Terrible, terrible nightmare, thought Stella as she breathed heavily and searched for a glass of water at the same time. Remembering her powers, with a flick of her hand, the glass on the desk flew towards her and landed in her palm gently. The water's touch on her throat was smooth as her skin. She had drunk it all but still couldn't feel as fresh and calm as she was supposed to. Taking the phone beside her pillow, she messaged Bloom and waited for her response.
Getting a call immediately, Stella didn't waste her time and opened the phone while letting her tears fall freely. Bloom's eyes were all puffy from crying, but right now she was only concerned for her best friend. Yes, it was hard for her in so many ways to make her best friend marry the boy she loves deeply, but there wasn't anything else in mind that could both stop the undesired marriages and save the three of them from getting hurt badly. Though this was also painful.
"Stella?" spoke Bloom hoarsely. Her voice, even though Flora tried to smooth her throat with her tea, was still way too irritated to smoothen that easily. All the girls were next to her trying to support her and find a way to break the marriage as painlessly as possible. "I can't," said Stella between her sobs. "Oh my god, Bloom, I can't do this. It's too much! All of this is too much!" Her sobs filled her room in Eraklyon, reminding Stella of how uncomfortable she felt in this palace.
"S-Stella? What, what happened?!" The girls rushed to look at their friend in a hurry, already worried for her and especially for her. Tecna had tried to convince Bloom not to open the plan to Radius, knowing damn well how the king would accept the offer in a second just so Stella could be safe. Aisha and Musa were sure that Stella running away from Magix would be a better solution, but that would only help Stella, and Sky would still be in a terrible situation. Aisha and Bloom were already too tense with each other since she didn't hesitate to tell the Fairy of the Dragon Flame that she had risked Stella's life only to help Sky. Even if the case wasn't this, Bloom's mind was playing mini-games with her, as if trying to understand if Aisha's words were true.
Her pain was more for Stella than Sky. She was worried about Stella more than herself. Now, seeing Stella look devastated only made her regret the plan she had made. "Nothing!" Her sobs increasing, Stella felt a sudden panic rush to her chest, finding it hard to breathe. "Damn it! This isn't a sleepover I don't want to be in! I'm married! I left my kingdom, my powers are getting weaker every second because the sun in Eraklyon is fake solar energy made by my father just so I won't fall ill!" Trying to catch some air, she clenched the cushions tight, trying to stop her shaking.
"Bloom," she sobbed, her eyes growing darker by the minute. Tecna rushed to the phone and took it from Bloom, now looking at the screen with concern and fear. Her feelings, however, were masked at the last minute to calm Stella. "Stella, breathe!" Her command sent a rush of feeling through Stella's system. She closed her eyes and leaned back against the headboard, taking short breaths. Tecna had used magic to control her panic. "Stella, listen to me only. You need to relax. You don't need the sun to shine on you. You can always find it inside of you!"
Her lips trembling, Stella tried to open her eyes but failed. Her friend's controlled voice managed to calm her a little, but she was still on the verge of having a panic attack.
"It's going to be okay, Stella. You said it yourself, you can think of this as a sleepover and it eventually will be over. I promise, Stella, did you hear me? I promise."
Hearing Tecna's promise, Stella opened her eyes slowly. Tecna's hologram was blurry through her tears, but Stella could still tell that Tecna looked concerned and scared. She never gave promises, thought the blonde while breathing heavily. Ever.
"Y-you promise?" asked Stella, bewildered.
Rolling her eyes to calm the room, Tecna nodded her head, attempting to reassure her friend. "Promise," she repeated, going against her character already. Stella nodded, holding onto what Tecna said. Even if Tecna wasn't going to keep her promise, which would be a rare occurrence, Stella could handle the struggle better by holding onto that promise.
Her bare feet touched the cold floor of her room, which was supposed to be the bedchamber of the newly wedded prince and princess. Stella had managed to cast a spell for the servants so they wouldn't question why Sky's clothes were separated from hers and why Sky almost never left the bedchamber, opting to walk out of his old bedroom instead. When it came to Stella's clothes, it was only natural for Sky to have another place for his own, since Stella owned enough clothes to fill a mall.
Not caring that the cold weather of Eraklyon would freeze her in her silk and short nightgown, Stella walked out onto her balcony. Placing the phone on the balcony's marble, Bloom took her phone from Tecna and walked out of the room to talk to Stella alone. The other girls might mind what she did, but Bloom needed this alone time to talk to her best friend more than ever right now.
