Princess Trouble
A/N: OMG I am so sorry everyone! I ended up not updating to you guys in months! Both writer's block and life happened. Sorry to keep you guys waiting. I've been trying to whack my brain to think of what to write. So here's what came out from all that whacking haha. Since I disappeared from the face of the internet for so long and been getting some news, SVTFOE is going on a one year hiatus. I know, it's quite a long time but, making art and seeing art about it would satisfy thy hunger for some time. And sad news for the Sofia the First fandom, the show is ending with its final movie this September. It's been a long run for that lovely show and am sad to see it go though. Hoping they would give the movie justice. Thank you guys for the reviews and likes for this story! It really means a lot! Now, moving on with the story before I start weeping again haha. Hope you guys like it aaaaand! Even though he's not a Beta reader, I'd like to give my thanks to a good friend of mine, EVAunit42 for proof reading my story. Thanks E! *flails*
Disclaimer: I don't own Disney's Sofia the First and Star vs. the Forces of Evil. Apparently I only own deadly flowers.
Chapter 6: "Hiking for Danger (Part 1)"
One thing that sorcerers are good at is doing magic, brewing potions and the like. With only the single flick of their wands and 'poof' goes away their little troubles. Having a bad weather for a picnic? Not a problem! Trying to sort out one behemoth of a library? No sweat! They could do anything if they set their minds to it. But only those who are overly confident in their power, the lazy and arrogant were likely to fail at magic. True that it could be learned by anyone but without proper training and discipline, they were likely to learn very little. Alternately, although they can do all this amazing things and make lives easier for them, without a wand or any magical vessels, they are utterly and disappointingly, useless in combat. One particular sorcerer couldn't agree more as he was frozen in place as the battle raged around him. He was trying to decipher on how in the world did he end up in a mess like this. He replayed in his mind about the day that was going well for him so far before ending up in this very tricky situation.
It was a beautiful morning before it happened. Cedric and Sofia (wearing the gifts that Star made weeks ago) were walking in the hallways of the Mewnian castle to get a late breakfast. Sofia had a little trouble waking up the sorcerer since the latter stayed up the night before at the castle library to get any magical information about their current situation and without any luck, he would continue on the next day. It took them a week to get comfortable in their temporary rooms since they were starting to feel a little homesick. Though none the wiser, ironically, Sofia always looked on the bright side of things. Meanwhile, Cedric can only tolerate everything at the moment.
"Mr. Cedric?," the voice of his apprentice slash best friend cut him off of his wondering thoughts and looked down with tired eyes to see a bright smile plastered on the girl's face.
"What do you want to do today, Mr. Cedric?" Sofia asked curiously as she got her friend's attention.
For the remainder of the week after they had been trapped in another dimension, Star and Marco graciously gave them some time to adjust in their new surroundings and took the liberty in taking them outside the castle for a tour of the village. Cedric once thought that the castle was beautiful but faltered a bit when they looked at the village residing at the bottom of it. It was much dirtier, a bit of run-down houses from here to there and some shady looking folks trying to sell them some shady looking items. Cedric had to shield Sofia from behind his back to decline the shady dealer's offer of a fried lizard's tail. One would thought that the castle up to down below the village were in separate dimensions when it's not. They continued on their way up unto the end of the village. He and Sofia had to look back at the scene before them. Not even back at Dunwiddie or any other places at their dimension is experiencing this extreme poverty. He started to question the hiearchy of this dimension but chalked it up to himself. He could feel Sofia stiffened beside him and can only guess what face she's making at the scenery: sympathy.
After all that, they planned out a scheduled practice on magic which would only occur once a week. Sofia tried to protest to make it a daily basis so she can master her amulet quickly but the other older three had to decline. It was for her sake since she's still too young to handle bigger and dangerous spell and might cause her to drain more energy than they know possible. On the non-training days, they would relax or hangout to get to know one another. Even the anti-social and awkward Cedric, silently admitted to himself, that having more than one friend to share experiences with was quite…nice.
