[AN: This is a very loooong chapter. Hope you enjoy reading it all!]

Not another incident occurred that whole night and Sofia actively avoided Alexey and he seemed to be doing the same thing. For the next couple days that's how it remained, she might give him a cordial hello or good morning but paid him no other mind. She did want to ask him why but she also thought about what Cedric said and she was fearful of being forcibly kissed again. However, she intended to talk to him at some point she just needed to know when. Nothing about him changed, he was as glum as usual but talked a lot less which meant he had less chance of being rude. That seemed to go on just fine with James, who was now looking a lot more rested these days. Joy noticed nothing at all, she was having too much fun to notice anything. Sofia had taken her to meet Ruby and Jade and the girls all spent the whole day together playing village games and Sofia taught her how to loop a thread through a needle. With help they were able to make a present for her father's birthday that would be coming up.

One day, the day their parents were coming back to, as her father said finalize the papers, Sofia was walking down the hallways by herself, just having gotten back from a library mission. It was a short and easy one but whenever she returned from one of these things she had to be cautious, she didn't want too many people finding out about her library. She had been warned that if a book was stolen there was no way to find it or give that person a happy ending. Not that she thought anyone would ever steal anything but even just borrowing it could possibly endanger the story so she made sure not too many would know where it was. So far no one had noticed a thing and she thought she was alone in the hallway until she got surprised by a voice off to the side.

"So where did you run off to?"

She jumped a bit, startled because this hallway was usually always quiet and not too many ventured down here and then she saw who it was and that startled her too. It was Alexey, leaning up against a wall, staring her down intensely. She just gave him her best most sincere smile and curtsied to him.

"Oh hello, didn't see you there. Were you looking for me?"

"I followed you actually, we need to talk and don't even ask what about you already know."

"...Okay. That's fine with me. Should we sit down somewhere to talk?"

"No standing is fine. Let's just get out with it, you've been ignoring me since it happened. Yes or no."

"...Yes I have been and I do apologize if that hurt your feelings but I didn't understand anything that went on that night. I have been wanting to discuss it because I have a lot of questions like...why did you do that to me when you've been acting like I was beneath you? You had called me stupid and told me to leave you be and then you did that...? I was so confused and upset. Why, Alexey...? Why are you acting like this?"

"You really are stupid then if you don't get it. Don't you see or are you too blinded by your sweet little fairytale world to not notice how I feel? Can't you tell?" He demanded, trapping her against a wall suddenly, pinning her with his arms at both sides of her head. She shook with fear at what he might try to do to her again but she told herself she could handle it, this time she would be prepared and wouldn't let him get away with anything he had planned. She looked directly into his eyes, remaining brave in the face of adversary.

"When I first saw you I wanted you and every second after I wanted you. You are beautiful, Sofia, and you know it. You tease me, you give me these looks, you show me affection, and then you ignore me entirely. I thought you understood me, I felt you could finally be the one who could understand me. I was cruel to you because I didn't know what to do with my emotions, I have never felt this way about anyone at all but the colder I was the closer you got, as if you knew deep down how I felt and wanted me to just scream it out to you well here I am! I want you Sofia and I know you want me."

Sofia's eyes were wide hearing this confession. She shook her head no over and over again. "I'm sorry, I truly am, but you are terribly mistaken. I don't want you like that at all, I was only trying to be nice to you because you seemed so far away. I know it has been difficult with this separation between your family so I wanted to make you happy. That's all it was, I didn't mean to come off as anything more than supportive."

"But...you...it doesn't matter! You could learn to want me, to like me, to love me even. You are capable of that, I know it, I hear it constantly how you change people, see the best of them, can't you do that with me?"

"Alexey, somewhere in you is a great person, someone who obviously needs to be loved desperately and wants someone to listen to him, to vent to when things get rough and I'll gladly listen to your troubles and help if I can but you cannot ask me to feel for you like that when I can't. I just can't. You're a good looking young man and if you acted kinder, tried to be hospitable, honest, and a little more optimistic then I'm sure someone will come along who is just right for you but it isn't me."

"Why not? Why can't you love me or want me? I can change, I know I can. It won't be easy but that's why you will be there. I know we have a connection, I can feel it and I know you can feel it too. I knew from the moment our eyes locked you were the one."

Sofia felt him holding onto her shoulder, so tightly that his fingertips were making indents in her skin and it pained her. He had this wild look in his eyes, he was breathing fast and unevenly, and he looked as if he was going to kiss her again. She thrashed and writhed as hard as she can begging him to let her go but he refused and kept madly going on about how they were meant to be and how she knew it deep in herself that she too felt the same way about him that he did her.

He was not as scary as some things she had faced but he was frightening in a new and different way because he truly seemed to believe these things and seemed to be capable of doing anything to get to his crazed desires. Finally she broke free of him and hurriedly tried to get away, obviously talking things over with him was not going to work out. Actions needed to be taken and right now. She was not prepared to nor was she thinking of harming him in any way but if she had to do so to protect herself then she had no choice. This was her body, her life, her heart and no one was going to force her to give it over. He reached for her arm and yanked her by her wrist hard.

"Get back here right now! Sofia you will be mine whether you can see that now or not I don't care!"

"I will never be yours! I don't love you like that! My heart belongs to someone else!"

"Someone else...? Another prince? He's not for you, I can see that the only one for you is me. You are mine Sofia. Only mine!"

"I am not yours and will not ever be! Let go of me, right now...please!"

Sofia struggled harder than she ever had in her life and then she realized she had no choice but to do something drastic so she reached for her wand and got it out, pointing it at him, specifically his hand. She ushered out a spell, one that was not too harmful but would do the trick. Her spell zapped him just a smidge, enough pain to cause him to release her. When he did he looked at his hand, a tiny little red bump stood there, a small price to pay for trying to capture her. She had no other option, she wasn't the physically strongest princess in the world and despite his slender physique he was much stronger than her. He looked appalled at the mark even though it was tiny and would fade within a day, then he looked back up at her, fury ablaze in his eyes and some sense of betrayal as if she was the one who had done a terrible injustice to him and not vice versa. She had not lowered her wand, prepared to do it again if she must.

