"Maybe if you had come with us, everything could have been different." Stella sighed, looking at the three witches standing before her. They had left chaos behind and were now facing each other in the depths of the forest. The three witches stood confidently, knowing that Stella alone couldn't defeat them. This was their personal belief, though the truth was far from it. If Stella had been at full strength, she wouldn't be wasting time listening to them right now. She glanced at the darkening sky; neither the sun nor the moon was visible. The stars seemed to be hiding as well. Even if her reserves were intact, she would need at least one ally to put up a bigger fight.
"Coming with you three was never an option for me, so let's not waste our time talking nonsense."
As the witches giggled at her, Stella joined in, fiddling with her ring. Her already tense nerves were fraying, and she needed just a tiny trigger to explode. Suddenly, a massive explosion occurred in the sky, opening a portal from which a Red Fountain ship soared out swiftly. Stella cursed the relief she felt and squinted at the objects emerging from it. Pink, purple, blue, and red. The girls! As her smile grew sincere and she felt a measure of relief, she tightly gripped her ringed hand and laughed at the witches. Her friends were alive! She wasn't entirely at ease, still uncertain about Brandon's whereabouts and condition, but a large part of her felt relieved. Her eyes shone as it didn't take long for the witches to turn towards her in anger. Their fake, insincere grins vanished, replaced by determined expressions as they focused on the opportunity to eliminate Stella while they still could.
"Tick tock, bitches." And there it was, the spark that ignited their conflict. As Stella rose on her wings, her now-relieved heart soaring, the witches followed suit, surrounding themselves with streams of power as they introduced their abilities. Tall, ancient trees reached up to the sky, with beams of light filtering through the leaves, casting a mysterious glow within the forest. Trix stood there, embodying the power of darkness. The threatening aura surrounding them combined with the determination in their eyes. They were a formidable and dangerous enemy, with every move calculated and strategic. Stella never intended to underestimate them, aware of the disadvantage it would bring her.
Opposite them, Stella stood with elegance and confidence. Around her was a mesmerizing halo symbolizing the power of the sun and the moon. One side shone with the brilliance of sunlight, while the other was illuminated by the cold, ethereal glow of moonlight. This contrast perfectly reflected her strength and nobility. The forest's silence was filled with the impending explosion of these powerful figures' clash. Each was determined to win, but for now, there was no clear victor.
Suddenly, Icy raised her hand, causing a cold wind to blow. The air froze instantly, and sharp ice shards flew towards Stella. With a quick reflex, Stella used the power of the sun to create a bright light explosion. The ice shards melted into steam with the heat. Smirking as if she had predicted this, Icy caused Stella to turn her attention quickly behind her. Each move seemed to herald the next, as all three witches wanted Stella's blood on their hands. Darcy, using her dark magic, created an illusion around Stella. The forest plunged into darkness, leaving Stella unsure where to strike. However, calling upon the power of the moon, she illuminated her surroundings with a cold, clear light, dispelling Darcy's illusions. They're trying to tire me out, Stella thought.
Stormy raised her hand to the sky, and lightning began to crackle. Stella couldn't help but roll her eyes; every move of Stormy's was focused on showmanship. Before attacking, those hands always rose to summon the weather she commanded. Her powers were enough for Stella to turn Stormy into an ineffective character with a sunbeam, but that would take the fun out of it. Beyond fighting, Stella wanted to finish them off; revenge was no longer that important; she just wanted it to end. She didn't want to worry about being threatened by them anymore. As the thunder rumbled, shaking the forest, Stella used the moon's power to create a shield for herself. The lightning struck the shield, scattering in all directions.
Icy's smirk was gone now, and the witches exchanged looks, signaling that it was time to stop playing games. Bring it on, thought Stella as she flew through the falling black ice an attack formed by Icy and Darcy's conjugated powers, dodging rapidly left and right. She flung the light orbs in her hands forward into the empty space, confident that they would find their target. When Stormy tried to attack from behind with a physical blow, Stella grabbed her arm and kicked her in the groin with all her strength. As Stormy groaned and tried to strike back, doubled over, Stella flung her backward into the depths of the forest. Darcy flew at Stella with a growl, while ice shards continued to fly past, directly targeting Stella. Darcy multiplied herself, directing attacks at Stella from every angle, but Stella, the only one who understood Darcy's language, looked at her with a sense of betrayal.
"We had the same mentor, Darcy. My mother was too soft on you; if she knew you would try to kill her daughter, she would have buried you herself."
