It was only a short flight from Red Fountain to Alfea, but Sky's friends didn't trust him behind the wheel of their ship.
It was probably the right call he had to concede as they flew over the lake that separated the two schools. He hadn't been in the right frame of mind since he'd gotten the call.
His stomach had dropped when his phone had started ringing and it was Stella's name flashing on his screen, and not Bloom's. And then, when he'd answered, even before she'd said anything, as she'd breathed in and he'd heard her throat catch, he'd known.
He'd known and said, "It's Bloom, isn't it?"
Stella had stifled a sob. "Yeah, it's Bloom. It- it's not good, Sky."
He'd only stayed on the phone long enough to get the most basic details, but it had been long enough to feel like ice was spreading through his veins. He remembered feeling surprised he could move at all when he'd hung with Stella and strode out into the common room of the dorm where the rest of the guys had been hanging out watching tv.
"Get the ship ready," he'd said roughly to Riven, Timmy, and Helia.
Brandon had already been on his feet, reading whatever was on Sky's face.
"What is it?"
"We need to find Saladin."
Brandon had caught his shoulder as he'd tried to move past him. "What is it?" he'd asked again and Sky had finally loosed the deep shuddering breath that had been caught in his chest since Stella's call.
"It's Bloom."
Brandon had just looked at him. Then without looking away:
"Get the ship ready."
The others had immediately scrambled to their feet, something in his voice telling them not to ask any questions. Only once they'd left did he speak again.
"Alright, let's go find Saladin."
Their headmaster was quiet and grave, seated on the other side of the ship, and if this had been any other time Sky might have marvelled at seeing him outside of Red Fountain, a rare occurrence. But all he could think of Bloom, kind, brave, beautiful Bloom who wouldn't be waiting for him when they touched down on Alfea's quad.
As it turned out, only Griselda was waiting for them when the ramp lowered and they all trooped out on the grass, and she led them straight inside and up to Faragonda's office where the others were waiting. Stella stepped immediately into Brandon's waiting arms, while Helia touched Flora's hand. Musa didn't acknowledge Riven as he came to stand behind her but Sky swore he saw her lean into him a bit. Only Timmy didn't physically comfort Tecna, but he could the tension ease in her face slightly as he stood by her side. Lockette was hovering in the air with the rest of the pixies, who looked like they were comforting her. Seeing them all together, all it did was serve to remind Sky even more forcefully of Bloom's absence.
He folded his arms across his chest just for something to do and met Layla's eye across the office. He thought he saw understanding in her eyes as she offered him a nod of greeting.
Faragonda, who had been talking to Saladin, and some of her teaching staff by her desk, wrapped up her conversation and turned to them. But when she opened her mouth she didn't get a single word out before Stella broke in.
"Please, tell me you're not about to tell us we have to sit around and do nothing. We can't wait around for a team from the Guardian Network to show up, and I'm not just going to stay here while my best friend is out there doing god knows what."
"Miss Haleigha," Girselda snapped reproachfully, despite the general murmur of agreement that was going around the room.
But Faragonda held up a hand, gesturing to them all to calm down. "No, Stella," she said. "I'm not going to keep you here. I have been too slow to act and too slow to believe you girls regarding this situation all year, which is what has led to Bloom's capture, and I must take responsibility for that. But more than that, at this point you likely know your way around Shadowhaunt better than any team the Guardian Network could send anyway. I believe in your abilities, I know you can do this."
The 'this' didn't need to be explained to anyone, although it hadn't been said aloud, they all knew that they would be going into Shadowhaunt and getting Bloom back.
"The only question is whether Headmaster Saladin will allow his students to accompany you," Faragonda continued, looking at him. "You would well be within your rights to say no, of course."
Saladin eyed his students, gaze resting on Sky the longest. "I hardly think they would allow themselves to be confined to Red Fountain," he said drily. His gaze roved over them again. "This is what you've trained for, cadets. Don't let me down."
Moving as one, each and every one of them snapped their feet together, chin's lifting, as they said, "We won't, Sir."
Unreadable emotion filled their headmaster's eyes as he said quietly, "Live with courage."
"And die with honour," they answered.
Finally Saladin's gaze returned to Faragonda. "They're all yours, Headmistress."
Faragonda nodded in thanks.
"We're coming too," Lockette's little voice suddenly cried. She glared around at them all as if expecting them to deny her. "Bloom's my bonded fairy and I won't abandon her in that place."
"And we won't abandon Lockette," Chatta added, voice shrill and hands on her hips.
Layla stepped towards them. "That's very brave of you guys," she said gently. "But before you decide I just want you to remember what it was like being held prisoner in that place. You're risking that again by going back."
A shiver of unease passed through the group, but their expressions were resolute.
"We don't care," Amore said firmly.
"You guys need us," Tune added.
Layla sighed. "Alright."
The pixies blinked, as if surprised by how easily she'd relented.
"You're not going to stop us from going?" Lockette asked.
"Not that you could stop us," Chatta quickly added, the others nodding vigorously.
"I'll be scared out of my mind knowing you're in that place," Stella said, gazing at Amore. "But I'll also feel so much better knowing you're by my side."
"If that's all decided, are we ready to leave?" Sky asked, not caring if he sounded impatient.
"Yes, there's no sense in delaying your departure any longer," Faragonda said, ushering them out of the office.
"Miss Faragonda," Flora said anxiously, as they all made their way back down the staircase. "You said some kind of dark spell has overtaken Bloom, what if she resists when we try to save her? You said she went with Professor Ava- that paladin willingly."
"She likely will resist, Flora," Faragonda told her. "But it's imperative we get her away from Lord Darkar and Shadowhaunt, even if you have to confine her in the cells in the ship."
Flora shuddered at the thought.
"Once you get her back to Alfea we can work out how to cure the spell."
"Now, I've modified the ship so it's resistant to the dark energy of Shadowhaunt," Timmy was explaining to the others. "Which means we won't lose power when we land in Shadowhaunt which was the worry last time."
"But it's still better that we fly as close to the heart of Shadowhaunt as possible before landing, right?" Tecna questioned. "Ideally making it to the main cavern?"
Timmy adjusted his glasses. "Well, yes, but there's no way any of the ships would fit through the tunnels, not even the smallest of our crafts."
"But if we could open up the tunnels we could fly right in," Sky said, almost thinking aloud as he pictured it. "And we'd have cover when Darkar and the shadow monsters inevitably attack."
"It would be helpful if we could cut out as much contact with Shadowhaunt and the Under Realms as possible," Layla agreed. "Every minute we spend walking it's tunnels will take a little bit more out of us."
"But we can't use our magic to open up the tunnels," Stella reminded them. "That would sap too much of our power and we need to conserve as much as possible for when we have to fight Darkar."
"Not magic," Sky said, a plan forming in his mind.
Riven narrowed his eyes at him. "What are you planning, Ace?"
Sky glanced between Layla and Stella. "Do you remember the guard worm?"
