Chapter Text
"Young lady, if I should voice in quite a rude manner what I think of your proposal," Griselda said after listening to Bloom speak for a minute, "I would say you're insane. And not the normal kind of insane either, no, you fit the bill for that quite well I'd say. No, if you're serious, I would suggest we should send you to the templars so that you can stay in their rehabilitating cells for a decade," she finished, giving bloom the flattest look she had ever received.
"Oh, come on!" Bloom said. "It has to be possible! Right? Isn't she one of the Primordial Beings?"
"No," Faragonda shook her head. "Bloom… The dimension is more complex than you presume."
"I don't care. We need to deal with Valtor, and we're never gonna defeat him unless we deal with Lady Fate."
The name itself seemed to give Griselda and Faragonda pause.
The Head of Discipline sighed. "Lady Fate is an ethereal entity not of this plane, Bloom. To reach her, you would have to fathom a way to somehow find the origin of all fate," she explained. "It's not doable, Bloom. She sometimes manifests in our realm, but never for those who seek her. It's quite a common story, whether in reality or myth."
"But I'm the Vessel, aren't I? There has to be a way," Bloom insisted.
"Not for you, Bloom. Lady Fate is one of the few things not of the Dragon in Magix. She was created by the collective consciousness of fate, magic given form through intelligence," Faragonda countered.
"Wait, what? She's a creation of people? But she… controls the fate of people! That makes no sense!"
"Magic cares not about the linearity of time, Bloom," Faragonda sighed. "She is, and thus she's always been, and always will be. Don't try to understand it, you won't."
Bloom's mouth opened and closed in mimicry of a fish for a few seconds before she shook her head and got her wits back. "Whatever. There has to be a way to find her."
Griselda started to lose her patience. "There isn't, unless you have something or someone with a direct connection with her which you may use to track her. And let me tell you, the kinds of artifacts that control fate are so well protected that not even Valtor would dare try to take them… at least not yet," she said with a smile.
"Well," Lockette flew out of one of her pockets. "There is a Fate Fairy at school."
"What?!" All three women cried at once.
Lockette shrunk. "Uh. Yes? You don't know? Wizgiz does."
Griselda's jaw was opened. "We're not aware of all of our students' powers, but something that notorious…"
"With everything going on, it's possible the report slipped, or…" Faragonda hesitated.
"Or that annoying leprechaun bastard didn't tell us because he thought it was funny!" Griselda fumed. "Who is it?"
"Uhm," Lockette doubted, glancing at Bloom. "Anna."
Bloom blinked. "W-what? Her?" It was hard- no, impossible to imagine. "But she's so… weak!"
"She was never trained, Bloom," Lockette shook her head. "And her power is so strange it's no wonder she never learned how to use it."
"It's… almost unsurprising," Faragonda leaned back on her chair, her expression between confusion and worry. "Born in Andros, the place where the Omega Gate was, she has Spark blood in her ancestry, retainer to a prince, first crush of a princess, looks almost exactly like our generation's Vessel… yes, when looked at it like that, it's no wonder."
"She got fate powers due to her spark Blood?" Bloom asked.
"Not really, not fully. Fairies can be born with any power, Bloom, you've seen this in class. Blood or lineage has little to do with it, it tends to be more about the environment. But I can see why she would be apt for such a power."
"She certainly is in a fateful position," Griselda sighed. "But still, the answer is no, Bloom. Anna is too young."
"She's our age!" Bloom complained.
"Don't- I mean-" Griselda pinched the bridge of her nose. "Principal, please tell her."
"She's too inexperienced, Bloom. The fact we didn't know until a minute ago just goes to show how little of her powers she must understand, if anything at all. We're not putting her in danger so that you can try to get a goddess to do as you want," Faragonda tapped her desk. "Think for a second, Bloom."
"We'll protect her. The rest of the Winx are Enchantix now! And I have my draconic powers. We can face anything," Bloom tapped her chest confidently.
"Did your encounter with Valtor not teach you anything?!" Griselda snapped. "You can't face anything. Vessel or not, you lack experience! And you're overconfident, which is a deadly combination for you."
Bloom gritted her teeth. Why were they being so stubborn? Someone had to do it. Nobody would win against Valtor as long as fate itself was on his side! He'd lost once, that's true, but could it really be a loss if he'd come back for revenge? Or had it just been a hiatus?
"What do you think will happen, Bloom?" Faragonda asked. "You'll walk up to a force of the universe and demand she change her mind?"
"It was my plan, yes," Bloom crossed her arms. "I'm the one who created this universe, after all! Or, well, you get what I mean."
"Oh, Bloom, it's… It's impossible," Faragonda said, sadly. "Even if Anna were to help you, reaching her realm would be like trying to enter the Higher or Lower planes. Possible, yes, but outside of your control."
"You'd have a better chance convincing High Celestial Thibaud to intercede," Griselda grumbled.
Bloom growled. "I am the Vessel of the Dragon's Flame. Nothing is impossible for me."
The words made Faragonda's eyes widen, and Griselda took a step back. They looked afraid. Bloom frowned, unsure of what to say at the reaction.
"You're speaking like Valtor," Griselda said.
A small part of Bloom was horrified at the realization. The rest of her didn't care. "Well maybe it's what we need! Maybe the reason he always succeeds is because of his confidence."
"Bloom, I understand that you're desperate, but-" Faragonda tried.
"No!" Bloom interrupted. "I'm past desperation, Faragonda. Valtor has a holocrystal that can cut me down like butter! How the hell did he get that?! He has the Black Circle working for him, and though they're not as scary anymore, I'm sure next time we see them they'll pop up with some new bullshit to threaten our lives! The Trix are out there and, sure, they helped me, but I'm not convinced it wasn't because they want to take me out themselves. The Dark One is still trapped in the core of our planet, in case you forget, and all it needs to revive is a powerful being dying in its presence! And who knows what else.? What sort of other crazy stuff may pop up out of nowhere to make my life a living nightmare?
"Didn't I read somewhere that there's an entire corner of the universe governed by an evil fairy? She's been content alone for thousands of years, but I'm sure she'll pop up now that I'm here! And you know, I recently researched the Ancestral Witches, trying to see if maybe we could free the Trix from their influence. Know what I found? There was a witch about fifteen hundred years ago that managed to channel their magic into herself and tried to take over the universe, and she was trapped in some place called the Obsidian Circle which I know nothing about, not even where it is, but who wants to bet she'll be released the second I think I have some peace in my life?
