As most of the year, the sun was shining and a light breeze swished across the arena sands of Red Fountain. The girls' hair waved gently. The Sorceresses played the tiniest hidden pranks on each other. The boys grinning and fist bumping as the teams got announced.
"…and lastly Lion, Dean. You'll complete team three," Codatorta gave a glare at Serina who created yet another spider mirage to trick Dahlia. After all, overcoming fear was one way to trigger Charmix and those stunts went a bit out of hand by now. "Serina, three laps, go."
"What?! But I didn't –" Serina protested as she jumped to her feet her golding loop earrings bounced.
"Five," Codatorta wouldn't have it and started at the purple-eyed Sorceres.
Serina growled, "Tch. I'm just helping the Faries…" She used some magic to turn her golden high heels into something more sporty and dashed to run her laps before the number would outgrow her stamina. Her twin-tail cloak thrashed around.
"Sure you do," Codatorta mumbled and turned the page on his flipchart to check the next mission paper. "Well team Four. Seven-man team. Blade, Kitty, Mercury, Nebula, Seth, Sienna, Snow."
"Heck, yeah!" Nebula rejoiced.
Kitty hammered her fist into her hand, "Something good. I want to squash someone." Her sulking time was long over. She'd rechallenge that damn Zheng and win next time. 'Just you wait…stupid unicorn cat.'
"Please no fight mission…" Snow nervously played with her silver-white short hair.
Codatorta handed out the mission papers to Mercury, "You're lead. Seth your second in command."
"Say what now?" Seth was taken aback. He had been so sure Blade be at least second in command.
Blade chuckled, "You'll do fine." She gave a thumbs up. She kinda was happy not to shoulder that responsibility this time around. That White Jade training hadn't gone all too well in her books. Her nights were a bit restless and her mind often trailed off. Plus, it was untested if, in the field, she truly wouldn't faint when she ran into Black Magic.
"What's it saying?!" Sienna tried to grab the paper from Mercury, who held it up and away as he pressed the eager Fairy out of his face.
"Gesh. Calm down. We're going plant hunting," Mercury finally made Sienna sit down and promptly Kitty ripped the paper from his hand in one smooth swish.
Kitty checked and grumbled at Codatorta, "Oh, come on! You got a powerhouse team and we go on a fetch mission?! You can't be serious!"
"Hey, sit down," Seth tried to be more assertive. He was fine with Specialsts and Fairies but still unsure how to reign in those Sorceresses of theirs. Especially Kitty who was just too energetic for her own good. He ruffled through his brown and beige-streaked hair. 'Seriously….' He wasn't happy either, but that was the life of a Specialist, go where needed.
"Exactly, a power team. You go off-world to Eraklyon the bracelets don't have the fitting support system there. Eraklyon's towers are not compatible with your bracelets in all their functions. There is no option for us to live track your vitals and therefore pull on video feats when needed on our own accord. Though as always they'll be saved and reviewed for grading later." The Master Specialist crossed his arms his blue sleeveless uniform framing his muscles. "You set off from the castle to land inwards. Your destination is the further away forest. There has been some fungi infestation so the ingredients for transformation potions are low and those plants are also used in common medicine. This is an F-rank mission from the Head Hunter quest board written out by the Council personally. We expect you back in three days."
"Three days?" Mercury frowned, "But that means we don't get an Owl and have to travel by foot, Master Codatorta."
The old man simply nodded, "Aye, those Tracking and Nature Classes aren't just there to look good on your midterm report card. It's perfect for you to get the hang of missions like those. Red Fountain, not even Kindgoms, have enough aircraft for all their teams. Collecting plants is not a priority mission." Codatorta plugged the next mission paper from the clipboard. "Next up are Amber, Keith…"
The group had met up just two hours later with Chaos Squad at the Magix City teleporter station. The station was buzzing in the middle of the week as always.
"Yoh," Memphis waved them over, "All ready to go?" He gave a stern look at Fletcher, Kevin, Derek and Detlev. He could never leave them out of sight or something would explode.
