A/N: I made this chapter a little longer! And I´m sorry I haven't updated my other stories yet but I promise I´m working on them! Thank you so much for reviewing, R&R!

Chapter 23: I am Bloom

"Stella, will you marry me?" he asked. Stella stood, frozen.

"What?"

"I know what I want Stel, and I can't imagine spending the rest of my life anywhere else, than by your side", he said with a smile.

"Honey, I-of course I want to marry you, but…Brandon, I have to ask, are you doing this out of love…or out of fear?" she asked sternly.

"Fear?"

"Brandon, the day we get engaged I want it to be for love, not because some psychopath scared you into it"

"Stella, Bishop has nothing to do in my decision to propose, don't you know how I feel about you?" he asked, taken aback.

"I´m just afraid that…" she started,

"Afraid of what?"

"Afraid that…you may regret your decision later on" she said, sitting on a couch. Brandon remained silent, knowing very well where this was going. Stella´s parents divorced when she was fourteen, and it hit her pretty hard. Throughout their relationship, Brandon always knew she´d never completely understood or even supported her parents´ decision to split. And it affected her more than she let anyone know. He often felt bad when vacation was close by and his girlfriend stressed over how to divide her time between the King and Queen, or when she had to ask both for permission, separately. But there she was, the cheerful Stella, always keeping herself busy with just about everything to forget the entire ordeal.

He sat next to her and lifted her chin to meet his gaze.

"Stella, I´ll never regret giving my heart to you", he said, she smiled sheepishly.

"Believe it or not, I was planning on proposing even before Bishop came along. His actions toward you only made me hasten my plans" he said, chuckling.

"When I saw how Bishop started acting around you, and when I saw him trying to force you, I just couldn't stand the thought of having to see you with someone else" she gazed at him, thoughtfully.

"In that case, I´m sorry I doubted you. I feel pretty stupid now", she said, laughing slightly.

"Is that a yes?" he asked grinning. Stella laughed even harder.

"Of course it is, darling. I could never be away from you" he smiled, pulling a small black box out of his pocket.

"Then let's try this again", Brandon said taking her hand and pulling her back up on her feet. He knelt down in front of her, opening the small box to reveal a brilliant, diamond ring.

"Princess Stella of Solaria, would you do me the honor of becoming my wife?"

"Yes" she said, excitedly, before he flashed her a warm smile and stood up, placing the ring on her finger. Stella squealed and jumped, wrapping her arms tightly around his neck.

"I love you", she whispered, kissing her fiancée.

Friday arrived and Sky was more than ready to face the trix. It was time someone put them in their place. Granted, he was still mad at Bloom for her confession the other day. He hated to think that someone else was on her mind. Whatever the reason may be. But he didn't want to see her get hurt. He wore his specialist uniform and brought warm clothes with him on the ship. Brandon and Riven had agreed to accompany him in case things got out of hand.

"Sky, there´s something off about this. For starters, why the hell is it so warm?!" Riven asked as they prepared to land.

"He´s right Sky, you sure we´re in the right place?" Brandon asked, awkwardly. They landed the ship near the palace. There was absolutely no ice, the vegetation was more than lively. And there were people…many people, dressed very formally who were entering the palace, invitations in hand.

"Correct me if I´m wrong, but didn't you guys say this place was desolate?" Riven asked.

"If this is the game their playing, then let's play", Sky said angrily. Who would go through the trouble of creating a scenario like this as a joke? Only Valtor…

"Invitations please", the guard ordered. He handed him the invitation and indicated that Brandon and Riven were his squires.

"Welcome King Sky" he greeted, letting them in.

"Man, this palace in huge…!" Brandon exclaimed.

"Tell me about it",

As they walked inside, they noticed the palace had even been decorated. People stood all around the ballroom, kids, adults, even the media…But there was no way the invitation could´ve been real. A coronation ceremony for whom?! It was ridiculous! Bloom swore that Domino was frozen and her parents were missing, and her sister was some sort of spirit trapped at the bottom of a lake…

"Sky check it out!" Brandon exclaimed, pointing towards the top of the grand staircase.

The King and Queen stood at the very top, smiling as their people cheered. The woman was certainly Marion, the missing queen of Domino and Bloom´s mother. That much was undeniable! Was it a hologram…?

