Episode One: "The Heart of Magic"
Chapter One:
The sun rose high over the Sparx Royal Palace, it's light flowing across the scene like a golden river. A flock of pegasai wing past the open window of the highest tower, whinnying in their joy as they glide through the sky. The sound reaches a sleeping girl inside the tower room, waking her. Smiling, she rolls over and looks at the top of her canopy bed, happy thoughts flitting through her mind, even as butterflies seem to appear in her stomach.
"Today's the day." She thought to herself happily. "I can't believe it's finally here."
Suddenly, a phone on the nightstand rings, startling her from her musing. She reluctently sits up and, after stretching, she answers.
"What's up, Stella?" She asks, whilst playing with the ring on her left hand ring finger, admiring how the emerald and gold catches the light.
"What's up? Bloom, dawling, you have to be kidding me! There is simply no way you would forget todays your wedding day!" Stella exclaims, shocked by her friends calm demeanor.
Bloom laughs easily, getting up and walking over to her vanity, and starts brushing her hair. "Of course not, Stel. I just meant..."
"You just needed reminding that we have major work to do!" Stella interrupted. "Has your dress arrived yet?", then, she added "You know, it would have been much simpler had you just let me design your dress. You know that, right?"
Again, Bloom laughs. "I know, Stella! But I really wanted to wear Mom's wedding dress. And it had to get refitted, and then..."
"Okay, okay I get the point." Said Stella, gloomily.
Bloom sighes and goes over to her closet. "Stella?" she askes wearily. "What's proper to wear the day of the wedding, but before the actual ceremony? My dress did arrive, but I really don't want to wear it to breakfast."
At the sound of fashion related conversation, Stella's mood picked up immensely. She started going over different fashion rules with Bloom, diasecting her closet's contents piece by piece. Bloom listened to her friend rattle on and on, still amazed after all these years that she happened to know exactly every item of clotheing that happened to be there, including stuff Bloom and Daphne had bought on a solo sister shopping trip last week. Finally, after settling on a pair of cyan blue jeans and a long sleeved blue t shirt, the conversation got back to the wedding.
"So, have your parents arrived yet?"
"Not yet. Timmy and Riven offered to pick them up in the owl, though. So they should be here pretty soon." Bloom sighed yet again, thinking of everything she would have to do day.
"Not only are Sky and I getting married, but we're also getting crowned as Prince and Princess of both Sparx and Eraklyon. What if I do something wrong or mess something up?"
"Stella, when are YOU going to get here? I need some major support." She said, wringing her hands nervously.
"Nerves getting to you? Say no more, I'm on my way! Sun Power!"
Bloom hung up, setting her phone back in it's place on the nightstand as the room flares with a golden glow, leaving Stella in it's wake. Bloom turns just as she wraps her in a big bear hug.
"I gotcha sweetie." She said, rubbing her back. "You'll not only be fine," she stated, standing Bloom up straight and wiping her tears. "You'll be royally perfect!"
"Thanks, Stella." Bloom says greatfully, hugging her back.
Bloom picks Kiko up, the bunny still snoozing peacefully, while Stella powers down her scepter, changing it back into it's ring form.
"So," Stella elbows Bloom playfully. "What's for breakfast?"
Bloom grabs Stella by the hand and pulls her toward the door, laughing "Let's find out!"
Chapter Two:
It was early morning on Pyros, the sun barely raised over the volcanoes. The air was humid, filled with the aroma of the blooming Dragon Fruit. Roars echoed across the valley, giving evidence of its dangerous occupants.
A woman and a young man were sitting cross-legged in a clearing surrounded by tropical trees and plants. The woman was older, her skin a dark brown, the color of rich earth. Her hair was white, and pulled back. Her face wasn't altogether human, wrinkles replaced with ridges and eyebrows replaced with scales, as if she were part dragon herself.
The young man was well muscled, with long brown hair trailing down to the middle of his back. Though the light was bright and the sun was hot, his skin did not tan, remaining fair. His face was handsome, though contorted in a hard look of concentration.
The woman begins to speak in a calm, almost trancelike, voice.
"Breathe into your magic Baltor. Breathe in, and out. Let the magic flow through you; feel it in your veins, your skin, let it suffuse your very mind...
