

"I don't understand. It should work " Bloom said, blinking at the crystal after a minute without any change.

"I don't like this." Taranee parroted Cassidy's earlier thought. "It doesn't have any batteries or things like that right?"

"Of course not. It's Magic. Let me try Bloom." Stella took the crystal from her hands, making Bloom recoil a little at the sudden move, and tried.

A minutes later Stella was dejected as the same thing happened, as it did after each of them tried in turn. It was always the same purple line opening then fizzling out.

"It won't do anything " Tecna said defeated without even trying the crystal.

"And we can't seem to make any fold either." Kadma said. "I think... we are trapped here."

"I feared you would said that." Hay Lin sighed.

"What does it means?" Aisha asked, shaking. She suddenly had a really bad feeling and turned to look at Tecna.

"She means that I placed A Veil around Earth, to make sure you won't have the stupid idea of getting away." The voice came first, like out of a nightmare. It was was playful, sultry and entirely too cheery. But most of all it was the voice of someone you couldn't deny. She turned to the voice and saw a wide-eyed Tecna looking shakily at a the mostly black screen of her omni.

Then a hologram formed out of it and Aisha recoiled, taking her hands to her throat.

"NO!" A panicked shout erupted among them and each who knew who it was shriek away from Tecna, even as the boys just looked as the Four Winged image of a red haired-girl.

"Hello little Fairies." The image waved at them with a grin. "For those who don't know me yet, I'm Will. But you can call me your Majesty."

"So it was you." Sky gritted his teeth, the specialists on their guards. Nabu placed himself before Aisha, his staff pointing at the tri-dimensional image, and Aisha hid away behind him, wishing they would be far away. "You'll pay for your crimes."

"Calm down pretty boy. I already have a hot blonde in my bed." She smirked, the hologram hovering about them as if gauging them anew. "I must say, I'm a little disappointed it took you so long to try to make your escape."

Bloom was literally fulminating, taking a page out of Taranee's book as the Dragon's flame coiled around her arms.

"Is that why you didn't attack us yet? You wanted to see us fail to escape first?" Taranee growled. This time her hairs were on fire and Silver winds was rising around Hay Lin while the ground was shaking slightly.

"Yes" Will looked at them lazily, pleased with herself. "At least in part. I also had to get used to flying with a new Wing... after all I'm still a growing girl."

"I can see that." Cassidy frowned and Aisha took notice of the new appendage for the first time. "Would I be right to assume you also shut the City?"

"As I did to Heatherfield? Yes, of course." The fallen angel waved off. "Anyone trying to go out of the range of that ranch you visited will understand why no one ever got out of Meridians cells back in the days"

They all shuddered. ' We have to warn everyone.'

"Yes, you should." The Dark Angel smiled viciously, answering her thought.

"Will you really kill them all ?" Roxy asked, staring at the image, her fright subdued by something she couldn't point out quiet yet.

"Tututut, Oh no Roxy. I won't kill them. Their death would just bore me." Will ruffled her hand through Roxy's hair as if caressing a pet. "And I know you aren't ready to make our choice yet. No, today I came for her." She pointed Bloom, making a show to walk toward her.

None of them dared making a move. It was just a hologram, they couldn't hurt it.

...

Bloom's heartbeat went through the roof as the Black Angel slowly walked up to her. It was only an Image. There was no way it could really hurt them right?

She could feel the eyes roving on her body as if checking her out. When she dared to look at them she was shocked by their color, light brow with an electric blue speck, so normal.

She could almost feel them bearing down her soul as it slowly walked to her.

Sky had place himself on its road, trying to protect her. "Don't approach her!" He shouted, raising his shield.

The spectral image gave him an amused look as she slowly approached her target. Sky didn't flinch, didn't blink, but the moment the image of the Fallen Angle touched the boy's shield an agonizing shriek thorn through his teeth. A second later he was on the ground, spasm painfully jolting his body around.

It was no mere Hologram. That thing had literally phased through him.

At the sight of her lover down Bloom summoned the Dragon Fire in an attempt to strike the Angel down. A vain one, as the magical missile did little more than blur the hologram.

The ghost didn't give a sign of caring for any of that. It was now circling around Bloom and she felt like she being evaluated, and strange sensation welt in her. Everyone around them was holding back their breaths, ready to strike if they could, yet the girl's image didn't give away anything of even acknowledging them, solely fixating its too real eyes on her.

After what felt like an eternity it finally stopped right in front of her and a black clad arm raised slowly, inexorably, like a predator on its prey.

Bloom jerked and punched it away from her before it reached her burnings cheeks. 'Darkness is contagious, and she know how to spread it.' She remembered Kadma's words.

The others looked at them petrified, waiting for the spark that would either initiate a fight or let them flee.

"You're such an interesting girl." Will said, taking her hand and looking at it with an interest which repulsed Bloom. She didn't want to be 'interesting' to this...Monster.

