Chapter Text
Discernment
‘The ability to judge well.’
☆
“Hey, did you hear?”
“Hear what?”
Within close proximity, Musa’s head perked up at the indication of new gossip the moment Stella spoke. She lowered the volume of her headphones to three.
Her eyes remain on the textbook that she has been casually studying in their communal area, sitting on the armchair with her legs up whilst Stella and Bloom are sitting on the other. She was here first, so when the two entered the room, she definitely wasn’t leaving.
And even though they have an upcoming test, the material is so boring that Musa is willing to let herself be distracted.
Musa admits that she can’t help but be curious of the gossip in Alfea. She likes to hear what the princess of so-and-so and whichever infamous guardian’s daughter is doing, which would absolutely be shunned by the public if it ever got out of the school grounds. She patiently waits for Stella’s suspenseful response.
“Uh, Musa,” Stella calls.
At this, Musa takes off her headphones. “Yeah, Stella?”
“Did you hear?” Stella repeats the question.
“Oh, come on, Stella!” Bloom nudges the princess with a feigned whine. “Hurry up and tell us!”
“Okay, okay.” Stella shifts in her position. “Riven and Darcy broke up.”
Bloom gasps, though lightly, her eyes shifting from Stella to Musa looking for a reaction. “Already?”
“Sky told me. He said he just finished training with Brandon and Riven, so he thought he’d call me for a moment because I texted that I wasn’t doing anything,” adds Stella. “Apparently Riven was so aggressive that Brandon barely made it alive. Luckily he only got a strand of his hair cut off. But Brandon, being the team leader he is, asked him what was up and Riven just confessed.”
Musa blinks. Well, this is not what she expected. “Just like that?”
“Yeah, and they spent half an hour comforting the lovelorn boy. As it turns out, the Cold Prince can feel emotions.”
“I thought he was just under her spell. I didn’t think they were actually dating. Not to say that witches don’t do dating, but Darcy of all people? I can’t imagine anyone dating her unless they were under her control.” Bloom finishes her thoughts, then turns to Musa. “Well, Musa… what do you think?”
“I… guess it was bound to happen?” she shrugs.
“You’re awfully calm about this,” states Stella.
Musa feels her brows twitch. She closes her textbook and leans forward for a better conversation. “What are you insinuating?”
Stella hums, folding her arms. “You and Riven had a thing, albeit short, didn’t you?”
Chewing on her bottom lip nervously, she knows that Stella is referring to the short-lived chemistry they had at the party. It was the one they held after having to clean the entire school as part of their punishment for infiltrating Cloud Tower. Till this day, Musa still believes she could’ve at least gotten a situationship if Riven had allowed it.
“Well, that’s in the past. And I don’t care if he’s dating a witch.”
Shaking her head, Musa tries to forget sharing her first hook-up with him. The only good thing to come out of it is that she can say she’s experienced.
“Yeah, there’s lots of specialists that date witches,” says Bloom. “Imagine my surprise when I found out about it.”
Musa is inclined to agree with Bloom. The textbook in her hands slips to the side of her lap when her hands are getting sweaty. Typically, specialists liked to date fairies because they both had a shared value of goodness. The witches tended to prefer wizards, rebels and criminals. However, it’s not unheard of to see some specialists developing feelings for witches. Whether it be because of attraction or the feeling of rebellion.
Thus, when Musa discovered Riven and Darcy’s love affair, she wasn’t shocked because it was revolutionary. Moreso, she was shocked because she felt betrayed. She likes to think that despite Riven’s cold demeanour, he had a good side to him. Just hidden beneath the surface. Like the instrumental to the voice in a song. When she found out they liked some of the same bands that originated in Magix, she was excited to have an excuse to talk to him.
Stella jokes that Musa has a thing for bad boys, and Musa couldn’t argue with it.
Riven was rude, but cool enough to still be attractive.
“I can imagine,” says Stella. “Only cause you’re still new here.”
“So, why’d they break up?” asks Bloom.
It doesn’t exactly make her feel satisfied to hear them break up. For starters, Riven was more willing to date Darcy before even giving Musa a chance, which is a good indicator of Riven’s taste in girls. He likes badder girls, and Musa is just a loser who metaphorically graduated early with a Bachelor of Worldwide Music and History. She can’t find it in herself to feel bad for him because he never really showed concern for her.
If she took the chance now to comfort him to get closer, she doubts it would work. If anything, Musa guesses the break up will raise his barriers because it’s proven that nobody really cares about Riven. Except for Riven himself.
Well, hopefully Sky and Brandon’s comfort helps.
“Considering that Darcy was the one who ended it, I’m guessing it was because Riven’s insufferable,” answers Stella, raising a finger as if to make a point.
“He’s actually a laughing stock,” quips Bloom. “Musa, you dodged a bullet.”
Stella agrees with a firm nod. She pats on the empty space beside her, inviting Musa to sit together. Musa gets up and does so.
“You might be a tomboy, but you’re still way too pretty for him.”
☆
“I know he’s a dick sometimes, but don’t let it get to you,” Brandon tells her one day.
“He literally goes out of his way to get under your skin,” says Timmy, showing his support too. “I understand if it’s not easy to not let it get to you. But seriously, just ignore him.”
