by juleic1123 » Sun May 25, 2025 10:25 pm
Chapter 36: Echoes of War
The skies above Alfea shimmered as the sun rose over it.On the horizon, magical portals began to open one by one. Emissaries, soldiers, and royals stepped through them — the most powerful figures in the Magical Dimension arriving in solemn procession.
The first to land was Queen Luna of Solaria, her radiant cape trailing behind her as she descended in a beam of solar energy. Behind her, a fleet of Solarian guards in gold-plated armor marched with precision.
From a portal made of Matrix data, King Cryos and Queen Cylia of Zenith emerged next. Tecna stood straighter as they approached, her expression composed but respectful. She bowed low, "My King. My Queen," she said simply.
They nodded in acknowledgment, their faces unreadable but proud. "It's good to see you, guardian fairy Tecna."
Another portal flared. From it emerged King Oritel and Queen Marion, accompanied by elite guards and carrying the royal sigil of the Flame. Bloom stepped forward instinctively, her eyes shining as she embraced her parents. “You came,” she whispered.
“We would never leave you to face this alone,” Marion replied gently. “Not when the entire Dimension is at stake.”
Then, the wind shifted, and a roar of trumpets echoed as a massive armored airship descended from the clouds. The banners of Eraklyon fluttered proudly from its sides. A ramp extended to the ground, and out stepped King Sky, newly crowned, regal in his deep blue robes edged in silver. His mother, Queen Samara, followed, her presence calm and commanding. Soldiers of the royal guard filed in behind them, surrounding the perimeter with flawless discipline.
Stella blinked in surprise, then smirked. “Looks like someone finally got used to the crown.”
Sky smiled faintly, giving Bloom a quick nod before his eyes scanned the growing assembly. “We’re all here. Now what?”
From the central courtyard balconies, students watched with wide eyes and hushed whispers. First years clung to each other nervously. Older witches, fairies, and Specialists stood tall, but even they looked shaken by the display of unity and power.
Then, the great doors of Alfea creaked open, and Headmistress Faragonda emerged.
“Welcome,” she said, her voice ringing out across the courtyard. “We stand at the edge of a turning point. Inside, we will discuss what must be done to protect this school, this world… and each other.”
She turned her eyes to the Winx. “Girls, come. All of you. There is much to share, and very little time.”
The Winx exchanged tense glances before nodding, their expressions serious. Roxy stepped forward beside Bloom and Tecna. Mirta, Clarice, Alice, and even Morgana trailed behind, eyes burning with determination.
The heavy doors opened wider to receive them.
Behind them, the students whispered, watching their heroines disappear into the meeting hall with the rulers of the realms. One thing was now clear to everyone: War was coming.
Within Alfea’s Underfloors, a circular chamber usually reserved for graduation ceremonies or planetary summits appeared. Representatives of every realm took their places on the tiered balconies overlooking the central dais. The Winx stood in a respectful arc behind Faragonda, while Saladin joined her at her side. Morgana, visibly tense, stood to the rear with her arms crossed.
In the front row sat Rory and Manuel, fidgeting uncomfortably. The tension in the air was thick.
Faragonda raised a hand, and silence swept across the room like a spell.
“Thank you all for coming,” she began, her voice calm yet firm.
Saladin stepped forward next, his voice commanding. “We're here to discuss Zyron, as I'm sure everyone is probably aware and have already faced him. But to understand Zyron’s threat, you must first understand what he is. A wizard. I'm sure everyone knows that there are less and less wizards with every passing century... but wizards, like myself, were one of the very first magical creatures from the original era of pure magic. Long before the first fairy ever fluttered her wings and before witches whispered their first spells.”
He paused, letting the weight of that truth settle in.
“Wizards were the first,” Faragonda continued. “Born not from light or darkness, but from raw magic itself. They were nature's first conduits. They molded the early world of magic to be what we now know... They appeared when creatures that are now almost seen as myths existed in abundance in the magical dimension—centaurs, sky serpents, fairy hounds—they were their companions… until they vanished.”
Tecna leaned in, whispering to Bloom, “Extinction by misalignment. History confirms many were destroyed when wizard wars happened.”
Faragonda nodded as if hearing her. “Yes. What began as balance turned to dominance. Wizards, unlike any other magical beings, have the ability to absorb, twist, and even create new magic itself. That talent, unchecked, led to centuries of war. It was wizards who cracked the Moon of Nemrah in two. Wizards who nearly drained the core of Zenith, and who turned the skies of Solaria red for an entire year.”
“Wizards and witches both,” Saladin added. “Together, their rivalries decimated planets far beyond the Magical Dimension. This, of course, centuries ago, way before rules were properly established and slowly we all became united."
Faragonda continued "But the damage never left. People were scared of wizards, and rightfully so. I'm sure everyone in this room can feel the shivers from these old stories alone."
