Perle/Translation

Perle Book Translation - Italian to English, for non-profitable, encyclopedic archiving purpose only, used in a way that qualifies as Fair Use under US law. Winx Club Perle Rainbow S.r.l. Winx Club™ and Fabbri Editore © Copyright 2003-2009. All rights reserved. ISBN 9788845150944.

Pre-reading Note:
 * Few Italians terms were kept such as the logo Perle (en: Pearl) and some portmanteaus. See footer Notes for extra translation information.
 * Only page 15 was translated via Google Translator, from the Russian version of the book as it was not present in the Italian scan available.
 * Empty brackets "[]" represents unreadable words caused by camera flash on the available scans; Brackets with words represent: "Scenes" when stated, or possible words that were partially unreadable.
 * See the transcription page for the original Italian text.
 * See the main page for further details on the book.

Cover

 * [Scene: Bloom and Aisha under the sea as mermaids with many orange fishes nearby. Logos Winx Club, Perle, Rainbow R. and Fabbri Editori.]

Series conceived by Iginio Straffi.

Page 1

 * (Endpaper)
 * [Scene: Under the sea with rocks, some algae and bubbles as the light shines from above.]

Page 2
This book belongs to the mermaid.


 * [Scene: Blank field to write. Below Bloom as a mermaid.]

Page 3

 * [Scene: Logos Winx Club and Perle.]

A new magical adventure in the under the sea world of Andros.

Page 4

 * [Scene: Aisha sitting on her bed with Milly sleeping behind her. From the window the moon and sea are visible.]

Page 5

 * [Scene: On the right side - orange coral and shell above a rock.]

"A pearl of wisdom?" Hurry, go to bed and do not wake up with dark circles." Stella suggested with expertise. "They are so unaesthetic."

"Perhaps you also know the secret to have mermaid's hair and princess' complexion?" said Aisha smiling tenderly to her friend. She had her face illuminated with a reverb blush that surrounded her with an enchanted atmosphere.

"Packs of [] the seagulls, sea snails slime, a bit of mud and castor oil." answered the fairy seriously. "I am joking." she added, realizing that Aisha was: [Speechless] in disbelief.

They burst out laughing. It was beautiful to share moments carefree and playful with so much complicity: their friendship bond had become ever so strong.

"I believe it is very late. Let us go to sleep?" proposed Aisha, observing through bedroom window the sea on which the full moon reflected.

"How are you always right?" asked Stella the peeking at the clock.

Ginger, that had curled up on her leg, yawned. The fairy stretched her ears and listened the sleeping-sounds melody that came from the floor above where the baby-pets slept. Softly imagining herself in their funny pet beds. Surely the other Winx were asleep. There was no sound of footsteps nor the whisper of the night chattering that they liked so much.

After those thoughts, Stella whispered melancholic: "Magical dreams, Aisha. Until tomorrow."

"Princess dreams for you too, my friend." answered Aisha, making a gesture to send her, with her hand, an imaginary kiss.

Page 6
The fairy of fluids slipped in her scented bed sheets. She turned off her holophone and the reverb pink stopped. Then she slipped her holophone under her pillow, as if deluding herself that Stella and the others were together with her. Since her return to Andros, she repeated that gesture every night. It was a tender ritual, that made her feel less alone. She also turned off the lamp in shape of sea anemone. The bedroom was shrouded in semidarkness. Aisha liked to sleep in the moonlight's pearly glow. She tried to fall asleep, but she heard a faint cry. Less bad that are least you are with me... she thought, turning to the other side of the bed to caressed tenderly the fluffy ears.


 * [Scene: pink and orange flowers with the moon behind.]

Milly, after fluttering in the room for quite a while in search for a familiar place, had fallen asleep in her owner's bed. In that moment she must has had a nightmare, because she cried softly. Probably, reflected Aisha, her small friend was not used to staying far from the others baby-pets, and suffered from missing them. They had been at Andros for only a few days, but for Milly, like all pets in the world, they hated change. Thanks to Aisha sweet embrace, the bunny returned to snoring, relaxed. When the fairy curled again under the blankets, hoping to have a beautiful dream.

Page 7

 * [Scene: Stella on the phone petting Ginger.]

Page 8
In the far away Gardenia, Stella also turned off her cellphone and hopped from the divan with Ginger in her arms. Outside not a single sound could be heard: the city slept under a starry sky. The fairy went up the stairs and placed the poodle on her pet-bed, making a sign to not make a sound to not wake up the others pets. She arrived on tiptoes to her bed, that was on the center, among the others. She was not wrong: the Winx slept deeply, exhausted from the days of work at Love&Pet. She drew out the organza celestial-blue curtains, and slipped under the blankets reluctantly. She raised her right hand to her face: with the tip of her fingers she touched her lips and she too sent an imaginary kiss towards the sky. Above the ceiling and beyond the clouds. To Andros. She knew that tomorrow it would be a tiresome day: she had a list of appointments as long as the bear of a giant. But, at that moment, her mind was clear and relaxed.


 * [Scene: Pepe and Coco in their pet-bed.]

Page 9

 * [Scene: Belle and Chicko in their pet-bed.]

When the fairies had decided to live together in the loft above the shop, none of them could bear the absence of an element of the [magical] Winx squad. Less bad that I can call []. thought the fairy of Solaria, thinking about the look of her friend's room, desolately alone.

