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It was certainly sunny. It was warm, and despite the frequent sound of sneezing that reminded her of the sick Pixies, it was a beautiful day, and the surrounding nature offered sounds that confirmed it. Yet, somehow, she felt cold—very cold.
Or perhaps it was just the shivers the nature fairy felt upon realizing she was the only one capable of saving the Pixie Village. At the right moment, she would make sure Ice paid for the damage and all the pain caused, but for now, she needed to focus on finding a solution.
The headmistress's voice echoed through the forest, and she could feel the heavy gazes of Aisha, Brandon, Sky, and Helia, who were holding the sick Pixies in their arms.
Flora squinted as Faragonda ended the conversation; the image vanished magically, clearing the young fairy's view of the Tree of Life. Whispers rippled through the gathered Pixies around her, and the pressure in her head intensified. Her skin felt like it was burning, and tears welled up in her eyes.
They were counting on her. They needed her. And she didn't know what to do or where to start. Her head ached from the sheer amount of information she was carrying and the intensity with which she was channeling her powers to locate the source of the problem—feeling worse by the moment because she couldn't find it.
The Tree was dying, and she didn't know what to do.
"Flora, it's okay," Aisha's voice sounded distant in her mind. "Just take a deep breath; it's going to be okay."
She didn't know how many times her friend had repeated the words, but she only opened her eyes when she heard Chatta’s repeated sneezing. She stood up and—before anyone else could say a word, and before she could even think of anything else—she bolted away to escape prying eyes and went into hiding.
Aisha sighed and sank to the ground, her shoulders slumping with exhaustion and worry.
Brandon sighed, looking surprised. "I’ve never seen Flora like this."
"Imagine being the only person who can save little lives, racing against time without knowing where to start," Aisha murmured, understanding her friend's perspective. "From the little time we’ve known each other, I know Flora is capable. She just needs to find the strength within herself."
"How much time do you think we have?" Sky asked, keeping an eye on Lockette, who was asleep in his arms.
"I don't know, but I think someone should go talk to her." Aisha started to get up, but Helia stepped forward.
"I'll talk to her," he said, his voice calm yet filled with determination and seriousness.
Without offering an explanation or leaving room for questions, Helia ran along the path Flora had taken, carrying Chatta gently and securely. Sky, Brandon, and Aisha exchanged a knowing look and settled down with the Pixies, hoping Helia would be able to help Flora.
In a secluded area, Flora sat on the ground and leaned back against a tree, trying to clear her mind. Panicking wouldn't help, so she wiped away her tears, took a deep breath, and focused on her thoughts.
If Ice had cast a freezing spell, Flora needed to find focus. She didn't have healing powers like Bloom, nor Stella's solar powers, and without Tecna's magic, she couldn't fully assess the damage the witch had left. She didn't even have her Charmix, which would be very useful for healing the Tree of Life.
"Flora?" Helia's voice caught her attention, and she immediately stood up, feeling her cheeks flush.
"Helia," she tried not to stutter, directing her gaze to the sleeping Pixie. "Is Chatta alright? Has she gotten worse?"
"No, I think she's the same," he tried to reassure her, approaching. "I came to see you. I know it's been difficult to think of a solution."
"I don't know what to do," she admitted, feeling small. "The Winx would know what to do. With Charmix, they're stronger and... And I..."
"You're the fairy of nature, none of them could do what you're capable of," Helia interrupted, looking into her eyes. "That's why you're so nervous. It's a lot of responsibility."
Flora had to fight against her jaw to close her mouth, her surprise so great she could barely hide it. "If I do something wrong, all the Pixies will..."
"Flora," he looked at her so deeply that she felt her fears melt away. "You know you're capable of this. You just need to look inside yourself and find the strength you know you have. The Pixies are counting on you, and I know Chatta is your bonded Pixie—which is why you're afraid of making a mistake. But, Flora, you can do it. If there's anyone who can pull this off, it's you."
She glanced at Chatta, seeing how frail and tired she looked. It wasn't in her Pixie's nature to be so quiet; quite the opposite—she usually spoke up even when it wasn't appropriate. Seeing her looking so small and fragile ignited a fire of determination within Flora.
"You just need to find the root of the problem," Helia continued, his calm voice easing the pressure and sparking a realization in her mind.
"The root!" Flora exclaimed—loud enough to wake Chatta, who stirred in Helia's arms to listen to the conversation.
"The root..." he agreed, nodding, until the realization hit him too. "The root!"
"The root!" she repeated, laughing, under Chatta's confused gaze. "We need to run."
When they returned to the group, Flora hurried toward the Tree of Life, focusing intently. Helia stepped up behind her and, catching her by surprise, placed his hands on her shoulders, easing away all the tension.
