A/N:
Well, this came out faster than expected! Hopefully we can keep updates fairly often from now on, although the last time I said that it didn't quite work out. But anyway, I'll stop talking now and let you get on with the chapter. Enjoy! xx

"Come in." Saladin called from behind the door.

Brandon turned the handle and let himself in, closing the door behind him. He looked at his headmaster in silence. Neither spoke for a moment, until Saladin sighed and turned his eyes away.

"Sir, tell me what's going on." Brandon said, as politely as he could manage.

He knew that he needed answers, and he wanted to get them.

"Brandon, I don't know what you're on about, nothing is-"

"Oh cut the crap already!" Brandon snapped, making Saladin look up in shock.

"Brandon!" He said sternly.

"Look, I know there's something going on okay? I'm not thick. Why? Why are you putting them through this?" He demanded.

"Brandon, slow down, who are you talking about?"

"The Winx!" He yelled. "All of them are having their magic taken away! All because of that one night Stella spent with me. C'mon sir, we both know that that's not a big enough reason to render them all powerless. There has to be something else going on. Tell me."

"Brandon." Saladin sighed. "What Ms Faragonda chooses to use as her punishments for her fairies has absolutely nothing to do with me. I understand that you're worried about them, but there is nothing I can do."

"No, there has to be. There just has to be something deeper than that one night!"

"Look Brandon, you two sneaking out in the middle of the night was very irrational and dangerous. You know who you and Stella are. You've both made many enemies in this world, and yet you choose to go out on your own in the dead of night!" Saladin tried to reason with him.

"And Stella already received punishment for that! Why drag the rest of the Winx down with her?"

"I told you I don't know, I have absolutely nothing to do with the discipline of Alfea's students." Saladin spoke with a sudden harshness. "Whatever you think is going on, you must forget about, because I'm telling you, you are wrong. This will only put you in deeper trouble. It's better for everyone, including yourself, if you just stay out of it."

"How is all this better?" Brandon yelled, turning around and punching the wall in frustration.

"Brandon, enough!" Saladin shouted, rising to his feet.

"There must be more to it than that."

"But there isn't, you've just gotten yourself all worked up over-"

"No, tell me the truth!" Brandon shouted.

They both fell silent. Brandon stood face to face with Saladin, breathing heavily.

"No more lies." Brandon said quietly.

"I'm not lying to you Brandon, honestly." Saladin spoke softly, his eyes full of sympathy.

Brandon studied him for a moment, then sighed and ran a hand through his hair. "Look, sir, I respect you and all, but you're wrong. You just have to be. Maybe you don't know what's going on, but I can tell you it's not just a simple punishment, okay, they are having their magic taken from them. Don't you think it's just a little bit drastic? Don't you think it's a bit too big of a 'punishment?' Someone's up to something, and it involves me, it involves Stella, and now somehow it involves all of the Winx too. You may not believe me, you can say that I'm paranoid or whatever, but I know I'm not crazy. And I plan on finding out what's going on."

Saladin returned to his desk and sat down, burying his face in his hands. "Okay Brandon." He said simply, losing all will to argue back anymore.

Brandon turned to go, when Saladin called him back.

"I called you here, and I haven't even had a chance to speak to you yet."

"Oh, yeah, sorry sir." Brandon mumbled, turning to face his headmaster again.

"I just wanted to inform you that two of your cousins are going to be coming here for a few weeks, due to the fact that their school is..." Saladin paused, wondering how to put what he was trying to say into words. "...facing some difficulties, and unfortunately needs to be closed. Your uncle decided that instead of them missing out on a few weeks of training, they should further develop their skills here with us. As you might already be aware, they are currently facing a tough time back home in your realm."

"What? Why, what's happening on Xanthia?" Brandon frowned, unease settling in his stomach.

"You don't know?" Saladin asked.

"No, I've spent the last few years living on Eraklyon with Sky. I've hardly heard from anyone back home. Are they okay?"

