Thanks again to all my new followers and favorites.

Special thanks to Moonlight Starlove, and zita25 who put the first two reviews on this story! I'm glad to hear you both like my work so far. I hope this new chapter won't disappoint either.

And the usual disclaimer: I don't own Winx Club or the story cover.

"… and then I woke up here," I ended my story, smiling gratefully as Ofelia handed me a glass of water. My throat was sore and dry from all the talking.

While the specialists were still standing behind the bed, Griselda had made a few more chairs appear and was now seated on one. The other was reserved for Ofelia, who had yet to take a seat on it. Instead, she fuzzed over me. Checking my temperature and reflexes, touching sore spots all while I told the story. I had to pause in the middle of my story quite a few times to answer one of her questions or yelp in pain.

"The rest you know."

Stella was propped up against the wall beside me, her legs dangling over the side. I had crossed my legs, picking at the holes in my jeans. I was still wearing my work clothes, which I had only just noticed.

"Don't think I can use them anymore. They are covered in blood and other grime. Damn it, I love these jeans. They are so comfortable…"

"It has to be those damned witches from Cloudtower," burst Riven out the moment I ended my story. "This has them written all over it."

I frowned at the words. Why was Riven so hostile towards the witches of Cloudtower? Wouldn't he date Darcy in the distant future?

Stella rolled her eyes beside me and proclaimed rather annoyed: "Riven, you know we have no proof for that."

"Minus my testimony that they were using me to get information on you?" shot Riven back hotly. "I warned you, Stella. They want something from you."

"Uh…" I raised a hesitating hand, watching the exchange like I would a tennis game. "I am missing something here."

Stella threw her hair over her shoulder with the flair of a diva. "Riven dated this witch last year. Ever since things ended, he proclaims high and low that she and her two friends are after me."

"She kicked me to the curb the moment she learned you got expelled, and was always asking me questions about you." Riven crossed his arms rather agitated in front of his chest. "And the moment you are on your way back, you get attacked? That is not a fucking coincidence."

"Expelled?" I echoed, turning to Stella and tilting an unimpressed eyebrow. "You failed to mention you attended Alfea before."

"Well…" Stella nervously jabbed her fingers against one another, smiling sheepishly. "I didn't think it was that important…"

I shot a look at the Alfea staff surrounding us. Ofelia was still too busy fuzzing over me, but Faragonda was smiling amused. Griselda's lips were pursed and she did not seem to share the headmistress' amusement.

"Not important?" she echoed haughtily. "You blew up the potion's lab!"

I snorted, arching a somewhat impressed eyebrow at my blonde friend. "How the hell did you get that done?"

Stella huddled together. "I was just experimenting…"

"With what?" I eyed her amused. "Creating a bomb?"

"No, liquid sunshine." Stella tilted her chin in the air, straightening her back and got a haughty look on her face. "If you must know."

I wanted to ask why she was trying to make that, but Faragonda raised a hand and put a stop to that. "Enough," she ordered softly. "We are getting side-tracked." She placed her hand back in her lap. "Stella, do you have any idea why those creatures would even desire your sceptre?"

Stella shrugged. "I have no idea. It is just a Solarian heirloom that is given to the heir of the throne. While it is powerful, it doesn't even do all that much. Not to mention it rarely obeys anyone outside the Solarian royal family."

"With the exception of Bloom." I squirmed underneath Faragonda's gaze.

"Daddy always says that the sceptre of Solaria is a living being," suggested Stella helpfully. "Maybe the fact that Bloom was willing to come to my aid was enough that it did what she wanted?"

"But I didn't even know what I wanted it to do," I protested, though I had to admit she made a valid point. "I don't even know why I picked it up."

"It called to you, you said?" cut Faragonda in again. Her calmness was remarkable. "In what way?"

"Hmm…" I rubbed my neck with a grimace. "I don't really know. I can't explain it. It was almost as if I couldn't help myself and I just had to pick it up."

Faragonda's eyes pierced into mine. "And do you have that urge now? To grab it?" I shook my head. "Stella, would you mind…" Stella shrugged and slipped her ring of her finger, throwing it in the air and catching it easily once it had turned into a sceptre. "What about now?"

I gazed at the sceptre, my brows furrowing as I focussed. But there was nothing there. No buzz, no pull, no urge. Sure, it was still pretty and I would love to have something like it, but the urge to claim it as my own was strangely absent. "Nothing."

"Hmm." Faragonda rubbed a thoughtful finger over her lips. Stella's sceptre disappeared in a flash and she put the ring back on her finger. "Can you try to describe to me what you experienced before blackening out in front of the gate?"

"Like danger was near," I answered instantly. "As if I should get ready to fight. It was the exact same thing as what I experienced at the clearing and before we were attacked. I thought the troll was breaking free, or that something else was lurking nearby."

Faragonda's gaze was drilling into me again, the intensity making me squirm. As if she was staring straight into my soul and hearing all my thoughts. I wanted to look away, duck my head, but I couldn't even bring myself to blink. "What about now? Do you have that feeling?"

"No, ma'am."

"Most unusual…" I got the feeling that was more directed to herself than to us. "And until you saw Stella in that clearing, you had never experienced any kind of magic? You had no idea that you possessed powers or could do things nobody else could?"

