The Queen of Shadows - World of Winx rewrite S.1

Chapter 12: Fashion Disaster

Stella was far from excited about the prospect of Paris, her mind fixated on the idea of encountering small, slimy creatures—'snails'. They weren't a common sight on Solaria, but her experiences on Andros had acquainted her with them. Seated beside Bloom, who was engrossed in drawing, Stella noticed a recent change in their dynamic. Conversations between them had dwindled, and a palpable difference lingered, an intangible undercurrent of dark magic.

Her gaze shifted towards Bloom's drawings, one of which depicted a tall shadow with dark blue eyes, adorned with a crown. The shadow wore a cap, and a wicked smile gave it an unsettling appearance.

"What are you drawing?" Stella inquired, but Bloom remained silent, absorbed in her own world of creativity. Undeterred, Stella nudged her best friend's elbow, prompting Bloom to look up. Their eyes met, revealing the weariness evident in Bloom's gaze, with noticeable bags under her eyes.

"Hmm? Are you okay, Bloom?" Stella asked with concern. Bloom nodded but avoided further eye contact, retreating into her drawing. Stella sighed, a deep desire to help surfacing. She still hadn't unlocked her Dreamix powers. Occasionally, she felt as if Bloom's affection towards her was waning—perhaps due to her new responsibilities or her increased focus on matters of the kingdom. Stella was acutely aware that Bloom had never aspired to be a future queen, and she now regretted putting her friend in this situation.Villains relentlessly pursued Bloom, driven by their selfish desire to obtain the dragon flame. The life of a fairy had never been easy for her best friend, especially after being under Darkar's control. Since defeating Darkar and Valtor, Bloom had become more reserved, rarely opening up.

Wanting to offer comfort, Stella considered leaning against Bloom's shoulder but decided against it, sensing that her best friend needed space. Bloom must have had a rough night's sleep, a recurring issue. Stella wondered if Daphne, despite being a spirit, was communicating with Bloom.

"We're here in Paris," Tecna announced, interrupting Stella's contemplation.

Stella rose from her seat and stretched her legs.

"Stella, have you sensed any talent recently?" Flora inquired.

"How does it even feel?" Stella exchanged glances with the other girls, a moment of silence passing before Musa spoke, "It's hard to explain."

"But you just know when it's the right person," Flora added.

'Oh shades...' Stella thought. She hadn't felt anything. Why hadn't she discovered a talent yet? Was she suddenly left in the dark? Although she was happy for her friends' successes in gaining their new transformation, she couldn't ignore the weakening of her Enchantix powers. It felt as though the aura and magic on Earth were fading, or perhaps ancient magic didn't mesh well with Earth's magic system. Stella sensed a growing feeling of uselessness within the group, a sentiment she despised. As the oldest member, she believed she should be supporting and guiding her friends, not feeling carried by them.

***


They strolled through the bustling streets of Paris, the sheer volume of people making Stella feel uncomfortable and a bit claustrophobic. In her musings, she couldn't help but wonder why Paris couldn't widen its roads and houses. Despite the crowded streets, Stella stole glances at the shop windows, fascinated by the variety of items on display — tempting food that reminded her of luxury breakfasts in Solaria and clothing stores with styles that, while not as sparkling as Solarian fashion, still caught her attention.

One dress, in particular, drew her gaze. A simple yet elegant short-sleeved white dress adorned with patterns of light pink roses and intricate dark green leaves, with a ring of pink roses at the waist.
"Wow..." Stella murmured to herself, almost entranced by the dress. "Girls, do you see this?"

She hooked her arm through Bloom's, bringing her to a halt. The other Winx members stopped, and a unanimous agreement on the dress's beauty emerged. They discussed how well it would suit Flora.

"But hey, where are we going?" Stella finally mustered the courage to ask.

"You'll see," Aisha replied with a smile.

"We're not going to watch snails, are we?" Stella inquired.

"Well... snails are often served as an appetizer in French cuisine and are considered a delicacy in
France," Tecna corrected.

Stella's eyes widened, a hint of panic in them as she looked imploringly at her best friends. The thought of eating snails didn't sit well with her; who knew what humans put into their food?

"Take it easy, Stel," Bloom chuckled. "You'll see where we are going. But I think you will like it."

Stella wasn't entirely sure how to interpret Bloom's response, but she hoped her friend was right. What could possibly be interesting in Paris? She felt overwhelmed by the idea of learning about a new capital and country when she had only just managed to grasp all of Solaria's history.

