Long time no see everyone. But I am back.


OracleSybil : Uni took all my energy :'( BUT I'M BACK NOW ! And no, no Val-bae XD


The ballroom was quite different when full of people.

Bloom strayed away for a bit, admiring the work of Solaria's finest with the lights, sculptures, flowers, the works of only the finest decorators of the planet. Everything was shining in gold, as blue hues shone on every reflective surface. The ceiling was a wonderful night sky, full of stars so bright they lit up the ballroom easily. The sun was shining in the middle, so white it seemed ethereal.

Sky found her in the dark.

"Impressive, isn't it ?"

He didn't seem so impressed, but only because he was so accustomed to that type of scenery. She, however, couldn't seem to get enough.

"It's beautiful," she said for the hundredth time, although this time it wasn't to herself.

A shrug of shoulders.

"And it isn't even half of what they can do," he confided, propping his arm up. "My lady ?"

A knowing smirk and a light embrace.

Sky would be her date for the evening, her very own dance partner, and her escape if she ever needed one. The Prince had no objections to this plan, and seemed hellbent to making them look the part.

Sky had opted for a light blue suit, with a white shirt and shoes. His blonde hair was pulled back, held in place by some kind of gel. He had bothered putting on a bit of makeup, she noticed. Other than his face, she mostly noticed the golden mascara, enhancing the cyan blue of his eyes. He was a breathing angel.

"You're beautiful."

It was true, if she said so herself. Her dress was of the same colour as his suit, and trailed behind her. There were were little, white patterns of fire on it. It was sleeveless, an occasion for her to cover her arms with golden jewellery. Her hair was pulled into a high ponytail, of which she only let two strands of hair free.

"You're not so bad yourself," she smirked.

He lifted an arm as he lowered his head.

Seeing him bow so formally was unsettling, prompting a laugh to escape her. He lifted his head in curiosity. Their eyes were full of mirth. A secret message conveyed only between them. Again she asked herself, what she would do without those new friends.

Bloom took his arm as gracefully as she could, then let him lead her towards the stairs. A man was standing there, receiving them with warmth.

"Princess Bloom, of Domino," said Sky, a gentle smile on his lips. "With Prince Sky, of Eraklyon."

The man bowed his head to them both, then waited for them to start their descent of the stairs to announce both of their titles. A lot of heads shot up from the ballroom, including the dancing people. Some wished to take a look at the Prince who never showed up to any official events, other wanted to know what the Princess of the Lost Kingdom looked like.

"I hate this," mumbled Sky, his expression carved into one of polite interest as he met the gazes of multiple important people, including Royals.

"Whatever do you mean ?" She smiled, a bit forcefully.

Soon the party started going again. Again, he bowed to ask her for a dance, to which she immediately agreed. It didn't only last for one song though. Bloom found herself enjoying dancing quite a lot. Sky seemed to be of the same opinion, if his bright smile was anything to go by.

"Princess Layla, of Andros, with Guardian Fairy Musa, of Melody."

The ballroom stopped once again to watch both girls go down the stairs with their heads high. Musa had a red dress, which reminded Bloom of kimonos, what with the purple belt and the double buns. Layla had a beautiful, gold-like suit, with a purple shirt and shoes, her hair roaming freely in a perfectly rounded afro.

While Musa sported a genuine smile, Layla was simply scowling. The crowd dispersed much faster this time.

The two of them quickly joined the other couple.

"Did we miss anything ?" Asked Musa. "We got lost on our way here."

"This castle is way too big," said Layla with a shake of her head.

Bloom and Sky simply laughed at the two.

"Where is Riven ? I thought he would be coming with you ?" Frowned Sky, looking around the room.

Layla perked up that.

"Oh you'll see," she snickered as she shared a look with her date.

Again, they started dancing freely around the room. Layla, it turned out, knew both men and women's dance moves. It was extremely funny to see her end up with another woman, a sight Bloom never wanted to forget.

"Guardian Fairy Tecna, of Zenith, with Specialist of the Red Tower Timmy."

Tecna had settled on an emerald dress that Stella had forgotten about. It was a tight fit, but she still seemed able to move freely in it. She had high black heels, and black jewellery. Timmy had followed with a dark green suit, with a black shirt. They had also styled their hair the same way, and Bloom could tell from the way they held each other's hand, they maybe were the happiest couple in the room.

