Chapter Text
(S1 Ch.1)
“C’mon (Y/N),” you assured yourself as you approached the front of the line leading up to Griselda. This was one thing you did not miss about Alfea: Of course Griselda, but also the nerves.
“First name and place of origin?” Griselda asked, still scribbling down something on her clipboard from the student who was in front of you.
“(F/N) (L/N) of… um,” you announce with confidence before ultimately faltering, forgetting what planet your parents had told you to say.
Your parents never liked to stay on one planet long, always on the move. It could be quite dizzying at times, but you had some constants in your life that helped keep you stabilized:
- The ship that you and your parents traveled in, which always carried that familiar scent of home (and mechanical oil). The feeling of being lifted in the air brought you comfort because of your many nights spent sleeping in a ship that glided through the galaxy.
- A necklace that’s pretty much a body part in itself at this point. It’s simple, sturdy, and holds a swirling white marble that keeps your powers in check. You’ve always had issues controlling them properly, and only a year and a half ago, after some big incident you have no recollection of, did your mother give you the stone, making you promise to never take it off… You haven’t taken it off since.
- A small red and orange plush dragon keychain that you’ve kept attached to yourself in some way since you were just learning to walk. It was missing an eye and some parts of its belly and neck were covered in multicolored and multi-textured fabric patches, but you wouldn’t have it any other way. Its name was Grate, because you thought the keychain was great and you didn’t know how to spell.
- And of course, your parents, who have stayed together all these years somehow. You could tell they were barely keeping it together, but they stayed together for your sake it seemed. They were even courteous enough to save their arguing for when they thought you were out of earshot. Passive aggression toward each other was still very much so present whenever you were around. They got worse at hiding it over the years
Your parents also never told you what your planet of origin was. It almost seemed like a sore subject for them whenever it was brought up in conversation. Your father would deflect by emphasizing that “You aren’t tied down to one planet!”, while your mother would just have a far-off look in her eyes, which was greatly unsettling given her normally warm and bubbly nature. You would end up changing the subject in fear of bringing more tension in their lives.
You felt sweat drip down your neck with all the nerves. You stared straight at Griselda’s clipboard, refusing to make eye contact with the terrifying woman. Griselda glanced over her clipboard at your cowering form and interrupted your mumbling, “It’s alright, (F/N), you may come in.”
Her face stayed neutral and cat-like, but her voice wasn’t as harsh as it was with the student before you. You let out a deep breath and gave her a smile, “Thank you, Ms. Gris-”
“NEXT!” The harshness in her voice reappeared like it never left and you were pushed along.
For the next few minutes you answered texts from your parents on your phone, having just now noticed the multiple notifications:
Mom
Did you make it to Alfea safely, sweetheart?
Yep! On my way to the orientation now
Please call or text if you need anything :)
And don’t forget to make lots of new friends!!! <3
Dad
How are you feeling about this freshman year at Alfea? 😀
More nerves than my first freshman year 😐
It can’t be worse than last year, sweetheart
Maybe this time, you and your friend Stella
won’t blow up the potions lab 🤣
🙄🙃
I’m just scared I’m going to fail again
Don’t worry sweetheart, we’re good friends with
Headmistress Faragonda, so we talked with her and
she and your other professors will help you all they
can. Besides…
Second time’s the charm, right? 😄
You visibly winced at the unnecessary continuation of what was supposed to be reassurance. You knew there wasn’t a malicious bone in your father’s body, yet it still felt like he was mocking you. Your surprisingly bitter thoughts were interrupted with a prolonged shout of your name.
“(Y/NNNNN)!” was heard approaching from your side but you were tackled into a hug before you could look. It didn’t matter though, you recognized that voice anywhere.
“Hey, Stella,” you giggled out with a tired smile and she released you from her grip.
A beautiful girl in a blue and yellow crop top, jean bell bottoms, and yellow sandals jogged to catch up with Stella. Her hair reminded you of flames and her eyes of a crystal clear pond.
