Very Merry Scary Birthday

Moving on.

xxx

As much as the animal friends love to party, they love to eat even more. Crackle, Praline, Freedo and Rex, along with Sofia's animals were smothering themselves in cupcakes, mashed potatoes, chicken, turkey, ham, a variety of veggies and fruit, and a lot of water to wash it all down. Ginger even came down to have some blueberries. She doesn't know why she ever turned these down. They are delicious. And they make her whistling sound superb. Not even Wormwood is above spending time with the irritating Princess Pets in order to get some of the lovely horderves provided to Lydia's birthday bash. The olives were to die for. And, yeah, the music wasn't bad either. But, back to the food, they hit the motherload.

"Crackle! Stop hogging all the corn cobs!" Praline whined.

"I can't help it! They taste amazing toasted!" The little blue dragon lifted four of them on sticks, popping the kernels with a quick breath.

"I agree there!" Clover poured melted butter on them. "They taste even better with this stuff on it! Try it!" He passed it around, returning to the ten he had on the side for himself.

"Ugh…" Wormwood sneered at the very unimpressive snack, but wasn't going to complain. Seeing as how Cedric wasn't planning on feeding him. Too busy trying to get some alone time with his favorite sorceress. Honestly, in his humble opinion, Cedric can do better. Maybe. "Someone remind me why I came here again?"

"Free food?" Mia shrugged. She read his mind. Wormwood rolled his eyes. He won't let her have the satisfaction of knowing his stomach wasn't going to turn away to good smelling corn. He was about to start pecking at one when Whatnaught swooped in and stole it right from under his beak. The nutty squirrel laughed at him. Wormwood would get even. He was sort of pacified when Minimus strolled in with extra corn for the hungry raven. A timid horse with a heart of gold, that one is.

"Hey, guys," Robin came in the nick of time. Wormwood would about to have Squirrel innards on his corn. That's if Serena didn't eat him first. "This is going to sound odd, but the guards and knights are sleeping!"

"Sleeping?!" Freedo and Rex blurted.

"Why in the March Hare's ragged tail are they sleepin'?" Ginger questioned.

"That's what I'd like to know." Robin moaned. Something wasn't right.

Then there was this flash of light close by, followed by a pained wail. The animals jumped out of their fur, feathers, and scales, bunching together in a cluster. All went silent for what felt like several minutes. Nothing in the dark woods stirred. Only the party in the distance was able to be heard amid the eerie silence. Neither animal dared to speak or breathe, fearing whatever that was would find them and hurt them. Then as they were peeling away from one another, this sickeningly familiar cackle echoed in the woods. Clover, Mia, Robin, Crackle, and Minimus would never forget that laugh. The group went to investigate, coaxing the other animals to follow. They had to be sure. Because if it was who they think it is, then Lydia's party has an unwanted guest.

Freedo, Serena, Rex, Crackle, and Minimus took the lead, safeguarding their less than combative friends. The person who laughed was growing closer. They could actually hear him talking and mocking someone. And the closer his voice drew, the more Serena and Clover's stomach started to bring up what they just ate. Minimus and Freedo broke the bushes apart, Rex slipped himself through, growling venomously. As the rest of the animals peered through, horror simultaneously ripped the color from their furry and scaly faces, a frigid air turning their blood to ice. In their frozen open eyes was an ethereal blue light. Immersed in that light was none other than Boswell. Clover and Serena felt their blood boil. Their abductor was right in front of them. But something was different. That power wafting off of him...where was that coming from? Boswell doesn't have powers. He's a parlor magician and a con artist who operates out of a wagon. That would have to wait. Sheer terror gripped the animals at the sight of a man downed in front of him, this strange power fused inside his body, trapping him at Boswell's mercy. Beside that man was Eezeyal.

"What the heck is going on?!" Crackle whispered.

"I don't know…" Wormwood stalked backwards, "But we must warn the others!" Wormwood isn't unfamiliar with this magician. If he's here...and he has that sort of power seeping from every pore of his body, they need to get to their owners and warn them. FAST! "Hurry!" He and the others birds, including Minimus and Crackle, took off like shooting stars. The land animals ran as fast as they could. No, they didn't want to leave the man or Eezeyal, but they were all certain there was nothing they could do for them. Not without help.

A wall of blue fire dashed in their path, cutting their escape at the tree line. It was too hot to jump through, and too high to fly over. The animals scrambled to find another way through. Going around it maybe? Rex and Clover tried to dig. Freedo thought he can climb the trees to freedom. It was too late. Boswell had caught up to them, laughing malevolently at the menagerie of Royal Pets he has bagged. "Well, well, well, what do we have here?" He crooned menacingly. "If it isn't Mr. Cuddles and his saviors." Clover and those named growled at him, getting on their haunches to attack. Crackle stood between him and Boswell. No way he was getting to her Clover a second time. "And if it isn't the other bird that has caused me so much trouble." He spat at Serena. The Hawk flared her feathers, daring him to come near her. "A shame we're meeting again when I don't require any animals for my show." Boswell pinched the brim of his hat, giving it a little tilt. These lines slithered from his scalp, tracing in nearly perfect angles like glyphs. His teeth showing in that evil smile were swallowed in that same glow. "Perhaps you can serve as the opening act." He flared his fingers open. A ball of flames ignited. The animals retreated, but didn't get far with that fire wall behind them. In a panic, and hoping she was firing proof, Minimus struck Crackle with a back hoof, shooting her through the wall. "We can call this portion of the show," Boswell meandered closer, lifting the flames to highlight his madness, "The End of House Enchancia!" A flurry of flames was unleashed, and all went black for the animals.

xxx

"HAPPY BIRTHDAY, LYDIA!" Everyone cheered.

Lydia took in a huge breath and blew out her candles, and pieces of her ceiling to floor cake were passed around. Neapolitan cake with vanilla icing decorated with icing blue bells. At the top of the cake were crossed scepters with a crown on top. Roland's idea, no doubt, to maintain the theme of Lydia's party. Ultimately, though, Lydia was the one thanked. She picked out a good flavor combination, and Chef Andre turned it into a Masterpiece as usual. And whatever it left can be enjoyed by the servants and townsfolk. That is if he and everyone else didn't keel over from a sugar rush.

Now enough about the cake! It was time for the presents, and Amber was already the first in line to give Lydia hers. While she will pretend to be stunned by what's in this tiny box, Lydia has a strong sense - by the rattling inside - that it was a...yep! She opened the box, and Amber had gotten her a Tiara. All the diligence she put into finding the right outfit for her and she stops her creativity at a tiara. Not that Lydia is scoffing at it. It was a good looking tiara. Elven in craft with an emerald in the center. Not bad at all.

James was sure he could top it. To be honest, he sort of did. In honor of his and Lydia's paintball and glue ball wars, James got her a miniature cannon set so they can take their war outside the castle. And seeing as there were six cannons, the game can be big. Those two can't wait to break it in. Neither can Zandar or Adelea. The next few days were going to be wild. Baileywick and Miles will be on standby.

Next was Sofia and Miranda. They put their expert sewing skills, supreme mastery of the needle and thread, to the ultimate test. They made Lydia a crest for her new outfit. A medallion yellow sun crest meant to be sewn to the back of the robe. In the center of the sun was the gaelic symbol for Rise. When Lydia asked what they meant by that, Miranda explained that it would empower Lydia to rise above herself, others, and whatever trials try to knock her down. It was working.

