Winx Daphne AU: Chapter 1, The Domino Ark
Trigger Warning: Child Neglect, Child Dissapearance, Gender Dysphoria, Typos
Bloom was desperate to find the truth about Daphne. With Techna’s help she found old records in Cloud Towers Forbidden Archive. It was revealed that Griffin once worked with the Ancestral Witches, when she was a Professor at Cloud Tower. But she betrayed them and joined the Company of Light. She explained how she withnessed Daphne defeat Valtor, and how she made Domino a wasteland. Just as Bloom was told all of this, Locket arrived with urgent news. She had found something using her key. She led Bloom, Techna and Digit to an obscure section of the archive. Her key was placed on a small, black book that could be mistaken for any other. It was completely ordinary, and completely blank. When Bloom wanted to check it for any traps with Griffin’s ruby coin, it didnt react at all. Digit explained this could only mean that the book wasnt part of the archive and therefore it didnt have any sort of spell placed by Griffin on it. Upon closer analasys, Digit confirmed it was enchanted so that no one could read it other than the owner. However, there were ways to either dispell the enchantment or trick it. Techna continued the analasys, but found it profoundly complex. If she hadnt known better, she would say that the enchantment was made by an expert at programing, as powerful as the seal of the codex. Still, with Techa’s expertise and effort, she was able to find a clue within the seal. Mainly one sentance: „This book belongs to the Princess of Domino“.
Thanks to this clue, they made a plan on how to actualy read the book, mainly by tricking it. As the seal specified the princess of Domino, and Bloom was the only „living“ princess of Domino, they could open it. But Bloom had to tap into her negative emotions, as the magic seal was cast by a witch. After her experience as Dark Bloom, Bloom had a better grasp of negative magic, and her past lesson at Cloud Tower let her harness the power safely. Even if she was afraid and traumatized by her actions as Dark Bloom, she had to find out the truth! Finaly, the sealed book was opened, and a bright light enveloped the room. Techna screamed out Bloom’s name, trying to reach her. But she was
We enter the diary contents and Daphne’s POV:
The realm of Domino stood for order, for light and for the Sacred Flame. The Great Dragon’s last resting place, the heart of positive magic in the universe. Here the dragon which created all life from its breath left his last embers, the spark of creation itself. Thus the capital would be named after it, Sparks of Domino. Its rulers, King Oritel and Queen Marion were proud protectors of not just their realm, but all the realms of the magic dimension. The strongest paladin and fairy known to date, guardians of the Sacred Flame who used its symbol as a foundation. The Sacred Flame created Light that would purge evil from the world, and thus they would be named the Company of Light. Their task was to defeat the Ancestral Witches who threatened the magical dimension and eventualy seal their master, Darkar, into Obsidian from whence they all came. They slowly defeated their other minions, bringing order to the tourmulous world. This was no easy task, keeping the royal couple away from home. They wanted a better world not just for them and their subjects, but for their child. Named for hope, for glory and for victory, Laurel the Prince of Domino.
Queen Marion of Domino was born the most powerful guardian of the Sacred Flame that ever was. Many saw this as a blessing, while others saw it as a sign that danger was near and that the power would be needed in the future. It only hardened the queen’s resolve and belief that she needed to be the one to defeat the Ancestrals. Laurel grew up amazed by his parents who had founded the Company of Light. The stories of their adventures, of their heroics, how they placed their hopes in him that he wold surpass them. All these stories read through a book that recorded them in real time, The Book of Fate. The Company of Light was always togeather, always viginaltly fighting for the good of all. The magical universe was not what it was today, filled to the brim with evils and monsters everywhere. Laurel had to stay in Sparks, away from his parents who fought, to be the hope for the people. His main window in their lives this one book, kept by his father’s most trusted friend, Bartleby. Even with servants around, the child grew up isolated and alone. Very rarely would the king and queen make it home, leaving Bartleby in charge of affairs and child rearing. This inspired Laurel’s love of stories and of history, where he would get lost in his own world. While well read, he was hardly studious. Bartleby noted the child had great understanding and natural talent at most things, but rarely put actual effort in them. Books were not his interest or passion, they were his comfort. One of the rare ones, where he wasnt a prop to be displayed to the people. The boy that waved on the terrace to the crowd to ease their hearts, and ensure their faith in the crown. The one who kept the throne warm. Bartleby felt sorry for the boy, and no matter how much he tried he knew he wasnt good enough to fill the hole in his heart. It was good that Laurel was young and distracted, but as he grew he would understand the pain he endured for years. He would understand why he was always so quiet and withdrawn, and only ran with joy at the site of his parents home. So rare were those days that they made Bartleby wonder which one was the real Laurel, the one who smiled or the one who withdrew?
It was worrying how the child talked to himself, even more so when he would suddenyl dissapear from time to time. As long as his duties were done Bartleby couldnt reprimand him, he didnt have the heart. He could only write.