Placing both her hands on the marble, Stella lowered her gaze to the gardens, watching as the guards and dogs paced back and forth. "Stella?" Bloom's murmur didn't interrupt her watch. Instead, she nodded, trying to tell Bloom that she was listening. "I'm so sorry I acted so selfish."
This piqued her interest. Turning to face Bloom's hologram, Stella frowned. "What do you mean?"
"Maybe we could've found a better way for you, maybe marrying Sky wasn't the last resort for you. I acted fast, putting myself first in this situation because I was scared," Bloom confessed.
"Maybe," Stella started, realizing that indeed there could've been something else to do for her. But then there wouldn't be anything for Sky, and Bloom would probably have lost it. Stella couldn't help but wonder if she was the one acting selfish right now. She needed Bloom's presence next to her, needed to know that Bloom had her back and would be there if she needed. If Stella had chosen another path, Bloom wouldn't have been able to be there for her at all.
"But then you wouldn't be there for me, since you'd have to deal with Sky's marriage," Stella pointed out. Bloom was stunned to hear Stella's also selfish but accurate comment. This formed a smile on her lips, and she released a long breath she had been holding for way too long. Returning the smile, Stella took a deep breath in response and murmured while watching her best friend struggle to talk for the first time in years.
"I feel so uncomfortable here, Bloom. I mean, there's no sun, and my powers are okay right now only because I don't use them, but this won't last too long."
Bloom frowned, realizing there were actually bigger problems than their feelings right now. "Isn't the ring's energy enough for you? You can just transport to Solaria and refill your powers, maybe?" Stella shook her head, sighing. "Only transporting would take half of the energy I refilled. Usually, it wouldn't be like that, you know this. But Eraklyon is different, like it holds an absorbed barrier all around the place."
Bloom took a moment to think and remembered Sky's plans for the enemy. She immediately let out a curse for forgetting this one fact. "You're right, there's a barrier-like place around the castle. Sky intends to block the attacks of assassins." Stella lowered her head in disappointment; this was just perfect.
"This place is going to be my grave," Stella murmured, flaring Bloom's anger. She shot up from the couch where she was sitting in the common room, getting into full rebuke mode. "You say that again, I'll burn your sweet, sexy ass in no time." Giggling at her best friend's response, Stella shook her head. "You are so in love with me, why did you wait for me to get married to your boyfriend before complimenting my ass?"
Forgetting her anger, Bloom giggled with her, winking at her in jest. "I had to get rid of Sky first." Laughing at that, Stella started to relax her knotted muscles and turned her gaze to the gardens to see if her laughter had caused any scene. Maybe not a scene, but her laughter had definitely grabbed attention. She ignored the guards around the garden, ogling her with awe. However her gaze was fixated on Brandon, whose eyes were inspecting her slowly and way too intensely for her body's liking. Gulping, she felt color rush to her cheeks and wetted her lips, not sure how to respond to his gaze.
Feeling a sudden wave of self-consciousness, Stella wrapped her arms around herself, trying to shield her exposed skin from Brandon's gaze. She cursed herself for not considering the consequences of stepping out in just her nightgown. Though she was never one to shy away from showing her skin, her current vulnerability made her regret her choice. The marble balcony partially obscured her legs, but she was certain her entire body was visible.
Stella noticed a subtle movement in Brandon's chin, as if he was clenching it in disapproval of her current state. Despite the armor covering his body, she could sense his intense focus on her, and it sent a chill down her spine. Even though his eyes were fixed on her face, she couldn't shake the feeling of his gaze lingering on her exposed skin.
"What the fuck? Are you blushing?" Stella's heart raced as she tried to compose herself, torn between the intensity of Brandon's gaze and Bloom's teasing words. She felt her cheeks flush even more at the thought of being caught in such a compromising situation. Grabbing the marble a little tighter, Stella let out a breath, feeling her stomach churn. "Stella? I hope you're not daydreaming about something inappropriate in front of me and probably the entire castle," Bloom's voice echoed in her ears. Turning to face her best friend's hologram, Stella frowned at her choice of words, hoping she hadn't been too loud so Brandon could hear. She had observed his reflexes earlier that day while he was training the squires. He was only observing, but when intervention was needed, he was too quick for anyone to follow. It was no surprise to Stella that he had become commander at such a young age.
"Be quiet!" warned Stella as her eyes scanned the area where Brandon had been moments before. However, he was now gone, she tried to ignore the disappointment growing inside of her as she turned to see the guards. All the guards who had been watching her had turned their heads down, avoiding eye contact. Okay, guarding the palace with their heads down was probably not a good idea, but they might have been embarrassed because of how they had gazed at her before.
