Chapter Text
Bloom was back in the garden. Since Rosalind took over Alfea three weeks ago, Bloom had grown more and more distant from the rest of the winx group. The entire school in fact. She continued to travel to this garden day after day, without really knowing why. She sat there, on the simple garden bench, staring at the seven graves before her. Thoughts whirled through her mind. Rosalind had completely changed Alfea. It was no longer a school. It was a war camp. Rosalind took over Dowling’s classes, focusing on power, not control. When she didn’t get the best results she always resorted to negative emotions. Instead of the uplifting feeling you felt when you achieved something new in Dowling’s classes, Rosalind broke you down again and again. Everything was spiraling out of control. Chaotic magic was becoming ever more prominent, and there were no friendly conversations in the courtyard or hallways.
Bloom sighed,” We need you back Ms. Dowling. Please, come back,” she furiously wiped away the tears starting to fall. “We know you didn’t go on a sabbatical. You would never leave the school to her, just pick up everything and leave. Where are you? Are you beneath the school, imprisoned like Rosalind was? Or what!” Bloom's voice rose steadily, and more tears began to fall, streaming down her face. She shook silently, staring at her lap as the tears soaked her jeans. When she looked up a while later, her voice was hesitant and quiet,” You’ve always been here for us. For me. You brought me here. You never stopped believing in me, even when I thought I was hopeless. I mean, you faced a burned one for me, by yourself. You came after me when I left, protected me, surrounded me with people I could trust with my life. You were always there. You knew I went out there. To lead the burned ones away from Alfea. You were there. You caught me when I fell, supported me through everything. You made, no make me feel like I belong. More than my own mother. I, I. I miss you. And I’m going to find you. I promise. Even if I have to go against Rosalind to do it. I’m gonna bring you home,” Bloom lapsed into silence and stared at the graves, not bothering to try and stem the flow of tears. She let out a sob and buried her head in her hands. Eventually, she took out a book, tucked her legs under her, and started to read. Slowly the tears subsided, and she entered a world of peace. When she looked up a while later, she realized how late it was. Sighing, she picked up her bag and slung it over her shoulder, before heading back up to school. She saw no one on the way back, which didn’t surprise her in the slightest.
“Bloom! There you are. We’ve been looking everywhere. Why didn’t you answer your texts!” Bloom smiled as she walked through the door of the suite. Terra jumped up and came to take her bag. Stella was sitting on one of the couches, legs crossed, frowning slightly. Musa and Aisha were sitting on the other couch facing one another, deep in some sort of game. Both looked up at Bloom and smiled in relief. With a grin, Bloom made her way over and took the spot next to Stella that Terra had vacated.
“Sorry. Phone died,”
“Where were you? The sun went down half an hour ago? We were worried sick!”
Bloom smiled apologetically,” Sorry Aish. Lost track of time. I was down in the garden,” Aisha glanced at her worriedly.
“You’ve been down there a lot recently. Are you alright? You can talk to us. You know that,”
Bloom nodded slightly. The problem was that she didn’t know why she kept going down there. Her feet just seemed to have a mind of their own. And she had a feeling. This feeling, that some piece of the puzzle was there. A crucial piece. Something that would give her all the answers she needed.
“I know Aish. I don’t know why I keep going back. I just feel like something happened there, and I want to find out what,”
“I don’t know. You might be right. Auntie Farah loved that spot. She’d go there whenever she was frustrated,” Terra shrugged. Everyone stared at the ground, defeated.
“Let’s get some rest. Tomorrow’s going to be a long day, and everyone needs their beauty sleep,” Stella tried to smile happily, and failed miserably. She gave up and walked to her room. Musa and Terra also got up and left.
“We’ll figure this out, Bloom. I promise,” Aisha rested a hand on Bloom’s and they smiled at each other.
“I really don’t know what I’d do without you Aish,” Bloom tugged her into a hug, and they too went to their rooms.
“Bloom, you seem distracted. Is something bothering you?” Rosalind lifted a thin eyebrow slightly. Bloom jumped and shrugged sheepishly. The two were in the middle of Bloom’s private lesson in what was once Dowling’s office. However it now resembled nothing like Dowling’s. In place of the soft couches and armchairs were long wooden tables, oftentimes strewn with maps and charts. Occasionally Bloom saw lists of places or names and future locations to move troops. All plant life was gone from the room, along with most of the trinkets that littered the desk and sat on the shelves with the books. Only three shelves of said books remained, the rest of the shelves were bare. The second floor of the office wasn’t much better. The farthest, darkest corner of the loft area sported 50 or so boxes that seemed to have been shoved away hastily. The lights were brighter and the walls were now lined with pictures of Rosalind and her Light Battalion. Dowling was not present in any of the pictures, and Silva was only there in a few. Swords and other cruel looking weapons also lay on the empty shelves, or adorned the walls. The carpets were gone, only the hardwood floor remained, and the windows and doors sported extra locks and bolts.
