Chapter Four

"The Room of Light"

Bloom sat on the stone bench, she had finished crying but still felt horrible. Flora sat next to her rubbing her back

"I'm sorry Bloom" she said and Bloom sniffled but Stella shouted

"Well I'm not!"

"Stella!" Flora glared at the blond a frown on her face

"What? If I hadn't brought us back here we would have died!" Stella snapped at the flower loving Flora, her hands started to curl into fists but Bloom shook her head

"It's fine Flora" Bloom moved her head so she was looking up, she moved slightly so she was looking at everyone and she sighed

"You should all get ready for the ceremony. I need some time alone" Bloom whispered as she found her head turning back down to look at the ground. The girls looked at one another as if to confirm that it was alright to leave and when it seemed that all of them thought it was the best Idea to do so Layla went over to Bloom and bent down, hugging her tightly

"If you need anything, Don't hesitate to come get us" she whispered and Bloom looked up at her, Nodding her head as Layla looked at the girls

"C'mon, we all need to get ready." she said as she lead the Winx out of the Alfea gardens.

Bloom was left alone in the garden now, staring down at her slowly drying palms

"I'm so weak" She whispered as she looked at her trembling fingers, She couldn't even save one little girl, and now they didn't know where she was or if she was even still alive! Bloom felt tears start to well up again just behind her eyes as she sniffled, this couldn't be happening, she had made a huge mistake thinking that they could fly out and take care of the problem, she had gotten cocky. Taking a deep breath to steel her resolve Bloom Stood up, She couldn't fix the problem by moping about.

"I am Bloom, Princess of Domino" She whispered as she looked up at the sky

"I am The fiancée of Sky, the King of Eracklyon. Daughter of Oritel and Marion, Vanessa and mike!" Bloom's lips started to tremble as she spoke the next words

"I am the strongest fairy! I wield of the Dragon flame and I will not let this...Klarin, ruin my world!" she said as a solidity appeared in her eyes, her confidence returning as she turned on her heel, she needed to speak to Faragonda about this, see if she knew anything about the missing planets, about Klarin, and about what she should do next.

Alfea; Faragonda's Office:

Bloom had easily found her way to the head mistresses office, she still felt confidence in her heart but she hesitated to knock on the large painted oak doors, Standing outside Faragonda's office for what felt like forever, listening to the much older women with the soothing familiar voice as Faragonda spoke to her Protégé just behind said doors. Taking a deep breath Bloom knew it was down or never, but just as she was about to knock Faragona's voice echoed toward her, telling her that she was more than welcome to just barge in, and so with the invitation Bloom easily pressed down on the handle and walked inside.

"Mrs. Faragonda?" She said as she looked over at the desk to see the aging head mistress sitting in her humongous high back chair. The ageing women smiled, she was starting wrinkle up like a fruit that had been sitting out to long..a sign that age had started to catch up with the women

"Please Sit Bloom. You've been standing outside my door long enough" Faragonda said and Bloom gladly accepted the invitation and sat in one of the twin chairs in front of the desk "Sorry" Bloom whispered, slightly embarrassed at being called out but Faragonda just waved her apology away

"Oh don't be, Mirta's just been practising her sensing abilities, you just so happened to be picked up" the woman smiled as Bloom looked over to the right to see Mirta waving to her and Bloom couldn't help the smile that came to her face as she heard the former witch, now very impressive fairy's, slightly scratchy but all to familiar voice

"How are you Bloom?" the Cherry red haired girl asked to Bloom's dismay

"I'm not quite sure...that's Why I came here to talk to you Mrs. F" Bloom sighed softly and Mirta looked down, Bloom couldn't help but notice how beautiful the former witch had become, Mirta looked nothing like she had when she had first met her in the woods years ago. She looked all grown up as she was now learning from Mrs. Faragonda in order to become the next head mistress of Alfea, The fairy wore black slacks and a black blazer with a white t-shirt underneath and a choker with a pumpkin on it around her neck. Mirta had grown out her hair so now the cherry red hair was now long and curly but she still wore her signature dark red lipstick...Even Bloom had to admit that Mirta had become a strong, powerful fairy that could probably even give the dragon fire a hard time. Bloom was caught up in inspecting how Mirta had changed that she almost didn't hear Faragonda ask

