Disclaimer: Sofia The First Belongs to Disney.
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I have uploaded the all awaited 2nd part of this intro!~
I'm sure for those who had seen the Preview of this part of the story in my "News & Updates" were dying in pain, waiting for this moment to arrive...
Well...I won't keep you guys any longer...
Remember...My next Preview of the next chapter or part will be posted in my "News & Updates", a week before the 18th next month...
Happy reading everyone! Enjoy the holidays!
This is Natnarf...
Signing Off!~
Baileywick's POV
"Baileywick." King Roland called out. "I need your help on this, if you don't mind."
"Not at all, Your Majesty." I said.
We were in the King's study room, where he usually does his official paperwork. I was doing my daily chore, which was maintenance inspection, to ensure that the room is kept clean and organized, as well as to make sure that the paint on the wall isn't cracking. I immediately stopped working and went over to the King's side.
"What seems to be the problem, Your Majesty?"
"This." He says as he hands me a long piece of paper.
It was from the Royal Preparatory Academy, where the children would attend their classes. It is a notice concerning about Princesses Sofia's Class Transferal.
"So what's wrong with it? All you have to do is sign it. Did you loose your quill pen? Please use my spare one."
"No. I have it here in my hand."
I could see his dark magenta quill pen in his hand with its tipped already inked, while some blotches of ink are scattered all over the drafting paper on the writing desk.
"Then...what's the problem?"
"Sigh. I know it's a little late to say this, but I'm having second thoughts about James inheriting the throne."
"Y-you're what?!" I controlled my fists, trying not to crush the paper. "But it's too late to retract James from his classes."
"I know that, and that's where Sofia comes in." He says.
"What do you mean, exactly?"
He puts his quill back into its holder, quietly stands up and strides over to a window ledge, looking out through the window as if he was lost in his own thoughts.
"You've helped raised the three of them since they were young and watched over them while they were growing up, so you would know them better than I do. Tell me, which of them do you think is suitable as the next heir, if you don't consider the rules and traditions? I...I do not want to make the same mistake, like my father did before. I know I can't retract both Amber and James' papers, but I could change my decisions with Sofia's paper. So while there's still a chance, I'd like to try and fix it, even if it'll cause an uproar with everyone."
He was right. I have known the three of them and took care of them all ever since they were crowned as Prince and Princesses of Enchancia: from the day Amber and James were born, and when Sofia had first moved into the castle. It was tough to be their acting father all over again since I had also raised King Roland and Duchess Matilda when they were young. Taking care of the three them is harder as they all have different backgrounds to consider. The twins are just like their father and aunt, only that their personalities are swapped in gender. Sofia is more of like...myself, since we both come with a village background, although none of the children know that.
I kind of understand why Roland would want to reconsider this all over again, since he doesn't want the same thing to happen again like what he went through. Matilda was supposed to be the next heir to the throne, since she was really bright. The only problem was that she didn't like to sit in a chair all day long, even if you strapped her down with ten different types of ropes. She'd still be able to figure a way to free herself. She love having adventures, explore things that have yet to be seen and discovered, and to find the best of the best ingredients around the world to fulfill her true passion: baking pies, apple pies to be exact. King Roland the first, the father of the current king, didn't have it in his heart to keep her tied down from chasing her dreams, and so he made Roland the Second take the crown instead.
I looked down at the paper again as Sofia's name meets my eyes strongly, and pray that I may help give the right words to his troubled decision.
"Alright, Your Majesty. I'll tell you my honest thoughts."
"Good. And don't leave anything out." He says, still looking out through the window.
"I've taken great care of all the three children for as long as they've been around, and as the castle's steward, I've guided them and taught them lessons that helped shaped them into whom they are as of this very day. I have no right to decide who or which of the three are suitable, but I shall list out my observations for each of them. Would you like me to start, Your Majesty?"
He nodded without looking back at me.
"The eldest twin, Princess Amber, beautiful and kind. She is one who cares about her family and friends. She sticks closely and stays by the rules of the castle, and always shows her best face and form to everyone. She is bright and intelligent, honest and very observant. She loves dressing up and hosting tea parties, a perfect example of a Princess who has the skills to always look and dress at her best and ability of organizing eventful Banquets and Balls. She's...she's just like her mother." I paused a bit, remembering how the King's first Queen was like. "However, she...how should I put this?...she...she tends to do too much. Her honesty tends to turn into boastfulness, and her observation tends to make her think too much about how others would think would be the best instead of what they really think. She knows of her own flaws, but she can't control herself as she really loves to express her feelings and receive attention, and will sulk if no praise is received. And her demand for dresses and hosting of parties...are a bit too costly. If she was given a chance to freely host parties, she might do one everyday and we'll be in debt in less than a week."
I paused a bit to see if he will comment on anything, but he remained silent and I decided to continue.
"The younger twin, Prince James, easygoing and very active. He is very helpful and always tends to those who are in need of help or in trouble. He does tend to have a slightly bad habit, which is disobeying the castle rules, such as playing ball inside the castle and talking while his mouth full. He is also very competitive in active activities such as sword fighting and doing Derby flying races, but does seemed to be a little of a bad sport and loves to win, just like Princess Amber. He is a good example when showing concern for others and has qualities in being able to lead in combat fighting, the only problem is...he doesn't like reading much...and loves be adventurous, just like your older sister, Duchess Matilda."
The King's eyes had visibly widen, only just a little bit when his sister's name was mentioned. But he still showed no signs on stopping me.
"And lastly, Princess Sofia, the daughter of the current queen, Queen Miranda. Actually, she is quite a remarkable girl, very kind and is loved by all. She always sees the good in people and ignores their flaws or bad sides, and helping them to bring out the best in them. She always cares over those who are close to her, whether rich or poor, high or low in status, and people of different age and background. She has shown great leadership and other useful skills during her activities as a Buttercup, and even her daily life routine. She is always willing to try out new things, and if she fails the first try, she won't stop until she succeeds or mastered it. I've heard from some of the castle staff that she's also a good cook, good at handy craft work like sewing, and good at sword fighting. I've also recently learned that she's taking up some magic lessons from Cedric from time to time. However, I am quite concerned on how she tends to always be with her animal friends, it's as if as though she could speak to them. It may lead to making people think that she might not be sane. She may not be a perfect princess on the outside, but she has a heart like one on the inside.
So...I think all three of them do qualify for the crown, if the traditions doesn't stand."
I waited, and waited, and waited, until the King finally raises his open hand at me.
"Hand me the paper."
I did so and also handed him his quill. He slowly ticked. Scribbled a few times. Folded the paper.
"Mail this immediately, so that it will arrive at Royal Prep by lunch time."
"As you wish, Your Majesty." I said as I took the folded paper.
I bowed and quietly walked out of his study room. Staring at the paper in my hand, lies the answer to his troubled decision. I pray that my answers to his Majesty would not bring any unforgiving disasters to this royal family's future faith.
Sofia's POV
"What?!" I said in disbelief.
"I'm afraid so. Here, take a look." Ms. Fauna says as she hands me a piece of long paper.
It is now my second class after lunch, and it was also time to announce the results about our transferal. We were asked to wait in the classroom until we were called to go into the next classroom that was vacant individually. I was the last one to be called, and for a very good reason.
"'A candidate for the throne'?" I read out the words written on the paper. No mistake, it was definitely Dad's handwriting. "I don't...understand."
"I'd also like an explanation to that as well, but for the time being, I'll transfer you to the Advanced Princess Course. I'm sure you know by now what kind of classes it consists of, and I hope you're ready for them until we get a clear answer from the King himself." Ms. Fauna said as I handed her back the long paper.
She then hands me an envelope sealed with a Royal Prep stamp wax, and a small broach like pin. I took a closer look at the pin: it was a small golden tiara, and it seemed to be made out of real gold.
"Always wear this on you when you attend your classes from now on, and be careful not to loose it. And please take this note. Make sure you give it the King tonight and have it returned tomorrow."
"Alright, Ms. Fauna." I said. I hid the broach in my small hidden pocket of my dress.
We both left the vacant classroom and went back to the classroom where the others are. I returned to my desk and stared hard at the envelope in my hands. I was more scared than excited, worried even. What was Dad thinking when he signed my paper? Why did he write those things? Did he perhaps mistake my paper for James' paper? That must be it. I must make sure that I give this note to Dad as soon as I get home.
"So, did you get your badge, Sofia?" Amber ushered me who was holding her broach pin. Her's was a small silver harp shaped with small wings on each side. It looks like the one that a Cupid would usually hold in his hands.
