Halve truths


Wizgiz was holding his metamorphosis class or rather tried to. The class was still in its slump unmotivated for anything. Even with his thousand years of experience, he knew, the only thing that could heal their sadness, was time. Amber, Snow, Dahlia, Sienna and Rise had a hard time getting over the losses of their friends. It showed in their faces and the absence of smiles. Wizgiz repeated, "Dahlia, can you please read the next passage."

Dahlia stared at the book, "Hm…" Her eyes wandered through the page.

Wizgiz hopped along the rows and jumped to sit on a desk in front of the girls, "I know it's hard to lose comrades and friends." He sighed. "It is hard to accept that the world keeps turning as if nothing happened. But you shouldn't let yourself be discouraged, you still have a bright future ahead. A future you can live to honour them." He truly felt for his students. Alfea never lost so many students at once in the same class and being so young as they made it even worse.

"…It's not fair. If we hadn't been so busy with the Dragon festival, we-" Amber clawed into the table.

"Girls… no one saw this witch attack coming," Wizgiz answered in a calm and comforting voice. "There were many powerful magic users far more powerful than you on the planet and still it ended in a tragedy. The hardest thing in life is to learn that sometimes things are simply out of your hands." He looked into the faces of unsatisfied young fairies, who were simply missing their friends dearly.

Suddenly the sky darkened in an instant. A strong wind blew as a shadow fell upon the school. "What is going on?!" The girls jumped out of their seats and transformed quickly.

"Calm down!" Wizgiz hopped to the window, spotting the massive red amour of an Eagle above his beloved school. 'What's going on?'

The voice of headmistress Faragonda resounded in the classroom from a glowing sphere that had suddenly appeared, "Emergency call from Red Fountain. Professor Palladium, Wizgiz, Avalon, Daphne, Zyron and Griselda immediately gather in the courtyard. I repeat this is an emergency. Pupils stay in class and use the time to self-study. Show us that you are responsible students. The situation is under control, so no need to worry, we got it handled."

Wizgiz was out of the door before the message had ended. He bunny hopped through the hallways so fast he had to hold on to his green hat.

"What's going on?" Daphne stormed out of her classroom, and her phone buzzed. She noticed many fairies peeking through the doors and windows. "Back into your classrooms. I'll be right back." She calmed them and quickly the Professors reached the courtyard.

Codatorta was waving around in the courtyard guiding the little Owls to land. He gave the sign for the Eagle to turn around and leave for Red Fountain. "Steady now and on the double!" He shooed his third-years around and rushed into the school.

"Professor Wizgiz, quickly we need to get your potions. We have one critical another with lacerations," A Red Fountain student approached him. "If you need anything from the greenhouse we'll get it for you."

Wizgiz nodded, "Right, tell me everything you know. The lab is this way." When they left he glanced over his shoulder as he saw Saladin concentrating on a healing spell on a person on a stretcher.

"Back into your classrooms. Make way! If you don't have classes go to your dorms!" Professor Griselda tried to keep order in the gawking masses together with Professor Daphne and out of the way of the Specialists and Professors. But even from the dorms' balconies students tried to get a glance.

Professor Palladium approached with haste as he saw the stretcher. He was followed closely by Professor Avalon, "This doesn't sound good." Palladium commented and moved on to Saladin who was at his wit's end.

"I know," Avalon answered concerned as they split up. He stopped Codatorta from taking over their school. "Hey, how can we help? How many?" Avalon noticed that he was riled up, which wasn't surprising for him at all he was an emotional man. Yet to see him truly worried, wasn't like him at all.

"Two. They found them, I don't even know how this is possible," Codatorta halted for a second to answer his buddy. He was baffled, unsure how to tell Avalon.

"She's crashing, again." Saladin renewed his spell, "Virgo Dividet" He was sweating already. They had hurried to reach Alfea at top speed. It only had taken them a couple of minutes. The Eagles were truly fast, created specifically for space operations.

