(Bloom POV)
It's the day of the trial; at least I think it is. I don't even know what day it is. They finally decided it was a good idea to give me food, even though my appetite grew lesser by the day. I know what I have to say and what I don't. All this week I went over it in my head, or I would be asking the guards to know what was happening with Hogan, because if they touch him they will be sorry.
The guard taps on the bar and slides some fresh clothes under the gate of my cell. I shuffle over, now, owning my strength again and now able to bend over so I can pick them up. It's just baggy black pants and a black t shirt. Once I put them on, the guard sees and opens my gate. They took my boots so I have to do the trail in bare feet I suppose.
"Step out please" he instructs. A part of me wants to kick him in the crotch and make a run for it but I force myself not to. Instead I walk out calmly and turn so he can put the shackles behind my back. Another guard comes and stands beside me and thy other one stands on the opposite. One of them holds my forearm and forces me to walk.
I have to squint when I am back up out of the dungeons, my eyes watering and hurting from the brightness. But when they quickly readjust and I notice now a squad of guards in front and behind me, escorting me to where ever were going, I keep my head up and focused. I tell myself you have done nothing wrong, but I know it's not true and I will just have to live with that.
We reach one long hallway that I remember, it's the way to the ballroom. The biggest room in Eraklyon and where I am guessing my trial will be held. When I approach closer, I have to search through the bodies of guards ahead to see the gathering of people. I keep my head and my face expression stern, making myself not afraid of what's to come.
I get closer to the opening of the Ballroom and when the guards move to the right I see them all. There is one chair in the middle of the room and a clearing. They rest of the space is filled with royals and many important figures. I walk down the stairs searching the many recognisable faces.
Straight ahead is Erendor and his wife, Samera accompanied by Radius and Stella mothers, Luna. Other Kings and Queens from other realms are around them. Faragonda, Griffin and Saladin stand to the right with other magical beings. To my left, my heart sinks. They all stand there gathered in their formal gear. Stella, Flora, Layla, Tecna and Musa, they are also accompanied by Riven, Timmy, Heilia , Brandon and Sky. All of them look at me like I am a stranger, that I am just a figure in their imagination. I tear my eyes away from there hurt faces back to what I have to do.
The guard stands me in front of the chair and takes off the chains binding me. He then forcefully makes me sit in the chair and places my arms on the arms rests where I now notice metal cuffs. He wraps them around tight before doing this to my ankles on the chair legs. My feet are white from the cold. The guard bows and walks back to the sea of people that surround me.
A very aged man walks up to a higher podium in front, where people have gathered around. I recognise him to be Uther Neongia, the higher Elder of the Magic council or the Magic dimension for that matter
"Bloom, Princess of Sparks, the owner of the dragon fire. You have committed crimes against this dimension, you will be trailed and questioned by members of the Magic council to decide the consequences of your actions. May we begin?." He asks with a voice stern but shaking in his ancient age. I find myself angry by all this now. That I am treated like this and all I was trying to do was help.
"Go right ahead." I smirk back, with a grin making sure that people don't think I am afraid. He looks a bit out of place by my response and then nods and steps back to his seat on a long table filed with other female and male elders. From the crowd appears a tall slender man, with mucky brown hair and brown eyes, he walks towards me. He stands a few feet away in front of me giving me a harsh look. He's probably a lawyer of whatever you call them on this dimension.
"Your name is Bloom, correct." He asks like it's a hard question. I find myself to laugh at his and lift my head to look at him.
"Yes' I say trying to not grin but It's too hard not to for some reason. I guess the prison cell did make me mad. I look around and see people not amused by this and in a way get madder in my new enthusiasm. I even take a look at Sky and he looks disappointed.
"And it is true that you are the Shade" he asks stepping to the side slightly.
"Well apparently that's what everyone is calling me now, so yes I am they Shade" I say back sweetly, but in a mocking tone. The lawyer gets annoyed by this.
"Now, since you are so eager to answer these questions please tell me how you survived after you decided to kill yourself at the battle of The Army of Decay." He says back, I get irritated by his tone and I don't like to think about that day.
"If I didn't kill myself, many people wouldn't be standing here today." I say if as a fact, which it is.
"That is true, I am sure the dimension is grateful for your sacrifice Bloom, but it doesn't answer my question from before, How did you survive?."
"Some magical beings who sacrifice themselves can come back to life, it took me less time because of the Dragon fire."
"And who told you about this." He asks now, as he starts slowly circling my seat, ready to ask another stupid question.
