A Pirate's Life
Summary: Chrysta recruits Sofia and Cedric to go undercover as new members of a notorious magical pirate crew run by the wicked Captain Caegan. While aboard the ship The Barracuda, the friends must determine the captain's plans and figure out how to stop them; meanwhile, Cedric notices an interesting change in his partner while on their mission. (Sofia is 17. Artwork by MarionetteJ2X!)
Disclaimer: I do not own Sofia the First. The cover photo was created by the amazing artist MarionetteJ2X! 😊 I do, however, own the OCs, including but not limited to Captain Caegan, Muscles, Marty, Wiggles, Garnette, and Duchess.
A/N: All right, guys! Time for a little intervention and a little moment of "whoops" from Sofia, on more than one thing. Lol. You'll see what I mean. Also, we're about to see who was barking up the right tree. 😉 Off we go!
Chapter 8: A Change in the Wind
Sofia paced the deck, a deep scowl on her face as she muttered to herself. "He can be so…ugh!" She shook her head as she stopped and gripped the side of the ship. "I've encouraged him to believe that he's a brilliant sorcerer. I've given him Wassailia gifts from the heart. I've listened to his problems and helped him out as best as I could. I helped him reunite with his dad. I've told him that he's one of my favorite people in the world—and still is, though I'm super angry with him…" She growled under her breath. "I've gotten him to give up his quest to take over my kingdom…and be the wonderful person I always knew he was. I've saved him as many times as he's saved me…" She huffed harshly as she spun around and kicked over an empty barrel, sighing as a couple of rats skittered out of it, squeaking in apparent terror. "And after all of that, he still treats me like a little girl? He still thinks I need to be guarded and rescued? I'm not the one who got locked up! TWICE!"
"Uh, Raelyn?"
"WHAT?!" Sofia yelled angrily as she whirled around, gasping in surprise as she saw Garnette standing there, her brow furrowed in confusion and her hands on her hips. "Oh, G-Garnette… Heh…" She smiled innocently, pulling her ponytail in front of her and busying herself by running her fingers through her hair. "Um… I'm sorry. I didn't mean to yell at you…" She sighed as the woman eyed her carefully. "I'm just…irritated."
"Yeah, I noticed. What did that poor barrel ever do to you?" The redhead grinned as she walked over and guided the princess to the side of the ship, leaning against it beside her. "Want to share what you were ranting about? I know we don't exactly know each other that well or anything, but according to the guys, I'm a pretty good listener."
"Well…"
"It'll be our little secret." She winked as the younger girl sighed in resignation. "I promise."
"Okay… It's just… It's M—Horatio." She shook her head, trying to get her thoughts coherent so that she wouldn't accidentally say Cedric's name. "Well, you saw what he did earlier."
"Yeah… Not the smartest move, I must say." She shook her head. "The last guy who did that walked the plank, after Captain Caegan had tied some weights to his ankles."
Sofia gasped in alarm.
"Let's just say, even if the guy could swim, I doubt he resurfaced."
"Unless mermaids or someone rescued him," the princess suggested.
Garnette laughed. "Right. Mermaids. Anyway, go on."
Sofia continued playing with her hair as she recounted her frustration. "We've known each other for a long time now. I was young when I met him, and I looked up to him—still do, even though we're technically partners."
"Uh-huh."
"I guess he just always assumed it was his responsibility to look out for me and protect me, since I'm younger… But he fails to realize that I'm not a kid anymore, and I can handle myself." She frowned as she glared at the deck. "I don't mind if he wants to help me, but I'm a lot stronger than I seem, and I have done fine without his interference before."
"Did you ever consider that he might act that way because he's scared of losing you?"
Sofia turned toward the woman, blinking. "What do you mean?"
"Well, think about it." She gently brushed Sofia's hands away and gathered her hair, sectioning it off as she began to braid it. "You say you two have known each other for years. You're even partners, right?" Seeing Sofia nod, she smiled. "Look, my brother and I were like that. He's fifteen years older than I am, and he was always trying to look out for me and fight my battles for me. And while I also got irritated about that, I came to realize that he only did it because he loved me and wanted me to be safe, and he didn't want to lose me." She pulled a tie from a hidden loop beneath her vest and tied off the end of Sofia's braid, draping it over her shoulder. "Sorry to tell you, girly, but that's just a guy thing. They always want to make sure that their charges, friends, or family members—especially their female ones—are protected and secure. It's in their nature."
"Hmm."
"Besides, I've watched you two together." She smiled as Sofia stared at her curiously. "You may not fully understand this when I say it, but… You two act like a puzzle, or… I don't know. It's almost like you're part of the same soul, sort of."
Sofia frowned, confused. "I don't get it."
"I can clearly tell you two are best friends. You mean a lot to each other; that's really obvious." She folded her arms. "But there's something really unique about the two of you, too. It goes beyond friendship or even any label you could put on human relationships. It's almost like…destiny, maybe? Like you guys were meant to be in each other's lives. It's almost like you two are…" She shrugged as she saw that she had Sofia's complete attention. "You're puzzle pieces. Without one or the other, your puzzle—your story or your lives—could never be complete."
The princess absorbed the pirate's words and twirled her braid around her fingers contemplatively. "I guess…you have a point." She sighed as she gazed up at her fellow shipmate. "I know he didn't mean anything by it when he did that. He was just…trying to help me… And I guess I have a bad habit of letting my anger and other emotions get the better of me sometimes."
