Pandemonium

Summary: After a tragic event leaves all of Enchancia shaken, in the midst of overwhelming devastation and despair, an unexpected ally lends a hand to restore balance to the realm once more. (Collab with Mr. Shortman92; editing assistance by MarionetteJ2X)

Disclaimer: I own nothing except Daemno, Alamea, and Corban. Nana and Tanya belong to MarionetteJ2X. Daemno's wife Daluzia belongs to Mr. Shortman92. Also, this is his idea. 😊

A/N: For once in my stories, I'm not going to have an A/N at the beginning of each chapter, at least not until the last chapter. I'm going to let the story speak for itself for a change. 😊 I hope you enjoy!

Chapter 1: Bleeding Love

August had always been a rather fine month in Enchancia. The sky was a little bluer. The weather was consistently good. It was still summer, so the younger students were able to enjoy more time off. In fact, the only thing anyone ever complained about as far as August went was that it was too far away from Wassailia.

But I digress…

The day had gone relatively normally and without event. Miranda and Amber were presently playing with Corban, Alamea, Nana, and Tanya in one of the common rooms, courtesy of a new influx of toys that Corban had 'accidentally' ordered from a toy maker in the village, or so he claimed. Still, the toys seemed to make the kids happy, so Miranda wasn't about to deny them. She just gave her son a short lecture about 'asking Mommy first' the next time he wanted such treasures.

Sofia held Cedric's hand as they walked aimlessly along the main hall, their topics unfocused and their minds at ease. She felt a sense of peace. No more Elementals… No more Master Extorio… And no more pretending with the love of her life.

That's right. The love of her life. It wasn't exactly 'new news' at this point, but Cedric and Sofia had officially been courting for two months now, with blessings from her family. To them, everything still felt new: the dates in the garden, the longing embraces, the stolen kisses in the tower…

Of course, it had been just a bit of a challenge to explore this new relationship while also tending to the girls. So, Miranda had made a deal with them: she would deal with the girls on the weekends so they could spend that time building up their relationship. Even Amber had agreed to help, because she wanted her sister and the sorcerer to succeed in their amorous connection. It was obvious to both royal women that Cedric and Sofia had been meant for each other all along, and if they could help that along in any way, they were going to do it.

Sofia giggled as Cedric slowly spun her, her sorceress dress flowing out around her, before he guided her to rest against the wall, peppering small kisses on her cheek and eventually on her lips. "Oh, Cedric," she murmured against his lips, laughing as he embraced her once more, their kiss deepening.

"They look comfy, don't they?" Nigel joked, laughing as he observed the princess and the sorcerer. He was among a group of people, including some of the royal family, who were gathered in the main hall for one reason or another. "Admittedly, I'd wondered about their relationship before, but I don't think part of me was prepared for them to be courting."

"Seriously?" Cordelia snickered, shaking her head. "Nigel, despite what they may proclaim, Cedric and Sofia have been in love for a long time now… I'm surprised it took them this long to get together."

"I'm not," Roland interjected, humming softly and thoughtfully as he watched his daughter break the kiss with his friend, smiling up at him amorously. "They've been pretty busy the last few years or so, what with so many new and powerful villains rising up so often. I assume it all just got in the way." He tugged his sleeve down, a small smile on his own face. "But I'm glad that they were finally able to express their feelings and take their relationship in this new direction. I was starting to think it would never happen."

"Really, Dad?" James wondered, blinking. "I figured you were clueless about their relationship. No offense…"

"And I assumed you wouldn't approve," Baileywick added, checking his pocket watch. "After all, there are a number of glaring differences between them. And I remember you sometimes discouraged them from spending time together in the past."

"That may be, Baileywick," the king acquiesced, "but all the differences in the world couldn't stop Miranda and me from marrying. So, I'd be a bit of a hypocrite to deny them the same happiness… And for such trivial reasons." He smiled sheepishly, rubbing the back of his neck as he continued, "As for why I discouraged them from spending time together… Well, you have to remember that I didn't have much faith in Cedric's abilities back then. So, the idea of him teaching Sofia magic worried me. I just didn't quite know how to say, 'I'm sorry, Sofia, but I would rather you not be with Cedric when he accidentally mixes the wrong ingredients in his cauldron and blows the roof off his tower.'"

