"I always hated math. Even when I had personal tutors, I still hated it. I still hate it even now…"

"Oh, quit whining, Diaspro. Math isn't so bad!" Zinah exclaimed.

"Yeah. Math was always my favourite subject in school. I had the grades to major in it at Uni if I had wanted to, but Media was my calling after all…" Helen didn't look up from the book that she was reading.

The three of them were in Helen's flat, scattered across the tiny living room floor, studying for their December exams.

"It's better than Arithmancy, at least. Then there was the magic factor involved in that. Contrary to Zinah's belief, magic does not make everything better…" Diaspro commented.

"I'll just be glad when all of this is over…" Helen gestured to the pile of books in front of where she lay on the floor, hidden from view.

"It'll all be worth it in the end, I suppose. I never thought I would have to study and work for myself, but I enjoy it in a way. I mean, I was a pretty high status in society after all, like you found out when I took you two to Magix…" Diaspro looked around at them accusingly.

"Hey! We would have found out eventually anyway, whether you told us or not, what with you taking us to what is basically the equivalent of New York over there…" Zinah put down her book.

"I know that. I would have rather told you that myself though. I don't even know how to feel about how you found out…"

"Then don't bother feeling anything about it. We know. Deal with it, Princess…" Helen said. "Now, does anyone want some biscuits and a cuppa? I'm done with this studying…"

After they all settled around the television with their refreshments, they decided to try finding something to watch.

As they flicked through the channels, they came upon a BBC report, featuring the Winx Club's adventures in Gardenia.

"These girls... young women… "fairies" as they call themselves, have revealed to the world that yes, magic does indeed exist…"

Diaspro started to twitch and a vein started to throb in her forehead at the sight.

"Helen, you should probably turn that off before Diaspro gets an aneurism…" Zinah glanced between Diaspro and the television set worriedly.

"You're right…" Helen switched it off quickly.

"Even after all this time, I still can't stand the lot of them. I take full responsibility for my actions, but they never did. Or rather, Bloom never did." Diaspro seethed. "I find Princess Aisha very capable of being a good ruler and stepping up when she needs to from what I've seen, that Flora girl was nice to me after she helped me escape the goons who kidnapped me…"

"Kidnapped? You were…?" Zinah started, but was cut off with a glance from Helen.

"Princess Stella comes off as immature sometimes and I really don't know much about the other two, but I know I will never be able to stand Bloom. Attacks me out of nowhere and never apologizes for that, steals Sky away from me (not that he was ever blameless or worth stealing…), finds out she's the princess of the Great Dragon's host planet and embodies the Dragon's Flame, brings the planet back from the dead, frees her biological parents- and gets to keep her adoptive ones, gets a fairy form beyond Enchantix (never mind I have Believix too…). Now she's off to save this Roxy girl and beat the Wizards of the Black Circle and she'll probably succeed with that too. Next thing you know, she'll be getting fairy forms no one has ever heard of or some ancient form not achieved in centuries!"

Diaspro took a deep breath and then bit into a chocolate biscuit angrily after her long rant.

"Like the perfect girl that never seems to get any negative consequences? I guess I can understand your… annoyance that way when you look at it…" Helen refilled their teacups.

"Exactly! Now she's made to look like this innocent, all-powerful heroine while I am made to look like an evil bitch! Granted I can be a bitch sometimes, but no one ever seems to acknowledge her faults! Even if they offered to give me back my full birth status, I wouldn't want it! They can keep it! I am quite fine living as a commoner on this planet!"

Helen patted her on the back. "Got all that ranting out your system now? Good. Always good to rant occasionally and let it all out before you do something really stupid…

"So… What are you all doing when your exams are finished?" Diaspro took another sip of tea to calm down.

"Well, I'll be going to visit my family for Christmas hols the day after my last exam…" Helen said.

"My parents are taking a well deserved vacation in Abu Dhabi for two weeks so my brothers and I will be putting in extra time at Lazeez. Don't mind though. I always love working there anyway…" Zinah said.

"Speaking of after-exam plans, Anthony's having a Christmas party at his house… or rather, his family's luxury flat in the evening that same Friday… And you're invited as well, Diaspro…" Helen smirked.

"Oh?" Diaspro raised an eyebrow. "I only met him that one time when he worked at that club place we went to… Why would he invite me?"

"Apparently you made a bit of an impression on him as he's asked about you every time he sees either of us…" Zinah giggled.

"And you're just telling me this because…?"

"It just came up when you started going on about plans after exams is all…" Helen chuckled at Diaspro's expression.