Jade and Ruby got her a copy of a portrait they all took years ago when Lydia was babysitting them. It was of her, Jade, Ruby, and Sofia being hugged by questionable sorts from a place called the Cuddly Koala. It was the best day ever because five year olds Jade, Ruby, and Sofia wanted to go to this new park that opened up but no one was able to take them. Not only did Lydia come home from school, she took them to this park and it was cool. The rides, the petting zoos, the food - but the best part was that they got caught in the rain and ducked into this tavern that was nearby with the scariest people inside. Turns out they were scary looking musicians and entertained the girls. They had this portrait painted to commemorate the day.

Tilly kind of outdid everyone by giving Lydia her own bottomless satchel. Why did that outdo everyone? Because the bag already came with some goodies. Three of her pies - guaranteed not to go bad while in the bag, a miniature aquarium with sea monkeys, and glazed flower resembling the one that gave Princess Rapunzel her powers. Lydia was half expecting a genie to come flying out. Not sure if she has the energy for another musical number.

Vivian, Hugo, Axel, Adelea - all the friends Lydia made in these short few months lined up to give her gifts. Chris gave her a knight's helmet with an oath engraved on the back. For life, liberty, and family. Adelea got a small bed for her to give to Eezeyal. Velvety soft, and immune to birds with sharp claws. Serena sure appreciates hers. Zandar and Zaheer made her an Arabian Prince outfit all in turquoise. Vivian gave her her own Mandolin, while Cecily and Marcus got her a little wand holster. The Fairies, Goodwin, and Winifred stayed practical and got her reference guides, new testament spells, and a wizard's hat. Hugo didn't really dig deep. He got Lydia a Flying Derby Scarf. Axel got her the same thing. She appreciated it nonetheless. They're good looking scarves. Irene got her something from both her and Garrick. Believe it or not, it was Shea Butter lotion. Irene and Lydia had a small laugh at their inside joke. Pamela and Garrick got her a portrait of Frezenberg, Hildegard a portrait of her, and Astrid a portrait of her and Lydia covered in dirt at the stables. Now that was an inside joke. Desmond got her a book on plants. Lucinda and Marla wanted to be funny and got her a book on why witches are better. Lydia will throw it at them later. Junjie got her decorative swords for her room, Ahlii made a map of the stars. Gwen got her a cookbook, Alauna a medical book, Merr a book on proper health. Clio gave her one of her stylish hats from her collection. She then got a mysterious gift with no sender on it. She opened it to find a red tunic with the Brazendale sigil on it. A note was attached that read, The academy was fun. Can't wait for our rematch. Lydia blushed and quickly hid the gift away. She didn't need a name to know who sent it. Stupid Jaxon! She denied all questions. Especially the ones coming from Roland and Adelea. And she tried to ignore Cedric's sneer at her red face. She will not tell him the story behind that.

Speaking of Cedric, it was his turn to give a gift. He's not really the gift giver type. Especially when the perfect gift was used in her crowning. But...he's sure he found something that can match the chakra crest. A conchshell. Yes, yes, everyone looked at it strangely. Why, with all the amazing gifts, would he present the Crowned Princess with a shell? And why was she laughing so hard? Seriously. Lydia was busting a gut. Cedric with her. She accepted that shell, hugging it to her chest. Everyone kept asking the same question as to what was so funny. The two were laughing too hard to explain, just that it was long story with a few hidden jokes.

"In spite of sea monster attacks," She winked at Cedric, getting him to blush, "And the mermaids trying to sink our floating palace," She hugged the conch shell close to her heart, "That really was a great summer."

"It truly was." Cedric came to her side, placing a hand to the small of her back. He noticed she tensed at the touch, a small blush rising to her cheeks. "And I got to experience your true powers. They are phenomenal." He is, of course, referring to her lightning strike that sent him flying.

"Uh-huh…" She laughed very nervously. "Let's just hope you never get to see me when I'm unhinged." She quickly escaped him, hiding a deep shame from him. Really. She doesn't ever want him to see her when she loses control. Cedric ogled her strangely. He's known she's an inheritor longer than anyone else. Save for her mother. His shoulders sank slightly. You believe I'd run from you?

Lydia put her gifts on the far end of the banquet table, putting a cloth over them so they wouldn't get damaged. A warmth in her heart prickled her skin, kind of bringing tears to her eyes. This pile of gifts, all of these people, the food, the energy, the vibe - in this one spot are the people that have expressed their respect, admiration, and mixed feelings for Lydia. She didn't think anyone outside her family - Miranda and Sofia - would celebrate another year she's been on this earth. To think, not so long ago, she felt really alone. No one would care about her if she disappeared. How wrong she'd been. Maybe they do care.And maybe Cedric won't run away. A hand to her skin scared her.

"Having fun yet?" Roland playfully asked, sliding a hand to her shoulder.

"I don't think I stopped since the entrance." She giggled. Roland hugged her tightly, planting a kiss on her forehead. "Thank you for everything, Dad."

"You don't have to thank me." He ran a hand down her back. "I'd do it all again in a heartbeat." He swore. Lydia snuck a kiss to his cheek, then she returned to her friends and the party. Roland watched her in pride as she immersed herself in the fun. That brilliant smile on her face as vibrant as the stars that night.

The party was gradually dying down, a handful of the guests were starting to leave. They had a long journey. The ones still lingering around were Adelea, Chris, Jade, Ruby, and Lucinda and Marla. They helped Alauna and Gwen clean up. The Fairies, Winifred, and Goodwin hung out to keep an eye on Cedric. He was acting a little around Lydia. A good funny. The Royals still around were the families from Weiling, Khaldune, Frezenberg, Zumaria, and Albuquerque. Desmond and Zandar wanted to stick around, but their parents were pooped. Lydia gave Desmond a huge hug, asking that he keep this new non-sheepish side of him. As for Zaheer, he kissed the top of her hand and hoped to see her again. She looked forward to it. If what Zandar said about his brother is true, Zaheer knows how to have crazy adventures. Clio was going to spend the night with Hildegard. Dr. Merr was the next one to leave, and the clean up truly began.

Marla astonished herself, and Lucinda when she tried to lift a bag of heavy trash. "Here, let me help." Lydia rushed in, helping her get the load onto the back of a wagon.

"Oh...um...thank...you…" Her face scrunched at the pleasantry. She's never said thank you before. Didn't even realize she knew the words. It was weird for her.

"No problem." Lydia beamed. She was happy to help her. Marla isn't a bad woman. A bad witch, yes.

"WHOA! What was that?!" James gasped. Everyone turned to see what was wrong. He was gawking at the forest, pointing and bouncing at it. The crowd gathered around, their brows furrowing at the blackness. What exactly is it that James was having them look at? Before anyone could ask or say he's playing tricks, they saw a big flash of light inside the forest. A flicker of what looked like flames broke the forest top. Gasps caught between fright and awe echoed in the crowd. The kids were sure impressed. Cedric, Lydia, Adelea, and the other wand wavers sneered maliciously at the strange flurry of light. Those tingles they all felt running up their arms, making the hairs stand on end, raised an armada of red flags. "Lydia, why didn't you tell us you had a show hiding in the forest?" James, Hugo, and Chris started walking towards it.

