There was dead silence except for the chirping of crickets. In the distance he could hear a few branches snapping. No doubt those sounds were from Musa, who had just left him and was on her way to report back to her friends. It was good that she was gone. He'd tried to pretend he was following Darcy just to figure out what the Trix's plan was and what weapons they had in store, but that wasn't the case. In truth, he had followed his ex-girlfriend using the mental vibrations that were so familiar to him, simply because he wanted to. The mental bond between them still existed and Riven was sure that Darcy knew it. The question of why she hadn't destroyed it already kept him awake at night.

Sure, they had both chosen different paths. She the path of destruction, he the path of virtue. So there was a good chance that Darcy might find some use in their connection. She had always been practical. Still, he was sure she wasn't using him. Not this time. He knew her too well to succumb to the thought of Darcy trying to manipulate him again. He had done too much for her emotionally for that. If she had wanted to, she could have subdued him at any time with her new magical powers. But she didn't. Why? Riven was sure it was because she didn't want to face her feelings. It would upset her too much and make her vulnerable. Darcy planned ahead, and she knew herself well enough not to jeopardize any mission she was given with hurt feelings. So why hadn't she destroyed the bond, just to be safe? Because she didn't want to. Just like him, she clung to every tiny possibility of having him in her life. In any way. She didn't want to let him go. Just like he didn't want to let her go.

He had tried Musa. Really. But it did not work. Maybe they were too different... or the same. Or, and Riven had to admit this to himself, it was because Darcy was still dominating his thoughts. Unknowingly. He missed her. The sound of her voice. The feeling of running her silky hair through his fingers. The way she had always smiled shyly at him when he saw through her, the mistress of illusions, once again. Glad there was finally someone who could see past her facade.

She was so much more complex than people generally believed. To the Winx and the other specialists, she was just one of the three evil witches who almost managed to seize power over Magix. To him, she was everything. Unfortunately. He was a prisoner of his emotions. Riven often wondered what would have happened if the Trix had actually succeeded in bringing the entire Magical Dimension to its knees. Would Darcy have forgiven him for his betrayal? Would she have rehabilitated him? Or would she have tried to forget him? Down in the snake-rat-infested dungeons of Cloud Tower? She might have tried but Riven knew she could no more forget him than he could forget her.

There had been enough clues over the past few months that suggested it. When they met in battle, she avoided his gaze, let alone the opportunity to face him in combat. She avoided these situations almost pedantically. Then again, when she retreated with her sisters, or the Winx fled with the specialists in turn, there were those looks. It was as if their eyes were chained together. Long looks from her golden, sad eyes that bore into his. It sent a pang through his heart every time she looked at him like that and then turned away. Are you not following me again? Her eyes seemed to whisper to him. And he'd cursed himself every time he'd stopped or turned his back on her.

Things were going really well at Red Fountain. He had established himself in the team and was a permanent, recognized member. He didn't want to destroy that relationship, but he couldn't, couldn't deny his feelings for Darcy any longer.

Right now she was so close to him physically that he could have touched her with his outstretched hand. At the same time, they were farther apart than ever before. More clearly than ever, they were on opposite sides. The Trix's mission in Wildland was to eliminate them all, the Winx and the Specialists. Would she be able to fight him? He doubted it. Still, she was dangerous for him. Not only was she still turning his head, but her magical powers were more dangerous than ever. Right now Darcy was mesmerizing some of the creatures and beasts that lived in Wildland. Magic was extremely weak here and a kind of magnetic field swallowed up any use of it. But just like her sisters, Darcy had been given new powers by Lord Darkar, so she could use them in a weakened form here as well. A huge advantage that the Trix were enjoying over the Winx right now. The Gloomix shimmered purple on Darcy's left arm. Despite this, the intensive use of her powers seemed to wear her out. He could see it in her posture, in the way her eyes narrowed, in her rapid breathing. After subduing the wolves, she turned to larger lizard-like creatures, and Riven saw that her legs also began to tremble after a while. She wouldn't be able to hold out much longer. But even with little or no magical powers, she was a serious threat. So what would he do if he made himself known? What would she do? He had no idea where Icy and Stormy were. If they were around and noticed him, neither of them would hesitate a heartbeat to kill him immediately. And he couldn't even blame them, after all he had broken Darcy's heart back then when he had told her that he wouldn't support her in taking over Magix and would break up with her. How stupid of him. He should have followed her everywhere. He loved her and it had been his biggest mistake to leave her at that point. Where would he be now if he hadn't been so cowardly then and stayed by her side?

