Darcy

I remember that I was crying.

Tears were burning in the eyes of the girl in front of me, brown hair falling over her trembling body. It was all hopeless, this search.

I was hopeless.

Minutes ago I was sneaking into the Archive of Plants and Healing in Linfea, slinking around in the shadows, not one of the guards noticing I was there. There was a chance that the largest storage of healing spells would help me, but just like all the other archives and libraries there was nothing that could help me undo what I had done.

It's been a long time since I've dreamed of this. But just like all my other dreams, at least I don't have to feel the pain again. It's like a window is between my past self and now, as if watching something happen to someone else. And some nights I could pretend that it wasn't me, that I was viewing the unfortunate past of an unknown girl.

I raised my hand to my face, and I was confused at the feeling of tears. I guess tonight isn't one of those nights. I sighed, crossing my arms in front of me, preparing to see things that I wish I could just be done with and forget.

I walked over to the girl who was still sobbing. The strange thing about dreams… is that they are different every time. My subconscious hardly remembers that there were people around me at that time, for I was all alone now in the empty field. If anything, it makes me feel more isolated, even though I have Icy and Stormy now…

I sat next to the girl—lonely, hopeless, and feeling as if all was lost—and stared at the sunset. I breathed in, relishing in the feeling that the dining sky ignited in me. Then I look back at the girl.

"It'll get better, you know," I said reassuringly.

"No…" She sobbed, curling tighter into her body. "It—it won't…"

It hurt. She was clearly trying to hold in what she felt, trying to keep her voice even and calm. It also hurts that I know that I haven't changed all these years, but… I was getting better. I've told Icy and Stormy about Zenothe, and… even though I haven't cried in front of them at least I'm trying…?

"It will."

With wet eyes, the girl looked up at me. My heart clenched as I saw my own eyes filled with misery and suffering, tears racing down my face.

"Will we ever be able to…" She started, avoiding my gaze—it took me years to get out of that habit, the fear of looking someone in the eye again. "To show emotion without worrying about hurting people again…?"

I paused before standing up. My eyes are closed tightly, trying to keep the tears in when all it is doing is pushing them to escape even faster. I clenched my fists tightly at my side as I walked away, one step after another. I can't focus on my screams—my pleas—from behind me. I'm not ready to face this truth, to heal. It was emotion that hurt Zenothe. It was my fault, and now I have to suffer.

"TELL ME! PLEASE!" She screamed.

I didn't look back, but I still whispered the answer to myself, knowing that things would never change. That I'll never be able to face the past and cry for it, scream for it, or show my agony... Showing myself to others, the pain I am in, will only lead to them meeting the same fate as Zenothe…

"...No, you won't."

"PLEASE!"

"No!"

I shot up from my bed, gasping in the air while clutching the edge of my shirt. When I looked down at my arms I saw that they were peppered with goosebumps and that they were shining with sweat.

Just breathe, Darcy. Breathe.

I gripped my arms around myself as I heaved in a breath, then another. Just like all the other times, I guided myself through this; knowing that no one was coming to help me except myself and that I'm safe as long as I don't tell anyone about this. Icy and Stormy can't see me break down as long as I handle this on my own. They can't get hurt if I handle this on my own.

Let go of your shirt, I told myself. My hand felt clenched around the fabric as if every cell in my body needed reassurance that I was here in the present. I was in the present, I consciously knew that much, and it's… it's stupid and pathetic that part of me is having trouble believing that. Just let go of the dragon-forsaken shirt!

My self-scolding is enough for me to let go. It always is.

I would have just gone back to sleep if not for the lack of stillness in my movements, my hands shaking and my breaths still difficult to get in. I just have to calm down then I can go back to sleep and forget all of this.

The bed creaked when I stood up, and my head snapped at Musa and Stella. They didn't move or stir, they were fast asleep. I waited, and then I knew they weren't going to wake up anytime soon. thank the dragons they're sound sleepers, I thought as I walked over to the room's window, overlooking the forest of Alfea; shrouded in darkness and an eerie silence. I glanced at Aroma, who snuggled in her miniature bed on the shelf above my bed.

I never would have expected to have liked a pixie, let alone bond with one, but I guess there is a first time for everything. Aroma was nice, though, and even though we only just met the day before, I enjoyed her company. It was like there was a warmth in my heart when I was with her, and seeing her peacefully like this seemed to be succeeding in helping me calm down.

