Valtor had seen her move before, had seen her fight and scream and break and cry. He had seen her breathe. Valtor had witnessed some of the most vile and powerful emotions that had occurred in the course of Bloom's life for the last couple of months.

But none came close to the moment she was finally standing before him.

He realized he had been staring when she inhaled sharply and her breath hitched. Why wasn't he speaking? Why couldn't he form a proper sentence even in his thoughts?

"Hi," she said again, more nervous this time around. Valtor straightened and served her with his usual smirk. He wanted to sound disinterested, borderline bored, but when he said: "You're back," it was breathless, eager even, and he cursed himself for it.

His eyes took in her wings with the dragon scale pattern, the slight mistakes in her stance, probably aftereffects of the torture, and the scars, both faint and prominent ones. She looked like she didn't care that they were there as if it didn't bother her, as if she had won. And some part of him was proud of her for it.

"You look-" he started but his voice got drowned by her own sentence. "It feels good to be back."

Valtor simply nodded, unsure of what was the right thing to say.

She watched him too, he realized, with a lot of caution and curiosity. He wondered what she was thinking and why she was there. Had she come to see him specifically or was this just another one of Sibylla's social experiments?

"I presume she sent you," he went with the latter and regretted it the second her face cringed.

"I came to see you," Bloom said slowly, like she was testing the ground they stood on, afraid it might decide to collapse under her.

But, instead of saying what he actually wanted, the only word out of his mouth was: "Why?"

"There is so much I want to say to you," she began and there was just a slight tint of pink on her cheeks. "I just don't know how to do it," she exhaled but tried to hold his gaze. He nodded to the office doors and held them open for her. "You should probably sit down," he said and watched her struggle as she moved.

Bloom was trying to hide it, the nearly unnoticeable limp to her steps, the small shivers that went through her spine every time she leaned onto her legs even the mere twitch of her wings whenever she hissed under her breath. But with just one glance, he noticed it all.

And it angered him.

Everything that she had gone through because he couldn't find her.

The fact that once he took her to Sibylla it had nearly been too late to save her.

Bloom settled on the chair near the window, not Griffin's he realized, leaving the former headmistress' seat empty. He wasn't sure whether it was out of some respect or if she wanted him to sit there. He walked over to her, still just as shocked by her presence as he was half an hour ago.

Bloom held her hands in her lap, tracing the lines of scars. He watched her, indifferent to what he was supposed to do. "It's been a while since I've been here," she murmured and he barely heard her. They were both replaying their fight, he could tell by the crease in her brows.

But if you do anything to try and stop me I will use a far worse method to make sure that rotting heart of yours stopped. Permanently.

Her words echoed in his head so many times during her capture that he had wanted to convince himself Bloom had simply left and didn't want to be found. But, he knew better. He knew her better.

The Princess inhaled sharply, held her breath for about fifteen seconds and then exhaled. "I wanted to thank you," she said, and Valtor twitched at the mere thought of anyone thanking him. "For showing up at the clearing and bringing me to Sibylla. You didn't have to do that, you could have just left me-"

She was rambling out of nervousness, but Valtor's attention stuck to one part of her entire speech. He laughed, but it was a dark and emotionless sound. Bloom seemed to tense.

"You have no idea the lengths I had to go through to find you," he said and Bloom kept quiet. "But it was not enough."

He walked away from her and paced the room, some of the buried emotions threatening to swim to the surface. "No spell, no potion-" he went on and Bloom simply stared. "-nothing was enough."

He came towards her chair, placing both his hands around its handles, making their faces simply inches away. "So, Princess, do not tell me I would have ever left you," he whispered into the small space between them. Bloom's skin tingled from the warmth of his breath, but she did not let it intimidate her.

Valtor moved slowly, back to Griffin's chair as he studied her expression. She was assessing, probably overthinking every single detail about his sentence, but he didn't care. Not when he kept having countless nightmares about what he had seen be done to her, not when he spent months searching every spell on this godforsaken planet to locate her.

"You searched for me?" she said and he noticed a thin line of tears stuck in the corners of her eyes.

"Of course I did," he answered. And he always would, even if there was no way he would admit to it.

She stared at him, almost dumbfounded, as if he had just told her the secret containing the entire universe. He didn't know what else to say when a small memory danced in his mind.

"Now, stay here," he said and suddenly stood up, aiming to reach the door. But Bloom's trembling arm wrapped around his wrist. "Don't leave me alone here. Please." There was so much agony in that simple stare of hers that Valtor felt a pinch of guilt for even thinking about leaving her side.

