Chapter 4: All Heated Up
Hey everyone, I'm back with a new chapter. Glad to see so many were eager for this to be updated. And I'm happy to say this story now has over 50 followers and favorites. Thank you all for your support and I hope you like what I have planned. Please Review and Enjoy.
In the skies above Avalor, we see Elena riding on Skylar's back as they fly over a mountain area.
"I feel sorry for you, Princesa," Skylar said.
"Why?" Elena asks curious.
"Because I'm about to do this!" Skylar said diving towards the mountains and pulling up past the waterfall.
"Now I feel sorry for you, Skylar. Because I wanna do it again!" Elena said eagerly much to Skylar's joy.
"Ho ho, you asked for it!" Skylar said doing a dive before flying up the mountain range much to Elena's joy.
"I used to hike to these mountains when I was a kid, but I never had a view like this," Elena said when the top of the mountain began to erupt and flames shot into the air startling her. "But I do not remember that monfuego being active."
"Oh, yeah, that happened while you were gone. This rock monster moved in, and don't ask me how, but whenever he gets angry, the monfuego starts to erupt." Skylar explains.
"Looks like he's having a bad day," Elena commented.
"Let's not make it worse, okay? Hey, how about we go through the waterfall this time?" Skylar suggests making Elena smile.
"Come on, let's go!" Elena said as they flew off.
Down the mountain, we see a village at the base of it, but halfway up the mountain, we see a small home.
There we see three kids running away with something in their arms.
"Come on! Let's go!" A boy said as a large rock monster shot out of a geyser. This was Charoca.
"Yeah, that's right! You better run 'cause Charoca is coming!" He said.
Turning around the kids made a funny face mocking him.
"Oh yeah?" As flames engulfed his head, Charoca made his own funny face scaring the kids away. "That's right. No one beats me in a funny face war. No day, no way. Now stay off my mountain!" Charoca snaps causing the volcano to rumble.
Seeing this the rock monster gasps. "Uh-oh. Okay, gotta chill out. Deep breaths." Walking to his stone garden, Charoca began raking it. "In with the cool, out with the hot. The cool mountain stream carries the red-hot anger away. Stay calm, stay cool." As he raked Charoca glowed blue signaling he was calming down and when he was calm so was the volcano. "Stay calm... stay cool. Stay calm. Stay cool."
Later that day at the castle, we see one of the kids from the mountain with his parents in front of the council.
"The monster made a face at me!" He said terrified.
"He chased my little Damon!" His mother said.
"He's going to make the monfuego erupt!" His father said.
"Erupt?!" Elena said startled.
As she sat in her seat, her chair made a loud squeaking noise that irritated everyone.
"Oh. Sorry. My sister built this new kind of chair, but it's a little squeaky. Go on." Elena urged.
"Our village is at the foot of the mountain. If the monfuego erupts, the lava could destroy everything." Damon's father explains.
"Please do something, Princess Elena." His mother pleads.
"It is not just up to the princess. A matter this important must be decided upon by a majority of the entire Grand Council." Esteban explains but the three of them are confused.
"¿Que?"
"He means we have to vote on what to do." Naomi translates for them.
"And I say we throw this monster out of Avalor." Esteban declares.
"Throw him out?" Elena asks.
"I must agree with Esteban. This is a matter of public safety." Franscisco agrees.
"Does this…" Moving around in her chair the squeaking noise echoes. "Does this monster have a name?"
"He calls himself Charoca!" Damon's father declares.
"Well, since the monfuego only rumbles when Charoca is angry, has anybody asked him why he's so upset?" Elena asks but Esteban just laughs.
"There is no talking to a monster like that. He's like the Bandit King. Can't be reasoned with. We must take action." Esteban assures.
Pausing Elena got an idea on how to counter that. Moving her chair around everyone cringed at the sound of the squeaking.
"Ooh! That is really tough on the ears, isn't it? Okay." Elena said getting up and pushing the chair.
