Chapter 16 - Binary

"Why wait?"

The voice sent chills down Tecna's spine and she whipped around to see Dark Bloom smirking at the entrance to the meeting room. She looked smug, as though she realized her timing couldn't have been better. But at the same time, Dark Bloom looked haggard and bloodthirsty, giving her a fearsome appearance that put Tecna on edge. The whole council fell silent as they all realized who it was.

"Bloom." Oritel stared at his youngest child. He too was notably thrown by Bloom's appearance, but he still spoke her name like a loving father. "Bloom, stop this."

"Stop what? I'm only fulfilling what I've been accused of!" she snapped, her blue eyes wild. She threw her hands in the air and the doors behind her shook violently before flying off their hinges. They crashed into the wall behind the Isis table, making Diaspro shriek in fear. Diaspro's shriek obviously gave Bloom pleasure. "There. The door's been knocked down. Now be smart little royals and give in to us." Baltor stepped out behind her, bearing an impassive look, but Tecna could see he was pleased with the outcome.

"Guards!" Oritel roared.

"Dealt with!" Bloom shouted back, laughing. "Seriously Daddy? What are the measly little guards of Palace Domino going to do to me? The Great Bloom of Domino!" As she shouted her name flames rose up behind her and Baltor, blocking the exit. They spread to the walls and ceiling until the entire room was encased in fire.

"Bloom! I know you're in there!" Sky shouted. "Stop her before she hurts the ones you love."

"I've come to fulfill my promise." Bloom's eyes began flashing as her anger rose. Tecna at first thought her eyes were reflecting the fire, but she could now see that Bloom's eyes were shifting from blue to amber, blue to amber. "I will kill every damned person I've ever loved!"

"Solar beam!"

A beam of light shot toward Bloom from Stella's outstretched hands. But Bloom just waved her hands and the beam split before her, the two parts obliterating two tables. Luckily the royals seated at them had moved just in time. "You want to fight fire with fire, Stella? My best friend? Out of anybody here, you should've been at my side, fighting at my side. You should have defended me when everybody stood against me!" Bloom whipped her hand through the air and an arc of fire flew at Stella. "What kind of Best Friend are you?"

Stella threw up one of her sun shields. The blast hit her shield and Tecna watched Stella's power flicker, but her shield held against Bloom's fire attack. "Not yours, Dark Bloom!" Stella snapped. "You let my Best Friend out or you'll be sorry!"

"I'll be sorry?" Dark Bloom turned from Stella to the rest of the guys and girls. Tecna saw her eyes no longer flickered now. They were the same amber they'd been when she'd stood by Darkar and attempted to summon the Ultimate power. They reflected that same thirst for power, held that same anger, and they also showed a characteristic that convinced Tecna it was Dark Bloom facing them.

"She's being manipulated." Tecna hissed to Sky.

Then Dark Bloom attacked: a large dragon rose up and shot straight for the group. The guys and the girls scattered, throwing themselves out of the way of the Dragon blast. The Dragon exploded against the fiery wall, making the flames burn bigger and hotter. The royals truly began to panic then.

"Bloom!" Daphne and Miriam were on their feet and facing the deranged girl. "Don't make us fight you!"

Dark Bloom laughed maniacally. "Oh please, Mother! You and Daphne versus me?" She slapped her hands on the ground and flames rose up from the floorboards, racing straight for the queen and princess of Domino.

Tecna couldn't bear to watch Bloom attack anymore. She threw out her hands and summoned her energy. "Techno shot!"

Green spheres of energy erupted from her outstretched hands and hit Bloom in the back, throwing her to the ground. Dark Bloom growled, and the fire hissed in response. "You dare, Tecna?" She got to her feet and turned, hands clenched into shaking fists. Her amber eyes darkened. "Fine. You and me. You'll be the first to die." She turned to the walls and waved her hands. Flaming demons similar in appearance to the Army of Decay erupted forth and began attacking the other royalty in the room. "To keep them busy…"

"Ohhhh…" Tecna backed away in fear as Dark Bloom slowly made her approach. She'd never been strong enough to handle Bloom. She glanced around for help. Everybody was being attacked by the creatures. The only one who wasn't encumbered by demons was Oritel, who was currently caught in a battle against Baltor. Musa finally caught her eye and tried to move to help, but a demon tackled her and she screamed. "No! Musa!" Tecna shouted.

