The next morning, as Sandra was relating her story at Enchancia Castle, Robert, Patricia, Zoe, and Ambre were still in Ambre's secret room. Fortunately, the room was large enough for all of them, and had several soft chairs and a bed. "I hope Sandra will be all right," Patricia murmured.

"She will be. We've seen how resourceful she is, and she can be brave," Robert assured her.

"Daddy, what's that?" Zoe broke in, pointing at the flute that was sticking out of his pocket.

Robert took it out. "Sandra gave this to me. She said the Scarlet Warrior gave it to her to assist her if she ever needed help. But she gave it to me before she left."

"We'll need help right now," Patricia spoke up.

"Can I play it?" Zoe asked.

"Of course. Scarlet never said that Sandra was the only one who could use it," Robert said as he handed it to her.

Zoe had seen Sandra experiment with the flute once, just to see if it would work. She copied what she had seen her sister do. She placed one end in her mouth, then arranged the fingers of one hand over the holes and closed her eyes. The flute glowed, and she breathed. Her fingers pressed three holes and left two open.

However, Zoe got a surprise when she saw who emerged from the flash of light. Instead of Scarlet appearing before them, two animals were there.

"Who are you?" Zoe asked the cat and chipmunk, grateful for the pendant Lucinda had enchanted for her that let her understand and talk to animals.

"I'm Beth Victors," the cat with cream colored fur, green eyes, and red hair wearing a blouse and skirt, introduced herself. "This is my friend Zoeanna Cunnings," she motioned toward the overall-clad chipmunk beside her. "We've come to help you."

"Wow! Your name's almost like my name!" Zoe grinned at Zoeanna.

"It's very nice to meet you," Robert agreed; he and Patricia had been given a medallion and a pendant that the Royal Sorceress had enchanted that let them understand animals as well when they saw Zoe and Sandra having actual conversations with Spike and Ambre. Aleena had been one of Scarlet's friends, and she learned how to enchant jewels with abilities before Scarlet had left for Cinnibar.

"What's going on?" Zoeanna asked, trying to keep her excitement low; she knew how wary Beth was around humans.

"What Zoeanna means, your majesties, is that she's wondering what's happening with you all for us to be called upon to," Beth explained, not wanting to express the suspicion she was currently feeling.

Zoe saw how nervous she was looking, and said, "You don't have to be scared. We like cats. My sister has one too, and he's right here!" she motioned for Ambre to come over.

Ambre slowly padded up to the group. He tended to be skittish around new people, and having two animals appear before him like that didn't really help. "Hello…" he said cautiously.

"Don't be scared, Ambre," Zoe said as she stroked him, "Beth and Zoeanna are here to help us."

Beth managed a smile when she saw Ambre. He looked nice, but she didn't want to let her guard down.

At the same time, following a breakfast Sandra helped make, the knights were gathered to hear the situation. "We learned the layout of Orillia Castle during our last visit," Sir Finnegan observed. "We'll have the element of surprise."

"Actually, sir, since it's my brother leading the attack, he knows the layout too," Sandra spoke up.

"You make a good point," Roland agreed. "We'll need you to help navigate any obstacles we might run across." He motioned for Sir Maxwell to come forward. "And for the time being, you'll be serving under Sir Maxwell. But we'll have to test you to see how good you are with a sword."

"All right, but I should tell you, your Majesty, that I'm on Royal Prep's fencing club, and I helped lead the charge when Miss Nettle attacked my castle," Sandra agreed.

Everyone went to the barracks to see Sir Maxwell and Sandra in action. "If you are as good as you say you are, milady, you'll know how to fight with this," He put on a song, assumed a dueling position, and began to sing.

Now a red solo cup is the best receptacle
For barbecues, tailgates, fairs, and festivals
And you sir do not have a pair of testicles
If you prefer drinking from glass

When she heard the opening notes, Sandra grinned, but James jumped in the song first, A red solo cup is cheap and disposable
And in fourteen years they are decomposable
And unlike my home they are not foreclosable
Freddie Mac can kiss my ass! Whoo!

"James!" Baileywick gasped, more shocked at the offensive language than the interruption.