Aisha had had to leave to keep a promise made to her father: he gave her permission to participate in the mission on Earth to rescue the last fairy of the planet, and she had promised that from that moment on she would celebrate all of her birthdays in the palace of Andros, with the family and the entire court. The 15th of June was near and she had to go.

The only positive thing is that we will certainly be invited, and we will be able to reunite with her, thought Stella, clutching the pillow. A new, fantastic party awaits us. That thought give her solace. Finally she slept peacefully. Dreaming of fluffy dresses, dancing, chatting, delicious canapes and good music.

Page 10

 * [Scene: Beach with a castle far away.]

Page 11

 * [Scene: on the right side pink flowers.]

The next mornings. Aisha was awake early. The rest of the palace was silent, as the pink light of the dawn caressed the ivory colored walls of the palace and the seagulls screeched in flight. Her room had turned into a frenetic operative center: it was the moment of the pick of the dress. But Aisha wished she was hundred miles from there... Standing, at the [center of the room], with a sad and inconsolable expression. Certainly Stella [would had] commented that she resembled one sentenced to death. For more than two hours, [now] [] and walked dressed attentive to the approval of those present, but the [verdict until] that moment had been inexorably negative. On her right, was Nanny, her chaperone; on her left the royal chief tailor, Mister Cisò. Both had spent their time swinging their heads in denial as if they were pendants of a same pendulum. In her heart, Aisha couldn't blame them, because from all clothes none could convince her, but she was tired of losing time in something so futile, and turned to conclude the matter. Above her large bed were placed dozens and dozens of sumptuous clothes. Aisha dressed the penultimate dress, with a resigned air: Cisò had finished it overnight. The poor tailor was tense: he had dark circles and a rumpled waistcoat. Besides, if the birthday of the princess was an event, the dress was a matter of state.

Page 12
The half-open window swung open by a gust originated from the sea and Milly entered, flying uncertainly. She landed on the frame of the big mirror positioned at the center of the room. She didn't wanted to miss not even a bit of that moment. Nanny was helping Aisha to fasten her dress behind her back: the bustier was tight and rigid. The girl held her breath: she thought that she preferred being in Gardenia to celebrate her birthday like any other girl. At that moment, she seemed like playing a character from another time. Huffing now, and like her the poor Nanny also huffed, because she feared that such dress was not the right one. And instead... Aisha's eyes lightened. The tailor chief closed the buckle of the shoes, with lordliness. Nanny joined [] and smiled, admiring the enchanting effect of the clothe. Aisha was splendid.

"Little-princess, finally... it is [perfect]!" exclaimed the tailor chief, smoothing his mustache [] and making a solemn bow. "This dress is the right one for you. You look truly radiant!"

"Never an expression has been more adequate," commented the chaperone, heaving a sigh of relief.

Milly grabbed with her paws the diadem of emerald and pearl, that was above the bed, and landed on Aisha's forehead. Now nothing was missing. Mister Cisò burst into applause and in an impulse of enthusiasm he hugged the girl, relieved.

Page 13

 * [Scene: Nanny tightening Aisha's dress, while Cisò sighs.]

Page 14
"I find this to be the only dress up to your highness for the party," concluded in the end Cisò, recovering a bit of his formality. Then, worried for the fact that the princess haven't said anything until now, he said, hesitantly: "And you... what you think, your highness?"

Aisha would not remove her eyes from her image reflected at the mirror. Milly grabbed her ears with her paws like a funny question mark. Cisò stared at the girl, with attention, and Nanny raised an eyebrow, perplexed. In fact, after dozens of dresses, some too simple and others too strict, Aisha had recognized that such dress suited her a lot. Was gorgeous, but at the same time elegant.

Aisha [] the three of them, because she said: "I surrender! Mister Cisò, you won. This seems perfect to me."

Mister Cisò felt himself floating a palm above earth from joy. Milly flew around Aisha and covered her with little-licks. Aisha imprinted that moment on her mind, to keep it in her heart.

Any moment, she she looked outside the window, in a startle-jump she exclaimed: "I forgot the invitation to my super-friends... For all the giant jellyfishes !"

"My dear," whispered Nanny, "I figured that you would not have time to think about it and I took the liberty of handling it myself. You just tell me if you like it." She handed her a fine letter-paper embellished of marine decoration.

Page 15

 * [Note: This Page is missing in the Italian scans. The translation below (solely of this page) is from the Russian scan via google translator. Aisha name was written as Layla.]

Aisha opened one of them and read the text, written in a beautiful, sweeping handwriting in a little old fashioned style. She then nodded in agreement. Stella and Flora will be delighted when they read this: they looked at the postcards as invitations from ancient times to one of such magical balls, which must certainly be filled with romance and a fabulous atmosphere.

It was just the invitation that was best suited for such a solemn occasion: a phone call and a message via fairy chat cannot be compared with a real invitation.

"Nanny ... What would I do without your help?" whispered the girl, squeezing a plump lady in her arms.

"Oh ... I will do my best for your good, Aisha," the woman replied, also hugging her warmly in return.

“But I don’t know how they can be sent quickly by message. The celebration is tomorrow night, and time flies fast and has power ... even over us, fairies."

Mr. Cisò smoothed his little short beard in thought.

"What if you use one of the seagulls constantly hovering near the palace? This method is a little old-fashioned, but it is always effective."