Everyone looked at each other, before looking down, knowing how true those words were.
"Still, wizards were still treated with kindness and peace came... but then Zyron came. A person who caused so much fear that Queen Giselle of Callisto, one of the most magically gifted rulers in our history, enacted a decree to ban all unblooded wizards from ever using magic again.” Saladin resumed.
He turned his gaze on Rory and Manuel. "This is why our kind is feared. Not because of what you’ve done, but because of what those before you did with the same gifts. That's why Red Fountain stopped teaching magic to Specialists and none ever tap into their wizardry linneage."
Manuel looked down at his hands. Rory clenched his jaw but stayed silent.
At that moment, Livy fluttered in and raised her tiny voice, breaking the heavy silence. "But not all wizards are evil! What about the good ones? What about those who protected Pixie Village during the Big War when Pixies barely existed? They helped us!"
“I remember! We studied that!” Jolly added, floating beside her. “A wizard named Doval saved the entire village and the tree of life from destruction when the big war occurred 9 thousand years ago!”
Faragonda smiled softly. "And we thank them. The truth is, wizards are not inherently evil. But the trauma of history cannot be ignored. When one like Zyron arises, we are reminded why those rules exist."
Varanda of Callisto finally stepped forward. "And yet… hiding behind laws won’t prepare us for the next battle," she said sharply. "Rory and Manuel saved lives on that party. If we deny those like them a chance to learn control, we risk creating more Zyrons, born in secrecy, trained in desperation."
Saladin’s brow furrowed. “You would have us undo centuries of restriction? The laws came from your own home planet.”
“I would have us evolve,” Varanda replied. "We cannot fight tomorrow’s war with yesterday’s laws."
Faragonda looked thoughtful but did not respond immediately. Morgana looked at her daughter, slowly patting her hand to calm her down.
At the back, Queen Cylia of Zenith stood up. Her voice was flat and direct. "There are calculations. Ratios. Probabilities. The risk of rogue wizards has a statistical pattern… and it is worsening. Valtor and the Wizards of the Black Circle appeared back to back."
Faragonda finally raised a hand once more. "Then it is time to discuss not just how to defeat Zyron… but how to rebuild the trust we destroyed in an entire magical bloodline."
A hush fell over the room again.
From the back, Clarice spoke aloud. “Then let’s start with them. Rory. Manuel. What do you want?”
All eyes turned to Clarice, not expecting one of the second years to speak up.
Clarice looked at everyone and raised her eyes from her nails. "What? I'm just saying."
Stella smirked and, alongside everyone else, they turned to the two specialists.
Manuel stood slowly, voice wavering but honest. "I don’t want to be feared but I don't want to turn Magix upside down just because I used magic while it was forbbiden. I think... I just want to be able to help… if I can."
Rory stepped up beside him with a nod. The room fell into a deep silence while everyone was thinking about what to say and how to respond.
Manuel shifted uncomfortably as the silence lingered. But before he could speak again, Sky stepped forward from among the assembled royals, his deep blue robes' movement echoing in the room.
“I’d like to say something,” he began, his voice clear and steady.
Sky looked directly at Saladin, then back at Faragonda. “Manuel and Rory might be rule-breakers, but they’re also some of the best Specialists I’ve trained beside. They’ve saved lives. Not just during training, but in real combat situations like when Mandragora appeared and destroyed Alfea. They had just enrolled in Red Fountain and didn't even hesitate to help the wounded after the battle ended! I saw them hold their ground when even some veterans froze faced with the destruction.” He paused, glancing briefly at Manuel and Rory.
He turned to the gathered leaders, raising his chin slightly. “I may be a king now, but I was trained as a Specialist first. Still am, maybe will always be. I know what it means to trust the person fighting beside you. I’d trust them with my life... with Bloom’s life. That has to count for something.”
A murmur of agreement rippled through the crowd.
Then, quietly but firmly, Helia stepped forward. He stood next to Sky, his hands clasped behind his back, his posture calm but resolute.
"I agree with Sky," Helia said, his voice softer but equally assured. "I know what it’s like to live with the expectations of a magical bloodline… and the pressure to either embrace or reject that legacy. Rory and Manuel are walking a harder path than most of us ever had to."
He looked toward them, his expression unwavering. "They’re not reckless. They didn’t pursue magic to gain power — they did it to be prepared. To protect. If that’s not what being a Specialist is about, then I don’t know what is."
Saladin studied his grandson for a long moment, the two locking eyes. Then he slowly turned to face the rest of the room again.
Rory took a deep breath, standing straighter. Faragonda nodded, and for the first time, smiled.
“Then let this be the first step. In Alfea's grounds, if a battle is to happen, you're free to use your powers and skills.”
Stella turned toward Faragonda, her brows raised. “Wait… if a battle happens?” she asked. “Do you really believe it will?”