"Hogan" I reply simply. Not mentioning Nabu.
"Hogan, now after you came back to life he was the one that nursed you back to health and has helped you with your crimes against the Magic dimension.". When he says the word crime I bite my tongue not to lash out.
"Yes he helped me"
"Now is it true that you have stolen the Essences from these following planets Hypoid, Romulea, Linfea, Boris, Espero, Melody, Solaria and most recently Eraklyon."
"Yes "I say back there is some whispers and chatter amongst the crowd and it dies down before this guy asks the next question
"So you are admitting to the breaking in to castles and sacred spaces, attacking and seriously injuring guards of these planets."
"I never meant to hurt anyone" I say loud and clear. He halts in front of me when I say this and leans in closer.
"So what you did to them wasn't classified as 'Hurt"
"No but-"
"You will be getting your own time to explain yourself Bloom, but for now answer the questions I asked." He says getting back to the point and taps is chin with is finger.
"Now.. is it true you are responsible for killing two members of the royal guard on Solaria."
I hesitate, sucking in deep breathes. I knew this question would be asked but I hate the way it makes me feel. I hate myself for what I did. I look over to Stella her eyes piecing into mine , she already knows the answer, but wants it to come from my lips.
"Yes" I reply softly. Rants move through the crowd, chattering and people discussing. The lawyer puts up his hands up for everyone to be quiet.
"Was it your intention to kill these men-"
"NO" I yell frustrated, cutting him off.
"But the knife punctured right through his heart, and for a guard to be suffocated like that would require for constant pressure to be applied on his chest area, which it was, forensics says they found traces of a boot make on his chest, And it is a clear indication that that boot mark belongs to you"
I have nothing to say, I lost control by anger then. The crowd around me has started to whisper eyeing me ,not caring what they say in front of me.
"I never wanted to kill them, and I regret my actions." I say smoothly. The council flares up again in dispute and the lawyer looks at me trying to get a read on me before he yells for everyone to be quiet.
"That is all my questions Princess." he says and walks back to the crowd, he then goes to Uther and whispers something in his ear. The lawyer stands up straight and walks back to the crowds. I notice Erendor looking back to him and Uther nods at him before he comes to the centre of the room where I sit.
"Bloom, it has come to my intention that you were able to break into this very castle itself and steal the Essence of Eraklyon. Now did someone help you with your mission." He is fishing for something. He definitely wouldn't have said anything if he didn't already know that Sky knew but he suspected someone else.
"Hogan was the only one who aided me with my 'crimes', I acted with him and him alone."
Erendor is annoyed by my answer and has to drag this on. I think he knows but he can't do anything without being sure.
"I don't think that's true, not many people know of the location of the volt in this kingdom, I think you better tell the truth princess." He says in a mock parent tone, I wish I didn't have to hate him but I do right now.
"I knew it from when I visited last, don't you remember your majesty" I say back to him I feel his anger bubble but he contains it.
"Yes , I know My son and you were in a relationship, but I do not see him telling information like that to a girl, especially like you" he says as the corners of his mouth curl a little, knowing he has one that argument. I clench my jaw and clamp my hands into fists. The people around start talking again.
"That is all I had to ask" he says calmly and strides back to his position near his wife. I glare at him, not caring for a second he is Sky's father, I want him to burn alive or melt.
Faragonda appears next walking like the others to me.
"Bloom, it has been said that you have been working with Cronus, is this true.?" She asks calmly, but my reply is not.
"NO, I would never work for her" I nearly scream in anger at the mindless thoughts of this. People continue to whisper.
"Then why is it you felt the need to collect these Essences, wouldn't they be safer on their planet."
"The reason I did this is because being dead means no one looks for you and why would Cronus look for someone who is dead. If I had the Essences they were safe, no more planets like Zenith would be destroyed." I say this surprisingly calm, I turn to see people's faces , it might be just me but are they trying to understand.
"So you collected the Essences and kept them safe, and you have never met Cronus."
"No, never." I say.
"Well, Bloom, you may speak at free will now if you please." She says gesturing a hand around to the crowed. I swallow take a deep breath and try and come up with the right words to say.
"A dear friend asked me once if you got another chance to protect the people you love, wouldn't you take it?" I look over to Layla who stares blindly at me when I say the words Nabu had said to me. "And I did get another chance, and that is why I did what I did. I know my methods were not lawful or respectful but the reason I did this was to protect the magic dimension. And to protect the people I love." I finish because that is all I have to say, it's up to them now with what they do to me.
