A rising tide


Griffin stared at the police officer, she watched him approach the tower through her crystal ball. "So, he came…gutsy I have to admit…"

Ediltrude shook her head, "He'll run screaming just you wait. If there is one thing the Tower hates as much as light magic users it's law enforcement."

Zarathustra laughed on edge, "Who can blame it? They are all rotten to the core… I can't believe you accepted his invitation for a talk."

"We'll see, if necessary we can scare him shitless before he tries anything. I rather be on top. I just thought he would come with some reinforcements. He has next to no magic and is in hostile territory…" Griffin stared at his image, like a lioness eyeing her prey.

William walked along the high bridge guiding him towards the main entrance. A shiver went down his spine once more, 'It's so gloomy here and cold... no wonder they are always so grumpy…' He looked up today the clouds above Cloud Tower looked especially dark and grim even if they weren't far spread like in the night. He looked to the forest, one could see far even to the lake. Across the lake even further off were the shimmering towers of Alfea. More to the left was the red dot that hovered in the sky, Red Fountain. It was a marvellous view if one could ignore the dreadful vibe this whole place gave one so insignificant as him. "I swear this bridge gets longer… I think…probably just my imagination, which bridged can grow, after all, well this place supposed to be haunted…." A few minutes later he had reached the main gates. They were actually way smaller than Alfea's. Yet the five giant column arches above invoked an image of a rib cage and of course, the door frame was bulky like a castle door with ridged teeth out of Lunasteel or so it seemed at least. 'That looks like an evil villain's castle straight out of some fairy tale… and up close it actually looks more like one than from afar in the city… anyways…' He couldn't find a doorbell and he certainly had no magic to open it so he simply knocked. "Good day, Officer William I am here for the appointment with Headmistress Griffin." He stated bluntly as he straightened out his uniform to look presentable.

Nothing for at least ten minutes. Yet Officer William stood his ground. He had an appointment; after all this waiting for an answer from the Headmistress, he wouldn't give up so easily. This reminded him much more of an interrogation. And letting someone wait was part of the game.

Another ten minutes passed. As a stirred-up raven flock caught William's attention. They were diving down, cawing aggressively. Just as he thought that coming here might have been a trap, smoke arose from the gates and the ravens pulled up and circled around the smoke until Professor Zarathustra was revealed.

"The Headmistress has time now," She didn't give him a second glance and touched the doors and the Tower opened the creaking heavy doors.

"Thank you, Professor Zarathustra," He greeted her politely.

"Tch," She simply rolled her eyes and moved on. "Just don't touch anything. We don't want you cursed after all…" This warning had some yearning tone though.

William's awkward feeling intensified. Even if he wasn't a magic user. The schools had such a strong presence it was impossible to stay blind to it. 'It's huge… and just as grim inside…what did I expect? ...' He earned some scorning glares as they walked up all the stairs, going left and right in what felt like circles. This was no place where he was welcome. Obviously, he was barely tolerated. Yet besides some Sorceresses who seemed to be up to something, nothing happened, they scrambled by just a side glance from the Professor.

Zarathustra opened the door to a room. It opened to a wide space with many bookcases and a desk with all kinds of magical things on top. Huge red windows with spider webbing throughout and a massive chair that was way too big. It even looked like a throne to some extent, in which Headmistress Griffin sat to her left was Professor Ediltrude.

"Good day, Headmistress Griffin, Professor Ediltrude," William greeted them formally of course he had checked up some information on those three.

"Officer William I presume," Griffin eyed him from top to bottom. Nothing was special about this guy.

"Yes, that's me," William nodded.

Ediltrude chuckled, "You came alone, are you so sure of yourself? Or just dumb?" She earned a giggle from her sister Zarathustra.

"Well, I have to text my colleagues at some point. So, they don't storm the Council. I thought that to be enough security. After all, I came here to talk about improvements."

Griffin sighed, "Improve what? There is nothing that can be improved upon." She leaned back in her chair. "You may leave."

Officer William stayed unphased, 'Cahagan wasn't lying when he said they have no wish to truly talk, huh? Foolish sentiment he called it. Well, if one wants to be heard, gotta shout I guess…' He cleared his throat. "I may, but I won't. I brought some plans I like to show you." With a bad stomach feeling he stepped forward. And pulled out a paper scroll from underneath his uniform jacket and simply laid it out on the free space on Griffin's desk.

"What do you think you're do-" Zarathustra hissed yet by the raise of Griffin's hand she stopped.

Griffin eyed the plan, it was some sort of construction plan. "What's that supposed to be?"

