Book 2: Memories of the Past and Promises of the Future
(Sofia pov)
The young princess of Enchantia continued to search the castle for the young woman that ran off in meeting her father. She had listened carefully to the strange person introduce herself as Sapphire Starlight. Of course the stepdaughter of King Roland II watched as she looked in the strangers eyes when her father was walking towards her. It was one of fear, nervousness, anxiety and confusion all rolled up in one.
After she ran off, her father ordered everyone to find her and bring her before him. Worried that she might be in some sort of trouble with her father, Sofia cautiously asked him about her. The king reassured her that she wasn't in any trouble.
"It's just that she's a childhood friend and she disappeared a long time ago," he told her. "I just wanted to know where she'd been all these years. You know she was Cedric's old girlfriend once.'
"Really?"
"Really," he said. "My father, King Roland the First, threw a party one Wassailia, and Cedric brought her as a date, but something happened to her that night so she had to go home early. After that…. well she just wasn't quite the same."
As Sofia continued to search for the woman she heard a sound coming from the music room. It sounded like a piano playing, a beautiful tune that was at the same time extremely chilling.
She continued to walk a couple of feet until she came to the music room, opening the door quietly to see who or what was playing that beautiful song. There she saw the young woman from the throne room playing the piano, her singing was the clearest Sofia had ever heard.
When she was done, Sapphire sighed sadly before closing the lid on the instrument and got up, walking around the room, strumming a harp she was passing. Sapphire turned around, freezing when she spotted Sofia. The young princess saw that her amulet was glowing in response to her.
"Your amulet…" Sapphire whispered, barely audible. She backed up and almost knocked down the harp. "Please, I-I just want to go home. I want to see my uncle again, I want to go back to my little hut, and not have to worry about prophecies." And with that she broke down, falling on her knees sobbing quietly.
Sofia quickly but cautiously went over to the woman ad hesitantly patted her back reassuringly. The young girl looked up, wiping her nose on her sleeve, and drying her eyes. The woman smiled, with gratefulness showing in her river blue eyes.
"Thank you princess…?"
"Princess Sofia, at your service," Sofia offered, curtsying. "But you can me Sofia." The woman got up and took a deep bow like the ones performers did at the end of a show.
"It's a pleasure to meet your acquaintance Princess Sofia," She said. "My name is Sapphire Silvermoon Starlight, daughter of Elena and Joseph Starlight, and it is my greatest pleasure to be in your company, your majesty."
Sofia curtsied, the sides of her purple dress clutched in her hands. "So, why'd you run off like that?" Sapphire got up and sat on the piano desk, patting the seat next to her. They sat in silence, the only other sound in the room was a cuckoo clock ticking the away the minutes.
"You see, Princess Sofia," Sapphire suddenly said breaking the silence. "I ran off because I was shocked. The last time I saw your father; he was just a young boy, about your age approximately. It was during the Wassailia ball, and it-"
The door suddenly opened, interrupting her and in walked Sofia's mother and father, along with Amber and James. Sofia heard Sapphire sigh and watched her get up in the corner of her eyes, and walk over to the quartet.
"Hello Roland," Sapphire said her eyes down. "It is good to see you again. I trust you've been well?" King Roland looked at her then looked at Queen Miranda. Then all of the sudden, the second Roland embraced Sapphire in a hug, which Sapphire broke down and cried once more. After Queen Miranda had joined the hug, Sapphire pulled back looking up with those big river blue eyes looking up at the King and Queen.
"Where have you been?" Roland asked, wiping a tear with his thumb. "Cedric was devastated when you disappeared without so much as even a goodbye."
"I was…. on a pilgrimage to the Northern Mountains but I was held captive and unable to escape." She said hesitantly. Sofia saw how she clutched her amulet so that no one saw how it glowed a dark blue. The kind king smiled as he helped her up and hugged her once more.
"Well, if you'd like, you could stay here until you get a house in the village," the King offered. Sapphire smiled, and bowed deeply in thanks.
"Thank you, your Majesty," she said. "It would be an honor to live in your palace." Roland the Second just chuckled, clutching his stomach a little.
"Please you can call me Roland," then he gasped like he suddenly remembered something. "This is my wife and queen, Miranda and my three children, James, Amber and Sofia, whom you've already met." The queen and two children bowed in introduction, and Sapphire bowed in response.