Now all the knights joined in as they started fencing each other, Red solo cup I fill you up
Let's have a party let's have a party
I love you red solo cup I lift you up
Proceed to party, proceed to party

Even Sir Finnegan took a verse, Now I really love how you're easy to stack
But I really hate how you're easy to crack
'Cause when beer runs down the front of my back
Well that my friends is quite yucky

James gave him a thumbs-up as he sang back, But I have to admit that the ladies get smitten
Admiring how sharply my first name is written
On you with a sharpie when I get to hittin'
On them to help me get lucky

Sandra joined in the chorus as she dueled Sir Maxwell, Red solo cup I fill you up
Let's have a party, let's have a party
I love you red solo cup I lift you up
Proceed to party proceed to party

Sir Maxwell went solo again, Now I've seen you in blue and I've seen you in yellow
But only you red will do for this fellow
'Cause you are my Abbot to my Costello
And you are the fruit to my loom

Sandra smiled as she added, Here we go!
Red solo cup you're more than just plastic
You're more than amazing you're more than fantastic
And believe me that I'm not the least bit sarcastic
When I look at you and say

Red solo cup, you're not just a cup.
(Sofia {having sung this with James before}: No, no, God no)
You're my, you're my friend.
(Lucinda {also having sung this with James before}: Friend, friend, friend, lifelong)
Thank you for being my friend.

Baileywick was still looking shocked, Miranda was trying not to laugh and failing miserably, Roland was also singing along, and Amber was sharing Baileywick's stunned expression.

Red solo cup I fill you up
Let's have a party, let's have a party ("Rollie, you're terrible!" Miranda snickered.)
I love you red solo cup I lift you up
Proceed to party proceed to party ("You're laughing at this too!" Roland snickered back.)

Red solo cup, red solo cup (I fill you up, let's have a party)
Let's have a party (Let's have a party) Let's have a party
(Red solo cup) Oh red solo cup (I lift you up)
Let's have a party, proceed to party yeah yeah

"Your Majesties, will you please say something about this?" Baileywick pleaded.

"I always forget that Sir Maxwell was born in Orillia!" Roland snickered.

"Daddy!" Amber scolded.

"Really?" Miranda asked.

"He moved here with his family when he was Sofia's age when she first came here," Roland explained.

"Maybe we should also ask the fairies for help on this," Lucinda suggested when everyone had sobered. "They know everything about magic, dark or not. And they might know how to defeat Ezekiel."

"Good idea," Candice agreed. "You, Sofia, James, Sandra, and Amber go to Royal Prep and talk to them; Dorrie and I will check out the archives in Hexley Hall's library. You never know, we might find something that can help too."

When Sofia, Lucinda, Amber, James, and Sandra arrived at Royal Prep, they found that everything had been ransacked. They ran to the fairies' office. The door was locked, and a bag was on the floor. James picked it up and found the fairies' wands.

"Alohomora!" Lucinda unlocked the door, and everyone ran in and found the fairies tied to chairs.

"Miss Flora! What happened?!" Sofia gasped.

"She's got a Langlock hex on her, Sof; she can't talk," Lucinda replied when Miss Flora made muffled screams.

"Miss Fauna and Miss Merriweather too!" Sandra said as she looked up. "But I'll take care of that." She aimed her wand, which she'd taken with her before she left her castle, at the fairies, and chanted, "Finite Incantatem! And while I'm at it, Relashio!"

"Thank you, Princess Sandra," Miss Flora sighed with relief when she and the fairies were free again.

"Do you know what happened?" James asked as he handed them the bag with their wands.

The fairies all looked around. "No…the last few minutes are a blur," Miss Fauna admitted. "We were here in the office, and the last thing we remember is seeing someone come in."

"What did he look like?" Sofia asked.

"He was wearing a cloak," Miss Merriweather spoke up, "We never saw his face."

"That's right. And before we could defend ourselves against him, he said, 'See how you like this spell!' put the Langlock hex on us, tied us up, took our wands, and modified our memories." Miss Flora agreed.

"Someone had that spell cast on them before?" Amber asked.

