For a good two weeks after the trip to Australia, the Royal Fairy Academy was quiet. When excitement struck once more, it was not due to a new fairy or the Apprentices, either. Rather, it was something a little more normal, a little more annual.

"The Day of the Rose is coming up," said Lysis amiably one day over lunch. "This Friday, in fact."

Roxy frowned. Around her, Macy, Marea, Katt, and Leilani gave curious looks. "What's that?" asked Macy.

"It's kind of like mother's day," Roxy explained. "Since fairy magic generally passes through the female line exclusively, it's meant to be a day to thank your mother for passing on her powers to you and to celebrate the magic that is within both mother and daughter. In Magix, it's expanded to more of a general day to celebrate the woman you were closest to as a child, usually your mom, but sometimes a special mentor, older sister, or aunt."

"It's a very big magical holiday," said Lysis. "I was unsure if we'd be observing due to the fact that humans have a different holiday, and besides you, Roxy, nobody here has a fairy mother. Bloom says we're going to celebrate anyway."

"Do we get a couple days off of school then?"

Lysis shrugged. "Sort of. Due to the Apprentices, Bloom believes it isn't safe to send you home. Instead, she's going to bring all of the women we're celebrating here for the weekend."

Katt and Macy grinned excitedly, but Marea and Leilani sighed.

It was going to be an interesting weekend.

Women began to arrive Thursday night. Morgana was the first, walking in the moment school let out, though no student saw her sneak in. She looked around at the group of girls, some she recognized and some she didn't, migrating from their downstairs classes to the dorms to change clothes and smiled. The Royal Fairy Academy was still small, but it was growing, and Roxy was growing with it. It was good to know she was making friends and becoming a leader.

Morgana glanced down at the surprise guest she had brought with her. "She's doing well, isn't she, Artu?" she asked.

Artu barked, loudly, and as he did, Roxy turned. Her eyes widened, and a smile grew on her face as she ran towards the dog and older fairy. "Mom! Artu!" she yelled.

Three of the other students turned curiously, and Roxy beckoned them over. "Katt, Avi, Amanda! Come meet my dog. And my mom too."

A chubby girl with fluffy brown hair narrowed her eyes and frowned, but the other two raced over. The tall redhead began to pet Artu, scratching him lovingly, and Avi grinned. "I didn't know you had a dog. Why doesn't he live here?" she asked.

"Cause before we knew Killian was the wizard of animals, I thought Artu could protect my parents from them, since I wasn't there to do it." Roxy patted the pup's head. "Since that wouldn't work, though, maybe he could stay."

As she finished her sentence, a large, fat tabby cat meandered into the hall, head held confidently and what looked like a cat's version of a smirk on its face. Artu's tail was up and out suddenly, his front paws slightly forward. The cat paused for a moment, seemingly in shock, then it turned tail and ran. Barking madly, Artu ran after it.

"Artu!" pleaded Roxy, "Don't chase Sir Fluffybutt!"

But it seemed too late. Roxy sighed and looked up at her mom. "Or maybe you can take him home where he isn't likely to kill Amanda's cat," she amended.

The curvy girl's eyes narrowed even more. Morgana could only assume that was Amanda. "Yes, please," she said. "Take him home by all means."

A low voice laughed behind Morgana, and the former fairy queen turned to look into the eyes of one of her favorite warrior fairies, a woman she hadn't seen in nearly six months. "Abscissa," she said, taking in the young woman's long brown hair, cool blue eyes, and perfect skin. "I assume you're here for the Day of the Rose? It's been a while."

"It has, and you're correct," said Abscissa. "I wasn't sure my younger sister would invite me, but… she really rose to the occasion. Eh?"

Morgana stifled a laugh. Amanda's sour face grew a little mellower, and Avi burst out into giggles. "That," said Avi, "was pretty good."

"I try," said Abscissa with a shrug. "Now, could someone point me to my sibling? I'd like to make sure she's doing okay."

"I'm right here!"

Lysis stepped out from behind a corner. She was grinning, something that both Morgana and the students knew was very, very rare.

Abscissa's smile grew, and she picked Lysis up. "Nice to see you, my Ly-sis!"

"And you, Ab-sister!" returned the serious fairy.

The four teens looked at each other in absolute shock. Morgana smiled. "Lysis, dear, it's always odd to see you with your sister."