As the Royal Family and the sorceress left the Music Room, Sofia glanced back and saw ice had formed where Sapphire sat. She watched it spread like vines and finally consume the piano, until it was nothing more than an ice statue. Worried the princess hesitantly followed Sapphire and her family out.
(11,12) Hexly Hall…
About a year after the Wassailia Ball incident, Cedric noticed a dramatic change in Sapphire. She became distant and easily agitated, staying out late, doing who knows what, sleeping in class, and practicing magic secretly in the dorms, which was against the rules and if the person was caught it could result in permanent expulsion.
She became distant, so much so that she had requested she move dorm rooms to a single one by herself and away from her best friend Lana. Cedric had stopped by each day, only to be meet with either a door to his face or her not being there.
Finally, after about a year and two months after the ball, the son of the royal sorcerer of Enchantia caught her in the library of Hexly Hall, reading a very large and dusty book. Her blue eyes were practically scanning the pages; flipping the pages so quickly it was like she was just glancing at the page. Cedric moved closer towards her, and was shocked about how much she had changed in the last year.
Her black curly hair, that was usually down and flowed over her shoulder in dark waves, was pulled back in a tight ponytail with her blue bangs framing her perfect cheeks. She wore a dark navy blue dress that fitted her body to where it showed off her curves, which was a way different change to her usual light blue dress which was at least two sizes too big. Sapphire had a black cape with a golden clasp, a small candle burning, almost down to the stub. The young sorceress had black bags under her river blue eyes, and the only real color in her ensemble besides her eyes was her blue amulet, which rested on a silver chain around her neck.
Cedric walked over to her, very stealthy so she wouldn't see him and blow him off again. She was muttering under her breath words that even Cedric couldn't understand. The young sorcerer saw that her gloved hands were clutched in pain and her face was suddenly glistening with sweat. She seemed to sway slightly, and her eyes seemed to glaze over ever so slightly.
"Sapphire?" Cedric asked uncertainly, walking out from his hiding spot. She was still so fixated on the book that she didn't even see him. "Are you okay? Do I need to get the headmaster?" Cedric gingerly reached out to touch her shoulder, but Sapphire spun around, with a wild light like a deer caught in the sight of a hunter shone in her eyes.
"Cedric, what are you doing here?" She whispered her voice not hers. Cedric was shocked about how cold her hands were. It was like ice, and he couldn't break away from her surprisingly iron grip. He stared at her as she searched his face for something, recognition, or hope for something. After she blinked several times the glazed look went away, and she stared at him for a long time in shock and disbelief as she released her grip on his wrist. He rubbed the soon to be tender spot and backed up his face showing confusion and fear. Sapphire looked at her own hands then back at him, the same mix of emotion written on her face as Cedric's.
"W-what happened?" she asked getting up. Cedric backed away, his wand out and ready.
"Stay back," he said, causing Sapphire to back up, surprised at her best friend's behavior. "I don't want to hurt you Sapphire."
Her eyes started to water at the sudden threat, her eyes still showing confusion. "You don't have to Cedric. I-I was just leaving." And with she grabbed her book and blew out the candle, quickly plunging the room in darkness.
Cedric mumbled a spell that lit the tip of the wand up with light, illuminating about half of the room up with brightness. He looked around and saw Sapphire leaving, and when she turned around, her eyes were rimmed with red and they were puffy. She quickly left the library, leaving Cedric alone in the darkness.
Present day in Enchantia…
Sapphire awoke with a start, her breathing rapid and deep. That was the fourth time that week that she had that dream.
More like a nightmare, she thought with regret as she threw her legs over the bed. Thanks to her long time friend, King Roland the Second, she got the biggest guest room in the castle, with an adjoining master bathroom, a game room and the largest walk in closet in the world, filled to the brim with the finest clothes no money could buy, along with a team of servants to wait on hands and foot. Of course Sapphire tried to explain to them that she could get dressed without any help, but they still served her breakfast in bed.
Getting up, Sapphire walked across the cold tiles, and threw open the curtains, letting the light pour in. She breathed in a sigh of relief as the mid fall sunlight filtered in, giving her warmth and hope. After five years of darkness and hopelessness, she had to soak up as much sun as she could before it disappeared with winter.
She quickly got dressed in her tight dark blue dress, and threw on a light blue cape with frost designs on it, and finally she tied her hair back, leaving her light blue bangs to frame her beautiful face. Sapphire stared at herself in the mirror for a minute, as she thought about what her life would've been like if she didn't make the mistake she made. Wiping the tears from her eyes, she quickly latched her amulet on and headed out her door, in hopes of trying to find Princess Sofia.
