Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

"Identify yourself, and state your business."

Cold and dark. Yet comforting, in a way. Layer after layer, she descended deeper and deeper into the catacombs. Dank stained stone. Ancient gothic architecture, warped by centuries of water wicking away at it. Perfect sacred geometry worn down with smooth ridges cutting through their forms. As if the entire world was melting.

It was so much like Wisteria. If only she could see the sky. It would truly complete the illusion. Not that she missed it. Just that she was overcome with a certain sense of nostalgia it was hard to shake. Further and further down the steps she had walked, lanterns on the wall lighting up in response to her presence. Burning with an ethereal violet hue.

All of it led her here. The bottom of the sanctum. A circular platform overlooking a black pit that extended in all directions. Save for tapestries and clothes draped and hanging across empty space in the darkness. A featureless humanoid form, cast in white marble and translucent glass, so tall it could hold her in its grip, towered in the darkness. A myriad array of arms emerging from its torso.

It repeated its request to her. An understated though deep voice, reverberating through Darcy's bones. "Identify yourself, and state your business."

The witch, braced herself for just a moment. Forget what she thought about home, this place gave her the creeps. Not that she was intimidated. By the darkness or the big stone guardian. It was just a tad claustrophic was all.

She cleared her throat, a mischievous glint in her eye. Standing tall in the center of the circular platform, inky dark magic radiating off her in waves as her cape flapped in the winds they whipped up. The glass shells around the lanterns shattering as the flames shifted from purple to black, erupting into raging pillars. Flooding over with power. She flipped through pages of a musty tome she held in her hands, eyes scanning for the exact information she needed, then tossing it into the pit with a smirk. Taking a step forward and looking up at the giant creature the witch finally spoke. "Darcy of Wisteria. Attending visitation with Icy of Dyamonde."

She waited, and waited, until the maelstrom her ambient ambition had summoned forth quelled. Flames snuffed out, smoke pouring down and pooling around her feet like fog. The creature's face was blank like a colossal mannequin and yet it still felt like it was staring at her, unimpressed. It stood perfectly still and didn't move at all, but its voice thundered forth all the same. "I know of no prisoner by this name. Those without official business must leave."

Darcy closed her eyes and let a sardonic sigh escape her lips. She ran a hand through her hair, turning her back to the colossus. "My mistake. Isolde of dyamonde. I know you're all so formal here."

It finally moved, but not with any purpose. Merely leaning in closer. "I must insist. There is no prisoner of that name within the confines of the silk hive."

The silence was deafening. You could hear a pin drop, and echo out for ages. Darcy didn't move at all. Though her mood immediately soured. Her smirk turning into an annoyed grimace. The tension so oppressive it weighed down on top of her. Forcing her to turn back around and confront the prison's warden.

She stepped to the very edge of the platform. Toes hanging off the edge. Gritting her teeth as she growled her next words out. "I am here. To speak. To Isolde of Earth."

The warden continued to glare its faceless glare at her. Then it relented. Rearing up. Its arms arranged into a formation like it was blossoming. "Understood. You shall be momentarily allowed to see the prisoner of which you speak."

Yet more hands emerged from the darkness, tugging and pulling at the silky woven threads that dotted the darkness. Pulling taut and presenting a deep royal blue banner, holding it up to the platform Darcy stood on. An endlessly repeating design of snowflakes patterned upon it, all framing a familiar woman's silhouette.

She took a final step off the stonework. What should have sent her plunging into the darkness below. Instead sinking into the cloth that rippled like water as she passed through it.

She got to her feet, ankle deep in soft powder snow. The world around her a kaleidoscope of crystals in blues and purples. Ice carved perfectly like gemstones.

On the far side of the expanse, in a plain black robe, was her former friend. Staring at her. "Finally."

Darcy just walked across the prison cell, if you could call it that. Taking in the opulence of it all. The epitome of a gilded cage. Crafted from images within Icy's mind. Mirroring the minimalist decadence of the palace on Dyamonde. The witch of darkness just let out a low whistle and dusted her hands together. The soft muffled crunch of footprints in the snow beneath her. "Nice digs. Not bad for your first place after college huh? I'm surprised they skipped right past Lightrock." Icy just stared back at her, saying nothing. The cold shoulder- ironically- wasn't something Darcy was used to from her. "You really went psycho there for a second. Looks like you've had some time to mellow out."

Icy couldn't even bring herself to look at Darcy, head hung low. "If that's how you want to see it." She gazed at the palm of her hand, clenching her fingers, squeezing at something that wasn't there. "This whole place is petrifying. I barely even feel like a witch anymore."

Darcy's awful velvet voice wiggled into Icy's ear. "No magic? Just think of it as getting in touch with your Earth heritage." The evil eye she got in response could bore a hole through Darcy's head right into her soul. Her sardonic voice breaking, quiet concern spilling out instead. "Alright, bad joke. But still...do you want to talk about what happened?" Icy sat down again in the snow. Darcy knelt beside her, arm on her friend's shoulder.

All she could do was look right through Darcy. "There's nothing to say. She abandoned me, and now I'm here."

A howling gale ripped through the cell. Darcy shivered, but Icy was unfazed as ever. The oldest witch brushed the diamond dust off her shoulder, then off her coven sister's. "You know, no matter what anyone else says, you are in fact the rightful heir to her throne. So what if she wouldn't let you have what's yours. That doesn't mean we can't just take it."

"So violent, Stormy's been a bad influence on you." The two stared at each other, then suddenly looked away. The conspicuous absence of their third wheel an unspoken sore spot. Icy got up, walking to the edge of her crystal palace. Looking out at the infinite wasteland below. Whether an illusion or spatial trickery she wasn't sure. Sitting down, kicking her legs as they dangled over the tundra. "But we can't possibly amass that much power. Look at what we had to do just to reach Dyamonde. And you think we're going to what, raid a whole planet and take it over?"

A black spark fizzled on Darcy's fingertip. "Oh I think we're going to make some big waves." Her magic faded, snuffed out by the petrifying effects of the silk hive prison. Brow furrowed, she let out a huff and swatted away her short circuiting spell. Her shadow standing stock still as she did so. "I've got some wicked ideas and I'm not leaving my little sis behind while the gears start turning. You in, or you out?"

Without moving an inch, still looking out at the wasteland beyond her crystal tower, Icy answered. "...Out."

~~~

Before she knew it, she was standing back in the catacombs. Endless pitch black darkness, broken up only by the marble circle she returned upon, and the floating glass stairs held aloft in the dark back to the surface.

She didn't think little sis was going to chicken out on her, but it wasn't going to set her back. Not this time. She turned back to the warden, the glint in her eyes returning again.

"Hey big guy! I'm here to see one more prisoner." Darcy sneared as she felt her magic returning. Her shadow moving on its own, divorced from her body.

It leaned in once more. Though its facade was, as always, featureless and blank Darcy couldn't help but feel an impending sense of scrutiny from it. A coldness on the nape of her neck. A fuzziness creeping in the side of her vision. Anticipating that powerful baritone voice again. "State your business." It insisted.

She took another deep breath. "Darcy of Wisteria, here seeking council with The Phoenix, Darkar of Shadowhaunt."

Letting out a frustrated sigh, Darcy clenched her fists in anticipation. Waiting and waiting. Only for nothing to happen. What little light remained in the darkness dimmed, and the warden of the Silk Hive crossed its endless pairs of arms upon itself. Like a corpse in a coffin. Before it spoke one more time. "...As the young witch wishes."

It descended from above. An infinitely long tapestry with no end in sight, disappearing into the abyss. Dangling less than an inch off the marble floor. Putrid smoke emanating from its tassles. A shimmering black fire pattern emblazoned upon it. An imposing skeletal outline twice Darcy's height beckoning her inside.

With a touch, she stepped through it. Veins going cold as she emerged on the other side.

She knew, intellectually, that this wasn't Shadowhaunt. That this wasn't even a real place. It still gnawed at her all the same.

She fell to her knees. It felt like a thousand needles were being pushed through her skin as a weighted blanket smothered her. Vision distorted by static in her eyes. Ears deafened by a deep bass drone. Even gravity itself felt heavier. She felt completely powerless. Like magic didn't even exist. Felt even weaker than the Earth humans she'd effortlessly subdued in her battle with Bloom and Stella. Here she was straining for magic like she was a fish desperately gasping for air on land.

One foot after the other she got to her feet, hands on her thighs propping herself up. Truly taking in the sight of the Phoenix' domain for the first time. It was like being in the bowels of a beast. Or a carcass hastily picked over. Blood red magic pulsed and surged between bone white monoliths. Curving up and overtop of her, a cage keeping her in. A ribcage keeping a heart of evil contained.

It was then Darcy saw it. An emaciated, corpse like freak. Hanging limp. Wreathed in chains from all sides. Pierced with blades that pinned it to an ivory pillar in the center of the tiny realm within a realm. Ragged cloth and rusted armour hanging off of its form loosely.

She approached, and its head snapped to attention. Empty eye sockets staring her down. A hushed, raspy voice slithering out of its throat. "My sentence...has my sentence been lifted?"

Darcy tried to steady herself. She held the cards. She wasn't going to be intimidated. He had no magic. Not while he was imprisoned here. "Let's call it time off for good behaviour." She stepped closer. Their shadows overlapping on the ground in the presence of the deep crimson light around them. "Phoenix of Shadowhaunt, scourge of Magix, come under my command."

"A pathetic little witch would try and command me?" The corpse wheezed out, like air escaping a deflating bag.

Darcy smiled. "You would let your pride cost you your freedom?"

The shrivelled corpse continued to stare at her, only for its mouth to hang agape in a crooked smile. "Very well." It said with its final gasp, only for it to suddenly collapse and go limp once again.

She looked down, and she saw just one shadow was on the ground.

~~~

Once again she returned to the catacombs. Face to face with the titanic warden. The crushing weight of the prison's most powerful anti-magic washing off of her. Finally she could breath again unencumbered. Only to feel even more power rush into her than before. She felt herself return to more strength, then gain more and more still. Brimming with newfound capabilities. "The shadowfire. Now, let's take it out for a test drive!"

The colossus surged to life feeling the strength of her magic cascading off of her, only to fall to pieces upon the stone disc Darcy stood on. A smoldering cratered hole in its chest.

"That anti-magic field you insist on using has one crushing oversight. It might stop people from casting spells, but it won't disrupt any that have already been cast." The witch smiled. Stepping upon the collapsed guardian. Walking out from the platform into the darkness.

With a snap of her fingers, black flames surged across the cloths and drapes suspended in the abyss. Burning up into nothing. Watching the prisoners kept inside emerge as their silhouettes burnt up into nothing. Flames chewing away at the fabric confining them. Hellish creatures finally freed of their cells, flooding out into the magic universe at large.

Then she fell: Icy. Dropping to her feet, inches from her coven sister. Darcy laughed, a red aura flashing across her eyes. "You're the one who said you wanted 'out' little sis."

Icy wasn't phased. Saying nothing. Unimpressed. The silent treatment beginning to truly irritate Darcy. The older witch snapping at her as another scarlet flash crossed her eyes. "Oh come on I broke you out of the highest security prison in the magical universe, and you don't even care you ungrateful little-!"

"-Thanks, Darcy. Really." The soft voice coming out of the frost witch was disarming. A side of her Darcy rarely got to see. "I appreciate the jailbreak. But if she isn't interested in letting me come home, I don't really care about 'conquering' Dyamonde. Good luck. You'll need it."

With one last flick of her wrist, Icy's black prison robes were replaced with a blue puffer jacket and furred boots. A hapless civilian look for such a vicious witch. Darcy just watched dumbfounded as her partner in crime left, walking up the stairs to the surface.

"Forget it. When all this is over, there won't be a single world I don't control."

Chapter Text

"Bloom."

The entire world was on fire. Everywhere she looked, the sky was black with smoke. Ground caked in soot. All things engulfed in flames. Her own clothes burned away entirely. Skin burning bright. Like she was made of fire itself.

"Can my voice finally reach you?"

The voice came from everywhere all at once. It made her skin crawl. Altogether familiar yet haunting. Someone she knew, but hadn't met yet.

The fire coiled around her. Snaking between the burnt out remnants of what looked like Gardenia. A black silhouette, willowy and waifish in the center of the inferno.

"Wake up Bloom. You need to wake up."

Her body, made entirely of flames, was unwinding. Becoming one with the rest of the fire. Inches from the other figure, unable to make out anything about her.

She was ripped backwards. Becoming a person again. Falling through the ground. Plunged into ice cold water below. Screaming without sound.

She woke up. Eyes drifting to the full moon outside. Gasping for air.

~~~

A calendar hung on the back of her bedroom door. Depicted on its top half picturesque locales, images of the countryside. A big black circle around one of the saturdays. 'Trip!' written on it, 'March Break' written across the entire following week. X after X striking through the days leading up to it.

Bloom hastily shoved her clothes into her suitcase. It was going to be her first day back at Magix since her final encounter with Icy. The redhead was running late, using her winx to flutter from corner to corner of her room packing whatever she could into her luggage.

Her bedroom door creaked open and her parents peaked in. "Bloom, honey, I thought we agreed no magic during time at home." Her mother stood in her doorway, arms crossed. Her father put a hand on her mother's shoulder.

"Vanessa, she's going to be late. I'd rather she use magic than miss her friends." Her father managed a faint smile. "Call it an emergency."

Bloom touched down on the floor but didn't dispel her winx. "Sorry mom, sorry dad! I've only got an hour left to get ready! I was going to see Helia before I left!" She slammed her suitcase shut on her bed. Sleeves and socks stuck out from between the two halves but Bloom insisted on forcing it, yanking on its zipper and slamming an elbow on its top.

"Helia? You didn't let him know about...everything...right?" Her mom's tone turned anxious, even stern. Helia was a nice young man, but she still didn't want anyone beyond her and Mike to know about her daughter's unique situation.

"No no, but Helia's my friend and I think he deserves to get a goodbye before I go on 'vacation', I already disappeared on him once." She lugged her suitcase onto the floor, its one wobbly wheel squeaking. "If I'm gonna see him I need to leave now though!"

Bloom brushed past her parents in a hurry. Her suitcase dropped down every stair with a short thud as she dragged it behind her while flying down into the ground floor.

"Bloom. wings."

"Huh? Oh, yeah, right!" Hovering a foot off the ground in her magic winx she had the doorknob turnt in one hand and her suitcase in the other, ready to fly out the door. "Let me just- oof!" Her winx dispersed and she dropped down to the ground with a gentle thud. "Note to self, land first, turn off magic second. Thanks Mom! Dad! Won't happen again!"

She rushed out the door, trying to keep her balance as her suitcase wobbled and dragged behind her.

"She's going to get caught one of these days."

"Maybe she should ask Stella what the procedure is if she ever does."

