Home For A Moment
"Home is where the heart is." -Pliny the Elder
"I'm not going back to Alfea. "
Stella's mouth hung open. The fiery fairy whose powers matched her personality had totally surprised the Stevens when she had appeared in their kitchen a day after Faragonda had departed. "But. What did we do? Hurt you in some way? We all agreed to go to the stupid Red Fountain party together."
"Please let me explain," Bloom pleaded when seeing the look of betrayal and hurt on Stella's face. Time to sell it the best I can.
Stella's facial expressions didn't change so Bloom pursed her lips and began.
"It all begins with the Trix..."
It was a long walk through the bustling streets of Magix City. Bloom kept her gaze down as she walked and refused to look anyone in the eyes.
How could I screw up so royally, literally? Bloom bemoaned as her feet carried her through the streets. How can I ruin the best thing to ever happen to me?
She felt like a zombie, unable to go where she belonged and dreading where she was going. She stopped underneath a balcony of a shop and looked up at the Magix skyline. Memories of the last nine months at Alfea raced through her head causing her emotions to veer between shame, nostalgia, and worry. She tried to shove the memories featuring Sky away, but they refused to flee. She closed her eyes as shame, anger, and hatred burned through every inch of her body as she resumed her walk. Hoping for some peace she stopped in the small cafe' she had come to frequent throughout the year. The waitress, a short woman with blue hair who had gotten used to their visits came over to her.
"Are you OK dear?" were her first words.
"No," Bloom admitted, tears leaking out of her eyes, absolutely miserable. Does liking someone really hurt this much?
The waitress recognized the pain in her complexion. "The things we do for love dear."
"Love," Bloom said, not meeting her eyes. "The guy lied to me. Many times. How can I get into a relationship with a boy like that? Then I embarrassed myself in front of everyone and ruined my chances of finishing school at Alfea."
"Sometimes things aren't always as bad as they seem," the waitress said. She was saddened seeing no change in the teenager's countenance. "What are your plans now?"
"Home. Then I don't know," Bloom admitted.
"Here's some food for the trip home," the waitress said, passing her some hot pizza slices. Bloom had described them to her one day and then to her surprise, the next week she visited the cafe' was serving hot pizza fresh off the grill.
Bloom packed it in her bag. "Thank you. You've been so kind, Miriam."
"I'll see you again dear," Miriam said knowingly, giving Bloom a hug.
Bloom hugged her back. As she left, she stared at her reflection in a window and saw...
"Darcy," she breathed, quickly pretending not to notice.
"I'm being followed," she whispered to Miriam. "That witch. She'll soon bring reinforcements."
Miriam quickly recognized Darcy as one of the witches who had been expelled by Cloud Tower.
"Keep moving. Stay in crowded places. Go through the east door. I'll follow you and get back up."
Bloom broke the hug and nodded to the waitress. She left the small cafe' and began slowly moving towards the center of Magix City, away from the teleportation center. As she walked with Darcy behind her darting from column to building her mind was racing, weighing her options.
I can't take them on, I've lost half my powers...If I go back to Alfea and tell Farragonda she probably won't believe me...if she finds out I left again I could be expelled...if I am not already.
Bloom tried to continue to look dejected. Head bowed and walking slowly she got on a bus that would take her around the city to try and buy some time. Once the vehicle was underway, she discretely looked through a window and saw Darcy tracking the bus from above.
If I go to Earth, I'll be alone... but what if they don't know if I go to Earth?
Bloom smiled but frowned immediately. She took another look at Darcy still above the bus, petting Kiko between the ears.
I need to throw her off somehow. Get rid of her for just a moment.
Kiko suddenly began jumping up and down. Bloom was just about to quiet him when her eyes alighted on the payphone she used when she had first visited Magix City. Okay Bloom, time to get yourself an Academy Award.
Bloom dismounted from the bus and prepared to put on the best Oscar-worthy performance of her life. Keeping one eye on Darcy, she saw the witch take up a position within hearing distance. Keeping the telephone door open she picked up the receiver and halfway inserted her phone card.
"Hello, hey Tecna. I know... expulsion from school isn't fun. I'm glad you managed to stay there. I wasn't so lucky..."
Bloom stole a peek at Darcy, who was drinking in every detail and listening attentively. "Well, I have to go home. Vallisto isn't as fun as Alfea I know...I'll miss all of you...The next red bus that leaves from this station is the one I'll be on. Sure...I can visit if I can convince Farragonda to let me back in. My parents are fairly wealthy. Who knows, maybe I'll be like Stella, able to buy my way back in. I'll take the red shuttle here that should be arriving in about five minutes..."
She saw Darcy smile the evilest grin she had ever seen and saw the witch fly off. Bloom hung the phone back on the receiver.
"Kiko, get in the suitcase," she said. "It's urgent."
Kiko heard the change of tone in her voice and willingly got into her red luggage bag. Bloom bolted out of the phone booth and across the street to a nearby balcony that shielded her from being spotted from the air. She crept along the outline of the building until she saw the bus stop. Bloom, familiar with the Magix City mass transit system, saw a blue shuttle arrive heading for the teleportation station. Arriving just a second or two later, Bloom saw a red shuttle arrive bound for the spaceport that handled cargo and travelers in ships from across the Magix Dimension. She knew she would have just one shot at this.