Cedric shook his head from his wondering thoughts… again. Going back to answer her apprentice's question, he stopped as he heard an all too familiar voices advancing behind them.
"Sofia! Mr. Cedric! Yohooo~!" came a cheery call from Star.
"Guess you went all out last night at the library, again. You shouldn't push yourself to read more than ten books a day. You're gonna get yourself sick" chastised sternly by Marco beside her.
Cedric was about to retort back at the young teenager that one: he's capable of doing so, and two: he's not his mother to nag him around, but was cut off again when Sofia call out to them with her own rendition of a very cheery wave.
"Star! Marco! Good Morning! What's on the agenda for today? We were about to head to the kitchen for some late breakfast" she said happily before giving her mentor a pointed look as if challenging him to voice his complaints and deny it. His tired appearance was already evidence enough. Beads of sweat ran down the side of his forehead as Cedric can only cross his arms in his chest and grumbled silently to himself. He kept his mouth shut for the whole ordeal and let the princess talk for them. In his tired state, he might say something stupid and get scold for in the end. For such a small girl, Sofia can be pretty much a force to be reckoned with when she wants to be. Besides, he'd already seen that look pointed directly at him one time and he promised to never see that look ever again. (A/N: "Day of the Sorcerers", anyone?) She really is growing up, much to his dismay. Star and Marco approached and unaware of the other two's exchanges.
"We were going to the kitchen for some late breakfast, too. Apparently one cannot do breakfast without the use of magic and threatening to flood her whole room with maple syrup" said Marco as he gave Star a look as she playfully nudge him by the shoulder, making the former smile secretly at the gesture.
"Oh, don't be such a downer! You were the one who suggested that I should 'practice more on food production' after that whole syrup tsunami incident months ago. Though, you gotta admit that my food magic is doing pretty well if I do say so myself" chuckled Star as she licked some excess syrup from her wand and hummed in satisfaction.
"That's great you guys! We can eat breakfast together!" Sofia said gleefully as she clapped her hands together. The others nodded in sync and together proceeded towards the castle kitchen. Unknowingly, a pair of beady red eyes, followed their movements from the shadows.
After their late breakfasts were done they proceeded towards the outskirts of the village towards a nearby mountain side. Which was a two hour hike.
"Can anyone remind me why we're out here again?" Marco said tiredly as he adjusted his backback on his stiffed shoulders.
Apparently while scouraging through the many books in the magic library for days in any hopes that would help them with their predicament, Cedric encountered a book about magical shields and what ingredients and spells can be done in order to create them. He listed down the ingredients and the whereabouts of each item. He can just reverse engineer them and test it out if it can disspell Sofia's impenitrable shield from their home portal. He'd been reading non-stop to the point of collapse. He even got the time to learn Mewman language, of course, assisted by Star herself. His only motivation at those late night hours was the need to get Sofia home. Her parents must be worried sick about her right now and its been weeks since their disappearance. And he didn't even want to think about that the blame for the missing princess be pointed at him for being an irresponsible member of the court and a friend.
'No', he squints and eyed his map of the mountain. 'I will not be an irresponsible member of the court nor be an irresponsible friend. Not if I could help it'
He then asked, a moment later after he gathered his map and supplies, Star and Marco if they would like to accompany him to the mountains to which where they are going right now. He showed them the map that he copied out on one of the books of the location of the first ingredient for the portal. The sketch was a bit rough but still well enough to identify. It has two mountain peaks and a large cave at the base, surrounded by dead trees and thick fogs. Marco squinted his eyes at the bottom of the parchment that had a small note and read it loud enough for everyone in the group to hear.
"'Legend says that the mountain was once occupied by many mewmans since the soil on its base was rich and nourished the crops healthily for everyone to forage for upcoming winter seasons. But then it was suddenly abandoned as mysterious thick fogs started to encircle the mountain base and making the trees and the crops, withered. Some say it also started to become haunted. There had been reports of missing people after they tried to enter the fog.'" Marco shuddered.
