Duel of the Sorcerers

Round 3 – It's My Future

Final round of the Sorcerer Duel! Hope you're ready. LOL-LOL-LOL!

"It's starting…" Princess Leena of Kaldune announced. Everyone in the ballroom – with plates of food and glasses of water in hand – directed their attention to the sphere in the air. A noticeable, transparent line drew itself into the sphere. Cedric and Lydia reappeared in completely different areas from each other. Lydia fell into a dried up hay bin and Cedric in a dried out trough.

James glanced fervently from one side to the other of the sphere. "Is it…wrong that I don't know who to root for?" James asked nervously.

"I know…" Sofia sat on her knees in anticipation of the match. "I love Lydia, but Mr. Ceedric is my friend."

"In that case," Miranda rested a hand to their backs, "Cheer for them both to do their best."

In reality many of the spectators were placing bets on who would win and making guesses on which way the battle was going to lean. Lydia's previous win gained her some favors, but many still believed in Cedric's years of experience and skills.

Amber, on the other hand, was praying with all her heart that Lydia would be victorious. After all, this duel was her idea to embarrass Lydia. "You can win, Lydia! I know it! So please…do your best."

"Hrmf…" Lydia rolled off the hay bin. "Urgh…" She dusted lingering strands of hay from her person. Eezeyal helped pluck a few from her hair. "Thanks Ezee…"

"No problem." He perched himself on her shoulder. "So where do we go from here?"

"I'm not sure…" Lydia looked up. She wasn't outside. She was…inside a ruined barn. Evidence of it once housing cows and horses showed. There was still hay covering the ground. Rotted food stained the ground as well. "I've heard about this village before. But I've never actually been to it. Mom told me to stay away because it might be dangerous."

A loud creak made Lydia's skin crawl. Eezeyal squeaked in fright and hid behind her. "It's creaky! But I doubt it's…too dangerous."

"Then let's get out of here before it becomes dangerous." Lydia meandered out of the barn, entering into a decimated farm. A very small one. Surprising, given how large the barn was. The village itself, from Lydia's estimation, was semi large in itself. She could see the cliff side where the fairies and Merr met with them. It was a considerable ways away, but it was still close. How big could a village engulfed in trees possibly be? Big enough to hide Cedric and Wormwood. "Knowing the fairies…" Lydia trailed off, walking by a small pig pen, "They sent Cedric to the opposite end of me."

"We should still tread carefully." Eezeyal advised. "Perhaps I should fly ahead."

"Good idea. But no." She murmured. "This village may not be that big. And if it's not, Cedric would learn my position the moment he saw you."

"True…" Eezeyal sighed somberly, suddenly feeling as if he failed.

"But…" His hopes rose, "There's no harm in keeping low and scoping out the village." She winked.

"Gotcha, girly." He spread his wings, "I'll be back soon." He flew into the small village, disappearing around the buildings.

"HRM! GRR! ONE MORE! OOF!" Cedric hit the dirt with a loud thud. Dust puffed into the air. "Hrm…" He groaned angrily. "What a bother." Wormwood chortled from atop of staked pole. "Oh shut it! Those fairies need to work on their aim before they cast a spell."

The water trough he landed in pieced away around the rim when he rolled out. Cedric dusted himself off as he inspected his surroundings. He had landed in what seemed like a small shopping area. An entire dirt paved street riddled with discarded trinkets and old accessories. The merchant stands were no more than piles of wood and planks now. Remnants of tattered clothing covered the ground as well. Cloths decorating the tops were ripped from years of wear and tear. There were multiple troughs lining the way where water used to be stored.

"Hmph…" Cedric scoffed. "To think this place once thrived with life, and flourished with riches like it was the center of the world. Now look at it," He kicked the dirt, "Ruin and despair. My kind of place." Wormwood bobbed his little head in agreement. "But enough sightseeing!" He decreed abruptly. "We have an upstart to deal with." He meandered down the way, ignoring the eerily whistling wind.

Spiders clung to their woven webs, huddled near the flies they waited so patiently to catch. Lizards and snakes scurried across, cowering into their burrows. A couple times rats and mice hissed bloodthirstily and glared with their beady red eyes before running off with not-even-enough food. "I've heard many a tale about this village. I've heard it's small, but just big enough to house a number of travelers. I've heard it flourished with so much life, water would spout from the ground." He stamped his foot over a small hole. As dry Sir Hector's sense of humor. (Sword in the stone) "Now look at it." He kicked a struggling to stand Merchant Stand over. "Not even squatters would live here." Wormwood cawed in agreement. He perched on Cedric's shoulder. "I guess that's what makes this an ideal terrain for battle. Innocent people won't be harmed. PUH!" He spat in revulsion. "How completely heart wrenching!"

A fervent sound of flapping wings startled the sorcerer. "HM?!" He whirled around to the sound of the wings. A little blue bird was flying away. "Hmm…that's right…" He muttered thoughtfully. "Lydia's probably sent that bird of hers to do a li'l scouting." Wormwood growled, ruffling his feather on his chest. "Not a bad idea. Wormy! Get a bird's eye view. I'll scout from below." Wormwood nodded and took to the sky. "Hmm…" Cedric stroked his chin, "Judging from the way she acted, Li'l Lydia might keep low to the ground." He was of course referring to her nervous behavior before the round started. "I shall have to do the same." He drew his wand. "Eyes to the skies and ears to the ground," He chanted, flourishing his wand,"Become one with the earth till the Raven Sounds!" He tapped the dirt and his shoes. The rough rose steadily from the ground, swirling around Cedric like a snake, covering his entire body with dirt. Then, with a slight pickup of the wind, he crumbled into dust, disappearing into the earth. "Tee-hee-hee-ha-ha…" His face laughed from the ground. "Let's see he counter this…" His face moved along the ground leisurely, cackling as he went under a rotted building.

