The First Sign

Alright! Alright! Short chapter coming!

Oh! And I should point out that I've been caught! LOL! Someone logged in as a Guest remarked on the battle between Eezeyal and Wormwood and made the connection to The Sword in the Stone. XD!

By the by, I'm going to try and type Cedric's part in sync with her verbiage. Example – He says Li'l instead of Little.

ENJOY!

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"DOOH! I CAN'T BELIEVE THIS AFFRONT!" Cedric roared, hovering in the air with a cushion beneath him and against his back. "YOU CRUSH THAT RUNT IN YOUR PAWS," Wormwood was lying lifelessly on the table. His little talon twitched involuntarily, "AND SHE COUNTERS WITH…WITH…A TREE FROG?!" A gnarly root like plant floated into the air in front of him. Little bubbles of the root popped fervently. "WHAT IMPERTINENCE!" He whisked the wand animatedly. "I had the upper hand!" He cut up a crackle root. It fell into a basin below. "I HAD victory in the palm of my hand!" He subconsciously poured in two cups of pinecone juice, 2 ½ ounces of Pompeii extract, and five cups of leech mucus. "But NOOO!" He levitated the basin and lit a hovering fire under it. "Once again she pulls a miraculous trick from her headband and – ONCE AGAIN – steals my victory and goals of conquest right from out of me fingers!" The fire blazed even hotter, bringing the potion to a boil faster than intended. "Again…" Cedric cooled it off, "It was wrong of me to underestimate her. And I know, as well as anyone, that it is not uncommon for a student to pose a threat to a master." He descended to the ground. "And I will admit…" He mumbled shamefully, "She is more than just a pretty face." Gently her picked up Wormwood and put him inside the basin, immersing him into the odd liquid. "But I won't lose to her…" He rumbled grudgingly. Wormwood started to unstiffen. He sighed with relief, soaking in the hot basin. "That Li'l Sorceress is going to learn her place. Even if I have to dig a hole and put her there."

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"Bah!" Hildegard's Father spat. "This is a complete waste of our time!" He declared, storming through the palace's halls with his wife and daughter. Hugo and his parents were in tow. "That Peasant Princess is not worth the spectacle she is being given! Certainly not worth the time, either!"

"Indeed." Hugo's mother chortled snobbishly. "This last win of hers was nothing but a fluke." She swayed her fan up and down, blowing a cool breeze to fuel her icy pride. "Yet everyone wishes to treat it as if her victory is already decided."

"Oh let them think what they wish." Hildegard chortled. "We know the truth. We know she's nothing but an upstart."

"Too true, Princess Hildegard." Hugo bowed graciously.

"I'm glad you all think so highly of me." The group of royalty came to an abrupt halt. "I was actually wondering when you all were going to drop those fake smiles." Their attention shifted to an adjacent hallway. Hildegard and Hugo gasped in in sickened dread. Lydia was leaning against the wall in the hallway, hidden away from the walk path. He hands her folded behind her head, a satisfied smile plastered to her face. "Honestly, the invitation wasn't mandatory." She moved from the wall, approaching Hildegard and Hugo's families with her hands behind her back. "You all could have stayed home if you wanted." She tapped her chin with feigned inquisition. "But I guess the miserable can't resist casting their misery unto to others." She sighed somberly.

"What did you just say?!" Hugo's mother demanded heatedly.

"How dare you speak to us in such a manner!" Hildegard's mother screeched.

Lydia's smile was replaced with a hateful scowl. It took the two mothers by surprise. "How dare I?" Lydia's voice rumbled ominously. "How DARE you!" She barked. Hildegard and Hugo cowered behind their parents. "You come here, to my father's palace, and you dare to berate and besmirch me for the sake of sport! I have done nothing to deserve such treatment, and I certainly won't sit quietly while it is being spoken right in front of my face! Not to mention you're ruining a festivity everyone has come to in order to have a great time with your blind ideals!"

"SILENCE!" Hugo's father ordered. "You have no right, nor the place, to speak to or against us!" He declared contemptuously. "You and your sister both are nothing more than worthless peasants playing dress up!"

Lydia's arms tensed at the mentioning of Sofia. They dare bring her little sister into this conversation. It would be easy to lash out and strike him. But she was the bigger person. "Then if we're so worthless, stop making us the topic of your discussions! If we were truly beneath you, you wouldn't go so far as to try and bring us down, or give me the nickname Peasant Princess! Petty insults like that aren't enough to bring her or I down."

"Petty?" Hildegard's mother shrieked. "You are far to brazen! You will treat us with respect!"