"What are you doing?" Luisa asks.
"Throwing out the chair." Elena declares.
"But it only has a little squeak. Why not try and fix it?" Francisco asks.
"Exactly! I would never throw something out without trying to fix it first. So why should we throw out Charoca before trying to fix that problem, hm?" Elena points out impressing her grandfather. "Let me go talk to him and find out what's making him so angry. Then, maybe I can get him to calm down, okay? Let's vote on it! All those in favor of me talking to Charoca." Elena said raising her hand.
"I see no harm in trying." Luisa raises her hand.
"Unless he roasts her. But if you wanna give it a try, go for it." Naomi raises her hand.
Elena turns to the other side but Esteban refuses to vote forcing her to turn to her grandfather.
"Only if you're escorted by the Royal Guard." Francisco insists as he raises his hand.
"Mmm, it's a deal. Wish me luck!" Elena said running out.
A few minutes later, we see Elena and Gabe exiting the palace.
"Princess Elena, your escort is assembled and ready," Gabe said gesturing to a whole army of royal guards.
"Uh, it's a friendly visit, Gabe, not an invasion." Elena points out.
"But your grandfather said it was too dangerous to go there alone." Gabe reminds.
"All right then, saddle up," Elena said getting on her horse.
"You heard the princess. Let's go." Gabe said glancing at the others.
"Oh, not them. Just you. Then I won't be alone." Elena corrects making Gabe smirk.
"Did you hear that, guys? She just needs me." Gabe said arrogantly.
"You sure about that?" A guard points to show Elena is already leaving.
Yelping Gabe got on his horse and followed after her.
Arriving at the mountain, Gabe was on high alert while the only thing on Elena's mind was giving Charoca a present.
"All right, if the monster attacks I gotcha covered," Gabe said with his hand on his sword.
"Gabe look," Elena said gesturing to the nice house and stone guardians. "Does this look like a place a monster lives?" Elena asks when she suddenly trips over something. "Whoa!"
"Princess!" Gasping Gabe drew his sword. "He booby-trapped the perimeter! Fall back! Fall back!"
"Gabe it's just a hole," Elena said gesturing to the garden.
"It could be a booby trap disguised as a hole," Gabe said helping her up.
"Put that away. I brought my own secret weapon." Elena said opening her gifts to reveal several different chocolates. "Nobody can resist Avaloran Chocolate."
Narrowing his eyes, Gabe sheathes his sword.
"Stay here." Elena orders approaching the house.
Knocking on the door, she slowly opens it but sees no sign of Charoca.
"Hello? Anyone home?" Elena asks but gets no answer. "Señor Charoca? Oh, guess I'll just wait." Elena said sitting down on what she thought was a stone chair.
Opening his eyes, we see the chair is actually Charoca.
"Get off me!" He snaps startling her. "So you think it's all right to just come into my house and sit on me?"
"I'm sorry. I thought you were a chair." Elena apologizes.
"So I look like a chair to you?" Charoca asks offended.
"No, no, no, no. Let's start over. I'm Princess..." Elena starts.
"I don't care who you are. I told you kids to stay away." Charoca interrupts.
"Okay, okay, there's no need to get all heated up," Elena said trying to calm him down.
"Is that supposed to be some kind of joke?" Charoca asks getting in her face.
"What? No. I was just... truffle?" Elena asks holding the gift up for him.
"Get out!" Charoca snaps as flames explode out of him causing some chocolate to splatter on Elena, but before she can respond Gabe grabbed Elena and yanked her out.
"Wait! Gabe!" Elena calls out but he wouldn't listen and put her back on the horse and they raced away.
Growling in frustration, Charoca caused smoke to rise from the volcano.
Back at the palace, Gabe explained the situation to the council.
"I had it all under control," Elena assures.
"Obviously." Naomi teased as Luisa gave Elena a cloth to wipe her face.
