Disclaimer: I don't own the Winx Club but the original ideas and plot are my own.

IMPORTANT: After posting the previous chapter, I had reservations about a particular action of Riven's. When a few reviewers commented on the same issue, I went back and reread it. Agreeing with them and my instincts, I decided to rewrite that scene but instead of making you all go back and reread the previous chapter, I've put it at the start of this one.

Part Seven

When Musa found Riven, he was hunkered down beside a tree, his nimble fingers twisting a vine in a knot. She folded her arms across her chest – fiercely reminded of when she and Riven had first come into the swamp. It felt like years had passed, instead of a few hours. Surely Faragonda was worried about them. No one had intended on being gone so long, curfew must have passed in the dorms of Alfea.

Riven didn't look up at her arrival, but she knew he was aware of her presence. Nothing sneaked up on him.

'So you set a trap for Stormy?'

He didn't answer but continued to fiddle with the vine. Not too far away a stream trickled by and a mud puddle bubbled and gurgled. She could hear the hiss of a spider that had to be close or the swamp would have swallowed its noise, and a frog croaked. She rubbed her arms warm, suddenly finding the isolation and quiet of the swamp chilling.

She tapped her foot as Riven continued to futter with the trap. 'Will you disassemble them before you leave?' Flora would be furious if an innocent creature happened to be captured by his manmade traps.

Again no response, and Musa felt her temper prickle. She had begun to warm to Riven, to see a side of him that she genuinely liked, now he was back to being a pompous prick. It was annoying; she had changed her perception of him, had reached out the hand of friendship and Riven had seemed to take it, but was now tossing it away.

She shivered and blew out a breath, hunching her shoulders.

'Why don't you power down?'

Because powering down would leave her relatively defenceless? She bit back the urge to snap at him because that never achieved anything with Riven.

'It would waste more energy,' she muttered instead, but she was getting tired of explaining her lack of energy. Fairies weren't all powerful. They had a limit and she was reaching hers. If she changed to civilian form, she would have no energy to transform back into Winx. She knew the extent of her powers, had learnt through tireless classes and tasks at Alfea. It bugged her that Riven constantly questioned her. She never challenged his training, unless he was being stubborn.

Her head felt woozy and her body was beginning to ache from the pressure of holding onto her energy. Music would help. Music would drown out the lack of noise, the strange eeriness of the swamp and Riven's complete inability to converse like a civilised being. She slipped an earbud into her ear and indulged. It was like a hit of euphoria, a delightful distraction that raised the hair on her arms. It curled inside her, feeding the tendrils of magic seeking sustenance but it wasn't enough. Not for this amount of deprivation. A quick glance up assured her that the moon was beginning to peek through the thick canopy. Stella would be fine and despite the dormant earth, Flora would soak up energy from the nature around her. Her girls were safe.

Riven yanked on the knot, checked that it was secure before releasing it as he stood up. He turned to face her and his expression darkened further.

'What now?' she asked, running a hand over her neck and tugging out the earbud.

'Why so much skin?' His voice was flat, his face expressionless but for the muscle flickering in his jaw.

She looked down at herself and shrugged. Okay, she was a little underdressed by normal standards but no more than the other girls.

'It's just the Enchantix, Riven. Why do you have such a problem with it? It's no different to your skin-tight spandex suit! The other girls are dressed the exact same, why don't you bother them about it?'

He was making her feel awkward in her own skin and she didn't like it. She spent enough time worrying about what she was wearing and what she looked like. Trousers were more comfortable for her but she had always envied the other girls for looking so pretty in their Winx.

'It's not you,' he growled. 'You don't dress like that.'

'How do you know?' Her breath was beginning to clog in her lungs as her face burned. 'Did it ever occur to you that I might want to look pretty for a change? That maybe I'm fed up being the tomboy fairy, always treated like one of the guys?'

Riven's fists clenched. 'Your other outfit looked better!'

