Back at the house, Flora was tending some flowers at the edge of the lawn, while her mom pruned a bush and her dad chopped some firewood.
Flora's attention was grabbed by a faint scream from the direction of the lake. She listened, but it wasn't repeated. Then she remembered Rose had gone that way after Mirta.
"MOM! DAD! Something's wrong! Follow me quick as you can!" she shouted at her parents, then transformed into her fairy form. She flew up, and headed down the path fast as she could.
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"Okay, then, you go that way, and I'll go this way," said Inez.
"Hold on," said Mirta, "I said it sounds like a good deal, but there's just one little problem."
Inez turned her attention from Rose to Mirta.
"What? You want more than half the bushes? Sorry, not going to happen," said Inez.
"It's not that," said Mirta, "It's just that I'm not a witch, I'm a fairy." And she transformed.
Inez's eyes went wide. "But... how? I felt your dark magic!"
Mirta shrugged. "Another time. Right now, we have some problems. First, you're here illegally. Second, you're stealing rare plants. And third..."
She flew up a few feet, Inez' wide eyes never leaving her. "YOU!" Mirta let loose a blast of orange magic that struck Inez in the belly. "ARE!" The next blast struck her legs, and she stumbled to her knees. "NOT!" The third blast hit her in the chest and face, throwing her backwards several feet. She tried to sit up. "GOING!" Another blast missed when Inez moved aside just in time, but it blew a hole in the ground. "TO!" The magic struck the ground in front of Inez, and threw grass, dirt and rocks on her. "HURT!" This blast hit the same spot, but traveled a few feet underground to erupt under the witch. It tossed her into the air, and Inez landed shakily on her feet. "MY!" The orange magic missed when Inez ducked. "SISTER!" Mirta threw magic with both hands that hit Inez squarely, and threw her back to slam into a tree. She slumped down to the ground, unconscious.
Mirta landed and returned to human form, breathing heavily. The witch never had a chance.
Rose ran to her, crying.
"Hey, you okay?" Mirta asked, squatting and hugging Rose to her.
"Yeah, I am now. Thank you for saving me," said Rose between sobs.
Mirta smiled. "What are big sisters for, anyway?"
Just then Flora arrived. "What happened? Are you all right?"
Rose smiled at Flora. "Yeah, you should have seen it! That witch tried to blast me, but Mirta stopped her! She was awesome!"
"That's Inez," said Mirta, gesturing at the fallen witch, "She was stealing sokama berry bushes when Rose saw her."
Rowan and Ivy arrived, and were quickly put in the picture. Rowan pulled out his cell phone and called the police.
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A little while later the police arrived and took a just-recovering Inez into custody.
"I think you should give her a physical examination," Mirta advised, "She hit that tree pretty hard, and might have a concussion."
The policeman nodded. "We'll take care of her."
As Inez was led away, she stopped and glared at Mirta. "You've made an enemy today," she said, "And if I was you, I'd keep an eye on my back, because someday I'll be there."
Mirta glared back. "Nobody hurts Rose without going through me first."
Inez was led away, and things were tidied up. The family and their guest headed back to the house.
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At dinner, Mirta's appetite was much improved, and Rose sat beside her. They talked and told jokes and laughed after they told the story to Ivy, Rowan, and Flora.
After dinner, Mirta took Rose's invitation to come to her room and play for a while.
After they were gone, Rowan turned to Ivy. "She saved our daughter's life today. How in the world are we ever going to repay her?"
"Mom? Dad? I think I know just the way," said Flora with a smile.
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The next morning after breakfast, Mirta was summoned to Rowan's study, where she found the rest of the family waiting for her.
"Mirta," said Rowan, "You saved Rose's life yesterday, and we are all in your debt."
"Aw, it's okay. I like Rose, and would never let anything happen to her," answered the girl.
"But that's not all," said Rowan, "I understand you and Flora have a kind of... bond between you?"
"Yes, sir," she explained, "It developed when I had been changed into a pumpkin, and Flora was trying to break the spell. The bond came about because we worked closely together to break it."
Flora came over and gave Mirta a squeeze around the shoulders.
You've only been here a couple of days, but you've made yourself useful around the house, and fit in with us like you have always been there. You've shown courage, a strong work ethic, kindness, and consideration. All traits that make you desirable as a daughter."
He smiled at Mirta, as did everyone else. The feeling of anticipation in the room grew until it was almost unbearable.
"Mirta, we want you to think of this as your home, and us as your family," he said.
Taken aback, Mirta blushed red enough to match her hair. "T-- thank you sir, but I really haven't done anything except take Flora's invitation."
"Humility as well," Rowan smiled. He put a sheet of paper in front of Mirta, and a pen beside it. "We still think of you as one of us, and if you will sign this, it will be official."
Across the paper, Mirta read the words "Certificate of Adoption". She quickly looked around. "ME? You want me? Are you sure? I'm still half-witch."
"Of course we want you," said Ivy, taking Mirta's hand, "You need a family, and a home, and we need you just as badly."
"Please sign, Mirta," said Rose, "I want you to be my big sister for real."
"And I want you to be my sister too," said Flora. "Think of all the fun we'll have!"
Tears started in Mirta's eyes, but before they made her unable to see, she grabbed the pen and signed.
"Welcome to your new family!" They said, and put her in a group hug.
Once the crying and laughing was over, Flora took Mirta by the hand. "Come with me. I want to show you something."
The two sisters went outside, and Mirta followed Flora to the garden. A new area had just been plowed up. Flora took Mirta's hand and put something in it.
Mirta looked. "Pumpkin seeds?" she asked.
"Plant them," said Flora, "Think of it as symbolic of 'putting down roots'."
Using a bit of magic, the seeds floated over and buried themselves in neat rows.
"There," said Flora, "Now you have a source of winx you can always draw on, and they will always bring you home."
The look of joy on the face of the red-headed, green-eyed girl was a sight to see.
"Come on," said Flora, "We'll get you moved from the guest room to the one by mine, and go shopping so you can get things to make it personal. We'll also get the clothes we didn't get before."
After moving Mirta's things, Flora sent an email to Tecna, asking for an emergency chat for as soon as possible. They wanted everyone to get the news.
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The evening hours were spent putting away the clothes they bought, and putting up the posters and things Mirta had wanted for her room, including a computer.
The chat lasted a couple of hours, as everyone congratulated Mirta, and pledging their support to her. Even Lucy was happy for her, and warned Flora that if she heard of anything bad happening to her best friend, there would be payback. But she put a smiley at the end of the statement.
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That night, Mirta went outside and away from the house. She looked up at the sky, ablaze with stars. In the nearby woods, night creatures were calling. She could also hear the whisper of Nature, telling her that she was part of the greater scheme, and accepted.
Her life had taken a very unexpected turn, and she was grateful for it. She now had what she needed, and would never be alone again.
The girl smiled, and tears fell from her eyes.
She was home.
The End