Wicked
Summary: *Read Me a Story Format/Aquafied Retelling of Wicked* (Takes place sometime between my Season 4 and 5) When Corban comes home upset, claiming a bully at school told him all magical people are evil, Cedric and Sofia decide to console him with a story-one that proves that just because people are born different or have powers, it doesn't make them wicked.
Disclaimer: I don't own Sofia the First. All characters in here except a few OCs belong to Craig Gerber. Nana and Tanya belong to MarionetteJ2X, and Corban and Serena belong to me. Any other OCs that arrive belong to me as well.
A/N: I have really been thinking of writing this story for a long time, because I love the musical Wicked. It took me a while to be sold on the idea of Cedric playing a high-energy character like Fiyero, but I did decide to modify the part a bit to fit not only the original universe from Craig Gerber, but the world I've designed as well; therefore, "Read Me a Story" was necessary. 😊 I hope you enjoy! Note: Please allow for slower updates this time, as I'm working on some of my final doctoral classes before dissertation and doing trainings throughout the summer, among other things. ;)
Chapter List:
1. Confronted and Conflicted
2. No One Mourns the Wicked
3. Green and Gold
4. Forbidden Arts
5. Purple Haze
6. Life of the Party
7. Popular
8. Desperate
9. Good Old Magic
10. Olive Branch
11. Merlin's Mission
12. At Face Value
13. Whirlwind
14. Beyond Skin Deep
15. Shredding the Mask
16. For Better or For Worse
17. Even After Forever
18. Not So Wicked
Chapter 1: Confronted and Conflicted
"Look, there he goes," a smirking dark-haired boy jeered as Corban, the seven-year-old son of King Roland and Queen Miranda of Enchancia, walked by with his books in his arms. "Always with his head in the clouds. And he's such a mama's boy—always crying for his mommy when a new school year starts."
Corban halted in his steps, whirled around on the slightly shorter boy, and glared at him—an expression he'd likely inherited from both Amber and Sofia, who were both rather gifted at 'the look.' "Leave me alone, Horace!"
Prince Horace Oswald Ignatius L'Darby was a bit smaller than other boys his age, but his attitude more than made up for that. He was extremely wealthy, the son of Queen Ilene of Endburg and her husband Duke Chamberlain, and the grandson of the notorious magic denouncer Windham VI (the former King of Endburg). While his parents were nice enough, Horace was known by many students at Royal Prep as Horace the Horrible. He still had something of a baby face, most of it hidden by large-rimmed glasses, which shielded his cold green eyes. His hair was short and dark, the sides cropped closely to his head while a few wispy layers fell over the middle, some pieces falling just above his brow every now and then. His grandfather always made sure to order the royal barber to trim the boy's hair at least a few times a month, telling him that appearances were everything.
The boy was outfitted in a lilac button-up long-sleeved shirt, the sleeves made of fine lace, matching the fancy cravat tucked beneath his collar. A perhaps too-long black long-sleeved coat with a decorative sash over the left shoulder practically swarmed his small frame, dusting his knees as he walked. His black slacks were decorated with light gold swirls, matching the trim of his stocky black boots.
The other two who were with Horace, a blonde girl with her hair tightly tied into pigtails, and a taller boy with short light brown hair slicked back, practically mimicked the prince's sneers. They were Chinzy and Vaiden, Horace's sidekicks and sometimes friends. They were the brawns while Horace was the brains: a strange yet somewhat intimidating trio of students. Unlike Horace, though, Chinzy and Vaiden wore more colorful outfits reflecting their own kingdom's culture: bright green and orange for Chinzy, and a mix of royal blue, gold, and silver for Vaiden.
"Did he hurt your feelings again?" Chinzy mocked, laughing. "Corban, you're going to have to toughen up. If you're going to be the leader of a kingdom someday, like your sister, then you need to have thicker skin."
"My skin is nice already," he argued back, missing the point of Chinzy's comment. "Don't you guys have anything better to do than to bother me?"
"Actually, yes…" Horace stepped over to Corban, smirking up at the lighter-haired boy. "Since it's the weekend, my grandfather and I will be attending a magic removal ceremony of some wizards in Hempshire." He saw the grimace on the prince's face and felt his lips curl more in a pleased manner. He loved getting under the other boy's skin. "They were found using their magic…illegally, I heard. Such wicked beings, those wizards, and anyone like them. You have magical people in your family, don't you, Corban? Your sister, your brother-in-law… Some cousins, nieces, nephews… All a weird bunch, with strange and probably dangerous powers—more wicked than they appear, I'm sure. Especially that mute girl with the dopy pink hair."
Corban growled and pushed Horace back, knocking him into the wall, as he poked his finger at the other boy's chest. "Don't talk about Nana like that, Horace. She may not be able to talk, but she's more powerful and wonderful than you'll ever be. If anyone's wicked, it's you."