"Lieutenant Nuñez, I wish to thank you for rescuing my granddaughter," Francisco said.
"I didn't need rescuing." Elena points out.
"Your appearance suggests otherwise. First, this monster attacked the children, and now, he's attacked the Crown Princess." Esteban points out.
"I wouldn't say attacked." Elena corrects.
"I would," Gabe said and Elena immediately shot him a glare telling him to shut up.
"We should throw him out of the kingdom before someone else gets hurt," Esteban suggests.
"I don't think he'd hurt anyone," Elena said walking up to him.
"How do you know?" Esteban asks.
"I just have a feeling," Elena said but no one seemed to be on board with that.
"Elena, feelings are important but rulers must deal with facts." Francisco points out.
"And we know for a fact that the monster is a danger to everyone in the kingdom," Esteban said.
"Do you know? Or do you just think you know?" A familiar voice calls out.
Turning to the door they saw Caleb, Kir, and Dante leaning against it.
"You?! What are you doing here?" Esteban asks.
"We were in the neighborhood and heard you guys were about to do something stupid like launch an invasion." Kir mocks.
"A monster attacked the princess. How is that stupid?" Francisco asks.
"Wait how did you even get in here? Did you use your so-called Bandit skills to get in?" Naomi asks.
"Hardly. We just walked in through the front door. No one was even guarding it." Caleb gestures making the council pause in realization.
"Oh," Gabe pauses
"Seriously. It's like you people are begging to be robbed." Dante deadpans.
"How much did you hear?" Naomi asks.
"Enough to know you people are too blind to see the problem. Especially you two." Caleb said glancing at Esteban and Gabe.
"Hey!" Gabe said.
"Just answer me one question. Did you actually see it do anything dangerous or did you all just assume it did something bad?" Caleb asks.
"It was about to attack the crown princess," Estaban said.
"You just said it attacked her but now you said it almost attacked her. Which is it?" Caleb points out.
"It didn't have the chance. I got her out before anything could happen." Gabe said.
"Did you even find out why it was angry?" Dante asks.
"I never got the chance." Elena glares.
"Princess, you're surrounded by idiots." Kir declares.
"Hey!" Gabe snaps.
"If you people are really about to remove a creature without any real proof of him being dangerous then you all are idiots," Caleb said as they walked out.
"I say we vote to remove him from Avalor immediately," Esteban said raising his hand. All in favor." Almost immediately Esteban and Francisco raised their hands.
"Abuela?" Elena asks turning to her.
"I understand how you feel, Elena, but nobody attacks my familia and gets away with it," Luisa said raising her hand. "Charoca has to go."
"Naomi?" Elena asks looking to the last member.
"Sorry, Elena," Naomi said raising her hand.
"Fine," Elena mutters in defeat.
"Lieutenant Nuñez, assemble the Royal Guard."
"At once, chancellor," Gabe said saluting him.
As Elena walked out she saw Caleb and Dante with Isabel.
"Where did you get this?" Caleb asks picking up a shiny piece of glass.
"From one of my friends. They're getting them from the monfuego. They call them monster rocks." Isabel smiles.
Hearing this Caleb's eyes widen in realization.
"Sorry kid, I'm taking this," Caleb said walking.
"Hey, that's mine," Isabel said.
"No, it's not," Caleb calls out.
"Are you seriously stealing from my little sister?' Elena glares at him with crossed arms.
"Hardly, but I found out why your monster is so angry," Caleb said holding up a stone. "Those kids never mentioned that they stole from him."
"Wait what?" Elena gasps.
"Believe us we know that no one likes being robbed." Kir smirks.
"So all this time…" Elena realized.
"The kids were the problem." Caleb finished.
"Caleb thank you! Thank you!" Elena said grabbing his arm. "You're coming with me!"
"Wait what?" Caleb said as she yanked him and Kir away.
"Elena what about my stone?" Isabel asks.
"It's not your rock! It's his!" Elena said leading Caleb to the balcony where Skylar, Luna, and Migs were hanging out.