"Let me go! Blade!" Nebula screamed over the whole courtyard trying to leave the care of the third-years who had to watch over her. She stumbled out of her Owl. "BLADE! Don't you dare die NOW!" Tears streaming down her face, she had lost it and sprinted towards the stretcher after kicking one student in the nuts to free herself from their hold.

"Nebula? Blade? How?!" Avalon couldn't believe his eyes, but before Codatorta could answer he dashed away. He spread his wings to get a hold of Nebula in time. With a firm grip, he held her back, so in her outburst, she wouldn't disturb the other Professors. "Stop, Nebula, calm yourself!" He still couldn't believe it. There they were, two students, they had proclaimed dead.

"Let go! Let go of me! Blade!" She was screaming at the top of her lounges. 'Don't die, not now, we just made it here!' Like a fury, she was struggling to get to her friend.

"Good, all are here," Faragonda floated from her office down. She stayed as cool as ice. 'Panic won't help anyone, now.' To some, she must be seen as docile or disconnected. In truth, she was as concerned as any one of them. She waved the other wizards over to her, "Professor Palladium, Professor Zyron let's hurry and converge." She raised her hands high, collecting magic in her palms. "Saladin, step back. Take a break you did well."

Palladium together with Zyron concentrated their magic on Faragonda. They followed her lead and spoke the spell out loud, "The living we the call back from beyond death's door. See the light, come back to life!"

"Blade…" Nebula slumped to the ground as she stared at the golden sparkling stream of magic aimed at her friend. She couldn't stop crying. 'Was I too late…?'

"Nebula, what happened? Where were you?" Professor Avalon turned his student to face him and away from the action. 'This is impossible. We had the Selkies on the lookout. The portal's time-lapse is beyond passed.' She wasn't giving him anything. She was still too riled up. "Sumnio Falax," Avalon used his mind spell to force Nebula to calm down a bit.

Nebula felt a rush of magic flood her system and she noticed herself breathing slower right away. "Blade…" All she wanted was her friend to be okay.

Professor Avalon inspected her more closely, reading her aura and checked her for wounds. "Nebula, you got to tell us what happened otherwise we can't help her, alright?" He removed her head bandage. "Virgo Dividet." He held his hand on top of the wound and it disappeared. Her aura was all over the place. Fear, hate, sadness, confusion, she was nothing more than a bundle of chaos. He gazed at the burn scars. 'She got healed prior… was that… no he was busy with Blade.'

"I, we, …" Nebula stopped she had to concentrate now despite the fact of her friend's condition. 'We all agreed not to tell the Professors before all our parents know and came up with a plan.' She shook her head, "The cave collapsed. We just ran, she will be okay, right? Right?!"

"Focus. She's in good hands." Professor Avalon tried to keep her calm. "See, there is Professor Wizgiz with his potions." He breathed out loud several times and slowly to help her pick up the rhythm.

Nebula did follow somewhat. She spotted her classmates who had recognised her voice. Griselda and Daphne had a hard time keeping them back, but their voices were nothing more than background noise to her at the moment. She got another glance of Wizgiz who was followed by third-years carrying some boxes with Potions and balsams.

"Nebula, which cave? Where were you all this time?" Professor Avalon tried again. "Where are the others?"

"All this time? What do you mean? We just jumped through the ocean gate in Desertia," Nebula commented as she gazed at her friends. They were stuck behind a defensive shield created by Griselda, who finally had enough of her classmates' irrational antics. "Desertia, we have to send help!" She nearly shouted at Professor Avalon in front of her. 'Stick to the story…come on Blade, pull through.'

"Nebula, you were gone for a bit more than eight weeks… What happened to the others? The Desertia incident is resolved and they are stuck with repairs. You all were proclaimed dead," Professor Avalon couldn't make heads or tails of her story. 'This can't be, it's unviable.'