"Oh, and let's not talk about the evil Pixie Lockette told me about! Pixie of Darkness or something? I've never been threatened by a Pixie, but I'd just bet my wings she'll knock at my door within the decade and cover whatever city I'm living in at the time in a cloud of impenetrable darkness or something! And hey, I just healed the dragons, who knows if one of them will now hold a grudge against the universe for-"
"Bloom," Griselda's voice grew cold and quiet. She was fuming. "Listen to us, we-"
"NO!" Bloom's voice boomed and the echoes of a draconic roar bounced off every wall, making the furniture and decorations tremble, cracking the window's glass . "You listen to me! I'm not only going to Lady Fate to get her to stop favoring Valtor. I'm going to her to get her off my back!" She shouted, panting, and realized in the following silence that she hadn't even thought about the last part before.
But yes. It was right. She was sick and tired of this. Done with fate.
"Bloom…" Lockette patted her arm. Bloom looked down and saw black lines had spread around her forearm. With a moment to calm herself and a deep breath, she forced them to recede.
The Principal and the Head of Discipline exchanged a look. Both looked uncertain, but after a minute, Faragonda spoke. "Alright, Bloom," she finally said. "We'll look into it, but don't you do anything reckless, got it?" She gave Bloom a warning look.
Bloom nodded, somewhat reluctantly.
"And the rest of you, come in before I open the door and you fall over yourselves like usual," Griselda glared at the door.
The door creaked open, revealing the Winx, Mirta and Lucy, the Pixies, and even Knut behind the door. The Winx didn't even have the decency to look ashamed, but Mirta did at least look awkwardly at her feet.
Not surprised, but also mildly upset, Bloom crossed her arms at them. "I told you to wait for me."
"Like shades we were gonna wait!" Stella complained.
"Let's be honest, Bloom," Musa sighed. "You miss a few notes whenever you want to go do things alone, can't blame us for keeping an ear out."
"What are they doing here?" She pointed at the witches and the ogre.
"I just felt the inflamed emotions and, uh, got curious," Mirta admitted with a blush.
"I, uh," Knut scratched at his head. "I saw the crowd and wanted to be a part of it."
Bloom put a hand to her face. "Let's just get back to our rooms to talk."
"I'm in," Musa said first, surprising everyone, maybe even herself.
The look Bloom gave her was telling of how unexpected it was. "Really?"
"I agree, Bloom. Valtor can't be beaten as long as he has a force of nature cheering for him. We should at least try to do something about it," she nodded.
Aisha narrowed her eyes. "You're not just saying that because you want to try out your powers, right?"
Musa shrugged. "Maaaybe~"
"I'm not against the idea," Flora offered, her face doubtful. "But you girls do understand we're talking about, like, a god. Right? It's not a mortal being, not even a Primordial. It's literally just a personified manifestation of a concept. You can't really… attack something like that. It's like a Pixie times a million. More, even."
"It won't come to that," Bloom reassured.
"Won't it?" Stella lifted an eyebrow. "Sorry warmth, but you know how things usually go for us."
"I have gathered ten different accounts of Lady Fate manifesting in our plane," Digit popped out of Tecna's chest, showing them all a blue holographic screen. "In all of them, she took pity upon their destiny and guided them towards a gentler path. While the end was the same, they took longer and it was less painful to get there," she explained.
"Which implies," Tecna said, "that she may in fact be benevolent. While ten interceptions in millennia may sound small, this is only the accounts we've been able to find. My estimation is there's probably hundreds more unaccounted for. Or, in other words: I agree with Bloom, too. There is a chance she may be willing to listen."
"What about the opposite, though?" Aisha suggested. "What if she's also thrown people into terrible paths and we just don't know about it?"
"If there is no evidence of such a thing, I don't see why we should worry about it," Digit shrugged.
"On Earth there are plenty of myths about inevitable futures which you only get to after being warned of them," Bloom said, scratching the back of her neck. "So I guess it's a possibility."
"But Destiny is inevitable, right? It's fate that can change," Flora asked.
Unsurprisingly, everyone turned to Lockette. The Pixie froze. "Uh. Uhm. Well, not… like that. Uh. Destiny tends to be inevitable but not like you think. It's only certain… aspects of it that stay in place. Like, uh," she pointed at Bloom. "She and Valtor will fight. It is inevitable. But how? When? It's… well, it can be changed. Here? Andros? And who'll win? I have no idea. Big events like that act like powerful lights; it's hard to see whats behind them."
"Which is why the fight at the roof was so worrying," Musa said, grimacing. "Any encounter between Bloom and Valtor could end with either dead."
"Or both," Tecna said, unhelpful. "Which is why we should stack the odds in our favor."
"Can't argue with that, I guess," Stella sighed.
"I'm not convinced, but it's not like I can let you go without me," Aisha shook her head.
"It's settled, then," Bloom nodded, eager.
"But what about Anna?" Aisha asked.
"We… need to go talk to her," she said, giving Aisha a pointed look. The Androsian Princess narrowed her eyes, and Bloom pretended to not be thinking what she was thinking.
"You want me to do it."
"You are friends, after all. Closer than the rest of us, at least," Bloom smiled apologetically.
"Fine, but I won't push her. This sounds too dangerous for a first year."
"It sounds too dangerous for anyone, really," Flora shook her head. "Hopefully she'll only need to open the way"
They all paused. Bloom, anger somewhat under control at the moment, did reconsider the fact that she was asking a novice with no control over her powers to go on a probably dangerous mission. But someone had to do it, and they didn't have months or years for her to get a grasp on her capabilities.
No harm would come to her, though. Bloom swore it to herself.
Sky and Brandon arrived back home with little fanfare, given that they hadn't even been meant to be gone.
It made the assassin all the more obvious for it, thankfully. Sky had missed it, but he hadn't missed Brandon suddenly jumping and putting his great sword in the way of a small dart. It took the prince only an extra second to react and bring out his sword. Not Holocrystal, but a metal that seemed to ripple with red and black.
The assassin walked out of the air in front of their ship, the landing pad in the forest so wide it was hard to believe there had been any way to hide. Holographic camouflage tech, probably. Yoshinoya never failed to improve his attempts.
"Step aside, bodyguard, and you shall be-" The assassin was cut off as Brandon lunged, not waiting for him to finish the threat. Sky produced the following strike, aiming at where the man had dodged, but he was too fast. The way he flipped and spun to the soft sound of metal and whirring. It told Sky he was wearing an exoskeleton of some kind. Likely the same model as the ones the Patchamen used.
Still, Brandon and Sky could follow. They attacked in unison, striking at the assassin as he attempted to strike back. It was a silent dance that lasted only two minutes before he made the fatal mistake of trying to block Sky's sword with his armor. He'd likely expected to be hurt, or maybe not, depending on what he thought Sky's sword was.
He didn't expect for the weapon to shear through his arm like a hot knife through butter. The momentary shock was enough for Brandon to deliver a knockout blow to his head.