"Wow. Such a lovely broach. I...I haven't got mine yet. I have to give Dad this note and have him sign it before I could get mine." I waved the note in my hands to her.
"Really? That's kind of odd." She thought.
"Alright, everyone. Listen up." Ms. Fauna said from behind the Teacher's desk. "I hope that you all will take good care of your new broaches, they are necessary as they will be of proof that you have graduated from your regular classes. For those of you who have the envelopes, please remember to have your parents sign them and returned by tomorrow. Class dismissed. See you all tomorrow." And she leaves the room like a ball of light, as in literally turned into a ball of light.
"I wonder why you weren't given one yet?" James said who was sitting behind me.
I looked at his broach which he had already pinned onto the collar of his waistcoat. It was a really golden crown, and a very detailed one at that, just like the one Dad wears on his head on very important days and occasions.
"I don't know. Nice broach by the way." I said as my eyes had drifted towards the window where the clock tower could be seen outside. "Oh. It's that time already? I have to go back and changed!"
"Oh yes! I also have to make more changes to my plans for the party!" Amber quickly packs her stuff.
"I have to check if the weapons have arrived undamaged." James puts on his backpack.
"Let's get going then. To the carriage!" I said as I point out the classroom door.
We quickly left the classroom and out the main gate when we saw Vivian and Desmond on the ground on the side of the lawn, on all fours with rose petals scattered all over the lawn. It didn't look like they were there on purpose.
"Vivian!" I quickly went over to her. "What happened here?" I asked while helping her up.
"This is an absolute mess!" Amber says looking all over the lawn.
"Did you guys had a fight or something?" James said while helping Desmond pat off the dried soil on his jacket.
"No. Why would I fight, especially with a girl?" Desmond raised a brow.
"It wasn't him. Something from the sky swooped down on us and tried to snatched the bouquet of roses right out of my hands." Vivian said while pointing up at the sky. "It flew by really quickly and strongly, that the roses had been scattered all over and we rolled over the ground. I wonder who would do such a thing?"
I attempted to try and pat her on the back and shoulders, but Amber swiftly took my hand from behind. I took a quick look at her and see her slightly shaking her hand.
"Look." She mouthed to me.
I looked back to see Desmond taking off his coat and putting her. Watching that gave me...a nice feeling. Not because I didn't get a chance to help, but the way Desmond shows his care is truly touching.
"I'll take you back home, just in case if anyone else will try to pull another stunt like that on you again." Desmond says reassuring her.
"Thanks." Vivian smiled. "Thank you again, Sofia. Amber."
"Thanks, James." Desmond says as he picks up both his and Vivian's bags.
"Take care!" I waved as we watched them leave.
James picked up one of the scattered petals on the ground.
"Who would want to fly down and attack them?" He says.
"Maybe someone who is jealous with their closeness?" Amber suggests. "I mean, they did try to sabotage the bouquet after all."
"Maybe...maybe it's got something to do with the recent strange rumors and activities." I said recalling the conversation that James and I had with Clio and Vivian.
"What rumors?" Amber raised a brow.
"I heard from among the castle staff a few days ago that there were rose petals raining. Vivian mentioned this morning that her mother had heard rumors about someone with wings is flying in the air, shooting out random lights into the air. It might behind the raining petals."
"Clio thought that you and Hildegard might've taken a detour somewhere there to see the petals earlier this morning since you weren't with us." James said.
"Well. As a matter of fact, we did pass there."
She takes her bag and takes some items out of her bag and holds them up. One was a medium sized jar with a cork, and the other was a medium sized bag.
"I got these, hoping that maybe Cedric could do a sample on them. Maybe he would know a thing or two about this weird abnormality. I heard that some of the other kingdoms' had tried to get their best Sorcerers and Alchemists to work it out, but none has solved it yet."
"So...why do you want Cedric to give it a try if the others had failed to find the solution?" James crossed his arms in front of him. "And since when did you started getting interested in this sort of thing?"
"Hildegard had caught word from some of her people in her kingdom that if any Sorcerer or Alchemist can solve this mystery, they shall be recognized as the 'Greatest' in the land, and the kingdom that they serve shall also be given another 'Brand New Castle'!" Amber squealed! "Imagine! A whole new castle! I could own it and fill it entirely with all the gowns and shoes in the world! Or I could make it a 'Party Castle', where I could host all of my parties in it, whether big or BIGGEST!"
"A knew there's a reason behind that smile." James says quietly to me while watching Amber talking to herself.
"Hehe. Oh James." I giggled. "So, Amber. What are in these?" I interrupted.
"Oh. Yes. Ahem." She quickly composed herself. "In this jar is filled with the cloud that rained the petals, and in this bag are the petals."
"Clouds? In a jar?" James tries to look into the jar. "There's absolutely nothing inside. Are you sure you didn't put your breath inside?"
"I really gather some clouds in there. It's made out of gases if you've learned your science lessons properly."
"It's possible, James. I tried once to collect 'Dragon's Breath' before, and it also looked like nothing." I said to James.
There were times when Mr. Cedric would ask me to be his temporary Apprentice, and on one occasion he was ordered by Dad to have a spell that could make Fireworks appear. Mr. Cedric asked me to help him gather some ingredients that he didn't have for the Fireworks potion, and they were: a jar of Dragon's Breath, three whole Golden Carrots, and six pieces of Cave Crystals. I got the Dragon's breath from Vivian's pet dragon named Crackle, who was Clover's friend. It was sort of amusing when I got Crackle's breath. You couldn't see the breath itself at first, but when you look carefully there were some forms of flames that appeared every other second when you looked into the jar.
"If you looked carefully at the jar, you could actually see some forms of fog floating inside." I took the jar from Amber and handed it to James to have a better look.
He takes a closer look at the jar. "You're right, Sofia! Hey!" He got cut off when Amber takes back the jar.
"Here." She hands them to me. "You give them to Cedric since you know him better. He seems to do things better when you are the one who asks him to do things."
"Well...okay." I said as I quickly summoned my box and put the two items inside.
"We'd better get going." Amber says as she starts walking. "It's like they say, 'Time is Gold'."
"Don't you mean 'Time is Money'?" James corrects her.
"They're just the same in meaning." I commented.
"Not they aren't!" They said in unison.
James got onto the carriage first, then helping Amber and I get on. Normally he should be helping us get on by standing outside the carriage, but he says it's easier this way. He could pull us up quicker and not having to step on our dresses by accident. It kinda happened before when we first started that practice, and I always end up tripping onto the carriage instead of stepping. James couldn't stop laughing for days, but I know he didn't mean any harm.
We took off as soon as I shut the door. Watching as the clouds comes nearer and nearer, until it dissolves into view.
"By the way, does anyone know if Dad's at the castle at this time?" I asked as I took out the envelope from my pocket.
"I heard this morning that he had a 'Tri-Kingdom Meeting' scheduled today." Amber says fanning herself.
"You should probably pass your envelope to Baileywick, since you're going to rush once we get back to the castle."
"You're right." I said and shove it back into my pocket.
"Could you please pick up the pace? We wouldn't want Sofia to miss her errands today." James commands our Coachman.
"Yes, Young Majesty." And we sped up like a gust of wind.
Cedric's POV
"Let's turn the knob a little bit." I said while turning the knob of the burner with little force, trying not to over boil the contents in the beakers. "There."
I am in the middle of finishing a potion, one of Princess Sofia's requests that I had to obliged. She says she needed a potion that instantly speeds up the pace of a certain village's crops. Her other requests involves potions for Fireworks that will be needed in a few days time, and some potions that involves curing any kinds of sicknesses, just in case that some of the villages' temporary clinics, that Princess Sofia had set up, ran out of medicinal herbs or run into a case that they couldn't find a cure with herbs alone.
"I shouldn't be working on things like this. I am a Royal Sorcerer, not a Doctor!" I said to myself out loud.
"Ark! Ark!" Wormy cried out on his bird stand.
Wormwood is my pet Raven, but I call him Wormy, and I've had him for as long as I could remember. You could also say that is my only loyal friend and has been my family ever since I became Enchancia's Royal Sorcerer, only because I came from a long line of sorcerers in my family's background. I've actually wanted to be a knight if I weren't a sorcerer: slaying dragons, hunting down monsters, or to go on wild adventures. The only problem is, I haven't exactly got the body or stamina needed for those kinds of extreme activities. I wouldn't be able to move an inch in a heavy suit of armor. I've tried to wear one once, the one just outside my tower's door along the corridor, and it took me ages to even get my leg up after falling down to the floor with the armor. Baileywick found it amusing when he was looking for me when the King was requesting for my presence. How humiliating.
