The Secret Library: Tale of the Eternal Torch
James was at the Royal Knights' training grounds, astride the horse at the beginning of an obstacle course.
"On your ready!" Sir Finnegan turned over an hourglass. "And... commence!"
"Hyah!" James set his horse running.
Sofia, Miranda and Roland were watching from the viewing stand.
"Go James!" Sofia called, as James' horse leapt over some hedges.
"You can do it!" Miranda cheered.
"If I keep up this pace, it'll be my best time yet!" James declared, as he and his horse raced around the obstacles.
"James is off to a good start." Miranda observed.
"He's been practicing for this race day and night." Sofia declared.
"Well, if he keeps up this pace, he's sure to pass it!" Roland smiled. "And be promoted to Junior Knight!"
James grabbed a lance and speared several fruit as he passed them. He then stopped his horse and dismounted. He placed the lance in a barrel, grabbed a bow and arrows, and fired an arrow straight into the center of a target.
"Bullseye!" Sofia cheered.
"What a shot!" Roland smiled.
James stopped by a stone wall, and looked over a nearby selection of climbing tools.
"Uh... the ladder?" He frowned. "No, this is faster."
James grabbed a pole, moved back, then ran toward the wall, using the pole to vault over it. He succeeded, but landed in a puddle of mud on the other side.
"Yuck." He groaned.
"That's not good." Sofia frowned.
Sir Finnegan glanced at the hourglass, the sand almost run out.
"Can't... slow down..." James struggled through the mud.
The sand ran out just as James stumbled over.
"And... done!" He declared, falling flat on his face.
"I'm sorry, Prince James, but time has run out." Sir Finnegan told him. "I'm afraid you've failed the Junior Knights test."
"But Sir Finnegan, I wasn't expecting to get stuck in that mud!" James protested.
"You should never just jump over a wall without knowing what's on the other side!" Sir Finnegan admonished James. "The ladder would have been the wiser choice. You know how the old saying goes: look before you leap!"
"I know you're disappointed, James." Roland walked over. "But you did well for your first try. And you can always take the test again!"
"Until then, practice." Sir Finnegan instructed, leading James away. "And not just on the training field. Try your skills out in the real world. Go on an adventure. That's where you'll learn the most valuable lessons!"
"Poor James." Sofia sighed.
"Don't worry." Roland assured her. "He'll come back all the stronger for it. I should know. I failed my first try at the Junior Knight test myself."
Sofia's amulet starting glowing blue.
"Oh!" Sofia whispered, covering it up.
Sofia made her way back to her and Madeline's room, Madeline joining her soon after.
"Sorry I'm late." Madeline apologized. "I was helping Amber pick out a dress for next week's ball."
"That's okay, Maddie." Sofia smiled. "Now let's get going."
They made their way to the library.
"The Tale of the Eternal Flame." Madeline read the title of the book, before it flew up to the magic mirror.
An image appeared of the Blazing Palisades.
"To the dragons of the Blazing Palisades, their island home is a fiery paradise." The mirror declared. "Inside the tallest peak, the Eternal Torch burns with a magical flame, that light all the island's fires. But the Eternal Torch is in danger. The sea monsters who live around the Palisades believe the Palisades should belong to them. And now, the sea monsters have obtained the powerful Forever Fountain, whose magical waters could drown out the islands fires, and chase the dragons away. If they are not stopped, the Blazing Palisades will belong to the sea monsters forevermore."
"We have to go to the Blazing Palisades to give this story a happy ending." Sofia declared.
"I'm with you. Sof." Madeline smiled. "Let's go!"
They rushed down to the courtyard. Since time was of the essence, they couldn't go and get Minimus, instead employing one of the royal carriage horses. Unbeknownst to them, James was sulking around a corner.
"We'll have to hurry to get there in time to help the dragons." Sofia told the horse.
"Dragons?" James perked up.
"Hope you're up for a little adventure." Madeline smiled at the horse. "Sofia, let's go get him snacks."
"Good thinking, Maddie." Sofia nodded.
As they rushed into the castle, James sneaked onto the carriage.
"Adventure?" He whispered. "This is just what I've been waiting for!"
James hid in the back just as Sofia and Madeline returned.
"Here you go, buddy." Madeline feed the horse a carrot. "One for the road."
