Alfea lay silent as Bloom flew across the empty halls, avoiding broken windows and overturned shelves which lined some of the walls. It seemed so unnatural to see it in this state when they spent so long rebuilding it after the Trix attacked. She didn't think she would ever be back in these halls either, but here she was, hunting for the very head of their school.

If she was Faragonda and Alfea was being attacked, where would she go? She nearly crashed into a girl who was running down the tiled hallway. The girl, first-year by the looks of it, eyed her up and down, taking in her ginger hair along with her black transformation. Bloom noticed the exact second the fairy recognized her. "They warned us about you," she said with a firm tone, summoning what seemed to be a ball of water, into her hand. "Did they, now?" Bloom replied with a smirk, partly intrigued to see what the other girl would do.

"Valtor attacked my home planet, and hurt our King. And you are still working with him. You're a traitor to fairies, coward" she said, attempting to aim and hit Bloom in the chest, but the water evaporated upon coming to contact with the fire fairy's skin. So the water fairy continued shooting, even when all of her attacks met a dead end. And only after her strongest spell was caught by Bloom effortlessly, did fear began to set on her face.

"You're from Andros, aren't you?"

The girl held her stance and nodded.

"Tell me," Bloom said as she drew closer to her, crouching so they are on the same eye level as tendrils of shadow-fire began to envelop them. "Why aren't you out there, defending your school right now?"

The fairy maintained her gaze, sweat prickling down the sides of her face as she became aware of the darkness surrounding them. "I was-leaving."

Bloom's smirk only grew and she raised her hand slightly. The girl's eyes widened when her body rose from the ground and she struggled to move. The fire fairy leaned in, whispering into her ear: "What would you know about bravery then?"

And just as easily as she trapped her, Bloom released the girl, who instantly gripped her neck and drew in as much air as possible. She didn't get back up from the floor as she said: "If it came down to it, Valtor or Alfea, where would your loyalties lay?"

Bloom kept quiet for a few seconds before replying: "I guess you will have to live to find out." With that, she turned her back to the fairy and continued through the doors at the end of the hall. She passed the Winx suite and felt a lingering pain across her heart. So many memories scattered away, now meaningless. Bloom paused at the main doors before walking inside. The room was entirely unchanged but there was a strain in the air. You didn't have to see their group to realize it fell apart. Noticing a paper on the desk she began to write, and reluctantly left the note on Stella's bed, hoping her friend would survive until the end to read it.

Heading for Faragonda's office, she heard noises coming from one of the classrooms. She opened the door, finding Wizgiz frantically running around with potions gathered in his hands. Upon seeing her, he stopped and stared. "Bloom? Is that you?" The fire fairy replied with a dark grin.

"Where is headmistress Faragonda?" she cared little for being pleasant at that point. There were too many sidesteps on her way and all she needed now was to reach the old fairy. "I am not sure," he muttered, going back to his business as if she wasn't in the room. As if she wasn't a threat. But Bloom wasn't having it.

Her fire wrapped around him, lifting his body in the air. "I asked," she said, growing agitated. "Where can I find her?" Light erupted from Wizgiz's body and he seemed to disappear. But she noticed a small insect flying above her head. He never did learn to change up his tricks. Bloom smiled, sending an orb at the bug, entrapping the creature inside. Her magic wouldn't kill it, but at least like this, he wouldn't cause her any further delay.

She flew for the office, finding the doors wide open, and everything on the floor. Griselda was probably out with the fairies, so no one would discover this in hours. From the desk to the shelves which were usually around the room, to the drawers, the contents of everything now lay scattered. Like a tornado went through them.

Or a very power-hungry wizard.

But she knew Faragonda well enough to assume she would never keep her powerful spells in such an exposed location.

She searched for any traces of Valtor's magic, noticing that she was better at managing the pathway between their powers. Flickering at the edges of her mind was a fresh wave of that same blue fire. He clearly wanted to be found. She followed the trail across the halls of the school, straight to the library.