I chewed on my lip as I wondered how I should best answer that. I couldn't very much tell her about the body-swapping thing. A little voice inside me urged me to keep that a secret at all costs, that it would cause quite an uproar if I shared it with anyone.

"Bloom?" I jumped at the urgency in her voice.

"Stella asked me something similar." I ducked my head. "Because she overheard my dad and I arguing about my medication." I picked at a particular long string on my jeans just to keep my fingers busy. "But no. Nothing of the sort has happened before."

"I think her medication might influence her magic," shared Stella with the group. "Just like some drugs here influence magic."

"What happens when you are not on your medication?" asked Faragonda on, a rather urgent tone in her voice. This started to resemble a cross-examination. I certainly felt like a criminal facing judge, jury and possibly executioner. "Can you tell me that?"

I swallowed. "Do I really want to share that? Stella made it quite clear: seeing emotional auras is something only those using dark magic can do, and a sign that you can control someone's mind."

"I see things," I finally decided to answer, slowly gazing back up at the headmistress. "Auras, colours… They just mingle together and it is like I am watching the world through a haze. And I get this feeling, as if someone is sitting on my chest, and I just keep thinking that I am needed somewhere else, that time is running out and I need to go there. Wherever that might be. And I don't sleep because of the dreams I have. And all of that combined…" I let out a deep sigh, shrugging while gazing away. "It drives me mad, breaks me up."

"Hmm…" Faragonda seemed once again lost in thought. "Most peculiar…"

"Have you heard of anything like this before, Ms. Faragonda?" asked Stella almost eagerly and I instantly turned to the headmistress. Now that was something I would very much like the answer to.

"I am afraid not, Stella." My shoulders slumped at the answer, something which Stella mirrored almost perfectly. "It is entirely possible your medication is suppressing your powers, Bloom, but we won't know that for sure until we examine them ourselves." I gulped as her eyes suddenly met mine again. "For now, I fear there is not much we can do but get some sleep." She smiled warmly at us, rising to her feet. "I will inform Saladin of your help, boys. I am sure he and Codatorta will be eager to hear your account of the events." They bowed their heads in thanks. "As for you two…" She turned back to Stella and I with a warm smile. "Go home and get some sleep. We will talk more about this tomorrow."

My eyes widened, my heart jumping a little in excitement. "Tomorrow? Does that mean I am accepted at Alfea?"

"We will be at the gates bright and early," promised Stella, but I saw her cross her fingers behind her back.

"Absolutely not." Ofelia seemed to agree with Stella's hidden intentions. "I don't want to see you two here until the afternoon. With the day you had, you need rest and plenty of sleep before even considering to use magic again." I flinched back when she turned to me. "And Bloom, you cannot use any magic until we have figured out what exactly is blocking them."

I frowned. "Why?"

"Using magic while it is being blocked is an assault on your body," explained Ofelia kindly. "It is why you fainted the first time and why you lost your hearing the second time. I assume that it is also why you fainted before the gates. Your body simply couldn't keep going."

"All will be further explained tomorrow," promised Faragonda, preventing me from asking even more question.

My heart jumped again. "Wait, does that mean…" I glanced at Stella hopefully who smiled brightly.

"I told you, didn't I?" she grinned smugly.

My heart leaped in my throat. That meant…

"I am going to Alfea. I am going to learn magic." A wide smile spread on my face and I found myself bouncing on the spot. "Oh my God! I am so having a fangirl moment!"

I turned back to the three women, blinking at the happy tears in my eyes. "Thank you. I don't know how I can repay you for- for- well, everything."

"Oh, think nothing of it, dear," smiled Faragonda. "Any fairy eager to learn is welcome here." She clapped her hands and before our eyes a familiar blue portal appeared. "This should take you straight home."

Stella jumped to her feet. I followed hesitantly. Now that the high of hearing again was gone, I noticed that my body was still aching. My knees buckled as I stood up and the world spun for a moment. Stella instantly grasped my elbow to support me, another hand grabbed my other elbow firmly. I slowly glanced up and found Brandon beside me. Of course. He eyed me worriedly and I shot him a tiny smile. He stepped back with a smile of his own.

"Ms. Faragonda," started Ofelia, a disapproving tone in her voice. "I do not think…" She fell silent at the glance Griselda shot her and I wondered what else I had missed.

"Bye, boys," grinned Stella cheerfully.

I waved at them. "Thank you again for your help. Until next time."

If they responded, Stella did not allow me to hear. Instead, she practically pulled me into the portal. I almost tripped again.

It was almost exactly as when we had flown through it with the ship, except this time I felt the air rushing around me, lifting me up and carrying me to where I was meant to go.

And then I found myself in an all-familiar living room, coming face to face with Mike and Vanessa who were on their feet and staring both hopefully and somewhat guarded at the swirls of blue. When they noticed Stella and I, relief washed over them and they rushed forward. I dropped Stella's arm and met them halfway, diving into their embrace and clutching them tightly.

I was home.

As I had feared, my dreams were anything but pleasant that night. The events of that day tormented me, playing over and over in my head, my twisted mind adding gruesome details just to make it all the more terrifying.

The Trix in all their cartoon glory visited along with Darkar. Why he was there I had no idea, but for some weird reason he just was. They were cackling evilly and whispering that I should join them, that I was an outsider like them, a killer.