Darcy cracked her neck and grinned. Luna had loved and cared for little Darcy, teaching her everything she knew about dark powers. How could she have known that Darcy would grow up to become one of her daughter's cruelest enemies? "I'll tell your mother I'm not sorry; you can rest in peace, little Stella." Stella laughed, nodding in mock gratitude. "Very well," she murmured. She looked at the countless Darcys surrounding her and dropped her shield. Seizing the opportunity, Icy and Darcy attacked simultaneously, but this time, their own shadows stopped them. As Icy looked around in astonishment at the countless Icy and Darcys staring back at her, she spoke through gritted teeth.
"Darcy, what are you doing, you cursed thing!" Darcy shook her head in denial, which her clones mimicked, filling the area with head-shaking Darcys. Stella, grinning among them, watched as Darcy spoke, confused. "I didn't do this."
Icy shrugged her shoulders and tried to ignore the situation. "Whatever, my target is only one person anyway, there's nothing confusing for me." But it didn't take long for her to swallow her words when she started flying toward Stella with determination. When the Icy clones began flying in the opposite direction—right toward her—Icy stumbled, caught off guard. As ice particles rained down on her like a storm, Stella chuckled. Darcy growled in frustration, firing shot after shot at Stella, and in return, the clone Darcys also fired at her, causing her to crash to the ground.
Stella descended to their level and crossed her legs mid-air with the help of her wings. "Ah, Darcy, I told you we had the same mentor. If you have darkness, I have the moon. You create illusions and only illusions, but I can blind you with my light and drown you in my darkness."
When Icy tried to throw an ice mass at Stella with her trembling hand, Stella shook her head, catching the ice with her palm in mid-air and then shattering it with her fist.
"And you, Icy, how many years has it been? Haven't you gotten used to it? Cold has never been my enemy." As the moon's glow and her Enchantix's moon effect emerged, Icy punched the ground hard and glared at Stella. "The times when you feel strong are my weakest times. Your power is merely my defense; do you even know what real power is?"
Icy stared at Stella with a face half-hidden by her white hair, blood trickling from her forehead, through her eyebrows, and down to her chin. Darcy was no different; her crash had been far from gentle, and she was restraining herself from crying out like a child. They were in pain, and Stella hadn't even exerted herself. Seeing her friends alive had given her an unknown vitality. When she raised her hand, Icy and Darcy shivered involuntarily, expecting Stella to deliver the finishing blow, but whatever Stella did, it didn't harm them. When Stormy hobbled over and stood between her two friends, she tried to understand if they had given up. She was ready to collapse, but even if they hadn't given up, she had no strength left to continue. She fell to her knees and bowed her head, realizing she was the only one who had said from the start that this was a fatal and wrong idea. But as usual, no one had listened to her. Where was Darkar, anyway? Wasn't he supposed to support them?
Stella's hand remained raised, the girls waiting. The area where her friends were fighting was no longer as noisy. The witches must have noticed this too, as their heads suddenly turned towards the direction of the palace. The ground was shaking as if a giant creature was causing an earthquake with each step. Stella, with her eyes closed and hand still raised, remained in a cross-legged position in mid-air. As they saw the creature emerging from the giant trees, they couldn't suppress the screams escaping their lips as they backed away.
"Darcy! It's coming right at us, tell it to stop!" Darcy, with her eyes wide open, looked at her own creation and sent commands through her illusion, but the creature continued to advance. Why was it coming? Why had it come without killing the others? Had everyone else died? Had the kingdom fallen, and the giants' den been conquered? Had they managed to conquer the mountains? Darkar would be delighted to hear this, provided she could control the creature.
"Darcy!" When Darcy angrily turned to Icy, she witnessed for the first time the fear in her friend's eyes. This gave her a strange sense of satisfaction, but Stella's giggle filled her ears. "It's not listening to me, damn it! Stop repeating my name!" When Icy turned angrily to her friend, her fear was overshadowed by her anger. "If you can't, who will, you idiot?"
Stella giggled again. This time, as their gazes turned to her, Stella lowered her hand, and the creature knelt. The witches looked at her in shock as Stella tilted her head and looked at them with affection. "We had the same mentor, Darcy." Realizing the meaning of Stella's repeated words, Darcy fell on her ass and looked at Stella in disbelief. "You…" As Stella shook her head, indicating her boredom, Darcy shook her head in denial. "But this is the power of darkness, you can't have it! You are the light!"
