Chapter Text
Alfea Courtyard - 15th October
"So how long do we have to wait here?" Celia inquires fiddling with the straw of her milkshake.
"I think her class is gonna end soon," Janice reassures.
"Aren't you worried she's gonna say 'no'?"
"Kinda but I know she's not gonna laugh in my face or anything cruel like that."
Celia took note of Janice's wistful smile and hides her pout by taking a long sip of her drink. As much as she wanted to give all her support to her friend, the little ugly green monster rears its head and spits on all her efforts.
She wishes Haley was here. That black-haired warrior was supposed to tag along with them but (*cough*illegally*cough*) caught wind of a raid on a nest of wild hunting trolls near city limits. The specialists are the ones who have to deal with it as an assignment so Haley took that as a challenge.
She prays that her bestie doesn't share the spoils of war with her again, shuddering as she recalls the day a muddied and bloodied Haley held up a bunch of nipple piercings in her hand while excitedly recounting her adventures.
"Are you cold?" Without even waiting for a reply, Janice puts down her sandwich and shrugs off drape her jacket over Celia's shoulders.
Celia pulls the collars of the jacket closer together to hide her flush cheeks, the butterflies fluttering in her stomach were now kicking up a storm. It was little things like this that made her heart pound.
"Ooh, there's Musa now!" Janice leaps off the bench throwing her bag over her shoulder before rushing to where the Winx were conglomerating leaving Celia to stew with her thoughts.
"Yeah, there's Musa." Celia languidly sucks the mayo from her thumb while watching as Janice back grows smaller. She kicks her feet back and forth unable to stomach the fact that the girl she has a crush on is asking another girl out on a date.
"Least I have you." Celia picks up the half-eaten sandwich left behind by Janice. Now there's something that will never disappoint her.
With Aisha and Musa
"Well it's just that, you know, the others are better and I'm new," Aisha is cut off by another voice.
"Um, excuse me." Janice waves nervously.
"You're Janice, a third-year, right?"
"Yeah, I just wanted to say 'Hi'," Janice says quickly as she twirls a lock of her hair with rose-blush cheeks. "And I wanted to know if you'd like to take a stroll down by the lake. Just the two of us."
Musa heard the girls giggling from behind and has to fight the urge to roll her eyes at their childishness. The action itself could be taken as a callous rejection and that's something Musa would never do to another person especially when she knows just how scary it can be simply to ask the one you like to hang out.
"She better say yes. Say yes!" Now for that comment, she couldn't suppress a facepalm a smile pulls at her lips. Of course, someone asking her out would seem like oscar-worthy news to the girls.
"Guess Riven's got some competition." The smile instantly drops from her face like a stone thrown at water. The nerve of Stella to mention him! Like she has nothing better to do than to waste her time moping over a guy who barely spares her a second thought?
Musa makes her distaste known through growling which unfortunately scares Janice, judging by her flinch, and that's the last thing Musa had wanted when only recently did she try to ensure she would not belittle the older girl's feelings.
This is something she has to rectify.
"I'm sorry. I didn't mean to bother you. I guess I'll just go." Janice attempted to leave but Musa grabs hold of her wrist.
"Please don't. It's not you. It's just..." Musa stammers trying to find an appropriate response without revealing anything about Riven but settles on pointing to her friends behind. "Never mind. I'd love to. Let's go."
The Winx squeal when Janice takes her hand and leads her to the forest.
The Lake
Janice escorted Musa to a small clearing far enough away from the other students' mindless chatter yet close so they could still enjoy the view of the sparkling water. They sat on the grass amicably chatting about nonsensical things.
"Time was almost up so I launched a sonic bomb that blasted the lock open," Musa cheers punching a fist to the sky. "You know the simulator is a great place to work off stress."
"Believe me I know. It is especially great for when you get dumped over text."
"Really?"
"Just try not to enjoy it too much. As fun as it is blasting his face off, breaking his bones, chasing him off a cliff and impaling him on ice while laughing maniacally, it kinda freaks people out."
"Duly noted," Musa snorts before laying on her back to enjoy the sweet sound of nature. She can see what Flora is talking about with her chatter about stopping to smell the roses. This is relaxing.
Janice watches her fondly as Musa hums a small tune while bobbing her head before spotting a small bed of flowers. She carefully plucks some flowers into a bouquet.
Musa opens her eyes and sits up upon hearing her name where she is then handed the bouquet which she lightly sniffs. "Oh, they're lovely."