No one really stopped to stare. Fortunately, for if Tecna didn't show any outward emotion, Timmy sure looked uncomfortable. They descended the stairs as quickly as they could, but didn't join the dance immediately.

It didn't surprise Bloom : knowing the both of them, they probably wished to examinate the room first, see it in details, before indulging themselves in a little bit of dancing. They also hadn't had any time to themselves recently.

It made Bloom happy to see them dancing, a few moments later, together, lost in their own little world.

"Oh my- Look, they're here," exploded Musa, her synthetic voice fortunately keeping her voice low.

The six of them looked up to see two approaching Specialists.

"Specialists of the Red Tower Riven and Helia."

Helia had always been a beautiful man, but in this instant he was breath-taking : his hair was pulled back in a ponytail, some eyeliner to make his gaze look sharper, and a pink suit that any of the Winx would associate to Flora's Fairy form. As for Riven, he was dressed in a dark, purple suit, his hair pulled back the same way Sky's was.

Helia had his usual cold detachment about him. His eyes roamed the room in search of anyone he could recognize. When he found his friends, a little smile graced his lips. Au contraire, Riven was his usual pompous self : his smirk could be seen a million miles away, and he held Helia's hand around his arm with a lot of pride.

They all laughed at the sight.

"Why, ladies," started Riven. "Are you not amazed by this mesmerizing sight ?"

"Did Helia teach you that word ?" Shot back Layla.

He feigned shock with a heart on his chest.

"My oh my, why would you be so harsh on a little Specialist like myself ?" Before anyone could answer, he turned to his date. "Helia, dear, let's go to the dancefloor, all this negative energy is getting to me."

Helia sighed, shot the other a smile, and positioned himself with the other men. Riven only realized too late, when Musa stood on the other side, ready for the song to begin. His smirk fell off but Helia had already taken hold of his waist.

From the buffet, the two other couples laughed, as Layla and Helia easily exchanged their dance partners. Riven awkwardly positioned his hands around the Music Fairy's neck, while she tried to comfortably reach for his shoulder and waist at the same time.

The lights slowly turned off at the end of the song, which everyone mistook for a slow. As couples slowly got closer, the lights focused on the top of the stairs.

"King Radius, of Solaria. Great Ruler of the Seven Moons and the Shining Sun, with Countess Cassandra, of Solaria."

The both of them were radiant, if Bloom was honest. King Radius exulted warmth, and his eyes twinkled in happiness at seeing his subjects.

"The King and Queen of Isis."

The both of them walked down, their clothes full of multiple gemstones of every kind.

"Princess Stella, Princess of the Seven Moons and the Shining Sun, with Specialist of the Red Tower Brandon."

Stella was mesmerizing in a gown that reflected every colour in the room. Her hair fell like rain around her shoulders. Brandon was just as handsome, his hair parted in the middle, dressed in white suit, with only a yellow tie, the same colour as his girlfriend's hair.

Walking down the stairs behind them, on her own, was Chimera. She had settled upon a red dress, assorted of golden necklaces. Her eyes held a threat as she looked at anyone who dared stare for too long.

The King and his date, along with the Princess and her boyfriend, positioned themselves in the centre of the dancing room. The note of what sounded like a violin resonated in the entire room. No one dared to speak, as both men bowed towards their woman. The violin played a higher note as they stood up, then it was the women's turn to bow, accompanied by the sweet notes of the violin. The silence was so complete that everyone could hear the ruffle of clothes or jewellery from the four.

The violin played its note a fifth time, longer than before, then another joined. Bloom counted up to seven until they simultaneously played another note, lower this time, then they started to dance. All of a sudden, a bright light shone onto them, as other instruments joined in. They moved with perfect fluidity and synchronisation. Bloom couldn't help but gawk at the scene, wondering where Stella had hidden this particular talent.

"She's so good," commented Layla.

Bloom could only nod. As did the others.

Stella's dress was illuminating the whole room with colours of the rainbow. Her hair was flowing free, and the smile on her face as she gazed up at Brandon made Bloom's heart melt. They were the definition of a Princess and her knight in shining armour.

If King Radius hadn't been there, she could've passed for the Queen.

Eventually people started to fill in. Important people, and Bloom decided she would leave her friends to enjoy all this, while she observed. She didn't feel confident enough to step on the dancefloor. She would wait for everyone to get tired, and start making mistakes. That's what her friends told her to do. Then she'd fit right in.