Several minutes pass without change. Baltor's steady look of concentration grows into impatient frustration. He growls, opening his eyes.
"It's not working Maya!" he shouts, getting up in a huff. "It just won't work!"
She opens her eyes and, still sitting, turns toward him. "It will work, Baltor, if you give it time. You need to be patient."
"But I have been patient! For three long years I've been patient!" He punches a tree in frustration, then leans against it heavily, panting.
"Whats the use?" he asks weakly, resigned. "Whatever power I had, the Ancestrals stole from me. It's gone. Even the Dragon Fire abandoned me. I have no magic left."
Maya rises and walks over to him, where he leans against the tree, and places a hand on his shoulder.
"It is in you. I can see it. The Ancestrals may have said they created you, but that was a lie. You must have existed before they enchanted you to be their puppet, else you would not exist now. And as for the Dragon Fire, true, the part that the Ancestrals had stolen and used on you returned to its keeper. But you have your own Dragon Fire. You were born with it. You need to look within to find your true inner flame. Now, let us begin again."
Exhausted, but with somewhat renewed hope, he spoke. "Very well." With that, he walked back to the center of the clearing, resuming his meditation. "It may take forever, but I will feel whole again. I will never again be someone else's puppet, living by their rules. I will live my own life... whatever that may be."
Chapter Three:
The sun has now risen fully into the sky over Sparx Royal Palace. The castle is all abustle with the preperations for the Wedding and Duel Coronation. Maids and manservants can be seen all around the grounds, carrying and placing tables, chairs, flowers, and food. Oritel and Mike can be seen standing near a tall latice work trellis at the head of the assembly, rehearsing their parts. Both families had come to a compromise. Mike would walk Bloom down the isle, while Oritel would oficiate the ceremony.
Marion was flitting from here to there like a crazed butterfly, zapping up different decorations as the occasion called. Daphne and Thoren walked calmly, arm in arm, up the stairs towards the castle proper. Indignent "Hey!"s and "Watch it!"s were heard suddenly. Daphne and Thoren turn around just in time to see flower garlends dissappear from Mike and Oritel's heads, as Marion giggled, re adjusted her aim, and decorated the trellis with roses instead of the men.
Daphne and Thoren laughed as they continued inside.
Giving Daphne a kiss, Thoren said "I better go find Sky. He's probably nervous as heck."
"I'll check on Bloom." Daphne said, "She's probably the same."
Daphne headed up the stairs on the left of the entry hall while Thoren headed to the room off the right side of it. Daphne laughed to herself as she walked, remembering her own wedding day.
"I can't believe my little sister is getting married today! It feel's like just yesterday I was holding her in my arms, rocking her to sleep as our world fell apart. But now, everything's perfect!"
She turned the final corner and came to Bloom's bedroom door. Opening it, she was greeted with the image of Bloom, in their mother's wedding dress, standing on a stool in front of a three way mirror while Vanessa and the ladies maids finished doing up the ties in the back.
"Wow, Bloom! You look goregeous!" Daphne exclaimed.
"Thanks Daphne!" Bloom said without turning. Then, impatiently "Mom?! Are we done yet?"
Vanessa laughed, tying the last bow in place, and relented. "Yes Bloom, We're done." As Bloom got down and flew to the door to hug her sister, Vanessa started dabbing a handkerchief at her eyes. "My little girl, all ready getting married..."
"Oh mom," Bloom said, tearing up. All three woman group hugged. Suddenly the doors were flung wide open, and the rest of the Winx appear. Stella crosses her arms.
"Is this a private party, or can anyone join in?"
Daphne laughs "Come on in girls, I think she can do with a little more squishing!"
All the girl join the group hugg laughing. They pull back and admire Bloom, giving her oohs and ahhs.
Chapter Four:
Downstairs, Sky was getting ready, surrounded by the specialists. The guys were joking and carrying on happily, but Sky was still rather distracted. After watching him clasp and unclasp is cape six times, Thoren intervened, clasping it soundly in the right place.
"Sky, are you okay? I've heard of nerves, but..."
Sky sighed and sat down in a chair heavily. "I don't know, I'm just..." he trailed off thoughtfully.
The guys stopped talking and Nabu walked over to where Sky and Thoren were.
