Chapter 37: Seeking Answers
Alfea's Magical Archive
"Here we are, girls...Alfea's Magical Archive..." Bloom murmured as she led Flora, Layla, and Roxy inside. Roxy looked all around her in awe. "Wow! I've never seen such a HUGE place before...it's amazing you know where this is Bloom!" Roxy exclaimed. "I actually found it my second year at Alfea. There was a pixie here and she predicted that I'd meet you, Layla." the redhead told her. "Really? That's so awesome! I had no idea!" Layla smiled as they got onto the star platforms. Slowly they rose up a few levels just enough to get to the books higher up. Roxy paused as she noticed something flying around.
"Uh, Bloom what is that?" the faerie of animals questioned as she pointed to a golden butterfly looking object fluttering about. "Oh, that? That's the catalog...you know how you search for books...watch." Bloom told Roxy before she caught it and placed her hand on the catalog. The redhead cleared her throat before uttering the words. "Gems Of Destiny." it took but only a moment before thousands of books on stones and gems came flying out at them. The girls gasped as they ducked for cover trying not to get smacked upside the head or get knocked off the platforms.
"How do we know which one is the one we need!?" Roxy cried as she screamed nearly getting hit by a stray text whipping by her. "Let me handle it!" Layla exclaimed. "MORPHIX WAVE!" Layla yelled as she enveloped all of the books into morphix bubbles. "Yeah, nice one Layla!" Bloom beamed before Flora spoke up watching the sphere bounce back and forth. "They're STILL bouncing around!" the faerie of nature cried out as she nearly got knocked over but managed to regain her balance. Below them, Professor Palladium opened the door as his eyes widened seeing the flying pink orbs.
"Goodness! What in Magix are you girls doing in here!?" the elf questioned. "S-Sorry professor. We were trying to use the catalog to find information about The Gems Of Destiny..." Bloom explained. "And ended up summoning about every book..." Roxy added. "Layla used her morphix to help stop the book but..." Flora began. "Now it's like play-WOAH! dodge ball!" Layla gasped as she quickly bent backward for cover as one of the books flew over her. "Well! I'll put a stop to that! Orderus!" Professor Palladium exclaimed before the books were placed back where they belonged.
"So much for that plan..." Layla sighed. "Even if there IS information here isn't there a better way to find it?" Flora questioned. "...Did you girls say you were looking for information about The Gems Of Destiny?" the professor questioned. "Yes. Do you know anything about them, professor?" Bloom questioned as they lowered the platforms down to the floor. "Anything at all would be a great help." Roxy followed up. Professor Palladium stood silent for a moment as he gathered his thoughts. "The gems were said to have been created by souls that when they left the world of the living their hearts were so strong that their will power crystallized into Seven gemstones...a Ruby, Amethyst, Crystal, Sapphire, Garnet, Emerald and a Diamond. Legend has it long ago...that they were brought to the Kingdom Of Sparks and given to the Queen's Royal Magi...her name was Martel. For she was the only one that could control their power and used them to protect Sparks." professor Palladium told the girls.
"So...the gems were on my home planet?..." Bloom questioned as her eyes widened with surprise. "But what...if the gems protected Sparks then why was it attacked by the Ancestresses?" Layla questioned as she raised her brow in confusion. Something just didn't seem right. "That's correct. There was a darkness that descended upon The Magical Dimension and the only thing strong enough to seal it away were The Gems Of Destiny...it is told that Martel used the gems to seal the darkness into its own personal realm where none could be consumed by it...to ensure that the darkness would never escape Martel scattered the gems far away...and just as she, they also became a mere legend..." Professor Palladium sighed.