"But... Mr. Cisò, the poor bird will have to go to another planet and complete the interdimensional journey, this is a very heavy and difficult task."

Page 16
And it was such that the five Winx left at Gardenia received soon after the official invitation to the party. They were working at the Love&Pet, when suddenly a white seagull with its beak pecked at one of the shop windows. Flora made him enter quickly, because she noticed something around its neck. The fairy intuited that it was a message from Aisha. The animal, covered of magic dust, seemed tired.

"Poor little one..." whispered the fairy of flowers, carrying it to the infirmary, "I deduce that this which you have in your feathers is the old fairy dust; must have been of use to you to cross many interdimensional paths. Courage..."

"It would have been enough if Aisha had phoned" commented Tecna, a bit polemic. "The new communications are very fast and comfortable!"

"It would not be something so surprising and exciting" exclaimed Bloom, understanding that her friend had wanted to give them a dreaming surprise.

"Soon my revitalizing treatment of Gloomy Woods rubber, you will be good as new" promised Stella, clutching in her hands a flask of shinyfeathers oil.

The poor creature tried to fly away, foreseeing the worst, but not doing it in time. Stella grabbed him and blocked him. Then, she said to the others, being shyly: "Let us carry the message home to read it calmly. If the invitation to the party is something so elegant, imagine it how magical [fairytastical] will be our dresses!"

Page 17
Invitation.

Page 18

 * (Page 17 open - left)

From the lustrous queen of Andros, to Your Fairy Ladyship. The sovereigns are proud to officially invite you to the sumptuous planetary party organized for the birthday of the beloved princess Aisha. The sovereigns are sure that you will be happy to accept the invitation and that you will not hesitate to reunite as soon as possible, seeing the special friendship that you hold with the princess. In wait for your [] arrival at the palace, the sovereigns extend [] best regard. The party will take place tomorrow evening: it will begin at sunset and last the whole night to the following days. Your Ladyship are invited to remain as welcome guests from the royal family for the whole duration of the festivity. Warm greetings to all of you, from the king, the queen and from the princess Aisha. Erendor, Samara, Aisha.

Page 19

 * (Page 17 open -right)
 * [Scene: the winx.]

Page 20

 * [Scene: the sea.]

Page 21
Finally Aisha was alone. Now she had a bit of time to herself. She dressed with a very simple outfit, sky blue with asymmetrical hem. She wanted to stroll alone by the sea. Milly fluttered around to join her. Aisha, with a gesture from her hand, invited her to follow.

Okay, it won't be a lonely outing considered the fairy, but along with my pet it will be beautiful all the same. The air was densely perfumed, and the intense light created defined shadows. The sea seemed painted by the hands of an artist.

Ah, what an enchanted landscape thought the girl, happily. Life is so beautiful... And I am finally grown-up. She started to run towards the foreshore, crackling the shell of seashells, stepping with bare feet. Milly hopped around her, being sure to lift as much sand as she could. The placid sea showed small ripples of white foam that reached [] level on the shore. Aisha noticed an object briefly distant. She got closer with curiosity and protected her eyes from [] shielding them with her hands. Milly rose up in a prudent flight. The sea water covered and uncovered like a magician's cloak the box covered of splendid shells.

"What a wonderful casket... Maybe its a gift from queen Ligea?" murmured Aisha, struck, approaching to look at it more carefully. She remembered with pleasure the sovereign of the underwater world: during their first aquatic mission, Ligea had acted as a friend and an ally.

Page 22
Milly stretched her ears and opened wide her eyes, remaining suspended on air flapping slowly her wings, on guard.

"You are right, wise bunny" said Aisha. "Is not saying that it is a present for me, and it is not certain it is a gift from Ligea."

But it looks like... thought the fairy to herself, bending to touch it. The casket was round and covered with shells of many shapes and colors. It emanated an aura of mystery. ''There is a gold click locker. Must be to keep its contents a secret...'' reflected the fairy. "What a curious object."

Page 23
Aisha followed an unstoppable impulse and pressed the locker. She knew not to explain why, but the felt it was for her and she could not leave it there.

"Let us take it home and find out what it contains" said to Milly, that tried to dissuade her, jumping nervously. Soon, however, she resigned; she knew well that her owner, once she had decided something, she would not change her mind.

Page 24
Aisha returned to the palace with an emotion of that whom just got an invaluable treasure: it seemed to her that she was holding in her hands something unique and special, Milly, on contrary, was restless: she had somehow sensed danger. She flew near her owner, with a protective air.

Aisha noticed her turmoil and, as a presage, she asked to herself: Could this be some sort of sorcery? But soon, she scolded herself of having too much imagination: whatever might contain this small box, it could not be dangerous.

The princess of Andros crossed the entrance hall and left through the marble staircase; she could not wait to be in her bedroom to be able to open it. The palace was already lavishly set up for the party: battalion of waiters and king's chamberlain had worked the whole night, and now the preparations were finished. The fountain gushed and there were splendid suspended ponds, illuminated by soft lights. In the aquarium, zigzagged the fishes of many colors, and the palace's artist had created original festoons with algae and anemone.

When Aisha passed near of one of the festoons, offhand the colored anemone turned black. Amazed by the inexplicable phenomenon, she ran to check on the others too: they were all black. ''It is very strange. I must check with the waiters what happened,'' thought Aisha. She crossed the long hall that directed to the room and entered her bedroom, along Milly that followed her like a shadow.

