Bloom's mask wasn't as perfect as she would like it to be, but for its current purpose, it worked. She has never excelled in Transformation classes and it was showing clearly now. Her usually ginger hair was more of a brownish red and she somehow managed to make her cheeks look fuller, but that was just about it. The clear blue of her eyes was still noticeable. Anyone with two healthy eyes would probably recognize her if they looked for more than five seconds. This was why, as she made her way around the palace, she was doing her best to avoid the Winx. And to make sure Layla didn't kill her on sight. She only needed to talk to Stella.
The essence of her Dragon fire was the second most obvious problem which she didn't really know how to deal with. She couldn't hide it as well as Valtor which he was doing currently because she didn't feel his magic at all.
She rounded a corner and her feet almost buried into the ground. Queen of Andros stood alongside her daughter by the front gate in regal gowns of deep green. Layla's father was nowhere in sight, causing guilt to swarm in her heart. "You invitation?" she heard the guard at the door say and queen Niobe offered a golden envelope. From her hiding place, she could see the guard lean over to someone out of her field of vision. A second later a loud female voice announced: "Queen Niobe and Princess Layla of Andros!" after which the queen put a guiding hand on her daughter's back and lead them both inside the palace walls.
Bloom looked gratefully at Stella's ring which was bound to get her access to the inside, she only feared what or who she would find once she got there. This ball was far larger of a thing than she expected.
And to top it off, she had no formal clothes to wear and fit in with the crowd. But before the thought even left her mind, a gush of warm wind gathered around her. On instinct, Bloom drew her hands up in a defensive position. Her clothes started changing, instead of her usual pants now stood a gorgeous blue ballgown. She felt her hair rise up, tying itself in a small bun, while the rest curled and fell loosely on her shoulders. Bloom spun around, looking for the source, even while knowing it could only be Valtor. Another mockery of his it seemed. But it offered her one problem less as well as answered her other question. He was indeed watching her.
Bloom smirked into her beard while slipping the ring off and resting it in her palm. "Lead me to Princess Stella," she whispered and hoped that the ring didn't need a precise place. A wide portal materialized in front of her and without waiting for her head to change its mind, she stepped through. The enveloping of light was sudden, but over in a single second. Bloom's eyes opened to glamour.
A giant canopy bed was positioned on the main wall, covered in what seemed to be millions of little diamonds. Exactly how she imagined Stella's room to look like. Everywhere around her laid jewels, necklaces upon bracelets and rings, splattered over a vanity. It was just like her friend's room in Alfea and Bloom smiled to herself while thinking of the memory. She didn't have much time to dwell on what to do because her ears picked up the sound of crying, coming from the doors on the other side of the room. She could easily recognize it as Stella.
.
Bloom moved towards it, peeking inside at what she realized now was a bathroom. Her friend sat in front of yet another vanity, with her face between her hands. "Whoever you are, leave, please. I will be downstairs soon," she muttered through the obvious tears because her voice was close to cracking. Bloom took a step inside, a hand extended. She didn't even know how to form the right words.
Because this was Stella. This was one of the only people still on her side. Her best friend. And Bloom didn't know what to say.
"Stella-" her voice came out butchered, but enough for the Princess of Solaria to look up. There was a brief confusion on her face like she saw someone who she couldn't quite place. So Bloom tried again, "Stella, it's me."
The blonde's eyes went wide, as she leapt from her seat and wrapped her arms around Bloom's shoulders. She felt Stella's tears prick her skin. "You're here," her friend whispered in both sadness and excitement. But then something seemed to snap her back because she separated them abruptly and just stared into Bloom's eyes.
That was the first time Bloom saw something unfamiliar in her friend's eyes. A thing she was by now used to seeing in everyone else, everyone but Stella.
Doubt.
"Bloom, we saw the news... What happened there?"
Bloom only stared back at her, confused. "News? What news Stella?" Her friend considered her for a second then explained how they know about everything that happened on Paxesion. They saw her, they saw Valtor. But worst of all, they saw them both together.
"You're not working with him, it was a misunderstanding right?"
But before Bloom could speak, a loud sound of doors opening crashed through to them and four women busted inside. "Princess finally! We have so much more to do and you have to be downstairs in minutes." The woman paused, noticing Bloom and her brows went up. "You, out!"
"But-" Stella tried to object, though the woman didn't want to hear it. They practically forced Bloom to the hallway and closed the doors in her face.
Bloom wiped her eyes and breathed out. Fine. She will do it the hard way. She followed the rushing staff members to the staircase which lead to the main chamber. And Bloom was shocked to see just how many people were there. Her heart lurched noticing the king and queen of Eraklyon standing next to the other royals.
More people to avoid, perfect.
