Disclaimer:
I don't own Winx Club. It belongs to Iginio Straffi and is produced by Rainbow S.p.A.
Multi-part story
Summary:
Flora's past meets her present, but there are still some secrets left to be seen. Will Flora be able to rise above all the drama, or will the shadows of her past shallow her whole? What will happen to the Winx? And what are the Trixs up to?
You'll have to read to find out...
This is the second section of Nature's story.
Nature's Shadow
Part 3: Chills
Summer Castle Reception Hall
Night 3: Winter
"Introducing the Winter Queendom of the North," a paige called out, "Their royal highnesses, King Coldin and Queen Adair, and the sons and daughter: Prince Jasper, Prince Gabriel, Princess Holly and Princess Freesa."
The men dressed in blues and silvers tuxedos and the girls in deep blue gowns and matching gloves. The royal family descended down the stairs into the ballroom had been transformed into a winter wonderland. The pillars around the room were wrapped in blue and silver fabric. Crystal candlesticks were floating all round the room. The fountain was a clear pond that had frost all round it.
Flora was sitting on the edge of the fountain, looking down at her reflection. This vacation was becoming one horrible mess for Flora, and it was driving her insane trying to deal with everything. First, Darius comes back, and then her father comes back, and now all this was happening.
"You know that frown of your is a sad site to see," Ash said, coming up behind her.
"All I wanted was for you all and them to meet and everyone get along, and then come here and have great time, and that's all falling apart," Flora said, turning to look at Ash.
"Everything difficult thing that happens in life builds up relationships. Only associations fail apart when things get rough," Ash answered, offering his hand. Flora smiled, and allowed him the help her stand. Ash took her hand and then escorted her around the room.
"Everything will work out Flora," Ash said, "It always does."
"What if it does," Flora asked, "They are acting so out of character, or it this what was always there."
"I think..." Ash started.
"That you've monopolized enough of my daughter's time," a voice from behind the pair said.
Flora turned around to find her father and stepmother standing behind her. She also saw Darius standing a ways off with his father.
"Flora," Margery, her stepmother, greeted her.
"Hello," Flora replied.
"I need to speak with my daughter," Flora's father said, glaring at Ash.
"I'll be at the fountain if you need me," Ash said to Flora before walking away.
"Hello, Father," Flora said, once Ash was away.
"Just when I begin to see you as not a disappointment you go a pull a stunt like today," Her father said, not even bothering to greet his daughter.
"I have done until to be ashamed of," Flora said, standing up straighter.
"Embarrassing your betrothal is something to be ashamed of," Her father said.
"I have no betrothal," Flora said.
"Yes, you do…The Duke of CasterRock has agreed to the match of you and his son Darius," her father said.
"No," 'Flora said.
"Yes," Her father said, demising her responce, "The family with finally has some standing at court."
"Through my missery," Flora said.
"Your marriage will be a marvelous elevation for the family," her father said.
Flora couldn't believe what she was hearing. It was like every nightmare she had before going to Alfea. She couldn't see how things could get worse, until she hear.
"Well, you certainly work fast," came from behind Flora. She turned and saw the Winx Club and Specialist behind her. Krystal was with them, on Helia's arm. Helia was the one who spoke.
"No," Flora said.
"Who are you," Flora's father asked.
"People who finally see your daughter for who she it," Helia said, and they turned and left.
Seeing Helia walk away with Krystal and the others was like a slap.
"No…No…No," Flora said, and ice shot from her hand, creating a slabe of ice with sspikes across the floor. Guests cried out in shock and backed away.
Flora was shaking, not know what had happened.
"This is why the heires of ice wear gloves," Princess Freesa said, walking up to Flora and waving her hand to the ice, which disappeared, "It is mischievous and loves to come out." She finished with a laugh, and the other guest followed before going back to there conversaions. Silver, short hair hangs over a friendly face. Small azul eyes, set narrowly within their sockets. Her luxurious, royal blue dress flows from top to bottom and has a round neckline, which gracefully reveals the relatively simple dress worn below it. The ornate, corset-like tied fabric of her dress covers her stomach where the continuous flow is broken up by a long silver belt worn high around her waist. Below the belt the dress flows down wide and hides the dress below. The front of the top dress reaches the ground generously, the back continues to flow a long length behind her and ends in a narrow rectangle. Her sleeves are longer than her arms and a comfortable fit, their flow is broken up just below the elbow where they change to a shear fabric and split apart.
"Sir Willows," Princess Freesa said, coming to stand beside Flora, "may I have you daughter for a moment."
"Of course, Princess," Flora's father said, with a bow, before escorting his wife away.
"Princess," Flora said, with a curcea.
"The balcony," Princess Freesa said, jesturing towords the doors. Flora followed and walked out to the balcony, and leaned on the railing looking up to the moon.
"Ice can be dangerous if not treated well," Princess Freesa said, breaking the silence.
"I lost control, Princess," Flora said, ashamed.
"Your father has that affect on people….and my name is Freesa," Princess Freesa said with a smile.
"Yes, he does," Flora said with a small laugh.
"I know of you history," Freesa said, "Your father was in my family's court after he left the Summer Court."
"I see," Flora said, her head down. She could only imagine what her father must of said about his disappointment of a daughter.
"Nothing he said mattered for long…I believe known of you and your friends fight with Darkar reach us soon," Freesa said, "Now, what did he want?"
"He has arranged my marriage, and everything else is falling apart," Flora said.
