Elena hadn't had this dream since just after being released from the amulet, and on some level she knew that this was exactly what it was. And yet…she walked the halls of the castle and headed toward the garden as she ran her hands down her dress to smooth it out. She came outside and couldn't help but laugh, gripping the Amulet of Avalor, which her mother had recently given to her for her birthday.
Her little sister Isabel sat on her knees as she tinkered with the device in front of her. Truthfully it was almost twice the size of Isabel but she had a ladder nearby to help her reach those spots that were above her natural height. She watched a moment as it twirled around before slowing again. "Ah, almost." Isabel murmured and then saw her older sister. "Elena!" She waved happily.
"Mami and papi will be home soon Isabel." Elena said to her with a happy wave back. "You should get cleaned up for dinner." Isabel set her tools down and started toward her sister. "What are you working on anyway hermana?"
"It's going to be a feeder for the Jaquins when it's done." Isabel explained to her sister as she ascended the stairs. Elena always loved how happy her sister looked when she was building things. Together they headed into the castle. "I'll be back." With that Isabel dashed upstairs.
Elena couldn't help but smile fondly at her sister as she watched her go before going to the kitchen to make sure that everything was going okay. She had planned something special with her grandmother Luisa's help and she hoped her parents loved it. When she came out she heard Isabel yell, "I'm ready Elena!" She looked up and had to laugh.
Isabel came dashing downstairs in a brand new blue and white dress and stopped at the stairs wondering what Elena was laughing at. "Oh Isa, when I said you should get cleaned up I meant everything." She said warmly as she picked up a cloth and leaned down to wipe her sister's hands and face clean, though it would take forty one years for her to realize she missed a spot on her left cheek. She kissed her sister on her clean cheek. Then she heard the familiar sound of a carriage and kissed Isabel on her clean cheek. "Get abuelo and abuela while I go greet mami and papi. We'll meet you in the dining room, I promise."
Elena went outside and saw her parents. She waved at them as happily as Isabel had waved at her moments ago and she saw her parent's wave back as well. Then Elena gasped as she saw a green mist travel around them and then manifest into a woman in a green dress that she hadn't seen at that point. One flick of the wand though and her parent's carriage was gone, as were her parents.
"NO!" Elena gasped in horror as she felt tears building in her eyes. The woman turned to her with a wicked grin and Elena ran into the castle.
From the door to the kitchen Francisco, Luisa and Isabel came out. "What is going on nieta? What was that sound?" Luisa asked her in concern.
"I…" Elena stumbled as she fought the tears. There would be time to mourn her parents after she made sure her familia was safe. "Someone just attacked…"
"Are mami and papi alright?" Isabel asked, voice and face filled with worry. Elena found that she couldn't answer her sister but her eyes must have conveyed what she couldn't say and her eyes misted with tears. That same look was reflected in the eyes of her grandparents as well.
Their royal wizard Alakazar appeared in time to hear what Elena and Isabel had said. "We must get you all to safety." He declared. "Come with me."
"Take them and go." Elena said to Alakazar. "I'll hold off our uninvited guest." She approached Isabel and stroked her hair softly. "I'll meet you later, I promise." She had no idea at the time it would take forty one years to keep her word on that one. With that Francisco gave her a nod of approval as Luisa rushed her youngest granddaughter off.
Just as they disappeared Elena heard the doors burst open. "Who do you think you are?" Elena demanded.
"I am Shuriki, the new Queen of Avalor." The woman declared. "Your parents are gone, as you saw just now. And as soon as I get rid of you, nothing will stand in my way." With that Shuriki unlocked the same spell that she had used on her parents and it struck, but what the evil sorceress didn't see was the Amulet of Avalor absorb her to save her life.
What transpired after that it would take Elena forty one years to find out. Alakazar had realized that there was no place safe to put Isabel, Luisa and Francisco and in a last attempt placed them in a protected painting that Shuriki had not been able to destroy. He had then left, not sure what to do until his spirit animal guide Zuzo told him that Elena was in the amulet and that they might be able to free her and defeat Shuriki.
