Solaria was as beautiful as ever despite the occasional rainstorms caused by Valtor's tempering with its Sun. But nothing could take away what Stella felt when she saw it. Home. It had always been home.

Queen Luna stood waiting for her in front of her residency which was one giant mansion on the opposite side of the planet to the palace. Rumours had it that her mother didn't want to cross her father's path unless it was absolutely necessary . Stella could understand it, thinking how she would give a lot not to share the suite with the girls anymore.

"Moonshine," her mother whispered in her hair as she embraced her. And didn't let go for minutes while Stella melted in her arms. Tears just came spilling over, smudging both of their dresses. "I am so glad to see you, Mom," the sun fairy whimpered. Her mother's hand rested on the back of her head in comfort. "I know baby, I missed you too."

Kiko jumped away from Stella's suitcase and caught Luna's attention. She looked at the rabbit curiously and confused at the same time as she bent down to pet it. Stella smiled as she watched them: "That's Kiko, Bloom's rabbit." She said her friend's name with difficulty and Luna noticed it right away.

"Come in, I will make us coco and you can tell me what's on your mind."

Stella's heart warmed a little because they used to spend so much time that way with little Stella telling you all the latest happenings at the Court and in school. It made her feel a little less alone back when she had no friends.

The coco was just as excellent now as it was back then, and she wished she could just freeze the moment for a little while. "I suppose you heard about my chaotic year, huh?" Her mother nodded as she sat opposite to her on the lavish sofa. It was sort of weird to see her mother out of her regal attire, all the jewellery and the dresses. Now she wore a simple blue nightgown and her hair was tied back in a braid.

"Some of it yes. But, I take it there is a lot more that the school staff left out. After all, they don't seem to be great fans of your friend Bloom."

Stella sighed, debating if she should tell her mother everything. Well, everything except the deal she made with Valtor. Her mother's encouraging smile gave her an answer, she had to tell someone otherwise she would go crazy.

"...and so if we talk, it is just constant fighting and Griselda and the professors are so absorbed with Faragonda's death and their hatred for Bloom that all they want is vengeance. And dad wouldn't understand, because well, he and Faragonda were friends..." she talked on before her voice drifted away. Luna just listened, occasionally hugging her daughter or holding her hands.

"Did you know that your father was there, after Domino's downfall?" Luna said, and Stella didn't understand where she was going with this. So she shook her head. "He was the one to find the older princess after the witches got to her," she continued and Stella saw the horror that played out in her eyes. "Faragonda was in shock, I think. But she kept rambling about the power of the dragon being lost. And that is when I knew that she- wasn't as good as everyone presented her as."

"You were there too?" Stella asked instead, her eyes softening. "Not at first, no. I was with you at the palace as Radius and I were still together, " she said the word as if it disgusted her. "-but someone called for me to help the injured if possible. So I left you with the sitters and I went there.

That was when I saw it. Daphne was just lying there, completely lifeless," Luna shuddered at the memory. "And I knew I would always do whatever it took to protect you. That is when I decided that the sceptre would be yours as soon as you were old enough. So you could always come home if you had to," she said and kissed the top of Stella's head.

The sun fairy didn't know what to make of the situation, but her mother's trust was more valuable than anything else.

"Mom?"

Luna's eyes locked with Stella's. "What is it, baby?"

"Would you teach me some moon powers?"

Bloom walked from her bed to the doors and back for the fifth time, all without crutches and felt sort of proud of herself. She sat on the bed and exhaled, only then hearing the faint clapping sound . Noel stood leaning against the doorway. "Good job fire princess," she said with a grin.

"You are becoming much stronger."

Bloom smiled a little, knowing that there was a lot more progress that had to be made, especially with her mind. She got through a lot more bricks, but it still wasn't enough for her to hold her ground. But while sorting through the memories, a single idea kept coming back to her.

Her earthly parents.

She felt like she had completely abandoned them while becoming so obsessed with Marion and Oritel.

And technically she was on Earth right now.

"It's out of the question," Sibylla said when she presented the idea, shutting it down. "We can't have you running around Earth by yourself with who knows how many people looking for you."

But Bloom had an answer ready: "I won't be alone, Noel will come as my guard."

The third fairy's eyebrows shot up: "Noel will what?" she said shocked, but Bloom could tell she was at least considering the idea.

