With each step that took the group closer to the Alfea castle, Bloom found herself getting more and more nervous. It was just as beautiful as it had been the day before, maybe even more so with the morning sun hitting the glass features at just the right angle to make them sparkle.
But it was the countless girls, in all shapes and sizes that were putting Bloom off. There were tiny girls who if Stella hadn't assured her they weren't, she would have thought they were no more than 12 years old, and others so tall that they dwarfed her and Stella by over a foot. There were delicate girls with long elegant limbs, girls who were curvier, with round breasts and hips, and girls who were somewhere in between. There were girls absolutely packed with muscle who looked like they could scare off an ogre with just a look, and little wisps of girls who looked like they wouldn't be able to handle a strong breeze. The variety was unbelievable. There were short pixie cuts, and hair that brushed the ground, ordinary brown eyes, and eyes so blue they look electrified, human features, and pointed pixies ears. It as utterly overwhelming and soon enough Bloom would be among them, trying to fit in.
"There it is," Stella said suddenly, sounding excited. "The renowned Alfea College for Fairies." Despite having spent an entire year there before, there was a note of awe in her voice, one that Bloom could definitely relate to.
"It's really something," Vanessa breathed with Mike nodded along.
All three Peters looked to Stella expectantly.
"So what happens now?" Mike asked.
Stella shifted slightly on her feet and bit her lips and Bloom didn't know what was coming but she didn't think she was going to like it. "You guys can't actually go any further," she said sheepishly, looking at Mike and Vanessa. "There's a magical barrier around Alfea keeping any wayward humans out." Stella snapped her fingers and a dome over the school appeared. It's yellow tint shimmered for a moment in the sun before disappearing again.
Bloom stepped out of the barrier again, having a bad feeling that this was where she would have to leave her parents behind.
"But what about tuition and enrollment?" Mike asked suspiciously
"You guys have to pay for school on Earth?" Stella frowned momentarily sidetracked. "Anyway no tuition and enrollment is all sorted out, I promise." Bloom was slightly doubtful, not remembering Stella saying anything about it last night but wisely kept her mouth closed. "And I promise, if Bloom ever wants or need to come home I'll get her there in a jiffy. I'll take good care of her."
Mike and Vanessa still looked hesitant at the thought of sending their daughter off alone but they had come to trust Stella over the past few days and even though they didn't know how they just felt within them that they could rely on her to keep their daughter safe.
"I think you're going to have a great year, honey," Vanessa said finally, trying to stop the tears welling up in her eyes and quickly swept her daughter into a hug.
"Mum…" Bloom started knowing how hard it must be for her to say goodbye. Her parents had never been exceptionally protective of her but there was a difference between letting her go to the local mall with her friends and letting her attend school in another dimension that they wouldn't have access to.
Vanessa hid her watery smile in Bloom's bright hair. "You're going to have a wonderful time."
They squeezed each other tightly and when they pulled away Bloom wiped a hand discreetly across her eyes to gather the moisture pooling there.
"She sure will. I'll make sure of it," Stella suddenly grinned, capturing her parents attention and giving Bloom a few moments to compose herself.
Then Mike stepped up and placed his hands on her shoulders and looked into her eyes sternly. "Remember phone call every night, I want you trying your best, and keeping your grades up. Remember we love you and that we're always here for you, day or night," he finished and pulled her in for a quick hug and kiss to the forehead.
Stella let the family have a few moments to say their final goodbyes before she decided to speak up. "Bloom, we should probably get going, you know while the gettin's good."
Bloom nodded and backed away from her parents, smiling slightly. She saw their worried faces and hastened to reassure them even as she passed through the barrier where they couldn't follow her. "Don't worry guys. I'll be fine. And I'll call you as soon as I can."
"Alright, I'll send you guys back first class. Now stand still… Sun Power!" As she said the incantation she pulled her ring from her finger and it transformed right before their eyes into her sceptre. "Transportus!" The bodies of Bloom's parents dissolved right before her eyes and soon enough it was just the pair of them and Kiko in Bloom's arms left.
It took Bloom a long moment to tear her eyes away from the spot where her parents had disappeared from. It hit her in a way she hadn't expected, leaving her parents like that. She had never been away from them for longer a couple of weeks in her entire life and now she was facing basically an entire years away from home.
For a split second, Bloom expected everything to go wrong then, now that she was out of her parents protection where they couldn't help her anymore. But Stella just smiled her usual smile and oblivious to her friend's thoughts started to speak.
"Now, it's time to make an entrance. And a fabulous entrance is essential, darling."
A weight lifted from her chest and when Bloom returned the smile it felt only half forced. "I'm not sure what you mean, darling, but I'll try."
Stella smiled knowingly at her expression but otherwise didn't comment and they began to make their way out of the edge of the forest and down onto the paved road that lead to the school. As they walked the short distance they discussed just how they would make their 'grand entrance'.
"Just follow me," Stella told her. "Smile, slither and swivel," she directed, punctuating her instruction with the swinging of her own hips as the approached the gates.
"I'm nervous," Bloom confessed, stopping just short of the entrance.
"Relax, you're with me. Fairy school is just like regular school. I think anyway," Stella muttered distractedly, doing nothing to abate Bloom's nerves. "The only difference is we all have magical powers and better outfits."
Bloom was torn between being offended for the 'better outfits' comment and exasperated, simultaneously thinking that that couldn't be the only differences and thinking that magical powers was a pretty big difference. She sucked in a deep breath and let it out slowly to psyche herself up to walk into what could become her home for the next three years. She took another big breath and continued on, Stella brimming with excitement beside her.
"So you said my enrollment was all taken care of?" Bloom asked, partly out of genuine interest and partly in an attempt to distract herself.
"Don't worry," Stella said. "I've got this."
Bloom sighed, not at all put at ease but tried to trust her new friend.
Inside the gates of Alfea the grounds were a flurry of movement and noise. All around them fairies and pixies gathered to either start at their new school or continue their schooling. Terrified looking freshmen gathered in small clumps, clinging to any recognisable person they could find while older students, made their way in lazily, not at all pleased to be back at school; they embraced friends they hadn't seen all summer and moaned about how annoying it was to be back at school.