Meanwhile, the couple of this night was trying to relax a bit, surrounded by the other dancers.

"Have I told you how mystical you look ?"

"You have, but there's no harm done in telling me again," Stella giggled.

He laced one arm around her waist, then bent down to give her one of his light kisses. Although they already had went way further than this, she still like the sweetness he treated her with. The arm around her wouldn't prevent her from moving away if she wished, and the hand at her cheek only lightly pressed against her skin. She felt like a veritable piece of art in his hands.

He stood up a bit faster than usual, and she immediately let her eyes follow his : her mother was walking up to them, a bright smile on her face.

"It is a pleasure to see you, Luna," greeted Brandon, already familiar with his girlfriend's mother.

"The pleasure is all mine. You are both magnificent, you know that ?" She told them.

"You're just as mesmerizing," he replied, to which the older woman scoffed.

"I'm sure," she smiled. "Although I'm afraid I have to steal my daughter for a moment."

"Then I will have to patiently wait for her return."

He left without much ceremonies, and the two blondes were left to stare at one another. Stella actively fought the urge to cross her arms. Although there was no outspoken animosity between the two, she had a hard time talking to her mother. It was an unexplainable feeling, but it put her on edge every time she found herself face to face with her. It might've to do with the fact her mother was growing ever more distant as the years passed, but with the recent events, Stella wouldn't blame it all on her.

"You look really healthy," she eventually said.

It was true. Her mother had chosen to wear a blue dress, quite simple, but the way the fabric caught the light made it special. Stella supposed it must have been one of her creations.

"You look like a Queen," said her mother.

Stella felt a tight smile grace her lips as she nodded.

"Come, there is something I wish to show you."

Luna presented her arm, and Stella took it. The both of them exited the party quietly, to which no one said anything. No one would go against the late Queen, and the present Princess of Solaria.

They went through a maze of corridors and stairs, which left Stella wondering why her mother had chosen this particular evening to make some revelations. Surely, if she'd known, she'd have worn more practical shoes. Her fashion sense had indeed got the best of her again, and she chose a pair she had never worn before. She feared it was already breaking skin.

They finally reached two big, wooden doors, which two guards watched over.

"I would like to show it to my daughter."

The soldiers exchanged a look, then pushed the doors opened. Luna reaffirmed her grip on her daughter's arm and led her inside. Stella heard the doors close behind her, but could not take her eyes off of the bright orb in front of her. A perfect replica of Solaria's biggest sun.

"This is not just a replica dear," said Luna as she eyed her daughter with mischief. "It is where Solaria's magic is being stored."

Stella slowly stepped closer.

"Only the true leaders of Solaria can touch it."

The young Fairy lifted her hand to watch it entirely disappear in the light. It felt warm, in a comforting way. It was almost familiar, and she felt her magic try to reach out for it.

"So you could touch it, once ?" Stella asked, testing the boundaries of the strange orb of magic. In a way, it reminded her of Cloud Tower, and the orb she had produced which had gotten on the nerves of Griffin.

"Yes," nodded Luna. "Now, however, I would just burn myself. If I even try to do what you are doing, I would probably have no hand left."

Stella grimaced and pulled her arm out.

"Why have I never known about this place ? I didn't even know it existed ?"

"This is one of Solaria's most guarded secrets. No one should know about it, but I figured you'd be of age soon. And, am I wrong to think that charming squire will be at your side for what you hope to be eternity ?"

The girl frowned.

"I don't understand ?"

"You will replace your father, one day. And when you will be crowned Queen of Solaria, the magic of Solaria will be one with you, as it is today with Radius. How do you think he rises the sun and the moon ?"

Stella blinked.

"But dad is still young, he'll keep on ruling for a long time."

"You are ready to know, my darling," said her mother, taking her daughter by her arms and gently pulling her into a hug. "And I'm so proud of you. I know I never say it, but it's true. We haven't been able to see ourselves a lot this past year, so we'll have to change that."

They stayed quiet for a long moment, in which Stella was not surprised to realize tears were streaming down her cheeks. If her mother noticed, she didn't say anything, just kept on caressing her hair.

Stella sighed as her guard finally was coming down. She looked into her mother's eyes, the love she read in them fulling her heart with warmth, as her skin started to prickle from the suddenly chilly air.

"You will be the greatest Queen Solaria has ever seen. You are already the best daughter anyone could ever dream-"

"Isn't this so disgusting ?"