Stella shuddered. "I've been trying very hard to forget it actually."
"Guard worm?" Brandon asked, and then winced as Sky looked at him.
"Yeah. How do you think Amentia will feel getting paid a call from her ex-fiance."
Brandon groaned. "Oh this is not going to end well for me."
From there the plan came together pretty quickly. It was decided that Sky, Brandon, and Layla would go ahead in one of Red Fountain's smaller but faster crafts to talk to Amentia and ask for her help, while the rest would follow in the bigger, slower ship. They picked Sky, Brandon, and Layla, figuring that Amentia likely wouldn't appreciate strangers coming into Downland, while Stella was left behind given the barbs she and Amentia had traded the last time they'd seen each other.
"We'll analyse the tunnels as we fly in," Timmy said, as they boarded the ship. "Work out which ones can withstand a little renovation. We'll send you the rendezvous point once we've worked it out."
"Good idea. Last thing we need is to cause a collapse," Brandon said, shuddering at the thought.
"Let's get moving," Sky said gruffly, and led Brandon and Layla down into the ship's hangar.
It was a tight fit but they'd managed to fit three additional crafts in.
"Are we taking these?" Layla asked, touching one of two smaller, yellow and red ships.
Brandon glanced over his shoulder at her. "Nah. Not unless you don't mind getting up close and personal with me and Sky." He grinned at her answering scowl. "Those are strictly one person only, maybe two in an absolute pinch."
He and Sky led her deeper into the hangar, squeezing between the crafts and the wall, until the third and final ship came into view. It was bigger than the others, Layla noted with relief, and looked like it could fit at least a small group of people. Sky had already brought the ramp down and was climbing on board. Beneath their feet they could feel the largest ship thrum to life and start to lift into the air and hurried on board after Sky.
"So, are you ready to get your eyebrows plucked again," Layla teased Brandon, remembering the way he'd lamented over what the trogs had forced him to do in preparation for his wedding with Amentia.
Brandon held up a finger. "First of all, they waxed them, not plucked. And second, bold of you to assume I don't pluck my eyebrows anyway. Looking this good isn't easy, you know?"
"Oooh," Layla crooned, throwing her hands up in surrender.
Brandon reached the top of the ramp and looked at Sky who was already sitting in the pilot's chair, a resolute set to his shoulders.
"Besides," he added in an undertone. "I'd go through a lot worse pain than that if it meant getting Bloom back."
Layla followed his gaze and her amusement faded. She touched his shoulder lightly. "You're a good friend, Brandon."
They quickly took their seats, Brandon taking the co-pilot's chair, and set about getting the ship ready for flight. The second it was ready, Sky pushed the intercom button to connect them to the main ship.
"Ready when you are, Timmy."
"Doors coming up now."
The hangar doors started to rise and practically as soon as they were high enough, Sky pressed on the accelerator and they shot forward, just barely avoiding scraping a wing on the door.
"Woah," Brandon murmured to Sky as he righted the ship. "Easy, dude."
Sky dragged in a deep breath and let it out again, but did ease up on the accelerator somewhat as they and the bigger ship behind them both flew off in the direction of the Under Realms.
"I just want to get there."
"I know, but we can't help her if we don't get there in one piece."
Sky nodded jerkily. "I know, I know. It's just- I knew, you know? I knew something was wrong. I should have said something, or tried harder to work it out more. Half of me just thought she was still struggling with everything that went down last year. I just wanted her to be alright."
Layla cleared her throat. "We all ignored the signs, Sky. It's not just on you, it's on all of us. And we all wanted her to be alright."
Sky shook his head, trying to fight down the emotion clawing at his insides. "She was struggling and we did nothing."
Brandon didn't point out that she'd been hiding things from them, he knew it wasn't what Sky needed to hear in that moment. Instead he just touched his shoulder. "We'll find her, Sky. And we'll get rid of this spell and we'll stay around her until she is alright again, however long that takes."
Sky nodded, unable to speak for a moment as that emotion presented as a lump in his throat. Finally he said, "Thanks guys."
Brandon just clapped him on the shoulder once before pulling back and focusing on his co-piloting duties, satisfied now that Sky seemed back in control of both himself and the ship.
The ship's superior speed meant they were quickly pulling out of the range of the larger ship, but just before they got out of reach, Timmy's voice filtered through the intercom. "Good luck, guys. We'll see you as soon as we can." Then the intercom disconnected and they were on their own.
"You need to go further west."
It was the first time any of them had spoken in some time, and Layla's voice startled Sky, who's thoughts had, naturally, drifted to Bloom. He tilted his head towards her and she leaned forward to indicate a spot on the map.
"Downland is further west. We need to land as close to the entrance as possible to minimise how long we spend in contact with the surface of the Under Realms."
Without realising it, Sky had angled the ship to land closer to the maze of tunnel entrances that lead down into Shadowhaunt. Where Bloom was.
Sky's fingers flexed on the steering wheel of the ship.
She would be so close. Bloom would be right there.
"Sky," Brandon said quietly but firmly, and Sky knew, if he had to, his friend would assume control of the ship from the co-pilot's chair and correct their course.
So, clearing his throat a little, he nudged the steering wheel to the west, setting course for the entrance to Downland.
It wasn't long before the brown, barren surface of the Under Realms came into view and Sky wasted no time in lowering the landing gear and nimbly dodged rocky formations to bring them in for a landing. The ship shuddered as it came into contact with the surface, not interacting well with the dark energy of the planet. But whatever modifications Timmy had made to the ship had worked and they didn't lose power until Sky and Brandon chose to power the ship down. If anything went wrong, at least they would have a ride off this planet.
"There's the entrance," Layla said as they came down the ramp, pointing to a large crack in the rock face.
Brandon sighed as they headed straight for it, wasting no time. "Here's hoping Amentia's happy and not looking to reconnect."
But before they could reach it, two shadow-monsters with way too many legs emerged from the darkness, shuddering angrily when the sunlight hit them. It didn't slow them down however as they launched themselves forwards, catching Sky and Brandon unaware as they were bowled over.
Using a move they'd learn in class, both heroes rolled in unison, throwing the monsters off them, and withdrawing their swords in one smooth movement. One monster leapt at Sky again and he spun away driving his blade deep into its side. The other monster was quicker, snapping at Brandon with its large teeth. Moving quickly, Brandon only just got the double ended blade he'd selected wedged between its jaws, stopping it from biting down despite its best attempts.
Brandon cringed back from its open mouth. "Man, you need some breath mints or something."
Layla, who had transformed with a flash of light into her fairy form, swooped in.
"Jump back!" she yelled and Brandon didn't stop to argue, yanking his blade free and jumping clear as Layla swept the monster away with a wave of water.
She landed and ran for the entrance to the tunnels while the two monsters were still incapacitated.
"Come on!" she yelled, and the guys were quick to run after her. "They won't follow us into Downland."
