Author's Note: Happy New Year in 2025, everyone!

First off, my apologies for the long, long, longest wait and for updating sooner. I know I still haven't been updating this crossover or doing any of my other stories recently like I'd usually do, and I know you're all eager for yours truly to present new updates/chapters, and I had planned to do so sooner, but...that's because I'm trying my best and I'm still on my writing breaks.

I know I shouldn't have to apologize at all for any breaks. I mean, life is hard, and some things have come up.

But I'm still about to get back to work on "The Fairly Odd Winx Club" and my other stories coming soon. I just had to get New Year's (and of course, my birthday) out of the way first. Hopefully, I'll have the whole thing done very soon...for now, at least.

In the meantime, I want to give a big thanks to the folks who supported me and this crossover since the first two chapters of it. I sure hope the conclusion will soon have been worth all the effort I've put into writing this.

Anyways, hasta la vista, 2024! Just want a wish a happy new year in 2025 to...

- Epiclot214 for continuing updating his installments from the "Young Avengers" series, the "Spider-Nick" series, and much more. The same goes for the other authors like Iron117Prime and AlexMontyArt/Hero Central.

- MegaBrony95 and Gkeller95 for continuing their support for Epiclot214's stories and fanfics.

- The artist Framraw for continuing his epic and awesome masterpieces, especially the ones for Epiclot214's and Iron117Prime's stories and fanfics.

- Happy late 3-year anniversaries to the following installments from Epiclot214's "Young Avengers" series (2022-2025) - 'The Ghost, the Trickster, and Molly McGee', 'America and Star vs. The Forces of Evil', 'Marvel Falls', 'Howard's DuckTales', and 'Iron Hero 7'

Also, the new Winx Club reboot series will be released on Netflix in September 2025...I think. Plus, keep watching and streaming 'The Fairly OddParents: A New Wish' on Netflix if we ever want a Season 2 of it.

Here's hoping that 2025 will turn out better for us.

I hope all that's been settled. Enjoy the chapter. Any and all comments (on the story) are welcome.

When the Red Fountain aircraft landed in Alfea, the Winx girls, Timmy Turner, and the Specialists were greeted by Faragonda and Saladin.

"Welcome back, all of you," Faragonda said. "I'm glad you're all safe."

"We're fine, Miss Faragonda," Bloom said.

Professor Saladin walked up to the Specialists. "So, your mission was successful?"

"We found them, sir," Sky replied.

"Prince Sky and the other Specialists saved us and Pink-hatted Timmy back there," Bloom insisted.

"Yes, their arrival at Domino was timely," Stella added. "They should definitely get major extra credit."

Once Bloom explained everything that happened, Miss Faragonda was sad. "…So, then the mission to Domino failed. I'm sorry, Bloom."

"But I discovered the truth about my family and myself," Bloom replied. "It was a useful trip, anyway!"

"Hey, look!" Musa cried as she pointed to Kiko playing leapfrog with a duckling. "It looks like Kiko's made a new friend."

Timmy Turner noticed it, too. "Kiko is friends with the duck. Where have I seen that before?"

"It's Pepe, Icy's duck," Bloom said, recognizing the duck.

"How did he get here?" Stella asked.

Just then, a voice appeared. "I brought Pepe with me."

Everyone turned to see a familiar yellow ogre in brown overalls stepping out.

"Knut?!" Stella and Timmy Turner cried in unison. "What's he doing here?" Then, they looked at each other in confusion.

"Relax, you two. Knut is on our side," Saladin explained. "He fought bravely during the attack on Red Fountain."

"Pepe and I managed to escape from Cloud Tower," Knut said, scratching his head. "It was terrible in there. They chased us, but…we were too fast for them."

"It's alright," Faragonda reassured Stella and Timmy Turner. "Knut is on our side. He has reformed. He left the Trix and asked us to protect him."

"You sure about that?" Timmy Turner asked.

"I've changed, I swear!" Knut pleaded. "There wasn't a place for us anymore at Cloud Tower… L-look, go easy on me! I've turned over a new leaf, I swear! I can help you! Just give me a chance!"

"Okay, okay," Timmy Turner said, calming down Knut.

"Geez," Stella replied. "You close your eyes for one second, and look what happens."

"You're telling me."

"Sorry if I'm a little stinkier than usual," Knut apologized. "I've had to do a lot of fighting."

"Oh, it's fine," Faragonda replied. "We have more significant problems than a little OBO right now. The situation has become extremely dire, and we don't even know what happened to Miss Griffin."

"So, I guess this means we're all in the same boat now," Flora said. "Well, we're back and ready to help. Right, girls?"

