Chapter 12: Rescue Or Condemnation?
Bloom was running as fast as she could. She didn't have enough energy to transform, or else she'd be flying. Her friends were in trouble, so she had to hurry. Bloom saw light at the end of the tunnel. The Alveolate cavern was just ahead.
Bloom burst out into the dim light of the cavern. An army of demons stood between her and her friends. She had to help them somehow, but she was so weak and exhausted. What could she do?
The Specialists were furiously fighting an onslaught of demons. The girls did what they could, but they too looked exhausted and worn out. Bloom saw Roxy fall. They were going to die unless she did something.
"Hey! Demons!" Bloom yelled. The demons stopped hissing and attacking her friends and turned on her. Bloom allowed flames to engulf her hands. "Come and get me." Bloom used all her energy and will and the flames grew. The demons hissed at her then and attempted to hurt her. Bloom threw the flames at the demons, but they didn't seem to be affected. One demon tackled her and they went rolling across the floor. Bloom kicked at the demon and scrambled to her feet. Several demons snapped at her and she backed into a wall. She closed her eyes tight.
So this was it. Bloom shook her head. No. This wasn't going to be it. She had to keep fighting. For her family. For her friends. Hell, for the universe. It was her destiny.
The dragon fire power within her flared. Bloom clenched her fists and focused on the power within her. It had to be enough. Bloom suppressed it, causing enough tension for a bit of a kick, and then let it loose. The last things she saw was her dragon fire vaporizing the demons and Sky running toward her, calling her name. Then everything went black.
One second, Roxy was on her butt, so exhausted by the realm of Oblivion she couldn't even see straight. Next second, she was on her feet looking for their rescuer in the crowd of demons.
"Come and get me!" A voice yelled. The crowd of demons had actually turned away from them toward the unseen person. Then the crowd of demons disintegrated, and there stood Bloom, shaking. She collapsed.
"Bloom! Bloom!" Sky ran over to her as she collapsed. The guys and the girls followed him.
"Is she okay?" Stella squealed in horror. Bloom lay there on the ground, pale, bruised, and cut up. Her side was sliced open, bleeding. Her clothes were torn and shredded in several spots. Roxy felt fear. Bloom didn't look so good.
Sky picked her up carefully. "We need to get her back to Sparks now! She needs healing fast."
"The ship is in ruins. There is no way to get off the realm!" Timmy shook his head.
"She'll die unless we get her off this realm!" Sky stared at the Winx girls.
"I don't know if any of us have enough Winx magic to transform, much less use our Zoomix." Tecna looked worriedly at Bloom.
Roxy looked at the hard rock floor beneath her. "I could try something, but we'll need to get out of this cave. She looked up at Sky. "I can't guarantee it will work, either."
Sky nodded then shouted directions to the Specialists. With Riven bringing up the rear and Helia at the head, the Specialists and the Winx began to make their way back to the surface. Roxy glanced at Sky, who was carefully cradling Bloom's limp body in his arms. "She'll be okay." Roxy finally said.
"I hope so." Sky murmured.
"She lasted this long on this heinous realm! She can't die now!" Layla continued her hurried pace near the front of the group. Roxy looked ahead, searching in vain for the entrance of the tunnel she knew was still a long ways off.
After what seemed an eternity, the group exited the gloom of the caves and entered the original gloom of Oblivion. Roxy hurried ahead of the group and knelt on the ground. The Winx rushed to her side.
Roxy closed her eyes. Her powers weren't draining off as fast as they had in the tunnels and cavern. She focused all her Winx on the task of transforming, and succeeded. She felt her worn venture outfit melt off her and a glittering fairy outfit shimmered on in its place. Wings sprouted from her back. Roxy still knelt there on the ground. "Nature's sanctuary!" Roxy cried out. Her animal powers sparked and grew exponentially to undertake the spell. "Open a portal and allow us passage to Sparks!" Roxy felt a boost in the energy of the spell and saw Flora adding her own magic to Roxy's. Nature's children: animals and plants.
Then they were falling. The air rushed about them as they fell. Roxy felt Nature's reassurance and fought back her fear. They'd be okay. Nature was delivering them to safety. She felt ground beneath her feet and then they were all standing on Sparks, before the massive palace. Roxy sighed with relief. She'd done it! They were safely on Sparks!
Sky went running for the front doors when they suddenly opened. Guards swarmed out of the palace and aimed their weapons for Sky. The Winx and the Specialists gasped. Roxy felt that pang of panic again. What was going on?
King Oritel and Queen Miriam came rushing out from the palace. "Seize her." Oritel stated flatly.