"Skylar, I need you to take me back to the monfuego." Elena orders.
"Oh, not the one with the angry rock monster." Skylar panics.
"That's the one," Elena said.
"Nice knowin' you, Skylar." Migs smirks.
"Can I have your nest when you're gone?" Luna asks.
"Migs, we need you to give Caleb a lift too," Elena said.
"What?" Migs panics not liking this.
"Been fun knowing you guys," Luna smirks.
"Ooh, sorry, princesa. Wish I could help, but I have a cramp in my left wing." Skylar said holding up his right wing.
"That's your right wing." Elena points out.
"It's spreading." Skylar cringed.
"Yeah, and I ugh think I'm coming down with something." Migs coughs.
"Are you guys jaquins or chickens?" Caleb mocks.
"Come on, Skylar, please." Elena pleads cupping her hands together.
"Oh, not the sad puppy dog eyes. You know I cannot resist them." Skylar cringed as Elena batted her eyes. "Okay, let's go."
"Thanks," Elena said getting on his back.
"Not bad princess," Caleb smirks walking over to Migs. "Are you going to comply or is Elena gonna have to use the eyes on you too?"
"Ugh. Get on." Migs groans as Caleb climbs on his back.
Landing on Mig's head, Kir flicks his wing making a whip sound. "Totally whipped." Kir mocks when Naomi steps out onto the balcony.
"Elena. I'm sorry I voted against you." Naomi apologizes
"It's okay, Naomi. I get it. You had to do what you thought was right. And now, I have to do what I think is right." Elena said.
"What do you mean?" Naomi asks.
"Caleb showed me something and now I have a pretty good idea why Charoca's so angry. I just need to make sure." Elena said.
"You're not going..." Naomi starts praying she was wrong.
"Sure am." Elena nods.
"Me too," Caleb said.
"Me three," Kir said.
"Well, then I'm coming with you," Naomi said.
"You are? Why?" Elena asks.
"Because you're my best friend, even if we don't always agree. And as your friend, there is no way I am letting you go alone. Luna." Naomi said turning to the last jaquin.
"Say what? Uh-uh. The last thing I'm gonna do is go anywhere near that monfuego." Luna said determined.
However, a few minutes later all three of them were flying in the air.
"I'm sorry what was that about you not going anywhere near the monfuego?" Migs smirks.
"Isn't this great, Luna? The three of us, are partners on a risky, dangerous death-defying mission.
"Right now, I wish you were a silent partner," Luna mutters.
Nearby Kir made the whip-cracking noise 3 times.
"Don't mess with me, birdbrain. I will eat you." Luna threatens.
"I don't go down easy. Eat me you'll be feeling it for a week." Kir threatens.
"Come on Kir, stop rubbing it in their faces," Caleb smirks.
At the village, we see Damon with his friends both of which had tons of rocks.
"I've got more monster rocks than you do," Damon smirks when a girl spots something.
"Look out. Princess." She said.
"Who are you calling a princess?" Damon asks when Elena, Caleb, and Naomi land nearby.
"Hi there." Elena waves.
"Whoa," Damon said amazed as Elena approached them.
"What's your name?" Elena asks looking at the girl.
"Bella." She answers.
"Those are pretty rocks, Bella," Elena said.
"We got 'em from the monster," Bella said.
"I see. Did he say you could take them?" Elena asks and all three kids pause.
"He didn't say we couldn't," Damon admits.
"And he's a monster," Bella adds.
"Well, just because he's different doesn't make him a monster. And it doesn't mean it's okay to take his things." Elena said.
"You take his stuff but he gets all the blame. Doesn't seem very fair, does it?" Caleb points out.
"Well no…Sorry." Bella apologizes.
"If you're really sorry give Elena the rocks you took from him." Caleb orders.
As Bella and their friend gave the rocks to Elena, Damon was hesitant.
