Bloom POV

When I woke up the next morning, I felt as if the weight of the world was lifted off my shoulders. I didn't have to be the one to come save the magical dimension. I was not the one who needed to find some greater power to defeat a greater evil. Here, at home on Earth, my life was more relaxed. Mitsi, my old enemy, was the only one who was on my nerves. Andy, my ex, was still here but doesn't torment and harass me as much now because I don't attend Gardenia High School.

Sometimes I wish that I never found out about my powers. The stress of having to save the magic dimension was making it hard to breathe. Yes, I enjoy having powers because that's cool, but I don't like having become stronger and more powerful. It's just so stressful. I know I sound whiny, but the feeling of having to save everyone became suffocating.

I just wish I could tell Daphne or the Winx because Vanessa and Mike would not understand, and Oritel and Marion wouldn't believe me. Maybe I should tell Daphne. She would understand, right? I sure hope she does. Would it be wrong of me to ask her? I think I'll tell her tonight in my dreams. I'll reach out to her...

I heard a knock and the door opened. I found Vanessa peeking in. "Bloom, honey, it's time to get up. How are you feeling?"

I stood up and stretched out my arms. "Good," I yawned. "I feel better today than usual."

"That's good. Your father is at work already. Do you want to come with me to the shop today?"

"Sure, mom, it will be just like old times," I answered.

I got up and walked down to the shop. My mom and I restocked, watered, and sold some flowers, but I the meantime, we just talked and joked around. It was just like what happened before I found out about my powers, heritage, and Magix.

After we finished working in the shop, we walked around town and just talked. We hung out and window shopped. For the second time this week, I felt free of my worries and stressors from the magical dimension. Watering the flowers and watching people by the shop brought me great joy because I knew no one was here to help me. No evil mages, witches, ogres, or anything to attack me or attempt to take my life, again. No demoralizing parents to find hole in what I say. All of them are back in Magix and cannot come to the world with no magic.

With no one around to exact their revenge on me, I began to think of what the girls are up to. It also made me wonder what Daphne, Marion, and Oritel were up to. I couldn't help the grief that overwhelmed me as I thought about my biological parents. I knew that I was overreacting but I just could not get the memories of their faces as they disowned me. Now, they were trying to claim that it was all a mistake, and they wanted to take me back. They wanted me to continue my life in Domino as their princess, heiress of the throne. This thought gave me even more regret because it proved to me at just how fickle humans were. They changed their minds so quickly and demanded to be forgiven as if it was their right.

Walking out of the shop, I called over to my mom that I was going to the park to hangout. Running to my secret spot in Gardenia Park with a lake, I laid down on the bank. I had to get away from my parents before I broke down crying again in front of them. My thoughts were truly killing me from the inside out. The thoughts of my biological parents came to mind again and made me think of the similarity of this occurrence to the one that happened during my Earth schooling.

During high school, my friends, Selina and Roxy, found out that I was adopted which did not sway them much. No, the thing that changed their view on me was that I was found in a burning building. It did not matter that they had known me since we started school together; although it was not the same for Roxy because she started school a year or two before Selina and I. Their betrayal pierced me like a thousand razors, yet they did not just abandon me. No, they found a way to turn the whole school against me. Before I knew it, wherever I walked, I was jeered at and jostled around. I thought that was the end, but apparently, people just had to go as far as to cyberbullying and near physical assaults.

Eventually, my parents and the head of the school stepped in to stop the insanity, but it did not stop the feeling of worthlessness filling me. Also, Selina and Roxy came back to me to apologize about what they had done. I grudgingly let them back, yet I promised to myself to never allow myself to open up to anyone so much again. Then, I let myself become vulnerable to Marion and Oritel and truly paid the price.

Suddenly, while I stared at the lake, I saw a faint fire embers emerge from it. Grinning, realizing who was visiting me, I stood and transformed into my Sirenix form and flew up to meet the gathering form of woman.

"Daphne," I sighed out in relief as I saw my sister materialize. Sensing her distressed state, I inquired, "Sister, what brings you here? Is something wrong?"

Hugging me, she replied softly, "No, Bloom, nothing is wrong other than our parents demanding your presence back home. They believe you will come crawling back to them. I know you are better than that, so I told them not to hope for much if they did not want to put the effort into getting you back. Though, if they do come to get you, what will you do, sister?"

"Honestly? I think it depends on how long it takes for them to come and somehow convince to return to Domino as the person they want," I answered surprising myself.

"I understand. You do make sense, although don't allow yourself to become something you're not to impress mother and father."

"I know I should-" I started.

RING! RING! interrupted me.

"Sorry, Daphne," I apologized and flew down to the ground where I left my phone.

"Hello?" I answered.

"Hi, Bloom!" Surprisingly, Icy said.

"Icy!" I hissed. "What do you want?" Unbeknownst to me, Daphne had disappeared as her power began to fade from not being at Lake Rocculuce.

"I just wanted to let you know that your lovely parents are with me and the sisters as of the moment. Who would've thought that little Bloom is the daughter of a florist and fireman, or whatever you earth people call them? Any who, just wanted to keep you in the loop. Bye, bye, Bloom!" she taunted.