Naomi groaned frustratedly as she closed yet another book that had, like all the others, held no clue whatsoever to her robotic assailant's identity.

Roxy looked over at her from the other side of the library table.

'Nothing?' Naomi rolled her eyes.

'No, actually this book was called 'Everything You Ever Wanted to Know About Endgame'. Where he came from, what he can do, his favourite kind of pasta…All our questions have been answered. That's why I was groaning: in celebration.' Roxy raised her eyes to Heaven and returned to her own book.

'So, nothing.'

'Yep.' Naomi sighed. 'This library is supposed to be one of the best in the dimension; we should have found something.' Roxy looked back up from her book.

'What are we even expecting to find? If Endgame is new, he won't be in here.' Naomi bit her lip.

'But…he's not new.' Roxy frowned.

'You still think you've encountered him before?'

'Yeah. Just wish I could remember more.' Memories of her nightmares flashed through her head, and she winced. On second thought, maybe I don't. 'Anyway, even if we don't find a profile and mug shot, I figured we'd at least find something similar. Something, anything, to go off.'

'I found out that it used to be illegal on Eraklyon to wear a hat that was taller than a foot,' Roxy offered awkwardly, and Naomi slammed her head onto the table.

'Fantastic. So, since Endgame wasn't wearing a two-foot hat, we can assume he's not from Eraklyon three-hundred years ago. Brilliant, Holmes.' Roxy grimaced.

'Sorry. That really is all I've got.' She patted Naomi's arm awkwardly, and Naomi sighed.

'Where do you even look for information on crazy killer robots that attack you outta nowhere and then fly away?' Roxy shrugged.

'I think we've learned that it's not the net.' Both girls winced. The web had seemed like such a promising place to look for answers; right up until they'd searched 'mysterious killer robot Endgame' and got twelve-million, six-thousand, four-hundred and thirty-two results, most of which were crazy conspiracy theories (and, weirdly, advertisements for ride-on lawnmowers). After the fourth hour of trying the net, both girls had decided to try slightly more sane avenues of investigation (in the name of not going crazy).

'Roxy?' someone called loudly, and Naomi winced. This was a library, for goodness sake! 'Roxy?' An irritatingly-familiar head of fiery red hair poked around a bookshelf, and Naomi fought to keep from groaning.

'Hi, Bloom!' Roxy smiled happily at her friend, while Naomi gave a sort of friendly-ish growl of acknowledgement.

'Roxy! There you are!' Naomi stared down at herself in fake shock.

'Oh, fantastic! My invisibility spell worked!' Bloom grimaced.

'Hi, Naomi.'

'Oh, so you can see me.'

'Naomi,' Roxy warned, jumping in before things could escalate. She turned back to Bloom. 'Hey, Bloom, what's up?'

'The wind rider contest is about to start; I didn't want you to miss it.' Roxy got up from the table.

'Oh, thanks.' Naomi went back to her book, and Roxy folded her arms. 'Naomi.'

'Yes?'

'Come on.'

'No.'

'You'll have fun.'

'The last time someone said that to me, I wound up screaming at a guy.' Roxy tugged at her arm.

'Well, just don't scream at Nabu and you'll be fine.' Naomi rolled her eyes.

'You say that like I planned it last time. Like I went into the evening with a checklist. Get dressed up: check! Dance: check! Totally lose it at Nabu: check!' She turned back to her book. 'You have fun though.' Roxy didn't move. 'Princess, you better not be giving me puppy-dog eyes.'

'Come on…' Roxy coaxed, and Naomi looked at her.

'Yep, you're giving me puppy-dog eyes.'

'Please…' Naomi sighed.

'Fine. But if I lose it at anyone, I'm blaming you for dragging me to this thing.' Roxy nodded.

'Seems fair-ish. Now c'mon!' Naomi stifled a laugh as she allowed herself to be pulled out of the library and out to the courtyard.

'C'mon, Roxy, we're all sitting over by the well.' Bloom turned to Naomi. '…You can join us, if you like, Naomi.' Naomi smiled awkwardly.

