Bloom awoke with a start and realized that it was the middle of the night. She had dreamt the whole thing, she was certain. She picked up her phone in one hand, dialing Sky's number with speed while her other hand clutched the blanket beside her.
No answer. She dialed again, still no answer. Finally, she leapt from the bed, rummaging through her closet until she found black pants and a black t-shirt. She snuck from the room and out of the gates of Althea, intent on Red Fountain. Sky might think she was a little crazy, but the dream had been so real. She needed to hear his voice telling her that everything would be okay, she needed him to hug her.
The trees above her were menacing in the darkness as the full moon slipped behind a large cloud. Bloom could see monsters in their branches, but calmed herself as the moon flooded the area with light.
It seemed like a jump and a skip until she was at Red Fountain, trying to figure out where Sky slept, and how to get there.
She thought back to all of her past visits and settled on where it should be. Then, silently as she could, she crept up to his room and knelt by his window. She had her ear towards it, listening as she heard voices.
She knew that one of the voices was Sky's, and the other's was… Icy's?!
Bloom leaned over to peer in and see what was happening.
"-so you see what I mean?" Icy asked, leaning against Sky's dresser.
"Yeah, but that doesn't mean I have to like it." He replied. He was facing away from the window, as was Icy, but Bloom could hear the worry in his voice.
"But you do have to agree to it." Bloom gasped. That was Stormy's voice! It was followed by a chuckle and all three of the witches came to stand closer to Sky, cornering him near the window.
It was then that Darcy peered out the window and saw Bloom.
"You little pixie!" She cried and grabbed Bloom by her long red hair.
She pulled her in through the window and ignored Bloom's whimpers of pain and struggles to free herself.
"I caught a fly in a flytrap, girls," Darcy sneered towards Stormy and Icy.
Stormy walked forwards and came close enough to Bloom that her breath made Bloom try to turn even with her hair yanked to one side.
"Let's kill her slowly and painfully!" She cried with glee as she saw the pain clear on Bloom's innocent face.
"No. I have a better idea," Icy said as she stood next to Sky. "Let's just have Sky re-iterate what he told her yesterday, and then laugh when her heart breaks again."
"Yeah, let's watch the little lovebird fall from the sky!" Stormy agreed easily as the three witches turned to Sky.
Bloom turned as well and looked at him imploringly, her eyes searching out his with tears already forming. But now, the tears weren't from the pain of Darcy's rein on her hair. They weren't even from the fear of what the Witches could do to her.
They were filled with dread at what Sky might say.
Everything from the day before flooded in her head as the tears flowed freely, and Bloom tried to hide her face. Darcy laughed and jerked her head straight, forcing Bloom to look at Sky, even if she was shamed by her tears.
"Please, tell me it isn't true…" She whispered hoarsely, her voice still raw from exhaustion and heartbreak.
"Oh yes, Sky," Darcy taunted. "Tell her it's all one big elaborate joke."
"Yeah, you guys will get back together-" Stormy joined in.
"-When Hell freezes over!" Icy finished and all three girls laughed cruelly at the pain evident on Bloom's face.
"Please…" She pleaded.
Sky looked away from the scene in front of him, his body tense and awkward.
"Oh yes, tell Bloom, Sky." Stormy chanted, a hint of warning in her voice.
"I don't like you Bloom. I told you that yesterday. I don't want to see you ever again."
Bloom's tears ran out, and so she sobbed silently. Her dry eyes reflected what she felt, nothing but despair. Nothing ran down her cheeks, but her body was wracked with sobs all the same. Darcy let go of her hair as she clutched her stomach, her whole body aching with the force of her bawling, her heart too freshly wounded to feel the numbness of shock or time.
"Stupid pixie. He told you, but you couldn't believe it. You had to come and double check." Darcy taunted, standing above her.
"Can't you get a clue? He said he doesn't want to see you again." Stormy was loving this, seeing her enemy in such pain. Her pleasure was obvious as she smiled down at Bloom's shaking body.
At that point, Icy kneeled down and leaned in towards Bloom's ear, speaking softly. She spoke one sentence that sent Bloom over the edge. Five words that broke her fragile hold on herself.
"He doesn't love you anymore."