Well, wasn't that a slap in the face. She naively thought he'd notice her in this outfit, but it didn't matter what she wore, Riven was determined to dislike her. She sucked in her hurt and sniffed, propping her hands on her hips as she channelled all her temper into her glare.

'Well I like it, and I'm the one that's wearing it, not you. It's the final form for a Guardian Fairy, so you can either go around with your eyes closed when you're stuck with us or stop coming along with us altogether. I'm not changing.'

Riven went still and that muscle worked in his jaw. 'That's your final form?' he voiced, hoarsely. 'Nothing after.'

She jerked a shoulder. Honestly, unsure. She was going by hearsay but with Bloom as a friend, anything could happen. They were already in line to graduate earlier than the rest of their peers.

'It's dangerous Musa. Don't you know the kinds of people that are out there?'

She sighed and gestured to herself. 'This means I can fight off anyone that attacks me.' She had already defeated Darcy, something she wouldn't have had a hope of doing in her Level one form.

Riven went still and then his eyebrows knitted over narrowed eyes. Slowly he looked at her and as he straightened, he walked to her, menace rolling off him in almost visible ways. 'So,' he mused, his tone darkening, 'you're saying that if someone attacked you right now, you'd be able to fight them off?'

Her chin jolted up. Damn right she could fight them off, she was a fairy – except her energy was down to the final drop in the well. 'Well, not right now –'

He moved fast, suddenly appearing in front of her. Rough, calloused hands grazed her shoulders before clamping tight.

She froze; stared up at him. 'What are you doing?'

Riven never touched her, not unless he absolutely had to – like earlier when he'd been saving her life.

He shook her and her wings quivered.

'I'm holding you right now,' he said, 'and there's nothing you can do to defend yourself.'

Wait, what? Why on earth would she defend herself against Riven?

She caught his meaning and blew out a breath, ready to growl at him that he'd made his stupid point when he walked her back against a tree. The rough bark pressed into her skin, nipping and scratching at it; her wings spread wide.

'Come on, defend yourself.'

Musa shook her head, trying to shrug him off. 'Riven, stop. I get it –'

He was immovable as he held her firmly by the shoulders. 'I said, defend yourself.'

Annoyed with him and his ornery attitude, Musa lifted her foot to stomp on his toes but he moved, preventing her attack.

Musa scowled, but her heart was beating wildly in her chest, in her ears, pulsing at her throat. When her eyes met his she expected to see a flicker of arrogance, a smug smirk. Riven's expression wasn't obnoxious; it was deadly serious and that frightened her.

'I get it. Now let go.'

'There are dangers out there other than the Trix. You rely on flashy fairy powers that don't protect you, and instead you invite more danger.'

'Let. Me. Go.'

'You know I won't hurt you.' He forced out the words, daring her to deny them. She knew he wouldn't but that didn't mean she liked knowing that he could. Riven was taller than her and stronger. She'd never seen that as a threat before and she didn't like seeing it now. This boy had helped save her against the Succubae bats, and she knew that he was being pig-headed to make his point, but her fight or flight instincts were screaming.

'But what's to stop another from overpowering you?' Riven continued, his tone forcing her to face his words.

Musa swallowed, her mouth dry. She had to peel her tongue from the roof of her mouth before she could speak again. 'Please, let me go.'

He abruptly released her with a heavy exhalation but he didn't back off, instead he loomed over her, silently demanding his answers.

She wanted to step away. She wanted to pace, to gather composure, and align her thoughts. Her head felt messy, there was too much noise in her brain and her whole body was like an exposed wire, fritzing and sizzling. She closed her eyes, depriving her body of one sense to help calm the others. She could smell the earthy scent from his uniform, from the time he'd spent on the ground, and the indefinable scent that just made her think of Riven - maybe it was his cologne. She could hear his breathing, thought she could feel each exhale feathering her hair. There was even the faintest brush of heat from his body. The boy was a walking, talking distraction. He was also a friend, a protector. His actions were meant to help her; he just approached it wrong.