He moved closer to her, now enraged by her actions but she did not falter in her stance even as he lunged forward to try to grab her wand away from her. She zapped him again. The last thing she wanted to do was hurt anyone but what else could she do? She tried to reason with him again, try to get through to him, but her gentle voice and calming nature was not going to work this time. He was not listening to her, he was calling her things because she had wounded him, saying she had wronged him and deserved to be punished for her actions, that she would love him whether she wanted to or not, that she would be his no matter the cost, even if he must make her. None of these words or phrases he used were anything like the Alexey she had previously seen or like anything she had ever known. She had heard other people, her foes, talk about objects like this, such as her amulet or a kingdom but not of a person.

"Please calm down, Alexey, please. I don't want to hurt you anymore. Let's just try to settle down and take a nice deep breath in and-"

"No more of your fake sweet words! I know exactly what you are trying to do and it won't work! You've angered me, Sofia, and you don't even care about it! You don't care about me at all, about how much you've hurt me, you are selfish! But you'll learn today that your actions have consequences!"

"What are you talking about? I'm only doing this to stop you from trying to hurt me! I don't want to do this to you! I do care about you and I want to help you but I can't do that if you keep trying to control me and cage me and tell me how to feel! If you act like that then I can't help but act like this."

"I'll only stop if you say you are mine, that you do want me and stop lying that you don't."

"I can't do that, it would be a lie if I said that not the other way around. I did not mean to mislead you in any way, I was only trying to make you happy."

"You know what will make me happy, Sofia? If you just give it up, stop fighting it and just come to me, stop this charade and I will not lay a finger on you, but if you don't then you leave me with only one option. You will obey me and you will be mine. I have to have you, I must have you."

"I am not some prize to be won!" Sofia shouted out, invoking one of the princesses that lay within her who had urged the words out of her mouth. She stood her ground, standing tall and proud, staring at him right into his soul, wand pointed at him. Her blue eyes were trying to pierce through him and show him she meant business, she would not relent herself so easily over to anyone. "You can't take something that isn't yours, you have to earn it, and if you expect to get anyone to like you, you have to treat them with common decency. You can't make someone like you and if they don't then you have to keep trying to make yourself a better person and move onto someone else."

"I like your mentality, as mushy and sappy as it is, but it's starting to get on my nerves now and so are you. If I see something I want, I get it, and I don't want much but when I do I always have it given over to me, no matter what it is or in this case who it is."

"And you called Joy a spoiled brat. To be honest, right now, you are the one who is acting like one, not her, she has never acted this way. You have no manners what so ever, I don't know how you can call yourself a prince."

He lunged again and though she was quick he was quicker, taking her wand away from her in an instance. Now he was the one in charge, he was the one with the power but Sofia made sure she did not look diminutive and easily dominated, she still stood tall. He did not know how to use that anyways, so she was not afraid of him casting a wicked spell on her. However it appeared he would not need it, he had something else in mind for her and he delivered it unto her. It seemed to happen so fast and yet time slowed. Sofia's parents never believed in corporal punishment and she had never been struck not even by those she faced against and so she was in utter shock when it had happened to her. Her cheek stung where he had slapped her and she sat on the ground, holding her cheek and trying to bite her tongue in order not to cry. She stared at the floor, focusing on each of the colored tiles trying to count the speckles upon each one, anything to get her mind off the sensation in her cheek and sharp sting but also the feeling of oncoming tears.

She did well in holding it all in and after the twentieth dot on the pale salmon colored floor she was able to look at him again and let him see he had not won, she was still here, not crying, bravely facing him, and not giving up anything but especially herself. Just as she was about to open her mouth she heard footsteps approaching and she turned towards them. It was his parents with her father, holding a document and looking over it, her mother was there too and she was the first to gasp. Everyone saw it, Sofia was sitting on the floor holding onto her face, her one cheek was a very aggressive red color and one could almost make out a hand shape. Towering there and holding what her parents knew was her wand, was Alexey, and they both knew she rarely let anyone hold her wand, it was precious to her. Even if she did it did not take a genius to realize what had happened but still her father went over towards them, stepping heavily and hurriedly and commanded in an authoritative voice,

"What's going on here?" He did not look the least bit pleased as Miranda helped Sofia up, looking at her face and brushing back her hair. She could see in her eyes that her daughter wanted to cry but was courageously not doing so and Miranda could also see the very distinct hand print there now more clearly. The hand print was a lot larger than Sofia's, so it was obvious she didn't do it. Miranda knew though, she knew what was done, and she was not happy about it. Sofia was a woman now but her mother held her in her arms protectively as if she was just a small child again in front of a big bad boogeyman.

"Yes I should like to know that too," King Magnus joined in, also looking angry, his voice a lot gruffer than usual and his arms crossed tightly. He looked mean that way and frightening, Sofia could easily imagine him as the type of father you don't want to get in trouble with. He prided himself on everything in his castle, in his land, being the very best so that must include his child and so he expected him to be on his best behavior. Perhaps Alexey was always like this and it did not look good for his kingdom, which would explain why he never accompanied him anywhere pr lived with him. He probably preferred Joy even if she wasn't his because she was sweet as pie and gracious too.

The only one who didn't look mad was his mother but the way she was looking was not happy, she had this icy flat appearance, stoic, a cold beauty with burning eyes staring directly at him and it was she not both the kings that was the one frightening Lord Alexey. Sofia knew that mothers always know everything and she didn't need to be told by her son what happened to be assured. She knew it and she was judging him with that cold stare. Sofia shuddered at it even if it was not directed at her and found herself unable to keep looking at the woman. Miranda stroked over Sofia's hair, over and over but Sofia didn't mind being coddled, right now she needed to be held after such abuse to her, and her mom was the perfect person for it. Sofia was not about to let Alexey lie or let him get away with this nor would she even allow him to answer first.

"He struck me in the face because I wouldn't be his. I tried talking to him, I tried to calm him down and convince him that I just couldn't be but he wouldn't listen. Yes, I had struck first but I used my wand only to defend myself though. I didn't want things to go this far... I never thought that trying to help would get me hurt..."