The sorceress found the young princess at the Royal Stables, petting a light purple miniature Pegasus with a buzz cut mane. Sapphire called to her, waving at her when the young princess spotted her.
"Hey, whatca doing?" Sapphire asked, petting the Pegasus along with Sofia, whom was decked out in riding gear. It was quiet lovely and very stylish even though it was something as simple as riding gear, but Sapphire guessed that was just the Amulet of Avalor glowing slightly.
Sofia, totally unaware of her amulet glowing, smiled, her brown curls poking out from underneath her riding hat. "Nothing much. I'm about to take Minimus here out for a quick ride to get ready for the derby race next week."
"Yeah, and make sure you tell this strange girl about how good you were our first one," the horse said. Sapphire just chuckled along with Sofia, not really shocked that a Pegasus spoke to her. Heck she had freaking fifty feet dragons talk to her in plain English.
"Well, when I went to Hexly Hall, I was quite the derby champion," she said crossing her arms. "I think I can beat both of you in race."
Minimus just scoffed and hit the ground with is hoof. "I'd like to see her try." Sofia just warned him with her eyes, which didn't escape the sorceress's eye, but of course she doesn't care. Sapphire knew what it was like to keep secrets from those she loved; it was what pushed Cedric away from her, that burning desire to keep them safe from the dangers that came with the secret.
A sound of a horse whining caught Sapphires attention, and when she turned around, she saw a beautiful navy blue horse with a light blue mane and teal blue eyes. The Pegasus navy blue wings with sky blue feathers made it look like highlights.
The stable men tried to tie her down in a new stable but the Pegasus refused, trying to say that she was a free horse and didn't belong here. Just like her, a free spirited girl tied down with responsibility.
Sapphire walked over to the stable men, and instructed them to leave and give her the ropes. They hesitantly gave it to her, and quickly left, leaving the stables as fast as they could.
"Oh great," the horse scoffed, but calmed down ever so slightly. "They sent out a woman this time. And not just any woman, a useless sorceress whose spells won't do anything."
"Would you rather me leave you to the stable men who have the power to put you down?' Sapphire asked, getting fed up with the Pegasus's whining. The sorceress turned and saw Sofia with her mouth on the floor, apparently having heard the conversation.
She stroked the Pegasus's beautiful mane and made shushing noise as the horse continued to buck. She seemed shocked that this human could talk to and understand her, so the Pegasus started to get spooked.
"What's your name?" Sapphire asked after the navy blue horse had calmed down.
"Midnight Moon," she said bowing her head. Sapphire bowed back, in response. "And who are you and where do you hail from?"
"My name is Sapphire Starlight and I hail from northeastern Dunwitty," she said getting the food and water trough ready. The first thing Sapphire did wasshe removed the ropes that were tied around her muzzle and neck.
"Oh small town kinda girl huh? Well I know exactly what you feel like." Midnight Moon sat down and watched her, finally happy that someone could understand her and talk to. "I was from a small herd when I was a young filly. It wasn't enough for me though, mainly because I was a thrill seeker and I loved adventure."
Sapphire poured the water in the trough she glanced behind her and saw Sofia had taken off on Minimus. She would have to explain her new friend about her special power, granted to her by her amulet long ago. Smiling sadly the young woman remembered, the last time she fully spoken and saw Cedric.
(11, 12) Three months later….
Sapphire ran down the halls of Hexly Hall, tears streaming down her face and her river blue eyes puffy and red. She had just received news that her uncle was injured badly in a horse and carriage incident, and wasn't expected to make it.
She was headed back towards her rooms, to wait until someone could pick her up and take her to the Healing Center where he was to say his goodbyes. Her only family, the only thing she had in this world was going to be taken away from her. Of course the Royal Family was arranging a foster family in case her uncle did not make it and that made Sapphire even more depressed.
Cedric was just casually walking down the halls until she literally ran into him, making him drop his books. Sapphire didn't even stop running, which made the young sorcerer worried about his young friend.
"Cedric are you okay?" A voice asked. The son of Goodwin and the Great looked up to Lana, Sapphire's friend and former roommate, standing over him looking down with concern. She stooped down and helped him pick up his books that he dropped.
"Yeah, thanks Lana," he said standing. "What's wrong with Sapphire? I've never seen her so distraught."
