Redemption into the light

The Storm of Shadows

After the Trix were banished to a place beyond time and space by the Winx, they drifted through the void, their beings unrestricted, and briefly connected with a cosmic entity. Now, an indescribable darkness has begun to spread throughout the realm of Magix.

The three schools—Alfea, Cloud Tower, and Red Fountain—have been forced to work together to relocate their campuses due to the recent events, as a nameless darkness is expanding in all directions around a hexagonal lake.

The entire process was sped up when a massive storm began to build up over Magix, peaking right above the lake that was supposed to unite the schools. Access to the lake and the surrounding woods has been forbidden for all students. What used to be beautiful forests have turned into savage, brutal woods. The trees grew faces from which blood streamed down like tears, and screams haunted anyone brave—or foolish—enough to enter the Screaming Woods. And hearing the screams is the least of your worries compared to the risk of being corrupted by the darkness if things go wrong.

Headmistresses Faragonda, Griffin, and Headmaster Saladin are hard at work preparing a convergence spell to teleport the three schools to safety. While preparations at Alfea and Red Fountain are coming along smoothly, there's trouble at Cloud Tower. What's wrong there?

To get to the bottom of this, the three headmasters meet to discuss the problem...

"Well then, my fellow leaders, let's get this crisis meeting wrapped up as quickly as possible," Faragonda says, her voice calm but her eyebrow raised.

Saladin stands up and begins, "I completely agree, Faragonda. How are the preparations for the convergence spell coming along?" He sits back down, looking uneasy.

Faragonda replies, "Quite well, actually! I believe my students will be ready in just a few hours to get us out of this dire sit—"

Before she can finish her sentence, Headmistress Griffin angrily slams her fist on the table.

Griffin shouts, "We've known since our last council meeting that your schools would be able to use the convergence spell to escape this dire situation! But we should be focusing on one of the bigger threats here! Cloud Tower has lost control due to the dark energy spreading everywhere. Something is messing with the tower's energy flow... even the prophecy warns that places harboring dark magic will struggle to resist or escape the darkness."

The other two respond, both frustrated and understanding, "We know this situation isn't ideal, Griffin. But that's no excuse to be so disrespectful. We need to act quickly to save everyone, and one way to do that is to move your witches into our schools if they're willing to cooperate efficiently."

Griffin stands up and takes a few steps back, tears in her eyes. She starts to explain, "I wish it were that simple, but my fellow headmasters, it's not. The witches can't leave Cloud Tower. Because they use dark magic, and the spreading darkness affects us differently, the tower is holding them captive. Something is interfering with the energy that binds us. I'm the only one strong enough to enter and leave Cloud Tower. My students are terrified, and I don't know how to calm them down!"

Faragonda and Saladin approach Griffin and each place a comforting hand on her shoulder.

Faragonda says in a supportive tone, "We didn't know that, Griffin. We're so sorry. I promise we'll do everything we can to help you and your students, but you must understand that if we have a chance to get our students to safety, we have to take it. I hope you understand."

Saladin adds, "Exactly, and we won't leave you to face this alone. We'll help however we can. We are the Alliance of Light, after all! Don't forget that."

Griffin feels a sense of relief, but it's short-lived, as the vice-principals of the three schools burst into the council chamber.

"Ms. Faragonda, Mr. Saladin, and Ms. Griffin, come quickly! Something terrible has happened..."