Chapter 14

Icy wasn't sure if her sister's silence was a good thing or a bad thing. To be honest, she didn't even know if they understood her. Icy almost told them everything she remembered.

They just stared at her with wide eyes. Did they even listen to hear?

'How long?'

It surprised the ice witch that Darcy's voice didn't sound angry.

'I..Like I said…my…My memories…. they came back a few days after we ditched Valtor and I….'

'That's not what I meant.' Darcy interrupted her 'I meant how long would it have taken you to tell us that, if the circumstances were different.'

'I would've told you at some point.' Icy said 'I just didn't know how.'

Darcy nodded and went back to being silent.

'I think now would be a good time to tell you that I think you might start getting your real memories back as well. But if you have any questions you can ask.'

No questions were asked and Icy didn't know anything else she could say to make the situation less weird.

'Do you seriously want to tell me you have no questions.' Icy looked at her sisters in disbelief ' Okay. You know what, in the next minute you are allowed to yell at me as much as you want. Without any consequences. I don't care. But show some kind of reaction.'

Thirty seconds. That's how long it took until Darcy decided to say something.

'No need to make you feel more miserable.' Darcy looked at her older sister

'But…'

Darcy raised an eyebrow when she saw the confusion in Icys face. 'What did you expect?'

'I...I don't know.' Icy replied honestly.

'I think I remember a few things you told us .' Darcy said quietly.

'Really?' Icy looked at her sister.

Darcy nodded 'You used to sneak around the castle and sometimes you would take me with you. We would play little pranks on the guards. I remember how we almost got caught one time. We ran away so fast and hid in Stormy's room.'

Darcy turned to look at the storm witch.

'God, we bribed you with so much chocolate cake, because you threatened to tell our mother about us sneaking around the castle in the middle of the night without you' Darcy slightly laughed.

While her sisters talked, Stormy listened quietly. She wasn't taking it as nonchalantly as Darcy did.

'Anything else?' Stormy asked harshly. She looked quite angry and had her fists clenched.

'I don't know…maybe….' Darcy was cut off by Stormy.

'Great. I am sure you have a lot to talk about. Good night' Stormy stood up and left the room. Her previous intention to apologize to the ice witch completely forgotten.

Icy stared after her. It confused her that Stormy didn't express her opinion. Usually she didn't hold her thoughts back like that.

'What's going on between you and Storm?' Darcy asked.

'She said something stupid.'

Darcy understood.

Icy always did that when one of her sisters did something stupid and she wanted to teach them a lesson. The ice witch would ignore them until she was certain they had learned their lesson.

The Ice witch gave her sister's leg a little nudge so she could sit down on the bed as well.

'What are you going to do now?' Darcy asked.

'You're the clever one. Any ideas?' Icy laid down across the bed.

'I don't think joining the assembly is a good idea.'

'Darcy….'

'I think it's going to set something into motion that we will lose control of' Darcy cut her off. 'I understand that your choices are slim…'

'I don't have any choices at all.' Now the ice witch cut her off. 'And I already lost control over the situation.'

Darcy wasn't certain what to say. Icy was kinda right.

'Sounds weird. I didn't think you'd ever admit something like that. Loss of control' The witch of darkness said quietly.

'I don't have the intention to let it stay that way.'Icy replied.

'You have a plan?' Darcy asked curiously.

'Not yet.'

The sisters continued to talk until Darcy's roommates decided to walk into the room. They seriously had to talk about the whole sleeping arrangement. Icy decided not to tell any of the Winx about anything that was discussed that day, she wanted to avoid the questions they would ask for as long as possible.

Icy pondered for a second whether she should go to bed or if she should check up on Stormy. She chose the latter. She made her way to the room her sister was sharing with Tecna and Flora and quietly knocked on the door before looking into the room.

'She's asleep.' Tecna saw how Icy looked at her sister's bed. 'Didn't even change into her pyjamas. Everything ok?'

'Yeah, sorry for the disturbance.' The witch quietly closed the door again. She wanted to go to bed as well before she realized that Flora hadn't been in the room. Icy quickly found the fairy in the living room, half asleep.

'Flora?' Icy asked warily. The fairy immediately woke up.

'Sorry, did you say something?' She asked when she saw the witch. Flora was barley able to keep her eyes open.

'I suggest going to bed. The couch looks uncomfortable.' Icy frowned when Flora didn't move. 'Did something happen?'

'No'

'You're a horrible liar.'

'I didn't lie. Nothing happened.'