She lifted a hand to her temple and rubbed slowly. The tree bark was imprinted on her skin, cool and hard. The air was warm and dry, any moisture having been greedily sucked up by the sleeping plants. Musa forced herself to focus on these, calming herself.

'There's a spell,' she began, exposing a secret only fairies knew, 'a glamour that's part of being a fairy. If someone were to physically reach for me, their hands would be deflected. Most don't even think to try physical force because of the repellent infused with the glamour. I told you, this,' she gestured to the outfit, all poufy cloth, bright colours and sparkly wings, 'is to be visually distracting; it's not armour.'

Riven snorted. 'Well it doesn't work. I can touch you and I'm not repelled from thinking about it.'

Her gaze snapped up, fury searing him. 'It does work.'

Riven's hand clamped to her waist, a rough brand that almost sank into the soft flesh, and those purple eyes of his locked on hers. 'How am I able to do that? Your costume isn't acting as a barrier now, Musa, and no other guy is going to see it as anything but an invitation! You're pretty, guys will notice.'

Yeah, it had worked so well with Riven. He was all but falling over himself noticing her.

Musa silently seethed, visualising all the spells she could inflict on Riven once she had her powers back.

'I told you, they won't touch me.'

'I'm touching you right now.' His exasperation ramped up the temper in his tone and he shoved a hand through his hair. 'There's nothing to stop me.'

'That's because I trust you,' Musa snapped; face hot, her voice throbbing. 'I trust you,' she repeated, on a shaky breath.

Riven dropped his hand and backed away so fast he nearly tripped. He looked like she'd physically slapped him. Musa sighed and pushed away from the tree, taking a few steps so that she could finally breathe. Her face felt hot, her skin too tight, her scalp felt strained under her hair and her costume itched. She felt unbearably naked.

She heard a rough curse and turned just in time to see the back of Riven's cloak disappear through the trees. Her eyes closed and she struggled with the emotions that threatened to burst out of her. Her cheeks burned hotter but cold shivers wracked her body. He just left. Didn't he want to question her? Explore what she'd said? Shout at her that he wasn't worthy of trust or tell her that she didn't know him?

Oh.

He – he had said that he wanted the boys trust. Did he think she'd made up that answer to placate him? To charm him? She hadn't even thought of that. She'd just told him the truth. Despite everything, she did trust Riven. He was a decent man and the time spent with him today had proved that.

But he had just left her.

Her hands balled into fists and she considered storming after him, to demand that he acknowledge what she said. That would only drive him away, of course, but why not just put the final nail in the coffin that was their relationship. Nothing had changed during their jaunt through the dark heart. He still didn't like her, they hadn't formed a friendship and nothing deep or meaningful would come from their encounter.

She inhaled deeply and rolled her neck, feeling the pull of muscles as her wings quivered. Well fine, if Riven wanted to go back to being strangers, she could do that. She had worn her heart out chasing him last year, but she had naively thought he just needed to see he was worth something. She knew better now. Riven just wasn't a people person and she deserved better. Her mother had raised her to be more than a cloak chasing bubble-brain.

Despite her bold thoughts, her whole body felt bruised and she couldn't quite prevent the quiver in her limbs. She crouched down in the grass and hugged her knees. Her eyes smarted and she blinked away the burn as she plucked a blade of grass and began to twist it around her finger. She was just so tired. It had been a long day and a lot of things had happened. In a moment, Musa would pick herself up and she would go back to her friends to set things to right.

Well, she'd escort Stormy back to Alfea and then march herself to the infirmary. Which was good, she thought. She had a valid reason not to see Riven again. Tossing the leaf away, she began to rise with a new sense of purpose.

The sound of a hiss behind her made her shoulders slump. She peered over at the spider tentatively scuttling towards her. She stood up, brushed down her hands and sighed.

'I am so not in the mood for this,' she muttered, drawing up the last iota of magic she had and focused it in a blast at the spider. 'Enchantix…' Her vision greyed. She swayed on her feet. 'Boom…' She shakily aimed her faintly glowing hands. 'Blast.' The magic swept out of her leaving her cold and feeble.

