In memories of


"EHHHHHH, BY THE GREAT DRAGON!" Birdy screamed waking up everyone. Besides their plan to take shifts on watch duties. They all had fallen asleep exhausted from the hours of fighting and conflict they had faced.

Tasu dashed through the broken ceiling window with a water sphere at the ready. Fully transformed and confused that she still had been on the roof, "What, where?!" Quickly she searched for the enemy. Yet perplexed she stared at the monstruum of a Mini Lou that currently was sucking on some leftover zombie slime amongst a few wisps. It had grown to the size of a bigger dog. "How in Magix…"

Blade had her chakram activated and instantly checked her belt pocket. The Mini Lou she had stuffed inside at the stone gate near the marketplace was gone. "It's gone! Is that? No way… how long were we out?"

Tessa tilted her head, "Wasn't it pink?" She sensed no black or dark magic from it. Yet most of its dark purple body had turned blackish and neon green stripes had appeared. The flowery pink colour had only remained at its outer mantel skirt layer where the slime was secreted.

The tower shell as well had turned blackish and had dark green stripes instead of the old bright yellow and purple colours.

"What's the ruckus…" Nebula shook her head as she got to her feet. "Was that thing here before…." She was totally confused. "Am I still dreaming…" She mumbled to herself.

The blue ghost hovered into the hall from the roof as well, "Why the uproar, isn't it your pet? Was it not supposed to eat the slime? Didn't you bring the Lou Carcolh here for that exact reason?" The ghost was rather chill about the whole situation. "You all should get some more rest. I keep watch, no problem. You barely recovered from your last battle."

Blade checked her bracelet for the time. They had slept almost five hours or at least she had. The last thing she remembered was that she had noticed Nebula watching over them and smiling at her and telling her to rest some more. 'I must have fallen right back to sleep after that.' She thought to herself.

"You should have woken us!" Tasu scolded the ghost.

"Foolish, fairies. You can play tough as much as you want to, you all needed to get your strength back. Besides, you cleared out every zombie in the nearby vicinity. It will take the others some time to notice and follow the call of Drion. And I was keeping watch from up top." He pointed at the roof. "I don't need sleep after all. Perks of being dead."

"As long as we are safe…" Birdy sat back down again, the mini Lou seemed to be no threat. So, they all ignored it for the time being. Birdy recalled the battler. Again, she had resorted to turning lifeforce into magic to keep the zombies at bay. And just like with the bear incident she could feel the after-effects. Her head was ringing and she felt sluggish. Tessa seemed not much better. Actually, all of them had resorted to the same tactic to some extent. "…it's not like we can use burnout every time we face more zombies. If we do that we'll die regardless of the fact if we win these skirmishes or not."

"Burnout?" Nebula frowned.

"Yes, or how do you think we were able to keep shooting spells and transform besides being depleted several times. Everything has a drawback. If we keep doing this, worst case we die from burning out. Short term it, just, diminishes your overall magic pool. Where did you think the bright white light comes from when you go beyond your limits? Honestly…yet, since we're stuck on a zombie planet that's bad enough on its own if you ask me. There is a reason one can only use it in extreme situations or by forcing oneself with pure willpower." Birdy elaborated on the topic.

"Bright light…" Blade instantly had to think of Jewels. "Can't be… did Jewels…"

Everyone gazed upon Blade who started crying again. They all stood there silent for a moment. It was the big elephant in the room. They had to talk about what had happened. Blade had not explained why Jewels was no longer with them. They never had real time for it, since problems had toppled one after another. And they all had been so angry and frustrated at each other, that no one had really tried to listen. It was clear as day that Blade was hurting as badly as them from the losses they had suffered. Tessa breathed out aloud. She had been so hostile and beside herself. Still, some anger lingered within her regardless. "Please, Blade. Help me understand. Help us all understand. I get it sometimes one is so scared you can't move." She bitterly remembered the zombie attack just hours ago, where she had given up all hope, she had no right to accuse her, and yet she couldn't help herself. She sighed again. "Bad things happen. I - I just want to understand…what happened to my friend - our friend…I got to know."