"What's wrong Bloom?" which caused Bloom to look over at the white haired woman

"It's about my family..." Bloom trailed off as she looked at the faded pink carpet

"And...a few other things" she whispered as she brought her hands together in worry she didn't hear Faragonda say anything which meant that the head mistress was waiting for her to continue

"Sky didn't arrive with the other's for the Ceremony, neither did Brandon" she whispered and Faragonda smiled but didn't say anything as instead Mirta spoke

"He is running a planet, did you try calling him? Maybe he's just late" Mirta tried to console Bloom, not knowing that she had already gone to Eracklyon. Bloom smiled and shook her head, but when Mirta opened her mouth to speak again Bloom looked up, her watering eyes stopped Mirta in her tracks

"Stella took me to Eracklyon..." and it was that sentence that made everything tumble out, she told Faragonda about meeting Sky's sister Mirinda, about the missing planet, about her travel to the moon Eris...and even though her voice cracked with emotion she managed to get passed her wavering voice in order to tell Faragonda about her failure

"I tried to stop this man... He called himself Klarin!" Bloom found herself burring her head into her hands again, she felt so ashamed at her failure, even more so now that she had said it aloud, the reality hitting her hard that she had for the first time in a long time failed, the silence in the room only making her want to sob harder, so it was a shock when Faragonda questioned her, speaking in a voice full of fear that Bloom hadn't heard since they learned about Valtor

"Are you sure...that he said Klarin" the head mistress had become as pale as her snowy white hair, her frail hands shaking as Bloom nodded her head. Mirta tried to console the aging head mistress but Faragonda shook her head

"no...please Mirta, Sit down" she whispered "I never thought...that this day would ever come" Faragonda said, the horror in the head mistresses voice causing Mirta to sit uneasily in the chair next to her and for Bloom's tears to stop immediately

"Head Mistress, please what's going on" Bloom asked worriedly as Faragonda took several deep breaths

"Klarin...It is a horrible name, a name that the company of light had banned anyone to speak after the suffering that was caused by his hands." Faragonda's eyed both of the girls

"We must warn everyone. The Fairy's, The Witch's, the Specialists, every King and Queen and Ruler from here to earth that Klarin has returned, and we must hide you both" a heavy silence stilled the room as Bloom pushed herself out of the chair

"That isn't happening!" Bloom found herself yelling "Why should I hide! I can take care of this! I just..." Bloom faltered "I just need your guidance, Please Head Mistress, tell me...no." Bloom gestured to Mirta

"Tell us, what is going on" she said, and to her surprise Faragonda stood up to walk over to the mirror, pushing on it to open the mirror into a secret passage way

"If it will make you understand" the older fairy whispered "Follow me, both of you" Faragonda said, leading them down twisted tunnels barely lit by flickering torches the two fairy's followed their head mistress down into a bejewelled corridor and to a pair of ornate golden doors

"This is the Room of Light. A secret room where the company of light stored things that they thought no one ever needed to see." Faragonda said as she pushed open the two doors. Inside where gemstones and statues, piles and piles of magical artifacts. Bloom tracked Faragonda over to a wall where she pulled a thick golden rope which in turn pulled a pair of curtains back to reveal a portrait at least thirty feet high, it was daunting! Bloom recognized several faces

"A family portrait..." Bloom whispered and Faragonda nodded

"Yes Bloom, a portrait of the royal family of Domino. It was painted the day you where born...the day of the attack" Faragonda said as Bloom walked toward it

"Its Oritel and Marion and Daphne..." Bloom whispered as she wanted to touch the portrait but instead kept her hand a few inches away from the fine painting. Faragonda walked over to Bloom, standing in between her and Mirta as they all looked at the portrait

"Yes, and you...in Queen Marion's arms twelve hours after you where born" Faragonda said before drawing their attention to the other man in the portrait, he was tall and muscular but the intimidation Bloom would have normally felt at seeing a man of his size vanished when she saw the tiny thing he held in his arms

"who is that..." Bloom whispered as she turned to look at Faragonda who could barely hold a smile

"The other child is your Cousin Princess Mirta, born just hours after you and the reason we must hide you both" Faragonda turned to look at the two girls, Mirta's mouth open just slightly as she gaped at her