The girls climbed into the carriage.
"Okay, time to fly." Sofia snapped at the reins. "Hyah!"
The flying horse took off into the sky, carrying them up with it. Soon after, they landed at the Blazing Palisades.
"Ooh! Ow Ah! Oh!" James yelped, as they landed roughly.
Sofia pulled the reins, stopping the horse, and the back of the carriage popped up, revealing James.
"James?!" Madeline gasped. "What are you doing here?"
"Sir Finnegan said to practice my knight skills on an adventure." James smiled. "I don't know what you two are up to, but it sounds perfect!"
"So you just stowed away?!" Sofia growled.
"I'll be a big help, you'll see." James helped them out of the carriage. "Whoa, look at this place!" He ran around, taking it in. "If I were a dragon, this is definitely where I'd wanna live!" He pointed to some incoming sea monster. "But I don't think those are dragons. Are they?"
"Those are sea monsters!" Madeline pulled James into hiding.
"Dragons and sea monsters?" James smiled. "Oh, this is getting better by the minute!"
"And more dangerous." Sofia noted. "Maddie and I have to warn the dragons about the sea monsters!"
"I can help you!" James declared.
"I guess it's too late to take you back now..." Madeline sighed.
"Yes!" James cheered.
Meanwhile, the sea monsters had reached the shore.
"Ugh, what a blazing eyesore." The leader, Aqualina declared. "Well, it's nothing a good drenching won't fix..." She crawled on land. "Get a wiggle on, girls." She told the others. "Keep up with me. I want to make a splashy entrance!"
As she passed a burst of flame, she spat a spray of water at it, putting it out.
As the others climbed out of the water, the red serpent, Dolphina, tripped, and fell over the green one.
"Sorry, Aqualina!" She apologized. "I've never been out of the water before!"
"Me neither." The blue serpent, Coral, added... before tripping and falling on the others. "I feel so heavy."
"You are heavy!" The green serpent, Dorsal, groaned. "Get offa me!"
"Come on, girls." Aqualina sighed. "Whatever happened to my smooth-moving, sweet-singing monsters?"
The others all stood up and started singing.
We are monster of the sea
And our sound will set you free!
"That's more like it!" Aqualina smiled.
"Now, let's chase away those dragons, and this island will be ours at last! Spread out and look for a trail that will lead us to that peak!"
"Hmm." James mused. "For invaders, they look kinda confused."
"Good." Sofia declared. "It'll give us time to get to Everburn, the elder dragon, and warn him."
"How do we get to him?" James asked.
"That trail leads to Everburn's cave, which is up at the top of the Palisades, near the Eternal Torch." Madeline pointed.
"Right." James nodded. "Let's go!"
James made to climb over the ridge, but Sofia stopped him.
"Hold on, James." She frowned. "We can't just run out there. They'll see us! We should hide here until the coast is clear."
"Well, I'm here to practice my knight skills!" James leapt over the ridge. "And you said the Torch is that way. So come on, let's get to the top!"
"Next time, we really should check for stowaways before we leave." Madeline sighed.
Dolphina spotted James.
"That's not a dragon!" She declared.
"No, it's just a boy!" Aqualina nodded. "But he said this is the trail to the top. Ha-ha, we've found it! What a stroke of luck!"
"Thanks, kid!" Coral smirked as they rushed after James.
"I'll say!" Dorsal agreed. "Thanks, kid!"
"Uh-oh." James gulped, as they rushed toward him, then stood firm. "Hold it right there! I said, go back to your-"
"James, watch out!" Sofia called, as they pushed James out of the way.
"Now we're getting somewhere!" Aqualina smirked as they raced up the path. "The Blazing Palisades won't be blazing much longer!"
"Thanks." James sighed. "They almost pancaked me."
"And you showed them the trail that leads right to the Eternal Torch!" Madeline pointed out.
A stream of flame emitted from a nearby cave, and Flambeau dragon emerged.
"Hey-hey!" He smiled. "I recognise that voice! Hello..."
He was joined by Nitelite and Smokelee.
"Hello..." Nitelite crooned.
"Hello..." Smokelee followed.
"Hello, Princess Sofia!" Flambeau smiled. "Princess Madeline! Did you come back to hear our encore?"