Lydia could see she wasn't going to get through to this group of stubborn people. Sighing in defeat she calmed her rattled nerves, allowing her deep bitterness to die down. "If you'll excuse me," She sauntered slowly, shaking off the reverberating nerves, "I have more IMPORTANT matters to attend to."

Hildegard's father latched a hand onto her upper arm, wrenching her sharply to a halt. "Listen well, you wretch! You will do well to mind your place! It would be ill-advised for you to displease us."

Lydia shook his arm off, whirling around to glare him dead in the eye. "It's not my job to please you! In fact," She shrugged her hands, "I care very little if you or anyone likes me at all. I don't go through life trying to make people happy. But I certainly don't let their petty jealousy and envy bring me down."

"GRR!" Hildegard's father raised a hand. Lydia knit her brow. Her right hand curled into a fist. "YOU FILTHY, PEASANT, TRASH!" His hand went for her face.

Lydia's left hand shot up. Hildegard's father's hand was stopped dead at the wrist. Lydia stared him down with a blank yet malevolent gleam in her eye. Hildegard's father was taken aback with fear. A dark mist engulfed Lydia's fist. "Do not presume you have the right to lay a hand upon me, you pompous fool!" Her voice rumbled in a low and foreboding tone.

"Alright, that's enough!" A voice boomed. Lydia and Hildegard's father gaped in confusion. The mist died around Lydia's fist. Everyone stared down the hall behind Hugo and Hildegard. Roland and a portly man, Constable Miles, were storming down the hall with displeased scowls on their faces. Lydia and Hugo's father scrambled away from each other, both hoping to play innocent. Roland and Constable Miles stopped. They looked over the crowd with revolted stares. Roland put his hands to his hips and shook his head. "I am very disappointed!" He proclaimed, seeming to look Lydia's way. This made Hugo, Hildegard, and their parents smile. "For royalty to be acting this way," He glared at Hugo and Hildegard's parents, "You lot should be ashamed of yourselves!"

"What?" Hildegard's mother gasped, stepping forward. "But, your majesty," She curtsied out of respect, "This girl was blatantly disrespectful to us."

"I'm aware." Roland admitted simply. "I also know from Constable Miles – who happened to bring your disdain for my daughter to my attention," Lydia's eyes widened in awe at him regarding her as his daughter, "That you all have attempted to besmirch Lydia's reputation and hard work for your own amusement." He folded his arms, "And we also happened to be around the corner and caught wind of the conversation." He added slyly.

"But…your Majesty…" Hildegard's father's voice quaked with guilt.

Constable Miles wrenched his hand sharply into the air, "Silence!" He commanded with obvious resentment. "It is now you who has no right or place to speak! You raised your hand to the princess and were blatantly disrespectful with no provocation!" He marched past Lydia, placing a hand in front of her protectively, "By order of the king, and personal desire of the King's guard, you all are hereby ordered to depart from the Kingdom of Enchancia and return home!"

"You can't-"

"IMMEDIATLEY!" Miles barked. "Or shall I ask my men to escort you?" He threatened. "We've been dying to use the prisoner transport." Roland cleared his throat, keeping a laugh down. Lydia hid her smile away.

"Hmph! Fine!" Hildegard's father pulled his wife along.

Hugo's mother gathered her husband as well. "We will trouble you no more this day."

"But do not think this discussion is over." Hugo's father warned.

"We will be back." Hildegard's mother warned.

"We're tingling with anticipation." Lydia muttered.

Hugo, Hildegard, and their parents all turned on their heels and raised their noses to the air. Without another word they meandered gruffly along. Hugo and Hildegard fumed mentally, unable to believe the insult they and their families endured.

Hildegard was brought to a staggering halt. Hugo bumped into her. She and he glanced to the side to another adjacent hallway. Hildegard's eyes widened in horror. Her stomach tightened sickly. Hugo was a little disgruntled. James and Amber, with disappointed and angered galres, stood in the hallway, staring at Hildegard and Hugo wordlessly. "Amber…James I-we-"

"HMPH!" Amber turned her back on Hildegard. "You allowed your parents to insult both of my sisters." She hissed. "I can't speak with you. You'll have a chance to beg for forgiveness at school on Monday." She announced. With that Amber took her leave. James didn't say anything to Hugo. It wouldn't do any good. So he just left without a word. Hildegard touched a hand to her heart, feeling it break. Hugo, not caring, progressed on his way. Hildegard followed after him, feeling her friendship with Amber brought to ruin.

