Shadows of the Past
The sun dipped below the horizon, casting an amber glow over the Dominican palace gardens. The air, filled with the scent of blooming roses and the sounds of chirping birds, hung heavy with unspoken tension. The beauty of the evening was at odds with King Oritel's troubled mind as he strolled through the garden.
In the palace nursery, a worried Queen Mariam gently brushed Princess Daphne's hair as the young girl (1) played with her dragon plushies. Baby Bloom was playing on the bed, her giggles filling the room with a sense of normalcy.
"Can you tell me my favourite story today, Mom? I want to hear the story of the Flame. I know Bloom enjoys it too!" Daphne's eyes sparkled with excitement, unaware of the dangers that lurked outside Domino.
"Of course, my child," Mariam began, her voice soothing. "It was believed that the Great Dragon created the magical universe..."
"Roar!" exclaimed the young princess as she played with her plushies.
"However, this was not entirely true. Many species and planets had already existed when the Great Dragon descended. It travelled across the universe, spreading harmony wherever it went," her mother continued, her voice weaving the ancient tale.
"Look at me go, Bloom!" Daphne squealed as she took off to run around the bedroom. Mariam laughed, placing the silver comb back on the dressing table. As she picked up the baby to rock her to sleep, she said, "Playtime is over. Into bed now, Daph."
Daphne stopped by her mother's side, as the red-headed baby, now sitting on her mother's lap, cooed and laughed. Bloom loved seeing her older sister play. "Come on now, Daph" her mother encouraged.
Daphne obediently climbed into the bed, and Mariam tucked her in. As she rocked Bloom to sleep, Mariam continued, "Upon discovering the Great Dragon's existence, an evil sorcerer hunted the spiritual creature. He wanted to absorb the celestial powers the dragon possessed. Wounded in a battle with the sorcerer, the dragon sought refuge on a barren planet called Domino."
"Was the Great Dragon, okay?" Daphne inquired as she hugged her plushie a little tighter.
"Let's find out together," said Mariam and continued with the rest of the story. "A young boy found the dragon helpless in a cave and cared for it. Having been shown kindness without greed, the dragon regained its faith in humanity and blessed the boy before taking its last breath. Into the boy descended the spirit's flame—the Dragon Fire. Under the boy, Domino began to prosper. Catching wind of this rapid ascent, the evil sorcerer set his sights on the planet, figuring it might be where the Great Dragon was. A war ensued, and in the battle between the boy and the sorcerer, the boy emerged victorious. Peace was restored throughout the magical dimension, and harmony followed. The boy grew up and was crowned King upon reaching adulthood. Soon after marrying, the King and Queen were blessed with two daughters—two beautiful princesses, just like the two of you." (2)
"That was beautifully narrated," said Oritel, standing by the door, startling his queen. Princess Bloom was fast asleep and Daphne had just started to drift off. "How long have you been standing there for?" asked Mariam with a hint of surprise.
"Just as Bloom started to doze," Oritel said, stepping into the room. He kissed Daphne's forehead and murmured, "Good night sweet pea." His expression then turned serious as he faced his wife. "She has it, you know," he said, nodding towards Daphne. "The Dragon Fire" (3)
"Don't be silly, love. The Flame hasn't been seen for generations," Mariam brushed him off. She stood up to place baby Bloom, still fast asleep, in her cradle.
"I've felt it for months. The aura here has changed," Oritel insisted, gesturing around the room. "We need the Dragon Fire to win this battle, Mariam. It is our only hope."
Mariam's gaze softened as she studied her husband's troubled expression. She, too, felt the aura in the bedroom, but the idea of involving their child was daunting. "Daphne is just a child. She will not be a part of any war. She is too young to bear such a burden," Mariam said, her voice trembling with uncertainty. Kissing Bloom goodnight, the two parents made their way out into the long corridor. Before Oritel argued any further, she cut him off. "We will defend this planet ourselves, Oritel. We have three Elementals (4) on our side, not to mention support from our friends across the magical universe."
"We have two. My sister, Euclasia, refused to join us. Adding to that, Erendor denied military support (5). Radius wants to search for the fourth Element - Light. Popularis will only join the war if Nevrata agrees, and she wants the Dragon Fire."
Mariam's heart sank. "Is everyone abandoning us?" she asked, her voice filled with dread.
Oritel looked away. He could not hold her gaze. "We will face this head-on," Mariam said with newfound resolve. "Our people will stand by us. Domino will survive."
Domino had recently declared war against the ancestral witches. They were believed to be descendants of the evil sorcerer, searching for relics of his magic. Every planet they set foot on was ravaged. They were, now, focused on completing his last task—the search for the Dragon Fire, last seen on Domino.
Fast forward to the present...
Fifteen days had passed since the Great Comeback (6) - the day the Dominicans were rescued by their younger princess. Under the guidance of her older sister Daphne, Princess Bloom, the keeper of the Dragon Flame, had stormed into Obsidian and defeated the ancestral witches once and for all.
