Fargaonda's office smelled of recently brewed coffee and age. None could explain how something so abstract smelled, but once you sensed it, you just agreed. The headmistress sat in the chair, a long scroll opened before her on the desk.
Her thoughts were wandering from the parchment to Valtor and then of course, to Bloom. She couldn't help but feel as if she had somehow let the girl down. She was supposed to be their main protector and now her student was out there, exiled from the dimension with a death bounty on her head. Maybe if she had done more, if she had intervened back at Shadow Haunt, maybe things would have turned out differently. The thinking was abrupted when the doors opened wide and two of her students let themselves in.
"You can't simply pretend it didn't happen."
"We don't know the full story, okay?" Stella was barking at her classmate when Faragonda raised a hand to silence them both.
"Sorry Headmistress," Layla apologized with a bowed head, followed by a mutter from the other fairy.
"Next time I will advise you to knock," the older woman said, waiting for them to start talking. At the normal pace this time.
The two friends, or what now seemed like bitter rivals tossed an annoyed look between themselves as if debating which one should speak first.
"We would like to separate the suite," the princess of Solaria blurted out so quickly that Fargaonda wasn't entirely sure if she had heard her properly. So much for a normal pace.
The Winx were the best team her school has had in the last couple of years. Seeing it crumble wasn't what any of them could have predicted or wanted to witness. And yet losing just one member put up a rift that no one could get across. Bloom's absence and potential betrayal were like a gaping wound in the entire community. She had never heard so many rumours about a person. And as much as having some peace between the Winx would benefit everyone, she couldn't risk splitting them now when Valtor was active. Whether he was acting with or without Bloom's help.
"No," Faragonda answered simply, trying to give out a not too bothered expression. Even if secretly she just didn't want to see their friendship falter, knowing just how important it was for them to be there for each other.
"We can't be in the same rooms anymore Headmistress," Layla added on, urging a plead into her words.
"It's affecting the others too. We think it is in everyone's best interest if we just move one of us out," Stella continued.
"My answer is still no. I'm sorry girls, but this is something you need to work out between yourselves." She couldn't force them to get along, but her hopes still were that eventually, the two princesses could find common ground again.
Stella's head slumped down in defeat, but Layla held the older fairy's gaze firmly, without quivering.
"Then I guess my only choice is to leave Alfea," the morphix fairy said.
Stella's eyes snapped to Layla, disbelief written across her features. Faragonda could see it even if the two couldn't. Neither one of them actually wanted to go against the other. But the princess of Andros still seemed deadly serious.
"You would be making a mistake," Faragonda replied, still holding eye contact.
"I don't think so," the young girl added and exited the room. A chill was left lingering in the air and for a while, no one spoke. Stella was the one to break the silence: "She is not being serious. Right?"
"For her sake, I hope so."
Night fell upon Alfea and Faragonda's head was still wrapped in the ancient scroll. The text within was so complicated that not even her extensive knowledge of magical tounges could decipher it. Her eyes were so heavy already, for she has barely left her office in days. Exhaustion crept upon her bones, but she wouldn't let herself tire. She had to keep her school safe.
Griselda entered the room sometime after midnight, and just by glancing at her friend Faragonda knew whatever she came to say wasn't going to make her job any easier.
"The Cloud Tower-" the Head of the Discipline began, stuttering at her words. Faragonda knew Griselda for long enough and never once has she struggled to speak.
"The Cloud Tower has fallen."
Something inside Faragonda's chest split in half and a concerning fear awoke in the pit of her stomach. "Griffin? Is she?"
"There have been no words. The mark appeared so suddenly. Wizgiz was on patrol and it just materialized," she went on, but Faragonda couldn't focus on any of the words. The Cloud Tower was one of the most secure places in Magix and it came into Valtor's hands. Griffin was unaccounted for, and that part unnerved her most of all. What could have he done to her? And just how much revenge and hate was still in his heart for a person that betrayed him to join the Company of Light?
"Faragonda what are we going to do?" the question caught her off her guard. Hearing Griselda's voice be so vulnerable, it wasn't something she was ready for. Everything around them seemed to be crumbling and she didn't know how to stop it.
"He will be coming for me," she whispered, feeling her body rise from the leather chair.
She was out the door and down the hallway before Griselda could utter another word. The stairs and the corners were blending in her head as she ran, her heels digging into her feet, but she had to move as quickly as possible. The suite came into view fairly soon and she banged on the door with all her might.