"Her uncle was in an accident and isn't expected to make it," Lana explained as they started to walk down the hall. Cedric was surprised and could understand why Sapphire was so upset. Her uncle was the only family she had here or anywhere in the world and if he died then she would truly be alone, and she would also wouldn't have any money to pay her fee for school.
"What's going to happen to her if he does die?" Cedric asked in hushed tones. The bullies had been relentless lately, causing her to be more withdrawn from her friends.
Lana looked around for anyone and continued. "I heard that her uncle called in a favor, and arranged a foster family to take her in case anything happens to her."
"Did they catch whoever was responsible?"
Lana shook her head sadly. "No. Whoever the person was they didn't even stop to help him. No one was around and a passing farmer found her uncle. Unfortunately he'd been out in the cold too long, and he had been bleeding too much. So now all the healers can do is wait and see if he'll make it."
Later that week, Cedric stopped by Sapphire's dorm with some 'I'm sorry about your loss' flowers. He could practically hear her wailing and sobbing uncontrollably through the oaken doors. When he knocked on the door, the sobbing stopped and the door revealed Sapphire in a conserved mourning gown and a mourning veil placed on her top bun, the only color was her blue amulet. Her eyes were puffy and bloodshot, fresh makeup on.
She sniffled several times before speaking, her voice cracked and raw. "What is it?"
Cedric handed her the baby blue orchids that he got. "I heard about your uncle and I'm sorry about your loss. I thought these would help cheer you up." Sapphire looked at them blankly and took them with a thankful nod. She smiled dryly, gesturing for him to enter into her dorm rooms. It was larger than any room in the castle of Enchantia, with a separate dinning hall, game room, music room and her very own theatre.
Sapphire went straight for her bedroom, which was larger than the King, and Queens master suite, and put the plants in vase of water, tossing aside some wilted roses. On her beside table, a portrait of her uncle sat in an elegant frame next to a scented vanilla candle, and an elegant hand mirror with a blue stone on top of some fancy wrapping paper.
"Cool room," Cedric said, breaking the uncomfortable silence that settled over them likes a blanket. The young sorcerer hoped that this would get her to open up to him like she used to.
"Thank you," she said. "The school was kind enough to give me this lovely room after my Uncle left me a will that stated that I was to be left at least three hundred dollars in inheritance. Unfortunately it wont last a month so, I have three weeks to pack my belongings before they forcefully throw me out into t the cold."
"Where will you go then?" Cedric asked worried.
Sapphire shrugged sadly, fresh tears brimming in her river blue eyes. "King Roland arranged for a family to take me in but they have more mouths to feed than a family of rabbits. In the will, my uncle said I might have some family in the northern mountains so I'll try to head in that direction as soon as the snow melts."
Cedric went over to her as she started to cry, and throughout the night the young sorcerer stayed besides his love until the morning sunrise.
Present day, Northern Mountains…
As Argenta Silverman stood watch over the ancient fortress, she could practically hear the soldiers talk about the rumor of the Amulet of Avalor being discovered once more.
A trumpet sound of a sentry got her attention, and she knocked her crossbow, anticipating her. But instead in flew a chocolate brown horse ridden by woman in a heavy green cloak. Sighing she put down her bow, and motioned for the guards to let her pass.
Down in the courtyard….
"It is good to see you again," Argenta said to Jade as she dismounted from her Pegasus, Coco. Her sister was out of breath, her cheeks and nose pink from the cold weather.
"It is good to see you against as well," Jade, said walking towards the main building, the guards taking her brown Pegasus to the heated stables with the others.
Once they entered the warm building, Jade shed her heavy winter cloak and breathed a sigh of relief as her skin started to warm up once more. The guardian of the Emerald of the Earth wasn't use to such cold weather since she usually stayed in the warmer parts of the world.
"What news do you have on the Amulet of Avalor sister?" Argenta asked as they made their way to the dining hall. "Is it still missing?" What came next shook the entire universe to its core.
"No," Jade said certainly, her thick winter green dress trailing behind her in her wake. "It seems that a young human princess named Sofia is the new guardian."
Argenta was shocked at this news but was expecting it ever since her second eldest sister rebelled against her mother and queen. The now darkened hearted woman had prophesied that when the Amulet Avalor resurfaces, that will be the sign that she was destined to reign as new queen. Of course the queen had found treason in her daughter's words and sought to rid the kingdom of this oncoming plague. Now that she was back and destroying the source of their magic, they needed both the Stone of the Stars and Amulet of Avalor in order to win the war that loomed over them all like a foreboding storm.