"You don't look so good. Maybe you should take it easy." he said carefully, watching as Sky seemed to get a little paler. Riven pushed a glass in Sky's hand, and he drank deeply.
"Heroes brew?" Helia asked Brandon in a whisper. Brandon nodded.
"Thanks, Riven." Sky said, setting the empty glass on a table. He got up and went to the window.
" It's my wedding day, I'm finally going to get to marry Bloom, and I'm really excited. But to tell you the truth, I don't know what's wrong with me. I feel off."
"Sky," Brandon said, joining his friend at the window and resting a hand on his shoulder. "Don't worry about it, you and Bloom have just been under a lot of stress lately, trying to get everything together for today. Just a little bit longer, and you'll be married and you and Bloom will be off on your honeymoon for some much needed r and r."
Sky looked up and grinned. "Thanks Brandon."
A horn sounded in the distance, signaling the start of the wedding.
"I hate to interrupt," Riven said, "but the weddings starting and Bloom will never forgive us if your not out there. Not to mention the lecture I'd get from Musa..."
Thoren laughed and clapped Sky on the shoulder. "Don't worry, we're comeing."
The guys hurridly finished adjusting their bowtyes and straightening their jackets. As they headed out, Sky fell against the doorway and held his head in his hand. Timmy, the last one out before him, turned just in time to catch him.
"You okay buddy?" he asked, concerned.
Sky looked up at him and smiled. "It's nothing, just a headache. I better get out there."
And with that, Sky walked up and took his place to the right of the platform. All that was left was to wait for Bloom.
Chapter Five:
Back on Pyros, Baltor was training alone.
The sun beating down on his back, he performed one of the sword forms Maia had taught him. Since he hadn't been able to use magic yet, he agreed to learn. It was soothing, losing himself in the rythmic movements.
Swing, parry, thrust, jab...
Block high, twist, jab, block low...
Turn, block, parry, thrust...
On it went. As he moved, he allowed himself to think about his past, and about his future. Where had he come from? Why had the Ancestrals chosen him? And if he'd had the Dragon Fire before, where did it come from? So many questions, questions he had no answers to.
What was he supposed to do now? He was one of the worst villains in the magic dimension, at least, he had been. Whatever he was now, the people would not accept him. They wouldn't help him. There was no way he could find the truth. Disgustedly, he threw his sword at the ground, and held his head. "What am I going to do?"
A loud roar, like thunder, startled him out of his thoughts. He looked up quickly, and saw an enormous dragon, red like lava, standing above and close to him. It leaned down and blew hot, foul, brimstone smelling breath in his face, blowing his hair back. Baltor glared, unmoved but very annoyed.
"Seriously? This is the third time this week!"
Baltor had claimed this spot for his own when he first arrived in Pyros three years ago. Unfortunately, some headstrong Dragon had also had the same idea, and he had been returning to harass Baltor regularly ever since.
Sighing heavily, he picked his sword back up, adjusting the grip in his hands. Good thing he'd been practising. The Dragon roared in challenge. Baltor roared back in difiance, and charged him.
The dragon evaded his blade easily, but moved in a little to close to Baltor's next swing, getting a nicked wing in response. He roared and reared back, exposing his chest. Baltor charged again, and was met with the dragons claw, parrieing the blow at the last second.
The force knocked Baltor to the ground, but he rolled under the dragon and attacked the dragons hind leg, drawing blood. The dragon yowled, and swung his tale, hitting Baltor in the chest and knocking him into a tree.
Baltor wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth, and glared at the dragon again.
"This is going to be alot hearder then I thought."
Chapter Six:
"It's okay, Bloom. Everything will be fine." Marion reassured her daughter; but Bloom seemed unconvinced.
"Oh, Mom... It's just..." Bloom struggled with the words. "I just have this feeling... somethings going to go wrong..."
Vanessa picked up a waiting bouquet of roses and daphdils, and handed it to Bloom. Then, she pulled a TigerLily out of her hair, and placed it behind Bloom's ear.
" This was given to me by your grandmother on my wedding day. She wore it on her wedding day, and her mother before her, and her mother before her. She told me it would bring good luck, and I want you to have it now."
Bloom reached up and touched the flower gently, eyes brimming over with tears. "Thank you, Mommy."
