I want to make clear that I AM NOT blaming Sky at all for his actions, he clearly was not in control, but this is a quick analysis I wrote about the trauma both Flora and Sky have been through, the ways that trauma can present, its consequences, and how they (Sky particularly) deal with that trauma. Some readers may not like Flora's response to Sky, and should it really be an issue let me know and I'll take down this fic, but it's not Flora being mean or choosing to be difficult, her response to Sky is a part of her trauma. Something I just wanted to reflect and investigate, idk. More thoughts are below in the bottom note.

It's funny how sometimes silence can be the loudest presence in a room. How inaction can be the greatest action.

It's funny how the truth can still feel like a lie.

"It's okay."

Sky must have apologized about a dozen times, and Flora must have said some variant of, "It's okay," to each of his apologies, but the booming silence that held in the air, the threatening inaction of Flora's body, her arms, her eyes, told him that she hadn't forgiven.

And really, how could he blame her? He was spelled, yes, but it was still him that rode his dragon high in the air, it was his mouth that shouted obscenities towards his girlfriend and her best friends, his friends, it was his order that caused a ball of fire to shoot out of his dragon's mouth and attack Flora. It was him. He was spelled, sure, but it was still him.

Hidden beneath the gilded outer layer, was Sky. Not a royal, not even a man. But a monster instead.

And Flora could see right through him.

Of course, it was Flora, the girl was more observant than most, and surely she must have forgone his evilness for the sake of Bloom's relationship with him. She was like that, always thinking about others, while he was the opposite, only thinking about himself.

Maybe he deserved what he got.

"Sky…" Flora's soft voice brought him back to the situation at hand.

They were sitting on Alfea's outer bench, where the bus used to pick students up and bring them to Magix City, before Baltor's arrival and the subsequent curfews and limited movement regulations for students. No one really went to that side of the campus anymore, so they had complete privacy, (at least, that's what Sky hoped for, but he was sure either Helia, who surely must have heard the news of his return by now, or Stella and Brandon were snooping around, trying to catch bits of information and jump in when necessary) for their conversation. Flora faced him, but still sat the furthest away from him, pulling Tecna's (for some reason? Why is she wearing that?) purple cardigan closer to her body on occasion, despite it being a hot, humid day, and tugging on her now shoulder-length hair, but Sky respected her need for distance.

"I'm sorry," Sky physically shook his head, as if his dark thoughts would literally fall out, "but, again, I really wanted to extend my deepest apologies—"

"Sky. I said that it's fine."

"I don't think that's true. It's not fine, Flora. My actions really hurt you, and Bloom…and everyone else, but especially you, and I'm not sure if you really forgive me for that. I need you to know how sorry I am for what I did.

"Sky, sweetie, you were spelled..."

"I know, but it was still me. And I want to tell you that I am so, so sorry. If there's anything I can do…"

"Sky," Flora closed her eyes and sighed heavily, "I already told you that there's nothing you can do…"

"I know you said that, but it doesn't feel right. Please," tears freely fell from the sides of Sky's eyes as he passionately implored for her forgiveness, "there has to be something I can do, something that I can do to have you fully forgive me, and my actions. They're my actions and I have to make it right. If it's money, or security, or…whatever! Let me know so I can get it for you, so I can be forgiven! I can't move on…I can't move on if you don't forgive me." Sky sniffled as he finished his plea, wiping the tears away from his eyes, partly in embarrassment, mostly in catharsis.

He looked over to Flora, who had the same neutral posture and facial features she had this whole time. She was quiet for a moment, before she too, wiped a stray tear that fell from her eyes. "Sky…you have to forgive yourself. You have to face your trauma…I can't do that for you."

"I can't forgive myself unless you forgive me first! Flora please—"

"I told you that it's fine!" Flora suddenly snapped, and any argument Sky had immediately died on his lips. Flora took a deep breath in, in a desperate attempt to cleanse her aura, before she continued, "Sky…It's okay. Your actions are okay because you were spelled…but I can't forgive you, and there's literally nothing that you can do for me. It's far beyond whatever money or power you and your parents have."

"What do you mean?" Sky was genuinely confused. What could she want that he couldn't get? The revival of Domino?

Flora stared at him sadly, before suddenly standing up and turning around. In a swift, sudden movement, she dropped the cardigan onto the bench, revealing her back, and Sky couldn't help but gasp.

Flora's back appeared as if it were burnt to omega and back (1). Large, red blisters were on her right shoulder, whereas on the left very red, leathery skin slowly peeled off, Sky nearly thought it was muscle. The center of her back was covered by her crop-top, but just below it revealed just as red, leathery skin, pulled tightly, as if it were ready to burst at any moment.

"I got 3rd and 4th degree burns all over my back," Flora looked over her shoulder to look at Sky's shocked face, "I saw 5 different burn specialists, and they all said the same thing: the burn damaged my back, going deep into my skin... it won't fully heal for a year at minimum…but it's more likely to be two or three years…" Flora grabbed the cardigan and covered herself once again, turning once again to face him.

