Disclaimer: I do not own Winx Club. Just Jeanne, Meditrina, and Eldus.
A/N:Hello everyone,
I am so sooo sorry that it has taken me soo long to post a chapter... As soon as tax season ended I was forced to go to Ecuador with my grandmother. Let's just say that going on that trip ruined ALL my plans. But the good thing is that I had time at least some time to peacefully write my story... yes don't worry you guys were not forgotten. Since I had no internet in Ecuador I couldn't post anything. But I am happy to say that I am able to post this chapter on time! And I am almost done with the next chapter, if it is not up by later tonight I will post it by tomorrow :-D
Anyway please enjoy these chapters and any feedback or critics would be appreciated. Thanks!
And a special thanks to Anna, srthob, and all my loyal readers. THANK YOU SOO VERY MUCH! XD
P.S. To srthob: I will have Bloom's parents be in more of the story... but a little later on ;-)
' Thinking to oneself '
" Talking "
Chapter 24
Surprise after Surprise
"Cari! You can fly!?"
Bloom asked with extreme shock once she caught the little girl. At the same time Bloom heard Sky exclaim "Omph!" She turned her head to see that his face had caught the pillow that Cari was flying on. "Oops I'm sorry Sky." Cari said as she noticed where her pillow had landed. "It's ok Cari, no harm done." Sky responded as he removed the pillow from his face. Riven started laughing at the sight of Sky. "Riven… you shouldn't laugh so much… no matter… how funny it looks…" Musa told her boyfriend while trying to stifle a giggle. "I know babe… but think about it… Sky has the fastest reflexes… and he gets easily attacked by a falling pillow…" Riven said in between laughs.
Everyone started laughing at Sky and his defeat by a pillow. "Ok, ok, enough laughing at me… can we get to what's really important here… like the fact that a 5 year old can FLY!" Sky said as he threw the pillow to the closest couch.
That is when everyone stopped laughing and turned to look at the little girl that was flying in the air just a short moment ago. As soon as they turned they saw Tecna right in front of Cari and using her small robots to scan every inch of the small girl. She was using so many that it looked like Cari was covered in crawling bugs.
Bloom felt Cari tighten her grip on her hold. 'She's frightened…' Bloom slightly moved Cari where she was holding her with only one arm, and used the other hand to wave Tecna's little robots away. "Tecna what are you doing? You are scaring Cari." Bloom looked down at the small girl and saw the look of relief when all the robots were gone. "Apologies, Bloom. Apologies Cari. I did not mean to frighten you. I was merely scanning you to make sense of the situation." "What do you mean Tecna?" "Well, Bloom honestly this does not make any sense." Tecna started as her tiny robots flew over to her and downloaded their information into her PDA. "A five year old girl should not be able to fly, especially without wings, yet. Their magic would be far under developed. At most she should be able to levitate small objects like pens or toys. My robots are going to help me confirm her age and magical capabilities because if she is flying then she must be older than she looks. That is the only thing that currently makes sense. Even with everything that you told us earlier there is no way that her 5 year old body can perform such tasks. "
"Actually Tecna, Cari was not flying. She was levitating a pillow she was sitting on, and her focus and control was so strong that she was able to levitate it while she was sitting on it." Daphne said as she stepped forward and patted Cari on the head. "She surprised me too when I saw it for the first time, myself." "Did you teach her how to do that Daphne?" Bloom asked her older sister. "Well Kind of... When you guys left she said she wanted to continue the training you and her started. So I agreed, but after a while of quiet meditation she became restless and wanted to try something new. So I thought that I could teach her how to focus enough to levitate a small pillow. After a while she was able to levitate the pillow, but not the one she was focusing on but the one she was sitting on."
Bloom looked at Cari with pride "Well, that is a nice surprise. I'm very proud of you Cari. That took a lot of focus to pull off, good job." Cari blushed and smiled brightly as Bloom patted her on the head as praise. "Yes, you are a very bright girl Cari. I am sure you will become a skilled fairy, just like Bloom." Sky said with a wink to the young girl. "Really? I can really be as amazing as Bloom?!" The girl asked with twinkles in her eyes. "Sure, you can sweetie. All you need to do is to practice and study, and I will even help you." "Wow thank you Bloom. I can't wait to grow up to be just like you!" Everyone started laughing at the young girl's eagerness, except for Tecna. She was still concentrating on the information being downloaded into her PDA.
