Evie and the Witch's Curse, Part 2 Family History.
It only took Helena seconds to return to her Gingerbread Village, which she still plans on rebuilding. And to make the village better than it was previously. When she returns, she sees Regina with a conscious Evie, right now Evie is out in the open attempting to levitate a rock. And her struggle is clear.
"You're doing fine Evie baby steps, you've managed to create a small breeze," Regina complimented.
"Evie, you will never manipulate any form of earth with that posture and stance," Helena commented it came out rather harsh unintentionally. Evie's concentration broke leaving the rock she was attempting to levitate back to how it normally is.
"HELENA," Regina snapped.
"I'm pointing out the obvious, she will make mistakes but if she's not being corrected, she won't make progress," Helena replies. Evie turned to face both witches.
"You make it all look easy, you two. You're both prodigies of witchcraft," Evie says, she didn't mind a challenge, but the art of the craft didn't feel like a challenge it felt like an impossible task given to her to mock and belittle her.
"I know but for every critique, there has to be a compliment," Regina responds, "She was successful in manipulating the wind around her,"
"Prodigies aren't necessarily innately gifted at everything we do, we had good teachers," Helena said.
"My posture and stance worked great for air why not for earth?" Evie asks.
"You are aware of the elements aren't you, Evelyn," Helena replies.
"Yes, four elements that make up nature each one has a polar opposite," Evie answers.
"That's it!" Helena says unimpressed.
"What is there else to know?" Evie asked.
"Grimhilde didn't teach you anything of the craft," Helena says.
"A little bit about potions, I can make sleeping potions and fire stingers potions, but that was it," Evie replied.
"They two was on the Isle for most of Evie's life, she might have thought there wasn't much point in teaching her a lot about the craft since they couldn't practice magic," Regina pointed out.
"No, Grimhilde took great pride in four things being the fairest, the smartest and a Pershing witch and being the most powerful. She never liked being weaker than my mother or me. Regina, you're not one of those people who faint over the tiniest drops of blood?" Helena enquired.
"Losing a drop of my blood is the least of my concerns," Regina responded. Helena then conjured a small needle. Which she uses to prick one of Regina's fingers the droplet of blood which falls from the witch's fingers during midfall it floats upwards and starts to admit a purple night. Helena then approaches her niece and does the same, however, instead of purple light, Evie's droplet of blood radiates a violet light instead.
"What exactly are you planning to learn from this?" Evie questions.
"The truth behind, Grimhilde neglecting to teach you about the gifts, you have inherited," Helena answered.
"Well," Regina says.
"I'd thought as much Grimhilde neglected to train you because your innate power is stronger than hers, you surpass her naturally," Helena replies. "It explains why you could hurt Rumpelstiltskin a little, whereas your mother couldn't do anything against him really,"
"With the anti-magic law still active in Auradon, am I still welcomed there?" Evie asks, she found a home there.
"Ben wouldn't banish you," Regina tells the girl.
"Auradon isn't stable and if the council start to doubt Ben, they could try and push for an election for a new ruler or rulers. Let's hope for the best though," Helena pointed out. She didn't want to scare the girl, but she didn't want to make the girl naïve.
"Why don't we take a break from magic and Auradon politics, for now, you haven't had much to eat, Evie," Regina suggested.
The dinner went fairly well, they had all agreed not to bring up magic or the state of Auradon. They needed something positive to work on. Regina decided to double-check the condition of Doug after dinner. Leaving just aunt and niece together.
"You've got a lot to learn," Helena said as the two sits on a gingerbread couch where the cushions are made of marshmallows, on Helena's lap lies a large rectangular green leather-bound book.
"Where do I start? And what good will it do, if Doug will never awaken," Evie asked.
"We will start where the source of a witch's magic comes from and the history of our family. We learn by those who came before us and past events. If there a small chance that Doug can be saved then you must try, it is better to try than to never try at all," Helena answers.
"I just keep thinking that if I'd never loved him, if I had let him go, he would be fine," Evie confessed.
"Evelyn Pershing, there is no love without sacrifice, even if you had let him go. His life wouldn't be painless. Pain is a part of life it allows us to grow, evolve and appreciate the good times we have," Helena told Evie, her voice stern but soft.
"Maybe," Evie sighed.
"NO! Definitely," Helena says.
"So, tell me about the elements than," Evie spoke.