William stood straight in front of her. "When I had the pleasure to talk with your student Lucia. I asked her what needs to be improved for Sorceresses to come more frequently to work together with Magix City police. There is a long history of distrust and I understand that…"

"Do you?" Griffin leaned forward and interlocked her fingers. She glared at him intensely. "I don't think you do. So, you better leave, while you still have the chance."

"I always can run and hide later. Magix City needs this chance. All of Magix needs it. I may not understand it to its fullest, no, of course not. I never hurt a Sorceress, I arrested some with proof, I investigate first and not just pull evidence out of my ass." He got a bit sterner. "Yet as I already wrote, it is undeniable that that is STILL happening."

Griffin shook her head, "And that's why we STILL have no intention of deepening any relations with the police."

"Indeed, now scam, we don't want your kind here," Ediltrude hammered her hand on the table.

William sighed, "Then don't work with the police, work with my station. We discussed it in depth. Lucia and all the others who drop off their mission items proved that your students can be trusted." He wouldn't back down that fast. 'They are testing my resolve, if this was a whim or not, hopefully.'

"Others?" Griffin raised an eyebrow. 'More students went there to drop stuff off?! So that's why this month's haul I had to drag to the Council was smaller?' She ground her teeth. "You don't say…" She wasn't happy at all. "How many? Who?"

"Can't say," William blocked the question, 'Besides I only know the Queen of Eventide besides Lucia…'

Zarathustra stomped around the table, "Don't play smug with us. You won't like the outcome. The HEADMISTRESS asked you a question."

William rolled his eyes, "I can't tell you anything, because I don't know. They drop it off everywhere or sent kids or whoever they can find to drop it off. And that's dangerous. Some of those items are magical. It's just a matter of time before some civilian gets hurt," Officer William got a bit riled up yet calmed himself again.

"Civilians, so this is just about your little sheep," Ediltrude hissed. 'Typical.'

William gave her a deadpan stare, "They are your clients, besides, if your students wouldn't know how to handle an item, they'd be stupid to give it to a civilian. It would be questionable how they came into possession of it in the first place. You train them for this, civilians are not." He crossed his arms. 'Gesh, they are turning every word I say…'

'Of course, they wouldn't give it to someone who would screw up their payday,' Griffin rubbed her nose bridge. "So, this is supposed to be a letterbox?" She inspected the plan closer. It was put together by people who had at least some knowledge of magic but it was done in haste.

"Yes, Lucia said your students like to stay unseen, sadly… So those plans show a system how we could secure items, pay them what they are due and relieve the Council and YOU of some work. Plus, they get more self-sufficient. It'll help the public image as well. You finally get to use those badges, they were made for this kind of purpose and it's faster than going to the Council Headquarters. Not to mention they stay safer because they don't have to hold on to the items they secured and don't get attacked by whoever wants them back or well the price money."

"Good doggy, fine speech," Zarathustra sarcastically commented. "Did you practise that a lot?"

Griffin snorted, "Right, they'll get a sense of security on Magix, just to be pummelled outside of this kingdom. Great idea. Good preparation for life." She shook her head.

William growled, "For crying out loud, this is a good thing. Magix was ALWAYS the 'look here this works' planet to show off and start change. That's why the Council has his seat here. It's the same reason why you set up your school here as far as I could see and read. You want your students to be safe, improve things for all Sorceresses. What do you think will happen if you archive that? How will it look like?" He paused, only getting some lost stares.

"What it looks like?" Ediltrude raised an eyebrow.

"Don't tell me that you believe, every law enforcement will simply leave you alone and the rest stays the same…that's insane. For the police or any other Kingdom to change their minds you'll need to work with them. History showed both to be true, Sorceresses who help and are good, and those who tare kingdoms down. Just as much we have to prove to you that we aren't all evil, you have to do the same. Words alone never were good enough, deeds are." William shook his head, "Don't waste this chance. Once your students get a hang of it they'll bond together, they already are. Being self-sufficient doesn't mean one has to be a solo act."

'Will that guy never shut up… preaching all day long… he's just like Blade, no wonder those two get along, where the fuck did you find that guy, Blade? Of all the Officers on this planet… unbelievable. He could join Alfea as a teacher if he only had magic. Pah, oh wait, they do have those none magic users…' Griffin sighed, "Finished?" She asked dryly.

