Disclaimer; I own nothing.

This one-shot is based on the anime Daughter of Twenty Faces, the movie Flowers in the attic, and the song Sober by P!nk.

Modern AU

~'o'O'o'~

I don't wanna be the girl who laughs the loudest
Or the girl who never wants to be alone
I don't wanna be that call at 4 o'clock in the morning
'Cos I'm the only one you know in the world that won't be home

Sofia was only 9 when her mother married the King, she was very excited to see her new life, but it wasn't as charming as she was expecting.

At age 16, it was well known about Sofia around the Kingdoms.

She was called the Forgotten Princess.

Doctors diagnosed her to have a form of a disease that babies and children get when they are malnourished after birth and before they become teenagers.

Many servants had passed through the palace that was hired to take care of her but it was also well known that the Princess was bitter and hateful, so many had left not wanting to deal with such a selfish and bitter Princess.

She spent most of her days in her tower locked away from the world.

The only time she was allowed out was for meals with her family which she was required to attend.

Now an elderly man was hired to take care of her.

"Goodwin Wormwood, Your Majesty." Said the man wearing a red suit.

"Nice to meet you. How is your patience level, Goodwin?" Roland asked, the rest f the family looking at him.

"Very good your Majesty." He replied.

"Then you're hired," Roland said with an unsure smile that held hope.

"Thank you. Your grace." Goodwin said bowing deeply.

A maid named Violet was showing Goodwin to the stone tower.

She knocked once and waited, No Answer, She knocked again and called Princess Sofia.

"Come in." a delicate, sickly feminine voice sang out.

Goodwin entered the room once Violet opened the door, the door was slammed shut behind him and he heard locks clicking, looking back the maid wasn't there.

"They've locked you in with me." the voice said making him look.

The room was fairly dark except for the windows, so he took out his wand and with a wave every candle and lantern in the room was lit.

His eyes settled on a figure by one of the windows, she was sitting in a wheelchair a purple patched blanket draped over her knees, she wore a simple white shift with blood stains on it, and her hair was an auburn shade that lacked luster, it was in a delicate braid laying over her left shoulder that faced him.

"Good day Princess." She slowly moved her head to face him, he saw what was a gift from God, the light from the window made her look like an angel though her face was drooping, years of malnutrition and frowning has made her beautiful face fall.

Though her illness was obvious, she was still very beautiful.

"And what is your name?" She asked politely.

"Goodwin, Your highness." He said setting down his suitcase.

"Goodwin. A prominent name." She said delicately making his ears ring with her tender melodious voice.

"Thank you." He said coming up to her seeing her fully in the light, he noticed she was thin, frail, and pale.

"Tell me, Goodwin. You wouldn't happen to have today's paper would you?" She asked leaning forward in excitement.

He had to think for a moment, "I believe I do." He said opening his suitcase and pulling out the paper.

He delicately handed it to her and she took it with grace, much more then the royals from downstairs had.

She opened it and smiled with a blush.

"Anything interesting?" He asked curiously.

"Yes, Cedric the Sensational." She read making Goodwin stiffen.

"That Rogue, ma'am?" He asked worriedly.

"Yes. 'The Sorcerer Cedric the Sensational strikes again in the Kingdom of Wei-Ling stealing the ever elusive Angel Music box, but revealing a treasure that had been missing in the attic of the Duke who the Angel music box was stolen from.' He may be a rogue but he fights with honor." She said blushing.

He decided to let the ailing Princess have her moment of bliss and decided to look around her dark tower.

He noticed that it was actually a remade Sorcerer's workshop that had been made into her prison, Plum colored tapestries lined the walls, the floors was polished marble and had scratch marks from the wheelchair.

Your room is over there." She said making him snap back to her, she slowly used her left hand to point but his eyes were stuck on the arm that had been revealed by the action that moved her sleeve.

"Princess, where did you get those bruises?" He asked gently taking her arm and pushing the sleeve up more to reveal more bruises and some were in the shape of handprints and fingerprints.

"Servants forcing me to take my medicine." She said feeling his wrinkly skin against her own and it actually felt...nice. Compared to the rough behavior she was used to this was pleasant.

He reached into his coat pocket and pulled out a jar of pills.

"This?" He asked her.

"Yes." She answered.

