Ciao, miei cari! And... just who am I again?

I'm terribly sorry for not updating this in so long, but high school's a bitch. Here's a new chapter, a bit shorter than the others, to (hopefully?) redeem myself :) I hope you enjoy, and I'll try to update again when I have time.

"What… the hell… just happened?" Anagan asked Ogron back at the sewers. He was holding his shirt up by his collar bone exposing his chiseled, and also bloodied, torso. He was breathing hard as Gantlos healed the slashes and found it difficult to talk correctly. They had fled the scene of the fight hours ago, but Duman wasn't back yet. It was probably twelve at night by then. Anagan drew in a sharp breath as Gantlos accidentally touched one of the deep cuts. "Gah!"

"Sorry," Gantlos replied sincerely. Anagan didn't answer, but he growled and closed his eyes, leaning back against the wall. "And on that note, we need to find Duman at some point. That spell must have been what made him so upset earlier; we need to see if he's ok." Ogron was leaning against the wall again, thinking. "What's with you, Ogron?"

"That spell was in Gaelic. Where would she have learned it?"

"Maybe that angel taught her?" Gantlos suggested. Ogron thought of this as a reasonable explanation and let it go, turning his mind back to the important matter.

"That isn't too far out. But in any case, we really should find Duman as soon as possible. Anagan, you aren't mad at him, are you?"

"Of course not, that brat is some bad news, though. That dollhouse spell was pretty creepy, too…"

"You're telling me," Gantlos said. He finally finished healing Anagan's wounds and helped him stand as Anagan pulled his shirt back down. "C'mon, Duman ran off into the woods. He was on the edge of Blackwater Canyon, maybe he's still there." They flew up to the surface and into the darkness of the quiet night. They flew back towards the woods and, in the process of doing so, went past the love and pet shop. Those Twinx were celebrating their victory. The wizards rolled their eyes in disgust and kept going. Upon reaching the edge of the canyon, they landed and looked around. Their range of vision was limited due to the trees towering over top of them. Gantlos held his fingers to his temple and closed his eyes. After a few moments he opened them and walked along the edge of the cliff. He could sense a large concentration of dark magic looming closer and closer the farther he walked. After a short distance they came upon Duman, sitting in the same position they had seen him in earlier. "Duman." He didn't move from that spot but answered anyway.

"Hey." His friends sat in midair off the side of the cliff so they could be in a circle.

"Why haven't you come back yet?" Anagan asked. Duman shifted anxiously in his seat to look away from him. Anagan raised an eyebrow. "What's wrong?"

"Nothing," he muttered under his breath. Though they didn't know it, this was all a part of Duman's efforts to throw suspicion. Staying out so late, acting strange, it was all fake. He was perfectly fine.

"Duman, I'm not an idiot. What's wrong?" He asked using a firmer tone. When Duman didn't answer him he sighed. "You know I don't blame you, right?"

"Just because you don't blame me doesn't mean it isn't my fault." He said, becoming interested in the grass next to him.

"But it wasn't your fault, Duman," Gantlos said. "That brat had you under a spell—"

"And I should have been able to fight it off!" He raised his voice, causing Gantlos to go silent. "No matter how you sugarcoat it I was the one responsible; it was my carelessness, my action and my claws that made this happen and I can't seem to make peace with myself in any way, shape or form!" He shouted and chucked a rock off of the cliff, hitting a bird and causing it to squeal and fall. This somehow made Duman smirk and snicker. His face immediately fell and he cursed himself for breaking character.

"Come on Duman, we're going back. If you don't come by your own will I'm tying you up and dragging you back by your hair," Gantlos threatened.

"Fine." Duman stood and teleported back to the sewers, followed by his brothers. He sat on the pipe and sighed as he looked at the ceiling. He wanted to see Roxy. He stood. "I'm going out for a bit."

"Didn't we tell you—"

"I'll be fine, Anagan," he said. "I'm just going for a walk." The three older men looked at each other warily.

"Be back in an hour's time," Gantlos said sternly. Duman let out a deadpan laugh.

