This episode was named "Angel of Doom", I found this to be a very fitting title for the two part flashback episode. It's the name of the original Winx episode where Tecna suspects Avalon of being a dark creature. This episode almost feels like a random filler in the season, but at the same time it's such an important piece of foreshadowing. The viewer already feels a bit weird about Avalon at this point, since he's spending so much time with Bloom and is slowly becoming a big part of the narrative. While Tecna's suspicions might not have been entirely correct, she was right about Avalon being a creature of darkness. But at the end of the episode he's claimed innocent. The viewer feels relieved, he was good all along! And we forget about all our previous suspicions. Until that fateful day where he kidnaps Bloom. I think this is such in interesting way to create a false sense of security for the viewer! (Seriously, someone needs to write a thesis about the serious downgrade in writing in this show, because they were cooking during those first seasons.)
It seemed fitting to choose this same tile for the ETI episode where we do get to see his true self.
Normally I'm not a big fan of a first person perspective in fanfiction, but it almost felt necessary here. It brings the reader closer to Bloom, makes it feel more personal. As if the reader is present and reliving the moment with her. I don't know when I decided to write it like this, I never have a plan when I start a new episode, it just seemed to flow from my hands. I always just trust my gut feeling when writing, haha.
Aside from wanting to bring the reader closer to Bloom, it also made sense for Bloom to tell the story from her perspective. As she's retelling her experience to Valtor. Despite not choosing the same kind of format as episode 8 from season 1—where the Trix told Valtor about what happened—I did want that feeling to still be there in a sense. The feeling that someone is listening to her revisiting her trauma. It also creates suspense for Valtor's reaction. Will he understand? Will he be angry? Will he be dismissive? After all, he is considered evil as well and has never pretended to be otherwise.
For the artwork, I decided to focus on making Bloom look as young as possible without aging her down too much. Despite the fact that only a year has passed, I wanted to convey her innocence in every way I could. This to emphasize the change she went through, how she was never quite the same again after Lord Darkar and Avalon.
Important to me as well was that I wanted Avalon to feel like this esteemed person in the beginning. This so I could underline the fact that it wasn't just Bloom who was completely entranced by him, but all of Alfea. I don't know if this is a skill of the shadow clone specifically, or if it's part of the real Avalon's natural charm, but people were immediately drawn to him. The only exception being Sky. Even professor Palladium was completely charmed by him, not questioning his intentions once despite being a teacher himself. Headmistress Faragonda also never doubted him, even going as far as being the one to debunk Tecna's suspicions. It always makes me wonder how he was able to be so convincing for so long. Was this a skill Darkar gave him? Or is Avalon just that likeable?
I decided to make this point more clear by adding Griselda. The normally strict and poised head of discipline, immune to most charm, being enamoured with Avalon adds another layer of just how convincing this man was. Which is sadly often the case in real life as well. I've read about a lot of cases, and the victims often have the same thing to say: "He/she was so charming", "Everyone loved them", "They were so involved with the community, always ready to help whenever they could". This reminds me so much of Avalon—a charming helpful presence in Bloom's life, drawing her in closer day by day, because everyone trusts them blindly.
In part 2 we will move on to the kidnapping itself, to Bloom's time in Darkar's lair—or at least what she can remember before being turned.
So next episode will still have a huge trigger warning attached to it! After, I promise we move back to where we left off in the season 1 finale— back to Valtor and Bloom.