"No...Mrs. Faragonda you got things mixed up. My mother was a Witch, My father was a merchant in Magix!" she said but Faragonda was already shaking her head

"Yes your mother was a Witch, a very powerful and smart witch that ran from Domino with you the moment the dark clouds of the Coven formed in the sky." She said, her arms crossed behind her back

"We do not know the whole story of how your mother managed to get off Domino or why Klarin stayed behind, but what we do know is that he was the one that gave the Coven a spark of the dragon fire in order to make Valtor, that he was the one in charge of the guards when the Coven attacked, and that he was the one that betrayed all of Domino to the Ancestresses that fateful day" Faragonda said

"When Bloom freed the people of Domino from Obsidian Klarin was not amongst those who returned so The Coven of light thought that he had perished when the Ancestresses attacked. We never thought that he would still be alive, nor do we know where he has been hiding this entire time doing what we can only assume is amassing his power in wait for this moment." Faragonda said as Mirta shook, she looked like she was going into shock but the head mistress didn't stop

"If he is still alive as Bloom says he will come for you Mirta, You are his blood, His daughter and he will want you to join him. He has already attempted to bring Bloom to his side and though he failed to do so, you he will not give up on, he would demand you join him. This is why we must hide you both" Faragonda said just at Mirta passed out but luckily Bloom moved fast as she grabbed Mirta and slowly moved to her knees in order to let Mirta's head rest in her lap

"Why didn't you stop..." Bloom whispered

"She needed to know, as did you." Faragonda said as she looked down at Bloom from where she stood

"I know what I did was harsh Bloom, but if I hadn't done what I just did I would not be able to tell you what I am about to tell you know" Faragonda said even though Bloom narrowed her eyes

"You are our most powerful fairy, but with Klarin alive you will be fighting against your own family. Will you be able to do this?" Faragonda asked but Bloom looked like she didn't trust her as she did everything but spit out the words at Faragonda's feet

"I thought you wanted me to go into hiding with Mirta, Hide like a coward!" Bloom was angry, no...not angry, the way her long red hair flicked around her face like living flames around a flying moth it was if Bloom was ready to use the Dragon fire right then.

"No Bloom...I needed Mirta to not interfere when I tell you this..." Faragonda closed her eyes before saying in a whisper that seemed to scream though the room

"Mirta will want to meet Klarin. We can not take the chance that she will be snared by his magic. It is with sorrow I say this Bloom but you must end Klarin's reign of terror before Mirta goes in search of him." at this statement Bloom's head snapped up to look at Faragonda, barely aware as she felt her arms go protectively around her cousin, Mirta, she had a cousin, it was hard to think that she was related to Mirta, that Mirta was her blood, but already Bloom felt like it was right

"Where will Mirta stay" Bloom said as she gently laid her cousin's curly haired head down on the marble floor.

"On Eracklyon with Sky and his sister Mirinda. I feel she will be comfortable knowing that she can contact you though him any time she needs, but she will not be aloud to leave the planet" Faragonda said, her eyes flicking down to Bloom's clenched fists

"For her protection. Once you defeat Klarin we will let her leave" she said which caused Bloom's fists to slowly uncurl

"Will you let Mirta see Klarin if I capture him?" she asked, which made Faragonda pause but eventually nod.

"Good." Bloom said, her words clipped

"Tell Mirta that I'm glad where related" Bloom added as she turned, headed out of the room of light but stopped when she felt a kind warm hand on her shoulder

"Be in my office tomorrow morning..." another pause from Faragonda

"and try to enjoy the ceremony." Faragonda smiled and Bloom couldn't help but look into her kind old eyes before looking away

"It just seems so wrong" Bloom whispered just in case Mirta could hear her in her sleep

"I know Bloom, I know" Faragonda's voice was sad, as if their was something more but Bloom didn't pry as she started walking again, feeling Faragonda's hand slowly slip off her shoulder. When she finally made her way to the stairs Bloom paused, her hand on the railing as she looked at the stone stair in front of her, was what she was about to do right?

Shaking her head Bloom started her assent up the stairs, did didn't weather to trust Faragonda or not, She wanted to trust the head mistress but something seemed off. Gritting her teeth as she stumbled over an uneven stone Bloom knew she would find out, she always did.