The Magic of Wassailia
Summary: Sofia and her family, along with Cedric, Cordelia, Calista, and Baileywick, travel to Avalor to spend time with Elena and her family for Wassailia. Even though Avalor celebrates Navidad instead, the two groups find a happy medium and realize that the message is all the same: hope and love prevail.
Disclaimer: I own nothing!
A/N: We're finally here! First of all, as we're in the STF world, allow me to say to you all, "Happy Wassailia Eve!" Haha. Whatever you celebrate, I hope you have a great holiday season. Okay! So here's the first chapter of the story. Keep an eye out, and you'll see the others coming out pretty soon. I'm trying to get all of the chapters out today (and maybe tomorrow as well). 😉 After this story is fully posted, that's it until next year. Hope you enjoy!
*Story*
Chapter 1: Here We Come A-Wassailing
The feeling of Wassailia was in the air for all Enchancians. The cold was biting enough to help people realize that it was, indeed, winter; however, it was a welcome addition since with the cold came the snow. Snow turned even the most "grown-up" adults into little children again. But I digress…
It was early morning on the Eve of Wassailia when a group of travelers trudged out into that biting cold, each wearing the heaviest of winter clothing in order to stave off the chill.
"Are we all here?" Roland asked as luggage was being hauled into a few closed-in flying coaches due to the winter weather. He did a headcount, realizing all members of his family as well as Baileywick, Cedric, Cordelia, and Calista were present. He noted, with amusement, that even Cedric's raven (which wasn't entirely surprising, as the sorcerer and his companion seemed to do everything together) and Sofia's bunny friend had made an appearance. "Sofia, is your rabbit friend also going?"
Sofia held Clover protectively and offered the king something akin to a pout. "Dad, please… I can't just leave Clover here on Wassailia. He would be lonely."
"It's fine. Just make sure you keep an eye on him. We wouldn't want to leave him behind in Avalor or anything."
Clover's eyes widened as he clung tighter to the princess. "Yeah, no kidding!" he whispered frantically to his friend.
Sofia giggled. "I'll take care of him, Dad."
"Excellent. Now, how about we do this?" He held one hand to his chin in thought as he glanced toward the coaches. "We have four flying coaches, so we could split into groups. I say let's have the kids ride in one coach; Miranda and I will take one; and Baileywick, Cedric, and Cordelia can have the third one. The last one can be for the luggage and presents."
"Of course he'd opt for his own private coach," Wormwood sneered to Cedric, who hid a smirk as he waved the raven away from his ear.
"Quiet, Wormy," Cedric whispered as the workers began piling luggage and gifts into the last coach. "It could be worse."
"You're right. We could have been stuck with King Roland the entire journey there." The raven visibly shuddered, and Cedric again held back a laugh.
"Ceddy, do be a dear and try not to snore if you fall asleep this time," Cordelia teased as she climbed into the coach, Baileywick following her. She poked her head out. "Last time I caught you snoozing away, your snoring could have woken the entire kingdom!" She grinned and ducked inside.
"Ooh, that Cordelia," Cedric groaned with a blush. "She's always trying to embarrass me."
"Try having a twin," James remarked with a grin. "It's ten times worse."
"Thanks, Prince James. I feel so much better now." Cedric sighed and shook his head as he got into the coach with his sister and fellow worker.
The royal kids and Calista clambered into their own coach as Roland helped Miranda into theirs before following after her. He leaned out the window and called to his driver, "Onward to Avalor! Make sure all the coaches stay together."
"Yes, King Roland," the man responded as the coaches took off into the air.
About an hour into travel, James yawned loudly, causing Amber to roll her eyes and nudge him. "I'm so bored," the prince complained. "At least on the Royal Galley, we could move around or sing lively and improvised songs."
Sofia giggled at her brother's words. "But flying coach is faster, James. And Avalor is so far away, as you know. It would take days by galley, and we'd miss all the festivities."
"Speaking of which," Calista spoke up with a curious frown on her features, "does Avalor celebrate Wassailia?"
"Actually," Amber began, "I think they celebrate Navidad or something like that. But from what I understand, it's very similar. They have a tree and gifts, and it takes place around the same time of the year. And it's all about being together with friends and family."
"So essentially it is the same," the little girl surmised, "just with a different title?"
"Yeah," Sofia responded with a nod. "They do things the Avaloran way, and we do things the Enchancian way."
James shrugged. "Hey, as long as they have sweets, I'm good." He grinned at his sisters. "Of course, we brought our own too! Chef Andre's stardust cookies, remember?"
"I believe Mummy and Uncle Ceddy also brought some gingerbread and fly cakes." Calista giggled. "Those poor adults… They have no idea what they're up against when we are fed all that sugar."
"Yes, let's try not to have another Hyper-James episode," Amber requested as she folded her arms and gave her twin a pointed stare. "Limit your cookies this time."
"Aw, Amber, I'll be fine." He grinned. "Besides, I'm more excited to see who we got for our gift exchange partners and what they got for us!"
"Who did you guys get anyway?" Sofia wondered.
Amber smiled thoughtfully. "I got Naomi, actually. The note sent said she's a close friend of Princess Elena's, and she likes the simpler things in life. She grew up in a family on the docks or the ocean or whatever it said…" She shrugged. "But I think my gift will bring out her inner princess. Because all girls have that side to them, even if they don't want to admit it." She smiled proudly.