Diaspro rolled her eyes, causing her friends to laugh even more. "Let's get back to studying then. Just getting to know London more is all for me. The cold shouldn't be much of a problem if I wear that winter gear I bought in Magix anyhow…"

"You're a brave soul exploring London during wintertime- magic winter gear nor not…" Zinah shuddered at the thought.


"Welcome to my humble abode, everyone!" Anthony greeted his guests.

"If this is humble, what the bloody hell is extravagant for this bloke?" Someone called out, making everyone including the host laugh.

"Never mind that, Dave. Let's just enjoy ourselves this evening and I trust that you will not wreck this flat like they do in those Yankee films. I should remind you that my family is full of legal professionals who will wring every last pence out of you if you do. Now, let's have a good time, eh?" Anthony turned on some music and people began to dance.

Near a window, Diaspro, in a shimmery, sweetheart neckline gold knee length dress, matching stilettos and a matching headband in her straightened hair stood with Zinah in her one-shoulder silver knee-length dress and low heeled sandals.

"I don't know why we came dressed like we are the medals at your Olympics thing, but at least we still look good… Diaspro joked.

"Of course. You look good in gold, I look good in silver and bronze sets off Helen's hair rather nicely, don't you think?" Zinah nodded towards Helen, dressed in a high-necked bronze sleeveless shirt, dark bronze pants and brown sandals.

"I certainly think so. Guinness, anyone?" Helen brought over three bottles.

"Helen…" Zinah started, eyeing the bottle in her hand wearily.

"Oh come on, Zee. Just one isn't going to make you drunk. Give you a buzz maybe, but not get you drunk…" Helen took a sip of hers.

"You do remember the last time, don't you?"

"What exactly happened the last time, you two?" Diaspro asked curiously.

"Never mind that, Diaspro…" Zinah muttered darkly.

"Come now. Douglas Finnegan must have had at least half a dozen bottles of stronger stuff already and he isn't even the slightest bit tipsy!"

"Everyone reacts differently to alcohol, Helen. Plus Douglas is Irish! They're used to alcohol flooding their veins!"

"Stereotypes aside since I can name a few about Arabs as well, but I'm no bigot and I'm your friend so I won't…"

Diaspro rolled her eyes and walked away, taking sips of the Guinness. She'd never had beer or stout of any kind before her exile since she usually had wine, champagne and other expensive drinks served at state and regular meals. However, like a lot of more regular things she discovered, it wasn't so bad.

"OW!"

She accidentally bumped into someone, almost spilling what was left of her drink.

"Whoops. Tipsy already?"

"Hardly…"

Diaspro glanced up and saw that it was Anthony she had bumped into.

"Oops. Sorry about that, Anthony…"

"No problem. So, how are you enjoying the festivities so far?" He asked.

"Nice party so far and your family has a lovely flat. Why'd they let you use it like this though?"

"It's just me here now since my parents are visiting friends in China that they met at Uni here and my younger sister Caroline is on a year abroad in New York and wanted to experience an American Christmas… They trust me, so they let me have it, albeit with a couple of rules and regulations which I follow…"

"Ah. Fair enough. So… You say that your sister Caroline is abroad studying for the year… Did you do anything like that?" Diaspro asked.

"No. I studied Law. British law, with a few minor exceptions. I just wanted to stay in Britain for the whole thing but I do hope to spend a bit of time in France once I'm done with what I'm doing now…"

"I'd love to explore this entire planet if I could, but I doubt I have the time and energy for that. Earth is full of fascinating cultures…" Diaspro said wistfully.

"Indeed it is." Anthony nodded in agreement. "So… Would you mind a dance with the host of this soiree?" He grinned, holding out a hand.

"Sure, why not?" Diaspro smiled back.


It was Diaspro's first experience of a Christmas of any kind and even though she was going at it alone for now, she was enjoying it.

If anyone back in Magix was seeing her now, they would not have believed it was her.

She was currently wearing a red and white nightdress, white fluffy sandals and a Santa hat, while dancing around the tiny kitchen with orange juice in a wine glass. Added to the fact that she was singing Jingle Bells loudly and off-key and it would be a rather absurd sight for anyone indeed.

She had a few calls from Helen, Zinah, Anthony and a few other acquaintances wishing her a Merry Christmas and an invitation from Anthony to join him and a few other friends who would otherwise be alone at Christmas to his flat for Christmas dinner.

Flopping in front of the television with a plate of pancakes, sausage and another glass of juice, she sat and watched A Christmas Carol- an older version- and quite enjoyed it.

Earth did have some rather interesting customs and Christmas was one of them. Just one small reason why she was glad she came to Earth after all.


Next few chapters will be a bit of a fusion between LoveLoveLovix's Fly or Fall story and contain some references to season 5. So if you haven't read Fly or Fall, I suggest you do before the next update!