｡･:*:･ﾟ★,｡･:*:･ﾟ☆｡･:*:･ﾟ★,｡･:*:･ﾟ☆

｡･:*:･ﾟ★,｡･ "Oh fuck off Farrah."｡･:*:･ﾟ☆

Octavia

I tilt my head in bemused fascination as I watch Irene rip a Burned One limb from limb as Andreas on her back swings with his twin blades at the cave goblins surrounding them. No wonder they were so feared during the war.

Beatrix and I stand back to back in the middle of the fray as the Solarian soldiers keep the dwindling group of goblins corners to one section. The sound of sharp metal ringing through the battle slowly begins to hurt my ears, even as I ignore the noise and try to focus on the commands and reports being shouted over the fray.

Fuck, It's hard to keep track of whose where, doing what.

Sky and Riven are at the other end, they've taken down ten between them and their fairy has managed to pin down a Burned One.

Riven's going for the kill.

A goblin lunges at me and I crack my whip around its neck, pulling it towards me until it slams into my awaiting blade in my other hand. I whirl around, slamming my blade into another's head before lunging forward to attack a group of three goblins surrounding a Solarian soldier.

Screeching behind me has me turning in time to see two goblins drop dead to their knees as I watch one of Beatrix's circular Chakrams fly through the nearby area in a hilarious deadly representation of a frisby as it beheads the goblins in its path.

"Thanks." I gasp out, grinning when Beatrix nods at me, her face splattered with blood.

Distantly, Irene's roars reach a new level and the sound of shredding flesh tears through the forest as the fighting begins to die down.

How many left? I ask, panting in exhaustion.

5 goblins, 2 Burned Ones.

I look around, unable to see the goblins. Shit. Where are they?

Doesn't matter. Belial answers my silent question. Beatrix took them down.

The stench of burning flesh drifts through the suddenly silent forest and I give Beatrix a disgusted look as I stare at the charred corpses before her, lifting my hand up to cover my mouth as I gag at the vile smell.

"Really?" I gasp, choking slightly.

Beatrix does her best to remain emotionless but I see her face begin to pale at the smell. Good, the bitch deserves it after making us all suffer through that Helios damned stench. She gives me a look but quickly strides away from the corpses and I hastily follow when I see her begin to limp.

"Can you continue on?" I murmur to her quietly as we nod to our soldiers.

"Not like I can show weakness in front of the infantry." She gripes, voice low but tinged with pain.

I nod silently. She's right, we can't look weak. The commanders are supposed to represent strength for the sake of those following their orders. I look around the forest, searching through the carnage.The floor is littered with goblin corpses that are no more than dark lumps illuminated by the moonlight and flaming torches being lit.

That's going to be disgusting to clean up.

I glance into the distance, searching for any sign of-

"They're over there." Beatrix murmurs to me with a soft eye roll, "by their soldiers."

Indeed they are.

Beatrix gives me a quick nod, striding off to organise both our troops into some semblance of a clean up crew as I jog towards my mates. My chest tightens as I see them both, covered in mud, sweat and dripping with blood. They're locked in some kind of conversation, Sky leaning back against a tree with one leg propped up against it and the other stretched out before him as Riven stands to his left, their sides touching as they murmur quietly to each other, their gazes locked on my approach.

I can't stop the small smile from creeping on my face, even as the weight of today's events begin to drag me down.

No words are exchanged as I walk straight into their arms, all three of us gripping onto each other for dear life. The fear of losing a mate is present in our minds. Apollo above, today was shit.

"Oh Pix." Riv whispers soothingly as I begin to sniffle.

"We're okay." Sky mutters, "We're all okay."

Neither Riv or I comment on how the words were most definitely intended to calm Sky, that primal instinct to keep his mates safe was no doubt warring against his trust in our abilities.