"Ark! Ark! Ark!" Wormy cried out, sitting on the table where I was boiling my potion near the window.
I had requested another table to be used in my workshop because the new Boiling Set, which Princess Sofia had given to me as a gift, was far too large for my main working table. I had the table placed near the window so if in case there was any accidental or mixed up explosions with the potion making, I could just easily open the window without having to walk around the room blinded by smoke.
"Oh. Thank you, Wormy. I better stop that daydreaming habit." I petted him on the head.
Wormy is a very bright bird. Most times he would help me in my experiments, like gather up materials, or getting jars and containers that were on shelves that I couldn't reach, and whenever we played checkers he would win, most of the time. Sometimes I think that he might be a better sorcerer than I am if we were under different circumstances, with him being a Human and I as a Raven.
I see that the liquid in the beaker at the end of the Boiling Set had finally turned from green to colorless, and turned off the fire from the burner. I grabbed an empty bottle on the other workbench and poured the finally product in the empty bottle, sealing it off with a cork.
"If I didn't know any better, I would say that this is a better Crops Growth Elixir than the last one I made." I said and looked through the bottle and the window. "I guess making potions and casting spells are all that I'm ever good at, huh?"
"Ark! Ark!" Wormy replied. Maybe he was saying 'That's not true.'. I could only guess since I don't speak the language of a Raven.
TACK! TACK! TACK! TACK!
I could hear knocking noises, only they weren't coming from the door.
TACK! TACK! TACK! TACK!
I turned my head again and see something floating outside my window.
"Mr. Cedric!" It was Princess Sofia, who was shouting while riding on a flying horse just outside.
I opened the window with the feeling of annoyance.
"Hello, Mr. Cedric!" She said in her usual carefree tone.
She was sitting on one of the castle's flying horses. As a rider, she doesn't wear her usual dresses that you would see her wear inside the castle. Her current horse riding clothes have simply taken up to another level, for her at least. She was wearing a magenta cap with a brim and ear cover clothes tied together at the top, a 3/4 sleeve lilac shirt, a vest that covers the neck with 2 front zip pockets, a pair of wrist strapped fingered gloves, a 3/4 stretchy look leather lilac colored pants with belt loops on the sides, and a black pair of tall field riding boots with a classic European top line, side spur rests and a full length rear zip. The top line has side flaps on the outer side of the boots, it's designed to protect the side of the rider's knees while leaving the front part open for the knees to motion freely. I can't say that I envy her, but with the thought of her always having new clothes is something I could only ask if my robes were totally worn out. If my eyes aren't deceiving me, she is wearing a hair stick in her hair. Probably the young princess of Wei-Ling gave it to her.
"Why are you outside my window and not at the door?"
"I'm kind of in a hurry since I just came back from school. Is the potion for the crops ready?"
"Yes, yes. It's ready." I showed her the bottle that was in my hand. "I'd rather that you at least come inside to get it. I wouldn't want your Amulet- er, I mean, your, ah, leg to slip in and fall on the edge of my window while coming in from your horse, and be blamed for such things."
"Okay."
I stepped back a bit to the side of the window to make room for her to climb inside as I offered my hand to help her in. She gracefully took it and got inside safely.
"Thank you, Mr. Cedric." She said with a curtsy, while holding up her imaginary dress.
I handed her the bottle and I watch her put it into her backpack.
"Aren't you going to put that into your storage box, Princess Sofia? The one I taught you?" I asked.
"Oh. I only use that spell for carrying my school necessities. I'm afraid that the bottle might break inside while I move."
"The box doesn't move like your body does, Princess. It only levitates or...let's say 'suspends' in motion, meaning it floats and stays in one place, never moving an inch as if time has stopped inside and outside of the box. So even things that easily spoil, like food or milk, will still be as fresh as you first placed it in, and things that are really fragile, like glass menageries or crystals, won't break, even while you ride on that horse." I gestured at the flying horse waiting outside. "Or just like the Carpet-bag that Duchess Matilda carries with her. She could even pull out a ready-made tea set from it." and I still find that hard to believe.
"Ooh. I see. I'll put it inside the box right now then." She happily says as I watch her do her spells.
Normally I wouldn't even think of trying to associate with the likes of her, nor do any of her requests. As a Royal Sorcerer, my duty is to the King and only to the King I should be serving, but the circumstances changed ever since Princess Sofia had joined the Royal family. Not only did she and her mother, Queen Miranda appear, but the Amulet of Avalor, the sacred magical item that I've been looking for many years, had also appeared, right on Princess Sofia's neck. It was then that I've been trying over and over again, to find a way to snatch that amulet off of her. It has such strong magical powers, that if you could manage to learn how to control and make use of it, you could become the most powerful person in the world, and even take over the kingdom of Enchancia.
Most of the time I find the Princess a real nuisance, especially before when she could never get my name pronounced correctly. Unlike the rest of the Royal family, especially King Roland and the castle steward Baileywick, who always belittle me in everything I do, Princess Sofia has always come to me asking for help, mainly when it comes down to magic. She is actually a very good student and learns things very quickly, without complains and with determination. Even having at least one person who believes in you and your true talent, is enough to make a sad Sorcerer like me feel very proud inside, even have a purpose in the world.
"You remember how to use that potion, right?" I asked just to test her memory.
"Put one part of the potion with four equal parts of water into a watering can, then sprinkle all over the crops like how you would usually do when you sprinkle them with normal water. Right?"
"Excellent, my young apprentice." I said. Actually feeling proud of myself. "By the way, Princess Sofia. I haven't quite finished the Fireworks potion that you were asking for."
"Oh. Are you perhaps...in need of more Dragon's Breath?" She said.
"Exactly, my dear. It's as if you could read my mind." I said. If that were ever true that would be utterly absolutely frightening.
"Sure. How much do you want me to gather and fill up?"
"Just reuse that bottle I gave you. It would be enough."
"Alright. Oh, I almost forgot." She scrambles in her bag and took out some items. "Here. These are from Amber."
I took the two items, a jar and a bag. The jar looked empty, but some fogs tend appear every other second. The bag contained rose petals.
"Forgive me for asking, Princess. Exactly what does Princess Amber want me to do with these?"
"Well, have you heard the rumor of the raining rose petals that's been around lately?"
"Raining rose petals?...Yes, yes, yes. I've heard of it. The one that the maids were gossiping about."
"Well, Amber went to where that cloud was and gathered samples of the cloud and the rose petals on our way to school this morning. She wants you to experiment on them."
"So it's a cloud? Well that explains the little fogs inside." I said while looking through the jar again. "Still. What is this cloud got to do with her and me?"
"At the moment, no one, Sorcerer or Alchemist from the other kingdoms have yet solved or found out what or who is causing this strange phenomenon. The only ones that haven't yet tried it out are you and your father, Goodwyn the Great."
"If that's the case, then why not look for my father instead? He's the greatest in the land, remember?" I said as I held out the two items back to her.
My father, Goodwyn the Great, was Enchancia's former Royal Sorcerer. He not only served the former king, King Roland the First, but also saved the former king's life nine and a half times. If you ask me, that king's been into too much trouble to get his life saved that many times. I've never did anything that great for King Roland the Second, but I did save Princess Sofia's life, according to King Roland that is. It was that one time when King Magnus had come to Enchancia to visit, and I was requested by the King, sort of, to perform a Magic Show for everyone.
Every time I get around King Roland I become so nervous, so the thought of having two kings watching was pure pressure. Princess Sofia had helped me prepare the night before the show, thus I was well prepared, or so I thought until I had come face to face with the two kings. I became so nervous that when I started my show and did my first trick, a magic spell that was meant to make Sofia's pet rabbit fly called Flotilla Rabbitsa, ended up making the rabbit bounce all around. The next thing I knew was that Princess Sofia had been turned into a lizard, and I calmly and successfully transformed her back to her real self casting the counter-spell Lizardo Changio. King Roland was relieved that his step-daughter had been saved and had finally acknowledged me as a great sorcerer who saved Princess Sofia's life in front of everyone. Later I learned that the Princess had purposely spilled the Lizard Potion on herself because she knew that I was too nervous, so by being a lizard herself I could cast a trick that I could really do well at, which was turning her back to normal. So basically, I saved her life twice!
Princess Sofia gently pushed the two items back to my chest, with a smile so confident that I thought my hands would drop if I stared at her smile long enough.
"Well, get this. According to our friend, Princess Hildegard, she heard from her people that if any of the kingdoms' Sorcerers or Alchemists can solve this mystery, they shall be known as the 'Greatest Sorcerer' in the land! Maybe in the whole WORLD! Perhaps this way you could finally be recognized by everyone. Isn't that great?" She puts her hands together. "So, will you do it?"