In the middle, she saw the Winx, each in magnificently designed dresses. And then at the back- She wasn't sure how, because there was no indication of it, but she knew it was Valtor. Of course, he would hide right under their noses.
She made her way down, her head bowed to avoid unnecessary looks and leaned on one of the pillars next to him. "A drink miss?" the waiter offered and she smiled pleasantly as she picked up a wineglass. "Starting early, are we?" his voice, masked by spells travelled to her ear. Bloom cast him a side glance as she took a long sip. "Just enjoying the celebration."
"Didn't take you long to find me," he said and smiled crookedly but she remained silent. Bloom was still on high alert, he could start an attack at any point.
"Welcome guests, and friends to the Solarian Princess Ball!" Radius' strong voice erupted through the room. "We invited you here today, to after 18 long years finally crown my daughter," he paused, waving a hand towards the curtains behind himself. "-Princess Stella of Solaria."
Instantly upon seeing her friend, Bloom aimed to move forward in the crowd and reach the podium, but Valtor's hand wrapped smoothly around her wrist keeping her in place. "Move an inch further and they will be on you in a second." He cocked his head to the guards positioned on every square inch of ground they could be. "I thought you'd be more thrilled to get rid of me," she gritted through her teeth, pulling her hand away. She knew the words weren't true, at least not in the way she said them. Valtor needed her, and he needed her alive.
"Watch and learn Princess. Watch and learn," he whispered with an amused smile plastered over his face.
Bloom returned her attention to the centre where king Radius had just brought out what Bloom guessed was the crown for the Princess of Solaria. He held a golden sceptre in his other hand, laying it with a firm smile against his daughter's shoulders. She could see Stella stealing glances at the crowd, probably trying to spot Bloom, but there were far too many people present.
"And now-" Radius announced loudly, taking the crown in both hands and lifting it for the audience to witness. "I pronounce you, Stella," he gave her a proud smile, "Crown Princess of Solaria." Radius placed it neatly on Stella's head as all of the room did a small bow.
At the very same moment, she noticed Valtor snapping his fingers. The scenery changed in a split second. All the guards Bloom noted down earlier, had started to transform, their skin changing into various shades of green, fingers becoming scales and nails growing into sharp claws. The guests screamed, looking around frantically, Radius shielding his only child with his body. Valtor started walking forward, pushing through the raging crowd as people gave him maddening looks. Right when he reached the centre, he dropped his mask, his long, light brown hair falling free against the familiar maroon coat. All of the faces turned to him as he started to levitate. Bloom saw Erendor and a few other royals raising their swords, and Winx all ready to transform. But when Valtor lifted a hand every single one of them yelped in pain.
Bloom hadn't realized just how horrific the blood spells looked when used on other people, until now. "Thank you for such a nice welcome king Radius. Honestly, you didn't have to bother," Valtor spoke and his voice rang throughout the chamber, all eyes on him. "Leave my guests at once Valtor," the king's voice rang just as fierce. "No, I think this is exactly how I prefer it." His hand twisted towards Erendor and the king found himself grasping for his throat.
"There is only one thing I came here for, but no one said I couldn't have some fun first," he released Erendor and turned to queen Niobe. She stood her ground even when it was obvious just how much pain she was currently enduring. "I heard king Teredor is making a full recovery. Such a shame, maybe I ought to pay him another visit."
"You won't lay another hand on my family Valtor," she persisted as Layla gripped her hand from the side. All the while Bloom truly didn't know what to do. If she transformed now, it would only draw attention away from Valtor and give him time to disappear.
His monsters gathered around the guests, forcing them together in a circle, apart from Stella and Radius who were still above everyone on the stage podium. Her friend had her hand on her father's shoulders, but her frantic eyes were still searching. And Bloom realized that even though she was among the guests, the monsters did not attempt to push her with everyone else. And the others started to notice it too.
"Well now, I think you've stolen enough of my time already," Valtor snapped his fingers for the second time and the main door flew open, human guards sweeping in. He didn't waste a second before commanding his monsters to attack as he flew out the door and into the hallway.
Bloom didn't dwell longer and pushed her way through and out the doors, onto what might have been the longest hall she had ever seen. Once out of eyesight, she dropped her mask and transformed, eager to fly after him. He had clearly intended for her to follow because his Dragon fire burnt as clear as day in her mind. She went around another corner, through a set of lavish-looking rooms and into an all-glass tower which only led up. Bloom forced her wings to go faster after finally catching sight of Valtor in the area above her.
She was nearly blinded by the luminous shape all the way at the tower's top. On a golden pedestal sat the source of all Solarian power, burning as bright as its royals. The Sun of Solaria.