"No, I'm finished when I established good relations between Sorceresses and the police. You just invited me to scare the shit out of me. Well, I'm not scared and I certainly will not back down. I and my friends and colleagues will create a place for Sorceresses to work with us without threats or fears on either side. So, you either get on board or get lost. This change will happen with or without your school. And if you dare to interfere I will address the Council and they most certainly will enforce the law - justly." William stared her down. He wouldn't be discouraged. 'No wonder, no one comes in. They are so stuck…' He shook his head, "This was a waste of time, you have no idea how your change, you envisioned in the start, concretely looks like, you just want less bloodshed, which is a good thing, but it's a half-baked answer to the problem. You change one thing in a system the whole thing changes, of all people I thought you three esteemed Ladies would understand this." He turned around to leave. "Tell Lucia, I see her in a year after she graduates and I'll be more than ready then…"

The three Witches were perplexed. Not only had he quoted Griffin's speech to the Council. He was bloody walking out on them. Griffin flared up some dark magic and raised her hand as she commanded the Tower to hold her office door shut. "Who said you can leave…?" She sounded a bit scolding.

"I did, this is my time and my life, you are holding me against my will, I am not one of your students you can reprimand like this. I know my rights. People know I am here," He crossed his arms he stayed as cool as a cucumber. He knew she couldn't do shit without getting herself into major trouble with the Council. 'Is the only language they understand arguing? Fine, I can oblige.'

"You, you better remember who you are talking to," Zarathustra was all up in arms now.

"Or what?" Officer William didn't back down, "You'll curse me? Make my life miserable? I regret the day I was born? You'll kill my wife? Eat my children? Oh, wait, my favourite one, I'll lose my job, right? One of those threats?... Or are you the kind that actually fires magic on people with no defences against magic and just barely misses them so they shit their pants?" William was unimpressed by the three. "That's what you teach here, right? Stay away and bark and bite when necessary."

Now Griffin snapped, "Right, because you are all unicorn-loving fluffballs who never would harm a fly. YOU beat the shit out of my students. Imprison them for no reason and KILL! Because your egos are so thick you don't think straight! How dare you!"

"I am not my people, I am a PERSON!" He shouted back offended before he settled down again, "And as far as I could find records it's killed, not kill. I already told you that you are right. I even gave you a list of people I definitely deem dangerous for Sorceresses, so Lucia stays safe. And that list will only get longer, the more I'll look into it. I know that…"

"He knows that…" Ediltrude mimicked him. "Great, a list is worth nothing without actions. You just said it yourself deeds not words."

William sighed again, "I know. I simply need time to prove what they did by the book and they'll be gone. You could help you know, would fasten the process. I hoped you'd at least want that, but seems I was wrong." They stared at each other. Silence. He broke it, "I am sorry for the hurt and death generations brought on you. But neither was I there nor do I believe it was right. I can't change the past. I can only help to create a future where that isn't the case anymore. Do you think I love or enjoy shooting at kids? Or my colleagues? Your site isn't just the victim."

"Oh, truly," Griffin rose, 'Finally he shows his true colours! I knew it.' She walked towards the Officer, 'The nerve! They know nothing of our pain! Blind idiots all of them.' She bared her teeth, "Tell me, did you bury your students because they met one of your fucking uniforms. Or have to tell the parents their child is dead or see them leave because they are too scared to stay on the planet? Have you ever dealt with the aftermath of your college's unspeakable offences?! What your precious friends dare to do! You have no scope of the horrors I have seen! We ARE the victims here. NOT YOU!" She was brimming in dark magic and just now got her rage under control. "Leave and never come back. We're done here." She turned around.

"…" William closed his eyes, this had gone truly badly. 'Crap, should have watched my mouth. Of course, she would react like that. Is the hurt just too big to bridge…' He noticed the door was unlocked. He opened it a gap wide ready to leave but halted. "No. I don't know your pain," he closed the door again. "We have hurt and lost people too you know," He spoke softly.

"Lost people, ahaha, what a joke, LEAVE before I throw you personally out of the window," Professor Zarathustra stomped forward.

Officer William raised his hands to show he was no threat, "I personally lost a dear friend early on because a Wit-Sorceress shot at some construction bars and they toppled on us. We just were out of the academy, green as one could be. She had stolen something right in front of our eyes when we were on a lunch break. It was shortly after Domino's fall." He didn't like to recall it, it was a painful memory after all.

"Why come then, is this part of your elaborate plan to get even? If you lay a finger on Lucia I'll…" Griffin stopped and faced him once more. Her death glare was as intense as ever.

"Yes, I was angry. I hated her for some time. Never met her again though. I can't tell you what I would have done or haven't back in those days. Everyone was just so full of rage because of Domino. But I didn't let my anger control me. For one simple reason," William started to explain.