'…Thanks, but I think I'll pass. I'll just watch by myself.' Bloom nodded and started walking towards her friends, while Roxy looked at Naomi worriedly. Naomi grinned. 'Seriously, Princess. Go; I'd rather watch solo anyways.' Roxy bit her lip, but nodded and followed Bloom. Naomi waved. 'Bye.'

She turned and walked around the courtyard, watching the trios of specialists take on the wind rider course. Some were good, some were alright, and some… She winced as one specialist almost managed to fly through a window.

'Ready…go!' She leaned against the wall as Musa started the next race. Riven, Brandon and…she wasn't sure who the last guy was. They set off, deftly weaving through the flaming cages and winding around the school towers. To her mild chagrin, she found herself getting caught up in the atmosphere of the race, catching herself just before she clapped for Brandon when he zipped through the spinning fan. Riven made it through too, but the other guy wasn't so lucky. He clipped his wind rider, and his cape was torn to pieces. Naomi winced.

Brandon crossed the finish line first, and Stella immediately attached herself to him. Riven was likewise greeted by Musa, but no girl seemed to be running up to the third guy. He pulled off his helmet and Naomi's breath caught in her throat as she saw thick, dark hair, tanned skin and piercing green eyes. Aidan. She hadn't seen him since the dance, over a week ago.

She reached into her pocket and touched the well-worn piece of paper with his number on it. She'd often thought about calling, but she'd thought he'd think she was insane after her blowup at Nabu. But…he was right there. It might almost be rude not to go over. Well, she couldn't be rude! That decision made, she took a deep breath, swallowed her sudden, inexplicable nausea, and walked over.

'…Hey.' Aidan turned, and her heart fluttered as his face lit up as soon as he saw her.

'Naomi!'

'Hey, Aidan.' She smiled awkwardly. 'Great flying up there.' He laughed.

'Think you might've confused me with Brandon. The guy in the green helmet? Yeah, I was in the red helmet. The guy that totally sucked?' Naomi giggled, blushing slightly at the noise. Since when did she giggle?

'I thought you were really good. You're only a freshman, right?'

'Oh, actually I'm in the year above Brandon and Riven.' Naomi almost facepalmed, her mouth opening and closing awkwardly as she tried to figure out what to say. She blinked with surprise when Aidan laughed. 'Relax, I'm kidding. I really am a freshman.' Naomi gave him a faux-glare and playfully shoved him.

'Hey! Jerk.' Aidan grinned.

'My apologies, Naomi.' Naomi blushed and looked away, suddenly realising that her hand was still on Aidan's arm, quickly dropping it to her side.

'Apology accepted.'

'Naomi…' She looked up as Aidan's voice became far more serious, a concerned expression on his face. 'Are you okay? You seemed really upset at the gala.'

'Oh. Yeah, I'm okay. I just…kinda lost it. This crazy student reporter cornered me, and then I literally ran into the guy that killed Duman, so…' Aidan nodded understandingly.

'Just as long as you're alright. I was worried.' Naomi flushed pink. He'd worried about her? And he didn't think she was totally insane?

'…I'm alright. Starting to really get used to Alfea.'

'And do you like it?' She bit her lip and nodded, staring up into his eyes.

'…It's alright.' Aidan laughed.

'Hey, that's what people say about me!' Naomi snorted.

'I think you're a lot more than alright, Aidan.' Suddenly, her nose twitched as she detected a strange tang.

'Naomi? Everything okay?' She frowned.

'I'm…not sure.' She sniffed the air. Dark magic. That was what she was smelling. Mixed with some strange, rank scent, like garbage. Intertwined with other scents she couldn't quite discern just yet.

She glanced around, trying to figure out what she was smelling. Her eyes narrowed as she saw Flora across the courtyard, tripping and stumbling over what seemed to be nothing.

'I'll…be back in a minute,' she said distractedly, heading towards the strange sight. She blinked with surprise as Aidan followed her. 'What are you…' He shrugged.