Laurel found his comfort in stories, yes. But these stories were not the only source of his knowledge. The child knew things no one could, understood magic like no one has. The voice he talked to in his head, his imaginary friend led him away from prying eyes and past ancient wards to the altar of the Great Dragon, and the symbol of the Sacred Flame burning bright within it. This flame reminded Laurel of his Mother, of her presence, of what they fought for and what awaited him. When he wouldnt study, he would talk to the Flame, and the flame responded. No one knew this, no one suspects. The Great Dragon who all of Domino offered prayers and wishes to at the town square where a fake, symbolic fire burned in his honor. The Great Dragon who created all life and might even grant those wishes to its people. Could it bring happiness? Could it save the world? Could it bring peace for just one night, so that his parents wouldnt have to fight. Could the dragon bring them home? One day, as he talked quietly to the flame, it responded. It is how their story started, and how the dragon became his only friend.
Laurel couldnt believe it. He couldnt even truly understand the weight what he was doing, as he actualy comunicated with the source of all life and positive energy in the magical dimension. He could ask anything of it, be it wishes or knowledge. But the child simply rejoiced in having a secret friend, a real friend who wasnt a subject. Someone he didnt have to be a symbol for. But one day the dragon asked a question. Would Laurel protect the sacred flame? Would he, should the day come, give his everything to protect the power of the Great Dragon? Laurel said that yes, he would. He hoped to become the greatest guardian of the dragon flame that the world has ever seen. To that, the dragon awnsered in a sad tone. He would be remembered as the flame’s greatest protector, but he would never truly be able to use its power. Why? What was he to do if he failed his parents expectations? Laurel despaired. The dragon told him that there was a reason why he could hear him, a reason why no one could ever know about it. All the royals of Domino were blessed with his power, the affinity for it and the ability to use it. Marion was its most powerful keeper to date, indigating great danger was aproaching. But Laurel was different. He had even greater aptitude for magic than his mother, he could use greater and purer power than her. But he had no source, none at all. He was born almost „immune“ to the flame’s power, Laurel was considered an „other“ to it. As it was not a part of Laurel but Laurel had an innate ability to handle it, to understand it, they could comunicate like this. The only person in existance that could do so. The Great Dragon’s voice grew soft as he announced that word, existance. It was all he ever wanted and did, all he loved and made. What Laurel’s parents were so desperate to protect. Laurel didnt know what to feel, didnt know what to think. He was like the perfect siphon, only without any water. The greatest talent to use the dragon’s power with none of it. And somehow...it was okay. Why? What the dragon said should have devestated him, but the dragon could never say that to a child if it would devestate them. The great dragon was most benevolent, and Laurel cried both tears of sorrow and joy. All he was polished and meant to do, and he simply..he didnt. He was truly a hollow trophy left to fill a role till the truth replaced it. Is this why his parents were never home, never with him. Did they know. No they didnt, and he did. And he had no excuse to do it anymore. His heart hurt with the love he had for them, each pain rationalized in his head. Excuses suddenly piling up on this ten year old’s mind as he had a panic attack right there next to the Sacred Fire. It flickered, and a light appeared, calming Laurel down and healing him. After all the pain and excuses he knew the truth, his parent didnt know. In their eyes he was perfect, the face of his that they knew while in truth they knew him barely. And they still left, every time. Because the war was more important. And maybe it really was. It was a relief that he didnt have to be perfect, he could be free to consider what to actualy want if he let go of all expectations on him. It was a new concept, as he never had ambitions before. It was time he found some. He needed the drive and strenght to carry out his destiny, strenght he couldnt get on Domino. He had to protect the sacred flame, no matter the cost.
Three years would pass, and the prince had noticably changed. At least to Bartleby. He was still quiet, withdrawn yes. But he seemed..at peace. It was strange, as he no longer loomed over the Book of Fate to watch over his parents lives. When their rare visits came, he wouldnt jump with joy. He welcomed them, smiled politely, but then went to his room. He would be with them when they called for him, eat with them if they asked. He no longer made requests of them. All interactions were passive. It troubled them, and they didnt know what to do. Oratel was frustrated that his son was avoiding them, his son who resembled him so much in his youth. His face was so like his father’s only gentler, androgynous. He looked so much like the king’s childhood portraits. What diffirentiated them was Laurel’s head of hair which shined like candlelight on diamonds, and his eyes. Eyes that seemed to look at the world as if it was far away, eyes which sparkled with such luster yet observed everything so solemly. Like he wasnt part of the beautiful world he was looking at. His demenour was also unlike his father, it was much more like Marion. Gracious, affectionate, but more distant. And with every day he seemed further away. The three years that Bartleby watched brought these changes, with each year bringing more with it. Laurel had remained much the same but taller, with much longer hair that he would often tie in a braided crown. Laurel loved his hair, and Bartleby knew this, yet he always tried to hite it. Again there were things Bartleby didnt know, and he dared not look into the Book of Fate. Even as its keeper, there were rules in place. Only the royal family who the book observed and recorded could request to look at its pages, even its keeper was forbidden. If he had read what the book recorded, he would have been prepared for Laurel’s final dissaperance. Days passed, and no one could find him. Over the three years Laurel dissapeared for longer and longer periods. When they finaly got concerned and looked for him after a week, it was too late. The king and queen were called to the castle, distressed and searching everywhere. Finaly they consulted the Book of Fate. The book however had no awnsers, as all knowlegde and lore of Laurel had been taken out. No one could imagine how powerful a magic one should use to do such a thing, but a recording was left. A recording. Laurel was the one who removed his own records from the book, he learned how but did not explain how he did it or where he learned it. He had to go, he had to leave, and his parents had to accept it. He would be back, but only when it was time. This diary holds all knowledge of Laurel from the Book of Fate, and his new life as Daphne.
