The Winx Club regrouped and Tecna broke the silence. "So how did you three fair? Where's Valtor, our mission was to take him to the Omega Dimension."
Bloom chimed "He's already en route there. Alyssa's parents Seraphina and Alaric took him there, you should have seen it we were about to deliver a strong attack to him when they appeared. Alyssa had to render a verdict on him and well he's gonna be spending 600 years in the Omega Dimension."
Aisha looked bewildered, "Alyssa had to render a verdict… but why?"
"Apparently it's tradition of my people to have the princess render verdict in matters regarding Mystelar. I was just as surprised as you all are." Alyssa explained.
"Right um I hate to break this up but we need to get back to Alfea and report back to headmistress Faragonda about the success of this mission, we've been so busy lately that we haven't had time to attend to our studies, and its almost time for Thanksgiving and Christmas break, we need to make plans for this break. I could talk to my parents about us seven spending Christmas with them." Bloom cut in.
"And I'll talk to my mom about us spending thanksgiving here. Lets head to my home before we head back to Alfea." Alyssa told her found family with a wide grin, leading her friends to her childhood home. When the group arrived at the picturesque childhood home of Alyssa. Knocking on the door, Laura opened the door.
"Ah Alyssa. So good to see you." Laura sighed, still a little shaken from the encounter with Valtor. "What brings you back home?"
"Well mom, my friends and I were wondering if we could spend Thanksgiving here again. Oh mom, these are all my friends. You already met Bloom, Flora, Stella and I believe you met Tecna, when she came while I was in the infirmary. These are my other two friend's Musa and Aisha."
"It's a pleasure to meet you, Laura." Aisha remarked. "Your daughter is such an amazing person. She's really brought a positive environment to Alfea, she's such a great friend."
"Yeah she's a rock-star. I'm happy that she's a friend." Musa told Laura beaming eye to eye.
"Well thank you Aisha and Musa. Yeah you're all welcome here for thanksgiving. I'll make sure that we have a lot of food. Alyssa, thank you for saving me from that evil sorcerer, I don't know know what happened with him and why he's after me."
Alyssa turned to her mom, "Mom, what matters is he's gone and wont be coming back now. Thank you for agreeing to have us for thanksgiving. We have to get going miss Faragonda is expecting us back and we need to get back to our school work. I love you mom and I'll see you soon."
"I love you too Alyssa. Take care and be safe." Laura said, holding back a flood of tears, a single solidarity tear running down her weathered face
"I will mom." Alyssa said smiling and waving good-bye. With that the Winx Club had gathered in a circle and waited for Alyssa to join them, once she did they teleported back to Alfea, the courtyard was calm and devoid of students, it seemed like all the girls dropped of the face of Magix. The seven girls noticing the eerie silence feeling a chill run down their spines, promptly made their way to Faragonda's office. Faragonda was waiting for them, with a smile.
"Welcome back Winx Club I know of what happened and I couldn't be more proud of what you seven accomplished. I want each of you to take a much needed break, you seven have done so much for Magix and the magical realms. I'm ordering you seven to take a mandatory break, on Earth, I've arranged for you seven to stay at a loft in Gardenia, until the new year. Dealing with Valtor, Diana and Aurora was no easy feat especially for second year students, so we think that you need some much-needed rest." Faragonda said turning to face the huge window looking over the courtyard in her office, as deputy headmistress Griselda walked up.
"Precisely, you seven will be excused from everything until after Christmas break. Please take care, and stay safe. Now please go get packed. Here, you'll need this." Griselda said handing each of them a key to the loft. "Please go get packed. We'll see you off when you're ready.
The Winx club nodded and left to go get packed.
"This is so exciting you'll get to meet my parents." Bloom chirped jumping in place so giddy she could barely contain it. "I cant wait for them to meet the most amazing women in my life."
"Yeah they're the only ones who don't know about you, me, and Alyssa." Flora nodded.
As the winx club walked to their dorm they had to plan what to bring. Alyssa packed several girly clothes; dresses, skirts, blouses and corsets that would complement her figure and her dark edgy style that she was known for wearing, but also packed winter clothes, a heavy leather coat with faux fur liner for the Thanksgiving with her mom. "I cant wait for this," Alyssa expressed, "My mom's cooking during these holidays is to die for."
"It really is," Bloom agreed walking over to hold Alyssa's hand. "Laura is a really good cook, now what do I want to bring...oh I know I need to bring several skirts. And crop tops."
"Please I'll just bring my entire closet, its not that big of a deal." Stella exclaimed having a flair of the dramatic, trying to outdo everyone.
"Stella not everything has to be a contest." Tecna, Musa, and Aisha said reprimanding their friend, as they packed a suitcase each filled with cute clothes and very girly heels and flats.
"okay everyone packed?" Alyssa inquired, seeing everyone had a bag packed, except Stella who had packed two bags.
"What… I'm the princess of Solaria do you really expect me to travel light?" Stella joked.