Princess Sofia could be on to something. Being the 'Greatest' was once a dream I thought I would never achieve, only once has King Roland ever said that I was the greatest in the land, but no more after that Magic Show. Normally you'd be called the greatest when you've done many great things in the many years of services for your King and his kingdom, without messing up that is. If, however, I should be able to solve this mystery, I would become the 'Greatest Sorcerer' in an instant, faster and more famous than my father.
"Alright. I'll do it. You've convinced me." I said as I placed the two items down on my main working table just at the other end of the room.
"Hehe. Great!" She said. "Oh. Almost forgot again. These are for you, Wormwood."
She takes out a small white pouch from her pocket and walks over to my side to put it down in the working table. She probably used a white napkin or handkerchief to wrap it up into a pouch.
"I'd better get going then. Is there anything else you want me to get for you?" She says while walking towards the window.
"Nope. Nothing at all." I said as I followed her to help escort her out of the window.
The sooner she leaves the better for me to get started on the experiments. Even though I do not like helping her, but I do have my 'Gentleman Manners' instinct intact. Even if I had a choice, it wouldn't be possible to ignore since she is a Princess, even if she is adopted.
I stood by the side of the window, with my left side facing the window and my right facing toward the inside of my workshop, and voluntary held up my left hand. She takes hold of it and steps onto the edge of the window, ready to get onto her horse just outside.
"See ya later, Mr. Ce-AH!"
She suddenly loses her balance, began falling backwards towards the floor of my workshop, and loses her grip on my hand. If she were to get injured here in my workshop, I'll be blamed and punished, or even get...I can't! It's much too horrible to imagine it!
I held onto the edge of the window with my left hand and immediately grabbed her left hand with my right hand, and tried to pull her up from with a little tug, just like a yo-yo. But the tension on my tug was a little too much her that her body had recoiled going inward counter clockwise, and it was also too much for me that my feet couldn't stand on its own, causing me to also start moving along, or in this case twirling. A switch inside of me must've been flipped on because my body's dancing instincts had begun taking over, as if it had found a sense of rhythm or pace in the spin. My right hand had moved hold the Princess around her waist from the back, my left hand swaying in motion to hold the Princess's right hand, my feet slowing down the twirl to a slower pace as we move towards the center of the room, 'causing us both to do a Counter Clockwise Turn three times, a Waltz dance step, and ending with both of us standing to a halt.
"Princess Sofia! Why can't you watch where you're...ah...um...oh dear..."
We were in each others' arms still in Hand Hold position, our clothes were touching each other, and our faces just barely inches apart, except for my long nose that had landed squarely on her forehead, and even worse, we were standing in the middle of the room where we could be visibly seen by anyone if they happen to look into my Workshop's window.
In my whole life, I've never been so close to any woman, apart from my own mother, not as much as to even hold one this close, not even in a dance, especially if that someone is a member of a Royal family. It was alright for the Princess to touch anyone when she was younger as she was still a child, but she is literally a young woman now. Getting caught holding her now, would result to a lot of trouble, I would be seized, or worse, have my head off. I am a grown man, but to think that I'm actually holding her this Close, is extremely...nerve wracking. The silence in the atmosphere in this room is killing me, as if time had stopped as well. My hands and legs had gone rock stiff and my eyes wouldn't stop staring.
Princess Sofia had slowly freed herself from me and took a step back.
"I-I-I-I-I-I ap-p-p-p-pologize, P-P-Princess Sofia! I-I-I didn't mean to-to-to-" My teeth were tittering so nervously that I could feel my whole head vibrating.
"Mr. Cedric! You..."
At that moment, all tension had relieved from my body and my knees immediately slammed to the ground and my upper body had fallen flat with my arms spread above my head on the floor. I also crushed my nose during the impact, but didn't have time to feel the pain.
"You can dance?"
"Y-Yes, I can, Princess Sofia. I...Huh?!" I looked up at her, my eyelids had shot up wide open.
"It's just...that was a Counter Clockwise Turn, wasn't it? Even the way your feet moved, they moved as if they were finding a balance to stop us from falling!" She said in amazement. She was already crouching down in front of me.
"P-Princess?" I looked at her with dumbfounded eyes.
"Here, let me help you."
I let her help me up with my arm around her shoulders, because my legs are a little bit wobbly and numb to stand on their own. She walked me over to my bench and I slowly sat down. I wanted to reach for my wand, but forgot it by the Boiling set. The Princess must've seen where my line of sight was and went to get me my wand. I nervously took it and magically poured myself a cup of water and gulped it down in one go.
"Ah!" I let out a breath of relief. "That's better."
"Good." She says. "So...where did you learn to Waltz?"
I had forgotten for a moment that she was still in the room, standing beside me, but I restrained myself from panicking.
"I...I learned it from my mother, naturally. At a young age of course." I could feel a sweat running along my temple.
"Oh. So...how good of a dancer are you then, ranging from 1 to 10?" She held up her hands wide open.
"I...wouldn't judge it on numbers, Princess. Let's just say that those who has had a chance to dance with me hasn't yet been disappointed." I raised a brow. Which was practically none, apart from my mother.
"You must be a really great dancer then-"
"Shouldn't you moving along? You're going to be late for your duties, you know." I tried to change the topic. I was starting to feel awkward.
"Oh. Oh! You're right!" She said as she jogs over to the window's edge, then stops to look over her shoulder. "By the way, thanks again for saving my life, Mr. Cedric."
If her words didn't pierce my heart, it was her smile on her face. I always see that innocent smile of hers everyday, and it has always annoyed me to the ends of my evilest nerves and veins in my body. But to hear her say those words with that smile, it's just...not fair, not fair at all.
"Just take a good rest.." She settles onto her horse. "I'll be back with the Dragon's Breath!" She waves goodbye and took off at the speed of light
I drank three more cups of water before I can manage to stand up on my own and walk to close my window, then leaned against the wall and let out a sigh. That was one tiring event that I wouldn't ever want to experience again. I mean, really, she was more amazed with my dancing skills, than how close we were in physical contact, being accidentally held at by the hands of a grown man in his mid 30s. Is she serious? No screaming? Not panicking? Not even startled? Really?
"Ark! Ark!" Wormy had landed on my left shoulder.
"Oh, Wormy." I gave him a light pet on the head. "That Princess will never changed, will she?"
"Ark! Ark!"
"But I didn't lie when I said I that could dance. Mother had always loved dancing, and even when I was a young lad she would always teach me how to Waltz around the house, every kind and type and genre that she could think of, at least two times in a day. She always said that 'Every man should at least know how to dance, even if he would only dance with someone only once in his lifetime'. I would always complain that I was not only dancing once, but everyday, with her, and that I wasn't having any fun at all. She would then follow that Father had never danced in his life, and when they both had their first dance together, it was one that she would never want to remember herself or by anyone else, or they'll get a smack on the face if ever mentioned.
"Ever since I went to Sorcery school and moved into the castle, I've never had a chance to Waltz with anyone, nor with Mother. I have to admit now that I do kind of miss having to dance, even just once in a while. I've attended every Ball and events that this castle has ever held since my being in here, but no one wants to dance with me, not even doing anything with me, probably due to my facial features. Still, who ever said that you have to dance with someone with good looks? As long as you've got skills and the know-how, dancing with someone like me would still be fun, right?"
"Ark!"
I gazed out through the window, looking at the sky as I imagined the Princess's face afloat amongst the clouds.
"I wonder...if the Princess also detested with having danced with me, even if it was just a few steps?"
The Amulet of Avalor then replaced her image, and all sorts of imaginations started spinning within the chains of the amulet, as if reminding me of what my main goal was.
"That's...right...That's Right! They can tell me that I'm 'No Good'! And call me 'Second Rate'! But soon they'll see, when I finally steal that amulet from the Princess, that I'm meant to be, King Cedric the GREAT!" I yelled out loud and throughout the entire Workshop was filled with my echos, hearing 'Great' a good number of times.
I stepped away from the wall and went over to my workbench. I decided to start working on the samples that Princess Amber wanted me to work on. I carefully extracted a tiny amount of the cloud sample and put it into a special boiling flask, one that won't let any of its contents spill or escape, also unbreakable. I leave the petal samples on the table for later and took the cloud sample over to the Boiling Set. I decided to boil the cloud sample so that it will evaporate into small droplets, even a single drop is vital as it will show what kinds of particles it consists of.
