Disclaimer: I do not own Sofia The First
A/N: Hello everyone! Hope you've been enjoying your spooky season so far (if you celebrate); and I hope you also enjoy this little story I cooked up for the 10 year anniversary of 'Princess Butterfly'. STF's first Halloween episode :)
"Wormy! Did Princess Amber get the amulet?" Cedric inquired excitedly, as his familiar flew in through the window. Practically bouncing with giddy anticipation.
His joy was doused however when the bird landed somberly upon his perch. Cawing in dismay as he bowed his head.
"She... didn't?..." Cedric concluded softy, his gleeful expression melting away. "Merlin's Mushrooms!" They had been so close!
Later that day
The sorcerer added yet another ingredient to the cauldron. Stewing himself, over this latest failure. When a knock at his door had him cringing. A knock he was becoming all too familiar with.
"Come in" he answered simply, not bothering to force any niceties. Unsurprised when the vexing little purple princess step inside.
"Hi, Mr. Ceedric!" she greeted in her typical chipper tone.
"It's Cedric," he corrected once again, annoyed. Before tempering his ire to ask, "And to what, do I owe the pleasure of your visit?"
"Well, I just thought you'd want to know, that you don't have to worry about Amber anymore," she informed happily. "The fairies were able to get her back to normal just fine."
"Oh? Well isn't that...wonderful! " he smiled through gritted teeth.
Up above, Wormwood let out a loud claw. Sofia flinching at the sound, and reaching for her amulet as he circled overhead, before landing on his perch.
"Well?" Cedric raised a brow, having not noticed her apprehension. "If that's all there is, you'd best be on your way." Eager to get her out of his workshop and return to his sulking.
"Yeah..." her voice trailed off. Still eyeing Wormwood warily. "Um, actually Mr. Ceedric... earlier when I was going to give Amber my amulet for your potion, she changed her mind. But then Wormwood grabbed it anyway... We tried to call out to him, but he wouldn't stop..." now fiddling with the jewel, as she mulled the matter over.
Cedric seeing the wheels turning in her head, began to panic. He couldn't let her get wise to his plans regarding the amulet.
"Oh! um! W..we...well you...you see..." he stuttered, mentally scrambling for an explanation "Raven's are actually quite fond of shiny things!"
She tilted her head "Like, the griffins?"
"Uh, yes! Exactly like griffins!" Feeling more at ease now that she seemed to be buying it. "Normally, Wormy here's pretty well behaved about it. But sometimes he can get a little carried away," giving his familiar an affectionate stroke on the head.
"Excuse me!" Wormwood whispered indignantly, pulling away from his master's touch. Clearly not pleased at being compared to the kleptomaniac creatures that had to be confined to the jewel room.
"Oh," Sofia mused. "I guess that makes sense..." Still keeping a wary eye on the bird.
"Yes," Cedric assured. Before turning and wagging his finger with a scolding tone. "Now, now Wormy! You leave the princess and her amulet alone!"
The bird turned is head away, annoyed, and muttered something under his breath. Though he declined to protest outright, knowing Sofia could understand him.
"There! No harm, no foul princess," Cedric declared, with a smile. "Now, run along. I'm sure Baileywick's searching all over the castle to bring you to supper." Ushering her towards the door and opening it for her.
"Alright," she agreed. Stepping out and turning to give him one last parting smile. "See you around, Mr. Ceedric!"
"It's Cedric!" he sang irritably through a false smile. His facade dropping as soon as she was out of sight.
"Oh! How she mocks me!" he grumbled. "But I'll get that amulet one day. I'll...Ow!" Crying out when Wormwood alighted on his shoulder, and nipped him none too gently on the ear.
The bird cawed at him in displeasure; and while Cedric lacked the ability to understand his speech, he seemed to get the gist of what he was saying.
"Well, I had to come up with something! I couldn't very well tell her the real reason you wouldn't bring her amulet back, now could I!?"
Wormwood continued to rant at him, "Yes, but you couldn't have come up with something better than 'Raven's like shiny things'? Merlin's mushrooms! As if I'm as mindlessly one track as the prince's dog." Honestly, the humiliation!
Cedric cringed at the continued complaints, and let out an exasperated sigh.
"Okay fine! I'm sorry!" When the bird still narrowed his eyes at him, he added. "Here, why don't we share some of that peanut brittle mummy sent for the holiday," he offered as a token of peace. "...I could use something sweet myself after all this mess..."
Though still irritated, Wormwood agreed to let bygones be bygones, at the promise of them both commiserating over one of his favorite treats.