It wasn't nearly as big as she imagined. The ball looked like it could fit into her pocket. "I didn't think you would catch up so quickly, must admit I am impressed," Valtor said, resting a safe distance away from the Sun. His eyes watched it like a hawk, craving to have it. "It's not like you made it difficult for me." she shot back, preparing a fireball in her right palm.
"Bloom?!" a voice flew up to her ears and as she turned, Stella and Radius approached them, Stella flying in synch with a floating platform on which her father stood. Radius' eyes went from the untouched Sun, to Valtor and at last to Bloom, and soon after so did Stella's.
"What is the meaning of this?" Radius commanded, his eyes piercing through Bloom with their anger and disappointment. "Bloom," her friend said instead, apologetically, "What's going on here?"
The fire fairy still held a ball in her hand, which quickly disappeared as she turned towards her friend. "I think there's been enough chatting today," Valtor interrupted bolting for the centre. But Bloom was quicker this time, she positioned her body over it, even as it slowly started to burn at her exposed back.
"Wrong move Princess," Valtor's smirk reappeared as he aimed his right hand at Radius, commanding his body to still, as his left summoned a sphere of flame and held it extended in his direction. "Step away or the king dies."
Bloom searched for any sign of a test in his tone, but there was none. He didn't want to risk moving her out of the way himself. Whether it was to preserve the Sun or for the unknown reason of keeping her alive, she didn't know.
"Child, do not move from the Sun," Radius yelled at Bloom and her whole body seemed to stiffen. If she moved Valtor would have exactly what he wanted. But if she didn't Stela's father would die. Stella stood frozen too, unable to make a choice.
Bloom put her hands above her head in surrender. Radius was her friend's father. A human with a life. They could always regain the Sun's power, but they could never bring a dead man back to life. "Fine, you win. Just don't hurt the king." she slowly moved away, but saw the tip of Valtor's grin further and knew she made yet another mistake. Because as soon as she was no longer protecting the Sun, Valtor shot the sphere right at the centre of Radius' chest.
The shout got stuck in her throat as she watched the blue flame leave his palm and connect not with the king's body, but Stella's. All the world seemed to die out around Bloom's heart.
The sun fairy screamed as it struck her flesh and she fell motionless into her father's loose arms. "Stella!" Radius cried, shaking her shoulders and ignoring the burning wound on her skin. Bloom felt both her anger and her sadness explode as she turned to Valtor who was proudly watching. To him, it's just one less fairy to deal with. But to her- it's a loss of an entire piece of her soul.
"My baby, no, please. Stella, come back," the king pleaded, holding her in an embrace against his chest. But Stella did not move. Bloom made a step towards them, but he waved a hand to keep her away. "This is your fault!" he yelled at her and Bloom found her feet buried into the ground as tears forced their way out of her eyes. She didn't dare think the words. Stella was... dead. She didn't even notice Valtor place his hands around the Sun.
But then, Stella's body began to shimmer, the wound on her chest piecing itself together, as she was lifted from her father's arms. Even Valtor watched in disbelief as a pair of butterfly-looking, orange wings appeared at her back and she was bathed in a sparkling glow, concealing her from their vision. And when she landed back on the platform, it was hard to look at anything else. The upper part of her now extremely long hair was tied into twin pigtails, a blue tiara placed in between with an orange flowy skirt and a matching top covering the rest of her body.
She stood there, ignoring both her father and Bloom when she took a shot at Valtor. But he, like most times, dodged it with perfection. Bloom flew next to her friend, mimicking her attack with one of her own, but he caught it and redirected it at Stella. The sun fairy quickly moved to her left and started firing from the new angle, trying her best to get him away from the Sun.
But he had already started to siphon because bit by bit the space outside the palace turned darker as if clouds had completely covered the sky. Valtor's hand stood outstretched towards it until every last bit of brightness was gone. Stella's face fell as she watched from what used to be her planet's core to Valtor who smiled widely upon his success. "This was even easier than I thought."
Stella looked over at her father who slumped down onto his knees, to Bloom who watched Valtor in shock. He stood tall as if towering over them both, challenging them to try and attack him again. But they didn't have to because the next thing they saw was a techno shock flying in his direction.
Turning, they noticed Tecna, Musa, Flora and Layla flying towards them and ready to fight. But once they reached them, their hands weren't pointed just at him, they were aimed at Bloom too. Layla watched them both, not quite sure who deserved her anger more. "Girls, what are you doing?" Stella practically snapped at Musa and Layla who were firm on hitting Bloom.
The fire fairy simply attempted to remain entirely still, eyes trying to be on both Valtor and her former friends. The wizard only hovered behind, but close enough that she could sense his feelings through their connection. He, it turned out was having a blast.