Oritel, with Mariam beside him, was strolling through the rose garden as the skies were painted crimson and gold. The garden, now vibrant with renewed life, reflected the fragile peace they had fought to regain. "It feels good to be back!" he exclaimed.
Mariam had stopped to smell the flowers. "Yes, we have been through some very dark times. It is truly the Great Dragon's blessing that we are all alive and well today."
"I never thought I would see another beautiful sunset with you," Oritel marvelled.
"Me too," Mariam replied with a soft giggle.
"A new chapter has begun for Domino," Oritel said, his eyes reflecting hope and concern. He took Mariam's hand and continued, "There is still much to be done. We will continue to rebuild, and we also need to find my sister - she's the only one who has not reached out to us."
Mariam's gaze met his, and she nodded solemnly. "Euclasia," she said, her voice carrying the weight of their shared purpose.
Oritel squeezed her hand, his resolve firm. "Yes, Euclasia," he murmured as he closed his eyes remembering a time before the war.
Rewinding to the war...
Sunlight could barely pass through the dense, stormy clouds that shrouded Domino. The war had gone on for months, and the promised assistance from the other realms never came. Even still, Domino had put up a strong a fight. The fortified palace stood like a shield between the military and the witch army. The Dominican military had organised themselves in formations, ready for orders from their King.
As it started to drizzle, King Oritel stepped out of the War Room to address his army. "People of Domino..." King Oritel started, his voice magically enhanced. "In these dark times, you have shown unwavering courage. Mariam and I thank you for standing by us in these difficult times." He paused, allowing his words to resonate through the air. Oritel's gaze swept across the ranks, meeting the eyes of those who had fought tirelessly, some injured, all exhausted but steadfast.
The skies crackled with thunder, and the soldiers readied themselves for what was to come. The crackling had been a good forecast for the beginning of the battle.
"The Ancestral Witches have ravaged our lands. Yet, in the face of overwhelming odds, you have not faltered. We are on the right side of history. Let us protect our magical universe. Let us protect Domino. Let us protect our children's futures. The enemy seeks to shroud us in darkness, but we will not be subdued! Onwards, and Forwards!"
The soldiers, stirred by his words, raised their weapons and shields in unison with a collective roar as their loud response. The intensity of the rain increased with the crackling of thunder. Soon enough the enemy army, with witches and magical creatures who sided against Domino, could be seen ready to attack Domino. The soldiers stood ready. The battle had started.
"The ancestral witches aren't with them," Mariam worried, as she zapped bugs released by the witch Mandragora (7). "They usually lead the charge. Where are they?"
Deep in the palace, in the corner of what was previously the royal bed chamber, was the new nursery for the princesses. The battle had started and the loud sounds had disturbed the younger Princess. Daphne was consoling Bloom with a bit of magic.
"It's alright Bloom. The nanny will be back with your milk. We'll grow up and help Mummy and Daddy soon enough," Daphne murmured to Bloom. "My Dragon Fire power will destroy the witches once and for all, you'll see. Maybe you will be a fire fairy too."
Though young, Daphne grew up quickly during the war. She knew the fight was over the Dragon Flame, something she possessed and treasured. She understood the roles their parents played. She also began to understand a role she was to play - the protective elder sister for Bloom.
"Search that room, I'll look in this one. They can't hide the children forever!" Daphne heard a raspy voice filled with malice outside the doors. Instinct kicking in, she quickly scurried under the bed dragging her sister with her. She could hear the clinking of metal and the harsh whispers of the witches as they came in.
Hiding under the bed Daphne could barely make out the three figures that entered the room. She held her breath as the clinking grew louder, hoping Bloom would not make a sound either.
"Nobody's here but the crystals are glowing very bright," came a second voice.
"Come out come out children," the raspy voice taunted. As the figure levitated out of the room she zapped the bed with lightning.
That's not good. What now? thought Daphne, fear gripping her heart. The clinking had started to fade. Smoke slowly seeped under the bed. Huh? What is happening to me? Her eyes widened as she started to glow.
A little flame had emerged from her bosom and urged the two sisters to step out from underneath the bed. Instincts kicking in again, Daphne followed the flame carrying her little sister. Though smoke and fire engulfed the bedroom, it was inexplicably cold – something the princesses had never experienced. Daphne hoped the flame would take them somewhere safer. She also needed to find their parents. The flame floated near the bookshelf as if it were asking Daphne to pull on a particular book. It was too high, but Daphne knew how to use her magic. To her surprise, a passageway immediately opened to her right. Hope filled her as she quickly carried Bloom to its entrance. Engrossed by the possibility of escape, Daphne had not heard the clinking again.
"There you are!" screamed the raspy voice. "They're here, sisters!"
Witches! Daphne's eyes widened with fear as she ran into the tunnel with baby Bloom in her arms. Lightning zapped near Daphne's feet as she made her way as fast as possible. "Hey! Where are you running off to, brat!? What's with the floating flame?"
