Chapter II - Arcadia
Bloom couldn't believe the words of Faragonda. Arcadia, the Fairy Guardian of the Golden Kingdom, the first fairy ever to sail the skies in the Magical Dimension, required her presence.
«I don't understand. Why Arcadia would see me?» stammered Bloom.
Faragonda sat down at her desk and invited the girl to do the same. After, drawing a deep breath, she said:
"Dear Bloom, along with parchment I was delivered a letter. In the letter, I was asked to warn you that Arcadia wanted to meet you and hand you this scroll».
Bloom couldn't understand what could ever want from her Arcadia.
«The letter didn't say anything else? For example, the reason for this meeting?» continued the red.
At these words the face of the director took on a worried expression.
«The letter didn't add much, I was just written that Arcadia wants to discuss with you about a certain question. Nothing else» added the woman.
«I see. That means I'll find out the truth only talking to Arcadia, or by opening the convening parchment » said Bloom preparing to remove the seal, which kept closed the scroll.
However, in the mind of the director suddenly flashed out another piece of information contained in the letter, perhaps the most important.
«Wait Bloom! Do not open the parchment» shouted the woman, the girl was visibly scared - «Wait ... I remembered something important, written in the letter. The parchment must be opened by you in exactly one month from today» explained Faragonda.
The young fairy looked puzzled. For a moment, she was attacked by a thousand thoughts on what would never have happened if she had not followed the instructions of Arcadia.
«Ok ... I'll open the parchment in a month» assured Bloom - «However, there is a problem: how am I going to enter the Golden Kingdom now that I am no longer an Enchantix fairy and I haven't the fairy dust?».
Faragonda smiled:
«Don't worry about that Bloom. I am sure that, in the parchment is the answer to all your questions. Remember: Arcadia is always one step ahead of all of us».
Then she handed the parchment to the headmistress, asking her to keep it until the appointed day. Faragonda agreed. The two greeted each other and Bloom proceeded to leave the room. At the door, the young fairy was again stopped by the principal's voice.
«Bloom forgive me, the letter asked me to warn you not to tell anyone about this call. So, I recommend it, it must be our secret. Do you understand?».
Bloom, albeit annoyed, nodded her head and left the office, closing the door behind her, leaving Faragonda wanders in her thousand thoughts. Since she had received the letter and the scroll, a specific thought terrified her. That month passed quickly for Bloom. Among the lessons at school, the general commitments of the Winx Club and the sending of investments for her upcoming wedding with Sky, the girl couldn't hardly think about Arcadia's calling. Until one evening:
»Girls excuse me, but I have to leave for a moment: Faragonda is waiting for me in her office» said Bloom to her friends.
«You cannot go Bloom. Tonight, I have organized a fashion show of wedding dresses for you. We still have to choose the dress!». scolded Stella.
«Stella is since I told you that, I would have married you organize parades. The wedding will take place this summer. We've all the time» called out the redhead, who left the room to reach the headmistress' office.
«Don't worry Stella. If you want, I'll try the clothes," he assured her gently Plant, while the others laughed.
Bloom entered the room. Faragonda was sitting in her chair, while the parchment was on the desk.
«Good evening headmistress» said Bloom.
«Good evening Bloom, have a seat. The parchment is on the desk» replied the woman softly.
The girl took it and, with trembling hands, broke the seal of lacquer. The parchment was completely white, Bloom held it in her hands without understanding. Suddenly a light gash opened in the sheet, which became gradually more and more big and bright. The girl was frightened: she wanted to throw the parchment on the ground but couldn't. Faragonda, however, had been sitting in his chair with a blank stare. The glimpse of the light became unbearable: the redhead was forced to close her eyes. Bloom couldn't move, she was lifted from the ground and then she turned on herself indefinitely until everything stopped.
«Welcome Bloom, Keeper of the Dragon Flame. It is a pleasure for me knowing you» began a deep voice but at the same time sweet ... almost melodious.
The girl still had her eyes closed because of the intense glare produced by the parchment. Besides, though she tried, she could not understand where it came from the sound of those words.
