TW: Panic attack, hints of PTSD

"Farah's class will help you sharpen your precision and your mind's clarity. This class will help you to discover and push your limits – both are equally important in order to understand how to channel and utilize your magic. But all in good time." Their Arts of Magic professor, who introduced himself to be Professor Pally, began to instruct, looking at the students with arms crossed behind his back. He walked over to the middle of the field the class was standing in front of and carefully placed a small, red pouch on the grass.

"Today's goal is to get the pouch before your opponent does without using direct magic attacks or drawing on a large amount of magic. Focus on your defense tactics. We don't want anyone to get hurt, but just in case, Professor Harvey is here to offer medical assistance."

Amber glanced to the side where their Botany teacher was standing, giving them a short friendly wave for reassurance. Professor Pally started to pace, his eyes carefully searching among the crowd. Until they stilled on Amber.

"You," He chose, and Amber straighten up, "Please come to the front of the class,"

The professor nodded as she did and continued pacing and searching for Amber's opponent. The process was shorter this time, and within less than five seconds he had found his candidate. As he called out to her to come forward Amber couldn't help but slightly clench her jaw.

Of course. Of fucking course.

Bloom's steps were enlaced with hesitation, but it was quickly replaced by determination. The girls stood on opposite sides of one another, both about 100 feet away from the pouch.

"Ready?" The professor looked at Amber and Bloom, "Go,"

As the word left his mouth, the girls sprinted towards their target, but their run was cut short as the pouch seemingly disappeared from its position, leaving the grass that had been beneath it almost untouched.

"What? You didn't think it would be that easy, did you?" Professor Pally stated, lips curling to a challenging grin. He then looked to the side, where the pouch reappeared, now to their right and slightly closer to Bloom.

While sprinting, Amber realized that Bloom was going to get to the pouch before her unless she did something, so she summoned a rock up from the ground, right in the redhead's path. Not noticing the new obstacle, Bloom tripped on the rock, landing on her knees. She looked at Amber with an orange gleam in her eyes before quickly recovering. They were close but before either could reach it, the small sack vanished again.

"Trust your instincts, trust your magic." The professor guided.

She saw Bloom glancing around, looking for their target to reappear. Amber let the magic flow through her, trying to reach out to see if she could follow the new location of the target. When it appeared and she finally did, Amber realized it was much, much closer to now. She ran towards it and Bloom caught up and was right behind her.

Although it didn't matter— Amber would get to the pouch before her. And she would have, if it weren't for the thin trail of fire that spread through the grass, cutting off her direct path to the pouch.

Amber fell backward to the ground, trying to avoid the flames, but the strong hit from the ground shook her vision, the world was mingling with various shades of red. It was burning, scorching hot, and blurry. Before she knew it, she was no longer on the ground and the air was getting thinner.

Bloom was choking her.

Amber couldn't feel the ground, her legs hopelessly kicking the air as she tried to break free from the girl's grasp.

She heard herself gasp in a tiny voice, begging, "Please stop. Let me go!" But Bloom didn't budge, watching her with merciless, cold blue eyes. The world spun around faster, smoke covering her vision, consuming her.

There was a sharp pain at the back of her head, quickly spreading to her temples and with it, the darkness was taken by a blinding light. Amber blinked a few times, trying to cast away the remaining shadows at the corner of her eyes.

There was a slight pressure at her shoulders and Amber realized someone was holding her upright as she lay on the ground. She looked up to see Professor Pally's glowing lilac eyes as his magic guided her back to reality.

Amber's hands went up to her neck, expecting to feel its soreness but all she felt was a ghost of a memory. She was fine, Bloom hadn't even hurt her.

From the second Amber had hit the ground none of what she just saw was real.

The fire fairy was standing a bit far behind the professor, holding the small sack loosely in her hand while looking at Amber with concern. The ground beneath Amber was buzzing and she looked down to see that the once even green grass was now wrecked – stones and soil broke through the surface, circling her, as if the ground opened up and swallowed any hint of life.

She knew it was her doing, she could still feel the magic tingling.

"Miss Rackley? Amber?" The man shook her slightly, gauging her response.

"What just happened?" Amber asked slowly, looking around her at all the damage. Professor Pally sighed, cautiously letting go of her.

"You drew on a large amount of magic, despite my instructions." He said and the two of them rose from the ground. "This exercise's purpose was to practice your defense moves, not your mowing skills. "

"Maybe it would have helped if you thought us some defense moves before you jump to assume we know some." Amber said and scoffed.

"That tripping rock was a nice touch." The professor noted, "There are plenty more ways to use earth magic non-lethally,"

"An example will be nice."

Professor Pally was silent for a moment before replying, "No."

"What— How else am I supposed to learn how to use my magic if you are not teaching me?" Amber frowned in annoyance.

"Perhaps, in the same way many fairies before you did. Alfea was established not only to teach and guide – but also to challenge its students. Here you have to opportunity to watch, listen, and learn from the magic that surrounds us and those who are around you."

"Why not just tell me what to do? That will be so much easier."