"Professor. Nebula told me that in order to achieve a new power known as Celestix I must pass the trial of The Gems Of Destiny...she also said the last Faerie who achieved this form faded from all existence...do you think it's possible that Faerie Nebula spoke of was Martel the guardian of The Gems Of Destiny?" Bloom questioned. "Hmm...I suppose that IS quite likely. Like I said before it's merely a myth I don't know if all of it is true or none at all. Only you can discover the truth for yourself." Professor Palladium told his students. "Well if Sparks is where Martel is from maybe you can learn more Bloom by going there yourself," Roxy suggested before Bloom smiled. "You're absolutely right Roxy! Thanks, Professor. We've learned so much!" the redhead thanked the elf. "It was my pleasure Bloom I do hope you find what you're looking for." he offered a smile in return before he left.
"It's settled then. I'm going to go to Sparks to speak with my parents." Bloom informed the others. "Best of luck Bloom hopefully you can learn more than we already have." Flora smiled. "We'll keep an eye out here. I think we can still look through more of these books. If anything we might be able to find something else that'll be useful to know." Layla told Bloom. "Best of luck Bloom! We'll be right here waiting for you to get back!" Roxy smiled. "Thanks, guys. Well, i'm off!" Bloom waved before she left and went to the express portal room. "Sparks!" the redhead called out nice and clear before she manifested in front of her castle. Bloom swallowed hard as she took a deep breath and glanced up at her ring. "Just how exactly am I going to explain all of this?...Oh well here I go..." the faerie murmured as she tried to place on her best smile and walked into the palace. Not for a minute did the princess's homecoming go unnoticed either.
"Princess Bloom so good to see you again." one of the maids exclaimed before one of them wandered off from the meet and greet to see King Oritel. The king paused before he left the balcony to look down the stairs. It didn't take long at all for Marion to welcome her daughter home with a warm hug. "Hello darling this is such a nice surprise..." the queen smiled sweetly as Bloom hugged her mother back. "Hi, mom. I have QUITE the surprise myself actually..." Bloom started before she saw her father headed towards her. "DADDY!" the redhead beamed before she can over and hugged him tightly. "Happy to see me?" Bloom smiled. "Am I ever not?" Oritel teased as Marion smiled. "So what do we owe the pleasure of this visit? I thought you were going to stay on Earth for awhile in Domino City." the king questioned.
"Yeah...about that...can I talk to you? It's important." Bloom asked her parents. "Of course sweetheart." Marion murmured before Bloom followed Oritel and Marion upstairs and took a seat. The queen poured everyone a cup of tea already having cookies on the table as per usual. "Mom...dad...I don't know how to say this exactly but...a lot happened while I was in Domino City...you know that dream I told you about...?" Marion and Oritel listened as Bloom told both of them everything from the beginning to the end. "Despite everything we've been through Kaiba and the others are willing to risk everything to save ALL of the worlds of the threat of The Wizards Of The Black Circle and the many others that are lurking out there...in fact, I have some pretty big news...Seto Kaiba of Kaiba Corp...ASKED ME TO MARRY HIM!" Bloom exclaimed happily before Marion gasped in delight and hugged her daughter.
"Oh, darling I'm so happy for you! He must be a wonderful young man...especially for you to choose him over Sky. Oh do you have a picture!?" the queen asked before Bloom showed her photo's on her phone. "Oh goodness, he's VERY handsome...almost as much as your father..." "MOM!" Bloom cried as Oritel just stared in utter confusion. What was happening to this conversation? He could even get a word in edgewise as the two most important women in his life gushed over the engagement ring. "He's a little rough around the edges but he's really sweet. Oh did I mention he has the most ADORABLE little brother see?" "Oh, my he is quite cute. Goodness, we'll have to extend the castle to make more room for everyone!" Marion smiled as Bloom giggled.
