Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

Gardenia, California USA

In a bedroom, a drawing of one of Gardenia's buildings was pinned to a corkboard not far from a set of two girls, twins in fact. Below the corkboard was their shared desk with a couple stackable containers, one filled with snacks while the other was filled with the younger twin's martial arts uniform and belts while above it, there were several medals and a partially constructed bo staff.

A young red-headed girl was snoring away in bed while her identical twin sister was standing by her bed, standing on one leg while reading a book. "Wake up, sleepy heads! The sun's been up for ages." their mother, Vanessa called out to the twins who was sleeping the day away. "And please don't tell me that you wasn't up all night reading."

"Five more minutes, mom." said one red headed girl as her blue bunny, Kiko was snoozing away in his basket.

"Please." said her twin while she held her purple bunny, Lavender.

"You're late, girls." said Vanessa, hovering over the oldest twin, Bloom, who finally wakes up.

"School?" asked Bloom.

"Uh-oh." said the younger twin sister as she looks up from her book and watches her sister race around their room.

"Oh, no! Why didn't you or Zara wake me up before?" Bloom complained as she came out of the shower and gets dressed. "Oh, the alarm didn't go off. Oh, no! I can't believe this."

"Bloom…..think for a second. You're still waking up from last night." said Zara, putting the book down as Lavender hops off her lap.

Bloom pulls the last bit of her shirt over her head, thinking. "Hang on a sec. School's out and the alarm didn't go off because we're on vacation." said Bloom as nodded. "Oh, mom! Your joke is not funny."

"Ah, but you fell for it didn't you?" asked Vanessa.

"Yeah. You running around the room still thinking that it's a school day is funny." Zara tells her, laughing a bit. "Next time, check to see if I'm still in the room before your mind thinks elsewhere."

"Zara, it's not funny." Bloom argued with her, then throws a towel at her.

"You're right, I'm sorry." said Zara, yawning.

"I'm sleepy." Bloom said as she heads over to her bed, waking up Kiko. "I'm going back to bed."

"You should try to go to bed earlier you know." Vanessa scolds the girls. "You both were up really late last night."

"Scooch over, sis." said Zara, tapping her sister's leg.

"We were reading." said Bloom as Vanessa picks up the book she was reading and Zara climbs into her sister's bed.

"Faires: Myth or reality." Vanessa said, reading the title. "Don't either of you get tired of these silly things?"

"No. We never do." said Zara, leaning against the wall as she closed her eyes.

"They're not silly, okay?" Bloom said.

"Actually, now that school is over, the two of you can help me in the shop." said Vanessa, then walks out of their room.

"No!" groaned Bloom.

"This is going to be a long summer." said Zara.

"Don't even think about it." Bloom tells her.

"Good morning, sunshine, duckling." said Mike, looking up from his newspaper.

"We're not going to spend our summer working in the shop." the twins tell their parents.

"I wish we could go somewhere fun with our friends." said Bloom.

"Like skiing for one thing." added Zara.

"When you're both older, you can go wherever you both want." Mike told the twins.

"How old is older?" asked Bloom. "We're already 16, dad."

"And being 16 means that we can't always spend time with our parents." Zara chimed in, taking a couple apples from the fruit bowl.

"Only 16….you both are still my little girls." said Mike, still seeing them as his little girls.

"Dad…..it's not fair." whined Bloom and Zara.

"Listen, in a few weeks, we'll be going to the beach like we do every year." Mike tells the twins.

"But all our friends go on holidays by themselves." said a frustrated Bloom. "That would have been the present ever. For both of us."

"When are you going to trust us to be alone on holidays?" asked Zara, tossing an apple to her sister.

"We do trust you. Just not going on holidays by yourselves." said Mike, standing firm by his decision.

"But, Dad! We've handled everything you've thrown at us so far. We can manage a trip!" Bloom argued.

"Yeah, and it's not like we're asking to go to some far-off place. We just want to have a little freedom." said Zara.

"I know, but it's just so hard for me to picture you both out there without me keeping an eye on you." Mike tells them.

"Well, speaking of presents…." said Vanessa, referring to what Bloom was saying as she looked at the twins. "We've got a couple of small surprises for you."

"Yeah, just a little something to help you both get around Gardenia." said Mike. Zara squinted her eyes at her parents as Bloom perks up.

"Really? Thanks, dad!" said Bloom, then grabs her sister's hand. "Come on, Zara."

"Wah! Mom! She's doing it again!" said Zara as Bloom drags her outside. As they went into the backyard with their bunnies close behind them, Bloom and Zara see a pair of bikes.

"Nice, huh?" Mike asked the twins.

"Oh, well…..yeah, thanks." Bloom said, then looks at Zara, trying to find the words.

"It's nice, dad." said Zara, knowing what Bloom was really feeling. "We'll get around Gardenia real quick."

They both walked over to the bikes, a little defeated. "See? They both don't know what to say." Mike said to Vanessa as Kiko and Lavender hopped towards their owners.

"I don't know. Maybe they were expecting something a bit more sophisticated?" said Vanessa as she walks back inside.

"A set of bicycles with a speedometer maybe." suggested Mike.

"Two scooters, Mike." said Vanessa.

"But scooters are dangerous, and they cost a bundle." Mike tells her as they headed inside together.

"We'll try to put some money aside. Maybe next year we could get them one for the two to share." said Vanessa.

"Oh, he'll never change." said Bloom as she and Zara walked their bikes.

"You mean Dad or the bikes?" Zara asked. "Because I'm pretty sure the bikes are stuck at ten miles per hour!"

"Both! Seriously, could you imagine us on a motorcycle? Or even just a scooter?" asked Bloom, causing Zara to smile a bit. Kiko and Lavender were sitting in the baskets, having a ride of their lives. "Dad will never let us ride anything faster than a bicycle. It's like he thinks we'll take off like rockets!"

"That's because he'll never stop seeing us as his two little girls." said Zara.

"Maybe if we start mentioning it more, he'll come around? 'Dad, we promise to wear helmets!'" said Bloom.

"Hey, Bloom! Zara!" a girl called out to them.

"Huh?" they said, spotting a classmate of theirs.

"Vacationing in Gardenia this year?" she asked them.

"No, actually we'll be going away very soon." Bloom tells her.

"We'll be sure to take lots of pictures for you, Mitzi." said Zara.

"The same old beach, huh?" Mitzi asked, feeling somewhat bad for the twins. "I'll send you both a post card from our vacation place. That'll give you a chance to see something."

Bloom gave her an anger look as Kiko sticks out his tongue and makes a funny face at her. Lavender on the other hand, shakes her fist at Mitzi. Meanwhile, two guys were unloading something of hers.

"Hey! Careful with that scooter." Mitzi called out to them. "Its brand new, you know."

"We can tell." said Zara, seeing Mitzi's scooter.

"Have a nice summer, Mitzi. See you at school." said Bloom as she and Zara got on their bikes and rode off. "What a show-off."

"You know she does that just to get a rise out of us, Bloom." said Zara. "Don't let her get to you."

"I know, I know….but she's still a show off, Zara." said Bloom.

"I can do what I always do, Bloom." Zara said to her.

"What's that? Roll your eyes and hope she disappears?" Bloom asked, knowing her sister.

"I could do that." said Zara. "Then again, I can always chase Mitzi around Gardenia with my bo staff."

"That would definitely send a message! Just make sure you don't accidentally trip over your own feet this time." said Bloom.

Both girls rode through town, heading to the park. Once there, Kiko and Lavender jumped out of the baskets to run around. "Go on, Kiko, but stick around, all right?" Bloom said.

"Lavender, you and Kiko stay out of trouble, okay?" said Zara.

Leaning against their bikes, Bloom bites into the apple Zara had tossed her earlier as Zara looks up at the clouds. Suddenly, Kiko and Lavender scream as they ran towards the twins, only for Kiko to fall face flat in front of Bloom.

Lavender pulls pulling on Zara's pant leg, getting her attention while Kiko did the same thing. "What's the matter Kiko?" asked Bloom.

"What's going on, Lavender?" asked Zara. Both bunnies pointed in the direction of the woods.

"You don't think Lavender and Kiko found a bad thing, right?" Bloom asked, looking at Zara.

"I doubt it. But let's go check anyway." said Zara as they both scurried off with the girls close behind. "Who knows what they found."

Hiding behind a tree, Bloom and Zara looked into a clearing to see a blonde girl their age, using a staff as she fights several creatures. "Rising sun!" shouted the girl as she fires a bright yellow energy from her hand, blasting the creatures away from her. In the shadows of the trees, there was a shadow like creature in a shape of a troll.

"Wow." said Zara and Bloom, then looked at their bunnies.

"Goodness, did you and Lavender see that, Kiko?" Bloom asked as Kiko passes out.

"You and Kiko are awesome, Lavender." said Zara, only for Lavender to cover her eyes with her ears.

"Solar Wind!" the girl shouted, stomping the end of her staff at the ground, sending more energy towards the shadow troll creature. After destroying what the girl hand sent it in its hands, it walks out into the light, revealing itself to be an actual troll.

"Go away you villain!" the girl said as the troll growls at her. "Or you will feel the magic of the sun and moon fairy!"

The troll growls again as it rushes towards the girl and knocks her back. "Oh my goodness." Bloom exclaimed.

"We gotta do something." said Zara.

"How?" Bloom asked.

"I don't know, but we gotta figure it out before something bad happens to her." Dawn tells her. "Too bad I left my bo staff at home."

"Your time's up, fairy." said the troll.

"Good heavens." said Bloom as Zara glares at the troll.

"Ghoulies, take the scepter!" he shouted and the ghoulies rushed towards the fairy in order to get her scepter. The girl struggles against the ghoulies as they grabbed parts of her body, as one ghoulie held her scepter.

"Give me that scepter." the troll said to the ghoulie, taking the scepter from it. He then gets into her face. "Not so brave now, are you?"

"Let her go!" shouted Bloom and Zara as they came out of the shadows.

"Or else, we'll…..wait, what are we going to do?" Bloom asked.

"I don't know….." said Zara, then looks at Bloom. "I thought you had a plan this time."

"Guess I didn't think that far ahead." said Bloom.

"You always say we need a backup plan, Bloom." Zara said, raising an eyebrow. "What happened to the 'all or nothing' attitude?"

"Yeah, well, this time it seems like it's all nothing." Bloom said.

"Get them!" shouted the troll and several ghoulies ran towards the twins.

"Get back!" shouted Bloom as orange energy surrounded her.

"Stay away from us!" shouted Zara, going into martial arts mode as blue energy surrounded her. Orange and Blue bubbles surrounded each twin, protecting them and their pets from being hurt.

"Huh?"

"Did….did we just do that?" Bloom asked her sister.

"I think so. What are we?" asked Zara. Kiko and Lavender were trembling as they looked up at the twins.

"Oh….yeah!" squeaked Kiko as he starts punching the air. Lavender starts kicking the air as she happily squeaks. A ghoulie pops up at the stump, causing both bunnies to look over, turn white and pass out in fear. Bloom taps the Ghoulie on the shoulder, causing it to look up as Zara waves at him.

"Hands off Kiko and Lavender!" shouted the twins as they swing branches at it.

"Oh…" said both bunnies as they looked up when suddenly the troll walks up behind the girls.

"Come here." he said, grabbing them both by the arm. Zara tries to free herself but it was no use. The troll was too strong to let go of his grip. "I'll break the two of you like a China doll set."

The twins gasped in pain as orange and blue like energies started building up in their bodies. "No!" they screamed as their energies were released into two dragons that were circling each other, like Yin and Yang.

"Wow! Powerful!" said the fairy, shocked that the twins had this much power inside them. Zara groans as she pressed her head. The fairy walks over to her scepter, picking it up from the ground before checking on the twins.

"Are you both okay?" she asked as they looked up.

"Well, yeah….." said Bloom.

"We'll be okay….." said Zara.

"I have my scepter back." the fairy tells the twins as the troll huffs in pain and starts running towards her. "You don't scare me anymore." She then knocks him back with the power of her scepter. "Only returning the compliment, you beast."

Suddenly, the ghoulies started closing in. "Watch out!" said Bloom and Zara. The fairy growls as she twirls her scepter above her head before swinging it in front of her, releasing light energy.

Not far from them, Kiko was imitating the fairy, accidentally hitting Lavender in the face when he did his pose. Lavender rubs her cheek as she glares at Kiko, who smiled sheepishly and quickly hugs her. Both bunnies looked over at the twins, seeing a couple ghoulies grab ahold and screamed in fear.

Both ghoulies grabbed Bloom's and Zara's pant legs, causing the girls to knock them off towards the troll. "We'll meet again, blondie." said the troll as he disappears with the ghoulies.

"Thank goodness, they're gone at last." said the fairy, when suddenly she falls to the ground, passing out.

"Hey, are you all right?" Bloom asked as the girl transforms out of her fairy outfit. "Answer me! Zara, you don't think she's….?"

"No, she's fine, Bloom." said Zara, checking for a pulse. "This girl just passed out. We just gotta get her home."

"You're right. We better get home, Kiko and Lavender." said Bloom. "This girl needs help."

"Let's go!" said Zara as they start carrying her home. "Oh good god! She weighs more than you do!"

"Hey! Don't blame me!" said Bloom. "She's got to be wearing, like, ten layers of fairy magic or something!"

Somewhere, in the Magix dimension, three eyes were glowing in the mist. "Knut, come forward." said a female voice, as he walks forward with his head hanging down.

"So….you have failed?" asked another female voice.

"Not my fault, your highness." said Knut. "I had the scepter in my hands, but this set of Earling girls appears and messes everything up."

"A set of Earthling girls?" asked the first female voice.

"Oh, but they weren't your ordinary set of Earthlings." Knut went onto explain and demonstrates what the twins could do. "They've got powers, these girls. They pushed back my ghouls just like that."

"Interesting." the second female voice said. "Describe them."

"Well, let's see…" said Knut, thinking as he tries his best to describe Bloom and Dawn. "They were….."

"Knut, your glasses….where are they?" asked the first female voice.

"Right here, highness." Knut said, taking them out of his pocket.

"Well, put them on you dolt!" shouted the third female voice. "A near sighted ogre. How ridiculous."

"If only he wear his glasses he'd be alright." said the first female voice.

"Oh would you stop defending him?" asked the third female voice.

"An ogre with glasses." said Knut, finally wearing his glasses. "Looks kind of lame."

"Quiet!" shouted the third female voice. "Those two girls could mean something to us."

"Oh, but highness, don't worry." he tells them, then shows the pieces of clothing that was taken. "Two of my ghouls grabbed this. These are pieces of those girl's clothing. To us, this is nothing, but to a hunting troll, it's an important clue."

A hunting troll walks over to him and starts to smell Bloom's article of clothing, then Zara's. "You see?" Knut asked.

"Good, then go back to Gardenia and find the girls, and this time," said the first female voice.

"Don't let us down!" said all three girls.

That night in Gardenia, Mike was unsure about what the twins brought home. "Bloom, Zara, I'm not sure I understand." he said to the twins. "Could you both run that by me again?"

"We already told you." said the twins.

"She was attacked by some horrible creature." Bloom explained.

"And said horrible creature was trying to take her scepter." added Zara, holding the girl's scepter in her hands.

"She's some kind of fairy." they both said in unison.

"Hmm….I see." said Mike.

"You believe us, then?" asked Bloom as she and Zara had hope in their eyes.

"No, I don't." Mike tells them, causing Zara to open her mouth in shock. "I think we should call the police and take this girl to a hospital."

"No, please don't tell anyone." the girl said, opening her eyes.

"She's coming to." said Vanessa as she sits up. "How do you feel, dear?"

"Huh?" she said, looking up at Vanessa.

"I'm all right." she said, then turns to the twins. "Thanks for helping me out."

"It was nothing." said Bloom and Zara.

"My name is Stella." she said, introducing herself.

"Hi, Stella. My name is Bloom."

"My name's Zara, Bloom's twin sister."

"Should we call your parents?" Vanessa asked Stella.

"That would be difficult." said Stella. "I come from a place that's a bit far from here. Have you heard of Solaria? It's a kingdom far-far away from here. I'm a fairy, you know. I was trying to get to Alfea Castle, in the realm of Magix. "

"Oh but of course." Mike said not believing Stella's story one bit and walks over to the phone. "I'm calling the police. It doesn't take a genius to realize that this girl is seriously out of her mind."

Stella couldn't believe what she was hearing and uses her magic to transform the house phone into a couple of vegetables. "Huh?" Mike said, looking down and sees what Stella had done.

"All right, you believe me now?" questioned Stella.

"We saw her and we believe her." said Bloom.

"Yeah, so top that dad." added Zara.

"Those creatures attacked me and I was forced to land here on your planet." Stella explained. "Your daughters saved my life. They pushed back the ghouls with an energy shield."

"Actually, I don't know how I did it." said Bloom.

"Neither do I. But it was cool though." said Zara, grinning from ear to ear.

"Fairies don't need to know how, she just does it, that's all." said Stella.

"We're…..fairies?" asked the twins, looking at each other with smiles on their faces.

"Of course, you two are. Don't tell me you're not." Stella said to the twins. "Don't tell me you both are not registered for the new program at Alfea Castle? It's the best school for young fairies like the two of you and me."

"No, no." said Mike, stopping Stella from continuing. "Stop talking nonsense, please."

At a chemical plant in Gardenia, Knut and his goons appeared. "Ah, here we are." he said, then looks up at the hunting troll. "Troll, do your thing." It then starts smelling the twins clothes and growls.

"Find those girls." said Knut.

"This way!" he growled and leads Knut and his ghouls to the twins.

"So…this is your room, huh?" Stella asked, walking into the twins shared room.

"Yep." said Zara.

"Wow. Did you draw these?" asked Stella, taking a closer look at Bloom's drawings.

"Yes." answered Bloom.

"They're amazing." commented Stella.

"Oh, no! It's okay, Stella." Bloom assures her. "I mean…."

"I've always told Bloom that she's gifted." said Zara, who started putting together her partially constructed bo staff.

"Not as gifted as you are when it comes to martial arts." said Bloom.

"You're into martial arts?" asked Stella. "I had no idea you were so skilled!"

"Yeah." said Zara as she clicks both halves of her bo staff together and starts twirling it a bit. "I've been training for a while now. It's one of the ways to stay fit and clear my mind."

"And these are yours?" Stella asked, taking a closer a look at Zara's medals and her bo staff.

"Sure are. I have more medals in those bins. The ones you're looking at are the ones I've recently got." said Zara, pointing to the medals that Stella was looking at. "But my bo staff is something different."

"Huh? Sorry, I'm a bit nosy." said Stella.

"Things are not okay." said Bloom. "For instance, I still don't understand what happened in the park."

"Neither do I." said Zara as both of them looked at their ripped pant legs.

"Bloom, Zara, you used your powers to save me." Stella tells them as she looks out their window. "You should be proud of yourselves. In my world, magix is a part of life and powers such as yours are perfectly normal."

"Is your world like that?" the twins asked as Stella picks up a book and skims through it. "It is?"

"Yes, almost. But it's much nicer in here." said Stella. "It's so different."

"I guess it all depends on your point of view, Stella." said Bloom. "We still can't get over about what happened."

"I'm still shocked by it." added Zara.

"Strong feelings such as fear have summoned up the wonderful powers that are in you." Stella begins to tell them as the twins sit on Bloom's bed. "They were always there; you just didn't know it. It's just a question of concentration. With your energies, you could do anything. Watch."

She then turns to the desk and levitates Bloom's colored pencils, creating one huge colored pencil. "Okay, now it's your turn." said Stella.

"You first, Bloom. You're older." said Zara.

"Give them back their original shape." Stella instructed. Bloom tries to give her pencils back their original shape, but started struggling. "Well?"

"Here, Bloom. Let me, help you." said Zara, grabbing her sister's hand, and starts struggling as well.

"Nothing." they said as the pencil fell to the floor and they sat back down on Bloom's bed. "We can't do it."

"You both should come with me to Alfea Castle." Stella suggested. "It's a school for fairies. A new session is about to start and the two of you can learn how to control your powers. And I'm sure you'd make excellent fairies."

"Where's Alfea?" Bloom and Zara asked.

"It's in the enchanted realm of Magix." said Stella as the twins listened in awe. "A place beyond time and space where everything is possible." Stella then came up with an idea. "If you want to see the school, I'll show it to you."

On a piece of paper, Stella shows them a two dimension version of Alfea. "This is a bottomless postcard, watch this." she said. "Magix." Soon enough, Stella's feet starts to go through the postcard. "Now follow me."

In a dark alley way, the hunting troll followed the scent. "She's not far." he tells Knut as they hid in the shadows. "The smell is strong. There's another fairy."

"It's Stella." said Knut. "They're together."

Back in the twins room, Bloom and Zara looked at each other. "Together?" Bloom asked.

"Together." Zara said, nodding. They went over to the postcard, held each other's hand, following Stella's lead.

"So, we just jump on in, like you?" asked Bloom.

"This feels a little weird." said Zara.

"Oh!" they said, shocked as they went through.

"Yes, hurry up before the gate closes." said Stella.

The hunting troll walks quickly towards the scent he was following. "I've lost the scent." said the hunting troll after smelling the air. "They've disappeared."

"Huh! Fairies." Mike scoffed, causing Knut and his goons to run off. "It's totally ridiculous."

"Mike, it's not ridiculous." Vanessa said to him. "It's true. Come on, admit it. You and I both know that Stella is a real fairy. But you're afraid to believe it. Mike, if this is Bloom's and Zara's true nature, who are we to stop them."

Inside the postcard, Zara sees Alfea in the distance. "This is Alfea Castle." said Stella. "Nice, huh? I'm sure you both like it here."

"But what about our high school in Gardenia?" asked Bloom. "I mean, everything is happening so fast."

"Couple of things because I gotta know." said Zara. "First off, does Alfea separate twin sisters and second, if they have me and Bloom share a room, can there be a bunk bed installed?"

"I don't know but you can ask." said Stella, then turns to Bloom. "Listen, think about it. I've got to leave tomorrow morning with or without the two of you."

"All right, we'll sleep on it." said the twins.

"Now how do we get out of here?" asked Bloom.

"Easy, all you have to do it jump up." said Stella and jumps out of the postcard.

"Okay, then." said Zara, shrugging her shoulders as she and Bloom jump out.

"Wait a minute." said the hunting troll, getting the scent again. "The scent is back. They're in this house."

He then points to the house where the twins lived. "Good work, troll." said Knut. "They can't escape us now. We'll go in through the back door and take the whole happy family by surprise."

Kiko and Lavender hopped around the kitchen floor when they looked back, sensing something was in the back yard. They looked at the window and screamed, seeing a ghoul through the glass. Both of them ran towards Mike and Vanessa.

"What's wrong, you two?" Mike asked as he picks up both bunnies. "We'll play later, okay? We're really busy right now."

Just then, there was a knock at the back door, causing Kiko to point at it in fear. Lavender buries herself behind Mike's leg. Kiko tries to tell Vanessa it was Knut and his friends at the back door.

"What? Hungry again?" Mike asked Kiko as Lavender grabs onto Mike's pant leg. "You just had your dinner. You're going to have to wait a bit."

Kiko runs off towards the back door, trying to keep Knut and his ghouls outside. Lavender hops towards Kiko, helping him out. When they were both knocked onto their bunny butts, Kiko had an idea and gestures Lavender to follow him. Both bunnies started blocking the door with anything they could find in the kitchen.

Just then, Kiko and Lavender were knocked down, causing everything they had stacked to crash down. "Huh? asked Mike, hearing the crash. "What are those rabbits doing, trashing the kitchen? Kiko? Lavender? Come here, immediately."

When the bunnies didn't respond, Mike and Vanessa heard a growl in the house, causing them to look up to see the hunting troll. "That doesn't sound good." said Zara as they heard the hunting troll's roar coming from downstairs and they looked each other.

The hunting troll hits the couch as the ghouls came out from their hiding places. Mike and Vanessa hugged each other in fear. "Those girls must be around here somewhere." said Knut.

"We're right behind you." said Stella as two out of three girls start throwing things while the latter starts hitting them with her bo staff.

"What?" said Knut, turning around to see the three girls on the stairs.

"Hi! How's it going?" Zara asked, glaring at them.

"Now, let's settle this. Solaria!" said Stella as she transforms into her fairy outfit.

The hunting troll steps forward, ready to deal with Stella, who then aims her legs at him, kicking him back. "You dummy!" shouted Knut. "You got beat by a cutesy blonde!"

"Yes, but I'm no ordinary blonde." said Stella.

"I wonder what he has to say about redheads." said Zara as Bloom nodded thoughtfully.

"Bloom, Zara, we're outnumbered." Stella says as they walked up. "We're gonna have to split them up."

"I have an idea." said Bloom. "Zara and I will take care of the ghouls."

"It'll give me a workout." said Zara, then takes off with Bloom, leading the ghouls out of the house. "Can't catch us!"

"All right, Blondie." Knut said as Mike and Vanessa hide behind a chair, making their getaway out the window. "Want to see what me and the troll can do? If I were you, I'd get ready to lick my wounds. Know what I mean?"

"Very well." said Stella. "Let's see what you two can do against that? Burning….."

"Now what do we do?" Bloom asked her twin.

"Hoping that Stella doesn't destroy the house with her magic." said Zara as she and Bloom stood outside with the ghouls. On the ground, there was a pot moving around. Bloom picks it up, not realizing that Kiko and Lavender were inside, shaking with fear.

"Um….Um…." said the girls as Bloom drops the pot with their bunnies inside. Just then, Knut was blasted out of the house.

"Wow, Stella sure knows how to command respect." said Bloom.

"Yeah! Cause she definitely has mine." said Zara as Stella came through the window.

"Stella!" Bloom and Zara called out as they ran over to her.

"Bloom, Zara." she said, looking up at them. "Don't worry. I've called the Specialists."

"The who?" the twins asked, confused with one raising an eyebrow.

The hunting troll walks out of the house, destroying the door. Not far from where the twins lived, Mitzi was trying to find something on TV when she heard noise coming from outside. "What a racket." she said. "I can't hear a thing."

The hunting troll stalks in towards the three girls, towering over them when suddenly, a long whip wraps around his neck. A group of boys wearing uniforms and capes held weapons as one boy held back the hunting troll.

"Guys, I'm ready." said the boy with glasses.

"Let's take him to jail where he belongs." said the younger blonde.

"What's the rush?" asked the boy with purple hair. "Don't you wanna have a little fun first?"

"I wouldn't be so cocky if I were you." said the brunette, leaning on his sword. "After all, this is our first mission."

"He's right, dude and you know it." said another boy with brunette hair, taking a look over at the twins and Stella as the purple haired boy went over to the hunting troll. "There's ladies present so behave yourself."

"I rest my case." said the brunette as the boy with purple hair didn't listen as he missed his mark.

"You know, you should've listened to your friend there." Zara said to him as he looks up. "There are girls out there who don't even wanna date boys who are cocky like you."

"Stay behind me." said the second brunette haired boy as his friend joins him in blocking the hunting troll, who was now making his way to him and bangs on both shields. "Sky! You mind doing something?"

"Huh?" said Sky, lifting up his sword and swings it at ground, causing it to split open.

"My turn!" said the boy with glasses, firing a few laser shots from his weapon towards the hunting troll's feet, causing him to fall into the hole. "Bull's eye."

"Yeah, well done." said the younger blonde. "But it's not over yet."

"Girls." said the boy with purple hair as he stands up.

"Huh?"

"What?"

"Okay, who wants to feel my blade, huh?" he asked the ghouls as he starts to fight them when Knut punches him back and growls at the Specialists. As his back was turned, Stella aims a ball of yellow light at him.

"See? I told you two you could do it." said Stella.

"Then, Zara and I are really fairies." Bloom said as they both looked down at their hands.

"Of course you both are, I'm never wrong." Stella said proudly.

"Oh, I've got such a good idea right now." said Zara, smiling as she grips her bo staff.

"You're not…." Bloom started to ask.

"What?! No! Bloom, you know that I'm bound by the code." Zara tells her.

"What code?" asked Stella.

"The code that Zara and all the others have to live by when it comes to martial arts." said Bloom. "One of the rules of their code of conduct is to never start a physical fight."

"You'll start hearing me say time to time: live by the code, die by the code." said Zara, gesturing to prove a point. "But I'm honestly curious to know if I can combine both my martial arts and my magix together."

"Oh! I would love to see that." said Stella.

"You can do it, Zara. I'm sure of it." said Bloom. "I'll even help you."

"Good, because I might need it." said Zara. Knut stands back onto his feet and looks back at the girls before looking at the Specialists. He then looks at the crack in the ground that his hunting troll fell in.

"Drats." said Knut as he backs up, claps his hands and slips away through the purple light.

"Finally! This one's over." said Stella. "Bloom, Zara, meet our five heroes. Riven, Prince Sky, Timmy, Xander, and Brandon, Prince Sky's Squire."

"Hey, you." said Timmy as the hunting troll came out and places a collar on him. "Where do you think you're going?"

Vanessa and Mike came into the backyard and saw what was happening. Just then, there was a portal opening for the boys. "See you, later." they said as they left with the hunting troll.

"Two of them are really cute." said Zara as she looks at Bloom, unaware that Xander was overhearing her. "You think that Xander could be that Squire's brother?"

"Who knows, Zara." Bloom tells her, giggling as Zara placed a strand of hair behind her ear.

"Honestly, I don't know if he has a brother or not." Stella said to Zara, thinking for a moment.

The next morning, Bloom and Zara had finally made their decision. Mike was in the living room, sweeping away the glass on the floor when Stella walks in. "You know, it would be easy for me to straighten up everything with a little magic." she said to Mike.

"Thanks, but I prefer this way." said Mike when Vanessa and the twins walked in with the twins each carrying a suitcase.

"Bloom and Zara are ready." said Vanessa.

"You sure about this, sweeties?" Mike asked, feeling a little worried.

"Yes, dad. We're going with Stella to the Realm of Magix and Alfea castle." said Bloom.

"We'll be fine." said Zara. "It's not like one of my tournaments."

"Call us as soon as you both get there and let us know everything." said Mike. "I still can't believe that we agreed to this. What if either of you get sick? What if you meet these monsters again?"

"Dad, Zara and I will be careful"" said Bloom.

"Bloom's right. I'm even more interested if I can combine my magic with my martial arts skills, Dad." said Zara.

Unknown to them, Kiko and Lavender hopped over to Zara and Bloom, wanting to go with them. "We promise." they tell him.

"Bloom, Zara, we love you both very much and please come home when the session is over next summer." said Vanessa. "We'll miss the two of you."

"And we'll miss you both so much." said the twins.

"Uh…uh….uh." said Mike. "Did you really think we'd let you both go just like that? No, we're coming with you."

"Really?" asked the twins. "Wow, thanks dad. This is so great."

"No sweat. And anyway, I really want to see this famous magix dimension you keep talking about." said Mike, grabbing his firemen's jacket. "So….."

"Stella, is it possible?" Bloom asked.

"You can always say no." said Zara.

"Hmm….the rules don't allow it," Stella said as she takes off her ring. "but as they say, rules are made to be broken." Then her ring transforms into her scepter. "Are you ready?"

"We were born ready." said Mike.

"To Magix we go!" Stella cried out as she channels her magix into her scepter, taking the family of four to the Magix Dimension and Alfea. They went through a portal that Stella had created and on the other side, they landed in front of both the forest and the school.

"Ow!" said Mike as he landed on his butt. He then looks up and sees Alfea Castle in the distance. "Wow! It really does exist."

"You believe us now?" asked Bloom as Zara crossed her arms and looks up at their father.

"I won't judge you." said Zara.

"Come on, we gotta go." said Stella. "Classes are about to begin."

Chapter Text

Stella and the family of four walks up to the gates of Alfea and watches other fairies enter the courtyard. "So, this is the realm of Magix." said Vanessa, surprised by it as Mike was shocked.

"Wow." he said, taking the sight of Alfea in the distance. "This is like something I've never seen."

"That must be your school over there." said Vanessa as Kiko hops around Bloom and Lavender hops onto Zara's head. "You both excited?"

"You bet I am." said Bloom.

"Me too!" said Zara as a smile appears on her face.

"Well, let's go then." said Mike, walking ahead of them. "We don't want to be…." Out of nowhere, Mike walks into an invisible wall. "Hey, there's like an invisible wall. I can't get through."

"Really?" asked Bloom. Both girls reached out to try and find it but felt nothing.

"Wow." said Zara.

"Where is it?" they asked their dad. "We can't feel anything. Are you guys pulling our legs?"

"No, kiddos. Honest." said Mike as Kiko passes through, looking down at himself. He then looks up at Lavender and gets her attention. Kiko points to her and himself, wondering how they were able to pass through. Lavender nodding at him, wondering the same thing.

"Hm…Stella, did you do that by any chance?" asked Bloom.

"No, Bloom. It's a protective barrier." she said, then shows the twins. "It keeps non magical creatures out of Alfea. Sorry, I'm afraid you can't go any further."

"It was worth a shot." said Zara, picking up her suitcase.

"Mom, dad." Bloom called out as she and Zara walked over to them.

"Guess it's time to say goodbye, you two." said Vanessa as they went over to hug them. "Oh, my precious little girls."

"Always do your best, okay?" asked Mike. "And remember, we'll always be there for you no matter what. Kiko, Lavender, you keep an eye on them."

Both bunnies saluted Mike, agreeing that they would keep an eye on them. "Don't worry, they're in good hands." Stella assures Mike and Vanessa, then turns to the twins. "Come on, we gotta go."

Zara picks up Lavender and her suitcase, then places Lavender in the hood of her jean jacket. "We'll be back home for a visit as soon as we can." Bloom and Zara said.

"I'll send you home now. Ready?" asked Stella. "Stay there, don't move. Solaria!" Grabbing her scepter, she looks back at Mike and Vanessa. "Have a nice trip."

"Hmm."

"Ready to take the plunge?" asked Stella. "Once you cross the barrier, there's no turning back."

"Ready as I'll ever be." said Zara. "How about you, Lavender?"

Lavender squeaks and mimes, saying that she's ready for an adventure. "Our minds have been made up, Stella." said Bloom as Zara wraps her arm around her. "We're going with you."

"Alright, let's get moving." Stella said as she transforms her scepter back into her ring. "It's time to show our faces."

"This place is gorgeous." said Bloom as she, Zara and Stella made the trek down to the campus.

"It's stunning." said Zara, looking around campus.

"Don't let that distract you." warned Stella.

"Who's that lady over there?" Zara and Bloom asked.

"Griselda, head of discipline." said Stella, looking at an angry looking woman who was writing something down on a pad. "It's okay to let her distract you."

"What is your name, young lady?" Griselda asked a freshman fairy.

"Eleanor of Delona. I sent my registration form a few weeks ago." she said meekly to Griselda.

"All right let's see of your name appears on the list." said Griselda, as she starts going through the list. "Eleanor, Eleanor…..are you nervous, young lady?"

"A little." said Eleanor.

"There you are, Eleanor of Delona." Griselda said, seeing her name on the list. "You can go in."

"Thank you." said Eleanor, walking past Griselda and a girl with short hair.

"Next." Griselda said to the girl.

"You know, Griselda reminds me of my martial arts teachers." said Zara, watching the stern woman. "But they're way nicer than she is."

"What now? We're not on the list." said Bloom.

"Yes, you both are." said Stella. "I think of everything."

"Okay, Stella….what plan do you have for this one?" asked Zara, gesturing to Griselda.

"The princess of Calista was supposed to come here this year, but she changed her mind for some reason. She gave me a letter to give to the headmistress. I just won't give it to her. That's all." Stella tells them.

"Ok, but which one of us is playing the role?" Zara asked.

"Neither." explained Stella as she rips up the letter. "No one here knows the princess of Calisto." Stella then throws the letter into the wind. "Better yet, you both will be the first set of twin princesses of Calisto."

"And you want us to take her place?" asked Bloom. "Come on, Stella. We're being dishonest here."

"My martial arts teacher would have me clean the entire temple for being dishonest." said Zara.

"It's just a little white lie." said Stella as she pushes Bloom forward with Zara walking close behind. "Come on, you two. It's too late to turn back now." The three of them walked up to Griselda.

"Good morning, Miss Griselda." Stella sweetly said.

"Well, if it isn't Princess Stella of Solaria." said Griselda. "I never thought I would see you here, after what happened last year, I'm surprised you've chosen to grace us with your presence once again."

"I don't give that easily, you know." said Stella.

"Right, and who are your friends?" asked Griselda.

"The Twin Princesses of Calisto." Stella said, introducing Bloom and Zara.

"Ah, Veranda of Calisto. I'm assuming you're her twin sister?" Griselda asked them.

"Yeah, that's me." said Bloom.

"Yes, ma'am. I'm Victoria of Calisto and Veranda's twin sister." said Zara.

"You three may come in." said Griselda. "Next!"

"See? I always have great ideas." Stella said to the twins.

"How long do you think Stella's little white lie will last?" Zara asked Bloom, gripping her suitcase looking over at Bloom with a raised eyebrow.

"We may not like it, but maybe the whole year. If she doesn't say anything." said Bloom as Zara gave her a nonchalant nod.

"Yeah, but you know how these things go." said Zara. "Lies have a way of unraveling, don't they?"

"Absolutely. The more she keeps it hidden, the heavier that weight gets. It'll eat away at her." said Bloom then turns to Stella. "By the way, Stella, what happened last year?"

"Cause now we're curious about that." said Zara.

"Heh! It was nothing." said Stella. "Miss Griselda loves to dramatize."

"The new students are here." said one of the Alfea teachers who was an elf, standing in the headmistress's office. "They all look so nice."

"Young fairies. Ah, it's been so many centuries since I was one of them." said another teacher, a fairy. "Yet, it feels like it was only yesterday."

"Uh, Professors." said a shorter teacher with an Irish accent, a leprechaun. "I can't see a thing. Excuse me, could you…?" He then comes up with an idea by pulling on his hat and beard, then disappears, turning himself into a bunny with golden fur.

"You well ought to do the trick." he said, resting on the female professor's shoulder. "Ah, that's better."

The female professor looks at the leprechaun in his rabbit form and faints, causing him to jump onto the elf. "Oh, Professor Wizgiz." said the elf professor. "You should be a little more cautious with your transformations."

"This school will be your home for the next five years. But this home, can cease to be yours at any moment. The rules of this institution are based on discipline. Disregard these rules and I'll personally escort you to the front gate. This is not a magician's school. You're not here to learn hocus pocus. Consequently, you may not use your powers in the hallways, or any other common areas." Griselda said to the freshmen fairies. "In fact, the only place you may display your powers is in the classroom under teacher supervision. Is that clear, Princess Stella? Thanks to you and your antics, the potion laboratory will not be accessible until next month the earliest. Now I think you know what not to do if you wish to stay. Huh?"

"No way. She didn't." said Zara, her eyes widen.

"You did that?" asked Bloom as Zara was too shocked at the blonde as she turns to look at the window that had a hole in it.

"So? My father paid for all of the damages." said Stella.

"I can't believe that you caused an explosion, Stella." said Zara.

"Sorry, I'm late. I hope you'll excuse me." said the headmistress as she walks with the professors.

"Ladies, here comes your headmistress." said Griselda. "Attention."

"Oh, really. There's no need to be so stodgy." she said to Griselda. "I hope that Miss Griselda hasn't frightened you too much. Welcome to Alfea, the best Fairy school in the hall of Magix. Mind you, it's the only one. Come on in, ladies."

The headmistress opens the door to the school. "Here we are." she said, heading inside. "And so we begin our orientation session, by the end of which, we should all know each other better."

"I have a question." said Zara, raising her hand.

"Yes?"

"If Alfea had a set of identical twin sisters enrolled as their students, would those twin sisters be sharing a room with whoever their roommates are?" Zara asked. "Just being curious."

"Sure." said the headmistress as the rest of the freshmen walked inside. "Becoming a fairy is hard work, but I know that everyone here can do it. Keep in mind that the teachers and I are always here to help you. Okay, enough with the boring stuff. Feel free to explore your surroundings." She lowers her glasses at them. "But be very careful. There are dangers lurking about."

"Stay away from the Witches of Cloudtower." said Stella, mimicking the warning from last year. "Listen, that's what's coming up."

"Stay away from the Witches of Cloudtower." said the headmistress, then gives Stella a stern look.

"All right, speeches are over. Everyone's dismissed. Your free to till dinner time." said Griselda.

"Good luck, everybody. I'll see you all tomorrow." the headmistress said. "Oh, and classes starts at 8:00 sharp. Do be punctual."

"You'll like Headmistress Faragonda." Stella said to the twins. "She always says the same thing, but she's really nice."

"I like the headmistress." said Zara. "I have a feeling that she's kind."

"Who are the Witches of Cloudtower?" asked Bloom.

"Magix has three schools. Ours is one, there's the Red Fountain school of Specialists, that's where the squad guys go. Finally, there's the witches school of Cloudtower." Stella explained.

"Witches, wow." said Zara and Bloom.

"Yeah, well, better steer clear of them." Stella tells them. They then walked to their assigned room. "Hey, look. We're in the same apartment. Cool." Once inside, Stella points to the closed doors. "That's my room over there. The same one I had last year."

"You've got a room all to yourself?" asked Zara and Bloom, following Stella inside the apartment. "Wow, lucky you."

"All Bloom and I ever done is share a room." said Zara.

"It's all we've ever known." added Bloom as they walked over to the door with Bloom's and Zara's undercover names. "Looks like we've got a roommate, Zara."

"Ow!" shouted a plant, as Bloom accidentally steps on its vine.

"Oh." Bloom said, as Zara hugs her from behind. "Sorry!"

"She didn't mean it!" Zara cried out as Lavender pops up from hood.

"No, excuse me." said a girl with light long brown hair. "I just got here and….I left my things all over the floor. This is a talking plant. One of my creations."

"Cool." said Zara, her eyes widening in excitement.

"My name is Flora." she said, introducing herself as her talking plant falls back. "Oh, my."

"Uh…my name's Bloom and this is my sister Zara …." Bloom said, about to blow their cover when Stella clears her throat.

"Bloom?" asked Stella, reminding her and Zara their cover names.

"Yes, Bloom and Zara are names I like a lot, but those aren't our names." said Bloom.

"Right." said Zara. Just then, they both started backing up from Flora.

"In fact, uh, our real names are…." Bloom said as she reads the sign out front. "Veranda and Victoria of Calisto. Yeah, that's it."

"Sorry. Sometimes our minds like to wander." said Zara. "You know…being identical twins and all."

Behind them, there was another girl with short hair. "Calisto, fourth world of Magix reals upper ring? Wow." she said. "That's quite a ways away. Hi, my name's Tecna."

"Hi, Tecna. I'm Stella." said Stella.

"Hey, I've heard about you." said Tecna.

"Me too." said the last girl, Musa entering the room. "By the way, before you blow up your room, give us time to duck and cover, okay?"

"Now that I can agree with." said Zara as she and the others laughed.

"Um, it was just an accident if you really want to know." huffed Stella.

"An accident that got you expelled?" Tecna asked. "How did you get re-admitted?"

"Well, the truth is, they couldn't do without someone as gorgeous as me." said Stella.

"Ah!" screamed Kiko as Lavender tries to swat Flora's talking plant with a mini wooden bo staff.

"Ba-ba-ba-ba!" shouted Lavender, trying to save Kiko.

"Bad plant, put him down right away." scolded Flora, helping Lavender save Kiko.

"No, Flora." Bloom said. "Don't scold your plant. Kiko probably tried to eat it. It was just trying to defend itself."

"Knowing Lavender, she wanted to protect her big brother by packing her small wooden bo when I wasn't looking." said Zara.

"You hungry, little bunnies?" Flora asked, holding a bowl out to them. "Here." She then grew some carrots for them.

"Oh!" squeaked Kiko, seeing the carrots.

"Yay!" squeaked Lavender, jumping up and down.

"Remember, not too many, okay?" Zara asked Lavender, reminding her not to overeat.

"Speaking of food, what do you say we eat out tonight?" Stella asked. "It'll be our way of celebrating the new school year."

"Great idea. That'll give us a chance to get to know each other." said Flora, taking up Stella's offer.

"Any one for pizza?" asked Bloom.

"What's pizza?" Musa asked.

"Yeah, what is it?" Flora asked, curious to know as well.

"It's the national dish of Calisto. Right, Victoria?" asked Bloom, then elbows Zara who was staring into space a bit.

"Yeah…it's our national dish." said Zara, agreeing with what Bloom said.

"More or less." they said.

As the girls walked through the halls to go out, Griselda watches them and spots the twins. She then watches them walk off campus when suddenly, Zara stops for a moment, then looks at Griselda, tilting her head. "Hmm." Griselda said, as Zara crosses her eyes at her in annoyance before catches up with the others.

"You sensed that someone was watching us leave, weren't you?" Bloom whispered to her sister.

"Yeah, the queen of discipline." Zara whispered back.

A shuttle picks the girls from Alfea and takes them into the city. "Magix Station, last stop." said the driver. "Please transfer here."

"Are we there yet?" asked Bloom and Zara, with their hands over their eyes as Tecna and Musa directed them off the shuttle. "Can we open our eyes?"

"Yes, go ahead. Take a look." said Tecna.

"Both of you look disappointed." said Musa.

"Of course, I'm disappointed." said Bloom.

"I'm somewhat disappointed, but I'm looking forward to see what it has in store for us." said Zara, then turns to Musa while pointing to Bloom. "However, you've started my sister on a rant."

"This is it? This is Magix?" asked Bloom as Zara starts a stopwatch. "The capital city of the realm of Magix, the most enchanted city in the universe?"

"Well, what did you expect?" asked Musa.

"I don't know. Dragons, gnomes, wizards, shops full of magic wands." explained Bloom.

"For me? That this is her quickest debate ever." said Zara, then shows Bloom the stopwatch time. "This was better than you and Mitzi going at it."

"But that's fairy tale stuff." said Stella. "This is the real world. Here, everything lives off its own magical energy. Magic is everywhere."

A car drives past Bloom, causing her to jump out of the way. The driver snaps his fingers, creating a space for him to park his car. "Good heavens." said Bloom.

"If you want to see it, you just got to look." said Stella.

"A certain someone forgot to explain that part when they came by our house on Calisto." said Zara, turning to Stella. "I wonder if Magix has a martial arts store we could at least browse in." Bloom smacks Zara's arm, causing her glare at her. "What? I said to 'browse in'. I'm not going to buy anything new."

"I know, I just had to remind you." Bloom tells her, causing Zara to growl low.

"You're lucky that I'm not in the mood to fight." said Zara.

"And now let's eat." said Flora.

"Yeah, let's go."

"You shouldn't have hit me that hard." said Zara, rubbing her arm.

"Yeah, yeah, I know." said Bloom.

Inside a glasses store, Knut was looking for a new prescription pair. "And over here, we have frames with a little more attitude, shall we say." said the salesmen.

"Hmm. I don't know." said Knut, as he spots Zara, Bloom and Stella with their new friends. "Serpents and salamanders, its them!" He then turns back to the salesmen. "Excuse me, sir, did you see what I think I saw?"

"What's that?" he asked.

"There was a group of girls that just walked by…" Knut started to explain. "But I'm not crazy."

"No, not at all." said the salesmen. "They were students from Alfea. Today is the beginning of their new school year."

Just then, Knut runs out of the store to chase them down without paying. "My glasses!" the salesmen called out. "Come back here."

"I must warn my highnesses immediately." Knut said to himself as he ran through town. "They're in Magix too. They can deal with things themselves this time."

He starts dialing the number and a phone rings. "Hello?" asked female witch #1, picking up the phone. "Ah, Knut, what is it this time, you useless smelly ogre?"

"The fairy and her friends are in town, my highness." he tells her. "I saw them walk by. They were headed downtown."

"Are you sure? That almost sounds too good to be true." she said. "Stella's scepter must be ours."

"Now listen to me!" the witch said through his phone. "You won't fail us this time and if you do, I'll make triple sure that you'll never ever again take off your glasses off! Got it?"

"No, no glasses, please!" begged Knut. "I promise I won't fail."

"I don't understand why my cell's not working." Bloom said to Tecna. "See, I press down the number and nothing happens."

"I would do the same thing, but I'm enjoying the show that's in front of me." said Zara.

"Let me have a look." said Tecna, offering to help Bloom. "I'm very good with electronic stuff." She then starts laughing.

"Oh no, what's so funny?" Musa asked.

"This is prehistoric technology." Tecna said. "Where did the two of you get those things?"

"But it's the most recent model." said Bloom as Zara growls at Tecna.

"On earth, maybe." said Stella as she, Bloom and Zara smiled at each other.

"Sorry, I shouldn't have laughed." said Tecna. "That was rude."

"And you're lucky that I didn't bring my bo staff with me." said Zara.

On earth, Vanessa went to the phone as it started ringing. "Hello? Bloom? Zara?" she asked.

"Hi, mom." Bloom said in the booth with Zara standing next to her. "Everything is great. The school is wonderful. And the two of us are sharing an apartment with Stella and three other girls."

"Lavender had to start protecting Kiko within the first hour of meeting our roommates." said Zara.

"No, courses start tomorrow morning." Bloom answered Vanessa's question.

"Yes, I'll make sure to wait for Bloom after I wake up." Zara replied.

"But don't worry, we'll keep you posted all right?" they asked her. "Yes, we understand." They then see Knut walk past them, heading towards Stella and the others. "Uh, we won't forget. We promise."

"Mom, we got to go now. Our friends are calling us." Bloom tells her. "So, a big hug and kiss daddy for us, please?"

"We love you." said Zara.

Once Bloom ended the call, Zara takes out the card as Bloom opens the door. Both of them ran out and towards the others, hoping that they would get there in time. Trying not to get seen, Knut slinks against the wall of a building with Bloom and Zara following him.

"I'm sure that's him." Bloom said to Zara as Knut crossed the street. "The creature that attacked us in Gardenia."

"It's more than that, Bloom." said Zara. "I'm positive that's the creature who attacked us back in Gardenia."

When they both turned the corner, the twins watched as Knut spied on Stella and the others. "Oh, he's watching our friends." said Bloom as they looked back around the corner. "But where is he now?"

"I hope not to dinner." Zara tells her.

"We must find him." said Bloom as Zara nodded.

Knut walks down an alley way, finding his mistresses that he was working for. "Well, Knut?" asked the first witch.

"Uh….I saw the blonde girl with the magic scepter in the square." Knut tells her as Bloom and Zara hid behind trash cans. "And she was with her friends."

"We've got to get that scepter." said the first witch as one of her friend's eyes turned purple, sensing something.

"Sisters, we're being watched." she tells them.

"Hmm." said the first witch as the other gasped.

"May I take care of it?" the second witch asked and creates a clone with her power.

"Move you big oaf, we can't see a thing." said Bloom and Zara.

"Ha-ha. All I have to do is disappear." said the second witch's clone as she dematerializes as the original laughs behind her hand.

"All she has to do is stay here." the second witch said.

Knut moves, scratching his head, unknowingly that he reveals his mistresses to Zara and Bloom. "That's better." the twins said when the clone appears behind them. Zara sensed something and quickly looks up. She spots the witch and starts poking her sister in the arm.

"Not now, Zara." said Bloom.

"But Bloom….." said Zara, not taking her eyes off the witch standing behind them as she tries not to freak out. "There's something you have to see."

Bloom ignored her as the clone used its powers, sending information back the three witches and Knut as it grabs both girls. Bloom gasps as she and Zara looked up.

"I tried to tell you, but you ignored me." Zara said to her sister.

"So, did you like our little joke?" asked the first witch as she disappears the clone.

"We may be identical, but…..do you see us laughing right now?" Zara bluntly asked.

"Turn around!" demanded the second witch, having Zara and Bloom face her. "Surprise."

"We are fairies." Bloom and Zara said as they tried to use their magics on the witches, but fell short of the first witch.

"Ha! You call that magic, hm?" the first witch asked, then extends her hand and shows them her ice powers. "I'll show you magic." Bloom and Zara covered their eyes as they heard the wind picking up. "Now that's magic."

Ice spikes popped up from the ground, surrounding both girls and entrapping them. Suddenly, the second witch used sound waves on the twins. "And that's magic." she said, causing the twins to be thrown back.

The last witch created a tornado and sends it towards the girls, through them up into the air and grab a hold onto a building. "Where's Veranda and Victoria? They should be back by now." said Tecna.

"I don't know." Flora said. "Maybe they both got lost."

"Get down here!" said the first witch, using her ice magic to get both girls off the side of the building. "I'm not done yet."

She then throws Bloom and Zara into empty boxes, softening their landing. "Heh-heh. And now the final touch." the first witch said, encasing the twins in ice. She laughs again as Bloom and Zara were turned into an ice sculpture. "What a pity you had to meet us. Sweet little fairies."

Scratching the ice and leaving marks, Stella and the others finally found them.
Leave them alone." Stella called out. "Take us on instead."

"Pathetic." said the witch as she looks over at her sisters. "Knut, they're all yours. Have fun."

Confused for a moment, Knut then growls and roars at the quartet in front of him as he ran towards them. Just then, they all transformed into their fairy form. "Now it's our turn, you animal." said Stella.

"She's the girl with the scepter." said the third witch, glaring at Stella as Knut growls at them.

"Static Sphere!" shouted Tecna, sending green electric strands from her hands and traps Knut.

"Sonic Blast!" shouted Musa, creating speakers that sent sonic blasts around him.

"Golden Pollen." said Flora, blowing pollen seeds around Knut's feet, creating a vine to wrap around him. The vine raises him up into the air, tossing him around.

"What a blockhead." said the first witch, embarrassed by Knut before turning to the others. "All right, you weaklings. You've asked for it."

"Everybody, come behind me." Tecna said as Stella, Musa and Flora took cover behind her. "Firewall."

"Sisters, leave them to me." said the third witch, creating a lightning storm by sending lightning towards Tecna, eventually breaking her firewall shield.

"And now, prepare for the worst." said the first witch. Stella stands up and takes off her ring.

"Solaria!" shouted Stella, tossing her up into the air as it transforms into her scepter. "Let's get out of here, girls."

Using her scepter, she teleports them and herself back to Alfea, timing it just right as the first witch releases her icy powers. The witch laughs, smirking as she thought she won when she realizes that they got to safety.

"Huh? Where are they?" she asked, seeing that they were gone. "Curses! They've disappeared!"

"Bloom, Zara." Stella said as she warms them up. "Are you two all right? It's okay, your both safe now. You know, Bloom and Zara, for a set of earthlings, I must admit you both did really well. You were really brave."

"Well then, you should turn around and see the three people who are trying to burn a hole in your head." said Zara. "Metaphorically speaking, of course."

"Stella!" exclaimed Tecna, Musa and Flora.

"Is there anything we should know about Bloom and Zara of Calisto?" Flora asked her.

"Uh, well…" stammered Stella. "I might have been fibbing a bit about the twins' background. I'll explain everything back on the way to Alfea."

"And yet I was planning on getting you each something for however you celebrate your birthdays." Zara said, looking up at them. "But judging on how angry you are, that's out of the question."

"Huh?" the four of them said.

"It's what Zara likes to do for certain people that she gets good vibes from as friends." said Bloom. "She likes to plan ahead."

"Straight up though…..if Tecna's gonna be rude and all, then the ideal gift that I'm actually planning on giving her could always go to Musa." said Zara, smiling as Bloom laughs. Once back at Alfea, the girls were sneaking in.

"All right, the coast is clear." said Stella.

Just before they were able to get to the door, a spotlight was shown upon them and Griselda cleared her throat. "Do you have any idea what time it is?" she asked.

"Young ladies, we were worried sick." said Faragonda. "Go to bed. We'll discuss the rules again in the morning."

"Not so fast, Princesses Veranda and Victoria of Calisto." said Griselda. "Isn't there something you forgot to tell us?"

"That my martial arts teachers back home are more stricter than you are?" Zara bluntly asked. "And that's because they're more understanding."

"Wow." said Flora.

"She's standing up to Griselda." said Stella.

"You need to ease up a little bit on your attitude when dealing with others on the first day of a new school year, especially with new incoming students." said Zara, as Griselda sees that she wasn't backing down. "You want freshmen fairies to come and trust you, not make them nervous during orientation."

"I never thought of that." said Griselda.

"Maybe it's time that you should." said Faragonda, then turns back to the twins for an explanation.

"All right, my name is Bloom. This is my twin sister, Zara. We're from earth." Bloom started to explain.

"We're also identical. Hence the whole question about me and Bloom sharing a room thing here at Alfea." Zara added as Faragonda nodded. "It's okay if you get us mixed up, but keep in mind that Bloom and I do have different personalities once you get to know us. If it means anything, Bloom and I also have different color clothing to help tell us apart."

"Ha! I knew it. You both are not a real set of princesses." said Griselda.

"I guess it's time for two out of six girls, standing before you to pack their bags, take their bunnies and leave Alfea?" asked Zara, staring at the teachers. Griselda and Faragonda looked at her in shocked.

"What? I've been good at this kind of thing for years." said Zara, then gestures between her and Bloom. "I've even managed to guess our grades right when report cards come out."

"She really is." said Bloom.

"Young ladies, you have tricked us." said Griselda.

"You get the luggage; I'll get the bunnies and bo staff." said Zara as Bloom nodded, as they start to walk away.

"Stop." Faragonda said to the twins. "True, but they may still be a set of magical creatures, or the barrier would have kept them out. Now tell me, Bloom and Zara, why didn't you give us your real names?"

"Well, we…." they started to say when Stella cuts in.

"Ma'am, this whole thing was my idea." Stella said, confessing to her.

"It's okay, Stella." said Bloom as Zara nodded. "We come from a small town on Planet Earth…."

"Outside the realm of Magix?" Griselda asked. "Utterly impossible."

"I beg you, don't send us away." Bloom begged as she hugs her twin. "We've always wanted to be fairies with all our hearts and now we can make our dreams come true."

"It'll be okay, Bloom." said Zara, hugging her tightly. "I'm right here with you."

"You lied to us and that is unforgivable." said Griselda.

"But they also have a dream and they both totally believes in it." Faragonda said to her friend. "These two have displayed a great tenacity and isn't that a quality that every fairy should possess?"

"Yes, ma'am." said Griselda. Zara looks down at Griselda's hand that was still in her personal boundaries.

"I also have another question: would it be okay to defend myself?" Zara asked Faragonda. "I feel like my personal space is being invaded."

"You know how to defend yourself? Without magic?" questioned Faragonda, intrigued that Zara had asked. Zara nodded at the headmistress.

"I've been training in different styles of martial arts since I was 11. Our parents thought it would be a good idea." said Zara, then glances at Bloom. Faragonda smiled, then nodded, giving her permission to defend herself.

Zara bows to Griselda before she throws a few punches past Griselda's head then grabs her arm to flip her onto her back. "Hai!" exclaimed Zara, hands together and bows to Griselda again before helping her up.

"Now that's something I want to learn." said Stella.

"Get in line!" said Tecna, Musa and Flora.

"Impressive." Faragonda said to Zara. "And you've learned that?"

"Yes, ma'am. I'm working towards getting a black belt in martial arts." Zara explained.

"Now go to bed." said Faragonda. "And don't make any more noise."

"Yes, ma'am!" the girls said and cheered as they headed off to bed.

"I didn't think there were any fairies left on earth, let alone a set of twin fairies." Faragonda said to Griselda.

"Me neither. I thought they'd all disappeared centuries ago." said Griselda.

"Well then, who are Bloom and Zara?" Faragonda asked herself.

"Who?" The girls asked as Bloom and Zara told them their idea.

"The Winx. Us." they said.

"I mean, if we're going to be a group, we should have a name." Bloom explained.

"It's a thing at all schools on earth have." said Zara.

"Don't you think?" asked the twins.

"Hm?" Kiko asked, thinking for a moment.

"Huh?" said Lavender, watching her brother think.

"Actually, it's not a bad idea." said Tecna, actually thinking about it. "A name is good for a quick reference."

"It's true. The three witches are the Trix." Stella said to the others. "And we could be called something like…the super seven…..the Stella Seven….Oh, I've got it, the airy fairies."

"Oh, god." Zara said, placing a hand on her cheek. "She's really thinking this."

"The….then what?" asked Musa.

"The airy Fairies." Stella repeated herself. "It's short and its sweet and it rhymes. What, you don't like it, Musa?"

"Nah, it sounds terrible." she tells Stella, waving it off.

"I vote for Winx!" said Flora, her hand raised.

"Me too." said Tecna and Musa. Even Zara raised her hand for the vote.

"Perfect." said Bloom as she opens her drawer. "Because you see…..I've already come up with the logo."

"Which I already love because my own twin created it." said Zara as Bloom shows them the logo she created for them.

"Simple, yet catchy." Bloom said with a smile. Kiko snaps his fingers and goes under Bloom's pillow to get out his version of the logo.

"Good try, Kiko." said Zara as she puts his head. Stella walks over and takes a closer look at the logo.

"This looks fantastic." said Stella.

"Yes, but, uh…..what does Winx mean?" asked Tecna.

"Nothing. Just Winx." said Bloom and Zara, making little fireworks with their hands.

Chapter Text

At Alfea, the girls were in Professor Wizgiz's class. "Good morning, everyone." He greeted them. "As usual, it befalls me to kick off the school year. For those of you who haven't met me yet, I am Professor Wizgiz, your teacher of Metamorphosis. Or as I prefer to call it, the art of changing….the way you look."

His voice and outlook turns into Griselda. Other girls in the class was shocked at what he could do and cheered. "Oh, that's nothing." he tells the class. "By year's end, you'll do better than that. And since every ending must have a beginning…." He then brings out mirrors for each of the girls. "let's start with a simple exercise. Concentrate….look in the mirror….look at yourself and think about changing the color of your hair."

Zara tilts her head to the side, thinking about the color of her hair. One girl turns her hair to a shade of honey brown. Bloom and Zara then looks over at Stella before looking back at their mirrors. Closing their eyes, they both thought of changing their hair color blonde only for Bloom's hair to remain the same and Zara's hair turned a shade darker than usual.

"Eh?" said Zara. "That's not what I was going for."

"Huh?" said Bloom, looking at her sister. "You turned a shade darker."

"Yeah, hair wise." said Zara, then turns to her sister. "Besides, I wasn't even trying to make it look darker, Bloom. I was trying to make it lighter."

"Don't worry, Bloom and Zara." Wizgiz tells them. "If at first, you don't succeed, try again." Both girls smiled, wanting to try again.

"Let's try again, okay?" Bloom asked Stella later that day as classes were over.

"Okay, one last time and that's it." said Stella, getting a little frustrated as Flora waters one of her plants. "School's just beginning if you don't get it today, it's not the end of the world."

"We know that, Stella." Zara said, giving her a small smile.

"But where we come from, there's a saying, 'Don't put off till tomorrow what you can do today'." Bloom tells Stella.

"Where I come from, we have no such expression." said Stella. "And we're all much more relaxed."

"It means that you shouldn't procrastinate, Stella." said Zara. "Since Wizgiz gave us the homework, Bloom and I want to make sure that we get the ideal hair transformation right."

"Stella, please?" begged Bloom.

"Great! Now you've done it, Stella!" Zara tells her. "Now you have her using the look that I've only seen on Lavender when she wants more food."

"Oh, all right. But remember, concentrate." said Stella. "Think of a color and imagine your hair starting to change." Zara closes her eyes and takes a deep breath while Bloom closes her eyes and starts to concentrate hard.

"New color spreading slowly from the root to the tip of your hair." Stella tells them.

When Bloom opens her eyes, her bangs were sticking up. "Great! See what I end up with?" she asked Stella, pointing to her hair.

"Bloom, you're not paying attention." said Stella. "You're not concentrating enough."

"Well, at least something happened and that's progress." said Flora. Stella looks at Bloom and starts laughing.

"Uh….guys." said Zara, looking at her hair in the mirror.

"Huh?"

She then leans over and takes a closer look at Zara's hair as Zara looked shocked in the mirror. "Wow….second time's the charm." Bloom tells her, picking up a strand of her sister's now blonde hair.

"Too much?" Zara asked thoughtfully.

"Possibly." said Bloom. Stella starts laughing again, this time at Zara as well.

"Oh, stop laughing." said Flora as she walks over.

"Why should she?" Bloom asked Flora. "Look at this, it's ridiculous."

"We deserved to be laughed at by Stella." said Zara.

"That's not true. All you need is a bit of practice and not look like Stella." Flora said, comforting the twins.

"You know, we never had such a rough day." said Bloom and Zara as the latter's hair color finally returns to normal.

"The first day is always like that." said Stella.

"Girls, can we ask you something." said Bloom.

"Uh-huh."

"Why are you here at Alfea?" they asked.

"Because I really want to be a real fairy, successful, beautiful, powerful and universally admired." Stella said, causing the three to look at each other. "Of course, I want to do good things, like making people happy and bringing back estranged lovers. Starting with my parents."

"I want to become a real fairy too." said Flora. "But I'm here primarily because I really love to learn."

"Oh." Stella groaned and hits Flora with a pillow. "That's such a nerdy answer. What about you and Zara, Bloom?"

"Well…." said Zara, thinking.

"Well, that's the problem." said Bloom. "We have no idea what we're doing here."

"We're still trying to figure that out." Zara added to her sister's train of thought as they went over to the window and looked outside.

The next morning, all of the girls, minus Bloom and Flora were sitting at breakfast. Both of them quickly snuck in, trying to go unnoticed. "Hm." said Griselda, darting her eyes at the two who were now hanging their heads in shame.

"About time. What took you guys so long?" asked Stella.

"My fault." said Bloom. "I overslept."

"Watch out for Mistress Griselda." said Tecna. "Somehow I don't think she's a very nice lady."

"I can fix that." said Zara, referring to Griselda, then points to her sister. "And I told you girls that I should've woken up Bloom."

"Young ladies, your attention please. As is tradition among the Magix schools, the annual Gala in honor of our new students will be held tonight." Faragonda said. "Students of the Alfea College for Fairies and the Red Fountain school for Magicians will gather here in our castle to perform the traditional welcome gift exchange ceremony."

The girls exclaimed as they heard this. "Silence, please." Griselda said, trying to get them to calm down. "Miss Faragonda, our head mistress is speaking. Let's show a little respect."

"Thank you, Griselda." she said. "One more thing I want to say. I am calling on all your creative minds to turn this ordinary looking hall into a festive ballroom. So, today's classes are cancelled. Get to work and make us proud." Over at Cloudtower, classes had already started and the students were in the great hall.

"Attention, please." said one of Cloudtower's teachers, getting their attention. "Here comes our head witchtress, Griffin."

Students were going to their seats as Griffin walks in. "My young witches, I've summoned you here because I have a sad piece of news to share." Griffin said, looking around at her students. "The fairies are hosting a party tonight and once again, the witches of Cloudtower have not been invited."

The students booed and whistled at this, feeling that they should have been offered to go to the party at Alfea.

"Yes, my friends. I agree with you. But this is an opportunity for your to test your cursing skills. It is the duty of every witch in this school to crash this party and wipe the smile off their face." said Griffin, looking up. "They've snubbed us, we'll make them pay. And so I urge you to come up with a way to ruin their little fiesta. Submit your proposals and I'll select one. May the worst witch win."

The young witch students cheered, excited for this assignment. "What do you think? Should we come up with a little scheme?" asked Darcy.

"Why not?" asked Icy.

"Oh, come on. We'd just be wasting our time." said Stormy.

"Trust me, Stormy dear, it'll be fun." Icy said. At Alfea, the girls were not only getting themselves ready, but the school as well.

"Classes are cancelled and this is just our second day." said Tecna.

"What do we have to do for the party?" Bloom asked Stella.

"Yeah." said Zara.

"Easy, Bloom and Zara. Just get ready to have a ball." Stella tells them.

"I'll provide the decorations." said Flora, creating flowers on vines for the hallways as Musa ran up before them.

"And I'll take care of the music." Musa suggested. "I mean, what's a party without dancing?"

"Without music, it would be a boring formal party." said Zara, causing Musa to smile.

"And I'll worry about what to wear because clothes are important too." said Stella and reaches into her closet. "And of course, I refuse to go unnoticed." She then shows off the dress she was holding. "Well, what do you think?"

"It's gorgeous." said Bloom and Zara.

"Mind you, it wasn't cheap, but look at it. It was calling me from the shop window." Stella said. "Buy me, buy me please."

"And of course, you answered its plea." said Musa. "How very noble of you."

"Well, I'm bound to make an impression." said Stella.

"Aha! I can hear the guys from Red Fountain are really cute." said Flora.

"Guys? As if I care about that." said Tecna.

"Then why are you dressed up like an absolute diva?" asked Musa.

"That's beside the point." Tecna tells her. "You attend a ceremony, you dress accordingly."

"Yeah, sure." said Stella.

"Um, sorry. But do you think they'll let us in dressed like this?" Bloom asked as she and Zara stood up in their normal clothes.

"Yeah, because honestly...what you girls have on would be considered to be worn by political people, picture day, or funeral getup for us." said Zara. "Or in my case, a martial arts uniform."

"Oh, Bloom, Zara." said Flora, feeling bad for the two.

"Neither of you don't have a dress?" asked Stella. "No problem. There's a solution to everything and in this case, it's called shopping."

"Bloom can be the model due to us being the same size." Zara tells Stella as they headed into Magix. The first store they entered, Bloom came out of the dressing room, wearing a light and dark pink dress with Zara standing next to her.

Flora smiles and nodded, thinking that it would look great on both of them, but Tecna shook her head in distaste. The next store, the twins looked inside when Stella grabs them by their hands and dragged them into the store.

Bloom tries on a yellow dress with Zara standing next to her when Stella gave her opinion to the store owner. "How about this one?" Bloom asked, walking out with the next dress that was blue.

The others gave her a thumbs up and Bloom looks down at the price. "Oh….too expensive." she said and heads back into the dressing room.

"I'll pay for it." Stella offered, but Flora stops her.

"No, Stella. You might offend them." said Flora.

"Thanks for the offer, Stella." Zara said, then hugs her. "We know you mean well for this."

"Now what?" Bloom asked as they stood outside the store.

"Well…." said Musa.

"It's getting kind of late, you two." said Stella.

"Yeah, we've got to get back to Alfea." said Tecna.

"You'll be alright?" Flora asked, concerned about the twins.

"Don't worry. We'll find something." said Bloom.

"We'll catch up with you later." said Zara as they headed in different directions.

"At least I hope so. The cheapest dress we've seen so far costs our entire weekly allowance for the next 10 years." Bloom tells Zara as they ran to the shop, they had seen the two dresses in. "Eureka! A Sale!"

As the others were back at Alfea, they started getting ready while Bloom and Zara went to a sales rack, finding two dresses. As the others continued to get ready, Zara had found the dress she was looking for while Bloom went through a sales bin.

Once the twins bought what they needed, they headed back to Alfea. At Cloudtower, the Trix brought their proposal to Griffin. "I've received many suggestions but none as disgusting as yours." said Griffin, unsure about their idea. "It's a horrible idea, terrible, despicable. In others words….it's the best. Well done, you three. Great start to the year."

Stormy and Darcy were shocked as Icy stayed calm. "Thanks, professor." she said, smiling at her.

"Now, please don't disappoint me." Griffin said, walking behind the Trix.

"We'll get to work right away, ma'am." said Darcy.

"You can be sure we won't fail." said Icy. "Tonight, you'll sleep with the sound of crying fairies."

Running towards the gate, Bloom and Zara were trying to make it. "The party's about to start and we still have to fix our dresses." said Bloom.

"Ya think?" asked Zara as they made it to their room as Kiko and Lavender were sleeping on Bloom's bed.

"Kiko, Lavender, you've got to help us." said Bloom as they rushed in. "Both of these dresses are way too long."

"Bloom….how are we going to alter the dresses?" Zara asked.

"Scissors….scissors….I need a pair of scissors." Bloom said as she tears the room apart while Zara takes Kiko off her dress, to keep him from biting it.

"Kiko! No!" said Zara, pulling the blue bunny away from the material.

"Huh" Bloom then walks over to her sister and their bunnies. "Kiko, I don't think that would work." she tells him. Suddenly, Kiko had given her an idea. "You thinking what I'm thinking?"

"Oh yeah." said Zara, smiling widely. They both aimed at their dresses and started cutting the ends with magic.

"Tada! It works." they said.

"Hey, what's going on?" Bloom asked as she walks towards the door, unaware that she had accidentally started a fire on her bed that Zara was trying to put out. They went over to the window to see the Specialists walking through campus.

"Oh, Brandon, Sky, Xander, Riven….they're all here." said Bloom. "And we're late. Huh?"

"A little help here!" Zara called out as she tries to put out Bloom's dress. Kiko and Lavender start screeching as Zara and Bloom starts putting out the fire with their pillows.

"What a disaster." said Bloom as they both finally put the fire out. "If only I had scissors."

"Don't you get the feeling that Brandon and Xander look at us differently?" asked Zara.

"No, I don't think so." said Bloom. "Why?"

"I just think that they're cute." said Zara. "It's like they see something special in us. I could be reading too much into it, but it feels... I don't know, charged?"

"Charged? Wow, that's a strong word. But I guess I can see how you'd think that. They do seem to reserve different looks for us compared to, like, the other girls." Bloom tells her as they left their bedroom to go search for scissors.

"Whenever you really need something, you can never find it." Bloom complained.

Underground, the Trix found the passageway for Alfea. "Hey! This is it." said Icy, using her flashlight in the tunnel. "What did I tell you? These tunnels have been abandoned for centuries. Back then, they connected the three schools and were used in emergencies."

"The entrance to Alfea is straight ahead." said Darcy, holding her flashlight to see the map.

"We're almost there then." said Stormy.

"Right." said Icy as they continued walking. "Let the fun begin."

"This is ridiculous." said Bloom. "We can't even find a simple pair of scissors."

"Even though this is a school for fairies, they should at least keep a pair of scissors on hand for things like this." said Zara.

"Let's go check in the storeroom." said Bloom.

"Good idea." Zara said, nodding as they went in that direction.

"Now which way do we go?" asked Darcy, unknowing that Bloom and Zara were heading downstairs.

"Don't ask me, you're the one with the map." said Icy.

"You're hearing exactly what I'm hearing, right?" Zara asked her twin.

"I sure do. I recognize those three voices." said Bloom.

"Me too." said Zara. "Please tell me that I'm wrong." They ran back up the stairs, gasping as they hid from the Trix.

Stormy looks behind her and sees a chest. "Hey look, the Red Fountain coat of arms." she said. "The gifts must be in there."

Around the corner, Bloom and Zara were hiding. "I wonder what those simpletons are going to give the fairies." said Darcy.

"Whatever they are, we'll use them to wreak havoc and spread panic." said Icy. "That'll give us a chance to get the ring. Come on, Darcy. Show us where it is, go."

"With pleasure, sister." said Darcy. "Illusion! Show the Trix!"

Using the Illusion spell, Darcy takes a look of where Stella's ring is. "But….it's Stella." said Bloom as Zara was confused. The spell reveals that Stella placed her ring inside the chest.

"Great. Now we know where to find it." said Icy, seeing how Stella placed it inside the chest. "Come on, Stormy. Time to do your thing."

"At last." she said, casting a spell to open the chest and grabbed one of twenty-three golden eggs. "Aw, enchanted little eggs."

"How tacky." Icy said, frustrated by this. "Anyway, it's time that we prepare our own surprise." The Trix raised their hands in the air and starts casting their spell. "These presents shall become snake rat eggs."

"Which will hatch at the touch of a fairy." chanted Darcy.

"And spread terror all over." chanted Stormy.

Soon after, they casted the spell on the eggs. "Goodness, no." said Bloom as she and Zara turned away. The design on the golden eggs changed into spiral and the Trix were finished with their work.

"Well, done sisters." said Icy.

"Now let's get out of here." said Darcy.

They walked over to a wall and Icy created a portal out to Alfea's campus and ran across the lawn. "We'll hide back here so we can enjoy the show." Icy said to her sisters as they hid in the brush.

Inside, they festivities were underway as both fairies and specialists were socializing with each other. "No kidding. I went just like this." One specialist said to the fairy he was talking to.

"I know." she replied. Bloom and Zara entered, taking a look.

"Okay…I'm starting to feel that we're underdressed…" said Zara. "You know….party wise I mean."

"I know but we have to tell Stella." Bloom tells her, then spots their friends. "There they are."

The twins snuck in, trying to be inconspicuous when suddenly, Bloom accidentally bumps into a specialist. "Sorry, sir. My twin wasn't paying attention." Zara said, pulling her sister to her side. "Please forgive us."

"Bloom, Zara, are you two okay?" Brandon asked as Xander walks up next to him.

"Yes, of course." said Bloom.

"Zara …." Xander was about to ask.

"I'm fine, Xander." Zara assures him.

"So happy to see you here." they both said, smiling at the twins.

"Yeah, us too. But we gotta go." said the twins.

"We'll explain later." said Zara as they take off.

"Already?" asked Brandon.

"I did say that we'll explain later." said Zara.

"Girls, yoo-hoo!" Bloom called out.

"We were starting to worry." said Tecna.

"What took you so long?" asked Flora.

"Oh…you'll love this." said Zara as she and Bloom took them to the side.

"This is an emergency. The witches are here." Bloom tells them.

"What are you talking about?" asked Stella.

"Icy, Darcy and Stormy have cast a spell on the presents from Red Fountian." explained Bloom. "We heard them talk about a snake rat."

"Which I'm hoping that it's not the two options I'm picturing of when they appear." said Zara.

"Snake Rat?" asked Tecna. "Let me consult my database."

"Please tell me it's not what I'm picturing, Tecna." Zara said, as Tecna pulls it up.

"Snake rats, swamp creatures of the disgusted billas genies. They eat toads…." Tecna said when Stella interrupted her.

"Thank you, Tecna. We get the picture." she said. "Slimy, vicious and venomous. Like the witches."

"Honestly, seeing them in her database makes me feel a whole lot better than what I was originally picturing." said Zara.

"But what's in it for them?" asked Stella.

"Stella, let me finish." Bloom said. "The witches want to provoke a huge panic and use it as a diversion to get their hands on your ring."

"I don't want to panic, run and deal with venom if bitten." said Zara.

"Hmm. That's quite the sneaky plan." said Musa. "We've got to stop the eggs from being handed out."

"Uhh…Too late. Look!" said Flora, pointing to Timmy and Sky carrying the chest.

"For you ladies, I hope you like them." said Sky.

"Egg surprises." said Musa.

"Yes, and the surprises are very cuddly snake rat." said Bloom and Zara.

"We need a counter spell and fast." said Stella. "Come on, lets form a circle. Repeat after me: What it once was, let it be again."

"What it once was, let it be again." the girls repeated. "What it once was, let it be again. What it once was…"

The Winx started to glow, letting their magic flow towards the eggs and changing them back to what they originally were. Every fairy that opened an egg, revealed golden butterflies the flew into the air. Out in the halls, the girls were out of breath.

"That took a lot out of me." said Zara, panting.

"I hope this egg brings you luck." Sky said, holding up an egg to Stella.

"Huh?" she said, then takes the egg. "I guess I'll find out soon enough if it does or not."

"Let me see." said Musa, taking the egg from her, then looks back at the group. "Flora, are you thinking what I'm thinking by any chance?"

"I am indeed." Flora said. "And I've studied Professor Palladium's lesson very well."

"It's all yours, Flora." said Musa, handing the egg off to her.

"And now, I'll make a little surprise blossom for our three witchy little friends." said Flora, working her magic on the egg.

"What did you do to the egg?" asked Bloom as Zara had a confused look on her face.

"I'll tell you two later." Flora tells them. "Meanwhile, I want you both to run and get changed. It's getting late."

Outside of the school, bamboo froze in front of Darcy, breaking into pieces as Icy growls in anger. "I don't believe this." growled Icy. "The spell didn't work."

"All right let's go see." suggested Stormy.

"Never mind, Stormy. Sooner or later, the ring will be ours." Icy said as she glares at Alfea. "I always get what I want."

Bloom and Zara headed back to their room, to finally get ready. "Twins, hop to it." they said to each other as they ran inside.

"Sorry, Kiko, no time to play." Bloom tells him as he hopped up and down on her bed.

"You know I can't say no to a cuddle with you, Lavender." Zara said as she hops into her arms. Just then, Stella's chest was floating past them.

The four of them gasped as they looked at each other. "Stella's jewelry chest!" said the twins as they ran out of the room to chase after it.

"Whoopsie!" said Bloom as they turned the corner. "We've got to stop it."

"Whoa!" said Zara as they ran out of the room.

"Hey, ho! Get back here you!" they called out, chasing after the jewelry chest. Stella's jewelry starts to shake and opens, as a clam shaped jewel like case floats out of it.

"Good heavens." said Bloom as someone had stopped the spell for Stella's jewelry chest. "This is very strange."

"It's more than just strange, Bloom." Zara tells her. "It's bizarre. Who would want Stella's jewelry chest?"

"Good question." said Bloom. The twins looked up and saw the clam shaped case.

"Stella's ring!" they gasped, seeing the case float away. "It's flying away! Hey! Oh! Whoa! Wait for us!"

Bloom and Zara raced after it, trying to catch up to it. "Where are you going?" they asked.

"Hang on! Someone's coming this way." Icy said to her sisters, hearing Bloom and Zara's footsteps. "And so is the ring."

Both the girls reached out, trying to catch it until Bloom made her attempt. "Gotcha!" said Bloom, grabbing Stella's ring.

"Great job, Bloom." Zara said, smiling at her as she fell to the ground.

"Unbelievable." grumbled Icy, seeing Bloom and Zara on Alfea's lawn. "They're both walking away with the ring."

As the twins walked away, humming, the Trix jumped out from the shadows and revealed themselves. "Nosy little missies. Why can't they mind their own business?"

"Huh? Eh?"

Zara and Bloom turned around to see the Trix behind them. "Uh-oh…." said Bloom, dropping the case as she and Zara walked back. "This isn't good. Where are the others?"

"Probably watching from somewhere that its three against two." said Zara. Looking out through the window, Flora sees the odds.

"Poor Bloom and Zara." said Flora. "The witches have them cornered. Bloom and Zara are in trouble."

Just before the others could answer, Faragonda and Griselda walked up. "Young ladies, it's time to offer our gifts." Faragonda tells them. "Come and join the others and Musa will play something for us."

The four of them felt guilt ridden that they couldn't escape to help Bloom and Zara. Meanwhile, Bloom and Zara were on their own.

"Bloom, it looks like we're on our own for this one." said Zara.

"You sure about that?" she asked.

"Usually, no. But it can be the first time for anything that I could be wrong." said Zara.

"Are you ready, little girls?" asked Stormy. Icy walks up and creates what seems to be an ice rink under the twins. They start running, getting away from the ice and onto solid ground.

Darcy stomps the ground, causing it to shake and split round the twins, while Stormy created a full-on tornado. Zara and Bloom grabbed each other's hands before they started walking off the cliff that Darcy created.

Icy summons the clam case with Stella's ring inside. "May I do the honors?" Icy asked Stormy, who then bows to her.

"Of course." replied Stormy.

"You're on your own this time." Icy said to the twins. "Your friends are not around to help you two."

Icy then uses her ice magic to deal with Bloom and Zara. "So long, little fairies." she said, hoping that they would be gone for good.

"No! We are a set of fairies." Bloom and Zara said as they glared at Icy. "We must not fail. We will succeed."

Suddenly, both girls transformed into their fairy forms. Both of their outfits were the same, but different colors as well as their wings. Orange and blue strands of fire magic surrounded their bodies.

"Wow, we've transformed." said Bloom.

"I like it." said Zara, seeing that her outfit was her favorite burgundy color.

"Looks like we're evenly matched." they said to the Trix.

"That's an awfully cute set of fairy outfits." said Icy. "Too bad you'll need more than that to win against us."

"Well said, little sister." said Darcy. "Vertigo!"

"What's going on?" Bloom asked. "I'm all dizzy."

"Not me." said Zara, her eyes closed shut and quickly grabs Bloom's hand. "We gotta get creative here, Bloom."

"Right. We must offset the witches' spell." said Bloom. "But of course! Come on, Zara."

She then squeezes her sister's hand as they both fly up into the sky. "Fairies can fly." said Zara and Bloom. "And up here, spells of illusion have no effect."

Darcy growls at this, forgetting that fairies can do that. "You've got a problem, Darcy?" Icy asked her as Stormy looks up at a glaring set of twins. "Nasty little set of twin fairies. Ice Prison!"

Ice sticks up and crossed each other, causing Bloom and Zara to dodge them. "Frost Bite!" said Stormy, appearing through the ice and blows them both down, into the bamboo chute.

"Now, let's put the icing on the cake." said Icy, ready to deal with them once and for all. "Iceberg!"

Icy laughs, finally putting an end to Bloom and Zara. "Hey, we've got the ring." she said, realizing that the twins were no longer in the way. "Let's get out of here." She snaps her fingers and the Trix were gone.

Unknown to the Trix, Bloom and Zara escaped Icy's attack. "We did it. Just in time." said Bloom.

"Yeah. It's better to be warm than to be an iceberg." said Zara as they dust themselves off.

"Bloom! Zara!" Stella called out.

"Bloom! Zara!" said Flora. "Goodness, are you girls, okay?"

"Yes, we're still in one piece." said Bloom.

"We don't have any broken bones or anything." said Zara.

"But where were you all?" they asked.

"We couldn't get away from the headmistress." Tecna explained. "Is everything all right?"

"We did manage to get away from them." said Bloom as they looked over their shoulders.

"You know, you ran quite a risk." said Tecna.

"I know, but they have Stella's ring." Bloom tells her. "Zara and I were just trying to get it back."

"Don't worry, you two." said Flora. "The ring is perfectly safe."

"What do you mean? Tell us." said Bloom.

"Don't keep us in suspense, Flora." said Zara.

Back in their room, Bloom and Zara were working on their dresses. "We've got to hurry up." Bloom said.

"I'm hurrying as fast as I can." said Zara, poking herself by accident. "Ow! I poked myself."

"A little snip here…..a little stitch there…and the finishing touch." they said, finally finishing their dresses. "There, ready for the party."

Kiko and Lavender giggled as they shook their heads as their owners. Once they arrived, everyone was in shocked. "Wow!" the crowd said as they walked in. Even Faragonda approved of their dresses.

"How do we look?" they asked their friends.

"Beautiful as a spring flower." said Flora.

"You know, you never told us what you did to the egg." said Bloom.

"We're curious to know." said Zara.

"Simple." said Flora. "While you two were getting dressed, I did a little switcheroo with the egg and the ring. Which now lies in a safe place. Right, Stella?"

"Right." said Stella.

"Flora, you creative girl." said Zara, grinning at her roommate.

"I'd love to see Icy's face when she opens the shell, and a swarm of beautiful butterflies comes out instead of that ring she's so desperately been trying to get her paws on." said Bloom.

"Well, that's not quite how it's going to go." said Flora.

"Still, it's going to be funny." said Stella. At Cloudtower, Icy opens the small box which reveals the egg Flora had placed in there.

"Hmm, what is this?" Icy asked, taking the egg out. "Maybe the ring's hidden inside." She then shakes the egg and hears something moving around in the egg. "Something's in here, that's for sure. Hmm, I can hear a thumping sound."

Stormy and Darcy walked over as Icy growls in anger. Out of nowhere, the egg opens, revealing a baby duck to Icy. "Huh?" asked Icy as the baby imprints on her.

"What's that?" asked Darcy.

"Quack, quack! Mommy!" it said, seeing Icy as its mom.

"Ma…Mommy?" Icy questioned the duck, confused by it.

"Quack, quack! Mommy!" the baby duck said again as Icy backs away from it, causing it to follow her.

It then starts giving her a kiss on the cheek. "Mommy!"

"Oh! I hate him, I hate him!" shouted Icy.

At the party, Bloom and Zara watched everyone dance when suddenly they were tapped on their shoulders. "Hi." they said, shyly, looking up at Brandon and Xander.

"Um…would the both of you like to dance?" Brandon asked.

"Oh, okay." said Bloom.

"It's okay if you don't want to." said Xander.

"We would love to dance." said Zara.

Both boys took the twins out onto the dance floor for a dance. "Now, neither one of you wouldn't run away now, will you?" Brandon asked.

"We won't." said Bloom.

"I hope that I wouldn't have to chase you down again." said Xander.

"You won't have to." added Zara as he spins her around on the dance floor.

Chapter Text

Across the lake and deep in the woods, Professor Palladium took his class near the swamp. "So, as I was saying….today's exercise will be difficult." said Palladium.

"Professor Palladium, a mosquito just bit me." one fairy complained.

"Yes, we are near a swamp and it's just a mosquito." he tells her as another fairy giggles. "It's no big deal."

"Look where it got me." she tells him, showing him the mark.

"Oh my!" he said, backing away.

"Oh my god." muttered Zara as Palladium, frightened by this.

"Well, what I meant was, uh, to be short and to the point." Palladium said, looking away from the young fairy.

"Poor professor." Bloom said to Stella and Zara. "They shouldn't give him a hard time."

"I feel bad for him already. He's surrounded by teenage girls and their hormones." said Zara. "It must be overwhelming."

"To be more confident, he'd gets more respect." said Stella.

"Is it too early for me to have a crush on the man?" asked Zara as Bloom, who had a smile on her face, softly hits her sister.

"You just met him, Zara! Let's not scare him off with your crush just yet!" Bloom playfully said.

"Oh, come on! He's kind of cute in a 'clumsy professor' way." Stella said, causing them both to giggle.

"A good fairy must be able to listen to what nature tells her. Today's exercise is to put your skills to the test. Now, you've been put into groups so we're ready to begin." Palladium explains. "You have three hours to get out of Black Mud swamp and reach the clearing of gloomy wood forest without using magic. Remember, listen carefully to the voice of nature and follow its advice."

He then takes off and meets them in the clearing. The Winx went off in one direction, heading into the swamp water. All but Zara were disgusted by the feeling. "This place is…oh, totally disgusting." Stella commented.

"Oh, yes dear." Musa teased Stella. "All this mud is so very inconvenient."

"I don't know if you realize it, but we're knee deep in what I would refer to as a problematic mud puddle." said Tecna.

"It may be a mud puddle to you, but it's all just muddy swamp water." said Zara, walking past Tecna as she waves her arms at the girl. "It's not gonna physically hurt you. Unless you get an allergic reaction from the contents, but that's another thing."

"All right you guys, take cover." Tecna tells them, raising her hands in the air. "I'll handle this."

"No, Tecna, don't!" Bloom called out and then smelled the air. "We have to listen to nature. I smell something, what is it?"

Stella and Zara do the same thing. "He said, 'Listen', not smell." said Stella. "Smells like…."

"Smells like gas. Let's get out of here." said Musa. The girls ran and hid behind a fallen log, peering at the swamp. Bloom picked up a small tree branch, aiming it for the swamp.

"Okay, let's see." she said, tossing it at the growing bubble, making it pop. It releases a blue mist as several others popped as well. "See? A single spark and we would have been toast my friend."

"On top of that, your parents would be planning your funeral." added Zara as she walks up to Tecna. "To which we all know that I don't have a eulogy prepared for yet."

"Oh, yes." Flora said, understanding. "We took a big risk."

"Especially you, Tecna. I would have sent you my dress maker's bill." said Stella as they all laughed, trying to put her at ease.

At Cloudtower, the Trix returned to their room in frustration. "Free at last!" said Stormy. "I can't stand another one of Zarathustra's lessons."

"Knut, you stupid ogre! Where are you?" Darcy asked, looking for him. She then hears something rustling in the closet. "Hmm?"

"I'm in here." he said as Darcy walks over and growls. "Uh, can I come out now? My…uh…my foot is asleep."

"Let him out, Darcy." said Icy when a weird smell came out of the closet.

"What a stench!" she said in disgust, pinching her nose.

"Guess I shouldn't have eaten those beans." said Knut.

"Never mind the beans, Knut. You always smell awful." said Darcy.

"We got to find him a hiding place with better ventilation." Stormy said.

"You've got to be more careful, Knut." Darcy tells him. "Nobody must know that you're here."

"School regulations are clear when it comes to beasts, animals or other pets." said Icy, looking at her not pet duck, Pepe.

"Quack! Mommy, mommy!" he said, going to her.

"As I was saying," she said, picking up Pepe. "We've got to be more careful. We already broke one rule today by making ourselves invisible to skip a class."

"But we're witches, aren't we?" Stormy asked. "We're supposed to break rules."

"Ulch! Now you….did you just forget to use telepathy to send your message, or did you want everybody to know about it?" asked Icy.

