Sofia's second visit to Avalor might be less dangerous (so far) than her first one three years ago, but it was no less full of wonder. Everyone had been kind to her, and everywhere she went, she found something to admire.

This was why, when she noticed a towering, muscle-bound woman glaring at her with literal lightning sparks in her eyes, the thirteen-year-old was more frightened than she would like to admit.

They were at a garden party, of all places. Sofia's Protector training kicked in immediately: a soft, even lawn for running or fighting on, good light, plenty of open space and escape routes, but also plenty of civilians who might be in danger, including her family. Her hand went to her Amulet, bracing herself for fight or flight. The lightning woman's eyes narrowed like a hawk's.

"Where," she demanded, hands on hips, "Did you get that?"

"Ixlan, please!" A petite woman in an Avaloran Royal Guard's uniform put her hand on the behemoth's arm. "Show some respect. That's Princess Sofia of Enchancia. A friend of the Queen!"

"I know who she is, Antonia," the woman named Ixtlan retorted flatly. "I still want to know where she got that crystal."

"Oh … this? It's pretty, isn't it? Thank you for noticing." She put on a smile, struggling for composure, praying they could solve this without a fight. The last thing she wanted was another battle over the Amulet. "My father gave it to me."

"And where did he get it?"

"From an Avaloran wizard … and, um, before that, it was a Castillo family heirloom. I offered it to Princess Elena, but she said I could keep it. You can ask her if you like."

"You see?" Antonia tugged on Ixlan's arm, but couldn't budge her. "Now will you please stop bothering the Princess about her jewelry and come have that drink you promised me? I'm so sorry, Your Highness. My, um, friend here thinks politeness is irrelevant."

Sofia's mind raced for friendly, harmless things to say to calm everybody down, but the lightning woman's eyes fizzled out on their own. Her broad shoulders lowered in a deep, quiet sigh.

"I see," she said, "The most logical explanation is that it must have been found at the temple by one of those … What is the word? … archeologists. I do not blame them. The honored dead need no treasures. Yet it is not easy."

"Ixlan is Maruvian," said Antonia, who still had one hand wrapped around her friend's arm. "As far as we know, she's the only one left."

Sofia knew very little about the lost civilization of Maru, but due to her research into the history of the Amulet, she knew enough that her heart went out to Ixlan. What must it be like, to be the last of your people? What if she woke up someday, hundreds of years in the future, and found something like her tiara or Mr. Cedric's wand being used by a stranger?

"Your people must have been amazing, Ms. Ixlan. I wish I'd met them." She turned the pink pear-shaped crystal around on its chain, looking at it with new eyes. "Is this … familiar to you?"

"Yes. It was I who crafted it."

"Really?"

"Follow me." Ixlan eyed the surrounding party guests with distrust. "It is not a story for outsiders to overhear." Antonia began to sidle away, but the larger woman's hand flashed out to catch her by the wrist. "You may stay."

The three of them moved away from the clear lawn and into the rosebushes, which were tall enough to provide some shelter without cutting them off from the other guests completely. Sofia was wary of being alone with strangers, especially a stranger with a claim on her Amulet, but she was careful not to show it. It was always best to be friendly until others showed their true intentions. Besides, she was hardly defenseless.

"In my old life," said Ixlan, "Before I was sealed away for a thousand years, I used this - " She clenched one fist and let small lightning bolts flicker around it, "Not only to fight, but to create jewels capable of holding magic. The one you wear, Sofia of Enchancia, is one I made for my wife."

Sofia had never met a woman who had a wife before, but she had seen far stranger things in her adventures and was not inclined to judge. Her next thought was of how lonely Ixlan must be, not only lost in time but without her true love.

"Your wife?" Antonia gasped. "You never told me."

"I have now."

"Who was she?" The Guard looked up at her friend with wide-eyed intensity. "What was she like?"

"Her name was Amalay. She was the priestess who blessed my creations with power. I am strong, but her gentleness was stronger. I am lightning, but she was the earth that grounded me. Together we were unstoppable. She is in the land of the gods now, as are the rest of my people. I will join her there someday."

Ixlan's eyes flickered with a holy fervor that Sofia found slightly uncanny. Antonia seemed to think so too; the Guard looked as if she wanted to cry.

"So … the Amulet," said Sofia, trying to give the conversation a less personal twist, "What was it for?"

"Whenever one of us was in danger, that pendant would call the other to her side."

"It called you?" She frowned at the Amulet as it glittered in the sun. "That's strange. It does that when I'm in danger too, but it calls all kinds of people. I never saw you. Or … or anyone else like you."

"What people?"

"Queens, princesses, chieftains, an army officer … " Sofia scrunched up her face, trying to remember. "Most of them were wonderful, but at least one of them tried to steal my kingdom. Some were from places that aren't even in this world. They were all women about your age, but that's pretty much all they had in common … except the talking snowman, but he was made by a woman with ice powers, so I guess he was part of her? Oh, and Elena lived in there for forty-one years. She used to put blessings or curses on me depending on how I behaved, like a fairy godmother. I honestly have no idea how it works, even though it's saved my life more times than I can count. Do you?"

Sofia stopped for breath, a little self-conscious about how long she had been talking, but it was such a relief to confide in someone about the Amulet. It was such an important part of her life, but most people either didn't understand its magic or were inclined to envy her. Ixlan might still be one of the latter, but she was also more likely to have answers than anyone Sofia had ever met.

"Are you a warrior, Sofia of Enchancia?" was Ixlan's terse response to her flood of words.

"Am I … ?"

"Have you ever faced death and lived to tell the tale?"

Honestly, Sofia would rather not be a warrior. She liked nothing better than finding peaceful solutions to a conflict so that nobody had to fight. After her battle with Vor, however, there was really only one honest answer. "Yes."

"Then you are worthy. As is everyone who answers the call."

Sofia bowed her head. Hearing that from the Amulet's creator meant more to her than she had expected.

Remembering her sense of honor, she unclasped the necklace and held it out to Ixlan. "If it means that much to you, you should take this back. Maybe you can even talk to your wife again."

Ixlan stared at the pendant for a long moment, her face unreadable as an ancient monument. Sofia's hands began to tremble.

"You say it has saved your life?"

"Y-yes, but … "

"Then keep it. I do not mind." The older woman closed Sofia's fingers around the stone. Sofia flinched, but there was no lightning in those big hands this time, only human warmth. "If I use it, I might lose myself inside and never come back. I can wait as long as it takes to see Amalay again. Until then, there are still battles to be won, and life is still worth living with a companion by my side."

Ixlan smiled at Antonia, so briefly Sofia almost missed it. The Guard positively glowed in response.

She feels everything Ixlan doesn't let herself feel, Sofia realized. Could it be that they were more than friends? If there was anything Sofia had learned from her own family, it was that love could grow more than once in a lifetime. Not that it was any of her business, of course.

"Thank you," she said, fastening the Amulet back around her neck. "I'll keep it safe, and … and I'll remember everything you told me. Amalay's name won't be forgotten. I promise."

Ixlan nodded.

"Thank you, Princess," said Antonia softly. "For listening."

They both bowed, the Royal Guard taking Sofia's hand in formal Avaloran style, the Lightning Warrior falling to one knee. Sofia curtseyed gracefully in return.

Leaving the hedge maze ahead of them, she peeked over her shoulder just once. The large figure in red and the small one in blue were so close together, it was hard to tell where one ended and the other began.

I was right, she thought, turning away with a secret smile to leave them alone.