"T-TIME OUT!" Oritel cried before both girls turned their attention back to the king. "I NEVER liked Sky I'm sure that's no big mystery. His hair was WAY too blonde but BESIDES that Bloom we still have to meet this young man. I can't just give MY precious daughter away to someone I've never even met. Obviously, you two share some sort of connection. I get that but STILL. I'm MORE concerned about everything else you brought up." the king told Bloom. "Don't tell me you only came to visit us to show off your ring." Marion teased before the redhead shook her head and sigh. "Sorry, dad. I was just so happy I couldn't contain it...the REAL reason I came here was that I need your help..." Bloom confessed softly.
"You Know that we're ALWAYS here for you if you need us. Even if we haven't always been..." Oritel told his daughter. "Mom...Dad...do you know anything about The Gems Of Destiny?" Bloom asked before Marion looked at Oritel and him at her. "The Gems were kept here at Sparks by your mother's mage whom disappeared along with the gems...and when they vanished so did Spark's protection...the dragons flame was powerful...but with the flame being passed to you at birth...you were too young to use it...when the gems disappeared your sister Daphne searched for a way to defend sparks without the gems and she believed a prince from Egypt on Earth would be able to help," Oritel told Bloom.
"...That's when she met Atem..." Bloom murmured softly as she placed two and two together. Oritel scowled just hearing that name uttered in his presence. "...I don't know if it will help...but there was a chamber below the castle Martel used to use...perhaps you may find something down there..." Marion offered and led Bloom to the secret chamber. Silently yet carefully Bloom made her way down the stairs. It was dark and most of the buildings underground was worn and old. The redhead paused as she noticed a crystal orb with a crack in it. With care, Bloom picked up the sphere before it began to glow. Symbols manifested onto the orb though part of them were damaged. Slowly an image projected itself. Standing before Bloom was a young woman with snow white hair wearing a blue and black robe.
"Is that Martel...?" Bloom questioned as she continued to watch the young woman look out of the window. In the vision, the whole chamber was brought to life with the moonlight the marble in the building shimmering like new. "...She looks so sad..." the redhead frowned. Her eyes widened as the young woman removed from under her cloak a pendant just like the one Nebula had bestowed upon Roxy and her. Tears fell from the woman's eyes as she fell to her knees. Unfortunately, that was all Bloom could see as the orb cut off the projection. The faerie took it and walked back the stairs without hesitation. "You were right mom...there WAS something down there...this orb...I think it contained one of Martel's memories..." she told Marion. "And I'm willing to bet this isn't the ONLY one either! I'm sorry...but I HAVE to go...i've learned all that I can for now..." Bloom told her parents.
"...I understand sweetie...I'm so proud of you Bloom..." Marion murmured softly to her daughter. "Wait a moment..." Oritel told the redhead before he came back with a bracelet. In it were small crystallized flames. Carefully the king placed it around Bloom's wrist. "This is a special charm...it will protect you...and keep you safe..." Oritel murmured. "I only ask one thing in return...that you promise to return home..." the king told Bloom. The redhead felt her blue eyes swell with tears before she hugged her father Marion to wrapping her arms around their daughter. "I PROMISE! AS THE PRINCESS OF SPARKS AND KEEPER OF THE DRAGON FLAME!...Mommy...Daddy...goodbye..." Bloom wept as she broke away from them and fled the castle as fast as she possibly could. Marion and Oritel both watched from the balcony as Bloom left. Marion gently placed her hand on Oritel's shoulder.
"She's a tough girl Oritel...she'll be just fine...regardless of what she comes up against..." Marion comforted her king. "I know that...but Bloom doesn't know the Sealed Worlds as I do...it's FAR too dangerous...I'm the ONLY one that can help them...you must know that..." Oritel muttered. "After all...I'm not even from this world..." "...But you always will be to me..." Marion whispered softly as she held him in her arms. "No...I won't lose another daughter to the darkness..." the king muttered before he looked at his queen and love. "Farewell Marion...I will return with Bloom...I promise...as King Of Sparks..." Oritel muttered before he too rode off from the keep. "May The Phoenix Protect You...Both of you..." Marion whispered as she stared out at her king until he was no longer in sight.
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