Vaiden pulled Corban away from Horace, pushing him to the floor. "Keep your hands to yourself, Corban. Last kid who poked Horace like that never walked again." He smirked, slamming one of his fists into his hand. He was a bit taller and more robust than other kids his age, after all. "I made sure of it."
Horace straightened his outfit and glared down at the other prince. "You better be glad it's not your family whose powers are being taken away. I'd love to see that—to see Princess Sofia screaming in horror as her precious powers are removed." He grinned slowly as Corban stood to his feet, his teeth bared as he gritted them, his hands clenched at his side. "And her husband—Cedric, right? A subpar excuse for a sorcerer, I've always heard… I'm sure that little baby of theirs also has powers." He shrugged, humming. "Just a shame…"
"You're evil," Corban told him lowly, ignoring the stares from some other students nearby, watching as both Vaiden and Chinzy stood next to the other boy. "Evil people always get punished."
"I'm afraid you're wrong, Corban… The only evil in this world are people with magical powers… It's not normal for people to have something that strong."
Exasperated, the fair-haired boy threw his hands up. "Oh, but it's normal to want people to get hurt because they like magic?!"
Horace just smiled sardonically, snorting at the other prince's indignance. "You're too stupid to understand. You're too close to the ones who use magic, so you think it's fine. It's not fine. It's dangerous." The smile fell from his face, and he told his classmate seriously, "The sooner all magical people are gone, the better." Without another word, he turned and left, his two friends following him closely.
Corban sighed, slumping against the wall, his blue eyes drifting up toward the ceiling in dismay.
Cedric pulled Sofia in for a kiss after having just put Serena in her crib. He smiled down at her as she hummed happily, a dreamy expression on her face. "There's nothing quite as beautiful as a mother cradling her child, singing to her, and loving her with all her heart. You, my darling, are the most beautiful woman in the kingdom…"
Sofia giggled, hugging him warmly. "Oh, Cedric." She blinked as a knock fell upon the door to their bedroom, and she walked over to pull it open. She barely managed to open her mouth to say anything when Corban, Nana, and Tanya all filed into the room, the girls stopping near Cedric while the little boy threw himself on the couple's bed, grabbed a pillow, and screamed dramatically into it before tossing it onto the mattress. She smiled sheepishly. "Bad day?"
Corban sat up, his hair all frazzled like Amber's would often get when she slept, and narrowed his eyes toward his captive audience. "I hate people."
Nana gasped, pulling herself onto the bed, staring at her friend with her large green eyes, now filled with concern.
"N-Not you, Nana… Not any of you," he clarified, watching as the strawberry girl took his hand and held it gently, watching him closely. "Just…bad people, I guess. Mean people."
"A fair sentiment," Cedric acknowledged, watching his wife step over to their bed and sit, pulling her little brother and their daughter into a loving embrace. "But what brought that on, Corban?"
"There's this bully at school named Horace. We all call him Horace the Horrible, because he's…well, horrible." He gestured vaguely as Tanya and Cedric also sat down, each on opposite sides of the bed's end space. "He said he and his grandpa are going to go watch wizards get their magic taken away this weekend, because magical people are evil and wicked and not normal."
"Only true in about half of the cases," Tanya corrected, folding her arms. "As in the case of humanity itself, I imagine. It seems to me, little prince, this classmate of yours has a particular animosity toward people like us."
"Yeah," he responded, sighing, a small smile coming to his face as he felt Nana's small hand brush his hair behind his ear. He gave her an appreciative nod before adding, "Most magical people are really cool. You guys are the best. I guess he doesn't realize how many times you guys have saved our kingdom, the realm, and all of us really…" He eyed Sofia especially, a knowing look on his young features. "I sometimes worried you wouldn't come back…"
Sofia reached out and brushed his cheek. "Oh, Corban…"
"I know you're powerful sorcerers and sorceresses and all that other good stuff, and you have magical powers to help you beat the bad guys and protect yourselves, but you're still my sister… My family…" He felt Nana hug him, and he quickly returned the hug. "My best friend and my everything…"
Cedric and Sofia exchanged smiling glances as they listened to the little one air his grievances.
"I guess I just want to make sure you'll always come back to me. All of you."
"You are worth returning to, little prince," Tanya responded before anyone else could. A rare, caring smile graced her lips as she nodded at him. "We are, after all, family. As I understand, you do anything you can for family."
"It sounds like maybe it's time for a story," Sofia suggested as she leaned against the headboard and pile of pillows, cradling Nana as she leaned against her, her tiny hand still clutching Corban's. She laughed as Cedric settled on the other side of the bed, Tanya nestled near him. "A story that proves that magic can be bad, but it also can be good. It all depends on how magic wielders approach it. Everyone has the ability to choose the path of good or evil, after all."
"What story, Sofia?" Corban asked curiously, his eyes, so similar to hers, widening in curiosity.
She smiled as she caught Cedric's eye before nodding toward her little brother and daughters. "Wicked."
To be continued…
Next Chapter: No One Mourns the Wicked