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

Chapter 20: World of Dreams

"Girls?" Stella whispered, uncertain if her eyes were open or closed. Everything remained shrouded in darkness, reminiscent of the first time this had happened, a reminder of an endless void. Stella clenched her fists, mustering her remaining energy to draw upon the inner light from her heart, fueled by thoughts of her father, Solaria, and the confidence and protection her light bestowed upon her.

As her light pierced the darkness, Stella beheld her friends lying unconscious on the ground. A weighty pressure surrounded her, accompanied by whispers that grew louder, initially resembling her friends' cries for help.

The heat from her solar powers warmed her amidst the cold, causing the snow to melt and reveal the green grass beneath. Stella repelled the shadow creatures attempting to assail her, their forms recoiling or dissolving in her radiant light.

"Leave my friends alone!" Stella exclaimed, amplifying her light to unprecedented levels, rivaling the brilliance of Solaria's three suns combined. A spectacle of light illuminated the evening sky, dispersing the shadows like a blazing explosion across the wintry forest. The vortex of darkness dissipated into nothingness.

Facing a shadow creature thrown against a tree, Stella felt her hands emanating warmth into the frigid surroundings. The creature, with terror in its eyes, pressed against the darkened bark. In its blue eyes, Stella glimpsed a glimmer of yellow light, mirroring her own golden eyes.

"Once I've drained all the light from your pathetic fairy heart, you will perish," echoed a voice from the shadow creature, its lips unmoving as it spoke. The voice resembled Annabelle's but colder, more malevolent. "My minions will come for you."

"Villainous monologues are sp boring," Stella said, rolling her eyes.

"When we meet again, light fairy, I will end you myself!" the voice shouted, growing more agitated.

"You can never extinguish my light, for as long as the sun shines," Stella retorted defiantly. "Light - one, Shadows - Zero."

The voice chuckled, escalating into a sinister laughter, unsettling Stella as she prepared to confront the darkness.

"It's too late to save your friend," the voice taunted, the shadow creature's grin resembling sadistic glee.

"What do you—" Stella's words faltered as the shadow creature vanished with her approaching light. She furrowed her brow, sensing manipulation from the malevolent entity, realizing with dread: "Bloom."

Drained of her energy, Stella descended to the ground, reverting from her transformed state, her legs trembling as she knelt. Her friends stirred awake, still adorned in their transformations, but appearing fatigued.

"Are you alright, girls?" Stella inquired.

"Yeah...thanks to you," Aisha murmured, clutching her head.

As Stella moved to assist Aisha, her Winx watch flashed, signaling an incoming call. Relieved yet apprehensive, Stella answered, only to hear her best friend's distress call for help and backup amidst chaotic sounds of panic and destruction. Fear gripped Stella as she wondered about Bloom's safety, the call abruptly ending, leaving her in tense silence.

***

Their hooks flew everywhere, five Zombie pirates wielding two hooks each, making it ten tentacles armed with deadly hooks. Bloom had underestimated their stubbornness; lacking brains, they seemed unaware of better options.

But she had to focus, no time for jokes.

Bloom hoped her message had reached the rest of the girls via the Winx watch. Why were they taking so long to arrive? She and Jim couldn't afford to play around with these zombie pirates. Her fire was primed to unleash upon their enemies, but Jim stubbornly insisted she refrain from using her powers.

Bounding between old, cracking beams, Bloom dodged the falling snow from the earlier storm, which struck the pirates on their heads. Some groaned while others shook off the snow, becoming even more aggressive. A hook narrowly missed Bloom as she nearly slipped off the beam.

"Gotcha!" Jim exclaimed, his arm snaking around Bloom just before she teetered off the edge.

Passivity wasn't Bloom's forte in battle. She longed to unleash her fury upon these zombie pirates, to demonstrate the consequences of crossing the fairy of the dragon flame. Frustration boiled within her, a fiery pit churning in her gut. Her hands grew hot, and she could almost hear the dragon's roar urging her to awaken from its slumber.

"Uh... Bloom, why are your eyes glowing?" Jim's voice broke through from behind.

Ignoring him, Bloom focused solely on the crackling fire within, beckoning her inner strength to answer its call.

—

She found herself surrounded by her own flames, the fire creeping up her sleeves and enveloping her body. Staring into the dragon's eyes, she witnessed a blink before they closed.

As she reached out to touch the dragon's head, a sudden pang of pain shot through her head and arm. The dragon's eyes snapped open, no longer warm and orange but dark green with black cracks, piercing into Bloom's soul. Agony surged through her as black flames consumed her, ensnaring her within their dark embrace.

In the background, a sinister chuckle echoed, as if dark Bloom relished the torment. Bloom struggled against the black flames, but they held her captive, binding her in place.

"Please... L-let me go...!" she pleaded, tears streaming down her face.

"But the fun has only just begun..." Dark Bloom chuckled, her grin stretching from ear to ear, eyes blazing with dark fury.

Her body trembled, feeling as though all her energy was being drained away.

"Bloom...?"