From around the corner of a rotting stand, Eezeyal peered around the corner, watching Cedric vanish. "This ain't good."

Lydia kept her back to the walls, tiptoeing warily so not to even make the dirt grind beneath her boots. Her eyes were keened on every nook and cranny within sight. She even peered into the sky, expecting Wormwood to come swooping down. Her wand was tightly clenched in her hand. She leapt out from around each corner, aiming the wand in the direction she believed Cedric to be hiding around. When he wasn't there, she returned to her skulking, growing more paranoid with every minute that passed. Each step she took was more terrifying than the last. A heavy pressure was weighing on her heart. A deep rooted fear. Not knowing where Cedric was…it was unnerving. Who knows what plans he was plotting? What schemes he was hatching? What plots were unfolding in that malicious mind?

"LYDIA!"

"AHH!" A pulse fired from Lydia's wand.

"YAH!" Eezeyal jumped into the sky. An outhouse was turned to ash right before their eyes.

Lydia blinked in utter disbelief at what she had done. "Uh…Oops." She laughed nervously at herself.

Eezeyal pressed his glaring face to hers. "OOPS?!" He boomed. "YEW NEARLY FRIED ME LIKE CHICKEN ON A SPIT!" He sat on her head and began to peck away, "SINCE WHEN ARE YEW OF ALL PEOPLE MORE SKITTISH THAN A CAT?"

"OW! OW! OKAY! OW! ENOUGH! OW! I'M SORRY!" Eezeyal flew from her head to a wooden railing. He huffed then turned his head away, hurt that she nearly hit him. A large welt swelled on Lydia's head. It pulsated with her guilt. "I said I was sorry, Ezee…" She whined. "You didn't have to be so mean." She touched her wand to the welt. An ice pack appeared on it.

"Then you should learn tuh keep yer paranoia in check!" He scolded. "Geeze Louise! The last time you were this skittish, Lezard was runnin' up pokin' yah any chance he could!"

Lydia's cheeks flushed bright red. "Please don't talk about that!"

Eezeyal chuckled menacingly. "Why not, Liddy?" He smirked mischievously, bouncing a brow. "Hee-hee. Did I bring back some romanticalthoughts? Maybe…" He cupped his wings together, "A moment shared by the lake." He kissed his lips mockingly. Lydia whimpered, staggering away. She cupped her hands to her cheeks. Her face turned completely red. "PPPAH-HA-HA-HA!" Eezeyal fell back laughing. "OH MAH GAWSH! YER SO EASY TO READ-ACK!"

Lydia grabbed him by the neck, crushing him with steam roaring from her ears. "Either tell me the reason you startled me or I take Cedric up on his offer and serve you with blackberries!" She shook him violently.

"Yes! Yes! Okay!" Eezeyal groaned through the shakes. "Please…stop…dizzy…stars…" Lydia stopped and dropped him on his rump. "Ugh…okay…" He grumbled sickly. His heard whirled. Stars circled his head. "Wormwood's… been sent…into the air." He announced dizzily.

"He what?" Lydia instinctively ducked inside a rundown shack. Eezeyal shook his head, erasing the stars from his head. He sighed with relief. His head was cleared. She reached around and yanked Eezeyal inside. Lydia peered out the window, watching the skies. They were clear for now. "Okay…" Lydia crouched into a corner, keeping the outside in clear view, "Fill me in."

"Cedric's certain you sent me to investigate, so he sent Wormwood into the air to search for you. Then he tapped the dirt and his shoes and became one with the dirt."

"Did you catch the incantation?"

"Somethin' about when The Raven Sounds err…somethin' like that. But he's rolling through the ground like the mole rat that he is. I don't need tuh tell ya tuh be careful."

"No…" Lydia trailed off in a rasp.

"I also don't need tuh tell ya…that yer havin' reservations about facin' Cedric."

Lydia's eyes widened, "What?"

"C'mon, Liddy. I've known ya fur, what, a little over a year now. I can tell when you've lost confidence." Lydia dropped her head shamefully, massaging a hand on her arm. The chains around her arms, the numerous ravens pelting her – Cedric's power…so terrifying. "I know yer still shaken from that night a few days ago. I don't blame ya. But I won't be the partner of a coward!"

"A coward?!" Lydia roared.

"You may not be aware of it, but I am!" Eezeyal proclaimed sternly. "You losin' tuh Cedric, Roland wantin' ya tuh study up and become queen, whispers of the demand that you step from magic if ya lose." Lydia stared blankly at her owl. One of the reasons she liked Eezeyal: He's always on the up and up when it came to news. He's her eyes and ears. "Yer afraid that if you lose tuh Cedric, you'll be asked to hang up yer wand and take up yer princessie duties. And because you lost to Cedric, the idea of having to give up magic for a crown terrifies ya." Lydia opened her mouth to protest, but remained silent. His words…weren't false. "Liddy…" Eezeyal sat on her knee, "I know bein' a sorcerer means more to ya than all of the riches in the world. But you're a princess now. As such you have responsibilities beyond that of a Sorceress in trainin'. You have the responsibilities of a Future Queen. That's something you can't run away from."