The ghost nodded, "You talk, I'll go take watch again." Quickly he left the room to the girls.

"Alright," Tasu landed and transformed back. "Can we at least agree on a few rules beforehand? We let her talk and finish. There is no point in starting another fight amongst each other again. Someone's upset, punch the wall or something, alright? We can't risk further injuries. And you Blade, please be as detailed as you can and answer questions as best as possible. We need to be able to count and trust each other."

All nodded in agreement. They all set down next to the door mechanism. Blade breathed in. "I'm… I'm not sure where to start…" She collected her thoughts.

"Well, I was last with you. That was then – then we killed the general…well Ife did the last blow…" Nebula kind of interrupted bitterly. She balled her fists, as anger arose in her.

"What?!" Birdy was baffled, "You, you got that bastard? But then… Ife…wasn't that your maid? Blade where is she then? Do you think she got through the ocean gate?" She like the others who just got the news felt some sort of satisfaction. Yet she had picked up on the sad undertone.

"No, she did not." Blade closed her eyes as she bit her lip. "She died. She sacrificed herself just like Jewels did…" Blade was shaking from anger. "I was too weak to save her as well…Why?! Why did she have to die? She was just a kid. Aren't we supposed to save the people? I should have- there had to be - Why wasn't I strong enough, why?!" She ground her teeth as she burst out in tears. Her chest felt as if it was ripping apart. She couldn't stop the tears from rolling down her cheek.

"We both weren't," Nebula added in an equally bitter voice and she leaned on her. "General Neferu would have killed us both if it wasn't for her. And what thanks could we give her, none, he scorched so badly she was gone in seconds." Nebula elaborated, however, she couldn't help but cry as well. It all was so frustrating. The girls gathered closer, comforting the two and each other.

Tessa felt terrible. Yes, she was still angry, yet her friends were hurting. They all were, they all had seen horrors none of them had believed to be possible. She took both their hands and pressed them tightly. "I- I am so sorry. I didn't know…if I had known…She was such a help at the stairs…"

"And she was so young…" Tasu remembered the girl vaguely. She had not given her much of a thought before. Now it made her feel even more guilty for no good reason.

Birdy could only shake her head as she hugged her friends. They all went in for a group huddle.

"So many died, it sucks. What were we even trying to achieve? ..." Nebula whispered as she embraced the hugs.

After a while of no one, talking Blade continued. "We lost many in that cave," Blade rubbed away her tears. "After we got rid of the gen- that bastard- I sent Nebula to you guys." Her voice was still shaky. "I and Jewels met up at the gate where Lord Adom was.

"Lord Adom!" Birdy just now realised. "They were all in the back…there is no way they- you think they are still buried in need of help? Kaphiri was with him…don't tell me…"

"We lost them too." Tasu folded her hands above her head. She had never realised the scope of losses they had suffered. Pictures of the drowning civilians at the ocean gate popped into her head. She had to turn around to puke.

"Hey, you alright?" Tessa freaked out a bit scared that she had some injuries they had not noticed. She tried her hardest to suppress her feelings. However, even she felt her stomach-turning upside down. The memories of the battlefield and all those panicked people were nothing she so easily could forget.

"I'm fine…" Tasu tried to regain her composure.

They all huddled together leaning against the cool wall laying their heads on each other's shoulders and holding hands as Blade tried to continue her report.

Blade breathed in, "I don't know if they survived, it would be a miracle. No, I think not. Lord Adom and Kaphiri went inside the shield room. Someone had tampered with it. It was corrupted by one of those red crystals. I barely could stop Jewels from rushing inside as well. She knew what it meant. She was devastated, she out of all of us… she had lost the most. I can't even imagen how she felt… her parents, all those friends and subjects. She had a real heart for all of them. She loved her people…"

All nodded in agreement as they were balling their eyes out. Tasu created some small water bubbles. Their throats were already dry and their bodies were still dehydrated from all the fighting. "And to think that those bastards left their own people behind to save themselves. Disgraceful. If I ever get my hands on them I'll-" Her own water bubble burst as she lost focus and anger arose inside her.