The phantom seemed oblivious to the irritation of her companions as she looked at herself in the mirror and admired the view. Most of her new dress was black, the dark colour only yielding to a deep crimson at the hem. The front of the bodice was encrusted with rare black gems, while the back was completely sheer, exposing her back, except for where the depiction of a dragon had been woven with lace.
"Why does she get-" Stormy started to hiss before breaking off when Darkar held up a taloned hand.
The phantom didn't seem to have heard her, or if she had, she didn't care as she continued to admire the dress. "Yes," she finally said, smoothing her hands over her skirt. "Very nice. The perfect tribute to my host, acknowledging her birth planet."
Bitch, Bloom hissed at her reproachfully, making the phantom laugh.
"She's in there?" Darcy asked curiously, and the phantom finally looked away from her own reflection, glancing over to where the Trix were watching her.
Let me out! Bloom screamed soundlessly at the phantom, once again banging nonexistent hands against the walls of her mind that held her.
The phantom curled Bloom's lips up into a wicked smile and stalked closer, enjoying the way the witches stiffened.
Let me out! Let me out! Let me out!
"Oh, she certainly is. You should hear the way she screams."
Bloom could only hiss her anger this time and the phantom giggled, covering her mouth with a sooty hand.
"Bloom is supposed to be ours," Icy said furiously, turning glittering eyes on Darkar. "It was bad enough that you didn't tell us about this part of the plan, but now you let this thing torment what is supposed to be ours-!"
"Enough," Darkar snapped, and the air grew colder as Icy clenched her fists. Sephiron, the paladin who had posed as Avalon, shifted but didn't intervene. Darkar rose from his throne and held out a hand for the phantom to take, nodding in approval as he scanned her from top to bottom. "Just a small token of appreciation for coming to hear me out, and I must say it suits you, my dear."
Stormy pretended to gag in the background.
Darkar ignored her, settling those burning eyes on the phantom. "Have you given any thought to my proposition?"
Because as the occupants of Shadowhaunt had quickly realised upon the phantom's arrival, they might have created her, but they had no idea how to control her.
The phantom sighed, and pulled away, wandering across the throne room to mount the dais. Shadowhaunt rumbled threateningly as Darkar's taloned hands clenched into fists, but the phantom hardly seemed bothered as she threw herself down into the throne, kicking her legs irreverently over one arm.
"Your proposition," she mused, winding a lock of red hair around one finger. "Go with you to Realix and help you take the Ultimate Power."
Bloom, who had been screaming at the phantom to no avail the entire time, finally fell silent, trembling at the idea that this thing controlling her body would help Darkar to attain the Ultimate Power and bring destruction upon the entire dimension.
"And I should help you, why?" the phantom wanted to know, cocking her head. "I already have the Dragon Fire. The power of the being that created this entire dimension. Why would I need some other dimension's ultimate power when I've got my own?" Her tone was mocking and dismissive, and the phantom smiled as she saw Darkar shudder with rage.
Bloom could empathise, given her own animosity towards the phantom, but she remained silent, for she could see that the longer the phantom argued with and taunted Darkar, the longer Darkar's plans were delayed. And the greater the chances that her friends would come to her rescue.
The Lord of this place paced closer, taking the phantom's hand once more and Bloom wanted to snarl at the touch of his claws on her.
"There is no such thing as too much power, my dear," he crooned to the phantom, those eyes burning very bright. "Just imagine what you could do with not one, but two, ultimate powers."
The phantom tilted her head. "You might have a point," she mused.
"Might?" Icy hissed, magic starting to gather at her palms. "We did all the work getting the pieces of the codex, and now we have to share a piece of the Ultimate Power with her, and she's not even grateful?!"
Icy's voice had risen to a shout by the end of her rant, and without any further coordination, three simultaneous attacks exploded from the Trix, spears of ice, forks of lightning, and plumes of darkness shooting across the room. But the bursts of magic never had any hope of hurting the phantom, slowed first by a boundary of air conjured by Sephiron, before being vaporised by a roaring wall of fire, courtesy of the phantom and Darkar.
Bloom raged as the phantom used her magic.
"Out!" Darkar roared at the witches and they snarled in response. When they didn't leave the throne room fast enough, Darkar's power exploded from him, grabbing them and throwing them from the room.
The phantom shrieked with laughter, waving to the witches as the doors slammed shut, cutting them off from view.
A sigh shuddered through Darkar as he struggled to leash his anger. "Realix, my dear," he prompted the phantom, voice tight. "The Ultimate Power."
The phantom's amusement faded and she hummed thoughtfully. "I'll think about it." She pouted at Darkar, secretly enjoying his clear frustration. "That's alright, isn't it?"
Sephiron winced as Darkar straightened, posture stiff. "Of course, it's alright. Take all the time you need, my dear."
"We're close," Brandon said to the other two as he spotted the hemian crystals that meant Downland was close.
Sky and Layla nodded their understanding but neither spoke. The only sounds in the tunnel were the sound of rock crunching underfoot, and their panting breaths; Sky had set a blistering pace as soon as they'd entered the tunnels and neither Brandon nor Layla had dared asked him to slow down.
"I really hope Amentia and Sponsus are still happily loved up," Brandon muttered to Layla as they progressed through the tunnel and the crystals grew brighter and more clustered together.
"Halt!" a voice suddenly thundered from up ahead and the trio skidded to a stop.
A massive trog came lumbering down the tunnel, swinging a deadly looking club as if it weighed nothing.
"Abrupto!" Brandon called, trying to sound happy to see him. "It's Brandon, remember me?"
Abrupto grunted, the sound neither affirmative or not. "Upworlders," he muttered. He eyed them. "Where's your present for Queen Amentia and Prince Sponsus?"
The trio shifted nervously.
"Present?" Brandon asked.
"All visitors to Downland are required to honour the Queen's marriage with a gift."
Brandon cleared his throat. "I mean, we sort of made her marriage possible, surely that's enough of a gift."
Abrupto's eyes narrowed dangerously and Brandon subtly shifted out of swinging reach of his club.
"No gift, no entry."
Sky stepped towards Abrupto, completely unconcerned by the club that was easily capable of crushing his skull. "I get that you're just doing your job, but we don't have time for this. We have to see the Queen. Now."
"Since when are you such an Amentia fan anyway," Brandon grumbled. "Last I heard you didn't like her because she convinced your girl to marry someone else."
Abrupto rumbled warningly. "She set me up with someone new." His broad face adopted something akin to a dreamy expression. "Someone perfect."
"By the Dragon," Layla muttered under her breath.
"This is a waste of time-" Sky began furiously, and Abrupto's expression cleared, eyes flashing warningly as he hefted his club above his head.
But before the situation could escalate further, the sound of approaching footsteps reached them, and they twisted around to find two shadow monsters emerging from the gloom. Sky and Brandon readied their weapons, but it turned out they weren't particularly needed as Abrupto stepped around them and rendered the shadow monsters to a puddle of slime with two hits of his club.
"Nice job," Sky said grudgingly.