'Seems like something might be up, and since I'm done utterly humiliating myself for today…' Naomi smirked.

'Alright then.' She watched as Flora glared down at Bloom's rabbit, Kiko, who seemed to be trying to fight something.

'It's not funny, Kiko.' The nature fairy turned on her heel and walked away with Helia.

'Hm…' Naomi stared at where Kiko was looking. She sniffed. Dark magic…that same toxic stink…and, now that she was closer, she could discern the other scents. Cold, like the thick snow that settled on her house every winter, enveloping everything in a thick, frozen blanket of white. Electricity, like the crackle in the air during a lightning storm, or that time Duman had accidentally electrocuted himself. And a weird smell, like midnight and trickery.

Her eyes narrowed. Cold, electricity, and darkness. Sounded like a pretty familiar combination.

She folded her arms.

'I know you three are there.' She heard a startled gasp.

'Can she see us?' someone hissed, and she rolled her eyes.

'Nope. But I can smell you; you smell like darkness and hot garbage. Guess that's what happens when you get a power-boost from a guy powered by trash.' Aidan raised an eyebrow.

'Uh, Naomi? Who're you talking to?'

'The Trix. They're standing in front of us, frantically trying to figure out how I saw through their poorly-cast invisibility spell.'

'Poorly-cast?!' someone shrieked, and Aidan jumped. Naomi smirked. 'Thought that'd get a reaction. Hear 'em now?' Aidan nodded, glaring about a foot to the right of the witches.

'You three are going down!' Naomi cleared her throat and pointed to where they actually were. Aidan moved to look there. 'So far down.' Naomi heard cackling.

'So you found us, freshman. Big deal. You have no idea why we're here.' Naomi thought for a moment.

'…I'm gonna bet you're after Bloom.' The Trix gasped.

'How did you…?'

'Because you're always after Bloom. Duh. Lemme give you some friendly advice: beat it.' Naomi smelled the electrical smell move way closer.

'Listen here, little girl,' a voice that had to be Stormy snarled. 'This doesn't end well for you.' Naomi wrinkled her nose.

'Wow, you really do stink of pollution.'

'How dare-!' Stormy never finished her thought, because Naomi swiftly and unexpectedly drove her knee into the witch's stomach, hearing a pained grunt as Stormy staggered backwards.

'What the heck was that?' shrieked another voice. 'Icy, who is this?'

'Doesn't matter. She's not Bloom. That's who we're after. Sister, continue with the plan.' Naomi sensed powerful dark magic.

'What are you doing?' She could hear the smirk in the answer.

'Making today's race a little more interesting.' Naomi heard screams, and whipped around to see Sky, Helia and Timmy's wind riders bucking them like rodeo bulls. The specialists dropped to the ground, staring up at their vehicles in confusion and shock. Aidan's mouth dropped open as the bikes changed into giant lions.

'Capture Bloom, and bring her to us!' snarled a voice that Naomi was pretty sure was Darcy's. The lions roared and leapt into the crowd of screaming fairies.

'Aidan, go find Roxy and let her know that the Trix are here. You can tell the Winx too, if you feel like it.'

'What are you gonna do?' Naomi smirked.

'I'm gonna show these three why they should've taken my friendly advice.' She shifted into a wolf and leapt forwards, tackling Darcy to the ground and snarling menacingly in a move she'd learned from Duman.

Darcy shrieked and suddenly turned visible, along with Icy and Stormy. Naomi shifted back to her human form and smirked.

'Hi there.'

'What's happening?' Roxy gasped as Sky, Helia and Timmy's wind riders suddenly started jerking around madly.

'I don't know!' Bloom exclaimed, gasping with horror as Sky was thrown. 'Sky!' Fortunately, the guys landed on their feet, just in time to stare in shock as their bikes turned into huge, snarling lions.

'We have to do something!' Aisha exclaimed as the lions leapt towards their fellow students.