Icy raised a brow. The fairy answered way to quickly and she looked absolutely guilty. She wasn't sure what was going on, but she had a suspicion. Icy observed that both Flora and Stormy actively avoided one another today. Maybe the fairy started to notice the storm witch's weird behavior as well.

'You have been to Cloudtower before.' The fairy wasn't certain what the witch was getting at. Icy wasn't asking a question, but she still waited until Flora nodded.

'Cloudtower has an aura, some sort of dark presence that is looming around the school.' Icy continued.

'Negative energy.' Flora nodded. For fairies it was pretty uncomfortable to be there for too long.

'Alfea has an aura as well. But with positive energy.' Flora still wasn't sure what the witch wanted to achieve here. 'It's confusing for witches to be exposed to fairy magic all the time. Some might start acting out of character, because they can't cope with the amount of positive energy anymore.'

Icy could see that Flora figured out what she was getting at.

'I don't know what you mean.' Flora avoided looking at the witch.

'Yeah, you do.' Icy breathed out.

'Icy….'

'I don't know what happened.' The witch stopped her. 'And I am not sure if I want to know. That's why I am going to bed now before you tell me something I might not want to hear.'

Icy turned around to walk to her bedroom. She was about to walk out of the living room when she turned around again.

'She's asleep. You can go to bed without any unwanted confrontation.'

Stormy and her sisters hiding in Addy's apartment.

Explosions that lead to them being brought to Alfea.

The convergence with Flora.

Bloom nearly killing Icy.

Stormy almost kissing Flora.

Icy telling her and Darcy about a life they don't remember.

Stormy would've loved to go back to sleep again, but her mind wouldn't let her. Too much happened in the last few days and it started to take a toll on the storm witch. Only now she has started to realize that everything is going to change. And Stormy didn't really like changes. Why can't everything go back to normal? Icy, Darcy and Stormy looking for the ultimate power and the Winx trying to stop them. That's how it's been like and that's what Stormy wanted back. Normality.

This whole situation made the storm witch even more impulsive then she already was. She shouted at her sisters and suddenly wanted to kiss fairies.

Stormy spend the next few minutes thinking about possible reasons why she acted so strange.

The school. It's the school that is messing with her head. Stupid fairy magic.

A shower. She needed a shower. Maybe then her mind will calm down.

Stormy carefully opened her eyes. Tecna was still asleep. The witch looked over at Flora's bed and saw that she was asleep as well. Thank god, Stormy wasn't in the mood to have to talk to the flower fairy. Yesterday she perfectly managed to avoid her and that's exactly how she wanted to continue today.

The storm witch stood up as quietly as possible and grabbed a few things she would need before making her way out of the room.

Walking through the empty living room the witch went into the bathroom.

Stormy didn't know how long she stood under the shower but by the time she was done she felt much calmer. The stupid protection shield didn't let any rain through, so she just enjoyed the water that was running down her face right now. And for a few minutes she could actually switch off her thoughts.

She dried herself off and put on her clothes before carefully brushing through her wet curls. Not blow drying her hair she grabbed her things and walked over to the door. She was about to grab the door handle when the door suddenly was opened from the outside.

Stormys eyes widened when she came face to face with Flora.

'Oh sorry, I didn't…..' The flower fairy stopped talking for a second when she noticed it was Stormy. '….know….that..someone was already …inside.'

Both of them avoided looking at each other

'I…I was…' Stormy couldn't get a clear sentence out. 'I was just leaving.'

The storm witch walked past the fairy. She wanted to get away as fast as possible to not make it any more embarrassing.

'Wait.' Flora said. 'Can we talk.'

The witch halted. The flower fairy took that as a sign to talk.

'I just wanted to say that whatever was going to happen yesterday, we can just forget about it. It had been a long day and we were all tired.'

'I don't know what you are talking about. ' The witch replied and started to walk away.

'Stormy?' Flora said softly and stopped her again.

'What!?' Stormy snapped. In the last few days both the fairy and the witch got along pretty well, so obviously Flora slightly flinched at the tone of the other girls voice.

The flower fairy wanted to say something, but Stormys reaction stopped her from continuing. She had no intention of making it more awkward.

Fortunately a knock on the door interupted them.

The storm witch had a confused look on her face. As did the fairy. Who would pay them a visit at six in the morning.

Stormy walked over to the door.

'…I don't care! You can't be serious about this.' Oritel said to his wife, who had knocked on the door, before noticing that the door opened.

'Of course I am serious. You think I would joke about something like that? I didn't ask you to come with me.' Marion looked at Stormy. 'Good morning.'

'Queen Marion, King Oritel?' Flora saw who was at the door.

