Part 14 (Episode 25 – Morgana's secret)

The storm that had begun that night lasted until morning and the Winx, Roxy, the specialists and Duman was at the beach of Tir Nan Og isle watching the sun rise. They were all feeling sad for Layla and Nabu and Stella decided to lighten the mood and walked up to Duman.

"Now that style doesn't suit you at all", she said and grabbed his arm to turn him around. "Let's see what I can hey!" She stared at him and the others came over to see why she sounded so shocked. When they got closer the other girls gasped too and the boys stared.

"Duman", Riven said. "Your face."

"What about it", Duman asked.

"I-it's changed", Tecna said. "And your skin is… well acting weird."

Duman looked into the still water and smiled. Gone was the beak like nose he had, his eyes were no longer evil in anyway, his whole face was softer and nicer but his skin was acting weird. It was as if he had a thin copper layer over his skin. Because when he turned in the sun his skin shone a bit, had a tan and sometimes reddish tone to it.

"I'm returning", Duman said and blew the bangs out of his eyes. His Mohawk was gone too. It had been replaced by a look that looked like Bloom's… well except for that pinkish color and shorter. Then suddenly Roxy screamed:

"Morgana!" Everyone turned to the girl that had just woken up.

"Roxy", Bloom asked and Duman closed his eyes and without Roxy even knowing it, went into her mind.

"I had an awful dream", Roxy told the others. "Morgana is in danger we shouldn't have left her alone."

"It's okay Roxy it was just a nightmare", Musa said and put her hand on Roxy's back.

"No Musa", Duman said and everyone turned to look at him. "To you it may just have been a dream but Roxy was connected to Morgana through the mind of both of them."

"How do you know that", Bloom asked.

"I can sense telepathic connections and the one we just witnessed… was a really strong one."

"But she should be safe in the castle", Stella said.

"But Nebula and the fairies of vengeance are with her too", Roxy said worriedly. "I got a really bad feeling about this. I saw Morgana she was a ghost, she was being held captive in a mysterious place and she was screaming."

"This has happened before, Roxy's dreams are never wrong", Bloom said.

"Well let's go then", Sky said. "If the queen is in danger we have no time to lose."

"Wait", Stella exclaimed after the girls had all transformed.

"What is it Stella", Brandon asked.

"You cannot go like that", she said and hovered in front of Duman. "You're barley wearing anything!"

"Is this better", Duman asked and reached out his arms and they were blinded by a strong light and when it faded… Duman was wearing a white shirt, not much unlike Helia's green one, black pants and white boots.

"Better but we could make it even better", Stella said.

"Later Stella", Bloom said. "Let's go save Morgana."

But when they got closer to the castle they couldn't see any of the fairies.

"Where have all the fairies gone", Bloom asked. "Did you guys hear that?"

"I can't hear anything", Stella said.

"Exactly Stella and that's not normal."

"It's as if everything just stopped", Flora said and Duman closed his eyes again as a small lizard crawled over the ground and down the cliff-side. Roxy and Bloom walked towards it and Duman's eyes snapped open.

"Stop!" he yelled but too late the lizard was already gone and a huge static shield could be seen.

"Get back", Tecna yelled. "It's a protection spell, stay away from the castle entrance." The cute little lizard wasn't so cute anymore as it climbed up from the deep. It was a lizard-monster now. They started to fight the monster but every time they hit the thing it multiplied. As they fought Roxy got contact with Morgana again and Duman felt it too.

"The tower", Roxy yelled. "Morgana just spoke to me she's trapped in the tower."

"You go get Morgana", Sky yelled. "We'll keep these things busy for a while."

"Roxy you, Stella and Flora come with me, Tecna Musa you stay here and help the guys", Bloom ordered.

"Just have one of them stay", Duman said and Bloom looked at him. He smiled. "I can help them out too."

"We're strong enough to take care of them on our own", Riven objected.

"I know that Riven but an extra pair of hands is always of use!" Duman let loose a bright beam at the monster that was closing in on Riven.

"Go girls!" Helia yelled.

"I'll stay", Musa offered and flew down to the boys and Duman.

"Good luck", Bloom called as they flew off.