Stella frowned at the witch, knowing they were foolish but still finding their level of ignorance astonishing. "Darcy, sweetie, just because you chose to misuse your powers doesn't mean they can't be used for good. It's a matter of choice; there is no rule saying I can only use the power of the moon for light. The eclipse of the sun and moon, that darkness, is also me. Just because it's dark doesn't mean it stops being mine, and it doesn't have to be evil just because it's dark."
As Stella raised her hand to command the creature to stand, the witches huddled together and backed away. At least, Stormy and Darcy did, while Icy still glared at Stella with anger. The creature patiently waited for Stella's next command. Without even looking at it, Stella murmured, "Destroy yourself." As she prepared her protection shield surrounded by light, the witches couldn't react as quickly as Stella, and as the creature's remains splattered everywhere, Icy managed to create an ice wall at the last moment, but they were already covered in the creature's blood and flesh. While they retched with disgust, Stella preferred to remain on her wings, not wanting to touch the ground. That was the limit of Icy's rage. She screamed in fury, trying to unleash all her remaining energy at Stella and this time, she didn't really expect it. Darcy and Stormy, still retching and weakened, looked at Icy. When Stella's back hit the massive, hard tree, she got up, not immediately but ready to face the witch when Icy noticed the determination on her face and smirked.
Refusing to be provoked, Stella rolled her eyes at Icy while wiping her bleeding eyebrow with the back of her hand. Both were too exhausted to speak. From now on, thought Stella, either you will die, or I will. From now on, no more mercy.
Brandon was preparing himself leisurely on the ship floating in the air. His goal was not victory, but rather to vent his pain. Whether Aisha was alive or the possibility of losing her just after finding her didn't seem to matter much to him. The girls had rushed out before the ship even stopped, plunging into the battlefield and hurrying to help their friend without delay. Although the level of this battle was lower compared to the first witch/fairy war, this time the specialists weren't standing by the witches. Brandon hadn't commanded otherwise; if he had, he knew he would face some difficulty, which might have been the real reason or perhaps it was his way of declaring he didn't care.
When Nabu started staring at him intently, Brandon had already accepted it. It wasn't his friend's emotions but the underlying implication that struck Brandon from an unexpected angle. Was he happy for Nabu? He didn't care. But if the same thing happened to Brandon, he would have already gone through this battle and ensured Stella came out without a scratch. Sitting on his bed in his compartment, tying his shoelaces, he was secretly grateful to finally be out of his uniform. Wearing black felt like a symbol of his inner mourning. He wore a black tank top that didn't hide his muscles or the scars from recent struggles, and black military pants that allowed freedom of movement. The weight of his boots was evident with each step he took, and without feeling the need to put anything else on, he was ready to go outside.
When he glanced outside, he saw the creatures slowly converging at a point to form a giant monster and smirked. The witches' tricks were always the same, but this time Brandon thought this trick was perfectly suitable and timely for him to relieve his stress. Rolling his eyes at the fairies' glittery outfits, which put them at a disadvantage for camouflage, he finished putting on his fingerless gloves. After making sure he had his sword and other necessary attack tools, he was about to head out when a flashing signal on the screen caught his attention. Next to Aisha's signal, there was another signal. Brandon involuntarily took a deep breath as he approached the screen. He didn't know what it was. He wasn't even sure he wanted to know, but he was approaching. Swallowing hard, he grabbed the computer screen and raised it to eye level.
If Tecna or Timmy saw him lifting the computer like that, they would react harshly, but none of those reactions would matter to Brandon. He could silence them both with a single glance. His grip wasn't the only issue; when Brandon saw the light and noticed Stella's name written on it, his eyes widened more than ever before, his heart pounding wildly as if it were ready to leap out of his chest. "Stella…" His breath was cut short, his chest heaving, his mind constantly racing, sending commands to his body, but Brandon just stared at the screen. "Stella…" He didn't know if the growing feeling inside was worry or joy. He didn't know if Stella was alive, but a voice inside him had never accepted her death from the beginning. With the rising excitement inside, he grasped the screen tightly and used the touch feature to trace the signal's origin. It appeared to be in the forest, and despite his hands shaking terribly, Brandon managed to zoom in and get an exact location.
