A/N: Again, I can't thank you enough for your support! By the way, anyone excited for the return of Valtor in the new season?! I can't wait!
* Nonna = Grandmother (in Italian)
Chapter 9
Flashback
"Honey will you please hold your sister for me?" her mother asked. During the last couple of weeks, Daphne discovered that nothing was as exciting or as beautiful as handling her baby sister. Except for when Denisse was hungry and attempted to chew her fingers off.
"Just be sure to support her head, like this" Marion instructed while accommodating the child in her arms.
She then turned around and left the room in a rush. Today, there would be an important meeting with the council and she still had to get ready, even though she didn't really need to. Daphne thought her mother was simply gorgeous and didn't see the need for her to wear any makeup, but she chose to anyway. It was all part of a Queen´s duty, she guessed. Daphne was well aware that someday she would have to do the same. But frankly, she was a little more worried about being prepared both intellectually and in strength. And her parents had long ago dominated both.
Ever since her little sister´s arrival, it´d become something normal for her parents to run a little late sometimes. Her mom especially. The maids were always there to help of course, but the King and Queen believed that their children came before the Kingdom, and they refused to leave their roles as parents to the maids, like other monarchs were used to doing.
Suddenly, Denisse started crying, bringing her out of her thoughts.
"There, there Bloom, please don't cry", she tried nervously, rocking the baby in her arms, back and forth. Maybe a little too fast to be considered soothing. She couldn't be hungry, their mother had just finished feeding and burping her.
"I´ve got it!"
With just a bit of magic, Daphne created a beautiful luminescent map of the magical dimension and a few other worlds just outside of it. It took up all four walls of the bedroom and the ceiling, bright and colorful and displaying some of the most important sights and monuments she´d learned about. Denisse was immediately entranced by what she saw, making funny noises and turning her head slowly in every direction.
"Do you like what you see?" Daphne whispered. She pointed at one specific spot.
"That over there, is Linphea, a realm dedicated to nature. You wouldn't believe all the species of flowers they have!"
"That´s Alfea, the school I wanted to go to…Oh and that right there is Domino, see? That´s our home",
Daphne gazed at the map, she was more and more amazed each day by the wonders that surrounded them. Especially as she looked at the other worlds outside of their vast magical universe. Some of them were said to be powered by the magic of their own inhabitants. Others were completely oblivious to magic, like a small planet that she´d studied recently, called Earth. Nevertheless, it was said to be a pretty peaceful place. Denisse seemed to follow the direction of her gaze, stretching her tiny arms out in an attempt to touch the map.
Daphne kissed the top of her head where diminutive red hairs were beginning to grow.
"There´s no magic there Bloom, none whatsoever".
"Daphne, I´ll be-"Oritel said, and stopped abruptly.
"Well, isn't this interesting? I see someone´s been studying very hard" he said, entering the bedroom and looking around. Daphne blushed.
"Come here, my love" he said, taking the baby from Daphne´s arms.
"Your big sister did an excellent job watching after you, didn't she? She´s even giving you geography lessons", he mused, stroking Daphne´s hair lightly.
"Daphne", someone was calling her name,
"The earth is a place with no magic…"
"Daphne, answer me!" There was that voice again.
"You´ll watch her this afternoon, won´t you? Your Nonna will be here to help"
"Daphne!"
She sat up straight, gasping for air.
"Are you okay?" Emmett asked her, concern was written all over his face.
"I think so…" she said, rubbing her eyes with both hands. Had she been asleep?! But it felt so real…
"I came in to talk, and you were practically floating in your sleep, then you started mumbling something", he said confused. She still couldn't seem to wrap her head around it. Daphne remembered that day so vaguely. But of all the fuzzy memories, why had she seen that one in particular? Was there something important in it? Something about that day that her subconscious wanted her to remember? Maybe her Nonna knew something that could help...?
"What exactly was I saying? I hope it wasn't anything too embarrassing" she said, blushing. She´d never been the kind to talk in her sleep or anything of the sort. If it had been someone other than her dear cousin walking in on the episode, she would´ve been mortified!