Arms hurting from carrying Bloom, Daphne ran with all her might, through the labyrinth of tunnels, as the witches followed her not far behind. She found a dark corner and hid herself behind a pillar, watching as the witches passed by. The flame had formed a mask on Daphne's face to help her see in the dark, and Daphne could feel the dragon's presence with her. Thinking the coast was clear, she ran out again. (8)
"You can't run from us!" screamed the witches in the distance, who had unfortunately noticed the girls and the chase began anew.
Daphne soon reached a dead end. "Help us again," Daphne tiredly murmured a prayer, tears streaming down her face. She could hear the clinking of the witches grow louder, and she knew the two sisters had nowhere else to go. "I-I'm sorry," her voice quivered. But her prayers were heard. Daphne found herself glowing again as a portal had quickly formed behind her.
"Don't you worry, Princess! I will protect you." a voice rumbled. Daphne looked behind to find a large fiery dragon.
"Step in, there isn't much time," urged the dragon.
Daphne placed Bloom inside as she understood she had to protect her defenceless sister first. Bloom disappeared into the portal as soon as Daphne placed her, but before stepping in herself, the witches had caught up. Cackling and floating toward her, one of the three snarled, "We found the Dragon Fire too, I see."
The three witches, draped in dark, tattered robes, with chains around their ankles, raised their hands, chanting a language long forgotten. The air seemed to hum with vibrations from their spells.
"You will never get the power of the dragon flame" said Daphne, with a much thinner mask still clung to her face, as she put her hands out and blasted magic across the length of the tunnel. Young as she was, powerful was she indeed. The witches were thrown back with her blast, and with the environment being unsteady, the portal had started to close. Daphne stood firmly in her place. "Go!" she said to the Dragon.
"Your heart is true. You are as brave as your ancestor and my friend Arandoch, if not braver, little princess," said the fiery dragon. "Your sister will now be my keeper, but I will always protect you."
With a thunderous roar, the dragon unleashed a torrent of fire from its throat, filling the tunnel with a blinding blaze, before vanishing into the portal. As the portal closed, the fire danced along every surface, consuming the darkness in its path. The tunnel's stone walls and wooden supports crackled and splintered under the relentless assault, burning everything in its way.
But Daphne could only feel intense light and warmth, as though the flames embraced her instead. She opened her eyes as a tranquil, cool, otherworldly presence replaced the fire's fierce energy. Her new form, graceful and luminous, floated effortlessly in the unfamiliar, weightless realm. The world around her was no longer a fiery blaze but an underwater paradise. She looked around to see sunlight filtering through the water, casting patterns on the sea floor, and the gentle sway of aquatic plants created a serene, flowing dance of colours.
Startled, she gasped for air. But she did not need any – she could breathe easily. Surprised, Daphne felt her face and noticed she had changed. The glowing mask remained with her. As she removed it, it spoke to her: "This is Lake Roccaluce. Keep this piece of me with you for I now reside within your sister. I will act as your last connection to her. When you reunite, you can make me whole again."
Putting the mask back on, Daphne wondered about her parents and Domino. But she knew one thing - Her sister and the Dragon Fire were safe.
Author's Notes:
The idea of this story started in 2019. I began with building my characters and thinking out ideas for the plot. Life got in the way, but I always wanted to put this story out. Personally, for me the best of the Winx seasons were 1-3 and movies 1 and 2. The rest of story did not live up to these and I soon lost interest. This story takes place after movie 2. My aim is to narrate this story while adding lore to the magical universe. This is a work in progress.
Disclaimer: I do not own Winx Club. This is a fan-made fan-fiction.
(1) There is some discrepancy regarding Daphne's age throughout the series. There was even theory floating around the internet suggesting Daphne was originally to play Bloom's mom, but the creators changed their minds and made her Bloom's sister. In my story, Daphne is young. She is Bloom's older sister.
(2) This is me adding lore – The Dragon Fire has always been in Bloom's family.
(3) According to the creators of Winx club, Daphne originally had the Dragon Fire and she passed it on to Bloom. This is what I am going with as well.
(4) The Elementals are magic beings that hold the power of the elements. We will know more about them as the story progresses.
(5) Movie 1, Erendor felt guilty over not helping Domino
(6) Yes, that is the name I am going with. I'm not sure if the magical universe had any name of its own... but in this fan fiction, that is what it will be called.
(7) Remember Mandragora from movie 2? The bug witch. There she is!
(8) This scene is similar to the one shown in the show/movies where Daphne, with Bloom in her arms, is being chased by the ancestral witches. The following scenes will depict how Bloom goes through the portal while Daphne tries to stop the witches. Of course, this has my spin to it – There are no flames lighting up the path; Daphne is a child so she cannot do everything on her own, hence she gets help; How Daphne's mask came about; How Daphne became a Nymph and ending up in Lake Roccaluce; How the powers transferred to Bloom and how Bloom ended up in a building on fire; How Daphne is still connected to Bloom.