Saladin sighed. "I don't believe it is my place to say, Brandon. But your cousins will be with us for a while, until things on Xanthia settle down. They will be arriving in two days' time."

"Is that all, sir?" Brandon asked, racking his brain for anything he had heard that might explain what was happening on Xanthia.

"Yes Brandon, thank you." Saladin nodded as Brandon turned and left.

He was heading back down to the arena when the bell for the end of class went. Breathing a sigh of relief, he returned to his dorm to change out of his uniform, before heading down to the dragon pens. His mind was racing. He was still worried for Stella and the girls, but now new concerns had arisen. What did Saladin mean when he said they were facing a tough time on his home realm? Why couldn't he tell him what was going on? Brandon hadn't spoken to his family in ages. He had been living on Eraklyon as Sky's squire for some time now, and he rarely got any phone calls or any letters from his mother or father, and he rarely sent any himself. What if something had happened to them? Brandon did his best to shake the thoughts from his mind, but the unknown was unbearable. His father was part of the Xanthian high court, and assisted the King with many things. He could easily have been drawn in to something dark and dangerous...

~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.

Her head felt fuzzy as her eyes slid slowly open. For a moment, a thick fog seemed to be closing in on her vision, but eventually it cleared. Stella rubbed her eyes and tried to sit up, but she couldn't get her muscles to move. No matter how hard she tried, she just didn't have the strength to pull her body up. Soon she gave up, and lay against the pillows. Looking around, confusion overcame her, as she realised she had no idea where she was. What had happened to her?

To the right of her, she noticed a drip standing by her bed. Following the wire that came out of it, she realised it was attached to her. Why the hell was she on a drip? Slowly, she began to piece things together. The white sheets and the white pillows, the unfamiliar bed, the dull white walls. She was in Alfea's infirmary. But why? That she still had to work out. The curtains around her bed were drawn, so she couldn't see anything else.

Suddenly, an immense feeling of tiredness overcame her, and she struggled to move her head any more. The slightest movement took the greatest of effort, and she didn't have the energy for it. She couldn't understand why she was so weak. She had no idea how she had ended up in this state. The thinking began to hurt her head, and a throbbing headache arose. The fuzzy feeling she had woken up with returned, and her vision blurred. Her hearing became distant, until all she could sense was her own, slow breaths. And then she could no longer keep her eyes open. She stopped fighting the oncoming tiredness and allowed her eyelids to shut, allowed herself to sink into blackness, and welcomed the oncoming dark.

~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.

"Saladin." Ms Faragonda greeted, as her old friend stepped into her office.

"Faragonda, I must speak with you. Urgently."

Behind him, Codatorta also entered the office.

Ms Faragonda nodded her head, and beckoned for the Redfountain professors to follow her. She approached a large canvas painting on one of the walls and waved her hand over it. The picture melted away, revealing a hole in the wall, that led through to a smaller study sort of room. She stepped inside, followed by Saladin and Codatorta. Once they were all inside, she waved her hand over the gap in the wall, and the brick work moved together, sealing them off from the main office.

"I trust this is about our latest issue?" She turned to face Saladin and Codatorta, then pulled herself a chair, gesturing for Saladin and Codatorta to do the same.

Sighing, Saladin sat down, nodding his head. "Unfortunately yes."

"I thought as much. I have news too. Stella was informed this morning of her punishment. As you can imagine it didn't go down too well."

"This punishment..." Saladin started. "You did what we discussed? You've taken their magic?"

"Their magic?" Codatorta interrupted. "You must be joking! To take a fairies' magic from her...they put criminals through that sort of torture, and you're inflicting it on your students?"

"I like it no more than you do." Faragonda snapped back. "I didn't want to do it, but I had to. This torture is far less than that which they will feel if their fathers ever find out about them!"

"She's right, Codatorta." Saladin said gently. "Brandon and his friends heard of this news this morning too. Brandon also did not take it well."

