Oh boy. Bloom really doesn't want to tell people what she saw in the Infinite Ocean. That's understandable. After all, Bloom just saw her closest friends as mutants. Wouldn't you be reluctant to tell people if your best friends turned into hideous beasts?

Chapter 9: A Fairy's Guide to Time Travel

"What type of smoothie do you recommend?" Daphne finally asked Klaus. Everyone else had long ordered, but Daphne had been staring at the menu for fifteen extra minutes. "I've never had one before."

"If you've never had a smoothie before, I'd recommend starting with as simple a mixture as possible," Klaus grinned. "How about a strawberry-banana?"

"All right," Daphne agreed.

"Glad you've finally decided," Klaus winked as he went over to the counter with the orders. He began blending. Soon Roxy came over with the drinks.

"Bloom?" Roxy asked gently. "Is everything okay?"

Bloom tried to answer, but found that she couldn't. Bloom was sobbing.

Daphne hugged Bloom. "There there, little sister." She turned towards Mike and Vanessa. "Bloom's had a rough day."

"What happened, sweetie?" asked Mike.

Bloom was crying too hard to answer, so Daphne told the whole story from the beginning. From the first sign of trouble Tritannus gave the Winx to the activation of the Emperor's Throne, Daphne didn't miss a detail. A good thing, too, because Bloom was so miserable that she didn't feel like correcting her sister.

By the time Daphne had finished the story Bloom had cried herself dry. Everyone at the table was quiet for a moment.

"That's horrible," Vanessa finally said. "Bloom, Daphne, if there's anything I can do to help, I'll do it."

Bloom grinned. "Thanks, Mom."

"Bloom, you and Daphne are the last two Sirenix fairies in existence. Only you two can prevent whatever future Icy and Tritannus intend to give the universe," Morgana insisted.

"Future? That's it!" Daphne cried. She jumped out of her chair in a supposed 'Eureka!' moment.

"What's it?" Mike asked.

"Chrono-magic!" Daphne exclaimed. She looked around for approval.

She didn't get it.

"How is casting a spell to see the past going to help us?" Bloom asked.

"Chrono-magic can do more than just show the past," Daphne insisted. "Do you know how the clocks in the Fairy Clock Room at Alfea are powered?"

"Uh, with the same stuff that powers all clocks?" Bloom guessed.

"No, Bloom," Daphne replied. "The clocks in the Fairy Clock Room are the only clocks in the known universe that run on magic. All other clocks in the Magical Dimension run in different ways depending on the clock, just like on Earth." Daphne paused to take a sip of her smoothie. "Wow! These smoothie things aren't half bad. Anyway," Daphne continued. "Using chrono-magic to look into the past is an extremely difficult spell. That's why the clocks in the Fairy Clock Room are powered by magic. The bit of magic controlling the clocks helps the spell get cast. Only the clocks in the Fairy Clock Room can show the past."

Bloom shook her head. "I don't get it. Does this mean that other clocks aren't affected by chrono-magic?"

Now Daphne was shaking her head. "Other clocks can be affected by chrono-magic, but in the opposite way. Ordinary clocks show the future."

Bloom was still confused. "But doesn't the future have endless possibilities? How can you watch just one future when the future branches off in so many different ways?"

"The Room of Faraway Reflections always shows the most likely future," Daphne explained."

"So, we can look into the future to see what Icy and Tritannus will do to the Magical Dimension, so that we can figure out how to prevent it from happening?" Bloom suggested.

"There's a better way to prevent their plans than just looking into the future," Daphne replied. "I didn't tell you to do this when I told you to look for the Room of Faraway Reflection because it's illegal to do so with the past. But it's legal for the future."

"What is, Daphne?" Bloom asked, although she had a feeling that she already knew.

Daphne grinned. "Time travel."

Silence.

Roxy shook her head. "That doesn't sound like a good idea. Won't the smallest interaction in another time alter the space-time continuum?"

"That's only if you go into the past," Daphne explained. "If you go into the future, sure you can change things, but it won't affect the present. That's why it's illegal to go back in time, unless it's to return to your own time." She turned towards her sister. "Well, Bloom? Shall I show you how to travel through time?"

Bloom didn't want to. Sure, she wanted to save the Winx and the rest of the universe, but the future might be Tritannus' territory. If he manages to take over, that is. There were other questions as well. What if Bloom could go back to the present? Could she defeat a major enemy without her five friends?

I'm not alone, Bloom told herself. Daphne will be by my side. I have people who love and support me back in my time. And besides, I've never backed down from a fight before. Why should I start now, when the girls are depending on me?

"I'll do it," Bloom agreed.

"All right, Bloom," said Daphne. "Let's cast the spell together. That way we can enter the Room of Faraway Reflections together."

Bloom nodded. The sisters turned towards the clock in the Frutti Music Bar. But before they cast the spell, Bloom looked back at Mike, Vanessa, Roxy, Klaus, and Morgana. It was a look that promised Bloom's return. Bloom wasn't sure how accurate her promises were, now that she broke her promise to return to the Winx. But it was better than nothing.

The spell had been cast; Bloom and Daphne disappeared, and rematerialized in the Room of Faraway Reflections.

The mirrors looked foggy. Bloom couldn't see any hint of the future in the reflections.

"Why don't I see anything?" she asked Daphne.

"Usually you can't see the future right away. You have to cast another spell to see it," Daphne explained. "It's to assure that the wrong people don't see their futures and try to exploit others. You can still go into the future without the reflections showing."

"How do we travel there?" Bloom asked.

Daphne took Bloom's hand and laid her palm on the nearest mirror. Daphne then placed her own palm on the same mirror.

Once they were both touching the mirror, Bloom and Daphne began to be pulled though the mirror. Bloom closed her eyes as she went though what felt like a waterfall…

…And opened her eyes to see the worst future possible.