She can see why Bloom’s into Brandon. He’s blond and has blue eyes. He’s nice. Awfully kind, in fact. He’s strong, but doesn’t use it to show off, focusing on protecting others. He’s a good leader because he always puts others before himself, which Musa believes to stem from the fact that he grew up as Prince Sky’s squire.
Maybe she should consider going for nice guys like Brandon.
Somehow, she can’t see herself being interested in guys like Brandon romantically. Not only because it’s clear, as, according to girl code, he belongs to Bloom, but also because she doesn’t find her knees getting weak or her stomach filling with butterflies when he helps her. Or when any of the nice specialists give her a hand.
One day, another specialist from another team joins them on a quick mission. She can’t remember the boy’s name, but he was there to fill in Timmy who fell sick.
“Oh, he’s cute,” whispers Stella.
Musa shrugs.
Looking into his eyes, she can see the concern for her above the rest of the Winx. He makes it his priority to save her first when the monsters come, despite the fact that she’s proven to him that she can handle it all herself. She tells him so. He agrees. But it’s how he doesn’t diminish her efforts, and the girls’, like Riven does, that makes her smile.
“Yeah,” he says to her, “You’re so strong, you’re putting me to shame. Looks like I have to work harder.”
“Hey, he’s super attentive as well!” Stella later adds.
“Yeah, he is,” says Musa, but there’s no smile that reaches her eyes when she talks about him. “He even said that he’s going to spend the evening listening to my favourite albums, even though he doesn’t listen to rock.”
“Why don’t you talk to him?”
“Eh, I doubt I’ll see him often,” is Musa’s excuse.
Stella smiles mischievously. “You’ve forgotten that cell phones exist. I can get his number for you, if you like me to.”
Musa couldn’t answer that.
Looking into his eyes, she sees herself. Completely, absolutely not infatuated with nice guys like him.
When she lies in bed that night, she doesn’t even think about him.
☆
“Oh, it’s just you.”
His widened eyes return to normal at the sight of Musa. The tension in his shoulders eases as he realises it wasn't a threat, but a pixie pest, not that he was scared or anything.
Another unexpected yet not-surprised encounter with the Red Fountain boys, located in the Black Mud Swamp where it is frequently used by the schools as a field exercise area.
“Uh… hi?” Musa responded, like a normal human being when met with another familiar human being. But considering how uncomfortable his nonchalance is, she shifts her weight and rubs at her bare arms.
“What are you doing here? Isn’t this place a bit dangerous?” he says, arching a brow.
“My friends are here to forage for some herbs for a Potionology research project. I’m only separated because I volunteered to look for the easier herbs, and so did Tecna.” Musa elucidates as she continues to turn her head, scanning the area, “We wanted to speed up the process to get home early. And Flora only trusts Tecna and I to do it alone. She and the other two are together.”
Riven hums, his curiosity satisfied.
She turns her head back. “And you?”
“Oh,” Riven mutters. Musa notes the way his face seems to fall. “Professor Codatorta is assigning a few of us here for every day of the week for the rest of the month. There’s like… an accumulation of monsters here, or whatever, that we have to hunt.”
“Are you serious?” Musa blinks.
“Yeah,” he continues, ever-so-casually, “Our last lecture was on how a certain percentage of nightmares from various dimensions can manifest into reality, reaching Magix. Apparently, a great majority of these nightmares manifest here.”
“And did nobody tell Alfea?!” Musa finally snaps, a crack in her voice. “Is this some kind of a prank? How come only Red Fountain was told this?”
Slightly taken aback, Riven narrows his eyes, having his ears assaulted by Musa’s yell. “Chill. It’s just nightmares.”
“My friends are out there!” she points out. “I need to go find them!”
“Do you even know where they are right now?”
Halting, Musa looks down almost disappointingly.
“And besides,” he adds, his voice drawing, “I’m sure your friends can handle it. We’re only sent here now because it’s still a small issue, so even if there’s nightmare monsters, there’s either not gonna be a lot of them or they’re not gonna be big. Unless,” at this, Riven smirks, “you’re telling me that you pixies are indeed weak, so weak that you can’t handle it on your own?”
Musa bites her lips, feeling heated from his words. He is such an asshole. But, she hasn’t exactly seen any indication of monsters or danger lurking anywhere yet. The swamp is big, but she and her friends have been here enough times to be familiar with her paths of exits. If anything, she prays that they have met the other specialists already.
She supposes she will find her share of herbs quickly and then return to her friends. She also makes a mental note to inform the school, so they can withhold any classes in the swamp in the meantime.
“How many have you found so far?” she asks, curious.
“None yet,” he answers. “This is only just the beginning. I’m supervising this part of the swamp, though.”
So, she’s also going to have to deal with him while she searches for the herbs here.
After a while of searching, Musa finally finds the herbs.
Riven trails behind her the entire time, his footsteps deliberately slow, yet always close enough to keep an eye on her. He claims he was sticking around because “nightmare monsters might prey on weaklings like you,” but they both knew that wasn’t the full truth.
She carefully examines the leaves, ensuring they were the correct ones before stuffing them into her pouch.
“I guess that’s me,” she announces, her voice light with relief. “Good thing it didn’t take too long.”
“Uh-huh,” comes Riven’s voice from behind.
“Well, it was nice seeing you again,” is her way of saying she still appreciates his company. She hides her smile, in case Riven doesn’t return it.
He doesn't respond. They both know where this is going.
She couldn’t stop herself, the words tumbling out, “I’m sorry for what happened.”