Stella stood and gestured toward you both, “Bloom, this is (Y/N), my bff forever,” she smiled. Bloom looked ready to say something but was quickly cut off, “And (Y/N), this is Bloom, a girl I met on Earth. She’s got major Winx!” Stella winked.
Bloom tried saying something again but you unintentionally cut her off, “Wow, Earth, huh? I’ve gone there before. I don’t remember there being any magical creatures there though.”
Bloom gave you an awkward smile before pulling Stella close to whisper something to her, clearly worried. Stella shrugged it off and in a normal volume said, “It’s fineeee, we’ll just tell her right now and nobody else will have to know!”
Your brows furrowed in confusion. Stella and Bloom stopped their whispering and turned back to you.
“Sooo, (Y/N),” Stella started, giving quick glances toward Bloom, “Bloom wasn’t actually signed up for Alfea, so I had her sign in as Veranda of Vallisto. Do you think you could call her that for now?” She seemed unworried for your response, already knowing you’d agree.
You blinked, “Um, Oh!” You gasped, “Right, you’ve got it, Veranda,” You gave Bloom a not remotely subtle wink and she smiled, evidently endeared and adequately reassured.
In the courtyard, you and a bunch of other students gathered around Griselda, who was listing the consequences for breaking Alfea’s rules. You tuned her out, having heard the rules many, many times, until you heard her mention you and Stella.
“Isn’t that right, Princess Stella? (F/N)?” She gave an accusatory glare as she told everyone in the courtyard about how you two had destroyed the potion’s laboratory the year before. You cringed at the memory, your cheeks flushing in embarrassment. Stella tried to maintain an unbothered facade, but you could tell she felt mild embarrassment at the memory as well.
“You guys really did that?” Bloom questioned.
“We were trying to create a new shade of pink,” Stella explained nonchalantly. You bashfully nodded in confirmation, twirling a strand of hair nervously.
Griselda continued explaining the rules, but you were too caught in your head to hear the rest of what she was saying. You all moved inside the main building of Alfea for the next part of orientation.
The gathering held by Headmistress Faragonda to welcome new students definitely did not leave you as awestruck as last year, when your eyes were full of stars and excitement at the endless possibilities of your time at Alfea. Stella’s exaggerated mimicking of Ms. Faragonda made you snicker, and Bloom’s presence brought you warmth. Being with Stella and having a new friend brought such a wonderful flurry of feelings.
You were happy to just nod along and listen to them talk as you walked alongside them, but your eyes tended to linger on Bloom subconsciously. Something about her drew you in, which was very uncommon. You didn’t know how to explain it, but Bloom just had a very warm presence. Only Stella managed to make you feel anything remotely similar to this; While Stella’s presence was like a warm blanket, Bloom’s presence made you feel like a campfire was burning in your abdomen, heating your skin to an almost uncomfortable level.
She must have powers similar to Stella’s, who also drew you in with her warmth. You guessed she had powers related to stars, light, or fire, placing an unspoken bet with yourself for fun: ‘ I bet myself a new button eye for Grate that she has fire powers.’ The thought intruded and spread a small cheeky grin on your face, “ That would explain the hair too.”
Stella started to explain the concept of Winx, a fairy’s power, to Bloom. She made it sound so simple. You wish it were that simple for you.
Once you reached your dorm, Stella voiced some concern for your new roommates but didn’t seem too bothered once she mentioned that you and her were already sharing a room.
Originally, Stella was going to have a single, but she insisted that she wanted to room with you. You weren’t complaining, at least you’d have a friend as a roommate and you wouldn’t have to share with anyone you didn’t know. Socializing was not your strong suit so it would only end up being unnecessarily awkward.