Both women took a step back. Stella angrily got rid of her tears, as she stared back at one familiar Witch.

"How did you get in ?" Asked Luna. "Guards !"

"Oh, no one will rescue you," laughed Darcy.

"You know," gloated Icy. "We were quite surprised to see the star of the ball leave so suddenly, so of course we had to follow… and what a good idea that was."

"Yeah, we planned on killing everyone at once, but stealing this and killing everyone with it seems even better," cackled Stormy.

"You won't touch a hair on our heads !" Assured Luna.

"Mom you need to go," said Stella as she let her transformation wash over her. "Go get the others, I'll hold them-"

"What are you talking about ? I am your mother, and I may not be young but I am a Guardian Fairy of Solaria," insisted Luna as she, too, transformed.

Into a beautiful, blue and golden Enchantix. Stella had never seen her mother transform, because there was no need, but she could not take her eyes off of her.

"Ripping those wings off will be a pleasure," cooed Stormy as she attacked.

Luna easily deflected the bolt, then threw an army of diamonds towards the Witch who barely dodged in time. The latter groaned, and was replaced by her illusion sister, who tried to take the light out of the room. Luna only smiled.

"Trying that kind of spell here ?" Unfortunately, she didn't spot the third Witch behind her. Stella, however, easily pushed her out of the way.

"Now let me take you out," smiled Luna as she let her magic explode around the room. It pushed all the Witches towards the walls, knocking them out for a few seconds.

The mother and daughter then joined hands, calling onto their similar magic cores to finally trap the Witches. The blast missed, as Stella found herself with a shadowy monster leeching onto her leg, and screamed.

"Oh no, the Princess cannot handle a little mud ?" Scoffed Darcy from the ground, a look of pure hatred shining in her eyes.

"Do you think they'll prefer a little change of weather ? Sunny season should be over soon !" Growled Stormy as she forced clouds to appear above the two Fairies. Luna was quick enough to disperse it, and Stella was able to melt the muddy creature. In-between, Darcy and Stormy kept attacking from all sides, leaving no room for observation.

"We have to gain the upper-hand," she told her mother.

"We have it," she answered confidently, "it's just a matter of time."

"You don't understand, what's the third one doing ?!"

"The third one has a name," laughed Icy. "And I was doing this !"

Stella's reaction was instinctive. She pushed her mother out of the way as fast as she could, then tried to fly away, but the light submerged her. It felt warm at first, and she felt her magic buzz with energy. A smile made its way on her face, as she prepared herself to take flight again.

She would emerge and attack Icy at once. That was her plan. Then she'd force her mother out of the room and sound the alarm. Her friends would help her, and the Trix would be forced to retreat. Or maybe they'd succeed in turning them in. That would be excellent.

Then her eyes started to burn. The pain registered at once in her brain, and she felt her world turn to black. She couldn't hear anyone over her own voice, and the tears on her cheeks only worsen the effects of whatever curse was placed on her.


"Hello there, I don't believe we met, yet you seem to have those Winx just as adverse to you as me," chuckled a voice.

Chimera narrowed her eyes at the buffet, stopping herself from snatching one before turning to face the woman. It turned out she was beautiful, making her heart jump at the sight, but also an important figure, making her heart drop at the realisation. She coughed, trying to hide her blush, then met the eyes of the blonde once again.

"Princess Diaspro of Isis, I didn't hear your person being announced !"

"Oh, well, I've taken a like to blending in recently," she smirked. "How do you find the party ?"

"It is... Great."

"Right," grimaced the Princess. "Is that why you've been sulking at this buffet for the last thirty minutes ?"

"I've been feeling rather unwell for the last few days and-"

"It's alright," laughed Diaspro. "You don't have to pretend for me. I'm a Princess, remember ? I've had my share of boring parties where I didn't know a single person. And even though this one is partly organised by my family... I've seen better."

Chimera stayed silent, her arms tense at her sides. For one, she didn't actually know how to behave around this particular Princess, who had a past as interesting as Stella, but furthermost she did not wish to alienate the Winx any more.

Her eyes wandered towards the group of Fairies and their boyfriends for just a second, but it was enough for Diaspro to catch on.

"Is the reason you're so silent because they don't like me ?"

"Maybe," carefully answered Chimera. "You're also a stranger... No offense, Your Highness."