Sibylla wasn't having it still: "So they can connect the earth fairies to you once they catch you? It's a terrible plan."

"Maybe it could work," Noel added which earned her a deathly glare from her wife. "Please tell me you will not indulge in this horrible idea."

"We won't be there for long, just enough for her to talk to her guardians. And she will have me for protection. In and out, simple as that."

"It's reckless. I thought you would have learned the lesson about it with your last decision," she aimed it at Bloom and the fire fairy flinched a little.

"I won't get caught this time. And this might be the only chance I have. Sibylla, please ."

The Fairy of Justice looked as if she was ready to smother them both, but ultimately decided against it. "As stupid as this is, I will allow it. Only because I have a feeling you would try to sneak out regardless."

"Thank you-"

"I give you 2 hours maximum. If that time passes you can say goodbye to your stay here."

Bloom nodded, more excited than worried.

A couple of hours later, a disguised Noel and Bloom walked along her childhood neighbourhood. It hadn't changed at all since she's been gone. "This is where I took my first steps," Bloom said pointing to a small bench close to her front door. Noel smiled slightly but stayed on alert. Bloom was about to climb the steps when an irritating and familiar voice stopped her.

"Well, well, well, look who it is," Mitzi was standing on the sidewalk, smirking wickedly, just like always. "I thought you had run off with your special little friends."

Bloom rolled her eyes, not wanting to spend the little time she had bickering with someone less significant than an insect. So, with Noel at her heels, she ignored the other girl and took a few steps to her parents' doors.

"Nice crutches," Mitzi added in a further attempt to unsettle her, but it was drowned out by the doors opening. Mike stood at the threshold with his eyes wide as he stared at Bloom. He was shaking as he took up the scars visible on her hands, the crutches and the person behind her. "Hi, dad ," Bloom managed to whisper as Mike pulled her into a hug, light enough not to hurt her, but comforting enough to mean everything.

He led them inside as Bloom explained Noel's presence. Vanessa was just entering the living room with a glass of water when her eyes settled on Bloom. The glass shattered on the floor as she stared and her eyes filled with tears. Bloom took a few steps towards her and nearly collapsed into her embrace.

"I missed you both," Bloom cried as she felt Mike join in on the hug.

"Darling, how- Stella said-" their breaths were uneven as they explained how Stella kept informing them on everything, but that she hadn't been there in a while.

Bloom knew that they didn't have enough time , even then , so she decided to use it the best way she knew, by just sharing a coco with her parents in the living room. She gave the briefest of versions for her last couple of months and watched their faces change from fear to frustration to shock.

They could barely focus on the story from the sheer surprise that she was actually there. The tears never stopped falling from her eyes, she couldn't get enough of her father's hugs or her mother's voice.

"So-" Vanessa started, carefully choosing her words. "What happens now?" Bloom gulped and looked down at her hands, gripping the ends of her blanket. She knew it would come to this that she would have to tell them of her plans. But she feared their reaction.

"I am going to free Marion and Oritel, my- my birth parents," she explained and exhaled silently, afraid to meet their eyes. What would she see? Disappointment? Relief? Tears? She couldn't handle seeing them cry more times in a single day.

"We are both so proud of you Bloom," Mike said after a little silence. She cast a glance at her father and found him smiling.

"We were so blessed to raise you and see you grow into an incredible woman that you have become," he said and took Vanessa's hand in his own, while squeezing Bloom's shoulder with the other.

"If this is something that you want to do, we would never step in the way of that."

Bloom knew she was crying again when the droplets fell upon her hands. She tossed her arms around her father and held him until her limbs protested. "I love you both so much," she whispered.

Abruptly, Noel shot to her feet, checking something on her magical device. "What is it?" Bloom asked, but there was a sinking feeling in her gut that told her someone was coming. Their time was up.

Her heart hurt as she pulled herself off the couch and stared at her parents. Who knew when she would see them again?

She gulped and kissed them each on the cheek.

The doors broke open in the kitchen and Bloom had one too many flashbacks of it happening. First with the troll before she even attended Alfea, and then with the Trix.

But this time, she was ready for it. No one was going to touch them.

"Fire princess, we've got company," Noel said as their eyes locked with the set of Eraklyon royal guards, with Brandon in the very centre.

