It was a beautiful day in the kingdom of Avalor. Inside the palace, Queen Elena had just finished up with a royal council meeting and she left the grand council chamber followed by her best friend and Chancellor Naomi Turner.
"So, Elena, don't forget that you and I are gonna oversee what can be done about bringing in more ships to port." Naomi said, pointing to a piece of paper.
"I know Naomi, don't worry. We'll go by the docks tomorrow morning. Anything else?" Elena asked.
"You need to make preparations for the ball tonight and that should be about it." Naomi replied, shrugging.
Elena then turned to Naomi looking both surprised and confused which made Naomi frown also in confusion.
"What ball is that?" Elena asked.
"Oh! It's to help celebrate the first day of summer in Avalor. It was Isabel's idea." Naomi said, smiling.
"Well...This is kind of unexpected but I can get everything ready with some help." Elena said, nodding.
"You know you got me and Gabe and Mateo at your service." Naomi said, playfully nudging Elena.
"Thanks Naomi." Elena said, touching Naomi's shoulder.
"No problem."
The two continued walking down the hall when suddenly Isabel rushed by them on a machine that resembled both a cart and small carriage nearly causing Naomi to drop all the scrolls and Elena to topple forward.
"Coming through! Sorry guys!" Isabel called out over her shoulder.
Isabel continued riding away while Elena adjusted the hem of her gown and then Naomi turned to the Queen and chuckled.
"Seems like your Royal Inventor's got a new idea."
"She says it's to help carry items from one room to another when needed, didn't know she decided to test it out today." Elena said, also chuckling, adjusting her tiara.
"Something you can really use. Isa's a pretty smart kid." Naomi said, looking impressed.
"She sure is. Mami and Papi would be proud of her." Elena said, her smile now faltering.
"Elena, what's wrong?" Naomi asked, also frowning, touching Elena's shoulder.
Elena wiped away a few tears spilling down her cheeks then she turned to the huge portrait of her parents and gazed it both sadly and fondly.
"Tomorrow is actually the anniversary of when...Shruiki invaded and my parents...I can't believe how long it's been since they were...To me, it only seems like yesterday when it happened." Elena said quietly, touching the portrait.
"I thought your family was trying to forget all about that and move on and just celebrate you now being Queen finally, remember?" Naomi pointed out, smiling a little.
Elena looked at the portrait and then she sighed and wiped away one last tear then smiled and nodded over to Naomi.
"You're right. I need to stop thinking about those kinds of moments. Our family has just come together again and I'd hate to see it be torn apart like it was a year ago."
"That was some year." Naomi joked.
Elena chuckled lightly and then the two continued walking down the hall to see what other royal duties Elena needed to tend to.
Later that night, it was almost time for the ball, in Isabel's bedroom, she was wearing a dress that had all the colors of summer while she looked at the mirror and twirled around till she heard a light knocking on the door then turned to see her cousin Esteban standing there then he cleared his throat.
"Are you ready to host your first ball, Isabel?" Esteban asked.
"Yeah!" The 13-year-old princess said, happily.
Isabel jumped off the stool and then she went over to Esteban and twirled around while Esteban gazed at her in awe.
"How do I look, primo?" Isabel asked.
"You look just like your mother. You look so beautiful mi angel." Esteban said quietly, smiling.
"Really?" Isabel asked, beaming.
Esteban nodded then the two heard the sound of trumpets being blown then Isabel quickly grabbed Esteban's hand and dragged him along making him laugh. They were walking by when Isabel noticed that the portrait of her and Elena's parents wasn't in its usual spot.
"Huh."
"Isabel. Come along, querida corazon." Esteban called out.
"Si! Coming primo! Right behind ya!" Isabel called back, smiling again.
The two had made it over to the huge ballroom doors then Esteban turned to Isabel and cupped her face with his hands and he smiled fatherly at her.
"I need to go along and join the family. You are going to do just fine."
Isabel nodded then Esteban kissed her forehead then he went to the other entryway that led to the other side of the ballroom while Isable turned to the doors and took a deep breath in and then out.
"I've got this." Isabel told herself.
The doors swung open and then Isabel found herself facing the huge crowd who turned to her expectantly, but Isabel stood there frozen and then she began to back away, looking somewhat nervous getting the attention of her family immediately.
"Isabel?" Francisco asked.
"Mijita, what's wrong?" Luisa added, whispering.
