Princess Sofia,

Your letter has brought to our attention the significance of this upcoming event. You are correct that this is certainly something we would not want to miss. We will make every arrangement to be present for our daughter's big day. Thank you for your concern.

The letter was short, scrawled in seamless calligraphy and Sofia treasured every word. She had really made something great happen for her friend. Melody would be thrilled to see her parents supporting her as she moved to the next level of her schooling. Sofia tucked the letter away as she hurried into the assembly hall where decorations were already almost finished as Melody watched in a mix of awe and mild terror.

"Melody! Are you ready for the big day?" Sofia waved running to her side.

"Nope, not at all. I'm going to be sick." Melody replied her voice a bit shrill from the nerves. She took a deep breath trying to calm down. "Ahhh sorry Sofia, I'm really excited to be doing this, but… you know it's just a lot of attention. I'm not a 'spotlight' kind of fairy."

"With your face I wouldn't be either." The voice came from behind the Princess and fairy as both turned around to see a rather annoyed Azure, her hands on her hips, glaring up at the taller form of Melody as if Melody had just ruined her dress. "Honestly, I'm surprised you passed four tests, but not shocked they had to bend the rules to get you to this level." She scoffed. "What they didn't want to tempt fate to test you a fifth time?"

"Hello Azure. It's nice to see you too." Melody's forced smile looked more like a grimace. "Glad you're so supportive. You know, I would have taken a fifth test-"

"Save it." Azure held up her hand. "It figures they would want to pass a cute little bumpkin like yourself with no outstanding power. It gives other, lesser fairies something to aspire toward. In a way, you're an inspiration, a role model- not on the same level as me. but still you should be proud. Just because I can't think of any fairy worse than you doesn't mean their not out there! And they are definitely inspired." Azure could not pass up a chance to make her opinion known. "But honestly I just feel sorry for your poor Princess, having to live with an under qualified fairy."

"I am getting the best future Fairy Godmother!" Sofia insisted rather loudly. Azure brought out a rarely seen defensive side of Sofia. "You really shouldn't be so mean to Melody! She's great at magic! And she's a great friend!"

"Well," Azure smiled at Sofia her golden hair framing her face in an almost ethereal image of beauty. But even her soft appearance could not make her expression any less condescending. "You like her Princess, and in the end that's all that really matters. If you like mediocrity you are going to love the next few years. It's going to be a perfectly underwhelming ride" Azure turned to leave and Sofia noticed Melody sticking her tongue out as the golden haired fairy left.

"You really need to stand up to her." Sofia insisted. "She is so mean to you!"

"Eh, she's aggravating but it's not worth the trouble." Melody shrugged it off. "Oh! Princess! I should make you a special dress for the ceremony. Would you want it to still be purple?" She was changing the subject but Sofia let it slide.

"Yes please!"

"Bippidi Boppidi Boo, may all my Princess's dreams and wishes come true~" Melody waved her wand as glittering silver dust showered over her gown. Her dress lit up. As the light faded, her normal dress had been replaced by a lavish lavender gown with embroidered flowers of shimmering white threads each adorned with glistening amethysts. The gown was as soft as silk and flowed elegantly as she walked. Sofia gasped covering her mouth with her hands.

"It's beautiful!" She quickly gave Melody a hug. "I love it!"

"I'm glad. I would really not like to give you regrets this late in the game." She laughed nervously, people were already starting to file in for the ceremony, other fairies and princes and princesses were starting to take their seats and Sofia could see Melody look almost green.

"I will never, ever regret this choice." Sofia promised her patting her hand. "Please try to relax." Melody nodded, swallowing hard. "I'm going to be right up front! So you can just look to me if you get too worried okay?"

"Y… yes Princess…" She finally smiled. "Thank you." She knelt down giving Sofia a tight embrace. "You really are the best…" She took another breath as she stood. "I better see what needs to be done before this starts. I… I'll see you soon."

As Melody left Sofia was joined by her own family. Amber gasped as she saw the gown. "Sofia you absolutely MUST see if Melody can make one of those in a dandelion gold. That is absolutely beautiful." Sofia smiled.

"I'm so glad you like it Amber! It will mean a lot to Melody!"

"Well… I'll admit, I was wrong about her. She has some good taste."

