Trouble in Paradise
Summary: The Mystic Isles Protectors have fallen victim to chaos, thanks to an evil entity called Necazuri. Cedric and Sofia join Butterford to stop her, but while on their mission, the sorcerer is plagued with off-putting visions and Necazuri's taunting voice in the back of his mind, causing him to question everything and everyone around him, even Sofia. (Takes place 3.5 years after my Season 5 stories, and most notably after the events of The Tainted Ten)
Disclaimer: I don't own Sofia the First. I do own Charlie and Serena (both mentioned), Butterford, Muscles, Ira (mentioned), the AutoCoach, and Necazuri. Nana and Tanya belong to MarionetteJ2X.
A/N: If you've missed "Jealous Cedric" in my stories, good news. He's back. lol But definitely for a specific reason, as you'll see. Meanwhile, though I am on my trip right now, when I do have a bit of downtime, I'll spend it working on this story. Thanks for all the reviews so far. 😊 You know they mean so much! Also, I'll have some clarifying info in chapter 4. ;)
Chapter 3: On Guard
Cedric appeared rather contemplative as he sat in the AutoCoach, across from Sofia and Butterford, who were chatting about the enchantress they'd recently heard about. He half listened as they were talking about how to stop the enchantress, but his ears perked up when a different topic was approached.
"So Orion said Necazuri once owned the Amulet of Avalor, right?" Butterford clarified, watching as Sofia nodded. "Who else has owned it besides you?"
"My Aunt Tilly, my friend Elena, her mom… A princess called Princess Charlotte… Many people, from what I understand, but it's hard to say just how many. It's apparently really old."
The Guardian nodded in understanding before asking, "Do you mind if I see it for a few minutes? I'm curious about something."
"Sure." Without hesitation, Sofia immediately unlatched the amulet's clasp from behind her neck and passed it over to her friend, watching as he held it carefully, his aquamarine eyes roving over the beautiful gem in the intricate setting.
Cedric didn't restrain the miffed scoff that escaped his lips, his arms folding over his chest as he offered Sofia a pointed look. "You didn't even do that for me when I first asked you to see the amulet all those years ago. Or the few times thereafter. Not willingly, anyway."
"You were literally after my amulet then, Cedric," she laughed. "Operation: take over the kingdom. Remember?"
"You didn't know about that then, though," he retorted, a somewhat mildly defensive yet playful tone to his voice. He missed the knowing smile on her face though, suggesting that she quite possibly could have known more than she'd let on. After all, she had always been very perceptive… "Not until I finally confessed, of course."
"Of course, Cedric," she laughed, shaking her head. She looked back at her friend beside her. "Well?"
Butterford hummed quietly before shrugging, his gloved fingers still carefully caressing the stone. "I'm not sure about its powers or connections to the enchantress, honestly. I wasn't even sure if I would be able to tell anything. I guess I was just hoping my 'Guardian powers' would kick in or something." He smiled as she giggled, and he gestured briefly. "Want me to put it back on for you?"
"Please." She turned slightly to face away from him, and she used both hands to lift her heavy waves from her neck and shoulders, pulling her hair into a temporary messy bun on the base of her head, her fingers holding it in place as she waited for the amulet to return to its rightful position.
Long gloved fingers brushed some of the remaining auburn tendrils from the princess's neck, and Butterford smiled as she visibly shivered. "Ticklish, huh?" he asked gently as he carefully fastened the chain behind her neck, tapping her hands to get her to release her hair to its normal length, which he caressed a few times, smoothing it into place.
"A little bit," she admitted, turning back around, her cheeks tinged a light pink. "I kind of got shivers from it too. My neck is sensitive."
"Indeed," Cedric drawled somewhat bitterly, rolling his eyes as he cleared his throat. "Anyway, changing the subject…" It was painfully obvious to him that he was feeling a surge of jealousy flooding him, his mind practically ranting, 'Causing her to shiver? That's my job,' as he observed his wife and friend (mostly her friend, but Cedric did consider Butterford a friend) interacting in such a…strangely intimate way. Or at least that's what he perceived, but… Surely, he was wrong. Right? "When we find this woman, we should be prepared to show no mercy and take her down, especially if she's as wicked as Orion and Vega have suggested."
Sofia sighed, slowly nodding. "You know I hate having to destroy anyone, Cedric," she admitted quietly, her eyes downcast. "But… If she is a threat to us or our loved ones, especially if she tries to hurt our children… I'll take her down myself." She smiled softly when she felt Butterford take her hand, squeezing it reassuringly.
Cedric, having seen this exchange, sighed. "I'm… I'm going to try to get some rest. Let me know when we arrive if I don't wake up before then." He shuffled on his seat, folding his arms against his stomach, closing his eyes as he tucked his head near the window.