"What do you mean?" Nebula asked slightly confused.

"Well, many of the wizards used their magic to crawl past the fleeing masses and left Desertia. They left us all to die. The portal broke down several times because so many were exhausted. I heard some talking, they said that there was no way of telling when and where people would pop out on the other side. There seems to be a possibility of time laps if the ocean gates are not opened by the gatekeepers. It only grows worse the more people you use to keep the portal open. Makes me sick. That so many civilians had more courage than those trained soldiers…" Tasu explained with a trembling voice. Her face darkened from her fury.

"Time laps?" Blade's eyes widened in shock.

"Don't tell me we could be years into the future. We had no gatekeeper either!" Tessa fell into a slight panic.

"No…I don't think so," Blade checked her bracelet and checked straight away for system errors. The watch had not shown any time lapses, yet without a MagicWeb-Tower. The clock was running in manual mode. There was no way to be sure.

"I don't think so either," Tasu added after she had calmed down again, "The wizards, I heard, said something about around max two weeks or so… no one can control it. And you can't go into the past or anything, otherwise, we would have heard about it before in school or newspaper."

"Still…" Birdy sighed. "It means, till we get back, Desertia might be already overrun. And who knows what stories are already being circulated. How in Magix are we supposed to save Desertia, now?!" She was completely overwhelmed by the idea of already being too late.

Tessa chuckled painfully amused, "Who knows how long we need to find this ocean gate or if we can make it work…" She facepalmed. They all were so over their heads into problems.

"We will," Blade stated determinedly. "I promised Jewels, myself, we'll get those bastards for what they did." She hissed frustrated. "Jewels did not sacrifice herself to let a lie go down in history."

"Blade, you tried to say that quite a few times now…" Nebula asked reluctantly, "What exactly happened after I left for the ocean gate. That huge shield spell. I thought it was Lord Adom…but if he never made it there…"

Blade nodded, "It was Jewels."

"What?" all the other girls were perplexed.

"You're kidding. Jewels even with her Charmix is… wasn't that powerful. Did you guys make a convergence spell?! There is no way-" Tessa interrupted her.

"Hey, we agreed on letting her finish her sentences." Tasu reminded them. Eager to hear the resolution of the mystery.

Blade breathed out deeply, "Yes…you're right. Charmix wouldn't have been enough. She … she used her Enchantix form."

"ENCHANTIX?!" Tasu exclaimed, breaking her own rule. Yet of all the things that was something she would have never guessed.

Blade nodded and smiled slightly, "And from what you said before Birdy. She must have burned every last ounce of her lifeforce."

"What? Wait not so fast, back up a bit… We retreated with the forces from the narrowing…" Birdy slowed her friend down. Trying to grasp what Balde was telling them all.

Blade breathed in once more, "Alright. After Lord Adom closed the gate behind them. We were attacked by the mother Lou." She paused their own Lou kept eating all that zombie goo like an all-you-can-eat buffet. Yet the wisps did not react to it. 'Let's hope it only grows bigger through it, not evil… the ghost didn't seem to mind. Those things must have been wildly known back when he was alive…' She refocused on the discussion. "Anyways. We had our work cut out for ourselves. See, what I forgot to mention is… that shield crystal was what awoke and empowered the Lou again with black magic. No one had guessed that possibility. The sabotage was idiotic. I am sure Court Mage Shabaka was the one who did it. I have no idea what he wanted to achieve through that, though. Makes no sense whatsoever to me."

"Shabaka? But he died even before we got to the tunnels?" Tessa asked mystified. "What makes you think it was him?"

"I…okay…I'm sorry…really I am… I…" Blade stopped. She was afraid to tell the others of the prison break. Could they possibly understand her reasoning? They didn't like sorceresses. To them, they were witches, up to nothing good.

"Tell us Blade…" Birdy tried to encourage her, but also, she was wondering why Blade apologised out of the blue.

"Can't be that bad." Nebula commented. "We are friends nothing will change that."

"You say that now…" Blade scratched her head, she was so unsure how to break the news.

