Chapter 8: The White Ring
A month later, the seasons turned and summer hit California. One of the things Bloom really appreciated about Gardenia was the coastal location. The wind that came in from the ocean helped keep things somewhat bearably cool.
Still, as she stood by the open window and observed the street, she admitted to herself that it wouldn't hurt if it was a tad bit cooler.
"You look tots contemplative," Stella said, as she buttered a piece of toast. "Is something bothering you?"
"Maybe a little," the Dominian princess said, as she turned around. "But mostly I'm worried."
"'Bout what?" Techna asked, as she turned her swivel chair around. "The fact that Roxy still doesn't trust us enough to come with us to Alfea? The fact that the Black Circle for some reason haven't shown themselves since that tussle downtown? The fact that many local prices have gone up to capitalize on tourist season?"
"All of them. Well, except the tourist thing." Bloom shook her head. "There's also the fact that we may just see an invasion of Earth by our families. I had hoped this wouldn't drag out, but we can't force Roxy to come with us and we can't make her trust what we say." She threw up her hands. "I just don't know what to do. I don't want to just sit on my butt, waiting for something to happen. But that is exactly what we're doing right now."
"At least my folks took it real nice," Stella noted, before taking a bite of her bread. "Though they're still worried."
"I'm just happy Nabu is such a smooth talker," Aisha added. "Making this seem more like a diplomatic mission and downplaying the danger helped calm my parents down."
"Great. So what's going to happen when they find out he basically pulled the wool down over their eyes?" Musa asked.
"He said he would deal with that when it becomes an issue."
"But to continue the actual subject, you are of course right to feel that the current stalemate is worrisome," Flora mentioned. "Especially because of the lack of influence we have over the current situation."
"The problem is that anything we could show to Roxy to prove our point about the Black Circle is too easily dismissed," Musa stated. "Not even the fact that they rip people's magic out seem to faze her much."
"Of course not. Magic to her still seems completely vestigial," Flora explained. "It would be like us saying that they are dangerous because they steal peoples' hats. Sure, it is not right, but it does not have the necessary weight behind it to make the kind of impact that would convince her of going with us to Alfea."
"It's not like I want to force her to go to Alfea," Bloom said. "It would be great if she could just stay here and learn things on Earth if that's what she wants. But with the Black Circle running around... They will get her."
"We sure about that?" Techna asked. "Because they seem to have gone on vacation as of late."
"Yeah, where did they go? Seriously, I was tots paranoid for, like, the first week or so after that fight," Stella said. "Especially because it took so long for everyone to recover from it."
"You'd think they would have pressed the advantage and tried to catch us while we were weakened," Musa commented. "Or at least try to approach Roxy. What in the name of the spirits are they up to?"
"See, that's what's really worrying me," Bloom admitted. "It just seems too weird that they have up and vanished like that. Especially after those other guys joined up with them."
"And I for one do not think it is possible that we have just missed each other. It seems unlikely that we wouldn't have met at some point," Aisha noted.
"Maybe they're just waiting for things to cool down," Mirta suggested, as she put the magic tome down.
"Whatever do you mean?" Flora inquired.
"Think about it. You said it yourself that they're trying to keep a lid on things. Well with everyone and their grandma talking about bombs, dinosaurs and whatnot, the whole city is on edge. Remember, the police even brought in people to investigate if it had been a terrorist attack."
"She brings up a good point," Musa said. "With the whole city ready to blow and us apparently not going anywhere, they might think they can afford to wait things out."
"Still doesn't make me feel better," the Dominian princess admitted. Then her phone rang and she picked it up. "Hello, this is Bloom. Oh, hello Roxy. How can I help you? You did what? While sleeping? Yeah, that does sound weird. We'll come over right away." She ended the call.
"What's going on?" Techna asked.
"It's Roxy. Apparently, those dream messages are getting a bit insistent," Bloom cryptically replied.
...
"Those are some pretty cool pictures you made," Techna said impressed, studying one of the four pencil drawings Roxy had handed to them, after they had found a place to sit outside. It and its three companion pieces all depicted a house in the middle of a forest from different angles.
"I wouldn't say I made them," Roxy commented. "I can't draw that well. Something made me do it while I was sleeping."
"So what exactly happened?" Flora inquired.