"… he doesn't deserve it, but I guess we should try to save the arm," Brandon sighed.
"He'll be more willing to talk that way," Sky nodded, cleaning the sword before sheathing it.
Brandon whistled softly. "That beauty is better than even Eralite, isn't it."
Sky nodded.
It was Eralite, technically speaking. Metal mixed with dragon scales in a way unique to this planet. But it didn't come from any of the dragons once inhabiting Eraklyon.
No, the scales used for this sword had come from Bloom. She'd gotten it from Pyros soon after the concert, concerned about the safety of her friends. She said it felt a bit like plucking hairs out, but she could regenerate them easy enough. And, surprisingly, they didn't disappear when she detransformed.
Scales both red and black, from each of her arms. The pattern they created upon the sword was unique. Sky could already guess that this would become a national treasure of Eraklyon with time… despite not being created in Eraklyon. He couldn't tell anyone Hagen the Magicsmith was alive, though. From his testing at Red Fountain, the blade could sever almost anything with ease, probably in big part thanks to the entropic properties of the black scales. The red scales were needed to stabilize the blade so that it wouldn't just consume itself.
"The question now is who told Yoshinoya we were coming today," Sky sighed as he finished putting the unconscious assassin on the back of his bike, properly tied up.
"I've suspected for a while that there was a spy among the palace staff, but nobody on Eraklyon knew we were coming. Either Yoshinoya has tech that allowed him to pick out our ship, or Red Fountain itself has a spy," Brandon shook his head.
Sky nodded. A spy among the specialists seemed unlikely, but Yoshinoya was about two centuries old. He was crafty and planned for the long term. Far more likely he'd gotten his hands on some high grade tech, though.
As they mounted their bikes, Brandon paused and made one final check around, make sure there were no more assassins. Then they were gone.
The trip back home was relaxing, after a week spent inside a ship. Wind, nature, sunlight…
When Monsalt appeared on the horizon, they stopped, circling the city to find the hidden hangar. They parked their bikes and continued on foot, Brandon donning his royal armor and Sky dressing as a proper prince. It wasn't long before an escort of twelve royal guards came to fetch them.
They kept talking as they walked. One of the topics was the name of Sky's sword. Sky wanted to name it Scaleslash, but Brandon said it was too generic. Then again, he suggested Dragonbite, which was worse in Sky's opinion. One of the royal guard, who had picked up on what the sword was through the conversation, suggested The Creator's Steel, which to be fair was pretty good.
"Didn't Bloom say her name meant 'bloom'?" Sky asked.
"Yeah, like a flower blooming," Brandon nodded.
"Terrible name in our language," Sky shook his head. 'Boccianto'. He was fairly certain any teenage girl would end up killing her parents at some point if they'd named her that. However, for a weapon... "But… how about Scalebloom?"
"Hey, that's not bad… think she'll mind?"
"Probably," Sky smiled. "But she'll have to live with it."
"Diaspro will hate it."
Sky's expression shifted, and he almost took the name back. But he barely managed to think past his immediate instincts and shake his head. "She lost her right to get much of a say in what I do for a long, long time," Sky said. Even uttering those words made him hesitate. "Especially if she did what I think she did."
Brandon's brow furrowed. "Everything else I can understand, but if that holocrystal was the Dawncrystal, she's… in danger," he said in a voice low enough that none of the guards around them could hear.
Sky nodded. If Erendor found out one of the greatest treasures of Eraklyon had been given away to Valtor, he'd execute Diaspro on the spot, even if it led to a war with Aralur. But it had to be, the way Bloom had described it. Holocrystal came mainly in four colors: Light blue, bright green, purple and yellow. There were many variations, of course, but the specific blue Bloom had described, and the effects it had on her? It was too big a coincidence not to be the Dawncrystal of Eraklyon.
Monsalt soon came into view, and it was impossible for the populace not to notice their prince walking along the street. He smiled and waved at them, but none approached him given the royal guards glaring around. It took a while to reach the palace at the top of the city, but after that, they were home.
Sky had hoped not to have to deal with his father or mother, but fate had other plans. Such as having them by the palace's gate, scowling at him.
Right. They'd left without telling them. Maybe they noticed Sky grimacing, because they strode towards the group in anger. Brandon bent to one knee as soon as they got close.
"Sky!" Erendor exclaimed, and the royal guards had no qualms about getting as far away as possible. Cowards.
Sky lifted a hand. "Greetings, father-"
"Don't 'greetings, father' us!" Samara exclaimed, face flushed with anger. "How dare you leave like you did, and ignore all of our messages! You think you can do as you wish merely because you will soon take the throne?!"
Sky set his jaw. Great. Worse than he'd expected, really. "Mother, I-"
"You will listen to us!" Erendor bellowed, spit hitting Sky's face. "How dare you-"
"ENOUGH!" Sky bellowed back, his father's face twisting into surprise. "I've had it with you! I've just stepped off a ship and I've had a terrible time of it lately! I have things to do so stand aside and leave me alone!" He ordered.
Erendor's eyes flashed, and Sky knew he'd made a mistake. "You dare give orders to your king? Guards, lock him in his room," he pointed at the guards who had backed down.
They instantly moved forth. "You're going to be my guards in a short while," Sky glared at them. Next to him, Brandon stood up. "Maybe you should start reconsidering following my father's foolishness."
Samara gasped. "You call your father a fool?!"
"Guards!" Erendor repeated.
The guards made their choice. After all, while Erendor was king, they could still be executed for insubordination.
Sky should've let them take him. It wasn't worth the effort to fight. He could check the treasury later, let his parents cool off. But he was tired. So tired.
So, perhaps a bit sleep deprived, he drew his sword. Scalebloom. Yeah, it was a good name for it. Brandon saw the motion and his broadsword manifested in his hands.
"Stand back," he ordered, and the blade made the guards hesitate. "You have no chance."
"Are you insane?" Erendor was purple with anger now. "You think whatever blade you got at Incanto can beat pure Eralite?! Take him or I will cut your heads myself!" Erendor shouted.
The first of the guards lunged forward
The man's halberd, bluish, was Eralite, as per standard equipment of the Royal Guard. The good kind of Eralite, too. Sky parried, and their blades clashed. Sky's sword bit into the blue metal, cutting a good three centimeters into the blade before being stopped. He kicked and dislodged the weapon, forcing the guard to stumble back.
The Royal Guard's face was hidden behind a visor, but his body language—and that of his peers—was enough to tell how surprised he and everyone else was. A moment of reprieve before the fight truly began.
"Huh, expected it to go right through," Brandon admitted.
"Well, Eralite is made with dragon scales, so I guess it's somewhat resistant to my blade," Sky shrugged.
The bodyguard stared at the guard's damaged blade. "Those are expensive to reforge."