"Eight weeks, Impossible!" Nebula went pale. 'No, no no, that's way too long… we were gone max five. Two portals plus one-week Phere-Moan. The Time-lapse of weeks for each gate is two weeks, that makes five. By the Great Dragon the others?!' Quickly she stared at the ground checking her upper arm while doing so. There the three crests still glowed as they formerly did. The depictions hadn't changed. 'Thank the Great Dragon, they are still alive…but that means - did they win against the zombies already?!… We haven't even contacted…'

"Nebula, the others. What happened to the others?" Avalon repeated again. 'She isn't listening… come on, give us something.' Her aura was still a jumble he couldn't really get through to her at the moment.

Nebula looked him straight in the eyes, just like she had practised in Phere-Moan with the others. She recalled memories of Jewels, what Blade had told them. She focused on her death, and tears rolled down her face again. Right now she could let herself drown in all her built-up rage and misery and like waterfalls, she burst into tears again. "T-Th-they…" She couldn't even speak the answer she had prepared overwhelmed by her own emotions she had triggered.

Avalon watched as her aura turned into the darkest blue. He closed his eyes slowly. This was as clear of an answer he could possibly get from a person even without words. "It's alright. You'll be fine. You're safe now." He rested his hand on her shoulders and looked up to Faragonda who had just finished casting. He simply shook his head.

It wasn't the answer Faragonda had hoped for. 'To even get these two back, is a miracle,' worried she watched as the Specialists prepared to carry the stretcher inside. Then she noticed the diadem ring on Blade's hand. She pulled it off and checked for an insignia.

"Who's is it?" Professor Palladium asked reluctantly.

Nebula watched as the headmistress took the ring. 'No, no, no, no we have to give it to Seth. Shit. Shit.' Her hand started shaking. 'We can't let it fall into the hands of those traitors in Desertia. The Magic Council will give it to them!' Without warning and any clear plan, she jumped to her feet away from Avalon and transformed and whispered hurriedly, "Fog image. Mirror space." Avalon already reached out to her. Instantaneously she swapped. She snatched the ring straight from the palm of the headmistress's hand.

"Deserti-huh," Faragonda got startled by the sudden clone switcheroo manoeuvre.

"Nebula…" Palladium watched his student concerned and looked back to Avalon whose hand was phasing through the smoke. He had been too slow to stop her.

"Don't you dare touch it! It's not yours. It's ours," Nebula growled and gazed into the most relaxed or rather pitying faces of the Professors and Specialists. She had expected them to attack or do something, but they were all just giving her space.

"Nebula, calm yourself. This can be sorted out later. Please, you need rest." Faragonda addressed the young Fairy. They didn't know the extent of her injuries, but the scar tissue spoke their own story.

"You'll not take this away from us!" Nebula stated firmly yet again. 'Back off already…' She growled.

Wizgiz had finished applying some balsam to the cut on Blade's back and arm. "Now, now, let us take care of those nasty scars on your arm. What do you think?" He offered another small case to her, and she slowly took it out of his hands perplexed. Wizgiz's kind demeanour threw her off. He jumped around her to the other side and without her noticing he had snatched the ring himself. "Better put this on a string before you lose it." He pulled out a string from his hat and made it into a neckless and tossed it back to her before Nebula even realised what he had done.

"You! What? Eh," Nebula was dazzled. 'How did he do that?' She inspected the ring it was the real deal. She put it around her neck. "Thanks?..." He had thrown her so far off her game.

"Come now, move out, to the infirmary," Wizgiz imitated Codatorta's voice and posture and pulled Nebula along. His imitation looked a bit ridiculous. Yet everyone relaxed with a slightly hidden giggle.

Faragonda couldn't help but smile, 'He always knew how to deal with us fairies.' She made her way to the classmates Griselda still had pinned down. "Thank you, Saladin, for bringing them home to us."

"Always. Got to protect our students after all," he sat down on a bench to take a short rest, while he ordered his pupils around to pack up. They had disturbed Alfea enough for one day.

Codatorta had caught up with Avalon, "She is as hot-headed as Blade…quick reflexes. Keep me updated, okay?"