"Sky," Flora continued, as she could see he didn't really understand the significance of her damaged back, "I lost my Winx."

"W-what?" he sputtered.

"I lost my Winx. A fairy's wings are formed in her back, and if she damages it, she damages her Winx as well. It'll heal, but for the next year…probably more, I can't fly, I can't fight against Baltor, I won't get my Enchantix…everyone else will become a guardian fairy while I'm still stuck at Alfea. Fargonda's missing, Tecna's gone, and Bloom left…and-and I couldn't do anything to help them! The worst part is," Flora sharply looked away from Sky and towards the forest, the tears now freely flowing from her eyes, "I can't communicate with nature anymore. I feel like I lost a part of me…like I'm missing an arm, a piece of my soul…I don't know who I am without it!" Flora openly sobbed into her hands, collapsing onto the ground.

Sky didn't know what to do, he felt like he was in shock, like he couldn't control his body, once again, like he felt the world was moving around him and everything was out of his control.

Suddenly, a realization seized Sky: his actions are irreparable, unforgivable. Even once Flora fully healed the stain of this period of time would remain with her, with both of them really, forever. Nothing he could do would help.

Before he knew it, a blur of blue rushed past him and to Flora, carefully cradling her as she sobbed. It took him a moment, but when the figure looked up, his piercing cobalt eyes started into Sky's baby blues' he realized it was Helia.

If looks could kill, Sky would be dead 10 times over. He wished he was.

Helia turned his attention back to Flora, who seemed to be getting over her breakdown, her sobbing now reduced to sniffles. She was pulled to her feet by Helia, who seemed like he fully intended on dragging her out of the situation but paused as she pulled back on his grip to turn back and address Sky.

"I'm sorry about that," Sky intended on telling her she had absolutely nothing to be sorry about, but he was cut off when she continued, "Um…so you can see why I can't forgive you, at least not now. I know that you didn't do it intentionally, so that's why I kept saying that it's fine, but I can't…Sky, I'm sorry but I can't. Whenever I see you, I think about…and I know that's not fair but I can't help it and—"

Sky stood up, cutting Flora off and potentially stopping her impending panic attack, as she stared up in confusion. "Flora," he sighed, "There is nothing you have to apologize for. On the other hand, I'm sorry for everything. I'm sorry for your back. I'm sorry for trying to force you in forgiving me. A lot of things have happened in the past couple of weeks and you're suffering the consequences when you had no involvement. It's terrible. And words cannot even begin to describe how awful I feel. I'm just…so sorry. And you don't have to accept my apology. There is no pressure in you forgiving me, I just want to extend my deepest regrets. And…I would also like to extend an offer to pay for your therapy and any treatments you may need regarding your injuries. This isn't a bribe; I just want to offer this to you. Is that okay?"

Flora still had her arms wrapped around Helia who had a scowl on his face, but she did offer a solemn smile towards Sky. "Only if you go to therapy too," she bargained, "You can't blame yourself like this Sky, you were pushed to the back of your mind, and did things without your consent. You have to work through your trauma, you can't depend on other people to do it for you."

Sky offered a solemn smile of his own, deeply appreciating her advice. Neither of them really knew how to end the conversation, so they stalked off on their separate ways. When he looked back, he saw Flora and Helia walking with arms wrapped around each other, and it made his heart warm up just the slightest bit, for the first time in months. Even in the worst of times, some things stayed the same.

Sky walked off in the other direction. He…knew he had a lot of work to do. With his friends, with his family, with himself. He didn't know if he was strong enough, to deal with what was coming up, but life is funny like that sometimes.

Sometimes, the weakest people have the strongest resolve.

(1) I refer to "hell" as "omega" in my Winx Club fics. It's phrasing that I do not take credit for, but I can't remember who I saw that had the original idea. My deepest apologies.

So yes, I adjusted the injuries Flora received as a result of the fireball from the dragon. There's an excellent Winx Club re-write by everythingpuddle (same username both on Tumblr and AO3) and they do a phenomenal job of depicting realistic injuries the characters may have gotten from the show. I'm actually quite excited to see what they have in store for this particular injury. I only read S2 of the re-write, but their writing is quite good, check it out if you can, it's rated M.

So first, I think that Sky always believed that if he apologized, maybe gave a gift or two then everything would be okay. He cheats on Bloom/Disapro, he apologizes, then gets to date Bloom. Things like that, you know? Which is why in this particular fic he insists Flora on forgiving him, and is shocked when she can't. He feels like he can't move on without her (everyone's really) forgiveness, but she can't give it to him. Rationally she knows she should. But she can't. So he has to figure out how to move on, on his own. IDK if I explained it right, but I've been thinking about the Sky/Flora dynamic, which I actually happen to really like, and the time when Sky's dragon nearly freaking killed her.

Please review if you liked this fic or if you have criticism as well, they're food for my soul and motivate me to keep on writing. My tumblr is alwayswriting101 if you'd like to message me. Thanks for reading!

-Kat