Even in there, things were all over the place. Barbatea, the librarian, would have a breakdown upon the sight if there was anything for her to see once Valtor was done with it. She continued further into the rows of shelves, some empty, some still containing scrolls and books. Bloom came upon a dead-end, but Valtor's presence and magic still lingered further on. Which was strange, but not surprising. She wasn't stupid enough to think that she knew all the hidden parts of Alfea.

The Dragon Fire lead her to a single shelf which at first sight was no different than the rest. It kind of reminded her of the hidden halls within Griffin's office. But before she could try to open it, a blast of blue fire exploded, burning through the shelf and probably whatever was on the other side of it. Bingo. Valtor and Faragonda must have been in a heated fight if none of them bothered to pause and assess the damage. The flames revealed a dark hallway, or what used to be one, behind the burned shelf. Without a glance back, Bloom went inside, ready to get her answers.

She came onto a raging battlefield. Valtor and Faragonda were both sweating, as they tossed spell after spell at each other. There was a dark burn mark on the older fairy's shoulder and a hole in Valtor's cloak, even if he didn't seem hurt in any way. She wasn't sure why the thought comforted her.

Bloom thought they didn't even realize she was there, but then Faragonda shouted: "Bloom, go get the others."

The fire fairy didn't take a single step as she stood in the middle of the circular room: "No."

The new area was almost an exact replica of the Alfea Archive, apart from the giant blue orb floating at the back of it. Bloom didn't need to be a genius to guess it was the core of Alfea. Which meant it was the source of all their power. Exactly what Valtor would be after.

"What are you doing?" Faragonda barked and yelped in pain when Valtor's spell crashed into her hand. She staggered back as Bloom stared at them.

"You are always welcomed to join," Valtor said with a malicious grin, probably only wanting to get under both of her skins.

"The only thing I want from you Headmistress," she said to Faragonda with an eye roll after the last word. "Are answers."

Valtor stopped casting spells and watched Bloom with curiosity while Faragonda stayed alert as she awaited the wizard's next move. But he remained still, his focus now solely on the fire fairy. As if this was what he waited for the entire time.

"Why did you leave them?" Bloom asked, the tone of her voice even but cold. "You knew-" she continued to talk confidently, but with each new word, her tone became shaky. "You knew I was searching for them," Bloom spoke as she got closer to Faragonda.

"You watched as Avalon gained my trust," the memory burning bright in both of their minds. "You saw me get under Darkar's control," she went on as tears prickled the corners of her eyes, but she didn't let them fall. "You knew exactly who was responsible for their disappearance," Bloom tossed a quick glance at Valtor, who stood aside with his arms crossed.

He could have grabbed the core by now.

Why was he still here?

She snapped her attention back to Faragonda who only stared, keeping quiet. "And you still said nothing," Bloom finished, holding the principal's gaze. "Why?"

"I already explained it to you Bloom. Obsidian is an unapproachable-"

"No more lies," Bloom cut in. "You said that Shadow Haunt was the closest thing to Obsidian you've encountered and yet you had no problem going in there."

"Because you were there," Faragonda answered right away and her words echoed throughout the room.

"And why was saving me more important than saving them?" Bloom asked coldly, her hands in fists at her sides.

She saw Valtor moving forward to her, placing a firm grip on Faragonda's shoulder. "Someone is not being entirely honest, are you Faragonda?" The old fairy recoiled, looking between Valtor and Bloom.

"Because without you-" her voice began to trail off as she bowed her head and avoided Bloom's stare. "Without you," she repeated with a gulp of nervousness. "The Dragon Fire would have completely died out."

She didn't need to be looking at Bloom to see the wide-eyed expression that crossed her face. This entire time-

This entire time it was all about her power. The power Daphne died to preserve that her parents attempted to protect by going against Valtor. She was no better than the Trix or Darkar, she has been using her all along. Bloom let the tears fall as every single good memory of Alfea got clouded. How could it have all been a lie?