Stella, the other Winx, the specialists and even Mike and Vanessa also appeared, both as their cartoon variations and in their real appearances. They yelled at me, accusing me of lying to them and killing Bloom, and then pushing me into the arms of the troll and leaving me there.

Every time I woke with a start and found tears streaming down my face. Kiko was a blessing. Whenever I opened my eyes, I found him on top of my chest and comforting me. I would pet him until the tears were gone and then my medication pulled me back under. And the whole thing started from the beginning again.

When the medication finally wore off, the sun was peeking through my closed curtains and my head was pounding unpleasantly. It wasn't a migraine – thank God – but it was a headache with a severity nearly matching my migraines. I dragged myself to my bathroom, pumped myself full with painkillers, and then went back to bed for a while to let the painkillers do their job. When they started working, I took a shower in the utter dark. That freshened me up significantly and by the time I emerged, I felt somewhat up to facing the music downstairs.

I found Vanessa and Mike seated at the breakfast table, Mike reading his usual morning paper while Vanessa was eating toast with butter and jam.

"Morning, sweetheart," she greeted me as I sank down in an empty chair. "How do you feel?"

"Like I have the worst hangover ever," I grumbled. "And like I should go back to bed and sleep for a few more hours, maybe a few days."

"Coffee?"

"Yes, please." Vanessa pressed a quick kiss on top of my head as she rose to her feet to get me a cup. "Is Stella up yet?"

Mike lowered his paper and eyed me wearily. "Who is Stella?"

My heart leaped in my throat, my eyes widening. No! That couldn't be! Had it really all been a dream?

Mike's frown cracked and he threw his head back. "Got ya!"

"Dad!" I punched his shoulder angrily. "That isn't funny!"

"Mike, don't mess with her like that," scolded Vanessa, returning to the table with a clean plate and a cup of coffee. "You just missed her. She headed back upstairs to make a call to her father, to notify him of yesterday's events." She sat back down and grabbed my hand. "When are you two heading back to Magix?"

I chewed my lip. "I am not sure… Ofelia said we needed as much rest as possible before heading their way again. But I don't know if we have to be at Alfea before a certain time. I will ask Stella once she is finished with her call."

Vanessa and Mike hadn't slept all that much if the dark circles around their eyes were anything to go by. My stomach dropped. I hadn't been able to protect them from that worry, or from Knut and his minions.

"How are you two doing?" I wondered softly, biting my lip nervously. "Did you get any sleep?" The two exchanged a look and my heart dropped, my throat tightening uncomfortably. I blinked at the tears that jumped into my eyes. "I am sor…"

"Not another word." Mike glared in a way I had never seen him do before. The sudden urge to burst out into tears and apologize profoundly washed over me. I had to bite down on my lip to keep silent. "If you so much as even think about blaming yourself for this, I will ground you for the rest of your life." My breath hitched at his tone. Maybe it was better if I ran back to my room and never came out. "None of this is your fault or responsibility. You didn't ask for Stella to land here, nor for powers or creatures attacking us. You did everything you could to keep us safe and even paid the price for it." I blinked furiously, tears clouding my sight. He sounded so angry, so disappointed… "Stella isn't apologizing for bringing those monsters to our doorstep, is she? No, she isn't. Then explain to me why you of all people should bear the guilt."

"Mike," snapped Vanessa harshly, grasping my hands as I struggled with the tears, the guilt.

I should be the one bear it because I knew what was going to happen. Because I had the power to make changes. I should be the one bearing that guilt because despite all of my knowledge, I hadn't been able to protect them. I had failed them. No wonder he sounded so disappointed. I was a disappointment.

"She has to hear it, Vanessa," argued Mike back hotly. "She has always considered our wellbeing her responsibility." I flinched as his gaze settled back on me and gripped the table with all my might to stop myself from fleeing to my room. "Now listen to me and listen carefully, Bloom. We are NOT your responsibility. We are your parents and we love you, just as you love us, but that doesn't mean our happiness comes before your own. Our troubles are not more important than yours. So stop thinking that."

"Bloom, sweetie…" Vanessa tilted my chin towards her, smiling sadly. "We love you, and we love you're always willing to help us, to make some of our responsibilities your own. What your father is trying to say…" She ran her fingers through my hair. "We will be alright." Mike grumbled something about that not being what he meant but he fell silent when she shot him a glare. "We will miss you, but we will manage."

"And remember, always remember, that the wellbeing of others is not your responsibility," added Mike, causing Vanessa to shoot him another glare. He coughed a little, quickly adding: "It is their own."

Rather than respond, I just leaned against Vanessa's shoulder and allowed her to hug me. Maybe they were right. But then again… I had invaded their lives without their knowledge and caused them quite a scare. Their daughter was only God knew where because of me. And now they were traumatized because I couldn't get it over my heart to leave Stella in the clearing.

"Don't try to pretend you brought her home out of the goodness of your heart," snarked my mother's voice. "You only wanted to find a way to Alfea. Do not pretend you are not selfish, because we both know you are."

"Oh, what I wouldn't give to shut you up," I growled. "To never hear you again!"

Vanessa's gentle caress snapped me out of my thoughts and I lifted my head to gaze at her. "Just promise you will regularly call us."

