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: All right, everyone! The big, bad, awful villain is about to make its first contact with Enchancia. And it's going to be dangerous and deadly… Hang on, because there's going to be a lot going on in here! Also, sorry it took so long to update. School is nearing the end, and there's a lot going on. And sorry in advance if the other two chapters take a while to get out. lol
Chapter 10: Malum In Se
A loud explosion outside the castle woke everyone who'd previously been sleeping, startling them into a state of alarm and panic. As the castle had been housing the villagers and the travelers the last few days, there would have thankfully been no one outside to encounter said explosions.
Cordelia jumped up from her bed with Calista, meeting Angel as he hurried over, and glanced toward her brother, who was sitting up in the bed he'd shared with Nana and Sofia. "We must create a barrier—a shield to protect the castle."
Cedric nodded and quickly moved from the bed as Sofia followed suit, gathering Nana into her arms as Wormwood flew over and landed on Sofia's shoulder. "Right." He looked toward the other magic wielders as everyone came hurrying into the throne room. "A little help? Magical barrier around the castle. We must keep the evil at bay."
"But for how long?" Gabriella asked even as she prepared to aid them.
"Let us not worry about longevity of magic, mon cher," Sir Finlay murmured to his wife. "What is important is that we protect everyone."
Roland turned to Baileywick as the magic wielders (including sorcerers, sorceresses, witches, and so on) began concentrating and reciting a protection spell. "Baileywick, get the guards, and get everyone else below the castle: villagers, children, visitors, and whoever else is here. I don't care if it's in the dungeon—as long as they're safe."
Baileywick bowed as Violet hurried up next to him, whispering something in his ear. "Yes, Your Majesty. And I've just been informed that all of the doors and windows have been as secured as possible, and they've all been nailed shut as well."
"Let's hope it works until they're finished with this spell then," Roland muttered to Miranda as Baileywick began ushering the villagers and other non-magical people out of the throne room. He sighed as she placed a hand on his shoulder. "Miranda, maybe you and the children should go with them."
"We're not children anymore, Dad," James assured him, placing his hand on the hilt of his sword that was secured around his waist as Desmond did the same to his own. "We'll protect our castle, our people, and our kingdom."
"I'll go, Rollie," Miranda told the king with a solemn nod. "And I'll take Corban. I'll help keep some order and calm with the others."
Roland sighed and leaned forward, kissing her for a few moments, before placing a hand to her cheek. "Be safe."
She smiled as he then kissed Corban's forehead. "We will. I love you, Roland."
"I'll go with her," Amber volunteered. "As future queen, I feel it's only right to protect our subjects…" She glanced toward her fiancé. "Desmond?"
"I'll stay and help James," he told her, sighing as she hugged him. "Do what you do best, Amber. Take control and be the hope that our people need."
She smiled with a few tears pooling in her eyes as she looked up toward him. "That's the first time you've said 'our' people…"
He returned the smile. "And in a few days, we'll make it official." He kissed her and then watched as both Amber and Miranda hugged and spoke to the rest of their family before leaving. He glanced back toward Sofia, who seemed a bit perplexed as she watched the magic-wielders forming their barrier outside the castle. "You okay, Sofia?"
"I should help them," she told him desperately. "They need all the magic they can get." She looked toward Desmond. "Can you hold her?" she asked, holding out Nana to the confused prince.
"Uh, sure…" He blinked as Nana stared up at him with her lip trembling.
"Thanks." Sofia smiled gently at her charge and caressed her hair. "It's okay, Nana. It's all going to be okay. Just stay with Desmond for now, and I'll be back to get you in a little bit." She kissed her head before hurrying over to the others.
James sighed as he walked next to Desmond. "You ever feel useless without all the magic powers like they've got?"
"Actually, I think it's more that I feel a little intimidated," the other prince admitted. "For all the knowledge I have, I'm very basic with magic, so watching others do everything so fluidly… It's impressive yet intimidating."
Nana turned in Desmond's arms and watched with wide green eyes as both of her guardians now stood next to each other. It was at that moment she wished she could talk… There were so many things she wanted to say in this dangerous situation, especially considering the horrible feeling she was now experiencing internally. She just knew that things were about to get really bad…
There was a rather large circle of magical people in the throne room now, each with his or her eyes closed, arms and hands extended, and magic pouring from them and spanning outwardly as a large white shield-like barrier surrounded the castle inch by inch. The magic wielders consisted of Sofia, Cedric, Cordelia, Calista, Angel, Lucinda, Marla, Dante, the Protectors, Prisma, Kitanya, Merlin, Goodwyn, Winifred, Greylock, Ivy, Miss Nettle, Sir Finlay, Gabriella, Arabella, Dexter, Malvino, Sir Langshire, Lady Maeve, Quilor, Bonvis, and the Conjuror's Board members. The kids were off to the side with Roland, James, and Desmond, watching as their parents, siblings, or guardians helped protect the castle.