"I heard a voice in my sleep. Again," Roxy stated. "Still hard to hear, mind you."
"Faragonda once used a ritual to help me strengthen that connection. Maybe we could use that on you," Bloom speculated.
"Let's keep rituals out of this for now," the pink-haired girl insisted. "Anyway, so I wake up by my desk, having apparently left my bed at some point in order to draw these pictures."
"No doubt they're all of the same place," Aisha noted. "Do they seem familiar to you, Roxy?"
"Nope."
"Great. More questions that will need answers," Musa complained, pinching the bridge of her nose. "So what exactly do we do with this?"
"Well, it seems important," Bloom noted. "If we just had a clue who was contacting Roxy and why, we might even be able to tell why she was made to draw these."
"Maybe whomever it is lives there," Techna suggested. "We should probably check around."
"Presuming, of course, it's even nearby," Musa noted. "There's no guarantee it's even anywhere in California."
"Or America, for that matter," Roxy noted. "That could be in Italy for all we know."
"Which would make it impossible for us to find without more info," Bloom agreed. "I know. But let's try to be optimistic and see if we can find anything resembling this in the area."
"With that much forest in the background, I would suggest it's in one of the national parks," Roxy said. "There's probably not a lot of housing in those areas, so that should narrow things down."
"And if we find this place, then what?" Musa inquired.
Stella turned to Roxy. "Well, it's, like, your head that keeps getting messed with. What do you want?"
The pink-haired girl rubbed her chin. "You know what? I say we go there. I want to know who or what is messing with my head. And you girls are currently my best bet at finding out what's going on."
"The Black Circle still hasn't contacted you, I take it," Musa dryly commented.
"You wouldn't think I was hard to miss," Roxy responded, dashing a lock of her hair with her hand. "I kinda stand out with this."
"Just so we are certain, you are sure these are a result of the dream message and not your own skill?" Flora asked. "I am not accusing you of lying, but I would rather not have us go on a wild goose chase." She paused, before adding with a hint of sharpness: "Been on one too many of those in my time."
"You're still mad about us deciding to look for Granny in Cloud Tower while Fancypants was in control, aren't you?" Techna asked.
"It was a stupid, risky and highly unnecessary move on our part."
"I'm not even going to ask," Roxy sighed. "Anyway, to test it out, I tried copying the drawings. This is what came out." She held up a piece of paper.
The girls stared.
"Is that, like, a spider?" Stella asked.
"No, those are udders. It's a cow," Techna said.
"Actually, I suspect it is a bush," Flora commented. "Look how it is rooted to the ground."
"Rooted? I thought it was leaking oil," Aisha added surprised. "You know, like it was a machine of some sort."
"I rest my case," Roxy finished, folding her attempted drawing again.
...
It took the better of three days before they found anything and even then, mostly thanks to Techna's internet friends. What they found was that the house and grounds lay in Angeles National Forest and served as a lodging option for tourists, overseen by a park ranger named Donald Baston. After some phone calls and planning, the girls finally decided to spend a weekend going there to see if they could find out what the point of Roxy's dream was, under the pretence of considering a camping trip to the park. This of course meant renting a vehicle for the trip. And with the group's still kinda meagre economy, they soon ran into a small issue.
"There's no way we're all fitting into that," Brandon stated, as he looked at the rented van. "Heck, just for you girls it'll be a squeeze."
"Would be sad if we all piled in and then immediately crashed because the driver didn't have any elbow room," Nabu remarked. He was still walking with a bit of a limp. "As much as it pains me to say it, we might have to, you know, split up for now."
"I can already tell this will go well," the squire muttered.
"I'm sorry, but the quicker we find out what Roxy is dreaming about, the better," Bloom argued. "And if we have to choose, well, no offence, but we are the ones educated in magic after all."
"And with these new handy dandy rings Mirta made, I think we can handle ourselves," Techna remarked, holding up her hand.
"It does seem to be the best solution given current circumstances," Flora stated. "What about you, Mirta? Do you intend to come along?"
"No. I think it's better that I stay behind and keep searching through that book," the redhead replied. "Besides, Helia has invited me on a trip to a local museum. So there's that. Unless you really need my help?"
Flora mulled it over. "No. I actually prefer having you as far away from any potential danger as possible."