Ediltrude snorted loudly, "Oh, let me guess because you are a good guy, uphold the law. A poster boy. You don't think we would fall for that obvious lie, now did you?"

"I'm no poster boy, but you already know that if you did your homework." William looked the Professor straight in the eyes, "You want the truth? It was because of my friend, who died because of that young girl. I am very sure you found that out as well. You have a big network after all."

Griffin grinned, "Of course I did. So, seems we reached our impasse, you're just playing Lucia to get even. Or whatever the long run is. I know your kind all too well," She grinned victoriously. "You're not the first to approach my students with pretty words."

"I never was the poster boy, but my friend was, always believed in the good of people, some might call him foolish," William shook his head as a smile flitted over his lips. "The reason why I didn't lash out like others was him. Yes, he died because of a Sorceress. But all he did was chuckle and say, 'She was just as scared as we are, don't blame her, she's just a kid and tensions are high. So, stupid just because of some books, never stop believing in the good in people, Will. Promise me.' He's the reason. He died before help arrived. I had to go home and tell his own kid, that he had died for some stupid stolen books. And I was angry for a long time. Yet I took his words to heart. -"

"How touching, a truly original story," Griffin interrupted him harshly. She didn't want to buy that story, but so far she hadn't detected a lie and William had no magic items with him, he had none at all, which was a first. "So, why? Why come now? Not when your precious friend died? If this was always your grand plan, why not say something when the Winx were in school and tensions low?" She crossed her arms eyeing him closely. The other two women looked at him, a bit baffled never they had heard the other side, mostly Witches were outnumbered and simply fled, by all means necessary. They had no reason to care what happened to the pursuers they had escaped from. And he was laying his weaknesses out in the open as if he was on a deathbed.

"Because healing needs time. I was angry. Boy, I wished for so long to get that brat into my hands. If I had gotten to her, who knows what kind of man I would have become. You are right, I don't know your pain, but I know mine. You don't just forget. It still hurts today, yes. But I made so many mistakes in my career, butted heads for one reason or another. It wasn't easy to forgive, he was my best friend. But… but… it was his last request to me. I don't know when I let go of my hate towards that girl. Maybe once Domino was restored I finally could let go… Now, history is repeating itself. Both sides are at fault for the state we are in now because we didn't work through the past. We just paused or rather everything moved into the dark corners where nobody looks," William paused as he closed his eyes, "Why now, indeed? Life I guess, I thought if I just am a good officer, proof things first, that would be enough. Who was I to tell others to change their ways? Don't get me wrong, I arrested lots of Sorceresses back in the day. And I was fucking happy about every single one, it gave me satisfaction. But I never did so without having the proof. And I never endangered them in any way. At some point filed reports against police officers stopped coming and so the reminders vanished from sight... I just did, what I always did, living my life. Until your little redhead stormed the station all fed up." He had to chuckle. "It was the first time anyone reminded me in ages. 'We help people just like you. Enough is enough.' I closed my eyes to the truth because it was easy and comfortable. There is no denying that. I was so shocked when I heard of the unjust arrests. I don't even know why… I heard people talk, rumours said, I just ignored it as meaningless slander. As a young Officer, I bragged like any other what I would do if I'd be alone with one. It was the norm, we wanted to impress our superiors. So, hearing it now didn't ring any alarm bells. It should have since it's not as cool as it once was to spout such bullshit around," He seemed to ponder for a second.

"If it were only spouting… but you're not completely wrong, things did settle down, especially with the Winx Club around. It is boiling up again." Griffin growled, 'He truly is a good man… with a past. But he owns it and I thought he would pretend… he even said more than we could find out…' She looked him in the eyes, "So you turned a blind eye. And now you want to use Lucia to reform the police? I don't hand students out to be poster girls or symbols. Those get attacked and trashed first." She wasn't sure what to make of it all.

"A symbol? Use her? What? No. She's a smart girl, she would never fall for such a thing. We need this change we all do. We are already late to the party, we have to get ahead of things again. Lucia is right, this has to stop. All the people we lost or got hurt deserved better no matter the side back then. And now it's a whole new generation, we can't fail them twice. This time around, I want to be part of the solution. You serve the people just like we do. We are on the same side. I wasted so much time, no more. I don't give a fuck if other stations will hate us. So many have no idea how bad it can get. It's all just glorious war stories to some and the new Officers will more or less blindly follow whoever takes the lead. But days gone by will only lead us to a ruined past, not a bright future." He desperately tried to convince her with whatever phrase he could come up with to convey his message.