«Come on! Do not be scared! Open your eyes Bloom» urged the voice.
Bloom slowly opened her eyes and rubbed them with her hands, and slowly she focused the place where she was. The fairy of the Dragon Flame was literally speechless, in her adventures she had seen lots of crazy things, but this was beating them all. It was an immense golden platform suspended in space, illuminated by the presence of stars, which created magnificent and bright auroras projecting their light in the sky. The platform was adorned with an infinite number of columns, which were also made up with gold. Below it, there were huge banks of snow-white clouds. It was a stunning sight. Bloom thought that not even the wildest imagination could have produced such a beauty.
«I see you've been quite impressed by the Golden Kingdom. Even your friends felt the same strong emotions, when they came to ask the Water Stars».
Only at that moment, the girl realized that there were four magical beings: a winged centaur, a mermaid with long green hair, a flying spirit and a blue-skinned fairy sitting on a majestic throne. They were all placed on an impressive marble balcony and next to Arcadia there was a pedestal on which rested a small black box with gold inlays.
«You ... you're Arcadia. While the rest of you are members of the Council of Elders» stammered Bloom.
The four didn't respond, but they simply looked at the girl with inquisitive eyes. Following Arcadia spoke:
«Keeper of the Flame Dragon, do you know why you were summoned?».
«I don't know anything definite, but Faragonda told me that we would have talked about an important issue» said the redheads with insecurity.
Arcadia closed her eyes and remained silent for several minutes, while the remaining members of the Council continued to scrutinize the girl. Bloom, not understanding the reason for that attitude, decided to ask for an explanation. However, as soon as the fairy tried to open his mouth, the floor under her feet took the shape of a comfortable white velvet armchair, which was raised up to come face to face with the balcony. Arcadia opened her eyes and addressing the remaining members of the Council she said:
« peered into the heart of this young fairy: I think she is up to know the truth. If any member of this House does not approve of my decision, speak now».
No one said nothing. Meanwhile Bloom was sunk in the chair, unable to understand what she was attending.
«Good!» continued Arcadia - «We can begin».
The first fairy resided on the throne and, as soon as she slightly moved her hand, an astronomical map appeared.
«Bloom, can you tell me, what is this?» asked Arcadia.
«It's a map of the magical dimension. You can clearly see the different planets, which make up our universe such as Domino, Eraklyon and Earth» replied Bloom timidly.
«Can you also tell me what are these?» said Arcadia indicating four different areas on the star map.
The girl continued to speak:
«Those are the sub-dimensions of our universe. We can see the Golden Kingdom, seat of the Council of Elders; the Infinite Ocean, home of the Three Pillars; the Realix, accessible only through the Codex; Obsidian, home of the negative magic ...».
«It would be more correct to say: "that remains of Obsidian". Since you and your sister Daphne have completely destroyed that size» interrupted the winged centaur reproachfully.
Those words deeply offended Bloom. She could not believe that she was accused of having destroyed a place that even deserved to exist. The young fairy clenched her fists and defiantly turned to the centaur.
«It was also time for someone to cause its destruction! my parents, my people, my world were trapped in that place of negativity: it was my duty to save them».
The centaur looked away from the girl and tuned to Arcadia as he was seeking her approval to continue talking. The Guardian Fairy consented and the centaur returned to Bloom:
«What you have done that day has caused irreparable damage to our size. Do you know it?».
The fairy of the Dragon Flame snorted:
"Ok, ok, freeing my world from the captivity of Obsidian, we freed by mistake even the Ancestral Witches, who together with Trix attacked the Tree of Good and Evil and they made disappear the positive magic. This doesn't change that me and my friends managed to defeat them permanently resolving the situation. By now four years have passed: you cannot blame me».
The centaur spoke again:
«The Ancestral Witches and the Trix are not the problem of Magical Dimension. The disappearance of Obsidian is the real threat».
«I still do not understand and I still think and you're exaggerating» snapped Bloom.