Bloom took back her hand, refusing to answer the unasked question. She wouldn't let her play the game she wanted with her. She would find the way to push the darkness away, and save Earth from her.
She smirked, realizing that now they had to listen to her. Now that they couldn't go back to Magix, Cassidy wouldn't have a choice but to agree .

"Yes, such an interesting girl. Holding back your darkness for all that time with self-justification. I can almost hear it screaming, pleading to be released." Her voice feigned pity but Bloom could hear the mockery lying underneath and it sent her reeling.

"I don't see what you mean! I'm not like you!" Bloom blurted out sounding more on the defensive than she would have liked. She tried to remain steady but she was shaking ever so slightly, the pain of the memories coming back of the forefront of her mind.

"No, you aren't." Will admitted with that ever present enervating smirk. "But you aren't as different as you would like to be. Why you already killed for vengeance."

"How?" Bloom jumped, unable to understand what was happening. How did she know about Valtor?

"She didn't have the choice!" Musa tried to defended her.

"Oh but she did." Will turned to Musa. "She had enough power to make the choice."

"Stop lying!" Stella shouted and Bloom had to force herself not to flinch. "He would have destroyed us all if she hadn't killed him!"

"She never lies." Bloom somehow heard Roxy quiet murmur, and knew it to be the truth.

"Quite so. You shouldn't be so corny, I was not condemning her." Will laughed, turning form a brief moment to Stella before looking back at her. "In fact I was commending you my dear."

"Maybe in your twisted way." Cassidy said. "Now what do you want? Because I doubt you only came for a little chat."

"I do want something ... " She then made a pause and turned around looking at something behind Tecna.
"I would stop what you're doing if I were you Flora."

The Fairy of Nature had been biding her time, slowly saturating the ground beneath her feet with magic and summoning to their aid the plants of the park. The moment Will said those words vines hurled toward Tecna's hand, where the device was broadcasting the image, trying to crush it. However they were stopped in their tracks by a sudden growth of heather that also made short work of Helia and Riven, who had been trying to sneak from the side. It was over before it had started and soon the tense calm came back.

Kadma's hands were already glowing, healing the bruises as the three offender helped each other up.

"Told you so." The Dark Angel cackled.

Stealing a glance Bloom saw Tecna was looking at the scene wide eyed and fidgeting like a leaf, but otherwise unharmed.

"You'll have your chance later, Now just let me finish... Where was I ?"

"Thinking about going to Hell? " Taranee snarled, the ground around her now completely scorched.

"Ah, Right. About to make your life a Hell, thank for the reminder Taranee." She turned back to Bloom. "As I was saying, you're still full of that darkness, wanting to rampage again."

Suddenly Bloom could tell where it was going. " Darkar" She growled, shaking. Right now she was staring to regret not having listen more to what the Guardian had said. That part of her life had been the worst by far.

"Yes, The dark phoenix. Though he made a sloppy work taking you to his side. What with just using a spell, those kinds of thing always dissipate at the worst moment." Will sounded almost disappointed and Bloom suddenly had a very bad presentiment. "You still grief over that don't you? The feeling of power, of control."

"She was not herself." Stella rebutted as Bloom tried to back off. "Her love broke the enchantment."

"Yes, It did break it. But the darkness was always since then, just under the surface , barely held in check as Valtor sorely learn." Will rasped the skin of Bloom's arm, sending shiver down her spin. She was feeling it stir up in her mind, muddling her thought. "Those kind of things always leave marks."

"You lie!" Bloom shot out, trying to deny what she knew for the truth. She had hidden it from the other for almost two years.

"Now, Let me free you from it." She said getting closer than she had any right too. Yet Bloom couldn't move, paralyzed by her fear, and something even more terrible.

"Now!" She heard Cassidy call out as she felt magic all around her rising.

"Wake up." Will's Whisper penetrated her mind and she plunged into a waking-slumber.

Then came the screams.

...

Tecna looked at the scene in horror. She couldn't do anything as the Guardians and Winx launched their spells at her and Bloom.

She had been repairing Timmy's portal maker while Bloom was trying to use the portal when she was contacted by Will. That's why when they gave her the transport Crystal she immediately knew it wouldn't work.

She had tried to stop her omni when the projection took form in front of her eyes, but that was when she found herself unable to move.

She had seen Flora , Helia and Timmy trying to free her but she was unable to warn them. It was useless. She had barely been able to stop her own powers trying to protect her

So when they she felt the magic targeting her she surrendered herself and welcomed the shock, thinking that, maybe, it could free Bloom.

But as the dust settled they both were left unscathed.

Will had once again protected her tool, and Bloom was able to move away on her own, faster than Tecna had ever seen her.

"You could have been nicer for my comeback." Bloom, or whatever was the evil force that moved her body like a puppet said. She was still in her Believix form, But the sky blue and pink had given way to black and white.

"Bloom, please come back to yourself." Flora pleaded. "Don't let her get an hold on you."