Page 25
The fairy sat on her bed and placed the casket on her legs. Milly bounced close to her. With slightly shaking fingers, Aisha opened the click latch and delicately lifted the lid. The casket opened without a noise. In front of their eyes, protected by velvet, was wonderful pearl necklace. It was black as a moonless night and opalescent. It shone like tears.

"What a splendor!" whispered Aisha. "Seems very precious." Milly zapped in the room, parading with a robe string around her neck: pretended it was a necklace. Aisha smiled at her tenderly, but her eyes soon locked at her necklace of black pearls. She was bewitched. She was interrupted by the flash of her holophone and thoughtfully replied.

"Ready?" Stella's voice thrilled.

"For... what?" asked Aisha, dazed.

"Very soon, we arrive."

"Uhm, good."

After a moment of surprise, Stella expressed: "Aisha... What have you got?" Did I disturb you?"

"Nothing to worry yourself with, I believe. When you arrive, I will explain it."

"Okay. Count sixty and we will already be there for you!" concluded Stella, with enthusiastic voice.

Aisha didn't answer: she observed the necklace sending flashes.

"One last thing. I just finished preparing a suitcase two bags with whatever rags to me: too little for the occasion?"

"Rest easy, Stella, will be enough," answered Aisha, with detachment.

For the fairy of Solaria "futility" rhymed with "utility." Milly took advantage of the fairy distraction to gently close the box with a paw. Aisha offhand recollected as like from a numbness-state. Exchanged whatever word with her friend, until they said goodbye.

Page 26
Bloom, Stella, Flora, Musa and Tecna were on their loft, ready for the teleport. All were carrying their own pets as [] special, because [no one] [] could manage to [] stay.


 * "WINX BELIEVIX!"

Exclaimed the fairies and in a wing-beat they found themselves in Andros. Aisha was expecting them: she was behind one of the windows, and looked outside with attention. The necklace was in the bedroom, surveilled by a Milly in a beauty-guard version. When she noticed a glow, the fairy, following the advice of Stella, she was finishing countdown. She stepped outside and shortly the six friends hugged in a big confusion of wings and joyful cries.

"All of us are here," said Bloom, pointing to the group as if to excuse [themselves]. Aisha observed them one by one: she was happy that everybody was there. Behind them, the sun was setting, dyeing the sea red.

"Courage!" exclaimed Aisha, "Let us go: it awaits you a boring welcome dinner, requested by my parents and the curious of the whole court."

Stella made a [joking] face [of disgust]: along the others, expressing their enthusiasms for the program.

Page 27
Any hours later, Bloom murmured on Aisha's ear: "Proving overcome?"

Without being noticed the birthday girl, she glanced in agreement at Stella, that looked at Musa, that in her stead slightly-hit Tecna's foot, in a quick round of secret consultations. Aisha without knowing anything, she nodded and yawned, thinking that the evening was a real nuisance-beard. The queen Samara meanwhile folded the lace napkin and raised an eyebrow. It was a concerted signal. Then, she proposed: "Why do not you go take a stroll, girls? This night, it is full moon."

Aisha, a bit shocked, resorted only to a whisper: "Yes, mom."

Out of the room, where she changed in a hurry: a frivolous top, pink shorts, and a watermelon shaped handbag. A refined and comfortable look at the same time. Then she went out with the others to the beach.

Page 28
The sea caressed sweetly the shore. The faint sound of the sea-breakers was the only noise that was heard that night.

"What is over there?" said Aisha, noticing a fire and any torches lightened disposed as circle around it.

"I do not see anything" denied Stella, trying in vain to stifle a smile. The others nudged her lightly in reproach.

"But yes, over there!" repeated the fairy of waves.

The moon reflected on the sea, lightening the beach with a enchanting light.

"You are right, is anything that burns," exclaimed Bloom, playing along.

Page 29
"Let us run to see it!" exclaimed Musa.

Once they were all in front of the fire, the Winx exclaimed back to Aisha: "SURPRISE!"

There was everything needed for a perfect summer party: guitar, sweets, plenty slices of watermelon and pineapples, three or four mystery books, and fresh juice in delicious carafes. The fairies had curated every detail and thought of the guest. All six pets, in fact, were around the fire, waiting. When they saw the Winx arriving, one started to wag its tail frenetically, another flew fast towards them, other now started to jump from happiness. The Winx reciprocated with plenty cuddles.

Page 30
Bloom had contributed with great fantasy: in the night air, hundred of sparks floated from the fire and dispersed, like fireflies. Flora, instead, with infinite patience, had placed on the sand hundreds of shells, to make a marine decoration. It was a special evening, that would not be forgotten. Aisha was moved: she had comprehended that it was all in honor to her. The others looked at each other satisfied.

"Do not tell me that, after all the fatigue and subterfuge, you thank by starting to cry?" said Flora, with tender irony.

"I will try to do more," whispered Aisha. She begin to sing and to dance, followed by the sound of Musa's guitar.

The Winx danced around the fire with the pets, they told secrets and [], they ate and drank until [], following, the moon darkened. The [] became dark.

"I do not have any more string to []" whispered Musa. "And my fingertips are hurt."

"Agree, you are exonerated," joked Bloom, and took the guitar from her hands, beginning to strum softly.