A sleepy figure of the nature fairy opened and upon seeing who it was at the door, she straightened, colour draining away from her cheeks. The rest of the girls gathered behind her, all of them speechless at the sight of their Headmistress at their door. They knew the reason couldn't be good.
But Faragonda noticed a girl missing right away: "Where is Miss Layla?" Stella's face fell slightly as she put on a straight face and answered: "She left. Just like she said this morning."
Not giving herself time to get mad over it, Faragonda pushed the thought away and focused on her remaining students. "Girls, I need you to get ready."
"Read for what?" Musa whispered from her spot behind the rest of the girls.
"War."
Valtor smiled to himself as he brought the glass of whiskey up to his lips. The ball before him, showing Bloom hopelessly roaming the woods would be that much more amusing if he didn't know she will inevitably come upon Alfea.
If he let her of course. It would make the game easier. But he was far above playing that way. But at the same time, he didn't feel like attacking the school right away. By now they must have seen the mark above Cloud Tower So they, Faragonda will be expecting it. He had to do it precisely right.
And he had just the plan on how to do it. Bloom was once again inserted as the perfect pawn.
Bloom felt like she took the same turn for the hundredth time. The woods simply went on forever and there was no way out, no Alfea waiting for her on the other side. But she had to get there, reach Faragonda and warn the Winx. He would strike and he would do it as soon as possible.
She closed her eyes, attempting to feel his power, his presence, anything that might indicate his whereabouts. But he was blocking it and it only grew to irritate her. She just wanted to be able to understand at least a fraction of his actions.
Her foot stuck onto a low-laying branch, sending her stumbling onto her knees. She cursed under her breath. Was it possible that she has been away from this part of Magix for so long that now these woods were unfamiliar to her? She could remember sneaking around them with Sky during the second year, trying to go unnoticed by Griselda. They would hide in the bushes, Sky often leaving kisses on her cheek while she was trying to keep them out of sight. Her heart almost ached at the memory.
She had missed Sky dearly, and the guilt of it never once left her side. What would he think of her if he could see her now? Would he support the rocky path she has chosen, or would he feel the same way the Winx and the rest of the dimension did? Would he blame her for his death?
Bloom wandered more left and saw something like a white wall up ahead. Relief washed over her at the sight of a familiar gate of Alfea. Now the only problem was, how on earth was she going to get in? It's not like she could just walk inside, especially not with all the security put up to keep Valtor away.
The yard seemed empty, or at least it looked so from her hiding spot. Almost too empty. Even while the Trix were posing as a threat there was always students, or at least faculty patrolling the outside area. What would they do upon seeing her? Call the Council or get her to Faragonda?
She breathed out, trying to concentrate. A small ounce of Dragon fire circled her body and she let it flow out, like a pulsating wave, towards the gates. Nothing happened as it reached them and she really wasn't sure whether it was a good or a bad thing. Not wanting to waste any more precious time, Bloom inhaled and started to approach Alfea. Her body shivered the closer she walked, and she decided to do another wave scan just in case.
But everything was still. Much more than it should have been. She was on alert at once. Before she could get any further, something moved inside of the yard. Swift as a shadow, but she still noticed it. Something was off. She neared, extending a hand toward the grand wing-shaped doors.
Instantly a shockwave went through her body, paralyzing it, as spears materialized, all pointed at her face. She recognized Avalon, Palladium and a woman whose name she couldn't recall as the ones holding the weapons. Behind them stood Griselda and Faragonda along with the Winx. And she noticed right away that Layla wasn't with them.
"You have some nerve showing up here girl," the unfamiliar woman hissed, being the most serious one of the three. Avalon and Palladium still beheld some traces of softness in their eyes. Fragments of trust she wanted to regain.
Faragonda walked closer and Bloom saw little to no of her beloved Headmistress. This version of Faragonda was far more professional. She raised a hand, and the three spears retreated somewhat reluctantly. "Headmistress," Bloom began and stammered at the words. She could see Griselda holding Stella off from running up toward them. Would she still bear the spark of doubt in her eyes, Bloom wondered.
"I thought the punishment was clear enough. You were exiled from Magix Miss Bloom," the old fairy said coldly. "Moreover, any sighting of you is to be reported straight to the Council, so you could be returned to the Omega dimension. Is that what you want?"
"Of course not-" Bloom started, but Faragonda cut her off: "Why have you come here? And the reason better be sufficing."
