===
Days, weeks, and months passed. My teeth all were coming in now, and I was pleased that I was building up an immunity to pain, albeit slowly. I was starting to mimic the sounds and syllables of real words now and was still working on trying to walk. I was stubborn, which was purely Potter I assure you, not Frye, as my parents would proudly state. Still, I pushed myself to learn to walk and talk, as they were basic, necessary skills.
Although, there was noticeable tension in the air. My parents had looked more worried as of late. I'd listened to a conversation between them while I was suckling on Mother's boob. Apparently, the Ancestral Witches had attacked multiple cities and kingdoms over the past week. The Company of Light gained more members, which I suppose was one of the few good things. These agents of Darkness had very good transportation, as they were hitting kingdoms and realms on the opposite side of the Magix Dimension within hours of each other.
Today would be Halloween, or as the magical world from my last life called it, Samhain if I was on Earth. It seemed that Fate chose to be unusually kind to me, as I'd only had a bad case of walk-its. I just couldn't stop falling after three steps, unlike yesterday, where I'd managed to push myself six or seven at a time.
With a frustrated cry, I toppled over again. Marion, my mother, was instantly by my side, along with Daphne. Father was entertaining the Company of Light in the lower levels of our castle so Marion could have a break. Oritel was a good man, husband, and king, with the charisma and aura to make anyone stop and listen to him. Never say otherwise.
"Come on Bloom, you can do this." I heard my sister say. Mother moved back, smiling (although I could tell that it looked rather strained).
I picked myself up with Daphne's help. She held my hands as I started to walk again. After a while of her leading me around, I tugged my hands, wanting to do it on my own. Then, there I was, taking baby steps...literally.
One,
Two,
Three,
Damn it!
I fell again. But this time, the fall was accompanied by something worse. High, surrounding Domino was a magic shield, with wardstones strategically placed across the planet. Internally, there was another shield, surrounding Sparx. The world around me was suddenly filled with magic backlash.
I squealed, Daphne gasped, and mother stumbled. The planetary wards had just fallen. From the sky, we could see distant dots of fire hurling toward the planet below. First one, then a few more, then hundreds. All of them heading straight for the planet--for Sparx! It was an invasion. I was not just angry, I was beyond furious. Why why why why why! Was it ironic that today was Halloween in the muggle world? Fate apparently still got a kick out of me being made her bitch. I clenched my tiny fist, knuckles turning white. I wouldn't do her bidding, not this time.
"Mother, what's happening?" Daphne asked, fear in her voice, something I'd never heard from her before. I'd always seen her as this calm, beautiful angel (she was a nymph), so her visible fear was scaring me.
I noticed Mother stiffen, just seconds before the castle shook. The slightly orange tint of the sky shattered, pure blue sky coming through. "The wards have fallen." My mother sounded worried, angry, and fearful.
"But--how?" Daphne asked before she stumbled as the castle shuddered again.
"Someone betrayed us. Only our closest allies and workers knew how to operate the wards, and no darkness could get through the wards unless we invited them. Someone betrayed Domino, or we have a mole." Marion hissed, looking every bit like an angry viper, missing a flash of guilt on Daphne's face.
Why! I wanted to scream. There was another Pettigrew in this castle, of that I was certain. My mind immediately jumped to Valtor, who'd been absent for several of the recent Company of Light gatherings, but then unexpectedly showed up to this one. Then I thought of Griffin, who'd been mocked and humiliated at the last gathering too. She was the only witch to remain in the Company of Light, due to prejudices getting worse. She might've snapped, there was only so much verbal abuse one could take, I'd know from personal experience. But then, I also thought of King Erendor of Eraklyion. He'd been removing himself more from every meeting, and although his wife attended, he did not. He had been allies and friends with my father for years (despite his public dislike for my father), and knew many of the Kingdom's security measures, as we did likewise.
I whimpered, sensing something dark. It was hungry, and it was wanting. It reached out, calling my name...hungering yellow eyes radiating hatred and evil...ugly, twisted, mangled, and spindly hands reached for me, clawing, talons moving towards my cheek...
Daphne wrapped her arms around me, her skin slightly glowing. Her warmth and the sudden heat and power flowing outward in reddish-orange rays from my tiny chest pushed back the darkness. So...I do have a sentient magic inside of me?
