Over the next few days for the Winx gang, preparations were made, goodbyes were recited, kisses were brushed on the cheeks of relatives. The Winx were extremely busy. Their bonded pixies and their close friends from Red Fountain would be coming along.
Both pairs of Bloom's parents wished her luck on her quest and buried her in huge hugs. She would miss them. She would hope and pray to see Domino and her royal parents and her Earth parents again soon.
Stella said goodbye to her mother and father. She was fearful of being separated from them once more. But she had to do this.
Flora cried with Rose and wished teary goodbyes to her parents. If she made it out of the Island of Stars alive, she would bring them flower petals as a present.
Musa was silent with her father for the first few minutes. Then, he burst into tears and gave her a huge hug. She buried her nose into his chest, not wanting to miss a moment of it.
Tecna went to visit her home realm for what could be the last time. She took in everything. Saw what she wanted to see. Said a silent goodbye. And left.
The king and queen of Andros made Layla promise to be brave. They gave her a bottle of Andros ocean water to take with her, so she could always remember that she was being watched and cared for.
The Winx went and asked Faragonda how they would acquire their next transformation.
"Your next stage of fairy transformation will be called Lunarix," she said firmly. "Your powers will relate to and be connected to all supreme celestial bodies; the sun and the moon, for example."
"And how will it be earned?" asked Tecna.
"You must defy your most deathly fears. You must look at them in the face, and stop them from haunting you."
"You mean like bugs?" asked Stella with a shudder.
"Not exactly. An internal fear."
"Can you give us an example?" asked Flora.
"Say that you lack self esteem. You must try to overcome any sort of task, an arduous task, that will help you completely get over your lack of self esteem. Then you will earn your Lunarix."
They were silent for a while.
They all knew exactly what she was talking about.
Bloom's occasional hatred for herself. Stella, and her fear of being separated from safety. Tecna and her habit of letting others treat her like dirt. The horror of the death of Musa's mother that always gnawed at her heart. Flora's inability to witness suffering. Layla's lack of control over her emotions.
Earning Lunarix was going to be tougher than they thought.
"So...do we try to earn it here or on our journey?" asked Bloom, breaking the silence.
"During your journey," said Faragonda. "It will not be easy."
Bloom drew in her breath sharply. "No one said it would be."