"This way", Sky ordered. "Let's see how quick our new friends are." He ran up to the cliff and the others followed him. They saw a river and a sealed tunnel. They jumped into the water and hurried up to it. Sky cut the bars open and when the lizards came towards them Musa used her powers to keep them out.

A bit after that the group was outside some big doors and Sky was about to open them, but Duman stopped him.

"Wait", he said as he grabbed Sky's arm.

"What is it Duman", Brandon asked.

"I sense something… yes the other girls are in there and so is Morgana."

"Great let's get them", Riven said.

"But so are Nebula and her fairies of justice."

They looked at him.

"But", Timmy said but Duman cut him off.

"Nebula has rebelled against Morgana and as far as I can tell the other fairies follow her. They have…" he closed his eyes and a light aura was around him. "Sealed Morgana away and are planning to go after Ogron in the Omega dimension… to destroy him Anagan and Gerard."

"Gerard?" Helia asked and Duman opened his eyes.

"Did I say Gerard?"

"Yes you did", Sky said.

"I meant Gantlos, Gerard is an old friend of mine who reminds me of Gantlos greatly. Now I can hear Bloom's voice. She's telling Nebula that she is no better than the wizards because they are imprisoning fairies. She also just asked if it was Nebula's idea of justice."

"Well", Musa said and used her magic to get the doors opened and they hurried inside with Musa yelling: "Don't strain yourself we already know the answer and you know what… We don't like it!" She fired at Nebula's fairies and the battle began.

"Stop them", Nebula yelled to Layla and the former Winx followed her orders. The Winx tried to reason with her and Nebula watched in glee.

"Nebula", Duman yelled and she looked at him and hate welled up in her.

"You dare bring one of them here", she yelled.

"I am not one of them Nebula", Duman growled. "I was never one of them, that was Duman and I am not him."

"Could have fooled me!" Nebula yelled and attacked him. But Duman just brushed the attack aside. "What the-"

"You are fighting a losing battle Nebula", Duman told her. "The Wizards of the black circle are not what they seem to be. Only one is a dark wizard, the rest has been slaves under his will."

"Why should I believe you", Nebula yelled as their battle went on. "You were one of them. Hiya!" She let loose a really powerful beam that Duman caught.

"Did you not hear me Nebula", he yelled. "I was never one of them!" He sent the beam back at Nebula and it hit her and sent her into a wall. She got to her feet.

"The time has come", she said. "Warrior fairies assemble! It is time to open the gate to the magical dimension."

"No Layla don't go", Bloom said when Layla flew towards Nebula. "This is not like you."

"The girl you knew is broken", Layla said. "Ogron sent my love into a sleep that he will never return from. I just want to return that gift."

"No!"

"Farewell Winx", Nebula said and they were gone.

In the Omega dimension before all that happened Gantlos, Anagan and Ogron was hiding and two of them was devastated.

"He's gone", Anagan said sadly. "I can't feel him anymore." He balled his hands into tight fists. Gantlos hit the wall.

"The specialists will pay for this", he yelled. Ogron smirked.

"Yes they will", he said and walked towards the entrance of the small cave they were hiding out in. "But first we must gain our strength and grief our fallen comrade."

"We were supposed to look out for each other", Anagan mumbled and Gantlos sat down beside him. "What happened to that promise?"

"What does Ogron know of promises", said a voice in his mind.

'What', Anagan thought.

"What does Ogron know of promises, how many times hasn't he failed you?"

'You blame Ogron for Duman's death?'

"Who else is there to blame, you, Gerard, Gantlos… the Winx?"

'The Winx and those other fairies are the reason he's gone!'

"Even Diana?" Anagan had no comeback. "I thought as much. You still love her and it is the love in your heart that will be your salvation… and your destruction."

'What the heck are you talking about?'

"Anagan", Gantlos said and shook him and that other voice vanished.

"What is it Gantlos", Anagan asked.

"Don't space out here… who knows what can happen."

Ogron wasn't watching them he was facing the icy world of Omega.

"Gantlos", he said. "Go and act as a lookout."