"Da-Daph'ee," I said, grabbing a part of her skirt, and looking up at her with confusion, my expression clearly saying 'What is happening???'. She simply smiled at me, though I could see that it was a nervous one.
I glanced out one of the windows and saw a lightning bolt emerge from the growing black and purple clouds in the sky, striking into the ground. The sinister vortex hurled giant spears of hail, some as large as boulders, which struck most of the castle's outer walls and towers. My heart sank faster than a lead balloon. Merlin! We're under attack by the Ancestral Witches! There was a reddish-black sea forming beyond the outer walls, I realized, and instantly tried to get to stand again, only to be picked up by my mother.
"Daphne, hurry, take Bloom, and go!"
"But mother!" my sister said in a panicked voice. "I-I"
"Listen, you must keep your sister safe. Get her and yourself to safety in Solaria or Eraklyon. Erendor and Radius must know of this attack. As of now, Domino is under siege." My mother looked like a soldier in that instant, carrying a grim expression only war-hardened soldiers had.
"But, I want to help, they're my people." Daphne protested, and while a part of me was hurt, I also understood her frustration.
The kingdom of Sparx had been so welcoming to me. They liked me and had nothing but praise, admiration, and love for their royalty. While half of me still hated any kind of attention (the rumor mill at Hogwarts and the larger Wizarding World will do that to you), a part of me liked it. I wanted to protect them too, and I waved my hand furiously at the
Mother sighed. "The witches have come for you both and the Dragon Flame. They want its power and your allegiance."
"I would rather die than join them." Daphne spat, and for the first time, I actually saw her angry. Like, angry, really angry.
"I know." Marion gave Daphne's shoulder a gentle squeeze. "But if they get their hands on either of you, I fear for the future of Magix as a whole. Your sister will need to be taught our traditions, and I trust no one better to raise and train her when she becomes older than you, my eldest."
She glanced nervously outside, the sea of reddish-black, which now blotted out the landscape. I couldn't see any grass anymore. I looked back to see Marion speaking again. "I have to join your father, he and the Company of Light will need my help. Guards!"
Five men armed with pikes (the tip could shoot lasers), swords sheathed at their belts, and their shields and armor in red, silver, white, and gold. "Your Highnesses, we stand ready."
"Escort them to the ships, and make for Eraklyon, but send decoys to Solaria." My mother commanded. One of the guards broke from the formation and ran off as the messenger.
"Ma-ma!" I cried, holding out my arms, suddenly fearful for her, a foreboding sense kicking in, a very bad feeling. I'd learned to trust my instincts when something was bad, wrong, or dangerous, and right now I feared for her. Some of that fear must have reflected in my eyes, for she then grabbed me in a tight hug (being as gentle as she could), radiating the same calm and warmth that Daphne did. I basked in her serenity.
Marion crouched in front of me and kissed me on my nose. "Little Bloom, you are the fire of our lives. No matter what happens, know that I always love you." She handed me back to Daphne, whispering something in her ear that I couldn't hear. Tears streamed down my mother and sister's cheeks, but another rumble of the palace followed by the shattering of glass prompted them to move.
"Sirenix!" My sister transformed, her dress vanishing to reappear in a pale green tube top and a pale blue ruffled mini skirt over pale blue leggings with yellow ribbons tied around them and matching ankle-length boots. She had violet ribbons tied around her arms, and her hair has light red streaks, tied into a ponytail. Her shell-shaped wings are yellow with green borders, rather large, protruding out of her back, with fairy dust glittering off of her wings.
If I wasn't so concerned with everything that was going on, I would've been more interested in the pretty colors and sparkles of her new outfit and different beautiful wings. My mother kissed Daphne on both of her cheeks, then did the same to me before rushing out of the room.
The whole castle shook again as more lightning and balls of hail crashed into turrets, towers, and walls. Buildings down below were crushed, set on fire, or vanished, as though they never were there. People screamed, elderly and young running while specialists, fire fairies, and the Company of Light tried to hold back the inevitable wave of approaching monsters.
Daphne began to fly, the guards running behind us. The castle rumbled and shook. In the distance, I could hear screaming, shouting, thunder, explosions, and cackling, eerily similar to one very dead Bellatrix Lestrange. We entered a room that had ice spikes embedded in the wall, it looked like a tornado had been through there, and much of it was destroyed. Fear built in my gut, the witches had gotten in. And they wanted me, my sister, and the 'Dragon Flame'.