Headmistress Griffin glanced at the Officer, "So, you found your drive… better future for all, so no one gets lost or hurt," She had seen the skirmishes, and been in some herself when she was younger that was one reason amongst many why she had fallen for Valtor's promises to gain power. "Enough is enough… if it only were that simple." She sighed as she sat down.

"Don't tell me you are considering this?" Zarathustra was thrown off guard, she knew that voice.

"Are you sure, Griffin?" Ediltrude looked at her concerned. "This will be a fight with unknown casualties. This isn't a simple let's play house request. Nor are you in any powerful position to get any plans through not in the police and not at all with the Council." She looked to William.

"Nothing worth fighting for is ever simple and straightforward. You know that. Yes, it'll take time. It might take even longer than I live. But all we need is the will to work together. I promise you, I'll not stand for injustice in my own institution. I am proud to wear this uniform and I will not tolerate those who slander it, there is no place for them in my vision for the police."

"Problem still stands you are one man, your station has barely thirty people," Zarathustra shook her head, "This is dangerous, if not foolish."

"I am not the only one who thinks that way. Officers have Sorceresses in their families too. Maybe not so renowned once as your students here, still they want them to be safe to proudly walk the street without the fear. Not all are blinded by hate." William pleaded yet again for collaboration. Yet Griffin stayed silent.

Ediltrude shook her head, "You might have good intentions. There are plenty who will not see 'the good' in Witches. Don't underestimate them. They'll fight you, get you thrown out, they'll play dirty whenever they have to. You're a simple officer of a small station no one cares about. Seasoned one, granted, but your voice means nothing in the grant scheme. You are replaceable. Tell me how long will your station hold on to this sentiment when all turn against you."

"You are underestimating us, there are plenty ready, waiting for a force of change like this to finally be able to raise their voices. Many Officers, who are just too young to know of the past how bad it can get and just want to do their job, can be swayed in either direction. If we don't, your enemies -our enemies will. Those who shouldn't even dare to call themselves Officers, they are the threat here. I was able to sway my whole station to just try for two weeks. They know my story and respect me. We just tried, see what happens and it worked. No one believed it at first, not even me. Again, we don't like chasing kids and shoot at them, just because we are scared one of those days they cash in on their threats and promises. – Not to mention some do break the law." William stepped closer to the table again.

"Right, that's why a man nearly fell to his death when you met Lucia… Your own station was trigger-happy," Zarathustra hissed at him.

"Because no one knows it differently. For at least a century it was like this. All they hear is shoot first, ask questions later. I do my best to teach them a better way. It's not that simple if you have no example to show where collaboration actually works. And he got an earful and was suspended for a week," William made clear. "Please, all I ask is that we try. If it endangers your students, you have all the right and should retract from this. But at least try and see what happens, please." He gazed at Griffin still silent.

Griffin stared at the blueprint and tapped on her desk, 'Vision. Blade complained I had none. Although I do have one. I can't tell that guy a solid answer. At best this is a half-baked answer… What did I concretely envision for my students at the start? It was all about saving them from the onslaught and keeping the next generation safe from everybody… but besides them being safe… I started out like a headless chicken just like that man…' She refocused on his endless talking again. 'He'll not last a week alone. Politics are a chessboard and he is just like Blade with the head through the wall…'

"…in the worst case, you have nothing or a shitty reputation, which you already have, I might add. Condolence prize would be one station we can get filled up with 'Witch-loving' Officers. Best case, you'll have a city full of collaboration. A better image, a blueprint for other kingdoms and together surely we can find those who hurt your students in the past and present. It's in our interest as well. Just give it a chance, that's all I am asking. We can change things for the better. We can't leave it up to the students. They are kids, they need us." William tried to convince the three for what felt like the hundredth time.

Zarathustra growled, "You have nothing to lose though. It's all on us. What keeps you from stabbing us in the back, leave then it gets hot?"

"I am sure you know where I live," He joked, "I am and will include the Council in this as much as possible. Even if I falter or my friends. I very much doubt I can fool them and stab you in the back. All I can give at this point is a promise, my word. If it makes you feel better, take this trial as a favour. You like to trade favours, indulge me just this once," William offered Griffin.

The headmistress laughed, "You'll never be able to pay that debt."

"If this works you owe me more than you can ever pay me, Headmistress," William smirked. "We can make this work."

"Ha, that be the day…" Griffin gazed at the blueprint. "Fine. I'll give you a chance. If you can convince me that this scribbling is worth anything and not a waste of time and chalk. You definitely should get a better constructor those runes are all over the place…" Griffin conjured up a chair. "Take your seat."