"You are the best friends in the world," said Aisha, with vivid emotion. "I do not know how to thank you all."

"Well, you can begin telling what had happened with you when I phoned you. Why yo had a strange voice?" said Stella to her.

Aisha resumed the fire and told her friends about the casket, of the anemone becoming black and her doubt regarding the fact that the necklace could be a gift from Ligea. She did it without holding a breath, among Milly that hopped nervously around.

Page 31
"What pretty mystery," murmured Tecna. "Other than the scary stories that we had read this night... This story is far better. Why didn't you told right away?"

"At the dinner it was impossible, and soon you took me to the surprise party. For a moment, matter of the necklace was completely out of my mind."

"You are incorrigible!" exclaimed Stella, getting up and swaying around the fire. "To me it would never got out of my head a mystery that regards a precious necklace."

Aisha smiled, reassured: her friends as always, were successful to give her a good humor.

"Do not worry about anything" whispered Bloom, hugging her. "We will [] to the mystery like... mermaids."

"Tomorrow, first thing, we will deepen our research," exclaimed Tecna. "We will resolve the enigma of the pearl."

"YOU, will research deeply," punctuated Stella. "I, instead, will act."

Belle and Coco started to give signals of tiredness: it was now deep in the night.

"It pains me to interrupt the party, but its time to sleep" exclaimed Bloom, intuiting that it was very late. "Courage, girls; let us put out the fire, collect everything and return to the palace. Tomorrow awaits us a very fastidious day: it is a solemn party, and we must prepare to our duty."

Page 32
The sunrise lightened a new day. In Tecna's bedroom, the pink beams from the sun did not modify the light from the room, because the fairy's lamp remained lit the whole night, as she was now. Tecna was sitting at the writing desk. She was quite awake, though, from her lack of rest, she had two deep dark circles that would leave in indignation the fairy of Solaria. For hours she had been writing frenetically in her portable computer: she was finally at the track of a clue and she had not given up on that.

"BINGO!" screaming suddenly, startling Chicko that was sleeping in a basket adapted as a pet bed. "I got a [] interesting. I must report it to Bloom quickly."

Said and done, the fairy of technology walked [] of the bedroom's door close. Soon, she dragged towards the writing desk a Bloom a bit dazed and shocked, pulling her by the sleeves of her night gown. A brief second later, both were seated in front of Tecna's portable computer.

"You won't believe... guess what?" murmured the fairy.

"Uff... Tecna! You haven't woken me for a riddle? It is not very fun."

"No, rest assured, I'll get to the point. I discovered something: in the deep abyss of Andros, exist from centuries a kind of library that guards all secrets from the kingdom, above and under the sea."

"Like that of Domino?" asked Bloom, suddenly quite awake.

"Even more ancient and mysterious. A magical place, called Acquarioteca ."

Page 33
"I imagine it is surveilled," said Bloom.

"Nonsense... a school of white sharks are hungry guarding day and night, but it is not that which it is interesting."

"Ah, no?"

Tecna ignored the irony and proceeded: "I have retrieved evidences in an archaeomagic site in which it speaks of a obscure power of the black pearl that works if the the pearl is in reality-"

"TECNA! Do not you think you are exagerat-" Bloom was interrupted by a distress scream from Stella.

They ran to her and found her staring, frightened, at a mass of rose on her small table in front of her bed. The night before the bouquet was pink, now it was black like ebony. Any minute later, Aisha also screamed. They ran to her and discovered that she found her bunny, from the usually candid-white like snow, to her paw's pitch black.

"I do not think I am being alarmist if I said we must get the situation in hands" exclaimed Bloom an hour later. They were all together making an extraordinary reunion in her bedroom. Tecna raised [her] hands and said: In sight of my discovery and [considering] the latest warnings, I propose a visit to the Acquarioteca. Our pets will remain in the palace."

The others applauded with conviction.

"Motion accepted with all votes! Off the pajamas and out the fins." exclaimed Bloom.

Page 34

 * [Scene: The Winx at the Acquarioteca.]

Page 35
"They will take a nappie for a while" whispered Musa, after singing a magical lullaby that had just rendered a hundred of white sharks harmless, making them sleep like peaceful babies. "Let us enter the Acquarioteca and act fast. We must do it before the sharks wake up."

Thanks to Zoomix, the Winx were inside the library with the speed of a thought. They had decided to reuse the transformation of mermaid granted as a special gift from Ligea in the case of their first underwater mission. The scale of their fish tail glistened in the filtering of the sun's rays and their loose hair waved, following the sea current.

"For the tails of all tritons," exclaimed Aisha, amazed. In front of them, a fantastic place had taken shape: although completely immersed in water, was full of books of all genres perfectly dry, ordered in an immense spiral of shelves.

"This place [] would turn pale any terrestrial architect. It is incredible," commented Stella, with admiration.

"Let us do this" commanded Tecna, "open eyes and ready mind."

They divided and narrowed the search. Every now and then, someone sighed: the books were infinite and they had to discover the truth fast. Soon after, Bloom screamed: "Victory!" She was holding in hands a book with leather cover. She had taken it, because she was draw by the title:
 * ANDROS: INIMICI
 * Librum Arcanorum

"What is it said?" spoke Stella to whom, however, the title meant nothing.