"I…don't really know. I mean I didn't fully understand it, but you kept mumbling something about…other worlds, and the Earth, and something like that",
"I was talking about the Earth…?" she thought about it for a moment, "I think I need to go to the library", Emmett placed a restraining hand on her shoulder.
"Maybe you should wait a bit before you go anywhere, Daph, you look a little drained", he observed. She hated to admit it but he was probably right, her worrisome and restless nights were starting to affect her.
"I´ll feel a lot better after we get there, I promise",
"Fine, then I´m coming with you",
-x-x-x-x-
"Are you sure it´s okay for us to be in here?" Emmett asked, a little fearful. Which was understandable, considering he had only been in there once during their childhood.
"Don´t worry, my dad´s always given me permission to do my research in here",
Her father´s library wasn't as big as the one at the academy, but its contents were very special, nevertheless. And it was still just as serene as she remembered it. There was plenty of sunlight coming in through a large round window in the ceiling. Many of the books had been passed down by their ancestors, and others had been gifted to them.
"What is this one about? Is it…?"Daphne followed his gaze to the book that lied in the very center of the room. Before he could finish, she nodded.
"It´s the book of destiny. It´s meant to register every event in the history of our family". Emmett gazed at it, doubtfully.
"I don't get it. If your entire history is written in that book, shouldn't you´re little sister´s be in there too?"
"Unfortunately, it´s not. It was one of the first things I did as soon as I returned. But it hits a dead end right after the battle with the three ancestresses. It´s no use",
They continued browsing through the library;
"There has to be about ten thousand books in this place! You´ve seriously read all of them?!" he asked, suddenly alarmed. Daphne laughed. Leave it to Emmett to make reading look like a crime scene, she thought. He was one of the best, most talented wizards in the universe. And so he loved reading spells, not history.
"The majority of them, yes. It´s always been one of my favorite hobbies",
"Then I think it´s time you take up new hobbies. As many as you possibly can" he said, chuckling. She rolled her eyes, but he had somewhat of a point. She couldn't really picture herself doing anything else other than picking up a good book, or spending time with her family. The only new and exciting thing she was doing was teaching at Alfea, and even that involved plenty of reading.
"I think I´ll pass for now" Daphne said, reaching for a book on one of the shelves. She skimmed through it, analyzing its contents rather quickly. She did the same with a few more of them before realizing how hopelessly long it would take.
"Maybe if you tell me what you´re looking for, I can help" her cousin offered.
"There´s an entire section about the different realms of our universe, but the book I´m looking for is about a world outside of it"
"Let me guess, Earth? If this is about that dream you had, then maybe you should just relax. I mean it was only a dream" he said, looking at an old newspaper article.
"It was more than just a dream, Emmett. I just can´t seem to shake the feeling that there´s something there",
"Something on Earth?! Look, don't get me wrong, Daph. I don't mean to sound insensitive, but there´s absolutely no trace of magic on that planet, why waste your time?" he asked. Daphne sighed.
"I´m not sure I know the answer to that, but I at least need to try",
"In that case", he stated, and pronounced a short spell. Within seconds, several books were floating down from the shelves and levitating in front of them.
"One of these books must contain what you´re looking for", he said, still concentrating on the topic they were looking for.
"I owe you one" she said smiling wholeheartedly. He grinned.
"You´ll owe me more than you think for having to look through all of these"
Valtor looked at the images playing in front of him, in a crystal-like mirror.
He slowly made his way toward a nearby table, and banged his fist against it in absolute frustration. This new relationship that was developing between Marion and Bloom was in no way beneficial. Neither of the two would get in his way this time, and he would make sure of it. In fact, he would attack every single realm within the magical universe in order to keep the royals busy, if that´s what it took.
Valtor already knew of Bloom´s unsuspecting nature. But never had he imagined to witness something like this. In fact, he found the entire ordeal to be pretty comical. Poor Bloom had fallen for one of the dimension´s most promising royals. And to no one´s surprise, he was engaged. It was pathetic to say the very least. The Prince´s fiancée however, nearly buried Bloom alive with her words.