***

Stella yawned as she followed her friends through the vibrant streets of Paris. Despite the enticing boutiques with fancy dresses, she wondered why it was taking so long to reach their next destination. Couldn't they take a car, or even better, a flying car to skip all the traffic?As she strolled, Stella tried to focus on finding a talent. Maybe someone passing her on the streets harbored a dream that she could help come true. Influencing people was one of her best qualities, after all. All boys seemed to fall for her glamour, passion, and keen sense of fashion. She scanned her surroundings desperately for signs of a talent. "Come on, stupid Dreamix powers. Work," she thought to herself and sighed, running out of patience. There was no feeling of new powers anywhere. What could possibly trigger it?

"Eh, Stel?"

"Hmm?" She realized she had stopped and was staring into a boutique's large window, seeing her own reflection. Her golden hair almost seemed to shine in the reflection. Bloom stood beside her with a worried look.

"Are you okay?" Bloom asked.

"Yeah... I'm fine," Stella sighed, although, in truth, she was far from fine. The pressure was getting to her. Sometimes she forgot how overwhelming it felt trying to save the world. Earning her Enchantix had been a massive challenge. She had even doubted whether she would ever earn it at all. The memories of her father under Cassandra's spell, sending royal guards to kill her, still haunted her. The pain of those memories made her eyes well up.

"Are you sure?" Bloom persisted. Stella fought back the urge to cry. It wasn't the right moment to break down. Bloom, despite everything, had lately been avoiding conversations about emotions. About the pressure and her sense of failure at times.

"Cause...Stel?"

"I said I'm fine!" Stella exploded, furrowing her brows. Her heart raced, a headache appeared, and she felt overwhelmed by emotions. Bloom took a few steps back, clearing her throat. Her concerned look turned into one of doubt, and she seemed hurt. Stella took a deep breath and watched Bloom walk away. The other girls looked at her, shocked and concerned.

"No, wait, Bloom!" No answer. Stella realized she had let her stress get the better of her, not for the first time and likely not the last. Bloom was gone again, just like in New York. She despised arguing with her friends.

"Wow... you two really have hard times right now..." Aisha said.

"Um... Stella, if you ever need a break from the mission, we can always cover for you," Musa offered.

Flora came beside her and hugged her. It was a warm and gentle embrace from the sweetest and kindest person in the Magical Dimension.

"It's okay, girls... I want to do this mission," Stella reassured them as the rest of the girls joined the hug. She smiled to herself, feeling a little less stressed. Just knowing the Winx would always be there for her was a comforting thought.

***

Finally, they reached their destination. Stella observed the grand building, adorned with various flowers, banners, and intricate details. The white structure stood out as a fancy and outstanding place, in her opinion. People strolled through the large courtyard, dressed in elegant and fashionable attire, inspiring her.

Further away, Bloom was engaged in a conversation with the camera drones for WOW, appearing upset. Ace joined in, discussing the show and Bloom's instructions for the cameras not to follow them.

"But this is a reality show?!"

"Maybe... but not all talents may like always being in the spotlight. Sometimes you have to chase them."

"You have one last chance, Bloom!" Ace screamed before the call cut. Bloom sighed, and Stella approached slowly.

"Hey... I'm sorry about my..."

"No, it's fine," Bloom answered quickly, but she didn't seem fine. Stella saw the usual face, her friend drowning in her own thoughts. "I'm just tired and think I have to rest..."

"It's okay," Stella smiled, relieved that Bloom wanted to take a rest. Not pushing herself too much with the mission or the leading role in the group. "We'll take care of everything."

"Oh, I think you sure will do," Bloom said with a weak smile, bags hanging under her eyes now.

She must have slept very badly,' Stella thought. "But before I leave... I haven't told you... but you are standing in one of Paris's most famous fashion universities."

Everything became clearer. The stunning fashion, the students, the beautiful architecture. Maybe the others hadn't told her where they were going to surprise her. Stella felt more hopeful about getting her Dreamix and helping a new talent fulfill their dream. Stella hugged Bloom goodbye before rejoining the rest of the Winx. The cameras followed her, and she pretended to know where they were. Ace seemed confused.

"You, of all people, Stella, would know about Paris and its fashion?" he said over the cameras. "I mean, you have even claimed to be a very talented fashion designer."Stella rolled her eyes as she heard the crowd in the background chuckle. Aisha rested her arm over Stella's shoulder and smiled towards the camera. "It's because she is."

"And hence why we are giving Stella the lead," Musa continued.

