Disclaimer: I do not own Sofia the First
A/N: Here's the next chapter. I had actually planned to get this up earlier. But when I heard about cedfiaweek this month, I had to set this aside for a bit to focus on getting ready for that.
Also, just a warning, this chapter does get dark. As the summary for this story says, the history of Baeldthoria is not at all pleasant, and this will be just the first taste of that.
This was another vision. Sofia had grasped that much as she clutched the amulet, still hanging safely around her neck in this dream like state.
However, before she could even begin to become cognizant of her surroundings, and what was happening; her mind and senses overloaded with a dizzying blur of information.
Whispers of war with a neighboring kingdom, and a poignant feeling of uneasiness seemed to be the two prevailing factor hanging in the air. Shrouding the princess in a thick veil that threatened to drown her in it's grasp.
At last, the world stopped spinning, and she found herself within the Baeldthorian throne room. Standing unnoticed in her ethereal form among a group of nobleman. The wands in their hands indicating that she was once again, seeing the time period of Belteshazzar's reign.
The princess craned her neck to look towards the throne. Her gaze catching the aforementioned monarch sitting upon it, an oddly shaped wand in his grip. She smiled in relief at the familiar sight of the good king but that feeling instantly faded as she regarded his form. A certain feeling of uncanniness beginning to seep into her heart.
She grimaced, shaking her head. Trying for all the world to figure what was making her so uncomfortable. But just couldn't place it...After all, the man looked exactly the same as how she'd remembered...
...But...there was just something...off...about him...
Her scrutinizing eyes turned briefly to the new wand he clutched in his hand, and an icy shiver coursed through her veins...
The doors to the throne room flew open, startling Sofia back to the present. Maneuvering to the front of the other sorcerers, she looked on curiously as a man walked inside. His regal attire and wand betraying his own identity as a Sorcerer Noble.
Almost immediately he was made to relinquish his wand to a guard standing nearby. He grimaced, doing so reluctantly, before stepping forward to face Belteshazzar.
Sofia could feel the man's terror. His throat dry, and the pit in his stomach churning terribly. But he put on a brave face, summoning whatever courage he had within him as he bowed before his king.
Belteshazzar remained seated. Looking down at the man making obeisance to him.
"Arise Aaron," he commanded. His voice still carrying the same gentle tone Sofia had come to recognize. Though there was an icy quality to it now, that she found rather unsettling.
The sorcerer did as his king bid, but kept his eyes on the ground.
"I trust you're already aware of why I summoned you here?" Belteshazzar asked.
The man cringed, his body trembling as he answered with a shuddering "Yes..."
"Good. Then can I also presume that you need not be enlightened as to the consequences you will face should you refuse my offer..." the fingers of his free hand lazily tracing the arm of his throne.
Aaron swallowed thickly. His apprehension nearly catching in his throat, as he nodded slowly.
"Well, will you join us then?..." his arm sweeping out slowly, in gesture of the group of Sorcerers already collected in the throne room.
Join them? Join them for what?...
"Consider you're answer carefully," Belteshazzar warned further, as his subject remained silent. "Remember, it isn't just your own well being at stake here..."
Aaron studied his peers for a few moments, then with as much boldness as he could muster he addressed the king.
"Your highness..." his voice warbling significantly with fear. "This needs to stop..."
"Does it?" Belteshazzar questioned. Nonchalantly stroking the wand in his grip. His voice like the fresh powdered snow of Friezenburg. Invitingly gentle, yet hiding deadly consequences for anyone unfortunate enough to fall too deeply into it's frigid embrace.
A wave of disgust coursed through the noble at his liege's nonchalant response. But he persisted. "Yes! I don't know what's gotten into you. But these people...your people...aren't our enemy."
Belteshazzar merely stared back at him, his expression unreadable.
Seemingly unable to reach his leader, Aaron directed his cries to his fellow sorcerers instead. Imploring desperately. "None of us should be doing this! We're supposed to use our powers, our skills, to protect and serve those under us. Not enslave or torment them!" clenching his fists so tightly the knuckles turned white, he shot the king a dark glare. "This tyranny you've suddenly enforced, is the ultimate betrayal of everything we stand for!"
A few of the other sorcerers squirmed uneasily at Aaron's reprimand. Exchanging covert glances that betrayed their guilt. Yet none of them made any effort to side with him.
The room echoed with an eerie silence. Until it was broken by Belteshazzar
"Is your answer no then?"
Aaron stood firm before the king, a look of defiance on his features. The fear that had once dominated his thoughts, now replaced with the newfound bravery and adrenaline of a man who knew he had lost the battle anyway. So may as well go out with sword in hand.
"That is correct," he growled lowly. Before summoning every ounce of courage he possessed. "I will have no part in this!" his formerly timid voice thundering loudly, as he slashed a hand through the air for emphasis.
Belteshazzar hummed softly in disappointment, "I see. Well, that's a shame. I had really hoped to persuade you..."
There was a flash of light, and when it had dispersed Aaron fell to the ground. Smoke rising from his body, as a revolting smell of burned flesh began to stink the air.