I nodded, rubbing my eyes to will the tears back. "I promise."

"And we bought you a little something," added Mike, who had gotten to his feet and grabbed something out of the kitchen. I instantly started to protest, but he raised his hand. "You are off to college, sweetheart. Or whatever Alfea is. Nonetheless, it deserves a little something."

"And it is a little something for us too," assured Vanessa me, running her fingers through my hair once more. "Stella explained we can't come with you to Alfea, not even to see you off. But we are curious of this new world you found yourself part of."

Mike placed the present on the table before me, bending over me and placing a sloppy kiss on my temple that had me squealing and pushing him away with a laugh. "We are proud of you, sweetheart. Never forget that."

I stared at the gift, my stomach tight with both excitement and guilt. Half of me wanted to tear the paper off and see what they had bought me. The other half wanted to protest that they had gotten me something in the first place.

The two battled it out, but the excitement eventually won and I eagerly tore at the bow and paper, finding a box and on it was…

"They got me a camera!" My whole face lid up. "And a Canon at that!"

"We want pictures and lots of them." Vanessa combed her fingers through my hair again, a shiver running down my spine at the pleasant feeling. My hair had always been my biggest weakness and she knew it. "And your old one was practically ancient."

I choked back the tears and hugged them both. "Thank you. I will. As many as possible. You will beg me to stop sending them before long."

The remainder of the breakfast passed by quickly, and mostly in silence. Stella remained AWOL. By the time Vanessa and I finished the wash-up, she still was nowhere to be found. I headed back upstairs to double check if I had packed everything, pausing in front of Stella's door to see if she was alright. A deep male voice met me through the door, sounding more than a little angry, and I quickly bolted away. I was not listening in on her private conversation with her father, no matter how curious I was about what they were discussing or why he sounded so angry.

I checked my suitcase twice before settling by the window, staring down at the street with my arms wrapped around my knees. Calming music danced through the room, my old stereo playing one of the few albums I owned. I wanted music, noise. Just anything that wasn't silence.

I twiddled my thumbs as I memorized the street. Now that I was packed and Mike and Vanessa had even given me somewhat of a farewell speech, it was becoming a little too real. It was as if I was standing on the edge of a bridge, staring at the abyss and mastering the courage to jump.

"And maybe in a way it is. This is the first time I am actually making a decision that changes everything."

I chewed on my lip, suppressing a smile as Roxy – a girl who lived nearby with her father – crossed the street, trying and almost failing to keep her dog in check. He was practically dragging her along.

Roxy had a love for bright colours. When I had first met her, her hair had been bubble-gum blue. Lately she had taken to old pink, which didn't suite her at all. I wondered what colour it would be next time I saw her.

"Sure, I am still following the storyline, but I am no longer sticking to where it is safe, where I can't mess up and reveal I am not really Bloom because everyone has known her for years and won't ask difficult questions. I am taking a massive risk by going to Alfea, by following the storyline AND deciding to change it. If anyone will notice I know things I shouldn't, or that I am not from this universe, it will be at Alfea." I would need all those acting skills that I had required over the years to pull this off, and then some. Still I was looking forward to it, curious to see which mysteries I would encounter and what their answers would be. "It is a little like I am going on an adventure." Kiko jumped beside me and headbutted my legs in a cry for attention. I petted him absently, still chewing my lip. "But then why do I feel so nauseous, so scared? I should be fidgeting with excitement."

"Bloom?" My head snapped to the door as the name was called. Stella stood in the door opening, frowning a little. "Can I come in?"

Now that was not like Stella at all. "Of course. You don't need to ask," I assured her, petting the spot beside me. "Sorry I didn't react straight away. I was lost in thought."

She closed the door behind her. "I noticed. That was the third time I called your name." She took the empty spot opposite of me, mimicking my stance and pulling her legs onto the windowsill. She glanced down at the street, a tiny smile tugging at her lips. "This isn't too bad…"

"It is one of my favourite spots," I told her, observing her quietly. Her eyes were a little red and puffy and the bright smile that seemed to be permanently stuck on her face was gone. "I like to just sit here and watch the world below me move, or to read." She nodded, but I got the feeling it was more to herself than to me. My stomach twisted, the nagging feeling that something was wrong curling inside. "Stella, are you alright?"

She shrugged. "Yeah, I'm okay."

"Okay?" My eyebrow shot up. "That doesn't sound too good." She wrapped her arms around her legs just as I let go of them. "Is it something your father said? My mom said you were going to call him."

Stella didn't look at me, just continued to gaze out of the window. "Yeah… He wants me to come home."

I swallowed, disappointment clawing at my throat. "Because of the attack?" She nodded and it hit me like a brick. She wasn't going to Alfea then. "Oh…"

"We argued," she continued, her tone soft. "I refused to go back to Solaria. He refused to let me go to Alfea." She rested her chin on her folded arms. "I hate arguing with him."

A million memories of me being in a similar situation with my mother flashed before my eyes, tears edging to the surface.

"Bloody hell!" I blinked violently. "It seems I am constantly on the verge of crying. Pull yourself together, Sybil! You are being bloody pathetic."

"Do you want to talk about it?" I offered. She shook her head. "Okay… But if you ever need to get something – anything – of your chest, know that I am here for you."

