Chapter Fifteen: The End
The girls all stood on the roof overlooking the celebration. It surprised them how many people came to help them...or the prisoners down in the cell block.
"So umm, what do we do now?" Asked Musa as she looked over at her friends curiously "I mean not to state the obvious but we're wanted criminals. We aided a known criminal and we tried to kill a lot of people, destroyed public and private property and we stole a very valuable book. And we're also evil, let's not forget that"
"We don't have to worry about any of that" Bloom stated simply, walking over to her sword and picking it up, observing the blade.
Stella clocked her head to the side curiously "Why?"
A sob escape Bloom's chest as she clutched the sword in her hands, kneeling down on her knees and placing her head onto the hilt. The girls looked alarmed as they rushed over to their friend "Bloom what is it?" asked Flora as she placed her hands on Bloom's shoulders.
Bloom sobbed again "I'm sorry...It was the only way" She raised her head and looked at her friends. She hated herself for condemning them to death along with herself "Valtor made it so that when he died...we would die too" The girls stepped back in shock, mouths agape "And I've known that since yesterday...but I didn't tell you" she was full on crying now "I tried too but I couldn't. I knew what would happen if I killed Valtor but I did it anyway. I had to make sure he died...I couldn't let him live"
Tears escaped all their eyes as they stared into the distance, they all stood like that for a long moment until Layla asked "but why aren't we dead now?"
Bloom lowered her head again and whispered "We have an hour"
After another moment Flora leaned down next to Bloom and held her friend, one by one the others joined her in a group hug, each clinging to the people that really mattered to them. A while later the girls rose from their spots and stood together, not really wanting to let go of each other.
Bloom took a breath before saying "You...you should call your parents. It'll kill them too for us to disappear again without saying goodbye. I'm gonna go and find Sky and tell him I love him. Meet back here in an hour" she turned and slowly walked to the door before pausing "I don't think we should tell anyone about us dying, it's your choice to make" with that she walked down the steps and out of view.
...
Riven walked up the steps of the tower twenty minutes later. Musa had called him and asked him to meet her up here, she had sounded weird but Riven had rushed to her nonetheless.
He opened the wooden door without hesitation and there she stood.
Musa wore a dark Blue tutu dress. It flared out just past the hips and stopped just above the knee, her long black hair was down and styled into a full side fringe and for the first time since becoming evil...she didn't look evil. She looked sad. She had just finished calling her father, she had told him to be strong and that she would always love him, he of course didn't understand but agreed to take care of himself.
When Musa spotted Riven standing there a wide smile broke out on her face and she rushed over to him and him over to her. They held each other for a whole minute, when they let go Musa assessed Riven with her eyes, looking for wounds or scars.
"You're ok?" she said brushing aside a strand of hair.
Riven was a little puzzled as to why Musa was acting so...girly? It wasn't like her "What? You think some dumb monsters can take me down?" This made her laugh and not an evil one "You almost sound like your old self" he mused, tracing her pale skin of her face.
She closed her eyes and smiled again "I hope so. Do you like my dress? I conjured it just for you" she felt him lean in and whisper to her "You're breathtaking"
Musa's eyes snapped open at the word 'breathtaking' it was like a punch to the stomach. Soon she would be without breath. She took in a desperate breath as she tried to regain control over her emotions. She whispered a desperate plea "Dance with me?"
Riven raised an eyebrow.
"I know dancing really isn't your thing but...I had always wanted to dance with you in a pretty dress while the sun came up over the tallest tower" She held his hands in hers as she said this. After a moment he put his arms around her without question and Musa clicked her fingers. In the distance they could both hear a soft melody playing as they swayed to the music.
Musa closed her eyes as she felt his heartbeat next to her ear; it was a sound she never wanted to forget. They stayed like that for so long that Musa almost forgot about dying in a matter of minutes and just bathed in the feeling of Riven holding her.
But was interrupted when the wooden door burst open and Stella stepped through, when she saw the two of them she looked down and backed back into the building shutting the door behind her.
"What time is it?" Musa asked as she stared at the door. Riven answered beside her that it was almost seven o'clock. At this Musa closed her eyes in dread, she only had a few minutes to say goodbye.
She turned to Riven and stared up at him "You have to go now, I'm sorry" Riven was a little puzzled but nodded anyway. He turned and headed for the door, Musa watched him go. She felt like she was chocking.
"Riven!" She yelled taking a step after him. He paused at the door and turned. Musa looked at him for a moment, a small smile creeping over her face.
"I love you"
Riven smiled at this, one of his truly genuine smiles and after one last moment turned and walked out the door.
...
Stella watched as Riven walked down the steps, she felt like a train wreck. She had called her mother and father and told them to be good to each other. It had been hard enough to hang up the phone with tears streaming down her face but when she found Brandon standing in the hallway, searching for someone she had almost died right then and there.