There's silence between the two which is broken by Janice who pulls two tickets out of her pocket. "Listen, I have two tickets for this movie next Friday if you're interested. It's an Earth movie, Charlotte and the Chocolate Factory. I figured a movie would be a great idea for a first date, it's simple yet effective."
Musa stares at the tickets for a few seconds before cupping the back of her neck with a flustered expression. Janice knew her answer in that instant.
"I'm flattered, but I just want to be friends. I don't want to give you the wrong idea."
"No, that's fine. Friends is cool." Janice couldn't mask the disappointment in her voice as she tucks the tickets back into her pocket, but smiles nonetheless, it's Musa after all. Musa tries to apologise again but Janice cuts her off by assuring her it is fine. "Just because I like you doesn't mean you have to like me back."
"We should head back. I have a class coming up," Musa informs patting her behind of dirt before offering a hand to Janice.
Janice accepts. "Yeah, I have to drop Celia back off at her school anyway."
Alfea
Bloom and Stella are perched on a bench underneath the shade of a tree discussing what to do about their current assignment. Although, to be honest, when has Stella ever been known to do her work?
"Urgh, this is too hard!" Stella whines slumped back with her head dangling off the edge.
"Come on, Stella. I can't do this on my own," Bloom huffs with her nostrils flared. Leave it to Stella in never wanting to do her work. Why does she continuously partner up with her despite knowing her work ethic?
"I say we take a break."
Bloom rubs the spot between her eyes. Ah, right, because she's the only one who can calmly handle Stella without blowing up in her face. "We took one 5 minutes ago."
Stella was about to refute that when she noticed a certain someone walk through the front gates. "Look who's back from her date," Stella singsong before skipping over to their location much to Bloom's chagrin.
As much as she wants to drag Stella back to their homework, Bloom figured that letting her go to release all her excitement would make it easier for her to focus on their homework albeit at Musa's expense.
Bloom hopes a slice of cake with coffee would be enough to satiate Musa's anger as she packs up hers and Stella's belongings before chasing after the blonde.
"Hey, Musa. Magix to Musa." Bloom waves her hand in front of her face.
Musa blinks a couple of times before realising it was her friends. She smiled at them, hoping it didn't look as forced as it felt. "Oh, hey guys, how's the homework going?"
"Not so good. We can't figure much out."
"But onto more important business, how'd your date go?"
"None of your business."
"So where did she take you? What did she say? What's her speciality? Did you kiss?" Stella couldn't contain herself over such juicy details, her excitement glossing over Musa's growing annoyance.
"You're so nosy!" Musa shoves Stella who almost trips.
How rude. Even if she was pushy, what gives her the right to shove her like that?
Stella soothes her aching shoulder and was about to scold Musa when a better plan forms in her head. She leans down, thanking her heels for the height advantage, with a wicked grin. "Ah, maybe you're thinking of someone. Someone whose name is Riven?"
The nerve.
"It's none of your business!"
"Well am I ever glad I'm not working with you on our convergence assignment!" Stella huffs as Musa storms away. "It's true though she likes Riven and we all know it." Bloom could not believe Stella would stoop so low yet could believe it. Seems like another conversation about tact is needed.
"Did you ever think she might not be comfortable talking about that?"
"That's her problem. My sweetheart and I have absolutely nothing to hide."
"Can we just get back to our homework?"
Shadow Haunt
"Our little friends look like they're having fun?" Icy comments snidely as she and her sisters watch the occupants of Alfea through Darkar's orb although the Shadow Phoenix was nowhere to be seen.
Look at them. Walking and laughing around without a care in the world in a flowery field and the sun shining down on them just like those fools at Lightrock. Just thinking of that place makes Icy want to gag. That place is a kind of torture that even she and her sisters would never think to come up with. She'd rather claw her throat out with her nails than ever return.
"We should deal with them before they learn any convergence tricks." Stormy twirls a lock of hair as she brainstorms numerous ways to torment those pathetic little fairies.
"I say we use Musa's new friend, she has such potential." Darcy chuckles as her amber gaze fixates on Janice. She's actually kinda cute. It'll be fun messing with her.
"Shouldn't we inform Lord Darkar? He doesn't like when we act without his knowledge."
"If you can get him to stop moping around wherever he is then go right ahead and tell him but until then we do what we want." Icy had a point. For almost 2 weeks, the man had been locked up in his tower. Any effort in communicating is met with violent opposition and neither she nor her sisters have any wish to become shish kebab.
