Royal Rumble
Summary: Enchancia is hosting a competition called the Royal Rumble between their kingdom (as well as a few visiting members) and another kingdom called Carpus. However, what starts off as friendly rivalry quickly descends into madness as members from the opposing team start causing unnecessary drama and chaos. (Collab with MarionetteJ2X)
Disclaimer: Oh, boy… lol. I own the following: Corban, Alamea, Sir Finlay, Gabriella, Sapphire, Davina, Zinnia, Angel, Corban's new puppy named Ollie, and (if she shows up) Nina, and maybe a few others as well. All other OCs (especially Nana and Tanya) and the games belong to MarionetteJ2X (except a few that were from the show), and everything else is Craig Gerber's. Phew. Haha.
A/N: Final chapter! Let's see how everything goes with both teams. The next story should be up in a few days! Given that we teachers are in limbo right now with all this shutdown stuff, I like to preoccupy my mind between writing and doing grad work. Hope you're all staying safe and well.
Chapter 11: That's a Wrap
Everyone was back inside the castle now, celebrating Enchancia's overall win with an early supper before Team Carpus was to head back home. There was music, laughter, joking, and everything in between. And honestly, without Zeke around to cause tension and create havoc for everyone, that heavy blanket of uncertainty had been lifted.
"I'm going to miss you guys," Sofia told the other team members as she sat with Cedric and Greylock, both who appeared to be in much better states of mind and moods since Zeke had been taken away to the Conjuror's Board. "I have nothing but the utmost respect for everyone who's still here."
"We could say the same for you, Princess Sofia," King Hayden remarked as he smiled at her from a bit down the table. "You've been so welcoming, and your daughters are simply amazing. They're lucky to have you."
The princess shook her head as she smiled. "No. Cedric and I are lucky to have them. I think, in a lot of ways, they've made us both better people."
"There's just one thing that concerns me," Roland told the others as he finished polishing his trophy, grinning sheepishly as Miranda gave him a deadpanned stare. He cleared his throat as he set the trophy on the floor. "If we have the trophy this time, does that mean there will be trouble for your kingdom, Hayden? I know the last time, we experienced quite a few issues that I wouldn't wish on anyone."
"I hope not," Captain Thiago muttered. "But Enchancia won fair and square. We will just have to figure out how to combat the problems. Perhaps we can find another sorcerer in Carpus who can help. Or even Nakamo—"
"I believe the situation would be beyond my control, Captain," Nakamo corrected calmly. "I can heal, but I cannot prevent a natural or unnatural disaster before it starts."
"I wonder…" Sir Finlay glanced toward Cedric and Greylock. "I seem to recall a neutralizing spell… It could potentially placate the conditions placed on the games and eliminate the expected events. Of course, that would usually indicate a conduit or a vessel of some sort."
"And what is the conduit for this specific condition?" the shaman wondered, before leaning off to the side and narrowing his eyes at the shiny golden object beside Roland's chair. "The trophy?"
"You're talking about a curse that's affected so many for generations," Cedric told them. "That's going to take a lot of energy. A lot of magic."
Cordelia grinned. "Well, it's a good thing we have a lot of magical, powerful, energetic people here." She nodded toward Greylock, who sulked. "Well… Most of us."
The former royal sorcerer folded his arms. "Is it my fault Zed decided to sabotage me the first night? I think not."
"You guys, stop," Sofia suggested. "Look, with the amount of power we already have on our own, we could surely remove whatever spell is on that thing."
"Not a spell, Princess Sofia," Sir Finlay corrected. "A curse. But you're right." He smiled. "And I know just the counter curse to alleviate both Enchancia and Carpus of the conditions from here on out."
"So we can meet up and play without conditions and stipulations?" King Hayden clarified. "That would be wonderful!"
"I agree," Idris echoed. "I have enjoyed the games, though I wish there hadn't been such a high price attached in the first place. We went from playing to survive to playing to thrive."
"After we eat," Sir Finlay told them, "I need all magic wielders to join me in the throne room. And if you have a wand, bring it."
Half an hour later, the trophy was in the center of the throne room. Surrounding it in a circle were the following magical/magically inclined people: Sir Finlay, Gabriella, Sapphire, Davina, Greylock, Zinnia (just learning), Dante, Cedric, Sofia, Nana, Tanya, Cordelia, Calista, Angel, Nakamo, Daniel (who still practiced with his own royal sorcerer, Earl), Bonvis, and Yohanna. Isadora was unable to practice magic for now, so she sat this particular event out with her mother. All the others stood back enough to be at a safe distance and watch.
"Concentrate…" Sir Finlay extended his wand toward the trophy, murmuring something in an ancient language that very few actually understood. As the trophy began to glow, he said, "Decree forged by a venal curse, undo this clause that brings the worst; restore the bond between two lands, and nevermore permit disband."
The non-magical spectators watched as a dark hue escaped the trophy, vanishing into thin air after the counter curse repelled it. Soon, nothing was left except an ordinary trophy.