Lydia latched a hand to James and Hugo while Adelea grabbed her brother. "Because I didn't!" She snarled. James and the boys paled, the adults suddenly felt uneasy. None of them arranged what they just saw either. And they're sure none of the guests that left would have arranged it without a word. That meant one of two things: A troublemaker in the woods, or an unwelcomed guest. Likely a combination of the two. Either way, it was time for the guests to leave. Lydia nodded to Roland and he nodded back.

"Everyone, if I could have your attention, please!" He clapped, beckoning their full attention to him. "I would like to thank you all for coming, but am sorry to say that it is time to return to the castle!" No one gave too much a fuss at his announcement, just like not too many noticed The Sorcerers, Witches, and Fairies drawing their wands. Marla shook her head at Lucinda, forbidding her from acting. "Constable Miles, Baileywick," The pair walked on scene, "Would you please gather the guards and knights and return our guests home?"

"Yes, Your Majesty." The two replied.

"Crackle, come on! We're leaving!" Vivian called to the woods. No one answered. "Crackle?!"

"Praline!" Amber called next. "Ginger, where are you?"

"Rex, Freedo," James whistled, "C'mere, boys!"

"Clover, Mia, Robin, Whatnaught, Minimus, we're going home!" Sofia warned them.

"Eezeyal! Ubos! Come on, guys!" Lydia was getting a really bad feeling.

"Serena!" Adelea was too.

"Wormy! The party is over, where are you?" Cedric snarled. This was getting bad. The crowds lingered with their kids, all of them wondering where the pets ran off to.

"Where are they?" Miranda whispered.

"I don't know." Roland shook his head. "Maybe the guards can find them once we get everyone back home."

"Good idea." Miranda clapped her hands softly to the kids. "Listen, Children, I promise your pets will be returned, but we need to get you back to the castle." Naturally the kids moaned in reluctance. They can't leave their pets behind. What if something happened to them? "I promise they are fine."

"VIIIVIIIAAANNN…!" What sounded like a strained, shrill roar to everyone else was a desperate shriek for help to Adelea, Lydia, and Sofia. Heads were turned. This blue, smokey blur tore through the crowd, tiny wings flapping at the speed of lightning. Vivian was rammed right in the stomach, flown onto her back. The wind was knocked out of her, but she quickly regained it when she saw a charred Crackle wrestling on top of her. "VIVIAN! VIVIAN! YOU GOTTA RUN! THERE'S TROUBLE-"

"Roar snarl growl rarrgh grr reow…!" Crackle was spouting dragon gibberish so fast. She was pummeling Vivian in the process. She was scared to death. Cecily and Marcus came in close, fearing Crackle was going rabid or was injured.

"Crackle! Crackle! Slow down! What is it?!" Vivian implored. She can't understand her like this. Crackle needed another minute of hysteria to remember that Vivian can't understand a word she's saying. "Crackle," Vivian cupped her cheeks, easing the hyperventilating dragon off, "Where have you been? And what are these burn marks on you?" She pat the smoke off, thanking the heavens the burns were just soot. "And where are the others?!"

"That's what I'm trying to tell you!" She ran in circles, searching for one of the three people that COULD understand her. Everyone else was looking at her like she had rabies. She found them when they pushed through the guests. "Listen to me! You have to run! Boswell is here with some crazy magic and-"

"Hold up, hold up! Boswell?!" Lydia stopped her right there. Adelea and Sofia's stomachs churned. "Boswell is here?!"

"That parlor magician who stole Clover?" Amber recalled.

"Who mentioned him?" James looked around. "And what does he have to do with this?"

"Okay, I think my gag has run on long enough." Lydia gave up the ghost. She brought Adelea in also, pointing to the earring that she gave her. "These are called the Earrings of Thornberry and they let me understand animals!" And that is when jaws just dropped. Yes, there was some skepticism. Talking to animals? Even if there are Griffins, goblins, and Sorcerers, but being able to talk to animals is a bit of a stretch. Her family and friends on the other hands think it finally makes sense. The way she was whispering to Eezeyal and how he whispered to her...IT FINALLY MAKES SENSE! Accusing fingers fell to the two young ladies. "Yes! We've been able to talk to animals this whole time! Can we get back on track?! Crackle!" She picked up the husky dragon. "You said Boswell has some crazy magic! What did you mean?"

"Why don't I show you myself, Princess?" Heads snapped to where the darkest shroud of forest converged. The Sorcerers, Witches, and Fairies ripped their wands out, aiming for where the voice came. Beady ethereal blue glowing eyes pierced the night, and the wavering nerves of all attending. A maniacal chuckle reverberated their bones. Foots steps encroached. Husbands moved their wives behind them, and the wives moved their children behind them. Adelea took a step before Chris, her free hand stretched protectively before him. Lydia moved James and Sofia with Amber and their parents. The Fairies, Goodwin, and Winifred created a stretched wall before the other royals. Marla couldn't stop Lucinda from taking a stand, so she stood right there with her. As the moonlight washed upon the false magician, it resonated with the swirls of light emanating from his clothes to his eyes. Lydia and her fellow magic users, and Sofia, couldn't believe what they were seeing. The power emitting from his very body had them shivering. He gave a sweep of his hat in a bow, grinning ferally to the quaking Royals, and his sworn enemies. "Good evening to you - Majesties, Princes, Princesses, and all! The Great Boswell the Magnificent has arrived!" He boisterously bellowed. He has such a flare for the dramatics. "And a very merry birthday to you, Princess Lydia!"

"What the Hell are you doing here, Boswell?!" She tried to control the shaking in her voice. A mixture of rage and fear lodged in her throat. "And what happened to you?!" She cried. "You look like the lights on Wassailia." Roland urged Miles to assemble the guards and knights. While it might be one man...something told him - from seeing the wands drawn - that this was going to get very messy very fast.

"I am so very glad you asked, Princess! I've been dying to illuminate my newfound grace of the heavens to you, Adelea, and Little Princess Sofia!" He chuckled again, licking his lips. "Oh, and Constable Miles," He mocked wiggled fingers, cooing to the captain. He stopped right at the foot of the forest, shocked he was spotted, "Don't bother going to look for your men. I brought them with me!" That frightening blue magic swam with his flourishing palms. Vortex puddles pooled above, stiff bodies dropping in a pile near the buffet table. Cries of horror came from the other royals. They scrambled together, huddling close for protection. Crackle got in front of Vivian, her growls coming with the dangerous low burn in her mouth. The wand wielders, however, were horrified for another reason. They saw it with their own eyes...but they refused to believe it. Each of the royal husbands, including the Princes and Miles ran to the guards and knights. None of them were moving. It wasn't determined if they were breathing!

"Sir Finnegan! Can you hear me?!" Roland implored.

"Sir Maxwell!" James cried.

"Sir Bartleby!" Tilly whimpered.

"What have you done to them?!" Miranda frothed at the mouth.

"Oh, do not be concerned, Queen Miranda. They are alive...for now." He couldn't resist adding with a menacing hum.