"Yeah," Musa agreed. "But it remains to be seen whether we can keep afloat."

"Well, for now, at least we have a life raft," Stella said, just as Knut suddenly hugged her and Timmy Turner.

Tecna turned and noticed all the other Red Fountain students. "Hey, the guys look really down. It's getting a little crowded here, don't you think?"

"So, it's true, then," Bloom replied. "Red Fountain Castle was destroyed."

"Yes," Faragonda answered. "The boys are setting up quarters here at Alfea."

"Wait a minute!" Timmy Turner said. "I'm a boy, too, you know!"

"True," Musa giggled. "But you're no Red Fountain student or a Specialist, either."

Faragona turned to Saladin. "As strong and courageous as these young people are, they can't possibly overpower the Trix alone. The whole Magic Dimension lies in ruin. In my entire career as headmistress, I've never had to deal with anything like this."

Saladin smiled. "Once you and everything else is settled in, we'll discuss the best course of action. Those three witches won't wait long before launching a new attack on Alfea. We've got to be ready to fight them."

"We need to be prepared for the worst now. The Trix will surely try to destroy Alfea next."

A moment later, Alfea was turned into a fortress as the students of both Red Fountain and Alfea made a great team, preparing their weapons for the next attack.

Soon, everyone gathered at Faragonda's office as the headmistress looked at Bloom. "We've decided on a course of action. I know you've returned from that dangerous trip, but I'm asking you to go on another."

"You want us to infiltrate Cloud Tower to recover the Dragon Flame, right?" Bloom guessed.

Faragonda nodded. "Yes. We must be prepared for the worst now because the Trix and their army will surely try to destroy Alfea next."

"And Riven's still missing," Sky added.

Musa gasped. "NO!"

Saladin turned to Sky and Brandon. "We're sending you to accompany Bloom on a mission to infiltrate Cloud Tower."

Sky was surprised. "But only a lunatic would consider going anywhere near Cloud Tower right now!"

"Exactly," Bloom replied. "That's the very last thing the Trix expect from us."

"But how are we gonna do that?!" Brandon asked.

"Easy," Knut answered. "We can take the tunnels."

"Knut's very familiar with the old underground corridor system that links the three schools," Bloom said. "Once we get in, he'll lead us on this mission, and we'll figure out the rest later."

"This is taking too long!" Timmy Turner groaned in dismay as he was about to leave Faragonda's office. "I'll go to that witch school and save my fairy godparents myself!"

"Wait, Pink-hatted Timmy, it's too dangerous!" Sky said. "Bloom doesn't have her full powers yet! You two are putting your lives at risk!"

"And I dealt with dangerous stuff before, Your Highness. I have to do something! The Trix still took my godparents!"

"And the Dragon Flame is a part of me," Bloom replied. "As long as the Trix possess it, nothing can stop them."

Stella smiled. "And I'll come with you, Bloom."

"We're with you," Sky said, smiling as well. "So…when do we get going?"

"As soon as I convince the others to stay," Bloom replied.

"Their powers are essential to the protection of Alfea," Faragonda said, then she looked at the sky becoming dark. "The signs are unmistakable. The final imminent attack is coming."

A little while later, as everyone took their positions for the oncoming battle, Bloom convinced the others to let them go.

"Well, I guess that settles it," Stella said sadly.

"We've all got our assignments," Brandon replied.

"I'm sorry," Bloom apologized. "I wish I could help you…"

Flora nodded. "Same here."

The Winx girls began to have a group hug when Stella noticed Tecna in tears. "Tecna, are you crying?"

"No," Tecna replied, wiping her tears. "A speck of dust got in my eye."

"Bloom…," Musa spoke up, wanting to say something. "If you can… Since I can't go to Cloud Tower… and… Riven, um…"

"Don't worry," Sky reassured Musa. "I'm sure Riven is okay…and we'll find him if he's at Cloud Tower."

"Okay," Musa nodded, then she looked around in confusion. "Hey, where's Pink-hatted Timmy?"

The others looked around as Tecna said, "Huh?! Where did he go? I thought he was right with us."

Stella already figured it out. "Ugh, that kid went and beat us to Cloud Tower!"

"Excuse me, girls," Brandon spoke up. "But time is wasting, and Knut has found the right path."

"Good luck, and be careful," Flora said to her friends.

As they watched Bloom and Stella leave for the underground tunnels with Sky, Brandon, and Knut, hoping for their safe return, Flora, Musa, and Tecna transformed into their Winx fairy forms and joined the battle to better assist their allies.