"It is Latin, my friend. Inimici, means enemy and librum arcanorum means book of secret. Go to the last page and read to all, but prepare because I assure you that there is a very unsettling image."

Page 36
Stella lifted the heavy cover and saw a creature that stared with piercing and perfidious eyes from the page. Of a click, she closed the book. Then, she reopened in mind that the others observed, curiously. The creature was simply a drawing, albeit terrifying.

"Girls, it was the fault in the temperature of the water of this place, fact such that it gave me chills," whispered Stella. She braced herself and read the phrases written near the illustration. It was about an old and terrible prophecy, that fascinated for it is mysterious words. She read aloud: "This prophecy is linked to the witch Vires, whose name evoke force and power and in whose magic is incommensurate and unkno-"

"ENOUGH!" exclaimed a hoarse voice. The fairies turned of sudden, looking around, but there was nobody there with them.

"Do not search who knows where. I AM the book and only I can read my words."

Stella, aghast, launched [] heavy volume, [] in flew by Bloom, [] [centimetres] of earth.

It is a prissy magical book; [] will certainty benefit its character thought Bloom, gripping it tighter in her hands.

"I... I... do not understand..." stuttered Stella first looking at the book then to Bloom's face.

The book resumed undaunted:"...and unknown. Vires hides in the waves of time. No being really knows her, under or above the salt water. It is not know what is her perfidious plan. Only is noted in my ink: the witch is not without her pearls. They are the symbol, the key and the seal of her obscure power. For Andros is good that the witch is trapped in her prison, called Deleterium, because from it she can not do harm."

Page 37

 * [Scene: Book cover.]

Page 38

 * (Page 36 open - left)

The Winx looked back at Aisha, that gulped, thinking about the progressing risk. Therefore, her beautiful necklace was of property of that witch. But why, now, she had made it arrive to her? And how has she done if she was imprisoned?

"Apparently, we have a new... friend" whispered Bloom, with a yellow-bitter smile, observing the image on the book. "Look, the witch has tentacles under her dress: are they her weapon?"

"Nature was not benignant with her," commented Stella, winking to the others. "Who is she daughter of? Of an octopus or of a maxi-snail?"

"Vires is daughter of one of the kings of the sea" proceeded the book, repeating aloud the content of a small caption. "Because of this, she possess an old and deep anger and wants to conquer the absolute power."

"As usual" commented Stella. "Matter of power and craving for command."

"Could be, it was just that" said Bloom, approaching her. "Rereading attentively the prophecy, note that it speaks of 'Andros will be no more.' In that inexplicable story, it must have happened something, otherwise the hatred has no sense. Escaped us the real motivation of Vires."

"Prudence tells me [we must] act in hurry" exclaimed Tecna, "and ward off []"

"We must alert Ligea. Her kingdom is in danger" concluded Aisha.

"Is written: 'Will come a new day without winged magic'" repeat the book, while the fairies abandoned hurriedly the Acquarioteca. Tecna went back inside to photograph with her aquatic mini-shot [] the page that contained the prophecy and the imagine of Vires. She wanted to show to Ligea.

Page 39

 * (Page 36 open - right)

THE OBSCURE FORCE
 * Will come a dark day
 * in a June without future and
 * without winged magic.
 * Will come a new day
 * with neither sun nor moon,
 * in which the obscure force will reacquire,
 * thanks to the dark power
 * of the kidnapped pearls,
 * the throne anciently usurped
 * from birth.
 * And, if there is no sacrifice,
 * Andros will be no more.

Page 40

 * [Scene: Ligea, Flora, Bloom and Aisha.]

Page 41

 * "Winx Zoomix!"

Exclaimed Bloom, and the Winx ended in a vortex of sparks and water, finding themselves immediately inside the palace of Ligea. Externally, the palace glowed with lights. Inside, instead, all was surrounded in an unusual-strange gloom. The throne room was silent, but soon three sentinel mermaids saw the fairies, recognized them and swam to call the queen. The Winx looked around dumbfounded: from their first visit they conserved a wonderful luminous memory. Now everything looked different.

"It is always a great happiness for me to be able to see you again" exclaimed Ligea, appearing, in company of her daughter Tressa and dozens mermaids. "If I had knew of your visit, I would have welcomed you better."

Bloom and Aisha [swam] towards her and hugged her, followed by the others. Ligea seemed [] and Tressa was even more beautiful, even if her gaze was [] of sadness.

"Majesty, do not worry for the way: unfortunately not even this time we are in visiting for pleasure" answered Bloom.

"Your kingdom, Majesty, and all of Andros, run a grave danger. A threat looms," explained Aisha. "According to an old prophecy, a potent witch comes to take revenge on you and harms Andros."

"That which you refer to me is grave and happens in a moment that is very difficult for us" murmured Ligea, shaking her head, inconsolably. She signed to her daughter, that went away in silent.

Page 42
Tressa returned shortly after, holding in her hands a pink flower, a shell and a tuft of algae. Flora looked at the three objects, recognized and, with a grip on her heart, intuited.

"Those are from Tala, Kalia and Nesia" murmured Nessia.

"Our dear friends are missing" explained the queen, "and disappeared among many other mermaids. We do not know who did it, but we are sure that it is about kidnapped."

"How many of you went missing? And how long as it been?" asked Tecna.

"The disappearances are so many and unfortunately the mystery has been going for a while. We are very worried and we do not know what to do" said Tressa, gripping her broadsword as if ready to combat against any enemy.