"We deal with trespassers quickly in Downland," he said in return, and they all heard the threat in his words.
"What could we even get as a present for Amentia?" Layla asked exasperatedly, feeling the seconds tick by and knowing each one was another that Bloom was with Darkar.
"I thought I heard a commotion," a quiet voice said from the direction of Downland.
Appearing from around Abrupto's bulk, the much smaller form of Sponsus appeared, expression lighting up when he saw who it was.
"Brandon! And you've brought your friends for a visit. How nice!"
"Hey, Sponsus. I trust married life is treating you well."
Sponsus smiled and dipped his head in a nod.
"We were actually hoping to get an audience with Queen Amentia but we got held up by this one." Brandon nodded in Abrupto's direction.
"No gift," was all Abrupto said in response to Sponsus' questioning look.
If they were hoping Sponsus might step in and bend the rules for them, they were sorely disappointed.
"Oh," Sponsus said, turning his big, dark eyes back on the trio. "You will need a gift to see Amentia." He must have noticed their downtrodden expressions because he added, "But if you need an idea, there's a quetelizardia lair near the underground lake that we found you washed up on last time. Their feathers are said to be perfectly symmetrical, and well, you know how Queen Amentia feels about perfection…"
The trio were motionless for a beat as Sponsus' words sunk in, then Brandon sighed, grabbed a hold of Sky's elbow and led them back the way they'd come.
"Quetelizardia feathers," Sky hissed to him. "Is Sponsus crazy?"
Brandon glanced at him, meeting his eyes. "Hey, this is all for Bloom, right?"
Sky's eyes widened briefly, then his expression settled into one of fierce determination. "Right."
"Quetelizardia…" Layla was musing aloud. "That's a kind of water dragon, isn't it?"
"Uh huh," Brandon confirmed, already cringing. He led them down another tunnel.
"Oh, well, you guys take dragon wrangling classes, this should be easy."
Sky abruptly threw out an arm, catching Brandon and Layla, and stopping them from going any further. They had reached the entrance of the cavern which held the beach of the underground lake, and climbing out of water, oblivious to their presence, was a quetelizardia.
Brandon huffed a breath of surprise, eyes wide as he beheld the dragon. It was large and covered in bright red feathers that it shook itself to dry as it stepped free of the water. It shifted its wings, tucking them close to its body, before lumbering in the direction of a tunnel, which no doubt led to its lair.
"Well," Layla breathed. "You're the two with dragon wrangling experience, good luck." She clapped them both on the shoulder before stepping back, glancing between them expectantly.
Sky and Brandon just stared at her.
Finally, she cracked with a laugh, transforming with a flash of bright light. She tapped her Charmix pendant, comforted by the rush of power she could feel thrumming through it, and nodded to the guys.
"Just kidding. Let's do this."
The trio decided quickly to go with speed over finesse, the guys sprinting, and Layla flying after the dragon to catch it before it reached its lair. As the quicker of the two heroes, Sky darted in to yank three feathers from it's back while Brandon forced it's head back with his sword.
It let out a roar of indignation as it felt its feathers pull free, and puffed up, clearly preparing to unleash fire at them. Luckily, they had the Androsian princess with them and she quickly doused it with a wave of water, cutting off its fire before it could ignite.
"Let's get out of here," Sky yelled, carefully tucking the feathers away.
They pelted back across the cavern towards the tunnel that would lead them back to Downland. They could hear the roars of outrage from the quetelizardia as it lumbered after them, but fortunately it wasn't nimble enough to follow them through the tunnels and they quickly left it behind.
As they slowed to a walk, Sky double checked the pocket that he'd stashed the feathers in. They were a little ruffled from the careless way he'd shoved them in, but hopefully Amentia wouldn't mind too much.
"Back to Downland?" Brandon asked.
"Back to Downland," Sky confirmed, steely determination settling on his face. "We'll talk to Amentia and get her to help us save Bloom."
And he looked so determined that the other two didn't dare ask what he would do if she refused.
The passengers of the larger Red Fountain craft were feeling well and truly impatient by the time the planet of the Under Realms came into view. They'd gotten remote confirmation hours ago that Layla, Sky, and Brandon had arrived, and every minute longer that it took for them to arrive felt like torture.
Finally, finally, they approached the barren surface, and the entire group crowded around the windows of the ship, scanning their surroundings for the smaller craft.
"There!" Stella suddenly yelled, stabbing the window with her finger, and Riven jumped in his seat, fighting not to yank the wheel off course.
He directed them closer but didn't allow the ship to land.
"The craft's in pretty bad shape," Helia said worriedly, half rising from his seat to get a better look.
"Looks like some shadow monsters went at it," Timmy agreed, eyeing the deep scratches in the sides, already mentally going over what he'd need to do to fix it.
"I hope Brandon, Sky, and Layla got away okay," Stella said quietly.
"I'm sure they're fine," Musa said roughly, crossing her arms across her chest and leaning back in her seat. It was clear to anyone who knew her that she was worried deep down, but even though Riven glanced over at her, he didn't offer anything of comfort.
"Of course they are," Helia said reasonably. "They're probably still just talking to Queen Amentia. All that's left for us to do is wait."
"Great," Riven grumbled, flicking the ship into auto-pilot mode and slouching down in the pilot's chair. "There's nothing I love more."
But as it turned out, the wait for Layla, Sky, and Brandon to return wasn't going to be as boring as any of them were expecting.
A sudden shudder travelled through the ship, almost tipping its passengers out of their seats. Riven sat bolt upright, while Timmy scanned the monitors in front of him.
"Timmy," Riven grunted out, wrestling with the wheel as another tremor worked its way through the ship and they started to tilt. "What's happening?"
"Some kind of electrical attack. Tec?"
"Right here," Tec said. She unbuckled herself from her seat and stumbled over to Timmy, sliding into the seat beside him. Within moments their hands were flying across the screens, doing everything they could to keep the ship in the air.
"I'm going to have to go in for an emergency landing, we can't risk falling from this altitude," Riven called to the others, trying to keep the ship steady. "This might get bumpy, everyone stay in your seats."
"Forget that," Stella argued, unbuckling herself as well so she could lean forward and see out the window. "I think we all know who's responsible for this." Her eyes scanned the sky outside.
Musa sighed. "The Trix?"
Stella's eyes narrowed as she spotted three familiar figures hovering in the distance, one who had her hands out, electricity pouring from her.
"Yup," she confirmed.
Musa raised her eyes heavenward. "Of course it fucking is," she said and reached for her own belt buckle.
"Amentia is going to be so excited to see you," Sponsus chattered as he led Sky, Brandon, and Layla through the palace.
"I wouldn't bet on it," Brandon muttered, trying not to shudder as he remembered what his last visit had been like.
Either Sponsus didn't hear, or chose to ignore him, as they entered the throne room. "My love," he called up to Amentia who was lounging in her throne atop the tall platform. "Look who has requested an audience."