"And look, they've brought someone who hasn't experienced the sizzling sounds of..." Nitelight added.
"Smoke, Wings and Fire!" Flambeau sang, his friends backing him up.
"It's great to see you again." Sofia declared. "But there's no time for singing! This is an emergency!"
"Sea serpents are going to replace the Eternal Torch with a magic fountain." Madeline revealed. "Then there'll be water everywhere instead of fire, and you won't be able to life here anymore!"
"Sea serpents?" Flambeau frowned. "Ahh, sounds like Aqualina again."
"You guys have to help us get to Everburn and warn him." Sofia urged.
"You know, there is one thing we can try first." Flambeau suggested. "There's a bridge on that trail that the serpents will have to cross. We can take the underground tunnels, and get there just ahead of them!"
"Hey, yeah!" Nitelite nodded. "Then we can melt the bridge, and they'll be stuck!"
"That's a great idea!" James agreed. "But a knight doesn't sneak around through underground tunnels." He mounted Smokelee. "It'll be way faster, and more knight-like, if you fly me to the bridge!"
"Great idea, kid." Smokelee agreed. "Let's go!"
"Hold on, fellas!" Flambeau called, as Smokelee took off.
"There he goes again." Nitelite sighed.
"Smokelee gets so caught up in the heat of the moment, he never thinks things through." Flambeau declared.
"So does James." Madeline groaned.
"The one thing you should never do is fly over sea monsters." Nitelite revealed.
"There they are!" James pointed, as he and Smokelee approached the sea serpents. "Come on! Go, go, go!"
Smokelee flew James over to the serpents.
"Turn back now, you slimy serpents!" James declared. "You're not getting any further!"
"Do they really think they can stop us?" Aqualina scowled. "Knock them out of the sky, girls!"
The serpents became spraying torrents of water out of their mouths.
"Whoa!" James yelped, as Smokelee tried to dodge the streams.
One blast struck Smokelee in the chest, knocking him out of the sky and into the water. Sofia, Madeline and the other dragons flew in to find James and Smokelee, while the sea serpents continued on their path.
"Are you alright?" Sofia asked James.
"Yeah, I'm okay." James groaned.
"Don't look now. The serpents are already across the bridge!" Flambeau pointed out.
"James, now we've missed our chance to stop the sea monsters at the bridge!" Madeline groaned.
"But I didn't know they could shoot water!" James protested.
"I tried to warn you, but you rushed off before I could say anything!" Flambeau frowned. "And you should have known better, mister!" He admonished Smokelee.
"Those serpents are crawling along pretty slowly on land." Nitelite pointed out. "We still have time to get ahead of them and warn Everburn if we go around. But we'll have to move fast..."
Some time later, they reached Everburn's cave. The old dragon was sleeping in a hammock. Sofia and Madeline rushed over to him.
"Um... mr Everburn?" Sofia asked. "Wake up!"
"Wake up!" Madeline said more loudly.
"Wha?!" Everburn awoke.
"It's an emergency." Sofia handed him a cup of liquid from beside the hammock. "A big one."
Everburn drank from the cup.
"Sofia? Madeline?" He yawned. "That you, kids?"
"Yes." Madeline nodded. "And this is our brother, James."
James bowed.
"Pleasure's mine." Everburn smiled. "So, what's with all the commotion?"
"Sea monsters are invading." Sofia revealed.
"Ohhh." Everburn stood up, rubbing his back. "It's always somethin'..."
Everburn walked over to a hole in the cave wall, observing the serpents walking nearby.
"It's that water-logged she-serpent Aqualina!" He noted. "We've been feuding with the serpents for as long as I can remember."
"Now she wants to replace the Eternal Torch with a magic fountain, and flood the Blazing Palisades!" Madeline declared.
"Well, we'll see about that." Everburn smirked. "Ready to give 'em a warm welcome, boys?"
The dragons stood firm, and all breathed fire. They then took positions that would block the serpents' path.
"Isn't there any way you could settle this peacefully?" Sofia asked.
"Those serpents are trying to take away our home." Everburn growled. "What, you want I should put out a welcome mat for them?"
"Is there's trouble, you can count on me." James smiled. "I'm training to be a Junior Knight!"
"Listen, junior." Everburn told James. "Thank you so much, sincerely from the bottom of my heart. But I want you three out of harm's way, over there." He nudged Sofia, Madeline and James away. "Keep watch, okay?"
