Fire and Ice Ch. 03
Mirta is walking to her next class when she bumps into someone. "Sorry!" she says before seeing who it was, and her eyes widen at the familiar sight of an annoyed Icy.
"Watch where you're going!" the witch snaps. "Wait a minute?" then looks at the Illusion Fairy up and down. "I remember you. Didn't I turn you into a squash?"
"I-I-Icy? What are you doing here?"
The witch raises one of her gloved hands and boasts. "I'm a special VIP guest here. Seems like you didn't get the memo. Perhaps I should turn you back into a pumpkin so that you won't forget."
"No, wait!"
"Icy!" Bloom walks up to them. "Are you causing trouble again? You know what Faragonda said."
Icy waves her off. "Don't get your little wings in a twist. I was only teasing," she turns back to Mirta. "Now scurry off before I change my mind!" she snaps and with that, Mirta runs in the opposite direction of Icy. The witch could not help but laugh at the sight
Bloom glares at her. "You really need to behave, Icy," she scolds as she starts scratching one of her own gloved hands. "Otherwise, you could lose any luxury you have here. So, no more picking on the other students. Even Knut. I just walked in on him cleaning my room. Who you scared into doing it!"
"First of all, for the time being it's our room. Second, that thing with Knut is mostly out of habit. And besides. What do you expect? I'm a witch," Icy defends. "I need to satisfy myself with petty insults and pesky pranks. It's in my nature, after all," she boasts and notices how furiously her partner is scratching her hands. "You know, that only makes it worse?"
"I know!" the redhead snaps. "It just itches so bad. I wish there was a better way to hide these rings!" the fairy scratches her hands even harder.
Icy shakes her head. "Stop before you bleed," the witch grabs Blooms hands, looks around to make sure that no one else is in the hallway, and proceeds removing the fairy's gloves. "This should help," she then grasps her hands.
Bloom feels a coolness over her skin and the irritation dies down. With a sigh, she says. "Thanks!"
"Don't thank me," Icy gives the gloves back. "If you start bleeding, then so do I. I'm only helping myself."
"Either way," Bloom smiles, "you did me a favor."
Icy gains a sly grin and says, "Anything for my lovely wife," then, she starts cackling as the fairy's face turning red.
"Are you ever going to stop teasing me like that?"
"When it stops being funny. Which is never."
The redhead sighs in defeat. She then perks up at the sight her familiar blond best friend. "Stella!" she waves the Princess of Solaria over to them.
"Hey, Bloom," she says cheerfully then lowers her tone to glare at the witch. "Icy!"
"Stella, are we still good for the sleepover tonight? I could use the stress relief."
"Uh…" the blond looks away from her. "I'm actually canceling it."
"Really? But why? I was really looking forward to hanging out with everyone." Instead of answering Bloom, Stella just glances at Icy.
The witch huffs. "Let me spell it out for you, Bloom. The princess doesn't want me there and since we're currently a package deal, she decided that it will be better to cancel the little party all together rather than leave you out."
"Oh," Bloom looks at her best friend and can see in her friend's eyes that the witch's statement is the truth. The Fairy of Flames looks down in disappointment.
For some reason, Icy did not like seeing this. With an irritated growl, she turns to Stella. "Look! What if I promised to behave during this party? I'll even put on headphones and a blindfold if it'll make you feel better."
Stella's eyes widen in disbelief at what the witch was willing to do.
Bloom steps up to the witch. "Icy?"
"You've been putting up with me a lot these past couple of days," she turns away from them. "The least I could do is put up with you and your friends for one night."
"You shouldn't have to do that."
"She's right!" Stella pulls them into a group hug. "You shouldn't. That's why I'm officially inviting both of you to the sleepover. Blindfolds and headphones not required."
Bloom tightens her arms around the blond. "Thanks, Stella!"
"Yay," Icy faux cheers and sarcastically adds, "Thank you so much."
.oOo.
The main living area that the Winx share has sleeping bags and pillows laying around the floor, furniture has been moved around to make room, and on the table there is a variety of snack and drink choices for the sleepover. Most of the Winx are sitting around in their choice of sleepwear.