“This room is sweet,” Bloom said after Stella opened the door to show off the room. It honestly just looked like someone had shoved your twin size bed in the single room at the last minute. She had her big bed in the middle, while your small bed was in the corner, near the door; you really didn’t want to take up more space than you needed to. Besides, Stella was used to big beds in her castle, and you were used to small beds and cots since that was all that could fit on the ship. It was perfect for you two.
When Bloom entered her room, she was greeted by a talking plant and a soft-spoken girl named Flora. You walked in just in time to see her accidentally knock the plant over. You tried to stifle a snort behind your palm.
Bloom almost gave herself away already, which was very telling of how long this secret was going to last. Stella was able to not-so-subtly remind her and Bloom clumsily recovered.
You met the next girl, Tecna, when she started spewing facts about the real Veranda’s home planet, Vallisto. You really liked her haircut, it looked very practical.
Stella introduced herself and yourself since you had just been standing quietly beside her and Bloom, not making any attempts at talking with your new roommates.
Tecna’s eyes lit up in recognition at you two’s names, “You both are quite infamous.”
You didn’t even get to say anything before another girl came in the room and added on to Tecna’s comment, “That’s the word on the street.”
You all turned to her and she continued, “Yo, If you plan to blow up more stuff, let us know ahead so we can bounce,” her smile was genuine. You were already starting to feel at ease around these girls, despite your initial nervousness. You would later learn that her name is Musa.
You giggled with Bloom and Tecna, but Stella didn’t seem amused, “It was in the name of fashion. I don’t regret it.”
“I’m curious,” Tecna approached you and Stella, “Were you actually able to create this new shade of pink?”
You stepped out of Stella’s shadow, finally feeling comfortable enough to say something, “Unfortunately not.”
“But when we do,” Stella added in, a smile growing on her face, “It’s going to be the official color of Solaria!”
When Bloom’s pet rabbit, Kiko, had tried eating Flora’s plant, Stella spoke up, “Speaking of food, I’m famished! I have a brilliant idea: What do you say we get out of here and go downtown for a pizza?”
Pizza sounded so good right now.
Bloom had apparently never been to the city of Magix before, which quite frankly was a crime. You remember the first time you visited Magix, how you were left completely awestruck by the beautiful combination of technology and magic. You felt lucky that you were about to witness someone else’s first time visiting there.
As you all got off the bus to the city of Magix, Bloom kept her eyes covered so you all could witness her reaction at the big reveal.
You were surprised to see Bloom’s expression morph into disappointment once she uncovered her eyes.
“What do you think?” Musa asked, but you already knew the answer.
“To be honest with you, I’m kinda disappointed. This is it?” Bloom stepped away from you all to gesture at your surroundings, “Capital of the realm of Magix, most enchanted city in the universe?” You crossed your arms, an eyebrow raised.
“Well, what’d you expect?” Musa voiced your thoughts.
“I dunno, dragons, unicorns, rainbows, giants, flying brooms?” she rapid-fired. Your disappointment was replaced with a giggle. You wish there were dragons in Magix, the parking lots would be more interesting for sure.
“Hm, but that’s all fairy tale stuff,” Stella told Bloom, “This is the real world.”
Bloom did end up being impressed at a man using his magic to conjure an empty parking lot for himself. The city would grow on her, despite her initial expectations.
“Time for pizza!” Flora exclaimed, pointing in the direction of a pizza place nearby.
Musa replied, “Yeah, chow time! My stomach’s growling!”
You peeked into a store on your way to the pizza place to see a giant yellow ogre in overalls trying on glasses. You saw something new every time you came to Magix, you swear.
After you were all done eating, Bloom seemed to be having trouble with her phone. Apparently it was ancient by Magix’s standards, but the newest model on Earth. You giggled at her cluelessness. Tecna let Bloom use her phone card to call her parents.
Once Bloom left, you felt a strange emptiness, one that demanded you follow her. You stood from the table and told Stella you were going on a walk. Stella assumed you were starting to get overwhelmed by all the social interaction, so she just smiled at you and continued her conversation with the other girls.
