"Don't touch my hair!" I yelled, my voice laced with frustration, as the red goblin laughed and lunged towards me with unnatural speed. Anger surged through my veins, and I raised my scepter, channeling my power to send a blast of solar energy towards them, wishing their destination to be nothing less than hell. Three of the goblins were instantly incinerated, their demise accompanied by a terrible stench that filled the air around me.
Turning, I saw the ugly troll who had been the sole reason for my presence on Earth. "Why do you have to make it so hard, sunny?" he taunted, his breath nearly knocking me out with its foul odor. My stomach churned, torn between offering him toothpaste and pushing him away from me. But before I could react, he lunged towards me with a growl.
With a resigned sigh, I summoned a large fireball and hurled it at him, managing to push him back momentarily. However, he quickly regained his footing and launched another attack. I countered with a barrage of solar balls, but in doing so, I left my back unprotected.
A sudden warmth spread behind me, subtle yet unmistakable, as if there were flames licking at my heels. Confused, I turned to investigate, but all I saw were the charred remains of the goblins and the troll, who appeared to be badly injured. Some of his wounds were undoubtedly inflicted by me, but the fiery sensation I felt suggested that he had also been burned by something else.
"What the…" I trailed off, unable to comprehend what had just transpired. Just then, I noticed a girl around my age staring at her hands in stunned disbelief. The ogre bellowed nearby, evidently enraged at seeing his troll friend injured. With my own anger reaching its peak, I unleashed a cosmic blast, pushing the blue creature back with the force of my fury. Enough was enough!
As I yelled in anger, the pressure of the heat coursing through my veins, my throat grew dry, but my attack intensified. The ogre and the troll, though in slightly better condition than their fallen comrade, took a few steps back. But I refused to play the role of the helpless princess any longer. These monsters had been hounding me for days now.
"Cosmic Fury!" I bellowed, channeling all of my rage and power into the attack, causing it to glow with a blinding white hue that likely left countless birds temporarily blinded. Sorry, birds. After the light faded, I felt my knees weaken, my scepter slipping from my grasp as my fingers lost their strength. Five seconds later, darkness enveloped me.
"Hey, hey, don't sit up! You're still too exhausted," the redhead insisted, gently guiding my head back against the pillow. Despite my confusion about my surroundings and the faces surrounding me, I didn't sense any immediate danger. My intuition rarely failed me; the stars were always my most reliable guides, and they wouldn't have urged me to sit up if it were unsafe.
"Where am I?" I whispered, my eyes barely open.
"Safe," reassured the redhead, the same one I remembered seeing while dealing with the ogre and the troll. Perhaps she was the one who had dispatched the goblins and the troll behind me. Had she been trying to save me?
Summoning the strength to open my eyes fully, I took in the faces surrounding me. "Can I have some water?" I asked, my voice betraying my instinctual desire to bask in the sunlight—though it was clearly nighttime on Earth. With a sigh, I attempted to sit up, only to have the redhead gently assist me in resting against the pillow once more. "Thank you," I murmured gratefully as she helped me sip the water. Smiling back at her, I leaned back, taking a deep breath.
"My name is Bloom. And these are my parents; don't worry, we haven't told anyone about your magic powers," Bloom explained.
Frowning, I tried to understand why she felt the need to reassure me. I knew there weren't any magical creatures on Earth—at least, none visible to human eyes. Then again, reassurance wasn't necessary. And why did I feel so weak? I hadn't exerted all my power to create that blast; it had been a simple one. My eyes shot open in realization as I noticed my ring was missing from my finger. "My ring!" I exclaimed, panicked, but my body refused to move any further.
Bloom tried to calm me before handing me a metal tray. Confused, I looked at her until I spotted my ring resting atop it. "Oh," I murmured, immediately retrieving and replacing it.
When I looked up, I noticed three pairs of eyes staring at me, shocked and worried. "What?" I inquired, my body instantly on high alert despite feeling better.
"That ring was too hot to touch. How isn't your skin burning?" one of them asked.
Glancing down at my ring, which possessed enough energy to recharge me, I replied, "It's a long story." I wasn't eager to explain how solar power could be lethal in the wrong hands. Clearing my throat, I finally found my voice to offer some manners, which I had been lacking due to my weakened condition. "My name is Stella, the princess of Solaria and the fairy of celestial bodies. Many know me as the fairy of the sun only, which I don't mind being called at all!" Smiling, I looked at the bewildered faces, now realizing they were Bloom's parents. "I must thank you for letting me rest here. It was a hard day."
The father, his face flushed with embarrassment, stammered, "Stella, you can rest as much as you want. But I think it's better if we call your parents now. They must be worried about you."