"Of course!" James looked up. "At the karaoke party where I decided to sing in public again! Ezekiel and Deidre had to work as the DJs as punishment for unmasking me, as well as all the booing and heckling they gave everyone else, and I remember Lucy telling me that the fairies asked her to put a Langlock spell on them so they couldn't tease anyone as they sang!"

Flashback

"I can't believe you're going to do this!" Lucinda smiled.

"I know, but what if Ezekiel and Deidre start booing or teasing me again?" James asked.

Lucinda grinned as she held up her wand. "Don't worry, James. The fairies brought them here, and said that they're going to work as the DJs for the party. See? They're at the back of the room under guard."

"I know, but what if they say anything?" James persisted.

"They couldn't, even if they wanted to. When they first came in, Miss Flora had me put a Langlock hex on them. It keeps their tongues glued to the roofs of their mouths," Lucinda replied.

"Like what happens when Dad and I eat too much peanut butter?" James supplied an example.

"Kind of," Lucinda nodded. "Only they won't be able to remove the spell with milk. The fairies will only remove the spell if they want to eat or drink, but they'll have to stay quiet. They'll reactivate the spell when they're finished." She grinned at him. "But enough about that. Ready to make your triumphant return to the stage?"

James smiled. "Yeah."

"Take my arm," Lucinda instructed. When James did, Lucinda waved her wand, they disappeared in a puff of smoke, and reappeared on the stage.

End flashback

The group went outside a few minutes later. They saw Dorrie and Candice fly toward them on their winged horses, Chestnut and Holly.

"You guys have any luck?" Lucinda asked as Dorrie introduced Chestnut and Holly to Sandra.

"We were able to find something on a Philter of Imperfection. Have you ever heard of it?" Candice asked as she held up a book.

"That was what our Royal Sorcerer was working on before he retired," Sandra replied, recognizing the picture of the green and black snake-headed vial. "He said it was one of the worst mistakes he ever made, and he was starting to teach Aleena how to improve it, but he never found out if she made any headway with it. He said he wanted her to keep it as a reminder of his failure, and not to make his mistakes." She paused, recalling the potion, and added, "That was also a big reason I hated going in his workshop, it smelled so bad I always had to stand inside the door; that's why he and Aleena used Bubble-Head Charms on me, so I could come in for potion lessons and not be in the way if anyone needed to come up to the tower."

"Can we talk to him about it?" Dorrie asked.

"Sure, but I doubt if he knows if there's an antidote if it's already been used," Sandra replied.

"Where is he now?" Amber asked.

"Mystic Meadows," Sandra replied.

"Well, what are we waiting for? Let's get over there!" James was ready to run off.

"Good idea, little prince. You see what you can find out, then we'll make our way to Orillia Castle," Sir Finnegan agreed.

"Tell us everything you find out, and be careful!" Roland added.

When Sofia, Amber, James, Dorrie, Candice, Lucinda, and Sandra were on their horses, they flew off to Mystic Meadows to see if Orillia's former Royal Sorcerer could help them out.

Author's Notes

Thanks to Niagara14301 for helping me with some details, and letting me borrow Dorrie and Candice's horses Chestnut and Holly, who first came about in chapter 48 of Dorrie.

Thanks to theblindwriter95 for letting me borrow their characters Beth and Zoeanna, who appeared in their story Behind the Enchancia Castle Doors.

The flute Zoe played to summon Beth and Zoeanna was first seen in chapter 7 of my story Royal Blood, and was a present to Sandra from the Scarlet Warrior. Zoe was also given a pendant that lets her talk to and understand animals in The Secret Love Song.

Sandra's memory of leading the fight against Miss Nettle was from chapter 6 of Royal Blood.

James' flashback was a deleted scene from chapter 8 of The Secret Love Song.

Alohomora, Finite Incantatem, Relashio, and Langlock are all found in Harry Potter.

Red Solo Cup by Toby Keith is not mine.

The Scarlet Warrior is a character of Ben10Man (formerly Jacob Voronkov) and is referenced with permission.

'Take my arm' is what Dumbledore says to Harry Potter before Apparating in Half Blood Prince.