Malum In Se
Summary: Sofia and her friends and family face their biggest challenge yet when the Never Realm rises up and unleashes the most dangerous magic wielders in the world. It's going to take the help of everyone, including some unexpected allies, to defeat the Never Realm and its most supreme evil being: Malum In Se.
Disclaimer: I do not own Sofia the First. However, I do own the Never Realm, Malum In Se, and several other OCs in here. Nana belongs to MarionetteJ2X.
A/N: We're about to have a medley of letter-sending…sort of! :D And we're due for a little sweetness since the last chapter got relatively dark. O.o I will say this though. The NEXT chapter will have a bit more darkness, and a few characters I've written for in the past will NOT make it. Which ones? *zips lips* ¯\_(😐)_/¯
Chapter 4: Letters of Intent
Cedric had managed to create a cot for himself, complete with those extra blankets Sofia had mentioned earlier. He'd also set up his items around the cot so that he could access them easier: his magic-related things in particular.
He glanced over toward the other side of the room where Sofia and Nana were sitting on the princess's bed, his partner playing dolls with their charge. He smiled fondly at the sight. Given the terrible circumstances, both the Never Realm and the blizzard, he was happy to see any form of normalcy and lightheartedness.
Sofia paused the game she was playing with Nana and blinked as a letter appeared, plopping onto her comforter. She glanced over toward Cedric, hesitation evident on her face as he noticed and moved over to her, sitting down next to her. "…What if they can't help us?" she asked softly.
"Then we'll figure something out," he reasoned, running his fingers through her loosened hair to soothe her. "Let's see what they said first."
She inhaled slowly before opening the envelope, withdrawing the letter.
Dear Princess Sofia,
Your message has been received, and the board is unanimous: we will help to the best of our abilities. We will be in Enchancia in two days' time.
Regards,
Malango the Magnanimous
PS: I admire your courageous nature, and I am truly honored to have gotten to know you better over the years. I completely underestimated you when you were a child. It will never happen again.
Sofia sighed with a pleased smile as she passed the letter to Cedric. "That's a relief."
"I can't believe this is the same ruthless leader we met all those years ago," he told her in disbelief before shrugging and sliding the letter into the envelope once more. "With their help, I feel we stand more of a chance. But really, we need all the help we can get."
"What about the blizzard?"
He nodded. "I'll contact Mother and Father, and I'll speak with Cordelia. There must be some sort of spell that can reduce it, and we'll figure out what it is. Meanwhile, let's figure out exactly who can assist us and get these letters delivered as quickly as possible. We will hopefully receive a response by the morning at least, which will give us time to plan and sort out some details."
"Right."
Working together, they split the task. They sent out magical letters to Reimagia, Mahiya, Helvetica, Namile, Merlin, Greylock and Ivy, and any other kingdom or magical people they could think of. They even sent a letter to Aeris Inanis for Quilor and Bonvis (who was once called Malvis/The Enigma and who was also once involved in a particular issue with the Scepter of Darkness, opposite of Elena's Scepter of Light, but had reverted to his normal self after their intervention). As the brothers were both powerful sorcerers, it wouldn't hurt to see if they could help with the Never Realm. Anyone they could recall, they sent letters to, pleading with them to meet them in Enchancia in two days' time (or sooner, if possible).
Upon finishing, Sofia noticed that Nana was whimpering (either in fear or discomfort, she wasn't entirely sure). She gathered the little one into her arms and gently rubbed her back. "Shh. It's okay, Nana. We're here…" She glanced toward Cedric as Nana's whimpers softened and she drifted off to sleep. "I know she can sense the evil approaching… She was made by a Never Realm cult, after all, and their dark magic is still part of her."
"Exactly," he sighed. "Even though the link with the Tenebrous was destroyed with their demise, it didn't eliminate her origins." He brushed one finger along Nana's cheek as she slept. "As long as the Never Realm exists, she will always suffer if they're near."
"It's just so unfair," the princess acknowledged. "She's such a sweet girl. So full of life and curiosity. She didn't deserve her fate, and she didn't ask to be created by such…awful people."
"I know, Sofia. We're going to destroy the Never Realm once and for all, if it's even possible." He wrapped one arm around the princess as she curled up next to him, leaving Nana to snuggle against both of them. "If for nothing else, then for Nana to have a chance at a normal life…"
"If the Never Realm is destroyed, would she be able to age or talk?"
He shrugged and shook his head. "I don't know. There is still such a blanket of mystery over her that I feel it's impossible to know the full truth until we see it for ourselves." He glanced outside and noted how dark it was. "I should probably get to bed, and I'd suggest you do the same."
"Wait." She looked at her partner with an imploring stare. "Could you just…stay with us for a little bit longer? So Nana can feel better?"
He smiled knowingly. "So Nana can feel better, hmm?"
Sofia sighed, smiling sheepishly. "Please?"
"Very well. But just for a little while." He chuckled as she leaned against him and closed her eyes. "Sleep well, Sofia." He gently kissed the crown of her head.
"You too, Mr. Cedric…"
About an hour later, Amber stopped by Sofia's room and knocked gently on the door. She'd made it a habit the last few days to check on everyone before going to bed herself. Call it future queen instincts or just general concern, but she definitely knew she'd feel better if she made sure that everyone was okay. However, when Sofia didn't respond, she simply opened the door and walked inside.
What she saw made her smile. Cedric and Sofia had both fallen asleep on her bed, and Nana was curled against both of them. They all seemed to be in a deep sleep, which she knew was good for them. Considering what was coming their way, they could use all the sleep and rest they could get.
The blonde reached for a large quilt at the end of Sofia's bed and unfolded it, carefully draping it over the sleeping trio. "Sleep well, you guys." She doused the lamp on the bedside table before leaving and shutting the door behind her, just as a strong gust of wind blew outside Sofia's window and stirred all the dying trees and winter blooms.
It was quiet. Too quiet. But soon, that wouldn't be a problem anymore…
To be continued…
Next Chapter: Evil Endeavors