Embers to Inferno | Episode 17 Part 1 (Patreon)

A new episode is already here! Part 2 is a bit shorter than this one, but it still felt like a good episode to split. No cliff hangers so no one will hate me 😂

Spoilers ahead

Poor Icy, she's just not Bloom now is she? 😔She really thought she could get Valtor this time and failed once again haha.

I was debating what I wanted to do for the aftermath of episode 16 for a while actually. My initial idea was to have Valtor take care of his little problem (😏) but all my friends were like "Too soon", so if you're now disappointed take it up with them 😂 But fear not, there is always the Dark Fairy tier for the alternative ending for Episode 17 👀

Either way, I am happy I decided to wait a bit longer with the smut in the official story of ETI! It might have felt too rushed and I want to build the romance up a bit more before we get into that. I don't want it to feel like there is only lust driving them, which right now is the case. It would be unfair towards Bloom and Valtor if it was only their connection pushing them with not much else there. So time to build up some feelings!

I'm pretty happy with this middle ground, Valtor is obviously bothered but is still refusing to admit to himself why exactly he is bothered by Bloom so much. The "I haven't slept in a while" bit of dialogue is also intentional! I think as a demon Valtor doesn't need a lot of sleep so I thought this was a good opportunity to showcase that this man is in fact not human. (which will be shown again later on in the episode)

I thought it would be funny to involve the Trix, they have never seen Valtor without his normal attire either so it made for some fun interactions. 😆 My headcanon that they are always pestering him and he is so done with them just cracks me up every time.😭

I want to mention that Darcy and Stormy are still attracted to Valtor as well (like who isn't tbf) but Icy has always struck me as the more "proactive" one of the three. Darcy is the peacemaker of the group, and Stormy has too much self-preservation instinct to mess with him 😂

Icy's confidence has been her downfall multiple times before, and the voice of reason has always been Darcy. Even back in season 1 when they were attacking Alfea, Icy was the only one with full confidence that they would come out of that battle on top. So it feels very fitting for her character to have her try her luck with the man of her dreams haha. After all, she is stunningly gorgeous! Any other man would probably have taken her up on her offer 😂

And Valtor... well, he was just a smidge angry at Icy 🫥 (She's very lucky Darcy was there lol, her trying to mediate and dragging Icy away still makes me wheeze when I reread the episode)

I really wanted to draw the parallel between sultry Icy, who threw herself at him so willingly, and the soft ethereal Bloom. Both girls have blue eyes, but where Icy's gaze is sharp Bloom's is soft. A soft blue that burns when she's angry, but never loses that innocent and hopeful shine!

You might notice I do tend to draw the Trix a bit softer than they are in the show, this is done for a reason! I really want to make them feel human outside of battle, just three sisters, just a couple of girls. Because at the end of the day that is exactly what they are, young girls who have been very misguided. And I can't help but love these little moments of them being normal girls 🥰

This episode made me think as well that Icy could totally become a model! I feel like if she ever got tired of being evil, she'd have a solid career waiting for her haha 😂