Chapter 2: A Change
Ok I got tired of waiting.
When the Winx girls woke up the next morning they were full of energy. The seal had already begun to work its magic. They each felt much stronger that they ever had before.
"Hey Bloom, I think that Seal thing's starting to work," Stella said. "I actually managed to get out of bed in less then ten minutes."
"That's good news Stella, but I think the real surprises will happen in our classes. With this power boost, we'll all be getting straight A's before long. Well let's go, classes start in fifteen minutes."
Blooms first class was archery. Targets were set up across a grass field. Students would take turns using their Winx to hit them. When Blooms turn came she stepped up confident. She had never had very good accuracy, but with the power of the Oricalcos with her, she was phenomenal. Her fire attacks burned through target after target cleanly. The other girls were speechless. The teacher came up to Bloom.
"Ms. Bloom you have showed remarkable improvement. How id you become so skilled so quickly?"
"Just practice I guess. Oh, and I found a spell to increase my Winx, that's probably it," she replied.
"Well keep up the good work Bloom." Bloom smiled as she walked away. This was going great! She hadn't even been trying.
Later that day during the free period, Sasha, the most popular fairy at Alfea, sauntered up to Bloom.
"Well well, hello Bloom. I heard about your little demonstration today in archery class. You must think you're pretty hot after that stunt."
"Hey, I was just doing my best!" Bloom retorted. Sasha reminded her of the girl who used to tease her back in Gardinia.
"Well, you've become the talk of the school. If you keep this up you just might become as popular as me, and that is something I cannot allow. So I challenge you to a Winx Battle Showdown after class today. That is if you think you're even in my league," she taunted.
Bloom started to get very angry. Ever since they had summoned the seal she'd been getting more and more irritable.
"All right Sasha you're on. I just hope you're ready to be humiliated when I totally clobber you."
"You don't stand a chance against me, but I suppose I'll have to teach you that lesson the hard way," Sasha said as she walked away, leaving a steaming Bloom behind.
A few hours later, the battle arena at Alfea was nearly full. Mrs. Faragonda and the rest of the teachers had even decided to attend.
"Well, it seems like we have a very popular match today," Mrs. Faragonda remarked.
"I suppose it's at least more productive than them lounging around," Ms. Grizelda admitted. She always seemed to have something to complain about.
"You should really learn to relax Grizelda."
"If I did that the students would have a chance to get out of line."
Ms. Faragonda was about to say that Ms. G. had no sense of humor when a bell rang signaling the start of the match.
"Welcome Alfea students and teachers to today's Winx Battle Showdown. Toda we'll have Sasha of Crimson Skyland vs. Bloom of Earth and Sparx. Let's get this match started," the announcer yelled over the cheering of the audience.
"Well Bloom, now I can finally do what I've always wanted to do to you, she said, changing into her Winx mode. She was dressed on a one piece suit like Techna's except it was crimson red and had to helmet. She also had two pairs of wings instead of Techna's wire things.
"Oh I think you're the one who's going to be afraid in a minute," Bloom replied as she transformed. She kept the majority of her Oricalcos power in check.
"Yes we will. Take this! Crimson tempest!" She yelled, creating a horde of tiny meteorites that flew at Bloom. She flew up and dodged them.
"My turn," she said. "Fireball Assault." Five fireballs flew towards Sasha who blocked with a barrier.
"Please is that all you have," Sasha mocked. Bloom felt her anger rising.
"No, but this is. Fire Wall!" A wall of searing hot flames swept across the field, singing the grass. Sasha used another barrier, but she was breathing a bit hard after that attack.
"Well, another failed attack by the girl who thinks she's all that. You know what? If everyone from Sparx was as pathetic as you, I'm glad that miserable rock was destroyed."
That got under Blooms skin. She knew she was from Sparx and that her family had been killed in the attack. She also knew that she had been happy on Sparx. In her dreams she was always surrounded by joy and happiness, and now Sasha was telling her that she was glad everyone Bloom had known was dead! That was it! It was time for the Oricalcos.
"You'll pay for that," Bloom said in a voice she barely recognized as her own. It was filled with the same anger and hatred she head in the Witches voices. Sasha hesitated for a moment, stunned by the anger in Blooms' voice. Then something happened. A circle appeared above Bloom. It slowly started spinning and descended. As it passed through Bloom her outfit changed. Her top became pitch black with red lining and her skirt grew a bit longer and turned the same colors. A smaller version of the circle appeared on her head, and her eyes grew darker and red streaks appeared in them (think Mye from the latest episodes of Yu-Gi-Oh.) "Now the fun can really begin," she stated in her new, evil voice.
"My," Ms. Faragonda said from the stands. "Blooms' power just went through the roof. It must have something to do with that circle she summoned. I'll have to ask her about it after the match."
Back in the battle, Bloom zoomed towards Sasha at incredible speed. Sasha didn't even have time to move before Bloom nailed her in the stomach with a flaming fist. When she doubled over Bloom hit her in the back of the neck with an elbow. She fell to the ground but got back up.
"There is no way I'm going to lose to a worthless trash fairy like you," she yelled, sending a blast of Scarlet lightning towards Bloom. She didn't even move. The lightning struck her but bounced off. "What!" Sasha blurted.
"That tickled, but this wont," Bloom said in a voice that suggested she was enjoying hurting her opponent. "Atonics Flame!" She called out and a huge blast of blue and Black flames leapt out of her outstretched hands. Sasha's barrier didn't do anything. The flames pierced it and swirled around Sasha. Her screams of pain were pleasure to Blooms' ears. Soon Sasha lay on the ground, burnt and helpless. Bloom casually walked over to her and grabbed her by the hair. Bringing her face inches from her own, Bloom looked right into hr eyes, seeing fear and anger there.
"If you ever say anything like that about Sparx again Sasha, I won't be as merciful as I was this time," she said, then dropped Sasha like a bag of potatoes and sauntered away.
After she left the arena, Ms. Grizelda walked up to Bloom with a scowl on her face as usual.
"Ms. Faragonda would like to see you in her office Bloom. Now," she added when Bloom began to walk away.
Bloom obeyed and headed for the Headmistresses office. On the way she thought about the match against Sasha. She's never acted like that before. She had enjoyed inflicting pain of Sasha. That was something a witch would do, but not her.
"Still, it did feel good in a way," she thought to herself as she entered Ms. Faragona's office.
What's happening to Bloom? Will the other girls begin acting like her? Find out in the next chapter of Dark Winx.