Chapter 4: Eye of Marble

Bloom woke up screaming what seemed like moments later after she fallen asleep. She caused everyone else around her to scream too. Even Nook sprang out of Bloom's jacket and landed headfirst into the remains of the fire where she squeaked and slithered into nearby grass.

"What? What happened?" said Tecna. She was getting up and she looked a bit dazed.

"I had an nightmare..." said Bloom.

"Oh...I thought it was something important." said Stella. Everyone stared at Stella. "What?"

"What was your nightmare about?" asked Flora.

"I felt like I was falling for a long time. I heard people crying out for help, but I couldn't do anything. It was so scary."

"Don't worry Bloom, it was just a dream." said Aisha. "It's ok now."

"I guess so."

"The sun has risen." said Musa. "We ought to look for the Eye of Marble or whatever it is."

"Yea, we only have three days." confirmed Bloom. "Let's go."

~-~-~

The Winx Club started searching for the Eye of Marble. Tecna started to lag behind. She knew she was slowing down the Winx, but she had to help them get the three items before it was too late.

"Maybe we should stop and rest." said Bloom. She was looking at Tecna.

"No, I'm fine."

"Tecna. We've been noticing some things. You have shortness of breath and you always seemed tired. Don't lie to us." said Musa.

"I'm sorry I've been keeping you down."

"Guys?"

"You need to rest, Tecna. You're going to get sick."

"Guys!"

"I'm really ok. A bit drained but ok."

"GUYS!"

Everyone looked at Stella. She was waving her hand in front of everyone's faces, but no one seemed the listen to her until she shouted. She pointed to a giant temple and a marble sphere balanced on top of a pillar in the middle.

"What is that?" asked Flora.

"It seems to be an ancient temple." said Tecna. "I know this place...but I don't remember."

"That's strange." said Musa. "You normally never forget anything."

"Let's not dwell on that now. I am definitely sure that marble sphere is the Eye of Marble."

"Well, Winx? Let's go get it."

The Winx Club walked to the temple. They were deciding how to get it.

"We should just transform, fly up, and get it." said Stella. "Simple as that."

"But what if there's a trap?" asked Flora.

"We can all be in danger."

"We should move in groups." said Bloom. She started to take charge. "The first group should take care of the traps, while the second group takes the Eye."

"That sound's simple enough I guess." said Stella. She was dissapointed that nobody agreed with her plan.

"Aisha, Musa, and Flora will go first while Stella and I take the Eye."

"What about me? Don't I get to do anything?" asked Tecna. "Just because I'm in this condition doesn't mean I can't help."

"Tecna, your health depends on you." said Flora. Before Tecna could argue back, the other members of the Winx already left her behind.

"Hmp...It's completely logical that I should join them. I have the right to." muttered Tecna. She decided to sit on a moss covered rock and watch the Winx. She thought it wasn't fair and wanted to help, but  because of condition, she didn't want to get in the way of the progress they were doing either.

Aisha, Musa, and Flora flew towards the marble sphere. The were very cautious, but they movked brisky. Suddenly something white shot up from the ground. Whatever it was, it screeched and flew up annd looked at the girls fiercely. It was a snake with bird wings on it's head and it was large.

"What is that?!" shouted Aisha.

"I have no idea!" answered Musa.

"Those are Flying Serpents!" cried out Nook. "They're half snakes, half birds."

"A flying serpent?" observed Flora. "Maybe if we can take out it's wings..."

"Great idea, Flora! Let's do this Musa."

"Yea, I'm on it! Sonic Boom!" A sonic sound knocked some flying snakes out of the air. "Go Bloom!"

Bloom and Stella slipped by unnoticed by the flying snakes. As soon as they reached the marble, Stella impulsively picked up the eye.

"Stella, wait!" Bloom shouted. "It could be a trap!"

It was too late the the whole temple shook up and down as if there was an earthquake. All the flying snakes screeched and started to fly away into the jungle. The temple started to shoot rocks into the air.

"Girls, Let's get out of here!" shouted Bloom.

The Winx Club scattered as they avoided the temple, but it looked like the whole temple was sinking into the ground. Stella made it with ease as she used her teleportation spell to transport herself to Tecna's position. She was about to do the same with the others; however she was knocked out with a flying rock.

"Stella!" Tecna went over to her. She watched as the Winx one by one returned to her position. As Musa was approaching a giant rock flew in the air and was about to crush her.

"Musa get out of there!" warned Aisha. It was almost already too late for Musa to do anything. Tecna knew instinctively what to do.

"Tecna! Believix!" Tecna transformed into her fairy form. "Laser Cage!"

Tecna sent a laser and a cage caught the giant rock from the air. She struggled to keep the cage in tact so it won't crush Musa.

"Musa....get out of there...." muttered Tecna. Musa quickly flew away from the rock and Tecna released the energy and the rock fell onto the ground sending a loud boom.

"Thanks Tecna."

"Don't mention it. I feel a lot stronger now. I bet I won't be such a burden now."

"Tecna, you were never a burden." said Bloom and she gave Tecna a hug.

"Stella's waking up!" said Flora. Stella stood up holding her head. The marble eye was clutched in her hand.

"OOohh....my head..." said Stella. She rubbed her head."....What.... happened?"

"You were hit by a flying stray rock and was knocked out." said Aisha. "Are you okay?"

"Other than a headache and my messy hairdo, I'm fine. Stupid rock messed up my hair. How disgusting I must look now."

"Stella, you're fine." laughed Musa. "At least you didn't almost get crushed by a 500 pound boulder."

"But my hair!!!!"

"Good to have you back, Stella." laughed Bloom. The Winx Club laughed together while Tecna frowned and was unamused by the comments they've given about her.

~-~-~
Amazing...they managed to defeat the Flying Serpents. How clever.

A dark shape sat in an empty throne room. Around her were Stone-People, including the Specialists and Roxy. Roxy knew what was going on. She had to get out of here, the Winx could be in trouble! She had been storing energy since the Winx left and she felt like she had collected enough. Slowly and surely, she started to weaken the stone. She started to feel less and less stiff. It would take time; however, but she can do it. Just need more time.  She heard the voice speak again.

Such an interesting bunch. Maybe instead of eliminating them, they can just do my bidding each time. What a good idea, Hahaha! Adelita, don't worry dear sister, I will avenge you. I think I shall send a portal to them. Time to get the Scale Cape from that selfish King in the planet Atmos.

Roxy smiled in her mind. In two days time, she would be out of this rocky prison for sure. She wondered how the Specialists were doing, what they were thinking. She can probably use a mind-speaking spell like Tecna did, but if she did that, she wouldn't be able to turn herself back to normal. "Don't worry guys. I'll get us out of this!" thought Roxy.

~-~-~
A portal opened up to the Winx Club. They looked at each other at shock at first, but then calmed down when they realized what it was.

"It's the portal to the second object. " said Bloom. "We're one-third to saving the boys."

"That's great, but it would be wonderful it was one hundred progress to saving the boys." replied Stella.

"We should go. We're wasting time." encouraged Nook.

"By the way Nook, what do you want out of this?" said Aisha. "It seems like you want something in return."

"Oh, you'll find out." said Nook.

"Let's go, Winx."

One by one the Winx went inside the portal to the other realm. Bloom wondered what challenge they would face agaisnt this time. More importantly, she wanted to sleep and never wake up. She was exhausted and she was sure that everyone else was too. But she loved Sky. She can't let anything bad happen to him. Ever.