Chapter 13 - Gone Too Far
Stories of the origins of the magical universe came to mind as Brandon took in the brilliant scene before him. The Great Dragon was said to have breathed its fiery breath and brought forth whole worlds and creatures, establishing the expanse of the magical universe's being. The Dragon's Flame was a source of life; it created and designed, bringing everything into reality. The story used to enchant him back when the Winx struggled to understand what it was the Trix were after. To think Bloom protected such an awe-inspiring power left Brandon with feelings of amazement and disbelief.
The amazement was transformed into revulsion as Brandon came to understand that the Dragon Fire could also be used to destroy what was created. The disbelief held fast and tortured him as he was forced to consider that his friend Bloom harnessed the great power she was supposed to protect to hurt and destroy. He could only imagine what his best friend Sky was going through as they arrived on Eraklyon.
The Eraklyon palace was up in flames. Fire roared and hissed, cracking walls, shattering windows, collapsing sections of roof. People were rushing out of the building, screaming and crying. Shouts and cries could be heard from within, coming from the individuals who were trapped inside and dying from dehydration, smoke inhalation, and third degree burns.
Brandon felt sick to his stomach as he took in the horrors of the scene.
The Winx tried to take action, but they couldn't get into the building because the fire was too intense. They tried to put out the fire, but it was far too big and hot for any of their spells to take effect. Stella and Musa even called upon rain to aid in containing the fire at least.
Nothing worked.
"The fire is magic based." Tecna shouted over the cacophony. Her short pink hair hung limp and wet from the downpour summoned by Musa and Stella, but her eyes were sharp and calculating. Brandon could practically see her mind at work to solve the issue at hand. "The magic is too strong for us to handle! Even convergence won't be able to stop it!"
"We have to try! Those people…" Roxy started, her voice cracking at the last moment. She looked especially pale in the flickering light, rain dripping down her face and masking her tears.
"Don't have a chance!" Layla said angrily. The red-hot flames that engulfed the palace reflected and danced in her eyes, making her look dangerous. She clenched her fists and threw out a morphix attack that dissipated when it came within the vicinity of the flames. "Bloom is gonna pay for this… this is…"
"Murder." Flora uttered, her bottom lip trembling. Brandon saw she was shivering, whether from cold or horror was beyond him.
Musa and Stella landed. Brandon caught Stella's eyes and saw the pain and fear reflected in them. He wanted so much to hold her and tell her everything would be alright, but he really had no idea what was in store for them. He didn't want to make any promises, especially where Bloom was involved.
"How's Sky!?" Stella called to him. "Where is he?"
"With some the palace guards and soldiers on the other side! They found his mother and many of the servants gathered in the courtyard." Brandon said. "Nobody knows where his father is." An idea occurred to him as he spoke. He glanced back at the burning building and felt fear take its grip on him. "God…"
Stella frowned, then her eyes widened as she caught on to what he thought. "No!" Stella glanced back at the burning building. Her brown eyes were bright. "No! Bloom wouldn't… she couldn't! Brandon tell me Sky's father isn't!"
"Isn't what?" Flora asked.
Brandon bowed his head. "Let's find Sky and make sure he's okay. He and the other specialists were handling things on the other side of the palace! We've done all we can here!" And for the first time, it wasn't enough.
"Hello, lover." She smiled as the figure whose back was to her stiffened. Slowly he turned around, weapon in hand. His blonde hair was wet and dripping in the rain, and his uncertain blue eyes looked her up and down. Behind him rose the flames of the Eraklyon palace. "I know it's only been hours, but I missed you." she crooned sweetly. Then she laughed.
His grip visibly tightened on his weapon. "Bloom. Or should I say Dark Bloom." Sky's voice was too controlled. He was obviously holding off a fit of rage.
Dark Bloom fought off her own bout of rage. "I don't know what you're talking about, Sky. I am Bloom."
"No." Sky's voice shook now. "No you're not. Bloom wouldn't do this. Bloom wouldn't hurt her friends. Bloom wouldn't use the powers she swore to protect to destroy and hurt others."
She narrowed her eyes and clenched her fists. How much more convincing did these people need? "But I have Sky! Look what I've done to your precious home! Guess where your father is!"
The underhanded taunt worked and Bloom got the reaction she was waiting for. Sky swung his weapon at her then and Bloom jumped back. As she dodged she continued to throw words at the distraught boy. "I did this! I attacked Alfea! I brought down Ms. Faragonda! I couldn't stand around ignoring my destiny any longer!"
"Destiny? Bloom! You weren't destined for evil! You weren't destined to hurt and destroy!"
'He's fallen for it.' Bloom thought to herself as she avoided another of his futile attacks. Giddiness shot through her and her confidence in who she was was bolstered. "You're right! I'm destined for greatness! I'm destined to rule! This universe will bow down to me and the power I deserve!"
Sky stopped attacking and stared hard at her. "The power you deserve? Bloom wouldn't say that because she knows she doesn't deserve the amount of power she's got. You're not as powerful as Bloom. You were so easily defeated by Roxy and you don't know where the Ultimate power is. Hell, you don't even know how to access the Hall of Enchantment! You'll never be as powerful as the real Bloom. Power is not your destiny, Dark Bloom!" He pointed his sword at her. "Let her out now."
Bloom laughed. "You're a fool to think you can save me when I don't even need saving!"
"YOU'RE NOT BLOOM!" Sky roared.
"But I am…" She smiled coyly at him, "… Baby."
She was about to relish the look of shock and hurt in his eyes when there came a disruption. "Dionysus' Vines!" A forced, lilt of a voice cut through the roar of the fire and the patter of rain. Vines shot up and wrapped about Bloom's limbs. She screamed and flames erupted from her, disintegrating them. "Give it up, Bloom!" Shouted the little flower fairy.
"Morphix chains!" Layla shouted. Chains whipped forth from her outstretched hands and caught Bloom by the wrists. "You've gone too far, Bloom!" Layla yanked forward on the chains, pulling Bloom forward to her knees. "It's over."
Bloom growled angrily. "Not far enough! I've got plans even greater than Eraklyon!" She glared at the chains and they fell to dust. As the chains disintegrated, Bloom felt a sudden weariness. She'd used too much energy. "I'm going to kill every single one of the people I loved." She snapped her head back up and saw the people approaching her stumble back in shock. "Every damned one!"
"Not if we can help…" the Solarian was cut off as a magic blast took her out from the side. A figure appeared before her, a silhouette against the blaze of the Eraklyon palace. Baltor came forward and grabbed her arm, quickly pulling her to her feet. "Let us leave, Baltor." As Baltor's portal drew them from the realm of Eraklyon, the last thing Bloom saw was the broken look on Sky of Eraklyon's face. "It's all falling into place."