Greetings fellow readers and writers! This here is my seventh story; can you believe it? This time we're back in the Winx Club world, but with a major twist. I got the idea for this story last year during the episode where Bloom temporally went evil. A good part of the plot for the story you're about to read was inspired by my favorite episode from the original series of Star Trek. Please note that this story isn't a parody of Star Trek, it's a tribute. I don't own Winx Club or Star Trek, but it would be so cool if I did. One last thing, I dedicate this story to the cast and crew of the original series of Star Trek, most of all to Gene Roddenberry for creating Star Trek. On with the show!

The Enemy Within

A Winx Club tribute to Star Trek

By AndrewK9000

Chapter 1: Malfunction

"How long has Bloom been in there?" asked Stella as she, Flora, Musa, Tecna and Layla stood in the control room for the Magical Reality Chamber. Professors Wizgiz and Palanium were at the controls monitoring Bloom's progress in the simulation. "She's been fighting various monsters for almost 90 minutes," said Professor Palanium, "And still no sigh of being finished."

"Well considering that midterms are coming up," said Tecna, "I'm surprised she didn't start earlier." "I hope Bloom is done in there soon," said Flora, "The rest of us need to practice as well."

Just then one of the control panels short-circuited and exploded. "Good gods!" exclaimed Palanium as he and Wizgiz rushed to the remaining control panels. "What's happening?" asked Layla. "The stabilizer circuits for the Magical Reality Chamber are shorting out!" exclaimed Wizgiz, "The simulation is going haywire and I can't shut it off!"

"If we don't get Bloom out of the chamber soon," said Palanium, "She'll die!" "What can we do?" asked Musa as another control panel shorted out, "I don't know jack about electronics." "But I do!" exclaimed Tecna as she rushed to help Palanium and Wizgiz.

The next fifteen seconds seemed to drag on forever to Stella and the others. "Secondary protocols won't engage!" shouted Tecna. "The emergency shutdown won't activate!" shouted Wizgiz, "She's dieing and I can't stop it!" "One chance left," said Palanium, "The emergency transporter!"

Palanium rushed to a wall panel were a transporter pad stood. He pressed several buttons, and with a white flash, Bloom was standing on the transporter pad. She staggered a bit and leaned against the wall for support. "Are you alright, Bloom?" asked Tecna. "I'm fine," answered Bloom, "I'm just a little dizzy. What happened?"

"We don't know," said Palanium, "The control circuits began to short out, you almost died." "Really?" asked Bloom as she stepped off the transporter pad, she nearly lost her footing and slipped somewhat. "Here, let me give you a hand," said Stella as she held onto Bloom's arm.

"I think you're more than a little dizzy," said Flora, "Maybe we should help you to the hospital wing, just to see if you're really alright." "Yeah," said Bloom in a strangely distant tone, "That sounds fine." With that Stella and the others helped Bloom out of the control room.

"Faragonda is going to want to know about this," said Palanium. "Indeed," said Wizgiz, "Then we're going to have to crack this thing open to find out what went wrong. I'm starting to believe the Magical Reality Chamber is more trouble than it's worth." "I'm starting to think you're right," said Palanium as the both left the control room.

Just as the two professors left the control room, the emergency transporter activated again. With flash, another Bloom stood on the transporter pad. This Bloom was identical to the Bloom that had just left, identical in every physical detail except one; she had a dark look on her face. The duplicate stepped off the transporter pad, looked around, chuckled sinisterly and walked out the control room.

The end of chapter 1. The trouble really begins in the next chapter. See you next time!