We hold each other for a long moment and I just relish in breathing in their scent, desperately ignoring the metallic tang of their blood. I give them a tight squeeze before pulling back enough to look at them both, still wrapped in their arms but able to scan their bodies for any injuries.

Sky has a shallow cut across his back and Riven's sprained ankle is acting up.

Both have the standard cuts and bruises but they're fine. The shadows' voices are reassuring and calm, finally allowing me to un-tense.

"Are you hurt anywhere?" Sky asks, eyes bright with fear.

I shake my head with a sad smile, a tear of relief rolling down my cheek as exhaustion begins to set in. Sky slowly reaches up, a gentle hand brushing the tear from my cheek as that raw fear dulls in his eyes, cooling to a colder rage.

I tense slightly at that look but he merely bends down to brush a soft kiss to my lips and my eyes flutter shut at the action.

Riv cradles me in his arms as a tired sigh escapes my lips when Sky pulls away to give me a soft look before his gaze hardens as he stares over my shoulder.

"I wanted to tell you," I whisper desperately, feeling Riven's arms tighten around me from behind as he rests his chin on my shoulder. "But the gem, and then-"

"I know." He nods, conviction in every word. "I'm not upset with you, in any way. I'm upset with him."

I stiffen, "He wanted to tell you-"

"But he didn't." His voice is gentle and firm as he cuts me off, staring into my eyes as he pleads for me to understand. "And that is something he and I need to handle, not you my love."

I nod silently, chest tightening again as old fears of rejection creep upon me. I can't lose Sky, he's my mate even if we haven't completed the bond. And I can't lose Andreas, he's my mentor and the closest thing after Lykos to a father figure for me, not to mention he is Sky and Bea's actual father.

"C'mon," Riv murmurs to us both, "We need to get back to school."

"Go on," I mutter, catching sight of a familiar red head poking at a Burned One carcass, "I'll catch up with you in a sec."

I see them about to protest but I quickly kiss them and smile in what I hope is a reassuring way.

She looks exhausted but relatively unharmed as though she wasn't in the fight I muse as I walk towards the fire fairy. What is she doing? For a moment I just watch as Bloom pokes around the corpse, delicately poking it as though she is afraid it'll spring to life.

"What are you doing?" My voice is laced with amusement and I smirk when she jumps in shock.

Bloom is on her feet in seconds, eyes darting around like a cornered animal as she takes in the situation before her.

"Well?" I ask, "The battle is well and truly over, not that you should have been here in the first place."

"Yeah, well, it was my fault the ring was taken," Her voice is thick with tears and for a second I pity the girl. "It felt like my responsibility to get it back."

I stare at her in silence, channelling my mother's ability to make one break without lifting a single finger,

She clears her throat, "This is all my fault, isn't it."

I sigh when her pleading gaze darts to mine.

"Bloom, this would have happened sooner or later." I murmur, "The Burned One was being moved either way-"

"But I was the reason they caught it." She interrupts, guilt clouding her eyes.

"We would have caught one anyway." I state, "We needed to test the Burned Ones to see if they had changed from decades ago."

I step closer to her when she shifts in agitation.

"Sooner or later, we would have caught one and this battle would have happened in some shape or form." I look around at the fallen bodies, goblin, burned one and Alfean. "Perhaps on a different day, with a different Burned One and different soldiers. But it would have happened, Bloom."

"Why?" I tilt my head in confusion as she anxiously toys with her sleeves. "Why would it have happened, why couldn't it have been avoided."

"Because all wars start somewhere Bloom." I answer gently, frowning slightly when her gaze snaps to mine at the words. For a second her fears are forgotten as she stares at me with an inquisitive gaze, then its gone.

"War?" She whispers and I nod, still staring at her.

What was that? That look she just had.

"Yes, war. It's unavoidable, has been for years in fact." I answer and gesture for her to walk with me to where my mates have been pretending to not listen in on our conversation. "The General had predicted it would start in a few more decades time, something seems to have woken them up sooner."

