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: You may not like what Amber is about to do in this chapter, but it's all part of the plot… Also, as you can tell with the title, things are about to shift gears here… Brace yourselves.
Chapter 13: Whirlwind
Sofia wasn't sure where she was going, but she knew she had to get out of the area. It was too dangerous to linger anywhere near Hexley Hall at this point. Even five years later, people held a grudge; granted, she couldn't fault the citizens. After all, why would their precious wizard and headmistress lie?
She was on the outskirts of the school grounds when she encountered an obstacle. She gasped and looked up in surprise after she ran into someone, bracing herself enough not to tumble onto the ground. Once she determined rather quickly who it was, she growled softly and held her hands out, pooling magic in her palms. "Merlin," she hissed, her eyes narrowing in contempt.
The man had not changed that much in the last five years, save for his more decorated blue robes and more prominent jewelry that hung around his neck. And his- Okay, so maybe he had changed… But in what way? "Sofia, I—"
The magic wielder took a step back, her glare holding as she scowled. "Touch me and you die. I've seen what happens when people are around you, and I won't be the next victim. Not after what you did to Professor Greylock."
Merlin's mildly stunned expression melted into one of understanding, and he sighed, fiddling with his beard. He seemed nervous, which Sofia hadn't been expecting. "I won't—I… Ahem, I will not hurt you, Sofia. I merely wanted to talk."
"Why should I believe you?" she challenged, her magic never wavering. "Give me one good reason to listen to a single word you're saying."
"I was not the one who came up with the idea to destroy Greylock, you know…" His voice was soft and even remorseful. He sounded so fragile compared with the man she'd first met five years ago. "That was all Miss Nettle's idea, actually. I had nothing but the utmost respect for Greylock. I've always liked him, because he is—er, was…a…rather charming person."
Sofia's hands lowered and the tension in her stance slackened a bit as she observed the man. He'd gotten older. His features gave that away in a heartbeat. His hair had even lightened considerably to a shocking white. Almost transparent in some places, but that could be due to his age. With wizards, it was hard to tell their real ages sometimes. The man she was talking to now could be 60 or 600, and she would never know unless she asked.
"All I ever wanted to do was help people with my magic," Merlin lamented, a bit of vulnerability in his voice as he leaned up against a tree, his hands folded and tucked beneath his chin. "I wanted to see my school thrive with strong magic wielders. For me, it would be like being a proud father…" He smiled lightly, chancing a glance at Sofia, who remained contemplative. He sighed, lowering his head a bit again as he dropped his hands to his sides. "I never got the chance to have that experience, you know. My life and my work never permitted me the opportunity to have a family of my own, I'm afraid."
"Oh," Sofia murmured, not sure what to say. She could tell this seemed to be a soft spot in the man's heart, though she wasn't sure sympathizing with him was the best way to go. After all, her favorite professor had been destroyed by his hands… Right?
"In any case," the older man began, changing the subject, "I must admit that I'm rather astonished by your magic. The mere fact that you possess such potent powers is impressive, especially for one so young. It is often said that only someone of a long lineage of magical sorcerers or wizards can do such a thing. What of your father and mother?"
"No," she told him, shaking her head. "My mother and father didn't have…powers." It was strange talking about both of her parents in the past tense now. Even though she and Roland had not always seen eye to eye, he was her father, and losing a parent was no small issue. "It's just me. I'm the only anomaly in the family, as far as magic is concerned."
"I see…" He reached out, placing a hand on her shoulder, smiling softly when he felt her flinch at his touch. "There's nothing wrong with being unique, Sofia. You're powerful. You should embrace that."
Sofia frowned as she felt his grip tighten ever so slightly, his fingers pressing into her shoulder. "Merlin—"
"Oh, there you are!" Miss Nettle's voice laughed as the fairy swooped down next to the wizard, wielding possibly the gaudiest sparkling wand anyone had ever seen. "I was just going to ask you if you needed any help detaining the girl, but I see you can handle things on your own!"
The green-tinted young woman growled softly, jerking her shoulder from Merlin's grasp. Noticing his somewhat sardonic smile, she snapped, "You lied to me! Again!" Enraged, she held both of her hands out, aiming her left at Merlin and her right at Miss Nettle. "Give me one good reason not to destroy both of you the way you did Professor Greylock!"
"We didn't destroy him," Miss Nettle corrected calmly. "He brought it on himself. Everyone who has been sacrificed up to this point earned his or her place."
"Sacrificed..."