"It looks like it's working," James murmured, staring at the magical team in awe.
"I don't know, James," Roland responded with an edge to his voice. His eyes darted to each person in the circle, eventually landing on Sofia. He frowned as he saw a look of discomfort on her face. "Something is wrong."
Nana whimpered and reached out toward her guardians, flailing her arms.
"It… It's not working," Sofia managed to tell Cedric, who seemed to be growing a bit weakened himself, as did the others. She opened her eyes and looked toward her partner, who mimicked her motions. "What can we do?"
Before Cedric could even respond, a loud crack of thunder echoed across the sky, and more explosions erupted outside the castle.
"NOTHING."
The magic wielders were suddenly knocked off their feet, each thrown back by a powerful blast as a swirling vortex appeared in the center of the throne room.
"Sofia!" Roland called, preparing to hurry to his daughter but stopping once he saw something very dark and sinister exiting through the vortex. To his relief, however, he noticed that both Cedric and Winifred were holding onto the princess, and that made him feel a bit better for her safety.
The evil entity's presence left a very negative impact on everyone in the room. Just its existence in the room was causing them pain in some form, including disillusionment and delirium.
"Don't look at it!" Merlin called to the others over the loud wind that was now rushing around them (likely brought about from the vortex), shielding his eyes. "If its eyes begin shining, it will kill you on the spot!"
"Clever, old man," the dark, gravelly voice taunted with a low chuckle. "But if I wanted to kill you that easily, I would have already done so. I prefer slow, painful destruction when it comes to the true threats to my plans…" Its gaze fell on Sofia, who, while not looking directly at the area of the face, chose instead to glare at the mass of dark smoke that surrounded its form. "And the main threat, ironically enough, is huddled before me, weakened and utterly pathetic."
Sofia scowled and slowly stood to her feet, despite the others' protests. She felt one hand grasp her own, and looking down she saw her partner staring at her with a worried expression. She gently squeezed his hand before releasing it and walking forward. "I'll show you pathetic. Who are you?!" she demanded, her blue eyes like fire as her hair whipped around her.
"I am Malum In Se, and you have no idea what I have in store for you, Princess Sofia of Enchancia." A low, gravelly, intimidating chuckle escaped the figure before a clawed hand raked through the air, changing the entire scenery.
They were all now in a completely different realm.
Merlin quickly glanced at the others. "Shield your eyes!"
"How are we supposed to fight an enemy we can't see?!" Gabriella demanded, yet she still kept her arm raised to the level of her eyes.
Ivy extended her hand toward the children, Roland, James, and Desmond. "My beautiful butterflies, protect our little ones and friends." She sighed as she felt a bit of her energy leave her once her black and white butterflies surrounded the kids and the royals. She smiled a bit as Greylock held her. "At least they'll be safe…"
Greylock frowned before turning back to Merlin. "I agree with Mrs. Gabriella. We can't destroy the entity if we can't see it."
"If you want to try, be my guest!" Merlin snapped, growing wary.
Sofia wielded her wand and yelled, "Interficio!" The spell flew toward the being, striking it and causing it to double over. She blinked. "I…did it?"
"I wouldn't start cheering just yet," Lucinda informed her, her own wand clutched in her hand. "That was a little too easy for such an evil being…"
Malum In Se began laughing lowly, darkly, as it stood to its full height once more, no shine of the eyes detected yet. "That was cute, Princess Sofia… Maybe the Ultimate Destruction Spell works on some of the weaker beings, but you seem to forget…" The dark entity slowly formed a fist, humming in pleasure as Sofia's breathing suddenly hitched and began slowing at an alarming rate. "I am evil in itself… And evil can't ever be fully destroyed."
"Release her!" Cedric ordered, blasting the being with his own wand, causing it to loosen its hold on her long enough for the sorcerer to grab the princess's hand and scoop her into his arms. "Sofia, wake up!"
Sofia remained quiet, her breathing shallow and her eyes closed.
"Sofia," he whispered, holding her closer as he pressed his forehead against hers. "Please…"
"Attack, my minions!" Malum In Se ordered, growling as it unleashed every evil being from the Never Realm into the new realm. "Leave none untouched! Slaughter! Kill! Destroy!"
With that, members of all the cults (the Knalchos, the Cainors, and the Darvintes), demons, restless spirits, and many others unleashed their wrath on everyone. No one was exempt from the danger.
A Cainor member sliced Madame Zenile's upper arm, causing her to cry out. The dark woman then got her second wind and blasted the cult member with her wand. She then ducked as Oniquela and Esme blasted another member, sending him flying over the older woman's head.
Quilor and Bonvis tag-teamed against another set of twins (from the Knalchos cult) and destroyed them on the spot, but they were knocked over and injured when a different member pinned them both to the ground with daggers to their arms and legs.