Tecna gasped and said: "We are in full emergency, now: it is probable that the kidnaps were maneuver of the witch that threatens us. The only unexplained element is that the possible culprit must be locked in Deleterium."

"For all electric torpedoes !" exclaimed Tressa. "The Deleterium was attacked has been any months, and it is know for sure that it is illustrious host has escaped."

"Man or woman?" said Bloom, with cautiousness.

"I only know that it had a disquieting aspect and [] was considered very dangerous."

"It is her. She is free" whispered Bloom.

Tecna took out her mini-shot and showed the photo of Vires to the queen. Upon seeing it, Ligea turned pale and had the impression of having already meet that gaze.

Bloom read the prophecy and Tressa remained struck by a phrase, that repeated like a chant: "The obscure force will reacquire, thanks to the dark power of the kidnapped pearls, the throne anciently usurped."

Page 43

 * [Scene: Three mermaids.]

Page 44
Dark power of the kidnapped pearls... Tecna also repeated mentally, remembering the search from that morning, while navigating on the archeomagic site. It hinted to a dark power that fed from energy which the black pearl had if, in reality, the peals were something else. Down here nothing is how it seems thought Tecna. And it was something that quickly came to an accurate conclusion. Thus the end that took the mermaids of Ligea: Vires transform them into pearls and captures their vital energy. Observed again the photography: the witch was covered with pearl necklaces, from up her head to her train. Were the font of her power.

Tecna was certain that Vires had planed attentively every detail of her diabolic plan, and understood that the witch had woven her net like a spider, day by day, with impeccable hate. As the necklace retrieved by Aisha was nothing but another clue granted to get them to end directly into her trap. There was only one possibility.

She looked at all, queen included, then said with controlled voice: "Queen, Tressa, Winx... I have not only have clues, but proof: Vires has kidnapped our friends."

Page 45
"How can you say? And why has she done something similar?" asked Tressa and her mother, with anguish.

"We will discover soon" whispered Aisha.

"Not soon, IMMEDIATELY" punctuated Tecna. "We must act first before Vires hit us herself."

"And we own it to all the mermaid people kidnapped" added Flora.

Musa remembered the nostalgia of the last time she has seen Kalia, Tala and Nesia: they had partied along the victory against the feared kraken that threatened the ecosystem. Chasing away any thought from her mind and decided to concentrate on the present: we must act in hurry. Exclaimed: "How do we know were Vires is hiding?"

"She is a crawly creature like a sea snail and merciless like a shark... If intuition does not deceive me," murmured Ligea, "I would say that her lair could possibly be hidden on the muddy bottoms, far from our luminous palace."

"Localizing it on the bottoms will be a play girls, if we utilize my thermo-molecular analyzer of diffused heat" said Tecna.

Tressa swam to alert the army of warrior mermaid: they had prepare to the assault.

Page 46

 * [Scene: Two tritons.]

Page 47
Ligea's army parted when the sun on the surface was setting. Schools of barracudas and hordes of giant jellyfishes at the service to the queen constituted the rear guard. Ligea and Tressa were at command of the ranks and the Winx swam right behind. When the already dim light left all of the underwater kingdom, the seabeds appeared more insidious.

Of few instants, Tecna's analyzer sent three beeps in a warning signal. "Vires' lair must be nearby" whispered the fairy to Bloom, that with a signal [] made the army stop.

The sand [] soon moved. Then slowly taking rise up, assuming a fluid form, and finally a human semblance.

Stella intervened with the power of light, exclaiming:
 * "Solar Lux!"

A sphere of gold energy radiated so much light that seemed a new sun springing from the water. Thanks to Stella, the fairies saw in front of them two immense tritons, that wielded a shell shields and pointed spears. They had spiral elms, spotted and muscular bodies and a menacing air. The tritons raised their spears and swam towards Ligea and Tressa. The queen was immediately protected by three warrior mermaids, that disposed in shield. Her daughter unleashed a strong slashing with her broadsword and managed to disarm one. Five female warriors surrounded and dragged him to a cave as hostage. Seeing in front of himself an entire army rank, the other preferred disappearing back under the sand.

Page 48
"Those tritons are certainly sentinels of Vires" murmured Stella. "Just look at them: they are very brute!"

Bloom was to say anything to her friend, when she noticed a mysterious protuberance near some rocks. She swam there. Then exclaimed, back to the others: "Come, hurry, there is something strange here."

Without knowing, Bloom had just found the lair of their enemy: seemed a huge shell supported above the sand. A fissure emanated a sinister violet light, that created a strange contrast with the gloomy depths. The army disposed around the lair and waited the signal for the attack. Of sudden, the silence was interrupted by a high-pitched hissing. A violent sea current came suddenly form the north, creating eddies of sand, from which [] a black substance that obscured again [] water. When it thinned, in front of the entrance of the lair was Vires. She [] more terrifying than they had imagined. Her mantle was dark like a moonless night and her tentacles crawled across the bottom, launching a turbid trail: seeming to be hunting a prey.

Page 49
Above her head, Vires had a kind of crown with two long horns of which it stuck out slimy snail antennas.

"Let us destroy this big sea snail" exclaimed Stella, ready for spell attacks. She was interrupted by Ligea, that stopped in front of her, with her coral scepter tight on fist. She had a determining expression.