He recognized the Prince as Erandor´s son, Sky. Nothing entertained Valtor more than watching Oritel´s brat suffer but something about her closeness with the prince nauseated him. Perhaps because he hadn't expected the keeper of the dragon´s flame to be so extremely oblivious. The prince had managed to find the way to Bloom´s heart and damage her with only a few sweet words? Truthfully, it was a disgrace to Domino.
Now, Valtor wasn't particularly fond of him, but his fiancée on the other hand…He knew that look in her eyes too damn well. Mainly because it was the same look that accompanied him throughout his imprisonment in the Omega dimension. It was that thirst for revenge. Princess Diaspro wanted nothing more than to finish Bloom off that much was obvious. And although he couldn't allow it to happen, he also couldn't supress his hatred for the royal family or his need to put them to their misery.
If anyone wanted their ruin as much as he did, it was Diaspro.
He passed his hand swiftly over the mirror, watching as the images changed.
-x-x-x-x-
Diaspro paced her room, lost in thought. She warned those useless maids not to disturb her under any circumstances, until further notice.
She still couldn't understand what went wrong. She´d done everything she could, hadn't she? There was no way that measly beggar could be considered as her equal. She hated to remember the girl´s face.
Her parents had been outraged upon receiving the news. Sky´s parents claimed to be deeply sorry on behalf of their son, but they also said they couldn't force him. Samara had said that even though she and Erendor disagreed with Sky´s decision, society considered him an adult and it was his choice to make. What good was all their fortune and power if they couldn't command their own son?! Diaspro felt betrayed. Not only by Prince Sky, but by his parent´s as well. If they truly had Eraklyon´s best interest in mind, they would´ve supported her. They should´ve ordered Sky to keep his word. Diaspro gazed at her reflection in the mirror bitterly, twirling one of her thick curls around her finger.
"I´d love to see their reaction once they meet her…"
She remained that way for a few moments, until she recognized something strange…it was as if someone stood on the other side of the mirror staring back.
Diaspro´s hand flew to her chest as she gasped loudly.
"Princess Diaspro, it's a pleasure to finally meet you" he said, smiling darkly.
"W-who are you?! How did you get into my room?" she demanded, clearly startled.
"It´s not my intention to disturb you, only to help. You see, I know a lot more about you than you may think",
"And yet I´ve never seen you in my life! Leave before I call security!"
With a snap of his fingers, he brought up a shield in front of her bedroom door.
"It would be a shame. The deal I´ve come to offer you is of great interest to both us, I´m sure", he said, walking around the room, completely unaffected by her threat.
"A deal? What kind of deal, and why me?" she asked, taken aback.
"Simple. Because we both have something in common. I happen to know that a certain fairy named Bloom has stripped you of what you wanted most", her eyes widened.
"You know her?" her attitude was no longer defiant, but intrigued, entranced by his words and his rich, deep voice.
"That´s why I´m here. Because I too have a score to settle, as you do",
Diaspro crossed her arms over her chest and turned away.
"What I have with Bloom is so much more than a vendetta. Not only did she steal the love of my life, but the opportunity of a lifetime. She may have fooled Sky but she hasn't fooled me! She´s nothing more than an intruder whose after Sky´s crown and fortune, I´m sure of it! She must´ve been desperate", Diaspro said darkly.
"I seem to have proven my point", Valtor said, chuckling at her outburst.
"What was that deal you were talking about?" she said, her voice filled with conviction.
"You see princess, Bloom is far from being the beggar that you think she is",
"What do you mean?"
"You do want Bloom to remain in that position, am I correct?"
"Absolutely! It´s exactly where she belongs", she replied coldly.
"Very well then. In that case, this will be of great help", he said, creating a dark red orb in his hands, which immediately faded to a lighter color. Valtor grinned as Diaspro stared in wonder. A small portion of his own dark dragon flame would be enough to fool the King and Queen of Domino for a while. They couldn't sense Bloom´s dragon flame, for it was weak still. But this, they would sense. He didn't care if they realized this was all a cheap deception. Nothing would give him more satisfaction than watching their renewed optimism burn to ashes.
"Believe it or not, Bloom is a very important person. Even far more important than you"
"We´re obviously not talking about the same person, or else you´re out of your mind!" she said, flabbergasted.
