Chapter 05

"Icy!" Bloom calls out. "Do you have everything?"

The white-haired witchling hefts out of the room with a suitcase nearly as big as her. "Where are we going again?"

"We're going home for the weekend."

"I thought this was home?" the witchling gestures to the apartment.

"Alfea is more of a home away from home," the Fairy explains. "I live in Gardenia. A town on Earth."

Icy crosses her arms, "And why do we have to go to Earth?"

"Tomorrow is the Day of the Rose here in Magix. A holiday where you spend a whole day with your mother."

The witchling saddens at that and drops her head. "But I don't have a mother."

Bloom smiles sadly at the child. "That's why I'm bringing you with me. I don't want to leave you alone on such a day. And more importantly, I get to introduce you to my parents."

"I don't know," Icy starts digging her foot into the carpet. "Do you think they'll like me?"

"I know that they're going to love you the way I do," Bloom pokes the girl's nose making her laugh. "Now, I'll ask again. Do you have everything?"

"Yes!" Icy pats her suitcase.

Bloom reaches behind her. "Are you sure?" and pulls out the stuffed leopard.

"Snowy!" the girl snatches the toy and hugs it. She then hears the giggling of her caretaker. "I mean, I guess we can take him."

.oOo.

Mike was helping his wife, Vanessa, cook dinner. Being aware that some sort of Magix holiday is coming up, they knew to expect their daughter this evening. Whom said that she has a surprise.

The doorbell rings.

Vanessa says. "I'll get it!" as soon as she opens the door, the woman smiles. "Bloom!" she embraces her adopted daughter. "It's so good to see you again."

Mike walks up from behind her. "Hi, honey! How are you doing?"

The fire then hugs her father. "I'm doing good, dad."

"So, what's this surprise?" the dad then gets a jab in his ribs from his wife. "What!?"

Bloom bits her lower lip. "Well, Mom, Dad…" she steps to the side to reveal a little girl with long white hair in a ponytail. "…this is Icy. Say hello, Icy."

"Hello," the child shyly waves at them.

Mike scratches the back of his head. "Isn't that the same name as one of those Trix girls?"

Icy turns to look at Bloom. "They know me?"

"Uh, how about you head up to my room?" the fairy tells her. "Kiko will show you and I'll bring your bag up later."

The rabbit hops off the suitcase and tugs on the little girl's pants leg to lead her into the house.

Everyone watches the two as they make their way up the stairs and out of sight.

Vanessa turns to her daughter. "Bloom. What's going on exactly?"

.oOo.

Later

Bloom finishes her story while helping her parents finish setting up dinner. "And now my friends and I are in charge of taking care of them," she sets the last of the plates on the table.

"But why you exactly?" Mike asks while moving the pot from the stove to the table. "I mean she is still the same person that tried to banish us into a dark void."

The fairy shakes her head. "Not anymore, she isn't. When they were de-aged, the Trix lost their memories. None of them are aware of what they had done in the past. I, I kinda hope they never will."

Vanessa places the pitcher of water on the table before taking her daughter's hand. "It was kind of you and your friends to take them in, despite the trouble they may have caused."

Unbeknownst to the family of three, they had an audience just around the corner listening in on them.

.oOo.

Hours later.

Icy waits until her guardian is asleep before crawling out of Bloom's bed. Kiko notices this as he hops out to follow the young witchling.

Mike and Vanessa have finished getting ready for bed and were about to sleep when Mike asks his wife. "Are you sure it's a good idea to let Icy stay with us?"

"She's just a child, Mike," Vanessa sits down on the bed.

"But you remember what they've done?" the husband argued.

A quiet voice soon inters the conversation. "Did, did I hurt you?"

The couple turn to see the witchling hiding just around the corner of the doorway. The two look at each other, Vanessa then turns back to her. "It, it was a long time ago, Sweetie."

"Perhaps you should go to bed?" Mike insists. "Besides, this is more of a grownup talk."

Instead of answering, Icy just lets out a sob. "Bloom acts like I don't know. I hear people talking though. The students at Alfea, the teachers, some people during our trips to Magix. I even notice when the Winx slip when talking about me or my friends. I try to ignore it. It's hard sometimes. I don't know what happened exactly, but I know that I wasn't a nice person. And, and I'm sorry!"

Vanessa jumps out of the bed to hug the child. "It's okay, Icy," she reassures the girl as she sobbed into her shoulder.

Mike speaks up as he gets out of bed to walk over to them. "It's hard to believe that you are the same Icy that tried to hurt us," he smiles at her. "I doubt she would have been so brave to apologize while afraid to do so."

The ice witchling ended up crying herself to sleep in Vanessa's arms. While taking her back to Bloom's room, they started to worry as Icy struggles in her sleep. Kiko, who had not left the girl since she woke up, sighs. He then hops up onto the girl, who grabs hold of him and immediately calms down. The couple could not help but smile at the adorable sight. They then tuck the girl in next to Bloom.