"Headmistress? This is…" Zarathustra was perplexed. She wasn't used to Griffin indulging anyone that was so foolhardy and with no power to back his cause up. 'I know this would be great, but the chance that this will work out is astronomical.'

"… a pipe dream. Still, I saw six girls beat Valtor and they barely had finished their studies at Alfea. Miracles can happen." She chuckled. 'Well, he didn't lie. He was straightforward. Has no power, no magic… Still, there is no denying Blade found one of the good guys… wonderful… we'll never hear the end of that….'

Zarathustra shook her head, "It be a miracle if that station stands till the end of the week. That rune script is way too weak. If you truly want to do this, your station needs a Council Guard Wizard to secure dangerous items. If you built that system for anyone to access like you are planning, other Witches will come to use it too. And you have no idea what they'll drop on you. Not everyone has left their grudges behind. And surely some old-fashioned Officers would love to use your pipe dream for a pipe bomb."

Griffin breathed out deeply, "And surely we'll get blamed for that…Not to mention that we have to protect our students from getting their badges stolen…" She sighed and tried to make any sense of that mess of a plan.

Blade was still stuck in the school walls of Cloud Tower. The Tower basically had drained her slowly in the start and then adjusted its intake to her regeneration rate. Blade had been sleeping or rather dreaming the whole time. She was wondering the dark plains of her subconsciousness since the Tower tent to commune with her through pictures on that plain. It also had shown her plenty of rage circles and the bad things that could happen if one lost control. It had been truly angry at her or was concerned. Blade wasn't sure yet. The Tower still was hard to grasp. After the Towers lecturing for what felt like ages the fun actually began. She had explored all kinds of places through Cloud Tower. She even had listened to some lectures for the third-years. Yet barely had understood a thing. Or play some payback pranks on her fellow friends in the Tower. By now Blade could clearly feel and see magic pulsating through the veins of the Tower. They gave her endless black space some colour. She even had asked for pointers with the floating weapons, since Sorceresses did float things all the time. She had more than plenty of scenes of the past to explore. And with it what once was just random scenes became a way to actually talk to Cloud Tower. Blade had no feeling of time here but it felt like weeks simply exploring the root network of Cloud Tower that spread throughout the Dark Forest, to be more precise the part that was in the Sorceresses' territory.

"Wow, so your roots reach that far, huh?" Blade was amazed. It was part of nature here on Magix and while it was just a projection. It was marvellous to see the Sorceresses' territory through its eyes.

"That's it! You went too far!" An image of what presumably was a Professor a long time ago scolding someone flashed up and vanished into smoke again.

"Indeed, it is," Blade giggled. It felt a bit like talking with a radio. And not everything was the exact meaning that was intended or in the correct range of emotion that should be conveyed, at least Blade thought so. "Hey, I know you said no… but surely you know what is written in that grimoire that I found. Can't you at least give me a peek? Griffin must have found something by now… Every time I asked about it in the past she ignored it like she was denying its existence. It's so unfair, you showed me where to find it after all. So, please? Just the first page?"

"I think not, young Lady." A smoky image of Councillor Aithlin puffed up.

"Ah, come on…" Blade tried to sweet-talk it again.

Dusk appeared again, "You don't have the knowledge to distinguish what is parasitic and what is symbiotic."

"Ahh, not this again…" Blade scratched her head, "I know you keep saying that but that makes no sense whatsoever."

"Why?" Blade saw herself appear right next to her

"YIKES! I told you to stop that! It freaks me out…" Blade flailed around in the smoky image of herself.

"Why?"; "Why?"; "Why?"; "Why?"; "Why?"; "Why?"; "Why?"; "Why?"; "Why?" A whole bunch appeared.

"Ahhhh, just you wait once I am out of your wall… I'll… I'll poke your roots. We'll see who laughs in the end!" Blade declared and pouted a bit.

Her duplicates vanished. And Griffin appeared at her desk, "Oh, you're on." A still image of Organa was standing right next to her.

Blade snorted, "Gotta say you have quite the humour."

"Someone needs to put you into your place," Misery appeared from the drifting smoke.

"Oooohhh, good one," Blade shook her head in disbelief, "Too bad we two can't have a match…Would be fun to fight you I imagen."

A somewhat familiar guy appeared with a girl on a bed. That face Blade of course recognised it was Darcy, "Hey, there handsome, I'll take you on anytime…" the younger Sorceress giggled as she closed in on him pinning him down.

"Oh, will you now…?" The boy with the spiky hair seemed intrigued. Yet the image vanished again.