Isabel turned to her grandparents and Esteban then she held out her hand and looked straight over at her cousin who looked at her concerned then shook his head.
"I can't be your escort, Isabel." Esteban also whispered.
"I'm nervous though, primo. I need your help."
Esteban looked at his grandparents who nodded their approval and then Esteban walked over to Isabel and she grabbed his hand while the crowd fell silent and some seemed slightly taken aback that the once banished royal was granted permission to socially attend huge events like this but Elena and her grandparents smiled proudly then Esteban looked down at Isabel then gently squeezed her hand.
"Come on. I believe you have a speech to make before the dancing begins."
Isabel smiled brightly then she clutched to Esteban's arm while they went over to the center of the ballroom then Esteban went to join Elena and Naomi and Gabe and Mateo then Isabel took another huge deep breath and turned to the crowd.
"Thank you all for attending my summer ball. Summer has always been my favorite season of Avalor and I know many of you enjoy it as well. I thought this would be a great way to welcome in this time and so I would like you all to be here to enjoy yourselves and have a wonderful night." Isabel said, curtseying.
The crowd clapped and then the music had started and people had begun to dance. Isabel stood at her spot and watched the people waltzing then she saw Elena walk away then she frowned and began to follow her.
In the music room, Elena had set up the portrait of her parents up against the wall then gazed at it for a moment then she picked up a small candle on the piano and had lit it with her magic then she looked back at the portrait.
"I know Isabel is going to love the surprise at the end of the ball when your portrait is revealed to be in the throne room as a gift to her, Mami and Papi. I...I just thought this would be a way we could always store your memory." Elena said, voice cracking with emotion.
Inside the ballroom, Esteban had noticed that Isabel was no longer standing where she was supposed to be, concerning him, then he went over to Francisco and Luisa who turned to their grandson also frowning.
"Abuelo, Abuela, is Isabel over here with you?" Esteban asked.
"No. We were beginning to wonder where she had gone and were going to ask either Elena or you, mijito." Luisa replied.
"She must be somewhere here in the palace." Francisco added.
Esteban and Luisa nodded in agreement then Esteban noticed that Elena was not with her friends then he turned back to his grandparents.
"Where is Elena? She's missing too."
Inside of the music room, Elena had kept gazing at the portrait with a small sad smile, she didn't even hear the sound of the door being creaked open or Isabel poking her head inside.
"I really do wish you guys could see how much Isa's grown up." Elena whispered.
Isabel saw Elena staring at the portrait then also smiled sadly for a moment then she opened the door fully and stepped inside.
"Elena?"
Elena gasped and jumped then accidentally knocked the candle over but she didn't notice and quickly hid the portrait behind the drapes then turned to Isabel.
"Hey Isa! Why aren't you in the ballroom?" Elena asked.
"I saw you leaving and I wanted to know what you were up to." Isabel replied, going over to Elena.
"Well, I..."
Isabel then looked behind Elena and saw that the drapes were starting to smoke causing her eyes to widen in panic and then she pointed.
"Elena, behind you!"
Elena turned around and saw the drapes still smoking and beginning to smolder, she pulled them back to see that the candle had been tipped over and that the portrait was starting to become ignited in flames.
"No!" Elena cried out, horrified.
Elena had grabbed a huge vase full of flowers then dumped the flowers and splashed the water onto the portrait and the fire had been doused out, but Elena gazed at in shock and hurt since it was already nearly ruined.
"No." Elena whispered, tears filling her eyes.
Elena knelt to the ground and touched what remained of the portrait before it crumpled into her hand then more tears filled her eyes while they poured down her face.
"I'm sorry, Elena." Isabel apologized.
Isabel moved closer to Elena and touched her shoulder gently but then Elena looked up and her eyes lit up in...anger. If it wasn't for Isabel coming into the music room, she wouldn't have been startled and the portrait wouldn't have been destroyed.
"Elena, I'm really..."
Elena's dress suddenly turned to orange and Isabel backed away knowing she was starting to become angry, Elena stood up and she turned to Isabel with her fists clenching while casting a scolding glance at her sister.
"Don't EVEE do that again Isabel! This is your fault! Why didn't you knock first?!"
"I...I did and I thought you heard me so..."
"Well, I didn't! This was going to be hung up in the throne room so we could remember Mami and Papi but now that can't be done! Just go and leave me alone now!"
"Elena..."
"You did enough Isa! I said NOW!" Elena yelled.