"It will just be a moment," he said and then added: "Trust me, you will be thanking me for it soon enough." She still watched him as if her entire world had just fallen apart, so he turned back and tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. "You are safe here," he whispered.

Valtor pulled out a paper from one of the drawers and scribbled something that Bloom couldn't see. He chanted a spell and she watched as a paper disintegrated into a pile of ashes.

Bloom was silent, staring at the place where the paper faded, then turned her gaze to Valtor in confusion. "Be patient princess," he said with a grin.

She remained silent for a minute, but then asked: "Do you think I'm a monster?" In a quiet room, it turned out to be louder than she wanted. Valtor raised his brow: "I don't think a monster's answer will be of much value," he said and laughed slightly. He hadn't considered himself as one, but knowing Bloom's overly good morals, she probably viewed him as such.

"You're not a-"

The doors of the office burst open and Bloom's sentence was cut abruptly. She was sure that she was seeing things, maybe dreaming. Because it wasn't possible. Tears sprang from her eyes at once. She stood up shakily.

"Stella?"

The Princess of Solaria was walking through one of her mother's gardens, enjoying a single sunny day in the last couple of weeks, when a small blue sphere appeared in front of her. She drew her hands into a fighting stance, ready to fire at an intruder, but only a piece of paper appeared.

She watched as it floated in the air before falling to the floor. Usually, all her mail was delivered by her mother's guards to the estate. This appearing so suddenly only meant it was important, and not for the eyes of others.

She crept closer and knelt to pick it up. Written on the paper was a single sentence that nearly knocked the ground under Stella's feet.

She is here.

She inhaled, her eyes going wide.

Bloom was back.

Blood was-

Stella stuffed the message into her pocket and ran for her mother. As delicate as this topic was, she had to tell her that she was leaving.

Luna was going through some paperwork in her private chambers when Stella burst through the door. She was panting from running, but with the biggest smile on her face that Luna had seen in the past year. She knew her daughter and thus, knew that there was only one person that could make her this happy.

Luna understood. So when Stella explained how she had to go and wasn't sure if she would be back, Luna only nodded and wrapped her daughter into a tight hug. "Go get them moonshine," she said and watched as Stella disappeared down the hall and through the main gates.

Stella pulled out her ring before any of the guards could enquire about where she was going. It had been so long since she had last had a use for it, long since it was returned to her as well. "To Cloud Tower," she commanded and stepped through the portal.

Stella didn't once stop to wonder if it was a trap or a trick of some sort. All she knew was that Valtor had decided to keep his word. She entered through the secret tunnels, as the castle had its own teleportation restrictions. And as she neared Griffin's former office she heard faint voices inside. One was definitely the wizard and the other-

Stella burst the door open and instantly her eyes were overflowing with tears because there she was. Bloom was sitting in one of the chairs and Stella's heart tore at the sight of all that she had endured.

"Stella?" Bloom's voice was so small and tears found their way down her pale cheeks. She stood and took only a step before Stella lunged forward and carefully wrapped her arms around her best friend.

"You're really here," Stella could barely say through the sobs that overcame her. Bloom buried her head into Stella's shoulder and after months finally let it all out. All the loneliness, the agony, the despair. And Stella held her throughout it all. She didn't let go as Bloom began to talk, and she had to sit back down because all of it was so overwhelming that she sobbed out loud.

Only one thing had mattered.

She was here and she was safe.

They were each other's. And no villain or a dark spell could take it away.

"I love you Bloom," Stella said at the end, with smudged mascara running down her cheeks. "I love you too," Bloom replied, with eyes just as red and tired. They embraced each other for what seemed like hours before Valtor coughed.

"Hate to break the reunion, but someone else is in the castle," he said and was instantly on his guard. Whoever it was, he would make sure that Bloom was protected. Even if it meant that he had to deal with the Solarian princess too.

A shadow was at the doors and a figure walked leisurely inside. She swung her long braid over one shoulder and stared at Valtor in annoyance. "Valtor, a pleasure as always," she said and regarded the only person she hadn't yet met.

Stella shielded Bloom behind herself but noted how both her friend and Valtor seemed to recognize the woman. "Stella, this is Noel. She is one of the fairies who helped me heal." Stella raised a brow but lowered her stance.

"Princess of Solaria is it?" Noel asked and smirked, Stella nodded, not questioning that someone knew her identity. "We don't have much time left fire princess, so make your goodbyes short. I'll be in the hallway."

When the doors closed, Bloom noticed Valtor's weird expressions.

"What does she mean by goodbyes?" he said coldly. "Where do you think you're going?"

