After scouting the area for Ezekiel, and not being able to find him, and figuring he'd probably gone back to the cave where he'd kept the Orillian royal family before, Sandra and Amber regrouped with their friends and made themselves visible again. At the same time, after searching Sandra's map for a safe place to start making plans, Dorrie, Lucinda, and Candice used their magic to transport everyone in their group to Ambre's secret room. At first, Sandra was concerned because Robert told her that he, Patricia, and Zoe had been captured outside the room, but Robert assured her that there were a few other empty rooms around Ambre's hideout, so even if Ezekiel and his forces came looking for them again, they wouldn't find anyone.

Suddenly, a large silver horse appeared in front of them. "It's ready. Meet me in the castle kitchen and we'll talk," the Patronus, speaking in Zanven's voice, instructed.

"You got it, Zanven," Sandra acknowledged.

Using the map to find clear paths to the kitchen, everyone arrived safely. Zanven, as well as Cedric's parents, were waiting for them. "Greetings, King Robert, it's good to see you again," Goodwin bowed to him.

"Goodwin, Winifred. It's been a long time," Robert smiled as he bowed back, then kissed Winifred's hand.

"You know them?" Sandra asked.

"Goodwin the Great was my private potions tutor when I went to Royal Prep," Robert replied. "We've known each other for a long time."

"That's great, Dad, but how do we use Zanven's potion to cure Zeke? This actually smells really good, but how does it help us?" Sandra asked as she smelled the sweet-scented potion.

"This potion has to be ingested," Goodwin explained.

"But how do we get Ezekiel to swallow it?" Sofia asked.

"We'll trick him," Zanven smiled.

Sandra frowned. "Zanven, this isn't like what you and I do to get Zoe to take medicine when she gets sick. This is trying to get Ezekiel back to normal."

"I can hear you, Sandra!" Zoe pouted.

"Sandra, I know what you're saying, but be nice," Patricia chided.

"Sorry, Zoe. And Mom," Sandra grinned over at them, then having an idea of her own, got out some of her cookbooks. "Wait a minute. If you ingest something, that means you eat it. Maybe we could make something he likes and lace it with the antidote."

"What are some of his favorite foods? I notice you've got some cookbooks, so he must like what you make," Tiana asked.

"I asked him about that once. He told me, and I quote, 'he'd sell the family for buttermilk pie,'" Sandra grinned as everyone laughed. "I found the recipe in Lewiston's library when the family and I went up there once, I copied it, and I made it for his birthday."

"That's a start, hon," Tiana smiled. "What else does he like?"

"You name the spicy food, he eats it," Sandra's grin faded. "I may be a great cook, but I can't tolerate that stuff, so I always have to be careful when the chefs make something like that."

"Don't worry, sweetie, I'll copy down some of my own classic dishes for you, and you can make them as spicy as you want," Tiana said as she started getting ingredients out.

As Tiana and Sandra started working on the food, Beth, Zoeanna, and Ambre finally saw Spike in the hallway. "Ambre! Time to chase the kitty!" Spike barked when he saw him.

"For once, you have a good idea, Spike," Ambre murmured. He turned to Beth and Zoeanna. "Let's do this, ladies."

Beth knew it was wrong to tease anyone, but she knew that it was important that they get Spike to chase them. Slowly she took a deep breath. "Slowpoke! You can't get us!" she teased him. Beside her, Zoeanna giggled, but she sounded nervous. She gulped before anxiously staring into space.

"Come on, Zoeanna! Don't back down on us now!" Ambre yelled, trying to get her attention.

"Don't you see, Ambre?" Beth said, holding her friend in her paws. "She's extremely nervous! She's always been scared of dogs. I understand she's smaller than the both of us, but dogs aren't that much of a big deal to most rodents like her."

"And you're telling me this now?!" Ambre demanded. "I know Sandra's not crazy about big dogs either, but she's okay with little dogs like him! And Spike chased me when I first came to the castle, but at least we tried to stay away from each other! Even if we did work together when we had to!"

"Listen, Ambre, Zoeanna's had it rough for the past seven years," Beth tried to explain, "She lost her parents when she was three, and nearly drowned two months ago because of someone who was not exactly the nicest cat on the planet-"

"So you're saying?" Ambre interrupted.

"We need to get her calm," Beth instructed.

"You're right. I'm sorry, Zoeanna; I didn't know," Ambre apologized.

"You couldn't have known, but how do you plan on getting her to calm down?" Beth asked.

"I think I know a way," Ambre purred, and began to sing.

Ambre: Whenever I feel frightened
And want to run and shout
I have a little thing I do
To help me mellow out
I let go of my terror
Stop feeling so distraught
Forget what made me so scared
And think a sunny thought

Like chasing my ribbons
Playing with Zoe's braids
Singing with Sandra
Watching Dazzleball games
Summertime picnics that last all day long
Being with Soldier when he breaks out in song

These sunny thoughts always help to remind me
That I can put those bad feelings behind me.

"Now you try it! What are some things you and Beth like, Zoeanna?" Ambre asked.

Zoeanna: Acting silly with Aunt Sarah, Cousin Justin and Uncle Drake
Beth: Listening to blue jays
Zoeanna: Playing with Jessica and Faith
Beth: Being together
Zoeanna: With family and friends
Beth: Seeing a rainbow when a storm ends

Ambre: These sunny thoughts
Beth and Zoeanna: Always help to remind us.
All three: That we can leave those bad feeling behind us.
That's how we leave those bad feelings way, way, way behind us.

Hearing the singing, Spike bounded toward them. "More cats!"

"Put Zoeanna on my back and let's get out of here!" Ambre shouted.

With Zoeanna holding on for dear life on Ambre's back, he and Beth ran as fast as they could, teasing Spike as they went.

Spike had almost caught up with them, when he saw someone appear in front of them. "Cats! Cats! Cats-new friends!" he cheered. He started jumping up and down on his short legs as Dorrie and Candice appeared, and Dorrie made a cage around him.

"I'm sorry to do that to you, Spike, but you're going to help us now," Dorrie said as she and Candice carried the cage back to her friends.

Spike looked around when he heard a voice from the last time he visited Enchancia Castle. "Miss Dorrie!" he tried to lick her fingers through the cage bars.

"You two know each other?" Candice asked.

"Spike and I met when the royal family had to dog-sit Spike for a few days. The two of us were also in one of James' stories that Lucinda brought to life," Dorrie explained.

"That must have been fun," Candice sounded a little envious.

"Maybe when this is over, we'll see if James can write another story and have Lucinda put you in it," Dorrie suggested.

"I like stories! I'll help you-squirrel!" Spike bumped against the cage bars as he tried to get out when he saw a squirrel run past them.

"Squirrel later," Dorrie chuckled. "Duty first."

"Aw, okay," Spike said, disappointed.

Dorrie and Candice smiled as they carried the cage back to their friends. However, they wondered how Ezekiel would react when he saw that one of his allies was with his enemies.

Author's Notes

Thanks to Niagara14301 for helping with some of the details for this chapter.

Thanks also to theblindwriter95 for helping with some of the details for this chapter.

The song Ambre, Beth, and Zoeanna sing is a different version of the song Sunny Thoughts, which was in Stormy Lani.

Dorrie's memories of dog-sitting Spike and being in one of James's stories are from my story The Enchancian Canine Caper.

Spike's excitement over seeing a squirrel is from the movie Up.

If anyone is interested in the buttermilk pie recipe, PM me and I'll send it to you.