"But I am myself. She just freed up what lied behind the façade." Bloom laughed as she started launching Dragon Fire at them.

"Stop it Bloom! You have no chance against us all." Cassidy said as they took flight, letting Tecna and the boys on the ground. "Boy get that device away from Tecna."

"It won't do anything you know Cassidy." Bloom said as the fight started to take form. "And I have myself an advantage over you."

"And what might that be ?" Taranee asked, re-directing the fire stream away from her. Bloom's magic might be powerful, but only an idiot, or Will, would try to attack the Guardian of Fire with her own element.

"I won't hesitate to Kill you." She announced. Making use of what she hoped was a blind spot, Stella moved behind her friend, but in a flash Bloom kicked her in the gut and took her by the throat. "You in particularity Stella." The black fairy said with an evil grin. For some reason your face really irk me" She gathered Dragon fire in her other hand. "You have the face of a betrayer, just look at your boyfriend."

So focused was she on Stella that Bllom didn't sense Hay Lin sneak on her.

Raising her two arms and then quickly bringing them down, the Wind Guardian summoned a powerful blast of Wind that released the Princess of Solaria while sending Bloom straight into one of the many thorn-bushes that decorated the park.

"Bloom!" Sky shouted. He and the other Specialists were still fighting off the heathers that surrounded Tecna, but now her mind was solely focused on her lover's limp body. Thankfully, Bloom was saved by Aisha's Morphix that warped around her, cushioning her fall but trapping her, binding her feet and trapping an arm. His hearth ached seeing Bloom covered in cuts from the silver blades of wind that Hay Lin had packed in her attack.

She trashed around, trying to free herself." You could have killed me." She said, mostly as a side note.

"I could have." Hay Lin admitted, a faint silver aura surrounding her. Bloom stopped moving for a second, shocked. The Guardian of Wind had meant what she had said.

"You won't get away Bloom, so calm down." The fairy of wave said, trying to sound sure as she bent her substance around Bloom.

"Help me." Bloom suddenly pleaded, looking Sky in the eyes. "You Love me, right?"

"Of course I love you, but you aren't yourself" He said, letting his sword slightly down. "Please remember who you truly are. "

"I remember it Sky." She said with a shaking voice "I love you." She extended her only free limb to him.

Sky approached her, trying to undo the spell the same as last time. But something was off. Tecna looked at the hologram and saw her grin...What could she be planing?

"Bloom, Sky NO!" Musa shouted, her voice serving as a spell to separate the two just before Dragon fire exploded around Bloom. If Sky had taken another single step forward he would have died.

"Why did you do that Musa? That's how we broke the spell last time" Stella complained.

"And she know it. Bloom was about to Kill him " Musa answered, still shaking from what she'd stop.

"Damn ... you're less stupid that I peg you for. Oh, well, being heart-broken did always suit you better." Bloom said as she got up, now free of Aisha's prison as scorched Morphix fell off her body.

"Hun.." They heard Sky moan. The explosion had knocked him out cold together with the other boys, but Musa had at least saved their lives. Sky had a small trickle of blood coming from his side, but it could have been worse. A lot worse.

"You're a monster." Tecna managed to say in Will direction as spells and magic missiles flew in every direction once again. It was astonishing how Well Bloom could fight for herself once driven.

"So they say Tecna. But I didn't push her to do anything. I'm just letting the darkness get out of her system. She, however, is the one who decided how to use it."

"You have no idea how much your kindness irate me." She heard Bloom yell at one of the girl, but couldn't guess which one

"You mean that..." Tecna hesitated. She didn't like to think about what it meant.

"What she does and says right now are her choices. So far she never said one lie. She is much like me in her rage." Will explained with a smile on her face. "People who have been lied to, even for their own protection, tend to go that way."

Tecna couldn't help but look for Roxy, a bad feeling getting trough her guts. She had transformed and joined the fray, dealing a hard blow with her spells.

"The little crybaby do pack some punch." Bloom grunted wile rubbing her side; it was the first hit they had landed on her. "You don't have the weakness the others have."

"Ah... I see you're starting to understand." Will called her back. Tecna turned her head to her with compliance, forgetting the drama under her eyes for a moment. "It hurt to not be able to do anything when everything crash around you right?"

"... can I do anything ?" Tecna bowed her head in shame. She had it hard. But must be harder for Bloom trapped in the darker space of her mind and knowing she was hurting her friend and had perhaps killed her lover .

"In this fight no. The time for you to go into battle as yet to come. But it will, faster that you wish it had." She said, holographic eyes glowing purple. Tecna just knew that it wasn't just a supposition, but a fact that she had heard. Where did the power of that dark angel stopped?

"Now I believe you wanted to call someone." Tecna went wide-eyes in realization. Could it be possible?

"Didn't you say... we were cut off from the rest of the dimensions?" Tecna asked, unsure. Under those eyes, even if they were not the real ones, she felt like a little child asking stupid things to a Queen.

