Sowing the Seeds
By Evil Orange Crayon
Disclaimer: I don't own the characters, I just like to play with 'em.
Um… Yea. Don't hate, man. Don't hate. This will be a series of drabbles that are all connected. I would totally write ten years between the suggested plot device, but I am lazy and that's too much work. So, instead, I'll give you drabbles of key moments that come up since the plot device is suggested. I'm being vague on purpose, yo. I will be sure to specify Sofia's age throughout just to be safe and not to push that 'ew' button.
Right now, I really don't know where I'm going with it. I'm just going with it. I'm rating T until I figure out where I'm going with this.
Sofia is eight.
It wasn't long after the debacle with the Amulet of Avalor that he had found himself, with a princess in tow, visiting his parents. It was at her suggestion. She thought he was looking down, and he had been depressed lately with good reason mind you, and suggested that a visit to his parents would help his dark demeanor. She had been wrong, of course.
Despite having rewarded him with the family wand, his father still questioned his abilities and choices. He felt belittled and unworthy still in the eyes of his father. Though the little princess tried her best by regaling them with tells of his achievements and good deeds. They always sounded better when they came from her, she had a way of making things seem more fantastic and alluring than they really were. His parents enjoyed her company though.
At his mother's suggestion, the princess took his father out for a stroll. He assumed it was to give him some relief from his overbearing need to throw his clout about. He was wrong. "Cedikins dear, I had an idea that I wanted to suggest to you," she paused a moment to sip her tea. "Have you given up your plight of taking the crown?"
He blinked at her then shook his head, "No, mummy. I… I suppose after the last attempt I have been hard pressed to try again. I've been dwelling on the foolish mistakes I made the last time, still. The princess just refuses to let me properly suffer the loss."
"Hm," she chuckled lightly as she listened. "I've noticed she seems to be doting on you quite a bit today. I think if your father hadn't stopped his prattling you about your lack of achievements that we might have never gotten her to agree to take him out of the house." She sighed lightly and patted his hand, "I'm sorry, deary, but you know how he can be. Anyway, I had an idea I wanted you to consider for your next scheme."
He eyed his mother curiously, she seemed quite eager for him to achieve his plan of taking over the kingdom. "What is your idea?"
"You will have to hear me out on this," she said at length. "I understand that you may be shocked by the suggestion, but you should at least consider it. I think you ought to consider different methods of gaining the Amulet of Avalor, or even taking over the kingdom."
He winced, "I have tried other methods. I was equally incapable of getting that one to work."
"Have you considered," she looked away from him. "Winning the heart of the princess?"
He nearly choked on the biscuit he had been nibbling on. He looked at his mother and could have sworn the woman had grown a second head. "She is eight! You can't be serious!"
"Well, of course, you will have to wait until she is of a proper age to properly woe her. However, you could start sowing the seeds of love now. I look at how she gazes up at you and I see that she already adores you, she cares deeply for you. It would be hardly the effort to have that expand into love."
He dropped the biscuit he had been attempting to eat and glowered at his mother, "I am not nor will I ever be a pedophile. I will not molest the child in an effort to gain her amulet. Mother, I am appalled that you would even suggest a thing."
"Now, Cedric listen here. I did not suggest you do such a thing," she folded her arms across her chest, signifying that she was offended by the idea. "I am suggesting that you take the girl who already cares deeply for you and you start sowing the seeds of love in her mind. Return her friendship, be nice to her. As she starts to flower into a woman be supportive, because that will be a difficult time for her. Don't be so standoffish and accept her affections."
He grimaced as he listened to his mother, "How will doing all of this gain me the Amulet or the kingdom?"
"She will surely take to hanging around you more often, it will give you ample opportunity to snatch the trinket when you have a proper plan in place to use it. If you are able to get her to properly fall for you, you may not even need it," she plucked up her own biscuit as a reward for her own brilliant scheme.
"Even if I were able to get Sofia to fall for me and wish to wed me, she would not be crowned Queen of Enchancia. That duty will go to James. In the unlikely event that he is not able to serve as king then it would fall upon Amber," he frowned as he considered it. "The likelihood that she will ever wear the crown is slim, even if she's more likely to be a better ruler than either of her siblings."
"You needn't take it that far, darling, if you are able to woe her into your favor it should be easier for you to take the amulet," she said simply.
"The alabaster rose only blooms once a hundred years, mother. I cannot brew that potion again for another hundred years. And by then the point will be moot," he whimpered.
"Consider it, unless you are giving up on your plans of taking over the kingdom," she patted his hand. She picked up her tea cup again, "If you consider it, you may want to get to taking the Anti-aging potions. It will keep you looking young and handsome."
It was then his father and the princess reentered his parents little cottage, she offered him a bright smile as she hurried to join them for a treat. He looked at the little princess as he considered his mother's plan and grimaced, "I will consider it." He looked up at his mother and saw her smile knowingly at him.
They were traveling back to the castle in a flying carriage and he found himself falling back on the seed that his mother had planted. He snuck a glance at the girl beside him, for she had sat beside him rather than across from him. While she was looking out at the scenery of the landscape below, she was still rather close. Was his mother right? Was the girl already smitten with him?
Would all it take is him being nice?
He decided to test the theory and cleared his throat. At the action she turned to him and offered him a smile, he had her full undivided attention. "I wanted to thank you, princess, for insisting we visit my parents," he tried to force a smile. "I am feeling better, now," it was almost painful.
She grasped his arm in one of her hands and her smile practically shined with her delight, "I knew it would make you feel better! I know your dad isn't as nice to you as he should be, but I figured some time with your mom would help a lot." She settled a little closer, "When I'm upset I know going to my mom usually helps. She has a way of making me see things a different way and well... generally knows how to make me feel good."
"Yes, well," he hummed lightly as he looked ahead, trying to not feel uncomfortable with what he was about to admit. "Good friends also have a way of making one another feel better."
"I'm so happy you would say something like that, Mister Cedric!" She sounded thoroughly pleased, "If you ever feel like you need a friend, I would be more than happy to be there for you."
He felt touched, really. "Yes, well," he decided to forge ahead. "I suppose I want you to know, that... well if you feel that you need someone. I could offer my ear or shoulder, what have you."
This seemed to delight her to no end because her little arms came around him and hugged him tightly, "I'm so grateful you would make that offer, Mister Cedric."