In the end they hadn't been able to subdue the Magic Dimension. What if he had stayed by her side when they failed? How deep would the defeat of the Trix have dragged him down? Riven had a strong will to survive. Ever since he was a child, he had been dependent on saving his own skin. Without regard to losses. He would never have thought it possible that a loss could hurt him so much. Another reason for the abrupt separation. He had become too dependent on her and it was unwise to become so attached to one person.

Still, he kept imagining what would have happened if he had never left Darcy's side. Would he be by her side now? But there was no point in mourning the past. He could be by her side again now. So he left his cover and did what the specialists had specialized in: he used the element of surprise and launched the attack.

She felt dizzy. Despite the Gloomix, the use of magical power consumed an inordinate amount of energy.

This one more, just this one, then it's enough.

The big lizards stared at her with black eyes, unsure of what this small person was doing in front of them. No doubt she was a small snack in their eyes, but she wasn't going to let it come to that. Darcy concentrated, placing her palms on the lizards' eyes and letting her energy flow into them. They were simple minds that Darcy would normally have brought under her control in a matter of seconds. But the circumstances in Wildland were anything but ordinary, and so her hypnosis took its toll on her own strength as well.

But then it was done and even these gigantic creatures were completely under her control. With that, their main task was accomplished. Icy would take care of the rest, but before she could rejoin her sisters, she needed to rest. Her breathing quickened as she gave the animals the mental commands Icy had asked for.

There are invaders in your land. Round them up. Kill them all except the red-haired girl.

What Darkar saw in Bloom, Darcy couldn't understand. Surely it wasn't her great character that captivated Darkar so much, it must have much more to do with her dragon flame powers. To be honest, she didn't care what he was going to do with her either. He wanted her? He'd get her. It was as simple as that. Following orders had always been easy for her. The fact that they no longer came from her older sister but from Darkar made no difference. Still, she was uneasy around this strange creature. Sooner or later she would have to subtly express her concerns to Icy, and then they could move on. For now, their plan to corner the Winx and the Specialists and somehow kidnap Bloom came first. Everything else didn't matter.

Faintly, she sensed familiar mental vibrations. But she was no longer strong enough to pinpoint them. Riven's face came to mind just as quickly as the mental cues, but she quickly pushed the thought of him aside. That was over. Nothing to worry about. And by all appearances, he now had one of the little fairies by his side. God, she had never liked Musa. She grimaced angrily at the thought of someone like Musa stepping all over the guy. But it was pointless to think about it, and so far there hadn't been any serious signs that Riven had suddenly actually fallen in love with Musa. Every time Darcy had ventured a glimpse into his feelings about their mental connection, she hadn't detected any thoughts or feelings for Musa. It was the same as always. Riven's personality was shaped by a dark melancholy that had fascinated her in their early days. Practically nothing had changed in his world of thoughts. His thoughts were a little more stable than usual, and there had often been feelings of happiness as a result of his relationship with his friends. He seemed to get along well with Timmy in particular. That little nerd. But other than that, she hadn't been able to perceive anything else. It was hard not to admit that she was immensely relieved.