He stared at Bloom like she was already dead to him.

She returned the look just as viciously. She was done being sorry for the people who used her as a punching bag.

"You didn't really think we don't have people tracking this place, did you?" he asked, eyeing Noel suspiciously. He didn't know who she was, and it had to stay that way.

"We don't want to hurt the civilians, so I would suggest surrendering," he added.

Bloom rolled her eyes. "How about we take this somewhere else then?" She raised her hand and a dragon sphere materialized instantly. It wasn't as strong as usual, but it would do against a little threat like them.

Brandon smirked and stepped outside, waiting. Bloom considered all the rest of the neighbourhood, wondering what they would think of such a scene. There was no way someone would actually believe there were fairies fighting in the local street of Gardenia.

Bloom held her head high and together with Noel exited the house. She looked back at her parents with apologetic eyes, hoping they understood just how much she loved them. Thankfully, they knew better than to try and intervene. They believed in her enough.

Bloom flew to the air, once again feeling relief over her healed wings. She had been practising every day since that first time, and they only grew stronger each time. Noel stayed on the ground, still disguising her wings, but summoning a long sword.

Brandon was the first to attack, going straight for Bloom, while the other 4 guards went for Noel. Bloom watched as she slashed the blade in the air, blocking each of their attacks. She was like a force of nature, battling as if it were child's play. And Eraklyon's guards didn't stand a chance. She managed to stab one in his knee and the other into his abdomen. Both went down.

She focused back on Brandon, who had been trying to shoot her out of the air. She fired at him, but he dodged and attacked mercilessly. "Why is it so hard for you to pay for your crimes huh ?" he teased her as she ducked out of the way.

Bloom made it her point to ignore him as she sent a sphere to his feet. He didn't jump away in time and it burned one of his legs. Brandon hissed and pressed his hand to the burnt flesh.

Once upon a time, Bloom would have felt remorse, but now she felt only satisfaction. She would do it again if it meant staying free. They just had to distract them for long enough to teleport away.

"Had enough?" she asked, watching the fury ignite in his eyes. He changed his weapon to another gun and Bloom found herself surprised to see that it was an earthly weapon . An actual bullet-filled gun.

She tensed when the first shot was fired.

Noel, who managed to fight off the third guard snapped her head to them, which gave the last man a chance to get a punch in. She stumbled, hissing at the impact. Bloom saw firey expression in her, as she took the sword and brought it down upon the guard's hand in full force.

Bloom watched in horror as it cut clean through and his hand fell to the ground, bone sticking out and blood spilling everywhere.

Noel had a black eye, he had one arm less.

Bloom was too stunned by the scene that she nearly didn't dodge another bullet. It grazed her thigh and she cried out . At the same time feeling her body screaming at her that she had to slow down and rest. Her head began to feel hazy, but she couldn't get a good hit at Brandon to knock him out.

She fired again, but missed him entirely which caused him to laugh at her. "Tired already?"

She couldn't hear him as black and white spots started to dance in her vision and her head throbbed uncomfortably. She was going to get shot because of this.

Bloom struggled to remain in the air, doing her best to avoid the rain of bullets he was bringing down on her. But all of a sudden, the shooting stopped. Bloom managed to make out Noel towering over his body with a sword hilt.

She lowered herself, stumbling toward Noel who caught her instantly. "Don't kill him," she managed to say because the wish in Noel's eyes was noticeable. "Why not?"

"He was once important to someone I love. I don't know what happened there, but for her, I want to let him live."

They were back inside the cave in less than 10 minutes , Bloom placed on bed rest and Noel tending to her eye. Sibylla said nothing at the scene besides checking the clock and commenting on how they were lucky to be on time.

She kissed Noel lightly and glared at Bloom. "Was it worth it?" she asked.

Bloom gave a simple nod and Sibylla dropped the topic after that.

They continued to practice for hours and her walking and stamina kept improving, yet there were still limits. Her body had been scarred so much that everyone knew it would never entirely heal. Bloom accepted it long ago, the most important thing to her was that she was alive. And that she was only getting closer to her parents' freedom.

She was training her mental shields one day, just laying the fifth row of bricks, staring at the memory from her childhood. Her scratched ankle from rollerskating and Mike and Vanessa comforting her, when Sibylla appeared at the doors.