"Hm, yes, will do. Thank you for bringing them back to us," Avalon thanked him wholeheartedly. 'Hmm, what was that about…?' Avalon had picked up some bright flaming red in Nebula's aura just for a second. 'What happened on Desertia? That was truly a will to kill, just right there.'

Palladium picked up the box of potions and followed Wizgiz inside.

"Let us out," Amber protested as Faragonda approached. "Nebula!" She shouted, but the shield sphere muffled their voices to the outside as well as kept them trapped.

"Griselda," Faragonda laid a hand on her shoulder. With a flick of Griselda's fingers, the bubble was gone. Faragonda spoke very slowly and clam, "Please, we understand you want to talk to them."

"What's going on? Is Blade still alive?" Dahlia pressed for answers. From so far away they hadn't been able to see much.

Snow was peeping behind the Professors to get a better look. "Nebula…Blade…"

"You can't keep us from them. They are our friends!" Sienna protested vehemently. She like the others was still in her Winx form.

"What did the headmistress just say?" Griselda despite the situation wasn't letting off. 'Chaos is the last thing we need now. They need to rest and drink enough liquids. Probably should get them some food…' She was worried but as head of discipline, there was no time to cuddle them.

"But," Rise disagreed.

Faragonda replied in a calm voice, "All is good. Blade is in good hands. Both of them are. Please, they'll need some good rest. Talk to them in the morning." Begrudgingly the girls moved to their dorms. There was no way they would listen to any of their remaining classes. Professor Daphne escorted them. Faragonda turned to her old friend, "Will you please call the Ashfallows and Lady Nebulas uncle. I will take care of the magic council."

"You really want to do this today?" Griselda asked back concerned. "Can't we give them at least a slight break?"

"I fear not. Whatever happened, we need to contact the Selkies to check all ocean gates. Maybe there are more missing people out there. The girls might even be able to identify some of the witches, who attacked. Not to mention all those royals from the other kingdoms who will storm our doors, now. They won't be as patiently as these two need them to be…. Hmmm… please call Shanna from Zenith as well." Faragonda already was planning ahead on how to best protect Nebula and Blade from the storm brewing. 'If only Griffin would stop stonewalling everyone. What is she thinking…?'

"Will do," Griselda nodded and rushed off all while she shooed the other pupils back into their classes.

Nebula was lying in the infirmary beside Blade. She looked like a mummy, but her heartbeat had stabilised. It was a clear starry sky outside when she heard some clanking noises on the window. She slipped out of bed and opened a window. Glancing outside she could see her classmates hiding in the bushes below.

"Everything alright?" Wizgiz asked from behind her. He was the Professor who had taken up watch duty just in case Blade would destabilise again. Ofelia had gone to get a break herself for once.

Nebula slowly turned her head, "Sure. All great just wanted some fresh air. Nothing more." Straight face lied to him.

"Hm," Wizgiz transformed one of his ears into a dog's. "Your classmates seemed to have the same idea. I'll need to get some more potions. I'll be right back. And don't forget it's night's rest. I'll be back in fifteen." He smirked and hopped out of the infirmary. 'Youth…'

Nebula was a bit perplexed and looked down and waved them up, "Quickly!" she whispered to them.

The girls quickly climbed up the wall and stumbled through the window.

"Nebula…" Rise was the last one to hug her tight. "We thought you dead. How is she?" A tear rolled down her cheek. Everyone was on the brink of crying, but they had to be quiet.

"Better…she's a tough nut, believe me," Nebula smiled as she gazed at Blade. 'If we left any later…'

"Told you, they made up," Dahlia smiled. "Where are the others? Are they truly dead? Say, is Birdy really dead?" She was scared. Birdy had been her roommate the first year and she couldn't help but hope for good news and feared the answer she would get.

Nebula opened the infirmary doors to the hallway, but the Professor was really gone. "I know you have a lot of questions, and we have lots to tell you. But…" She gazed at Blade. "Please, be patient."