At eleven years old Laurel first took the glamour, along with the identity of Daphne. He scarcely interacted with a few citizens, commoners who never saw him up close. As he dissapeared from the castle these visits would be more frequent, and at 12 he abused his power and access as a royal to forge a fake identity. The twelve year old prince had an alter ego of a fourteen year old girl, two years shy of entering Alfea. On the day Laurel finaly dissapeared the identity of Daphne was already well developed, both to the people that could provide an aliby and to Daphne herself. The way she acted, the way she lived, the way she interacted with the world and others was so much her. So much more than what she was. Daphne was a mask, a mask to live out her truth. And she would live it completely at Alfea, sneaking into admition despite being two years too young to attend. She could build a true independant life, live as Daphne every day, and she could learn about magic the way she couldnt before. Because time was running out, the great dragon told her so. In three years, a great catastrophy would come. No one knew but the Great Dragon and Daphne.. well.. no one on the side of good. The Dark Phoenix was the opposite of the Great Dragon. Where the Dragon said „It Lives, It Exists“ the Phoenix said „It Dies, It Doesnt Exist“. The oppoistes of existance, creation and destruction. Positive Magic and Negative Magic. The source of the negative magic was Darkar the Dark Phoenix, his desciples and keepers of darkness the Ancestral Witches. In three years, the Sacred Flame of the Great Dragon would be at its most voulnerable, it would incarnate and completely be encapsulated in a single spot, a single form. Destroy it, you destroy all positive magic in the universe. Take it, and gain the greatest power ever known. But Darkar couldnt touch it, neither could his keepers the Ancestral Witches. So from a spark marinated in darkness and the dusk of shadows they formed a being. To steal the Sacred Fire at the right moment a creature who could vield it for evil. This creature, integral to their plans, was named Valtor.
OKAAY, sorry it took so long and sorry for using both Oritel and Oratel, it kinda just happened. As you can see, i took much creative liberties, but i did take inspiration from fanart and comics i found online about Daphne made by her other fans. Particulary the part where she talks to the dragon, taken from a comic by Aokis _Art who i found while searching for Daphne fanart, and she somehow did the impossible and made me like Riven!? But only Aokis Riven, cannon Riven can cry me a river. Check out their stuff on Instagram if you love cute winx fanchildren. But yea, this is my Daphne, a neglected child who slowly grew dissalusioned with her parents sacrificing their lives for a cause, a child who watched them through a screen, or well, book of fate and developed a love for stories. Stories where she always watched from outside, as if she only lived to watch them and felt empty as a self. Oritel and Marion had a worthy cause that required their all, a holy war, and just because Daphne could accept it didnt mean she had to enjoy it. She was, after all, thrown away along with the possability of a normal family life. She lacked a self and ambition, dragged to put the kingdom first before she knew what it truly meant. She was born with unimaginable talent for magic and the ability to wield it, but her whole family had the Dragon Flame as their source of magic. Daphne doesnt. She is somehow considered seperate from it and thus lacks it as a power source, which i will explain later. But she used this talent to remove herself from the Book of Fate, and placed that information into this diary that Bloom is currently experiencing. What i will touch on now is how Daphne experienced gender dysphoria. Yes i made Daphne trans. As some might recall, there is a term Transmagic used in Winx when Mirta goes from a witch to a fairy, with some witches making fun of her for it. It could have been used as an allegory for a trans experience, it could have not, but im not writing for network television here so i can go all in. I want to clarify that because she did dress as a girl to assume a new identity and it might be confused as crossdressing. The story will explore her gender identity further in the next chapter, the Alfea Ark. It will also touch on more serious themes which might have more serious trigger warnings compared to these mild ones, BE WARNED. The story will get progressively heavier with each ark and will deal with serious themes for Daphne, those around her and the trauma they will have to deal with eventualy. Its how i intend to write it. Some parts may be hard to read. I am planning a Cloud Tower Ark, an Earth Ark, and the Battle Of Domino Ark. I will see how far it will go or if i keep to that format as the Earth Ark will explain why Daphne sent Bloom to Earth, of all places. Also note i made her fake her age to get into Alfea, thank you Jackie from That 70s Show. I might edit this post in the future to fix spelling errors and such...eventualy.