Sofia and Butterford exchanged curious glances, no doubt wondering the same thing, before they began talking quietly with each other once again.
About an hour into the trip, Cedric was still sleeping while the other two were talking in a relatively low tone so as not to disturb the slumbering sorcerer.
"I wonder what's going on with him," Sofia mumbled as she leaned against her friend's shoulder, her fingers absently playing with his long hair. "He's been acting weird since we left the Mystic Isles."
"Maybe he's just stressed," Butterford suggested, though he was well aware that Cedric was behaving unusually. However, he didn't really want to worry the princess more than she already was. So instead, he decided to distract her. "What are you doing?" he teased, laughing as she ran her fingers through a section of his hair.
"Your hair is so soft," she told him distractedly, sitting up a bit as she lifted some of his hair to hers, comparing the different shades. "Hmm… Let me try something." She gathered a small section of her own hair and tugged it forward, beginning to entwine her Guardian's long locks with hers, forming a dual-shaded braid. "Wow, that's actually really pretty."
He laughed. "Remember what we talked about not too long ago? If things had been different, and if we'd met at a different time and in another universe, and there was even more obvious chemistry than now…" He smiled as she stopped her movements, blinking at him. "I could see a future for our alternate selves… I've already told you that I can see why Cedric fell in love with you. And…had things been different, even I…" He smiled warmly at the princess. "I probably would have fallen for you myself…"
"Jas…"
"Hey, at least our baby would have really pretty hair." He laughed as Sofia flushed, though there was a smile on her face as well.
"Jas… While that's sweet to think about, you have a husband–someone you love and who loves you, and a really sweet daughter. And I…" She nodded to Cedric, who was still asleep. "I'm in love with Cedric. I always have been… I wouldn't give up my life with him and our children for anything. I'm happy with the way things turned out…"
He chuckled good-naturedly. "I know, Sofia. Don't worry. We both got our happily-ever-after, and I'm perfectly happy with having such an amazing friend in my life."
An enamored expression crossed her features before she giggled as Butterford clasped her hand, the soft fabric from his glove warm against her skin. "But… I still stand by what I told you too… You'd be easy to fall in love with…"
"Aww. You're adorable." He kissed her forehead, an affectionate gesture he reserved solely for her. "By the way, did I tell you what I found out about Marty and Garnette?"
Her eyes widened slightly, shimmering with curiosity. "No! Tell me."
"Well… According to Wiggles, they…"
Cedric was dreaming, and the contorted expression on his face suggested that the content of his dreams was not to his liking… He murmured softly in his sleep, incoherent words barely escaping his mouth.
Sofia and Butterford were walking together, holding hands, and following a little girl who looked remarkably like a perfect blend of them: long auburn-blonde hair curling around her waist, big aqua-blue eyes that reflected love and innocence (as was common with children her age), and a turquoise dress with matching pants beneath, trimmed in gold, with a replicate of Sofia's amulet dangling around her neck.
"Mama, Papa!" the little one called excitedly, turning to face the aforementioned duo. "Hurry! Follow me!"
Sofia moved to follow the girl, but she giggled when she felt a hand grasp her own, pulling her back. She smiled at Butterford as he tugged her into a loving hug. "Jas…"
"Sofia…" He leaned forward, his lips just barely brushing hers–
Cedric gasped sharply as he awoke, his eyes dilated briefly before he came to his senses, only to frown as he saw Sofia and Butterford hugging and laughing. "W-What's going on?" he asked somewhat irritably, which caused the other two to slowly separate, staring at him in concern.
"Nothing, Cedric," Sofia told him gently. "We were just talking. Are you all right? You sounded like you were having a crazy dream there for a while. You kept muttering to yourself."
"I'm fine." He seemed a bit cross as he folded his arms, glaring at them contemplatively.
Sofia, attempting to lighten the mood, told her husband, "Cedric, you look like you're under a hypnotic spell or something… You're watching us so intensely." Seeing that he didn't budge or make any response to her joke, she bit her lip, glancing toward Butterford, who also seemed uneasy.
Cedric was conflicted, but he refused to let it show. He knew he was jealous over nothing, especially since Sofia and Butterford were just friends, and Butterford didn't even like women in a romantic way. Plus, both were married to other people and respected the sanctity of marriage. The two in his dream were not the two before him, but… He had allowed himself to become inexplicably and undeniably jealous and irritable, and he couldn't fathom why. He just wasn't able to let that go.
Needless to say, the rest of the ride was tense yet silent for the most part, adding to the chaotic nature of their current mission. A mixture of danger, jealousy, anger, irritation, uncertainty, and possibly dark magic…
What could possibly go wrong?
Oh, wait.
To be continued…
Next chapter: Spelling Error