'But what about the Sirenix Quest?' Stella asked. 'We have to go to Lynphea and find the Flower of the Depths!'

'You guys go to Lynphea,' Aisha replied. 'We'll handle these things.' Stella, Musa and Flora nodded, running for the gates.

'Okay, Winx! Time to transform! Magic Winx! Enchantix!' The girls transformed, and Roxy followed suit, transforming into her base form. 'Okay, girls. Let's-'

'Winx!' Bloom stopped short as a guy ran over. 'Winx!'

'Who's that?' Tecna asked, confused. Roxy frowned.

'That's the guy Naomi went to the gala with. I think his name's Aidan.'

'Yes! Yes it is!' Aidan gasped. 'Naomi told me to tell you that the Trix are here! This is their work!' Bloom gasped.

'What?' Aisha frowned.

'And how would Naomi know that?' Aidan pointed over to the school.

'Well, she's kinda over there fighting them right now.' The Winx's mouths dropped open as they saw Naomi in her fairy form, flinging magic at the trio of witches they'd all seen far too much of by now.

'Naomi!' Roxy cried. 'We can't let her fight the Trix alone!' Bloom nodded.

'Tecna, Aisha, Roxy, you guys handle the lions. The guys will protect the students.'

'But, Bloom, I need to help Naomi!' Bloom shook her head.

'You're the Fairy of Animals, Roxy. We're fighting lions. I'll help Naomi. By this point, I know a thing or two about fighting the Trix.' Roxy nodded and launched herself into the air with Tecna and Aisha.

'Dark Orb!' Naomi blocked another of Icy's attacks, and the ice witch let out a furious snarl.

'You're base-level! How are you this strong?'

'What's the matter, Icy? Mad that you're getting your ass handed to you by a freshman? Again?' Naomi looked up to see Bloom flying above her, glaring down at Icy. 'Dragon Fury!' Icy screamed as she was flung into a column, and Bloom landed next to Naomi. 'You okay?' Naomi nodded.

'I gotta say, when it comes to minions, Tritannus could've done better,' she remarked, watching Icy stagger to her feet disappointedly.

'How dare you! Toxic Tornado!' Stormy flung a whirling tornado at the fairies, and Bloom leapt in front of Naomi.

'Dragon Shield!' Wild winds whipped around them, and Stormy laughed.

'Not so quippy now, are you, Bloom?' Naomi smirked.

'Maybe she's not, but I've got something. Bloom, drop the shield.' Bloom complied, and Naomi ran forwards and leapt into the swirling winds. 'What do you call a fairy who can handle a tornado and is about to kick your ass?' Her shimmering wings morphed into powerful eagle wings, and she launched herself through the storm, tackling Stormy into the wall. She smirked. 'Me. Think fast.' She pushed off, and, no longer being pressed down, Stormy dropped, almost crashing into the ground.

'Nice job, Naomi!' Bloom gave her a thumbs-up, and Naomi grinned.

'Obsidian Flux!' Icy laughed as the attack flew towards her, bouncing off a quickly-summoned wall of ice.

'Was that all?' Naomi grinned.

'Nope. That was just to distract you while Bloom does that.' She pointed to Bloom, who had just unleashed a burst of fire magic.

'Dragon Energy!' The attack easily melted Icy's shield, sending the witch flying across the courtyard. 'Face it, Icy,' Bloom snarled. 'No matter how many guys give you three a power boost, you always lose. What are you even doing here?' Icy smirked.

'Wouldn't you like to know?'

'She probably would,' Naomi agreed. 'They're after you, Bloom.' She gave Icy a condescending smirk. 'You don't mind that I told her, do you? It's just that it was, y'know…obvious.' Bloom folded her arms.

'Why are you after me? What do you want?'

'That's for us to know and you to find out,' Darcy replied. 'Impenetrable Darkness!' Naomi rolled her eyes as the world suddenly turned pitch-black.

'Really? I already found you guys when I couldn't see you; what do you think this is gonna do? Endless Change!'