There's a reason Darcy's the brain behind the operations, her level of intelligence is higher than both her sisters combined. She can find the smallest correlation smothered in a pile of lies, mystery and hypocrisy. Despite this, she still tends to be cryptic with her answers.
According to Darcy, for some bizarre and unknown reason, Darkar decided to lead a solo assault mission on Alfea where he almost killed the fairy boy. By that logic, shouldn't he be happy to get him out of the way even if it's temporary? That guy is definitely not an ally despite what Darkar tells them. He should realise this by now.
And what Darcy has been insinuating is absurd. How could a being created from pure darkness and malevolence, a master torturer, a harbinger of death, be capable of love? It's like a start of a bad joke.
Although it would explain... forget it. Right now, they have to deal with those pesky Winx before they get a power boost. That guy is in no shape to be fighting so they'll deal with him later.
"Darcy, you're in charge. Do what you feel is necessary."
Faragonda's Class
There were only a few minutes before class starts yet the students remain immersed in their latest gossip.
The Winx themselves had split up into a smaller group with Musa leaning against the wall close by, eyes closed. Her large headphones are a deterrent from others starting a conversation namely a nosy busybody who can't mind her own business.
Aisha stood further away continuously glancing over to the Winx who were engrossed in their discussion of convergence. For every other point they made, Aisha lifts her hand and opens her mouth but nothing comes out so she slinks away waiting for another opportunity to join in.
The only person to notice is Kaneki who refused to stay bedridden any longer in fear of turning mad. He gets that he was attacked, stricken with amnesia and all but that's no excuse in treating him like a priceless vase.
The door to the class opens and the girls' flood in for class. Before Musa could head in, Kaneki grabs her arm and requests for a partner change much to her confusion. He tells her that Aisha needs him right now. Musa contemplates this but relents knowing how close they are and Aisha's growing insecurities about her role in their group.
Aisha sat at her desk twiddling her thumbs until the scrape of the chair catches her attention. She glances up to see Kaneki taking a seat beside her when it should've been Musa.
"I know you need to attend classes but isn't this too soon?"
"No. I get I was injured but if I stay cooped up any longer I'm gonna go crazy."
"Sorry." Aisha winces. She takes the box needed for the assignment Amaryl hands her and passes to the duo behind her who did the same. "So did you get back any of your memories?"
"Nothing." Kaneki twirls his pen between his finger before leaning on the desk. "Faith's been blabbing on and on about my life but nothing seems to click."
"I'm sorry."
"Don't be, it's not your fault. I think that may be on me."
"Nightmares again?" Aisha puts her pen down so she could focus on him. Recently, he's been confiding in her about the aftermath of the attempts to gain his lost memories. All of which were gruesome in their own rights.
"Yeah," Kaneki admits leaning back in his chair and staring up at the ceiling as moments of his nightmares flash through his mind. A woman with a kind smile is decapitated by a strange weapon as a horrific scream echo from elsewhere. Numerous mutilated creatures begging for their mothers, for mercy. A man with a mask who held up a centipede.
The last memory has him covering his ear as weird wriggling stems from his brain.
"They're difficult to remember but traumatising nonetheless. Kinda wants me to not get my memories back."
"I noticed you've been quieter lately. Not that you weren't quiet before but after the incident, you become strangely jubilant."
"Yeah, I figured that was strange by how disturbed everyone was when talking to them."
"You know I'm here to talk whenever you want to."
"Same here." Kaneki places his hand on top of hers. "If you ever just want to talk then my door is open any time of day."
"It's like you can read me like a book. I haven't been here as long as the others so I'm not as close to them as they are to each other, it kinda feels like I'm intruding on their friendship. I don't know what to do."
"I'm not close with them, I doubt I ever was or if I ever will be," Kaneki remembers the past few days where the members of the Winx would greet him and would ask how he was doing but that was only when they would bump into him. Never did they take time out of their schedule to actually check up on him or his progress. "Talk to them. If things don't work out then you can count on me to always be there for you."
"Thank you, Kaneki."
"Now you wanna pass this class?" Kaneki offers her his hand but before she can accept it an ear-piercing shriek erupts causing the windows to crack. Everyone turns to Musa and Mirta who were sheepishly apologising to everyone else.
"Okay, I think that's enough for today. Let's head to the simulator room so I can explain tomorrows practical."
Simulator
"Tomorrow we'll have a convergence test here in the simulator."