"Are you alright, Lydia?" Roland asked with a hand to her shoulder.

"I'm fine." She rasped. Her heart was pounding against her chest. "A little shaken."

"Though I'm happy you stood up for yourself, you could have handled that better." He instructed sternly.

"Huh?"

"Many opinions like theirs will rise. I speak from experience. While it is okay to speak up for yourself, a proper course of action would have been to smile and walk away."

"Why?" Lydia gasped. "They were out of line." She stressed.

"True. But it is better to shake off an insult than to give away that it has bothered you."

"How? I mean…The kids at Sorcery School were behaving like kids. But adults behaving like children? Royalty no less? How do you shake that off?"

"By being the bigger person." Roland answered tenderly. "By keeping in mind insults are a person's way of making themselves feel better. As you stated earlier." Lydia gaped in awe. He really was listening. But if she was in the wrong as well, why didn't Roland intervene sooner? "Now that that's settled," He gestured a hand to Constable Miles, "I'd like to introduce you to Constable Miles. The finest commanding officer of the Royal Guard. Constable Miles, meet my new daughter Lydia."

"T'is a pleasure, Your Highness." Constable Miles bowed at the hip. "King Roland has spoken very highly of you."

"The pleasure is mine, Constable." Lydia curtsied. They both extended hands and shook firmly. "I'm…sorry you had to see that." A light shade of pink rose to her cheeks.

"Think nothing of it." Constable Miles waved off nonchalantly. "In all honesty I am most impressed with your self-control."

Lydia tilted her head with a confused arch of her brow. "I'm sorry?"

"We saw the glow engulf your right hand." Roland answered with a slightly menacing tone. The pink on Lydia's cheek turned bright red with shame.

"I thought for certain you were going to lunge that fist of yours." Constable Miles admitted with a hint of sorrow. He doubted his princess with little, but understandable, reason. Lydia dropped her head. She fiddled with her hands uneasily.

"But you displayed excellent restraint." Roland congratulated. "Power is good. But responsibility over that power it what determines the true strength of a rulers." Lydia's eyes widened in unbelievable awe, twinkling with elation. That's why he didn't intervene? She came to the realization. Roland…Roland knew I wouldn't attack? But how?

"Aaand there's also the work you need on your conversational skills." Constable Miles added slyly.

Lydia felt something clonk her shame. "Okay…" She agreed sheepishly. She held her hands together, pleading to the Constable, "I hope you'll be there to help me along."

"Of course." Constable Miles saluted, "I shall serve the King and his family for as long as I live."

"Glad to hear it." Lydia giggled. "Oh…" She snapped her fingers, "About the courtyard," She clapped her hands together apologetically to Roland, "I'M SOOOO SORRY, ROLAND!"

Roland laughed heartily. "Think nothing of it. It'll be fixed while you and Cedric do battle elsewhere."

"Speaking of the second round, where is your little friend?" Constable Miles asked.

"In my room resting." Eezeyal was exhausted after the second round. He wanted to hand back while the intermission was in place. Because of the damage done, a new stage was being sought. Flora, Fauna, Merryweather, and Merr were sifting through the number of regions within Enchancia. There had to be somewhere they could finish things. "I'd better go rest before the intermission is over." Lydia announced. "It won't do me any good if I'm tired."

"Go idea." Roland agreed. "Rest easy."

"I will. Constable Miles." She bowed in farewell and then ran off. How could Roland possibly have known I wouldn't lash out?

Constable Miles laughed charmingly. "That girl is the Future Queen? It'll certainly be in interesting reign." He laughed again. His smile faded into concern, "But I cannot deny this troubled feeling. Her apathetic attitude towards her current title, the lack of interest in becoming Queen. Not to mention…her disregarding you as her father." He treaded carefully on the last note.

Roland shook his head with an understanding sigh. "The latter is to be expected." He admitted mostly to himself. "Lydia is at an age where having another man in her mother's life is a colossal change. She has reservations. Which is precisely why I tread carefully on the afore mentioned matter."

"Your Majesty?"

"If I force her new obligations upon her, she may retreat and grow to resent me. But if I coax it along gently and make tiny remarks," As he's been doing for most of the day, "There is a chance the idea will grow on her. I want Lydia to come to me."

"True…" Constable Miles stroked his pudgy chin. "But can you afford to wait so long?"

"Oh I don't think I have to wait long." Roland disagreed confidently. "During her discussion earlier, Lydia said 'My father's palace.'" His heart fluttered with an overwhelming warmth. "I have every confidence she will adjust swimmingly. I just don't want her to lose sight of who she truly is."