"Somehow I would have thought you'd be happier to be heading back so soon." Gabe said as he approached Elena and leaned against the railing next to the crown princess. Behind him they could hear Christina and Isabel laughing as they talked. Gabe's sister was sketching a Marposa from memory while Isabel had the journal that she had been given by Elena when she was too be crowned queen and was working on a schematic within it. Kara and Blaze slept nearby.
Luisa, Francisco and Esteban were talking with a special guest of theirs; none other than Queen Erika of Aniluna whom they had graciously agreed to pick up on their way. Together the four of them talked about several trade possibilities and treaty arrangements. That couldn't be officially dealt with just yet though.
Jorge sailed the ship with Naomi, and they could hear the blonde laugh out happily at something Jorge said and that made Elena happy too. Elena was starting to worry about her friend but that kind of expression let Elena know that she wasn't completely changed from the girl she knew.
Mateo was on the other side of the boat practicing magic but he would glance at the water occasionally to see Sonya swimming beside the boat. The royal sorcerer held onto her moon ring while his girlfriend got to be what she was born to be; a mermaid. As happy as she was to be dating Mateo the ocean still called to her.
"I am happy." Elena assured her friend. She placed her hand on his softly, a subtle sign of how close they'd become since the crown princess had taken care of Gabe after nearly dying from a barillian sting. "I' m just worried about Naomi. Collin…I don't know how to explain what kind of effect he had on her." She sighed a bit. "I don't know how to help her."
"You'll figure it out Elena." Gabe said with a smile. "And I'll help you. I have your back, you know I do."
"I know." Elena said with a smile and leaned up to kiss him on the cheek softly. "And I appreciate it more than you realize." The truth was she realized that Gabe was more important that anyone to her right now except for her Naomi and her own sisters…and that was because she and Sofia had recently become each other's chosen sisters. "The other thing…I had a dream last night, about Shuriki attacking Avalor and killing my parents." She shook her head. "I put on a brave face for Isabel, but the truth is I miss them so much, I don't know sometimes how to get over it."
"You don't Elena." Gabe said to her quietly as he squeezed her hand comfortingly. "The pain never fades, it just becomes a part of who you are and you learn to live with it. And you be grateful for the friends and family you still have left." The two smiled at each other softly and then turned to the beautiful ocean.
The two of them stayed that way for almost ten minutes before they realized that they were getting close to land. Gabe smiled softly, almost affectionately at Elena. "It's fine Elena. We all need to get ready." With that Elena smiled and turned to her family.
The boat docked and they all immediately got off the boat. "Elena!" Sofia exclaimed happily and ran over to her chosen sister. Elena leaned down and picked up her chosen sister and the two hugged happily. Beside them James came over to Isabel and the two clasped hands and smiled.
Mateo helped Sonya out of the water and as she sat on the docks he handed her a dress to throw on before giving her the moon ring she wore to regain her human legs, then helped the mermaid girl to stand up. She kissed him on the cheek affectionately. "Thanks."
Amber came over and smiled at Christina now. "Welcome back to Enchancia all of you." Amber said with a respectful curtsy that almost belied her friendship with them. Until she looked to Christina again. "Still wearing a tiara I see?" She teased.
Christina nodded. She had gotten the tiara from Amber after the blonde Enchancia princess had gotten the golden Maruvian crown which she wore now. "Still wearing a tiara I see?" She responded and then laughed together before Amber then turned and exchanged hugs with Isabel.
"Thank you for inviting us your majesty." Francisco said to King Roland and Queen Miranda as they approached the docks now. He bowed respectfully, as did Luisa and Esteban.
"And thank you for letting me come along as well." Queen Erika said as she curtsied to them.
"It's our pleasure." King Roland replied and smiled at them.
"I've gotten the impression that your oldest granddaughter and our youngest daughter have just made us one big family." Miranda added with her own smile. Sofia had not told anyone that she and Elena were chosen sisters yet, but Miranda knew her biological daughter well enough. She then smiled at Luisa. "And I felt it was the right thing to do after all that you did for us not so long ago."
Elena heard that and set Sofia down before leaning in to whisper to her, "And how are you doing Sofia?"