"Forgive me, my highness." Knut said, twiddling his fingers. "But I had an urgent message and, uh, I was hiding near the Red Fountain school, just like you told me to you know…and….."

"And?" questioned Darcy.

"And I heard that the Specialists were bringing my hunting troll to Magix today to be turned over to the police and then he'll be sent to the Septonian prison." said Knut.

"What a useless beast." said Icy. "He couldn't manage to take Stella's scepter."

"Talk about useless." said Stormy. "He got caught up in the house of Bloom and Zara, a set of Earthling twins, and if they question him, he'll spill the beans. He'll tell all about us and we'll be in trouble."

"Relax, Stormy." said Icy. "Here's a way out of this. We'll free the troll, we'll take advantage of his little trip to magix to get rid of him, forever."

The Specialists were in the owl, flying over the forest and had Knut's hunting troll in their portable prison cell. "You know, Sky…." Brandon said, turning to his squire. "I have a strange feeling, it's as if something's about to happen."

"Something fun, or really bad?" Sky asked.

"I don't know….something." said Brandon.

"Relax, you guys." said Riven. "As you can see, I have complete control over this aircraft."

"Oh, yeah?" asked Sky.

"You bet and don't you ever forget to call me captain." said Riven.

"I will never call you captain." Xander tells him as Riven rolls his eyes.

Timmy walks in, taking a seat next to Xander. "How's it going back there?" Riven asked Timmy.

"All right. The prisoner is calm." replied Timmy. Just then, the aircraft starts to get out of control. "Oops! Maybe I spoke too soon."

"I don't think so, Timmy." said Xander.

"What was that?" asked Brandon.

"It's coming from outside." Sky tells him. "Something's out there."

"What are you talking about?" questioned Riven. "That's impossible." He then uses the control panel to see what was going on with the aircraft. "The sensors don't pick up anything."

The owl starts spinning out of control and past the Winx. "Look!" Bloom said, pointing to where the Specialists were heading down. "A Red Fountain aircraft!"

"Follow the smoke line!" Zara called out as she points at the line of smoke above them. "It'll lead us to the Specialists."

"Let's go see." said Stella as they followed the line of smoke from the aircraft.

"Hurry! They might need help!" Bloom cried out. In the swamp, the Winx ran towards the Specialists.

"You guys, okay?" asked Flora.

"Isn't it rather obvious?" asked Riven. Musa became nervous around him as he gives her a weird look, causing her to giggle a bit.

"We're all safe and sound." said Sky as he looks up at the aircraft and sees the damage. "Oh, no! Where's the troll?"

"He's escaped!" said Brandon.

"A troll? What do you mean?" asked Flora.

"You guys were transporting a troll and you let him escape?" asked Tecna.

"We didn't let anyone escape." Riven said, defensively. "There was an accident. We lost altitude…."

"And mechanical failure." said Timmy.

"Anyhow there's nothing to worry about." Riven assures the Winx. "He's handcuffed."

Sky turns around and sees the handcuffs in the swamp water. "Riven, look what I just found in the sludge." said Sky.

"Oh, no!" said Bloom.

"So…. he was handcuffed, huh?" Zara asked Riven, crossing her arms at him. "I wonder how that troll got them off without one of you doing it."

"Your guess is as good as ours, Zara." said Xander.

"What are you guys doing around here?" asked Brandon.

"We're in a middle of an assignment, Brandon." answered Bloom.

"Then get back to your assignment and don't worry about a thing." said Riven. "Leave it to the Specialists."

"The Specialists are going to be here? When?" Stella asked, trying to be cute when Riven groans.

"We're right here, you silly little girl." said Riven, frustrated with Stella when Sky walks up.

"What Riven means is that perhaps it would be best that you go back to Alfea while we try to capture that animal." said Sky.

"We don't need your editorial comments, your highness." Riven tells Sky.

"And we don't need to be told what to do." said one of the Alfea fairies. "We'll take care of this on our own."

"You do what you got to do, but don't say we didn't warn you." said Riven. "Come on, guys, let's get to work. We got a troll to capture."

"Now what do we do?" Bloom asked.

"Ooh! You at least let me side swipe Riven so that he's flat on his back?" asked Zara, coming up with an idea. "Always works with my opponents back home."

"What?" Riven questioned, wondering why she would do that.

"Oh….I would love to see that happen." said Xander, eyes widen in excitement as he turns to Riven

"If he gets an attitude again, you have permission to do it." said Tecna, causing Zara to grin from ear to ear.

"This is a good day." Zara said.

"Maybe we should go with the guys and help them find the troll." suggested Stella.

"No, I don't think it's a good idea." said Flora. "I say we get back to the assignment we've been given."

"We all know that troll." Stella said, looking at Bloom and Zara. "He's a wild beast. Sky and the others could be in mega problems."

"Okay. If you all think so." said Flora.

"Well, one thing's for sure." Tecna said. "Something's strange is going on here. Have you seen the hole in the fuselage? The aircraft was hit in flight."

"So, I guess someone helped him escape." said Flora.

"I'm afraid you're right." said Tecna.

"In that case, we don't have much choice, do we?" asked Flora.

"Nope." said Zara, stretching her arms and cracking her neck. "But we gotta do it." The Winx walked over to the Specialists and Tecna explains what she thinks happened.

"The impact knocked out the stabilizer…" Tecna said to Sky.

"And whoever did that, must have dealt with the handcuffs too." Musa chimed in.

"It's a psychic lock." Tecna explained. "To be able to open it, you need mental powers."

"Hey girls, check this out." said Bloom as Zara takes a closer look at the footsteps in the ground. "The troll's footprints. Notice anything?"

"Oh, yeah, that guy's got feet the size of an ocean liner." commented Stella.

"Huge feet that leave no prints." said Musa. "See, they become less and less visible and then they totally disappear."

"But the ground's still soft." said Flora. "How do you explain that?"

"What we're seeing, Flora, is basically like seeing animal tracks in the snow." said Zara, then shows the nature fairy the tracks. "After the first snow fall, animals would leave tracks until it starts snowing again, causing the tracks to be covered in freshen snow to disappear from sight. In this case….."

"It's as if the troll was on an ultrasonic weight loss plan." said Stella.

"It's as if the troll found a way to gradually achieve a state of weightlessness." said Musa.

"Exactly." said Zara, standing back up and looked at the others. "I bet someone's trying to cover their tracks with this hunting troll."

"Well, this sounds a bit like a flying spell." said Flora.

"Yeah, but trolls can't cast spells." Tecna said, logically.

"So that means someone helped him." said Bloom. "Let's tread carefully. Who knows what's in this swamp."

"Agreed." said Zara.

"Come on, girls." they said, leading them on the trail.

"Finding a troll in a swamp has turned out harder than I thought." said Tecna.

"He could be absolutely anywhere." said Flora.

"The silence is eerie." said Musa. "The swamps absorb every sound."

"It's a good thing the silence helps us focus." said Bloom.

"So, we can listen to the voice of nature." said Flora.

"Not that again." groaned Tecna. "I don't hear anything."

"That's because you're not trying hard enough, Tecna." said Zara as she closes her eyes and used her ears to hear the sounds around her. In the distance, they heard birds chirping.

"So, did mother nature suggest anything to you?" she asked.

"Birds, at least 15-20 yards out in that direction." Zara said, pointing to her left.

"Show off." said Tecna.

"I wasn't showing off." said Zara, giving Tecna an indicated look. "I was using the echoes of the birds to determine how far out they were. Incoming."

"No kidding." said Musa as the birds flew over ahead.

"When you meditate for an hour and a half every day," Zara said to Tecna. "you start to become invisible to people. Family members, not included."

"You know, I think I'll take your offer up on meditation." said Flora as Zara smiled.

"I'd start over there." Bloom said, pointing in the direction of the swamp forest.

"Why? What's there?" asked Stella.

"I don't know about Zara, I'm not keen on going myself." said Bloom. "But I really feel that's the right way."

"You're feeling about this path isn't off, Bloom." said Zara, causing her to smile.

"Yeah, I'm feeling it too." added Flora. "It is the right path."

"Come on, this way." said Bloom and Zara as they followed the path that was calling to them.

"I just hope we don't regret this." said Tecna, looking back for a moment.

"Hey." Riven said to the other Specialists. "These branches are alive."

"That's impossible, Riven." Timmy said as the branches were wrapping themselves around the boys. "No form of animal life could survive here."

"And why not"" he asked.

"There's nothing for animals to eat here." Timmy explained.

"We can see that, Timmy." Xander said sarcasm in his voice.

"Are you absolutely sure about that?" Brandon asked.

"Positive. But I'm beginning to have some serious doubts." said Timmy.

"Okay, do any of you have ideas of how to get out of this?" Xander asked.

"Only one. Help!" shouted Timmy, hoping that someone would hear him.

"Don't make any noise." Flora said as they walked through the swamp forest. "I recognize these plants. They're quietus carnivorous, they hate noise."

"Really? I find it hard to believe." said Stella, then whistled. "See? Nothing's happened."

Suddenly, Stella screams as the plant grabs her by the legs. "Shh! Don't move." Bloom said as she and Zara walked over to her. Stella became quiet as Zara grabs the blonde from under her arms.

"Dear, oh, dear." said Flora as Stella coughs up some dirt. "Will you keep your mouth shut from now on?"

"Help!" Timmy shouted.

"Stop yelling, Timmy. I can't think straight!" said Riven.

"Aw, there you are." Stella said quietly as the Winx found the boys.

"Keep whispering, by all means." Riven said to the girls. "You wouldn't want to upset the digestive process of these plants."

"Keep your voice down you dummy." said Musa.

"Otherwise, I'll do more to you than just flipping you onto your back." added Zara.

"Everything's okay, little plants." Flora calmly said to the plant. "You can relax." The boys struggled for a moment until quietus carnivorous released them from its roots. As they walked away, Brandon and Xander walked up to the twins.

"I'm….we're really glad to see the two of you again, Bloom." said Brandon.

"You know, Zara …." Xander said as Zara placed a strand of hair behind her ear. "I think it's cute when you do that."

"Ahem." Stella said, interrupting the moment. "You can speak normally now. We're out of danger."

"I think we should all look for the troll together at this point." Bloom suggested. "What do you guys say?"

"I….I would do it, Bloom." said Zara, blushing as she shyly looks away from Xander.

"Well, I'm okay with it." said Flora.

"I refuse to team up with fairies." said Riven.

"Zara!" Tecna and Musa said.

"Oh, I'm so going to have a little fun with this." said Zara.

"What's she going to do?" Riven asked as she walks up to him.

"You'll see…." said Tecna as Zara smiles. Zara bows to Riven in respect then punches him hard in the chest, then does a high kick, causing Riven to fall on his butt.

"One does not need to shout to be heard; true strength whispers." said Zara, bowing again before she walks away.

"That was awesome." said Xander, smiling at her as he helps Riven up.

"Thank you." she replied.

"You're on your own then, buddy. And if you find the troll, just give us a shout." said Sky, then pats Riven on his shoulder. "Cause I'm not going to get beat up by one redheaded fairy by refusing to join forces."

Both Winx and Specialists started going through the swamp. Sky goes to jump onto solid pieces of land with Timmy following suit, only for him to fall into the swamp water. Brandon, Xander, Bloom, Zara and Tecna laughed at his misfortune as Riven somewhat glares.

"First, we've got fairies to look after and now we've got clumsy Timmy as well." Riven whined.

"Riven, you've gone too far." said Brandon.

"You're just Prince Sky's yes man, Brandon." Riven shot back. "Why don't you go clean up his stables."

"Riven, enough!" shouted Xander, towering over him with determination on his face.

"You're insulting, Riven." said Brandon.

"So? What are either of you two going to do about it?" he asked, challenging the two. "You're both off the team, buddies. Is that clear?"

"You think you're better than everyone, don't you?" asked Zara. "No one should be better than others. I believe in lifting others up, not looking down on them."

"No one should be better than others." Xander echoed, emphasizing the importance of equality as he shared Zara's sentiment.

"All right, let's go find that troll." said Riven, finally giving in as they all glared at him.

"That one looks good." Timmy said, spotting a small land piece that looked solid enough to hold their weight.

"Thanks." said Tecna, taking the leap onto the small mass. Musa and Stella followed suit as the land pieces they were on moved around a bit.

"I know this sounds crazy, but I think these clumps of turf are moving." said Stella.

"We were thinking the exact same thing." said Bloom and Zara as they looked down at the ground.

"You can all stop thinking now." said Tecna. "because these clumps of turf are moving for real."

Just like Tecna said, the clumps of turf were actually moving and were heading for a magical whirlpool. "What's going on?" asked Musa.

"Well, it's a whirlpool." said Brandon. "We've got to get out of here, now."

"Great, there's a whirlpool in the swamp." Zara said, sarcastically. "What will Magix think of next."

Stella falls back into Sky's arms. "Oh….Sky." said Stella, smiling at him.

"Careful not to fall in the water, okay, you guys?" said Brandon. "We get trapped in the whirlpool." Hopping around on the turfs, everyone stayed afloat until Riven fell into the water.

"Riven!" Brandon said, looking back as Tecna grabs his hands.

"Gotcha! Hold on, Riven." she said, trying to pull him away from the whirlpool.

"Don't let go of me." he tells her when suddenly the whirlpool tries to pull her in. Timmy then grabs a hold of Tecna's feet.

"Someone help me." groaned Timmy as he held onto Tecna's feet. "I can't hang on much longer."

Everyone grabs a hold, pulling Timmy, Tecna and Riven back to shore. "Come on, guys. Let's go." said Riven. "We got a troll to catch. We lost too much time already."

"Huh?" Timmy, Brandon and Xander looked at each other in confusion, shrugging it off.

They then start looking for the troll until they came to a stop. "We found him." Riven said, spotting the hunting troll, several feet in front of them. Suddenly, Bloom and Zara heard a familiar scream.

"That's Amaril." they said.

"The fairies of Alfea are in danger." said Brandon. Peering through the bushes, they see the troll about to attack Amaril and her friends.

"The girls are trapped." said Bloom. "We've got to do something before the troll starts making trouble."

Zara looks at her twin, wondering what they could do. "What do you think we should do, oh wise one?" she asked.

"We've got to be quick and to the point." said Sky. "Number one: find a way to distract the troll."

"Oh." gasped the Winx.

"I hope your plan also has a number two?" asked Stella.

"Of course." said Sky. "Brandon, Xander and Timmy will get a hold of him, then Riven and I will slip the handcuffs on him. Any complaints? All right then, let's do it."

"Hey you, big bully!" Bloom and Zara called out. "Remember us?"

The hunting troll turns around and sees the Winx, then roars at them. "Come and get us, doo-doo head."

"Come on, quick!" shouted Sky as he, Xander and Brandon grabbed his legs and back. "What are you waiting for? Cuff him!"

"I've got him! Just hold tight, Sky!" Xander shouted.

"Easier said than done." said Brandon. "He's not going down without a fight!"

"Then we fight back! Just keep him steady!" Sky said, shifting his grip to get a better grip.

"We can't let him get away! Focus, Brandon!" said Xander. The hunting troll roars again in anger as he tries to get the Specialists off of him.

"Hurry up, you guys!" Timmy cried out. "I can't hold on!" The hunting troll lifted Brandon and Riven off the ground, tossing them into the air. Bloom and Zara gasped as somehow the handcuffs were on Timmy's wrists.

"Great. We've lost him again." said Brandon, taking the cuffs off of Timmy. "What a good job we did."

"Don't worry, we'll catch him next time." Zara said reassuringly as the troll disappears from them.

"So, you guys are the Specialists, huh?" asked Amaril. "Specialists in what, botchery?"

She and her friends laughed as they ran away. "That's the thanks we get." Brandon said, looking at Riven.

The hunting troll continued his way towards freedom. Meanwhile, Brandon and Xander were sitting on a log as Bloom and Zara walked up to them. "Brandon…. Xander…." they both said, looking at them.

"Oh, hi….it's you two." the boys said, looking up at them.

"You know, even though you lost the troll again, what you both did back there was very nice." said Bloom.

"In our eyes, it was very brave of you." said Zara.

"That's nice of you to say, Bloom." said Brandon. "But you both know it's not true."

"Thank you for trying to cheer us up, Zara." said Xander.

"You guys saved those ungrateful fairies from the troll." said Bloom.

"Bloom, Zara, your friends weren't really far off the mark you know…." said Brandon. "We're not Specialists, we're rookies."

"But…." they both said.

"The only thing we do really well together is argue." said Brandon.

"Which is constantly." said Xander.

The twins gave out a small laugh as Zara shakes her head. "Sounds like us, Bloom." said Zara.

With the others, Riven glares at Sky as he argues. "Don't try to blame me, Sky." said Riven, pointing a finger at him. "I'm not the one who handcuffed Timmy."

"What? You had the handcuffs." said Sky.

"Who me?!" questioned Riven.

"All right, that's enough!" Timmy shouted at the two. "If we can't work as a team, we'll never be able to capture the troll."

"You're right." Sky said, agreeing with Timmy. "We've got to work together. If not, we're never going to succeed." He then turns to Riven. "Should we try again?"

"All right." said Riven, laughing as he held out his hand.

"Gotcha." said Sky. Tecna smiles, proud that Timmy spoke up. Brandon smiled as he walks over to his friends. "Riven and I have called a truce."

"I'd prefer everlasting peace, but I can live with." said Brandon.

"So can I." said Xander. Zara was confused by Brandon as her brow furrowed.

Deep in the swamp, the Trix were waiting for the hunting troll. "I knew it! I knew it!" said Stormy, already tired of waiting.

"You've got to learn how to chill out, Stormy." Icy tells her. "Everything is under control, alright?"

"But it could be lost." said Darcy.

"Impossible." said Icy. "If a troll picks up a scent, he never loses it."

"Maybe he got stuck in the quick sands." said Darcy.

"But our antigravity spell." said Stormy. "That would have kept him from sinking."

"What if that made him lose the scent?" questioned Icy. "But then, I never hatched a plan that's not perfect."

"Mommy! Mommy!" squeaked Pepe, trying to get Icy's attention. "Mommy! Mommy! Mommy!"

"What? Wretched creature." she said, freezing Pepe's body except his feet, which causes him to hop forward towards her.

"Huh?"

"Well, well….look who's here." Icy said, seeing the hunting troll approach them.

"At last. You made it" said Stormy. "We gave you freedom and you did as you were told and now you must return to Oblivion. Goodbye, troll, our secret vanishes with you."

"Huh?" growled the hunting troll, confused as the Trix sends him back to Oblivion.

"Mission accomplished." said Stormy.

"Now, let's go back to Cloudtower." said Icy and teleports away.

"And now what do you hear?" Brandon asked Bloom.

"It's not a sound, more like a feeling." said Bloom.

"Like the feeling I always get when people watch me from a distance." said Zara.

"You mean, like that day when you saw Griselda watching us go into town?" asked Musa.

"Yep. I may have crossed my eyes at her." said Zara.

"You didn't." said Xander as Zara nodded.

"I couldn't help it." Zara said. "I sensed her watching us from across campus. Made me feel uncomfortable."

"It's something you can't hear with your ears; you feel it inside." said Flora.

"Well, then, you think that this should be the right path?" asked Sky.

"Relax, I've learned that in these situations, Bloom and Zara can't be beat." said Tecna.

"Hmm." said Zara as they came to a stop.

"We've reached the end of the road." said Bloom

"But there's no one here." said Sky.

"Yeah, but there was at one point." said Zara. "Who was here to deal with the troll, that's the question."

"I don't know what to say." Bloom said, looking at her sister. "We both sense nothing."

"There's negative energy in this part of the swamp." said Stella.

"I feel it too." said Tecna. "As if someone cast a spell here."

"Someone cast a spell to make the troll disappear?" questioned Sky.

"First, they helped him escape." Musa stated her theory. "Then they help him in the swamp and make him disappear."

"But who would want to do something like that?" asked Brandon. Bloom and Zara saw something on the ground, causing the former to pick it up.

"What's that in your hand there, Bloom?" Tecna asked as the twins smelled it.

"I'm not sure. I may be wrong, but these feathers look familiar." said Bloom. "Ring a bell?"

"I don't think you're wrong, Bloom." said Zara, taking a closer look at the feathers in her hand. "I believe these are duckling feathers."

"Icy's duck." exclaimed Musa as Zara nodded.

"And what does she have to do with this story?" asked Flora.

"We haven't got a clue, but we'd really like to know." said Bloom and Zara.

The Specialists took the Winx back to the others and Palladium. Riven scoffs as the Winx walked off the owl, only for Musa to bat her eyes at him. "Well, if you guys don't mind, we'll stay here and wish you goodbye." said Brandon.

"Huh?" said Flora and Stella.

"Don't worry about it. We totally understand." said Bloom.

"Later, boys." said Zara and the Specialists take off back to Red Fountain.

"Bye! See ya!"

"I watched you during today's exercise, even though you came in last, I'm really satisfied with you." said Palladium.

"What?" asked the Winx.

"You've shown courage, initiative and generosity as well as excellent decision-making capabilities." Palladium explained. "So, in the light of the outcome of this exercise, I'd like to say that this was just a test run."

"No fair." said Amaril. "We did all that for nothing?"

"I wouldn't say for nothing, Miss Amaril." said Palladium. "Some of you learned a lot today."

"And still has to get used to seeing some cleavage from this generation." Zara whispered to her sister and friends, causing them to giggle.

At Red Fountain, the boys returned without the troll. "This mission was a complete failure." said Sky.

"I could have told you that." said Xander, crossing his arms.

"It's true. We did lose the troll." said Timmy.

"But it was a great experience anyway." said Sky.

"It's true, Prince Sky." Timmy added. "For the first time in my life, I felt I was a part of some kind of a group."

"Well, then you know what I say?" Brandon asked.

"That you would wash your clothes from now on and not have me do them?" joked Xander.

"No. A real team of Specialists was born today." said Brandon and Xander gives a pat on the shoulder.

"I agree and guys….please do me a favor." Sky said to them. "Stop calling me prince. It makes me feel old." The boys smiled and laughed at this.

At Alfea, Stella was in her room asleep, when Bloom and Zara opened her door. "Stella, are you awake?" Bloom asked.

"If not, sorry for waking you up." said Zara.

"Yeah." she said, sleepily.

"Everything okay?" they asked her.

"Yes, you two. Good night." said Stella.

"Night, Stella." they said.

"Ah, good night, Sky." Stella said in her sleep as the twins closed her door.

Chapter Text

It was night at Alfea and most of the Winx were in the kitchen, peeling potatoes. "Oh, I hate kitchen duty." Bloom complained.

"And yet, you don't complain when I do it." said Zara, leaning against the stove she was using.

"That's because I prefer your baking over your cooked meals." Bloom tells her as Zara rolls her eyes.

"You can bake?" Flora asked.

"Yeah. I can probably bake you some cookies or something." Zara said, giving Flora a smile before nodding her head towards a certain techno fairy. "Maybe fatten up Tecna over there while I'm at it."

"Hey! Don't you dare fatten me up." said Tecna crosses her arms and shoots a glare at Zara.

"Relax, Tecna! I'm kidding." said Zara, holding up her hands in surrender. "I'd never mess with your highly calibrated dietary algorithm or whatever it is that you follow."

"I just don't get it." said Bloom.

"What is it that you don't get, Bloom?" asked Musa.

"Why a school for fairies can't use magic to cook dinner." Bloom tells her. "It doesn't make sense." She then takes off her apron. "All you've got to do is wave the magic wand, snap your fingers, wiggle the nose a couple of times and voilà! Everything's ready without any effort."

"However, homecooked meals taste a lot better and are much healthier." said the chef as he walks in.

"Which I actually appreciate." said Zara, nodding and bows to the chef.

"Hi, Chef SFoglia." said Bloom.

"How is the side dish coming along?" he asked.

"We're almost finished, sir." said Musa.

"These potatoes are too small." said Chef SFoglia. "Take off less skin. And what about the omelets? Don't forget to flip them, eh?"

"Of course." they said as they went to the five pans.

"Cooking is an art, young ladies." the chef said.

"When I graduate from here, I'll eat out every night." said Musa.

"I'll join you and split the check." said Zara.

"Now, let's see you flip these omelets." said Chef SFoglia. "Come on."

Flora and Tecna flip their omelets, catching them in the pans. Musa flips hers and almost misses catching it. Zara checks the bottom of the omelet first before flipping her over. Bloom on the other hand, flips hers but…..it landed on the ceiling fan that was currently on.

"Oh….I'm so sorry." Bloom said apologetically. "I have no idea how it happened."

"But what are you waiting for?" Chef SFoglia said. "Somebody turn off the fan."

Flora rushes over to towards the switch. "Uh….I'll do it." said Flora, turning it off as Tecna turns to Zara.

"Are you sure that the two of you are twins?" she asked.

"Yes, Tecna. We're definitely twins." said Zara.

They then look up to see the fan spin a little faster. "Come on down, little omelet." said Musa as Bloom and Zara start laughing. "Don't be afraid. Trust me, no one's going to eat you."

"I said, turn it off!" Chef SFoglia shouted and Flora finally turns it off, laughing nervously. The omelet flies of the fan blade and onto the chef himself.

"Ah! I'll have a word with the headmistress about granting a permanent exemption from kitchen duties." Chef SFoglia said to the five girls. "You young fairies cause more trouble than help. Now I must clean up before dinner time so keep an eye on the roast."

Flora then opens the oven, checking on the roast. "Everything's okay here." said Flora.

"Girls, I have some really wild news" said Stella, walking into the kitchen.

"We know. You managed to get out of kitchen duties. Congratulations, Stella." said Tecna.

"Thanks a lot for making us do all the hard work." said Zara.

"Oh, I have a perfectly valid reason for that you know." she tells them. "I'm going out tonight. I've got a date. Isn't that exciting?"

"Oh valid reason indeed." said Bloom.

"I received an invitation. Guess who from." Stella boasted.

"Oh, we're just dying to know." said Musa as Zara rolled her eyes.

"Prince Sky." said Stella, showing them the invitation. "Can you believe it? An invitation to Black Lagoon sounds good, huh?"

"Wow!" said Flora.

"A guy who knows you and still wants to see you." Musa said to Stella.

"But what am I going to wear?" Stella asks them. "I'm so confused. Will you help me pick something?"

"Well….okay." said Bloom. They went back to their rooms and looked through Stella's closet. "Stella, you have so many clothes."

"This is more clothes than me and Bloom combined." said Zara.

"That's the problem." said Stella as Flora picks out one possible outfit. "I need something really special, romantic."

"I'd wear this. Pure classic elegant, it's perfect." said Flora, showing her a black dress.

"For a funeral, yes." said Stella. "For a date, I need a bit more pizzazz."

"How about this then?" asked Tecna, presenting a purple dress with blue triangles a blue fuzz around the wrists and neckline. "You're sure to make a lasting impression wearing this. How could you buy something like that?"

"I didn't buy it." said Stella.

"Someone gave it to you?" asked Tecna.

"I designed it"" she explained.

"In the dark?" asked Musa as Bloom and Zara walked over to a dress.

"We like this." they said, removing a dress from her closet and showed Stella.

"Yeah, that's it." said Stella, loving their decision.

"Will Brandon and Xander be there too?" they asked.

"No, Sky gave his servant the night off and Xander is off doing who knows what." said Stella as Bloom gets angry.

"Oh, come on. Brandon is not his servant." said Bloom. "He's his assistant, there's a difference."

"And…Xander's doing what exactly?" asked Zara.

"Sorry, you two. I was just joking alright." Stella tells them.

"Humph!" they said, looking away from her.

"You like those two, don't you Bloom and Zara?" asked Stella. "Yeah, I know….don't tell me. It's none of my business."

"Yeah, well….you shouldn't have called him that, Stella and you don't know if Xander was actually studying for something." said Tecna.

"Musa, could you get that box for me, please?" Stella asked.

"Sure" said Musa, taking the box and started struggling with the heavy box. "What's in there?"

"Just a few pieces of jewelry." she said, opening it.

"A few pieces?" questioned a shocked Flora.

"There. These are perfect." said Stella, choosing a few bracelets and her ring. "But the ring is too much." She then removes her ring. "There, much better. Here, Bloom. Could you and Zara keep this for me, please?"

"But it's your magic ring." said Bloom and Zara.

"Oh, I won't need it tonight." said Stella. "Hey, who needs a magic scepter when you've got a real prince to protect you."

"I wouldn't trust that guy." said Tecna. "Something is not quite right about this date. I smell a rat."

"I smell something too." said Musa.

"You don't think…?" Zara started to ask when suddenly smoke fills the room.

"Ah! The roast!" shouted Tecna, Flora, Musa and Zara. They all ran out of Stella's room and towards the kitchen.

"Hurry up, quick!" said Musa.

"I'll get the fire extinguisher." said Flora.

"Uh-oh, what a mess." said Bloom.

"We're dead." said Zara.

"No, no, no!" Bloom said to her sister. "We can fix this mess."

"Mess you say?" asked Griselda as she enters the kitchen. "A better word would be disaster, catastrophe, calamity."

"You could also use devastation, misfortune, debacle, ignominy or fiasco." suggested Zara, looking at Griselda's face as she offered other words.

"Thank you, Miss Zara." Griselda said. "Your unreliability is unforgivable."

"Oh, no. Its Ms. Griselda." whispered Musa.

"Airiolux." she said, clearing the smoke out from the kitchen.

"I'm coming, girls!" Flora cried out.

"I hope you have a good excuse for all of this." Griselda said as Flora runs in.

"Here I….." Flora said and trips over her footing, breaking the fire extinguisher, causing it to spill over Griselda.

"Get back to work immediately." she tells them. "Do you hear me?"

"Yes, ma'am." said Zara as she and the others giggled. "Right away, ma'am."

"Dinner must not be delayed. Do your best, girls." said Griselda as she walks out of the kitchen.

"Bread and cheese okay for you guys?" asked Bloom. "Hmm?"

Later that night, the girls finally entered their room. "We're exhausted." said Zara and Bloom. "And we're not even hungry anymore."

"How are you feeling, Flora?" asked Bloom. Flora didn't respond due to falling asleep already. "Enough said." Kiko pulls Flora's blanket over her as she slept while Lavender softly nuzzled her face.

"Anyway, I want to go out too." grumbled Musa. "With or without a date."

"Well…." said Bloom as she and Zara walked in. "It certainly would be better if someone asked us out."

"Or maybe we just need to take matters into our own hands." said Zara.

"I've not been programmed for dating." said Tecna.

"You should try it." they tell Tecna and Musa. "Anyway, it's fun."

"What's fun about dating?" asked Tecna. "It's an experience of irrelevant value."

"You didn't get out much to meet boys, didn't you?" Zara asked curiously.

"You have nothing to lose then." said Bloom.

"Yeah, why don't you ask Timmy." said Musa.

"I can see it now. He would be fantastic as your boyfriend." added Zara.

"Good night, girls. I'm going to switch myself off now." said Tecna as she headed to bed.

"Please tell me she's not a robot." Zara said, turning to the others as they smiled and laughed. Soon enough, they yawned and headed to bed themselves.

The next morning, Bloom and Zara were asleep with Kiko and Lavender by their sides when they heard noise coming from Stella's room. "Huh?" said the twins as they quickly woke up.

"Hey, what's going on?" asked Flora, hearing the same thing they were hearing.

"I don't know." said Bloom.

"I'm just hoping that I can go back to sleep and back to my dream." said Zara. "I was having fun my dream." Bloom gets out of bed as Zara jumps down from hers and the two of them walked over towards their door.

"Sounds like it's coming from Stella's room." Bloom said, hearing Stella rummaging around. "Let's check it out."

"Huh?" said Tecna and Musa, peering out from their room.

"You heard that too, didn't you?" asked Musa.

"Mm-hmm." said the twins.

"Stella, is everything okay?" Bloom asked, knocking on her door. "Stella?"

Stella opens her door, still wearing what she had on for her date, then gives them a huge smile. "Oh….hi." Stella said to the girls. "What's up?"

"Stella, what's with all the noise?" asked Tecna. "And at this hour? It's not even time to get up yet."

"Yeah. Because right now at this second, my alarm should be going off so that I can get a head start before Bloom." said Zara, glaring at the blonde.

"Uh…bag…..uh…..fell down." stammered Stella, coming up with excuse. "Everything's all right. Go back to sleep."

"What's the point?" Bloom asked. "The alarm's about to go off anyway."

"Yeah, too late. I should get started my morning stretches." said Zara.

"What time did you come in last night?" Flora asked. "We didn't even hear you come in."

"It was late, and I didn't want to wake you up." Stella rudely said, attempting to close her door.

"So, how'd it go?" asked Bloom. "Come on, we want the details."

"Oh, but there's nothing to tell." said Stella.

"And you want us to believe that?" questioned Bloom.

"I know that I don't." said Zara.

"Come on, come on, come on." they said to Stella.

"I said nothing happened, okay?" Stella said to the twins. "So go mind your own business."

"Stella…" Bloom and Zara said as they looked at their best friend.

"Who does she think she is." Musa asked, raising a fist at Stella.

"No, Musa. Leave her alone." Bloom said, placing a hand on her shoulder. "She'll get over it."

"Eventually." Zara chimed as they looked at Stella's closed door.

Griselda walked through the halls, passing by Wizgiz's class, seeing the students with their transformed pumpkin heads. "And one more time, all together….." Wizgiz said to his students. "A deep breath and repeat after me…..vanish pumpkin!"

"Vanish pumpkin!" the class said, vanishing the pumpkins that were in place.

"Wow." said Bloom as she and Zara placed their hands behind their heads once they had removed the spell. "That was a lot of fun."

"I think I'll be smelling pumpkins for a while." said Zara, rubbing the side of her nose.

"Ah! Professor Wizgiz!" one fairy said, freaking out that the spell didn't wear off. "It didn't work! It didn't work!"

"Calm down, calm down." he tell her. "This is what happens when you don't concentrate enough."

"Do something. Please, professor!" she pleaded wanting her head back to normal.

"I'll take care of it right away." Wizgiz assures her. He then takes a mouse out of his pocket. "Here we are."

"Eh! A mouse!" the girl shrieked as the mouse screeches at her, causing the spell to finally wear off.

"In a case like this, a good scare is the best cure." said Wizgiz, then turns to the mouse. "Thank you, Phil."

"No problem, Wizzy." he said.

"Professor Wizgiz, may I pet Phil?" asked Zara.

"I don't have a problem with that." Phil said, then scurries over to Zara, who then smiles as she tickles his stomach.

The bell rings, signaling the end of class. "I'll see you girls tomorrow for our first lesson on entos symbiosis." said Wizgiz. "The art of insect transformation."

The girls groaned at this, not wanting to do insects. Zara hands Phil back to Wizgiz as they all filed out of the classroom. "Did you notice? Our little princess didn't even bother to come to class." said Musa as they entered the hallway.

"I don't know what's gotten into her." said Flora.

"Maybe something happened to her, and she doesn't want to talk tell us." said Tecna.

"But I thought we were her friends." said Flora.

"We'll try again with Stella." said Bloom as she and Zara walked up behind them. "You guys wait for us here, okay?"

"We can try to get her to tell us what happened." said Zara.

"Good luck, girls." said Musa.

"Flora is right. I thought we were all friends." Bloom said to Zara as they ran up the stairs.

"I thought we were all best friends." said Zara.

"And friends forgive one another." Bloom said softly to which Zara simply nodded in understanding. "I'm sure Stella will have a good explanation for her wacky behavior this morning. At least we hope so."

"Otherwise, I'm chasing our blonde princess all over campus as part of my run." said Zara.

"Good idea. But don't poke her." said Bloom as they arrived at their dorm.

"I wasn't planning on it." said Zara. Bloom opens the door, and the twins gasped as they looked inside. Their dorm looked like a tornado had ran through it.

"What?" they asked, looking around as they approached Stella's room with caution.

"Stella!" Bloom called out as Zara grabs her bo staff.

"Bloom, I'm scared of what we might find in there." said Zara, pointing to Stella's room.

"You're not the only one." said Bloom as she opens Stella's door. "Oh, no. This place looks like it's been hit by a tornado."

"More like a Stella tornado." Zara said, seeing the mess around them.

"I just don't get it." Bloom said to Zara as they both looked at Tecna and Musa's room, seeing that their stuff was broken. "What is going on?"

"Someone's behind us." said Zara, sensing someone as they closed the door.

Stella cleared her throat, causing the twins to look at her. "Hi, Bloom and Zara." said Stella. "Looking for me, are you?"

"Stella, you did all this?" asked Bloom. "But….but why?"

"Because I want my ring, you two." said Stella.

"But…..you broke other people's property." said Zara, sensing something was wrong with her. "That's not like you, Stella."

"Does it matter? I searched everywhere for it." said Stella. "Where is it? I want to know where you hid it!"

"Stella, are you sure you're all right?" asked Bloom.

"You're scaring us." said Zara.

"I'll be fine as soon as I get my ring back." said Stella. "The both of you know where it is, don't you?"

"We don't recognize you, Stella." the twins tell her. "Calm down, okay? Let's sits down and talk."

"I don't want to talk." said Stella. "I want my ring, you thieves!"

"We're not thieves!" screamed Zara when suddenly, Stella attacks them.

"Hey!" Bloom shouted as the twins dodged Stella's attack. "Alright, Stella, that's enough."

"All right, enough! You've officially messed with a set of red heads." said Zara, aiming her bo staff at Stella.

"Thieves!" Stella said, then rushes over to a window, turning into light as she jumps out of it.

"I don't know. I can't believe it." said Flora as she, Tecna and Musa came back to the room.

"Believe girl, this is no dream." said Musa.

"What in the world has gotten into her?" Flora asked.

"Her date with Prince Charming must have sent her into dizzy mode." Tecna theorized as she believed that Stella had gone crazy.

"On earth, we'd say she's out of her head." said Bloom.

"And on occasion, we also say 'Are you out of your mind?'" added Zara, hands raised.

"But somehow, I don't think Sky has nothing to do with it." said Bloom. "You should have seen her. She was…she was really evil. It didn't look like her."

"Better yet, it didn't sound like the Stella we all know and adore." said Zara.

"I don't understand the part about the ring." said Musa, confused by Stella's behavior. "Why was she looking for it? She, herself, gave it to you."

"What if she lost her memory?" questioned Flora as she looks over at the twins. "What if something happened to make her confused?"

"That's what we got to find out." said Bloom as Kiko and Lavender hopped around in the background. "For the time being, nobody must know anything about what happened."

"It'll be hard to keep this a secret for long." said Tecna, still looking at the mess Stella left behind.

"We've got to find Stella." Flora tells them. "She's not answering her cell phone."

"That would be too easy." said Bloom.

"Where do we start?" asked Tecna.

"I'm starting to wish that cell phones in Magix were equipped with a tracking chip." said Zara. "It would be easier to track Stella that way if they were."

"I'd start with last night's date." said Musa, taking a closer look at the book on the floor and picks up a piece of paper. "Prince Sky of Eraklyon. Our number one suspect."

"All right then." said Bloom. "Next stop, Red Fountain."

Once the Winx arrived, they cornered Sky. "I'd love to help you girls, but I really have no idea what you're talking about." He tells them. "Last night I worked out till 9, then I collapsed. I didn't see Stella and I never sent her a note like that."

He then sees the note in Bloom's hand and takes it from her. "Hey, I didn't write that." Sky said.

"You sure didn't. Didn't you girls know that Sky can't write?" Riven asked, passing by them.

"Very funny, Riven." said Bloom.

"We just can't stop laughing on the inside." said Zara.

"Bye, sweeties." Riven called out as he left.

"Karma's gonna get him. It always gets somebody." Zara tells them. "Karma's gonna come back and bite him."

"Obviously, someone has tricked her." Sky said as his dog placed her paws on him. "Did something happen to her?"

"That's what we're trying to figure out?" Bloom tells her.

"Um….would it be possible to turn that animal off please?" Tecna asked, annoyed with the dog's whining.

"Lady, down girl." said Sky. "Hush, Lady."

"You can't turn dogs on and off like they're a piece of technology, Tecna." said Zara. "Dogs are like living breathing creatures, just like you and I are. Come here, Lady."

Lady went over to her, the whining ceasing as Zara rubs her sides. "There are animals on Earth who can sense stuff and are trained to help people." Zara tells Tecna. "Our grandmother had a dog who sensed when an Earthquake was coming."

"I doubt that." said Tecna.

"Bloom and I should send you to Florida during Hurricane season." said Zara, smirking as Lady gave her kisses.

"Lady, Lady." said Brandon, calling the dog to him. "Come sit, girl."

"It's okay, girl. You're okay." said Xander.

"She spent so much with Brandon and Xander; she stopped listening to me." said Sky.

"Hi, Brandon. Hi, Xander." said Bloom and Zara.

"Hello, Bloom. Hello, Zara." said Brandon and Xander.

"All right, boys. Breaks over!" said a man as he crossed the balcony. "Some fierce fiery dragons are anxiously awaiting your arrival. So say goodbye to your little friends."

"Yes, professor. We'll be there right away." said Sky.

"That's Codatorta, the terrible." Brandon whispered. "It's best not to keep him waiting."

"He sounds like my martial arts teacher back home." said Zara, crossing her arms as she stares at the man. "I want to challenge Codatorta one day."

"Oh….." Xander said, knowing that Codatorta heard her as the man looked at him with an amused smile on his face. "You're going to regret saying that."

"I don't regret it one bit." said Zara, not taking her eyes off the man as she stares him down. "I stand by what I said."

"You'll keep us posted, won't you?" Sky asked.

"And if you need any help, you'll know where to find it." added Brandon.

"Now what?" asked Flora.

"Do you have to ask?" said Bloom. "Let's go to Magix."

"So, you think Stella is here somewhere?" Tecna asked as they entered Magix.

"We think Stella could be anywhere at this point." said Bloom.

"Then why are we starting with the city?" asked Flora.

"Because of the Black Lagoon, remember?" Bloom asked.

"Stella said it before she went on her date last night." Zara reminded Flora.

[Flashback]

"An invitation to the Black Lagoon. Sounds good, huh?" Stella said in the kitchen.

[Flashback ends]

"That's where she was supposed to go last night." said Bloom and Dawn. "Maybe they'll be able to help us there."

"Black Lagoon, hmm…." said Tecna as she brings up her database. "Using my search program, we'll be able to find it in a flash. A quick scan of the sonic map, and voilà! Huh….strange. No sign of the Black Lagoon."

"Now let's try our search program." said Zara and Bloom.

"You've got one too?" wondered Tecna. "How does it work?"

"Check this out." the twins tell her as they both went up to a man.

"Excuse me, sir? My sister and I are looking for the Black Lagoon." Bloom said to him.

"We're supposed to meet a cousin of ours there, but she didn't tell us exactly where it is." said Zara.

"Black Lagoon?" the man asked. "Never heard of it. Sorry."

"Thank you." Zara called out.

"See? You guys can do it too if you want." said Bloom. "Very easy to operate."

Flora shrugged her shoulders as she tries it herself. They all started asking everyone in Magix about the Black Lagoon. "Nothing. This isn't good." said Bloom. "If they want it to be a cool spot, they really should start advertising it a little bit."

"Yeah. Nobody's heard of it. There's something fishy going on here." said Musa.

"Maybe we should go back to Alfea and warn Ms. Griselda." said Tecna.

"You girls give up already?" asked Bloom and Zara.

"So, basically if I was in Stella's situation, you would head back to Alfea to warn Griselda while actually giving up on the search for me?" Zara asked, then scoffed. "Thanks for the vote of confidence, Tecna."

"I wouldn't stop looking for you." said Bloom.

"I know you wouldn't, Bloom." said Zara, turning to her sister. "You would go miles and miles to look for me."

"You would do the same for me. I would cross oceans in Magix just to find you, Zara." declared Bloom with unwavering determination.

"Listen, this kind of perseverance is not always good, you two." Tecna tells them.

"Neither are your electronic gadgets!" the twins shot back.

"Hey, hey, this is no time to be fighting." said Flora.

"Yeah, sorry." the three of them said, glaring at each other.

"Um, excuse me ladies." a man said, walking up to the girls.

"Huh?"

They looked up at the person was gotten their attention. "I couldn't help but notice that, uh, well, you were asking and I….I think I have the information you're looking for." he said to them. "Um, but maybe it's none of my business."

"Are you kidding?" asked Bloom. "Why didn't you say anything?"

"Do you know anything about the Black Lagoon?" Musa asked. "If you do, please, pretty please with a cherry on top."

Zara starts to bat her eyes at the man as he smiles at them. "Uh, yeah. It's a great new restaurant, just outside of the city." said the man. "You follow the main road and keep going until you get to the bridge. You can't miss it. There's a really large oak tree right in front of it."

"Great. Thanks a lot mister." said Bloom and Zara. "Uh….."

"Where did he go?" asked Musa.

"What a strange man." said Tecna.

"You're absolutely right, Tecna." said Bloom as Zara nodded. "What a strange man indeed." The Winx walked off to find the restaurant when unknowns to them, the strange man was hidden around the corner, watching them. Once out of town, the girls started crossing the bridge.

"The directions were right." said Bloom as they went towards an Oak tree with orange leaves in its branches. "Here's the big oak tree. And there's the Black Lagoon."

"What a cute little restaurant." said Zara, raising an eyebrow at the place.

"When we get back to Alfea, don't forget to update your search program." Musa tells Tecna.

"My program works very well. It's this place that's wrong." said Tecna.

"Tecna's right." Flora said, agreeing with Tecna. "There's a strange feeling about the place." Flora places her hand on the tree, trying to see if it was alive. "This tree isn't breathing. It feels odd. Cold, distant. It's as if it doesn't exist, as if it were an illusion."

"Are you sure, Flora?" asked Bloom, as Zara quietly pondered. "Zara, what are you sensing?"

"I can't get a heads or tails about it. I'm usually pretty good at sensing when people are watching us from a distance." said Zara as the wind blows behind them, opening the door to the restaurant. The wind blew harder, blowing away the leaves off the oak and the illusion disappears away from view.

"Oh, at last." said the man as the girls walked up. "There you are. We've been waiting for you. Come in, please come in."

"It's a trap. Why didn't we see that coming?" asked Musa.

"Yeah, well, it's too late to turn back now." said Bloom as they went inside and see the man run from them. "Hey! Wait! Who are you?"

The man didn't answer as he ran downstairs. "He wants us to follow him." said Tecna.

"And probably leading us to our doom." said Zara.

"I don't like this place one bit." said Flora.

"A fresh coat of paint, a few nice rugs, it would look totally different." said Musa.

"This is not the time to joke around, okay, Musa?" said Tecna.

"Hey, that's what Stella would say." Musa told her, knowing Stella.

"Well, look who's here?" said a familiar voice, causing the Winx to turn around to see Stella. "My friends."

Suddenly, the door closes behind them, locking the girls inside. "I'm only here to take what belongs to me." Stella said, stalking towards the twins. "I want my ring and you're going to give it to me one way or another."

Stella growls angrily as she flies up and sends her magic out towards her friends. "Watch out!" Bloom and Zara shouted as they scattered in different directions. Flora joins the twins in their hiding place. "Great, we're trapped."

"Their cover is not gonna last." said Musa as Stella blasts the beam Flora and the twins were hiding behind.

"Don't worry. I'll take care of it." said Tecna, rising to her feet and transforms into her fairy form. "Shield!" Tecna created a shield and ran towards her friends while Stella sent blasts at her. "You girls need a lift?"

"Great timing, Tecna." said Bloom as they took cover. Stella laughs evilly as more sun blasts were in her hands.

"Ready to surrender?" she asked.

"That's enough!" said Musa. "I'm sick of being your target."

"No, Musa, don't react." Flora tells her. "We can't hurt Stella."

"But that's not Stella." said Bloom.

"It sounds like her, but it's not really her." said Zara.

"She has no powers without her ring." they tell the others, then rose to their feet. "All right, enough fooling around."

"Right you are, little fairies." said 'Stella', knowing that the gig was up. "Time to shed the disguise and be myself once again."

"You're horrible as Stella." Zara told Darcy.

"The witches." said Bloom. "Get ready girls."

Flora, Bloom, Zara and Musa joined Tecna as they transformed into fairies. "Wait for me, wait for me." said the man, running up to Darcy. "Me too madam."

"But of course, Knut." said Darcy, transforming him back into himself. The Trix watched as they looked up, holding the real Stella against her will.

"Stella." said Bloom and Zara, seeing the fear on their friend's face.

"I'm really sorry. The witches tricked me." she tells them.

"Tracker?" Zara asked Bloom.

"Definitely." Bloom said, nodding. "No need to apologize. It's not your fault."

"It's their fault, Stella." said Zara.

"Now what is it that you want?" asked the twins.

"Haven't you figured it out yet?" asked Icy. "We want Stella's ring of course. Poor Stella. Prisoner of my discs of energy. Squeezing her even tighter."

"You'd better hurry up." advised Darcy. "The ring is very important to us."

"We've got to have this ring, you weaklings or…..." Stormy chimed in.

"Time's running out, you've got to decide Bloom and Zara." said Icy. "Stella's life or the ring."

"Yeah, well…..I want world peace, Tecna to actually realize that not every living thing in the whole magix dimension can be turned on and off with a flip of a switch and to finally get through my martial arts workout in the mornings before Bloom gets out of the shower." said Zara, listing things off with hope in her eyes. "But only two out of three can actually become reality and I can live with that."

Both the twins looked at Stella as the discs of energy went tighter and tighter around her body. "This is blackmail." said Flora.

"And we never give into blackmailers." added Tecna.

"Get ready, you evil witches." said Musa, pointing at the Trix. "For a thrashing of a lifetime."

"We've made our choice." said Bloom and Zara. "No, we can't put Stella's life in danger."

"Bloom…. Zara." said Musa as they went back to their regular clothes.

"All right, Icy, you guys win." said Bloom as she and Zara walked over together, handing over the ring. "But this time, keep your word."

"Normally, I wouldn't but I don't need her anymore." said Icy, snaping her fingers and releasing Stella from her confinement. "We did it!" Icy tosses Stella's ring into the air, letting it become the scepter. "The scepter is ours." Soon as Knut walks over to them, he and the Trix disappeared.

"Hey." said Zara as she and Bloom hugged Stella.

"We've been had." said Flora. "We fell for it like amateurs."

"Well, maybe it's because we are amateurs." said Stella.

"We could have beaten them. It was five against four." said Tecna.

"A battle could have made things worse." said Bloom.

"To us, an exchange was the best possible option." added Zara.

"But who are you to decide for all of us?" Tecna asked the twins. "Neither of you are the boss."

"Tecna. I would have done the same thing." said Flora. Zara looked at Flora with concern in her eyes.

"It's okay, Flora." she said softly then glares at Tecna. Flora tried to hide the tears that were threatening to fall, grateful for Zara's reassurance. Then Zara turned to Tecna, her expression firm. "And who are you to decide that self-sacrifice isn't important, Tecna?" Her voice held a hint of challenge.

Tecna raised an eyebrow, taken aback by Zara's sudden confrontation. "I-I didn't mean it that way." she stammered, feeling defensive.

Zara crossed her arms, her gaze unwavering. "It's easy to dismiss self-sacrifice when it's not your own life on the line, isn't it?" she remarked pointedly. Tecna looked down, feeling a pang of guilt. She had never considered the perspective of those who choose to sacrifice themselves for others.

Flora spoke up, her voice shaky but determined. "Zara is right, Tecna. Sometimes, sacrificing oneself is the only way to protect the ones we love." Flora tells her. Tecna nodded, understanding as it dawned on her. She realized that sometimes, selflessness was the most important quality a person could possess. The three friends stood in silence, each reflecting on the significance of sacrifice in their own way.

"They might have scored a goal, but the game isn't over yet." said Bloom

"Oh, Bloom." said Zara, rolling her eyes.

"What are you two talking about?" Stella asked, confused by the reference.

"What? You don't have soccer on your planet?" they asked.

"What's soccer?" asked Musa.

"Come, we'll show you." said the twins.

"It's a game you play with the ball." Bloom started to explain as she spots an empty soda can. "Let's take this for example."

"That's not a ball." said Tecna.

"We know that Ms. Intelligent One." said Zara. "Just imagine that it's a ball for the moment."

"Yeah. It's just an example, Tecna." said Stella.

"Now it goes like this." said Bloom as she kicks the can over to Zara, who does a soccer trick with the can.

Chapter Text

At Alfea, Bloom and Zara were in the library, going through a couple of books. "There's got to be something in here." Bloom said to Zara. "Find anything yet, Zara?"

"Not yet, but I think I found two possible long-lost ancestors of ours." Zara tells Bloom, showing her the picture of a set of identical twins with red hair. "That's if Mom and Dad were from the magic dimension."

Bloom starts to laugh a bit, before going back to her book. "Adilene, dream catchers no." Bloom said as they both looked at the same book. "Invisibility ring? Hmm. Nibbling ring. No! There it is! That's Stella's ring! The Sword of power. Part of the lineal right of the princess of the sun and moon of Solaris. So that means it belongs to you."

"Of course it does. I could have told you that myself." said Stella.

"And I kinda wished that you did." said Zara as Stella gave out a small laugh. "It would have been helpful if you had told us."

"The sword ring has been in my family….well….forever." she tells the twins.

"Yeah, but that doesn't tell us why the witches are so eager to have it." said Bloom.

"Well, it is an important and valuable object." said Flora.

"The Trix aren't common criminals. There's got to be something else to it." Stella said, curious to know why.

"Uh, excuse us, we must have missed something." Bloom said.

"Yeah, because Bloom and I are confused here." said Zara.

"Who are the Trix?" the twins asked.

"Oh, well that's the nickname we gave our three favorite witches." said Musa, reminding them.

"Oh yeah…" said Zara, smiling at the nickname. "I kinda like it."

"Anyhow, Zara and I discovered over very interesting things about your ring in the book that we found in the library." said Bloom.

"Interesting book by the way." Zara pointed out.

"According to the legend, the sword of Solaris was created a long time ago…nobody knows when." said Bloom. "It was sculpted out of a stone, immersed in the spring of light which still flows today. And it's one of the many gifts offered by the two great sacred fires."

"Whoa and I thought the history of Solaris was ultra boring." said Stella, causing the girls to laugh.

"Uh, what are the sacred fires exactly?" asked Tecna.

"Excellent question, Miss Tecna." said the twins in their professor voice. "Very pleased that you should ask."

"Hey, you both sound just like Griselda." said Flora, chuckling at their expression.

"Listen to this…." said Bloom.

"Because we found it very informative." said Zara.

"The enchanted universe of the magical dimension as we know it was created eons ago by the two mythical dragons who sparked the sacred fires." Bloom explained as they walked the halls.

"Some believe that the two dragons are mates while others believed that they were siblings." said Zara.

"Hmm….did the dragons exist for real or is it a mythical symbol?" questioned Flora.

"Well, I think they both represents an ideal, you know, an embodiment of good versus evil." said Tecna.

"Yeah, sure, okay." said the twins, needing Tecna to explain it. "Uh, could you repeat that in English?"

"Stella, you must know the story." said Musa.

"Uh, well, ancient history is not my strong point." said Stella.

"Oh, of course." Flora said. "A princess has different priorities."

"Yeah, shopping for instance." Stella said, smiling as they laughed.

"We'd like to know more about the two dragons." said Bloom as she and Zara hung back from their friends. "I think we'll head back to the library. There's too many questions left unanswered."

"And it's kind of hurting my brain." said Zara.

"All right, see you." said the girls as the twins headed back to the library.

"For some reason, I don't think the dragons are a legend." said Bloom. "There's something more to this story. Something important. I can feel it. Don't you feel it, Zara."

"I do and I agree, there's more to the story. I also believe that the two dragons are nothing more than just siblings." said Zara. "I can't believe that the both of them created the magic dimension."

"Do you think there's more to the story than what we've been told?" she asked, eager to delve deeper into the mystery of the dragons. Zara nodded, a determined glint in her eye.

"Absolutely. I think there's a hidden connection between the dragons and the world we know now, something that ties them to us in ways we never imagined." said Zara. As they continued to discuss their theories, the air in the room seemed to crackle with excitement.

Bloom and Zara were determined to uncover the truth behind the ancient legend of the dragons, no matter where their journey might take them. "Perhaps I can help you." someone said, gaining the twins' attention. They turned around to see Faragonda standing behind them.

"Oh, Miss Faragonda." said Bloom and Zara.

"Come with me." she said to the twins, leading them to her office. "Have a seat, both of you."

"Thank you." they both said, taking her offer.

"You both want to know about the dragons. Well, it's quite a long story." said Faragonda, then tells them the story. "In the beginning, there was nothing. Then, out of the deep darkness, two dazzling lights appeared. It was the two great dragons and with their fiery breathes, created a multitude of different worlds and spread life, light and heat across the universe. Eventually, the two dragons became exhausted and chose to lie down, side by side and rest in a place called Domino."

"But Stella said Domino is a cold, dark and unfriendly place." said Bloom as Zara nodded in confirmation.

"It doesn't sound like a place for majestic dragons." said Zara.

"Now it is, but it used to be a happy and prosperous place." said Faragonda. "Before dark forces attacked Domino and put out both dragons flames once and for all. The magical dimension hasn't been the same since."

"Oh wow." said Bloom and Zara.

"Tell me, Bloom and Zara, why are you both so interested in the two dragons?" Faragonda asked them.

"I don't know. We're just curious, I guess." said Bloom. "Everything is so new to us here."

"And we're still getting the hang of things." said Zara.

"Yes…." Faragonda said, leaning back in her chair, hands folded. "I can understand that."

"Well, we'll leave now." Bloom said as she and Zara stood up. "Thank you." As Bloom and Zara prepared to depart, Bloom opened the door and stepped outside.

Before following her sister, Zara glanced back at Faragonda with curiosity on her face, suspecting that the headmistress was hiding something. Faragonda, sensing Zara's lingering presence, met her gaze with a warm but guarded smile.

"Is there something on your mind, Zara?" she asked gently, her eyes twinkling with an unreadable emotion.

Zara hesitated, the unspoken question dancing on the tip of her tongue. "You're not hiding something from us….are you, Ms. Faragonda?" Zara asked.

Faragonda's expression softened, and she stepped closer to Zara, placing a reassuring hand on her shoulder. "Secrets, my dear, can be as heavy as they are light. Not all truths are ready to be shared." she said to the youngest twin.

Zara nodded, though the gnawing feeling of doubt remained. "Thank you, Ms. Faragonda." she said, giving the headmistress a small smile.

Faragonda's eyes flickered with something unspoken, a secret she was keeping hidden for now. "Remember, if you ever need guidance, the answers often lie within. Believe in yourself, Zara."

With a final nod, Zara turned and walked out the door, joining Bloom. That night, the twins were in their room with the girls. "You know, I just want to get my ring back." said Stella.

"Yeah, and I think we should be the ones to get attack." suggested Tecna.

"Tecna, we're not soldiers!" Flora exclaimed as Kiko and Lavender slept on Bloom's bed. "How can we overpower Icy, Darcy and Stormy?"

"By taking them by surprise." Bloom suggested, causing both bunnies to wake up in fright with Kiko glaring and growling at Bloom. "This time, we go to their house."

"Yes!" shouted Stella. "Right into the lion's den. But, uh….are you guys really sure that's the right thing to do?"

"Uh, relax…." Tecna assures her. "We'll come up with a fool proof plan, you'll see."

"Wow! Tecna has an idea for a foolproof plan. I wonder what it is." Zara teased a little, giggling as an embarrassing blush creeps onto Tecna's face.

"Well, if you must know," Tecna said, trying to maintain her composure despite the blush deepening on her cheeks, "it's a detailed strategy that covers every possible scenario. I've calculated all the variables, and the success rate is over 98 percent."

"Remember the tunnels under the school that we discovered a while back?" Bloom asked the others. "Let's use them to go to Cloudtower. Tonight, when the whole of Alfea is fast asleep, the Winx will go into action."

Rain blew around Cloudtower as chanting was heard. The Trix were chanting, trying to unlock more power from Stella's ring. White light surrounded their bodies as it headed towards the ring when suddenly it caused an explosion.

"Oh, my nose." said Darcy, holding her nose as she sits up on the floor.

"We have to cast a Safety Shield Spell immediately." said Stormy.

"My pretty nose." whined Darcy as Knut walks in.

"Hey, what's up?" Knut asked.

"We shall be as we once were." Stormy said, casting her spell. "There was no explosion. No explosion."

Knut yawns and turns back around. "I'm going back to bed." he tells the Trix.

"It cannot be." said Icy, frustrated as she pounds her fists into the floor. "No! It can't be! Stupid ring! Where is all your energy? Where are you hiding it?"

"Stella's ring might be very powerful, but….." Darcy said, rubbing her nose.

"I mean, get real." said Stormy. "This little thing could never hold the powers of the Dragons. It doesn't take a genius to figure that out."

"Be quiet!" Icy screeched to Darcy and Stormy. "After all I've been through to get my hands on this ring, I won't be talked to like that." She then growls angrily at the ring. "Stupid fairies. This ring is useless."

Icy then throws Stella's ring at the wall, causing it to bounce off and hit the floor. "But nothing can deter us from reaching our ultimate goal." Icy said as she lets her body fall to the floor. "The powers of the dragon flames will be ours, even if we must start the search all over again."

Pepe waddles over to his mother, blinking cutely at her. "Quack." he said, wondering if she was okay. "Quack!"

"Um…are you both sure this is the right way?" Flora asked the twins as they were in the tunnel.

"Trust us, Flora. We'll arrive directly under Cloudtower Castle." said Bloom.

"Don't worry, Flora." said Zara, holding out both halves of her bo staff. "If something happens, I'll deal with it."

"I'm curious to know….." said Tecna. "why do you have a bo staff?"

"It was something that I've always wanted to learn in martial arts since Bloom, and I were 10 years old." Zara replied. "Then I started taking classes a year later."

"It was the first martial arts weapon she wanted to use on a daily basis." Bloom explained. "You should've seen the one she picked up at the dojo. Zara struggled a little to carry it back to the teacher."

"I couldn't help it, okay!" said Zara, blushing in embarrassment as the others giggled. "I'm like what….two inches shorter than you?"

"A solid two and a half!" Bloom said, smirking. "But that doesn't mean you have to choose the biggest weapon in the place!"

"Hey, I thought I could handle it! It looked so cool!" she defended, crossing her arms.

"Well, it was bigger than you. I mean, I thought you were going to take out half the dojo when you tried to turn around," Bloom laughed.

Knut was sweeping the Trix's floor, grumbling away. "They make a mess, and I got to clean." Knut complained, then looks around. "I tell you; a bomb explosion would have made a lot less mess."

"Is there a problem, Knut?" Icy asked him.

"Uh, no, no." he quickly replied. "Uh, just thinking of getting you a present. A vacuum cleaner perhaps."

"Finish the cleanup and then come and join us." demanded Icy. "We'll be in the woods."

"And make it snappy!" added Darcy, following her sisters towards the mirror as they left Cloudtower.

"Yeah, right. They always say I'm stupid." Knut said to himself. "I'm good for nothing."

He continues sweeping and accidentally knocks Pepe back. "But when it comes to cleaning duty, who do they call? Knut….it's always Knut." Unknowingly, he sweeps Stella's ring into a pile of dirt.

"Knut!" shouted Darcy.

"Huh? I'm coming, I'm coming." he called out as he runs towards the Trix.

Suddenly, a wall opens up in Cloudtower, leading the Winx into a hallway. "Wow, you two…..you were right." said Flora.

"The underground entrance to Cloudtower." said Tecna.

"Now what do we do?" asked Flora.

"Because that's a lot of stairs." said Zara.

"I guess we'll have to use our magic to find the Trix." said Bloom, but it was too late.

"Knut!" shouted Icy and Bloom points in the direction of her voice.

"Then again, maybe not." Bloom said.

"That was too easy." said Zara.

"Hmm. Where's that ugly ogre of yours?" Icy asked, crossing her arms. "And why do we always have to wait for him?"

"Knut!" Darcy shouted.

"You guys ready?" the twins asked.

"I'm coming." Knut called out to the Trix. "I'm coming!"

Unknown to Knut and the Trix, the Winx were on their way to their room. "This must be the room of our three buddies." commented Bloom.

"Yes, and my nose tells me the ogre lives here too." said Musa.

"Ew, is that his natural smell?" asked Zara. "It's like a combination of rotten garbage, wet dog, and burnt hair."

"I think so. It's probably been a while since he's had a bath." Musa tells her.

"I can't believe anyone would let their house smell like this. It's disgusting." said Zara.

"Well, ogres aren't known for their cleanliness." said Musa.

"Let's get busy. Stella's ring could be anywhere around here." said Flora.

"And you know, the witches can be back anytime soon." said Tecna. The Winx looked through the room, searching for Stella's ring until Tecna found something. "Hey, look what I found." Tecna then shows them a doll with needles in it. "Kind of creepy, isn't it?"

"Wanna see something creepy?" asked Musa, picking up what seem to be weird bat. "Look at this."

"What is that?" asked Zara as creepy crawlies appeared and landed on one end of her bo staff. Tecna gasps and throws the doll away from her.

"Hold on, I don't want that stupid thing." she said, then thinks for a moment. "Huh? Really? They're just sick."

"But where would they have gone at this time of night?" Stella asked, looking through what seemed to be hygiene products.

Bloom and Zara walked past one of the beds, seeing something on the wall. "They must have had a party in here." said Bloom.

"Possibly a crazy party." added Zara.

"Well, if these are the leftovers, I'm sure glad they didn't invite me." said Stella.

Suddenly, the twins spot something in the aftermath. "Look!" they said to Stella, directing her towards her ring.

"It's the sword ring." said Stella, seeing it as well as she goes and picks it up. "Welcome home, little one. Did you miss me?"

"So, can we go now?" asked Tecna.

"Yes, Tecna. We can go." said Zara. Tecna walks over to the mirror and tries to open it. "Looks like you're struggling."

"It won't budge." growled Tecna. "Either the lock is broken or there's a safety mechanism."

"There must be another way out." said Bloom, opening the door and looks out.

"There better be a way out of here." said Zara, peering beside her. "Because I'm not staying the night at Cloudtower."

In the hallway, Bloom and Zara sense something behind a wall. "There's something behind this wall." Bloom said, placing pressure on the wall. "We can feel it. It's not a way out, it's something completely different."

"This is not the time to listen to your sixth sense." Tecna tells them. "We've got to get out of here."

"You sure about that?" asked Zara, lightly placing her fingers on the wall as though she could feel bass vibrations.

"The sixth sense is not reliable. It's just your imagination playing tricks on you." said Tecna.

"My sixth sense has never been wrong before." said Zara.

"That's because you've never tested it." Tecna tells her, crossing her arms.

"I don't need to test it, Tecna. I know that it works." Zara said, glaring at her.

"You're going to get yourself into trouble if you keep relying on your sixth sense." Tecna said, logically.

"I'll take my chances, Tecna." said Zara, grinning.

"Suit yourself, Zara. But don't come crying to me when things go wrong." Tecna tells her.

"I won't." said Zara, shrugging at her.

"Just a minute." Bloom said to Tecna, following her sister's lead on the wall. "It could be important."

The door opens and inside, there were books and scrolls everywhere. "Wow!" the girls said, amazed by what was inside.

"What a strange place"" said Flora.

"It's the archives." said Bloom as she and Zara reached for a book. "Who knows what's in these books. Let's see."

They opened the book and a light from it shined, somewhat blinding them. In Griffin's office, a lamp notified Griffin that someone was somewhere in Cloudtower. "Someone has set foot in the archives room." Griffin said to herself. "Let's see who it is." As Griffin takes a look, she sees that it was the Winx where inside her school.

"Oh, goodie. The fairies are paying us a visit." said Griffin, somehow pleased that they were here. "Let's give them a warm welcome."

"Hey! This one's about a fairy Elanor De La Rush Fur." Flora said.

"This one's about a witch by the name of Adi Guild." said Musa, reading what was on the cover. "And that gives me the goosebumps."

"Can you imagine the history of every witch and fairy that ever existed all in here." said Bloom as Zara takes a closer look.

"It's fascinating, Bloom, but um….what do you say we get out of here?" Tecna asked.

"Eh?" Zara asked, looking up at the ceiling, sensing that they were being watched.

"What is it, Zara?" asked Stella.

"We're being watched from inside of Cloudtower." said Zara. "I'm not sure where exactly, but whoever it is….they're watching us."

Flora gasped; her hand instinctively went over her heart. "But how do you know?" asked Tecna.

"I don't know how," Zara admitted, her voice a mere whisper as she looks over at her friends and sister. "But whoever it is, they're sending in their version of the welcoming committee."

"Okay, I believe. Zara sensed it so let's get out of here." Tecna urged the oldest twin.

"Oh, pretty please?" Bloom asked. "One more minute. If there's a book about me and Zara somewhere in here, we could find more about ourselves and our powers."

"Uh, okay." Tecna said, giving in. "But let's do this quick."

"The book would probably look kind of new." said Bloom as she and Zara walked through the archives. "Maybe even have a colored cover." They then spot a book with their names on it. "Well, well, well…."

"Bloom, Zara, did you find it?" asked Flora.

"We found something with our names on it." said Zara staring at the cover.

"Maybe neither of you should read it." Tecna suggested, placing a hand on the book. "Think about it. What if the book contains your futures?"

"So? What's the problem?" questioned Stella. "I'd give my right arm to find out about my future, you know."

"What the future has in store for us is not always pleasant." said Tecna. "If I were the two of you, I wouldn't do it. But it's your choice."

"Hey, Zara and I just want to find out about our powers, Tecna. Nothing more." said Bloom.

"I'm with Bloom on this one. I would rather hope for the best and prepare for the worst." said Zara.

"We just need to know where they come from. Just a quick peek." they both said as they reached out towards the book. As their hands were about to touch the book, tentacle like vines came out of cover, wrapping themselves around their arms.

Once the twins had freed themselves, the book starts to glow, created a face and starts laughing at them before returning to normal. "Ha-ha-ha! Did I scare you girls?" Griffin asked, using magic on the book that the girls found. "Why, this is just the beginning. Before long, you'll regret your intrusion."

"The book!" said Bloom as Zara gave it a weird look.

"Bloom, that book doesn't want to be read by you or Zara." said Musa. "Let's get out of here."

"It's not that, Musa." said Zara, staring at the book. "Someone must have cast a spell on it in order for us to freak out and leave."

"You mean?" Stella asked, as Musa and Flora looked around, wondering who was spying on them.

"Yes, whoever is spying on us caused the book to scare us." said Zara, turning to her. "If they wanted us to leave their archives, all they had to do was come down here and ask. There's no reason to scare the living daylights out of us."

"Good to know. Come on." said Musa, as she and Flora dragged the twins away from the book.

Griffin was somehow speechless by Zara as she laughed. "Relax, little fairies. There's no rush." said Griffin.

Suddenly, the door disappears from their sight as Tecna ran towards it, stopping in her tracks. "Whoa! I don't want to sound like a pessimist, but, um, I think we're in trouble." Tecna said to the others.

"You're not sounding like a pessimist." Zara told her. "You're being a realist right now and I don't blame you."

"We've got to find a solution and right away." said Bloom as they all looked for a new way out. Walking back towards the others, Tecna had her hands up as though she was in a spy movie.

"Let's try a little Tecna power." she said, then aims her magic at the wall where the door had disappeared from. Once she had hit the mark, nothing but smoke appeared.

"Not even a scratch." said Musa, staring at the wall before turning her attention back to Tecna. "Now what?"

"Power convergence." said Tecna.

"She's right." said Bloom.

"It's our best shot." said Zara.

"Bloom! Zara! Magic Winx!" the twins shouted as they transformed.

"Everybody ready? Altogether, now!" said Bloom as they combined their magix on the wall and blasted their way out.

"Man, you guys need to work out more." Zara said, looking at her friends and twin as they were catching their breath. "And I thought you were going stretch in the mornings when I'm in the shower, Bloom."

"Sorry, Zara ….I forgot this morning." said Bloom.

"Now there doesn't seem to be a way out of this place." said Flora, panting.

"We've never been through this tunnel." said Tecna, taking a look at their surroundings. "It's not the one we came from."

"How can you tell?" asked Stella. "They all look the same."

"I have a photographic memory." Tecna explained. "I notice details."

"Please guys, tells us that we're not completely lost." said Bloom.

"You know….I'm serious about not wanting to spend the night here at Cloudtower." said Zara. "Let's get out of here and back to Alfea."

Suddenly, the Winx heard something coming up behind them. It looked like huge spiders crawling on the walls towards them. "Giant spiders." said Musa, a little freaked out.

"They're everywhere." said Bloom as she and Zara looked back to see more giant spiders crawling around.

"Okay, so what's the plan now?" Musa asked. "I mean, these things don't look too friendly."

"Any ideas?" asked Zara.

"How about you throw your martial arts thing at them." Stella suggested, pointing to her bo staff that was in her hands.

"You mean my bo staff? Just toss it at them?" Zara asked, raising an eyebrow.

"Well, not just toss it. You know, do that cool thing where you spin it and then whack them with it! They won't see it coming." said Stella.

"Yeah, because everyone wants to get hit with a stick." said Zara, laughing for a moment before getting serious. "Genius plan, Stella."

"We have to create a protective shield, like a force field." said Bloom as the girls went to their knees and created a force field around them. The giant spiders went towards the Winx as several of them made contact with the force field, falling towards the ground as they caught on fire.

"Oh no." said Bloom as more came towards them. "They've made a breach in our barrier. We've got to do something, quick!"

"Well, I've got an idea." said Flora. "Ready? Follow me!"

The girls took flight and away from the giant spiders that were coming at them. "Got any bug spray?" Stella asked, ready to deal with the giant spiders.

"No need for that, Stella. We'll use the spider's natural enemy." said Flora, then spread her magic onto the spiders. "Here you go, a beautiful spider eater."

"Goodness." said Stella as she, Zara and Musa watched the scene unfold. "Professor Palladium's lessons are good for something after all."

"Was there ever any doubt?" asked Flora.

"No….just that I have a lot to say in my journal tonight." said Zara as the spider eater went after all the spiders and disappears.

"You know, something tells me we're not out of the woods yet." said Bloom.

"Bloom's right. That was too easy." said Tecna.

"Hey, let's not sell ourselves short." said Stella as the remains of the giant spiders turned to dust. "We've simply dealt with the problem efficiently."

"Then why do I feel like we're about to get a new problem?" Zara asked Stella.

"Uh, Stella….not to rain on your parade…"said Musa as she and Zara started at the spider dust pile as random strands go into it. "but maybe it's time to go." Soon as Stella opens her eyes, she then sees an even bigger giant misshapen spider.

"Hurry! This way!" said Tecna, leading them down a different hallway.

"Come on, lets fly out of here." Bloom said to the others.

"You don't have to tell me twice!" shouted Zara. "I'm ready to sleep."

"Ready, set, go!"

Tecna takes off with the twins following close behind. "How do we get out of here?" asked Musa as the misshapen spider went after them.

"Let's try this way!" said Stella.

"Watch out!" the twins cried out to her, causing Stella to look up. "It's a dead end!"

"What should we do?" asked Stella.

"We have no choice." said Tecna. "Let's take him on."

"Good idea." said Zara as the girls stood their ground. As the misshapen spider came towards them, Bloom shouted, "Strike!"

All of the magic was targeted at the creature, finally destroying it. Tecna lowers her shield that was protecting them. "We have a problem." said Stella as Tecna ran to the door, knocking it open. "Not anymore."

"Where are we?" asked Tecna as they took a look inside.

"I've heard of rooms like this." said Stella. "But I never thought they really existed. Witches are very mess creatures. Instead of organizing a library, cataloging their stuff…..they just chuck everything away like that."

"No wonder Mom had our backpacks embroidered with our names every year." said Zara.

"Not to mention the name tags on our coats and lunchboxes." said Bloom.

"What an eerie silence." said Musa. "I have a bad feeling. Huh?" Musa looks down and sees a random creature crawling towards them. "A Bako monster!"

"Don't worry, I'll take care of it." cried Stella as she stood in front of Musa, protecting her. "Sun Shower!"

Stella's sun attack was so powerful that it burned the room, and several things were on fire. "Where did it go?" asked Stella.

"There it is." said Flora, seeing it on its back and wiggling its legs as Stella giggles.

"Nipped it in the bud." she said when suddenly the fire gets bigger. "Oh my goodness! Gross."

"Thanks a lot, Stella." said Musa. The girls huddled together as the fire started to spread around them.

Flora starts coughing as she breathes in the smoke. "The smoke is so thick! I can't breathe!" said Flora.

"The flames are blocking the door." Tecna said, looking around at the fire. "We're trapped again."

"This is all our fault." said Bloom.

"Our curiosity ran away from us." said Zara.

"They're all here because of us." the twins thought as they watched the flames surround them. "If only we hadn't touch that book. None of this would be happening."

"Bloom! Zara!" said a female voice, calling out to them. "Come Bloom and Zara!"

Stella looks over her shoulder as she watches the twins followed the voice they were hearing. "Bloom! Zara!" she cried out. "What's going on? What are you two doing?"

Zara cocks her head to the side, still holding her bo staff as she and Bloom walked towards the fire.

"Come to me! Follow me!" said the voice as the fire parts ways, forming a path. "I….will….lead you to safety."

The fire splits and reveals a door to them. Reaching out, the twins touched the door and it opens, revealing an escape path. "Hey everybody….look at the twins." said Stella as confusion appeared on Zara's face. "Oh wow….way to go, girls!"

When Stella pats them on the back, both of them came out of a trance. "Bloom! Zara!" Stella called out, getting their attention.

"Huh! What? What?" asked Bloom.

"Who did what?" asked Zara.

"What just happened?" they asked.

"Never mind, we'll discuss this later." said Musa. "For now, let's get out of here."

Zara pulls Musa forward, leading her away from the fire. "You go first." Stella said to the twins with Bloom going first.

The girls screamed as they went down their escape route which led to the tunnels. Bloom landed first with Zara landing next to her. When they looked up, the twins saw Tecna coming in for a landing. "Wow! Oh!" said Flora, being the last one to land on everyone.

"All right…." said Tecna as they headed back to Alfea. "how'd you both pull it off?"

"We both heard this voice in our heads." Bloom said, sighing. "It was telling us how to get to safety. It was a sweet, kind voice that spoke to us through the flames."

"It's true. The voice was also very soothing as they spoke through the flames." said Zara, having a weird look on her face. "Somehow it was like we weren't afraid it whoever was talking to us."

"Well, whatever it was, it got us out of a hotspot. That's for sure." said Stella.

"Heh-heh. Stella, you're so funny." Tecna said sarcastically. "I just bust a gut."

"Hey, our plan worked." Stella said as her ring was on her hand. "The witches don't have my sword ring anymore. The Winx have got the power."

As the girls walked the halls of Alfea, they were tired. "I can't wait to get some rest." said Flora.

"You can say that again." said Bloom as she guides her twin from bumping into Musa. "I'm so tired, I don't think the both of us will have the energy to go to school today."

"I'm so tired, I might as well fall asleep while walking." said Zara. "And I've done it before too."

"Yeah, it's time to cash in a sick day." said Musa.

"Ahem." said Griselda, watching walk up to their room. "Obviously, you enjoy breaking the rules. You are in big trouble, young ladies." She then leads them to Faragonda.

"This morning, I received a message from Professor Griffin, the head witchtress at Cloudtower." Faragonda said to the Winx. "My colleague was furious. She tells me that you broke into her school last night. Is that true? I won't tolerate this kind of behavior in my institution. Now what have you got to say for yourselves?"

Zara looks at the headmistress with tired bleary eyes. "Well….that explains that. I was able to sense that someone was watching us from somewhere inside Cloudtower. So, I'm assuming that it was her that was spying on us and not one of her students." said Zara as she was about to start swaying a bit.

"We really…." Bloom said, beginning their apology as she and Flora held up a now sleep deprived Zara.

"Ma'am, if I may." said Griselda, having an idea in mind. "Whatever their reason is for doing what they did, their punishment should be exemplary."

"What do you mean?" asked Faragonda.

"Seeing as these students went without permission, I would suggest they be grounded, and their magic powers revoked until such date as you deemed adequate." suggested Griselda.

"But, ma'am, you wouldn't do that, would you?" asked Stella.

"Wouldn't I?" Faragonda asked. "There are very few things I wouldn't do. And revoking your powers is not one of them!"

Zara's eyes widen as she starts to freak out in her sleep deprived state. " No, no, no… it can't be happening!" Zara started to scream; not wanting her powers to be taken away from her and the others. "No! Not that! Anything but that!"

But it was too late. Faragonda goes and temporary strips the Winx of their powers. Later on, the girls were in their room, relaxing. "I think we should just lay down and veg out for a while." said Stella.

"Maybe if you hadn't challenge Faragonda, she'd gone easier on us." said Flora.

"And Zara wouldn't haven't freaked out in her sleep deprived state." added Stella.

"You can't really blame her." said Bloom, knowing her sister.

"I don't think they would have changed anything really." said Tecna. "I'm sure she knows exactly what happened last night."

"She must think we were very naïve for being taken in by that trick with the twins' book." Musa said to them. "But how are we to know it was a trap?"

"And now we are totally powerless. For Zara and I, it's not so bad." said Bloom as Zara was leaning against the wall, lightly snoring away as she brought her bo staff close to her body. "We've lived our whole lives without powers. We've got to get them back. This is the only way to solve to this mystery."

Bloom then turns to face the others. "I know how we can regain our powers." she said, determined. "I just say the word. Winx."

"We are the Winx…..come on, get up and play. Sparkling and wonderful, we're magic all the way. Sing it loud." Zara randomly said in her sleep, causing her sister and the others to laugh.

Chapter Text

At Alfea, Griselda had the girls stand before her. "Your intrusion into Cloudtower was extremely rude, young ladies. You exposed yourselves to great danger. That's why your powers have been revoked." Griselda scolded them. "It is sufficient punishment. For me, however sufficient is not enough. Now, just so you remember this lesson, you will spend the entire day at school, and you will clean the castle from top to bottom."

"Um, the whole castle?" asked Flora.

"No, just the stairs, corridors, classrooms and bathrooms." said Griselda.

"Oh, well, that's okay." said Stella. "I thought it would be worse, honestly."

"And since you do not have access to your magic powers for the moment." Griselda said as she grabs a broom. "These are your work tools."

"What a strange object." said Tecna, then goes on her hand held. "Let see what my computer says about it."

"Oh, and one more thing." said Griselda and closes Tecna's small computer. "No techno gadget allowed."

"Now that worries me." said Tecna.

"Yeah, it shows." Musa tells her. "Sad news obviously upsets you."

"By Tecna standards, she has actually shows too much emotion." chimed Flora.

"I know." Tecna said. "Ever since I've met you guys, I easily lose control." The others started laughing as Tecna started getting frustrated. "It wasn't a joke. A simple observation."

"Young ladies! Quiet!" Griselda said, raising her voice over their laugher. "Tomorrow I'll conduct an inspection. Everything better be clean, now go."

"Great….." said Zara. "I bet that she's even going to have us clean the entire outside of the school too."

"It's not hard to use a broom. Want me to show you how?" Flora asked with a broom in hand as Zara starts to polish the staircase wood.

"Nah, I'm sure I can figure out how to use these primitive implements." said Tecna, picking up the bucket and takes a closer look.

"Are you sure?" questioned Flora.

"Of course." Tecna assures her.

"Are you really, really sure you don't want any help?" asked Flora as Zara stood behind her and smiled in glee at Tecna, who was now wearing the bucket on her head.

"I can handle the situation, Flora. Don't worry and Zara, stop smiling like that. Its creepy." said Tecna as she picks up the broom and feels the bristles. She then looks up at one of the paintings and starts dusting. "See?"

"Indeed, we see." they said as Tecna continued dusting to the point where the painting fell to the ground.

"I think I might have done something wrong." said Tecna as the painting fell and broke on the stairs.

"Yes…yes you have." said Zara, nodding as she tries to hold back her laughter.

"Now would you like us to help you?" asked Flora as Zara crossed her arms and stared at Tecna. In a classroom, Bloom and Musa were cleaning the desks while Stella sat on the desk, looking in the mirror.

"Uh…I can't wait to be finished." said Bloom.

"Yeah." agreed Musa, then turns to Stella. "We'd be done a lot sooner if you know who had helped us."

"We agreed that you were going to do the floors." said Bloom.

"No, you two agreed." retorted Stella as she puts away her mirror and gets a nail filer out of her bag. "Hey! You want me to break a nail?"

"You don't have to use your hands!" Musa shouted at her. "You can use a scrub brush."

"I'm going to get blisters." Stella complained, refusing to do any work.

"Wear gloves!" shrieked Musa.

"Rubber is bad for my skin." whined Stella.

"All right. You two leave me no other choice." said Bloom, coming up with a compromise for the two as she pours cleaning solution into a bucket of water.

"It's not fair." complained Musa. "You shouldn't do Stella's work."

"Well, if it means so much to you, I won't stop you." Stella said when suddenly Bloom throws the soapy water at her. "Hey!"

"What were you saying, Stella?" she innocently asked.

"Good one, Bloom." said Musa.

"Oh, well, I've got some more for you too." Bloom said to Musa, sending some soapy water her way. Minutes later, Tecna, Zara and Flora walked in with Flora gasping.

"What happened here? A Tornado?" Flora asked.

"Oh, it's not a tornado that went through here, Flora." said Zara, grinning widely, as she stood over her sister. "It was a Bloom hurricane. Did you have fun, Bloom?"

Bloom looks up at her sister, giving her a silly smile as she held out her hand. "Yeah….I had this one coming." Zara said, shrugging and giggling as she lets Bloom pull her to the wet floor.

"A tough battle's just ended and I won by a landslide." boasted Stella.

"Liar." said Bloom, laughing as now a wet Zara sits up.

"I won." said Musa, sitting up on the desk.

"What a wreck." said Flora.

"We'll never finish this part." said Tecna.

"I dare say, not." said Griselda, looking at the girls. "I'm here to let you know that this evening at the Magix Auditorium, there will be a concert, which the hall of Alfea will attend."

"Great, I love concerts." said Stella.

"However, you six will have to miss it." Griselda said. "You haven't finished cleaning yet."

"Oh no!" Stella exclaimed.

"Now get back to work." she said and starts walking away. Every fairy from Alfea was getting onto the shuttles as Griselda looks back before getting on herself.

Bloom and Zara watched as they left. "Well, they've all gone." said Bloom as she walks away from the window.

"I always feel sad when the school is empty." said Musa.

"Hey, what do you say we ask the boys to come join us?" Stella asked.

"Yeah, why not?" questioned Flora. "And when we get caught, we'll be grounded until infinity."

"I don't plan on being grounded until infinity if we get caught." said Zara.

Flora tilted her head, a smirk playing on her lips. "Oh? How do you plan to wiggle out of that one?" she asked.

"Easy." Zara said, a mischievous glint in her eye. "I'll just blame it on you. Just like Bloom and I blame each other for things when we were little."

"I think it's a great idea." said Bloom.

"My loving twin sister who's face I share, thinks Stella's idea is a great idea?" Zara asked in amusement, then walks over to Bloom to feel her forehead. "You must be sick or something."

"I'm not sick, Zara." Bloom said, playfully annoyed with her before turning to the others. "Sure, they can help us with the cleaning."

"But it's like cheating, isn't it?" asked Tecna and Bloom shakes her head.

"Griselda said, no magic, no techno gadget." Bloom recited the woman's words. "Did not say no flesh and blood."

"Better yet, she also didn't say no to using other abled bodies of the opposite gender." added Zara, causing Bloom to point and nod at her in agreement.

"Of course!" said Stella, dropping the broom and bucket. "And then when we're done cleaning, we can have a nice party. So, what do you all think? Is it a great idea or not?"

"It's a wonderful idea." said Musa as she drops her cleaning stuff as well.

"I can't wait!" said Bloom. Once the call was made, the Specialists made their way to Alfea.

"You guys didn't waste any time." said Stella and rushes to hug Sky. "It's great to see you."

"Hey, you know us." said Sky as the boys took of their helmets. "When it comes to partying, the Specialists take matters very seriously." Stella starts giggling uncontrollably.

At Cloudtower, the witches were eating in the great hall when one of the younger witches looked up at the Trix who were sitting above them. "We can't let them get away with this." Stormy said angrily as she pounded a fist into the table.

"The Winx are going to have to pay for their intrusion into Cloudtower." said Darcy.

"Hmm, we'll destroy their beloved Alfea." suggested Icy. "That out to teach them a lesson."

"Huh?" said a fellow witch, Lucy as she looks over at her friend, Mirta who was watching the Trix.

"Those fairies have got to learn to stay well away from our turf." Icy said to Darcy and Stormy.

"Why do you hate them so much?" Mirta asked, curious to know. "Fairies aren't that bad after all."

"And who is the per little thing who just uttered these words?" questioned Icy.

"All I meant to say was, I think that maybe…..we should all try to get along." Mirta suggested to the Trix.

"But of course!" exclaimed Stormy, laughing at the suggestion and other joined in. Tears filled her eyes as Mirta was only trying to make a suggestion. "Did you girls hear that? Mirta wants to be friends with the fairies. Well, well, how quaint. Would you like a sprinkle of fairy dust in your soup?"

"Why don't you keep your mouth shut, girl." Darcy ordered her as Mirta was put on the spot and created a blue blob to stick to her face.

Mirta was knocked down and out of nowhere, Lucy jumps up from her seat. She was torn between helping her friend and watching her in misery. The blob disappears as the laugher dies down.

"All right, that's enough." said Griffin as Mirta coughs for air. "What is all this mess? Can't you think of other ways to amuse yourselves? Now everyone finish your meal and go to your rooms. There will be no entertainment period this evening."

"Let's do it tonight." Icy said to her sisters as Griffin left. "While all the teachers and fairies are attending the concert."

"It's not hard. Just do it like this." said Musa as she shows how it's done with mopping the floor. "Soap down, rinse and dry. Whoop!"

"Uh…." said Sky. "Wasn't this supposed to be a party?"

"It will start as soon as we finish cleaning." said Bloom.

"Once you've helped us, of course." Zara chimed in.

"Here! Heads up!" said the twins, each tossing a broom to Sky, Brandon and Xander.

As Timmy was tossed a broom, he started to fumble it in his hands before getting a firm grip on it. Riven, on the other hand, refused to take the broom. "We'll work better with some music on." said Flora, turning the volume up on Musa's stereo.

"And all together now!" said Musa as she twirls her broom around. "Soap, rinse, dry!"

Zara, Xander, Bloom, Brandon, Stella and Sky somewhat started to dance as they repeated Musa's words as Tecna and Flora joined in. "Feel the rhythm. To the beat." said Musa as Timmy joins in as well.

Everyone but Riven was having fun…..even Kiko and Lavender were having fun as well. Kiko was twirling a brush when it flies out of his hand and hits Lady in her face. "Eh!" squeaked Lavender as she sees the look on Lady's face as she glares at Kiko.

"Huh? Huh, Huh, huh." Kiko said, looking for the brush he had then turns to his younger sister. "Ah-Ei?"

Lavender points to Lady in response then quickly runs to Zara, going into her safety place. "Soap, Rinse, Dry!" everyone sang as Kiko takes a closer look at Lady's angry face, causing him to scream in fear. He calmly walks away, whistling as though nothing happened as everyone was cleaning.

Once the cleaning was finally finished, they brought the boys back to their room and Musa puts on some music. Music was playing and now the small party had finally started. "It went well, huh?" Bloom asked Stella.

"You betcha." Stella said happily. "And what's more, I discovered that Prince Sky is a perfect man about the house. So, what's the deal with you two, Brandon and Xander?"

"Oh, no deal." said Bloom.

"I….I wouldn't know." Zara said as blush was creeping on her face as she placed several strands of hair behind her ear.

"Nothing really." they tell her.

"Liars." teased Stella. "Whenever those two are near you, you both become someone else. This a perfect time to try and get closer."

Outside on campus, the Trix arrived. "Hey!" Darcy said, getting Icy's attention as she sees the lights were on in Alfea. "Didn't you say that the school was supposed to be empty?"

"Huh?" Icy said as she looks up and hears music coming from the Winx's room. The Trix levitated to their room and see that not only were the Specialists at Alfea, but the Winx were left behind on campus.

"The Winx." said Icy, angry that they were still on campus.

"Don't you want to dance, Tecna?" Timmy asked.

"No, I don't like to." she said, shying a bit. "It makes me feel kind of awkward."

"Well, that makes two of us." Timmy said, feeling relieved by this. "I don't like it either. I feel ridiculous…."

