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

Chapter 11: Between Nature and Humans

Flora felt herself being carried and gently laid down on a firm surface. A flurry of concerned voices surrounded her, and she strained to make sense of the hushed conversations. Among the voices, she could distinguish Tecna's, discussing matters that seemed complex and beyond her immediate comprehension. Then, Tecna muttered something about the strain her body had endured due to the deep connection with the forest.Gradually, Flora became aware of a comforting warmth enveloping her, as if she were being cradled in a protective cocoon of magical energy. Her pounding headache began to ebb away, replaced by a soothing sensation that permeated her body. The pain that had wracked her being just moments ago was fading into distant memory.With great effort, Flora opened her eyes, squinting against a sudden burst of intense light that threatened to blind her. She certainly hadn't expected to wake up to the sight of a glaring light source.

"W-where am I?" she inquired weakly, her voice trembling.

"We're still in the rainforest, Flora. You fainted," Tecna responded gently.

Aisha's voice joined the conversation from nearby, expressing her concern. She held Flora's head in her hands, ensuring she was comfortable.

Flora struggled to piece together her thoughts. "The trees... they called for help, and they warned me about the rainforest being in danger," she managed to explain, her voice still faint from weakness.

Bloom sighed, her voice tinged with frustration. "Humans... they deforest the Amazon rainforest for money and the palm oil consortium. They need more land for planting those palm oil trees, and that's why they're cutting down so many trees here."

Flora felt a surge of disappointment wash over her. The realization that humans could be so heedless and destructive towards nature saddened her deeply. They were causing pain and displacing countless animal species in the pursuit of profit.

"We must do something to stop this," Flora exclaimed with determination, pushing herself to a sitting position with Aisha's help.

A heavy silence settled over the group, as if they were contemplating the gravity of the situation. Flora's anger flared up, fueled by her sense of helplessness and her friends' apparent resignation.

"Flora, it's not that easy," Bloom cautioned. "Some people are trying to make a difference, but the government doesn't seem to care or listen."

Flora's frustration bubbled to the surface, and she snapped, "Well, this 'government' you're talking about seems to be incredibly ignorant! They don't seem to care that they're causing so much harm to the life here!" Her anger surged within her, making it impossible to maintain her composure. Her friends were taken aback by her outburst, and for a moment, they remained silent, unsure of how to respond.

Bloom continued, trying to calm her, "I understand your frustration, but right now, we may not be able to do anything immediately."

Flora nodded reluctantly, though she couldn't help but feel that her friends weren't as committed to finding a solution as she was. As the determination welled up within her, she knew that she couldn't stand idly by while the rainforest suffered. She would find a way to make a difference, even if she had to do it alone.

***

The guide led the Winx to a spot near a pond, its surface tainted green and looking rather polluted. A wooden fence had been erected to keep tourists from approaching too closely. The guide warned them that a creature resembling a crocodile occasionally appeared in the area. Flora thought that the environment was perfect for such animals to camouflage themselves, an intriguing survival strategy.

"We all know this place could be a perfect camouflage for our beloved 'crocodile man,'" Stella whispered.

"Stella's right. We need to be extra cautious and keep a close watch," Aisha added.

Flora had been pondering a strategy to apprehend the crocodile man. He was notoriously difficult to catch and stop, and their past encounters had taught them to be more vigilant and careful during confrontations. His cunning and intelligence made any mistakes deadly.

Lost in thought, Flora's concentration was broken by a sensation that her powers were connecting with someone. It wasn't a natural connection to the environment; it was a connection to a human. In the distance, she heard a woman shouting, "Save the Amazon Rainforest." This caught Flora's attention, and she became more intrigued. The voice seemed to originate from further down the path they were following.

Flora walked towards the voice and saw a girl with long, light brown hair. Some of her curls cascaded at the ends. She wore an outfit reminiscent of a safari attire, similar to what Flora had worn during their first-year trip to the The Black-Mud Swamp during a class with Professor Palladium. Above the girl's head, she held a sign that read, 'Save the Amazon Rainforest.' A smile crept onto Flora's face as she felt an unusual energy surrounding the girl. There was something about her aura that felt genuinely special.

Approaching the girl with a warm smile, Flora introduced herself, "Hello, I'm Flora."

The girl returned the smile with one equally warm. She seemed initially surprised that someone had approached her. "Oh, hi! I'm Maria."

"I can see you're passionate about saving the 'Amazon Rainforest,'" Flora continued. The girl nodded, and Flora sensed her deep dedication to the cause, as if it were her dream. The voices of nature whispered to Flora, asking for help before it was too late, before everything vanished. An idea took root in Flora's mind – perhaps she and Maria could work together.

"I can try to help you," Flora offered.

Maria's eyes practically sparkled. "For real?"

Flora nodded.

"This... I mean... Thanks. I've tried to find a way to bring more people to help me but had not had any luck," Maria admitted.

"Well, someone has to be the first," Flora said with determination.

Maria sighed. "My dream has always been to save this amazing rainforest because I want other people to be able to experience this place and see its magic. Ever since I was little, I loved being close to nature. And I cannot let... let this place be destroyed."

Flora sensed the depth of Maria's emotions. Maria had a big heart and cared deeply about the forest's life. She understood the value of nature, not just as a relaxing place but as a living ecosystem. Without nature, there would be no life, and without life, there would be no nature. Flora knew well from Lynphea that damaging the nature key or its core could lead to the loss of many lives.

"I understand. Nature is a life of itself and needs to be protected. Without its life, many animals might disappear and become extinct," Flora said, placing a gentle hand on Maria's shoulder. Maria smiled in response.

Something about Maria reminded Flora of her sister, Miele. It wasn't just because Maria resembled a grown-up version of Miele, but also because Maria had a pure heart like her sister. Both were curious, cared for nature, and were stubborn, unwilling to give up.

"It seems like some people try to close their eyes and ignore what's actually happening, like they don't want to accept the truth," Maria remarked.

Flora inquired, "Have any of your friends tried to help you? It can be a good start."

Maria shook her head. "No. Many people think my dreams of saving the Amazon Rainforest are not possible and will never come true. They also tell me how I am not the right person..."

Flora asked, "What do you mean?"

"I'm not the toughest person outwardly. If I weren't so afraid to talk with people, they would actually see that I can give more. Not the antisocial Maria in the town, almost afraid of living in a city," Maria explained.

Flora could relate to that sentiment. Many people judged her because she was shy and appeared sweet on the outside. However, when people got to know her, they would see a different Flora, not just the shy girl in the group who cared about her plants. The girl who had to be rescued all the time had so much more to offer, but it could be difficult to express herself or make people dare to listen. Loneliness often crept in when you felt left alone.

"I'm a completely different person when I'm around nature. They don't judge me for who I am, as others do," Maria continued.

Flora sighed and said, "I understand..."

***