Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

Prólogo

Semanas antes

Bloom estava sentada à beira do Lago Roccaluce, observando a água cintilar com a luz das estrelas refletida. O céu estava escuro, e uma brisa suave e fria fazia fios de seus cabelos ruivos dançarem e roçarem em suas costas. Ela abraçou os joelhos, sentindo uma leve tristeza se instalar em seu peito. O lago sempre fora um lugar especial para ela — um refúgio de paz onde podia se conectar com algo maior, algo que a fazia se sentir próxima de sua irmã, Daphne. Mesmo agora, quando Daphne não existia mais em nenhuma dimensão, Bloom ainda se pegava conversando com ela.

"Queria que você estivesse aqui", sussurrou Bloom, com o olhar perdido nos pontos de luz na superfície da água. "Sei que você finalmente encontrou a paz, e sou muito grata por tudo o que fez por mim... Mas sinto sua falta."

Embora Bloom se sentisse um pouco tola por saber que estava falando sozinha, as palavras saíram com dificuldade, como se cada uma tivesse que ser arrancada das profundezas de sua alma. Ela fechou os olhos, sentindo uma lágrima solitária rolar pela bochecha. "Eu consegui, sabia? Eu restaurei Domino. O reino está florescendo novamente. Nossos pais... Oritel e Marion, sentem muita falta de vocês. Eles não falam muito, mas eu consigo ver."

Ela fez uma pausa, mordendo o lábio. "Mamãe e papai também estão bem. Eles estão felizes em Domino." Um sorriso tentou escapar de seus lábios, mas Bloom não estava realmente feliz. "Michael ainda está se adaptando. É engraçado toda vez que ele vê como a magia é natural em nosso reino e em Magix."

Bloom fechou os olhos com força. "Queria que você pudesse ver tudo isso. Queria que pudéssemos ficar juntos. Tenho certeza de que com você aqui, eu e nossos pais teríamos nos perdido muito menos no palácio e nas vilas de Domino." A primeira risada verdadeira da noite escapou de seus lábios, mas era uma risada triste. "Tanto se ganhou, Daphne, mas tanto se perdeu com você."

Ela respirou fundo, sentindo o vento suave roçar seu rosto, como se fosse o toque da irmã mais velha. Havia um certo alívio em finalmente dizer tudo isso em voz alta, como se tivesse tirado um peso dos ombros. Mesmo assim, o vazio deixado pela ausência da irmã ainda estava lá — um buraco profundo e difícil de preencher.

Bloom soltou os joelhos e ergueu os braços acima da cabeça, fechando os olhos e conjurando uma pequena chama na palma das mãos. Seus olhos se abriram e ela baixou as mãos até a superfície do lago, deixando a chama tomar uma pequena forma e descer, dançando sobre a água, lançando cores e luz sobre a floresta ao redor.

A chama dançou até se apagar, saltando pela superfície da água como uma pequena bailarina, até se tornar nada além de vapor.

Bloom se levantou lentamente, enxugando as lágrimas do rosto com a manga da blusa amarela. "Adeus, Daphne... eu te amo. Obrigada por tudo."

Ela se virou e começou a caminhar em direção à escola, deixando para trás as árvores densas e a luz fria das estrelas submersas, e seguindo em frente, retornando à trilha que a levaria de volta a Alfea, onde a diretora estaria esperando por ela na manhã seguinte.

Ela caminhou levemente, subindo uma pequena colina, mas algo a fez parar.

Um arrepio percorreu sua espinha tão rápido quanto o ataque de uma cobra. Respirando fundo, Bloom olhou para trás, em direção ao Lago Roccaluce.

Os olhos dela se arregalaram.

O lago… desapareceu.

Seu coração começou a bater forte no peito. O lago cristalino, que pulsava com poder minutos antes, não estava mais lá. Em vez disso, o que ela viu foi uma escuridão terrível, coberta por árvores centenárias e raízes emaranhadas, e não havia nenhum pulso de magia ali. Como se o lago nunca tivesse existido.