"Timmy!" Riven called out.

"Huh?"

"You're ridiculous even when you're not doing anything." he tells him. Tecna scoffs at Riven, thinking how dared he embarrassed her crush.

Zara stood a way from Bloom and Stella, watching everyone when Xander walks up beside her. "Looks like your mind is somewhere." said Xander.

"Guess so." Zara said, biting her lip.

"Care to share what you're thinking?" he asked, bringing a smile from her.

"Well…." said Zara, looking up at the light blue haired teen standing before her. She glanced back at Bloom and Stella, their laughter echoing across the crowded room. Their carefree banter seemed a world away from the swirling thoughts in Zara's mind.

Xander, sensing her hesitation, tilted his head. "It's okay, you don't have to tell me. I just thought maybe you needed someone to talk to."

Musa, however, was moon dancing towards Riven before she left him alone. The Trix continued to watch the small dance party from outside. Kiko and Lavender were having the time of their lives as they were dancing away. That was….until Kiko started spinning and into a wall.

"She's not bad, huh?" Brandon asked Riven, seeing Musa's dance moves.

"Better than some others here." said Riven as he walks away. The Trix disappeared from the balcony and watched Riven walk outside.

"That was close." said Icy as she, Darcy and Stormy hid behind the fountain. "That's all we needed."

"Too many people. Let's go back to Cloudtower." said Darcy.

"No, sisters. I have this feeling." Icy said, turning to them. "Let's conjure up the vacuums."

"The vacuums? But why?" asked Stormy. "They're made to find and store the most powerful mystical energies."

"I feel that the energies we're looking for is somewhere in the school." said Icy. "Hidden in something perhaps."

"Of course." said Stormy. "It wasn't in the ring of Solaria. It had to belong to one of the fairies though."

"In fact, the royal family belonged to the order of fairies." Darcy said. "Great idea, Icy."

"My ideas are always great." Icy smugly said.

Stormy growls as the Trix started conjuring the vacuum. "The vacuum will take us to powers."

"But…the Winx?" asked Stormy.

"The Winx won't be a problem." said Icy as the vacuum leads the Trix inside of Alfea castle. "Anyway, I have an idea that'll put them out of commission." Icy then created a portal for them to get into Alfea. Once inside, the vacuum hovered above them. "This is the place. Alright sisters, are you ready?"

Icy starts chanting and with the help of Darcy and Stormy, they created a minotaur to distract the Winx. "Sisters, I present to you….." Icy said as it roars in front of them. "the whip."

"It's too bad this party can't go on forever." said Bloom.

"Maybe not forever, but it could have lasted until morning." said Sky.

"I couldn't last until morning." said Zara, wrapping herself in her blanket. "I barely survived the last time."

"I guess as long as we keep the place tidy." said Flora.

"Um, is that your stomach grumbling?" Stella asked Sky. "You want to eat something?"

"No, but I am kinda thirsty." he tells her.

"Your highness are you nervous?" asked Stella as she pours him some juice.

"I'm perfectly calm." Sky replied as the building starts to shake. "It's the school that's shaking."

"An earthquake?" asked Bloom and Zara.

"It's coming from inside." said Flora.

"No, it's from outside." said Stella as she walks over to the balcony. "Maybe one of our classmates left the TV on too loud. See, it stopped."

Suddenly, something was thrown out the window. "Maybe not….." said Stella as the girls shake with fear.

"Yeah…. that's definitely not a TV, Stella." said Zara as she hugged Bloom. Riven whistles for their rides and the boys head out. The Winx met them out front on campus as the boys inspect the scene.

"What kind of creature do this kind of damage?" Timmy asked, looking at the cracks in the walls.

"A big heavy creature." said Tecna.

"Oh golly! I never would have guessed." Riven sarcastically said.

"It's 2 and ½ meters tall and weighs close to a ton." Tecna tells Riven. "It's furs is bristly, has horns, and has multiple claw limbs. It also has a musky odor. Now is that better?"

"Dude…." said Zara as Stella laughs. "She just put you in your place. I would have done much worse than what Tecna did."

"Way to go, Tecna." said Stella as the ground shakes again.

"Okay, that was it." said Brandon.

"Where's it heading?" asked Xander, hoping to track its direction.

"What are we waiting for? Let's go!" said Sky.

"Wait for us!" Bloom and Zara called out. "We're coming too."

"Come on." said Brandon.

"Stay where you are, little fairies." Riven said as the boys prepared themselves for a fight. "This isn't a job for you."

"Hmm." Musa growled at him, glaring as he looked back. "Who says?"

The Winx took off in a different direction, unaware that the Trix's vacuum was following them. "The vacuum's headed this way." said Icy, following their spell. "It stopped."

"Quack!" said a familiar voice behind the Trix

"Who said Quack?" asked Darcy.

"Mama! Quack! Mama!" cried Pepe as he ran towards Icy and hugs her.

"It followed us all the way here." said Stormy as Icy growled and froze the duckling in an ice cube.

"All right let's go." said Icy. The boys were further down the corridor, weapons drawn.

"Why don't you give us some light, Timmy." said Sky.

"Sure thing." he said, finally giving them some light in the center of the room. Everything in the room was turned over and the ceiling had a hole in it.

"It went up that way." said Sky. On the other side of Alfea, the Winx were searching for the creature.

"Nothing." said Bloom as they climbed the stairs. "Huh? Maybe it went away."

"Maybe it was just a wild animal, you know." said Flora.

"Or one of Professor Wizgiz's creations." said Tecna.

"I'd say it's a dirty laundry hamper creature." said Stella.

"I raise Stella's dirty laundry hamper creature for something created by an unknown source sent from Cloudtower as a prank." Zara calmly said.

"I know what you're thinking and all I can say is, who do you think wins half the time at our card games, Tecna?" Bloom asked, smiling, knowing Tecna well enough to know her question.

"Fair enough." said Tecna.

"Let's try this way." said Musa, leading them down the corridor of where the creature decided to take. She continues walking until she bumps into it, not seeing the thing. "Huh? Hang on a sec. There never used to be a wall in this corridor."

The creature turns around and bellows at the Winx. "Ew!" Stella said, grossed out. "This is totally disgusting. You are so gonna get it." Stella growls at the creature who then growled in return.

"Stella, we have no powers." Bloom reminded her, causing Stella to back off.

"Otherwise, we would have done something right now." Zara chimed in.

"Heh-heh! Nice monster." said Stella as she hops back towards the others who were now huddled in fear. Just then, the Winx screamed as they ran, hoping that the boys would hear them.

"This way." Icy said as the vacuum took them past the corridor. As they ran up the stairs, Flora trips as Musa ran past her.

"Come on!" said Stella, taking her by the wrist as they ran down another corridor. The creature roared as it continues to chase the girls.

"Bloom!" Zara called out as dust surrounded them. Bloom crawled away as she heard her sister's voice.

"Zara!" Bloom answered as Zara followed her voice. As the dust cleared, the creature turns to see where the girls went, only to find Tecna against the wall. It then swipes at her with its horns only for Tecna to jump above it as the creature gets its horns stuck in the wall.

"Look at him." said Stella. "He's struggling and sweating. He really stinks. This should help a little."

She sprays some perfume on the creature in hopes to make him smell better. "Great, Stella, you made him even more madder." said Tecna as he takes his horns out from the wall.

"It's better than nothing." Zara said. The Winx took off again with the creature chasing after them. Musa had an idea and jumps into the air, then pushes his face. Before she could land, the creature punches Musa into the corridor.

Out of the shadows, Riven carries Musa in his arms. "That's it, you beast." he said, glaring at him. "You asked for it." He places Musa on her feet as he and the other Specialists stalked towards the whip. "Girls, you can sit back and relax. We'll put him through the ringer."

"Ok….enjoy." said Zara as Xander gives out a small laugh.

"Ha-ha. This is my kind of party." said Riven as he ran towards the whip first. After making contact with his weapon and no damage to the creature's body, the creature takes a huge swing at Riven, who then jumps back.

"Let's take him on together." said Brandon, his voice tight with determination.

Xander nodded, a grim line forming on his face as he raised his sword in front of him. It gleamed under the dim light in the corridor, its glowing magic was shining a bit brighter than before. "Together." he echoed, his voice low and steady.

Riven, unfazed by their agreement, simply scoffed. "Just worry about your prince and his brother, page boy."

"Don't underestimate us, Riven," Brandon retorted, his voice laced with warning. "We may be younger, but we're not weak."

Riven laughed, a harsh, grating sound. "Younger? You're barely old enough to shave!" He took a step forward, his dark eyes gleaming with a predatory glint. "You're just delaying the inevitable."

Xander, ever the silent one, remained stoic, his gaze locked on Riven. "We'll see about that," he murmured, his voice barely audible, but carrying a weight far beyond its volume.

"Idiot!" said Sky as they followed Riven. "Come on, guys! Attack!"

"Specialists, attack!" shouted Brandon.

"This is my attack!" Riven shouted over his shoulder when the creature punches him again, sending him through a window. As Riven lays on the floor, knocked out, the Trix and their vacuum spell appeared.

"Interesting." said Darcy as she, Icy and Stormy hovered over Riven. "This boy has a strong negative force. He's on the level with the prince of darkness. What do you think?"

"I think he's an average Joe idiot who's wasting our time." stated Stormy.

"I think that boy could be useful." said Icy, chuckling for a moment. "But not yet. We'll think about it later."

As the creature was beating up the boys, the Winx stood there and watched, feeling guilty. "We've got to do something." said Bloom.

"How? We don't have our powers." said Zara.

"But Zara ….." Bloom said to her.

"Oh no…I'm not bringing it out." Zara tells her as she gestures to the creature. "It would break in half if I used it on that thing."

"The monster's beating them to a pulp." said Flora.

"We don't have anything to fight with." said Tecna. In hand, Stella held their cleaning supplies.

"Look what I found." she said, proudly.

"Oh….." said Zara as she looks at her sister, grinning widely.

"Hey, this gives us an idea!" said Bloom. The creature threw back the remaining Specialists, roaring in victory. Behind it, the Winx started to create music of their own to get its attention.

"Hey monster!" the twins called out.

"We're here." said Stella. The creature roared in anger as it ran towards them, causing the Winx to take off running. As the Winx ran, coming out of another corridor was Pepe, looking for Icy.

"Are you all ready?" Bloom and Zara asked.

"You betcha." said Musa as Bloom and Zara poured soap onto the floor. The creature steps on the soap and falls, sliding across the floor, causing Pepe to scream in terror. It went through a wall and crashed into the main floor.

"Oh, scary ugly." said Flora.

"I almost had him." said Riven.

"What we'd like to know is where a thing like that come from?" asked the twins.

Just then, Pepe crawls out from under the creature, looking a little dazed. "Quuaack." he said as he fell back.

"That's Pepe! Icy's duck!" exclaimed Bloom.

"What's he doing here?" asked Zara, looking at the duckling.

"He couldn't have possibly gotten here all by himself." said Tecna.

"Mommy!" Pepe cried, reaching out and wanting Icy as he fell asleep.

"I'd say this is a special gift from the Trix US Company." said Stella.

"And I was somewhat right." said Zara. "It was created by the Trix, and they do go to Cloudtower."

"Yeah. But we know that they didn't send this creature to us as a prank." said Tecna.

"Exactly." Zara said, nodding.

"Let's go to Faragonda's office. Zara and I both know that with her crystal ball, she can pretty much keep an eye on the whole school." said Bloom.

"But that wouldn't be right." said Flora. "We can't go into Faragonda's office if she isn't in there."

"That's true. It's strictly against the rules." said Tecna.

"Would the two of you rather wait here for Faragonda and Griselda to come back, explaining why Pepe and the creature are doing here or would you rather come with us and find the Trix?" asked Zara. "Because honestly I vote on finding the Trix."

"Zara is right. It's for our own good and that of Alfea, we must solve that mystery." said Bloom. The Winx and the Specialists crossed the campus, heading into Faragonda's office. "Here we are. This is the moment of truth."

They walked inside and Riven takes a look around. "Hm. There's someone in here." He tells the others.

"Oh, I knew it." Flora said, starting to freak out.

"What should we do?" asked Musa.

"Let's hide." said Bloom. The vacuum takes the Trix towards Faragonda's office.

"This is odd." said Icy, as the Trix entered Faragonda's office. "The vacuum indicates that the powers of the two dragons is hidden in this room, but I don't see anything. I guess we'll just have to trash the place and search every nook and cranny until we find what we want."

"We won't let you." said Bloom and Zara, coming out of their hiding places. Riven turns on the light, causing the Trix to snarl in anger.

"What are you doing here?" Icy asked.

"No, what are you three doing here?" the twins asked.

"That's what I was going to ask you all." said Faragonda as she walked into her office, seeing them there. "Up until a moment ago, I thought this was my office."

"Uh…" said Zara, then nervously smiles as she made a clicking sound.

"You might not believe us, but we can explain." said Bloom as she and Zara gets down from Faragonda's desk. Outside, the Winx were walking the Specialists out.

"Well, thanks for everything, Brandon." Bloom said as she and Zara were standing by the bikes.

"You guys were a big help, Xander." said Zara.

"It was an evening I won't soon forget." said Brandon.

"Until we both see you again." said Xander.

"Come here." Sky said to Stella, taking her face into his hand and gives her a peck on the cheek.

"A memorable party." Timmy said to Tecna as he adjusts his glasses.

"Oo." replied Tecna.

"And uh, next time you have a party, don't bother to invite me." Riven said to Musa, who was smiling at him. Musa and Flora gasped at Riven as the Specialists take off.

"Oh, and Griselda remind me to send Director Saladin a letter of thanks for the help his students gave us." Faragonda said. Griselda was shocked as she stood watch over the Trix.

"As for you three young witches in training, I will immediately take the matter up with Director Griffin." Faragonda said to the Trix. "Your behavior this evening is totally unacceptable." The Trix didn't care as Pepe kisses Icy. "Tomorrow morning, she will receive from me a formal complaint. I have never seen such total lack of respect. I trust you will be disciplined accordingly. Goodbye girls."

Faragonda sends the Trix and Pepe back to Cloudtower. "And now…" Griselda said, rounding on the Winx. "It's your turn."

"Know what I'm thinking, girls? I'm thinking that I'm going to go back into the castle, clean up my portion of what happened so that I can earn back my powers." said Zara.

"Great idea, Zara! I'll join you." Bloom.

"Yeah! We will too." said Musa, Stella, Tecna and Flora. The six of them started marching towards Alfea.

"Hold it!" ordered Griselda, causing them to stop in their tracks. She then brings them up to Faragonda's office.

"Now, I've looked at the situation as a whole." Faragonda said to the Winx. "And so, I will not reprimand you."

"Yay!" said Zara as they sighed in relief.

"This evening's events have shown that you can handle difficult situations intelligently, creatively and without magic." Faragonda said as she walks over to the Winx. "And so, I'll give you back your powers. Your punishment has lasted long enough."

Snapping her fingers, she gives them back their powers. "Just to double check." Zara said to Bloom.

"Definitely." said Bloom. Both twins mirrored each other as Zara followed Bloom's lead for their Winx pose with Bloom having orange and Zara having blue.

"Glad to have my blue magic again." said Zara.

"Same here with mine." said Bloom.

Once the Winx were out of her office, Faragonda smiled to herself. "Dear sweet girls. You still have a long road ahead of you and many obstacles to overcome." Faragonda said. "But one day, you'll be true fairies."

She then gets up from her desk and walks over to the window, looking outside at the campus. "Tomorrow, the roses will bloom. Who knows? One day you both might also blossom."

Chapter Text

It was morning at Alfea and the sun was shining through the Winx's room. Bloom and Zara were still in bed, tossing and turning in their sleep. "Bloom! Zara!" said the familiar voice, the one that helped them escape from Cloudtower. "Bloom! Zara!"

"Who's calling us?" they both asked. "Who's there?"

"It's me, Bloom and Zara." she said to the twins. "Do you both remember me? Do you know my voice?"

"I don't think so. I barely remember what I had for lunch last month." said Zara, causing the voice to laugh.

"It's you." said Bloom as she and Zara looked into the darkness around them. "You're the one who led us out of Cloudtower Castle."

"You saved us." Zara added.

"Yes, Bloom and Zara. Come to me." the voice said, leading them to her.

"But…" they said, walking towards the voice.

"Come to me." said the voice.

"We can't see you." said the twins.

"Come Bloom and Zara." she tells them.

"Where are you?" asked Bloom and Zara. Suddenly, a piece of yellow fabric touched their hands, causing the twins to gasp.

"I am here." said the fairy who stood before them in a glowing light. "I'm waiting for you. Come to me." She reached out her hands towards the twins, hoping that they would take them. "And remember."

"Remember? What must we remember?" Bloom and Zara asked.

The next thing the twins knew, they woke up. "What? What must we remember?" asked Bloom.

"That for the first time we were being watched in our dreams?" Zara asked, hopping down from the top bunk and getting into Bloom's bed.

"It was so strange." said Bloom.

"For one thing, that today is a holiday." said Flora, standing at the foot of their beds. "But that's no reason to spend the day in bed."

"Hi Flora. Morning Flora." said the twins.

"You both were talking in your sleep." Flora said. "What is it that the both of you have to remember?"

"I don't know." Bloom replied.

"But you did raise a good question." said Zara.

"It was such a weird dream." they said as Bloom falls onto her pillow.

Bloom finally gets out of bed with Kiko in her arms while Zara starts to sit on the floor, stretching with Lavender. "Where are you going?" asked the twins.

"I'm going home." she tells them. "Today is the day of the Rose. It's a special day here in magix, no classes."

Tecna was packing her things as Flora and the twins walked in. "What's the day of the rose?" Bloom asked.

"It's a special day where everyone celebrates their own mother." explained Tecna. "Don't you have a holiday like that on earth?"

"Oh, yes. But we call it Mother's Day." said Bloom.

"And we usually celebrate it in May." said Zara.

"Are the two of you going home?" asked Flora.

"No, we don't think so." said the twins, looking at each other.

"Well, the two of you can keep us company." said Stella as she and Musa peered out from their rooms. The four of them went to the great hall while Tecna and Flora left to go celebrate.

"There's only Griselda left." said Stella, taking a sip of tea. "All of the teachers have cleared right off."

"You bet." said Wizgiz, appearing before the small quartet of girls.

"Mr. Wizgiz, you're going too?" asked Stella.

"And why not?" he asked. "Can't I have a mother?"

"You can, Mr. Wizgiz. She's extremely lucky to have you." said Zara as Wizgiz transforms the clover on his outfit to a rose and gives her a smile.

"Cheerio!" Wizgiz called out as he heads out.

"What a guy." commented Musa.

"And you two?" Stella inquired. "Why aren't you two going home?"

"We prefer to stay here." said Bloom as Zara nodded in agreement. "If we see our parents again, even for just a day, we'll feel even more homesick."

"Yeah, and it'll be hard to say goodbye all over again." added Zara.

Musa and Stella looked at each other as they felt sympathetic to the twins. "Ok and why are you two staying here?" asked Bloom.

"We're curious to know." said Zara.

"I don't celebrate the day of the rose." Stella said, looking into her teacup. "I never told you guys, but my mom and dad are splitting up. Yep. The king and queen of Solaria aren't getting along anymore. Okay, now you know everything. So, what's your excuse, Musa? Huh?"

"I haven't celebrated this day in a long time because I haven't got anyone to celebrate." Musa explained. "I lost my mother when I was still very young."

"Musa, I'm sorry. I shouldn't have asked." said Stella, empathetically.

"You don't have to apologize." Musa tells her. "You couldn't have known. For me, this day is just a little sadder than others. But hey…life goes on. There's not much more I can do about it except live with my memories."

Stella and Zara hugged Musa as Bloom reaches out for her hand. "Tears, coffee and milk." Bloom said as she wipes away her tears. "Not my idea of a tasty breakfast."

"All right! It's a beautiful day and there's a party in town." said Stella as she gets up from the table. "Music, dancing!" Just then, Stella gets a text message from someone. "Goody, a message from Sky. My favorite prince. He and his friends are going to be in the city. And he's inviting me….he's inviting me to the big rose ball this evening."

"Well then?" Bloom asked as she looks at Musa and Zara.

"Another time, maybe." said Musa. "Just not today. Thanks anyway."

"Okie dokie." said Stella as the four of them hugged each other.

At Cloudtower, the Trix stood before Griffin. "You are nothing but bungling fools." Griffin said to the Trix. "This is a letter of protest from my esteemed colleague Faragonda."

She then dangles the letter in front of the Trix. "She did not appreciate you breaking into her school and now she is asking me to take disciplinary action against you. I am furious. I am not furious for what you've done, but for what you have not done. I should kick you out of my school. But I won't."

Griffin walks around her desk and past the Trix. "I'll give you another chance. I feel a lot of negative energy coming from you." Griffin said. "You could become truly awesome witches. But you would have to prove yourselves. There is a growing collaboration between the Fairies of Alfea and the Wizards of Red Fountain. There's a friendship between the schools and I don't like it. This could be the start of a union that would change the balance of power unless you three destroy this alliance."

"When do we begin?" Icy asked.

"Right now. Today there is this insufferable Rose Festival going on in the city." said Griffin, turning to face Icy. "Your dear little fairies will be there and so will the boys from Red Fountain. Do whatever you want, use whatever you need. All that matters is that at the end of the day, the kinship between fairies and wizards is spoiled forever! Now get to work."

In one of the towers at Alfea, Musa looks out towards Magix. Sitting on the railing, she takes out a small lotus flower and activates it, revealing a hologram picture of her mother. "You know, all these parties are all the same anyway." Musa said to the picture. "And I see my friends every day. Of course, I would have seen Riven again. He's a boy I met. He's a strange fella, but I'd like to really get to know him better. Who knows."

Musa then turns off the hologram picture. "Another day, perhaps." she said.

"A lot of people, huh?" Sky asked Brandon, Xander, and Riven as they walked around Magix, navigating the bustling crowds. The vibrant street market buzzed with activity, vendors hawking their wares, and children giggling as they chased pigeons.

"Too many for my tastes," grumbled Riven, his face scrunched up in annoyance. "What are they all doing out here in the streets anyway?"

"What you should be doing." Brandon said as Xander smiled. "Relaxing and enjoying themselves."

"I know I'm enjoying this." said Xander.

"That's because you love this kind of thing, Xander." said Brandon. Riven rolls his eyes at this. "You thrive on it."

"Come on, Riven, it's just a bit lively," Xander said with a chuckle. "It's a good thing we're here during the festival. Imagine if it was just a regular day."

Above them, an aircraft flies in and drops thousands of roses. Sky catches a rose and hands it to Stella. "A rose for you, madam." he said.

"Thank you." said Stella, looking at him lovingly as Sky does the same in return. The twins, Xander and Brandon looked at each other with the twins giggling a bit.

"These roses are beautiful, just like you are." Xander declared, holding out two crimson roses towards the younger twin.

Zara, her eyes sparkling with amusement, took the flowers gently and inhaled their fragrance deeply. "How did you know that I have a soft spot for roses?" asked Zara.

Xander grinned, a mischievous glint in his own eyes.

"Let's just say I have my sources," he replied, his voice a low murmur. He leaned closer, a conspiratorial whisper escaping his lips. "A certain someone might have mentioned it… once or twice."

"Ahem." Riven said, walking up as he gets their attention. "Could we get going now, please?"

"Huh?"

Not far from them, there were boys racing each other around Magix. "Yeah! All right!" cheered Xander and Brandon as several boys were circuiting past them.

"Some riders are getting ready for the race." Brandon explained.

"Those who do this race occasionally get hurt, if they don't pay attention to the road." said Xander.

"Poor fools." said Riven. "Little do they know that they're totally wasting their time."

"Yeah? I'll be racing." said Brandon.

"So will I." added Xander.

"Hey, I wasn't talking about me." said Riven.

"What's that supposed to mean?" asked Bloom as she and Zara walked up to him.

"It means that in a little bit, I'll be the one crossing the finish line first that's all." said Riven. "And you'll be standing there and watching me win."

"Oh for all the love that's in Magix…." Zara said, facepalming herself. "He's going to stress me out really badly."

"Riven, Sky, Xander and I are taking part in the race this year." said Brandon.

"And by the looks of it, Riven wants to be competitive." said Xander.

"Whatever." Riven tells them. "I'm just telling you that the race is mine."

"We'll see." said Sky.

"Sky, isn't it a bit dangerous?" Stella asked him.

"Nah, motorbikes are safe." Brandon said as he looks at the race. One of the racers looked over his shoulder at the others before speeding up and uses a ramp to get ahead.

"Whoa!" the racer cried out as the first racer landed in front of him and the exhaust blocked his view, causing him to fall off and crash. The motorbike went up into the air and bounced off the protective shield. The girls gasped as the motorbike fell before them.

"See?" Brandon asked. "The track is shielded by a safety force field."

"That way, pretty girls like you won't get hurt." said Xander.

"Glad to know that we're safe." said Zara, nodding in approval. "I like it."

"Hm…we have a dance to attend tonight, so drive carefully." Stella said to Sky as they walked away from the track.

"Well, I'll try." Sky promised her. "But the thing is, if I want to teach this guy a lesson, I have to put the pedal to the medal."

"Ha! Keep dreaming, boy." said Riven. Behind a pillar, the Trix appeared, ready to break up the friendship.

"We'll be cheering for you and Xander, Brandon." said Bloom.

"Hey, Riven? Who's cheering for you?" Sky asked. "Stella's cheering for me. Bloom's cheering for Brandon and Zara's cheering for Xander. But you don't have anyone."

"I can have any girl I want." Riven said, turning to face Sky. "Wanna bet?"

"What kind of bet?" asked Sky.

"My kind of bet." Riven tells them. "If I win the race, I get to pick one of your fairy friends to be my escort to the ball this evening."

"This is stupid." Brandon said, turning away.

"I'm not gonna bet against you, Riven." said Xander.

"Oh, is it?" inquired Riven. "Well, in this case, I'll choose…uh…one of the twins. Is that a deal?"

"Huh?"

"What?" the twins both asked, staring at Riven.

"Maybe you should ask one of us first." said Bloom.

"There's no way that I'll ever be your escort to the ball, Riven." said Zara.

"Yeah, but…." he said.

"No buts." they said.

"Who do you think you are?" Bloom asked Riven. "Just so you know, Zara and I choose who we go out with."

"You don't get to decide which one of us you get to go out with." said Zara.

"And we wouldn't go out with you if you were the last guy on earth." they finally said, causing Riven to growl at them. "You're just a ridiculous, arrogant, pathetic windbag!" Stella looks at Sky, Brandon and Xander, shocked that the twins called Riven out.

"Go ahead, win the race." said Bloom. "But I'm warning you, don't you come near me and Zara."

"You may think that you're some hotshot who thinks he'll win this race," Zara retorted, stepping closer to Riven and placing a hand on her twin sister's shoulder. "But you should at least know by now to never anger a redheaded girl, let alone a set of redheaded twins." Her eyes narrowed, a flash of fire in their depths.

"Do you really mean what you just said?" Riven asked, having the twins look at him. "I think that deep down, you both like me." Brandon and Xander glared at Riven as they balled up their fists.

"Hey! Hands off!" shouted Bloom. She then looks at Zara and nodded. Both of them used a levitation spell on a flowerpot to hover over Riven.

"Don't get cheeky with us, Riven." Bloom said as the flowerpot begins to pour its water out. "You should show people a little more respect."

"Otherwise…..you'll get treated the same way you treat others." said Zara.

Water fell onto Riven's body, soaking him to the skin. The twins started laughing as Stella, Sky and Xander joined in. "Oops." said Brandon, smiling at what Bloom and Zara did.

The twins saw the look on Riven's face and stopped smiling as they now felt embarrassed. "We didn't mean to." said Bloom and Zara, apologetically. "Riven, we're sorry!"

"Go away!" he shouted at them.

"Calm down, Riven." said Brandon.

"Dude, it was just a harmless little prank." said Zara.

"Get lost, you two." Riven tells them. "Get lost, all of you!"

"Hey, he had it coming." said Stella.

"Stupid, stupid, stupid." Riven said to himself as he walks down the street, thinking back to when the others laughed at him. "Girls…who needs them? I sure don't. I don't need anybody. Ha!" He then leans into a window, looking inside before walking away. "I don't need this stupid party."

Riven continues to walk through the crowd, thinking to himself. In the shadows, Icy spots Riven walking by himself. "Hey, did you see that?" Icy asked Darcy and Stormy.

"This guy's got personality and muscles." said Darcy. "I like it."

"Darcy, tell me…" said Stormy. "Are you falling in love?"

"Watch your mouth, Stormy!" retorted Darcy.

"Hey, keep your bickering for later." demanded Icy. "We got a job to do, remember? And this little falling out has given me an idea. Riven always wants to be the best, we know that. He's brash, moody and he really hates losing. But we have the power to fulfill his dreams."

"It shouldn't be too difficult to get him over to our side." said Darcy.

"Knut." said Icy, summoning him from Cloudtower.

"Your highness?" he asked, appearing before them. "Uh, what can I do for you?"

"You will soon find out." she tells him with a smirk on her face.

"Oh, no your highness." Knut said to Icy, knowing the look on her face. "No, please have mercy. Pretty please?"

But it was already too late. Knut groans as Icy laughs and casts a spell on him, transforming him into Timmy. "There we are. Perfect." she said, placing glasses on Knut's disguise.

"Oh…I can see." said Knut in Timmy's voice as he adjusts the glasses.

"And now, listen carefully." Icy said as she starts to lay out the plan. In downtown Magix, a crowd gathered around a performer who was using magic rings.

"He's good, huh?" Stella asked the twins.

"Real good." said Zara.

"Look over there." said Brandon, directing their attention somewhere else. "A fire eater."

A man was sitting at a table with a bowl of fire in front of him. He takes a spoonful of fire, placing it in his mouth. Bloom and Zara looked around the festival in awe until Stella let go of Bloom's hand.

The twins wandered through the crowd as they got closer to another performer who using magic to play different instruments. As the performer turns towards the twins, she appeared to have on the same mask as the girl from their dream. "Bloom! Zara!" said the girl, appearing through the performer. "Bloom! Zara! Bloom! Zara!"

"Bloom! Zara!" said 'Timmy', calling out to the twins as he placed a hand on their shoulders.

"Timmy, you're here too?" they asked, seeing Tecna's crush.

"Why are you two here on your own?" he asked them. "Everyone else is looking for you two. You both disappeared so suddenly."

"We don't know exactly." Bloom said as Zara looks at her twin. "Zara and I just lost sight of them a little while ago. At least we think it was a little while ago."

"Sorry if we lost track of time." said Zara.

"Let's go to the square." he suggested. "It's probably where they are."

'Timmy' then guides them towards the square. "Sure, we suppose the race is about to start." said Bloom.

Once at the starting line, they stood behind a large crowd. "The guys told me you both had a little disagreement with Steven." he said.

"Uh, with who?" asked the twins.

"Uh…Riven." 'Timmy' said, correcting himself. "I'm sorry."

"We're sorry, too." Bloom said.

"Our anger got the better of us." said Zara.

"Well, if you want to make it up to him…." said 'Timmy'. "I know how."

"Really?" they asked.

"Of course." he said, taking something out of his pocket. "Tada! It's a surprise they….I've prepared for him. But you both can give it to him. You know, as some kind of peace offering."

"Uh-huh." said Zara, raising a brow.

"But what is it?" asked Bloom. 'Timmy' tries to open it to show the twins what was inside, which revealed what seemed to be goggles or something. "Are you alright, Timmy?"

"Are you feeling okay?" Zara asked.

"You seemed distracted." they finally said.

"I'm okay." he assures them with a smile. "Everything's under control. Yes."

From the shadows, Icy groans at Knut's acting skills for being Timmy. "It's a helmet, a special Moni…Nom…..Omni drive helmet….yes." 'Timmy' said to the twins. "It allows the rider to drive the motorbike telepathically. It's every rider's dream."

"But…you must have worked hard to make this." Bloom said as 'Timmy' hands it to her. "You're the one who should give it to him."

"Yeah, Timmy." said Zara.

"But friendship is much more important. The two of you should give it to him." said 'Timmy'. "Tell him you got it in a little techno gadget shop. You'll make him happy. Trust me."

"Why, thanks Timmy. That's very generous of you." said the twins as the younger twin felt a little skeptical about the whole thing.

"One last thing, don't tell anyone I gave it to you, okay?" he said as he runs off.

"Uh…okay." Bloom and Zara said as they waved and walked off in search of Stella.

"Well…did you give them the helmet?" asked Icy.

"Yes, highness." said Knut, bowing before the Trix and Darcy returns him to his true form.

"I like him better the other way." said Stormy as they left the alley and appeared on the roof.

"We'll watch the whole thing from up here." said Icy, walking over to the railing and riders were gathering around the starting line. "The race is about to start. And I don't want to miss one second of it."

"Especially since Riven's helmet bound to steal the show." said Stormy.

"Poor Riven will have a little accident and all the blame will fall on the twins." said Icy.

"A little accident…right." said Darcy.

"Since when do you worry about other people?" Stormy asked.

"Me, worry?" scoffed Darcy.

"Oh, but you do, Darcy." said Stormy. "You like that guy, don't you?"

"He's nice, that's all." Darcy shot back as Knut growls in annoyance.

"Darcy, darling, you're turning all Schultzy on us." Icy said in a teasing tone as she laughs with Stormy.

"Ladies and gentlemen, and all other creatures…." said the announcer. "Welcome to the annual race of the rose! 10 courageous participants will take part in today's event." Out on the track, Riven walks his motorbike to the starting line. "Let's hear it for our champions!"

"Let's hurry, we're late." Sky said to Brandon and Xander.

"And we haven't even found the twins yet." said Brandon.

"I'm worried, you guys." said Xander as Stella catches up with the boys.

"There you are." said the twins, appearing behind them.

"Bloom, Zara, there you are!" said Stella, seeing them behind her. "Goodness gracious, where were you two? We've been looking all over for the two of you."

"And we were looking for you." said Bloom then starts looking for Riven. "Where's Riven?" Soon enough, Bloom spots him. "Riven!"

"What do you want?" he asked. "Make this quick. You're wasting my time."

"Don't be rude." Zara drawled.

"We just wanted to give you this." said Bloom, giving Riven the helmet that Knut handed her earlier. "It's a present for you. We both wanted to apologize for…"

"Give it to me." said Riven, taking the helmet from Bloom. "Thank you. Was there anything else?"

"Good luck in the race." said Bloom and Zara, then walks away from him. Darcy narrows her eyes as she, Icy, Stormy and Knut watch the scene unfold below them.

"Brandon!" Bloom called out as he and Xander pull up to the starting line. "Be careful."

"Be careful on the turns!" Zara called out to Xander.

"And good luck!" they said, giving the boys a thumbs up.

"See you at the finish line." said Brandon as Xander returned the thumbs up.

"All racers to the starting line." said the announcer and the last racer pulls up.

"What did you give Riven?" Stella asked the twins.

"We'll explain later. It was a present from Timmy." said Bloom.

"Timmy?" questioned Stella and Zara nodded.

"Yeah, he gave it to us a few minutes ago." Bloom told her.

"And he was acting a little odd when he gave it to us." said Zara.

"Are you two sure you're feeling alright?" Stella asked them. "Timmy went home for the day of the rose, he's nowhere near Magix."

"But that's impossible." said Bloom. "And if it's true, then who were we talking to?"

Zara and Bloom looked around, trying to find the person who was imitating Timmy when they looked up to find the Trix and Knut on a rooftop. "Oh no." said the twins as they see the Trix smirking at them.

"These are the light signals, gentlemen." the announcer said, pointing to the lights.

"Sorry." Bloom said as she and Zara walked through the crowd. "Excuse us. Sorry."

"Bloom! Zara!" Stella called out as she followed them. "Bloom, Zara, what's going on?"

"We've been tricked, Stella, look!" said Bloom and Zara as they pointed at the Trix. "The witches are here!" The boys looked at each other as the last signal light turned on.

"Bloom, Zara, wait!" said Stella as the twins ran towards the building.

"They're up to something." said Bloom.

"We gotta stop them." added Zara.

"Someone was pretending to be Timmy." said Bloom when suddenly, Stella gasps. It was too late, all three lights turned green, and the racers took off.

"But how?" Stella asked as they turned the corner.

"We don't know, but we've got to stop Riven." said Zara and Bloom. "We must stop him before it's too late. And there's only one way to do it." The twins went further down the alley.

"Bloom, Zara, Magic Winx!"

Seconds later, they went into their fairy forms. In another alley, Darcy appeared in a racer uniform as the main racers zoomed by. She then joins in on the race and used her magic on the racers behind her.

Once she knocks them out of the racer, Darcy focuses on the racers in front of her, taking them out as well. Unknown to Darcy and the racers, Bloom and Zara flew through the air, trying to catch up.

"What a race, ladies and gentlemen." the announcer said, spotting the twins. "And we even have an unusual set of competitors who has just stepped out onto the track."

"Bloom? Zara?" asked Brandon and Xander, looking over their shoulders. "What are they doing here?"

Just then, Darcy takes out Brandon and Xander who were now in her line of sight.

"What's going on?" asked Bloom, confused by the situation.

"I don't know." said Zara. Both boys start to lose control of their motorbikes until they shut it down with the twins flying past them with determined looks on their faces.

"Brandon! Xander!" they both cried out.

"I'm in the lead." Riven said, proud of himself. "This helmet's amazing. I'm one with the bike."

Unknown to Riven, Bloom, Zara and Darcy were on his trail. "Those busybodies Bloom and Zara are getting in the way again." said Stormy.

"They've found us out, but they're too late anyway." said Icy. "Darcy, you know what you've got to do."

"Riven, stop!" the twins called out as they tried to grab a hold of the bike. "Stop!"

"Bloom, Zara, what are you trying to do?" he asked. "Nobody can stop me now."

"Riven!" cried the twins as he speeds away from them.

"Now!" Icy said as Riven's helmet starts to shock him.

"Oh no!" gasped Zara.

"Riven!" Bloom gasped. Riven's bike went out of control as it knocks the twins out of the air. Darcy speeds up and finally knocks Riven off his bike, causing him to go airborne. Just as Bloom and Zara were about to go save him from crashing into the ground, Darcy pulls up on her motorbike.

"Huh?"

The twins looked up as Xander, Sky and Brandon finished the race. Darcy sets Riven down safely on the ground. "What did you do?" Brandon asked the twins.

"We didn't even touch him." Bloom said as fear was shown in Zara's eyes. "He lost control of his bike."

"Wake up, Riven." said Darcy, her hands hovering over the boy. Riven groans as he starts to stir.

"You saved me." he said to Darcy as she removes her helmet, and the crowd starts to disperse. "I'm…I'm alright."

"Thanks to my healing powers." said Darcy. "My name's Darcy."

"Disgusting." said Stormy as she and Icy walked away.

"Huh?" Knut said, confused.

"Hands off, witch." said Bloom, separating Darcy from Riven.

"Hey, chill out, missy. I'm helping." Darcy said to Bloom as she was held back by Brandon.

"I don't know how they did it, but it was she and her friends who caused the accident." Bloom said, accusing Darcy.

"You're lying!" shouted Riven.

"Bloom isn't lying!" screamed Zara. "Darcy and her friends caused this."

"Shut up!" Riven shouted at her. "This is all your fault! I saw you both behind me. I don't know how you both did it, but it was one of you who deactivated my helmet just so that Brandon or Xander could win."

"Hey, I only won by default." said Brandon.

"And I came in second." said Xander.

"Here's your stupid present." said Riven, tossing it back to the twins. "Thanks a lot."

"Hey!" said Brandon and Xander as it hits Bloom first, then Zara.

"It was the Trix!" Bloom tried to tell Riven. "Please, you've got to believe me. They sent a Timmy lookalike to give me and Zara the helmet. It was all a dirty trick."

"Timmy won't be back before this evening." growled Riven. "Come up with a better excuse, you two."

"But it's the truth. Bloom and I dont lie about things like this." said Zara. Tears formed in her eyes, causing Zara to quickly fly off in the direction of Alfea.

"Zara!" Xander called out after her, but she was too fast to hear him.

"I swear to you, why won't you guys believe us?" asked Bloom.

"Of course, there has to be an explanation." said Brandon.

"I agree, Brandon." Xander said.

"So, you believe them over me?" questioned Riven with Darcy smirking. "Is that the way it is? Is that the way it is, Brandon? Xander?"

"Riven, we're only trying to understand." said Sky.

"I've had it! I'm through with you all." Riven declared. "Tonight, I'm going to ask to be transferred to another squad of specialists."

"Wait, Riven!" said Darcy, going after him. "I'm coming with you."

"I swear to you," Bloom said as she watches Darcy walk away with Riven. "it was just another one of the witches' tricks."

"We're beginning to think so too, but I'm afraid we'll never be able to prove it." said Brandon.

"Sure, looks like we've lost this one, Bloom." said Stella.

"Yeah….but for now, I need to go check on Zara. Before she does something that she'll regret." she said.

Chapter Text

It was nighttime at Alfea, and everyone was in bed, sleeping. "Bloom! Zara!" said the unknown fairy, appearing in their dreams once again. "Bloom! Zara! We meet at last my precious little angels."

"Where are we?" the twins asked, already in their fairy forms. "This isn't the realm of Magix."

"No and we don't have much time." the unknown fairy tells her.

"Time for what?" Bloom asked, her brow furrowed.

"How much time are we talking about?" Zara chimed in; her eyes wide with concern.

"Who are you?" they both asked in unison, their voices blending into a single question.

"I'm Daphne." she said, introducing herself to the twins. "Listen carefully, Bloom and Zara. You both must come to me."

"But we….we…." Bloom and Zara said as they reached out to Daphne.

"Yes, girls. Come to me." said Daphne as they gasped. "Come to me, Bloom and Zara. You both must come to me."

"Here we are." said the twins, reaching out to Daphne as much as they can. "We're coming! Wait for us!"

Flora knocks on Stella's door, waking her up. "No wait, don't tell me." Stella said as she answered her door and smells the air. "Oh, it's you, Flora. I recognize that perfume anywhere."

"Stop joking, Stella. I'm here about Bloom and Zara." she said, following Stella to her bed.

"Wrong room. They both sleep in yours, remember?" said a tired Stella.

"No, listen, they're doing it again, Stella. You understand?" Flora said, concerned about the twins.

"Understand what?" asked Stella, yawning as she looks up. Lightning lit up the sky as thunder followed it as Flora led Stella into her room.

"You see? They're talking to someone in their sleep." said Flora, showing Stella proof.

"That's not so unusually." said Stella. Suddenly, they watched an unconscious Zara magically move herself from the top bunk and into Bloom's bed. "And neither is that." Stella added. "They're probably having a shared nightmare or something."

"But that's just not a nightmare that they're sharing, Stella." said Flora as the two of them watched the twins go back and forth between their pajamas and their fairy forms. "Look at them."

"Don't go!" Bloom cried out as she and Zara reached out towards the ceiling.

"Don't leave us! Please!" cried Zara.

"We're coming!" they said together.

"That's amazing." said Stella, understanding what Flora was telling her. "Looks like both of them are transforming in their sleep."

"Maybe we ought to do something." Flora suggested. "Let's get the others. Maybe Tecna can do something to help them….or Musa….or maybe we should tell Miss Griselda. No, maybe not. Uh, let's go and see Faragonda…."

"Flora." Stella growled, annoyingly.

"Or maybe we shouldn't say anything at all, you know….." babbled Flora. "Like, like…."

"Flora, listen. Flora!" Stella said, raising her voice at the fairy.

"What?" she asked.

"Calm down." Stella tells her, then pulls her in. "Or else you'll upset me too. Then I'll raise my voice and then I'll…."

"Stella, Flora, for crying out loud." the twins said as they sleepily woke up. "What are you doing?"

The next morning, the girls were rocking around campus. "No, it wasn't a nightmare." said Bloom as Kiko and Lavender went up to a puddle. "It wasn't really a dream either…."

"It was more of something that is in between of what nightmares and dreams are supposed to be." said Zara.

"I don't know." they said to their friends.

"Try to give me more details." said Tecna.

"It's hard to explain." Bloom tells her.

"Especially since you weren't in the dream." added Zara.

"It was a lot more vivid than a dream." said Bloom as Zara nodded.

"Plastic cognitive projection with physiochemical resonance." Tecna said as she sends out a ladybug like drone towards Bloom and Zara.

"There were colors everywhere and then we saw this beautiful face in the wall." said the twins as Tecna ignores what they're saying.

"Psyche plasmatic evanescence operation level 26." Tecna said as Musa turns to her.

"Hey, Tecna? Will you please stop cutting in with that thing." Musa told her.

"It's okay, Musa." said Bloom. "Tecna has been keeping track of our dreams to analyze them."

"Especially since this is her first time, analyzing dreams for a set of twins." said Zara.

"If you both slept hooked to an electric mind reader, I could." said Tecna.

"Forget it." Bloom said.

"I don't know if that's safe." Zara added, a little concerned.

"By the way, we'd both appreciate it if you stopped coming into our room at night." the twins said, glaring at the back of Stella's head.

"So, I woke you both up. That's all." said Stella, not caring one bit.

"I process all the data for my dream probe and there's a strong possibility that that was a psycho magic message." Tecna explained to the twins.

"You mean the woman was trying to communicate with us?" asked Bloom.

"She must have some pretty strong magic for that kind of communication." said Zara, placing a hand on her hip. "It wasn't just... a whispered message, was it?"

"No," Bloom shaking her head, her eyes wide. "It was... vivid. Like she was right there, in the room with us, speaking directly to our minds."

"Through your dreams, yes." said Tecna as her dream probe went back into its case. "From the memory waves she left in your cortexes, I came up with this." She then shows them the digital hologram of what she thinks Daphne looked like. "So what do you think? Is this her?"

"Wow, Tecna!" Bloom and Zara said, surprised by this. "You're a true-blue techno wizard."

"I'd rather be called a fairy, but thanks anyway." Tecna said, appreciating the compliment.

"Well, even if you weren't a fairy, you could've been a computer technician back in Gardenia." said Zara.

"Right? Tecna would be the best computer technician ever! Always diagnosing problems before anyone notices!" giggled Bloom.

"I suppose I do have a knack for figuring out complex systems. Maybe garden technology is my true calling." Tecna said, smiling.

"Imagine all the tech innovations you could create! Fairy gadgets that improve connection for everyone!" said Zara.

"Now that we get a better look at her, I'm sure Zara and I have seen her somewhere before." said Bloom as the two of them tried to remember where they had seen Daphne. "Of course, I remember now! It was in Magix."

"That building…." said Zara as the twins remembered back at the day of the race.

"In the main square….." said Bloom.

"She wasn't talking about…..but she was looking at us." they said, remembering that they had looked up at the building. "From the façade of a tall building."

"Ah! Now I get it." said Stella, coming up with a conclusion. "It was indigestion."

Bloom scoffed, crossing her arms. "Our stomachs are perfectly fine, Stella," she argued, her voice tinged with exasperation.

Zara, who had been observing the exchange with a mixture of amusement and confusion, tilted her head. "Indigestion?" she asked, her brow furrowed. "What are you talking about?"

"I meant mental indigestion." said Stella. "You've both got too much on your plates. But with all the exams coming up, you've got a lot to study. Plus, the two of you being earthlings, your brains aren't used to working so hard. Know what I mean?"

"No, we don't!" they shouted at Stella.

"Listen, you both had a dream, a shared dream in fact. That's all." said Stella.

"It wasn't just a dream!" said the twins, standing their ground as Stella starts to tease them.

"Boom twins boom." teased Stella.

"Uh, you being poetic or sarcastic?" Tecna asked Stella.

"Boom, Tecna. That's what you hear when a balloon bursts or when you blow things out of proportion." Stella answered as she walks around the twins.

"Are you saying that we're making things up?" asked Bloom. "Well, we're not, okay?! First Zara and I were hearing her voice, but last night we both saw her."

"Boom!" Stella said, bursting their balloon.

"We did; she was real!" shouted the twins.

"Hi-Yah!" shouted Zara, going into a front kick, causing the blonde fall onto the ground.

"Whoa!" said Tecna, Musa and Flora.

"Don't you ever….think that Bloom and I would lie about things like this, Stella. We were taught to tell the truth." said Zara as tears threaten to run down her face as she stood over her. "We both know what we saw, and now you're doubting us because of it."

"We'll prove it to you." said the twins as they walked away in anger, leaving not only Tecna, Flora and Musa shocked, but mostly a shocked Stella.

"What? What did I say?" asked Stella as the others gave her irritated looks. "Why the long faces? What?"

"Zara should've flipped you on your back." Musa told her.

The twins entered the library with a mission. "We'll show them." said Bloom, as she and Zara went to the librarian. "We'll show them all."

"Then they'll start believing us." said Zara.

"Well, Bloom and Zara, are you both still working on your history of Magix projects?
asked the librarian.

"More or less." they said.

"We're looking for a book, but we're not sure where to start looking." said Bloom. "We just have a name."

"Any advice?" asked Zara.

"Well, then go up to the research lector behind those stacks and say the name." she suggested. "The library will search for you."

"The library?" Bloom asked as she and Zara looked at each other in confusion.

"Yes, now go." she tells them.

"Thank you." said Zara as she, Bloom, Kiko and Lavender walked away.

"The library will do the search." said Bloom as they walked up to the research lector.

"Shouldn't be that hard, right?" asked Zara.

"Oh, it'll be a piece of cake. They have the resources and expertise to find anything we need." said Bloom.

"I'm just a little nervous, that's all." said Zara, nervously rubbing her hands together.

"Don't worry. We'll work together." said Bloom. "It'll be like one of those treasure hunts we used to do when we were kids."

"Okay, but if we can't find what we're looking for..." Zara tells her, taking in a deep breath.

"We will. I promise. And besides, the librarian looks like she knows her stuff." said Bloom, giving her sister a small smile.

"I guess you're right. Let's do this." said Zara, returning the smile.

"Ahem." Bloom said, clearing her throat.

"Daphne." they said, placing both hands on the podium. The library summons one of the books from the stacks, sending it to the twins.

"Wow, that was quick." said Bloom as the book landed in front of them. "Much faster than the internet."

"We definitely need a library like this back home." Zara said.

"Let's see, Daphne….no, we don't want to know what it means." said Bloom.

"We're looking for someone called Daphne." Zara said.

"More importantly, we're looking for a fairy named Daphne." they said, then tries again. "Daphne the fairy."

Two more books were pulled off the shelves and headed towards the twins, opening its contents. "Hey, look at all this stuff." said Bloom.

"Wow." said Zara. Bloom than shows Zara the book she was looking at, finally founding the name.

"Daphne, one of the nine nymphs of Magix." Bloom read.

"The Supreme fairies who rules over the Magix Dimension during the eons of the two dragons disappearances." Zara said, following along.

"Daphne, nymph of Magix." they said, unaware that more books came towards them.

"Huh?"

"Oh boy…." said Zara as the books containing information about Daphne, were floating around them.

"Whoa!" exclaimed Kiko and Lavender as the books zoomed past them.

"Oh, wait! Stop!" shouted the twins but the books didn't stop. "Miss Barbeta!"

"What's going on?" she asked, hearing the twins call for help. "Oh no! The rare books. The golden gate."

She looks over her shoulder, seeing the twins being pelted by the books as they tried to protect themselves and their bunnies. "Miss Faragonda!" Miss Barbeta cried out as she ran out of the library.

"Oh no!" cried Bloom.

"The books are on a warpath!" said Zara, holding Lavender and Kiko close.

"Okay, okay, enough!" they said, hugging each other as they went under the podium. "No more books please! Stop!"

"Closus!" said Faragonda, stopping the books from spinning around the twins. "I'd say the library's research system needs a complete overhaul."

"Thank goodness." said Zara as she and Bloom hugged the headmistress. "I don't want to be pummeled by books in this lifetime."

"It's okay, you two." Faragonda said, hugging them. "It's all over."

"The golden gate was about to open." Miss Barbeta said. "If something happened to those books, I could never forgive myself. All those powerful texts written for and by magicians."

"There's no cause for alarm. Are you okay, Bloom? Zara?" asked Faragonda.

"We think so." they said.

"Good, go on then." said Faragonda, ushering them out of the library. "You can do your research another time."

Zara looks back, trying to read Faragonda's face but Bloom grabs her hand, taking her out of the library. "Thank you, Miss." said Bloom as they left. Faragonda looks back at the books that had surrounded the twins, picking up a book.

"Daphne the Nymph." Faragonda said, realizing that it was her they were researching and closed the book. "Miss Barbeta?"

"Uh…yes?" she asked, tentatively.

"Put the books back in the stacks and shut the library." Faragonda advised.

"Yes, of course." said Barbeta, watching Faragonda. "Uh, shut the library?"

"Yes, and don't use magic." said Faragonda. "After what happened, you never know."

"No, no…no magic?" Barbeta questioned.

"That's right. I hope you don't have a problem with that." Faragonda said.

"Yes…I mean, uh, no." said Barbeta, knowing what she had to do.

"I don't understand. I didn't say anything wrong." Stella said to the others. "I just made an innocent remark. That's all."

"Right, define innocent." said Flora, not believing Stella for a second.

"Follow your plant's example and be quiet all, right?" said Stella, glaring at Flora.

"My plants know better than to speak before thinking." said Flora. They then looked at Musa who was going through her book.

"Don't you start, Musa or else I…." said Stella when she stood up from her desk.

"Or else what?" Musa asked.

"Or else I'll start talking about something else, like boys for instance." Stella said, walking across her bedroom.

"Boring." said Musa as Tecna was fiddling with her hair. "Now, if you'll excuse me, I've got stuff to read for tomorrow and this is my room."

"Oh, come on, Musa. Close that book and spill the beans." said Stella. "We all know that whenever she sees Timmy, Tecna blushes from head to toe."

"What?!" exclaimed Tecna, turning towards Stella. "That is not true!"

"And it's obvious that the twins both have soft spots for Brandon and Xander." stated Stella. "As for me, I admit I find Sky kind of cute, but that's it. Now let's talk about Riven. "Musa groans as she picks up her book.

"I've got to study." she said, angrily.

"That guy doesn't even look at you." Stella taunted Musa.

"Stella! Stop it!" shouted Flora.

"Chill, Flora. I was just asking her…." said Stella, nonchalantly.

"What did I just say?" Musa asked Stella, causing her to fall off the desk. "I don't care about stupid boys."

"It was just a joke." said Stella, hoping to brush it off. "And anyway, since the day of the rose, the only one Riven cares about is Darcy. Of course you didn't know that you were there."

"Yeah, well…" said Musa, getting frustrated. "What does it matter to me? Huh? It doesn't matter one bit."

Musa runs out of the room, tears running down her face. "Why are you all looking at me like that?" Stella asked harmlessly as Flora and Tecna scowled at her. "What did I say?"

"Stella!" they both said.

"This is why Zara did what she did, you know." said Tecna.

Outside, Bloom and Zara were holding their bunnies. "Yes, Kiko, you and Lavender were right." said Bloom.

"Right about what?" asked Zara.

"You know what." Bloom tells her. "Let's go tell the others and oh….here's Musa. Just who we were looking for."

The twins see Musa running out in tears, slowing to a walk before them. "Hey, Musa! You'll never believe what happened to me and Zara." said Bloom as Musa walks past them, ignoring them. "We were at the….library."

"Hmm." they said as Musa walks away.

"What's wrong with her?" Bloom asked.

"I bet it has something to do with a certain blonde fairy." said Zara as said fairy comes running out, knocking into the twins. Kiko and Lavender were thrown into the air as the twins fell to the ground.

"Really, Stella?" Zara asked she does a kip-up from the ground.

"Oh, Bloom, Zara. I'm sorry." she said, apologetically as they brush off the dirt.

"It's all right, Stella." said Bloom as Zara picks up Lavender and places her in her hoodie. "Things happen."

"No, no. I'm talking about earlier." she said, grabbing their hands. "I should have never teased you like that."

"I'm a bit sensitive." said Bloom.

"And I'm a little aggressive when it's needed. I'm sorry for doing what I did." said Zara.

"Don't be. You did what you had to." Stella tells her. "I have to apologize to Musa too. Do you know where she is?"

"She went that way." Bloom said as she and Zara pointed in the direction that Musa went. "She looked upset."

"Oh, no! Don't say that!" said Stella, guiltily and runs after her. "Musa!"

Behind them, Kiko was twitching a bit as he wakes up and goes towards the twins and his sister. Lavender wakes up already in her owner's hood. A shuttle was taking off and Stella was too late.

"No, she took the bus." Stella said as it leaves Alfea. "She's gone. Now who's going to go and get her?"

"Stella, will you tell us what happened?" asked Bloom.

"Because we're confused here." chimed Zara.

"It's just that I can't do anything right today." she said to the twins.

"And that's news?" scoffed the twins and Stella groans.

"Well, I do deserve to get some flack." said Stella as she walks with the twins. "By the way, what did the two of you do to your hair? Brush them with an egg beater?"

"Stella!" exclaimed the twins.

In Magix, Musa gets off the bus. "Magix Station." said the driver.

"Stella can be so obnoxious sometimes." Musa said to herself as she walks the streets in Magix. "She makes me so mad! I can't stand it." She starts kicking a can around. "See what she makes me do?" Musa looks up as people watched. "I'm talking to myself."

She looks over at a restaurant, curious about it. "What's over there?" Musa asked, watching the girls who were sitting outside.

"You should have seen the look on his face." said one girl who was sitting outside with her friends. "He was totally out of it."

"The witches are having a party?" questioned Musa as she looks inside and spots Riven with Darcy. "No! This can't be true!"

"You see…" Darcy said to Riven, who was hanging onto her every word.

"Riven is with Darcy?" Musa snarled, balling up her fists.

"You're a very special person, Riven." said Darcy. "It's too bad though."

"What's too bad?" asked Riven.

"The fact that….uh…..your talent, your energy, your ambition and courage shouldn't be wasted at Red Fountain." Darcy said. "You could be so much more. If you were one of us, you could be even more powerful."

"Go on." said Riven, intrigued by what Darcy was telling him.

"For us, all that matters is knowing that we can count on you. The rest will come all by itself. You see, we don't like the little girls who call themselves Winx. We don't like their friends either." Darcy tells him.

Riven was shocked to hear this. "We agree on this…don't we?" Darcy asked him, taking his hand into hers. "But as of today, you and I, will be together."

Outside of the restaurant, Musa tears up as she hears this. "Bound by magic." said Darcy, hypnotizing Riven and placed him under her spell.

"Well, well, look who's here." said Icy, seeing Musa.

"Why….it's one of the little fairies." said Stormy.

"Please, not today, okay?" Musa asked, walking away from the two witches. "I don't feel…"

"No so fast." said Icy, stopping Musa in her tracks. "Where do you think you're going?"

"Back to Alfea." said Musa.

"No you're not." said Stormy.

"Huh?"

"First, we want to know why you were spying on our friend Darcy?" said Icy.

"I wasn't spying on anyone." Musa said, getting her arm out of Icy's grip. "Especially not Darcy." She was about to leave when Stormy stands in front of her.

"Trust Icy to recognize a spy when she sees one." said Stormy. "I bet you were watching Riven. You've got a crush on him, don't you?"

"Leave me alone." Musa said, upset that Icy and Stormy wouldn't leave.

"Silly girl." Icy said, being real with Musa. "You know the other day; he thinks nothing of you."

"Ha! Absolutely nothing!" said Stormy. In a burst of anger, Musa smacks Icy across her face, leaving a mark.

"Ouch!" said Icy, feeling the sting. Musa gasped, realizing what she had done. "She slapped me. She slapped me in the face."

"Wow!" Stormy said, taking a closer look at Icy's face. "I can even see the prints of her fingers. Does it hurt?"

"Of course it hurts, dummy." Icy snapped.

"I'm so sorry, Icy." said a remorsefully Musa. "I didn't mean to hurt you."

"You….you are going to pay for this." said Icy. She then turns to a witch who was sitting outside, snapping her fingers. "Hey, you! Fetch the others! We need to teach this little Winx a lesson she won't soon forget."

"What do you want to do?" asked Stormy.

"Yeah, what's wrong with you, Icy?" Musa questioned. "You need back up to fight me?"

"I don't want to fight, sweetie." Icy said. "I just want to give your facial attributes a little magic treatment."

"Hey, girls? You want to have some fun?" the witch asked her fellow witches. "Icy's going to teach a fairy a lesson. Let's go!"

"Lucy, where are you going?" Mirta asked as Lucy stood up from the table. "Stay with me. It's stupid to gang up on someone."

"Icy's powerful, Mirta." said Lucy. "Maybe she'll notice me this time. I don't want to miss this."

She leaves Mirta at the table to watch Icy take on Musa. "Congratulations, Stella." Flora said. "Musa's gone and you don't know what bus she took."

"The only bus that stops here is the one for Magix." Stella stated. "It's a no brainer, Flora."

"Yeah, but she could get off anywhere." argued Flora.

"Do you need a prince, my princesses?" asked Sky, arriving at Alfea. "Hi."

"Sky!" squealed Stella.

"Yes, we all saw him." said Tecna. "We know his name, no need to…."

"Hi Tecna." said Timmy as he and the other Specialists came out of the aircraft.

"Hi Bloom!" said Brandon.

"Hey Zara!" said Xander.

"We saw you at the bus stop and we thought maybe you needed a ride." Brandon said.

"Hi Brandon!" said Bloom.

"Hi, Xander." said Zara.

"Actually, you guys showing up just in time." said Bloom.

"Riven is not with you?" asked Flora.

"Riven?" Sky asked. "After what happened at the Rose Ball, he's out of the group."

"He decided to join another group of Specialist, which is fine by us." explained Timmy.

"We've got to find Musa. She went to Magix." Bloom said.

"I feel that something bad is already happening to her." said Zara.

"Well then, get in." said Brandon. "That's where we're going. You can fill us in on the way. Come on."

"Don't run away, Musa!" Icy called out as Musa ran down the street in Magix. "It's useless."

"Go away!" screamed Musa as Witches continued to chase her.

"What are we waiting for?" one of the witches asked her friend. "Let's drive her up the wall." Both witches fired their spells at Musa's feet, causing her to trip and fall onto the ground.

"Stop it!" Musa said over her shoulder as she gets back up and runs.

"Stop!" another witch called out as Musa ran around the corner, stopping in her tracks as she sees Riven.

"Oh, Riven." gasped Musa as he stood before her. "Help me, please."

"And why should I?" He asked, giving her an evil smirk. Musa looks away in sadness and takes off from him.

"There she is." said Brandon, finding Musa's fairy signature on the aircraft's screen. "They're after her and she's stuck in a dead end."

"No way." said Zara.

"We're gonna have to move quickly." He tells them.

"You heard him, boys." said Xander. "Let's move!"

"Oh no!" Musa exclaimed as she finds a dead end. "Okay, now what do I do? I'm trapped."

Most of the witches caught up with Musa as Icy and Stormy appeared before her. "Looks like you've reached the end of the line, fairy." Icy taunted her, laughing as Musa starts getting angry.

Before she could do anything, the wall behind Musa crumbles as the aircraft starts to land. "What in the world?" asked Stormy as Musa covers her eyes. Musa looks up to see that the Specialists and the Winx came to help her.

"Guys!" she called out as she ran towards them.

"Musa!" cried the Winx. Brandon and Xander smiled at the witches and the Trix when suddenly….

"Brandon! Xander!" shouted Riven as he made his way through the crowd of witches. "Move! Now, let's see if you're going to be tough with me too."

"You wanna play rough, huh?" Brandon asked, taking out his magic sword. "Well, if that's what you want."

"Then that's what you'll get." said Xander as he and Brandon ran towards Riven with their swords drawn.

As they watched the fight, one witch knew what she had to do. "Come on, girls!" she said, joining in to help Riven out. Just before they could help him, Sky interferes laughing at their temporary defeat. Ice and snow falls around them as they turned towards an angry Icy and Stormy.

"Oh, this looks bad." said Bloom as Zara nodded her head. "Let's transform."

Stormy aims a strand of lightning at Tecna, knocking her onto her back. "Tecna!" Timmy cried out as he ran to her. "Tecna, are you okay?"

Stella looks up and sees Icy about to send several ice shards towards her, causing her to flee and hid behind a car which then magically blows up. Lucy looks between the Winx and Icy, thinking of how much she wants Icy to notice her.

"Stella!" Sky called out to her as he looks over his shoulder.

Musa gasps as she tries to save Stella, only for Darcy to get in her way and sends sound waves towards her. Darcy teleports herself and appears next to Musa, rumbling in anger as she knocks the young fairy out of the sky. Looking up, Musa gasps as Darcy surrounded her with clones, aiming her magic at her.

Suddenly, Darcy was knocked out by Sky's sword. He then looks over his shoulder, seeing other witches ganging up on him and knocks Sky towards Musa. "Thanks, Prince Sky." said Musa as he gives her a smile.

"Don't mention it." Sky replied as Musa joins the others. Stormy then attacks Bloom and Zara with lightning, causing them to separate in two different directions, only for Flora to take the hit.

Zara glares at Stormy as she and Bloom created blue and orange balls of fire. As Stormy dodges, they both created streams of fire, aiming at her. Stormy puts out the fire that was on her clothes, causing her to create a bigger storm, knocking the twins out of the sky.

"Tecna!" begged Timmy, hoping that she would wake up.

Icy appears behind him, sending ice towards the two and freezing up Tecna. Musa starts coughing as she looks for Stella in the flames. Once out, Stella goes to help as Musa gets stopped by Darcy who then uses sound waves to turn on the cars behind Musa.

"Uh-oh." said Musa as the cars hovered over her. "Evil witch." As Musa tries fly away, she was then knocked down, causing Darcy to laugh in triumph.

"Hang on, Tecna!" said Timmy as the ice surrounding her had raised Tecna off the ground.

"How cute." said Icy seeing that Timmy wasn't going to leave her side. "Frozen lovebirds."

"No!" shouted Timmy as Stella created a protective sun shield for them.

"Pathetic." Icy said about Stella's shield. Musa was still on the ground and was about to be crushed by the cars.

"I'll squish you like a cockroach." screeched Darcy as she throws the cars towards Musa.

The twins gasped as they looked over their shoulders. "Musa!" they cried out as they tried to save her when Stormy stops them.

"Where do you two think you're going?" she asked, blocking their way.

"That depends….want another round of orange or blue fireballs to your clothes?" asked Zara, then points between Bloom and herself. "You know…since Bloom and I are twins."

"Step aside." Bloom tells Stormy, glaring at her. "However, I do like Zara's idea."

"Or…." said Stormy as orange and blue fire energies surrounded the twins' body. Icy looks up to see how much energy they were giving into their magic.

"Who are they?" Icy asked, curious to know about them as she summons her portion of the vacuum spell. "Could they be?" Her portion shows Icy that both Bloom and Zara were in fact extremely powerful. "It's them!"

Bloom and Zara glared at Stormy as they released orange and blue fires from their bodies. The Trix screamed as they covered their eyes from the combined lights that emanated from the twins. "What's that?" Brandon asked as he and the others looked up to see where the light was coming from.

The Trix was knocked down to the ground hard as the combined lights was shown throughout Magix. "Darcy!" Riven cried out as he ran towards her. "Darcy. Come on."

"Let's get out of here." said one of the witches as Riven picks Darcy up and fled from the scene. "Quick!"

"Let's get out of here now!" said Icy as they ran.

"Brandon, Xander, you understand anything of what's happening?" Sky asked, his voice tight with worry.

"I haven't a clue, Sky," Brandon replied, his brow furrowed in confusion. He shifted on his feet, his gaze darting around the chaotic scene before them.

"Nope, but I wish that we did," Xander said, his voice a low murmur. He leaned against the wall, his arms crossed, as if bracing himself against the unknown.

Brandon and Xander looked back to see the twins walking towards them, out of their fairy forms and falling to their knees. "Bloom, Zara." said the two boys as they ran towards them as they got a groan in response.

Once in the aircraft, Brandon and Xander were giving the twins water. "Easy now." Xander said, handing Zara her water. "Small sips."

"Thank you, Xander." said Zara, smiling as she takes a sip.

"How are you both feeling?" Brandon asked as he hands Bloom the water.

"Much better, thanks." said Bloom.

"Well, with such loving care, how could you not?" asked Stella.

"Oh, please Stella." Flora scolded her.

"And how about you, Musa?" Sky asked.

"Everything's okay now, Sky." Musa assures him.

"We're approaching Alfea, Brandon, Xander." said Timmy as Tecna sits in the chair next to him.

"Are you sure that the two of you can walk back, Bloom?" asked Brandon.

"I don't want the two of you passing out, Zara." said Xander.

"We mean, you both still look a little weak to us." Brandon said as Xander nodded.

"Yes, it's better if no one sees us coming with you guys." said Bloom as Tecna quickly walked over.

"We don't want you to get into trouble." said Zara.

"If you say so." said Brandon and Xander, looking at each other with worry.

"I still don't understand how the two of you manage to single handedly beat three witches." said Tecna.

"We don't either." said Bloom.

"But we would love to hear what you've come up with for this theory, Tecna." said Zara, leaning against Bloom.

"Well, if nothing else, I have learned something important today." Musa chimed in.

"You finally discovered that I'm always right?" Stella asked. "Is that it?"

"No. Never stick around where witches like to hang out." said Musa.

"Musa, you've got to admit." Stella said, standing to her feet. "I was right about you and Riven."

"Even so. I saw him in action today and I think he's lost every bit of charm he ever possessed." Musa tells her. "One thing's for sure; I don't ever want to see him again. He's become a real jerk."

"Heh….you admit it." Stella said, pointing at Musa.

"Admit what?" questioned Musa. "I didn't say anything."

"Yes, yes, I was right." said Stella, her eyes widening in excitement. "I was right about you and I was right about Tecna. And about the twins."

"About us?" asked the twins, looking at Stella in shocked. "What about us?"

"You know? The two of you and…." Stella was about to say when Flora elbows her.

"Oh, um…no one." said Flora. "Right, Stella?"

"Um, yes right." said Stella, regaining her composure. "I'd think I better shut up now."

"There's a quicker way to do that, you know." said Zara, smiling as they all laughed.

Back at Cloudtower, everyone arrived back. "Ouch! I think I broke a nail." said Stormy, taking a closer look at her nails.

"Why did we have to leave so fast?" Darcy asked Icy. "I barely had time to say goodbye to Riven."

"We need to hold a special meeting, now." said Icy as Stormy looks at her nails.

"Why?" asked Stormy.

"I think I figured something out." said Icy.

"Something about what?" Stormy asked again.

"Bloom and Zara." she said. "Up until now, I didn't think it could be true."

At Alfea, someone knocks on Faragonda's office door. "Come in." she said, and they entered. Faragonda looks out her window as Miss Barbeta walks in.

"Excuse me, I just wanted you to know that I just finished reorganizing the library." she said.

"Very well." said Faragonda.

"If there's nothing else, may I.…." said Miss Barbeta.

"Actually, there is one more thing." Faragonda said. "Should Bloom and Zara ever try to find out more about Daphne the Nymph, we must deny them access to any information, is that clear?"

Chapter Text

A coin had dropped into some water, creating ripples as Bloom and Zara stared into the water. Bloom drops her coin as both twins were deep in thought. "Bloom, Zara!" said Daphne as she swims across the water. "Bloom, Zara!"

"Bloom, Zara! Hey! Yoo-hoo!" said Stella, getting their attention.

"Huh?" they said, looking back, causing Bloom to drop her coin into the water.

"You're losing it, girls." said Stella.

"Whatever it is, we blame Kiko and Lavender?" asked Zara, hoping that it would direct the attention away from them.

"The bunnies didn't do anything." Stella told her. "Didn't either of you even hear a single word I said? Huh?"

"Sorry, Stella." said the twins. "We were kind of lost in thought. So, what were you saying?"

"Obviously, the two of you have no interest in the fact that Professor Palladium is finally going to take us all into the famous simulation room." said Musa. "But I, for one, think it is the most amazing bit of news ever."

"No kidding." said Stella. "I've heard some really cool things happen in that place."

"Yeah, and some horrible ones too." added Flora.

"You shouldn't let that scare you, Flora." Tecna tells her. "They're just stupid rumors anyway. I mean, what could really ever happen to you in there."

"You're right." Flora said, beaming that her fears were put at ease.

"Oh, come on, Flora. It'll be fun, you'll see." said Stella. "As for me, I plan on having a great experience. One that will go down in history so that I will become the talk of Alfea."

"Stella!" the Winx said.

"Oops, sorry." said Stella.

"And yet, I thought that I was the talk of Alfea." said Zara.

"Oh, you were." said Tecna, smirking as she crossed her arms. "Right up until last week."

"But it looks like your old news now, Zara." said Musa.

"Old news? Me? I refuse to believe it! Surely, I still have a few headlines left!" Zara said in a mocked gasp as she smiled in amusement and laughs.

At Cloudtower, the Trix were planning their next move. "Those set of Winx have incredible powers." said Icy, talking about Bloom and Zara.

"They're not your ordinary run of the mill fairy, especially since they're twins." chimed Darcy. "That's for sure."

"Both of them are way too good for first year students." said Icy.

"Let's check it out then." suggested Stormy and the Trix created their Vacuum, which showed them Bloom and Zara.

"See? Bloom's and Zara's powers registers at the highest level." Icy explains. "You all see what I mean, don't you?"

"Of course." said Stormy. "That little set of twins' magical energies is equal only to that of the dragon flames. We should put Bloom and Zara to the test again. Just to make sure."

"But I…" Knut said, interrupting them.

"Huh?"

"I don't understand, your highnesses." he tells them.

"What is it this time? What don't you understand, Knut?" Darcy asked.

"I-I don't understand…hm…uh, why you're looking for the two flames and where it could be." he said as Icy and Stormy looked at each other like Knut was going crazy. "It could be on a set of candles, or in a fireplace….but in whose house."

"A glute is more embarrassing." said Icy as she, Darcy and Stormy watched him ramble away.

"Hello?" Knut asked, thinking that the three brooms in front of him were the Trix. "Why don't you answer me? Did I do something wrong?"

"Ulugh! Put on your glasses and turn around, ogre." said Icy, hitting Knut in the head. Knut rubs his head as he takes out his glasses, realizing that the Trix were behind him. "The flames will restore the essence of a distant past."

"Cool!" Zara said as she and the others were inside the simulation room.

"This is it." said Palladium, showing the young fairies. "This is the simulation room."

"What is it exactly?" asked one fairy.

"Well, it's the product of the most powerful magic and the most sophisticated technology." he explained, causing Tecna to smile. "The light produce by these amber panels allows our powerful computer to create all kinds of virtual realities and environments. The replications are absolutely flawless."

"Uh, can it be used to simulate virtual dates with boys?" Stella asked Palladium.

"You'll be sure to get one then." said another fairy, causing the class to giggle as Stella blushes.

"Yes, well….why don't we simulate your final exam instead." said Palladium as the class giggles even more. "In the anticipation of the upcoming midterm, I've set up for you a simulation of some of the things that will definitely be on the test."

He then leads them out and into another room. "Now, let's all go and take a look at the control room." Palladium said as the girls gathered round. "From here, we over see everything that goes on in the simulation room."

"This is Toyland for you, right?" Stella asked Tecna.

"Yeah…it's so wonderful." said Tecna, looking around the control room, feeling at home.

"You'll be able to choose between two tests. Look." Palladium tells the girls, giving them options as he shows them in the simulation. "Your first option is use magic to counteract the unfortunate results of evil spells cast by a group of Wicked Witches."

"Do they ever look real?" asked Bloom as Zara follows the frogs on the screen.

"Froggy." said Zara.

"Yeah, they sure are super ugly." said Stella.

"Now, option number 2: Use magic to produce positive results on a damaged environment." said Palladium.

"That's my strong point." said Flora.

"It'll be a simple walk in the park for someone like me." bragged Stella.

"Modesty is your best quality, hm." said Bloom as Zara crossed her arms, her eyebrow raised.

"No, my second best." Stella tells her. "Right after beauty."

"We'll all meet here tomorrow for your midterm." Palladium said to the fairies. "Please do come well prepared and ready to go. Believe me, this will be you'll remember for a very long time."

Bloom and Zara gasped as they knew which option they both wanted to do. At Red Fountain, the twins were spending time with Brandon and Xander. "I finally rode a dragon today." Brandon said as they walked with Lady.

"Wow, that must have been something." said Bloom.

"That was until you fell off." Xander added.

"That's due to him throwing me off the saddle a few times." said Brandon.

"Please tell me that you didn't break a bone or cracked a rib." said Zara.

"I didn't, I swear." Brandon assures her. "But you should've seen Xander."

"That's due to me riding dragons since I was little." said Xander. "So, I've had my fair share of being thrown off the saddle once or twice."

Unknown to Xander, Zara started to pick up something about Xander, put couldn't put her finger on it. "How about you two?" Brandon asked Bloom. "How were your days?"

"Uh….us?" the twins asked as they looked at each other.

"Well….you see…." Zara started to say.

"Well…let's see…." said Bloom as she thinks for a moment. "We found out that we have a very important test tomorrow."

"Yes, that." Zara said in agreement.

"Lady…." Brandon said as he goes over to them. "You want to play? Oh, yeah? What kind of test? Here, fetch!"

Brandon tosses the stick as she goes after it. "The simulation room." said Bloom. "It'll count as a midterm."

"Really?" asked the two boys.

"We have to take these tests too sometimes." Brandon tells Bloom.

"Professor Palladium gave us two options to choose from." Bloom said as Lady came back with the stick.

"And both options sound very interesting." said Zara.

"As twins, we've decided to go with the one to use magic to fix up a damaged environment." said Bloom as Zara nodded.

"And do the both of you feel ready?" asked Brandon.

"It's okay if you're not." said Xander.

"Not really, but…." Bloom and Zara said as the latter fiddles with her hands.

"Yeah, we both know what mean." said Brandon. "I don't always feel ready before an exam. But in the end, I always do well."

"I'm always anxious the day of the exam." said Xander. "Just remember the two of you will be just fine." Lady whimpers as she looks up at them while Bloom and Zara bent down to pet her.

"We just hope the same thing happens to us." said Bloom as Zara scratches Lady behind the ears.

"The two of you will do well." said Brandon. "We're sure of it."

"We believe in you." added Xander. As Brandon and Xander walked the twins back, Riven watches them from his perch in the trees.

"This is very interesting." he said to himself, then jumps down from the branch. Placing his index fingers towards his head, Riven makes contact with Darcy. "Darcy, can you hear me?"

"Riven!" she said, as contact was established.

"I have some new for you." he said. "About Bloom and Zara."

Darcy gasps at this and laughs, eager to hear about this piece of information. That night at Alfea as the lights went out, Darcy sneaks into the simulation control room. "Hm…" she thoughtfully said, snapping her fingers and turning on the control room. "So that's the simulation room?"

Taking a closer look, Darcy starts to come up with something for Bloom and Zara. "My, what a powerful computer." said Darcy, enviously as she starts tinkering with some of the programming. "Not as powerful as me though."

"Error, error." said the computer as random numbers appeared on the screen. "Mainframe malfunction."

"Good luck on tomorrow's test, girls." Darcy said in hopes that the twins would fail. "You both are gonna need it."

The next morning, the twins were at their books, memorizing and getting what they need to do for their midterm. Kiko peers out from under Bloom's bed while Lavender peers over the side. Kiko then spots Bloom's bag and grabs Lavender by the paw. They peek out from the side of the bed, gazing at their owners. Kiko turns to her, points to the two of them and then at Bloom's bag.

Lavender shakes her head, not wanting to go when Kiko just rolled his eyes at her. Not listening, Kiko quickly pushes Lavender towards Bloom's bag and hops inside with her, closing it. Unknowingly, Bloom picks up her bag as she and Zara left their room.

"All right, ladies…." said Palladium as he and his class were in the simulation room. "In a few minutes, we'll begin. You'll go in one at a time."

In her office, Faragonda was watching his class. "I love watching these tests." Faragonda said with a smile.

"I'm just so nervous." said Musa.

"Oh, yeah. I hope that I don't get to go first." said Flora.

"I think it might be better to go first." suggested Stella. "That way, you can get it over with. And then it's off your mind. Bloom…. Zara. Did either of you hear what I said?"

"Yes! We heard you." said Zara.

"It might be better." said Bloom.

"Quiet!" Palladium said, turning to the girls. "All right, everything is ready. Let's get the ball rolling, shall we? Which one of you ladies wants to go first?"

Stella, Flora and Musa looked at each other in fear. "Stella, I thought you said you wanted to get it over with." Musa said.

"I changed my mind." said Stella.

"Just as I thought. I'll pick the volunteer." said Palladium as Zara gently pushes her sister forward.

"Bloom wants to go first." she said.

"No, you go first." said Bloom, turning towards her sister.

"You're the oldest twin. You should go first." argued Zara as Bloom shakes her head.

"Bloom, Zara, how about you both go first." suggested Palladium, seeing them bicker about who should go first. The twins looked at each other in silence for a moment before nodding their heads. "All right, which one did you both choose?"

"Uh…" stammered Bloom as Zara was thinking. "Well, the second option, sir. We want to work on a damaged environment."

"It's what we originally planned on." said Zara.

"Excellent choice, girls." Flora whispered to them.

"Come on, then." the elf professor said as he turns towards the panel. "You both can choose the environment. What would you like?"

"Um…we were thinking of a desolate environment." they said. "The most desolate possible."

"Okay, there's this place called…. Domino." said Palladium. Behind everyone, Kiko and Lavender popped up from Bloom's bag. "It's the saddest most miserable in the magical dimension. Have either of you ever heard of Domino?"

"No, we've never heard of it." said Bloom.

"It kind of reminds me of a game people play back home." added Zara.

"But we're sure it would be perfect." they said.

"Well, then here it is." Palladium said, bringing up the simulation. "As soon as you both enter the simulation room, Domino will appear around you. Are you ready?"

"Yes!" said the twins and Bloom looked back.

"Uh, Zara and I brought a few ingredients for potions and stuff." said Bloom, remembering her backpack. "Can we take it with us?"

"Sure, take whatever you want." Palladium tells them, then opens the door. "There you go. The test will last 30 minutes. I'll be in the control room, controlling everything. Now do your best and work together."

"We will." said the twins.

"Good luck." said Musa.

"Be careful." added Flora.

"Take care, alright!" Stella called out.

"Figure it out." Tecna chimed in.

"What kind of encouragement is that?" asked Stella.

"The most logical kind." she tells her.

"Thanks girls, we'll see ya." said Bloom as Zara gave them a mock salute as the two went inside. The panels started powering up and takes them to Domino.

"Oh…oh…it sure is freezing in here." Bloom said, trying to warm herself up.

"I've got you." said Zara, wrapping a jacket around her. Back in her office, Faragonda sees what the twin have chosen for their midterm.

"Domino!" she gasps, seeing the planet around them.

"Okay, so what can we do to improve this place?" Bloom asked Zara as they walked a little further.

"I was thinking we could at least bring back plant life." she suggested, thinking of Flora.

"Good idea, sis." Bloom said, then starts going through her back for potions when a pair of something's surprised her. "Oh!"

"Kiko!"

"Lavender!"

"What are you doing here?" the twins asked as both bunnies hopped out of the bag.

"Now you both be good bunnies." Bloom said as she goes through her bag. "Zara and I have got a very important thing to do." Bloom takes out a pack of seeds and starts spreading it on the ground. "We'll start with a few plants, and we'll use magic."

"Right." said Zara as both girls start to dig in the dirt. Kneeling across from each other, the twins then start using their magic to at least bring back the plant life.

"Grow little ones." They said to the seedlings. "Sprout. Oh!"

Out of the ground there was a couple of plants. Kiko and Lavender squealed as the former rubbed his hands together in glee. Unknown to the twins, the Trix appeared behind Bloom. "Hi there, my little Winx." said Icy.

"No, not you." Bloom said.

"Really?" asked Zara.

"What are you doing here?" the twins asked.

"You shouldn't waste your time." said Darcy, then created sound waves. "Don't ask stupid questions." She then aims it towards the twins. "Defend yourselves."

They dodged Darcy's spell, landing to the side. "This wasn't supposed to be on the test." said Bloom.

"I agree. Why are they even here?" asked Zara, gesturing towards the Trix. "Doesn't Cloudtower have their own midterms to study for?"

"I doubt but we have no choice." Bloom tells her. "We've got to deal with them."

"Let's do it, Bloom." said Zara and both twins transformed into their fairy forms.

"We know that you're just holograms." Bloom said. "But still, you're the Trix and you don't wish us well."

"My sister is right." said Zara. "Let's get rid of you."

Orange and blue fire balls were fired from their hands at the Trix, knocking Darcy on her back. Kiko and Lavender cheered, happy that they were winning. "Ki-ko! Ki-ko!" Kiko cried out as he does a mini fight of his own and pretends to faint.

"La-ba-la!" Lavender cried out, running over Kiko and pokes him with her foot.

"Come on, Darcy. Get up." said Icy as the twins glared at them. Unknown to the twins, the Trix were using puppets of themselves in the midterm.

"Palladium has picked a very difficult test." Faragonda said as she paced her office. "If Bloom and Zara are able to complete it…." She then watches them through the mirror. "They'll both get high marks."

At Cloudtower, the Trix were interfering with Bloom and Zara on their Midterm. "Both Winx are doing well." said Darcy as they continued to use the puppets.

"Are you getting a clear picture, Stormy?" Icy asked.

"Not yet, sisters." answered Stormy, checking to see if the twins were at their highest peak in their powers. "It's as if they're both consciously suppressing their powers."

"So that means our set of fairies can do much better." said Darcy. "Hm…let's make them lose their tempers. That outta get them to reveal their true powers."

"Let's drive them completely crazy!" said Icy, loving Darcy's plan.

Outside of the simulation room, the Winx gasped at what was happening. "Oh, my goodness." said Tecna as they watched. Kiko and Lavender whimpered as they backed away from the battle, covering their eyes with their ears.

"Oh no." said Bloom as she and Zara placed hands on their heads. "Now what?"

"I don't know, Bloom." said Zara as Stormy stood over them.

"Oopsie." they said as she glares at them. Both bunnies were scared as they went to hide.

Stormy sends a purple lightning strike, knocking the twins back. "So, what do you think you're going to do now, huh?" Stormy asked the twins. Growling, Bloom and Zara went after her and sends fireballs.

Icy went after them with her blizzard spell, laughing as ice forms around their legs, causing them to drop to the ground. "Go ahead, Stormy. They're all yours." said Icy.

"Yes, all mine." said Stormy, pleased as she created an earthquake towards the twins who then gasped. "Hurry up, Bloom and Zara. You're gonna get burned." As the ice cracked around their legs, it shattered, releasing them towards solid ground.

"Okay, that does it." said Zara, her temper rising.

"You witches, we've had it." said Bloom.

"Wait, before you deal with us, perhaps you should lend your bunnies a hand." Icy said, showing them Kiko and Lavender, stranded.

"Kiko. Lavender." said the twins, seeing them in danger. "Don't move."

"You're not focusing you two." said Icy, as she sends an icy blast towards the bunnies, knocking them into the lava. Kiko and Lavender screamed in terror as they were heading towards the lava.

"Kiko!" Bloom screamed.

"Lavender!" screamed Zara.

Both girls went for their bunnies, only for it be too late. "No!" they screamed, reaching out.

"I so don't like the both of you." said Icy as the twins hugged each other.

"Icy…." said Bloom.

"How dare you…" said Zara.

"What are you doing, girls?" asked Darcy as they hovered over the twins.

"Don't you want to get even?" questioned Stormy.

"You're going to let us get away with it." taunted Icy. The Trix laughed at their misery when suddenly, orange and blue fires surrounded Bloom and Zara, causing them to rise into the air.

The twins screamed as they released both fires from their bodies. Stormy laughs as the puppets in their hands were burned away by the twins. Icy and Darcy joined in Stormy's laughter, realizing how powerful the twins are now.

"Yes! Yes! Yes! Its them!" shrieked Icy.

Back at Alfea, Palladium was trying to get back control. "Professor…." said Stella, worried about the twins.

"Tecna, what's going on?" asked Musa.

"Looks like the computer's crashing." Tecna explained. Inside the simulation room, Zara and Bloom were knocked out and back in their regular clothes. Eyes fluttered opened as their bunnies walked up to their owners.

"Huh?" they said, looking at them. "Kiko? Lavender?"

When they reached down to pick them up, their hands went through each bunny. They gasped as they looked up to see multiple sets of Kiko and Lavender ears.

"What?" asked Bloom.

"Is it just me or did the program decided to multiple Kiko and Lavender?" Zara asked, turning to her sister. "Just so that we could find the real ones?"

"I don't know." replied Bloom, shrugging. "Oh my. This is a little bizarre, don't you think?"

"They all look so similar!" said Zara, scratching her head.

They hear snoring and someone munching on something. "I can hear them." Bloom said to Zara.

"But where are they?" asked Zara.

The twins looked over behind a rock, seeing Kiko's and Lavender's ears, as well as the leafy part of a celery stalk that Lavender was snacking on. Kiko wakes up and stretches his arms as Lavender places the rest of the celery in a sandwich bag.

"Kiko!" exclaimed Bloom as both bunnies hopped over to them.

"Lavender!" Zara exclaimed.

"Oh, come here!" they said, hugging the two bunnies. "We thought you were…."

"Oh, Kiko!"

"Lavender!"

"We've got to bring them back." Palladium said, trying to shut down the program. "I'm gonna have to use Magic. I'll cast the restoration spell. Fixum Mallum!" The twins laughed as they held their bunnies as the program shuts down around them.

"But…how could that be?" Palladium asked, confused as it was only just Bloom, Zara and their bunnies in the simulation room.

"Bloom! Zara!" the others said, seeing that the sisters and their bunnies were just fine.

"Bloom, Zara, are you both alright?" asked Flora as she and the others walked in.

"Do you both realize that you've crashed the computer?" asked Stella.

"Really?" asked the twins.

"You both did." Palladium said, walking up behind Stella and Flora. "The simulator is totally gone. But the two of you are okay. Right?"

"We're a bit shaken, but other than that, we're fine." said Bloom.

"No broken bones, no sprained ankles, and we didn't even fight each other." Zara added as they looked up at the simulator ceiling.

"I'm postponing the exams." Palladium said to the girls. "First, we've got to fix things up. Then we'll reschedule the exams."

Tecna, Musa and the others cheered, now that they had more time. "Ladies, three cheers for Bloom and Zara!" said Stella as they all cheered for the twins. "Oh, Bloom and Zara, by the way….you think you can get the history exams too."

"Well…" they said as they were being cheered. "we can try."

Back in her office, Faragonda watched curiously as the twins were being praised for suspending the midterm.

Chapter Text

"No! But really, you've gone too far this time." Stella said. "I'm putting a stop to this."

"Stella." said Bloom as she and Zara watched her argue with Flora. "What's happened? What's going on?"

"Flora's overdoing it as usual." said Stella.

"I'm just carrying out a couple of experiments." Flora explained. "I've got an exam soon."

"Ha! No kidding." Stella said, pointing a finger at her. "You've been going on about it for a month. 'I'm going to use the power of flowers to thwart the witches' evil spells'."

"So, what's wrong with that?" asked Bloom and Zara.

"Ha! What's wrong with that?" scoffed Stella. "In case you haven't noticed, your room has become a humongous chemistry lab."

"Bloom and Zara gave me permission and what's more is that they'll help me study." said Flora.

"We've already passed the simulator test." Bloom said to Stella.

"So, we're gonna help Flora with hers." added Zara.

"Yeah, some test." said Stella, unfazed by this.

"Hey! We took on Icy, Darcy, and Stormy. It wasn't easy." they told her.

"I know, I'm sorry, you two." Stella said.

"We know. You're all a bit nervous." Bloom said, assuring the blonde.

"And also, a little on edge." said Zara.

"Don't worry about it?" questioned Stella. "You should see my room! Okay, I gave Flora permission to put her flowers by my windowsill, because they need a lot of sunlight. But then she spread herself out and put a bunch of Melanoma Varicosa."

"Mimosa Vitosa." Flora corrected her.

"Whatever!" said Stella. "I mean, she put them right next to my mirror, Bloom and Zara. My mirror!"

"Well, it's normal." said Flora. "They feed off of reflective light. Your mirror is huge so it's perfect."

Stella growled in anger, then points towards her mirror. "And you think this is normal?" she asked as the plants were trying on her clothes.

"What's wrong?" asked Flora.

"They're trying on my clothes." said Stella.