~~~

It was that awkward time of year when the snow was beginning to melt, but it was still distinctly winter. Refreshing, though still plenty chilly. A brisk shiver wandering up Bloom's spine as wet slush squished beneath her boots.

Just outside the city park, by a large bus shelter and bike parking. It was nostalgic, in a way. Walking along the entrance beneath an overcast sky. Snowflakes falling. Even though the ice storm had only been a few months ago her very first encounter with Stella was as vivid as ever in her mind.

Getting used to Earth life again had taken some time, but she had slipped back into it faster than she expected. In no small part thanks to having at least one friend on this side. Which only made her all the more excited to see him coming up the sidewalk, meeting her halfway.

She let go of her rolling suitcase and bounded over to him, running down the sidewalk, nearly tackling the taller boy as she threw her arms around him, to his surprise. She took a step back after yelling his name, a faux coolness coming over her. "Helia!! I mean, hey, Helia, sup."

He blinked, slowly and softly, an effortless smile displaying his kindness for the world. He was warm to the touch, despite wearing nothing but a light sweater versus Bloom's windbreaker. "I'll never understand the whole 'pretend you aren't excited to see a friend' thing you know that?"

Bloom put her hands on her hips and huffed as her cheeks went rosy. "Really? You're just gonna read me like a book like that?" She laughed with a quick eye roll. There was a powerful comfort to the exchange, like sliding on a pair of slippers right out of the dryer. She may have been eager to see her new friends again, but couldn't dismiss just how long she'd known Helia. How much safety history provided.

Helia simply smiled back at her, suppressing his own laughter. "If you insist on wearing it all on your sleeve."

Bloom let out a hmmph, waving her hand at him. "There's plenty about me you don't know." She doubled back for her luggage before she began to walk towards the park entrance, zipping up her jacket as she did so. Waiting for just a moment to make sure he was following.

The two left the pavement and walked onto the gravel path as they found themselves under the tree canopy. He came up behind her, glancing down at her briefly as snow scrunched beneath his feet. Taking an opportunity to tease her. "Like that you dip your fries in your milkshake when we go to that place downtown?"

"Shuuuush you, ugh."

"So what's got you in such a good mood?"

She was having trouble containing her giddiness. Grinning to herself, coyly looking away from him. "Okay so, I've been waiting months for this, but I'm going to spend March break with my friends from boarding school."

"Big party school?" He asked.

She frowned, pursing her lips. Trying to avoid saying anything about Alfea. "Well, not exactly. It's...hey, Stella and Flora are probably coming to say hi before we all go. Why don't you stay and meet them?

He blushed for a moment. Thinking of the last time he'd had a chance to see them. "Absolutely! I mean uh, that sounds nice."

"Now who's pretending not to be excited?"

~~~

Two pairs of shoes tapped anxiously on the sidewalk. Watching cars and pedestrians go by. Checking their phones occassionally, hoping to get a call or message.

The boys had arrived mere minutes ago. Their first time on Earth, and their first time ever opening a portal. Far more strenuous that Stella had ever described it. No doubt a disadvantage of having no magic royal heirlooms.

Riven was pleased to find he didn't feel particularly out of place. Finding himself bored but nonetheless comfortable. It was pleasantly brisk, good considering he dressed in layers. Sky however was sour. Everywhere he looked ellicited a tired groan. Deeply dissatisfied with everything. "It's kinda like Magix...but smaller, and duller. The bikes touch the ground even when they're running." He said with a pout, hands in his pockets staring idly at the world going by.

Riven just looked at him, pulling him out of the street as a car horn blared zooming past by the back of his jacket collar. Sky gasped, trying to catch his breath. Riven plainly waved to the lights of the crosswalk above them indicating it was safe to proceed. "...sure."

Sky slapped Riven's hand away, speedwalking through the intersection as he watched the numbers on the crosswalk signal tick down. As he stepped off the street onto the corner he started to walk across to the next, and was met with Riven grabbing him yet again. The prince just gave his superior a dirty look, crossing his arms and tapping his foot incessantly as he sneered at the weird wheeled cars going by. "Let's get Bloom and get outta here. I'm sure she's dying to get back to the magical universe."

"I'm sure she is." Riven said as they crossed again, walking along a promenade adjacent to what seemed to be a park. "Isn't this her now?"

The two looked up. Most definitely it was Bloom. Only walking alongside her was a black haired boy. Well built, tall, his long hair and softer facial features conveying a modest femininity against his otherwise deeply masculine physique. Sky frowned. "Who's...who's this guy? Is he with her?"

Riven was on the verge of cackling. Forcing his face into his shoulder. "Feeling a little jealous suddenly?"

Sky shook his head. "No, of course not. Just don't like surprises is all. Bloom couldn't be short sighted enough to tell a non-magic Earther about magic could she?"

That was a thought that made Riven wince. His disposition becoming just as annoyed as Sky's. He took a deep breath, mind racing a mile a minute trying to think of what to do. "Just play it cool. Let her do the talking."

The prince and the fairy locked eyes, both of them leaving their companions behind running up to each other. She seemed precocious, just a tad apprehensive. He stowed his frustrations, putting on a happy face. "Bloom! How are you..."

A forced smile of her own crept upon her lips. Wry and apprehensive. "...Sky! Haha, ha, what are you doing here? I thought Stella and Flora would be here!" There was an insincerity to her town, tension thick between the two. Her attention was broken as Helia finally caught up to her. "Helia, this is Sky." She said, then gestured to Riven also coming up behind Sky. "And Riven of course."

He studied the Earth boy head to toe with a glance. Brushing his blonde hair aside. "Sorry to disappoint you." He said to Bloom, before turning to the stranger. "Bloom didn't mention she'd be bringing friends."

Helia cocked an eyebrow, stealing looks between the two boys. "Didn't you say this Alfea place was an all girls school?"

Bloom sighed. A sardonic lilt in her tone. "Haha, ha yeeah, see uh Sky and Riven are...Stella's friends! She couldn't make it, apparently, that's why they're here!" She tightly pressed her lips together and tipped her head at Sky. "Next time it would be amazing if these two would call ahead haha!"

The four stood in silence. Nobody able to make eye contact. Looking around, kicking their feet, listening to the sound of the leaves rustling and cars passing. A cloud passed in front of the sun, prompting all of them to look up. As it moved on and the light returned Bloom and Sky looked back down, their eyes meeting. Telling each other it was time.

Riven was the one who spoke first. "It was nice to meet you. Bloom, we should head out."

She sprang to life, like she'd forgotten what she was even here for. "Oh yeah!" Helia frowned seeing her turn to him, an apologetic look on her face as she started to walk away. "I'll see you later Helia."

His brow furrowed. "...Aren't you waiting for a bus Bloom?"

She froze. Her shoulders squaring up. Staring dead ahead. She turned, trying to calm herself. Both of her escorts looking at her confused. "Uhhh right! Well these guys are early, we're ahead of schedule. I was thinking maybe we'd grab lunch or something! Show the guys around town, they've never been."

"Oh well I mean..." Helia walked up to her, his back to the other two boys. He was speaking out the side of his mouth, looking over his own shoulder. "Hey, do you really know these guys? Like are they safe? They're not your classmates and your friends from Thanksgiving and Hallowe'en aren't here."

She wasn't expecting that question. "Helia, I'm fine. Just trust that I know what I'm doing." There was a tone to her voice now. Judgmental, assertive. Helia shrunk back a bit.

"Well um, don't- don't let me keep you."

Helia gave her a sheepish final wave. Like he was hanging around for her to ask if he wanted to come along. Was he jealous? It wasn't like she was involved with him. In fact, wasn't he much more interested in seeing Flora? Maybe he was disappointed that she wasn't here? Whatever the matter, she felt a small sense of relief he didn't. She needed to get away from him somewhere private if the three of them were going to return to the magical universe unseen.

She watched him leave, turning back once, a tinge of embarassment that she'd seen him do so. Hands in his pockets as he crossed the street, heading towards downtown.

"Come on, we'll show you where the portal is." Riven said, keeping his voice low while in public.

The three doubled back to where Sky and Riven had first emerged on Earth. Walking down the street and rounding two corners before disappearing into the city park. Wandering into a sequestered area. The small white gazebo Bloom had first hid in witnessing Icy battle Stella. Its floor had fallen out, revealing a portal beyond. One after one, the three slipped inside. Returning to the other side, returning to the magical universe.

From behind a tree, Helia emerged. Chest pounding. Barely able to process what he was seeing.

~~~

She was looking forward to taking a seat on the train. It had been months since she'd rode one of them. The nostalgia washing over her as she followed behind the boys. Walking through the doorway between two cars towards the front. Bloom sighed, sliding through as Sky held the door for her. "Well that was mortifying. So what the hell are you two doing here? Where's Stella."

Riven looked back, a pause as he looked between Bloom and Sky. A smirk sneaking onto his face. "Sky's here because he misses you."

"Dude-" Sky said, letting go of the door and nearly letting it hit Bloom, much to her annoyance.

"I'm just telling the truth." He said with a shrug. The three continued toward the end of the car, Riven continuing to speak even from the front. "I'm here because I'm making sure his highness doesn't do anything stupid. Plus I'm spending some time with some friends."

He sat down in a seat at a table on the left of the car towards the front, a massive smile coming over Bloom as she saw who else he was sitting with. "Tecna! Musa!" Her suitcase fell backward with a soft clank as she let go, brushing past Sky to his chagrin excited to see her friends.

Grabbing Tecna's hands, she held them tight pulling the magenta haired girl to her feet, pulling her into a hug. Not that Tecna loved the physical affection. Musa sprang up next, hugging Bloom from the side, eliciting a soft giggle. The three collapsed back into their seats, everyone relaxing except for Sky, who was left hanging out in the aisle. Bloom pushed the tabletop up, leaning in closer to her friends.

"How's it been back on Earth?" Tecna asked.

Bloom caught herself looking out the window before refocusing. "It's been good! Soooo hard not to use magic at home though. I mean, I do it around the house, but sometimes I wish I could just bust it out at school. Do you know how easy basketball is when you can fly?"

"Bloom, we don't even know what basketball is." Musa said with an eyeroll.

"Alright, that's fair. But you get my point right?" She said. The three shared a laugh, and Bloom recentered herself again. "So is everyone else here? Where's Stella and Flora?"

Tecna spoke plainly. "Stella's still on Solaria. She's working through some stuff with her dad. Flora- she just mentioned she didn't feel like she should come. She'll meet up with us later."

Bloom's brow furrowed. "That doesn't seem like Flora. Well, as long as I get a chance to catch up with everyone. I'm so excited to see Stella's home. It's so exciting to see the real magical universe. Not just school."