"He inflicted a Gorgon Paralysis!" Flora gasped in utter terror.

"Never heard of it!" Lucinda had to be the voice of ignorance. Might be the shaking.

"It's a depraved toxin of a spell that infiltrates the body and slowly causes it to shut down!"

"How slowly is slowly?" Cedric feared to ask.

"They have another two hours before their brain is gone," Goodwin's throat clenched as he proceeded, "And two more after that before they join the dearly departed."

"And the one who infected them has to free them!" Flora added to the misery.

"Gold star for the Teacher and Father!" Boswell mockingly applauded them.

"Smarmy bastard!" Garrick roared.

"Release them this instant!" Cecily commanded.

"I fully intend to, Your Grace, but not before I make these three witches pay!" Marla and Lucinda were slightly offended that their proud heritage was used to insult Lydia, Adelea, and Sofia. Venom pouring from his lips, Boswell hissed, "You three...ruined...EVERYTHING I built from the ground up! My grand magic animal show, my on the road magic show-"

"You ruined it yourself when you abducted those animals!" The King of Khaldune roared. "And we know about how you tried to abscond with Princess Sofia's bunny, and Adelea's hawk!" He finished with a snarl.

"Speaking of which," Tilly reminded everyone when she looked around, "Aren't we missing a few pets?"

"Boswell attacked them in the forest!" Crackle screamed to Sofia, Adelea, and Lydia. "Minimus saved me before he had a chance!"

Adelea went white as a sheet. Serena! "YOU SON OF BI-"

"LEA!" Lydia and Sofia grabbed hold of her. She thrashed in their hold, frothing at the mouth.

"WHERE IS SHE?! WHERE'S SERENA?! AND EEZEYAL?! AND THE OTHER PETS!" Boswell threw his head back, howling with laughter. He lurched forward, slapping his knees hysterically. "FUNNY, IS IT?!" Adelea' voice distorted like a demons. Her own brilliant eyes illuminated in a disdainful pearl grey. "IT WON'T BE SO FUNNY WHEN I RIP YOUR SPLEEN FROM YOU STOMACH!" Axel, Hugo, James, and Chris winced with an ew.

"Forgive me, Adelea!" Boswell caught his breath, wiping a tear away. "You just reminded me, I have a special present for Princess Lydia here." Lydia winced at how her name sounded like a rotten piece of fruit on his tongue. "A little peace offering before I completely decimate your entire homeland." Roland was beginning to get really sick of these wild threats. Boswell snapped his fingers. In puffs of light, and under a storm of horrified gasps, the missing pets and Ubos arrived in the same petrified state as Miles' soldiers.

"EEZEYAL! UBOS!" Lydia dove for her friends. She scooped Ubos onto her lap, and cradled Eezeyal into her arms. They weren't moving. And they were barely breathing. "No, no! Please, can either of you hear me?!"

"Clove, Minimus, Mia, Robin, Whatnaught!" Sofia scooped Clover into her arms, nesting in the middle of her friends. "Please wake up!"

"Praline!" Amber sobbed, hugging her peacock.

"REX! FREEDO!" James shook the two.

"WORMY!" Cedric panicked. "Don't do this to me! Wake up!"

"They aren't going to wake up!" Boswell laughed crazily. "Not unless I wish for it!"

"Boswell…" Lydia growled rabidly. "I failed with Lezard, but I won't screw up taking your breath out of your body!" Save for those who live with her and know the tale behind that threat, there was a real hope she was exaggerating. What? The guy is a madman, but Lydia shouldn't put blood on her hands.

"Have I mentioned yet that seeing you and your friends squirm is a real treat?" Boswell batted his eyes adorably.

Lydia's balled fist started to glow. She drew it back, hoping whatever comes from it will knock that stupid grin off his face. A flurry of lights coming from Ubos quelled her pent up rage. Bubbling bronze streams slithered from his shoes and climbed up his petrified body. "Oh no! He's exhausted!" She had to assume maintaining his human form was taxing. Why else would he stay as a book for so long?

"What does that mean?!" Astrid asked.

Her question was answered in a few seconds. Ubos's human body gradually faded away, shrinking right before everyone's widening eyes. Soon he was consumed in a large orb of light, his body contorting and mashing into itself. Lydia cradled Eezeyal in one arm and stretched her free arm to the orb. And when she touched it, it burst like a bubble, and there was Ubos in the form of a book. A unanimous HUH howled from everyone around. That man just turned into a book? Is that supposed to happen? And he didn't just turn into any book.

"Why did your professor turn into a book?" Amber demanded to know, forgetting all about Boswell who was equally astonished.

"Into YOUR-SPELLBOOK?!" James stressed. Sofia, Cedric, The Fairies, Goodwin and Winifred, and Adelea grimaced.

"Lydia…?" Miranda and Roland chimed in.

Now was really not the time, but she might as well get it off her chest before this mess distracts them from the disaster ogling them. "Another long story short - Ubos was a man who turned himself into an all knowing spellbook and got assigned to train me!" She directed attention to The Fairies, who waved bashfully, confirming they were aware of Ubos's human half. Goodwin threw himself in too. He knew. Lydia released the one breath she used. "And Ubos asked that I keep it quiet so no one would get any funny ideas." She wasn't looking at him, But Cedric felt that was directed at him. And with all the weird stuff that has happened this year, her family and friends seemed to roll with that explanation without a real fuss. Lydia must have taken them on some weird trips if they're all being this understanding.

"An all powerful spellbook?" Boswell tapped his chin. A greedy smile split his face in half. As hard to believe as it is, everyone forgot he was there until he spoke. "I like the sound of that!" A snap of his fingers and Ubos was whisked right out of Lydia's hands.

"UBOS!" She lunged for him, her fingers brushing his spine. She got nothing but a face full of dirt.

The incapacitated Ubos landed straight in the clutches of Boswell. He fanned Ubos tauntingly, raising him just even more out of reach of the pitiful princess. "Much appreciated, Princess."

Lydia's blue eyes light up searing red. "I'M GOING TO KILL YOU!" Her feet scrambled under her. She launched for him. Henrik and Garrick had to hold her back. Her eyes were wiede with madness. "YOU STUPID BASTARD! GIVE HIM BACK! I'LL TEAR YOUR HEAD CLEAN FROM YOUR SHOULDERS, SO HELP ME I WILL!" Static radiated from her headband, traveling down and into Garrick and Henrik. It shocked them from the inside out, startling them, but they held on tight.

"LYDIA, DON'T!"

"GET AHOLD OF YOURSELF!" The two kings implored her. Boswell laughed at her plight, tucking Ubos away in his cape.

"Alright, I've seen enough!" Marla declared, marching toward Boswell. "You've flaunted your meager prowess for long enough! Time to give up the fake brass and leave the magic to the professionals!"

"Come now, Miss Witch," A sickening cracking came from Ubos as Boswell forced him open. If he was able to speak, Lydia was sure he'd be crying out in pain, "You and your kind can't be expected to have all the fun!"

"Me and my kind were born to have this type of fun! You weren't!" And that was a dagger right into the core of Boswell's pride. He was made to feel unworthy of being blessed with true magic. "I don't know how you got your powers, but it doesn't matter!" She gestured to the gaggled of wand carriers around him. "You're outgunned," The royals and their kids came in next, "And out numbered!"