"That's why their called Vain atossa." said Flora.

"I don't care what they're called, make them stop right now." Stella begged her. "My clothes. Bloom, Zara, my beautiful clothes."

"Stella, it's not that bad." said Bloom.

"Oh yes, it is." said Stella. "They're even using my makeup. And look at them, they have no taste, whatsoever. Their outfits don't even match."

"Honestly Stella, I would try to tell them off myself." Zara said to Stella, gesturing to Flora's plants. "But I'm scared to how it will react to me by saying something."

"What do you think they'll do? Sprout legs and kick you out?" asked Stella.

"You don't know that." said Zara, leaning against the wall with her hands behind her back.

"What do you expect?" Bloom asked Stella. "They're just plants."

"Tecna doesn't complain about it." said Flora as she goes to Musa's and Tecna's room. "Hi, Musa. Have you seen Tecna?"

"No. Haven't seen her since this morning." answered Musa.

"Are you guys having any trouble with my plants?" Flora asked and Musa looked up, confused.

"Huh? What do you mean?" asked Musa. "We have plants in our room?"

"Um, yes, I asked Tecna to keep a few seeds in the dark, inside her closet." Flora said as she opens Tecna's closet while unknown to her, Tecna was wrapped in vines inside. She then turns to see said fairy, screaming at her. "Tecna!"

"Yeah." she said, her voice muffled behind the vine as Flora helps free her. "It's about time. I was looking for a pair of trousers when this creepy crawling thing grabbed me."

"Musa, she was in there all day, and you didn't notice a thing." Stella said, over her shoulder.

"I'm not in the habit of snooping in other people's closets." said Musa.

"Okay, I'll keep my cool, but I really like to know what kind of seeds they were." said Tecna.

"They were…um…..Triple esses." said Flora.

"Triple esses?" questioned Tecna.

"Seoa Seifer swifta." Flora tells her.

"What?!" shouted Tecna.

"I didn't think they would grow so fast!" Flora cried out. "I swear to you, I had no idea."

"All right, Tecna. Don't go bananas." Tecna said to herself. "Take a deep breath. Now let's remain calm."

"Oh, Tecna. I'm so sorry." Flora said apologizing for what she done.

"It's all well and good, Flora, but I think…..that those killer string beans have got to go." scolded Stella.

"You're right." said Flora, knowing what Stella was telling her. "I'll come and get everything in a sec. Then I'll take myself and my stuff to Black Mud Swamp."

"Black Mud Swamp?" questioned Bloom and Zara.

"The rooms at Alfea are not suited for my experiments." she said.

"But you can't move to the swamp." said Bloom. "We all know the place is horrible."

"That swamp is a little creepy." said Zara.

"We don't want you to go there." they tell Flora. "Right? Girls?"

"Is that a yes or a no?" Bloom asked. When no one answered, Flora left.

"You traitors." said Zara, crossing her arms.

"I don't believe it." said Bloom, agreeing with what Zara said. "Flora was just trying to prepare for her big exam."

"Bloom, we all have to study." said Stella. "But when we study, we don't tear up her clothes."

"Nor do we try to strangle her." chimed Tecna.

"Oh, come on, girls. Don't be so hard on her." said Bloom.

"What if this was your big exam?" Zara asked, pointing to the three of them. "Each of you would want Flora's help, right?"

"Well….." they said, thinking for a moment.

"Oh my god….seriously? You'll let her help you with your exams but the three of you are not gonna help Flora with hers?" asked Zara, then turns to Bloom. "Bloom, you know what you gotta do. You're gonna have to restrain me from chasing all three of them all over campus with my bo staff."

"Flora's exam is coming up soon, and anyway, Zara and I promised we were going to help her." Bloom tells them. "And where we come from, promises are kept, all right?"

"Promises should be as unbreakable as the bonds they forge." Zara said to Stella, Musa and Tecna.

"Huh?"

"It means that the commitments we make should be as strong as our friendships," Zara explained, her eyes sparkling with sincerity. "When we promise to support each other, we're not just saying words—we're solidifying the trust we share. Now, if you'll excuse me, I have some things to pack so we can help Flora prepare for her exam. Let's see how you three fairy traitors deal with that kind of guilt on your conscience."

Bloom and Zara stormed out of the room as Kiko and Lavender puffed out their chests, following their owners. Stella, Tecna and Musa looked at each other as the door closed behind the twins.

Out at the swamp, Flora was unpacking her experiments. "I still can't believe it." she said, going through her bag. "I never thought you'd follow me here."

"Yeah, me either." said Stella, seeing the swamp gunk on her shoes.

"You can always go back to Alfea and study for your exam, Stella." said Zara. "You know that we're not holding the three of you captive."

"The truth is, we couldn't let you come here all by yourself." said Musa.

"They may be a bit grumpy sometimes, but they care about you." said Bloom.

"Anyway….I hope this camping trip doesn't last too long." Stella said, aggravated that she was out at the swamp.

"If you all help me find this magic flower, it won't last long at all." Flora explained as she takes out a book from her bag. "See, this is the cheerful Gladiolus."

"That's a pretty flower." commented Stella. "But are you sure it can be found around here?"

"Absolutely. The ecosystem of this swamp is quite diversified." said Flora.

"And what do you need it for exactly?" asked Musa.

"The essence of the cheerful Gladiolus is an antidote for the witches' sadness spell." Flora said, smiling.

"I can totally see them smiling more often." said Zara.

"Very well, then. What are we waiting for? Let's go and get the flower so we can get back!" said Stella, wanting to get back to Alfea.

"It's not as easy as that." said Flora. "It's a very skittish flower; it doesn't let itself be picked."

"Don't tell me we're going have to coax it into following us of its own free will?" asked Stella.

"Didn't she do that to us?" Zara asked Bloom, making a face.

"She did….in her own way." said Bloom, causing the both of them to giggle.

"Ha-ha, very funny." Stella said, glaring at Zara who sticks her tongue out at her. "I've had it with walking plants."

"Actually, we just have to ask the flower to extend one of its petals, and then I'll use a drop of this mixture." said Flora. "One of my inventions and check this out."

She places a drop of mixture on a leaf of a nearby plant. Kiko and Lavender took a closer look as a new plant rose out of the ground causing both of them to scream. "That was fast." said Musa.

"I can create a number of artificial petals." said Flora.

"This is great." said Bloom. "Let's get to work, right away."

"You heard her, girls!" said Zara. "Let's get a move on!"

"Kiko, you and Lavender stay right here, okay?" Bloom said to the blue bunny as he chomps away on a leaf. "The swamp is not a good place for either of you to walk about."

"Can I stay too?" Stella asked. "I won't wonder off. I promise. Cross my heart."

"If you're going to stay here, then you need to make sure that Lavender doesn't overeat and that the two of them don't get into trouble." said Zara.

"I can do that." said Stella, smiling widely as Zara and Bloom looked at each other with knowing looks that she wouldn't pay attention.

"Stella please." said Musa. "Don't start complaining already."

"Who's complaining?" she asked as they left Kiko and Lavender at camp. "I was just asking a simple question. Then we'll go right back to Alfea, right?"

"Stella!" the others shouted. As the Winx went further into the swamp, Stella finally steps into swamp gunk.

"Oh no!" she cried out.

"Why oh, why swamps are so swampy?!" Musa asked.

"Your comments are uncalled for, Musa." said Stella, wiping her shoe off.

"So is your outfit." Musa shot back. "For goodness sake, this is a muddy swamp, not a fashion show."

"What does that have to do with anything?" Stella questioned Musa. "A Winx is always a Winx and it….Wah!" Suddenly, Stella falls into the swamp water.

"Stella!" they called out.

"She's over there." said Musa, seeing movement.

"Stella, are you okay?" the twins asked.

"No, I'm not okay." she said, covered in dirt. "I'm tired and dirty, and my feet are killing me from all that walking about. If only we'd find these stupid flowers."

"Hush, quiet!" Flora warned her.

"No." said Stella, not wanting to be quiet. "I refuse to be quiet. You'd said we'd find them and…"

Just then, Flora sneaks up behind her and places a hand over her mouth. "Look, Stella." she tells Stella, pointing in the direction of clear swamp water. "There on the water."

"Wow…." said Bloom, watching a couple water creatures dance across the water. "They're so beautiful."

"Yes, and they're so tiny." said Musa as Zara nodded. Stella opens her mouth and bites Flora's hand, causing her to scream in pain.

"Ground walkers!" said one water creature. "Let's go, quick."

"No, no, no." Flora said, begging them to come back. "Wait, wait. Please, we don't want to hurt you. We're your friends and we need your help."

The Winx were then crossing the water, led the two water creatures. "What an amazing place." said Flora. "I mean, look at all the flowers, the lilies, the gladioli, the water nymphs were right to bring us here. I'm sure we'll be able to find what we're looking for."

Stella gasps as she stares at something in front of her. "What is it, Stella?" Flora asked. "A cat got your tongue or what?"

"Look down there." said Stella, pointing to a flower that was floating in front of her. "In the water." In the water, more water nymphs were swimming.

"It's a miniature city." said Bloom.

"Beautiful." commented Zara.

"Fascinating." said Flora. "The water nymphs live in air bubbles under the leaf of a water lily."

"We don't mean to be rude or anything, but…uh, we have a bit of a problem." said one water nymph. "See, we can't really invite you into our house. You're kind of big; we have no room."

"But our Queen has expressed the wish to meet you." said the second water nymph. "Follow us."

"We are very happy to have you here." said the queen of the water nymphs. "You see, we don't often receive visitors."

"Thank you for your warm welcome, your….." said Stella, then turns to the twins. "Think I should say your littleness instead of your highness."

"Majesty, try your majesty." suggested Bloom as Zara nodded.

"You must have had a long journey." said the Queen. "You all look a bit tired. May I offer you some refreshments?"

"Actually, all we want is to touch the petal of a cheerful Gladiolus." said Flora. "May we?"

"Of course you may." The Queen tells Flora. "I can tell you have a lot of respect for nature."

"But…it seems almost incredible that nobody's ever met you before." Flora complimented.

"We keep a low profile." she explains to Flora. "We know when to hide when we need to and then if so, few creatures ever come around here, there must be a reason."

"Perhaps you've heard of something called the great monster of black island." said the young nymph.

"What? A monster lives around here?" the twins asked.

"Yes, quite unfortunately." said the queen. "If you look over that way, right behind the fog bank. You'll see an island right in the middle of the swamp and in deep underwater cave under the island is where that horrible creature lives. It's a gigantic being which threatens my people daily."

"Why don't you move somewhere else?" Bloom asked.

"I recommend somewhere far away in the swamp." said Zara.

"Because our survival depends on a plant called Zilith." explained the queen. "And it can only be found on that island. With great patience and more effort were able to make a strong and transparent material."

"That's what we use to manufacture the bubbles in which we live." said the water Nymph. "Without the Zillis, we'd have to live above water where predators await. But the black island monster makes it difficult to gather zill leaves."

"Every once in a while, one of us volunteers to go to the island and try to pick at least one leaf and this time, it was Louses turn." The queen added as she cried in defeat.

"Why? What's wrong?" Bloom asked, curious to know. "What happened to Louses?"

"She never came back." she said.

"That's terrible." gasped Flora.

"It's our destiny." The queen said to the Winx. "We've been living like this for quite some time."

"Well, I say it's high time things change." said Bloom.

"That's right." said Zara.

"You ready girls?" they both asked.

"Ready when you are, Bloom and Zara." said Flora and they went into their fairy forms.

"Marvelous." said the queen. Further in the swamp, an owl with three eyes hoots as the Winx headed towards the island. In the water, a creature swims through, catching somewhat of the Winx's attention.

"Did you hear something?" Stella asked.

"No, I didn't." said Tecna.

"You know, girls, I was just thinking…" she said, looking at the others. "The queen said that the monster was gigantic, but to her, we're big too. So, if we average things out….the monster must be a medium sized creature, right? It makes sense."

"Huh?" Tecna and Musa said as they looked at what was coming up behind Stella.

"What is it? What?" Stella asked the two as a monster appears out of the water behind her. Stella turns around as the creature roars, causing her to scream in terror.

"Maybe…maybe it's gone." said Musa as they huddled with their backs to each other when suddenly the monster comes up under them, scattering them. "Oh no!"

"Oh no!" screamed Bloom as the monster goes for Musa and dives back into the water.

"Seriously! It eats Musa!" shouted Zara as Stella uses sun magic on the water, accidentally killing a fish.

"Oopsie." Stella said, guiltily looking at her mistake.

"Where did it go?" asked Bloom. "Great!"

"Now what?" asked Flora.

"There's only one thing to do." said Tecna.

"We're going to be eaten next?" asked Zara.

"No, we've got to save Musa." she said.

"Yes, but how? Water is not our element." Bloom tells her.

"We could use the air bubble method, just like the water nymphs do." said Flora.

"Brilliant." said Zara.

"Sounds like a good idea to me." said Bloom. "Are you ready?"

"You bet!" said the others and they created an air bubble for themselves.

"And now, for the final touch." said Tecna. "Locks luminous." Once in the water, the Winx started searching for the monster and Musa. "Can you see anything?"

"Down there…right at the bottom." said Flora, spotting the creature. "It went into its cave."

"Let's go." said the twins as they went neared the cave. Inside its mouth was an unconscious Musa. Just before it closed its mouth, Bloom and Zara quickly went inside, protecting Musa.

Stella, Tecna and Flora screamed as the twins joined Musa. The monster stares at the three remaining Winx as orange and blue magic surrounded its mouth. They then hear a couple of pops and sees the twins with Musa in Bloom's arms. The monster roars, angry that Bloom and Zara took Musa out of its mouth.

"What's going on?" Musa asked as she starts stirring.

"A possible cave-in." said Zara as the cave starts to crumble around them.

"We've got to get out of here." said Flora. "Now!"

They swam to the surface and all five bubbles popped. "That was too close for comfort." said Stella.

"You've said it, Stella." said Zara. "Let's not do that again."

"Where in the world are we?" Stella asked as she looks at where they had landed. "I've never been here before."

"I don't know, but we're probably on the island." said Bloom.

"If that's the case, then we should definitely keep our eyes open." said Tecna.

"Why?" asked Stella, yawning. "The monster's gone, right? There's nothing to be afraid of."

"The monster isn't gone." Tecna stated as they walk ahead. "He's just retreated back in his cave."

"Flora, do you know what sort of trees these are?" Bloom asked as Zara starts to rub her eyes.

"They, uh…they look like red willows." replied Flora as she starts to yawn as well.

"Funny, how my yawning is contagious." said Stella, feeling a little sleepy.

"Looks like they were planted in a specific manner." said Tecna.

"That's typical of these trees." Flora said. "They grow in a spiral in order to protect their leader."

"These trees have a leader?" Stella asked. "That's funny."

"Oh, it's as if they're positioned in such a way as to take us to their leader." said Bloom.

"What a beautiful place." said Stella. "It's very quiet."

"Hear the birds?" Tecna asked, looking back at Stella.

"Actually, I don't." she tells her.

"Exactly and don't you think that's strange?" questioned Tecna.

"No, it doesn't seem very strange to me." said Stella.

"Oh, my…what a wonderful smell." commented Flora.

"I detect it." said Tecna, smelling the same thing Flora was. "I better analyze its composition." Tecna then brings up what seems to be her hologram computers and starts analyzing the smell around them. "No, it can't be! This substance is sleeping gas. Girls, girls!"

"Yes, and these moss-covered rocks are just like….comfy pillows." said Stella, snuggling into the rocks. "So soft."

"Stella! Don't breathe." Tecna called out to her, hoping that she would stay awake as she puts on her visor. "Don't breathe. No! Wake up, Stella! Don't close your eyes."

"Yeah, all right." Stella said to Tecna. "Set the alarm to seven."

Tecna looks up at the others. "Flora…Musa." she said, seeing them on the ground, already asleep. "Oh no, wake up. Don't let yourselves fall asleep. Please."

"Aw, come on, Tecna." groaned Musa. "We're so tired."

"Yeah…" said Flora, sleepily. "Leave us alone."

"Tecna!" the twins sleepily called out, getting her attention.

"Bloom, Zara." said Tecna.

"We've got to…must…stay awake." they said, as they stumbled, causing Tecna to grab both of them by their waist.

"Look over there, Tecna." said Bloom. "I…I think it's the leader tree. The one Flora was talking about."

"And it's giving us a mean look." said Zara.

"Look at the meadow animals." they tell her. "They're all sleeping. And there, under the willow. It must be little Louses."

The twins groaned as they started to close their eyes. "Bloom, Zara." said Tecna, trying to wake them up.

"Sorry, Tecna." said Bloom.

"We're just really sleepy." said Zara.

"We…" they said, before they curled up next to each other and fell asleep.

"I'll create an oxygen bubble." Tecna said to the twins, creating a green bubble around them. "I'll make a little opening….and let the bad air out."

The twins groaned for a moment as they opened their eyes and starts sitting up. "Thanks, Tecna." said Zara and Bloom.

"Bloom, Zara, welcome back from the dreamland." Tecna tells them.

"You are one of kind, Tecna." said Zara as she and Bloom stood up.

"It's the willow." said Bloom as they looked at the tree in front of them. "That deadly odor….it comes from the willow."

"Well, then, let's get to work." said Tecna. The three of them extended the bubble towards the rest of the island, bringing in fresh air for everything. The birds started waking up and chirping. Even Stella, Flora and Musa were waking up.

"Well….I…..uh…." said Musa, stretching. "Where am I? What happened?"

"Turn off the light." Stella groaned sleepily; her eyes still closed. "The alarm hasn't gone off yet." Suddenly, a ladybug crawls on Stella's arm, causing her to scream as she looks down. "Get this thing off of me. Quick, somebody do something."

Flora and Musa stood there, laughing at Stella's misfortune. "Stella, relax. It's just an innocent little insect." said Musa.

"Disgusting!" Stella shouted as she ran through the bushes.

"Sounds like everyone's wide awake." said Tecna, seeing Stella run past them.

"Yeah….especially her." said Zara, her eyes following Stella like she was crazy.

"Yes, and not just them." said Bloom as she and Zara gestured. "Look." Tecna sees that the birds were now wide awake. "All the animals are waking up."

"We're back with you girls." said Musa as she, Flora and Stella joined them.

"Help us make this oxygen bubble a bit bigger." said Tecna and the Winx combined their magic to make the air bubble much bigger. Louses breathes in the clean air as she starts to wake up.

"You're Louses, right?" Bloom asked the young water Nymph.

"Yes, and I know who you are." she said. "I could never thank you enough for waking me up."

"But how do you know who we are?" asked the twins.

"All the while I was sleeping, I remained in constant telepathic contact with the world around me." Louses explained. "So I knew you were coming."

Suddenly, the ground shakes beneath them. "The monster." shrieked Stella.

"No, no, it's not what you think." said Louses. "The monster isn't coming here. He's already here."

"Sorry, I don't follow." said Bloom.

"Neither do I." said Zara.

"Let me explain." Louses continued. "As we speak, we're all standing on top of the monster. As I told you, while I was asleep, I kept a mental contact with this place and that's how I found out the truth. The island is a giant sleeping and sleepwalking turtle. All thanks to the red willow tree.

And the monster in the cave is nothing more than the turtle's head getting in and out of its shell. "And the rumbling we just felt must have been the turtle trying to move about in the swamp." said Tecna.

"I don't blame the turtle." said Zara.

"And yet you were so close of getting a turtle." said Bloom.

"Yeah…but then you told me that Kiko needed a bunny sibling when we were picking him up." Zara said.

"Well, if what you say is true, it means we've woken him up at last." said Stella.

"No, unfortunately, your magic dome only covers a little section of his enormous shell." said Louses. "Poor thing's walking in his sleep and is doing so for eons."

"The protective barrier will vanish when we leave." Tecna tells Louses. "And things will back to the way they were before." The willow roars for a moment. "What the? Watch out!"

Suddenly, the willow starts attacking the Winx. "Oh, my!" exclaimed Louses watching the willow become agitated. "It's gone crazy."

The willow then breaks the barrier the Winx created. "Why you bully!" shouted Bloom and Zara. "We'll turn you into a bonsai. That'll teach you to pick on creatures that are smaller than you." Sending out orange and blue flames towards the branches, the willow hissed in pain, causing the twins to look down at its roots.

"Of course." said Bloom. "The roots!"

"It's always the roots." said Zara.

"That's what we've got to strike." they said. "Underground!" Combining their flames, the twins aim for the willow's roots, creating a colorful fire.

Once it disappeared, the roots were burnt, and the willow started to change color. Flora then used her magic and transformed the willow into butterflies, just before it could be completely burnt to a crisp.

"We did it." said Flora, hugging Bloom and Zara.

"Yes, we finally freed the turtle from the spell." said Bloom.

"We do great work." said Zara.

"It's another victory for the Winx." added Stella.

"The air is pure again." said Louses, proud of the Winx. "Do you hear that lovely sound?"

"It's the sound of the birds singing, I can hear it this time." said Stella.

"No, my friend, I'm talking about a much louder sound." Louses said to Stella. "The sound of nature awakening."

"How could we ever thank you enough?" the queen asked as the Winx and Louses returned. "You've brought back our dear Louses and freed us from a source of fear and anxiety."

"Oh, uh, by the way…." Stella said. "The monster, or should I say turtle, uh…what's going to happen to it now?"

"Look over there, in the swamp." the queen said, pointing in the direction of the turtle.

The Winx turned to see the turtle swimming away. "Hey, it's moving. Granted it's no speedboat, but it's moving." said Stella.

"The creature is free now and so it's following the path that life has laid out." said the queen.

"But what are you going to do now?" asked Bloom. "You said the Zilith plant grows only one the turtle shell."

"Before it went away, the turtle let us collect as many leaves as we could." the queen said to the Winx. "We'll be okay for a while. We've tried to grow the Zilith in our soil, but it doesn't work unfortunately."

"Sooner or later, we're bound to run out of leaves." said Louses.

"If it's mother nature's will, then so be it." the queen added.

"Hang on a second." said Flora, taking out the potion she invented. "Even mother nature can use a little friendly boost sometimes."

"Flora, what are you looking for?" Tecna asked.

"My rapid growth formula." she said. "Remember my magic drops? Watch this, your majesty." Flora then places a drop on the leaf, creating more of them for the water nymphs.

"Marvelous." said the queen as the leaves were on the water.

"Hooray! Hooray!"

"Way to go, Flora." said Stella.

"Excellent." added Tecna.

"Now are you going to let her use your rooms for her little experiments?" asked Bloom.

"Or continue to be the negative fairies that you were earlier?" asked Zara.

"Well, uh…" stammered Stella as Tecna clears her throat.

"In light of what just happened, I guess we should reconsider the option." said Tecna.

"Oh, never mind, girls." said Flora, wrapping her arms around the two. "From now on, I promise to make do with the space that I've got."

"Ladies, we could never thank you enough for all that you have done for us." said the water nymph queen, grateful for what the Winx had done. "But as a token of our gratitude, we'd like to offer you this, Flora."

"The cheerful gladiolus." said Flora as the water nymphs presented the flower to her.

"It let itself be picked just for you." the queen tells her. "It knows you will treat it well."

"As soon as I get home, I'll put it in the richest soil." Flora promised.

"That's great, Flora. Now you're sure you'll ace your exam as usual." said Bloom.

"Because we believe in you." said Zara.

"Thanks, you two. And tomorrow, it's your turn, isn't it, Stella?" said Flora, turning to the blonde.

Stella gasps at this, realizing now that her exam was tomorrow, thanks to Flora. "Oh, no." groaned Stella. The Winx laughed at Stella's misfortune but were willing to help her.

Chapter Text

In Magix, Bloom, Zara and their bunnies were out to lunch with Brandon, Lady and Xander.

"These are incredible dreams you both are having." said Brandon. "So, every night, this nymph reveals herself a bit more. You both say that she calls you out by name, and her voice sounds familiar, huh?"

"She looks familiar too, but we don't know why." said Bloom.

"However, she did laugh at whatever it was that I said when she first appeared." said Zara.

"Interesting." said Xander. "What exactly did you say?"

"Honestly? I don't even remember." Zara said, thinking for a moment. "I think I was just trying to break the ice. You know how awkward it can be when meeting someone new."

"Hmm, maybe you both have seen her before." suggested Brandon as Xander nodded in agreement.

"But that's not the point." said Bloom. "It's like, every night it's a new episode of this dream. It's not by accident. It's as if she's showing us the way."

"Next time, I'm not backing down from asking her what she wants us to remember." said Zara, taking a sip of her drink. "I don't know if I'm ready for the crazy bin yet."

"You're not going crazy, Zara. It's just… unusual." Xander tells her. "Dreams can be pretty wild, but that doesn't mean you're losing it."

"No, Xander. This is different." Zara said, shaking her head. "It's like these dreams were intentionally crafted. Every detail—isn't that a little too eerie?"

"Exactly!" said Bloom. "The colors, the places, even the people... It feels so vivid, almost like we're meant to uncover something."

"Do you think it's because the two of you found out that you're both fairies and not a set of ordinary earthlings?" asked Brandon as they stood up and left the table.

"Why do we possess such powers?" the twins asked as Brandon had Lady on her leash as the bunnies walked on each side. "And why do they seem to come to us so easily, so naturally?"

"Daphne, the nymph in our dreams, she wants to tell us something, but we don't know what." said Bloom. "And you know the temple in the square? The nine nymphs are sculpted on the façade. Well, the middle nymph? That's Daphne. Night after night, Zara and I hear her call our names and bids us to come to her."

"Hmm." said the boys.

"Give us your honest opinions, please." said Zara.

"Did you say, Daphne?" they both asked.

"A few days ago, Zara and I went to the library and there were tons of books about Daphne." said Bloom. "And when we went back, there wasn't even one! Obviously, someone made them disappeared."

"I feel like someone is keeping a secret from us at Alfea, but I'm not sure who." said Zara. "It's important for Bloom and I know who Daphne is."

"But we don't understand why." they said to Brandon and Xander. "There are so many things going on."

"Daphne, huh?" asked Brandon, as Lady pulls on her leash. "I know just what we need! This is a job for Timmy!"

"He's good for things like this." said Xander.

"We'll let him loose in the library at Red Fountain, and then…." Brandon said as Lady continues to pull on her leash, whimpering. "Lady, please! Stop pulling!"

"Hey, hey, hey." Xander said to the dog. "Calm down."

"You'll see, Timmy'll find whatever information you need." Brandon continues to tell the twins. "We're sure of it."

"Uh-oh." said Xander as Lady starts to pull on her leash, dragging Brandon with her.

"Gotta go, now!" they said, leaving the girls. "See you later, Bloom! Zara!"

"Thanks, Brandon and Xander! See you!" they said, waving to them.

"You know, I'm getting the feeling that it's not only just someone at Alfea is keeping a secret from us…." said Zara, watching the boys and Lady leave. "but those two as well."

"You could be imagining it." said Bloom as they headed back to the bus stop.

"Can't argue with that." said Zara.

"Everybody, I'm glad to say that the simulator is up and running again after the twins' mishap." said Palladium.

"We're extremely sorry for our mishap." said Zara and Bloom, causing the elf professor to wave them off.

"If I'm not mistaken, there are still several students who must take the test: Flora, Musa, Tecna, Stella." he said as he read the names. "Also Priscilla, Ortensia and Luna. I hope you're already."

"Now I wish I could make myself disappear." said Priscilla.

"Me too." said Luna. "Exams make me incredibly nervous."

"I don't think it's such a difficult exam." said Ortensia. "It's more like an exercise; except we get a grade. You'll see, it'll be okay."

"Easy for you to say, you're always studying!" Priscilla said. "For the rest of us, though…."

"I see that Stella has a few failures to make up for…." said Palladium, seeing that Stella wasn't in class with the other Winx. "But she's not with us today. Could it be an evasive action?"

"She wasn't feeling well this morning, Professor." Bloom said. "She told us….that she was going to stop by the infirmary."

"Eh?" Zara asked, looking at her sister. "I don't remember her telling us that."

"You were gargling with mouthwash." Bloom reminded her.

"Oh yeah." said Zara, trying to remember.

"That's why she wanted to go to the infirmary." Bloom tells her sister. "To make sure that whatever she has, she didn't want to give it to you. Maybe she'll come later."

"I hope that whatever she has, it's not too serious." said Palladium, walking over to the simulator. "However, when you do see her, tell her that I'm waiting. She's late on many assignments."

"You got it, Professor." said Zara as Flora walks inside the simulator.

"Well then, Flora. Which one of the two missions have you chosen?" Palladium asked her.

"I'll use magic to fight off one of the most terrible effects of the witches' powers: sadness." said Flora.

"Good." said Palladium.

"I've been preparing for this in the Black Mud Swamp." Flora said. "And now, I'm ready."

"Excellent, all right then, ready to begin." Palladium said and started Flora's midterm. "Remember: Maximum concentration and remain calm."

During Flora's exam, Bloom knocks on the nurse's door, then opens it. "May we?" she and Zara asked.

"Come on in!" said the nurse, then looks up to see the twins. "Bloom, Zara?! What's the matter?"

"Oh, we're fine, ma'am." Bloom said.

"We're not sick or physically injured." added Zara.

"We're just looking for Stella." they tell her.

"She told us this morning that she was coming here 'cause she wasn't feeling well, and uh…" Bloom explained.

"This morning?" the nurse asked. "You're the first and second students to walk through that door today, which is kind of odd in itself, because when there are exams, I normally have a crowd in here."

"Oh!" said Zara and Bloom. "Thanks anyway. Bye!"

The girls went back to their room to see Tecna, Musa and Flora sitting. "You guys know the latest?" they asked.

"Stella didn't go to the infirmary." said Bloom. "So, it's not true that she was feeling ill."

"That little blonde fibber." said Zara, balling her hands. "If I wasn't bound by it, I would go full fury on her."

"In other words, she decided to skip Palladium's class." said Bloom.

"Huh! I wonder why she's acting like this." Flora wondered curiously. "The test wasn't even that difficult."

"We all aced it!" said Musa. "What is she afraid of, anyway?"

"Running away won't get her anywhere." Tecna said. "Sooner or later, she's gonna have to take the simulator test."

"What's happened to her anyway?" asked Bloom.

"She's lucky I haven't started chasing her yet." said Zara.

"She wasn't in the garden, nor was she at the library." Bloom said to the others as she walks towards Stella's room with Zara close behind her. "We were hoping to find her here with her nose in a book." Bloom then opens Stella's door, looking for her in her room. "That's an amazing smell!"

"Infinite sunset!" said Stella, causing Bloom to turn her attention behind her.

"Huh?"

"What?"

"My new perfume. Do you like it?" Stella asked.

"Stella! Good heavens!" said Bloom. "You don't look sick at all!"

"You little liar!" said Zara.

"Quite the contrary. I'm in great shape, you two!" she said, flipping her hair. "Never felt better in my life, you?"

"Well, we're staring at the biggest fabricator in the whole Magic Dimension right now if that helps." said Zara.

"What in the world are you up to?" Bloom asked Stella. "We had the simulator test today."

"You were supposed to do your test." said Zara.

"Palladium was expecting you." they scolded the blonde.

"Listen, he's waited this long, okay?" asked Stella. "He can wait a little longer. Right now, I've got more important things to think of."

"Such as your clothes?" asked Flora.

"Indeed. You see, the right dress can make a difference…." Stella started saying, as Flora and the twins were sitting on her bed. "when one wants to win the Miss Magix contest."

"The Miss Magix contest?" asked Bloom, glancing at Zara.

"What the…I didn't think it was possible that Magix had those things." said Zara.

"Yes! It's an annual thing to determine the most beautiful and talented girls in the Magix realm." said Stella. "Last year, I came really close to winning, but this year I intend to do better."

"That is ridiculous." said Tecna. "Stella, how can you consider a 'beauty contest' more important than school?!"

"Ohh! Please don't let me down!" Stella begged Tecna and the others. "I really need your support. This is incredibly important to me." She then walks over to Bloom and Zara, hugging them. "What can I do to make you feel sorry for me? Help me and I promise you, I'll study a whole lot."

"You should study for yourself, not for us." added Musa. "We've already done the exam, you know."

Stella starts to whine as walks away from the twins, causing them to groan. "All right, but this is the last time, okay?" said Bloom.

"Oh, thank you!" Stella said, blissfully. "I'm so happy. You'll see, it's just an innocent little beauty contest. It'll be fun."

"I swear…..the things we do for Stella." grumbled Zara as Tecna picks up one of Stella's shirts.

"Well, that'll be a first." said Tecna. "Every time we go into town, we never have fun."

"True." said Flora. "We always run into those nasty witches."

"Relax. I know from well-informed sources that we won't meet the infamous trio." Stella assures her.

At Cloudtower, word had spread about the contest. "But Lucy, think about it!" said Mirta, sitting next to her roommate. "It's a beauty contest where Magic is prohibited! You can't ask Icy, Darcy and Stormy to help you with a trick, it's not right. Could even be dangerous."

"Mm. Listen." said Lucy. "I want to take part in that contest….and I want to win! So, what if I can't use magic! Icy, Darcy and Stormy are so powerful, they can do anything! Whatever they set out to do, they always achieve their goal. For them, it'll be a no brainer to turn me into a stunning beauty queen! Even if the real me could never win such a contest."

"Mm." Mirta said, feeling empathetic towards Lucy.

"Everyone would be looking at me, Mirta." Lucy said to her. "For once, I'll be the center of attention. Don't you understand?"

"No." Mirta said. "Oh, Lucy, you don't need…."

"Argh! Get lost!" shouted Lucy. "I know what I don't need! I don't need you or anyone else, telling me what to do!"

The Winx enter Magix and headed to where the contest was being held. "I already know how this is going to end." said Flora.

"Let me guess. Mmm….in a total flop?" asked Tecna.

"Don't be such a wet blanket." said Stella. "Griselda will never know we came here."

"Cleaning and powers taken away, two weeks tops." said Zara as they watched Stella run ahead of them.

"Ready for the show?" asked Icy.

"Are you kidding?" asked Stormy. "I still don't understand what we're doing in a place as disgusting as this. Everyone's so 'old'."

"It doesn't matter now." Icy tells her. "Sisters, we are here this evening to do a 'good deed'."

"Huh?" asked Darcy and Stormy.

"You remember Lucy?" asked Icy. "She asked if I could help her win the beauty contest."

"She's got bats in the belfry." said Darcy.

"She doesn't need us to win, she needs a miracle." added Stormy.

"Heh-heh. It'll be fun, you'll see." said Icy.

"What did you have in mind?" Darcy asked.

"Well, she wants to win the contest, right?" questioned Icy.

"She wants to be this year's 'Miss Magix'!" said Stormy.

"And she will be! We will make her secret dream come true….and then, we'll smash it to rubble." Icy tells them.

"Whoa."

"We'll cast a spell that will make her irresistible." Icy explained. "And then….as she's crowned Miss Magix, we will break the spell and expose the whole scam. She will be totally humiliated….right there, center stage, before everyone's eyes."

"Wow, Icy! That's brilliant!" said Darcy.

"A wonderfully entertaining evening." chimed Stormy. "Good thinking, sis!"

"I always have good ideas." said Icy, chuckling. "Now, enough talk. Let's get to work. Lucy? You ready?"

"How about this?" Stella asked the Winx.

"Stella, you have to wear the same outfit as everybody else." said Bloom as Zara held one of Stella's outfits in her hands.

"That's the rule." said Tecna.

"I wonder if this is in our size." said Zara, placing it against herself.

"Stella." Flora said as she and Musa walked in. "We've brought everything you need to win."

"Starting with soft and relaxing music to allow the face muscles to loosen up." said Musa, turning on the boombox.

"And then this oil of arrabattola oil and leaves of Rancoficus." said Flora.

"Whatever means of torture you deem appropriate, as long as I become Miss Magix." said Stella, creating a chair.

"You will have the smoothest skin in the whole dimension!" said Flora.

"And your hair will be like gold silk!" added Musa.

"Ah! The things I must bear." Stella sighed happily when suddenly, they heard someone crying.

"What am I going to do now?" the girl asked.

"I'm sure we'll find a solution." her friend said, holding up a mirror.

"What's happened that's so terrible?" asked Bloom.

"Did someone pull a trick on you?" asked Zara.

"A catastrophe." said the friend.

"Look what happened to my hair." the girl cried as she looked up at the twins. "Normally, its straight! I was just walking down the hall when…poof! My whole head of hair puffed up just like that!"

"Wow…." said Zara as Bloom touches the girl's puffed-up hair. "I would understand if this was you and your friends trying to make a fashion trend, but…who would do that to someone else's hair without their permission?"

The girl cried even harder as the twins became uncomfortable in the situation. "What is it?" Stella asked, gasping at the sight.

Bloom and Zara facepalmed themselves as the girl sobbed harder than ever as she ran past the others. "Nice hair….." Icy said as they ran into the sobbing girl. "Congratulations."

The Trix laughed as they made her cry again. "Mph! The usual suspects." said the twins.

"You thinking what I'm thinking?" Zara asked.

"Yep." Bloom said as they headed back towards Stella's room. On stage, a spotlight was shown on the host.

"Ladies and gentlemen, a warm and magic welcome to this year's edition of the one and only: Miss Magix Pageant." said the host. "Tonight, fifteen beautiful young women will battle for the title. We all know the rules: no magic! All curses and spells are strictly prohibited and will lead to disqualification! This contest is a celebration about natural beauty! What could be more enchanting, ladies and gentlemen! And now…here they are!"

Gesturing to the stage behind him, the host introduces the contestants. "Number one, Miss Loni! Followed by…Miss Heidi! Number three, Miss Lesta! Number four, Miss Agween! Number five, Miss Bera! Number six, Miss Stella. Number seven, Miss Lee-Hona. Number eight, Miss Karen. Number nine, Miss Sabatha. Number ten, Miss Lucy."

The audience gasped at Lucy's looks as she walked out on stage. "Ahem! Please, ladies and gentlemen!" said the host.

"We have created a masterpiece." said Icy, proud of their scheme as she, Darcy and Stormy laughed.

"Number fourteen, Miss Neoxis. And number fifteen, Miss Nadia!" the host said, finishing up the introductions. "A warm welcome of applause for all of our contestants."

"Did you hear the audience's reaction when number ten came out?" Stella asked the girls, freaking out a bit. "Ahh! I'll never win."

"Stella, it's only a game." said the twins.

"Yeah, but where's the fun if I don't win?" she asked.

"Remember when we first met, Stella?" Zara asked her, causing the blonde to look up. "You asked about the medals I had in our room back in Gardenia. I won those by participating in marital arts tournaments."

"You were in tournaments?" asked Tecna and Musa as Zara nodded.

"Didn't you get hurt?" asked Flora.

"I did, but I had fun doing those tournaments because I got spar against people from different martial arts schools." Zara tells them before turning to Stella. "It didn't matter to me if I won or lost in the tournament. What matter was that I was happy and having fun because of all the hard work I did."

"Even I was having fun seeing Zara in those tournaments." said Bloom.

"Whether you win or lose in this pageant, you're still a winner in our eyes, Stella." said Zara, placing her hands on her shoulders.

Just then, Lucy walks past the Winx. "Hey! Congratulations!" Bloom said to Lucy. "They like you a lot!"

"Hmph!" scoffed Lucy as she walks away.

"What a strange reaction." said Bloom.

"It seemed cold and rude." said Zara.

"Hmm…" they said, thinking for a moment. "there's something going on here."

"The contestants must also be polite and show some class!" said Stella, regaining composure. "Oops!"

"Ladies and gentlemen, the first event of the evening is the talent competition." the host said to the audience. "Each young woman will demonstrate her particular talents. Beautiful and talented, ladies and gentlemen please welcome contestant number five: Miss Heidi! And her talent is: Athletic-cubica!"

Holographic cubes appeared around Heidi, she starts jumping from square to square, performing some gymnastic skills. "Uh….Icy?" Stormy asked in a dull tone. "This one's actually kind of good."

"Yes…." Darcy said in agreement. "But she should watch where she's going."

Darcy uses magic to interfere with Heidi's act. Just as she somersaults off the last cube for her landing, Heidi landed on the mat which threw her off. In the audience, the Trix were cackling at her misfortune.

"Right. I guess we should move on." said the host. "Uh, our next contestant is….Miss Agween."

Agween walks out onto the stage, showing off model poses, causing Icy to chuckle at this. "I think I'll deal with this one." said Icy. Before Agween did her next pose, Icy freezes her feet, causing her to slip and slide off the stage.

"And now, our next victim….uh…" said the host, reading his clipboard as the Trix laughed hysterically in the audience. "I mean, next contestant….Miss Lesta and her holo-claves!"

Lesta starts juggling her holo-claves and throws them up into the air. She backflips across the stage, catching the holo-claves and continues juggling. "Bravo! Yay!" cheered the audience.

"I don't believe this!" said Stormy as small thunder was heard and lightning went through her hair. "It's like this girl's really asking for it!"

Suddenly, while juggling, Lesta's holo-claves started landing on her head and not in her hands, knocking her out. "A-hem, A-hem um, take her away please." The host said as two men brought out a stretcher. The Trix laughed as Lesta was taken off stage.

"And now, here is Miss Jenny." The host said, introducing the next contestant who then comes out, wearing an elegant evening dress. Jenny was about to sing when suddenly something was stuck in her throat. As the Trix continued to laugh, Jenny had to be dragged off stage, croaking.

"Miss Lee-Hona….and her white doves!" Out of nowhere, Lee-Hona's doves had used her as a bathroom.

"And Miss….Sabatha!" Part of her talent portion, Sabatha was using dogs who were now chasing her as Icy starts cracking up.

"Miss Neoxis…and her rings of…um…"

"Oh!" Neoxis' holo rings encased her body, causing her to fall.

"Miss Karen!" said the host as Karen comes out in a cheerleader uniform and does a cheer.

"Tada!" she said when the floor beneath her crumbled.

"We will now take a short break before resuming the competition." The host said to the audience.

"Yeah, a short break." said Icy. "Or else, I'm gonna have to break his neck."

Once the break was over, the host was back on stage. "Welcome back, ladies and gentlemen." He said to the audience. "And now, a performance from the great ballerina, Miss Lucy."

Lucy walks out on stage, wearing a leotard and ballet shoes. Classical music was playing as Lucy does her ballet dance. Everyone in the audience was admiring her dance. "Oh, Lucy, don't thank us yet….the best is yet to come." said Icy as Lucy looks up at the audience.

"A magnificent performance from Miss Lucy." the host said as he walks up to Lucy. "Bravo! Bravo! And now, next contestant: Miss Stella….and her dance of happiness."

Country music started playing as Stella starts to dance. "Hh! Uh, sisters…." said Icy, as they watched Stella on stage. "This is serious. We've got to do something about this!"

"Yee-ha! Yee-ha!"

Stella starts laughing as she shows them her dance of happiness. Above Stella, ice formed around a light fixture and falls towards her, causing it to crash after she went stage right. Cracks in the ground had formed once again, only for Stella to dodge them.

The Trix growled as Stella dodges every single one that appeared on stage. "The last word hasn't been said yet." said Darcy, glaring at Stella.

"A few comments, please, Miss Stella?" the host asked.

"Yppah yrev ma I. Hh Huh?" Stella said, then became shocked.

"But of course! She can speak backwards." the host said, smiling at Stella. "She said: Absolutely, I'm very happy. We have here a truly gifted young woman."

The Winx cheered as they clapped for Stella. Later on, it was the moment of truth. "And now, for the moment we've all been waiting for: The coronation of this year's Miss Magix!" said the host. "How about a nice round of applause for all of our contestants."

He then opens the envelope to reveal the winner. "And this year's Miss Magix is…Miss Lucy!" he said and the smile from Stella's face disappeared, causing her to glare at Lucy.

Lucy walks towards the host with a smile on her face as she was being crowned Miss Magix. In the audience, Icy thought it was time to reveal Lucy's real appearance. Lucy groaned as Icy finally took the spell off of her, revealing her true appearance.

"Huh?"

The crowd boos at her as Lucy groans looks at the Trix, who then leaves her. Lucy then cries as she ran off the stage. "As a result, title of Miss Magix goes to…." The host said as he reads the next winner. "Contestant number six: Stella, Princess of Solaria."

"Number six?" Stella questioned for a moment. "That's me!"

"Congratulations, Stella!" said the host as they brought out the crown and sash. "You're the most beautiful young woman in the magic dimension."

"Thank you! No word can truly express my joy at this moment." said Stella.

"She did it! She won! Let's celebrate!" said Flora.

"Ahh! What an evening." said Stella as they left. "I'm so happy! We can't just go home. This calls for a celebration! The night is still young and I know this perfect place."

"A-he-ahe-a-hem!" Bloom said, getting Stella's attention as Zara shakes her head.

"Bloom, do you have a sore throat?" Stella asked. "Zara, why are you shaking your head at me like that?"

"Do you have a memory problem?" they asked, crossing their arms.

"We had a deal, girl!" said Bloom. "After the contest….studies. You were supposed to study all night long…."

"You promised us, Stella." said Zara as Stella forgot that she made a promise.

The next day, the Winx were in class with Palladium with Stella wearing sunglasses over her eyes. "All right, let's take it up from where we left off yesterday." said Palladium. "Stella, it's your turn if I'm not mistaken."

"Yes, professor." Stella said as she removed her sunglasses.

"Which of the two tests did you choose to do?" he asked.

"I'd like to continue what Bloom and Zara started." Stella declared.

"Very well." said Palladium, proud that Stella would do this. "You will transform the desolate environment of Domino. Stella, I'm starting the test now."

Domino surrounded Stella as she looks down at what the twins had left behind. "Alright, what can I do to improve things around here?" she asked herself. "Hmm. Let's see. A nice green lawn is always appreciated."

She then takes out several vials from her bag. "Now, I think maybe….but of course." said Stella. "All things considered, I should add some….on the other hand, this is a magic potion for growing giant redwood trees!"

Yawning, Stella takes off the cap and starts pouring. "This should be good for a lawn too." she said, sleepily. "Now, what? Oh yeah….rain!" Stella then brings rain to the simulated version of Domino. "It's not easy to control your own powers…when you've been up all-night studying. Come on, Stella! Maximum concentration. You can do it. Sunshine!"

The clouds cleared away and the sun shines down the barren ground, bringing grass and a few trees to life.

"It works!" said Stella as she walks over to the grass and trees, then looks down. "Yikes! I didn't think that potion was so potent. Help! Help!"

"Ohh!"

Palladium ends the simulation, revealing a wet and disheveled Stella. "Stella, are you alright?" Palladium asked.

"Yes, Professor Palladium." she replied.

"Stella, from what I've seen today, I'd say you weren't really prepared for the test, am I right?" Palladium asked her.

"Yes, professor." said Stella.

"As much as it breaks my heart to see my students fail," he said writing down Stella's grade. "I can't help but give you an 'F', Stella. You didn't do the work! Now, if you want to succeed, better set your shoulder to the wheel….and hurry! Because the longer you wait, the harder it'll be for you to catch up."

"Hear that? You can still do it." said Bloom.

"It'll give you more time to prepare." said Zara when suddenly Stella hugs the twins.

"And anyway, right now, the future doesn't look so bleak!" they said. "Our vacation's about to start!" The Winx cheered as their school vacation was coming up and the twins couldn't wait to get home.

Chapter Text

In Gardenia, the twins were finally home for their break. "So, how long are you two home for?" Vanessa asked the twins. "How many days off did the school give you?"

"Um….1 week." they tell her as Bloom and Zara cut up the carrots.

"Hm…that's not very long." she said.

"We know but it's better than nothing." they said as Vanessa walks over to Bloom and cuts up the carrot she was doing.

"Home economics is not one of best subjects, is it, Bloom?" asked Vanessa.

"She did try though. I give her credit for it" said Zara as Bloom sighed.

"I'll never learn." said Bloom.

"You've both grown over the last few months." said Vanessa, unaware there was smoke starting to come out of the oven.

"You think so?" Bloom and Zara asked their mother.

"Yes." said Vanessa, smiling at the two. "Most definitely." Just then, the twins started smelling something.

"Bloom?" asked Zara.

"Mom, do you smell something burning?" Bloom asked, smelling the smoke.

Vanessa turns back to the stove, seeing that smoke was coming out of the oven. "Oh my!" Vanessa exclaimed as it catches fire. "What a disaster!"

"Mom, no!" Bloom and Zara cried out. "Let us do it!" Zara used her magic to open the oven door while Bloom moves the flames away.

"Watch out." said Vanessa, warning the girls as they clear the smoke and fire.

"Don't worry." Bloom assures her.

"We know what we're doing." added Zara. They raised the fire and smoke above their heads, vanishing it into thin air. Vanessa sighs in relief as she sits down.

"You two are amazing." she said, wiping her brow.

"We only saved the kitchen." said Bloom as Zara nodded.

"You both may not be good cooks, but your powers are stunning." said Vanessa.

"Alfea doesn't offer home eco classes." said Bloom.

"They had us work in the kitchen once." said Zara.

"But on the other hand, it's a great school for fairies." they told Vanessa, hugging her.

Bloom and Zara decided to ride their bikes around Gardenia with the former taking her hands off the handlebars. "Incoming." Zara tells her sister, causing Bloom to look back and grab the handle bars. Pulling up beside them was Mike behind the wheel of the firetruck.

"Hey there, little ones." he said.

"Hi daddy." They said, looking up at him.

"Hi, Bloom! Hi Zara!" said another firefighter.

"Oh, hi!" said Bloom.

"How's it going?" asked Zara.

"See you both at dinner." said Mike as he drives away.

"Yeah, have a good day." said the twins, waving to him. Once at their destination, they got off their bikes and walked them when Mitzi sees them.

"Well, well, well, look who's back." said Mitzi.

"Mitzi." Zara and Bloom exclaimed, seeing her.

"We're here on break." said Bloom.

"On break? From what?" asked Mitzi.

"What do you think?" asked Zara.

"From school." added Bloom.

"We have to go." said the twins, about to get back on their bikes when Mitzi stops them.

"Hey, what's the rush?" Mitzi asked. "Everyone in our class is asking why the two of you left."

"Uh…we switched schools, that's all." they tell her.

"Why? Gardenia High school was too difficult for you two." said Mitzi. "Where did your parents send the two of you anyway? To a school for slow learners?"

"You got it wrong." said Bloom. "It's a college for very special girls."

"Why do you wanna know so much about our school anyway, Miss Nosy pants?" Zara asked her. "Are you planning on gossiping like you always do to everyone in Gardenia? Besides, where Bloom and I go to school is none of your business."

"Ha! I don't believe either of you." said Mitzi. "Just 'special girls'? Sounds like the perfect setup for a scandalous story!"

"Well, then that's your problem, Mitzi." said the twins as they take off.

"Hey!" she called out after them.

"Bye!" they said without looking back.

"Months have passed and Mitzi hasn't changed a bit." said Bloom. "But we feel different."

"I think Mitzi should meet Stella so that she could be taken down a few pegs." said Zara. "However, I do agree about feeling different."

"Alfea has transformed the two of us, nothing will ever be the same again." Bloom said to Zara when suddenly, they start to see something different.

"Hang on a second." they said to each other as they stopped riding. Rubbing their eyes, they noticed that what they were seeing were someone's aura appearing above their bodies.

"That man…." Bloom said.

"No way…." added Zara, her jaw dropping in shock.

"We can see his aura." they both said.

"Okay, it's official." Zara said to Bloom. "All that meditation that I've been doing while we were at Alfea has gone straight to my head."

"I don't think it's getting to your head, Zara." said Bloom. "Because if it's affecting your head, then it's affecting my head too."

They watch the man's aura smell the flowers that an older woman had put out before heading back to his body. "You don't think…?" asked Zara.

"The aura reveals the true nature of people." said Bloom. "We should try this again."

They then look at a woman who was crossing the street and the woman's aura spots them.

"Hey, what are you looking at?" the woman's aura asked. "Don't you know it's rude to stare at people?"

"Sorry! Our apologies." said the twins, then start riding their bikes again.

"I didn't know we had this power, do you?" Bloom asked.

"No. Other than me having a sixth sense, this is a new one." said Zara.

"We can't do that at Alfea, but here, it's a different story." said Bloom.

"It's creepy." said Zara.

"Wow."

They arrived at their mother's flower shop, where a car was waiting out front for someone. The driver looked at the twins as they looked over their shoulders. "Heh-heh." Zara said, giving a nervous laugh as they both walked inside.

"Well, then as we've discussed, we'll meet each other again tomorrow." Vanessa said, shaking the man's hand as the twins walked into the store. "Ah, Bloom, Zara, come here." She then turns back to the businessman. "These are my daughters, Bloom and Zara. And this is Mr. Bonnor and Mr. Brown, my future business partners."

"Hello, how do you do?" Mr. Bonnor and Mr. Brown both asked the girls.

"Nice to meet you." Bloom and Zara replied, then looked at their mother. "Partners?"

"Yes, as of tomorrow, we will officially be partners." said Mr. Bonnor.

"Your mother is about to become the co-owner of a chain of flower shops." Vanessa explained to the girls.

"Oh yes, the greatest opportunity of her life." said Mr. Brown. The twins gasped as they looked at their auras and both were greedy.

"And here's another poor sucker falling headfirst into our trap." said Bonnor's aura.

"She has no idea what's awaiting her." said Brown's aura. Zara grabbed Bloom's hand, fearfully as the two men's auras schemed in front of them. "As soon as the deal is signed, we'll kick her out of this pathetic little flower shop and build a supermarket."

"Oh no." said Bloom, knowing that not only did she and Zara heard what they were really planning, but knew that when Zara grabs her hand, it meant a really bad feeling.

"Well then, see you tomorrow." said Vanessa as she walks the two men out.

"Yeah, see ya." they said as both men left.

"So, what do you both think of your mother as a business woman?" Vanessa asked.

"Uh…" Bloom said, then walks over to a box of flowers. "Do these go on the shelf?"

"Do you need me to create bouquets?" asked Zara.

"Yes to both, but there's no rush." said Vanessa as the youngest twin walks over to help her sister. "Honeys, is something bothering you?"

"Where did you find those two?" Bloom asked as she and Zara placed the flowers they had on the shelf.

"I didn't find them." Vanessa said. "They're the ones who found the shop. They're two businessmen who work for a large company. Now tell me what's wrong, both of you."

"Mom, Zara and I can see people's auras." admitted Bloom.

"Those two men have really bad auras." admitted Zara. "We all know how I am when it comes to my sixth sense."

"What….what do you mean?" asked Vanessa. "I don't understand."

"We can see how people really are, deep inside." explained Zara and Bloom.

"Go on." Vanessa encourage them.

"Well, these two men…." Bloom began to say.

"Mr. Brown and Mr. Bonnor." said Vanessa.

"They want to trick you, Mom." said Bloom as Zara nodded.

"They have bad intentions for the shop." said Zara.

"Don't trust them." they advised her.

"But they seem like two people who really know what they're doing." assured Vanessa.

"It's a trap, they're con men." said the girls.

"Well, how can I be sure?" questioned Vanessa.

"You have to believe in us and our powers." said Bloom. "That's all."

"Please, mom." begged Zara. Just then, the three of them heard honking from outside and looked out the window, watching the man wave as they left.

"Vanessa, I don't understand why you've changed your mind." said Mr. Bonnor.

"A minute ago, you were ready to go for it." said Mr. Brown.

"What happened?" asked Mr. Bonnor. "We thought we had a deal."

"Uh, nothing happened." Vanessa tells the men. "I just realized that I'm happy with the way things are right now."

The twins smiled as their mother explained it to the two men. "Way to go mom." they thought as they gave each other a side hug.

"Please, take an extra day to consider the offer." said Mr. Bonnor. "We'll come back tomorrow and discuss it further."

"That won't be necessary." said Vanessa. "My mind is made up. I want to keep my business as it is."

Mr. Bonnor glared at Vanessa, growling as Mr. Brown spoke up. "Listen, lady, accidents happen. You know what I mean?" he asked.

"My decision is final." said Vanessa, standing her ground.

"Very well." said Mr. Bonnor as both auras appeared before the twins. "But, uh….as I said…Whoops." Mr. Brown knocks over a plant that was on the desk as Vanessa and the twins gasped.

"The Amona maximum." said Vanessa.

"How clumsy of me." said Mr. Brown as the two auras laughed.

"You'll regret it. You're throwing away a wonderful opportunity." said Mr. Bonnor as he and Mr. Brown left the store.

"Goodbye, gentlemen." said Vanessa. Bloom and Zara used their magic to clean up the mess that was left behind.

"Thanks, Bloom, Zara." said Vanessa, hugging them. They then went to the park for ice cream. The twins were making the best of their break as they spent time with their parents.

Kiko and Lavender were even enjoying the break by surprising them from popping out of the rose bush. One night as the twins were sleeping, Vanessa and Mike stood at their door, watching them with smiles on their faces. The next day at the flower shop, Vanessa was telling the twins what was going on.

"And that's exactly how it happened." Vanessa tells them as the girls giggled. Suddenly, the window breaks as a brick was thrown in. Bloom and Zara held the brick as they used a spell, changing it into a sponge. Bloom then uses it, fixing the window with magic, making it look good as new.

Vanessa laughs as they looked over at her. "Bloom, could you and Zara take out the vase with the Lang Musi?" Vanessa asked.

"Alright." they said as Bloom carries the vase out with Zara close behind her. Out on the sidewalk, two men on a motorbike went towards the twins with the second men holding a baseball bat in his hand.

Once Bloom had set down the vase and Zara spruced up the flowers a bit, they headed back inside when the two men drove up. The man with the bat breaks the vase as the driver goes past the shop.

"Oh!" they exclaimed as they see the broken vase on the sidewalk then fixes it. Standing to their feet, Bloom and Zara looked around to make sure no one other than Vanessa was watching as they smiled.

"I hope these two crooks don't come back." said Vanessa.

"Yeah, well, so do I." said Bloom.

"Same here." said Zara.

"But we wouldn't count on it." they told Vanessa. "They're obviously very determined."

As mother and daughters approached the door, Vanessa notices something. "Bloom, Zara, look." she said, just before placing the key into the door.

"Why? What's wrong?" they asked, concerned.

"The doors have been forced opened." said Vanessa, opening the doors and walked in. "Oh no!"

Vases were smashed as flowers were strewn all over the floor. "How awful!" said the twins.

"I don't believe this." said Vanessa as she picks up a pink rose from the floor. "It's like we've been hit by a tornado."

"And we'd say we've been hit by Mr. Bonnor and Mr. Brown." said Bloom as Zara nodded.

"I despise those men." said Zara.

"We don't know for sure." Vanessa tells the twins. "It could have been some burglars."

Bloom and Zara opened up the cash register, seeing that the money was still in the drawer. "Burglars who didn't take any money?" asked Bloom.

"You know, burglars would normally go for the cash rather than still leaving it in the register." said Zara.

"Mom, they're just trying to scare you." they tell her. "Aura's never lie you know."

"We have to report them to the police." Mike said as they got home from the shop, after telling him what happened. "We can't let them get away with this."

"Yes, but I can't prove that it was them." said Vanessa.

"I know, but something's got to be done." said Mike. "We can't just stand around….ah, I burned myself."

"Careful dad." said Bloom and Zara, turning to him.

"Listen, there's no point in getting upset." Vanessa said, walking to her husband. "What's done is done."

"We'll hook up an alarm in the shop." said Mike. "And we'll do this first thing tomorrow. I'm going to bed. Good night, Bloom. Good night, Zara."

Bloom raised a wet dish from the sink, seeing her and Zara's reflections in it, wondering what they should do. Zara was feeling the same thing. "I'm going too. See you in the morning." Vanessa said to them.

"Good night mom." they said as she left the kitchen.

"I have a strange feeling." said Bloom.

"You're not the only one who's feeling it." said Zara. "They'll be back tonight….I'm sure of it."

That night as they went to bed, the twins were worried as they started tossing and turning. "The shop." Bloom said in her sleep.

"Stay away from the shop." said Zara.

"Mother's shop." Bloom said.

"No…..no…." Zara moaned.

"It's….on…" they said and suddenly woke up. "Fire!" Their screams woke up a frightened Kiko and terrified Lavender.

"Bloom, Zara, you were both shouting." said Vanessa as she and Mike ran to their room.

"Is everything okay?" asked Mike. "Did you both have a nightmare?"

"No, dad….everything's not okay." said Zara.

"We had a vision." Bloom tells him as both girls got out of bed. "We have to go to the shop, something's happening."

Mike takes them to the shop, and once outside, they see that the store was on fire. Vanessa and the twins gasped while Mike was on the phone. "And please, try to get here asap." he said. "The situation is very serious."

"How could this be?" Vanessa asked as her shop was burning. "Oh Mike."

"My men will be soon, sweetheart." said Mike, hugging her. "Don't worry. The fire will soon be put out, you'll see."

"Soon might be too late." said Bloom as she and Zara walked to the store. "We have to act now."

Mike saw where they were going, then grabs them by their arms. "Bloom, Zara, no! My squad is on its way." he said.

"If we don't stop the fire now, there won't be anything left to save." said the twins, looking up at their father. "We have to do something."

"But there's nothing the two of you can do." said Mike.

"Yes, there is." they told him. "We're fairies."

"Very well, then." Mike said, giving in. "But I'm going in there with you."

"Wouldn't have it any other way." said Zara as the girls smiled.

"And this….this barrier…" Mike said as the twins combined their magic together, creating a blue and orange barrier around them. "protects us from the flames?"

"Yes, let's move towards the middle of the room." Bloom said as Zara kept up her side of the barrier.

"Are you afraid?" he asked the girls.

"No." replied Bloom and Zara, determined as they stared into the fire. Together, they had a vision of their father's squad putting out a fire.

[Vision]

"Hey!" Mike said to his squad as he ushers them into the building and puts on his hat. Once inside the building, he hears a set of identical cries.

"There's a couple babies here!" Mike shouted as he ran to the cries. "The crying is coming from over here."

He rushes over and sees the twins, wrapped in not only a shared blanket but a blue and orange barrier as well. As Mike looks at them, the twins looked up and gave a small laugh, cooing at him.

"Don't be afraid little girls." Mike said as he picks them up. "You're both in my arms now."

Bloom pretends to hit his nose while Zara pokes him in his cheek.

[Vision ends]

Bloom and Zara remained calm as they looked at the fire around them. "Somebody, help me!" a man called out, coughing from the smoke.

"Bloom, Zara, listen." said Mike, pointing in the direction of the coughing.

"Help!"

"There's a man, there on the floor." Mike said, showing them. There on the floor, was the driver underneath a beam.

"Dad….we've seen this man before." said the twins. "He's Mr. Brown and Mr. Bonnor's driver."

"Stay calm, sir. We'll save you." Mike said, taking off his jacket and reaches out to him.

"Thank you." coughed the driver as he reaches for Mike. Mike walks past the twins, taking them outside.

"You can go, dad. Zara and I'll take care of everything." said Bloom as Zara nodded.

"Go!" said Zara.

"Be careful, both of you." he said, taking the driver out of the shop. Bloom and Zara were back-to-back, raised their hands up separating the flames. As the flames dies down and leaving only smoke behind, they heard sirens outside.

"Good, here they are at last." said Bloom as Zara smiled in relief.

As Mike's fire squad puts out the remaining fire, the twins stood outside with their parents and the driver. "Good work, you guys." said Mike, praising his squad.

"I don't know how to thank you." the driver said to the twins as Vanessa hands him some water. "You both saved my life."

"What were you doing in the shop?" the twins asked.

"I started the fire, but the situation got out of hand," the driver explained. "and then I got trapped by the flames."

"Tell me, did Mr. Brown and Mr. Bonnor send you to do this?" Vanessa asked.

"Yes, you didn't want to sign the contract." answered the driver. "And so, they wanted to teach you a lesson."

"See? But this time, their tactics have backfired." Mike said to the driver. "You're in trouble my friend."

"Yes, but I'm not going to take all the blame. I'll tell the police the whole story. I'll tell them everything about Brown and Bonner." said the driver, knowing that what he did was wrong. Bloom and Zara wiped their foreheads while Vanessa looks away. "How they scam and threaten people in order to take over their businesses. Then they turn these small shops into something more profitable, like a supermarket. Believe me, I'm sorry."

"We know." said the twins as they looked at the driver's aura, showing that he was truly remorseful. "We can see that."

"This is unbelievable." Mitzi said the next morning. "Those two pests have become a set of celebrities!" She continues to rant and rave while throwing her pillow around until she stops in front of her tv. "Why look at them?! It's sickening. I can't stand it!"

"With the money I'll get from the insurance, I'll be able to make the shop even bigger than it was." said Vanessa.

"And we'll get the best alarm system money can buy." said Mike, spreading jam on his toast.

"I'm sure we will." Vanessa said in agreement.

"Hey, don't make fun of me." Mike tells her. "I worry about you."

"I know, I know." she said.

"Bloom, Zara, aren't the two of you hungry?" Mike asked, seeing that they haven't had any food in front of them. "Remember, heroes have to eat to."

"Honeys, is there something bothering the two of you?" questioned Vanessa.

"Yes, mom. There is something." they said after glancing at each other.

"What is it?" asked Mike.

"During the fire….we had a sort of vision." said Bloom. "We saw you, dad. Saving two newborn babies from a fire."

"They even had a protective orange and blue barrier around them." said Zara. "Like our magic." Vanessa and Mike looked at each other, seeing that the twins knew something.

"What?" they asked, seeing the looks they had on their faces. "What is it? What did we say?"

"Yes, Mike." Vanessa finally said after several minutes. "I think it's time we told them. The girls need to know."

"Know what?" Bloom and Zara asked.

"The truth, darlings." said Mike. "The two babies you saw….those babies were you."

Zara and Bloom gasped at the revelation. "16 years ago, I saved you both from a fire." Mike tells them.

"A fire?" asked Bloom as she held onto Zara, who was trying to process this. "How did Zara and I end up in a fire?"

"Why were Bloom and I even in a fire?" asked Zara.

"We have no idea." said Vanessa. "Your father found you both there."

"It was a true miracle." added Mike. "The flames were like, keeping away from the two of you. It was if the fire respected you and protected you both. I don't know how you both got in that building, but the two of you were alone. And yet, Bloom and Zara, you two were so calm."

"We knew right then and there that you two were a very special set of children." said Vanessa.

"Then….this means…." said Bloom and Zara as tears welled up in their eyes. "That we're not your daughters. You adopted us, why didn't you ever tell us?"

"We were going to, girls." said Mike. "We always intended to tell you the truth, as soon as you both were old enough to understand. But then, everything changed: fairies, ogres, magic realms. I mean, everything became so crazy and then there was no time for anything anymore."

"We never wanted to hide things from you, Bloom and Zara." Vanessa said to the twins. "You are the two most important persons in our lives. The two of you mean everything to us. Bloom, Zara, we've loved you from the very start. We could never stop loving you."

"Sweetheart, duckling, we love you both so very much." said Mike as he joins in on the hug.

"We love you too and to us, you'll always be the best parents in the world." said Bloom and Zara, hugging their parents.

After the break, Zara and Bloom went back to Alfea, only for them to sadly lay in their beds. They reflected on the memories they had with their adoptive parents. "Bloom, Zara, cheer up." said Musa.

"Musa's right. What happened to you both is one of the most beautiful things in the world." said Flora. "Adopting a baby is a great act of unselfish love. Especially if that baby has a twin sibling."

"That is totally logical." said Tecna.

"You're both lucky girls." said Musa. "And that why you both gotta smile."

"We know, Musa, we know." said Bloom as she sits up and Zara flips down from her bed. "Our parents are amazing."

"So, Bloom and Zara, what are you two planning on doing now?" Stella asked.

"Well… Zara and I plan on getting some answers." said Bloom. "Why wasn't the two of us hurt by the flames?"

"Second question: Who are our real parents?" Zara asked.

"And who are we?" they then asked.

"You absolutely sure you want to find out the whole truth?" Tecna asked the twins.

"I don't think we have a choice." said Bloom.

"We need to know what's been hidden from us all this time." said Zara.

"Your search could be long and difficult." said Flora. "As well as painful."

"What would you do if you were us?" asked the twins.

"Bloom, Zara, I'm only saying this for your own good." said Flora. "I don't want either of you to suffer."

"Thank you, Flora." said Zara and Bloom. "But at this point, we could never go back."

"Zara and I both want to find out everything about our past, now more than ever." Bloom said.

"And I'm curious to know about the redheaded twins I saw in that one book I showed you." said Zara. "They could be our ancestors."

"Your right, Zara." said Bloom.

"And we'll all be right there, with you." Stella said, assuring them. "After all, sticking my nose in other people's business is my favorite sport. You know, I just love gossip."

"Oh boy." said Zara, smiling.

"Really? Who would have thought?" asked Musa.

"Will you all help us?" Bloom and Zara asked.

"Of course." said Flora.

"Absolutely." said Stella.

"By all means." said Tecna.

"You have our word." said Musa. "Word of…."

"Winx!"

Chapter Text

At Cloudtower, Griffin was teaching a class. "Come on, Mirta. I've asked you a simple question." said Griffin.

"On the…um….on the first on of the full moon, we shouldn't cast spells of, uh transformation because light rays from the moon can create negative interference which could cause unwanted and permanent changes." said Mirta.

"Very good." Griffin said, a little proud of her. "But you seemed a little hesitant. A good witch needs to be confident."

"Psst!" A witch was trying to get Lucy's attention. "Miss Magix, where's your tiara?"

Mirta felt bad for Lucy as the other witches laughed, despite warning her about what would actually happen. "Look at her. She's hideous." another witch said, commenting about Lucy's appearance.

At Alfea, one of the fairies screamed. "Well done, Judith. You get an 'A'. Bloom, it's your turn." said Faragonda as Zara stood next to her. Zara had gone before Judith so now she was critiquing with Faragonda. Above Bloom, a red rose was in a bubble.

She then turns on the lights and Bloom went for it. Bloom screamed as she fell but looked up to see the spotlights about to touch the bubble. Bloom then flies up and grabs the bubble filled rose, then heads back towards Faragonda and her sister.

Suddenly, just like she did to Zara, Faragonda created a water filled umbrella. Bloom looks up, screamed and fires an orange energy ball at it, causing it to disappear. The others cheered for Bloom as Zara looks up at Faragonda.

"Settle down, girls. And like your sister, excellent performance, Bloom." Faragonda tells her. "Return to your seat. Next please."

"I swear, I think she only did it because we have fire as an element." said Zara as Bloom looked over and smiled.

Out in Magix, Brandon and Xander laughed at what the twins were telling them. "And since Xander and I are such wonderful guys, we both went with him." said Brandon.

"Only after you guilt tripped me into going." said Xander.

"And…." Brandon said, about to continue when he and Xander looked at the twins messing around with their bowls of ice cream. "Bloom, what's wrong? Is it something Xander and I said?"

"It's not you or Xander, Brandon." Bloom said.

"Zara, are you okay?" asked Xander, concerned.

"I'm fine, Xander." Zara assures him.

"We were just thinking about our parents." said Bloom as Zara nodded. "It's just that…we both feel so insecure. There's so many questions left unanswered."

"To which I have created a list for us to actually ask Daphne the next time she pops into our dreams." said Zara.

"The only thing that we've both feel sure of is you and the Winx." they both said.

"Well then, let's see if we can answer some of your questions." said the boys, causing Zara to look between them.

"It's just that the two of us want to know everything." said Bloom.

"Where we come from." said Zara.

"Why we possess all these powers." said Bloom

"These are really good questions." said Brandon as Xander placed a hand on Zara's, giving her a smile.

"You see….the thing is, Zara and I think that the answers are in Cloudtower." said Bloom. "If only we could have access to their archives."

"Well, that shouldn't be too hard." said Brandon.

"How? I don't want to go look at their archives again, especially without Griffin spying on us." said Zara, then shivered. "I prefer that she didn't spy on us to be honest."

"I understand that." said Xander.

"If you both want, Xander and I can give you a hand." suggested Brandon.

"It's risky." said Bloom and Zara.

"Hey, what are friends for?" asked Brandon and Xander.

At Red Fountain, Brandon and Xander spoke to Timmy. "Well, you could use your windriders." said Timmy.

"But we're talking about very high altitude here." said Brandon.

"Not to mention the lightning that could short out our windriders." said Xander.

"Just ride close to the wall and zigzag all the way up." Timmy said, showing it on the blueprint of Cloudtower.

"And don't worry, Sky. Xander and I will be careful." said Brandon.

"I know you'll both be careful." said Sky. "But that's not the point. Accidents happen and, in this case, Brandon, an accident would result in a 300 ft free fall."

"Listen, we told Bloom and Zara that we would help them." Brandon said. "And we'll do it. They need us."

"We're not going to go back on our word." said Xander.

"Whatever." said Sky. "Just don't say I didn't warn you two."

"I know, dude." said Xander, lightly punching Sky's arm.

"Well, do you want to go over the stuff again?" Timmy asked, holding the blueprint.

Around the corner, Riven was listening to the whole conversation. "Well, well. I know someone who will be pleased to know this." said Riven as he walks out to make contact with a certain Trix. "Darcy!"

"Riven!" said Darcy. "What do you want?"

"I've got something for you." he tells her.

"Good, very good." Darcy said, pleased for what he was about to tell her. That night, Bloom and Zara were laying in their beds while their friends were sleeping. Suddenly, they heard someone knocking on the window.

"Huh?"

Bloom opens the door to the balcony and both girls peered outside. No one was on the balcony but….Brandon and Xander appeared a ways from it, causing the twins to gasp. "Hi!" they both said to the twins.

"Sorry if we scared you." said Brandon. "Xander and I had to sneak in."

"Good thing." said Bloom as Zara nodded. "Imagine if Griselda had gotten her claws on you two."

"It wouldn't be a pretty sight for ya." said Zara.

"We have to hurry. Hop on." said Brandon.

"Uh, now?" they asked.

"Well, a round trip might take a while." Brandon said. "We better get a move on."

"Anyway, why put off till tomorrow what you can do today?" asked Xander.

"Right?" they asked.

"Do you think three short minutes would jeopardize the mission?" Bloom asked.

"I don't think so." the boys said. "Why?"

"Cause we're still in our jammies." said Bloom.

"You're lucky that you're both cute." said Zara. The four of them laughed as the twins changed.

That night, Mirta was in her room with Lucy, trying to coax her out. "No way." Lucy told her. "After what happened at the Miss Magix contest, I refuse to show my face in public." Mirta sighed in defeat. "You go, Mirta. I just want to be left alone, all right?"

"You're being too hard on yourself." Mirta tells Lucy. "After all, it wasn't your fault. Icy, Darcy and Stormy pulled a cruel trick on you. You should avoid them. You've changed, Lucy. I hardly recognize you anymore."

"No, you don't understand, Mirta." said Lucy. "I want to be like them. I want to be part of the gang. I don't want to be consider a loser like you. Always picked on and put down. or else you get ignored. I'm sick and tired of being a nobody like you, Mirta."

Tears formed in Mirta's eyes as Lucy said these things to her. "I want to be part of the Trix." Lucy declared. "Do me a favor, stop telling me what to do, alright?"

"Lucy…" said Mirta, tearfully. "Why are you doing this to me?"

"Give it to you straight, Mirta." she said. "I think you're pathetic, and I don't want to be like you." Lucy walks out of their room in a huff, leaving a now sadden Mirta behind.

"Oh, those stupid Trix!" shouted Mirta. "Since she's been hanging out with them, Lucy's like totally mean. I've had it with those harpies!" She headed out of her room and out to one of the towers. "I've waited long enough. I've got to turn things around. Lucy and I have been friends forever, I won't let those crazy girls lead her down the wrong path. Soria back on Valant in parry jubila."

The wind blew around her as she tries to cast her spell. "Come on, Mirta. Focus on the Trix." she said to herself, trying to summon up more power. "You can do it, girl. Soria back on Valant in parry jubila."

Mirta was finally able to create a one-way window to spy on the Trix. "Sisters, this is my new plan." said Icy as Mirta watches in shock. "We'll tell Bloom and Zara a lie that will strike them with terror. Then, we'll go and comfort the two and rip the powers right out of their hearts."

Mirta couldn't believe what she had heard as Icy laughs hysterically. "Oh, no!" said Mirta. "This is terrible. I gotta find those girls. The Trix have turned Lucy against me. I'll repay them in kind. I'll warn Bloom and Zara and expose them as the liars they are. Bininat Volam Esra Aviata!"

Not far from Cloudtower, Brandon and Xander rode their windriders across the water with Bloom and Zara hanging on tight. "We're almost there, girls." said Brandon. "Hang on tight."

"This is better than the tunnels!" said Zara as she held onto Xander. Cloudtower was in site as the boys followed Timmy's suggestion.

"Watch out, girls." the boys shouted over the wind. "One little slip and its game over."

Once they were over Cloudtower, Bloom and Zara took off their helmets. Suddenly, electricity came up from Cloudtower, then splits, knocking both windriders out from the sky.

"Bloom, are you okay?" asked Brandon.

"What about you, Zara?" asked Xander.

"Yeah, I'm fine." replied Bloom.

"Same here." answered Zara, brushing her hair away from her face.

"What was that?" They asked the boys as fog surrounded the school.

"They don't need anti-aircraft artillery here." said Brandon. "At this height, all they need to do is destabilize us. Well, they don't know who they're dealing with. Hold on tight."

He and Xander started landing their windriders as lightning goes through both bikes. Bloom and Zara scream as they headed down. Soon enough, both windriders crashed into concrete separating the twins from the boys.

Zara and Bloom looked over the edge, feeling the wind blow in their faces. "Bloom, Zara, is everything alright?" Brandon asked, walking over to them with Xander. "Were you scared?"

"No, believe it or not, I wasn't." said Bloom.

"But I'm definitely don't want Cloudtower wind in my face anytime soon." said Zara, looking up at Xander.

"You just have to embrace it. Think of it as a free facial!" said Xander.

"If by 'Free facial' you mean a frozen slap to the face, then yes, I'm fully embracing it!" Zara tells him.

"I tell you; Timmy's cool." Brandon said to the twins. "He managed to integrate a map of Cloudtower into our GPS system."

"He could probably out do Tecna if we had them side by side." said Xander.

"Great, no getting lost now." said Bloom.

"I wish Tecna did that the last time we were here." said Zara. The GPS led them to the archives.

"This is it. The archives are right behind that door." said Bloom.

"And to some answers." said Zara.

"Bloom…. Zara …." said the boys.

"Think about it. Are you both sure you want to do this?" asked Brandon.

"You don't know if you'll like what you find." said Xander.

"We need to know the truth, you guys." said the twins.

They opened the door to the archives and walked inside. "Things have changed since Zara and I were here." said Bloom. "I'm not sure where to look."

"It looks like they redid the archives." said Zara. "It's going to be hard to find that book."

"Hey, come look at this." Brandon said, finding a glowing book and flips through its pages.

"No way…it can't be." said Xander.

"It is, don't you remember?" Brandon asked. "It's one of the legendary lost books which are said to contain an answer to every possible question."

"The lost books?" asked Bloom and Zara. "We didn't think they really existed."

"Well, here it is." said Brandon. "Ask your question."

"You should ask the question, Bloom." said Zara, causing Bloom to smile.

"My sister and I want to know who we really are." said Bloom.

The book then shows the two girls, three elderly witches and the now frozen planet of Domino. They then see themselves as newborns before the three witches. "Oh, Brandon." gasped Bloom.

"Xander." said Zara, stepping away from the book.

"What it is?" Brandon asked.

"What is the book telling you?" asked Xander.

"What did you both see?" they asked.

"We…we…" they stammered. "We are the reincarnations of the three prime evil witches." The boys held their hands as they continued to see what the book was telling them. "As soon as we both become true fairies, they'll take possession of us."

"No, you?" they asked as they backed away. "The evil ancestors? It can't be."

"Please, Brandon, Xander. Don't just stand there." said Bloom.

"You've got to help us." said Zara.

"Brandon? Xander?" asked the twins when the two boys didn't say anything. "Brandon? Xander? What can we say? We didn't want this. It's just…it's our fate. That's the way things are."

Brandon and Xander looked at each other before walking over to the twins. "It's not our fault." said Zara and Bloom. "Please, take us back to Alfea."

The next morning after Brandon and Xander had dropped them off, Stella was getting ready for the day when suddenly someone was knocking at her door. "Coming!" she called out as the person at her door continued to knock. "Yes, yes, just a sec. Ulch! Am I that late?"

Stella opens the door, revealing Flora. "That's not why I'm here." said Flora, walking into Stella's room and sits on her bed. "The twins never came back last night."

"Oh really?" asked Stella.

"Well, we looked high and low. Bloom and Zara are nowhere to be found." said Tecna, walking into Stella's room with Musa. "Usually, we would see Zara doing some stretches or something with her bo staff while she's waiting for Bloom."

"We even talked to Brandon and Zara." said Musa, sitting on the floor. "They said they've brought the twins back here last night. Thing is, they've never entered the building. We've got to go out and look for them."

Out in the woods, Bloom and Zara woke up under a huge pile of leaves near a tree. Not far from them were Kiko and Lavender, sleeping under some weeds. One of the weed's leaves was tickling Kiko to the point where he gets up and starts attacking it.

"Oh!" Kiko said, thinking that it was a monster.

"Eh!" said Lavender, pulling on his ear as though telling him that it wasn't a monster.

Rubbing their eyes, the girls looked around at their surroundings. "Morning already?" Bloom asked. "And we haven't even made it to Magix yet."

"I thought we would at least be on the outskirts of Magix, but I guess not." said Zara.

"I know. We need to get there, otherwise we'll put the whole dimension in danger." said Bloom and they started heading towards Magix.

At the forest surrounding Cloudtower, Mirta was on a mission to find Bloom and Zara to tell them about the Trix. "According to my emo images, I shouldn't be too far." Mirta said. Suddenly, she hears something rustling behind her. "Oh, I felt something. Maybe it's them."

Mirta then runs and hides behind a tree. "Hey, who's hiding there?" Bloom and Zara called out and sees Mirta hiding. "Who are you?"

"Hi, um, I'm Mirta." she said, introducing herself.

"Hi, my name is Bloom."

"And my name is Zara."

"I know." said Mirta, a little shocked on how identical Bloom and Zara were.

"You do?" they asked.

"I'm confused." said Zara.

"I've been looking for you two." Mirta tells them. "There is something very important you need to know. The Trix have tricked both of you."

Through the forest, the Trix started a fire in hopes of blaming Bloom and Zara. Pepe follows them, imitating the Trix as though he had magic powers. "Stop showing off, Stormy." Darcy scolded her. "If you keep doing that, you'll set the whole forest on fire."

"Quack, quack, quack, quack, quack, quack, quack, quack, quack!" Pepe chimed in, telling her what he thinks of her.

Stormy ignores her and fires lighting at her feet. "Hey!" shouted Darcy, getting knocked back by Stormy. "You out of your mind?"

"Sorry. An ugly little creature was squirming at your feet." said Stormy.

"Ahem, sisters!" said Icy, walking ahead of them. "Let me remind you that we're looking for Bloom and Zara. Yelling is not part of the plan."

"Sorry, Icy." said Darcy and Stormy as Pepe feels the lightning go through his body.

"We've got a situation here." Tecna said to the other Winx. "We got to do something ASAP."

"Right, so the only way to find Bloom and Zara now is through our powers." said Flora.

"Right!" said the others and went into fairy form.

"Now, let's get down to business." said Stella as Tecna, Musa and Flora looked at her. "So, which way are we going?"

"Easy. Something has seen Bloom and Zara walk through here and we're standing right on it." said Flora as she looks down.

"The grass?" questioned Tecna.

"Smart thinking, Flora." said Stella.

"Golden Pollen!" said Flora, spreading the pollen away from Alfea. As Tecna, Musa and Stella were shocked in happiness, the pollen created an arrow in the grass, pointing them towards the forest. "Look everybody, Bloom and Zara went that way. Grassy fields have an excellent memory."

"I'll generate an ultrasonic wave to probe to probe the area." said Musa and releases a sound wave from her body. "Scanning complete."

"And now, I'll analyze the data." said Tecna, analyzing Musa's ultrasonic wave and brings up a digital imprint of the forest. "Alright, got it. The probe detected a couple of life forms, right here. The two dots represent Bloom and Zara."

"Whoo!" exclaimed Stella. "And now it's time to put in my two cents worth through my sparkling beauty and sunny disposition. Ha-ha-ha! We shall see the light!"

"Now I feel invaded." Tecna mumbled to herself before turning to Stella. "You done yet? You going to do it or what?"

"Of course!" said Stella and takes flight. "Rising sun! I'm shining light over the whole dark forest. See? I do have good ideas once in a while. I knew you need my help one of these days. I'm so beautiful and totally essential."

The others laugh as they take off to find Bloom and Zara in the dark forest. "You understand, Bloom? Zara?" Mirta asked them. "It was just a cruel trick."

"I'm so confused." Bloom said. "Who are Zara and I? Why do we possess these powers?"

"Are we supposed to have powerful powers?" Zara asked as Lavender curls up in her lap. Kiko, sitting not far from Bloom, was chewing on a piece of plant. Suddenly, Kiko looks up and sees something coming towards them, causing him to freak out.

"You want to know why you have these powerful powers, do you?" Icy asked as the Trix approached Bloom, Zara and Mirta. "Well, they'll soon be ours so the two of you won't have to worry about it much longer." She then spots Mirta with them. "Ah, I've see you've got company. The little witch who transforms emotions into images. Two of you make a really cute couple. However, the three of you are losers."

"You've played my sister and I for a couple of fools." said Bloom.

"It's you who are the losers, Icy." said Zara.

"You're mean." said Bloom.

"And don't forget just pure evil." said Zara.

"Mean? Uh-huh." said Icy. "Try diabolical."

"I could also use devilish, unholy, infernal and demonic, to describe your attitude." said Zara. "But then again, we are using the word diabolical now."

Mirta looks back as Icy was just about to attack. "That's enough, you bully." said Stella, arriving with the others. "Let's have a fair fight."

Stormy creates a tornado, sending towards the Winx, causing them to scatter. "Let it go, sis." said Darcy. "Don't waste your energy." As Darcy tries to use her magic on the Winx but ended up hitting holograms. "Trying to fool the queen of dark magic with pathetic illusionary effect?"

Just then, Stormy gasps and groans in anger. "Bad trick from a bad witch." said Darcy.

Mirta hides behind Bloom and Zara, hoping that nothing would become bad for her. "It's payback time, little Mirta." said Icy. "And it's going to hurt."

Dawn and Bloom hugged Mirta as Icy covered them in ice. "Now, all we have to do is destroy that little ice sculpture and rip the powers right out of the twins' hearts." Icy said to Darcy and Stormy. "Its…"

Before Icy could finish her sentence, Stella gets her in the neck with sun magic. "Who's that little girl?" Stella asked, spotting Mirta behind the twins. "Leave them alone!"

The Trix groaned as they push themselves off the ground. Stella then uses sunlight to melt away the ice surrounding Bloom, Mirta and Zara as well as Kiko and Lavender who were caught in the crossfire.

"You pesky little gnats!" shrieked Icy. "Oh, I hate you!"

"Oh, the feeling's mutual, Icy!" Zara called out to the Trix.

"You won't win this time!" said Mirta.

"Chill out, sister." said Stormy. "I'll settle this for you in a minute." Stormy goes after the Winx, creating two tornadoes in the air and ties them up in rope.

"No!" screamed Bloom and Zara as they both went into their fairy forms. Just before the twins could save their friends, Stormy knocks them out of the sky with a couple of energy balls.

"Bloom! Zara!" Mirta cried out as Icy and Darcy laughed. The Winx struggled against their binds as the two tornadoes circled around them. The Trix continued to laugh as their victory was almost near.

Mirta stood up, angry that the Trix was doing this to the twins and their friends. Using her magic, Mirta created a monster that appeared behind the Trix, hoping to put fear into their bones.

Icy and Darcy became scared while the tornadoes and rope bind disappear. "Oh! She broke my concentration!" Stormy complained as she turned to Icy and Darcy.

"That's not smart! This is it, Mirta!" shouted Icy as she balled up her fists. "I've had it with you! You're a pain in the neck! You're a bothersome! You're a little….oh a bothersome little….pumpkin?"

The Trix saw a cartoon pumpkin on Mirta's shirt, then had an idea. "Why not?" Icy asked, smirking. Mirta was scared at what Icy was coming up with. Icy then casts her spell on Mirta as the Winx watched in terror.

"No!" screamed Bloom and Zara, watching Icy transform Mirta into a pumpkin that was on her shirt. The Trix laughed at Mirta the pumpkin when suddenly they looked at Bloom and Zara. The twins were now angry, orange and blue fires started to surround their bodies.

Growling in anger, Bloom and Zara unleashed the two dragons from their bodies, aiming them into the sky. On the ground, Pepe was fighting against Kiko and Lavender when Pepe looks up.

"Mommy!" cried Pepe as he ran off.

"Huh?" Kiko asked, watching Pepe run away from them as Lavender made a confused face.

Tecna, Stella, Flora and Musa were now on the ground, looking at each other. "Hey, we're back to normal." commented Stella.

"What an amazing burst of power." said Flora.

"Where's Bloom and Zara?" asked Musa.

"They've disappeared." said Tecna, looking around as she rubbed her head.

"Not again!" whined Stella as she faceplants into the ground.

"Yoo-hoo! We're over here!" said the twins as they waved their arms from the bushes.

"Bloom! Zara!" Tecna cried out as they went over to the bushes.

"Great to see you again, girls." said Bloom.

"How's it going?" asked Zara.

"What in the world did the two of you do to the witches?" Tecna asked.

"Don't worry, Tecna. They got their just desserts." they replied as Flora walks over to Mirta.

"Who was that little girl?" Flora asked, hovering over her.

"That's Mirta." said Bloom. "She helped Zara and I."

"There's nothing we can do for her right now." said Flora, saddened by what the Trix did to Mirta. "Icy's spell was black magic."

"Maybe we can find a way to break that spell." suggested Musa and they took Mirta back to Alfea. That night, Bloom and Zara were in bed sleeping as Flora walks over.

"Sleep well, Bloom and Zara." she said to them. "After all that's happened to the two of you today. You both need some sleep."

Flora then walks over to her desk with Mirta sitting on it. "And don't you worry, Mirta. Until we break the spell and transform you back to normal, I'll take care of you." she tells her, making a promise. "Word of a Winx."

Chapter Text

In Wizgiz's class at Alfea, the fairies were struggling. "Come on, girls. Don't take it like that." he said to them. "It's just a little quiz."

"Yes, but it's a little pop quiz and I just think it's not fair." argued Stella.

"Listen, the quiz is on things you should have been reviewing for some time already." said Wizgiz.

"You teachers always use that excuse to give to give us tons of homework." said one fairy.

"Your class isn't the only one we've got study for, you know." added Musa, causing Wizgiz to clear his throat.

"Anyway, since there will be a quiz tomorrow," said Wizgiz as he starts putting books into his bag. "I strongly recommend that you review what we talked about today."

"I'll never be able to get everything done." Another fairy said to her friends.

"No kidding. No way I go over it all."

"Tell me about it. I've got a big exam tomorrow in…"

At their desks, Bloom and Zara were hunched over, sleeping away. "What is that noise?" the fairy asked, turning towards the twins.

"Bloom…. Zara …." Flora said, gently waking the softly snoring twins. "Bloom…. Zara …."

"Huh?" they said, waking up with their own handwriting written on their faces as Flora chuckles. "What's the matter?" They looked at their classmates, who were laughing. "Are you laughing at us?"

Just then, a couple of fairies shows them the real reason why they were laughing. "Well, that's our handwriting all right." said Zara, seeing her notes on her face as she and Bloom joined in, rubbing the ink off.

"Ahem!" Griselda said, clearing her throat as she entered the classroom. "Can someone tell me what is so hilarious?" She then spots the twins. "Ah, I see that someone has been using their desks as a bed. Bloom, Zara, follow me to the principal's office."

"I'm telling you, sis….I think she has it out for us more than Faragonda does." said Zara, leaning back in her chair as Bloom groans.

"Oh come on, Zara! You can't be serious. What did we even do to her this time?" Bloom said as they both stood up from their desks.

"We're sorry." said Zara and Bloom once they were in Faragonda's office. "You see, the thing is…we didn't get much sleep last night."

"Ha! You see? The twins stay up all night and then they fall asleep at their desks in the morning." Griselda said to Faragonda.

"It's this voice Zara and I have been hearing all the time." said Bloom. "It keeps calling our names. It keeps happening more and more often. The voice wakes us up in the middle of the might and we can't go back to sleep."