"Test? Tomorrow?" Stella blanched, looking up from her manicured nails which she was just filing.
"Are you sure we're ready?" Flora mutters nibbling on her hair.
"You should start practising. If you need help you can always come to me, but the key lies within each of you," Faragonda advises placing a comforting hand on Flora's shoulder. She leaves and the class begin to twitter to themselves about their plans.
"If the key lies within us then why haven't we found it yet?" Irate, Stella blows some loose strands out of her eyes but they fall back in the same place. Urgh, the stress is messing up her gorgeous locks. It took a whole hour getting it just perfect for today and just 5 seconds to ruin it.
Musa rolls her eyes. "It takes some longer than others."
"Let's not start arguing." Bloom physically places herself in between the two before an argument could break out and remind them of what's truly important. "We need harmony for this test."
"The five of us will cast one big mega spell altogether," Stella cheers punching a fist into the air oblivious to the blunder she's made. Unfortunately, not everyone else was.
Bottom lip wobbling, Aisha takes a step back before running away in tears leading to Musa exploding on Stella for her insensitivity.
"The five of us?! What about Aisha? You hurt her feelings." Musa throws her hands in the air and chases after her.
"Here we go again." Stella rolls her eyes and crosses her arms with a huff. "Drama time."
Outside
Musa finds herself outside the walls nearing the forest. If she's right then Aisha wouldn't be too far off.
"Aisha?" Musa calls out tentatively peeking behind a tree to see her friend sitting with her knees hugged close to her chest and sobbing.
"It's okay Musa I'm okay," Aisha reassures wiping away her tears with her hands only to find them already covered in tears and snot.
"You know I come out here too sometimes when I need to be alone." Musa leans against the base of a tree and kicks a pebble. "I think we're a lot alike that way."
"What do you mean?"
"I mean that sometimes I feel like an outsider too."
"Maybe everybody feels that way once in a while." The realisation is a real eye-opener for Aisha who fiddles with a lock of hair.
"Perhaps, but you're new here so it's harder for you," Musa reminds as she takes a seat beside her.
"I'll be okay."
"No, Aisha." Musa shakes her head before grabbing her shoulders and pulling her close till their faces were inches apart. "You're with us now you don't have to be alone."
"I just feel like I'm intruding." Aisha reminisces
Musa sighs and rubs her forehead due to the oncoming migraine. "Stella says these things, but she's really a nice person."
"I know."
"She doesn't think before she speaks, but she likes you and so do I so what do you like to do with your best friend?"
At the mention of her interests, Aisha perks up, eyes glimmering with excitement and a huge grin that she couldn't suppress. "Well, I really like dancing; it's my passion."
Musa giggles. Now she knows what to do whenever Aisha's feeling down and it's time to utilise it. "Really? Would you like to teach me?"
"Sure and I bet you learn in 2 seconds flat." The duo burst out into giggles and they begin to discuss different dance moves from their respective worlds. They stop when they hear a voice calling out for them, they glance up to see Bloom jogging up to them.
"Girls." Bloom stops in front of them, almost tripping over her own feet. "Aisha, listen, I know it seems like you're always left out, but you do belong in the group just as much as any of us do."
"Really?"
Bloom nods enthusiastically. "And I know exactly what will bring back harmony to the Winx club."
"Oh yeah, what?"
"Tonight's pyjama party time. That'll bring us back together."
Station
"Here you go." Janice hands Celia her ticket before taking a seat beside her on the bench. "The ship will be boarding in a few minutes."
"Thanks. You know you didn't have to come with me. I would've been fine on my own."
"With that leg?" Janice quirks a brow at the cast and crutches. She stretches her arms above her head then leans back on the bench. "It's no big deal. I wanted to. You're my friend."
Celia's heart starts beating a little faster and she mentally yells at it to calm down lest Janice hears. So, without thinking, she did the one thing that would destroy her happiness in an instance. "Hey, how'd it go with Musa? Did she accept?" Pop goes her happiness like a little kid who trips and falls on their animal balloon.
"No, she wants to remain friends."
"I'm sorry." This was the truth. As much as she likes Janice, she doesn't want her to suffer from heartbreak no matter how small. Celia knows well how much it hurts to be rejected by your crush.
"Don't be. All I'm worried about is what do to with these movie tickets."
"Maybe I co-"
"-Ship 105 is ready for boarding."