In her moment of anger, Elena unleashed her emotion magic and a shard of it pierced into Isabel's chest and head and she fell to the ground. Elena's dress changed back to normal and she became concerned and knelt down to Isabel's side.
"Isa? Isa? Isa, wake up!" Elena said, worriedly.
Elena heard footsteps and she saw her grandparents followed by Esteban coming inside and they saw Isabel on the ground and Elena looking up at them terrified and guilty.
"Elena, what happened in here?" Francisco asked.
Esteban and Luisa also went over to Isabel and looked at her. Esteban cradled her close while Luisa touched her cheek then they looked back at Elena.
"It was an accident. Isabel came into the music room and..."
The three then saw the burnt drapes and the destroyed portrait and then looked at Elena confusingly.
"...I was planning to surprise Isabel with a...portrait of our parents but..."
Isabel suddenly began to stir in Esteban's arms and then she looked up at her cousin and grandparents.
"Esteban? Abuelo? Abuela?" Isabel mumbled, dazed.
The family turned to see Isabel trying to sit up but she was too weak and seemed to be in pain since she was gripping Esteban's arm tight.
"Isa! Are you..."
Isabel turned to Elena and her eyes widened and she began to shake uncontrollably like she was afraid then she looked over at her grandparents.
"Tell Elena I didn't mean to! Tell Elena I didn't mean to!"
The family turned to face Elena who looked ashamed and hurt then she sighed sadly and wiped away some tears.
"What is she talking about Elena?" Luisa asked.
"I...It was an accident. I became angry because the portrait was destroyed and some of my magic had blasted into Isabel." Elena explained.
Francisco and Luisa looked at the pained and trembling Isabel and then at the hurt and worried Elena then Francisco sighed and touched Elena's shoulder and nodded.
"We know it was only an accident Elena. We know you'd never hurt your sister mijita."
Elena looked at Isabel and smiled at her a little and then reached out to touch her arm.
"Isa...I'm really sorry. I didn't mean to hurt you. You know that, don't you?"
Isabel saw Elena's hand going near her arm and remembered when the magic struck her and then she began shaking more violently then she had let out a loud gasp and her eyes began to close.
"Isabel!" Francisco and Luisa yelled.
Francsico and Luisa went back over to Isabel's side then Elena's magic began to stir and she looked at her family hopefully.
"Maybe I can try to take back the magic..."
Elena was about to use her magic on Isabel but Esteban quickly shielded her protectively while his eyes lit up in anger.
"STAY AWAY FROM HER!" Esteban yelled.
Elena and her grandparents were surprised by Esteban's outburst while he continued holding onto Isabel and glaring at Elena.
"I am not letting you get anywhere near Isabel with that weapon of yours again, Elena and you've done tonight, don't you think?! Right now, she needs someone who will not make things worse!"
"I..."
Luisa touched Elena's shoulder and she gave her a loving but also firm glance.
"Mijita...I think Esteban is right. Perhaps you should step aside for awhile."
"But..."
Esteban stood up with Isabel in his arms while Luisa went over to stroke Isabel's hair motherly while gazing at her in concern.
"She seems to still be breathing. The magic could not have reached all of her heart yet. She needs to be taken to the Oracle. I don't think my magic will be enough." Esteban told Luisa.
"Let me come along with you at least, Esteban." Elena said, going over to her cousin.
Esteban stepped back holding onto Isabel like a father protecting their baby while he stared coldly at Elena.
"Damage has already been done Elena. We do not need things to escalate." Esteban said, bitterly.
Elena wanted to protest but then Francisco touched her shoulder and he gently made her step aside so Esteban could leave the room holding onto Isabel while the family soon followed.
Esteban had walked outside of the palace and had gathered his horse then he had mounted still holding onto Isabel while Luisa handed him a blanket.
"It is starting to get cold. Make sure she stays bundled till you get there, mijito." Luisa said, firmly.
"I will, Abuela." Esteban said, nodding, wrapping Isabel up in the blanket.
Luisa touched Esteban's hand then she kissed Isabel on the forehead followed by Francisco while Elena watched in concern and hurt from afar then Francisco and Luisa joined her side and held her close. Esteban cradled Isabel against his chest then looked at his family then to his horse.
"Campos, take us to the hideout of The Oracle!"
Esteban urged his horse then rode off into the night while Luisa and Francisco continued comforting Elena but all she could so at this moment was keep her emotions bottled in. Sadness and anger. She didn't need her magic to be set off at a time like this..after all, damage had been done.