"Indeed I am…" He chuckled under his breath. "Why don't I even my odds, shall I?" He lifted his hat, pulling a little black box from under it.

"AH!" Fauna shrieked, cowering with her sisters. "HOW DID YOU GET THAT?!"

"LUCINDA, GET BEHIND ME!" Marla ripped Lucinda behind her.

"HOW DARE YOU BRING SUCH AN OBJECT HERE!" Winfried roared. Goodwin and Cedric went to her side.

Adelea wasn't sure what was going on, but she went over to Lydia. "What's going on?!"

"I have no clue!" She whispered.

"Anyone wanna fill us in?!" She pleaded. The non-magic types wanted to know the big scare too.

"That box is known as The Box of Ix!" Winifred's voice cracked in terror. "Crafted from chunks of the Crystal of Ix and molded with sands from The Land of the Black Sand," She pointed scathingly at that little box, "That box is a menace to all with magic!"

"It traps them inside and grants their powers and knowledge to the wielder!" Goodwin came in next. Traps sorcerers inside? Lydia repeated in her head. That sounded familiar. Really familiar. Now that she thinks about it...has she seen that box before?

It glistened in the moon, the light meeting Lydia's eyes directly. "Huh?" Her wand arm was lowering. She went...relaxed somewhat. In the back of her mind she felt these chains unhinged from a door she didn't even realize was closed. "That box…" This wealth of memories - blurs, and partial visions - came pouring out like a waterfall. Those waters spiraled that little box in Boswell's hand. The bliss radiating from his face...was familiar. That box...was familiar. "I know...that box…" She subconsciously was moving forward, her hands reaching for it.

"Lydia? Are you okay?" Tilly called to her. Alauna and Gwen had to grab her before she got too close. "Lydia, what is it?"

She was ensnared in her trance. That little box had her completely under its spell. "That box...I've seen it before…" Her voice was trembling. Her eyes were glossing. She has seen in it. In another's hands back at the school. In Birk's hands. "Birk came to the school with it…" Miranda flinched at the mentioning of her ex-husband. This anger burned in her veins. Lydia stretched a quaking fingers. Blood thirsty rage poured from her wide eyes and gritting teeth. "That was it! He was going to trap me inside that box!" She screeched.

"Hold on!" Miles butted in. He remembers her mentioning something like that. "That's the black box Dia - uh...YOU - talked about?" Dia? Astrid noted.

"Where did you get something like that?!" Goodwin demanded to know. And he will get the answers.

"That's the real prize there, Master Goodwin." Boswell muttered ominously. "You see," He locked glares with the trembling Lydia, "Someone in a prison in the farthest reaches of Hell went through a lot to ensure I have this." He gave the box a small kiss. Sparks of light pricked the air. "And he has much more to offer me when I have eliminated all of his enemies...and mine."

"Lezard!" Adelea and Lydia snarled.

"Who?" Axel asked.

"My ex-should have been dead from the start boyfriend!" Lydia snapped. "Guy threw me off a cliff and nearly killed my family!" Axel bobbed his head, slowly backing away. He'll tread lightly.

"So many tries and failures." Boswell tsk'd his tongue disappointed. "Guess that's why they have people like me." He lifted the box toward them. "Those who aren't afraid to go to the extremes to get it right the second time!"

"It'll be a cold day in Hell before we let that happen!" Adelea declared.

"Then put on your snow boots, lovely!" Boswell pinched his thumb and middle finger to the sides of the box. The maze like etchings drew into the shell. "Because the blizzard has come!"

"Then it's time we send it packing!" Marla swung her wand up and around. Clouds of black smoke turned into bats with large, razor sharp teeth. Their crimson red eyes narrowing onto the pretender across from them. Boswell smirked at the witch. "TIME TO GO, LITTLE MAN!" The bats screeched as they took off like arrows from a crossbow, their mouths opened wide. Boswell flashed a hand forward. Dozens of ice shards whisked from his arm, piercing the bats and ripping Marla's hat from her head. A nice pin up on a tree behind her. She growled at the man, not going to take that lying down. She snapped her fingers, summoning her hat back to where it belongs. She stirred her wand to the sky, calling a thick cloud of mist to the clearing. She swiped the wand down. Thick stakes of water rained down. One missed a stagnant Boswell by a breath, impaling the dirt by a good few feet. Boswell is imbued with great power, but he dropped a nervous sweat bullet. He broke into a dead run on the next two that shredded only his cape. And maybe a piece of his pants. He can't be sure. He kept a firm hold on his hat, skipping a foot off the grass as water stakes narrowly missed his flesh. Marla cackled chrilly to the night air, holding her stitching stomach. "What's the matter, Boswell? All of that posturing and the best you can do is run?!" The got a few laughs for her.

Boswell grit his teeth. He's being humiliated after his grand entrance, and his promise to make them all bend the knee. This stupid box was supposed to grant him power. Instead he is being made a laughing stock in front of several Kingdoms' Monarchs. Now he was going to be mocked from on Kingdom's borders to the next ten. "NO!" His roar unleashed a piercing shockwave that rattled Marla and everyone to the bone. Her cloud of raining spikes was disturbed a little. Boswell skid to a sudden halt, blindly throwing a hand out. The next five spikes that came at him stopped on a dime. As if time had ultimately ceased to flow around them. Marla gaped in dismay. Boswell's mind caught up with what he had just done. And when he lowered his hand, he saw that the spike moved with him. And that gave him a gruesome idea. "You wished to see what I am capable of, Witch?" Maral braced herself. "WELL HERE YOU GO!" He pushed his palms. Whether he meant to or not those water spikes split off into half a dozen smaller spikes each. Marla threw up a shield, overwhelmed by the barrage chipping it away. She tried to maintain it, but somehow that amature was making it a trial. Inch by inch it was shaven away. She readied herself for an impact, and then a swift counter from her. Instead the onslaught stopped. Marla peered over in confusion. Boswell was gone.

"Where?"

"Mom! Behind you!" Lucinda cried. Marla turned too late. Boswell shoved the Ix Box into her stomach. Ethereal blue lights snaked into her stomach, climbing up her body like coiling snakes. "MOM!" Lucinda screamed. She was about to blindly charge in. Goodwin and Winifred stopped her. "NO! LET ME GO! MOM!"

"MARLA!" Lydia tried to go for her. Cedric went with her.

Boswell chuckled darkly, slowly pulling the box away from her. A humming chord stretched from her gut, running with pulses. Marla choked on the very air she tried hard to bring into her strained lungs. The lively chocolate color to her skin was sucked right out of her, turning her into a ghoulish white. Her bright green eyes went solid black, as did her veins which made it appear as if she were a cracked porcelain doll. "MOMMY!" Lucinda cried for her mother, tears running down her plump cheeks. Goodwin and Winifred shielded her away from the awful sight. The essence of Marla flowing into the box passed through into Boswell, seeping through his arm and filling his eyes with an avarice glow.

Cedric and Lydia ran as fast as they could. The closer the pair drew, the faster Marla seemed to fade. The box finally severed the link to Marla, and Boswell kicked her away. Lydia and Cedric slid on their knees, catching her before she hit the floor. "Marla! MARLA! Come on, answer me!" Lydia pleaded, patting her cheek.