"But I want to help!" James protested.
"Kid, when you're the Elder Dragon, you can make the decisions, okay?" Everburn declared. "But for now, you can go sit watch."
The sea serpents finally arrived.
"Everburn." Aqualina sneered. "I was wondering if you'd dare show your scaly hide."
"Oh, go soak your head!" Everburn scowled. "And whil you're at it, get off our island! Boys, let's give 'em a warm send-off!"
The dragons started breathing fire, while the serpents sprayed water.
Aqualina: This tiny isle
Sea serpents: In the ocean wide
Aqualina: Should be monster kissed
Sea serpents: And not dragon fried
Aqualina: So you better split
Sea serpents: Or step aside
Aqualina: My claim to this rock is bona fide
Dolphina: That means it's real
Aqualina: There's water in the rain
Like there's water in the sea
Sea serpents: Big blue
Aqualina: And that water will cause a flood that will wash you away from me
Sea serpents: You're through
Aqualina: If you know what's good for you now
You won't make any fuss
Go take your final bow
Cause this island belongs to us
Sea serpents: Yeah, take your final bow
Cause this island belongs to us
"Now shoo!" Aqualina threatened.
"Ha!" Everburn scoffed. "Tell 'em, Flambeau!"
Flembeau: This rock's our home
Dragons: So get off our porch
Flembeau: We belong right here
Dragons: With the Eternal Torch
Flembeau: All your little plans
Dragons: We're about to scorch
Fleambeau: You'll turn into steam in our fiery forge
Everburn: That almost rhymes
Flembeau: Like the fire on the cliff
Like the fire in the sun
Dragons: Big heat
Flembeau: There's a fire in my mouth
That'll put you on the run
Dragons: Retreat
Flembeau: If you know what's good for you now
There's nothing to discuss
Go take your final bow
Cause this island belongs to us
Dragons: Yeah, go take your final bow
Cause this island belongs to us
"You're beat!" Everburn mocked Aqualina, who sprayed water at his finger.
"All this singing is getting them nowhere!" James frowned.
"This could go on forever!" Madeline sighed.
"There has to be a better way to give this story a happy ending." Sofia declared.
"You're beat!" Everburn repeated.
All: If you know what's good for you now
You won't make any fuss
Everburn: I'm just warming up my snout
Dolphina: Ha! We're gonna put your fire out
The dragons and serpents all climbed on each others' shoulders.
All: Oh, yeah
Go take your final bow
Cause this island belongs
Belongs
To us
This island belongs to us
Both towers collapsed, dragon and serpent falling to the ground.
"This is getting us exactly nowhere!" Everburn groaned.
"We can't stay here and block them off forever!" Nitelite pointed out.
"Right." Everburn nodded. "But maybe something else can. Pick up the kiddos and follow me!"
A short time later, the dragons were stacking rocks into a barricade higher up the mountain.
"This should stop those slimy eels in their slippery tracks!" Everburn smirked.
"Everburn keeps putting us on the sidelines." James complained. "A knight doesn't sit on the sidelines!"
"He told us to keep watch." Sofia reminded him.
"Anyone can keep watch." James scoffed. "I'm training to be a knight. I've gotta get in on this action." He looked around. "Hey, this big rock would block the trail better than a bunch of small ones. It'll be like a wall in itself."
"James, no." Madeline shook her head. "The dragons want to handle this themselves."
"I just... have to get it... to move..." James started pushing the large rock with his feet.
"Wait!" Sofia urged.
"James, stop!" Madeline yelled.
james finally dislodged the rock, which started rolling down the trail.
"Oh no!" James gasped.
The rock rolled right into the barricade, scattering the smaller rocks, just as the sea serpents arrived.
"Oh, look at them fly!" Aqualina jeered. "And I didn't even have to lift a claw!"
Sofia, Madeline and James watched as the serpents neared the top.
"There's nothing to stop them now!" Sofia groaned.
Up on the highest peak, the sea serpents reached their target.
"So this is the famous Eternal Torch?" Aqualina mused. "The dragons believe it will burn until the end of time. Well, they're in for a big surprise!" She picked up the Torch, and used her water spray to put it out.
Outside, all the gouts of flames extinguished.