"Oh, I wouldn't worry about her…" Bloom smiled. She ran at Tecna and Tecna dodged out of the way. "She's not going down by the demon's work. I'll finish her off!" Flames engulfed her hands and she clawed at Tecna. Tecna weaved through the attacks, struggling to summon her own powers.

"Bloom!" Tecna cried out as one of the flames caught her arm. Fiery pain shot through her arm. "Stop!"

"I'm not going to stop!" Dark Bloom laughed.

"You're not Bloom!" Tecna dropped into a crouch as Dark Bloom swiped at the air above her. She quickly threw her foot upward into Dark Bloom's stomach, throwing the insane girl backwards into the wall. "You're Dark Bloom!"

"No!" Dark Bloom's flames flared in response to her shout. "You never knew the real Bloom of Domino! I am what Bloom really is."

"Bloom, my friend and colleague is a good person. You're this horrible little made-up figment of her that only causes pain and destruction! We love Bloom. We most certainly don't love you!"

Rage practically emanated off Dark Bloom then. Her attacks became more ferocious, backing Tecna up toward a wall of flames. Tecna tried to escape but Dark Bloom had her cornered. Before she knew it, Dark Bloom had her by the throat and was holding her within inches of the snapping flames of the wall. She struggled helplessly against Dark Bloom's grasp. "I am Bloom of Domino!"

"No. I'm Bloom of Domino."

Roxy had been fighting off two fire demons when the voice called out.

"I am Bloom of Domino!" shouted Dark Bloom. Roxy turned her gaze from the fire creatures for only seconds and saw Tecna struggling in Dark Bloom's grasp. She was about to abandon her fight against the demon and try help when Bloom's voice called out again. But Dark Bloom's mouth didn't move.

"No. I'm Bloom of Domino."

Roxy turned from Tecna and Dark Bloom to the entrance of the ruined room. There stood a second Bloom, looking tired, but she somehow managed to keep an aura of ferocity about her. She quietly made her way into the room, the flames dying down as she walked in. Her blue eyes narrowed as she stared down the Dark Bloom strangling Tecna. "Drop her, Bloom."

Dark Bloom hissed and dropped Tecna in a heap on the floor. "So, the imposter has finally come to play."

Bloom said nothing in response, just stared as though she were trying to come to terms with the idea of there being two of her. Roxy found her silence to be a bit unnerving. Guilt rose up within her as she realized they'd been blaming the wrong Bloom the whole time.

"Bloom?" Sky ventured.

She glanced away from Dark Bloom to look at Sky. A sad smile came to her lips. "Hi. Sorry I had to attack you before. I had to find the evil threatening us." She looked back at Dark Bloom, her expression hardening. "Little did I know it was me."

"Enough chat. Let's prove who's the real Bloom right now! Whoever wins obviously is the great Bloom of Domino!" Dark Bloom summoned flames in her hands and glowered at Bloom.

Bloom only shook her head. " I'm not too sure how this happened. But it has to end, Bloom."

Roxy frowned. Why did Bloom keep referring to Dark Bloom as Bloom?

"It will end with your downfall!" Dark Bloom shrieked. She ran forward and slashed down on Bloom. Bloom only reached up and caught her by the wrist. "Fight me, you coward!"

Bloom made a quick turn and pulled Dark Bloom over her, flipping the shocked girl onto her back. "Enough!"

"No!" Dark Bloom shot upward, catching Bloom by surprise. Bloom fell backwards from Dark Bloom, who scrambled to her feet and stepped backwards. "I'm not finished. I'm going to kill every person we love. Every single one of them." she got the cruelest of smiles. "Including our Earth parents…" Then there was a flash of light and Dark Bloom and Baltor were gone.