"You too." Caleb glares.
Frowning Damon gave Elena his rocks.
"The so-called bandit lecturing kids on stealing. You see the irony, right?" Naomi smirks.
"Hey it's already too late for me and Caleb, but these kids still have a chance." Kir chuckles when the volcano shakes and emits smoke getting their attention.
"We better get up there fast." Elena gestures.
Up at Charoca's place, the rock monster was sitting in his house meditating.
"Stay calm, stay cool, Charoca. In with the cool. Out with the hot." Charoca said doing his breathing exercises when he suddenly heard a noise outside.
"No not that one. The other one."
"This way?"
"Kir put that back."
"Oh come on Caleb."
Peeking outside, Charoca saw the three humans and a bird messing with his rocks.
"You again?" Charoca growls racing towards them.
Yelping Kir landed on Caleb's shoulder defensively, but Elena quickly moved forward. "It's not what you think. Look." Elena said gesturing to his rocks.
Gasping Charoca calmed down seeing his possessions returned to him.
"You brought them back. Sandy, Crystal, I missed you so much. Oh, Jasper." Charoca smiles.
"He named his rocks?" Naomi asks.
"You got a problem with that?" Charoca glares.
Clearing his throat, Caleb elbows Naomi signaling her to take that back. "Not me. Hi, Sandy." She waves to the rocks.
"That's Jasper." Charoca corrects.
"Yeah, Naomi get your eyes checked." Kir agrees.
"I didn't get the chance to introduce myself before. I am Crown Princess Elena." Elena declares surprising him.
"You're the crown princess? And you brought back my rocks. That's all I wanted. Thank you, Your Majesty." Charoca smiles.
"You're welcome." Elena smiles.
"Most people don't treat me with that kind of respect," Charoca admits.
"Been there," Caleb mutters.
"Well, they should," Elena suggests.
"When people look at me, all they see is a monster. But just because I'm made of rock doesn't mean I don't have feelings." Charoca said.
(Play Blow my Top)
I'm so lonely
Because I am the only one of my kind
So sad and blue
I would give most anything
If I could live in peace with all of you
I don't have much, just this old home
A little garden with a garden gnome
My only friends are the stones that you see
They maybe rocks, but they're precious to me
Is it too much to ask for a little respect
Tired of coming outside to find my garden wrecked
I feel a pain in my head
All I can see is red
And when they call me names
It only fuels the flames
I get so mad, I could hop
And my eyes wanna pop
If this aggravation doesn't stop
I'm gonna blow my top
Elena: Now that I know you, let me extend
My royal promise to be your friend
Charoca: You give me hope, and I wanna believe
But in the past, I've been deceived
Elena: I promise you, sir, will treat you with respect
Charoca: 'Cause when they steal all my things
My anger goes unchecked
Zooming out as Kir reaches for a stone, Caleb smacks his wing away hearing that last line. Moving in Elena tosses Charoca his hat and rake.
I feel a pain in my head
All I can see is red
And when they call me names
It only fuels the flames
I get so mad, I could hop
And my eyes wanna pop
If this aggravation doesn't stop
I'm gonna blow my top
Elena: I'll be your friend, I'll make it stop
Charoca: I won't blow my top
Elena: Don't blow your top
Charoca: Won't blow my
Defiantly, absolutely
Positively calm and coolly
Top!
(Song End)
"So you're not a bad guy after all. You just have serious anger management issues." Naomi summarizes.
"Yes, but I'm working on that. You know, breathing exercises, gardening, let's see, meditating. You guys, I'm trying." Charoca assures.
"Relax big guy, I get it," Caleb said patting him on the shoulder.
"Well, don't worry, Charoca. Nobody will treat you like a monster ever again." Elena assures.
"Seize that monster!" Esteban orders as he, Gabe, and the Royal guards arrive.
"Guess you forgot they were coming." Caleb groans knowing they will ruin everything.
"What? Esteban. Stop! He's not a monster." Elena calls out.