"But aren't they twenty-five years apart?" one of the workers asked, clearly on the younger side and not quite used to castle decorum. "That's a pretty big age gap!" Seeing a few annoyed looks from the others, including his employer, he grinned sheepishly, busying himself dusting again. "S-Sorry, King Roland! That's…none of my business, after all. I'll just…shut up now. Heh."

Roland rolled his eyes. "No, it's not… But yes, they are twenty-five years apart. Still, Sofia's an adult, and she can make her own decisions. And, like I said, such trivial things shouldn't matter. Age is really just a number anyway."

"You're only as old as you feel, right, King Roland?" Nigel asked as he smiled knowingly at the other man.

Roland smiled, nodding in agreement. "Correct, Nigel. Cedric's age hasn't gotten in the way of their relationship yet. I know it doesn't seem to bother Sofia, and her opinion is the only one that really matters here." He allowed a smirk to form on his lips as he pointed out, "Besides, while she may be younger than he is, she's often far more mature than he could ever hope to be."

"This coming from the man who staged an elaborate plan to embarrass the prince of Dunsburg only fifteen years ago," Cordelia quipped, folding her arms and smiling sarcastically at the sheepish king.

"Fair enough," he laughed. "My point is… Those two understand each other better than anyone else. As far as I understand, he's confided in her, just as she's confided in him. They've been friends for so long, and that friendship was built on trust and mutual respect. And they've only been growing closer over the last several years. It's not exactly a huge step for them to go from friends to…" He sighed, shaking his head as Sofia playfully jumped toward Cedric, knocking him onto the floor and tackling him into a hug, before kissing him gently. "…that…" He laughed again, amused. "It's been a gradual change."

James grinned. "Yeah. I'm glad they're together now. Sofia's happy with Cedric, and I like having him as part of the family. I mean, he's kind of felt like family for a long time anyway, but ever since he and Sofia adopted the girls, it's felt more official."

"That was rather noble," Calista acknowledged as she observed her uncle and friend (now also her almost-aunt) fondly. "They ensured that Nana and Tanya felt at home, becoming parents before they even had time to sort out their feelings for each other."

Roland nodded. "Right. Putting their own desires aside in order to make two young girls feel they had someone to care for them?" He smiled calmly. "They do bring out the best in each other, and they've even proven to be wonderful parents with all the help they've given the girls."

"Just imagine what will happen with their biological kids," James snickered. "If they have a little girl, I bet she'll have Cedric wrapped around her finger."

"That role is already secured by Nana," Calista giggled.

"It seems we have an audience," Cedric whispered to Sofia, blushing darkly as he realized that all eyes were on them. He blinked when the princess continued smiling warmly at him, her fingers ever so gently tracing his lips. "S-Sofia? Did you hear what I said?" He cast a quick glance toward the others before looking at her again. "E-Everyone's staring at us."

She giggled, lowering her hand to his hair and ghosting her lips over his as she whispered, "Let them…" With that said, she kissed him softly again.

The sense of peace was crushed almost instantly when a loud commotion fell upon the grounds just outside the castle. The sounds of yelling and screaming, bodies thudding to the pavement, and a distinct chink of swords being unsheathed…

"What's going on out there?" Cordelia wondered as Roland walked toward the door, peering out the windows. "King Roland?"

The blonde man narrowed his eyes before quickly turning toward the others. "The guards are trying to fight off some intruders. Our safety is at risk. We'll need to protect the castle. Someone, go warn Miranda."

"I will handle it, King Roland." Angel turned and hurried off toward the common room.

"Cedric!" Cordelia called, garnering the attention of her brother and the princess. "I hate to disrupt your adorable game of lip tickling, but we have an emergency here!"