"I put the flask here on the tripod over the burner. Then I just turn the knob and just...There!" I said as I gently adjusted the fire with the small knob. The new burner is really good, just within three seconds the flame would heat up to as hot as a newly boiled pot of tea. Of course I would have to be very careful, even my own gloves wouldn't protect my skin from getting burned if ever I accidentally placed my hand on it. If I, ever, get burned, it would take at least half a year for it to completely heat itself, even with one of my medicinal potions it would take at least three months.
I watched and waited until the cloud had finished vaporizing and turned into, what seemed like, a few droplets of murky water. I quickly, but carefully, turned off the burner. I went over to my workbench and tried to find any cloth or rag, then I saw a small pouch on the table. It was from the Princess. I had forgotten all about it. I untied the knot of the pouch and saw Wormy's favorite snack: Cranberries. You could tell that they were just newly hand picked. Who would think that she'd have time to spare just to pick some berries for an old sorcerer's pet?
"Wormy! Get your snack. The Princess hand picked these for you."
I took a small clean bowl that was just sitting on the corner of the table and poured the berries into it. I then got the white cloth and went to wrap the special flask. I looked over my shoulder and see Wormy eating happily. At least he's happy.
"CEDRIC!"
The door instantly slammed opened, and the vibrated impact sends my whole body off balance as I tried to avoid crashing into my Boiling Set. But fate has decided to strike me, as my right hand tried to grab onto something, I could feel a burning sensation on the back of my hand. I tried to bare it so that I wouldn't fall, but it was too much to handle that I just let myself fall, with the special beaker in my other hand. My whole head rung as if I was a church bell tower, and I could feel my head heavily aching, but it was quickly overpowered by a overpowering pain from my right hand. The back part of my glove on my hand had been burned, as if something chewed a bit off of it. What was even more horrifying was the skin were the missing material was burned. It was as red as an opened wound, in fact, it was a huge burn that was covered in moist.
"Cedric! Help!"
I sat up and see that it was none other than the trouble maker Prince James. I tried to hold my anger as I looked at him with mixed feelings.
"Poseidon's Pumpkins!What do you want?! And don't they teach in that school of yours how to knock?" I said, feeling my face twitching.
"S-sorry. It's just that it's really an emergency." He said with a worried expression. "Here."
He held out his hand to offer his assistance to help me up, but I learned my lesson from my last encounter with Princess Sofia, so I just slowly got up by myself, ignoring the stinging pain in my hand.
"So, what's the problem?"
"I need to know if you have a spell that can make the ground turn into trenches in an instant? I need them for my soldiers who are training today."
I could feel my anger boiling up inside of me, but continued to control myself.
"Prince James. May I remind you that I can only make spells that are for people who actually works hard, not for those who do not wish to do the task themselves. Your father has told you that I can only help you and your sisters if it involves something that requires dangerous procedures, such as handling fires and chemical substances. Making Trenches in the ground requires a shovel and some man power, not fire or chemical substances. Or have you forgotten the incident with your father's window?" I said to him with stern words.
It was during those rare days when the Goldenwing Circus was in the kingdom. It only comes once a year and the children were really excited to go watch, especially Prince James who loved watching the Jugglers. It was also that time when the King had just gotten his new stained glass window, which is a portrait of the whole family in it, in the entertainment room, and it was supposed to be a surprise for Queen Miranda. I never did like the way the window was drawn anyway, their faces looked lifeless to me. The artist was probably spending sleepless nights working on the window to get it done in time.
One of the castle rules told to the children was that they weren't allowed to play any ball games inside the castle, and the Prince accidentally threw one of his juggling balls and broke Princess Amber's face on the glass window. If you ask me, I thought that was a better picture to have. Princess Sofia and Prince James asked for my assistance to fix the window, so that their father wouldn't get upset and avoid getting into trouble.
But I had a different goal. I schemed to try and steal the amulet at that time, using the spell Patuzzi, which only works on magnetizing on small objects. But when I tried to used the spell, I ended up being a part of the window. Prince James found the spell Za Prasen Za Prasu in the Counter-spell book that I had brought, meaning 'To Empty' in Slovenian and 'Please' in Lithuanian, which is exactly the correct spell to fix anything that helps empties the extra substances or object that's not supposed to be in it. But because the Prince was still learning sorcery and doesn't have the secret that only graduated Sorcerers know, the entire window went and shattered into pieces.
"If I remembered correctly, Cedric. You were the one who messed up the spell in the first place." He said looking at me with his arms crossed.
"But with Your lack of experience in Sorcery, you couldn't even fix the window yourself." I told him. "Besides, I read in your list of duties that You and your soldiers were supposed to dig the trenches yourselves. I still have copies of the duties of the three of you, if you'd like I could offer you a copy if you had lost your own copy, unless you'd like me to read it out loud to you. OUCH!" I felt the sting on my hand. "Poseidon's Pumpkins!"
"Hmph! Whatever." I puffed out with his arms crossed in front of his chest.
"If that's All you wanted, it would be a pleasure if you could leave and cause no more accidents, like this huge burned wound that you gave me on my hand when you rudely charged into My Workshop." I was starting to lose it.
"Fine." He said as he turned towards the door.
"Goodbye!" I tried to sound enthusiastic.
Then he stopped to stare at me. "Some helpful Sorcerer you are." and slammed my door shut with a bang.
I stuck out my tongue.
"Ark!"
Wormy lands on the Boiling Set table, holding a spare glove in his claws. I pet him on the head.
"Oh, Wormy. You're the only one who knows me. Argh!" I could feel my hand burning and aching. "If ever I get a hold of that Prince in my hands, I would- ARGH!"
A strong pain reverberated along the back of my spine. I must've hurt it when I fell backwards during the strong impact. I got the spare glove and went to my workbench. I placed the special beaker down on the table and took off the cloth, then cast a spell to create ice since I do not have access to the castle's kitchen. I put the ice in the cloth and tied it together. I carefully placed it onto my burned wound, and a sizzling sound was heard.
"YEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEOUUUUUCCCCCCCCCCHHHHHHHH! MMMMEEEERRRLLLLIIIIII-IIIINNNSSSSSSSSS MMMMUUUUSSSSSSHHHHRRRROOOOOOOMMMSSSSSS!" I couldn't bare the pain anymore. I swear my screaming is more horrifying than Princess Amber's.
Lucinda's POV
I am currently standing in front of my very own cauldron, which was the size of a small standard fish bowl, practicing how to make a proper Hexing potion. Unlike other Witches, I don't go to school since we live far from the Witchery Kingdom. Both my parents were once teachers at a witch school there, so they've been home schooling me instead, which saves money and time. I'm really good at casting Hexing spells, which is a strong talent that runs in my family, only Potion making isn't my best skill.
The reason I am practicing this, is because my parents got a message scroll from the Witchery Kingdom, ordering all Witching families to have their eldest child to try to create a potion that can solve the bad disease that has been spreading around and making some of the people sick. Some of the people in the other kingdoms thinks it's a common flu, or some sort of magically sprite has been making mischief, or that one of the kingdom's Sorcerer's been sent to spy on the villages to cause another kingdom to go off balance and take over.
I know I should've mastered Potion Making years ago, but I never planned on aiming to be the greatest witch in the world, just wanted to grow up like any normal kid with the exception of a special talent. I'm not saying that I don't like being a Witch, I just don't like having so much expectations being pressured onto me just because I'm a Witch and come from a long line of family of great Witches. Still, no one said that I'll get punished for trying to live differently, or that my powers will be taken away because I don't study as hard as I should be.
"Hm...I should add a few drops of Joyful Tears...and...a pinch...of Wishful Thinking." I read the following ingredients for a Skin Beautify Potion from one of my mother's textbooks.
I got a blue glass bottle of Joyful Tears and a small brown clay pot decorated with sea glass pieces full of Wishful Thinking chalk powder from the shelves behind me. Then I got the amount prescribed and mixed everything together, stirring everything together with my wand. I know that the potion isn't going to help anyone with the situation, but it is a potion similar to the one I'm hoping to perfect on: the Invisible Barrier Potion. The Invisible Barrier Potion helps protect people from things that attack from the air we breathe in, like poisonous gases, contaminated dusts, etc. Basically, it protects you from things that can't be seen with the naked eye. The Invisible Barrier Potion is way too hard for my level, so I'm practicing with potions related to the skin first. It might actually help in some ways, in case someone in the village suddenly get irritated skin amongst the chaos.
KNOCK! KNOCK! KNOCK!
I could hear knocking on my front door from where I am in the basement. I hear footsteps upstairs going from the living room to the front door. The sounds of the door opening.
