Authors Note: I live, again! Hey guys! Long time no see, eh? I'll start off with some good news. My hand is fully healed! Actually has been for a few months. I'm just going to apologize for my absence. I somewhat forgot completely about writing my stories. Thanks to Red Wyvern Emporer asking if they could adopt this story, I got the idea back into my head to write again. So for this new year, I've made a Resolution. Every Monday I will but up a chapter for a story. If I do not, then I will not touch my xBox until I do! This is my promise to you all. So let's get started with a productive year!

Chapter 5

Bloom stood in the tree line looking towards the Sparx royal palace. She could see the guards patrolling around the walls. None could see her from her perch in the tree a few hundred yards away.

Bloom suddenly notices a small group approaching the front gate. Five women in expensive ball gowns escorted by three men in identical blue uniforms. They were stopped by the guards and they seemed to be arguing. Even from this far away, Bloom knew that it was the Winx and the Specalists. She noticed that the blond in the yellow dress had taken over the argument, and the guards were backing away slowly.

'That's the Stel I know and love. She has a big mouth andknows how to use it.' Bloom thought as she watched the guards let the group through the main gate. She continued to watch them until entered the palace.

'Alright. Time to get inside.' Bloom thought as she jumped down from the tree. Landing perfectly, she begins to sneak towards the palace perimeter. Avoiding the patrols, she casts an invisibility spell. With silent footsteps, Bloom walks past the guards before they close the gate.

'This was too easy. I'll need to talk to mom and dad about the security.' Bloom thought to herself as she approached the palace door. The doors are suddenly opened as a group of soldiers are leaving, but they're not Royal Guards. Bloom notices that the leader of the group has a familiar emblem on his uniform.

'Templars! I have to find out what they're up to here.' Bloom thought as she entered the palace. Feeling that her invisibility spell is about to wear off, she looks for a secluded area so that no one can see her. Bloom quickly darted down an empty hallway as the spell wore off.

'I need to find Mom or Dad. I have to convince them to stop supporting the Templars.' Bloom thought as she stealth-fully made her way to the throne room.

After avoiding all the patrols and walking around what felt like the entire palace, Bloom arived at the throne room. The doors are closed with two guards in front. Silently, Bloom armed the dart launcher on her hidden blade (which she added herself), and fired sleep darts at both the guards. They both slowly fell to the ground, falling into a deep slumber. Unlike some of the other assassins, Bloom's sleep darts are much more potent. The guards should be out for a few hours at least.

Bloom moved slowly towards the guards on the floor. She starts checking on them, and finds that they're both fine. Bloom's attention moves to the door. Even with the door closed, she can hear talking on the other side. Bloom slowly opens the door, just a crack, so that she can hear clearly. Bloom soon recognizes the first voice as Oritel.

"... While I understand that we had a deal before the Ancestress's attack, we're still working on re-establishing the economy of the realm. I just can't devote the funds you're requesting." Oritel spoke to an unknown individual. Bloom knew that the other must be a Templar representative. Only the power hungry knights would try to get Sparx to start funding them so soon after it's resurrection.

"Be that as it may, many of the Royals that support us are in danger. If we are to be rid of the threat, we will need your support." Replied the Templar officer. 'I know that voice... Who is it?' Bloom thought as she tried to remember where she knows the voice from.

"I am aware of this assassin that has found her way to the Magic Dimension. Despite your fears, I am not as worried about her. If she learns anything about how these dimensions work or our recent history, she'll learn that Sparx is in no position to be supplying the Templar cause at this moment. I'm sorry Vidic, but this conversation is over." Oritel replied. Bloom had to hold back a gasp at hearing that name. 'Vidic is here? This is a one time chance to kill a major leader of the Templars. I have to try.'

Bloom slowly, quietly, open the door enough so that she could slip into the room. From where she stood crouched by the door, she could see both Oritel and Vidic by the throne. Vidic was still trying to arguing with Oritel, but Oritel just walked up to his throne. As he was sitting, Bloom moved over to a pillar on her right for cover.

"Vidic I am done with this conversation. I simply can not give you what I do not have!" Oritel replied as he started to raise his voice. Vidic stood silently for a moment, then spoke.

"Fine then. I was hoping I wouldn't have to resort to this." Vidic reached up to a necklace around his neck. He grabbed the Templar cross and pressed a button on the front. It started flashing, and a few moments later a large group of Templars entered the room carrying the unconscious guards.

"What are you doing Vidic?" Oritel demanded as the forces circled around the throne.

"I'm sorry old friend, but if you will not supply us with what we demand, perhaps your replacement will." Vidic replied as he gave a hand signal and started to walk towards the door. The group of soldies all drew their swords. Oritel did the same as he rose from his throne, preparing to defend himself.

'Forget about Vidic, I have to help Oritel!' Bloom thought as she watched Vidic exit the room. Bloom stealth-fully made her way up towards the group. Not wanting to draw the attention of all the guards and Winx in the palace, using magic or her firearms were out of the question. Bloom settled on starting with throwing knives and then using her dual hidden-blades for the close range combat.

"As King of Sparx I order you all to stand down now!" Oritel commanded, trying not to have to fight.

"Sorry your majesty, but you should have kept to your agreement." One of the soldiers replied. Suddenly troops started dropping from no where. Oritel couldn't tell where the attacker was, but noticed an opening in the group to his left. Oritel lunged and rolled away to the left. As he started to get up he noticed a figure in black and red robes.

'The assassin is here?' Oritel wondered in suprise. By this time the remaining troops located the assassin in the shadows and charged. The assassin returned the gesture using two hidden blades. 'Why would she help me? If she's been in here she could have easily killed Vidic. There's something here that I'm missing.' Oritel watched as the fight raged on.

Bloom was holding off all the troops, and dealing blows when she could, but it was difficult to watch this many. Their attacks seemed to be trying to push her back, but Bloom wouldn't let them corner her. Deciding she needs a little advantage, Bloom tossed a smoke bomb. Half of the room is almost instantly filled with smoke. Bloom doesn't hesitate to take advantage of it.

While using the smoke to take down the Templars one by one, she could hear fighting on the other side of the group. Suddenly a sword comes swinging at Bloom's head. The side of the blade hits her on the side of the head, and Bloom falls down to the ground.

With the help of the assassin, (Ok! Mostly the assassins work...) All of the Templar soldiers were defeated. Using the last moment he could, Oritel swung his sword towards the assassin. Oritel felt the side of the blade hit someone, and a thud followed as that someone fell to the ground. As the smoke cleared, Oritel saw the assassin on the ground. He checked her, and she was still breathing. A lock of hair was falling out of her hood. At first it was a cherry blond. It seemed that a disguise spell was wearing off, because the hair turned to be bright red.

Suddenly there was a pounding sound coming from the door. Someone was trying to get in. Oritel readied himself for another fight. The door bursts open, and he sees that Miriam stands there with a group of Royal Guards.

"Oritel! Are you alright?" Miriam called out to her husband. Oritel met her half way and embraced her wife.

"Yes my darling, I am fine." Oritel replied.

"What happened here?" Miriam asked her husband.

"Vidic turned on me. I wouldn't give him what he wanted, so he sent there soldiers to try to kill me." Oritel answered. Suddenly he hears a groan behind him. He turned to see the assassin standing but with her hood down. Both Oritel and Miriam gasped at seeing her face.

"Dad, was the hit to the head really necessary? I'm mean, I did just save your life." Bloom called out as she rubbed the side of her face.