"Why? Aren't you alone? If not, who is in your room at this hour?" She whispered, feeling something was amiss with her best friend's tone. "I'm alone! Just outside…It was… the commander of the Eraklyon knights. I was just…" Stella's inability to finish a sentence was probably a sign of impending doom. "Stell?" Bloom blinked in surprise. "Do you…" she started, but Stella cut her off immediately, too scared to hear what Bloom was going to ask. "No! Don't ask anything, okay? No!"
"You don't even know what you're saying no to!" Bloom smirked, relieved for her best friend but also filled with worry since she knew who Brandon was and how cold-blooded he could be, completely opposite to Stella's personality.
"You know what? I need to sleep now since I got Tecna's promise! I told you one day I would be the one to get a promise out of her mouth!" Tecna never promised, believing that the future can be changeable. Which of course it is. "Yeah, they probably are way too angry with me since I ran away from them taking the phone with me. I should go and apologize." Bloom glanced towards her bedroom she shares with Flora and sighed.
"Bloom," murmured Stella, already getting her friend's attention. "Take my room."
Bloom's eyebrows furrowed, and she shook her head. "No, Stell, you'll be back soon." Rolling her eyes, Stella watched as Bloom made her way towards the girls but halted before she opened the door. "It's not like we're going to stay longer in Alfea once the semester ends. We all finished the exams and passed everything after saving the universe way too many times. I don't think I'll be there any sooner, and I know you need some privacy sometimes. Take my room, at least whenever you need, okay?"
Not handling Stella's words, Bloom felt tears fill her eyes immediately but halted to not wake the emotional bear in her before Stella lost sleep again. "Okay," she whispered thankfully. Smiling, Stella pressed her hips against the cold marble and turned her gaze up to watch the night sky. She was the fairy of the sun but also of the moon and stars too. She may not use the night powers as much as day's but she would if she has to. Feeling determined, a smile formed on her lips and she turned to look at her friend's hologram who was curiously watching her. "And I'll find a way to recharge myself, don't worry."
Pacing in her room, Stella was filled with anger. This plan was made so both Stella and Sky would be free from the pressure of marriage. But only Stella was facing the difficulties that the plan brought. Sky had left for Red Fountain on a mission; meanwhile, Stella was left behind simply because she was a woman!
Grabbing her pillow, she threw it on the ground and reached for the lamp, hurling it as well. Not caring about the noise she was making, she started to destroy her room in an attempt to lessen her anger. Realizing that this wasn't easing her frustration, she grabbed her phone and called Sky, who answered only a few seconds before the call ended abruptly. Calling him again, Stella fumed, "This is not fair, Sky. We had a deal! I'm a guardian fairy, you can't lock me in the palace!" With Bloom by his side, Sky sighed. He had just argued with his girlfriend about this, and now Stella was testing his patience even further. "Stella, you are now my wife," he stated, and Bloom shot him a look mirrored to Stella's. "You dare call me that one more time," Stella whispered, her voice taking on a menacing tone, "I swear to the stars, even if you have a team of ogres to protect you, I'll kill you anyway." Gulping, Sky tried to think of a way to ease the fairy's anger.
Bloom had asked Sky to find a way for Stella to be out helping them. After all, she wasn't just any fairy! Stella's powers were needed, and Bloom's connected powers worked only with hers. Besides, seeing her best friend locked in because of her was tearing her apart.
"Stella," started Sky, attempting to explain. "My father would've suspected something was odd if I let you leave the palace a day after we married!" Biting her lip, Stella tried to swallow her curse, but it wasn't really working. "Piss off, jackass! You leaving the palace a day after we married is not suspicious, but me leaving it is?" Grabbing another object from the bedside table, Stella hurled it at the wall, making a loud crack noise. Sky flinched, while Bloom hit him on the arm and took the phone from his hand. "Stell," she murmured, unsure how to calm her friend.
It hadn't even been twenty-four hours since they last spoke on the phone, yet here Bloom was again, devastated that her friend was locked up because she tried to save her boyfriend.
As soon as Stella saw Bloom, her eyes immediately filled with tears, and she sank to the floor, surrounded by beddings. "Are you girls okay?" she murmured, feeling apologetic. "We're all fine, Stell," said Bloom, smiling to reassure her. "Are you?" Stella nodded, though Bloom could see that it was a lie.