Cedric flushed darkly at his sister's brash words. "C-Cordy, stop that!" He sighed, helping Sofia to her feet. "Sorry, my love… I should have caught you instead of…"

"Instead of…allowing me to fall…for you? Again?" She grinned as he blinked at her suggested conclusion. "Cedric—"

James sighed in exasperation, gesturing toward the door. "Can you two flirt later? There are a bunch of bad guys outside! And unless your plan is to make them sick due to your mushy displays of affection, we could really use some help here!"

Cedric just smiled at his partner, causing her to giggle. "To be continued?"

She kissed his cheek, nodding with a wink as she activated her Enchantlet. "Absolutely." She quickly led him over to the others.

"Cedric, Cordelia," Roland began worriedly as he heard the commotion outside get louder, "I need you two to cast a protective spell on the—"

Before he could even finish, the doors to the castle were blasted off their hinges, a group of bandits and dark magic wielders mixed together and entering the castle as if they owned it. Each man had either a weapon or a magical item (wand, scepter, or other device). One of the stronger and more muscular men tossed two unconscious (and possibly deceased) guards at the king's feet, laughing uproariously at the reactions of the castle dwellers.

One man stepped before the others. He appeared to be a warlock of some sort. He wore dark slacks with a belt and boots, and there was what appeared to be a loose off-white tunic with a black vest over it. The snaps that held the vest together were silver and spanned halfway down his chest, revealing bits of his tanned skin underneath. Over his clothing were several chains draped haphazardly across his shoulders. While part of his face was hidden with the long dark hooded cloak he wore over his clothing, it was clear that around his neck he had a dark choker with a blood-red snake dangling from it. He had an unshaven face with scattered facial hair along his cheeks, chin, and upper lip. Beneath his bushy eyebrows lay two piercing irises: his right one so light it almost appeared white and his left one as green as leaves in the springtime. His lips were set in a smirk, his expression content yet dangerous at the same time.

"Who are you?" Roland demanded, wishing he had access to his sword at the moment. It was locked away for the time being, given that he never needed it on a daily basis… Until now, apparently.

The warlock reached up and pushed his hood away, revealing short and thick black hair that was settled just below two pointed ears (evidence that he had some Elven blood in his veins). And now, the others could tell that he had some sort of dark mark spanning around his left eye from his temple to his jaw. He reached behind him and grasped an indigo-colored scepter with citrine stones nestled in the top spear and the main staff. He chuckled as the stones started glowing, some of the furniture and potted plants levitating around them as he maneuvered the scepter back and forth before swiping outward once, the items crashing to the floor around them. "Who I am is not important," he finally pointed out, his voice clear enough to indicate his younger age but deep enough for them to realize that he was at least well into his thirties. "It's what I intend to do…"

Sofia looked around, noting nervously how close the bandits and dark magic wielders were, and she moved a bit closer to Cedric, who wrapped one arm around her.

"I'll take this castle by force," the man revealed. "I've already rid myself of your pesky guards, King Roland."

Roland gasped upon hearing this. All his outside guards…were gone?

"And of course, my men have been promised a chance to pillage the royal jewels as well. Though I do plan to take some prisoners…" He smiled flirtatiously toward Calista, who glowered back at him, standing her ground. "I could always use some more…entertainment…"

"You'll do no such thing!" Cordelia declared, waving her wand and throwing a defense spell toward the man, cutting him on the cheek and causing him to bleed, the sanguine liquid running down his cheek as he groaned. "That's my daughter you're talking about. You lay one hand on her, I'll kill you."

The men all laughed at the sorceress's threat, as if they didn't take her words seriously. And given the number of weapons that were being drawn and the amount of powers that were starting to form, it was clear that they didn't.

"I guess we'll have to take you as well then." He smirked. "That's fine. The more the merrier. Men… Ravage this place."