Sofia gasped in horror. Both hands covering her mouth, as she observed the unfortunate sorcerer. Now laying lifeless in a rapidly accumulating pool of his own blood.
Belteshazzar merely stared at the scene coldly, the tip of his wand still glimmering with the magic from his fatal spell.
"Clean that up." He ordered simply, and a pair of frightened sorcerers rushed over to do as he bid.
"Joab!"
The sorcerer in question hurried over and bowed before the King. "Yes, your majesty?" Endeavoring valiantly to keep his voice steady, though he couldn't fully mask the hidden tremor.
"I believe Aaron's family will be missing him. It would be well if we helped reunite them as soon as possible..." the king ordered quietly.
Joab nodded, needing no further explanation. An ugly pit forming in his stomach at the thought. But being disinclined to meet a similar fate, he agreed readily. "I'll see to it, your majesty..."
"Good." Belteshazzar whispered, before looking expectantly towards the doors once more.
"Now then, who's next..."
Again, Sofia was swept away by her amulet, and while still recovering from the shock of that previous scene she realized that she was now in a large field. Where many of Baeldthorian's citizen were hard at work harvesting their crops.
Looking upwards she caught sight of a hilltop, where a few of the sorcerer nobles had gathered.
The peasants faces brightened at them. As if they expected that they had come to either lend their magical aid to their efforts, or else, increase their surplus.
They were gravely disappointed however, when the sorcerer's true intentions revealed. Raising their collective wands high into the sky, their bodies silhouetted against the reddish light of the setting sun, they conjured up a massive inferno. Which they directed straight into the fields. Incinerating the food and whatever unfortunate soul happened to be caught within it's blaze.
Sofia watched in horror as many tried in vain to escape the blaze. Hideous shrieks of pain and terror ascending from them, their bodies already alight with the magical fire. Flames surrounded her as well, though it did her no harm in her astral form. But she could still feel a ghost of the agony it produced in it's victims.
Finally her amulet tore her away from the scene, only to present her another that was an unbearably distressing as the last, and then another, and another, and another...
She watched as magic induced earthquakes rocked cities and villages. Buildings toppled to the ground, crushing their inhabitants to death, as others were swallowed up by the earth...
Groups of sorcerers pointed their wands skyward. Conjouring storms of wind, water, and lightning so cataclysmic they destroyed entire villages, and set fires to the neighboring forests. The bodies of many unfortunate victims either washed away in the floods, or ripped apart in the raging whirlwinds...
Streams of dark miasma seeped out of other's wands and into the bodies of villagers. Putrefying into various diseases of both the body and mind. Haunting it's victims with a madness and despair they couldn't escape...
Magical blizzards also ravaged the land, with a cold so intense that all caught in their path froze instantly, their bodies shattering like delicate crystal in the fierce squalls...
Still, others used their skills in potion making to concoct deadly poisons, which they poured into the varying water supplies. Murdering even more of the kingdom's populace...
Another vision actually found her amongst the actual war zone she had heard of rumors of. Where many Baeldthorian soldiers were struggling against a formidable foe. Despairing as to why they had not received more aid from their fellow countrymen. Oblivious to the awful reality that their home was already imploding from within. Left without sustenance many of them succumbed to hunger and thirst. Their weakened ranks plowed before the forces of their enemy...
These, as well as many other horrid image revealed themselves. As groups of sorcerers who had pledged themselves to Belteshazzar used their magic to murder and torment vast quantities of people. The most wretched of plagues born from their wands, all aided by Belteshazzar's own immense magic.
The cries of the people were like burning knives, piercing the protector's already faltering heart. In her frenzied anguish to relieve their suffering she activated her enchantlet to stop one of the unscrupulous sorcerers from claiming the life of a defenseless citizen. But the lasso only passed uselessly through. Reminding her of the distressing truth that these were visions of the past, and couldn't be changed...
She was therefore forced to watch helplessly on as vast amounts of people, animals, and land were ravaged mercilessly. As she did, she became aware of a particularly disturbing revelation. That the quaint little kingdom of Baeldthoria she knew in the present, had at one point in time been a much larger country.
Things weren't completely devoid of hope though...
Once she found herself in the middle of a village, buildings burning and chaos all around as people scattered for their lives.
A cry alerted her and she looked to see that one of Belteshazzar's noblemen was aiming his wand towards a small child, a wicked grin upon his face as the little girl trembled in fear.
Sofia was loathed to watch, however she was pleasantly surprised when instead of the dreaded event she anticipated. The evil sorcerer was knocked back by a blast of magic.
Looking in the direction it had sprung she saw a young man. Another sorcerer, save that this one appeared to be a peasant. She recalled from her previous vision that the magic arts were not solely confined to those of the royalty and nobility; though they weren't alway as readily available to the common folk.
Belteshazzar's lackey groaned, stumbling back to his feet he fixed his young opponent with a glare. Raising his wand he was abruptly frozen in place by a spell from behind. This one cast by a village girl, about the same age as the other youth. They looked a lot alike. It was possible they were siblings. Perhaps even twins.
Quickly she pocketed her wand and rushed, to the child. Who still sat, transfixed with fear at the sight before her. Reaching her the little girl threw herself into her arms. Wailing as she sought comfort.