"Just spit it out," Tasu replied. "We promised to punch walls, not you."

"Fine," Blade sighed, "Off with the bandage. Remember the love letter I got? It actually was a letter from Alyssa."

"Alyssa? That witch?!" Nebula raised her voice. "I knew it, something was fishy! Wait. They destroyed the damn tower and…"

"We said we let her speak," Tessa warned Nebula. She was eager to hear what Blade had kept a secret. All were silent waiting for Blade to continue.

"I met Alyssa the next night… she requested that as payback for saving us at the bear incident… I…I had to free Steela from prison." Blade continued slowly.

"No way… you didn't…" Nebula couldn't believe it. She actually had been right. Blade had worked with the witches. "You can't be serious! I searched all over town for you!"

Blade didn't want her to jump to any wild conclusions so she hurried the story along, "Yes, I did. Or rather we did. I personally never believed that the sorceresses would be so stupid as to destroy the tower, there was nothing to gain. And I could not refuse the request from Alyssa, she saved your life, Birdy. And mine as well…" Blade looked at her.

Birdy sighed, "All because of me… you went and did something so foolish?"

"No, it wasn't foolish. I am sure now. It wasn't them. See, I went to Jewels. I told her that I would break out Steela or well get caught trying. She agreed to come with. We actually managed to break them out. Together."

"Wait… but I heard that some old hags… that was you two?" Tasu added perplexed. She had picked up on many rumours and chit-chat from the soldiers and maids.

"Yes, we used some super old potions… never mind the details. I'll tell you another time how we did that. Anyways, we had to get them off the planet so, that night we went to the ocean gate. Jewels made a new deal with them. She gave them some official mission papers and asked them to calm the witches down and to stay put until the banishment could be lifted again. Steela and Alyssa left before the assassination and everything. Plus, the mother Lou was not corrupted at that time at all. And Isis the gatekeeper was alive and well. They couldn't have possibly reached the shield room or the cave without us. Yet, on our way up…we…we met Court Mage Shabaka, together with the messenger for Zenith." She paused. "I also found that messenger dead next to the bottom stairs then we finally got there with all the civilians. If I only had taken up the king's request to go myself…" Blade cursed her own decision.

"You would be dead right now," Tasu commented blandly. "So, you think Shabaka corrupted the planet shield and the mother Lou? I get the Mother Lou and the gatekeeper but why the shield?"

"I heard that the shield was under much distress because the witches tried to get back to the planet… maybe… those red crystals reinforce kind of anything really." Birdy speculated.

"Idiot…" Tessa rammed her fist into the ground. "He tried the easy way and corrupted all the animals. Not to mention all the casualties they took on their sides. Power blinded fucking dick heads!" Tessa cursed them all.

Nebula stared at Blade, she didn't know what to say. She had thought that she had been totally wrong about Blade working with witches ever since she had gotten attacked by the nobles. Yet she had gone to break them out as she had been fighting for her life. "…fuck me…Why the heck didn't you ask us for help!?"

"Ask you for help? You thought I was an evil mastermind of doom." Blade commented. "Would you truly have helped us?"

"Maybe not she, but you could have asked us…" Tasu replied a bit pissed.

"There was not much time. I don't know… maybe that's just a bad excuse… I, we just wanted to get it done and over with… I am truly sorry." Blade apologised anew. She gazed at Nebula, "If I would have been honest, you wouldn't have gotten hurt…It's all my fault." She let her head sink.

Nebula shook her head slightly, "No, that was my foolishness. It was my choice to go alone, I easily could have made my case to the others. Besides none of us could have known I would run into that lying snake Talibah. Also… I met Aryan in the sewers he saved me. He was the one to contact Lord Adom. Without them… who knows what would have happened inside the palace. We probably would never have reached the cave at all. As much as I hate to admit it… I was wrong. About a lot of things, I always thought striving for power meant becoming evil. Just like Tritannus…"

"Tritannus?" Birdy was confused, "How does he…"

"That's…My parents, my whole family were good friends of his. He always came to us complaining about how weak he was. He was never able to satisfy his father's demands for greatness. He's a real piece of work. And then one day he came in that hideous black magic form of his… He requested… or rather ordered my parents to help him conquer all of Andros, land and the seas…. My parents refused him. And he without a second thought turned them into his minions."