For a moment Amentia just squinted down at them, as if she didn't recognise or remember the upworlder she'd tried to force into marriage or his friends who had broken the wedding up. "Brandon," she said finally, rising from her throne and descending the steps gracefully. "I would never forget such a symmetrical face."
"Queen Amentia," Brandon responded flatly, before grimacing and offering up a shallow bow.
Sky and Layla inclined their heads. Amentia glanced at them.
"And I suppose you two are fine to look at as well," she said scanning them. "Almost lovely," she said to Layla, before shifting to Sky. "And your face is pleasant if not as harmonious as Brandon's. Your hair though…" she broke off and shook her head. "Much too similar to that girl's."
They all knew she had to be referring to Stella but none of them commented on it, even as Brandon's hands tightened momentarily to fists before loosening again.
"Upworlders," Amentia remarked to no one in particular. "So odd looking." A few members of her court tittered. "Hardly a fit for my perfect realm. Well, what brings you here?" she finally asked, looking almost distrustful as her eyes flicked between each of them. Finally, her gaze rested on Brandon. "I know heartbreak's painful, Brandon, but you need to move on."
Brandon gritted his teeth. "As true as that is, and as hard as you have been to get over," he began, sounding as though each word were like pulling teeth. "That's actually not the reason we're here."
Sensing his friend's waning patience, Sky quickly stepped, falling into the practised role of diplomacy. "It's not, Queen Amentia, but before we get to that, we'd like to thank you for granting us an audience. A token of our gratitude."
He produced the quetelizardia feathers, breathing a quiet sigh of relief when he saw that they were relatively uncrumpled, and offered them to her. Despite her hard expression, Sky saw the gleam of pleasure that entered her large, dark eyes as she beheld the feathers. Reaching out with one of those strange three-fingered hands, she plucked one of the feathers from his grasp and sighed quietly as she carefully inspected it.
"Quetelizardia," she said. "So perfectly symmetrical. You chose well."
Sky resisted the urge to shoot Sponsus a look of thanks as Amentia waved forward an attendant to take the other two feathers.
"Now, what brings you back to Downland?"
"We need your help, Your Majesty," Sky explained. "As you might be aware, Lord Darkar is very close to seizing the Ultimate Power of Realix. If he's successful he'll take over the entire Magical Dimension, starting with Downland. He also- he's also taken-" Sky broke off and cleared his throat, trying to get the image of Bloom in Darkar's clutches out of his head.
Layla glanced at him before quickly taking over. "He's also taken one of our friends hostage. We'll do whatever it takes to get her back, but for that we need your help."
Amentia considered. "This has something to do with that pixie and those witches who trespassed into my realm several weeks ago."
"Yes."
She wrinkled her nose. "They were incredibly disrespectful, and they snapped my sceptre."
"The witches are awful," Layla agreed.
"I've been thinking of fighting Darkar ever since. Even longer if I'm being truthful; if I could rid Shadowhaunt of those creatures, perhaps Downland could expand," she continued thoughtfully.
"Then we should join forces," Brandon said quickly. "We'll be stronger together facing a common enemy."
Amentia's expression sharpened and she gave a harsh cackle of laughter. "The might of Downland hardly needs to join forces with a bunch of Upworlders, especially if one of their number was weak enough to be captured."
Sky's shoulders went taut with tension and Brandon laid a hand on his forearm, gripping tightly. But growing up on Eraklyon had done wonders for his self-control and he managed to not explode at Amentia for her callous words.
"… and the others are a bunch of pretty boys with symmetrical faces," Amentia was ranting, somewhat unaware of the effects of her words. "So, no, I will not fight with you. At least not until you prove yourselves worthy."
"Meaning…?" Layla asked.
"Meaning you each must defeat a Downworlder, one on one. Abrupto," she called to the gaurd who had accompanied them to the palace. "You'll fight the girl." She gestured to Layla, who bristled. "Gargantua," she called, gesturing for another massive trog guard to come closer. "You'll fight the one with the ugly hair."
There was a moment of silence, then, "She must mean you," Brandon muttered to Sky.
"Shut up," Sky shot back, sizing up his opponent. If he had thought Abrupto was large, stacked with muscle as he was, then Gargantua lived up to his name, double his fellow guard in both height and width. Sky swallowed roughly and touched the sword hilt at his belt.
"And me?" Brandon asked, almost fearful of the answer.
Amentia bared her teeth at him in a dangerous smile as she held out her hand, a member of her court depositing her repaired sceptre into it. "You'll have to beat me, Brandon."
"What are you doing?" Riven asked, risking a glance over his shoulder as the girls unbuckled their belts and pushed themselves from their seats. "What part of 'emergency landing' don't you understand?"
"What part of the Trix being out there and attacking us don't you understand?" Musa said roughly, but the gentle hand she brushed across his shoulder belied her tone. "We need to get out, distract them and give you guys a chance to land safely."
Already they could see Icy contributing her magic to the situation, cooling the air around them as snow started to fall and gather on the ground below, all the while Stormy's electrical attacks continued. Soon Darcy would join in and that might be it for the ship; a situation they couldn't allow to happen if they wanted to get home again.
Riven clenched his jaw and jabbed a button, bringing down the ramp so the fairies could get out there.
"Be careful," he said, voice tight and Musa allowed herself a small smile before she followed her friends.
Only Tecna hadn't left her seat, hands still racing over the buttons of the control panel in front of her. She couldn't even look away from the monitor she was looking at as she did her best to keep the ship in the air. "Do you want me to-"
"Stay here," Flora said kindly, cutting her off. "We've got this, right girls?"
She glanced to Stella and Musa who nodded determinedly. Still, despite their assurances it was hard not to notice the absences of their group as they transformed and flew out into the cold air. There was a feeling of vulnerability as the trio faced the Trix, for once their number matching.
Immediately the witches attention shifted from the ship to the fairies, Stormy's lightning attacks finally easing. Riven wasted no time in bringing the ramp back up and going in for the landing, the craft slipping and sliding a bit on Icy's snow but still managing to come to a safe stop.
The blonde witch snarled as she realised their mistake in allowing themselves to be distracted.
"Aren't you clever," she growled. "But are you clever enough to stop this?"
Looking furious, Icy thrust out her hands in the direction of the ship, magic exploding from her. Ice burst from the ground all around the ship, growing at such a rapid pace that it was almost instantly massive, somehow managing to tower over the large ship. But they could see her frustration and anger in the attack, for the ice was uneven and unsteady, the structure almost immediately threatening to crack and crash down on the ship.
Flora let out a squeak of worry for her friends inside and raised her own hands. The surface of the planet was so barren that it took more magic than normal, but with her Charmix's extra power, she was able to coax vines from the rocky surface, growing and rising through the air to wrap around the ice and keep it from breaking.
Icy let out a scream of rage and the fairies swore that the temperature dropped another few degrees.
"You brats are going to pay for this!"