Celia drops her head like a sack of potatoes were dropped on her. Of course, her ship would be boarding now of all times. 'You couldn't have waited another minute?' Celia gets up nonetheless and gathering her crutches. "You'll call me tonight right?"
"Promise." Janice holds out her pinky and wiggles it. Celia nods with a smile and hobbles onto the ship.
Janice waves her goodbye before making her way back to Alfea. Had she chosen to catch the bus rather than walk then she could've made it to her next class lickety-split, but she needed time to alone with her thoughts. Besides, she could just borrow notes from her friends. No loss there.
Deep in her thoughts, Janice failed to notice the figure stalking in the shadows until a snap of a branch alerts her. Janice whips around to see a brunette gipsy walking towards her.
Janice takes a step back and freezes the tips of her fingers into icy claws as a means of defence. "Who are you?"
"Oh, I'm just someone who sells jewellery. As a matter of fact, I have just the thing to win the heart of a young lady." Darcy giggles under her breath before holding up a crystal.
"It's dark but pretty." Janice puts down her claws and leans closer for a better look.
"What do you think? Look at it closely and fall under my power." The crystal succeeds in hypnotising Janice who bows to Darcy and inquires about her duties. "Return to Alfea and make sure tomorrows test is a spectacular disaster."
Winx Dorm
The girls all sat on the floor in a circle with snacks and drinks littered around them. Stella began to recount the tale of her first love. Most of the girls roll their eyes, recalling Stella's numerous other stories about her first crush, but listen intently nonetheless. This one's new after all.
"This is just what we needed. To spend some time together," Bloom acknowledges after the girls cease their giggles when Stella finishes her narrative.
"Just us girls," Stella adds, laying flat on her back. "No boys or anything."
"No way, I can't believe you just said that," Musa gasps scandalised.
"Well, since they're not here we can talk about them," Stella ripostes causing a wave of laughter from the girls.
"But enough about boys." Stella flips up into a sitting position and thrusts her face right up to Musa's. "Let's talk Janice. Come on Musa, we wanna know, does she tickle your fancy?"
"Well no." Cheek flush, Musa turns her head so Stella wouldn't notice and tease her even further.
"That's because you like Riven, isn't it?" Tecna pipes up.
"There's nothing between Riven and me."
"Oh, yeah right."
"The thing is I don't think he could ever be interested in a tomboy like me." After all, why would he pick her when there are so many beautiful girls who love clothes, makeup and beautifying every part of their appearance?
"By the way, he looks at you, or doesn't rather, he obviously is," Stella reassures much to Musa's surprise who quirks a brow at Stella's rare show of selflessness. "You know how I got together with my Brandon?" Spoke too soon.
Aisha gets to her feet, hands on her hips before leaping into Stella's walk-in closet and exits 5 minutes with a pair of slippers strapped to her shoulders and a long blue overcoat billowing as a cape. She expertly twirls a mop around like a staff and strikes down some imaginary enemies. "Let me guess. 'Hey girls, I'm the best fighter in the world and the best-looking guy in Magix. Wanna be my girlfriend?' And you just fell at his feet."
"Actually, he fell at mine," Stella corrects.
Courtyard - 16th November
Janice leans against a pillar hidden by the shadows, scrutinising the area for her target. She has to be quick. She has to make sure everything goes according to plan; the Winx must never learn convergence.
Upon hearing a familiar voice, Janice smirks and makes her way to her target. "Professor Palladium?" She clasps her hands behind her back and puts on a sweet smile.
"Ah, Janice. Is there something you need?" Palladium closes his book and places it beside him on the bench.
"I was just wondering if I could help out for today's convergence test? Since I did it last year I can give them advice if they're stuck," Janice suggests. It was an innocent enough request.
"Hmm, I see no problem with that," Palladium relents and tells her he'll inform Faragonda before making his merry way. "I'll see you there at 10 sharp."
Well, that was easy... like really easy. Was it even worth it to get up so early? She could have caught a couple of extra z's, but nooo, she decided that it would be difficult to persuade Palladium to assist the lesson. Now, what should she do? She could go to class, but it already started about half an hour ago.
"Janice?" Janice flinches before picking up the pace. "Hey! Wait!" She couldn't let this continue. Knowing the girl wouldn't stop despite the strange looks thrown her way from the irregular thumps of her cast, Janice stopped and spun on her heels to face Celia who is hobbling as fast as she can.
"What do you want?" Janice demands curt.