"I seriously need to stop taking those vitamins Helia´s been giving me", Riven said, rubbing his eyes.

"Don't worry, I see it too…" Brandon said, in shock. Descending the staircase, before the King and Queen were two young women…

One of them was a gorgeous blonde girl they hadn't seen before, and the other was…

"Diaspro?!" neither of the three could believe it. The coronation ceremony was his ex-fiancée's.

"That's enough, Valtor´s gone too far this time!"

"Sky I'm not so sure Valtor had anything to do with this! Or even the trix! What connection could they possibly have to your ex fiancée?" Riven asked. Sky rubbed his face, exasperated. The media was transmitting the ceremony, live.

"Face it man, we all know she hates Bloom. It was Diaspro who sent that invitation, not the trix" Brandon said, angrily.

"I know that Brandon, but why is she here?! That crown belongs to Bloom!" Sky nearly shouted. A few of the people nearby began turning their attention towards them.

"We better leave, we don't want to cause a commotion", Riven said, and led the way through the crowd.

"You realize that if any of this is legitimate, it´d be your duty as King to put her in prison Sky, don't you? For taking another royal´s identity" Brandon said, sternly. Sky sighed. Diaspro was his ex and despite how much harm she was causing, it was still a hard decision.

"This can't be happening. How am I supposed to tell Bloom? Where would I begin?! I bet she won't even believe me!" he said, exasperated.

"I don't think that´ll be necessary, not if they have cable TV at Alfea", Riven muttered. The media…excellent…

The King´s voice could be heard as the ceremony began.

"Citizens of Domino! I welcome you all on this glorious day to the princess´s coronation! As you all know, eighteen years ago…"

"Sky…this is bad", Brandon said, rubbing his head.

"Tecna would you turn that down, please? I´m trying to practice this new song on my flute!" Musa yelled from the other room.

"Fine! Just a minute!" Tecna yelled back, rolling her eyes. Of all the time she´s had to play her flute, she chooses now! She changed the channels searching for something educational to watch, since Flora wasn't here to watch Food Network. Until something caught her attention…

"Live from Domino, the glorious return of this realm and the royal family reunited once again…" as the reporter spoke, Tecna dropped the remote.

"What in Zenith´s name is this…?"

"Tecna! Would you please-"Musa began.

"Musa! Quick! You have to come see this!" Tecna yelled, desperately. Musa rushed into the room, following Tecna´s alarmed voice.

"What's the matter?" she asked startled, Musa gasped.

"Oh…my...gosh…Diaspro?" she whispered, staring at the screen.

"Go get Bloom…" Tecna muttered, ", "she´s not going to like this…"

"Like what?" Bloom asked.

"Thank you for coming on such short notice, Avalon", Ms. Faragonda said.

"It's no problem at all headmistress, this situation concerns us all"

"We´ll be meeting with the royal council, directed by King Radius, today. We must make a decision on whether or not to continue the search for Valtor. He´s disappeared for long enough, and for all we know-"she said, until the door shot open.

"Bloom, wait!" Stella yelled, trying to get a hold of her.

"What is the meaning of this?!" Bloom yelled, desperately. Ms. Faragonda stood up from her desk, startled.

"Now young ladies! How dare you enter the principal's office that way?!" Griselda scolded.

"Bloom dear, what are you talking about? Ms. Stella, what's going on?" Avalon asked,

"Why did you tell me that Marion and Oritel were my parents if it wasn't true?" Bloom asked them both, now crying freely. Stella held her.

"What?! Of course it's true! What made you think that it wasn't?" Faragonda asked,

"Ms. F, something strange is going on. You see, there´s a coronation ceremony going on right now on Domino and-" Stella began explaining.

"Hold it…Domino?" Ms. Faragonda asked, astonished.

"Young ladies, I don't know what this is about, but Domino´s been frozen for nearly two decades. You´re clearly confused" she said, chuckling.

"No, Ms. F, Valtor restored Domino a while back…when Bloom was being held hostage. He even freed Bloom´s real parents. But they have no idea that Bloom is alive and now Princess Diaspro is being crowned as princess of Domino! It's being broadcasted on nearly every channel, it's all over the news!" Stella explained. The headmistress sat down abruptly.