Lysis blushed. "Yes, well, I can get kind of childish around Abscissa. She makes me feel like a kid again, after all. She's one of the only people who can do that. I think by the time I was captured by the Wizards, everyone had more or less forgotten how to treat kids. I had to grow up pretty fast, and I'd bet I'd be even more serious if not for her. I'm glad I met her."

"Met her? Isn't she your sister though?" asked Avi bluntly.

Abscissa smiled. "The thing about fairies being immortal is that there can be some serious sibling age gaps. I was grown, on my own, and captured before Lysis was even born. I'd been in Tir Nan Og for about fifteen years when Morgana came to me and told my parents had another daughter, and she had been captured that day, and would I mind taking care of her?"

Lysis looked at the ground. "I was eleven, barely in middle school. The Wizards had no need for Specialists in their master plan, so they… disposed of… my dad, and my mother fought too hard for them to take, so they did the same with her. This sister, who I had never met, she was all I had."

For a moment, all was silent. Morgana was the one to break it. "The war broke up almost all of our families. I can only beg the Dragon that this war does not do it all over again."

It seemed to Saf that everyone had someone.

Roxy had her mother, with her aunt also promising to come on Friday. Katt, Amanda and Marea had managed to secure ways for their parents to visit the United States for the weekend. Avi and Macy's parents came from California, and even Leilani asked her best friend since childhood to come and be her guest (which was unconventional, but eventually cleared by Bloom).

Saf thought about asking Khadijah to come, but that would mean explaining magic, and that would jeopardize the Heart Holder's identities (which granted, even Saf wasn't aware of. She had tried to get Zoe to give her the names and ages of the others, but as Zoe knew the Academy was a requirement for those under eighteen, she had blatantly refused to provide the information on fear of losing a teammate). Even if Khadijah could accept magic being good, if there was any chance that meant breaking Saf's deal with Zoe, it wasn't a risk she could take.

Saf sat out on the steps in front of the school, her long, thick hair blowing in the wind. The cold October air bit as it whipped around her, but it was the kind of bite that felt good.

Suddenly, someone sat down next to her. "Hi, Saf," said Tora.

"Hello, Tora. Waiting for your mother?" asked Saf glumly.

Tora snorted and shook her head. "My mother passed years ago."

"Older sister?"

"No older siblings. I'm waiting for my younger siblings. They wanted to come celebrate me."

Saf frowned. "Wait, weren't you the second youngest trapped fairy, with only Lysis younger? How do you have younger siblings?"

"Oh, they're not fairies," said Tora. She sounded slightly distant, lost in thought. Suddenly, she jumped up as a car pulled into an empty space on the street. "Oh, that's them!"

"How are they not fairies?" asked Saf, following Tora down the many steps towards the parked car.

"They're technically my half-sisters. Our dad was a Specialist, but my mom was a fairy and theirs is a human," Tora explained as she hurried down the stairs. "They have some magic from his line, but not enough to transform."

The car doors opened, and two girls popped out, both completely identical. They looked to be not much older than Saf. "Tora!" exclaimed the one from the driver's side.

Tora smiled. "Hi, Devri. Hi, Signy. It's been a while. This is my friend and student, Safeyah Hafeij, by the way."

The twin who hadn't yet spoken grasped Saf's hands enthusiastically. "Nice to meet you!" she said. "I'm Devri. You're the fairy of thunder, then, right?"

"Lightning!" corrected the one who must have been Signy absentmindedly.

Saf turned to Tora quizzically. "Have you spoken of me?"

Tora shook her head. "Nope. Remember what I said about some magic?"

As they began to walk up the steps towards the school again, Devri (Saf thought it was Devri, anyway) hastily explained. "Even though we're girls, we're basically stuck with the same power set as Specialists have. See, most girls have tons of magic which they can manipulate however they want, while guys only have, like, a little. It can only do things like help fairies and witches as an extra power boost, or do minor psychic things."

"Operate magical weaponry, dragon ride… well, if there were still any dragons left on Earth, anyway." The other twin gave a sheepish grin.

"Basically, though we're girls, we have Specialist powers only," Devri? concluded with a smile.

Tora sighed. "And since the Wizards went out of their way to eliminate all magical beings besides fairies, who they desired to capture more than kill, my little sisters are the only Specialists left on the planet. Lucky for us, the Black Circle belonged to a bunch of sexist pigs who had no clue that they could be psychic warriors."

"And hopefully," said one of the twins… at this point, Saf had definitely lost track of which one was which… "The Apprentices will think the same, and our plan will go… well, according to plan."