"Wait that was one of the Trix. That dude though I have met him… I think… wait isn't that the Bounty Hunter… I saw him in the black market as well. They were a pair?"

The image of the Lady that had fought with the first Headmistress of the Tower growled, "I did not fight my whole life to let it all end like this…"

Blade laughed so hard, "Yeah, I bet he thought that when he found out what they were up to… come to think of it. Who is that?" She pointed at the Lady Sorceress. "I know the other one was the first Headmistress of well this school. But her? I can't find a record of her anywhere…"

The image flickered and that Lady began to morph yet the imagery got distorted and instead of what was intended, another double of Blade got created, but this time in her Shadion form.

"Hm, what was that? You glitched didn't you?" Blade was confused, that never had happened before.

The scenery changed again, "Hey, I didn't and I won't…" She heard herself complain to Griffin.

"Yes, you did…" Blade looked around but whatever presence interfered was gone again. "Wait a second… are you telling me that lady was a Fairy, a Dark Fairy? They did exist in the past…should be possible Mister G knew some." Blade thought about it. "But where are they now? If they existed… where are the records? I still don't get that. Surely there have to be records, if they had been around on more than just one world like Mister G said… makes no sense…"

The image swapped to the first headmistress, "…I will not let their deaths be in vain."

Blade wasn't sure, "Are you telling me they all died? But why?"

"It will be war!" The lady reappeared again the tower was skipping forth and back in the scene.

Blade paced up and down the black emptiness, "They all died in a war? But no one wrote about it? How can that be…? That's, that's impossible, there are at least a few records of every war that went on in history, but here everything's just gone. Just how? You are old, do you know?"

The Headmistress of days gone by spoke up again as the tower rewound to the start of the memories, "It has been decided."

Blade frowned, "By who? Surely, she as the first Sorceress of one simple school had not the power to erase all knowledge throughout the universe. We're talking about Fairies here, protectors of kingdoms."

The Lady growled yet again, "I did not fight my whole life to let it all end like this…"

Blade got the feeling the Cloud Tower was upset, "You knew Dark Fairies., I know," she couldn't quite grasp what it was trying to tell her. "Just how old are you?... Do you mean you fought at their side as well? But, then… Those two clearly knew each other, the Sorceress and the Dark Fairy… did the Fairies have an alliance with the Sorceresses?"

Nebula's image rose from the dust "There, nice!" and fled with another imitation of Blade as the image fell apart.

"Okay, great, now I'm getting somewhere…" Blade tapped her fingers energetically against each other trying to figure out how to go from there. "Okay. So Dark Fairies and Sorceresses worked together. Sorceresses stayed, well lived. Fairies vanished and died. There was some sort of war. Against whom… or better question who won? The victors write history after all. Cloud Tower who won?"

The smoke rose high and created an image of another version of Griffin's office. It looked similar and yet some stuff was different, the inventory was greatly changed, and it was less gloomy and doom. The outlay was mostly the same. It had a few bigger arks, which gave it a more sophisticated design. More smoke swirled up from the ground and abruptly stopped, hold in place then it jerked.

Blade couldn't feel anything wrong with the Tower though. "You're glitching again… you okay?" She looked around to the branches in the black sky of her subconsciousness. They glowed brighter than before. "What the heck is going on?!" But she got no answer. Suddenly the glow vanished and everything returned to normal.

The figures formed. It was a Leprechaun and a Sorceress. The Leprechaun seemed young, "Luduana… please you of all people know this is the only way…." He seemed distraught and emotional, yet there was an urgency to his voice.

"Don't you DARE, and it's Lorelai! I left behind that cursed name," The very old Sorceress with bony hands raised her voice in anger. That one was familiar. It was the voice of the first Headmistress. Blade hadn't recognised her at all. She was wearing such ominous clothes and looked – weak.

The leprechaun sighed deeply as he closed his eyes and grimaced in pain and pity, "Please, … it is the only way. Your knowledge is essential. You…"

"I have killed too many already, I will kill no more. I am a Headmistress now, I don't fight wars," The woman was shaken to the core.

"We're not asking for you to go into the front lines. We need you to train the force. You know the Dark Fairies best… we can't let this go on. You swore an oath to sustain balance," He tried to convince the Headmistress. "It's time for a new head of this school and you know this…"

"Don't you lecture me on oaths, Votzaak! You barely have spoken yours. Even if I were to pass the title - what then? Train other students to kill and murder?!" The woman had a dry throat and coughed loudly. "For glory? Power? Freedom? I heard it all! I promised it ALL."