Stella took a deep breath before taking her first step into the grand building. The glamorous walls painted in white and golden yellow, each window framed with small crystals. People wore various, newest trending Earth-fashion. Stella's eyes shone, and everyone had a sparkling aura around them, like she was dreaming. Her high heels clicked on the floor as she glided across the big entrance.

"Look at her," Stella heard Aisha whisper from behind. She heard the others chuckle. She turned around and met their smiles. "Too much for you, Stella?"

"No, no! This is the best thing ever happening in life!" she exclaimed with both hands in the air, her voice echoing in the whole entrance. Glances turned on her from students, some of them commenting on her being too loud. A woman behind a golden desk, with red glasses and an angry facial expression, reminded Stella of Griselda. She hoped to never meet someone like her ever again.

"Young woman, please keep your voice down!" she said with a harsh tone, her English sounding way different than in New York.

Stella cleared her throat and blushed, "Sorry, miss..."

The others shook their heads playfully and smiled.

"Let's find the next talent," Tecna said.

"Tecna's right," Flora continued.

***

Running around the expansive hallways reminded Stella of her palace, with elegantly dressed people bustling about. However, no special feeling had come over her so far, and she felt her pulse rising. As she passed person after person, a sense of hopelessness settled in. Hours seemed to pass without encountering that unique aura.

"Come on, Stel... you can do this," Stella whispered to herself, scanning the area desperately, trying to find the talent that would unlock her Dreamix.

"Uh, Stella, are you okay?" a calm voice asked, and she felt a warm hand touch her shoulder.

"Yeah! I'm just fine!"

Tecna sighed. "Just as stubborn as Bloom," she commented, checking her Winx watch.

"Maybe that's why they are best friends and so close..." Musa joked.

"Girls..." Flora sighed. "Stella, we can clearly see something is up. But we cannot help you if you don't open up. We want to help you."

Flora's words struck a chord. Stella wondered why it was often easier to give others the same advice. She had said the same thing to Bloom. But unlike her best friend, who occasionally opened up through her drawings, Stella didn't always know how to express her feelings.

"Why don't you go and rest with Bloom? You two could use some time alone together," Flora suggested, her tone sweet yet carrying a hint of seriousness. Flora's innate sweetness sometimes made Stella want to tear up. Flora was consistently the calmest and most mature of the girls in the group. At times, Stella felt embarrassed that someone a year younger was more mature than her. But it came naturally to Flora, while Stella's bright and mature sides barely shone through. They were rare.

"Well..." Before Stella could respond, she saw two people carrying a large mirror. As she looked at her own reflection, she noticed a girl with red hair that fell to her shoulders. Two smaller ponytails connected in a ponytail behind her. Black eye shadow and dark purple lipstick adorned her. The purple shades reminded Stella of a night sky in Lumenia she had once visited with her mother. Suddenly, a strange feeling enveloped Stella, like she was flying and her inner powers warming her up. A bright golden aura shone around her, and she had the distinct feeling that this was the talent she was searching for.

She walked towards the girl who had her back turned, engrossed in examining a dark blue dress adorned with lighter blue crystals acting as armbands.

"I am trying to understand what's missing..." she talked to someone standing right next to her, likely a teacher. "Cause I want people to love it, and it must be unique."

"Excuse me. Maybe I can help?" Stella offered.

The girl turned around with a raised eyebrow. Stella felt a stern look that made her slightly uncomfortable, as if the girl was staring through her soul, judging her look or clothes. Her eyes moved from top to bottom.

"And who do you think you are?" she then said, crossing her arms.

"Eh..." Stella stuttered. "I-I, I mean, we are the Winx from the program... Wo-WOW."

"Never heard about that ever before," the girl rolled her eyes and scoffed. She then turned to the other person who suggested adding white glitter to make it shine. "No... I want it to be something special. Glitter does not add anything special to this dress..."

Stella observed the dress and thought that adding yellow shades and details would complement the blue color. A happier color would add some contrast. "What if you add some yellow to the dress?"

"Nah... too cliché for dresses nowadays. People always want to wear happy and bright colors. Darker shades and depressing colors are what the fashion brand needs," the girl answered without turning around.

"No... trust me, I think it'll look good," Stella tried. Her design idea was inspired by her mother's blue dress, how her blonde golden hair had always looked good with the blue dress. Stella had never admitted it to her father, but she actually liked the color blue, though she never dared to dress in it. It always reminded her too much of her mother, which sometimes scared her.

"Enough!"

"Sophie... maybe this girl has a good idea..."