"What", Gantlos roared. "But that's not my job it's-"

"Duman isn't here anymore you idiot", Ogron yelled. "Now do as I say before I let you join him!"

Anagan froze as did Gantlos, but then he took his hat and left.

"Better than rotting in here", he grumbled as he stalked by them.

"Finally", a voice said from within him as he walked. He'd been hearing this voice for a while.

"Shut up."

"Make me."

"You know I can't… who the hell are you anyway?"

"I am who you used to be and you did not use to be like this. You were not as cold as the walls around you or the ground you put your feet on."

"What do you know about me?"

"I know everything about you, just as he knew everything about Duman and he knows everything about Anagan."

"What the hell are you talking about?"

"You mean Ogron has weakened you so you cannot see your own image anymore."

"What the hell are you talking about?"

"Look into the ice Gantlos… what do you see?"

Gantlos did and saw his reflection. "I see me."

"And that is where you are wrong."

"I am never wrong!"

"Your anger and hatred will be your doom, it will lead to your destruction and your freedom."

"What is that supposed to mean?"

"You are-"

But his inner discussion was cut short when he saw the arrival of Layla, Nebula and the fairies of justice.

"Hm… I must tell Ogron", he said and ran back the same way he'd come from.

"We must follow them before Layla makes a terrible mistake", Bloom said.

"But what about Morgana", Roxy said devastated. "We can't just leave her inside the mirror."

"Why don't we just break the mirror and free her", Riven said and ran up to it.

"No Riven", Duman called. "If you break it Morgana will be lost forever and you will die too."

"Yes", Morgana said. "The spell of darkness is fatal it guards our prison and slays all who try to break it. Only a fairy queen can control the mirror."

"Then we're in Nebula's hands", Tecna said.

"Not at all Tecna, even though she claims she is a queen she cannot be it if not the fairy queen gives the crown and right to rule to her", Duman said.

"Yes", Morgana said. "After me the throne belongs to the princess of Tir Nan Og."

"Your daughter", Duman said. "Roxy am I correct?"

"Me", Roxy asked in shock.

"Yes you can rescue me Roxy", Morgana said.

"Duman how did you know", Stella asked.

Duman smiled. "The mental tunes within these two are very much alike, it can only be the likeness of a mother or an older sister."

"You are perspective", Morgana said and Roxy flew up to the mirror. She reached out her hand and could feel Morgana grab it.

"You… you are my mother", Roxy asked.

"Roxy my dear", Morgana said. "I have been looking for you for so long." Roxy pulled Morgana out of the mirror and they hugged.

"I", Roxy said with tears going down her cheeks. "I thought you were…"

"Don't say it Roxy I'm alive I'm here and I always has been. You were just a baby when the wizards caught me. Ogron erased all memories from your father's mind. I spent years in the dungeon of this castle dreaming of seeing you again. Through those dreams I reached you and now you are ready to accept all of this. You are the last Earth fairy the last hope for us all. Thanks to your friends you've found us and discovered yourself."

"You and I are so alike Roxy", Bloom said. "I had to-"

"I really hate interrupting", Duman said and Bloom huffed. "But things are critical and we cannot linger here. You must go."

"You", Helia asked. "Duman aren't you coming with us?" Duman shook his head.

"There is something I must do first", he said. "Ogron still has some dark energy within me. I must erase it and then… there is someone within these walls that needs my help."

"Who?" Riven asked and Duman smiled.

"Nabu. As I am now I cannot help him. But when I am finally free there is nothing, not even the black gift, that can stop me."

Bloom flew over to him and gave him a hug.

"Good luck then Duman and thank you for what you've done", she said.

"No thank you Bloom, all of you", Duman looked at them. "But there is yet one thing you must promise me."

"Anything", Tecna said.

"When facing Ogron, Gantlos and Anagan… do not, I repeat, do not kill Anagan or Gantlos. As me they are slaves under a dark spell. Ogron has bewitched them as he did me."

"So the only dark wizard is actually Ogron", Sky asked.

"Yes. Now hurry the time runs out."

"But how", Bloom began. She was going to ask 'how are you going to travel' when a bright light blinded them and when their eyes were open… Duman was gone.

"Where did he go?"