"Well, good luck then," Sky said, as the girls entered the van. "We'll keep an eye on Gardenia while you're gone."
The van hummed to life and drove out of the parking lot, as the boys waved to them. Techna sat behind the wheel, using a mixture of skill and magic to steer the vehicle with ease.
"Remember, be careful," Bloom said anxiously from one of the back seats. "You don't have a driver's license that will work here on Earth."
"Firetop, I don't have a driver's license, period," Techna cheerfully replied. "Those things are frickin' expensive in Zenith. I learned to drive by riding rusty hulks around the junkyards."
"Hey, I think I, like, forgot something. Can I get off?" Stella nervously asked. "Like, right now?"
"What's wrong, Stella?" Musa asked. "Scared Techna can't handle it?"
A bump went through the car, shaking the girls around.
"Hey, watch the potholes," Roxy stated. "We don't want this thing falling apart."
"Sorry. I'm not used to these damn things having wheels," the scarred girl explained. "Everything I've ridden have used hover technology."
"Hover technology? What, do you all have jetpacks too?" Roxy asked sceptically.
"Well, Techna did invent some recently," Aisha stated. "So now we do."
"But of course," the pink-haired girl sighed.
"It is going to take a while," Flora mentioned, sitting in the seat next to Techna. "We will probably be spending the entire day on this mission."
"If we're lucky," Techna said. She paused for a second. "So, Pumpkin and Poet are getting along really well."
"Poet? I take it you have given that name to Helia," Flora said. "But yes. They do have a lot in common, after all. They are both very gentle souls and I am relieved to know they are not coming with us."
"Heh. Sounds like you're getting along well with Helia too."
"Of course. He is a good person with many admirable qualities and his artistry is moving." The brunette paused. "Any particular reason for this line of inquiry?"
"Maybe. Not sure yet. Just thinking right now," Techna replied. "I'll get back to you if it's anything."
Flora observed the scarred girl for a few seconds, before shrugging and returning her attention to the road.
"So, what exactly can we expect to find?" Roxy asked the others. "The person who's been contacting me?"
"It is a possibility," Bloom answered. "Daphne, my sister, managed to show me a place thanks to Emanuela. The place she could manifest. If our situations are that similar, perhaps that place was important to the person."
"But that would really be a big coincidence," Musa remarked. "Honestly, I don't think we should expect anything. Least of all answers."
"Well, aren't you just all sunshine and rainbows," Stella remarked.
"Look, I'm just saying that if it was going to be that easy, I think Roxy would have gotten a clearer message by now," the musician stated. "The place might be important and it might help. But it might just as well raise even more questions."
"There is truth in what she says," Aisha added.
"Great. I can see how all of this magic hullabaloo is going to be a barrel of laughs," Roxy sighed and leaned back into her seat.
...
A couple of kilometres behind the girls drove another car, its sunroof open. This was not only to help the passengers remain cool, but also to provide entry.
Anagan leaned out of the backseat window and looked to the skies. "He's coming down again. Keep it steady, Gantlos."
The blond, who was driving the car, gave a grunt of confirmation and focused.
A seagull gently dove through the sunroof and landed on the free spot in the back, before resuming human shape.
"Anything to report?" Ogron, who was riding shotgun, asked.
"Everything seems normal so far, boss. It really does look like they're just going on a field trip," Dumon remarked. "Which would make absolutely no sense."
"Maybe if they thought they were rid of us," Anagan remarked. "But why in the world would they think that?"
"No clue." Ogron stroked his goatee and sighed. "None of this adds up. They're here for the fairy and they managed to get her. Yet they've stayed here for a month. And now it seems like they're going on vacation."
"Sounds to me like finding the fairy was only part of their job," Gantlos grunted. "And they're just looking like happy campers to keep up appearance."
"If that's really the case, that raises a whole ton of more questions," Anagan remarked. "Like, what could they possibly still have to find or do?"
"It must somehow be related to Roxy," Ogron posited. "And in turn, it might be related to how Roxy managed to remain hidden from us for so long. Could it all truly be connected? And if it is, to what?"
"Well, the only ones who could tell us are the girls. And I doubt they're willing to share, boss," Dumon remarked.
"I know. For now, let us continue following them. We don't need them to tell us if we can just see out what they're out here for," Ogron remarked.