Immediately people start talking and it gets louder. Thief, liar , traitor and a couple of times murderer are shouted over upon other words. I force myself to remain quiet. I don't dare look to the Winx. Uther stands up but everyone continues talking.
"Quiet" he yells, his voicing booming from every inch of the room. Everyone grows silent.
"It is my turn to Question her" He states as he walks from the table and towards me in the centre.
"Princess Bloom of Sparks, Do you know who Hogan really is." He says looking me in the eyes. His face is wrinkled and aged but for some reason his eyes show no sign of weakness, they ae full of experience but also filled with strength.
"Yes he is my Grandfather" I say back, people begin to whisper and then it dies down. Uther nods slowly and begins to pace back and forth before he stands in front of me again and leans in a bit closer.
"Well, I like Hogan knew your parents, they were very courageous and inspiring people, but like you, could be very dangerous. Do you feel that your parents would be proud of your recent actions?" He asks smoothly. If he is trying to make me mad or break me down and its working. I feel myself want to burn him alive.
"What does this have to do anything?"
"I am just curios, please answer the question." He says back quickly, growing inpatient.
"I wouldn't know now would I, they were killed when I was a baby." I say quiet loudly losing my restraint.
"Well Hogan must have told you something about them." He remarks to me eyeing me even more intensely now. I bow my head and remain quiet, no he didn't talk about them.
"If this is your sick way of breaking me it won't work" I hiss as I lift my head, my eyes blazing into his. But he does not move a muscle he stays the same.
"Many people here today think you have lied about numerous things, people even question if it is hereditary, the fact you would do impulsive things, you have talent in weaponry skills and you also like to lie-"
"I lied to protect people, and I told you I regrated my actions-" I yell before he cuts me off.
"But your actions were dangerous and you are a very powerful being Princess, your power is a great weapon and you have used it greatly in the past to defend our dimension but it does not mean that things can't change." He says coolly and cold.
"I told you before I do not work for Cronus, she is the person I was trying to save the dimension, from don't you understand-" I am screaming my words but that doesn't stop him.
"Oh I think I do, if you don't start telling the truth you might end up like you Grandfather." he says stepping to the side so I can see the crowd of people parting for guards to walk through. Behind them, as thy get closer I can see a man with a long white beard being escorted with his hands behind his back. Hogan, he walks calmly has if he is excepting this fate. He is about ten meters away with two guards on either side of him. Uther walk about half way between us.
"Bloom, I have failed you and I am sorry." Hogan says sternly and looks into my eyes. I feel confused, angry and upset all at once, now terrified for what will happen.
"Hogan of Sparks, I sentence you to the terms of your crimes to the dimension, of theft, assault and your false death to one thousand years in the Omega dimension-"
"No, you can't do this" I scream letting rapid tears fall from my eyes and my arms and legs thrashing to get out.
Uther makes him stand on a silver disk, Hogan still keeps his gaze on mine.
"What are you doing, please just stop, I am telling the truth" I beg though sobs as I start to see the ice form around Hogan's ankles crawly in sheets up his legs. I shake and scream in my chair feeling rage burn inside me , and I continue to scream for them to stop. Hogan remains still as the ice reaches his face and in cases his whole body in a cylinder of ice. His eyes are still on mine but have no life.
I know notice the cuffs around my arms and legs are glowing a bright orange and feel unbearably hot on my skin. I feel my anger now take a hold and I break out of the chair and storm to Uther and grab him by the throat in a scream and shove him on the Ice coffin my grandfather was unfairly sentenced to.
He looks terrified at me, chocking at my hold. I then realize what I am doing and step back scared. I look around to see other faces of pure shock and fear when they see me. Gasps and cries fill the air, guards run at me put I guess now I don't have to hold in the dragon fire any more. I flash my arms out either side and create a ring of fire and force it out bigger to trip the guards. They fall including most of the Magic council. I run back and stand on my now broken chair and lift my hand to the ceiling.
"Nimwah" I whisper" Take me home"
The great dragon appears from inside me circling its self around my body before it goes up and drops, I grab a hold and leap on its back. Hogan might not have told me about my family but he told me more about the dragon fire, and the great dragon's name, Nimwah. We crash out through a window high from the ceiling and even though of what I just have experienced make me sad and more angry then ever I find myself in a small little joy to feel freedom and fresh air again, only dreading what's to come, not knowing if I want to go on.
101 REVIEWS Yay!, thanks so much for the support I hope for another 101. Sorry a bit uneven with y updates schools in the way. I will try my best. Love U.