When Brandon reached the ship's control panel and immediately turned the ship towards the forest, he was almost certain that all his teammates that saw him move in the air shared the same thought, but he absolutely didn't care. It felt like his heart was going to burst out of his chest, as if someone had injected him with tons of adrenaline because Brandon couldn't stay still. "I'm coming, sunshine, I'm coming."
He was unaware of the words he mumbled to himself, speaking as if Stella were right in front of him. His hands hadn't stopped shaking, and his heart was still pounding rapidly. The fear of being too late was driving him mad. This time, he couldn't be late, he couldn't stand by and do nothing again. He couldn't lose her once more. Living with that wouldn't be considered living. Brandon clung tightly to the hope glowing within him. But a part of him was saying, what if it's a mistake? This was the part Brandon didn't want to listen to, the part he tried not to heed if possible.
As the ship blinked rapidly right where the signal was coming from, Brandon dropped the rope and quickly moved to make a precise landing. There wasn't much he could see below; it was clear Darcy had left her mark because pitch darkness was her expertise. It took Brandon less than a minute to descend the rope, and he looked around. There were remnants of creatures on the ground, but not too many. The area must have been guarded by giants because fairies didn't leave corpses behind. As his steps quickened, he cursed and threw the computer aside since it didn't give him an exact location. He was running now, knowing that every minute could be precious. What condition was Stella in? Had she managed to teleport? Was she unconscious? He didn't know. If any of these were true, it would mean she was too exhausted or unconscious to protect herself. Thinking about this made Brandon run even faster, realizing a scenario worse than he had imagined was happening. The mass of creatures that had come together was likely heading towards where Stella was.
Sword in hand, running faster than he thought possible, Brandon knew he couldn't reach her in time. He was too far away, but at least, if Stella was conscious, maybe…
"Ahhhh!" He roared, letting his frustration echo through the trees, as helplessness overtook his body. Not being able to reach her, despite being given a second chance, not being able to reach her… This would be a reason to end it all. When Brandon thought about losing the one reason he had to live, his mind told him to stop, to wait, that there was a chance, and that was why he hadn't ended his own life amidst those rocks. Because a voice inside him whispered that the only body buried under those rocks was Aaron's lifeless body and Darkar's soulless ghost. His legs didn't easily rebel; his training was too intense to allow it. Brandon was thankful for that. Thankful for the exercises he did every morning.
The monster stopped, and when Brandon saw it kneel, he couldn't stop himself and came to a halt, managing to keep his balance to avoid falling. Kneeling? He thought of Darcy as she was the one controlling the creatures. Had they reached Stella first? Damn it! Continuing to run, unaware of how long he had been running, the monster suddenly exploded. This time, Brandon reflexively threw himself to the ground to protect himself from the blood and skin the monster scattered around. When he raised his head and looked ahead with a puzzled expression, he saw that the monster's remains hadn't reached him, but he could see the scattered skin and blood not far away. I'm getting closer.
Now walking as fast as he could without running, Brandon started to hear noises. No, he heard her voice. God… His eyes closed. His life gained meaning, and his soul felt restored. It was as if his veins were filled with blood again, and his heart started pumping blood once more. It was such a heavy burden, yet so light, that Brandon knew the only reason he remained standing was his burning desire to reunite with Stella. I won't let go, he thought as he moved quickly, once I find you, I won't let go. After this, he couldn't stay away from her even if he wanted to, not after losing her in the worst way. How could he turn his back on her? He didn't care how, but he had no intention of letting Stella go, not unless she wanted it.
As Icy made a harsh attack, hurling Stella's body across, Brandon had already reached where they stood. Clenching his teeth, he advanced towards the witches, but Stella acted before him. Brandon had seen the light from her eyes before. It was the same light he saw before she killed Darkar and teleported Brandon out. Damn it!
"Stella!"
But Stella was too enraged to hear him; he couldn't hear the words that fell from her lips as her ring turned into a scepter. I'm too far away. Brandon was about to continue running when Darcy began to combine and multiply the remnants of the giant creature on the ground with her hands, forming another monster. Brandon gripped his sword tightly and split the creature in two. When Darcy turned towards him in surprise, the witch roared in anger. This was close enough for Stella to hear, and as her head quickly turned towards the sound, she met Brandon's gaze. This time, he didn't need to hear what fell from her lips. He knew.
"Brandon," Stella murmured, unable to hold back her tears as she relaxed with the comfort of seeing the man she loved alive and well. Brandon wanted to take in the sight of her, but the circumstances around them worked against him. As Darcy merged the creature and unleashed it upon Brandon, Stormy, with her last bit of strength, lent her power to Darcy's creation.