"Uhh… yeah, so I don't exactly want to disappear yet if this 'legend' is true" Marco finished as he rubbed his arms from the cold winds indicating that their not too long to get to the mountain base.
"Oh, don't worry too much Marco! I mean, at least we get to go on adventures again. I'm also been itching to try out new attack spells I've been practicing on in case danger comes. What's the worst thing that could happened?" said Star confidently as she marched in front them to the path of the mountain. Cedric and Marco exchanged unsure glances as if they already know what's going to happen.
"Don't worry you guys. I know that each of us will keep each other safe if harm does come" said encouragingly by Sofia. The older three almost forgot the fourth member of their little 'hiking' trip to the mountains. Sofia kept on insisting that she would like to come with them as well even after Cedric told her that it would be dangerous for her. Brave or not, Cedric wasn't taking any chances in any possibilities that could harm her. Although, it only took one big pair of determined blue eyes, small hands on the heart and a small pout for them to eventually gave in and let her joined.
"What was that mountain's name again? Mount?" asked Sofia as Cedric put the map on hers and Marco's line of vision.
"Mount Instant… Doom? Of course… Why am I not surprised. Who came up with these names again?" Marco said aloud, not missing the dripping sarcasm on his tone. He scratched his head in confusion though. It didn't surprise him that much that the mountain had been named related to ultimate demise or dying. Forest of Certain Death, anyone?
"It does sound… dangerous" a meek little voice said as the boys turned to look back at Sofia who was now clutching tightly on her own backpack and gave the two a worried glance. Cedric sighed.
"I thought I told you that it is going to be dangerous but you still insisted that you went anyway" gently chastised by Cedric as he crossed his arms on his chest and continued walking while still eyeing his princess. Sofia sulked as she hung her head down on the ground and putting her hands behind her back.
"I just wanted to help. I wanted to go home too, you know" she said in a small voice that almost broke the boys' hearts a little.
"Don't you worry little Sofia. Like you said, we'll protect each other no matter what happens. Okay? And we'll get you two back home soon. You can count on us" said Marco as he wink and gave the smaller princess a gentle pat on the head making the other guy pout.
Slowly, her frown disappeared and was replaced by a one of a kind Sofia treasured smiles towards the boys "Thank you guys!" she said in happy relief as her eyes gleamed in determination. "Right, no more sulking! Come, on! We've got an ingredient to find! Star! Wait for us!" she said happily afterwards as she started jogging towards Star's side while the boys remained five feet away from their backs.
"She's not one of those types that like to quit, isn't she?" Marco questioned the sorcerer. The former's eyes remained at the smaller girl talking away with the blonde.
"Nope. Not even close. In fact, she looks more encouraged than ever. I have to thank you for that" Cedric responded as he shrugged when the younger boy gave him an odd look.
"Why the sudden appreciative tone? You really are tired" Marco said as he smirked when the sorcerer gave him an exhausted look.
"Don't get me started, Diaz or I might turn you in to a toad if I could help it" the sorcerer sigh as he slid a hand on his face. "I just…" he stopped as he looked back at Sofia. "…wanted her to be reassured that everything's going to be okay. I'm worried that there will come a time that she'll need more than just words of encouragement to regain back her bearings as much as I do. Don't get me wrong, she's a brave little girl and can do very much anything beyond her years but, she's still a child. Nearing her teen years but, still. She's really scared and confused in everything at the moment plus… she really misses everyone back at home"
Marco looked at the sorcerer and back at the small cheery princess before looking down at the ground in shame and nodded in understanding. 'He did have a point though' he thought. "Y-you're right. Sorry about that"
"Don't be. I blurt out confusing emotions in this state. I am tired, remember?" the sorcerer said as he gave the teenager a small smirk, letting him know it's no hard feelings. Marco let out a small smile as they both continued following their princesses.