"This is so amazing," Bloom breathed looking around, trying to take it all in. "I love it."
"Eugh, you're definitely not going to love her," Stella said indicating with a head jerk a severe looking Professor holding a clipboard thick with paper and a scowl etched on her face who was standing near the gate.
"Who's that? She looks kind of scary."
"Griselda, head of discipline. She is scary, and in desperate need of a makeover." The wandered closer to her where she was checking off the names of new students.
"First name and place of origin," Griselda barked, surveying the scared looking girl in front of her through her narrow glasses.
"Uh, Eleanor of Delona," the girl answered timidly. When she received no response from Griselda she continued worriedly. "I signed up online ages ago, I should be on the list."
"Hmmm, I don't see it. I don't see your name and do you know what happens if you're not on the list? We turn you into-"
"It's with one 'l'."
"Oh, there you are: Eleanor of Delona. You may come in."
"Thank God," the girl said quietly.
"Next." Griselda barked.
"Stella…" Bloom said slowly and worriedly. She did not want to find out first hand what Griselda turned unenrolled students into.
Stella laughed, she had already thought of this and come up with a plan. "Fret not, my darling. I've got it all figured out. The Princess of Vallisto was supposed to come here this year, but she changed her mind and is being home schooled instead." Stella snapped her fingers and conjured up an envelope. "She gave me this letter to give to the headmistress. I just won't give it to her and we'll be all good." With that Stella tore up the letter before Bloom could get a word out. "No-one here has ever met her anyway, she's pretty shy so it's perfect." With a smile, Stella threw the pieces of letter in the air and they drifted down like confetti.
"You want me to pretend to be a Princess? I wouldn't know the first thing and besides I hate lying."
"Hey, we're not lying. We're just not telling all that we know." Stella slung an arm around Bloom's shoulder and tugged her towards the Head of Discipline.
"Long time no see, Ms. G." Stella sung.
"Not long enough, Princess Stella. Not after that little incident last year. I have no idea how your parents convinced the school board to take you back."
"They did donate all that money to fix the potions labs and the North Tower."
While the two exchanged their banter, Bloom was taking another look around the grounds. She couldn't stop taking it in, it was so different from what she was used to. Across the courtyard she tracked the progress of a girl with shocking green hair and multiple piercings. Then her attention was caught by a girl with flowers braided into her waist length white-blonde hair. Coming from a school where everyone looked exactly the same and spoke the same, it was mind-boggling to see all the differences between the students. But then the similarities were also astounding. They acted like every other teenager Bloom knew, comparing summer stories, discussing guy issues and moaning and groaning about having to get back into school work.
"Honestly, I'm surprised you've chosen to grace us with your presence again this year," Griselda grimaced in confusion.
"I don't give up that easily."
Griselda gaze swung round to land on Bloom who froze automatically under the intense stare. The professor's eyes took in everything about her; the jeans she wore that were so faded they were practically white and ripped at the knees and thighs, usual grungy high tops, mint green blouse she'd dug out of the back of her closet and red hair falling in unruly curls over her shoulders. Bloom was feeling distinctly un-Princess like as she was surveyed and wondered how she was ever going to pass as the Princess of Vallisto.
"Who is your friend?" She said finally.
"Princess Veranda of Vallisto."
"Let me check the list. Yes, Veranda of Vallisto."
"That's me," Bloom said unnecessarily, a nervous habit to try and hide her uncertainty.
"You may come in. Next."
"Welcome to Alfea," Stella grinned leading her further into the school. They joined the crowd of students who were gathering at the front doors of the castle. Bloom remembered that neither Stella nor Griselda had actually mentioned what the Princess had done to get expelled. When she asked, Stella dodged the question with a smile and some simple words.
"I told you it was nothing. Griselda loves to dramatise."
After checking off the last student, Griselda strode up the steps and turned sharply to stare down at the Alfea school population. She began her annual speech on the code of behaviour and outlined the rules. She also informed them of the punishment of breaking the code of behaviour; first and second offence warranting detentions, third offences warranting transfiguration into a frog, fourth offence: suspension of magical powers, and fifth offence: expulsion from the school.
"This castle will be your home for the next three years but I will personally escort you to the front gates if you break the code of behaviour," Griselda snapped, apparently not noticing the bored looks of the older students and the eye roll's she was receiving. "First rule: there is to be no magic used without a teacher's supervision on campus, this means no magic in the dorms or corridors. Princess Stella will know all about this. Last year, she destroyed the potions laboratory with an unauthorised spell." Griselda glared down at the unashamed Princess for a moment before returning to her speech.
"You really did that?" Bloom asked, whispering while trying to move her mouth as little as possible.
"I was just trying to create a new shade of pink." Stella shrugged not really noticing the big deal about it. Her parents had after all, paid to have the laboratories fixed.
Bloom grinned and returned her attention to the front, where Griselda was saying, "We believe discipline's the only way to prepare you for the world out there, which brings me to the fourth rule: stay away from the witches of Cloud Tower and their school. There is no punishment for that, since nothing we could do would be as terrible as what they will do if they catch you. For a full and detailed code of behaviour please look in the package found in your dorms. You are expected to have read it by the commencement of class tomorrow and ignorance is not a suitable excuse for any transgressions."
She finished her speech just as the massive double doors opened behind her to show a small grandmotherly looking figure standing there. She looked very smart in her small spectacles, ruffled blouse, royal purple blazer, mauve skirt and heels. But her white curls and kind smile caused a warm feeling to grow inside Bloom.
"Welcome all, come in come in." She turned and walked further into the entrance hall, the freshmen entering eagerly while the sophomores and seniors trailed reluctantly. When everyone was squished in and the doors had been shut again she walked up a few stairs of the grand staircase and faced them again.
"Welcome all. I'm Ms Faragonda, your headmistress. I'm an Alfea alumna and former fairy-godmother. This year as always we seem to have a wonderful class of new students and the excellent students who have returned. Many of you will fight evil and protect your realms, others will grant wishes and some are Princesses who will take over your realms. Each of you is unique, you all have different sources of power and diverse origins, but our mission is the same…"
"To help each of you be the very best you can be," Stella and Faragonda said together, the former whispering under her breath so only Bloom could hear. Stella breathed a laugh, "She really loves saying that."