He looked at her cruelly for being honest, shooting darts at her with his eyes but they were shot down by his mother's own eyes. He lowered his angered gaze in an instance and looked anywhere but at her. She had not spoken a word since she saw the scene. His father was enraged to say the least but he also had a look of shame on his face. This was his son after all and for a man who wanted everything to be perfect to hear that his son, the heir to his throne, at least Sofia guessed so, had done something so heinous to a princess who he knew was nothing but kind and honest and had given her home to him, was disgraceful.

It was also unheard of, rarely ever did a man of such high nobility ever do such barbaric things to any person much less a princess, even more so because he had claimed to love her. It had been in Roland's great great great grandfather's time where men treated women with disrespect without consequence and it was his great grandfather who changed the rules and put in a law about such matters. Roland didn't always play by the rules exactly, he was the king now he could change them, but this rule would stand firm especially because it was his own daughter, Sofia who would never do any wrong, that had gotten injured while defenseless.

"I have no words for this! This is an outrage! This is heresy! This is treason to not only my crown but to the crown of Enchancia as well! What were you thinking, son?! How could you stoop so low as to hit a woman and not just any woman but her! And what's all this nonsense about you wanting to make her yours?! If you wanted her, you have to ask and she has to agree but if she doesn't you don't resort to forceful behavior! What kind of prince are you, what kind of man are you? You...you are no son of mine."

"Well then nothing has changed, has it, father? You've never treated me like your son, in fact this is the first time I've seen you in years, you don't visit and you don't care about me at all. It's all about you and Joy, even though she's not even your child, I am. Yet here I stand being treated like a total stranger! How do you think that makes me feel?"

"Be that as it may Alexey," Queen Bliss chimed in, moving forward which made him slink back and immediately stop fuming, "That is no reason to do what you have done today. We understand you have residual anger because of all the things that have been going on with us at home and that sometimes your father is not always there but that doesn't mean he doesn't love you. However, if you wanted him more acting like this has done nothing but push him away further. If you are acting like this out of anger towards us then you should talk with us, not harm another being, and you cannot take what is not yours nor is given to you. If Lady Sofia says she does not want to be yours then drop it and just agree to be friends, you'd have a much better chance at her if you acted like your title, showed her some respect. Apologize to her, now."

"She's the one who should apologize for leading me on like this! She kissed me on Hallows Eve and now she acts like she doesn't even want me!"

"Why do you lie when you are already in so much trouble? You forced that kiss on me when I clearly did not want it, I struggled to get you off of me, I was pushing you off and you still held me there. In case nobody believes me I do have an eye witness."

"We believe you Sofia," Miranda sincerely complied still caressing her hair.

"If you won't even apologize to her, you do not deserve the crown you wear, no noble man treats anyone like this," His mother stated firmly. "You have desecrated everything we have worked so hard for, shamed your kingdom and family and yourself. Since you are on Enchancian soil you have to play by their rules and I know the law here for such a crime. Imprisonment."

"Prison?! You would send your own flesh and blood to prison? You say you love me yet you treat me this way?!"

"Why not, Alexey? You have done the same to Lady Sofia, you said you wanted her and you treated her unfairly when she rejected you. Your punishment matches your crime."

"Your ladyship wait," Sofia interrupted, releasing herself from the warmth of her mother's arms. Her cheek still burned but it was lessening by the minute. Now she had been listening intently to all of this surrounded by a group full of anger, dismay, and hurt across the board and yet despite her own feelings she was still Sofia. She touched the queen on the arm and looked at her beseechingly.

"It is true he hit me, and it is true it isn't right, and it is also true that he has not acted like his station demands but imprisonment is a bit too far. I understand now... Alexey didn't want me, not specifically me, as pretty as I'm sure he thinks I am it's what I could have given him, something he feels he didn't have. I know now that he just wants to be loved, he wants attention, he wants someone to care about him. He's grown up with a broken family and a father who isn't there for him, and he see's his younger sister who gets all the affection. I know how that is... to have someone live in a life where they feel rejected at every turn and have to resort to acting like this because there seems to be no other way out. When he saw me, saw how sympathetic I was, he felt that all his pain could go away and when the only hope he had at happiness was dashed he went crazy. Though he claims I live in a fantasy it was him that lived in one, a fantasy where he assured himself that I MUST love him because nobody else would."

Everyone stood and listened to what Sofia was saying. She was always a good judge of character and could sense when someone was truly wrong or not but now she had a matter of not what was right or wrong at face value but something much deeper than that. This was almost exactly like Cedric in a way that's what she meant by she knew how it was, she didn't live through this sort of misery but she knew someone who did. In a matter of seconds she was able to gather his character and assess his true darkness, the truth that was inside of him. He stood stunned at her accurate assessment of him, and now he stood there the one who was crying after all this ordeal, not her.

It was all true, all of it, she saw it, she heard it, now she knew for sure she was right. He was just so broken and hid it until his cracks finally showed, nobody had paid him any attention so he gave nothing else his attention, if no one cared about him why care about anything. He felt hopeless and when hope came in the form of Sofia he tried to take it and when that hope could not be his he finally broke entirely. It had only been a matter of time before that bomb went off and now that it had exploded Sofia did not actually feel pain from his strike but a pain inside of her from understanding why he did it, the real reason. Queen Bliss and King Magnus exchanged a long look then they looked at Roland who sighed deeply and looked at Sofia who was there, despite all the facts, standing up for him.

"Sofia...are you sure about all of this...? Even after what he did to you?"

Sofia nodded. "He doesn't deserve to go to jail because of this, he just needs help from his family, he needs their support and love, he needs to be listened to and appreciated. Right now what he needs isn't me he needs the both of you."

King Magnus had not exactly relented his anger, he was still standing with his arms crossed and brows furrowed but when Queen Bliss looked at him again, in a gentle soft sort of way he uncrossed his arms slowly and his eyes softened. "Perhaps...we haven't been paying him enough attention...with things being the way they were it's hard to give it to him all our time but we should make a better attempt."

"Yes... I suppose so and maybe I should be there more to teach him how to be a man, a true king, then maybe if I did this wouldn't have happened. Ultimately though, it's not my decision to make, this is King Roland's land and this is his daughter, he has to make the call. What do you think should be done?"