You don’t know why you felt so inclined to follow Bloom, nor do you know why she made you feel so strange. Your cheeks grew warm whenever you’d speak to her and your stomach felt fluttery. It wasn’t pleasant, but it wasn’t a horrible feeling either.
Once you turned on the street where Bloom was making her phone call, you were surprised to see her rushing out of the phone booth, sprinting after the same giant yellow ogre you’d spotted earlier.
You were honestly stupefied for a moment there, freezing in place. As your heart rate suddenly increased and the cogs started turning in your head once again, you felt yourself chasing after her.
You tried to be discreet, pulling the hood of your jacket/hoodie over your head. You were careful to quiet your hurried footsteps as you stayed a decent distance away from Bloom while she ran. You hugged a brick wall around a corner when she crouched behind some trash cans in front of a dark alley, evidently listening in on a conversation.
You didn’t know who Bloom was listening to, or why, but something in your gut told you that she was in danger. You were proven right when a woman with long hair and deep violet clothing teleported behind Bloom, who was completely oblivious.
“Look what I found, girls,” you heard the woman snicker, forcefully pushing Bloom into the alley with psychic waves.
Your heart was hammering, the blood was burning in your veins and breaths stuttering in your chest. A strange, tingly, unfamiliar thought voiced itself in your mind in a voice that wasn’t your own: ‘ Protect the flame’ .
You didn’t even get to process the foreign thought before you were rushing toward the alley, all thoughts of self-preservation completely absent in that moment.
Arriving at the entrance of the alley, you were met with the backs of three floating and very intimidating women. They were closing in on Bloom, oblivious to your presence, to0 focused on tormenting the flame-haired fairy. Your blood turned to ice at a sudden realization:
They were witches.
Your mother had always told you to stay far away from the witches of Cloud Tower. She would regale you with stories from her time at Alfea and her unfortunate encounters with witches throughout her time there. They were taught to torment fairies and caused nothing but trouble.
And you were met with three of them.
The one with a magenta bodysuit and a purple storm cloud for hair sent a tornado hurtling towards Bloom. Adrenaline dictated your following actions.
“NO, BLOOM!” You screamed, shooting your hand out to reach toward her. Your hand felt tingly and the necklace around your neck felt hot as a magical force field suddenly shielded Bloom from the witches’ onslaught of attacks.
The witches whipped around to face you. The stormy haired one scowled at your intrusion, while the witch in dark blue with a high white ponytail smirked, “Well, well, it looks like one of your pathetic pixie friends came to save you.”
You felt a presence behind you and and you felt your stance falter in fear. You heard the voice of the one in violet speak into your ear, “Maybe she’ll put up more of a fight,” You turned your head to see a copy of the woman in violet floating behind you. Just like she did with Bloom, she sent shockwaves of magic into your back.
The waves buzzed through your body like nails on a chalkboard. You felt air whipping past you as you hurdled toward the brick wall of the alley. Your back hit the wall with a harsh thump , the breath getting knocked out of you. You fell to the ground, groaning.
“(Y/N)!” Bloom screamed in worry, pushing her palms against the magic shield you’d conjured around her.
The witches froze, quickly giving each other skeptical glances.
“(Y/N)?” The stormy haired one broke the deafening silence, looking to the ice witch.
Icy lowered herself to the ground and approached your crumpled form, the clacking of her heels echoing loudly in the eerily quiet alley. You desperately tried to lift yourself from the ground on bruised knees and scraped hands. You shuttered, your teeth chattering as her ice-cold presence drew closer.
Bloom watched helplessly from inside the protective barrier you’d conjured. She wished she could summon some of that “major Winx” she had summoned back when she helped Stella fight against the ogre and ghouls back on Earth. She needed to help you right now, like you helped her.