Up the front, Faragonda continued, "Naturally we expect you to do your best at all times. Now it is time to find your dormitories and meet your roommates. Older students know where you are going and new students form an orderly line and report to Professor Griselda. You all have the rest of the day off to settle in but classes will resume tomorrow, you will find your timetables in your dormitories. Now off you go and remember to use every opportunity to connect to your winx."
The room instantly erupted in conversation and motion, the older students shoving their way to the staircase and making their way to their rooms while the younger students scrambled to join the quickly forming line before Griselda.
"It sounds like they prepare you for all kinds of stuff. What do you reckon you're going to be?" Bloom asked sticking close to Stella's back who was using her elbows as weapons to part the crowd.
"I'm gonna rule the Kingdom of Solaria. It's all planned out," Stella replied. There was a strange tone in her voice that had Bloom wondering if Stella was excited about this or not. Bloom decided not to press the topic any further and steared the conversation away from their futures.
"What did she mean 'connect to your winx'?"
"Your winx is essentially three things. First, it's your source of power, as in your strength and energy. Second, it's what guides you. And thirdly, it's your magical identity. Got it?"
They joined the line, Stella breathing a sigh of relief as she noticed they weren't too far from Griselda, not that Bloom had noticed, she was too preoccupied thinking about what Stella had just told her.
"I think so."
"You either got it or you don't, and you do."
The girls stepped up to Griselda who didn't look up from her clipboard.
"Name?"
"Your favourite student ever," Stella replied cheekily but Griselda still didn't bother to look up.
"I'm not sure about that Princess Stella. You're in the same room as last year, 107 as well as your friend Veranda." Griselda had known without looking that Bloom was standing beside Stella. Stella nudged a relieved Bloom upon hearing the news. As soon as she had heard about dormitories Bloom had immediately began worrying about who she would be put with. "Stella, you are in a single room and Veranda you're sharing."
"Awesome, no bunking up close with anyone," Stella said pulling Bloom along by the elbow towards the packed staircase. "I hope we get good roommates."
"Why, do we spend a lot of time with them?"
"Yeah, basically all of your down time is spent with them and they are nearly always in your classes."
Bloom frowned, wondering how she was going to keep up the charade of being a Princess while getting close to a group of girls. Stella must have sensed her worry.
"You're going to do great."
The girls began the climb up the stairs towards the dorm that would be their home for the next three years.
After a surprisingly short walk, Stella and Bloom arrived at a set of ornate green double doors with the number 107 engraved neatly in the centre of each door. A page with a list of neat calligraphy names was pinned to one of the doors. Bloom read the names aloud:
Single Room: Princess Stella of Solaria
Double Room One: Princess Veranda of Vallisto and Flora of Linphea
Double Room Two: Tecna of Zenith and Musa of the Harmonic Nebula
"Our roommates. I hope they're better than the ones I got last year. They had no sense of humour."
They pushed open the door to a central living area, complete with lounges, a large TV and stereo. The room was empty but there were signs that people had been through there, the tv was on and playing some music video and there was a bag lying on one of the lounges. Three closed doors branched out from the living room.
Directly ahead, Stella's name was etched on the door and Bloom's alias was inscribed on the door to their right. On the other side of the living room sat another door bearing the other two remaining names.
They moved towards Stella's room without even having to think about it. The room was large and light, one entire wall made up of floor to ceiling windows. The walls were painted a nice peach colour and the floor covered with a soft cream carpet. There was a double bed against the centre of one wall, a built in wardrobe across another wall and a desk in the remaining corner near the windows. It was everything and more than anyone could ask of a high school dorm room.
"They've redecorated," Stella noted with interest. A simple click of her fingers and a muttered incantation had her bags appearing out of nowhere and dropping softly onto the carpet.
"This room is so nice," Bloom said, taking it all in.
"Yeah, that's one thing you can't fault Alfea on."
They wandered back out and into Bloom's room. However before they could get much of a look at it, there was a sudden yell from beside her. Bloom felt something under her foot and hastily jumped backwards off it, narrowly avoiding Stella. What the hell? Bloom thought and searched for what could have made the noise. She looked down to see a vine retract from where her foot had been a second ago. She followed its path to see a plant staring at her reproachfully. Hang on. Bloom gaped at the plant that somehow had a face.
"Ouch, that hurt," the plant gasped. Stella appeared beside Bloom squinting at the plant, looking as surprised as Bloom felt.
"Uh, I'm sorry," said Bloom uncertainty.
"He's my latest creation," a soft voice said from across the room. The girls looked over to a girl who was walking out of the walk in closet. She had long light brown hair and a gentle face. Her outfit of a green off the shoulder top and pink skirt with strawberries on it screamed sweetness.
"He talks?" Bloom asked, her surprise making her forget her manners.
"Yeah, my theory is if more plants could talk, deforestation would be dramatically reduced. It's worth trying, if it just saves one tree."
Bloom and Stella exchanged glances, as the girl's voice became more and more passionate. The girl's attention suddenly snapped back to them.
"Oh I'm sorry, I drift off sometimes. Anyway, it's my fault, I just got here and I left my stuff all over the place." She took a deep breath after her hurried monologue. "Hi, I'm Flora." She held out her hand to Bloom her hip popping out and bumping into the same plant that Bloom had stepped on. The force from Flora's hip sent the plant's pot tumbling from the desk it was sitting on, landing on the floor with a loud crash. The plant yelped and Flora's hand jerked away from Bloom's to press against her mouth.
"Can't a plant get a break around here?" The plant muttered under it's breath.
"Sorry, honey." Flora dropped down quickly to mend the plant's pot and set it back on the desk.
"Anyway, I'm Bl-" Bloom cut off at the sharp nudge in the ribs from Stella and turned her blunder into a violent cough. "Oh I'm sorry, excuse me. I'm Veranda of Vallisto."
"Vallisto: fourth planet of Magix Realms upper ring. Renown for it's rich, artistic tradition. It's a very popular holiday spot," the sudden cool voice behind them had all three of them spinning around to look at the doorway. A girl with a tall lean figure, decked out in a purple and green tracksuit was standing there a suitcase in one hand. Her most notable feature was the shock of pink hair that was cut into a fashionable bob.