"What does it look like? She is working with him Stella, we all saw it," Musa answered, her eyes blazing, switching from Bloom to Valtor rapidly and never at anything else. Bloom remained quiet, knowing that even if she wanted to explain her side of the story, they probably wouldn't listen. And if she was being honest, she didn't really know how to depict what went down back there. Because as much as she would like to say that nothing even remotely like partnership happened, her mind still wandered over to the balcony and she couldn't say that was nothing.
"What, not great at defending yourself anymore?" Layla bit at her and Bloom felt heat go up to her cheeks.
"I think I've had far enough of your teen dramatics for one day," Valtor announced, summoning what seemed to be a sphere of sunlight, probably from what he just stole. He aimed it at the Winx and started shooting so quickly that they could barely block the attacks. One grazed the side of Tecna's shoulder while Stella did her best to protect her father. Radius was still on his knees, with little life left in his eyes as he had just lost everything.
Bloom sent a fireball flying in Valtor's direction, but he only redirected it at the girls. She could see the fast eye-roll from Layla as she summoned her morphix and joined it with Musa's sound wave. The convergence floated in between their linked hands before they sent it flying, but not at Valtor. Instead at her.
Bloom couldn't dodge it fast enough and it ended up crashing into her abdomen. She went flying into the glass behind her, shattering it on impact. The loud noise of cracking erupted and she had to contain herself from wincing as the shards scratched against her skin. She did her best in trying to shield herself, but they still drew blood. Stella moved away from her father, flying up to Bloom, but Layla's morphix stopped her by wrapping around her feet. "This ends today," she said, focusing her attention back on Bloom and Valtor.
The wizard continued to attack the fairies, but his eyes did steal fast glances at the redhead. Bloom didn't dare do much with millions of glass pieces stuck inside of her skin.
Seems like you've been outnumbered, Princess. she felt him whisper inside her head. She looked up from her bleeding hands. Layla, Musa and reluctant Flora were summoning up another convergence. Stella stood stuck a few meters from her father, her facial expression terrified. Tecna wasn't moving, but Bloom knew her well enough to guess she was calculating what to do that would result in benefits for everyone. And Valtor, he was simply watching her, waiting until she makes a move.
He could heal her, she knew that. The question was, will he have the opportunity to? Because for it, she had to avoid a massive energy surge which was about to crash towards her while her skin was still filled with glass. She hissed, lifting herself to her feet, feeling some of the pieces dig deeper into her legs.
Valtor attacked the three fairies in the meantime, but their convergence managed to absorb his attack, causing it to only grow bigger, and Bloom's brain to run faster.
Your choice Princess. Valtor sounded again, and she saw the swift moves of his hands and knew already what he was about to do. She slid Stella's ring from her finger and tossed it to the sun fairy. She managed to catch it and there was a big confused look on her face. Bloom caught her gaze, and held it as she mouthed: "I'm sorry.". Because in the next second the girls released their attack and Bloom used all the strength in her wings to reach Valtor before it hit her.
He made one more move with his left hand, as he grabbed Bloom's wrist with the other and let the portal swallow them. Bloom's last scene was that of Stella's face and something undeniably sad on it. Fear, hurt and doubt all flashed in the simple look in her eyes. Bloom closed her own, opening them back up only once she was sure they had teleported away.
Valtor stood next to her, dropping her hand. "You did well today," he commented as she fell to her knees, giving in to the pain over her body. He eyed her for a second, so broken on the floor of his hideout, so easy to destroy. But instead, he took off his glove and knelt next to her, offering his hand.
Bloom looked at it, clearly nervous, but still showed him her arm. Valtor's cold fingers trailed every inch of her skin, healing up her wounds, and causing the glass to evaporate. She felt the pinching as he worked, battling the urge to pull herself back every time a shard grazed the surface of her hand. Valtor, like the last time, concentrated all of his attention on her, instead of on what he was doing. He smirked at all of her flinches but didn't stop.
"You could have fought more back there," he said as his magic lingered on the crook of her neck. Bloom sucked in a breath as he extracted a particularly big shard. Could she have stopped him for real? Or was he playing with her head again? "I didn't have much of a chance," she muttered. "We both know that's a lie. And so do your lovely friends," and as the words left his mouth, she refused to believe them. She did fight, she wanted to help Solaria, and she wanted to protect Stella.
So why did her heart scream that she was entirely wrong?
He leaned a bit closer, examining the area on her waist and she felt the softness of his exhales, making her shiver. She snapped her thoughts away quickly and looked from him to the treasury he kept in this cave-like space. Valtor continued to heal her for a few minutes more, after which he pulled away and put the gloves back on.
"There, as good as new."