LUNASTRA TRILOGY: Advent of Lunastra Arc (Arc 1)

Episode 3: First Illumination

The group heads to the castle, visibly shaken by what they have just experienced and tired from the battle that just ensued. Roxy has several, crimson scars on her body and her torso is aching from taking so many hits during the fight but she puts on a brave face all the while. Morgana helps her along by putting her arm around her shoulder and patting her on the back whenever Roxy begins to cry. Arashiro helps Nebula along as she has spent much of her energy fighting; Nebula is visibly drained from all of the fighting and dark circles are around her eyes. The Specialists and Winx help to carry a number of the Fairy Guards to the palace. Sky has a large gash across his chest and his Phantoblade is split in two at this point. Nabu has several blackish-red bruises on his body. Helia's body is covered with a litany of deep, reddish scars on his body. Timmy's forehead has a big purplish bruise on it and his left arm is adorned with a lattice of deep cuts. Brandon has a large scar across his face, going from his left to right.

Bloom wasn't much better. Her body is also covered with bleeding cuts, bruises, and sore limbs as if she was punching boulders all night. Musa had a cut on her stomach and multiple black spots on her body. Stella's hair was drenched in blood and her Believix outfit was torn to bits, blood coating most of it. Tecna was about the same. Flora had crimson liquid running down her body and leg as she shakily kept walking, visibly mortified at what had just happened. Aisha was putting on a brave face as well, but she too had a scar running down her forehead and dark bruises all over her.

Musa silently glances back to another confused individual; her face contorted into a mixture of pity, suspicion, and confusion as she saw what was walking behind her.

Laria and Ravarae lead the unusual Kamaiakuma to the castle, glancing every 10 seconds to see what its moves will be. It only walks in silence, looking around in bewilderment as its eyes widened. It looked as if all of the memories it had of this place--somehow--are flooding back to its memory. Silent gasps came out in slow rhythms as the head swivels to look at the scenery; she especially saw it react strongly when it saw the rift. It then looked at the Great Rift where the Wizards of the Black Circle were; its eyes narrowed and it looks down. "I see...." it mutters and looks back to where it focuses.

Musa's eyes furrow in confusion. What does he mean? Why does he look like he knows he's been here before? Even if it is Riven under there, why has he retained all of his memories, she wonders? She breathes deeply and sighs. There's no point in worrying about it now. Hopefully, all questions will be answered--and if not all, then maybe a lot.

The party entered the palace. Nebula whispers something in Arashiro's ear; he nods and lets her off his shoulder. She raises a hand for all to stop.

They found themselves on the main floor of the castle; it still in ruins but is in much better condition than when they left. Everyone gasps surprised that the Kamaiakuma horde didn't cause as much or any damage at all in there. Many of the Fairy Guards sighed a relief but still had puzzled looks on their faces. Why attack when they weren't here to destroy? That was the thought everyone else had on their mind at this.

Arashiro blitzes up in the air and floats above them, before clasping his hands together. Within seconds, aurora-colored halos from all around him reached up from the Earth like serpents rearing to fly and encircled him like a slow-moving maelstrom; the palace was illuminated by the unearthly lunar glow. The Winx's mouth jaws dropped as they silently watched the spectacle unfold. The Specialists could only do the same. Roxy and Morgana only stood in awe of the sight before them. The halos disappeared into Arashiro's clasped hands, which soon begin to glow a bright azure green.

"Seinaru Kiban no Izanagi***", Arashiro commands as 10 massive azure-green seating platforms launched outwards and dove down to everyone's position. They were rectangular with rounded edges and in the center of them, a hieroglyphic symbol of a crescent moon, Asian-esque with glowing crimson katakana-shaped markings detailing the interior of the design. Bloom and the others looked down at them and looked quizically at Arashiro.