There Will Always be Those Who Hate Those Born to Rule

After a few moments of chilly silence, I'm drawn to Sky's gaze again.I find hatred there, fear, and passion. Perhaps you could call it love. The aggressive crave to protect me, to let no man dare to touch me but him. I read it all in his eyes. That doesn't always happen. Usually, his eyes are glazed over with something I can't quite place, and I am unable to decode his thoughts. But when I can, it honestly frightens me.

"Is this what you were discussing with my father?"

He looks elsewhere, anywhere but my troubled face. "Yes. You're not safe, Bloom. My people are not safe. It seems…" he trails, finally locking our gazes, "as if no place is safe."

"Sky…" I rest a hand on his chest. There is strength and warmth there, the courage of a drumming heart. I spoke in all sincerity, "I feel safe with you."

His disapproval is hardly a secret; it's made plain in the stiffness of his voice. Suddenly, his eyes are dark and stern. His warped demeanor stings me as I realize he is as intimidating as ever. "I'm a target."

As abrupt as his changed disposition, realization seeps into my mind. I understand what he is about to do. I understand that he will cling to the truth even against the whole Magic Dimension. I understand what he is about to say to me.

I understand, but I do not wish to accept.

"We must postpone our marriage, Bloom."

I had braced myself for these words, but the impact did not fail to crush me. I suddenly wondered if there would ever be a ceremony for us.

Frustration took a hold of me; I did not want to take orders from a King. I balled up the hand I had left resting on his chest and took a fistful of his royal attire.

"No."

Surprised, he seemed to loom over my body, taking advantage of his height over me. "I'm not going to risk your life! Once we are married, you will also be—"

I didn't want to hear it, "Oh, so being your fiancé isn't as dangerous as being your wife!"

"Precisely."

I did not appreciate the way his lips curved into a satisfied sneer. Irritated, I pulled him even closer to me by his collar. Angry tears pricked my eyes. "Then let's get married now! I love you, Sky. I know you love me! I want to live with you, be with you! If you're a direct target, I'll… I'll die with you, Sky." My grip on him trembled. "I'll marry you even at the cost of my life!"

His voice is stolid, yet his touch is tender. He carefully brushes aside straggling strands of hair from my line of vision, "You've always been rather impulsive."

Soaring emotions raged within me. Humility, anger, confusion… I was mixed up. I failed to interpret how I felt, a flaw only he brought out in me.

"Besides," he continued, skimming a finger under my chin, "that would be rather selfish of us to our friends if we ran off and wed in secret."

Shame crept up on me. With a defeated resolve, I sagged into him. "How long shall we delay the wedding, then?"

"Until I know you will be safe."

All further conversation is cut off by a sudden arrival of guests, their humble chatter preceding them long before they came bursting through the garden gates. It is nice to hear their voices, but I won't budge from Sky's arms. Perhaps I am rude not to greet the girls, but Stella seemed to understand when she read my expression.

"Hello, ladies," Sky greets the Winx Club kindly. His words are returned with slight smiles, which instantly slip back into a visage of concern. It is then that I notice Musa and Layla's absence. Stella, Tecna, and Flora's presence seems disturbed without the two, which unsettles me.

"You know," Flora quietly voices. It is a statement, rather than a question.

I nod.

Tecna's face is screwed up in uncertainty, "And you've agreed to his terms?"

Again, I nod.

"Bloom," Stella is hesitant, that much is clear with the insecure way her skirt rustles when she walks, but she steps towards me and Sky all the same. "My father is thinking about quarantining Solaria. We may have to get involved with the Trade Federation conflict, too."

"That is why neither Musa nor Layla could come with us," Tecna confirmed. "They are forbidden to leave their respective planet."

"I do not think the people of Linphea shall get involved," Flora mused, taking note of Sky's worried expression.

"Damn," He breathed. Arms withdrawing from around my waist, he turned away from the girls, anxiously running his hands through his hair.

"This isn't your fault, Sky." I smiled meekly at yet another of Flora's attempts to assure Sky that the intergalactic damage was not his doing.

"Yeah, my father is just overprotective," Stella quipped.

Hands clenching into fists, Sky spoke through gritted teeth. "The Trade Federation has maintained a sizable monopoly throughout many systems in the Magic Dimension. Initially, the Trade Federation began as a shipping corporation who controlled all major and minor trade routes. Now, the they have grown into an even bigger threat, dominating entire star systems. They crave power. Eraklyon is simply another domino in this effect if we do not win the war against them. My planet has been threatened. If I cannot defeat the Federation, they will attack all surrounding planets. That is why Layla and Musa are confined to their planets. They're preparing for war."

"That is correct," Tecna verified solemnly.

Whirling around, he faced the four of us with blazing eyes. "It's my fault if any of you are harmed!"

"Oh, please!" Stella scoffed.

"That is absurd!"

"But it is!" he pressed, disregarding their interjections. "If I cannot lead my people in war—"

"Enough!" I yelled over their bickering, hating to see such strain among friends. "Please, I do not wish to speak of the war."

The whole thing was over before I could even realize what was happening.

A man bolts up like lightning, emerging from the hedges that line our path, holding some form of weapon that I have never seen before.

He points it directly at me.

In one fluid movement, Sky draws his phantoblade and advances on the intended assassin with a vicious snarl. He is willing to save me, but his squire is much quicker.

He seemed to come from nowhere, yet from every direction all at once. I had not taken notice of Brandon's presence until he drew his weapon. With the cool efficiency of a soldier, he punches the attacker in the nose, and proceeds to emotionlessly gut him.

Blood splatters on the pavement, also staining the shrubbery. It's everywhere. It tinges his uniform; it must be burned later.

Stella's voice is strangled by disbelief. It comes out as a whisper that barely hangs in the air, "B-Brandon?"

Sky twists himself from the violent scene. His words are sharp. "Winx Club, transform and get into the palace."

I start to argue, but he won't have it. "Now, Bloom."

Desperation gleams beneath the hard look he shoots me. It reminds me… of a time. Right after it was revealed that Sky was royalty, I questioned Brandon's role as his squire. He told me that there had been occasions when people tried to kill him, and Brandon had always protected him. He told me that the relationship between a squire and a Prince was frustrating, but golden. They were the best of friends, yet Brandon would always be the one to put his life on the line for him. It was his duty as a squire, just like his father before him.

I had asked why people wanted to kill him. His reply was flat and impassive.

"I will oversee Eraklyon, one day. There will always be those who hate those born to rule."

A/N: Thank you to those who left a review. That was very kind.