Stella slowly turned her head to me, her eyes shimmering sadly. "Do you mean that?"

"Of course I do." I frowned. "I wouldn't say it if I didn't." She rested her cheek against her knees again, turning back to the window. I observed her carefully, watching how she swallowed again and again, how her jaw clenched and relaxed, how she blinked. Something was eating at her, something that upset her. "Stella?" No reaction.

I chewed on my lip, the worry twisting uncomfortably in my stomach. This was so unlike the Stella I knew… "Knew? I know shit."

"My favourite colour is blue." Stella's head snapped up, a deep frown nestled between her brows. I smiled warmly. "I prefer to listen to instrumental music, but I am a big fan of the golden oldies as well. Or that's what we call them here on Earth. And I would never wear a crop top because I have a problem with my stomach." I chuckled as Stella continued to stare at me as if I had grown a second head. "I feel like we've been friends for years, especially with everything we went through. I mean, some friendships never have to face death and serious injuries but we have, and then some." I shook my head with a laugh. "What I am trying to say is that we only met yesterday. And I thought I share a few things about myself. Things a friend should probably know." I shot forward when I noticed tears were rolling down her cheeks again. "Oh, don't cry, Stella! I didn't mean to upset… Oh!" I chuckled awkwardly when Stella wrapped her arms around my neck and hugged me tightly.

"I knew it," she whispered brokenly. "I knew Sky and my father were wrong."

I rubbed her back soothingly. "Were wrong about what?"

"They warned me to be careful around you, that I shouldn't…" Her breath hitched. "They were wrong, that is all that counts. And I knew it, but still I started to doubt…"

"Hey." I held Stella at arm's length. "That is perfectly understandable, Stella. They are your father and someone you have known a hell of a lot longer than you have known me."

She sniffed, rubbing a hand under her nose. "You are not mad?"

"Why would I be mad?" I chuckled softly. "Stella, it is a perfectly normal reaction, especially coming from your father and a guy who clearly adores you." Her cheeks flushed a little at that. "They just want to keep you safe, to prevent others from taking advantage of you." I folded my hands around hers with a smile. "If I had been in their shoes, I would have reacted exactly the same."

She sniffed again. "Sky said that just because I was desperate for a friend, I shouldn't just trust the first nice girl I met. As if I was a hussy desperate to get laid and jumping into bed with the first guy who smiled at me."

"Ah." Her anger from the day before made complete sense. If he had said that to me, I would have kicked him where it really hurt. "Want me to kick his ass for you?" Stella eyed me oddly, still a laugh was inching onto her face. I was tempted to pump my fist triumphantly. "That is something you do for your friends, I believe." I shrugged hesitantly. "When someone hurts them, you make them pay. I just never had a friend I would do it for before."

"Really?" There was an almost childish hope shimmering in her eyes. "You never…"

"No." I shook my head. "Sure, there were girls who wanted to become friends with me, but somehow it always felt fake. Like they wanted to be my friend for who I was, not because they liked me."

Stella nodded eagerly. "Yeah, I had the same thing. Not that I saw a lot of other kids my age."

"You will now," I told her, throwing all caution overboard. I was going to help my friend. Mine, not Blooms. Any friendships and relationships I would make from this moment on belonged solely to me, were created by me, and I looked out for my friends, because that was what friends were supposed to do. "Trust me when I say, Stella, that at Alfea we are both going to fit right in and find some good friends."

Stella smiled at my tone. "You can't know that for sure."

I winked. "Call it intuition."

"But what…"

"No buts," I interrupted, clasping her hands even tighter in mine and smiling warmly at her. "We will, Stella. I promise you."

Saying goodbye to Mike and Vanessa turned out to be a lot harder than I had prepared myself for. I could barely get myself to let them go, let alone leave them to go to a school in another realm for an undetermined amount of time. They had been my safety net ever since I had woken up in Bloom's body, my anchors, the ones that had pulled me through the endless confusion that came with waking up in someone's else body.

I almost changed my mind at the last minute. Mike and Vanessa wouldn't let me, though. When the time came, they practically pushed me through the portal Stella had created.

When I stepped out of the portal along with Stella – my suitcase in one hand and Kiko in his basket in the other – I found myself once again in front of Alfea though some distance from where we had landed last night.

The place was absolutely buzzling. Young women were clustered together in groups, others were embracing what I guessed were their parents and saying their goodbyes, and last were those who got off the buses and out of fancy looking cars. If Stella hadn't warned me beforehand that they hovered, I would have stared with my mouth half open.

"How many students does Alfea have?" I asked Stella as I tried to count all the girls surrounding us. There were so many!

"They allow about sixty girls to enrol each year." Stella put her ring back on her finger. Her hands were free of any luggage, though she had shown me she carried them in miniature form in her purse. "There are the freshmen like us, next come the sophomores, then there are the juniors and finally the seniors. That makes about 420. Naturally some girls drop out and others apply again, but I guess it is about 420." She tried to wrap her arm around mine but instantly paused. "Oh, here. Let me take Kiko from you." I gladly handed her Kiko's basket, my kitten meowing at the movement. He was fidgeting, eager to get out and explore his new surroundings. I had half a mind in joining him when he would. There was so much to see. "Come on, or they will begin without us. Each year starts with a big welcoming ceremony. If we want to drop off our stuff at our rooms before finding some seats, we better hurry."

