The Queen of Shadows - World of Winx rewrite S.1

Chapter 5: The Legend of The Crocodile man

Naoki marveled at the way the sun illuminated the Manhattan skyline. The unobstructed view of the coast was truly breathtaking, and he felt a thrill of anticipation for the day ahead. He had poured his heart and soul into acquiring cutting-edge technology and crafting new, innovative robots. The advanced technology he had been working on was unlike anything he believed anyone had ever seen before.

Positioned at the dock, Naoki's attention was caught by two guys maneuvering radio-controlled boats in the water. With a sly smile, he retrieved his compact tablet, accessing his program app to take control of the boats. The yellow boat veered off course and executed a spectacular flip, while the red one emerged victorious. As the two guys started arguing and accusing each other of cheating, Naoki couldn't help but chuckle. He relished using his skills to play pranks on unsuspecting victims.

In an instant, the dock began to tremble beneath Naoki's feet. Circular ripples spread across the water's surface, accompanied by the formation of bubbles. Intrigued, he crouched by the edge of the dock, peering into the deep blue water. But there was nothing to be seen. Then, a piercing scream pierced the air, and Naoki's gaze was drawn to the sight of something massive and dark green gliding alongside a small white boat near the bay. Glimpses of big, yellow reptilian eyes were visible, reflecting on the boat's hull. The creature's appearance was anything but friendly, and it swiftly moved. Its scaly tail struck the boat's hull with a resounding thud, inducing panic as people tumbled into the water from the railing.

Reacting quickly, Naoki fumbled for his phone, eager to capture the astonishing sight on video. However, his recording ceased abruptly as he noticed the water turning a sinister shade of red. The gravity of the situation sank in as he comprehended what he had just witnessed: a massive crocodile-like creature taking the lives of those who had fallen into the water. The memory of legends and myths flooded his mind – notably, "The Legend of The Crocodile Man." It was as if the pages of comic books had come to life before his eyes. Swiftly abandoning the scene, Naoki sprinted toward his parked scooter, his heart racing. He brushed past a cluster of news media personnel engaged in mundane discussions about the weather, barely giving them a second thought. There were far more pressing matters at hand. "Exciting news" had just become an understatement for the shocking encounter he had just witnessed. 

***

Seated on the sprawling green sofa in their apartment, everyone's expressions bore traces of the tumultuous events of the previous day. The collective tension still clung to the air. Stella had battled with a night punctuated by restless awakenings, plagued by unsettling nightmares that seemed to envelop her in an impenetrable darkness. Musa, too, found herself haunted by the memory of that horrifying moment when the creature had forcibly dragged Annabelle into the ominous shadows. Flora, nursing the residual effects of the disorienting blast, sought solace in a steaming cup of healing tea. Roxy, in her effort to lighten the somber atmosphere, had prepared a tray of invigorating smoothies.

Seated amidst the aftermath, Aisha voiced the collective unease that had settled over them, asking the question that hung heavy in the air, "What's our next step?"

Musa, her voice resolute despite the lingering fear, responded, "We have to find a way back there somehow."

Flora, her gaze distant, echoed the sentiment but also the uncertainty that loomed over their plan, "But how? We don't know how to open a portal to that strange place."

The room fell into contemplative silence, each of them lost in their thoughts. Tecna, driven by her inquisitive nature, tapped and swiped on her tablet, deep in analysis of the sleep dust that had played an instrumental role in when they tried to get Annabelle back. Searching for any clue that might point to the mechanics of the teleportation process.

"Maybe you could try using your new powers to open a portal, Musa?" Bloom suggested, settling down beside Stella, who was wrapped in a blanket. Stella was curled up, leaning against Bloom for comfort.