She placed her hands behind her head, preparing to enjoy the ride.

~~~

He crashed right through the ceiling. On his back in the middle of the aisle, aching. The stars in his vision spinning. Watching a miasma of colours burst by through a shattered skylight. Voices screaming and the sound of people getting to their feet in the back of his head, muffled.

"Helia!" A familiar voice. Bloom's. Her face came into focus as she peered down at him. Pale, pupils like pins, hands resting on her thighs as she loomed over him. Hair hanging down and reaching for his face. Her voice raspy and shrill. A voice he'd never heard her use ever, least of all with him. "What are you doing here!?"

He didn't have the strength to get up. Not right away. Every inch of him ached so badly he wasn't sure he could stand. "I was worried something was going on!" His vision wandered. Trying to take in whatever he could. Which wasn't much, but if the haze of neon lights beyond the traincar was any indication he was either dreaming or hallucinating. If it wasn't all real of course. "And it looks like I was right."

His best friend was leering at him now. Overflowing with frustration, the pale worry flushing out as blood rushed to her face in anger. Stamping her foot in disbelief. "I told you to go home. You didn't listen! I told you to trust me that I knew what I was doi-"

"Trust you?" He was able to roll himself onto his front, a sudden surge of contempt rousing him to move. Pushing himself off the ground, nonetheless huddled over like he was going to retch. He pulled himself up on a seat, collapsing backwards into the chair with his arms slack and legs spread. Bloom just staring at him. Distressed by his condition, but too upset to offer him a hand. "Feels like I could say the same to you." His hair fell in front of his face as he hung his head low, hands on his legs trying to catch his breath.

"He seems like he's in rough shape." The voice came from his left. Helia's tunnel vision on Bloom breaking as he was drawn to them. Tecna and Musa sat next to each other, across from him. If he reached out he could touch them, and yet they felt like they were miles away.

He paused to collect his thoughts, looking between the two girls and Bloom, over and over. "Musa and Tecna are here too? So, hold on, from the beginning all of you have been in on...this? Was Stella too back then?...did Flora back in the fall..."

"Helia." Her voice broke his spiralling. Forcing him to acknowledge her. Seeing the way her body eased up made him relent just for a moment, but he could still feel some animosity bubbling beneath her surface.

"And halloween! You guys in your costumes. They weren't-" he trailed off, his voice wavering.

Bloom's face wasn't readable. A melancholy look in her eye. "You're right. They weren't."

"You've known me how long and you didn't tell me a thing about all...this?"

"Hey, buddy. Get out of her face."

Like a lead weight his voice, and his mood, dropped. His aches and pains flaring up in sync with his anger. "Excuse me?"

The obnoxious blonde barely reacted. Simply repeating himself. Now standing between himself and Bloom. "I said get lost. She doesn't need some stupid Earther hassling her."

"Sky." Riven said, watching the two make a scene.

He held his hand out, forcing Riven away like he was just a distraction. "Quit talking to the fairy and go back to your backwater planet, and then get lost."

"Sky." More forcefully this time Riven chose to repeat himself.

Against his better judgment, with much groaning and grimacing, Helia forced himself to his feet. Tightness in his throat like he was going to be sick. "I was hoping you'd be reasonable, but if you want to fight about it..."

A hand was placed on Riven's chest. Sky not wanting him to interfere, eyes narrowed and his other hand balled into a fist primed to strike. "Not now Riven, I'm going to send this creep back to Earth in stitches."

"Sky!" Grip tight around Sky's arm, Riven pushing back on his tantrum demanded the prince's attention. The two locked glares, Riven motioning behind Sky with his eyes.

"...Sky..." He turned, seeing Bloom, eyes welled up with tears, lip quivering, looking back at him.

He'd made a huge mistake. And he'd made another taking his eyes off Helia. A powerful left hook cracking across his face.

It all happened in an instant. Helia fell backwards into his seat again. Tecna and Musa reared up in surprise leaping out of their seats. Bloom let out a sharp squeal as she brought her hands over her mouth. And finally the prince collapsed to the ground like a sack of bricks. A heavy thud as he hit the carpeted aisle between the rows of seats.

Bloom gasped, a flame escaping her mouth. A flare up she hadn't experienced in months. She covered her mouth with a hand as steam filtered between her fingers, eyes darting back and forth before she had to run to the next car.

Helia watched her run off, what little light remained on her face leaving. He forced himself to his feet, wanting to run after her. Instead just walking backwards away from the group, an embarassed look flashing in his eyes.

Sky tried to get to his feet and go after him, only for Musa to push him back down in one of the chairs. "Uh uh, cool your jets blondie. Sit down and shut up." She turned to Riven, giving him a curt nod. "Riven, go check on Bloom and Helia."

"Me?" He asked, indignant.

"We've got our hands full with the royal jerk." Tecna quipped back at him, arms crossed.

The frustration on his face left as he swallowed his pride. "...Fine, that's fair I guess." They watched as he left, clearly in no hurry.

An acrid iron taste filled Sky's mouth. A thin warm wetness on his top lip. Squirming in his seat. "He- I'm bleeding!"

"Good" Musa snapped.

"Who cares" was all that Tecna could spare him.

"What's your problem? Don't tell me you're that jealous." Musa crossed her arms awkwardly. "What are you, braindead? Why would you talk all that smack about Bloom's planet to her face? And to diss her friend like that too."

"Bloom's not from Earth." It slipped out after a long pause, like he was searching for the exact words that would exonerate him. Speaking as tactically as possible.

Tecna was horrified, almost gasping in admonishment. Turning away in anger. "Oh no of course not! It's just where she lives, and her family and friends are from, and she grew up, and spent all her time saving."

"Tecn-" Sky tried to reason with her.

"No, show him who's boss Musa!" Tecna insisted, as Musa pushed him further into his seat as he tried to lean over and see where the Earth boy had gone.

~~~

"Hey."

The guy with the magenta hair, alone. He took a seat across from himself, putting Helia on edge. Was he going to get some payback for his friend? "Where's the other one?"

"Doesn't matter." He stared him dead in the eye, elbow on his knee leaning in. "Look. I don't like getting involved in other people's affairs. But Bloom is Musa and Tecna's friend, and she's also one of the only people who doesn't irritate the life out of me."

The world whizzing by outside was too captivating for Helia to give his full attention to Riven, but he could still manage a reply. "...thanks."

The specialist allowed himself to flash a toothy smile, chuckling under his breath. "Pretty boy deserved that hook by the way."

That was enough to pull Helia away from the window. "...no he didn't. I could have walked away. Violence doesn't fix anything."

That sentiment surprised him. Looking at the kid Riven figured he'd been in a fight or two. "I'm going to be real with you. I'm not gonna make any excuses like 'it was for your own safety' or 'she was forbidden from sharing this with people back on Earth'. You're right. Bloom shouldn't have lied to you. And she shouldn't have blown up at you either."

"I'm sensing a 'however'." Helia countered.

"If Bloom did tell you about all of this, do you really think you'd believe her?"

A long look out the window told him everything he needed to know. "I see your point. I don't even know what 'all this' is yet."

"Bloom's wrong. And she's the one who should apologize to you. But if she doesn't, well how long have you known each other?"

He looked up, trying to think. "It's gotta be six, no it's eight years now."

"Right. So do you want to throw that all away because of this?" "Sometimes you have to treat extreme situations with a certain amount of grace, and just be the bigger person." Riven perked up, prompting Helia to swivel around in his chair. "And here's your chance."

"Bloom. You're back." He said, trying to hold himself together.

"We saved you a seat. In case you wanted to talk." Riven said, scooting over a tad and motioning beside him.

"I haven't seen this side of you before Riven." She allowed herself to sit next to Riven, across from Helia. The magenta haired boy stood up to linger in the aisle with a curt nod, trying to give them space. "Helia. Well I guess there's no hiding any of this now."

"...What are you. Bloom."

That hit her like a freight train. It was a fair question, but not the one she'd ever imagined being asked, let alone the first. She hadn't wanted to think about it, but she supposed she had to face the music, she quite literally wasn't human.

She tucked her legs in, pulling her knees to her chest resting her heels on the seat. No longer able to ignore what she was, and wasn't. "I'm your friend."

His skin crawled at that answer. "I didn't say you weren't. You know what I really mean, don't play games."

"Fine."

The tension in the air was so thick you could swim through it. The two sat, in silence, staring into each other's eyes. Bloom blinked first, closing them tight, her fingers curling as the whole world shuddered. Brilliant flames wrapped around her in a twisting pillar of fire from floor to ceiling. The entire cabin swathed in suffocating heat and blinding light. And yet, the shocks of red hot fire that whipped around and ripped across Helia's body didn't burn him. Merely bathing him in the gentle warmth of a fireplace.

It all disappeared. The flames disipating into nothing. Twinkling embers dancing in the air. From within the wall of fire emerged Bloom, still sitting, still quiet, still eyes closed. Dressed in beautiful royal blue skirt and top. Hair radiant like a burning field. Eyes opened to reveal they were a glinting gold. Shimmering irridescent wings placed upon her back.

Helia was dumbfounded. Enchanted. He wanted to reach out and touch her, to see if she was real. "Just what are you." He said.

"Helia. I'm a fairy."

He sighed. "That...I don't know what any of that means. What does that mean?"

"It means I'm not-"

A flash. The harrowing shriek of metal on metal. The percussive burst like a bomb going off. Blasting the three backwards. Separating Helia from Riven and Bloom. The three coughed and came to as the dust cleared, Bloom's heart dropping out of her chest.

The train was cut perfectly in two. Bisected so cleanly it was like a textbook diagram. Helia standing in the rear half, Bloom and Riven in the front. The gap between them widening as the back half slowed, no longer pulled by the other.

"Helia!"

"Bloom!"

She wanted to reach for him, but was cut short by a black blade pointed at her.

"The dragon's flame is here of all places? In this dump? What a joke!" A sneering voice jeered at her.

Three figures, cloaked in black, barely distinguished from each other. Capes flapping in the wind of the exposed train car. In their hands, blades of smoke and shields like slate. A chill running down Bloom's spine.

Riven reached for a sword he didn't have. That he hadn't brought visiting Earth. Able to feel the exact space its hilt wasn't, where it should have been. Cursing under his breath.

With a swing of the tallest interloper's sword, the backs of the chairs behind him came apart in two. Riven's face going white as a deep gouge sliced across his upper arm, blood splurting out across the wall.

"Riven go!" Bloom yelled. She positioned herself between Riven and the attackers as he backed off. Staring past them at the other half of the train slowly drifting away. Catching the tiniest glimpse of Helia, holding an injured arm, before the three moved to attack. Blocking her view.

Tears welled up in her eyes as the powerlessness sank in. A feeling she wouldn't let win. Exploding with power. An overpowering burst of flames surging in all directions.

The three huddled together, barely protected by their rough hewn obsidian shields, their smokey blades contorting into hooked angular shapes. Their cloaks burnt to cinders, revealing a younger gentleman and two slightly older women. Most definitely not witches from what little experience in the magic dimension Bloom had. "Who the hell are you freaks?" Bloom spat.

One of the women spoke. A chiding tone, as she looked Bloom up and down. Noting the way her pupils had contracted into slits. Her fingernails had stretched into claws. "A child? No way in the entire universe she's the wielder of the dragonfire. She's just some run of the mill fire fairy from Pyrhos I'm sure."

Bloom wasn't interested in who any of these people were, but the sheer confusion had her lashing out all the same. "I said, who are you losers!?"

The other woman, smaller but more serious, just nodded as she allowed herself to feel Bloom's fire that danced on her cloak in her hands. "She's the one. Take her to the castle."

"There's no wa-" The younger gentleman found himself spiraling backwards. The wall of fire was like a missile, shoving him right out of the train into the abyss. The sheer heat scarring his arms, forced to drop his shield as its jagged exterior went red hot and was smoothed out like glass. Choking as he was swathed in billowing black smoke.

"Damn it!" The younger of the two women hissed. Jumping out after him, diving down trying to save him from oblivion. The older of the two women turned away from the two with a sigh and studied the feral look in Bloom's eyes. Smiling to herself. "I knew it was you. Pyrhos fairy my ass."

A flurry of strikes carved up the train further, wedges of the exterior going flying off into the void. Her movements were awkward yet mesmerizing, twirling and dancing across the floor in a blitz of attacks. Bloom just seethed, trying to defend herself. Blast after blast of fire that just wouldn't connect leaving her hands as the intruder weaved effortlessly between the torrents of her inferno.

She smirked and lunged at Bloom, her blade extending, lashing out like a whip, the sword of ink and smoke snapping at her like a snake. Her weapon giving the impression it had a life of its own. One Bloom snuffed out catching it in her claws, fumes and flames escaping her mouth as she growled at her attacker. Swiping her hand at her and sending screaming bands of fire towards her assailant.

She was unfazed. Her blade dispersing in her hand, the fire colliding with her palm. With a grimace, she felt it burning deep into her skin, but she was able to rip it away and hold it in her hands just before she was forced backwards and out of the train.

Bloom collapsed to the ground. Looking over the edge of the express car. Watching three lights blink out of existence.

What the hell was happening?

Chapter Text

Home sweet home. All those years, flooding back to her.

Wisteria's capitol. The twisted cathedral that towered above the city. Massive bells tolled overhead. Every thundering chime shaking the world, squeezing the air out of the lungs of whoever found themselves beneath them. The enormous hall so vacant and pristine it bordered on the surreal.

But Wisteria's cathedral was not a house of worship. It was a seat of power. Council seated at a long table beneath an altar. Its attendants hooded and cowled, the dour rulers of the planet cast in the basking glow of the stained glass sky light. Twenty one figures, each one more conniving and spiteful than the last. A long long empty table dividing them. The only thing in the entire room. The type of cabal the populace of Wisteria was unfazed by, that they idolized. A misplaced, malignant pride in the system that had surplanted their monarchy generations ago. That cherished guile and cunning.

Darcy should have been awestruck. The cathedral was visible from anywhere in Wisteria's capitol. Even deep in the depths of the city where she and Icy had spent their childhoods together. Call it a trick of the light. An omnipresent beacon broadcasting the height of opulence and artistry upon the dinghy, depraved streets of the populace. Seen by everyone. Tread upon by, welcoming to no one. An untouchable summit of power.

It pleased her. It didn't impress her or surprise her, but it pleased her. It was only natural her new home lived up to her expectations, to her standards. The majesty of the basilica was no shock to her, it was simply as things were supposed to be. Anything less would be unworthy of her.