"What about our talk with Ms. Faragonda?" I wondered, allowing myself to be pulled towards the gate. "Don't you think she will want to talk to us beforehand?"

"Nah." Stella sounded so sure that I didn't dare to question it. "Faragonda is a creature of habit. There are no classes or responsibilities on the first day of the year. She insists on it. We are free to explore, catch up and even head into the town. As long as we are back before curfew and don't blacken Alfea's good name. She will probably want to see us after the important notifications and the usual welcome speeches."

I tried to get a good second look of the area now that the sun was shining, finding that Alfea wasn't all that different in the daylight. The stones were still shimmering, the gate was still impressive, and the castle was still stunning. Only the meadows had undergone a metamorphosis. Different flowers were in full bloom now and none luminous insects buzzed around them. The other animals were up and about as well. I made a silent apology to the number of squirrels and birds that ran and flew around. Kiko was going to drive them absolutely crazy.

"How do you feel?" Stella's question snapped me out of my observation and I shot her a puzzling glance. She laughed. "No threat of danger anywhere?"

"Uh…" I shook my head. "No, nothing."

That seemed to satisfy Stella, who nodded to herself. "Dr Ofelia was probably right. Your body simply couldn't take anymore."

I was about to agree with her when my stomach twisted. We were almost at the gate now and that feeling of unease was creeping up on me, the nausea, the urge to turn around and run away. I swallowed, trying to focus on my breathing and suppress the rising panic attack.

"What the hell is wrong with me? Look around, Sybil. There is no danger anywhere in sight!"

But by the time the gate swung open for us, the world was spinning around me and I was afraid I would black out for the second time. "Oh, please! Not again! That would be so embarrassing."

I managed to keep it together, though I had no idea how, and I found that the more distance we put between us and Alfea's outer walls, the more I relaxed. My heart wasn't slamming against my ribcage anymore, I could look ahead without my eyes rolling in their sockets, and my rigid breathing slowly settled back down.

The courtyard we now found ourselves in was as stunning as the gardens outside, and almost just as big. Surrounding it and squeezed against the outer walls were open pathways like the old churches and monasteries in England and France had. While not all that comfortably looking, I could already picture myself sitting in one of the arches and gazing at the gardens while trying – and failing – to do some homework.

In the middle of the courtyard arose a giant tree that seemed as ancient as time itself. Surrounding it were hedges and flowerbeds. Scattered through the rest of the yard were even more trees, though they were a lot smaller.

The other thing that stood out was the water than ran all around. Streams twisted and turned through all the flowers and trees, and there were fountains and wells. I could barely observe one thing as my attention was instantly caught by something else. There was so much and it was all so beautiful, so magical… Like I was sucked into a fairy tale.

Stella nudged me with the biggest grin. "I knew you would love this."

I nodded, still in awe. "I think it will take a while before I can step into this courtyard without being overwhelmed."

"And there is plenty of shade for you," teased Stella. I chuckled. "Oh, look. There is Griselda."

Griselda was on the other side of the courtyard, standing in front of what I guessed the entrance to the castle. She was holding a list and seemed to halt each girl that was trying to enter.

"Is she wearing the same outfit as yesterday?" I whispered to Stella as we joined the line waiting to be checked by Griselda.

"Hmm-hmm," nodded Stella, her nose scrunching. "You better get used to it. This is the only outfit she owns." She gagged. "You will never find me wearing the same outfit twice."

I grinned amused. "I don't want to know what your wardrobe looks like."

Stella winked. "What makes you think I have just one?"

As we waited in line, Stella entertained me by spewing random facts about the school. Such as that Alfea was founded by Arcadia, who many claimed was the first fairy in existence. She couldn't tell me when the school had been founded, just that it was one of the oldest buildings in the entire Magic Dimension. She assured me, though, that the inside didn't look the part.

"All the comforts modern time has blessed us with. I would never attend if it had been an old draughty castle without proper heating and air-conditioning."

When she told me that Faragonda was nearing her 100th anniversary as headmistress, my jaw ended up somewhere on the floor. "Most of the teachers are as ancient as the castle itself. They are practically part of the inventory. Take the librarian, for example. Ms. Barbatea. You won't find a single record on Alfea that won't mention her as the librarian. And you know what the weirdest thing is? Nobody knows what she is."

"Surely the possibilities aren't endless?" I suggested and instantly second-guessed myself at the look she shot me. "Uh, Stella? How many magical creatures actually exist in the Magic Dimension?"

She shrugged carelessly. "Scientists are still trying to figure that out. Last month they discovered a new species of butterfly. It was on the front page of every single paper. Ridiculous if you ask me. As if a new butterfly is that rare."

"Okay…" I arched a sceptic eyebrow. "Anything I should be warned about?"

"You mean other than the delightful ones you already met?" she teased. I huffed. "There are a handful, but most creatures keep their distance as long as you pose no threat to them. Honestly, trolls and ghouls are the worst, and you fought those just fine."

"Is that what you call it?" A shudder ran down my spine at the mere mention of the troll. "My memory is a bit juggled, but from what I can remember, I wouldn't exactly say I was fighting them just fine."