"Tell me about it." The redhead rolled her eyes. "The guys call it my 'fire-headed days.' They think they're clever." She ran her hand through her fiery red hair.
"That's nothing. Apparently, Horatio has a code word for my outbursts and bad moods: potassium." She winced and shook her head, scrunching up her nose. "I had to forbid him from ever saying that word to me again, because it was so…awkward." She smiled sheepishly as Garnette laughed. "I've always been the level-headed and calm one out of me and my siblings. The fact that I'd gotten so unpredictable and moody that he had to come up with a code-word is so embarrassing!"
"I think it's kind of cute. I sort of doubt that potassium is going to solve any of your problems, but who knows?" She snickered. "Anyway, I hope you guys are able to reconcile, even though he's been put into the brig. Maybe he'll get out after we dock, and you two can work things out."
"Yeah, maybe…" She smiled sincerely. "Thanks, Garnette. You're really helpful."
"No problem, Raelyn." She gently nudged her. "We girls have to look out for each other. You need anything, you let me know." She winked and walked away.
Sofia sighed and looked out at the ocean, which was as still as it could be, with the light gently reflecting off of the surface. Being away from civilization and among free-spirited pirates had actually been more exciting and fun than she'd assumed it would, but it had also nearly made her forget who she really was and where she'd come from, not to mention her whole purpose for being here in the first place. And on top of that, she'd said some truly awful things to the one person she cared about the most, and the look of despair on his face… She knew she'd really hurt him with her heated words. She frowned, a decision settling in her mind. "I've got to make this right…" Determined, she turned and hurried toward the entrance to the brig.
A few heavy footsteps landed on the boards where the princess had previously stood before stopping altogether.
Cedric jostled awake in surprise when he felt something hit him on the shoulder. When he glanced down at the cot, he realized that it was a small seashell. He picked it up and stared at it for a moment before hearing a voice behind him.
"Mr. Cedric!"
He turned around and sat up, a bit surprised to see his friend standing directly outside the cell, her hands wrapped around the bars. Merlin, that sight was a familiar one… A callback to that day over seven years ago now… "Sofia?"
"I'm so sorry for what I said to you," she told him sincerely, her voice quiet and uncertain. "I'm a pretty bad friend if I get mad at you for wanting to keep me safe. I should be grateful to have someone like you in my life, and I am." She sighed, her blue eyes searching his inquisitive brown ones. "Ever since we established this bond or whatever you want to call it, all you've ever done is try to be there for me. And what do I do? I throw a tantrum like a little five-year-old." She rested her head against the bars, sighing heavily. "I'm sorry, Mr. Cedric… I really am."
He smiled at her before stepping forward, until his shackled legs wouldn't allow him to go any closer to the bars. Instead, he reached out one hand, happy to see the gesture returned as she extended her arm and grasped his hand. "You're forgiven. And I apologize for being overbearing. I promise I'll try to do better. But you must bear with me, my dear. I've spent so many years trying to protect the little girl who looked up to me, that I forgot to realize that…" He sighed, squeezing her hand. "…She's not a little girl anymore. She's a beautiful, strong, kind, courageous young lady, who's retained so many titles and positions and honors, unheard of for someone her age. And with a good heart and sense of loyalty as well… You just don't see that these days, much less get to witness the effects of it, and I'm lucky to be one of the few to do so."
Sofia smiled shyly, her cheeks tinged pink as she blushed modestly. "Mr. Cedric…" She held his hand a bit more securely as she absently reached for her amulet with her free hand. "I just wish I could get you out of this cell and those shackles…" She didn't notice the small twinkling of the pink jewel beneath her fingers. "You didn't deserve this." She gasped as he suddenly vanished, before reappearing next to her. She blinked in surprise. "How did you…?"
"Your amulet?" he guessed, gesturing toward the still-glimmering stone.
Sofia gaped at the amulet before laughing happily, throwing her arms around the sorcerer. "I love magic!" She grinned up at him as he chuckled. "And I love you, Mr. Cedric. I never meant to be so awful to you earlier."
"Don't even give it a second thought, Sofia." He smiled as she embraced him again. "And I love you too. You had every right to be angry, and like I said, I'll try my hardest to let go a bit."
"If you let go right now, I'll be angry again," she joked, giggling. "I've missed my Mr. Cedric hugs…"
"There will be plenty of time for that later." He became a bit more serious as she released him and stood facing him. "I can sense that things are slowly becoming worse. Something isn't settling well with me… I certainly don't like the fact that my wand is gone."
"We need to find it," she suggested. "And then you and I can take down Captain Caegan."
"No," he told her, pointing toward her Enchantlet. "No, I think we need to get the Mystic Isles involved."
Both Enchancians jumped, startled, when they heard the door to the brig slam open. As they turned to the entrance, they gasped when they realized that Captain Caegan was standing there, looking far more intimidating than he had before. There was a distinct sense of malice about him now, and it seemed to practically radiate from him.
"Ah, my first mate," he drawled as he sauntered toward them, noting that Sofia had moved beside Cedric and grasped his arm securely. "What a disappointment you've turned out to be. Ruthless Raelyn indeed. Nay…" He smiled sinisterly as he paused before them. "Princess Sofia."
Cedric and Sofia gasped in shock. How did he know?!
To be continued…
Next Chapter: A Royal Blunder