She adjusted her dress hem, then readjusted it nervously as the wedding march started playing. Musa had agreed to play the piano, and then join the rest of the Winx, who were her bridesmaids.
Marion noticed her fidgeting and put a hand on her shoulder. Bloom looked up into her face for reassurance. Her mother nodded, gesturing toward Mikes waiting arm. She took Mikes arm, and started down the isle.
The courtyard of Sparx Castle was decorated beautifully, with ribbons twined around the columns, joined by vines of living flowers (a touch by Flora). The carpet toward the altar was white with gold border, and the sides were lined with more flowers.
All her friends and family, as well as the many diplomats, Kings and Queens from all over the realm, were in the audiance. She took a deep breath, inhaling lenuicha blossums sweet fragrence. And then, opening her eyes and staring straight ahead, she saw Sky, waiting for her.
He was so handsome, in his new royal attire, purple and gold. He looked up into her eyes, and his concerened face softened into a smile. The boys lined his side, and the girls lined hers. As she took her place at the Alter, she glanced up at his face again. His eyes drew her in, and she almost thought she saw something in them. There was something familiar and beautiful in those eyes. She startled out of her thoughts as her father began the ceremony.
"Dearly beloved," Oritel began. "we are gathered together here in the sign of God – and in the face of this company – to join together this man and this woman in holy matrimony..."
He was suddenly interupted by a vicious quake of the ground. Sky caught Bloom as the ground rumbled again, shifting and roiling like the sea during a storm. The guests were cast around and scattered. The walls of the palace cracked and heaved, debris falling randomly.
"Every! Single! Time! Can't any party on Sparx go unattacked?" Stella grumbled, annoyed.
"What's going on?!" Bloom screamed to her parents over the noise. The ground directly beneath them started cracking and heaving as well, as if it was being forced up from beneath. Bloom and Sky were thrown back against the wall.
Daphne shouted,
"Mom, Dad! We have to get everyone to safety! Tecna, can you help?"
Tecna starts scanning the area. "The closest stable area is 2.357 miles away. It should be safe."
Daphne inclines her head, and Marion, Oritel, and Tecna start gathering the guests and taking them to safety. Bloom is knocked to the ground as she tries to get to the rest of the girls. The earth heaves once more, and a large hole is exposed, releaseing a hord of vicious cave beasts.
"Underealm Monsters! Watch out!" Layla cries, avoiding the sticky spit of one of them. More and more pore from the caves and swarm the courtyard, destroying everything in their path as they chase the last of the guests.
Bloom takes a long look at the ruined wedding scene, the crumpled flowers strewn across the ground, the furniture overturned and smashed. Then, she feels something burn her leg.
"Ouch!" She screams and looks down, just in time to see her poor, tattered wedding dress that had been ignited by a monsters acid breath.
"My wedding dress... my... my..."
"That's it!" she growls. "Come on, Girls! Enchantix time!"
She gets up, and transforms. The others follow suit, and soon all six fairies are in Enchantix form.
"Okay, let's get'um!" Bloom shouts, and the other girls shout too as they all charge the monsters.
The boys are already hard at work fighting the monsters. Bloom joins Sky as he battles a monster with viscious spikes. Stella and Musa join Timmy and Riven fighting a clumb of monsters under what's left of the flower arch. Tecna has returned, having gotten the rest of the guest to safety, and now transforms to help Flora, Daphne, and Thoren on the other side of the courtyard. The rest of the boys are keeping the monsters from breaching the doors to the rest of the castle.
Marion and Oritel, followed by Ms. Faragonda, Hagen, and a slew of other teachers and parents, join the fight as more monsters replace the defeated ones. As the Sun descends from it's place in the sky and daylight turns to nighttime, the battle still rages on. Bloom wipes her brow and grits her teeth, grunting against the monster she's pushing away with her foot. Sky, at her back, grabs her hand for a quick squeeze before he lets go to fight another monster.
"Any luck yet?" She calls to Tecna, who, with Nabu and Layla, is standing near the entrance with Helia and Thoren fighting monsters on either side of them.
"Not yet Bloom." Tecna replies. "Nothing I've tried to close the hole has worked. And more monsters come out every minute. Roxy, can't you stop them?"