'Oomph!' Darcy was slammed into the school by Naomi's attack, and the darkness vanished. 'How did you…' Naomi grinned.

'As I said earlier: you stink.' She stepped aside, allowing Bloom's next attack to go slamming into Darcy. 'Feel like giving up?' Darcy launched herself off the wall with a primal scream, and Naomi rolled her eyes. 'Guess not.'

'Wasp Sting!' Roxy winced as her attack just bounced off the lion. Again. What were these things made of?!

'Morphix Attack!' Aisha's spell had about the same effect.

'We're not making much of an impact,' Roxy said frustratedly. 'It's like we're just tickling them.'

'Laser Cage!' Tecna imprisoned one of the lions with her spell. 'Try your animal powers,' she encouraged. Roxy nodded, flying above one of the lions.

'Um…hello.' The lion snarled at her, and she took a deep breath. Stop! Her heart sank as she felt no reply. No connection. Nothing. It wasn't a lion; it was just a wind rider! It didn't have a soul or a mind of its own for her to connect with. But it apparently did have the strength to break free of Tecna's cage and push off the wall, launching itself at her in a terrifying blur of claws and teeth.

She screamed, throwing her arms up to create a shield too late. The lion was millimetres from her face when she suddenly felt herself get yanked sideways, the lion missing her and falling to the ground where it was hit with a spinning circular blade. As Roxy watched, the weapon bounced off the lion, whirling through the air and coming to land in an outstretched hand above her. She looked round and found herself staring at her own face reflected in a specialist helmet.

'Hold on!' cried her rescuer. 'Looks like he doesn't give up easy!' The lion launched itself at them, and Roxy felt herself get pulled onto a wind rider seat, zipping through the courtyard, dodging the lion's claws and teeth. 'When I say, hit this thing with everything you got!'

'…Okay!' She clung to the specialist, her eyes widening as they shot towards a wall. 'Um…you know we're about to hit the school, right? Right? Right?!' She squeezed her eyes shut and shrieked, sure they were about to slam into the wall, but her stomach flipped at the last second as they shot into the air, flipping over and coming to a sharp stop. The lion's reaction time wasn't nearly as quick, and it crashed into the wall.

'Now!'

'Mystic Talons!' She put all the power she could muster into her blast, and the lion dropped to the ground, twitching and crackling, before turning back into a (regrettably rather damaged) wind rider.

'Hey, nice job!' She blushed as the specialist congratulated her.

'You weren't so bad yourself.' She fluttered her wings, dismounting the bike and flying under her own power once more. 'Feel like taking on two more?'

'Way ahead of you. I'll distract them. How do you feel about blasting them?' Roxy grinned.

'I feel like I'm on board.' The boy zipped forward, weaving in between the lions and confusing the heck out of them.

'Hey, lions! Try and catch me!'

'What the heck?' Aisha muttered. 'Who's that?'

'No idea,' Roxy replied. 'But right now, he's the distraction. Blast the wind riders with all you got.'

'You mean the lions?' Tecna queried.

'Nope. I think we need to do enough to effectively destroy the wind riders. That's what they are, after all.' Aisha winced.

'Okay, but I'm not explaining to Sky that we had to destroy his wind rider.' Tecna grinned.

'If we need to destroy wind riders, then I can use my electric storm attack! It'll short them out! Aisha, can you hold them in place?'

'Now that that guy's got them all confused? No problem! Enchanted Morphix!' The lions, too distracted by the specialist, were caught in the sticky pink Morphix; they stared down at their paws in confusion, roaring with fury.

'Electric Storm!' The lions crackled, turning into smoking wind riders.

'Yes!' Roxy cheered, high-fiving Aisha. 'Take that, Trix!'

'Speaking of whom…' Tecna pointed over to where Icy, Darcy and Stormy were squaring off against Bloom and Naomi. 'What do you say we uneven those odds a little?' Aisha smirked.

'Oh yeah. Hey, Darcy!' Darcy turned just in time to see Aisha hurling a pink energy burst at her. 'Enchanted Plasma!'