And so she walked up the granite steps. Through gate after gate, threshold after threshold. Her shadow under Wisteria's moon cast longer and longer, sharper and sharper. Her shadow that was no longer her own. The clack of her shoes upon the smooth, glossy, floors delighting her deep inside. Finally.

~~~

Renee shuffled her papers, pleased with her most recent proposal. She hated to play politics, but as head of the fountainwraith district's most powerful dynasty, she had big shoes to fill. Deftly negotiating the legislative machinations of her superiors and seniors, attaining prodigious advantages for the interrealm interests of her family.

It was a meager proposal. A brokered deal between Wisteria and Zenith. They would provide easily accessible interrealm access to Wisteria, and all she need offer in return was the opportunity for Zenithi scholars to study the potential advantages of Wisteria's renowned shadow magic. Unbeknownst to them a raw deal for the obnoxious technofairies. Wisteria's black magics being totally opaque to anyone without a connection to the planet. Her gift to everyone else simply an empty box.

She breathed a sigh of relief seeing a satisfied smile come over the head councilman's face. Wonderful. If Ignus was on board, the rest of the council would be strong armed into agreement. The moment Wisteria is connected to the rest of the realms via leylines- conveniently via stations exclusively within her own district- is the moment the rest of the council will be on their hands and knees begging for permission to use them. Her fellow council members were powerful, but they certainly weren't forward thinking.

"So, all in favour of the newest motion, say-" Renee's stack of papers fell to the ground as her fingers shook. Powerful, purposeful footsteps echoed through the hall in perfect sync with the toll of the cathedral's bells. An unwanted guest. One for the first time in centuries. The last time an outsider had dared to walk these halls, Wisteria still had an Empress. The final day of her rule. The council's first. An intrusion upon such sacred grounds wasn't unprecedented in that sense, she supposed. Though her blood boiled, she maintained decorum. Her peers and superiors stood, but she held a finger out to them as she did as well. Signalling she had everything under control. Not wanting to relinquish the reins of the meeting.

She cleared her throat, a sigil appearing above her head like a halo as wings like porcelain and glass faded into existence overtop her normal clothes. Normally it was considered gauche to don fairy wings within the cathedral- doubly so as fairies on Wisteria were most certainly a rarity in comparison to its witches, but it served the purpose of reminding her fellow council members that her might was not merely political.

She spoke sharply, harshly, proudly. Without anger or raspiness. Channeling her petty anger into sheer dominance. "Halt, and identify yourself. Those who intrude upon the sacred grounds of the Whispering Necropolis will-"

Renee was nothing but a mangled corpse.

Darcy's eyes propped fully open, a red shock flashing over them. In a split second dark magic, what was all at once black flames, thorns, and ichor bursting out of everyone at the table. Their limbs snapping out of place where limbs were never meant to bend, contorted by sheer force. Skewered upon titanic ever shifting barbs. Burning needles emerging from places nothing was ever meant to emerge from.

"Will take what is rightfully theirs." Darcy said to herself with a grin. She left the council exactly where they were. Some new decor for her throne room. A pleasing thought. Another flash, and the tables and chairs of the council room snapped into place. Mashed together into a shattered and broken mass, vaguely molded into a throne befitting a queen. The only thing in the room besides the trophies of her first conquest. She strolled up to it, allowing herself a delighted breath of fresh air as she dragged a finger across its arm with a sultry strut. She sunk into her throne for the first of what ought be many times. Crossing her legs left over right, then vice versa. A satisfying heel click on the ground as she relaxed.

The bells stopped tolling.

There was a crash. Three shadows falling out of the sky before her. Cracking the precious stone floor. Her sudden scowl was unmistakable, even if it only lasted a moment. The bemused stare of power returning. Three of the innumerous convicts freed from her sister's prison falling out of the world and into her lap.

Two were unconscious. The third holding a single tiny ember in her palm. Cinders and ash in her hands, smoke seeping out from her fingers. The last remnants of her altercation. She stood tall and proud, even as her cohorts were rendered totally battered.

She did, however, remain unfazed by her surroundings. Her teleportation spell meant to take her not to a particular place in space, but to deliver her to the foot of her leader. Her leader who now dwelled somewhere in Darcy's consciousness. Her magical essence.

Darcy's golden eyes studied her hands. A familiar arcane sensation wafting off the fire. And one that was deeply unsettling as well.

"Bloom's fire." Darcy muttered, leaning in from her throne.

"The dragon fire." The outlaw seethed. A sinister voice echoed the same words within the confines of Darcy's mind in unison. Her shadow sprouting two ragged wings, cut to ribbons. A deep black shine in her eyes.

The mercenary before her, who extinguished the dying embers in her grip, grimaced. She had succeeded, she had given her master- bound as he may be to this pathetic little witch- the necessary clues to find the keeper of the dragon's fire. No doubt, once he had reclaimed his former strength, she would be rewarded handsomely.

Jagged black spikes burst forth once again. She and her cohorts massacred in precisely the same manner the council members had been.

Darcy stood up. Marvelling at the black fire that burned in her hands. A raw, primal magnetism trying to force her hand, urging her to cast yet more magic. But she relented. Grinning ear to ear. "Make no mistake, 'Phoenix', once I have both halves of this power, you're getting evicted from my mind first thing."

She was playing with literal fire. But that was fine. Wisteria was going to be the cornerstone of her empire, but once she found the Earth girl, it was going to be one of dozens of worlds in her thrall.

~~~

Home sweet home. All those memories, flooding back to her.

Same house. Same suburb. Same city. The place had seen better days. Askew screen door. Upheaved interlock. Unruly and overgrown but nonetheless pleasant garden. She didn't miss this.

"College kid? Doing some canvasing or something?" Nasally yet gruff. All too familiar. She turned around. Tall and lanky, nothing to him. Messy blonde hair, a little stubble. Grey button up tucked into jeans. Brown duster with black sleeves that absolutely hung off him. He was at once domineering yet scrawny, old and childish, a scarecrow of a guy. He just stood there, leaning on the doorframe, looking down at her.

"Or something." She'd think of what she was here for later. She still didn't know herself. "Actually I used to live around here. Moved away, then came back after school."

He looked away, not especially interested. "No kiddin'? Most people around here don't look back when they leave." He took out a cigarette, but thought better of lighting it up and pocketed it. "But I guess you must've been just a kid."

"A lot of things happened I couldn't control because I was just a kid. But y'know, kids grow up." She looked right through him, and said it to no one.

He jut his chin at her. Gave her a once over. Hands in her pockets. Royal blue coat with black stripes. Jeans and fur boots. Nothing special. Dressed like most women around here did in the winter. "So what are you here for kid? You're a little old to be selling girl scout cookies."

"Actually, if I could just have a minute of your time." She looked at him with pensive eyes. "Mister?"

"Oh just call me detective. Names can be so troublesome."

"Indeed they can."

He shivered. She stood still. She watched as his breath fogged up. He watched as hers didn't. "It's getting chilly, why don't you come inside."

He slank back, all but disappearing into his own place. She stepped up, pulling the door closed behind her. "It's a nice place. You and your wife must have been here a while." She let the comment hang naked in the air.

"Oh no, I'm not married." He filled two glasses with tapwater and placed them on the kitchen table.

She took the water, but wouldn't sit. "So Detective. You're a detective."

He closed his eyes and leaned back until he was looking at the ceiling. "You don't say. You must go to a hell of a school. For about twelve or so years now. Cold case specialist actually. You know, I keep searching after everyone else says something's a lost cause."

"It sounds intense." Was all she could offer. "I don't suppose you take a lot of your work home with you."

The two looked into each others eyes, scrutinizing the other. Who the other was. Who they were. Waiting for the other to acknowledge each other.

"Alright, let me show you." He got up, but only to retrieve a suitcase from the countertop. It clicked open, and he spread the papers inside like a deck of cards. "Missing persons, missing persons, murder, identity theft, murder." He gestured dismissively to the rest of them. "It kind of carries on like that."

She dragged her finger across the pile, picking up one near the bottom. "And what about this one? The little girl?"

He shrugged. "Weird case. Still unsolved. Missing persons. Possible abduction. Possible occult ties." He held the picture of the girl in his hands up to the woman. "I worked this one even when it was hot actually."

Her expression didn't change. "It's something...important to you?"

"Depends on who's asking." He rubbed his arms and then exhaled into his hands. "Must be a draft, it's freezing in here. If you'll give me a moment." He left. She moved to his side of the table. She put her hand on the file, on the photos of the young girl and a man. "Something special about that case to you, kid?" He'd returned.

"No. No just...surprised it happened so closeby." The page she held made no mention of any town or place.

He made a face and shrugged. "It was big news at the time. They took the dad into custody during it actually." He reached for his cigs again, and when he looked at her, chose not to pull them out. "I guess you must have moved away before it happened."

"Yeah, yeah I guess I must have." She moved the pages aside. He buried his cigarettes deeper into his pocket.

"She just vanished into thin air." He was walking towards the front door. "Now as a detective, I know these long term missing person cases rarely end up solved. But I'm sure her daddy's looking for her even to this day."

"I'm sure. Sorry to have bothered you. I shouldn't even be here." She got to her feet, walking to the front door after him. She hopped down the front steps, making her way to the sidewalk. She still didn't know what she wanted or what she was doing here.

"Goodbye, Isolde."

She stopped. "Why didn't you say anything?" They looked at each other, coming together in the middle of the yard.

"What do you call this?" He lit up his cigarette then let out a massive drag in the air.

"How did you know."

"I looked at those eyes for a decade. You think I'd forget them?"

"Don't get the wrong idea. I'm not coming home."

He gave her another look up and down. "Good. Get outta here. I don't know where you've been. But you've clearly got your own life now. You're doing okay. That's all I needed to know."

She folded her arms and looked around. "...I always hated living here. I still hate this place now. But that doesn't mean I should have hated you."

"You were eleven."

"I know."

She looked back, one more time. She didn't know him. Not really. Not anymore. But she had to know. She had to come back.

Icy- Isolde- whichever she was. It didn't matter to her anymore. The look in his eyes, it filled her with a determination that she only knew when she was scheming, or fighting, or longing for what was rightfully hers. But coming back, it was the first time she felt like it didn't matter anymore. She was free. In more ways than one. Unshackled from both halves of her past.

And it was scaring the hell out of her.

She looked at him just one more time. "I'm not going to say I love you. It wouldn't be true. But I was wrong, and I guess- I guess I'm grateful you never stopped loving someone who hated you." Every time she looked in his eyes, she squirmed. Maybe her legs didn't, but her insides did. Was it wrong to feel guilty for hating your dad as a six year old?

There was a gleam in his eyes. This incredible weightless sense of relief washing over him. "That's part of being Dad. I didn't keep looking for you because I wanted you to come back. I just needed to know you're okay. And if you stay here...you won't be." He was sheepish almost. An especially unflattering look on someone so haggard.

"I don't know what to say."

He flicked his cigarette out onto the lawn. Running a finger through his hair with a laugh. "Try goodbye." He laughed, lighting up a second cigarette.

"Goodbye then, Dad." Goddamnit. She didn't even know his name. He was going to be 'dad' forever. She guessed that meant he wins. She really hated he was right.

There was an unseasonal March flurry, filling the tiny town's sky with snow. Whiting out the world in front of him until he couldn't see her anymore. And as quickly as it came, it was gone. And so was she. His dart fell out of his mouth, the slightest hint of awe on his face. Smirking to himself as he held his hands for snowflakes to land upon. "She'd kill me, but she casts that spell just like her mom."

Chapter Text

Do you believe that you can control me? That you can contain me?

It was his voice, rattling in the back of her mind. His influence pushing itself to the forefront of her psycho. The only thing she could hear in her new vacuous palace. Fighting for control with the source of her newfound power.

The more of his strength she siphoned off of him, the louder his voice became. The intense display of power eviscerating the council nearly letting him assume control of her body completely, indefinitely. She'd need to subjugate him, somehow, before she was consumed by him from the inside out. Even if it meant a reluctance to use the powers of the shadow fire she'd procured for herself.

"Don't get smart with me you withered mind geezer. All I need is Bloom's dragon fire, and I'll sear you from my brain like so much dead wood." There was a relief to the fact she was allowed in the hallowed halls of her planet's former rulers. That no one would see her talking to herself.

She needed the other half of the dragon's power. And she needed it fast if she was going to remain herself.

~~~

Solaria.

What should have been a momentous occassion had been marred by an absolutely ruinous turn of events. The reunion Bloom had been anticipating for months, finally seeing her best friend's world, just as she'd seen Earth time and time again, tarnished. Helia, gone. Someone, something out there, wanted her. Dreams that gave way to nightmares hounding her.

And all she could do was sit, stewing in confusion and anger, watching the world go by as the destroyed train car she was sitting in pulled into this new magical realm.

The station was enormous. Not anything like the tiny one lane pit stop in Alfea. Bloom had never been, but she figured this must be what Grand Central or Union must be like from seeing and hearing about them. Trips arriving and departing rapidly one after another back and forth. Signage magically rearranging itself at the drop of a hat. Images of myriad other worlds flashing overhead.

It wasn't until her train, her half a train, slowly screeched to a halt at a platform that the station itself came to a halt too. The shriek of its grinding, crumpled frame alerting the entire pavillion of its unique arrival.

People were gawking, filming, whispering, crowding around the bisected train car.

The doors opened, after a minor amount of sputtering. Some whirring and clicking, the entire apparatus moving more slowly than usual.

Their little group was among the first to disembark. Immediately leading to Bloom, alongside Sky, being accosted by what she assumed must be reporters. Or at the very least, ugh, tabloid writers.

Bloom was too shaken to concentrate or acknowledge them, though she did hear the term 'Earth girl' thrown around a few times. Her hands blocking out her face, the flash of cameras and chatter of journos like a flashbang.

"Excuse me, are you Bloom?"

"Who wants to know?" She said, deadpan, head throbbing from the commotion. It wasn't until she looked up that she realized a quartet of men in matching uniforms were speaking to her.

"Why, the crown does." He replied.

~~~

The sight of Stella at a desk doing clerical work was the last thing Flora had ever anticipated, but here she was in the flesh, filing paperwork. Her deft hands weaving the most flowery and intricate calligraphy Flora had seen in recent memory. Looping cursive letters in a reflective gold, as if written with sun beams themselves.

Flora herself had plenty of documents clutched to her chest, even moreso floating behind her. Tethered by simple organization magic. Heartbeat the slightest bit elevated, rushing from place to place sifting for reference after reference in her papers. Playing aid to the no-longer-princess in her midst.

"Andros' royal court will be in attendance, and the nymphs from black mud ought have their place settings on the table's western half, kept out of the sun." Stella said, at once both matter of fact and jovial.

Flora nearly tripped over herself trying to set her documents straight, picking up paper after paper as Stella offered them to her one after the other without even glancing at her friend. "Don't take this the wrong way, but this is the most focused I've ever seen you Ste- her highness."