"And what if it really is just a vacation?" Gantlos asked.
"Then they have still chosen to separate from their allies, giving us the perfect opportunity to stop them," Ogron remarked.
"Well, then I better go keep an eye on them again," Dumon remarked and transformed back into a bird, before flying out through the sun roof.
...
The ride took a couple of hours. But in the girls' opinion, it was worth it. Angeles National Forest was a beautiful area, full of wild flora and fauna. Only downside, other than the heat, was the bumpy road, resulting in the group arriving feeling somewhat shaken and stirred.
They arrived at the lodging place overseen by Mr. Baston. It consisted of a main building made of logs that looked quite old, as well as several more modern looking cabins for tourists. They were surrounded by grass covered ground and the stumps of several recently cut down trees, which were further surrounded by a fence, which had been taken down in one end. From the equipment in the area, it seemed like they were getting ready to expand.
"Finally. I feel like my bones were about to be rattled apart," Musa groaned, as she jumped out of the parked van.
"Hey, don't look at me. Not my fault they decided to have roads be au natural out here," Techna said, as she jumped out and locked the door.
"I'm just happy to get some fresh air," Aisha said. "The ventilation in that van was not optimal for that many people."
"Ehm, Aisha. There tots wasn't any ventilation in that van. Trust me," Stella explained.
The princess of Tides mulled that over for a second. "Well, I suppose that does explain the stuffy atmosphere."
"So, Roxy, does this place mean anything?" Bloom asked. "Any particular feelings? Can you sense anything?"
The pink-haired girl stood for a moment and looked around. "No, not really. I mean, this is the place from the drawings. That much is clear, but if there is anything special here, then... Well, I'm just not getting it."
"So what do we do now that divine inspiration has failed to strike Roxy like lightning from clear skies?" Musa asked.
"I suggest we find Mr. Baston," Flora said. "We did set up a meeting and we can get a tour of the area, maybe we will come across something that will trigger something in Roxy. After all, it is possible that the vision just indicated a starting point."
"Great. More vagueness and uncertainty," Roxy sighed annoyed. "Alrighty then. Let's go see if a jog around the tourist trap will do anything for me."
The group followed the dirt path to the cabin and knocked on the front door. After a few seconds, a voice around the corner of the building asked: "Alright, what can I do for you?"
The girls turned.
"Mr. Baston?" Flora inquired.
"Yep," the man said. He was thin and wiry with a notable suntan. A prim black moustache marked his face and he had an axe slung over his shoulder. "So, who are you?"
"I am Bloom Peterson and these are my friends," Bloom said and gestured to the others. "I called a couple of days ago regarding a tour of the area."
"Ah, the campers. Sure, just follow me," Baston said, as he walked over to a large barn like building. "We can start with the storage shed, since I have to put the axe down for this. The main building and barn are actually very old. From around the beginning of the 20th century if I remember. Lots of settlers back then due to the completion of some of the major highways. Excuse me a second." He opened the door to the shed and placed the axe within. "This place was originally set up for logging. 'Course, that fell through when they declared the area a state forest. The buildings remained unused for a while, before being converted into a mixture of ranger station and tourist cabins. We still use it for some logging, when we clear out fallen trees and such. Or, as is the case right now, when we decide to expand the place a little. The tourist cabins were built around the sixties, I think. They've been upgraded now and then ever since to live up to standards. Last time was 'round the turn of the millennia, if memory serves. Now, over here we have the..."
"So, anything yet?" Bloom quietly asked Roxy.
"Well, it's kinda interesting. That's about it," the pink-haired girl admitted. "No magical senses or anything like that."
"I probably should be mad if this all turns out to be a dead end," Musa remarked. "But eh, whatever, I'm having fun."
...
About half an hour later, Baston finished his story. "And that concludes that. So what do you all think?"
"I think the place sounds lovely," Aisha said. "We will definitely consider a vacation to this area."
"Then I've done my job."
"Anything yet?" Bloom quietly and nervously asked Roxy.
"I would have said something if that was the case," the pink-haired hissed back. "So for the tenth time, no. No new memories. No messages. Nothing." She paused. "I'm starting to doubt there was any reason to go here other than just getting out of the house."