It took a moment for the three of them to find their voices after the girl's sudden entrance.
"Right. Vallisto, that's my home."
"Cool, my name is Tecna."
"Veranda."
"Flora," the brunette said with a wave.
"Hey Tecna, I'm Stella. Nice to meet you."
Tecna blinked at her before understanding lit her eyes. "You are quite infamous."
Stella opened her mouth, no doubt readying herself to defend her expulsion once again when the door on the other side of the dorm opened to reveal a short girl with a big smirk.
"That's the word on the street. Hey, if you plan to blow up more stuff, let us know ahead so we can bounce. Or at least duck and cover."
The whole group suddenly struggled to contain their laughter, even Bloom, while Stella pursed her lips in mild irritation. The girl had two cute ponytails, her hair short and dark and her slightly slanted eyes made Bloom think that if she had met the girl on earth she would have thought she was at least half asian. She wore a one shoulder red singlet that showed her bellybutton and a pair of dark blue baggy jeans. She was apparently the one who owned the suitcase and had put the TV on.
"It was in the name of fashion," Stella sniffed. "I don't regret it."
"I'm curious. Were you actually able to create this new shade of pink?" Tecna asked, seemingly interested in the science involved in making a whole new shade.
"No, but when I do it's going to be the official colour of Solaria."
The newest arrival introduced herself as Musa, prompting the rest of the group to offer their names once more. The girls were just getting to know each other better and talking about their homes when they were interrupted by a sudden squeal of alarm coming from inside Flora and Bloom's room. The group hurried in to find Kiko being held upside down by a vindictive looking vine.
"Bad plant. Put him down this instant," Flora commanded. With a sullen look, the plant lowered Kiko to the floor and let go of his foot. The frightened bunny took off to hide behind Bloom's leg.
"It's ok. It's not the plant's fault. I'm betting that Kiko tried to eat it." Kiko peeked out innocently. Flora smiled at his cute little face and retrieved a pot full of soil but lacking any seeds.
"You hungry little bunny?" she asked. Flora crouched down and wriggled her fingers over the pot and several rows of carrots immediately sprouted. Kiko cooed in delight and bounded over to investigate further.
"Speaking of food, I'm starved," Stella announced.
"Me too," Tecna agreed and Flora nodded. The girls had a short discussion and decided to catch a bus into Magix City for some pizza. They headed out of their dorm and down the grand staircase discussing the city.
"You've never been," Flora asked.
"It's fresh," Musa grinned when Bloom shook her head.
The bus was just preparing to leave when the girls hurried over, bounding up the steps and snagging the last couple of seats at the front. The conversation immediately turned to a reluctant Bloom. All the girls wanted to know more about her life in Vallisto.
"I can't believe you've never left your kingdom before," Musa said.
"Yeah well my parents are pretty protective."
"Prepare to be blown away," Flora said as the bus slowed and approached a nearby bus-stop. Bloom bounced slightly in her seat, eager to see what was considered cool by the magical community.
What she saw however, was a little… disappointing. While she hadn't exactly been expecting giants and unicorns roaming the streets, she was expecting the capital of Magic and the centre of the Magic Dimension to look a little less like any other city she could find on Earth. There were people milling about, stores open and packed with people, and cars clogging the streets. There were few notable differences. For instance the cars hovered above the ground instead of having wheels. But then Bloom supposed, flying broomsticks and dragons were fairytales. This was real life.
"Well what do you think." Tecna looked at her expectantly as Bloom took in her surroundings.
"It's nice." And it was despite her initial disappointment, Bloom was beginning to see the appeal. There was a feeling of magical energy in the air, that Bloom had noticed about Alfea as well. The energy was setting every fibre of Bloom's being alight just from being there.
The second they stepped off the bus however Stella clapped a hand to forehead and turned to her dorm-mates apologetically. "I just remembered that I have to hit the bank," she said with a meaningful look at Bloom.
"Oh same actually. There's something I need to- a problem with my account," Bloom said, tripping over her excuse but luckily no one seemed to notice.
"We can wait for you," Flora offered but Stella waved her away airily before she could even finish.
"No, no, I don't want to hold you guys up. Why don't you go ahead and order the pizza and then it'll be there by the time we get there. It shouldn't take too long."
The other three exchanged glances and shrugged.
"If you're sure," Musa finally said.
"For sure," Bloom said with a smile. "We'll be right behind you."
The other three waved a goodbye and headed off while Stella lead Bloom down another street.
"So what's up?" Bloom asked her as they pushed their way into a large white marble building full of bustling people.
"You're going to need money," Stella explained as they stepped up to a free counter. "Follow my lead." She fixed her mega-watt smile on a tiny pixie who peered back at her. Bloom found herself struggling at her small size; the pixie couldn't of been any taller than the length of her forearm. "Hello, my friend needs to open an account. She has an account on earth and would like to open one here that will link to it."
The pixie returned her smile and immediately started tapping at her computer. "Easy enough," she said in a tiny, squeaky voice. "What's your name, dear?" she asked Bloom.
"Oh uh, Bloom Peters."
"And have you got your earth credit card?"
Bloom rummaged around in her wallet and produced it, handing it over to the pixie who had to hold it in two hands.
"Country of birth?"
"United States of America," she said before adding. "I live in California if that helps.
But the pixie was already smiling again and nodding. "Found you." She asked a series of question Bloom remembered answering when she set up her account originally just to confirm her identity and within a few minutes she had access to her account and was being handed a new credit card that she would be able to use in the Magic Dimension. "Now 1 US dollar converts to 1 vlosi here which is simple enough for you. And you can get 1 and 2 gold vlosi coins, and then 5, 10, 20, 50 and 100 vlosi notes. Understand?"
"Yep," Bloom said. It sounded simple enough and not unlike the system on earth.
"Well then here you go," she said handing back her old credit card and her new one. "If you need anymore help, feel free to come back and ask. Have a nice night girls."
"You're really not confused?" Stella asked dubiously as they pushed on the doors and stepped back into the muggy air. Magix seemed to follow the same season as the U.S and despite it being September with the change of season upon them the lingering summer warmth continued to linger.