"MOM!" Lucinda managed to escape Winifred and Goodwin, dropping to her mom's side. "Mom! Please wake up! WAKE UP!" She begged, tears running down her cheeks. Lucinda touched her face and flinched away. She was cold as ice. "What did you do to her?!" She snarled hatefully at Boswell. He was busy inhaling the delicious power he just received. Who would have thought witches felt so filling, and invigorating to the body. "WHAT HAVE YOU DONE TO MY MOM?!" Lucinda screeched again. Boswell answered he with a mocking chuckle.

"He sucked the magic right out of her!" Cedric hissed disdainfully. Lucinda gaped at him in sorrow. "Your Mother's magic is in that box, leaving her like a shell."

"Then it's high time we get that box away from him then!" Winifred declared, marching up with Goodwin beside her. Boswell turned to face the master sorcerers, suddenly not feeling too intimidated by them. In his head, right in his core, he felt this...knowingness. Spells, potions, charms he didn't know existed just plopping in his skull. Is this her knowledge? He cupped the box, feeling there was a more practical way of putting it to use. So he wouldn't have to get so close. "Your fun is over, little man!" Winifred flourished her palms, weaving golden threads between her fingers. "Time to leave the magic to the professionals!"

"And who are better professionals than Winifred the Wise and her husband Goodwin the Great?" Boswell mockingly replied. Winifred threw her arm out. Golden threads woven with poison oak leaves unspooled from her fingertips, constricting to Boswell's wrist and arms, ankles and feet, neck and head. Boswell grunted at the tightening threads, the circulation in his body decreasing. He moved his hands to siphon more from that box. Winifred spread her hands, stretching Boswell spread eagle, keeping that box idle. "Curse you both…" He hissed.

Goodwin snickered scathingly, meandering for the restricted man. "As we told you, young man, leave the magic to the professionals." He touched a hand to the box. A huge grin broke across Boswell's face. With a sheer flex of strength, he broke his right arm free of Winifred's threads, latching it onto Goodwin's wrist. "AH!"

"GOODWIN!" Winifred howled.

"And it is as I told you, Master Goodwin," The same link that sucked the magic from Marla connected with Goodwin, clawing its way up his arm, "Who better than you…" He craned his head toward a dismayed Winifred, "And your wife?!" Boswell's hateful blue aurora leaked to Winifred's threads, wrapping straight to her fingers.

"Mother, Father!" Cedric yelled. He didn't have a window like he did with Marla. Even then he wasn't fast enough. Either way, Cedric watched in horror as his parents were drained clean of their magic. They struggled to resist the Ix box, wrestling to free themselves from its icy grip. Their struggles were for nothing. In the end, like Marla, they were reduced to hollow, blackened eye and vein dolls. "NO! MUMMY, DADDY!" Cedric wallowed on his hands and knees, head hung in grief.

Lydia could hardly believe it. Boswell got the better of them - Goodwin and Winifred. They had to get out of here fast. Regroup and come at him with a plan. It's too dangerous with everyone else around. That's when she saw Fauna and Flora materialize behind him, creeping in silently to get the drop on him. Her breath hitched in her throat. They just might have him, putting her flight plan to bed. Merryweather came up in front of him, distracting him from her sisters, and her stretched wand daring him to make another move. Be careful...Lydia begged.

"If I remember correctly, you're one of the fairies who teaches those Royal Brats at that fancy school!" One of them. He knows there's three. Which begged a question in the back of his mind: Where o where are you sisters?

"We also teach them how to defend against tyrants such as you!" Merryweather boasted.

"Well you get failing marks." Boswell sensed the other two right behind him. He wasn't sure what he was doing, but he basically imagined himself sinking away from the danger. The grass turned to liquid below him, swallowing him whole and leaving the three fairies confused. They scoured the grounds, searching desperately for where he could have gone. Everyone looked for him. He didn't run away. The Fairies sensed him really close by. They just can't see him.

A hand grabbed Fauna by the back of her collar. "AAHH!" She screamed for help. Boswell yanked her spine right onto the Ix Box. "FLORA! MERRYWEATHER!" With another scream, she was claimed by that tiny box, and tossed aside like garbage. Her glasses fell from her face, a crack in one of the hand.

"FAUNA!" Lydia howled, tears stinging her eyes.

Flora and Merryweather charged at him, rage burning in their eyes. Boswell sank himself into the ground again, the two remaining fairies flipping over themselves on their stop. They quickly recovered, anticipating his next attack just seconds away. A shame they didn't think to look down this time. Boswell's hand sprouted and grabbed hold of Flora by the ankle. "FLORA!" Merryweather grabbed her hands.

"MERRYWEATHER!" Flora shrieked. Boswell dragged half her body down. "Merryweather, don't give up! Pull!" She begged. Merryweather flapped her wings like mad, using her full weight to hopefully yank her sister free. Flora was up to her chest, leading to her neck. "HELP ME!" Merryweather gave her one more tug. Alas her grip slipped, and Flora was gone.

Merryweather was flung several feet away, regaining her balance and fixing her slipping hat. "NO! FLORA!" Merryweather hovered where her sister vanished.

"Where is she?!" Clio panicked, fearing for her teacher. Eyes bore into that grass. Boswell had to bring her up at some point. Or maybe he'll summon a dragon from it.

From the blue, Flora's petrified body was spat from the dirt, tossed with her sister, Fauna. "FLORA!" Merryweather dove to her. Boswell gradually emerged from the grass, dusting himself off from that easy tussle. Merryweather cradled her sisters to her lap, on the verge of crying and screaming as they lied their lifeless. "Fauna...Flora…" She whimpered. Heads were lowering in defeat, sorrow, and utter disbelief. It was too nauseating to fathom. By anyone in that area. The Fairies, Goodwin, Marla, and Winifred all felled by one wretch of a man wanting to play sorcerer. He was making them all look like chumps...without really breaking a sweat.

"This isn't happening…" Amber moaned.

"It can't be happening…" Astrid whimpered, hands to her mouth so no one would hear her sobbing.

"He can't be winning…" Sofia begged. But...he is. Boswell was winning.

Lydia looked around in pure horror, her voice trapped in her throat at the bodies Boswell has dropped at her feet within less than 30 minutes. All of this damage, this terror and torment, just for the sake of reclaiming whatever dignity he lost. Boswell named who he wishes to take his revenge out on. Who he wants to make suffer. But the fact that he went to Lezard, took something a heinous as the Ix Box from him just to get a leg up...this was her fault. All of this suffering, her friends and family in danger, was because of her. And she doesn't have the first clue how to stop him. Not while he can just take their magic right out of them. Or hurt someone else in their futile, blind attempts.

"What a night this is turning out to be, eh, Princess?" Boswell cooed revoltingly. Lydia clenched a tight fit, squaring her feet apart. Adelea came beside her, eager to join her in punching his smug face right off. "I wonder, My Princess," He reached into his cape, churning Lydia's stomach as he produced Ubos, "If your teacher here uses magic to turn himself from man to book," He tauntingly moved the little box near him, "How much do you think he has left to offer me?"