After the girls joked, laughed and made their beds for when they return, the walked down the hall to Faragonda's office, passing their professors as they did, each one of their professors had heard what they did while on earth and soft smiles were etched onto their faces. When they got to Faragonda's office her and deputy headmistress Griselda were standing there. Griselda had a stone cold emotionless expression on her face while Faragonda had a warm smile that could melt the coldest of hearts.
"Now girls I want you seven to be safe and have a good time. If at any time you need assistance I'm just a phone call away. Now please have fun. But be aware there is a new threat looming, I feat the Wizards of the Black Circle will be watching you seven. Please be careful, they aren't to be trifled with, they are ruthless fairy hunters." Faragonda warned, but reassured them that they'd be safe.
The seven girls smiled, waved good-bye and transported to Gardenia. Once there they quickly found the loft they were ordered to stay at by Faragonda, it was in the bustling heart of downtown.
"You girls go on ahead I want my parents to meet Alyssa and Flora." Bloom joyfully said jumping up and down, taking the hands of Alyssa and Flora to her childhood home but not before dumping the luggage of her, Alyssa, and Flora on their friends.. "My parents are gonna love you two. Just be natural and they'll love you two."
Walking with her two lovers in tow Bloom began telling her loves about her family. "You see my mom owns a flower shop here in Gardenia that she's very proud of, and my dad is a firefighter. I'm just so nervous about introducing them to you two."
"You'll be fine baby." Alyssa reassured, squeezing Bloom's hand. "It'll all be okay."
Bloom sighed, "I guess you're right Alyssa, I guess I'm just expecting the worst, especially after what Valtor said in Princeton."
Alyssa could tell that what Valtor had said clearly shook Bloom to her core, but she did such a good job hiding it.
The trio passed by shops cafes, restaurants, and houses, before finally reaching Bloom's childhood home. Bloom knocked on the door a sense of unease growing. Finally the door swung open and in the frame stood a brown-haired woman, her expression softened when she saw her daughter. "Bloom? What a surprise."
"Hi mom," Bloom chirped. "After all that's happened in these last several months, which, let me tell you were no walk in the park, Alfea has decided that we should take a much needed break from everything and relax in Gardenia."
"Oh, well who are your friends" Bloom's mom asked.
"Mom, I'd like you to meet Alyssa and Flora. They are my two fiancees and the ones I adore so much."
Alyssa extends her hand "It's a pleasure to meet you…"
Bloom's mom laughed "Please call me Vanessa. Please come in I'll make lunch."
The trio walked into Bloom's childhood home and took a seat at the dining table as Vanessa said "So Alyssa, Flora, how are you treating Bloom? I hope she's also been treating you well."
"We've treating her like a princess Vanessa. Bloom has been so supportive with me being the first trans girl at Alfea. One time during my first year I had some real bad bullying going on and one night I was locked out of the shared dorm, Bloom brought bedding for me and cuddled me to keep me warm. Bloom has been such a sweet person and I want to spend the rest of my life with her and Flora." Alyssa chirped smiling wide.
"Its true mom, and because of that impromptu sleepover, I want to spend the rest of my life with Alyssa and Flora." Bloom explained still holding the hand of Alyssa. "Flora did the same thing and it warms my heart to know that us three will make such a power couple."
"How lovely I'm happy for all of you. I'm making pasta I hope that's okay. I figured its safe and then you can add what you want to it." Vanessa smiled.
"Mom, where's daddy?" Bloom asked
"He'll be home later tonight, How would you three like to have dinner with us? We'll go out for a nice dinner, to welcome him home from the station." Vanessa said.
"We'd love to Vanessa, thank you for the offer. Where would we go?" Flora asked hopeful that Bloom's father would like the idea of them being together. Flora then leaned over, still holding Alyssa's other hand and whispered to Alyssa. "I hope that Bloom's dad really likes us and doesn't have any problem with you being trans, but no matter what Alyssa, Bloom and I will always love you."
"Thank you Flora. I hope so too. Thank you so much."
Vanessa then plated the pasta for them and sat down herself. "So Flora, Alyssa what kind of powers do you two have?" she asked. "as to where we're going its a surprise."
Flora spoke up. "Well I have the power over plants and nature and Alyssa here has the power of weather."
Alyssa looked up as Flora mentioned her powers, her tan skin was a bit messy from the pasta sauce and a bit of pasta hanging out of her mouth. Swallowing the pasta, Alyssa struggled to get out "Yeah, I'm the fairy of the ever-changing weather. So um Vanessa, I want to ask you if Flora and I could take your daughter's hand in holy matrimony."
"I think that would be wonderful." Vanessa said smiling clasping her hands together. "Oh I can see it now, my shop will provide the flowers free of charge."
Just then Bloom's dad, Mike came in the door, and Bloom was so ecstatic to introduce Flora and Alyssa to her dad, jumping up. "Hi daddy, I'd like you to meet two very special people in my life. This is Alyssa and Flora.
"It's a pleasure to meet you sir." Alyssa cordially said extending her hand.
"uhh...yeah nice to meet you two, too." Mike said, clearly nervous with Alyssa.
"Mike, Alyssa is a part of our daughter's life, and it's clear that she is in love. You don't need to be uncomfortable with her." Vanessa admonished.