"I blame the voice that is invading our dreams." Zara said in a monotone voice. "That voice keeps leaving us with more questions than answers."

"Ha! What creative minds you both have." Griselda scoffed at the two girls.

"You think we're lying?!" snapped Zara when Bloom starts soothing her.

"It's alright, Bloom and Zara." Faragonda assures them. "Just relax. Go to your room and rest for a while. We'll talk about it some more later."

"Thank you." Zara said as they both stand up and started walking out of her office. "We really appreciate it, Miss Faragonda. And I'm sorry for snapping."

"But ma'am…" Griselda started to say when Faragonda held up her hand.

"Summon the advisory committee immediately." said Faragonda. Griselda leaves as she walks over to the window. "I believe the time has come to reveal to Blook and Zara another part of their past."

Yawning, the twins walked towards their room, ready for a nap when Wizgiz walks past them. "My, oh my. Where did I put that thing?" he asked himself, walking out into the corridor, unaware that the twins were there. "I thought it was around here somewhere. Or here or perhaps I put it there."

"Huh?" they asked, trying to figure out what he was looking for.

"Maybe it's…" said Wizgiz, walking past the twins again and sets his bag down to go through it. Out of his bag was an envelope that landed in front of the twins. "Let's see….nope, nope, no….this…no….laundry…receipt…..no, no….oh, forget it."

"Professor Wizgiz…" they said as Bloom picks up the envelope. "Professor Wiz….huh?"

"Where did he go?" Bloom asked.

"Good question." said Zara and both girls looked closer at the envelope.

"Tomorrow's pop quiz!" they exclaimed.

"Okay, let's try this." said Flora as she tries to break Icy's spell on Mirta. "I hope it works. Dancing smoke, out of my hands, New Life invoke, obey my commands."

"If you ask me, this smoke doesn't look very wholesome." Stella criticized as yellow smoke surrounded Mirta. Kiko and Lavender smelled the smoke, causing them both to sneeze.

"Well, by the look of things…." said Tecna, analyzing Flora's latest spell. "I'd say it didn't work, did it?"

"What kind of fairy are you anyway, Flora?" Musa asked her as Flora continues to try and break the spell. "You can't even bring back Mirta back from her pumpkin state."

"And you can't even tell a pumpkin from a carrot." said Flora.

"Try me." Musa challenged her.

"Yeah? Maybe I should!" said Flora. Behind her, Kiko and Lavender were going up to Mirta, about to take a bite.

"And you better stay out of the way." Tecna said to both bunnies. Kiko jumps back in fear as Lavender repeatedly bows to Tecna and Mirta, asking for forgiveness.

"Don't worry, Tecna." said Flora as Mirta grabs Kiko by his ears with her vines, reminding him that she wasn't a pumpkin. Kiko gave her a sheepish smile, saying that he was sorry for trying to eat her. She then pats Lavender on the head, saying that she was forgiven.

The girls heard the door opened and turned to see the twins walking in, yawning. "We were trying to transform Mirta the pumpkin into Mirta the girl." Flora explained. "But Icy's spell is really powerful."

"Huh?" Kiko asked as he and Lavender looked up.

"I suggest you all take a break." said Bloom. "Because Zara and I have something to show you. The answers to tomorrow's pop quiz."

"What?!" the others asked, shocked that they had the answers, leaving Stella with a smile on her face. Minutes turned into a couple hours as the unopened envelope was laid on the table as the girls gathered around it. Zara was sitting on the floor, putting together her bo staff.

"I did so poorly on Palladium's exam that I really can't afford to flunk this one." said Stella. "I think fate is lending me a hand."

"Uh, Stella?" asked Tecna. "Don't even think of it. If you look into the envelope for the answers to the quiz, that's cheating."

"I know, but it would help me raise my grade average." said Stella.

"If you were to cheat to get a good mark, you wouldn't feel good about it." Flora told her.

"Says who?" asked Stella. "I won't know until I try."

"I think it would have been better if you two left the envelope where it was." Musa accused the twins.

"Uh, Musa…." said Tecna as Zara glared at the Music Fairy.

"The temptation to open it is almost too much." Musa said, telling the twins off.

"We've got to decide what we're going to do with it." said Bloom.

"Yeah, before I go and start chasing Musa around campus with this bo staff." said Zara, raising one half of what she was assembling.

"Hey, I've got an idea." said Stella. "We could read the answers and pass them onto the rest class."

"Right, that way everyone will have them, and we'll all be in trouble." said Flora.

"So? What do you suggest, Flora?" asked Stella.

"Forget the envelope and hit the books." she suggested.

"Before I hit the books, I think….I'll hit the hay." said Musa.

"A set of someone's beat you to it, Musa." Tecna said as she points to the twins who had fallen asleep. "Bloom and Zara are already sawing logs."

In the twins' dream, they were standing in a long corridor and Daphne was calling out to them again. "Come Bloom and Zara." she said. "Come!"

"Who are you?" asked Bloom and Zara. "Where are you?"

"Come to me, Bloom and Zara." said Daphne. "Bloom! Zara!"

"We're coming!" they tell her and ran down the hall. "But where are you?"

The twins ran towards a golden light, causing them to shield their eyes. "Bloom! Zara!" said Griselda, waking them up. "Bloom! Zara!"

"Is it time to take my belt test?" asked Zara, sleepily.

"I think so." said Bloom. They both turned to look at an angry Griselda, causing Kiko to fall onto the floor and Lavender hiding in Zara's hoodie.

"Okay, never mind! Forget that I asked that question." said Zara, leaning back into her sister as she raised her hands in surrender.

"Bloom! Zara! The principal wants to see you two." said Griselda.

"What's going to happen?" Flora asked Tecna. "I've never seen Griselda looking so serious."

"She must have found out about the envelope." said Tecna.

"Oh….gosh."

"You wanted to see us?" Bloom and Zara asked, walking into Faragonda's office.

"Oh…yes, girls." said Faragonda, turning towards them. "Have a seat. The advisory committee have held a very special meeting."

"The advisory committee?" asked Bloom.

"Are we getting expelled?" asked Zara.

"We swear! We didn't even look into the envelope." they tell Faragonda.

"What envelope?" Faragonda questioned.

"Envelope?" they asked, looking at each other before turning back to Faragonda.

"Did we say envelope?" asked Bloom.

"We meant to say that we didn't even get a chance of buying a Kaleidoscope." said Zara as Bloom nodded in agreement.

"Yeah, during our break in Gardenia." added Bloom.

"Are you feeling well you two?" asked Faragonda, adjusting her glasses.

"Oh, yes." said Bloom and Zara, turning to the floor. "We're just a little….tired. What did you want to speak to us about?"

"Well Bloom, Zara …." Faragonda started to say. "It's time you both found out a bit more about your past. That voice you hear night after night belongs to Daphne, one of the historical nymphs of Magix."

"Daphne." they said above a whisper.

"She was the guardian of both dragon flames." said Faragonda. "The powers that gave birth to the magical dimension. Legend has it that she lives in the depths of Lake Roccaluce. Follow me, I'll take you on a special journey of discovery. The discovery of your past."

"Wow." said the twins.

"Lake Roccaluce is beautiful." said Zara, looking at their surroundings.

"Daphne lived here." Faragonda said as a couple of fish swam through the twins. "Let's go." She then leads Dawn and Zara to where Daphne was resting. "It's okay, Bloom, Zara. Don't be afraid."

The girls walked towards the golden light, just like in their dream and Daphne appears before them in her nymph form. In her hands, there was a red and blue chest with gold plating around it. She hands the chest to the twins as they walked towards her. They opened a chest, revealing two crowns inside.

They looked up at Daphne, confused by what she was trying to tell them as she disappears from sight. Faragonda gasps as she brings them back. "We….uh….." said the twins.

"Bloom, Zara, I really think you both ought to lie down and rest for a while." Faragonda advised. "This has been a very difficult experience for the three of us."

"But, we need to know more." said the twins.

"Listen…. now you know a little more about yourselves." said Faragonda as she steps around her desk and leads them out of her office. "But as for the meaning of what you saw, Bloom and Zara, you'll have to discover on your own."

Bloom and Zara headed back to their room. Once they were there, the twins looked at their friends. "What's the matter?" asked Bloom.

"If Kiko and Lavender did something, we'll deal with them." said Zara.

"Did the two of you get expelled?" asked Stella.

"How did they find out about the envelope?" questioned Tecna.

"Did they say anything about us being in on it?" asked Musa.

"Did they cancel tomorrow's quiz?" asked Flora. The twins laughed and looked at each other.

"I think you channeled a little bit of Stella today, Zara." Bloom said.

"I couldn't agree more, Bloom." replied Zara, then turns to Stella. "I asked Faragonda the same question and I never got an answer to that."

"Relax, they don't know anything." they said to their fellow Winx.

"Nothing, huh?" asked Stella. "So why did they want to talk to you?"

"By all accounts, Faragonda had more to say about our behavior in class this morning." said Bloom.

"That's basically it." added Zara, picking up the parts of her partially constructed bo staff.

"No way." said Musa. "It was no biggie, you two just fell asleep."

"No kidding." Zara and Bloom said. "And now we've got another problem. What to do with Wizgiz's envelope."

Later that day, Bloom and Zara were at their desk as Kiko and Lavender munched on a couple of pencils. The girls tiredly sighed as they stared at their books. "I can't focus at all." said Bloom. "I keep thinking about Daphne and about Brandon."

"Me either." said Zara. "I wonder if he and Xander are okay."

"Yeah." Bloom said, agreeing with her. "They haven't called since our adventure at Tori Novia. What if they've changed their minds about us?"

"I don't know, Bloom." Zara tells her as they scratched their bunnies heads. "I can't imagine they'd just forget about us."

"What?" they asked Kiko and Lavender as both bunnies pointed to their owners and mimed out what they should do.

"Us?" asked Bloom. "The both of you want us to call those two?"

"I can't believe that our bunnies are giving us advice." said Zara as both of them looked at their phones and picks them up.

At Red Fountain, Brandon and Xander were outside with Riven. Brandon was sparring with Riven while Xander watched and held his weapon in hand. Riven rushes towards Brandon, his sword out as they both jumped at each other. The sparring continued until Brandon knocks Riven's sword out of his hands, landing behind him. Riven takes out another weapon, swinging its end while Brandon calls forth his shield.

"I'm ready for you." Brandon said to Riven, who then aims for his shield, knocking Brandon back.

"Come on, Brandon." said Xander as Riven goes on the offense once again. "Use defense."

Brandon jumps up, away from Riven's attack and kicks Riven in his chest, knocking him down. Riven throws part of his weapon towards Brandon's feet, wrapping it around his left ankle. Pulling hard, Riven was able to get Brandon off balance.

"Stop! It's just a practice run!" shouted Codatorta. "You were putting too much effort into it. Go and get changed now. I want you to be in top shape for the upcoming school exhibition."

In their room, both Brandon's and Xander's phones were ringing. "Who are we kidding?" asked Bloom. "I mean, Brandon and Xander doesn't have time to think about us. Why should the two of them answer our phone calls."

"I doubt they'll even look at us the same way again." said Zara.

"Kiko, Lavender, you gave us bad advice." they scolded their bunnies, who tried to look innocent.

"Kiko?" Kiko shrugged, hoping that Bloom and Zara would try again.

"Lav?" said Lavender, poking her index fingers at each other.

That night, the Winx were walking the corridors, heading towards the kitchen. "Stop." Stella said to the others. "There's a danger sign on that door." Musa give Stella an uncaring look on her face.

"That sign means kitchen." said Musa.

"We haven't seen anyone yet." said Flora, looking for their classmates.

"Let's hide the envelope in the pantry." suggested Bloom as she takes it out of her pocket.

"That way we don't have to see it." said Zara.

"If anyone of us can't resist the urge to peek, she could do it without anyone finding out." they said to their friends.

"And if one of us gets a higher mark than the rest, they'll have no reason to question it." Musa chimed in.

"This is a very tough choice." said Tecna. "For all of us."

"You got that right." said Flora.

The Winx entered the kitchen, looking for a place to hide Wizgiz's envelope. "Zara and I always thought of fairies as creatures of pure spirit, but…looking at this mountain of yummy food…" Bloom said, looking at the others.

"Focus, Bloom." said Tecna. "We're on a mission."

"I need snack." said Zara, looking around the kitchen.

"Not at this hour." Stella scolded her.

"But I need something for when I do my northern shaolin techniques." Zara whined.

"Hmm." said Musa. "What would be the best place to hide an envelope?"

"I have no idea." Flora said, turning around. "Maybe with the food?"

"And what if Master SFoglia finds it tomorrow by accident? While he's preparing breakfast?" questioned Bloom and Zara.

"Hey, let's put it with the turnips." said Stella. "Nobody likes turnips."

"Speak for yourself." said Flora, crossing her arms in a huff. "Turnips are really good."

"But no one eats them for breakfast." said Bloom. "And the envelope will be back in the hands of Professor Wizgiz by lunchtime."

"Stella, you are a genius right now." said Zara.

"Unless our friend, Miss Tuber here, feels like a bowl of turnips tomorrow morning." Stella said, thumbing directly at Flora, who huffed.

After hiding the envelope and going to bed, light was shone in Stella's room, causing her to wake up. "All right, that's how it's going to be." she whispered to herself as she gets out of bed.

In the next room, Flora opens her eyes knowing that Stella would head down to the kitchen. She looks over at the bunk beds, seeing that the twins were still asleep. Even Tecna herself snuck out of her room. One by one, they headed down towards the kitchen, going for the envelope.

In the kitchen, five out of seven Winx were stumbling in the dark, searching for the envelope. Until someone had turned on the light. Bloom and Zara looked at their friends who were standing in random spots in the kitchen, causing both of them to laugh.

"You should see the looks on your faces." said Bloom as Zara held apples in her arms and shakes her head.

"You were all having a 'one track mind' moment." added Zara. The others joined in their laughter as they finally take the envelope out of the kitchen.

"This is it." said Flora, placing it in a drawer. "We'll leave it here until we give it back to Wizgiz tomorrow."

"I really don't want to cheat, but I only studied a little bit." said Stella.

"What do you expect?" Musa asked. "We're too honest."

"Good night then." said Stella as they headed back to bed.

"See you in the morning." said Musa.

"Bloom, Zara ….I don't mean to be nosy, but if you're both still up….then who's sleeping in Bloom's bed?" Flora asked when the twins each placed a finger on their mouths.

Zara smiled as Bloom removes the covers from her bed, revealing a set of sleeping and snoring bunnies. Kiko and Lavender rubbed their eyes before going back to sleep. The next day, the Winx stood outside of the classroom.

"I can't go in there." Musa said, holding onto her arms in terror. "I'm too scared."

"Oh, please. Give us a break." said Flora. "We all know you're a straight 'A' student."

"It's true, I did study." said Musa. "But I've always hated those pop quizzes."

"Give it up, you two." said the twins. "You always complain the loudest and, in the end, who gets the best marks? Musa and Flora."

"Girls, we're already late." Tecna said, reminding them. "Let's go in or they'll start without us." As they trickled in, Tecna was the first person to see what had actually happened.

"Hey, why did you stop?" Flora asked as Stella bumps into Tecna.

"Look." she tells her, seeing their classmates covered in smudge.

"What happened?" asked Stella.

"We have no idea." said Bloom and Zara. "But this promises to be a fun class."

They both fell into laughter as Amaril groans and turns away. Wizgiz walks into his class, seeing all but the Winx had smudges on their faces. "Oh, well, well, well." Wizgiz said, jumping up onto his desk. "Everything is going to according to plan."

"But….what do you mean according to plan?" Amaril asked the leprechaun professor.

"Amaril, please sit down. I'll explain everything." He tells her. Bloom and Zara looked at Flora, nodding their heads to her.

"Uh, Mr. Wizgiz? Yesterday, we found this envelope and uh," Flora said, holding out the envelope. "we thought that perhaps you had lost it."

Flora hands him the envelope as others groaned. "Thank you." he said. "Actually, it is mine. And now, I'd like to open it in front of all of you."

Students shrieks as he starts to open it. "What's the matter with you?" asked Wizgiz. "Is just an envelope. Why are you so afraid?"

All but the Winx covered their heads in panic. "Something strange is going on here." Tecna said to Musa and Zara.

"It's more than just strange, Tecna." said Zara. "It feels crazy and weird."

"I don't understand why you're all so nervous." said Wizgiz as he opens the envelope, revealing a small firework.

"Oh no!" gasped a fairy.

"Very well, now we've finished our quiz, we can go ahead with our lesson." said Wizgiz.

"Say what?" asked Zara.

"What?" Amaril asked. "That was the quiz?"

"Clearly it was. You all found one of my envelopes….near your dorm rooms." Wizgiz explained to the girls. "And you all thought it contained the answers to the quiz. Well the results are now for us all to see, so judge for yourselves whether you passed the quiz or not. Those who couldn't resist the temptation to open the envelope are wearing the consequences."

Everyone walks up to Wizgiz who praised the Winx. "I'm so proud of you. You all deserve the highest mark." he said to them. "A+."

"Yes, I passed the quiz." said Stella, throwing him up into the air. "Thanks, Mr. Wizgiz."

Just as she was about to catch him for a hug, Stella missed and the leprechaun fell to the floor.

"Well, you learned that the path to becoming a good fairy is a long one." Wizgiz tells them. "But you're all still young and you all the capacity to learn the importance of being honest. And if resisting temptation or easy way outs, being a good fairy is a role that carries great responsibility and consequently."

Behind them, Griselda gets their attention. "One moment of your attention, please." she said to the girls. "Tomorrow, there will be a meeting in the auditorium. We'll discuss…the agenda of our upcoming parent teacher meeting."

Bloom and Zara groaned at this. "Oh no, our parents!" they said, freaking out. "Here at Alfea. We've always hated these parent teacher meetings."

Chapter Text

At Cloudtower, the Trix stood before their window as the wind opens it by force. A black feather was dropped in their room, falling to the floor as a creature who had entered their room, cawed. "Hm…" Icy said as Stormy smiles. "All we have to do now is wait. Bloom's and Zara's mighty powers will transfer over to us."

Once again, the Trix did their vacuum spell and soon after, they passed out on the floor. Icy grins as she looks up at the ceiling while a creature of Cloudtower growls lowly as it came out from its spot and goes out the window.

"Horrendous nightmares." said Icy. "Custom designed for the sleeper's mind." Once she had said it, the Trix cackled as their creature headed to Alfea. That night, the Winx were on their way back from Magix when Kiko and Lavender tiredly rubbed their eyes.

"Come on, you." Zara said to Lavender, picking her up and placed her in the hood of her jacket. "Time for bunny relaxation."

"The parent teacher meetings are coming up soon." said Bloom. "Time flies, doesn't it?"

"It'll be nice to see my parents together again." said Stella.

"Together or not, at least you get to see your parents." Musa complained. "Sadly, these meetings bring no music to my ears."

"Something's wrong here." said Flora, glaring at Musa. "It's as if Mother Nature's upset."

Once they were in the castle, the Winx were heading to their dorm when Tecna picks up on something. "Hold on." she said to the others. "Did you hear that strange rustling noise?"

"Tecna, it was you." said Bloom, her hand on the door handle. "You're just imagining things."

"I'm exhausted." said Stella as they entered their dorm. "I'm going straight to bed, never mind noises and meetings."

After going to bed, the candles in Stella's room went out, revealing the moon light to come in. Stella became uneasy as she slept. The Trix's creature entered her room first, hovered over her head and opened its mouth.

[Stella's Dream]

In her dream, Stella was going through a void when suddenly a mirror appeared before her. As she basked in her beauty, the mirror disappeared and a light blue wave came around her, then split in two different directions.

One wave of blue light showed her father while the other showed her mother. Stella gasps as she sees them together. When she tries to go after them, her parents went their separate ways, leaving her all alone.

[Stella's Dream ends]

Back in Stella's room, the creature shook its body and grew over Stella. Stella gasps as she wakes up, screaming in panic. Musa heard Stella screaming as she and the others ran to her room. Mirta sat on the table, watching the scene unfold as the creature left.

"Stella, what happened?" Bloom asked. "Why were you screaming?"

"Up you get." Zara said, hugging the blonde in her arms. "You're okay."

"Um, I don't know." said Stella, hanging onto her pillow. "I was dreaming."

"Stella, you poor thing." said Flora. "You must have had a nightmare. You remember what it was about?"

"No, I don't. But it was more than just a nightmare." said Stella. "It was as if someone was watching me."

"Like when I sense that someone was watching us at Cloudtower and it turned out to be Griffin?" asked Zara.

"Yes, exactly." Stella exclaimed.

"I've said it before." said Tecna. "There's something strange in the air tonight."

"Tecna could right. If it is something strange, who or whatever it is, could be watching us." said Zara.

"Oh, well. I don't what the big fuss is about. Stella had a nightmare, so what? I'm going back to bed." said Musa, storming out of Stella's room.

"I think she's the next one to be flipped, punched or kicked in the side." Zara said to Flora and her sister, giggling a little. "I'm not sure which one will work on her."

"Let's all go back to bed, alright?" said Bloom. "And Stella, holler if you need anything."

Stella gave her a small smile that turned into a frown as they left. On the table, Mirta was curious about the monster that was in the dorm. Mirta's eyes widen as the creature came back into the dorm. In Tecna's and Musa's room, the creature decided to make them its next set of targets.

The creature hovered over Musa, seeing her worst nightmare.

[Musa's dream]

Musa was on her home planet, Melody and she spots a woman, sitting on a bench. The woman looks up as Musa made her way over, only for the woman to disappear. Confused by this, Musa wondered where she had gone to. Then, her mind goes to something else.

"Riven." said Musa, thinking of the specialist. "RIVEN!"

[Musa's dream ends]

Musa cried a little in her sleep and slumped off her bed as the creature stood over her, growing a little more. Crawling on the ceiling, it goes over to Tecna and shines a red light on her face.

[Tecna's Dream]

Green lightning was strewn across the sky as numbers fell around Tecna. As the numbers fell, they surrounded Tecna. The numbers blended into a piece of paper, covering her from head to toe as though suffocating her.

The paper rolls up, wrapping Tecna like a scroll. Tecna screams as she was being taken to a digital town. She then wakes up, seeing everything become see through in 3-D. Tecna screams again, knowing that buildings and all living things wasn't supposed to be see through. It didn't make any sense to her.

Crossing the road, Tecna sees Timmy. Only problem was…his eyes were in his glasses and not on his face.

[Tecna's dream ends]

Tecna wakes up in a cold sweat as the creature leaves the room. "Musa? What's going on?" Tecna asked her roommate as she walks over. "Musa? Answer me. Musa?"

Musa groaned as she woke up. "How are you feeling?" asked Tecna.

"I don't know." she tells her. "I feel kind of empty."

"That must have been quite the dream"" said Tecna.

"What's going on?" asked Bloom as she walked in with Zara, Kiko and Lavender on their shoulders.

"We heard a scream." said Flora as she walks in with Stella.

"Ah! My beauty sleep!" Stella grumbled.

"I was having a dream when I was kicking someone's butt." said Zara.

"I woke up suddenly, and….then I noticed that something was wrong with Musa." Tecna explained.

"I was dreaming about my mother." Musa said to the Winx. "Then the dream turned into my very worst nightmare. A place with no music."

"That's strange." said Tecna. "I too, was having a horrible dream."

Kiko and Lavender perked up, curious to know what happened. "First Stella, now you two?" questioned Bloom. "What's going on around here?"

"Girls, lets recap the situation, shall we?" said Stella. "There are too many weird things. First, Tecna hears strange rustling noises. Then we have nightmares, finally there's Musa's world without music."

"I could be wrong, but I think there's a creature walking around here that deals with nightmares." said Zara.

"What makes you think that?" Stella asked.

"If I'm sensing what I think I'm sensing…" Zara clarified as Kiko and Lavender shake with fear. "it's going to come after me, Bloom and Flora. We're the last ones who haven't had any nightmares yet."

"Zara's right." said Bloom.

"Hm…" said Flora as she looks at Zara and Bloom. "Shush…quiet fairies. Mirta."

"What's Mirta got to do with it?" asked Tecna.

"She must have seen the creature enter and leave your rooms." said Zara, knowing Flora's train of thought.

"Right." said Flora. Kiko and Lavender climbed down, heading out of the room.

"Kiko, Lavender? Where are you two going? What's up?" asked Bloom.

"I think Kiko and Lavender is sensing what Zara, and I are sensing." said Flora. Both bunnies went over to Mirta and gets the Winx's attention. "Kiko and Lavender are trying to tell us something. It's about Mirta. Right, Kiko and Lavender?"

Kiko and Lavender jumped up and down, telling her that it did. "Mirta, you saw the creature that was here, didn't you?" asked Zara. Mirta waved her vines in response, telling her yes. Flora tries using plant magic, trying to project the human Mirta from the pumpkin and was able to get it to work.

"Thank goodness, you were able to contact me." Mirta said happily. "That creature hasn't been able to get to you and Zara yet, Bloom. And I saw it when I heard what Zara said. I saw it creep around here and then at the first light of dawn; it just took off. We have to get ready for when it comes back tonight."

Light shines into the Winx's dorm as Kiko and Lavender hopped down from the table. Once outside, the Winx started to come up with a plan.

"What do you girls think?" Bloom and Zara asked. "What could that weird creature want from us?"

"I don't know. What do you think?" asked Musa.

"Mirta saw it come into your bedroom, then it just kept growing in size." said Bloom.

"Which is creepy to a certain extent." said Zara.

"It's obviously angry at us and so it's taking us one by one." said Tecna.

"Even Kiko and Lavender sensed something." Bloom said.

"Remember Tecna, animals like those two are good at sensing incoming peril." added Zara.

"We really ought to be careful." said Bloom. "Zara and I have a feeling that there's a Cloudtower connection here. It's as if the creature is somehow capable of drawing out our deepest fears."

"No kidding. If I go by what's happened, Flora's next and saving you two for last." said Tecna.

"We know." said the twins as Kiko and Lavender slept on the stairs behind them. "All this makes us think about our birth parents."

"Maybe music should cheer you two up." Stella proposed. "I don't feel so good right now."

"But Stella, at least you know who your parents are." argued Bloom.

"Ditto." said Zara.

"Yeah, I know who they are, but they don't care much about me." stated Stella. "The king and queen of Solaria, but Princess Stella brought up like a perfect stranger." The girls became sympathetic for her, realizing that no parent was perfect. "Hey, why the long faces? I'm way over it by now. The only time they ever seem to notice me is when I bring home a bad report card. So now I get to dream about my parents, huh."

"Poor Stella." said Zara and Bloom as Musa laughs. Stella then notices that someone was missing.

"Where's Flora?" she asked.

"In her room." Bloom said.

"Hard at work." said Zara.

"She's trying to break the spell that Mirta's under." they said.

"Ever since the Trix turned Mirta into a pumpkin, it's been Flora's mission to help her out." said Bloom. "She's hoping to find a potion that'll give Mirta back her Human shape."

"Speaking of spells…." said Stella, walking over to the twins. "whatever happened to your princes, you two?"

"If you're referring to Brandon and Xander, you should know that they're just a couple of friends, whom we haven't caught a glimpse of in a long, long time." said Bloom.

"What she said, Stella." said Zara.

"I cannot wait for tonight." said Icy as the creature walks up to the Trix.

"Once we've tried out the other fairies, with those horrific nightmares." said Stormy.

"It will be Zara and Bloom's turn." said Darcy.

"And those two are in for an unpleasant experience." Icy said, cackling as their creature takes off for Alfea.

Mirta sits on the table, waiting anxiously for the creature to come back. In their room, Bloom and Zara were in their beds, waiting for the creature to attack Flora. Kiko and Lavender were hiding behind Mirta, waiting to sense the creature. Mirta starts to glow, warning Kiko and Lavender to go get the Winx.

Jumping down from the table, both bunnies raced towards the twins' room, sounding the warning. Kiko pulls on Bloom's blanket while Lavender climbs up and starts punching Zara in the face with her bunny hands. "Oh, no! Flora!" the girls said, waking up.

Kiko and Lavender ran towards Stella's room to wake her up before going onto waking Tecna and Musa. The creature comes into Flora's side of the room, ready to give her a nightmare by fear. Unknown to the creature, Flora wasn't in a deep sleep. She opens her eyes and sits up in bed.

"Bloom, Zara! This is it!" she called out to them as she starts using her magic. Vines wrapped around it but the creature escapes her. The Winx came out of their rooms to see the creature in full height.

"Go ahead and say it, Zara." Bloom said as Stella groans in disgust. "I know you've been wanting to."

"Yeah, Zara, say something." said Tecna.

"Honestly, if this is the latest creature sent by the Trix….." Zara said, staring at the creature. "all I can say, and I'll even say this for Stella, it's the ugliest thing I've ever seen in my entire life."

"You've said it, Zara." said Stella. "I mean, just look at those eyes! Are they bulging or is it just me?!"

"Magic Winx!" they shouted, going into fairy form.

The creature screeches, lashing out its tongue as Stella takes off her ring. "Solaria!" she shouted as her staff came out and hits the creature. Stella remembers her nightmare of her splitting up.

The creature walks out of the dorm and starts roaming the halls for new prey. "Come on, lets tail that thing." said the twins. As Stella, Tecna and Musa follow them, Flora goes over to Mirta.

"Go, Flora. Don't worry about me." Mirta assures her. "It's Bloom and Zara who are in trouble. You've got to help them."

Out in the corridor, Bloom and Zara had their shields up as the creature was attacking them with a green energy ball. It fires again, causing the twins to have a nightmare about Vanessa, Mike, Brandon and Xander.

It was getting to the point where both of the twins were knocked back. "Bloom, Zara?" Stella asked, seeing them on the floor. "You both okay?"

"Girls, what's wrong?" asked Flora, coming out of the dorm.

"We can't do it alone." said Tecna. "Last night's horrors have completely tired us out."

"Come on, twins, snap out of it." Stella said, shaking Bloom first then Zara.

"Where's the monster?" they asked Stella. "Where did it go?"

"Downstairs! Come on, lets hurry." said Flora. Stella used her staff to teleport them from the dorms to outside.

"Now, where is it hiding?" Musa asked. The Trix continued to use the creature they created now that the Winx were drawn out of the school.

"The time has come to give our monster's a hand." said Icy and the three of them teleported to Alfea. The creature came up behind the Winx, almost trampling them with its weight. Musa gasps as it fires onto her.

"So, you want to take me on, huh?" Musa asked as she created a disco ball shield around her. Tecna analyzed her next move, created a triangle boomerang and throws it, only for the creature to knock it away with its tail and knock Musa out of the sky.

Tecna gasps as the creature turns towards her and fires. "Oh, no!" shouted Tecna, covering her eyes. "I just can't, I can't do this." Stella and Flora combined their attacks at the creature, causing an explosion while Bloom and Zara were checking on Tecna and Musa.

"What in the world is going on?" Bloom asked. "We're all exhausted."

"I don't know. By the looks of things, you Winx could still beat us. Even if you're all split up." said Icy as she sends an icy attack, freezing Stella and Flora. Bloom and Dawn Zara to help the two as the Trix started to take the two dragon flames.

"Oh, no!" shouted Zara and Bloom as they were caught by the Trix's creature. "We must resist."

"Well, well, well….." said Icy as the creature wraps its tail around the twins. "looks like your friends can't do anything for you now. You're prisoners of your own fears."

Suddenly, Faragonda hears what was going on outside and goes to help the Winx. "What is all the racket about?" she asked. The creature growls at Faragonda for interrupting what it was intending to do and releases the twins.

She stops the creature in its tracks and scowls at the Trix. "What are you doing to my girls?" Faragonda inquired. Meanwhile, fairies started walking out of Alfea towards the middle of campus.

"Trix gave….us nightmares." Zara weakly explained as she was being crushed by Bloom's weight. "Get off me, Bloom. You're crushing me."

Faragonda snarled as she scowls at the Trix. Ice was beginning to break around Stella and Flora as they fell to the ground. The Alfea headmistress fires a ball of energy from her hand towards the creature, causing it to cry out in pain. After firing one after another, Faragonda was able to shrink the Trix's creature down a bit.

"Take this." said Bloom and Zara, firing their flames at the creature. Icy gasps as Faragonda, Bloom and Zara combined their attacks in sending their creature to Obsidian. Fearful, Icy sees Faragonda coming her way as the fairies of Alfea gasped.

"Come on." Icy said and the Trix left Alfea.

"Can someone explain to me what happened here tonight?" Faragonda asked the Winx.

"We don't have a clue, Miss Faragonda." Bloom said as Tecna helps her up. "Except that strange monster began attacking us."

"And we don't even want to think about what would have happened if you hadn't shown up." said Stella. Kiko and Lavender peer out from their hiding place and marches over to Musa.

"Oh, Kiko, Lavender." said Musa. "I don't know what to tell you two. Except, you're both such good bunnies."

"Ow! The pain!" yelled Zara, curling up to one side as she feels a sharp pain in her side from Bloom landing on her. "BLOOM! I'M GONNA GET YOU FOR THIS!"

"Uh-oh." said Bloom, forgetting that she crashed into her sister. "I didn't mean to hurt you, Zara! I completely forgot I crashed into you!"

"Forgot? Yeah right!" shouted Zara as Musa and Flora helped her up from the ground. "You know dang well that you didn't forget. I will have my sister revenge!"

"I have a feeling Mrs. Griffin will know what happened, or at least I hope she will." Faragonda said as she looks up and sees lightning scatter across the sky.

At Cloudtower, the Trix were walking into the school. "What a hexad of airheads." said Icy. "They haven't heard the last of us."

"At least the weather is kind of nice tonight." said Stormy.

"You idiot." mumbled Darcy. Thunder was heard and Icy gasps as Griffin appears before them.

"I've been waiting for you, you stupid girls." she shrieked at the Trix.

"See? I told you so." said Darcy.

"Silence!" yelled Griffin. "Thanks to you, I've just suffered the humiliation of being scolded by Griselda. I will never forgive you for this and you won't do it again."

"No, ma'am." Icy said to Griffin. "We won't do it again."

"I said, silence!" she yelled and the Trix became quiet. "You won't do it again because you'll never set foot in here again. Not tonight, not ever. Now get out of here! And hopefully this is the last time I see you."

The Trix couldn't believe their ears. "A curse on every single one of those Winxs." said Icy. "They'll pay dearly for this. I will triumph over them."

Chapter Text

At Red Fountain, the Specialists were getting ready for their exhibition. "It's going rather well." said Saladin as he stood next to Codatorta.

"It'll be a great show." said Codatorta.

"I expect great things from your dragon demonstration." said Saladin.

"My boys and I will astound everyone." Codatorta bragged.

"The school must show itself to advantage." Saladin said as he and Codatorta looked out into the stadium. "All of Magix VIPs will be at the exhibition."

At Alfea, Bloom and Zara were helping Stella out. "You sure it works?" they asked her as Bloom had a brush in her hand, while several strands of Stella's hair were green.

"Absolutely." answered Stella. "It's a conditioner that Flora concocted. And I fully trust our fairy flower child."

"Suit yourself." said Bloom.

"I just hope that it doesn't turn your hair a different color." added Zara as she starts to bite her nails.

"Something's on your minds." said Stella, noticing that something was different about her best friends.

"Is it that obvious?" asked Bloom and Zara.

"When it comes to your emotions, twins, you both are open books." Stella tells them.

"Zara and I have so many thoughts running around in our heads, we feel that they're going to explode." Bloom explained.

"My thoughts are just racing around at the moment." said Zara.

"Thoughts about your past?" questioned Stella.

"I mean, who are Zara and I really?" Bloom begins questioning.

"What else is hiding in Lake Roccaluce?" Zara asked the second question.

"And…" they both said.

"And there's more?" Stella asked.

"Yes, there is." said the twins as they walked over to Stella's bed. Still at her vanity, Stella starts reaching for her phone.

"Listen, I don't know if I can help you about your past." said Stella. "But your present I definitely can."

"Oh…Wh…what do you mean?" Bloom asked.

"Stella, put the phone down and step away from it." said Zara.

"We…." they stammered.

"Call Brandon and Xander." ordered Stella.

"Maybe it's not such a good idea." said Bloom.

"Yeah, they could be busy with something." said Zara.

"It's a great idea." Stella said, handing her phone to Bloom first. "The four of you need to clear the air. It's better than driving yourself nuts all day long."

"You're right." said Zara and Bloom.

"Great." beamed Stella.

"Do we have to call them right now?" Bloom asked.

"Yeah!" said Zara.

"But of course. There's no time like the present." Stella tells them as she leaves her room to give them privacy.

"Stella…wait, where are you going?" they asked.

"To the bathroom." she answered. "I've got to rinse this stuff out of my hair."

"Do you need help?" they asked again.

"No thanks. Call them." Stella ordered as she heads towards the bathroom.

"It's now or never." Bloom said to Zara.

"Let's hope that both of them are standing next to each other." said Zara.

"I'm really glad you called." Brandon said as he walks into his room with a towel on his head while Xander was styling his hair. Brandon motions for him to come over and mouths 'Bloom and Zara' to him. "Xander and I were going to call you individually but the two of us just got back to Red Fountain."

"Really? Good, because Zara and I wanted to talk to you both about what happened at Cloudtower." said Bloom. "It was not an easy time, but we both found out that it was another scheme worked out by Icy, Darcy and Stormy."

"Witches?" Brandon asked. "But why? Why would they do something like that to you and Zara."

"They must be obsessive or something." said Xander.

"Simple, they're evil. They get a kick out of hunting other people." said Bloom as she joins Zara at Stella's window to look outside. "Anyway, Zara and I really wanted to talk to you both about the four of us. We know there's something special between the four of us….a kind of bond."

Brandon walks over to the bookshelf, looking at a picture of his current girlfriend while Xander just stares at the picture of him and Codatorta with the latter's arm around him.

"Uh….yes. But…uh, I have to go now. Really." Brandon tells Bloom. "So, um, bye."

"That felt off." said Zara as Brandon ended the call with Bloom. "And I mean really off."

"I'm sorry, you two." Brandon said.

"We should've told them the truth." Xander said to Brandon.

"So…." Stella said, wanting to know how it went.

"I don't know, he was kind of distant." said Bloom.

"I feel that he and Xander are individually hiding something from us." said Zara.

"That's silly." said Stella. "Here's the deal, let's wait until after the exhibition. I'm sure they'll call you."

"Let's hope they do." sighed the twins.

At Red Fountain, Brandon leans towards Timmy for advice. "Timmy, we're in big trouble." said Brandon.

"What do you mean?" Timmy asked.

"About Bloom and Diaspro." He said.

"Diaspro?" questioned Timmy.

"The girl I've got to marry." said Brandon. "I don't want to marry her. I love Bloom."

"And my problem is that I love Zara so much that I don't want to lose her trust." said Xander as Timmy turns to him. "I already bet that she knows something's up."

"Bloom and Zara?" said Timmy, pushing up his glasses. "Well, I'm sure there's a solution to this. Let me think for a sec. Okay, you two and the twins are talking, right?"

"So?" Brandon asked as Xander rolls his eyes.

"So, give them both the facts." advised Timmy. "Tell them both everything."

"You want us to do what?" asked Brandon.

"That's what I've been trying to tell him from the beginning, Timmy." said Xander and turns to Brandon. "I told you the minute after meeting those twins that we should have told them the truth but you didn't want to listen."

"Xander, you promised me that we wouldn't tell them." argued Brandon. "It was supposed to be our secret. We just need to figure this out before we tell them."

"Figure what out?" Xander asked, his voice rising as he picks up the picture of Diaspro and points to it. "We're running out of time! I can tell you right now… Zara has probably already figured it out that we're not only hiding two secrets from her and Bloom, but a third one as well."

"You can't draw this situation out forever." Timmy tells them. "If you don't have any feelings for Diaspro, talk to the twins or else you're going to lose them."

"Yeah, maybe you're both right." said Brandon.

"Dude, you know that I am." said Xander.

"But it's not as simple as….." Brandon said as he and Xander turned the corner, bumping into Riven.

"Why do the two of you care so much?" Riven asked. "I sure wouldn't get all worked up over a set of girls like Bloom and Zara."

"What?" Brandon snarled.

"Why is it any of your business, Riven?" questioned Xander, glaring at him.

"I'm just saying…the little flirts doesn't deserve half the attention they're getting." commented Riven. "After all, Darcy told me Bloom and Zara likes to hang out with a lot of different guys."

Out of nowhere, Brandon punches Riven in the gut while Xander sucker punches him in the face. Riven retaliates by kicking both boys to the ground before taking them both on in a two on one fight. Just as Riven was about to punch and kick, Brandon grabs his fist while Xander grabs his leg. Flipping him over in a wrestler's style way, Brandon was on top of Riven as Xander stands up to catch his breath.

Brandon starts punching Riven, gaining the attention of Sky and Timmy. "Guys, stop it! That's enough." said Sky, getting Brandon off of Riven. "You guys crazy?"

Just then, Xander starts going at it with Riven, causing Timmy to pull him off. "Brandon, Levi, is everything okay?" Sky asked them.

"Yeah." said Brandon.

"I'm good." said Xander.

"How about you, Riven? You all right?" asked Sky as Riven pulls away his arm. "Hey! You know, ever since you've been seeing Darcy, you're a real pain. Can't you see the witch is just using you? She's not your friend."

"And who are my friends? You guys?" inquired Riven.

"What's going on here?" Saladin asked as he walks up to the boys. "Shouldn't you be getting ready for the exhibition? It's an important day for the school, don't let me down. Understand?"

"Yes, sir!" replied the boys.

"Mmm…..Riven?" asked Saladin, seeing the unreactive boy.

"Yes, sir." said Riven.

"Good. Now go back to your rooms and get ready." he said, dismissing the boys.

In the Red Fountain arena, everyone started to show up. Faragonda was already in her seat when Griffin appears and sits next to her. "I understand you've expelled the three young witches." said Faragonda, being courteous with Griffin.

"A severe, but necessary punishment." said Griffin.

"I agree." said Faragonda.

"The young fairy that was hurt? How is she doing?" asked Griffin.

"She's doing better." Faragonda replied, knowing that she was concerned about Zara. "Now that she's worked it out with her sister."

"Although, I am sorry to have lost such gifted students." said Griffin. "They're young and yet, they're mastering the art of black magic."

"They're dangerous." said Faragonda. "Someone ought to keep an eye on them."

"It will be difficult now that they're gone." Griffin tells her.

"I know." Faragonda said, knowing the guilt she is feeling for keeping more secrets from the twins.

Back at Alfea, Tecna was going through some images as Musa was playing a flute. Just then, the door opens, causing Musa to lose her place as Stella, Bloom, Zara and Flora walked in.

"The twins are out of their minds. You talk to them." demanded Flora.

"Why? What's up? What you want to do?" asked Tecna.

"They both want to go to the exhibition." answered Stella.

"Did they each receive an invitation?" asked Musa.

"No." said Flora, then looks at the two. "Or it wouldn't be a problem, would it?"

"But, Bloom, Zara, why?" asked Tecna.

"I've asked them that." Flora tells her.

"We both got to Brandon and Xander." Bloom explained. "The two of them are avoiding us and we want to know why."

"I even said to Bloom with Stella as a witness, that Brandon and Xander are definitely hiding something from us." said Zara.

"Fess up, you both like them." said Stella.

"We're just friends." Bloom and Zara told Stella.

"Well, in that case, I see no reason to go far as breaking the rules to get to them." Stella said to the twins.

"Okay, maybe it's true." Bloom said.

"You didn't have to get it out of us like that." said Zara.

"Xander and Brandon are special to us, but we're not sure what we mean to them." said Bloom.

"We're not even sure if those two are even feeling that way towards us." Zara added.

"That's why we need to talk to them today." said the twins.

"All right, we'll go to Red Fountain with you." said Flora.

"Thanks, Winx." said the twins.

"Hey you! What are you doing here?" asked a Red Fountain student, spotting the Winx at their gates.

"Oh, um…nothing." said Bloom as they stood outside of Red Fountain. "Just, you know, hanging out."

"Talking about girl stuff that you boys don't wanna hear." said Zara, causing the boy to be confused.

"Run!" shouted Musa as they ran from the boy.

"Where do you think you're going?" he called out to them. "Stop!"

Bloom and Zara peeked from behind a door and closes it as the boy catches up. "Hey! Oh great." he said to himself. "I lost them. Crazy girls."

The arena at Red Fountain was fille with spectators and the exhibition begins. Specialists on windriders went at each other. One specialist almost crashes into the wall. In the corridor leading up to the arena, King Erendor and his wife, Queen Samara arrived. The twins were seeing Sky's parents for the first time.

"Well, I'm not sure I quite agree." Diaspro said as she accidentally bumps into Bloom and Zara.

Zara was now lying flat on her back as Bloom was sitting on her. Bloom looks up and sees a picture of Brandon, causing her to gasp. "Bloom, you're sitting on me." said Zara, pushing her sister off her stomach as Diaspro brushes herself off as she stands to her feet.

"Sorry, Zara." said Bloom.

"Ugh! You stupid clumsy girls." shrieked Diaspro. "For goodness' sake, watch where you're both going, peasants. And I absolutely forbid the both of you to look at my boyfriend. Honey, are you listening to me?"

"I knew it was too good to be true." said Zara, watching Diaspro walk away. "We may be identical, but that just goes against the girl code."

"Her boyfriend?" asked Bloom.

"And now he's dead to me." said Zara.

"No, it can't be." Bloom thought to herself. "It's got to be a trick. I'm sure it is. Those horrible witches."

"Hey, hey, hey. Look at me." Zara said to her sister.

"Ulch! I'm tired of waiting." Stella whined as they all were waiting on the twins. "I want to see Sky. He's so handsome and strong and smart."

Tecna, Musa and Flora internally groaned as Stella went to cloud nine. "His family is going to be here you know?" Stella went on saying. "They're the richest Royals in the whole dimension."

"Too bad Zara isn't in the corridor." grumbled Musa. "I can't take much more."

"At least she would've tackled Stella to the ground like she did with Bloom." said Flora.

"I bet you anything that Zara would chase Stella with her bo staff at some point if she doesn't stop." Tecna tells the two.

"I'm still not sure whether your heart beats more for your good-look prince or for that cash he's got." said an annoyed Musa.

"Well, beauty is wasted if it's not surrounded by beautiful things." said Stella. "Come on, let's go."

The girls laughed as they followed her. In the stands, Diaspro sits in the royal box with Sky's parents, watching the exhibition when she heard two identical sets of footsteps. "Huh?"

"Hello." Zara said, bowing as Bloom hands Diaspro something.

"Sky wants to see me?" she asked the twins.

"Follow us please, we'll take you to him." they said and Diaspro excuses herself.

"Pardon me, sire. I must leave for a moment." Diaspro informed Erendor. "I'll return for the opening of the exhibition." She then leaves with the twins with a guard following close behind as fireworks went off. "So, where is he? He summons me and yet, he's not around."

"Sweet dreams." said Bloom and Zara, snapping their fingers, putting the guard to sleep.

"Hey, what do you think you're doing?" Diaspro asked.

"Cut it out, who are you?" Bloom asked her. "Icy, Darcy or Stormy?"

"What are you talking about?" asked Diaspro as Bloom stalks towards her. "I don't like your tone." Zara was leaning against the wall, bo staff in hand as she takes a closer look. "You over there! Are you going to stop her?"

"Nope." Zara calmly said, twisting one end and checking to see if she had misplaced anything inside. "I'm not dealing with my twin's anger today."

"Oh, so you just stand by while she tries and provokes me? That's responsible." said Diaspro.

"Responsible? Maybe. But you're the one who angered her today." said Zara, looking away from her bo staff. "And I'd rather not get caught in the crossfire."

"I am a princess." said Diaspro.

"I believe you." Zara tells her, returning back to what she was doing. "But she still needs convincing. Good luck in fighting my sister."

"You're a coward." Diaspro tells her.

"And throwing a temper tantrum isn't how a princess should act either." said Zara.

"Fine, that means I'm going to have to unmask you by force." said Bloom. "Bloom, Magic Winx!"

"You little country beggars." said Diaspro.

"Excuse me? What did you call us?" asked Zara, giving Diaspro a crazed look as she ran towards her, half-finished to what she was doing.

Bloom attacks Diaspro in anger as she releases an orange fire ball. Out in the arena, the exhibition went on as one specialist knocks another off their wind rider. Sky takes off his helmet and runs across the field. "Is everything okay? Are you hurt?" he asked.

"No, just a few bruises." said Brandon.

"You sure about that?" Xander asked, getting off his wind rider and checks on him.

"I'm sure." he replied as Sky turns towards a certain purple haired specialist.

"It's payback time, Riven." said Sky, glaring at him.

"Whatever." Riven said, taking off his helmet.

"Hey, guys. This is not the time." Timmy tells them. "We've got to do the dragon show."

Coming out from giant arena doors, there were three dragons. Dragon 1 blows its breath on the ground as though drawing a scrimmage line. while dragon three screeches. Brandon stares into the eyes of the dragons before them as dragon four blows out smoke from its nose.

Suddenly, Stella peers into the arena and gasps at what she was seeing. "Hey, girls. We can see everything from here." Stella said, turning her attention back to the arena when she was unexpectedly pushed away by Musa. "Hey, hey!"

"I want to look too." said Musa.

"Okay, time's up. My turn." Tecna tells her after tapping her shoulder. "Wow!"

"Hey! My turn now!" said Flora, getting a glimpse. "Move over!"

Flora watches as five dragons were in the arena for the five specialists. Further down in the arena in a disclosed location, Bloom was dealing with Diaspro while Zara stood beside her.

"I don't know what your problem is, but if it's a fight you want…" Diaspro said, taking off her cloak. "Diaspro Winx!" She then transforms into her fairy form.

"Girl, I can tell you what my problem is right here, right now. Zara, Magic Winx!" said Zara, letting her anger get the best of her and goes into her fairy form. "My problem is that you called my sister and I country beggars. Do we look like beggars to you?"

Bloom and Zara fired off fire balls at Diaspro, causing her to jump out of the way of both flames. Diaspro lunges towards them, causing the twins to take flight only for her to grab them by their ankles. "Now tell me what you want?" she asked.

"For you to not be a condescending person!" shouted Zara.

"You are one of the Trix." said Bloom.

Diaspro pulls them towards the ground, causing the girls to glare and kicked her back towards a wall. "I'm Princess Diaspro, the fiancée of Prince Sky of Eraklyon." she tells the twins as she created two red rings to contain the twins.

"Yeah, I'm tapping out." said Zara, struggling to break free.

"I can't move!" said Bloom. Both of them flew up to break the rings that were restricting them. "All right, I've had it you ugly witch."

Bloom and Zara fired several fire bursts towards Diaspro as she created a full body shield. "I'll show you!" she snapped at the twins, creating six ember like stones before her. She then fires upon the twins, getting their backs against the wall.

"Hi-ya!" shouted the girls firing back

"You little….." growled Diaspro.

"Little what?" taunted Zara, cocking her head to the side. "Remember…we're not beggars!"

Back in the arena, the five dragons were circling above the Specialists as they waved to the crowd. "No hard feelings about the incident earlier?" Riven asked Brandon and Xander. "Right?"

"That depends." said Xander as Brandon takes out his holo-boomerang. As Brandon throws his holo-boomerang, it made its way towards Riven.

"Huh?"

Riven jumps out of the way and fell to the ground as his dragon lays on the ground behind him. "None whatsoever." said Brandon.

"It's cool." said Riven as he stands up and commands his dragon to attack both dragons with its head and wings. People screamed as they ran in fear. The three dragons started to attack each other.

"Now that was uncalled for." said Brandon. He and Xander then tries to gain control of their dragons, trying to get them to stop fighting with Riven's dragon by having them slash the creature.

Riven's dragon screeches as it takes flight and retaliates in anger. "They pitted the dragons against each other." said Codatorta, watching the boys do this. "I must intervene."

He takes off towards the arena and past the heads of all three schools. Once on his dragon, Codatorta heads towards the three dragons and starts to tame them. "Nice dragons." he said, getting them to stop fighting. "Ha! Be good!"

As the three dragons separate, everyone starts to see the ground break up, revealing Bloom, Zara and Diaspro. "So, have you had enough?" asked Bloom.

"Are you going to take it back?" asked Zara, her bo staff was dismantled already and was sitting on her back, between her wings.

"No! Have you?" Diaspro asked, then sends another round. The twins then protected themselves in orange and blue fires from Diaspro's attack. They each send three fire balls, breaking Diaspro's embers.

"Goodness! These girls are nuts!" shouted Diaspro, then realizing that the three of them were in the arena. Zara looks around and became red with embarrassment as Bloom fires at Diaspro, knocking her out of the sky.

'Brandon' rushes towards Diaspro as Xander looks up at the twins. "Brandon?" questioned Bloom, seeing him there.

"I'm just going to….uh…." said Zara, feeling uncomfortable as she tries to come up with a way to escape.

"Sky!" said Diaspro, calling him by his correct name.

"I'm just gonna…." Zara said to her sister, who grabs her wrist, wanting her to stay with her. "Okay, Bloom."

"Brandon." Bloom said once again.

"What do you mean Brandon?" Diaspro questioned. "This is Sky, Prince of Eraklyon, one of the successors to the throne and my future husband."

"Hey, wait!" Sky said, cutting off Diaspro.

"Zara!" Xander called out as he follows his friend.

"Xander!" shouted Codatorta, glaring at the boy, causing him to stop.

"Yes, father." said Xander. Zara looked between Xander and Codatorta, feeling disloyalty between her and Xander.

"Father?" Zara asked, her voice no more than a whisper as Xander turns around and looks at her.

"Bloom, I…." the Eraklyon Prince called out as he sees the looks of betrayal on the twins' faces as they landed.

"I can't believe that I trusted you! I knew you were hiding something from me." Zara said to Xander, who sees the anger in her eyes. She takes out both halves of her bo staff, planting them into the ground, then points to Sky. "I had a feeling that his name wasn't 'Brandon' since both of you were avoiding us and now my sister's upset because of this."

"Zara, I'm….." Xander started to say, trying to apologize when Zara kicks him hard in his rib cage.

"What's more is…." Zara said as he grabs his side while she starts punching him. "you didn't tell me the first time that we were here at Red Fountain that Codatorta was your father?!"

Codatorta watches the confrontation, a mix of concern and a hint of pride in his son's resilience as Zara releases her anger out on his son. Xander gasps, clutching his side as he crumples to the ground. "Zara, please… just let me explain…" he said, looking up at her.

"How could you do this to us?" Zara asked, glaring at him. "You had no right to keep these secrets."

Finally, she picks up her bo staff, looking furious but also heartbroken. She rushes over to Bloom, wrapping her arms around her. In the stands, Faragonda watches as Zara comforts her sister.

"Aren't those two your students, Faragonda?" Saladin asked Faragonda.

"Yes, they are. The twins." said Faragonda, adjusting her glasses.

"Both of them ruined my exhibition." he said, tapping his staff against the ground.

"Please forgive me, Saladin." Faragonda said to him.

"However, I believe that the second twin could teach the boys a thing or two." Saladin tells her, giving Alfea's headmistress an interested look.

"Well, I see that it's not only my students who are obsessive." said Griffin, looking at Faragonda.

"My turn!" argued Tecna.

"My turn!" Musa argued back. "Move!"

"Let me see!" Tecna complained.

"Enough already!" shouted Stella, stopping Tecna and Musa. "I'm watching the show now."

"Bloom! Zara!" Sky and Xander called out when Erendor spots Brandon.

"Squire!" he bellowed.

"My lord!" Brandon said as he ran towards him. Stella gasps at this from behind the door as her shock turned into anger that Brandon wasn't a prince at all.

"Where were you when my son needed help?" Erendor questioned Brandon. "You have neglected his safety. You incompetent. I take my leave of you."

Bloom and Zara felt deeply betrayed by Sky and Xander. "Come on, Bloom." Zara said. "Let's go back to Alfea. I can already feel Faragonda being disappointed in us."

Bloom nodded and the both of them take off towards Alfea.

"Our minds are made up." Bloom said to Zara as night fell around Alfea while holding Kiko and Lavender in their arms. "There's nothing else we can do."

"You're right, Bloom." said Zara.

Chapter Text

Out in the courtyard of Alfea, the Winx were waiting on someone. "Hey, here's Stella!" said Tecna as Stella runs up to them.

"We're all here now." said Bloom.

"Yeah." said Zara as Stella catches her breath.

"I hope for your sake that what you've got to tell us is super important you two." Stella panted towards the twins. "I was busy organizing my shoe collection."

"My oh my, you sure have your priorities straight." said Tecna.

"Priorities are straight, but the rest of her brain is askew." Musa said.

"We have to talk to you girls seriously." Bloom and Zara said as the former was more hurt by Sky's true identity while the latter had more anger for Xander.

"What….what's wrong, Bloom? Zara?" asked Flora.

"Zara and I have been thinking about this for a while, and after what happened at Red Fountain…." Bloom said as Zara remain silent. Both of them were thinking back to the incident that happened at Red Fountain with Diaspro.

"Well…we…..we've decided to leave Alfea." said Zara and Bloom. "There we said it."

Musa and the others gasped by their statement. They were curious to know why they were withdrawing from Alfea. "What?" Stella asked, speaking first. "That was a stupid little incident. And anyway, you friend could get lost. Forget Brandon, Sky or whatever his name is and Xander. You are you."

"Your powers are amazing, girls." Flora tells the twins, hoping that they would stay. "Don't waste them."

"You both want to give up everything, just like that?" Musa asked them. "Without knowing what the outcome will be?"

"And what about your origins and the secret of Daphne the Nymph?" questioned Tecna.

"We don't care anymore, Tecna, really." said Bloom and Zara. "We'd rather just forget the whole thing. We don't belong to this dimension and every day; we notice it more and more."

"Listen, you two." said Flora as the two backed away a bit. "Think about what you're both doing very carefully."

"Trust us, Flora." said Bloom. "Zara and I have given it a lot of thought."

That night, Bloom and Zara were packing their bags. "Brandon has made a fool of me." Bloom said to Kiko and Lavender. "Why did he tell me he was Prince Sky's squire when he was Prince Sky himself?"

"I don't know, but he's not the only one who kept a secret. Xander never once told me that Codatorta was his father." said Zara.

"At least you knew that something wasn't feeling right." said Bloom. "Maybe it's because we're not princesses that they didn't tell us."

"But knowing doesn't change the fact that he chose to keep me in the dark. I thought we were friends. I thought I mattered." said Zara.

Both girls closed their suitcases, and their bunnies looked up at them. "Everyone here is special and wonderful." said Bloom as she and Zara scratched their bunnies' heads.

"And we're just a set of nobodies." said Zara, turning to Bloom. Bloom and Zara walked over to the common room, opening the doors to peer inside. The other Winx were distracted by what they were doing.

"Look at them; they're all so focused on their activities. They probably won't even notice we're gone!" said Bloom. "I'm sure they'll understand."

"We'll miss you girls." whispered Zara and placed her bo staff against their bunk bed.

Bloom looks over at Flora's plant, seeing that it was their way out of the dorm. Zara walks over to her twin, following her line of sight and they used a growth spell to lengthen the branches out the window.

"I'm really sorry, Kiko." Bloom said to her bunny. "Come on up."

"I'm sorry, Lavender. I'll make it up to you." Zara said to hers as she picks Lavender up while Kiko runs to Bloom. The branches lifted the sisters out of the dorm and onto the campus grounds before returning to normal.

The twins ran out the gate and towards the bus stop, waiting for the bus to take them to Magix. Zara and Bloom looked at Alfea one last time before stepping onto the bus. Once they were in Magix, the twins walked through the city, reliving some of their best memories with their friends.

"We'll cherish them always, wont we, Zara?" asked Bloom.

"Yeah, we will, Bloom." said Zara. They walked past a store, not knowing that Stormy was inside.

Stormy watched as the twins walked by. She then follows them down an alley. "Goodbye, Magix." they said, tears falling down their faces and created a portal to take them back to Gardenia.

"Hmm." Stormy hummed to herself as she watched the twins disappear. She had to inform Icy about this. "Just like that."

"Huh?" asked Icy, shocked that Bloom and Zara left Magix forever.

"They said, 'goodbye, magix' and they disappeared." Stormy tells her.

"They left, huh?" said Icy. "So, the little fairy set have given up."

"They've gone home." said Darcy.

"Quack, quack." Pepe said, running up to Icy.

"Sisters, listen up." Icy said as she walks from the table.

"Mommy!" said Pepe, unable to hug Icy's leg. "Quack!"

"This is the opportunity we've been waiting for." She said to Darcy and Stormy. "Without their Winx friends, Bloom and Zara are even more vulnerable."

She looks at Pepe in disgust while he looks up at her lovingly. "Momma!"

"Right…" she said, freezing the duckling again. "Gardenia, here we come."

Once they were back in Gardenia, Zara and Bloom returned home, telling their adoptive parents everything. "It's alright, Bloom and Zara." Mike assures them. "You both don't need to explain anything. You've both made a choice, and we respect your decisions."

"We hope that you're not too upset with us." Zara and Bloom said as one twin leans back in the chair while the other leans forward on the floor.

"Oh, sweeties. Why do you both think we'd be upset?" Vanessa asked. "You'll always be our precious little girls."

"Well…." said Zara, bringing her knees close to her.

"We…we've missed a whole year of school." Bloom said. "Zara and I know that you wanted us to go to high school. But instead, we chose to go to…. oh, we just can't help but feeling that we've let you down somehow."

"Actually, we know that's how you feel." they said, seeing their mother's aura. "Remember our powers?"

"You both can go to high school, next year." said Mike. "Right now, we're happy you're both home."

"We can see how you true feeling." said Bloom as she and Zara sees their father's concerned aura. "And neither of you is happy."

"You're both disappointed in us." said Zara.

Bloom and Zara rode their bikes through Gardenia. "Hey, hey! Look who's back." Mitzi called out, seeing the twins. "Bloom and Zara the brilliant." She and her dad had pulled up next to the girls in their car. "So, tell me, how is that special school for special girls? You know, I'm surprised to see the two of you here this time of year. School isn't over yet."

"Hi, Mitzi." said Bloom.

"How's it going?" asked Zara. They take off with Mitzi following them.

"Oh, I know. You both got kicked out, huh." Mitzi said to them.

"Nope. Zara and I left on our own." Bloom tells her.

"You know what, Mitzi? From now on, just stay out of our business! Okay?" Zara angrily said to the girl. "Bloom and I don't have to explain ourselves to you!"

"Whatever." she said. "Be that as it may, the bottom line is…. you both flunked!"

She and her dad drove away with Mitzi laughing out the window. "She's lucky I stick to the code." said Zara.

When they got home, Bloom starts drawing Alfea as Zara starts practicing one of her Aikido techniques. Bloom then crumples up the paper and tosses it behind her. As the day passed, the girls felt sad and depressed.

At Alfea, the Winx went to Faragonda to let her know what happened. "What?" Faragonda asked, shocked that the twins left. "Why wasn't I notified immediately?"

"Well, we thought that…." said Flora as Stella held onto Zara's bo staff.

"That what?" questioned Faragonda. "That I wouldn't have noticed? Perhaps no, but what were you thinking? You are those girls' best friends. And you allowed them to leave without stopping them?"

"That is not true!" Musa told her as she stood her ground.

"Miss Musa." scolded Griselda.

"Oh, all right, all right." said Faragonda. "Let's discuss this further another time. Meanwhile you can go."

They left her office and back to their dorm. "You heard what she said." Tecna said to the others. "I told you we should have let Faragonda know."

Flora and Musa sighed as they walked in. "Yeah, maybe. But what if Bloom and Zara had changed their minds?" Stella asked Tecna. "What if they came back?"

"But they didn't." said Musa. "Let's face it, girls. Bloom and Zara are gone for good."

"Well, then I'm going to bring them back." Stella declared, gripping Zara's bo staff then then looks down, realizing what the youngest twin was feeling. "Now I get why Zara wanted to know about this."

Back in Gardenia, Zara and Bloom were in their mother's shop, helping her out. "Pink Carnations, huh?" Vanessa asked as she looks for the flower. "I'm sorry, Mrs. Gees, I don't think I got any left."

At one of the shelves, Bloom and Zara looked at a vase, filled with carnations, both of them changing the color. "Um, mom." they said, getting her attention. "We still have some. Here." Bloom hands the carnations to Mrs. Gees.

"Thank you." she said, taking the bouquet.

"It's nice to have a couple of assistants with the Magic touch." complimented Vanessa.

"Flora taught us that trick." said Bloom as Zara smiled. A couple of girls walked past the store as the twins looked out the glass window.

"You do miss your friends, don't you?" Vanessa inquired. She goes to them, giving the girls a hug. Outside of the shop, the Trix found the twins.

"I knew the two of them wouldn't last long." said Icy, glaring daggers at the twins. "They didn't fit in at Alfea. And yet, Bloom and Zara doesn't belong to this world either. We'll act soon and put an end to their misery."

That night in Gardenia, the twins were out for a nighttime walk. "You'll see, Kiko and Lavender. Zara and I will get back into the swing of things in no time." said Bloom as she and Zara walked past a lamp post.

"Yeah. Who knows what tomorrow will even bring." said Zara.

"We made the right decision, didn't we?" they asked their bunnies. Lavender sadly looked up, her ears slightly dropped, showing that she missed being at Alfea. Kiko shakes his head at them, agreeing that he wanted to go back to Alfea as well.

"Thanks a lot. What a great friend you both are." Bloom and Zara said, knowing that Lavender and Kiko missed the girls.

"Bloom! Zara!" Mitzi called out as the bunnies hopped into the twins' arms. "What's up? You're talking to yourselves, girls."

"Well, it sure beats talking to you, Mitzi." said Bloom.

"Yeah, seriously. Why bother?" scoffed Zara.

"Oh, grumpy." said Mitzi as the twins walked away from her. "What did you two do? Flunk an exam or something? Oops, how stupid of me. I completely forgot….you both don't go to school."

"Why do you want to know, Mitzi?" Zara asked, turning around in anger. "Just let it go! Bloom and I chose to leave that school."

"Oh well." said Mitzi as she takes her scooter onto the sidewalk.

"Hey, we'll make up for it next year." said Bloom as Zara angrily glared at Mitzi.

"But you both will still be a year behind." said Mitzi.

"You know, Zara is right. What's it to you, Mitzi?" Bloom asked.

"Just leave us alone." Zara tells her.

"Pretend that we don't exist, okay?" the twins asked her.

"No need to pretend, you two." said Mitzi. "The both of you are a nobody."

She then takes off, scaring Kiko and Lavender as she drives towards them, laughing. "All right, that's it." said Bloom and Zara as their bunnies peered out from behind what they were holding. They used their powers to transform Mitzi's scooter into a purple pig.

"No! What, no!" shrieked Mitzi as the pig tries to buck her off when it turns the corner.

"Serves her right." said Bloom.

"Amen to that!" said Zara, high fiving her sister.

"Come on, let's go home." the girls said to Kiko and Lavender, racing towards their house. As they arrived home, Bloom opens the door, revealing something unsettling. Inside the house, Mike was being hanged upside down by his feet.

"Oh no, sweeties." he said, watching the twins walk in to see that the Trix were in their house.

"Good evening, Bloom and Zara." said Icy. "We've come to pay your parents a visit. I can call them that, right? Now, Bloom and Zara, we're going to take what is rightfully belongs to us."

"And what's that? Our happiness?" Zara asked rhetorically. "Because that's already been ruined by a couple of boys from Red Fountain."

"Go on, ogre." Icy commanded Knut who stood menacingly behind Vanessa. "She's all yours."

Knut snarls and rushes towards them as the twins screamed in fear. He knocks them out of the house and starts to tower over the girls. "Twins, Magic Winx!" they shouted, transforming into their fairy forms. "Now we're on an even field."

"Huh? What?" Knut asked as the twins flew into the air.

"Up here, bully." said Zara and Bloom. "You're going to be sorry to have attacked our parents." The twins combined their fires as they aimed them at Knut. The Trix teleported themselves out of the house and above the street.

"So, twins…you'd rather deal with us, huh." said Icy. Bloom and Zara snarled at the Trix as they laughed menacingly at them. "Stormy, would you do the honors?"

"With pleasure." she said, sending lightning towards the twins. Zara and Bloom split in different directions, dodging the attack before taking off above Gardenia. The Trix followed them through the city and Darcy created a boundary shield, stopping the twins in their tracks.

Icy sent several ice shards towards them, causing the girls to create a combined barrier around them. Stormy shouted in anger as she goes for the twins, tossing them in midair. "Had enough yet, twins?" Icy asked. They then created their shield, and Stormy sends two strands of lightning towards them.

In a park, a couple was on a date when they looked up at the sky. "We better go. There's a storm coming." the girl said to her boyfriend.

The twins panted tiredly as they were started to lose their strength. "All right, let's leave it at that." Icy said to her sisters. "We have one more card to play."

"One last card to play?" they questioned as the Trix disappeared. They then looked at each in shock. "Our parents!"

The twins headed back to their house to save their parents. By the time they got there, Zara and Bloom saw the Trix their parents hover over a vortex. "Not too quick on the draw, aren't we, twins?" Icy asked.

"Bloom, Zara." said Mike, struggling to break free.

"Mom, dad." they said, looking up at them before turning to the Trix. "Why are you doing this to us? What do you want from us?"

"We want to give you both your normality back, dears." said Stormy. "We want your powers."

"Oh, we can make that decision for you." said Zara, pointing to her sister.

"No way. Zara and I are not giving you anything." said Bloom. "You're wicked and cruel."

"Wrong answer." Icy said, chuckling. The twins gasped as Icy drops their parents into the vortex below.

"No!" they screamed as they went after them. Reaching out, Zara and Bloom dragged their parents out of the vortex.

"Really?" Icy sarcastically asked. "Stupid little Winx." She knocks the family of four to the ground while Darcy knocks the twins into the living room. Stormy has her fun by shocking them with lightning.

"Give it up, Bloom and Zara. You're struggling in vain. We want the two dragon flames that are in the both of you." said Icy as she finally tells the twins the truth. "You should know my dears that our three ancestors went so far as to destroy Domino in order to get it. They understood the powers of both flames and would have stopped at nothing to get them. And they almost succeeded. Except for your big sister, Daphne the Nymph, had to spoil everything by saving your lives."

"Daphne?" asked Bloom.

"Our big sister?" asked Zara.

"So, they had to get rid of her." Icy tells them. "But before our ancestors could do that, Daphne managed to take the both of you away and hide you in a secret location. Far from your birthplace."

"But what do you three have to do with what your ancestors did?" asked Zara and Bloom.

"We picked up where they left off and we'll carry through the mission." answered Icy. "Right, sisters?"

"Right." Darcy and Stormy said, nodding.

"You see, our ancestors were old and worn out but we're young and strong." Icy tells the twins.

"Well, you'll have to contend with us then." said Bloom.

"Better yet, I can take you down in 5 seconds flat." said Zara, her hands brought up to her face in fists.

"Oh yeah?" taunted Icy.

"Who do you think won medals in mixed martial arts?" Zara asked as she quickly runs towards the Trix, only to be thrown back to Bloom by Icy, freezing the twins against the wall.

"The sad thing is, you both haven't got a leg to stand on, princesses."

"Why are you calling us, princesses?" asked Bloom and Zara.

"How quaint. The both of you still don't have a clue, do you?" Icy said, seeing that the twins didn't know about this bit of information. "My dear Bloom and Zara …..you are the young daughters of the king and queen of Domino. You are the last and only heirs to the throne. You two are the guardians of the two greatest powers in the universe. And shortly, these great powers will be in our hands. They're all yours, sis."

"And a minute too soon. Yah!" said Darcy. The twins groaned in pain as Darcy knocks them out with vertigo. Icy lifts up their heads, seeing that they were knocked out.

"This is it." Icy said to Darcy and Stormy. "Nothing can stop us now. Ready?"

"Oh yeah."

"You bet."

The Trix then created the vacuum spell one last time. "Savor the moment." Icy tells Stormy and Darcy. "We're about to become the three most powerful witches the magic dimension has ever seen. We'll be invincible."

"Come on, lets hurry." Stormy said, impatiently. "I'm getting antsy."

"Vacuum!" shouted the Trix, combining their strength to remove the two dragon flames from Bloom and Zara. The girls saw two balls of orange and blue magic come out before them as they were summoned towards the Trix.

Knut walks in, interrupting what they were doing. "Hey, um…what's up?" he asked the Trix.

"Nothing, you bubblehead." growled Icy. "Let's get out of here."

The Trix and Knut left Gardenia with the twins' powers. "I'm not kidding you." Mitzi said to the boys in front of her. "This was my scooter."

"Yeah right." said the first boy, not taking Mitzi seriously.

"You know what, Mitzi? Maybe you should take a vacation or something." said the second boy.

Back at the house, Bloom and Zara opened their eyes to see their father hovering over them. "Dad?" they said, looking up at him.

"Bloom? Zara? Sweeties?" said Vanessa, seeing her daughters on the floor.

Just then, a portal opens up in the living room. "Oh no, they're back!" said the twins, expecting the Trix with the youngest twin about to start screaming her head off. Appearing out of the portal was Stella with Zara's bo staff in her hands.

"Stella!" exclaimed Bloom.

"We're so glad to see you!" said Zara.

"Bloom! Zara!" said Stella. "What's wrong?"

"The Trix…. They followed us here. They attacked us." they tell her as they looked up with tears in their eyes. "They were so strong; they took our powers."

Not far from them, Kiko and Lavender held their hands in front of them, sad that the twins no longer had their powers. "Zara, Bloom, I think you both should go back to Alfea with Stella to sort the whole thing out." Vanessa suggested.

"Your mom's right." said Stella. "You know, the both of you are two of the most powerful set of fairies of all time, girls. Let's fight back. If we all work together, I'm sure we'll find a way to get back at the Trix and thwart their evil plans."

"We're with you, sweeties." said Mike as the twins hugged their parents.

"Oh, we love you." said Bloom and Zara as Kiko and Lavender jumped up into Stella's hands.

Chapter Text

At Alfea, Stella brings back Bloom and Zara. She felt bad for the twins since the Trix took their powers. Opening the door to their dorm, Stella walks them in. Hearing the door closed, Flora opens her door and blearily looks towards Musa and Tecna's room.

"Hmm?" she said as Flora looked out into the common and sees that Stella had brought two figures with her. Flora walks out of her room and turns on the light. Bloom and Zara groaned at the light.

"Has that light always been like that here at Alfea?" asked Zara, blocking it from hurting her eyes.

"It's a little bright." added Bloom.

"Bloom! Zara!" Flora exclaimed as she ran towards the twins. "Oh, your both back! We were worried."

"Bloom, Zara, your back!" said Musa when she and Tecna heard Flora.

"Hi!" said Tecna.

"Hi!" said the twins. "We're so happy to be here with all of you again."

"You don't look very happy to me." said Musa. "What happened to you?"

"Indeed." said Griselda, appearing behind Stella, Bloom and Zara. "That's what Miss Faragonda wants to know."

"Wah!" shrieked Zara, her bo staff in her hands was aimed at Grisela, who looked a little scared. "Heh-heh….sorry, bo staff reflex. Very useful when it comes to someone who could break into your house."

"Noted." said Griselda as Zara retracts her bo staff and hangs her head with Bloom. In Faragonda's office, Griselda brought the twins before her as they sit in the chairs and pours them tea.

"Here, drink it while it's hot." said Griselda, offering two cup to them. "It'll do you both good."

"Thank you." said Zara, smiling as she and Bloom take their cups.

"All right then….would you both like to tell me what happened, Bloom and Zara?" asked Faragonda.

"We went back to Gardenia, ma'am." said Bloom and Zara as they looked at each other and then at the contents of their cups. "We…we didn't feel like we were good enough for this school."

"Oh, girls." Faragonda said, sighing sadly at them.

"It was a hard journey for the both of us." said Bloom.

"As well as a little soul searching." added Zara.

"But it was useful." they tell her. "Now we know who we are and what our purpose is. Or was rather."

Griselda was shocked as she hears this from the twins. "What do you mean?" she asked.

"We found out the truth and it's horrible." sobbed the twins. "We're the last princesses of Domino, ma'am." Faragonda gasps at their revelation as both of the twins stood up from their chairs. "Keepers of the two dragon flames. That's why our sister; Daphne the Nymph gave us the two crowns at Lake Roccaluce." Tears were streaming down their faces. "Those crowns were a symbol for which she sacrificed her life."

"Yes, but….you both embodied that symbol." said Faragonda.

"You mean you know our history?" asked Bloom.

"Why didn't you tell us?" asked Zara.

"Bloom, Zara, sometimes the search for the truth is more important than the truth itself." Faragonda tells them. "If I told you both earlier, you both wouldn't have been able to understand."

"So, you're saying that it was better for us to find things out from the three witches?" they asked Faragonda.

"What three witches? What are you two talking about?" she questioned.

"Icy, Darcy and Stormy followed us to Gardenia and took away the powers we were meant to protect." Bloom and Zara answered her, crying harder than ever as they hugged each other. "The two dragon flames are in their hands. Those three witches are no mere students. A strange light shines in their eyes."

Faragonda gasped, seeing that it was the Trix who stole their powers from them. The powers that created the realm of Magix. "They're crazy, ma'am." said the twins. "Crazy like the three old witches who destroyed Domino way back when."

Faragonda walks from her desk, thinking as the twins looked up. "Now what's going to happen?" Bloom asked.

"I don't know, but this doesn't bode well for Magix." she tells them.

"I wish we could ask Daphne for help." said Zara.

At Cloudtower, witches in training were eating and chatting in the great hall when suddenly, the Trix arrived. Chatter stopped as they all turned their attention towards them.

Griffin saw the Trix and gave a low growl. In her mind, how dare they returned after she had expelled them from Cloudtower. As the Trix walked further, Pepe follows until he trips. Knut notices this and picks up the duckling.

"What are you three doing here?" Griffin demanded. "This is my school, and I won't have you wreck it." She then tries to dispel the Trix from Cloudtower and barrier was created around them. Icy steps forward, placing ice around the barrier and cracks it as she sends shattered ice towards Griffin.

"Miss Griffin!" a witch in training called out as she and her friend went towards her.

"Are you all, right?" asked another witch who then turns to the Trix. "Your behavior is unacceptable."

"Ha! And what are you going to do about it?" Stormy asked, smirking. "Give us detention? Ha-Ha-Ha!"

With the powers they stole from the twins, Stormy boosts her powers by creating the most powerful tornado in the existence of Cloudtower. Students and furniture were sucked in, tumbling around. One student crash through a window.

Griffin became angrier than ever as she goes and goes to save her students. Once she was safe on the ground behind the Trix, Griffin created a purple light ball in her hands and throws it towards them. Icy looks over her shoulder as Darcy catches Griffin's light ball. Griffin gasps at this as Darcy shrinks it in her hands before destroying it.

Icy turn towards Griffin and sends a blizzard towards her. Ice starts to creep up, pinning Griffin to the wall. "In case you haven't gotten it yet, Miss Griffin…" said Icy. "We're in charge now."

The Trix then turned to everyone in the great hall, gaining their attention. "Witches of Cloudtower, listen up." Darcy said to them as they groaned from being tossed around. "We are about to affect several changes around here."

"And if you don't like it, by all means, speak up." said Stormy. "We're open to criticism."

Behind the Trix, Knut and Pepe were shaking as they were freaking out. In a classroom, the Trix had Griffin, and two other witch professors trapped in bubbles. "Griffin." said Icy, sitting in Griffin's chair with Darcy and Stormy on either side of her. "You and your students have just earned yourselves…a nice vacation in the Damp Snake and Rat-infested dungeons of Cloudtower."

As Lucy heard this, she couldn't believe it. Mirta was right all along about the Trix, and knew that she should have listened to her. "What? You're not happy?" Icy asked her fellow witches. "How ungrateful."

"You wretch!" shouted Griffin.

"If you think you'll get away with this, you're wrong." the first witch professor said.

"Oh, yeah. We all saw how you can stop us." Icy said sarcastically. "It was very impressive."

"You're making a big mistake." warned Griffin. "You're crazy."

"Crazy? Really?" Icy challenged Griffin, glaring intensely at her. "Well, Miss Griffin, I dare you to say that again."

"They're mad." Griffin said, whimpering in fear.

"Now we will go down into the castle crypt, where the most evil spells are kept." said Stormy as the two witch professors pounded the bubble surrounding them. "And we'll call forth the Army of Darkness."

"You can't!" said Griffin. "No one's ever been able to control the Army of Darkness. It will cause total destruction."

"Oh really?" questioned Icy, now intrigued. Down in the crypt, the Trix blasted the double doors and went inside. "And here we are." The Trix walked inside and finally spots the book, containing the spell for the army. "The Army of Darkness will be our command."

Back at Alfea, Faragonda was speaking to Saladin with Palladium and Wizgiz by her side. "Why are you so worried?" Saladin asked her. "These young witches aren't proficient yet. They certainly won't know how to use the powers of both dragon flames."

"Perhaps, but what they lack in experience they make up for in power and ruthlessness." said Faragonda.

"I trust your instinct, Faragonda." said Saladin. "I'll put Red Fountain on alert."

"And what about Miss Griffin?" Wizgiz asked. "What does she have to say?"

"No one is answering at Cloudtower. And that worries me." replied Faragonda. "Let's wait a bit before making any decisions."

Kiko was eating a carrot, and Lavender was trying to do a bunny handstand while the Winx were sitting on Flora's bed. "We're a mess." said Bloom and Zara as they sit up.

"Zara and I were unable to use our powers when we needed it most and now the whole magic dimension is in serious jeopardy." said Bloom.

"Bloom and I feel bad about this. We should have fought harder against the Trix." said Zara.

"We've got to do something." said the twins as they walked over to their bunnies. Bloom picks up Kiko while Zara helps Lavender with her handstand. "But what? We mean….we've lost our powers….we're not fairies…we're not anything anymore." Kiko starts crying while Lavender tumbles onto her back.

Suddenly, Stella's phone rings as she goes to answer it. Reading the caller id, Stella's facial expression changed. At Red Fountain, Sky and Xander were standing next to each other as Sky hand his phone out.

"Hi, Stella?" he asked. "Uh, may Xander and I speak to the twins?" Stella tells him that she'll ask them. "Of course, no problem. I'll wait." When Stella came back with an answer, Sky was shocked. "They can't?" Sky ended the call and shakes his head at his best friend, who then frowned.

As Sky and Xander take off, Riven was kneeling by himself. "Rejected by their little fairies." said Riven. "Darcy will be happy to hear this." He then takes off to Cloudtower on his windrider.

"Riven! Over here!" Darcy called out, seeing him arrived at Cloudtower. He pulls up to the window and sees the Trix in Griffin's office.

"What's going on here?" he asked them and looks around the headwitchress. "Since when does Griffin let you use her office?" The Trix laughed at his statement.

"Since we took it from her." said Darcy, walking past him.

"What do you mean?" questioned Riven, confused as the Trix continued to laugh. "I don't know what you've done, but I really don't like what's going on around here."

"Oh, Riven…." said Stormy as she walks up to him. "You're still in the dark, aren't you? But rest assured, you were fundamental to our success."

"We couldn't have done it without your help." said Darcy.

The Trix levitated and started spinning around him. "Your spying skills made all the difference in the power struggle with the fairies." said Icy.

"No!" Riven shouted, bringing out his sword. He couldn't believe that he played a part in it. "You've tricked me. Curses on you!" The Trix cackled as they created a dark vortex beneath him as Riven jumps out of the way. "You snakes!"

Riven tries swinging his sword at them, only for them to dodge the blade. "Spear of Oblivion!" said Darcy as she sends out a purple ball of light at Riven's feet, taking them somewhere dark.

Riven looks up and sees that the Trix were now towering over him. He then takes out small throwing discs and throws them at the Trix. Seeing that the discs went through, Icy goes to grab Riven, causing him to scream.

Later on, the Trix were in a circle and levitating about to summon something big. "The power we've been hungering after for so long is now ours." said Icy. "We'll begin the conquest at Cloudtower. Then the whole Magic dimension."

"At last." said Stormy.

"Let's not be rash, Stormy." Icy tells her. "Today, Alfea and Red Fountain will get a taste of what we're capable of." Outside of Cloudtower, the Army of Darkness was crawling out of the ground as they were finally being summoned. Knut and Pepe saw the Army of Darkness as it enters Cloudtower.

"Rise up, creatures of darkness." Icy commanded. "As your rulers, we command it."

The creatures gathered around, waiting for their orders from the Trix. Knut gasps as the Trix went out to greet their army. "So, what do you think of our army, sisters?" asked Icy. Dark clouds floated towards Alfea. "The moment of truth has come at last."

"Hey, look." said Tecna, seeing the dark clouds coming from Cloudtower.

"Huh?" squeaked Kiko and Lavender as they all turned in Tecna's direction.

"It's about to rain." Tecna tells them and she was right. Rain fell around Alfea as fairies ran for cover. The creatures of Darkness appeared on campus, causing them to scream in terror as they moved towards the building.

Stella started trembling as they came close to the window and screams. "Sorry." Stella said as she blasts the window. "It was pure reflex."

"Everybody, let's get out of here." Palladium said, opening their door. "The school's under attack."

As the Winx ran out of their room, Zara grabs a couple bo staffs, preparing to defend the school on the ground. As they ran out of the school, the Winx stopped in their tracks as the creatures of Darkness surrounded them and others.

"This is a total invasion." said Tecna as Musa squishes one of the creatures "We've got to fight back."

"Let's send these critters where they came from." said Musa.

"But…we…we can't help." Bloom said.

"Don't worry. We'll take care of them for you too." said Stella, placing a hand on Bloom's shoulder.

"In the meantime, you and I have work to do, sis." Zara said handing Bloom a bo staff.

"You always plan ahead." said Bloom, taking it from her.

"And you were always my sparring partner, even when you wanted me to show you what I learned. This time, we can show them who's boss." said Zara, smiling as she bumps her twin's shoulder.

"I mean, I did pick up a few moves from you." said Bloom and they turned to the others.

"Since Bloom and I currently don't have our powers, we'll do our part for ground control." said Zara.

"Good idea." said Musa.

"All right, go on then." said the twins

"Stella, Magic Winx!" shouted Stella as she, their friends and other students transformed into fairy form.

Those who hadn't transformed into their fairy forms ran to go hide, as Bloom and Zara stood on the sidelines, watching. One of the creatures grabbed Kiko by his tail, dragging him across the ground as Lavender pulls on Kiko's hand, trying to save him. Just then, Kiko screams out for help as he and Lavender were being dragged. Bloom then kicks the creature away from him when she looks down at her foot.

"Ew!" she and Zara said as the creatures were on her foot while Kiko and Lavender hopped into their arms. "We may have lost our powers, but we still know how to defend our friends."

"You ready?" Zara asked Bloom, holding out her bo staff.

"I'm ready if you are. Let's show them that twins are twice as fierce!" said Bloom. They pointed both ends of the bo staffs they were holding as Bloom and Zara stared out into the courtyard.

"On three then? One... two... three!" said Zara.

"Let's do this!" they both shouted as they ran out into Alfea's courtyard.

"Ha! Ha!" shouted Zara as she starts doing hand rolls with her bo staff.

"What are they doing?" Flora asked.

"You'll see!" Bloom cried out, following Zara as they lead one of the bigger creatures through the outside corridors.

"Hi-yah!" shouted Zara as she strikes down the creature in front of her.

"Whatever they're doing, it's working!" Stella called out as she uses her staff to help the twins. Musa was firing off her magic as a big creature of darkness appears behind her. She looks up and screams. Tecna spots it and throws a byte which it causes the creature to explode.

As untransformed fairies ran, Bloom and Zara led their creature of Darkness further through the school. Their backs were against the wall as they held onto their bunnies and bo staffs, giving out a small set of identical screams as the creature growls before them. They both screamed loudly as it goes for them when suddenly two identical swords were thrown at the creature, cutting it in half.

"Light sword technique, fourth level power." said Palladium. "I'll teach you both that next year."

"Cool!" said Zara, excitedly, gripping her bo staff tightly.

"Zara." Bloom said, poking her sister as they watched Palladium take off to help the others.

"Is it bad to say that we all think that Palladium is cute?" Zara asked as Bloom hung her head in shame. "Oh, Bloom don't be like that. But I'm definitely going to be asking Daphne that question the next time she visits us in our dreams."

"It's all right." said Wizgiz, transforming into what seemed to be a mythical dinosaur-like creature. "Let me give you a hand."

"They've swarmed the east wing." Griselda said to Faragonda. "Now they're headed to the Laboratories."

"Did you hear that, Saladin?" asked Faragonda. "Those creatures are taking over Alfea."

"The situation over here at Red Fountain isn't much better." Saladin tells her. "The entire Magic dimension is in great peril. Now, if you'll excuse me, I must help my boys."

At Red Fountain, the creatures of Darkness were attacking from the sky as more walked towards the school. The boys as well as Codatorta were doing their best as they fought against the creatures of Darkness. Suddenly, an aircraft appeared above Red Fountain, revealing guards from Eraklyon. Guards fired upon the creatures as Diaspro looks out to see Sky fighting with Xander by his side.

"Huh?" said the boys as they look up to see a ladder, leading to safety.

"Prince Sky, we've come to get you." Diaspro said.

"What?!" he shouted over the fighting.

"We've come to get you out of here." she tells them. "You must save yourself, my prince."

"I'm fighting to save the dimension." Sky tell Diaspro. "My place is here."

"Don't be silly, you are a prince." Diaspro said to Sky, not wanting him to get hurt. "Let these peasants fight for you."

"You know, Sky…." said Xander, giving Diaspro an evil look as she called him a peasant. "I'm starting to wish that the twins were here to deal with that girl."

"I don't blame you." Sky told him as they stare at Diaspro. "For the record, my bet will always on Zara to take her down before Bloom does."

"Zara would dismantle her in seconds and still have time to make it look graceful." snorted Xander.

"Well, what are you waiting for?" she called out to Sky. "Your duty is to rule."

Xander shakes his head, glad that he wasn't dating Diaspro as he heads back to the fight with the specialists. Sky slices the ladder as Diaspro became shocked and angry. "Mission failed. Fall back." said one of the guards as he closes the door, leaving the boys behind. Sky groans as he walks back to the fight. Back at Cloudtower, the Trix watched their chaos unfold.

"It's time to call a halt to the fighting, sisters." said Icy. "Call back the creatures of the dark." The creatures retreated back to Cloudtower. "The magic dimension is now ready to hear our demands."

Chapter Text

At Cloudtower, the Trix started making their demands. "Your pathetic little magic schools will soon cease to exist." said Icy, using Griffin's crystal ball. "We have supreme power, and we will stop at nothing to obtain full control of the magic dimension."

At Alfea, Saladin and Faragonda listened to their demands. "You have 12 hours to surrender or face total annihilation." said Icy. "Resistance is futile."

"They're totally insane." Faragonda said, facing the window as Icy disconnects, laughing.

"Yes, those three witches are exactly like their ancestors." Saladin agreed.

"Except that their ancestors could never obtain both powers of the dragon flames." said Faragonda.

"We'll have to work together." said Saladin. "I'll go back to Red Fountain and organize a defense strategy. We've got to act quickly."

Back at Cloudtower, Darcy was outside with her portion of dark creatures. "My sweet itsy-bitsy babies." she said in a baby voice. "You've come back to mama. What is it, my little urchins? Want to play?"

"I don't know. I don't like this." Knut said to Pepe who was sitting in his hand. Pepe gulps as he looks back at Darcy, terrified of what she might do next. "This is no place for us anymore." He takes Pepe with him and leaves.

"The witches are planning attack against us." Faragonda said to the Winx. "They're doing what their ancestors did. Back then, they had seriously jeopardized the dimension's balance of power and now another generation of witches have taken up the fight. And this time, they possess a weapon their ancestors did not." She then turns to Bloom and Zara.

"Your powers and that makes them utterly invincible. Bloom, Zara, listen carefully. At this point in time, the only thing for you both to do is to go back to Domino."

"To Domino?" they both asked, looking at each other before turning their attention back to Faragonda. "Uh, but why?"

"Because it was their three ancestors who destroyed your birthplace, twins. They eradicated your kingdom. And now Icy, Darcy and Stormy, are following in their evil footsteps." Faragonda explained as she then shows them Domino. "And I'm thinking that perhaps somewhere in the remnants of the Royal Palace. You might be able to find a clue, a shred of evidence, something, anything that could help you both regain what you've both lost…..the two dragon flames."