My eyes focused on the trees outside the window, and how they moved in the wind. The Upper Ring of the Magic Realm shone in the sky, a blur of stars and magic painting a wonder in the sky that wouldn't be seen anytime except for the night when everything is dark, still, and simple.

I wonder… if Zenothe is near Magix.

I pondered the thought before burying it. It's not a good choice to think about that now. So much is going on already: the Shaman Witch reemerging, Icy trying to free her planet, and all of us trying to face our pasts to gain Inseimix. Too much is going on for me to face Zenothe. The only thing I can focus on now is gaining Inseimix, and everything else can wait.

I can wait.

Icy

I hated the fact that I slept better at Alfea than I ever had anywhere else. During my time at Cloud Tower, it was nice, I'll admit—better than the random places me and my sisters slept during our… conquests. But… the beds at Alfea remind me of my home on Diamond and bring back good memories, not just how I messed up and doomed the planet…

For the first time in years, I thought about how Sapphire and I would tussle each other for the blanket after she would sneak into my room while mother and father were fast asleep. How we would end up pushing each other off the bed and shushing each other so we wouldn't wake anyone up. Some days it would go on for so long that my parents would find us asleep on the floor on top of each other, exhausted from the playfulness of our nights together…

I want to go back to Diamond, to see my little sister again. And I would, but now that I know that the Shaman Witch had been spying on us, going back to Diamond would only put Sapphire in danger. Who knows if that hag would hurt her to get to me?

I'll just have to wait until all of this is over to see Sapphire again, no matter how long it takes.

I poked my head out from under the blanket. Bloom's bed on the opposite side of the room was empty, so I guess she must have already woken up. This was a blessing, for I was not ready to wake up to see her, or any of the Winx for that matter.

I yawned, brushing strands of hair out of my face. I'll just… I turned over in bed, facing the wall. I'll just sleep a little longer…

Then I heard a fist knocking, more like pounding, on the door. I groaned as I pulled the blanket over my head. Yesterday was so much all at once, and I just need a bit of a breather. Whoever's knocking just please leave me to sleep.

"Icy, wake the ome up!"

Ugh, it's Stormy. I sigh as I turn over, now realizing that I am not going to be able to get any more sleep. The sun was shining through the open window as if blinds were never heard of, which was a nuisance for my newly opened eyes. I saw Stormy leaning up against the doorway of the room, her expression clearly amused at my current state—my hair must've been a rat's nest—but also clearly exasperated.

"Why do I have to wake up now?" I questioned plainly, throwing the covers off and swinging my legs off of the bed. I rubbed my eyes. They were slowly adjusting to the light of the room.

Stormy smirked at my tired state but then frowned. "Daphne came into the dorm, and apparently she wants to talk to all of us about going back into the Dark World again. Even after most of us almost died back there…"

I rolled my eyes. "Does anyone here even have a remote idea of a plan to stop the Shaman Witch that isn't just aimlessly trying to gain Inseimix?"

Sighing, I stood up and walked over to one of the two cupboards in the room. Most likely, I would have had to share it with one of the Winx if this room housed three people instead of just Bloom and I. It was one of the little blessings in this unfavourable situation. I opened the door of the pale brown cupboard, looking through the clothes I had hung up yesterday.

"Apparently not." Stormy shrugged.

I scoffed. We are all out here risking our lives and the only so-called 'plan' Faragonda came up with was jumping back and forth to Oscurita and hoping we gain Inseimix. None of us even know what the Shaman Witch is planning to do! I frustratedly pushed aside several hangers.

"What are you thinking?" Stormy questioned. "You look like you're about to ice the closet or something."

"What I am thinking…" I started, turning around. I took a deep breath, trying to calm myself down and pushing down the urge to throw something at the wall. "Is that we are risking our lives to stop the Shaman Witch from doing dragons-know what, and of course, Faragonda isn't even bothered to find out what that hag wants or how she even escaped Oscurita in the first place. She's just sending us down there." I chuckled bitterly. "And oh, low and behold, if one of us dies and fails to gain Inseimix it's just another one of her problems gone. Just send in the next group to risk their lives!"