"Well...in light of what I've been told I don't know if this punishment is just. However I still think a proper apology is in order."

All eyes were on the young lord who was there in the middle of it all, drying his eyes. His eyes were on Sofia's who was looking at him without malice or distrust or judging him, she was being patient and respectful, as he had not been with her at all. He lowered his eyes in shame at her gentle nature, that same nature that was sparing him despite what he had just done and said. All the things he said were now playing in his mind and now that he had calmed he flinched at each one and especially replaying that moment where he hit her. He had misjudged her in a way, she was exceedingly perceptive and he was the one living in a fairy tale, he was the one choosing not to face reality, he was the stupid one. He rubbed his shoulder not wanting to look at her and meet those eyes again but he did. He wanted her to hate him, to be mad at him, to not forgive him like everyone else had in his life but she was not like that at all. She felt his sorrow and as he had thought she understood him and now she had showed everyone else his soft interior that he had been hiding so now everyone understood him.

"Forgive me, Lady Sofia...I acted out of order and I shouldn't have. I should have thought about what I was doing and saying, I should have thought about you. You aren't selfish at all, I am..."

"Is it selfish to want love, Alexey? I don't think so, I don't think so at all. It wasn't at all right what you did, make no mistake, but you shouldn't be condemned for it. All is forgiven."

It was an emotional moment when Queen Bliss went over and hugged him, joined soon after by his father. Sofia and her family left them alone, they had a lot to talk about. Sofia now was sitting near the kitchen with an ice pack on her cheek and thinking about what had just transpired. Her father did inevitably explain to her why it is they were here, it was to actually make their separation official, they had been in a sort of limbo for years now. Sofia was upset hearing this that they could not at all work it out especially because Queen Bliss already went through a separation with Lady Joy's actual father.

There was no animosity between them but they just figured that even after two children in their life it was not going to happen, they couldn't be together anymore. Regardless they still loved their children but sadly one of them just wasn't feeling that love as much as the other and maybe even sometimes Joy felt that way too but dealt with it better. Sofia thought of what it was that drove them apart, was it because of how different they were or was it because of arguments? Was it something she could not understand yet? She got to thinking about her own love and the little fight they had.

She didn't like calling it a fight but she supposed that's what it was. It was awful what he all said to her but he was apologetic, even kneeling before her, begging and crying. She couldn't just walk away from him, she couldn't. She forgave him because she loved him and they would make sure to try to fix his jealous anger. That's how it was, they worked it out because their love was strong and eternal. Perhaps one day King Magnus will find someone who had a better bond with him or maybe just maybe he will realize Queen Bliss was his exact match all along. As she was thinking her favorite sorcerer was crossing her path and almost didn't notice her, whistling to himself and had his thinking face on. She called to him to get his attention but then realized as he turned to her she should have just let him go because now he was going to see her with the ice and start asking questions and she was not capable of lying. He did see it alright and when he approached her he looked at it with a sad expression.

"What happened, love? Toothache? I have a remedy for that if you want."

"It's...not a toothache..."

"Did you fall down or something? Have a bruise?"

"No...it's not that either..."

"Then what's wrong with your cheek, dearest? Please tell me so I can make it all better. I can assure you I have a million things in my stores that would fix you up better than silly ice."

"It's...nothing to worry about, I'll be fine," Sofia stated, smiling at him. "So anyways what are you up to today?"

He squinted his eyes at her, looking at her hand holding the ice pack then straight at her. "Sofia...you're changing the topic so I don't pry anymore. What exactly are you hiding from me?"

She bit her lip nervously and looked away from him. "If I tell you then you'll be cross and there's no point because everything is dealt with."

"Tell me anyways, I need to know. We're supposed to be honest with each other, right?"

His tone was alarmingly calm but within it was the agitation and doubt she knew he would have. "I'll only tell you if you promise not to get mad."

"Hmm...I don't like where this is going, Sofia, and I'm already drawing conclusions. If I was to ask, did someone hit you, would I be right?"

She winced a little as she slowly nodded yes. There it happened right before her eyes, a rippled ran across him and a flicker of anger went into his eyes. "Who hurt you?"

"Cedric I can't tell you, you'll just get mad."

"I'm already mad, Sofia, I'm just keeping it under control, as you have suggested. So tell me, who hurt you. It wasn't Amber was it?"

"What? No no! Amber would never! I know she can seem a little...well...you know but she's a good person and she means well. Amber would only hurt someone if they hurt me."

"Well then at last we have something in common," Cedric responded quickly with a smirk. "I know it wasn't Amber, actually, she's all bark, and James wouldn't he's too chivalrous. Obviously not your parents or your friend...So then...that leaves..." He paused and his pupils got smaller. He was now starting to shake and suddenly his voice got raspy. "I'll kill him."

"Cedric don't!" Sofia shouted, getting up off her stool as he started to leave, turning around hurriedly. She grasped his robe hem and tried to stop him. "Stop Cedric, please!"

"Where the hell is he?! I'm going to do a lot more than hex him when I find out where he is!"

"Cedric I told you he's been dealt with already, there's no need for more violence. Please listen to me, remember what we discussed about not letting your anger get the better of you?"

"Yes well that was then and this is now. He laid his hands on you and that is unforgivable!"

She took his face in her hands and made him look at her. She was looking at him seriously but no less lovingly. She stroked over his cheeks gingerly still looking at him then caressed his white fringe with nothing but love in every stroke. He melted to her touch entirely. She pet him softly, slowly, never breaking eye contact and cooing sweet things to him.

"Cedric, my incredible, amazing, wonderful love."

"Oh you stop that," He whispered with a light blush then received a very surprising kiss on the lips. He was at her disposal now, entirely bended to her will. When she broke from him he gave her a mischievous look. "Now pet I thought we had agreed no kissing unless it's in private."

"This was an exception besides...you needed it...and I needed it too."

"Oh is that a fact? And if I need more than just one?"

"Not here, you were only given one special kiss for today. Now promise me you'll let it be. I told you it's resolved."

"Hm. And how might I ask was it resolved? He had better be on his way to the guillotine right now."