"Why do you not want to take these?" He asked looking at them, he knew exactly what they were the moment he saw them, any master Sorcerer would.

"Because, I want to die, and those will make my life draw out, but what life is there when all I have is this tower." She explained. He knew she was lying, in fact, it was the opposite, she had come up with such a clever lie to protect herself.

"Very well. I will respect your wishes." He said putting the bottle back in his pocket, his words made her slowly snap up at him in disbelief.

"You'll really not make me take them?" She asked diligently.

"I promise." He answered with his hand over his heart and bowing to her.

The Princess returned to her paper after pointing him towards his room, he was trapped up here just like her, he had been told lies about her so he would push her towards the end goal, but this Princess, she knew better.

~'o'O'o'~

Ah the sun is blinding
I stayed up again
Oh, I am finding
That's not the way I want my story to end

Goodwin finished his unpacking in his small space of a room, he clicked his pocket watch and saw it was time to get the Princess ready for Dinner.

"Alright, Princess It's time to prepare for Dinner." He said making her look up from her newspaper clipping and set down the scissors and he pushed her wheelchair to the closet where she had an assortment of lovely purple dresses.

She picked out a delicate lavender dress, he knew he would have to help her dress but she didn't seem to mind, she pulled the blanket off of her and stand shocking Goodwin.

"If you can stand why do need the wheelchair highness?" He asked getting a pair of purple heels out for her.

"I don't have a lot of strength so I use the wheelchair for most of the day but for the meals I walk." She said pulling the white shift from her body and tossing it aside, she hadn't cared for a long time if her servant saw her naked, and naked she was.

Goodwin came around to look for underwear but he was stopped by what he saw.

Her body was covered in bruises, some were bruises from forced needle punctures, her frame was thin from malnutrition to the point that he could see her ribs, she lacked luster and a healthy glow.

"Oh, your highness." He said shaking his head making her look at him.

"Don't worry about it. It comes with the disease." She said forgoing the underwear and just slipping on the gown, the corset of the gown which she had him tighten helped to push up her breasts, then she sat at her vanity and began her trivial trial of makeup prep.

He helped her dainty feet into purple ballet flats, then she held up a purple ribbon, he tenderly wrapped it around her neck and tied it in a lovely bow on the side of her neck.

Once her makeup was done, her bruises couldn't be seen and anyone who saw her you could have sworn that there was nothing wrong with her, her final act was wrapping her braid up in a bun and pinning it to make it look like a beautifully delicate updo worthy of a Princess.

She stood up dusted her skirt and smiled, though she was very thin she did look better with her looking like this.

He followed behind her as they waited by the door it only took a minute before the door was unlocked and opened and the Steward Baileywick motioned for her to exit.

Goodwin watched her as she acted every bit like a Princess even when she entered the Dining hall, he noticed the looks of disdain as she entered, he helped her with her chair, he watched diligently as she picked at her food, she gently tasted each part of her meal but left the rest to just be picked at.

"Sofia, you should try eating more, it may help your condition." Roland said making the others nod in agreement.

"Thank you, sir it is very tasty but Im afraid my stomach can't be filled much more." She said with grace.

"Actaully may I be excused? I am not feeling up to par at the moment." She said, Goodwin noticed her eyes were darting.

"No you may not, You need to eat Sofia, I am tired of being patient with you Sofia." Roland said storming up to her before she could run away, he grabbed her by the shoulder, she grunted at his force while Goodwin just watched, you can't the King anyway.

He picked up her fork and practically stabbed a piece of meat in her mouth.

"Don't force her Roland," Miranda shouted making him stop.

Sofia turned herself and coughed up not only the meat but whatever else was in her stomach.

She quickly swiped her plate causing a mess of food and broken dishes.

"I hate you, I hate this family." She said pulling the tablecloth and making an even bigger mess.

Goodwin took this moment to help her, he grabbed her gently by the shoulders and quickly ushered her out of the dining hall.

Sofia held her stomach she felt Goodwin's gentle hands as he ushered her away from the mess she caused, which she was grateful for.

Once they were back at the tower he closed the door not caring it wasn't locked, he turned to find Sofia stripping herself of her soiled dress, letting them fall to the floor, which he blushed at but didn't really care.

"Goodwin?" She called for him, he brought the dress and shoes into the closet where she pulled off the ribbon and let her hair fall down and ran her hands through her hair.