"It's pretty similar to back home," Bloom explained, tucking the cards away.
"See I told you, you would be fine," Stella said and they joined the bustling crowds on the streets.
As Stella had promised the pizza joint wasn't too far from the bank and even as they approached Bloom could smell the air thick with cheese and tomato sauce. They were waved down by the other girls who had snagged a table outside and the slipped into the two spare seats, accepting the water that Flora poured for them.
"Everything go alright?" Tecna asked.
"Perfect," Stella assured her.
"Pizza should be out in a few minutes," Musa told them and it seemed perfect timing because her stomach suddenly growled making the others laugh.
Stella offered up her glass of water to make a toast. "To us?"
"To us," everyone agreed.
Several storefronts down from where the girls were laughing and chatting over their meal, a familiar ogre was lumbering along ignoring the distasteful looks he was receiving from nearby pedestrians. Despite Magix being a planet for all the species of the dimension witches and ogres didn't exactly mix often with fairies, heroes and the more upstanding wizards.
The sudden sight of the two familiar fairies for the other day caught his attention and distracted him from the stares and whispers.
"Do you see those girls over there?" he rasped suddenly to a nearby store owner who was fiddling with a display and clamped a large hand down on his shoulder.
The wizard frowned down at the hand on his shoulder but followed Knut's finger pointing out at the girls. "Sure, they look like Alfea girls."
"And the blonde one, do you think that could be the Princess of Solaria?" he asked.
The man took a careful look and shifted uncomfortably before nodding shortly. "It could be. She's probably from Alfea also, you know the school year is starting tomorrow."
Knut took off without another word, his heavy thundering loudly on the pavement as he ran before he ducked into a nearby alley and withdrew the phone that had been entrusted to him by his mistresses.
"Can't mess up this time," he grunted under his breath, carefully dialling the number. The phone only rang through twice before an unusually cold voice answered with a snarl.
"Talk to me, and this had better be good or I'm going to turn you into something you didn't even think was possible."
"It's Princess Stella. I spotted her and her Earth friend too. Meet me in Witches Alley."
"Good," Knut's mistress smirked. "First we're going to catch her and take her sceptre. Then we're going to crush her into fairy dust."
While Knut was phoning his mistresses, the girls were chatting over a table of pizzas, discussing how terrible the next morning was going to be.
"Classes at 8 a.m?" Musa moaned, chewing on a wedge of pizza mournfully.
"Yeah, and you can't be a minute late or you're in big trouble," Stella sighed. Bloom across from her was having bigger troubles than early classes. She had pulled her mobile out to check and make sure she hadn't missed a call from her parents but the phone wasn't working at all, the screen refusing to light up and none of the buttons making any difference to the dark screen.
Flora noticed her new roommate's distressed look. "What's wrong, Bloom?"
"My phone won't work for some reason. It's not even trouble getting a signal, it's not turning on at all."
"Here let me see, it's kind of my specialty," Tecna held out her hand for the phone. As soon as it landed in her palm she was cracking off the back and peering at the inside of it. "I love taking these things apart." After a short time analysing the phone's contents, Tecna gave an unexpected laugh.
"What's so funny, Tecna?" Musa wanted to know.
"This 'mobile phone' is ancient technology. It belongs in a museum," Tecna giggled replacing the back and handing it back to it's owner. Bloom gaped at the phone. It was practically new, having only owned the phone for less than a month.
"But it's the newest phone," she protested numbly and bit back a curse when a foot kicked her suddenly in the shin. Stella shot her a meaningful look. Yeah on Earth but not here, Stella tried to convey telepathically and based on the understanding dawning on Bloom's face she had gotten the general message.
"It could be the energy of Magix," Stella said casually, trying not to let it slip that she was bullshitting her excuse. "I've heard it can mess with another realms technology sometimes." Stella huffed a quiet sigh of relief when the girl's make sounds of agreement. Only Tecna seemed skeptical of her theory but Stella had half expected that. Tecna being from Zenith, the realm of technology would know absolutely everything on the matter.
After a moment, Tecna seemed to put it behind her and started to dig around in her pockets. "You need an inter-realm phone to call Vallisto," she explained before finally extracting what looked like a credit card. "There's a trans-dimensional one two blocks away that will be able to handle it. You can use my card."
Bloom took the card, expressing her thanks and hurried off. It took Bloom no time at all to find the phone booth as it looked very similar to the ones they had on Earth. She inserted the card at the base of the machine and following the helpful instructions, dialled her home phone. After several rings, her mother picked up.
"Hey mum."
"Oh honey, it's so nice to hear your voice. How is everything? Are you getting on okay?"
"Everything is great. Classes start tomorrow and I'm all settled into my dorm. I'm sharing with Stella and three other girls. We're actually out having pizza right now."
"That's so great," Vanessa replied and Bloom could hear the relief in her voice.
Out of the corner of her eye Bloom suddenly noticed a sprinting figure through the glass door of the telephone booth. After two fights with the creature, Bloom would be able to spot Knut the ogre anywhere. She reluctantly interrupted her mother in the middle of her sentence, knowing she couldn't let the ogre get away again.
"Uh mum, I kind of have to go."
"Oh but honey, we only just started talking," Vanessa said sadly.
"I'm sorry mum but I'm using my friends phone card and I don't want to spend to much longer on here," Bloom rose on tiptoe to keep her gaze on the quickly disappearing figure. "I'll call you from the dorm in the morning I promise. Kiss Dad for me. Ok bye." Bloom banged the receiver down, snagged the card and took off, pushing her way through the congested streets, in that same direction Knut had gone.
Knut arrived in Witches Alley, slightly puffing and panting from running so fast. He had left behind the streets inhabited by fairies and heroes and entered downtown which the witches commanded. He slowed as he waded further in, cautious of the shadows that were gathering along the walls. His small eyes darted around at an alarming rate trying to distinguish shapes into the darkness. A noise from directly ahead of him had his head swinging around and eyes narrowing. Three figures emerged from the shadows there, cool smirks on each of their faces. His mistresses.
From the way he feared them one might have expected ancient witches with years worth of knowledge and experience. But instead there stood three teenagers.