"Who knows when she wakes up," Amber was eager to hear everything now. "Did you two really have Jewels's diadem ring? How…a princess never lets go of that one. Do you know which witches attacked the palace? So many of them have gathered at Cloud Tower. All of Magix is in an uproar and I do not mean just the planet, but all of Magix. Just tell us who, we'll get them…" She ground her teeth.

Nebula shook her head, "Witches?" Amber sounded really familiar with what she had been spouting around before the summer break. "The witc- Sorceresses had nothing to do-" She stopped. "We really should wait for Blade."

"Why? What happened to her?" Snow spoke up. She was holding Blade's hand. 'Please get better soon…'

"A wound got infected. We- I, couldn't stop it," Nebula still couldn't wrap her head around what a close call this had been. They had slain monsters, insane animals, Lous, millions of zombies and in the end, what had brought them to their knees had been a mouldy splinter of all things.

"What do you mean the witches didn't do anything? It was clearly proven." Sienna tilted her head. She was confused as anyone of them. "They can say what they want, facts don't lie."

"Just wait a few more days." Nebula requested again and then whispered, "Don't believe anything you hear. Alright? Don't do anything stupid."

"Alright…" Amber puffed and stepped to Blade's bed. "You're going to be okay…don't give up." She hoped her words would reach her. She was still in a deep slumber.

They all heard footsteps, they sounded like Griselda's, in the corridor. "Quick," Sienna was already inside the window frame.

Dahlia gave Nebula another hug, "Take care. Oh, and here," she gave Nebula another cell phone. "So, we all can chat. After all, they took Blade's bracelet for analytics. Team E is itching for some updates, as well."

The girls vanished through the window. Nebula closed it up. 'Follow your instincts… with our friends, they said. Hm, if we can't trust them, we can't trust anyone.' Nebula recalled the conversation they had had on Phere-Moan. She stared at the phone and jumped back into bed. She quickly wrote to Mercury. 'She's stable, got to talk soon.'

The night had gone by without any hick-up Blade had first opened her eyes around five in the morning to the relief of all. Only two hours later her parents had arrived together with Shanna, who had helped Blade to overcome her trauma from the bear incident. Basil was there as well, he had come unannounced to anyone and basically had simply slipped in. No one and nothing would keep him from his niece. Nebula's Uncle was still unreachable though, he was on a mission for the crown of Andros and the school had been unable to reach him. Now they were all stuffed into Blade's dorm room. Faragonda had arranged that Nebula and Blade would get it back. Still, Blade had to keep her bed rest and visiting times were regulated to ensure that she would get some.

Blade smiled at Nebula after her family had hugged her so much she had to cough. Her mum was sitting next to her on the bed and the men were standing in the room walking up and down. Shanna was sitting in a comfy armchair. "So, we're doing this, right?" Blade checked one last time with Nebula.

"Yes, I'm right beside you," She reinsured her.

Shanna smiled intrigued, "You two seem to get along well."

"Took me long enough," Nebula smirked. It was a bit weird just half an hour ago, she had to confess to Blade that she had stalked her in Zenith. Just to now make the biggest use of Shanna's talents.

"We need to talk and we need you to listen," Blade started.

"Darling, we will always listen to you," Flaxa reinsured her daughter as she stroked through her dreadlocks.

Nebula shook her head, "That's not-" She didn't know how to explain it the best. They had to make sure they wouldn't tell the Professors after all or anyone else until they had a proper way to get the other girls safely out of Phere-Moan.

"Shanna, could you please link us all? It's easier if we can share thoughts and memories." Blade requested.

