Chapter 1 – Secrets in the night
Everything was finally over. Valtor had been defeated in the great battle for the Magical Universe and life was starting to go back to normal. Or so it was for most people, but for Bloom it seemed that the battle for the Magical Universe was just the beginning.
She had at last discovered a great deal about her past and who she really was – the last princess of Domino, the Lost Kingdom. And yet much was on her mind still, a lot of questions without answers to, like – where were her birth parents? Were they still alive? Would her kingdom ever be like it was before? Could it be saved, and could she do it?
Bloom didn't know, and she knew that she wouldn't get those answers right away or in that night, for it was about midnight and she couldn't sleep at all. This won't do, what I need right now is some fresh air to clear my mind. And so, she got up and left her room. She walked without making a sound through the empty corridors and finally reached the courtyard, unaware that someone had been following her. She sat down on the floor, feeling the nice summer breeze giving life to her fiery hair and she smiled for the night was beautiful and the fairy didn't feel so alone looking at the stars and the moon beyond reach – like her parents. She gave herself permission to cry and let her emotions escape for just a few moments.
"Bloom, what in the world is going on?"
Bloom froze. She recognized that voice, it was Professor Palladium. She quickly cleaned up her tears before turning to face him and explain what she was doing there, hoping that he wouldn't say anything to Miss Faragonda, by her not being in her room so late in the night.
"I'm sorry professor, I just couldn't sleep… you see… so I decided that some fresh air would do me some good…" Bloom tried to explain, smiling. He got closer to where she was, now, standing.
"Oh, my dear… what is troubling you so badly?"
"I-, it's nothing"
"Your eyes are telling me otherwise, come with me to the teachers' office and we will talk better there"
Bloom nodded. There was nothing she could do now, she better do what he said if she didn't want to be grounded. When they got to the teachers' office, Professor Palladium made some tea and poured it into two teacups. He offered one to Bloom which she accepted. They sat on the crimson couch and silence filled the room. Bloom said nothing and waited for him to start his inquiry.
"So now you can tell me all about it, why where you enable to sleep tonight?" Bloom had no choice but to tell him the truth.
"I was thinking about my parents, professor, about Domino and just couldn't sleep… I have so many questions and so many doubts and my mind seems like it's going to explode…" Bloom was looking at the floor, so she didn't see his eyes soften.
"I can't give you the answers you are looking for Bloom but one thing I am sure of is that you are an amazing fairy that is going to succeed in whatever you put your mind into. Don't put your energy in the negative things in life, focus on the positives, on your goals because they make you the amazing, strong fairy we all know and love"
Bloom was looking at him now. His speech making her feel much better, looking for the first time at the situation from a different angle, a different point of view and it motivated her to accept her past as dark and twisted as it was and move on. She had to stop at once feeling pity for herself. She was a fighter and she would do everything in her power to bring happiness back to Domino.
She smiled for she was very grateful to had run into him that very night.
"Thank you, professor, you have no idea how much your words helped me"
"Oh, ahm" He seemed a bit embarrassed by it all "Well, of course Bloom anytime"
And so, he became the same Professor Palladium he had always been. But there was something about the way he spoke those words and the way that he talked about her that made Bloom blush. Something about it seemed different from a normal pep talk, though she could not tell exactly what it was.
They finished their tea and Professor Palladium escorted Bloom back to her dorm. They were both standing now in front of the dorm door.
"You won't tell anything to Miss Faragonda, will you professor?" Bloom asked just to make sure she wasn't in trouble.
"Only if you go straight to bed now" Professor Palladium said with a smile.
"I will!" Bloom answered happy to be free of any trouble "Good night professor"
"Good night Bloom"
He gently touched her hand, so gently like it was made of glass. Then, he quickly turned away without looking once back to see her reaction.