Something cried.

There was a thud.

Darkness took her.

'When I get free…'

Stella rolled her eyes and studied her nails critically as she blocked out Stormy's latest threat. With Musa and Riven having left the clearing, Flora and Stella had assumed guarding duties over the youngest member of the Trix. Well Flora had really, Stella was taking the moment to just soak up a little bit of moonlight because any light was good light. She glanced up at the makeshift skylight that Flora had created for her in the weave of branches. Having a Nature fairy as a friend was so helpful.

'Don't ignore me!'

An acrid cloud of purple smoke rose from Stormy's corner and wafted to Stella's boulder. She wrinkled her nose and glanced quickly in Flora's direction. 'Is she burning the vines?'

'She's trying to,' Flora answered, 'but those vines are earthed and your lightning can't burn through them so please stop. You're polluting the air.'

'I will not stop. This is your entire fault! Release me and my sisters won't kill you.'

Stella paused in the act of fixing her glove to raise a slender blonde brow. 'Uh, hello, we did not do this. You and your 'sisters' did this.'

'You imprisoned us.'

Flora gaped obviously gobsmacked by Stormy's utter belief that she was the injured party. Stella merely shook her head. She was used to whiney girls who believed themselves to always be in the right. Her father was attempting to date one.

Ugh. Shudder. Don't even think about it.

Sliding off her moss-covered stone, Stella stalked to the entangled witch and raised a finger to poke her. Lightning sizzled and crackled over the vines. 'Gloves, witch,' she informed Stormy snidely, before leaning close to look into the Storm witch's eyes. 'Now listen up. You are in the wrong. Evil does not get to have take-backsies. You can't turn around after setting the Army of Decay on everything and cry foul, "oops, we were just fooling" does not hold any… water?' she glanced at Flora for clarification.

Flora nodded with a sigh as she too came closer, eyes a brighter green as she enforced her nature powers. 'You did something wrong Stormy, and now you and your sisters have to pay for it.'

'Everyone was undermining us. No one understood our true power.'

'So you rebelled?'

'Sure,' Stormy drawled; turquoise eyes, lined in kohl, widened innocently.

'Pfft.' Stella dismissively waved a hand as she sauntered back to her stone. 'Rebelling is blowing up a lab accidentally on purpose. You guys released the Army of Decay,' she began to count fingers, 'destroyed two schools, enslaved a boy and tried to steal Bloom's Dragon Fire. Yeah, that just deserved a slap on the wrist. The Fortress of light was way harsh on you guys. If you want, I'll go talk to them immediately and you guys can be on your merry way.'

Stella's lips curled in a mega watt grin, all sincerity and niceness until Flora muttered her name and the smile became lethal sharp. 'Oh oops. No can do because you tried to kill my friend.'

'Which one?' Stormy asked, closing her eyes.

Opening her mouth to say Musa, Stella paused. Stormy and the Trix had tried to kill them all at some point. Narrowing her eyes, she scowled at the smirking witch just as those eyes snapped open revealing bright purple lightning.

The reeds surrounding their encampment shivered. There was a faint whistle as leaves rustled.

A strong gale rushed through the trees. Stella tried to jump into the air but the wind slammed her into a tree, holding her there.

Flora grabbed a branch and spun into a crouch, slamming her hand into the ground. Vines shot up into the air forming an impenetrable wall, cutting off the tempest. Stella dropped to the hard baked earth and threw a ball of light. The blinding flash broke the witch's concentration and the howling wind disappeared.

'I keep forgetting her wind powers,' Stella grumbled, dusting herself off as she glared at their prisoner. 'You try that again and we'll see how you like the touch of my Enchantix powder.' It wouldn't do anything serious but it might tickle enough to scare her. Maybe all that good magic might burn her. Stella wasn't sure she cared enough to worry about the effects.

'Release me,' Stormy growled.

'No,' Flora said. 'You are going back to the Fortress of Light to be tried for crimes against us and Magix, and also the criminal act of importing Succubae bats out of their natural environment.'

Stormy chuckled drily. 'That was all Icy's doing. She thought they might like a vacation. They're perfect fairy deterrents.'

Flora stomped her foot. 'They're endangered creatures whose natural habitat is not a forest but a cave.'

'We fed them and kept them in a cool, dry place. They were fine.'

Flora made a noise of frustration as she stalked to the corner of their clearing, glancing off in the direction Riven and Musa had gone. Stella sighed and hoisted herself back onto her stone. She wondered if Bloom and the others had tracked down the other members of the Trix. She knew they could fight them but Icy was tricky. They wouldn't face the girls one on one, no they'd find somewhere to hide and then take them out one at a time.

Looking to the sky, she prayed that Brandon and the others would be okay; then she scowled at Stormy, rolling a chunk of furry moss through her fingers. She rubbed her fingertips together and stretched out her legs, exposing as much skin to the moonlight as she could.

Out of the corner of her eye, she noticed Flora's wings suddenly stop beating as the girl froze to utter stillness. 'Flora?'

Flora shook her head and glanced over at the imprisoned Witch, the vine ropes clenching a little tighter. 'I'm going to go check on Musa. You'll be okay with her, won't you?'

Shifting a little with the moving beams of moonlight, Stella considered the question, then nodded. 'We'll be fine together.'

The Nature fairy seemed torn for a moment, then with a flick of her hand, a large leaf uncurled from the vines and snuck over Stormy's mouth, firmly covering it. 'I'll remove it when I get back but consider it a safety feature,' she told the Witch before she flew down the path.

Stella watched until Flora's pink clothes disappeared. Riven had probably done something to Musa, or maybe Flora had sensed the portal opening. Surely Faragonda had got their message and was getting ready to rescue them. If she wasn't…

The blonde haired fairy looked around uneasily. She'd never even considered it, but as she studied the thick shadows and ominous twisted branches, the hollowed out faces etched into tree trunks, she wondered if it was possible for the Trix to have snuck around. If so, she was a sitting duck out here on her own. She sprang to her feet and shook her head, moving to stand beside a tree close to the exit Flora had followed. If they did attack, she would rush out to meet Flora and Musa and release a few solar flares. She just had to keep reminding herself, they out numbered the Trix and there was help on the way.

And that was when Stella felt a change in the air, the faintest pulse of energy vanished.

'Musa.'

Riven's feet barely made a sound on the stone lined path. Dirt, packed down like hard, brown cement, scuffed softly under his steps and dry, golden rushes brushed his legs, clung to his cloak. He kept his fingers loose but firm around his sword hilt as he prowled the route to where he suspected his squad might be. He wanted out of the Swamp; his skin itched – a noticeable prickle that couldn't be relieved.

The blade of his sword flared a brighter indigo as it sensed the presence of magic. He crouched down and swept the area with his sharp gaze. Nothing moved behind him, he heard no snap of twigs and while the canopy was dense, nothing floated above him. A good Specialist always scanned the skies; there was too much danger that could attack from above.

Noise came from further down the path; the sharp snap of branches, the buzz of magic and a rhythmic thud that sounded like digging, or beheading. He wasn't really sure which he'd prefer. Headless Bloom or buried Bloom… both sounded great to him.

Not that it would happen.

Keeping low, he crept forward, parting the foliage before him and peering through. A sharp hill veered down towards a valley where a large stone cylinder lay horizontally in the base of the 'V'. His knee pressed against the moss-covered ground as he knelt, scanning the area. The thud came from below him… behind him?

Riven frowned as the thud echoed and he shifted to look around him, his eyes narrowing. His sword was still glowing, still a sure sign that magic was close. He looked down at the circular tubular construct. There was something wrong with it; it wasn't new, too much ivy had constricted around the stone for it to be something modern, but it was also a hollow tube where something or someone could be hiding. His senses screamed at him to be alert.