"We couldn't let Darkar get his hands on your power," Faragonda tried to smooth it out, but it was too late. Bloom was no longer listening to excuses.

Faragonda's goodness, her mentorship, had it all been just because she was the Guardian of the Dragon Flame? She was used to her enemies wanting to get her hands on her magic, but her so-called school too? If she wasn't already consumed by her dark power, she would have turned to it in seconds. It wasn't enough that Faragonda spent their entire first year deceiving her and hiding her identity from her, now she was disguising her selfishness with kindness. Between the utter betrayal she was feeling, Bloom recognized pure, hot, anger. And this time she welcomed it more than ever.

"The only reason you mentored me was because you wanted to make sure your precious Dragon Flame doesn't fall into the wrong hands, wasn't it? And the second I wasn't perfect obedient little Bloom, all of you turned your backs on me," words were flying out and Bloom didn't attempt to stop them. She didn't even notice the stark black flames surrounding her palms.

"That was only part of the reason. We care about you," Faragonda attempted to ease the situation with a smile, reaching for Bloom's hand, but the fairy stepped back. "The problem, Headmistress is, that I no longer believe you." Faragonda's eyes dropped to the growing black and red energy which engulfed Bloom's body, rage radiating off of her in waves. And while Faragonda seemed scared for the first time since Bloom had met her, Valtor looked almost impressed.

"We were cowards Bloom. No one dared to risk their lives to try and enter Obsidian. Not after finally putting the Dimension at peace."

Bloom smiled, but any humour was gone from the expression. So not only did they give up, they never even tried. Not even sent their strongest to at least examine the area. Nothing.

Bloom could feel her blood pressure rise, her body heating up.

They have done nothing.

The fire spread over to her chest and Bloom gave in to the comforting burning sensation. She could feel Valtor's presence, gently next to her mind and she didn't even try to push it away. Bloom could no longer see anything but herself and Faragonda's weak figure.

"I can't imagine what Darkar put you through," the Headmistress whispered, and Bloom's focus wavered. "No matter what you may be thinking right now, we didn't get there just to stop him. We went to get you out."

Bloom wanted to believe it, more than anything. But the damage of her previous words was too heavy, too much to be softened now. They wanted to save the Dragon, not her. And then, as if she couldn't stoop any lower, she continued: "Prince Sky wouldn't want to see you like this."

And every doubt disappeared from Bloom's head. Using Sky as a bargaining leverage wasn't going to work in her favour this time. "You are right professor," Bloom replied and saw hope begin to dance in Faragonda's eyes. "You have no idea what it was like." She opened up her mind entirely and grabbed for the old fairy's hands, forcing her memories into her.

A dark room opened up in front of them, Bloom still gripping Faragonda's hands. She was aware of Valtor lingering next to them as well, but she didn't care. Let them both see just how much of her soul Darkar had destroyed.

The figure of the Shadow Phoenix appeared in the middle of the room, leaning over a metal table that had Bloom strapped to it. Looking at it all from the sidelines, got Bloom's skin crawling, wishing she could somehow stop it, go back in time and erase the events that were about to follow.

"It would be much easier for you if you just surrendered your mind little fairy," he said, holding an orb of black magic above Bloom's head. Her eyes were closed, but there was an obvious expression of discomfort on her face. She was fighting his power as much as it was possible. "I can always ask the Trix to ease you up," Darkar snapped his fingers and three witches materialized in the room, smirks on their faces.

Icy didn't waste a second before summoning an ice spike and stabbing it through Bloom's thigh. The fire fairy's scream erupted against the walls of the cave, piercing the ears of everyone present. But the trio was more than enjoying the sound because Stormy aimed her hand at Bloom's torso and a dozen tiny lightning burned themselves into her. Tears sprung from the fairy's eyes as she shouted in pain, blood pooling around the areas. The electricity burned the ropes restraining Bloom who folded over to press a hand onto the burning wound. As if waiting, Stormy fired again, much stronger, this time at her back, leaving a clear mark across her spine.