"We did not tell the daft man to practice what he did. He made a choice, and he's paid the consequences."
"Similar to how you'll now pay," Merlin added, nodding somberly as he withdrew his legendary wand. "Everyone knows you as a traitor to Hexley Hall, Sofia. You ran not long after Greylock died. Does that not strike you as odd?"
"You-!" Sofia gasped as she just barely registered the familiar flash of purple before her, the owner's back to her, one arm outstretched in a protective manner (toward her) and the other in front of him, his wand clutched tightly in his hand. "Cedric?"
"Praestringo!" He turned and grabbed Sofia's hand, quickly pulling her away as they ran. "Hurry! That spell won't last long."
"What are you even doing here?"
He offered her a cheeky smile as he responded, "I suppose I'm rescuing the princess."
"I-I'm no princess," she argued, growing flustered, her cheeks warming even more as he continued casting quick glances at her, his smile never wavering. "Stop flirting with me!"
"Who's flirting?"
"You! Aren't you courting Amber?" She caught her breath once they stopped running, and she realized they were now just outside the city gates.
"That…isn't working out. It can't…" He stepped toward her, clasping one hand around her own, his other lifting to cup her cheek, his thumb grazing her bottom lip. "Not when my heart belongs to another…"
"Cedric…"
"Cedric?! Sofia?!"
The two companions gasped, jumping apart, turning to see a very hurt-looking Amber standing there, her mouth agape. Her arms were full of expensive-looking materials, which easily could have been for a wedding, though she dropped the materials to the ground, anger now filling her features instead.
"Amber," Cedric attempted, "let me expl—"
"Explain?! Explain what, Cedric? That you suddenly have a new favorite color?!"
"That was uncalled f—"
"Maybe he got tired of all the tacky, disgustingly cheerful yellow you always wear!" Sofia bit back, her hands fisted at her sides.
"It's gold, you uncultured, insipient hag!"
"Girls!"
Sofia lunged forward, only to be held back by Cedric. "I'll show you a hag, you pampered, pretentious princess!"
Amber yelled, "At least my daddy loves me!" The moment it left her lips, she wished she could rescind it, but she was also still hurt and upset, so she wasn't all that regretful.
Cedric nearly lost his grip on Sofia when she snarled, hurling all of her weight toward the other girl, just barely missing her when she swung one fist toward her. "Sofia, stop!"
"You know what? Go!" The blonde waved one hand at them, huffing and sighing, tears threatening to spill out of her eyes but held back only by her stubbornness. "You want to be together, clearly, so go on! But don't ever talk to me again!" She glowered at Sofia, who frowned. "I can see why you don't have friends. You're cold, selfish, and wicked, just like I originally thought. I'm sorry that I ever tried to be your friend. I don't ever want to see your faces again." With that, she turned and stalked off toward the school grounds, leaving the pile of fabrics in a huddled mass on the ground.
Cedric and Sofia only hesitated briefly, realizing that Amber was clearly heartbroken and emotional, and that the spell from earlier was probably wearing off by now. Quickly, they took each other's hand again and rushed as far from the area as they could get on foot.
Amber stormed back toward the campus, ignoring excited chatters of people around her. She couldn't even be happy to see Sofia, whom she had assumed was either captured or dead… No, her reintroduction to her former friend was to see her in Cedric's embrace… Had they always…?
She only paused when she saw Merlin and Miss Nettle ambling up to her, glancing over her head to see the backs of Cedric and Sofia disappearing over a hill. "Merlin… Miss Nettle…"
"We must develop a plan to get Sofia to surrender so that we can handle her ourselves," Miss Nettle told Merlin. "She's too powerful."
"Her sister," Amber mumbled half-heartedly, a listless expression on her face as she glanced at them both. "Use Vivian as an excuse. Spread a rumor that she's in danger, and Sofia will come to her rescue, like she used to." She glanced toward Merlin, who had begun stroking his beard, a small green bottle-like necklace peering through the white strands every now and then. She paid little attention to it except to halfway make out the M etched into the glass. Strange… "I've got to go… I have…preparations to…unprepare…" With that, she left the duo alone.
"Just saying Vivian is in danger won't be enough," Miss Nettle insisted, seeing Merlin nod in agreement.
"Correct. Sofia is far too smart. What do you suggest?"
The curly-haired woman chuckled. "We must actually put her in danger… I do believe it's time to break out some of your dark magic spells, dear Merlin."
To be continued…
Next Chapter: Beyond Skin Deep