Prologue
As someone who had spent years upon years working in the service industry, à la the Frutti Music Bar, Roxy had formed somewhat of a distaste for the holiday season.
Sure, there was some merit in some of the seasonal tunes, and she was a sucker for The Santa Clause marathon on the big day as she cuddled with Artu, who had already tired himself out from playing with all his new spoils. Outside of that…well, you would be hard-pressed to get Roxy to call herself a lover of the “most wondrous time of the year.”
Not even the generous tips she had received during the chilly month served as compensation for all the crap she had to endure. And today, that meant playing bartender for Gardenia’s very own wannabe socialite—Mitzi and her large party.

Before the springtime, Roxy had only heard some rumors of the infamous twenty-something-year-old and her rampages. But it wasn’t until her friendship kindled with the Winx that the pink-headed teen met Mitzi up close. And oh dear dragon, she wished she had never had the pleasure.

Despite Roxy having the displeasure of such an association, her father, Klaus, was blissfully unaware of her reputation and happily accepted the private Christmas party booking. Even when Roxy, along with the Specialists, had offered words of protest and warning, they had fallen short. Because the only thing her father heard was the sound of the deposit check clearing the bank.

Despite having worked at her father’s bar for ages and having gotten used to the wide array of festivities and the clientele they invited, there were few specific affairs that managed to remain memorable. And unfortunately, this one was likely to join the ranks. From the instant of garish and tacky decorations featuring the hostess’s likeness, the crappy music selection, and the painful karaoke session…it felt like a Christmas fever dream.

Just recounting the party made Roxy’s face distort into a scowl as her brows knit. Though it was a blessing in itself that the party had ended and Roxy had benefited from some extra funds, the feeling of frustration and another emotion she wasn’t able to identify lingered.

But what was the cause of that feeling?

As Roxy’s boots crunched the light snow under her feet, she shook her head, leading her gaze to move from her feet to the world around her. Everywhere she looked, signs of the holidays remained present—from the menorah perched in the windowsill of the bookshop, the garland draped over the signs of the bakery, and the wreaths hanging from each streetlight.

Roxy could feel her expression soften as her shoulders relaxed.
It was kind of pretty around here this time of year.

Year.
That word stuck out to Roxy as she continued on her way home, her hands working in unison to wrap her loosening scarf around her neck.

Roxy wasn’t big on the whole sentimental thing. There was only room in the household for one of those types, and her father laid clear claim to such a title. After all, only he could get misty-eyed watching the cheesy Christmas films. But for some reason, with each step Roxy took, she couldn’t help but feel such a lingering feeling.

Was it because she had met the Winx and they were rubbing off on her?

That thought stopped Roxy in her tracks. A small shiver ran up her spine at the mere notion of picking up some of her friends’ tendencies—almost as horrific as Mitzi singing Silent Night.

Or was it because she was back…
“Mom…”

It felt both warm and still somewhat unfamiliar as the word escaped her lips.

Never in Roxy’s wildest dreams did she ever consider she might see her mother, never mind have her back home.
But such a dream had become reality, and one that was waiting for her return at home.

Like, well, magic, the two had been able to grow closer and develop a bond that most mothers and daughters took years upon years to cultivate. Sure, there were some ups and downs—mostly culture-based differences—but they were able to take things in stride. Plus, Roxy had come to learn to love the different sides of her mother—and even her own heritage. From tales of great-great-many-times-over relatives and how they forged history to learning about the world around her. It was grand.

Every day was something new, and something told Roxy today would be no different.

Just thinking about returning home to see her mom was enough for Roxy’s expression to brighten as she quickened her step. This was her first Christmas since early, early childhood with her mother. And Roxy was looking forward to what was in store.

–

“What the…”
Roxy’s face deadpanned as she walked into the living room and came face to face with a small sea of boxes and wooden crates of every size possible. Amongst the maze of boxes, discarded packing materials littered the floor.

Hearing her voice, from his sleeping spot on the old, worn armchair, Artu perked up and offered a small and modest bark to signal his owner of his presence.
“Artu, what on Earth happened?”

A small whimper from Artu served as his own commentary. At times like these, Roxy did miss using her magic to grant Artu communication abilities. But with all the fairy training she had been undertaking, she hadn’t been able to forgo that extra bit of magic these days. And she still had yet to find the perfect spell to grant her beloved dog the ability without becoming his own personal power bank.

Now that would be a good Christmas present.

Before Roxy could elaborate on just how to ask for such a magical feat as a gift, laughter filled the space.
“Sorry, Roxy. A few deliveries arrived while you were at work, and I’ve been working on sorting through them all.”

Carefully navigating through the piles and towers of packages, Morgana came into view. Though she wasn’t clothed in fine clothing or her elaborate wings and crown, the elder woman appeared just as regal and refined in her sweatpants and hoodie as her hair came loose from her braid. A bright smile graced her face as she viewed her daughter.

Ever warm and inviting, Morgana extended her arms and wrapped her daughter in a tight hug.
“How was your day? There was a big Christmas party, right? What was that like?”

Roxy returned her mother’s smile and gave a slight laugh.
“Well…let’s just say if I could have hidden from the hostess in one of these boxes, it would have been significantly better. But at least it wasn’t quite as painful for me as it was for Brandon…especially if Stella finds out that someone was trying to get under the mistletoe with him.”