"Yes I did." She smiled. "But I'm the one who made the veils, I can open channel or portals through them as I wish."

"Then..." Tecna thought. It could be a trap. But at the same time she had to do something. What she was about to do might be their best way to, if not find help, at least warn Magix. Who knew if she would be given a second chance?

Hearing an other call for Bloom to Wake up she made her choice. "Please, let me make that call."

"Good." If Tecna had known about the Cheshire cat, she would have thought that it paled in front Will's evil grin.

...

Faragonda sighed at her chair.

One week had passed without getting any news from the girls or the specialist and she was starting to worry.

The King Of Eraklyon had come to see her some days ago, ordering her to tell him where was his son after he had learnt her school was the last place he was seen. She had been hard pressed not to answer him.

However, when he tried to bring him back from Earth, he wasn't able to open a portal.

If she could pinpoint when her bad feeling had started it was then.

When she herself tried with help from every teachers she had been able to gather all they got was a view over a Purple cloudy sky where thunder rumbled before it fizzled out.

The feeling went from bad to worse.

Even scrying spells of the highest caliber gave the same.

Now she had been about to start calling the girls parents to signal their disappearance when her phone rang out.

Looking at the name relief overcame her and she quickly took the call.

"Tecna?" She said as the video of the purple-haired fairy aired, washing over the calm wish had started to creep back in her mind. Some flashes of light and explosions could be seen in the background.

Usually Faragonda would have waited but the lack of light in her former student had her asking question before she thought.

"Are you alright? Why didn't you contact us before? And what are those battle sounds I'm earning? Are you under the Wizards attacks?"

Tecna winced under her flow of question. "No, The wizards seem to be hiding for now thankfully." She said, but she didn't seem happy about the news.

Faragonda frowned. "Then what?"

" It's... Bloom... miss Faragonda" Tecna stammered and the screen turned to the left, passing some kind of plant to show on ongoing fight. The Guardians and Winx were fighting together, and quit well, against one lone, fiery aired fairy clad in Black.

"Don't tell me Some used Darkar's spell on her again." Faragonda said alarmed, trying to drawn conclusions from what she had seen. Who other than him could use such a spell?

"Yes, and... No. I don't believe that's the same thing. When Sky tried to kiss her she almost killed him, yet she was sincere when she said she loved him" Tecna said, looking as confused as she was now.

"Why aren't you fighting with the other? They need all the help the can get." Faragonda said concerned, she knew their must be an other reason aside asking for advice.

"I can't." Tecna whispered, defeated. "In fact I tried to call you all day but we couldn't."

A shriek could be heard behind Tecna. Someone had been grievously wounded.

"Why Tecna ?" She hurried her. She should not let her wallow in her trouble. "We tried to contact you all week but no signal passed "

"I as been cut out from the rest of the dimensions." Tecna explained.

"By whom?" She asked shocked. How did someone do a thing like that? It would require tremendous powers and a fair bit of knowledge an skill.

The more she talked the more she didn't like what was happening and the next question came naturally "How are you calling me then?"

"She let me." Tecna almost cried, breaking-down in front of her, making her heart ache. "We found Will... Or I should say she found us...She is too strong for us Miss... We were trying to flee from her but..."

"Calm down Tecna. I'm sure it can't be that bad." Faragonda tried to calm her. But she had recognized the name and knew what it entailed.

"No it can. When ... when we met... Her... She put the six of us down without moving... She made the girls... Feel what she did to the Guardians... I'm scared Miss. We're all scared that she might do the same thing to us... I think I bound with her." The last part was almost inaudible, said in a shameful whisper. It was no less a bad news.

Farangonda was trying to find an answer to calm Tecna when the screen suddenly shifted to another girl.
"Hello Headmistress Faragonda." The girl smirked at her. It was just an image but she felt chill just hearing the too smooth voice and seeing the eyes.

"Who are you?" She asked, fearing the answer.

Something exploded behind the figure and the flash of light turned the screen white for a fraction of second.

"I'm the worse menace the magical dimension ever faced" The blood-red haired girl said quit seriously. "At least if we believe your own Hall of enchantment "

"How do you know about that ?" Fargonda asked, trying to remain calm under the cold eyes.

"I know a lot of thing." She grinned. "But for that particular titbit you should thank Tecna's curiosity. It seems that your 'Enemy of Magix' section was made out of me."

"I don't remember seeing your face there, and I often go to check out." She realigned her glasses. "And You still didn't present yourself."

"Teacher will be teacher I guess. Never seeing what's just under their nose. I believe you know me under the name of 'Will'." Faragonda had already guessed that, obviously, but checking who you are fighting was always better. And as long as she was talking with her she didn't made anything to the others.

She could still hear the sound of fight in the background. How did Bloom mange to fight so long?

"So you're really the fallen angel." She even had the look, her four black Wings giving her the majesty she commended. "Why did you let Tecna call if you blocked all transmission?"