“For what?” He clenches his jaw, narrows his eyes.
Musa hesitates. “Sorry about your… uh… breakup,” she says softly.
“It’s none of your business.”
She flinches at the sharpness of his words, but she doesn’t back down. “Why are you so mean?” she retorts. “ I was only being nice.”
“I don’t need your pity,” he practically spits.
“Fine. Be heartbroken.”
Musa refrains from sighing, the fight going out of her. Without another word, she turns away from Riven, gripping the pouch of herbs tightly.
She walks. She walks and walks. She stomps hard into the mud with a force that sends dirty water splashing up her bare legs. Up to her thighs. She pushes through the dense underbrush with more force than necessary, the leaves and branches scraping against her pale skin.
She tries not to think about the jackass that is Riven even though his face consumes her vision. She barely watches where she is going because of this.
He’s just an asshole and I knew it, she thinks to herself, I didn’t even make fun of him for dating Darcy and he still didn’t appreciate it!
☆
The Trix are here, foraging for herbs to make their potions as well.
With Alfea and Cloud Tower both being schools that taught magic, regardless of how the spell incantations may be different depending on whether you are a fairy or witch, the fundamentals of Potionology remain consistent across both schools due to it coming from natural resources.
Knowing this, it has become something of a tradition for Headmistresses Faragonda of Alfea and Griffin of Cloud Tower to compare their students' scores in their respective Potionology exam each year.
However, the competition is somewhat skewed.
A significant portion of Alfea’s fairies are of royal lineage, and their educational focus often differs from that of their peers, they tend to prioritise subjects that align with their roles in governance and diplomacy. As a result, they place greater emphasis on mastering linguistics, such as Incantations and Languages, and on understanding the Ancient History and Politics of the Magic Dimension. These subjects, while important, often divert their attention away from the more hands-on, practicable studies like Potionology.
Even among the non-royal students at Alfea, there is a general preference for experiential learning. Fairies are inherently inclined toward subjects that allow them to be active participants.
The only exception are fairies that specialise in Botany.
On the other hand, potions have been a staple in witch culture. Sometimes it was easier to use potions for antics because it ate up less of their own magic energy, which they sometimes liked to save for more sinister practices. The main reason for it—the witches don’t like to talk about it.
This goes without saying that Headmistress Griffin holds up her reports sheet every year with pride.
“Why can't they just collect it for us and we make the potions then?” complains Stormy, as usual. “Why do we have to go out and do it ourselves? It’s much easier if we already have the materials.
“No shit,” says Icy, who is currently leading the group. She doesn’t turn around to face her sisters as she speaks.. “Why else do you think they made us come all the way out here?”
“We got the easy ones, we just need to find the ones that are hidden,” notes Darcy with a sigh. Today she isn’t wearing her glasses.
Stormy is still huffing. She kicks at the mud. “I hate that you can’t use magic here,” she grumbles.
“If you use magic, you’ll disturb the swamp’s natural environment,” states Darcy in a matter-of-factly tone.
The swamp has a mind of its own, the different plants here have been suggested by researchers to be able to communicate with one another. It has been recorded, and carefully studied over the years, that when one species of plant is in danger as a result of either natural occurrences or from the impact of a magic attack, the rest of the swamp will adapt to support the species.
The swamp therefore does not like magic.
If Cloud Tower cared less, the witches would be free to use magic anytime here. However, since they rely on the Black Mud Swamp so often for herbs, it is part of the contract to study in Cloud Tower.
“Oh my God, shut up.” Stormy refrains from shouting as best as she can, hating how Darcy always has to be the one to present information as if she was the smarter sister. “I know that.”
“You both shut up,” hisses Icy, finally turning around to face them. Her ice-cold glare was enough to silence the bickering.
Before Stormy could utter another word, Icy tilts her head in the direction, where in the far distance you can make out three figures. Though their uniforms were nearly the same colour as the muddy water surrounding them, the brightness of their hair was a dead giveaway.
A smirk curls into Stormy’s lips. “Let’s mess with them,” she suggests as she raises her hands, about to summon the energy for a spell.
Darcy gives her a look. “Magic,” she warns.
“Fine.” Stormy lowers her arms. “Let’s prank them then. I'm gonna drown that prissy sunshine princess in mud.”
Icy smiles in approval. “Oh, good idea. She hates getting dirty.”
“Let's go then.”
Both sisters turn to look at Darcy, who remains where she is.
She shrugs slightly. “I’m alright. You two go. I'll stay and find the rest of the herbs.”
Stormy crosses her arms over her chest. “Too mature to indulge in pranks?”
Icy intervenes before Darcy can come up with a good response, probably about being a better person than Stormy just because she isn’t as immature as Stormy.
“Let’s go already,” says Icy, being the oldest who likes to keep peace between the younger two.
Darcy smiles.
She watches them stealthily make their way towards the three members of the Winx, ducking to avoid being seen. She turns around to continue her search.
Darcy supposes she doesn’t really need to hand in her share of the assignment. Regardless of whether she graduates in two years or not, or if she gets held back, she has already mastered every aspect of Darkness, long before she even set foot in Cloud Tower.
Just hearing this, one might assume she’s far older and more experienced than she appears. But the reality is that she’s only seventeen.
Moreover, she is currently studying and is already excelling in Illusions. In the beginning of first year, she and Mirta, the other Witch of illusions, had been on the same level. By the end of the year, however, Darcy had far exceeded Mirta.