I'd managed to piece together from various conversations that the flame was the power of a magical dragon that had created life from the flames it burst. Centuries after it created all the dimensions, realms, kinds of magic, creatures, flora, fauna, oceans, lands, and people, it settled down for its eternal rest (well deserved in my opinion, anyone who created life inside of an omega dimension deserved to rest), but before it did it blessed all of its power to one of my ancestors, a Fyre. Which was funny, considering that I knew of a spell that could create cursed fire, and its incantation was 'Mortem Fyre'. Also FiendFyre.
The Dragon Flame was like the Deathly Hallows, but unlike the trinkets of Death, the Great Dragon and its fire were well-liked and celebrated every year. It must be extremely powerful for these incarnations of evil to seek it, and because we all had a connection to it in our blood, we would be targeted because of it.
Past the half-destroyed room, we followed a mostly intact hallway, with rubble here and there to the ballroom--which only a week ago had entertained guests and lovely dancers. A chunk of the wall was missing, with tables broken in half, overturned, and bodies laying here and there. But it wasn't empty either.
Hagan (a family friend, my godfather, and the one who forged Oritel's sword) and my father were there, tearing through a giant creature. Now I knew what the dark reddish-black things outside were. It had a top-heavy, hulk-like build, but no head. It slammed a giant rocky fist down. At the last second, my father jumped back to avoid its swing. Hagan rolled to the side before jumping up and hacking at its legs with his sword, which was thick, like the base of tree trunks. The ground exploded, rubble flying everywhere.
Daphne made a shield to protect us, letting the pieces of floor bounce away. She then hurled a fireball, which exploded in the thing's face.
My father took advantage of the beast's distraction. His blade glowed blue-white for a moment before he swung, and then the thing was bisected, its top half falling away from its waist and legs. Hagan pierced its skull (or what I think was the head since it just looked like the muggle supervillain Clayface's dome-head) before withdrawing his sword. Both were panting heavily.
"Father!" Daphne cried as she flew forward.
"Sire, are you alright?" one of the guards asked as he stepped around the bodies, checking the room for threats.
"I'm fine Krian." My father replied as he wiped blood from his mouth with the back of his fist. "Where is Marion?"
"She went off to buy us time. We have orders from the Queen to escort your daughters to the ships." 'Krian' replied.
Hagan shook his head mournfully. "The ships were one of the first things the witches targeted, followed by the external defenses. Only a few managed to escape the destruction."
"Can the wards be fixed? Push out the witches and their army?" Daphne asked urgently.
"I have our best teams down below working to restore them." My father reassured us. "I have hope that they will succeed, but until then we must hold out."
"Sire, the only way to take down the wards was from the inside." Another guard pointed out with a nervous edge to his tone.
"I know," Oritel replied, his tone solemn, but his eyes hard.
"Father, what do we do?" It scared me that my sister was frightened since she was the calm one. To hear her sounding scared, almost to tears made me want to cry too, but I'd tried to keep it in, especially since I assumed that if I was the target, the witches were likely trying to listen for baby sounds. I would not give them any clues.
"Create a portal to Solaria. It is closer than Eraklyon, so the journey should be less taxing on your magic and the Sirenix form." my father instructed. "Hagan and l will buy you as much time as we can."
"Sire, SIRE!" another guard ran in, looking like they'd just emerged from the fireplace. Soot covered much of their face and their armor was still hot to the touch, sizzling in places. "The witches are on this level, and they have the Army of Decay in greater numbers than we expected."
"How many?" My father asked sharply. The man swallowed nervously. "Enough to invade Domino four times over, Sire. More are still falling from the sky. Survivors are being pushed away from the walls into the streets. More are retreating into the palace. Many of our ships managed to escape, and are currently fleeing to Eraklyon."
"Hopefully Erendor will be able to summon up his forces," Father muttered, although he sounded less hopeful. I'd heard that the witches attacked Eraklyion three weeks ago and destroyed two of their military bases. Maybe Erendor did sell us out. Or he was a weak-willed king, like Fudge.
I heard Daphne gasp, as she adjusted me in her arms. My father frowned, and I heard him mutter, "That explains why they took periods in between their sieges, to build their army."