“Err. Sorry, I was just thinking. About. Things,” Bloom trailed off under Rosalind’s gaze. The eyebrow went higher.
“Such as?” Rosalind prompted, guiding Bloom to the door. At Bloom’s questioning look she stated that teaching someone who wasn’t paying any attention would only result in headaches for both parties. They strode through the halls, or Rosalind strode and Bloom scrambled to keep up. Any student they passed stepped aside so they had a clear path to the door. Across the lawn, past the specialists training with Andreas, and towards the garden. Sky caught Bloom’s eye and waved slightly. Bloom waved back and continued behind Rosalind. Eventually Rosalind set down on the same bench Bloom frequented the past few weeks. She patted the spot beside her and Bloom sat down hesitantly.
“Now then, what’s on your mind my dear?”
Bloom scrambled to find an answer that wasn’t finding Dowling, or overthrowing Rosalind. So she said the next thought in her mind,” My parents. Not my Earth parents, but my real ones. There’s so much I don’t know about them. Why was I in Aster Dell? Did they come looking for me, and if they did, are they still looking? Are they even alive?” Rosalind nodded slightly and gave Bloom an appraising look, as if trying to decide what to say in this situation.
“Well Bloom. I really had hoped you could continue with your studies a while longer before this resurfaced. Dreadful ordeal. I’m afraid I can’t give you any more information about your past then I have. But let’s be frank. That’s not what you were thinking about, was it. No, no, no. Thinking about Farah I assume. Hoping she’d come back to help you? Sweetie, you need to stop pretending she’s going to come back. She’s not. She didn’t care about any of you. I caught her trying to flee Alfea. I begged her not to leave, but Farah’s always been stubborn. She started a fight and I was forced to deal with her,”
“No!” Bloom stood up abruptly and backed away from Rosalind,” No. She would never flee Alfea. I know that. Everyone knows that! You did something to her didn’t you. Where is she?” Bloom threw caution to the wind as she yelled. It felt so good to finally pin Rosalind down.
Rosalind smiled and shook her head,” Oh dear. You’ve caught me. I’ll tell you a little secret, just now. Farah dear, is closer than you think. She came here to this garden, to bury the six, yes six,” Rosalind emphasized as Bloom’s face widened in surprise, then fear,” Burned ones you killed. I suggested she take a break, she refused, and you can guess what happened next,” With a wicked smile Rosalind turned her attention to one of the graves. Six lined the edge of a tall hedge, all straight and parallel. A seventh however lay crooked in the center of the clearing. Bloom gasped and ran to the grave. She began clawing at the dirt. Further and further down, until she found something. A scarf. It was caked with mud, but at some point Bloom assumed it was white, with colorful marbled patterns. She knew who it belonged to immediately. After all, Farah Dowling wore the scarf all the time. She let out a strangled sob, and dug feverishly. Cursing silently she suddenly stood up, and forced the dirt away with magic. Her eyes briefly glowed orange, masked by the tears that were forming in her eyes. Her headmistress lay at her feet battered and broken. She fell to her knees and wrapped her arms around the older woman’s shoulders, positioning her so that Farah’s head lay in her lap. A long jagged cut ran along her neck, blood and dirt covering everything in a nasty mess. Bloom balked as she saw a piece of something sticking out through the grime. Something oddly white. Forcing her eyes away from the thing, she saw that all the once beautiful clothes that the headmistress wore were permanently dyed brown. Spatters of blood peppered her jacket, and part of her blouse. Everything was completely saturated with mud and water. She looked a complete mess. Her hair had come out of its elegant knot, and lay plastered to her neck and head, matted and tangled. The rest stuck out at odd angles, held by the layers of dirt and grime. To make matters worse, if Bloom moved, her head fell to the side at a very odd angle. Bloom balked again, and felt the vomit taste in the back of her throat. She trembled as she held the headmistress, tears beginning to break free yet again. And then Rosalind moved.
“Pity it had to end that way. She just didn’t have what it took to lead Alfea into the coming war dear. And she wouldn’t step aside. It really was my only option,”
Bloom’s voice shook,” Your only option! To kill her? I don’t, I don’t believe that. I can’t. It’s you. You’re a monster!” Bloom sobbed, clutching Dowling hard to keep from shaking.
Rosalind chuckled, and Bloom gaped at her.
“How can you stand there laughing. This is your doing! You killed her in cold blood. She's dead because of you. Don’t you have any remorse, regret even?”