"Well what did we expect, them to take it on with open arms? This whole thing is a mess! I wish we'd never even got involved in the first place." Faragonda said.

"If we hadn't, then there would be even worse pain for them. They just don't understand it." Saladin replied.

"I know, I know." Faragonda sighed. "But Stella had so many questions. She had previously lied about being out with Brandon, and the facts that we all know to be true came out when I spoke to her. She's a bright girl, Saladin. It didn't take her long to realise that what is going on is linked to her relationship with Brandon."

"How much does she know?" Saladin pressed.

"Not a lot. Just that you told me of her whereabouts that night. I said that the reason her magic is being taken from her is because she was reckless and put her safety at such a huge risk." Faragonda replied.

Saladin buried his face in his hand. "Brandon worked it out quickly too. I called him to my office, to explain to him about his cousins, and the rather more oppressing issue of the fact that they had to leave Xanthia. But Brandon has no idea what is going on in his home realm."

"No idea at all?" Codatorta was shocked.

"No, but I left it for his family to inform him. Anyway, before I could get a word out, he demanded to know what was going on. I told him that your punishments were nothing to do with me, that I didn't know and he should stop getting himself so worked up over nothing."

"So what's the problem?" Faragonda asked. "He doesn't know."

"He didn't believe me. He knows that something is going on, involving him and Stella. He's going to try and find out. And if Stella knows that I was involved, then it won't be long before he finds out I lied to him." Saladin answered.

"And what better proof of his theory than his own headmaster lying right to face?" Codatorta finished, his face stern.

Faragonda looked at each professor. Both reflected her expression of complete and utter defeat.

She sighed and rubbed her temple. "Oh, what have we gotten ourselves in to?"

~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.

Stella awoke to the sound of footsteps shuffling around her. She forced her eyes open, squinting against the light. A nurse was checking the drip and whatever other machine she now found herself hooked up to.

"Wh-what happened to me?" She mumbled.

The nurse turned her attention to her patient. "How much do you remember?"

Stella frowned. "I don't know...I was out with Brandon, and then I came back and Griselda was there, and...oh, I don't know. Why am I in here?"

The nurse smiled softly. "Ms Faragonda and Griselda set you a punishment. To take your magic from you. Palladium should have told you about the side effects. After your magic was taken, you, like the rest of your friends, blacked out. And now, comes the few hours of extreme weakness. You've been here in the infirmary for about two hours already."

Stella closed her eyes, as she recalled this afternoon's events. She couldn't really remember much. All she could remember was pain, horrible, excruciating pain. She sighed. Welcome to life without magic.

"Where are the girls? Are they okay?" Stella asked.

The nurse smiled again. "They are all very much in the same sort of state as you, but like you, they will be fine. In another hour or two you'll be strong enough to move properly again, and we can allow visitors." She winked at Stella. "I know a certain group of Specialists who are desperate to see you all."

Stella tried to sit up, but it still was impossible. She just couldn't find the strength. She sighed.

"Don't worry." The nurse said. "The paralysis should wear off soon."

Stella nodded her head slightly. "Are the girls awake too?"

"Some of them, but they're switching on and off. When this first stage of weakness wears off you'll be able to see each other."

"Okay..." Stella said absent mindedly, stifling a yawn. "Sorry..." She mumbled, trying to keep her eyes open.

The nurse finished up all her checks and went to the curtains. "That's quite alright, you get some rest. You'll need it."

And with that she slipped outside the curtains, and Stella was left alone again, as her eyelids drooped and she drifted back to sleep again.

~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.

Stella's eyes flew open as she cried out in pain. Within seconds, two nurses were beside her, holding her steady.

"What? What's wrong Stella?" The nurse from earlier asked. "Can you tell me where it hurts?"

"Everywhere..." Stella gasped, hot tears running down her face. "I-I can't br-breathe..."

She felt her chest tightening, as she tried to get oxygen into her lungs. But she just couldn't take a breath big enough.