She had hidden in the corner behind a tall stone pillar, watching him for a long time. He looked at the people around him and when his eyes found her in the corner she knew he had been looking for her. He had ran over to her and said "No matter what, I won't let them take you away"'
She nodded furiously "I know, they won't be taking me anywhere"
"Is Valtor gone?"
"Yeah, we finished him. No more bad stuff is going to happen after today" she wrapped her arms around him and squeezed him tight. She wanted to tell him so much, about what was happening, why she had done the things that she'd done and most of that he was far better than any prince she would ever meet.
She had said goodbye and walked away. It had been the hardest thing she had ever done and now she stood in the stairwell, crying and barely getting the strength to walk out into the roof. When the two girls made eye contact they had ran into each other's arms, sobbing.
...
Flora was in the garden, a secret place she had just found while taking a walk, she hadn't called any of her family, she knew that they would survive without her and knew that she loved them.
She heard footsteps behind her and didn't need to turn around to know it was Helia. He always had a way of finding her, he stood behind her now and placed his hands on her shoulders and she leaned back into him and closed her eyes.
After that they had strolled in the garden, talking about the battle, about the girls and about trivial things. They laughed and whenever possible stole glances at each other. They finally came to a particularly beautiful tree which bloomed the most clear white roses; Helia had picked her one and given it to her. Once she had taken it she had looked up at him and said in a clear voice "I love you too"
Since that day in the garden at her house she had never gotten the chance to rely to him, now she had and Flora could die happy.
...
Flora met Techna and Layla on the entrance to the stairwell. Techna had not waited for anyone to ask to say "Timmy has never kissed me like that before" she said this happily, with some sadness mixed in "Why was it only in the end did he learn to be a boyfriend?" She had laughed lovingly as she made her way up the stairs.
Layla had stayed silent the whole conversation. She had had an awful time trying to leave Nabu, she had clung to him with desperation and tears, he had wanted to know what was happening but she had just held him tighter.
Nothing could be worse than the pain of leaving someone you loved.
...
Bloom walked slowly through the arches of the school's garden. The path was stone and it had benches all along it, with cracked leaves blowing in the wind. She watched the sun rise from behind the trees, in the distance she could hear people still cheering and talking about the state of the school.
She walked far away from the school until she was exiting out into a field that over looked a huge landscape. It had a wonderful waterfall and trees in the distance, and a clear view of the sun. Bloom stopped in her tracks when she spotted Sky, of all people, standing in the clearing talking on a phone.
Bloom walked over and came up behind him, it seemed he was talking to Diaspro, telling her about the school and why he hadn't called and there was a certain strain in his voice when he spoke to her. It made Bloom happy that he had never had that strain in his voice when she was with him.
Sky said goodbye to his fiancé and hung up the phone, not noticing Bloom a few metre's behind him. He sighed and watched the sun rise while Bloom watched him.
He turned to leave but stopped in his tracks when he spotted her. They stood opposite each other for a long time, just staring.
"Is Valtor gone?"
Bloom nodded "Yes, he's gone and this time he won't be coming back. What did you do with the Trix?"
"Arrested, imprisoned. The usual punishment"
There was a short silence of relief between them. Bloom smiled and asked "How is Diaspro?"
Sky was a little shocked by the question, especially when she asked it without sneering or any loathing in her voice "She's...herself. She's on her way here now" Bloom nodded and walked forward, sitting down in the grass.
She sighed as she watched the sun; Sky joined her in the grass, sitting next to her. She glanced over at him "You know since the night I left Alfea I knew you would marry Diaspro?"
He looked a little startled at this when he met her stare "How?"
Bloom shrugged a shoulder "She was always the better choice for your kingdom. She had a kingdom of her own to share with you, she was rich, powerful and she was a real princess, what more could you want?"
"You" Sky answered still not looking away from her, she on the other hand did look away at this. She had thought she would be able to get through at least one subject without tearing up. When Sky reached out to take her hand she immediately pulled it back, he really wasn't making this easy.
He watched her for a long time, waiting for an answer but never getting one. He sighed again as he turned back to the view in front of them.
"Sky? Will you do something for me?"
"Anything"
Bloom paused before answering, she was seriously thinking about not asking but she knew she had too. She had to make sure that Sky would be ok when she died "Marry Diaspro for me"
Sky literally jumped on the spot. It would have been funny under different circumstances. He stared at her wide eyed and serious "Why?"
Bloom didn't look over at him, she was intently staring in front of her, she knew if she looked him in the eye he would catch on but he did anyway. Sky shot up from where he sat and stood over her, looking wary.
"You're leaving?"
Bloom looked down at the grass "You promised you wouldn't stop me" she didn't know what else to say, what else could she say? The truth? Hell no!
"You can't go!" He sounded upset now. This made Bloom rise to her feet as well; when she spoke she could hear some of that evil attitude coming out.