Blade jaw dropped, "That's horrible no wonder you hate witches so much. The Trix were there as well, weren't they? I'm so sorry, I thought you were going slightly nuts there. Accusing me without reasons."

"Everyone has their reasons, even if we do not know them…" Birdy recalled, "That Neferu… Kaphiri said something about his son dying on a mission. And he completely snapped. Not that I agree with him, but losing someone changes you…" She tried to remember the conversation, but it was a bit of a haze.

"It does…" Nebula agreed, "The Winx weren't the great saviours people make them out to be. At least not to me. My uncle killed my turned parents to protect all who were in the mansion, me included. Till this day I held it against him. I am not even sure I can forgive him completely now… My parents always taught me to try and reach out, never to kill. But when I was faced with the fire caracals all I could think of was killing them before they killed me…" Nebula shivered as the memories of those beasts came to mind.

"Always try to reach out, never to kill… it's a great ideal. A solid moral compass…" Blade smiled. It reminded her of the kindness her parents had taught her.

"Yes, but without power to back it up… even then. Some beings are pure evil. Not everyone can be saved or wants to be saved. The mother Lou… no way…" Birdy stated her opinion.

"Yes, but surely the Winx would have been able to break the corruption." Tasu hypothesised.

Tessa chuckled, "But not everyone can be like them. They are beyond gifted. Besides, they have destroyed and so to speak killed many evils over the years. If you go by your parents' teachings hardcore... The Winx had to turn the Dark Phoenix into a diet of the light, which is impossible. At least by the means, we know."

"Yeah…" Nebula sighed, "The point I tried to make though is I was so stuck on the thought of never killing and gaining power rapidly means turning evil, that I only saw you as a villain, Blade. You could have baked cookies and given them away for free. And I, I would have thought you tried to hide your evil plans behind a curtain of kindness. Just because I was right that you actually are working with witches and somewhat supporting them, doesn't make me right in the long run…" She leaned backwards. So much had happened and the new information wasn't easy to take in.

Blade herself couldn't stop wondering how horrifying Tritannus's attack had to have been for Nebula. She must have been in kinder garden at the time. After a long break of silence, she cleared her throat. "I haven't told you the most important part yet though…"

"Indeed," Tessa sat up straight. "So, you and Jewels got to the narrowing…"

"We got to the narrowing…we saw you needed more time and on top of it the mother Lou was closing in. I was trying to figure out how to stop it. But my pierce spell wouldn't cut it… I knew that, yet I wanted Jewels to save her people. And then… then she asked me to use my last magic to create a bow. A bow of all things. Can you believe it…" Blade picked her nails, "I should have trained to create that stupid thing more..."

"Why?" Birdy asked confused. "Is that how she died. You said she reached Enchantix of all things…"

"Let her talk," Tasu gave her a bump into the side.

Blade closed her eyes and recalled the moment, "It took forever to get it done. And once she had the bow… I couldn't reach her… I couldn't help her… it was out of my hands…" Blade started crying again. "She… she must have decided then and there. After all, Enchantix requires a big sacrifice. She would have done anything to save us, her people…" Blade paused. "The moment she took the bow, then she faced off with the mother Lou. She glowed in white light. Just like a falling star… set ablaze…she transformed the moment she had cast… what did she call it… Mirror's infinite Wall…." Blade remembered how the solid wall had gone up, cutting her off from her friend. All the pleas she had cried out to her in vain. "I couldn't get past. It was so solid, so hard I tried- I tried – but I couldn't make it through. Jewels was so stubborn. If only she had… I could have…" Her words vanished as she broke out in tears.