Flora closed her eyes, savoring the sensation. She tuned out the sounds around her and reached out for the Tree’s heart, its life force, and its roots. She focused on sensing the vibrations, and once she finally connected with the roots, she channeled her magic to infuse them with new life. She felt a connection to the entire village at once; every pulse of life seemed stronger, and for a fleeting moment, it was as if Flora had become one with the nature of the place itself.
In her mind’s eye, she saw the heart of the village: the Tree of Life, pulsing with brilliant light. The wound inflicted by Icy’s spell seemed to knit together and heal; the very next instant, Flora opened her eyes to find herself surrounded by a shower of flowers rising from the ground.
"Flora! You did it!" Aisha’s voice rang out joyfully through the forest, followed by the cheers of the Pixies and the Specialists.
Flora took a deep breath and broke into a wide smile, hardly believing she had actually pulled it off. All on her own—and even without her Charmix—she had managed to heal all life in Pixie Village.
"Quick, grab some leaves," Aisha said, rushing over to hug Flora before she began gathering the leaves pouring forth from the Tree of Life. "We need to hurry and make the tea for the Pixies."
★
As the Pixies sipped their tea, Flora watched them with a smile, feeling relieved. Chatta was already showing signs of recovery, chattering away about everything that had happened and recounting events in her own unique storytelling style, making the others laugh.
Sky and Brandon kept an eye on the Pixies while contacting Alfea to share the news, and Aisha helped Piff drink her tea, gently waking her whenever she suddenly drifted off to sleep.
Flora barely noticed Helia approaching until he stopped softly beside her, his presence comforting. He brought with him a lightness that soothed all her worries—something that calmed her heart while simultaneously making it race. Her cheeks flushed pink, and she caught Chatta’s eye, which seemed to encourage her to speak her mind.
"Helia, I..." she stammered, taking a deep breath. "I want to thank you for what you did today. It meant a lot to me."
"You were the real star, Flora, and I knew you could do it," he replied.
"It was thanks to you that I found the answers," Flora smiled, trying to hide the blush on her face. "Thank you. I couldn't have done it alone."
"I suppose so, but I'm happy I could help," Helia smiled. "We're heading off now; we need to hand in a mission report to Codatorta."
"Oh," Flora looked away, the words burning on her lips. "Right. Aisha and I need to meet up with the Winx and take the Pixies back, too."
"Well, then..." Helia sighed, looking just as uncertain as she did. "See you soon, I guess."
"I guess so," she nodded, her smile fading as she watched Helia walk away—slowly, as if he weren't sure he wanted to leave.
"Flora!" Chatta flew up to her, looking angry. "You need to tell him how you feel!"
"I... I know, but... He's already leaving..." she tried to look away from Helia's retreating figure. "Besides, I'm scared, Chatta! What if he doesn't feel the same way? What if I scare him off? What if..."
"Flora!" A Pixie shouted, catching Helia's attention; he turned around, looking at them in confusion. "Go to him right now and tell him how you feel! You'll never know if you don't try!"
Flora tried to argue, but when she looked at Helia again, she knew: she would never forgive herself if she didn't try.
So, without waiting another moment, she ran over to Helia, who smiled faintly as he saw her approach.
"Flora? Is everything okay?" he asked, ignoring Brandon, who was calling out to him.
"Yes! I... I know this isn't the best time, but... But I..." She took a deep breath, gathering her thoughts. "Helia, I know we're in a dangerous situation and that you might not feel the same way—and I'll understand if you don't—but I..." Flora met his gaze, tempted to run away. "I think I might be in love with you."
Helia's smile wavered, but it seemed to be on the verge of turning into a laugh. "You think so?"
"I... I have very strong feelings, and I don't know if I can call it love, but I think... Maybe... Maybe I love you," she tried to express herself, feeling foolish, yet she steadied herself by looking at Hélia’s smile and calm face, feeling the world slow down around them.
He touched her face, so gently that Flora felt like a real flower. "I think I might be falling in love with you too, Flora."
Her heart agreed, and she smiled, at peace. "Really?"
"I can't stop thinking about you," Helia seemed to study her face, as if trying to memorize every inch of her. "When all this is over, and you’ve humbled that Dark Phoenix alongside the Winx, I promise I’ll make you love me—for sure."
As he pulled away, Flora spun in the air, laughing as Chatta collided with her, hugging her and congratulating her for finally speaking up.
She only noticed the jewel shining like a brooch on her chest when a bright light illuminated it, and with a laugh of disbelief and emotion, she realized that her act of courage had earned her her Charmix.
Watching the Specialists' ship pull away, Flora smiled at the world of possibilities she now saw for herself.
She just needed to have courage.