SECRETS | Fate: The Winx Saga ~ Alternate Season 2

Chapter 38

When all the students stopped walking robotically, Farah was glad to know that Ben, Bloom and the others had made it. Rosalind no longer had any control over them, and the barrier was no longer there either. Only Saul continued to fight Andreas, unaware that it was all over.

"Saul, we made it, come on, who cares about Andreas," she muttered as Sky almost jumped into his arms.

"Mom!" cried the latter, hugging her tightly, moved. "I thought I'd lost you forever..."

The fairy tenderly caressed his back, relieved that everyone was safe, well, she hoped that on Ben's side, there was no loss.

"It's over, Sky, it's all right," she reassured him in a warm voice.

Saul finally turned his attention from Andreas to his family, reunited at last.

"I'm so proud of you both," he admitted with a smile. "At last we can go back to the way things were."

His wife bowed her head. Not exactly. Luna was dead, and Stella and Ben's lives would never be the same. Farah glanced around. Terra and Aisha rushed over and hugged them, happy to see them both alive, as were the other students, Beatrix, Riven and Dane included. Without Rosalind's grip, they were normal students, who had nothing against her.
The group was soon joined by Ben, Bloom, Stella, Musa and Sam, who became aware of their freedom. Bloom and Sky fell into each other's arms, kissing, reconciled.

"The nightmare is finally over, I'm sorry for everything, about your mom, I fixed my mistake, but it won't bring the Queen back," the girl explained quickly, nervously.

Her boyfriend grabbed her face in his hands to calm her down. He didn't blame her in the least.

"You've realised your mistake, it doesn't matter, we'll put it all behind us and move on together," he told her with determination. "I almost lost you a few times and I don't want that to happen again."

The Specialist hugged his fairy close to his heart and Ben used the moment to get to his friends and daughter.

"Farah! Saul! How good it is to see you all safe and sound!" the botany teacher exclaimed as he took them by the hand, before placing a kiss on his daughter's forehead.

"Thank God you're all alive, we feared the worst with Rosalind," Saul replied with a gasp.

"We're so sorry things turned out that way, it's terrible, you and Stella don't deserve this," Headmistress Dowling apologised, shaking her head.

"Luna was amazing to the end," their friend whispered, looking around for the ghostly figure but not seeing it, upset.

Farah was about to embrace him for comfort when her eyes fell on the crystal ring around her friend's middle finger.

"Ben, are you kidding us? You didn't destroy the ring?" she questioned, afraid that Rosalind might not be totally eliminated.

Her friend lowered his head in shame. In fact, he was selfishly afraid that destroying the jewel would result in a loss of contact with his beloved's soul.

"I...I couldn't ask Bloom to do this, I'm sorry, I'm pathetic..."

His daughter laid her hand affectionately on his shoulder.

"You're anything but pathetic, Dad."

He winked at her in thanks and his friends led him away from the students to have a chat with him.

"Come on, Ben, we know it's not easy for you, but if we don't destroy that ring, there's always a chance Rosalind will find a way to get free," Saul reasoned with him in a reproachful tone.
His friend ran his hands over his face, about to break.

"I know, but it's so hard for me," he sighed, wiping a tear from the corner of his eye. "Ever since Luna passed away, I feel like she's always with me, no matter what I do. I see her, Saul, and she talks to me when we're just the two of us. I learned from her that the barrier Rosalind created was linked to her life energy, and she helped me trap her by providing the missing power...I'm afraid that destroying the ring will break the connection for good. I don't want her to disappear, I can't lose Luna a second time."

Taken aback by his grief and distress, Farah placed her hand over his, touching the crystal at the same time.

"I feel only Rosalind's presence in this ring. Luna's mind is disassociated from it, your bond is much stronger than a piece of jewellery, the love you have for each other is stronger than anything, so you have nothing to fear."

Ben smiled weakly at her, terrified that he would never speak to his beloved again.

"I hope you're right, Farah..." he murmured, resigned.

He took the ring off his finger and, after admiring it and remembering the most excruciating moment of his life, gave the jewel to the fairy. Without a word, the three friends joined Bloom and Sky, who had finished snogging.

"Bloom, you have one last mission to complete to get rid of Rosalind for good," the headmistress said, looking serious. "As long as the crystal is not destroyed, she will always be able to find a way out, so we ask you to act as quickly as possible."

The girl nodded and walked towards her with a determined step.

"I agree with you entirely, Rosalind has to be eradicated," she approved coldly, determined to avenge all those who have suffered.

Farah placed the ring on the grass and Bloom used her Dragon Flame to smash it to smithereens as Ben's heart was breaking a little more. Rosalind was gone, she wouldn't hurt anyone else. But Luna, where was she?

Two strong hands came to rest firmly on his shoulders.

"Don't blame yourself, Ben, you made the right decision."

Saul's voice echoed in his head for a long time, for at that moment he no longer belonged to the world of the living.