Icy crouched to your level and yanked away the hood that was obscuring your face. She stifled back a gasp, eyes widening in disbelief, “(W/N)?” She questioned, her voice almost fragile, “Is that you?”
The other two witches came up to either side of you, studying you. Bloom was completely forgotten by the witches this moment, not by you though. You struggled to keep yourself awake and to maintain the buzzing warmth emanating from your hand to keep the protective barrier around her. The ice witch’s presence was so cold . You shivered on the ground, suddenly feeling as though you’d fallen into the arctic depths of a frozen lake. It wasn’t a foreign feeling, surprisingly.
Darcy crossed her arms as she watched you carefully, also lowering herself to the ground, “(H/c) hair, (e/c) eyes, slightly pointy ears…” she looked back to her sister, “This has to be her, Icy.”
“But she can’t be!” Stormy protested, frantically looking between you and her sisters, “Why would she be hanging around pixies from Alfea?” It seemed she didn’t want to get her hopes up.
They seemed to consider this and awaited your response. You were much too disoriented to even hear anything they’d been saying. Your ears rang and your head spun. You hoped you bought Bloom some time. You managed to rasp weakly, “Leave her alone…” before you fully collapsed to the ground, unconscious.
The witches continued staring you down, considering you for a moment in silence. The shield around Bloom fizzled out like a flickering light bulb. Bloom still sat on the ground, stunned into silence at the exchange. How did they know you?
Icy stepped back and stated with conviction, “We’re taking her back to Cloud Tower with us,” With a snap of her fingers, a magic bubble surrounded your unconscious form, and the witches turned back to Bloom. Suddenly, she was on her own again against three senior witches from Cloud Tower.
When you came to, you realized you were lying down on a couch in your dorm. Tecna was seated near you, closely monitoring what looked to be vital signs on her small computer. You groaned as a wave of throbbing pain pushed through your head. Tecna’s head snapped up to assess your condition now that you were awake.
Stella rushed toward you, tackling you back down into the cushions with an air-stealing hug, “Oh thank goodness you’re okay! I can’t believe those witches almost took you!”
Your vision cleared and you could see the other girls rush to your side. Small patches of Bloom’s skin looked to be frostbitten. You were beyond confused.
Tecna let a small robotic ladybug out from its case and it hovered over you. As it scanned your body, Stella added, “Oh, by the way, you don’t have to call Bloom Veranda anymore. We told the girls and Miss Faragonda everything.” She smiled cheekily.
Your eyes tiredly followed the ladybug as it retreated to its resting place and Tecna typed away on her keyboard, “You’ve been unconscious for three hours now. It says here it’s from magic exhaustion,” she stated factually.
You furrowed your brows, “Magic exhaustion?” You let out a humorless laugh and scoffed, standing up with a slight stumble, “I’m barely even able to use my magic, there’s no way. I think being knocked into a brick wall will suffice as an explanation, thank you, Tecna.” You were really not in the mood for this, whatever this was.
“What? No, (Y/N), you saved me in that alley before everyone else came. You made a shield and everything,” Bloom confusedly protested.
“That must have been you,” you crossed your arms refusing to entertain the thought of your powers finally working when you wanted them to. You really didn’t want to be left disappointed again.
Suddenly, your mind reeled back to something Stella said, “Wait,” you blinked, turning to Stella, “What do you mean the witches almost took me?” Your throat felt dry, a pit of dread forming in your gut.
“They said they wanted to take you back to Cloud Tower with them,” Bloom told you, her voice laced with concern and confusion, “Do you know them from somewhere, (Y/N)?”
The girls awaited your response but you only stared blankly at the wall in front of you, your brows furrowed, “No, I don’t,” your voice was monotonous but pondering, you left no room for argument with your statement.
It was silent in the room for a moment before Stella piped up, “Well, we’re just glad you two are okay. Those witches were scary!”
You nodded absently and retreated back to your and Stella’s room. It was a really long day and you were in some desperate need of rest before classes tomorrow.