"I…I woke up last night thinking of my dad, my birth dad I mean. Clover wasn't there last night and I was alone and upset and…I wanted so bad to talk to someone but no one else knows the truth besides you." Sofia confessed softly. "I'm glad that you're here now."
"Me too Sofia." Elena said as she squeezed her shoulder softly. She then tried to smile. "Now go say hi to Isabel and Christina while I go thank your parents." Sofia nodded and the two chosen sister moved away.
"Sofia." Isabel said happily and the two hugged. "Amber was just telling us that we're going to meet so many of your friends. Or in some cases see them again. That Hildegard will be there for instance."
"That's right." Sofia replied, burying her sadness in the face of her beloved siblings and friends. "We'll all have so much fun."
"Thank you for inviting us King Roland, Queen Miranda." Elena said with a bow. "And thank you for allowing my friends to come with."
"Our pleasure Crown Princess." Miranda said. "After all, they are part of your grand council. Or else very important to you."
"Truth be told, we do have a bit of an ulterior motive." Roland said with a sparkle in his eyes. "But I don't think it's going to be something that you will object too. We'll talk about it at the picnic." Elena smiled softly and then the two families along with Queen Erika started toward the carriages that would take them to the tri kingdom picnic.
"What have you got there?" James asked Isabel curiously as they sat down.
"Oh, I was working on it on the way over here from Avalor." Isabel said to him and showed him the journal. "It would take a while before I could really build it or anything, but I was thinking about combining gears and chains and stuff, and using electricity or gas to make it all run." She explained as he looked at it. It was schematics for a motor. "It would have to start small but eventually it could be produced for carriages like this one or boats."
"Brilliant." James stated enthusiastically. "Maybe I could even help you build a prototype."
Isabel smiled and even blushed a little. "I wish you could, but pending a disaster I don't think we'll be in Enchancia that long." She replied.
James looked ready to respond with something but Amber shook her head and he got the message well enough. He didn't really want to get their hopes up either if they were wrong.
"And what about this one?" Sofia asked Isabel curiously.
"Oh, that's really way off from ever being built." Isabel replied almost dismissively, which was a surprise to Elena since most of the time her sister was eager to try something even on the infancy of its thoughts. "See I kind of got that idea from the portal thing that Juan wanted me to shut down a while ago. We already know it lead to some sort of parallel universe of some sort."
"So it opens up doorways to parallel universes?" Amber asked with a mixture of skepticism and appreciation.
"Brilliant." James said enthusiastically.
Sofia had heard about the incident Isabel was talking about. "That sounds like it could be really dangerous." She noted.
"I have to agree there Isa." Elena said. "I mean we worked so hard to stop that world from invading Avalor and this world."
"I know." Isabel replied. "But if you think about it for a minute there has to be universes where the lifeforms aren't out to kill us and destroy our world." She pointed out. "In fact there are worlds out there where I'm sure we could make great friends."
"If that were true it might make for some interesting trade agreements." Esteban admitted quietly, but the only one who heard him was Elena and she had to repress a giggle. Granted her cousin was right but she thought it would have been far more exciting than that if were true.
Sofia found herself nodding in agreement. In her time as princess she had met several princesses, as well as Aladdin, that she knew but somehow was sure existed differently from them. She found that was actually an exciting prospect. "I think it's a great idea Isabel." She said with a smile.
They showed up at the picnic, Roland had Erika stay back and Francisco hold his family back for the moment ,wanting them to have their own entrances even though they were guests of Enchancia. They waited for the formal introductions. Finally they heard; "King Roland, Queen Miranda, Princess Amber, Prince James and Princess Sofia of Enchancia." The three kids waved at Isabel and Christina before their family stepped up.
"Get ready." Erika said to them. She was pretty much on her own, no family to speak of. It made Elena a little sad to think about; at least she had Isabel and her grandparents and even Esteban. They heard the announcement, "Our first special guest, Queen Erika of Aniluna." She went out now.
Elena took a deep breath now. She was a bit nervous herself too. The last time she had tried to do anything like this was the King Hector's royal retreat and that very nearly turned out to be a disaster. She now knew that she would never become allies with him or his kingdom, he would never allow that. She could only hope that things would work out better here.
