Les Misérables

Summary: After studying about the dark past of surrounding kingdoms, Tanya asks Cedric and Sofia if any other kingdom ever had the same level of darkness. This leads to a very unexpected story, filled with despair, hope, severed and forged bonds, and preventable demise. Read Me a Story format! (Takes place 5 years after my season 5 stories)

Disclaimer: I don't own Sofia the First. I own Corban and some other OCs mentioned here. MarionetteJ2X owns Tanya and Nana.

A/N: Sorry for the long delay. Here's another chapter for you guys, though it's definitely on the sadder side. Sorry about that. More chapters to come over the next few weeks!

Chapter 13: Exposed

While everyone was getting ready to settle down for the night, some already having dozed off despite the circumstances, the Zodian troops had been creeping ever closer to the barricade. They were staking out the area, preparing for their eventual attack. There was little use to attack immediately, since they did not yet have their orders, so instead they waited.

Meanwhile, inside the café, Cedric was reclining a bit in a booth with Greylock resting against his shoulder, signs of a fitful sleep evident as his friend mumbled and fretted. Cedric gently rubbed the other man's arm, a sign of soothing he'd learned from his mother years ago, and sighed as he finally calmed down.

The leader hadn't slept at all, fearful of what would happen if he closed his eyes for even a few moments. He had an entire group of people to account for, and the kingdom, whether they realized it or not, counted on him and his awareness. Of course, as time dragged on, he was growing weary. He knew it was important to rest, but with the stakes as high as they were, and the feeling of dread hanging over his head, he couldn't. He just couldn't…

"Can't sleep?"

He looked up, seeing Sofia walking toward him, a blanket draped around her body as she knelt next to him. "Sofia? What are you doing? I thought you were sleeping."

She shrugged. "I had a nightmare, and I guess it's just better to be awake and tired than asleep and afraid."

"Mm… Words that could apply to life itself, I suppose…"

Sofia nodded before glancing at Greylock. "Is he okay?"

Cedric half shrugged with his free arm before readjusting his posture, wrapping a protective arm around his friend as he continued sleeping. "I'd imagine not, but I'm just grateful he's getting some rest. He usually won't sleep unless I do."

"He respects you, Cedric," she acknowledged with a knowing smile. "And I know he cares about you and your safety, just like you care so much about everyone…" She sighed as he lifted his free hand to her face, gently caressing her cheek with his long fingers.

"You and others like you are the reason I fight so hard, Sofia… Our future is dependent upon what we do next, and I will fight to the death to ensure safety and happiness for all of you."

Sofia stared at him calmly, asking, "And will you be in our future, Cedric?"

He paused, not knowing how to respond, when he heard a disturbance outside. Briskly, he slipped away from Greylock, lowering the sleeping man to the booth, and hurried outside, Sofia following him. Spotting James and Orion, he asked, "What's going on?"

"Soldiers on the other side," James answered hastily, trying to catch his breath. "I'd peeped over to check on the barricade, and I nearly got my head blasted by a stray bullet. Maybe with the magic you guys used, we'll be safe."

"You might as well surrender now!" one of the troop leaders from the other side taunted. "We've got you surrounded, and our magic wielders have already started removing your magical barrier! You're fighting a useless battle!"

By this time, most of Merlin's followers had made it outside due to the disturbance, including a rather groggy Greylock, who was leaning against Hugo for support. Even young Corban stood next to his friends, willing to help, as always. And then, Baileywick, who had been strangely absent for a while since he'd quietly slipped away to reveal his experiences and knowledge of the inside job, stepped up toward Cedric.

"We can stand down," the older man assured Cedric, his fake accent a bit muddled for some reason. "They can talk all they want. They're not going to do anything."

Corban frowned as he circled the man, his eyes widening ever so slightly. "No, don't trust him, Cedric. He's a fraud."

"Miles?" Cedric asked, looking between Corban and Baileywick. He glared at the older man as Corban stood next to him. "Is this true?"

"He's a spy," Corban insisted, pointing at him. "Look at him! And listen to his voice! That's Inspector Baileywick!"

"Why, you little-!" Baileywick could hardly finish his train of thought or threatening stance when he felt himself magically detained. His heated eyes shifting to the source, he glared furiously at Greylock, who was smirking triumphantly at him. "I'll have you all arrested for this! You're no match for the Zodian guards anyway! Justice will prevail!"