"Ma´am! Are you alright?" Griselda asked, holding her.

"Bloom, is this true?" she asked, incredulously. Bloom nodded.

"Marion and Oritel…are alive…?" the headmistress repeated, nearly in a whisper.

"They´re not my parents, they´re Diaspro´s, so what difference does it make", she said, feeling completely broken.

"Now Bloom, that is absurd! You are the one and only keeper of the dragon flame! You´ve given proof of that more than enough times!" Faragonda scolded.

"The headmistress is right, Bloom. Your identity has been well defined. There must be a mistake" Avalon agreed.

"Then why is she taking my place?! Why is she stealing my life?" she asked, sobbing. Ms. Faragonda walked around her desk and stood in front of Bloom, holding her shaking hands.

"My dear, if Valtor set your parents free, he must be responsible for this mix up",

"What if there really is no mistake? What if…I´m not who I thought I was?" she asked. The headmistress looked at Stella, who only seemed to be holding back her own tears.

"I´m sorry, I need some air" Bloom said, walking out of the office, abruptly.

"Bloom!" Professor Avalon called, but she refused to listen.

"Ms. Stella, please go after her, and don't leave her alone for a minute!" the headmistress told her. Stella nodded and followed after her best friend. Ms. Faragonda looked at Griselda, perplexed.

"This is a complete disaster! Now I understand why Valtor hasn't attacked any more realms directly. Now it all makes sense! He´s destroying Bloom, and what's worse, he´s doing it in front of our very own eyes!" she said, dreadfully.

"Bloom, please!" Stella called trying to catch up with her,

"They´re not my family Stella! I´m back to where I started!" she said, angrily.

"Bloom, sweetheart, I´m so sorry" she said, pulling her in for a hug.

"I hate to see you like this, I don't know what to say. The girls are worried about you, why don't we go back to the dorm?"

"You go ahead Stel, I need to be alone for a bit. I´ll catch up with you later",

"But Bloom-"

"Stella please. If you really want to help me, I need to be alone", she said firmly. Stella nodded and headed back to the dorm without another word. Bloom walked without any particular destination. She walked past Alfea´s gates and towards Lake Rocalucce…

Diaspro, the Princess of Domino…and the true keeper of the dragon flame. It was an absolute nightmare! She was rich, she had everything a princess could want, and she almost married Sky. Diaspro humiliated her at every chance she got. And now she had taken her "family", her crown…her identity.

She sat at the edge of the lake, gazing at her reflection in the water while drying her tears with her sleeve.

"Why is this happening to me?"

"Why´s what happening to you?" someone asked. She stood up abruptly and turned around,

"What are you doing here?!" Bloom snapped. Valtor raised an eyebrow.

"I should be asking you that very same question", he said caressing her cheek. Bloom slapped his hand away angrily.

"Don't touch me! And come to think of it, I´m glad you´re here! Our deal is off, you can forget it!" she yelled. Valtor seemed completely unfazed.

"I beg your pardon?" Bloom scoffed.

"Are you always this cold?"

"Are you always this bipolar?" he snapped back.

"Don't you answer my question with another question!" she yelled.

"Would you care to tell me what this is about?!" he asked, annoyed now.

"You're seriously asking me that?! I stayed by your side, despite everything I knew about you because I believed you! When were you planning to tell me that Diaspro is the princess of Domino?!" Valtor remained silent.

"You look surprised", she said, sarcastically.

"And you´re out of you mind! Bloom, I never lied to you. You´re clearly confused" he said.

"Confused? Why don't you watch the news first and then tell me who´s confused!" Valtor seethed. Diaspro crossed the line… And she would pay for it, dearly.

"Bloom, if you´d only trust me I could prove to you that everything I´ve said is true"

"I don't want to listen to another word! My parents are Mike and Vanessa, and my home is Earth! And as far as I´m concerned Domino no longer exists!" she screamed in his face.

"Do you realize just how ridiculous you sound?! You claim that the keeper of the ultimate power is nothing but an earthling?! How pathetic!" he scoffed. Bloom couldn't hold back any longer, and slapped him across the face.