"I am very specifically not anyone's highness right now." She said with a flourish of her pen. "After all, following the sceptre of Solaria being destroyed by Icy, I've kinda sorta become not very popular in the public eye. Daddy thinks I need to spend a lot of time repairing my image, so I've been doubling down on etiquette miss diplomat-in-training." She waved down an attendant crossing past the office in the hallway, handing him a stack of papers as well. "These are the dietary restrictions for the ball tonight, in triplicate. Note that the list is divided into cultural considerations and nutritional necessities. I will not have the kitchen insult a Pyrhos ambassador with anything mild."

"You know her highness" Flora began, much to Stella's chagrin. "Your grades always made me think you were a bit of a slacker, but your knowledge about all things high society is well...all things!"

"Well yeah I have to know this, I'm kinda in my element you know?" Reflexively she looked down at her hand, squeezing the air gently. A shimmer in her palm. Like there was supposed to be something there. The phantom of her sceptre. "School is so boring. And I'm not a good student or good fairy, my magic is so...disappointing."

"You realize this means Tecna is right, right?" Flora said looking over Stella's shoulder. "You're even more learned than she is- about all this at least- you just have to put this aptitude for learning into your Alfea studies."

"I guess." Stella muttered.

"How does your dad feel about the new look, by the way." Flora asked, trying to change the subject. She knew the princess and her father had a bit of a rocky relationship, only made worse by Stella losing her sceptre, but she also knew Stella couldn't resist talking about all things fashion and aesthetics. Her new look was a breath of fresh air in Flora's eyes.

"Well, it reminds him of mom. So he hates it. And I kinda love that." A bittersweet sentiment, given her mom wasn't even going to be at the gala tomorrow. She was sure she'd be thrilled to see her daughter wearing her natural hair.

"Guess going bald wasn't so bad huh?" Flora mused, eliciting an eye roll from the not-princess.

Another young woman dressed in a summer dress, as it was always a pristine summer day on Solaria, bringing news to Stella. "Your hi- miss events coordinator? The guests you've been anticipating have arrived."

The 'event coordinator's' eyelids fluttered shut as she took a deep breath. It was altogether both freeing and humbling to no longer be princess. Not officially, even if she still was genetically. To have her responsibilities and duties reaffirmed while being stripped of her pomp and frills. Relegated to a proper worker in the royal court.

It had been a few months at this point, and still hands around the palace had not adjusted. Neither had the public truthfully, but both the symbolic and very functional loss of status was an important part of making amends for losing something of such dire importance to her home, and for indirectly endangering Magix.

As she opened her eyes, her heart fluttered. The stress of the upcoming gala, the humiliation of losing her crown, the harrowing memories of Icy's siege on Alfea, they all melted away. Shining like the sun yet again as her office was flooded with light from the east.

"Bloom!" Stella shot up, thrilled to see all of her friends. Bloom, Tecna and Musa stood, with the boys in the back. Brandon and Sky standing next to Riven and Timmy.

She was positively squealing, erupting out of her seat. Flora dropping all of her papers to catch the topheavy chair before it hit the ground.

Seeing Bloom again, it stirred up feelings she didn't know she had. Including just a bit of guilt. Everyone was finally all together again. Bloom, herself, Flora Tecna and Musa. Her boyfriend Brandon, and all three of his friends the rest of the specialists. She was happy to see each and every one of them. But whenever she thought of this reunion, anticipated seeing everyone again, the only face that came to mind was Bloom. Realizing that, although she missed everyone, it was Bloom that she was so desperate to see again.

No matter who she looked to, it was Bloom's face who made her heart race and her cheeks flush. And she didn't know why. Was it because she was finally here, and she'd promised to show her the magical dimension? To sweep her off her feet indulging her fantasies of a truly fantastical world?

Whatever it was, the world stood still feeling the waves of negative energy coursing off of the girl from Earth. Eyes sunken. Hair disheveled. Skin clammy. A deep frown and glazed over gaze painted on her face. Already Stella felt her insides tearing themselves up. Nearly half a year since she'd seen Bloom, a hiatus longer than she'd actually known her, and she must have already been failing her. Was Solaria this disappointing?

"Stella! Ugh it has been way too long!" The Earth fairy eyed her up and down, a glimmer returning to her dulled eyes. Persevering forward through her previous bad mood. "I like the new look! Much more moon than I'm used to from you."

The first time somebody had said it out loud. Stella felt like she was being seen for the first time since losing her title, finally. "Why thank you superstar!"

"It feels like it's been ages since we were all together, doesn't it?" Bloom continued.

"Bloom." Tecna spoke up after coughing into her hand.

She broke apart from Stella, taking a deep breath. "Oh geez that's right. Look, we gotta skip the niceties right now. We've got huge problems."

"Why what's up?" She asked. Hopping up and sitting on her desk, legs crossed. Gripping the front ridge basking in the sun coming in through the balcony windows.

All eyes were focused on Bloom, though before she could speak another advisor had entered the office. Holding some sort of report in her hands, brushing directly past the rest of the group to give it to the ex royal. "Her highne...sorry, sorry, miss coordinator, an incident report. Zenith dignitaries are standing by."

She had left before Stella even had the chance to say thank you. A strictly professional exchange. The ex princess left to leaf through the papers. An urgency in her eyes.

She rifled to the end of the report in a matter of seconds. Eyes scanning it slower and slower. Lowering the papers. The look of disbelief on her face said it all as she put them aside and finally addressed Bloom again. "...did you cut a train in half!?"

"No! A bunch of...I dunno they weren't witches, but they sure as hell weren't fairies!" There was a cloud of sorrow hanging over the whole room as Bloom became more frantic, before she almost collapsed, voice down to a whisper. "They were trying to kill me or something."

Stella hopped off her desk and leaned down, looking Bloom directly in the eyes with her hand on Bloom's shoulder. "But you're safe? You're okay?"

She couldn't look Stella back. "I am. But- Helia isn't."

"Your friend from Earth?" Stella asked.

Flora, still behind the desk clutching her notes, felt a sharp pang in her heart. Becoming weak in the knees, but unable to say anything.

A trembling hand was brought to Bloom's mouth as she looked down at the floor. "He found his way onto the express, and when they split the train apart he was stuck on the half that didn't make it to Solaria."

Tecna spoke up again, clearing her throat. Everyone turning to face her. "Actually, Bloom. The central transit center on upper Zenith will procure the remnants of the train in an accident report. Anyone still on board will be placed in the transit authority's care. It's inconvenient, but Helia should be fine."

That was enough to ease Flora's heart, prompting her to finally interject. "Um, Stella, is this going to cause any 'incidents'? I mean, press is going to be at the ball. Tabloids included."

"It's okay Flora, I'll handle it." An awkward silence permeated the room. Stella looking down at the floor then up at the rest of her friends. "I'd like to speak to Bloom alone about this actually."

The request left everyone looking at each other, silently nodding and emptying out of the room. Brandon, most familiar with his girlfriend's palace, leading them down the hall to an inoffensive common area.

Bloom held her arm and stood silent watching them file out. "You didn't have to-"

She was taken in a soft and firm embrace on all sides. Stella's arms wrapped around her, head resting on her shoulder, nearly crying. Squeezing her tighter and tighter. A deep timber to her voice like she was holding back tears, but her tone was nothing but exuberant. "Oh I've missed you so much!!"

"Stella! You're crushing me!" Bloom choked out as Stella squeezed even tighter, pulling her into her chest cradling Bloom's head in her hands.

"Sorry, sorry. I'm just so...I missed you." The two came apart, standing firm. "But I also want to talk to you about everything that's happened."

She led Bloom to the edge of the office. Both of them sitting on the white marble between the columns. Legs hanging off the edge.

Solaria was, to Bloom, awe inspiring. It was absolutely ethereal, in so many ways. The sky above a deep blue, broken up by, of course, the sun. A giant beacon overhead blessing everything below in warmth and light. Swirling cirrus clouds, thin like feathers, soaring high like they were painted upon the heavens.

The palace itself was confounding. It was as though, despite the presence of a roof, the entire grounds was outdoors. The office Stella worked out of was moreso a giant roofed balcony. A large circular room where only about a third of the perimeter was a proper wall. The other two thirds being made of sleek perfect white marble columns, broken up only by an errant vine or vein of gold. Rustic red clay tiles layered atop each other wherever the architecture actually called for a roof, but most rooms had a circular opening in their ceiling. There wasn't a light in the entire kingdom, beyond the sun and moon. The entire palace lit flawlessly by natural light and nothing more.

Her sightseeing was broken up when she realized Stella was suddenly deathly serious. The sort of intense focus Bloom rarely saw from her. A tone of authority, authority and a burden of care. "You were attacked. Was it you know who?"

Bloom shut her eyes tight and shook her head. "I haven't seen any of them since the night of the storm. Plus Icy's in jail." She looked out at the clear blue sky, just as she looked for Earth in the night sky atop Alfea. A sly smile crossing her face. "And between you and me, I think she's gonna turn over a new leaf."

Stella knew better. People willing to kill another person, to do so much irreperable damage to the world around them, that kind of callousness couldn't be repaired. A hardened stony heart couldn't become kind again. So why was Bloom, who'd been hurt so directly by her, who she'd tried to murder on two occassions, so sure and forgiving. It made a pit form in Stella's stomach. So badly aching she didn't even want to acknowledge it. "So who attacked you then? I mean, they cut an entire train in half."

Bloom looked at her hands. Her magic feeling distinctly off ever since she saw the interlopers on the train. Seeing the way her nails were long and pointed. "They were just these...weirdos with swords and shields. Talking about a 'dragon fire' and 'their master'."

That was enough to make Stella bolt upright. Is that why a girl from Earth's magic was so much more powerful than any other fairy she'd ever met? Was that where this Earth girl who might not be from Earth at all was from? "Bloom... Bloom I know this was supposed to be a fun week off but after the gala I'm going to have to show you something."

There was a moment where Bloom was just nodding along, barely registering what Stella was saying. Trying to keep herself calm. "And then after that, I need to go to this Zenith place and find Helia. As fast as I can."

"We will, together." Stella said. She liked Helia. What little she'd seen of him. She didn't really understand why the people of Earth, least of all Bloom's close friend, couldn't be told about magic. But if Bloom insisted as such she'd abide by that wish. After all, learning about magic had turned Bloom's world upside down. She could only imagine how it felt to learn magic and magical beings were real, and you weren't one but had to share a world with them, where your best friend was one and hadn't even told you. Stella despised how weak her own magic was, she didn't want to think about not having any at all. "How did he take it, by the way? The entire 'magic is real' thing I mean."

"Well he's mad at me." Bloom began.

That made instant sense to Stella. She couldn't blame him. "You don't seem surprised."

Bloom continued, becoming more somber. Choking on her own tongue before she continued. "That didn't surprise me. What surprised me was how scared of me he was." Bloom looked down at her hands again. "Stella he asked me what I was. What. Like I wasn't a person. Wasn't even human. And I couldn't even answer him! Because I don't know anymore!"

Stella took another look at Bloom. oh superstar, I don't know what you are either. If she was a fairy, was she still also a human like the rest of the earthlings? And if she wasn't, what did that make her? And all of that was before the thought Bloom might in fact be...

Stella reached out to put an arm on Bloom's shoulder. Looking down at the Solarian capitol below. "Do you think he's jealous you're magic and he's not?"

"He's angry I kept lying to him. He's scared the person he used to know wasn't real, and he's scared she's powerful too- just like my mom was scared of me." She concentrated on her hands, trying to feel that burning power in her again. Frowning as she couldn't do anything. Her magic refusing to listen to her. Great. She'd spent all her time at Alfea learning to control this power and now she couldn't again. Only now it wouldn't even work. From too much to not enough.

"...Is your mom still scared of you?"

"I think seeing me using magic makes her anxious. Worried about what I can do. Afraid one day she's gonna get a call from school that I turned a bully into a frog or made someone's car three inches tall. But she's also very proud of me." She looked to her friend, seeing Stella nodding along, as if she had any idea what Earth school was like or turning Mitzi into a frog was reasonable.

Stella gave Bloom one last sweet smile. All she wanted to do was see her best friend again, and instead their time off together was all but ruined by absurd setback after setback. "Superstar no matter how bad things get, I'm gonna make sure this is the best vacation ever for you. Tomorrow we're gonna party, and eat wonderful food and wear beautiful gowns and see all kinds of incredible sights, and then we're gonna go get your friend Helia and if he wants we'll show him the magic universe too. And whoever these losers who attacked you were? there's nine of us. You're like a celebrity, we're your entourage!"

"What do you mean I'm like a celebrity?" Bloom blurted out, quizzical.

"Oh right...so like, after Sky's coronation and your fight with Icy, it's kinda...gotten out there's a super powerful mystery girl from a planet with no magic running around. I mean they don't know you by name or anything, but if anyone treats you like a bit of a novelty tomorrow, well..."

