Conjuring a portal again Stella once again made the joke about portals, the choice of portals and thanks the rest of the Winx Club for choosing Stella Portals. On Melody, Musa said "Welcome to my home everyone. Oh its good to be back here," clearly she was happy to be back, "So we need to head to the ocean here and find the Ruby Reefs. Lets go."
The seven girls ran off to the ocean and shouted "Magic Winx, Harmonix!" After a transformation sequence they were ready. Once at the ocean Musa began to feel a wave of depression wash over her. "Hey um everyone can we stop and chat for a bit. I know we're on a time crunch here but we have several days left."
Alyssa sensing something was off with Musa stopped and piped up. "Yeah whats up Musa?"
"Well you see, my mom and I used to come here all the time and well...its bringing up some memories." tears were welling up in Musa's eyes. Alyssa walked up to Musa and without a word pulled her into a big hug. Tears were flowing down Musa's face but she was caught off guard by Alyssa's hug. Reciprocating the hug, Musa let the tears flow. "Alyssa, I can't go down there. I don't want to, what if we fail and I end up joining my mom."
The other girls looked at Musa who was now bawling her eyes out into Alyssa's chest, when Bloom piped up. "Musa, we had no idea that this was a sensitive issue for you. If you want we can talk about this more after we leave here, we are here for you." Musa wiped the tears from here eyes and looked at here friends. "You're right everyone I need to be strong for my mother. Lets get down there and find the Ruby Reefs."
With newfound determination the Winx Club dove down into the ocean and began searching for whatever would lead them to the gem of Empathy. While down in the ocean a selkie named Sonna bonded with Musa gaining her powers back after Tritannus forced his way through the ocean gate of Melody. Once down in the depths of the oceans of Melody and in the Ruby Reefs the girls came across a coral harp and they all turned to Musa.
"Musa, I think this falls to you. You're the musically inclined one here and the clue did say 'Corals are a string you feel in a key.' I think it means you need to play a song on the harp." Flora said.
"Right, here goes nothing." Musa sighed as she swam up to the harp and began playing the most beautiful song ever. The music swirled around the seven girls and for a brief moment it felt like someone was behind Musa helping her play the most moving concerto on the harp, her fingers moved so gracefully across the strings it felt like the music its self was the real gift here.
Listening to the message Tecna had the next clue told to her 'To find the gem, you must understand the message in the harp's music' "Everyone I know where we need to go now," she said her voice analytical as ever. "we need to go Data Bridge Castle on my home world of Zenith. I know where that is, come on lets swim to the surface and head to Zenith."
"Are you sure Tecna?" Bloom asked "Well lets swim up to the surface."
"Hey um everyone would it be okay if we stay the night here on Melody, I'm not ready to say good-bye to my home just yet." Musa asked, clearly still feeling the presence of her mom from playing the harp.
"Of course Musa. What ever you need we'll give it to you. That's what friends are for" Alyssa and Bloom said, smiling at their betrothed Flora, and the smiling at each other before looking down at their rings. Swimming up to the surface the seven girls were determined to make the night and following day as comfortable for Musa who clearly was struggling with the feelings of grief resurfacing from being near the oceans of Melody. When they reached the surface and upon dry land all seven de-transformed and began walking to Musa's childhood home. The silence of the walk gave time for everyone to reflect on what happened in the ocean. Upon reaching Musa's home the six others members of the Winx Club were greeted by a home that had various south-east Asian inspiration. Standing in front of her friends, Musa faked a smile and said "Well, here we are. My childhood home." She then lead her friends into her home. "Dad? I'm home for the night. I brought friends."
Suddenly an older gentleman walked downstairs, upon seeing Musa. "Musa, my dear welcome home, and welcome everyone else. My name is Ho-boe and this is my lovely home."
"Dad these are my friends. This is Bloom, Stella, Flora, Tecna, Aisha and Alyssa." they are some of my best friends." Musa said gesturing to each of her friends. "Yes, before you ask dad, Alyssa is trans but before you say anything she is one of the most powerful fairies I have ever met."
Ho-boe looked at the six other girls absorbing the information his daughter told him about Alyssa and he just smiled. He knew of the prophecy of the princess of Mystelar and how she was destined to bring harmony to the magic dimension.