As they take a closer look at Domino, Faragonda had shown the Winx the Royal Palace as it gets buried in snow. "Bloom, Zara, you two are our only chance." she tells them.

"In that case, we'll go with you." said Musa.

"Absolutely." Flora chimed in. "You can count on us."

"As if we'd let the two of you go by yourselves." added Stella.

"Thanks, girls." said Bloom as she and Zara teared up.

"You're the best." Zara said. Faragonda leads them into the simulator.

"All right, everybody." Palladium said to the girls. "You all set and ready to begin?"

"Yeah….just make sure you keep an eye on Lavender and Kiko." said Bloom, knowing their bunnies. "If they're left alone for too long, they'll likely cause mischief."

"Also, make sure that when you monitor Lavender when she eats…she tends to go a little wild with food." said Zara. "She can and will do anything to have you give it to her no matter what."

"Noted." said Faragonda, looking at the now blushing purple bunny as the simulator lighting up.

"Come here, Lavender." Griselda said, taking her into her arms.

"Now listen girls, I've done a complete overhaul of the system and in a few seconds, the simulator will create a multi-dimensional corridor, which will take you directly to Domino." Palladium said.

Six balls of light hovered over the girls, giving them winter gear. For Bloom and Zara, Palladium came up with the idea of placing their names on their winter gear.

"Now remember, this time it's for real." he said. "It's not a simulation. So, concentrate, relax and stay focused. I wish you all the best of luck." He then sends them to Domino. "Our fate is in their hands."

Soon enough, the girls arrived on Domino. "Domino is freezing cold." said Bloom.

"But the snow looks kind of fun to play in." said Zara, looking at the bright side of the situation.

"It sure is." said Stella and the Winx began walking. "We've got to find the Royal Palace and fast or else. We'll end up frozen stiff. Come on, girls." They continued walking for a while until they came to a stop.

"If only we had our powers." said Bloom.

"Yeah…." said Zara. "Remind me again why I didn't bring my bo staff with me?"

"Bloom, Zara, don't worry about it." Tecna assures them. "It looks like we don't have much further to travel." She then brings up a map of Domino. "I've analyzed the Topography of the region. You see the flat area on the map? I think that this is your Royal Palace."

"Oh, Tecna!" the twins exclaimed as they hugged her. "You're so great!"

At Cloudtower, the Trix were in their room, apparently looking for the Winx. Back on Domino, the girls continued to trek towards the Domino Royal Palace. "Hang on, a second." said Flora as the freezing wind blew around them. "The climate's totally off kilter. Mother Nature's not happy."

"I know." Musa said, agreeing with Flora. "The wind doesn't sound right. It's full of anger."

"If we're going to be honest here, I don't blame it. The wind here has every right to be anger right now." said Zara, intertwining her arm with Bloom. "But if it really wants to take its anger out on someone, it can take its anger out on the three old witches and the Trix. Not us! I'm freezing my spine here!"

The Winx continued to head towards the Domino Royal Palace when suddenly, a creature appears in the freezing cold. "Come on, girls. Cheer up." said Stella as the wind continued to blow in their faces.

"We can't see where we're going." said Bloom and Zara. The Winx were unaware that the creature was following them.

At Red Fountain, Knut went to Saladin for help. "I hope your presence here is not another one of those witches' tricks." Saladin tells him.

"Oh, no. We're scared." said Knut as Pepe sits on his shoulder. "We need your help."

"Quack!" said a terrified Pepe.

"Please." Knut begged Saladin, feeling as though he had no other option.

"Should I trust you?" questioned Saladin.

"Yes, you should. Absolutely." replied Knut. "We're your friends now. Icy, Darcy and Stormy are mega ultra bad news." Suddenly, a flash of purple light appeared from behind Pepe, scaring him. "They'll never forgive us for deserting them."

Pepe starts to freak out as he grabs his face. "Ahem!" said Stormy, causing Pepe to look behind them.

"Saladin, you surprise me." said Icy, seeing Knut and Pepe in his office at Red Fountain. "I didn't know you like to entertain traitors."

"You've chosen to side with the enemy, haven't you?" Darcy asked Knut and Pepe. "Obviously, you don't know what's good for you."

"You crazy witches!" bellowed Saladin, channeling his magic as he sends a spark towards the hologram of the Trix. Saladin had Codatorta gather the boys, bringing them before him.

"Young men, the situation is serious." Saladin said, looking at all three groups. "The time has come to do battle."

"Are you ready?" Codatorta asked.

"Yes, sir!" shouted the Specialists.

"We're ready." said Timmy.

"On no account must we let the witches win." Saladin said to Codatorta. Just then, lightning strikes at Red Fountain as dark clouds surrounded above the school. Appearing in the clouds above them was Stormy's face, chortling at them as black rain fell to the ground, bringing forth the creatures of Darkness.

The Specialists were ready for battle. The creatures of Darkness gathered together, creating bigger versions of themselves as they stood before the students of Red Fountain. "This is it. The time has come." said Codatorta. "Take up your positions!"

The Specialists ran towards the creatures, defending Red Fountain. "More of them are showing up." Timmy said as he fires off several rounds at the creatures, destroying them in the process, only for them to create a bigger one.

As Brandon swings his sword, more creatures of Darkness surrounded him. Knut made a decision to join in the fight with Red Fountain, helping them out. He looks up as two more creatures of Darkness appeared behind Brandon.

"Watch out!" he shouted, causing Brandon to look up. "Look behind you!"

Brandon turns around and sees a creature of Darkness, standing behind him and grabs him by his neck. Another creature of Darkness grabs two Specialists, raising them above its head. Codatorta slices its legs, causing it to let go of the two boys.

At Cloudtower, the Trix were watching their army at Red Fountain. "Look at them." commented Stormy. "Why do they even bother?"

"Puny, worthless gnats." said Icy. "We are invincible."

The creatures of Darkness were putting up one heck of a fight as one tries to bash Brandon's skull. Knut takes down two of them, roaring out in anger. He then sees Brandon struggling against the monster and stomps his way over, punching it in the back. Knut then picks it up and tosses it towards the others.

"Hey, big guy." said Brandon. "Thanks a lot." Knut smiles, happy to know that he was doing something good for a change as Timmy gave him a thumbs up.

"Larimetrium!" shouted Saladin. "Soless Megatome! Orent lestet! Ori la tema!"

An orb was shot from his staff towards the sky, hoping that it would clear it. "Sha that retome!" Saladin shouted, sending orange sonic waves throughout the campus. "Go away, creatures of evil! Depart from Red Fountain!"

Saladin's magic worked, but the creatures of Darkness came back in full force. Icy showed her face, watching the misery of Red Fountain as she sends another lightning strike, causing it to catch on fire. Beams started to fall as the dragons walked out towards the stage.

They screeched at everyone, sensing the danger as the dragons break free from their chains and start roaming. As one dragon breaks from being underground, it took to the sky, screeching. "Oh no." said Codatorta, seeing the dragons take flight. "The stables are on fire."

Saladin puts out the stable fire, but it didn't bring back the dragons. All of Red Fountain looks up to see the Trix appearing to them in person. "You're wasting your time, Saladin." said Icy. "You'll never be able to save your school, old man."

With the combined strength of the two dragon flames, Icy's dragon flame was made of ice. It roared as it went towards Red Fountain, wrapping itself around the school, covering it in a block of ice.

"Strategic withdrawal!" Codatorta called out to the boys, knowing that it was time for them to retreat. "Everyone to their ship!"

Pleased with their victory over Red Fountain, the Trix laughed and disappeared. The school started to crumble on the inside as each squad went to their ships. Back at Cloudtower, the Trix were happy. "Weren't we just great?" Darcy asked as she high-fived Stormy. "Totally sent them flying."

"We rule." said Stormy.

"Ah, but we're not done yet, sisters." said Icy. "The best is yet to come."

Back on the icy terrain of Domino, the Winx continued to make their way towards the Royal Palace. "Girls….I think we should make a run for it." said Stella, shivering as she points in a direction. "Look!"

In front of them, an ice creature starts to stand up, causing the ground to shake underneath them as they screamed in dread. Seeing the Winx, the creature bellows as it created an avalanche towards them. Climbing out of the snow, the Winx were finally able to breath.

"Let's get out of here." said Bloom. "Now!"

"I don't want to get buried again!" said Zara.

The girls ran from the creature as it starts walking towards a hill, creating another avalanche. Tecna, Musa and Flora were running until the snow caught up with them. After it had buried them, it went after Stella, Bloom and Zara. It tries to grab them, but narrowly misses. "It's okay. I'll deal with him, you two." said Stella, going into protective mode. "Magic Winx! All right! Now we'll see if you can take the heat!"

Stella then fires off sun rays towards the creature, causing it to get even more enraged as it to create an icicle. "Okay, I really don't like where this is going." said Stella as the three of them backed away. "He's incredibly strong." The creature then throws the icicle at them as Tecna, Musa and Flora ran towards them.

"Girls, watch out!" cried the twins as the icicle hits the ground and splits it open. Bloom and Zara were on one side with their friends were on the other. Stella reaches out as the twins start to fall into the crevice that was being made.

"Bloom! Zara!" screamed Musa as the twins fell into the crevice.

"Oh no!" shrieked Stella as they all watched the twins fall to their doom. What the Winx didn't know was that the creature that was now standing behind them was created by Icy herself.

"Goodbye, twins." said Icy as she watched them fall from Cloudtower.

At Alfea, all Red Fountain staff and students arrived. "Alfea hasn't come under attack yet." Codatorta said to Saladin as they headed towards the school. "We'll be able to reorganize our troops here."

"Come on in, young men." Faragonda said to the boys as they entered the school. "We'll help you get settled."

"Thank you, Faragonda. The situation is critical." said Saladin. "Red Fountain has been destroyed."

"The Magic dimension lays in ruins." said Codatorta. "Their magical arsenal is astronomical. We had to withdraw. At least here, everyone is safe and sound."

"Yes, but unfortunately…" Faragonda said to Saladin and Codatorta. "I fear that this war is only just beginning."

Chapter Text

On Domino, Bloom and Zara fell through a crevice that the creature created with his icicle. "Let's never do that again." said Zara as she and Bloom sit up from the snow. "Agreed?"

"I second that. Motion carried." said Bloom as they both look up at the long drop they fell from. "We were lucky."

"More than just lucky…." said Zara, remembering that not only did the twins fall inside, but they also slid all the way down to the bottom.

"We were really lucky." said Bloom and Zara, smiling at each other, glad that they had were alive. "We're still in one piece."

"We must remain calm." Bloom said to Zara as they helped each other get the snow off.

"We can't freak out." said Zara. The twins started to look around to see that they were surrounded by ice caverns.

"We're at the bottom of a crevice." said Bloom.

"To which it has ice tunnels." added Zara. "Great. We're gonna get lost."

"We're not going to get lost." Bloom assures her. "At least, I hope not. We just need to find a way out of here."

Bloom and Zara started to search for an exit as they went further down. Above them, the creature decided to leave. Behind a snow drift, Stella peeks out before turning back to the others.

"Now what?" Flora asked her.

"It's going away." answered Stella. "What should we do?"

"I say we attack right now." said Tecna. "It won't expect it. We'll take it by surprise."

"We better not." Musa tells her. "The monster thinks it's rid of us. We'll let it believe that. Let's focus on finding Bloom and Dawn."

Stella looks around, then asked, "Where do we start? The avalanche has buried all signs of them."

Flora looks behind Stella, seeing something very familiar. "Hey, look over there." she said, pointing towards the palace. "Those look like castle towers."

"They are indeed castle towers." said Musa, remembering from when Faragonda had shown them the Domino Royal Palace.

The Winx walked over to the frozen palace and Stella came up with an idea. "Solaria!" Stella shouted as she tosses up her ring to get her staff. Stella aims her staff at one of the turrets, melting the ice away with sunlight.

"The rest of the castle has got to be under our feet." said Stella as she starts working on melting away the ice with sunlight. "Girls, we've found Domino's Royal Castle."

Down in the ice caverns, the twins were making their way in finding the exit. "I sure hope this tunnel leads somewhere." Bloom said to Zara.

"Me too. I'm not freezing my butt off for this." said Zara.

Luckily for them, it unknowingly led them to the palace causing them to gasp. "What in the world?" Bloom asked. "These are no caves. There the corridors of a castle."

"Of….our castle." Zara said. They stepped in further to see how their birth home looked.

"Looks like it was ravaged before being covered with ice." said Bloom.

"I have a strange feel…." The twins gasped as they looked up.

"We've been here before." they said. They remember seeing the room being brighter than its current state.

"If we truly are the princesses of Domino…." said Bloom, shivering a bit. "Then this means, this was our home."

"I can't believe that this was our home." said Zara, seeing the ice had covered half of the table. "It feels so surreal… like a dream and a nightmare all at once."

The twins then walked out into what looks to be a frozen courtyard. "What a beautiful place." Bloom said, leaning into her sister. "This must be the courtyard."

"We would've had a lot of fun out here, Bloom." Zara said to Bloom.

"We could've made mischief with Daphne." Bloom giggled as Zara nodded before both of them felt sad.

"Must have been rather…" said Zara and Bloom, then turned to each other, hugging in sadness.

Suddenly, they felt the courtyard shaking around them, causing a statue to fall. "An earthquake!" shouted Bloom.

"Bloom, calm down." said Zara, swiping at her sister's arm. "I seriously doubt that the planet's tectonic plates are physically shifting right now. I mean, come on! With all this snow right now?"

As the courtyard shakes around them, the ground below opens up, causing the twins to fall once again. Hanging onto the side, both Bloom and Zara were able to climb themselves out.

Outside of the castle, the others felt it as well. "Is it an earthquake?" asked Stella.

"I don't think so." answered Tecna as Stella flies over to the crevice.

"It's the castle's courtyard." Stella said as the twins pulled themselves up higher.

"What if it really was an earthquake, Zara?" Bloom asked, helping her sister.

"Bloom, really? Do you really want to have this argument?" Zara asked, getting annoyed with her twin.

"Okay, but something is happening, and you can't just dismiss it. What if it's a sign? Or a warning?" said Bloom.

"A warning of what, Bloom? Bad weather? A rogue spell left behind by one of our ancestors. Look, we've faced a lot of crazy things, and panicking isn't going to help." Zara tells her, letting out an exasperated sigh. "Now stop it and calm down before I go nuts!"

"Hey, look! Its Bloom and Zara." said Flora as the Winx spot the bickering sisters.

"Hey, Bloom! Zara!" Stella called out, causing them to stop.

"Hey! Get yourselves down here!" they shouted. "There's something we need to show you."

Ice dripped slowly as Stella tries to melt it around the castle. Tecna helps her out by creating a dome above her. "I'm creating a concentric dome to increase to increase your powers, Stella." Tecna tells her.

"Wow!" said the others.

"The ionic particles that you generate will be catalyzed, Stella." said Tecna.

"Uh, say that again?" she asked.

"Yeah, Tecna! Put it in terms that us other fairies can understand." said Zara, crossing her arms and raises an eyebrow at Tecna. "Because that bit of information is hurting my brain."

"Never mind." Tecna said to Stella and ignoring Zara's comment. "Let's just say, I'm making your job easier."

Once the ice had melted away, the Domino castle was looking better. "Good job, you two." said Flora as Stella landed in the courtyard.

"It's a total mess. The three ancient witches have wrecked the place." said the twins.

"But don't you worry." Musa tells them. "The Trix will never do this to the Magic Dimension. We won't let them."

"Thanks, Musa." said Zara.

"We hope you're right." said Bloom.

"The underground hallways have not been damaged." said Tecna, taking a look.

"Perhaps the three ancient witches didn't know they existed." said Stella.

"Hm….Well, in that case, I think we should all go down there." said Bloom. "It looks like nobody's been down here in a long time."

"Probably since the day we were born." Zara said as they started walking. Tecna pulls up a map of the Domino castle.

"No footsteps detected, dust and spiderwebs undisturbed." said Tecna.

"There." said Stella, giving her staff some light. "Now we can see where we're going."

"Bloom! Zara!" Daphne called out as the twins looked at the corridor. Bloom and Zara gasps as they look down one corridor.

"Twins, what is it?" asked Stella.

"Did you hear that?" they asked Stella. "The voice?"

"No, I didn't hear anything." said Flora.

"She's baacckk!" Zara said as Bloom hits her sister's arm without looking. "Hey, don't hit me like that."

"I don't pick up any other lifeforms." Tecna tells them, showing evidence.

"Welcome!" Daphne said, revealing herself. "I….am…. Daphne…"

"Our sister?" asked Bloom and Zara.

"She's beautiful." commented Stella.

"We meet…at last. Follow me." Daphne said to her baby sisters. The Winx followed Daphne down the corridor when she appears in front of them again.

"Daphne!" said the twins.

"Don't speak." she scolded them. "Just listen to me. I was once the nymph of Lake Roccaluce. But it is in this castle that we were born. What you are looking for, you will not find here. But you both will discover your origins, your past and a great secret."

Daphine leads them to the jewel room and magically opens the door. "Here is Domino's treasure room." she said to the Winx. "Do come in."

"Wow!" Stella said in awe as she looks around.

"Hey, Stella! Looks like the twins are richer than you." Musa teased.

"I'll know who to ask when I'm strapped for cash." chortled Stella as Musa joined in.

Daphne then leads her baby sisters to the two crowns she had showed them in Lake Roccaluce. "It's the crowns we saw at the bottom of the lake." Bloom said as she and Zara turned to Daphne.

"It is your crowns." said Daphne and Bloom lifts up the glass. "Take them and listen carefully."

As the twins picked up their crowns, a male voice spoke to them as he shows them their past.

[The twins' vision]

"Bloom, Zara, your destinies have always been to be the keepers of the two dragon flames." he said, showing them as newborns.

The orange dragon's flame surrounded Bloom as the blue dragon's flame surrounded Zara.

"The powers that keep the magic dimension safe from the forces of evil."

The three ancestral witches hovered over them, hoping to take the flames away from the twins.

"The three ancient witches, the first creatures of evil known to the dimension tried to steal the powers of the two flames but failed."

The three ancestral witches randomly attacked the people of Domino, especially those who were in the palace courtyard. The palace starts to collapse.

"However, they did succeed in destroying Domino."

Daphne quickly goes down a corridor, carrying Bloom and Zara in her arms. Both of them were crying as the three ancestral witches followed the cries. Hidden in a different corridor, the ancestral witches zoomed past Daphne and the twins.

Both of them cooed and laughed as Daphne smiled at them. Zara tried to grab a loose strand of Daphne's hair, but Daphne wouldn't let her, causing the baby to pout a little.

Adjusting the twins into one arm, Daphne created a portal to send her baby sisters through. She intended to send them to Earth, knowing that the twins would grow up safe and loved.

"The witches eventually overpowered Daphne, but before they could do so….she managed to save your lives."

Daphne sends Bloom and Zara to earth, knowing that it was breaking her heart to let them go.

"The king and queen of Domino, convinced that they had lost all three of their daughters, chose to go into exile to grieve." said the male voice from the two crowns. "Today, they still pine for their beloved girls."

[The twins vision ends]

Tears streamed down both of their faces as the twins cried. "Our mother. Our father." cried the twins as they sat on the steps.

"You both have been shown the shocking truth, but you must be strong." Daphne said to her sisters.

"Yes." said Bloom as Zara nodded.

"Bloom…. Zara." Flora said, sympathetically.

"Zara and I have just learned about our sister Daphne's great sacrifice." said Bloom as they both wiped away their tears. "How she saved both of our lives. We've also found out about what happened to our birth parents. They're still alive."

"They chose to go into exile." said Zara.

"We don't know where they are." they said as both of them looked up at their older sister in sadness. "Daphne, we swear to you as soon as we're done with the evil Trix, we're off to find them."

"That's how a princess should talk." said Daphne. "I'm proud of you, Bloom and Zara. I can go now. My work here is done."

"If you decide to come in our dreams tonight and I'm dreaming about a certain boy….wait until said boy leaves my dream, then we'll talk about it and whatever else you want." Zara tells her, causing Daphne to smile as she disappears.

As the Winx left the treasure room, they went back out of the castle. "We must go back to Magix, right now." the twins declared. "We'll upset the witches plans, and we'll get back the dragon flames."

"It's been a while since I've seen the two of you this spunky." said Stella, glad to have her best friends back.

"I was wondering what had happened to the old Bloom and Zara." said Musa.

"Us too." Zara and Bloom said, laughing as they winked at Musa.

"Now that Zara and I found out about our past, we feel stronger." said Bloom.

"I feel more than that." said Zara. "I feel we're more determined than before."

"Well said, Zara." Bloom told her as she nodded. In the distance, the snow creature spots the Winx again, then pounds his fists into the ground. The creature roared out, letting them know that he sees them.

The Winx gasps as they see the creature standing feet from them. "Uh-oh." said Stella as the creature's ice-like spider friends joined him. "Our furry friend is back. And this time, he brought company."

"Why? Doesn't he think he's big enough?" asked Musa.

"He's big enough alright…. he just thinks that he needs back up to defeat us." said Dawn as the creature bellows at them.

"You already girls?" Stella asked. "Winx Attack!"

"Flora, Magic Winx!"

"Tecna, Magic Winx!"

"Musa, Magic Winx!"

The creature roars out as four out of six fairies went into their fairy forms. "They launch their assault." said Flora as the creature sends his minions.

"There's like….an army of them." said Musa. "Come on, girls. Let's get rid of them."

She then sends out sonic waves, causing the creatures to feel the vibrations. "Flowers of the wind!" said Flora, sending flower seeds towards the creatures. As the seeds landed in the snow, roots grew out and starts to wrap themselves around the ice spider creatures, throwing them into ground.

Stella uses her staff to send sunshine into the ground, creating a growing yellow barrier, destroying them in the process. "Goodness, they just keep coming back." said Stella as more ice spider creatures came up.

"I'll try to clean up the area." said Tecna, then creates little program bytes to place on the ice spider creatures. Once they were on, Tecna's program activated and caused the creatures to explode. "That's what I call a clean sweep." More creatures came towards them. "There must be endless supply of these ugly critters. We need better cover. Let's head for the castle."

The Winx ran back to the palace for safety. "There's so many of them." said Flora.

"Don't think about that, Flora." said Stella as they closed the doors. Zara and Bloom used a piece of wood to block the door from opening. "Ready?" Stella and Musa flew above the courtyard as the ice spider creatures were closing in. Musa starts playing her flute, creating a music barrier while Stella aims her staff at the creatures.

"Isn't there a saying that defense is a good offense?" asked Stella.

"Yes." said Zara, causing her and Bloom hugging each other protectively as the ice creatures headed towards them.

Tecna used computer strands to keep the creatures away from the twins. "Thanks, Tecna!" they called out.

"Don't waste your energies there, girls." she said. "You are a set of princesses."

Outside the castle wall, the ice spider creatures were climbing to get inside. "We can't give up." said Flora, trying to get vines through the walls. "That should keep them busy for a little while."

"If they break down the gate, we're in trouble." said Stella as more of them gathered at the castle gate.

"I can go up and put up a sonic curtain to defend it." said Musa.

"No, Musa." Stella tells her. "It's way too dangerous."

The big ice creature came up to the castle, sending his arctic breath onto Stella and Musa, knocking them into the twins. "Okay, one of you officially weighs more than Bloom does." Zara groaned as Bloom pulls her up. "Oh the pain."

As the big ice creature towers the courtyard, Tecna and Flora created a shield to protect them and the others, until they were knocked back as well. "You all right?" Bloom asked. "Nothing broken?"

"It's too powerful." Tecna tells her. The giant ice creature roars as Bloom and Zara ran into the palace.

"Hang in there, girls." said Tecna as they followed the twins inside. The ice spider creatures broke down the front gate and entered the courtyard, looking for the Winx.

"They got in." said Musa, listening for the creatures who then came closer. "Oh no, they're coming!" The ice spider creatures turned the corner, hoping to find the Winx, only to be let down in confusion. When they looked up and howled, they see Musa hovering over them.

"Sonic Mega Blast!" shouted Musa, sending the blast towards the ice spider creatures and shattering them. "Ha!"

Unknown to the girls, a Red Fountain aircraft arrives at Domino's castle, bringing in the boys to save them. Sky and Xander ran towards the ice spider creatures with their weapons drawn, slicing them in half with Brandon following close behind.

Timmy stares down the ice spider creatures before firing his weapon, destroying them on site. As the four of them went back-to-back. "They just keep coming." said Brandon.

"Uh, what now?" Timmy asked.

"Plan B." said Sky.

"When he says go." said Xander.

"Go!" shouted Sky. Inside, Stella shines her attack on one ice spider creature while going after another. Behind Bloom and Zara, ice spider creatures crept up on them, causing them to each grab a torch from the walls.

Swinging their empty torches, the twins knocked down the ice spider creatures. "Bloom, Zara, we need to find a safe place." Stella tells them. The Winx met back up in the middle of the courtyard as Flora seals up her tunnel with vines. The creatures chomped through her vines and all of them surrounded the Winx.

"Uh-oh!" said the Winx.

"Don't touch my friends, you ugly beasts!" shouted Flora as she aims her flower magic towards the ground of the ice spider creatures. Flowers popped up under them, opening their petals in order to swallow them underground.

Tecna traps her portion in a world wide web trap and sends them towards Musa who then used sonic waves to destroy them. As two ice spider creatures walks up behind the twins, who then shrieked in fear when suddenly they were destroyed.

"Huh?" they asked, seeing that Sky and Xander came in, protecting them. Timmy and Brandon came in through the roof, landing in front of the Winx.

"Cool!" squealed Stella.

"Come on, guys! Let's take them down." said Sky.

"Let's do it!" shouted Xander.

"Powerful." said Tecna, seeing Timmy show off. Suddenly, a dark shadow appears above them, revealing the giant ice creature standing outside of the castle. The Specialists then attacks the creature's hand as it tries to swipe the Winx, causing him to cry out in pain.

"Oh, no. This guy's too big for us." said Timmy.

"All right, everybody! It's time pull our efforts." said Stella as she, Flora, Musa and Tecna flew up towards the giant ice creature.

"Tecna! You'll have to coordinate the attack!" Zara and Bloom called out. "Converge the powers!"

"Why of course!" said Tecna, understanding what they were telling her. "The stratosphere." She then starts creating a giant stratosphere around the giant ice creature. Stella and Flora combined their attacks inside the sphere.

"Sonic Combo Pop!" shouted Musa. The creature groans as it finally gets knocked out and lays on the snow before disappearing.

The girls cheered as they finally dealt with the creature. Once they were back on the ground, the Winx stood before the specialists. "You guys saved us." said Stella, hugging Brandon.

"We had to." he said, a little embarrassed.

"But how did you find out about our mission?" asked Tecna.

"Red Fountain has been destroyed, so all the specialists took refuge at Alfea." said Sky.

"Then Sky and I spoke to Professor Palladium who told us that you were here." said Xander.

"He opened up a portal for us but we were still unable to find you." Sky said as he and Xander hung their heads.

"However, Brandon here never gives up. So here he is, along with his page." said Riven.

"What do you say we all go back to Alfea now?" asked Flora.

"Yes, please." said Stella. "Winter weather is just so bad for my skin."

As the others laughed, Bloom and Zara looked away in sadness. The aircraft takes off from Domino. Musa was playing her flute as Flora placed her head on her shoulder. Tecna was looking out the window while Stella was sleeping up front next to Brandon.

Stella wakes up and looks back at the twins, worried about them. "Bloom, I'm…." Sky starts to say, looking at the oldest twin. "I'm…."

"Did you say something?" she asked.

"No."

"Well…"

"Yes, I did." said Sky. "Bloom, I'm sorry about what happened. I…I broke it off with Diaspro. To be honest, I never really cared that much."

"Really? We're sorry…I mean…." said Bloom as Zara glares at Xander. "um, we're not sorry, but it's like we are, but you know what I mean."

"Yeah, Bloom, I know." he said to her.

"I should hurt you." Zara growled at Xander, who leans back in terror. "But I cant because of my martial arts code."

Xander chuckles nervously, wondering what would happen if she did break her martial arts code. "But you've always said to me that I was your friend and nothing more and, so I just…." Sky said to Bloom.

"Well…it doesn't matter now because we both know what we want." the two boys said as Bloom grabs a hold of her winter gear while Zara gives them a look.

"The two of us have made a mistake too, Brandon, but somethings are just so hard to admit." said Bloom.

"Even the most beautiful thing of all?" asked Sky and Xander.

"Mistakes are always forgivable, if one has the courage to admit them." said Zara.

"Any case, I'm sorry about the Brandon/Prince Sky thing." Sky said to Bloom.

"I forgive you." said Bloom.

"And I'm sorry too." Xander tells Zara. "I should have told you that Codatorta was my father. I just didn't know how to tell you."

"You're lucky that you're cute." said Zara. "I forgive you too."

"On one condition….for each of us." said Bloom and Zara.

"Okay. Anything you want." Sky and Xander said.

"You….get to help me practice my techniques for martial arts." said Zara, looking at Xander. "I need someone to practice with and I'm not beating up Bloom for it."

"And we get to call you, Sky, period." said Bloom, looking at Sky. "I don't like the prince thing you know."

Sky and Xander looked at each other and starts laughing at the two sisters. "It's a deal." said both boys. Everyone starts laughing as they entered the portal back to Alfea.

Chapter Text

The Specialists returned to Alfea with the Winx after their mission from Domino.

"Welcome back, all of you." Faragonda said, then looked at the twins. "Bloom, Zara, how are you dears?"

"Fine, Miss Faragonda." said Bloom.

"Good, ma'am." said Zara.

"So, your mission was successful?" Saladin asked.

"We found them sir." said Sky.

"Brandon, Xander and their…." Bloom started to say when Zara hits Bloom's side to correct her. "uh, I mean Prince Sky, Xander and the other Specialists…"

"Uh, yes, their arrival on Domino was timely." said Stella.

"Hey look!" said Musa. They looked to see Lavender, Kiko and Pepe playing.

"Looks like Kiko and Lavender's found a friend." said Tecna.

"Kiko." Kiko said as he and Pepe start rolling while Lavender chases after them.

"It's Pepe, Icy's duck. How did he get here?" asked Stella as Knut walks up.

"After we deal with the Trix, we should really consider rehoming that duckling." said Zara as she watched Pepe play with Kiko and Lavender. "He needs to be far away from Icy."

"I brought him with me." said Knut, scratching his head.

"Knut." Stella said, glaring at him with Musa.

"It's all right, girls." said Faragonda. "The ogre is on our side."

"He fought courageously against the forces of evil." said Saladin.

"Goodness, you close your eyes for a second and look what happens." said Stella.

"Pepe and I managed to run away from Cloudtower." Knut explained. "They chased us, but we were too fast for them."

"Indeed. We don't even know what happened to Miss Griffin." Faragonda tells them.

"So, I guess this means, we're all in the same boat." said Flora.

"Yes, but it remains to be seen whether we can keep afloat or not." said Musa.

"Well, now at least we have a lift raft." commented Stella, causing Knut to hug her.

"It's getting a little crowded here, don't you think?" Tecna asked, watching the specialists carry their equipment.

"It's true then." said Bloom and Zara. "Red Fountain Castle destroyed?"

"Yes, unfortunately. The boys will stay here for now." Faragonda informs them. "As strong and courageous as these young men are, they can't possibly overpower Icy, Darcy and Stormy by themselves. The whole magic dimension is in ruins."

"Those three witches won't wait long before launching a new attack on Alfea." Saladin said to the kids. "We've got to be ready to fight them."

At Cloudtower, Riven looks up from his cell to see Darcy and Stormy. "Look at dribbling idiot." said Stormy.

"Hey Stormy? Why do you say that we play with his head a bit." suggested Darcy. "Just for laughs." They walked away, leaving Riven alone to be alone with his thoughts. Behind him, images of himself appeared.

"What's going on? What are you trying to do? What do you want from me, huh?" Riven asked, seeing the images of himself. "Come on! Speak! What is it? What do you want? Huh? Come on! What are you waiting for?"

He then looks at the images of himself as they turned into monsters. "Who are you?" he asked, and they gave him no answers. They fell to the ground, morphing into one huge monster that stood before Riven.

"You stay away from me!" he tells the monster. "Go away! Go away! No! You're not me! That's not who I am!" Sitting on the floor, across from each other, the monster was mimicking Riven's moves.

"It can't be real" Riven said to himself as he reaches out. "It's impossible. You don't exist; you can't." He was then able to touch the monster's finger. "You are real." Riven then realizes that he's dealing with his inner demons as he stares into the monster's eyes.

"All right, big boy. I have no way of defending myself against you, but I won't panic. I don't go down so easily, you know? There are many things that I don't like about myself, but I'm far from being a monster, ok? I have a heart. And even though I can't be sure, they'll ever be able to forgive me for all the things I've said and done, I have a few friends too."

"Hey, kiddo!" a voice said from outside of his cell.

"Huh? Miss Griffin is that you?" he asked. "What are you doing here?"

"Paying the price for my foolishness." she replied. "I, too, have shown poor judgement. I should have realized sooner that their ambition was dangerous in scope."

"But it's not your fault." said Riven. "It would have to be impossible to guess what they were planning." He then looks down at the lock and starts to get an idea. "I've got to try to get out of here. I've always been good at picking locks." He looks at the floor and sees a bent-up nail. "This will do. Yes, sir….this will do. The person who hasn't been born yet can't keep me locked up."

Riven then gets to work on picking the lock. Once he had picked the lock, Riven walks over to Griffin. "Don't worry, Miss Griffin." he tells her. "I'll get you out of here in a second."

"Don't waste your time, kid." said Griffin.

"Huh?"

"Believe me, if it were as easy as that, my dark powers would have taken care of that lock long before now." she said. "It's an ancient runic lock. Its unbreakable." Griffin turns around as other witches were in the same cell. "My girls are busy preparing a potion which will allow me to confuse the protection runes for a few seconds and then…."

"What's happening?" asked Riven, hearing something coming from down the hall.

"The scrapers. Save yourself." said Griffin.

"But…." said Riven.

"Run!" she tells him.

"But…."

"You…..you can do nothing for me." Griffin tells Riven. "Run!"

Taking her word, Riven runs for his life, making it towards the dorms. "Where am I?" he asked himself when he suddenly hears the scrapers behind him. "Oh, no! No! The window!" He then turns around and runs towards it. "It's my only chance. There's no other way."

Riven looks back to see the scrapers getting closer towards him. "Is this where it ends?" he then asked, and he finally makes his decision. "No. You'll never get me." Riven jumps out of the window of Cloudtower. At Alfea, Sky sensed something.

"Riven." Sky said.

"What's the matter?" asked Bloom as Zara looks over at Xander.

"Nothing." Sky said to Bloom. "I just got this strange feeling."

"Xander, are you okay?" asked Zara.

"Don't worry about me." Xander assures her.

"Well, Bloom… Zara….we have seriously considered your proposal." said Faragonda. "And we…"

"Accepted it." they both said.

"That's why you didn't ask the other Winks to come this meeting." said Bloom.

"Smart thinking." said Zara.

"You mean to say the others know nothing of this?" Saladin asked Faragonda.

"I think it would be best if Bloom and Zara fills them in." said Faragonda. "They'll take it better."

"Excuse me, but what are you talking about?" Sky asked.

"We're confused here." said Xander.

"We're discussing the twins' plan for getting back the dragon flames." said Saladin. "They haven't told you both anything?"

"Oops. I knew we forgot something." Zara said as she and Bloom gave a small laugh.

"The both of you are going to accompany the twins to Cloudtower." said Saladin.

"What?" asked Brandon, shocked by this.

"Sir…." Xander said to Saladin.

"Only a total lunatic would consider going anywhere near Cloudtower right now." Sky said to the twins.

"Exactly." they said to him.

"That's the very last thing the witches expect from us." said Bloom.

"Which is why we proposed it to the heads of both Alfea and Red Fountain." added Zara.

"Zara and I need to get right into the castle." Bloom said. "We have no other choice."

"How are you going to do that?" Brandon asked.

"Easy." said Knut. "We can take the tunnels."

"Knut is very familiar with the old underground corridors, linking the three magic schools." said Zara and Bloom. "He will be the one leading us on this mission."

"Come on, you've lost all your magic powers. You're putting your lives at risk." Sky scolded the twins.

"Yeah, seriously! You can't just waltz back into the woods like nothing happened. What if something goes wrong?" said Xander.

"We appreciate your concern, but you're overreacting. We know what we're doing." said Zara remaining calm as she crossed her arms.

"This isn't just about you anymore. If you get hurt, it could affect the whole team." said Xander.

"I understand your worry, really I do. But we can't just sit here waiting for our powers to magically return. We have to take matters into our own hands." said Zara as Bloom nodded.

"We have no choice. Don't you understand?" said Bloom. "As long as the witches possess the powers of the dragon flames, nothing can stop them. The two flames are a part of Zara and I. We're responsible for it."

"Would you rather have us get both dragon flames back or sit around here, twiddling our thumbs, watching them take over the Magic dimension?" Zara asked.

"Bloom, Zara." Stella said with a smile on her face.

"So, when do we get going?" asked Sky and Xander.

"As soon as we've convinced Musa, Tecna and Flora to stay here." said Bloom.

"Alfea would have a better chance at surviving if they stay behind to help defend it." added Zara. "Plus, I'll take my bo staff as a precaution. I may know the basic set of using it, but it'll come in handy while we're in Cloudtower."

"Agreed. Their powers are essential to the protection of Alfea. The signs are unmistakable." said Faragonda, then points to her office mirror. "Look, a final attack is imminent."

"No!" shouted Icy, shocked to hear about Riven. "Oh, well….he chose his own fate."

"I would have like to see him squirm a little longer." said Stormy.

"Yeah." Darcy agreed.

"Well, that's the end of that. Now's it's time to seal the fate of Alfea." Icy tells them. "Creatures of the Dark! It is time for you to rise!"

"Orida Obscuro Tenant Brava." chanted Darcy and Stormy.

"Rise up from the deep, emerge from the abyss." said Icy, summoning the creatures of Darkness. "Go out into the world! Past the gates of Cloudtower! And in our name, destroy the light! Fill the skies and swarm earth! Make Darkness forever rule this realm!"

The creatures of Darkness finally arrived at Alfea as one Specialist looked at the sky.

"No! They're coming from the northeast." he said. "Thousands of monsters!"

Another specialist sounded the alarm, warning both specialists and fairies of the impending danger. "Well, this is it." said Bloom as she and Zara told them. "We're sorry, Zara and I wish we could help you."

"Same here." said Flora.

"We've already discussed it." Bloom tells her. "You'll be more useful here."

"Same old story." said Musa. "You're both stubborn as a mule."

"So are you!" Zara fired back.

"Oh, Flora…Musa." said Bloom as she and Zara hugged them.

"Really, Musa? You're just saying this now!" said Zara.

"Hey! I'm here too!" said Stella as she runs to hug them.

"No." said the twins, seeing Tecna stand alone, about to cry.

"Tecna, are those tears I see in your eyes?" Stella asked.

"Um, no. A speck of dust got in my eye." Tecna said, covering up her true feelings.

"Liar! You lie!" Zara said, pointing to her, then starts running towards Tecna, tackling her in the process.

"Wah!" shrieked Tecna as she was tackled to the floor.

"Never, ever say something like that to cover up what you're really and truly feeling on the inside, Tecna." Zara told her, pinning the techno fairy down and caused Tecna to look up at her. "It's okay to be anger, it's okay to be scared. It's even okay to be sad and upset. It's never okay to bury what you're really feeling on the inside from others. It's bad for the aura."

"Truer words are never spoken." said Stella as Tecna gave Zara a tight hug.

"Excuse me, girls, but time's a wasting and Knuts found the right path." said Brandon, peering up from the fountain.

"Well, let's go." said Stella.

"What is it you say on earth?" Flora asked, trying out the phrase. "Break a leg." Zara pats her on the shoulder, basically saying that she made an effort.

"Good try, Flora." said Zara. "We'll work on it when we get back." The twins went into the fountain, followed by Stella.

"Please come back safe and sound." said Flora.

Several Specialists aimed their weapons towards the sky, firing at the flying creatures of Darkness while other waited for them to penetrate the gate of Alfea. Fairies took off, using their magic to at least try and stop the creatures of Darkness from entering Alfea.

"The east side." said Faragonda.

"We'll defend it." said Saladin.

As Timmy fires at the creatures, Tecna, Musa and Flora walked up. "At last, here you are." He said, relieved. "We sure need your help."

In the Winx's dorm, Mirta watched helplessly as specialists and fairies worked together. After Flora sent flowers towards the creatures, she then looks up and sees Mirta watching them fight.

"Flora, watch out!" Mirta cried out, warning the nature fairy.

Flora looks up and sees the creature about to attack when suddenly it hits a barrier surrounded her. She then looks up towards the dorm, smiling in thanks as Mirta laughs happily.

Kiko, Pepe and Lavender ran in fear as the creature of darkness chases after them. Just as they were cornered, the creature was about to strike when Codatorta punches it in the jaw. Pepe struts out bravely as Lavender and Kiko looked up to him in thanks before Kiko passes out. Lavender just bows to Codatorta who gave the purple bunny a big smile.

"Come on, kids." Codatorta said.

"Well, what are we waiting for?" Tecna asked Flora and Musa as they transform into their fairy forms.

"Girls, what do you say we show them what we're made of." said Musa. "Winx Attack!"

In the tunnels, Knut had a torch in his hand, revealing the dirt. "Well, Knut, which way do we get to Cloudtower?" asked Sky.

"I'm not sure, things are different down here." he said.

"It's those witches' fault." said Brandon.

"So, you're not a prince." Stella said to him.

"No, unfortunately." he said, finally admitting it. "I'm Brandon, Sky's page."

"So, Sky tricked Bloom, Xander kept a secret of who his father is from Zara, and you tricked me, is that right?" Stella asked, glaring daggers at him.

"I suppose it changes everything." said Brandon.

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

"I'm sensing that she's going to have you work for it." said Zara.

"What about me?" asked Xander.

"Oh…. you're still not getting out of being my sparring partner mister." Zara tells him. "And after all of this is over, you're going to officially introduce me to your dad."

"Just be happy that she's making you work for her forgiveness." Sky said as Bloom chuckled behind her hand. Just then, Knut stops in his tracks.

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

"I don't know. I just feel that we're not alone down here." he tells her.

"Who would be down her besides us?" asked Zara.

"Relax, you two." said Stella. "Stay close to me and nothing will happen to you."

"We envy you, Stella." the twins said to her. "You can still defend yourself while we have no idea what we'll do when we find ourselves in front of the witches."

Inside of Cloudtower, Icy sees that the girls were heading their way with a few Specialists. "Excellent!" she said to Darcy and Stormy. "Everything's going according to plan."

"What are you talking about?" asked Stormy. "Our troops are falling back."

"I know they are. I want this war to last a long time. I want Alfea to suffer a slow humiliating defeat. The creatures of the dark are numerous and will never give up the fight, so ultimately, they will bring down Alfea!" snapped Icy, then cackles wildly as if she was mad.

Knut suddenly leads them to three tunnels. "Huh?" Knut said when out of nowhere a raven flies towards them.

"Uh, there are three tunnels. Which one do we take?" Stella asked Knut.

"Um, I don't know." said Knut.

"What? In the last half hour alone, you nearly led us into 14 death traps." Stella complained.

"Stella, Knut is doing his best." said Bloom, then turns to Knut. "Now think, you have a great sense of smell, don't you?"

He then smells the air of each tunnel. "It's this one." said Knut and leads them down the middle tunnel.

"Are you sure?" questioned Stella.

"If I say it's this one, then this one it is." Knut tells her.

"Next time we're on break, I'm getting noise cancelling headphones." said Zara.

As Knut continues to lead them down the tunnel, something appeared, causing them to turn around.

"Seriously!" screamed Zara as blobs chased after them. "Who keeps them in tunnels like these?!"

"Apparently the witches of Cloudtower!" said Xander. In one tunnel, Knut opens the hatch, letting in water. In another, vines wrapped around the kids. In the tunnel they were currently in, they were sitting on what seemed to be red stones.

"I'm exhausted." said Stella. Suddenly, what they were sitting on were bugs, causing them to run out. "Oh yeah, we'll get out of here, no problem. Yeah, right!"

"It's not my fault." said Knut. "This place is full of smells. Hang on a second…." He smells the air again rips as he leans against the tunnel. "I know that stink." Suddenly, the walk rips open, causing Knut to fall through, revealing Cloudtower.

"Hey guys, we've reached Cloudtower." said Bloom.

"This isn't what I had in mind." said Brandon.

"I think this is the castle's garbage dump." said Sky.

"Elch! What a stench!" said Stella, smelling it. "Yucko! We've got to find a way out of here and back into the castle itself."

"Agreed. And I'm gonna have to get tested for magical allergies after this." Zara said, looking around. "I really wanna know what I'm allergic to in the whole Magic dimension."

"Yeah, but let's give Knut a hand." said Bloom.

They went over to help Knut get out of what he was stuck in. "What was that?" asked Bloom and Zara.

"I don't know, and I don't want to know." said Stella as they pulled him out.

"Oh…" said Knut, smelling the air again. "Beetle roaches!"

"What are these things?" asked Stella.

"Giant garbage eating bugs." he explained.

"Ew!" squealed Stella as the Beetle Roaches appeared out of the garbage. "Disgusting."

"Man, there's like an army of them." said Sky.

"Sky….." said Xander seeing that they boxed in.

"Well, what are we waiting for?" asked Brandon. "It's extermination time!"

All three boys brough out their swords when the twins got in between them. "No, wait!" they shouted.

"If we attack, then we run the risk of blowing our cover!" Bloom tells them.

"Exactly! And if our cover is ruined, we can blame you three." said Zara.

"True." said Sky. "If we get rid of one of them and the witches will sense it."

"And that means we could kiss our surprise attack goodbye." said Xander.

"Right! We'll stand here and call them names till they go away." Stella said as the beetle roaches got closer. "Uh, did anyone bring a can of bug spray?"

"Not for bugs of this size." Zara told her as she and Bloom had something in their hands.

"Knut!" Bloom called out as he was grabbed by his ankle. Both twins swinged their made shift weapons at the Beetle roach, causing it to let go and back away.

"For a set of fairies with no powers, you sure pack a punch." said Knut.

"Thanks. You should see Zara in her tournaments." said Bloom.

"I'm a fighting fury according to my teachers and my opponents." said Zara.

"Look out!" Stella shouted as the queen beetle roach grabs a hold of Sky and Xander. Both boys lose grips of their swords, letting them fall to the ground.

"Sky! Xander!" shouted the twins. The queen beetle roach lets them fall to the ground. "Leave them alone you big….!"

She then kicks the twins away from her as she stood over both boys. Brandon aims his weapon towards the queen. "Go on, what you waiting for? Throw it!" said Knut.

"No, it's moving too much." Brandon tells him. "I'm afraid to hit Prince Sky and Xander."

Suddenly, someone appears as they landed on the queen. "Ya!" he shouted as he starts riding the queen like a horse.

"This is something I will never unsee." Zara said, gasping with her sister.

"Your number's up!" he said to the queen beetle roach as it bucks him off.

"Guys, look! They're all going away." said Stella, watching the beetle roaches leave.

"That's right." said a familiar voice as he stood up. "The one I zapped was the leader."

"Hey, um….who are you anyway?" Sky asked.

"What? You don't recognize your old friend anymore?" Riven asked, taking off the cloak he was wearing.

"Riven!" shouted Sky, Xander and Brandon. Once they were back in the tunnels, the three of them filled him in.

"I still can't believe it." said Sky. "You managed single-handedly escape from the dungeons of Cloudtower."

"And now we know there's a way." said Xander.

"To tell the truth, I didn't get to go very far." said Riven. "Up there, past the dump, the witches have set up a protective shield. If I had gone one step further, they would have captured me."

"But how did you manage to escape?" asked the twins.

"As I jumped out of the high tower window, I was absolutely sure it was all over for. But then, a buttress broke my fall, and I slid all the way down into the dump." Riven explained. "I had to pull myself together, place was teaming with beetle roaches. I lay low and looked for camouflage and most importantly, a weapon. The rest of my stay hasn't been particularly exciting."

"You kidding?" asked Sky and Xander.

"You had to put into practice everything at Red Fountain." said Sky. "Survival in a zone totally invested with creatures of the dark."

"You did better than I did." Xander tells him.

"Hey, you remember Codatorta's lesson?" asked Sky.

"Never hide down wind and keep your fingers out of your nose." said Brandon.

"Dude!" said Xander, shoving him to the side as they all laughed.

"Um, Sky, Brandon, Xander…." Riven said, once the laughing had died down. "I wanted to apologize for all the things I've done."

"Don't worry about it, buddy." said Sky. "We'll talk about it later, okay?"

"You're forgiven, alright?" added Xander as Bloom and Zara came up to them as the latter hops onto Xander's back.

"Right, we're on a mission here, let's not forget." said Bloom.

"Yeah!" said Zara.

"So, are you with us?" asked Sky.

"Otherwise, we can send you to Alfea." Xander offered him.

"You bet." said Riven.

"All right!" said Bloom and Zara as Xander sets her down. "Let's get a move on!"

"Knut has found the tunnel that leads right into the castle." said Bloom.

"We can finally put an end to this." said Zara.

"Unfortunately, it doesn't mean we're out of the woods yet." they said. "But something tells us our little visit here won't be a walk in the park."

Chapter Text

At Cloudtower, Knut had finally led them inside. He sniffs the air, finding something.

"It's this way." said Knut, leading them down a corridor. In one corridor, there were creatures of the dark. Shushing them, Knut slinks against the wall. "Wait here."

Turning the corner, he walks up to the wall and pressed a brick into it. The wall opens, revealing a passage. "This way." Knut tells them. They took the passage all the way up to one of the rooms.

"Hey! This is the Trix's room." said the twins.

"Knut, why did you bring us here?" Bloom asked.

"He wanted us to see good example of bad decorating." said Stella.

"Besides the potions and what naught, our room is a whole lot better than theirs." said Zara.

"From here, we have access to the castle." said Knut. The twins walked over to the door and peered outside.

"The corridor is heavily guarded." they said over their shoulders.

"Getting out of this room is not a problem." Knut said, giggling a bit. "I can move about the castle without being noticed. But first, we need to go down a couple of stories. The tunnel leading us down is through there."

"Uh…." said Zara as they all looked at the mirror.

"I don't know. It looks like a regular mirror to me." said Sky.

"You've got a keen eye, Sky." said Brandon.

"I think I understand the concept of this mirror." said Xander. "Especially if they wanted to get in and out of Cloudtower without being seen by Griffin."

"You've got to trust me. I'm with you, not the witches." said Knut. "Come on, we've got no time to waste."

"Hey, ladies first, Brandon." said Riven.

"And children, next. Right, Riven?" asked Brandon.

As the twins walked towards the mirror, Sky and Xander held them back. "Let us go first." said Sky. "It could be dangerous in there."

"I'm right behind you." said Brandon.

"Me too." said Xander.

Knut opens the mirror, revealing the passageway and the boys went in first with the girls following behind them. As they went further into Cloudtower, Zara sensed that someone was watching them again.

Icy was at Griffin's desk the eye walks towards her and shows that the group was inside the castle. "No!" screamed Icy. "Those sneaks! I knew they'd try something. Sisters! We have guests! Bloom and Zara are prowling about our secret corridors and they're not alone."

"How did the two of them get here?" growled Darcy.

"Knut is with them." said Icy.

"Oh, that traitor!" Darcy shrieked.

"Oh, relax Darcy." said Icy. "This is the first good thing he's ever done for us. We have both of the dragon's power. Nothing can stop us. They're just pesky little gnats. So, we'll swat them."

At Alfea, everyone was recovering from the latest attack. "I still can't get over what's happening." said Musa. "I mean, this should have been a normal school year. Instead, we're involved a major crisis, and we've got to save Alfea in the magic dimension."

"Look at it this way, this experience is teaching us so much more than schoolbook stuff." Tecna said to Musa. "We're part of historic events. We've had to come up with spells that can never be reproduce, Musa. We get to fight alongside the most powerful wizards and fairies in the dimension."

"You find all that thrilling, don't you?" asked one fairy. "Well, I don't like it at all. This all scares me. I'd rather be at home with parents."

"I know what you mean." another fairy tells her. "I'm upset too. I can't stand the thought of being a prisoner here, in the middle of nowhere, far from everyone I know."

"Oh, how I wish this was all a bad dream." said the first fairy.

"Well, these are difficult times, but we must resist and trust that we will win in the end." said Flora.

"Flora's right." said Musa. "We're like a big orchestra and each one of us has an important part play. Even Kiko, Lavender and Pepe are ready for action."

They looked at the two bunnies and duckling as both bunnies came out with carrots on their shoulders as weapons. "See how ready they look?" asked Musa as Pepe walks into Kiko, knocking them out while Lavender faces her and salutes the music fairy.

"Each one of us is absolutely essential if we're going to save Magix. Just think of what the twins and Stella are going through right now. They're at the heart of enemy territory and neither of the twins don't have any powers. Even so, I'm sure they'll be all right."

"Musa's right." said the first fairy after hearing her speech. "We can't allow this to go on."

"That's the spirit."

Pepe and Kiko looked at each other, started fighting until they had tired themselves out and then made up. Lavender rolled her eyes as she shakes her head. "I say we teach those witches a lesson they won't forget." Musa said, taking charge.

"Yeah!" said Flora. Unknown to them, Faragonda was watching them. "They think they can wipe out all the good in the world and set up a realm of evil."

"But they are so wrong." added Tecna.

"Yeah, you said it. We're going to get through this. Come on, girls. Do it."

"Uh-oh." said Tecna as she looks down as something beeps on her person. "That's my pager."

"Huh?" said Flora as Tecna answers her pager.

"It's from Timmy." said Musa.

"Uh…yes, Timmy and I are analyzing some data…" Tecna said, trying to come up with a lie. "We're developing a new early warning system. You know…to spot attackers. Later!"

"I've never seen her so….so…." Musa started saying.

"So normal. Me either." said Flora.

"Let's compare the data." Timmy said on one of the aircrafts, using its system. "And then we'll see if our hypothesis makes sense. If all the number are correct….only subpal interference could delay the wave energy transmission. But the percentages are so low, that….are you listening to me Tecna?"

"Yes, of course Timmy." she said, smiling at him. "You were talking about….um, low transmission rates, right?"

"Uh, yeah." he said and it got quiet for a moment. "All right then, um, could you check the stability levels of the energy barrier for me, please?"

"Timmy?" Tecna asked. Just as she was about to reach out for his hand, she stops and sighs, thinking back to what Zara had said. "If only I could put logic aside for a while and let myself be swayed by emotion. After all, it can't be that bad."

At Cloudtower, the twins and the others were wandering around the corridors. "We've been walking around for hours in these secret corridors and yet it feels like we're getting absolutely nowhere." said Bloom. "Everything looks exactly the same."

"If we don't get out of here soon, you'll be getting a front row seat to the fight show of Bloom and Zara." said Zara, rubbing her face. "Where you'll not only be seeing me and Bloom bicker, but also fist fight and hair pulling."

"Yeah….we don't need the two of you doing that." said Xander.

"Don't worry, we're almost there." said Knut. "Only a few small steps separate us and the dragon flames. See?" He then points in the direction of a different corridor. "Over there is where they hide all secrets."

"Are you trying to make me home sick?" asked Riven.

"I feel that something is not quite right down here." said Sky. "No guards, no traps. Why are the Trix so sure of themselves?"

"All right, time to let out the prisoners." said Brandon.

"Yeah, but…you be careful, okay?" asked Stella.

"Back soon." he tells her as Brandon and Riven to help Griffin and the others.

"Xander and I'll join you guys in a minute." Sky said as they walk towards a set of double doors.

"This is it, twins." said Stella.

"You'll be the most set of powerful fairies in the magic dimension once again." said Sky.

"You two ready for this?" asked Xander.

"I'm ready." said Zara, then turns to her sister. "How about you, Bloom?" She smiled and held out her hand. Zara smiled in return and grabbed her sister's hand. The doors opened and the twins walked inside to see a center piece with two different colors of fire in the center of the room.

"Is this it?" asked the twins. "Our dragon flames. It can be ours again. We…we feel it's heat."

Suddenly, both fires froze in front of them and wind starts to pick up behind Sky, Xander, Knut and Stella, sending them inside. "Huh? What's going on?" they asked, coming out of their stupor.

"…. three…four…" Zara said, counting the marks that were left in the wall. "What was so powerful enough to have you guys leave body marks in the wall?"

"Surprise!" said Icy, appearing behind the twins with Darcy and Stormy. "Hmm? Those are not your flames, girls. Your flames are out of your reach, deep in our entity. And you can never get it back. Heh-heh, you lose fairies."

"See, we're stronger then the two of you now." said Darcy, walking over to the twins. "But you'll never be able to tell anyone."

"And do you know why you will never tell?" Icy asked as she pushed Darcy to the side. "Because Cloudtower will be your grave."

Suddenly, a green flash of light blasted the Trix, aiming them at the wall. "Huh?" the twins asked, turning back around to see Griffin at the double door.

"Take that as a warning." she said as Griffin walks in and towards the Trix. "You three deserve the worst kind of punishment for what you've done." Behind the twins, Brandon and Riven had freed the other witches.

"Come on, you two…." said Sky as he and Xander walked over to the twins. "Let's go."

"So, you've managed to escape, Miss Griffin." said Icy.

"I just wanted to let you know that I'm still on my feet." said Griffin. "We'll see you later, little missies. The final showdown will just have to wait, I'm afraid."

As she steps several feet away from the Trix, before turning back around. "What do you think you're doing?" asked Icy.

Griffin then creates several walls of what looked like ice, separating everyone from the Trix. "Let's hurry!" said Griffin. "The shield won't hold them back for long."

"Yes ma'am!" said Zara. Once everyone was out, Griffin then encases the room with spikes from the earth.

"Follow me!" Griffin tells them. "We have to go up to Windswept Terrace. It's the only way out of the castle."

"Take this cloak, Miss Griffin." said one of the young witches, holding out her cloak.

"All right, let's go." said Griffin, taking the cloak.

"We're leaving the castle in the hands of those three witches?" the young witch asked.

"My dear, there's nothing we can do against Icy, Darcy and Stormy." Griffin tells her as they headed to the terrace.

"But, Miss Griffin…" said Stella. "If you leave them here, they could destroy Cloudtower."

"I'm well aware of that, Stella. Miss Faragonda has warned me against them, but I wasn't going to let myself be awed by three silly young students. That was a big mistake." Griffin said to the blonde. "The fact that Saladin, Faragonda and I managed to overpower their three ancestors' way back when, doesn't mean we're invincible. The truth is we must always keep our eyes wide open. The world of magic must never be taken for granted."

"Go Faragonda, Saladin and Giffin." said Zara.

"NO!" screamed Icy as she breaks the shield Griffin had created.

"Miss Griffin took us by surprise." said Stormy.

"We're stuck." said Darcy. "It won't be easy to get out of here."

"What?! You think that a little granite is going to stop us?" Icy asked, seeing what Griffin had put in place before them. "We've got to catch them before they make their getaway. Move aside sisters." Icy then creates an ice ball to blasts the granite away, but it didn't go through all of it.

"It barely made a dent." said Stormy. "At this rate, it'll take us forever."

"What are you waiting for?" Icy growled. "Help me out! We'll let the creatures of the dark deal with Bloom, Zara and their friends."

As everyone made it to the terrace, they waited for what Griffin would do next. "I'll conjure up a dimensional portal to Alfea. Everybody, gather around and try to stay as close as possible." said Griffin and she then conjures up a portal to Alfea.

Students then walked into the portal and were transported to Alfea. "We've got to do this quickly." Griffin said. "The creatures of the dark are coming." The creatures were then walking up the steps. "Hurry up, enter the portal."

"Miss Griffin, we could throw them off the scent by creating some kind of distraction." said Sky.

"It's the best option we've got, Sky." said Xander.

"If only Xander and I had our windriders." added Sky. Griffin then creates a couple of windriders.

"Isn't this better?" she asked. "A space spider, 4,000."

"Wow." said Sky and Xander as they get on the bikes and suited up.

"No, Sky, don't do it." said Bloom.

"Xander, no!" said Zara.

"It's too risky." they tell them.

"I'm willing to take risks if it's to help my friends." Sky said. "And no one is going to stand in our way."

"You're more important to us than anything in the Magic dimension." said Xander.

"All right." said the twins, walking towards them. "Then we're going with you."

Once they were on the bikes with the boys, they were suited up as well. "Hm…good luck." said Riven as he and Stella headed to the portal.

"I'll be thinking of you, girls!" said Stella. Once Griffin had entered the portal, it was then sealed, leaving the four of them behind at Cloudtower.

Sky and Xander then take off on the bikes with the twins holding on to them. Just then, the creatures of darkness then begins their journey once again towards Alfea. In the woods, the quartet were heading back to Alfea.

"We shouldn't be too far from Alfea now, girls." said Sky.

"We'll be there within the half hour." said Xander. Suddenly, creatures of darkness were in the middle of the road between Cloudtower and Alfea.

"There's something in our way." Sky said, coming to a stop. Out of nowhere, several small creatures of darkness climbed up the twins, causing them to freak out.

"Go away!" screamed Bloom.

"Get off! Get off!" screamed Zara.

"Sky, Xander, they're all over me!" the twins screamed in unison. "Do something please!"

"A sudden acceleration might lose their grip." said Sky.

"It's worth a shot." said Xander.

"Hang on tight, girls." they both said and accelerated on the bikes. As they accelerated, random strands of lightning struck before them.

"Sky, what's going on?" asked Bloom.

"What's happening, Xander?" asked Zara.

"I don't know. I don't understand." said Sky.

"Neither do I." said Xander.

"Oh no!" Bloom cried out as smoke came out from both bikes.

"We've been hit." exclaimed Zara. Suddenly, they spun out of control and over a railing, into deep forest.

"Phew, that was close." said Sky once they were on solid ground. "Are you all right?"

"Uh-huh."

"Are you okay?" Xander asked.

"Yeah, but man...I miss having my wings." said Zara.

Chapter Text

In the forest surrounding Magix, Sky and Xander were doing their best in fixing the bikes.

"It's useless." said Sky as they both came out from under the bikes. "Both the space spiders are a wreck."

"So…what do we do now?" Bloom asked.

"What other option is there, Bloom?" Zara asked her sister. "You heard Sky. Both bikes are a wreck."

"Zara's right. We don't have much of a choice." said Xander.

"What if we try to salvage parts from them? Maybe we can cobble together something that works." Sky said to them.

"But what if we end up with nothing? We could be stuck here for days!" said Bloom.

"We've got to head back towards Magix and hope to find some help." said Sky. "I don't know."

"Let's get to walking, you guys." said Zara.

"Well, at least we got rid of those creatures." said Sky.

"Yeah….but for how long." said Xander.

At Alfea, Faragonda and Saladin were waiting for the others. "We may have won this battle, but I'm afraid the next attack will be much more violent." said Faragonda.

"And we still haven't heard back from the kids at Cloudtower." said Saladin.

"I can't believe this is happening." said Codatorta. "What will become of Magix?"

"Now is not the time to be asking these kinds of questions." Faragonda tells them. "Let's focus on the task at hand. We must find a way to respond more quickly and efficiently to their assaults."

"We can't lose this war." Codatorta said to Faragonda. "It would be tragic."

"Miss Faragonda! Miss Faragonda!" shouted Musa as she, Flora and Tecna ran up. "We've detected a temporal distortion. Over there, right next to the well."

Faragonda felt a moment of relief as she hears this. "Oh, thank goodness." she said. "The kids are back. And Griffin and her students are with them." As the portal opened at Alfea, everyone sees that all but the twins, Sky and Xander were there. "This is very good news."

Faragonda and Griffin walk towards each other. "Welcome to Alfea, Griffin." Faragonda said to her. "I see that your students have followed you."

"Yes, but its thanks to your students, that we were able to escape from the clutches of those three power crazed witches." said Griffin.

"Well, you're here now. You can fill me on the details later." she said. "Meanwhile, we'll do all we can to help."

Griffin looks around and assess the damage. "It seems to me that you're also in need of help." Griffin said.

"Yes, and it seems to me that I've just found the person who can help us." said Faragonda.

"Look everyone! They're back!" said Flora, spotting Stella and the specialists welcomed Brandon back. As the three Winx walked up to Stella, Flora notices that a couple people were missing.

"Where's Bloom and Zara?" she asked.

"What happened to them?" questioned Musa.

"We don't know what happened to them, Sky or Xander." said Stella. "The last time we saw them was at Cloudtower. They were trying to hold the monsters at bay so we could all get away."

"Are you sure this is the shortest way to Magix?" asked Bloom.

"It's the safest." said Sky. "The black mud swamp will provide good cover."

"I hope so." said Zara.

"Believe us, it's providing for us." said Xander.

"I wonder what we'll find in Magix." Bloom said.

"Hopefully we'll get to a phone so that we can call Stella and tell her that we're ok." said Zara.

"One thing at a time, you two." Sky tells her. "Let's think about getting there first."

"He's right. Let's focus on that." said Xander.

"Sky…Xander ….we're scared." said the twins.

"Zara and I can't go on. Without powers, we both feel like a burden." said Bloom.

"We feel lost without them." said Zara, wrapping her arms around herself.

"But you've both lived most of your lives not knowing you both had special powers, girls." Sky tells them.

"And that's exactly why." said Bloom, looking up at her crush. "You know, Zara and I used to think that the people we grew up with were our real parents. Then we find out that it's not true. So, we begin a new life, then suddenly our powers are snatched away from us."

"…and then, just like that, our powers are snatched away from us." said Zara. "It's like losing everything all over again."

"You and Zara know who you are." Sky said. "With or without powers."

"Right…." said Zara.

"It's true." said Xander as the girls turns to him. "What I see before me are two beautiful girls with fantastic personalities." Bloom and Zara blushed by Xander's compliment but still felt like they were burdens.

"What should we do now?" they asked the two boys in front of them.

"You get up and come with us to Magix." said Sky as he and Xander pulled the twins to their feet. "I'm sure we'll find someone who'll give us a hand."

Minutes later, as they were making their way towards Magix, Bloom and Zara heard something behind them. "Sky, did you hear that?" asked Bloom.

"Xander?" asked Zara.

"What?" the boys asked.

"I don't know….I thought we heard somebody." said Bloom as she and Zara look over their shoulders.

"I didn't hear anything." Sky tells her. "It must have been an animal or something."

"Same here." said Xander.

"Must be our ears playing tricks on us." added Zara.

"Come on…let's go." said Sky as they continued to Magix. Unknown that they were being watched.

Back at Cloudtower, after freeing themselves from their temporary prison, the Trix saw the quartet. "Those weaklings have managed to slip out of the monster's grasp and seek refuge among the fairies at Alfea Castle." said Darcy, then takes a closer look. "Ha! Looks like Bloom and Dawn aren't with them."

"Why should you care about Bloom and Zara, Darcy?" Icy asked her. "It's not as if they can hurt us now."

"I think the time has come to really focus on the conquest of Alfea." said Stormy.

"We'll rally the most powerful army ever." said Icy. "Alfea shake under its might." That night at Alfea, Faragonda held a meeting in her office.

"Griffin, we all know that the powers that these girls possess doesn't correspond into what you've been teaching at Cloudtower." said Faragonda. "What worries me now is what's become of Bloom and Zara."

"And of Prince Sky and my son, Xander." added Codatorta. "Those two are by far my best students. And the fact that they've both disappeared without a trace makes me fear the worst. However, we mustn't forget that both Bloom and Zara possesses extraordinary powers."

"Yes, but they've been stolen from them." said Faragonda.

"We all know what became of that." said Griffin. "And yet, I don't think Icy, Darcy and Stormy are satisfied. I'm afraid their next move will be absolutely ferocious."

They turned towards the window and sees the creatures of Darkness arriving. Students from all three schools were defending Alfea. One creature of darkness makes its way towards Flora when suddenly Tecna gasps and transforms into her fairy form. Musa and Flora followed suit, transforming as well.

As a creature of darkness stomps its way towards them, Stella teleports them behind the creature. Flora then uses her magic to create vines around its body, causing it to fall. Musa and Tecna combined their attacks to destroy another creature of darkness, only for the creatures of darkness to make more of themselves.

"This is not good." said Stella as one creature of darkness frees itself from Flora's binds.

Back in the woods, the quartet were sitting around the fire. "Maybe we should have kept going." said Bloom.

"We would've made it to Magix." said Zara.

"Girls, you need to sleep." said Sky.

"You're both running on empty." said Xander.

"We're sure you'll both feel better tomorrow morning. We've got a big day ahead of us." they tell the twins.

"You think we're safe here?" asked Bloom and Zara. "We mean, the monsters could easily get us."

"The witches have gotten the dragon flames, you two." said Sky. "That's all they ever really wanted. I don't think they care much about the two of you right now."

"But…." Zara started to say.

"No buts." said Xander. "The Trix are just power crazy and it's not your fault that they crave power and control. You saw it yourself; they get a kick out of manipulation. It's a game to them."

"Right." said the twins. "We're not worth much."

"There's nothing wrong with not having magic powers." Sky assures them. "The Trix….they'll stop at nothing."

"Let's sleep a little." suggested Sky. "Tomorrow, we'll go to Magix and we'll find out what's going on at Alfea. Keep in mind, the Trix will now have to contend with Faragonda and Griffin together."

"Come on, Zara." said Xander, guiding her over to Bloom.

"No…I don't wanna sleep." whined Zara as he helps her to the ground then places a strand of hair behind her ear. "We must…get to…"

Soon enough, once she was next to Bloom, Zara was finally asleep. "Sky?" Bloom asked.

"Uh, yeah?" he inquired.

"Nothing." she tells him as she finally falls asleep with Zara by her side. Sky and Xander fell asleep soon after. At Alfea, more creatures of the Darkness came through the gates.

"Good heavens!" exclaimed Faragonda, seeing the creatures again. "The power of those three witches are greater than I thought."

Specialists were fighting them from the ground. As more of them tried to destroy the creatures, the more they were regenerating. "This army of worms is indestructible." said Riven.

"Magic or no magic…" said Brandon. "Let's see how he'll do against this." He then takes another weapon out and slices through the creature as Riven goes to kick its head off.

"Way to go, Brandon! You got him!" said Riven.

"Not so sure." Brandon tells him as it grows back.

Suddenly, Kiko and Lavender heard a screeching behind them, causing them to freak out and dig a big hole for them to hide in. The creature of darkness flies over the two bunnies, missing both of them. Lavender and Kiko sighed in relief as it passes them. After it misses the bunnies, the creature goes and grabs Tecna.

"What do you think you're doing?" Tecna asked as she was taken off the ground. She then opens up her wings. "Take that you fly bucket!"

"Come on, you filthy beast!" bellowed Codatorta. "Let's see what you can do?"

In response, the creature before him takes Codatorta by his neck, lifting the man off the ground. Saladin sees this and destroys the creature holding Codatorta. "Are you all right, professor?" he asked, helping him up.

"Yeah, I'm all right. But my pride isn't." Codatorta replied, brushing himself off.

"That's it! I've had it!" said Timmy, taking out another weapon and fires. "These flying sting rays are making me dizzy."

Timmy's blasts made the sting ray creatures of Darkness angry and flies towards him, causing him to head towards the ground. Just as they were about to go at Timmy for round two, Tecna goes in to save him.

"Pick on someone your own size, you slimy buzzard." she shouted.

Timmy goes and grabs his weapon, firing at the creature. Faragonda and Griffin stood back-to-back as they were surrounded by the creatures of Darkness. They then created a bubble around themselves, taking them above Alfea. Combining their magic, they attempted to try and destroy the creatures of darkness.

Once again, the creatures of Darkness regenerated themselves. "We can't win this way." said Faragonda, thinking that it would work. "We destroy them, and they come back to life!"

In the distance, a bird with a slight blue hinge takes off. The next morning as the fire was put out, Sky and Xander woke up to see the twins were still sleeping. Stretching, the boys walked over to see how peaceful the twins were.

"Bloom, Zara, wake up." said Sky and Xander, waking them up. "Time to go."

"What time is it?" asked Bloom.

"Is it time for Wizgiz's class?" asked Zara, yawning.

"I guess we just crashed out last night." Bloom said.

"Yeah." said Zara.

"Don't worry about it. You both were exhausted." said Sky.

"However, you two are extremely cute when you sleep." Xander tells them, causing the twins to blush embarrassingly.

"Now the four of us feel better, so let's get walking." said Sky.

"Bloom! Zara!" Daphne called out to them. "Bloom! Zara!"

"Sky! Xander!" said the twins, grabbing a hold of the boys. "Surely you must have heard that."

"Heard what?" asked Sky.

"I didn't hear anything." added Xander.

"A voice calling us." they tell them as the girls grabbed a hold of each other.

At Alfea, everyone was recovering from the latest attack. "It's been almost an hour since their last assault." Faragonda said.

"I hate to say this, but I have a strong feeling that they're playing with us right now." said Griffin.

"With each attack, they get stronger and more numerous." Saladin chimed in.

"The only way out of this mess is to eliminate the root cause of it all." said Griffin.

"In other words, confront the Trix directly." said Faragonda.

"It doesn't bode well for my boys." said Codatorta.

"I didn't know."

"Of course you didn't."

On the Alfea wall, Stella was sitting next to Brandon with Tecna not far from her. "Do you think we'll be able to resist the next attack?" Stella asked.

"I really can't say." said Brandon. "The harder we fight, the stronger they get."

"I'm scared." Stella tells Brandon.

"Don't be, Stella." Brandon assures her. "I'm here with you."

"But that's exactly what I'm afraid of my darling prince." said Stella.

"Hm….." he said, looking away. "Stella, I want to ask you to forgive me for…."

"For making me believe that you were a prince, as well as being the younger brother, when in fact you're just a simple page?" asked Stella.

"Yeah." sighed Brandon.

"Don't worry about it, Brandon." Stella tells him as she gets up. "I don't care if you're a prince or not. My parents are the king and queen of Solaria. It hasn't done them much good, has it?"

"Hey lovebirds?" Musa asked, interrupting the moment. "What are you doing? Seems we can't leave you alone for a second."

"Oh, leave them alone." said Flora, loving how cute they are. "They're so cute together."

"Don't you two have something better to do?" asked Stella, throwing a magical pillow at Musa.

"Hey! Are you crazy?" asked Musa. "I could have gotten hurt!"

"Ha! You were 3 ft off the ground." said Brandon, smiling a bit.

"Please, be nice to my friends." Stella reprimanded him. "I'm the only one allowed to torment them. Oh, how I wish I knew where Bloom and Zara was."

"They're with Sky and Xander." Brandon said as they were curious to know too. "They're both safe, you'll see. I'm sure they've managed to escape from Cloudtower."

"There they are." said Riven, spotting the others.

"Timmy, Riven, what's up?" asked Tecna.

"Faragonda wants to talk to us." Timmy replied.

Students from all three schools appeared before the heads, waiting to hear what they had to say. "Any minute now, we'll have to face another attack." Faragonda said, addressing the students. "The only way we'll be able to resist this time, is by combining our powers."

"Keep in mind that the Trix are driven by hatred." said Griffin. "They have no idea what the power of unity can achieve."

Up in the sky, sting ray creatures of Darkness came towards Alfea. Out of their hiding hole, Kiko and Lavender looked up to see another incoming attack. Both of them screamed and went back into hiding.

"I can't believe my eyes." said Stella, looking up. "There are thousands of them."

Back in the woods, the twins looked up to see the creatures of Darkness, heading towards them. "Good heavens, look!" they said to Sky and Xander. "They're heading towards Alfea!"

"We've got to get to Magix and fast." said Sky.

"You got it, Sky." Xander said.

"Zara and I can't go to Magix." said Bloom. "First, we've got to go to Lake Roccaluce."

"Daphne…." whispered Zara.

"What are you talking about, Bloom?" asked Sky.

"Why do you need to go there?" asked Xander.

"We've got to do it. Something to do with Daphne and us, our birth parents, our past and our powers." said the twins and both boys looked at each other, nodding in agreement.

"Well, then Xander and I are coming with you." stated Sky.

"No, Sky. Zara and I must go alone." said Bloom as Zara looks in the direction of Lake Roccaluce. "You and Xander go onto Magix."

"As you wish, but Xander and I don't either of you in 2 hours, we're both going to come look for the two of you." Sky tells Bloom.

"See you in 2 hours." said Zara as both girls walked to Lake Roccaluce.

Sky sighs at this as Xander shakes his head. "You know that those two are worth it, right?" asked Xander.

"I know." said Sky as they both headed to Magix. "That's why we love them."

The attack on Alfea continued as fairies, Specialists and witches worked together. Brandon jumps up onto a sting ray creature of darkness, stabbing it in its chest before it was destroyed. Faragonda gasps as one creature of darkness climbs up onto her school and pounds its hand into the building.

"No!" she exclaimed. Stella, Musa, Tecna and Flora glared tirelessly as Stella teleports them somewhere above Alfea. The Winx tried their best as they went one after another of creatures of Darkness. Faragonda and Griffin combined their magic to create a barrier.

"Citizens of Alfea, the time has come!" said Faragonda. "Let us unite and combine our powers."

"Students of Cloudtower, let us reveal the might of our magic." said Griffin.

Both fairies and witches combined their magic, sending it into the barrier, destroying the creatures of Darkness that were inside. Once the creatures were destroyed, everyone waited to see if any screeching was coming their way. The Specialists cheered as silence was heard throughout Alfea.

At Cloudtower, the Trix were glaring at Griffin and Faragonda before the eye walks away. "All right, that's enough!" said Icy. "I've had it!"

"I'm tired of watching and not doing anything." said Stormy.

"Sisters, nothing can stop us now." said Darcy. "What are we waiting for? Let's use the powers of the dragon flames."

"If this is what it takes to crush Alfea, so be it." said Icy. "And now it's time to take command of our army. I want to see with my own eyes the extermination of those cutesy little fairies."

The Trix start laughing proud of Icy's plan. Sky and Xander continued to walk towards Magix. "I'm worried about Bloom and Zara." Sky said to his friend.

"You're not the only one." said Xander. "I'm worried too."

Arriving at Magix, the boys looked up and see Stormy's lightning sparking at the city's edge. As they entered the city, Xander and Sky looked around to see if anyone was in the streets, only to find that there was no one in sight.

"No…it's not possible." said Sky.

"It's impossible." said Xander.

They see the people of Magix were clung to the wall in some gunk, left by the creatures of Darkness. "Is anybody there?" the boys called out, hoping that someone would answer.

The twins arrived at Lake Roccaluce, standing at the water's edge. The space spider armor was taken off and both girls stepped into the lake. "Daphne?" Bloom and Zara called out to their sister. "Were you looking for us? Daphne?"

Chapter Text

At Alfea, the castle was broken in several parts. Out on the balcony, Stella looks out as though she was looking for a couple of people. Inside the dorm, Mirta was watching Stella.

"Alfea has suffered serious damage." said Stella. "The Trix are getting more and more aggressive. And I miss the twins. How will it all end? I hope they and the boys are all right."

Flora looked at Mirta in sadness….she was missing the twins as well. Tecna and Musa shared a looked. "Flora, you're not giving up on Mirta, are you?" asked Musa.

At Lake Roccaluce, Bloom and Zara stepped further into the water. Once in the water's depths, they went in search for Daphne. Finding a cave, they entered what seemed to be a treasure cove. As they entered further into the cave, Daphne appears before them.

"Daphne, are we dreaming?" Bloom asked.

"Because if we are, then this isn't the place I would create on my end for our talks." said Zara.

"No, Bloom and Zara. You're not dreaming." said Daphne. "Come with me, little sisters." The twins walked towards their older sister who had reached out her hand. "You haven't lost your powers, girls. Look over there."

They turned to see their adoptive parents back in Gardenia. "That's our parents' house." said Bloom and Zara. "We mean…our adoptive parents house."

"Yes. You were both brought up on earth by two caring and understanding people who loved you both well enough to let you go when the time came." Daphne explained to her sisters.

"And we let them down." said the twins. "Same at Alfea. We didn't meet anyone's expectations. We don't belong anywhere."

"Bloom, Zara, you still are who you were, and your past will forever belong to you." said Daphne. "Just like your powers. No one can take that away from you, neither of you."

"So, what happened to us then?" asked Bloom.

"What…will happen to us?" asked Zara.

"Nothing that doesn't happen to us all. You had doubts, you were afraid. You both came to believe that what you loved most dearly could be taken away from you. But the truth is…." Daphne tells them. "no one in the whole universe could ever steal your past…your dreams…or your magic powers. The witches do not own them. They are yours to keep…forever. Bloom, Zara, to recover your powers, look deep inside deep inside yourselves."

Once she had said all that the twins needed to hear, Daphne disappears. "Daphne?" asked Bloom and Zara as the both of them looked around. "Daphne! Daphne! Daphne….."

Taking their sister's advice, Bloom and Zara looked deep inside themselves and were able to fly out of Lake Roccaluce in their fairy forms. Hovering above Roccaluce, they both released orange and blue dragons. "Race you?" asked Zara, raising an eyebrow.

"You know that I'll win!" said Bloom, taking off before her twin.

"No fair, Bloom!" Zara called out as she goes after her. Back at Alfea, the Winx were standing around Mirta.

"There's got to be a way to break this spell." said Tecna.

"Hmm." Flora thoughtfully said as she channels her magic. Suddenly, light surrounded Mirta the pumpkin, causing the others to shield their eyes. When Flora opens her eyes, Mirta had disappeared from the table. They turned to see that Flora had finally broken the Trix's spell on Mirta, transforming her back into a human girl.

"Mirta!" gasped Flora, happy to see her. "We did it! Oh Mirta!"

"That was the key, Flora. You see, you had to let your energy flow through both of your hands." Mirta said to her.

"How could I ever thought that the Trix's could be stronger than my desire to help you?" asked Flora.

"I hate to change the subject so suddenly, but…" Stella said as she walks out onto the balcony. "there's a tall goodlooking guy pacing up and down right under our window. And Musa, I think he wants to see you."

As Stella had said, Riven was pacing underneath their window. "Don't be silly." said Musa. "Well, I think I'll go for a little walk."

"Mm-hmm." said Mirta, sharing a look with Flora.

"Hey, Riven!" Stella called out. "I think she's coming down."

"Who is?" he asked, knowing exactly who was coming down.

"Ah, come on. You know who. Don't play innocent." said Stella.

"Oh, hi Riven." said Musa as she walked out.

"Um….hi, Musa." Riven said. "I was looking for Timmy. I thought he might be around here, but….anyway, I should keep looking. Bye."

"Huh?"

In Magix, Sky and Xander continued to walk through the city. "Hello!" Sky called out.

"Anyone!" shouted Xander.

"Is anybody there?" they both called out. "Can anyone hear us?"

"All these people." said Xander.

"What have they done?" Sky asked, thinking of the Trix.

"They've encased everyone in something." said Xander.

Unknown to the boys, a creature of Darkness sneaks up on them. As it stalks it way towards the boys, they turned around and drew out their swords. Just as they were about to make contact, the creature knocks both swords out of their hands.

"Come on!" said Sky as he and Xander grabbed their swords. "We're not afraid of you."

The creature growls as it grows bigger, and the boys took their stances. At Cloudtower, the creatures of Darkness were ready and waiting for their orders as they left, making their way to Alfea. Several creatures of Darkness merged together, forming chairs for the Trix.

At Alfea, thunder and lightning surrounded the school. "You know the Trix better than we do, Mirta." Flora said to Mirta. "What do you think they'll do next?"

"Your guess is as good as mine." she said. "I've never seen them so full of hate and powerful."

"I think a facial and a manicure would help them relax." said Stella.

"Must you always be joking, Stella?" Tecna asked her.

"What do you want me to do?" she questioned Tecna as they walked past Pepe, Lavender and Kiko. "When I'm serious, I think of Bloom and Zara, and I go nuts." Kiko and Lavender were sitting on the ground feeling depressed as Pepe tries to get a laugh out of them. "See? Even Kiko and Lavender misses them." Pepe sees the look on their faces, understanding that the bunnies missed their owners.

"I'm sure Bloom, Sky, Zara and Xander are okay." said Musa. "Perhaps they're having trouble getting back to Alfea. But I have a good feeling that we'll see them very soon."

"Children are beginning to show the effects of battle fatigue." said Faragonda.

"Mm." Griffin said in agreement. In the forest, the creatures of Darkness continued their way towards Alfea with the Trix.

As they were passing a pond, the water Nymphs sees the Trix and their army. "They're headed for Alfea." said one Nymph.

"The entire Magic dimension is in jeopardy." said her friend as more Nymphs came out of the water.

"We need to warn Alfea of their imminent arrival." said the nymph.

"Well, then let's go." said the second nymph and they headed towards the school.

At Alfea, Saladin was playing magical checkers against Codatorta. "All this waiting around and doing nothing is driving me crazy." Codatorta said.

"Hm….it's important to remain calm." said Saladin, making his next move. "Now more than ever."

"My move." said Codatorta, making his final move on the board. "My patience is wearing thin."

"But not so thin as to distract you, I see." Saladin said, as Codatorta won the game.

"Another game?" Codatorta asked.

"You're absolutely right." Saladin said, agreeing with what he had stated earlier. "It is the waiting which is hardest to bear."

"Maybe they're hiding something." said Brandon as they walked through the courtyard. "You think Sky and Xander are, okay?"

"Oh, I'm sure they are. I bet the two of them are choosing their moment to come back to Alfea." Timmy tells him.

"Timmy's right." Riven said. "The Trix control magix. He's got to watch out."

"I know, but even so…" said Brandon. "maybe they're lying low somewhere in the dark forest, buying their time until the dust settles."

Sitting in front of Mirta, the Winx and Knut were Kiko, Lavender and Pepe. Kiko and Pepe were pulling on a string while Lavender chews a little on a carrot. "Any news guys?" asked Musa.

"None at all, Musa." said Riven.

"Everything is stopped. It's like everyone is waiting for the worst to happen." said Timmy.

"This dark sky makes me nervous." said Flora as she watched the sky.

"It's been days since we've seen the sunshine." stated Stella when lightning strikes across the sky.

Timmy looked at Tecna, giving nervous laugh. "Oh." She said, looking away.

"News from the dark forest." Codatorta called out as Faragonda appeared. "The nymphs are bringing us news!"

"Welcome to Alfea." she said to the Nymphs. "What brings you here?"

"It's Cloudtower." said the first Nymph.

"The army is coming through the dark forest." said her fellow nymph.

"They're headed this way." said the first Nymph. "It's the most powerful army we've ever seen. And Icy, Darcy and Stormy are at the forefront."

"Go get some rest inside." Faragonda suggested, directing them inside. "All right, everybody! Let's get ready. Take up your positions." Just then, Kiko, Lavender and Pepe went into their hiding hole. "We won't be taken by surprise."

Popping up, Kiko sniffs the air, trying to sense something. Lavender pops up behind him, her ears twitching to hear what could be sound. After doing what they needed, Kiko freaks out as Lavender hugs him and brings her brother back into hiding.

In Magix, Sky and Xander were tiring themselves out by their battle with the creature of Darkness. The creature raised its hand, letting it conduct electricity as both boys stared it down.

As it made contact with both swords, Xander and Sky were holding their ground as they were being forced to submit. "Hold it together, Sky." said Xander.

"I'm trying!" groaned Sky. Their swords went back into their hilts, causing the brothers to get out from the creature. They tried again as they were a good enough distance away from the creature of Darkness.

The boys sliced through both of the creature's hand, only for it to regenerate it. As it stalks and towers over the boys, another creature of darkness walks up behind them. "Seriously?" asked Xander.

"Oh, no!" added Sky as the both of them were backing into a corner. They turned to look as a third creature of Darkness pulls itself together and appears behind the boys.

"We refuse to surrender! We'll never give up!" shouted Sky and Xander. Both boys were in the center as all three creatures walked in.

"Sky, I'm proud to fight with you." said Xander.

"Thanks, Xander. I'm proud have to you at my side." Sky tells him.

As the boys were about to accept their defeat, orange and blue sparks of Magic surrounded them. "Huh?"

"What in the world?" asked Sky as they both looked up to see Bloom and Zara hovering over them with their dragon flames.

"Bloom! Zara!" the boys called out.

"Ya!" shouted the twins as they fired their combined attacks on the three creatures of darkness. Sky and Xander covered their heads, protecting themselves from accidentally being target.

"Sky, are you all right?" asked Bloom.

"You're not hurt are you, Xander?" asked Zara.

"Yeah." they both tell the girls.

"If the two of you hadn't come along, Xander and I would have been done for." said Sky.

"You saved our lives." said Xander.

"We don't believe you." said the girls.

"Never in our lives have we've been so happy to have a set of fairy friends like you." said the boys.

"You mean a set of twin fairies with magic powers who can pack a good punch if need be?" asked Bloom as Zara gave them as look.

"That's exactly it! You've read my mind." Sky said.

"Hm…I wonder if I can read your mind." said Zara, curiously turning to Xander.

"If you did, you would be surprised to hear who'll be in it." said Xander.

The four of them stood awkwardly for a moment until Sky realizes something. "So, your powers are back?" he asked.

"Zara and I saw Daphne. She spoke to us and set us on the right path." said Bloom.

"She gave us great advice." said Zara. "I think we should ask her more often."

"Now, tell us….what happened here?" Bloom asked as they walked away.

"The entire dimension has fallen prey to the Trix's madness." said Sky as he and Xander showed them the people in Magix. "Everywhere, there's nothing but evil and destruction."

"This is just creepy." said Zara, pointing to the people of Magix.

"And what about Alfea?" Bloom asked.

"We don't know." answered Sky.

"Stella, the girls, where are they?" Bloom asked.

"Relax, Bloom, I'm sure Alfea is well protected." said Sky.

"I'm not so sure about that." said Zara, sensing something. "I have a feeling that the creatures of Darkness are on their way to Alfea."

"Are you sure about this?" Xander asked her.

"I'm not wrong." said Zara.

"We've got to go." said Bloom. Both girls brought forth their dragons and they all went to Alfea. In the dark forest, the Trix were on their way to Alfea with their army.

"I couldn't care less what you think, Stormy." said Icy. "This is how I want things to be done. Magix must see the might of our troops."

"But don't you think that Alfea's getting an advantage that way?" asked Darcy.

"(Growls) Sisters, our only weakness is your stupid fears." Icy tells them. "The powers of the two dragons is in our hands. What could you possibly be afraid of?" At Alfea, Faragonda and Griffin were on the lookout with several specialists nearby.

"What are we going to do?" asked one specialist.

"I'm telling you…." said another specialist.

"It won't be no walk in the park, Faragonda." Griffin said to her.

"I know but what choice do we have." she said.

"Faragonda, I…." Griffin was about to say, when Faragonda cuts her off.

"You don't have to feel responsible, Griffin." said Faragonda. "The upcoming battle isn't my only concern right now."

"Are you thinking about Bloom, Sky, Zara and Xander?" asked Griffin.

"I wish I knew what happened to them." Faragonda tells her. "I don't know if I should tell you this…"

"Hmm?" Griffin said, intrigued.

"Never before in the history of this realm, has a fairy, let alone an identical set, truly had lost her powers through the ill will of some entity." said Faragonda.

"What do you mean?" questioned Griffin.

"If this is what's happened to Bloom and Zara," Faragonda said. "I hope for the good of us all that the two of them haven't lost themselves. Their powers are extraordinary; I've never seen anything like it. They cannot lose them."

Deep in the dark forest, the Trix's latest pet was spying on Alfea. It takes off and looks for the Trix. Once it had seen the Trix, it then lands on Icy's shoulders.

"Back already?" Icy asked. "You didn't go very far, good boy. You didn't miss much."

It then shows Icy what Griffin and Faragonda were saying about the twins' powers, causing her to laugh out loud. Faragonda stares out into the dark forest, waiting for the Trix to show up with their army.

"They're here." said Faragonda, seeing the creatures of darkness in the distance. "I can sense it."

Griffin stood there, after what Faragonda had told her, hoping that the twins, Sky and Xander would come to save them.

Chapter Text

Lightning and thunder surrounded Alfea as everyone prepared for battle. Kiko, Lavender and Pepe hugged each other, terrified. "All right, this is it." Faragonda said. "Hold your positions, everyone. The stakes have never been higher."

The creatures of Darkness and the Trix made their way through the dark forest. "Alfea." said Icy, commanding their army to go towards Alfea.