"I thought you wanted to be my friend, but you were just setting me up for a sneak attack," Charoca said feeling betrayed.
"That's not true. I'm trying to help." Elena said as Charoca glowed red and flames came out of it.
"Uh-oh, he's getting angry." Kir panics.
"I'll save you, princess," Gabe said running in acting like a hero but Charoca threw a rock at them forcing Gabe to dodge.
"Grab him." Esteban orders.
"Caleb, should we do the thing?" Kir asks.
"Not here." Caleb shoots down.
"Leave him alone." Elena orders.
"They want a monster, I'll give them a monster." Charcoa picks up a large rock and hurls it at them and roars causing steam geysers to shoot out.
"Fall back!" The guards yell running away.
"Wait. No. Where are you going?" Esteban asks when a rock flies over and nailed him in the butt. "Ow!"
However, it wasn't Charoca who threw that rock.
"Hehehe." Kir snickers holding a rock in his wings.
"Kir." Caleb smirks amused.
"Look me in the eyes and say you didn't want to do that too." Kir counters.
"Princesa, hop on." Skylar said as they were all forced to flee.
Once they were gone Charoca turned to his rocks.
"It's okay, guys. It's gonna be okay. Sorry. They just make me so angry!" Charoca growls as lava flows from the top of the monfuego.
Flying down to the village, Elena was immediately confronted by Esteban.
"What do you think you're doing? And you are helping her?" Esteban said noticing Naomi before seeing Caleb and Kir. "Oh great, you too?"
"We were doing fine until..." Naomi starts.
"You defied the vote of the council, Elena." Esteban interrupts. "And now I must inform them of the fiasco you created."
"Mess she created? No, you created this mess." Caleb said walking up to him and poking Esteban in the chest.
"Excuse me?" Esteban said startled.
"We had this problem solved. If you had just stopped to think for 5 seconds you would have realized that." Caleb said.
"Does this look like a problem solved?" Esteban gestures.
Before Caleb could respond the villagers began to panic.
"The lava is coming!"
"And it's heading right for the schoolhouse!"
Looking towards the mountain, the lava was approaching the village without any sign of stopping.
"I have an idea, Your Majesty." Gabe approaches. "We can build a barricade to divert the lava away from the school."
"But how can we put it up so quickly?" A villager asks.
"With a squadron of the bravest royal guards in the kingdom," Gabe said pointing to his squad.
"And me," Naomi said.
"And us," Skylar said.
"We're helping too aren't we?" Kir asks.
"Yes." Caleb nods.
"Okay then, let's save the village." Elena declares.
Gathering as many large rocks as possible, they quickly began stacking the rocks to build a wall.
"That should do it," Gabe said now that the wall was tall enough.
"Here it comes!" Kir points to lava approaching them.
"Everyone get back!" Caleb calls out as they run a safe distance away.
Slowly the lava approached the wall and everyone held their breath hoping the wall would hold. Pressing against it, some lava pushed through the cracks but to everyone's joy the wall held and the lava stopped advancing.
"It's holding! We did it!" Gabe declares as everyone cheers.
"No!" A voice calls out.
Looking up they saw the monfuego was spewing lava right toward Charoca's house.
"The lava, my house, my friends!" Charoca panics.
"Charoca needs help!" Elena gasps.
"How are we supposed to help?" Naomi asks but Caleb is already in motion.
"Time to get to work Kir!" Caleb calls out hopping on Luna. "Get me up there!"
"Oh yeah! Let's do this!" Kir said flying after them.
"What's he doing?" Elena gasps worried.
Up the mountain, we see Charoca trying to save his rocks.
"I got you, Jaden, Gemma. I am sorry, guys. I lost my temper, and now, the monfuego is erupting. I gotta cool down. Out with the hot, in with the cool. Stay calm, stay cool." Charoca chants as his body begins to glow blue and cools down his rocks. "That's it. Feel better, guys?" He smiles before seeing the lava getting closer. "No. The lava! Maybe I can cool the lava down like I did you guys, if I stay cool, Okay, stay cool. Stay calm." Struggling Charoca tried to stay cool but he got hot again.