"The fire!" Smokelee gasped.
"It's gone!" Nitelite yelped.
Inside, Aqualina held up the Forever Fountain and placed it where the Eternal Torch once was.
"Let the eternal waters of the Forever Fountain flow, and turn the Blazing Palisades into... the Watery Palisades!" She announced.
The Forever Fountain sprayed out a torrent of water, which flowed all over the Palisades. The dragons were swept away as the waters cascaded down the peak. Sofia, Madeline and James tried to move down the ridge, but a blast of water knocked them down into the torrent. They all were swept down to the bottom of the island.
"Oh no!" Madeline gasped. "The island's flooded, and you guys are soaked!"
"We're half-drowned is what we are, Maddie!" Everburn declared. "Our magical fire is kaput! Our beautiful home is lost forever!"
"There's gotta be something I can do to make this right." James declared. "I'm going up there right now!"
"Wait a minute, James." Sofia stopped him. "Remember that old saying Sir Finnegan told you after your test?"
"Huh?" Madeline frowned.
"Uh... look before you leap?" James recalled.
"Right." Sofia nodded. "Well, ever since you got here, you've been rushing into things without thinking them through first. Don't you see? That's what got us into trouble."
James sighed in shame.
"We can still help the dragons." Madeline declared. "But we shouldn't just charge ahead! We need a plan!"
"Okay. Um..." James pondered. "How about this? If we put the Torch back, the fires will start again. That will give the dragons a fighting chance!"
"But how do we get past the sea monsters?" Sofia asked.
James looked at Everburn sadly breathing a small ember of fire, and got an idea.
"Didn't Aqualina say she wouldn't rest until all the fires were out?" He asked.
"Yeah?" Madeline asked.
Moments later, James finished explaining his plan.
"So whattaya think?" He asked.
"I don't know, kids." Everburn frowned. "This plan of yours? Gives me heartburn."
"If it works, it could get your home back." Sofia pointed out.
"But to pull it off, we'll need help from all of you." James declared.
"What else have we got to lose?" Flambeau asked.
"Let's do it!" Nitelite agreed.
"Yes!" Sofia, Madeline and James cheered.
Near the peak, the sea serpents looked at their handiwork.
"It's paradise!" Aqualina said gleefully. "All that I hoped for, and more!"
"But there's still a fire burning!" Dorsal pointed to a small stream of flame.
"That can't be right!" Aqualina frowned. "All the fires should be out! Come on, girls. We've got one last fire to put out!"
The sea serpents started swimming down the mountain.
"Here they come." Madeline whispered, she and her siblings hiding behind a corner.
"It's working!" James cheered. "They're coming down to check the fire!"
The serpents started circled the source of the fire, a hollow rock.
"That's it! They're gone!" James hissed. "Let's-!"
"James." Madeline said firmly.
"...Or maybe we should make sure that was all of them." James said sheepishly.
They waited, and see Dorsal catch up to the others.
"Okay, that's the last of 'em!" James smiled. "Now we can go!"
"Let's hope the dragons can keep the sea monsters busy for a while." Sofia mused.
"What can be keeping that flickering nuisance going?" Aqualina examined the rock.
In a cavern below, Flambeau was breathing fire up through the rock. He suddenly stopped.
"Well, good riddance." Aqualina scowled.
"There's another one!" Coral pointed to a new gout of flame.
"Well, put it out!" Aqualina growled.
This time, Nitelite was providing the flame.
Meanwhile, Sofia, Madeline and James reached the peak.
"Okay, we have to put the Eternal Torch back on that pedestal." Madeline declared.
"There it is!" Sofia spotted it. "Help me with it!"
Outside, the sea serpents reached the flame, only for it to vanish.
"That better be the last one." Aqualina growled.
"No!" Dolphina pointed to another gout of flame.
The sea serpents swam over to the new flame.
"I'm confused." Dolphina frowned.
"I thought we put all these out." Coral added.
"There shouldn't be any fires left!" Aqualina scowled, as more flames rose up.
Everburn popped out of one of the holes, quickly joined by the others.
"There will always be fire and dragons on the Blazing Palisades!" He announced, as they landed by the sea serpents.
"So it's a trick!" Aqualina spat. "I thought you dragons would have been washed out to sea by now!"