Then they heard, "And our other special guests; Crown Princess Elena Castillo Flores, her grand council Francisco, Luisa, Chancellor Esteban and Naomi Turner and Princess Isabel Flores of Avalor." They came out, along with their friends but they already suspected Gabe, Christina, Mateo and Sonya wouldn't be announced too, though one could argue that Sonya should have since she was from Merroway Cover, but that was basically a top secret place.
Together the Avaloran group emerged to join the party. Sofia, Amber and James immediately came over to take Isabel and Christina to meet some of their friends while Elena went over to Erika, Miranda, Roland and her family. Kara decided to go with Naomi and hang out with the adults for a while.
"Sofia, Amber." Hildegard called out. Right behind her was her best friend Princess Clio and their friend Princess Zooey. The two friends embraced the two sister's happily and then to Clio's slight surprise since she had never met Isabel, the princess of Freezenberg turned around and embraced the two Avaloran girls as well. "Isabel. Christina." When she stepped back she said, "Meet my best friend Clio and our friend Zooey." The four of them exchanged waves.
Then Clio noticed the journal in Isabel's hands. "What's that?" Clio asked curiously.
"Oh, this is my invention journal. My sister Elena got it for me they day she became crown princess." Isabel explained to them all with a small smile. She decided it wasn't worth mentioning she should have been queen but declared too young.
"Can I take a look at it?" Clio asked. Isabel handed it over and Clio looked at a few pages, with Hildegard and Zooey looking over her shoulder. She stopped at the diagram for a motor. "Oh, wow. That looks so cool." She noted.
"It's my plan for a motor. It has to start out small on something, but when it's fully planned out it could even go in a carriage or a boat. It should make traveling much easier." Isabel explained happily.
"I doubt it." Zooey said simply. "It would be too hard to maintain, so much more complicated than simply grooming horses and switching them out. And as for being on a boat, where would you even put something like that? It's just a horrible idea."
"Zooey." Sofia started, wanting to avoid a fight and also feeling kind of offended on behalf of her other chosen sister.
"It can work just fine." Isabel countered. "It might be more work in the short term to maintain these but that will help create jobs while the horses can be put to other uses in the kingdom. Besides, it's better when you have to go longer distances and don't have as much time to tend to the horses." She hadn't addressed the thought on boats yet because carriages were the first step.
"And who is going to train people on how to keep these things going? You?" Zooey questioned doubtfully.
James and Sofia weren't sure how to put this one to a stop but luckily the prince of Enchancia found a good distraction. "Hey guys." James said as he waved to Hugo, Desmond and Jun. "How's it going? Where's Jin?" He asked.
"Jin came down with the flu." Jun replied solemnly. "He's being taken care of back in Wei-Ling and won't be able to make it this year." She felt really bad about that because when she had the summer sniffles just before the kite festival her brother and Sofia had done what they could to help her feel better in time but she hadn't been able to help her brother. "But I'll be competing with Hugo this year."
"It's okay." Clio said. "Hilde chose me and Zooey to compete this years since she doesn't like to compete and her sister is too old for the games now." They already knew Amber wouldn't participate in the games now that Sofia was around too.
"Hey Isabel, you should compete too." James said excitedly.
"Yeah, that's a great idea." Sofia seconded. "You might be our guests but you can still represent Avalor."
"She doesn't have a partner." Zooey pointed out reasonably. "And her sister is clearly too old to participate in the games too."
Somewhat surprisingly it was Amber who replied, "That's okay, Christina can compete with her." She placed her hand on her friend's shoulder, who wore the tiara that Amber had given her. James and Isabel immediately agreed with that, and in a matter of moments Hildegard, Clio, Jun and Desmond agreed with them.
Hugo shrugged. "Makes no difference to me. If she wants to compete, that's her call." He said.
"Excuse me but she can't." Zooey stated simply. "This is a picnic for royals and she clearly isn't royal, despite the tiara she has that clearly doesn't belong to her."
