"You know, we should go out together like hit the town or whatever the kids call it these days," Griselda reminisced, taking a handful of popcorn from the bag before passing it to Maria.

The sun had decided to grace the school with its presence. With the students attending the grand reopening of Red Fountain that morning, Maria and Griselda took advantage of the quiet, sitting against the fountain, legs crossed and sunglasses resting on the bridge of their noses.

"We used to have so much fun in the Oracle!" Maria nodded, adjusting her sunglasses.

Scoffing, Griselda threw a piece of popcorn in her mouth, "You certainly did, all of Red Fountain used to line up to dance with you, Maria,"

"Not true! You had your fair share of them too! Remember Codatorta was head over heels for you in our fourth year," Maria said gravely before letting out an intentional 'hum.'

"Ugh, he was alright,"

"Alright! Grizzy, you need to get your glasses checked. Coda was the hottest bloke in Red Fountain, could bench press the both of us at the same time and, was madly in love with you,"

"Oh, don't get me wrong, he was lovely, charming at the whole dating thing, but his bedroom skills left a lot to desire,"

Maria audibly gasped at Griselda's comment, pushing up her glasses while the fairy in question continued to eat her popcorn nonchalantly.

"You two shagged?! I thought Faragonda was pushing my buttons!"

"Um-hmm, he was just so nervous, though. When you're dating for a year, and you bring him back to your room, you know what's going to happen. But he thought we were going to kiss and sleep together," Griselda shrugged coolly as she took some more popcorn from the bag, winking at Maria, who was trying to wrap her head around how innocent little Grizzy shagged a boy.

"What are you two gossiping about?" A familiar voice joined them. Looking behind, Maria began to blush as Palladium walked towards the fountain.

"Oh, nothing. Just boys, want to join us?" Patting the ground next to her, Griselda passed over the bag of popcorn.

The trio gossiped for the whole morning, well, until they finished the popcorn. Just as Maria was about to get up to replenish their food supplies, Faragonda rushed into the courtyard, distressed as she dashed over to the trio.

"Oh, I've been looking for you three all over! We need to add more protection to the school. Red Fountain was just attacked, and I suspect Lord Darkar to be behind it," she announced, and at once, all three were on their feet.

"How do you know it was Lord Darkar?" Maria asked.

"Layla was able to determine it was a shadow monster, and it wasn't working alone. It looks like he's recruited the Trix to do his bidding," she replied, calling over Avalon, who had just arrived with the Alfea students, "Professor Avalon, is everyone alright?"

"Yes, thanks to the Winx and Specialists," Spotting Maria, Avalon moved beside her," Maria, how are you?"

"I'm doing very well, Avalon, and yourself?"

"Much better now that I'm in your presence,"

Palladium, annoyed at their flirtatious encounter, put himself in front of her," And who might you be?"

"Professor Avalon Chevalier of the Malacoy Academy. And you?" Avalon countered with a smirk.

" Professor Palladium, master of potionology here at Alfea,"

"Potionology, fascinating." Avalon mused, quickly turning his attention back to Maria, who positioned herself between the raging testosterone," Right, let's start these charms. After you, Maria,"

Transforming into her fairy form, Maria began to cast spells specific to her magical ability, such as the winds of nature. The trees surrounding Alfea would conjure a violent wind when an intruder tried to break into the school. It wasn't long before all five of them had added their bit of protection to the school.

"It's a good thing the Winx girls were there to stop that monster; they must be all excelling in your class, Avalon," Maria commented when they finished.

"They are a bright bunch of girls, but judging from your display of magic, it should be you teaching them," Avalon complimented her, Palladium visually grimacing at their conversation.

"You flatterer!"

Joining the conversation, Faragonda agreed with Avalon," That wouldn't be a bad idea; what about the Flight of Spring? You've been talking about it for weeks, Maria!"

Looking over at Faragonda, Maria eagerly matched with her," Really? That would be amazing!"

"Then that's settled! I'll let the girls know, and you can start straight away,"

"Looks like we will be seeing a lot of each other," Avalon flirted before saying his goodbyes and heading back to class.

Maria was beyond ecstatic to teach the Flight of Spring, just like Professor Elina had taught her. But where to start? That evening, Maria headed down to the lake to prepare for the first lesson.

As she waited for the fairies to arrive, she couldn't help but feel nervous; what if they didn't like her? She had already overheard them talk about her before. But she didn't have long to worry as at precisely 5 pm; the Winx fairies arrived at the edge of the lake.

"Welcome, ladies! I've invited you here this evening at the request of Headmistress Faragonda to teach you all the Flight of Spring," Maria explained, introducing herself," Do any of you know what the Flight of Spring is?"

"It's a ritual to release a magical rainbow giving the magic dimension another year of vitality," Tecna answered.

"Absolutely right, Tecna,"

"But why do we need to do the ritual? Isn't the blush of spring sustained by technology now?" Flora asked.

"Well, with your classes with Professor Avalon, the Headmistress thought it best that you should learn how to home in your powers and not just rely on your sources of magic," Noticing the confusion of their faces, Maria dove straight into the lesson.

"First, we use magic to extract light from water, creating the chamber where the ceremony takes place. Then, we perform flance: the combination of flight and dance, which draws the blush from the inner fountain. Finally, through luminescence, we channel our light energy into the blush, realising the first rainbow of spring."

"You have been chosen to perform this ritual after your tremendous fight against the shadow monster. Now your first task will be to manipulate the water in front of you, separating the light from the water,"

Already in her fairy form, Maria flew over the lake's surface, placing her hands in front. With a flick of her fingers, elegant stands of enchanted beads shot into the water. As she rose her hands, tendrils of water snake their way to the surface, and as she moved her wrists, the water created spirals around her.

"But Layla is the only water fairy here," Tecna informed her.

"I never asked what your powers were, Tecna, just for you to separate water from light," Maria laughed, gracefully landing back on solid ground," What is your power?"

Tecna replied with certainty," I'm the fairy of technology,"

"What if I told you, as an elemental, that I can do what you do? Your power doesn't define you." she muse, "The gods first created fairies to protect humanity, and as we evolved, we began to specialise in certain elements of magic. So even though your power is centralised around technology, Tecna, nothing is stopping you from growing a plant like Flora- or creating sound waves as Musa can,"

Maria seemed to have confused the girls, even more, deciding it best to end the lesson here and let them practice to their own accord.

"That could've gone better," she thought to herself, about to leave the lake when an old memory flashed before her eyes.

Making sure no one was there, Maria flew across the lake, dancing as her wings caught the wind just as she had done during the 32nd Annual Flight of Spring.

This time, Bloom decided to stay behind at the lake, intently watching Maria dance across the lake with such grace and elegance.

"Tomorrow, I'll ask her tomorrow," Bloom reckoned, leaving the fairy be.

~~~~~~~

Long chapter chain!!! I hope you like it x

*The_lost_flower*