Bloom braced herself for a counter-attack when she whispered, only one word: "Obsidian."

Valtor burst into dark laughter and it only increased Bloom's uneasiness. Stella said nothing but took hold of Bloom's hand protectively. She might have made a deal with Valtor, but it didn't mean she trusted him in the slightest.

"I'm serious. Sibylla will take me there and help me enter. I'm going to get them out," Bloom said simply and held his unclear gaze. She couldn't read what he was thinking.

Stella wanted to cut in and say she would go with Bloom and never leave her to face something like this by herself, especially not after being alone for all those dark months.

Bloom glanced towards her and shook her head as if reading her thoughts.

"Bloom," Stella whispered.

"I lost you one too many times already. So if you are going, I want to be there with you."

"Stella, listen to me, I can't express how much you mean to me, how much I don't want to leave you. But, I have to."

"After everything we've been through together, and after all the months I spent missing you- I just hate the thought of letting you go alone," Stella said without taking a single pause. She sounded angry, but Bloom knew her better. This is how she talked when she wanted to get her point across.

Stella wanted to say so much more, wanted to protect Bloom. But there was also a loud voice in her head that understood what her friend was trying to tell her. This was her path. She shouldn't meddle with it. Bloom was more than strong enough to do it by herself.

She sighed: "I will be here as soon as you are back."

Bloom wiped her eyes, but the tears wouldn't stop coming. She wrapped Stella into her arms, holding her as close to herself as possible. "Thank you," Bloom whispered and Stella held her even tighter.

"You are my family. Let me be yours," the blonde fairy said through tears.

"You always have been."

They were so involved in their discussion that both nearly forgot that Valtor was in the room too.

"You're an idiot," Valtor snarled at Bloom, and she turned to face him. There seemed to be fires blazing inside of his eyes while anger seeped off of him.

"What?"

"You heard me," he said and stepped towards her. Bloom nodded at Stella who took it as a cue to give them some space. She retreated to the doors but stayed in the room. "You are an idiot if you think you can survive in there."

Bloom closed in on him, raising her chin and holding his stare.

"They are my parents Valtor."

"And is going on a fool's errand to save them worth losing your own life?"

"I am not going to fail."

Valtor inhaled, not thinking through his next words when he said: "For your sake I hope not. Because I won't be there to pick up the pieces again."

The slap came unexpectedly. His cheek was red and burning as if her palm had heated up before she struck him. It was so similar to their last encounter that Valtor almost laughed.

I will use a far worse method to make sure that rotting heart of yours stopped. Permanently.

"Fine," she said and her voice was cold, uncaring. "What are a monster's words to me anyway, right?"

Valtor flinched away from her, and if he were anyone else, Bloom would think him hurt. But he was Valtor, so he simply nodded.

"Have it your way then, princess," he said and summoned a blue sphere of fire. Bloom reacted quickly, jumping out of the way just in time. The desk behind her melted from impact.

Stella transformed into her Enchantix and conjured a sun shield, blocking his next attack. Bloom didn't want to fight him, no matter how upset she was, no matter how much his words hurt. But Stella didn't have the same problem, she used her sun spears to force him backwards and give Bloom time to decide.

She was already transformed, but ever since escaping the Council, she hadn't felt as sure in her powers, not even while she fought Brandon. With the specialist, she didn't mind hurting him. But Valtor was different. She knew he was lashing out and that he wouldn't actually want to hurt her, but it was hard to justify his actions when the fire was blazing toward her.

So, when she called for her power, wanting at least to protect Stella, it came stronger than expected. Her flame blazed towards Valtor, grazing his hand. He didn't react, as if it hadn't happened, but she saw a burning red line.

"I didn't-" she walked forward, but he had already recovered, aiming a new attack at Stella. She didn't dodge in time and Bloom watched her back slam against the shelves behind her. He chanted another spell in her direction, encasing her in a brownish texture. Stella's wings lowered down and she fell to her side.

"What did you do to her?!" Bloom shouted, but he only laughed.

"Relax princess, it is only temporary. A spell from the planet Oppositus. She is currently trapped in utter darkness."

Bloom stood in front of her, like a shield. "Why are you doing this?" she tried softly.

"You are either my ally or my enemy princess. You cannot be both, I thought you already learned that lesson," he replied and Bloom thanked her lucky stars that he stopped attacking so that her next words may actually get through to him.

"And I thought that we knew I am not one or the other, haven't been for some time," she said and gulped down her fears as she took a step closer. He cocked his head and smirked: "You are playing a dangerous game."

