"Oh No... Oh no no no! This is not good! How can I be... Ten?!" Cedric yelled frantically as he looked himself over in his now too big clothes. His mind racing, trying to figure out what went wrong. 'I added everything perfectly... I measured it all twice! I even made sure I added...' Then it hit him. He never added the last drop that he needed! Sofia barging in with that plaque distracted him! Oh he is going to let her have a piece of his mind now. "SOFIA!"
The young princess lookd at him with bright eyes, and a smile grew on her face. "Oh Mr. Ceedric! You're a kid again! We can go play! You can go to school with me!" She let out a small gasp "You can request the room next to mine! We can have slumber parties, and tells stories and stay up late..." In her excitement she ran over to the, now young, Sorcerer, wrapping him in a loving hug.
Getting a hug from Sofia now that hes more her size is a new feeling for him. Her body pressed against against his, arms wrapped around his torso keeping him close, her head resting on his shoulder. Sure he was use to the young girls hugs... Around his legs, or occassionally his neck when he would get down to her level; but this is, he could feel her love for him as she squeezed him tighter. He tried to open his mouth to chastise her for his potion going wrong, but he just couldnt find it in him to do so. This hug just felt to... warm. Cedric decided to just let it go and wrap his arms around her.
'This isn't so bad,' he thought to himself, 'maybe a few hours as a child won't hurt.'
"Come! Lets go tell mother and father! Baileywick and the others can move your stuff to the room next to mine! Amber can help you get a new wardrobe! ("Oh no! Princess I can get my own clothes!" Cedric pleaded with her), I doubt you have any of your ten year old clothes." Sofia says with a chuckle as shes dragging him through the castle to the court room where her mother and father are. Finally they bust through the doors, startling her parents.
"Mom! Dad!" She says, excitement pouring from her voice as she pulled a young boy behind her.
"Oh. Sofia. What a lovely surprise. Who's your friend? I don't recall the carrages bringing anyone by." Her mother, Queen Miranda, inquired. King Roland simply sat there and watched, since the queen already said what he was going to ask.
Sofia giggled, "Mother, father, this is Cedric the Sorcerer! One of his potions must've not sat long enough because he's now his ten year old self again! Can he, please, have the room next to mine for as long as he's a kid? Please? He can go to school with me tomorrow! I can keep an eye on him! I promise!" Sofia was pleading with her parents. She really hoped they'd agree to it. She was responsible for her age after all.
Queen Miranda and King Roland looked at each other. "This is... Cedric?" King Roland asked skeptically.
"Yes, your majesty it is I, Cedric the Sensational!" Cedric said straightening up. Almost making his clothes fall off but luckily he caught them in time. "Sir, may I ask you... sen for my f-father...? He would know what to do in this... predictament."
"Of coarse Cedric, but are you sure?" Queen Miranda said. Usually he tries to avoid his father at all costs.
"I don't think your daughter will let me go long enough to look for a reversal ma'am." He said looking at the young girl clinging to his arm.
This caused the royals to laugh. "Yes I suppose you're right, she does like you very much. We'll send for your father first thing in the morning. You may take the room next to Sofia's-" A loud squeel was heard as the princess couldnt contain her joy, "We'll have Baileywick get you some... size appropriate clothes. Until then, please Cedric go enjoy yourself. You are a kid again. Can't make a child work in the palace." King Roland said smiling. Sofia was so happy by now she was jumping up and down slightly, still holding onto Cedric's arm, causing him to wiggle.
"Sofia, honey? May I have a word?" The queen asked. Sofia ran over, surprisingly leaving her sorcerer behind. "Make sure Cedric has fun. Maybe it'll lighten his mood a little when he gets to be an adult again. Can you do that please?" She asked her daughter with a hopeful look.
"Of coarse mom! I'll make sure he has the best time ever!" With that she hugged her mom, went to grab Cedric, and ran off to take him to his new, temporary, room.
King Roland looked to his wife with a worried look. "Do you think we can trust him? Even as a child he is still Cedric."
"Exactly, my dear, he IS still Cedric, and he would never do anything to hurt or sadden Sofia, if you haven't noticed. I actually kind hope he stays this age. Sofia would be so good for him" She said with a smile, thinking about all the things her daughter could be draggig him around to do.
Roland looked at his wife in defeat, "I guess you're right, but a child Cedric maybe too much for me to handle" Together he and Queen Miranda laughed at Roland's light hearted joke.
"See Mr. Ceedric? This will be your room! And this door right here," She let go and ran to a door across from his bed, "leads to my room! We can see each other no matter what time it is!" The young princess gigled and couldnt remove the smile from her face. Cedric had a look around. Everythig was so... Bright. He was not use to this.
'It doesn't matter, it'll all be over with soon' he thought. Then something happened that he wast use to... he felt... Well... He didn't REALLY want it to be over soon. Sure Princess Sofia would keep him company as a Sorcerer, but now... he could play... and have a... friend. He looked over at Sofia who was animatedly showing him his closet and the clothes Baileywick had put in them.
"... Oh look Mr. Ceedric! He found an outfit identical to your usual one!" She took it out ad handed it to Cedric, blush creeping up her cheeks as she finally realized how much of his body she could see. "You should probably go change Mr. Ceedric, I'll go in my room. Come in when you are done and we'll go see the flying horses!" She left, and all that could be heard was Cedric's unsteady breathing.
Cedric took off his clothes and started getting dressed into ones that fit. "How did that Baileywick get these clothes here so fast? And in this size? Do they have one of EVERYTHIG in this castle?" Cedric said perplexed by how quick Baileywick is. As he's pulling on his pants he begins to think about what Sofia told her parents 'the potion must have not sat long enough'... Not that he didnt do it right or something went wrong, but that it just happened. In castle full of people to point out faults and imperfections this young princess (and her mother if truth be told) choose to only see the good. "I wish I had a friend like that growing up," Cedric mumbled, "maybe then I wouldn't have self esteem issues." He pulls on his jacket, and puts on his gloves (They make these in kid sizes?! Where were they when I was this age before?!), and walks over to the door connecting his room to Sofia's. He raised his hand to knock, when he he Sofia talking on the other side. 'Who is she talking to? And what is she saying?' Cedric thought. So he slowly turned the knob and opened the door ever so slowly. That way he could hear without her knowing.
"Oh Clover! I couldn't be happier that the potion didn't sit long enough! My Sorcerer is my age! It's so nice to be able to give him better childhood memories! Even if it is for just a little while... And the hug I gave him... It felt nice to be around the same height to give him a proper hug! Clover I hope his father can't find a cure! And he has to stay this way!" Sofia was telling her rabbit friend, assumabley named Clover. Then just above a whisper, Cedric heard this, "That way I can grow up with my best friend." Cedric felt new... Warm... Happy... His stomach was doing flips.
'What is this child doing to me?' He thought. Brushing his weird feelings aside he knocked on her door.
"Come in!" Chimed her happy melodious voice. Cedric opened the door fully and walked in.
"Oh my Mr. Cedric, you look dashing!" Sofia teased him with a smile. "Let's go see the horses, maybe we can get you one too!"
A flying horse? For him? This should prove interesting.