Mercury nodded, "Yeah, we are…" He looked at Kitty with raised eyebrows as she was short on picking a fight with some random guy who had bumped slightly into her. "Leave it." He hissed at her.
"Uuurgh, you're as boring as Coda…" Kitty rolled her eyes but yielded. Mercury had her respect. He was strong and fun to fight with at the very least. "Sooo, what are you doing on Eraklyon?" She brushed over her short skirt.
Memphis grinned deviously, "Ahh, you should ask Julius and Lion that."
"Eh?" Kitty tilted her head, "I think their mission is cooler! Can I go-?"
"NO." Seth and Mercury shut her down.
Kevin gave some weird theatrical bow to Snow, "My dear, you seem so pale, may I fetch you some water?" Always the noble he had a keen eye for any lady in need. Some things would never change.
Snow shook her head, "I'm fine."
Blade squeezed Snow on the shoulder. "We all got your back, Snow."
Nebula and Sienna nodded eagerly as they came back from the teleporter counter to Eraklyon. "Yeah, let them talk," Nebula agreed with Blade. "We're next in line," She reported to Mercury who waved for them to move out.
Snow's heart pounded as she stood there in the huge palace of Eraclyon as always the long stretched-out gardens were as imposing as they were beautiful one could view all of them from the panorama windows. 'Hurry it up, Kitty.' She of all people had to go to the bathroom now. "And Mercury even asked…." She sighed and rubbed her arm. She always was tense when she visited the palace.
"Look who's here…" One noblewoman who passed by with some others whispered. "As if we needed another Icy here in the palace…"
A redhead next to her chuckled, "Yeah… that she dares to show her face around here. Tch. Ice magic, who needs that villainous magic."
"Second rate, Icy…" The tall one covered her mouth as she mumbled in passing by. Of course, she made sure Snow heard.
'….. It's not like I chose ice…' Snow shrunk more and more together. It always was the same coming here. The Trix had devastated Eraklyon one too many times. So their magic types were scorn in the eyes of many noble families.
"At least she's competent!" Kitty hollered through the corridor after them. Only got stuck up high noses in return, before that gossip group turned the next corner quickly. "Seriously, Snow. Don't let them walk all over you." She gave the girl a light slap on the back of her head.
Snow squeaked surprised, "…" Wanted to say something instead she looked to the floor. "The others are waiting," She simply started walking.
It took them a good day to move out and find their way through the roads of the Eraklyon Kingdom. They made short breaks in towns and villages and ate there to save the packed rations for the forest itself. Their hike was pathed with laughter, nagging and boredom for the most part. No one was keen on this mission in total though Snow was more than happy, that they weren't close to any of the noble family estates at all.
"Damn, why do we have to share one tent with five people and those two get one for only the two of them," Sienna dangled her feet as she was lying on her camping mat.
Blade snorted as she opened her ponytail of dreadlocks, "Duh, cause we have one for boys and one for us girls. Ours is bigger anyway, space per person is the same."
"Yeah, this ain't a holiday trip," Kitty mimicked Codatorta and everyone started laughing, "And you. Stop being so nervous. It's vexing."
Snow flinched as Kitty pointed a finger at her, "Sor-sorry…."
"What's wrong with you? Ever since we got here you're a different person," Kitty clicked her tongue.
Nebula shoved Kitty a bit roughly, "Stop it. It's not so easy to be around your own Kingdom's nobility, okay? So leave her alone." She nagged as she reached for her water bottle.
Yet again Kitty shook her head and rolled her eyes, "You're all way too focused on what people may think. You're better than ninety per cent of those shit pile of wanna-bes, Snow. Just punch-"
"Kitty… a castle ain't the wild," Blade squeezed Snow's hand gently. "Snow is a Lady. There is etiquette to uphold. You should know better, after all, you're the 'Princess of the Wild'," Blade smirked at her. "What would Professor Avalon think if he saw you making trouble in Queen Bloom's castle of all places?"