With that, chaos ensued. Those with magical abilities had their hands full with the leader of the bandits and his most powerful underlings, while those who could handle physical combat were dealing with the stronger armed bandits. They were, unfortunately, outnumbered. So, a few weaker bandits had already started trashing the place just for fun, and a few others managed to capture a few castle inhabitants, including Nigel, Violet, Desmond (who had been sucker punched by a really big bandit), and Calista (who hadn't seen a couple of bandits sneaking up on her). One had snatched her wand, snapping it in two, while the other had grabbed her. The four prisoners were now out of the fighting, but were magically bound in a corner, unable to help their friends. To make matters worse, one bandit, it seemed, couldn't wait to get his hands on Violet. He was skinny but lean and appeared to be in his late forties, with short messy light brown hair, and lightly tanned skin. He wore a frayed leather vest and loose-fitting trousers, but that was it. He didn't even wear shoes.

"The boss'll probably want the young one for himself," he teased as Calista shot him a disgusted look. "But I don't see why we can't have a little fun right now." The man licked his lips as he reached out and grabbed Violet's bindings, pulling her towards him. She recoiled as she caught a whiff of his foul breath and body odor. Clearly, this guy knew nothing of personal hygiene. "What do you say, pretty lady? Wanna have a go?" He released her bindings and pressed one hand to her chest, giving a rough squeeze.

Violet gasped in horror.

Baileywick, who had somehow not been captured or injured yet, witnessed this, and something inside of him snapped. For possibly the first time in his life, he felt like doing something violent. So he did… "Unhand her, you creep!"

The bandit turned just in time to see a fist flying in his direction, but he wasn't able to react fast enough, and he was instantly knocked unconscious.

"Oh, Mr. Baileywick!" Violet cried as she threw her arms around her dear friend, hugging him tightly.

He hugged her back. "Are you all right, Violet?"

"I'm fine. Just a bit shaken. If you hadn't stepped in…" She didn't want to think about it. She buried her face in his chest. "Oh, thank you so much! I can't believe you actually punched that brute."

"Neither can I." He grimaced a bit, the pain finally registering as his hand began stinging. "Ow…"

Violet released him, instantly taking his hand, which had clearly seen better days, as his knuckles were now bruised and even bleeding a bit. "Oh, my! You're injured! Does it hurt?"

"Immensely. But…" He placed his free hand on Violet's cheek as she gazed up into his eyes. He smiled. "For you, I'd do it again without a second thought."

"Mr. Baileywick…" A warmth she'd felt several times when around her former boss and closest friend flooded her once again. He was always encouraging her, always helping her, and now saving her life? Her integrity? She had to thank him, but she also had to have a way to show him how much she… Without much thought to it, she angled her face upward and began to move closer to him, both of their eyes slowly closing and their lips hovering within millimeters of each other. But then…

Angel rushed up to them, interrupting the tender moment. "You two need to get to safety!" He freed the other two, instructing Calista to get the others to Miranda and Amber, saying they'd be safe there. She kissed him and then did as told, and Angel turned his attention back to helping the others fight.

While Cedric, Angel, and Roland were on one side of the main hall fighting, Sofia, Cordelia, and James were on the other. Each of them had their hands full, especially Cordelia, who was locked in magical combat with the leader of the bandits. The man smirked as he dodged a powerful blast. "You know… That daughter of yours is gonna make for a fine prize to claim once this battle is over. I mean, besides the crown jewels and the castle itself." He chuckled darkly. "How do you feel about bein' a grandmother?"

Cordelia growled and hurled several powerful spells in his direction. "I will flay you, you lecherous scum!"

"There are too many of them, Cedric!" Roland shouted as he just barely blocked a swing from a broadsword. He was currently wielding a sword that he'd removed from a coat of arms on the wall. The problem, though, was that it wasn't sharp. He'd had all of the 'real' swords on display replaced years ago after a very young James had tried to use one to cut open a watermelon and had almost hacked off his own leg. He was now starting to regret that decision and made a mental note to have all of the display swords sharpened, just in case. "We might need Tanya's help."