Her blond curls cascaded messily over her face, partially obscuring her features, and she wore a beautiful beige dress—a garment Stella reserved for moments of longing for Solaria. It wasn't just the color that drew her to it; it was the symbolic connection to her powers, a hue that resonated with her deeply. The dress hinted at her slight cleavage, revealing three simple and elegant necklaces she always wore: one adorned with a sun, another with a moon, and the third with stars. To Bloom, there were no words sufficient to describe her friend's beauty. And she wished she could be the source of Stella's smile right now, rather than burdening her with troubles and witnessing the despair etched on her face.
Suddenly, the door to her bedchambers opened harshly, causing the heavy doors to collapse against the walls. As Stella jumped in fear, Brandon stood in the entrance, his face troubled as he quickly scanned the room with his eyes. Stella backed away against the wall, noticing the knight's intense anger. Bloom's worried scream made her flinch, but she kept her gaze fixed on Brandon, who was now approaching her.
"Finally," murmured Sky from behind Bloom, looking at his best friend through the hologram.
"What?" asked Bloom, not understanding what her boyfriend meant.
"She was having a tantrum. I texted Brandon that she's in danger."
Stella stared at Sky, his explanation ringing in her ears. "You're dead," she said, cutting off any response before closing the phone and turning her attention to Brandon, who had approached her. He knelt down to meet her gaze, searching her face for any signs of injury. "I'm fine," she murmured, finding her voice at last.
Brandon's hand reached out, causing Stella to freeze momentarily. He plucked a feather from her hair and placed it gently in her palm. "You did this?" His voice was as stoic as ever, but there was an underlying tension that unsettled Stella. She knew Brandon wouldn't harm her; he was a loyal knight, after all. Yet, a nagging voice in the back of her mind warned her to tread carefully and not test his patience. Stella hesitated, unsure if she should reveal the truth to Brandon. "I was..." she began tentatively, searching for the right words. "Sad," she admitted, her voice soft.
Brandon tilted his head to the side, studying her closely. Stella felt a flutter of discomfort in her stomach and unconsciously shifted away from him, pressing herself against the wall. "Why?" Brandon's question was simple, but his gaze was penetrating. Feeling a sense of relief at his lack of anger, Stella decided to open up a bit more. "Sky left me behind," she confessed, her voice tinged with frustration. "I wanted to help my friends, but he ignored me and went on the mission alone."
Brandon continued to observe her, still struggling to reconcile the image of the fairy princess he had expected with the complex person standing before him. When Sky had entrusted Stella's safety to him, Brandon had anticipated dealing with a spoiled princess. However, Stella's behavior had defied his expectations from the start.
He couldn't shake the irony of the situation. As the greatest knight of Eraklyon, he often found himself overlooked by the princesses, who were solely focused on the prince. But with Stella, it was different. Despite her connection to the prince through marriage, she seemed to regard him with indifference.
Brandon couldn't help but be taken aback by Stella's response. Her anxiety and sadness seemed to contradict the typical expectations of someone who had been spared from a dangerous mission. He had assumed she would feel relieved to stay behind, safe from harm's way. But Stella's dedication to her role as a guardian fairy was evident in her passionate rebuttal.
"It's safer if one of you stays. Sky must've thought you need rest," he had remarked, only to be met with Stella's sharp retort. Her confidence in her abilities as a guardian fairy was palpable, and Brandon found himself admiring her unwavering determination.
Grabbing the feather, which Brandon had just placed in her palm, forcefully, she gritted her teeth saying; "I'm the guardian fairy! Without me, my friends could get hurt! Sky is a powerful and talented specialist indeed but not as important as me in a battlefield!"
As Stella spoke, Brandon was captivated by the flicker of orange and yellow in her eyes, a testament to the fiery spirit that burned within her. Despite the weight of her responsibilities, she exuded a sense of strength and resilience that was truly remarkable.
"I heard your victories, I can say the same," Brandon added, his words echoing with a quiet confidence that left Stella momentarily speechless.
Stella glanced at Brandon, seeking confirmation in his expression. Nodding slightly, she silently thanked him and began to rise from her seated position. Brandon instinctively extended his hand to offer support, which she accepted without hesitation. As their hands met, Stella couldn't help but notice the stark contrast between her warm touch and his cold one. Furrowing her brows, she inquired, "Are you cold?" Brandon's lips curved into a rare smile, surprising both Stella and himself. It wasn't often that he allowed himself such displays of warmth. "Always," he replied simply.