"Yes Father," and with that he ran off into the sewer in the form of a German Shepard. On and on he sprinted until he found the grate that separated their hiding place from the outside world. He slipped through the bars and walked along. He looked around and transformed into "Ryder" so he wouldn't have to kill any dog catchers. The chilly air bit into his skin as the fallen leaves swirled around him. Autumn was setting in. He tilted his face up and sniffed the air. It smelled of crisp apples and wild honey with freshly baked bread mixing in as a subtle undertone. His ears perked as his footsteps crunched the leaves and tapped on the sidewalk. Nary a soul walked the streets, save his own of course. The darkness and silence of the night was a veil that seemed to conceal life's mysteries, that is, if one was to look hard enough. Soon he found himself across the street from the Love and Pet Shop and the tantalizing scent was replaced by that of sparkling cider, pet shampoo and just a hint of wet dog. He scrunched his nose. He loved his sense of smell, he really did, but it was a curse. The Winx were still dancing to that infernal garbage they dared call music. Alien spaceships breaking down and crashing into Earth; that's all he got from that Dubstep nonsense. And the auto tune used in pop music, what bullshit. He sighed. Roxy was in there; he could see her through the window. She looked happy. He knew better. Her aura was a dingy gray, not the pink he was so used to from her. Once more he sighed. He wanted to see her. He wiped the grimace from his face and replaced it with an easygoing smile. He changed his gait as he walked over, no longer standing tall and proud. He sagged his shoulders only slightly as he made his way over in a laidback fashion. He nudged the door open and heard the tinkling of a bell as he stood on the floor mat. Stella was still talking to her friends as she came over.

"Sorry buddy, but we're closed—" she looked at him and smiled. "Oh my god! You're that hot angel who saved Roxy!" He laughed, the sound sliding through the air like liquid butter.

"So you're closed? I guess I'll just go then," he turned and walked when Stella grabbed his arm and dragged him into the other room where the fairies danced with their specialists.

"Attention, please! Boys, THIS is the angel we were talking about, the one who saved our hides! Please meet Ryder." The teenagers turned to face him. The girls and the guys were overjoyed, all except Nabu. He glared at this 'angel' with a look that could cut through steel. Roxy turned and saw him, brightening and running into his arms.

"RYDER!" She said. He laughed and brought his strong arms around her in a tender embrace. She looked up at him and planted a gentle kiss on his lips. The girls awed and broke their moment while the guys catcalled. Ryder laughed, but he was cursing them in his mind. Roxy whimpered as she turned red and buried her face in his chest.

"OMIGOD that is so CUTE!" Stella said. "How long have you two been a couple?!" The pair looked at each other. Roxy was scared, but Ryder eased her worry.

"I saw her on the street a few days after I met you guys," he said. "I asked her out and she said yes and it was all downhill from there."

"We SO told you, Roxy!" Musa said. Roxy giggled.

"I guess you did." Ryder smiled down at her.

"If you all don't mind, I'd like to take Roxy to the park. What do you think, Babe?" Roxy smiled.

"I'd like that."

"Wait a second," Nabu said. He still held that icy glare into Ryder's eyes. "So you're an angel?"

"FALLEN angel to be exact."

"I've never heard of your kind before," he said as he crossed his arms. Ryder's smile faltered slightly.

"Of course not. Neither had your friends," he said. Nabu growled a bit. "Whoa, down boy."

"Nabu, what is wrong with you?!" Aisha asked.

"I don't trust him." Ryder lost his smile and glared deep into Nabu's soul. It was disconcerting. The girls and specialists backed up and Nabu gulped. He started advancing.

"Listen here, Magician," he started. Roxy held his shoulder and looked into his eyes. He sighed and shook his head before plastering a smile back on his face. "I don't know why you don't trust me." Everyone raised an eyebrow and Roxy stepped in front of him.

"Nabu, I know you think he's out to hurt me, but he's not, I promise," she looked at Ryder and smiled. She looked back to Nabu and frowned. "Even if you don't trust him, I do and you have no place in MY relationships. We'll be leaving now." Roxy turned with a flip of her hair. "C'mon, Ryder." She walked like a girl with a purpose towards the door. Ryder shrugged his shoulders with that smile.

"M'Lady calls," he said as he looked over everyone. He looked at Nabu and smirked. Nabu raised an eyebrow. He could have sworn he'd seen a glint of gold. Ryder snickered. "I think it's best if you don't get in my way, Magician." He turned and shoved his hands into his pockets before walking to Roxy who had her hand on the door, glaring at Nabu. She flipped her hair and walked out. Ryder put his arm around her and she smiled. They walked away and Nabu grimaced.

"What was that about?" Sky asked. Nabu growled.

"There's something going on that we don't know about," Nabu said. "Did you see how he smirked at me? I swear I saw his eyes change color. And then he laughed like that and said what he said; he HAS to be evil!"

"He has a point," Tecna said. "Why would he say that?"

"I'm sure he's perfectly fine," Flora said.

Roxy and Ryder were walking along outside when Duman broke the silence in his own voice.

"I think he's onto us," he growled.

"He's onto the fact that you're evil," Roxy said. "I don't know what to do about that."

"You and me both, Roxy-Rox," he said. She giggled and he held her tighter. They reached the park and Duman looked around before transforming into the German Shepard. "Ok, wanna continue our own little magic training?" Roxy brightened.

"Absolutely, yes!" Duman chuckled.