Kitty went bright red, "Oh, you. That-" She stuttered and was lost for words.
"UUUUUHhhh, someone fell for the white knight's charm!" Sienna laughed her ass off her vibrant mint-green hair flying everywhere as she let herself fall backwards.
Nebula nearly choked on her water, "Right, Avalon the Sorceress tamer. Maybe he can show you how to get a Zheng."
"YOOOUUU!" Kitty jumped to her feet, "Answer my call, Halucinga!" The huge shadowy bee clone appeared right in the middle of the tent.
"Plasma sphere!" Nebula shot at it point-blank. Her spell beheaded it and shot right through the tarpaulin.
"Guys!" Snow went pale, "stop shooting!"
Sienna couldn't stop laughing and was gasping for air, "Ahahahaha."
"Are you alright!?" The tent entrance was ripped wide open. Mercury and Seth weapons drawn and ablaze stood there ready for anything. They had the first guard shift and a flying sphere and screaming spells of course had drawn their attention.
Blade shook her head, "All good. There was just a… discussion…." She answered a bit lost for how to explain all this, not to mention she'd had kind of started it.
Mercury's alertness dropped into a deadpan stare, "Outside, now." He demanded of Nebula and Kitty.
"Hey, not fair, Blade was part of it as well," Nebula complained and smirked at her bestie.
Blade sighed, "… Snitch…" And stood up to follow Mercury outside with the other troublemakers.
Seth was simply a bit overwhelmed with how to handle this, whatever this was. "Sienna…Snow… fix the tent, please." He scratched the back of his head.
"Oh, no, now we're in trouble," Kitty muttered amused. Mercury took leadership, oh so seriously, ever since they had their special training class for advanced battle tactics which was mostly leadership and coordinating of bigger teams, which she, Nebula and Blade took part in as well.
"Kitty." Mercury gave her a stern look. "This ain't funny. You can't just summon a monster in your tent for no good reason. And no Plasma Spheres EITHER."
Nebula looked to the ground, "Sorry… it was all in good fun."
"I hope so," He sighed, "If not we'd have a much different discussion here."
Kitty rolled her eyes her favorite reaction today it was getting a bit provoking, "Come on, this ain't an infiltration mission, Mercury." She tugged at her bleach-blond hair.
"We gave them a scare and distracted them from guard duty. It also can lead to injuries or attract unwanted attention, even law enforcement who have better things to do. Plus…. Our grades…." Blade threw her head back while the other two let their heads hang. "Good on you, extra points," Blade chuckled in the end. It was obviously why Mercury reacted like that, he was always up for some mischief, after all, as long as it was safe.
Mercury grinned, "Well, you're up for guard duty now."
"Oh, come on, really disciplinary retribution…urgh…fine," Nebula transformed and flew off to the south end of the camp, while Kitty clicked her tongue and went to the north end.
Blade was about to turn around to make a perimeter check.
"Blade."
"Yes?" Blade turned to Mercury.
He looked at her with his hazelnut eyes, "Are you alright? I know your training didn't go so well. Do I need to know something? If there's anything you want to talk about…"
Blade's blue eyes met his, "I'm fine. I won't screw up this mission, promise. I shouldn't faint either if we run into dead Black Magic victims, if I do, just let Nebula give me a bit of a magic boost." Her features turned softer. 'He truly tries hard to become a great team leader.'
"You're not fine," Mercury commented however left it at that. "I'm always there for you. Always." With that, he turned around. He could feel his chest tighten. 'How can she keep smiling like that…?' He was worried sick, and yet, it was so inspiring to see her weathering the storm.
"…" Blade watched him walk away, 'No, I'm not.' A faint smile on her lips as she turned to circle their encampment.
The next day it had been just about two hours of walk before they reached the spot where the flowers and herbs bloomed they were supposed to get. Some clouds were gathering in the distance but they would have ample time to dig up all those plants either way.