"But…" Lydia hugged her knees to her chest, "I didn't ask for them." In truth, she was going to tell Roland that she wanted to denounce her title again. But she never got the chance. "I didn't ask for either one." She didn't ask to be a sorcerer, nor did she ask to become a princess. All she wanted…all I wanted was to live with my mom and sister without a care in the world.

"I know. But it's the hand that's been dealt to you. And yer gonna have to play those cards in order to remain in this game." Eezeyal rested a hand to her chest. "But know this, Liddy. No matter who yer asked tuh be, you'll always be yerself." He snuggled into her chest, trilling happily, "And I'll stand by you no matter what you chose."

A warm smile appeared on Lydia's face. She wrapped her arms around Eezeyal, bringing him into a warm hug. "Thanks, Ezee." And he was right. No matter what fate has made her out to be, only Lydia could determine who it was she was going to be in the future. Regardless if she won this duel or not, she was going to have an answer for Roland…and more importantly herself. But those answers weren't going to come to her if she kept hiding.

"ARGH! THE SUSPENSE IS KILLING ME!" James boomed. He, Zandar, and Jin shoveled food into their mouths. The duel was moving slow, but the anticipation was enough to make them run ragged.

"Things will be just fine, Prince James." Constable Miles comforted him.

"Just give it time." Baileywick advised. "Things will pick up soon enough."

Lydia pressed her back to the wall of the doorway. Eezeyal, on the ground, mimicked her stance. Lydia silenced her mind and slowed her breathing so she could listen for sounds not fitting the eerie village. It was all quiet. Almost too quiet. Even for an abandoned village, too quiet is too….suspicious. She pressed herself against the doorway. She peered around the corners, into the sky, and to the ground – all clear. Eezeyal flew to her shoulder, facing the opposite direction. He was going to be her eyes in the back of her head. She wandered outside, keeping her ears open in case someone or something decided to come at her from behind. She kept under the weakening awnings as best as she could. Cedric becoming one with the ground was an elemental spell she wasn't too familiar with. It was advanced magic. Beyond something a student was able to use. But it wasn't possible for her to remain under the awning forever. The duel wasn't going to end if she kept hiding.

"If Wormwood is in the air…" Lydia murmured. She glanced down a long street with wide open shacks.

"Suicide run?"

"Eeyup."

Eezeyal flew from her shoulder. "You always were reckless." Lydia scoffed. She dug the balls of her feet into the dirt, took a shaky breath, and dashed down the street. Eezeyal rushed after her. His feathers fell from his wings in the flurry.

The shacks whisked by as Lydia ran at top speed down the street. Just like the rest of the town, they were empty. And yet she felt the sense of being watched. It was unnerving. Rats and mice were startled into their homes. Bats hiding away watched Lydia and Eezeyal run by. She kept her eyes glued on the sky while Eezeyal watched the ground. Given how fast Eezeyal returned to her, the village wasn't so big. Though it might have just been a stroke of luck. If Wormwood was in the air, he would see her any moment. And or vice versa.

Lydia rounded onto another street. Her heart was pounding against her chest. Her breath was growing heavier. "Hm?" Her eyes were pulled to the roof of a large motel. She slid to a halt. Eezeyal ran into her. He grasped her shoulder, struggling as he climbed up. He groaned dazedly. He looked to see what the holdup was. His eyes gaped. Wormwood was perched on the roof of the motel, hopping around. His beady eyes scanned the ground. Lydia fortified her stance. She reached into her shirt. Eezeyal flew off into an empty flower shop.

Wormwood hobbled about gruffly, muttering angrily to himself. His brow was knit in impatience. How hard was it to find a girl in such a small village? Hard apparently. Especially if she was hiding like a coward. "Oh?" His attention fell to the street below. A little black spot was standing precariously in the middle of the path. A black spot with big blue eyes. "Ah-ha…" He purred, "The Little Sorceress…" He chuckled. "FINALLY DECIDED TO STOP HIDING, PRINCESS?" He mocked her.

"Who's hiding?" She countered confidently. "I was allowing you and Cedric time to reorient yourselves after that humiliating defeat I dealt you!" She arched a brow with a brazen smirk, "By the way, Wormy, how was it being stiff as a board?"

Wormwood growled in humiliation in the back of his throat. "You'll know soon when you're stiff as a corpse!"

Lydia put her hands to her hips. "What good can you do? Peck my eyes out?" She drew her wand. "Unless Cedric gets his boney butt out here," She took a stance, "I'm not going anywhere."

"Except six feet under!" Wormwood drew in a deep breath. "CAAAWWW!" Lydia slapped her hands to her ears. His voice screeched across vast distance of the village, startling the creatures in the forest surrounding it. When the Raven sounds…

A hand sprouted from the ground and grabbed hold of Lydia's ankle. "AH!" She screamed. Her leg became the same color as the dirt. Another hand broke through the dirt into the fresh air. The fingers clawed into the dirt. It started to pull up. An arm emerged from the dirt. The other hand pulled down. "GYAH!" Lydia's leg was yanked to her thigh into the dirt. "What is-"

"Peek-a-boo!" Lydia ogled in horror. Cedric broke the surface of the dirt, snickering victoriously as Lydia was trapped in the ground. She dug her free foot into the ground and desperately pulled at her leg. The dirt had hardened, encasing her leg in a prison. Cedric wedged himself free of the dirt. A deep pit collapsed into itself. He cackled triumphantly at the young sorceress's desperate attempts to get free. "This was fun." He touched his wand tip to her forehead. "And though I'd love for it to be determined you ran out of options, I'd rather leave you unconscious."