Roxy put her hands to her head, trying her telekenesis. Shaking her head, she said "No, sorry. These things are NOT animals by ANY stretch of the word." She pulls her leg up and squeeks as a monster almost caught her enkle. "Too bad a certain fairy can't just trap them in a book, huh Selina?"
Selena kicks one and looks up at her friend, smiling ruefully, "Yeah. Too bad" she chuckles, then stabs another monster with her knife. Roxy laughed. Since shareing an apartment with Selena at Alfea, she'd learned of her passion about knives, daggers, and the like. She kept several dozen displayed on the wall of her side of the room.
Flora disbatches another monster and flys over. "Maybe I can help. Ivy Wrap!" she shouts. Ivy vines grow around the mouth of the tunnel, through the top, and then wrap back to the ground, pulling down the roof of the tunnel to meet the floor, crushing several monsters.
Flora then grunts, and winces as the vines are pulled taut, and the mouth of the tunnel tries to reopen. "I've got it," Layla calls, and shoots a Morphix beam that glues the vines in place.
"Your turn Nabu!" she shouts, and Nabu slams his staff into the ground, a wave of violet energy spreading toward the tunnel. All at once, the tunnel collapses back to the ground and Flora and Layla's spells dissapate.
Nabu's legs buckle, and he falls to his knees. "Nabu!" Layla calls, terrified, and rushes over. "Are you alright?!" she askes.
"Just fine, Layla." he replies, wipeing the sweat from his forehead and sitting down. He takes her hands. "I know what happened a few years ago, and I know your worried. But you have got to stop freaking out every time I use my staff." Layla sits next to him and lays her head on his chest. "I know, I know. I just... I just don't want to loose you again." she wimpers. "And you won't have to." he murmurs into her ear, rubbing her shoulder consolingly.
While they were talking, the rest of the monsters had been destroyed. Bloom and Sky were leaning against the now upturned flower arch, catching their breath. Stella was using what little magic she had cleaning up the monsters mess, while Brandon, Helia, Flora and Roxy helped several knight bring the injured people into the castle.
Daphne and Thoren walked over to Bloom and Sky, careful to avoid the damage Stella hadn't got to yet. Bloom hugged her sister as Layla and Nabu joined them. "I'm sorry about your wedding, Bloom." Daphne said as she pulled back. Poor Bloom's eyes were filled with tears. Sky gentley pulled her close to him and put his arm around her, and she sobbed into his chest.
"Funny, how when my angers gone, I feel so heartbroken." She thought to herself. "I'd almost rather be angry again.
Layla started helping Stella, replacing the furniture that had been obliterated with Morphix replicas. Nabu started talking with Thoren about tracing the source of magic from those monsters.
"I'm going to go talk to my parents, see if they have any ideas of what exactly happened." Bloom said, frowning at the rags she was wearing that had been previously her wedding dress. "Oh, sorry Bloom. I didn't even notice. Here." Daphne says, and flicks her finger. The dress magically transforms into a simple, loose, powder blue tank top and comforatable yet stylish dark wash skinny jeans. White flats and a loose ponytail finished the look. Bloom breathed in sharp, "Daphne, it's beautiful! And comfortable! Thank you." she gushes. Daphne whispers in Blooms ear "Don't tell Stella I did that, she'd kill me. She thinks she has the corner market on fashion." Bloom giggled, and then they both laughed, Sky joining in.
Bloom starts walking into the castle, then turns back toward Sky. "Coming?"
Sky shakes his head, fighting back a yawn. "No, I think I'll just head to bed. It's been a long day and the battle..." Bloom interrupts him with a hand "It's okay, Sky. Go ahead. I'll see you tonight then. He smiles and she smiles back, and then she heads into the castle.
Sky goes towards the door, and starts stumbling. "Whoa, whoa, whoa!" Daphne says, running over to catch him. "Are you alright, Sky?" She askes.
"Yeah," he says, "just a little dizzy." Daphne looks at him long, and hard. She senses something in his aura, something... strange. "How long has this been going on?" she askes him. He shruggs "Just a few weeks. I figure it's just stress, from planning the wedding and everything." She looks once more at his face. There's still something there... but she can't tell anymore. "Well," she says, motioning a knight over. "Ok. But I'll have a knight take you to your room, just in case you get any more dizzy spells." He smiles ruefully. "Thanks Daphne. And please, don't tell Bloom about this. She has so much on her plate, and I don't want her to worry."