"Cedric!" Sofia gasped making him chuckle. She shook her head at him and gave him an incredulous look but retained a small smile. He was always such a trickster. "For your information he's being sent home right now to be with his family. All he needed was to be loved because everyone wasn't giving him attention, the recognition he deserved. He latched onto me because he thought I could help. Sound familiar?"

"Hmph. Nope don't know anyone like that atall," He responded, turning from her. "And I didn't latch onto you, you make me sound so desperate."

"I never said you did," Sofia smartly replied back with a bit of sass. He turned back to her with a raised eyebrow.

"You really are a cheeky devil. I'd teach you a lesson if we were alone but we aren't so you'll just have to use your imagination and luckily for you, I suppose, you do have a vivid one."

She chuckled and held onto his arm, swinging back and forth without moving her legs. Her enchantlet started flashing and she told him to wait a moment while she answered a message from the protectors. After receiving their call she headed back to him.

"Hey how would you like to come with me to the Mystic Isles today to help with my protector duties? It would be a big help and we could spend more time together."

He squeaked in spite of himself, obviously enthusiastic about going somewhere like that. She had taken him scant amount of times but never on a mission with her, just for a little visit and every time he was fascinated. He brandished his wand with gusto, a big beam on his face.

"Count me in!"

She smiled right on back with him, just as excited to have him on her team today. She got changed into her protector garb and met back up with him, he was waiting by the stables, elation and excitement all over him. She looked at Minimus and thought about Skye, both were too small to carry Cedric she thought so she'd have to take a flying coach or something though she had never gone about it that way. If Minimus was a properly sized horse then it was possible, perhaps Cedric could just use another horse...if that is, he knew how to fly them.

"I know what you're thinking, Sofia, and I'm not riding on your purple pony."

Minimus whinnied in a huffy way at the remark. "He's not a pony, Cedric, he's just a miniature horse and I wasn't going to ask you to. Do you even know how to fly on a horse?"

"Never took the time to learn, we had dragon races at Hexley Hall."

"Whoa...that sounds really intense...and fun! No wonder you were so good at riding them! If only Crackle was big enough..."

"No need to bother your fiery fiends...I mean friends. How hard is it to ride on a horse anyways? I'll just borrow one from the stables and we'll be on our way."

"Okay if you say so."

Cedric went into the stables and came back out with a horse perfectly suited for him, a dark colored horse with no wings but he added some onto it then climbed aboard. He got on it just fine but when it came to lift off the horse did not know how to use the new wings given to it so Minimus and Sofia helped and soon they were off into the clouds together. She had not ridden alongside him in a long time not since the time mentioned before when she rode away with Everburn's dragons towards her castle to stop Princess Ivy. She had not taken notice then how easy it was for Cedric even in his confused state. He seemed to be taking to horse flying well enough. They kept up conversation the whole way there and then landed softly on one of the many isles. Sofia gave both the horses some sugar cubes and pet them, telling them they did a good job, then gave the horses kisses on their muzzles.

"Yes you did a wonderful job, you flew very smoothly for your first time, Dusk."

Cedric cleared his throat behind her. "And did I do a good job too, dear?"

She turned to him with a smile and placed her finger on his nose. "Yes, you also did a wonderful job. I'm proud of you."

"It was nothing really, I'm a natural in the air," He pridefully boasted, looking at his nails nonchalantly. "Still...since the horses got kisses..."

"Now you're jealous of my pets too?"

He shrugged. "Possibly."

She reached up and kissed him tenderly on the lips. "Alright there you go. Now we have a mission to do, so let's do it."

"I'll follow you anywhere, my sweet. Where exactly are we off to?"

"It's right over here," She said, pointing out in the distance, "there's a disturbance that's causing all the beautiful flowers and grass to die and we have to discover what's doing it and stop it."

"Alright, onward and upward then."

Sofia nodded and walked side by side with him, looking for clues. They could see everywhere there were little bits of destruction and it seemed to be creating a path of dead flowers and rotting trees. They followed the path and then heard some singing. The two stopped in their tracks and saw a figure of what looked like an innocent young child wearing all black with no shoes walking around. He had jet black hair and was pale as a ghost. Yet they could also see that everywhere his feet and hands touched things were dying all around him. He tried to pluck a lovely flower and it wilted right in his hand and Sofia noticed how sad he looked about it. Carefully she approached him, not knowing what he could do to her and from a safe distance she called out to him. He jumped and turned around, looking at her shyly. He looked about five, very small, he was cute as a button but his eyes were just as black as his clothes. Despite that he did not seem like he had any ill intent, even without pupils she saw nothing but sweetness in his eyes.

"H...hello...who are you...?"

"My name is Sofia, princess of Enchancia and protector of the Ever Realm. This is Cedric the Sensational, he's my royal magician."

The little boy waved shy as could be at both of them. "I'm Darcio. I've never had anyone talk to me before... people don't seem to like me."

"Three guesses why," Cedric sarcastically stated under his breath. Sofia nudged him hard.

"It might have something to do with your unusual abilities. Wherever you go things just seem to die. Were you cursed or born like this?"

"Born, mommy tells me not to go outside but it's so pretty out here. I don't like staying in the dark caves all the time. I understand though, she knows that no matter what I do I'll just destroy anything I touch."

Sofia thought for a while then snapped her fingers and reached into her dress pocket and pulled out some gloves that she had forgotten were there until now. She handed them to him and asked that he carefully take them and try them on. They were a little big on him and brightly colored against his black clothes but he seemed to like them. He tried picking another flower again and this time it did not wither away. He looked at it with amazement and awe, his little face lighting up.

"There now, you see, it's all fine. Now you just have to keep yourself covered and nothing bad will happen anymore."

"So I won't have to leave forever?"

"No of course not! Who said you'd have to leave?"

"Nobody I guess I just thought people didn't want me around because I can do this."

"Do you know why you can do this?"

"No. Mommy can do it too."

"Can we meet your mother?"

"Sure! Follow me!"

Sofia stood behind him and walked along his well-trodden dirt path with Cedric at her side. He bent to her level and whispered to her. "Do you think it wise to trust him?"

"He doesn't mean to do this, he can't help it. It's just a special talent he has that he can't control yet or maybe at all. I knew someone who turned everything she touched to ice and I was never scared of her."