"Valtor. He was in Cloud Tower. Griffin and the staff are all trapped and marked, he will move onto Alfea either right away or after Red Fountain," by the time she has finished she was entirely out of breath, praying to keep Faragonda's attention.
"And you don't think we know that by now?"
"I-"
"Besides, how do you know where the Cloud Tower faculty is," the woman from before intervened. Bloom didn't move her eyes from Faragonda though, hoping that eventually, she might see the remaining part of the woman who took her into Alfea.
"Headmistress, please, I just wanted to warn you. Even if- Even if you give me over to the Council. Stopping Valtor is what must come first." Bloom hated how as she said them, her heart refused to agree with those words.
"Last time you were seen, you escaped with Valtor through one of his portals. How do you explain that?" Bloom gulped, leaving the awkward silence to fill the air. No lie was believable enough to get her out of this.
"I am not looking to excuse my actions. That's not why I came here," she stopped for a moment to even her voice. It was shaking so much that she wondered how anyone might take her seriously. "Valtor's coming for you. You need to be ready when he does."
"Wonderful speech truly, but we have everything covered young lady," the woman spoke again, tossing a questioning look to Faragonda. The Headmistress kept quiet for a bit, looking firmly at Bloom as if she was reading her. " I suggest you come up with better lies unless you have some more useful information for us. For example when exactly he is going to strike? Seeing how aligned you are, he must have told you," the woman went on.
"We're not-" Bloom started but cut herself short. To deny it would be one of many lies she was going to be telling regarding Valtor. "I don't know when." She could notice the eyes of her friends widen when she didn't correct the woman's accusations.
"You're lying."
"Professor DuFour that's enough."
The alumni professor, that's why she felt familiar, Bloom thought. Her subject was one they would be taking this year if everything went as it was supposed to. Bloom could now recall passing her in the hallways, but she never had a chance to talk to her.
"Faragonda be reasonable here. The girl comes here telling us that Valtor will attack Alfea which she knows because she clearly was with him recently. You can't tell me you don't feel his powers all over her. But when asked when the attack will occur, then she is suddenly clueless," DeFour went on and Bloom was angry to admit that everything she was saying made perfect sense.
"I'm telling you, I don't know anything else. I swear. Headmistress, you know me," she tried tugging onto that card, hoping Faragonda would finally soften. But all she could read from her expression was a disappointment. From the corner of her eye, she saw the Winx walking towards them and she was thankful that at least Stella would be there. Even if she wasn't entirely on her side anymore, Bloom felt comfort simply knowing she was close.
"Bloom..." Stella began but closed her mouth, unsure of how to continue. Nothing she wanted to say had a way of forming into a coherent sentence. Bloom saw it. Not distrust, not entirely, but doubt still dancing in the yellow of her friend's eyes. And she couldn't blame her after what happened in Solaria. Because of her game with Valtor, Stella's father could have died.
"We will ask you again," Faragonda said suddenly. "When exactly is he planning to strike?"
"I told you. I don't know."
A loud sound erupted in the air. A line of electricity connected with the dome set over the school. It quivered, but still held. Everyone's eyes snapped up. Valtor floated there, along with an entire army of Cloud Tower witches. And down on the ground, specialists accompanied them. Every single one of them bore Valtor's mark upon their necks.
"You set this all up, didn't you?" DeFour snapped at Bloom with a snarl.
"No, no I swear-"
Valtor landed just behind them while the rest of his minions continued to attack the shield. Even though he could probably break it easily if he really wanted to. The space immediately radiated from the amount of power he possessed. All of this was for show.
The Winx transformed at once, and Bloom witnessed the glory of their Enchantix powers, noticing for the first time that Flora and Musa now both had their own. And she had missed all of it.
All of Alfea's faculty summoned ounces of their power, blasting Valtor at the same time. He avoided every single attack that came his way, walking toward them with ease.
The Alfea fairies and their professors stood with their backs to the gate, spells aimed at Valtor. Bloom was a few steps away which gave Valtor just enough space to isolate her. He put a hand over her shoulder and she instantly stilled. "Princess, you've been having fun without me I see."
She jumped from him, a fireball in one hand, even if it was useless against him. "I told you she was working with him," she could hear DeFour behind her, but her focus was solely on Valtor. What game was he playing this time?
"Here she was," he continued, looking at Faragonda now. "Just searching for the answers as to how to reach Obsidian, and you've gone and turned on her. Poor taste of judgement Faragonda." The Headmistress simply stared, hearing this for the first time.