"To you, Miss Rackley, there isn't an easy way when it comes to magic." He finalized and told Amber to go back to her place with the rest of the class as he called the next two chosen students.

She watched as Aisha was called to participate, and then Terra, and so many others. But the event from before kept flashing in her mind, the twisted images her mind had created that scared her so much that she lost control.

When the class was over and the students were leaving, Amber approached the man once again, hoping to get a clearer answer to what had occurred.

"When I used my magic, something else happened, right?" Amber noticed how his hardened face fell slightly.

"It seemed like you were experiencing a panic attack of some sort, your magic was in a state of trance and reacted to your emotions. I was trying to guide you through it and snap you out of it," He answered.

Amber glanced at the dark patch of earth she had created in the middle of the field, "Clearly, you didn't act quick enough."

"I did. My magic, however, was encountered by quite the obstacle," His light eyes shifted towards Amber's wrist where she was wearing her bangle.

The blonde girl was slightly puzzled, "But the charm was not activated."

"What do you know about this relic?" Professor Pally frowned.

Amber thought for a moment as she played with the golden bangle, "Just that it was forged decades ago by a powerful mind fairy and with the correct incantation it will dull and opaque whoever's using it emotions."

The professor let out a sigh, "Clearly you weren't educated enough about this item. Yes, it will influence your emotions, but even when the charm is not activated, its magic is constantly working. When not used on yourself, the bangle has great powers designed to block all mind fairies' magic. Your thoughts, memories, and emotions will be hidden from other fairies. That's why I was so struggling to pull you out."

"Oh," Was all the earth fairy could reply.

"Amber," Professor Pally started, his voice grim, "Has it happened before?"

She knew he was referring to her attack. The lie had left its bitter taste on her lips before she even spoke. And when she did, it didn't matter anymore.