Glancing back in the direction he'd come, Riven cursed himself. The Jinx Club were fine; the trio he had collected were probably painting each other's nails and… yeah. They would be fine, the portal would open soon and they'd be back in the safety of Alfea, discussing boys and how pretty they were. His eyes rolled before he could stop his silent scoffing.

Skirting the bush, Riven began a slow, measured trip down the incline, wedging his feet into crevices and holding tight to conveniently growing vines. He was watchful as he approached the base, lined with trees. Just as he was about to lunge to the bottom, a movement caught his eye.

Fairies.

Riven slipped behind a tree and watched as Tecna and Aisha hovered at a 45 degree angle to the cylinder, tilting their heads to look at the opening. Aisha was radiating hostility as she folded her arms and scowled darkly; Tecna was stabbing her inner arm with her finger. He assumed there was a digital device there, or perhaps it was Tecna's brand of self-harm, excessive poking. Who knew with the Jinx club?

Whatever they were doing, it made him wonder where his team were. Where were his fr- teammates? Had the Trix caught them? What would Darcy and Icy do to them?

Nothing. They'd be more interested in Bloom, and Aisha and Tecna would be more concerned if precious Bloom was missing. Everyone was fine. Everyone.

Still, his gut was clenched in a greasy, messy clump of knots and he felt uncomfortable in his own skin. There was magic radiating everywhere and he just wanted to stab his scimitar through it and walk away. Just leave – no. He needed his revenge. He needed closure. Everything else could wait until after that was done. After that, then he could start to redeem himself, make himself worthy.

Aisha swept away from Tecna and flew off behind a group of trees. Pushing his issues aside, Riven followed her, keeping under cover.

She didn't fly far.

'Tecna's not getting a reading,' Aisha said as she landed.

Riven sank down behind a prickly bush and angled his head towards her voice. There was movement and then the heavy sigh as something metal punctured the earth. 'Can't you just blast the barrier?'

Brandon. Riven didn't acknowledge the slight easing of the tightness in his chest. It didn't disappear but somewhere a tiny knot untangled.

'Brandon, I think if that was an option, they would be doing it.'

Timmy. Another knot unravelled.

'You know we can't blast through it.' Aisha's tone was full of bra-burning, fairies-are-the-best superiority. 'That's why you're trying to dig a tunnel. Dragon, where is Faragonda? If we were in serious trouble, we'd be dead by now.'

Even Riven couldn't ignore the panic that was beginning to tinge Bra-burner's voice. For a girl who tended to take on the world with no fear, her concern was alarming. Riven took a deep breath and let it out slowly, counting to ten. He had to be rational, had to think things out. The Trix were nearby and there was a barrier, which Tecna had scanned while she and Aisha had hovered overhead. Brandon and Timmy were digging, probably thinking to get into the Trix's lair from beneath. Which begged the question of where Sky and Bloom were.

No prizes for guessing.

'I'll go check with Tecna again. Maybe she's found something for me to blast.'

With Aisha gone, Riven stepped out from his hiding position and resting his sword on his shoulder, he cocked a hip and studied his squad. Brandon was hunched over his shovel. His shoulders were slumped, defeated. Timmy's tool of choice was a pickaxe, which he used to poke the hard sediment as he shook his head at Brandon. The brunette Specialist shot him a disgruntled look and began to dig again.

'You guys should be more aware of your surroundings.'

Brandon didn't even glance at him as he continued to shovel out the dirt, tossing it on a pile. 'What are you doing here?'

Riven didn't bother to answer that. It was a stupid question delivered in a belligerent tone. He didn't even know why Brandon was in such a bad mood and he didn't care. Riven had enough emotional drama.

'Where's Sky?'

Brandon jerked a thumb behind him while Timmy coughed and quickly jumped into their hole with his pickaxe. The ground around them was worn with strange patches of dried yellow grass grazed low and bare spots of dark brown dirt. A pile of it, mixed with gravel, sand and stone sat to the side.