Tecna and Musa are playing a game, Flora sits across from Stella and Aisha chatting while the Princess of Solaria paints the Princess of Andros' nails. When the door opened, the rooms soon became silent, aside from the digital sounds of the video game, as Bloom and Icy walk in wearing their pajamas.
Musa turns to Stella, "I thought you were joking," she is then jabbed in the ribs by Tecna.
Icy is getting really uncomfortable with the way everyone is staring at her. After a few moments she says, "I thought this was a party, not a funeral?"
Bloom stifles a laugh and a couple of the other girls giggle as well.
Having finished Aisha's nails, Stella gets up to greet the two. "Way to break the ice," she giggles at her own joke.
With a glare, the witch places a hand on her hip. "Like I've never heard that before."
Bloom bumps her hip into the witch's. "Lighten up, Icy," the redhead goes to set next to Flora who agrees to do her nails.
Icy goes over to one of the sleeping bags and just sits there, watching as everyone chatting among themselves and often giggle at some inside joke. She's honestly not surprised that they already forgot that she's there.
"Would you like your hair brushed?" Stella asks, startling the witch. The Solarian is holding a brush and a comb.
After a moment, Icy shrugs. "Sure, if you want," and removes her hairband to let it down. The princess sits behind her and starts combing through the white locks.
The witch cannot remember the last time she felt relaxed like this. "This is nice. Always wondered what a sleep over would be like."
"You never had a sleep over before?"
"Not really," Icy answers with a shrug. "Not unless you count all those times I stayed up scheming with my sisters."
The princess bit her tongue at that.
Over hearing this, Musa ponders out loud. "Where are those two anyway?"
Icy sighs. "We got in a fight. Darcy blaming me for all our plans going wrong and Stormy saying it's my fault that we're homeless. Which, as the leader of our little group, I guess they're technically right. After shouting for a while, they told me that they never wanted to see me again and ran off on their own."
"Oh, my!" Flora gasps. "That's not very nice. Evil or not, they're still your sisters."
"It happens all the time, really," the witch confesses. "One or two of us gets mad at the other, goes off to prove that they can do it on their own. And after realizing that they don't need the others to screw up, we group back together and scheme as normal."
Aisha comments, "Sounds like one of those boy bands."
At that, Icy laughs. "It does, doesn't it" she then stops and looks down a bit. "I wonder how they're doing?"
Bloom then asks, "When was the last time you saw them?"
"Let's see," the witch looks up to think for a moment and a mischievous grin is plastered on her face. "That would be our wedding night, dear beloved."
Hearing that, Bloom's face starts reddening and the witch cackles. "I'm glad you take enjoyment out of my misery."
"I have to get it somewhere since I can't be evil anymore," her laughter dies down and she begins looking gloomy.
Noticing this, Stella gets an idea. "You know what always makes me feel better when I'm sad? Shopping!"
.oOo.
The next morning.
"Absolutely not!" Griselda shouts. The Winx along with Icy came to Faragonda's office with their proposal. "It's bad enough that we allow her to remain on school grounds. But we absolutely cannot let a known dangerous criminal out on the streets of Magix!"
Icy looks at the Winx, "Told you it wasn't going to happen," she goes to leave just as the most of the Winx do.
Flora steps up. "Please! Can't we go just this once?"
"You can go," Griselda tells her before pointing at the witch "But she is not to leave Alfea for any reason."
"So, you expect her to remain in this prison?" Bloom retorts.
"I'd hardly call it a prison," Icy insists. "There's a lot of space, nice warm meals, not to mention one of the most comfortable beds I've ever had."
This is when Tecna speaks up. "Even though a cage is full of luxury does not make it any less a cage. You are still not allowed to leave of your own free will. At least not without losing the protection that Faragonda has extended to you."
Faragonda has remained silent until now. "As much as I don't like it, I have to agree with Griselda. I know that Icy has been improving with her behavior. However, she is still rather rough. All it would take is one incident outside of Alfea and our protection will mean nothing. I am dearly sorry, Icy."