The older girl soothed her with gentle hushes, before turning towards the young man. "Are you alright, John?"
"Yeah..." he sighed, watching cautiously as the frozen sorcerer was begining to break from his bonds. His sister's spell not strong enough to keep the more experienced wizard confined.
"You'd better get out of here Haddasah," he suggested.
Haddasah nodded, though she was reluctant to leave her brother alone to fight. She understood it was more imperative to get the child to safetly.
So she fled, pulling the little girl behind her as John readied his stance for the oncoming battle.
In a flash of hellish red light the evil wizard burst out of the spell. His visage contorted with a bloodthirsty rage as he squared off with the other sorcerer. It would be an unfair fight no doubt. For John, whose social ranking was much lower, likely did not have access to the exquisitely powerful and complex magic of his leaders.
Nevertheless the mage stood fearlessly against his opponent. Fending him off heroicly, as those in the village fled for their lives.
So there were those fighting back that was a comfort.
Unfortunately their powers were small, and easily swept away by the forces on the king's side. Whose ranks were growing daily, even among common born sorcerers. Ensnared in to join by both threat, and flattery.
What was especially disturbing to Sofia, were the offending sorcerer's varying attitudes throughout it all. Some seemed to take an almost unholy delight in their wicked actions, as though the kings orders had allowed them the opportunity to fully realize their malicious natures.
Most however, performed their work begrudgingly. Feeling much guilt at the agony they were causing. But unwilling to relent, lest they or their own loved ones suffer worse. A fear that was not unfounded, for all who stood against a direct order from the king met an extremely distressing fate.
Sofia collapsed to her knees as another torrent washed over her, setting her emotions haywire She could feel everything! Agony, despair, hatred, anger, grief and...Joy? Oh why!? Oh why of all things was she feeling joy?! Her maddened thoughts cried out. Only answered by sound of her own voice involuntarily jirating in high pitched cries. Breath squeaking out in raspy gasps as she struggled to catch it. Face stained with hot tears.
Her amulet pulled her to the center of this despair and ruin. Both bestowing these travesties with his own wand, and commanding his underlings to do the same. Belteshazzar himself.
The man's image burned itself into the princess' mind. An unnatural grin plastered onto his otherwise expressionless face; contrasting eerily against the cold, cruel image of his eyes.
Disturbing alternations of despaired wailing and maniacal laughter, amidst gasps for air mirrored Sofia's own uncontrollable one. Filling her ears with it's revolting cadence, filling her with dread.
His hand in all this was the most unsettling factor of all in this nightmare. Like a puzzle piece that wouldn't, or at least shouldn't, have fit. But did...
What in all the Everrealm was going on? Belteshazzar, what had become of the man she had come to admire in her last vision? This couldn't be the same person, could it?...
Unfortunately, everything from the way he spoke and acted, save for the newfound murderous impulse, indicated that it truly was the Sorcerer King.
And yet, there was just something... Something she couldn't quite place... Something disgustingly rotten hidden within the deepest recesses of the man's being, that just didn't belong there.
Also, where was Dorcas? Sofia had not seen the queen even once amidst these nightmarish visions...
When it felt as though her heart couldn't take anymore. She was abruptly thrust back into the throne room. Her senses returning to normal, for what she both suspected and hoped, would be the final scene.
A stillness like death lingered in the air. The room completely bare save for the spectral witness that was Sofia, and two sorcerers. Belteshazzar at his throne, looking down dully upon the opponent who had dared to face him.
The king smirked in amusement, an aura of magic and darkness accumulating around his person as he stood in acceptance of his challengers proposal.
Sofia watched transfixed as the hooded figure, removed his disguise. Revealing.
"Micah?" she breathed in awe. Never expecting to see Dorcas' old friend, and childhood love here. Though it gave her a small ease to know he was still alive.
There was something different about him though. He was older of course, that much was obvious and expected. But there was also something about the way he carried himself, and the way he looked when he actually managed to succeed in concealing the fear and pain. His face hardened like stone, and his gray eyes appearing almost cruel.
Perhaps it was merely the emotional corroding one would expect from living in such turmoil. Yet, there was also something strangely familiar about it too...
Once more however, the rapidly unfolding events didn't allow her the luxury to ponder over such things.
Belteshazzar started to raise his wand, readying with confidence for another lethal strike. But in what seemed and instant, Micah flicked his own. Hurling a blast of magical energy at the evil king. A loud explosion burst forth at the contact, and when it cleared the dismembered pieces of the king fell to the floor rain. Arms, legs, and head no longer connected to the body, and the limbs severed in pieces perfectly at their joints. Even his torso had torn in half at the waist; and although the bright blue flames engulfing them actually hid much of the gore, so that not even a drop of blood could be seen, it still disturbed the princess immensely to witness such a gruesome end. Even for one so wicked.
At last, mercifully, the visions ended and she was carried away in that white light. Succumbing once more to a dreamless void for the remainder of her slumber.
A/N: While writing this chapter I listened to both 'Theatre D' by Myth & Roid, and 'Gift from The Princess who Brought Sleep' by Vocaloid composer MOTHY. Thank you for reading.