Celia flinches at the cold response. "You said you were gonna call me last night but you didn't, is everything okay?"
"Everything's fine. I just forgot."
"I assumed that so I tried calling," Celia points out wringing her hands together.
"I was busy. Do you think I'd just drop everything just because you called? Grow up, the world doesn't revolve around you," Janice scoffs, jabbing a finger in Celia's chest.
This is beyond strange, Janice has never spoken so coldly to her in the short time they've known each other. She's always been cool, calm and collected. A woman who would never hesitate in sticking up for others, who would greet others politely even those she didn't get along with, who would spend hours listening to Celia blabbering nonsense despite how late it would get. She doesn't know who's standing in front of her right now.
"You're acting weird. I might not have known you for very long, but you'd never speak to anyone like this."
"Who do you-ugh!" Janice clutches her head as it explodes with pain. Celia tries to help Janice only for her to smack away her hand away which is when the blonde notices her eyes flash purple.
"You're not Janice!" The realisation has Celia panicking. Muscle memory has her reaching for the can of pepper spray Haley gave her in case she gets into any trouble such as now. She sprays Janice right in the eyes then makes a break for it except she doesn't get far.
"Why you!" Janice growls before sending a blast of ice that knocks Celia into unconsciousness. Huffing, she searches for any nearby witnesses but finds none so she drags Celia out of sight. She feels a twinge of regret as she shoves Celia into the hedge. "Sorry, but I have a mission to accomplish." Janice freezes the crutches before shattering them into nothing. Any evidence of her being here is nonexistent.
Janice clutches her head once again but the gem tantalisingly whispers her orders. All regret fades away so she walks away with little care about her friend in the bushes.
It wouldn't be until some hours later when Celia would be discovered. Kaneki decided that since it was such a nice day, being sunny and all, he would take a stroll with Faith and Glim, the former babbling about his latest dream of becoming a robot.
"Then I'd be like 'pew pew' and finally the evil Lord Augustusine is destroyed. All the gold he's been hoarding through unreasonable taxes is returned to the people and our beloved hero, Fate, is reward with a kiss from the handsome Prince Fixit-uh, I mean, Felix."
"Awesome." Kaneki rolls his eyes as he watches Faith fist bump Glim before breaking out into another slap fight. Why can't they go 5 minutes without fighting? Some peace and quiet would be good. A muted groan catches his attention. "Did you hear that?"
Faith and Glim stop fighting and look at each other before flying ahead. Faith stops above a long hedgerow and points at it. "Kenny, look, look!"
Jogging over, Kaneki pushes apart the bushes to find a blonde girl knocked out. She groans moving her head to the side revealing the stream of blood stopping at her cheek but doesn't wake up.
Kaneki picks Celia out of the bushes and gently taps her face. He couldn't remember any of his healing spells if he had any. She stirs, eyes fluttering open, before sitting up and holding her throbbing head. "What happened?" Celia moans.
"I was about to ask you that."
"Yeah. Why are you sleeping in the bushes? Are you homeless?" Faith got a smack on the head for that last comment. "Ow! I have a right to ask." He counters affronted.
"I..." Celia begins but the memories are slow to return. "I came to Alfea to see Janice. She never called me last night. Ow." Celia pulls her hand away and promptly freaks out upon seeing blood.
"You ain't ever seen blood before?"
"Of course I have! I'm a girl!" Celia snaps causing Faith to flee for sanctuary behind his fairy's back.
"Ignore him. Please continue."
"Oh, no." Celia seizes Kaneki's shoulders and shook him back and forth. "Janice attacked me, but she wasn't Janice! At least not... mentally? Her eyes flashed purple like the pupil part and whole whitish area."
Head still flopping back and forth, Kaneki mulls over what it could mean. Hypnotism? Possession? But who did it and what do they have to gain?
"I think it could be the Trix controlling her."
The Trix? He's heard of them through the grapevine. Apparently, they're a big deal and lethal beyond imaginable. The trouble they could stir up here would be incomprehensible and that's something Kaneki could not allow to happen.
"Do you know where she might be heading?"
"No." She shakes her head but then ponders for a moment. She has only a little information on the Trix but enough to make a suggestion. "I know the Trix have a vendetta against the Winx so maybe find them first."
"Lucky for you, I know just where they are. Come on." Kaneki lifts Celia on his back and starts running. She shrieks as he sprints faster than the average specialist ever could and wraps her arms around his neck in a deathly grip. She prays that he could reach Janice before the Trix can do her any harm.