"In a few moments I will get the confirmation I need to make sense of this..." Tecna half mumbled to herself as she saw her last tiny robot downloading its last data. "Now let's see... what did my nanobots find out?..." but before anyone started to fully pay attention to her, Tecna was suddenly interrupted by Musa. "Dad?!" Everyone turned to look at Musa and her father. They saw that Ho-Boe was starting to regain consciousness.
"Hmm... what...?" "Dad? Can you hear me? It's Musa..." "Musa? How? Where?" "Shh Dad its ok." Musa responded as she gently pushed her father back down on the bed when he tried to sit up. "We are at Domino castle. How are you feeling?" Once Ho-Boe settled down again, he responded to his daughter's question "Umm... I just feel really sore... and it's hard to move...what happened? I just remember being at the Warf and then... the Trix showed up asking for you!..." Musa looked worried that he was going to recall the pain he felt. "Do you remember anything after that?" Ho-Boe thought for a moment before answering "I remember seeing your mother... but I guess it was just a dream... we talked for a bit and started to sing our song together... but something started calling and pulling me back... I didn't want to go, I wanted to stay... but your mother kissed me... she then told me that you still needed me and that I needed to give you a message... 'I'm proud of you my daughter. Remember to keep your heart and songs pure and don't be afraid to sing your heart's duet with your true love.'... she then pushed me and next thing I know I'm waking up here."
Musa had tears in her eyes at her mother's message and in relief that her father didn't remember anything the Trix did to him. "Don't worry about anything else Dad. You are safe and you will get better soon. Just rest and we will take care of you." Ho-Boe's eyes started to droop as he nodded his agreement "Ok, my daughter... I will just take a short nap then..." Once he fell asleep Musa looked up to Bloom. "Is there anywhere he can rest until he's better?" "Of course Musa, I will show you the way. Do you mind helping out a bit more Aisha?" "No, of course not Bloom, just lead the way." Aisha said with a huge smile as she placed a hand on Musa's shoulder.
"Alright everyone why don't we get cleaned up and get ready for dinner." Everyone nodded their agreement "That's a good idea Bloom. Dinner should be ready in about 30 minutes. They are making a huge full course meal tonight" While still carrying Cari in her arms, Bloom nodded as she turned to lead the way out of the room while everyone cheered in excitement for the dinner.
Tecna was the only one left in the room, still looking at the data that was in her PDA. "Finally everything has been downloaded and processed. I still think it's highly impossible for such a young girl to have enough physical strength to hold up her own weight at all, let alone for that long... Now let's see what was found..." Tecna took a moment to read over everything. "...No this can't be right... how is this possible?..."
Bloom showed Musa to the room where her father could stay. "Here you are Musa. He can use this room, it's not too far from your room, I'm sure you would want to stay close to him and all." Musa nodded "Thanks Bloom I appreciate it." Once Aisha gently placed Ho-Boe down on the soft bed in the middle of the room she released her Bloomix fairy transformation, as well as Musa and Bloom. Musa then walked over and sat in the chair next to father to hold his hand. Bloom then walked over to the other side of the bed "Musa will it be alright if I do another healing treatment now?" Musa looked up to Bloom with some reluctance in her eyes "Are you sure Bloom? Aren't you tired from the first healing you did for him? I don't want you to overexert yourself, we need you..." Bloom put down Cari and turned to give her musical friend a genuine smile. "We need you too Musa. If the Winx are incomplete then we are so much weaker. You will need to know that your father is fine and not be distracted or we will be incredibly weakened." Musa teared at her friend's words. "Ok Bloom your right. Please go ahead."
Bloom nodded and walked over to the head of Ho-Boe. "Hey Bloom..." Cari whispered while slightly tugging on the end of Bloom's blouse "Yes, sweetie?" "What happened to him? What are you going to do?" Bloom patted the small girl on the head "Well, he got hurt and I'm going to make him feel better." "Wow you can do that? Can I help?" "Sure sweetie, you can help by holding Musa's hand until I'm done. That will cheer her up some, can you do that for me?" "Sure, I can do that!" the small girl ran over to the other side of the bed and grabbed Musa's free hand. "Don't worry Musa, Bloom is going to make things all better." "Your right Cari. She always does." Musa responded with a sweet smile at the child.
