Stella paced around the fire station, unable to shake the nagging feeling in her chest. Gantlos had gone out alone, and she couldn't help but worry. Deciding she needed to talk to someone, she went looking for Duman.
She knocked on his door, but there was no answer. The faint sound of water running drew her toward the bathroom. She hesitated for a moment, then pushed the ajar door open.
"Duman?" she called softly, stepping inside.
To her surprise, she found him standing in front of the mirror, struggling to dye the back of his his hair. His shirt was off, and his hair was half-covered in pink dye. He turned at the sound of her voice, a sheepish smile spreading across his face. "Hey, Stella. Didn't expect you."
She chuckled, taking in the scene. "Need some help with that?"
Duman's expression brightened. "Actually, yeah. I can never get the back, well—not without a huge mess,"
Stella moved closer, grabbing a pair of gloves. "I used to do this all the time for the girls at Alfea," she said, carefully applying the dye to the back of his head.
Stella worked silently for a moment, then asked, "Why do you dye your hair, anyway? Is there a reason—going grey?"
Duman laughed softly. "Funny story, actually. The pink was an accident."
"Really?" Stella's curiosity was piqued. "What color was it supposed to be?"
"Red, like Ogron's," Duman replied. "When I was a kid, Ogron saved me and raised me. So, when I was a teenager, I wanted to look more like him. But I messed it up and ended up with pink hair."
"Saved you?" His face twisted, she could tell it wasn't something he wanted to talk about. "You don't have to tell me," Stella smiled, imagining a young Duman with freshly dyed hair. "What did Ogron think of it?"
"At first, I was really upset about it," Duman admitted. "But Ogron said he liked it, and so I kept it up."
Stella finished applying the dye and stepped back to admire her work. "Well, I think it suits you."
Duman glanced at her in the mirror, a warm smile on his face. "Thanks, princess. I appreciate it."
She looked into his eyes, her worry resurfacing. "Duman, I'm really worried about Gantlos. I have this bad feeling—"
Before she could finish, Duman turned to face her, his expression softening. "Hey, it'll be okay. Gantlos is tough. He can handle himself."
Stella nodded, though her anxiety didn't fully dissipate. She glanced down, noticing dye on her hands. "Oops, I got some on me."
Duman laughed. "Here, let me help you clean up."
He took her hand, guiding her to the sink. As he gently washed the dye off her hand, their eyes met again. There was a spark between them. Stella felt her heart race, the tension in the room shifting.
"Duman," she began.
"Yeah?" He looked at her, his eyes filled with warmth and something more. She playfully splashed some water at him, "Oi!" The two playfully wrestled for a moment.
Before she knew it, Duman playfully backed her against the bathroom counter, his hands resting on either side of her. "You know, Stella, you've got a real talent for this hair dye thing. Maybe you missed your calling."
Stella laughed, feeling the heat rise to her cheeks. "I don't think so. I like where I am now."
Duman leaned in closer, their faces just inches apart. "I like where you are too."
The air between them crackled with anticipation. Stella's breath caught in her throat as Duman's gaze flickered to her lips. They were so close to kissing when—
"Well, well, well," a voice drawled from the doorway.
Stella and Duman jumped apart, turning to see Anagan leaning against the doorframe with a smug grin. "What do we have here?"
Duman quickly straightened up, running a hand through his partially dyed hair. "Just —getting my hair dyed. Stella was , uh, helping me."
Anagan raised an eyebrow, clearly enjoying the situation. "Sure, that's all it was."
Duman shot Stella an apologetic look. "I, uh, left something in —my—outside. Gotta go get it. Thanks for the help, Stella."
With that, he hurried out of the bathroom, leaving Stella and Anagan alone. Anagan's grin widened. "Looks like you two were having fun."
Stella rolled her eyes, trying to play it cool. "Just helping a friend. That's all."
Anagan chuckled. "Sure, sure. Whatever you say."
Stella lingered a bit near Anagan, following him to the main room.
"Soooooo earth vampires, they're different from the vampires on Magix," she said, trying to change the subject.
"Yeah, I guess they are,"
"Correct me if I'm wrong , but… according to earth media, I should be a vampire at this point? Right?"
