Hostage

Summary: Miss Nettle returns and takes Cedric hostage, using a mind control spell to get him to do her bidding. Sofia teams up with Vivian and Wormwood to rescue the sorcerer but runs into trouble along the way. *As suggested by TheOliviaOcti*

Disclaimer: I don't own "Sofia the First!"

A/N: Here's the next chapter! Thanks for all the positive feedback on the second/final chapter of "Blameless." I had a blast writing it! :D And I didn't realize so many people were able to guess the outcome (won't say it here so those who haven't read don't get spoilers). You're good. Hope you like this next part! It's Wormwood-heavy and also will focus on Miss Nettle's plan for Cedric.

Chapter 2: Following the Leader

"This is your idea?" Sofia asked the raven quietly as she, Vivian, and Wormwood stared at the flying coach outside.

He rolled his eyes. "Do you have any better ideas, princess?" he shot back. "Besides, as far as I know, you and the other princess have not yet grown wings—if I'm not mistaken, of course."

Sofia made a noise of slight annoyance. She'd forgotten how stubborn the bird could be when he wanted to be. "Oh, fine. But how are we supposed to find Mr. Cedric if we don't know where he went?"

"We're not going after Cedric just yet. There is another option you're not thinking of, Princess Sofia. Who could track down Cedric better than anyone?" Seeing her pause before lighting up, he rolled his eyes. "Besides you."

"Oh, well…" She grinned. "Mr. Goodwin?"

"Precisely. Now, on we go!"

Vivian tilted her head curiously. "Um, Sofia? Are you talking to a raven? Or…am I imagining things?"

Sofia giggled nervously as Wormwood's face grew stiff, realizing they'd been caught. "Um, yeah! I was just…well, sometimes it makes me feel better if I…talk to Wormwood." She smiled and stroked the raven's feathers to get him to calm down, and release his steel grip his talons had formed on her poor shoulder.

Wormwood hummed in slight appreciation before relaxing somewhat.

"Oh, okay." The dark-haired princess laughed. "You two just seemed to be in a conversation or something…"

"Eh, heh… Yeah." She looked toward Wormwood in slight worry, receiving a sigh and a shake of his head as a returned response. "Some help you are," she whispered pointedly as they clambered into the flying coach, which the young Enchancian princess would ultimately end up flying…again.

Meanwhile, in a small cottage in the woods just outside of Enchancia, Miss Nettle had settled in and placed her houseguest (for lack of a better word) in a chair for the time being. She hummed happily, using her wand to retrieve some needed supplies for her upcoming plans. "So tell me, Cedric darling," she began with a grin toward the dazed sorcerer. "You're going to follow my rules, right?"

"Yes, Miss Nettle," he agreed with a slight nod of his head. However, he showed no emotion.

The blonde woman frowned. "Oh, this won't do. As much as I enjoy you acting like a drone, I won't have you speaking as one. Be more enthusiastic!" She grinned and zapped him with her wand, watching him change from practically emotionless to rather animated.

"Oh, yes, Miss Nettle!" he responded once more, sounding more like Cedric but still not in complete control of himself. "I'll do as you command!"

"That's more like it." She cackled as Rosey glanced up at her with a roll of her eyes. "Oh, do cheer up, Rosey. And be polite: we have a guest!"

"You kidnapped him," the rose declared with a deadpan look.

"You say tomato…" The blonde fairy smirked and pointed her wand at Cedric, entrancing him a bit more with the energy flowing from the end. "Now, Cedric darling… I have a quest for you."

Cedric smiled hazily and nodded energetically. "How can I serve you, your evil fairy-ness?"

"Ugh," Rosey muttered, slapping her forehead with one of her leaves. "Please make it stop…"

"I need you to steal Sofia's amulet for me."

"That's it?" Cedric chuckled with a wave of his hand. "I can do that—no problem! It's not like I haven't attempted it before—" He paused with wide eyes, realizing what he'd just said. "Um, I mean…"

"Really?" the evil woman cooed with a menacing smile. "You don't say?" She flew over to him and tilted his head with her wand. "It looks like you may be more useful than I'd originally thought…" With a snap of her fingers, Cedric passed out. "Rosey, this is better than I could have hoped for!"

"What, you finally got a man to do your bidding?" The rose smirked when her owner looked at her pointedly. "Let's be honest! If you hadn't put him under a spell, he'd still be defying you."

"That's not the point, Rosey. I'll finally get what I want! That amulet can service me well!"

"And what are you going to do with the sorcerer when he's stolen Sofia's amulet? If he even does, considering he just said he's tried—obviously unsuccessfully."

"Well, naturally I'd have no use for him." She looked toward Cedric, who was currently sleeping while floating in midair, thanks to her spell. "I don't intend on losing this time, so we'll do with him what all fairies do with intruders."

"Drown them in pixie dust and toss them to the Lost Boys?" Rosey grinned when Miss Nettle paused and looked at her strangely. "What?"

"Wow. You sure are snappy and a little more evil than I am today." She laughed. "Truly, I kind of like your idea better than mine." She cackled again, that annoying shrill laughter that would cause a grown man to cry in agony.

"We're lost, aren't we?" Sofia asked hopelessly as she and Wormwood stood near a ledge overlooking a waterfall while Vivian stayed back, resting in the flying coach and waiting on them.

"We're not lost," the raven insisted as he huffed. "I just… I'm not quite certain turning left at the gaggle of geese was the correct choice."

"So we are lost," Sofia confirmed with a frustrated sigh. "Wormwood!"

"What?! I'm a raven, not a navigator. It's not my job to know how to get to Mystic Meadows!"

"Yes, but it was your idea to go there! Besides, I thought all birds had a good sense of direction." She plopped onto the ground and stared at their surroundings.

"Well, in case you haven't noticed, princess, I've been cooped up in Cedric's lai—I mean, workshop, for quite some time now. And the only place he takes me is to that blasted garden to gather berries."

"Why are you so angry?" Sofia asked with a frown. "We're trying to save our friend from an evil fairy. The last thing we should be doing is arguing."

Wormwood paused and sighed as he lowered himself to the ground. "I suppose you're right… Well, let's look at it this way. You've been to Mystic Meadows recently. Don't you remember how to get there?"

Sofia pondered for a few moments before turning and looking to her right. "I think…we passed over that lake over there." She lit up. "Yeah! And then it's not much farther after that!" She picked up Wormwood into a happy hug. "You're a genius, Wormwood!"

"I know, but…I…don't…do…hugs," he huffed as she released him. He shook out his feathers as Sofia giggled. "Haha, very funny, princess." He smirked. "Let's get a move on."

To be continued…

A/N: Don't ask me why, but I personally believe that if Sofia and Wormwood ever did get stuck having to team up together for whatever reason, they would probably bicker like this. :p He thinks she's annoying, and she just wants to be friends but won't tolerate rudeness. :D Oh, yeah. Wonderful match! Haha. I'm thinking of having a story with just these two later on, and it's probably going to be pretty hilarious. Oh, the possibilities! Lol :)

Till next time!

~AquaTurquoise