Mother ran in, her elaborate headdress falling apart, her long red hair spelled into a long ponytail that came down to her legs, Faragonda (the Alfea Head of Discipline & Defense Education class, and my godmother), and a guard flanking her. The latter two were dressed in outfits more suited to combat, armor (obviously for the guard), and dueling robes. I winced. Mother's fancy clothes were ripped and had bits of rock in her hair. "Oritel! Girls! I was so worried."
She threw herself into my father's arms, and they hugged briefly before separating. "We need to move, they're here somewhere. We can't let them find the girls."
"If we can find Griffin, she can make illusions to hide the princesses' identities." Faragonda offered as she glanced at us. I babbled, staring at her. She smiled and ran a hand through the red tufts of hair I had (which were now bigger, covering my head).
"Either way, we can't stay here, this is too open," Hagan said, stroking his auburn beard. "Let's move before the witches find us."
"T-too late." One of the guards stammered as they stepped back, pointing at an open door behind my parents. I pointed too, and Daphne gripped me tighter as three ugly wraiths (I assumed) flew into the room.
Each had pure yellow eyes and grey rotting skin. Their hair was in various shades of dark gray to white, the state of their hair being straight, frizzy, or curly respectively. All of them wore form-fitting dark grey dresses with black cloaks. Their hands were spindly, and their arms were bony. They had long, crooked (cough, Snape, cough) noses and each wore a grey mask that looked similar to something you'd see as a prototype for a masquerade mask.
Below them entered Valtor, his brown hair now with streaks of black, his red robes smoking a little, blue fire dancing in his palms. Behind them came three big, ugly reddish-black rock things like the one my father killed.
"Oritel and Marion."
"King and Queen."
"Sire and carrier."
"Don't forget the children."
"So pure and sweet."
"So innocent and malleable."
"Take them, take it, I taste its power."
"No sister."
"Dear sister."
"WE SENSE ITS POWER."
"Hand over the baby princess and the Dragon Flame, and we may yet spare your miserable lives."
"Refuse, and the pain you shall receive will be worse than if you die."
"Or we can play with you, make you suffer."
"I know, let's use the guards as a demonstration of what we have to offer."
The witches spoke in turn, one after another, almost rhyming, their voices old, croaky, and just evil. My father paid them little mind, instead glaring at Valtor. "You betrayed us."
Marion looked in equal parts shocked, angered, and sad. Faragonda's expression was stone, but her eyes gave away her surprise and disappointment. I couldn't see Daphne's expression, but I did see her stiffen as Valtor's eyes move over to us. Four of our guards took up defensive positions around me and Daphne, with the remaining two flanking Oritel and Marion.
"I did," the man confessed, his eyes returning to the King and Queen of Sparx. His gaze showed sorrow, but his stance was tensed, firm. Like a coiled spring. I realized that Valtor was expecting this to turn ugly. "Though I do not relish what I've done, it was what I was created to do. My mothers found a piece of the Dragon Flame, not enough for their purposes. So instead, they shaped me and molded me. They created me. My purpose was to become your friend, Oritel, gain your trust, and learn your secrets and weaknesses."
"You could've asked for help. We would've been willing." My mother tried. "You were our friend."
Valtor laughed, and I almost expected it to be high, pitchy, and stuttery like Pettigrew's was. Instead, it was bitter, heavy, and very much unfriendly. "You're fools if you ever believed that we were friends." Valtor gave my parents a sneer worthy of Snape. "My mother's influence over me and Magix is beyond the scope of your comprehension."
He stepped forward, waving his hands to the sides. "Do you think that today's attack was a coincidence? They've been scrying and observing your operations months before this attack, building up their army, though it left them exhausted several times. I simply had to wait for them to send me the signal, and I would tear apart your wardstones."
So that explained the feelings I had of being watched. And the sense of magic collapsing around us, just like when Voldemort and his inner circle tore down the wards around Hogwarts. Internally, I patted myself on the back. Good to know that those old war and Hit-Wizard instincts were still sound.
I refocused on the danger in front of us just in time to hear Valtor say, "-but if you hand over your children and the Dragon Flame, I can guarantee that you'll be safe and on the winning team. I've seen the magnitude of their power, this invasion is but a taste of their true potential."