They entered the dining hall, where the servants were busy with setting down sliver wear and plates for that night's supper.
"What ever has happened to the ancient Amulet, we must find Sapphire Starlight so we can finally rid our kingdom of the evil that has forced us out. That is our top and foremost priority." Argenta said. She gestured to the large banquet hall table. "You have had a long journey and you must be tired. Please, join me for dinner and rest here, where you are safe." Jade smiled thankfully as she bowed her head and took her place at the table.
Enchantia….
Sofia sat on her bed as she quietly conversed with Sapphire in her room as the two drew pictures late into the night. They giggled about silly things like how Clover accidentally ate an orange crayon thinking it was a carrot.
"Oh you silly rabbit," Sapphire giggled as she petted the rabbit in between the ears. The bunny made a face that tickled the girls even more and they ended up rolling on the floor, tears running down their cheeks as they continued to laugh.
"Oh boy I haven't laughed this hard since Lana and I put an ice rink in the office of the headmaster of Hexly Hall." Sapphire said wiping a tear from her eye. Sofia picked herself off the floor and walked over to her closet, closing the door behind her. A few minutes later, she reemerged from her walk in closet wearing a lovely light purple nightgown, still wearing her amulet.
"So how come you can speak to animals?" Sofia asked, jumping on her bed, followed by Clover.
Sapphire fingered her amulet, still there, still protecting her from Ruby Brimstone, if she was still out there looking for her. "My amulet was given to me as a Wassailia present. It acts similar to yours if I am guessing correctly, for any deed done, for better or worse, a gift is granted a blessing or a curse. I helped out a wounded horse before I went on my…. journey, and thus my gif to speak to animals was given. What types of gifts where you given Princess Sofia?"
Sofia smiled at the memory of how she received her multiple gifts. "Well, I have the gift to speak to animals, the ability to become a mermaid, and the ability to shrink whenever I please." Sapphire stood dumbfounded as the young princess listed off the gifts she had been granted by her amulet. The sorceress had only been granted one gift in her life, but then again she had been trapped in a mirror for five years, while this young child was free to do as she wished, as long as she suffered and learned from her mistakes.
A yawn suddenly overcame Sapphire as she bid her goodnights to Sofia and walked out. She got lost several times and ended up in a tower of some sort, far away from her rooms as she remembered correctly. Something led her here, so since was already here, she decided to look around.
Carefully, the young woman opened the unlocked door to reveal a marvelously large workshop, with potions and beakers filled to the brim with all types of substances. Something was familiar about this place; a bell was ringing in the back of her mind that it was, and that she must leave the palace and never return.
Of course just like an ignorant person, she ignored it and continued to search the workshop for any clues on who might've lived here. On the wall a picture of a woman and man (Sapphire suspected that they might be married) hung, and looking very closely, the young sorceress saw similarities between them and Cedric. A cawing sounds startling her, and she turned to see a midnight black raven knocking on the window with his beak. Sapphire let the poor bird in, a chilly wind sweeping through the room.
"Well look who it is," cawed the raven as Sapphire closed the window. "Miss Sapphire Starlight, the star of Cedric's life and the reason for his blackening heart."
"Hello Wormwood," Sapphire said sighing. "It is good to see you well."
"Oh please. Don't give me any of that good girl act Sapphire. We all know you didn't love my master; you just loved him for his position as the royal sorcerer's son," the raven said so rudely. "You will be pleased to hear that Cedric has been over you for quite some time."
"Is that why he went back to the village where I grew up then?" Sapphire said back. She turned her back on the raven, something catching her eye. The young woman picked it up, revealing a small portrait of her and him at the Wassailia ball all those years ago, before Sapphire had that encounter with Ruby Brimstone.
"If he was over would he keep this? The best and worst day of mine and his life, the beginning of his freedom of me and the ending of my belief in myself."
With that Sapphire bowed to the raven and left the room, sobbing quietly as she hurriedly found her room and threw herself on the bed, letting sleep take over.
(15, 16) Enchantia…
Cedric paced the perimeter of the room, uncertain that this was the right decision. He had convinced his father to buy him the ring, and had even the headmaster in on this. About a month after Sapphire's uncle's passing, Cedric decided that he couldn't wait, and something had to be done.