Shanna thought about it, "That's a lot of people. Are you sure you want this? I also will have to keep a check on everyone's reactions and emotional states. Pictures are more precise than words. And you went through a traumatic event. Do all parties agree?" Everyone nodded. "Alright then…"

"So, it all started when…" Blade started off in Desertia all went black and the city appeared as if they all walked through a movie. It took a while to explain all the important stuff. Shanna had blocked out most of the fighting details, like blood and emotions running with them as a precaution. It was war after all and the truth was hard to swallow even for someone as old as her. Not to mention the parents in the room. Also, Blade and Nebula had to actively think about the scenes they truly wanted to show them. Some they still rather talked through, like the fight with Neferu. It took over an hour to get the main points across.

"And, well, that's how we got off Phere-Moan. And why Blade got so badly hurt…" Nebula finished up the recap.

Basil was overwhelmed, "That's a lot… dark magic Fairy form, whatever that is…But to think a coup de 'tat … unbelievable. Are we in the dark ages?!… Shame on them…" He was angry. He wanted nothing more than to burn all the contracts he had signed with Desertia these last couple of weeks. "I should…"

Flaxa simply hugged her daughter. Never had she imagined that being a Fairy meant to be in that much danger. "If I had known, I never had pushed you to become a Fairy."

"Mum, it's okay," Blade tried to calm her down.

"It's not. You could have died not once but several times! We thought you were dead. Do you have any idea how-" She couldn't even finish the sentence.

Trevan, Blade's father, hugged her shortly, "We'll get through this." He looked his daughter in the eyes. "I couldn't be prouder, still we are worried, fearful even. Don't get us wrong. You are our little girl, and you always will be. We just want to know you save and sound." Traven from his guard job wasn't a stranger to danger or the possibility of death it was part of the territory. Still, he wanted her nowhere near any of it. Yet he knew they couldn't have both and the fire in the eyes of their daughter showed him, that she wouldn't back out now. Neither would he if he was in her place.

"Please," Nebula tried to refocus the discussion. "We are telling you all of this because we cannot do this alone. We are nowhere near enough qualified or smart enough. Yet, before the Kings and Queens have not decided how to handle it, you can't under any circumstance tell anyone they are still alive. Our friends' lives may depend on it." She looked straight to Shanna who was the biggest risk here.

Shanna had stayed mostly in the background concentrating on her job. "I think your assumption is correct. The princesses' words will weigh heavy in the magic council. They are the biggest threat to those people, whoever they are. Thank you for trusting me and all of us."

Basil breathed in, "So, I got to leave those juicy deals for them…to not tip them." He growled, "Fine, they want a backstabbing game. I can play that as well. Blade, if you ever suspect anyone. Give me a call, I always can check our company's data on them. For business purposes, we do collect some amount of information on nearly any noble, who might be interested in bolstering their army's power. You will not fight your battles alone any longer. We got your back, never forget that."

Blade smirked her Uncle was a very calculating man and a powerful ally, "Don't get caught. Again, Nebula is correct. The others are not safe yet."

"But even if you get them back here," Flaxa thought out loud, "How can you know when or who will attack? I know it is important for you two to get the truth out. Yet, witc- how did you call them, Sorceresses are under so much heat. If you go on the offences blindly…"

"Is it really that bad?" Nebula asked worriedly. She had been too tired to check what eight weeks of news were telling. She had simply fallen asleep after she had gone to bed.

"Well, Cloud Tower is vehemently disagreeing with any statement that witches were the cause. Yet, they have not given any solid proof. You gave them, those two girls you broke out of prison, an absolution. No one has mentioned it yet," Shanna elaborated. She had followed the publications and the public discussions closely.

"What are they waiting for?" Blade was confused, after all, Jewels had given it to them for that exact reason.

"If I were them I would wait as long as I could. The once spouting the biggest accusations are much more likely to be in league with traitors. Witches never cared much for public opinions. It secures their freedom of choice, but also makes them vulnerable," Basil explained. "If they are not careful. The public could turn against them as they have never done before."

"So, can we agree on pretending they are dead for now? And nothing of this gets out to anyone" Nebula asked staring at Shanna. All agreed.

Faragonda awaited Shanna in her office. She had arranged for her to stay a few days, so she could take care of the mental health of Blade and Nebula. Then she heard the knock on the door. "Enter. Ah, Shanna how did it go?"