"Charoca get back!" Caleb calls out.
Turning around he saw Caleb leap off Luna and land in front of him.
Flying in from nearby, Naomi and Elena saw Kir attached himself to Caleb's arm.
"Kir Royale!" Caleb yells.
Firing a powerful green blast it collides with the lava creating a giant hole in the cliffs that sends it back into the monfuego and away from Charoca's home.
"No way," Elena said speechless.
"What was that?" Naomi asks.
"Just when I think this guy is out of surprises." Elena smiles softly.
"You…saved my houses? Why?" Charoca asks.
"You're not the only person who's been labeled. But there's a chance you can salvage your reputation." Caleb said.
"It's too late for us to lose our rep, but not too late for you, big guy." Kir points out.
"Not to mention, Princess went through a lot of trouble to make sure your garden was fixed," Caleb said as they flew down.
"You forgot to mention as princess, it's my duty to protect everyone who lives in Avalor. Including you." Elena said facing Charoca.
Smiling Charoca was beyond touched that even though he got angry at them, they didn't hesitate to help him when he needed it. Responding to him, the monfuego stopped erupting.
"The monfuego's stopped." Elena smiled thinking it was over.
"Uh we still have a problem," Naomi said getting their attention.
Looking down the mountain, they saw the lava they had stopped earlier was now moving in a different direction.
"We saved the school, but the lava is headed straight for the village." Elena gasps.
"We're gonna need a lot of water to stop that." Caleb gulps.
"There's no time," Naomi said.
"I did this." Charoca frowns.
"Because they attacked you." Elena reminds trying not to blame him.
"It doesn't matter. I lost my cool, and now, they're all in danger because of me." Charoca said when he noticed his rocks on the ground and realized something. "I can save them." He realized.
Turning around Charoca gave himself some room before running to the edge and leaping off the cliff.
"Charoca!" Elena screams in worry.
"Come on! We gotta get down there!" Caleb said grabbing her arm.
Down below, everyone was running for cover as Charoca crashed just short of the village.
"I can stop this lava... if I stay cool. You are a calm, cool Charoca. Out with the hot, in with the cool." Charoca chants glowing blue.
Walking to a small opening in the path the lava was flowing Charoca positioned himself right in the lava's path.
"Stay calm, stay cool. Stay calm, stay cool. Stay calm, stay cool. Stay calm, stay…" Charoca chants as the lava presses up against him, but Charoca's glow causes the lava to harden before finally coming to a stop.
"The monster saved us." Damon points.
"He's no monster, he's a hero." A villager said as Elena rushed to his side.
"Charoca? Charoca?" Elena called out but got no answer.
Turning away, Elena feared the worst when they heard a loud cracking noise.
Slowly each of Charoca's arms broke free from the hardened lava allowing the rock monster to escape the hold causing the villagers to cheer.
"I stayed cool." Charoca pants.
"You did. You really did." Elena smiled happy to see he was okay.
Later that day as the sun was setting, the entire village was throwing a party in honor of Charoca.
Leading Damon and Bella towards Charoca, Caleb and Kir glare at them.
"I believe you kids have something to say to him." Caleb hints.
"Um, sorry we took your rocks, Señor Charoca." Damon starts.
"And for calling you a monster," Bella adds.
"That's okay. Want a monfuego-mallow?" Charoca offers to make the kids smile.
"What's a monfuego-mallow?" Kir asks as Charoca hands them all a marshmallow on a stick before lighting his thumb on fire so they can roast them.
"Mmm handy." Caleb smiles.
Nearby Esteban brings Elena's grandparents to her to tell them what she did.
"Aha! There she is." Esteban accuses getting her attention. "Princess Elena disobeyed our vote, and took matters into her own hands."