"None of that !" Laughed the Princess. "And if you must know, we are now pretty well acquainted, the Winx and I," she smirked. "They helped me on Eraklyon, and-"

"Diaspro ! I've been looking everywhere for you !" Interrupted a pink haired girl as she punched the shoulder of the Princess.

The blonde massaged the spot the other girl hit, a false frown on her face.

"Still as violent, I see. Not painting yourself a pretty portrait," she sneered.

The girl laughed.

"Yes, that's me, the most evil person of the Galaxy."

The two stared at each other with a smirk before turning back to the brunette.

"Hello, I'm Princess Krystal, of Linphea. Who may you be ?"

Chimera had the very strong urge to reply that she perfectly knew who was standing in front of her, but she caught on her mother's stare and bit her tongue. The Countess Cassandra wanted her to make friends, better yet connections, so she'd have to play it nice.

Not that those two Princesses seemed mean, in any way, but she would've preferred to have an excuse to leave this party quicker.

"I'm Chimera, the daughter of Countess Cassandra."

"King Radius's fiancée ? I see," nodded the Linphea Princess. "It is a pleasure to meet you."

"The pleasure is all mine, I assure you," smiled Chimera.

"Well, now that the pleasantries have been exchanged, maybe I could tell you both about my time on Eraklyon ? You did interrupt me, Krykry."

The Linphea Fairy immediately frowned.

"If you keep calling me that name it won't be the only thing I interrupt."

"Oh and what does that mean exactly ?"

Chimera eyed the two, then glanced at her surroundings, wondering how on Solaria she'd be able to make a safe escape.

"Don't worry Chimera, this is all jest," assured Diaspro.

The brunette nodded slowly, a tense smile forming on her lips.

"Hey Chimera, you're going to be a Princess soon ? You might need to know a few tricks," said Krystal, her eyes going to Diaspro.

The blonde immediately understood the hidden meaning.

"That's right... And as Princesses, we have to help one another."

Without asking, they each took hold of one of Chimera's arms, before leading her out of the ballroom.

"This castle has much to offer... And it's time you learn its secrets."

Chimera sighed internally, but followed. The two girls talked about Princess subjects, to which she was glad to hear of. She was learning more than ever.

"So… Chimera, do you have your sights on anyone ?" Asked Diaspro, a conspiring smile on her face.

"No," she stated. "I'm not interested in relationships."

"Oh that's so bad," complained the blonde. "You should enjoy your freedom while it lasts."

"I like it that way," she answered coolly, and the other decided to stay silent.

"Not everyone wants a boyfriend as bad as you do," joked Krystal.

"But it's the only relevant thing right now…"

"There's also our studies. Where are you both at ?" Asked Chimera, desperate to change the subject to one she would be able to give insights in.

"Homeschooled, the both of us," sighed Krystal. "Although I do try to sneak into the Healer's school of Linphea from time to time."

"Yes," nodded Diaspro. "I always try to make it into the warriors' school, but my parents don't want to. They want me to learn about politics, but I'm bored out of my wits every time it happens."

"Oh I know that feeling," mused Krystal. "I once had a great teacher, but he moved away. Now I have a boy easy on the eyes, but that's his only quality."

"You're so bad," laughed Diaspro. "And what about you, Chimera ? What school did you go to ? I dare ask, what is it like to study in a-"

An explosion interrupted her, leaving the three girls to look at each other before transforming to run up to the source of the problem. Chimera was last, glancing worriedly towards her mother who did not look pleased in the slightest, but no one could tell whether that was from her party being interrupted or her daughter getting into trouble again.

The first worrying sign were two guards, one with his guts hanging out while the other had been burned alive it seemed, then the amount of light coming from the room they had previously been protecting.

"I'll go get help !" Immediately said Chimera as she made her way down the stairs and to the ballroom, where she hoped she would find both the King and the Winx.

"We'll try to hold them off," nodded Diaspro as the pink haired called onto her powers to lessen the light in the room with huge vines.

Chimera saw them burn in an instant before turning around the corner.


Sky was gently leading her on the dancefloor, a big, smug smirk on his face as she tried to keep up with the Solarian traditional slow, which she had just started learning when Stella announced that there would be a ball.

"You're doing great," he assured her, but she just shot him a dark glare, to which he tried to hide his amusement. "Don't worry, they're all drunk by now."

It was true that most people were now having too much fun by themselves to care about the both of them, but it was still incredibly stressful for the red head. She just sighed and relaxed in her friend's embrace, letting him lead. Fortunately, he had asked her for a slow, so she just had to repeat the same steps over and over again.