"Seems like a reason to lose control," Freesa said.
"I don't want that life…I want my life," Flora said sadly. It was quiet, while Freesa thought over what she was told; and then she let out a laugh.
"I want your life…you can choose you husband, no matter what anyone says," Freesa said, smiling at Flora. It took a moment but then Flora realized that she meant. Flora was not royal or a member of court. She wasn't bound my their rules. Her father had turned her away years ago, she was my law her aunt's responciblily.
"Right," Flora gasped, the relief making her weak. She would have hit the floor if her powers hadn't flared again and created a bench underneath her.
"How," Flora breathe, touching the bench. It wasn't even cold. It felt like marble.
"Yeah, that happened," Freesa said, taking a seat beside her, "You're connect to nature, and nature always gives you what you need…even if you don't know it."
"One crisis is solved, but other remain," Flora said.
"Treat the others like nature," Freesa said, "You're in the wall of the storm, even be the oak that survives or the birch that falls."
Princess Freesa stood and left after that. Flora was left on the bench on the balcony with her thoughts.
❀ ✿ ❁ ✾ ✽ ❃ ❋ ƸӜƷ ❀ ✿ ❁ ✾ ✽ ❃ ❋ ƸӜƷ ❀ ✿ ❁ ✾ ✽ ❃ ❋ ƸӜƷ ❀ ✿ ❁ ✾ ✽ ❃ ❋ ƸӜƷ ❀ ✿ ❁ ✾ ✽ ❃ ❋
Ash and the rest Magic Vines group were watching Flora. She was so miserable, and it was heartbreaking. This was their little Flo, and there were at a lost to how to help her. When they were younger, all Flora needed was to write a poem or a song or anything to feel better. And that thought gave Ash an idea.
"Her heart so full of sorrow untold; give her pain a place to go," Ash said, weaving his magic into it.
"As music once soothed her soul, now let it again do so," Dylan added to the spell.
"Let the song inside, now be known," Zachary finished the magic. A small ball of magic formed, and then floated over toward Flora.
Flora was staring at the moon, when she saw the glowing white and blue light floated around her. She stared at the sphere, and then is floated toward her chest, and faded into it. She looked over toward Ash and the group, as music started playing. The words of the song just poured out.
The snow glows white on the mountain tonight
Not a footprint to be seen.
A kingdom of isolation,
And it feels like I'm the Queen
The wind is howling like this swirling storm inside
Flora turned away from the moon, and started walking into the ballroom.
Couldn't keep it in;
Heaven knows I've tried
She looked toward the Winx and the Specialist.
Don't let them in,
Don't let them see
Then she turned to her father and Darius.
Be the good girl you always have to be
Conceal, don't feel,
Flora looked down at the bracelet that her father had put on her wrist.
Don't let them know
Well now they know
Flora pulled the bracelet off and throws it away.
Let it go, let it go
Can't hold it back anymore
Let it go, let it go
Turn away and slam the door
Flora looked up at the ceiling and sent up a ball of white magic. The magic touched the ceiling; and the ceiling seemed to dissolve, allowing the snow to fall down. Flora twirled around in the snow, as came down.
I don't care
What they're going to say
Let the storm rage on.
The cold never bothered me anyway
Flora walked through the parting crowd, and turned around and looked at her father.
It's funny how some distance
Makes everything seem small
And the fears that once controlled me
Can't get to me at all
Flora formed two ball of white magic and throws them out.
It's time to see what I can do
To test the limits and break through
No right, no wrong, no rules for me,
I'm free!
Flora ran up to the fountain, and jump onto the edge. She took one step out on the water, and it froze under her feet. After that she was twirl around the edge of the water.
Let it go, let it go
I am one with the wind and sky
Let it go, let it go
You'll never see me cry
Here I stand
And here I'll stay
Let the storm rage on
Flora slams her foot down on the center of the pond, and a blue snowflake blooms user her shoe. Looking at the ground, she brought her hands up. A ice platform rose under her, growing columns and a roof of beautiful ice with swirling patterns. Flora twirls around with more power pouring from her hand, forming beautiful handrails. It was an ice gazebo in the middle of the ballroom.
My power flurries through the air into the ground
My soul is spiraling in frozen fractals all around
And one thought crystallizes like an icy blast
I'm never going back, the past is in the past
Flora pulls the necklace around her neck off, and starred at it. "I don't want you...No one does." Helia's words ran through her head. 'No more,' Flora thought, tossed the pendent up in the air and fired a blast of power at it. It burst into a purple mist of dust that was blown out of the ballroom.
Unnoticed to the crowd, the rest of the Winx Club and Specialist glowed a dull purple. They could finally see clear. It was like waking from some awful dream.
Let it go, let it go
Flora pulled the clip out of her hair, and ran a hand her hand through it. Four streak of red, orange, blue and pink colored her hair, and it curled into a side ponytail.
And I'll rise like the break of dawn
Flora dress started to glow and change. It became a beautiful silver skirt with a blue sheer cover that has two slit up her thighs, a deep blue corset with sheer, bell sleeves.
Let it go, let it go
That perfect girl is gone
Here I stand In the light of day Let the storm rage on
Flora looked out in the crowd and smiled. She felt powerful and beautiful. She drew her arm up and walked over the railing. She was done, and she was finally letting go. No drama, no pain, no sadness. Flora lowered her arms, smirking up at the bright moon.
The cold never bothered me anyway!
Author's Note:
Thanks for Reading!
Please Review!