Simulator Room
Palladium is explaining how the simulator works and what Aisha needs to do since it is her first time using it. The other girls take the time to rediscuss their plans, correcting and formulating against any potential setbacks and ensuring each teammate knows their part to play.
"Hey Musa, isn't that Janice?" Stella taps Musa's shoulder then jerks a thumb in her direction. "What's she doing here?"
"Yeah, it is. I'll ask." Musa waved at Janice and tried to ask what she was doing here, but the blue-haired girl stares at her before turning away without a single word said instead heading up to the control room with Faragonda.
"What's her deal?"
Musa wonders if this is because she turned her down earlier today. If so then that's disappointing, Musa thought they could truly be friends but it seems not. But nows is not the time to focus on that, she has a test to pass.
"The first group will be Aisha, Flora, Bloom, Stella, Tecna and Musa. Now Aisha, since this is your first time, don't worry when the walkway disappears from under your feet," Palladium. "You'll remain suspended."
"Right I promise I won't panic."
Palladium and the rest of the class make their way to the control room leaving the Winx to prepare.
"Alright girls, pay attention," Faragonda commands as she activates the simulation. "You'll find yourself in a quiet village on a bright summers day, you'll have to use magical convergence to solve a series of puzzles. Everyone ready?"
"Ready!"
"Let's begin." The walkway disappears beneath their feet and the Winx are transported to an empty swamp-green space much to their confusion.
"Where in the world are we?"
"A quiet village on a bright summers day, huh?"
"Oh, it's awfully damp here." Flora shivers, rubbing her bare arms in an effort to stay warm. "It feels like we're near a swamp."
"Look." Aisha points to the sky as the fog clear revealing a row of trees in the sky.
"If there's a forest in the sky then what are we walking on?" The girls look at each other with one thought in mind, don't look down. No one listens. Suddenly trees start sprouting randomly from the ground. They shriek, desperately dodging the attacking trees which knock some of them to the dirt.
"What's going on?"
Tecna examines the ground closely while still paying close attention to her surroundings. "I've seen this before its kinda like a system bug, but why is this happening now?"
Simulator Room
The rest of the class begin to mutter to themselves in worry while Palladium and Faragonda furtively work in freeing the girls. "Girls, I have no idea. The simulator crystals aren't responding. I've never seen the crystals do that."
"Are they going to be okay?"
The student was left unheard as Faragonda exhausts every viable option. She slams her hands on the console, sweat dripping from her chin. "We've got to get the girls out this is way too dangerous."
"No can do. Their environment is burnt into hard memory. We can't delete anything and we can't shut it down however while we can't delete we can add something. Girls, I've added a magical data of an exit program but I don't know what form it'll take so look around for anything that doesn't fit in."
Janice sniggers to herself before examining the room, once she is positive there are no eyes on her she makes her escape only to be stopped when the doors slam open revealing Celia piggybacking on Kaneki.
"You wait just there fake-Janice!" Celia proclaims then pepper sprays her once again, but Janice wasn't the only victim much to the misfortune of others.
"Argh! Seriously?!"
"What are you doing?!"
"My eyes! They burn!"
The room is filled with hacking and sputtering, their throats burning with each abrasive cough. The now semi-blind girls stagger aimlessly like a bunch of drunk fools on the 4th of July, they crash into one another and trip into a pile on the floor.
"What's going on?" Faragonda created a barrier just in time to protect herself and Palladium, the latter more focused on rescuing the Winx than the chaos behind him.
"She's possessed by the Trix. She knocked me out and left me in the bushes." Celia reveals.
"She must've messed with the computer. No one messes with Stella but me!" Amaryl growls glaring as best as she could through her watery eyes before tackling Janice to the ground others following suit until a massive dog pile was left.
"Let me go!" Janice struggles under the weight trying to summon her ice but her hands are pinned down
"Excellent girls, hold her down. Now, Janice, this shouldn't hurt one bit." Faragonda places a hand on Janice's forehead and mutters a spell. Janice fervently tries to shake her hand off but it's fruitless, the crystal shard from her necklace shatters into a fine pool of dust and her eyes return to their original colour.
"Oh, my head. What happened? Why do my eyes burn so bad? Why is everyone on top of me?"
Faragonda requests her students to get up, holding out a helping hand for each one. "You were hypnotised by the Trix," Faragonda informs as she assists Janice to her feet.
