The Thaw

It didn't take long at all for Bloom and Sky to catch up with Flora and Stormy. The two were still moving somewhat slowly in deference to Stormy's difficulties adjusting to the difference between ice skates and roller skates, but already it was evident that the storm witch was starting to pick up the knack. As her body started to sort out the differences and the similarities between the two forms of skating she was quickly gaining in poise and confidence. Flora had no doubt that by the end of the night Stormy would be feeling right at home on her roller skates and might even be ready to start learning some more advanced techniques. At this point however Stormy was still not quite confident enough to move very quickly and the flow of skating traffic was moving past them as they stuck to the inner edge of the current to keep from getting plowed into. Bloom and Sky caught up to them easily. As they did, Bloom held up a hand in greeting.

"Hey Flora! Hey Stormy! How're things-"

"Wh-whoa whoa whoa!"

Stormy flailed wildly as the unexpected hail startled and distracted her, causing her feet to go awry as she struggled to remain upright. Sky immediately closed in and placed one hand upon the storm witch's back and another upon her chest just beneath her breasts in an effort to stabilize her. A moment later Stormy managed to regain her equilibrium. Sky peered at her in concern.

"Are you okay Stormy?"

The storm witch looked up at him in muted annoyance, although for some reason her face appeared rather flushed.

"Yeah, I'm fine."

As Prince Sky withdrew his hands Bloom looked at her in embarrassment.

"Sorry. I didn't mean to startle you like that."

Stormy "hmph"ed in indignation and turned her face away.

"Why don't you just stay out of my business? I don't need babysitting."

Sky shook his head.

"Nobody said you did."

Bloom held out her hand.

"We just want to make sure you're having a good time."

Stormy frowned at her.

"Liar. You just wanna make sure I'm not gonna cause any trouble."

Flora placed a hand gently on the storm witch's back.

"Is it so hard to believe we want both? We really do want you to have fun tonight, and if you're having fun then you don't have any reason to cause trouble."

Stormy turned her glare on the flower fairy.

"So you do think of me as a trouble-maker!"

Flora shook her head.

"I think you cause trouble because you think it's fun, but if you can have just as much fun without causing trouble then that's a win for everyone, don't you think?"

Stormy gave her a suspicious frown.

"How am I supposed to have any real fun without causing trouble?"

Flora held up her hand and pointed.

"Well, Darcy seems to have found a way."

All four of them looked where Flora was pointing to see Tecna weaving her way through the crowd while Darcy pursued close on her heels. Both girls were wearing big grins and laughing as they passed their friends. Stormy's face bore a look of surprise.

"Darcy, having fun with a fairy, and they're both laughing? Okay, that's just plain weird."

Sky looked at Bloom, who simply shrugged. Neither one really seemed to know what to make of that. Flora reached out to take hold of Stormy's hand.

"You see? It's not so hard to find ways to get along with others and have fun together. You just have to be willing to try seeing things a little bit differently than you're used to."

Stormy jerked her hand away from Flora's grasp.

"And just why do you want me to see things differently so bad? You think you're gonna change me or something?"

Flora closed her eyes and shook her head.

"If that makes you want to change that'd be fine, but I don't expect it. I just want you to have some fun tonight. I think maybe you could learn to enjoy seeing things from a new perspective."

She took both of Stormy's hands in hers and looked her in the eyes with a soulful pleading look.

"Won't you consider giving it a try for me? Pretty please?"

The storm witch let out an exasperated sigh.

"Okay, fine. Why not."

Flora gave a short gleeful squeal and hugged Stormy happily, much to the curly-haired witch's chagrin.

"Yay! I'm so glad!"

She quickly pulled back and smiled at Stormy, holding her lightly by the elbows.

"I just know we're going to have so much fun tonight!"

Stormy gave her a strained 'What have I gotten myself into?' grin.

"Yeah. Sure. Fun."

Bloom exchanged a grin with Sky.

"Well, looks like we're not needed here. Let's go catch up with Layla and Icy."

Sky nodded at Bloom before turning to lay a hand on Stormy's shoulder.

"Hey, have fun tonight Stormy. We'll see you later."

Stormy seemed to shrink in on herself and gave a surprisingly timid nod.

"Okay. See ya."

As Bloom and Sky skated off Flora put an arm around the storm witch and smiled at her.

"Looks like somebody has a little crush on Prince Sky."

A panic-stricken look crossed Stormy's face.

"W-what? Me? Have a crush on him? Why would I like somebody like him?"

Flora tilted her head slightly.

"Well, he is a prince, and he's certainly handsome, and he's kind and considerate, and I think maybe he likes you just a little bit."

Stormy gave her an uncertain look.

"You really think he likes me?"

Flora gave a nod.

"He certainly seems to."

Stormy stood nibbling on her lower lip for a moment before glancing back at the flower fairy again.

"Do you think someone like me might stand a chance with someone like him? I mean, not that I'm interested or anything, just ..."

Flora's smile turned sad.

"I wish I could tell you yes sweetie but he's already very much in love with Bloom. I really don't see him giving up on what the two of them share together."

The storm witch's shoulders slumped as her gaze fell to the floor.

"Yeah. Figures. That's the story of my life."

Flora gave her a gentle squeeze with the arm she still had around her.

"Don't give up Stormy. If love isn't where you're looking for it you just have to keep on looking. Sometimes you can find love in the most unexpected places."

She gave the gloomy witch a quick kiss on the cheek and stepped back. Stormy's eyes opened wide with surprise. She glanced at the flower fairy in wonderment and saw her standing there smiling back at her. Flora extended a hand toward her. Blushing faintly, Stormy timidly reached out to take the offered hand. Hand-in-hand the pair skated off, Stormy returning faint, shy smiles for Flora's warm, friendly ones and barely paying any attention to her skates, which seemed to find their own way now with very little direction from her.