Lydia's heart sank. Wednesday night flooded her mind. Not again! "EZEE!"

"SCREE!"Eezeyal roared from the window of the flower shop, his talons bared. He grazed the top of Cedric's hand.

"GAH!" Cedric dropped his wand, clenching the hand. Eezeyal screeched threateningly, daring Cedric to come at him. "You rotten fur ball!" Eezeyal swooped for Cedric's head. The sorcerer ducked away, narrowly evading the talons. Wormwood dove from the roof of the motel, darting for Eezeyal.

"REPELLO!" Lydia cried out. A pulse spanned from her wand. Wormwood was bounced back into a vacant ant mound. Lydia puffed gruffly. She pointed her wand to the ground. "Aqua!" A faucet of water sprayed from her wand. The dirt became soaked through, becoming mud. Lydia wriggled her leg. The dirt turned mud steadily gave her a little leeway. "JUST…ABOUT…" She pulled with all her might. Her leg popped free. "GOT IT!" She marveled at the mud covered boot.

"BRILLIANT!" James cheered. "Absolutely brilliant!" Roland and Miranda applauded Lydia.

"Look at Eezeyal go!" Maya marveled. Eezeyal dove for Cedric relentlessly. Cedric defended with his flaring hands.

"Cedric was clever with that earth trick." A duke commended. "He's not going to make things easy for the Princess."

"He already hasn't." A baroness retorted.

"LOOK!" Baileywick gasped. Cedric swatted Eezeyal away and made his way for his wand.

"AH-HA!" Cedric boasted. His wand was back in his hand. He aimed at Eezeyal. The Owl dove for him with extended talons. "REPELLO!" A more powerful pulse than Lydia's launched the owl throw a fragile window. "Now for you!" He aimed at Lydia. "Ignis!" A red spark shot out. Lydia cringed and rolled back. The spark left a scorch mark. Lydia was crouched on one knee, locking Cedric in her glare. He sent out another spark.

Lydia touched her wand to the ground. "HA!" She wrenched her arm up. A wall of dirt formed. The spark exploded on contact. A giant cloud of dust filled the area.

"GRR!" Cedric swept his hands. The dust cloud parted, disappearing with the breeze. Lydia was gone. "Where-"

"Fulmenos…" A ball of lightning gathered at the tip of a wand.

Cedric whirled around. "WHAT!"

"VENITE!" Lydia thrust her wand forward. Streams of lightning roared from her wand.

"MIRROR-O DELFELCTO!" Cedric twirled his wand in the air. A round wall formed before him. The streams of lightning were repelled into the roves of the buildings. Lydia growled through gritted teeth. The tip of her wand steamed. "Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery." Cedric cooed. "Were you tryin' to fla'er me with that display?"

"I should ask the same of you!" Lydia snapped back, ignoring her knees quaking from the strain. She and Cedric used the spells of the other from the other night. "For the record, I'm not flattered!"

"Neither am I." Cedric inspected his wand haughtily. "Your lightning was pi'iful."

Lydia stomped her foot. "THEN HERE! IGNIS SPINAS!" She blew on the tip of her wand. Fiery thorns swarmed in a spiraling gust.

"Ooh goodie! Déjà vu!" Cedric touched his wand to his mouth too. "Glacies Spiritus!" He blew roughly over the tip. A mist of ice and snow howled in a blizzard. The thorns and mist collided in the middle. Steam hissed, creating a thin cloud. Several chunks of pikes ice fell to the ground short of their target. "I believe something similar happened-"

"YAAH!" Lydia charged. She glided her wand over the frozen thorns, gathering some of them up. She flourished her wand over her head. A rope of frozen thorns whirled around her head like a whip. Cedric growled. He drew a symbol in the air. Lydia sent the whip out. The lead whisked for his heart. A glistening aura shield formed of light pieced together before Cedric. The icy whip struck the shield and was repelled. Cedric was inched back slightly. Tiny specks of ice and light splashed out like sparks. Lydia drew the whip back and sent it out again. The shield deflected the whip again, nudging Cedric back. She kept lashing the whip out over and over again. Each time the icy would shatter and the line would grow shorter. Cedric kept his shield up. Cracks were starting to form.

"Just a little more…" Lydia muttered to herself. The adrenaline, her heart – every muscle in her body was raging with a fire she hadn't felt since her days in school. Cedric brought out the worst in her. He lit the match extending from the keg of anger ready to implode. She was going to defeat him. She was going to keep her family safe from him. No matter the cost.

"Just a little more…" Cedric muttered. Lydia drew closer the shorter her ice whip became. This girl – an upstart, wannabe – dared to challenge and humiliate him. She dared to step in his way of kingdom domination. In every sense of the phrase, she was the bane of his existence. One way or another he would be rid of her. Then his goal of conquest would be realized.

"NOW!" Lydia, five feet from Cedric, cast her shortened whip once more for the nearly shattered shield.

"NOW!" The tip of the whip touched the shield. Cedric snapped his wand down. A tiny hole formed at the whip tip. The whip pierced through. A hint of elation gleamed in Lydia's eyes. The shield closed around the whip tip. Lydia's happiness faded. The shield literally melted away onto the line of ice, coating it in a glaze.

"Ugh!" Lydia stepped back. The glaze formed over the wand and her hand. "HEY!" Lydia pulled at her hand. She was stuck to the line. "LET GO!"