"You demonstrated more stupidity than I thought. How dare you attack me?" asked the witch, with sharp voice and gaze of hatred. "You all came here to put an end in your miserable life?"

"No, we are here to understand the reason of your action and kidnappings. But if you do not accept to come to terms with us and do not free at once the mermaids, we will cross streets of facts and we will defeat you" answered Ligea

The witch murmured a command and around her materialized a host of armed tritons to their teeth.

Page 50 and 51

 * [Scene: The Winx against Vires and tritons.]

Page 52
"How?" said ironically Vires, "you have the courage to annihilate your own blood?"

Ligea remained in silence, petrified.

"I bet that you were ignorant of having a relative so illustrious as me: I am your half sister, my dear. I am too daughter of king Eidonte."

"How is that possible? I have no sister and I do not remember you."

"I escaped when I was a little girl from your palace, just when I discovered that the heir to the kingdom would be you. I already possessed some magical power, and I knew how to conclude an oblivion spell that made you forget my existence."

"Now I understand everything: thus the movements and explanation of your hate. You must have lived a life so sad!" said Ligea, with a painful voice. She was sincerely hurt.

Bloom had the readiness of infusing courage in her with the healing power of Believix.

The queen, refreshed, added: "If you free all mermaids and disappear from our lives, we will let you go."

Vires gazed her with cold indolence, then whipped her with one of venomous tentacles. Aisha barely [by a hair] succeeded to create a Morfix shield, that sheltered the queen.

Ligea made a bitter expression, then exclaimed: "[] is your answer, now, this is mine... TO ATTACK!"

Her army launched against that of the witch [] tritons appeared to grown every minute more, like multiplying [] a spell. The mermaids were in difficulty. Aisha and Bloom, using the incantations of Believix invoked:
 * "Dragon Heart!"
 * "Andros Hurricane"

Page 53

 * [Scene: The Winx against Vires.]

Page 54
Stella, Musa and Tecna united with them with their own strongest powers:
 * "Solar Storm!"
 * "Stereo Crash!"
 * "Summer Thunder!"
 * "Techno Shock!"

But Vires was extraordinarily skillful and fast at dodging every blow and their attempts were in vain. Many mermaids were tackled and hurt by her terrible tentacles. Ligea called all creatures from the sea to help and in few instants at the seabed were beings of all kinds. Bloom took advantage of the confusion and invoked a special Believix magic that aimed directly at the target following it until its destruction.

She screamed:
 * "Fire Arrow!"

A flaming lightening of unprecedented potency followed the witch: just before being hit amidst all, she tackled Tressa with a tentacle [] and pressed against her, so that she could act as a shield. Ligea, in her turn, posed to protect Tressa [] her sister with her own body. She was hit to hard [] fell on the seabed. Both armies halted themselves, astonished. Of sudden, the pears that Vires wore detached from her and regained their very own semblances. Dozens [groups of ten] mermaids were freed from the spell and swam far away. The witch let out a loud screaming and dwindled down assuming the aspect of a mollusk. A sudden whirlwind of water back-washed her in and no trace was left of her.

Page 55
"Explain to me again, Bloom, please! Why is Vires missing?" said Stella, with an interrogative expression. She was dressed with an elegant sun colored dress and shone like an star.

"The prophecy recited: 'if there is no sacrifice, Andros will be no more.' The sacrifice had happened, because Ligea had sacrificed herself to avoid her daughter and sister to be hit by my spell, and her generous gesture won against evil."

The Winx were [] standing, in a corner of the party room, packed with guests. The party was magnificent: every detail was perfect.

"Give me a pinch, girls. I can not believe that we are here safe and sound [healthy] and that we can party your birthday" added Stella with a sigh [of relief].

Aisha smiled with sweetness at her friends and hugged them as a flash-jet. Her dress suited her a lot. Bloom exchanged the hug: she too was enchanting in her new blue clothe. Like her, she felt floating: they were able to surpass that proving, freeing Andros from a dangerous enemy.

"And Ligea, now, how is she?" asked Musa.

"By luck, she was extracted with few burns and some excoriations; Bloom intervened in her succor with a healing power" said Flora, winking at her friend. "She will heal in about ten days."

Page 56, 57, 58, 59

 * [Scene: The Winx, the specialists, the king and queen of Andros.]

Page 60
"A happy ending of fairy tale, in sum" murmured Tecna. She had learned to firmly believe in fairy tale, when she became part of the Winx Club.

"Well, a happy ending it is also this" exclaimed Aisha, pointing with open arms to the daylight bright palace's hall.

There were so many guests, her radiant progenitors, and her friends. Milly reunited of sudden, hopping around her owner, who jumped and exclaimed: "This is my Milly!"

The bunny shrugged, having on her paws hidden behind her back.

"What do you have?" said Aisha, suspecting of that attention. Milly denied by with her head many times. Now, the bunny showed her paw. It was again half white half black.

"Oh, oh..." exclaimed Stella, carrying her hand to her mouth. Flora paled. Bloom, instead, approached and sniffed her. With a fun air, she said: "Tranquil, girls. It is just [chocolate]!"

They all burst out laughing, [] Milly's nose [] red like a wild strawberry. The orchestra had just began to sound, the dresses of the fairies glistened and the stars shimmered on the night sky. The magic of the evening promised a long unforgettable night.

The End.