"Better than expected. Both have grown since the last time I have seen them," Shanna replied with a smile.

"Both?" Faragonda was surprised. "I didn't know Nebula was one of your patients."

"I saw her once in Zenith, rest is privileged information," Shanna smirked a bit. 'Back then she accused Blade of being a witch and now she wants to help the real witches…funny what life throws at you sometimes.'

Faragonda closed the notebook she was writing in. "So… anything helpful you learned. What happened? Any chance that the other princesses…are still alive?"

Shanna sighed. Faragonda had asked her to try and find out how they survived. She had not expected them to be so forthcoming on their own. And it was even more surprising how events had turned out. It was so far from any truth the magic council had uncovered so far. 'What to do…well, they are safe now on Phere-Moan. At least as far as they know. The ancient gate explains the bigger time-lapse. The princesses are either dead already or still alive…' She looked her old friend in the eyes. "Faragonda. They were lucky to secure the diadem ring. You saw the palace yourself. It collapsed on top of them as they jumped through the gate."

"So, it is just them…" Faragonda had hoped besides the astronomical chances for some more good news.

Shanna smiled and turned around. "I am sorry, I can't give you better news. Thanks for preparing a room for me. I'll work with them over the next few days. There was a lot of carnage to get through. I also would like to make a class session. I know them all by now and these turns of events are bound to have some repercussions, that should be dealt with immediately."

"Right, you talked to the other students after the festival. Thank you for taking the time," Faragonda leaned backwards in her chair.

"You know, I always can squeeze a session in for you," Shanna replied as she closed the office door behind her.

The days had passed quickly. Shanna still had her work cut out for her with both fairies. It was helpful that Blade already knew the drill and the knowledge that they had made it out with only one casualty, Jewels, was their saving grace. They had a mission, a goal. A reason to strive forward. Shanna was more worried that they wouldn't take the proper time to grieve. It was a fine balance to keep. She also could help Nebula with her childhood drama on top of it all. Still, then it came to tell the classmates, she had Blade and Nebula face first the emotions of their classmates. They had to understand, that they were considered by all means dead and that coming back from the dead was nothing short of a miracle for everyone else around them. It was important for them to understand this fact. After that, she gave them the space to let them catch up and talk about what had happened truly.

"So…she is still alive…just, just like you…" Dahlia was perplexed. "And you left them with a planet full of zombies…are you nuts?!" She was pissed, it was a ridiculous plan.

"We told you, it's the best way to keep them safe for now…" Nebula repeated again.

Blade stood next to her, "It's what they wanted as well. But quite frankly as I said before. From our estimation, the fight would have gone on for only a few more days. With us being eight weeks late means they finished the job and are still alive."

"Still…we don't have a magical crest to ensure us of that all of the time, like you guys…well with Tasu there they won't run out of water, I guess…still can't believe the witches were the once to…" Amber had a hard time accepting it all. Especially since the witches were innocent. The Desertian incident had reminded her so much of the fall of Domino and the stories her grandparents had told her. Yet in reality, the witches had been the saviours of Desertia. Not the army, the fairies or nobles, the witches. Their persistence to break through the anti-teleporter shield had paid off. They had helped all over the planet to protect civilians before the other kingdoms had swooped in.

"…Yeah. I thought them arrogant to dismiss all charges raised against them. I mean, the ones to stop that monster spawn were the Winx Club members. Not them… but I have to admit. It took them a while to get there. Without the witches, there would have been so many more casualties. No wonder the Desertian populous stuck up for them here and there in the cities. I simply thought they had bewitched them," Snow shook her head.

"That's what most people speculate, Snow. And why not? They are known to take over planets or wreak havoc in courts. And those reports aren't all fakes," Sienna reminded them all.