"Oh I intend to." Cedric purred. He swept his arm up. The whip followed, escalating into the air and dragging Lydia into the air with it. Cedric then wrenched his hand down. The whip curled down. The glaze started to melt from the line. The ice evaporated as the glaze melted.

Lydia's end of the whip cracked, wrenching her down sharply. The glaze slipped from her hand, and her wand. "AAAHHH!" She screamed shrilly.

"LYDIA!" Miranda cried, reaching out for the sphere. Lydia was plummeting for the ground. Horrified gasps erupted from the crowd of onlookers. Amber and Sofia covered their faces and turned away. Roland knelt down, holding their heads to his shoulders so they wouldn't look.

"COME ON, PRINCESS!" Constable Miles hollered. "COUNTER!"

"HURRY, LYDIA!" Zandar howled with him. Cleo, Jun, and Jin huddled close. Baileywick gnawed on his handkerchief.

Lydia clawed at the air, trying to grip her wand. It twirled out of her reach. The ground was coming up quick. She threw her body forward more. Her fingers stretched as far as they would go. "AND…" Her finger curled to the wand hilt, "GOT IT!" She turned around, tapped the wand to her chest, then aimed for Cedric, "VICIS VERTO!" She swung the wand. A fishing line cast from the spot on Lydia's chest to Cedric's.

"OH NO!" A bright flash consumed the sorcerer and then Lydia. Tiny surges crossed on the line.

Lydia appeared in the place Cedric was standing, dropping to her vibrating knees. "Whew…"

Cedric was now in free fall, "YAH-HOO-HOO-HOOEY," Just long enough to plummet through the roof of a horse barn and land in a giant bale of hay. His head hung out the bottom. Bird circled his dazed head. "Ugh…"

"UHHH!" James, Amber, and Sofia dropped to their hands and knees.

"Phew…" Baileywick touched a hand to his chest and head. "I don't know how much more of this I can take."

Constable Miles panted, wiping sweat from his brow. "I think I'm going to die of a heart attack."

"Try to hold out." The Emperor of Weiling encouraged with a chuckle. "Because I don't think they're done."

Lydia crawled over to the flower shop Eezeyal crashed into. Her entire body felt light, weak like a noodle that's been boiled. She gripped the sign post just outside the door. The strength had yet to return to her legs. "Hm?" The sound of fluttering wings beat against the air above her. Wormwood was flying off in the direction Cedric fell from. She was running out of time.

"Ugh…ha…hm…" She struggled to pull herself up. The small heel of her boot was dug into the ground. Her legs were so numb from the fall she nearly fell several times. "Eezeyal…" She groaned exhaustedly, throwing herself to the doorway, "I don't think I'm going to last much longer." She crumbled to her butt, not wanting to move anymore.

Eezeyal moaned in pain, hobbling out of the hallowed doorway. "Please try…" He urged dryly, dusting wood, glass, and dirt from his person. "Besides, I don't think this is the worst of it. I'm sure Cedric is plotting something outlandish as we speak."

"That's not helping me feel any better."

"Sorry, Liddy."

"It's okay…" She stroked his back lovingly. "I just…" She rested her head against the wooden wall, "Need to rest a moment."

"I'm afraid you don't have a moment." Lydia jumped. Eezeyal flinched back, touching his back to her hip. "You barely have a minute!" Frothing at the mouth like a rabid beast, Cedric had reappeared in the middle of the street. Hay stuck out of his nappy hair and fell out of his robe. Wormwood growled from the top of his head. Lydia shuffled away, pressing her back to the sign post. She scooped up Eezeyal and hugged him closely. "That was…quite the clever…TRICK, PRINCESS!" Cedric spat, kicking the hay off of him. Lydia pressed her back to the sign post, sliding up slowly. "But I'm done playing around with you!"

"Oh, you weren't being serious?" Lydia scoffed. "My mistake." She shrugged her hands with a menacing smirk, "And here I was thinking I'd be able to play with you a little longer." She smirked.

"You li'l wretch!" Cedric swept his hands over his body. A powerful wind blew the hay from his body. He circled his wand and stopped the hay from hitting the ground. "Then I highly suggest you get serious." He growled in a low rumble. The grains of hay surged with a powerful stream of electricity. Tiny streams connected with the other bits of hay, forming several large nets. "I don't plan to hold back any longer." Lydia staggered back. She sent Eezeyal into the air. Cedric swiped his wand through the air. Two nets darted for Lydia.

"YAH!" Lydia ran in the opposite direction. The nets started to gain on her. "YAH!" She jumped over one, then duck under the other. She came to a narrow turn. She twisted her body and slid like a softball player for home plate. Coming to the next street she dug a hand into the dirt, slowing herself down and then pushed herself back onto her feet and continued with her run. A net narrowly missed her, crashing into a wall.

"I DON'T THINK SO!" Cedric swiped his wand at the ground. His body and the nets were consumed in a green smoke.

Lydia glanced behind, curious as to why Cedric wasn't behind her. "LYDIA!" Eezeyal cried out. Lydia glanced ahead. Two electrical nets soared for her. "WHA!" Lydia tried to stop. She slipped and fell to her back, sliding a small ways. The nets flew over her. "Ow…" Lydia rubbed the back of her head. She peered through a winced eye, "AH!" Another net came for her. "YAH!" Lydia rolled out of the way. The sparks of the net grazed her arm as it missed. She scrambled to her feet and ran the other way.

"Keep running, mousey!" Cedric snarled, pressing after her. "You'll run out of steam eventually!" Two more nets flew after her.