Bloom smiled at Cari and then turned to Ho-Boe and held one hand above his head and the other above his chest. She closed her eyes and focused her healing abilities, her hands started to glow. Soon the glow started to spread throughout his body. Musa and Cari waited patiently in silence watching Bloom work. After a few minutes of waiting the glow started to fade.
Bloom slowly started to open her eyes and turned to look at Musa and Cari. "He won't be that sore tomorrow and it will be a bit easier for him to move around." Musa stood up and walked over to her friend and gave her a big hug. "Thank you so much Bloom." Bloom hugged her musical friend back "You're welcome Musa. I will have Meditrina look at him tomorrow and I can give him another healing treatment too. But he will be fine after he rests for a few days." Musa hugged her tighter "Thanks." "No problem. Now don't forget to freshen up before dinner ok?" Musa nodded "I will in a few minutes. I'll see you three at dinner." Aisha who was standing by the door nodded at Musa "You better, especially if they are severing all the good food they say they are." Musa nodded and turned back to her father.
Bloom took Cari's hand and walked over to Aisha and left the room. "You did really well cheering Musa up Cari." Cari smiled brightly at the praise and bounced out the door with Bloom. Aisha waited until Bloom and Cari were cleared of the room and closed the door behind her, but as soon as she turned around she saw Bloom lying on the floor and Cari trying to wake her up. "Oh my gosh! Bloom! Are you ok?!" Aisha ran over to her and knelt down beside her.
Bloom slowly opened her eyes and saw Cari and Aisha looking down at her with worried eyes. "Bloom are you ok?" She raised her arm and patted Cari on the head. "Don't worry sweetie. I'm ok...just felt a bit dizzy is all..." Bloom started to get up, but stopped midway because the room started spinning again. She reached up to place her hand on her head to hopefully stop the spinning, but it didn't work 'I must've used up too much energy… too soon... my head won't stop spinning...'
"Bloom you need to take it easy, you pushed yourself to hard again." Aisha said as she placed a supporting hand on her as she saw that Bloom's breathing was a bit shallow. 'She is trying hard not to pass out again...' "I'm ok... Aisha... I just... need to... to catch ...my breath..." Bloom responded in-between breaths. "Here I'll carry you to your room..." Before Aisha had a chance to conjure up her morphix bed, Sky came running down the hall "Bloom?! What happened?" "Sky, She fainted for a bit... she used up too much of her power again when she gave Ho-Boe another healing treatment... she is still feeling dizzy, and short of breath... I was going to carry her to her room for her to rest..." Sky nodded "Thanks Aisha, but I will take care of her room." he said as he bent down to pick up his fiancé. "Besides, you must be just as tired as well. And I know Roy has been looking for you." Aisha nodded "Ok Sky. Thanks."
Sky turned to head towards Bloom's room with Cari following close behind "Bloom how are you feeling?" "Sky?... I'm ok, just a bit dizzy... and tired... but I feel better now that I'm in your arms..." Sky knew she was telling the truth because now her breathing was slowly returning to normal. "You know that you shouldn't have given another healing treatment so soon after that first one you gave to Ho-Boe..." "Hmm... I know, but Musa was so sad that her father was hurting, and we need her to be focused for what is coming... and I'll be fine I just need some sleep and I'll be back to normal... besides my power is much stronger now… I can handle this"
"Bloom this is unhealthy... you can't just use up power that you are not accustomed to... you don't know how it will affect you later... and we don't like seeing you like this... it hurts us too you know..." Bloom looked at her beloved to see what he really meant by 'we' since she knew that the not all the Winx knew she used up her power again just Aisha and she wouldn't tell. She saw that he motioned to towards the little girl that was following right next to her. She saw pure concern and worry in the tiny girl's crystal blue eyes. "Oo I'm sorry for worrying you sweetie. I'm really ok don't worry..." Bloom looked to Sky again 'Maybe it would be better if I walked on my own...' "Sky you can put me down now." Sky shook his head "No can do, princess. If you want down then you need levitate out of my arms... like Cari..." Bloom teasingly glared at her fiancé. "You know I can't do anything right now, my dear prince." Sky chuckled "I figured as much... so it looks like I win...besides I like carrying you it gives me a chance to have you close..." Sky winked and gave her a quick kiss while still walking down the hall.
Bloom blushed and quieted down at the feel of her love's lips. She blushed deeper red when she heard her little charge giggling at their little display of affection. Bloom looked down and saw that Cari was smiling again and admiring the sight of her and Sky together. 'Well at least she's not worried anymore...looks like Sky said the right thing...' Bloom thought as she glanced at Sky's smug and happy face as he entered her room.