Stormy paused before shaking her head, laughing to herself. "We really are risking our lives without knowing anything." She looked past the room towards a small bed that rested on the windowsill, empty. "How's things going with you and Bivlee by the way?"

I shrugged, transporting my clothing choice onto myself in a small flash of light before grabbing my hairbrush. "It's going well enough, though she is very cheerful. The kind of cheerful that would normally make me want to strangle someone."

"She's the Pixie of Rainbows, what would you expect?" Stormy looked behind her shoulder through the open doorway. "Speak of the wizard."

"What?" I questioned, now tying my hair up in a ponytail, trying to lace out the last few knots I was too lazy to brush out.

"Icy!"

Bivlee flew through the doorway with a trail of multicoloured glitter floating behind her. Her wings were flapping quickly behind her so fast that I could hardly see them, like a little hummingbird. She halted to a stop in front of me, breathing heavily.

"Are you okay, Bivlee?" I questioned. She seemed really exhausted, and it made me wonder if something happened or if something from the—

"Wait…a…minute," Bivlee responded, gasping for air. Stormy and I shared a glance in the silence before the pixie smiled brightly. "Okay guess what?"

I paused. "Yeah…? What is it?"

"Daphne is in the main room and she found a way to track the Shaman Witch!" Bivlee exclaimed, beaming with excitement. She grasped the sleeve on my shirt and started tugging on it towards the door. "Come on, come on let's go!"

"Coming," I said, chuckling under my breath.

Bivlee let go of my sleeve, though she was still happily flying, practically shaking with anticipation and excitement. I shared an amused gaze with Stormy before the two of us walked into the main room of the dorms, and right as we did, all hopes I had of things going well disappeared immediately.

"You mean you just 'happened to find a way to track the Shaman' now?" Darcy snapped, glaring at Daphne who had something gripped in her hand. "After we went to the Dark World and risked dying?"

"It took time to change the Star Compass into a tracking device," Daphne stated, opening her hand to reveal the Star Compass, now emitting a dark light around it. "It wasn't just a simple thing to—"

"But that Lumen Queen gave it to you like, what, a week ago!" Darcy yelled before she reeled back, taking a deep breath, arms crossed in front of her as she coldly glared at Daphne. "Why shouldn't I think that you and Faragonda are just sending us to Oscurita to get us killed?"

"And what if they are?" Aisha questioned, stepping forward. "You three—," She gestured at Stormy and I along with Darcy. "—tried to kill us many times! How is this any different? If anything—"

"We deserve it?" Stormy interrupted, eyebrows knit in anger as she stepped in front of Darcy, glaring at Aisha, the two barely a foot apart. "Is that what you were about to say, water pixie?"

"Maybe we should just… stop fighting and figure this all out," Bloom said as she stood up from the chair she was sitting in.

It was understandable that she didn't intervene until now, but then again, nobody was. Stella and Musa were standing on the opposite side of the room, far away from the fight. Tecna was silent, looking at Bloom as if doubting her ability to stop this. As if she would be able to anyway. Flora and Iorda were sitting on the couch surrounding the table, the latter rubbing her temples in frustration.

I was so close to stepping into the fight myself, only because of Aisha. If Daphne and Faragonda wanted us dead, that wasn't my problem. My problem was that Aisha was so thick-headed that she couldn't even believe that we changed.

Aisha tilted her head, a smirk on her face. "If the shoe fits."

Stormy clenched her fist tightly at Aisha's words, and if anything, I wish I just stayed in the dorm room asleep so I wouldn't have to deal with all of this. Not that Stormy and Darcy's anger was unjustifiable. Bivlee fluttered towards me, eyes set on the fight in front of her, and I held her in my hand as she looked up at me. She didn't want to see everyone fight. That was the only thing that held me back from throwing a spell in Aisha's direction.

"Before you three start to kill each other…" Iorda started, sighing, clearly exasperated and done with everyone endlessly arguing. "I'd like to point out that the reason it took long to get the Star Case to be able to track the Shaman Witch is that, one, it had to be changed to track positive energy to negative, and that it had to hold the same energy as she Shaman. Which took a long time to replicate even from dark magic." She glanced calmly at Darcy as she spoke, directing the statement at her, but not against her.