"Not a chance in the Dark Dimension." My mother snarled, and flames appeared in her palms.
My father growled, brandishing his blade, the glowing light making the dark ladies' wraith-like bodies float back a little. "You know nothing of honor, sanctity, or family! You, Valtor, are a traitor to not just my family, but to my kingdom, my planet, and all of Magix."
Valtor shrugged, seemingly uncaring, moving to pull out a chair and sit down. "Yup."
Then the Ancestral Witches interrupted. "We have been courteous, and given you the time needed."
"The choice is yours, the consequences are ready."
"Surrender the children to escape your kingdom's fate."
"Or die with it, and we'll leave you at the stake."
"And keep your children as we leave death in our wake."
"Even if we could trust a dark trinity, we would never give up our children for our own lives. Bloomix!" My mother snarled, fire in her hands before she transformed, gaining dragon scales all over her dress, a tiara in gold and red appearing over her forehead as her hair became smooth, with curls at the ends. Her wings were like a butterfly's wings, but each wing had two bottom humps instead of one. Her wings were a mix of dark reds, golds, and silvers.
"Then you forfeit your lives, and all others in this room." the lead witch hissed before hurling ice spikes at my father. The members of Sparx and Faragonda shouted in surprise as the ice streaked toward my father. I couldn't stand to watch and shut my eyes, trembling in my sister's warm embrace.
"You won't take anything from us." Daphne snarled, her eyes glowing orange as she raised a hand. She conjured and hurled a massive fireball at the ice, which exploded feet from Father's head.
I peeked open an eye and slumped further into my sister's side. What do you think I'm going to be able to do? I'm a bloody baby, and these things look way more grotesque and terrifying than Tom Riddle! Plus, my tiny brain is overloaded with fear!
"The Dragon Flame!" the second witch hissed.
"The princesses!" the lead witch called.
"Surrender girls, come here!"
"We will care for you, of that we promise."
"So long as you obey our rules, you have nothing to fear." finished the third.
I glared at them, hating that I couldn't do more myself. Where was this Dragon Flame when you needed it?
My father shouted, "Daphne, run! Take Bloom and go! Guards, with me!"
Daphne moved to fly, but then Valtor was there. "Apologies princess, but I have my orders," he said. His tone was solemn, but the glint in his eyes revealed his darker desire for battle.
"NOT MY DAUGHTERS YOU BASTARD!" My mother shouted, her eyes turning pure orange. Flames erupted from her back, replacing her wings (though they filled the wingspans) as fire danced around her in ringlets. Valtor backed up, his expression was suddenly fearful. Mother let out a battle cry that had a dragon's roar behind it. Suddenly she was exchanging spells with Valtor, blue fire exploding against orange-red.
Her action triggered the fight. Faragonda and Hagan moved to help my father fight off the witches. My father's blade glowed brightly. The overpowering amount of light energy was harmful to anything dark. The Ancestral Witches released horrifying screeches of pain, which turned to agony when beams from Oritel's blade struck the witches.
Faragonda's outfit turned into a sparkling deep blue, green, and silver dress. She also sprouted lavender and purple butterfly wings before flying into the fray. She hurled spell after spell (in jets of pinkish-white colored lights) at the witch with the frizziest hair. Hagan swung his blade, forcing the one that hurled ice at Father to move back.
The guards engaged the 'Decay' with minimal success (by that I mean that they weren't dying, but were getting beaten pretty badly, and not doing much damage). They switched to spears, which started to do damage, but it was in small bits and pieces, like a carver using an ice pick on hardened magma.
Daphne and I looked back one last time, glimpsing our parents as they fought the enemy and traitor for us, for our future.
Hagan moved to help the struggling soldiers cut down the 'Decay'.
Valtor was being overpowered by our mother, sweat dripping from his face as the ball of fire in the middle moved down the line (which caused me to recall the memory I had in the graveyard with Voldemort & 'Priori Incantio'.
The Ancestral Witches unleashed ice, lightning bolts, and what looked like void darkness upon my father and Faragonda. He barely avoided getting encased in ice, only to get blasted back with a lightning bolt. Faragonda was nearly sucked into a void before she blasted the witch with the weirdest hairdo, causing it to shriek and retreat behind its fellows.