"I'll trust you, you have never been wrong thus far."

"Thank you."

"For what, sweetheart?"

"For trusting me, it means a lot to me that you do."

He smiled and laced his hand with hers. They entered a dark cave with barely any spec of light to be found. Cedric's wand activated and now Sofia could see there was a woman sitting on the cave floor staring up at them.

"Who are they? I've told you never to bring outsiders in here, Darcio."

"But momma, they are nice. Look," He showed off his perfect flower still held tightly between his gloved hands. "See? That girl gave me these things and now everything is fine."

The woman, who had black hair and black eyes too, looked at the gloves as if she had never seen such things before then smiled over at Sofia. "Why did you do this for him? Everyone else I know usually hates us."

"There's no reason to hate you for something you have no control over. I can tell you don't mean for this but do you have any idea why?"

"Yes, Gaia is the goddess of life but life does not continue so she made us but there was never a place for us amongst the isles so we hid. Nobody understood what we were nor tried to help us in any way so here we have been. When my son was born I wanted him to stay hidden, away from the wicked world who would throw things at him and call him names for what he did. It's just our nature, it's something that must happen. When Gaia walks life springs forth but when we walk death happens, it's a cycle but nobody likes that last part so we are shunned. You didn't shun him though, you cared for him and made him so happy. Thank you, you are the nicest human I have ever met."

"You're welcome, um...what is your name?"

"My name is Freya."

"Well then Freya, I'm Sofia and this is Cedric and we will gladly bring this up to the protectors. I just know they will find a solution that will suit your family. Don't worry, I'll make sure nobody kicks you off the isles, princesses promise."

"And trust me she never breaks it."

"Then you have my trust and my respect, princess. Thank you for bringing a smile to my son's face, it's been long since I've seen it."

"Anything to help."

When she reported back to the protectors and carefully explained everything it appeared they had no idea what it was and that it was even a person doing this much less two people. They understood and decided they would take better care of the two and give them proper clothing and shelter so that they would no longer live the way they were. Chrysta had just flown in from a mission and upon hearing Sofia's voice she went right over and said hello.

"Is that Cedric back there?"

"Mhm."

"Hi Cedric! Nice to see you again! You better be taking good care of her!"

"He is don't worry, we take care of each other."

She smiled back at him. He was thinking about what had happened today and lost in his mind he wasn't paying attention to what was said but he smiled when she smiled. Sofia did not take a second glance at the boy, she had trusted him instantly even though he was literally killing whatever he touched. Sofia always gave people a chance and she always gave them the benefit of the doubt. She was the one person everyone could trust because she trusted everyone and that is why she had so many friends of all different types. He admired her more than he could say aloud, Sofia was the bravest person he knew and the most truthful and righteous. Watching her work, watching her help people without even thinking about it, and fixing the problem made him want to do the same thing. So he set about fixing the grass that had been trampled and now she was watching him, admiring him, spellbound by his magic.

"Wow... it's like it never happened!"

"This is nothing, behold!"

He waved his wand at an area producing a purple and white tipped tulip then plucked it and held it before her. "Milady."

"Oh it's beautiful! Thank you."

"You're welcome. Well I gave you my tulip so can I have your tulips?"

She blushed vibrantly and laughed at his joke. She was still giggling even as she kissed him. The two stayed there for a while, sitting with each other and basking in the majesty of the isles. Unicorns and fairies flew in the pink and purple painted clouds, magical beings of all kinds hopped around on the islands, crystals sparkled, and the air had this clean, sweet smell that was hard to describe. Almost like the first real breath of air.

"You know...I wouldn't mind having a boy," Sofia remarked, mostly to herself, staring at the flower given to her and smelling it. She closed her eyes and smiled.

Cedric's eyes widened and he turned his head to her, viewing her peaceful expression. "A...boy what exactly?"

"A boy child, silly. You know one day...when we...have one..."

She was blushing pink right across her nose, twirling the tulip between her fingers and gazing at him full of affection. He swallowed thickly and blushed right back but there was a certain glow in his eyes, a warmth that made her smile. He cupped her hands with his and brought them to his mouth, kissing them. Cedric took the flower and placed it in her hair, caressing the side of her cheek as he did, the red mark was fading but he tried not to focus on that lest he become angered. He focused instead on her face, her eyes overflowing with love, her little satin lips smiling at him, the beautiful copper color of her hair and imagined her features on a child, mixed with his own. He had never thought of having children because he had just given up to the fact that he'd be alone for the rest of his life and that was that.

Now he was here with this woman so beautiful that the scenery around her was boring in comparison, imagining a future that could become real. It felt like it could truly happen. No barriers stood in his way as he imagined her wrapped in pure ivory gliding down a covered walkway towards him, awaiting her under an arch with the blossoms falling gently onto her hair. He imagined awaking in his tower everyday and no longer being alone anymore but having her by his side every morning, cuddled up in a blanket just watching the sunrise or drinking hot tea by the fire at night. He imagined her rounding stomach full of future life and bringing that bundle of joy home and watching her rock it to sleep, singing to it in that lilting voice of hers. He sighed joyfully, his heart was light. He truly couldn't believe his luck.

He was born into this home where by his father he felt he was not living up to expectations, his sister and he bickered constantly, bullied by his classmates, loathed by society, and treated like the bane of the entire wizarding world. Friends? All his had was Wormwood, no human, no wizard, no one at all besides his mother seemed to truly like him. Dates? He had scarcely heard of the word, rare flings that lasted a week if he was lucky but nothing serious. Even in his yearbook he was voted most likely to fail, it was awful living in that mess and even as a royal sorcerer he had nothing to look forward to besides entertaining the children. Then she came along and changed everything. She melted his cold exterior and broke apart the wall he had built to protect himself from getting hurt with just one hug. Every time she left him he felt a hole in his heart, from day one even and when she called him her friend that's when it all shifted. As much as he schemed as much as he plotted as much as he planned he could not answer what he would do about her because he knew when it came down to it he could not hurt her.