Whether she was aware of it or not, the fire fairy wraps an arm around the child.

.oOo.

Next Morning

The first thing Bloom notices as she wakes up was the lack of the witchling's presence. "Icy? Icy!" the fairy jumps out of bed to run downstairs. "Mom! Dad! Have you seen—" she stops as she enters the dining room and sees Icy there eating some bacon and eggs. Her dad is across from her reading the morning paper and her mom was setting a couple more plates on the table.

Icy turns to the fairy and with a mouth full of bacon says. "Morning, Bloom!"

Without looking over his paper, Mike says, "Icy, don't talk with your mouth full."

The witchling swallowed, "Sorry!"

"Mike, go easy on her," Vanessa tells him as she pours her husband a cup of coffee. "Are you going to join us, Bloom?"

The scene reminds Bloom of her childhood. "Yes, Mom," and she sits next to Icy.

"Icy," the mom turns to the witchling. "After breakfast, how about you go and take a bath?" she tells her as the older woman sits next to her husband.

Bloom smiles and eyes the child. "Yeah. Especially since you didn't take one last night. Remember what Sky said about Princes and smelly girls?"

Icy gasps and starts downing her meal and suddenly started coughing.

Both Bloom and her mother are by the girl's side with the former patting her on the back while Mike looks worriedly at Icy.

"Slow down, Icy!" Vanessa tells her. "Take your time. the bath won't be going anywhere."

"The hot water might!" Mike jokes. "I can tell you for a fact that if Bloom beats you to the bathroom, there won't be any left for the rest of us."

"Dad!" the fairy's face reddens.

"It's true!" Mike laughs and Vanessa holds a hand to her mouth to stifle her own.

"That's alright!" the witchling speaks up between bites. "I prefer my baths cold. I hate hot water."

"But, Sweetie," Vanessa looks at her worriedly. "Aren't you worried about catching a cold."

"Nu-huh!"

Bloom smiles and shrugs. "She seems to be immune to the cold. Trust me, it's better to just go with it. If the water is too hot by her standards, she will refuse to take a bath."

Mike sets his paper down. "Well, Bloom, you do tend to prefer your water much hotter than what most people would tolerate."

"I thought about that. But I've had the other girls feel the water. Even Darcy and Stormy. None of them thought it was too hot. In fact, most of them insisted that it was rather cool," the teen then sighs. "I think it's because she's an ice witch."

"Is that what I am?" Icy starts poking at what's left on her plate. "A witch?"

"I-uh, mean," the redhead fumbles over her words. "You might be. I mean, who knows?"

The witchling sets her silverware down. "May I be excused?" she hops out of the seat without waiting for an answer and leaves the room.

"Icy?" Bloom reaches out just as the witchling goes out of sight.

Her father spoke. "She's a lot smarter than you give her credit, Bloom."

"What do you mean?"

Mike and Vanessa glance at each other before turning back to their daughter and the wife tells her. "Bloom, honey, we had a visit from Icy last night. She doesn't have the full story, but the girl seems to have an idea that she wasn't always this way."

"I know you want to protect her," Her father nods his head. "But insisting that everything is fine when she knows something's up is going to hurt her more when she finally learns the full truth. You should go talk to her, Bloom."

Bloom looks down, knowing they are right. She had just hoped to hold off this conversation for a while longer.

.oOo.

Bloom walks in the bathroom to see Icy already in the tub. She just sits there in the water, sulking.

"You know," the fairy walks up to the witchling. "Baths shouldn't be depressing," she leans down and pulls out a bottle. "This should help."

"What is it?" Icy asks as her guardian pours it into the water.

"Bubbles," Bloom tells her as she puts her hand in the water to stir it causing it to foam. "Cold!" the fairy removes her hand.

The Ice Witchling looks on in wonder as it spreads. After moving a little, she realizes it makes more bubbles. Giggling, Icy starts splashing.

"Okay!" Bloom giggles. "Don't want to over do it. How about I get your hair for you?" and starts washing the child's hair. After a few moments, the fairy starts speaking. "I heard that you talked to my parents last night?"

Icy lowers her head. "Yeah."

"Why didn't you tell me you suspected something?"

The witchling glares at the fairy. "How come you never told me that I'm a witch? A nasty one at that."

The glare was not too different from what Bloom has received from the older Icy. Before, it would have angered the fairy. But this time it saddens her to where she hugs the witchling, not caring that she would get wet.

"You are so different from that Icy. I didn't want to ruin who you are now," the fairy breaks away. "I was afraid that if I told you too soon, then you would think that's the person you have to be. I thought if I kept the truth from you then you could grow up to be a strong wonderful woman that I know you're capable of being. I can tell you what you used to be like. If that's what you want?"

The witchling thought for a moment before shaking her head. "I don't like the sound of who I used to be. I want nothing to do with her. Especially if it means becoming a witch."

"No one said that you have to become a witch. A friend of mine, Mirta attended Cloud Tower before transferring to Alfea and became a fairy and Ms. Faragonda used to be a witch herself."