Even though Brandon wanted to tell Stella to stay calm and not worry about the creature, the situation continued to prove otherwise. As Stella watched him with fear, Icy took advantage of the moment and hurled a sharp ice spear directly at her chest. She wasn't paying attention, something Brandon saw more clearly than she did. "Watch out!" Brandon's roar made her shiver, and Stella managed to block the attack with her shield at the last moment, leaping into the air to avoid Icy's other ready shots. As Brandon exhaled in relief, he realized he had been the careless one this time. He narrowly escaped the creature's impending punch with a roll, stabbing his sword into its limb and yanking it hard. The monster roared in pain as Brandon delivered another blow to its leg, causing it to topple over. Darcy had taken to the air, controlling the monster's movements, while Icy relentlessly targeted Stella with a barrage of attacks.
"Enough," Stella muttered, unheard by anyone but herself. This battle was happening because she had drawn it here, her friends were safe, but Brandon had completely distracted her, shattering her plan. The fear of him getting hurt wrapped around her like a nightmare, and Stella realized she could no longer suppress the scream building inside her. "Enough," she muttered once more. This time, it was to herself. She had let her guard down, foolishly, while control was in her hands. She had given them a chance, unknowingly, but she had. Not this time, she would not let him get hurt. Her thoughts rushed through her mind as Stella stopped fleeing. She turned her back and faced Icy, who refused to see this as a threat and continued her attacks. Stella started flying in a different direction. Icy, confused, followed her, but as Stella continued to ascend higher and higher, she hesitated. What is she doing? Icy wondered. Stella flew as high as she could, as high as her breath would allow, raising her staff. "Sun, moon, and stars, I call upon you!" She didn't need to say it, but Stella shouted, almost as if she wanted to vomit the scream she had been holding back. As her scepter emitted a blinding light, her scream grew louder. It was soft enough not to pierce ears but sharp enough to shatter glass.
She poured out all her anger, hatred, and ambition. As the sun pierced through the darkness and illuminated the surroundings, the moon stood ready to join it. My darkness, the creator of all darkness, you will obey me! Her eyes gleamed with hatred, but behind that hatred lay power. Icy, Darcy, and Stormy had sealed their fate. As the light engulfed them, the three witches met their end without leaving even a corpse behind. Brandon, having already dropped his sword to shield his eyes, guessed that staying on the ground was the best course of action. He didn't lift his head but felt both heat and cold simultaneously, once again in awe of Stella's power.
Stella opened her eyes, seeing her surroundings clearly while everyone outside the forest lay on the ground, shielding themselves from the blinding light. The witches were no more; Stella had defeated another enemy, giving her all to protect her loved ones. Her gaze first turned to her friends, all together and safe. This made her smile with affection as she then turned her eyes to Brandon. One might wonder how much warmer her heart could get. Although surrounded by the power of the sun, she couldn't feel the warmth she felt when looking at Brandon. Swallowing hard, she looked at the man she loved, and since there was no longer a need for the light to spread, she stopped it. People didn't respond immediately but slowly began to open their eyes. Stella felt changed, strong, and invincible. As her smile grew, she realized that the transformation she felt wasn't just psychological but also physical.
She had transformed, a transformation that undoubtedly added to her beauty. A fabric of her skin color wrapped around her, and a short skirt fluttered around her. The fabric was adorned with shiny stones, arranged like stars in the sky. For a moment, Stella felt naked, but the stones camouflaged her just as they should. She was glowing, sparkling. Her hair waved in the air, and her bare feet, also adorned with small stones, looked like she was wearing stars. From afar, one might think Stella was wearing the sky. People looked at her in awe, as if they were gazing at a goddess, mesmerized, hopeful, and admiring. Stella longed to see her transformation in a mirror. Of course, her nature hadn't changed.
As her gaze returned to the man she loved, she saw something in his eyes that she had never seen before. As her scepter turned back into a ring, Brandon continued to look at her, enchanted. It was like a double celebration; the woman he loved was alive, powerful, and the most magnificent being in the universe. As their eyes locked, Brandon took a step towards her. Stella swallowed hard, looking at him. Brandon was different, not transformed like Stella, but changed. As the light completely faded, the voice that rose from everyone around echoed. Stella felt her eyes well up, a victorious smile appeared on her lips.
"Goddess of Light, Light of Victory!"