"Good afternoon. Is Lucinda home?" It was Jade's voice.
"Oh. Yes, she's downstairs at the moment." It was Mother's voice. "Come on in, you two."
"Thank you." It was Ruby's voice.
My hearing is incredibly sharp nowadays. As a Witch, when we reach the stage of puberty, our senses will also grow in a unique way, but it varies with different Witches. Mother has incredible eyesight, she can even see the tiniest of dust in the air. Like one time how I was practicing Potion Making and out of the Crying Powder dusts started flying in the air, almost landing in the Wishful Thinking Chalk Powder. She had a pair of tweezers in her hand and caught it like she was doing Martial Arts. It was crazy. My father has an outrageous sense of taste. Instead of being good in tasting things, his taste buds were all messed up. Like freshly squeezed lemon juices would be spicy, and grapes would be salty. How fortunate for me not to experience that. Still, having very sharp hearing isn't any good either, especially when sleeping. I could hear water dripping from the faucets, small insects munching on leaves, I could even hear snoring from people who are five houses away. I think it's a curse to have this kind of sense, but at least I haven't gone deaf.
"Lucinda dear, your friends are here." Mother said on the other side of the door without knocking. She is aware of my hearing.
"I know. Come on in." I said as I put on my ear muffs that was hanging around my neck and pressed the muffs against my ears tightly.
I could hear the door knob turning, like swords hitting against each other. Even with the ear muffs on my ears are still ringing, but the slashing is less echoing at least.
"Hey, Lucinda!" Jade was the first one to walk through the door. "Oh. Still trying hard?"
"Yeah." I said letting my hands down. "Have a seat. I'll be done in just a few moment."
I pointed at the couch just beside the door. There is a tea table with a plate of cookies and a tea set, which I had baked and prepared earlier.
"Wow. Did you bake these, Lucinda?" Ruby took a bite and looking all happy. "Mmm! It's making me feel all fuzzy and warm inside."
"Yup. I planned on practicing Potion Making today, so I baked some cookies in advance so I wouldn't have to leave the room in case I get hungry. You girls can have some ." I said while I continued to stir in the cauldron.
"Okay." Jade said as she sat down. She takes a cookie from the plate and puts it all into her mouth. I could hear her chewing, the way her teeth are crunching the cookie into pieces. "Mmm! This is really good!"
"Glad you liked them." I said.
My eyes quickly scrolled over the page of the book, checking to make sure if I had missed any other instructions or ingredients.
"Continue stirring...until...the mixture becomes light blue in color. Okay." I read out the last part of the instructions and grabbed the table cleaning cloth just near the end of the table, using it to hold one of the cauldron's handle.
"What cha' mixing this time?" Ruby asks me from the couch.
"Ha. Don't you mean 'Brewing'?" Jade says with a laugh.
"Well, I'm trying to 'Brew' up a Skin Beautify Potion. It has the same basic pattern as the Invisible Barrier Potion, so hopefully...it won't end up like the last time." I sound grim.
"You got that right." Ruby answered quick. "That last time you did, with the Spiky Barricade Potion, ended up turning Jade into a 'Spiky Barracuda' instead!"
"Uhg! I never wanted to see another fish again after that." Jade said. "But I still ended up looking for fish because I had to make fish stew for our family dinner."
"Aw well. I'll try it on a frog this time so that nobody would get affected in any way." I concluded.
My potion was almost ready, and with a wave of my wand, I made a frog inside a small cage appear on the table. Well, it looked more of a toad really, with lots and lots or boils like marks all over its body.
"Woah! It's a cute frog!" Jade ran over to get a closer look at it. "...or is it a toad?...still cute!"
I gestured her to move back as I use my wand to magically carry a small amount of the potion and rain onto the toad's skin. We watched as the boils on the skin slowly subsided, until the skin was so shiny.
"Maybe it worked?" Ruby concluded
She attempted to touch the toad, but the moment she touched its skin her facial expression tells me something else. She lifted it by its leg, the only difference here is that it was still in its squatting position.
"You made it shiny and hard. I think it became a statue." Ruby feared.
"Glad I wasn't a test subject." Jade swallowed hard.
"Oops." I said as I revert the toad back to its normal self, with its boils, and it quickly hopped away from us.
"Sigh." I never felt such depression in my life.
"Don't worry. You'll get there." Ruby tried to comfort me.
"Just keep it up...without hurting anybody- Ouch!" Jade got elbowed by Ruby just around her waist.
"It's alright. I know I'm still a little rough, but I'll keep practicing everyday." Then I looked around. "I'd better tidy up the stuff though, and store some of this potion in a jar."
"We'll help." Jade said.
Every time I make a potion, whether it's a failed or successful experiment, I had to keep them. My mother says its a good way to keep track of what I've done in each experiment so that I could compare to the ones that are almost close to the one I want to make. It's also a good way to have one of them already done and be ready to use as a weapon, a practice usually done by Witchery Soldiers.
"You know, Lucinda. I love the way all of the ingredients are sorted and organized around the room. It makes the room look so pretty." Ruby took a moment to admire the sparkly room.
My mother always puts the magic ingredients in glass decorated pots, glasses and bottles, so when you look around, it would seem that the room is a crystal cave.
I didn't do many experiments today, so we finished tidying up the room much quicker than most of the other days. At the same time my ears were hearing some noises other than the clinking of glasses and bottles. It was more of wind or flapping sounds. Following that were the noises and vibrations of stomping, probably people running or something.
"Something wrong?" Jade patted me lightly.
"I could hear something coming, and the stomping of people running all over the place. Are we holding some sort of celebration or festival that I missed on my calendar?"
"I don't think so. The next festival doesn't come up until next month." Jade was scratching her head.
"Should we all go check it out" Ruby goes over to the door, without touching the knob.
I nodded and put on my ear muffs, and ruby quickly turns the knob. It's better that way than turning it slowly, less noises less endurance.
I asked permission from my mother to take a break from my potions and we all left my house, bringing along my broom and wand. As soon as we stepped onto the sidewalk, we saw many villagers running towards the direction where the heart of the village is. Ruby stopped one of the villagers, one of our childhood friends.
"Where are you all going to?"
"I heard Sofia's-...I mean Princess Sofia's here, to help the village's problems again. C'mon, or you'll miss her." He says as he jogs off.
"Sofia's back already?" Ruby's eyes were visibly sparkling in the sunlight.
"Let's go and see if she needs out help again." Jade clasps her hands together in front of her chest. "You too, Lucinda."
"Okay." I said, still pressing my ear muffs against my ears.
The noises of the outside also make my eardrums ring, but it's more of an itchy feeling. As long I've got my ear muffs, then I'd be alright. I could always add my emergency soft earplugs if in case there's a noise that's really gonna sting me badly.
We shortly arrived at the heart of the village, a small park and a small fish pond located. There were so many people that gathered here that you couldn't see what was happening in the middle of it all. I positioned myself on my broom to prepare for take off.
My broom, the one that I had with me since I was still a young Witch, should only be able to carry myself and one extra passenger. As a growing kid I was gaining weight, which is not a bad thing for me and my health of course, but it was for my broom. My broom was only meant for smaller and younger Witches, and I was supposed to get a new one eventually. I didn't want to go through all of the hassle again just to get a new one, and I've grown attached to it too. The process of getting a broom takes at least a few weeks: finding the right type of tree, befriending the tree's Spirit to be my broom partner, and the waiting for the tree to be dug out to get made. When I mean by befriending the Spirit, I mean the Spirit that lives in the tree itself. You can't just chop off a branch or chop it at its trunk, it has to be dug out with its roots and leaves or the Spirit will escape. A few broken twigs is fine, but chopping off parts as big as your own arm and you'll lose the Spirit. Only the special Broom Specialists know how to make these trees into brooms without making mistakes or 2nd tries, and without losing the Spirit. If all of the Witches knew how to make it or tried to make it themselves with mistakes included, then there'd be no forests left in the world.
The knowledge of the Broom Specialists are only passed down within the family, and there were originally a hundred families in the world that had the knowledge. Now we officially have seventy-five families since the others had no offspring to pass the knowledge to. Why do we know it was originally a hundred? Because they were all the children of original broom specialist that started it all; One father, and a hundred children that inherited the mastery, and they were all male. Can you imagine that? Never mind. It's best not to know.