"WHOOP!" She grabbed a pole and rounded a corner. The two nets collided with a wall, dissipating into nothing. Cedric slid to a halt on the adjacent street. He sent three more nets after her. Lydia whirled around, digging the balls of her feet into the dirt, sliding to a halt. She twirled her wand over her head. Tiny glitters dispersed, drizzling to nearby boxes. She pushed her hand and wand out. "MITTO!" The boxes took off from the ground. The three electrical nets entangled around them, evaporating into nothing. The boxes shattered on the ground. Lydia swung her wand over the ground like a pendulum. The splinters and broken planks of the boxes were scooped up. "MITTO!" The splinters launched like darts.

"IGNIS!" Cedric flicked his wand. A wall of fire appeared in the way of the wood. They flew through the wall, turning to ash right on the spot.

"AERO!" A barrel of wind ripped through the wall. Small embers were captured by the wing. The wind plowed into Cedric's stomach, throwing him back into a wall. The wall gave a little. "REDUCTO!" Lydia sent a red flare for the giving wall.

"VICIS VERTO!" A familiar string connected Cedric and Lydia.

"NO!" Lydia cried out. The flare struck the crook of the awning and wall. Lydia and Cedric were engulfed and switched by a flash. "GAH!" The awning came down. Lydia cowered under her hands. "LEVIOSA!" She screamed. The crumbling structure stopped inches from falling on her. "Uh…" The magic holding the debris started to wane, "AH!" Lydia dove and rolled. The debris came crashing down. Lydia tumbled into a small bed of dandelions.

"Crescere irretiant!" Cedric chanted. The weeds under Lydia's knee grew out of control. The prickly stems entangled themselves around her legs and waist, lassoing her to the ground. Lydia pried at the stems. They had become thicker. She pointed her wand to the weeds. "Nope." Cedric declared. He waved the wand. The fluffy cotton balls of the weeds puffed out to the size of boulders. The fluffy petals thickened and hardened, trapping Lydia's arms to her sides. Cedric chuckled victoriously. He meandered over to the trapped girl.

Lydia fought against the cotton balls. For fragile looking plants, those cotton balls were thick. "Grah!" She twisted and forced her wand arm towards the ground, gaining a little more leverage to move it. If she could just…twist…her arm…a little more. GOT IT! She turned her arms. The wand was placed between her middle and ring finger and held as tightly as Lydia could muster. "AERO!" A gust of wind exploded from the wand. The petals of the dandelions were blown asunder, sent scattering into the air. Lydia's arms were free. She extended her wand to the floating petals, "PLUIT ACUS!" A sharp gleam encased the seeds of the twirling dandelion petals. "HA!" Lydia swung her wand down. The dandelions aimed then fired.

"WHOA-OH!" Cedric leaped out of the way. The first volley of needle petals impaled the wall of a shack and the dirt. The next few rounds trailed after the sprinting sorcerer. Empty pots, windows, the ground – The needles ripped into everything, missing Cedric by just inches. Cedric ran as fast as he could. The needles were catching up. His foot tripped on a squirrel hole. He fell face first into the dirt. He glanced back. The needles drew near. Cedric flipped onto his back. "A-APERIO!" He stammered in a panic. The last second the needles rebound at a perfect angle off an invisible wall, gunning straight for the still stuck Lydia.

"MIRROR-O DELFELCTO!" Lydia panicked. A hazy spiral formed into a large circular wall. The needles shattered on contact and eventually Lydia's shield. "Phew…"

"My goodness…" The Empress of Weiling gasped. "Things sure are heating up between them."

"You would think they were trying to kill each other." The Sultan of Tangu remarked disconcertedly.

"It certainly seems that way." The King of Kaldune agreed.

"You don't think that's true, do you?" A worried Sofia asked Amber. "Lydia and Mr. Ceedric aren't trying to kill each other…are they?"

"Oh most definitely not!" Amber reassured her sister with a positive smile. "This is a competition, Sofia. Things get heated. But they won't kill each other."

"Y-you're right." Sofia laughed at herself. "I don't know what I was thinking." Lydia and Cedric would never kill each other. At least that's was Sofia and the others believed.

"ARGH!" Lydia broke free of the weeds. "I'M GOING TO KILL YOU!" She roared. A dark, fiery mist circled her wand.

"NOT BEFORE I KILL YOU FIRST!" An icy blue mist entangled Cedric's wand. He took a step forward, and thrust his wand forward. "SECTUSEMPRA!" A wavy sliver stream carrying crescent blades roared from the wand.

"RICTUSEMPRA!" Lydia pushed her wand out. A pulsing powder blue beam ripped through the air.

The silver and blue collided in the middle. The pulses deflected the interlaced blades, shattering them into tiny flakes of light. The blades slice through the pulses, dispersing them. The blue beam pressed on the silver stream, inching it back. But then the silver stream regained ground, pushing the blue beam back.

"UGH…" Lydia slid back an inch. "I WON'T LOSE TO YOU!" NOT AGAIN! Lydia unleashed a mighty roar, pouring more of her strength into her attack. Her beam thickened, steadily beginning to overpower Cedric's stream.

"GRAH…YOU WON'T BEAT ME…PRINCESS!" Cedric howled. He dug his foot into the ground, pressing forward to gain some ground.

