"Don't worry Stella, we'll have you back to normal in no time!" Bloom said as Stella's sobs filled the Red Fountain aircraft.
"That's right sweety, now let me dry those tears away." Brandon said as he took some steps towards the blonde monster.
"NO stay away please!" Stella yelled as she pulled the pink robe she was wearing tightly around herself.
Samara sighed and turned towards her brother. "How long until we get there?"
"Shouldn't be too far away." Sky said. "If only this damn snowstorm would stop so we could actually see something."
"What do we do when we get there?" Flora asked.
"We have to find the Mirror of Truth, it will lift any curse that is upon the person looking into it." Samara said.
"Look over there!" Musa said as she pointed to the left.
Everyone followed her gaze.
"I don't see anything." Stella said.
When they got closer, the others could also see a cave.
"It's big enough for the aircraft to fit in." Sky said. "Hold on everyone."
Samara's stomach made a flip when the craft made a sharp turn. They entered the cave and darkness came around them. She was glad Palladium wasn't here.
"Alright folks I believe this is where we get out." Brandon said trying to sound cheerfull.
An arm sneaked around Samara's own. As the fairy of the moon turned she could make Flora's silhouet out of the dark.
"I don't like this one bit." Flora whispered.
"Hold on!" Bloom snapped her fingers and a flame appeared in her hand, giving the Winx and specialists a bit of light.
Samara did the same and a ball of white light appeared.
"Good job girls, now let's get going." Tecna said as they exited the aircraft.
"This place is huge!" Musa said as she looked around the cave. "How are we ever going to find that mirror?"
Stella started to cry again.
"No worries princess, we'll find the mirror and get you back to normal." Brandon said.
Tecna pulled out a small device and scanned the entire cave.
"We are the only living things here that's for sure." She said. "But no sign of any magic mirror."
Stella groaned.
"It has to be here." Samara said as she pulled the book out of her bag. "There is a map inside the book."
"Let's keep going." Bloom said.
They walked further inside the cave until they walked inside a giant hall.
" Wow." Musa said while looking around.
"It's beautiful." Flora said.
"Look, the mirror!" Musa said as she pointed towards the middle of the hall.
Stella immediately ran towards it.
Samara stared at the map.
"No it shouldn't be inside the hall…but further away from it…"
"Perhaps the map is wrong." Tecna said. "I'd rather count on something a bit more updated."
"No no no!" Stella suddenly screamed. "Why isn't it working?"
"Calm down Stella it'll be alright." Brandon said.
Samara started to read the entire chapter again. In the corner of her eye she saw how Stella ran away in tears, Brandon and Bloom close behind.
"Should we follow them?" Sky asked uncertain.
"Nah, I don't think it'll help if we all crowd her." Samara said.
"Poor Stella…why can't she see that Brandon loves her no matter what she looks like?" Flora asked.
"Well we all know Stella is all about her looks." Musa said.
"Ah there it is." Samara said. "In the middle of the hall there is a mirror to test the cursed one's determination to find the Mirror of Truth." She read aloud. "If the cursed one gives up the search they do not deserve to look within the Mirror of Truth."
"Where can we search?" Musa asked. "It's a dead end from here."
They all sat down and decided to wait for Stella to return.
"So what are we going to do about the situation in Solaria?" Samara asked.
"We are sure that Countess Cassandra is behind this." Tecna said. "We just can't figure out how she did it."
"She couldn't have done it alone." Musa said. "And what about Andros, we haven't heard a single thing from Layla."
Suddenly they heard a lot of noise coming closer.
"You guys we did it!" Bloom yelled.
She ran towards the rest of the Winx with Brandon and Stella close behind.
"Stella, you're you again!" Flora said.
"Yes I am, thanks to my prince charming." Stella said as she kissed Brandon.
"How did you find the Mirror of Truth?" Samara asked.
"We'll tell you all about it in the aircraft, I want to get away from here as soon as possible." Stella said.
"Amen to that, let's go." Musa said.
Aboard the craft,Sky and Brandon left the girls in the back and sat behind the controls in the front. The Winx listened to how Brandon finally got to confess his love for Stella even when she looked like a monster and Stella finally believing him. Their love broke the curse and Stella turned back into herself.
"That's so wonderfull." Flora said with tears in her eyes.
"Now I need to find a way to get my revenge on that bitch Chimera and her awful mother." Stella said furious. "They think they can get rid of the princess of Solaria that easy well they got another thing coming!"