"Something something consequences of our actions," Sky sighed.
"Dragons shed scales normally, right?" Brandon asked. "Maybe-"
"Shed scales are weaker, if I understand correctly…" Sky paused. "Probably worth asking, though. Maybe they'll make for better than average weapons regardless."
"What are you fools doing?!" Erendor got past his shock. "Take them!"
The guards finally moved.
It wasn't a fight. Sky and Brandon moved with efficiency and technique none of the Royal Guard could hope to match. In fact, they moved with unnatural speed and agility, something they'd only begun doing recently, and had only noticed they did when chatting to the Winx.
Sky's sword cut through the shafts of every halberd aimed at him, and Brandon only took a few seconds to dispatch half the guards. It all ended with Erendor and Samara looking at their son and his bodyguard with something akin to a horrible realization.
"Codatorta calls it Martial Channeling," Sky clarified, sheathing the Scalebloom and staring pointedly at his father. "Apparently, with enough martial prowess and experience, the universe itself begins… enhancing our movements, almost like a Vow. He had to train with the templars for years before he learned to use it consciously, but my team has been through a lot and we're all beyond the skill of standard specialists."
"In other words," Brandon smirked. "We're on another level, your majesty."
"I'm done taking your orders and abuse," Sky took a step towards his dad, and the king stepped back. Samara paled. "I know growing up with the paranoia of having Yoshinoya trying to kill you was tough, I'm sorry you had to go through that, but I'm an adult now and I get to make my decisions. Now step aside, we have important things to do."
"Y-y-you dare-" His mom started, but Sky fixed her with a glare next.
"You too, mother. I won't say it again."
She gulped. The rulers of Eraklyon exchanged a glance and reluctantly stepped to the side to let Sky and Brandon through.
Hey. At least now he had a good excuse to not tell his father about the Dawncrystal not being in the treasury.
Anna agreed with surprising ease.
"Of course! I only recently realized what my powers were, but so much of my life makes sense now," she explained to Aisha as they walked the hallways of Alfea. "Always being on the right place at the right time, or the wrong place at the wrong time. Getting to witness important events, meeting so many important people, despite not being of high birth myself. I can't consciously use my powers yet, but I'll help you however I can."
In reality, it only made Aisha feel worse. Like she was taking advantage of her old friend. "You do understand how dangerous it can get, right?"
"Yes, but so what?" She crossed her arms. "I did nothing when Andros was in danger. I never want to feel so useless again. If risking my life helps save the universe, so be it."
Aisha sighed. Now that she'd gained some self confidence, she even sounded like Bloom.
"Alright, then. Just keep practicing with, uh… whatever it is you do, I'll inform the Winx."
"Will do!" She nodded eagerly. They split off, and she instantly flocked to a nearby group of first years.
It was good to see she'd made friends, at least.
Aisha stepped outside of the school, then went to the forest, where her friends waited. They were supposed to be helping Musa figure out her new powers, but when Aisha arrived, she saw Stella, Tecna, Flora, and Musa teaming up to beat Bloom.
The four fairies, all Enchantix, flung spells at Bloom from all angles, following strategies that Tecna shouted.
It wasn't enough. Bloom's body moved like, well, fire, weaving through their spells or blocking with little effort. And whatever did manage to hit her barely did any damage. None of them were using convergence, true, but it was a sight to behold.
Right up until Aisha transformed too, bringing Bloom down with a surprise Morphix attack that stuck her to the ground for long enough for the rest of the Winx to bind her. "Hey! That's cheating!" Bloom complained, struggling against the restraints.
"No such thing in war, Bloom," Aisha said with a smirk.
"Thanks for the help," Musa kissed Aisha lightly, making it all better. For them, obviously, Bloom was still stuck with her face against the grass.
After a few celebratory noises, a black flame engulfed Bloom's body, burning away the bindings. She stood, shaking her head. "I can't control those as well as I'd like," she admitted. "In the time it took me to do that the Black circle would've killed me."
"I don't know about that, you tend to be a lot more… intense during real battles," Flora said. "But still, you can keep up with four Enchantix fairies with little problem, Bloom."
Bloom looked at her black claw, flexing each finger individually. "I remember when I was Dark Bloom. She moved even better than me, and she had that barrier around her that almost nothing could pierce," Bloom explained, closing her eyes. "I want to create something like that again."
"I'm not sure that'll be possible," Tecna informed her. "Dark Bloom had an absurd level of magical output fueled by the Dark One's energy consuming her. It was pure entropy constantly destroying anything around it, Bloom. I'm not even sure how you managed to walk around without burning the oxygen out of the air and asphixiating yourself."
"Instinct," Bloom replied without hesitation. "Dark Bloom was pure instinct."
"You can't do something like that without giving yourself over to the darker part of you, then," Stella shook her head. "But maybe you can enhance your normal barriers?"
"Doable," Bloom nodded. She looked at Aisha. "What did Anna say?"
"She jumped at the chance to put her life in danger," the taller woman sighed. "We're a terrible influence."
"That's, uh… Not great, but what we need," Bloom admitted. "We can ask Faragonda and Griselda if they figured out how to get into Lady Fate's realm, then?"
"Later," Aisha smiled at her. "We still need to help Musa, and I want to see if you can handle the five of us at once. And this time," she looked at the others with a smirk, "we're using convergence. We need to practice it using Enchantix anyways."
Bloom smiled. "You're on."
Faragonda watched Griselda chew out the Winx for nearly blasting a hole in the school's walls with their training and sighed. The yard was empty of people, given the explosion, so it was only them standing near the fountain. "Are you sure you want this, Faragonda?"
The principal turned. Concorda, the Guardian Pixie of Alfea—though she didn't have much to guard nowadays—stood on top of her desk, a book floating next to her. "I'll never forbid you any knowledge, but playing with forces like this is dangerous even for Pixies."
And that was saying something. Pixies had more in common with a being like Lady Fate than even Primordial Beings, as both were manifestations of concepts. Sometimes, Faragonda wondered if Lady Fate hadn't been a Pixie once. Maybe Lockette would grow to be as powerful some day. "Yes, Concorda. I'm just glad the Winx thought to ask me about it instead of just running ahead blindly like they always do. At least we can try to guide them this once."
"What about sending some of the teachers with them?"
Faragonda shook her head. "Don't tell them this, but… They're already as strong as our teachers. Griselda could put up a fight, but I'm not sure she'd win. Wizgiz would probably trick them into beating themselves, but the rest?" A smile perched on her lips. "Seldom have I seem such an exceptional group of people in all my years of life, Concorda. What they've been through in these short years cannot be put to words. They've grown exponentially, always managing to match the task ahead. And Bloom? She surpasses all expectations, even when you're aware of her limitless potential."