She’s only doing this assignment because she’s bored.
And whilst she doesn't dabble in romantic relationships, even if it was for benefits, which the witches like to use for their own entertainment, she admits that being with Riven was fun. Or, maybe it was fun in the way a well-played game is fun. Perhaps it was the thrill of manipulating him, of using him more than actually caring for him.
If her sisters ever ask about it again, that’s the explanation she’ll give them—that it was just a game, a way to pass the time. She doesn't want to seem as though she does have feelings. Because she doesn't.
“ARGHHH!” comes Stella’s scream.
“You witch!” exclaimed Bloom.
Darcy would be spending her afternoon with him today if she didn’t break up with him.
At some point, Riven was no longer fun. He’s the type of guy that gets heated very quickly if you disagree with him. Even under her control, where he would work for her, he still maintained his bad temper. It happened so often that it didn’t feel rewarding anymore because Darcy didn’t have to do much work to get him angry.
There was no satisfaction of seeing his face when he realised that he was being used all along.
☆
Musa hears a familiar scream, which is comparable to Stella’s when she experiences a fashion nightmare such as waking up to a bad hair day or finding a bug in her wardrobe.
“Are you stalking us?”
“It may look like so.”
“What are you doing here, then?” At second glance, Musa realises that the Trix were indeed here on their own business as evident by their attire.
“I wasn’t a part of this,” Darcy tells her. “I wasn’t going to get myself dirty in the process.”
Behind Darcy, Musa’s eyes catch sight of Icy and Stormy, their laughter ringing out through the thick, humid air as they watch Bloom and Flora struggle to help Stella back to her feet. The uniform she managed to keep clean this entire time, and her golden hair, is now tainted with mud. Musa can just about make out Stella muttering bitterly beneath her breath.
She doesn’t want to admit that even to some degree, Musa agrees that Stella deserves a punch of reality. Not everything is going to be perfect and pristine.
Still, it’s only be acceptable if Musa was the one who pushed Stella.
“I should warn you that nightmare monsters are emerging in this swamp. You should get out before it gets serious.”
“Why are you even telling me this?” asks Darcy, tilting her head slightly. “We like nightmares. We’re witches.”
Musa shifts in her position. She had thought that the Trix would be appreciative of some warning.
“You can’t use magic to defend yourselves,” Musa points out.
Darcy doesn’t miss a beat. “I know that. But surely the swamp can defend themselves.”
“You don’t know how strong these monsters are.”
Musa watches the witch shrug.
“Whatever,” says Musa. “I’m getting my friends and I out of here. We’re not gonna deal with your pranks any longer than necessary, lest a nightmare monster finds us.”
Although Icy and Stormy have made their moves on her friends, Musa knows better than to stay and fight out the witches physically. It’s a waste of time, and they should all get out of here soon.
The specialists are the only ones who can effectively deal with this right now because they fight with weapons. After protecting the Black Mud Swamp, they enable this so long as no physical damage is done to their property.
As soon as Musa takes a step, Darcy’s smug expression immediately falters. Musa doesn’t think twice about it until she hears a large growl behind her.
The sound is so low and guttural that it feels like it comes from the very ground beneath them. Musa’s breath catches in her throat, her instincts screaming at her to turn around, but before she can react, something slams into her back with brutal force.
She feels herself falling, her body moving toward Darcy.
Expecting to hit the ground hard, she instead collides with Darcy, who instinctively reaches out and grabs her by the arm. The grip on her arm is so strong that it hurts, but it’s enough to stabilise them both. Their eyes meet as Musa straightens her back, awkwardly.
She realises it’s because in that short moment, even if Darcy dodged and she fell, Darcy would still get dirty.
“Goddammit,” mutters Darcy. “How the hell is it so fucking massive?!”
“I could say the same about your ego,” retorts Musa, turning around.
“Forget it—let’s run!”
The grip on her arm sharpens as Darcy runs off, Musa being dragged along. The squelching mud beneath their feet makes every step a struggle. Behind them are the rest of the Winx and Trix, their earlier tensions forgotten in the face of the immediate threat.
“Hey!” comes Stormy’s voice after the sound of a large splash.
“That’s what you get for pushing me,” laughs Stella.
Behind the two are the rest of the Winx and Trix.
Riven arrives at the scene. Behind him are other specialists, swinging their respective weapons forward.
“I already got Tecna out of here,” says Timmy, already knowing what Musa would ask the moment she sees them.
Roars now echo over their voices. Nightmare monsters rising from every other corner of the swamp.
They move as quickly as the terrain would allow, the dense foliage whipping against their faces as they push their way toward the outer area of the swamp, leading in the direction of Lake Roccaluce.
“Y-you can let go of my arm now,” says Musa, being the first two to reach the exit.
“Hm?” Darcy gives her a confused look. She looks down and sees that her hand is still on Musa’s wrist, and looking up she sees heat rising to the fairy’s cheeks.
She drops Musa’s wrist.
Musa rubs on the now red skin. There’s crescent indents too, marked by Darcy’s nails.
“I still need to gather the rest of the herbs for Potionology,” she says quietly.
“I’ll nick some from Flora later and post it to Cloud Tower,” Musa offers, though her voice doesn’t sound as kind as the offer she is making. “What do you need?”
“Why are you being so nice to me? It’s kinda icky.”
