Party Attacked
When the rest of the Winx get out, they find there's a huge crowd waiting - but they get spots in the front with the Specialists.
Oritel and Marion come out first, and then Bloom and Daphne walk out after them. Bloom had the option of going with the Winx or staying with Daphne, she opted to stay with Daphne.
Truth be told, Bloom's been just a little twitchy about letting Daphne out of her sight for more than a few minutes - paranoia from Daphne's recent kidnapping, it'll fade with some time. Until then, Daphne's just going to have to accept the fact that Bloom's going to be a little clingy for a bit. She knows how clingy Bloom got about Ember and her friends - and especially Sky, even though she tried to put some distance between them to protect him - so it's not like this is completely unexpected.
When Daphne and Bloom walk out, everybody starts cheering. The outfit Stella made for her is a sea-green dress the color of her scarf and her hair is pulled up. All in all, she looks fantastic, and Bloom guesses she's going to have to get her fighting staff ready to beat some princes off Daphne.
Daphne tells everybody that she is ecstatic to be back and can't wait to get to know everyone. People start coming forward, making Bloom tense up for a moment before relaxing when they simply welcome Daphne back.
Daphne's just thanking a boy that's maybe six or eight years old, when a shadow falls over all of them - it's the Trix!
Daphne gasps and Bloom mutters "And today was going so great…"
Her hands burst into flames, as Icy says "Well Daphne, it looks like a party. And you didn't invite us!"
Bloom mutters "That's because you three aren't welcome."
Icy continues, as Bloom steps in front of Daphne, "And we brought you a gift!"
A giant brown creature with tentacles and limbs the thickness of trees clambers over the wall around the palace, and Marion yells "Quick! Into the palace!"
Icy says "Beast, get Daphne. And feel free to eat Bloom and her pesky dragon."
That sets Bloom off, and she looks over at Ember, who's with Sky. Ember glides over and Bloom says "Daphne, get inside. Seems the party is going to have an extra item on the menu."
Daphne blanches, and says "You can't be serious."
"They want you, they have to go through me, Daph. And ask the last guy who tried that, it didn't end well for him."
Ember thrums in agreement, and breathes a hole in the air with a fireball. She flies through it while Bloom transforms and takes her sword out. Ember grows to her full size and starts fighting the creature, while Bloom helps and the rest of the Winx distract the Trix while everybody gets in the palace.
Daphne wants to help, but she hasn't regained her powers yet - Bloom says she still has them, the same way she still had hers when the Trix stole a piece of the Dragon Flame from her. Daphne can't make herself believe - now she sees how much trust Bloom had, still has, in her.
Once all the people are safely in the castle, and Oritel and Marion pulled Daphne inside when it was clear she had frozen during the fight, Bloom stops fighting the creature after the rest of the Winx try to help and it's still coming.
Icy says "Well, that didn't work, did it Winx?"
Bloom says "Alright, new plan: kill you three, see if that breaks your hold on it and it leaves."
All three witches stare at her, and they can see she's completely serious. They seriously underestimated how far Bloom would go to protect Daphne.
The Specialists are fighting as well, but all of them together can't beat this thing. Bloom is shielding everyone from behind, keeping Stormy at bay. The witch tries to shoot lightning, but Bloom reflects it back at her with her sword.
Everyone gets inside, and Sky has to drag Bloom away from the creature - she can't win, it's supposed to be impossible, but Bloom's done the impossible before. When the creature tries to get inside, Bloom slashes a good four inches off the tentacle and lets loose a wave of fire from her sword that knocks the creature about ten feet away from the door.
Bloom lets out a high-pitched whistle, and Ember roars in answer before shrinking down and escaping back into the palace where Bloom is. The creature has about ten new slashes that are freely bleeding, and many bite and claw marks all over its body, evidence of its fight with Bloom and Ember.
Darcy says "Well, that didn't exactly go as planned."
Stormy groans as she floats back up with her sisters, and says "No kidding, I think I'm seeing double. Darcy, if your making illusions of the both of you, please quit it."
Icy says "Well, at least Bloom had to retreat. Even if her prince Charming had to drag her away for it to happen."
As soon as Bloom is behind the doors, Brandon and Riven close them. After a moment of glaring at the doors, Bloom sheaths her sword and starts looking for Daphne - she's practically pushing her way through the crowd to find her sister. "Daphne? Daphne!"
Marion waves Bloom over, and Daphne's just looking at the floor in shame. She didn't help fight, she didn't do anything - she just froze!
Bloom immediately hugs Daphne, not caring about what happened and didn't happen. Daphne didn't help fight, but she also didn't get killed in the fight - and the second part is all that matters to Bloom.
When Daphne tells them the creature outside is called the Beast of the Depths, none of the Winx have any idea what that means. She also tells them it can't be beaten, only controlled.
Stella says "Alright, lets control it then!"
Bloom has a feeling, from the way Daphne's crying, that it isn't so easy as that. Oritel walks up and says "Only one person can control the Beast of the Depths."
Daphne says "The Nymph of Domino - me. But…I can't! I lost my powers, I can't do anything!"
She runs over to Marion and hugs her despairingly, while Bloom goes over and starts talking to her quietly. "Daph, remember what you told me when the Trix took a piece of my powers? You said I still had them, I just had to have confidence in myself."
Daphne keeps sobbing, and Bloom sighs. She can try her hand at comforting people, but it's really not her strong suit after Pyros - especially when there's a giant threat looming directly outside the doors, that gets her twitchy to stop it and end the danger.