"God, I hope the point of it all wasn't that the messenger thought you could use more fresh air," the Dominian princess sighed.
"What about the nearby areas. Anything of note you would recommend visitors to see?" Flora asked.
"Well, there's plenty of animals and nature trails. Got a couple of lakes too." Baston paused. "Also mountains if that's your thing. But that's about it. Not like we have a casino or fairground or anything like that."
"Thank you. That information will probably come in handy." The brunette made a short, courteous bow. "We will be off then."
"Hope to see you all soon," Baston said, as the group headed off.
"So that didn't lead to anything," Musa stated as they walked off to the parking lot. "Oh well, tour was kinda interesting."
"This would be totally easier if that message was clear. This vagueness is, like, really super frustrating," Stella complained.
"And pray tell. What message would that be?" Ogron asked.
The girls stopped.
The four Black Circle members waltzed out from where they had been hiding behind the girls' rented van.
"Okay, gotta ask. How long did you goofs hide behind that thing?" Techna inquired. "Because if you've been sitting there like a group of jack-in-the-boxes just to pull off a dramatic reveal, kudos to you. That's dedication."
"Why thank you," Anagan replied with a bow. "It's so nice to hear that our efforts go appreciated."
Gantlos rolled his eyes.
"As for the message, that's none of your business," Bloom declared.
"You're wrong, Bloom," Ogron stated. "It is my business. I don't know what you and your little commando group has been sent to do, but for the security of Earth, I have to know."
"Commando group?" Roxy asked confused.
"They haven't told you. No big surprise." Ogron shook his head.
"These fairies aren't just a random bunch of yahoos," Dumon stated. "Four of them are nobility, one's related to nobility and the last is a superstar in her home city. And that's just the girls. The entire group has been involved in several major incidents."
"And when exactly was that going to be mentioned?" the pink-haired girl asked a bit annoyed, eyeing Bloom.
"It just didn't seem important," the redhead tried.
"You see, Roxy? These people are hiding a lot of things from you. We only want what is best for Earth's citizens. Cooperating with us is the best way to achieve that," Ogron continued.
"It's their fault Earth is almost a barren magicless wasteland," Musa stated. "We're here to protect you."
"Hey, I've said this before. I don't trust any of you yet," Roxy argued. She paused. "I don't suppose there's a peaceful way to end this?"
"At this point, your new acquaintances would have to be placed in our custody for the time being until this case has been fully investigated," Ogron stated.
"And then, like, what? We get our powers sucked out?" Stella asked.
There was a slight twitch in Ogron's eye. "With the way you have all been behaving over the years? Yes, restrictions on your powers are very likely to..."
Musa immediately fired of a soundwave.
With a quick step, Gantlos got in the way, absorbing the distortion.
"ROXY, GET OUT OF HERE! NOW!" Stella yelled, as she summoned her sceptre.
"Right, I'll get to cover," the pink-haired girl said, as she dashed off.
Dumon charged forward, now in the shape of a giant bear. His massive form came down hard on where Techna had just been. The scarred girl leapt back, the ring on her hand transforming. She raised her pistol and began firing into the raging shapeshifter's flank.
Meanwhile, Gantlos smacked his hands into the ground, causing Bloom and Flora to stumble. He approached, but suddenly snarled, as a burning flare from Stella hit him in the side. He stumbled back, clothes burnt away and the skin beneath red and raw from the heat.
Stella prepared to fire again, but Anagan passed by, smacking his fist into her chin, sending her flying into the grass.
He made a sharp turn and approached Bloom and Flora. The latter noticed the blur and, with practised movements, cast a handful of seeds into the air, which exploded into a cloud of pollen. Anagan was too fast to prevent himself from colliding with it. Sticky, sweet smelling dust clogged up his eyes and nose. He coughed and stumbled as he tried to brake, before ploughing into a tree. "Mutthlflugl," he muttered.
Meanwhile, Techna was knocked to the ground hard, as bear Dumon backhanded her. He got ready to pound her prone form, when suddenly, Aisha blasted him the mouth with a concentrated stream of water, forcing him back.
Flora used this opportunity to charge, her ring transforming into the machete her sister had made. She got ready to attack when Gantlos got in the way, causing the brunette to reflexively swing. It made a clink sound as it impacted harmlessly against the blond's defences.