The air got so cold that snow began to fall again, blanketing the ship and the rocky surface of the planet, and the girls, who were usually kept warm while in their fairy forms by their magic, started to shiver. When the gazes of the three witches shifted back to the girls, there was nothing but hate in their eyes, and Flora, Musa, and Stella each braced for whatever was coming next.
If Amentia's court were surprised that their queen was challenging three Upworlders to a fight, they didn't show it as the various guards and ladies-in-waiting silently cleared space. And not a moment too soon, for Amentia was already swinging her sceptre threateningly.
"Are you ready, Brandon?"
Brandon set his jaw and pulled the sword hilt from his belt, flicking out the blade. He rolled his shoulders and something settled in him, his attention zeroing in on the fight with Amentia; everything else, what was happening with Bloom, wherever Stella was, his other friends, it all melted away.
He tightened his grip on his sword. "Bring it on."
Amentia needed no more encouragement and sprung forward jabbing at him with the pointed tips of her sceptre.
"Take that," she snarled even as Brandon successfully dodged her strikes.
But still, she was quick and on her next swipe Brandon was forced backwards, stumbling out of range. He couldn't quite keep his footing and he went down hard and Amentia saw her chance, leaping towards him and striking down with her sceptre. Moving in the nick of time, Brandon rolled out of the way just as Amentia buried her sceptre in the stone floor.
Taking their cues from their queen, Abrupto and Gargantua lumbered forward towards their respective opponents
Gargantua was, predictably, not very quick due to his vast size, but from the measure of his biceps Sky knew the trog would just have to get lucky with one swing and the fight would be over. So as Gargantua lunged towards him, swinging a massive club downwards, Sky spun out of the way, and moving faster, brought his own sword down. The fortituceum blade was far more robust than the simple wood of the club and sliced it neatly in half, leading Gargantua to let out a roar of rage.
Nearby, Layla was making quick work of her own fight, blasting Abrupto with wave after wave of water, knocking the weapon from his hand. She didn't let up with her attacks until the trog threw up his hands and grumbled out a surrender.
Layla eased off her magic and walked over to Sponsus.
"Don't you think this is a bit ridiculous?" she asked him. "Can't you get her to stop all this?"
"Oh, no, I don't get much of a say in what Amentia does, she's the queen," Sponsus said happily.
"Damn," Layla murmured quietly to herself. "Talk about girl power."
"But I do make a good cup of tea," Sponsus continued, oblivious. "Would you like one?"
"Sure." Layla figured if she was stuck watching Sky and Brandon battling it out, she might as well help herself to a refreshment.
Gargantua was still trying to come after Sky with the remainder of his club, but Sky used his speed to his advantage, ducking and weaving around the trog, forcing him to follow until he was disoriented. Then Sky kicked the club from his hand and levelled his own sword over Gargantua's heart, leading to his surrender.
Soon, it was only Amentia and Brandon who were still fighting, finding each other an even match. They both had gritted their teeth, adopting similar looks of concentration and frustration as neither could best the other.
"You're not much of a fighter, you know?" Amentia said, her words belied by her heavy breathing. "I'm glad I didn't marry you.
Brandon's shoulders squared and his eyes glinted as if he'd identified a weakness.
"What about Sponsus?" he taunted, as he and Amentia circled one another. "I can't imagine he's any tougher."
Amentia's sallow skin went bright red and she lunged clumsily at Brandon. "How dare you?!" she hissed, swinging wildly at Brandon, but he simply spun out of the way.
"Wow," Layla remarked to no one in particular. "This is a good cup of tea."
Sponsus smiled serenely. "We all have our strengths."
"My Sponsus might not be good with a sword," Amentia was raging, her anger making her fighting sloppier and sloppier. "But you should see him in the kitchen!"
"Wow, sounds like the perfect man," Brandon said calmly, sidestepping Amentia.
"Well, he is mine!"
Amentia was so worked up over defending Sponsus that she didn't see Brandon's attack coming until his leg had swept hers out from under her, sending her to the ground, where her back slammed against the stone floor, driving the breath from her lungs. Despite this, she made to get back up, but Brandon was quicker and had his sword under her chin, making it impossible for her to move, lest she cut herself.
Sighing, she dropped back onto the ground and lifted her hands in surrender. It was only then that Brandon dismissed the blade of his sword and tucked the hilt away before leaning down and extending a hand to Amentia. She didn't look like she wanted to take it but eventually she did, allowing him to pull her to her feet.
She sighed again and handed her sceptre to a member of her court, while Sponsus rushed over to fuss over her. After a minute she gently brushed him aside so she could talk to Brandon face to face.
"You won," she said simply. "I have to admit, I'm impressed. You were a formidable opponent." Her eyes shifted to Sky and Layla. "All of you. You are worthy warriors and we will fight with you. So, what's the plan?"
"I think we should put a shield around the ship and get back inside," Musa said, as they faced off against the Trix.
"You're right," Stella agreed. "We need to conserve our energy for when we get into Shadowhaunt."
The three fairies darted down so they were hovering just above the ship, Stella and Musa looking worriedly at the ice that was still looming over them, but Flora assured them that the vines were secure. They quickly joined hands and before the witches could work out what they were up to, formed a protective barrier around, sealing them off.
"No!" Icy screamed again, and despite the barrier they felt the temperature drop another few degrees.
Musa cast them a quick worried glance. "Come on, let's get inside and make sure the others are okay."
They flew in through the open ramp and it quickly shut behind them, but that did little to protect them from the cold, which was starting to permeate through the ship. The girls de-transformed as they walked into the main section and immediately started to shiver.
"This outfit is so cute, but I wish it had more of a sleeve," Stella complained, rubbing her bare arms. "Can we get the heat on in here?"
"The temperature has dropped twenty degrees in just a few minutes, Stella," Tecna explained patiently. "We're doing all we can to keep the ship from powering down. Not to mention the damage Stormy's lightning shocks did."
"We have to focus on getting the ship up and running, and then we'll worry about the heat," Timmy agreed.
Sensing they were being dismissed the others settled into wait. Flora and Helia said hand in hand, looking out the window as the witches tried to penetrate the protective shield. Flora winced every time one of their attacks landed, but each time Helia would squeeze her hand comfortingly.
Stella was being entertained by the pixies who were trying to distract her from both the cold and Brandon's absence, while Musa had gone over to Riven and perched herself on the edge of Riven's chair.
"Are you thinking about the others?" she asked, looking down at his brooding expression.
He grunted unintelligibly and Musa bit back a smile, before hesitantly resting her arm along the back of his chair.
"They'll be alright, you know? We might not be with how cold it is in here," she added when he didn't answer. "I think my pigtails are freezing over."
This time Riven reacted, glancing up at her, a small smile appearing on his face as he reached up to brush his fingers through the silky black strands of her hair.
"That would be tragic, we can't have that," he murmured, making her smile, before leaning forward so he could see around her. "Timmy," he barked. "Any progress yet?"
"The ship's almost there, I think we should regain power once we can get rid of all this ice and snow."
"And how are we going to do that?" Chatta asked, her teeth starting to chatter.