"Right...I'm sorry. How about I make it up and all five of us go out to dinner." Mike stammered clearly remorseful.
"'kay daddy we'll get ready back at our loft. Its the one in the heart of downtown" Bloom playfully giggled, leading her two partners out of her childhood home before turning to Alyssa and in a somber tone said. "I'm sorry about that Alyssa, hopefully this dinner will show daddy that you deserve to be part of my life. I love you and Flora very very much."
"I love you and Flora very much too you both are my sunshine." Alyssa proclaimed feeling the happiest she's ever felt in years. "It's quite alright I look forward to proving myself to Mike."
"Aww, I love you two very much. You two are my snuggle bunnies." Flora flirted smiling from ear to ear.
Just then a text from Tecna was received on all three of their phones.
'Hey you three so in our loft there's only 5 bed rooms and one has an Alaskan king bed. I can only assume that Faragonda has planned that to be the room for you three. Anyway get here soon. I want to know everything that happened when Bloom took you to go meet her parents. Oh by the way we should do some research on The Wizards of the Black Circle and see what their MO is.'
Bloom, Alyssa and Flora looked at each other with a sense of urgency, before Bloom breaks the silence. "Tecna's right we need to know about our new enemy, but we'll have to delegate that to our friends, we need to get changed and head to dinner with my parents, and just hope that The Wizards of the Black Circle don't show up during that dinner." Bloom nervously said eye's darting from Alyssa to Flora.
Meanwhile in the dark reaches of Magix the Wizards of the Black Circle were watching Bloom Alyssa and Flora, their leader a pale man with bright red hair paced his lair. "Look at her that blonde hair with the ginger low-lights wont fool us. Alyssa Thompson, the last earth fairy. Soon her powers will be ours." He let out a creepy laugh. As the Wizards of the Black Circle prepared to descend upon earth, their teleportation to earth inadvertently opened the omega gate again causing the dark sorcerer Valtor to be released from his icy imprisonment way too early.
Valtor began laughing maniacally, "Yes, yes...yes! Soon...Soon Alyssa will pay for my imprisonment. Oh and it looks like I'll have company to help. Oh Ogron you'll be in for a shock."
Back in the town of Gardenia, Bloom, Flora and Alyssa were walking back to the loft they decided to go the long way back just so they could spend more time together.
"Oh come on can't we spend just a little more time out in the park, please?" Flora begged.
"Sorry Flora, we gotta get back to the loft and see this massive bed, get changed for that dinner and see if the rest of the winx club has found out anything about the Wizards of the Black Circle." Alyssa explained.
"Tomorrow we'll spend time here, promise." Bloom reassured Flora as they continued walking. Alyssa still trying to deprogram herself from the two years in JROTC, walked in the middle of her two partners keeping in step with them even in her heels.
"Sorry about that, its a habit I'm trying to break." Alyssa apologized profusely.
"Don't be, its a quirk of yours that I absolutely love." Flora reassured, using her magic to create a corsage on Alyssa's wrist as they walked. Taking the long way to the loft proved advantageous because as the November sun started to dip below the horizon, giving way to a moonless night it was the perfect time for a dinner. When they arrived at the loft, Alyssa took out the brass key and stuck it in the locking mechanism, unlocking the door. Upon arriving in the loft for the first time the trio heard Stella complaining.
"...But why should they have it, its obviously fit for a princess."
"Stella most of us are princesses not just you. Besides, those three are a couple and an Alaskan King would fit them much better besides, you have a king bed just like we all do, you don't get to have everything you want." Musa admonished.
Tecna looked up from her pad seeing Alyssa, Bloom, and Flora enter the loft jumping up from the couch. "so how did it go? Did Bloom's parents like Alyssa?"
"Well Tecna, we're heading out to dinner with them because we're trying to prove to daddy, that Alyssa and Flora deserve to be in my life." Bloom explained to the Fairy of Technology, as she, Alyssa and Flora entered their room to get changed. While Bloom, Alyssa and Flora were all getting changed into fancy dresses for the dinner a cold feeling washed over Alyssa.
"Did you two feel that?" Alyssa inquired. "Its like a moment of progress has been undone by evil."
Bloom and Flora looked at Alyssa and responded "no we didn't. Just relax baby." They reassured Alyssa as Bloom put on a sparkly blue dress and cute blue heeled boots, while Flora donned a sparkly pink dress and pink wedge heels. Alyssa on the other hand put on a little matte black dress and black heels.
"You look lovely baby." Bloom complemented. "There's that look that I fell in love with."
"Thanks my buttercup." Alyssa flirted back
"Hey my two snuggle bunnies, don't leave me out of this flirt fest." Flora teased as she took the hand of Alyssa, who then took the hand of Bloom and the trio began to walk out of the loft, where a beat-up off white sedan was parked with Mike and Vanessa waiting for the trio. When Bloom, Alyssa and Flora entered the back seats with Alyssa flanked on either side by her partners and the door was shut, Mike shifted the car in gear and began to drive off taking them to an Olive Garden the next town over, unaware that Valtor and the Wizards of the Black Circle were tailing them.