When its clear Bloom isn't going to be able to calm Daphne down, Sky pulls her away by the wrist. He whispers "Bloom, if Daphne thinks she's lost her powers, get her to think she gained them back."
"Sky, how?"
Sky has no answer for that, but the Winx know six beings who might. They call on their Sirenix Guardians, asking for advice on how to restore Daphne's confidence in her powers. The Guardians tell them the only way for Daphne to regain confidence in her powers is the Inspiration of Sirenix - which they need to look for at the source.
Techna thinks it must be Lake Roccaluce, where they first got Sirenix. It makes sense, the Source of Sirenix and all.
Bloom thiks for a moment, then says "Alright, I'll distract the Beast of the Depths while the rest of you fly out - I'll catch up once you're out of its reach."
Ember thrums, but Boom says "Ember, stay here with everyone. If the Beast breaks in, try to kill it until we get back." Ember thrums again, then grows to her full size.
Protect Daphne, Ember. Please, I can't lose her again - or Sky.
Ember sends her a feeling of confidence, her way of saying she will. Bloom hugs Daphne, then Sky - then all of them take off flying towards Magix City.
Bloom distracts the Beast of the Depths thoroughly, jamming her knife into one of its tentacles up to the hilt and dragging it along.
Icy, Darcy, and Stormy are wondering what the Beast is screaming about - until they see Bloom flying off with a knife dripping red in her hand, and one four-foot-long gouge in its tentacle. The Trix follow them, knowing its not like any of them - especially Bloom - to run from a fight of any kind.
They get to Lake Roccaluce with no problem, finding the Inspiration of Sirenix is another matter. There's no artifact or spell they can see in the cave containing the Source of Sirenix - but they figure it out when the rest of them try to cheer Bloom up and start glowing. They already have the Inspiration of Sirenix, they just have to inspire Daphne.
As the Winx swim out of the cave, the Trix show up and start a fight - saying the Winx are the ones who need help.
Bloom asks "Oh really? We need help? There's six of us, and three of you - and I should snap your necks for kidnapping Daphne, all you did to her during that time, and now ruining her welcome-back party."
All three witches look nervous at that, but they attack first to try and get the drop on the fairies. The Winx all dodge the blasts, then do a Sirenix Convergence on the witches - knocking them out.
Meanwhile, on Domino, the Beast of the Depths is still attacking the palace doors - but it isn't getting in any time soon.
Ember is sitting on the other side of them, using her size and weight as a barrier - it made everyone crack up when she sat down contentedly in front of the doors. Nobody can deny the brilliance of the plan, or Ember's intelligence.
Suddenly, Marion realizes Daphne's missing - and Sky immediately looks around to find her. Bloom will be absolutely devastated if Daphne gets killed not even a full day after she got her body back - but self-sacrifice seems to run in her family.
Daphne's in her room, getting her nerve up to let the Beast of the Depths take her so everyone else will be safe. Just as she runs out onto the balcony, the Winx fly up and Bloom immediately sees what's happening.
Daphne yells "Bloom, stay back, you'll get hurt!"
"What about you?!"
"Let the Beast take me Bloom!"
"No way in all of creation, Daphne! You are not letting yourself die a single day after I freed you and broke the curse on you!" Bloom pauses to get a breath in and keep yelling at her sister, when suddenly the Beast lunges at Daphne. Bloom takes her sword out and slices the tentacle off. Once the Beast backs off to avoid losing any more appendages, Bloom lands in front of Daphne.
First, Bloom hugs Daphne.
Then, she smacks Daphne hard on the back of the head and shakes her. "Don't you ever try something that ridiculously dangerous again Daphne! I'm not losing you ever again, you hear me?! Never, and especially not to some slimy creature the Trix dredged up out of who knows where!" After that full breath spent yelling at Daphne, Bloom hugs Daphne again hard enough to cut off her air supply.
Daphne doesn't get offended, she knows Bloom expresses her more extreme worry like this - hitting the person who worried her, then yelling at them harshly enough that they won't worry her like that again; but only if she cares about them a lot.
The Winx activate the Inspiration of Sirenix, and all of them, Daphne included, start glowing golden yellow.
The Beast of the Depths decides it's had enough of Bloom slicing off its tentacles - and swipes at all of them with one of its remaining ones. It takes Bloom up in its tentacle, and it manages to restrain her arms as well - and doesn't let go, despite the smoke that instantly starts curling off its flesh.
Daphne starts glowing purple, and transforms into her Sirenix form. It's almost identical to Bloom's except for a different color scheme. Daphne commands the Beast to release Bloom, and then return to the Depths and never bother them again - it obeys.
Bloom hugs Daphne gratefully, then suddenly they hear the door open and everyone comes pouring out. They're all cheering, and everyone's glad to get out of the palace. Bloom hugs Daphne so fast they both spin a few feet through the air, and then the party is back on.
AN: This would be why you don't get Bloom that scared for you - she will yell, smack you over the head, and crush all the air out of your lungs. Not in that specific order, and she may or may not leave out the crush-the-air-out-of-your-lungs part depending on who it is. Sorry I haven't been updating much on this story, but don't worry, it's still going strong! Promise! Please review, feedback is appreciated. And as for the smoke that started up, Bloom can superheat her body when she wants - if anyone's forgotten that - she just didn't do it to Duman back in Gardenia Park. Part of having fire powers, nothing huge or hard to do - especially when you have Bloom's active imagination for magic.