Real Bloom stiffened, flinching every time a new set of attacks came her way as if it will happen again if she doesn't stay still. Her screams filled the room as the Trix continued to repeat it, again and again.

The real Bloom's body began to tremble and she didn't even notice a reassuring warm hand wrapped around her forearm, guarding her. Almost as if he wanted to tell her that she was safe. Faragonda next to her, seemed as motionless as a statue. Before they could witness another batch of spells collide with her, she felt Valtor separate them and pull their minds apart.

Bloom staggered back, nearly sinking onto her knees, nausea burning in her stomach. Valtor still held her and she was grateful enough for it that she forgot to question why was he easing her pain. Bloom regained her control and stared at the clearly shaken-up Faragonda.

"I had no idea," was all she could mutter. So Bloom raised her chin and snapped her fingers, letting her concealing magic fall away. No one ever questioned how had she returned from Shadow Haunt mostly untouched, no one wanted to pry. They had her checked and kept her overnight, but as the doctors conducted, nothing was wrong with her, she wasn't all that hurt.

Now here it was, the raw truth. Scars, burns, bruises and the entire aftermath of being Darkar's slave now fully exposed. Bloom began to conceal all of it the second Darkar lost control of her body. Every single scar but a few that she kept just to avoid questioning. And the look on Valtor's face let her know he remembered his offer to heal the one on her back. The deepest one, the only one she couldn't hide even with her powers.

Her torso uncovered a set of gruesome white lines, going from her chest, down her stomach and exactly twelve longer ones that covered her legs. She knew the exact number, as she spent sleepless nights after the Shadow Haunt counting just how many of them there were.

Faragonda eyed them all, taking them in, probably thinking how much they had to torture her to leave her body so damaged. Her eyes revealed just how disturbed she was. "Why didn't you ever let us heal them?"

"I killed Sky," she replied. "I deserved all of it." Hearing the words leave her mouth, Bloom's heart ached. She shook her head as if that would make the memories leave her. But they were there, always pressing in on her, always looming and waiting for her to let her guard down.

"Now, tell me. How do I get into Obsidian?" she said it as a command this time.

Faragonda's eyes narrowed at her. "Bloom you have to listen to me, if they are really in there, they are as good as dead. It would be a suicide mission." Little did Faragonda know just how badly Bloom wanted to die after she sent her into Omega.

She wasn't going to give up. "I am not leaving them. Even if they aren't in there, searching is still worth it." The anger that was previously subdued was now growing back in her soul. She would get her answer, no matter what it took. "I won't ask you again. What is the key?"

Valtor stood beside them as if assessing the situation. And Bloom wondered if maybe he didn't know about the key either. Not that he would need it, she guessed, but that this bit of information is something the wizard was interested in too. Faragonda might have been thinking the same.

As if he read her mind, which was most likely really the case, he said: "Don't make me stop you Faragonda," as he leaned on one of the shelves dangerously close to the core yet not attempting to take it.

"Whatever he's told you, Bloom, I can assure you is a lie."

"Who else was in on it?" she said instead without regarding the words she's heard for the second time in a week. "Bloom-"

But the fairy cut in before she could get to excuses: "Who else?"

"The Magix Council, King Radius and Griffin."

Faragonda tried to back away upon seeing the flame sphere shape into a dragon right next to Bloom. The hall was right behind her.

"Stop her," she said as she looked back to Valtor and it was entirely a demand. Valtor's expression was a satisfied smirk as he pinned his gaze onto Faragonda.

"Bloom," the old fairy said carefully, eyeing them both with panic dancing in her pupils. "You don't want to do this," Bloom could hear the slight shake of her voice. "He is nothing but a manipulator, he will not get you what you want."