"The Hunter Division is solely to take care of the Dark Fairies and will be disbanded afterwards. It's a task force one to operate in the shadows. The universe needs this horror to end and you know it. We all need peace… to finally move on into a better future" The Leprechaun pleaded.

"Pah! On the bones of the brave souls, those selfish Kings will build a future. Don't make me laugh. Hundreds of years and that Council has NOTHING to show for it. No army ever got disbanded, you'll just use them to conquer! Don't you lie to me you little…" Lorelai crossed her arms as she breathed heavily and ground her teeth. "I will not stand as the head name of such a force. When its future is undecided… I'm not that foolish…anymore…"

Votzaak looked to the ground, "Well, what future would you want to create for it?" He asked straight forward. "What purpose do you see for it? What does the universe need?"

"What? Now those shitheads were willing to listen? Now?" She coughed some more and clenched her fist.

The leprechaun sighed, "They need you, I need you, you have fought more darkness than anyone. You lived through it all. If we can solve this problem the Council will prove its worth. It's a chance for peace - lasting peace."

"On the bones of all those I called MY FRIENDS! I promised them a BETTER future, but all I have created is division, I failed those three so deeply all they ever wanted…" Lorelai was on the edge of crying.

"Luduana…you founded this army or rather school to protect all those young girls from fates unspeakable. In those three names honour. You took anyone in who wanted a better future, free of the reign of tyrants. Don't let its legacy be tainted by the remains of Dark Fairies. We have to put an end to them, anything else would be cruelty. That's not what they fought for, what you fought for." Votzaak walked around the desk and hopped onto it and laid his hand on her shoulder. "The next Headmistress should not bear this burden. Let the Sorceresses be free of their past. Help me train the Hunter Division."

"Don't call me that… I'm Lorelai…" The woman whispered torn. "…and... and… I will not raise another army with an unknown future. Not if killing all those Fairies is their first mission. That is yet another grim and bloody path nothing good will ever come of this." The old woman shook her head yet again.

Votzaak looked to the ground for a while, "Then let's create the Hunter Division to put those Dark Fairies to rest and afterwards we'll disband it," Lorelai wanted to interrupt but Votzaak continued, "And then from the ashes, we'll build a Black Magic Hunter Division to fight darkness to prepare, to be ready, to uphold peace, go beyond borders or professions one unit to sustain balance and one goal fight the darkness."

Lorelai looked up at the little young Leprechaun, "You promise? You'll usher in this new age? You won't bow to Kings?"

"We both won't," Votzaak looked her in the eyes. "Luduana…"

"It's Lorelai… young fool… and we both know I don't have much time left…" She coughed hard again.

"Well then let's get started, there are plenty of Dark Fairies waiting for a blade to…" The whole image fell suddenly to pieces.

"What no wait!" Blade turned around and was hit by a bright light. "Don't stop!"

Blade fell to her knees. The Tower had spat her out of the wall. Slightly disorientated she looked around.

"Blade? Blade?" A high pitched yet somewhat grumpy voice asked her.

Blade looked up. 'A Pixi?' She was confused, 'Wait that must be Discordia from the Darkar War with the Winx.' Blade was still weak on her feet after all she had been in an induced trance since days if she was to believe her bracelet. "No, no, no," She stumbled to a wall, "Whisper of creation! You haven't told me everything yet!" She couldn't connect. Or rather there was a stronger presence around and the Tower stayed silent. "Griffin!? No…you… YOU!" Blade turned around to the Pixi. "You can connect to the tower. It was you!"

"Calm yourself," Discordia tried to soothe her. "It just was a bad dream, a nightmare. The Tower asked me to wake you."

"Bullshit! Lair!" Blade summoned her magic, "Whirling chakrams!" she cast, and two completely sharpened chakrams floated next to her. The tricks the Tower had shown her worked. "That was a memory of Cloud Tower! You're in league with Votzaak! The Council! They killed them all!" She threw the chakrams at the Pixi which evaded.

"Stop!" Discordia amassed magic, yet got hit from behind as the chakrams returned.

Blade halted the blades next to her. "Quick, let me out! I got to go! I won't fail you, I promise," Blade pressed her hands against the wall and indeed even if the Tower was silent it opened an escape route and Blade dashed through. "SHADION!"

"No, are you crazy to let her leave with that?! Why did you even show her? You have no idea what she'll do! What they'll do…" Discordia rushed towards the escape entrance but before she could reach it, it closed up. "I understand you're hurt, I feel the same, but… this isn't the way. This needs time, we don't even…uurgh, stupidity!" Discordia dashed up the stairs, 'Griffin…'