The figure in the centre and the trio's leader materialised first looking as cool and dangerous as ever. Her long colourless hair was pulled up into its usual high ponytail accentuating her sharp cheekbones and emotionless eyes which were as pale as her eyes. Fittingly her name was Icy.
On her right, another figure emerged from the black, her appearance the total opposite to Icy's. Where Icy was all height, sharp lines and angles, calm and collected, Stormy was shorter, all curves, hectic, wild and not the least bit unstable and unpredictable. Her hair was a cascade of mauve curls and seemed to almost conduct their own electricity.
The third witch was different yet again from the other two. She wasn't short and round like Stormy nor tall and sharp like Icy. Darcy's hair was just as long as Icy's but hung free, long enough to almost sweep the ground and there was a mystery to her dark eyes and coy smile that made her opponents always feel as though she knew something they didn't.
Each of the three witches were dangerous in their own right but together known as the Trix they were absolutely treacherous and Knut knew enough to watch himself when he was around them.
As dangerous and powerful as they were none of them seemed to notice the small figure with a shock of bright hair who had edged into the alley and had hidden not far from where they were standing.
Icy spoke first, her cold tone biting, "Well?"
Knut was dumbfounded for a mere second at the very sudden appearance of his mistresses but quickly regained his composure. "I saw Princess Stella on Wand Avenue. She had that girl with her as well."
Bloom realising he could only mean her ducked even further behind the crates, wishing she knew a spell that could make her invisible. Or any spell at all.
"She was wearing her Solaria ring," Knut was saying.
"Good. I need that ring," Icy snarled.
Darcy, bored with all the small talk of fairies and rings allowed her senses to explore the small alley; her friends always thought she was overly cautious but she would rather be safe than sorry. Her powers were derived from hypnosis and psychosis which allowed her to have a clear understanding of her immediate surroundings. It took her little more than a moment to notice the extra being crouched in the alley nearby. Another moment and she knew that it was a fairy.
"Ladies," she murmured catching the attention of the others. "I sense we have an uninvited guest. I'll split and go take care of it shall I?" She lifted her fingertips to her temple and thought hard for a moment, conjuring up a copy of herself that appeared next to her.
"Sometimes I forget how pretty I am," the doppelganger commented making the other Darcy giggle before vanishing from sight.
Behind the crates Bloom was straining to hear the conversation going on but was only catching every other word. What was more Bloom couldn't even see what was going on. She shifted slightly and peered through a crack between two pieces of wood.
"There were other girls there too," Knut told the witches making Bloom's blood boil at the thought of Knut telling who she assumed was his mistresses about her new friends. Unfortunately Bloom was so caught up with what was happening in front of her that she failed to notice the witch sneaking up behind her.
"Look what I found, girls."
Bloom spun around with a fearful yelp but was sent flying by a flash of purple before she could form a single word. She landed painfully on the pavement only a few feet away from the trio and ogre. She could feel gravel pressing into a skin and was sure a bruise was already forming on her hip. The feelings however were all pushed from her mind when she heard a lazy drawl coming from above her.
"Well hello." Bloom's head snapped up to meet a pair of ice blue eyes. She scrambled into something of a sitting position, fully aware that she was trapped on all sides by strangers. They looked nothing like any of the fairies Bloom had met at Alfea and were completely unlike Stella with her sunny disposition and Flora with her kind words. She noticed with a pang of worry that she had followed Knut out of the bustling of the city and into a deserted part of downtown.
"Who are you?"
"Who are we?" The calm girl who had first spoken was gone and replaced with someone out of control with rage. But then between one blink of the eye and the next, the girl in blue had lost all her rage again. It turned Bloom's head to keep up with it and made her think the girl might not be completely stable. "Well we are witches of Cloud Tower."
Bloom blinked, momentarily stunned by her words to forget her fear and get a proper look at her first encounter with witches. Stella had said they were the ancestors of fae and Bloom could definitely see it, with their cruel smiles and eyes alight with malice. Something about their presence turned her stomach.
Darcy couldn't help but put in, "And we're senior witches."
"Nobody messes with senior witches," Stormy added.
"Right, I'll just be going then," Bloom said, scrambling to her feet. A hand clamped on her shoulder prevented her from moving another inch. Knut had materialised behind her and his hand on her shoulder was like a steel band keeping her in place.
"But if you tell us where your friend Stella is, we might forgive you," Icy went on acting as though Bloom hadn't spoken at all.
"Look back off, alright," Bloom commanded quickly getting irritated with being bossed around. "I wasn't looking for any trouble." A few sparks erupted from her outstretched hands without her consent but fell short of any of the witches. The witches exploded into laughter, Knut grunting an odd chuckle as well while Bloom's face burned with embarrassment.
"The poor girl barely has winx," Icy cackled. "Here, let me show you some real magic." Snow drifted from Icy's palm causing treacherous icles to explode from the ground. Bloom dodged them as best she could but every so often she could feel the biting cold and sharp sting of being hit by one. "Join in girls."
Darcy laughed and piercing notes filled the air, drumming through Bloom's skull painfully. She clutched at her head praying for the pain to end. Eventually it did, the ice on the ground exploding suddenly and pushing her back off her feet. She immediately rolled onto her knees, knowing the only way she would have any hope of surviving these attacks would be on her feet. But she was too slow and a tornado created by Stormy caught her and tossed her in the air. On her way down she managed to grab ahold of a nearby ledge jutting out for a building, preferring that to the hard landing she knew was coming. She held on for dear life, not prepared to face any more attacks from the three witches.
Tecna checked her watch for the umpteenth time that minute. The girls were just finishing their meal and Bloom had been missing for almost fifteen minutes now. All of the girls had noticed her absence, but they had all assumed she was still talking to her parents. They thought she was bound to want a long conversation with them it being the first time out of her kingdom. But Tecna had a sinking feeling that something had gone wrong.
"Where is Veranda?" she said, finally cracking under concern. "She should be back by now."
The others turned to her, their expressions slowly morphing into concern as they too noticed their new friends absence.
"I'm not sure but I think it's time to go look for her." At Flora's words the group paid for their meal and hurried to their feet, determined to find her.
