Ogron tossed and turned in his bed, beads of sweat forming on his forehead. His dreams were plagued by a woman's voice, chilling and mocking.

"You think you can keep me imprisoned forever?" she hissed. Her figure was shadowy, almost ethereal, as she stood before a grand castle on a distant island. "My freedom is on the horizon. My vengeance is almost upon you."

Ogron tried to move, to reach for his magic, but he was paralyzed. He watched helplessly as the woman pointed to the castle. A barrier surrounded it, glowing with an eerie light. But the light was flickering, and cracks were forming.

"The Winx have unlocked the secrets of the White Circle," she continued, her voice dripping with malice. "They will free us from Tir Na Nog. You will face our wrath."

With a jolt, Ogron shot out of bed, his chest heaving. The remnants of the nightmare lingered in his mind, vivid and terrifying. He couldn't waste any time.

Quickly, he grabbed a candle and lit it, casting a soft glow around his room. Ancient books, scrolls, and journals were strewn about. He began rifling through them, his hands trembling slightly.

"There has to be something," he muttered to himself, flipping through pages frantically. "Something to stop this…"

He found an old journal, its leather cover cracked with age. The pages inside were brittle, but Ogron handled them with care. The writing was almost indecipherable, but he could make out key phrases: "barrier," "Tir Na Nog," and "White Circle "

The more he read, the more the gravity of the situation settled in. The Winx were indeed unlocking the secrets of the White Circle, and if they succeeded, they would free the Earth fairies from their prison. The woman in his dream was not just a nightmare—she was a real threat.

Ogron's mind raced. He needed a plan, something to prevent the barrier from breaking, something to stop the Winx from succeeding. But the ancient texts offered little hope. The spells were old, the magic complex and dangerous.

He ran a hand through his hair, frustrated. "Think, Ogron, think," he urged himself.

Just then, a soft knock sounded at his door. He looked up, startled. It was Anagan, looking concerned. "Ogron, are you alright? I heard noises."

Ogron nodded, taking a deep breath to steady himself. "I had a nightmare… or a vision. The Earth fairies. They're close to being freed."

Anagan's eyes widened. "What? How?"

"The Winx have the White Circle. They're unlocking its secrets," Ogron explained, his voice grim. "We need to find a way to stop them, to strengthen the barrier, or we'll be facing something far worse than we've ever imagined."

Anagan stepped inside, closing the door behind him. "What do we do?"

Ogron sighed, looking back at the scattered texts. "We start here. We find anything and everything we can about the White Circle, about Tir Na Nog, about the barrier. There has to be something we've missed."

The two of them began their search, knowing that time was running out. The fate of their world depended on what they could uncover in the ancient pages before it was too late.

Anagan glanced at the scattered texts and then back at Ogron. "Should we get the others up? This seems serious."

Ogron nodded, but added, "If you can do so without waking Stella. This is no longer her war."

Anagan gave a curt nod and closed his eyes, focusing on the telecommunication link. A few moments later, Duman and Gantlos began to stir.

Duman was the first to arrive, rubbing his eyes and yawning. "It's too early for this," he grumbled, glancing at the clock. "Four in the morning, Ogron? Really?"

Gantlos followed, his expression a mix of annoyance and concern. He simply grunted as he took a seat, waiting for an explanation.

Ogron didn't waste any time. "I had a nightmare… or perhaps a vision. She taunted me, saying her freedom is near. The Winx are unlocking the secrets of the White Circle, and they will soon free the Earth fairies from Tir Na Nog. If they succeed, we'll be facing a threat unlike anything we've encountered before."

The two were instantly very awake.

——————-

Winx and the Specialists were gathered in their lounge, the air buzzing with excitement. Cheers and laughter filled the room as they celebrated their recent breakthrough.

"Can you believe it? We're so close to freeing the Earth fairies!" Bloom said, her eyes shining with enthusiasm. "This is it, everyone. This is our path to victory!"