"No! And by the way, no cameras are allowed to film my designs," Sophie exclaimed.

Stella sighed. It was like she felt the girl's inner struggles, the desire to be accepted and likable by creating new, inspiring fashion no one had ever seen. To be special and unique. That nothing was perfect until everyone would love it. Her own powers showed her glimpses of Sophie scrapping all her ideas and works, paper lying everywhere on the floor, fabrics and many different dresses going into the trash because of how frustrated she is after finishing her things but not being confident that it is good enough. Feelings of anger, self-doubt were reflected in the memories. How Sophie constantly reminded herself of being one of the school's best and promising future big fashion designers. How she is about to break under all the pressure.

"Sophie... I know how you feel. Having all eyes on you and feeling that you have to be all perfect. That you want people to adore your works and look. But trust me... it only hurts yourself," Stella said, seeing Sophie's face soften for a brief moment. "I can promise you... people will love your works if only you are also satisfied. Have put all your heart into designing that dress."

Sophie stayed quiet before she left the room. "Just leave me alone..."

Stella followed her with her gaze, getting flashbacks from the time when her parents were arguing, never wanting her to be around. Every time she wanted to talk to them and get their attention, they only gave her an answer. "Leave us alone, Stella. You know your place. Go back to your classes now."
"Well... good speech, Stella. Now all the audience, learn from Stella. She has a fair point. I almost felt a tear leave my eye," Ace said from the camera. He cleared his throat. "But now we must keep going with the program and finding that talent."

"Okay, Ace..."

***

While the other Winx were searching for another talent, Stella sat by Sophie's dress and never stopped staring into the blue. She felt hopeless but knew she had to solve this somehow. The sunlight hit her through the small window, the sunbeams lighting up the dark room and the dress. Something inside her made her get an idea. She added some star-shaped crystals to the dress, making the sunlight reflect them and making the dark room look like a sky full of stars. Then she added some yellow contrasts on the sleeves and a belt going across the waist. Then she snapped her fingers to add small light sources into the crystals to make them look alive.She waited for Sophie to maybe come back. While she was waiting, Stella took a moment to hone some of her fashion designs she had been working on back home in Solaria.

"Wow..."

Stella looked up and saw Sophie standing by the door frame with a dropped jaw. Stella rose up and walked towards her.

"It's... like a dream... like magical?"

"Yes, indeed," Stella smiled, hearing something in Sophie's voice change.

"How did you make those crystals look so bright and magical?" Sophie asked.

Stella winked, "Magic."

"No, but for real. I am absolutely in love with this dress."

"I just broke the rules and added some special material. They are probably not approved to use right now... but hopefully, it's still safe," Stella joked.

"Hm... breaking rules?"

"Uh... I mean..."

"No, you just gave me an idea!"

Not understanding what was happening, Sophie went to her desk with pencils and papers. Her old creations got thrown into her nearby trash can, and she started to draw and sketch. It was like a belly shirt with short sleeves. The color palette was simple, black and white, reminding Stella of the typical t-shirts Earthlings put thieves in movies in. Then Sophie sketched both long glittery pants with red shades. Then she sketched red high heels with a heart-shaped symbol on top of them.

Stella watched as Sophie cut pieces of fabric and used her sewing machine. All the pieces came together and created a beautiful outfit. A mix of a thief-themed outfit but also a fancy one.

"Sophie, it's gorgeous!" Stella exclaimed. She felt Sophie's energy raise, and it felt like she was achieving her dreams were closer. She just had the feeling.

"For real?" she asked hesitantly.

"Yes! How do you say it in French? Perfetto!"

Sophie chuckled. The atmosphere suddenly felt a bit lighter.

"No... that's Italian. You say in French 'parfait.'"

"Par-fé?" Stella tried to imitate Sophie's pronunciation.

"Sí. Très bien."

"Ah sí. Mucho t-tra...tré... eh... bueno...bé..b-bien?" Stella saw how confused Sophie got. She didn't even know by herself what she just tried to say. She thinks she mixed up French and Italian. Sophie then just shook her head and smiled.

"Vous apprendrez le français à coup sûr, en un rien de temps... 'You will learn French for sure, in no time,'" she then said.

***

Ace and the audience were impressed by Sophie's new creation. He wanted her to show everyone with a catwalk. Stella had fixed all the details while Sophie helped the Winx to dress up. With a bit of teamwork, they had finished the entire fashion collection in only four hours. During those four hours, they had even more time to bond and talk about their love for fashion.The first cold Sophie Stella had first met had become a more open and happy Sophie. She talked about her new ideas that had come up. How Stella had opened up her eyes more and inspired her to create more and design new styles.