"Not sure I want to be a fairy either."

"You, Icy can be whatever and whoever you want when you grow up."

Icy started thinking again. "Could I be a Specialist?"

Bloom goes to say no before looking into the child's pleading eyes. "I, uh, I actually don't know. Why a Specialist?"

"I saw Stella watching a recording of Brandon training with Sky and I really want one of those Phantoblades," to emphasis this, the witchling swung her arms around, swiping with an imaginary sword.

The fairy giggles at this. "I never heard of a girl Specialist before. But I don't see why there couldn't be one. Perhaps you would be the first," she pokes the girls nose making her giggle.

"Icy, the first girl Specialist. I like the sound of that," the witchling hugs her guardian. "Thanks, Bloom. For taking me in and making me feel better."

"You're welcome, Icy," Bloom accepts the hug. She suddenly feels a shift in weight as Icy falls back, taking the fairy with her into the ice-cold water. Bloom lets out a shriek as she splashes into the tub.

"Bloom!" Vanessa's voice is heard. "Is everything alright!?" her mother opens the door and worriedly looks in. She is met with the sight of a drenched Bloom and a giggling Icy in the tub.

"F-f-fine, mom," the redhead shivers. "Water's j-just a b-bit cold."

Her mother smiles at the scene. "Nice to see you two made up."

.oOo.

After Icy finished in the tub, Bloom got in the shower herself to warm up. This leaves Mike complaining about the hot water being used up.

Bloom decides to show Icy around her home, Gardenia. While walking down the street, the fairy spots a certain cart. "Hey, Icy! How about some ice cream?"

"Yes!" she jumps excitedly. As soon as the witchling realizes how childish she is being, the girl clears her throat and looks away. Trying to play it cool. "I mean, that would be nice, Bloom."

As the fairy turns away from the witchling to make their order, Icy gets pushed to the side.

"Out of my way, brat!" a girl no older than Icy's caretaker snaps at her, with long black hair, wearing a green tank top, kapris, and glasses.

Bloom turns and glares at her. "Mitzi! Why don't you watch where you're going?"

Mitzi turns to her. "Bloom? What are you doing here? I thought you were at that special school?"

The fairy puts her hands on Icy's shoulders protectively. "My school has a holiday, so I'm spending time here with my family."

The bully looks down at the white-haired child. "Wasn't aware you had a sister."

"Icy's not my sister. But I am watching her for a while."

Mitzi sticks her nose up. "Why anyone would trust someone as appalling as you to babysit their kid, I'll never understand." She goes to step away from the two only to slip on a patch of ice.

Without thinking, Bloom grabs Icy's hand, and the two take off down the street.

.oOo.

Vanessa and Mike are startled when the door slams open and closed. They go over to see their daughter and her charge gasping for air.

The mother walks up to them. "Bloom, Icy? Is everything alright?"

"We ran into this Mitzi person," Icy starts. "She pushed me and then said some mean things to Bloom."

"And then…" Bloom jumps in. "…Mitzi slipped on a patch of ice."

Mike scratches his head. "Ice? At this time of year?"

The fairy glares at the witchling who only shrinks under the gaze. "Exactly!"

"Uh, Mike," Vanessa grabs he husband's arm. "I think these two need some privacy," and she pulls him up the stairs.

As soon as they left, Bloom turns to the child. "Icy, we need to have a talk," she leads her to the living room. "First thing's first. When did you realize that you had your powers?"

Icy rocks back and forth from her spot. "Knut took us to the park sometime after you left for Pyros. He thought it might cheer me and the others up. I left them for a moment and sat next to the pond. I soon notice that it was getting colder. Then, I touched the water, and it froze."

Bloom takes a deep breath. "I'm happy that you got your magic. It's a big thing when one discovers their talent." The witchling smiles only to drop it when the fairy continues. "However! What you did cannot be excused!"

"But she deserved it!" Icy whines.

"That doesn't matter, Icy! I had to grow up with Mitzi, so I know how horrible she can be. But what you did could have seriously hurt her. Magic is a gift. One that should not be misused. You need to have responsibility."

The witchling looks down. "I'm sorry, Bloom." she then gets hugged by the fairy.

"As long as you understand what you did was wrong, that's all that matters," the redhead breaks away. "Now then, once we get back to Alfea I'll see about giving you some proper magic lessons. Until then, you're grounded."

"Grounded?" the child tilts her head. "What's that?"

"It means no magic, no ice cream, and no tv."

"What? That's not fair!"

"Consider this your first lesson, Icy. Sometimes, life's not fair."

Unknown to the two magical beings, they were being overheard by the parents.

"Kinda reminds me of the first time I grounded Bloom," Mike comments. "Right after she was caught stealing the cookie jar and knocked some plates over while doing so."

Vanessa nods in agreement with her husband. "I remember. She's falling into this role nicely. I miss having a little one around here," she smiles fondly at the idea.

End