"I think I'm starting to get the hang of it," she nodded. "It's kind of relaxing."

He hummed. She was going to ask what had gotten into him when someone grabbed her shoulder and forcefully turned her around. Sky protested, but she silenced him with a quick shake of her head, before looking back at the terrified face Chimera was making, sweat glistening on her forehead.

"Something happened up the stairs- you'll sense it. The magic, I mean."

She explained that then left, doing her best to find the King. Bloom frowned.

"We have to go."

He nodded and without another word they separated to get all their friends. As they left the room, the King called for all his guards to sound the alarm, as he made his way towards the danger. The Winx and the Specialists hurried up then, not wishing for the guards to leave them out.

Because they had failed to find one person. Their friend, and the Princess of the planet they were on. It didn't take a genius to guess what happened, especially as the boyfriend of said Princess told them how the previous Queen took her away to show her something.

The girls, wings out, quickly stepped up in front of the doors. The two bodies still lied in the front, and two Princesses hadn't been able to make their way in.

"What's the situation ?" Asked Tecna as she assessed the powerful spell active that blocked them all.

"We heard screams and ran here, but we can't get in," explained Krystal as Diaspro tried to conjure yet another wall.

"It looks like Stella's magic," remarked Bloom. "But… wilder."

"My Morphix could strengthen your wall, let's try," said Layla as she positioned herself next to the Princess of Isis.

The boys arrived then, watching the wall grow taller, effectively blocking any source of light. The two Princesses were completely focused on their tasks, while the others formed a defensive line around them, just in case someone decided to show up.

"Is Stella in there ?" Asked Brandon, but Bloom could only shrug.

The footsteps of the guards started to reach their ears.

"When we get in, we have to take any potential victim and bring them back out. This wall might not hold for long."

"What is this spell ?" Asked Riven. "I knew you girls were powerful but this seems…"

"We don't know who or what is causing this," explained Brandon. "This is a door that is religiously guarded, in which the King never allows anyone. I daresay that whoever broke in is very powerful.."

The Winx frowned then, before their eyes landed on Bloom.

"I can't feel him here," she mumbled, but still decided to reach out to know exactly where he was. It didn't take long to get his attention, but she quickly retreated. Valtor was not the main focus today.

"Out of the way !" Yelled one guard.

None of the Winx or Specialists moved. The King didn't say anything to them, rather choosing to approach Bloom and Brandon.

"Is my daughter in there ?"

"We aren't sure, Your Highness," answered the boy. "We are trying to find a way to enter this room."

"I can get you in."

The King then pushed the two Princesses out of the way, whose spell quickly started falling apart. Radius didn't even blink as the blinding light returned in full force, then entered the room confidently. The guards screamed their objection, while the group of friends just stared, wondering just what Stella's father would do.

The King was rarely seen using magic. He had never been formed to it, although to become King of Solaria, thus protector of the planet, he must've had the basics instilled into him since birth. There was, however, no recollection of the young Prince Radius showing any inclination towards magic, nor was there a story told about how great his gift was. He had followed a simple formation of magic, that was for sure and expected, but the news had applauded his experience in the arenas, against other soldiers. All this a long time ago.

Layla knew to be on her guards around any Royal member, of any planet. There was no telling what secrets were told, taught, or whispered in the ears of representatives of Realms since infancy. She, herself, had to face a lot of injustices, had to learn a lot of secret spells that would fall into oblivion should her family disappear, and learnt secrets in books long forgotten in the library of her palace. Her tutors had hinted they knew she was learning all of this, but they didn't seem ready to expand on the subject. They only told her to be careful.

"One day," had said the tutor she hated the most in one rare instance of civilized interaction, "you're going to realize that everything you're learning here, that you think only you know, is average, at best, for other people of your pedigree."

"Even powerful spells ?" Had asked the naïve girl she'd been.

"Especially those. The most dangerous thing for a Fairy, a Witch, or any magical being relying on their powers to win a battle… is to think they have an ace."

"I could have an ace."

"You can be lucky," he corrected, standing in front of her, his blue eyes now turning dark with the stare he was giving her. "You can have the right timing, the right thought, the right idea. You never have an ace. You should never rely on such a thing. Unless you want to end up dead."