Tessa stared at Blade as the others comforted her. She herself closed her eyes as tears rolled down her cheeks. She stood up and sat down before Blade and gave her a hug. "She knew what she was doing… she knew…Not even I could have broken through an Enchantix shield that size and power, Blade. You didn't leave her behind… I was wrong. You reached her Blade. You gave her the courage to stand up for herself and her people. Even before all the chaos. I don't know if she ever told you. But you inspired her to grow stronger, to never to give up, to go beyond limits she thought she could never cross. She was my roommate, my best friend. And all she could talk about was how inspired she was by you. A none noble without talents giving it your all. Back then I didn't know she was an orphan. I found it a bit ridiculous how much she hoped for you to succeed and triumph. And also, how worried she was then you didn't. She even was jealous of you for a time, did you know that? To her, you succeeding, meant she could become queen no matter her origin or the odds. So, don't ever again say you let her down. Never ever!" She hugged her even more tightly and whispered into her ear. "I am sorry, I was wrong…. Thank you for telling the truth…." She couldn't hold back her tears either.

Blade just nodded. They all ended in a massive group hug. A silent outcry for all they had lost in the middle of nowhere. Then Blade sighed, "You should have seen her Enchantix. Her wings were so big and bright like stained windows. Just like the one in this ceiling…" She looked at the broken glass still hanging on the temple hall roof. "And her hair was shining so bright and it was super long. It truly was a sight to behold." Blade looked at her bracelet. "I promise once we get back I'll create a picture."

"There are spells to show that…you know," Birdy laughed a bit.

"You think we could do it here?" Tessa liked the idea very much.

Tasu shook her head, "We can't waste magic at the moment as much as I like to see it myself."

"You're right…" Nebula agreed, yet she was curious herself. She gazed at Blade, 'Besides only she could possibly do the spell and we have no clue what that over Fairy form truly does…'

"I think," Blade added, "The most horrifying and also most beautiful even divine sight, though, was then she faced that gigantic boulder… I told her to run, you know. Yet she didn't move an inch. She just aimed her arrow spell and shot it off. To save us, her people even her enemies. It's funny I always imagined that she was crying or in fear. Yet then I touched the sword…" She pulled out the hilt from the black magic sword. The elaborate electro blade had vanished just like the dragon flame when it got absorbed by the shield crystal of the temple. All that was left was a white hilt with some ornaments and runes on it. "Then I touched it, I was catapulted into this endless darkness. I saw people from the past. I think they were true stories of how the people were overrun by the zombie hordes. It … it was unspeakable… just like in Desertia… probably even worse. They had to face an enemy they couldn't kill at all…"

"Blade…" Birdy watched her closely and worried. They had still no idea what had happened to Blade and what that weird form was she had activated. For now, all that counted was, that they were safe and sound.

"It's fine… they were just echoes…yet, I was about to give up, overwhelmed by it all. And then I saw Jewels. Face to face, the moment where she had faced the boulder… and… and she was smiling. Saying her goodbyes…. She knew she could not flee and save her people at the same time. So, she… she stayed behind… I am not sure if that was just from my imagination. But, I don't know, it fits. A smiling fierce Jewels, Queen of Desertia, it fits the moment so much better than a Jewels frozen with fear… still I wonder…"

"Ha, clearly she died as a proud Queen." Tessa dismissed the notion that Jewels had died in fear. "She always was cautious, but once she made up her mind… no one could have stopped her. That's the person she was. That's how I'll remember her and you should too. Look she even came back to help you break that dragon flame curse." Tessa rambled on as tears still rolled down her face.

All of them agreed, "Hear, hear!"

"I know we shouldn't waste massive amounts of magic…but… isn't there anything we could do? Who knows how long we are stuck on this planet. I, I just want to honour all those we have lost…an actual monument, not one of warning like this forsaken planet…"

"You mean like a reminder of all the brave souls - like Sir Aryan, Lord Adom, Kaphiri and Jewels…hmmm, I like the idea…" Nebula approved and stood up. Her skin still showed scars from the burns, but besides that most of the wounds were completely healed. The wisp countering the curse magic had done wonders.

Tasu and Birdy stood up as well. Their gazes fell on the altar. "Well… since the dragon flame no longer resides at the altar…" Birdy thought about it.