"But they're so young," Concorda argued. "As strong as they are, they lack experience."
"True. But they're all overconfident. Some more than others, but I don't think having a teacher with them would be reassuring. I'm afraid we can't do much for them anymore. They barely go to classes these days. We… don't have that much left to teach them. They've pretty much mastered convergence, they're all Enchantix—save for Bloom, but she's unique—and maybe most important, they can work as a team. I've seen them perform three and four-way convergence with relative ease, where other fairies struggle with just two of them. And that's leaving aside how individually powerful they are."
"Yeah. Reminds me the Company of Light, in a way," Concorda smiled. "Few can work as well together as you did back in the day."
Faragonda smiled too, the memories both light and heavy in equal measure. "I only hope we'd done a better job."
Concorda offered the book up, and the principal took it. 'On the Pathways of Fate and the Planar intricacies of metaphysical and conceptual manifestations. A study.' By Telipinus, Archmage. Faragonda had read this many years ago—or tried to, as it was a bore—and barely retained any information from it. But if any book would have the answers these girls needed, it was this.
"Concorda, would you do me the favor of finding Anna? She's a first year who happens to look very much like Bloom."
"Oh, yes, I know her," Concorda nodded. "She's come to the library looking for knowledge on her powers before. I had to chastise her for calling upon the forbidden section. Much like Bloom herself, now that I think about it."
Faragonda sighed. Some day she'd have to figure out a better method of keeping students away from knowledge they weren't ready for.
Timmy shook hands with Electronio as he stepped into his laboratory in Zenith, having gotten here through the use of the TPW Beta 0.93, the latest of the prototypes. Almost near completion, the last thing it really needed was a user interface suitable for people who weren't Tecna, Timmy, or those from Zenith.
Shaking hands wasn't really a custom in Zenith, but they indulged Timmy. And as he stepped into the grandiose building full of more tech than entire planets, he felt only slightly intimidated. He'd been here before, after all. "I see you're dismantling the giant wormhole generator?"
"With Tecna recovered, there's little need for it. We can create wormholes big enough for even the biggest of spaceships with a device no larger than a person," Electronio informed in his subdued tones. He guided Timmy trough room after room of technological marvels.
"Is that another android like Tecna?" Timmy asked, pausing by a door. Inside, an incredibly complex android much like Tecna appeared to be under work.
"Indeed!" Electronio nodded. "You're aware of the fact that, originally, Tecna was meant to be a witch? Her transformation into a fairy quite surprised us. Now, about three years later, we're trying to repeat the experiment. Tecna herself gave us some notes on how she thought we could manage it."
Timmy smiled. "She'll have a sister, then?"
The scientist paused. "Hmm, I hadn't considered that, but I suppose it's how she'd see it. A younger sister for Tecna… Well, it'll be at least another year before the process of finishing the android is done, so we'll have plenty of time to consider."
"A year?!" Timmy was shocked, the android in the room looked almost finished.
"Indeed. Six months until construction of the physical form is perfectly tuned, and the full year for carefully crafting the systems that will make up her conscience."
"Ah, of course," Timmy nodded. When crafting sapient androids, at least in Zenith, they never re-used code from previous androids. It was part of the individuality of an android that their code would be unique among their peers, allowing for different sensibilities and sometimes even flaws. "And what happens if the new one turns out to be a fairy too?"
Electronio smiled ever so slightly. "Then it means this dimension still holds mysteries beyond our understanding, and believe me when I speak this, Timothy: Nothing makes me happier than unanswered questions these days."
"Huh. A strange mentality for a scientist," he commented.
The man shook his head. "Nonsense. What purpose would there be to life if there are no questions to be asked? No answers to be found? Of course, I hope we succeed, but that is besides the point."
Timmy thought he understood, nodding. "I see."
"Let us not stall for much longer, then. Are you completely sure about this, young man?" Electronio fixed him with a stare.
"Absolutely," Timmy nodded. "I'm not a combat expert like the rest of my teammates, and Helia and Nabu are mages. I refuse to drag them down."
"Understood. Know that we don't often grant this chance to those outside of Zenith. It is a token of our gratitude for saving Tecna."
"And I thank you for it," Timmy bowed slightly.
Electronio nodded, and after a moment, they got into an elevator. Which wasn't actually an elevator, but a small teleporting platform which could take you to any point in the building you needed to go. Electronio looked a the real-time map for selecting destination—there were assigned safe spots for teleporting in, but if a room was empty there was no danger in going there directly—and after a moment touched the holographic projection.
A moment of lightness later, Timmy found himself in what looked like a medical chamber, except where a cot for a patient would be there was a big cylindrical machine of technologies Timmy could only begin to understand. The room smelled of cleaning chemicals and a metallic scent he always associated with engineers.
"Get in," Electronio opened the cylinder, revealing a comfortable-looking interior.
Timmy took a deep breath. "Alright. It's, uh, not going to hurt, right?"
"It shouldn't, but those not of Zenith haven't gone through the same early-life medical treatment as locals so I cannot give you a hundred-percent assurance. Regardless, anesthesia can knock you out should it become a problem."
"Ah, good- Wait, you mean I'm going to be conscious?" Timmy's eyes widened.
"Of course! It is a fascinating process, I have yet to meet someone who doesn't want to witness it."
Well… Timmy kind of wanted to object, but… Oh, curses, he was right, it sounded like a fascinating process. "You've done this yourself, right?"
Electronio simply gestured with a hand, and a few devices floated to him, slowly orbiting around his arm. "How do you think I control my tools from afar? The chips are technomagical, allowing for the telekinetic control of devices with paired chips installed in them."
"I see," Timmy had only heard about the improvement to his memory and thought speed, how come they hadn't mentioned this to him? "Then let's get on with it."
"Indeed," Electronio gestured, and Timmy got into the machine with only mild regrets about his choices in life.
The Winx, Faragonda and Griselda, Anna, Mirta and Lucy for some reason, and even Wizgiz were all sitting in the Winx's dormitory. Sometimes, Stella had to wonder if it was because the Winx were the bigger group, or because the space was bigger, or perhaps due to their couches being a lot more comfortable than Faragonda's chairs.
"We're all here," Faragonda finally said. "Including people who have no need to," she stared at Wizgiz.
"Excuse me, principal, but I disagree," the leprechaun smiled at her. "Have you ever met with Lady Fate?"
"Uh, no-"
"Indeed! I have!"
"You have?!" Half the room chorused. Stella didn't, because she'd figured a long time ago that the little man was strange and not to be messed with.
"Of course I have!" Wizgiz looked offended. "I've been alive almost as long as the universe itself, I saw Fate be born! She was a lot nicer in her youth, too. She's a bit haughty nowadays," he folded his arms. Unlike the rest of the people present, too, he was sitting on the air above the couch.