"Okay, can we get an oxygen mask over here?" The nurse called out. "Stella, I just need you to calm down, okay? Steady breaths."

Stella tried to steady her painful breathing.

"That's it, you're going to be okay. Nice and slow."

Stella suddenly found strength in her muscles, and reached out to the nurse, gripping her arms, trying to hold herself steady.

"Okay Stella, we're just going to sit you up, okay?"

Stella nodded, gasping for breath. She became aware of the fact that the curtains around her bed were open, and to the right of her, she saw Musa, also lying in a bed. She was wide awake, and looked over to Stella in concern. Stella could faintly hear her voice.

"Stella? What's happening to her?"

"Shhh, let the nurses do their job, you need to stay calm, or you could lose your strength again." A male voice said.

Stella then realised that Riven was sat by Musa, holding her hand, reassuring her. She looked around, and saw all of the Winx, all of them with the Specialists. But...where was Brandon?

Another wave of pain rocketed through her, and she doubled over, clutching her chest. "My chest..." She gasped.

"Alright Stella, here, this will help you with your breathing." The nurse said, pressing an oxygen mask to her face.

Stella held onto it. She scanned the room desperately. All around her, her friends were looking at her in concern, but no where did she see the one face she wanted now more than ever.

She pulled the mask from her face. "Where's Brandon?" She gasped.

"Stella, you must keep the mask on, alright? Can you do that for me?" The nurse said, trying to push the mask back up to her mouth.

"No, I need to see Brandon!" She cried.

"Stella, he couldn't get leave from Redfountain!" Sky said, standing up beside Bloom's bed.

"He's not here sweetie." Bloom soothed gently.

"Now Stella please, put the mask back on before you get worse!" The nurse said firmly.

"Please, Sky, get Brandon. I need him here with me. Please!" She cried, the pain increasing as she spoke.

She clutched at her chest again, and cried out in agony.

"Oh for God's sake, will someone go and get this Brandon? Now!" The nurse yelled, pressing the oxygen mask to Stella's face and holding it there.

Stella felt overwhelmed from the pain that was overcoming her body. Every breath took every ounce of her strength, and she felt herself slipping. She couldn't do it anymore. She had to give up. She stopped trying. Her breaths became shallower, slower. And then they stopped altogether.

"Stella?" The nurse called, as a loud electronic bleeping sounded from the machine by her bed.

A nurse closed the curtains, whilst another started CPR. Stella's vision was blurred as she faded away into the darkness.

~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.

Brandon lay alone on his bed, staring up at the ceiling. He was so worried, about everything. His family meant everything to him...to think that they were in danger back home on Xanthia, the realm of refuge, made him sick. And then there was Stella. Having their magic taken from them must be worse than what he thought. All six of them were in the infirmary, extremely weak. And for the next few days they would be affected by excessive tiredness. He couldn't even go and see if Stella was alright. The rest of the guys had all gone to Alfea, and yet he hadn't been granted leave. Not even to go and visit his girlfriend when she was in hospital because of what her stupid teachers did to her! Anger built inside him. He knew that he was grounded, but this should have been an exception. How could Saladin be this heartless? Didn't he know how much Stella meant to him?

His thoughts were cut off by his phone ringing. He jumped up. Maybe it was one of the guys? They said they'd ring to tell him how she was doing.

He checked the caller ID. It was Timmy. He fumbled with the phone a minute before taking the call.

"Timmy?" He jumped in. "Is she alright?"

"Actually, that's what I'm calling about." Timmy said uneasily.

Brandon felt his stomach drop to the floor. "Why? What's happened?"

"I'm not entirely sure. She woke up in a lot of pain, she...she couldn't breathe."

"Oh my God..." Brandon bit back the tears, preparing himself for the worst. "Is she...did she..."

He couldn't even say it.

"What? No, she's alive Brandon." Timmy said quickly.