Aisha smiled. She was pleased that Darcy got 'supposedly' called out. Sometimes I wonder if she would go one second without saying something back-handed, or even if Iorda would bother to call Aisha out on—

"And Aisha." Iorda looked towards her friend, a not-so-pleased expression on her face. I guess she is going to call out Aisha. Interesting. "I'd like to remind you that Stormy and Flora both have Inseimix because they were able to put aside what happened years ago and stop resenting each other. And if the rest of us want to gain Inseimix, we'll have to do the same. Including you." At this, Aisha rolled her eyes but stopped glaring at Stormy—who was trying to hide her smile. "Fighting with each other won't help, and to clear things up…" She glanced at Daphne. "Daphne and Faragonda do not resent the Trix nor want them dead."

Daphne smiled, clearly relieved. Stormy, on the other hand, was still skeptical. But then again, I was too. Some of the Winx may not want us dead—emphasis on the may—but Faragonda definitely seems like she hardly cares about whether we live or die.

"How would you even—?" I started calmly before Iorda tapped her forehead with her pointer finger tiredly, and I remembered that she was a psychic. "Point made."

"You read their minds?" Aisha questioned in disbelief, turning to Iorda.

Tecna mumbled something along the lines of 'I thought we were finally done', and I resisted the urge to say 'you and me both.' The Winx were looking between Iorda and Aisha, some like Musa and Flora were surprised that Aisha even asked that, while Stella seemed to be pursing her lips at both Aisha.

Iorda glared up at Aisha, face in her hands. "If you want to start this, we can do so later. After we get back from the Dark World." She stood up. "Is everybody ready?"

All of us agreed, some more hesitant than others. Daphne stepped forward, newly upgraded Star Compass in hand, and everyone circled around her.

"Now that Stormy and Flora have Inisemix they will be able to transport themselves, and everyone else, into Oscurita. And this—" Daphne gestured to the compass. "—will track where the Shaman is. It will work in both the Dark World and any place in the Magic Dimension."

"So if it goes off in the Dark World we can transport back up here, or try to avoid the Shaman Witch?" Stella asked, Daphne nodding in response.

Bloom smiled. "Is everybody ready?"

No, Bloom. We are not ready to risk dying, but you can go ahead. I just wish that I would be able to save Sapphire without… without maybe dying. But as things are now, there is no other option except gaining Inseimix, somehow defeating the Shaman Witch before she destroys everything, and saving Diamond—if that possibility even exists.

The Winx agreed with Bloom, and when I looked at Stormy and Darcy, I saw that they were both determined to do this. Now that Stormy and Flora had gained Inseimix there is actual hope in sight that we would be able to do this.

The three of us agreed that we were ready, too.

"So should we transform?" Flora asked Daphne.

"Only you and Stormy have to transform to transport to Ocurita, and opening the portal will work better if both of you cast the spell at once," Daphne explained. "And before I forget…"

Daphne walked up to Bloom and handed her the compass, and the fire-fairy accepted it without hesitation, stuffing it in the bag hanging from her shoulder. "Thanks, Daphne!"

Flora and Stormy shared a nod. "Inseimix!" They exclaimed in unison as they raised a hand above their heads before they were surrounded by a bright light. Soon, the light dispersed, and the two were left standing in their Inseimix forms. Both of them look powerful and ethereal in the new transformation.

"What's the spell we have to cast?" Stormy asked plainly.

Daphne bit her lip. "There is no specifically known spell, though I assume that you two just have to focus on creating a portal and try to converge your magic."

I rolled my eyes and Darcy face-palmed. Isn't there anybody else in Alfea, or even Magix, that at least has some idea of what they're doing? I know that we don't have a choice and that we have to gain Inseimix—and go into the Dark World—either way, but at this point, we are literally just winging everything. Not ideal in any way. We, at the very least, could have a plan.

Flora glanced at Stormy, a smile on her face as her hands began glowing a bright green. "Are you ready?"

"Yeah," Stormy started, beginning to focus on her hands as she honed in on her magic, sparks of electricity beginning to form. "Hopefully this works."

Third Person

Oh, how very soon things will change. The Shaman Witch still isolated herself in the very same cave, but after she managed to get rid of the Winx and Trix during their upcoming escapade into Oscurita, she would no longer have to reside in that grimy and humid hollow. Once again she looked into the hazy orb in her hand, overseeing Flora and Stormy beginning to focus their new Inseimix powers—even though it was supposedly lost and impossible magic—in the hope of creating a portal to Oscurita.