"Come on you heard the man", Brandon said. "Let's go!"

In the meantime Gantlos was running as fast as he could.

"Why are you running", the voice asked him.

'Because I don't want to die that's why.'

"I thought you kept telling me you're a hunter and not a pray."

'Shut up.'

"I will do no such thing. You must listen to me Gantlos this is not the true you."

'What the hell do you know about me?'

"I know your most inner thoughts, your fears, your joys… your grief."

'I am not afraid.'

The voice laughed. "Oh but you are. You are afraid that if you do not reach your comrades in time Anagan will get lost to you too. Just like you think Duman has been lost to you."

'What do you mean with thinking he's lost? Duman is lost.'

"Yes but you think he was lost because of the fairies when in truth it was-"

The voice was cut off when Gantlos was faced with two fairies.

"Where do you think you're going Gantlos", one of them said and Gantlos stopped. He soon found out that he was surrounded.

"Why don't you use one of your spells now", asked another fairy.

'Shit I gotta get out of here', Gantlos thought and started to climb.

"Not so tough without your friends are you", asked the first fairy. And when Gantlos reached for a bit of ice to use as he climbed and beam made it explode and he fell down.

"Get up wizard", said the fairy that had fired it. "Stand up and face your destiny."

Gantlos slowly rose and the fairy stroke. But when the spear was about to hit a sphere appeared around Gantlos and he was safe.

"That's enough", Bloom yelled sternly.

'The Winx', Gantlos thought. 'Why did they save me?'

"Because they are not you Gantlos", the voice said.

"Come on sisters there's only five of them", said a fairy.

Then queen Morgana and Roxy flew up from behind the Winx.

"Perhaps you should have a recount", Roxy said and the specialists arrived.

"Stop I command you", Morgana said and used her powers so the warrior fairies were forced down on the ground. Gantlos saw his escape, took his hat and ran for it.

After running a bit Gantlos found Anagan and Ogron.

"The Winx are here now too", he said to them. "With Roxy and Morgana."

"Let's get out of here Ogron", Anagan said worriedly.

"No", Ogron said. "If we run we'll be running for the rest of our lives. The Omega dimension is a labyrinth of ice and stone, we'll lay in wait for them here and then attack. This is our last chance to defeat our enemies."

"This way", a voice yelled and Ogron hushed the other two wizards.

"I heard voices", said another voice. "They were coming from this direction."

It was three fairies and Ogron used his powers to bury them in ice and it didn't take long for the Winx and their friends to get there. But so did Nebula and the other fairies of vengeance. Ogron watched as Morgana forced her opponents to give up their weapons.

"Get ready", he growled. "On my signal."

'This is for you Duman', Gantlos thought.

'We'll avenge you little brother', Anagan swore.

Ogron smirked when Bloom compared them to the Omega dimension and when Morgana spoke her fairies into following her. It was the perfect moment.

"Now!" Ogron yelled and the three wizards fired their attacks at the fairies and then ran as the cave was about to fall.

"I'll get you Ogron", Layla yelled and followed him with Nebula. Bloom and the others created a shield to protect them from the falling ice.

"Sky you and the specialists escort the fairies out of here", Bloom ordered.

"This way hurry", Sky yelled and when the fairies flew Riven made to follow them when an almost unbearable pain got into his head.

"Argh!" He fell to his knees.

"Riven!" Musa yelled.

"I'm fine Musa", he lied. "Go with the others."

"But Riven-"

"Now Musa."

"Don't worry", Helia said as he helped Riven up. "We'll take care of Riven just go and get Layla back." The Winx and Roxy flew into the tunnel after Layla and Nebula.

While Ogron ran he looked into his glowing hand.

"What are you doing Ogron", Gantlos yelled at him.

"Giving them something to think about and destroying them more and more."

"What", Anagan asked.

"I just turned Riven against them again. When he gets out of the caverns he will attack everyone and the only way to stop him", Ogron smirked. "Will be to kill him."

Gantlos and Anagan stared at him but kept running.

TBC

ashangel101010 - Yes he's a down to "earth" kinda guy :P

Shiary - Thank you.

Nagasha - :)