Prophetic
Summary: When Sofia hears that Butterford is by himself due to Muscles and the other pirates going on a mission, she invites him to go with her and Cedric to a bazaar. There, an oracle issues a warning to them about Sofia, worrying the couple. However, Butterford is suspicious of the prophecy and intends to get to the bottom of things to help his dear friends.
Disclaimer: In this particular story, I only own Butterford and the Oracle Delphine. Everyone else belongs to Craig Gerber. (Of course, I own Serena and Charlie, only mentioned; and Nana and Tanya belong to Marionette J2X, again, only mentioned.)
A/N: This all started because of a drawing I saw, and it all went from there. Meanwhile, since we're out of school for a few days to attempt to minimize the issues with the virus in our area, and since I'm ahead in my class posting, then I figured, "Why not? I'll write another little something." Haha. I'm going to try to make this connect to The Tainted Ten, so hopefully this will be the last push I need to start that story. 😉 This will be a two-chapter story due to the content and work around the house that needs to be attended to. Second chapter should be out sometime tomorrow. 😊 Hope you enjoy!
Chapter 1: Windswept Whispers
Butterford stared out the window of the AutoCoach while the couple across from him chatted quietly, Sofia's fingers subtly slipping under the sorcerer's sleeve and just into the rim of his glove, massaging his wrist gently. The former crewman turned to look at them, smiling as he noticed how immersed in each other they were, even after being married for six years now, not to mention all the years before that they'd known and spent falling in love with each other.
Why was he even here with them, one might wonder? Well, all the areas of the Mystic Isles were practically empty right now, with several Protectors and other members at important meetings or off on different missions, including Muscles and the other former pirates with whom he was friends. Muscles had insisted Butterford stay behind, worried for his safety, and the light-haired former galleon crewman had actually complied. It wasn't that he couldn't handle himself; he very much could. He was just reluctant to be involved with perilous circumstances, because it reminded him too much of a few years ago, when he'd lost Hopscotch…and had almost died himself.
Sofia had reached out to him, comforted him, and befriended him, and she had become an important part of his life ever since. She was the reason he was able to play the piano again. She was the reason he had a new life, surrounded with new friends and loved ones. She was the reason he had a second chance.
So, when she'd invited him to go with her and Cedric to a bazaar a few hours away from Enchancia, he couldn't turn down the offer. It would keep him from sitting in the isles, worrying about Muscles and the others' safety, and he would be positively distracted for a change.
"Jas?"
Butterford blinked, hearing the princess's voice, and smiled sheepishly as he noticed the other two looking curiously at him. "Sorry, did I zone out again?"
"Periodically," Cedric responded, chuckling. "Granted, it's rather easy to do on these long trips. One's mind might wander…" He smirked playfully toward the princess, who still had her fingers pressed comfortably against his pulse point. "As well as one's hands…"
She matched his smirk, leaning forward to kiss him once. "I haven't heard you complaining."
The sorcerer couldn't help the light blush that arose to his cheeks, and he cleared his throat, attempting to straighten up and appear a bit more put together than he actually was. "Y-Yes, well… What is there to complain about anyway?"
"Good answer," Butterford joked, laughing softly as Sofia playfully ruffled her husband's hair, earning a flustered grumble from him as he tried to capture her hands to stop her. He smiled as Cedric ended up kissing the princess's knuckles, distracting her from continuing her actions. "So… How are the children?"
Sofia grinned, still holding Cedric's hands as she turned back to her friend. "They're great. Nana and Tanya are studying at their school, and Serena and Charlie have been making good marks at their school. Right now, they're with Cedric's parents, paying them a visit and learning how to make fly cakes."
"Which is good news for me," Cedric responded cheekily. "As they're one of my favorite sweet things. Second only to my beautiful, beloved wife, of course…"
The princess blushed, nudging him shyly as he chuckled. "Cedric..."
Butterford hummed happily as he leaned back in his seat, resting against the wall of the coach. He was glad his friends were still happy and still so in love after all they'd been through. They deserved it. However, he felt a slight chill wash over him, and he was left shivering. W-What was that?
Sofia noticed and blinked, tilting her head. "Jas, are you okay?"
"I… I'm fine. Just a little cold." It was strange, because he certainly hadn't felt this chill just a few minutes ago. Was he getting sick? No… No, this was different.
Cedric withdrew his wand from his robe and waved it once, summoning a blanket to wrap around the younger man. "How is that?"
Butterford smiled appreciatively as he tugged the blanket closer. "Thanks, Cedric." Granted, the chill still filled him, but he wasn't about to tell his friends that…
When they landed at the bazaar, the chilled feeling seemed to slowly dissipate, and Butterford was happy to feel it slowly ebbing. He wasn't used to feeling cold, especially since he'd always been immersed in the tropical areas. Even wearing his usual long sleeves and gloves, his skin was still cold to the touch. When Sofia grabbed his arm and tugged him along with her and Cedric, he felt a literal rush of warmth fill him, and much to his relief, any cold traces were gone altogether. He knew the princess and sorcerer both had a great deal of magic, so perhaps this was an unconscious response on their part? Or maybe it was just Sofia's usual warm personality. Whatever the case, he was grateful.
"Let's see why this is described as 'The Best Bazaar in the Ever Realm,'" Sofia told them enthusiastically as she began walking ahead of them, Cedric following closely behind her.
Butterford trailed behind both of them, and he gasped quietly as he felt the wind pick up. It stirred his clothing and hair, but it didn't seem to have any effect on anyone else. He frowned, curious about this strange phenomenon. He then heard it: soft whispers. He couldn't quite make out the words, though. "What's going on?" he asked himself, that chilled feeling starting to fill him again. He found himself wishing he had Sofia's arm wrapped around his again. She was, after all, a ray of sunshine in his life, just like she was in everyone's life… Something inside him twisted fearfully. Something was wrong…
"Light…"
"Mystic…"
"Princess Sofia…"
Butterford heard that last whisper very clearly and hurried up to the couple, grabbing Sofia's hands in his silk gloved ones. "Please tell me you heard that…"
Sofia blinked, pulling one of her hands from his and lifting it to his face. "Jas, you look so pale… What's going on?"
"Perhaps he senses the prophecy," a peculiar, lower register voice cooed from one of the bazaar's tables.
The three friends turned and saw a light-skinned woman with long silver and lavender hair, falling in loose waves over her shoulders. Around her head was a braided band of hair. She wore a flowing white garment, a bit revealing in some places, with glitter bespattered on her skin. A pearl pendant fell just to the hem of the top of her garment. Her lips were painted bright purple, and her naturally light eyes seemed to have a strange glowing rainbow hue to them. Her long nails, perhaps four or five inches in length, gently caressed a glowing purple orb before her, her lips twitching into a knowing smile.
"W-Who are you?" Cedric asked.
"Long time, no see, Cedric," she declared mysteriously.
"You know her?" Sofia asked curiously, one hand still holding onto Butterford as the other reached up to his shoulder. She frowned when she noticed his mouth fall open a bit. "Cedric?"
"Delphine," he whispered, a sense of trepidation filling him as he reached up and carefully held his wife's hand against his shoulder, the need to protect her flooding him. He scowled at the woman before them. "What do you want with me?"
"Always so suspicious," she chuckled, her eyes glowing a little more as she hummed quietly. "But it is not you for whom I have a message." Her eyes darted to the princess, her expression suddenly becoming very somber. "It is for Princess Sofia."
To be continued…
Next Chapter: Prophesized