Author: Sorry about the wait. Thank you for all the good reviews. You guys are wonderful peers.

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Bloom had just entered her dorm room when her cell phone started ringing.

"Hello?"

"Hey, princess."

She smiled. "Hey, prince." She knew that voice anywhere. It was Prince Skye, the love of her life. "How's it going?"

"Can't complain. The guys and I have just got back to Red Fountain and I just wanted to see how you were doing."

"Alright. I was just about to change."

"Already? What have you been doing since we left?"

She smirked. "Wouldn't you like to know?"

Skye was about to say something but stopped. He knew Bloom was playing with him and if he went along it was only a matter of time when she would get him worked up over nothing. It was her way. All girls did it. Be they fairy or not. "Maybe not." He admitted.

Bloom allowed herself a short chuckle before collapsing onto her bed. She kicked off her shoes and sprawled her bare legs over the edge. Without realizing it, Bloom began to twirl a lock of her hair in her fingers. It was a habit of hers, one she didn't care to correct for she believed everyone was allowed at least one bad habit to hold onto. Besides, she had such pretty hair. "So you going to bed?"

"In a minute." Skye said. "But first, I wanted to ask you something?"

"Go ahead."

"How would you like to go on a trip with me?"

"A trip?" She asked.

"Yeah. You know like a vacation, a getaway, a,"

"I know what it means, Skye." She rolled her eyes. This was his way of annoying her. It was a trait all boys had. Hero or not. "To where?"

"The Denobulas Cluster."

"Never heard of it."

"You kidding? It's one of the most beautiful spots in the entire universe. They say the stars are so numerous that they look like an ocean in space."

"Sounds nice."

"Nice?" Skye shook his head. "Bloom, do you have any idea how many people would kill to visit that place?"

"Um…you from the sound of it."

"It's only the go-to place for those who know about it."

"And how do you know about it?"

"I have my sources."

"Uh-huh." Bloom rolled onto her stomach. "I'm guessing being a prince has its advantages."

"More than you can count. But listen, I think I can get my parents to loan us the royal yacht for the trip. If they give the go-ahead we can invite the others to come along too."

"Oh."

"Oh?" Skye mimicked.

"So it's not just a private cruise for two?"

Prince Skye blushed. "Well…that is…if you want it to be. I thought that, you know, our friends would enjoy the trip is all…but that doesn't mean,"

The fairy could not help herself. She cracked up.

"What?" Skye asked her.

"You're blushing right now aren't' you?"

"No." He lied.

"Yes you are. I know you, Prince of Eraklyon." She sat up straight and crossed her legs Indian-style. "I'm sure the girls would love to go."

"Great. The guys will be happy to hear that."

"So you told them already?"

"Well the thing is that Riven was the one that suggested it."

"Really?" Bloom was shocked. "Riven? Our Riven? Mister Doesn't Know How to Have Fun, Riven?"

"The same." Skye looked around to make sure no one was listening in. He was alone in his dorm room as well. "You see we were on our way back and were talking. After everything that's happened with Lord Darkar and the Trix Sisters and the Realix, we all thought we could use a vacation. Out of nowhere Riven talked about a cruise. He was just throwing it out there but we all thought it would be a good idea."

"Well," Bloom started. "Tell Riven that it's a great idea."

"So we're on."

"Of course! Oh wait."

"What is it?"

"I should tell the girls about this. Maybe they all had plans already and it wouldn't be right to make this decision for them."

"I understand. Let them know and then get back to me tomorrow morning."

"Okay. I will."

"Great." Skye said. "Alright then, goodnight, Bloom."

"Skye."

"Yes?"

"Thank you."

"For what?"

She smiled. "For being you."

The prince did not know what to make of it but he laughed anyway. "Sure. Night, Bloom."

"Night." She hung up.

A trip to outer space, she mused. She had been part of a magical world; a place where sorcery, not science, was the forerunner of society and culture. In all this she had forgotten that there was another world out there, one she had barely explored. Skye had taken her on a spaceship once when they went to Eraklyon. The trip was so short that she barely noticed. Here was an Earth girl who had never been to the Moon or Mars and here she was surrounded by people who traveled the stars on a constant basis. Space was open to her now and she never took advantage of it.

"Outer space." She said in a voice very close to awe. Her eyes lit up at the notion of it all. She was going to spend her summer vacation-or at least a part of it-in outer space. "I can't wait to tell mom."

A knock at the door disturbed her musings. "Yes?"

The door opened and Flora peeked her head in.

"Hey, Flora. Why are you knocking? This is your room too."

"I heard you talking and didn't want to intrude."

"You never intrude. We're roomies."

The fairy of nature stepped inside and closed the door behind her. She looked about as tired as Bloom was at that moment. All the celebrating after their victory over Lord Darkar exhausted both fairies to the point where they were just ready to crash. It bothered Bloom, after seeing her friend like that, that she just stayed outside when her cozy bed was waiting for her just so that she could have a private talk to herself. That was the kind of person Flora was. She always put everyone before herself.

"Are the others asleep?" Bloom asked.

"I guess so. I just saw Musa heading in and I said goodnight to Stella a moment ago."