So for about two years, with difficult convincing and a lot of bribing, Cedric was finally able to convince the headmaster to let Sapphire stay there until he got enough money to buy an engagement ring.
Goodwin the Great stood over the counter while the ring maker was in the back getting her best merchandise.
"Calm down, son," Goodwin the Great said chuckling as he watched his only son pace the floor. "I haven't seen you this nervous since you got separated from Prince Roland in the Whispering Woods. Relax, it's going to be alright."
The son rubbed the back of his neck nervously, listening to his father. "Were you this nervous when you were planning on marrying Mother?"
"Of course I was," Cedric's father said as a matter of fact. "But it all worked out in the end. It will be all right. Breath." Cedric took two deep breaths, just in time to because at that point the Ring Master came back out, carrying out a tray of different stones and band designs.
"Okay so take your pick young man," the young woman said. Cedric looked over the choices. It seemed to be large red, grey, green, purple and blue stones in different shades and variations, each sitting on brass, silver and gold bands.
The young man picked up a teal blue stone on a silver band, and smiled happily. It was just the right size for Sapphire since she had small hands for her age. "Ah, a wise choice," the Ring Master said, smiling. She gestured to the other side of the counter, where his father went to pay up.
Finally, Cedric thought, happily.
(Sapphire pov)
The young sorceress sat on her bed, looking sadly at her gloved hands. Everything they touched turned to ice, which made her afraid to even touch anyone. Everyday she was afraid of her getting angry and finally snap, revealing her power and making her seem like a monster. As her power started to grow, she was more afraid of hurting Cedric more and more each day.
That day she was afraid of came when she was walking down the hall one day after class. It was a quiet day and she wore her usual navy blue dress with a hooded cloak, when she ambushed by Brandon and his gang of bullies. Ever since they had that encounter when they were little, Brandon had grown to be that typical bully stereotype: the oh-so-handsome jock with all the girls fawning over him, but his grades were so bad that he could've been kicked out if his parents weren't one of the main benefactors to the school.
She sighed, not really up for this today. "What do you want Brandon? I'm not in the mood today."
"Aw that's no way to talk to your new boyfriend." He said grabbing her arms, which made him drop her books. She sighed and rolled her eyes in disgust as Sapphire stooped down to pick up her textbooks. "Come on babe. Dump Grey Bangs and get with a real jock."
"Oh please," Sapphire said rolling her eyes, starting to walk away. "The only real thing you are is a real jerk!" That got Brandon simmering, as he and his gang circled around blocking any hopes escape for Sapphire.
Not too long after Brandon had trapped Sapphire, Cedric walked around the corner carrying something in his hand. He spotted the Brandon towering over Sapphire, whose amulet started to glow in response to her anger and fear. Brandon took Sapphire by the wrist, making her scream out in pain. Cedric dropped what he was holding and ran over to help.
But he never arrived. Sapphire retched her wrist from Brandon's hand and closed her eyes in pain, her amulet bursting with blue light. Finally with a grunt of pain, Sapphire's amulet let forth a burst of power, turning everything within their group and blocking their escapes with a wall of ice. They were trapped but that wasn't the worst of their problems. Sapphire raised off the ground, surrounded by a beautiful blue light, her dark hair turning snow white, her tan skin paling, looking like death and her river blue eyes turning into glowing blue orbs.
"S-Sapphire?" Cedric sputtered as the ice travelled up his legs, burning cold. "Why are you doing this?"
Sapphire did not answer, she only turned to the bullies, who stood petrified as they watched the girl they once bulled walk towards them, her navy turned artic blue dress trailing behind her. The bullies tried to beat on the walls of ice that were so thick you couldn't here anything.
Why do you torment her? Asked an older woman's voice. In the reflection of the walls, Cedric saw Sapphires ice blue lips not move, still looking at the boys not blinking. She has done you no harm, and yet you constantly tease and harm her. You haunt her every waking moment, so I will remove your plague from the face of earth.
Cedric watched as ice spread up the bullies' legs, like ivy growing up the pillars of a castle. He ran over to his soon betrothed, and touched her shoulder in hopes someone familiar will wake her, but it just angered this entity even more.
HOW DARE YOU TOUCH ME! She shouted, throwing Cedric against the wall. NO ONE TOUCHES THE ALL POWERFUL AND MIGHTY ICE SORCERESS.