“For thanks, I guess.”
“For what?” she asks, to clarify.
Musa shrugs. “For helping me out. For not attacking me like your sisters did with my friends.”
Flora is the first behind them to slow down when they finally escape. Her chest heaving as she places a hand over her heart.
“Phew,” breathes Flora.
“I’m too mature for pranks like that,” Darcy says, louder this time so Stormy can hear. “I prefer mind games.”
☆
“Asshole,” Musa mutters when Riven arrives.
The Trix are long gone now.
“Hey, I saved you!”
Musa wants to argue and tell him that he didn’t actually do much.
“Thanks,” she says instead, albeit not as appreciative-sounding as Riven has hoped. But it’s enough for them to be on good terms again.
She makes a mental note on the last three herbs that Darcy needed. It’s a good thing that Flora suggested to gather three of each, instead of one. Now, what should she say when Flora asks why she needs the rest?
Wait, Musa thinks briefly, do nightmare monsters still give its escaped prey nightmares?
Nah, probably not.
☆
Some people say that your life starts at eighteen. Others, in your twenties. Some would say in your thirties to fifties. Others believe that life can start the moment you realise you have a purpose.
Today, Darcy received her assignment back and felt no satisfaction from getting an A. She didn’t put in a lot of effort in the rest of her classes either, considering how little she needs to try. She didn’t show off either when the professor asked each student to demonstrate the spell. It’s not about being the most studious witch, but the best witch. In other words, academics is not her calling but power.
Her purpose?
She’ll figure it out, eventually.
As of lately, Darcy has been walking around the city as part of her new meditation plan. Turns out walking can help one think through their thoughts very well. She’d do it in her dorm, but when it’s too quiet, Stormy always takes it as an invitation to zap her eyes open.
Just as she was feeling quite good with herself with all the negativity, she sensed a burst of positive energy. Turning around the street, she reaches a music store. The door slides open and out steps Musa.
“Of course,” Darcy grimaces.
She’s too kind. Too happy. It’s sickening, really, just as much so as the rest of the Winx,
Darcy knows that Musa and Riven had a thing, which Musa had probably mistaken for something deeper. She still remembers the shock on Musa’s face, the raw hurt from betrayal, seeing Riven with her and the Trix. It’s a memory that she savours.
Much more than the reaction that’s easily irritable. Although she enjoys that too.
If only she can hurt Musa again.
Musa drops her smile, the grip on the CDs in her hands tightened. “What’s your problem?”
Much better.
Maybe she’ll play with Musa today to relieve her boredom.
“Just because you were nice to me one time doesn’t mean we’re friends now.”
“I helped you with your assignment, what else do you want from me?”
“Are you and Rivvy back together?” taunts Darcy, using a nickname that she actually never used. Most intimate thing she ever said was ‘Riv’.
“Absolutely not,” affirms Musa. “I don’t want your used boy toy. And we weren’t together in the first place.”
“Shame. Your reaction to finding us together suggested otherwise.”
“The hell is up with you? Are you purposefully picking a fight with me because we’re alone?” Twitching her brows, Musa takes a step forward to show that she isn’t afraid.
“You want to fight to find out?” smirks Darcy, purple glowing at the end of her fingertips.
“Why not?” Musa doesn’t hesitate. Except for only a minute when she sets her CD on the side of the road neatly in a pile. “I was wanting to do this at the swamp, if it weren’t for no magic!”
The Fairy of Music transforms in a flash.
So does the Witch of Darkness.
Levitating above the ground, Musa extends her arm, sending a series of rings toward Darcy that reverberate in the air.
Darcy counters with her own rings of darkness.
Before their next attacks can collide, a patroller suddenly interjects, his voice coming from down the street.
"Stop this right now!" he shouts, swinging his magic-infused baton in the air, which was the very thing that ceased their magic.
Musa and Darcy immediately halt, the magical energy dissipating as their feet drop to the ground.
“Seriously! How many times do I have to tell you students that you can’t transform in the centre of Magix! It’s reinforced for a reason!”
Without needing to exchange a word, Musa and Darcy share a quick glance and instinctively make a dash for it before the patroller can arrest them.
Darcy spots an alleyway to their right and veers into it. It’s a dead end. Musa follows behind, almost hitting Darcy in the back.
“Damn it,” Musa mutters under her breath, glancing out.
Thinking fast, Darcy mutters a transformation spell. In an instant, she transforms into the body of a young male donning the uniform of a specialist. Musa feels the tingling sensation of the magic as her own form changes.
Musa watches the patroller run past them, his head looking in only to turn back straight ahead.
As soon as he disappears around the corner, Darcy lets the illusion drop, their true forms flickering back into view. But before Musa can react or say anything, Darcy swiftly turns, her hand shooting forward to release vines of darkness that pin Musa’s arms against the cold, rough brick wall of the alley.
“You can be as nice as you want, but don’t think we’re friends. I will never return the favour,” Darcy leans her head close to Musa’s. “Who’s coming to save you now?”
“I’m gonna choke you to death one day.”
“Kinky,” laughs Darcy, who then proceeds to show Musa what it’s like to be choked. She places her hand on Musa's neck, her thumb increasing the pressure on the side. “You wouldn’t,” says Darcy, recalling how Musa really did go out of her way to post a letter of herbs to Cloud Tower. “You’re too kind for that, Musa. More than what you let on.”
