The sun shimmered over the beach as laughter and waves mingled in the air. Stella felt light for the first time in days—until Aria appeared at the water's edge.
Aria returned slowly, her expression calm yet weighted. Instantly, the four girls—Stella, Serafina, Zypher, and Nyx—rushed to her side.
"Aria! You okay?" Serafina called, quickening her steps.
Aria's voice was soft but firm. "Yeah, everything's fine. Nothing to worry about."
But Nyx sensed it. She caught that subtle tremor in Aria's tone. She didn't press; maybe Aria needed space. Still, Nyx hovered by her side, never leaving her alone.
Nearby, Stella spotted Alex standing by himself, staring at the waves.
Her heart fluttered as she approached—drawn to him like a tide that couldn't help but return to the shore.
"The waves are beautiful, right?" she said, voice gentle.
"Yeah. They really are," Alex replied.
Stella smiled—but inside, her mind whispered,
You are more beautiful than any wave.
There was a pause, quiet and full. Then, in a soft motion, she reached into her pocket and revealed a silver necklace with a deep red stone.
Her voice trembled, "Do you remember this?"
Alex blinked, momentarily stunned. "Sorry… what?"
Her cheeks flushed with sudden panic. "Nothing! I—I remembered you said you like red… so I thought... it's beautiful."
She looked down at the sand, her smile trying to hold the pieces together.
Alex offered a kind smile. "Yeah, it is. Very beautiful."
But in that moment, her chest tightened—like the tide was pulling something away from her before she could hold on.
Then—
Ping!
Alex's phone buzzed. He glanced at the screen, a soft blush rising to his cheeks.
Stella saw it.
She saw that smile—that little flush—and she knew it wasn't for her.
And in that silence, something inside her cracked.
Not loud. Not obvious.
Just quiet enough that no one else would hear it break.
Not far off, Serafina stood ankle-deep in the surf. Kai appeared at her side, calm and familiar.
"Enjoying the beach?" he asked.
"Maybe not the beach," Serafina replied softly, "but the company."
He chuckled. "Still so bold."
Serafina grinned. "Why are you smiling?"
"Because I thought you'd say that."
Their eyes locked in an unspoken moment before they walked on, side by side.
Suddenly—the air split with a deafening blast.
BOOM!
Smoke and chaos erupted at the other end of the beach. Max shouted, "Demon! Front side!"
Panic spread. The Mystery Girls regrouped.
"We need to stop them," Serafina said, determination in her voice.
"But we can't just disappear," Nyx said. "It'll raise suspicion."
Stella stepped forward. "I'll go—"
"No," Nyx interrupted, sensing the storm in Stella's eyes. "You need a moment. Serafina and I will go. You stay and keep them calm."
Zypher nodded. "Be safe."
Nyx and Serafina disappeared from sight, leaving Stella watching, heart heavy.
The waves crashed behind her—but now, they felt cold.
At the demon's point, Nova and Aqua emerged fully transformed. Civilian chaos filled the shoreline as the beast roared.
"There!" a man cried. "Nova! Aqua!"
Aqua stepped forward, voice sharp. "I'll handle him. Nova—get people to safety."
Nova sprinted into the crowd, ushering frightened bystanders away. Aqua faced the demon, defiance in her eyes.
"You must be the water girl," the demon sneered.
"And you must be the dummy demon who's about to drown in your own fear," Aqua replied fiercely.
With a roar, the demon charged.
Aqua's eyes glowed as she unleashed a torrent of water—fierce and endless like the ocean itself.
Nova reappeared, joining her side.
"Let's finish this."
Together, they braced—two warriors standing against chaos.
The battle had only just begun.