"Ah, there you two are." Stella and I both gazed up as Griselda's voice interrupted our conversation. We weren't anywhere near her yet, but clearly she had spotted or heard us. "Cutting it close, I see." She shot Stella a disapproving look.

"We are fashionably late," grinned the girl cheekily in response. "As is expected of fashionable fairies like ourselves." Griselda narrowed her eyes, and I quickly jumped in to prevent us from already getting into trouble.

"Terribly sorry, Ms. Griselda." I smiled apologetically. "I couldn't say goodbye to my parents."

Her eyes softened somewhat. "Young ladies, we were starting to worry something might have happened again."

"I would have been more than a little pissed if I had been blasted out of the sky twice in one day," grumbled Stella. "No, we made it here without a hitch this time."

Griselda seemed more than a little tense I noticed. She was also ignoring the group of girls in front of her and focussed solely on us. "That is good to hear. Now hurry inside. I expect you to show Bloom the way around, Ms. Stella." She shot Stella stern look from over her glasses and I could swear Stella gulped a little.

But rather than show she was intimidated by the woman, she tilted her chin in the air and got that familiar haughty look on her face. "Of course."

Griselda's eyes narrowed further. Oh, she and Stella certainly didn't like one another. "You two are in the south wing."

Stella was already dragging me with her, a little thundercloud above her head. As I stumbled to keep up with her, I gazed back to Griselda and tried to smile. "Uh, thank you, Ms. Griselda. Sorry we kept you from work." I let out a squeak as Stella yanked me hard. "Hey! That arm is attached to something, you know?"

"The south wing," bristled Stella, ignoring my protests. "That means we are basically right next to the teachers. Do you know what that means?" She didn't even give me a chance to answer. "That sneaking out at night is out of the question."

"Stella, slow down a bit," I pleaded. "I am struggling to keep up, and I would like to see where we are going so I can remember." This time she heard me and slowed down. "And why would you think you won't be able to sneak out?"

"Duh." Stella shot me a look. "Griselda hears everything. Sneaking out is difficult enough without sleeping practically next to her."

I chuckled, shaking my head at her words. "I am sure it won't be quite as cosy as that." She shot me glare, clearly not finding that amusing, and then yanked me not to gently inside.

Alfea proved to be as beautiful on the inside as on the outside. The entrance hall was enormous with tall windows made out of stained glass, plaster ceiling roses and plaster panel mouldings. In the middle of the hall descended a stairway that seemed to come straight out of a Disney movie. I could practically see Cinderella or Belle making their way down it in their dresses.

As I tried to take everything in – from the red carpet on the floor to the floating lights – Stella informed me that anything related to classes and gatherings were in the north wing, which included the classrooms, the dining hall and the main lecture hall, the latter which would be our destination after visiting the dorms. When I asked which way the north wing was, she pointed to a hallway straight ahead that was half hidden behind the stairs.

The library and study hall were too big to be squeezed in with the rest of school related subjects she told me next. Instead, they took up most of the south wing. This was also where the quarters of Alfea's staff were along with our dorm. Something she still wasn't over yet. She grumbled loudly about it as she guided me up the stairs. "Out of all the dorms we could have been given, it had to one of the few in the south wing."

The east and west wings were solely reserved for dorms, though Stella warned me there were still a few classrooms squeezed in here and there, and they were near impossible to find.

In one of the biggest torrents, astronomy was taught as it required a clear view on the sky, and something Stella called the simulator was in another one. I guessed it was something like the simulator from the cartoons.

"Attached to the west wing is a ballroom, but it is barely used. You will find the kitchens and pantry on the ground floor of the east wing."

"Which way is east?" The terms were swirling in my head. "I am not good with directions." Stella muttered I was hopeless and just dragged me with her to where I guessed the south wing was.

The plasters on the ceiling continued throughout the entire castle and I had to rub my eyes a few times when I noticed some of them were moving. Stella warned me not to stare at them too long when I pointed it out, as they liked to make students dizzy and nauseous. Apparently, they were alive and somewhat malevolent.

The castle was as light on the inside as it was on the outside. The only colour standing out was the wine-red carpet which covered the floors. The same white stones from the outside were used inside and when I touched one, I discovered they were rather warm. Stella instantly revealed that the stones were magical, keeping the castle at a constant 68 degrees. The cold nor the heat from outside could enter the castle, unless someone opened a window. The castle was as alive as the plaster roses, and knew when a window was open. And when it was, it stopped heating or cooling that particular area.

My head was spinning just with taking everything in, and on top of that I had to remember which way we were going. "I am so going to get lost," I mumbled miserably as I was led around another corner and up a new flight of stairs.

"Everyone does in the beginning," assured Stella me. "You will find your way around easily enough after a few days." She pulled me into the nearest hallway after we reached the top of the stairs and grinned. "Here we are."

I glanced around eagerly. We were in a long hallway, which was as similar to everything else I had seen so far. The only differences were the doors that emerged every once in a while. Each was different and had a theme. One was white and engraved with bees, another was green and had a tree. Beside each door hung a golden sign with names on it.

Stella kept pulling me along, giving me barely time to read the signs or even admire the doors, until we were almost at the end of the hallway and there was just one door left.