"Water is the element of change and adaption. Fire is the element of drive and life and just like life fire can be unpredictable it brings light and warmth but also may bring destruction. Earth is the element of endurance and strength. It is strong and its will is almost unbreakable. Finally, the element of air, the fourth element the element of freedom and inner peace. Neither element can exist without one another they balance each other out. The elements are what makes up nature, and is the source of all Light Magic," Helena explained.
"What happens if the elements are out of sync?" Evie asks.
"Twisted things, happen the elements will always try to remain in balance with one another." Helena answered.
"Our family, why do people flinch at the mention of the Pershing witches not just my mother but Pershing witches in general?" Evie asked.
"This book holds the secret and a lot of insight into our family, after the first page just take a look at page five hundred," Helena answered and advised. Evie nods and takes the book and opens it on page one.
Page One: The Introduction:
The Pershing bloodline is the first and oldest bloodline of witches to exist, chosen personally by the Goddess Hecate, they serve as the servants of nature. They can be either a person's greatest alley or gravest enemy.
Flashback:
Back almost three thousand years ago, during a time of fear, worry and war a young woman is the only person. Who can stand between a power-crazed emperor and world domination! This young woman was born and raised in a humble village, to a blacksmith Edward Pershing and his wife Katherine. While her family wasn't wealthy, they had enough to live by and their village has a deep sense of community. The twenty-one-year-old witch, Davina has her whole life planned out, she would marry her fiancé and carry on her bloodline. Passing on all that she has learned from her father to her children and to continue living an almost invisible life.
Today, Davina woke up to loud screams and banging on the Pershing hut wooden door. The loud banging and screams made her quickly head to the door and open it. To her surprise, the blond, green-eyed witch with olive skin sees a massive hoard of villagers and townsmen and women with their children. Davina dressed quite modesty mostly brown rags and walked barefoot. Davina's fiancé made her a simple silver chained necklace, that has a small silver dove attached to it. He chose a dove as he remembered how fondly Davina was of that bird species in particular.
"What are you all doing here?" Davina asked.
"Emperor Duncan and his armies are advancing towards our villages and towns," A villager answered.
"My father, he's recently passed," Davina says.
"You are his daughter," A villager said.
"What of it? There are armies of this part of the region that were built to protect us," Davina pointed out.
"Our armies are falling, they can't hold Duncan back, he has the protection of Dragons, he wants to wipe out anyone who doesn't fit his idea of the perfect world," Another villager answered. Davina frowned; it wasn't as if she didn't care for these people. She did it was just she never had to fight someone with magic or have some never mind hundreds possibly thousands of people rely solely on her. She had no idea where to start her father would know what to do, Duncan wouldn't be a problem if her father's state of health hadn't declined these past few years prior to his death.
"There must be another witch or sorceress who can help," Davina tried to reason.
"There isn't enough time, we need you and we need you now! We don't want to live under a tyrant or have our homes turned to ash!" A townswoman yelled, just as Davina's fiancé Troy a man in his early twenties with smooth dark hair, white skin, dark blue eyes who wears brown rags comes into view. He only woke up a minute ago and his head was really just starting to function properly.
"Pardon, but why have we got so many guests at our doors?" Troy asked, if it wasn't for the fact that Troy suffered from a terrible cart accident injuring his left leg severely making it, so he needed a walking stick to help him walk. He would have been called up to the front.
"Can you give us a minute," Davina requested, well not really, she just said that to be polite before closing the door. She turned and faced Troy. "Duncan and his armies are approaching our peninsula; they say he has dragons with him and that our armies are falling."
"Then you should help them," Troy said.
"I can't I don't know how Troy," Davina replies.
"Use your magic, you're a Pershing witch," Troy says.
"I am a Pershing, but I have none of the Pershing qualities, all those that came before me were great warriors and healers. I've never been in a simple fight and people expect me, to take on Duncan and all of his armies!" Davina snapped.
"Davina, you were lucky enough to be born and grow up in a time when your family didn't have to run for their lives. Your father and those who came before you had to run and learn to fight to survive it was hit and miss all the time with them. Only experience and motivation helped them become great warriors and healers," Troy responded remaining calm.
"I don't have any experience how am I supposed to get the experience I need? In such a short time," Davina shouted.
"Davina, you're focusing on all the wrong things right now," Troy responded.
"Then what should I be focusing on?" Davina asks.