Sentindo o suor brotar nas costas, Bloom correu, mergulhando na escuridão, com os pés se movendo rápidos e firmes pelo chão. Ela chegou ao local onde antes ficava o lago. Confusão e medo martelavam em seus ouvidos, juntamente com as batidas rápidas do seu coração.

Ela não entendeu…

Seus olhos percorreram a área desolada, e ela não conseguia acreditar no que estava vendo. Nem uma gota d'água, nenhum sinal de que o lago já tivesse existido ali. Apenas terra seca, musgo e árvores sombreadas.

Bloom ficou paralisada, o corpo imóvel, como se seu coração e mente não conseguissem processar o que acabara de acontecer. Ela sentiu outro arrepio percorrer sua espinha. Algo estava errado. Muito errado.

Sem pensar duas vezes, ela se transformou e voou em direção a Alfea, com a mente girando. O que isso significava? O que estava acontecendo?

Seus pés mal tocaram o chão firme quando ela pousou em frente aos portões da escola, o ar entrando e saindo de seus pulmões de forma irregular. Do outro lado dos muros e portões, as luzes de Alfea brilhavam intensamente, mas nada disso a confortava. Conforme os portões se fechavam ao reconhecê-la, a imagem do lago desaparecido ficou gravada em sua mente, e a incerteza a corroía por dentro.

Ela saiu correndo novamente, mas dessa vez, Bloom acordou todos os funcionários, fadas, gnomos e elfos, que procuravam pela diretora.

“Faragonda!”

Chapter Text

Chapter 1

Magix, Magic Dimension

Stella almost ran in her heels, climbing and crossing hallways. She waved and greeted professors and pixies with enthusiastic “hellos” as they acknowledged her along the way, always hearing the coughs and hurried little steps of Miss Griselda behind her.

The headmistress's letter weighed in her pocket as she leaned out one window after another, reminding her that she was late. Only a few minutes, but still late.

A thread of an invisible bond, pulsing with ecstasy and anticipation, made her smile—though she was also a little disturbed by the emotions she couldn’t quite identify. It had been six weeks since she last spoke to Brandon.

At some point, she found herself looking at the faint glow of the magical barrier, shimmering in sync with the professors' magic as they renewed it. The minimal operational capacity was guaranteed, stretching up to the sky, where she could almost see a red ship, sensing its length.

Stella sent her own excitement back through the invisible thread as a farewell before pulling the curtain shut again.

As she approached Headmistress Faragonda’s office, the energetic conversations of other fairies—who were also arriving days early, but unlike her, by choice—blended with the old fairy’s sound spell taking effect.

Stella knocked on the double doors the instant they were within her reach, hearing a, “Come in, Princess Stella!” from inside.

The sunlight caressed her skin through the windows behind the headmistress’s desk as she stepped in, pushing the door and crossing the room.

“Good morning, Headmistress Faragonda,” she greeted, noticing two familiar figures already seated in the chairs in front of the old fairy. Turning in sync, Bloom and Aisha smiled at the new voice in the room.

“Girls!” Stella hurried across the room, receiving the impact of colliding with her girls.

“Stella,” Bloom smiled, pulling back from the hug only to pull her in again. “I missed you!”

“How are you, dear?” Aisha asked, still smiling.

Obligations and new alliances had kept Stella out of reach over the past holiday months, for everyone, without exception.

“Stella,” the headmistress’s voice joined the three, making them separate with a start. “I’m glad to have you with us for another year,” she smiled sweetly. “Please, have a seat.”

Golden eyes met two pairs of blue irises, a shared question within them.

Bloom moved first, followed by Aisha, back toward the headmistress’s desk. For the first time, Stella noticed the absence of books on the wood, replaced instead with bowls of strawberries, pancakes, and cakes. A porcelain cup appeared alongside the other two already set out, next to a large upholstered chair, its long, slender form made to match the others.

