Guest: Thanks! I will. This story is almost done.

Chapter Twenty-Two: Overreaching

Riven and Aisha were on the first ride to Magix. Regina was fatigued and bruised, but otherwise fine. After sleep and a meal, she was back to her usual self. It wasn't good enough for Riven. He no longer trusted anyone with his kids so Caspian and Liliane were with them. Aisha wanted to see Regina before she made any decisions; but Riven had made up his mind. He wanted to pull Regina out of Alfea.

Surprising to the Androsian royals they were met strong opposition from their daughter, Regina. She didn't want to go back to Andros and be watched. She argued that she could protect herself and if she couldn't the Winx would. Riven laughed at her saying that she was delusional. It only made the yelling worse. Caspian and Liliane stayed out of it. It was shocking to see such a display from Regina. She usually listened to their parents, with a grumble, but never rebellion. Aisha was on Riven's side. She knew firsthand that it was dangerous to be a member of the Winx and didn't see how it could work without help from a unit of Specialists. They also didn't know about the leadership.

"I'm the leader." Ismene said, butting into their fight.

"What?!" Riven wasn't pleased to hear that. He knew Ismene only as the girl that tormented Regina. He didn't see how she could be a leader or how Regina could listen to her. "Is that supposed to change my mind?"

Ismene nodded. "Yes. We're a unit now."

Aisha folded her arms and looked at Regina. "And you're okay with this?"

"Not really, but she did alright leading the mission in Shadow Haunt."

"Alright?! Semiramis was-"

"With all due respect, King Riven, Semiramis would have never have been hurt if she had followed directions. She was told not to go."

"And you're okay with losing one of your own?" asked Aisha

"Having no powers isn't a death sentence." Ismene folded her own arms. "We do good. We're learning to protect ourselves and each other. You know, we are the first fairy/witch collaborative group since the Company of Light. As an advocate for fairy/witch relations, it seems odd you'd want to disband the group."

Riven smacked his teeth. "I couldn't care less about that. How are you two going to work together?"

"We're already roommates." Ismene argued.

Regina nodded. "Besides you and Sky don't see eye to eye, but you all worked fine."

Aisha and Riven looked at each other. They weren't used to Ismene and Regina agreeing on anything especially about working together. Aisha shook her head and caved. "Fine."

"Fine?" Riven and Regina asked simultaneously.

"Fine for now. We still have to talk with everyone else about this anyway."

"I'd like to be there when you do." Ismene said without backing down. "We deserve a say."

Riven snorted and walked away. Aisha looked at Regina with a frown. "Make sure you speak to your brother and sister. They missed you."

Meanwhile...

Euphoria had escaped the drama and went into the woods. It was a perfect night, the first she'd been alone in a while. It was dark and full of stars. The moon was full and large in the sky. The wind blew and sent a shiver down her spine. She loved nights like that. Her mind was full of ideas so she began to write.

"This will be easier than I thought."

Euphoria looked up to see two men in long coats looking at her. They looked familiar, but she wasn't sure who they were. She knew they weren't friendly. She transformed only to be immediately knocked out by Ogron's magical blast. Gantlos picked her up and tossed her over her shoulder. "How much is this one supposed to be worth?"

"Hundreds of millions, not a bad way to get back into business."

"Damn straight."

Ogron and Gantlos got onto a ship and tossed Euphoria onto its floor. They took off. She didn't come to until they were halfway to their destination. She opened her eyes and blasted Ogron. He absorbed the blast and turned to Euphoria. "Whose daughter are you again?"

"...Stella and Helia's," she answered. She was nervous. He just absorbed her attack like it was nothing.

"Ah the blonde one, I guess that explains it." Ogron smiled wickedly.

Euphoria swallowed and tried not to let him get to her. "Who are you?"

"Who are we? You hear that Gantlos, we weren't even mentioned in her bedtime stories. We're what's left of the Wizards of the Black Circle."

"Wizards of the Black Circle? My friend, Topaz is-"

"Anagan's brat, we were told. That has nothing to do with our business."

Euphoria sat back and tried to close her eyes again. She needed to go to sleep. She was hoping she could signal Ismene and her friends could rescue her. Her adrenaline was too high for that to happen. "What do you want with me?"

"Don't worry your pretty head about such things; we'll let you keep your wings ...for now."

Eventually, the wizards landed. Gantlos grabbed her by the arm and pulled her out of the craft. They walked to a small shack. Euphoria tried to fight, but Gantlos dragged her anyway. She tried to reason with the wizards, but her offer of money, even a million dollars made them laugh. She was surprised to see someone standing at the door. Euphoria didn't know who he was at first, but eventually his features came through perfectly. He looked her age, but she knew better. He was tall, dark handsome and twisted. Euphoria pulled harder to escape Gantlos. It was Nabu.

The wizards were just as surprised to see the Androsian wizard. "Hello," Nabu greeted, nonchalantly.

"Now what is it that you want?"

Nabu looked into Euphoria's silver eyes. She swallowed and raised her head. Despite the fear in her eyes, she was radiant, more beautiful than the moon and stars. Nabu found himself unable to look away. "You know what I'd like you to do."