Musa bites on her lower lip.
She can’t stop staring at Darcy’s.
“You’re only making threats to scare me, aren’t you?” a smirk escaping Darcy lips as she notes the inconfidence in Musa, the way her legs quiver with fear as she realises that she’s alone. She imagines Musa’s expression the day she realises that she is truly alone. “You pixies are so cute when you’re scared.”
Musa opens her mouth. She starts to suck in air when she realises that she’s struggling to breathe, with Darcy’s thumb firm against her neck. The warmth of Darcy’s hands is too comforting to be afraid of.
“Did you get your grades back?”
Squirming, Musa barely manages to nod.
She tries to tilt her head to the side, slipping out of her grip, only for Darcy to place her other hand at Musa’s cheek.
“What did you get?”
Darcy swears Musa was blushing.
“An… A.” Her words come out in gasps.
“Perfect little pixie,” she says slowly, her words flowing like honey.
Darcy lets go.
She watches Musa drop down to her knees. She coughs into her hands. Tears swell up in her eyes. It’s almost pretty—the sight of the pixie weak because of her. Unable to fight back. Darcy wants to keep the pixie on her knees for longer, just to see the red marks that will engrave into her pale skin.
There's no way Musa thinks that just because she said ‘cute’ that it’s a compliment, right? Blushing , muses Darcy, in the middle of choking as well . Who does that?
How cute.
“I’ll let you go this time, just because you helped me with the assignment.”
☆
There is a nightclub in Magix, called The Cameo, specifically designed to centre around the students.
The Cameo doesn’t advertise itself as such, considering it sells alcohol to the general public, but it opens at four in the late afternoon and closes when the clock strikes nine. This gives students enough time to make it back to their dorms before ten, which is the shared curfew amongst all three major schools.
It also helps that they don’t ask for your identification.
“You have to experience night life in Magix,” insists Stella, her eyes sparkling with excitement, “I haven’t been to one on Earth, but I bet it’s still so much better here!”
After making it through the week, all five girls agreed that they wanted to do something to ease themselves—a girls’ night out.
For once, Flora and Musa don’t have to feel left out from not having a partner. Tecna also concurs considering how awkward she gets with Timmy.
“I wish I had your problem,” Musa had said to her.
Musa is more than excited to dance to music amidst the stress of assignments and surprise tests. Stella wanted to pick all their outfits. So tonight, she’s wearing Stella’s sleeveless maroon top, her own pleated denim skirt that she hasn’t worn since summer ended and a black pair of ankle boots that completes the look. She keeps her pigtails up, just because she doesn’t want her hair in her face when she’s moving.
They enter the club freely, but Stella still hands the bodyguard some cash. It must be quite a lot just by how he can’t help but grin.
Musa thinks she can relax sober, so long as she loses herself in the music. Even if just for a few hours.
The club is a kaleidoscope of flashing lights, pounding rhythms, and bodies moving in sync with the music. The rest of the Winx go to order their drinks.
The Fairy of Music has her eyes only on the dance floor.
As the night goes on, Musa catches the eye of a fairy—a pretty brunette with pale skin and striking features that seem oddly familiar, though Musa can’t quite place what it is about her. She seems to be into dancing just as much as Musa is.
The fairy moves closer, her eyes locked onto Musa’s with an intensity that makes her heart skip a beat. The crowd around them seems to fade away as the brunette leans in, her voice barely audible over the pounding music.
“Wanna leave this place? Just the two of us?” she murmurs, her breath warm against Musa’s ear.
The fairy pulls away so that they can look each other in the eyes again.
Musa is tempted to say yes.
But she’s never been asked out by a girl before.
”S-sorry, I’m not…” she stammers, her mouth going dry.
The fairy notices the blush on Musa’s face. “It’s okay,” she smiles. “I didn’t mean to make you uncomfortable.”
They don’t linger on the moment. Instead, they dive back into dancing. It helps that a few other fairies join in amongst them, including her friends.
What Musa doesn’t know is that someone on the sidelines is watching her, their gaze fixed intently on her every move.
After a while, the music doesn’t sound as good, beginning to hurt her head. She decides she needs some water.
Quickly finding Flora on the dance floor, she sends her friend a hand signal, which involves lifting her pinky finger up, to say that she will be back soon. It’s something that Flora made suggested, so everyone knows that everyone else is safe and sound.
She walks over to the side so that it’s easier to get to the main bar, hoping to ask for a water that would be free of cost. Sometimes, she forgets that because this is one of the only few places where the three schools get along that a lot of hook-ups happen here. Musa doesn't know how to feel when she sees a young-looking witch, who may or may not be first year, making out with a final year specialist who she recognises.
It’s unfortunate that as she has her eyes transfixed on the couple making out against the wall that Musa bumps into someone.
“Oh, sorry, I just—” Musa’s words trail off as her eyes land on the figure standing in front of her. When she realizes it’s Darcy, her expression hardens into a grimace. “—you again?”
Darcy’s lips curl into a sly smile. “Missed me?”
Absolutely not.
Although Musa couldn’t stop thinking how much it hurt not being able to breathe even though she wishes she could forget it. She swears a part of her was traumatised considering how often she remembers being choked, the way that Darcy’s thumb moved on her neck, holding in place. The warmth of it.
She never told her friends. She’s not sure why either. Maybe she just doesn’t like more trouble than necessary, considering how Darcy was kind enough to let her go. Kind, by a witch’s standards.