"Your plan?" asked Saf.

Tora nodded. "A plan that will hopefully stop this awful war in its tracks, and perhaps save us all."

Devri and Signy were a huge hit with both the young students and their guests, though nobody other than Tora seemed to be able to tell the two apart.

They dominated the dinner conversation, though not in an annoying way. At age twenty-two, they were hip enough that the students could relate to them. For the adults, they offered a unique historical view. They were some of the last… if not the last… members of the magical community who remained alive and uncaptured during the Black Circle Genocide. Their views from relative safety were of great importance to the Tir Nan Og historical records, and Morgana made them promise that they would record their observations down for posterity.

They were not the only popular dinner guests. Vanessa and Mike Peters, Bloom's adoptive parents, had made a trip to see their daughter. Mike amused the entire room with the headmistress's baby stories, causing Bloom's face to grow redder than her hair while Vanessa laughed quietly. Katt's mother Nora told all sorts of wild summer camp stories from her own youth, and Avi's mom, Jennifer, recounted all sorts of stories that she had studied as an Arthurian literature professor. As she did, Morgana squirmed uncomfortably. Roxy laughed a little at that… Morgana had lived through that time period, and was probably reacting to some incorrect information. Bad history tended to make her upset, but she was likely too polite to correct it outright.

As the dinner drew close to a close and small cups of ice cream were brought out for dessert, Bloom stood. "I'd like to propose a toast," she said. "The Day of the Rose is historically a day to celebrate the magic that passes on through the female line and acknowledge those who used it before us. When it begins tomorrow, however, we will have to find our new meaning in it. None of the people here are mothers who passed down powers. However, that far from means these women didn't make us who we are today. The courage they taught, the love they passed on, the magic of kindness they gave us… I think that's just as good. So, to all the strong women of now… and the future ones I have the honor of teaching… thank you. Cheers!"

The group returned the sentiment and dug into their sundaes.

As the families caught up after dinner, Saf retreated to the classroom corridors, knowing that the empty dorms would soon be populated by mothers and sisters.

She shouldn't have been surprised to find Light there, but she was.

The Solarian girl turned and smiled at her friend. "Hi, Saf. Alone for the Day of the Rose?"

Saf nodded uncomfortably. "Yes. My mum passed when I was young, and I don't have any older sisters."

"You've got it a little worse than me, then," Light said with a small laugh. "I have seven older sisters, my mom, and tons of noble ladies who have influenced me. They can't come here, though, not with the barrier in the way."

"Can't you at least call them?"

"If I called my mom she'd demand I return home. She might even make the demand of Nebula, and I doubt the Queen wants me here bad enough to make an enemy out of Solaria. It's better for the Earth if I maintain my radio silence." Light's face fell. "I have no intention of leaving until this world is safe. I have too much to protect."

"You're brave."

"I am? Why?"

"Because you have a choice in the matter. You have another world, a safer world, that you could retreat to. You're the only one here by choice."

Light sprang up from the chair she was sitting in, ran over to Saf, and grasped her hands tight. "No, Saf, you need to understand. I'm not brave. I ran away from my problems, and I'm too chicken to go back. If I return home, that's that. I'm stuck in a life of luxury and prison, and I will never be allowed to live down my cowardice. Here, I have choices, and though the stakes are high, those choices are much less scary."

"Light…"

"I'm afraid of being Lady Light. I'm afraid of doing what Lady Light has to do. Stella was stuck in her princess role, you know, but when she proved herself as more than a princess, that's what she became. I'm here not because I'm brave, but because instead of accepting my destiny, I just want to turn away from it."

"But Light," said Saf, "that is very, very brave of you."

Light froze. "Do you think so?" she asked after a moment.

"I don't know about Solaria, but on Earth, all of our favorite stories are about those brave people who fight destiny, and they always need and possess a lot of courage."

Light hugged Saf suddenly. "That's just what I needed to hear. Thank you, Saf." Then, she pulled back, gripping Saf's shoulders tight and smiling softly. "Hey… let's hang out together this weekend. Since we're the two who don't have anyone else right now."

Saf smiled. "It would be my pleasure."

Leilani's best friend was in shock.

"To think," she kept saying as they walked through the lovely, old halls. "This place was just down the street from us all along? And you live here now, among princesses and ladies!"

"Y'know, Alexa, I was just saying that exact thing a couple weeks ago."

Alexa's eyes were almost like stars, shining with excitement. "Do you think they'd let me in as well?" she teased.