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About two hours later the intermission had come to an end. The time was falling onto two in the afternoon. The duel was taking a considerable amount of time. But it was time well spent. Everyone was herded into the ballroom with word of an urgent announcement leading them by the chain. The Three Good Fairies and Merr awaited for everyone's arrival in the center of the ballroom.

Lydia and Cedric, accompanied by Wormwood and Eezeyal, were also in the center and keeping a good distance from each other with disdainful stares. Eezeyal and Wormwood flared their wings. Low, rumbling trills reverberated from their little throats. Clover, Mia, and Robin huddled around Sofia. Wormwood and Eezeyal were making them uneasy.

Roland, Miranda, and the children soon arrived with Constable Miles. Once the Fairies and Merr were certain everyone was accounted for, Fauna began the announcements. "Thank you all for gathering here. We have news for the duel."

"Since the courtyard is undergoing repair," Merryweather continued, "We decided a change of scenery was in order."

"What do you mean, Miss Merryweather?" Princess Maya asked anxiously.

Flora intervened, "During the intermission we sought out places on the palace grounds and in around the kingdom where Sorcerer Cedric and Princess Lydia could continue their duel." She clarified, stressing the time and effort the four of them put into searching. "During our search we also deliberated on how the final round – The spell casting portion – should be conducted."

"Not only did vee find ze perfect place," Merr announced cheerfully, "Vee also came up vith ze perfect challenge."

"Oh?" Cedric touched a finger to his chin. "And what might they be?"

"King Roland," Fauna addressed, "Do you know of the abandoned Village surrounded by the forest?"

"Y-yes…" He thought for a moment, "It was called…Fadora. It was deemed uninhabitable due to an infestation of termites and rodents constantly running amuck."

"You want to send us there?" Miranda asked fretfully. As she and the others were part of the spectators crowd, they would have to spend the round watching their feet rather than the duel.

"No-no." Flora answered abruptly, "Not all of you. Just them."

"Us?" Cedric and Lydia questioned.

"But…" Lydia scratched her cheek, "How will you-"

Flora, Fauna, and Merryweather raised their wands to the air. Lydia fell silent. The three fairies twirled and flourished their wands. With a quick flick they sent glittering lights toward the ceiling. The lights collided together, forming a large cloudy space. An image of the village in question appeared. It looked very run down.

"Whilst my sisters, myself, and Merr keep an eye on you both in the village, your family and friends may watch you from the ballroom through this sphere."

"Clever…" Cedric purred.

"Fancy…" Lydia marveled dreamily.

"Vee vill discuss ze nature of ze challenge at ze site. Are you two ready?" Merr asked pressingly.

"Yes sir!" The two responded.

"Good! As a treat, your partners may join in on ze battle." Merr permitted. Cedric bobbed his head. He touched two fingers to Wormwood's head. Lydia giggled elatedly, hugging Eezeyal. "Ladies! If you vill."

"Of course." Flora bobbed her head. "Cedric, Lydia – Please stand close together."

Cedric and Lydia exchanged glares of revulsion. Disgusted grunts rumbled under their breath. The idea of getting any closer made their stomachs churn. Unfortunately it was necessary. Grudgingly the two stiffly walked closer. They put their backs to each other, practically touching. Wormwood and Eezeyal jumped to their heads, glaring each other down.

Cedric gritted his teeth, "Standing this close to you…" He objected scornfully under his breath, "I'll need to shower once this is over."

"Try several!" Lydia snapped quietly, "You smell worse than the gunk between Eezeyal's toes."

"You rotten li'l-"

A white chalk line drew itself in a circle at Cedric and Lydia's feet. Another one appeared over their heads. The lines of chalk started to sparkle and glimmer. Tiny flakes rose from the bottom and fell from the top, meeting in the middle in a prickly reaction. Eezeyal and Wormwood jumped into their owners' arms. Cedric and Lydia subconscious stepped closer, closing the gap.

"Here we go!" Fauna whirled her wand and swept it along her cape, bringing it around in a whirl. She was enveloped, disappearing on the spot. Flora did the same thing. Merryweather moved close to Merr and the two disappeared. The glimmering cylinder surrounding Cedric and Lydia filled turned into a bright light. There was a quick flash and they were gone. Tiny bits of dust were all that was left. Roland and Sofia ran to the spot they vanished from.

"Look!" James pointed to the bubble.

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"WHOA!" Cedric and Lydia came falling out of the sky. Wormwood and Eezeyal fluttered into the air. "OOF!" They crashed to the ground. "UGH!" The two groaned.

