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sugarrushproductions · 1 month ago

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Elena And Sofia: Royal Trouble

Chapter 2: Flightless

Sofia giggled as she watched Luna playfully bat the twine, meant for tying the tamales, back and forth between her paws. The red jaquin got the twine stolen from Skylar, creating an impromptu indoor game of olaball. Migs had grown increasingly annoyed with his friend's antics and he drew the line when Sofia and Isabel joined in on the fun.

Although the princesses were slightly disappointed, Mateo and Elena quickly offered them more tamales to make up for it. After scolding Skylar again about having enough already, anyway. The jaquin grabbed his belly and claimed he would perish without more tamales. Elena, while slightly amused by his theatrics, refused to give in to his demands.

Naomi thundered down the steps to the kitchen, calling out to Elena, Gabe, and Mateo. Sofia seized the opportunity created by the distraction and tossed Skylar his food discreetly.

"Oo- Thanks, princessa," Skylar whispered gratefully.

"What about me? I'm as hungry as he is," Luna asked, feeling left out. Isabel rolled her eyes and threw her own tamale to the other jaquin.

"Mmhmm. Thanks, Isabel," Luna said with a satisfied grin.

Migs grew exasperated and snapped. "Will you two pay attention?"

"We are paying attention!" Luna and Skylar protested in unison, their voices filled with indignation.

Raising an eyebrow, Migs skeptically challenged them, "Really? Then what did Naomi just tell Elena?"

Luna froze mid-bite, her eyes scanning the two for clues. "Uh... That her hairpin is crooked?" she guessed. The two princesses shared an amused glance, while Migs facepalmed in exasperation.

"What? That's a good observation," Luna defended, unfazed by Migs's disapproval. Finishing her food in two big bites, she seemed to consider the conversation over.

Elena's hand instinctively went to her hairpin as she asked, "My hairpin is crooked?" Her cheeks flushed a light shade of pink when she realized that Mateo's hand was already there, gently adjusting it.

Mateo quickly pulled his hand away, his face turning a deep shade of red. "Sorry, I was just... sorry," he muttered, his voice barely above a whisper.

Gabe and Naomi shared a groan, rolling their eyes in annoyance. Mateo rubbed the back of his neck, clearly embarrassed by the situation.

“We don’t have time for this,” Gabe said. “If what Naomi said is true, we’re headed into big trouble.”

Any sense of amusement in the room had vanished at his tone. Sofia and Isabel rushed to the older group’s side.

“What kind of trouble?” Isabel asked.

“Well, I don’t think we’re headed to Fantasia,” Naomi said.

“You mean, anymore?” Sofia asked hopefully. If they were lost, that was an easier fix than what she was implying.

“I mean, I don’t think we were ever headed to that kingdom in the first place. We’re going to Hectoria.”

Isabel gasped along with Skylar, and Sofia just winced. “I was afraid you’d say that.”

. . .

As the Enchancia royal galleon gracefully approached the dock, the crew's voices echoed through the air, calling out to the waiting crowd. Orders and warnings intermingled, creating a symphony of activity. Amidst the bustling scene, King Roland, adorned in his most regal attire, emerged from below deck.

Two servants, scurrying about in their eagerness to carry out their duties, almost collided with the King. He gave them a gentle scolding, not out of malice, but with the same playful tone he would use with his children when they needed a gentle reminder of the rules or their manners.

The King had just returned from a visit to Miranda, who had unfortunately caught a cold during their journey. While her condition was not life-threatening, it required her to remain below deck for the majority of the trip. James had volunteered to stay by her side and keep her company while they met with the royals.

“Sofia!” Amber waved excitedly from the side of the boat, unable to contain her eagerness to reunite with her sister. Cedric trailed behind her, displaying a semblance of patience and composure that belied his true feelings. Roland, having known the man for years, could see that Cedric was barely restraining himself from breaking into a run.

As the royal party disembarked, Sofia rushed forward to greet them, her arms outstretched in a warm embrace. She eagerly inquired about the whereabouts of James and her mother, only to be met with the news of Miranda's illness. Roland gently suggested that she visit her mother before they departed for the castle, but Sofia, driven by a sudden urgency, grabbed Cedric's arm and dashed off in the opposite direction, leaving Roland and Amber with a mixture of amusement and concern.

Once they were safely behind a pile of boxes Sofia, her voice barely above a whisper, uttered her wish, "I wish for us to be small."

Cedric's body tingled and shifted, a wave of dizziness washing over him. He stumbled backward, expecting to collide with the boxes, but they stood firm and unmoving, as sturdy as a formidable wall. Regaining his bearings, the sorcerer looked up in astonishment at the towering shipping containers looming behind him, dwarfing their now diminutive forms.

"Princess Sofia, you must give me a warning before you decide to shrink me with you," Cedric scolded, his voice carrying a hint of exasperation.

"I'm sorry, Mr. Cedric, but I couldn't risk us being overheard." Sofia's frantic urgency was evident in her tone as she explained. Any annoyance Cedric might have felt dissipated at the sight of her distress. With a nod, he prompted her to continue.

"Naomi found out that we aren't in Fantasia," Sofia revealed. "It's Hectoria! She and the others think whoever Verano is, she took over King Hector's kingdom."

Cedric's brow creased with concern as he muttered, "Oh dear.”