The ghost peaked through the window gap, "Don't worry for my people. Our time long has passed."

"Holy," Tasu got startled by him, "Were you ears dropping?!"

"I am a ghost what else would I be doing, ha." He chuckled shortly, then got rather serious, "My condolences for your losses. They all sounded like wonderful people." He floated down. "And yes, please use the altar. Please, give it a meaningful worth. Back in its days it just stood for power and money, our egos… which were our downfall in the end."

Blade smiled, "So, … we gonna burn zombie slime? I kinda burned away all the mouldy wood." She scratched her head.

"Good questions…" Tessa thought about it. "We do have still parts of the gate doors lying outside."

"Which we probably will need for other things," Birdy commented.

"Well, it's not much… but I remember that the temple had lacrimas for lamps. They are depleted at the moment. But there was a spell some wizards used so they could be used as beacons. The city guard used it to call for backup." The ghost reminisced.

"Yes, that's a wonderful idea!" Tasu ran into the right library and came back with a torch on which a crystal was placed.

"Tessa, can you use the axe to smash the crystal?" Blade asked as she got an idea.

Tessa frowned, "Sure I can but for what?"

"If we collect the shards from the window, place some water in the mould in the altar and put in the shards and the crystals…don't you think-" Blade tried to explain.

"Yes, we would get a bright reflection of colours with little to no effort. Let's go!" Birdy rushed to collect some glass.

"Hey, don't cut yourself!" Tasu warned her. Quickly all were at it. They placed the glass and shards on the altar and Tasu created some water to fill up the whole. Now all of them were standing in front of the altar. At length, they had discussed what spell they would use and fiddled around with its chant words.

"Ready?" Tasu asked them all. She started the spell as she raised her hand, "Shine a light, to all who are lost and found."

"Guide home all those who in darkness drowned," Tessa raised her hand next adding to the magic close to tears yet again.

"Night and day, shine bright forever leading the way," Birdy cried as she lifted her hand this was their farewell and reality sank in.

Nebula ground her teeth as she lifted her hand, "Remind us that there is always hope, to never give up, to keep moving on."

"We'll pass on this torch of hope until we, ourselves, are gone!" Blade finished the spell as she stepped forward hand held high. The lacrima fragments lid up in a soothing white blueish light, hitting the water surface and coloured glass pieces piled up on them. A marvellous play of lights and shades engulfed the temple hall shimmering and shifting with the ever so slight movement of the water pool. In awe, they stood there for a while gazing at their creation's display.

All of them had stood still so long, that suddenly they heard their tummies ache. It was weirdly unappropriated, yet all couldn't help but laugh. They had spent the whole morning basically telling stories and catching up. Never had they given a thought to actually eat something. With new hope sparked and a clear goal to reach Alfea once more. They went to the kitchen first of all while the ghost stood watch yet again. They tried to sort through everything, finding rations was their priority for now. They would have rather done nothing more than sit around some more and just process all the shared information. Yet they knew they had to find something eatable or anything of worth to them, like a map. And the few power bars Blade had left over weren't nearly enough for all of them. They had been gone in seconds. Water would not be a problem thanks to Tasu and Nebula for the time being. So, while searching the kitchen, they shared all the little side stories they had witnessed in the palace destruction. All the theories of what had happened and possible evidence. All to make a list of what they had to report once they would get back to Alfea. Blade recorded their discussion to later put it into notes with her bracelet.

"There is one more thing about Seth, you all need to know…" Blade looked up from yet another empty pot.

"What besides that you and Jewels escaped the palace and requested back up?" Birdy shook her head in disbelief. "Really, at least then you could have taken one of us with you…"

Blade turned the diadem ring around her finger. "Yes, besides that. Please, hold what you are doing. This is important." She waited till everyone gave her their full attention. "Jewels told me back in the palace one secret about Seth. She… she loved him a-"

"Duh," Nebula giggled, "That was obvious even to me on my witch hunt. I know we said to tell each other everything in detail, don't sweat it too much, alright?"

"Indeed…" Tessa chuckled as did Birdy and Tasu. "That's not much of a secret."

