Is Love Really Forever?

By: LadyNightSky

Summary: At twenty-five, Queen Bloom of Sparx lives a fairy-tale life. She's engaged to handsome Prince Ares; her realm is thriving; she's surrounded by new friends. She's truly happy for the first time in six years. Then, when an old unsolved murder resurfaces, and an ancient prophecy is renewed, she's forced to remember her past; and a person she'd much rather forget.

A/N: Well, this is my first fanfic, so I'm not sure how ya'll will like it. As you may have guessed, this takes place roughly five years after Bloom graduated Alfea; assuming, of course, that Alfeans graduate at twenty. Or something. Thoughts will be in italics, and author's notes will be in bold throughout the fic, except for the prologue, which will be in italics. Rated T for language and mature content. I doubt the rating will go up, but if it does, it's for the same reasons. Please read & review. Feel free to offer criticism, but don't start telling me off or something.

Disclaimer: Sadly, I own nothing but the plot and some OCs. Some of the chapters might be titles of books, so I might as well disclaim that now, too.

Chapter One: Prologue- Fake Smile

December 15, 2000

"Bloom, I can't do this anymore."

Sky's words struck her like ice. Couldn't do this? No. NO! This could not be happening. He couldn't be breaking up with her. Could he? Trying to remain calm and drive back rising hysteria, Bloom swallowed hard.

"Can't do what, Sky?" she asked quietly

"Can't be with you. I care for you, Bloom, I really, really do. Just not in that way. Not anymore. I love you as a friend, but I –"

Bloom held up a hand to stop his torrent of words. She felt numbness slowly spread through her. She wouldn't let herself be affected. She couldn't be weak. She must not let her mask fall.

"May I ask why you are doing this?" she whispered, her voice getting ever softer. She had the strange sensation of watching a scene in a movie. A movie was fiction; dramatic traps for entertainment starring too beautiful women and men that looked like they just spent a week doing sit-ups. They never came true. Sky was looking more and more uncomfortable.

"Well…uh... there's-there's…there's someone else that I want a chance with." he stammered, examining his shoes.

Another girl.

"Who is it?" she asked unsteadily, her resolve to save face starting to falter. The numbness was also starting to fade, leaving her with raw emotions she couldn't deal with.

"LaylaI'msorryBloombutI'minlovewithLayla." he muttered so fast she almost convinced herself that she had heard him wrong. But no. The expression on his face said otherwise. It was true. Bile was starting to rise in her throat, only one identifiable emotion blasting through her veins. Anger.

"Get out."

Bloom heard the words coming out of her mouth, cold and biting, but she could've sworn she wasn't the one speaking them. Oh no. If she'd been the one speaking, it would've been curses and screaming. But no. All there was were cold, calm words.

January 18, 2001

'The Magix Gazette

The body of Princess Layla Arielle Lemonos of Tides was found yesterday in a rural area of the Princess's own realm. Forensic specialists have confirmed that the Princess had been dead for at least two days before her body was found. They also confirmed that the Princess had been raped, and then shot three times in the head. Apparently, Princess Layla was kidnapped while out playing soccer on a field near her vacation palace in the nearly unpopulated north of Tides during Alfea's Winter Break. Her companion had just left to get a drink from the palace kitchens, and when she returned, Layla had disappeared. The girl, thinking Layla was playing a prank, started calling for her. After an hour of searching, the girl panicked and alerted palace security. They combed the vast, untamed woods surrounding the palace for two days, until the body of the Princess was finally found. The only clue to her murderer(s) so far is an ornate 'S' surrounded by the mouth of a dragon burned into the skin on the Princess's right forearm. Some experts believe the murder to be an elaborate Mafia execution to inform the magical world of yet another new criminal organization. Princess Layla is survived by her father, King Sulomun Leon Lemonos of Tides; her mother Queen Neriana Zillah Lemonos of Tides; her eight-year-old brother and new heir to Tides Crown Prince Tabien Zeloes Lemonos; her infant sister Princess Aramunda Rosali Lemonos of Tides; and her boyfriend Prince Skyro-Bryen Temno Luder of the Eraklyonite Empire.'

An 'S'. Bloom stared at the little piece in the newspaper. It barely took up half a column, and was published, not in the front to show respect and importance, but on the second-to-last newspaper page. How strange. Bloom couldn't summon up the energy to be sad about her friend's death. It was just another thing to live with. Ever since Sky had dumped her, it seemed that the sun never shone on her world anymore. She lived through her days mechanically, laughed her fake laugh and smiled her fake smile. At first, Stella, Musa, Flora, Tecna, even Layla had tried to get her to live again, but as she pushed them away time after time with angry words, they'd finally given up. Once, just before Winter Break, Musa had gotten angry with Bloom's constant pessimism. She told Bloom to move on. She said Bloom was being selfish; she was making them worry about her day after day. She told Bloom how bad she was hurting Layla, who thought it was all her fault. She said she knew that Bloom was hurting, but by refusing to talk to them, or even to be civil, she was hurting them all. She told Bloom that they'd all broken down yesterday, crying for her, wondering how to release her from her sadness.

Later, Musa had apologized for her outburst, but Bloom had just mutely shaken her head. A faint voice in her head had told her that what Musa'd said was true, that she needed to ease her friends' worrying. But she just ignored it, and continued to live in her new mechanical way.

A/N: Well, review please! I want to know what people think of this story. Oh, and for people who disapprove of Sky/Layla, sorry, but that's the only way this story is going to be able to flow nicely. Also sorry for the shortness of the chapter. Cheeriooohh! (: