The Scepter of Darkness
Summary: Merlin seeks out Cedric to inform him of his research on the Scepter of Darkness, a deleterious version of Princess Elena's Scepter of Light. Amid their further investigation, the Enchancian and Avaloran groups are brought together once again to take on an entirely new enemy with far worse motives than that of the Defacto. (Sequel to "Crystallize")
Disclaimer: I do not own Elena of Avalor or Sofia the First.
A/N: Ooh, we're nearing the end of this story! :D The chapter title "Protectors" is a direct reference to Sofia's recently-acclaimed role in her own show's story, though I'm sure most have already picked up on that. ;) Enjoy!
*Story*
Chapter 7: Protectors
Sofia panted as she rushed up the stairs of the tower, heading directly to Cedric's workshop. Inwardly, she wished her friend would relocate to the bottom of the tower already. Seriously, it made for something of an inconvenience when she needed to get to him quickly! But she digressed…
She nearly tripped on the last few steps but managed to regain her balance before hurriedly pushing his door open, apparently frightening the guys since they all gasped and jumped. "Elena's in trouble!" she informed them as she caught her breath.
"What?" Mateo frowned. "What happened, Sofia?"
"It's The Enigma—er, Malvis. He challenged her, and she's facing off with him."
"She needs our help," Merlin told them before casting a meaningful glance toward Quilor, who simply nodded. "Let's go. Quickly!"
The group followed Sofia back down the tower stairs and outside, just in time to see Malvis holding up his Scepter of Darkness before shouting a command in his native language, sending a spiraling, powerful, negative energy blast toward Elena.
Thinking quickly, Mateo rushed forward and slammed his hand against his tamborita. "Pakal!" he commanded, creating a magical barrier around his princess and shielding her from Malvis's dangerous power. He grinned at the surprised look on Elena's face. "I promised your Abuela I'd protect you, right?"
Elena cast a grateful smile toward her friend. "Gracias, Mateo."
Quilor stepped closer to the scene before glancing back at the others. "I'll be the one to defeat Malvis. He's no longer savable anymore… He's not the same brother I once knew."
Sofia frowned, still wanting to dispute his reasoning. "Everyone can be saved, Mr. Quilor… I know you found it ironic coming from me earlier, since I had a hand in…d-destroying the Defacto, but…"
He frowned, sensing she still held tremendous guilt about that situation, and his outburst earlier had only made her feel worse. "Princess Sofia, I apologize for my words earlier. They aimed to hurt, and I am afraid I hurt you more than I realized. I am so sorry..." He sighed as she smiled gratefully at him.
Malvis cackled, getting everyone's attention. "Silly princess, did you not realize?" He gestured with his Scepter of Darkness, creating a hologram image of the Defacto. "These fools were not human. They were merely manifestations of myself! I figured someone as intelligent as you would have figured that out by now…" He smirked as Sofia seemed shocked. "Destroying those morons didn't matter one bit. What matters now is getting rid of the one issue holding me back." That said, he forced a new wave of dark energy toward Elena, shattering the protective barrier Mateo had created.
"Elena!" Mateo cried as she stumbled backwards, though he sighed in relief as she caught herself and did not fall. She looked unharmed as well, which settled his frayed nerves a bit.
"Stay still, Your Majesty!" Malvis taunted mockingly as he grinned and held his scepter aloft again.
Sofia's face grew rather determined as she launched forward and used her Enchantlet to cast a net over the wicked man, stopping him momentarily. She blinked when the net loosened itself from her Enchantlet and tied itself tightly around the sorcerer.
Malvis sneered at the girl. "What indignation for a young girl," he snarled. "Nuisance doesn't even begin to describe you."
She frowned and loosely clenched her fists. "I can save you," she declared earnestly. "Let me help you."
"Sofia, what are you doing?" Cedric asked in confusion. He wasn't quite sure why his apprentice always felt the need to interfere and save everyone, but considering the source…he wasn't necessarily surprised. If she hadn't saved him, for example, who knows what would have become of him?
"Leave her be, Cedric," Merlin insisted quietly. "I believe the girl knows just how to salvage whatever humanity is left in Malvis. Let her do what she does best, hmm?"
Malvis, meanwhile, just laughed in Sofia's face when she offered her assistance. "I don't need your help, you little brat. Besides, you're just a child. What good could you possibly do?"
"She can do wonderful things," Elena defended, Mateo standing next to her as her own method of defense if necessary. "She saved me."
"And me as well," Cedric added in as Malvis then turned his attention to him. "She's a wonderful girl with a heart of gold." He smiled at Sofia, who immediately returned the sentiment.
"And someone like Sofia is hard to come by," the Avaloran princess stated. "Turning away her help is one of the most ridiculous things you could do."