Did he know that their mental connection was still there? And if so, how did he feel about it? Was he afraid of falling back into her clutches? Did he still think about her from time to time? It was painful to admit that Riven was probably completely done with her, and that she was the only one of the two still mourning the past. Then again, there were his looks whenever they met. Intense stares, as if his violet eyes were holding her. Often she had barely been able to tear herself away, and once, Icy had to grab her arm and drag her along behind her. Wake up Darcy, that train left the station a long damn time ago, she had hissed in annoyance. And yet Darcy convinced herself that if she had hesitated for just one more second, he would have followed her. But that probably wouldn't happen again. What did she expect? Risking all his newfound privileges at Red Fountain for... what? What were they, anyway? Had their relationship been as unique as it had felt, Riven might not have left her last year choosing the Cloud Tower dungeons over her bed. The thought of his abandonment still gave her a pang. Damn it, she wished so badly that he would just get out of her head and leave her alone.

Suddenly, her vision went black, and she couldn't think straight anymore. Apparently, she had overexerted herself while manipulating the beasts after all. Damn it. And her sisters were far away. Well, that was bad luck. She felt herself fall - but then someone grabbed her wrist, turned her around and held her close. In a split second, she knew who it was. There was the familiar scent, the strong arms holding her, and his voice.

"You always go too far, you little perfectionist."

Riven.

She was still light as a feather. Maybe even lighter than before. Was she eating enough? Or had the whole precarious situation with her defeat, Lightrock and Darkar emaciated her? Or, Riven secretly suspected, was he the reason?

He carefully supported her so that she could gradually stand on her own feet again. But he didn't let her go. Damn it, he wouldn't let go of her for the life of him. Even if she wanted to.

"Riven, let go of me."

"No."

She stiffened in his embrace. That sweet old panic that always gripped her when she couldn't handle a situation was familiar enough for Riven not to let go. Because what she was saying and what she was feeling were fundamentally different right now.

"Please Riven, let me go."

Her voice sounded broken, and that was strange. He had only seen her cry once before. And that was a sight he just couldn't bear. So he loosened his grip a bit, and she took the opportunity to pull away from him, quickly putting a few steps between them.

The fact that she was putting distance between them nagged at him. But what had he actually expected? He had betrayed her, not the other way around. And now, after all this time, he was suddenly embracing her tightly like nothing had ever happened. Riven couldn't bear the haunted look in Darcy's amber eyes. He saw the familiar fear of the unknown in them, but something else he couldn't identify.

"Darcy," he began, taking a step toward her. She immediately raised her arm.

"Not a step further."

The Gloomix glowed purple.

"You won't hurt me, Darcy."

"Are you sure?"

At the moment, he wasn't. He still couldn't read the look in her eyes. Surprise, yes, but what else was there?

"Step back."

He did not obey.

"Step back."

He stayed where he was, though Darcy's fingertips were now glowing dangerously. She took a step closer, then another, her fingers pointing at Riven menacingly.

"I could vaporize you in less than a second," she whispered succinctly.

"I would disagree," a smile crept back to Riven's lips, "here in Wildland, it would take you a few seconds to do that, too. And besides, you wouldn't."

Something flashed in her eyes, and Riven recognized it now: anger. Hot, burning anger that was beginning to replace the panic in Darcy's eyes.

"What do you know about the things I wouldn't do?" She spat the words at him and took another step towards him. "You left me before I could show you what I could have done!"

Ah, so that's it. The pain over his actions now gave way to anger. It was admittedly interesting to see Darcy so agitated and out of control. And dangerous. In this state, she might even do something that she would later regret.

Fortunately for Riven, Darcy stumbled again. In her current state, she couldn't have hurt a hair of his head, even if she had really wanted to. She had used up all her reserves of power and probably wouldn't have been able to hypnotize even a fly.

He wanted to catch her again, hold her close, tell her he'd been an idiot, that he'd do anything to see her smile again, but it didn't come to that.