Bloom, Stella, Sky, and Brandon followed Knut as the ogre led them through secret tunnels and passageways from Alfea to Cloud Tower. But, as usual, Knut lacks some leadership, much to Stella's dismay.

"So…you're not a prince?" Stella asked Brandon.

"No. Unfortunately," Brandon replied. "I'm Brandon, just an average squire. I'm Sky's page."

"So Sky tricked Bloom, and you tricked me. Just as Pink-hatted Timmy said. Is that right?"

"I suppose it changes everything...," Brandon said, disappointed.

"Maybe. Maybe not," Stella teased. "First, let's take care of business, then we can talk about us."

After a few moments later and a few more feet, Knut suddenly stopped.

"What is it, Knut?" Bloom asked. "Did you find something?"

"I dunno," Knut answered. "It's just that I feel like we're not alone down here..."

Knut sniffed the air in the tunnels and led the group into a new passage…until seconds later, the passage was covered in slimy sewer monsters and bugs that were three times Knut's size, followed by the churning stream of dirty, rushing water, and other traps.

Once everyone reached the empty tunnel, Stella turned to Knut and angrily pointed at him. "Do you have ANY idea where we're supposed to go?!"

"It's not my fault. This place is full of smell…," Knut replied when he caught a scent of something familiar. He pressed against the wall with his huge hands to reveal the garbage dump of Cloud Tower.

"Ugh, yuck! What a stench!" Stella groaned in disgust. "We've gotta find a way out of here and back into the castle. This better not rub off of my clothes."

"Don't you have twelve of the same outfit?" Bloom asked as she, Stella, Sky, and Brandon helped Knut get up from all the filth.

But as they did, they heard something that made their eyes grow wide in fear and worry.

"What was that?" Bloom asked.

"I don't know," Stella replied. "And if I did know, I don't think I want to know."

Suddenly, Bloom, Stella, Sky, Brandon, and Knut are surrounded by giant insects.

"Beetleroaches...," Knut spoke up.

"Beetle…what?" Stella repeated in confusion.

"Beetleroaches! Giant garbage-eating bugs!"

"Disgusting!" Stella yelled. "I think I might puke!"

"Make sure you don't touch their saliva."

"That's even worse!"

"If we attack them, we risk blowing our cover," Bloom said. "The Trix will smell them and know we're here."

"True...," Sky agreed. "We can kiss our surprise attack goodbye."

"Right. Let's just stand here and negotiate with these bugs," Stella said as she turned to the Beetleroaches. "Uh… does anyone have a can of bug spray?"

But just then, as everyone fought against the Beetleroaches, a hooded figure appeared and landed on the back of the Queen Beetleroach, pulling out an energy pistol blaster. He then fired the blaster at the bug's head.

And with that, the Beetleroaches retreated as Bloom, Sky, Stella, Brandon, and Knut turned to their mysterious savior.

"How did he make the bugs leave?" Stella asked.

"Simple," The hooded figure replied. "That was the Queen Roach. The one I zapped was the leader."

"Hey, um, thanks," Sky said. "Who are you, anyway?"

"What? You don't recognize your old friend?"

The hooded figure opened and dropped his robe, revealing to be…

"Riven!" Everyone shouted.

"Long time no see, buddy," Riven smiled.

"What are you doing here?" Brandon asked. "Where have you been all this time?"

"And how did you manage to escape?" Sky asked as well.

"The witches have set up a protective shield," Riven explained. "If I had gone further, they would've captured me. So, I jumped out of the high tower window and slid into the dump. I was making my way out when I ran into you guys." Then, he hung his head. "Also, I wanted to apologize for all the things I've done…for how I acted, for all the stuff I did."

Sky smiled as he put his arms around Riven. "Don't worry about it, buddy! Of course, we forgive you. In fact, there's nothing to forgive…not between friends."

"Everyone makes mistakes," Bloom nudged and smiled.

"I'm just glad to have you back," Sky said.

Riven grinned. "Thanks, guys!"

A few moments later, Knut finally led everyone to Cloud Tower and opened a secret door to Icy, Darcy, and Stormy's room, only to bump into…

"Pink-hatted Timmy!" Bloom shouted. "I knew we'd find you here so soon!"

"Of course you did," Timmy Turner replied.

"You…," Stella glared. "You got some nerve beating us to Cloud Tower alone!"

"Well, what did you expect? I came here to save my godparents, and that's it! Plus, I wanna give those Trix witches a piece of my mind."

"Alright, then," Bloom said. "Let's get a move on!"

"And Bloom?" Timmy Turner hung his head. "What you said about me being the reason… You were right."

"It's okay. We could really use an extra hand."