The creatures stood outside the gates of Alfea as everyone looked up at them. "Attack." Icy ordered the creatures and those who were in the sky, dove down at people who were on the ground.

Griffin and Faragonda casts a barrier, preventing more flying creatures to attack their students. Stormy laughs mercilessly at the fate of Alfea. "Do they think that their silly barrier can stop us?" asked Stormy and conjures up her light and dark purple dragon flame, causing it to strike lightning at the barrier.

"Ah!"

"Oh no!" Musa cried out as the barrier shatters. "You've got it coming, evil witches!"

Flora tries to spread a little flower magic onto Stormy, who then stretches out her hand, catching it. "What's this?" she asked, then flicks it off as Flora gets angry. "Yucko."

Everyone starts attacking the creatures of Darkness with everything that they have. "We won't be able to hold them off for long." Stella said to Tecna. "What's going to happen to us?"

Icy smiled evilly when suddenly she looks up as two familiar lines of fire were aimed at the gate of Alfea. In the sky, orange and blue dragons surrounded a familiar set of siblings. The Winx and Mirta smiled as they see Bloom and Zara above Alfea. "All right!" said Tecna.

"Sky, Xander, it's good to see you both again." said Brandon.

"Hi everybody, mind if we join in?" asked Bloom.

"We've been wanting to give the Trix a little something for taking away our Dragon flames." said Zara.

"It's not possible!" shouted Icy, wondering how the twins could recover the two dragon flames. "I can't believe this!"

Darcy and Stormy were shocked as they watched the two dragon flames at work. "You thought you were rid of the two of us, didn't you, Icy?" asked Bloom. "Well, you thought wrong."

"And guess what, Icy? You can never get rid of us." said Zara. "Not by a long shot."

Holding each other's hand, Bloom and Zara combined their fire attacks, aiming for Icy and her chair of darkness. Stormy was shocked as Icy's chair was destroyed.

"What do you think you're doing?" Icy asked Bloom and Zara. "You both seem to forget that you're not the only ones who possesses the dragon flames." Down below, the Winx growled at the Trix then joins in backing up their best friends.

"But the twins are not alone this time!" said Stella.

"I don't know how you do it, Bloom and Zara, but you both always push my buttons." said Icy, sending her blizzard ice storm.

Once again, the twins combined their fires, creating a bubble shield around them and blasting away Icy's attack. Angry, the twins take off after Icy, flying over the lake and then fired fireballs at her. Flora tries again using her flower magic on Darcy and Stormy.

"What in the…." said Darcy as Flora's magic strikes her and Darcy. Icy then goes for another attack at the twins, who dodged it. As the specialists fought on the ground, Riven, Sky and Xander had backed up to each other.

"Huh?" said the boys.

"Where in the world did the two of you and the twins go?" asked Riven.

"Well, we parked the space spiders in the dark forest and…." said Sky when the three of them were interrupted. "Ya! And the four of us went for a walk."

"Plus, the girls needed cheering up." said Xander.

"So, how did it go?" Riven asked.

"Well, we wanted to be alone." said Sky. "And believe me we were. Magix is a total ghost town Riven."

"The Trix outdone themselves this time." said Riven.

"I can't believe the Trix are abusing the dragon flames like this." said Xander. "They must think they're invincible now."

"They're using the flames to amplify their powers. This isn't just a power grab; it's a threat to everyone in Magix." Riven tells him.

"And if we don't stop them soon, who knows what other kinds of destruction they'll unleash? They already have a reputation for chaos." Xander said to Riven.

"We need to gather the Winx. If we're going to challenge them, we have to do it together. They won't stand a chance against our combined strength." said Riven.

"But the last time we fought them; it was a close call. We can't underestimate them." said Xander.

"Underestimating them is the last mistake we can afford to make. Let's use their own fiery arrogance against them." said Riven. "They think they're untouchable; we need to remind them that every flame has its limits."

"You always did have a knack for strategy, Riven. Let's contact the others and come up with a plan. Time to teach those girls a lesson they won't forget." said Xander.

"Right. And this time, we're not just fighting for ourselves—we're fighting for the Dragon Flames and everyone who believes in them." said Riven.

"Yeah! I think Bloom and Zara has just about had it with them." said Sky.

"And you know what Zara has said about the two of them being redheads, Riven." said Xander. "Never anger them." Just then, a creature of Darkness towered over Sky when Brandon cuts off its bug hand.

"Hey guys, just thought I'd give you a hand." said Brandon.

Timmy and Codatorta looked up to see a flying creature of Darkness coming towards them, causing them to defend themselves. Kiko, Lavender and Pepe were scared of the creatures, so they ran in fear with Kiko pulling Pepe by his wings.

Up in the darken sky, it was two against one. Bloom and Zara were circling around with Icy. With all their might, both girls brought forth their dragon flames, forcing Icy to freeze them and shatter them. She then tries to freeze the twins over the lake but both of them kept dodging.

"Seems that your aim is a bit off." said Bloom.

"And we have better aim than you do." said Zara.

Icy then sends multiple ice shards towards them, causing Bloom and Zara to melt them. Darcy and Stormy were having some kind of staring contest with the Winx, only for Stella to just growl in anger at them. Darcy took it upon herself to make clones as she and Stormy make a powerful and electrified tornado.

Tecna creates a protective computer network bubble around herself and the others. After it had made contact, Stella releases a ball of sunshine towards Darcy and Stormy, blasting away Darcy's clones.

"Huh?"

"Flower Twister!" shouted Flora, releasing a flower tornado from her hand.

"Let's add a touch of music to this." said Musa, creating speakers behind the two Trix, damaging their hearing.

"Alright, that's enough." said Stormy and destroys the speakers. Over the lake, Icy was angry and tries to trap the twins in a prism of ice. Letting it fall, Icy cackled as the twins appeared next to, joining in before blasting her out of the sky and into the water below.

From the water, Icy grabs a hold of the twins and drags them into the water. Once out, Icy then intended to freeze the lake. As Icy turns away and laughs, below her, Bloom and Zara unfreeze the lake.

Back at Alfea, everyone was trying their best to defeat the creatures of darkness. Kiko and Lavender popped up to scope out their surroundings. "Oh…" Kiko said as he and Lavender looked up.

"Ah!" screamed Lavender as the creature steps over their hiding hole.

Sky and Xander used their holo-boomerangs to deal with a couple of creatures of Darkness when they looked out onto Alfea's campus. Everyone was trying their best as more and more creatures of Darkness continued to walk onto Alfea.

"The strength of these creatures is linked to the Trix's power." said Faragonda. "As the energy of the witches drop, so does the might of their army. Now where are the twins and Icy?"

Everywhere was quiet. From the rubble remains of Red Fountain, the now empty Cloudtower, even Magix was quiet and empty. Above the lake, Icy and the twins where glaring at each other.

"Enough! I've had it!" shouted Icy. "I'm finished toying with the two of you!"

"The feeling's mutual, Icy!" Zara shouted. "We're sick and tired of having to deal with you all the time!"

The fog that was in the dark forest came toward Icy as she encased the twins in ice. Darcy and Stormy continued their fight against the Winx. "Leave it to me, sister." said Stormy. "I'll cut them down to size."

She then starts spinning around, creating a power electric tornado, reaching the grounds of Alfea. Faragonda and Griffin gasped as they looked up to see the electric tornado was heading for the Winx. The girls tried to get away but were sucked into the eye of the tornado.

"Flora!" Stella cried out, seeing her knocked out in the eye of the storm. Stormy laughs as Stella grabs Flora's hand. Flora was pulled in and takes a hold of Stella's staff. Channeling their magic, the Winx were able to change the color of the electricity from purple to gold.

The girls brought the tornado back towards Darcy and Stormy, bringing the two in. Once the tornado had stopped, Griffin was ready.

"Now!" shouted Griffin, as she and Faragonda used their magic to catch Darcy and Stormy from hitting the ground, trapping them in what looked like a spiked iron ball.

Most of the creatures of darkness disappeared from Alfea as the Winx fell tiredly to the ground. Over Lake Roccaluce, Icy laughs happily at her work. "Try breaking free from that miss goody fairies." said Icy.

Out of nowhere, both orange and blue dragon flames intertwined themselves as they surrounded the huge block of ice that had the twins. "No, no!" Icy screamed as the ice shattered, freeing the twins.

The specialists and other fairies continued to fight off the remaining creatures of Darkness when they suddenly disappeared from view. "Mirta." Brandon said, hearing her scream.

"Yeah!" shouted Stella.

"I get the feeling that Bloom and Zara are behind all this." said Saladin. The Specialists appeared behind the Winx and Riven extends his hand to help Musa up.

As their squad members stood before the Winx, Sky and Xander looked at the sky, looking to see if there was any sign of the twins. As the dark clouds disappear, Bloom and Zara came back to Alfea with a now defeated Icy.

"We brought back someone." said Zara.

Kiko and Lavender were happy to see their owners as they push Pepe's face into the ground. Pepe then punches Kiko in his face and slaps Lavender as he rubs his face. Kiko couldn't believe his eyes that Pepe slapped Lavender, so he went full out in beating him up until he lost the fight.

Bloom sets Icy down as she and Zara walked over to Stella. "Oh…. I thought I'd seen the last of you two." said Stella, getting all teary eyed as they all were surprised.

"You can't get rid of us that easy, Stella." said Zara.

The twins looked at Xander and Sky, glad to see that they were alive. Walking towards each other, they looked at the boys before giving them a kiss. In Magix, after the army of Darkness had finally disappeared, people were free and returned onto their daily lives.

"My students and I must return to Cloudtower, Faragonda." said Griffin. "There's a lot to do. It'll take a while for things to get back to normal."

"What about the Trix?" Faragonda asked her.

"They seemed to be waking up from a bad dream." said Griffin, turning to Faragonda. "They were driven mad by their thirst for power."

"The powers of the two dragons belongs to the twins and they along can control them." said Faragonda. "Trying to take it away from them was both crazy and dangerous."

"I can assure you; they will be punished for their crimes." Griffin said. "They will be sent to Lake Roccaluce for a retreat of purification."

"Good news for Magix, life is returning back to normal." Saladin said to Griffin and Faragonda.

"Oh well, that's great!" Faragonda said with a smile.

A ways from them, Knut was trying to find his words in asking Faragonda. "Go on, Knut." said Brandon.

"Sooner or later, you'll have to ask her." said Bloom.

"You can't ask her if you're just standing there." said Zara.

"Hmm?" Faragonda asked, curious to know what Knut wanted to ask.

"Excuse us, Knut wants to ask you something." said Stella.

"Go ahead, Knut, what is it?" asked Griffin.

"Uh, well….it's like….." Knut said, nervously. "Because I think I'm kind of doing well here at Alfea and uh, maybe I'd like to stay here. Um, maybe…like if there's room. Yes, us that would be nice."

"Knut, if I'm not mistaken," said Saladin. "You're asking if you can stay here at Alfea."

"What do you say, Griffin?" asked Faragonda. "Would you mind him staying here, instead of Cloudtower?"

"I have no objection whatsoever, and I appreciate your consulting me on this matter." Griffin said, agreeing with her.

Knut smiled as he laughs in happiness, glad that he would be able to stay at Alfea. Later on, he was sweeping up some leaves. "How's it going, Knut?" asked Musa as he looks up at the Winx. "Party's going to start soon. Everything's got to be in tip top shape. We'll see you later."

Out in the courtyard, Mirta and Lucy were sitting by the fountain. "Hey, you two! Are you ready for tonight?" Musa asked as he and Tecna flew by.

"Are you sure you don't want to stay with me here?" Mirta asked Lucy.

"I'm sure." replied Lucy. "Cloudtower is my home."

"I'm so glad that I found a friend like Flora." Mirta said.

"Well, to each his own. It's not like you couldn't change your mind." said Lucy.

"Oh, but I don't think I will." said Mirta, determined more than ever.

"Cheer up, girls." said Faragonda, walking towards them. "You're going back home."

"Goodbye, Lucy." said Mirta as Lucy walks away. "I'll miss you."

"Don't worry, Mirta." Flora tells her. "You'll be okay. You'll see."

"I know. I just need some time." Mirta said to her.

The students of Cloudtower donned on their cloaks and stood before Griffin and Faragonda. "I guess it's time for us to say goodbye." said Faragonda.

"We put up a good fight, Faragonda." said Griffin. "But now it's time for our schools to focus on their missions." Faragonda nodded. "Come on, girls, hurry up! Cloudtower awaits our return."

Griffin then opens up a portal for Cloudtower. "And as far as Icy, Darcy and Stormy are concerned…." said Griffin as the Trix were being taken away from Alfea. "They're headed for Lake Roccaluce for a purification retreat."

"Sounds interesting…. I wanna go." Zara said as Bloom hits her arm. "I'm not saying this instant, Bloom!"

Icy looks over her shoulder, glaring at the Winx. "Bye!" said Stella, waving at her as they left. Bloom and Zara glared at Icy in response before she went through the portal.

Pepe sees Icy leave and starts flapping his wings. "Mama, Mama!" squeaked Pepe and goes after her. Kiko tears up as Pepe leaves Alfea for good.

"Oh no." said Zara as she picks up Lavender.

"Come on, Kiko. Don't be sad." Bloom said. "Pepe wants to be with his mommy." Kiko walks over to Bloom as she picks him up. "You and Lavender would want to say with us too, wouldn't you? Right?"

Kiko nodded as Lavender hops out of Zara's arms, hugging her big brother. "Besides Kiko, we could always get you the stuff animal version of Pepe." said Zara.

Kiko shakes his head, knowing that he only wants her, Lavender and Bloom to cuddle with. "Come here, you cute little bunnies." Zara said as she and Bloom hugged them.

"May I please have your attention?" Faragonda asked that night, addressing everyone in the crowd. "We're here to celebrate a momentous event. Alfea has always been a school for fairies and so, in honor of the great courage, loyalty and outstanding spirit of collaboration shown by some of you….especially during the last few days…..I've decided to renew the concept of the modern fairy with a new word…..Winx!"

Every Alfea fairy cheered as they approved of the word. Later on, the party was in full swing. "Well of course." Faragonda said, taking what Saladin was offering. "Go ahead."

Wizgiz accidentally bumps into Griselda, causing her to spill her drink. She glares at the leprechaun for a moment before laughing. "May we propose a toast?" asked Bloom and Zara, raising their glasses. "To Brandon and Stella."

"Whoa, whoa, whoa….what?" asked Xander.

"Why? Did we miss something?" asked Sky.

"Yeah, a toast for what?" Brandon asked the twins.

"What do you mean?" Stella asked Brandon. "It's a toast to celebrate the fact that you are not a prince and that I don't mind one bit." Everyone starts laughing, glad that Stella didn't mind that Brandon wasn't a prince.

"Something tells me that we'll have another reason to raise our glasses." said Flora. "Right, Tecna?"

Tecna smiles, pretending that she doesn't know what Flora was talking about. Kiko and Lavender on the other hand, were carrying fruit in their hands. "Ahem." Zara said, looking at her bunny. "Don't tell me you're going to be eating all of that, Lavender?"

"Aha!" Lavender said, shaking her head as she starts sharing several pieces of fruit with her.

"Then go for it." said Zara as Lavender jumps happily.

Looking up, Bloom and Zara see something go past them across the night sky. "Hey, the nymphs." said Bloom as the nymphs headed back to the water.

Later on, that night, Bloom and Zara stared at the night sky, thinking. Approaching them, Sky and Xander wondered what they were thinking about. "Bloom, are you and Zara okay?" Sky asked.

"We should be happy, huh?" Bloom asked as they looked up at the boys.

"Well, aren't you?" Sky asked as he and Xander went over to the twins.

"It's probably nothing but…" Zara said.

"But what?" Xander asked.

"I don't know. Zara and I keep thinking about our adoptive parents, our birth parents, our past and there's still so many things we don't get." said Bloom.

"I have so many questions that are still left unanswered." said Zara. Sky and Xander sighed, not knowing what to say.

"No kidding." said Bloom and Zara.

"Listen, whatever the two of you choose to do, Xander and I want you to know…" said Sky as he takes Bloom's hand as Xander takes Zara's hand. "that you're not alone."

"You always have us." said Xander. The twins gasped as they looked up at the night sky watching the moon.

Chapter Text

Somewhere in the Magic dimension, a young African American fairy was climbing the cliffs of a castle with waterfalls around it. Just as she had reached the cliff's edge, she gasps as patrol comes by.

"No time." she said in a strained voice. "I'll be found out any second now."

The young fairy finally climbs over the edge and inside the castle. "Okay, let's see now." said a voice, coming from inside. The young fairy then finds the pixies. "Let me think, so yes this is it. No, no. Wait, wait. I need to think about this for a second. Um…..right….if I go to the left, the power will…..wait, wait, if I say three, she will turn, magic will converge. Yes, that's it and so in a nutshell, if we pull this off, I'm absolutely sure we can finally escape dreadful place."

"Oh well." said a pixie with long strawberry hair. "I really hope its than your first 50 ideas."

"Digit and Piff who'll stop midway to the sides." the blonde pixie said. "Digit to the right and Piff to the left. I'll count to three and then we'll switch positions and converge to produce an unexpected magical impact on the wall."

"But will the movements be coordinated and elegant at least." said a pixie with a white and blue dress.

The young fairy continued to climb until she reaches a window, falling through its opening. "Shh! Someone's coming." said a pixie whose outfit resembles a bee.

"Ah…who could that be?" asked the pixie who had a barrette in her hair. Behind her was a baby pixie, whose outfit had her look like a firefly.

"I wonder." said Digit, thinking for a moment. Footsteps were heard coming towards the pixies, causing Digit to gasp. As the person got closer, the pixies became more terrified.

"Who is it?" asked the pixie with the barrette in her hair. Once the person had stepped into the light, it revealed the young fairy.

"Aisha." said the pixie with long strawberry hair. "You're all right. We thought you had been captured too."

"Yes, I was captured." Aisha said to the Pixies.

"By the horrible creature?" asked the blonde pixie.

"The Phoenix, yes." she said. "Luckily though, I was able to escape through the window of my cell."

"Oh no, you didn't! That much too dangerous." said the pixie with the barrette as she brought the other baby pixie towards her.

"How is Piff? Is she okay?" asked Aisha. Piff was sleeping, unfazed by what was going on.

"Yes, she's fine. You must be so worried about her." said the Pixie with long strawberry hair.

"After all, she is your bonded pixie." said the blonde Pixie.

"Piff, this is no way too great a visitor." said the Pixie with a white and blue dress. "Look up, see who's there."

Piff opens her eyes and sees that it was Aisha who was there. She squealed in excitement and starts babbling, telling Aisha that she was happy to see her. Piff then looks around and sees her surroundings with her fellow Pixies. Digit then starts to translate Piff's babbling.

"She said she's excited to see you, at least I think." Digit said.

"Thanks, Digit, but there's no time for chitchat." said Aisha.

"You are going to be able to get us out, right?" asked the blonde Pixie.

"I'm not sure how, but I'm leaving without you guys." said Aisha. She then uses her magic to try and free the Pixies from their cell. "I'm too weak. I have no strength left."

"Oh, I think the lock is on that wall." said Lockette, pointing to the skulls on the wall.

"Then…maybe…." said Aisha as she looks up at the wall of skulls. She fires a purple ball of magic at the wall, aiming at the skull with the glowing eyes, freeing the Pixies. Looking at Aisha with her bright blue eyes, Piff goes over to her, asking if she was okay.

"Aisha, are you okay?" asked the pixie with long strawberry hair as Piff continued to give concern babble.

"I'll be fine." Aisha said, catching her breathe. "The Phoenix drained some of my power, that's all."

"We should get out of here, quickly." suggested Digit.

"But our wings are covered with that disgusting tar, and we can't fly." said the blonde pixie.

"Everybody ready?" asked Aisha, picking up the pixies to carry them.

"Yes!" said the Pixies.

Aisha then carries the Pixies away from their cell. "This is no way for a pixie to travel." said the blonde Pixie.

"No, undignified." said the pixie with the white and blue dress.

"I won't be able to climb like this and I'm too weak to fly so let's find the stairs." said Aisha, then takes off to find them. Piff decided to get out of Aisha's arms and climbs into her hoodie, for more room.

"So…." said the shadow phoenix as she watches Aisha try to escape with the Pixies. "the girl dares to attempt an escape from my fortress. Worthless Pixies. You think you are safe with her? But how wrong you are. And as for you, pesky little fairy, I will stop you with my shadow monsters."

He then sends a dark fire energy ball at the ground. "Arise dwellers of the shadows." said Shadow phoenix, summoning his minions. "Heed the summoning of your master."

Shadow creatures came up from the ground, waiting for instructions. "You prey is heading for the main entrance." he said to his creatures. "To the girl, do what you want. But I need the Pixies alive."

Aisha made it to the main entrance with the Pixies in her arms and gasped. "We made it." said the pixie with strawberry hair.

"Affirmative." said Digit, doing some calculations. "We've reached the main level."

"We'll be able to get outside from here." The pixie with strawberry hair said.

"Stand by everyone while I switch on my data glove which will enable me to determine…." Digit said when her glove turns off. "Oh, a power failure. Hm."

"I think that's the exit, but my magic is getting weak too." said Lockette.

"That's right." said the blonde pixie. "I feel so drained; I can barely speak anymore. That reminds me, did you know…"

"This isn't a good time." Aisha tells her. "We'll chat later. Okay?"

As Aisha walks in further, a shadow creature pops up from the floor. The shadow creature roars at the group, causing them to scream. Two more shadow creatures appeared, surrounding them and causing the group to scream even more in terror.

"Aisha, look!" Lockette said, pointing to one shadow creature as its spits saliva at them.

"Ugh! I got all dirty." said the pixie with the white and blue dress. Another shadow creature sent out its spikes, causing Aisha to grab the Pixies and take them to cover. The purple shadow creature spread sticky saliva on the floor, cornering Aisha until she had to dodge.

"One down! Yeah!" said the pixie with the bee outfit.

"Let's not celebrate yet." said Lockette.

"Well, at least we can cheer on Aisha." said the blonde Pixie. "Yay! Go, Aisha, go!"

As the shadow creatures attacked Aisha, they unknowingly attacked each other as she dodged. "Help!" screamed Lockette as Aisha ran towards the main door.

"We're safe."

Suddenly, the shadow phoenix screeches about Aisha and the Pixies.

"Oh, no! It's the Phoenix!"

"Hide!"

"Foolish girl." said the Shadow Phoenix as he landed on the main steps. "You barely have the strength to stand. Hand over the pixies."

"Never! I won't let you have them." Aisha said, taking a step back.

"I find your meaningless bravery tiresome." he said. "But no matter…time to pay for your mistakes, girl!"

He then goes into striking Aisha with his claws as she creates a shield to protect herself, only for the Shadow Phoenix to penetrate part of her shield. "How is that possible?" he asked as Aisha stands to her feet. "You should be too weak."

"It's not so easy to beat a fairy." Aisha tells him.

"Isn't it?" asked the Shadow Phoenix as he fires about fire ball at her.

"Oh no!" screamed Aisha as he uses shadow strands to pick her up.

"Goodbye, fairy." the Shadow Phoenix said as he tosses Aisha over the edge. She screams as she fell towards the water. "No one can survive a fall from this height." He then laughs over his victory against Aisha.

At Alfea, the castle had been restored. "Wow, everything looks great." said Bloom. "All of Alfea is getting ready for the party." Kiko nodded his head, agreeing with Bloom.

"Don't forget, Bloom, it's better than all the other parties we've ever been to." said Zara as Lavender starts to look for their friends.

"The others?" Bloom asked, seeing Lavender's small look, wondering where they are as well. "I don't know where….hey there's Tecna."

"We're gonna have to place her on a 'no-technology cleanse' for a weekend." said Zara, seeing their friend.

"She'll fight you for it." Bloom tells her.

"You know that I'll overpower her in like…..15 seconds flat." Zara said.

"2.54 meters still to go." said Tecna.

"More like 10 seconds flat." said Bloom, laughing with her sister. "Look, Kiko and Lavender, Musa's busy with the sound check." They watched Musa play some music for a couple of fairies. "She's sounds great."

"I wish we were that good." said Zara.

"Hey, Musa. Have you seen Flora?" asked Bloom.

"Yeah, she's with her flowers of course." Musa tells the twins, and they headed inside.

"Hi, Flora." they said.

"This place looks amazing." said Bloom.

"It's more than just amazing, it's marvelous." said Zara.

"You've outdone yourself this time." said the twins.

"You think so, really?" asked Flora.

"You want some help?" Bloom and Zara asked, smiling.

"That's alright. I've got everything under control." Flora assures them.

"Oh, uh, well…." Bloom said. "Maybe Stella needs help with her chores. You've seen her?"

"Last I heard, she was off to do something of the utmost importance." said Flora.

"Let's go check with her." said Zara.

"Right." said Bloom.

"Oh…" Stella said as Zara and Bloom walked in. "Why now? It fit when I tried it on in the store. Why do these things happen to me?"

Bloom knocks on her door as Zara shakes her head. "Stella, are you okay?" they asked, entering Stella's room.

"No, I'm not." said Stella as the twins were shocked by the state of her room.

"Oh, what a mess." said Bloom.

"This is worse than the two of us back in Gardenia." said Zara, looking at the strewn clothes all over the place.

"Now both of you be a friend and help me out." said Stella.

"Stella, what happened here?" Bloom asked.

"You're scaring me, Stella." said Zara.

"Look, it took me over 2 hours to pick the perfect dress." Stella explains. "Hm! Now I find out that it doesn't fit well, so I take this other one, but I think I wore it already. I beg you Bloom and Zara, help me!"

"Stella, how can we help you?" Bloom asked. "You're the fashion star. Or do you need our magic fires to tidy your room."

"Exactly! You always know what looks good." said Zara.

"That is not the problem." said Stella.

"Look, Zara and I have to go help someone who really needs it." said Bloom.

"Good luck finding the perfect outfit." added Zara, giving her a smile and a thumbs up.

"Bye." they said, leaving Stella behind in her fashion mess.

"No! Wait! Don't go!" Stella calls out to them.

"Stella, your outfits are fine." Bloom assures her.

"There's nothing wrong with them." Zara guarantees the blonde as she gestures to the clothes.

"I really need your help." pleaded Stella.

"Whatever you wear, you always look perfect great." said Bloom. "Trust us."

"Exactly, Miss Fashionista." said Zara, gesturing to Stella as the twins proved their point. "You always know what looks good on you. You could make a whole new outfit with just the right accessories."

"But it's been so long since I've been to a party with Brandon, what if those don't help?" Stella asked. "I totally forgot what dresses he's already seen me in!"

"Oh my god…. we're finally witnessing Stella having a fashion crisis." Zara tells Bloom as she turns to her twin dramatically. "What ever will we do?" Kiko sighs as Lavender looked at Stella like she was crazy.

They left Stella's room, having a snack. "Well, since nobody needs our help, we'll just get busy with these peanuts." said Bloom as the both of them had containers of peanuts in their hands.

"Yummy." said Zara. As they continued to walk down the corridor, the twins looked up to see a magical seahorse, going around the corner.

"What was that?" Bloom asked her sister.

"That's…that's….a magical seahorse?" asked Zara as they looked around the corner as it sees them watching it.

"Hey there!" they said to the magical creature. "Aren't you a cutie. Don't worry, we won't hurt you. What a nice little magic pet you are."

"Come on, hop on little guy." said Bloom, reaching out.

"We're nice fairies." said Zara. Rather than going into Bloom's hand, the magical seahorse flies away from the twins.

"Hey, come here!" Bloom and Zara said as they went after it, with Bloom catching it in her hands. Its wiggles free out of Bloom's hands, only to be caught by Zara.

"And where do you think you're going, little cute one?" asked Zara. "We just want to get to know you a little better." Once again, the magical seahorse wiggles free and uses its magic to have the rug go around the twins.

"Hey!" said the twins as the small seahorse taunts them into following it. "Hey, wait!"

Zara and Bloom followed the magical seahorse as it was leading them down a different corridor. "I don't think we've been here before." said Bloom.

"We've never been down this corridor ever." Zara tells her.

"You're right, Zara." said Bloom as they looked at the corridor. "I'm not sure where we are, but I think we're getting near the southwest tower."

"Interesting." said Zara. The twins went further into the corridor, looking for the magical creature.

"I bet he went down here." Bloom said to Zara.

"And I bet he's hiding too." added Zara.

"Where is he?" they asked, looking to the magical seahorse. "He must have gone through a wall."

They then looked at the painting, seeing that it was matching the corridor. "A door?" asked Bloom.

"Possibly." Zara tells her, taking a closer look at the painting. "If this painting's showing us this corridor, then the door would be…."

"It would be about here." said Bloom, walking towards the other side of the corridor, touching the wall. Reaching out, Bloom and Zara opens the invisible door.

"No way…." said Zara as they looked inside.

"Oh wow….." Bloom said in awe. Peering out from the bookshelves, the magical seahorse sees that the twins were inside.

Suddenly a librarian Pixie came down towards the twins. "Well, what have you got to say for yourselves?" she asked.

"This place is incredible." said Bloom and Zara.

"We mean, the Alfea library is nothing compared to this." said Bloom.

"I wonder why we've never heard about it." said Zara.

"That's because no one is supposed to know about it." the librarian pixie tells them. "First, you both torment my pixie hippo campus, and then you both sneak into Alfea's forbidden magic archive."

"Tattletale. We didn't hurt you that hard." Zara said to the hippo campus.

The hippo campus angrily shakes its fin at her, causing her to stick her out her tongue in retaliation. "Zara and I are trying to wrap our heads around this." Bloom explained as the librarian pixie conjured a cozy living room setting for her and the hippo campus.

"I am the pixie Concorda." she said, introducing herself to the twins. "And these tow magical animals are my friends."

"How cute." said Zara and Bloom.

"Now, it's my job to take care of the magical archive for Faragonda and to keep out nosy students." Concorda tells them.

"Should we leave?" asked Bloom.

"We're more than welcome to leave." said Zara.

"Well, you could at least introduce yourselves." said Concorda.

"My name is Bloom."

"And I'm Zara."

"We're identical twin sisters and we got here by accident." said Bloom and Zara. "But hey, what's a pixie?"

"My dears, we pixies are beings of magic." Concorda explained. "We often help fairies fight evil and perform their spells."

"You help fairies?" the twins asked.

"Yes, in fact, some fairies and Pixies form deep connections, a bit like falling in love, then the two become inseparable." said Concorda. "Like you two."

"Really?" asked Bloom.

"Cool." said Zara.

"We refer to this as bonding." Concorda tells them. "And it's a special thing for Pixies."

"Wish Zara and I had a pixie of our own." said Bloom as Zara smiled dreamily, thinking about their own pixies. "What about you? Are you bonded to Faragonda?"

"Oh, no, no, no. I am bonded to this archive." said Concorda.

"Don't you get lonely bonded to a room?" asked Bloom.

"I know I would." said Zara.

"No, not me." Concorda said. "Besides, I have magical animals to cheer me up and keep me company. They are called Pixie pets. They live with us and lend us their talents."

"Wow!" said the twins. "Oh, no! The time!"

"What's wrong?" asked Concorda, seeing the look on their faces.

"Big trouble. We're going to be late for the party." said Bloom.

"I can't believe it!" said Zara.

"Then go now." Concorda urged them. "Your friends, they must be waiting for you."

Out on campus, the Winx were waiting for the twins.

"The party's stating." said Flora.

"This is ridiculous." said Stella.

"What could be taking Bloom and Zara so long?" Flora asked.

"I'm sick of waiting." Stella said. "After all, I'm the one who's supposed to be fashionably late."

"Coming!" The twins called out as they were hoping out into the courtyard, with Bloom tying her shoes and Zara twisting her hair. "Sorry we're late."

"And not a minute too soon." said Stella as Kiko and Lavender comes in, holding a headband for Bloom and a hairclip for Zara.

"What happened to you two?" asked Flora. "Are you okay?"

"Yes, Flora, but I think Zara and I shattered the land speed record for changing clothes." said Bloom.

"By one or two seconds." said Zara.

"Thanks, Kiko." Bloom said as Kiko handed her a blue headband with a heart on it.

"Thanks, Lavender." said Zara twisting her red hair up in a ponytail as Lavender handed her a black hairclip.

"How do we look? Is our hair, ok?" they asked, posing for their friends.

"Can I say something?" Stella asked.

"Sure. It's the skirt, isn't it?" Bloom asked.

"Or is it my skirt and leggings?" asked Zara.

"We tried…." they start to tell Stella when she walks over to them.

"Hold still a minute, you two." said Stella as she adjusts their outfits. "I'm the fairy of beauty for a reason you know." As Stella deals with Zara's outfit, Musa hears something outside of Alfea's gates.

"Listen! Recognize that sound?" she asked.

"It sounds like the specialists." said Flora.

"Hurry up, Stella!" said Bloom.

"Yeah! Hurry up, Stella!" Zara said, repeating her sister's words. "You're taking forever."

"Hold on!" Stella tells them. "You can't rush perfection you know."

"Perfection? At this rate, we'll be late for the party!" said Bloom as Zara rolled her eyes.

"They're coming." said Flora as she and the others walked to the gate.

"Where? Who? When?" Stella asked, looking for the boys.

"That's funny…" said Musa, looking towards the gate. "I thought I heard something."

"Me too. Could it we both be wrong?" Flora asked.

"Hey! There they are." said Stella, spotting the Specialists coming in on their bikes.

"Sky!"

"Xander!"

"Go, Brandon!"

The boys came by, not stopping in front of the Winx. "Oh! What a jerk!" said Stella.

"Riven almost hit them." said Flora.

"Maybe…he was showing the guys a new maneuver." said Musa.

"Hi!" said Brandon, taking off his helmet.

"Oh, come on, Sky." Riven said to him and Xander. "You and Xander said that you both wanted to make a splashy entrance."

"Yes, but not like that, Riven." said Xander.

"Sky, Xander." said Bloom and Zara as they walked up to them. "Are you okay?"

"Of course." Sky tells her as he and Xander took the twins' hands. "Besides a smooth landing would have been a little bit too predictable, don't you think?"

They then looked up to see a Red Fountain aircraft lands outside of Alfea. "It's Timmy." Tecna said with a smile on her face.

"Hey girls, it's good to see you." said Timmy.

"Welcome back to Alfea, Timmy." said Tecna.

"So…you guys come all the way down here just to see us?" Stella asked Brandon.

"No, we came just to see you, sunshine." Brandon tells her.

"You've done something different with your hair." Xander said, noticing Zara's new hairstyle.

"Well…uh…..I…." Zara stammered as she fiddled with her hands.

"It quite suits you." he tells her as she blushes deeply.

"You think so?" she asked.

"Absolutely. Because now I can see more of your beautiful face." said Xander, causing Zara to smile.

"Looks like they're about ready to start." Tecna said, looking at campus.

"Let's get going before we miss something." said Bloom as she and Zara start walking them in.

"Students, professors, welcome." Faragonda said, stepping out to greet everyone. "After our struggle against the Army of Darkness, a lot of work needed to be done to restore our school to its former glory and we were able to do so. It's largely thanks to the brave efforts of one set of fairies in particular. Bloom, Zara, would you both come here with me on stage please?"

"Oh, wow, girls. That's great." said Flora.

"Yeah, you go Bloom and Zara." said Musa, gently pushing them forward. "They're waiting for you."

"No, hang on a second." said Stella, then takes off Bloom's headband, spins Zara around and takes out the hairclip. "Oh yeah, that's more natural. Now you're both ready to go and bask in the spotlights, girlfriends."

"No way, we're the Winx. We're all in this together. Zara and I could have never done it without you, guys." said Bloom.

"Yeah. Bloom and I consider you sisters in all but blood." said Zara.

"You mean it?" asked Stella.

"That's right. We're all going on stage." said Bloom.

"And I'm gonna need my hair clip back." Zara said, taking it from Stella and clips it on her jacket.

"Here, hold this would you?" Stella asked one of the fairies, handing them Bloom's headband.

"And now I declare the Alfea school for fairies open." said Faragonda and reveals the newly constructed tower.

"We hope the whole school year is going to be like this." said Bloom and Zara.

"Me too." said Flora as fireworks went off over Alfea.

At the fortress of the Shadow Phoenix, he growls as he stood angrily at the Pixies. "You will tell me the location of the Pixie village." demanded the Shadow Phoenix.

"You're not authorize to access our data." said Digit as Lockette and the baby pixie cowers in fear.

"Really?" growled the Shadow Phoenix.

"Hey! Leave my friends alone you bully!" shouted the blonde Pixie.

"Very well." he said, casting a spell, taking away their strength.

"Lockette! Digit!" the blonde pixie called out.

"Excellent." the Shadow Phoenix said as the blonde pixie felt less talkative. "I can already feel the strength of your powers. Your magic is mine. Now then, it's your turn." He looked at the other pixies who were cowering as well as he stalks towards them. "I'll go through you all one by one until you tell me where your village is. That's where you've hidden the codex, isn't it?"

"Leave them alone." the blonde pixie said, her magic drained as she fell onto the table with Digit and Lockette.

"Now speak!" shouted the Shadow Phoenix as the blonde pixie looked up. "Or suffer."

As the sun sets, the specialists were heading back to Red Fountain. "Bloom, you and Zara are very quiet. Is everything okay?" Sky asked.

"I'm fine, Sky. Zara and I just had a little adventure." Bloom tells him.

"What's going on in that head of yours?" Xander asked.

"I'm okay and it's just like Bloom said." Zara said, leaning against him. "The two of us just had a little adventure, nothing else."

"What? There was trouble and you didn't call your set of neighborhood Prince Charmings?" asked the boys.

"Well, not every adventure involves monsters." said Zara and Bloom.

"What happened?" Sky asked.

"What did you both do?" asked Xander.

"Well, actually it's a funny story actually." said Bloom.

"Depending on how you both look at it." added Zara.

"And we kind of promise not to tell anyone." they said to the boys.

"Hey….are we just anyone to the two of you then?" asked Sky.

"Sky and I are trustworthy." said Xander. Bloom and Zara started laughing, seeing that their crushes were cheering them up.

"And then, she had on this absolutely horrendous t-shirt, and it was about five…." Stella said to the others.

"But we have a feeling this will be the year when we finally learn the truth about our birth parents." said Bloom and Zara.

"Well, you can count on the specialists to help you." said Sky.

"It's what we're here for." said Xander.

"By the way," Zara said to Xander. "How's your dad?"

"Did you see her outfit?" asked Stella. "That red hat made her look like a fire hydrant." Just then, Timmy and Tecna walked up. "Well, look who's here. Care to tell us where you two have been hiding?"

"Tecna was showing me how to calibrate the simulator." said Timmy.

"Yeah right." said Stella. "Do I even have to say anything at this point?"

"And yet, you always do." said Musa. "It just wouldn't be Stella if she didn't have the last word."

"Hey, it's getting late." Brandon said to the girls. "We need to be heading back to Red Fountain."

After saying their goodbyes, the boys take off towards Red Fountain. "Hey, Bloom! Zara!" Flora called out.

"Yes!" they both said.

"Something's wrong with the trees." said Flora.

"Bye guys." Stella said, waving them off when she sees Bloom and Zara walked towards the trees. "What are you two doing? Where are you going?"

Walking dizzily through the forest, Aisha makes her way towards Alfea. The twins gasped as they see Aisha walked towards them. Aisha could barely stand on her feet, but she was determined to make it to Alfea. "My…are you okay?" asked Bloom and Zara as they watch her fall to the ground.

"Flora!" Zara called out as she and Bloom ran over to Aisha.

"Bloom, Zara, is she all, right?" Musa asked as Zara takes Aisha's pulse.

"Hm." said Tecna as she sends her drone towards Aisha.

"Are you reading what I was getting, Tecna?" Zara asked.

"Yep. She's fine." Tecna said. "She's just exhausted."

"Come on, wake up." said Zara and Bloom. "Come on, come on."

Out of Aisha's hair, a sleeping Piff tumbles out, causing Stella to notice. "Ooh…what is that?" Stella asked.

"It looks like…." Bloom said as she picks Piff up and Zara steps up behind her. "A pixie. It is. It's a Pixie."

"And a very cute Pixie at that." said Zara, taking a closer look at Piff.

"But why would she have a Pixie?" asked the twins. "Who is this girl? What could have happened to her?"

Chapter Text

That night at Alfea, Aisha was in the infirmary resting. While lying there, she started having nightmares of the Shadow Phoenix and the Pixies. The Winx were in their room, trying to figure out what had happened to Aisha.

"Relax, Bloom and Zara." said Flora as Bloom paces and Zara does one of her baguazhang techniques. "I know it's been 4 days. But she'll wake up, I'm sure."

Kiko heard them talking and placed his pillow over his ears while Lavender was knocked out cold. Stella growls as she sits up from Bloom's bed. "If we're going to stay up with them all night, let's talk about important stuff." she said. "You think she's got a boyfriend?"

"Oh my god, Stella!" said Zara, as she went counter clock wise.

"What? I'm just curious." Stella tells her.

"Would you rather talk about Brandon's girlfriend?" asked Musa.

"And who is Brandon's girlfriend?" Stella asked.

"You are, Stella. Remember?" Tecna asked as Stella looks at Musa who just gave her a smile. The Winx started laughing as Stella forgot that she was the only one that Brandon had eyes for. "The sun will be up in exactly 12 minutes."

"Oh no!" Flora exclaimed. "None of us has slept a wink. How will we stay awake tomorrow?"

"You mean today." said Tecna.

"Don't worry, let's just sleep in. It's the first week of school." Stella said. "Classes are optional."

"Yeah, sure Stella." Musa said, yawning. "Great way to start the year."

"Fine, fine. Bedtime ladies." said Stella, giving in. "Enough talk about boys."

As the others left, Flora looks at the twins, seeing Zara hug her Bloom. "Don't worry, you two." Flora said, placing a hand on their shoulders. "She'll be fine."

At a temple somewhere in Magix, people were doing tasks to help out as monks watched them. "It's hard to believe, isn't it?" one asked his friend. "These gentle folks were once harden criminals."

"I don't understand why they're allowed to walk about freely." said the monk's friend.

"We believe in rehabilitation." said the monk. "This isn't a prison."

"Maybe, but these people have more freedom that we'll have in our entire lifetime." said the monk's friend.

"But can't you see what peace and meditation is doing for them?" the monk asked.

"I don't think it's working for everyone." his friend tells him.

"You speak of the three witches Lady Faragonda sent us." said the monk.

"Yes." said the second monk. "They keep shouting day in and day out. They've not made any progress since they've arrived here at Light Rock monastery. They'll never be rehabilitated."

"Brother, no one is beyond redemption." said the first monk.

In the fields, the Trix were taking one of their walks. "This is the third time we've walked into the horizon to end up back where we started." Darcy said as Stormy angrily growls.

"This is totally useless!" Stormy shouted. "We'll never get out of here."

"If only our magic worked here, we'd be out so fast." commented Icy.

"I'm beat." Darcy said, lying on the ground.

"Good morning, ladies and gentlemen, children and seniors." said a voice on the speaker. "Here is Brother Titerus from the Light Rock weather station."

"The forecast for tomorrow is clear skies with a soft breeze from the northwest with temperatures hovering around 70 degrees Fahrenheit. The same scenario can be expected for the next several years." said Titerus.

"Thank you, Brother Titerus." said the voice. "And now, back to our music program."

As the peaceful music came back on, a young man on a unicorn rides by the Trix and bows to them before riding off. "AAHH! ENOUGH!" screamed Stormy, then tries to use her magic, only for it to be stopped by what was worn around her head. "I'm going to obliterate that loudspeaker."

The Trix remembered how the Winx defeated them and their army of darkness.

"Stormy." said the voice from the speaker. "You see….it is vital that you should not only stop performing evil acts, but also you should banish evil thoughts. Remember, no nasty thoughts, no evil deeds."

"But Mr. Dixit, you taught us to hate violence." said Darcy. "We never behave improperly."

"No, Darcy, listen." Dixit said to her.

"I hate all that simpering." said Icy as she angrily remembers what she and her sisters did to Bloom and Dawn.

[Flashback]

"What a pity you both had to meet us sweet little fairies." Icy said to Bloom and Zara as she had encased them in an ice prism.

"Give it up, Bloom and Zara. You're struggling in vain." said Icy as she blasts the twins in their adoptive home in Gardenia.

"This is it. Nothing can stop us now."

She then remembers taking away the two dragon flames away from the twins with Darcy and Stormy.

[Flashback ends]

Icy hated reliving the memories of what she did. "Stormy, do you see where I'm getting at?" Dixit asked.

"Yep, I'll disconnect you then." she said, now annoyed. "Is disconnect more positive than obliterate?"

"That's good, Stormy. You're making progress." said Dixit, nonchalant as Stormy walks over to rip out the speaker. "Do as you wish. Anything is possible here. Now the news….."

Stormy finally pulls off the speaker from the tree and Dixit continues talking. "Welcome to hope conquers all. Light Rocks hour news segment. Out top story, two dolphins who have captured by poachers were returning to the sea this morning near the coastal city."

Stormy snarls in frustration as she throws the speaker at the tree. "Shut up!" she shouted.

"Stormy, weren't you listening?" Dixit asked. "Anything is possible here."

Stormy then runs towards the speaker and kicks it towards the random horizon. "And now let's take a moment to enrich our minds." said Dixit as Stormy glares.

"Unbelievable." said Darcy. "I still hear it."

"Where is it coming from!" screamed Stormy as speakers had surrounded her. Both witches went in search of where the speakers were and the more that they found, the more they started to lose their minds.

"No!" screamed Stormy and Darcy as the music increased. "Stop it!"

"Om!"

"Leave us alone!" shouted Stormy as a calming bird flew over the Trix.

"Agh, I swear when I get out of here, I will be meaner than ever." Icy vowed.

"I know what you're thinking." Wizgiz said to his class. "Wouldn't it be nice if all the things in the universe were good? Well, that's not the case. Furthermore, that's not possible. Because in the universe, there is not light without darkness."

Bloom was nodding off a bit while Zara follows Wizgiz with her bleary eyes. "When a form of energy is created, it produces an opposite force equally strong." he went on to explain. "Observe."

He then demonstrates to them. "What do you see?" he asked.

"Professor? You're showing us nothing." said one fairy. Others were laughing, seeing that she wasn't understanding it as Wizgiz darkens the room and shows a bit of light in his hand.

"See? What I did was capture some of the light that was in the room." Wizgiz tells her. "But it only shows its power in the darkness. Its polar opposite." He then claps his hands, returning the light to the room. "As I mentioned at the beginning of this introductory class, the existence of good energy results in the creation of an equal amount of evil energy."

Wizgiz, then shows everyone yin and yang on the blackboard behind him. "Normally, these forces are balanced, but sometimes balancing needs a little bit of help. A dynamic energy between the dominant force and the recessive one." Suddenly, Bloom and Zara fell asleep with the latter leaning on her sister. "Bloooom! Zaarrra!"

"Wah! I didn't do it, Bloom did!" screamed Zara, raising her hands towards the ceiling, hitting air and accidentally releasing a couple balls of blue fire.

"That's new." said Musa.

"Let's never wake her up like that." said Tecna.

"I'd say." Stella said, giggling. "I don't think I'm ready for Zara's morning fireball routine!"

"We'll do a gentler approach when waking Zara up." added Flora as said younger twin gave Wizgiz a nervous smile.

"Yes, Professor?" they both asked.

"I am well aware that this is a review. But you will need to know this for your new classes." he tells them. "And not greet the day with blue fire aimed at the ceiling."

"Yes, we're sorry." said Bloom.

"Yes, sir. We understand." said Zara.

"Can either one of you tell me what is missing from my diagram?" he asked the twins.

"I think…. Stella's got earrings that look like that." said Bloom.

"Judging by the yin yang on the board, everyone should be able to channel their energies into something positive over anything negative?" Zara asked in a hopeful tone. "With possible grey areas?"

Stella smiles as everyone laughs at the twins' statements. "How do you know that?" asked one of their classmates as Zara points to Wizgiz.

"In theory, there is a third and even greater energy which manifests itself in special situations." said Wizgiz.

"Same principles goes for martial arts, but a little different." Zara said to their classmate. "In a sparring or tournament match, you have to know how far is too far before you or your opponent gets physically hurt. I've had my share of bruises."

In the infirmary, Flora sits by Aisha's side as she starts to wake up. Dipping a rag in water, Flora wipes Aisha's forehead. "Hey, she's waking up." Flora said to Musa.

"Hm?" Musa asked, walking over.

"Oh." Aisha said, quickly sitting up. "4 days. It's been 4 days." She then turns to Flora and Musa. "Piff. Where's Piff?" Musa and Flora were confused as Aisha sits back down and falls back on the bed.

"She's nuts." said Musa. "She looks at the palm of her hands to find out which day this is."

"Yep, and she got it right too." Bloom said as she, Zara and Stella walked in.

"Makes sense." said Stella. "Wrinkles show the unstoppable flow of time. Except for me of course. I wonder what her name is."

"We don't know yet." said Flora.

"Is she okay?" asked Bloom and Zara.

"She doesn't look so good." said Musa.

"Don't worry, young ladies." said the nurse. "Your friend is just a little pale around the gills."

Aisha wakes up again, seeing Bloom, Zara and Stella were there. "Look, she's waking up again." said Flora.

"Where am I?" Aisha asked.

"You're safe at Alfea school for fairies." said Musa.

"You had a dream. You were looking for Piff." said Flora.

"You know Piff? Where is she?" questioned Aisha. "Tell me, is she alright? Please tell me."

"Don't worry. Everything will be okay." Flora assures her.

"Piff is your bonded Pixie, isn't she?" Bloom asked. "Fairies and Pixies can bond like sisters."

"Exactly like twin sisters." said Zara as Bloom nodded.

"She was the first thing on your mind when you woke up." the twins said to Aisha.

"And here she is." said Flora, showing Aisha that Piff was safe and sound on a pillow.

"Piff! Thank goodness." Aisha said, sighing in relief. "I dreamt about you baby. But in my dream, you suddenly left me all alone."

Suddenly, Aisha's stomach starts rumbling. "Lunchtime, here we are!" said Stella, holding out a sandwich.

"Stella, don't shout." said Flora, but Piff had already woken up and tears filled her eyes.

"Hey, hey, hey." Zara said to Piff, who then looks up at her as the youngest dragon twin fairy crouches down. "Don't cry, Piff. Because if you cry, I'm gonna have to chase Stella all over campus with my bunny, Lavender."

"You wouldn't." said Stella as Zara turns to her, eyebrows raised but it was too late. Tears fell as Piff started crying and Zara gestured towards the blonde fairy.

"Now you've done it." Zara tells her. "Now I'm gonna have to chase you all over campus with my bo staff in hand."

"Oh no. No, please…. don't cry." Stella said to Piff.

"Um, Stella." said Bloom as a tomato falls from the sandwich. "You're losing control of your sandwich."

Piff continues to cry as Zara picks her up and pats her on her little back. "It's okay, Piff." said Zara. "I will chase Silly Stella all over campus for you."

Suddenly, Stella's sandwich slips out of her hand, and it lands on Aisha. Zara was able to calm down Piff and place her back on the pillow. "Hey, welcome to Alfea." said Musa and the girls laughed.

"So, this is your school, am I correct?" asked Aisha as she eats the sandwich.

"Yes. I'm Musa."

"And I'm Flora."

"My name's Bloom."

"I'm Zara, Bloom's sister."

"I'm Stella."

Aisha looks up, taking a closer look at the twins. "My sister and I know what you're thinking." said Bloom, reading the question on her face.

"There must be a set of twins in your family." Zara tells Aisha, causing her to gasp as she read her facial expression.

"How did you…?" Aisha asked.

"Zara has been good at this kind of this thing since we were little." said Bloom. "In a way, she has a sixth sense."

"Bloom and I are identical." said Zara, smiling at her sister. "Besides our clothes, our personalities are different."

"Oh….my name is Aisha." Aisha said smiling. "And I couldn't save the pixies."

"The Pixies?" the Winx asked.

"How many are there?" asked Musa.

"Uh…. a village full." said Aisha.

"A village?" asked Bloom and Zara. "And you live with them?"

"Well, not exactly. I'm a friend." Aisha tells them.

"You're a friend?" Musa asked. "And…"

"Girls, quiet. We shouldn't bother her." Flora scolds them. "If she wants, she can tell us everything when she feels better."

"Thanks, Flora." said Aisha.

"I'm sure Faragonda would like to hear your story." said Bloom.

"Hey, me too." said Stella, taking a bite of tomato. "This is good gossip."

"That reminds me, I need to ask Faragonda about that certain little thing." Zara said to Bloom. "Plus, I have to get her the schedule for it."

"After you chase Stella." Bloom told her sister. "You promised Piff."

"I know. I'm still going to do it." said Zara. "My goal for the year, other than to get strong with my powers is to not fall behind on my martial arts."

"But it could be dangerous for you to get involved." said Aisha.

"Whatever is going on, maybe we could help." said Bloom and Zara.

"Here." said Flora, handing her some tea. "Drink this. It'll help you get your strength back."

"Thanks." Aisha said, taking the cup and begins to tell the Winx.

"It all started a little while back. My family and the pixies have always been close. Every year we would go to their village to visit them. But this time, the village was empty. The Pixies were off to the dark woods for a nature ceremony, only Lockette and Glim made it back with news that the others had been kidnapped by terrible shadow creatures. The Pixies tried to protect themselves with magic, but it didn't work."

Aisha looked up at the Winx before she continued.

"And so, following the trail of tar the creatures left behind, we discovered where the Pixies had been taken. The trail led us to dark tunnels until we came upon an underground castle. And then, we met something with superhuman power. The master of all these evil creatures we'd encountered."

"And….what did it look like?" asked the twins.

"It was a huge bird, a sort of Phoenix." Aisha explained. "Monstrous and evil looking. And then, it transformed itself. I saw it transform itself into something like a man. An armored knight with ultra sharp claws."

"You silly girl." said the shadow phoenix. "Stop this foolishness and hand over the pixies right now."

"Oh, no! Did he hurt you?" asked Flora.

"He caught me in no time." replied Aisha. "Then he drained all my strength away. He took Lockette and Blinky and threw them into magic cells with all the other Pixies from the village."

"Are the Pixies still alive?" questioned Flora.

"The Pixies….there only a few left." Aisha tells them, then tears ran down her face. "I was able to free them, but then I…I tried to bring them with me, but I couldn't. Oh, I shouldn't have left them."

"Hey, look at me." Zara said, having Aisha look at her. "If you had stayed, you wouldn't be here. You were able to save Piff. That's what counts right now."

"But still…." Aisha said.

"Still what?" Zara asked softly, her brow furrowed with concern. "You did what you had to, Aisha. Piff is safe because of you. That's what matters."

"Come here." Musa said as Aisha sobbed into her arms.

"Zara's right." said Bloom. "We'll help you, Aisha. We'll free the Pixies together."

"You can count on us." said Musa.

At his fortress, the Shadow Phoenix was sitting on his throne. "Carebron." he called out and his companion flies towards him. "Have you retrieved the information? What? The codex is in four parts. Are you sure?"

It screeched its answer. "You fool!" he said, raising his voice. "I know the pixies are hiding one of the quadrants, but where are the other three? Magix, of course. The schools."

At the monastery, the two monks stood watch. "Brother Shimo, the path to knighthood that we disciples must follow is long and difficult."

"Indeed, Brother Kacapis." said Shimo.

Suddenly, the Shadow Phoenix rose up through the monastery, screeching at the two monks. "Holy light rock." said Shimo.

"Where did it come from?" asked Kacapis. "The clouds are a dimensional wall."

"Oh Romeo." A girl said to him as they sat on a bench.

"Oh Juliet." said Romeo.

"Where for art thou Romeo." Juliet said. Not far from them, Darcy was watching the two stare lovingly into each other's eyes. "To be young and in love."

"In the shadow of the beach trees, quiet cradles me through the morning breeze." Icy said.

"The pedals has come off, its floating in the air." said Stormy.

"Girls, if we don't show any enthusiasm, they'll never let us out for good behavior." Darcy reminds them.

"No way…. that's beneath my dignity." Icy tells her. "Hm?" The sky above the Trix turned dark with red and red lightning streaked across. "What's happening?"

"I don't know, but I like it." said Stormy.

"Yes!" said Icy, seeing that this was their escape. "Something wicked is in the air." Suddenly, the Shadow Phoenix appears before the Trix. "Oh, my."

"Who are you?" Darcy asked.

"No questions." he answered. "You are now serving the forces of evil."

"Am I ever pleased to hear that?" asked Icy as she, Darcy and Stormy walked towards him. The Trix were finally able to escape their prison.

"I can't believe we're free." said Stormy as they stood up.

"That light was unbearable." commented Darcy.

"So are these silly clothes." added Icy. The Shadow Phoenix nonverbally agreed and changed the Trix into their normal wear.

"There! That's the one!" said one of the monks, spotting the Shadow Phoenix with the Trix. "This way!"

"Oh no! The Templars." Stormy exclaimed, then releases a static ball. "Take this!"

"Curse you!" shouted Icy as the Templars ran through Stormy's attack. Soon enough, they shattered Icy's wall of ice.

"They're immune to magic." Darcy said.

"They're immune to your magic." said the Shadow Phoenix, laughing as he increases the Trix's magic.

"I feel much stronger." said Stormy, feeling the power course through her veins.

"These are the gloomix." the Shadow Phoenix said to the Trix. "They will multiply your power. Prove your worth to me."

"All right girls." said Icy as the Templars ran towards them. "Let's get them."

"Optical darkness." shouted Darcy, causing the templars to go blind.

"She's blinded us." said one templar.

"Use your ears." said the head templar. "Remember your training."

They listened for the Trix before rushing towards them. "Do they resist Darcy's spell?" Stormy asked.

"No, they just don't know when to quit." said Icy, creating snowflakes.

"Hurricane!" shouted Stormy, releasing a huge hurricane on the templar.

Stormy's hurricane picks up the templar, carrying them away as they freeze. "Hmm. With these gloomix, it'll be easy to get the two dragon fires." plotted Icy.

"Fools. There is much greater power to be had than the two dragon fires." the Shadow Phoenix said.

"Greater than the two dragons?" asked Darcy.

"Yes, and it will be mine just as you three are mine." he snapped, causing Icy to grin widely. "This place drives me mad." Blasting a hole in the wall, the Shadow Phoenix walks out and takes the Trix with him.

At Alfea, Bloom and Zara were at their window, staring outside. "I have a bad feeling." Bloom said to Zara.

"I know, Bloom." said Zara. "I feel negative vibes."

Chapter Text

At Alfea, Aisha was getting as much needed rest as possible. She walks over to the window and pulls the curtains open. As Aisha looks out the window, she sees Piff sleepily flying around. "Piff!" Aisha cried out and runs out of the infirmary to find her.

In the corridor, Aisha had a run in with Knut. She gave a small shriek as he walks towards her. Aisha takes a step back in fear as Knut continues to walk towards her. Seeing that Aisha was scared, he walks past her.

"You shouldn't leave the ward yet. You're still very weak." the nurse said as she spots Aisha up and about with Faragonda.

"Well now, you're the Pixie's friend." said Faragonda.

"Uh, do we know each other?" Aisha asked Faragonda.

"My name is Faragonda. I'm the director here at Alfea." she said. "I visited your father many years ago, but you were too young to remember. You really do look like him though."

"Lucky me." said Aisha.

"In any case, the Pixies have always said good things about you." Faragonda tells her.

"Piff? Have you seen her?" Aisha asked. "She was flying in the garden, and I think she fell asleep in midair."

"Awe."

"What?" questioned Faragonda.

"Which way is it to outside?" she then asked.

"Uh, that way." said Faragonda, showing her that she was going in the wrong direction.

"Thanks." said Aisha as she turns around and runs in the other direction.

"My, what a willful young lady." Faragonda said to the nurse.

"She forgot her clothes." the nurse added, holding Aisha's clothes.

Aisha runs down the corridor and tries to open a door. "No!" she said as the door wouldn't budge.

"Yes! Answers to the homework." said a fairy as she walks down the corridor, holding her books. She looks up as Aisha accidentally crashes into her, causing the fairy to fall.

"Sorry!" Aisha called out over her shoulder as she continued to run down the corridor.

Outside, Piff continues to sleep as she flies around. Aisha made it outside and starts looking for Piff. "What planet is she from?" another fairy asked her friend, watching Aisha run barefoot across campus.

"Strange." her friend replied.

Up in the air, Piff yawns as she stops flying and falls to the ground. Aisha then spots her falling and starts running to catch her. "NO!" screamed Aisha, making a run for it. "PIFF!"

Piff hears Aisha's voice and opens her eyes, spreading her wings before hitting the ground. Now that she was awake, Piff decided to happily head inside through an open window.

"Piff!" said Aisha, then runs back inside. Once she had caught up with her bonded pixie, Aisha sees that Piff was near an opened window that led to a classroom. Aisha couldn't stop her as Piff went inside.

Wizgiz was teaching his class, unaware that Piff had entered the classroom. "Magic is based on the principal of inconsistency continuity and so there is no direct cause of relationship." Wizgiz said as he looks up to see Piff entering the classroom.

"Bloom….." Zara said, watching Piff as she follows her flight pattern with her eyes.

"No, Zara." Bloom tells her as Piff stops flying.

"Piff!" said Flora as they watch her fall towards them. Aisha opens the classroom doors and runs to catch Piff.

"I told you something was going to happen in class today, Bloom." said Zara as they see Aisha on the ground with Piff in her arms.

"Yeah, but you didn't say which class it was going to happen in." Bloom tells her.

"Oh yeah...we'll split it." Zara compromised as Bloom nodded. "I'll bathe Kiko, you bathe Lavender."

"Deal. Yay!" said Bloom as she and Zara clapped their hands for Aisha. Other joined in as Wizgiz gave Aisah a stern look.

"Report to the director's office straight away, lass." Wizgiz told Aisha, pointing her out of his classroom.

"And so…." Aisha said to Faragonda once she was in her office. "after the underground river carried me outside, I managed to run all the way here through the dark forest."

"Do you have any idea why the pixies have been kidnapped?" questioned Faragonda.

"I'm not sure. I wondered that myself." replied Aisha. "Maybe he wants to blackmail them or maybe he's trying to get something from them."

"Yes, that's what I'm afraid of." Faragonda said, agreeing with Aisha's thinking. "Especially if our enemy's ability to absorb magic is dangerous."

"Do you know him?" asked Aisha. "Do you have any idea who or what he is?"

Faragonda hung her head and sighed, trying to find the heart to tell her. "Headmistress, please…if he is dangerous, you have to tell me." Aisha begged her. "The Pixies are in trouble."

"Honestly, I don't know who this enemy of ours is. But we will find out." said Faragonda as she walks around her desk and pats Piff on her head. "And no matter what, we must find the underground entrance and free the pixies. That's the bottom line."

Later on, Faragonda summons the Winx. "My dear girls, as you may have guessed the reason, I've asked you to come here is to organize a rescue mission." Faragonda explained to them. "As you know, fairies and pixies have always been the closest of friends so we must free them at any cost."

"At any cost, huh?" asked Stella. "Does that mean we get to skip classes and still get full credits?"

"After everything Aisha's gone through, can't you think of something other than skipping classes?" Faragonda said to her.

"Well, actually…it's just that if it's such a dangerous mission, why not send the professors?" Stella then asked.

"Hey!" said the others.

"No, no…. that's all right." said Faragonda. "Stella has raised a very good point. As professors, it's our job to guide our students and in case of emergency, we have to be available to help everyone."

"So, in other words, it's up to us to turn this prince into a pauper?" asked Musa.

"You've all shown great skill in the fight against the Trix." Faragonda said. "However, the Pixies are your priority now. It's not wise to challenge an unknown enemy."

"So, we should avoid direct confrontation?" Bloom asked.

"Exactly." said Faragonda. "Don't forget, this dark knight absorbs magic energy."

"That means he can turn our powers against us." said Tecna.

"Aisha will be your guide. She's the only one who can find the entrance to the cave." Faragonda said. "I want you to look for clues that could help us discover the identity of this evil creature."

Everyone but Aisha then looks at Zara. "Why is everyone looking at me like that?" Zara asked. "What did I do this time?"

"You're the only one who can defend herself without thinking to use magic." said Tecna.

"And you're the only person I know who can use a bo staff, Zara." said Bloom.

"That's because I had to learn how to use it, safely I might add, in martial arts." Zara argued. "You and I both know that I haven't done the intermediate and the advances sets at all, Bloom. Besides, all I've done with my bo staff in the last two years is do tricks with it.

"You'll have to take it with you in case something happens." said Faragonda and Zara nodded. "Now follow me." She then leads the Winx down a corridor. "Now I'd like to point out that some of you will not be taking part in this rescue mission."

"But we do everything together." the twins said to Faragonda.

"Yes, and no one gets left behind ever." added Flora.

"Each of you has powers better suited to some missions than others." Faragonda tells them. "Would you send a frog to live in a hot dry desert."

"I wouldn't want to be the poor frog." said Tecna. "I'd dry out in about 1.4 hours."

"You don't have to worry about that, Tecna." Faragonda said. "You'll stay at Alfea."

"Uh…excuse me, but her techno magic…" Flora said.

"Will help us monitor the situation from here." Faragonda assures her. "Bloom, Dawn and Stella will go on this mission."

"But why only the three of us?" asked Zara and Bloom, looking up at Faragonda.

"Yeah, why?" asked Stella.

"Because Bloom and Zara possess the dragon fires. The strongest magics of all while Stella's sun magic will be very helpful should they ever come up against the shadow monsters." explained Faragonda. "It will also give Zara time on this mission to try and channel her fire through her martial arts."

"Eh?" asked Zara, turning to Bloom and Stella. "I thought I wouldn't have to at least try doing that until the middle of the year."

"What about Flora's plants? My sound waves?" asked Musa. "Aren't they worth anything?"

"Come into the hall please." said Faragonda and leads them into the front entrance. "Wait here, girls."

"What is she doing?" asked Flora as Faragonda casts a spell in the front entrance.

"Musa, Flora, use your spells." instructed Faragonda.

"Ready!" shouted Flora as she used a spell to make plants when nothing was happening. "Nothing is working. There are no living plants down here."

"But we still got sound." said Musa. "Everyone, stand back!" She then created a ball of sound waves and sends it into an entrance. "Oh no! Its echoing!"

"Well, duh!" shouted Zara.

"The vibrations are a cave in!" shouted Tecna as stalactites fell from the ceiling. One stalactite fell from the ceiling, aiming for Musa.

"NO!" she screamed. Faragonda claps her hands, and the illusion of the cave disappeared from the front entrance.

"Is the cave really like that?" Stella asked.

"I don't know, Stella." said Zara, holding onto her sister's leg. "But I'm scared to find out so ask me again when we get there."

"Get off me, Zara!" shouted Bloom, trying to pry her twin off of her.

"Make me!" Zara challenges her.

"Wow. That was even better than the computer-controlled simulator." said Tecna.

"Musa, listen to me." said Faragonda as she had tears in her eyes. "You're just as important as your friends. Your powers will be needed soon enough." Flora rushed over and held Musa's hand.

"Zara, I said get off!" Bloom shouted at her; she tried to push Zara off.

"Fine!" Zara shouted back, letting go. "Next time I'll hug the bunnies over my sister! At least they don't yell at me!"

"Oh, please!" She crossed her arms; her cheeks still flushed from the struggle. "You know that Kiko yells at you more than Lavender does!"

"Oh yeah? You wanna handle this the way we did when we were little?" asked Zara, glaring at her as she points between Bloom and herself. "Cause I'm all for it!"

"Are you serious right now? We're not kids anymore, Zara!" said Bloom, raising her voice at her sister.

"Too bad! I'm ready to throw down if you are!" shouted Zara.

"Throw down? Seriously? Last time we 'threw down', you ended up with a black eye because you thought you could take me on in arm wrestling!" Bloom shouted.

"Bloom, Zara, that's enough! Both of you." Faragonda scolded them. "This is not the way to solve things, is it?"

"But she's being impossible!" said Bloom.

"Well, Bloom, is it a crime that I don't want to be trapped as part of a cave in with my sister?" asked Zara, still defensive. "It's not exactly a dream scenario!"

"No, it's not a crime at all. Sisters should stick together, even if you have your disagreements. But there are better ways to show you care." said Faragonda, her tone softened as Bloom and Zara shoved their hands in each other's faces.

As they were preparing to leave, Piff starts tearing up and starts crying. "Come on, it's okay. I'll be back soon." Aisha assures Piff as she calms down. "Now that's better. You'll see."

"Hey Piff. I have a big job for you." said Zara as she carries Lavender in her arms. "This is my bunny, Lavender…. I need you to keep an eye on her."

Piff babbles her question as Lavender sits in front of her. "Because I know that you and Lavender will have a lot of fun." Zara said to Piff. Lavender then pressed her bunny nose into Piff's cheek, causing her to giggle. "Lavender, promise me that you and Kiko will protect Piff."

"Ah-ya!" shouted Lavender, holding her wooden bo staff as she salutes Zara.

"See, Piff? Lavender and Kiko will protect you." Aisha tells her as Piff hugs her. "When I come back, I'll have all the other pixies with me."

Piff cries again then babbles to Aisha, telling her that she believes in her. "Aisha, take these seeds of light with you." said Faragonda as she handed her the seeds.

"Do they have magic powers?" she asked.

"Yes, in an emergency they will drive away any kind of shadow creatures but only once." Faragonda explained. "Well girls, are you all ready for your mission?"

"With only four fairies, I don't think it will be sufficient." Tecna said, giving her opinion.

"A small group can move quickly and is much less noticeable." said Faragonda.

"And besides, they're not going alone." said Saladin. Just then, four windriders pull up to Alfea.

"Yes! The specialists." said Stella.

"No fair. You three get to have all the fun." said Musa.

"I'm very happy that you come to help, Saladin." said Faragonda.

"It's my pleasure to answer your call, Faragonda." he said, happy to do it. "I'll lend you three of my best Red Fountain Specialists. Sky, Brandon and Xander."

"No, Stella and Brandon?" asked Tecna. "Bloom and Sky? Zara and Xander? Goodness gracious. What a coincidence. Aisha, looks like you'll have to play chaperone."

"You mean that love is their specialty?" asked Aisha.

"You can say that again, cutie." said Brandon. "Are you the new girl?"

"Uh-oh, he heard me." she said, looking away.

"Well, girls are we ready to go?" asked Sky.

"I can already see that someone's getting antsy." said Xander.

"Aisha, you'll be riding with Riven for now." Saladin said, causing Musa to gasp, glare at Riven for a moment before sighing.

"Hey girls!" Timmy called out as he came in on their aircraft. "How's it going?"

"Hi Timmy!" said Tecna, waving at him.

"Ready when you are, big boy." Stella said to Brandon.

"Come on, get on." Riven said to Aisha as Musa looks away in anger.

"Who says you get to drive?" asked Aisha.

"Huh?"

"Oh, this is something I gotta see." said Zara.

"What? You think I've never ridden a motorbike before?" she asked Riven. Taking the wheel, Aisha takes off.

"Good luck!" said Musa, Flora and Tecna.

"Bah do Tah!" said Piff, wishing them luck.

"Catch you later!" said Brandon as they take off after Aisha and Riven.

"Okay, hang on!" said Xander and Sky as they sped up towards the aircraft.

"Come my dear fairies, they will need our support." Faragonda said as she and Saladin walked inside.

"So, who's the bad guy this time?" asked Brandon.

"Don't know, but we heard he's pretty tough." said Stella.

"Yeah, but the specialists can tackle absolutely anything." Brandon said. "You should see all the cool stuff we got for this mission. Rope, grapplers, Techno magic gear, and this…"

"Guys." grumbled Aisha.

"It's so cool. Look, it's a demolecularizer t29." said Brandon.

"Dima…Dem…moisturizer…what?" asked Stella.

"Codatorta, our teacher and Xander's dad says we can use it to pass through walls and other solid objects." Brandon explained.

"Dude, I prefer my bo staff over what you guys have." said Zara, cleaning the pieces and closely inspects it. "It may not be one from the magic dimension, but it's what I like using."

"Uh, Brandon." said Aisha.

"Timmy, show the girls what the new engine can do." said Brandon.

"Sure." said Timmy and starts showing how powerful the engine is.

"Whoo! 18 dragon power titanium frame. What a dream machine." Brandon tells the girls as the aircraft went faster.

"Excuse me!" Aisha called out.

"Yes, Aisha?"

"The enemy's the other way!" she tells them.

"Yeah…. we knew that." said Brandon.

"Now I'm feeling sick." said Zara as Timmy turns the aircraft around.

"Is it working?" asked Musa as they watched the others fly away.

"Affirmative, but it's going to take a lot of work to keep track of them in the caves." said Tecna.

"I hope they come back soon." said Flora. Later that day, Aisha, the Winx and the Specialists made it.

"There's the valley." said Aisha, pointing towards the valley. "And that river is the one I used to escape from the cave."

"This is where I should drop you off then?" asked Timmy.

"No, it's easier to get inside through the old mines in the cave." Aisha tells him.

"Then let's go." said Sky.

Timmy takes them inside through the mines. "Oh, is this the spot?" Timmy then asked.

"Yeah, that's where the tar monsters went after kidnapping the pixies in the forest." said Aisha and Timmy brings them to an opening.

"There's no place to land." he tells them. "You're going to have to jump out while we're airborne, guys."

"Fine by us." said Sky and Xander as they both went down.

"Come on, everybody out." Sky called out.

"Oh no." said Stella as she climbs down first.

"Everything okay?" Sky asked. "Was that something important?"

"Yes, my makeup kit." she tells him.

"Stella, the Shadow creatures aren't going to care about how pretty you are." Xander said. "That's what you have Brandon for."

"Yeah, forget it." said Sky. "Just slide down the rope."

"Must admit…." said a strained Stella. "for once, I miss school."

"Good luck, guys." said Riven once everyone was down.

Aisha then starts walking into the cave. "Follow me." she said. "This is the way in."

Tecna was able to track everyone until she lost signal. "Oh, they've gone in. I've lost video feed." Tecna said to Musa and Flora. "I hope I can keep in Geo sensor contact."

Further into the cave, Sky was leading the way with a light. "Sky, I know you want to save batteries but give us some light back here." Stella complained. "We can't see a thing." Suddenly Stella falls to the ground. "That's it, I've had it. I'll deal with it myself." She then goes into her fairy form. "Scepter, give us light."

"Well, I think I liked it better before." said Bloom.

"I'm fifty-fifty on this one." said Zara.

"At least I can see where we're going." Stella said.

"But now, we're a beacon for the monsters." said Sky.

"Uh, guys, I don't know what that is, but let's get moving." said Stella.

The others ran until they've reached a set of doors. "I remember this gate, but it was open before." said Aisha.

"It's locked." said Sky.

"Leave it to me." said Stella and fires sun magic at the lock.

"No good. The gate absorbs magic." said Bloom. "Our enemy thought of everything."

"AAAAHHHH!" screamed Zara, running towards the door, her bo staff raised over her head.

"Watch out." said Xander, pulling Bloom back. "Angry Zara coming through." Zara hits the door with her bo staff, only for martial arts weapon to break.

"My….my….." Zara said as it fell apart in her hands.

"Oh Zara." said Aisha as Zara turn towards her.

"Whoever this guy is…. he owes me a new bo staff!" shrieked Zara, her eye twitching in anger.

"After you beat him up, right?" asked Stella.

"For kidnapping the pixies?" asked Bloom.

"You know it!" said Zara, as she glares at the door. "He better have a credit card or something so that he can order me a replacement bo staff."

"What about me?" asked Xander, feeling put out.

"Are you the one who broke my bo staff? No." Zara said to Xander, who brings her in for a hug. "I'm still getting my bo staff replaced. And I'm going to make sure that this guy pays for it."

"Everything except the specialists was turned down." said Brandon. "It may be protected from spells, but all odds are made to be broken." Suddenly, the twins heard something behind them, causing both of them to turn around.

"Guys, we've got company." said the twins.

Back at Alfea, Timmy and Riven arrived. "We're back. So, how's the mission going, guys?" Timmy asked.

"A bunch of unknown signals are closing in on them from all sides down there." Tecna tells him. "We're going to warn Faragonda."

"We're right behind you." said Timmy.

Back in the cave, Zara had her fists up while the boys were trying to figure out how to get the door opened. "Brandon, maybe you can open it with Riven's lock pick." said Sky.

"No, I'm going to blow this thing open." Brandon told him.

"You've brought that with you? Are you insane, Brandon?" questioned Xander. "That could bring the whole cave down on us!"

"Relax, Xander. I've got it all figured out. A little explosion never hurt anyone, right?" asked Brandon then turns to Bloom, Zara and Aisha. "Girls, buy me some time!"

"It's up to us." said Bloom and Zara.

"Let's transform." suggested Aisha.

"You mean you're a…." they asked.

"Of course, I am." she said, and all three girls transform into their fairy forms.

Everyone but Brandon was attacking the shadow creatures. "Take this!" shouted Bloom.

"And this!" added Zara. Both girls send a combined fire attack, but the shadow creatures absorbed it.

"No effect whatsoever." said Bloom.

"I'm wishing that my bo hadn't been broken from that door." Zara said.

"In that case, I'll just have to enlighten them." said Stella. "Girls, shut your eyes."

Following Stella's advice, they closed their eyes as Stella shines a bright light. "Good work, Stella." Bloom praised as the shadow creatures start to melt away in the ground.

"Take cover!" Brandon called out as he was about to detonate. An explosion occurred and broke open the door. "All right!"

"Watch out, there's more of them." shouted the twins.

"Come on, this way!" shouted Sky and Xander as the former kicks down the door.

"Hurry! Shut the gates!" cried Aisha as the shadow creatures came after them.

"Don't let up, you two." said Brandon as he takes a stab at one shadow creature's leg.

"They're still trying to get through." Aisha said, then starts to create something with her magic. "Stand back!" She then starts to seal up the gate with her magic.

"What are you doing?" Sky asked.

"You're basically trapping us in here." said Xander.

"Its magic glue." said Aisha. "Brandon, watch out."

"Hurry up, Aisha." said Sky and Xander as she uses magic glue to cover the doors.

"Good job, Aisha." Bloom said.

"It's good to have you on our team." said Sky.

"It's more than just that." Zara said.

"She's fantastic." added Xander.

"Thanks." said Aisha as Sky helps her up.

"All right let's go." said Zara and Bloom. "That won't hold them back forever."

Stella led the way, using her scepter as light. "See? Forget about the clunky flashlights." said Stella. "My scepter is the only way to light up a room."

"You may be the light of my life, but a good flashlight saved me more than once." Brandon said to Stella. "Aisha, are you sure this is the right way?"

"I don't get it." said Aisha. "We should have reached the crystals by now."

"Crystals?" asked Brandon.

"Sky? Xander?" said the twins. "Wait, Sky, Xander." Both of the twins were getting weak and dragging behind the others. "Help us." The others were shocked as the twins fell to the ground.

"Bloom!"

"Zara!"

Sky and Xander ran towards the twins as Brandon hears Stella groan. "Stella, what's going on?" asked Brandon.

"We can't stand up." said the twins as the light of Stella's scepter goes out.

"Stella! Stella!" said Brandon as Xander and Sky turned on their flashlights.

"Bloom, is everything all right?" asked Sky.

"Zara, speak to me." said Xander.

"Yes, but…but our powers are so weak." said Bloom.

"Bloom and I feel drained." Zara groaned.

"What just happened to us?" Stella asked as the boys helped them up.

"You transformed an hour ago and been in fairy mode too long." Aisha explained. "I guess this doesn't just happen to the fairies from Andros."

"And our powers?" asked Bloom and Zara.

"You'll be fine." said Aisha. "Just lay off the magic for a while. Now let's keep moving. We have to find the Pixies."

In his throne room, the Shadow Knight was spying on them. "She's a stubborn one." he said to himself. "All right. We'll just see how long that lasts."

In the cave, Aisha finally sees something sticking out of the cavern walls. "At last, the crystals. Yes!" shouted Aisha as she ran past Brandon. "It's not far now, come on let's go. It's at the end of one of these tunnels. Let's go down this one first."

"Aisha, wait for us." Bloom called out. "Where are you going?"

"I'll go down that way." Brandon said. "I'll catch up in a sec."

Aisha went down her tunnel, only to end up in a bigger cavern with more crystals. "Wow, it goes on forever." she said.

"Finally, we made it." said the twins as they and Stella caught up with her.

"Down there, look." Aisha said, pointing to another ledge that shows Brandon.

"Hey!" Brandon said, looking up. "Girls, all these tunnels are connected. No matter which one we take, we end up out here."

"Brandon! We really shouldn't let ourselves get separated you know?" said Aisha.

"Huh? Brandon turns around as a shadow creature walks towards him.

"Brandon, watch out!" shouted Aisha as he takes out his sword. She then goes to Brandon in her fairy form and helps him out, only for her to get stuck to the wall by one of the creatures. "Help! I'm stuck!"

"Aisha!" they shouted.

"You ready?" Stella asked.

"Born ready." said Zara.

"Magic Winx!"

Suddenly, they couldn't transform into their fairy forms. "Oh no, it's not working!" said Stella. "Brandon! Watch out!"

"Come and get it!" said Brandon, his sword drawn. As the shadow creature got closer, he swings his sword to the ground, slicing the shadow creature. The ground starts to crumble beneath him.

"Brandon, no." gasped Stella as she watches Brandon to fall to his doom. "Brandon!"

"Stella!" shouted the twins as Sky and Xander held them back while Stella goes after him.

"Brandon!" screamed Stella, jumping after him.

"Stella!" screamed the twins.

"No!" said Zara as she and Bloom wanted to go after their best friend.

"Oh no!" gasped Bloom as Xander pulls Zara towards him.

"Stella!" the twins screamed again. "No!"

Chapter Text

In the cavern, Bloom, Zara, Sky and Xander looked over the edge since Stella had jumped after Brandon. Suddenly, they heard Aisha struggle behind them. "Disgusting!" Aisha shrieked.

"Hold on, Aisha." said Sky.

"Oh! This is gross!" she said as he and Xander pulled it off of her.

"Just let us get this off." said Sky as both specialists pulls whatever the creatures placed on her.

"My wings!" screamed Aisha. "Stop! My wings!"

"It's okay now." Sky said. Aisha then hugs Sky and Xander, causing both Bloom and Zara to become somewhat jealous.

"Relax, you two. I was just going to thank them." Aisha tells them. "Thanks."

"How are you feeling?" asked Bloom.

"How's the wings?" Zara asked.

"You okay?" they asked.

"I'm much better now, but what about the others?" Aisha asked.

"Sky, Xander, quick!" said Zara and Bloom. "Brandon and Stella fell into the pit."

"Where?" the two specialists asked.

"Down there!" they both said.

"But Stella can't fly." said Aisha.

"We….we…." Bloom and Zara said as they grabbed Sky's and Xander hands.

"Zara and I can't do it, we're still too weak." said Bloom as Zara nodded.

"Aisha, do you think you can carry me or Xander down?" asked Sky. Aisha tries to fly but falls to the ground.

"Nope." she replied. "Still can't fly."

"We have to find a way down and quickly." Sky said.

"How? We don't have any rope on hand." said Xander.

"I'll take care of it." said Aisha as Bloom and Zara helped her up. She then creates a machine with rope.

"Oh…now this gives me an idea." said Zara.

"We can't give up hope, girls." Sky said to the twins. He then goes down first, followed by Xander, Bloom, Zara and Aisha. Once they were on the ground, Sky and Xander looked at the now destroyed shadow creature.

"That's what's left of the tar monster." said Sky. "Brandon!"

"Stella! Brandon!" shouted Bloom and Zara.

"Oh, no! Sky, they're not here." said Bloom.

"But we saw them fall into here." said Zara.

"Good, they're still alive." said Sky

"Hey, look!" said Aisha, seeing something in the distance. "There they are."

"Stella!" shouted Zara and Bloom.

"Brandon!" shouted Sky and Xander. As they got closer, they see it wasn't Stella and Brandon.

"Oh, thank goodness. It's just a couple of boulders." Aisha said. Zara turns her head towards something and grabs her sister's shoulder.

"Oh! What's over there?" Bloom asked as she and Zara walked towards it.

"Hey! Look what we found!" said Zara.

"It's an underground river!" said Bloom.

"Oh, no! They must have fallen in there." said Sky.

True to his prediction, Brandon and Stella did fall into the underground river. Both of them screamed as they fell down the underground waterfall and towards an underground lake. Brandon covers Stella's eyes as they landed into the water.

"Stella! Hold on!" said Brandon as they both came up for air. Brandon grabs Stella and starts swimming to safety. Stella looks up from the water and sees a jagged boulder ahead of them.

"Brandon, do something!" screamed Stella.

"Hold on!" he tells her as they went around the boulder. Brandon grabs a hold of the boulder, unaware that he had let go of Stella. "Got it!"

He then looks back and sees Stella being carried away from her. "Stella!"

"Help, Brandon!" she cried out as she reaches out for his hand.

"Don't worry, we're okay now." he said, hanging onto the boulder.

"My hair's a mess and I've swallowed half the river." Stella complained.

"At least its mountain spring water." joked Brandon. Suddenly, more water came towards them, causing Stella and Brandon to go underwater. As the water went down, Brandon looks back at the boulder he was clinging onto.

"I don't think I can keep this up much longer." Brandon said to Stella.

"Brandon, hold on!" Stella shouted.

"Can you transform?" he asked.

"No, not yet!" said Stella.

"There's no way to get ashore." said Brandon.

"Just hold onto me, Brandon." said Stella. As another wave of water comes at them, Brandon let's go of Stella.

"Stella!" he shouted as she went down river.

"Brandon!" cried Stella as she tries to stay above water. At Alfea, Riven stood outside the window, looking out at the campus as Flora joins him.

"Don't worry, Tecna." Timmy said to the techno fairy. "Faragonda and Saladin have picked the best team."

"I know that's logically correct, but…." said Tecna. "for some reason, I'm still worried."

"I fully trust Sky, Brandon and Xander." Timmy assures her.

"He fully trusts Sky, Brandon and Xander." Riven said to Flora, who then gasp as she thought she was alone. "They picked the best team."

"Sorry, Riven. I didn't see you there." said Flora.

"It happens." said Riven.

"I mean, I just thought you would be with Musa." Flora tells him.

"Huh? What?" he asked, shocked by this. "Why?"

"Um….she's really worried too." said Flora.

"Hm."

"Sorry Riven, I didn't mean to disturb you." Flora said, then starts to head back inside. "I'll just…."

"No." said Riven, stopping her. "I'll…I'll go. I've got something to do anyway."

Flora sighs as he went inside. Back in the underground river, Brandon continues to hold on as Stella went down stream. "Stella!" shouted Brandon. "Oh no!"

He lets go of the boulder and goes after Stella. "Bran…. don!" Stella cried out as she tries to swim towards him, unaware that she was heading towards a whirlpool. "Brandon! Help!"

Brandon was underwater as he swims towards Stella. "Stella!" he shouted as he came up for air. "Take my hand!"

"Brandon."

"Hold on." said Brandon as he takes out a grappler and fires it.

"Why is the current so strong?" Stella asked Brandon.

"We're caught in a whirlpool." Brandon said.

"Brandon!"

"Yes?"

"No matter what happens, don't let go of my hand." Stella tells him.

"I promise." said Brandon. The grappler starts to crumble away from the wall.

"Brandon!" screamed Stella.

"Hold on!" yelled Brandon as the rock crumbled away from the wall and they both went into the whirlpool. After spinning around for a bit, Stella and Brandon landed on solid ground.

"So…." Sky asked the others. "what do we do now?"

"I, for one, am going for a swim." said Bloom.

"Same here." said Zara.

"Hey, twins, wait." said Sky and Xander as they grabbed the twins.

"Stella and Brandon could be in danger." Bloom tells them.

"We need to go after them." added Zara.

"We can't leave them." they said to the boys.

"I don't know, Bloom and Zara." said Aisha. "The river is probably connected to the one that carried me out. In which case, they're safe."

"Aisha's right." said Sky. "We're getting worked up, it could be nothing. I bet you that they're back in the valley already."

"I bet you; I'll give both you and Xander bruises that those two are not in the valley." said Zara.

"I'll take that bet." Xander said, causing the twins to look at him weirdly.

"Oh my god…." said Zara, shaking her head as she turns to Xander. "Seriously? You're willing to take me on in a bet?"

"You really don't know what you're getting into, do you?" Bloom asked him, a smirk playing on her lips. She knew Zara's competitive streak was legendary.

"Please!" scoffed Xander. "How hard can it be to bet against you, Zara? It's just a bet." He tried to project casual confidence, but a hint of nervousness edged his tone.

"You have no idea." Zara told him, leaning forward, her eyes glinting with mischief as Bloom, Sky and Aisha rolled their eyes. "I've won bets against people twice your size. And I've won bets against people who thought they were twice my size."

"Okay, break it up." said Sky, hoping that Xander wouldn't make the bet. "Don't do anything that you'll both regret."

"All right then, let's all make our way back to the surface and join them." suggested Bloom.

"I don't want to leave Stella and Brandon either, but there's no time." said Aisha. "The Pixies are in danger."

"They can take care of themselves." said Sky. "They'll make it back. We'll complete the mission. Come on, let's keep going."

Unknown to Brandon and Stella, someone stumbles upon the two of them. "Ah, so young and in love." the young man said, seeing that Brandon had never let go of Stella. "Isn't that sweet?"

His friend growls as he pokes Stella with his club. Stella groans as she opens her eyes and looks up, gasping in fright. "Whoa." said Stella as she was surrounded. Brandon wakes up as well, seeing the look on Stella's face.

"Who are you?" asked Brandon.

The young man's friend growls at Brandon before swinging his club and knocking him out. Later on, Brandon was tied up and was carried on the young man's back. "What the…?" he asked, waking up once again. He then looks over at Stella who was knocked out and tied up while being carried on a stretcher.

"Hey, do you know your crystal?" the young man asked his friend.

"Put me down! I can walk on my own!" Brandon demanded.

"Relax. You already tried to escape three times." said the young man.

"Brandon." groaned Stella as she wakes up.

"Huh?"

"Are we still in the whirlpool?" she asked, weakly.

"Hold on, Stella. You're going to be…" Brandon was saying when the young man who was carrying him falls to the ground.

"Just look at the crystals over there." said the young man. "Lately, they've had this lovely green blue to them. That means an important event is about to occur in downland."

"Downland?" Brandon questioned. "Is that where you live and what do these crystals have to do with it?"

"You see, at the time of our birth, each of us is linked to a particular crystal." the young man explained. "The color of your crystal reflects on the events that happened."

"Will you stop it?! Enough already with your crystal nonsense." the young man's friend said. "No one else but you believes it."

"You know, Abrupto wasn't always like this." said the young man. "He used to have a girlfriend named 'X'. But she left him rather abruptly. His girlfriend was very nice, although not nearly as nice as mine."

"No, not again. I don't want to hear about the princess." said Abrupto, stopping him there from speaking. "When are you going to wake up? You keep this up, and not even a one-eyed frog would want to marry you."

"So, you're not engaged to the princess?" asked Brandon. The young man struggles to stay on his feet, but eventually he falls again.

"Ouch. I dream of her every night." he said, getting back on his feet. "She's such a lady. She's pure as an underground stream. Elegant as Marvel and bright as gold." He stops for a moment before he continues walking. "Soon, you'll see the royal palace. Look!" Brandon looks over the young man's shoulders and was shocked to see a city.

"Stella? Hey, Stella? Are you all, right?" Brandon asked as Stella opens her eyes. "How are you feeling, Stella? You still look very pale."

"Oh dear." said Stella, then placed a hand on her face. "Oh, what's wrong with my face? I've never felt this bad in my life."

"Do you have a headache?" questioned Brandon.

"No, but I'm totally exhausted." she replied.

"Would you kids get that urn over there?" asked the young man as he switches places with Brandon. "There's water in it." Stella groans for a bit as she lays back down. "Don't worry, I won't hurt you."

He then uses his magic to check on Stella. "You're a fairy, aren't you?" he asked Stella.

"Why? Is that what your light just told you?" asked Stella.

"No. I knew you were a fairy when I saw how sweetly you were holding your boyfriend's hand." answered the young man as Brandon carried the urn towards him and sets it down. "Thank you. Now put it back exactly where it was, please?"

Brandon then carries the heavy water filled urn back. "You have the power of the stars, the sun and the moon." The young man said to Stella as he wipes her brow with cold water. "Our magic is the opposite. You can't stay here very long."