Then, Daphne took flight, speeding down the halls, avoiding the passages filled with the 'Army of Decay'. At least they weren't called something stupid, like the 'Knights of Walpurgis'.
We passed through more halls, some filled with our people, others with more of the 'Army of Decay'. I looked outside and babbled some more and I pointed. Daphne moved to shield my eyes but I squirmed, my tiny heart pounding in my chest. How common were heart attacks in infants?
Merlin, some of those things were as big as Grawp, Hagrid's runt-giant brother. For context, Grawp is 16 feet tall, just under the height of a two-story building. A normal giant is anywhere from twenty to thirty-five feet tall, so anywhere from bigger than a two-story to being as tall as a three-story building, and that's not including their girth and fat.
Something about them seemed weird, and off to me. It was like something, or someone was calling out. Then, I heard Daphne gasp. "The Burned Ones. I thought they were a myth."
I could see a horde of those things, like rotting human bodies, blacked and burned, with a strange reddish-orange glow in their chests. They climbed over each other and the 'Decay' like rabid animals, tearing at each other to get into the palace.
I wished that I could ask what the Burned Ones were (or why they reminded me of the Soulless that Grindlewald summoned), but by the new sense of fear I felt from Daphne (It hadn't occurred to me until much later that I was an empath, able to feel people's emotions), they were nothing good. My mind compared them to zombies, hungering for magic instead of power, like a Lenthifold.
Then, something filled both our hearts with fear and despair. Behind us, growing stronger, was the cackling of the witches. They must've defeated or downed our parents! Or more of the horde attacking our kingdom got into the palace! The cackling grew louder. Quickly, I formulated a plan and just hoped that Daphne would play along. As we reached the next junction, I let out a terrified cry, which echoed down the left passage.
Daphne glanced down at me with a smirk as I looked up at her with a grin. She hurled a spark of light (the same color that her wings glowed) down that illuminated the hall, the ball trying right, replaying the sound of my cry in different variants. She then flew to the right, around the corner, speeding through more of the halls before settling in a room to hide.
I let out a naughty giggle as I looked up at her, and she smiled tightly at me. "I love you, Bloom."
No! Come with me! I wanted to shout, but she wouldn't understand the half-babbles that came out of my mouth.
"Da-Daph'ee," I said instead, reaching for her face, my eyes conveying what my dumb mouth couldn't. Sorrow, pleading, fear, and worry.
Daphne gave me one of her brighter smiles (which made me giggle), kissing me on my nose as a mother would do before she shifted me to one arm. She raised her other hand, which was glowing before she moved it into a circle. A sparkling spiral blossomed into a portal, which opened to a planet with three suns and two moons orbiting it.
It had grassy mountains, which stretched high into the sky. In between the mountains were hundreds of trees, more than I'd ever seen clustered together in a single forest on Earth. And at the base of the mountains was a golden castle with shimmering lights of gold, pale gold, silver pink, and fading blues. A castle that looked like two long arms moving down in a 'v' shape to meet just before a flowing fountain. Within the outer golden walls were many gardens, with fountains and sundials. It was shining, it was sunny. It was beautiful.
I gasped, that must be the Kingdom of Solaria! My sister wrapped my half-naked body in my baby blue blanket, with 'Bloom Fyre' inscribed on the corner. I noticed her glance fearfully at the door before she raised me into the portal's vortex.
Then we both stiffened as we heard the witches' cackles, although they sounded less amused and angrier than before. I stared at Daphne's chest as it began to glow, and then a ball of pure fire emerged from her chest. I wouldn't learn until later that she had poured all her magic into a hiding spell and broke my binding as she infused my core with her piece of the Dragon Flame. That ball grew bigger, forming a beam, which flew from her chest to mine. I felt more magic filling my core, the strand between us growing stronger and bigger in the minute-long transfer. I felt a little warm, then started to heat up a lot more. My skin started to glow, and although I couldn't see it, my irises had turned pure orange. I giggled at the feeling of the power, pure and light, kicking my feet.
Daphne smiled sadly at me, now looking like she had a strong case of magical exhaustion. "I can't let them get you or the Flame, Bloom. Protect it and yourself. I'll be back for you, If not, then I'll help you find me when the time comes. I promise."