"Impressive," he muttered, as he eyed the unbroken blade, before taking a couple of swings at the brunette. She stepped back to get out of reach, but Gantlos stomped his foot into the ground, causing a shaking that sent the Limphean noble off balance. Taking the opportunity, he planted his fist in her collarbone, sending her twirling through the air.
Bloom noticed this and began charging her power to burn the blonde. She saw movement out of the corner of her eyes and turned.
Ogron leapt for her, ready to suck the magic out of her.
Panic set in, pushing her flame into overdrive. Without much consideration, she prepared to fire.
The Black Circle leader recognised the look on her face and twisted himself out of the way.
A massive fireball was launched out of her hands, barely missing the redhead, and went sailing through the forest.
Ogron managed to land properly and turned to look after the fireball. Then he turned to Bloom with a furious glint in his eyes. "You idiot girl. Are you trying to burn the entire forest down?"
"Hey, don't you start on accusing me of property damage," Bloom spat back. "People still think a bomb went off in downtown Gardenia because of you four."
Meanwhile, Roxy had gotten back to the cabins and gotten Baston's attention.
"So you're saying your friends are fighting some sort of gang members and you want me to call the police?" he repeated.
"It's a little bit more complicated than that, but I'll explain everything later," Roxy quickly replied. "Just please make the call before something bad happens."
"Well, okay then," the black-haired man said and began digging into his pockets.
Suddenly, a great fireball swooshed in over the fence and collided with the big storage shed. There was a deafening sound, a wave of hot air and then a quarter of the building was on fire.
"HOLY HELL!" Baston exclaimed, dropping his phone. "Oh no, quick, grab one of the extinguishers. If the fire spreads, we'll have a regular inferno on our hands."
"This is exactly what I was afraid would happen," Roxy panickingly exclaimed, before following the park ranger.
He handed her an extinguisher before saying: "I'll call for firefighters. Start spraying on everything that is one fire and I'll be with you in a second."
"Roger," Roxy said and ran over to the now almost completely engulfed building. She bit her lip as she began spraying the white foam on everything, but it all seemed like drops in a barrel. The wood inside the shed was already smouldering, the walls were falling apart and a thick plume of smoke rose to the skies.
The heat and the light made it hard for the pink-haired girl to see, but she did her best anyway.
And that's when she saw it. A strange glimmer in the fire. Suddenly, it flared brightly and all the fire around it went out. It wasn't enough to put out the building, but it enabled Roxy to see what was shimmering.
A white ring lay in the ashes, its ivory surface untouched by grime or dirt. And Roxy suddenly knew that ring was why she was here. Without even considering it, she reached through the ruined wall, grabbed the ring and pulled it out.
And then it started raining.
Roxy blinked and looked around.
Aisha stood nearby, eyes closed in concentration. Baston stood behind her, having found his phone, though now more busy staring slack jawed than calling anybody. The other girls had also gathered, watching with tension as the princess of Tides worked hard to contain the blaze. Above the burning building, clouds kept gathering and showering it in water. The moment the building was drenched and the last fire went out, she stopped. She admired her work for a few seconds, before stumbling from exhaustion. Musa immediately stepped forward and caught her.
"That was close," Bloom sighed.
"You see now?" Ogron asked, as he and his companions entered the area. "You're dangerous. You're reckless. And every time you slip up, you bring pain to others."
"WOULD YOU SHUT UP ALREADY!" Bloom yelled. "And you're perfect then, huh? It's all our fault that people are talking on TV about mass hysteria, because that's the only way they can explain why there's so many claims of people seeing a pterodactyl?"
"We only escalate when it is necessary. And your group has proven to be too dangerous not to apply force to. Why do you think I offered you all the chance to leave?" Ogron asked, a hint of venom in his voice. "The Black Circle applies force as necessary. We're like a scalpel, precise and calculated, whereas you lot just fling magic in all directions, hoping for the best. You're more like an attempt at smacking flies with a mallet."
"How about we start by smacking you?" Musa growled. "How many magi have you stolen their magic from? How many kids have grown up unable to realise their potential because you sealed their magic away? How many, huh?"
"As many as was necessary," the redhead replied.
"I have no clue what's going on anymore," Baston mumbled.
"ALL OF YOU, SHUT UP!" Roxy yelled, getting everybody's attention.