"If what you say is true," she said and took more steps toward him. "Then do it. Attack me right now when I am standing this close to you," she said and nearly touched his hand with her own. They were so close now that Bloom had to suck in her breath.

He trailed one hand down her face in a gentle caress. She stood extremely still, deciding not to back away, realizing she didn't want to do it either. His touch left a prickly feeling on her skin as if it was electric. "I still consider you a fool," he said matter-of-factly and searched her eyes for a reaction.

"And I still think that some parts of you are monstrous."

"But not all parts of me?"

"No," Bloom said slowly, "Not all the parts."

Valtor smirked. "Be careful princess."

"I always am."

Noel was leaning on the doors when they shifted away. "Why didn't you come to help us?" Bloom barked at her, even if she knew that no help was needed. She only shrugged: "He was throwing a tantrum, I didn't want to interrupt. You ready?"

Bloom walked over to Stella and stared at Valtor who sighed. "Fine," he murmured as he lowered the spell. The blonde fairy blinked once, then twice at uninjured Bloom, then at Noel and Valtor. "What happened?" she said rubbing at her eyes.

"Valtor is playing hard to get. Now, Bloom, come on," Noel said.

Bloom squeezed Stella's shoulder lightly in reassurance. Valtor wasn't going to attack, they were safe. For now, at least. He said nothing, watching Bloom intensely as if his eyes were trying to make her stay.

"I have to return to Alfea," Stella mumbled, still hazy from the dark spell. She dreaded going back to her life as if Bloom wasn't going to face possible doom, but she knew it was what her friend would want. Bloom nodded and pulled her into a hug. "I will be back soon," she said.

"You promise?"

"I promise."

She watched as Stella disappeared down the hall, towards the secret tunnels. Noel followed after her, giving Bloom and Valtor one more chance to say goodbye.

"There is still so much I wanted to say," she said quietly. "Things are going to be a lot more different once I return with my parents."

"Can't imagine why," he scoffed and stared at her, searching for any indication of all of those things that remained silent between them.

"I will find a way. We-" she wanted to finish, but he cut in: "Don't."

She watched him, confused. "Don't give me some grand speech. Just, if you are going then go."

Bloom inhaled sharply and nodded. She understood why he would be hesitant, but the coldness of it still stung. She took one more glance at the raging fires inside his eyes and walked out.

Noel teleported them back to the cave and Bloom could only then properly breathe. She didn't understand why it hurt so much, to walk away from him like this. Whatever it was between them, she knew it would greatly shift when Domino was restored. And some part of her feared it.

Sibylla was having a meeting with her fairies when they returned. She locked eyes with Noel from her throne and instantly softened. Bloom crossed her arms, waiting for it to be over. She kept repeating to herself just how important this mission was going to be. That despite all of her fears and anxieties, she had to do it.

Noel nudged her in the elbow and Bloom snapped out of her thoughts. Sibylla was staring at her as if she had asked a question. "Sorry, could you repeat?"

The fairy of justice looked ready to smother her. "I asked was your trip eventful?" her eyebrow rose and Bloom wanted to roll her eyes.

"Very," she replied. Before she could add anything else, Bloom asked: "So, when do I leave?"

The fairy smiled.

"Now."

Sibylla snapped her fingers and a big portal consumed them all. Bloom didn't dare open her eyes as they got sucked in, darkness enveloping them after blazing light. Someone tapped her on the shoulder. Bloom peeked at Noel. "We're here," the fairy whispered.

Bloom swallowed and raised her eyes. The view was just as beautiful as it was terrifying. They seemed to be at the end of an island. A cliffside was right before them, under a set of giant ebony doors. Withered vines slithered around them from all sides, as if the doors were made out of plants and branches. "They look beautiful," Bloom said, but no one seemed to hear her.

Noel and Sibylla stood behind, holding each other's hand. "So, this is it," she said slowly before turning to the two fairies.

"Thank you both, for everything. I wouldn't be here if you hadn't helped me."

Sibylla nodded and pulled Bloom into a quick hug, slipping a key into her palm. Bloom didn't have time to wonder how she got it but made a note to ask after she returned. After her, Noel hugged her too. "Once you return, we have your back, fire princess," Noel said and smiled.

Bloom smiled.

A second later they disappeared and Bloom felt the loneliness of it all set in. There was no turning back now. Her parents were behind those doors.

Bloom smiled at no one in particular and walked forward. The key had fit right in.

She didn't know if it was the same one Fragonda owned, or if there were more of them, she just hoped it would work.

"Here we go," Bloom said to herself and watched the doors slip open.