“Griselda, if you’d do me the favor, come in as well and close the door. Your help will be welcome at the start.” And before the woman could comment about the other young women being unsupervised, the headmistress added, “I’ve already asked the professors to keep an eye on the other students.”

Instead of commenting on the word ‘children’—Stella was well aware of how much she was still just a child compared to the centuries Faragonda had run the school—she looked at the spare chair and went to it, exchanging a glance with the girls before taking the handle of the white porcelain and sipping the hot tea.

“Thank you for coming so quickly,” the headmistress said.

“It was an official letter with the school seal, it’s not like we really had a choice.” Stella muttered into her cup.

“Princess Stella!” Griselda exclaimed from behind the young woman.

“It’s alright, my friend,” Faragonda intervened, pretending not to hear the disguised cough-laughs from the other girls. “This school, in fact, is not the same without you, Stella,” she assured her. “But yes. Even though you three caused us certain problems last year…” all three young women cleared their throats simultaneously, looking in different directions, “there’s no doubt that you’ve exceeded our expectations.” If Stella hadn’t sensed that there was more left unsaid, she would be proudly smiling. “That’s why, I can’t think of any other alternative, especially now, with classes only a few weeks away…” she said.

“You need us for a mission?” Bloom asked, pushing her tea aside, determined.

“Yes. Though I wish I could do it myself, I can’t leave the school at the moment. And even though Griselda insists on doing it, I can’t afford to send her to Earth,” the headmistress explained regretfully, casting an apologetic glance at her friend, who adjusted the red-rimmed glasses on her long nose with a scowl.

“Earth?” Aisha frowned.

Stella had the same question in mind.

“Usually we’d approach this with more planning, but it was a surprise for us too,” Griselda circled to the side of the desk, looking at the focused faces of her students as she snapped her fingers and three envelopes replaced the breakfast on the table. “These are some of the things you need to know about these… beings.” With a gesture, she guided Stella’s, Aisha’s, and Bloom’s attention beyond the windows behind the headmistress.

On the bluish glass, a mosaic took shape, moving, separating, and assembling into a detailed map of mountains, seas, and simply… life.

“Earth used to be counted as part of the Magic Dimension system. It was inhabited and protected by great fairies, specialists, and witches. They had their own system. Each with their role, and in the end, it was an organism in perfect operation,” Faragonda intervened, standing up from her chair and looking at them with gentle seriousness. “In the Great Witch War, the wizards, witches, fairies, sorceresses, and specialists of Earth came to our aid. It was a trap. Every magical being was exterminated on the battlefield,” Stella felt her insides twist in so many ways that she imagined she’d get sick at any moment. “And those who managed to return home, they were hunted on their own planet.” Faragonda circled her chair toward the mosaic brightly coloring the glass and the beams of light crossing it, choosing to remain oblivious to Stella’s nausea, Aisha’s nervous restlessness, and Bloom’s shock.

“While, when Domino was attacked and considered a dead planet,” Faragonda continued, not noticing, or choosing not to comment on, Bloom’s sudden shudder. “The Great Witch War turned Earth into a Dead Magic planet.” She touched her pale fingers to the glass, swallowing the lump suddenly stuck in her throat. The stained glass came alive, the colors starting to ripple like the sea’s waves moving with the wind, and mountains seeming to gain height and depth over other spots until it looked like a map.

“When the last fairy was killed, Earth became a zero point in the Magic Dimension,” Griselda continued for the headmistress. “And up until yesterday afternoon, Earth was still like that… but this appeared.” Three golden signals popped up at different points on the stained glass.

“Why were they hunted? Why the traps?” Bloom’s voice was low in her fractured question.

“Earth’s magic was unique. Although it belonged to the Magic Dimension, Earth had its own magic. They were their own source,” Griselda explained, adjusting the glasses high on her sharp cheekbones and nose. “That made them extremely powerful and dangerous to the other planets in our dimension.”

