“Hey, Vali.”

“Hm?”

“What's an afterlife?”

“Heaven.”

“Oh no, no, no, no! Don't you dare leave me!” Valiana knelt, next to the young little girl's pale body. She lifted her onto her lap, her head on her arm while with the other hand she was holding Alena's hand.

“Hey, look, can you see it?” Alena chuckled, pointing at the night sky, but Valiana was confused about what she was talking about. “This light... I can see the light, sister. It's so bright and... warm.”

The girl's eyes were shining anymore as they began to lose their ruby lively shade.

“Alena, p-please stay with m-me, please!” She cried as she kept panicking over her injured body and debating what to do to save her but she didn't have any knowledge of how to do so. “I am so, so sorry! Why would you do that?!”

“Because I need to protect my big sister. You said we needed to look after each other, so I did what I should have done. I'm a hero, right? Are you... proud of me?”

Valiana felt something strike her emotionally as a sole tear strolled down from her ruby eyes she nodded. She did have someone who loved her after all past her flaws.

“I'm... I am incredibly proud of you, Alena. Okay? Okay?!”

“I know I'm dying so... I love you, Vali. I'll always will, okay?” Alena smiled and as her eyes closed, she had an awfully long conclusive breath. Valiana burst into tears, gripping her hand tighter as her tears kept flowing down nonstop. 

The battle didn't matter anymore at the moment to her, she just wanted her sister back with her. She knew she would regret this even more deeply.

