"Dad?! Mom?!" were Sky's first words when he stepped foot on Eraklyon. His parents heard his name and quickly dismissed their actions and ran to their son. "Sky! What are you doing here?"
"Why did you sent someone to poison King Radius?!" asked Sky, still shocked. His parents just grinned. "Why are you grinning like that?"
"VALTOR!" They hear Bloom yell, the aura around Valtor was so dark. Tecna takes a glance at Valtor and at Sky's parents. Both of their auras match, and Bloom's was nearing it as well.
"Bloom!" Tecna called, Bloom looked back and saw her friends looking at her. Tecna was giving her a warning glare. "Don't get carried away!"
"You're serious?" Bloom joked, continuously attacking Valtor. "You think I would stop attacking him?"
Sky was nearby. A detail Bloom noticed. She noticed that every time he was near or around her, she would always see normally, with colors. Without him, her world is without color, dull and ugly.
"Stop or this will turn out worse than expected!" Sky warned, causing Bloom to stop in her tracks. "Your choice Bloom!"
"Fine!" Bloom huffed, releasing Valtor from her trap, resulting in him and Sky's parents running away together. "What do you want?"
"We want you to explain why are you so furious and acting so self-centered!" Sky asked, also getting mad. "How did you know that Valtor was cooperating with my parents as soon as you saw Stella's phone? Why are you hiding so many things from us?!"
"When did I have to say everything to you?!" Bloom retorted, insulted. "It's my choice who to trust!"
"You're avoiding the question Bloom!" Aisha snapped, glaring at Bloom. "Stop adding questions when you haven't answered ours!"
"Oh what is this? An interrogation?" Bloom mocked, making them angrier. "MY question leads to yours! Stop acting like all of you are the superior!"
"Why are you being so self-centered then?" Flora asked, her calm tone distant from her voice.
"I'll explain jeez!" Bloom said, trying to hide her exploding temper. "I know it was Valtor beforehand because I have the Dragon Fire! Have any of you forgotten? Or were you so clouded up with my parent's problem that you forgot about it? Why didn't I say it? It wasn't the right time yet! My mind was still a blur. Why do I keep hiding stuff from all of you? HAVEN'T YOU NOTICED?! Mike cheated on Vanessa! Meaning I can't trust Mike! I just want to be cautious! I don't want the past to repeat! Not like I don't trust any of you, I just want to be careful! None of you know the pain of knowing that first, your parents hid the fact that they actually adopted you, not gave birth to you. That you aren't their legitimate child. Second, none of you know the pain of betrayal when you see your foster parents cheat. You all came from well-off families! Yes, I am also from a well-off family. But again, I'll say it again. I just want to be careful! You think I would mind seeing the past repeat itself? Like Vanessa now cheating on Mike for revenge? YOU THINK I WANT THAT? My family is falling apart! Stella, her father is dying! And you're wasting your time listening to my rant when you, Brandon, must be at her side! What kind of friend are you?! All I wanted is to help Stella!"
Before any of them had the chance to speak, Bloom interrupted again. "I'm heading back to Earth."
"By yourself? You're joking right?" Sky asked, trying to lighten up the mood.
Bloom didn't respond nor did she look at them. She opened a portal back home and went inside. Not daring to look back even once. Her vision turned to black and white yet again.
"Stella's father!" Brandon asked, guilty at Bloom's accusation. "I'm heading to Solaria, see you guys later."
"We're all coming," They all said, Tecna opened a portal to Solaria and they all stepped inside. The view crunched Brandon's heart as he silently cried, without any of their notice.
"Stella," Brandon whispered, guilty for leaving her side.
"Stella," King Radius muttered to his young princess, nearing death. "Take care of your mother okay?"
"I will," Stella promised, crying into her father's shoulder. She was overwhelmed. Her father is dying, and it might be because of that female doctor Eraklyon sent. "I love you dad."
That was the first 'I love you' Stella has ever said to Radius. King Radius and his daughter have been close, but never expressed it by saying 'I love you.' They always hug each other and give words of appreciation, but none has said 'I love you.'
Stella awaited for a response from her dad. She waited an 'I love you too' from Radius. She closed her eyes tightly and waited. But it never came. She slowly opened her eyes and cried even harder. Her dad's eyes that were full of care, protectiveness, and joy were now dull, lifeless, and full of death. Stella's 'I love you' to her dad was heard, but she will now never hear Radius say the same thing again.