Brandon let go of a breath he didn't realise he was holding, and sank down onto the bed, shaking. He had honestly thought he had lost her.

"But she did go into cardiac arrest. They started CPR, and she's being fed oxygen. She was crying out for you Brandon. You should be here, by her side. The nurse even sent for you."

"I'll be there as soon as I can. Thanks Timmy." Brandon said, hanging up and grabbing his jacket from the bed. He ran to Saladin's office. He didn't even bother knocking.

"Brandon? What is the meaning of this?" Saladin asked in shock.

"Sir, I'm going to Alfea, now, to see Stella." Brandon informed determinedly.

"What? Brandon, you know that you were not granted leave from Redfountain. You are-"

"Grounded, yes I know. But Stella went into cardiac arrest. She almost died. And I'm not staying here any longer. She called out for me sir. The nurse sent for me. She needs me."

Saladin sighed. "Very well."

"Thanks, sir." Brandon called, turning and running to prepare a ship to Alfea.

He felt as though he couldn't get there fast enough. He was so worried for her. She could have died today. What the hell were they trying to do to her? When he finally arrived, he ran across the grounds and through the corridors to the infirmary. Timmy was waiting for him outside.

"Brandon!" He called. "Through here."

He led him away from the main room to a smaller, private ward.

"She's in there. She hasn't woken up yet though."

Brandon nodded, as Timmy laid a reassuring hand on his shoulder and left him. He reached out and turned the handle, entering the room. Stella lay in the bed, ghostly pale. She was hooked up to a drip and a life support machine, with a cannula around her nose. Brandon sighed, tears coming to his eyes. She looked so fragile. He pulled up a chair, and sat by her side, taking her limp hand in both of his. He rested his forehead against their joined hands, letting the tears fall freely.

"Oh Stella, what have they done to you?" He whispered. "I've been so worried. I thought I'd lost you."

He reached out a hand and caressed her cheek, stroking her hair gently.

"I don't know what I would do without you. So please, don't give up now. You can get through this, because you're a fighter. You always have been."

She didn't even stir as he spoke. He sighed. He didn't know what to say anymore, and so he just sat there by her side. He wasn't going to leave her again. He couldn't.

He had been sat there for some time when he heard a knock on the door. He turned his head, his eyes sore from the tears. Sky's head popped around the door.

"Hey, c'mon, we have to get back to Redfountain." He said gently.

Brandon shook his head vigorously. "No, I'm not leaving her on her own again." He said, looking back at Stella.

Sky approached Brandon, laying a hand on his shoulder. "I'm sorry Brandon, but the visiting hours are over. Stella needs to rest. You can come and see her again tomorrow."

"Look at her Sky!" Brandon cried. "Don't you see how ill she is? I almost lost her today...I'm not going anywhere."

"I'm afraid you have to, Brandon." Ms Faragonda appeared in the doorway. "Sky is right. Stella needs to rest now. You must return to Redfountain."

"You..." Brandon got to his feet, facing Ms Faragonda.

"Excuse me?" She asked.

"You did this to her!" He yelled. "You almost killed her! She could have died today, because of you! You're supposed to protect your students, instead you do this!"

"Brandon..." Sky warned.

Ms Faragonda looked at him in shock. "Brandon, I understand you're upset. Maybe you should just go and get some rest too."

"Yeah, c'mon Brandon." Sky pulled him gently.

"She did this." Brandon murmured, tears streaming from his eyes. "She almost died...I-I almost lost her..."

"I know, I know." Sky soothed.

Brandon returned to Stella's side and kissed her gently on the forehead. "I love you so much Stella. Please, don't leave me."

And then he allowed himself to be guided out of Alfea and back onto the ship. He sat down and buried his face in his hands, crying until his face was numb. His friends tried to console him, but it was useless. Stella was his world, she meant everything to him. He couldn't lose her. He wouldn't lose her...

A/N:
So there it was. Keep a look out for the next chapter, and please review! Love you guys,
Gemma Cane xx