And then she saw something on Ogron's face she hadn't seen before. Shock.
"Boss, isn't that...?" Dumon began, pointing at the white ring.
"Yes. Yes, it is," Ogron replied.
"So that's what they were looking for," Gantlos commented.
"Roxy, listen," the redhead tried. "Put that thing down. It's not as harmless as it might seem."
"No, you listen to me," Roxy shot back. "This fight is over. You leave now, or I swear to God, I will find some way to activate this... This thing."
The Black Circle members looked at each other.
"I don't think I'll be fast enough," Anagan admitted.
"No choice then," Gantlos grumbled.
"Alright, Roxy. We'll leave," Ogron said. He held up his hand and the dark rings of the group glowed. And then they were gone.
"Would somebody mind telling me what just happened?" Baston asked confused.
"Well, you see..." Bloom slowly began.
"Oh no, you don't. I'll tell him," Roxy interrupted. "Apparently, that's the only way this poor man is going to get a straight answer." Bloom looked a bit hurt at that remark, as the pink-haired explained: "Look, the short version is that magic is real. And that these girls and another group of magical people are fighting each other. And for some reason, I'm really important. I know that doesn't explain a lot and there's a lot I still don't know. But I do intend to find out. I'm sorry about the shed. I came here to find this, though I don't know why yet." She looked at the white ring. "But had I known what it would have led to, I would probably just not have bothered to begin with. I'm really sorry."
Baston placed a hand on her shoulder. "Don't be. I appreciate your honesty, even if it means not being able to give me all the answers. I hope you find what you're searching for." He turned and looked at the smoking shed. "Though I'll probably have to write this one off as a freak accident of nature. Lighting and rain. Only way I'll ever be believed."
"Probably for the best," the Earth fairy admitted.
A little while later, the rented van drove away, silence reigning inside.
Only an hour later, while they were still on the highway did Roxy speak up: "So when were you guys being royalty and heroes going to be relevant?"
"For fuck's sake," Musa groaned. "Okay, listen up. We came here to save you. Because we believed keeping you safe and away from the Black Circle was the right thing to do. It doesn't matter if Bloom's the princess of Domino or that Flora is a member of a Limphean noble family. None of that means jack shit, because we're here on our own initiative. You can believe whatever you want, but I for one am real tired of being second guessed all the time. We didn't have to be here, you know? We actually had an education that we interrupted, just to try to save your ass. And if we hadn't been here, you'd probably already had your magic sealed away. You should be..."
"MUSA!" Flora loudly stated. "Calm. Down. It is not helping."
"Whatever," the musician growled and looked out the window with folded arms.
Awkward silence filled the car once again.
"So if we're done tearing each other's throats out, what's up with that ring?" Techna asked. "Because Draino practically shat his pants when he saw it. And let me tell you, that makes me nervous."
"I have no clue. I just wanted you all to stop fighting before somebody got hurt. Especially poor Mr. Baston," Roxy sighed and stared at the ivory artefact. "But I sense that I have a connection to it. Somehow."
"It looks very much like the rings the Black Circle wear," Aisha observed. "Except it's white, of course."
"Could it be, like, linked to the White Circle?" Stella asked, "They were tots important back in the day."
"Hopefully Roxy's dreams will give us further clues," Flora said.
There was another pause.
"Roxy... Do you really not trust us?" Bloom quietly asked.
The pink-haired girl sighed and rubbed her temples. "Bloom, I have nothing against you as a person. You seem nice enough. But this is big for me, okay. Really big. This changes everything. I don't feel I can afford to be too trusting. You've all been nice to me and that's great. Even the grumpy one over there," she said, motioning to Musa.
The musician's seat creaked as her grip around its edge tightened.
"Well, then she's got something in common with Grumpy," Techna mentioned. She paused as a faint sound of crackling static emanated from Musa. "Now, now, Cacophony, we like you just the way you are."
"But to get back to my point, Bloom, I don't mean this personally," Roxy continued. "Maybe it all seemed clear to you, but I'm not going to throw away my life as I know it just because you all seem nice. If you're really sacrificing that much, just go home. It's okay."
The Dominian princess sat in silence. "No," she stated. "I'll stay and help you figure this out. I think... I think I'm beginning to understand, though."