"So that you could see her, and the others, one last time before I break them." She chuckled.

"You wouldn't dare." Farangonda tried to threaten her.

"I already started miss. You should have listen when those betrayers warned you. Now it'll be as much your fault what happen to them."

The screen once more turn to the battle. Most of the girls had bruises and more than few shallow wounds. She could see that the park they had been fighting in was now a literal war-field; the ground turned asunder and there were scorch marks everywhere. Some of the girls where lying on the ground, barely breathing.

Bloom's motionless body was resting over a patch of almost melted rock. She was covered in bruises and bloodstains, the slow up and down of her chest the only signal that she was still alive.

Things weren't supposed to go like that.

"Oh, and by the way, don't try to open a portal again or I'll let Cedric pass through this time. Believe me, you don't want him in a school full of weak girls full of themselves." Will scowled, as if the idea was repulsing even her. "Now good bye, we will see one day in person I believe. I promise I'll send them back. In what state though? Even I don't know" The screen became black for an instant before closing.

Yet, she could somehow hear the laughter the girl had after.

Faragonda slumped back in her chair feeling guilty. She had probably send the girls to their end on this one, and all she could do was hope.

"And make research." She whispered, frowning. Will had said she was on the wall of the Hall of enchantment. Maybe she would find something there.

"I should also call the girls' family". She always wondered how Saladin did, with the boys he lost in missions. She hated when she had to take those kind of responsibility.

Granted they weren't dead. But what might happen seemed to be worse if she could believe her eyes. "Great Dragon, What did I put them into ?"

...

"I see that you managed to put her down without killing her. I was worried for a moment." Will said with glee. She'd known from the start that Bloom would lose but there had been the risk that someone died in the process.

"..." They all turned to her. The ones not knocked out formed a wary defensive half circle around Bloom. They were so focused on putting Bloom down without killing her that they had, for a moment, forgotten the source of their problem.

"Still trying to protect her? How lovable." She mocked them, so trusting, still blind to their own evil.

"Of course, she is our friend. Not that you would understand." Flora said weakly. The poor girl was not able even able to maintain her fairy form anymore and had trouble staying upright. Her eyes were a mix a defiance and fright. "Give her back!" She croaked defiantly.

"I do understand. But you seem to be misunderstanding something here." She said laconic, there was so many things the didn't understand.

"What do we not understand?" Cassidy asked with the same defiance. She was bearing several burning scars on her side but her changing nature and tenacity made it that it did not impair her that much. Nevertheless she was still exhausted and her eyes were darting around the destroyed field.

"I just woke up the darkness left behind, she is the one who chose how to consume it." She grinned at their shocked faces .

"You lie!" Musa shouted, seated next to Riven's unconscious body. The boys had yet to recover but to her slight dismay none had died. It would have been so sweet to see the unspoken grudge her friend would have against Bloom if she had killed one of their lovers in her fit. But as she had said , it had been Bloom the whole time and even if she wished for them to suffer, she did not want others than Sky to die.

Still, Will was curious has to why she had wanted to end her lover's life even so she still loved him in her darkness. It was those sort of thing that made her interested in playing more with her.

But her thoughts returned to the present and merely grinned at Musa, shrugging by way of a reply. Why would she bother to keep repeating herself? They would find out and they would suffer from it.

"She never lies."

Her grin became wider as she turned her head, looking at the slightly battered Fire Guardian. Taranee's hair was still lit and her eyes were dark, but Will found the same understanding within them as she'd shown years ago. She could just read the powerlessness the girl was feeling off of her face and held her head a bit askew.

"You always did understand me the best, T." She cooed, causing everyone to shudder and Taranee's hair to flare up even more.

"Unfortunately." Was the reply.

"Or maybe fortunate for you." Will merely replied, before turning around, showing her back with all her four wings to them. She had been using Tecna's hologram and it would be rude to leave without thanking her.

Even if she was incorporeal the heathers retracted to the ground as she got to her and bent close to her face.

"Thank for being the contact Tecna, it wouldn't have been as fun without you" She whispered to the Purple-haired girl ear as she was crouched down on the floor, crying tears of guilt.

Behind her real body she could hear Elyon moaning in excitement at the sight and feel the just moved in Miranda looking with deep interest.

"I did not really have the choice, did I?" She said, monotone. Will had stopped her 'hacking'of Tecna's mind the moment she had felt the girl had wanted to talk, but the girl was still cutely confused as if she was or was not being controlled.

"I suppose not." Will admitted with a smirk. "But thank for being who you are never the less, you lot are really entertaining" The last bit had been said loudly so that the girls behind her, trying to groups up the unconscious, could hear her statement.

Their growl assured her that her goal of motivating them back to that stupid (for them) fight had worked and that they wouldn't just surrender. She wouldn't have let them either way, she had already made her preparation at home to receive them.

"Will you free her?" Hay Lin finally asked, aiding Musa to stand up now that they had gathered the others in one place where Kadma could start healing them.

