Douse the Flame

Summary: When Sofia gets word that Greeneyes has been revived and is out for revenge against Sofia and her family, she calls for help to eradicate the evil entity for good.

Disclaimer: I don't own the characters from Sofia the First, as they belong to Craig Gerber. I own Serena, Charlie, Angel (mentioned), Takoda (mentioned), Butterford, Muscles, and several others. MarionetteJ2X owns Nana and Tanya (both mentioned).

Chapter 8: Selfless

Cedric held in his emotions as he stood from his place next to Butterford and then moved quietly toward Sofia, lowering next to her, cradling both her and his fallen daughter. As Sofia sobbed harder, he finally broke and felt his tears pouring down his cheeks, burying his face into his wife's hair as she cried out Serena's name over and over again. But it was all to no avail…

Butterford looked on helplessly from his position on the floor, a few tears having fallen from his own eyes, before looking back toward the Protectors. "Isn't there anything…we can do?"

"We don't know how strong Greeneyes's magic is," Vega told him solemnly, having recovered enough to form a coherent thought. She was pretty sure she had a concussion, but that would be sorted out later. "So, I'm… I'm not sure…"

Orion could tell that his companion was struggling with her words, so he took over. "There is one possibility…" With his suggestion, he noticed that Cedric and Sofia turned to him, both listening but still holding onto Serena's still form. "Her lifeforce was severely drained during the attack, and I'm quite sure most of her magic was as well. Magic can be restored. The former, though… She could possibly be revived if one were to share his or her lifeforce with her."

"That could be extremely dangerous, though," Chrysta added in a warning tone. "If it's not done right, one or both of them could die—"

"I'll do it," Sofia interjected, her voice strong despite her emotionally wrecked state. She managed to calm her breathing with a few deep inhales and exhales, her hands shaking a bit as she looked back at her daughter. "I'm her mother… It's my job to protect her, and I failed… The least I can do is share my lifeforce with her. She deserves it…"

Cedric frowned heavily, staring at her in alarm. "But Sofia, you could die."

"I've got to try, Cedric," she whimpered, her lips trembling. "I can't just…"

"No." Butterford narrowed his eyes in concern when his friends turned to him. "Sofia, no. Absolutely not."

Feeling angry for the unwanted denial of her plan, the princess glared at her longtime friend. "Jas, she's my daughter!"

"I know that, damn it!" he snapped back, feeling a fierce protectiveness washing over him. "But what if you give up so much of yourself that she does survive but you die? Serena would forever be broken! She and Charlie—they love you so much, Sofia…" He felt horrible for speaking so firmly with the former Protector, especially with her in such an emotionally unstable state, but he had to talk some sense into her. "They need you… You and Cedric… Losing you is not an option…" He shifted a bit, attempting to regain some feeling in his legs, experiencing a mild sense of accomplishment as he got his wish.

"What am I supposed to do then, Jas?" Sofia asked weakly. "Give up? Just hope she gets revived?"

He managed to pull himself into a standing position, though he could tell his leg was still healing. Even still, he stood firm, his serious expression melting into a more somber yet understanding one. "I'll help her."

"Jas, you just got seriously hurt," Chrysta argued. "You're not fully healed."

"I'm fine. I know my limits, and my powers as a Guardian have strengthened considerably over the years…" He looked between the Protectors and Cedric and Sofia, and then down to Serena's quiet form. He frowned thoughtfully. "Sofia saved me today too, not just the other way around…" He eyed his friend calmly, watching as her eyes filled with tears again. "Saving her daughter is the right thing to do… Because I love her, and… I care about her family…and their wellbeing…"

Sofia reached down and cradled her daughter in her arms, refusing to look at Butterford. "You promised me you wouldn't die again…"

Carefully, Butterford made his way over to her, slowly sitting down next to her and Cedric. He placed a hand on her shoulder, and then opted instead to gently take her chin in his hand, turning her to face him. He finally smiled softly at her. "I have no intention of dying. You know that…" He tucked some of her hair behind her ear, and then he lowered his hands to his lap. "But… If it happens while helping my best friend get her daughter back… If it will save her life… It'll be worth it."