The tutor had packed up after that. He probably let this lesson slip because it was the last day they spent together in the same room, alone. She'd been glad to know he would go, for she could not be bothered with his harsh words and cutting sentences. However that day, as she stood next to her parents who thanked him profusely for all his work, she couldn't help but be saddened at his departure.

Instead of learning of the different rules of the multiple Courts of the major Realms, or the Etiquette for a young lady from Magix, she would've liked to know more about that. About how fighting, and getting the upper-hand worked. How she could watch others fall while she stood on the high ground, her Kingdom well-protected behind her.

That was then, at ten, that she realized she wouldn't be the Lady her mother had told her she'd been. The Queen had been an example of kindness, the perfectly raised Princess of Andros who married the best suitor proposed to her for the Realm. Layla had decided she would not marry, because she needed no man. No Court. She needed power.

It almost led her to become a Witch, a daring thought : Andros had not known a Witch in the Royal Family for a thousand years. It was logical, as Witches tended to look for their own interest, not their people's. Only, Layla could only see that Fairies seemed to abide by the rules, never stepping a toe out of line, which meant that a Fairy would follow the traditions. That meant that, when the right suitor came, she would have to marry. A scary thought indeed.

Her thoughts receded as the light subsided. The guards rushed in, as the Fairies flew inside and positioned themselves in the air.

"I should've known," hissed Tecna as three, rather young Witches eyed them with delight.

"Decided to join our party ?" Asked Icy. "How nice of you. However, you might want to take a look at your little friend. She isn't doing well."

Her sisters laughed.

Bloom's eyes fell down to the ground, where Luna and Radius held their daughters, tears strimming down their faces. She groaned, then attacked with all her might. Stormy was unable to avoid the spell and broke one of the windows as her body was propelled backwards, and outside she flew.

"Bloom !" Screamed Icy.

However she was blocked as rubies attacked her. A very angry Diaspro joined the red head in the air. Krystal simply used a vine to grasp at Darcy's ankles, forcing her to still. Tecna attacked with electricity and Musa sent waves of deafening sounds, confusing the two Witches.

"Surrender," ordered Brandon, his sword brandished in front of the Royal Family. "You are outnumbered."

Icy froze his weapon, then broke it down to pieces. The boy just smirked as it grew back.

"We won't be so easy to beat. The little stunt you pulled two years ago taught us some things."

Darcy materialized next to her sister, sweat rolling on her forehead after escaping Krystal's plants with only her body's might. She eyed the Specialist quietly, as her sister eyed him warily, trying to find a good way to disarm him. Darcy smirked.

"I think killing your girlfriend proves who's better, don't you think ?"

The girls had not been able to fly down to their friend, who was already surrounded by her parents. The comment pushed them to attack at once, but messily. It was probably intended by the two remaining Witches, but it couldn't be helped. Darcy and Icy disappeared from their place in front of them, then reappeared in the corner of the rooms, laughing as their attacks cracked the wall open.

"Careful, there might be someone down there," laughed Musa in her robotic voice.

Darcy's smirk disappeared instantly, followed by her body. Only Icy remained, against a wall, and smile on her face suddenly seemed forced. Not one to think too much about what her enemy thought, Tecna immediately tried to hit her with a ray of electricity, which Icy blocked by creating a wall of ice.

"I just destroyed the freakin' Sun of Solaria," she said through her teeth. "You think this will stop me ?" Her head was raised towards Tecna, a challenge written on her face. "Maybe Stormy should've worked you a bit harder, you don't look scarred enough."

"Enough !" Yelled Timmy, shooting at once towards her. The guards followed suit.

"You cannot destroy the Sun of Solaria !" Bellowed the former Queen of Solaria. "You are far too powerless for such an accomplishment."

"Then tell me," giggled the Witch as she easily prevented the laser bullets from hitting her. "Where has your sun gone ? The pedestal here seems a bit empty."

"What spell did you use, Witch ?" Hissed the King, gently stroking Stella's hair.

"A little concoction of me and my sister," she shrugged before summoning ice picks to appear where the guards stood. Their shields were brought up, thus unable to attack. "Take it as a gift from us."

"If you had succeeded, there would be no more sun in the sky, no magic remaining, and this planet would be dying," explained Luna, her palms suddenly illuminated by a blue hue. "So you will tell us exactly what you intended when you cast your spell on me and my daughter."

"I will ?" Cackled the Witch. "Why would I ?"