"If you're talking about Tecna, she's free to go the moment I cut the connection." She answered, living out the fact she would never be free of her. "If you're talking about Bloom, what I did was, in a sense, freeing her of Darkar. Now all that remain is her. She won't be able to pit her dark side on anyone but herself." She scoffed, pointing to the red-headed unconscious body they had turned away from when she had called them. She was back in her normal self.

"So... She is back to normal?" Flora asked, dubious .

"She was never normal." Will answered. "None of you are, that's where the fun is. You are far more close to me that you want to admit, and you'll discover it soon, for those that don't know already." She emitted a last dark laugh before biding them farewell. "Until next time, My dears." As she said that she closed her eyes and cut the signal, thanking her computer for the service.

Will already knew when the next time would be. The power of the Oracle had grown enough in her to give her that vision while she was adapting to her fourth Wing.

All she had to do was to wait for them to make the next error, and to prepare her little cages.

Meanwhile, Bloom, Roxy, Tecna and the others would doubt, in themselves and in the others. Yet, after what she had done and said, they would fight her until they broke. They were just those kind of foolish girls.

And breaking they would, it was the whole point of this little game. She needed them to break.

Opening her eyes she sighed from the satisfaction of her plans coming along. She had not been sure she could do that at first, using her power through a hologram. In fact she had been weaker in that state; but it had worked like a charm .There were so many way in which she could use her power that it made even her dizzy at times.

"Miranda." She called, the spider-girl standing behind her in her human form. She had let her silk like black-hairs grow since she had become queen of her own quarter of Metamoor, now looking less like a child. She wore black and white long robe made of her own reinforced silk, similar to the one she had when in the service of Phobos but more regal. Contrary to Elyon, Cedric or even herself she did never bother to learn how to fight with weapons in human form and don't need them in her Spider ones.

To top it all she still wore her silvers crown, doubling as a headband to support her hairs behind. With the 10 centimetre she had taken she finally looked the part of a sorceress as well as a lesser queen.

"What do you wish of me Will " She said with great deference, bowing slightly. Becoming evil had made her polite.

"You learn some knew magic on the last mission I sent you, didn't you ?" She asked, walking to her.

"I did." Miranda confirmed. They both knew she did not have to precise which one if Will didn't ask for it.

Will smirked at her. "Then, I'll have a long term mission for you in the near future, be sure that you don't have anything personal left to do."

"I already did, my queen, I wouldn't have come from Kandrakar if I didn't." She answered. "But you must know that I can't keep up it all the time."

"I know, I wouldn't trust you with her at all time either, it would be a torture. I'll just need you to maintain the guard and make sure she don't do anything foolish." Will said which made Miranda have a small laugh.

"I guess she will need someone." Miranda commented .She had already talked about her plan to them, and was just integrating Miranda new found capacity in it.

"Yes , she will. But don't forget, I'm the one who's to guide, you're just the guard." Will warned her servant, letting her power wash over the room before reigning it in again.

"I know that all too well, My queen." Miranda answered with a wince, bowing once again.

Will smiled, satisfied. She seated back in her sofa and joined Elyon in watching the Tv. She wondered how they would explain the destruction of the park.


Bloom finally woke up from her least she hoped she had woken up. She was sweating abundantly and her body ached from about everywhere.

"Where am I?" She asked softly, rubbing her eyes. Her head was killing her and her throat was sore.

"She's waking up!" She heard one of the girls say, a little to loud for her taste.

"I'll call the others. Make sure she doesn't move." Another said before she heard the sound of a door opening and felt the sun in reaching her eyes. "If she isn't herself just shout."

"Understood. But I don't think she was lying." A third, softer voice said from behind her. Her eyes were still a blur but she could guess it was Tecna. Then, Kadma, she had guessed it was her from the stature, finally got out, letting her with Aisha and Tecna.

"Are,... are you okay Bloom?" Aisha asked as she tried to get up. Helped by her friend she slowly put her back against the back of her bed, .

"I don't think I've ever felt worse." Bloom answered, looking down and avoiding their gaze.

"I guess..." Tecna said, almost apologetic.

Bloom remembered what Tecna had told her after she woke up from the first Will-induced nightmare and felt some anger rise up in her.

"I'm sorry." Tecna continued, recoiling from her slightly. She could not fault her, right now she felt like she would...

' What am I thinking? ' Bloom looked down at herself. Her fist were clamped, and she had to force herself to soften her hard face. She had been about to lash out at Tecna, even so she knew it wasn't her fault. "Sorry" She said, relaxing her whole body.

"Bloom? are you still... under her influence?" Aisha asked worried, eyes darting to the door and back.

"No. I'm not." Bloom said and felt her two friend relaxing slightly, "But I almost wish I was." She felt compelled to add, unable to lie right now.

"What!?" Both shot out at the same time.

"Are you mad? You almost killed me, Stella, Tara and the boys before the other could stop you!" Aisha continued.