"Lovely." Bloom lied back and felt the cool marble floor on her body.

~~~

"Shouldn't a palace have like...a guest room?"

Stella's room was bigger than Bloom's entire house. Intellectually, she knew that shouldn't be surprising, she was a literal magic fairy princess. But in reality, it was still a shock to actually be surrounded by so much luxury. It was a multi-level room, with steps downward into a lovely entertainment and sitting area not unlike a loft. Open air just like the office they had just been in. The palace full of these hybrid indoor outdoor spaces. According to Stella, Solaria's weather was always perfect, so there was no need for walls or windows. Bloom had always known Stella was royalty, but to actually see how she lived, all the white and gold and laurel and marble, she was more like a greek god than a Disney princess.

"The palace has plenty, that's where everyone else is put up. But this is the nicest room in the entire thing. It's only fair I repay you for all the times you let me crash in your room." Stella said, opening a massive wardrobe and sifting through her clothes, looking for something to wear to bed.

"Is your boyfriend going to be upset I'm sharing a bed with you in your room before he does?" Bloom mused, ducking behind the couch and beginning to change into a set of her pajamas. The same blue pjs with orange hibiscus she'd worn the night she met Stella, feeling a tad nostalgic.

Stella caught herself blowing a raspberry as she decided on a white nightgown with a peach hem. "Oh please! There's zero way I'm going to shack up with a squire of a prince from another kingdom. It would be such a scandal! The tabloids would be all over my love life!"

"And you don't think the princess sleeping with the mysterious weird Earth girl would be even more scandalous? 'Breaking news! Princess Stella swings both ways!'" Bloom teased, hopping around in frustration before realizing she'd put both of her legs down the same pantleg.

She fell, only to stand back up after correctly her little wardrobe malfunction. Pulling herself up onto the couch.

"Swings both ways?" Stella asked. Bloom was totally dumbfounded by what she was seeing. Stella, borderline naked, making direct eye contact with her unphased, as she changed into the frilly lace nighty. Any notion of modesty totally gone. Technically she didn't see anything, but there was still nothing left to the imagination. Did she just forget Bloom was here? Did she not care if she was seen?

Her response though, watching Stella inspect herself head to toe after pulling her two night gown straps into place, did give Bloom pause. "Yeah you know y-...oooh I just assumed that would even be a big deal here like it is on- forget I said anything at all!" She trailed off seeing the way Stella absolutely did not at all react to the idea she might play for the other team. The longer she stayed in the magical universe, the faster she'd learn all the ways it most definitely wasn't Earth. "But if the tabloids start coming after me, I'm gonna tell them about how you snore."

"I don't snore!" Stella screamed as she clutched her chest. Far more scandalized than she was about Bloom nearly seeing her naked.

The sly smug look coming over Bloom was downright devious. "Oh you don't know...sorry to say princess. Like a car engine. And you're a cover hog."

"Is this you?" Bloom asked, leaning in to look at several framed pictures on a narrow table pushed up against the back of a couch. It was of a shorter young girl. Long unruly blonde hair and glasses. An assortment of clashing hair clips pinning her locks every which way. A big goofy smile on her face, revealing deep deep dimples.

"Ugh, yes." Like a laser Stella's vision snapped to Bloom, clammering over her own furniture to try and snatch the frame out of Bloom's hands. A pointless endeavour when there were several other pictures on the tabletop anyway.

"Why so upset?"

"Look at me! I'm so gross! Thank the stars I'm not anymore!"

"You're like eight here Stella. And even then, you're still cute!" It was an understatement. Stella was the most attractive person, man or woman, Bloom had ever seen. Whether that was in real life, or a photo, or a movie, real or fictional. It only made sense seeing that she was a fairy, her beauty was outright supernatural. In all ways all at once. "I know you're pretty princess, but don't you think you're being a bit shallow?"

"I'm a public figure Bloom. I need to look prim and proper and a pinnacle of beauty and grace. That's part of being a princess, a figure everyone looks up to. I had to work really hard to change a lot about myself to fit that mold." With a flick of her wrist, her hair went frizzy and thick black glasses frames made of something, stardust? Flickered into existence upon Stella's face, making her grimace, before they faded into nothing but mist. "If I was anyone else I wouldn't care. But a princess, she has certain expectations to meet!"

Bloom pouted, a sarcastic leer dancing across her face. "Sounds exhausting. So wait, if you get a pimple overnight, do you have to sit the ball out tomorrow?" She asked, pushing Stella back by the shoulder.

"Have to? No. Would I? Well frankly I would just die if I attended!"

~~~

"Bloom."

It was a woman's voice. It was her voice. But also it wasn't. So much like herself and yet distinctly different. Like a mirage. Like looking into the future.

 

"I'm so sick of this dream." Bloom seethed under her own breath. Again walking through a burning field under a black sky.

Only this time there was no great fiery serpent. The winding road just kept going, and going, walking over hot coals that couldn't burn her. Covered in black and white soot and ash that caked her bare feet and shins.

She looked down. Nearly naked, wearing burnt up tatters of her clothes. Hair matted and dirtied by cinders and smoke. She felt like a caveman, a savage. Trying to keep herself together. One foot in front of the other, a flurry of sparks kicking up with every step across the hot coals.

Only this time, the dream didn't end in the jaws of a monster. She came to the end of the road. The tip of a cliff. The path leading off of it into nothing.

A figure stood ten steps off the cliff, feet resting on nothing at all. It was a girl. A woman actually. Taller than Bloom. Her back turned to the Earth fairy. Her hair was a bright strawberry blonde, with bright red streaks running through it. The whole thing pulled into a single massive french braid that reached all the way down to her ankles.

The woman turned, laying eyes upon Bloom.

"I can finally see you."

It was Bloom's face looking back at herself. Claw marks spread horizontally across her cheeks. Two curved horns emerging from her head, smooth and white like porcelain. Her pupils mere slits like a reptile's.

She held out a hand, trying to usher Bloom off the cliff and into the sky. But the fairy didn't budge. Her toes hanging over the edge of the cliff. Heart pumping out of her chest.

"Who the hell are...are you the 'dragon' people keep talking about?"

"I am, and I'm not." The older woman, the other Bloom said. "And soon I'll be you."

"That's...that doesn't explain anything!"

She bolted upright, covered in sweat. Basking in the soft midnight blue curtain of night in Solaria. Noticing the burn marks on her blanket. Thankful she was sleeping on her own and not with Stella.

~~~

The next day had turned Bloom's mood entirely on its head. Not that she'd forgotten everything that had happened the day before. Rather it was precisely because things were so dire that she needed this small reprieve. Not to let her circumstances drag the entire day down for everyone involved.

Unbeknownst to her when she'd first arranged her march break trip to the magical dimension, Stella's world was preparing for a festival. The kingdom of the sun and moon celebrating a coming solar eclipse. The day leading up to it filled with parties and carnival festivities. Food stalls and live music and games, all lining the streets and alleyways of the capitol surrounding Solaria's palace. The winx club and specialists alike moving as a tight knit group, sans Stella. The then princess- now event coordinator- having to dedicate most of her day to putting this very event together. Though she'd promised to reconnect with Bloom for a special ball that royalty were invited to closest to the eclipse itself.

Music and incredible flashes of colour flooded her eyes and ears, walking through the pristine promenades of the palace grounds. It was a refreshing change of pace. Brandon doing his best to fill in for Stella as a guide to Solaria. Nowhere near as knowledgable as the princess herself, but surprisingly informed, given he was her boyfriend and came to Solaria often.

No witches. No dragons. No clandestine rules or mysterious headmistresses. Bloom was finally able to just relax, and enjoy being surrounded by magic and her friends. Seeing the way the tensions from last year melted away in favour of simply having proper fun.

Bloom most of all though was surprised by how temperate Solaria was. When she heard she was going to kingdom of the sun she expected it to be hot. But the weather was pristine. It wasn't an overbearing summer's heat, rather it felt like a cool spring day's air complimented by the strong beams of a summer sun. Standing in the shade versus the light was like night and day in terms of temperature.

The sheer amount of people was making her head spin. Unlike Eraklyon, the palace grounds were open to the public, not just to guests. The festival of the eclipse being a massive celebration for the entire planet. The girls left to their own devices, as Stella was tied up actually organizing the festivities. Unable to guide them. Though they'd get an opportunity to reunite during the gala later in the day, which was in fact invite only.

The levity of the situation tempered by a particular chance meeting. It seemed as though fate was deeply invested in Bloom's time off of Earth. Her own eyes locking with another's, a powerful feeling she couldn't place welling up in her chest.

"We meet again, Bloom of Earth." The princess of Andros hadn't thought she'd ever see the girl from Earth again. Doubly surprised that their reunion would be at such an elite event, given she wasn't royalty in any capacity. She also hadn't thought she'd be so pleased to see her again. The girl was a hero after all. She'd protected Magix just as Aisha herself had protected Andros on occassion. Someone willing to protect a realm that wasn't even her own was even moreso worthy of being a guardian fairy than most.

Bloom herself seemed ecstatic to see her. No doubt having thought the two might also have never met again. She had her hands clasped together looking Aisha over, deeply impressed with her princess gown. Not as regal as one would normally wear. Moreso a sundress with just enough opulence to convey status. "Aisha! You look...different."

The genuine praise was enough to crack Aisha's stoic exterior. Running a hand through her hair and looking down at her own dress. "Do I? It must be because I'm here as a princess, not a guardian fairy." She brushed a large lock of her hair past her face and over her shoulder.

Bloom's eyes went wide. Seeing Aisha's ear. It was a deep cerulean blue like the ocean. Curved spines fanning out along its top lobe. Transparent membranes webbed between them. A gentle glow along their tips.

Bloom took a sharp breath. "Whoa! Your ears! What happened?" She was awestruck seeing it.

"Is that-" Musa chimed in, leaning towards Aisha with her eyes narrowed.

Aisha merely nodded. Her voice was fairly neutral, but there was a hint of pride in it. Something Aisha immediately took notice of internally. Neither a princess nor a guardian fairy should be so arrogant, disregarding their modesty. "That's right. The hallmark of my Enchantix."

"Fins like a mermaid's must be fitting for the princess of Andros' coasts." Tecna said offhand.

"What's an Enchantix?" Bloom asked, dumbfounding all of the girls at once. Aisha's pokerface momentarily broken yet again.

"A student of Alfea who doesn't know what Enchantix is. Faragonda must be slipping." She allowed herself the slightest smile inward. She very much respected the headmistress, but after five long years at Alfea, she didn't mind the thought Faragonda wasn't as perfect as everyone felt. More than happy to fill Bloom in. She was by no means a mentor to Bloom but after seeing her battle the trix she did feel a girl with guardian fairy potential deserved at least some guidance. Frankly, she should still be at Alfea. "Enchantix is a fairy's final form. Suddenly unlocking unique personal magic, and undergoing a profound physical change. Caused by protecting those we love in times of dire circumstance." For only a split second, the extra massive wings Bloom had seen when Aisha fought Icy emerged and disappeared again. "I had earned these during the collapse of riftshadow reef."

Flora caught herself swooning for a moment. "It's so wonderful imagining what your enchantix might be. My aunt back home, she has hers, and she has the most delightful set of antlers. Like a stag!"

"The wings I've seen, but I don't remember you having those back at Alfea." Tecna commented plainly, thinking of when she'd seen her during classes.

"I wear my hair down, keeps things inconspicuous on campus. But as both a princess and a guardian fairy, it's a deeply important achievement worthy of showcasing. So on days like these, I'm sure to show them off. Most essential as a sign I am the bridge between Andros' fae and merfolk."

"Mermaids are real too!?" Bloom continued, even more excited.

Musa threw her arms around Bloom's shoulders, the Earth girl chuckling trying to hoist her off. "You know what Bloom needs? A road trip." The music fairy giggled.

Aisha turned to leave, heading away from, not towards the heart of the palace for the ball later in the day. It appeared the woman had alread had her fill of the eclipse's festivities. Before she did though, she looked over her shoulder one more time. "If you well and truly are going to go hopping from realm to realm, Andros is prepared to welcome you with open arms. As 'the girl who saved Magix' of course."

~~~

The air in the ball was an entirely different atmosphere than the rest of the festival. Very much high society types rubbing elbows with each other. Men and women from all different realms, all different planets, different species even. Dressed to the nines.

The event within an event took place upon the Solarian palace's roof. A delightful and precisely laid pavillion held aloft on multiple pillars that staircases spiraled around, lined with additional columns around its perimeter. A smaller second sanctum which housed a petite aviary supported upon the pavillion in the same way. A shady respite housed beneath it.

The summer breeze kissed her skin, tickling her bare shoulders. She bristled the slightest bit. Finally able to mingle as a guest, no longer tethered to her duties organizing the gala. Watching the fruits of her labour come to fruition. Seeing palace staff stock and tweak every part of the gala. Refrehing guests drinks, adjusting displays, and attending to musicians.

Stella herself was seated at the end of a long rectangular table many of the guests congregated around. Her father, king Radius, king of all of Solaria, sitting to her left. Whatever authority he commanded, she was uniquely immune to as his daughter. Watching the way other royalty or leaders from other realms came to speak to him candidly.

She looked up, the moon low in the sky, but she could see it and the sun together all the same. The eclipse would be soon. In exactly 58 minutes and 27 seconds in fact. It was the centerpiece of the entire ball. She had to know every single detail of the event, both natural and arranged.

"Have you heard anything about this so called prison break on the Silk Hive?" The voice was low, snide, dripping with judgment. Belonging to a woman seated next to her father. Some countess of duchess. The specifics didn't interest her.

Her father's voice was barely a whisper. Talking out the side of his mouth. Staring ahead with soft eyes and a slight smile. "Indeed I have, but details are scarce. Though Melody's empress has assured me its most dire prisoner is still locked away, the shadow fire remains sealed."

Stella quieted. Becoming a rock. Wanting to simply absorb as much information as she could without letting on she was. The aristocrat speaking to the king, a low drawl to her voice. "With all that said, this attack on the Starlight Express is surely connected."

"We've reached out to Zenith. They understand the optics of the situation. It's about the only thing those clinical pencil pushers do understand frankly. The official story is that it was an internal problem. We'll wait until after the eclipse to go public with the news about the silk hive."