"Well, we're going to try and use the thrusters to melt the ice, we just have to do some calculation to make sure we don't-"
"Oh forget that!" Stella snapped. "No more stupid calculations, I'm going out there and using my Charmix to get us out of here."
"No, Stella," Tecna tried to argue, even as Riven leant forward to drop the ramp for her. "We have a plan."
"You can plan all you want, but I come from a hot climate and am in a tube-top dress right now, and it is ridiculously cold."
"She makes a fair point," Musa admitted as they all watched her stalk down the ramp, until all they could see was the flash of her transformation.
Outside, Stella eyed the protective barrier still around them, noting that it was starting to thin under the Trix's constant attacks. Knowing they didn't have much time, and ignoring the obscenities the Trix were screaming at her, Stella got right to work.
She touched the Charmix pendant in her hair with one hand and held the other one out, letting a burst of sunlight flare from her. It instantly started to melt the snow and ice that had formed on and around the ship and Stella smiled in satisfaction as she heard the ship thrum to life.
It even started to melt the massive structure of ice that Icy had created with her rage, but it also created a problem. In order to melt the ice, the sunlight Stella had conjured had been fairly intense, too intense for the vines that Flora had grown, and they quickly caught fire.
"Damn," Stella muttered.
Her mind scrambled, trying to remember the spell for water and wishing Layla were there to help, but before she could bring the incantation to mind she could already tell she wouldn't be able to act in time. The vines, coaxed from the rocky, barren ground, were too dry and were burning too fast. The ice structure groaned ominously and started to tip.
"Damn, damn, damn," she chanted, zipping back into the ship. "I hope the engine's working now," she yelled as she landed on the ramp and ran the rest of the way.
Tecna and Timmy's hands were flying across the controls while Riven pressed buttons and pulled levers behind the wheel.
"Everyone prepare for emergency take-off!" Timmy called, and everyone rushed to strap themselves in.
Flora strained against her seatbelt and made a noise of dismay at the sight of the vines burning up. "Stella, did you have to?"
"It was an accident, okay? Besides, did you want to be stuck here for the rest of our lives?"
"How's it looking out there?" Riven asked as he made the final preparations for take-off.
"Not good," Helia responded, looking out the window. "That ice is going to come down any second, and the Trix are still hanging around out there. They're going to attack the second we go beyond the protective shield."
Riven grimaced. "Helia, get up to the weapons pod."
He raised an eyebrow. "You want me to shoot them?"
"I want you to shoot in their direction at least."
Helia considered then shrugged. "I can do that."
"Get up there and strap yourself in, because we're going to have to move fast once this thing's finally ready. Timmy! Update!"
"One more minute."
Helia did as he was told, while Timmy and Tecna finalised the preparations for take-off.
"Riven," Musa said warningly.
"Timmy."
"Ready! Go!"
Riven needed no more encouragement as he shoved the accelerator lever down and the ship shot forward. They moved so fast, unusually fast for the large ship, so much so that they were all pressed back in their seats as they flew out and up. And just in time too because just as they pulled free of the ice, it came crashing down with a loud crash. A faint cheer went up around the cockpit.
"Alright, alright, we're not out of trouble, yet," Riven murmured. The ship broached the shield and a second later they heard one of the guns from the pod starting up, firing in the direction of the Trix.
A few half-hearted attacks came their way, a lightning strike, a hint of darkness, a few ice shards, but the gun spooked them and they quickly fell back.
"Alright, now you can cheer."
Obediently, another cheer went around the cabin and Timmy leaned back in his seat with a sigh of relief. Turning his head, he met Tecna's eye and offered her a tired smile which she returned with one of her own.
"Nice work," he said, reaching out and taking a hold of her hand, squeezing gently.
"Back at you."
They separated and sat back upright when Riven called Timmy's name.
"Timmy, I'm going to head closer to Shadowhaunt, I need you to start calculating which tunnels we're going to send the guard worm through."
"Tecna and I are on it!"
While the pair did their analysis, the others were recruited to keep an eye on the radars to make sure they weren't being pursued by the Trix. But inexplicably the witches had fallen back without much of a fight.
Riven eased off the accelerator as they flew, allowing the spaceship to cruise at a speed that better suited its large size.
"Alright," Tecna said after a couple of minutes of silence. "I think we've got it. There's a few tunnels that already lead directly down into the main cavern; the rock around them is very structurally sound so the guard worm should be able to take out the internal walls and make one large tunnel big enough for the ship."
"Sounds good. Send those coordinates to Sky, Brandon, and Layla. Hopefully things went alright with Amentia."
Helia's voice filtered through the ship's intercom. "I think they had a bit of luck."
From the weapon's pod, the highest part of the ship, Helia had clearly spotted something the rest of them hadn't yet. They craned their necks to peer out the windows.
"Something big is coming," Timmy confirmed, eyes scanning the monitors.
A second later they saw it. The guard worm was massive, answering any questions any of them might have had about how it was going to create a tunnel large enough for the space ship. It was also not particularly pleasant to look at.
"Yuck!" Chatta screeched, making those closest to her wince.
"Look at all those teeth," Amore agreed with a delicate shudder.
"I don't see Brandon," Stella said worriedly, already reaching for the buckle of her seat belt.
Riven swiftly brought the ship down for landing and dropped the ramp and they spilled out onto the barren landscape, each of them wincing as they felt the effect of contact with the surface of the Under Realms hit them for the first time. Walking alongside the guard worm were two massive trogs who were controlling it by sharp bursts from whistles around their necks. Looking small in comparison, Sky and Layla walked on either side of them, but there was no Brandon in sight.
"Where's Brandon?" Stella asked, stomping over to them without so much as a greeting. "He'd better not be the new king of Downland."
"No, Stella," Layla said patiently when Sky ignored her and strode over right to Timmy. "He's just bringing the other ship around."
"We saw the shape it was in," Riven said, as Timmy moved to meet Sky. "You catch some action?"
"Just a couple shadow monsters," Sky said, his voice moderate and mind clearly somewhere else. "It'll need some exterior repairs but it's still running." He only had eyes for Timmy. "Did you work out which tunnels we need?"
"Got it."
Sky clapped him on the shoulder, half in thanks, half to nudge him in the direction of the trogs. "Talk them through it, they're going to guide the guard worm." He looked around at the others. "Everyone else back on the ship. I want to be ready to move as soon as that worm gets going."
His face was resolute, jaw set, and no one argued with him, not even Stella who was still scanning the skies hopefully for Brandon. Nothing else was going to stand between him and getting to Bloom.
Griselda tapped gently on the ajar door to Faragonda's office, and peeked around into its shadowed depths when she didn't get an answer. Faragonda was sitting hunched behind her desk, fingertips to her temples, looking worried and lost in her own thoughts.
Finally she blinked and glanced up. "Griselda, my apologies, please come in."
Griselda walked slowly across the room, hovering for a moment, before dropping into one of the chairs across from the desk.