" I know. I remember it all too well, I WAS The One Doing It, for Fuck Sake!" She reminded them with a little more emphasis that she wished.

Suddenly the door opened and the other barged in. "Is everything alright?" Musa asked. But she almost did not heard her. It was just a coincidence she knew, but Taranee, Hay Lin, Stella and Cassidy had placed themselves in a rank and it called a bad 'memory' to her mind.

She shot out of her bed to the corner of the room, pushing Tecna and Aisha aside. She had to survive. "Don't kill me please." She pleaded, her hand alight. Her mind was in a jumble because of Will's gifts.

"We won't do anything to you." Cassidy said with strange infliction in her voice as they all took a sit on either one of the bed or chairs, dissipating the image. Still the truth of her last awake moments were there.

"Yes, Bloom, you're my best friend. I know you weren't yourself." Stella tried to smooth her, but it only made her more shaky.

Bloom let her hand down, reigning her fears and anger in for a moment. "I was" She muttered to herself. She knew that Hay would hear, and probably Musa too, but they were kind enough not to make the point right now .

"Sooo? Why were you shouting like that"? Taranee asked. "I guess it as something to do with what happened two day ago, but..."

"Two Days?" Bloom exclaimed,surprised. She had slept for two day? How could it be? she still felt like she just had a run in with an angry dragon.

"Yes, you did. After we managed to take you out you slept for two days, almost three in fact." Flora explained to her with a weak smile. "We really were worried."

"So what happened?" Roxy asked, not letting her the time to ask for more precision. She guessed she would have the time later

"It happened that this stupid girl said she would like to still be under Will's influence." Aisha said dryly.

"What? Is she mad?" The three Winx who were not there earlier shouted in unison while the other only frowned.

"That Exactly what I said." Aisha scoffed.

"Your explication?" Kadma looked at her sternly.

"If I was still under influence it would explain why I almost just pound Tecna even so I know she had no choice. She is as much a victim as I am." Bloom growled.

"How do you know you aren't?" Hay Lin asked .

"I feel it. I never told anyone, but... you remember what Darkar did to me right?" She asked her friends .

"You mean turning you over to his side with his darkness?" Cassidy asked.

Bloom turned to her, suspicious. She had not told that story to the Guardians yet. She did not trust them enough.

"We heard from your friends while you were asleep " Cassidy told her as a way of explication.

Bloom nodded, knowing she would have to make due with that for now, and that she had to have little 'talk' with her 'friends' about privacy...
'I'm doing it again'
She shook her head before looking back to the Guardian.
"Well. Even after his defeat, it still remained in me. I could feel it under my skin, trying to take hold during the bad times."

"Oh, Bloom." The Winx looked at each other, as if deciding who would talk, Finally it was Stella who did. "Why did you not tell us? We could have helped."

Bloom looked down, shaking her head again. They couldn't, she knew they usually could but it had been something she knew they couldn't, not knowingly. "You did."

They had a small smile. The simple fact that they had treated her normally had been what made her hold it.

"That what she felt in you right?" Tecna asked thoughtful.

"Yes, and that's how I know I'm not under influence. What she did was force Darkar out, I fought you because It woke up my bad feelings on it's way out." Bloom explained " It's not in me anymore. I would almost be thankful if I did not feel so bad, and afraid of what I'm holding in " She shuddered, passing her arm around her knee.

"Holding in?" Musa asked.

"I was awake the whole time, and she did not lie. All I did while dark... that was me... My dark side... What I don't want to acknowledge." She stammered, feeling the tears coming down her cheeks.

"Bloom..." the girls looked her with pity in their eyes and once more Bloom felt anger rise, her own anger. She didn't like them looking at her with pity.

"We know the feeling." Taranee said dryly, stopping her before she lashed out again. "We know it too well in fact."

Bloom looked up at her. There was no pity there, just fact. "How? How do you do to don't become mad. I'm only just aware of it and I already feel like tearing things down."

"That's the worst moment, when you feel your dark thought as truly your own for the first time." Hay Lin said. "My grand-mother would say that everyone as to go through that, But for us it's worse."

"Is that why you never smile?" Musa asked her bounded Guardian.

"Or the reason you're so irksome ?" Stella asked Taranee.

"Yes, at least in part. You don't go through what we did unscathed. Now that we are prisoners here, I fear you'll learn it too." Taranee answered, looking away from them.

"We will fight." Flora announced. "We can't leave her get to use like that."

"Definitely not, I don't want to end up a grumpy pessimist." Stella nodded,

"I don't know if, We really can." Bloom muttered, knowing she'd shock her pumping up friends.

"What ? You were the one who wanted to stay here at first, and you were right. We can't leave her if she take so much pleasure messing up our lives." Aisha said standing up.

"I was also foolish. I don't want her to destroy my adoptive planet either. But... I almost killed Sky, and I'm not sure if I truly regret it." Bloom said, feeling the fear creep up. "The Guardians Are still stronger than us and even them are afraid. Can't I be unsure of what to do?"