The Dragon flame, Belial hums in thought. Perhaps it's time we fully address the changeling's power.

｡･:*:･ﾟ★,｡･:*:･ﾟ☆｡･:*:･ﾟ★,｡･:*:･ﾟ☆

The courtyard is buzzing with life when we arrive, the area having been turned into one large infirmary with professor Harvey's main workbench appearing to act as a meeting room for the important adults. I catch sight of Silva resting on a bench with Tomen and Harvey standing by his side, he looks fully healed.

Thank Helios, I need him alive so Irene can beat his a-

Not a good time Belial

Sky hasn't let go of my hand the entire trek back. It seems Dowling took all the jeeps when she left, including the Solarian troops', so it's fair to say we are all thoroughly exhausted and cranky. I can practically feel Riven itching to run to the stables, to have his time with Wisp.

The three of us stride over to Silva and a small smile fights its way onto my face when Silva grips both Sky and Riven into a hug.

"Well done." He praises, voice muffled as he grips the back of their heads as the pair crush themselves together side by side.

The weight of today seems to sink in as my mates drop their heads onto Silva's shoulders, looking no more than two children desperate for their father to scare away the monsters in the dark

"You're okay then?" Sky's voice is muffled and small and heart clenches at the sound.

"I'm okay." Silva whispers.

I look away, feeling as though I am intruding on a private moment. Helios, I wish I had that.

They hold each other for a long moment and I swear I can hear quiet sniffles coming from Riven. Silva clears his throat and the three of them pull away, as a moment of awkward tension passes. Typical males. Why must they fear emotions so much?

Society is an arsehole with its unconscious bias-

Rhetorical question Darkling.

After a long moment of just staring at each other Silva seems to regain his composure, the shift into headteacher and disapproving father was quite amusing.

"What were you thinking?" Silva demands, glaring at the two boys but its fear not anger in his eyes. "Going after a Burned One, multiple Burned Ones-"

"I know, I know." Sky interrupts desperately. "But you're better now. It worked."

"That's not the point, Sky." Silva sighs in exasperation, clearly knowing his own argument isn't very strong. "You could have been killed! Dowling and the others-"

"Weren't coming." Riven snaps.

"Riv!" Sky's voice is startled as he desperately tries to get out mate to shut up.

"No!" Riven's agitated and I begin to step towards him. "Are you serious right now? Dowling wasn't coming."

He's shaking, trembling and I quickly link his pinkie through mine, only to flinch when he jerks and pulls away. He careless wave off of my attention has be stepping back with watering eyes

"No one was coming, Silva! They were just going to leave you out there!" He's panting, "if it wasn't for Sky's not dead, dead father we would have been fucked!"

"Riven!" Sky and Silva snap instantly.

"They were going to let us all die!"

Sky falls silent and Silva's head drops down at Riven's words. I register the courtyard around us, fall quiet, heads turn our way. Shit. Public drama.

You don't exactly have the best track record with public drama. Darkling mutters.

No shit sherlock. I snarl.

I really don't have the best track record with public drama. This needs to be handled privately. More for Riven's sake than Dowling.

My heart hurts at the thought of his pain. His rejection stung but I bury the murmuring pain. He's grieving. We all need understanding when we're grieving, how could I even think of expecting him to be okay with losing his friends?

"Riven," Silva starts slowly, "This is not the time or the place-"

My mate scoffs and storms away, Sky and Silva desperately call after him but even their thickened headed skulls can see that he needs time.

Follow him, but do not interfere or listen to his conversations. I command.

He's gone to the stables, Darkling reports, we'll let him know we're there and that we'll be waiting outside for him.

"The rest of you!" Tomen calls to the courtyard. "Back to your rooms, you still have classes tomorrow."