"Oh, not at all. They think I'm at Alfea right now. Besides, it would cause you to have a terrible phone bill if you tried to reach another planet," I replied, attempting to ease his anxiety. Remembering that humans on Earth led magicless lives, I added, "You don't have to worry, sir. I won't tell anyone that your daughter is a fairy either."
"What?!" Both Bloom and her mother's shouts caused me to flinch. While I stood there stunned not sure why they reacted that way the father made his way towards the phone who looked ancient. "That's it, I'm calling the police. They'll know how they can deal with a lunatic."
"Excuse me?!" I spoke, not able to believe what I hear. "Calling a princess a lunatic may be at some case necessary. Especially if you're addressing the princess of Isis; I think she's quite a good fit to be addressed as such but I am not." With a flick of my finger I made the father sit on the couch, his flying body making him scream in panic. Rolling my eyes, I turned my attention to the old phone, remembering professor Wizgiz's last lesson I made a healthy salad out of the gadget. "My status is way higher than hers and if anyone hears you say anything like that about me, even I could not save you."
As Bloom sat beside me, her smile never faltered, a comforting presence amidst the chaos. Observing her unwavering positivity, I couldn't help but release a sigh. "Okay," I said, breaking the tension, "I think we all have some explanations to make."
Sighing, Stella glanced at the hologram of Tecna just as she finished her update. "Tec, they attacked us again. Tomorrow I'll be back at Alfea with Bloom, of course," she said, casting a reassuring smile toward her red-haired friend who was busy packing. The troll and ogre wasted no time in making another attempt on Stella, interrupting their conversation. It was frustrating to Stella that Bloom remained unaware of her fairy status, and that Earth remained oblivious to the existence of other planets teeming with life. How self-absorbed, she thought, for humans to believe they were the sole inhabitants of the universe.
"But we need a backup plan to remove those hideous creatures from here. Humans are oblivious to their existence, and this could lead to significant chaos," Stella explained to Tecna.
Tecna sighed, her typically confident voice now tinged with uncertainty. "Faragonda mentioned," she murmured, her tone dropping in volume unexpectedly. Stella frowned, sensing the gravity of the situation. "What did she say? She didn't give up on Bloom, did she?" Bloom's expression turned panicked and worried as she looked at Stella. Stella shook her head, attempting to reassure her, but even she found it difficult to believe her own reassurances. "No, it's not that."
"Tecna, stop delaying and just say it!" Stella's impatience broke through as she urged Tecna to deliver the news. Tecna took a nervous breath before turning her eyes toward the girls gathered behind her. Flora stood up, positioning herself next to Tecna, her gaze fixed on Stella through the hologram. She was concerned to see Stella so far from the planet they were on, and she didn't want to add to her worries by expressing her own boredom.
"She said she's going to send the specialists to deal with the troll and ogre," Tecna finally revealed.
Stella's anger and fury ignited, her amber eyes now sparkling with intensity. "She said that?! I don't need the specialists! I can just burn them and destroy their bodies!" Flora blinked, disliking Stella's proposed solution. "You wouldn't! Stella, do you want to start a war with ogres or something? You know they're closely bonded. If something happens to one of them, an entire army would seek revenge!"
"I'd rather face a war," muttered Stella, the color draining from her face as she realized that specialists were likely on their way. "Stella, try to stay calm. Don't get into a fight. Your last detention lasted for weeks! Remember that," Flora advised, trying to soothe her best friend's anxiety. Stella nodded, but she couldn't shake the unease that was creeping over her. Bloom sat beside her, concerned as she observed the blonde's stress and agitation. "Is there anything I can do?" she asked, her voice laced with worry.
Flora and Tecna exchanged reassuring smiles before turning their attention back to Stella. She shook her head, leaning against the headboard of Bloom's bed. "Pray for us," she murmured.
Sitting on the grass, awaiting the arrival of the Aircraft of Specialists, Bloom couldn't resist her curiosity about Stella's intense dislike for them. She had just learned about specialists but couldn't grasp why the fairy of the sun harbored such animosity towards them. And it wasn't just Stella; the other girls she had met shared the same sentiment. What had the specialists done to incur such hatred from the girls?
"Stella, do you mind if I ask why you don't like the specialists?" Bloom finally mustered the courage to inquire.
"Of course I don't mind, Bloom," Stella replied, her tone tinged with disdain. "You'll see for yourself eventually. Speaking for myself, I don't like their character. They always act as if the power of women isn't worth anything. The way they speak about women, the way they treat them, and their perspective of themselves—it's simply the worst hypocrisy you could ever witness. I don't know what they are taught, but I can tell you this: it's definitely sexism."
Listening to Stella speak without taking a breath left Bloom speechless. Stella's fury, however, only intensified. Glancing towards Bloom to ensure she was still listening, Stella continued her tirade, "They hang out with witches most of the time."