"Of course you can, we are afraid too Bloom." Flora said with her ever gentle voice. "We are for each fight. The Wizards were stronger than us, and now we match them all but Ogron. I'm sure if we train, and remain together we can go through it."

"I'll try, I don't have much of a choice ... But I'm not the only touched by that." She turned to Tecna " Are you alright Tecna?"

"I don't know." Tecna sighed. "I heard what she told Miss Faragonda... And the way she can so easily manipulate me. I already know I would only be an hindrance in this fight." She too had started to cry.

"So you'll let her do as She want? " Stella asked and again Bloom couldn't repress a shudder, a pang of pain coming from her stomach .

"I didn't say that. I'll help however I can. But I should stay far from the fights when it come to Will . I'll still be there for the Wizards though." Tecna assured them. Bloom could understand, though it was sad Tecna was almost a puppet when it came to the Fallen Angel.

"It's sad, but you're right." Cassidy closed her eyes and sighed. "I would prefer that we got back, but if we're to stay here or objectives must still be the same. However we will have to remain as a group."

"I...We understand." Bloom answered for her friends as she dried her tears. She knew they thought the same. She looked up to Roxy, who she couldn't talk for .

" I don't have any objection. I never was for going to Magix. My life is here." Roxy stressed. "I still have my mother to find."

"And we'll help you do it, Roxy." Aisha said, putting her hand on her shoulder.

"... thank, I don't really know where I stand in this fight though" Roxy answered with an uneasy smile.

"It's hard for everyone at first, and... You really had an even more unsettling start than me." Bloom admitted. "I'm sorry."

"Once more, she didn't lie." Roxy just answered before getting up and out of the room, soon followed by the Guardians.

"So... How are the boys? And Sky?" She asked unsure, looking at them for an hidden truth. She had hesitated when the Guardians and Roxy were there but she had to ask. "I remembered you stopped them before I killed him Musa, but ..."

"They were pretty badly hurt Bloom, but we managed to heal them." Flora answered. Bloom sighed; at least she had not crossed that line. Yet.

"They'll be out of fighting for a while though, they're not even in a shape good enough to take back their work at the Frutti bar." Stella added.

"I did some good at least." Bloom laughed dryly, looking to the side.

"Huh?" The girls looked at her like she had gone mad, again. And maybe she was.

"I mean, they won't be in our fights." Bloom tried to explain. "They're useful against the Wizards, but with Will...you know what I mean."

"That was why you tried to kill Sky?" Tecna asked in disbelief.

"In part ..." She started, her thought from then still sound and clear in her head. "I loved him even under the darkness. I was saddened that he wouldn't accept me like that. I could see that he would not love me like that. I thought that he might as well die for the both of us."

"That's ... stupid. Excuse me Bloom but I really find that stupid. If you loved him why not just come back " Aisha asked and Bloom was reminded that she and Flora were the only one with no relationship or personal problem.

"Yes, if he can't accept you then he doesn't love you." Stella stated sternly. "And he does love you."

"Because there was nothing to come back from, that's what I'm telling you." Bloom croaked in despair. Taranee was right, it was hard to understand if you didn't live it yourself. "I really think like that. There is no Dark Bloom. Just Me with my dark thought all to real and sound in my head."

"Oh." They let her. "That's..."

"Yes..., Oh." She had a wry smile, feeling more alone than she had ever had. "Now please leave me alone... I need to think .. to make a point with myself."

The Winx looked at each other before getting up. "Ok, I understand .We'll let you. But remember we're your friend, no matter what."

"I know." She breathed . "And euh, Tecna?"

"What ?" The purple haired- fairy looked at her, the mark of drying tears still shimmering on her face.

"I ... know it isn't your fault." She said once more. She felt like she had to. She had wanted to say she didn't resented her, but it would have been a lie. Like the fact she couldn't help but slightly mistrust all her friends, Stella most of all. The darkness had remind her the times they had hidden things for her, sometimes it had almost cost them their lives.

"Thank. I have some thinking to do myself." Tecna answered before closing the door, letting her alone. It was unfair because it was also Tecna's room, but Bloom was too mentally and physically hurt to get out.

"What will happen to us now?" She asked herself. She had never felt in so much distress in all her life, apart perhaps when she believed she had lost the Dragon's Flame to the Trix. Like back then, she felt useless. But this time she had her power, they were just not enough, even though they were the center of all her problem before due to their legendary status, now they were almost nothing.


01/19/14


FoR: Thank again to Poliamida and TTigerZ for that Beta and help in righting and for bouncing ideas.

Thank for the review, favs and Follow I would not have worked as much on my chapters if not for that. Please Give me More.

Heimrish: Can I talk this time ?

FoR: Nope, I still have too much chapters to work on ~_é
(Turn to the readers) See you next time in
Chapter 8: Games : Prisoner of Unreal Time".