Or, simply in the eyes of some realms—Bloom felt the Dragon’s lament like a whisper. She clutched the collar of her blouse above her chest, feeling her heart tighten.

“And, being a Dead Magic planet, the councils considered it the best place for exiled creatures.”

In her renewed and amplified anxiety, Stella felt a pull from Brandon: worried, anxious.

She clung to the bond, seeking strength in it.

She’d heard Earth’s story before. By the time she was twelve, Stella had already been preparing for the day she’d ascend to the throne, with all the wisdom a queen should have. The story had never returned to her mind, taking only the main information: that it had been discarded due to its lack of magic.

She should have imagined that the story had been softened enough for a child to learn without being terrified.

Brandon was confused—she felt waves of alertness and frustration from him for not being up to date—but offering what she needed, she clung to his strength and thanked him through that open passage between them. She would explain later, she swore.

“Exiled creatures?” Bloom barely recognized her own voice in the question, furious and confused in the turn of a second hand on a clock. “Trolls, Ogres, Alps, Shadows, Demons, Witches; you’re really telling me that all these monstrosities could actually be living on Earth without their knowledge?” She tried—really tried—to keep her temper down, but when Stella and Aisha looked at her, the air trembled, boiling around her.

The past weeks had simply been too much.

“Not everything is that simple, Bloom,” Griselda reprimanded, crossing her arms in front of her body and scowling at the trembling air above her student’s head.

“My parents lived on Earth.” She fought back, pushing herself up from the chair. “I lived on Earth for sixteen years.” She said through clenched teeth.

“I understand that, Bloom, but I’d like you to calm down so you can understand what we’re saying here.” Faragonda, unshaken, continued despite the angry young woman in front of her and her two silent friends—one paler than she’d ever seen, and the other staring fixedly at the mosaic.

Bloom felt Aisha’s cold palm on the freckled skin of her arm, contrasting with the heat of her magic. A faint steam rose from the contact of their two magics. She sat down, not looking at her, however. Her eyes remained focused on the headmistress.

“These three points lit up in our systems yesterday afternoon,” Faragonda repeated, turning her back to the heat still radiating in waves from the fairy of fire. Golden glimmers followed the headmistress’s fingers on the map as she summoned her magic, shifting it to pull the three points out separately in a more enlarged form. One of them pulsed strongly every few moments, and her hand trembled with the effort. “Lit up isn’t precise. They burned through our systems, and not just ours, but also Saladin’s and Griffin’s.”

“What are they?” Aisha asked, for the first time since the official start of the meeting.

“The last sources of Earth magic.”

A chorus of “Oh’s” and “Ah’s” followed as Stella and Aisha stood up and walked around the table to join the headmistress and the inspector.

Aisha stepped closer, ignoring the sunlight shining through the glass, painting her skin in different colors. The spots were warm. They radiated so much light and heat that she felt the absence of life burning strong when she passed her palm over one of the flickering ones.

“How?” she asked, her eyes comparing that weakened spot with the other two, still warm, for a moment.

“We don’t know,” Faragonda said, stepping aside so Bloom could also come closer, the scalding heat reducing to merely her own skin warming up as her curiosity also came alive. “All we know is: if we received the signal, the exiled witches did too. But what we don’t know is how long it’s been since they also received it.”

“Earth is a relatively large planet… How do these traces point to a target?” Bloom frowned at the spots, pointing at them.

“In a world without magic, even the smallest portal is detectable to a witch, Bloom,” Griselda answered as she gathered the envelopes the young women had ignored.

“Only creatures with civil life force—human—can live in a world devoid of magic,” Faragonda frowned, turning her gaze from the Winx girls to the window, her magic undulating gold around the room to strengthen Griselda’s on the map. “Thus, only witches, wizards, sorcerers, and fairies exiled there survive the passage through the portal without help.” She could see Bloom visibly relax, and smiled softly at her calmed shoulders.