The witch just shrugs. "I didn't think you would let me go anyway," she then looks over to see Bloom sadden a bit at the news. Icy gestures at the redhead, "What about her? Because of this enchantment, Bloom can't leave school grounds either. Making her as much a prisoner as I am."
The headmistress catches onto what the witch means. "I never thought about that. But I'm afraid that the risk is too great."
"What if…" Icy cannot believe she is suggesting this. "…I give up my magic while away from Alfea?"
The Winx gasps at what she is suggesting.
Faragonda starts thinking. "I suppose that would calm any concerns. Are you sure about his, Icy?"
"I, yeah! I've gone months without magic. I think I can last a couple hours."
"Very well," Faragonda raises her hands, and a green light enters Icy's body. "I strip you of your magic until you return to school grounds." When the light leaves the witch, it takes her magic with it. Icy shivers and starts rubbing her shoulders.
"Icy?" Bloom walks up to her partner and places a hand on her shoulders. "Are you alright?"
"Y-yeah. I'm fine. I just never feel cold with my magic," she looks at the redhead. "How do you deal with it?"
Instead of Bloom, Stella is the one to answer.
"Nothing a fashionable jacket can't fix!"
.oOo.
The group now walk into the mall with the witch now wearing a dark blue crop top jacket and Icy can already feel the stares. After her first real failure, the witch figured that if she rules the Magical Dimension then that will all go away. Now, she's starting to understand that despite having a good word from Faragonda herself, it will always remain. The Witch of Ice barely registered Bloom talking to her.
"What would you want to do first?"
Icy turns to the Dragon Flame Fairy. "What?"
"I just thought that, since this is your first time back in Magix, without hiding anyway, there might be something you would want to do."
The witch just shrugs. "It's not like I have money."
"I'll pay for it."
"You really don't have to do that."
"But I insist, Icy," Bloom smiles. "You didn't want to come, but you were willing to bargain away your magic just so that I can come out and have a good time with my friends. Let me do this for you."
The witch smiles. "I guess I could use a new outfit," she starts rubbing her shoulders. "And maybe a scarf. Especially if we're gonna do this often." Icy then takes notice of her partner scratching her hands again.
During their time at the mall, the group has spent time in almost all the clothing shops with everyone trying on outfit after outfit. Icy even managed to find a couple of clothing she likes. When it was Bloom's turn to try on clothes, the witch lets out a suggestive growl at a few, causing the Fire Fairy to blush and the rest of the Winx to giggle as Icy cackles at the reaction.
After that, they spent time in some of the other girls' favorite shops.
At the music store, it turns out that Icy and Musa's taste in music weren't as different as they thought.
In the arcade, they played several games. Tecna gets the highest score with Icy coming in second, making the witch jealous. However, she had fun anyway.
Within the arcade, there was also a dance game that the witch and Aisha really got into. The two's scores ended in a tie.
When they went to a flower shop, Flora hands Icy a hand full of feed of some kind. The witch wasn't sure what she was supposed to do with it. Suddenly, something from behind the witch bites down on the feed, scaring the poor girl. Turning around, Icy finds a large carnivorous plant. She backs up a bit, only to bump into Flora. The Nature Fairy just smiles as she hands more feed to her and leads her back to the plant to let it eat.
They now sit in the food court, enjoying lunch. Icy tries to keep up with their conversation, but the Winx are seemingly avoiding any mention of her and her sisters. The witch is not surprised that they've forgotten that she's there.
Usually, the witch does not take kindly to being ignored. Icy would have made an exception in this moment as she still feels the eyes of everyone else in the mall. She knows that the quiet whispers were comments about her.
Knowing that something's wrong, Bloom places a hand on her shoulder. "Icy?"
At that moment, the cup the witch was holding breaks in her grasp, startling the Winx girls. "Sorry," Icy mumbles as she grabs some napkins to clean it up. "I'll need to grab more napkins," she stands to leave the table.