"I haven't really said it yet... but I'm actually satisfied with this creation," Sophie exhaled and turned to Stella.

"Oh, Sophie. I am so happy for you that you finally could enjoy the final results of your designs," Stella said and hugged. At first, Sophie must have been surprised since she felt tense. But then she hugged back and whispered 'thank you.'Stella had imagined herself earning her Dreamix. But no feeling of transforming or her powers evolving yet. Maybe she had to wait until after the show. Perhaps Sophie's dream is to showcase a creation that she is satisfied with and show the world that even simple fashion can turn out to be stunning.

In the corner of the dressing room, Tecna had a concerned look on her face. Stella left Sophie for a second and went over to Tecna.

"What is it, Tec?" she asked. Without answering, Tecna showcased how her Winx watch had discovered dark magic nearby. Something big was here, like a creature.

"He's here..." Tecna then said.

"What do we do? The cameras cannot see us using magic if we have to transform..." Stella whispered.

"I know... and thanks to Ace, we cannot cancel this fashion show," Tecna sighed.

"We have to solve this somehow..."

"Alright... you stay by Sophie in the tent. The cameras are not allowed to be in there. And if he attacks, I'll hack the cameras, and we will then go and help you," Tecna said.

Stella nodded. She could then hear how the speakers welcomed everyone to the fashion show and described how 'a new promising fashion designer named Sophie will show her "Made in Paris" collection for them this evening. The sky had turned dark. Only the few spotlights illuminated the place. The big catwalk was polished and ready to use. It was almost impossible to figure out when and how the crocodile man would attack.

"And we are ready to go," Sophie said, giving a thumbs up to the Winx. All of the girls left the tent and walked out on the catwalk. The crowd applauded, almost captivated by the collection. The Winx posed, and camera flashes illuminated the area.

Suddenly, Stella heard steps coming from the other entrance into the tent. She prepared herself to strike and protect Sophie. All the responsibility was now on her. Her clenched fists grew tighter as the sound became even louder. Through the entrance, she first saw a shadow appearing on the floor. A loud bang came from the catwalk, and Stella flinched. Feeling her hands getting warmer, she turned back to the entrance, seeing Bloom standing in front of her.

"Wow... take it easy..." Bloom said, raising her hands in the air.

"Oh... it's you. I thought you were someone else..." Stella exhaled and felt a little bit more relaxed.

"Oh, Stella! The crowd loves this collection!" Sophie exclaimed as she looked out from the tent. Stella felt her inner powers slightly grow and feel even more connected to Sophie. But still, she couldn't feel her Dreamix powers.

"So, Stella, how's it going with the new talent?" Bloom asked.

"It's going well, and..." Another loud bang interrupted Stella from finishing her sentence. By the catwalk, some pipelines from the pool broke. Water knocking the girls off the catwalk into the pool spread confusion in the crowd. Murmurs spread as well.

"What's happening, Stella?" Sophie asked as she walked slowly backward. Stella went quickly by her side and scanned the area, trying to see any glimpse of the crocodile man. She saw Aisha helping the others up from the pool. They all were drenched in water.

"Stay close to me, Sophie..." Stella told her as she made a protective gesture with her hand.

"Bloom, watch the other entrance."

"Okay..." Then she went quiet. Stella turned around and saw Bloom fly into the wall, hitting her head on a wooden crate. From the dark, through the entrance, yellow eyes glowed and stared into Stella's soul. He was here... She could hear Sophie panicking and breathing intensively. Stella stood like a shield between Sophie and the crocodile man. He roared and used his big, sharp claws to tear the fabric of the tent. Large marks appeared in the roof, making rainwater fall in. Stella felt cold rainwater run down her neck and back. Her hair getting heavy and wet. Then he attacked in one single sweep. Stella used her sun powers to blind him. He flew backward, hitting some dress codes. His eyes looked even more furious now as she charged towards them. Stella closed her eyes as she transformed into Enchantix. In the background, she heard Sophie.

"Wow... really fancy clothes..."