'Mystic Talons!'

'Magnetic Storm!' Icy and Stormy quickly joined Darcy on the ground, groaning.

Bloom folded her arms.

'Looks like your little attack failed, Trix. Now…' She stalked towards the dazed witches, her eyes burning. 'Why did you come here? What do you want with me?' Icy laughed.

'Surrender to us and find out.' Bloom's hands glowed orange.

'Dragon Flame Power Fire!' Icy was suddenly jerked up into the air. 'Now, I'll ask again. What do you want with me?' Roxy stared in awe at the fire burning in Bloom's eyes. There was an anger there she hadn't seen before, and she could tell it wasn't just because the Trix had attacked Alfea. There was something deeper. She remembered Bloom mentioning something about bad dreams she'd been having. Dreams of Daphne crying for help.

She looked into Bloom's burning eyes, and knew. Bloom already knew why they wanted her.

'It's not what they want with you, Bloom.' She turned Icy. 'It's what you want with Daphne, isn't it?' Icy's eyes widened with shock.

'How did you…'

'Answer the question,' Bloom snarled. 'You're the reason Daphne's been in my dreams, begging for help, aren't you? She's trapped by pollution, just like Tritannus's!' Icy scowled at Bloom.

'Endless Blizzard!' She broke free of Bloom's spell. 'Frostbite!' Bloom lifted a burning hand, batting away the icy magic, turning it to steam. Icy growled. 'Alright, yes! We have Daphne; and you're not getting her back.'

'Why do you want Daphne?' Tecna asked.

'What, you didn't think you were the only ones after Sirenix, did you?' Darcy smirked. 'Daphne's gonna tell us how to get it.'

'Daphne would never tell you anything!' Bloom snapped furiously, and Stormy snickered.

'Well, she hasn't told us anything yet, but she'll break.' Bloom just stopped breathing for a second.

'If you hurt Daphne…' Icy smirked.

'You'll what? Unleash some new glittery spell?' Flames glowed and writhed over Bloom's entire body, and Icy stepped back a little, watching her nervously.

'Uh-oh…' Tecna muttered. 'I know what she's about to do. Protective Energy Field!' Roxy, Aisha, Tecna and Naomi were enveloped in a glowing green energy shell, just as Bloom unleashed the magic that had been rapidly building inside her.

'Full Dragon Energy!' Flames burst forth from Bloom in a furious, burning explosion of rage, Darcy only just throwing up a shield in time to avoid her and her friends being turned into charcoal.

The flames dissipated, and Tecna dropped the shield. Roxy stared in amazement at the disorientated (slightly crispy) Trix.

'Sisters, let's get outta here!' Icy exclaimed. 'Bloom's a lot more protective of her sister than we thought!'

'Way ahead of you!' Darcy replied, and they vanished in a flashes of light. Naomi waved condescendingly.

'Buh-bye.' She turned to Roxy. 'How are those three considered dangerous? They barely qualify as mildly irritating.' Roxy bit her lip, looking over to where Bloom was standing. She de-transformed, dropping to her knees, covering her face as tears streamed down her cheeks.

'Bloom!' Roxy ran towards her, wrapping her arms around her friend. 'Hey, it's okay…'

'No…' Bloom sobbed. 'It's not. Daphne's in Tritannus's hands, and I don't know how to save her. She's already been through so much…she should have been safe. She's already a spirit, how is she still in danger?' Roxy sighed.

'I don't know, Bloom.' Sky ran over.

'Bloom! What just-' He took in the state Bloom was in, dropping to his knees next to her immediately. 'What's wrong? What happened?' Seeing as how Bloom was still crying into her shoulder, Roxy explained.

'The Trix have got Daphne.' Sky's expression filled with horror.

'No… Oh, Bloom…' Roxy gently moved Bloom across into her boyfriend's arms. 'Hey, Bloom…It's all gonna be okay… We've beaten the Trix before, we can do it again. No, scratch that, we will do it again. And Daphne will be back home, safe and sound, before you can say 'Why the heck do the Trix keep coming back when we always kick their asses?'' Bloom snorted and wiped her eyes.