There's an unsurprising wave of complaints and grumbles but students do as Tomen commands, the Solarians taking that as their cue to pack up and ship out. I dread to think what the Queen will do when she hears word of it. Hopefully with the success of the mission she will choose to honour the fallen three specialists instead. But I have no doubt that privately there will be consequences.

Not to mention what's going to happen with Andreas. I don't think he can stay here with Rosalind so pissed.

I don't think he's going to allow anyone to take Sky from him though, especially since he's met him.

Family is everything to him. I wouldn't be surprised if just tries to take Sky and Beatrix and just run like hell from Rosalind. Sadly, the stubborn fucker has never been one to shy away from a fight.

Explains where Sky got it from.

"What in Helios' name were you thinking?" I hear Dowling seethe as she enters the courtyard, the student all having finally left, "Leaving school grounds, searching for a Burned One, endangering not only yourselves but the others here as well."

Finally, Darkling huffs, someone is telling those stupid fairies to fuck off.

The winx girls seem to be getting a bollocking from Dowling as they walk shamefully behind the headmistress, heads bowed and eyes stuck to the floor as they awkwardly shuffle into the room. Bloom seems to have joined them and my sister stands by her side, Terra isn't with them having no doubt stayed in the greenhouse to make more Zanbaq. The blood on my twin's hands has me tensing but I know its because she was helping the wounded, a small relief, especially when I know the trauma she must have seen as a result.

She seems more tired yet I've never seen her more at peace with herself.

Brandon is waiting for her outside of the courtyard, in the hallway. Little shadow whispers and I see him from the corner of my eye.

They show me an image of him leant against one of the walls, swathed in darkness and dressed in what suspiciously looks like pyjamas.

Awwwww... He rushed over to check on Stella.

Shut it. I snap, we do not approve.

.... We approve.

Unfortunately for us, Dowling catches sight of myself and Sky, I can already tell this lecture is going to extend to us.

"How dare you." Dowling's voice is calm but she shakes with rage. "How dare you command my students, treat them like soldiers and get them killed because of your inexperienced orders."

I wish she had yelled. The guilt has already begun eating me up. Three specialists that will never graduate, never go home, never live their lives. Stuck at 19 for the rest of eternity, their lives cut short not by war but by my decisions.

"Oh fuck off Farah."

Bloom chokes at Silva's words, I fight the urge to do the same as Dowling takes a stunned step back.

"Guys, could you give us the room please." Silva directs his request at us students, giving us a comforting smile. "We will inform you all tomorrow of everything that needs to happen after today. Rest up, you've earned it."

He nods to us and I take hold of Sky's hand and gently pull him from the room as his gaze bounces between Saul and Farrah like he's watching the most entertaining match of his life. Sky gives me a soft smile when I make a noise that clearly says 'i want your attention' and I get it when he brushes a delicate kiss to my forehead.

The walk back to Sky's room is silent. Perhaps we are in shock. I wouldn't be surprised, bloodshed doesn't get easier. Only harder in different ways.

Our moment of relative peace doesn't last and I feel Sky tense beside me as a blood covered Dire Wolf Irene awkwardly ducks under the top of the main door with Andreas by her side.

Is that an intestine slung over his shoulder?

Andreas stops before us but Irene trots past, no doubt eager to find her mate. My shoulders sag slightly when Drea brings me into a quick hug.

"You have grown so much, Little General." He murmurs to be, eyes soft.

Sky remains tense by my side, even as Andreas straightens and turns to his son. His expression has become more guarded, the battle no longer uniting them without fear of their problems.

"You fought well,'' he states but there is no pride in his voice, he's just stating a fact. "Rest up. We can talk in the morning."

And just like that he's striding away and Sky's scoffing before tugging his from mine and storming off through the halls.

You lot really need to work on your coping mechanisms.

Shut up. I mumble, exhaustion causing my eyes to sag.

I really just want my bed.

A/N: What do you want to see between Andreas and various charcters?

Sky

Irene

Silva

Dowling

Beatrix

Octavia

Riven