Stella was a mess. She was saddened by her father's death. Her mother sitting by her father's beside, caressing his cheek gently. Stella continued crying for many minutes until a familiar voice was heard.
"Stella," Brandon whispered, guilty for leaving her side when she needed him most. "I'm sorry."
"I'll never hear him say 'I love you' to me," Stella cried, her tears sharing to Sky and the Winx. "Where's Bloom?"
"She said that she'll go home to Earth, she got mad at us and wanted to cool down," explained Sky, his head lowering.
The silence in the room was unbearable for many. They pitied Stella and in the dire situation she was in and what Valtor put herself in. The Winx promised to defeat him after she finally coped and was well enough to beat him. Stella promised her mom to end it all. Her father wasn't the one to converse with Queen Luna, but deep inside they actually love each other despite the harsh words and the hatred both displays to one another leading to their divorce.
Meanwhile with Bloom, she was upset with herself. She didn't mean to hide everything from her friends. She already put her burden on their shoulders. They already have Stella's to deal with and adding another predicament of hers just makes their load heavier and Bloom will much rather want her friends at ease. She looked back at when Mike asked her if she witnessed what he did and she lied. After a few moments, she saw Vanessa display regret. Bloom's thoughts wondered to any part of her life where she saw Vanessa and Mike together. What act could've made Vanessa regret it?
No thought comes to mind. She realizes that she hasn't seen her mother ever since she went to her flower shop. Assuming that she's still coping, Bloom didn't go and visit. Unbeknownst to Bloom and Mike, both weren't aware that either was in the house and in their respective rooms. Sarah was with Mike of course, because they are taking Vanessa's betrayed state to their advantage. Her phone vibrated, because she put her phone on silent mode. She looked at the Caller ID and sighed. She didn't want to talk to the guys or girls yet after what happened earlier, but she had to answer to not raise suspicion.
"What?" Bloom asked, answering the phone call. "I don't want to talk. Not after what happened."
"After what happened?" the voice answered, Stella was on the other line. "I need you right now."
"Why?" Bloom asked again, her tone of voice still dull and out of life.
"Bloom," Stella gulped, surprised at Bloom's tone of voice. The rest were equally surprised too, for Bloom was on speaker phone. "What's with your voice? Why is it so dull and out of life?"
"Maybe because I feel that way?" Bloom answered, looking out of her bedroom window to relax. "Sorry I can't go and Stella, condolences. I have some stuff to reflect on, I'll be there the day after okay?"
"Sure?" Stella asked, hesitant that Bloom will be there. "Promise?"
"Promise," Bloom assured, ending the call after.
Bloom went to her table that was given to her when it was her 6th birthday. Mike realized that Bloom was talented at drawing and both her a table so that she can draw easier.She remembers Mike giving it to her on her birthday.
"Happy birthday Bloom!" Mike greeted, in his hand was a huge box. Bloom smiled in delight.
"What is that daddy?" 6-year-old Bloom asked, tugging on to Mike's new leather jeans. "I wanna see!"
"Hold on Bloom," came Vanessa's sweet voice entering her room. "Daddy has to set it up yet."
"Okay!" Bloom replied, skipping to play with her dolls and toys. After some time, she fell asleep.
Vanessa watched as Mike assembled his gift and while Bloom slept soundly. She adored them both and loved them both so much. Although Bloom was adopted, she loved her like her own daughter. Like one of her own. It was difficult at first, trying to love a child like you're their legitimate mother, but she got through it.
"Vanessa, isn't she adorable?" Mike was mesmerized by Bloom. He found her cute. "I can't wait to show her gift to her! It will be so useful for any works she will do. Her creativity will be shown and this, is a huge part in her childhood years."
"What will be useful daddy?" asked a sleepy Bloom, she sat up from her bed and looked at Mike curiously. "What do you mean—Is that a table?"
"Yes my sweet Bloom," Mike cooed, holding Bloom's fragile hand towards her gift. "Do you like drawing?"
"I love drawing!" Bloom cheered, with so much delight in her voice. "Can I use it dad? Mom?"
"Of course you can," Vanessa agreed, giving her simple drawing materials like pencils and papers. "Here, would you like to draw now?"