He tossed the gown into the laundry chute.

"Can you go into the bathroom and run a hot bath for me please?" She said sitting down at her vanity.

I'm safe
Up high
Nothing can touch me
But why do I feel this party's over?
No pain
Inside
You're my protection
How do I feel this good sober?

"While the bath is running Highness, perhaps you could indulge an old man." He said waving his wand and made a small platter of food in front of her, she looked at him first before she saw the magic then smelt the ever enticing smell of clean food.

It tickled her senses and with a small taste, the bitter taste she was so used to wasn't there all she was tasting was pure food.

Goodwin saw how the naked Princess held her hair back while she carefully ate each bite with care.

He ran her a bath and helped her to wash off the makeup from her body making her bruises shine in their healing purple color.

After she was clean he helped her with a new white shift, bundling it up and settling it over her head as she worked the sleeves herself.

Once the shift was on her he rolled the wheelchair up to where she sat on the bathtub side and he helped her to move to the chair but not using the blanket since she was still steamy from the bath.

"Up to the window please." He did as she bade him and rolled her back up to the window where she was able to look out over the garden as the sun fell covering the garden in lovely colors.

She brushed her long clean hair and twisted it into a braid once again.

He went over to the mess of a bed she had, it was a large full-size bed with purple sheets and comforter, He sat on the seat next to her chair and watched the garden with her.

She was beautiful, so he had his work cut out for him.

As soon as she was in her bed when dark hit the palace it was his time.

I don't wanna be the girl who has to fill the silence
The quiet scares me 'cause it screams the truth
Please don't tell me that we had that conversation
I won't remember, save your breath, 'cos what's the use?

The next morning he got up from his plain twin bed and dressed, before going to wake up the Princess.

They went through the same routine as last night she put on a fresh gown, did her makeup while he helped her with her jewelry and shoes.

He was prepared for anything this time, and this time was no different though Roland kept his mouth shut and just watched her as she picked at her food.

So breakfast was uneventful which both of them were glad about.

Sofia was walking toward her tower but Goodwin had other ideas.

"Highness how about a walk through the garden before going back to the tower?" He offered.

"I'm not allowed." She stated in a whisper.

He looked around with a smile.

"I don't see anyone who is going to stop us." He said happily.

Sofia smiled and took off her shoes as soon as she stepped onto the grass letting her feet feel it for the first time in years.

She walked into the sunlight and lit up her pale skin with warmth.

Goodwin watched as she lifted her arms welcoming the sun and light making love with it. She walked with grace as she enjoyed the colors and smells of the garden.

He was entranced by the Goddess that practically swam in the greenery.

She let her thin pale hands run over the tall plants feeling each caress.

She got so stimulated that she actually began to breathe heavily.

"Highness?" He said coming up to her as she clutched her chest trying to catch her breath.

"Goo-Goodwin-nn" She stammered before she fell in his arms. she was unconscious and breathing heavily.

Ah, the night is calling?
And it whispers to me softly come and play
Ah, I am falling
And If I let myself go I'm the only one to blame

Goodwin laid the Princess out in her bed he washed her clean braided her hair and put her in a white shift, he had alerted the palace to call a doctor as he screamed running through the palace with the unconscious princess in his arms.

She was resting peacefully now, the castle doctor was quick with his examination only taking her pulse while Roland and Miranda both stayed nearby having fake looks of remorse.

"Just let her rest, she will be fine." The doctor said before leaving.

Goodwin thought to himself, 'he must be in on all of this.'

"It's my fault for making her eat when she wasn't feeling good enough for it," Roland said faking his self-hate.

"It's just her illness Roland," Miranda said she had a maid bring up a cup of juice.

But Goodwin's senses were high so he could smell the bitter flavor underneath the natural bitter orange.

"Let me have that." They all heard from the Princess, she held out her hand for him and Goodwin came up to help her to sit up as the maid held the glass out to her.

She took it with grace and tasted it before she went off in a tangent gracefully explaining that she was no fool.

"You've been drugging my food because I am not the King's child and I am only a nuisance to the family, so it would be best if I died from an illness unfortunately in this prison of my life the only thing I can do to protect myself is refuse to eat." She said handing the still full glass back to the maid.

"Your being silly, Sofia. I love you as if you were my own daughter. Now please drink this, you need your strength." He said holding the glass up to her face before it was knocked out of his hand by none other than Goodwin.