I started to cry again as the witches grew closer. I could now feel their auras more clearly, dark, vile, and slimy, just like Voldemort's. I shuddered and tried to lean into Daphne's warmth, which was actually cooler now.
I'm guessing that it was a side effect of the Dragon Flame, making someone super warm. I'd certainly been very warm ever since I'd been born, although I'm guessing it had to do with my 'Keeper' status of the flame. Even now, despite all of today's events, I still was hesitant to believe that there was a mystical fire dragon inside of me, but stranger things have happened. One thing I did know was that I'd be able to tell once I started practicing Occlumency again. I needed to safeguard my memories, as I knew some very powerful spells that I'm certain someone could use, plus keep the secret of my powers if others came looking for me.
"I love you, Bloom." I heard my sister whisper as she pushed me into the portal. The transport felt smooth, weird, but smooth. Suddenly, I heard angry screeches as the vortex shook, along with Daphne's frightened shout, "NO!"
The magic of the vortex crumbled around me, and I cried out in fear, surprise, and shock. I heard the witches angrily shouting at Daphne, then I heard the most painful, agonizing scream I'd ever heard, coming from my sister!
My eyes glowed, embers appeared in my clenched fists, and my magic (or was it the Dragon Flame) lashed out, stabilizing the portal. The flame looked into the mind of its new host, reviewing all its memories, though I wouldn't realize it until much later.
Every moment of my life flashed before my eyes. All my suffering, all my trials, all my temptations, all my love, all my sacrifices. My dreams, my hopes, my fears, my regrets, and my secrets. The Dragon Flame scanned the being it now resided in, and found it worthy, found ME worthy to be the bearer of its power.
It knew that I would still be in danger (if Domino fell, and one of the princesses survived to make it to another realm and kingdom, the witches would simply follow, to finish the job. My bloody noble, self-sacrificing self couldn't do that to baby Stella, who was two years old now (her's was in August, mine in December.)
Its destination changed, and suddenly I found myself sitting on the floor. An agonizing, heart-wrenching feeling went through me as I lost the feeling of my family. The bonds...they were just...gone. Like dust. Like they never existed.
"NO!" I cried, anger and helplessness at my situation kicking in. My parents were likely gone, and my sister had died by torture by the Ancestral Witches.
My cries grew louder and angrier, something building within me.
I was helpless.
I was useless.
The Ancestral Witches killed my family.
Their army destroyed my home.
They ruined my kingdom.
They took my planet from me.
I hate them.
I hate them.
I Hate Them.
I HATE THEM!
I HATE THEM!
Something within me emerged, like a rising inferno, lashing out and exploding around me. A loud roar rocked the room, and the whole living room I was in exploded into flames.
An orange shield formed around me, my magic protecting me from the flames. I didn't notice, still crying for what seemed like hours, until I heard loud footsteps. "There's a baby!" I heard a man's voice call...the voice sounded very familiar to me. As though I'd heard it before, craved its voice.
"The crying is coming from over there!" I heard the voice say again, and I couldn't help but ponder where I'd heard it before.
I looked up and saw a young man in a firefighter's suit. The man lifted up his hat mask that all firefighters are supposed to wear in smoke-hazardous conditions, and I found myself staring into the hazel-blue eyes of James Potter, a look of shock on his face.
I wiped a tear with the back of my tiny fist, my cries stopping as we stared at each other for what seemed like an eternity.
Likely, he was astonished at seeing magic, which made me think that he was a muggle. That, or he'd never seen a baby display such powerful magic at such a young age before.
I noticed the shock on his face and couldn't help but giggle at his jaw-dropped look. He snapped out of his shock when a wooden beam fell from the roof into the couch a few feet away. I jumped, trying to turn and see it.
He scooped me up, and I couldn't help but run my hand over his face. "Don't worry little girl, I got you." I couldn't help but wonder how James existed in this life, but I couldn't bring myself to care too much. I just hoped that Lily Potter was in this world too.
I'd long since gotten over them, but I'd just lost everything in my new life, and I'd cling to any lifeline from this or the last life that I got.
James read the name inscribed on the blanket. "Bloom Fyre huh? Lily-tiger would appreciate a fellow flower."
I smiled, though my eyes were still watering. I'd been given a new life, despite fate being a repeating bitch. But now I had another one, and possibly the chance to learn about my original parents, magic, or no magic.
It just was a new life.