Faragonda, below him, looked up in annoyance. "I would have loved to know that before, professor Wizgiz."
"It never came up! Anyways, point is, I should be here. At least, to warn the Winx," he lost a bit of his humor and stared at the six young women. "Do not take Fate at face value, girls. Much like the choices and paths we may take in life, she twists and turns in unexpected ways. Trying to sway her opinion one way could well turn against you."
"Is there any way to, uh, handle her?" Bloom asked.
"Wouldn't know. Last time I saw her she warned me not to drink the beer I had in my hands! I should have listened, too. Caused the worst fire in a millennia, let me tell you."
Griselda's eyebrows shot up. "The- The Fires of Ratladesh?"
"What? No!" Wizgiz shook his head. "That was this millennia, a candle compared to the Burning of Ilamor."
Griselda frowned, but it was Faragonda's turn to be surprised. She went pale. "Y-you were the cause of that?" She asked in a soft voice. "I- I always found it curious that it happened during your vacations, but I never- Wizgiz, an entire world went up in flames! The other two inhabited planets in the system still call it the Week of the Second Sun!"
"It's not my fault it was so flammable!" He answered, defensive. "Anyways, point is: When talking about her, be as direct as possible and don't let her entangle you with her words! And if you feel anything going amiss, run," he crossed his arms.
Faragonda shook herself out of her surprise and sighed. "He does have a point. We don't know how she'll act if you invade her realm, Winx. Be really careful and do not lower your guards."
"We have made arrangements," Griselda informed them. "Fate's realm is hard to reach, but not as inaccessible as the plane of primordial ice. All we need is a guide," she pointed at Anna, who looked a bit overwhelmed.
"She will only accompany you as far as is needed," Faragonda said. "The second you reach Lady Fate, she will return with the help of this scroll," she lifted the scroll in question. "It's a Planar Teleportation spell of the highest caliber, very few of these exist."
"It's the only one in our treasury," Griselda nodded. "So know, Winx, how far we're willing to go to help you carry out this insane idea."
Stella scoffed. "Oh, come on, how expensive can it-"
"You wouldn't be able to afford one of these if you had the entire treasury of Solaria at your back," Griselda cut her off.
Stella nearly aspired her own tongue in a gasp. It was impossible, that much?!
"Wow," Musa said with a grin, "the only other time I've seen Stella speechless about money was when she first heard what Domino's treasury held."
"Oh, stop that," Stella crossed her arms.
"Point is," Faragonda put them back on track, "Anna comes out once you're there."
"And if we need help getting out?"
"You won't," Griselda shook her head. "Tecna's device or Bloom's newfound portal capabilities will be enough to take you back here… if Fate allows it. You may not even need that. But we won't risk Anna on Fate's whims."
"Let's do it, then," Bloom stood, fired up. "I'll protect Anna myself, promised. And Lockette, you're coming with!"
Lockette seemed on the verge of tears. And for once, it wasn't fear. "Really? You want to include me?"
"Of course," Bloom smiled. "Your power is related to fate, right? I'm sure we'll need you."
The Pixie nodded energetically.
Digit popped out of Tecna's chest, looking at something on her digital screen. "I agree with Bloom's opinion, but on that same note, I'm afraid I may have to stay out of this one. I don't believe my nature and Fate's loose domain will merge very well. Piff should thrive in there, however, so Aisha should take her. And maybe Chatta, too, for what is fate if not the biggest of all secrets to most sapient beings?"
"Someone said my name?" The mentioned blonde Pixie of Secrets flew out of Bloom's and Flora's room, where she usually slept. "Fate, huh? I would love to meet her, I'm sure she has some juicy secrets to share," she smiled evilly.
"Alright, so… the Winx and three of the Pixies, then. Will you be alright without Digit, Tecna?" Faragonda asked.
"Yes, principal. While she's generally great help and makes me considerably more energy efficient, I do not need her to function. I'll miss her, though," she said, patting the Pixie's head, to Digit's delight.
"I wanna go!" Amore popped out of who knew where. "Few things are as fateful as love!"
Stella lifted a finger. "No you don't little miss," she ordered. "I don't want you learning about anyone's fated loves or whatever! You'll just stalk people with the knowledge."
"But it's my calling!"
"And you can answer from here," Stella made a barrier around the Pixie, because otherwise she had no doubt the sneaky little fairy would follow.
"Alright, let's, uh. Get going? How do we do that, exactly?" Bloom scratched at her head.
"Griselda will prepare the ritual with Palladium. Anna, please stand in the center of the room, and everyone else touch her. Transform. Base fairy forms, Winx, no need to waste energy on Enchantix for a simple trip."
Anna's mouth was dry as she sat in the middle of a circle of fairies as the teachers chanted around her. Griselda gave her the scroll with the invaluable spell, and a powerful light now glowed around all of the fairies. The Winx were tense, but not scared.
Anna was terrified, but determined to see this through. Plus, how many chances could someone get to visit the realm of Fate itself? Maybe it'd help her get a better glimpse of her powers. She'd had exchanges with that witch Gabriela a few times, a Luck Witch, but it didn't seem like their powers overlapped very much. Luck was too based on the moment to moment development of a scene, while fate was more about the long road ahead. And sadly, Lockette wouldn't be of much help either. Fate led to Destiny, but other than that, there wasn't much the Pixie could teach Anna.
It was as these thoughts bounced around her head that the ritual ended. A bright beam of light suddenly erupted right below Anna's feet, expanding to fit the entire circle of fairies in an eye-blink.
At first, Anna didn't feel any different. Then her vision cleared from the momentary blindness, and she paused. So did the Winx.
It was… a space. There was no other way to describe it. All around them, Alfea- no, Magix had disappeared, leaving in its place the empty space of eternity. But it wasn't truly empty, and the fact that they were alive and breathing meant it wasn't void either.
Light slowly seemed to grow from out of the darkness. Swirling lines of red, orange, yellow, mingling and mixing and spiraling. They moved slowly, but clearly. They split and reunited, they merged and multiplied. Big and small, they surrounded the fairies, flowing around them like water, never quite touching them.
The Winx looked around, confused. "Alright. Dimension of infinite darkness. I can handle that…" Stella said with a shiver.
"I feel as bad as when I was blind," Aisha shook her head.
Anna blinked at them. "Aren't you seeing the lines?" She asked.
The Winx turned to her as one, and Bloom's eyes sharpened. "Lines? What are you seeing?"
Anna looked at the lines. "I see all of these… well, lines!"
"Strings of fate," Lockette mentioned. "Yes I… I can sense something. But I can't see the lines, I just… I can tell they're a prelude to what's to come."