Bloom frowned, recalling Stella's previous mention of witches. While the information wasn't entirely surprising, it was still fresh in Bloom's mind, making it difficult to react casually.
"There are specialists who date fairies as well, it's not a big deal but…" Stella's hands clenched into fists, her rage palpable. "The way they treat them, it's just—" She abruptly stood up, unable to contain her distress over the behavior of men who, one might assume, should be more educated given their years of training. Yet, as it seemed, the educators themselves were a mess from the start.
"Why do the fairies let them get away with it?"
Bloom pondered aloud, struggling to comprehend the complex dynamics at play. As Stella paced back and forth, she emitted a frustrated sigh that sounded more like a sharp 'tsch' to her ears. She seemed to glow, her body, hair, eyes, and even the path she trod sparkling with intensity. Bloom watched her new friend with a mixture of confusion and concern, fearing she might explode from the pent-up emotions.
"Because they are charmed," Stella finally vocalized, her tone tinged with exasperation. Rolling her eyes, she felt some of her tension ease. "They are handsome, I'll give you that. But what am I supposed to do with an egg that looks beautiful outside and rotten inside? Eventually, it'll smell."
Bloom chuckled at Stella's example, appreciating the blonde's tendency to illustrate tense situations with vivid comparisons. It was a habit Bloom admired; there was much about Stella to admire. She was strikingly beautiful, almost otherworldly for someone born in a human body like hers. Stella had mentioned that she hadn't always been this way, but Bloom disagreed. Even in the younger pictures Stella shared, Bloom couldn't deny her captivating presence. If Bloom didn't know Stella possessed magic powers—celestial powers, to be exact—she might have assumed her abilities were rooted in beauty.
Sighing, Stella settled back down, her gaze fixed on the stars dotting the night sky. "The stars in your planet look different. Like tiny little dots, or, sparkles?" Stella smiled as she observed the stars, her familiarity with them evident. Bloom returned her smile, finding herself unable to tear her gaze away from the fairy who had managed to change her life in just one day.
The ogre attempted to sit up, causing Bloom to stir in panic. "It's okay," Stella reassured as she stood up and approached the ogre, who now regarded the Solarian Princess with a smirk playing on his lips. "You would beg me, princess," Stella clenched her fists, resenting the fact that these creatures could speak. "Next time, it might be you in my place. But I won't be as friendly as you."
Stella's hand glowed with a dark yellow hue, a power she typically reserved for lethal purposes. Though Bloom remained unaware of this fact, she instinctively reached for Stella's arm, murmuring while attempting to evade the ogre's gaze, "Stella, don't. We've waited this long, just hold on a little longer." Not wanting to further alarm Bloom, Stella lowered her glowing palm, but her eyes remained fixed on the ogre, brimming with intensity.
Just then, a massive Aircraft descended upon Bloom's house, seemingly finding no better place to land. Bloom raised her head, watching as armored men descended to the ground via ropes attached to the ship. They were all clad in dark blue attire, their cloaks billowing in the strong wind stirred up by the airship.
Bloom's eyes widened as she observed the ship and the specialists, all of whom bore stern and stoic expressions as they approached the girls. The redhead couldn't conceal the awe evident on her face; these men seemed like Greek gods come to life. Her gaze swept over a blonde man, his hair long and a rope held in his hand. He, too, observed Bloom, though his demeanor was devoid of awe or fascination. Instead, he frowned and scrutinized Bloom from head to toe. She tried to resist the urge to fix her hair, tousled by the wind. Glancing towards Stella, she noticed the fairy still focused on the ogre, not once acknowledging the presence of the specialists.
Biting her lip, Bloom couldn't resist admiring Stella once more. Despite the strong wind tousling her hair, Stella appeared alluring.
"Dear princess, stop using specialists as your private guards," came the voice of one of the specialists. Stella didn't even flinch at the comment; her gaze remained fixed on the ogre.
"It's your responsibility to ensure the safety of the galaxy, especially the air traffic. That's on you," she murmured.
Stella's eyes met Sky's, and the prince growled angrily. "Don't blame your incompetence on someone else!" Stella rolled her eyes and took a few steps back. "Incompetence, you say," she retorted, gesturing towards the giant monsters sprawled on the grass. Sky remained silent, though knowing that they weren't at fault in this situation. However, it was undeniable that the specialists bore responsibility for failing to guard the dimensions and galaxy paths used by aircraft. Codatorta, recognizing the futility of further debate with Stella, advised against pressing the issue any further. He knew all too well that if Stella felt pressured, Faragonda would ensure consequences were meted out to him.