"We'll find a way to rescue your father but don't rush into things." Bloom said.
"Thanks girls, for everything." Stella said.
"We're the Winx, we're here to help each other." Bloom said.
"Don't forget about Layla, I'm really worried about her." Musa said.
"She should arrive at Alfea soon, school starts in two days." Samara said.
"As soon as she's back we will talk to her." Flora said.
Suddenly Stella gasped. "I totally forgot, Cupid's day!"
"Oh no is that tomorrow?" Musa groaned.
Bloom and Samara looked at each other.
"What is Cupid's day?" Samara asked.
Stella stared at them with big eyes. "You don't know?"
"It's a holiday that occurs once every five years." Tecna said without looking up from her small computer. "It is a day during which you show affection towards the person you love with sharing gifts or surprising them." "I bought an extra upgrade for our game for Timmy."
"Like Valentine's day on Earth." Bloom said. "I should think of something for Sky…I wonder if he has something planned for me."
The girls all started talking about their plans and their boyfriends, all but Samara who fell into her thoughts. What should she do for Palladium? Suddenly a hand touched her shoulder.
"Wow where did you go?" Bloom laughed.
Samara smiled. "Just thinking about that Cupid's day."
She noticed that the others were stepping out of the aircraft. She hadn't even realized they had arrived at Alfea.
"Do you have something in mind for professor Palladium?" Bloom asked.
"I was thinking about it, but I have no ideas yet." Samara said.
"Well I'm sure you'll think of something, I'm going to say goodbye to Sky." Bloom said.
Samara waved at her brother and friend before she stepped out of the aircraft and made her way to the frontdoor. The sun was high in the sky, basking the entire square in a warm light. Some students already arrived today and were using the free time to hang around.
Professor Wizgiz walked by and waved towards her. Samara waved back but felt quite awkward. Wizgiz is the best friend of Palladium and he too now knew about their relationship. She was therefore happy to see that the professor walked on.
"Would you look at that, the teachers pet!" A voice sounded from her left.
Samara turned towards the voice and saw Edith standing against the wall with three other students. They laughed at her.
The fairy of the Moon straightened her shoulders and walked straight towards the group.
"Hello Edith, how are you doing?" She asked. "Ready for your second year?"
An angry glint crossed the blonde girls eyes. "At least now I know why I got to do the first year over, just because you couldn't beat me and ran to your boyfriend Palladium."
Samara sighed and tried to not let her anger take the better of her.
"As far as I remember I beat your ass and you attacked my behind my back and broke my leg." Samara said. "Only difference is that I have ten witnesses and you have none."
The other girls now laughed at Edith, who was shooting daggers at Samara.
"Have a nice day." Samara said as she walked into the school.
She walked up the stairs towards the library. She had to return the book she had borrowed. She walked into an empty corridor.
"I see your mission has been succesfull." A warm voice suddenly said right before Samara felt two arms around her shoulders.
She turned around with a smile before she kissed Palladium.
"Indeed it has." She said.
"Good."
"Were you worried about me?" Samara asked teasing.
"Just a bit." The elf said. "And I am allowed to as your partner."
Samara laughed. "Wizgiz waved to me just now."
"Ah yes…I told him about us just before the school closed for the year."
"What did he say?" Samara asked as she resumed her way to the library, Palladium by her side.
"He was…disappointed at first." Palladium said. "But mostly because I lied to him."
"I'm sorry." Samara said.
"Don't be, he is right to feel that way." "I did lie to him after all."
They walked into a very familiar corridor and Samara couldn't help but stop between the door to the toilets and the large window. She glanced through the window to see the trees of the forest swaying silently in the summer breeze. A hand took hers and tugged her along gently.
"The library?" Palladium asked.
"Yes, I need to return a book."
"I need to get to my office, some things I need to prepare for my first lesson."
A silence fell between them as they neared the library.
"Are you uhm…free this Sunday?" Palladium asked, his voice a bit higher than usual.
"I am." Samara said.
"Care to spend the day together?"
"Do you really need to ask?" Samara grinned.
"Well I mean…as a proper date?" The elf asked.
It was adorable how his cheeks grew a bit red.
"I would love to." Samara said as she gave him a quick kiss in front of the library.
"I will meet you at your dorm around noon." Palladium said.
"Sounds great."
The elf walked on with a smile on his face and Samara noticed she couldn't quite hide her own as she walked through the doors.