Not physically or emotionally, it would be like taking a chunk out of his own soul if he so much as flicked her. Wormwood and his parents were the only voices he talked to giving him advice on what he should do about Sofia and his feelings with her. Even though his mother acted like she was just as nasty as he was she was only doing what she thought was what her son wanted because she wanted him to be happy. She was a sweet lady, a bit stubborn at times but so was her husband and they both adored Sofia and they both could agree, even his mom who sometimes spurred him on in his wicked goal, that he really shouldn't be doing this. After his failed attempt at using the amulet his mother had pulled him aside and talked to him about the fact that she did not enjoy doing this to Sofia and she could tell he didn't either after she hugged him. However Wormwood was not at all backing down and would constantly squawk in disagreement whenever it came to the girl and his decisions on not tricking her.

He knew it, he had gone soft, he had let her wiggle her way into his heart and reveal that he was not actually bad after all and he was glad he came to terms with that. He should have known from day one it would have ended this way and thinking back it did make all the sense in the world. He had lost Wormwood, yes but he'd do it all again if it meant having her. Plus he got a replacement and Minerva was far superior. Fate had been saving Sofia just for him and all the things that had happened, for better or worse, had brought them together. The two collided in that hallway, destiny had forced them together, and here they were, years later, promising their hearts to the other.

"I love you, Sofia. I'm going to put a ring on that little finger of yours, just you wait and see."

"I think first and foremost you have to get my father's blessing."

"Right..." He groaned, leaning back. "and just as I got into his good graces. That man will have my head if he knew what we've been doing, you know."

"You act like my dad is some sort of barbarian. All you have to do is ask him a simple question."

"You make it sound so easy... but father always said marriage is no easy task. I know that I want to be with you, no matter what it takes and if I have to face your father I will. For you... I'd do anything."

"Cedric... that's so...romantic. We can face him together."

"No my love... I need to do this myself, I can't always rely on you to be there to keep my head from going under water. I'm going to tell him how I feel and if he says no...well I just won't take no for an answer."

Sofia leaned her head on his shoulder. "I used to think about what my future husband would be like and I wanted him to be someone honest, strong, protective, loyal, loving, and full of spirit. You're all I could ever wish for and more. Honestly I... I've always had the biggest crush on you. My mother was asking me when I was still getting used to the castle how it was so far and at some point I just said, 'Isn't Mr. Cedric so handsome?'"

Cedric couldn't help but laugh out loud at that, picturing it perfectly in his head. The little eight year old girl, fresh out of her village into this new life, and he had been so rude to her on that first meeting. Actually he was so livid that he just made himself disappear and even then, having just met him, she was already shooting to be his number one fan despite him shoving her off. Since she was so humble and forthcoming he felt even then he could tell her anything and she wouldn't care, she would listen. He had seen the honey glow on her face and the sparkle in her eyes, her voice had risen an octave just saying his name. He really should not have been shocked when he realized that she was in love with him, she had always been so it was just taking on full form.

"It's kind of cute in a weird sort of way. I mean, you had just met me and I was a grumpy old man yet you were smitten."

"Well you were very charming, you still are."

"I was standoffish at best, to be fair I wanted nothing to do with you. I didn't dislike you but I did not care much for children. Unfortunate as this truth is, I don't think I would have paid you much mind if you didn't have the amulet."

"I know... but that's just another reason it's so precious to me, because it brought you to me."

"And I'm so very glad it did. I had wanted the amulet for so long, I was convinced it would bring me fame, posterity, the love I had been craving, power, and so on but it turned out it was you. You gave me all of it. It's funny the amulet always sits on your chest right over your heart and it turns out to be that's exactly what I wanted. Your heart is my amulet, so in the end I guess I did end up stealing it."

Sofia lightly laughed at him but was cut off by his lips finding hers. When they parted they both just looked into each other's eyes for the longest time.

"We should head back."

"Do we really have to? It's so nice out here and I'm free to kiss you to my heart's content with no one watching, like this."

Cedric grabbed her face and kissed her over and over again in short rapid succession but it turned slower and slower as he laid her down in the field of flowers. He may not have been good with words but he was somehow very convincing and the two stayed there for most of the day and well into the lateness of the evening. When they returned the sun had gone almost all the way down painting the castle in sunset colors. Sofia put Minimus and a now wingless Dusk back into the stables, giving them each one more pet and a goodbye hug before walking back into her home. She stretched and yawned, today had been an eventful day and she needed a good rest. She felt Cedric stroke her back and then saw him jerk his head towards his tower, imploring her to go with him. Too tired to argue or say anything about it she followed him upwards. As she laid herself down to rest in his bed he couldn't help but gaze at her before heading downstairs to get some work done.

He put his finger to his lips to tell Minerva to keep it down and she nodded as best she could before hopping onto his shoulder. All was quiet and at peace as the rest of the household was also settling down for the night to come. The guests had left leaving the royal Enchancian family alone with King Roland taking some much needed down time after all the debacle today to be with his wife. The only real noise being heard was James fencing with a dummy outdoors so everything was very much silent until Amber burst into the chamber her parents were in. She let out a high happy cry, waving something around in her hand and talking incoherently. Miranda had to put her arms on her shoulders to calm her down. She smoothed out her dress and hair before showing them the card in her hand decorated by silver and blue foiled snowflakes and swirls, signed and stamped by the royal mark of Freezenburg.

"She's in so much trouble but ahhh I'm so happy I can't believe it! I mean I knew it was getting serious but wow! Holy cow! I can't believe it!"

"Wow what Amber? Is this a party invitation?"

"Yes daddy! And do you know what kind of party this is? Do you? I bet you won't guess not in a million years! Oh I'm so jealous I can't believe she is first! I thought I would be but I guess not! Well I'll just have to talk to Axel about all this. But oh my god! Can you believe it? An engagement party! Couldn't you just die?"

"You mean...your friend Hildegard is getting...married? Already? But she's no older than you," Roland surprisingly stated, taken aback by the information.

"I know! Isn't it amazing?! Ugh I wish it was me instead though. She's going to rub it in all of our faces, I just know it. That's so like her too to not let us know until the last moment."

"I for one am glad it's not you yet, Amber, I still think there's a lot for you to figure out before you settle down. You aren't even a fully-fledged queen yet."