Here goes nothing, Bloom thought as she crossed the sidewalk climbed the stairs of the blue shuttle and took a seat. CRAP!
She ducked dropping in between the seats of the bus as she saw Icey, Darcy, and Stormy arrive. Bloom unconsciously chewed on her fingernails as the witches hovered above the two shuttles. She closed her eyes and gritted her teeth, ready to transform if necessary. Come on, buy it! Buy it! Follow the red shuttle. Follow it.
Bloom peeked through the window and gasped as the witches were hovering right outside her window! She began to shiver as the Trix hovered outside for what seemed like hours.
"We'll intercept her before she gets to the Shuttle port," Icey cackled.
"That Dragonfire will be ours," Stormy added. "Once we get it out of her. The last heir of Domino."
Dragonfire. I have it? Bloom thought. The almighty power that Farragonda was talking about? What's Domino? Is that where Daphne is from? Are these losers lying?
Bloom breathed a sigh of relief when the witches flew away, following the red shuttle. She sat up and watched them go as the blue shuttle she was on merged with one of Magix City's main highways, away from the witches. Bloom chewed on the revelations the witches had spilled, trying to make sense of them, for the rest of the trip but nothing her brain came up with made sense to her. She'd have to wait until she was safe before she could pursue more answers.
When the red shuttle opened its door and Bloom descended to the platform, her jaw dropped to the floor.
"Miriam?"
"Are you alright dear?" Miriam asked. "Good job. We followed you the entire way here."
Behind her were two burly guys wearing Red Fountain outfits. Bloom stared, not sure what to make of this.
"I know," one of the guys said, flexing his muscles, causing the Earthling to roll her eyes.
Bloom was about to ask a question when Miriam turned serious. "Bloom move."
The redhead nodded, grabbed her suitcase, and ran for the platform. When she had reached it, she turned on the spot and saw that Miriam and her two bodyguards were gone.
"Earth," Bloom called out and vanished.
Stella listened to the story as her expression and intentions remained unchanged.
"We'll protect you," Stella sought to reassure Bloom. "If they find you here, we can't help you."
"I can't go back because I harbor the Dragonfire,"
The announcement was met with a blank stare. "What?"
"The Dragonfire. Whatever it is. That is what the Trix are after. All I know about it is it some great power that Farragonda spoke of."
"How do you know?"
"First the Trix. I heard them talking about it. We can't risk it being taken from me."
Stella saw her golden opportunity. "All the more reason to come back to Alfea, we'll keep you safe. It's the safest place for you. You can learn there to wield this Dragonfire."
Bloom wanted Stella to know everything. She wanted Stella to understand just how much this cost her, how much she missed Alfea yet how much she knew she couldn't go back. "Stella. I want to go back. Faragonda has suspended me, Stella. But this is the last place the witches would ever think to look. Even if they do, there is seven billion people they have to shift through to find me. Do you think I like this? No. I'd rather be at Alfea with you, Flora, Tecna, and Musa."
Stella could see Bloom's point. She could also see many more that she didn't like. "Bloom, it's too risky,"
"It's a no-win situation. We'll discuss it further with Faragonda when she arrives."
"What? Faragonda's coming here?"
"She'll show up. Mom and Dad are sure of it. I won't be expelled," Bloom insisted. "Whatever this Dragonfire is. I intend to pry the answer out of her when she arrives."
Stella turned to pleading. "Bloom. Please reconsider. It won't be the same without you. Make your case to Faragonda. Please. It won't be the same without you."
"I'm not quitting Alfea," Bloom sought to reassure her as she felt her stomach rumble. "Anyways I'm hungry. Would you like some Earth food?"
Stella could see she was getting nowhere with Bloom, she relented and followed Bloom downstairs.
"Hi Vanessa," Stella said uncertainly, remembering their first surprise meeting almost nine months prior.
"Stella, how nice to see you again," Vanessa said, giving the girl an unexpected hug. "Lasagna?"
"Sure. Wait. What's lasagna?"
Vanessa smiled. "I'll show you."
After a couple of hours Stella knew it was time to get back. She placed a pink phone on the counter and slid it towards Bloom.
"I can't take this," Bloom insisted weakly. She was sorely tempted knowing this was possibly the only way she could keep in contact with her friends consistently.
"Well, I can't take it either," Stella said, pushing the pink phone back towards Bloom. "I deleted all my data from off of it except the contact information for all of us from it. It's worthless to me now."
"But..."
"Bloom dear," Vanessa said. "It's rude to refuse a gift."
Bloom smiled, taking the intergalactic phone and pocketing it as Stella turned to her near the front door. "We'll see you soon Bloom."
"I'll see you even if I'm expelled," Bloom said, fingering the phone in her pocket.
"Count on it girl. We'll bring you back to Alfea one way or another."
Stella opened the door to go outside.
"Headmistress Faragonda," she said in a voice much higher than her own, knowing she was in deep trouble.
This will be a unique fanfict and will parallel the end of Season 1, possibly longer if enough people are interested. It changes the trajectory of Episode 18 of the first season when Bloom returns home and then comes back to Alfea. Many character arcs will change, including those of the Specialists, some of whom will have to work a little harder to get in the Winx's good graces. I plan to incorporate material from both the 4kids dub and the later RAI versions as long as they intersect and don't contradict each other.