"True, there are evil sorceresses, like the Trix. We are not disputing that. But we can't condemn them all for the deeds of a few. I had one help me when I was smaller to beat up a bully. Their prices are outrageous, but they do good as well. After all, they have an official school sanctioned by the magic council," Blade elaborated on her thoughts.

"You do good, because you want to, not because you get paid," Dahlia protested. She played with her black long hair to calm herself.

"Indeed," Amber agreed as did the others.

"Oh, really? So, you would work for free in your kingdoms without compensation?" Shanna jumped into the conversation. She had helped all kinds of professions in her long life and was very familiar with that topic.

"Of course, that's what we all will do. We don't see a penny for our services. Neither would I want to if offered freely," Sienna crossed her arms.

Shanna laughed, "Right, I forgot. You are the shinnying light and example to all. And I always thought that was a luxury you could afford because your families are rich nobles." She challenged them.

"What? How dare-" Dahlia got pissed.

Blade sighed, "She is right you know. I am a commoner. I do not take money from my rich Uncle regularly. I have to really think about each penny and how to spend it. I am glad my parents have taught me that value. I mean, without my stipendium I couldn't even possibly attend Alfea. You know, you buy clothes that are worth my whole allowance without batting an eye."

"And I told you, if you ever need something, I can pay for you, "Rise replied confused. She had offered to a million times.

"Yes, but could you pay for all sorceresses?" Blade commented.

Rise was perplexed, "Why would I? They are not my friends."

"Sure, but could you? I mean even if only for all sorceresses in Solaria," Blade asked again.

"Duh. Of course not, they are way too many. Being rich doesn't mean I can do anything," Rise pressed her hand into her hip. "What are you on about?"

"I think what Blade and Shanna mean to say is, that we have all that we need already. We got large noble families with other people getting income, like nephews or Uncles, who are working in the army and get paid, plus lands to sustain the households. Not to mention the fact our people pay taxes to our kingdoms to keep them safe. And the tax money gets redistributed to the noble houses accordingly." Nebula had thought hard about it these last days. It was mind-blowing to see Sorceresses fight for good on the one side and witches like the Trix, who had been the reason why her parents got killed. Her world wasn't as black and white anymore.

"Still…I do good as a Fairy because I want to. I am not convinced that that is the reason for witches to do their shenanigans. They often do more harm than good," Dahlia stated in her opinion.

"Good isn't the same for everyone. I am sure, you talked about it in Philosophy class with Professor Avalon." Shanna reminded them calmly. "When a noble misused their power a slap on the fingers isn't a bad thing."

"And we have courts for that," Amber threw in. She always got energetic in discussions.

"Yes, Domino is a very good and just kingdom. Your King and Queen listen closely to anyone no matter the standing. Yet, there are many kingdoms where this is not the case. One also needs to have enough proof and courage to go against a Lord. If their lively hood is still on their lands, it might be better to send an unknown third party to stick them the message anonymously." Shanna explained further. "Of course, you are right, Sorceresses do enjoy their occasional joke a bit too much or go overboard. They are not without faults." Shanna admitted.

"…" Amber picked her nails. 'She isn't wrong…'

"Fine, whatever…" Dahlia budded in. "I still would rather see our friends back here. What if they find the ancient gate when they are excavating the palace in Desertia? Or how in Magix are we to help Seth? I mean… if those traitors find out… he is as good as dead."

"That really all depends on what he wants to do…" Nebula replied as she sighed. She was wondering how he would handle the news as well.

"Laying low, would be the best option for now. As hard as it is, going on a rampage now, won't bring Jewels back," Blade closed her eyes to breathe in. Silence. No one said a thing for a few minutes. It was the hard truth they all had to live with. She was gone, dead, and wouldn't come back. There was no miracle surprise waiting around the next corner.

"I miss her…" Snow broke the silence as tears streamed down her face. The other girls couldn't hold back either and they went for a huddle.

Shanna waited a few minutes before releasing the mind link for them all. She stood up leaving them behind in the dorm room. 'Cry, children, let it out and find your way to push through.' She closed the door quietly.