As the blonde and magenta-haired specialists began to use their ropes to restrain the beasts, Bloom's attention shifted towards another specialist who hadn't spoken or moved from his position since their arrival. He remained leaned against a nearby structure, his gaze fixed intently on Stella.
At first, Bloom's mind jumped to what Stella had mentioned about certain specialists being perverted, especially around fairies. However, this man's scrutiny of Stella didn't seem randy. It was more cautious, or at least that's how it appeared to Bloom. His face bore a stoic expression, unlike the others who seemed visibly agitated. Instead, this man exuded an aura of malevolence, like a villain straight out of a movie. Bloom couldn't shake the feeling of dread emanating from him, and she glanced at Stella to see if she was aware of the intense scrutiny the brunette specialist was subjecting her to.
Bloom was shocked to witness the silent exchange between Stella and the brunette specialist. Their mutual gaze seemed to convey a silent battle of wills, with Stella returning the scrutiny in kind, her eyes raking over him just as he had done to her. A strange tension hung in the air, emanating from both of them. Were they enemies, or something else entirely? Bloom struggled to make sense of the dynamics at play. Stella's earlier comment about her fairy book being too perfect and magical compared to real life echoed in Bloom's mind. If the warriors were called specialists and they didn't live up to the idealized portrayal in the book, perhaps enemies were referred to by different terms as well.
"Just a little while, princess," the ogre growled, his voice oozing with menace as he flashed a sickening smile. "Those morons won't be able to hold me as much as you think. I'll be back for you." His hand reached out to touch Stella's hair, but Riven tightened his hold on the rope, preventing the ogre from reaching her. Stella clenched her fist, struggling to contain her anger as she forced a smile. "Sure," she replied curtly, before turning her back on the ogre and walking away to sit where she and Bloom had been before the specialists arrived. Bloom followed suit, settling down beside Stella and watching as the specialists restrained the ogre, who struggled furiously against their grip.
In just a minute, chaos erupted as the ogre broke free from the specialists' grip. With a swift punch, he struck the magenta-haired specialist, whom Bloom found particularly annoying, before shoving aside the blonde specialist with brute force. Growling madly, the ogre surged towards Stella, who instinctively positioned herself in front of Bloom. Her clothes shimmered and changed to more sparkling attire, her wings spreading wide as her hands began to glow with a bright yellow light. Bloom watched in shock, frozen in place as the tense situation unfolded before her eyes.
As Stella prepared to defend herself, Bloom's gaze shifted to the brunette specialist. In that critical moment, as the ogre targeted Stella, he swiftly drew his sword and matched the creature's speed. In a single, decisive motion, he severed the ogre's head, eliciting a startled scream from Bloom.
Standing in front of Stella, the brunette specialist calmly placed the ogre's head under his feet. Bloom caught a glimpse of his gaze directed towards Stella, but she couldn't discern whether it held any positive or negative intent. However, before she could dwell on it further, the magenta-haired specialist, made a derogatory remark, "Fairies are needy."
Normally, Stella would have swiftly retorted to Riven's comment, taking pleasure in putting him in his place. But in that moment, there were more pressing matters at hand. Despite the ogre's severed head lying beneath the specialist's feet, Stella remained unfazed. Emitting an annoyed sound, she sat back down, refusing to acknowledge Brandon's gaze directed towards her.
Cracking his neck, the brunette specialist approached the ogre's body, his sword still stained with blood. Ignoring the blood, he raised his sword into the air, causing Bloom to furrow her brow in confusion. Before she could comprehend his actions, brunette drove his sword into the ogre's left hand, then swiftly severed the wrist, cutting off the hand. Bloom stifled her scream this time, recalling the mockery she faced from Riven earlier. She couldn't fathom why the brunette felt the need to mutilate the ogre's hand, but she surmised it must be knowledge not found in her books.
Stella's eyes followed Brandon's movements as he walked towards Sky and Riven, the severed hand still in his grip. "Fucking psychopath," she muttered to herself, her disdain for the specialists intensifying. In her eyes, they were all cut from the same cloth, and that was precisely why she despised them. Without uttering a word, they collected the dead body and the ogre's severed head before making their way back to the ship. Brandon effortlessly boarded the ship without using the rope, disappearing from sight, while Sky and Riven struggled to manage the ogre's remaining body.
Once the ship departed, Bloom turned to Stella, uncertain whether she should say anything. However, Stella smiled reassuringly at the redhead, offering comfort. "Don't worry, once you figure out how to use your powers, everything will seem less scary."
Relieved that Stella was able to speak after the ordeal with the ogre, Bloom inquired softly, "Are you okay, Stella?"
"Yeah," Stella replied, looking up at the disappearing ship in the sky. "I'm used to it." With that, she pulled her legs towards herself, resting her chin on her knee, her expression a mixture of resignation.