"Stella! I haven't seen you all day! Thanks for saving me a seat!" The chipper voice of her best friend hit her like a punch to the stomach. Bloom, all but collapsing into a chair to the right of her, sitting in the hand carved dining chair like it was a padded recliner. She was altogether just barely underdressed, a short but glamorous gown undercut by simple open toed sandals. Her entire demeanour drawing looks from almost everyone in attendance. This was the only time in her entire life that Stella was disappointed to see her best friend. The conversation broken up entirely by her arrival, everyone fully focused on the redhead. The king surprised. The countess annoyed. Stella herself nonplussed.

"Pleased to meet you..."

"Bloom." She replied, a chipper smile on her face.

"Bloom! A lovely name. You must be the Lynphaean diplomat Stella has been raving about." He spoke to Bloom, but much of his focus was on Stella still. As if he was making sure that she knew he was acknowledging her friends.

"Daaad. You've already met Flora."

He frowned. Moreso disappointed in himself than his daughter. "That's...yes that's right. You have two friends from Lynphaea sweetheart?"

His daughter's friend stood between the two, a small blush on her face, shrinking down into herself. "Ummm...actually."

The gears were turning. The king looking through, rather than at Bloom. Like he was working through it all in his head, pieces falling into place. Turning slowly back to his daughter. "Stella...is this the girl from your brief interlude on Earth?"

Bloom opened her mouth to speak, but Stella interjected immediately, hands on the table. Drawing a tad bit of unwanted attention, but most guests were content to continue talking among themselves. "Daddy Bloom is my best friend, and if you ask head mistress Faragonda herself she will tell you she's a guardian fairy caliber magic user. A primordial magic user and everything."

"And you found someone like that on Earth. Tell me, is this the same girl from Earth who had caused such an uproar a few months ago?"

She crossed her arms, head turnt up to the side. It was only pretend indignance, but it would sway her father all the same. "If I say yes, are you going to get angry?"

"On the contrary, I think it's good you were able to salvage someone with so much potential from a life of drudgery on a world without magic."

"I'm right here!"

"Though it seems a girl from a world of smugglers and criminals needs to be taught some proper etiquette." It was quickly beginning to feel like Bloom herself didn't exist. Everyone talking about but not to her. She bit her tongue, shooting a look at Stella, who could only give her a squeamish smile in return.

The aristocrat leaned in, hand to her mouth, whispering to king Radius as she sneered from behind herself at Bloom. Eyes narrowed in disgust. "My liege, you can hardly hold a delinquent firebrand like this to the proper standards of royalty. Just be thankful she isn't going to burn this kingdom down like she did Eraklyon."

Stella grimaced watching the countess, duchess, whichever, play her stupid little game. Making a huge performance out of her effort to keep her words secret, when in reality she was making doubly sure she was heard. Which Bloom most definitely had, even if she hadn't clued into the obnoxious little game she was playing. Limply pointing to some sort of food, she didn't know what, to try and get the royalty talking about literally anything else. "Could someone pass the-"

Unfortunately, Bloom remained invisible. So much so that royalty had begun chiming into the king and the countess' conversation. "I mean, is it any wonder your daughter lost our sceptre after meeting the girl from the planet only criminals use anymore? Stella's been such a good girl until just recently, something must have been a bad influence on her."

That was the breaking point. The second Stella felt the sharp, toasty heat of Bloom's magic wafting off her- so unlike the gentle warmth of the sun's kiss- her stomach dropped out and she felt the colour drain from her face. Bloom's frustration reaching a fever pitch. "Excuse me, on my planet it's rude to talk about someone right in front of you as though they aren't present."

The first aristocrat, the woman, let out an eye roll and leaned backwards next to the older man who'd interjected. Her smugness so intense it was nauseating. "Well, Stella clearly hasn't taught her what is and isn't rude on this planet."

Bloom was standing now. Standing on the table. "Listen, lady. First of all, Stella hasn't had to teach me anything. She's my friend, not my boss. Second, I didn't lose Stella's ring. I got it back for her. Twice. So instead of talking smack about me how about a big fat thank you."

"Bloom! That's enough!" Stella whispered tight lipped through grit teeth.

Silence washed over the rooftop pavillion. The world going dark. Confusion crossing Stella's heart. The eclipse? No, there was still more time left. Just a cloud passing in front of the sun?

Everyone present had turned to look skyward. Not a cloud in the sky, the moon still several lengths from the sun. But the sun was blocked all the same. A black scar in the sky cutting across it. One that slowly yawned open, a huge chasm of darkness, a portal in the sky.

That's when it began to rain. An unheard of phenomenon on Solaria.

Oily black droplets pelted the stone of the palace. Puddles of filth pooling all across the pavillion. Eldritch little creatures rising out of the scum and muck. Running amok as they gnashed their teeth and pounded the ground. Pandemonium ensuing.

That's when Stella felt it, the supernatural warmth of Bloom's hand, tight around her own. The girl looking back at her, a stern and yet comforting expression on her face. The sort of look the Earth girl had given Stella time and time again whenever push came to shove. Whenever it was do or die. The look she'd given her when she'd saved Alfea, the kind that made Stella reach out and hold her feet to the ground. She wouldn't this time. She already knew Bloom could handle whatever was about to happen.

And whatever was about to happen was Darcy.

She descended serenely through the air. Poised and graceful, a far cry from the mayhem everyone but her found themselves in. Even in the center of the hell on earth she'd created, it was like Stella and Bloom were the only people who could see her. Her shoes gingerly touched down onto the white tablecloth. Her fluttering hair and coat ceasing all at once and falling the moment she made contact. Rusty faded footprints smeared into the fabric. Walking down the long table like a runway platform. A red trail of steps one in front of the other followed her as she sashayed towards the head of the table. Mercurial smile on her face as the two backed away and recoiled from her. "Here we are, fashionably late as always little ladies. I know that party crashing is gauche, but let's be honest, I'm kind of a VIP around here." She cooed as she inspected her painted black nails.

Solaria's guards flooded into the upper level. Some covering guests trying to flee, others forming a wall in front of Stella and her father. Others still lined along the room, lances poised at the bemused witch standing in the center of the sanctum. "Protect the king. Protect the princess!" They shouted in unison, acting as a single entity.

Stella and Bloom's eyes locked, both of them mouthing 'Darcy!?' At each other as they were ripped apart. Guards pulling them to opposite halves of the pavillion in an effort to protect them.

"Let me go! Let me go I can help!" Bloom screamed, her eyes never leaving Stella. Thrashing her arms, the guards grunting as they held her by her shoulders.

"Bloom! I'm right here!" The princess hollered back to her. In twin flashes of light the two fairies broke free of their protectors, bursting forth from their hold as they shifted into their magic winx and their magic overflowed in the tense air.

The two fairies stood back to back, facing the witch. The princess cringing as she looked the former trix member over. The deep purple waves they were used to seeing radiate off the witch of darkness no longer present. Instead an oppressive scarlet, sharp and opaque, suffocated the air around her. Her skin a sickly pale colour. Deep grey bags under her eyes. Translucent black lace veiling her shoulders. "You look a little different cauldron hag. What the hell do you want with Solaria?"

There was a screaming in her head, a clawing in the back of her mind. Barely able to concentrate as she grit her teeth and shut her eyes. Oppressive magic pushing down on her like gravity. Then in an instant it stopped. Finally able to open her eyes. Laying her sights on Stella. Seeing her silver hair, her black dress. The utter lack of royal heirlooms or jewelry. With a wave of her hand, serrated oily tendrils erupted out of the ground, swiping away lines of guardsmen, knocking the king himself to his knees. Stella's heart leaping into her throat. "Same to you star child. I thought I made myself clear last year. This dump is capital G gross. Don't get me wrong, it's a cute consolation prize, but I'm here for her." She said, eyes drifting to Bloom, who wavered from her defiant stance. The powerful heat of her inner flame running cold for a moment, rendering her hollow.

"What?" Bloom whispered. Looking down at her hands.

A beam of light shot toward the witch, only to be bat away by the back of Darcy's gloved hand. The sun ray defusing into nothing. "You're going to fight me? Seriously? Shove it where the sun doesn't shine, star child."

"What, in the hell, are you doing here you ugly freak? Get lost before I-" in an instant the flames burning in her hands disappeared. Holding nothing at all. Helia's face fading away in her mind reliving her moments on the train yesterday. She threw her hands forward over and over, watching as nothing happened. "No no no what's happening?"

Darcy's eyes went wide, her own black magic poised to attack Bloom lowering, relaxing. Seeing her flailing. Laughing silently to herself as she stepped closer and closer. "After burners on the fritz dragonfly? Let me take that power off your hands for you if you can't handle it."

She went to step off the table, only to find her ankles tied up by thorned vines. Their grip growing tighter and tighter, climbing up her legs slowly. Digging into her flesh. Regardless, she pressed her hands together, pulling them apart. A javelin of black lightning spiraling between them. With the lance in her hands, she trained her sights on who she assumed possessed the dragon's fire. Just before she could release it a wave of sap and pollen sprayed across her skin. Her hair matted down, skin dyed a deep golden yellow, grip stuck shut by the sticky substance. All as the vines climbed higher and higher, tightening around her arms.

Black tar shot out from Darcy's neck as her head turned around completely like an owl's. Following the vines all the way to the stairs. There she saw them, three more of the fairies, another one of the girlies, standing strong with vines bursting forth from her wrists, holding Darcy captive.

"Bloom! Let us help! We'll pack her up easy." Flora yelled, supported by Musa and Tecna on both sides. From the other side of the pavillion, the boys broke into the party up another spiral of stairs. Spreading out around the gala, weapons drawn to dispatch the terrible little gremlins and imps wreaking havoc.

Bloom's veins were ice cold. Screaming at her friends even as she tried to call her fire forth again. Her heart beating out of her chest seeing how nonchalant the witch was even all tied up. "No! It's fine! I can do this. You guys need to protect everyone else!"

With a roll of her eyes black flames burst forth all around Darcy, vines drying out and crumbling apart at her feet. The sap covering her arms and face burning up into smoke. Taking what remained of the tendrils in her hands she gripped them tight- thorns digging into her palms- and whipped them back. Crashing Flora into Bloom with a flick of her wrist. Sending Bloom deep into the back of the sanctum and casting Flora aside at the other fairies' feet. Refocusing her grip on her lightning lance as it surged with even more power.

"Flora!" Musa knelt down, trying to brace herself to catch the nature fairy.

Riven gnashed his teeth and swallowed. Turning to the group. "Sky grab her. Timmy, escort as many guests as you can out." The prince scooped Flora up in his arms. Tecna and Timmy ushering confused and hurting guests down the stairs as the fairy of technology projected a pixelated forcefield outward as cover. Musa summoning another of her spectral instruments, a guitar, and warded off imps and creatures with riff like blasts.

Brandon, however, broke away from the group, sword drawn, standing next to his girlfriend. Placing himself between her and Darcy. A flushed feeling coming over her seeing him standing so defiant. "You're alright, right?" All she could do was nod. Her throat scratchy and dry in the moment.

"Stella! Come on!" Tecna stated firmly as she reached a hand out. Yelling through the barrier she'd erected. Wincing as fire glanced off her shield.

It only took Darcy a moment, but she sent both Brandon and King Radius hurtling into the columns holding up the sanctum with twin torrents of filth. The light falling from Stella's eyes unable to protect either of them.

Stella swallowed, trying to find her resolve. Her heart ready to explode seeing her father, her love, both collapsed behind her. "No! This is my planet. I already had Bloom get my sceptre back. I'm not going to put my entire world on her shoulders too!" Stella choked out. She stood in between Bloom and Darcy. Head hung low, arms spread wide. A human shield between the Earth girl and the witch. Panting, sweat dripping down her face.

Darcy brought a finger to her bottom lip, pretending to care. "You two make quite a couple. A regular princess and pauper." Stella brought her hands together, preparing some kind of spell, only to be sent hurtling backwards by the same bolt Flora had tried to stop her from releasing. She hopped off the table, finally, and with a simple kick sent it flying splintered in half off the roof. Without even bringing her hands together, not one but two lances just like the first flashing into existence in her clutch. "What happened fire fly? You were tougher than this."

The fire fairy was out cold. Bruised and bleeding all over. Caked in stone dust. Barely breathing. Face down in rubble. Stella was bent over her, tears dripping down onto her best friend. "Bloom get up." Her hands gripped Bloom tight by the shoulders. Sitting her up against the wall, only for her to slump down limp into the floor again. She brought a hand to her face, resting it on her chin. Propping her up just for her to fall again. "Bloom get up!" Light filled her hands, the warmth of the sun washing over the fire fairy. Her breathing wavered for a moment, looking like she was about to get up, only for her to gasp and collapse to the ground yet again. "Get up get up get up!" The princess screamed as she loomed over and shook her friend. Tears and sweat dripping all over her.

Darcy stepped closer, and closer, the princess too flustered to even notice her as Darcy's ire was drawn to the Earth girl. "Move aside star child, you're not who I'm here for. So move or I'll just skewer you both."

"Please please please please get up." Stella choked out between dry heaves and sobs. The world becoming darker and darker. A shadow creeping across the entire world as the moon shifted in front of the sun. "Bloom get up now I need you! Help me!"

The world became perfectly dark for just a single moment. Like a lightning strike inverted. Silent and pitch black. Darcy's head swimming in euphoria, heart bursting out of her chest. An impossible high as she felt her spears leave her hands.

Light returned- slowly- to the world. The moon passing from in front of the sun.

There was a burning corona of light, Darcy pulling her parasol out of a mouth ringed with sharp teeth on her palm. Shielding herself from the flashbang as the world burst with rays of the sun. And then it was over.

She lowered her umbrella, peering over its edge. Bloom still passed out and bloodied against the wall. Until a deep black shadow darted downward, snatching the fairy up. Placing her on the second floor of the sanctum. Following suit with King Radius and with the specialist Brandon. Until it crashed down in front of Darcy. A black silhouette lit by a halo of light around it, a person eclipsing their own soul. Blackness burning off in scraps replaced by a shining light that began to fade. Standing tall between the two spears of black magic Darcy had hurled, now embedded deep in the ground on end.