"We're here!" Star announced as she spread her arms wide.
"Whoah, is it just me or are any of you guys get the heevy geevys about this place?" Marco asked as he rubbed his hands together.
"I don't even know what that means but if it's something along the border lines of 'creepy', then I agree" Cedric responded with a shiver as he pulled their map out with a flip. Sofia clung on the sorcerer's pant leg, glancing around at their surroundings.
The base of the mountain consisted of abandoned huts, dead trees and the ever famous thick fog. They took cautious steps as they proceeded onward.
"There should be a cave not far from here" the sorcerer said as he started to look around the rocky walls.
"I don't really want to be the 'melodramatic' guy in the group but, what exactly are we looking for?" said Marco as he sigh and adjusted his pack for what felt like the tenth time.
Cedric only rolled his eyes and checked the map again where he also drew one of the portal ingredients.
"The one we are looking for is the ever burning flower or as they call it the Cinder Flower. It's reddish-orange color makes it looks like it's burning but this flower of six petals, consists of magical pollens that when released, it can turn any thing into ashes, hence its name. It's only symptom is itching if came into contact with human or mewman flesh. It can also do great damage to minerals, animals, and fungus'. It only grows in this particular mountain every six months." Cedric finished reading as he swerve his head left and right at the area.
"Why do we need a destructive plant to brew with anyway?" said Star as she curiously looked at the drawned illustration of the flower.
"I'm not quite sure either but it's on the list of the ingredients that is needed for the portal. I'm actually quiet impress with the number of destructive plants on your magic archive, Star. I guess there is much to learn about your dimension, huh?" said Cedric as he eyed curiously the blonde in question who was rubbing her head, plastered with a shy smile.
"What can I say," she shrugged. "It's Mewni. Anything's possible." She grinned at the smirking sorcerer as she twirled and draped her arms around Cedric and Marco, putting them in a headlock. "Now, to find that ingredient!" she declared happily as the boys struggled from her grip.
"If we're lucky enough to get it first. I don't wanna end up waiting another half a year for it to grow" grumbled Cedric as he finally escaped Star's oxygen-decreasing headlock.
"How about we start searching inside the cave?" Sofia piped in as the older three look at her direction while she eyed the entrance of a large cave. "We can't exactly see through the fog out there. We might as well start here, right?" She knew well that was the plan anyway but still, she grinned as she took hold of Cedric's and Star's hand as she pratically dragged them inside the cave while Marco just shooked his head in amusement as he followed through.
Once inside, Sofia secretly glanced back at the foggy mountain base. She didn't know why but, she felt uneasy just standing out there. So she needed an excuse to get herself and the others inside for safety. Something wasn't quite right about the mountain and its eerily silence is almost deafening. She looked back again at the group as Cedric and Star used their wands to create a make-shift light to illuminate the dark cave.
'Breathe, Sofia' she thought to herself. 'Everything's going to be okay. You joined this little hiking trip?You might as well be useful and not trouble them with your worrying thoughts' she inhaled and exhaled as to calm her nerves. She continued walking with the others as they proceeded onwards.
But for her lack of better knowledge, in Mewni, as Star said, 'anything's possible', it lived up to that very motto for a long time. So if anything that starts slithering and crawling secretly towards them inside the cave, it's probably a possible danger on its way. Waiting to strike. And they had no idea what to expect as they continue their search for the ever burning flower.
To Be Continued…
End of Chapter 6 (Part 1)
A/N 2: And there you have it! Sorry for the cliffhanger, really! I needed to do more brain storming for this. There's gonna be some action on the next chapter and I wanted it to be… well… actiony! If that's even a word. Can't really promise if I can post the next chapter sooner. Now that would be totally cliffhanging! I guess it's time for some brain whacking again. R&R guys! No flames please and thank you! *flails*
~MarionetteJ2X~