"Hey, they put us in the same dorm!" she cheered as we came to a standstill. Our door was a turquoise one with on each door a peacock, their tails swirling around and their claws holding the doorknobs. Almost as if they were the dorm's guardians.

Stella was not impressed by them. "Peacocks," she complained. "This has Griselda all over it."

My eyes were drawn to the golden plate. Five names were written elegantly in the gold: Flora of Linphae, Stella of Solaria, Bloom of Earth, Musa of Melody, and Tecna of Zenith. My heart leaped in my throat, a smile tugging at my lips. Just as the cartoon. I hadn't changed too much then.

Stella groaned as she read the sign. "This is awful."

I tilted an inquiring eyebrow at her. "What do you mean?"

"Our dormmates." She gestured to the sign. "I will explain it since you have no idea what any of those realms are. Well, I already told you about Melody. Linphae is the realm of nature and Zenith is the realm of technology. That means we are stuck in the same dorm with an arrogant music addict, a weak flower lover, and a robot."

"Stella," I scolded sharply. "You don't know that. We haven't even met them yet."

Stella huffed. "I don't have to. The realms say it all."

"Well, in that case…" I shook my head disapprovingly. "They will be stuck with a snobby princess with no regards of the rules, and a clueless girl from a magicless realm who isn't allowed to use magic and has mental health issues." Stella's smile instantly morphed into a glare. I smiled innocently in response. "Why don't we wait with our judgement until we at least have met them?"

Stella pouted a little but threw her hands in the air. "Fine!"

I chuckled, amused by her dramatic response. "Let's just drop off our stuff and then head back downstairs."

The doors led to a common area. It was a cosy little living room with bookcases, something that reminded me of a television, and comfortable looking couches. Three doors created similarly as the one we had just stepped through, led out of the common area and once again golden signs hung beside them. Another door was nestled in a corner but was a lot plainer. I guessed that had to be the bathroom.

"Oh, thank Arcadia!" sighed Stella as she searched for her own name. "I have a room to myself again."

"Lucky you." I found my name under Flora's. "I have a roommate. I should probably warn her beforehand that I am a restless sleeper."

Stella petted my shoulder. "I am sure nurse Ofelia will be able to help you with that."

We headed into Stella's room first and my eyebrows practically disappeared into my hair. It was twice as big as my bedroom on Earth and even more luxurious. Against the wall in the middle of a room stood a California king bed with silken sheets and an enormous headboard that looked more like the back of a couch than a headboard. The bed was perched on a round platform that was a part of the bed. It enhanced the couch vibe, making it seem as if Stella's bed was a couch and bed in one. On either side of the bed were round nightstands with stunning lamps on them. Opposite of the bed against the other wall was a cupboard with a floating screen that reminded me of a television. Beside the cupboard was an enormous built-in wardrobe and there was another on the other side of the room. And then there were endless amounts of racks.

"Damn," complained Stella as she opened the built-in wardrobe that proved to be a walk-in wardrobe. The walls of the wardrobe were covered with shelves and there was even room enough for a luxurious vanity. "They haven't added more wardrobe space."

"More?" I echoed with a bark of laughter. "Stella, how could you possibly want more?" The look she shot me made me roll my eyes. "There is something as too much clothing."

She scoffed. "Don't be ridiculous."

I walked out of her wardrobe and gazed around the room. "Where is your desk? And you don't have any bookcases either."

Stella was meanwhile busy with dropping her now life-sized luggage on the floor. "I don't need either of those things. I study on bed. And it is not like I will actually touch my books. They will be fine on the floor."

"You know that studying on bed is proven to be unproductive, right?" The look she shot me told me she couldn't care less. "Well, I want to see what my room looks like. You coming?"

My room was twice as big as hers, but then again I was sharing it with another person. It was long with French doors – the peacocks made another appearance – at the end of it. They opened up to a balcony that looked out onto the gardens.

There were two queen-sized beds in the room, diagonally opposite of one another and each on an elevated platform. Unlike Stella's, the sheets were plain and white. But other than the two beds, there was absolutely nothing there. There wasn't even a nightstand or a wardrobe.

I glanced around, swallowing thickly. "Uh…" This was not what I had expected.

"Don't worry," assured Stella me, placing Kiko's basket on the bed nearest to the balcony. He instantly jumped out and started to explore, his tail high in the air. "You have free reign on what you want to add, but they deliver them like blank canvases to give everyone that option, and have roommates debating and agreeing on what to add."

The disappointment didn't waver. "But you have…"

"Bloom." Stella grabbed my arm comfortingly, shaking her head. "They just put everything I had in my room last year into this one."

I swallowed again, slowly putting my suitcase down beside the bed she had clearly chosen for me. No matter how many times I repeated her words, the disappointment was like an bottomless pit in my stomach. "Alright…"

"We will get straight to it after our talk with Faragonda," promised Stella, nudging my shoulder with a gentle smile. "So no more sour face. We are at Alfea together, and we are dormmates. Cheer up."

"You are right." I sighed, picking up a meowing Kiko when he stood up against my leg and cuddling him tightly. "I don't know what got into me…"

"It is okay to be homesick, Bloom." Stella shot me a smile. "I had it the first few days as well." She draped an arm around my shoulder, winking cheerfully. "It will get better. Promise."