"No deal," Gantlos grunted. She was worth too much to throw away.

"Now hold on Gantlos" Ogron walked around Nabu. "You can't forget this one has money; he was rich enough to marry a princess. For the right price he could pay her ransom and do whatever he wants with her."

Nabu didn't follow Ogron, but continued to look at Euphoria. "I'd prefer if you could just let her go. There are plans I have for her and you all are interfering."

Ogron and Gantlos looked at each other and laughed. "Just let her go? He has gone mad!"

The Earth wizards continued to laugh; Nabu didn't seemed fazed. "What are your plans for her?"

Gantlos frowned. "None of your business."

"Well that's too bad." Nabu looked elsewhere and nodded. Ogron felt a sting in his back and howled in pain. He'd been shot! Ogron fell to his knees, no longer able to feel them. Gantlos pushed Euphoria away and ran to his fallen comrade. The shove had inadvertently saved Euphoria's life; the next one was for her. Euphoria put a shield around herself as shots continued to rain upon them. Gantlos created a quake which caused Nabu to stumble. The star fairy could barely maintain her shield with the rumbling. Gantlos scooped Ogron into his arms and ran to their ship to get medical attention. Euphoria still kept her barrier until the shooting stopped; after a couple of minutes had John run out of bullets. Nabu gave her a small smile and walked away.

Euphoria looked at the retreating figure of Nabu. Was he really walking away? Although she was pressing her luck, she stood up and ran after him. From her perspective, he had saved her from being kidnapped and sold. Nabu stopped walking and turned to face Euphoria. It was different from the last time they met. She was in her own body, but she still wore the same expression. Her bluish-black hair flowed behind her. The moon glossed over her features and made her look nymphish in his eyes. Her eyes were very expressive; they were washed in curiosity, empathy and confusion. "You saved me."

"I'm afraid that you're overreaching. We just ran out of bullets."

"You're not going to kill me yourself?" Nabu looked into her silver eyes. At first he thought she was testing him, but had asked in shock.

"...I can't."

Euphoria smiled. "You said that when I was in Lucy's body, but now I'm myself. I'm starting to think that you don't really want to kill us. You haven't even made attempts to break up our parents. You've only attacked us and everything has been done indirectly."

"But they were done. You're overreaching, daughter of Stella."

"Then kill me." She was taking a huge risk, but she was sure he wouldn't do it. Nabu turned from her and started walking away. Euphoria breathed in relief. That gamble was too much for her. "I dream about you," she revealed. "You're also sweet then and I don't think my mind created that personality; there has to be more to you than this blind ambition."

"Blind ambition? It's not blind. They all just moved on! Everything's different now."

"You can change too. It'll take time, but you can! You're not a villain."

Nabu agreed. "I'm not, but he is."

John jumped into the space separating her and Nabu. She couldn't see who he was through his hood so it made her more defensive. She shot a giant star at him. John blocked it with a shield of static. John held his hand out. His hand buzzed before shooting a blast of electricity. Euphoria blocked it with her shield until it broke. John didn't give her time to make another so she had to dodge them. The last one knocked her out of the sky. John smirked. "I knew you'd be the easiest to beat." John's hands buzzed louder than the first time. Euphoria closed her eyes when a large gust of wind blew past her. John was knocked back. Euphoria and John looked up to see Ismene and Topaz floating above them. Ismene helped Euphoria get up while Topaz sent a tornado after John. When the winds cleared, both John and Nabu were gone.

"It's not a good idea to get yourself kidnapped while we're trying to convince the parents we can handle this!" Ismene scolded. "We don't have a team of specialists at the time either. Until that time comes, don't go anywhere by yourself, stupid!"

"I'm sorry." Euphoria said. "How'd you find me?"

"I sensed you were unconscious. You don't sleep until the early AMs," Ismene said with a shrug. "Enough questions, let's get back to campus before they come back or Riven and Aisha notice we all are gone."

"Yeah..."


John walked into the hideout and took his cloak off. Nabu was looking at his fireplace. Euphoria's taunts wouldn't leave his mind. He couldn't believe he just walked away. He just couldn't make himself do it. "She had backup, Topaz and that bitch, Ismene."

"It's okay, this wasn't the way I wanted her to go anyway."

John chuckled. "Are you sure you want her to go? You had a perfect opportunity. She wasn't even putting up a fight."

"Is that what you think?"

John shrugged. "It doesn't matter what I think."

"Maybe it's true and I really don't want to destroy them," Nabu said. "Euphoria was right there and I didn't didn't do anything. For the second time I've been with her and I've just let her go."

"Euphoria? You always call them by their parents' names. Now she's Euphoria."

Nabu shrugged. "It doesn't matter what I call her. It doesn't even matter if I don't want to do it anymore. There are plans set in place. This generation will be destroyed."

(A/N) I want to end this chapter on a multiple of five. What's in my mind requires more than 25 chapters, but less than 30. I know it's a stupid dilemma, but it's bothering me. I think I could live with 28.

Next Chapter: Euphoria recognizes the voice that taunted her.