Steam emanated from the wands. A powerful force began to swell in the middle. Wisps and blades of light orbited one another in a swarm. Lydia and Cedric clamped a hand to their wavering wand arms. The force derived from the attacks in the struggle was overwhelming. Lydia and Cedric dug their heels into the ground. Neither one let up for a moment. Their heels dragged through the dirt as they poured more power into their attacks. Then…

TWINGE! "GYAH!" Cedric's eyes widened at the scream. A sharp pain shot through Lydia's arm. "GRR! NOT NOW!" Her arm keeled under the pain. Her attack lost power.

Cedric snickered. "Now!" He poured more power into his attack. His blade filled stream tore through her light blue beam. The gathered energy in the center darted for Lydia's end.

Lydia's eyes widened. The ball encroached upon her. She threw her arms up. The ball made contact with her body and exploded, sending Lydia bouncing along the street. Her back connecting painfully with a support beam of a shop stopped her. Her head fell into a daze. Her arm throbbed in pain.

"LYDIA!" Eezeyal flew for her. Wormwood floated to Cedric's shoulder. Both sniggered victoriously.

"Ugh…" Lydia groaned hoarsely.

"Lydia! Lydia!" Eezeyal begged, landing on her knee. "Lydia! Please answer me!"

"Ow-Ow…" She rested a hand to her hurt arm. "No…not now…" She cursed. "Don't tell me…that's it."

Eezeyal watched her baby her arm. Her fingers twitched as she tried to grip her wand. The muscles in her arm pulsed. "No…" He dreaded. "She's…at her limit…"

"What happened?" Miranda gasped. "LYDIA!" She called to the sphere. "What's wrong with her arm?"

"It's possible she overwhelmed it." Roland answered urgently. "I've heard tale from Goodwin the Great that a sorcerer can bring strain to their bodies if too much magic is poured out. I believe that's what happened to Lydia's arm."

"Does this mean she can't fight?" Miranda asked fretfully.

"Not necessarily." Roland responded with uncertainty. However she is a disadvantage.

"Liddy, you need to get up!" Eezeyal pressed.

"It hurts…" She winced, gripping her arm. The pain reached her shoulder and was traveling to her neck. Cedric was on the approach. A familiar yellow light gathered at the tip of his wand.

Panic slowly started to overtake Eezeyal. "Lydia! I know it hurts! But you have to get up!" He pleaded with her. "If you don't, you lose! And Cedric will bring harm to your family! To Sofia!"

"No…" She groaned. "I won't…" She curled a leg in, "Let him…" She gritted her teeth. "I have to…" Her back pressed to the post as she struggled to rise to her feet, "Keep going…" Lydia kept a hand to her shoulder. The pain was pulsating unbearably. Eezeyal wrapped his claws around her wand and flew it up to her. Sweat beaded down Lydia's brow. She panted heavily. She's not gonna last much longer.Eezeyal muttered mentally.

A menacing snicker rumbled from Cedric. "You're at your limit, Princess." He mocked her maliciously. "It appears you'll be hanging up that wand of yours, after all." Sadness filled Lydia's heart. No…I can't…NO! "Just stay down and I won't have to hurt you."

"SHUT UP!" A fire lit in Lydia's eyes. She snatched her wand from Eezeyal with her left hand. "I didn't back down from you before! I SURE AS HECK WON'T DO IT NOW!" She tightened her grip on the wand. "BOMBARDA!" She aimed at the ground at Cedric's feet. The dirt exploded, bouncing Cedric back. A gaping hole was left. "BOMBARDA!" She shouted again. Another hole exploded to Cedric's side. He rolled over onto his stomach and scrambled to her feet."BOMBARDA! BOMBARDA! BOMBARDA!" Lydia flailed her wand wildly without restraint. Cedric ran one way. The ground exploded. He ran the other way. The ground exploded again. Every direction he went in the ground would explode.

"LYDIA!" Eezeyal called to her. "CALM DOWN, LYDIA!"

Everyone in the ballroom gasped in awe. More like worry and fear. They watched Lydia start to flail out of control. There was…a look in her eye.

"No…" Miranda touched her hands to her mouth, silencing her gasps, "Not this…not again."

"Mom…" Sofia hugged her Miranda's dress. Miranda came out of her daze, glancing to her daughter. "What's-what's wrong with Lydia?" Her blue eyes became glossy with welling tears. "Why is she acting like that?"

Miranda knelt down to Sofia and gave her a kiss on the forehead. "She's fine, sweetheart." She reassured her. "Lydia's…just…overwhelmed."

"Carpe Retractum!" Lydia blurted out of the blue. An elastic orange rope launched. The end grappled to Cedric's foot, tripping him up. Lydia panted heavily. Her eyes were wide with rage. "You won't…escape…" She wheezed through heavy pants.

"Lydia! Stop!" Eezeyal pleaded. "SOFIA'S WATCHING!"

"Huh?" The disdainful glow in Lydia's eyes died down. "Ugh…" She collapsed to her hands and knees. She panted exhaustedly. Her head hung limply. "Oh…man…I'm tired." She laughed weakly at herself. She smiled as widely as she could and raised two fingers, hoping Sofia would see. "Kidding!" She chimed.

"PAH-HA-HA-HA!" Sofia threw his head back laughing. "That's Lydia! She always has to do something crazy!"

"Crazy?" Amber laughed. "Try insane. Did you see how she had Cedric jumping?" The two girls giggled to one another. A few others joined in on the laughter. The mood began to lighten. But there were some suspicions. Especially from Roland. He noticed Miranda's perturbed behavior.

"UGGHH…" Lydia fell to her butt. "Okay…I'm good. Just tired."

"Good to know." Cedric broke the rope tying his feet. "Time to put you down for a nap."