"Agh!" Bonvis groaned. "Quilor!" He looked to the side, noticing that his brother's eyes were glassy, and he didn't seem to be breathing. He then looked down a bit and noticed that another dagger had pierced his twin's heart. "NO!" He ripped the daggers from his own arms and legs in a rush of adrenaline, and snarling in rage, powered up before unleashing it on several evil beings at once, destroying them instantly.
Out of the portal next stepped a large, frightening-looking creature: with the head of a lion, the body of a bear, the strength of an ox, the speed of a cheetah, the venom of a scorpion or snake, the stealth of a leopard, and the howl of a wolf as it emitted a vocal screech, causing those from the Ever Realm to wince in pain.
"It's the Maloquith!" Malvino gasped.
"What is that?!" James asked, his mouth agape.
"It's bad," Desmond muttered to him. "I read about it in the Ancient Book of Evil Lore. It's said to have the sharpest teeth in the world, able to slice through bones with no trouble. And each tooth has venom in it, just in case the slicing doesn't take…"
The fighting around them continued, several already injured and knocked unconscious, including Malango the Magnanimous and Sir Langshire. Bonvis was in a state of shock over Quilor's death, and he wouldn't budge, even as Angel tried to pull him away.
"Leave me be!" the light-haired man snarled, knocking the Native boy aside.
Angel frowned, catching himself before he could fall. He knew not to push any further, though he was very concerned about the other magic wielder's state of mind, especially after having seen what he'd done to the others in his moment of anger and anguish.
"Angel, look out!"
He could barely react as Calista shoved him out of the way, just as the Maloquith reached her, using its powerful claws to dig into her back, causing her to gasp in pain. "CALISTA!" He gaped in shock as her limp body slid off the creature's claws and into his arms. He fell to the ground, the girl in his arms. "Calista, no!" He lowered her down, gently tracing his hands over her pale face. "Calista…?"
"MY BABY!" Cordelia screamed in devastation as her parents caught her before she could collapse.
Angel felt a surge of something building up within him as he watched his best friend struggling to survive. The sight of her weakened, barely breathing, blood seeping from her back and the corner of her mouth… All of this made something within him snap. Beyond enraged, the normally collected boy stood to his feet, pooling his own ancient magic in his hands, and yelled as he released it at the approaching Never Realm members. His dark eyes blazed as he watched them dissipate one by one. "For Calista," he whispered to himself, his magic still coursing through him and building up. He then aimed his hands toward the Maloquith, shouting out as he destroyed the monster entirely.
While the fighting carried on, Cedric gasped in surprise as Sofia finally opened her eyes, blinking up at him. "Sofia? You're all right!" He hugged her tighter, laughing in relief. He hadn't seen what had occurred with Calista since he'd been so preoccupied with the princess; had he, though, he would have probably completely lost it (much like Angel). "I thought I'd lost you…"
She smiled as she hugged him back. "You'll never lose me, remember? I promised you…"
Malum In Se growled lowly, angry that Cedric had intervened with his plan, and beyond irritated that all these magic wielders were destroying his followers. With everyone otherwise distracted, the dark being's eyes slowly began shimmering with an almost white fire to them. It crept along the expanse of the area and reached out, grasping Cedric's robe, with Sofia still in his grasp, and instantly attempted to get Cedric to look directly in its eyes so that it could kill the meddlesome sorcerer once and for all.
Sofia, realizing what was going on, jumped up with her back to the entity and her blue eyes boring into her friend's startled brown ones. "Don't look at it, Mr. Cedric," she reminded him.
"Look at me or I'll kill her!" Malum In Se roared.
"NO!" She reached out, grasping the sorcerer's face and locking her gaze with his intensely. "Don't listen, Mr. Cedric. Look at me. Keep your focus on me…"
Cedric smiled fondly at her, grasping her hands gently. "Always… You're the one person I will never take my focus from."
Before she could construct a proper response, Sofia screamed in terror as Malum In Se grabbed her from Cedric's hold and wrapped a clawed hand around her neck. "Let me go!"
"Sofia!"
"SOFIA!" several others echoed as the princess was lifted into the air.
Nana, scared, managed to wriggle her way out of Desmond's hold, evading the protective butterflies, and hurried over toward Cedric. She stared after her guardian as the evil being held her, the princess blocking the entity's shining eyes.
"Say goodbye to your princess!" the demonic entity laughed.
While the others were screaming and panicking, Davina also managed to escape the protective butterflies and quickly moved over toward Nana. She grasped the smaller girl's hands, startling her. With a calm, knowing look on her young face, she gazed at the other little girl.
Nana, seeming to realize Davina's intent, tightened her hold on the other girl's hands.
And their interconnected hands began to glow…
To be continued…
Next Chapter: Heartfelt Words