"Welcome everyone, please make yourselves at home." he said welcoming everyone into his home with open arms. "I'll set up a few extra beds for everyone. Musa what are you doing home right now?"
"Well dad I was recently at the Ruby Reefs our head mistress thought we were ready to earn both Harmonix and Sirenix." Musa explained to her father.
"Of course, you were always were talented Musa. Well, I take it you are all going to want to eat something before you all head to sleep. I'll make some of the best dishes Melody has to offer. Musa, Flora could you help me?" The two girls were eager to help make the meal, and the other 5 girls were encouraged to freshen up and be ready for a meal that would rock their world. When the meal was ready, there was a mixture of dishes that were very similar to some on Earth, each was a unique blend of flavor and texture.
Alyssa, ever the foodie was impressed. "These dishes are outstanding Ho-boe. They remind me of dishes that we have back on earth." she said smiling and the other girls agreeing with her. Before long it was time to head to bed as the sun set on Melody casting a vibrant red hue in the sky. As the girls each climbed into a bed there was only one place left and it could barely fit three people but Alyssa, Bloom, and Flora made it work having to cuddle and squeeze together on the bed with Alyssa in the middle flanked on her right side by Flora and Bloom on her left. The trio made it work and honestly they were cute sleeping like that. In the morning Ho-boe hugged Musa and said his goodbyes as Stella conjured a portal to Zenith, the tech-savvy homeworld of Tecna.
On Zenith, Bloom, Tecna and Aisha were the ones to head to the ocean and dive into the waters of Zenith. Once again they encountered a Selkie who had her powers stripped from her thanks to Tritannus. This time Tritannus had polluted the waters causing the guards of Data Bridge Castle to turn into mer-monsters. The pollution caused Aisha and Tecna to be at odds with each other and Bloom had to bring them to their scenes using her magic. "enough, we cant do this mission if you tow are fighting you two need to see that we're all fighting the same enemy here."
Aisha and Tecna looked at each other realizing Bloom is right. Calling upon Lilitha Tecna was told to 'Look where the one rules over the many.' realizing this Tecna said, "Aisha, Bloom, Help me use magic to clear away the pollution and these overgrown vines. I know where the Gem of Empathy is." Using their magic the three fairies were able to achieve unity and empathy for one another allowing the seven members of the winx club to earn the gem of empathy. When the trio who went down into the oceans returned Flora was distraught, on her knees and crying hysterically. Musa and Stella were there besides her trying to comfort her. On the ground was Alyssa's Sirenix box with two gems in it.
"Flora, what happened here? Where is Alyssa?" Bloom asked trying to get through to Flora when Stella spoke up. "Alyssa was taken by someone. I couldn't see who but they came and picked her up and then said that 'she'll answer for her crimes in an Eraklyon court.' whatever that means and then they just took her to Eraklyon."
Tecna then spoke up, "its not like Sky to send armed guards to capture someone like Alyssa I mean he seemed to defend her when Riven did those horrible things at the dance. So who could have done it."
Stella, knowing who could have done it spoke up, "Actually I think I know who did it. I was to shocked to think about it right then but remember when Alyssa first started attending here and those posters, well I had some help with making them and as you know I've changed but I think the one person who could have done it was Princess Diaspro. I think she still is holding some deep seeded hate towards Alyssa and is trying to use the monarchy of Eraklyon to her advantage to send a message to other trans girls with winx."
"I think you might be right Stella," Bloom agreed before addressing Musa. "Musa could you take Flora to her home world and let her rest there for a few days? I'm aware of the time crunch here but I think we need Flora to be in a familiar environment so she can process what happened here."
Musa nodded as Flora could only cry "I couldn't stop her. She took the light of my life, the brightest star in the Linphean sky, my everything, my Alyssa. I couldn't stop her."
Realizing that this was going to be a difficult rescue mission Bloom told the three girls coming with her to Eraklyon "Come on we need to move fast. Stella can you try and get a hold of Alaric and Seraphina? They should be able to pull some strings and get Alyssa out of custody."
"I'm on it Bloom." Stella confirmed conjuring a portal to Eraklyon. "Come on girls lets go save Alyssa."