All Aboard
Summary: Chrysta sends Sofia on an Undercover Protector Mission to investigate strange magical occurrences at a boarding school, and her mentor and siblings get pulled along for the ride.
Disclaimer: I only own the characters featured at the boarding school.
A/N: Well, guys! This is it! My final REGULAR Sofia the First story before the finale. After the special airs, I'll begin working on releasing chapters for "Adventures in Magic!" And because I listen to my reviewers and I know what you all like to see by now, I think it's safe to say that this story will have a little bit of most everything in it. I want you to have fun, to wonder about things, to second guess things, to gasp in surprise… lol You know, the usual! The moment the first chapter of AIM ("Adventures in Magic") is released, my website for it will also go live. On my normal Wix page, just click on the photo under the AIM section, and it'll take you straight to the site. (No, it's not up yet. Lol. I'll post it on my profile when it is.) I hope you enjoy!
PS: Did anyone else see the official trailer for the movie? AHH! It looks AWESOME!
Chapter List:
1: Protective Instincts
2: Intervention
3: Parental Agreement
4: Boarding Abroad
5: Magic Words
6: Claire Lois XIV
7: Hidden in Plain Sight
8: Down with the Dame
9: Safe and Sound
*Story*
Chapter 1: Protective Instincts
Graduation was fast approaching, and it hung over the Royal Prep kids like an exciting yet apprehensive blanket. In a few weeks, they'd all be going their own directions in the next chapter of their lives, and it was both exhilarating and terrifying.
No one felt this conflict of emotions more than Sofia at this point. She was looking forward to the next part of her life, but she hated to say goodbye to that comfortable environment she'd been immersed in the last several years, since she first became a princess. It seemed every time she got used to something, it was ripped away from her. Still, she knew she'd be fine. She would—
"Sofia!"
"Huh?!" Sofia blinked in surprise as Chrysta hovered before her, her arms folded and a pensive look on her face. The princess smiled guiltily and clasped her hands behind her back. "I did it again, didn't I?"
"Girl, you've been zoning out more and more often," the older Protector declared. "What's the matter?"
She sighed and reached up, twirling her fingers in her ponytailed hair. "Nothing, I'm just…" She shrugged. "Amber, James, and I are graduating from Royal Prep in a few weeks, and I guess I'm just…distracted thinking about what's going to happen afterward."
"Oh, is that all?" Chrysta laughed. "Sofia, it's perfectly normal to be unsure about the future! When I first became a Protector myself, I had a lot of doubts and worries, because it was all new. But after some time, things just sort of fell into place." She placed a hand on her shoulder. "I think you'll find that everything will turn out better than you're expecting."
Sofia frowned thoughtfully. "But what about Prisma? We still don't know what's going on with her. And the Wicked Nine… And just, everything!"
Chrysta sighed. Of all the proteges she could have taken on, she would have gotten the one who was the most mature yet worrisome Protector she had ever met. Sofia acted far beyond her years, and for that she was grateful. But sometimes she wished the girl wouldn't take on so much stress and learn to live in the moment. But… She digressed. "Sofia, you know we've got your back when Prisma shows her face again. Anything that happens, we'll always be here to help you. That's what Protectors are all about, right?"
Sofia nodded, still a bit distracted.
"And, um… I hate to even ask this at this point, since it seems you're kind of preoccupied with all your thoughts and everything…"
The auburn-haired princess blinked up at her trainer. "What? What is it?"
"Well… It's kind of, sort of…a mission of sorts." She saw the girl's look change to one of curiosity and even determination. "Oh, now you seem a bit more interested. Do you think you can handle a mission right now though, since you're concerned about the graduation and everything?"
"It may be the distraction I need, actually." Sofia put her hands on her hips. "Tell me about the mission."
"There's a magical boarding school in a more secluded area that Vega located. Actually, she's known about it for some time and has tried her best to monitor it." Chrysta vaguely gestured with her right hand. "It seems that there's some sort of wicked force there, draining students of their magic and energy one by one. It's getting to the point where fewer and fewer students are around and attending classes, and it's not clear what the cause of their weakened or drained state is."
Sofia gasped. "Wow. So, what would I do? How can I help?"
The Protector grinned, proud to have a charge who was willing to step in to save the day, no matter what. "Glad you asked. How do you feel about an undercover mission? I think you're more than ready for it, after all your training and experience at this point. You'd go in as a student yourself with a fake name and background, just to see what's going on. We have a contact there helping monitor the situation, but it's been a while since we've had an update."
Blue eyes sparkled in interest. The princess found herself more and more fascinated with missions as she aged. Maybe this was the path she needed to take in life. Undercover missions were exciting yet rewarding when the culprit was caught, the day was saved, and/or the mystery was solved. "What would I need to do?"
"You'll be responsible for locating the disturbance at the school—who's behind it, how the disturbance is being performed, and so on. And then, you will handle that person accordingly."
"How?" Sofia glanced at her Enchantlet before looking up at Chrysta. "I'll capture the person? I'll report back to Vega and Orion? What?"
"You'll know what to do when the time comes." Chrysta winked. "I trust your judgment, Sofia. You're a real Protector: your protective instincts always kick in, and they always help you make the right decision. This will be a true test of your abilities, as long as you're up for it."
Pondering this, the princess nodded, her decision made. "Okay. I'll do it."
To be continued…