Anyway, back to my broom's story. I insisted that I wanted to keep my broom. My parents gave in and said that we would try to find a Broom Specialist and ask if there was anyway to keep my broom and just make it stronger or better for me to ride it without breaking it. We were preparing for our trip to the Witchery Kingdom to find one of the specialists who was residing there, since it takes a couple of days to get there from the village. One night we all heard a loud sound just outside our house. We went to check what it was and found a person collapsed on our front staircase. My parents carried the person inside since he was a huge person, too big for my father to carry alone, while I carried his 2 big leather bags that were at least 5 kilos each. We didn't have a spare bedroom at that time so we laid him in my bedroom since my bed was really big. From the way his clothes were full of dirt and dried mud, and his bags were really tattered, it was safe to say that he was a Traveler. He probably fainted from thirst and lack of sleep judging by the paleness of his skin and how dry his lips were.
We took turns taking care of him for the whole night, and by morning he had enough enough strength to sit up on his own. When he was able to talk later on during the day, he told us that he saw the broom in my room that looked different and special, and was hoping that I could give it to him. I told him that I would never part with it no matter how much someone pays me, whether it's money or fame, I'd never part with my trusted partner, even it's too small for me to ride on as a Witch. Yes, I told him I was a Witch.
He then let out a laugh, a laugh so different that it was only recognizable by Witches. He told us that he was a Broom Specialist from the Witchery Kingdom, and he had been traveling from place to place in search for forests that had Spiritual trees untouched by other Witches. Among the 100 Specialists, he was the only one that had a different knowledge that was passed down in his family, because he only specializes in enhancing brooms that Witches would never want to give up on, like the one I had. And because I really treasure my broom he would agree to help me make it stronger and better that it would last until it could be passed onto the next Witch when I become too old to fly around with it. On the condition that we give free food and shelter for the time periods that he would enhance my broom.
It only took 3 days for him to do it. When I got to see its finished form, I was astonished. Blown. Normal brooms would be just one long stick with straw like brushes at one end. He gave my broom an entirely different look; it still had the one stick with straw look, with the front part was wood, and the back was made of metal-alloy that looked like folded extensions, including the make-shift straw. He demonstrated how to open the back part of the broom; he opened it in half, making the broom look like the letter 'Y'; then he flip opened an inner part of each half, making the broom look like a giant tuning fork. He made it so that it could hold not only one person, but three at the same time, one in the front, and one on each of the extended end, and it was the only one of its kind in the whole world. I asked how he managed to cut off some of the wood without letting my Spirit partner out, but he told me that it was a family secret that should only be passed down the traditional way, and it shall always stay that way.
"C'mon aboard, you two." I was trying to impersonating a certain voice. "Let's ride the Express to the center of the crowd." while I top off my pointy hat.
Sofia's POV
I am currently in the Village of Dunwiddy, my former home.
"All you have to do is to pour a part of this with four equal parts of water into a watering can, then you could all just water your crops just as always." I said to all of the village farmers while I hold the potion that Mr. Cedric had made in one hand and a watering can on the other. "And you should consume the already mixed water right away, or it'll deteriorate anything that you'll water it with if not finished within four hours. Understand everyone?"
"Yes, Princess Sofia." everyone said in unison as they discuss amongst themselves.
"You're really our hero, Princess." One of the older farmers approached me and shakes my hands in his.
"Yeah. Who knows what would've happen to us villagers if you and your family weren't around to help us unfortunate folks." Another farmer in his mid-twenties also came out of the crowd and gave a small bow with his hat off.
"It's no trouble at all. I-"
"IN COMING!"
I looked up to see whose were those voices that interrupted me. Sure enough, it's the girls I know best: Ruby and Jade who are two of my very best friends, and Lucinda the Goof Witch, all riding together on Lucinda's magical and improved broom. She had it enhanced some few years ago, better than before when it was still just a wooden broom. I almost had an accident with her broom when her apology got rejected by Jade the first time, and I tried to stop her from flying away but I ended up dangling on her broom's hair. I was almost too afraid to go on it again, but I managed to overcome my fear the second time I got to fly on it. I learned to trust it the more I visited Lucinda, and got to ride on it more often.
Everyone started backing up to make room for Lucinda to land the broom safely, but before her feet could touch the ground Ruby and Jade jumped off and landed on the ground, ran towards me and both of them lunged at me with high and tight hugs.
"Oh Sofia! You're back!" Ruby said.
"I can't believe you're back already! You should've told us that you were coming today." then Jade.
"Oh Jade. Ruby. It was just unexpected. I only knew that the potion for the crops would be ready by the time I finished school last night. I also have to get some other ingredients on the way back, too." I could feel my waist getting tighter, almost out of air when they finally let go of me.
"You girl just couldn't be any more patient, huh?" Lucinda was behind them, with a straight line instead of a smile.
"I'll apologize for their behavior, Lucinda." I said as I was about to curtsy.
"No need to. I already know how they are whenever it comes to you." Then she curtsied. "Welcome back, Princess Sofia of Enchancia."
"Sigh. I already...never mind."
I was about to tell Lucinda off about calling me 'Princess Sofia' when I realized that the crowd was still waiting for my further instructions. I stepped up a bit to get the crowd's full attention once more.
"I suggest that everyone starts helping out with crops and harvesting while I'm still around, then I'll be going around to see if everything's alright. I'll also be checking on the temporary clinic to see what's the current progresses on the sickness. That's it for today. You may all be dismissed."
Slowly, everyone starts to walk away from the circle, until only the five of us was left: Ruby, Jade, Lucinda, our castle horse Jamie, and myself.
"We're finally alone." I said. "You three really startled me when you appeared hovering over on the broom."
"Well, we couldn't help it." Jade shrugs.
"You know how it is whenever you don't show up, or when we get too bored to even know when you're free." Ruby just smiles innocently.
"I just tagged along since we were just together practicing on my potions again. It's still nice to see you, though. Sorry if I didn't get to see you yesterday."
"It's fine. I know that you're working just as hard to make a potion to help the village." I placed my hand on her shoulder. "Ooh! I almost forgot! Amber asked me to invite you guys to a Party she'll be holding this weekend. You all free?"
"What is it about?" Jade asked.
"Is it a Ball?" Ruby followed.
"Nope. It's a Tea Party, and all of the Princes and Princesses that attends Royal Prep will go to it, like a Get-Together party, before we all graduate into different classes. Interested?"
Amber calls it a Get-Together, but to me...it's more of a Farewell party. It's kind of depressing when you think about it, but it'll be the only time where you'll get to meet everyone in one place for one last time with the same familiar views of each other. Ironically, it'll still be held at the school's dance hall. So in reality, I'm not sure what to really call it at all.
"Uhg! Sorry, Sofia. We're both pretty busy this weekend. We're taking out the Buttercups on a hike to the Pepper Tree Forest." Jade apologizes.
"And the girls are really looking forward to it, too. They keep coming to my house every few hours asking me what should or shouldn't they bring to the hike. It's really important that we've prepared enough supplies on the trip just in case anything happens." Ruby scratches the back of her head.
The Buttercups, is a Scout troop for young girls. I was also a Buttercup before I became a Princess, and I graduated from it a few years later after becoming a Princess. Our Buttercup troops at the time consisted of only five of us: Ruby, Jade, Myself, and a pair of twins called Meg and Peg, and Ruby's mother, Mrs. Helen Hanshaw, Baileywick, were our Troop Leaders.
Ever since we graduated from our troop, everyone become Troop Leaders and formed their own little troops; Ruby and Jade made one team, and Meg and Peg made another. They are now in charge of 12 little Buttercups in each troop, and hopefully more will join and become excellent Buttercups. I was also offered to be a Leader at first, but I declined the offer as I know that I won't always have the time to arrange activities for the Buttercups along with my duties as a Princess. I've already got enough things to keep me busy, the only schedule missing for me...is to make free time for myself.
"Oh. Alright. Just make sure you both are safe during the hike. I'll just tell Amber that you'll both make it up on the next one. How about you, Lucinda? You available?"
"Mm...I'm not sure, actually. My parents were saying something about going somewhere this weekend, and that maybe I might need to tag along, too. Sorry, Sofia."
"It's alright. Don't worry about it. But I do hope that you'll come to at least one of our Parties sometime soon, Lucinda. You never seem to want to attend to them."
"I really do want to, but it's always coincidentally colliding with other unexpected things. And besides, I don't have a dress to wear."
"You don't have to worry about that. I could ask our Royal Dressmaker to make one for you. Amber always asks dresses to be done for Ruby and Jade, so it'll be no problem for you to get one, too. Just tell me in advance and we'll get your measurements."
"Oh, Okay. Thanks, Sofia. That's save me a lot of stress."
"Anytime." I said with a smile.
I turned to Jamie and got onto him.