“How come you’re here? You don’t look like the type to dance.”
“Would you believe me if I said I was following you?”
“I would,” says Musa, raising a brow. The Trix might be causing trouble again tonight, maybe she should gather the Winx to evacuate everyone. “But why are you here?”
“Can’t I drink, people-watch and enjoy the music?” Darcy’s tone is casual, but there’s a glint in her eyes that makes Musa uneasy.
Judging based on Darcy’s attire, which is different from her usual outfits, and the glass in her hand half-filled,
“I didn’t know you liked to dance.”
“I don’t,” affirms Darcy. “I’m here to people-watch.”
“Watching the scene unfold as Icy and Stormy set up the trap?” accuses Musa.
Darcy takes a sip of her drink. “Go ahead and find them. They’re not here.”
Suddenly, Musa gets shoved in the arm. Turning around, she sees the witch and specialist again walking out. The young witch, who had collided with Musa, clings desperately to the specialist's arm, her legs unsteady as she tries to maintain her balance. Musa's eyes widen as she notices the raw, red marks covering the witch’s neck and shoulders
As they pass, Musa and Darcy instinctively step aside, giving them space. Musa briefly wonders if fairies and witches ever date
Darcy’s eyes follow the couple, a smirk tugging at her lips.
“Ever did much like that?”
Musa hesitates, a blush creeping up her neck.
Is this witch insane?! What kind of question is that?!
The two aren’t even friends.
“Like, once, if you must know,” she mutters, not really wanting to talk about her own romantic life.
“Yeah, Riven’s good,” Darcy continues, “but I don’t like how he always focuses on himself. He never gives your body enough attention, like a good partner should. Just goes straight into it.”
The hair on the back of her neck bristles at the mention. “What makes you think it was Riven?”
“He told me.”
Musa’s heart skips a beat. She feels her stomach tighten.
“Why do you keep picking fights with me, specifically?”
“I hate you, duh,” is her answer. Musa accepts that fairly. “I hate you all so much, I want to see you suffer. And besides, your reactions are entertaining,” Darcy continues, “The way you get riled up easily. The way your face goes red when I tease you. And yet, you pixies still go out of your way to be nice to us witches. I wonder… how many buttons can I push before you snap?”
Her lips press into a thin line.
“Find another guy and I’ll have him out of your reach in less than a week. I hope you know that you’re worth less than a snail.”
Musa doesn’t say anything for a moment. She tries to think through her thoughts, blocking out the blasting music that is all of a sudden irritating now. She tries to tell herself that she doesn’t care about Riven, and that it’s probably normal for couples to talk about their exes.
But she’s way over him. She knows he doesn’t care about her and she shouldn’t dwell on him, for her own good.
Yet, why does it feel like her heart is being squeezed every time his name is brought up?
“What are you thinking?”
“Guess I’ll just have to keep getting better for the next few guys so they start complaining about how bad you are.”
Okay, now she’s really done it.
Darcy, in a quick fit of rage, pours her drink over Musa’s top. The sparkling liquid splashes onto her face, dripping down her chin to her neck and chest.
That reminds her—she hasn’t gotten her water yet. She hasn’t realised how hot it is inside. At least, this cools her body down.
“You look hotter when you’re a mess.”
What?
There she goes again. Blushing.
☆
“What happened?” asked Tecna.
“Someone spilled their drink on me.” Musa glances down at herself, the remnants of the drink still clinging to the fabric.
Bloom blinks. “By accident or…?”
Musa shrugs.
“Sorry about your shirt, by the way,” she says to Stella, who waved it off with her hand.
“Still, an asshole,” says Stella, noting the sad look on Musa’s face. She smiles, grabbing Musa gently by the hand. “Oh, come on. Don’t worry, that’ll wash out. Let’s go to the bathroom, get ourselves fixed, take a few selfies, and then go home.”
“Go home?” repeats Bloom.
“Yeah,” says Stella. “Otherwise Miss Griselda’s gonna kick our asses.”
“I think Bloom is just surprised that you’re being responsible for once,” laughs Flora, followed by everyone else, including Musa.
☆
“You don’t know any better,” her father once told her.
He said the same thing when Musa tried to convince him to let her attend Alfea.
“You’re young, and you can’t tell what’s good for you.” She had gritted her teeth at his words. “It can be dangerous out there. Stay here. With me, with your friends, with people like you and me. You can attend the best Magic school in the city centre of Melody, why go to Magix?”
And maybe he was right.
Musa doesn’t have good judgement. Especially of other people.
☆
“She looks more emotionally vulnerable than the others,” says Darcy on a random weekday, eating lunch with her sisters as they discuss how much they hate fairies. Especially the Winx.
“No, I believe Flora is the most vulnerable,” counters Icy.
“I don’t care who is, I just hate them all,” is Stormy’s opinion.
“I do think that the less vulnerable they are, the more I hate them,” adds Icy, stirring her extra iced coffee before taking a sip. She makes a face when she realises the barista added sugar. . “There’s nothing more I enjoy than picking on a weak fairy that only knows to cry for help.”
Last week she completed her assignment because she was bored, then went to the club because she was bored. There has to be something more interesting to do.
When the Trix finally runs out of things to talk about, or evil plans to devise, they begin to overhear Euphorbia and her two sisters, Gerbera and Verbena, talking about the latest gossip.