"I don't need a lecture!" Malvis snapped, eyes blazing. "Did it ever occur to any of you that I don't want to be saved?" He used his scepter to incinerate Sofia's net, thereby causing it to fall as ashes around him. "After all, Princess Elena's ancestors made it quite clear centuries ago that I'm not worthy of anything, even equal status to my own brother." He glared at Quilor, who balked at his words. "If anything, I'm worthy of staying exactly the same way I've been the last several centuries, causing chaos, because, to be quite frank, I'm very good at it." With that, he smirked and lifted up his Scepter of Darkness. "Aren't I, Quilor?" He then aimed the scepter at Elena, growling out his foreign command, striking her instantly.
Elena's eyes closed as she was hit, and she collapsed into Mateo's startled form. Her breathing slowed to a near halt, and her usual warmth was replaced with a very disturbing chill.
"E-Elena?" Mateo asked, shaking. "Elena!"
"Malvis, what have you done?!" Quilor turned with wide eyes toward his brother.
"Settled a score."
As Merlin knelt beside Elena to work to restore her energy by using one of his spells, Cedric quickly reacted and grabbed Mateo when he attempted to attack Malvis.
"Let me go, Mr. Cedric!"
"No!" Cedric snapped, his hands closing more tightly around the boy's arms so he wouldn't do anything irrational. "Attacking him certainly won't help you avenge Princess Elena. Don't act so recklessly."
"And what would you do if he attacked Sofia?" Mateo challenged. He noticed as Cedric casted a quick glance toward Sofia before looking back at him meaningfully. "Yeah, that's what I thought."
"Maybe I would react the same way, Mateo, but putting yourself in danger will not save your princess."
Mateo frowned and sighed, realizing the other magic wielder was likely right.
Quilor stepped closer to Sofia as the others were now gathered around Merlin, seeing if he could, indeed, help Elena. "Princess Sofia," he began respectfully, "I know you have little reason to trust me after my words earlier, but I implore you…I beg you, please help my brother. Please try once more, for the only way we can save Princess Elena now is to save my brother at the same time. Their scepters are connected, and the destruction of either one in his current state will kill her instantly."
Sofia took this all in and felt a chill go down her spine as she looked toward the other fallen princess. "She could die?"
"Yes… And to be quite honest, I'm not sure what you could possibly do to save my brother, but I know very well you've restored others' hearts before… All I ask is that you try to do the same for Malvis, because I want my brother back just as you want your friend back."
She looked toward the others, all of whom looked worried. Elena was still out cold and alarmingly still. Mateo appeared to be crying while Cedric kept his hold on him just in case, his face displaying a forlorn look. And for all his efforts, Merlin seemed rather dismayed at the fact that his magic did not appear to be working on the other princess. She frowned before looking up at Quilor. "I'll do it."
Malvis laughed darkly as the young girl approached him, her stance steady and protective, as a Protector should appear. "And what are you going to do, pipsqueak? Sing a song about how we should all get along?"
"Not this time, Malvis." She smirked as he grimaced at his name. She held her left hand to her amulet while holding out her right arm with the Enchantlet. "Amulet," she spoke softly, causing it to glow in response, "I'm not sure how to save Elena, but all I know is I've got to try. I also have to save Malvis, because everyone deserves a second chance, and destroying him would destroy Elena too… Please, help me save both of them."
The amulet reacted by streaming a bit of its magic outward, only to be absorbed by Sofia's Enchantlet.
Sofia gasped. "I get it…" With a flick of her wrist, she cast yet another net around Malvis, though this time the power from her amulet went with it and seemed embedded in every fiber of the net.
Malvis yelled in surprise as the net wrapped around him a second time. He fell to his knees and clutched his hands around his heart, the Scepter of Darkness falling to the ground and dissipating.
"What's going on?" Mateo asked as he finally tore his eyes from Elena and saw just what seemed to be occurring with Malvis and Sofia.
Cedric smiled knowingly. "I knew she'd figure something out."
Malvis became silent soon after, his sinister energy vanishing and his features calm and peaceful for the first time in centuries. He opened his eyes, their light shade shimmering in wonder as he stood and the net faded away. He turned toward Sofia, who lowered both hands to her amulet now. And for the first time in what seemed like forever, he smiled genuinely. "Princess Sofia, allow me to properly introduce myself." He bowed respectfully as Sofia and Quilor stood watching in surprise. "My name is Bonvis of Aeris Plena."
To be continued…
(A/N 2: A little trivia for you. "Malvis" literally translates to "Bad Energy." Therefore, I'm pretty sure you all can guess what "Bonvis" translates to! ;) )