"You have a family too, Jas… People who love and need you…" She closed her eyes, sighing heavily. "I can't ask you to risk dying for… For S…"

"For Serena," he whispered, knowing that just saying the young girl's name was difficult right now. He took her hands in both of his, and he smiled as she opened her eyes and gazed down at their hands, her fingers lightly tracing the rose tattoos on his skin. "Someone I love dearly is risking losing someone she's lost once before," he said gently. "Losing her a second time would be devastating, and no mother should have to go through that once, let alone twice." Before the princess could once again argue about the very real likelihood of losing him again, he kissed her cheek and whispered, "I love you, Sofia…" Then, he wordlessly gathered Serena from his friend's hold into his own arms, holding her closely as he sat with her.

Orion stepped over to the Guardian, kneeling next to him. "Jastin, are you sure about this?"

Hearing his full first name used for the first time in a while startled Butterford a bit, but he nodded as he looked up at his friend. "I'm sure." He gazed down at the pale features of his best friend's little girl and sighed, nodding, almost assuring himself as much as the others. "I'm sure…" He closed his eyes and heard Orion whispering something, a spell of some sort, and he could feel his lifeforce slowly flowing into Serena.

Cedric held onto Sofia as they watched the exchange, and Chrysta had to catch Vega before she fell over (likely from dizziness). The vacant space was so quiet and still, and all that was heard aside from the strange celestial-like winds every now and then was the magical transfer of Butterford's energy to Serena. Those several minutes moved slowly and quickly at the same time, and no one dared speak or move, just in case…

Butterford could feel his eyes growing heavier, even when closed, and pure exhaustion washed over him. It wasn't the emptiness and deathlike coldness he'd felt with Evanna. Instead, he could tell his energy was almost completely drained, but a strange warmth still filled him.

Before long, Serena's lips twitched, and a small groan escaped her as she slowly opened her eyes. Her vision a little blurry, she blinked a few times to clear it, before she settled her gaze on her parents. "Mama?" she asked quietly, her voice a little raspy from unuse. "Papa?"

"Serena!" Sofia reached over to her daughter, hugging her and kissing her cheek, unable to stop herself from crying again. "Oh, my little girl…"

"W-What happened?" She blinked as her vision finally completely cleared, and she stared around in alarm. "What…?"

Cedric pulled Serena into his arms and gave her a brief overview while Sofia sat in front of Butterford, observing his quiet and still form.

She frowned, noticing that he appeared to have lost consciousness. "Jas?" She quickly grabbed his hand with hers before placing her free hand over his heart. "Please let this work…" She concentrated and allowed her hand magic to flow directly into him, a sense of relief washing over her as she heard him inhale slowly. Although she was willing to heal him longer, despite how much energy she'd exerted earlier, she felt him reach up and take both of her hands, stopping the process. "Jas?"

Butterford smiled calmly at her. "I told you I had no intention of dying again…" He laughed as she released his hands and wrapped her arms around him, practically knocking him to the floor as she sobbed in relief. His arms encircled her, hugging her closely. "Sofia…"

"I guess love and friendship really can conquer all," Orion chuckled as he stood, moving over to Vega, shifting her from Chrysta's hold into his own.

As Cedric picked up Serena and stood, Butterford managed to sit up, pulling Sofia with him. He whispered to her, "You know, that magical exchange of yours is probably the most intimate I'll ever be with a woman, so…" He couldn't help the light smirk that formed on his lips as he saw his friend flush at his words. "What?" he asked almost innocently, laughing.

"Oh, Jas!" Sofia giggled, blushing a bit as she playfully hit his shoulder. "How can you joke after all that?"

He smiled, taking her hands again. "Because I'm alive, and everyone else is too. I feel great, although I'm very tired, and just joking about something that could have been so much worse just feels… I don't know. It feels good."

Everyone was slowly gathering their wits about them, coming together to check on each other, when they heard a shrill cry from behind them. Turning, they noticed that Greeneyes was slowly breaking free from Orion's freezing spell.

"Oh, no," Chrysta mumbled. "She's…"

"Run!" Vega yelled, but it was too late.

Greeneyes burst forth from her captivity, one last powerful blast knocking all the adults back onto the ground. However, she snarled at the young girl before her, using her waning powers to lift her into the air, those deadly green eyes practically pulsating. "How are you still alive, you wretched girl?!" She tossed her onto the ground, her dark magic radiating from her.

"Serena!"

Serena groaned as she sat up, eyes widening as she watched Greeneyes morph from the typical form she'd grown used to into a far more demonic form… Her entire body was a solid black, her sharp teeth visible in the shrouded darkness. However, those prominent green eyes still shone like they always did, and the girl inhaled sharply as the woman screamed at her.

"You won't get lucky again! Prepare to die!"

To be continued…

Next Chapter: Emerald Flame