“Oh, I regret it,” Rosalind’s voice turned icy,” And I didn’t do it in cold blood. I thought after everything, you would have figured that out. Farah didn’t need to die, but she got in my way, and she was expendable. So are you. You know, you’re quite like her. Brilliant, powerful, naturally talented, loyal to a fault, but that was to be expected. I’ll do you a favor and tell your friends you said goodbye before you went back to Earth. I’ll also bury you right here with Farah. I’m assuming that will make you happy,” Rosalind’s eyes glowed and Bloom tensed up, unable to move. Only stare up at Rosalind with as much hatred showing on her face as she could muster, “Farah got what she deserved. She lied to you and countless others, imprisoned me beneath my own school, betrayed her closest allies, the list goes on and on. I truly am sorry it had to end this way Bloom, but life isn’t fair,”
Bloom felt a calmness wash over her. The glow in Rosalind’s eyes intensified, then faltered.
“Touch her, and I promise you that I will do what I couldn’t 16 years ago,” The voice that came from behind Bloom was cold.
Rosalind gaped, “How!” She yelled in shock and anger.
Bloom realized she could move, and that the weight in her lap was gone. Looking down she saw that the headmistress was fading. She whirled around and gasped in shock. Farah Dowling leaned against a large, sturdy, oak tree, looking perfectly at ease, aside from the glare that creased her face. She didn’t look much better than the headmistress in the dirt had. She was also covered in dirt and grime, though not as much. The cut on her neck was missing, thankfully, but her hair had fallen down, and was plastered to her clothes and head quite thickly. The big difference was that this Dowling was most clearly alive and breathing. And looking positively murderous.
Rosalind quickly regained her composure. A small frown now inhabited her face instead of the thin smile,” Ahh. Pleasure to see you again Farah dear. Alive and well,”
“Save it,” Farah said bitterly, “I’m here, alive, much to your apparent disappointment, and I’m ready to retake my position as headmistress of Alfea,”
“Oh, are you sure? Relax, take a break from work Farah. I’m perfectly capable of running this school,” Rosalind said slowly. She smiled gently and gave Dowling a worried look. Bloom rolled her eyes at the act. Dowling seemed to have the same idea.
“Yes. I can see that. The chaotic magic and planned rebellions are a wonderful indication,” Farah replied sarcastically.
Rosalind glowered, “Well then. I’m sorry Farah, but the position isn’t yours anymore. And you can’t take it back,” Rosalind shot Farah an evil smile, and her eyes glowed.
“Bloom move!” Bloom turned her head back to Farah, and pushed herself backward quickly. Farah watched her go.
“Keep your eyes on the enemy Farah. You of all people should know that,” Rosalind yelled. Apparently Dowling had watched Bloom for too long, and much to the teens horror, she was pushed back by Rosalind’s magic, hard. She hit the ground with a dull thud and let out a low groan.
“I thought I taught you better than this Farah. You're even softer than you used to be,” Rosalind said, advancing on the downed headmistress.
“You did,” Farah propped herself up on her elbow, and flicked her hand. Rosalind shielded herself too late and was forced to duck around thousands of little twigs. They peppered her, scratching at her bare skin. Dowling used the advantage to regain her ground and prepare for a fight.
Rosalind growled with fury, and the little sticks were crushed into dust which floated lazily down to her feet as she again came towards Dowling, “Clever trick, but it’s not going to help you win this fight,”
“Perhaps not, but you continue to underestimate me. I’ve grown more powerful than you know. All I had to do was focus on the happy things in my life. Everything you ever taught was wrong Rosalind! Magic is beautiful, and powerful. You can power it with good emotions. You can make it stronger, grow, bring life,”
Rosalind cut her off, “Oh you were miserable you little bitch. Everyone knew it,”
You’re wrong. I wasn’t miserable. It was you. Always you. You destroy lives. Force people to channel their magic and to do your bidding with it. Countless innocent people died. And you didn’t care in the slightest,” Farah stepped forward and glared down at Rosalind. It was quite impressive.
“What are you going to do about it Farah? I’ll kill you again, in front of the entire school. Humiliate you in front of your precious little students. And then? Maybe I’ll play with a few, maybe not, it all depends on you,” She smiled triumphantly at Farah.
“I’ll say this once. You. Will. Never. Touch. My. Students. Again!” Farah’s eyes glowed and the air crackled with magic. For the first time Bloom realized Rosalind actually looked worried. She backed away slightly and threw a ball of what looked like lightning at Farah. Farah swatted it aside and advanced on Rosalind. With a snap of her fingers, Rosalind was thrown back. She hit a tree with a sickening crack, and slid down to her knees.