"Our tails may be soggy, but we're still here!" Everburn said defiantly.
"There's nothing left for you now!" Aqualina laughed.
"Don't be so sure about that." Everburn smirked. "I have friends in very high places."
Up on the peak, Sofia, Madeline and James put the Eternal Torch on top of the Forever Fountain. The Torch began spouting flames again, dissolving the waters spraying out of the peak, with more flames returning.
"The fire is back!" Aqualina gasped. "That's impossible! It's-!"
"Wow!" The other sea serpent said with awe, as a circle rainbow appeared above the peak.
"It's... it's gorgeous!" Aqualina admitted. "That's what it is."
"The fire is back!" Everburn smiled... before realising not all of the water fountains had vanished. "...But for only half the Palisades."
"The top half is fire..." Dolphina pointed out.
"While the bottom half is water!" Aqualina finished.
At the top of the peak, both the Eternal Torch and Forever Fountain were still working, spraying water and fire together.
"It's beautiful!" Madeline smiled.
"Now all we have to do is get rid of the Fountain." Sofia declared.
"Wait a minute, Sofia." James remarked. "I've been just jumping into things all day. Maybe we should stop and think about this one."
"It's about time." Madeline smirked.
"You're right, James." Sofia smiled. "It might work out better for everyone if we leave things just the way they are."
The three of them went down the mountain to talk to the dragons and sea serpents.
"That beautiful rainbow is a sign of what fire and water can be when you put them together." Madeline told them.
"Wouldn't it be better to just stop fighting, and see what beautiful things you can accomplish side by side?" Sofa asked, leading Everburn over to Aqualina. "What do you say, guys?"
"Eh, it's a pretty big island, so, uh... what the hey?" Everburn smiled. "I guess we can share."
"Well, if someone as stubborn as you is willing to try it, then I guess I am, too." Aqualina climbed out of the water and offered Everburn her claw. "We're in."
Everburn and Aqualina shook claws, creating a small amount of steam.
"Fellas, I think this calls for a song." Everburn told his fellow dragons.
Aqualina winked at her fellow Sea Serpents.
Flembeau: When the water in the clouds meets the sunshine way up high
Dragons: Such views
Aqualina: All the water joins with fire to light up the evening sky
Sea serpents: Such hues
Aqualina: So we know what's good for us now
Flembeau: We won't make any fuss
Dolphina: I know we can get along
Sea serpents: Doo doo doo
Everburn: And maybe write a new hit song
Sea Serpents: Oh, yeah
All: We're gonna finish strong
Cause this island belongs
Falmbeau: It belongs
All: To
Flambeau: To
All: Us
Aqualina: Ohhhh
All: It belongs to us!
"And with dragons and sea monsters living side by side in harmony, the island became the Misty Palisades." The mirror narrated.
Back in the library, Sofia and Madeline closed the book, which had a picture of the newly-formed Misty Palisades.
"Now that looks like a happy ending." Madeline smiled.
The book flew back to its place on the shelves.
"But there's still one more happy ending to go." Sofia smiled.
"There is?" Madeline frowned.
"Yeah." Sofia nodded. "Come with me. I'll show you."
Back at the training grounds, James was once again running the course. He grabbed a spear and threw it through a hoop, hitting a target.
"Go, James!" Madeline cheered.
"You can do it!" Sofia added.
James stopped before a door, a selection of weapons to the side. He made to pick up the axe, but stopped.
"Wait a minute..." He frowned.
James walked up to the door, lifted the latch, and opened it. He saw a mud puddle on the other side, then went back and grabbed a plank. He threw the plank over the mud, allowing him to walk across.
"Yes!" He cheered. He then raced over the finish line. "Done!"
"And with time to spare!" Sir Finnegan smiled, noting the half-empty hourglass. "It was wise of you to check the door before trying to bash it down. Well, my lad, you've passed your test with flying colors!"
A servant walked over, carrying a shield and medal with the Junior Knights crest.
"You have earned the rank of Junior Knight!" Sir Finnegan hung the medal around James' neck. "Congratulations!"
"Thank you, Sir Finnegan!" James smiled, as he accepted the shield too.
"Way to go, James." Madeline smiled.
"Well, you know what they say..." James grinned.
"Look before you leap!" Sofia, Madeline and James said together.