Her large amber eyes blinked uncertainly, unsure how to respond to his answer. Opting for silence, she simply nodded, acknowledging his words. Despite the challenge of navigating through the clutter that had accumulated during her outburst, Stella found herself managing. However, the long skirts of her beige dress dragged on the ground, hindering her movement. Brandon couldn't help but smirk at her efforts to take a step forward. Taking initiative, he gently grasped her small waist, effortlessly lifting her up and allowing her hands to find his shoulders reflexively. Setting her down in a less cluttered area, he observed her with a faint smile.
"Thank you," Stella murmured, her cheeks flushing slightly at the unexpected assistance.
"I assume you're feeling better now?" Brandon inquired, his smirk taking on a more personal tone, or at least that's how Stella perceived it. Unable to prevent her blush from deepening, she cleared her throat and stammered, "Thank you."
Brandon found himself smiling once more, surprised by his own reaction. "You've already thanked me. Let me know if you need me."
Stella's brows furrowed slightly at his offer. Need him? Why would she... Her gaze drifted to the mess she had created, and she let out a resigned sigh. "I'll send someone to clean up the mess." Said Brandon as Stella halted him before he could leave. With a flick of her hand, everything returned to its proper place, and the dust vanished. "I don't want anyone to deal with my tantrums." Seating herself on the bed, she turned away from Brandon, avoiding further embarrassment.
Brandon frowned, concerned to see her spirits so low. He didn't know much about her, but he sensed that she possessed a bright and typically cheerful disposition. When Sky had mentioned the plan, Brandon had simply nodded and agreed to do his part. He had assumed that Stella would eventually fall in love with Sky, and there would no longer be a reason for him to linger in her presence.
But the blonde was clearly uncomfortable with the situation. Even Sky seemed more at ease, which was saying something. Perhaps the story would have played out differently if the roles were reversed, but with Bloom in the picture, that scenario seemed unlikely too. Sighing, Brandon approached Stella and studied her melancholic expression.
He couldn't quite pinpoint why, but seeing her so downcast bothered him. "Princess Stella," he began, already capturing her attention. "Would you like to go out for a walk?" It was an impromptu invitation, and he knew he should be outside overseeing the training of the squires and knights. Yet, here he was, trying to alleviate her sadness.
"I thought we agreed to drop the 'princess' title," she sighed, suddenly feeling drained.
"I can't just call you Stella."
Looking up to his eyes she frowned, "And why not?"
Looking into her amber eyes, Brandon felt a warmth spreading in his chest. If she continued to look at him like that, no one would be able to resist developing feelings for her. Shivers ran down his arms, prompting him to blink in surprise. Stella's hand was resting on his forearm, her gaze filled with concern. He hadn't answered her question; that must have been why.
"It would be disrespectful on my part," he finally replied finding his voice.
Furrowing her brow again, Stella tried to understand his meaning. When she realized he had actually answered her question, she responded, "It wouldn't. We're friends now, aren't we?"
Feeling the weight of Stella's hand on his forearm and her gaze fixed on him, Brandon swallowed hard, suddenly feeling the urge to engage in a sword fight to release the tension. When someone cleared their throat, Brandon instinctively moved to position himself between the intruder and Stella, despite there being no apparent threat within the palace walls.
The guard stood before them, clearly taken aback by Brandon's protective stance in the absence of any danger. "Um," he stammered, still trying to shake off the tension in the room. "King Erendor is leaving for Nyxoria. He wishes to speak with you, sir."
Brandon nodded, acknowledging the message, and turned his gaze to the guard. Though familiar with most of the guards, knights, and squires in the palace, this particular guard seemed new to him.
Turning to Stella and bowing respectfully, Brandon turned to leave, "Brandon!" Stella's voice rang out, and both the guard and Brandon turned their attention back to her. "Would you accompany me for a walk later?" Her tone shifted slightly, adopting a more formal air befitting her status as a princess rather than a friend, to avoid any potential trouble with the guard.
Brandon studied her face, feeling a sense of relief flood through him, though he couldn't quite pinpoint why. "I would be honored, Princess," he replied with a slight smile. Stella's bright smile in return only served to lift his spirits further. With another respectful nod, Brandon turned to address the guard, his expression now marked with a hint of impatience. "Why are you still here?"
The guard, looking bewildered, hastened his departure, practically sprinting from the room with Brandon trailing behind him.
As the commotion settled, Stella flopped onto her bed, her blond locks splayed out around her. Despite the tumultuous events of the day, she couldn't help but smile. Perhaps staying behind wasn't such a bad thing after all.