"Hey Cari do you think you can help me out?" "Sure Sky!" "Great. Can you pull the covers on Bloom's bed so I can put her down please." "Ok!" Cari ran over to the bed and pulled the covers ready for Bloom. Sky walked over and set Bloom down on the bed. "Now you are going to rest and recover your energy. Understood?" "But Sky I need to go meet everyone for dinner soon. I can't stay in bed, they will get worried... especially Musa... besides I'm hungry..." Bloom gave Sky her best puppy eyes.
Sky tried his best to not give in to her begging beautiful deep blue eyes, but failed. 'Sigh' "Fine we will go to dinner but you will rest until then. And Cari will make sure you do, right Cari?" "Yes Sky" Cari looked up to Bloom with a serious expression. That was when Bloom knew she couldn't fight her, so she just gave in. "Fine, you win." Sky snickered as he left the room.
"Well that was a good dinner, wasn't it Cari?" Bloom asked her little charge as they walked back to Bloom's room. "It sure was Bloom! I'm so stuffed from all the yummy food!" Cari said as she bounced up and down in between Bloom and Sky as they walked down the hall hand in hand. The young couple giggled at the small girl's energy. "But I do wonder what happened to Tecna. What do you think Sky?" "Hmm... I'm not sure Bloom. Timmy said that she was working on something important and couldn't leave her computer for so long. That is why he took her a plate so she can at least eat something while she was working." "Maybe I should go check on her?... She might need help or something..." "You can check on her in the morning my love. Right now you should rest yourself, you did overexert yourself again today." Sky said as he embraced Bloom right outside her door, and gave her a gentle kiss. They broke the kiss when they heard a little giggle. "Awww you guys are so cute!" Cari squealed "Do you think I will fall in love like you guys one day?" Sky chuckled as he quickly lifted the small girl off the ground. More giggles echoed throughout the hallway as the three of them laughed together. "Isn't it a bit too early for you to be thinking about boys, little one?" Cari giggled some more as Sky quickly spun her around. "It's never too early or too late for love." Bloom and Sky were speechless for a moment. "Such wise words from such a tiny fairy." Bloom said with a bright smile.
Cari giggled some more at her praise, before yawning very loudly. "Aww looks like it's time for someone's bedtime." "But I'm not…yawn… tired..." Cari said with drooping eyes. Bloom outstretched her arms for the small girl. "Here I will take her to bed. Thank you for walking me to my room Sky." he handed over the small child to his beloved fiancé. "Make sure you get some sleep as well my love... promise?" "I promise my handsome prince." Bloom reached up and gave Sky a quick kiss. "I shall see you bright and early in the morning." Sky smiled lovingly and nodded. "Til the morning my beloved princess." Bloom walked into her room and got herself and Cari ready for a good night's sleep.
Bloom was restless all night long, worried about Tecna. 'What could possibly be so important that she would skip out with dinner with us... she has never been so busy that she didn't make time for us... maybe I should go check on her...' She looked at her clock and saw that it was four o'clock in the morning. 'Well, Sky did say that I should wait until morning... and it is technically morning...' Bloom slowly started to get up but found that she couldn't move. She looked down and saw that Cari's tiny hand was gripped onto her nightgown. 'I'm falling more in love with this tiny girl... but I shouldn't get too attached... once we find her parents we will have to go out separate ways...' Bloom caressed Cari's small face and tucked a loose strand behind her ear. 'I shouldn't think about this now... I should go check on Tecna for now...' Bloom managed to free herself from Cari's grasp, placed a pillow to act as a replacement while she was away, and slowly got up from bed.
Bloom slowly snuck out of her room so she would not wake Cari. Bloom rushed down the hall to the room that Tecna was staying in. As she got halfway down the hallway she saw someone coming towards her. "Tecna?" Bloom whispered as the familiar figure got closer. "Bloom? What are you doing so early in the morning?" "I was actually coming to check on you. I was worried about you... it isn't like you to skip out on dinner with us..."
"Well, I was working on something important and I actually found a very surprising... and I was wondering how to tell you..." "What was it you found that surprised you so much? Is it about Eldus and the Trix?" "Well, that's the thing I'm not exactly sure... but it's about Cari... I think we were wrong about who she is... or even what she is..."