"I wasn't aware we had a session today," Bloom said as she retreated from her mind and eyed Sibylla with curiosity .

"We don't. I came to talk to you about something, please sit down."

Bloom listened with small waves of anxiety creeping in. She waited for Sibylla to enter and face her. The room was silent save for the footsteps.

"You told me once that you intend to go and save you parents from Obsidian." As she mentioned it Bloom went from anxious to intrigued in a second. What did she have to do with any of it, besides to tell her that her idea was reckless or stupid?

"Do you still plan to do it?"

Bloom nodded right away and the Fairy of Justice sighed longly. She sat next to Bloom and watched her.

"Why?"

"I understand that you still don't have a way of reaching the realm of darkness?"

"Well, no, but-" she was about to make a plan from the top of her head. To say that she will figure it out, how it was perfectly okay , how she was ready .

But Sibllya interrupted: "I will get you there. The rest would be up to you."

Bloom's eyes widened in shock and surprise. She was positively sure she had heard wrong. There was no way the almighty careful Sibylla just offered to help her in something so- well, peculiar.

"I thought you would be pleased," she said after Bloom remained silent, contemplating what that could mean. "I am, it's just- why would you do that?"

"Consider it a parting gift with a little catch."

Bloom's brows furrowed, of course, there was something in for her.

"And what would that be?"

"A simple favour. Once you succeed," she said eyeing her reaction, but Bloom gave nothing away. "-just reach out to me and it will all be settled."

The fire fairy weighed her options. Finding a way to Obsidian on her own, with no clue where to even start. Or, accept Sibylla's deal and owe her something. How bad could it even be? She was the Fairy of Justice, Bloom doubted she could make her do something diabolical .

So she nodded and extended a hand. Sibylla shook it with an indifferent smile.

"When do we go?"

"Soon. Your vitals are all exceptionally well, and your physical health only needs a little bit more care. I don't know how possible it will be once you're there, but you shouldn't exert yourself. It would only set you back."

Bloom understood. She knew she would have to save her energy and strength, but it all seemed so far away that she didn't get a chance to properly worry about it .

"Can I request something else before that?" she asked, knowing that she had to do it. It was pressing her heart day by day.

"You want to see Valtor, don't you?"

Bloom didn't want to know how or why Sibylla knew her intentions, but it was the truth .

If she was going to do this, she had to get some things settled .

"I suppose it could be done. You will leave for Cloud Tower in 15 minutes."

Bloom inhaled sharply. That was, soon . But she accepted, because the alternative wasn't imaginable.

So she waited, tapping her fingers against her bed as she waited for Noel to arrive. She wasn't sure how to feel about the fact that she had become her personal bodyguard. "Don't think this is a pity. I owe you both this chance to settle things without me being in the middle. Noel will give you enough privacy, but she will be on alert."

Bloom was barely listening, too absorbed in the fact that she was going to see him. Her palms were sweating and her heart was beating incredibly quickly. She was nervous. Who knows what he had been up to since she was with Sibylla? How many new kingdoms had he conquered? How many had he killed?

She pushed the thoughts away as Noel peeked inside.

"Ready when you are fire princess."

Bloom nodded at Sibylla as she exited the room, and stepped through the portal. The darkness of Cloud Tower greeted them as soon as they appeared. There weren't any sounds, nor any life either. Bloom shivered as they made their way towards the secret tunnels, towards Griffin's former office. She guessed she had to stop assigning it to the headmistress. It was Valtor's school now entirely.

The boards creaked under her feet as she walked, hoping she still knew the way and wouldn't get lost.

Valtor was lounging in his chair, looking through a batch of newly acquired spells, when the feeling overcame him. He shot to his feet, feeling it consume the inside of his soul and wrap around his heart.

Dragon Fire.

Bloom's Dragon Fire.

It couldn't be true, and yet, there it was. He felt it with every fibre of his being.

He pushed the doors to the office open and stared down the hallway.

And there she was.

After all this time.

He could pinpoint exactly when she spotted him too because her face blushed with colour, healthy and beautiful.

His mouth fell agape as he stared, and couldn't avert his eyes.

She took a few steps forward, careful and eager at the same time.

"Hi," she said and that simple sentence almost brought him to his knees.