"I was just…" For once, Griselda seemed unsure of herself. "I was just hoping you might have heard something. From the students or perhaps the Guardian Network."
Despite allowing her students to go to Shadowhaunt unaccompanied, Faragonda had alerted the Guardian Network of the situation anyway. She'd had little choice. If her students were unsuccessful and Darkar was able to obtain the Ultimate Power the Guardian Network had to be prepared for what was to come.
"They've arrived at the Under Realms but beyond that…" Faragonda seemed equally lost within herself. "The Guardian Network is assembling a team."
"How long will that take?"
"The Network is conservative by nature, they won't send the team until they are completely prepared."
"By which point it might be too late."
"I'm afraid there are few other options."
Faragonda rubbed a hand over her face, looking so uncharacteristically unlike herself that Griselda sat forward in her seat.
"Please, Headmistress, you can't blame yourself."
Faragonda laughed without humour. "Can't I? I thought Avalon was helping Bloom, I brought him here, and when she didn't seem better I gave her space, thinking that was what she needed to heal. But all I was doing was serving her up on a silver platter for Lord Darkar. And now I might have just sent ten more students and six pixies to a similar fate."
"They never would have stayed," Griselda said desperately, trying to reassure herself as much as Faragonda. "They never would have left Bloom to his clutches. You did what you could as their headmistress."
"Their headmistress…" Faragonda mused, face going blank. She was silent for a long moment before she abruptly stood, straightening her jacket and smoothing her hands over her pencil skirt. "I believe I must be more than just their headmistress today."
Griselda leapt to her feet. "You're going after them?"
"I am. I will need you to lead the staff and the school while I am away."
"Of- of course," Griselda babbled, following Faragonda as she crossed the room towards the door. "But are you sure, Headmistress? You've been out of the Guardian game for a long time."
Faragonda stopped and placed a hand on Griselda's shoulder. "It is not a matter of being sure, whether I am sure or not this is something I must do." She gave her a reassuring smile even as her mind was in turmoil remembering the last time she returned to Guardian status seventeen years ago. She licked her lips and forced herself to continue. "If- if I do not return, you must protect the school as much as you can."
Determination flooded Griselda's face as she straightened her shoulders. "I will, Headmistress. It has been an honour to serve as your deputy."
"And it has been my honour to have you. I hope we see each other again, my dear."
She squeezed Griselda's shoulder one final time and let go, sweeping towards the door and leaving her deputy in her wake. As she reached the doorway, a particularly dark shadow twitched and Griffin appeared from it, falling into step with her. If Faragonda was at all surprised by her presence she didn't show it and they walked down the hallway together.
"I'm going with you," Griffin rumbled in an undertone.
Faragonda glanced up at her, some of that turmoil easing. "I wouldn't have it any other way."
The phantom lounged in the throne of Shadowhaunt, mulling over Darkar's proposition under the watchful eye of Sephiron. Darkar, tiring of the waiting game, had swept away with a rumble of anger some time ago, grumbling something about finding those insolent witches and reminding them of their place.
Still locked inside her, Bloom struck at her dark, nebulous surroundings, not quite giving up even as she tired and her fight waned. She wrestled with her confines, trying to take back control of her body, and the phantom gave a hiss of irritation.
"Stop that."
Not until you give me my body back.
"Little brat."
Evil bitch.
"You-"
"She fights?"
The phantom gave another hiss and rubbed at her temples. Bloom wondered if she was suffering from headaches the same way Bloom had in the months the phantom had tormented her. The thought brought her bitter delight and she kicked out with renewed vigour.
"She fights, and she fights, and she fights," the phantom grumbled.
"I can't say I'm surprised," Sephiron said.
The phantom rolled those golden eyes. "So, how did you find yourself here as Darkar's lackey?"
The paladin bristled but didn't rise to the bait. "For all their talk of power from balance, the truth is the Order of Paladins are scared of real power. I was not. So I came here to seek it."
The phantom snorted. "Is that how you got those?" she asked, jutting her chin at the red marks on his face.
Sephiron ran his fingers over the scars. "Yes. They did this to me for betraying my Order."
Bloom had gone still and quiet within herself, curious despite herself, about this paladin she had spent so much time with this year.
"Was it worth it?"
The paladin shifted on his feet and rustled his wings. "Yes. I… occasionally missed the brotherhood of the Order at first, but I couldn't stay with them. The constant push and pull of positive and negative energy, dark and light, their relentless quest for balance, it was tearing me apart, denying my true nature and trying to be what they expected me to be."
"So you gave into the darkness."
"Yes, and in doing so I found my true place. And soon I will have the power to reflect that."
Idiot, Bloom hissed. The phantom ignored her. He is an idiot if he thinks Darkar will ever share a shred of the Ultimate Power with him.
"Shut up!" the phantom snapped and Bloom gave a scream of frustration.
Sephiron, who had not reacted to the phantom's outburst, watched her closely.
"Perhaps that is the solution then," she murmured to herself. She looked back up at the paladin. "Go, get your master. I have an answer for him."
Bloom went still and quiet as Sephiron hurried from the throne room.
Don't. The words were quiet, a silent whisper. Don't.
"You gave me no choice."
You cannot do this.
Darkar burst back into the room, Sephiron following in his wake, and the phantom rose from the throne, descending the dais to meet the Lord of this place on equal footing once more.
"You have an answer for me, my dear?"
The phantom nodded.
Don't.
"I'll help you. I'll come with you to Realix and I'll use the positive energy still inside of me to help you get the Ultimate Power. But after that you have to do something for me."
Don't do this.
The bottomless depths of Darkar's eyes seemed to suddenly be burning with anticipation. "I'm sure we can arrange that. You have made a wise decision, my dear."
Please don't do this.
The phantom cocked her head and put a hand on her hip. "You don't even know what I'm going to ask for."
Darkar seemed amused. "Well, what is it that you want?"
Please.
"Bloom. She lingers inside of me, I can hear her, and she continues to fight for control. She will not stop fighting, I know her well enough to know this. So I want her gone. Cast her out, destroy her, I don't care, but I will not allow her to tear me apart."
You can't do this.
Darkar's mouth curved into a terrifying smile and he held out his hand for the phantom to place her own in, before bringing it to his mouth to press a kiss to. Still smiling against her skin, he murmured, "You have a deal."
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year friends (yes I am aware it is now February - where the hell did January go?)
I hope the end of your 2023 was lovely and the start of your 2024 was even lovelier. Working in retail, mine was, of course busy af, but still nice but I'm happy that things are slowing down now that we're into the new year.
Not much to say with this one, it didn't stray too too far from canon, I don't think. Really easing into the finale now, a few feels, a few small battles, the tension is ratcheting up, and Dark!Bloom as always continues to do Dark!Bloom things.
I hope you liked it, I struggled with this chapter a little bit, more just lacking a bit of motivation I think, but really came around to it by the end, so I really hope you guys liked it bc I know you had to wait a little bit for it. Love you guys xxx