"Answer my call, Yellow Boar!" Kitty summoned her beast, to make sure they'd have some transportation ready and started packing her beast from the get-go so as not to waste more time on this boring mission.
Seth marked the plants with Nebula which they'd take with them.
Blade was the lookout, nonetheless, she also helped Mercury and Snow carry the plants carefully to Kitty and her boar for her to pack them up.
"Guided Echo," Sienna pressed her hands on the ground next to marked plants. Felt the ground beneath her and then cast her second spell, "Accustic Shockwave." She diled it down a lot and it made the whole spell a bit wonky, it was the best way to rattle the plants loose in the ground and one could pull them out easily as they weren't anchored into the ground any longer.
"Great, we'll be done in no time," Seth was more than satisfied with the plan they had come up with though it'd be a long day before they'd get the amount of plants needed and some were rarer than others.
Mercury nodded, "Yeah, Nebula don't forget to use your fog magic sometimes to water them. And don't forget we're supposed to leave enough plants behind so they can regrow."
"We'll be fine," Snow punched him on the shoulder to cheer him up. "We got you after all micromanaging everyone." She teased a bit. Out here, she truly could enjoy her home planet - far off from any nobles and gossip due to her ice magic.
"You complain now, but it will earn us good grades if we do it right," Mercury defended himself just a little yet was happy to see her spirits up again.
The team had wandered on to find the plants in question and the hours dragged along. The sky got cloudier and cloudier. The wind was picking up a lot and in the distance, heavy lightning zapped through the sky.
"That's one huge storm brewing… Mercury, Seth. We should set up camp now before it's too late. That will catch us before we get back to the castle," Blade fought against the winds her white glowing wings humming like crazy as the wind picked up and she got blown back. "Woah!?" She caught herself after a short tumble. 'nothing like storms on Zenith… still…' She shook her head and landed again.
"Seriously?! But we're so close to having everything… urrgh. That means I got to repack everything… we don't have anything big and warm enough to cover my Yellow boar…just great. Snow, I thought you said this planet has nice weather this time of the year."
"It does, there has been nothing but sunshine so far," Snow tucked at her ruffled short dress and crossed her arms. "It's a summer storm. It happens…"
Mercury exchanged a gaze shortly with Seth, "Okay. Let's use our boys' tent to cover the plants. Kitty, use the boar to dig a ditch. Rest of us let's use the big tent to make a small fortification. We had worse storms." He looked to Blade. Larciport had been such a pain in the ass.
"Woah!" Sienna just ducked away as another branch cut through the tarpaulin. "Summer storms on Eraklyon are as feisty as their Queen…"
Nebula grunted, "Veil. Solid Fog!" She raised up another shield, "This tent won't hold out in this storm. Snow we need an ice wall."
"If I do that… we'll freeze to death. Well, you guys… I can't create warm ice," Snow protested a bit scared.
"Geesh girl, you use ice walls all day long in battle classes. You never scared away from using it then," Kitty hissed as the wind was blowing through the gaps in the ground.
"Yeah, but I don't build an ice prison to entrap my friends for hours," Snow held against it.
Sienna gave the tarpaulin a short sound wave burst to disperse the gathering water atop of it, "Make it big enough and we'll be fine. Besides we got a fire-axe surely that thing can light a fire."
"Oh, yeah, it can," Mercy chuckled. "You got this, Snow," He laid a hand on her shoulder. "If not you can always stop the spell. At least try." It was worrying to see her so indecisive. 'She's another person on Eraklyon… what has her so scared?'
"Let's go, Snow," Seth offered a hand to her. "I'll try to give you some cover with my sand claymore so you can cast in peace. Together?" Reluctantly the ice Fairy followed him outside.
The ground vibrated heavily under their feet. They couldn't hear the rain as the ice dome protected them. Only the thunder and tremors from falling trees got through to them now. As predicted, it indeed was chilly inside their little fortified hut.