“This is even more problematic, however,” Saladin’s voice startled the girls as he entered the room alongside Griffin, a portal connecting the offices of Red Fountain and Cloud Tower to Faragonda’s. “Forgive us for the delay, Miss Faragonda. The third-years are arriving en masse today.”

Stella let the air leave her lungs freely as she allowed herself to scoff.

Only someone who had lived many more centuries than the headmistress could really call her ‘Miss’ without even blinking.

“It’s a pleasure to see you again, my young ladies,” she heard him say.

“Hello, Headmaster Saladin,” the three responded in unison, diverting their greeting to the witch headmistress, who only acknowledged them with a small nod of her head and a quick, “Winx.”

“Welcome, my friends.” Faragonda stepped away from the back of the chair where she had been observing the girls and greeted her friends from youth. “I’ve already begun bringing them up to speed and… oh, thank you very much, Griselda, for your support. You may return to the courtyard now.”

With long, balanced strides, Griselda left the papers on the wooden furniture and crossed the room with a formal nod to the former members of the Company of Light.

“If that’s the case, we must hurry,” Griffin took two steps forward, entering the room while removing her gloves and leaving them suspended in the air, flexing her pale fingers. “I doubt Ediltrude will last long without me there.”

Feeling a bit like a preschooler again, Stella raised her hand, receiving a look from the three headmasters.

“Speak, my young one,” Headmaster Saladin said, smiling amusedly—truly smiling at her.

“If Earth,” she raised her finger toward the stained glass behind her, “is a dead magic planet, how was I able to defend myself from the Knut and the demons there two years ago? And… wouldn’t we get stuck if we tried to return? Could we use our magic there, or would the planet block it? I mean… if there are exiled beings there and they sense magical signatures, wouldn’t they come after us too? We’d need to defend ourselves. That, besides maybe also needing to protect the beings there. Will we have the Specialists’ help? Is that why you’re here?”

Griffin raised an eyebrow while Saladin nodded, impressed by the single breath of the princess’s questions.

It was Faragonda who answered.

“Two years ago, Bloom was on Earth,” Bloom raised her eyes to the headmistress. “When she left, what remained of magic on the planet was taken away, and its connection to the Magical Dimension was severed. That’s what we believed, anyway. You will have your magic, though you’ll need to use your Charmix amulets.”

“Right… and about the portal?” Aisha asked, looking again at the map and then at the headmistress. “Can Stella’s staff take us there and back?”

“In this case, no,” Stella’s eyes doubled in size at Saladin’s answer. “You’ll be able to move from one place to another on the planet, but the severing of Earth’s connection to the Magical Dimension affected any external connection with it.” He lightly tapped his staff on the carpet and the table and chairs between him and the map appeared on the other side of the room. “We will open the portal for you to go, and we will open it for you to return.”

“How will we find them? We don’t even know what they look like.” Bloom alternated her gaze between the headmasters, as well as Stella and Aisha.

“You’ll follow the signatures,” Faragonda said, standing to Saladin’s left while Griffin stood to the right. Bloom stepped aside, pulling Stella’s arm with Aisha to the office’s side wall. “We’ll open portals in each of them. Follow their signatures and protect them.”

“I had proposed sending experienced guardians on this mission, but Faragonda assured me you can protect them and bring them across the dimension,” Griffin told the three as they diverted their eyes from their own headmistress to her. “She’s usually right. I hope today won’t be the day she’s finally wrong.”

“She won’t be.” Bloom assured, nodding firmly, hugging Stella’s arm as she did the same with her two friends.

Magic exploded bright and hot from the headmasters toward the stained glass. The girls’ hair flew in all directions as the air condensed and spread the convergence magic.

“Good,” Griffin grunted.

The golden points shone brighter on the window and vortices shimmered and grew separately in them.

“Stay safe, girls,” Saladin said over the roaring wind. “And good luck.”