Faragonda looked at the girls, then at the council around her. Her expression grew grave. She gave a small but certain nod.
“Yes,” she said quietly. “A very big one. One that may echo across the entire Dimension.”
A heavy silence followed.
Flora placed a hand on Aisha’s arm. Tecna tilted her head, gears turning. Bloom narrowed her eyes.
“If that’s true,” Musa said, “then we need to prepare for the worst.”
“And we need to free Griffin,” Bloom added quickly, turning to Faragonda. “She’s still trapped in Cloud Tower.”
Faragonda nodded solemnly. The meeting began to dissolve into hushed discussions as royals, commanders, and representatives left their seats to speak in private clusters. Faragonda and Saladin began coordinating strategy with their closest advisors and the school staff.
Meanwhile, Bloom stepped back from the groups, her eyes looking towards the floor.
Lockette, fluttering close, noticed instantly. “Bloom?”
Sky, already watching her from nearby, moved to her side. He gently placed a hand on her back. “Are you okay?”
“I—” Bloom hesitated. “I don’t know.”
Sky guided her toward a quiet corner. Lockette followed, concern etched into her small face.
Bloom exhaled shakily, "I have a bad feeling about this whole thing. Zyron's ability terrifies me..."
She lowered her gaze. “What if I’m not strong enough this time?”
Sky didn’t answer immediately. Instead, he pulled her gently into his arms, holding her close. Lockette hovered just beside them, placing a hand over her heart.
“You are strong enough,” Sky said firmly. “You always have been. But even if you weren’t—” he pulled back just enough to look her in the eyes— “you’re not alone.”
He gestured subtly to the room behind them. Bloom swallowed hard, emotion rising in her chest.
She closed her eyes, pressing her forehead gently against his. Sky gently kissed her cheek, before hugging her strongly. "We'll be ok."
Meanwhile, far from the protective walls of Alfea, within the crumbling ruins of Cloud Tower’s underground sanctum, an ancient ritual was underway.
The chamber pulsed with black magic. At its center, a massive arcane circle flickered to life — carved with forgotten runes and blood-red sigils.
Zyron stood tall in the middle, arms extended. His long black cloak swirled unnaturally despite the stagnant air. Around him, the Trix moved in perfect synchronization.
“Icy,” Zyron called, voice like cold metal, “You need to ensure the army is linked to me and the life force I'm going to give away!”
Icy smirked. “Already ahead of you.”
Darcy chanted, “By shadows in the endless void, we tear open the breach…”
Stormy thrust Saladin's staff down. “We awaken what once slept in the ashes of Oblivion!”
The circle flared violently — black flames erupting upward as the Army of Darkness was summoned.
Icy finished, her ice magic enveloping the summoning circle and Zyron, linking them together. "Rise up creatures of the dark, as your rulers we command it!"
One by one, the creatures began to crawl out the floors, gaining shape into terrible creatures.
But Zyron wasn’t finished.
He stepped forward and slammed both hands into the ground.
“I call upon the soul of the world,” he bellowed, “and command its breath to bleed!”
The army shrieked in unison as energy poured into them — not from the ritual circle, but from far away… from Magix itself. The forest beyond the schools began to wither. Trees bent in agony, flowers curled into ash, streams agitated in despair.
Daphne wakes up and takes shape in lake Roccalucce, sensing the great threat.
Each monster that emerged grew larger, stronger — fed by the life force being torn from nature itself.
Zyron grinned, his eyes flashing with cold fire. “Let them all come. We'll turn all these schools into graves.”
Back within Alfea’s underfloors, Faragonda was speaking with Queen Luna and Headmaster Saladin about mobilizing internal barriers, when a sudden, piercing scream echoed through the chamber, coming from one of the Winx.
“THEY’RE SCREAMING!” Flora shouted, her voice raw and urgent.
Everyone turned in shock.
Flora clutched her chest, her eyes wide in horror. “The trees— the wind— the flowers— they’re screaming! Begging for help, PLEASE, PLEAS—”
Suddenly, she collapsed mid-sentence.
“Flora!” Aisha cried out, rushing forward — but Helia was already there, catching her before she hit the floor.
He cradled her carefully, panic in his voice. “She’s burning up… I can feel her magic draining!”
Bloom rushed over with Tecna, both horrified. Tecna scanned her with a quick burst of energy. “Her connection to the ecosystem of Magix is disappearing, it's like her powers are disappearing. Something is tearing through the Magix forest!”
Faragonda’s eyes widened. “No…”
Roxy gasped. “Nature is vanishing??”
Helia looked up, his voice cracking. “She said… they were screaming…”
Flora stirred faintly in Helia’s arms. Her lips barely moved, but the whisper was enough.
“They summoned the Army of Darkness...”
Everyone gasps in shock.