"I was only trying to do what I thought was right." Elena counters.
"And she was right. We were wrong about Charoca." Naomi gestures.
"You may have been right this time, Elena, but the law is the law. And as Crown Princess, you must respect the decision of the Grand Council." Francisco scolds.
"But sometimes, the heart knows best, Francisco." Luisa points out.
"She has a point. Just sayin'." Skylar chimes in making Luisa giggle.
"I'll tell you what, abuelo. Next time, I'll do what the council decides, if you promise to have a more open heart." Elena offers.
"That I can promise." He smiles much to Esteban's annoyance.
As he walks away, Esteban doesn't notice Dante sneaking past them towards Caleb.
"Okay then. Enough royal business. We're missing the party." Luisa insists.
"We're not missing the party. The party's missing us!" Francisco said grabbing a guitar.
"Princess Elena," Charoca calls out approaching her. "I thought my only friends in the world were my rocks, but, um... looks like I was wrong. So this is for you, For being my friend." Charoca said holding out a boulder.
"Thank you. What a lovely rock." Elena said when Charoca broke the top off revealing a beautiful stone flower.
"It's a caldorose. It only grows on the monfuego.A special flower for a special princess." Charoca said giving it to her.
"Rough on the outside, but beautiful on the inside. Just like you." Elena smiles.
Smiling Charoca walks past her and approaches Caleb, Kir, and Dante by the fountain.
"Thanks for saving my home guys," Charoca said giving them some stones. "I owe you one."
Smiling Kir and Dante thought they could make a pretty penny off these.
"No trouble at all. Things will be a lot easier for you now." Caleb smiles.
"And happier," Charoca said walking away.
"So find anything interesting?" Caleb asks handing him a monfuego-mallow.
"Hamtaro and the others are looking. So far, the only person who was around during Shuriki's whole reign is that Esteban guy." Dante said.
"Funny, how that clown keeps finding ways to be a pain," Kir said.
"Is there anyone else? That guy isn't big on having an open mind?" Caleb asks.
"Just one, someone named Alacazar, but he died a while ago," Dante said.
"Wait a minute…that's Mateo's grandpa. The former Royal Wizard. That's why we're messing up. Shuriki may have been a queen but she was a sorceress first. We gotta think magic-wise to find what we're looking for." Caleb realized making the other two grin.
"I like the way you think Caleb." Kir smiles when Elena approaches them.
"Hey there. Got a minute?" Elena asks.
"Ooh that's a cool flower," Dante said eyeing it.
"It was a gift from Charoca," Elena said.
"Meaning don't steal it unless you want to deal with another eruption," Caleb whispers making Dante freeze up. "What's up Princess?"
"Can I talk to you?" Elena asks as Caleb sits up.
"What's up?" Caleb asks as they walk away.
"That thing you did with your bird. That was magic, wasn't it?" Elena asks.
"Maybe," Caleb said.
"How did you do that?" Elena asks.
"Well, Kir does most of the heavy lifting in this case." Caleb shrugs not going into details.
"What I'm trying to say is…you were amazing back there," Elena said.
"Thanks." Caleb smiles.
"Listen, Caleb, I want to say I appreciate everything you did earlier. Would you and Kir be at all interested in joining my Royal Guards or perhaps a council member? I could really use someone like you helping me out." Elena offers getting Kir and Dante's attention.
"Not happening," Caleb said almost instantly.
"Well that was unexpected…sure you don't want to even think about it?" Elena hesitates trying to compose.
"Sorry, but I've learned that your council is not the most reliable when it comes to dealing with topics you don't agree on," Caleb said.
"But that was just one time," Elena said.
"Even so I'm just not cut for that whole politics thing. I prefer to do my whole thing. But you try to do things your way princess." Caleb said walking away.
'You are something else, Caleb. But what?' Elena thought.
Just when she thought she had him figured out, he kept her guessing.