"Why does this seem so familiar?" he asked calmly. Bloom smiled suddenly,

"Do you know what's even worse? I…I honestly believed that I was protecting my very own family by staying with you!"

"Even if they weren´t your family, Bloom. You have a kind heart, you would´ve protected them anyway", he replied simply.

"Maybe so. Now if you excuse me, I have to go see my real parents, and apologize for being such a fool!"

"Bloom, Marion and Oritel are-"

"Marion and Oritel and Daphne, are Diaspro´s family, not mine!" she said, walking away from him.

"Is that so? Then how did you obtain the dragon flame? Why do you look so much like Marion? Where´d that necklace come from? Why do you have any powers at all?!" he asked walking after her. Bloom pulled her necklace off and looked carefully at the code of arms.

Flashback

"My adoptive parents said this was with me on the night I was found" she said, showing the necklace to professor Avalon. He looked at it in pure wonder. The necklace had symbols carved onto the back and an emblem on the front.

"Now Bloom, you wouldn't happen to know what this means, do you?" he asked.

"No professor, not a clue" she said.

"These symbols here, are written in Domino´s traditional dialectal. I studied this many years ago, before its destruction of course. On here it reads four names. Marion, Oritel, Daphne and Bloom", he said, pointing to each one.

"And this?" she asked, pointing to the emblem carved onto the front.

"It's Domino´s code of arms, marvelous isn't it?" he noted. She smiled. It truly was…

End of Flashback

He grabbed her arm roughly and forced her to turn back around.

"Stay away from me!" she cried, fighting to break free of his grasp.

"Listen to me, and listen well…" he said, in a deadly voice. He grasped her jaw in one hand, tilting her face to meet his glare.

"I don't know what your deal with Diaspro is, but it is none of my concern! You and I have a deal, and you will keep your end of it…you´re mine Bloom", she held completely still, really afraid of him for the first time. He brought her face closer to his and kissed the corner of her mouth. Bloom shivered at the feel of his lips so close to hers.

Valtor loosened his grip and chuckled, suddenly.

"It's all because of Sky isn't it?" Bloom growled.

"Mind your own business!"

"How much longer, Bloom? How much longer will this competition with Diaspro last?" he asked. Bloom didn't respond. He was right, she hadn't realized it before, but this was a competition she was tired of letting her win!

Sky arrived at Alfea later that afternoon, baffled.

"Thanks for coming with me, guys. I can't thank you enough" he said. Brandon patted him on the back,

"Don't mention it, man"

"I think I´m going to see my girl for a bit, later!" Riven waved. Sky and Brandon nodded.

"So what are you going to say to her?" Brandon asked. Sky sighed,

"Believe it or not, I´ve been thinking about it during the entire trip here. And I still don't know how to begin",

They knocked, waiting for an answer.

"Hey boys", Flora greeted, "Bloom ´s inside", she said in a low voice.

"Be gentle with her, Sky" she cautioned. Sky nodded and stepped into the dorm while Flora stayed outside with Brandon. Bloom sat on the banister, out on the terrace looking up at the sky.

"Hey…" Sky whispered, wrapping his arms around her waist from behind. Bloom remained still.

"Hey"

"Honey, I want you to know, I´m here for you…"

"Who am I, Sky? Where do I belong?"

"You´re Bloom. No matter who´s on Domino now, you are and will always be my Bloom", he said.

"Then why am I still here?" she asked, sounding confused all of a sudden.

"I, uh…I´m sorry?" Sky asked, not understanding.

"Sky, if I really am Bloom, then what am I still doing here? Why should I just give her my name? If I´m the princess of Domino then its Domino where I should be!" she said decisively, leaping off the banister.

"Wait, you mean now?!" Sky exclaimed, bewildered.

"Bloom, it's already six thirty! Do you know how long it would take us to get back?"

"Sky, please! I can't take this anxiety any longer. What would you have done in my place?" she pleaded. Sky remained silent, gazing out at the atmosphere.

"Bloom…are you sure you know what you´re getting into? I´ll support you no matter what you decide, but I don't want you getting hurt",

"I´m ready. Let's do this", she said firmly. Sky nodded.

"The ship is right outside. We better hurry",