He chuckled, shaking his head slightly "Not quite— our movies would have you believe that if a vampire would bite you, you'd become one, but it's actually reversed— he wouldn't drink your blood, you'd have to drink his."
"So how come in the books and movies—"
"Didn't you already learn that sometimes you can't believe everything you see or read?" He retorted playfully. He was right. Well, that answered that question for her.
"He's been gone kinda long," she wasn't necessarily talking to anyone, but Ogron answered her.
"He'll be out for a while, I take it you've never been hunting before? Sometimes it takes more than an hour."
Still the pit her stomach wasn't satisfied, maybe she just needed some sleep. She retreated for the night.
——————
"Oi! Sleeping Beauty, wake up!" Duman shook her out of her sleep. Stella groggily grumbled about it being too early.
"Duman...Where's Gantlos? Can't he help you?" She questioned sleepily.
"That's the problem princess, he's not back yet,"
Stella was suddenly very awake even more so after learning it was two in the morning.
"Now don't panic yet— Ogron and Anagan are out looking for him…"
"But you want to look too, not stay here with me watching me sleep?"
He only nodded. Stella quickly got up, getting ready to move out with Duman, she knew something was wrong. She should've trusted her gut. Meanwhile Duman was mentally berating himself for not considering her concerns earlier.
"You have animal traits don't you? Can't you just sniff him out?"
"It doesn't exactly work like that, I can pick up a scent, but I have to be close enough. I do think I know where he is though."
They race through the desolate town. Stella's wings fluttering as fast as they could. They ended up at familiar woods.
"He's here— he must've come here, looking for quick game, but—"
They saw Ogron and Anagan engaged in a fierce battle with the Winx. Gantlos was nowhere to be seen.
"Where is he?" Stella asked, her voice trembling with worry.
Before Duman could respond, Bloom spotted them. "Stella!" she called out, her tone a mix of relief and accusation. She grabbed hold of Stella's arms, "Are you okay!?"
"I'm perfectly fine!—Bloom, please, listen to me, we should all be on the same side—"
"What did they do to you? Don't you remember anything? About our mission — about us?"
Stella was confused now. It must have shown.
"Oh my gosh —they did alter your memory somehow. Don't worry — I know this is all very confusing, but I promise —"
"What are you talking about!?"
"We've been researching how to reverse memory altering spells — it's tricky but all of us should be able to —"
"They didn't alter my memory!" Her voice managed to rise above the chaos, "They haven't hurt me at all!" Her friends' eyes fell on her, "the only thing I did was read a history book!" Stella summoned the book, half hazardly tossing it at Bloom. The battle seemed to halt, a worried expression crossed Ogron's face. The other wizards seemed to share his sentiment. He approached Stella, he didn't foresee this going in a positive direction, given the current situation.
The Winx and Specialists stared at her in disbelief. Tecna scoffed reading the text. "Are you really stupid enough to fall for such lies?"
Stella's eyes narrowed. "And you're sooo smart to believe Alfea's history book without question."
The standoff intensified, with Stella pleading for someone to believe her. But Bloom countered, "Make the right choice, Stella."
Hurt filled her heart. "Fine," Stella said, stepping back to join the wizards. Her friends looked hurt and betrayed. Layla's voice was filled with pain. "Brandon was right. She's all there, just a —a traitor…"
"Traitor?!" Stella's voice was a mix of shock and anger. "You don't even want to consider the possibility that we've been lied to? That maybe these men aren't the monsters we were told they were? I knew school was a waste of time, half of what we learned was lies!"
Flora stepped forward, her voice gentle but firm. "Stella, we love you. But you've been with them for weeks, and now you're spouting their propaganda. Can't you see they've manipulated you?"
Stella clenched her fists. "No, they haven't! Why won't you even look at the evidence?"
Bloom's eyes blazed with frustration. "Because it's fake, Stella! They've twisted things to make you doubt everything. They're dangerous!"
Musa's voice was filled with sorrow. "Stella, please. Come back to us. We can help you."
"I don't need help," Stella said coldly. "I need you to listen to me!" A hand was placed on her shoulder. Ogron sighed.
"I don't think they will," his tone was the most gentle it had ever been. Stella's heart broke.