"Sapphire it's me! Cedric, your best friend!" he yelled over the growing wind. He saw realization dawn in those beautiful spheres of blue as they faded into regular eyes. She was gently put back down on the ground, the ice walls melting and then disintegrating into steam, the ivy ice traveled slowly from the boys' legs. The glow died down and Sapphire's hair and skin returning too normal. She stumbled and Cedric was able to catch her just in time, not afraid of the girl who had just tried to strike him down.
"M-monster! Monster!" Brandon yelled, with blue lips and fear frozen eyes. He pointed at her with a shaking finger, and stood up running yelling 'monster' all the way to the headmaster's office.
"What happened?" Sapphire asked, standing up. She looked around where the ice had made markings on the walls. Realization dawned on the young sorceress, as she finally remembered what happened, and the small line of blood that trickled from Cedric's hair.
"Oh, I-need to go," she said suddenly as she ran back to her dorms, practically in tears.
Present day, Enchantia…
Sapphire awoke screaming, awakened by a nightmare that had plagued her for so long. Her breathing was erratic and even though the frost had set in, she was still warm to the touch. She remembered that day, so well it seemed, but that day, along with the incident at the Wassailia ball, seemed branded in her memory and she seemed unable to forget.
Stretching, she found that it was snowing ever so slightly, but not enough to excite the children just yet. After getting dressed she decided to wander about the castle, and maybe go and see how Midnight Moon was doing, since she had practically adopted the young sorceress to be her new rider.
After walking all over the castle, she saw no one, not one servant, one maid or butler. Not even the Royal Family seemed to be present, which scared Sapphire to no end. The young woman seemed to feel all alone and afraid, which was a feeling she didn't like.
"Don't be silly," said a voice. "That feeling makes you human, something I wish so terribly to be."
Sapphire turned around and saw something she didn't expect to see in the royal palace of Enchantia. A young woman, about Sapphire's age and height, stood with grey hair, and black, soulless eyes. She had paper white skin, which made her eyes even darker, and wore a wedding gown type dress, except this one was fitted for battle and had old, yet shining armor over it with a sword strapped to her side.
"Sapphire Starlight," the unknown woman bowed her head. Sapphire just stood there transfixed on the silver gem that rested at the gape of her throat, glowing in response to hers. The stranger smiled at the sight. "It seems an introduction is needed."
"Get back!" Sapphire shouted drawing her wand. "I don't want anything to do with you if you have any affiliation with Ruby Brimstone." The woman looked shocked at this sudden show of power, but a smile returned to her face nonetheless.
"It seems the prophecy was true," she said and as quick as lighting came to stand in front of Sapphire's face.
"We have been waiting a long time for you Sapphire Starlight. You must help us reclaim our homeland from our sister, whose heart has been blackened by her lust for power. That is all we ask." She floated down back to the floor, where she continued to stare at her.
Finally it was Sapphire who broke the stare, sighing sadly as she looked out the window.
"This prophecy has ruined my chance for a happy ending with the man I love," the ice sorceress said, looking down, trying to keep tears from flowing. "I do hope you realize that."
The woman mirrored Sapphire's sad sigh. "There are no such things as a 'happy ending' in real life." When Sapphire turned around she was gone, and the sounds erupted from the castle, and more people appeared out of thin air as if they had been plucked from existence and then put back. They all stared at her like she was crazy, like she was a monster.
Ignoring those stares, she hurriedly pasted by everyone, and headed straight for her room with plans to leave as soon as possible.
In her room…
As she was packing her bags, a sudden noise drew her attention to her window. Walking up the palace stairs was King Maximus and apparently his royal sorcerer who Sapphire recognized as Greylock, Cedric's old friend. Forgetting her plan to leave, and grabbing her wand, Sapphire hurried out her room with hopes to intercept the old friend and wizard.
Peeking around the corner, Sapphire saw Greylock and Sofia talking quietly and laughing at each other's jokes. Pulling up her hood to her cloak she quickly made her way to him, which caught them both off guard.
"Oh excuse me miss," Greylock said, picking up her dropped wand. "It seems that I wasn't watching where I was going."
"It is alright Greylock," she said grabbing her wand, but the old wizard was so shocked that a stranger knew his name that he forgot to let go. Once he did, his brown brow furrowed in confusion and he adjusted the monocle to get a better look. Tucking her light blue bang behind her ear, Greylock gasped as he suddenly recognized the young woman that stood before him.
"Sapphire what are you doing here?"