Riven followed the direction of Brandon's thumb the line of dense foliage as if he could see through it and his lips thinned. 'Is whatshername in there with him?' Stupid question. Where one went, the other did too. 'What are they doing? Sharing a special hand holding moment? What about the Trix? I'm assuming they're in the cement tube and you guys are digging a hole to reach them?' Better to get all the answers now in one fell swoop, though he didn't really care to hear about Sky and Bloom, and their super special fun time.

Brandon sighed and tossed his shovel aside. Immediately it flashed down to a small crystal, tiny enough to sit comfortably in his palm. Plucking it up, he stashed it in his belt as he sat on the edge of the hole and shoved his hair off his face with the side of his wrist. 'Sometimes I wonder why you bother asking when you've already worked out the answer.' At Riven's hard look, he continued. 'We chased Icy and Darcy through the swamp and finally ran them down to that valley and we had them surrounded, but they hid in the bunker.'

'And?' Why didn't they just go in and get them?

'And they've erected barriers and booby traps.' He yanked up his trouser leg and showed Riven a dark gash. 'Bloom's magic was reflected away and it hit Sky so she's trying to heal him now. He's fine, minor burns but he needs some medical attention.'

'Let me phrase the question this way,' Riven sighed. 'Why are you trying to get them out? Just leave them in there until Faragonda and Co arrive.' Really, did he have to draw them diagrams?

'They're casting a translocation spell,' Timmy answered. 'Tecna estimates that it could take an hour to cast and they started casting it fifteen minutes ago. We have forty-five minutes to get in there and stop them.'

'The Templars will be here by then.'

Timmy shook his head, taking off his glasses and wiping them with the corner of his cloak. 'We don't know when the Templars will get here and by the time we break down those trap spells, they could be long gone.'

Riven scowled, clenching his fist. 'I'll get one of the girls to contact them again –'

'Send Stella and the girls here,' Brandon corrected. 'Bloom says we might be able to break down the barrier if we have all the girls.'

Riven scratched his cheek as he considered Brandon's words. 'Right, I'll send you Stella and Flora, but Musa needs to go back to Alfea. She's too drained.'

'What did you do to her?'

Musa's face flashed in front of his eyes. I trust you.

'Nothing,' he growled. 'It was the bats. I protected her.' He always – he had protected her.

And then you left her in the woods.

Drained.

'Go tell Stella what's up and contact Saladin,' Brandon said, taking out his crystal again and curling his fingers around it, it flashed blue and morphed into the shovel once more. 'We'll keep digging.'

Riven hated the fact that he was walking away from danger but he knew that Brandon was right. Contact via communication devices in the Swamp was sketchy at best so passing messages via word of mouth was safer. And if he went back, he could make sure Musa went to Alfea and got out of the swamp.

His eyes lingered on the valley as he hiked back up the hill and he silently promised that he would take Darcy and Icy back to the Fortress himself if he needed. He would never be anyone's pawn again.

Something ripped a hole in the very atmosphere of Black Mud Swamp. For an instant, sweet, fresh air drifted from the torn gash to replace the stale heat. Stormy watched it form, felt the hairs on her arms stand as magic flooded her small clearing. She glanced around for the Sun Fairy but she'd raced off a little while ago.

Stormy was on her own.

Fear of the unknown made her struggle against the vines, the adrenaline pumping through her – sparking with flashes of lightning – numbed her to the raw, splitting skin. She didn't feel the blood well and slide against the vines.

As if pushing a flap of fabric open, a figure emerged followed by two others. They came to a halt, scanning the area. Their eyes locked on her and the leader's expression hardened.

'Where are the Winx?'

TBC

Please, please don't review complaining that the first scene is the same. It's not. Due to the fact that I had to rewrite this scene, I also had to fix a few others scenes and it changed things so that's why there was such a wait. I hope you enjoyed and please review if you can, I love to hear other's feedback.