“You were right Farah. I did underestimate you,” Rosalind glared up at Dowling, her voice shallow. To Bloom’s great surprise she grinned, “What are you going to do Farah. Kill me. You couldn’t. Even if you could, I wouldn’t suggest it. You’d never know the real story,”
“What,” Farah ground out. She was glaring so vehemently that if looks could kill, Rosalind would have died five times already.
“Oh dear. Quite a predicament,” Rosalind leaned back against the tree and closed her eyes, “Let’s see. Where to begin. Hmm. Ah, here we go. The Alfea forest. Sector 14? Yes, I remember it well. I’m sure you do to Farah dear,” Bloom crept forward so that she could hear what was being said.
“What more is there to tell exactly? It’s a pretty self explanatory story if you ask me,” Farah stated bitterly.
“The story you know is certainly quite self explanatory, but not entirely true. You see, I would never have killed the dear child. She was of your blood, therefore she would become extremely powerful. Honestly to do such a thing would be quite stupid. I simply took the dear girl, and switched her with another child,”
“And killed the innocent baby. Forgive me for not believing you, but nothing you just said makes any sense,”
“Patience was never your strongest attribute. I didn’t kill the child I took. I merely waited for the heart malfunction to kill it. Snap the dead child’s neck, make it look convincing, and voila. The perfect story. But it was so much better than that. I find myself being rescued not by Beatrix, but the child I placed in human hands so many years ago. Right here under your nose. You’ve been teaching your daughter the whole time. You found her in the first world and brought her here. Trained her to use her magical abilities. And you never figured it out. So naive Farah,”
Farah’s composure crumpled completely. She stared at Rosalind, shaking her head. Her hand was at her mouth, and her eyes were full of understanding, anger, and fear, “I. I don’t. No. You didn’t. You’re lying!,” Rosalind just smiled up at her, “No. Oh my god. This can’t be happening. No. No. Wake up Farah. Please no,” she stuttered, and Bloom made the connection.
Rosalind smiled triumphantly, and waved a hand, “Goodbye Farah, Bloom,” With that, she was gone. Vanished on the spot. The pair stood in silence staring at the tree.
Bloom broke the silence, “So um, apparently we’re related now. Not awkward at all. I guess,” She trailed off waiting for Farah to do something. She had her back to Bloom, and spoke quietly.
“I didn’t know. I swear I didn’t,” She turned on her heel and made her way to the bench. Bloom sat beside her.
“I know that. I mean, it could be worse right?” Farah flinched and Bloom continued hurriedly, “Honestly, at least I found my birth parents. Parent. And she’s pretty amazing,”
“Probably not what you anticipated. A broken confused mother who had no idea of any of it until she gave it to me on a silver platter,”
“No. This is better,” Farah looked at Bloom questioningly, “I just found out that the one person who has been there for me this entire year is my mom. My real mom,” Bloom laughed, grinning childishly at Farah.
“You’re really not upset by any of this? I’m no one's first choice of mother material. Honestly,”
“You’re my first choice,” Bloom launched herself onto Farah, who only tensed for a moment, before wrapping her arms around Bloom and pulling her close. She rested her chin on top of Bloom’s fiery hair and sighed happily. Bloom smiled. This felt good. It felt right. She felt like this was where she belonged. Farah smiled as she felt Bloom bury her head in her neck.
“Oh!” Bloom pulled away from Farah, and looked her in the eyes, “We should probably go make sure Andreas and Beatrix don’t kill everyone in the new fighting class,”
“The new what?”
“Rosalind decided that fairies should learn to fight like specialists. And I think she wants specialists to learn how to fight magic,”
“Oh dear,” Farah sighed and stood up. Bloom opened her mouth as she stood up as well, and Farah continued, “I know you have questions, and I promise I will do my best to answer them, but I need to make sure that the school is alright,”
“Ok, but are we gonna tell anyone about, errr, anything?”
Farah contemplated the question, “I believe that’s your choice. If you’d rather forget about the whole incident, then I will support your choice. If you’d like to tell your friends and keep it secret from everyone else, or tell the world. This is your decision,”
“But it affects you too,” Bloom said pointedly.
Farah sighed, “I personally don’t care if it affects my reputation, or my position. I’d rather you be happy,” She gestured to Bloom, and they began the walk back to school, side by side.
“Everyone should know,”
“Are you certain? Being affiliated with me might affect your life, and not necessarily in positive ways,” Bloom sighed internally as she watched the emotions flick across Farah’s face.
“I want people to know. If you want them to,”
“Of course I do. I lost you once, and I’m not going to do so again. However, it’s not my place to decide,” She let out a pained breath. Bloom noticed that she wasn’t walking with her usual presence. Instead of the surefooted, protective, powerful fairy everyone was used to, there was a sad, hurt, broken human. She limped slightly, and a slight grimace creased her face.