Stella created a sphere of light as she hit the crocodile man, "Ocean of Light!" He roared and used his tail to swing. Stella dodged it and covered Sophie. They both landed on the ground. Then she cast another spell to create a shield. His big claws tore through the shield and hit Stella in her leg. She screamed from the pain, blood pouring from the injuries. Feeling how her limp hurt and felt weaker. Then she felt her other leg getting grabbed by the crocodile man's hard and tight grip. She got tossed onto the ground, staring to see suns flowing around her head. Her head hurting and feeling dizzy. A terrified scream left Sophie as she got grabbed by the crocodile man. She fought for her life, hitting his green armored skin. Stella was panting, trying to keep her conscious. Feeling Sophie's dream and their connection slip away. Feeling her energy also slipping away.

"Stella!" She felt warm hands getting placed over her injury. A heat spread across her leg, and she felt the pain slowly go away. When she finally could see, she saw Flora being transformed and had a dark green aura glowing around her.

"Stay still. I'm healing you..." Slowly, the injury disappeared, and Stella felt her energy come back. She got help up by Flora.

"We cannot let him take Sophie!" Stella exclaimed. The rest of the Winx joined.

"Come on! This way!" Bloom suddenly exclaimed and left the tent. Everyone followed her through the heavy rain. Their high heels clicking on the streets. Flora grew a vine on a gutter to make the others be able to climb up onto the roof. There they saw the crocodile man carrying Sophie, unconscious on his shoulder. A big portal opened, and he was just about to pass through as Aisha bent the rainwater to push him into another direction from the portal. All of the Winx transformed into Dreamix. Stella tried to connect to her Dreamix powers, but it was like something suppressed them.

The crocodile man dropped Sophie by a chimney and swung his tail towards everyone. Bloom had de-transformed and ran towards Sophie while the others kept attacking him. Using indirect attacks. Tecna created a protecting 'World Wide Web globe' around Bloom and Sophie.

"Close your eyes, everyone!" Stella exclaimed, channeling all her powers and energy into her attack. "Sun Energy Burst!!!" Everyone covered their eyes, and she heard how the crocodile man roared in pain. His big claws covering his face as he opened a portal in the air and jumped through it. Stella felt drained and dissolved from her transformation. She got caught by Tecna and Flora and then got put down safely onto the ground. Sophie was saved and now safe. She hugged Sophie, who was quiet. "You are safe for now."

She expected her to say something, but she kept being quiet.
"Let's go back to the fashion show," Stella then said to break the awkward silence.

***

Ace was satisfied with the fashion show, but he admitted the extra blooper where the Winx got knocked by some water effects was confusing. However, the viewers loved it. Tecna scrolled through social media and shook her head each time she saw the video appear.

Stella walked in silence, trying to figure out why she hadn't achieved her Dreamix yet. Even after the successful fashion show and Sophie advancing to the finals in WOW, she seemed not to have accomplished her dreams. Plus, she had been strangely quiet the rest of the night. Bloom had walked Sophie home while the rest of the Winx cleaned up after the fashion show.
"I don't know... but I haven't got my Dreamix powers?" Stella talked to Musa.

"Hmm... that's strange since I thought Sophie wanted to be credited for her creations...?" Musa answered.

Stella opened the door to the Winx mobile and entered. On the pink sofa, she saw Bloom sitting with her pink drawing tablet. She was surprised to see her already there, as she had just walked Sophie home.

"Oh? You are already here?" she exclaimed. Bloom looked up from her tablet, confused.

"Well... I have been here all day since I left you at the fashion school?" Bloom said.

"No, what are you talking about? Don't you remember when we fought against the crocodile man at the Fashion show?" Stella thought Bloom had just forgotten because of the big hit on her head. But she genuinely answered that she had no clue what she was talking about. Stella wondered if she was going crazy, seeing illusions and hallucinating things. But when Musa confirmed everything, it seemed to be a mystery. "Are you sure, though, because..."

"Yes, I am..." Bloom sighed. "Stel... I don't have the energy to fight..."

"No no... I believe you..." Stella took a seat beside Bloom and held her hands over her head, trying to understand the situation, figure out what was wrong.

A scream echoed through her mind, a terrified scream that made Stella shiver. Darkness enclosed around her, and she saw herself staring into the forest from that strange dreamworld, with the blue trees. A cold and lifeless voice called out and whispered in her mind, "Follow us into the World of Dreams." It was like the darkness itself spoke to her. Stella wanted to flee. Then she saw Sophie, being trapped in the forest, getting pulled by a dark force into the darkness. One last scream left her as a horrifying creature appeared in front of her, with a wicked and cruel smile. Dark blue eyes, lifeless and completely devoid of warmth. It transformed into Sophie and had an evil smile. The last thing Stella heard was the "Sophie creature" whisper...

"Find me..."