"Shit, why did you make the ice cube so cold…" Kitty rubbed her arms. It had been a stupid idea to go in a skirt and crop top and she regretted that decision wholeheartedly. "Hot summer day my ass… your weather forecast sucks, Snow."
"You didn't even check it," Snow rolled her eyes at her for once, "I'm sorry this is so cold, Mercury. I made it as wide as possible where I can still keep it stable."
It was that ominous crack that made everyone go silent.
"Snow…." Blade activated her bracelet shield not that it would hold all too much. "Winx." She transformed. Sienna, Nebula and Snow did so as well.
"Please tell me that wasn't the ice wall…" Seth begged yet knew the answer.
Mercury drew his axes, "If it's that kind of storm we got to find shelter, real shelter. Any caves, villages or something else around, Snow?" Everyone was on high alert. The moment that ice would crack it was time to run. Not even reinforcing it would make it hold out for hours and there was no point in draining Snow's magic if there were better options. 'Shit should have made the call earlier when we still had time.'
"Remind me not to take a vacation on Eraklyon…" Nebula joked around to ease the tension. "Andros's beaches are way more relaxing."
"No… we're far off from any village. Well… there is that noble estate from one of the families that oversee this forest. They should have at least a house that can survive such weather," Snow sighed as she opened the map on her bracelet to check, "Really… our connection to the towers is shotty." The GPS tracking wasn't accurate they weren't a dot but rather a radius in the estimated area they were in."Over here," she pointed out the estate on the map.
Sienna got more and more unruly, "Guys, I know you can't hear it but the dome is cracking more and more. We have to hurry and decide. So, make up your mind."
"That's still a trip," Blade looked at the map from over Snow's shoulder.
"Maybe we should go back the way we came," Seth pondered.
Mercury shook his head, "The wind was blowing from the direction of the estate. If we walk against it, it will blow over us rather than hunt us if we walk with its path."
"Great!" Kitty declared, "Answer my call, Twin Terror Wolves!"
Seth went pale, "They don't fit in-!" The tarpaulin was lifted from the ground and ripped as the wolves formed out. "Here…" Everyone stared at the squished-in beasts that pressed against the ice wall that crumbled a moment later.
The harsh winds hit them like a brick. The rain was freezing cold and continuesly like metal rots. The next lightning and thunder hit the sky. Everyone held their ears shut from the deafening sound.
"By the Great Dragon…" Nebula already mounted the Terror Wolf behind Kitty. "Come on, before we get blown back to the castle."
"Saddle up!" Mercury took charge of the second Terror Wolf and his cape nearly thrashed into Blade's face behind him. He gave one last look at the ditch with the plants but so far it seemed fine. 'Good thing we dug so deep…' He could only hope that all their work wasn't for nothing.
Kitty ripped the fur to the side and the Terror Wolves jumped to the side. It was hard to guide two of them if she couldn't see both. She focused on them running in one line together and tried her best to stir the team correctly through the storm. Truly, they barely could see anything.
"Veil, Solid Fog!" Nebula recast for what felt the hundredth time to get Kitty some form of windshield. They all were drenched by now. The mud splashed everywhere.
"Watch out!" Sienna roared against the howling wind, "Sound Scythe!" She sent off her magic sickle and just in time split a trunk that came from the side. "Being out here is way too dangerous!"
"We can't stop now," Mercury bit his lip and checked the map but their connection cut in and out and the cell tower indeed couldn't pinpoint them out here correctly in the wilds with nothing but flying trees around.
Blade gave him a squeeze on his shoulder, "It was the right decision." She tried to calm him down. He was a worry ward as always.
Seth pointed to the side there was something glowing in the tree lines. "Guys!"
"KITTY!" Sienna used her sound magic to holler through the storm to her.
Snow looked back at them and followed what Seth pointed out. "Kitty we got to break right. There, that light!" She screamed past Nebula who flinched as her ear rang.
"Really!? Urgh," Kitty reorientated her summons and spotted the glow as well. "I swear if someone made us fail. I'll kill them…" She growled so annoyed.