"He really does care about her." Daphne winks at him. "Not a word." He grinns back greatfully, and assisted by the knight he makes his way back to his and Bloom's room. Daphne, concerned, heads to the castle library. "Maybe Bartleby will have an idea about some of this."
Chapter Seven:
Baltor lays on his back in his hut, watching the firelight flicker, casting deep shadows across of the roof and walls.
It had been a strange day. After finally kicking that Dragon out of his territory, he had trekked up the left side of Mt. WildHorn, looking for herbs and roots Maia had requested. He really didn't mind, besides training, and trying to unlock his "Natural Magic", he had grown rather bored with nothing to do. So why not. It gave him an excuse to explore Pyros, and exploring new places had become a hobby of his. There were few places withing twenty miles that he hadn't been to at one time or another in the years he'd been here.
But then, as he was heading back, an earthquake had shaken the island, making moving down the slope difficult and causing Dragons all over to take off. The volcanoes almost errupted, casting smoke quicker and higher into the sky then ever before, some with sparks of magma as well.
There was no point in trying to move until it ended, because he probably would have been tossed headfirst down the mountain if he did. So, he braced himself between two sturdy pines and waited it out. It had lasted several hours, four to be exact. He didn't know why it had started, or why it had taken so long to stop, but he didn't care. He had gotten stiff standing there, and it had made him late to give the plants to Maia. And when he asked her what it was, she replied he would have to wait for the answer.
"Why?" he had asked incredulously. She had simple shaken her head as she strung the herbs and added the roots to her cupboard. Finally, she stated, quite matter of factly, "Because, you're not ready to know yet." He had argued politely, impolitely, and just angrily with every reason he was ready to know, but the old woman would not be moved. Finally, he just gave up and went to leave. As he picked up his sack and headed to the door, he heard her voice. "See you tomorrow?" she had asked. Sighing, but not turning around, he said grumply "Sure. 2:30 as always." "No," she said. He turned around, a question in his eyes. "Come at 4:45, and pack for travel." she stated, scratching her head. He was curious, but there was no point asking what it was about. He just sighed again and turned back for the doo, saying "Very well." and then he left. Something flickered in her perifrial vision, and she smiled, glancing up in time to see a few small flames light up his hand before quickly vanishing. Still walking, he hadn't even noticed.
"It has begun."
Chapter Eight:
Sky woke from a nightmare, formless shadows still twisting in his minds eye. Though he couldn't remember what it was about, he found, to his shock, tears in his eyes. He wiped them away, and rising from the edge of the bed, he walked to the window, looking out on the stars. "What happened today? And why have I been having nightmares every night?"
Sighing, he walked back over to the bed, and looking down at Bloom, brushed a stray hair from her face. She smiled, her whole face lighting up in her sleep. She looked so sweet, cuddled up in her old nightclothes, with her arms wrapped around her pillow, and Kiko snoring by her feet.
She had insisted to her maids that she would not wear another "princesslike" frilly nightgown to bed. "It just isn't practical." she had said. But he knew the truth. Bloom liked comfy clothes, and being in her sweatpants and shirt from Gardenia made her feel more at home.
He sat back down on the bed, and wondered. He wondered about the wedding, about the headaches and dizzyness he had been experiancing, about the future. And about his unxplainable, unforgetable and yet intangible nightmares. He leaned back into the headboard, and leaned his head back against the wall. He was disturbed from his thoughts when Bloom turned over in her sleep, and finding him, leaned into his chest and wrapped her arms around him. He smiled down at her. Nothing could ever be hopeless as long as he had Bloom. He siged again, and holding her, he finally fell back asleep. Light flickered off the window, and shadows played off the wall. This was not surprising, for a small flame had just danced it's way across Sky's sleeping fingers before going out.
End of Episode.
Next time on Winx Club:
Bloom learns of the strange occurance surrounding Sky, and askes Daphne for help. Daphne has learned from Bartleby that the answers they seek about both the Earthquakes and Sky can only be found by Consulting the Ancient Dragon Mirror.
Meanwhile on Pyros, Baltor gets an unexpected visit from someone from his past.