Lydia gritted her teeth. "Drop dead, loser!" She gripped her wand tightly. Cedric curled his fingers around his wand. Lydia and Cedric both jumped to their feet. They aimed their wands. Bright lights gathered at the tips, drawing in the energy in the air. "LUMOS INPETUS!"

"PULSIS SOLARIS!" A bright flash of equally blinding lights flared across the village street. Wormwood and Eezeyal flinched back, covering their eyes. Cedric and Lydia stared down the light, still able to see each other through the blinding light. Then…there was darkness.

"Lydia?" A muffled voice echoed. Who's that? "…Lydia?" Eyes parted slightly. "Open your eyes, Lydia?" The eyes bounced open slowly.Who's there? There was…a blur of…someone's head. The eyes closed slowly, then tried to open again. "Can you hear me, Lydia?" I know this voice…A warm hand was touched to her forehead. "That's it…just a little more…"

"Hmm…Hrm…" Lydia's face twitched. "Ugh…" Her eyes fluttered open slowly. "What…?" Her blue eyes steadily regained their color. Her vision cleared. Roland's worried face came into view. "R-Roland?"

"OH…" He released a held breath of relief, touching a hand to his chest. "Thank goodness!"

"Where…" Lydia shifted her gaze slowly. She was in a darkened room. One of the palace rooms. "Where am I?"

"In your room." Roland answered tenderly, seating himself on her bed. "You've been unconscious for a few hours."

"Unconscious?" The proof was outside. It was the middle of the night. As such, Lydia was put into a night gown. Likely by the hand maids. Lydia's mind recalled the events prior to her blacking out. "OH NO!" Lydia flew up in a panic. Roland jumped back. "WHAT HAPPENED TO CEDRIC? TO EEZEYAL? TO THE DUEL? GR!" A sharp pain emanated from her right arm and up to her head. "Grr…"

"Whoa…take it easy!" Roland eased her by the shoulders back down to her pillow. "Try not to move too much."

"Ow…" Lydia groaned.

Roland placed an ice pack on the crook of her neck and shoulder. "You strained yourself too much some time during the duel. You're going to need to rest." He advised strongly. Lydia was too exhausted to argue. "As for Eezeyal…" Roland trailed off, glancing to the other side of Lydia, "He's been watching over you this whole time." Lydia turned her head. Eezeyal was fast asleep beside her. Lydia smiled proudly. "As for…the duel…" Roland swallowed nervously, "Well…"

"I lost…" Roland froze, "Didn't I?"

"Y-yes." He answered grimly. Lydia dropped her gaze with shame. "When the flash died down, the fairies and Merr found you and Cedric. He was still standing. But you were completely unconscious." Regret emanated in his tone. It hurt him to tell this story. "He was declared the winner." Roland was heartbroken when he saw Lydia turned her back to him. She wrapped her arms around herself. Her body began to tremble. "But people gave their congratulations." He gestured a hand to the several bouquet of flowers and the piles of letters. "They thought you did wonderfully." Lydia didn't respond. She couldn't. All of her hard work…for nothing. "Lydia…"

"I'm sorry!" She blurted.

"What?"

"I'm really sorry!" Her voice cracked. "To you, mom, Sofia, EVERYONE!" Her voice was wavering. "I tried hard! I really did! But I…I wasn't good enough!"

"Lydia…" Roland reached a hand out. Lydia whipped around and grabbed the hand. She shifted herself onto her knees, ignoring the pain in her shoulder. Roland was taken aback with shock. Tears of sorrow were rolling down Lydia's cheeks. "Lydia…" He sighed her name.

"I'll do better next time!" She swore. "I'll work hard! I'll study! I'll do anything!" She bowed her head, squeezing her eyes closed. "So PLEASE! PLEASE! Don't ask me to give up magic!" Roland's eyes widened. "I'm a princess now! I know that! I have other responsibilities and junk like that!" He tears dripped to her blankets. "But…for seven years people have been deciding things for me! Forcing responsibilities upon me! Responsibilities I never asked for!" She sobbed heavily. "It's my future! I should decide! So please!" The tears flowed even faster. "Don't ask me to give up something I've worked hard to achieve for seven years, for something I've only known for seven days!" She buried her face into Roland's chest. "Please, Roland!" She cried hysterically into his chest. Her tears soaked into his vest.

"Oh Lydia…" Roland cooed. He ran a hand up and down her back, soothing the saddened girl. "I would never ask you to give up your magic."

Lydia's sobs started to slow down for a moment. She sniffled, trying to catch her breath. She dried her cheek on her sleeve and looked up at Roland. "Huh?"

Roland put a hand to her head, "I heard the whispers going about as well. And, after a while, I realized that it would be unfair of me to force this life upon you when you've worked hard for the other. Especially when you've demonstrated such skill with magic." Lydia's eyes winded. Roland cupped her cheek and ran a thumb under her eyes, "You were AMAZING out there! Even when defeat was around the corner, you pressed on and fought hard. You never gave up. I'm so proud of you!"

"You…you are?" A smile graced Lydia's cheeks.

"Of course I am. You proved today just how hard it is you have been working. And, regardless of the outcome of the duel, you were victorious in my eyes." Lydia's eyes twinkled elated. Her cheeks flushed. She giggled happily as Roland ruffled her hair lovingly. "Congratulations, Lydia."

Lydia lunged forward, wrapping her arms around Roland's neck in a warm and tender hug. Tears of joy trickled over her cheek. Her heart was bursting with joy. "Thanks…dad."

LATER TATERS! ;)