“I never comprehended how much I hurt you, Alena. I love you so much.” Valiana lifted her head on her shoulder as she cried on her sister's cold shoulder. Suddenly, Alena's body illuminated and pieces of light, dissolving from her body, started to float in the air which Valiana ended up hugging empty air. “Please, don't go.”

~~~

Now...

“It is me, sister. Do not be afraid.” The spectrum stepped closer as the soldiers were petrified and moved out of the way so Valiana was visible as well as the Specialists with Bloom and Flora.

“Shut up! I know this is my ego's doing! You're dead, I have seen it with my own two eyes!” The purple-haired villain cried as she grabbed her head and closed her eyes to continue believing that she was right.

“Valiana, I am dead.”

Nabu leaned closer to Sky's ear, whispering, “Who's that? Her daughter or something?”

“Didn't you just hear her saying ‘sister’?” Bloom pointed out rather than Sky to bother replying, then she turned around to witness the current moment, which just shocked everyone on the site.

The spectrum noticed the others standing, almost looking petrified, a few metres behind, away from Valiana. She walked around, standing in front of Bloom and Flora.

“Guardian fairies, you seem to already know of my presence due to my constant appearances. Especially you, Queen of Domino.”

“Actually, yeah, that's true. That's why you look familiar.” Bloom replied.

“I apologise for scaring you, but I need your help especially. My sister seems to be closer to losing total control each second that passes. If you listen to me, I can guarantee your people, Faragonda and the school nurse, which Valiana is holding hostage of, will return to you.”

Valiana raised her eyebrow as she clicked her tongue and turned around, essentially whining aggravated. “What a bunch of bull crap.”

The spectrum sighed.

“You're telling me, you are Alena? The one I killed?” The purple-haired villain cackled with herself, yet nobody laughed but found it extremely disturbing. “Give me a break.”

“You became a different person once you left that forest. I knew it. Sanania warned me, Mother warned me and even Marcellus, but I ignored it because you're my sister.” Alena's spirit floated closer instead to face Valiana. “If anything, I still love you!”

Valiana scoffed, waving her hand in disbelief. “Please!”

“Her past seems very traumatic and sensational if I have to admit it,” Flora told her friend Bloom, who also nodded with her head as she launched on reasoning.

“Girls, we need to get you out in the meanwhile,” Helia warned both of the young women as he indicated the escalating situation. “Things will start to look messy soon.”

“But--”

They intended to protest but the Specialists took them away anyway against their will, even so, they wouldn't fight back for the reason that they were out of energy to use any efforts. The soldiers followed them behind discretely.

Alena couldn't afford to lose track of the Winx again so she sent a message as fast as she could to the redhead which echoed in her mind, “You are highly qualified for the mission I have in mind.” hence twirled back to her sister.

Valiana's eyes glowed, this time brighter, yet darker, than ever before as her hair also floated. She was ready to fight for herself and no one else's.

The spectrum frowned and shook her head, disappointed.

Right the moment they made their last footstep out of the tower grounds but on the dusty floor, many relieved cries of joy welcomes them.

“Bloom! Flora!”

“It's them!”

The other four Winx, who were getting treated on-site, couldn't help themselves but run to their dearest friends and welcome them in each other's arms. Crying with each other was what all they were able to, no word exchange needed.

Also, Riven, Timmy and Brandon went to the other Specialists to catch up and make sure they were okay but they were more focused on reassuring that it was the end of their miseries: the Winx Club is back.

“What took you so long, I was worried about you, man.” Riven grabbed Nabu's hand and pulled him closer to hug as well as pat his back.

“Sorry, honey. We had a few encounters.” Nabu replied, humorously, to cheer up the scene. They succeded.

Kind of.

The ground began to shake terribly, people even lost their balances and started falling on the floor one after the other. Even the Winx fell on each other as the Specialists failed to catch them on time; Everyone was panicking at the moment, wondering what was causing the earthquake.

Then, Valiana was seen thrown out of one of the windows and almost landed on a pointed stone but flew upwards a few seconds it would have happened. Once she went back to her senses and shook her head, Valiana noticed the people who were frightened and tried to evacuate on the ships so she commenced attacking those.

“What the heck is wrong with this idiot?” Aisha shouted.

“I don't know, her head tends to turn coo-coo whenever she's pissed at something.” Stella retorted, struggling to control her body on the shaking ground.

Brandon choked back a laugh because of his wife. “Seems reasonable.”

“Valiana!” Alena appeared, yet her body was flattering on and off. It was visibly a bad sign.

“No!” Valiana tried to hit her own late sister. “I was broken and bruised! No one is there for me! Now, I'm a fighter. Bow down to me, you ungrateful peasants!”

“That's a bit rude, y'know. How can she call us peasants and tell us to bow to her at the same time?” Riven contemplated, receiving a few glares back at him due to the fact of how could he focus on that.

“Shut up Riven and help me.” Musa stretched her hand out so she could get closer to her boyfriend and he did so as he felt his duty was to protect her either way.

“Bloom, you notice that?” Sky pointed out at the slight starry sky above them, where there were the two sisters.

The fire fairy sighed as she closed her eyes to focus. “Alright, Sky, I have to do something and I'll need you to trust me.” The fire fairy put something in her husband's trousers' pocket. “It'll soon be over.”