A hand flew to Morgana’s lips as she began to chuckle.
“I see… I’m sorry it wasn’t great. But at least it’s over now. And Brandon is a well-trained hero. I am sure he is more than capable of fighting off some girl—and potentially calming Princess Stella if needed. This season has a way of making people act a little different.”

As Roxy worked her way out of her outerwear, she gave her mother a puzzled look.
“Are you saying that there is some kind of spell or magic this time of year that makes people act differently?”

Morgana gave a small shrug as she approached a section of boxes near the television.
“Yes…and no. It’s one of those cases where the answer isn’t always quite as defined as ‘black’ or ‘white.’ Magic is driven by emotions—so in many cases, behavioral changes can be a direct cause of magic, both internally or externally.”

“That’s why you will see magic usage more regulated and calculated in the other realms. Everything is magic there, so it all becomes more interconnected. Here, on Earth, however…that is where things become more complicated.”

Roxy raised a brow as she cleared herself a space on the couch, her knees brought to her chest as she listened to her mother’s explanation.
“Why is it more complicated? Because magic has ‘returned’?”

Morgana pointed a finger and gave a firm nod.
“Yes. Magic, as you, the Winx, and myself know and use it, has been kept away for some time. But Earth’s magic hasn’t been asleep this entire time, though it hasn’t quite been active. And now, with fairy magic resurging, things aren’t quite as predictable as any of us have expected.”

“How did you expect it to go? That suddenly, with no explanation, new fairies would be born?”

Morgana shook her head.
“Not quite that. Though that was something that Nebula has been thinking about. But it hasn’t come to pass. Rather, magic seems to be slowly waking up. Like an animal coming out of a winter hibernation. Small and measured movements. That said, we must be careful how we use our magic. Especially around others. This time of year, everyone’s emotions are running in overdrive. All it takes is a little magic leak for unforeseen consequences.”

Morgana gave Roxy a strong, no-nonsense look that reminded Roxy of the stern glances teachers gave unforgiving students who failed to study for exams.

Roxy’s eyes grew wide as she threw her hands up.
“Alright! Alright! I get it, I’ll avoid any magic until after the final sappy Christmas films have aired. Does that suffice?”

Morgana gave a firm nod, then allowed her expression to soften.
“Good. The last thing we need is rogue magic playing with people’s minds. That Christmas story? About gingerbread dancing in people’s heads? That was all thanks to a young fairy who snuck away from the kingdom to learn about Christmas.”

“Really? Any other magic-centric holiday tidbits that might be interesting?”

Morgana gave a laugh.
“More than you can imagine. And quite a few of those stories come from our direct ancestors. I wasn’t the only fairy in our bloodline to move into the Earthling realm. Come, let me show you some of our family treasures.”

Morgana stood and motioned toward a collection of boxes near the center of the room.
“Since Nebula is now the fairy queen, I thought it was time I cleared out some of my belongings to give her room. Hence all the boxes. And before you ask—I haven’t told your father yet. If he can hold on to his comic books from when he was a kid, I can keep my artifacts in the basement as well.”

Roxy couldn’t help but suppress a laugh. Her parents were truly something else.

The rest of the night became a blur, as the mother and daughter sat together going through magical items from their ancestry. From wands used in great battles, crowns worn by their grandmothers, and even a couple of swords that would need to be hidden from Klaus. It was truly magnificent.

In school, Roxy hadn’t had much of a desire or enthusiasm for history. But now, as she was able to connect real-life historical events to her family lineage, she couldn’t help but become inspired.

“Wait. Wait. You mean to tell me we are related to Joan of Arc?”

Morgana nodded as she put a long silver sword to her side.
“Oh yes. She was meant to become queen…but tragedy befell her before she could ascend.”

“That is incredible,” Roxy began as she leaned forward and fished around in the box. Her fingers locked around a small, circular object before pulling it out. As Roxy’s hand emerged from the box, the item in her hand came into view. Her expression grew blank.

The small, silver object didn’t seem very magical. Nor special. Upon closer inspection, it appeared no different than an old-school pocket watch.
“What is it, some type of watch? Time travel?”

“No, but it has a similar effect. I will spare you the name, as with time it has grown incoherent—historians can’t commit to any one name. But this artifact has helped rulers for centuries by providing clarity—”

“How can this accomplish that?”

“Everyone, especially rulers, often finds themselves wondering what the best decision is. Do you form an allegiance, or is conflict unavoidable? Once every full moon, this can be used to allow one to live out a possibility they may be considering, to help give them clarity.”

“So if someone wasn’t sure what to do, like whether they should stay loyal to someone…or end things?”

Again, Morgana nodded.
“Indeed. With magic, anyone, no matter how far, can be granted the opportunity to experience a potential reality. Such as if your friend Musa will be able to work things out with her boyfriend, or what it might be like to experience a normal day without concern for responsibilities.”

“In other words, fairies like the Winx could experience some fantasy they have at the back of their minds?”

“That they could—but I wouldn’t recommend using it so casually. Especially now. Everyone is far too busy with Love and Pet, plus I am sure they are busy preparing for Mike and Vanessa’s big Christmas party to even be able to think about such things.”

Little did Roxy or Morgana know that they had leaked some magic…