Musa grinned, raising her glass. "To the Earth fairies and to finally ending this war!"

Everyone clinked their glasses together, their spirits high.

Layla, however, wore a contemplative expression. "I hope freeing the Earth fairies will help bring Stella back to us, but if Morgana is as kind and wise as she sounds, then we're doing the right thing."

Roxy nodded in agreement. "Morgana has been guiding me through the White Circle. She's always so kind and thoughtful. I trust her."

Tecna chimed in, "With Morgana's guidance and the power of the White Circle, we're unstoppable."

Bloom turned to the group, her face resolute. "We shouldn't waste any time. Let's set out for Tir Na Nog immediately. The sooner we free the fairies, the better."

Sky placed a reassuring hand on Bloom's shoulder. "We'll be right there with you, Bloom. Let's do this."

As the Winx and Specialists prepared to embark on their journey, the atmosphere was filled with hope and determination.

————-

Stella stirred around 9 AM, her eyes fluttering open to see Gantlos beside her. She yawned and stretched, glancing around the room. "Where are the others?"

Gantlos hesitated, then offered a vague answer. "They — went on a patrol. They sensed fairy magic close by."

Stella frowned but accepted the explanation, not sensing the full truth. Gantlos handed her a plate of breakfast, his expression betraying a hint of guilt.

"We're going to a town today," he said, "so you can earn your Believix."

Stella's eyes widened. "Believix!? I just earned my Enchantix! It's too soon for another power-up. It could really harm my body. And it's terrible for my complexion and hair!"

Gantlos couldn't help but chuckle at her concern, though he shared her worries. Magical upgrade should be done gradually and slowly, putting too much on a body can really harm it. "I know, but we need to focus on training. It'll be intense."

Stella studied him, sensing something deeper. "Why the rush? Are you trying to get rid of me?"

"No! No, it's not that. You don't understand," Gantlos sighed. "There's just some...business among the wizards of the Black Circle that I need to focus on. I want you to be strong in case I have to leave you alone."

Stella's curiosity grew. "You can't kiss me one night and then keep things from me the next day. It's all or nothing with me."

Gantlos stood, embracing her tightly. "You are the best addition to our relationship in a long time. Duman and I are so happy to have you."

Taken aback by his sudden confession, Stella smiled and kissed him. "You're sweet for a big grumpy old man."

He kissed her forehead. "If you don't ask any more questions, I'll take you shopping."

Stella's face lit up. "Shopping?! Really?! That's my favorite!"

As she walked away to get ready, Gantlos's smile faded, his expression turning serious. He knew that with the fairies on the verge of being freed, he and Duman couldn't risk keeping Stella on Earth. Especially if she wasn't as strong as them. The fairies would obliterate her. He had to find a way to convince her to go back to Solaria. He just didn't know how.

————

The training session took all day, leaving Stella exhausted and on the verge of tears. Gantlos hadn't held back, pushing her to her limits. Her body trembled from fatigue as she alternated between using her powers, miniaturizing, and deploying her fairy dust, all while trying to avoid Gantlos's relentless attacks. But once it was over, Stella ran up to him, her exhaustion momentarily forgotten. "You promised to take me shopping! I remember! Let me wash up first, I'm so excited!."

Gantlos just nodded, his grumpy expression unchanged, which she didn't question.

While Stella showered, Gantlos asked to join her. At first, she felt shy—it seemed too early in their relationship for this—but she figured it would be faster if they showered together, so she agreed. In the shower, they bonded as Gantlos washed her hair. He couldn't stop thinking about how to ensure her safety.

So what's the deal with your Sun powers," he remarked, "why so much more effort than your moon?"

She sighed. "I did it to please my father. After my parents divorced, my mother didn't demand the same level of commitment."

Gantlos asked cautiously, "How do you think your father would feel about you losing your Sun powers?"

Stella grew quiet, then abruptly said, "I think we're clean enough. Let's go shopping," and hurried out of the shower.