"Who are you?"

Darcy closed her umbrella and rested it on her shoulder. She scowled, placing her feet shoulder length apart, as the pillars of the Solarian sanctum crumbled and fell into the atrium. Deep crimson dark energy pulsed like a torrent around her feet, the mystery figure standing between her, Bloom, and up above the king and the squire Brandon.

Whatever or whoever it was, its imposing physique froze Darcy's heart still. Over six and a half feet tall, skin pale like the moon. It turned to look at her, ink black eyes with blue and orange irises that shimmered like embers. Two smaller, downward weeping eyes opened below them, the four like the silhouette of a black swallowtail's wings. It was cloaked in pure white moth wings that it had wrapped around it like a cape and hood, a collar of wispy white wool wrapped around the base of its slender neck.

"I said, who are you."

It said nothing.

Darcy popped her umbrella open, casting herself in a pillar of pitch black darkness again. Waves of red-black ichor surged from her. Dripping gangly hands reached to grab at the figure, wrapping around and digging their fingers into it. The entire sanctum had become a raging sea of tar and writhing limbs, the broken pillars sinking into the darkness. Rampaging restless digits subsumed the columns to the upper sanctum where the king and Brandon lied unconscious in a skittering rush to consume them.

From beneath the cloak of its wings, the figure held out its right arm, a shining ball of light no bigger than a thimble held between its fingers. "Sun drops" it said, disaffected. It simply let go of the crumbling orb of light, letting it flitter to the ground before it vanished and blinked out of sight. In a flash, the entire sanctum was cleansed of darkness. Hands and fangs crumbled into ash and blew away on the wind.

Darcy was wide eyed, but undeterred. Opening a portal behind her, she let loose an eldritch torrent of filth at them. The figure simply held out its right hand, its palm deflecting the blast away from Brandon and the king. Darcy raced past it on a surging wave of writhing hands and teeth, passing the figure on its right trying to reach Brandon.

In a split second, it threw open its right wings. The inside of them a deep velvet black, revealing her left hand beneath her right outstretched one, a black sphere dancing on its finger pointed at Darcy.

"Mourning Star."

The sphere expanded out almost instantly into a cone of black bordered by pure white light. The witch only had moments before it erased her, slipping back into the ground. She emerged on the far side of the sanctum, in the deep shadow of the fallen pillars. From the long shadows cast by the figure's flare of light churning and spasming familiar creatures emerged. Crow-like ink blots circled overhead, the catastrophic murder like a bloody hurricane's eye. Swooping and diving beak and talons first at the white figure.

It closed its eyes, and matching eyes opened along the back of its wings. Deep black, their pupils bright white, phases of the moon. Its wings moved autonomously, even as the figure walked towards the witch they moved on their own, possesed, detached from its path. Swatting away and shrouding their owner from Darcy's magical onslaught. The eyes on its wings darting back and forth with a perfect lock on every inky familiar. As they opened up again, Darcy could see even on the inside the wings bore bright white eyes with black suns for pupils, pulsing and vibrating. Batting and slicing the creatures assailing it it continued undeterred, as if nothing was attacking it at all.

It was coming closer, Darcy seeing her crow storm bought her no extra time. She had only seconds, but her work was almost complete. It was sloppy, garrish, but for her purposes that only made the incoming spell even more potent.

She pulled her umbrella down further, and further, further still to avoid the gaze of the creature. She coughed, trying to stabilize herself.

"Hecatoncheir! Curse this world with your presence, and take what you wish!"

The crows circling above shapeshifted into sigils, as though they'd painted the skies themselves with ink and brush. A black circle even wider than the sanctum across shattered the sky, ripped the very fabric of the realm open. "Hecatoncheir will take whatever it wants from this entire realm. Not even whatever you are will be able to repel it!" She kissed the tip of her index finger, then ran it along the ground. The portal groaned in response, a massive demonic arm made of thousands of others woven together reached out. Its fingers trembled and pulsed. It reached out, dredging towards Bloom. Towards Brandon. The king. The witch closing her umbrella and resting it on her shoulder. "That's right Hecaton. Pick up the little pipsqueaks for mommy."

The figure lept to the top of the sanctum's second floor, intercepting the demon's arm. It held up its left arm, bathed in a white glow, single handedly catching then holding off the demonic fist's power with its open palm. All around the mysterious figure and monster space shattered, revealing myriad more hands of the monster all around the platform. With a heave, the figure forced off the hecaton's fist, unfurling its wings entirely. Every other arm reached and grabbed for it, swiping and clawing, grabbing and swinging, trying to catch the figure as it took flight. It dipped and dived, weaving in and out of the wicked web the hundred and one arms tangled itself into chasing it. With a final flash, the figure beat its wings once, and a piercing light letting loose from every eye along them.

"Dusk's touch."

Winding playful lights spiraled in all directions, tearing the rest of the arms asunder. With one last reach, the massive arm overhead bore down on the sanctum. The figure landed on the balcony, back to the demon's claws, its gleaming wingspan warding off the creature as its digits squirmed and it unraveled.

The mirth and anger both fell out of Darcy's face, she could only look forelornly around her as the torn and seered arms around her spasmed before bursting apart. "Heckypoo! Oh mommy will make you feel all better once this bug is squashed."

The portals oozed shut, the sky returning to normal. Brandon began to stir, the figure standing over him. He started to come to, his vision blurry but returning. The figure loomed over him, all four piercing black eyes looking down into his own. A blanket of black punctuated by an unfeeling gaze ensconced the king and he. He flinched. He gasped. He went pale, cold, sweating and shaking. Backing away on his hands and feet.

It jumped back down to the lower level below.

"Darcy."

Darcy's heart skipped a beat but her fear and confusion soon softened into a smug sense of relief. She tugged on the hem of her gloves. "So it really is you, star child." Darcy curled a lock around her finger and pursed her lip. "Your daddy really didn't teach you not to play rough with other people's toys?"

Stella stood, defiant. Darcy eyed her head to toe. She was tall, pale, deep platinum blonde hair that floated in the wind like it was underwater. Two pairs of deep black eyes on her face. Silver white tufts of woolly hair encircling her wrists, ankles, and base of her neck. She wore a black dress that was back and shoulderless that tied to her neck, her left leg bare emerging from a side slit as the rest of the dress ended just above her ankles. The lower half of it made of layered and cascading squares like granite.

"Is this that special enchantix power you winx girlies get sometimes?" Darcy shuddered looking at Stella's eyes. "My poor baby boo hecaton was sent back sucking all hundred and one of its thumbs, but at least he's cuter than you are. Fortunate your transformation is so powerful, since it's far more hideous than I could ever imagine."

"Mourning star."

Stella's wings snapped to their full span, both interior eyes letting loose dual black blasts just as she had done before. Darcy grit her teeth, falling backwards arms outstretched over the edge of the sanctum where the railings had been destroyed. She fell into the ground below, vanishing from sight.

Stella fell to her knees. Her wings burned up into smoke. She reverted first to her magic winx then to her civilian clothes, torn and stained. She put her hands on her knees wheezing. Her arms and legs were thrumming. They felt like they were hollow. She collapsed to the ground on her stomach, relishing the cold embrace of the smooth marble.

Brandon crept down the stairs, trying to stay upright. He stood over his girlfriend for a moment, before getting on his knees and then lying on his back, looking at the sky beside her.

"Honeybun, you're alright." He gasped out.

Stella reached out and put a hand on his chest. "Sweetheart".

"I don't...I can't remember seeing you. But I remember a monster, and I can remember that witch. You must have saved us. From all those hands..."

Stella clutched the fabric of Brandon's shirt and tried to pull herself closer to him, resting her head on his chest.

"...all those hands. All those eyes..."

Stella froze, hands trembling. "Shnookums...I just want to go home."

She saw her reflection in the white marble floor.

That's when her heart lept into her throat.

Though her clothes had returned to normal, though her wings had faded away, the face looking back at her still wasn't her own. Two sets of black eyes gazing back at her. Skin still pale and luminous. Tiny horn nubs on her forehead. The tufts of silk on her neck and wrists, they were all still here.

Darcy was right. She was hideous. Barely even a person. This wasn't enchantix, was it? Could a fairy's enchantix be this dreadful? Least of all hers? She had always thought guardian fairies were the epitome of poise, of beauty, of immaculate and serene grace. And here she was, the princess of Solaria, having achieved the pinnacle of what a fairy could be.

And she was the most ugly thing she had ever seen. And she was going to be forever.

~~~

"...Stella?"

There she was, deep in the darkness of the palace rubble. The castle brutalized by Darcy's little invasion. Columns shattered, floors buckled, furniture destroyed, entire rooms overturned. The two sat in a sort of grotto, water flooding into an understory balcony from above. Redirected from water features and fountains destroyed in the scuffle somewhere above. From behind, all Bloom saw was the princess' former signature golden field of blonde hair, no longer her beautiful silver bob, but it was unmistakably her. Draped in a torn table cloth from the party above. An imperceptibly faint opal sheen defusing through the sheer material. An irridescent halo around her in the darkness. Hunched over on a crumbling marble outcropping. Listening to the pouring water filter down around her.

"Bloom?" Her voice was hoarse. Had she been crying? "Close your eyes! Don't look at me."

"You're different."

"I'm revolting."

"Is this something Darcy did to you?" Bloom asked, hand unconsciously reaching out to touch Stella's unusual features, before catching herself. Realizing how intrusive she would have been being, poking and prodding her without asking.

There was another brief sob. Stella clutching her stomach. Doubled over in sadness and pain. Hair hanging fully in front of her face like a curtain. Moving like it was prehensile, like it was alive. Almost brushing Bloom aside.

"No...no...this is me. All me." She pulled her table cloth overtop her head, becoming a white ghost unable to look at Bloom.

"What happened?" Bloom said, trying to take everything in.

She took the tablecloth back off again. Clutching it around her neck like a cloak. Not unlike Aisha's regal white cloak, Bloom realized. "This is, this is my, this is, my enchantix."

"Stella...that's incredible!" Bloom shouted, throwing her arms around her. All four of Stella's eyes shooting open in alarm. Bloom holding Stella by the shoulders, looking into her eyes at arm's length. "I don't really know what it means, but it's...it's like Aisha right? When her wings are extra big? This is a milestone isn't it?" Bloom's rosy cheeks and saccharine smile stunned Stella with the faintest bit of hope. "I know you were so worried about your magic when you lost your sceptre, but it seems like you drove off Darcy all on your own. Tecna was right. You are so talented."

"Bloom...look at me. I'm a freak. How can I be a princess and look like this?" She brought her knees to her chest. Burying her face in them so it would go unseen.

"You're worried about what you look like?"

"Wh- of course I am! And it's not vanity. I'm not worried that I'm ugly. I'm worried I'm a monster. How can I be a princess when I'm not even like a person anymore? How can I be a leader of an entire planet when I don't even appear to be one of them?" She bit at the air in frustration. "Don't you think Aisha must wear her hair down, cover her ears, for the same reason?"

"Well, even if she does...maybe you're both wrong."

"Why aren't you scared of me?"

"Well if I'm being 100% honest, I actually think you look really really cool."

"You always did have questionable taste superstar." Stella muttered, defeated. It did make Bloom giggle though.

Bloom stepped down into the water. Feeling it sizzle against her skin. "Come in, the water's nice." She said, the pool becoming more of a spring as Bloom settled into it. Pulling off her skirt and top, sinking in up to her neck.

Stella did the same, though with far more trepidation. Her deep aching bones relieved as she sank into the water. Looking down at herself in the water, then out at Bloom. Seeing all of the bright white after images of scars she'd weathered. A bit of dirt and blood seeping into the pool as the warm water mended her wounds. Stella grimaced. Bloom should be at home painting pretty pictures and playing Based Ball, not decorated with more battle scars than a soldier. She had dragged her into hell once again.

"See?" Bloom beamed. "It's nice!"

"We're in our underwear!" Stella protested, her arms clutching her shoulders and covering her chest.

"If you're feeling embarassed you're half naked- well- you're feeling like a pretty princess and not a gross monster right?" Bloom smirked.

That felt good to hear, in a bizarre way. She couldn't really argue against it. Bloom certainly had some...interesting perspectives when it came to the magical universe. She was right, in the weirdest way possible. Monsters weren't worried about their modesty. Monsters didn't wear lacy sky blue bras and panties.

"Well what if I'm still a monster, I'm just a sexy monster?" Stella said. Bloom giggled, but it wasn't actually supposed to be a joke. The reflection of her face in the the water still made her wince. Grimacing. Were those fangs? Was that her tongue, long and pointed and a sickly blue grey, just like her gums? She was even more repulsive than she thought. Some elements of the transformation she hadn't even clocked until now. Her four eyes blinking not at once but in sequence.

"Well, maybe Brandon's a freak like that and it'll all work out anyway!"

Stella laughed so hard she snorted before sinking down further into the water, just her eyes visible. "I hadn't even thought about Brandon. I guess I can kiss the two of us goodbye."

"Stella. If I'm not bothered at all by this, what makes you think other people are going to be?"

"Don't take this the wrong way Bloom...but I'm not your princess. People who I represent aren't going to think the same as you do. Imagine if Earth's queen looked like me."

"Earth doesn't have a king and queen Stella."

"You know I guess I hadn't realized how little I actually know about your world until now." Stella said, her head tilted up looking to the sky.

Bloom curled her hair with her finger as it floated atop the water. "I could say the same for yours." She let out a yawn. A nice hot spring was twice as relaxing when you were the heat source.

What a day.