As Bloom, Timmy Turner, and the others step through and make their way down, they are unaware that an arachnid cam is spying on them.

Bloom, Timmy Turner, Stella, Sky, Brandon, Riven, and Knut walked down the hallway in Cloud Tower when the ogre led them to a hall filled with gloomy dungeons.

"No guards, no traps," Sky said. "Why are the Trix so sure of themselves?"

"More like full of themselves," Timmy Turner replied.

"Don't worry. We're almost there," Knut reassured everyone. "Only a few steps separate us from the Dragon Flame. Over there is where they hid all their secrets."

"I know. We should split up. Anyone with incredibly cool swords and blue capes will take the left and the middle, while the lovebirds, the ogre, and I will go ahead to the Dragon Flame."

"All right, then," Brandon said as he and Riven hoisted their glowing swords. "Time to release the prisoners."

"Yeah," Stella nodded as she looked at Brandon. "Be careful."

"I'll be back soon," Brandon said as he and Riven left.

"I'll catch up with you guys in a minute," Sky said as he and the others went in another direction.

"Did none of you realize that I was being sarcastic?" Timmy Turner asked.

Bloom, Timmy Turner, Stella, Sky, and Knut continued through the halls until they reached a pair of doors.

"This is it, Bloom," Stella said. "The Dragon Flame is behind these doors."

"You'll soon be again the most powerful fairy in the Magic Dimension," Sky said.

Bloom nodded. "Yes. I can sense its presence."

Pushing the heavy doors and stepping through, everyone entered a circular chamber with orange light glowing the room, coming from a massive fire on the pedestal in the center.

"The Dragon Flame," Bloom reached as she and Timmy Turner moved toward the flames. "We've found it. I... I feel its heat."

Timmy Turner looked around in confusion. "But…where are my fairies?"

Suddenly, as Bloom was about to touch the flames, it turned into a block of frozen ice. Then, a strong gust of wind sent Stella, Sky, and Knut flying through the room and into the wall.

"Huh? What's going on?" Bloom asked as she and Timmy Turner turned to see someone entering the room.

It was the Trix!

"Surprise!" Icy said. "Sorry, Bloom. No Dragon Flame for you."

Bloom turned her hands into fists. "The Trix!"

"Did you really think you would succeed?"

"Give me back my powers! That's why I came here!"

Icy just scoffed. "That's not your flame, Bloom. Your flame is out of your reach, deep in our entity. And you could never get it back. You lost, fairy…and it's all thanks to your pink-hatted friend."

"She's lying!" Timmy Turner yelled. "Hands up and give me back my godparents!"

"Of course! We have them right here."

As if on cue, Darcy held Cosmo, Wanda, and Poof captive inside her ball made of dark magic.

"Timmy!" Cosmo, Wanda, and Poof cried in unison.

"Guys!" Timmy Turner exclaimed in shock, then he turned to the Trix again in anger. "Let them go!"

"Why? So, you can wish everyone out of our little death trap, just like all your wishes – again?" Icy laughed. "After hearing your backstory and a long list of wishes and shenanigans, kid, I got to say I'd hate to be you right about now."

"Don't listen to them, Pink-hatted Timmy!" Bloom cried, trying to warn Timmy Turner.

"But where are our manners?" Icy continued. "I mean, really, we should thank you and your fairies…for being such good obstacles!"

Timmy Turner yelled angrily and was about to attack the Trix, but Darcy stopped him with a jolt of dark magic with an evil grin.

"You are so predictable," Icy taunted Timmy Turner. "Bloom here couldn't help being the ever-so keeper of the Dragon Flame, and you couldn't help being second banana."

"Wait, who's the first banana?" Cosmo asked.

"I am not second banana to Bloom!" Timmy Turner protested.

"Oh, and look how this turned out," Icy smiled knowingly. "In your heart, you know that Bloom remains powerless for good because she saw something that just isn't there inside you. So, tell us and yourself something. Did you really think your friends, family, and even your little school crush give two nickels about you? About what you have ever done for them in life?"

Timmy Turner didn't know what to say, as he sadly admitted. "N…N…No, I didn't."

"See? Now, was that really so hard?" Icy said. "All your life, you've been rejected by this world. You have nothing back then and there. No one who cares about you…all because you're the ultimate loser. Face it, your heart is as ice cold as mine."

"You're wrong about Pink-hatted Timmy," Bloom cried.

"Still, you're both powerless and responsible for the destruction of a whole realm," Darcy sneered. "We're stronger than you now, but you'll never be able to tell anyone."

"You might be the biggest losers in history," Icy said. "They'll have a whole book about you at Alfea."