"I'm going to go check on everyone. Wanna join me? No dress required." I grinned.
The girls giggled and joined me going around the village. Jade was with me on Jamie because Lucinda wanted to make sure that her broom didn't get another 'Jump' attack if ever Jade were and Ruby were to jump of from her broom again. We went around from farm to farm, and finally about to leave the last one to go to the temporary clinic.
"This is correctly done. Just wait for 2 or 3 days until the soil looks good." I said to the son of the farmer.
"Where next, Sofia?" Jade asked.
"This is the last farm in the village." Ruby said.
"The last place is the temporary clinic and the construction site. Hopefully things are going well over there." I said. "C'mon-"
"Hold on." Lucinda stood in her place holding up her hand indicating us to stop, while looking in a direction
Ruby and Jade looked at where she was looking, but didn't see anything different.
I was about to speak up when I noticed Lucinda's ears twitching a bit.
"...Lucinda..." I whispered.
"Something's coming...something big..." She said while holding her broom tightly in her other hand. "We've got to run...NOW!"
She quickly grabbed Ruby and they took off in the air with her broom. I got Jade and made her sit in the riders seat.
"What's going on? Shouldn't I be at the back?" Jade said.
"I don't know, but I trust Lucinda's instincts." I said as I strapped her feet tightly to the foot rests. "I'm going to make Jamie fly as fast as he can, and you might fall off if you were at the back."
I got on behind Jade and Jamie took off as fast as he could. I looked over my shoulder to see what was coming since we're off the ground. If this was a festival this would be greatly welcomed, but what was about to hit Dunwiddy was something I didn't want to happen so soon, not while the village was on its way to recovery. It was more than a storm, but a tornado, a tornado filled with what seemed like millions of rose petals, which causes the tornado to look like a giant red horn, cutting away everything in its path.
"Jamie! Fly as fast as you can towards Lucinda's place. It should be safer there." I ordered.
Before I could catch my breath, we were speeding in the air like lightning. Jade was holding onto Jamie's neck as if she was holding on to dear life.
As we arrived at Lucinda's place, we could Lucinda and Ruby already at the front door, while her mother was standing on the pavement. Jamie landed fast but graciously, and I quickly unstrapped Jade off.
"Go with Ruby. I need to see how to turn that tornado around." I said.
"But Sofia! You could get hurt!" Ruby tried to go to me, but was stopped by Lucinda.
"You and Jade stay in the basement. I'll go."
I looked at Lucinda, who had a bulky bag and had two wands in her hand. It seems she was all geared up for this.
"I'll come, too." Lucinda's mother spoke up. "I deal with mother nature very well."
Lucinda's mother was one of the most powerful magic user I've seen in all of Enchancia. Once, when James, Amber and I wanted to take mom to a picnic to celebrate Mother's Day, and when I tried to separate Mom and I from the others so that we could be together with a little magic help from Lucinda, her mother thought that Lucinda was trying to Hex us for fun that she also followed and tried to make the calm river into a raging river. She even made the isolated island, which was where we all had our picnic together with James and Amber, levitate into the air. It was such powerful magic that even Lucinda couldn't reverse its spell on her own.
"Alright, let's-"
"Hold on there, dear girl." Lucinda's mother stopped me as I was about to get onto Jamie. "Riding a Pegasus to stop a tornado isn't going to work."
"How come?"
"Because, my dear girl, that tornado will be filled with small dusts and dirt, and it could fly into the horse's eyes and blind him. I suggest you use this ride with Lucinda. Her broom is strong enough to with stand the strong air pressure." She stroked along the front of Jamie's face. "And I strongly suggest that you send this fellow back to the castle, with a note, to let your family know of the situation here."
She was right. I had to let Mom know about this so that she could contact Dad as soon as Jamie gets back home. I hastily scribbled a letter and tied it Jamie's reins.
"Please make sure you get home safe and as fast as your wings can get you to. Even if it means finding Clover instead. Understand, Jamie?"
"Of course, Princess. Just make sure YOU don't get hurt or it'll be my neck that you'll find rolling on the ground, after I get my face powdered and groomed all over." He cleans a bit off his wings.
Yes, I forgot to mention that Jamie's a bit...well...fashionable? The castle's staff noticed his peculiar behavior, but they didn't seem to mind, so as long as he doesn't cause any trouble.
"Alright, Jamie. I'll be careful. And! I'll make sure to bring you some juicy apples on the way back."
"You'd better!" Jamie says as he quickly takes off heading towards the castle.
I join Lucinda and her mother as we took off towards the edge of the village, where we first saw the tornado coming from the distance. When we reached there, it was still far, but it was still heading towards the village. Who knows when it'll change its speed.
"Lucinda, when I grow the trees over there, use the potion that you made that could make wood into cement. I'll try to grow the trees as tall as I can."
"Got it, Mom!" Lucinda said as her broom speed away towards the tornado.
I held onto the broom with my best grip, because I know that I could slip off at anytime as I do not know when Lucinda will change directions as I am not the one controlling the broom. The winds were starting to get louder and louder. I could see Lucinda's face making a painful expression. She finally stops, a few good distances between the edge of the village and tornado.
"Sofia! Do you know how to hang upside down on a Monkey-Bar?" She yelled.
"Yes! Why?"
"Do that on the broom! I need you to help me pour some of my failed-attempted potions onto the trees that'll rise up!" She showed me a bottle. "Use both of the extensions of my broom! I'll strap your legs and feet so that you won't fall!"
"Alrgiht! Just make sure not to make me bump into any trees!"
She giggled. I was serious about having my face getting hit by the trees, not knowing if there'll be leaves of poison ivy among them.
I swung myself backwards, using my legs to feel around the extensions I made sure that I was in a comfortable so that I wouldn't shift my legs. I could feel some ropes tying around my ankles and knees, with magic I guess since I don't feel any hands during the process. Once again, I'm dangling on the broom, with ropes this time.
"I gotta say though, this tornado looks very pretty when it's filled with all those petals instead of dusts, dirt and debris!" Lucinda made a comment as she handed me 2 bottle potions.
"Would've been nice to see during the Flower festival!" I shouted while trying to firmly grasp the bottles.
I looked at the bottles and noticed it wasn't closed with corks, but with some sort of soft paper.
"When I say so, drop them like a bomb every few feet apart! Got it?!"
"Yeah!"
We anxiously waited as we watched the beautiful, yet dangerous tornado coming closer inch by inch. As if an earthquake had struck, the trees below us started rising like arrows shooting through the sky. Lucinda took off flying straight.
"NOW!" She ordered.
I threw the first one immediately, then waited to pass by a few more trees when the first potion finally erupted in a huge wall of smoke. I was as the first few trees in that area, which were as tall as the highest mountain in the world, slowly turning color from ground up, from brown to gray, until it reached to the branches, and not sparring any of the leaves.
"SOFIA! WHAT CHA' WAITING FOR?!"
I was brought back to my senses as I immediately let go of the second bottle in my hand.
"SORRY! I WAS DISTRACTED BY THE TREES TURNING INTO CEMENT!"
"JUST TRY TO FOCUS FROM NOW!" She hands me some more of the bottles.
We kept on going like that, until I noticed the trail forming an arch, or a curve. If this wall will work and stay strong, maybe the tornado will bounce off from it. When we were at our last bottle, I threw it at the end of the curve. If I had opened the bottles' contents from the air, I might've cemented more trees than we needed. I wouldn't be harming any of the animals as they were long gone from there and went to look for better shelter. Animals had better sense of hearing than humans and knew in advance if there were incoming storms or strong winds.
"Alright! We're done!" I shouted.
"Yup! Hang on there, Sofia!" She said as we flew away from the wall. "I'll untie you when we reached the village."
I think that was a good idea, so in case anything happens to the wall, we could always go back to fix it.
"SNAP! SNAP"
I felt my left leg let loose from the broom.
"SNAP!"
And only my right ankle was left tied.
"AHH!" I screamed.
I tried to bring my left leg up to reached the other extension of the broom, but my legs had both become numb from being tied for too long and not enough blood had flowed back there, so both my legs were both dead for the moment.
"SOFIA! HOLD ON! GRAB MY HAND!"
I tried to reach her hand, but I wasn't within reach. I could slowly feel the rope breaking on my ankle. Lucinda grabbed my foot just as the rope finally broke loose. I was now dangling, holding onto the only hope left.
"HANG ON, SOFIA!"
I could feel the broom speeding away really fast, but I could feel myself slowly slipping off from her grip. Then, out of nowhere, a strong gust of wind blew into us, and I felt myself falling. Fast.
"SOFIA!"