===
"Th-they're g-g-gone!" Sobs wracked Marion's body, trembling as she held the cool corpse of her daughter. Her husband stood next to her, white-knuckled, fury and steel burning in his eyes, his armor and clothes half-torn apart.
"The planetary wards are back up, but without the Dragon Flame off-world, we aren't sure how long they'll hold up." one of the surviving guards reported.
Oritel nodded; his mind on auto-pilot. Sparx had fallen. Domino was in ruins, the life and magic of the planet sucked away by the witches. Black-purple clouds covered the sky with no end in sight.
Valtor was in custody, being taken to the Council of Light for the term of his sentence in the Omega Dimension. The Company of Light had retreated to lick their wounds and to call for reinforcements from the other realms. Not only had Sparx fallen, with the sole Keeper of the Dragon Flame vanishing, but the fallen fire had returned, with the Burned Ones, an ancient enemy of the Great Dragon's original progeny.
Lord Darkar, the physical incarnation of the immortal Shadow Phoenix had proven himself to not be a myth, but a true being of dark power. A god of darkness, capable of expanding his reach from beyond his prison. A man who could and would ruthlessly tear a fairy's wings off purely for his own sadistic amusement and pleasure. So dark that he couldn't cross over to Domino without the Ancestresses corrupting Oritel's birth world, which they had indeed cursed.
He choked. Domino was on the course to extinction. Daphne was dead, and baby Bloom was missing. He knew that she was alive, as she was the Keeper of the Dragon Flame, although because of how much weaker he was starting to feel, and the sudden emptiness they all felt. It would only be logical to assume that Daphne had succeeded to transport her and the Flame off-world. While that was good, as his daughter was out of the witches' hands, his eldest's actions would have grave consequences if the Great Dragon's power was not returned to Domino.
All planets in the Magix Dimension had a power that the planets drew from for sustenance. The suns of Solaria were their source of power, just as the Dragon Flame was the source of energy for Domino. Without its presence on the planet, it would start to wither and be unable to support life. The foliage would die first, followed by the livestock and great beasts that lived here. Some, like the dragons, would flee to Pyros, where they would be safe. Others, such as the Ottofipus (half octopus, half fire otter), would likely dry up and die with the planet. Negative energies and dark magic often accelerate the damage and the cataclysmic events caused by the removal of the planet's energy and mana source.
Hagan entered the room, looking like he'd been thrown through several walls (which he had). "Oritel."
When the man didn't respond, he shook him. Hard. "Snap out of it you fool!"
Oritel turned on him, rage in his eyes. "My daughters are gone, Hagan. My kingdom burns. My planet is dying. I failed my people. Do not pretend as though you can comprehend what I am going through."
"Standing there in a helpless rage will do none of us any good." Hagan fired back. "The witches are still here, and Darkar is determined to accelerate the destruction of Domino. You and Marion need closure, but to do that you will have to face him and the Ancestresses. And your people--the survivors--still need their king, their leader. They look to you." He gestured.
Oritel turned to look in the doorway, which was crowding with his people. He braced himself. "Alright."
He turned, pulling his still crying wife from his eldest child's body. "Marion, look at me," he whispered. She turned her intense, yet soft brown eyes on his cyan-blue ones. Rage, fear, hate, grief, guilt, self-loathing. He saw it all in her trembling gaze.
"We will find them. We will make them pay. This time the witches have gone too far. Today, we say no more." He turned to the gathered group before him, his voice gaining strength as he spoke, trembling with anger and grief. "Today we say enough. Unchecked, the witches prove to be capable of even greater atrocities than we believed. Domino is dying, Sparx lays in ruins."
He took a heavy breath as grief and anger poured over him, flowed through his veins, before continuing in a louder tone, "But I am not, we, are not. The witches are trapped here with us. The time has come to end their reign. But, I cannot do it alone. I need your help. I need your spells, your swords, your magic, and your power. I need you, all of you, to help me take down the menace that so rudely uprooted our lives and destroyed our home. If Domino is truly dead, then I say that we bring down the Ancestral Witches with it and avenge all who were lost! Now, who is with me!"
A loud, angry cheer burst from the group. Oritel and Marion smiled, but it lacked the warmth it had before. As they marched off, the witches shuddered, feeling a foreboding sense of fear.