"No,"

~~~

"So, what's the plan, Army Barbie?" Aisha asked as the four were heading towards the school's barrier.

"Bloom, Amber, I'm curious. Did you ask Aisha to come?" Stella started, sounding annoyed "I don't think you did. And if you didn't ask Aisha to come, and I didn't ask Aisha to come... It's official. No one asked Aisha to come. You don't have to be here.

"This is idiotic. You need me." Aisha insisted, "What you gonna do? Dazzle it with light while Bloom struggles to light a fire?"

"I'm right here!" Bloom said, offended by the comment.

"I fixed her." The light fairy replied with confidence.

"Negative emotions are unreliable. They have limits. Your method won't help her in the long run."

"Well, you seem to forget that if we need more help, Amber is right here. And trust me, you don't want to test her limits,"

"Stella!" Amber turned to the girl sharply, glaring at her.

"Yeah, we all saw how well Amber's magic worked out in class today." Aisha remarked. With a side glance, Amber could feel Stella's eyes on her, briefly shifting to concern, but it was probably for the sake of their mission.

"Neither of you are helping right now." Bloom commented.

"Can we just get over it and get this shit done?" Amber said, stepping closer to the border of the barrier.

"Oh good, everyone's calm and collected." Musa added sarcastically as she and Terra joined, explaining they were late because they needed some help with the Zanbaq.

"Do we know where the barn is?" Stella asked, as one by one each of the Winx suite resident passed through the barrier.

"Um, yes. North." Terra answered, "There's this little stump that looks like an old..."

"Show. Don't tell."

And soon after, as they were standing in front of the barn, Amber rested her palm on the gem, quietly muttering the incantation to turn the charm off. Immediately she could feel the shift around her, like there was some sort of heaviness in the air.

She followed Bloom's steps to the door of the barn.

"Ready?" The redhead asked before opening the door. But there was nothing inside. "It's not here."

"They've taken it already. Look." Aisha said, guesting to the empty chains on the floor.

Stella looked devastated, "No! No, no! My mum's going to kill me."

Amber couldn't get herself to focus because that heaviness around her felt thicker, stronger and every cell inside of her was ringing with alarms. She had never felt anything like this. "Something is wrong, something is very wrong," Amber told the girls who looked a bit startled at her panicked voice.

Just then they heard Terra calling them urgently outside.

Amber felt her breath escaping her as she saw the scene in front of them. A massacre. Dozens of Solarian soldiers' bodies were spread on the forest ground, slaughtered without mercy. As if they never stood a chance to begin with.

"It's still here somewhere." Amber realized. It escaped and it was free. She had seen Burned One only in pictures and drawings, she never thought she might have to see and probably fight one. And she wasn't sure she was ready for either.

Terra noticed movement in the trees, and a man lying against a broken trunk, panting, "That's Mr. Silva."

Amber's legs moved quicker than she could think, "No, no, no," She muttered, rushing towards the bleeding man's side. Terra grabbed her arm and pulled her back before she could get close enough.

"Amber, wait—"

"We have to help him," The blonde yelled, but Terra kept holding her back.

"He's infected, we need to be careful," The earth fairy explained, gesturing to Mr. Silva's wounds. She took out something from her back, a test tube with orange liquid that Amber quickly guessed was the Zanbaq she had made.

"Bloom is missing!" Aisha suddenly said, and Amber noticed that the fire fairy was in fact nowhere to be seen.

"All right. We'll look after Mr. Silva." Terra motioned to herself and Musa before looking at Amber, "and you, Aisha, and Stella go and find Bloom."

"What? No!" Amber quickly refused. She had known Silva since she was a child, she couldn't leave him like this.

"You can track Bloom with your magic, and the faster we will find her, the faster we can all get out of here and get him proper help," Aisha explained, trying to reassure her.

After a moment of hesitation, Amber nodded, and the group parted.

"Bloom! Bloom." The dark-haired girl called loudly, but the only answer was the forest's faint echo. She turned to Amber with distress, "Do you feel her yet?"

"No," Amber shook her head, eyes glowing green as she tried to reach out as much as she possibly could. "She might be too far,"

"Then we need to cover more ground. Hurry up, Stella!" Aisha told the Solarian Princess, who slightly lingered behind them.

"It's gonna get dark." Stella observed worriedly, watching the murky skies.

"So your magic's useful after all." Aisha replied, "Come on. Turn it on."

Stella snapped her fingers once, then twice, but nothing happened. Amber saw panic flashing in the light fairy's eyes.

"Seriously?"

"Just hang on a second." Stella tried again, but with no success.

"We don't have time for this. Just go back to the school and get help." Aisha decided and rushed forward.

But Amber stilled for a moment, and that was enough time to see Stella's crumbling expression. She was scared, and Amber hadn't seen her afraid in a very long time.

She did something she thought she would never do voluntarily and stepped closer to Stella. Sensing her anxiety, Amber lifted her hand and pointed towards a parting in the woods, "Keep walking east," She guided her carefully, her index finger motioning to the direction, "Alfea is that way."

Stella nodded but didn't say anything in return.

Amber heard Aisha calling her to catch up, "We'll find Bloom and get out of here." She promised before hurrying after Aisha, leaving the lost blonde behind.

They kept walking in the woods, waiting almost hopelessly for the redhead to reply, but the woods were silent.

Tap, tap, tap.

Amber felt the familiar tingle spreading from the back of her neck to the tips fingers and ceased her steps immediately, turning to her left side. She wasn't entirely sure, but it felt like Bloom.

"Aisha!" She exclaimed, "I think I found her,"

They were pacing quickly, heading toward the direction Amber could sense Bloom, but as they got closer Amber could feel something else.

Thud, thud, thud.

It was heavier, like a big animal, but its steps were quick, heading in the same direction they were going. To Bloom.

"Aisha," The blonde grabbed the girl's attention, "She's not alone."

With a split moment of decision and understanding, the girls started to run forwards. They pushed the branches in their way and raced across the forest's rocky ground. There was a red light illuminating the forest, fire sparks floating in the air.

Bloom created a trail of blazing fire towards a Burned One. It was hit by the fire but didn't slow down, jumping to attack the redhead. Before it could, Amber and Aisha hit it with a powerful and combined blast of water and rocks. It flew from the attack, landing on a thick piece of wood that pierced its upper body.

Aisha looked at Amber with a triumphant smile, "Nice hit,"

"Yeah, you, too," Amber said back, feeling pride fluttering in her chest.

"You okay?" Aisha asked Bloom, slightly panting. They were all struggling to breathe for a moment.

"Yeah." Bloom finally said and looked at the unconscious Burned One.

"Is it..." Aisha began to say, but Bloom was quick to complete her thoughts.

"I think so. You two hit it pretty hard."

"Thank god Amber found you on time because I don't want to think what could have happened if we were a second late." Aisha admitted, stepping closer to the Burned One.

Bloom looked at Amber with surprise, "You found me?"

Amber followed the trail of smoke and dying flames on the ground, the sight and smell of the smoke making her head a bit dizzy.

"Just because I saved your life, doesn't change anything," Amber replied to the redhead, giving the girl a cold look.

Bloom was taken back, but pressed her lips together and said nothing.

"I'll admit, you had more control than I thought you would." Aisha said to the fire fairy.

"Is that a compliment? You complimenting me right now?" Bloom smirked.

"Let's just get Stella's ring and get out of here," Amber said, looking for the ring, "Where is it?"

The three leaned closer to inspect the Burned One, "I think it's right there. I think it... stuck it inside itself. What the..."

Bloom turned to the two girls, "So you're gonna..."

"Us? No." Aisha quickly said, "We did our part. Did you forget? Water and rocks cannon?"

"No. I thought it was so impressive, maybe you'd wanna finish the job." Bloom tried to convince.

"Didn't you... Who was it? Who lost Stella's ring again? I forget." Aisha jabbed at Bloom who let out a sigh.

Bloom looked like she was about to puke as she pulled the ring from beneath the Burned One's skin. Grimacing, she finally took it out, but it was still covered in a gross slime-like substance.

Amber scrunched her nose in disgust and took a napkin from her jacket pocket, handing it out to Bloom, "Ew. No Burned One's germs in the suite, please."

Bloom took the napkin and nodded gratefully, "Let's go."

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Thank you all so so much for the support you've shown me! It truly means the world to me!