"Okay." Bloom patted the spot beside her to invite Flora to sit down. She did and the two friends now spoke face to face.

"It's been some year hasn't it?" Flora asked.

"Yeah. So much has happened. It's almost like a dream."

"A dream?"

"These things that I've experienced are like nothing I could have ever imagined. Teenagers on my world only read about this stuff in storybooks or play them in videogames or write about them in fan fiction. (I just had to throw this in) Two years ago, if somebody told me that I'd be fighting witches and monsters and have wings and use magic I would have laughed in their face. Being with you guys has been the best time of my life. I hope we're together for a long time."

Flora smiled at her. "Well, sweetie, I don't see us parting ways anytime soon. So it looks like you have a lot more adventures to look forward to with us."

"What do you think our next adventure will be like?" Bloom asked.

"Don't know. But to be honest with you, I wouldn't mind just having an ordinary school year. No witches, no Under Realm and no monsters."

"I hear you." The Earth girl agreed. "Just homework and tests and boring old quizzes, right?"

"Well…not so much with the quizzes. They give me a headache."

"Same here."

The brunette smiled. "So, what are you going to do over the summer?"

"Funny you should mention that." Bloom said. She turned until her whole body was facing Flora directly. "What would you say about going on a space cruise?"

"Well that depends. What kind of a cruise are we talking about here?"

"Just with best friends and boyfriends aboard a royal yacht to one of the most beautiful spots in the entire universe."

"The Moons of Persephones?" She asked getting all excited. Being a fairy of nature, Flora had always dreamed of visiting those celestial moons which were rumored to have the most expansive rainforests and diverse variety of plants in the entire magical realm.

Bloom had to disappoint her. "No. The Denobulas Cluster."

"Oh." Her excitement vanished.

"What's wrong?"

"Nothing. It's just that…well there's not much to see in the Denobulas Cluster."

Bloom looked at her quizidly. "But Skye said it was beautiful."

"Oh it is. At least, that's what I've heard. But what I mean is that none of those planets are said to be habitable which means we'll be stuck on a ship the whole time. I like to get out and see things. Being holed up in a metallic vessel is not my idea of a good time."

"Oh but it'll be fun. I promise." Bloom held her hands. "Please, Flora. Skye is going to invite everyone to come along." She raised an eyebrow. "Including Helia."

The brunette's tanned skin turned a hint of red. "Well, we have promised to hang out together more often."

"We'll all go and have a great time. Just you wait."

"It's kind of sudden. I mean I was hoping to spend some time with my folks for a few weeks."

"It's not for the whole summer."

"Well…"

"Helia." Bloom said.

Flora gave in. "Okay. I guess I can go."

"Great!" Bloom exclaimed. "I can't wait!"

---

"So how'd it go?" Brandon asked Skye after entering the room.

The blonde gave him thumbs up. "She's all for it. Now she just has to convince the other girls to feel the same way and we'll have a full ship."

"Dude, Stella's in. No doubt."

"And what makes you so confident she'll go?"

"Because." Brandon removed his jacket. "She would never pass out an opportunity like this. The girl likes to have fun. Besides, she'd never let Bloom go anywhere all by herself."

"Don't get too cocky. I hear Stella can be pretty unpredictable."

"She's going. Trust me on this." Brandon went to his drawer and began pulling out clothes. "It's the other girls I'm worried about."

"How so?"

"Riven's not going unless Musa's in. That guy's got it bad, trust me on that."

Skye had to agreed. "Okay, what about Tecna?"

"She and Timmy will tag along if there's some scientific curiosity involved. That fact that nobody's really mapped the Denobulas Cluster should be enough to get their genius juices flowing. They'll probably spend the whole trip scanning planets and searching for extraterrestrial life."

"Flora?"

"Helia. 'Nuff said."

Skye laughed. "So we've covered everyone except Layla."

"The Tides Fairy? Dude, I don't know."

"What's wrong with her?"

"Last I've seen she's not the social type. I mean sure she's got Stella and the others but spending her entire time alone with people she just met a few months ago won't be easy on her."

"She'll manage. We're her friends."

"The girls are her friends, Skye." Brandon found a shirt he liked and closed the drawer. "I don't know if you've noticed but she's not all happy about being around guys. Probably thinks we try to outstand her or something?"

"What gave you that idea?"

"She's a tough girl. Athletic and independent. Boys don't usually fit into that persona. Especially guys like us." He turned to Skye. "Heroes. Boys who feel the need to save girls on every occasion. To someone like her that's like a blow to her feminine pride. She doesn't need a boy to rescue her. She looks after herself."

"Is this about that time we went to rescue the pixies?"

"That." Brandon admitted. "And the fact that she'll be the only one there without a boyfriend."

"That won't matter to her."

"Trust me, man. It will matter." Brandon grabbed a towel and headed off. "I'm gonna hit the showers. Catch you later."

As his friend left, Prince Skye thought on his own. This trip was a big deal. He would be responsible for not only making sure his friends were having a good time but for their well-being as well. It would be the first time he had hosted anything like this. Everything would be on his shoulders.

Everything!

"Heh. Suddenly fighting Darkar doesn't seem so tough anymore."

Skye laughed it off. Now all he had to do was convince his father to loan him the yacht for a few days…