Blade jumped off the wolf as she spotted the being that glowed like a billboard in this storm. "Hold it right there!" Yet the glow darted away in the weirdest swirly motion. So she dashed after it.
"BLADE!" Mercury shouted after her.
"Fairy Edge!" Blade created her Fairy sword and chopped through the undergrowth as she flew up and over and cut the villain off. 'Tch. Pixi. Of course… wherever they are only misfortune follows,' she pointed the tip of her sword right at the tiny Pixi that held onto a branch for dear life.
"EEEEEEEEEHHHH," The blond Pixi in a trenchcoat squeaked fearing the worst. Death.
Sienna had caught up to her, "BLADE!" She pulled her back. "She's scared and got surprised by the storm, just as we did. Chill."
Blade freed her shoulder but lowered the sword tip as she watched the Pixi struggle against the storm and the twig she held on to bent dangerously as it began to give way. "Whatever…"
"Just look at her, she's completely exhausted. Poor thing," Sienna carefully cradled the Pixi as she plugged her from the tree. "Please forgive her. She's not on good terms with some other Pixis."
"Is she now?" The little Pixi shivered. "Well, at least someone….." Her light green eyes hit Sienna's baby blue ones. "Who…are you?" Her eyes sparkled in surprise and slightly tranced.
Blade stared forth and back between them, "I'm going to barf…." She turned heels as she saw Kitty come to hold in a good spot with her summons and Snow creating a one-sided Icewall just to break the wind for a bit in its slipstream shadow.
"What's going on?" Mercury was so confused as he walked up to them and watched Blade leave with a face like someone put her in a pink dress.
Blade walked past him, "… I'm changing wolves."
Irritated Mercury walked up to Sienna who held a Pixi with bark-brown skin in her hands completely oblivious to the world around her. "Ehhhh…."
Nebula halted just next to him she had come to check on their find as well. "Uh, Pixi. Explains Blade's mood." She had to chuckle there and sneeze. She was cold and the wind while less behind the temporary wind barrier was still freezing.
"Sienna?" Mercury was a bit taken aback by the fact that those two seemed to be somewhere else completely. "Is she being hypnotised?"
Nebula snorted so hard, "Nope, just some bonding. Give it another second." She ruffled through her lavender hair to get some water out but there was no point to it. "But what is one Pixi doing out here all alone?" She sneezed again.
The Pixi, just as Sienna, came back to her senses, "I, eh…, I was following clues! Something is afoot here! And I, Clue, the greatest Pixi detective will find its cause! Beware my deductive powers!" She pushed up her sunglasses however there was no sunlight to give it that classy shimmer flare so her cool display looked a bit out of place. Her other hand went to her head trying to grab something. "NO. Where is it!?" She jumped to her feet using Sienna as her outpost.
"Where is what?" Sienna was a bit startled and deeply concerned.
Clue looked left and right as she stood on Sienna's hands scanning the area. "My hat is gone…aaah, and I just got it…."
"Yeah…right…" Mercury scratched his head. "Not to be rude but we got to get to safety that ice wall of ours won't hold. We're aiming for the noble estate nearby. You're free to join us, of course." He didn't know a lot about Pixis yet, though, bonding surely meant something like inseparable. Fairies were clingy like that.
"Great! That's perfect. My leads all point in that direction. A mystery to be solved by five-"
"Our team is one of Seven," Sienna snickered bemused something about this Pixi just synched with her.
"By eight great detectives! No evil shall escape us!" Clue was all fired up and pointed towards the estate. "It's not much further, my fellow justice seekers."
Nebula hid her laughter behind her hands. "Well, glad you found a new friend, Sienna. You heard the detective, let's get going." She sneezed again loudly. One could see the ice wall was getting battered by the wind and debris and Kitty wasn't happy either those wolves drained her magic continuously.
"Yes, Blade and Sienna are swapping wolves. Make sure she's…fine?" Mercury didn't know how to put it and he didn't want to upset Clue. They had no time for that kind of squabble.