"Obsidian?" the old fairy said slowly. There was something in her voice and it made Bloom's curiosity ignite. She hadn't even gotten to talking about Obsidian with Faragonda, making sure they understood the threat of Valtor was far more serious to her. But now, now she thought that maybe she should have because there was definitely something there.
"Faragonda," Avalon began, "What is he talking about?"
Faragonda's face fell, the mask she had been holding intact, finally disappearing. Bloom saw her old mentor now, cracked under the facade. As if something has cleared out for her.
"The reason no one could find them all these years," Faragonda started, a spell vanishing from her hands as her body seemed to slow. Bloom's attention was sharper than ever, eyes snapping from her to Valtor. The wizard only smirked.
"Find who? Faragonda you're not making any sense," Palladium added, looking worried as he stared at the old fairy.
"Oritel and Marion," she said, looking at Bloom for the first time since Valtor appeared. The fire fairy felt chills go down her spine.
"For the last 17 years, every ounce of the dimension was searched to find the king and queen of Domino. The last traces stopped at the gates to Obsidian."
Bloom's eyes began to fill with tears, her body shaking. Visions from that night, what she saw through Daphne's eyes, played out inside her head. Her mother's smile, her father's kindness. All of it, taken away.
"After a while, it was easier to accept that they were dead than to-" she trailed off, but Bloom continued: "So all this time, you knew exactly where they might be," she heard her voice breaking from both sadness and anger as the realization sunk in.
"You left them there," Bloom pushed on.
"Everyone wanted to find your parents Bloom. But Obsidian is the origin of all darkness. No soul could-"
Bloom cut in again: "You left them there. All of these years, we could have been one step closer to getting them back," she realized she was shouting and she didn't care. She didn't even notice that Valtor now stood right behind her, almost like a protective shield.
"If they are in Obsidian, they are as good as dead," Faragonda finished, her voice trembling, like saying it hurt her too. "Obsidian is where all dark magic came from. The Ancestral witches, Darkar, Relix, Valtor," she went on and Bloom's entire body ran cold. "The Shadow Haunt is the closest thing to it we have encountered."
Bloom felt a hand reach over and touch her shoulder gently. She didn't have the strength to pretend she wants it gone. Valtor's power grazed the corners of her mind and it took all her will to not let herself surrender to it. Only after a while did she realize he wasn't trying to break her. He was the thing that held her together.
"How do you get inside?" Bloom found herself asking. The only truly useful information up until now was that the world gave up on her family. But she wasn't going to.
"Bloom, you have to listen to reason. No one can get inside and survive."
She closed her eyes, feeling them shift. For the first time, she didn't care that her darkness was about to break out in front of everyone. They were already against her, this will only set their fears in stone.
"Where can I find the key Headmistress? Please," the last word she gritted through her teeth, welcoming the layer of golden that spread over her eyes.
A crash sounded behind them as the dome broke away and the witches began to seep inside the school. Faragonda didn't spare Bloom another glance as she flew inside Alfea. The others gathered in the yard, working on a new protection spell. The Winx flew to fight the witches, but Stella lingered behind, disregarding Valtor who still stood close to her. "Bloom? What are you going to do?"
But she didn't have an answer. Other than getting the information she needed, she didn't think that far ahead. There was a brief caress of a hand down her spine which Stella couldn't see as Valtor teleported away. Bloom was thankful her mind felt strong enough to stand still.
"You should get back to the Winx," Bloom addressed Stella again and the sun fairy stiffened, both of them aware Bloom actively excluded herself from their group. "I am not going to leave you to Valtor's hands again."
Bloom found herself smiling sadly. If only she knew just how late she was for that.
He was going to ruin everything anyway. Why were they even trying to fight it? He was too powerful, even for Faragonda.
She might be the only person to be his equal.
If she could control her powers.
"Stella, please. Go," Bloom said with a plead. "Don't make me fight you." Stella flinched at the words and Bloom herself was surprised to hear them leave her mouth. "You wouldn't," the sun fairy said simply, continuing to hold her best friend's gaze.
"After Solaria, I thought you would turn on me too," Bloom confessed, an urge to apologize for everything nagging at her. But Stella shook her head and reached for Bloom's hands.
"Just tell me this, be honest with me. Was your intention that day to stop Valtor?"
It didn't take Bloom even a second to say yes. At the words, the Princess of Solaria smiled. "I would never give up on you for it."
A crashing sound erupted from somewhere behind the sun fairy, and all it took was one glance toward it for Bloom to fly away, leaving Stella's hands lingering in the empty space.