Roxy looked at her for a moment. "I'm glad you do," she said and turned around to look out the front window. "Because something tells me we're not done having problems." She looked down at the white ring. "I wonder... What secrets do you hide?"
...
The next day, the girls and boys decided to relax by going to the concert at the Frutti Music Bar that Andy had mentioned.
As Taking Back November blared on stage, the group enjoyed a variety of drinks.
"I just don't get how we can possibly convince her at this point," Musa groaned, as she put her drink down. "Every single thing we say is met with a wall of scepticism."
"Maybe once she learns how dangerous the Black Circle is?" Timmy suggested.
"They're already admitting they are ripping the magic out of people. How much worse do they need to be?" the black-haired musician asked exasperated.
"I tots think we should forget about that for now," Stella suggested. "Because, like, I'm more curious about that ring right now ."
"If what you suggested about it being linked to the White Circle is true, that does raise questions about Roxy," Nabu said. "Does she have a connection to the White Circle? And if so, what kind? After all, there must be a reason that she of all people is being contacted."
"Maybe it really is just because she's Earth's last fairy," Aisha said.
"But then, who is contacting her?" Brandon asked. "I don't like it. I'm starting to feel like we're getting involved in something big."
"Yeah. As per usual," Riven said. "I mean, original mission was just to get the fairy off the planet. Now... Fuck, I don't even know any longer."
"It has become rather messy. Hopefully Roxy will get more messages soon," Helia said. "It does seem that she is the key to unlocking this mystery."
"Alright, enough of that," Bloom interrupted. "Let's just... Enjoy our drinks, okay. I think my mind needs some rest before it snaps in half again." She paused to take a sip of her smoothie. "The last thing we need right now is having me rushed off to the psych ward."
The group sat in silence for a little while, enjoying the relaxing atmosphere.
"Wow. You all look beat," Mitzi said, as she approached the group. "Rough week?"
"Yep," Bloom sighed. "So, here on your own?"
"Nope. I'm with Darma and Sally," the bespectacled girl said, pointing to a nearby table with her thumb. At the table sat a redhead in a tanktop and a girl with long, purple-coloured hair, who waved once they noticed the attention. "Andy came down to the school to get as many people as possible to show up. He's really trying to make it big."
"You think he will?" Bloom asked.
"If they start doing a bit more original work and less covers. Maybe." Mitzi shrugged. "But who really knows." She paused and stared. "Ehm... Techna, was it? Didn't you have more teeth last we met?"
"Five more to be specific," the scarred girl replied and smiled, showing off the notable gap. "I got really unlucky a couple of weeks ago, that's all."
"You lot really are accident prone, aren't you," Mitzi sighed. "Then again, the whole city seems to have become accident prone."
"What do you mean?" Bloom asked.
"I mean that your parent's house got wrecked by a flash mob twice, we've had hooligans setting off explosives twice in as many months and at my Halloween party, somebody almost blew me to kingdom come with fireworks." She shrugged. "And that's just off the top of my head."
The group tried to look comfortable and not at all awkward.
"Anyway, this is the point where I'd usually come up with some snarky comment about you, but honestly, I don't like kicking you when you're down, Bloom," she continued. "So I'll just wish you a good evening and hope that the coming week will be easier on you."
"Me too," Bloom mumbled.
The evening continued on. The group didn't talk much. It felt better not to. But though they did feel sombre about it all, as they left, they did feel that the collective weight of all that had happened had lifted, even if only slightly.
"I could tots use a couple more days like this," Stella said and yawned. "I'm beat."
"I concur," Musa mumbled.
"Hey, Bloom," Andy called, as he ran up to them. "Bloom. You'll never guess what happened."
"Probably not. What is it, Andy?" Bloom asked, as Sky began studying a nearby hedge.
"A talent agent came by after we were done playing. Told me to give him a call." Andy stared with awe at a card he was holding. "This could be big."
"Did he say what he wanted you to call him for?" Musa asked.
"Well, no... But he's a talent agent. It's gotta be good," Andy insisted. He started listing of all the things he imagined and the group listened. Not all of them knew Andy in any meaningful way and not all of them were really interested in his music. But just listening to the very happy young man and his dreams felt relaxing.
Perhaps things weren't so bad in Gardenia after all.