«You do not understand girl! You and your friends have enjoyed for all these years playing as paladins of justice. At first it could be tolerated, but you and the other Winx have exceeded limits that nobody is allowed to cross» shouted the winged centaur visibly angry.
Bloom's expression changed instantly. Her face turned red and her expression took on the typical features of the wrath and fury overwhelming.
«Look, Ancient Council member or not you have no right to turn to me and my friends in this way. I came here because I believed a new and substantial threat was at the gates. I don't intend to stay here to be insulted for doing the things that have made the Magic Dimension a safer place, a better place. You should be ashamed, even though you are the most powerful magical beings of all, you have never lifted a finger in these years. If it were not for the Winx the world, as we know it today, would be already over» the girl screamed even louder, while her large blue eyes filled with reddish veins.
Those words unleashed the wrath of the other two members of the Council, which had remained silent until then. The three asked to Arcadia for the immediate expulsion of Bloom from the Golden Kingdom and the infliction of a severe penalty for his cockiness. The Fairy Guardian, unlike the others, remained calm and never lost that look of serene magnificence that distinguished her. Arcadia arose from her throne, and with a flick of the hand silenced the other council members. Then, she turned to Bloom calmly:
«Bloom, you're right! In all these years, we members of the Council of Elders never took an active part in the defence of the Magical Dimension. On the contrary, we have remained on the side-lines to observe ... "
The young fairy was struck by these words: Arcadia was giving reason to her.
«In recent years, we have fought relentlessly against anyone who would undermine the safety of our universe. We have also lost the people dear to us along the way» said Bloom, while hot tears streaming down her face - «We have never asked for anything in return. What we have done it felt like a moral duty. It isn't fair to reproach us everything we do, especially our greatest victory. With the destruction of Obsidian, we have eliminated the biggest source of problems for the Magical Dimension».
Arcadia listened without interrupting. Then she gently explained.
«My girl, if the Council has never acted is because he cannot do it. The laws, which regulate the Magical Dimension, cut him».
Bloom listened in silence, wiping her tears with the cuffs of the sweater she was wearing.
«You have recently said you thought of being summoned as a new threat had arisen on the horizon. Well it is so, but it all came, as it may seem unfair, from the destruction of Obsidian » ruled the Fairy Guardian with authority.
Bloom felt as if swords pierced her breast. The salvation of Domino had resulted in the advent of a new threat to the Magical Dimension. The girl could not understand, perhaps the winged centaur was right, she and the other Winx had sinned of arrogance. Evidently wanted to protect at all costs a universe, which had managed to survive without their presence until then, had resulted in corrupted or even breaking some of its components. After all, Bloom thought, who were them to decide the fate of the Magical Dimension. However, the Princess of Domino gave not won. Though she and her friends had caused damage, then they would have given them all to remedy.
«Who is this new enemy and what it has to do with the destruction of Obsidian?» asked Bloom determined.
Arcadia looked deep into the young fairy's eyes "His name is ... Ksendras".
FOOTNOTES: Hello everyone! It does not seem true to be already come to the third chapter. Finally we come off from the classical world of Winx and although places and characters are still the original ones, you begin to glimpse something new. One in all the outburst of Bloom against the respectable Council of Elders, who had eclipsed the bright exuberance of Stella in the third series. In the same way, the Council takes on a more human connotation, losing that aura of ascetic sanctity, which leads him to bow to the power of emotions. However, the biggest change I know you appreciate the character of Arcadia, which takes on a role of dominance in relation to other members of the council, which imposes its own decisions. In conclusion, the chapter introduces us to a new emotional dimension, in which the simple concepts of good and evil, friendship and enmity, right and wrong, lose their absolute value and mingle. Small technical note: I don't know very well the serialization of Winx Club outside Italy. So, as it'll be a lot of references to the eight seasons, the three movies and even the sin-off World of Winx, if there is something you don't understand or you don't know… ask me and I'll explain ;D. For example, in this chapter there are references to the second, third, fifth season of the cartoon and to the first and second movie XD. I think that's all. Thank you for reading my story and… see you to the next chapter :D :D :D.
Yugi95