'No need to be formal, Flora.' Marion said smiling softly. She constantly had to remind the Winx that as friends of Bloom neither of them had to adress them by their titles.

'Can we come in?' Bloom's mother looked at Stormy who was still blocking the doorway.

'I don't know. Can you?' Stormy replied bored. Still she went out of the way so both of Bloom's parents could enter the Winx suite.

'You must be Stormy.' Marion said. Her daughter and her friends told them about the three witches that have been causing havoc in Magix for the last three years. She had met Icy yesterday, which only left Darcy and Stormy. Her attitude gave her away as Stormy.

'What brings you here at this hour?' Flora asked.

'Could you tell me which room is Isabella's?' Marion avoided answering the fairy's question.

'Whose?'

'Mine.' Icy walked in.

'Ah good you are awake.' Marion said nicely. Icy saw that Oritel was looking at her with wariness. Apparently he didn't share the same opinion as his wife in this matter.

'You said, be up at six, and here I am.' Icy crossed her arms. 'Why am I up?'

'I'm not sure if you have any experience with aristocratic politics. And you shall not attend the assembly unprepared' Marion replied softly.

'Interesting, now you are worried I will make a fool out of myself.' Icy said annoyed.

'My wife is offering to teach you on royal etiquette, something you clearly need, young lady. You should be grateful for the help.' Oritel hissed at the witch.

'I didn't ask for her help.' Icy hissed back. The witch was testing his patience.

' No one forces you to represent Whisperia. If you can't take this serious maybe you shouldn't play princess. You will do more damage than good.'

Icy took in a sharp breath. He thinks she is doing this willingly. Oritel didn't know that Marion is blackmailing her. He had no clue. Icy was almost certain he didn't even know about the blood ritual. She shot a confused glance at Marion who looked back at her.

'Oritel, maybe I should take over from here on.' Marion said calmly. 'Isabella and I will manage on our own.'

'I feel like there is something I have missed.' Flora said. She quietly listened to the conversation and tried to figure out on her own what was going on. But nothing really made sense.

'Mom? Dad?' They heard Bloom's voice.

Apparently the noises woke up the other girls as well. They started to come out of their rooms to see what the commotion was about.

'What is going on? It is six in the morning and some of us like their sleep.' Stella stopped when she saw Bloom's parents 'Is everything all right?'

'Are there news about the ancestral witches?' Layla asked concerned. If the King and Queen of Domino were here so early there must be a reason.

'I'll leave the explaining to you.' Oritel told his wife before he excused himself and walked out again.

'Seems like you guys have secrets in your marriage.' Icy said after the door closed.

'I told him who you are.' Marion replied nonchalantly.

'You just forgot to mention that I am not exactly doing this willingly.' Icy smirked 'You didn't tell him about the blood ritual. Why? Afraid he won't like that?'

'Icy!' Bloom was clearly shocked. She didn't know her mother knew about the blood curse and the ritual.

'Relax, she already knows everything.' Icy said and turned to look at the fairy 'Apperantly the same can't be said about your father.'She turned back to Marion.

'You think you just got back the upper hand. Think again.' Marion got serious 'Yes, I didn't tell my husband about what you did. That doesn't change the fact that you will be joining the assembly.'

'What the hell is going on?' Bloom asked, looking back and forth between Icy and her mother.

'I am the crown princess of Whisperia.' Icy paused before looking at Bloom 'And your mother is blackmailing me'

'What!' Icy was certain Bloom wasn't the only one asking that question. The others were shocked as well.

'I am not blackmailing you.' Marion tried to appease her.

'You're threatening to tell people about the blood ritual, if she doesn't join the assembly.' Darcy spoke up. 'That's the definition of blackmail. I am curious. Why are you so adamant that she claims her title as crown princess.' Darcy frowned. She tried to get inside of the queen's head. Her plan did not go unnoticed.

'I have my reasons.' Marion looked at Darcy. 'You can stop trying to get into my head. I am not letting you in'

'Can we go back to you being the crown princess of Whisperia.' Musa said to Icy.

'I didn't know the three of you were noble.' Tecna added and looked back and forth between the Trix.

'Neither did we.' Darcy replied before she saw that she just confused them even more. 'Long story. Don't ask.'

'Icy joining the assembly is a bad idea. No matter who she is.' Bloom said. 'And I think Darcy asked a good question. Why do you want her to?'

Instead of Marion it was Icy who answered.

'She said I should take it as security.' The witch mockingly said.

'You know damned well that the other kingdoms won't tolerate you and your sisters staying in Alfea. They are certain you are still working for the ancestral witches.' This was the first time Marion lost her patience. Apperantly Icy finally managed to get under her skin.