The light came back suddenly, blinding everyone. The guards and Specialists shuffled backwards, letting their backs rest against the wall as they placed their weapons in front of them, in case of a surprise attack. The Winx regrouped as they could, letting Layla and Tecna create a sphere around them. Diaspro did the same thing for her and Krystal, holding the other girl tight. Chimera was still outside the room, so she only had to step further back into the corridor to avoid the blinding luminosity.

"Is that another trick Icy ?" Screamed Bloom, as if the light would somehow affect all of their hearing.

"What was the spell you casted ?!" Asked Luna once again.

Icy stayed silent, perhaps because the light was already disappearing, once again. It took some time for everyone to open their eyes and see again, but the spectacle rendered them speechless : Stella was in the middle of the room, standing straight on her legs, as if she hadn't just been hit by one of the most powerful magic in the universe.

Her hair was lighter now, almost white. Her skin, however, was noticeably darker. The blue and yellow colours of her outfit made everyone speechless for a short moment. The King had his mouth wide opened, Luna a hopeful smile on her lips, and the Winx prepared to cheer while Brandon strongly wished he could run up to his living girlfriend.

Icy was the first to recover, however. A groan formed in her throat, and she used that anger to push everyone back. Bloom prepared to create a wall of fire, but a simple wave from Stella stopped the ice, turning it back to water. Layla redirected it immediately towards the Witch.

Icy was pushed off her feet. Krystal immediately tried to trap her down, but Darcy appeared a second too soon, full of ashes. She threw herself towards her sister, disappearing as soon as she had her hands on her.

"No !" Screamed Stella, shattering the windows in her anger.

"Stella !"

Brandon rushed towards her, far much faster than Radius or Luna. The blonde turned towards him, blinked slowly, then took him in her arms. The young man put his head in the crook of her neck, taking in the scent of her, her pulse, and the heat of her body.

"I thought I lost you," he admitted, slowly pulling back to look at her face, taking her face in both of his hands, before pulling her back in his embrace.

"If you keep on squeezing her like that, you might," smiled the former Queen.

With a cough, he slowly stepped back. Stella gave him a dazzling smile, then turned to her parents. She hugged them both, losing hold of her transformation in the process. Her mother kept excusing herself, while her father tried to understand what had taken place.

"How could you ?" He later exploded at Luna, while the guards assessed the damages in the room.

"She needed to know about this place Radius !"

"I am the King, and I decide when it is time for my daughter to learn about our most guarded secrets ! She could've been killed with your recklessness !"

"How could I know a group of Witches knew about this place, and waited for my daughter here ?"

"Because your daughter is the Princess of Solaria, and the only heir to the throne !" He fumed. "Because this was an important party for everyone, to rejoice in the assured safety of the Kingdoms, and that any enemy would've gladly showed up to make sure this wasn't the case !"

"Then this place isn't so secret !" She hissed. "How could these girls know about such a place ? It's supposed to be one of the best guarded places here !"

"This is something we will have to investigate," conceded the King. "But as of now, whenever you want to do something so stupid, you will come to me beforehand. You had no right, Luna. You're not Queen anymore."

The medics ignored the discussion, as they took Stella to the infirmary, in order to make sure nothing was wrong. The King followed suit, ignoring the looks thrown his way. Luna stood her ground, watching as the escort left, Brandon closing the march.

The others had not been permitted to follow, not even Bloom. The girl knew they weren't really taking her to the public infirmary, so they wished no one could follow. She trusted the King to make the right choice.

Countess Cassandra stormed inside the room, her eyes darting from corners to corners, until they fell upon the two Princesses and the raven haired Sorceress. Her eyes were hard as they settled upon her daughter.

"Young lady," she simply said.

"Mother," whispered the girl.

They left quickly. Soon, most of the guards and Winx were gone. Bloom was left with Sky and Luna.

"You are not to be blamed… your Majesty," she tried.

Luna turned to look at her. There was no smile or warmth in her gaze.

"But I am," she said simply, her voice steady despite what she hinted at. "And it's Luna to you."

She then left. The red head sighed, feeling the tension in her back ease.

"The sun isn't back," remarked Sky, his eyes settled on where the pedestal stood in the centre of the room.


Why seven moons ? I don't know, it sounded cool. And he's the King of Solaria, he must have more than one title. Like Daenarys. But less.

Rather focused on Stella and Chimera, and a bit on side characters, I hope you liked it.