"Pig feed is best left for pigs." He said as the glass fell to the floor and shattered.

"Goodwin," Roland said standing straight up in surprise.

Goodwin pulle d out a very illegal wand since magic was illegal in Enchancia and with a wave, the elderly man in red was gone and in his place stood a tall thin muscular man with black and white hair in a purple Sorcerer's robe, he was holding both the bottle of pills and the powder that was always sprinkled on her food.

"A disguise? You couldn't be?" Roland said.

"Cedric the sensational." Sofia thought finishing his sentence before he actually did.

"It is my job to take treasures away from pigs and it seems an abused treasure is none other than Princess Sofia." He said looking at the starstruck girl.

"Princess Sofia would you liek to leave this place and never come back?" He asked her with a smile.

"Yes please. I want to go with you." She said giving him a pleading look.

"And I can't forget this. It seems I took the Amulet of Avalor." Cedric said holding up the glittering pink jewel

He smiled largely looking at the King and Queen before wrapping his arm around her waist.

"Guards stop them," Roland shouted but before they got too close Cedric and Sofia were gone in a puff of smoke.

~'o'O'o'~

Roland and Miranda sent out flying brigades everywhere to look for Sofia, it was apparent that both of them needed her dead, Miranda because she couldn't truly be Queen if she had children from a previous Marriage and Roland because Miranda couldn't truly be his for the same reason.

Miranda needed to be baptized a virgin for her to truly belong to Roland through marriage the marriage they had was a false one that couldn't be consummated because of the existence of Sofia.

While the Amulet of Avalor was actually their top priority, considering it was a very powerful magical jewel that granted power to its wearer.

Luckily Sofia and the Amulet were safe now.

~'o'O'o'~

Sofia awoke in a plain twin size bed in a small room, it was quaint but sturdy.

"Your awake?" She heard a gentle voice say, she looked over to find the sleeve of her shift had been raised and Cedric was cleaning a syringe then put it in a medical kit.

"I've injected you with some nutrients, you should lay down for a while." He said looking down at her as she rolled down her sleeve.

She tried to sit up so he took that as an initiative to help her like he did before.

"You'll feel a bit dizzy considering we did a teleportation spell halfway across the world." he said waving his wand and making a meal of freshly cooked food appear.

"Be sure to eat and regain your strength." He said with a gentle voice.

She leaned over some to smell the perfect aroma of clean food.

"Princess Sofia?" He said making her look up, he held up the Amulet in front of her its pink jewel glittered with magic.

"This is the Amulet of Avalor, it is said to give protection to the wearer. I think it would be best if it is given to you," he said bringing the necklace around her neck.

"No I couldn't." She said but he wasn't listening and clasped it using magic to lock it in place.

"Yes you should, and I want your promise that you will never take it off. King Roland and Queen Miranda won't stop hunting for either of you. The Amulet will protect you when I can't." He said caressing her cheek to look up at him.

"Now eat." He gently ordered, making her take a bite and making her eyes water at the delicious flavor.

"So it was you the whole time?" She asked between bites.

"Yes, I needed to get inside the palace to gain access to get the Amulet. Though I saved a much better treasure. The only job posting for the Enchancian palace was a nurse for the Dying Princess. I didn't think anything about it at the time until I saw everyone's reactions when it became about you, and with some digging, I found the truth, and knew that I had 2 treasures to save." He aid watching her eat less like a Princess and more like the starved prisoner she was.

"Thank you." She said washing down a knot in her throat with fresh clean cold water.

"Your welcome. Though if you want to travel with me as you requested there is a job available if you want it," he said watching her look grow hopeful.

"I am the leader of a band of Sorcerers and we go around stealing treasures from wealthy pigs, however, I will not live forever. So Sofia will you be my Apprentice?" He asked waving his wand and making a simple purple dress appear.

"Yes, yes, yes." She said running her hand over the fabric.

"And when your healthy enough." He said grasping her hand in his and bringing it to his chest.

"Will you let me court you for an end goal of Marriage someday so that I have the chance at leaving an heir to my lifes work." He said tenderly as if begging for mercy.

"Yes." She said kissing his cheek.

Will I ever feel this good sober?
Tell me, No no no no no pain
How do i feel this good sober?