'Faragonda promised we are allowed to stay in Alfea.' Darcy answered when the ice witch fell silent. 'We are all working on the same team here.'

'You think Faragonda will be able to keep that promise if the biggest kingdoms of the magical dimension put her under pressure.' Marion replied before turning to Icy 'You know that joining the assembly…..''

'Let me stop you right there.' Icy cut her off. 'I am not trying to back out, don't worry, I will join the assembly.' Marion looked surprised to hear that ' I like the concept of protection. I just don't understand your motives.'

'My motives are none of your business.' Marion said.

'Now that we've clarified that, we can make sure that I don't make a complete fool out of myself later.' Icy replied.

'No.'

'Yes.'

'Absolutely not'

'You need to convince them, that you are serious.' Marion said.

'And I will do that just perfectly wearing pants and a shirt. Maybe you can convince me to wear a blazer.' Icy replied.

In the past two hours Marion tried to teach Icy as much as possible about the royal etiquette. They were neither friendly nor hostile towards each other. The witch actually paid attention and to Marion's surprise even asked a few questions. But than Marion addressed the clothing situation.

'Stella, do you have a dress you could lend her?' Marion asked the fairy of the sun, who nodded and stood up.

'Stella, wait.' Icy gritted her teeth. To the witch's surprise the fairy actually listened and stopped walking.

A dress from Stella was bound to be glittery and pompous. Basically everything she hated. Under no circumstances was she going to wear something like that.

'Don't make this more complicated than it has to be right now.' Marion said softly.

It took Icy a lot of courage to say the next thing. But after a few seconds she looked at Stella.

'Anything but bright colors, please.'

For a moment she thought Stella would ignore her wish and give her the most colorful dress she could find. But to her surprise the fairy didn't. After both Icy and Stella disappeared into the fairy's bedroom the blonde girl found a dress that was light blue. It had an off shoulder neckline and a floor length chiffon skirt. Icy carefully brushed over the small lace appliques that were covering the bodice together with small silver rhinestones. The fabric felt nice on her hand and it was a beautiful dress. There was just one problem.

It would look absolutely ridiculous on her.

'I am sure I could find something else if you don't feel comfortable with that dress.' Stella said. She noticed something was bothering the witch when she saw the dress.

'The dress is not the only problem.' Icy replied quietly.

Stella didn't know what to say to ease the witch. So she walked over to her jewelery box.

'Please don't kill me, but the dress beggs for you to wear accessories. Maybe earings, or bracelets or….' Stella looked through her things.

The witch of ice had an idea. She quickly walked out of the room. When Icy came back Stella was still listing up things.

'How about a necklace?' Icy asked and interupted the fairy.

'Uhhhh pretty.' Stella saw the necklace Icy held up. It was a simple silver chain with a beautiful little blue crystal 'Hey, the crystal matches the dress.'

'Thank god, I was scared that would be my biggest obstacle today.' Icy replied sarcastically. 'A necklace that doesn't match the dress. A disaster.'

'Some of us would call that a major fiasco.' Stella smiled which brought a small grin on the witches face. Her mood shifted when Queen Marion walked inside. She asked Stella to leave before addressing the ice witch.

'You do know that you will have to wear the dress and not just stare at it, right? And you still have to do your hair.' She said softly. 'Your ponytail looks too harsh. Let your hair down and don't put on too much make up.'

Her voice didn't sound demanding or bossy and Icy had the feeling that Marion actually felt guilty for making her do this.

'Do you need help with anything?' Marion asked when Icy didn't react to what she said.

'I am sure I can manage to dress myself, thank you very much.' Icy didn't care if Marion felt guilty, the ice witch was pissed and she wasn't going to hide that. 'Your help is not needed.'

'I am not your enemy.' Marion wasn't bothered by Icys attitude towards her.

'Get. Out. ' Icy was only going to warn her once.

Marion understood that it was better to leave the witch alone. When she reached the door she turned back around. Her gaze shifted to the necklace Icy was still holding in her hand. 'Pretty necklace. I remember your mother wearing that. It's a shame you didn't get to meet her.'

'You knew my mother.' Icy frowned.

Marion nodded 'You're as stubborn as her.'

With that Icy was left alone in the room. And for a minute she just stood there. What the hell was going on here?

She took a few long and deep breaths before she started doing her hair and make up. Icy followed Marion's advice and put on a minimal amount of make up. After that she thought about what to do with her hair. The witch opened her ponytail and let her hair fall down. She decided to take the front strands and pin them together at the back of her head. That way her hair wouldn't fall into her face all the time.