Still clinging from the ledge, Bloom was doing some fast thinking, desperately trying to ignore the pain building up in her arms and hands. She knew with her powers being so unreliable, she wouldn't be able to get away from the witches. But she also knew that she couldn't hang from this ledge until they got bored and left. Firstly, she doubted the witches would leave her alone now. And secondly, she knew from the pain escalating in her limbs that she wouldn't be able to hang on for much longer. Her fast thinking was cut off however by the snarl of Icy.
"Get down here." A burst of Icy's magic had her yanked from the ledge thrown to the ground. Pain exploded all over Bloom's body from the hard landing. The gravel tore the skin from her exposed arms and bruises began to form on her legs. "I hate to be a total bitch about it, but I'm running out of patience very quickly."
Bloom ignored her focussed on getting back on her feet which seemed to anger Icy even more. Bloom had just made it to a somewhat vertical position when ice flew at her, courtesy of Icy and encased the girl. The entire world faded away, becoming nothing more than a searing cold sensation. There were no more witches, no ogre and no friends. All she could think about was the cold pressing in on her from all sides.
Outside the ice, Icy giggled menacingly. "Fairies can't last long on ice." She strode up to the ice block and scratched a long finger nail down causing an ear splitting screech. Bloom blinked at her sluggishly, her brain feeling frozen. "You'd better start talking. Tell us where Stella is."
"I'm right here." The smug voice had the three witches whirling around. Stella, Musa, Flora and Tecna stood at the mouth of the alley glaring at the group. "Let her go now," she snarled.
Icy gave a short laugh. "Yeah right, that's not going to happen. Knut, time for you to step up and crush those fairies."
Knut jumped at her yell but hastened to obey, running at the girls with a deafening roar. Time slowed to a stop as the girls burst into action, their clothes transforming into their fairy forms.
Tecna's tracksuit disappeared and was replaced with an all in one body suit of the same colour and clunky boots, the outfit complete with small green digital wings. Her pink hair was swept under an attached hood.
Musa's baggy jeans and crop top became a red dress with red netting covering her midsection, a pair of knee high red boots, a pair of purple headphones and armbands, and small blue wings.
Flora was suddenly dressed in a pink strapless dress with the skirt resembling flowers of a petal, pink boots and handless gloves, a flower necklace and green wings. All of the girls' outfits glittered in the same unnatural way that Stella's did.
Stella appeared in her orange outfit. All four of them fluttered desperately in the air, moving out of the reaching hands of Knut. Tecna attacked first shoot a string of green light at the ogre encasing Knut in a digital sphere. "Digital Web."
"Sonic Blast." At Musa's command two speakers appeared on either side of Knut blasting music that shook the very street. The soundwaves bombarded the trapped Knut causing his entire body to tremble.
Normally so sweet Flora, narrowed her eyes dangerously feeling no compassion for the ogre who'd hurt her friends. "Ivy Rope." She blew a soft breath, green flowers fluttering from her breath to the ground, growing into a long vine which snuck it's way into the forcefield to wrap several times around Knut. The vine tugged him back and forth before throwing him to the back of the alley where he slumped against the wall. From where the witches were watching, they groaned and buried their heads in their hands, watching the ogre get tossed around by four young fairies.
"What a useless ogre." Icy glared at the group of fairies. "That's it. All right little freshman, you are done." Icy strode towards the girls - the other two flanking her - summoning a wall of ice shards as she went. An easy flick of her wrist had the deadly shards flinging themselves at the girls at an alarming rate.
Tecna moved faster than should be humanly possible, conjuring a green shield to big enough to cover her and the girls. "Stay behind me," she ordered and the girls scrambled to obey. The shards hit the wall harmlessly and bounced off, disappearing. Stormy growled in irritation.
"I've got something special for you fairies," Stormy threatened, faking her sugary sweet tone. "How about a lightning bolt?" Stormy thrust her hand in the air towards the slowly darkening sky. Obeying her order, the sky suddenly lit up with lightning, the bolt headed straight for the girls. The lightning had no where near the power of real lightning bolt but enough to send the fairies tumbling through the air when it struck.
"How about an Ice Coffin?" The deep dark magic required for the spell required an incantation that Icy had to chant. "From the depths of primordial space, I summon a box with a frigid embrace. Bring me the power to the palm of my hand and unleash it at my command." The girls groaned from where they had fallen, the pain from the lightning strike keeping them from getting up.
While Icy was busy completing the spell, Stella stumbled to her feet. "Sun Power." Stella interrupted. Her ring shot from her hand, transformed and zoomed back into it's owner's hand. "Transportus." she demanded with a swipe of her sceptre. Just as Icy raised her hand to attack the girls, they disappeared, bringing Bloom who was close to losing consciousness in her ice cage along with them.
Icy couldn't believe her eyes and blinked stupidly for a minute. Slowly it dawned on her that the power of the Solaria ring as well as the meddling Earth girl had slipped away yet again. "No." she screamed. "Not again."
Several streets away at the bus stop, five girls appeared in a huddle in the middle of the pavement. For the citizens of Magix this was a daily occurance, so the remaining residents out and about at the late hour merely skirted around the crouching girls and continued on their way.
Bloom lay a little away from the other four, the entire body shivering from the ordeal it had just been through. Stella rose from her couch and hurried over, her hands already glowing with warmth to heat the frozen fairy.
"It's alright, it's alright," she soothed over the sound of chattering teeth. Bloom blinked up at her languidly, as the feeling slowly returned to her face, fingers and toes. Stella could feel with just one touch that fortunately the cold hadn't penetrated much further than Bloom's skin. If it had Stella would have had a lot more trouble helping her. "You could've survived at least another fifteen minutes in that ice. You know, considering you're from Earth and all, I think you did splendidly, Bloom. You were very brave," her hands rubbed up and down Blooms arms, thawing the frozen skin, her voice babbling subconsciously about who knows what. Her hands automatically healed the torn skin and reduced any swelling around the bruises. She however froze completely when the three girls behind her spoke.
"Stella…"
It registered, tiredly somewhere in Bloom's brain that something unfortunate had just occurred but she automatically rerouted the thought to a box labeled 'Think about much, much, much later'. Stella spun around nimbly in her crouched position, staring up at her friends who had their hands on their hips and eyebrows raised.
"Why did you just call her Bloom and say that she's from planet Earth?" Flora asked.