James rolled his eyes. "Mine was a bit easier." He grinned. "I got Baileywick! And I thought of his gift all on my own. I think he'll like it. But then again, even if he doesn't, he's too polite to say so anyway, so…" The prince shrugged. "I don't know. I'm pretty sure he'll enjoy what I got for him."
Sofia smiled and looked toward Calista. "Who did you get, Calista?"
"I think his name is Gabriel, but everyone calls him Gabe?" She nodded as if assuring herself. "Yes, my note said he's Princess Elena's Head of the Royal Guard, and he's rather young. He is constantly helping to aid the royal family and defend the kingdom." She shrugged. "I didn't have too terribly much to go on, but with Mummy's help, I think I've designed a gift he will enjoy." She grinned. "And one that might make Uncle Ceddy jealous. In fact, perhaps I should get him the same gift for his birthday next month." She laughed.
"Sof? Who'd you get?" James reclined back in his seat and slouched down a bit, causing Amber to sigh in annoyance.
"Mateo, the wizard who helped me free Elena."
"What is it with you and magical people?" Amber laughed.
Sofia grinned. "You're not the first person to ask me that," she stated, thinking about her conversation with Clover a few days ago. "I don't know. Mateo is pretty easy to create a gift for. In fact, I'm really proud of the way it turned out."
"Shall we play a game?" Calista suggested as she perked up. "Perhaps we could play 'I Spy?' Or maybe 'What Am I?'"
"Oh, let's do that game," Amber suggested. "I like games like that."
And so with that, the four children began a game.
Meanwhile, in another flying coach…
"How did we end up with the animals?" Cordelia asked with a small chuckle as Wormwood and Clover looked up at her from their spot on the seat next to the steward. "Isn't that Sofia's little rabbit friend?"
"Yes," Cedric responded with a yawn. "I suppose there wasn't enough room in their coach? He's perfectly fine here, Cordelia."
"Wow, never thought I'd see the day the sorcerer would stick up for little ol' me," Clover snickered as he turned to Wormwood. "Guess my natural charm finally grew on him, huh?"
"That, or he tolerates you simply because of Sofia," Wormwood responded honestly, keeping his voice low so the others wouldn't hear him. He both praised and cursed his new ability to be understood; if only certain people could understand him… He really didn't want to explain his sudden talking to Baileywick, for example.
"Nah. It's gotta be my awesomeness." He frowned toward the raven. "You're being awfully quiet." He then realized what was going on…and grinned. "That's right. Anyone can understand you now, huh? Sofia told me about that potion that fell on you earlier this year. So now you and Cedric can talk, but… Ooh, hold up!" He smirked. "Even Baileywick could understand you, couldn't he?"
The raven shot him a glare and hissed as quietly as he could, "Don't…you…dare."
Clover appeased the flustered bird and rolled his eyes. "Eh, you're no fun, Wormy. Such a stick in the mud sometimes." He glanced toward his stomach as it rumbled. "Man, I hope this trip to Avalor is fast. I'm starving!"
Wormwood sighed. This was going to be a long flight…
Baileywick smiled cordially toward the siblings before him. "I must say, it's nice to see you two getting along better…minus the 'snoring' quip earlier."
Cedric frowned and folded his arms. "I don't snore."
"Oh?" the woman asked with a grin. "You can hear yourself while you're sleeping? Fascinating!"
The sorcerer glanced back at the steward. "What was that you were saying about our 'getting along,' Baileywick?"
The older man rolled his eyes. "Forget I said anything."
"Rollie," Miranda murmured as she gestured out the window. "Do you see how hard the snow is falling out there?" She glanced toward him. "I didn't have the heart to tell the kids that it rarely snows in Avalor…"
Roland just smiled and took her hand, placing a kiss on the back of it. "Don't worry, Miranda. It'll be all right. Regardless, it will still be a fantastic Wassailia…and Navidad, I suppose."
She sighed before smiling at her husband. "Yeah, maybe we'll get lucky. I mean, we've had Wassailia miracles before… We're due for a Navidad miracle, right?"
He laughed. "Well, our land is enchanted… Theirs…is ruled by a girl who used to live in Sofia's necklace—okay, I see your point."
She grinned and leaned against him. "Guess we'll see."
Another while more of soaring through the air, the weather conditions altering drastically from snowy to simply cloudy, and the Enchancian group arrived in Avalor just as dusk had begun. The four coaches landed sequentially, the drivers of each alerting the occupants of their whereabouts.
"So this is Avalor," Cordelia commented as everyone gathered together. She wrinkled her nose as she made a very quick discovery. "I suppose all those winter clothes I packed will be useless here." With that, she peeled off her gloves and long cloak, passing them off to the unsuspecting driver. "Please see to it that these get into my luggage, Lars."
The man blinked. "Um… My name is Carlisle, madam."
She grinned. "Yes, yes, of course." She grabbed Calista's hand and tugged her forward. "Come along, Calista."
The drivers secured the luggage while the group assembled outside the gates to the castle.
"Anyone have a key?" James asked playfully.
"That would be me." A tall, darker complexioned man with slick black/graying hair and a thin mustache approached them, his dark eyes serious as always as he straightened his outfit. "Welcome back to Avalor, royal family. For those of you who are unaware, my name is Chancellor Estéban." He smiled at last. "We have been waiting for you. Please, follow me."
To be continued…