"Oh no you don't!" It was evident the fight wasn't done, riven attacked Duman who tried to slip away to search for Gantlos. So the fight continued. Her friends were hesitant to directly attack Stella. Taking advantage of this, she managed to slip away . She headed further north, only about ten feet or so. There, she saw Brandon— standing over Gantlos, who was lying on the ground, blood pooling around him.
"Brandon!" She pushed past him, "what did you do!?" she screamed as she knelt by Gantlos' side.
"Stella!? What are you doing —"
"I'm obviously healing him Brandon! Or I'm trying to — why would you do this!?"
Confused and exhausted, Brandon snapped, "How could I kill the guy who kidnapped you—who manipulated you!? Stella, you can't be serious, do I mean nothing to you!?"
Stella, with tears beginning down her face, replied, "Of course you mean something to me, you're everything —but you just killed a man, an innocent man!"
Brandon's anger flared. "Innocent?! Are you seriously choosing them over us?" Stella tried to explain as she attempted to heal Gantlos , but Brandon simply wouldn't listen.
"You've changed, Stella. You're not the same person I fell in love with. You've let them poison your mind," Brandon spat, his voice breaking with emotion.
Stella's heart ached. "Brandon, please, try to understand. Everything we've been taught is a lie. These men, I swear to gods they're not the evil ones."
Brandon shook his head, his eyes filled with pain. "You're the one who's been lied to. How can you be so blind? I can't believe — I regret ever wasting my time on someone so stupid!"
Tears welled up in Stella's eyes, but she continued to focus on healing Gantlos. "You don't understand, Brandon. If you just listen—"
"I can't bring myself to hurt you, Stella. But don't expect me to stand by and watch you betray everything we fought for," Brandon said, his voice trembling with suppressed anger. With that, Brandon retreated back to the group, his heart heavy with betrayal.
Stella watched him go, her heart breaking. "Brandon, please…," she whispered, but he was already gone.
Frustration and fear gripped her as she looked back at Gantlos. He was fading fast, his breaths shallow. Tears streamed down her face as she tried to use her healing magic, but it wasn't strong enough. "Come on, come on!" she sobbed, her voice breaking. "Please, someone, help me!" She raised her eyes to the night sky, tears blurring her vision. "Is there anyone listening?! Please, help me save him!" Her voice echoed with desperation, like a prayer to the heavens. "I'll do anything, just help him, please!"
A sudden light illuminated the area, and Stella looked up to see a glowing woman descending from the sky. She radiated an ethereal light, her presence both comforting and awe-inspiring.
"W-who—"
"I am the fairy of Earth's moon, I reside there," she said softly. "I sensed your call and have come to help you, sister."
Stella's eyes widened in disbelief. She shook her head to focus. "Please, help him! I'll do anything!"
The moon fairy nodded. "I can give you the power to heal him, but it comes at a cost." Stella's face twisted up in confusion at the ethereal fairy. "I cannot offer you my lunar ability when the sun shines in your core. You must sacrifice your sun powers in exchange for my gift — You will have the strength to heal him , but you shall become the fairy of the glowing moon. Nothing more."
Her wide eyes spilled tears, she'd lost her friends, her boyfriend, and now she had to lose a piece of herself? She didn't know what to do.
"My sister of the moon, I cannot stay long,"
She looked over at Gantlos — it wasn't fair, her hands were covered in his blood. She thought of Duman as well—She knew what she had to do.
"Whatever it takes, just save him!"
The moon fairy extended her hand, and a brilliant light enveloped Stella. She felt a surge of power, and when the light faded, she was different. Her sun powers were gone, replaced by the luminous energy of the moon. She focused all her new power on Gantlos, the light flowing from her hands and into his wound.
Slowly, the wound began to close, the blood flow ceasing. Gantlos' breathing steadied, and his eyes fluttered open. "Stella…," he whispered weakly.
She smiled through her tears. "You're okay," she said, relief flooding her.
Stella looked up to thank the moon fairy, but she was gone. She felt a new strength within her, the power of the glowing moon. She had made her choice, and now she had to live with it.
Gantlos, still weak but alive, looked at her with gratitude and confusion. "Why…?"
"Because I believe in you," she said softly. "And I believe in the truth."
A light emerged from within her, a sudden surge flowed through Stella— Enchantix.