"DON'T-YOU-DARE!" She lunged forward. Adelea would kick herself later but she had to stop Lydia. She wrapped her arms to her waist, lifting her off the ground. If she went in there, she'd end up like the rest. And there's no telling what Boswell will be able to do if he got her powers. Boswell wasn't deterred by her roars. He was just savoring her squirming as he moved the box closer to her precious teacher. "NO-NO-NO! UBOS! PLEASE, NOT UBOS!" He placed it to Ubos's face. The paralysis that infected him broke for a mere moment. Bronze streams were ripped from his pages, sucked right into the box. From cover to cover his vibrant hue was decayed, and his face- frightened eyes locked to his helpless student - faded from the cover. Lydia went limp in Adelea's arms, hanging there in abject horror. Boswell gave off another one of his laughs, and he threw the now worthless book to the dirt. "UBOS!" Lydia tore away from Adelea, sliding down her knees. She scooped him up, shaking him violently. Roland, Miranda, and the others took steps in, overcome with fear for a book they've all barely gotten to meet. "Ubos! Ubos, please! Don't do this to me!" She begged. This was different from the others. Ubos wasn't turned into a shell. He was regressed to a normal book. There was nothing left in him. He was a shelf ornament. "No...please...no…" Her tears ran down her face, dripping to his cover. Ubos was gone. She hugged him in close, sobbing loudly. "Ubos...no…" Everyone around bowed their heads in mourning.

Meanwhile, Boswell was wafting his hands, fanning Ubos's magic up into his nostrils. He inhaled it like a fresh autumn aroma, releasing a pleased breath. "You were not exaggerating about this book friend of yours, Princess…" He was feeling amazing. He tapped his skull, "All of the knowledge he contains is flowing through my brain as we speak. Knowledge I am certain you were too naive to take advantage of."

"Ubos was training me to be a Royal Sorceress! Not a tyrant!" She barked, offended by him labeling Ubos as a tool. "I didn't skip ahead to what he was certain I wasn't ready for!"

"Oh-ho, you are missing out, My Dear! Time to spread the wealth!" He took a couple steps towards her, hands spread as he was welcoming her to try her luck. "Unless you all wish to bow to your new ruler. That is acceptable as well." He was really making the Kings and Queens sick with his demands for them to surrender. It wasn't going to happen, regardless of what he did to them.

To say this was getting out of hand really fast would earn any one of them a swift smack to the face. This wasn't out of hand. Out of hand was when Sofia and Amber got trapped on their way to Zandar's party. Out of hand was James breaking the new window after being told not to play ball in the case. This was a disaster. The guards, the knights, the pets, Ubos, The Fairies, Marla, Goodwin and Winifred were down for the count. Boswell has a weapon of mass destruction in his hand, and it only growing more powerful by the second. And it was only going to get worse as long as they chose to just stand there. Fighting back was going to be their only option. Which means - and by the shared galres between the five wand wavers left it was agreed - that things were going to get very rocky from here on in. And it would be unhealthy for anyone not versed in magic to be within five feet of them.

"Dad…" Lydia rolled up her sleeves, climbing back to her feet, "Keep everyone who doesn't have a wand back!" She took a fencer's stance. Cedric twirled his wand, returning his robe to his figure. He stretched one arm back and his wand forward, stooping low. Adelea transformed out of her dress and back into her tunic. She drew her wand arm back, perpendicular to her ribs, keeping her free hand forward. Lucinda tilted her hat forward, then backflipped onto her broom. Merryweather twisted with fury, dust pouring from her wand. "We don't need any accidents!" Boswell chuckled triumphantly. They were going to fight him. Lovely.

"No way!" Amber refused to run. "No way we're letting you take this guy on your own!"

"Amber!" Hildegard dragged her off. "There's nothing we can do now!" She and Clio took her away. Jade, Ruby, and Chris helped Axel, Hugo, and Astrid get the pets together.

Roland was as reluctant as Amber to run and hide. But he knows full well there's nothing he or the others can do except keep each other safe. "Be careful! All of you!" He warned. That was the plan. Garrick, Marcus, Miles, Baileywick, and Tilly grabebd a guard and knight and dragged them to safety. Cecily, Irene, Pamela, Miranda, and Axel took the downed Fairies, Goodwin and Winifred, and Marla. The picnic grounds were cleared, and all eyes were glued to the battle about to ensue.

Lucinda, Merryweather, Cedric, Adelea, and Lydia surrounded Boswell, the tips of their wands glowing in tandem to their rage. Boswell chuckled at their posturing. This blatant attempt to intimidate him didn't even tickle him. "Well, come on then, Kids. I'm not getting any younger!"

"AS-YOU-WISH!" Merryweather kicked them off. She erected her wand, placing two fingers at the shaft and slicing them up past the tip. The swords of the unconscious guards rattled. They shot from the grass and were summoned to her side, spinning in deathly pinwheels. "Swords of honor and truth fly swift and pure!" The sword ceased their spinning and aimed for the cad that smirked at them. Adelea grabbed Lucinda and Lydia dragged Cedric, taking the pair far away. "May this evil die and good endure!" A sweep of her wand and the swords launched, tearing the air asunder and gunning for the chest of Boswell. The false magician snorted at the pitiful attempt. Though he's honored that the method used to defeat Maleficent was called upon him. He touched his temple, rifling in the insurmountable knowledge stolen from his victims. Right as the swords touched the fabric of his clothing, Boswell unleashed a mighty laugh with a spin, sweeping his hand up. Four rippling portals opened, swallowing the swords. Merryweather was taken aback. Boswell realigned the portals and gave a stomp. Each of the swords shrieked from the portals, whisking past Merryweather and going for her friends. "NO!" She cried.

Cedric, Lydia, Adelea, and Lucinda thought quickly. They each raised their wands. Shields took form and deflected the swords. When they hit the ground they disintegrated into bright tiny orbs. Relief came from the forest line. Amber, Clio, and Hildegard hid behind Irene and Pamela, scared to poke their heads out. "That was a close shave!" Amber shivered.

"Remember to never upset Ms. Merryweather!" Sofia urged.

"Agreed." Clio and Hildegard chimed.

Merryweather, distracted with her relief that they were unharmed, didn't realize Boswell had teleported behind her. He touched a hand to her back. A pulse shot her forth, sending her skipping to a collision with a set of trees. "HEY!" Lydia and Adelea roared. The two came together, drawing their wands with spirals of flames amassing. They thrust their wands, unleashing a howling vortex of flames. Boswell focused his power into his shoes. He kicked off, admiring the earth where he stood being scorched to cinders. Adelea and Lydia followed him with hateful leers, readying the fire spell again. Boswell fell suddenly in a blink, his boots planting to their faces and smashing them into the dirt. He lingered on their faces, twisting the balls of his boots into their foreheads.

"Grr…!" Astrid and James marched without any sense. He had three seconds to get off of them before they are forced to bury something in his stomach. Vivian and Hugo grabbed them, wrestling them back into hiding. Hey understood their rage, but they can't do anything against someone like that.