"And she's an awesome fighter!" James piped up. "Do you think she'll teach me some of that defensive magic? I want to know how to make shields!"

"I'm not sure she'll have time for that." Sofia's father laughed. "She's supposed to be joining us to better learn how to be a Fairy Godmother. If you are interested in that sort of magic, you should ask Cedric to teach you."

"I… I'd rather not." James made a face. As they went to sit Sofia stopped them.

"Wait! Sit on this side of me. I'm leaving these two seats empty. I invited Melody's parents to sit with us for the ceremony!"

"Oh Sofia, what a wonderful idea!" Her mother ushered the family all onto Sofia's right side leaving two vacant seats on her left. "Melody said she lives far, they must be coming quite a long way to get here. Are they flying?"

"Not sure…" Sofia admitted. "But they said they would be here so I want to make sure they get good seats up front!"

"Of course, I'd want the same thing if this were your graduation." The King agreed. "It's very thoughtful of you, Sofia. I'm proud."

"Thanks!" Sofia looked around, it was getting even more crowded. "Is Mister Cedric coming?" She had invited him.

"He is, he just needed to look something up before he came." Her mother shook her head dismissively. "I just hope he's not too late."

"Sofia!" The Princess heard a cheery voice from the front of the auditorium. She saw Fairy Brittany waving excitedly. "Isn't this great!? I haven't been this excited since my own Advancement Ceremony." Brittany's eyes were sparkling with joy. She noticed the empty seats beside the Princess. "Oooo! Who's sitting there?"

"Melody's parents!"

"They're coming!? That's GREAT! They missed her first graduation and she was so upset. I really wanted to meet them too, Melody is like my best friend."

"I sent them a letter telling them how much this meant to her and they said they would definitely be here. I haven't told Melody yet, I wanted it to be a surprise! I got Mal to deliver the letter for me and they wrote right back!"

"You actually got Mal to help you?" Brittany sounded surprised. "You are something special." Brittany looked up as bells started to ring. "Ahhh it's starting, I'll be back at the meet and greet at the end. I've got a part to play!"

As the Ceremony started, there was still no sign of Cedric or of Melody's parents. Sofia was getting concerned, perhaps they had gotten lost on their way to find the school. She could see Melody up front, taking the Fairy Oath. All the Fairies in their red uniforms were on the left, the graduates in their blue stood on the right. Fairy Godmother, the Three Good Fairies, and the Blue Fairy were in the center, each discussing how special Melody was as a student.

As Fairy Godmother raised the wand to turn the uniform from red to blue, there was a loud crash as the doors to the auditorium flew open. The candles that lined the walls suddenly flickered the flames turning from gold to a devilish green. Two tall, recognizable silhouettes glided through the door as if they owned the school.

A dead silence had fallen over the room and Sofia thought she heard someone scream. The guards were on their feet at once, and her father had stood to position himself protectively before his wife and kids. The figures continued forward, unabashed. As Sofia saw the faces, her blood monetarily went cold. A woman with angular green features dressed in sweeping black robes, a man with a curling goatee, a large ornate serpent staff, eyes that flashed red, and a toothy grimace

"Maleficent… Jafar…" Flora's voice shook with anger. "What are you doing here."

"We were invited." Maleficent's voice was powerful, booming. It filled the whole room and the Princess thought she felt it get slightly colder just from her speaking.

"We made no such invitation." The good fairies were glaring, wands raised.

"Not by you, but by our dear Princess Sofia~" It was Jafar who spoke this time, his voice was soft, deep, far more slimy than that of the woman beside him.

"What do you-" Flora was unable to finish because just then Melody spoke.

"Mom! Dad! You made it!" She ran forward, past the guards and in a sweeping motion Maleficent had taken her into a hug. She hugged Jafar next before looking back to the three good fairies. "I thought you said they couldn't come. You changed your minds?"

"We most certainly did not." Meriwether looked ready to attack.

The doors opened again and instantly all weapons were pointed toward them. "I remember where I saw her before it was at Sorcer-" Cedric cut off realizing everyone was staring and that this joyous ceremony had suddenly gained to villainous guests. He cleared his throat slinking toward the back. "N-nevermind I see it's not important."