"Is that it?" Roland asked curiously as Miranda held onto his arm. "No more trouble with the Royal Rumble games?"
"No, King Roland," Sir Finlay clarified as he smiled, lowering his wand as the others followed suit. "From now on, there will be peace…"
"At least with this situation," Greylock whispered to Cedric, who nudged him. "What? I'm just saying…"
After the Carpus team members had bid their new friends farewell (for now), everything went relatively back to normal. Granted, the guest team members for Enchancia decided to stay another night, but other than that, things did pretty well go back to how they normally were.
It soon came time for the evening to end, and everyone was heading to bed. Sofia was carrying a sleepy Nana while Tanya, back in her child form, trudged along behind her.
"I guess we'll head to bed now," Sofia told Cedric with a soft smile. "What are our plans for tomorrow?"
He blinked at the question. "You know… I have no idea." He laughed as she snickered. "This whole week has been dedicated to the Royal Rumble, and I've all but forgotten what else I needed to do…" He shrugged. "I suppose we could take a break and just…" He reached up and playfully tapped Nana on the nose, making her giggle quietly. "Relax."
"That would be wonderful, Papa," Tanya admitted with a sleepy smile.
"Yeah… Well, good night, Cedric." Sofia began to turn when she felt a warm hand on her arm. She looked toward Cedric. "What is it?"
"You know… I realize that the other team is gone, and that Zeke is no longer an issue you have to worry about, but…" He released her arm, shrugging. "If you…and the girls…wanted to stay one more night with me…" He blushed a little as she smiled knowingly. "I…wouldn't say no."
She giggled, kissing his cheek, making him blush a little more. "I knew you'd miss us too much." She wrapped her free arm around him, hugging him and smiling as he fully embraced her (as well as Nana and Tanya). "And I'd love that, Cedric…" She smiled up at him. "Because I'd miss you too."
He chuckled. "Good to know." He released them before holding out one hand to both Sofia and Tanya, smiling as they each accepted. "Well, then… Let's head to the tower. Maybe we'll actually see Wormwood for a change."
Sofia scoffed. "Right. I'm not going to hold my breath with that one." She laughed as they headed through the castle and toward the tower for the evening.
Meanwhile…
Zeke sat in a small cell in a darkened corridor. He'd been stripped of all his magic, and his wand (of course), and he was wearing a set of dark gray prisoner's clothing. The band that had held his ponytail in place was missing, so his hair sprawled along his shoulders as he lay on a thin cot.
He'd been sentenced to life in this cell, because of his repetitive misuse of magic, harming others, intent to murder, and more things he tuned out when Malango the Magnanimous had gone on and on and on about his crimes.
His mind drifted back to the princess he'd originally found so fascinating. Princess Sofia… Princess of Enchancia. Protector. Keeper of the Amulet of Avalor. And many other things… Lovely, kind, patient… And far too protected for his liking. He scowled at the ceiling when he thought of Cedric next.
Cedric had always been a pathetic sorcerer to him, both in primary school and later on during their Hexley Hall years. He always knew he'd end up bungling something, and with the whole incident with Cordelia's hair, followed by an unfortunate slew of other mishaps the rest of his schooling days, not to mention the whole Order of the Wand situation (yes, he'd heard about that), he'd been proven right. However, this time around, he was far more competent and agile.
And he knew Sofia was the reason behind that. Without her, Cedric would have been nothing. Given that few others would have pardoned something like treason, she really must have cared a great deal about him… Cedric deserved to be where he was, even as his own cellmate, as far as he was concerned. And if Sofia hadn't interfered, Zeke would have gotten away with much more.
"But no," he drawled out, growling. "That stupid princess had to ruin my plans…" He jumped up, feeling a bit dizzy as he did so. Having had his entire supply of magic drained from him was not a pleasant experience and had left him perpetually tired. But still, he walked to the cell bars, his hands closing around them. "I swear, somehow, I'll get my revenge against Princess Sofia and Cedric the Great."
"Good luck," called another voice in the darkness, one laced with a sinister and cynical tone.
Zeke frowned. "Who's there?" he demanded as he saw a shadowy figure across the way. "Show yourself!"
"You really think you can get your revenge against two of the most powerful people in the Ever Realm? You think you stand a chance?"
"I do!" The former Carpus royal sorcerer growled, "Once I get out of here, I first plan to smite their precious little 'daughters' that they adore so much. And next, it will be their turn."
"There are more in that kingdom who are their adversaries than you realize…" The mysterious figure chuckled lowly. "I don't know how you would actually go about handling all of them. Even his sister and niece…tend to be protecting both of them."
"I wasn't paying much attention to those two. And I really couldn't care less." He folded his arms. "Anyway, what's it to you? And who are you?"
The other man stepped into the light, and there stood Caledon the Cunning, his hair shaggy and falling in his eyes, a spattered array of facial hair, and the same outfit as Zeke. He smirked. "No one important… At least, not for now…"
The end
(More on these two in the future!)