"Only if we win," Cedric reminded the man curtly. "Your twisted sense of 'justice' is an embarrassment to a once-great land." He nodded to Greylock, who magically silenced the spy with a spell, and he then turned to the others as Orion took the inspector inside to keep him locked away for the time being. "Keep on guard, my friends. The enemy is swift, but we are smart and capable. We will get all of Zodia and surrounding city-states to rise with us and help us. Somehow, we will be victorious."

Another stronger disturbance on the other side of the barricade was heard, the sound of scraping and falling objects, and the magical barrier being weakened, alarming the followers of Merlin.

"They're going to break through it," Desmond acknowledged, frowning. "We've got to make it more secure." Without a thought, he rushed forward, climbing up some of the rubble, pushing some of it back into place and calling out to Cedric, "Seal it magically, Cedric!"

"You idiot, what are you doing?!" Cedric snapped, frantically gesturing downward after complying with the request (just to be on the safe side). "They're going to kill you, Desmond! Come on!"

Sofia glanced up, noticing a steadily growing opening in the barricade, a little too close to where Desmond was. She gasped as she saw the barrel of a musket poking through the opening. "Desmond, look out!" Frantically, she rushed up the unsteady barricade, throwing herself in front of her friend, grasping the musket barrel just as the shooter on the other side yelped and fired, the blast echoing throughout the otherwise quiet area. She released the gun and fell back into Desmond, both of them tumbling to the ground below.

Cedric, enraged, used his wand to fire back at the other side, part of the top of the barricade shattering as a few soldiers were hit and killed, including the one who had shot Sofia.

"Regroup, men!" the troop leader could be heard saying, and the sound of soldiers retreating on the other side was a relief… Although, it was obvious it had come at a terrible price.

Sofia was lying on the ground, her wound so bad and deep in her abdomen that she'd lost a lot of blood already. Her eyes seemed dazed and dilated, and she could hardly form a coherent sentence as Desmond sobbed and held onto her.

"Sofia, please, please, I'm so sorry," Desmond cried, sniffling as she reached up to him, some of her blood streaking his cheek as she touched his face. He ignored the sticky feeling as he grasped that same hand, staring down at her in concern. "I'm so sorry for not being a better friend and protecting you like I should have… I've been so wrapped up in myself that I couldn't see…"

She managed to smile sadly at him, masking her pain as she always did, to make him feel better. "It's not your fault," she whispered. "I made my own…decisions… I…wanted to protect you… Desmond…" She felt herself lifted up a bit as Desmond hugged her, sobbing into her hair, which was now in a bloody disarray instead of the neat braid Cedric had woven for her only a few hours before. She made eye contact with the leader, seeing the pure sadness and empathy in his brown orbs. "Win for us, Cedric," she managed, though it was obvious she was struggling. "Don't give up…"

Cedric choked back his own tears as he steeled himself, nodding with a reserved look. "I promise you, Sofia… I will die before giving up." He caught sight of what appeared to be her final smile just as Desmond kissed her forehead, and the final breath escaped the first victim of the barricade.

"Sofia? Sofia, no!" Desmond sobbed, pleading with the girl to hold on, but it was no use. James and Slickwell carefully pulled him away, none of them noticing Corban standing aside and holding his hands to his heart, tears falling from his little eyes.

"Sissy," he whispered, clenching his fingers tightly over an old locket he usually kept hidden in his dirty shirt. "Sofia…"

While some of the men comforted Desmond, Cedric moved forward and picked up Sofia, cradling her gently while carrying her inside the café. He carefully lowered her to one of the benches, allowing a tear to slip down his face as he observed her silent, still features, which had been so full of life just a while ago. "I assure you," he whispered, crossing her hands over her abdomen, both to cover the wound and to follow protocol for the situation at hand, "I will fight on your behalf, Sofia… Your death won't be in vain." He reached up and caressed her cheek, like he'd done just a little while ago, and shook his head. "If only we'd lived in a better world… You and I could have…" He sighed, moving forward and pressing a kiss to her forehead. "You can finally sleep, my friend…" Without another word, he steadied his resolve and slowly returned to the others, bracing himself for whatever hit them next.

To be continued…

Next Chapter: Roland's Role