The Thaw

Eight o'clock seemed to take forever to arrive. At dinner Layla found she had very little appetite. She was nervous and excited and jittery and impatient all at once. Eight o'clock couldn't come soon enough, and at the same time it all seemed to be happening too fast. When Layla excused herself to go get ready the others all stood up to join her, eschewing the remainder of their own meals in a show of solidarity.

At 7:30 Riven, Brandon and Sky arrived to escort the girls. Musa, Stella and Bloom tried not to make too big a fuss over the boys out of consideration for those who were perforce going dateless tonight, but it was very clear to all present that they were very glad to be spending time with their respective boyfriends on a Friday night. Tecna and Flora each put an arm around the other and exchanged a smile in mutual support of their common dateless status. Layla impatiently exhorted the others to hurry.

"Come on guys! We don't wanna keep the Trix waiting!"

Brandon turned to look at Stella with a faintly puzzled expression.

"Is it just me, or does Layla seem kinda eager to see those three?"

Standing with one arm around Riven, Musa held out her other hand in a casual gesture.

"Well ya know she's the one who really started this whole project to turn those girls around. It all started last weekend at the ice-skating competition. After Layla and Nabu won the competition Layla scooped up a rose some guy in the audience threw for her and gave it to Icy. You guys remember that, right? Well it seems to have had a pretty big impact on Icy. She actually kissed Layla for that. That got Layla thinking. If one act of kindness could have that big an impact on someone like Icy what if she was nice to her all the time, really showed her that someone cares? So far she's been getting some pretty positive results, so tonight we're expanding on that to bring in the rest of us and see about helping Darcy and Stormy too. Maybe we can turn all three of them around."

Stella stuck her nose up in the air and sniffed.

"Hmph! If you ask me it's all a big put-on. I think Icy knows what Layla's trying to do and is using it to trick her into something."

Tecna gave a sharp nod.

"Hm. I'd have to agree. That is the most likely scenario."

Next to her, Timmy dipped his head with a serious expression.

"Agreed. Those girls are nothing but bad news."

Flora looked doubtful.

"But if they don't remember who they are, isn't there a chance they can change? Become better people?"

Bloom looked around at the others patiently.

"Look guys, I've got as much reason to hate the Trix as any of you, but giving them the chance to change is just the right thing to do. Who knows? Maybe this'll actually help them turn their lives around."

Sky put his arm around Bloom and nodded.

"Bloom's right. It's a chance worth taking. We'll extend them the opportunity to change and see if they'll take it."

Riven gave a dark look.

"And if they try anything, it's not like we haven't dealt with them before."

Several yards down the road Layla turned to wave at the group.

"Guys, come on! We'll miss our bus if we don't get moving!"

Sky held up a hand to wave back.

"We're coming Layla!"

As the group started moving Bloom laid a hand on Sky's shoulder and spoke into his ear.

"Sky, I need you to help me keep an eye on Layla tonight."

Sky looked at her curiously.

"Why? Is something wrong?"

Bloom gave a worried look.

"Let's just say we've got reason to suspect Layla might not be completely objective in all this."

The blond-haired Prince of Eraklyon frowned.

"You think she might be under some kind of spell?"

The fire-haired Princess of Sparks shook her head.

"I don't know. It may be nothing, but help me watch to make sure Icy isn't trying to take advantage of her in some way, okay?"

Sky gave a firm nod.

"Okay. We won't let Icy try anything funny."

=======

A short while later the bus dropped them off at the Colosseum. The place was a former gladiatorial arena which had since been roofed over and retrofitted into a skating rink. As they walked to the entrance Layla looked around anxiously.

"Where are they? They're supposed to meet us here."

Musa laid a hand on the black girl's shoulder.

"Relax Layla. We're early. Give it a few minutes. They'll show."

Layla turned to look at her apprehensively.

"But what if they don't? What if they decided they weren't going to come because there's so many of us and only three of them?"