“Oh yeah, that first year—what was her name?”
“People call her Mel.”
“She’s been hanging out with that third year boy at Red Fountain. I heard witches saw her fully making out with him at The Cameo, and after that they went out together.”
“No way!”
Darcy hears Stormy mutter how stupid the first year witch is.
But Darcy herself wonders just how powerful the first year can potentially be if she was, in actuality, manipulating the specialist. It is quite fun to get stupid boys to do your dirty work for you, and Mel might not have the manipulation powers that Darcy has to command with one spell.
Or, maybe she is just a slut.
She begins to zone out when Stormy and Icy start talking about other trivial matters again. She begins to recall that Friday night where she decided to go out for a few hours to escape her sisters.
“Guess I’ll just have to keep getting better for the next few guys so they start complaining about how bad you are.”
The memory of it caused her fingers to tighten reflexively around the fork she was holding, the metal digging into her palm. Icy is right. The less vulnerable they are—the more confidence they have—the more annoying they become. She had liked it more when Musa was weak and annoying. Musa had deserved every drop of alcohol Darcy had splashed on her.
She recalls her response when Musa was too astounded to say anything.
“You look hotter when you’re a mess.”
Idiot!
For someone so cunning, she had forgotten her line at that moment! She was supposed to say ‘better’, as in ‘you look better when you’re a mess’. How did she manage to mix up the two words?! Sure, they both mean something good. Someone that was hotter can be better, but just because something is better doesn’t mean it’s hotter.
It was supposed to be an insult. Meant to hurt Musa so she can be humiliated, so Darcy can watch Musa’s face turn hopeless considering how she has shown to be the most emotionally vulnerable in the group.
Instead, her words had come out wrong, and the impact had been less than what she had hoped for.
Darcy forces herself to take a breath, trying to push the memory to the back of her mind.
However… if by any chance, Musa is also into girls, maybe Darcy can play mind games with her. Maybe play enough to the point where she can use Musa. Of course, she would never be able to have full control over her and make her betray the Winx. Musa is too much of a goody-two-shoes. It would be easier to just mentally destroy her, especially since she’s insecure.
For now, she will refrain from telling Icy and Stormy this fun idea. Mostly in fear that they will ruin it, because neither her sisters are as emotionally intelligent as she is.
☆
She regrets not going out with the fairy.
If only she had said something to her friends, if she had voiced her desire to spend time with someone she was genuinely interested in, they wouldn’t have minded at all. They would have smiled, given her a thumbs-up, and just texted her later to make sure she was safe.
But she didn’t say anything. She had hesitated, letting the moment slip through her fingers like sand,
Why did she decline? She thought the fairy was pretty, and the fairy clearly returned the same feelings.
Musa admits that she wants to have someone all to herself. The way that Stella has Prince Sky twirled around her pinkie finger, even though he’s a specialist whose duty is to protect all of the fairies. She wants someone like Brandon who always goes out of his way to talk to Bloom, to ask her how she is. The gentle tone he only uses to speak to her. The way that his eyes light up anytime she walks into a room.
Someone who deeply cares for her. Someone, who in a room with a hundred people, will still only seek her out.
She feels so lonely. She just wants somebody to fill the half of her heart that her mother took when she left. And yet, with every chance that someone comes up to her, she politely declines. Her heart pulling back just when it should be reaching out. In those moments, she doesn’t think of how much they can benefit her, but simply, but what about Riven?
Fuck Riven!
Musa takes off her shirt and tosses it on the floor.
Why does she go out of her way to like people who don’t have any interest in her? The next time someone offers her their time, she’s taking it!
Sighing, she puts on her tank and pyjama bottoms for bed. Pulling the cover over her head, she puts her hands up to her face for comfort. It’s cold sometimes in the Alfea dorms, but a recurring moment overheats her face. The warmth of the alcohol. The smell of it all over her skin. The fact that it was the leftover belonging to that witch. No. Musa shakes her head.
Darcy was only teasing her.
Losing a parent can really make you feel fucking insane.
☆
This is just a test, Darcy tells herself.
“How many universal laws am I breaking by entering Musa’s dreams?” she asks herself with a hum.
She brings the book from the side towards her, flipping through the pages with her magic until she reaches the section she is looking for.
“Okay, only one. That’s not too bad.”
Finished with her reading, she puts the book away in the drawer of her bedside table, commanding the drawer to open with her magic. Inside is Musa’s empty envelope amongst her other belongings.
On the envelope is the stamp of a music note shape.
Turning to her side, Darcy makes herself comfortable on her bed as she looks into the crystal ball. Her eyes glow white. It doesn’t take her long to locate Musa, already fast asleep, likely worn out from another day of relentless studying—how typical. A chuckle threatens to escape her, but she resists, knowing it would shatter her focus.
Except—
“What are you doing?” Stormy asks, walking by.
Darcy clenches the pillow beneath her, barely suppressing the urge to suffocate her sister with it. Her breath catches as she loses focus. “Oh, just giving the Winx a little nightmare,” she replies coolly.
“Bitch, you can do that?”
“I’m the Witch of Darkness, duh. What do you think I do?”
“Ugh, whatever,” mutters Stormy, cracking her knuckles. “I’m heading out to whip up a storm.”
Darcy waves her sister off, before returning to her crystal ball.
“This is only an experiment. Don’t worry, Musa… It won’t be a bad dream.”