These fairies and witches were the thorn in the Shaman Witch's side. Once, there was a dark hope in sight of ruling the Magic Dimension. Diamond was taken over and frozen in ice, though, she had to admit, it was a horrible setback when the palace's defence system had cast her out into the very same place she had come from: the Dark World. The Shaman Witch hated that she underestimated the magical abilities of the magi on that planet and that it wasn't even a consideration that they set up a backup plan if their planet would meet destruction.

But things will get better from now on. Yes, they definitely will.

Dwelling in the Dark World on her own left the Shaman Witch with much time to plot her revenge and her desire to rule over the magical world. It only took twenty years of searching before a rift was found between the Oscuita and the Magical Dimension. But the Shaman Witch hardly ruled over the Dark World's inhabitants, and many of them—banished to the Dark World, some for thousands of years—would jump at the chance to utilize the risk between the worlds for their own benefit. Now it was just a secret between the Shaman Witch and those who have been loyal to her—Aria, as unpredictable as she is—or those she can control, like those utterly useless Kapori spirits.

She had a plan. First, to get rid of the Winx and the Trix to make sure they wouldn't get in her way. The Shaman had already ordered Aria and the goddesses' accomplices to use Darcy's feelings of guilt and regret to destroy her so that the witch would hardly be a problem for much longer. While spying on the group, though, she had already chosen her next target. It was easy to see that Iorda was the bridge between the groups; the one stopping them from tearing each other apart. Iorda would be the next to fall after Darcy, and the Shaman Witch was sure it would be easy with the horrid occurrences in the girl's past.

Second, she would work to utilize the rift between the worlds. Bringing the Magical Dimension to Oscurita until there was nothing left but emptiness in the world of magic, but the schools of Magix would be a good start to bring to the Dark World once there were no more pests that would interfere with the Shaman's plan. What was after? That still needed to be figured out, but it was a decent plan.

Looking upon Stormy and Flora struggling to open a portal, the Shaman Witch laughed. It was pitiful that they thought that the two of them could open a portal to the Dark World—much more magic was needed. The Shaman Witch knew, though, that she wouldn't be able to get rid of Darcy unless the group made it to the Dark World.

With a whoosh of her hand, the Shaman Witch watched the Winx and Trix vanish from the dorm room of Alfea. They were in the hands of Oscurita now. More specifically, the hands of Aria and her sisters.

Now all the Shaman Witch had to do was sit back, flesh out her plan, and watch Darcy and the group get destroyed one after another.

Darcy

"Ahhhhhh!"

Everyone was screaming as the ground got closer and closer. We were just transported from Alfea without a trace or a warning and now we were falling to our deaths! So many thoughts were going through my head as the ground—pitch black for a reason I didn't care to find out—as the seconds to instant death got closer and closer.

Flora and Stormy were transformed but they wouldn't be able to save all of us at once. I can hear them flying towards us while screaming our names but they won't make it in time! I can't focus enough to transform and—

"We're gonna dieeeee!" Stella sobbed out.

My eyes widened, but then I closed them. I expected the last thing for me to hear would be my bones breaking until—

I landed on the ground, and everyone else had as well, but… it wasn't solid. It was as if we landed in fabric! It just kept on moving up and down from the impact of our fall. This was the weirdest thing I've ever experienced, or at least close to the top of the list.

I swiped my hand across whatever was just landed in, but instead of feeling like fabric, it was… wet? Disgusted, I pulled my hand back to find it dripping with inky blackness. Ugh! I shook whatever that was off my hand without hesitation.

"What even is this?" Musa asked, several meters away from me.

I looked down. Then I swallowed a gasp. The ink was beginning to swallow over my feet and my legs, and it was slow, but it was still like it was trying to consume us!

"Everybody get out!" I yelled, struggling to right myself up as the blackness continued to move up my legs.

"What the ome?" Aisha said to herself, trying to flick away the ink that was crawling up her legs in a panic.

"Guys!" Flora yelled out from above us.

We all looked up to see Flora flying above whatever we were in. I wondered where Stormy was—I looked to my side and I saw Stormy trying to drag Icy out of the ink that was swallowing her up faster than the rest of us and was already up to her shoulders.