"Hey! Fatso!" Boswell was dumb enough to look. A transparent orange fist the size of him collided with him. Boswell was given his own taste of the dirt, but it didn't keep him down for long. He growled at the brazen witchlet smirking with pride at her cheap shot. Lucinda conjured five more of those fists, showing no mercy in setting them loose. Boswell was more agile than his weight gave him credit for. Might just be the power flowing in him. Either way, he dove and dodged past each fist, running along the forest edge. Lucinda, balanced on her broom, followed Boswell, not letting up on her assault. The fists cleaved the trees from their trunks, levels bushes and rocks to flat dirt. There was a small ledge that she demolished. "STAND STILL AND FIGHT! Or can't you take on one eight year old?!" Tilly, Gwen, Alauna, Jade, and Ruby cheered at her sass.

"Oh, I can take you, child!" Boswell assured her. A smile appeared on his face. "I just needed you to stay focused on me!" The comment baffled her. Stay focused on him?

"LUCINDA! LOOK OUT!" Cedric cried too late. No one saw it until Boswell made his comment. As he was running from Lucinda's attacks, he was leaving behind some footprints. Those prints swam in the grass like the fish in the pond. They came right up under Lucinda, leaping out with razor sharp teeth. They latched to her broom, ripping it out from under her. As she fell, a handful more sprang from the depths of the grass, plowing into her and sending her bouncing painfully across the ground. Merryweather recovered from her shot and caught Lucinda bridal style. The little witch was touch, shook off the hit like a pro. "Now I understand Adelea's hatred for you!" Cedric snarled. "You are an aggravating man!"

"Aggravating, yes. But soon, you bungling family sorcerer, I will be king of this land and every other one around it!" Boswell boasted with open arms. Roland, Nasir, and Quon furrowed their brows. Over their dead bodies he will. Henrik, Marcus, and Garrick cracked their knuckles. They'd love to see him try.

Cedric grit his teeth venomously. "Not while I have anything to say about it!" He snarled animally. He stabbed his wand into the ground. Those grass fish gave him an idea. "Verberare Arapaima!" A muffled boom caused the whole ground to vibrate. From roots to leaves everything was shaking. Everyone hiding in the distance held themselves close. Boswell remained unimpressed as he saw nothing happening. Suddenly these bulges stretched from the grass and dirt, growing like warts. He made the mistake of poking on. It popped and a mist like arapaima fish bashed its anvil hard skull into Boswell's head. With a pained wail he fell onto his back. Another arapaima emerged below him, taking him straight into the air. It kicked him higher as it went to dive. Two more came from nowhere and struck him from different sides, tossing him like a whale does to a seal. "Just because you have all this power," As he was coming down, Cedric summoned one more, "Doesn't make you worthy to use it!" It launched high over Boswell, curving down and smashing into his stomach. Boswell was sent falling like a shooting star. A small crater was made on his impact. Groans came from trees. Everyone felt that impact. Boswell cushioned his landing with a last ditch patch of cloud. When it burst though, he was feeling the pain. "It takes years of practice and study to even remotely be worthy of your wand! Being called a sorcerer takes longer!" Junjie, Ahlii, and their younger siblings heard that from a mile away. Anyone can call themselves a warrior, a soldier, or a sorcerer. Earning it takes three times as long.

"Well...they named…" Boswell choked on his pain, fighting to sit up on his elbows, "The bungling son...of Goodwin...a Sorcerer!" He roared exasperated, flipping onto his stomach. "Must not be that hard!" Roland, Amber, James, Sofia, Baileywick, Miles, and Lydia don't appreciate him stabbing at Cedric's less than illustrious career. That's their job. Cedric gave in to his taunt. Grey tentacles launched from the tip of his wand, wrapping to his neck, wrists, and ankles. Cedric lifted him off the ground. Boswell chuckled and poured a surge of electricity into the tentacles. The surge dove into his wand, snaking up Cedric arms. He fought the pain, but his screams came anyway. Coils of electricity just constricting his limbs, his spasming muscles dropping him to the grass. "As I said, chap," Boswell created razor tip shards in his palm, "Not-that-hard!"

"BUT THIS IS!" Lydia went unconventional and sucker punched Boswell across the cheek. Those shards were sent flying, narrowing missing Hugo and Chris. Boswell staggered to stay standing, spitting out a dislodged tooth. Two, actually. He came back to strike her with any random spell. She landed a second punch in his nose, lavishing in the feel of the bones shattering under her knuckles. She kept going at him with a barrage of punches to the face and stomach, driving a knee into his groin.

"Whoa man…" Jun pat James in awe, "Your sister is really letting him have it!" James bobbed his head, wanting to put money on her.

"Since when can she hit like that?" Cecily gaped in awe of her.

"Since she was five." Miranda was slightly saddened to say. "The summons I got to her school weren't always pleasant." Every parent, and Aunt, in that crowd hummed in understanding.

"ENOUGH OF THIS!" Boswell took her beatings until the 11th punch. He waved a hand. A shield connected with her fist. She yelped as a crunch in her hand. He spread a palm, levitating her five feet into the air.

"LET HER GO!" Adelea cartwheeled two feet into his side. Lydia was dropped to her feet, and Boswell was on his side.

"Dang, man," Axel nudged Chris with a fist, "Your sister is fierce too."

"She's the one who taught me how to fight." Chris boasted. While they're glad there's faith in their wand waving friends, Roland and the rest of the Kings, Queens, and Tilly weren't going to pat anyone on the back yet. Boswell was still moving. He was still ready to fight.

Boswell scrambled back onto his feet, huffing and puffing with saliva running down his jaw. Merryweather, Cedric, Lucinda, Lydia, and Adelea approached him, all battered and bruised. "Give it up, Boswell! You can't beat us!" Cedric warned him.

"Give up?! Why?!" He choked on his own breath. He wobbled clumsily left to right, his head spinning from all these bashings he's taken. "I'm just getting started!" He tossed his hands up, slapping them to his thighs. His lack of breath told them otherwise. Their wands at the ready, the five crept in, ready to take him down and haul him to the authorities. And hopefully they can dispose of that Ix Box before someone else is intoxicated by it. "Oh no, friends…" Boswell purred darkly, clutching the box close to his chest, "I am far from finished. With you, with this kingdom, and with my mission." He vowed. He put the box back under his hat. By his sheer will, and with the contact to his balding scalp, the energy trapped within that box was absorbed into Boswell, tracing in swirls down his head to his limbs and chest. The immense, seductive power suffused in his veins, reinvigorating his long aged soul, fueling him with even more power than before. His feet slowly left the grass, gravity itself relinquishing its hold upon him. He rose higher and higher, the raw magic he's stolen pouring out of him, suffocating the five rooted around him, and those hiding in the brush. Oh yes...this is what he has wanted. To give up now because of a minor hiccup would be foolish. His glowing eyes and smile were directed to those peons below, injecting them with overwhelming fear. Before long they would come to grips that this was no mere man before them. Before long...they will see...A GOD! "TONIGHT FOR MY FINALE," His booming voice pierced their ears, collapsing them to a knee, "I WILL MAKE THE PRINCESSES OF ENCHANCIA, AND THEIR RAGGEDY FRIENDS DISAPPEAR," He spun round and tossed his hands victoriously to the air. And with one bow, he whispered demonically, "Forever!"

To be continued!

Sorry this wasn't so good. I was stuck in the hospital while writing this. Nothing too serious, just some stomach issues. But I promise the next chapter will be better.