"Except no one will read it because there won't be any Alfea left," Stormy added.

"And do you know why you will never tell? Because Cloud Tower will be your grave!"

"That's not true," Bloom said.

Suddenly, a powerful green light of energy blast emerged and blasted the Trix from behind by surprise, sending them flying at the wall. At the same time, Timmy Turner and his fairies are free.

As Timmy Turner embraced Cosmo, Wanda, and Poof, they all turned to see somebody else standing in the chamber doorway – Miss Griffin.

"Good evening, girls," Miss Griffin said as her attention was on the Trix. "Take that as a warning. You three deserve the worst kind of punishment for what you've done! This is my school!"

Icy slowly got up as she growled at Miss Griffin. "So you managed to escape."

"I just wanted to let you know I'm still on my feet. But I'm afraid the final showdown will have to wait."

Miss Griffin began to cast a magical spell while she turned to face Bloom, Timmy Turner, and the rest by the doorway. "Run, you fools! I will contain them while we go back to Alfea and regroup. Everyone, prepare to leave!"

"You don't have to tell us twice!" Timmy Turner, Cosmo, Wanda, and even Poof cried in unison.

Everyone quickly left the chamber, leaving Miss Griffin to trap the Trix by creating purple energy walls and multiple spells before joining the others.

"Follow me," Miss Griffin said to everyone while locking up the chamber door with layers of barriers. "To the Windswept Terrace. It's the only way out of the castle."

Timmy Turner couldn't believe it. "So, we're leaving. Just like that? But what about the Dragon Flame?"

"That wasn't the real Dragon Flame. It was a trap meant to capture you," Miss Griffin replied.

"If you leave the Trix here, they could destroy Cloud Tower," Stella said.

"Faragonda had warned me against the Trix, but I wasn't about to let myself be awed by three silly young students. That was a big mistake."

"Yeah, we kinda saw that one coming," Cosmo said.

"I'm well aware of that. The fact that Saladin, Faragonda, and I managed to overpower the Ancestral Witches way back when…doesn't mean we're invincible. We must always keep our eyes wide open because the world of magic can never be taken for granted."

A moment later, everyone made it up to the Windswept Terrace and gathered around Miss Griffin on the high platform.

"I'll conjure up a dimensional portal to Alfea," Miss Griffin said as she swirled the wind around her, conjuring a dimensional portal from the clouds in the sky. "We've got to do this quickly! The Creatures of the Dark are coming! Hurry up! Enter the portal!"

One by one, the witch students of Cloud Tower have been transported to Alfea. Suddenly, a horde of creatures were climbing to the terrace.

"They're coming!" Wanda screamed, as did Poof.

"Miss Griffin, we could throw them off the creatures and their scent by creating a diversion," Sky suggested. "If the monsters enter the portal, there'll be no way to stop them. I'll stay behind."

"Here," Miss Griffin said, quickly conjuring up a trick-out Wind Rider. "Use this to get to Alfea."

"Thanks," Sky said as he hopped on the hovercycle. As he did, a clad of armor encircled and encased his body and a sturdy helmet with a glowing red visor on his head.

"No, Sky, don't do it!" Bloom said as she went up to Sky. "It's too risky."

Sky smiled. "I'm willing to take risks…if it's to help my friends."

"All right. Then I'm going with you."

Bloom joined Sky on the hovercycle, and the armor and helmet encircled and encased her body.

"Bloom!" Timmy Turner cried. "We can't just leave you here!"

"Go, guys!" Bloom told her friends. "We got it under control."

"B-but…"

"I promise I'll be fine."

Timmy Turner looked into Bloom's eye and her smile, telling him to trust her, so he sadly nodded. Then, he and his fairies entered the portal, followed by Stella, Riven, and the others.

"Good luck with that," Riven said, stepping into the portal.

"See you back in Alfea," Stella yelled in worry.

Bloom watched her friends entering the portal and rising into the clouds. Timmy Turner watched her, and Sky lured the monsters away, and he and everyone vanished into the portal.

A while later, Sky and Bloom managed to throw off the monsters and were about to reach Alfea when a bolt of lightning struck in front of them, and the hovercycle began to smoke.

"Oh no!" Bloom exclaimed. "We've been hit!"

Sky managed to steer the bike to land and made a rough landing in the clearing area with overgrown grass. "That was close," he said. "Are you all right, Bloom?"

"Uh-huh," Bloom nodded as she and Sky turned to see the city of Magix just further ahead.

Bloom and Sky decided to walk to the city and find a ride to Alfea…or so they thought.

To be continued...