As Brandon placed the urn back, the young man saw how he had it position. "NO!" he shouted, getting up from the chair. "What are you doing?"

"What? This is where I found it." Brandon tells him.

"Here." the young man said, moving the urn. "This is where the princess wants it, just like this."

"Wow, your princess must be something else." said Brandon.

"Oh, she's beautiful." said the young man. "I'll introduce you to her shortly."

Back at Alfea, Musa was standing by herself as Riven walks up to her. "What do you want?" Musa asked as she heard Riven's footsteps.

"Nothing." said Riven.

"I'm not worried." she tells him.

"No, but if I'd gone….we'd be back already." Riven said to her. Musa then tears up and cries as she went into Riven's arms. Not far from them, Flora was worried as well.

"It's amazing. They're so much alike." Flora said to herself as she walks away. She walked along the gate wall when Kiko and Lavender went over to her. Both bunnies gave her a smile when Flora sighs and walks away.

"Aah-Aah?" Lavender asked Kiko.

"Bah!" Kiko tells her, gesturing to Flora and they both followed her.

"Come on up." said Flora, hugging both of them. "Thanks."

"You know…the princess has yet to choose a husband." the young man said to Stella and Brandon. "I'm yet to win her heart. But I'm sure these flowers will do the trick." Suddenly, a ding was heard, and the door opens up, revealing handmaidens. "Here she comes."

One by one, the handmaidens stepped forward. Stella sighs weakly as Brandon held her in his arms. "Princess Amentia will see you know." said one handmaiden.

"Bow." the young man said to Brandon and Stella, who then bowed. A handmaiden steps aside and reveals Princess Amentia.

"Princess Amentia." said the young man with admiration in his eyes as he held the flowers out. "Sponses at your service. These are roses of the abyss. I picked them just for you."

"But they're so rare." said Amentia as she smells the flowers. "Oh, what a sweet smell. Thank you, Sponses." She then takes a closer look at the roses and growls at Sponses. "Hey! One petal is wilted! You disappoint me, Sponses."

"B-But I'm so sorry." Sponses said, bowing to the princess. "I-I didn't notice. I….."

Amentia growls in anger. "You've wasted my time." she shrieked as she threw the flowers at one of her handmaidens. She then spots Brandon and Stella behind Sponses.

"Hm! Are these our guests?" she asked.

"Yes, this is Stella, a fairy." said Sponses.

"Goodness…. ugly outfit." said Amentia.

"Yeah, thanks and that thing amajiggy you got…." Stella said, about to say something about her outfit.

"Stella." warned Brandon, placing a hand on her mouth.

"And that's Brandon." added Sponses. "Her boyfriend." Amentia gasps at this.

"I can't believe it." she said and walks towards them. "Such harmonious features."

"Well, with all do modesty." said Brandon.

"Your face is absolutely perfect." said Amentia as she bats her eyes at him.

"Princess, you're making me blush, but good eye." Brandon tells her as Stella elbows him.

"No, Princess." begged Sponses. "Oh, please, no."

"Brandon….you shall be my husband." said Amentia.

"Huh?" Brandon and Stella looked at each other as Sponses passed out.

"Aisha, we've been walking around hours." Sky said, irritated. "Are we lost?"

"Because if we are, I'm not going to be the only one on the receiving end of Zara's anger." grumbled Xander.

"Aww…what's the matter, boys?" Zara said in a fake sweet tone. "Are you hungry?"

"No, we're not hungry!" they shouted as Zara smiled, knowing that she was teasing them.

"Hey! Don't tease them like that." said Bloom, smiling at her sister as she softly hits her as Zara giggled.

"I know, but it was fun doing it." said Zara.

Aisha looks around for a moment then points in a direction. "I remember this passageway." said Aisha. They ran down the passageway as the shadow knight watches them.

"Those five are all alone." he said. "Perhaps they would appreciate some company." The Trix started laughing as the shadow knight joins in.

"Hey!" said Amentia as she sees Stella sitting on the ground. "You're still here? My fiancée pays attention to me only. Now leave."

"I'm not leaving without Brandon." Stella said, determined to fight for him.

"Stella, it's okay." said Brandon. "Just get yourself back up to the surface. You can't survive down here."

"See? My sweetheart totally agrees with me." Amenia tells Stella. "Face it, sun girl. You're no match for me."

Stella walks the streets of Downland. "Come on, Stella." She said to herself. "You've got to get above ground." In the castle, Brandon argues with Amenia.

"Never, do you hear me?" said Brandon. "Never! I won't marry you today, I won't marry you ever!"

"The crown is for you, my love." said Amenia, trying to flirt with Brandon, hoping that he would see her way. "I've found my prince."

"Huh? But I'm an uplander." Brandon tells her.

"It's a tradition here in Downland." Amenia said as she shows him the statues. "A princess can choose whatever she wants to be the man of our dreams."

"Yeah, well for me, it's a nightmare." said Brandon.

"Oh, Brandon. You're my one true love." said Amenia.

"No, stay away from me." Brandon said, running away from her. "Listen, I love Stella! Understand?"

"Oh, how I love a strong-willed man." Amenia said, falling even more in love with Brandon. "You will make such a great king once I get you on that throne. Come here, my honey bun."

Brandon tries to get away but was stopped by Amenia. "You can't marry me." Brandon tells her as he backs away. "I'm not a Trog."

"Ah, but here in downland, a princess' wishes is law." she said. "Now come, Brandon, we'll be together forever."

"No, that'll never happen." said Brandon.

"You really won't marry me?" Amentia asked.

"The one for me is Stella." said Brandon.

"Well, then guards!" shouted Amenia as they appeared at her side. "Bring Stella back to the castle."

"Yes, majesty." they said.

"Ah, now you're making sense." said Brandon.

"Keep her from getting above ground." she ordered the guards. "She won't last long down here."

"No! You can't do that!" said Brandon.

"Yes, I can. However, you could change your mind." said Amenia.

"All right, I'll marry you." Brandon said, giving in. Stella was climbing the stairs when she fell to her knees. She then gets back up and continues to find her way above ground.

"What a beautiful sound." said Aisha as she and the others continued walking.

"It's amazing." said Bloom and Zara. "Musa would love it, if she were here, wouldn't she?"

"Yes, it's music to our ears." said Sky and Xander.

"Huh?"

"Oh, no!" said Bloom as shadow creatures walked up. "More monsters."

"Quick! Let's get out of here!"

Finally, Stella reached the surface and into some sunlight. "A little sunshine and I'm gorgeous again." said Stella, stretching out her arms. The others ran from the monsters as they continued to chase.

"Stella, Magic Winx!" shouted Stella as she goes into fairy form. "Yes, Stella the fairy is back!"

"Bloom, Zara, can either of you transform?" Aisha asked and both of them tried.

"Sorry, we both need more rest." said Bloom.

"Yeah." said Zara.

"Me too." said Aisha. "We'll never be able to fight them off."

"Look, there's a cave." said Sky.

"Up ahead." said Xander.

A shadow creature behind them shot off its spikes, knocking down the twins. "Bloom! Zara!" shouted the two boys.

As the creatures got closer, Zara and Bloom backed away as Xander and Sky stood protectively before them until they were knocked back. "If only I could transform." said Aisha, then remembers what was given to her. "Faragonda's seeds!" Aisha takes them out of her pocket.

"Take this you monster!" She then throws them at the ground before the creatures, when they didn't shine any light. "No! There's not enough light for them to grow!" screamed Aisha.

"Hold on!" Stella called out. "I've got all the light you need!"

"Finally! We missed our favorite best friend." said Zara.

"Stella!" said Bloom.

"Let me handle this." Stella said, sending a sun ball at the creatures.

"Hey, the seeds." Aisha said, as Stella shines some light on them. They grew into light plants, shining their light on the shadow creatures and destroys them.

"Nice work, Stella." said Sky and Xander.

"Stella!" shouted Bloom and Zara as they ran towards the blonde. The Shadow knight watched as they hugged each other.

"They make sport of my minions!" he shouted. "Downland! Tremble at my words! Tremble!"

Back in the cave, everyone felt it trembling around them.

"Huh?"

"Feels like an earthquake." said Sky as Zara attaches herself to Xander.

"What do we do?" Aisha asked.

"I have a suggestion. We run for our lives!" shouted Zara.

"I agree with Zara! Run!" Bloom shouted as they ran out of the passageway.

"Quick! This way." said Aisha, leading them towards three tunnels.

"Which way?" asked Stella.

"This way." she tells them, going down the third tunnel.

At the castle, Amentia was finally happy that she got Brandon, who was backing away from her, to see her way. "Kiss me!" she demanded as Brandon dodged her advances. "Kiss me, kiss me, give me a kiss, kiss me."

Brandon was now uncomfortable and awkward as Amentia continued her advances.

Chapter Text

Outside, they all looked at the cave-in. "Now what do we do?" asked Stella. "There's no way we can get back in there."

"Stella, can you teleport us into the cave using your scepter?" asked Sky.

"No way, not unless you want to end up in that creep's bathroom." said Stella.

"I vote for not ending up in the creep's bathroom." Zara said, raising her hand.

"I seconded that." said Xander.

"In other words, Stella needs to know the destination very well." Bloom tells Sky. "Or teleporting could land us anywhere."

"Exactly." said Zara.

"This isn't going to be easy." Sky said.

"Would you rather start moving rocks?" Xander asked sarcastically and Sky shakes his head.

"Aisha, you think you can guess how far underground the citadel is?" asked Sky.

"Well, it's pretty deep." said Aisha. "Let's see….I say it's at the bottom, below this valley. But I'm not sure."

"Then let's get down there." said Sky. "It's too risky to use the demolecularizer up here."

Down in the fortress, the pixies were in their magical cells. "I find the sight of those monsters most unpleasant." said the pixie with the blue and white dress.

"Go away you horrible creatures!" the blonde pixie shouted. "Leave us alone!"

"You've been shouting at them all day." said Digit. "And what has it done other than overload my audio inputs?"

"They're so ugly, its unbearable." said the pixie with the blue and white dress.

"Listen to this if you're not too overloaded." the blonde pixie said to Digit. "At least I'm doing something to drive away those revolting things. So instead of sitting there in your sandy code…."

"Standby mode." Digit tells her.

"Whatever!" shouted the blonde Pixie. "Now help me and let both of us give them a piece of my mind."

"It's a nightmare. An aesthetic nightmare." said the pixie with the blue and white dress.

"I swear, if I hear another shout, I'll reboot." said Digit.

"For goodness sakes." growled the pixie with the blue and white dress. "STOP IT!"

"See?" asked the blonde pixie as their friend stopped. "Shouting was the solution."

Lockette walks up to the magic that was holding them. "Lockette, what's wrong?" asked the blonde pixie. "Are you okay?"

"We'll end up like the others." said Lockette. "Won't we?" The baby Pixie covered her eyes, not wanting to look at what was left of their friends.

In the cell next to them, items of other pixies were there. "How touching." said Shadow Knight. "Of course it's your own fault. And now I've been forced to call in an expert."

He laughs as he summons a shadow snake in hopes to scare the pixies. Lockette squeaked as she saw the shadow snake. "Don't worry." the blonde pixie said to the others. "The energy cage will protect us."

Boy the blonde pixie was wrong. The shadow snake enters the energy cage. "Oh no!" screamed Lockette, going into protective mode around the baby pixie as it surrounds itself around the pixies.

"Keep still." the blonde pixie said. "No sudden movements."

"Insolent Pixies." said the shadow snake. "Your silence deeply annoys me. Yes, so sweet and brave." He went from the blonde pixie to Lockette. "Let's try you."

"Alright!" shouted Lockette, eventually breaking down. "I'll tell you everything! Our village is just…"

"Quiet!" the blonde pixie said, stopping Lockette from revealing the whereabouts of their village. "Don't you get it? Without us, he'll never find the village. That's why he needs us alive."

"You'll be the first to go." said the shadow snake and leaves the energy cage.

"We better what our step." Sky tells them. "It's easy to slip on the sand."

"I don't like the sound of this place." said Aisha. "But there's nowhere else to go."

"Whoa….looks pretty bright down there." Stella said. "Anybody got sunscreen?"

"Stella, it's okay if you don't want to go back underground." said Bloom.

"We won't blame you if you decide to stay here and soak in the sunshine a bit longer." said Zara.

"Hey, I'll go first if you want." Stella tells them.

"Stella, it's probably not good for you to get out of the sunlight right now." said Sky.

"Don't want you to get weak because of us." said Xander.

"Play it safe. Wait for us up here." both boys said.

"No, I can do it." said Stella, as she starts climbing down. "And I'm not waiting for anyone. I won't leave Brandon in the clutches of that fish-faced tramp."

"Hold on." said Aisha as she picks up a piece of wood. "I just found a faster way to get down there."

"Huh?"

"Sweet."

Using the piece of wood as a skateboard, Aisha and the others slid down towards the bottom. "Hey! You're pretty agile!" said Sky.

"Sports have always been my passion." said Aisha as she, Sky and Xander came to a stop.

"I hope you've brought enough passion for everyone." said Sky as they watched Stella, Bloom and Zara coming down.

"Whoo-hoo!" shouted Zara as she sped past Bloom and Stella.

"Like someone else I know." said Xander as Zara comes to a stop. "Only, she's into martial arts."

"Can you blame me for being into that?" asked Zara.

"I'm not." Xander tells her, trying to play it cool.

"Not into martial arts or not into me?" Zara asked.

"Uh..." he said, trying to come up with an answer when Bloom was screaming and as she turns around, she turns her piece of wood towards Aisha and Zara.

"Not bad, sis." said Zara.

"You too, sis." said Bloom as they high fived each other.

"Now, what was it you were saying about passion?" they asked the brothers.

"Bloom your board…" said Sky when suddenly her board slips out from under her.

"Make way!" shouted Stella as she skis her way in and crashes into a rock.

"Stella!" the twins cried out.

"This is ridiculous." Stella said, rubbing her head as the rock crumbles behind her. "Brandon better buy me a new dress to thank me for this."

"Hey look." said Sky. "You were lucky, Stella."

"Extremely lucky." added Xander, staring at Stella. "You know that rock could have injured you."

"He's right. You could have broken your neck." said Sky. He and Xander picks up a couple pieces. "The rock here is dangerously brittle. But this is the perfect spot for us."

"The demolecularizer." said Bloom and Zara.

"Do you think we should go in pairs?" asked Bloom.

"No, we better go all together, Bloom." said Sky, causing Bloom to pout. "The magic will only last 25 seconds and there's a lot of rock to get through."

"Bloom….I haven't seen you pout like this since you took my yellow belt when we were 12 and mom made you give it back." said Zara.

"That's because you wouldn't let me wear it as part of my costume for school." Bloom reminded her.

"If you had asked me back then, I would have said yes." Zara told her. "Instead, you took it without me looking."

"Are you guys ready?" asked Sky and Xander. Aisha gave a thumbs up, saying that she was ready.

"Are you sure that dehumidifier is safe?" Stella questioned when suddenly the twins grabbed her by the arm.

"Bloom, Zara, if something happens, you both can have all my outfits….." Stella said as they disappeared from the valley. 25 seconds later, they were inside.

"Wah!" said Zara as she tumbling onto the ground.

"How much time left?" Bloom asked.

"I have no idea." said Sky.

"Wait….we're missing someone." said Xander and the twins looked at each other.

"We knew it! Stella is still too weak." said Zara and Bloom when suddenly a light appears before them. "Stella! No!" Just then a portal opens up behind them, revealing Stella was coming through.

"Incoming!" exclaimed Zara, taking a step back.

"Stella!" exclaimed Bloom as said fairy lands on her back.

"How horrible." whined Stella.

"Stella, are you all, right?" the twins asked.

"There was this worm, and it passed right through me." Stella tells them. They spot the worm, and Bloom picks it out of her hair.

"Was it this one?" Bloom asked, showing Stella.

"Ew! Yuck!" screeched Stella.

"Yeah, we're gonna have to check your hair when we get back." Zara said as Stella shudders in disgust.

"Thank you." Sky said to Stella. "Brandon better buy you some new shampoo too."

"And lots of it." Xander added.

"Yes, Apple scented. That'll go with the worm." Stella said.

"Guys!" said Aisha.

"What?" Bloom and Zara asked.

"Incredible." she tells them. "We've already reached the shadow castle."

"Looks friendly." Bloom said.

"Very peaceful when you want to do meditation." said Zara.

"Plenty of sunshine." added Stella.

"The Pixies should be up there." said Aisha.

"So does this mean we have to take the rope bridge?" asked Sky.

"Which looks questionable to me." said Xander.

"Of course not, we'll fly." Stella said to the boys. "Listen, Sky, Xander, why don't you two play it safe, huh? And wait for us here."

"We'll all go on foot." said Bloom.

"Oh, wont part from your sweethearts?" teased Stella.

"Stella." said the twins. "If we transform now, we won't have enough power when we really need it."

"Let's go, guys." said Aisha. "Hang on tight. That bridge is going to swing like a boat in a hurricane."

"No problem." Bloom said as Zara stretched her fingers. "Zara and I used to spend our summers at Six Flags Hurricane Harbor."

"Those were the fun times." said Zara.

"First, we got to get the Pixies, and we got to do it on foot." said Stella. "How long will Brandon have to wait? We better get there before he says I do."

In Downland, Brandon was surrounded by servants. "No!" he said to them. "If you want me to be still, take me to the princess." Just then, he screams as a servant touches him in a place that he didn't want to be touched. "Look, I've got to convince that nutcase that this marriage is an enormous mistake. Please help me!"

The servant then punches Brandon in his stomach, causing him to growl and glare at the man. Brandon grabs things that were on the table and throws them to the ground, causing the servants to fuss over them.

"The princess will punish us." said one servant.

"So can I talk to her or not?" Brandon asked.

"My fiancée requires me?" asked Amentia as she walks in and the servants gasped. She then sees what was tossed onto the floor. "How revolting. You've got five seconds to fix your hair, or I'll shred you with my nails, dip you in sewage, fry you in acid, and finally I'll cancel your health insurance."

"My dear princess, I'd like a word in private." said Brandon. "Now."

"Later. We'll have plenty of time." Amentia tells him. "A whole lifetime in fact."

Back at Alfea, Tecna gets out of the shower and walks towards her room. Kiko and Lavender tries to get her attention as something was happening. "What's up?" she asked both bunnies as they went to her computer. "What is it, Kiko and Lavender?"

She then picks up her computer and looks at the screen. "That's weird. It crashed." said Tecna, pressing a few buttons and sits down.

"Anyone seen Piff?" asked Musa. Lavender starts to listen for Piff and starts to help Musa search for the Pixie.

"I hope I didn't lose any data." Tecna said as she fixes her computer.

"Ah!" Lavender called out to Musa, finding Piff asleep.

"Thanks, Lavender." said Musa, scratching her behind her ears and looks down at the sleeping pixie. "Here you are, sleepy head. Maybe she's got the right idea, she's not wasting her energy worrying. But I can't help thinking about the risk they're taking, going on a mission without us."

"Make way!" said a Pixie, riding an envelope towards Alfea.

"Maybe this will improve reception." Tecna said to herself as she walks over to the window and opens the door. "Musa, my palm top's crashed and now reception is bad. I might not contact the girls again."

Just then, the pixie crashes into Tecna's palm top. "Hey, some new hardware just installed itself." joked Tecna, then takes a closer look to see that her 'hardware' had wings. "Another pixie?"

The pixie was in a daze until she shakes her head. "What's your name?" Musa asked as Tecna had her by her clothes. "Tecna, let her go."

"You all right?" Tecna asked.

"Never been better." said the pixie, letting herself drop to the floor then starts flying. "See? Everything's….." The pixie crashes into the table, hitting her head.

Later, the pixie was telling them what happened. "You see, I missed the festival in the dark forest." she said to Tecna and Musa. "I was at home recovering because I hurt my head."

"Imagine that." said Tecna as the pixie slides down Musa's arm.

"But my friends never came back from the dark forest. Those of us who stayed behind knew something was wrong. But we were too scared to leave the village." she said. "Finally, our friend Aisha came, and she said she was going to help us and she told us to stay hidden. But we waited and waited, and she never came back. So, we decided to come to Alfea for help. That's why I'm here. I'm the Pixie of Messages."

At the castle, the Shadow knight was spying on Tecna and Musa. "How touching and informative." he said.

"Your safe now." Tecna said to the pixie as she starts to cry. "Come on, there's no point in crying. You're right and you know what? I'll never cry again."

"To dah! To dah!" Piff said, crawling out from under the pillow.

"Hey! That's Piff!" the pixie exclaimed, seeing that not everyone was captured as Piff yawns and stretches. "You're alive! Piff-Piff-Piff-Piff! I'd thought I never see you again."

"Should we tell her that Aisha's alive too?" asked Musa. "Or will she have a heart attack?"

"Well? Let's wait a couple of minutes." said Tecna.

"To dah bah do dah." Piff said to her friend, hugging her.

At the shadow fortress, Aisha leads the others across the bridge. "I'm going ahead. You guys help Stella." said Aisha.

"I don't need help." Stella said, hanging onto the rope. "A sliver of sun too much to ask."

She then looks up and watches Aisha take a piece of rope and swings across. Aisha lands onto the window and climbs up through the window. In the room, the Pixies were hiding as they watched Aisha walk in.

"Aisha!" said the blonde pixie and Aisha gasps.

"Aisha!" exclaimed the other pixies.

"I knew you come back for us." the blonde pixie said.

"It's so good to see you again, Aisha." said the strawberry haired pixie.

"Are you all safe?" she asked.

"Safe as snake food can be." replied the blonde Pixie.

"Do you have the bandwidth for our escape?" asked Digit.

"Don't worry. I've brought reinforcements." said Aisha.

"You've got to destroy that seal." Lockette said to her. "It's what powers the cages."

"All right, I'll do it." Aisha said, standing to her feet. "Aisha, magic…transform."

Once she was in fairy form, Aisha sends a blast to break the seal, but it didn't work. "All right then…" said Aisha as she tries again to break the seal. "Stand back."

She then summons as much water magic as possible to break the magical cage the pixies were in but falls to the ground. "That was my strongest attack." said Aisha.

"Did…did it work?" asked the strawberry haired pixie asked.

"No, Amore." said the blonde pixie, then turns to Lockette. "Lockette, come with me."

"Lockette, try to find a weak spot in the cage's wall." said Aisha.

"Stella, are you alright?" Bloom asked.

"Yeah, feeling great." said Stella. "I'll be there in just a sec."

"Good, now let's go get Aisha." said Bloom.

"Whatever you say, oh fearless twin of mine." said Zara, smiling as she gave Bloom a mock salute.

"You're fearless too, you know." Bloom said to her, sticking her tongue out. Before Zara could retaliate in good fun, something strikes the two, knocking them back.

"Bloom! Zara!" shouted Sky and Xander when suddenly the same thing strikes them in their backs as well. As the four of them were temporarily knocked out, they didn't see the Trix arrive.

"What are those things?" asked Bloom and Zara, sitting up. Hearing the familiar laugh, Stormy raises her hands, sending another round of lighting towards the quintet. Stella takes a closer look and recognizes the three.

"It's the Trix." she said.

"Darcy! Icy! Stormy!" said the Trix.

"Weren't they shipped off to Light Rock?" asked Sky.

"Faragonda said it was impossible to escape from there." added Bloom.

"Yeah. They were supposed to be on that purification retreat." said Zara. "To which I actually wanted to go on."

"That's what I thought too." said Xander. "I mean, who would've guessed they'd show up here?"

"We were given special gifts that makes everything possible." said Icy.

"Does she ever stop laughing?" asked Stella.

"Who asked for your opinion?" Icy asked, glaring at them. "Can't you see we're gloating here and getting ready to settle old scores?" She then creates dark ice shards. "We'll finish you off for good."

Lockette tries from inside the cage to find a weak spot. "Come on, Lockette." Aisha said, encouraging the little pixie.

"I'm sorry." said Lockette, as she couldn't find one. "There's no weak spot and the barrier can block any magic."

"No magic? Then let's get physical." said Aisha and starts breaking the barrier with her body.

"Aisha!" Lockette cried out, not wanting the fairy to hurt herself but it was too late. Electricity went through Aisha's elbow, shocking her as she fell.

"Aisha!" the Pixies cried out.

"It hurts." cried Aisha as there was a burn on her elbow.

"Girls, brace yourself. She's going to attack." said Levi and Sky.

"Icicle Fury!" shouted Icy, sending the shards as the brothers take the twins for cover.

"Stella, watch out!" shouted Sky. Stella covers her face and tensions up as the ice shards went around her.

"You should not have done that!" screeched Stella.

"Oh, no! Stella's angry." said Xander.

"Stella, behind you!" Bloom called out.

Stella shrieked as Darcy came up behind her. Both twins knocked Stella to the ground and out of Darcy's attack. "We have to transform." they both said, and all three girls went into their fairy forms.

"Take this you witch!" shouted Bloom and Zara as they aimed their fire attacks at Darcy who then disappears and laughs.

"Shadow Ruin!" Stormy shouted, creating a powerful tornado and sends it towards Stella, who created a shield with her scepter. The tornado was so powerful that it knocked her to the ground.

"Stella!" shouted Sky and Xander.

"Oh no!" said Bloom as she and Zara landed on the ground.

"Watch out!" Xander and Sky called out as Icy hovers over them. She then creates a big ice shard, hoping to knock out the twins. "Be careful!" They grabbed the twins away from Icy's attack and hid behind some pillars.

"Thanks." they both said. Darcy steps out of the shadows and starts to create vertigo on them. Sky and Xander brought out their swords, swinging them at Darcy as they stood protectively in front of the twins.

Darcy sends a couple of purple balls at the boys as they jumped off their swords to dodge her attacks. As they landed on higher ground, ice formed and creeps up. "Are you getting cold feet yet?" Icy asked the boys.

"Ah!" shouted Xander as ice surrounded his feet.

"What the…?" Sky said as ice covered his feet as well. "Stop it!" Taking out their holo-boomerangs, both boys threw them at the bridge. As the bridge heads for Icy, she stops it from hitting her and crushes it.

The ice surrounding both brothers went up towards their shoulders. "Oh, you're both so cute." Icy said to them. "Too bad cuz your games up."

"Hey!" shouted Aisha, seeing Icy. "Did someone say game? I'm a big fan of ball games myself."

Aisha sends her attack, only for Icy to squash it in her hand. "Pathetic." said Icy as Darcy starts to create a vertigo vortex around Aisha. Aisha was knocked to the ground and was out of fairy form, causing the Trix to laugh at her misery.

The Trix looked at their handy work. The twins were trapped; Stella and Aisha were knocked out as both Specialists were trapped in ice. Suddenly, someone appears in a golden light.

"Who is that?" asked Icy.

"That light! I can't see anything." said Darcy.

"What's going on?" questioned Stormy.

Whoever this person was, he goes towards Aisha and gives her strength. He then goes to Sky and Xander, freeing them from their ice prison. Bloom and Zara were next as he catches Bloom in his arms and placed Zara next to her. He finally heals Stella.

"Would you look at that?" asked Stella as the guy flies away. "A super hunk."

"Stella can have him." said Zara. "I already know who I want." The man stood before the Trix and chants a spell, creating a yellow magic ball above his head. It engulfs the Trix and takes them inside.

"Um, on behalf of everyone, my sister and I'd like to thank you." said Bloom as Zara stood next to her.

"I really couldn't allow those witches to hurt you." the mysterious man said.

"Are you….one of the master templars from light rock?" asked Sky as he and Xander kneels before him.

"No, that's not the case." he said.

"What's your name?" asked Zara and Bloom.

"You'll find out soon enough." said the mysterious man. He bows before them and takes off.

"Something feels off about him." Zara quietly said to herself.

"I just don't understand girls at all." said Sky seeing them watch the mysterious man.

"Dude, we may never understand them." Xander tells him. The boys then turned to the castle and sees something coming their way.

"Look out! More Monsters!" they both shouted, unaware that it was the Pixies.

"Quick, in here!" said Sky, as he and Xander took all but Aisha towards the pillars. "Before they see us. Aisha, hurry up!"

"Wait! It's only the Pixies." she tells him. "At last!"

The Pixies flew towards Aisha for a hug. "Aisha!" they said, flying hard at her.

"Wait a minute." said Aisha as they flew into her hard and knocked the girl to the ground.

"Aisha!"

"And I thought Bloom landing on me was bad enough." said Zara.

"Yeah…." said Bloom, agreeing with Zara.

"Pixies…." Aisha said as the others walked over to her. "These are my new friends, the twins, Bloom and Zara, Stella, Xander and Sky."

Suddenly, Amore pops up in front of Stella. "Oh! What a wonderful person!" she said, complementing Stella.

"My, she's adorable." Stella said, loving the compliment.

"Stella's returning a compliment?" asked Sky, scratching his head while Xander shakes his. "What's going on here?"

"That's the bonding." Aisha explains. "It's like love at first sight between a fairy and a pixie. Their bond will be unbreakable."

"I'm Amore, pixie of love." Amore said, introducing herself to Stella.

"And I'm Stella, the most loved fairy." she said. Lockette and the baby pixie then flies over to Bloom and Zara, bonding with them.

"Hi, I'm Lockette, the pixie of Portals and this is Glim, the Pixie of Fireflies." Lockette tells them as Glim flies before Zara. "Will you both protect us from now on?"

"Bah?" Glim asked Zara. "Bah do dah?"

"Of course!" Zara said, smiling.

"You came to the right set of fairies, Lockette." said Bloom with a warm smile on her face.

"Bah do dah bah to tah!" Glim squealed happily.

"Bloom and I will always protect the two of you, Lockette." said Zara, tickling Glim's stomach, causing her to giggle happily and made her glow. "Besides Piff, you are the cutest Pixie I've ever seen!"

"Those Pixies are so sweet; I'm starting to like them." said the Shadow Knight.

"And that's how we were rescued." said Bloom.

"Speaking of rescue, how did you manage to get out of the cage?" Aisha asked.

"It was easy." said Digit. "All of a sudden, the barrier was deleted."

"I have a feeling that she's going to be a certain techno fairy's bonded pixie." said Zara, thinking of Tecna.

"So, you weren't rescued by our Paladin?" questioned Aisha.

"I'm sorry, but I'd like to remind you that while we're sitting here, chatting, Brandon is probably walking down the aisle." said Stella. "Let's hope to it!"

"Stella's right." said Sky. "Come on, girls, Xander. There's no time to lose."

Chapter Text

In the tunnel, Sky had a flashlight in his hand while Xander held a backup. "Stella, I'm worried about Brandon too, but marching blindly into the dark isn't going to help anything, you know." Sky tells her.

"I don't care, Sky. Every second we waste here is another second he could be in danger." said Stella, clenching her fists.

"Sky, Stella's on a personal mission." Xander tells him. "Don't make her any angrier than she already is."

"Why did Brandon agree to marry that monster princess in the first place?" asked Amore. "They're from two different worlds. Forbidden love."

"Forbidden….yeah, right!" grumbled Stella.

"I'm sure Brandon was just playing along to protect Stella." Aisha said to the blonde pixie.

"Come on, Stella! I'm getting a cramp." Bloom said, stopping behind them and leans into Zara. "Can't we stop for just one second?" Stella ignores Bloom. "Hey, think she heard me?"

"Doubt it. She barely hears what the professors say in class." said Zara leaning against Bloom as well.

"Let me handle this." said the blonde Pixie as she goes after Stella. "Um…Stella?"

"No! We're not stopping!" screamed Stella. "Not even for one second!"

"Well, Grandpa Fahrenheit always said it's no use changing the oil while the engine's running." said Digit.

"There's a saying: When one is in a good sound rage, it is astonishing how calm one can be." said Zara.

"Really? I never heard that." Digit said.

"Hang around me long enough, Digit and you'll be hearing me say a lot of stuff like that." said Zara.

"Stella, if you fall in the dark and twist your ankle, I am not going to carry you." said Sky.

"And don't even think about asking me to carry you." said Xander. Stella turns around, growling at the boys as Zara and Bloom grabbed ahold of each other.

"In that case, I'll take both flashlights." Stella snapped at them, taking the flashlights from them.

"Good luck, Amore." Digit said, as she adores Stella even more. "You've got the crazy one."

"But it's love, can't you see?" asked Amore.

In Downland, Brandon was being semi carried down the corridor by two guards. "I hope that Stella and the others get here soon." said Brandon.

Meanwhile, Amentia was putting on her makeup in her room. "Your highness." said one of the guards. "Your fiancée is here."

"Good, leave him with me." she ordered, and they threw Brandon forward. "I trust that everything is laid out perfectly for the wedding?"

"We're doing everything in our power, your highness." said the guard. "Uh…but there is a slight delay."

"Great." thought Brandon.

"Perhaps I have not made myself clear." said Amentia. "I expect perfection at the very least. I cannot begin to explain to you what will happen if anything goes wrong."

"Yes, ma'am." said her guards. As they left, Amentia was finally alone with Brandon.

"I'm so sorry, your highness." Brandon said, strolling over to her bed. "It really is too bad that our wedding has been delayed." Amentia wasn't hearing it as she made her way over towards him. "No, I didn't mean…"

"Kiss me, kiss me." Amentia demanded. "Why wait for the wedding? Kiss me!"

"No!" groaned Brandon, now terrified of her. As the others were making their way to save Brandon, Sky and Xander growled in frustration.

"Look at these crystals." said Sky. "They're lighting up the whole cave."

"Hey, check out this one." said Bloom as they passed one crystal. "It's amazing."

"Interesting." said Xander.

"It's fascinating." said Zara, taking a closer look. One of the crystals glowed in front Glim, who giggled and babbled.

"Look, there's more up ahead." said Sky.

"These are downland crystals for sure." said Stella. "We've got to be getting closer."

"What do you think, Aisha?" asked Bloom and Zara as Aisha looks back at the littlest pixie interacting with the crystal. "Aisha?"

"Stella's right." Aisha said, taking the littlest pixie away from the crystal. "Let's keep going."

Stella then walks out of the passageway that led to the underground city. "Guys, this is it." Stella said to them.

"This is downland?" asked Bloom.

"I'm never vacationing here." said Zara.

"That's funny." said Stella as they see the empty streets. "Last time I arrived, on the other side of town. Oh well, at least we're here."

"Yikes!" squeaked Lockette, taking Glim in her arms.

"Watch out." Sky said to her. "Someone's coming."

"Let's hide." said Lockette. Sky and Xander scouted for a bit before running back to the others. It was someone who came out to patrol. The blonde pixie sees the downlander walk away from them, not seeing that they were there.

"What unhealthy looking skin." said the pixie with the blue and white dress.

"Phew, he's gone." said Bloom. "All right, he's gone. Let's go find Brandon but stay out of sight."

"You heard her, guys." said Zara as she follows Bloom. One by one, the others followed, leaving the pixies to be the last ones to follow.

"Come on." Aisha said to the Pixies, who then fly towards them. "Get down." They understood and flew at a lower altitude.

A downland cat meowed as it crossed the street, causing the man to stop. "We'll never get by." Sky said to the others. "We need a distraction."

"Is this what you want?" asked Aisha, holding a rock in her hand. Sky takes the rock and throws it across the street. The man hears the rock hit the ground, turning around as the others ran behind him. Stella falls to the ground as Bloom and Zara were behind her.

"Stella." said Bloom.

"Uh-oh." said Zara and quickly looks up.

"Hurry!" said Sky as Xander points to an empty house. "Everyone inside! Now! Come on!"

"Bloom, help me!" said Zara as she and Bloom quickly helped Stella up and carried her ran inside. The guard looks around the corner and sees no one in the street.

Inside, Sky and Xander stood guard as the twins and Aisha crouched down from the windows. The guard walks up to the door. "Not a sound." Sky and Xander said while Bloom and Zara covered each other's mouths. Suddenly, something crashes into Stella.

"Stella, what's wrong?" Bloom asked as Zara looks empathetically at the blonde fairy.

"I'm starting to get those dizzy spells again." said Stella.

"I'm really worried, you guys. She's too far away from sunlight." said Zara as she held Stella's hand.

"Shush!" Sky and Xander tells them as the guard gets closer. The brothers take out their swords when Aisha stops them. Footsteps were heard outside, passing the door and as they sighed in relief, the footsteps came back. The door opens and a downland cat walks in.

"We're safe." said Bloom as they all watched it meow.

"Downland has cats?" asked Zara, confused by this as the Pixies came out of hiding and she watches the cat starts walking past them. "Why am I not surprised?"

"Bah do Dah." said Glim.

The group of six and the Pixies left the house and now were back hiding out in the streets. "The coast is clear." Aisha said, checking around the corner and they ran out.

"Work, work, and work some more." said one downland woman to her friend. "It's all we ever do."

"Nothing ever happens around here." said the other downland woman.

The first downland woman looks up to see flying ceramics going past them, unaware that the pixies were inside them. "Hey look! There goes some flying pots." she said.

"Pots and pans, that's all you ever talk about." said the second downland woman.

"I think those are your pots." said the first downland woman.

"Oh, dear." the second downland woman said, seeing them flying away.

"After them!" shouted the first downland woman.

"Thief! Thief!" screamed the second downland woman. "Someone is stealing my pots!"

"Every Pixie for herself!" shouted the blonde pixie as they take off their covers.

"Get them!" shouted the downland women as the second downland woman's belongings fell to the ground. "There they are!"

"Where's Amore?" asked the blonde Pixie, unaware that Amore was still in her disguise.

"I have no idea." said Lockette. "I totally lost her. Maybe she's with Aisha."

"Bah dah!" exclaimed Glim, looking around for Amore.

"Come on! Let's catch up with the others." The blonde pixie said.

"To freedom!" said the pixie with the bumblebee costume. "Come on, let's go!"

"Watch out! The road's blocked!" said Lockette as they turned the corner. The pixie with the bumblebee outfit glares at their roadblock and came up with an idea.

"Where we're going, we don't need roads." she said, transforming her mask and they fly up over the wall.

"Here they are." said Digit, finding the others.

"The Pixies." said Aisha, waving towards them. As most of the Pixies turned the corner when one pixie crashes into the wall. The pixie with the blue and white dress flies back, she sees that her fellow pixie's feet sticking out from the can.

"There you go." she said, turning the can over.

"Hey, little guy. What happened to you?" Sky asked, seeing that the pixie was stuck. He picks up the can and shakes the pixie out.

"You okay?" asked Xander and the little pixie smiled in response. The blonde pixie looks up and sees someone standing over the two Specialists.

"Sky, Xander, look out!" she called out, warning the boys who then looked up to see the guard about to swing his club at them. The guard swings his club, knocking them both out when the twins ran out from the alley.

"Hey!" shouted Zara, seeing Xander and Sky knocked out.

"You're asking for it, you bully." said Bloom as they both balled their fists.

"We'll teach you a lesson!" shouted the twins. Bloom and Zara combined their magic to make the guard's club hit him multiple times in the face and all over his back, causing him to fall into empty wooden barrels.

As the boys wake up and the pixies cheered, more guards were coming up behind the twins. "Stay where you are!" both guards shouted.

"Bloom, Zara, there are more over here!" shouted Stella as a guard after chases her and Aisha. "Run! Faster! They're gaining on us!"

Lost in the Downland city, Amore was looking for Stella and the others when she then spots Sponses in the street. "And who are you?" asked Amore.

"The saddest Trog ever." Sponses tells her.

"Don't drink grapefruit juice on an empty stomach." Amore said as Sponses cries. "You'll get acid reflux."

"My love." cried Sponses, wiping his eyes and continues to drink more grapefruit juice.

"Love? Well, love should be a happy thing. Not a sad one." Amore tells him as she walks up.

"It was even written in the crystals that we would be married." said Sponses.

"Crystals?" questioned Amore.

"She doesn't love me." Sponses said, pouring out his heart and soul to Amore.

"She who?" Amore inquired. "She who?"

"Princess!" cried Sponses as he takes the cap off another urn.

"Hey! I've just the thing for you." said Amore, summoning a pouch for Sponses. Taking a flower from her hair, she turns it into a pink rose. "There you go. Doesn't it smell nice?"

At the palace, Brandon was looking out the window. "The ceremony will start any minute now." he thought to himself. "I guess the king didn't read my letter of appeal."

"107. 107." the bird said to Brandon.

"Aren't you cute?" said Brandon. "You wouldn't be so chipper if you knew what I was about to go through."

The bird looks at Brandon, wondering what he was talking about. "107." the bird repeated.

"I didn't get a lawyer, didn't get a blood test." said Brandon. "I can't be sentenced to a marriage like this, but you don't understand that do you?"

"107." the bird tells Brandon once again.

"I've got to find a way to escape from here, but this place is swarming with guards." Brandon said.

"100." said the bird as the guard walks in.

"Mr. Brandon, I bring you good news." he said.

"Oh, great. They must have read my letter." said Brandon with hope in his voice but was disappointed by what the guard said next.

"You'll be led to the altar by Queen Foda. Presenting her highness…."

The bird starts squawking as the queen walks into the room. "Oh, my daughter was right." said Queen Foda, taking a closer look at Brandon. "I like you. You're not a Trog but you're a very good-looking son-in-law. So, ready for the 107 steps?"

"100 and what?" asked Brandon.

"107." The bird informed him that he was going to do.

"After you leave this room, there are 107 steps to the altar. One for each of the qualities of a good husband." Queen Foda explained and sees the look on his face. "Well, why so glum? Cheer up, after all, marriages are forever. Get it in gear, honey."

"But….But….I….." Brandon tried to tell her as she takes him away.

"107." said the bird, smiling. Queen Foda takes Brandon to the altar.

"Ready to start counting?" she asked.

"This can't be happening." Brandon said.

"Where are we going?" Sponses asked Amore. "I want to see her. I wasn't even invited to the wedding."

Amore spots something and flies over to it. "Wait up!" Sponses called out after her.

"Shush! Quiet!" said Amore, then shows him. "Over here, look."

"Do you think the princess will like her bouquet?" asked one handmaiden.

"There's not a stem out of place." said the other handmaiden. Just then, Amore gets an idea.

"7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14…" Brandon said, counting his steps as he looks up at Queen Foda. "Huh?

"Let me out!" said a familiar voice. "Help! Help! Is anyone there?"

"17, 18…." said Brandon.

"Please! Is anybody there?"

"Their turn is coming." Queen Foda tells Brandon. "They're to be married to ladies of the court."

"Oh, no." said Brandon, terrified that Stella and the others wouldn't make it in time.

"Ladies and gentlemen, Princess Amentia and King Enervous." said a Trog and horns were blown, revealing Amentia and her father.

"This is it." Brandon said as he went down the stairs. "I'm doomed. I'll never see the sun again."

He then reflects on all the birthdays he's had, the girls, being Sky's squire. Out in the city, the Winx, Sky and Xander continued to run from the guards. "Keep moving!" shouted Stella.

Just as the doors opened before Brandon and Queen Foda, Amentia was pleased to see her future husband. Once at the altar, Brandon was disheartened that it was Amentia and not Stella that he was marrying when he suddenly passed out.

Everyone was shocked, thinking that Brandon was dead. "The groom has fainted." the Trog priest said to the crowd.

"Why don't we just fight them off?" asked Bloom and Zara.

"No time!" said Stella, looking over her shoulder. "Brandon's about to get married. Keep running!"

"Blenders are too fast!" said one guard. "Quick! Call Tolito! He should be nearby." The second guard blows his whistle.

"Huh? What was that?" asked Sky.

"It sounds like a whistle." said Xander.

"Run!" shouted Aisha as the second guard continues to blow his whistle.

On the side of the city, Tolito heard the whistle and breaks through the wall. Back at the palace, they had Brandon stand up. "Dearly beloved, the moment has come to bless this union." said the priest.

"There are too many guards." Brandon said to himself, looking around at the ceremony. "I'll never be able to escape."

"If anyone opposes this marriage, please address King Enervous." said an older Trog and no one said anything. "The groom has weighed the 107 virtues; it is now time for the sacred gifts to be offered to the bride."

"Where are you guys?" Brandon asked himself, wondering where the others are. "Yes!"

"Some enthusiasm is expected, but don't forget your manners, young man." said the older Trog.

"That explosion was no accident there." thought Brandon as he smiled innocently.

"The groom has expressed his consent." said the priest.

"But I-I…." Brandon tried to tell him.

"And now we will hear from the princess." The priest said. "Amentia, do you take Squire Brandon as your husband?"

"Yes, I do." said Amentia as Brandon starts to sweat.

"Hurry up, you guys." Brandon thought through gritted teeth. The others were standing before Tolito as the guards caught up to them, laughing.

"Now the two scared gifts for Princess Amentia." said the priest and two lines of handmaidens walked up with the gifts. "The flowers of fertility and the wedding ring."

"Where are they?" Brandon asked himself, wondering when he sees them coming up from behind the priest. "There they are!"

"Help us!" Zara shouted to Brandon as she and the others were taken away.

"Oh…oh, no!" said Brandon.

"Let us go!" shouted Sky and Xander, struggling against the guards. Stella breaks free from the guard's grip and rushes towards the edge of the bridge.

"Brandon!" she screamed.

"Stella!" Brandon called out.

"What's going on here?" asked King Enervous.

"They're just some prisoners, your majesty." said the priest.

"Oh, Stella." said Brandon.

"Come on, think of something." Sky said to the others. "We have to stop this wedding."

"We know that, Sky!" said Xander. "How do you propose we do that?"

"I can't take on these two guards by myself!" said Zara, struggling against the guard's grip.

"Well, take them to a cell." said Queen Foda. "Put them with the others."

"No! They're my relatives." said Brandon.

"Oh, really?" she asked. "In that case, they can watch. But we'll keep an eye on them. One can never trust in-laws."

"Relatives? We're his relatives?" Zara asked, mouthing to Bloom, who shrugged. "Wow."

"All this commotion is for nothing." said King Enervous. "Proceed."

The guard held onto the twins and Stella, only for the latter to bite him in his arm, causing him to let go. "Brandon!" Stella screamed for her boyfriend as the guard comes up behind her with his weapon to her neck.

"These rings represent the seal of love between bride and groom." said the priest.

"Brandon!" Stella cried.

"But first, the fertility blessing."

"You can't leave me like this." Stella said, tears running down her face.

"Stella, please…." said Brandon, knowing that he had let her down. "please, forgive me."

"With this gift, may you be blessed with many children." the priest said as Amentia took the flowers.

"They're perfect." she said. "I bet they smell divine."

"Hey, guys….those pink flowers look very familiar." said Aisha.

"Don't they belong to a certain pixie?" asked Xander.

"They sure do." said Zara.

"Oh my." said Amentia, dropping the flowers after she had smelled them.

"Your highness." said the priest and everyone became shocked. "Princess? What's wrong?"

"Stella….looks like your Pixie was hard at work." Zara said in a sing-song tone as Glim squeals in delight.

"Huh?" she said, looking up.

"It's as if the love in my heart multiplied a million times, it's overwhelming." said Amentia. "My love…where's my love?"

"What's wrong with you, girl?" her mother asked. "Is this a joke? Your fiancée's right there."

"Him? Ha!" Amentia said, taking another look at Brandon. "Why just look at him. How could I love such an ugly creature?"

"Come on, don't be shy." Amore said to Sponses, pushing him down the aisle. "She's got to see you right now."

"My husband? Where's my husband?" Amentia asked, looking for Sponses.

"There he is." said a guard, pointing to him.

"Princess! Princess!" Sponses shouted, standing on the back of a couple of chairs.

"Sponses, my love!" she exclaimed as she ran towards her handmaidens.

"Oh no!" said one handmaiden as Amentia through them. "No, no, no, no!"

"Darling!" shouted Amentia as she plows through her handmaidens, knocking them into the sky as Sponses goes to her.

"Princess! Princess!" he shouted.

"Yes, yes, yes! Love prevails!" squealed Amore, clapping her hands.

"Sponses!"

"Amentia!"

"I love this, Trog!" Amentia cried out happily, causing Brandon to sigh in relief.

"Well, well…" Queen Froda said to the priest.

"This is a marriage ceremony, not a sporting event." he tells her.

"Hey, lighten up." said Queen Froda. "Haven't you ever been in love?"

"Hey Brandon, you look great." Amore said, flying towards him. "You were born to wear a wedding suit."

"Don't even say that." Brandon tells her. "Not even as a joke. But hey and who are you?"

"I'm Amore, the pixie of love." she tells him. After leaving Downland, the guys were able to take the girls and the pixies back to Alfea.

"All's well that ends well." said Amore.

"All thanks to you, Amore." said the blonde Pixie.

"Hey Brandon? What's with the bottles of juice?" Riven asked.

"That's a gift from Sponses." he said. "He felt pretty bad about stealing bride."

[Flashback]

"This is the best juice in Downland." Sponses said to Brandon, handing him a crate. "Take it."

"Take it." said Amentia.

"And uh…..no hard feelings, my friend?" asked Sponses.

[Flashback ends]

"I feel sorry for him." said Riven. "He'll never survive in the clutches of that monster."

"I'm not." said Zara, sitting on the floor, lightly meditating next to Xander as Glim sits on her shoulder. "The only wedding I want to see Brandon in that involves a tux better be his marriage to Stella."

"Otherwise….any random girl would have to fight Stella for him." said Xander.

"You bet they'll have to fight me." said Stella, laughing.

"I can just imagine it now. A full-on arena with cheering fans, the announcer calling for the best fighter." said Zara, smirking with her eyes still closed.

"And there's Stella in the ring, all decked out in wedding attire, ready to throw some punches." Xander said.

"Exactly! And if anyone thinks they can just waltz in and take Brandon without a challenge, they've got another thing coming." Zara said, opening her eyes and grinning widely.

"What if they just bring him flowers or something sweet? Doesn't that count as an invitation?" Xander asked.

"Hmm, sweet gestures could be a tactic, but they'd still need to face me first. No flowers until I'm convinced, they're worthy!" said Stella, pretending to ponder.

"What's your strategy then, Stella? A series of tests? Maybe an obstacle course?" Zara curiously asked.

"That sounds perfect! A quiz on 'Is Brandon Worthy 101'? Followed by some agility drills… oh, and a pie-eating contest." said Stella, causing everyone to laugh.

"A pie-eating contest? Now that's a wedding I would attend!" said Xander. Back in Downland, Sponses was living the dream.

"This is paradise." said Sponses.

Chapter Text

That night, 'Sky' and 'Xander' were spying outside of Alfea. "That's right. Bloom and Zara are about to kiss someone that is not Prince Sky and Xander." someone said as they used paper dolls of the Winx and the Specialists.

"Wait!" said someone as they walked in on the story.

"And who are you?" asked Livy.

"Uh, let me introduce myself." said another fairy pet. "I'm the big eared bear."

Kiko, Lavender and the others looked up at him, gasping. "No big surprise, I'm sure." he said. "But I'm so sorry I'm late. Have I missed much of the story?"

"Uh…you can speak?" Livy asked.

"Uh-huh, uh-huh." he said, nodding.

"Hey, what do you say we make room for the big guy, huh?" she asked and he sits down in front. "Now then, I'll tell the story from the top once again. It all began when a great big storm called Hurricane Nimbus unleashed its destructive fury over the home of Alfea."

The storm rained and magical creatures tried to find cover. "And the kingdom of Magix." One magical creature tried to get to the others for shelter. "However, the storm was merely the backdrop for the most mysterious event, which was about to take place. Something so strange, even the fairies had no idea what to make of it." Rain surrounded Alfea and nearby, there was a stone in the water.

"A huge stone, smooth and mysterious had appeared out of nowhere." said Livy, telling the pets as she used a brick and a tub of water. "Our heroes, who had just come back from a dangerous mission in Downland, were as of yet, unaware of its presence."

Livy pulls the curtains and goes on to tell the story.

Livy's story

On their way back from Downland, the specialists brought back the Winx and the pixies.

"Hey! Here they are." said Flora, seeing them land.

"All right!" shouted Musa.

"Yeah!" exclaimed Tecna. Piff was excited that Aisha was back.

"Our friends, Kiko and Lavender were very anxious about Bloom and Zara's return, have been making a special gift for them." said Livy.

The twins, Stella and Aisha happily ran towards the others, hugging them.

"As you can imagine, all eyes were on us Pixies and three of us bonded on the spot." said Livy. "Digit and Tecna met in a chat room a while back and were overdue for an actual face to face meeting. And a big hug."

"Told you, Bloom." said Zara as Digit bonded to Tecna.

"I'll brush them both tonight." Bloom tells her.

"Tune and Musa discovered a common sense of style."

"Those headphones are like…um….." Tune said, seeing Musa's hairstyle. "unique."

"Well, it's my hair, actually." Musa tells her.

"And Chatta wasted no time telling Flora all her secrets."

"What's your boyfriend's name? Tell me!" said Chatta.

"I told you; I don't have one." said Flora.

"You don't have one? You must have two! Come on, don't be shy." Chatta said to her, causing Flora to smile. "Details! Is he tall? Is he dark, buff, smart, friendly?"

Kiko and Lavender were now outside, trying to get the twins' attention. "Welcome to Alfea, Pixies." Bloom said to Lockette and Glim.

"Kiko, Lavender. How are our favorite bunnies doing?" asked Zara as she picks them both up.

"Wow!" said Lockette.

Glim flies towards Lavender who takes a closer look at her. Doing the same thing that she did with Piff, Lavender pressed her nose against Glim's cheek. "Do Dah Bah Do Dah!" she exclaimed and hugs Lavender.

"Come on, let's go in and get you guys something to eat." said Bloom. She then walks past Zara, who was holding their bunnies. Kiko wanted to show Bloom what he had made, but she ignored her.

"Don't worry, Kiko." Zara tells him. "I like it. It's the best one you've made of her."

Kiko smiled, knowing that she was trying to cheer him up. It didn't stop the tears from filling his eyes. "Kiko." Sky said, seeing the sad bunny. "First time a girl dumps you?"

Kiko growls at Sky, causing him to take a step back. "Okay, okay. Alright." said Sky as he walks away.

"Kiko, that wasn't very nice, you know." said Zara as the blue bunny turns into her to cry. Lavender felt sad for her brother, wishing that she could give him a hug.

"Faragonda was very happy to see the fairies back at Alfea safe and sound." said Livy. "However, the following morning, she summoned the Winx to her office to discuss a more serious matter."

"First, I would like to congratulate you all on the success of your last mission. And express my great relief at your safe return." said Faragonda. "After a close examination of the evidence brought forth by Aisha and our tiny friends, we must conclude that our enemy is much stronger than we initially thought. Watch closely."

She then creates what seems to be a screen behind the Winx. "16 years ago, the entire dimension of magix was on the brink of destruction." Faragonda said to the Winx. "A dark and evil power had emerged from the void and this was the result."

"But it was the three old witches who destroyed Domino, our planet, isn't that what you told us?" asked the twins.

"Yes, but in truth, they were just carrying out the orders of the shadow creature." said Faragonda. "Who managed to recruit the help of those three old witches. Today, it has the support of the Trix. I'm afraid history's threaten to repeat itself."

"Is there a saying or quote about history, Zara?" Musa asked.

"There is, but it depends on which one we're looking at." replied Zara. "In this case, we're looking more at the quote, 'Those who don't remember the past are condemned to repeat it'."

"What?" asked Stella, confused by what she had said.

"It means, Stella, that even though the Trix remembered the mission that their ancestors had when they came to Domino to take our dragon flames," Zara explained. "but what the Trix doesn't recognize is that their ancestors were probably ordered by the shadow creature to come and take them by any means necessary, including destroying Domino and its inhabitants."

"Are you saying that the thing that did all this, is the same one that kidnapped all the Pixies?" asked Aisha.

"Considering your description of the monsters, the spells that were cast and the transformation into a Shadow Phoenix, it could only be Lord Darkar." Faragonda tells them.

"But why is he back?" asked Tecna. "What could he be trying to achieve?"

"The three witches were stopped by Griffin, Saladin and myself. The Lord of the Templars dealt with Lord Darkar." explained Faragonda. "He cast him into the darkness and sent him into a deep slumber."

"That means Darkar wants revenge." said Flora.

"Correct." said Faragonda. "He also wants all the power in the universe so as it absolutely invincible."

"Then why did he kidnapped the Pixies?" asked Musa.

"He was trying to find their village, but why?" Aisha asked. "What do they have that's so valuable."

"Also, we can't forget that Darkar owes me a new bo staff." said Zara. "The spell he used on that door broke it, turning it into dust."

"No, he doesn't." said Tecna.

"Yes, he does, Tecna." said Zara. "That bo staff cost me $250. That includes the cost of it being custom made, plus shipping and handling."

"What's important now is to stay on guard." Faragonda said. "His powers are strong enough to affect us, no matter where we are."

"Faragonda is hiding something from us." Tecna whispered to Stella. "She's never done that before."

"So, for now, the Pixies will stay here at Alfea." said Faragonda.

"All right!" cheered the Winx.

"But I should really get back to the village with Piff." argued Aisha.

"No!" Faragonda tells her. "Under no circumstances. Darkar is capable of spying on our movements. If you ever go back to the Pixie's village, you might as well send him a map."

"Hm….."

"And so, Aisha…" Faragonda said, standing before her. "I would like to invite you to stay with us, here at Alfea and welcome you to our school."

"Thank you, headmistress." Aisha said, smiling. "I am most happy to stay."

As the Winx cheered, Piff wakes up, wondering what was going on when she squealed out in happiness. "Come on, girls. It's time to go. You have a most challenging school year ahead of you." Faragonda reminded them.

"And I'm looking forward to being challenged already." said Zara.

"Only you, Zara." Bloom said, rolling her eyes in a playful manner.

"Yeah, yeah…." Zara said to her as she waved Bloom off.

"Faragonda seems to be a very strict, but fair headmistress." said Tune as she and the others fly in the corridors of Alfea.

"With me by her side, Flora cannot fail." said Chatta.

"And my Tecna will finish at the top of her class." said Digit.

"I know that Bloom and Zara would never disappoint us." said Lockette as Glim smiled widely.

"With our help, success is guarantee." said the Pixies as Kiko grumpily walks underneath them with Lavender close behind him.

Later on, everyone was relaxing in the dorm as they were getting to know the Pixies. Bloom was tickling Lockette in her lap as Kiko stood by the chair, feeling ignored. Zara was watching Glim have fun with Lavender.

"There are days when everything seems to go your way." Livy said during the intermission as the next scene of her story was being set up. "This wasn't one of them."

It was raining and two magical creatures were trying to get to shelter. A magical kola with looks up and sees someone cloaked walking towards Alfea. The porcupine looks back at its friend, seeing the scared look on its face.

Inside, Kiko and Lavender were working on their arts and crafts project. "I don't know. It doesn't add up." said Tecna as she and Stella were walking down the corridor as the latter was eating a sandwich.

"You're right, Tecna. This sandwich cost me more than a full facial and makeup session." said Stella.

"I think Faragonda is keeping some kind of secret from us." Tecna told her.

"Oh, my." said Stella.

"Bloom, you and Zara don't…uh, know anything by any chance, do you?" asked Flora.

"No!" they tell her.

"I-I mean we weren't expecting any of this." said Bloom.

"As far as we know, Daphne hasn't come to us about anything." added Zara. "Not since we were on Domino."

"You know what?" Tecna asked. "Faragonda didn't tell us what Lord Darkar wanted from the Pixies. But I bet you she's got all the data."

"Aisha, what about you?" Musa asked her. "What do you know about it?"

"Nothing, honest." said Aisha.

"I don't get it." said Flora. "Why would Faragonda hide something from us?"

"It's as if she doesn't trust us anymore." said Musa.

"Just think about what happened to the Pixies." said Tecna. "First they're kidnapped, then they're set free."

"And don't forget the Trix." Stella said. "How did they managed to escape from that Light Rock place?"

"I wonder….." Zara said to herself, thinking.

"What worries me is how did they get so strong?" asked Flora.

"Listen up, everyone!" Livy said, appearing before the Winx. "Urgent message from Faragonda."

"Oh, what? What is it?" asked Bloom and Zara. "Did something happen?"

"Actually, I don't remember." she then said, then takes the message from her feet. "But I did write it down. 'My dear Winx, girls please put on your heaviest cloaks and meet me by the lake. Its urgent. Faragonda.'. That's it."

The cloaked man arrives at Alfea, looking up at the castle. With their cloaks on, the Winx headed to the lake. "Look, there she is." said Tecna, spotting Faragonda in a clearing.

"This is the reason why I sent for you." Faragonda said as she pointed to what was in the lake. "This strange boulder appeared mysteriously just tonight. And judging by the event of late, I find its presence very disturbing."

"Unbelievable." Tecna said as she completed her scan. "This is neither metal nor mineral. I can't scan it, it's as if it's not even made of matter."

"I find it incredibly creepy." said Zara, staring at the boulder. "It's giving off bad vibes."

"Bloom, Zara, Stella, Aisha, Musa, Flora and Tecna, use all of your powers." Faragonda said as she looks back at them. "You must destroy it at all costs."

"Some days, it doesn't rain, it pours and whatever we do is wrong." Livy said to the magic animals, holding an umbrella. "I'm sure you know what I mean. But what's more important is not to give up hope."

The paper characters that Kiko and Lavender made were falling down. Both bunnies tried to get them to stand back up, but failed.

"At long last, Hurricane Nimbus took a break." said Livy as she continues the story. "And the Winx? Well, they got cracking!"

"Come on, guys! Let's go!" shouted the twins as they ran across campus with the others.

"Why are the fairies going away and leaving us behind?" Amore asked.

"I don't know." said Chatta, stomping her foot. "Flora didn't tell me!"

"Here we are." said Bloom and Zara as the Winx arrived at the lake. "Is everybody ready?"

"You bet!" said Flora.

"Let's show this thing what a Winx can do." Bloom said to the others.

"All right." said Stella.

"Magic Winx!" they shouted.

"By the way, you all transform for nothing." Stella tells Musa and Flora. "Cuz the sun and I will blast it into smithereens. Take that!"

Aiming a small sun ball at the mysterious boulder, it made contact. "Yes! I rule!" shouted Stella, but when she looks back, it didn't make a dent. "Huh? I can't believe this! Not even a scratch."

"Flora, let's go." said Musa, coming up with an idea.

"Let's strike! Water Lily Whirlpool!" said Flora.

"Everybody stand back!" Musa said. "Take that you!" She aims a sound wave at the water, causing it to rise up around the boulder, hoping that it would crumble around it. "Stupid piece of junk!" shouted Musa. "What's it made of?"

"Our turn!" said Bloom.

"Winx!"

Aisha and Tecna tried their attacks but not even a dent was made. Bloom and Zara glared at the boulder, growling in anger. "That's it!" the twins shouted, sending their attacks as well, only to be blasted into the ground.

"Ow! My back!" shouted Zara.

"Oh great! It's raining again." said Bloom. "It's the last thing we need."

Unknown to them, the man in the cloak watched them as seven orbs circled around in his hands. Laughing, he turns around and takes his leave. "Are we going to go back inside or are we just going to sit here in the rain, staring at that dumb rock?" Stella asked.

"Hurricane Nimbus turned day into night." said Livy. "But bolts of lightning could turn night into day."

"The twins aren't back yet, huh?" asked Flora.

"Nah, they're both stubborn as a jammed PC." said Tecna.

"I'm sure they're fine, Flora." Stella assures her.

"I don't know….it's getting kind of late." Flora said. Sky was on his phone while Xander was doing push-ups.

"Why doesn't she pick up the phone?" Sky asked, referring to Bloom as he looks down at his phone. "I mean, I've been trying to reach her all day. What about you, Xander?"

"Apparently I was sent to voicemail." Xander answered.

"What's wrong?" Brandon asked, looking in the mirror. "Think the twins are having fun without you?"

"Wouldn't the two of them tell us that they would be going somewhere?" asked Sky. "I'm just worried something's happened to them, that's all."

"I'm sure they'll call us eventually." said Xander. "You never know."

"You say that, but what if something's happened to them? What if they're in trouble?" He asked.

"Sky, we can't jump to conclusions. They're probably just caught up in something. You know how they are." said Xander.

"Caught up? Or ignoring us? They've gone silent for too long. It's not like them." said Sky.

"Think about it. They could just be out of reception or busy with something important." Xander tells him.

"But what if it's more than that? What if something really is wrong?" Sky then asked.

"What do you propose we do? Start calling hospitals? Search the city?" questioned Levi.

"I don't know! Maybe..." said Sky.

At the lake, Bloom and Zara were firing one after another of fire blasts, trying to knock down the boulder. It was no use; the boulder was not backing down. Soon enough, the twins were tired and fainted, falling to the ground. Rain continued to fall around them as they both laid in the sand, transforming back into their regular clothes.

Back at Alfea, Faragonda was visiting Concorda. "As you probably all know by now, the situation is extremely critical right now." said Faragonda. "These must remain secret. You know what to do."

That night, Flora walks to the window, worried about Bloom and Zara. "I say, we all look for the twins." she said to the others.

"They'll come back when they're tired of getting rained on." said Stella. "Besides, the twins were acting like they didn't want us hanging around anyway."

"That stone…" said Tecna. "I wonder where it came from. How did it materialize like that?"

"And why here at Alfea?" Musa asked, wondering as well. "There's got to be a reason."

Suddenly, the lights went out through the entire school. "Oh, no! A blackout." Stella said.

"Impossible." said Tecna. "Alfea's lights are powered by magic. I wonder if the lightning has something to do with it."

"Huh?"

Suddenly, the window was blown opened by the wind. "Ah! My ears!" screamed Tecna as the wind blew papers around. Flora and Tecna pushed the doors closed. "That was weird."

Just then, there was a knock on their door. "What's that?" Musa asked as they turned towards the door. "Aisha, is that you?" Musa opens the door, revealing the person knocking. "Oh, my!"

The man in the cloak walks in, carrying Bloom in his arms and Zara on a stretcher behind him. The Winx were shocked at this as the twins were brought inside.

"Bloom! Zara!" they said.

"After the cloud had disperse, everything went back to normal…. more or less." said Livy.

The sun was shining on Alfea as the Winx stood before Faragonda. "All right, now that you've successfully completed your introductory classes, it's time to begin your intermediate subjects." Faragonda said.

"Boring." said Digit. "I'd rather watch a screensaver than listen to the headmistress."

"That's when the identity of the mysterious man revealed."

"It's the paladin who rescued us from the Trix." said Stella, Bloom, Zara and Aisha.

"Let me introduce a leading expert from the famous Maloy academy." Faragonda said to the girls. "He'll be joining our faculty at my special request. Professor Avalon."

He bowed to the girls as they all eyed him. "He makes me a teeny bit nervous." said Flora.

"Is this guy hot or what?" Stella asked Tecna. "I can't get my eyes off him."

"Well, I wonder what his specialty is." said Tecna.

"Professor, would you please destroy that stone?" asked Faragonda, causing the Winx to gasp.

Avalon stood before the stone and chants his spell, then fires it, causing the stone to crack and crumble before them. "How did he do that?" asked Bloom.

"It was impossible to destroy." said Zara.

"What you've just witnessed is a technical incantation." Faragonda explained. "Until now, you've been casting spells spontaneously, following your instincts. Those are the skills you perfected last year. This is a whole new level of difficulty."

"Technical Magic? What's different about it?" asked Flora.

"These spells require cognitive analysis and accuracy pronunciation. That's the subject of Professor Avalon's class." said Faragonda.

"Uh, a question please, headmistress." said Tecna. "How did you determine which technical spell would effectively destroy the unidentified stone?"

"Easy. I created the stone." Faragonda said and Zara's eyes started to twitch. "I wanted to make absolutely sure you would not underestimate the importance of your new classes."

"After all this and being dragged inside from the rain, I'm going to be meditating for an hour today." said Zara. "No one bug me! Especially you, Stella!"

"That does it." said Chatta. "First, they obsess about a stupid stone, now it's the new professor. I can't believe our fairies have already forgotten about us. What do you say we ask them to come flying with us over the lake?"

"Everybody, class dismissed. But if you have questions, I'm sure Professor Avalon will be happy to answer them." said Faragonda.

"I have one, professor." said Bloom, dragging Zara with her as Stella and Flora followed.

"Hey!" shouted Zara as Bloom gripped her tightly.

"Ask whatever you wish." said Avalon. "I am here for you."

"Professor? May I ask a technical question?" Tecna asked.

"Go ahead." he answered.

"What would be the randomization of the technical…." Tecna started to ask when their pixies started to fall.

"So sad! Bloom and Zara didn't notice me and Glim." Lockette cried as Glim sadly watched.

"Actually, it was more Bloom who didn't notice you than Zara." said Digit. "Zara looked more uncomfortable."

"Oh yeah." said Lockette.

"Tah!" said Glim. Kiko and Lavender walked towards Lockette and Glim, with Kiko sticking his tongue out at her while Lavender just gives Glim a hug.

Kiko just ran off happily as Lavender rolled her eyes at him. Lockette starts to cry, causing Lavender to bring her in for a hug as well. Chatta lands next to Lockette and Lavender, glaring at the Winx. In crowd, Zara tries to get Bloom to let go of her wrist, but Bloom held onto her tight.

"What does cognitive analysis mean precisely?" someone asked.

"Bloom…. you're hurting your twin." said Zara, trying to get out of her death grip.

"Shush, Zara." said Bloom.

"Let me ask you a question…," said Avalon.

"Cognitive analysis….I wonder if this new professor could help me, and Dawn find out more about our birth parents." thought Bloom as Zara continued to struggle.

"What was that language you use?" Musa asked. "It has a fascinating sound."

"Is your subject very difficult?" asked Flora.

"Professor Avalon, would you have time to help Zara and I with some personal research?" asked Bloom.

"If it's not too much trouble." said Zara, starting to feel the pain in her wrist. "Ah….too tight."

"I'll be in my office this afternoon." he said to the twins. "Come and see me, both of you."

"We'll be there." said Bloom, as Zara tries to pry her sister's hand off.

"But Bloom, Zara, we were supposed to hang out today." said Flora.

"Sorry, we can't." Bloom said to Flora as Zara once again, tries to pull her wrist out of Bloom's grip. Aisha walks over and helps Zara out.

"Bloom, let go!" said Zara, raising her voice in anger.

"Huh?" she said, then looks down. "Oops! Sorry, Zara."

"Uh-huh." said her sister, massaging her wrist. "You promised that you wouldn't use your death grip at Alfea."

"I didn't realize I was doing it again!" said Bloom.

"Oh yeah? You promised no more 'death grip' moments." Zara tells her. "You know that I hate it when you grip my wrist like that."

"Flora!" Chatta called out

"What?" Flora asked as her bonded pixie gave her an angry look.

"The following evening, there was a party to welcome Professor Avalon, but not everyone was in a party mood." said Livy.

Sky, Xander and Brandon made their way towards Alfea. "Sky, Xander, he's just some professor." Brandon tells them. "What are you both worried about?"

"The twins haven't returned any of our phone calls." said Sky. "Xander and I just want to see what they've been up to."

"Yeah. Zara always makes sure that she at least calls me a few times, if not more, just to talk." said Xander.

"We weren't invited." Brandon reminds his friends. "You both are not going to crash the party, aren't you?"

"No, we're just going to watch from a tree." said Sky and Xander. "Come on!"

"Sky, Xander, look." said Brandon, as they finally stopped at the trees. "Beavers."

"Oh boy." Xander said, seeing the beavers.

The male beaver angrily shouts at the trio of boys, telling them that they were ruining the moment. "I think we were disturbing them." Brandon then said as the two of them ran off.

Sky and Xander started climbing the tree, landing on a high branch. "Hey, Brandon. Look." said Sky, finding the party. "The party's already started."

"We're so happy that you're going to be our professor." Flora said as they were all in the great hall. "And so, we're wanted you know that we're all eager to study and ready to learn."

"Hmm….I thought you'd be impatient." said Avalon as he walks over to his bag. "And so, I brought with me the complete analysis of your efforts against the stone."

"You were watching us?" asked Aisha.

"I want to see it!" Bloom exclaimed.

"Down, Bloom!" Zara shouted, tackling her sister around her waist.

"Stop it right there!" said Stella. "Not another word, you three. Last time I checked, this was a party, not a classroom."

They laughed at Stella's statement. Outside of the great hall, Sky and Xander were using their spy glasses on the party. "Oh, no. Who's that guy the twins are talking to?" asked Sky.

"I'm guessing that's the new professor." said Xander as the branch Sky was holding onto breaks underneath his weight.

"I think you hit one of the beavers." said Brandon, looking at the two below.

"Sorry!" Xander called out.

"Please Professor, you do plan on showing us your evaluations, right?" asked Bloom.

"I know that I do." said Zara.

"You two both worked very hard." Avalon tells them.

"Come on, we want to see what you wrote about us." said the twins, trying to get their individualized papers.

"Wait! Let me explain before you both read anything." said Avalon, taking a step back.

"Come on, Professor." Bloom said, reaching for the papers. Zara sensed something was watching them from the outside. As one twin went towards the professor, the other went towards the window.

"You see the professor yet?" asked Brandon.

"Zara and I need to know." Bloom said.

"I think so." said Sky as Zara had a look of surprise on her face as she sees the trio of boys, sitting in the tree after opening the curtains. "I'm not sure that its him though""

"And we've also been made." said Xander seeing Zara's curious look on her face.

"Sky, Xander…I don't see the beavers anymore." Brandon said, looking down at the ground. Zara quickly closed the blinds as Bloom and Avalon came up behind her.

"We were almost there?" Bloom asked the professor.

"Actually…" he started to say.

"One more combined strike would have done it?" asked the twins.

The tree that the boys were in started to shake as the beavers below were chewing the bark away. "Uh-oh." Brandon said as the tree tips over with them still in the branches.

"Oh man, I was just about to see something." said Sky.

"I don't think she would let you." Xander said, referring to Zara.

"We knew it!" Bloom and Zara said as the two beavers high fived each other. "If only we hadn't been so tired."

Livy's story ends

"And so, all's well that ends well." she said to the animals. "And the two beavers lived happily ever after."

The animals cheered, happy that they had heard this. "Thank you!" she said, hearing the applause from her audience. "You've been a wonderful audience. I love you. Thank you!"

In the background, Kiko and Lavender were putting on the finishing touches on their Livy paper doll. Behind it, was a line of their creations. "Eh?" Lavender asked Kiko as they took a step back. Kiko nodded and pushes their paper dolls. One by one, they fell like they were dominos until the last two were the drawings of the twins.

Chapter Text

"Wow." said Bloom and Zara as they and the Winx were entering Red Fountain with Professor Avalon. "Red Fountain's opening ceremony."

"Even though the tower was destroyed, the place looks great." said Musa.

"Professor Avalon, thank you so much for taking us." the twins said as he leads them inside.

"My pleasure." said Avalon. "It's a chance for me to meet the teachers of Red Fountain. You go ahead; I have to wait here."

"But you're not coming with us?" Bloom asked.

"I'm going to meet up with Professor Codatorta." Avalon tells her. "Bloom, would you and Zara look after the others while I'm gone?"

"I was actually planning on meeting up with….." Zara started to say when Bloom covers her mouth.

"You can count on us, sir." said Bloom.

"That's what I like to hear." said Avalon and walks away. Bloom sighs as Zara grabs her sister's hand and gently brings her entire arm to her back.

"First off, this is payback for the death grip on my wrist from the introductory. You know mom has always told you to never do that." said Zara, then lightly pushes Bloom forward as she lets go. "Second, I have to go find a couple of boys and deal with their behavior."

"Who are you looking for?" asked Tecna.

"That, dear Tecna, is top secret." Zara tells her as she turns to Stella. "While I'm gone, keep an eye on Bloom."

"What? Zara, I don't need to be watched!" said Bloom.

"I'm not saying that to be mean, oh great and powerful twin of mine." Zara assures her as she walks off with Glim flying close behind her. "I'm not an idiot. I'll be back long before the ceremony starts."

"I'm not the only one who's powerful out of the two of us, you know!" Bloom called out after her as Zara waves her off.

"She sensed that someone was watching them in the trees, didn't she?" asked Flora.

"I bet I know who she's looking for." said Musa.

"Without a doubt." added Stella.

"I'm surprised she hasn't replaced her bo staff yet." Bloom said as Tecna looks at who was walking up.

"Guys, is that who I think it is?" Aisha asked.

"Yes, they're the witches of Cloudtower." Tecna tells her, glaring at them.

"They're on the guest list." said Digit as Lucy walks by Mirta.

"Hi!" Mirta said to Lucy, who just ignores her.

"You think they'll be trouble?" asked Musa.

"It's okay." Bloom assures her. "The Trix aren't with them anymore."

All the Winx, minus Zara went inside to find seats. Behind them, the Trix were in disguise. "You sure it was a good idea, sneaking in with the witches?" Darcy asked.

"If any of these girls recognizes us, they'll be too scared to do anything." said Icy.

"Yeah, we spent years bullying them." said Stormy.

"We have to get the Codex quickly." said Darcy.

"Then let's just go in and grab it." said Stormy.

"First, we have to find the piece that is being kept here." Icy tells them.

Somewhere in the arena, Zara finds Sky and Xander, standing off with the latter hiding something behind his back. "Seriously? The two of you were spying on us with Brandon?" she asked both boys who were standing before her.

"Uh….." said Sky, backing away.

"We hadn't heard from you all day!" Xander argued with her, causing Zara to shake her head at him.

"Do Dah Bah to Tah! Bah Dah!" Glim said, scolding the boys.

"You both need to get it through your thick heads, so listen up because I'm only going to say this once! Bloom only has serious eyes for you, Sky and I don't know where our relationship stands at the moment, Xander." said Zara, crossing her arms while glaring at Sky and Xander. "Professor Avalon is just some random crush for some of us girls at Alfea. I know that I still have a little crush on Professor Palladium, but it's nothing new."

"Oh…." said Xander and Sky.

"Don't worry, I'll get my sister to call you. I promise." Zara said to Sky. "Now, if you'll both excuse me…I need to get back before my twin and the other Winx decide to become a search party."

She then walks off and leaves both boys to contemplate. "Well, at least she doesn't know about the surprise I'm giving her." Xander said to the blonde specialist.

"I can't believe you bought it for her." said Sky. "Did you tell your dad about it?"

"He and Saladin gave me approval for it." said Xander, bringing out the bag from behind his back. "I just hope that she likes this one."

"This is the first surprise that you're giving her." said Sky. "What makes this one different?"

"I really put thought into it." Xander tells him as he shows Sky the final product of what he got Zara. "It's about her interests, not just something flashy."

Somewhere on the grounds of Red Fountain, Bloom and the others were sitting on the bench, waiting for the opening ceremony to start when suddenly Zara appears. "As I was saying, Flora…" Chatta said. "This is your chance. I don't want to hear you talking about plants. Check out the boys. Show me which one's your type."

"The guys are here." said Stella.

"Hey, everyone." said Sky as he and the others walked up to the Winx. "Welcome to Red Fountain. You all look radiant."

"You got that right." said Stella. "We outshine all the others at Alfea."

"Stella, Prince Sky has been very polite here." Tune scolded her. "You could at least return the compliment."

"Sorry for the delay." Sky said to the Winx. "I hope you weren't too bored."

"Of course not." said Stella. "I was so busy being admired."

"Hi, Stella." said a specialist walking by.

"Hi." she said, waving to him.

"Hmm." Brandon said, looking over at her.

"And that makes 26 specialists." commented Stella.

"Well, I scored 12 witches plus 17 fairies for a grand total of 29." Brandon bragged to Stella. "I win, sunshine."

Tecna and Zara laughed as Stella sticks her nose up at Brandon. "So, are we going to the arena behind the school for the parade?" Bloom asked.

"Actually, the ceremony will take place inside." said Sky.

"Sweet." said Zara as she and Glim smiled.

"Inside? For once, I'd like to spend a day without seeing the inside of a school." Stella complained.

"Stella, you don't think we'd have a party without a few surprises?" Brandon asked her.

"Bloom, we don't have any classes tomorrow morning, so…." Sky said as he and the others led them to the arena.

"Uh-huh." said Bloom.

"So, what do you say the four of us go horseback riding?" he asked her.

"Yeah, sounds like fun." said Bloom as Zara smiled.

"We've never been horseback riding." said Zara.

"Sky and I will teach you." said Xander.

"So, it's set." Sky said when Bloom stops Zara and herself in their tracks.

"Oh, wait. Don't you remember, Zara?" asked Bloom, suddenly remembering something at the last minute. "Professor Avalon's class is tomorrow afternoon."

"Oh, no. Please don't bring me into this argument." said Zara.

"So, it's in the afternoon." said Sky.

"Zara and I will have to study tomorrow morning." said Bloom. "We both have to get ready. I want the both of us to make a great impression."

"Or someone who just happens to have a twin sister with a crazed obsession with one of their teachers." muttered Zara as she looked at her nails.

"What was that?" Bloom curiously asked her twin.

"From me? You heard nothing." said Zara, giving Timmy and Tecna a 'don't tell Bloom what I actually said' look.

"I didn't know the two of you were excited about schoolwork." Sky said.

"I don't think the two of you were that interested." added Xander.

"Hey, I'm interested in my schoolwork." said Zara, defending herself. "It's not my fault that something majorly important wants to get in the way of our magical education. Today, it's just Bloom's fault."

"That reminds me. I should go tell Professor Avalon where we're going." said Bloom. "Meet you guys there!" She then grabs Zara's arm and takes off running with Lockette and Glim close behind them.

"Ow, Bloom! You're giving me the death grip again!" shouted Zara.

Inside, the Trix were heading towards the arena. "Is this it?" asked Darcy. "The teacher's private quarters used to be around here somewhere."

"Indeed, and our search starts here." said Icy. The boys led the Winx into the arena.

"Hey, Riven." said Musa, catching up to him. "So, what's the surprise?"

"Well, it depends on your definition of surprise." Riven tells her as they walked into the arena.

Sitting in the stands was a new specialist, drawing in his sketchbook. "Well, here we are." said Sky.

"The geometric shape of this place is awesome." said Tecna.

"Wow." said Aisha. "Look over there."

"Who's that?" Stella asked. "He's kind of cute."

"The nobody." said Brandon.

"Brandon." warned Xander.

"Actually, that's Saladin's nephew." said Timmy.

"Then he must be a talented Specialist." said Flora.

"Him? No way." Brandon said to Flora. "He's a real pacifist. He doesn't like to get his hands dirty."

"As a matter of fact, I heard he dropped out of Red Fountain." added Timmy.

Saladin's nephew looks over at the others as Brandon walks over. "Hey, Helia. Let me introduce you." Brandon said. "Meet the stars of Alfea. This is Stella, Tecna…."

"Hi, I'm Stella. Are you an artist?" she asked as Flora gets angry. "Can you show me your sketches?"

"Pleased to meet you." Helia said, bowing to the Winx.

"Why do you draw on paper?" Tecna asked. "Graphic pallets are so handy."

"You've got up to 50 undoes in the memory digital chroma control plus all the layers you could possibly want." added Digit and Helia was unimpressed. "You also get Alpha channels, texturizing, morph targeting linear…."

"Wow, these are great." said Stella as she, Flora and Aisha look through his sketchbook. "Say, would you draw a portrait of me?"

"Your lines are full of life." Flora said, taking a closer look at his sketches. "One can really sense the energy, and I love the way your brush strokes match the fern leaf in the paper."

"No one's ever noticed the fern in the paper before." said Helia.

"Ahem….and this is Flora." Brandon said, introducing her.

"Flora…." Helia said, staring at the beauty of the fairy of nature.

"Uh…. are you thinking what I'm thinking?" Chatta asked Amore.

Bloom and Zara ran around, looking for Avalon. "Avalon went this way." Lockette told the twins.

"Do Dah!" added Glim, thinking he went in the other direction. The girls ran past the Trix, until they ran up behind them.

"We cannot be recognized no matter what." Icy said to Darcy and Stormy until Bloom spoke up.

"Um…. sorry to bother you." she said to the Trix, not knowing that it was them. "Did you by any chance see a tall handsome professor pass by here lately?"

"Uh, no. Only short and ugly ones." Icy tells the twins.

"Okay, thanks." said Bloom and Zara, running from them.

"Are they onto us?" Darcy asked.

"Let's lie low, just in case." suggested Icy. Lockette, Glim and Zara looked back at the Trix, with the latter feeling as though she and her sister have met them somewhere else before walking away.

The flags were raised in the arena and the opening ceremony begins as the twins finally arrived inside. "Hey, you two. Where have you been?" Stella asked.

"Chasing down her professor crush." Zara teased as Bloom softly hits her sister.

"We were looking for Professor Avalon, but we couldn't find him." said Bloom. "By the way, where did Sky and Xander go?"

"The boys went to get ready." said Stella.

"Welcome ladies and gentlemen, friends of Red Fountain." Codatorta said as he enters the arena with Saladin. "We have not gathered here today to lament over the ruins of our illustrious school. Although the historical splendor of Red Fountain has been ruined, the skills and spirit of our specialists remain unshaken."

The crowd cheers as Saladin waves. "The time has come to restore the prestige of Red Fountain." Saladin said. "By renewing the very foundations of our institution."

Around them, the arena starts shaking. "What's going on?" asked Musa as the Winx started to freak out.

"It's collapsing!" shouted Tune.

"Oh no!" said Stella.

"Bloom?!" asked Zara, feeling the vibrations.

"No! What could have gone wrong?" she asked.

"Where all in danger!" Tune screamed.

"I don't understand. What's going on?" Bloom asked, turning to her now moving sister.

"How should I know?" Zara asked, grinning at Bloom as the arena starts to crumble around them. "I'm just enjoying this right now."

"Please, everyone, stay calm." Saladin said as the arena finally crumbled. "Enjoy the ride!"

In its place of the old arena, a new one starts flying above the school. The crowd starts piling into the arena. As the Winx was following the crowd, Codatorta stops Zara, handing her something that was in a bag. "A gift…on behalf of someone who really adores you." he tells her, seeing the confused look on her face.

"Thank you and please give them my thanks." Zara said, bowing to the Red Fountain professor.

"What is it?" asked Bloom as Zara caught up with her and the others.

"I don't know. All Codatorta said was that it's a gift from someone who adores me." Zara tells her, shrugging her shoulders as she placed the bag in between them. "I'll open it in a bit."

"I bet it's from Xander." teased Stella, giving her a knowing smile.

"We'll see, Stella." said Zara, turning her attention to the arena.

"And now, ladies and gentlemen, a parade for the new Red Fountain." said Codatorta as the arena filled up. Saladin happily laughs as the specialists did their latest demonstrations.

"Do the specialists throw these kinds of parties very often?" Aisha asked Musa as everyone starts laughing.

Back in the rubble, the Trix glared at Red Fountain's newest school design. In their shadow, Darkar appears. "Well, what are you three standing around here for?" he asked the Trix.

"Well, we haven't found the codex yet, master." Icy informs him.

"Fly to the castle. Kerbog will be there shortly." said Darkar. "It will serve as a distraction."

"Another shadow monster?" asked Icy.

"Not just a shadow, my very own pet." Darkar tells her, laughing darkly.

"Oh, I need a break." said Chatta as they were out of the arena. "There's just too much excitement for me today."

"The freshmen are racing now." said Bloom as she and Zara looked at Lockette and Glim. "I hope we'll have some time to relax before our guys go up again."

"Hey Zara? Are you going to look in that bag yet?" Flora asked.

"Oh...I almost forgot." she said, then opens it. Inside, there were several pieces of a new martial arts bo staff, just like her old one. "Huh? I don't get it."

"What are you talking about?" Stella asked as Zara takes out what was inside the bag.

"I'm seeing what seems to be several pieces of a new detachable bo staff. And it looks like its color coded too." Zara explains as she shows them eight pieces of what seem to be her new bo staff. "But….I haven't even gone looking yet for a new one."

"It looks like it was custom made too." said Tecna.

"Like your last one." added Bloom.

"Exactly! But this one... it's incredible." Zara said, holding each piece. "I can't believe someone made this for me without me even asking!"

"Bah Dah?" asked Glim as her fairy shrugged her shoulders.

"All I can say is that whoever got me this new bo staff clearly knows me well." said Zara as Glim lands in front of her.

"Hey, everybody." said Brandon as he and Timmy walked up to them. "The one-on-one's about to start."

"Musa and Aisha around?" Timmy asked Tecna.

"They're getting drinks." said Bloom. "Who's first?"

"Sky and Riven." said Brandon. "You don't want to miss that."

"Come on, everyone! Let's go!" said Chatta, wanting to see Sky and Riven.

"You guys, go ahead." said Tecna, playing a game with Digit. "I'm playing Digit best two apps out of three."

Timmy was saddened by this as he was ignored by Tecna. He turns around and walks away. "Do you remember where it goes…..and then the rhythm guitar comes in?" Musa asked Aisha as she vocalized a few beats for her.

"Right! And that's where I was going to go like this…." Aisha said, then does a dance. "Ta-da!"

Both of them laughed as Darcy, in disguise walks past them. "That's strange." said Musa, thinking for a moment. "That girl looks awfully familiar."

"What's wrong, Musa?" asked Aisha. Finally, it all comes back to Musa.

"But it's Darcy!" she exclaimed, seeing through her disguise.

"Curses!" muttered Darcy as she takes off from the two.

"That's her! Come on, let's go." said Musa and the two of them ran after her. Tune stood away from their discarded drinks and takes a sip of her tea. Tecna was still playing her game against Digit.

"Aha! I win!" said Digit, winning another round as Tecna groans in defeat. "Yay! You owe me a co-processor."

"You could have won without brute force, you know." said Tecna, accepting her defeat.

"Ah, but it was the most logical way to go about it." Digit said to her. "Didn't you write your programs fast enough?"

"Okay, let's check out our software in action." suggested Tecna as she takes out her techno pad and starts scanning. "Whoa." She was looking at Digit's software and was shocked. Tecna turns and sees Timmy before reaching out her hand, catching a snowflake.

As it lands on her hand, her outfit changed into what she normally wore on her home planet. Tecna free jumps from the building and Timmy follows her, bringing her close for a kiss.

"Wow. Our program's working great." said Tecna as she retracts her headset. "Why'd you turn it off, Digit?"

"Me? Game's over, Tecna. Time to meet up with the others." Digit reminded her.

Across Red Fountain campus, Darcy runs from Musa and Aisha. "She went this way!" said Musa as they gave chase.

"Over there!" said Aisha as they continued going after Darcy when suddenly, they ran into Tecna and Digit.

"Tecna?" asked Musa, seeing her on the ground.

"What are you doing?" Tecna asked, getting up from the ground.

"Huh?"

"Did someone just run by?" questioned Aisha.

"Negative." replied Tecna.

"Sensors haven't picked up anything." Digit said, scanning the area.

"We were chasing Darcy." Musa tells Tecna and Digit.

"Totally illogical." Tecna said. "No Trix would come alone to specialist central when all of us fairies are here."

"You're right." said Musa, knowing Tecna's thinking. "I didn't really get a good look, but then she ran away when we called out."

"If it was her, she'll show up again." said Aisha.

"Okay, we better not sound the alarm yet." Musa said. "But let's keep our eyes peeled. Now let's join the others."

At the castle, Darkar was waiting for his pet as it arrived back. "Kerbog, I have a special task for you."

Kerbog squeaks as it flies off from his arm and towards the center of the room. Shadow Knight casts his spell on his pet. "Arise, monster within." Darkar said as Kerbog gets bigger. "Rack, throat….await."

Kerbog becomes a different shadow creature as it stood before Darkar. It then flies off and towards Red Fountain. In the Red Fountain arena, Sky runs towards Riven, with his sword drawn out. Just as he was about to swing, Riven jumps up and throws a smoke bomb at Sky's feet.

"Oh, was that legal?" asked Bloom.

"Barely, but yes." said Musa. "As long as the gas isn't toxic, they can use bubble bombs."

"Now that's cool." said Zara, placing together at least two out of the eight pieces of her new bo staff.

"But then, what was that green stuff?" Stella asked.

"Most likely sleeping smoke." said Digit. Sky and Riven continued to spare in the arena until Riven fell forward.

"Sky won." Bloom said, beaming.

"Xander came in second." said Zara.

"Those are the rules." sighed Tecna.

"Fall, you lead." said Digit.

"Come on." Sky said, going to help Riven up.

"I don't need your help." said Riven, as he stands to his feet. "It must be nice to be a prince, especially being the younger one. You've both spent your entire lives learning from the best."

"I couldn't have beaten you without putting in the work." said Sky. Riven snarled as he starts walking away.

"Sky is so great! Wasn't he amazing?" Bloom asked.

"He deflected every blow." said Musa, feeling sad for Riven.