"I have too. How did you think this was going to end huh? We defeat Valtor, become good people again and you and I are reunited when our epic struggle for love is overcome. Not this time! Too much has happened, too much has changed, there's no going back!" She didn't know why she was shouting. She just needed to make him understand.
Sky stalked forward and grabbed her by the shoulders "Then I'll come with you"
"No!" her hands flew to his shirt, gripping it. She wanted to shake him, shout at him and tell him everything "I'm going somewhere where you'll never find me. A place where you can't follow me!" she took a shaky breath and stepped out of his arms and whispered "And we're never coming back"
Sky took a step forward, when he spoke he sounded desperate "No..." Bloom seeing him about to reach out to her again backed away from him. If he comes near her again she knows she'll crack.
"We'll fix it Bloom, we'll fix everything!" He sounded so broken and hurt; it killed her to look at him. She balled up her fists and tried to contain the burning in her eyes.
"You can't fix this! It's over, we're over!"
Before she could even blink she was in front of her, grabbing her around the waist and into his arms and bringing their lips together. Oh Screw it! Might as well enjoy myself while I still have time...
Bloom brought he hands up around his neck and kissed him back passionately, clinging to him desperately and never wanting to let him go. She pulled back her lips to rest her head against his forehead, both staring at each other through half closed eyes. Sky reached up to tuck a strand of long red hair behind her ear, for some reason the gesture made her smile. She rested her head against his shoulder.
I wonder if we can stay like this forever...never letting go.
The pain hit her in the chest, like someone had exploded a bomb inside her. Bloom let out an almost inaudible gasp. If sky didn't hear that then he most certainly noticed the sudden tensing of her body. Bloom tightened her grip on him, trying not to yell out in pain, she raised her hand enough to see her skin.
I'm crumbling! I'm going to float away...I'm dying
Bloom gasped loudly this time as another pain hit her head, her heart hammered in her chest and her eyes spilled out tears.
"Bloom?" Sky asked anxiously as he tried to pull her from his chest which she clung to with her nails digging in. Her breath coming in harsh bursts now, she really did feel like she was dying.
Bloom burst away from him and before he could even glance at the look of desperate pain on her face she had turned and bolted out if the clearing, almost stumbling.
Bloom ran as if death itself was after her...which it was.
She tried to block out the sound of Sky calling after her and ran toward the school. When she entered the door, gasping people didn't even glance her way, they were too busy with their own things. Bloom ran, tears streaming down her face, heart pumping and her life crumbling slowly away.
When she reached the tower stairs it felt too cruel to climb, so she flew. Her flying was a bit off but it was quicker than running. Her vision started to blur at times but she forced herself to keep going. Once she reached the wooden door, that damn door, she leapt through it. Landing on the stone floor of the tower looked in front of her.
It was like another bomb going off. Her friends were crumbling faster than she was; they groaned and screamed, clutching their heads with desperate looks of pain.
Bloom crawled over to them and collapsed in the middle of the floor. Her breath was coming quicker now and her body was sweating like crazy. Every part of her shook with pain and Bloom wanted nothing more than to just die.
Than like taking a breath after being under water, everything went peaceful. Sound seemed to stop and the pain numbed. Bloom lied on her back, staring up at the sunny sky, bits of blue and white. She could see the ashes rising into the blue wonder and it was mesmerizing to see.
Her vision was becoming a dark tunnel now and this time Bloom wasn't afraid of the darkness. She thought back over her life with no regret, she even smiled at all the good times she'd had with her friends and boyfriend. And for a moment one last thought entered her head...
I never got to tell Sky I loved him back, too bad.
Her eyes were closing now.
Oh well...I'm sure he knows...somewhere deep inside him...
...Sky...
And then the last single heartbeat of Bloom came to a thudding halt, thus ending the life of the Winx Club.
And that's it! The end. There's no more!...No I'm totally kidding, there's gonna be a sequel. Well may as well give you some notes on me writing the story. It started about half a year ago, I wrote the first chapter and forgot about it, then I got back into Winx Club (Which is kinda weird because yes I am nearing the age where I can drink and shouldn't be into girly cartoons but screw the status quo!) So then I started writing more and I guess it kind of write itself, I had little scenes in my head about what I wanted to happen, the ending was a tough call. I only thought up the ending when I got to about chapter 11. I wanted it to be a shock and not that hella predictable ending everyone uses, the happy ending *shudder*. Anyhoo, the thing that really kept me going was the amount of reviews I got, great motivation! I want to thank you all for them, you got the story finished not I.
And feel free to give any criticism, I can take it! And just one last question: was the ending a shock? Was there enough Valtor/Bloom action? Could there be more romance? Let me know ok!
Ta Ta!
ATTENTION! The sequel is up! Yes that's right! The first chapter is available now! The title is "Other side and back again" Does that title remind you of lord of the rings or is it just me?