"Well then we'd look like a bunch of real fraidy-cats, now wouldn't we?"

Layla turned toward the sound of Icy's voice to see the trio of witches just coming up the sidewalk toward them. A big smile broke out on her face as the princess of Tides rushed over to give the ice witch a big hug.

"Icy! You came!"

Icy briefly looked startled and slightly annoyed, but her expression quickly shifted to a smirking grin as she returned the gesture.

"Please! Was there ever any doubt?"

As Layla started to draw back from the hug Icy pulled her back in to kiss her squarely on the lips. Layla was startled for a moment, but quickly found herself melting into it. The next moment she was shocked back into the awareness that the two of them were not alone by the sound of several gasps from behind her. As she broke their liplock and pulled back in Icy's embrace the grins she saw on the faces of Stormy and Darcy were far from reassuring.

"Way to go Icy!"

"Looks like somebody's been paying attention to my techniques."

Layla reluctantly pulled free of the white-haired witch's embrace in embarrassment.

"Come on Icy. Cut it out."

Icy smirked at her teasingly.

"What? I haven't seen you since Monday. Aren't I allowed to show a little appreciation for my new friend?"

Brandon placed a hand on the back of his neck.

"Man. Where do I get friends like that?"

Hearing his remark, Darcy shot him an inviting grin. At the same moment Stella pinned him with a withering glare. Brandon held up both hands defensively.

"Easy Stella. It was just a joke."

Stella turned her attention to Layla with a narrow-eyed stare.

"Well, it's nice to know that all those rumors that've been circulating this week are completely unfounded."

Tecna nodded in agreement.

"One hundred percent certifiable hogwash."

Layla waved her hands at them both.

"Guys, really, it's not what it looks like."

Stella folded her arms and turned away.

"Hmmph. Is it ever?"

Musa held out her hands in appeal.

"Come on guys. We came here to enjoy ourselves, not fight."

Stormy crossed her arms and smirked.

"Who says we can't do both? I happen to enjoy fighting."

Ignoring Stormy's remark, Bloom glanced around at the group.

"Musa's right. Let's all just go inside and get our skates on and try to have some fun."

Leaning close to Stella she whispered "And remember to stick to the plan."

Stella muttered back "Oh, I'll stick to the plan, but if any of those witches dares to lay a hand on my Brandon all bets are off."

As the group filed inside Sky leaned close to whisper to Bloom.

"Is this what you meant about needing to keep an eye on Layla tonight?"

Bloom nodded soberly.

"Yeah. I don't know what Icy is up to. Maybe she's just being a witch, but I've got this sinking feeling Layla may be in over her head."

Sky shook his head.

"I hate to say it, but it looks more like she's head over heels."

Bloom looked him in the eyes.

"That time they spent together on Theorbella seems to have forged a pretty strong connection between them. Layla seems to think it runs both ways but I don't know. It's hard to tell if Icy feels anything for Layla or not. Either way it's a dangerous connection for Layla to be relying upon. The whole idea tonight is for all of us to work together to reach out to the Trix in the hope of befriending them and winning them over. You and I are teaming up with Layla to work on Icy, but we've also got to keep an eye on them and make sure Icy doesn't try to take advantage of Layla's affections for her. Meanwhile Tecna, Stella and Brandon will be working with Darcy while Flora, Musa and Riven work with Stormy."

Sky shook his head.

"I don't know. Musa and Stormy sounds like a volatile mix."

Bloom gave a nod.

"Yeah I know, but given their history I thought pairing her up with Darcy would be even worse, especially with Riven around. That time Darcy brainwashed him into being her boytoy is a piece of their history best left forgotten."

Sky gave her a fond smile and placed his hand on her back.

"Sounds like you've got this all figured out. I sure hope it works."

Bloom smiled cautiously back at him.

"I just hope the whole thing doesn't wind up in a big disaster. If we get through tonight without somebody starting a fight I'll call it a win."