DISCLAIMER: I do not own Sofia the First nor do I claim to. I just like the show and wanted to write a little something for it. However, I do own the OC Zwick and Megumi as well as the concept of the Rune Mage I'll be using for this story.

_[ STORY ]_

"Mr. Cedric, is this the right choice?" Sofia asked as Rene flew her and Cedric from Red Run.

"Right now it is," Cedric said, "if that spellbook survived I need to get it back."

"But…

"No buts Sofia, we…

A clash of thunder interrupted Cedric followed by a strong gust of wind that sent the coach tumbling through the sky, Sofia wrapped her arms around Cedric. As they made impacted with the ground Cedric curled around the Princess as tight as he could, the next thing he knew Rene was pulling him from the partially destroyed coach.

"You alright?" the guard asked.

"Where's the Princess?" Cedric asked ignoring the inquiry as he looked around.

He spotted the girl tucked next to a tree Rene's uniform jacket wrapped around her, the Sorcerer stumbled towards her, "Sofia," he called.

"Mr. Cedric!" she bolted to him, "I'm so glad you're okay," she cried pulling the man into a tight embrace, "Mr. Rene couldn't get you out..."

"I'm fine though," he interrupted, "and so are you," he added before turning to the guard, "what happened?"

"Not entirely sure, felt like a wind gust, but the sky was clear like glass, not even a cloud," Rene said, "I almost had control back when the horses broke free, and we crashed."

"Not too far from the ground I would surmise," Cedric said.

"You got it, but I don't know where we are, it looks like the edge of some kind of farm field, but everything is dead beyond the treeline," Rene said.

Cedric withdrew his wand looking at it for a moment he replaced it in his sleeve and summoned a rune, it surrounded some of the dead plant stocks; his breath hitched, and the rune shattered, "Dark Magic caused this," he said pulling back from the field bring Sofia with him.

Rene jumped back as well, "Magie Noire?*" he exclaimed, "that is not good, very not good."

"Not at all, "Cedric agreed.

"What are we going to do?" Sofia asked, "we're lost, and now there is an evil Sorcerer somewhere around here."

"Don't worry, if this is a farm then there must be a farmhouse somewhere around," Cedric said.

"Can't you teleport us out of here?" Sofia asked.

"I don't know where here is..." he thought for a moment, "Rene take my hand," Cedric ordered the guard.

"Um...okay."

Soon enough the trio was enveloped in a purple light there repaired atop a hill overlooking a silent village, Cedric swayed making Rene steady him, "are you alright Mr. Cedric?" Sofia asked.

"I'm fine; just a bit drained for some reason."

With that they picked their way down the hill into the village as they rounded the corner the group jumped back when a screaming face came eye leave, "Merlin's Mushroom's...who in their right mind would put such a horrid statue at the entrance," Cedric said studying the

"I don't think it's a statue," Sofia said drawing the two men to look down the road where dozens of more people stood encased in stone.

"Mère du Tout-Puissant*," Rene breathed seemingly ready to run from the area.

"More Dark Magic," Cedric said, "stay close if we can find a map I can get us to a more suitable area."

"The town hall would have a map," Sofia said, "the building we're looking for will have a tower with a bell."

"Alright, you two keep in eyeshot as we look around and no entering any building without the others, there's no way of telling what could be lurking about," Rene said marching into the village.

They soon found their target Cedric used magic to open the door, at nothing jumping out at them Rene walked in dagger drawn as the halls would be too small for his sword.

They entered what looked like a library; well Rene and the Princess look through the various rolled map's Cedric looked over the dark corners making sure his companions were safe. It was when he started to relax that he heard it, it was light at first a 'Tap Tap Tap' then it grew louder, he looked over to pair, but neither of them seemed to hear the noise.

The 'Tap Tap Tap' came again, Cedric followed it, the sound was emanating from one of the cabinets, he moved over to look into the glass pane, as he studied the surface and the inner contents a ghastly face appeared in the glass making Cedric jump back. It vanished then the glass fogged over, and words appeared.

A dream world you are in, to light the way out, a candle is needed within a room of mirror. Do not trust what's around you, but what you create.

"What the actual hell…"

"MR. CEDRIC!?" Sofia yelled.

Cedric turned from the glass and rushed towards the Princess, "Sofia what's wrong!?" he called out.

He stopped part way into the main room when he caught sight of the girl, or what was left of the child most of her frame was covered in blood and debris, "Mr. Cedric why? Why didn't you save me? Why? We crashed, and you did nothing," she said a horribly gurgle coming from her mouth as she spoke.

Cedric fell back, the figure advanced on him as the room began to shake and swirl, he closed his eyes, e could still hear the voices and feel the shaking, but it seemed to be so far away now, "Mr. Cedric!?" someone yelled.

Everything went silent and still, he cracked an eye open, "Merlin's Mushrooms," he groaned sitting up, Sofia kneeled beside him, well Rene towered above them.

"We need to go," Cedric said rising to his feet, Sofia made to protest, but the Sorcerer pulled the crumpled paper from the soldier and walked from the library the dark images of the Princess lingering in his mind meant he failed to notice the dark mist rising from the floorboards.

_[ TO BE CONTINUED ]_

Note: I'm back baby sorry for the massive delay, but I'm getting back to this story.

Note2: Magie Noire? is french Black Magic and Mère du Tout-Puissant is French for Mother of the Almighty