They landed in a shamble of a once great village. Shops, homes, shacks – the years were mercilessly unkind to this place. The buildings were run down and falling apart. Their colored wood planks were brown or maroon from years of neglect and rot. It was truly surprising, given how loosely the boards hung, that any of the buildings were still able to stand. The wind whistled hollowly through the rotting windows of the empty buildings. Dust rolled across the dried out terrain. Cracks in the ground ran deep. Remains of plough fields were riddled with dead plants, crops, and other manner of plant life.

Lydia, sitting on top of Cedric's back, shook her head of the hazy discomfort. "That wasn't fun."

Cedric drummed his fingers impatiently on the dirt covered ground. "Neither is this!" He put his hands to the dirt. "NOW…GET OFF!" He bucked his back.

"OOF!" Lydia fell to her butt. "Ow! Hey!"

"I'm not your bloody sofa!" Cedric stood and dusted himself off.

"GRR!" Lydia jumped to her feet. "That doesn't mean you need to buck me off!"

"Aw…" Cedric cooed mockingly, cupping his hands together, "Did I hurt the wittle pwincess's fewings?" He pet her head as if she were a kitten. "Poor wittle pwincess…" Lydia snapped her hand to his nose again. "YOUCH!"

"Keep it up, Ceddy, and I'll rip this eye poker right off your face!"

"THEN I'LL RIP OFF THAT MASK!" Cedric pinched and pulled her cheek.

"OW! LET GO!"

"LET GO OF ME NOSE!"

"LET GO OF MY FACE!"

"YOU FIRST!"

"YOU!"

"Ahem…" Lydia and Cedric gaped up to a ledge up a cliff side. The three fairies and Merr stood on the grassy, tree donned ledge, watching Cedric and Lydia quizzically. "Are you both finished?" Flora asked, stamping her foot.

Lydia and Cedric shot away from each other, laughing nervously. Cedric's nose was bright red. Lydia's cheek pulsated painfully. Merr inhaled as if smelling a sweet aroma, "Ahh… Ze first signs of love. How adorable…"

"WHAT?" Lydia and Cedric blurted, their cheeks were bright red.

"Me and that banshee? PFFT! Never!" Cedric scoffed.

"NOT EVEN IF YOU CAST A SPELL ON ME!"

"Denial…" Merr squealed like a child. "Ze second sign." Thunder and lightning of Lydia and Cedric's irritation clashed over their heads. They were not amused. Wormwood and Eezeyal, on the other hand, couldn't stop laughing.

"Wasn't there a REASON you dragged us to the middle of nowhere?" Lydia stressed heatedly.

"Or did you lot simply need a laugh?" Cedric put his hands to his hips.

"I did." Merryweather chuckled. Flora joined in.

"Well I'm here for business." Fauna floated down. "This village will host your final bout. This round will be similar to the game Hide and Seek."

"Hide and Seek?" Cedric questioned monotonously.

"As such the rules here are simple." Fauna continued, ignoring his obvious resentment. "The village is your arena. If you step outside the red line," She cast a spell on the perimeter of the village, creating a red line, "You will automatically lose." Lydia and Cedric instinctively backed away from the line at the foot of the cliff.

Merr was drifted down the hill with Flora and Merryweather. "You both will start on opposite ends of the village." Flora picked up where Fauna left off. "Then it will be up to you to make your way inward and seek out your opponent."

"Needless to say, this will be the more intense round." Merryweather forewarned ominously. "The winner will be decided…when one of you is unable to continue. Either by immobility for longer than ten seconds, or it is deemed there are no means to counter." A heavy weight pressed on Lydia's chest. The loser…would be the one who is unable to fight. The night she first faced off against Cedric flooded her mind. How she was defeated in a matter of minutes. Fear turned her adrenaline boiled blood to ice. Her resolve was dwindling. Cedric, seeing her waver, allowed a smirk to slither from ear to ear.

"Are you two ready?" Merr asked.

"Of course." Cedric smirked.

"Y-yes…" Lydia's voice cracked.

"ZEN LET ZE FINAL MATCH OF ZE SORCERER DUEL…BEGIN!" Flora, Fauna, and Merryweather cast the teleportation spell once more. The glittering cylinders engulfed them both. Wormwood and Eezeyal flew inside to their masters. They vanished without a trace.

BWAHAHAHAHAHAHA! CLIFFHANGER! HAHAHAHAHAHA!

Guess what. Next chapter is posted as well. HAHAHAHA! Scared ya, didn't I? :)