The Steel Fairy ‖ Fate : The Winx Saga

01 ‖ Beyond the barrier

Beyond the barrier is where it's safe, for them. I don't care about the Burned Ones, they can't hurt me. Almost no one can. Fire is not my weakness, electricity is. I'm 95% steel after all.

I walk swiftly spinning my daggers without even touching them. They spread in rotation, regroup in my hands. I turned my armor on just to be sure I won't hurt myself and the clicking sound of the contact of metal against metal punctuates the swoosh of the air being sliced by the blades again and again. I send them in front of me and watch them sink into the ground like a deadly fence, call them back into my palm, do it again, and again and then — I feel the wire I stretched around my practice area tighten. Someone approches.

"Go away!" I yell but I hear leaves crunching under their steps behind me. I hold firmly onto my weapons, my armor dissipating to reveal my fair skin. Only my hands remain under the spell, like steel gloves perfectly fitted, holding tight the sharp slices of metal.

A short blond hair fairy arrives into the meadow where I train. Stella. A former friend, but I don't want to hurt her. I don't want to hurt anyone, ever again. That's why I'm here.

"It was incredible, Gus!" Stella says. "I didn't know you could do that!"

"It's recent," I lie. I've been practicing since spring last year, since I lost control.

An awkward silence settles between us. The sun is not down yet, and I would like to keep on practicing before heading up to bed.

"It's not safe here, Stella."

"Yeah, I know... Burned ones out there."

And me.

I can see she is not intending on leaving just yet, and she knows I'm not a social person anymore. I'm pretty far away from the barrier, into the forest to be found by accident.

"What do you want, Stella ?"

"Apologize." She says. "I try to be a better person now..."

I noticed the new haircut, the change of fashion style, less Princessy and yet more... Stella.

"You've been here for me when I needed you, when everybody turned their back on me because of what I did to Rikki..." A shiver runs down my spine. This is too familiar. "And I wasn't here for you. Not after what happened with Jaxton..."

My armor spread to my shoulders and I fight it back. Defense mechanism. But Stella doesn't move back. Is she really not afraid by me ?

"It's ok," I swallow even if it's not.

She was the first friend I made when arriving to Alfea. She was the Princess of Solaria and everything for her was about appearances. I could relate. I was the Armor fairy and back then, I thought my ability was useless, even comical when you knew me deep down. The extent of my power allowed me to shied myself under a thick skin of metal, but I wasn't thick-skinned at all. I was and still am lacking confidence. I bleed internally at each word said behind my back. Headmaster Silva recruited me for a combined degree with the Specialists because of my unique talent. I was almost invincible, I was a human shied made for battle, Silva told me. But I wasn't and still am not brave. I avoid difficulties and discomfort. That's exactly why I'm hiding beyond the barrier, away from everyone. Because I'm weak, yet dangerous.

"How are you?" She takes me off guard. No one asked me that anymore. Except for Kiel sometimes. And June, the fearless June.

I'm scared. Sad. Don't know if I can trust myself...

She senses my overwhelm and asks me if I want to join her and her suite mates at the pub later tonight. No boys. But I decline, I have to wake up early. I propose that we walk back together to the school. On the way, we talk like before. It's nice.

I don't ask about her and Sky, I saw him with the Changeling girl yesterday. I don't ask about Riven, I don't care about what, let alone who, he's up to. He's not the one I miss in our friend group from last year.
What I really miss is our innocence of first years. June is stubborn and keeps hanging out with me, when she should party like a first year. I've been a terrible guide for her, not taking her out myself.

I listen absently to Stella telling me about the girls she lives with, she tells me to stop by anytime. I live alone. Headmistress Dowling's idea after the incident. I bet no one wanted to risk their life just by sharing a room with me.

Alfea is a school for Fairies. Powers, in all their forms, shouldn't surprise anyone. We are not monsters but gifted creatures. But when they see my steel skin, they fear me. I don't blame them. I do too.