"Yeah but,"—Bloom's cheery face turned into a frown—"What should I draw?"
"Draw anything that suits you," Vanessa replied, Bloom's hands wander off and she draws something that brings Vanessa and Mike to tears, happy tears. "Oh that's beautiful honey."
"Is it?" Bloom asked again for reconfirmation, on the paper was a drawing of them three, and they were all happy. "Look mommy! That's you, daddy, and me!"
"It is!" Mike laughed, lifting Bloom in his hands. "I love you my sweet child."
Bloom fell asleep right then and there.
"He loved me," Bloom cried, doing a small tantrum in her bedroom to not awake Mike and Sarah. "He always did, what happened now?"
Although Bloom was on the edge with Mike, she still cared for him. After all, he raised her to be like that. She had the urge to go talk to Mike regarding that. She just needed to but she was scared. She had the guts to just scream in their face without thinking but still, it hurt.
I'll do it.
Bloom exits her room.
What happens if they get mad?
She slowly walked over to their room where moans can be heard.
Is this the right choice I'm making?
"Mike?"—Bloom knocked on the door.—"Mike?"
The door revealed a very angry Sarah. She was beyond furious perhaps, at least that was what Bloom assumed.
Little did Bloom know that she accidentally called Stella. The pressure she put on herself and twiddling with her pockets lead to that. And unluckily for Stella and the rest, they had to hear something that would distract them for some time.
"Bloom?" Stella called, looking at the caller ID again to be sure. "Girls! Bloom called, but she isn't talking back."
"Really?" Flora asked, peeking over Stella's shoulder. "It is her, but why isn't she talking back?"
"Something we all want to know," Tecna added, nodding her head. "Musa? Aisha? Any words?"
"I'll just agree," Aisha replied, also nodding her head. "That is really fishy."
"Wait guys," Musa said, sensing something from the call. "There is someone talking. Tecna, can you increase the volume?"
"There," Tecna said, adjusting the volume.
"Dad?" Bloom called, the Winx were shocked. Bloom doesn't address Mike as dad anymore so why now? "Oh, is dad here?"
"You're mom is here, if that's who you're looking for, but unfortunately, you're not looking for me are you?" Sarah's voice was heard from the phone. "What's wrong Bloom? I'm correct."
"I need to talk to him," Bloom's voice didn't change tone. "Dad!"
"Huh?" Mike said, sitting up from his bed. "What do you want brat?"
"Please, can we talk?" Bloom begged, the Winx was getting bugged.
"Why is she being so kind?" Aisha asked, getting irritated. "You can see that both are being both so cold to her yet she is being so kind. What is that?!"
"Fine,"—Mike let out a sigh.—"Sarah, out."
"You're kicking me out?!" Sarah said, upset. "You can't just make me flee just like that!"
"This is personal," Mike hissed, scaring Sarah. "Now go."
"Fine." Sarah walked out in fury.
"Now what is it Bloom?"
"Do you still love me?"
"Of course I do…...it's just, Vanessa got boring."
"That doesn't count."
"Of course it does!"
"Cheating on your wife? She was part of my childhood when I was younger. She raised me to be who I am, alongside you. Remember the table you gave to me for drawing? Remember? You were so caring and loving. You were a father to me. What happened now? All because you broke up with Vanessa doesn't mean it won't affect her only and you and Sarah and whoever else is part. It hurts you know, it hurts a lot."
"Bloom….."
"And now you get all soft on me?"
"I'm sorry, it's just that—"
"Vanessa is boring. Yeah, I know. No wonder you kicked her out."
"That's not it!"
"Then?"
"It's just that, I was in the wrong mind. I'm so sorry, deeply sorry."
"Then break up with Sarah."
"But I just couldn't do that!"
"Of course he can't!" Sarah's voice boomed to the fact that the Winx's ears almost bled. "He loves me!"
"Leave us alone Sarah!" Mike commanded, this was the first time Mike got mad at her. "Get out!"
"And you too Bloom," Mike requested, with a much nicer tone. "I'll handle her. Thank you for that talk."
Before Bloom left their room, she looked back and saw Mike mouth words that she awaited for so long. 'I love you.'
The Winx could hear Bloom's crying on the other end, but they weren't worried. They know that this is her shedding happy tears.