Bloom's mouth twisted upwards as she gave Valtor a single nod. He pointed a finger at Faragonda, making her body unable to move with a blood spell. The recognition was evident on her face as she tried to resist the invisible binds. The fire fairy took a few steps closer to Faragonda and leaned in so that her mouth was lined with the Headmistress' ear. "The difference is, I know he won't. But you will." She released her grip and moved away.

"How long did you know they might be in there?" she asked, her voice even. The colour drained from the headmistress' face instantly and Bloom knew she asked something Faragonda hoped to keep to herself. One more secret she could add to the list. "Ever since Darkar first appeared. His magic was of the same origin as that of Valtor and Ancestral witches. But-we had those suspicions almost right after they disappeared."

So even after they knew she was their daughter, they still decided to leave them. And no one saw that as an exile-worthy sentence.

"Bloom I beg you to listen to me-" Faragonda started and when Bloom didn't interrupt her, she kept talking. "You walk into Obsidian and they win. Ancestral witches, Darkar, Valtor," she pinned the wizard down with an angry look. "They kill you and they win. There will be no more Dragon Fire anywhere in the entire dimension."

Bloom's expression was entirely uninterested, she looked almost bored. "I guess you should have thought about that sooner. Because in this game, Headmistress, I am the only one who wins." She took a deep breath, realizing that they didn't have the entirety of time to spare. The fairies would come looking for them eventually.

"Now, I will give you one more chance to tell me. Where can I find the key to Obsidian?"

"No."

Bloom cocked her head, anger boiling through her veins instead of blood. "Fine. Have it your way," she snapped and let her dragon rise around her. She closed her eyes and opened her mind to both sides of her power, easing herself into them. She thought of the betrayal brewing inside her chest, of all the miserable days under Darkar's control, of her parents entirely alone in the dimension made to keep the darkness in.

She focused her mind on Faragonda, all the rage, sadness and pain caused by this one person Bloom had been sure she could trust. How badly she wanted to drag the answer out of her, to for once be in control.

An image visualized itself inside her mind, a dragon curled on itself, wings tucked in tight. Bloom's eyes snapped open as she sent the spell directly at Faragonda. The Headmistress didn't scream or flinch as the mark carved itself into her neck. Valtor removed the spell keeping her in place so her head slumped forward, her body falling to the floor.

Bloom was panting by the time it was over, sweat covering her forehead. She stared at the immovable body on the floor, her body going into shock, shaking uncontrollably. "I did that," even her voice was trembling. Slowly, she turned her head to look at Valtor. His mouth was slightly agape as if he was actually caught off guard. Reading her mind, he said: "She's not dead." It was reassuring enough.

"The first time is always the most powerful, you aren't entirely in control of the amount of power you use," he explained, walking closer to her and she didn't stop him. She couldn't.

There was a slight rise and fall of Faragonda's chest before she opened her eyes. They looked as they always have, dark blue, but hollow somehow. She wasn't speaking, wasn't moving, just stood there in front of them. The colour of the mark went from bright red into white, like a scar, before blending completely into her skin and disappearing. Bloom wasn't sure if she was more worried about it not working or of it working.

"What are you waiting for Princess? Ask her," Valtor said, still watching Faragonda with suspicion. Bloom inhaled deeply, letting the air push itself into her lungs. She was still shaking pretty badly and wasn't sure how quivering her voice would be.

"I-" she started and instantly coughed into her sleeve. "Headmistress," she said, the body being completely still, "You are going to answer my question truthfully."

"I will answer truthfully," she said instantly, repeating Bloom's words.

Bloom breathed in and out again, gathering herself, trying to not let the anger get to her. "I need you to tell me. Who has the key to Obsidian?"

For a split second Bloom was sure something went wrong and the old fairy didn't actually have an answer. But then her mouth moved and sounds that Bloom was expecting came out.

"I do."