Bloom reaches out for her, wanting to comfort the witch. But she has a feeling that Icy wants to deal with it herself.
.oOo.
Icy walks up to a station where there are numerous of trays, napkins, cups, and utensils. The witch grabs several of the napkins. Suddenly, arms wrap around her. She tried screaming, only to find that her mouth is covered.
.oOo.
Bloom is still worried about Icy, but she remained seated with her friends. She lets out a half-hearted giggle at one of Musa's jokes.
The redhead's arms start trembling suddenly as she breathes heavily. Bloom is familiar with this feeling. It's Fear. But what reason does she have to be afraid?
Flora, noticing that her friend is sweating, places a hand over Bloom's. "Bloom? Are you alright?"
"I, I don't know," now she's scared as the Fire Fairy has no idea why this started. "Something's wrong," turning around to where Icy walked off to, she easily spots the station there, but no Icy. Bloom then takes note of the napkins on the floor. "Where's Icy? I need to find her!" the redhead jumps out of her seat and starts running to the station.
"Bloom!" her friends shout for her, but Bloom ignores them.
Bloom then collapses from pain as she feels a great force hitting her in the stomach.
The rest of the Winx are immediately by her side as a crowd gathers.
Flora kneels next to her. "Bloom, sweetie! What's wrong!?"
The Fairy of the Dragon Flame flinches while stretching an arm out saying, "Icy," while pointing around the corner.
.oOo.
Icy is punched in the face while being held down by two guys.
"Why isn't she doing anything?" one of them asks.
"Doesn't matter," another says. "We'll reach being the top Specialists at Red Fountain for turning in one of the most wanted criminals."
The witch tries to get a good look at them, but her vision has become blurry. "I haven't done any—ah!" she is cut off as she gets kicked in the shin.
"We've heard about your protection," the man leans in. "Don't know how you managed that, but I doubt it will matter once we tell everyone that you attacked us first. After all, who will they believe? A Specialist? Or a witch?" the man reels back ready for another strike when he is suddenly forced back.
Stella stands between him and Icy shouting, "Back Off!" with the appearance of her, Musa, Tecna, and Aisha in their fairy forms, the other two men let go of the witch.
"She started it!" one of them said. "Threating us with a spell!"
"Yeah!" the other adds. "She came at us with some of her dark magic!"
"That is highly unlikely!" Tecna glares at the three of them. "As Icy currently has no magic to threaten anyone with."
At that, the three men's faces paled and soon found their hands bound by magic.
Stella steps away from them. "I'll give Brandon a call and see if he can get Saladin's opinion at what was going on here."
The men tried to protest, only to have Musa cast a silencing spell on them. The Fairy of Music looks down at Icy and gets a good look at the state the witch is in. "Here," she helps Icy up. "I think you've been away from Bloom long enough."
The two reached around the corner with Icy leaning on Musa. They find Bloom sitting on a bench with Flora next to her, with the Nature Fairy doing her best to nurse the redhead's wounds. They are surrounded by many curious on lookers, wondering about what happened exactly.
Looking up, Flora's eyes sadden even more at the sight of the witch. She quickly stands to walk over to Icy and Musa. "Let me help," and helps Icy to the bench next to Bloom.
After a moment of silence, Icy says, "I think my ankle's broken. You?"
"Feels like it," Bloom grunts. "I have to ask. Do I look as bad as you?"
The witch looks her partner up and down. "Nah!" she cracks a smile. "You look worse. Might be an improvement actually."
At this, Bloom lets out a laugh and both girls suddenly clutch their abdomen as sharp pain shoots through them. "Maybe we shouldn't laugh," the redhead comments.
"Noted!"
"I think our ribs are broken?"
"Definitely the ribs," the witch winces before leaning back. That's when Icy notices the crowd. "What do we do about our little audience? If people weren't suspicious about me being around before, they'll definitely know something's up now."
Bloom just sighs. "We'll deal with it when it comes to it. Right now? There's nothing we can do until we get to Alfea?"
Icy looks down, "The sooner, the better."
End