"Alright, makes sense," Musa nodded. "Fate Fairy, can see the manifestation of fate in the fate dimension. What do we do with that?"
"Perhaps we can use them as a guide," Tecna suggested.
Anna only needed to look around a couple seconds to know that was not the case. "They seem to be completely random. Maybe they're reflective of activity in Magix, of each individual? Yes…" Anna tried, and could, in fact, touch one. She was immediately flooded with a strong impression. "This one belongs to an old man. He… He wishes to visit the tree where he buried his son. But he hesitates due to sadness. Depending on when he finally decides, he'll have more regrets by the end." Then her eyes widened.
"He's going to die above that grave," Lockette figured out. "If he goes sooner, he'll have time to let out his grievances before it happens. If not…"
"That's awful!" Flora complained. "Can't you do something, Anna? Nudge him in the right direction?"
"Why not stop him from going at all? If he doesn't go-" Stella said.
"He will get there, one way or another," Lockette shook her head.
"Such is destiny," Bloom nodded.
"Don't act sagely on me, Bloom! You've been bonded for like a week," Stella stuck out her tongue at her.
Anna shook her head too. "No, I can't change anything. Not… now, anyways. Maybe if I knew my powers better?" She let go of the string, a bit rattled by the knowledge she'd gained. It didn't seem like the threads would be particularly useful until she blinked and saw that ten of them, one for each present—including the Pixies—originated from their chests, right where the heart was.
Bloom's was a fiery orange, while Stella's was yellow. Red for Musa, a pale yellow for Flora, a deep dark red for Aisha and a bright artificial orange for Tecna. Lockette's was a yellow so pale it looked white, Piff's was tangerine, and Chatta's a dark yellowish-orange that was hard to figure out.
And Anna's… nothing. She couldn't see her own, it appeared. Maybe it was for the best. "Bloom, come here," Anna said. The redhead nodded and approached, and Anna reached for her chest.
"Hey, those are mine!" Stella complained, surging forward with outrage.
Anna paused, frowned, then grew red at the implication.
"Stella, please let her do her job," Bloom rolled her eyes.
"I'm watching you," Stella fixed Anna with a glare.
The Fate Fairy continued, touching the string coming out of Bloom's chest. Immediately, the rest of it appeared to become clearer amidst the sea of thread, and perhaps somewhat paradoxically, it was the thread of fate that allowed Bloom's fate to become easier for this step. Anna took a hold of it, not surprised to learn that Bloom's near fate involved flying through this dimension, and started following.
The Winx went after her after just a moment's hesitation.
To Bloom, she was flying in the void. It wasn't as unsettling as one would think, at least not with all her friends nearby. They all followed Anna, clearly capable of seeing what they didn't. Stella clung to Bloom with a sour expression, despite the fact that Anna hadn't even touched her.
Tecna consistently looked around, analyzing the environment, and the world around them did seem to slowly become… Grey rather than black. There was nothing in sight, but it was as though something invisible were throwing out ambiance lighting upon the darkness.
"What's that?" Musa asked. Everyone turned to her, but she wasn't seeing something. She was cocking her head, as she usually did when she heard something.
"What's what?" Stella asked.
"A… humming. Distant. Not a song, more like… vibration."
"We must be getting close to something. Or someone?" Flora suggested.
"Yes," Bloom nodded. "Stay on guard."
It wasn't hard, really. Despite the lack of obvious light, Bloom could see her friends perfectly. More than perfectly, even, as though each were being hit with light from every angle. Even and a bit unnatural.
And when the golden palace suddenly appeared in the distance, well, Bloom couldn't even be surprised. But she was in awe. "You will always find your way here upon entering this realm," Anna explained. "But without my help, finding it could take an eternity. And I don't think I'm being hyperbolic."
It was strange. A palace, clearly, but it's geometry didn't make any sense. Bloom could see towers, but… how many? And what was that on top of them? A roof? Did it connect them, or was it individual for each? And a wall around it, but… no, that wasn't a wall. Was it?
Looking at it hurt her eyes. It wasn't a physical construction, Bloom realized. What it was, she had no idea, but the closer they got the harder it became to stare.
Until it finally seemed to become a bit more solid. At least directly around them. A palace floating in the void, a large golden wall with only a gateless arch as an entrance.
"This is it for you, Anna," Aisha declared. "Use the scroll."
"Simple job," Stella said with a glare.
Bloom nudged her. Hard. She wasn't in her draconic form, but even her base fairy form had gotten stronger since then, so the poor Starlight Fairy winced. "Stop being jealous, Stella. I look like her clone! There's no way she'd be into me."
"If anything, she's a clone of you- Ouch!" She complained as Bloom nudged her again. "Stop that!"
"You're embarrassing me," Bloom glared until Stella looked away with a sigh.
"The trip would have been a lot more arduous without her. Perilous, even," Tecna nodded. "So I thank you, Anna."
Anna nodded, then paused. "Be… careful in there. I can tell it's gonna be strange. Fate unravels here, and you're putting yourselves at the mercy of Lady Fate. In her power, she could make your life so much harder…"
"Or easier," Bloom smiled. "Come on, what's there to fear?"
"Everything, if you consider it," Chatta said jovially.
"Yeah, well-" Before Stella could let out a snarky remark, all of the girls felt a wave of… something wash over them. Energy? No. It was like a breeze you couldn't feel. It came from inside the palace. Anna looked around herself with wide eyes. "What was that?"
"The threads of fate are suddenly flowing away from the palace. It's like they're… clearing the way. For you," the younger girl explained. Wait, was Anna actually younger?
"Go," Aisha insisted. "We'll take care of it."
With a nod, Anna brought out the scroll. She took a deep breath. "Good luck," she said with a smile. She took it out and began reading it.
"Well then, that was easy," Bloom said.
"Too easy," Musa looked at the palace, uneasy. "Do you hear the humming now?"
"No," Bloom admitted. "But let's get going."
They all stepped into the strange golden palace and found themselves in a long hallway, leaving behind the chanting Anna. It turned left, then right, then… looped? The architecture made no sense, and gravity didn't either. They stuck together, wary, but no immediate dangers made themselves apparent to the fairies.
It was five minutes of this until Bloom and the others began hearing it too. A low hum, like a bee right on the edge of hearing, or machinery maybe?
No. No, it wasn't that. As they kept going, it became apparent that the sound just… existed. It was power. Not a true hum, more of a general vibration of the space-time continuum as a being with the power to bend it to her will existed in its vicinity.
Because when the Winx finally exited the strange tunnel, they came upon a room. A massive room of impossible dimensions, of random pillars holding up a nonexistent roof. A room with a being of pure magic in the middle of it.
