Summary: Tecna gets an invitation to the princess of Zenith's Princess' ball, but when she admits that she doesn't plan on going, her friends manage to get her to explain why. After her secrets get out, Tecna mysteriously disappears, beginning a new adventure.

Disclaimer: I don't own Winx Club, but if I did, this would be an episode just for Tecna.

"Is-is that from who I think it is?" The words almost didn't come out as she stared at the envelope in horror.

"Is what from who?" The pigtailed fairy asked, walking into the room she shared with her. Musa appeared to be bored, and for once wasn't wearing her headphones.

"Uh, nothing," Tecna quickly replied, shoving it behind her back, hiding the evidence that it even existed.

"Tec, what's that behind your back?" Musa asked her, not looking up as she sat on her bed.

Tecna grew worried and could feel the sweat pouring down her face as she replied, "What do you mean? There's…nothing behind my-my back, Musa. I don't know where you got that idea."

Musa shook her head and walked over to her. "Tec, I hate to break it to you, but you can't lie without people being able to tell. Especially me. I mean, we've been roomies since we started going to Alfea, and now we're teaching here, so obviously that means we've known each other for a while, right?"

The pink haired girl gulped and nodded as she admitted defeat and thrust the shameful paper toward her friend. "Read it."

As soon as the fairy of music saw it, she burst out laughing once she'd read the words. "It's just an invitation. Mind if I read what it's for?" She opened up the envelope and began to read aloud:

Dear Miss Tecna,

You have cordially been invited to attend the official Princess' ball of Zenith and are free to invite any friends you may have.

Please R.S.V.P within three day's time for the ball is in exactly one week by the time this should reach the palace.

From:

The Royal Court of Zenith

It seemed like a normal invitation to a Princess' ball, but what surprised Musa was at the end of the invitation was a signature and a message. From what she could tell, it read: I can't wait for when you get here. And please bring the rest of the Winx Club, I'm dying to meet the new company of light.

The silence to Tecna was unbearable as she watched her friend continued to look at the invitation. She guessed she read the invitation. What would she say? She wondered. Does she know? Has she figured it out? I hope not. Not after all this time.

It surprised both of them for out of nowhere came a voice: "You got invited to a Princess' ball and you didn't tell us?"

Musa and Tecna whipped around and there stood the rest of the Winx Club. When they saw that they'd been found out, they laughed, embarrassed, and walked into the room to talk about what was going on.

"So, Tecna, this Princess' ball sounds pretty cool. What are you going to wear?" Stella inquired.

Several questions like that came up, but were halted when Tecna held up her hand and replied, very firmly, "I'm not going."

Every mouth in the room except for her own dropped open in complete awe. They looked at each other in a way that asked, "Is she serious?"

"Why not?" Layla asked. "You get invited to go to a Princess' ball and you don't even want to go? That doesn't make much sense to me."

"Yeah, and just because mine was a disaster doesn't mean you should miss an awesome party," the Solarian princess added.

Her friend shook her head. "No, that's not the reason. None of you would understand, either. There's just to much about me that you don't know."

"Well, then, why don't you tell us? Because it's okay if you we don't go, but not giving a reason seems suspicious."

Tecna looked down to the floor. "I suppose I deserve to be shamed for all these secrets I've hidden."

"Well, are you willing to tell us, is the real question," Bloom pointed out. "Because you don't have to, but we're you're friends, so we're perfectly willing to let you keep to yourself, but if you told us, we could understand where you're coming from."

Tecna nodded, understanding. "Okay, I'll tell you, but it's a long, long, long story. So, how long are you guys willing to sit here and listen to me?"

"All night if we have to, and we don't have to teach any classes tomorrow, so go on Tec." Layla answered.

The other girls agreed and waited.

Tecna gave an apprehensive expression as she rubbed her hands together. "Well, for starters guys, you know how the invitation is for Princess Crystal of Zenith's Princess' ball?"

They nodded. "Mm-hm?"

She grew more worried, and in a low, hesitant tone, admitted, "Well, she's my cousin."

Hopefully this will turn out to be an interesting story, and better than my other two stories on this website so far. So, questions to think about: Why did Tecna come to Alfea? How did she really grow up? What was she like before she joined the Winx Club? All to be answered soon.