"Actually we are…you see, she doesn't even know it. And I´ll make sure she doesn't find out. As long as you take her place for some time. I assure you that you´ll have a fortune five times greater than the one you now possess" he said, his voice filled with promise.
"But how is that even possible?!…who is she?" Diaspro´s stare was wary now.
"You´ll know shortly. If you agree to do exactly as I say",
"But what if someone finds out? I look nothing like her"
"That should be the least of your concerns. And yes, eventually, you´ll be discovered. But no one will ever know that you were at fault. You´ll merely be a victim of the circumstances. And you´ll be left with the satisfaction of taking something from her in exchange. Something far more superior to your precious prince", Valtor said, resisting the urge to roll his eyes.
Of course Marion and Oritel would discover his scheme. They were vulnerable, not stupid.
Because his dragon flame was dark, and because it didn't originate from Diaspro herself, it wouldn't last long. But while they were kept occupied with the return of their daughter, he would have full access to Bloom, the real princess of Domino. Even a short amount of time would be more than enough.
She nodded vigorously.
"Where do we begin?"
Bloom called home and told her father all about her terrible week. Truthfully, she wanted nothing more than to go back home to Earth and stay there for a while. There were times when Diaspro´s words played over in her head, and she felt insecure again. Like she truly wasn't good enough for a school like Alfea. But then there was Queen Marion who, like her friends, believed she was worth it. Mike was surprised (to say the least) that there were monarchs in the magical dimension, aside from witches, elves, pixies, and talking plants, amongst other things. But he was happy to know that she´d found consolation in someone as affectionate as the Queen.
What Bloom still failed to mention (to anyone) was her new friendship with Hagen. For some unknown reason, it seemed like whenever she was ready to bring up the subject, something new and more important came up, like the attack on Andros. But so far, he was turning out to be pretty cool. He even took the time to listen to her rant about her problems back at home the other day. Something she was grateful for, it certainly allowed her to take some pressure off her chest.
"So the royals of Domino invited you to their home? Oh Bloom, that´s so awesome!" Flora said, excitedly. It was late in the afternoon and they'd been assigned a fairly small amount of homework, so it was a good chance to sit back and relax.
"Tell me about it, that´s not something you see every day", Stella said. Musa stopped playing her flute and looked over her shoulder,
"So B, when are you going?"
"I don't know girls, maybe it´s not such a good idea", she said, laying on her stomach. Stella looked at her, bemused.
"Wait a minute, are you serious? I think it´s a great opportunity, mind you",
"I know it is but Princess Daphne is our teacher now. What if she thinks that I´m trying to pass the semester by warming up to her parents, or something",
Layla furrowed her brows, "Okay, now it sounds a little awkward",
"Actually, that´s not such a bad idea", Stella muttered while applying her makeup. Tecna entered the room, setting her laptop and a notebook down on the table,
"True. But the Queen probably expects you to accept her invitation, you wouldn't want to hurt her feelings" she said, curtly. Flora walked over and put her arm around Bloom´s shoulders, reassuringly.
"I´m sure the princess will understand, sweetie. Besides, Stella has a point, you´ve been through a lot these last couple of days, maybe a trip is just what you need".
Bloom smiled in response. She still felt a little self-conscious, but the more she considered the idea of traveling to another part of the magical dimension, the more excited she was. After all, the only place Bloom really knew was Magix. And thanks to Stella, she knew the city almost like the back of her hand, with all the shopping they did.
"By the way you guys, Ms. Faragonda wants to see us. It's about the attack on Andros. Apparently the council is trying to organize some sort of ´search committee´ to find Valtor and they might ask for our help. But they´ll have to train us, first", Tecna informed them.
"The company is coming to train us?! This is going to be worse than Griselda´s self-defense class! I can already feel it" Stella groaned.
"But how are we supposed to find someone we´ve never seen before?" Flora asked.
"The headmistress said that she and the other members of the Company fought against him. So I figure they´ll describe him for us?"
"A faceless criminal, this only makes things harder", Layla said.
Bloom clutched the medallion hanging around her neck. This Valtor guy was a monster. Someone who was capable of hurting an innocent child couldn't be called by any other name. Face or no face, they would find him.
She owed it to the Queen.