"Alright, we'll cover transformation today. However," he held a paw up. "We'll start with the basics: remaining in this form, but changing your appearance. Try and change your hair color."

"How?"

"Think of a color you'd really like it to be, and concentrate on it." Roxy thought and closed her eyes. Slowly she started to glow and her face of concentration grew more labored. She started whimpering and sweating. "Come on, Roxy," he said encouragingly. She focused one last time and blue traveled out of her part and down to the tips of her hair with one yellow stripe among it. "Good job!" Roxy opened her eyes and grinned at her hair.

"Oh my god, I did it!" She said.

"I'm proud of you, Rox," he said. "Now, try a full body transformation." Roxy nodded and closed her eyes. She started glittering and changed into a puppy. "Good job," he chuckled. Roxy laughed.

"This is so much fun!"

"Isn't it?" They spent the rest of the evening transforming into random things and making each other laugh like crazy before Roxy had to go home. Duman kissed her good night and went back to the sewers. This time he remembered to replace her scent with that of fall. He walked into the dry spot and his friends were standing over him with their arms crossed. "Hey," he said.

"What happened to being back in an hour?" Gantlos growled. Duman raised an eyebrow.

"I got distracted chasing squirrels," he lied. They sighed and each rubbed their foreheads.

"Whatever," Anagan said. Duman shrugged his shoulders and walked over to his corner, becoming a bat and flying to the pipe above him. He was asleep in no time. Ogron motioned for Anagan and Gantlos to join him back above ground.

"What's going on with him?" he asked.

"I don't know, but there's something he's not telling us," Anagan said.

"Something in the Omega Dimension changed him, either that or losing to a bratty fairy is really making him angry," Gantlos said.

"Gantlos," Anagan said. Gantlos looked at him. "Earlier you said that it seems as though something is in his heart. What'd you mean by that?" Gantlos looked off into the distance.

"I'm not even sure anymore," he said. "I think there was something he cherished… or something like that," he said. Ogron sighed.

"Who knows? All we can do is hope it gets straightened out.

As soon as the wizards left, Roxy arrived. "Duman, wake up!" Duman slowly opened his eyes and flew down, changing into his hominid form.

"What's up?"

"I have an idea on how to make Nabu think you're on our side," she said.

"Really? How?" He asked. Roxy giggled.

"Uh, it's a surprise, but first let's leave before your brothers come back."

"Ok," Duman said suspiciously. He stood up. "Where do you wanna go?"

"Some house in another country, preferably France or Japan."

"That's a strange request," he said. "Why that?" Roxy giggled again.

"You'll see," she said. Duman shrugged his shoulders and teleported them to an empty clearing in some forest in France, where the sun was beginning to rise. "Uh, where's the house?"

"This was the first place I thought of," he said. He snapped his fingers and a large mansion appeared. It looked to be made of white stone and it was gorgeous. "No one ever comes near this forest; I'm pretty sure it has never been explored 'cos people think it's haunted or whatever," he snickered. "It's just the imps, but I've convinced them to stay along the perimeter so no one comes in. We're in the middle of the forest, so no one will see it." Roxy hugged and kissed him.

"You're a genius!" she said. "Now let's go inside." They walked in and down to the basement. "Ok, first things first, make a Ryder," Roxy said. "I have no clue how to word that…" Duman laughed.

"I get it," and Ryder appeared next to her. "What now?"

"Now, go to sleep. Next time you wake up your friends should be watching through one of those spells."

"Are you gonna tell me what the surprise is?" Roxy giggled.

"You'll figure out when you wake up," she said. "But don't even hint at the fact that we're dating or it'll be ruined." Duman sighed and sat against the wall.

"If you say so," he said. "Night, Roxy."

"Sweet dreams," she said. Duman could hear an evil tone in her voice. He had no idea what he'd gotten himself into.

"Where is he?" Anagan asked when the wizards woke up the next morning. Earlier they'd assumed he'd just gone on another walk, but even he wouldn't be out for that long.

"Let's go look," Gantlos said in an exasperated tone. They flew out and all around Gardenia, stopping at his favorite places. Eventually they were met by a very confused group of do-gooders.

"Hey Rick," Bloom said as the girls and guys walked into the Frutti Music Bar. "Is Roxy anywhere?" He looked up from the glass he was cleaning and raised an eyebrow.

"I thought she was with you…" he said.

"No, she left last night and went to the park," Flora said slowly. "Didn't she come home last night?"

"No," he said. "What do you think happened to her?!" Nabu and Tecna looked at each other. RYDER.

"Uh," Stella said. "We'll go look for her, yeah?" She started pushing everyone out the door. "We'll see you later!" He waved and rubbed his forehead. Once outside, Tecna and Nabu crossed their arms.

"Ryder," Nabu said. "He was the last person we saw her with; he had to have done something to her!"