"What you do know, my love. Your father taught you everything he knew, he left you with dozens of grimoires. Take whatever time we have and find out how you can apply your strengths into facing Duncan, be creative as you always have been. Why do you think your father was respected so much?" Troy said.
"He was powerful," Davina answered.
"No, it was because he was kind it was because of his morals. He had great power and never abused it never tried to take people's freedom and rights from them. He looked out for people and in return, they had faith in him and that's where he gained their respect," Troy replied.
"I can't live up to his legacy," Davina says.
"This isn't about legacy, he is proud of you, that I am sure. Everyone out there has faith in you, I have the most faith that you will do the right thing. If Duncan isn't stopped then we can't have the family, we planned just as thousands will lose their families and the chance of a future family of their own," Troy tells Davina.
"Go outside and tell them, I'll help and ask them not to go anywhere else and ask them how long it could take for Duncan and his men to reach our region." Davina requested. Troy did what she requested, she searched through all the grimoires at her disposal, recalled the stories her father told her about his battles. Everything, trying to come up with a plan one that might not lead to a full out war.
Eventually, Davina came to form a plan one she wasn't fully convinced it would work. But right now, she had no other option. She left to reach the neck the peninsula where their armies would be fighting a losing battle against Duncan and his armies. Davina was horrified, she could see six dragons breathing immense fire down at the soldiers fighting against Duncan.
"Stand down all of you," Davina shouted, still sat on her horse. She drew the attention of both armies making both halts briefly.
"A peasant comes to the battlefield to beg, how lovely," Duncan snarled.
"Leave us be," Davina requested the soldiers on her side, "I'm here on the behalf of Edward," The soldiers on her side nod and ride away leaving her alone in the presence of Duncan, his armies and his dragons.
"Are you supposed to be a last-minute gift to try and ask for mercy?" Duncan asks.
"No, Duncan, I am asking you to use whatever common sense, you have. I won't let you expand your empire any further," Davina answered.
"YOU! Stop me, a man who has six dragons and thousands of warriors at my side which is barely a fraction of my army as a whole, you really are delusional," Duncan replies.
"Have it your way than Duncan," Davina said making direct eye contact with the tyrant.
"You're not worth my time, dragons have at her," Duncan says dismissing the witch. The dragons circle Davina in the air, Davina would be lying if she wasn't nervous and terrified. But right now, this wasn't about her. This is about countless innocent lives. The dragon breathes fire in her direction she makes a quick hand gesture extinguishing their fire. Before she makes two fists into the direction of the six dragons. The dragons are turned to stone and they then shatter. Hundreds of pieces of stone fall down onto Davina. Duncan and his army find themselves in awe, she had easily killed six dragons all at once.
"Who are you?" Duncan demanded to know.
"Davina Pershing, daughter of Edward Pershing, after today, if I find out you try and take over one more town, village, city, region hell or kingdom. I will come to you and you will suffer my wrath," Davina warns the emperor, she then stamps her left foot hard onto the ground. The earth started to violently shake, she extends her hands out to both her left and right side. Davina calling upon all of her magical strength slices through the short piece of land that connects Duncan's empire to the peninsula where her home village and other villages and towns lie. She then uses her magic to push the peninsula far away from Duncan and his armies.
This incredible act of magic left Davina on bed rest for almost three weeks. This act of power was known across the world. People could not talk about it for days.
End of Flashback:
"She did that all by herself?" Evie said in disbelief.
"Yes, it's truly amazing what a person can do if she can see the same faith and trust other people can see in them," Helena replies.
"What happened to the peninsula and everyone who lived there?" Evie asks.
"Keep reading and you'll see," Helena tells the girl. Evie nods and resumes her reading.
"Davina went on to earn the title of Davina the Great, all of the towns, villages and cities in peninsula came together to form a new kingdom known as Arendelle. She faced Emperor Duncan once more years later and with help of a few witches, she collapsed his empire leaving him only with a small kingdom, she and her husband Troy shared a daughter together," Evie read out loud. "She created the Arendelle!"
"No, she split a vast piece of land it was people on the peninsula who created Arendelle," Helena responded.
"People fear us all because of our power," Evie said.
"Yes, but the people of the peninsula respected and had faith in two of our own because they knew that Edward and Davina had great power but wouldn't abuse it," Helena says.
"We never learned about Davina's history with Arendelle," Evie replied.
"My grandmother was quite a private person, she wanted our family to know of her stories to show, we can do great things selfless things," Helena said.
End of chapter.