By the time they returned home, it was dark, and the others had come back. Anagan teased Gantlos, calling him a mule because he was carrying all of Stella's things.

Gantlos and Duman had a private discussion about Stella, then called her to join them in the bedroom.

Duman began, "There's a lot going on, and for your peace of mind, you need to go back to Solaria and talk to your father."

Stella protested, "No, it's fine. Everything is fine."

Gantlos interjected, "Things are about to get very complicated. At the very least, you need to understand where you stand with your father. Continue your training there, but please make up with him or establish some understanding."

"Why are you so eager to get rid of me?" Stella asked, confused. "Is it a vampire thing?"

Gantlos's eyes began taking a reddish color, his fangs slightly protruding. In a restrained voice, he said, "We're trying to protect you from something you have no business being a part of."

Stella insisted, "I want to fight with you."

Gantlos's frustration boiled over. "No, you don't."

Duman tried to defuse the situation, but Gantlos was resolute. "You're going back home whether you like it or not, and you're going to finish your training there."

Stella's voice trembled with determination. "I'm not going anywhere, and you can't make me."

Duman saw Gantlos's frustration growing and asked if he needed a moment. Stella insisted, "We come as a trio now. I'm going to face whatever you face."

Gantlos realized she wouldn't leave willingly and mentally prepared himself for what he had to do. He stepped closer to her, his eyes filled with sorrow and regret. Stella noticed his change in demeanor and reached out to him, her voice softening.

"Gantlos, please. We can figure this out together—"

But Gantlos's inner turmoil reached its peak. He grabbed her arms, his grip firm but shaky. Without another word, he sank his fangs into her neck. The bite was not tender—it was animalistic and intended to hurt. Stella cried out in pain, her body jerking in his grasp. She turned her head towards Duman, her eyes wide with fear and confusion.

"Duman!" she screamed, her voice cracking.

Duman's heart clenched, but he knew what had to be done. He forced himself to stay cold. "This is the life you wanted," he said, though his voice wavered with the weight of his own words.

Stella's tears flowed freely. "Wh-what?"

Gantlos bit her again, his actions deliberate yet filled with inner torment. Stella fell to the ground, sobbing. Duman stood back, his eyes avoiding hers.

Ogron and Anagan entered the room hearing the commotion, confusion etched on their faces. Anagan pulled Gantlos off, he rushed to heal Stella, but Duman stopped him. "Don't you dare. Ogron I need a portal to solaria." Ogron hesitantly summoned one.

Stella looked at him, her eyes pleading.

Duman's voice was harsh. "All you were was a fun time for me and quick food for Gantlos. We don't need you here anymore. You can stay here, wasting our space, or you can leave."

Ogron, now concerned, began to intervene, but Gantlos shouted, "Get the hell out you stupid, bimbo bitch!"

Fear and confusion clouded Stella's face as she half-ran, half-crawled through a portal Fear and confusion clouded Stella's face as she half-ran, half-crawled through the portal Ogron had opened to Solaria.

Once she was gone, the room fell into a heavy silence. Gantlos collapsed to the floor, tears streaming down his face. Duman couldn't meet the eyes of the other wizards. Ogron knelt beside Gantlos, his anger barely contained.

"What have you done ?", it wasn't meant to be answered, " You should have consulted us before doing something this rash," Ogron said, his voice tight with frustration. "What were you thinking?"

Gantlos choked back a sob. "We had to make her leave. It was the only way to protect her."

Ogron sighed, rubbing his temples. "I understand your intentions, but this… this was too much. We need to be a united front, especially now. You've made a difficult situation even worse."

Duman finally looked up, his face pale. "We know. We just didn't see any other way."

Anagan, quieter but no less serious, added, "We need to trust each other. Next time, we discuss these things together."

Gantlos and Duman nodded, their expressions haunted by the weight of their actions. They had acted out of love and desperation, but the cost of their decision would linger, casting a shadow over their hearts and their mission.