"Ugh daddy, I'm going to be seventeen in no time and when I'm eighteen I'll be crowned as second queen in command. Besides, there's nothing more that I want than to have a family and stay here, ruling my country with a fair but firm hand. Sofia will be my council and James will be my lead knight. It's everything I have ever dreamed of. I have thought about my wedding day since I was little and now I have to watch my friends get married before me. I'm happy for her, of course, but I also want to be her right now...well not really I don't want to be with Zandar."

"Amber, sweetie, I understand that's a big dream of yours but your father is right. You still have a lot of time ahead of you. Think it through. However, I got married young, we both did, and it is your choice, honey. If Axel wants to propose I don't object to it. He's a good man."

"The best man! Oh after this he owes me the biggest shiniest diamond, no topaz, no amber, of course, ring in the whole world! I can't believe it. It's crazy...we were playing dolls not that long ago and now we have thrones to sit on and husbands to attend to. I'll be mad as a hornet if James gets married before me though! First born, first wed!"

Roland and Miranda looked at each other and she sort of shrugged it off. Amber had a very conventional mind in some regard, born and raised the pure princess way with all the glitz and glam of her world. It was hard for Roland to think about his children not being children anymore but day after day he saw them both, James becoming a strapping young man and Amber blossoming to look just like her mother. Sofia too, was no longer the small bird just sitting in her nest, she was always flying off somewhere and looking prettier than a rosebud. All three of them were never going to leave him but they were growing up fast. It didn't seem so long ago that he held her and changed her and fed her from her golden encrusted bottle. Where had all the time gone?

He was so lost in his thoughts he didn't hear her rambling on about the party and how exciting it all was or deciding what to wear. In front of him he saw a woman but behind that all the memories of her youth came flooding back to him and it made him sort of somber in a way knowing she wouldn't just be his little princess, she'd be someone elses too. He liked Axel a lot, he came from a prestigious family after all. He would take care of her well, provide for her, and best of all he made her happy. They were a good pair. That didn't mean he was exactly ready to let go of her yet. It seemed easier with James and Zoe seemed the noncommittal type so who knew if he would ever marry her or if they would stay going strong. At least, he thought, he had Sofia who had not even wanted suitors at all yet.

Miranda knew otherwise and was just waiting to see what would happen once all was revealed. Her daughter and husband were both so busy it left little time to confess what was going on but when it happened she could guarantee Roland would be floored. She just hoped he wouldn't do anything to Cedric. The only wrong thing he did in pursuing Sofia was not trying to ask to court her first and he was not alone in that. Amber kept going on and on about it and then suddenly she was out of sight, a blur of skirts and hair, still ranting away. She'd make a good queen, he knew that, but he wasn't so sure he was ready for her to be a full queen yet. What choice did he have but to watch from the sidelines as all of them became adults?

Miranda pat his hand, trying to comfort him. She too had a hard time letting go but she was proud of all of them and overjoyed that all three had someone to love in their life. As the two thought about the bygone youth of their growing children Amber was going around telling everyone about the party. She was most excited to tell Sofia since Hildegard was in some respect her friend too but she couldn't find her sister. Amber knew just exactly where she might be if not in her room and she ran up the stairs, huffing and puffing. She didn't even knock at all and just barged right in, banging the front door loudly against the wall which startled Cedric who was dozing off at his desk. She ran up to him and greeted him quickly.

"Cedric have you seen Sofia?"

"Uhh..." He wasn't sure how to answer her. Should he be honest or should he lie? Sofia didn't like him lying at all but he had no qualms about it. However he didn't need to answer, Sofia made herself known walking down his bedroom stairs, yawning.

"I'm here Amber. What's wrong?"

"You mean you were...in his bed?!" Amber yelped out in shock, holding her hands to her cheeks. Sofia nodded sleepily, seemingly unaware of how this all looked or sounded. Meanwhile Cedric was as pale as a codfish. Amber was capable of putting it all together and didn't need to really ask if anything more had happened. She blushed at the idea. It was hard to imagine that her sister of all people would do something like what she was imagining she might have been doing. "Oh my...how scandalous."

"Amber I was only sleeping. Now, what is it? Is everything okay?"

"Um well...oh yes! Guess what!? Hildegard is going to be married and she's throwing a huge party! You're invited of course and you can bring your friends from the village if you want. It's going to be phenomenal, no expense spared I'm sure."

"Married...Hildegard...already? That's..."

"Remarkable? I know! I'm pleased as punch. Oh say you'll come, she really wants you to be there. Please be there!"

"Of course. When is it?"

"Next week. I really can't believe she sprung all this on us right now and gave us so little time to prepare. Ugh. It will take me the whole week just to pick my dress. I'm so mad at her but I'm so happy too. I feel like I'm all over the place. You!" She directed her attention to Cedric. "If you think about marrying my sister you better throw a big party too, sir. I expect nothing but the best for her!"

"Amber..." Sofia warned, hands on her hips, her cheeks darkening.

"I'm just saying... you are planning to marry her though, right?"

"Amber please!"

"I am," Cedric finally spoke, pulling himself together. He said it calmly and politely but also directly so she understood he meant it. "You can certainly count on that. Only...that isn't something that leaves this room. Okay?"

Amber grinned at him, glad to see he was so sure about this. "Mums the word. Oh I can't wait for you two to be wed. I just have to be your wedding planner and you'll have the cutest babies if Callista is anything to go by."

Both of them turned bright red all over which didn't deter Amber but Sofia made sure to wrap things up and walk her out, turning to Cedric with a little awkward smile as they left. He watched her go, missing her of course, but his mind was now on how to tell the king about what Amber had just mentioned; marriage. He was nervous as could be just at the thought of it but to do it was another matter. He might faint or choke on his words or god knows what and come off as an embarrassment once more.

It didn't matter if his words faltered, they were true and from the heart and he swore he would say all he had to say. He spun his wand in a circle over and over forming what was looking like a ring. Yes soon, very soon, he would man up and go to Roland. It could no longer wait. No more hiding, lying, sneaking, and pretending. After Sofia got back from her party he would do it then, no matter what time it was, no matter what state he was in. He had waited long enough and was tired of it. In ten days, maybe less, he would ask for her hand and even if Roland flat out said no Cedric didn't care. Sofia would be his wife, that's all there was to it.