"Try to transform!" Flora advised before she started focusing on her magic. She blew out magical green and gold flakes from her glowing hands that fluttered down to us. When the flakes hit the ink they began forming thick vines, but even those were slowly being swallowed up. "Grab on to one of the vines and transform!"

Everyone began struggling to find a vine that wasn't already consumed by the ink, and I panicked when I saw that the only one near me was one a few meters away. I felt that the ink was halfway up my torso, and I decided what the ome? It's either the vine or dying, so might as well take my chance with the vine!

I paddled through the ink—or darkness or whatever it was—to the vine Flora had conjured, forcing me to move farther from the group. If something were to happen now there was a chance they wouldn't be able to get to me, but it was too late to change my mind.

The farther I sunk into the ink the thicker it got, and it was all I could do to stay calm. I was almost to the branch—which was managing to stay above the ink, at least for now, with how light it was—then panic set in as I realized that the ink was at the base of my neck! Dragons I need to hurry up otherwise I'll drown! Go go go!

I paddled harder than ever, and when the ink was just reaching my face, I grabbed hold of a branch jutting out of the vine and dragged myself upwards. My legs were still latched into the ink. Come on… just a bit more than I can transform. With a breath, I pulled myself out of the ink, curling around the branch before focusing on my magic and raising my hand into the air, the sounds of the Winx transforming in the background.

In a flash, I was in my witch form, and I didn't even wait for a breath before I levitated up in the air. I looked down at the darkness, now meters below me, and finally took in a few deep breaths before I flew over to the rest of the group.

"Does anyone know that that is, or…" I started, looking at Icy and Stormy, and then the Winx.

Everyone shook their heads, some still looking down below.

Tecna brushed her hair back, clearly shaken by the experience. "Thankfully we got out of that."

Stormy flew ahead of us, her eyes set on something in the distance. "Do you guys see that, too?" She looked back before gesturing to something out of view, and all of us flew forward to see what she was talking about. "Or am I just hallucinating from that near-death experience?"

I paused beside Stormy, and when I peered off into the distance I saw something floating still amongst the expanse of the ink. There was a stone pavilion, pillars holding up a stone ring. The three pillars were less like pillars and more like doorways, but… they didn't lead anywhere, at least from what I could see from this far away.

"This kind of seems like a trap…" Iorda said slowly, looking between the pavilion and the darkness below. It did look like a coincidence that there just happened to be a pavilion right after all of us almost died.

Musa glanced to her side at Iorda. "Any dark vibes coming from over there?"

"Yes, a lot," Iorda responded, clearly nervous. She then looked over at Icy, who was trying to hide the fact that she was wringing her hands anxiously. "It's not the Shaman Witch, but… it's not anything pleasant."

Icy calmed down at this, bringing her hands back to her sides. Her face went from nervous to determined, and I was further reminded of just how imitating she looked when she was like this. "Might as well go over there. At least to see what it even is."

"Sounds like a great plan!" Bloom nodded cheerfully, and Icy was very confused at the fairy's reaction. Not that I wasn't, too. "And if there is something dangerous there—"

"We are all prepared since we're transformed!" Stella interrupted, a smile on her face. How could she and Bloom be so happy when we might just be attacked by dragons know what? I know fairies run off of positive emotions, but… this is concerning, even for them.

"Ready?" Bloom asked, looking at the Winx, Icy, Stormy, and I.

"Yeah yeah." Stormy waved Bloom's statement off, not even waiting for the Winx's 'all ready to go'. "If we're all gonna die because of this, let's just get it over with and skip the preppy pep talks."

I couldn't cover the short that arrived from Stormy's bashing of Bloom's pep talks, and Icy was covering her mouth with her hand, trying not to laugh. All of us were met with an eye roll from Aisha, but Stormy simply flew off toward the pavilion with Flora and Tecna—shrugging in indifference—following.

All of us flew off after them, and I was trying to not acknowledge the dread inside me as the pavilion got closer and closer. It was a small hope that this would go well, that there would not be any danger for us there, but it was all I had.

A/N All the old chapters are published yay! I have around three to five-ish new chapters unedited (depending on weather or not I cut them in half). And if you think there was angst before... next chapter is gonna be rough. I hope you enjoyed this chapter, and please let me know what you think of the story so far!