Cedric dodged a blast of dark magic, and returned a blast of his own, temporarily stunning his attacker. He turned to Roland. "No! Despite her power and fighting experience, she's still a child. I will not get her involved." Then, looking beyond the king, Cedric noticed that, while Sofia was otherwise preoccupied with her own attackers, one lone bandit was approaching her from behind, a small dagger in his left hand. Sofia appeared unaware, and James and Cordelia had their hands too full to notice either. She was vulnerable. "No… Sofia! Behind you!"

The young bandit had been just standing on the sidelines as the others fought, unsure what role he would play in it all. But then, he saw his opportunity. Everyone knew of Princess Sofia of Enchancia. She'd caused trouble for so many others like himself. She was powerful, but not invincible. And at the end of the day, she had flaws like any other person. One of those flaws was her overconfidence. She was so used to winning that the idea that she could lose this fight hadn't even crossed her mind, and therefore, she'd left herself open to a sneak attack.

Seizing his opportunity, he quickly and quietly crept up on her from behind, the hand that held his dagger shaking as he was filled with excitement at the prospect of possibly succeeding where so many others had failed. He was only inches away from his target when he heard the shout from the sorcerer. He had to act now!

Today had been going so well. Why did it have to change so quickly? Cedric and I had been enjoying our time together, exploring our love, and then these jerks had to come along and ruin it.

But at least they seemed relatively weak compared to villains like the Elementals and Malum In Se, so I knew it'd be over shortly. I was used to this sort of thing, and so my body was moving on pure instinct and muscle memory.

Only… there was something about this fight that was different: non-magical weapons. It was unexpected, but I figured it was no match for our magic. While Dad and James were battling some of the regular bandits, Cordelia, Angel, Cedric, and I were fighting the rest. They were tough, but I was having no problem fending off three at once.

Everything seemed to be a blur at that point, and so, when Cedric called out to me, I couldn't really make out his exact words. I turned to him, seeing a look of fear in his eyes. But why would he be afrai-?

I felt someone grab me from behind, and I saw their left hand come in front of my body, a dagger held backwards in it, aimed straight at my heart. It all happened so fast. Everything had seemed fine, and then I saw that blade and felt its entire length penetrate my chest. Almost as if time had slowed down, I could feel all five inches of the razor-sharp steel sliding between my ribs as it pierced my most vital organ. It was a pain unlike anything I'd ever felt. I felt the blood beginning to fill my chest and I instantly had trouble breathing. The blade must have cut into my lung as well.

I turned to face my attacker—no, killer. That's what he was. He'd not only landed his attack; he'd made sure a second one wouldn't be needed. As I looked upon the rather young-looking, short, pudgy man, I realized that he didn't even look familiar, though I was sure he'd come in with the others. Maybe I should have paid more attention…

I gasped as he instantly pulled the blade back out, the pain almost worse than when he'd shoved it in. He appeared shocked at first, as if he couldn't believe he'd actually managed to catch me off guard and overpower me, but then he smiled, obviously proud of his accomplishment. 'Oh, I hope Cedric turns you to ashes, you…sick, disgusting, evil piece of…'

My vision began to blur as I wobbled. I looked down at my feet, only just now noticing how much blood was there. Was it all mine?! I could feel my blood pumping in my ears, but it was slowing rapidly. Blood couldn't pump if it wasn't there… Suddenly everything went sideways. I had collapsed in my own blood, and I could taste some in my mouth. Oh, that's right… One of my lungs was filling with blood, wasn't it? I was literally drowning in my own blood. Hard to believe when so much of it was on the floor…

My body was getting colder, and I could feel tears rolling down my cheeks. They weren't for me. They were for the ones I was leaving behind… 'I love you all. Remember that. My family… My friends… My girls... Mama loves you. And Cedric... My love... I love you most of all... We'll see each other again someday. I'm sure of it...' I could hear the fighting still continuing. Cedric was shouting out a single word repeatedly. I think it was the ultimate destruction spell. I smiled one last time as everything faded to black. 'Get them, Cedric...'

And just like that, it was over. Princess Sofia of Enchancia, the Protector of the Ever Realm, the bright light in so many peoples' lives…

Was gone.

To be continued…

Next Chapter: Cease and Resist