'…Yeah. Yeah. We'll stop the Trix, just like we always do. We'll save Daphne, and Tritannus will learn the super important lesson to never mess with my family.'

'Hell yeah he will,' Aisha agreed. "Cousin Tritannus' is going down.'

'Our odds of beating the Trix are ninety-seven point four percent,' Tecna added. 'And with how mad they've just made you, I'd say that figure's rising.'

'You've never met a villain you couldn't take down,' Roxy encouraged. 'You got this.'

'You're actually more of a badass than I thought.' Everyone's heads snapped around to stare in shock at Naomi. Naomi shrugged. 'What, you are. You can beat them; you've beaten people way more competent than them.' Everyone continued to stare, and Naomi rolled her eyes. 'Okay, I'm done here.' She gave Bloom a casual salute. 'Nice moves, Dragon Flame.' Roxy looked to Bloom as Naomi started to walk away, and Bloom nodded.

'I'm fine. Go with Naomi; we'll probably go talk to Miss Faragonda.'

'Bye!' Roxy gave Bloom a quick hug and scrambled to her feet after Naomi. 'Naomi! Wait up!' Naomi paused to let Roxy catch up. 'Look at you, saying nice things to Bloom.' Naomi rolled her eyes.

'Don't start, Princess.' Roxy grinned, but dropped the subject.

'I can't believe you fought the Trix! That was awesome!' Naomi shrugged.

'They're not as tough as they'd like people to think.'

'Naomi!' Roxy turned to see the boy from before running over.

'Aidan!' Naomi exclaimed.

'Hey. Are you okay? I mean, you just fought the Trix! That was incredible! You're incredible!' Roxy smirked as Naomi's cheeks flushed bright pink.

'Hi,' she giggled, holding out her hand. 'I'm Roxy Wilde.' Aidan gave her a friendly smile and shook her hand.

'Hi. I'm Aidan Ross. Nice job against those lions.'

'Thanks.' She gave Naomi a little smile. 'I just remembered a super important thing I gotta do. Gotta go, bye!' Naomi gave her a little glare as she stifled a laugh, before turning back to Aidan.

Roxy giggled. Looked like Naomi had a little crush. So cute!

She jumped as a gust of wind blew behind her, and she whipped around to see a familiar helmeted figure sitting on a wind rider.

'Hey.'

'…Hey. Thanks for saving me back there.'

'No problem.' The boy took his helmet off, revealing strawberry-blonde hair and olive-green eyes. 'I'm Manuel.' Roxy's heart sped up.

'…I'm Roxy.' Manuel smiled.

'I've heard of you! The Princess of Tir Na N'og, Fairy of Animals, right? You fought some evil wizards and saved a planet.' Roxy blushed.

'…Something like that.'

'You were wicked impressive back there. That's a pretty powerful attack for a base-level fairy.'

'I may not know much about magic history of the difference between a red willow or a black willow, but I'm pretty good at flinging stuff.'

'Definitely.'

'But you…you were pretty good yourself. I like your…' She looked at his phantoblade hilt, trying to conjure a name for the weapon he'd used.

'Chakram,' he filled in, taking hold of the hilt and creating the translucent blades. 'It's called a chakram.'

'I like it.' He spun it on his hand in a well-practised move.

'It's pretty cool, isn't it?' Roxy opened her mouth to reply, but was cut off as a horribly-familiar voice echoed across the courtyard.

'Manuel! Manuel, baby, are you okay?' Roxy watched in surprise as Olivia threw herself onto Manuel.

'Hey, Liv. I'm fine.' Olivia caressed his cheek.

'You gotta be careful, boo. I can't have my boyfriend getting killed by lions.' She suddenly noticed Roxy's presence. 'Oh. It's you.' Manuel looked between the two girls.