The blonde king was on full ears. “Hm?”

“Winx...” Alena floated back down to the fairies as her body kept flickering off and the ground wasn't shaking anymore. Valiana wasn't having it, so she started commencing at materializing a huge magic spell cannon to destroy every other human being.

“Hey! Tell us what's wrong with that chick!” Tecna exasperatedly told the spectrum, her hand on her chest to feel her heartbeat was at a normal rate but it has increased instead.

“I cannot stay here any longer as I am not allowed by my superiors. My presence here is weak, which has enraged my sister even more.” Alena raised her hand and made a shining ball appear. “Here, the people you're looking for are in here.”

The Winx caught up their attention to her last sentence as Stella reached out to catch the levitating ball and passed it on to Timmy to examine as well as to hold onto it.

“Faragonda is in... there?” Helia queried perplexed but there was no time for explanation.

“Miss Ophelia, the school nurse, must also be in there!” Flora said, jumping with a little bit of joy that she got the two caring women back.

“Winx, focus. You have to release a convergence spell,” Alena pointed at the floating villain in the sky as she blurted out the last words before starting to disappear. “Don't try to hit or attack. Create a spell to keep her trapped inside, then you shall see the rest for you are yet to know what the consequences would be.”

“Can we even do that?” Aisha scratched her head nervously as Stella shook her head, unsure.

Musa bit her lip as she sighed annoyedly. “We don't have the energy or time to recover the amount needed!”

Yet, the little spectrum grinned. - “I trust you.” - Alena faded away.

“Girls,” Bloom turned around and stretched her hands out as the Winx Club young women made a circle as they held hands together. “We haven't done this in a while, haven't we?”

Tecna blinked her eyes repeatedly, the unbelief of how long it has passed. “Psst. It's been years!”

“Mmh.” Musa nodded, taking deep breaths.

Timmy popped his head, resting his chin close to his wife's shoulder as he chuckled apprehensively. “Yeah, guys, I wouldn't want to ruin this sweet ‘remember’ moment, but that woman up in the sky does not look happy at all--”

Valiana was wrapped in a black cloud which kept expanding more and more across the atmosphere as the setting even darkened more and no more bright colours were visible, only pure darkness - Something deep in Valiana's soul called like a foghorn and she has decided to answer the call.

A frigid fortress has become, under Valiana's total control.

Her appearance has also altered from its original look: her hair shredded its violet shade to jet black and her eyes watered down to a darker. Her physique was enclosed within a fit, neat ebony leather suit from her shoulders to her feet. A mischievous grin glues onto her despondent lips.

Unfortunately, this side was someone who was assumed to have perished has made an arrival formerly again. Her darker, tougher side of her unsteady shattered soul; Her ego.

“Your Majesty!” Soldiers shouted, on the run to shield their Royal superiors as a strong wind struck those beneath.

Sky stepped up and also took responsibility to cover as he spun his sword 360° to lessen the impact so the Winx so their circle wouldn't break as they needed it for the convergence.

“Everyone cover yourselves and try not to breathe in this toxic gas for a few seconds!”

The Specialists were also protected by the soldiers' shields so they relied on them as they knelt and listened to the King of Domino. The fairies didn't lose their positions as they closed their eyes and held their breaths.

The meagre hurricane breeze was present for a few seconds then died out.

As they caught up their breaths, they peeked at the atmosphere above them, where the villain laughed so hard her head almost exploded - precisely. She snorted and blinked her substantial ominous inky eyes.

“Marvellous, I finally get to physically meet you, Winx.” Valiana spoke but with her mouth sealed for the reason that it actually came directly from her mind.

“Okay, I think she really went psycho,” Stella commented. “Plus, she's onto us. Well, if it isn't great!” She sarcastically sighed.

“Ugh, I just want to go home to the kids and be with the people I love.” Aisha mumbled as Nabu heard her and patted her shoulder as he was also in agreement.

“Are we still sticking with the convergence plan?” Flora questioned the Winx but received unsure faces.

Musa shrugged her shoulders. “I mean, that ghost said that even when she tries to attack us, we shouldn't focus on attacking her but rather keep her trapped? That's what I remember.”

“Then let's do this!” Bloom declared and everyone agreed to proceed.

“We'll distract her in the meanwhile,” Riven told, equipping his sword from his belt onto his hands. “Good luck!”

The Winx and the Specialists nodded at each other and went ahead with what they're supposed to do: take down Valiana.

Although the Specialists did not have any ideas crossing their minds to catch Valiana's attention, she has already started her first attack and it was aimed directly at the Winx. It was too quick even for the fairies to even budge a centimetre.

An incandescent luminous china-blue beam of light appeared out of the blue and contrasted Valiana's attack. No one expected this, the Winx Club included too, because it wasn't any of them that was stopping the counter-attack; Smoke came out so it wasn't visible enough for those who were on the ground to see but for someone else it was very visible to identify the sudden assault.

Valiana had a wild guess and smirked even more that the end of her lips could have reached her ears.

“You have finally decided to show yourself and not hide anymore, eh?”

As soon as the smoke faded away, the Winx peeked who was the mysterious person who came to pass by and literally saves their lives last minute.

The pair of monumental feathers attached to the back was instantly recognised by the fairies as they were surprised but also in relief.