Isabel and Christina both bristled a bit at the insult.
"Things are being done so differently this year, I think we can make the exception." Sofia pointed out. Clearly that didn't make Zooey happy to hear.
At that point Roland approached with Elena. "What's going on here?" Elena asked them.
"We think that Isabel and Christina should be allowed to participate in the games this year." Hildegard explained to Elena.
"Sounds good to me." Elena said and then gave a smile to Isabel. "Get you to do something besides inventing for a change." She teased. Isabel gave her a very thin smile in return and Elena feared something else had happened to upset her sister.
"Christina is not a royal." Zooey tried to argue, even as she pointed at the girl. She gave a cold glare back. "This a royal picnic last time I checked." It made Elena wonder out of curiosity what she would think about Naomi, Gabe and Mateo being there.
"I think we can make the exception in this case." Roland said to Zooey, who clearly did not seem too happy about that decision. "I'll check with the other parents and find out." They all followed Roland over to Hildegard's father and Jun's father and they talked a moment before Roland turned to them. "If Christina and Isabel wish to compete together as a team they may do so." He declared. "Princess Elena, I'm sorry to say Baileywick couldn't be here this year. He usually referees the competition. Would one of your entourage care to do so this year?"
"I'll be happy to your majesty." Sonya said. The kings nodded their approval.
Isabel and Christina smiled happily and clapped hands together even as Zooey just seemed annoyed by it.
Sofia pulled James to the side for a moment. "Can I assume that you'll be a good sport this year?" She asked him.
"Yes." James assured her. "You taught me better about that Sofia." He glanced at the Avaloran princess. "And I guess I have another reason to keep that in check." He added but glanced curiously at Sofia when she simply giggled a little.
"Well get ready, the first event will start in five minutes." Roland announced. The kids broke up to get ready for the games.
"Is everything okay?" Gabe asked as he came to stand beside Elena. In this case whatever attraction between them didn't matter because they were both focused on one of the most important things in their lives; their little sisters.
"I'm not quite sure." Elena answered. "Isabel seemed annoyed already when King Roland and I approached them, but no one said why. Princess Zooey didn't seem too happy that an exception was made for Christina to be part of the games."
"I'm sure she'll get over it." Naomi supplied helpfully. "Or you know, end up bitter about like a certain chancellor I could name." She added with a smirk as she looked at Esteban who was talking with Jun's father. Elena tried to give her friend a look but ended up cracking a smile.
The first competition was a three legged race; from the starting line they would travel several feet, whirl around an large oak tree, and then back to the starting line. Isabel's right leg was tied up against Christina's left leg. Sofia's right leg was tied against James's left leg. Zooey's right leg was tied against Clio's left leg and Jun's right leg was tied against Hugo's left leg.
"Good luck everyone." Sofia said to them.
"You too." Christina said.
"Good luck as well." Jun said. Hugo didn't say anything but Sofia knew him well enough to be certain that he thought they could win. And the two had one the flying derby for Enchancia a while back.
"We've got this." Zooey declared confidently. The look on Clio's face sure didn't mirror her partner's confidence.
"On your mark, get set." Sonya called out. She saw the children were ready. She was glad she didn't have to do this, she was lucky to pretty much be getting a hold on walking on her own two new feet. "Go." She finished.
They all started off well but it wasn't long before Jun tripped up and took Hugo with her. They were struggling to get up. The others were doing well until they reached the oak tree, when James made a wide turn and fell to the ground with Sofia by him. "Ah, wipeout." James said with a snicker and Sofia giggled.
Isabel and Christina had turned around the tree and were only a few steps ahead of Clio and Zooey. It was hard to tell who was cheering for who right now even as Sofia and James were getting up to finish their rotation among the tree, with Jun and Hugo catching up now.
For a moment Christina and Isabel were neck in neck with Zooey and Clio but then Clio slipped up and took her partner down with her, by the time they had recovered Christina and Isabel had crossed the finish line. "Point Avalor." Sonya declared. They heard their older siblings cheering for them happily.