The Winx froze as they gazed at the strange blob of golden light. It looked vaguely like a person, but it clearly wasn't one. Fear and awe in equal parts flooded Bloom, for she could tell the being would be able to snuff them all from existence with a blink.
It beckoned.
Absently- no, unconsciously the Winx walked forward. They couldn't stop, approaching the golden figure with wariness. However, it- she? Slowly became more defined. What looked like a blob now clearly appeared to be a woman made of golden light. She almost reminded Bloom of Daphne, though they looked nothing alike. This woman had long hair that seemed to blend with her gown. Four arms- no, six- wait, two… An indeterminate number of arms consistently manipulated something around her, and a pair of blazing white eyes looked at the Winx with curiosity.
"L-lady Fate?" Bloom asked, her voice trembling.
Some call me that, some perceive me as such. Her voice was not a voice. Her mouth didn't move. It was as though the words had always been there, as though Bloom already knew this conversation. She grabbed her head, which was struggling to understand. It didn't even sound male or female or… well, sound. They were just words- no, meaning. Raw meaning, without the need for a translator bracelet or a spell.
Everyone else was frozen in place. Bloom gulped, understanding the fear. But she still spoke. "L-Lady Fate, if I may-"
No.
Bloom paused. "What?"
I know why you are here, Vessel of the Dragon's Flame. My answer is no.
The suddenness of the answer, the fact that Bloom hadn't even gotten to give her pitch. It was genuinely confusing. "But you haven't even heard me out!"
Fate is mine, fairy. I enjoy few things in this existence some may call life. Beings of power such as yourself or the Arcanist happen to appear in that list. So the answer is no, Bloom Spark of Domino, Bloom Evans of Earth. I shan't take my influence away from Valtor.
Bloom gaped. She turned to her friends, who seemed to be breaking out of the shock of seeing Lady Fate. "Wait, really?" Stella complained. "That's… not fair!"
Fairness is but an illusion.
"Can we offer something?" Aisha suggested. "Do something for you, give you something you want?"
This seemed to give pause to the being known as Fate. Bloom realized she was slightly different than a few moments before, but the shift was gradual and hard to notice at first glance. Ever changing, a figure that flowed like water.
"Careful now," Lockette whispered in Bloom's ear. "Making deals with beings such as these is usually a terrible idea."
Indeed it is, Pixie of Destiny. Fate glanced at Lockette, who yelped and hid in Bloom's hair. But such is the nature of Vessels to make such interesting decisions. Tell me, Fairy of the Dragon's Flame: How far are you willing to go to get your wish granted?
"To the edge of the universe on foot if needed," Bloom replied immediately and without hesitation, clenching her fists. "I'm tired of… everything. Of evils unleashed, of my friends being in danger, of being unable to have a normal life. Please, Lady Fate, help me defeat Valtor and I'll give you anything you want."
I see. Would you wager your friends' fate, then?
The question took Bloom off-guard. She eyed her friend, all of whom were frowning. "I can't make that decision for them."
Yes, you can, Vessel. Their fates are inextricably linked to yours. Your friends and family. Your world, too. Would you put them on the line for this deal?
"But I'm making the deal to make our lives easier. What do you mean by wagering our fate? What are you gonna do?" Bloom was fairly certain the deity wasn't suggesting to kill all of them, but you could never be sure.
Their lives would be easier, in many ways. Harder, in others. Such is fate, such is life, young fairy. Such am I. But I can alter their fates in such a way that guarantees they will not, or have never been, in the danger you fear so much.
Her face never changed, her expression impassive. Could she even emote? Did she even have a face, or was her form influenced by the perception of those present? "W-what do you mean. They've already been in danger!"
That need not be so.
"Wait. Are you… implying you can time travel? Nobody can do that," Musa replied, scoffing.
"I believe she could," Tecna mumbled. "Beings such as her don't perceive time like we do. A wrongly cast teleportation spell or portal can fling people a couple hours back in time under the right circumstances, though it has never come to pass that a paradox was created through this accident. If Lady Fate means it…"
"No, no way!" Stella shook her head. "Change our fates? How would she even do that?"
By removing the linchpin. By taking her away. She was clearly pointing at Bloom with one- four- no- one finger.
Everyone stopped. Bloom frowned, pointing at herself. "You mean… kill me?"
Nothing so crude, child. A mere shift in your fate would alter all of theirs irrevocably. They will be safe. Yet you will forget them, and them you. Or, better said, you will never have met.
Leaving aside the slight head-ache Bloom got from the words, she realized what it meant with a sinking feeling. A change in her fate. What? Never meeting Stella, probably. If Stella hadn't come across Bloom that day she was attacked by Knut, none of this would have ever happened.
Bloom stared at her friends, and her chest tightened. Was it really that simple? Could she-
"Bloom," Musa frowned, a warning tone to her voice. "Don't even consider it."
"Consider what? There's nothing to consider, I wouldn't change my 'fate' or whatever. Not if it means never knowing Bloom," Stella crossed her arms.
"It's stupid. Why do we even need that for you to stop favoring Valtor so much?" Aisha complained.
A fate for a fate. It is the simplest of deals.
"No. I refuse," Tecna shook her head. "Bloom was instrumental in my development as a person."
"I would rather die," Flora said in a quiet, intense voice.
But Lady Fate wasn't looking at them. She stared at Bloom.
It was Bloom's decision. Her heart pounded against her chest. She'd come here to deal with Valtor, but by removing herself from the equation they could deal with everything that had happened. The Trix would never have gained her powers. Darkar wouldn't have come back. Valtor wouldn't have been freed, the Black Circle- Well, they would've been around, but maybe not right now.
Andros wouldn't have been attacked. Griffin would be alive. All those people who died in the Trix's attack would be alive. The Pixies Darkar killed would be alive. Bloom would live a peaceful live in Gardenia… She'd be in college by now.
"Bloom, no," Stella stepped in front of her, eyes full of worry. "I recognize that stare. Don't. Don't you dare. It's not your choice, Bloom."
"Don't rush to make a decision," Flora stepped in.
"Deep breaths, Bloom. Your heart's pounding like a baterist solo," Musa eyed her.
Tecna simply gave Bloom a look. A look that reminded her of Andros, of the Omega Gate.
"It's not your responsibility, Bloom," Aisha gave her a strangely understanding look.
'But it is.' The Fairy of the Dragon's Flame looked up at Lady Fate, eyes grim with reluctant determination. Because she knew what the right answer was. And her friends must have seen it in her.
"Bloom, NO!" Stella jumped forward. The the others reacted at the same time, trying to pull Bloom back, to block her from Lady Fate's gaze.
But they were too slow. Bloom's voice seemed to boom with the power of an age as the next word left her mouth.
"Deal."