It was the angel.

“Stop! You won't win this battle!” She grinned her teeth, challenging Valiana.

The mythical being looked extremely different from the last time the Winx saw her: she still had the gem planted on her head as well as her radiantly vivid blue hair and eyes. Nevertheless, she seemed to have grown a few inches taller as she didn't have her baby-like features anymore.

“It's her! Remember? The angel!” Flora pointed at the girl flying in the sky.

Bloom also caught up. “Arraya, right?”

The fairies nodded in delight.

The blue-haired angel veered around and slipped from within her palms dust-like to land onto the Winx. This made their wounds heal much faster and they didn't feel as weak anymore but refreshed and energised, coincidentally needed for a much stronger convergence spell.

Valiana was getting irritated and formed clouds which gave rise to remarkably pretentious thunders and lightning was also painted in the sky.

“I have to go, Winx. I also got to save the Magic Universe.” Arraya announced and the young women nodded. “Thank you for--”

She was cut off when a dark coloured cube formed around her, holding her hostage as Valiana cackled.

Flora started to get worried looking at the dark cube in the sky not breaking up. She started panicking the angel couldn't get out and maybe she was suffocating on the inside. The nature fairy was so busy in her thoughts she almost forgot she had to do something else instead of sitting back and watch.

“Everything okay?” Helia, fortunately, pulled her out of her daydream.

“Uhm, yeah, it's... I'm worried about her.” Flora pointed at what was going on in the sky.

Suddenly the cube started to break as blue light commenced making its way out of the broken cracks, which stressed Valiana out and tried to cover up the gashes.

Helia sighed as he gawked at the battle. “She seems to be getting hold of it... I can't believe I saw an angel with my two eyes.”

“I hope she's doing fine though...” Flora mumbled.

Once the cube exploded and the angel was seen again, luckily. Arraya glimpsed down at the group of fairies and Specialists who were miserable because of this conflict. One thing she couldn't accept though was defeat and she needed to save those people.

She sighed and closed her eyes.

Valiana began to worry once the cube was cracked open and the angel came flying towards her and gave a strong powerful punch that sent her away. The Empress was unconscious and for a second she didn't notice the huge magic ball the angel was preparing to launch at her.

“In the name of all the angels, I order for my target to be met by this powerful spell!”

Arraya shouted before releasing the magic attack against the woman who didn't have enough time to escape and got hit, which made a huge noise as smoke was created.

“Did I defeat her?” The angel panted but spoke too soon when a dark light came from the dark smoke, aiming for her.

Arraya dodged in time and looked back to her enemy as the battle did not seem to be ending anytime soon and the angel was already starting to weaken.

“You stupid angel think that you can beat me with that miserable power of yours!?” Valiana pushed through the wind and flew against the girl and with a spell she firstly punched her in her stomach as she was fast enough to hit her at different angles multiple times since she was very fast.

“Ugh!” The angel girl felt pain evolve all around the body. She did not realize how fast she could hit in just three seconds. Arraya looked down at the Winx getting themselves prepared which made her feel better, then, she thought of a plan. She sighed, knowing no one will like what she was about to do. “May the angels be with me.”

“What are you about to do now, uh?!” Valiana watched as a blue magic ball surrounded the blue-haired angel then started turning titian orange. Slowly her hair and eyes also turned tangerine as she started enchanting a spell.

“Holy fire! I request your strength to come to assist and allow me to end this war! In the name of all angels, I offer this blood sacrifice. Destroy my enemy!”

The most vastly enormous spell ever seen; the thunder was wiped away and the bolts of lightning did not dare to show up once again. Valiana was at a loss for words as she saw what was the angel was capable of as the magic ball kept expanding and getting more powerful.

Thus, Arraya launched it at the villain. This disrupted gravity's law for an occasional instant, as well as the ground, was tremoring.

Moreover, this still completely drained out the angel's energies therefore reasons why ‘blood sacrifice’ was ever mentioned.

But Valiana was still standing after all of that although she has surely been weakened.

“You're one of the most powerful angels I ever fought in battles in my entire lifetime. Sad how this is going to be my first and last. Oh well, bye you brat!” Valiana somehow healed herself, which made Arraya clench her teeth in anger at how she's still not tired.

The Empress, yet, didn't give the angel a second to rest as she launched another attack towards her but she stopped with a shield, which surely couldn't last long because of how exhausted she is.

Arraya was getting tired too quickly and lost control of her powers as Valiana laughed loudly and used more power to hit the angel and when she finally did, the Empress watched the angel aggressively fall on the hard ground.

“Arraya, no!” Flora shouted in desperation but she couldn't do anything to save her because now it was time for the Winx to aim at Valiana.

“What an idiot of an angel.” Valiana grinned as she noticed what were the fairies up to do. “Your turn to die now.”

°°°°°°°°°

END OF CHAPTER 36!

We are getting closer and closer to the end, wow! What'd ya think?

Sorry that I take a lot of time to publish every chapter but you should still love me that I do still update because when I read some interesting books the authors never get to finish their books.

Anyways, please VOTE and leave a COMMENT! What are your thoughts on this chunky chapter?

Until then, see you next time fairies.