At the last moment, Darcy regained her balance. It was so difficult to hate Riven when her heart was beating so loud that she could barely hear her own thoughts. She longed for his strong arms and the feeling of being held by him. Like many lonely nights in Darkar's catacombs, she had thought back to their time together and was almost in despair at the fact that she could not turn back time. No, she didn't hate him, she hated what had become of them. What had become of him.

"Where have you left your amazing new friends? I thought you were all about teamwork now?"

Apart from the fact that it bothered her how much he had grown closer to the other specialists and how much support they seemed to give him - the support she had given him in the past when he had had no one else to whom he could turn to, back when she was everything to him - it was a simple way of clearing things up. If the other specialists or even the Winx were on their way here, she would really be out of luck.

Riven hesitated to answer. For a brief moment, Darcy thought he would deny the sincerity of his friendship with the others. But he didn't.

"They are not here. But...' he began, 'Musa was just here and knows what you're doing here.'

Oh, Musa, of course.

A bitter taste settled on her tongue as she replied with a wry smile. "That's right, you've now picked up one of the little fairies."

The fact that he'd replaced her with someone like Musa made her angry again. Even though she knew that Musa was not on Riven's mind in a romantic way. If it had been like that, she would have saved herself this conversation right away. A small, desperate part of her still hoped for a happy ending, even if that seemed impossible under the current circumstances. But at the end of the day, she was a selfish person and would never give up when it came to her personal happiness. And she would not let a fairy like Musa deny her happiness.

Darcy's last comment hardened Riven's features. "It's not like that," he began, but she stopped him. "How is she?" A smile tugged at Darcy's lips as she saw Riven react to the provocation exactly as she had expected.

"I told you it's-"

"What are you talking about? About her certainly remarkable musical repertoire? About the exact effects and different color schemes of fairy dust? That must be really very interesting for you.«

Riven was slowly but surely getting angry now. Good. She loved this power she had over him. It was so easy because she knew him so well and knew exactly what made him tick. Slowly, with her last words, she took a few steps towards him.

"Darcy, you know very well-"

Again, she didn't let him speak: "How are her fairy kisses? Are they as sweet as her silly little fairy wings?"

"Darcy-"

"Do you remember what my kisses feel like?"

She was standing right in front of him now, looking into his eyes triumphantly. The anger drained from them and they grew wide and deep, just like they used to when she'd looked at them. And suddenly she knew that nothing had changed between them. Even though they were on different sides, their feelings were the same. Almost as if they were cursed.

"I can show you one last time," she whispered, "and then ask yourself exactly what it is you really long for."

She cupped his face in her hands and gently touched her lips to his.

The touch of her lips on his was gentle as a breeze, reminding Riven of their first kiss, which had been shy and innocent, but longing for more. This kiss also tasted of longing. A longing for what once was. Something that at this moment seemed so close to touch, and yet so far away. Were they both cursed and would they never be able to walk together instead of separate ways?

He would have preferred to stall this kiss to infinity, but as he carefully took her arms, she pulled away from him and looked at him. The evening light glittered in her golden eyes. Or was it tears? She looked away shyly. Either so that he wouldn't see her tears, or because she herself realized that they had crossed a line that they really shouldn't have crossed. It forbade them everything, but what did it matter? Rules had never stopped him from doing what he thought was right. And that was what Darcy was, the right one.

He was about to approach her again, to tell her that everything would be okay, that somehow they would make it if they just tried, but Darcy stopped him.

"It must never happen again."

The answer hit him harder than he thought. Though he didn't know if she was saying it to herself, or to him, or to both of them.

"Yes," he said, "it must, and inevitably will, happen again whenever we see each other, and you know that as well as I do." His voice was thick.

Darcy took a few more steps away from him, but looked straight at him as she answered with crushing certainty, 'No, it was the last time. Or we'll both break." With that, she disappeared, leaving him alone in the darkening clearing. Nothing remained of her except for the subtle scent of orchids. A scent he missed more than anything else. It had been a long time since he had felt so alone.