"Same thing as you are I suppose," She replied, smiling. Something in Greylock's eyes told her that she needed to get somewhere private, where there were no snoopy ears about. She looked down at the princess. "Uh, if you'll excuse us Princess Sofia, but Mr. Greylock and I require a bit of privacy."
The young Princess from the village looked confused but nodded all the same. She bowed and turned, spotting her step brother and ran to joining him.
"This way." Sapphire instructed and quickly hurried both of them to a nearby room. Greylock wasted no time in giving Sapphire an earful.
"So this is where've you been all these years huh? Right under Cedric's nose?"
"You know I would never leave without saying goodbye unless I had perfect reasons," Sapphire retorted back, crossing her arms. "I had to leave. For the safety of the kingdom, and the for the good of Cedric."
"Well I hope you realized the pain you left him in," Greylock said, and Sapphire felt the tears fall down.
"I never meant to leave him," she said, wiping the tears with her sleeve. "It was not my choice, but a choice I had to make nonetheless." Greylock took her into an embrace, which prompted Sapphire to erupt in a sob.
(James pov)
The crown prince to Enchantia was strolling down the halls of his home when heard his name being called. Turning he saw his stepsister walk towards him swiftly, with her dress hoisted so she wouldn't trip. Looking over her shoulder, James saw Mr. Greylock walk away quickly with Sapphire, whom James had seen a number of times around the castle.
"Hey Sofia," James greeted happily. "What's up?"
"Not much," she replied equally happily. "I've just been talking with Mr. Greylock and he says that there'll be a Royal Prep/Hexly Hall reunion next week. And get this, dad's going to host it here."
"Cool. Hey, do you think Cedric will be home in time for it?" He asked as they walked to the kitchen to grab a snack. Sofia just shrugged, unable to answer it without spilling her secret.
"So why do you think Sapphire wanted to talk to Greylock?" The young boy asked after the silence had gotten unbearable. Sofia gave him an extremely hard look, like the one the queen would give him when he was caught in a prank.
"James," she scolded, making him rub the back of his neck. "You know it's rude to pry." The crown prince just nodded sadly, Sofia was always the kind one.
(Sofia pov)
The rest of the day had passed without incident; nothing interesting or unusual had passed, other than King Maximus announcing that he and his royal sorcerer were staying until the Reunion Ball. King Roland looked none to happy about the news of the nonstop bragging king staying here for a week in a half.
Sofia politely excused herself and went to her room to change for bed, but even after a hard day, she still couldn't fall asleep. She got herself off her bed, and put on her robe, determined to fall asleep before midnight, Sofia trekked through the quiet castle searching for Sapphire's rooms.
Finally finding it, Sofia hesitantly knocked on the door, surprised to hear a muffled, "Come in," from the other side.
Opening it, Sofia found the sorceress hunched over a book, with a candle burning almost down to the stub. Sapphire glanced up, and seeing Sofia, smiled the warmest smile the young princess had ever seen her smile since her mysterious arrival.
"Oh Princess Sofia, please come in," She said happily. Sofia walked in and saw for the first time how great the young girl was doing. There were books everywhere, her bed had the biggest comforter, and the windows stain glass of a young warrior woman, probably some saint that saved Enchantia long before Sofia. "I was just about to get ready for bed. Is something the matter?"
"No," the young princess said shrugging. "I just couldn't sleep. I was kind of hoping you would tell me a bed time story."
"Of course," Sapphire said, and the entire sudden, Sofia saw her blue eyes glance to her amulet. "I've got the best story to tell." The young sorceress patted the seat next to her on her bed and Sofia happily hopped on it, the sounds of thunder clapping.
Looking for a new candle, Sapphire ran all over the room, until she ventured into the bathing rooms. Out she came victorious, wielding the unlit candle as if it was a sword and she was a pirate.
"A vast yea harty," she said as she hopped on the bed. "Me thinks there be royalty in tha mix. Milady." She bowed, offering her a hand, and together they bounced up and down until Sapphire and Sofia collapsed on the bed, out of breath and laughing.
Sapphire cleared her throat and looked at her new friend with a tired light in her eyes. "Now, on with the story…."
Oh I do love cliffhangers, don't you? MWAHAHAHAHAHAHA. Sorry for that folks, I seem to be coming down with something. Well hope you all had a great thanksgiving break, and hope you all enjoyed Book 2 of Sofia the First- The Enchanted Mirror. Next chapter will explain the origins of all the amulets and the strange people bugging Sapphire.