Janice groans as her entire body ache with different amounts of pain. It's like someone hit her with a bus then she fell off a cliff, hitting every single ledge and bramble only to land straight on her face. Her eyes also sting quite a bit that she could help but rub them despite knowing it would make it worse.
"Ah, I remember. It was Darcy. I'm so sorry, are the others alright?"
"We're fine." Tecna's voice comes from the mic so everyone crowds the window to see the Winx waving at them, some jumping in joy while others rest from their wild experience. It would've been a joyous occasion except for the extra person besides the Winx.
"What is that?" Faith points to a large pink figure wrapped in vines that was examining itself before turning to the girls. Through the mic came a mixture of Winx's voices.
"Where am I? Who am I?" She sits down unable to comprehend everything that is happening.
"It can't be," Palladium mutters furiously typing at the computer only to come to the same conclusion. "The computer is designed to return any living organism to the real world. Bloom, you didn't just give her free will, you gave her life."
"Whoa, total godmode," Stella brags impressed as she lightly elbows Bloom.
The girls begin muttering to themselves about the new being but Faragonda takes control of the situation by informing them that the pink figure shall stay at Alfea.
"What should we call her?"
"Maybe we should ask her," Flora suggests so they all turn to the titan and question what they should call her.
"I'm not sure," stammers the being. "I just came to life. I think I need time to adjust."
"Okay then, please take all the time you need," Flora assures kindly.
"Thank you."
With the test sabotaged and some of the girls still suffering from the effects of the pepper spray, Faragonda decides to reschedule the test for the weekend.
Infirmary
Musa accompanies Janice and Celia to Ofelia's but found most of the beds taken. Ofelia was continuously rushing back and forth trying to examine each of her patients but luckily, they all had similar, if not the same, injuries.
Celia was being pushed flat on the bed by the blue-haired duo who wanted her to be checked out properly but she kept arguing with them. "I told you I already saw a doctor about my leg. It'll get better soon."
"Except that you broke your leg almost 2 months ago. It shouldn't have taken this long for it to heal."
"Musa's right," Janice advocates nodding firmly with her lips set in a grim line. "Didn't the doctor use magic to speed up your recovery rate?"
"I'm not eligible for magic treatment," Celia reveals. "My family is filled with normies so while our insurance covers a lot of injuries, we receive minimum treatment."
Musa apologises, looking down at her feet in shame, but Celia assures her that it doesn't bother her at all.
"If we're apologising then I have a lot to apologise for." Janice averts her gaze as she fiddles with a lock of her hair. "I'm sorry for ruining your test, Musa. I fell under Darcy's spell when I should've been stronger to resist."
"That's not your fault," Musa comforts, squeezing a hand on her shoulder. "It can be tough when the one you like doesn't reciprocate. I know that well."
"Whoever that is sucks. You are super awesome," Celia compliments with complete sincerity.
"You're just saying that." Musa's face is flush but she found the blonde's words to be sweet even sending a giddy feeling in her tummy.
"I see you are a true lady of respectability," Tune notes to Celia.
"And I have to apologise to you Celia, I hurt you the most and there's nothing I can do to make it up to you."
"But that was Darcy's spell."
"That's still no excuse. I said some cruel things to you, attacked you and left you in the bushes, I even destroyed your crutches. Those are all unforgivable."
"I know how you can make it up to her," Musa suggests while grinning widely. "Why don't you take her to see Charlotte and the Chocolate Factory? It might not be enough for forgiveness but it would be a start."
"I think I'd like that."
The girls spent the next 20 minutes gossiping to each other until Ofelia could finally check over Celia. Ofelia examines the cast and is curious about what she finds.
"Your injury has been aggravated numerous times. Are you not following your doctor's orders?"
"I have. It's just that as soon as class finishes I go straight back to my room to rest. It gets boring real quick. I don't like being cooped up in my room neither does Haley so we usually go to the mall. But some students from nearby schools recognise us and like to mess with me and my cast."
"I see." Ofelia pops into her office for a moment and returns with a bottle of pills which she hands to Celia. "These are natural self-healing pills; they'll speed up your body's natural healing process. Take 1 every night before you go to sleep and make sure you don't take it on empty stomach. 5 nights should be enough to fully heal your leg."
"Aren't these super rare and expensive?"
"These pills are c-grade," Ofelia assures. "I heard what you did earlier. Despite being the reason why I have so many patients today, you showed immense courage in saving everyone. It's the least I can do."
"Thank you."