"Will you listen!" Blade got a bit upset. They all shut up. "She loved him… because…because Seth was, I mean, is Jewels brother by blood." Blade dropped the bomb into the room. "And… and I think the ring should go to him. If I understood it correctly it's an artefact bond to Jewels bloodline. So, it should work for Seth, right?"

"Wow, wait a second… you mean to say… that Jewels was an orphan and had a long-lost brother? Does he know?! Even worse do the nobles know?! They might kill him…" Tasu became a bit frantic. "We got to save him!"

"He does not. She only told me. As far as I know at least," Blade tried to calm Tasu down.

Birdy bit her nails, "Could he possibly ascend the thrown in her stead…"

Tessa shook her head, "Don't be stupid. He has nothing more than basic magic of a specialist. They stabbed Jewels in the back, who was basically a prodigy compared to him… He won't last a day."

"Besides that, Jewels backers and therefore most of his died in the palace…" Nebula added concerned.

"Those discussions are meaningless. Seth doesn't know she was his sister. Not to mention that he never had big ambitions rank wise even within the Specialists. At least as far as I know. I do not want to push him into a fight he can't win." Blade tried to calm the room down again.

"Still. How could he not, they killed his sister!" Tessa balled her fists, "If I was him…"

"But we are not… Blade is right. This decision is his and his alone. And if he ever wants to make an attempt to climb the throne… now would be the worst of all times. It would get him killed or become a marionette." Tasu paused, "Of course, we have to tell him once we get back…and yes, it is possible, that the diadem could work for him. Yet, I hate to say this. It might be best for him to simply ignore the fact."

"And let them get away with murder of Jewels, his sister, our friend!?" Tessa couldn't believe Tasu. The thought of Seth being on the throne was much more appealing than any of the possible survivors.

"Revenge makes you blind. In the long run, we would never be able to protect him even with our positions within our own kingdoms. There are many ways to make them pay without throwing him to the wolfs. We owe it to Jewels to take care of him." Tasu explained her point of view.

"Well, if he ever decides to try. I surely will back him up to the best of my abilities. But who knows, he knew her even less than us… But we can all agree that he gets the diadem, right? I just don't want to see Jewels crown in the hands of those traitors of all things." Blade tightened her grip around the pot handles as she made her standpoint clear.

"Of course, he will get the ring," Tessa balled her fists. "I'll raise hell and an army if they try any bullshit. I swear that on my life."

"You said it." Birdy agreed completely just to hear her stomach rumble again.

Tasu chuckled, "Let's find some food for our small army here first, alright?"

"What chance do we stand… it's a corrupted planet. The wisps barely have cleansed the temple of black magic… We could always eat the big Lou…" Nebula thought about it.

"Ewww," Birdy disagreed, "We're not even sure if it is eatable. Besides, it's our vacuum cleaner for zombie goo."

Blade shook her head in disbelief, "If we go that route we should eat the eggs it is laying at the moment." She pointed out of the door of the kitchen. The Lou was dangling on the walls setting up a nest of eggs. It already had grown some more. "That thing is growing fast…"

"Probably because it's transforming into a mother Lou. They are hive-like species. If the queen is lost the hive either dies or they have the means to get a new one. And since it's the only one and not dying, I bet it's taking up the mantle." Tasu elaborated on her grand theory.

"But the colours are all wrong…" Blade commented. "Then again…maybe because it got hit by the curse and dragon flame as I was…"

"Oh gosh, we created a new monster…" Tessa wasn't sure how to feel about it.

"If it smashes things as well as the old mother… We have a pretty neat ally. Still, doesn't solve our food problems," Nebula leaned against the wall behind her. "This planet is basically as dead as it could possibly be. No plants, nada."

"Oh, fuck, I totally forgot!" With hast Tessa searched for the pouch of seeds. She pulled them out of the bag onto her hand. "Here, I grabbed those from the treasury. I thought it would be magical dust, yet it was just seeding. Kinda glad now…"

"Why didn't you say so sooner!?" Tasu inspected them right away.