A/N- This story is what I think happened the day after Rise of the Sorceress.

I hummed quietly as I walked through the halls of the palace, my notebook pulled close to my chest. The sun was just rising, and I had a lot of potions to brew if we were going to defeat the CFV. (Core four villains. Shuriki, Fiero, and the Delgados.) I could sense the subtle change in the sky that said the sun was up just enough for the palace staff to begin their day, and that meant trhew early morning peace and tranquility was gone. All I could do now was go back to my workshop to prepare the necessary potions to save Avalor. As I slipped through the painting, I nearly tripped over the baseboard under the painting, as my head was still buried in my theoretical notebook. Which is probably why she scared the heck out of me.

"Morning, Mateo!" She rang out brightly, making me cry out in shock and drop the notebook. "Elena! What are you doing in my workshop? At five in the morning? You're usually still asleep at noon on the weekends." She grinned weakly, but I could see the haunted look in her liquid chocolate eyes, and the dark circles surrounding them. She was still striking, no matter how ragged her appearance. "I couldn't sleep. Every time I closed my eyes I saw her. I saw my parents take their last breaths. I saw Rita call me clueless. And she's right. I am going to make an awful queen if Avalor's most dangerous criminal is right under my nose, and I can't even figure that out with people telling me she's up to no good! It's all my fault."

The whole time she spoke,she had been fighting back tears. After she finished, she couldn't handle it anymore, and started to sob. Burying her head in my shoulder, she wrapped her arms around me, as if begging for a hug. And even though my heart twisted with sympathy for her, I could barely breathe. I had never been this physically close to anyone besides my mother, especially not another girl my age. Slowly, carefully, for fear of ruining the moment, I put my arms around her and whispered in here ear, half talking, half singing; "The first time that I met you I could see. You were meant to be. A herol to us all. Taking on the forces of the dark. With your magic spark. Ands always standing tall. You're starting down a path. To find you're destiny. So now is not the time to hide. You have to raise your wand. And do your best for me. Because I need you by my side."

I felt her smile into my shoulder, and I couldn't help but smile back. "Sound familiar?" She pulled her head away from my shoulder. The sleeve of my robe was soaked, but I was saddened by her pulling away, until she grinned at me, that perfect crooked smile of hers, and shook her head in disbelief. "I cannot believe you remembered that." It was my turn to look at her, stunned. "Of course I remember that! It's the whole reason I became royal wizard in the first place!"

Elena smiled sweetly at me. "My opinion means that much to you?" Her tone was incredulous, her eyebrows raised skeptically. "Not just your opinion." I breathed in her ear as I slowly began to lean closer to her, and she leaned in closer to me. At this point, I was so quiet I wasn't sure the sound was actually escaping my lips. "You do." Closer and closer. At the last second though, she cut it off, pulling her head back.

"But... What if no one believes in me? I'm not even sure I believe in myself at this point! How am I supposed to make other people trust me?" She was gfettingf hysterical again, fighting back tears. Elena was a strong person, but she had been through a lot. She deserved to have a breakdown every once in a while. Honestly, it made her healthier. But that didn't make it any less heartbreaking to watch. "Elena, look at me." I said firmly, taking her hands in mine and making eye contact. "I don't know what anyone else thinks about you and your ability to rule. Honestly, I don't care. But what I do know, and care about wholeheartedly, is this. I believe in you, Elena . I always have, and I always will."

Elena smiled, strong, genuine, confident, and radiant. She looked like the Elena we all knew and loved. "Thank you, Mateo. You always know just what I need. She wraps her arms around me, smiled, and departed with a wave. I stood there, waving after her, grinning like an idiot in her wake. I usually didn't like when people had a powerful hold on me, but Elena was once again different. Interactions with her always left me wanting more. And that was a very good thing.