"Oh calm down," Aisha said. "I'm sure he didn't do anything."

"Let's just find her!" They flew around Gardenia, stopping at her favorite places. Eventually they were met by a very confused group of ne'er-do-wells.

"You three!" Musa shouted as she pointed to them. "What'd you do with Roxy?!" The Winx and Specialists got into fighting stances.

"Right now we don't give a shit about your little fairy friend," Ogron said. "Duman is nowhere to be found."

"Maybe they're off fighting somewhere," Helia suggested. "It wouldn't be the first time."

"This is true. How about a temporary truce until we find our respective friends?" Ogron asked. The girls and specialists looked at each other and Bloom stepped forward.

"Deal," she said as she shook his hand.

"Now where could they be?" Brandon asked.

"Over watch spell," Gantlos said as he cast a ball of magic from his outstretched fingers. "Easy enough." Everyone watched as the image materialized.

Duman fluttered his eyes open and looked around. He was chained to the wall in the basement of the mansion. Gotta act confused. He looked down and immediately shot his eyes wide. "WHAT THE FUCKING HELL?!" He roared. Everyone watching had their jaws on the ground, for Duman was wearing a meido outfit; tutu, Maryjane's, frilly socks and all. He looked up and Roxy had one hand on her knees and the other holding her stomach. "YOU FUCKING BRAT!" She stood up straight and wiped a tear.

"Oh my, I think I've found myself a fetish," she said with a laugh. She held her chin and paced. "Now, what to put your brothers in and how to do it…" she said. Ogron, Gantlos and Anagan blinked their eyes a few times and backed up slightly. "I'm thinking," she made the outfits appear as she said them. "Nurse-Gantlos, Neko-Anagan, and… oh, now what to put Ogron in," she snickered. The three wizards turned pale.

"What is with her?!" Sky asked.

"Stupid Earth Fairy," he growled as he changed himself back to his normal clothes. "I swear you're a fucking sadist," Duman muttered. "Even I'M not that evil." Roxy sniggered.

"Maybe I am, Maybe I'm not." Duman growled.

"I hate you, you stupid brat," he said as he jerked himself forward. However, the chains stopped him. "What?"

"Sorry Madame Maid," Roxy snickered. "Not even you can break those."

"That's right," a voice said. Ryder walked out of the darkness with that same easygoing smile.

"I KNEW IT!" Nabu and Tecna said at once.

"I've reinforced them. They're stronger than diamond and they absorb strength."

"Stupid brats," Duman muttered. "And who the fuck are you?" Ryder snickered.

"I'm Ryder. I'm a fallen angel, AND Roxy's boyfriend," he said as he put an arm around her. "So, you're the infamous Duman I've heard so much about?"

"What's it to you?"

"I thought you were dead, but apparently I was wrong."

"Yes, congratulations on noticing that I am, in fact, alive," he said sarcastically. "Now let me go." Duman jolted and yelled as electricity arced into his body. He shook violently and fell limp, breathing hard.

"What in the name of Eraklyon," Sky said. Everyone had their jaws on the floor.

"Remember what I said about me being your master?" Roxy said. "You have a shock bracelet on, and I control it. Don't defy me, pet." She smiled at Ryder. "Why don't we head to the kitchen for champagne?"

"I'd love that, M'Lady," he said as he linked arms with her. The pair walked up the stairs and the door slammed shut.

"Well that explains where they are," Riven said.

"That fucking angel," Gantlos said.

"I still think he's evil! Think about it; Roxy's acting really weird lately, and it started when she started dating him! He HAS to be turning her evil or something!" Nabu said.

"I think you might be on to something," Timmy added. Tecna pulled up a schematic of Ryder's body.

"Look," she said. "There's a strong concentration of dark energy near his heart. He IS a fallen angel, but that's still weird."

"Ok, so he's probably turning her evil. We still have to find them," Brandon said.

"Gantlos, can you find Duman's magic trail?" Bloom asked. Gantlos closed his eyes, but shook his head.

"No," he said. "I don't think he's in this country."

"Well isn't that just dandy," Stella said as she plopped to the ground. "What now?"

"Gantlos," Ogron said. "Remember when I taught you how to find anything you needed by going into the atmosphere and looking from there?" Gantlos looked up in thought.

"Oh yeah," he said. "I'll be back." He shot into the sky and out of sight.

"How long will that take?" Riven asked. Gantlos appeared right next to Anagan. "Never mind."

"Duman is in a forest somewhere in Europe," he said. "And if you're lucky, Roxy will be there, too."

"Alright then," Bloom said. "I guess we're off to Europe." In puffs of glitter and black smoke, the place they were standing was left deserted.

X3 thank my friend MissDiRed for the meido idea ~.~' Heheh... so there's that.