"Yes, is there something we need to know about Veranda of Vallisto?" Tecna asked, a small smirk playing on her lips. She had had a hunch that there was something fishy about the red-headed girl and she was a tiny bit smug that she was right.
"Oh. Uh… right… there might be some tiny minor details that we need to fill you in on.." she trailed off at the unimpressed looks she was receiving. "Look, we've already missed curfew. I'll explain everything on the way back to Alfea."
Bloom still delirious from the near-miss with her life, giggled at the looks on her friends faces.
The ride on the bus back to Alfea was fraught with conversation, questions and explanations. Stella and Bloom had to recount their story of running into the ogre in the park, Bloom saving Stella, going back home to Bloom's, the ogre's second attack and the decision to go to Alfea. By the end of the story, the girls understood why they had lied about Bloom's identity and had decided not to hold any grudges.
"Forgive and forget, right," Flora smiled.
The remainder of the short ride passed in relative silence, the group drained and sore from the fight. Bloom spent the relaxing ride thinking about her future life at Alfea. She hated lying and honestly wasn't sure if she could continue through life living a lie to the rest of her classmates.
They were departing the bus when she finally admitted what she was thinking. "I think I wanna tell Ms Faragonda the truth."
Stella looked worried about the idea and shushed her, glancing around the deserted quad carefully. The quad was so different to how it had been this morning, so full of people and light, now dark and not a single soul in sight. It was very late. "We'll talk about it later. For now follow me."
They walked as fast as they could without making any noise on the loose gravel that made up the pathways. Stella winced at every single crunch of shoes. They were so close, almost at the front doors when a spotlight suddenly shone down on them. Stella cursed under her breath.
"Freeze." The tone of Griselda's voice told the girls all they needed to know about how much trouble they would be getting in. "Do you have any idea what time it is?"
Ms Faragonda's voice joined the fray. "We were worried about you girls." The two teachers appeared before the cowering group, one looking terrifying, the other disappointed. "Go to bed right away and we'll talk about this in the morning.
"Hold it right there, right now Princess Veranda. What did you want to tell Ms Faragonda?" Those words told the girls that they had been followed from the moment they had set a foot off the bus.
"Right. Well, the thing is I'm not actually Veranda and I'm not from Vallisto," Bloom stuttered, trying to hold on to the courage to continue while Stella tried to shake her head at her subtly.
"What." Griselda was rightfully outraged. "You lied to us?"
"I'm sorry."
"You have broken two rules in one day. I think that may be a new record," Griselda thundered, shooting Stella a glare, who had obviously been the previous record holder.
"She did…" Ms Faragonda agreed making Bloom hang her head in shame. "...but she must be a magical creature or the barrier would have kept her out of the school. So tell me, who are you and why did you lie to us?"
"Well-" Bloom started but was cut off by a frantic Stella. Stella could see Bloom's confidence wavering and having been in trouble countless times herself she was way to used to the situation.
"Don't blame her, it was all my idea. She didn't want to lie but Princess V changed her mind about coming here and the opportunity was too good to pass up."
"It's ok Stella," Bloom interrupted, surprising Stella. "My name's Bloom Peters and I come from Earth."
"As in planet Earth?" Griselda turned to Faragonda a wordless question forming in her eyes.
"But please, don't send me back home. I know I belong here, this is the most amazing place with the most awesome people ever."
The girls behind her cooed at the compliment.
"Well, you must be punished." Griselda had apparently gotten over her confusion quickly. "Turned into something slimy, I think." She turned to the Headmistress for confirmation.
"She did break the rules…" Ms Faragonda started causing Griselda to smirk a little evilly and Bloom to tense for the transformation spell but then the headmistress continued. "However, it took a lot of courage to speak up as she did. I don't think a punishment is necessary and of course you can stay. You can take Princess Veranda's spot." Griselda looked thoroughly put out at the lack of punishment but nodded in agreement anyway. Bloom on the other hand was struggling to contain a wide beam. "Now go to bed," Faragonda instructed. She added one last thing with a weary sigh, "And please try to be good."
"Yes Ma'am." The five said in unison, Musa adding a cheeky salute. The group took off for the stairs whooping and shoving each other as they laughed. The two teachers watched them go, smiling at their antics.
Their dorm room was quiet and warm when they burst into it and fraught with sleepiness they five friends immediately peeled off from each other, calling out wishes for sweet dreams to each other and Tecna promising Bloom she'd help her order a new phone online the next day.
Bloom moved slowly into her room following Flora, feeling acutely all the cuts and bruises she'd sustained in her fights and she just knew she was going to be in a world of pain the next day. She groaned quietly as she peeled off her gritty clothes and changed into her pyjamas, slipping into the warm sheets of her bed looking around at her new room.
The walls were painted a tasteful pale purple and a large built in wardrobe ran along most of the wall Bloom's bed was against. The room didn't have the wall of windows Stella had but did have enough that they could look out onto the quad if they wanted and opened out onto a balcony. Flora's bed sat across from Blooms and in the corner of the room closest to the balcony on a slightly raised platform sat a large study nook complete with two twin desks and several bookcases. Bloom sighed, she loved it.
Hearing the noise a pair of warm, brown eyes peered through the now dark room from the other bed.
"Everything alright, Bloom?"
"Yeah," Bloom sighed, blinking languidly, a small smile on her face.
"How was your first day in the Magic Dimension?"
Bloom stared at the ceiling for a long moment even as her smile grew and she considered the question. She thought about the witches, the pain of her body and the fear of walking into a school full of fairies but then she also thought about her new friends and how they had come to rescue her. "I loved it."
Out on the quad Headmistress Faragonda and Professor Griselda continued to walk around the deserted quad despite the late hour, marvelling over Bloom's existence.
"I didn't think there were and magic beings left on Earth," Ms Faragonda murmured eyes on the stars.
"Me either," Griselda agreed. "I thought they all died centuries ago."
"Well then, who is Bloom?" Faragonda asked after a long pause. The couple lapsed into silence, neither having any answer to the headmistress' question. There was no more discussion as they mounted the steps towards the castle and the two parted ways, the night becoming silent once more.
Hope you liked the chapter, let me know what you thought with a review xx