Then came the part she dreaded the most. She had to put on that stupid dress. Icy took it off the hanger and changed into it.

There was a knock on the door.

'I am not ready.' The ice witch said loudly while she stood in front of the mirror and tried to reach the zipper on her back without any luck.

Icy was certain she was loud enough for the other person to hear her. The door still opened.

'Are you deaf? I said…' Icy stopped talking. She was still trying to zip up the dress.

In the reflection of the mirror she saw Darko stepping into the room.

'Looks like you're about to discolate your shoulder.' Darko walked over to her. He gently brushed her hair to the front and pulled the zipper of the dress all the way up.

'There you go.' He said.

'Thanks' Icy breathed out.

Darko stepped back again and sat down on the bed. He let Icy inspect herself in the mirror. It surprised him to see insecurity inside of her eyes as she glanced up and down herself in the mirror. He saw how her eyes got stuck on the still visible burn marks on her neck for a second.

'They will fade.' Darko said and Icy looked at him through the mirror.

'Yeah, I know.' She replied quietly. The burn marks weren't her problem. 'It's the dress…..'

'What?' He asked softly when she didn't continue.

'I look absolutely ridiculous' The witch reluctantly replied.

'That's not true….'

'It makes me look weak and soft. Like I can't defend myself.' Icy cut him off and turned around to look at him. 'I look like a stupid doll and not like a witch.'

Darko stood up and stepped towards her again.

'Think of it as a disguise.' Darko saw confusion cross her face ' They are going to expect you to cause trouble again when you walk into that room. Everyone knows what you and your sisters are capable of. But you walking in dressed like that is going to throw them off. '

He gently turned her around to make her look at the mirror again. He let his hands linger on her shoulders.

'People like to judge others based on what they see. Maybe you don't look threatening right now. But that is not necessarily a bad thing. At some point they will start to underestimate you. Take it as an advantage.'

'I didn't know you were so wise.' Icy smirked.

'Don't get used to it.' Darko grinned back at her.

Icy wordlessly handed him the necklace for him to put it around her neck.

'Your mother's necklace. I didn't know you still had it' Darko was surprised she kept it.

'The only thing I have from my mother.' And the only thing she grabbed when she tried to run away all those years ago.

'You look stunning by the way.' He said and kissed her cheek.

The witch had to roll her eyes at that comment.

A knock on the door interupted them. And a voice said through the door.

'If you are dressed come out. '

'Your new best friend wants to talk to you.' Darko said and Icy groaned.

'If she continues to annoy me like that, Bloom's newfound mother will be turned into an ice sculpture.' The witch paused 'She said she knew my mother.'

'You think she's lying?' Darko frowned

'Marion knew the necklace belonged to her.' Icy whispered.

'Maybe Whisperia and Domino weren't as estranged as we think.'

'Then why didn't her husband know about me.'

Icy had a few good points. Darko didn't have any answers. The whole situation was weird.

'I talked to Addy. I am sure she is already trying to figure something out.'

He saw Icy slightly nodding.

'Are you ready to go?'

'I think so.' The witch replied. She took one last look into the mirror and then walked towards the door. She slightly opened the door and without stepping out Icy loudly said through the gap.

'No laughter, no inappropriate comments and I better not catch anyone taking a photo.'She tried to sound as intimidating as possible 'If even one of you says anything regarding my outfit I will be the cause for the next ice age, got it?'

She waited a few seconds for her speech to sink in and then walked out of the room. Icy could clearly see how the winx were suppressing the urge to say something. So were her sisters. The only one who couldn't keep her mouth shut was Marion.

'Since you intimidated everyone else I'm gonna tell you that the dress looks very nice on you.'

'What I said applies to you as well.' They instantly felt the temperature drop.

'I know it's ….' Marion tried to soothe the witch but Bloom cut her mother off.

'Mom, stop it.' She said softly. 'Icy, you don't have to do this.'

'Really?' Icy raised an eyebrow. 'I can just go back inside and put something on that doesn't make me feel someone sprinkled fairy dust on me' The ice witch sounded unconvinced and looked at Marion. The older woman avoided her gaze. Of course Icy knew that the queen wasn't going to suddenly change her mind, 'That's what I thought.'

There was a knock on the door.

'Okay, I know it's a bit much and I feel absolutely ridiculous. But my father says as future king I am supposed to wear this. So please no laughter.' Sky stepped in. He was wearing a white and red jacket, with little golden ornaments on it. His pants were red and he was wearing white boots that were reaching his knees.

'You're right, it's a bit much.' Icy agreed 'But I think I win this round'