After that came the flying horse shoe toss, which again Sofia won for Enchancia. Next came the Golden Egg on a Spoon race. "Try not to drop it." Zooey advised Christina a little rudely. "I know it weighs more than the eggs your used to."
"That wasn't very nice Zooey." Sofia reprimanded her simply, Zooey tried to look abashed but wasn't really doing a good job of that. That race was won by Hugo and Jun though Isabel and Christina had been right behind them. "Point Wei-Ling." Sonya announced.
The final event was going to be enchanted discus, where they would declare the winner afterwards unless somehow Zooey and Clio won, then they would have to break the tie. It turned out though that it wasn't necessary as Jun and Hugo won the final round.
"Whew, that was exhausting." Christina said. "We don't even do that much in school."
"You're telling me." Clio agreed. She looked to Hildegard and Zooey. "Sorry we didn't do so well. We couldn't even get one point." She apologized.
"Don't worry about it Clio." Hildegard said with a wave of one hand as she patted her best friend's shoulder with her other hand. "It's no big deal."
"Yeah, no big deal." Zooey sighed with annoyance. Sofia and Isabel exchanged glances of uncertainty. Amber was already telling James that he did well this year, and she wasn't talking about his game performance.
"We'll have the victory ceremony after we eat." King Roland announced. Elena came over and gave Sofia and Isabel a hug and then high fived with James. Even Esteban seemed rather proud of them, especially his younger cousin.
Everyone settled around some picnic tables and they had the food dished out. Roland then stood and picked up his glass and the spoon and tapped on it gently to get everyone's attention. "I'd like to propose a toast to a successful Tri-Kingdom picnic." He announced. "Both for those of us who have done this for years," He looked with a nod to Jun and Hildegard's parents. "And for the first timers among us." He smiled at Elena and her family, and they all smiled back except for Esteban who gave a respectful nod. "I think next year we'll be calling this something a bit different though." He added and received a bit of laughter from everyone. "Anyway though, a toast to all of us."
Everyone raised their glasses and toasted as well before they all took a sip.
Sofia nudged James's arm with her own. "Great job James." She complimented. "Much better than last year. I guess Isabel is a good influence for you." She added with a smile.
"I think I owe you a bit for that too." James reminded her with a laugh. Still he couldn't help but glance at Isabel as she made a small plate for Kara.
Elena meanwhile broke off a piece of her bread and offered it to Blaze, who ate it happily. She laughed at her little bujito companion's eagerness. "Oh sweetie." She chuckled and kissed the top of her head. Sofia giggled as well, wishing she could have convinced Clover to come to the picnic.
They were all talking and enjoying the food and it almost seemed like even the rivalry that seemed to have been hanging about from Isabel and Zooey didn't exist when Blaze flapped her wings and started to hoot nervously.
"Oh, what is that bird brain's problem now?" Esteban asked with irritation.
Elena was about to give a harsh retort about the rude comment directed at her bujito companion when they saw dozens of men erupt from the forest around them. Each royal contingent had their own guards with them of course but it was clear that it wouldn't be long before they would get overwhelmed.
"I'm getting really tired of being constantly under attack." Naomi noted dryly.
"Maybe we can send them a strongly worded letter of protest." Jorge suggested just as dryly.
Elena glanced at the carriage they had arrived in. The good news was they had brought the magical throwing axe, the scepter of light, the stone spear and the orbs with them. The bad news though was that it was not in easy reach.
"We have to get to our weapons. Somehow, I mean we're kind of in deep trouble here." Gabe said to the crown princess as if he had read her mind.
"You're right." Elena said. "But we have to try." She started toward the carriage since it seemed to be easy enough to get to, until a figure stepped from behind the carriage and Elena let out a gasp as her dream came back to her. "No, it can't be."
"Oh my goodness." Miranda whispered.
"No way." James said as he felt Isabel reach her hand out to clasp his arm in surprise.
"Shuriki." Isabel whispered, her voice a mixture of shock and fright.
"We meet again Princess Elena." Shuriki said with an amused and menacing laugh as she leaned against the carriage, crossing her arms. In her right hand she held the one item Elena and Naomi had thought she could never find; her wand. "I told you that you would have to do better than that."