'Oh, you two know each other? Roxy was great in that fight, wasn't she?' Olivia plastered a smile onto her face so sickly-sweet that it made Roxy's teeth hurt.

'Great, boo. So…good.' She smirked slightly. 'Manuel's my boyfriend; we've been together since we were fourteen.' She pressed her lips up against Manuel's; the message couldn't have been clearer if she'd got a giant flashing neon sign: Back off. He's mine.

'…Oh. That's nice.' Roxy tried for sounding pleasant, but couldn't help feeling like a piece of gum on Olivia's shoe under her mean little gaze.

'Isn't it?' Olivia wrapped her arms around Manuel's bicep. 'Baby, are we still on for dinner?' Manuel nodded.

'Totally. How's Melodic?' Olivia gave him a sweet little smile.

'Sounds perfect. Now, you've still got a wind rider contest to win.' She gave him a peck on the cheek. 'Good luck.' Manuel grinned.

'Thanks.' He turned to Roxy. 'See you around, Roxy.' He pulled his helmet back on and flew across the courtyard, Roxy staring after him. Olivia looked her up and down and snickered, unimpressed.

'You wish.' She turned on her heel and sashayed away, her hair flicking behind her.

'She reeks of hair products.' Roxy turned to see Naomi and Aidan standing behind her. Naomi frowned at the expression on Roxy's face. 'You okay, Princess?' Roxy sighed.

'Fine.' Naomi raised an eyebrow.

'You don't sound fine. And I'd bet a million bucks that Olivia's got something to do with it.'

'Congratulations: you're a millionaire,' Roxy deadpanned. Naomi sighed.

'Whatever she's got to say, remember that she's only saying it because she's a horrible person with no regard whatsoever for other people's feelings.' Roxy snorted, and Naomi smiled.

'This have anything to do with the guy whose uvula she was trying to lick?' Roxy shuddered at the description.

'Ew! Naomi!' Naomi shrugged.

'What? I call these things as I see 'em.' Roxy sighed and looked away.

'It's nothing.' She blinked in surprise as she felt arms close around her. 'Are you…are you hugging me?'

'No, I'm getting a pizza. Yeah, I'm hugging you, Princess.' Even when she was comforting her, Naomi was still her snarky, sarcastic self, and Roxy had to smile.

'I'd hug you too, but since I've only just met you, that might be kinda weird,' Aidan chipped in. 'So, since I don't completely understand what's going on, I'll just say a blanket 'I'm sorry'.' Roxy giggled, and Naomi pulled away.

'C'mon. You dragged me out here, you gotta at least watch the damn race. Come sit with us.' Roxy looked to Aidan.

'Don't you need to compete?' Aidan laughed.

'Yeah, I'm not so great at wind riding. I'm way happier just watching. I've already wrecked my cape; don't really feel the need to wreck my bike or my skull.'

'Alright then,' Roxy conceded. 'Let's go.'

The group settled down on a bench, Roxy and Aidan sitting on the bench, Naomi sprawled on the ground in front of it. It didn't escape Roxy's notice that Naomi was casually leaning against Aidan's legs, and she made a mental note to ask her roommate more about this guy that she clearly liked.

The races progressed, and Roxy kept an eye out for Manuel. And when she saw him, her jaw went a little slack. He was incredible! He dodged and weaved his way through the obstacles like it was child's play, even passing Sky and Riven as he performed an effortless barrel-roll around a corner.

Naomi reached up and casually closed Roxy's gaping mouth.

'Impressed?' she asked teasingly, and Roxy blushed. What was up with her? Why did she keep staring at him? Since when did she stare at guys? Especially guys dating girls like Olivia. With someone as horrible as Olivia in the picture, she should get out of that picture as fast as possible. And yet, when Manuel was declared the winner of the races, she found herself leaping to her feet and cheering louder than anyone.

Anyone else think Aidan is totally adorable?

Yeah, there was no way the Trix were escaping Naomi's senses. (Or her biting sarcasm). If you like the story, please review!