"Oh come on, you know you couldn't do all this extensive magical history study I have to do," Leilani rejoined. She stuck her tongue out for good measure. "I guess if you suddenly discovered magical powers, though, they'd have to let you in."

As they passed through a dorm corridor, Macy Silverman passed with a large pot of lavender. "Hey, Macy!" Leilani said. "Where's your mom?"

Macy blushed beet red for whatever reason. "U-um. Mom and Mitzi are coming up but they won't get here until tomorrow. You should. You should meet them."

"Perhaps," Leilani said. "If there's an opportunity. No classes tomorrow, right? At least that means we'll have time to hang out, whether individually or in a bigger group. As long as you're okay with Alexa here joining us, that is."

The small fairy looked up at Alexa. "Is she your…"

"Alexa and I are super close!" Leilani said with a grin, hugging her best friend tight. "I've known her for ages. We used to spend all our time together, before I came here. She's my best friend."

"O-oh." Macy made a face. "So you're not dating?"

"Not that I wouldn't, but her brother and I have been together for a couple years now. He'd have come, but I told him this was strictly girls only."

Macy's face fell. "Oh. Well… I have to go!"

She ran off. Dirt spilled out of her lavender pot. Leilani frowned. "Macy's normally a lot sweeter and less, uh, erratic than that."

Alexa shot Leilani a look. "I think she has a crush on you and you just… well, you crushed her."

"Macy? Have a crush on me? No way," said Leilani.

Still, something nagged in the back of her mind. Is that true?

After getting her parents settled into the dorm where they would be staying the weekend, Bloom excused herself briefly. There were other people she had to give her love to.

She video called her birth parents. "Mom, Dad, I wanted to say thank you for all you've done for me, and Mom, thanks for passing on your powers to Daphne, and then to me. I wanted to call tonight because I may be too busy to call tomorrow."

The conversation was stilted, formal, trying too hard to be normal and failing miserably. Bloom felt the truth of her earlier speech about what parents passed on to their children, and all Mariam had passed on was the magic that the day was meant for. That, and nothing more. That was not her fault, was not Bloom's fault, but it was true.

After a ten minute exchange of pleasantries, they hung up and Bloom called Faragonda.

The other headmistress picked up on the first ring. "Bloom?" she asked.

"Oh, Ms. F! I wish I could hug you right now. Happy Day of the Rose!"

"Bloom," Miss Faragonda chided jokingly, "you know that's a day for parents."

Bloom grinned. "Like you didn't practically raise me and the Winx for the three years we were there. How are the girls, by the way?"

Faragonda wove a tale of the last two weeks. She told Bloom about Harmonix and the Creature of the Rainbow Mantle. She recounted the girls' shock at learning their very powers were on the line, of their acquisition of the Gems of Self Confidence and Empathy. "They have about eleven days to find the last gem. I am confident they will."

There was a pause, then Faragonda asked Bloom, "Do you possess the Great Book of Fairies, still? Or did the Winx take it back with them to us?"

"I have it, somewhere. When I moved from Gardenia to Harrisburg, I put it in a box, and I'm still not completely unpacked."

A grim look fell upon Faragonda's face. "Find it, Bloom, and soon. I was given a dream last night that told me to tell this to you."

"A dream?"

"I'm certain if I told you a yellow-robed spirit came to me as I slept and offered a few wise words, you'd know exactly who I would be speaking of?"

"Daphne."

Faragonda only nodded. "She and I want you to remember one word. Ominix."

"Ominix? Is that a new fairy form?"

The older woman hesitated. "I want you to read about it and then call me with any questions. Remember, both our dimension and yours are in terrible trouble, and drastic times call for drastic measures. Do not be quick to dismiss any ideas that are presented. That was always the downfall of the Earth Fairies… you are too stubborn for your own good."

"Miss Faragonda…"

"I must go now. Keep in contact. Remember the word. Ominix."

"Ominix," Bloom repeated.

Then, the screen grew dark as the connection was lost.

AN: Thanks for all the story birthday wishes! They encouraged me to get this next chapter out fairly quickly, as you can tell. :D I'm doing a quick breather of a character development arc before the girls hit the road and the action once again.

For this chapter's review question, I'm going to go with my absolute favorite thing to ask for: What are your predictions? They can be character predictions, plot predictions, even predictions of connections I might make. You get bonus points for explaining reasoning, but I still want to hear from you even if you don't!

Enjoy!