"They think we shouldn't say anything right away, but stay on guard in case anything seems off," Sofia added.

A soft groan escaped Cedric's lips. "And here I thought this would be a relaxing visit."

Sofia's head tilted in confusion as she asked, "What do you mean?"

"Oh, I've been on edge ever since you disappeared. That night, Wormwood somehow broke out of the dungeon with his strangeling friend," Cedric explained. "Since then, I've been on a relentless search for him."

Sofia's eyes widened in astonishment. "Wormwood escaped? But how?"

"I cannot say for certain," Cedric admitted. "But I suspect he brewed a potion somehow. I found some feathers in his water bowl and the cell they shared with a would-be jewel thief was a bit scorched.”

“You can’t use that compass spell to find him?”

“I’m afraid not- That is another thing that clued me in to the possibility that he created a rudimentary brew. And after his escape, two of my potions have gone missing.”

Before Sofia could question him more, the booming voice of King Roland echoed through the air. "SOFIA! CEDRIC!" The volume was so intense that Cedric had to cover his ears. To his surprise, Sofia remained unfazed, a reminder of her familiarity with such changes due to her magical abilities.

Concern etched on her face, Sofia placed a gentle hand on Cedric's back, asking, “Are you ok, Mr. Cedric?”

He waved dismissively. “I’m alright, Princess. But we best be going lest anyone suspect something is wrong.”

Sofia nodded in agreement, and with a swift magical gesture, they returned to their normal size. Together, they rushed to the carriage where King Roland and Princess Amber were already waiting. Cedric offered a gallant bow to let Sofia enter, but she paused, her gaze shifting toward the Avaloran carriage.

At the helm, Gabe stood with the firm determination befitting a general. Mateo and Naomi were settling into the carriage, their queen's arrival imminent. Elena and Sofia exchanged a knowing glance, their shared concern and worry transforming into brave determination.

. . .

In the dim light of the hold, Wormwood clutched a small burlap satchel. Small though it may have seemed, it bore the weight of two potent potions, concealed from the naked eye by a mere whisper of displaced air. The lower deck had offered him respite and a chance to ration his precious invisibility potion.

The contents of the other potion remained a mystery as his former master had come back into the tower before he could identify it. Wormwood had even accidentally spilled a drop on the Queen during the trip. A happy accident if he did say so himself, considering she had fallen ill in turn.

Stowing away on the royal galleon to an unknown kingdom had been an incredibly risky gambit that had forced him to expend half of his remaining invisibility potion for the fear that his bag and his presence had been detected.

Yet, amid the risks and close calls, he had stumbled upon a wondrously useful secret. Under the potion's effects, those affected could see each other with uncanny clarity, a revelation he had exploited with his former ally.

Time had passed since that fateful alliance, and the strangeling, softened by his time in the castle dungeon, had abandoned their shared goals. While the strangeling yearned for Prisma, Wormwood's heart burned only with a desire for vengeance.

Enchancia, the Protectors, Cedric the Goody Two Shoes, all would face his wrath. But above all, his rage was fueled by an insatiable thirst for revenge on that infernal Princess..

Initially, Cedric had occupied the top spot on his revenge list. But as the years dragged on, languishing in the confines of that magical birdcage, Wormwood realized that it was the princess who had set his downfall in motion. Cedric, despite his youthful bungling, had once been truly evil, plotting to overthrow the kingdom. Then, Princess Sofia arrived, her presence casting a spell on the sorcerer’s heart. She had moved into the castle and his heart all at once.

Made him want to be better. Disgusting.

Oh he would deal with that pesky princess first, once he had secured a new master to share his malicious ambitions. Emerging from the hold, he witnessed a sight that made his disdain grow: Cedric, the fool, embracing the princess. Wormwood rolled his eyes and took flight, soaring off to explore this new land, confident that somewhere amidst its vastness, a master wicked enough for his purposes awaited.

. . .

“The Queen will join you all in a moment,” The castle steward said as he let the royals and jaquins into the throne room. “Please wait here.”

Sofia and Amber curtseyed politely, the former more stiff than her sister, as Roland thanked him. Mateo had to gently nudge Elena for her to do the same.

The Queen of Avalor had been too busy distracting herself by trying to note everything in the room to keep her magic from acting up. On the way to the castle she saw the destruction of a golden statue in a square.

The one of King Hector.

As it turned out, Naomi was right in her assumption that Verano had taken King Hector’s kingdom. Elena had only visited the kingdom once, after finally getting him and Queen Abigail to get along for Norberg’s family day, and hadn’t been pleased with the tour he’d given. It was all about him and his portraits- anything to do with his family had been taken down the moment his father abdicated the throne.

Now, all the portraits of King Hector were gone. In place of them were tapestries expertly woven into beautiful gardens and mystic realms. There was even one showing Vallestrella, which confused the Jaquins. Only Elena and her friends had been allowed into their realm without consequence, at least for over fifty years.

“Oh, what a charming little throne,” Amber gushed, drawing Elena’s eyes to it. She instantly recognized the hand carved and very detailed carvings of peabunnies and butterfrogs. “I wonder what these carvings are of. Maybe the queen can show me to her carpenter so I can get one.” Roland cleared his throat. “After the meeting, of course,” Amber added, flicking her fan open to cover her smile as more royals started to enter the throne room.

“I’d wait before getting too close to her, Amber,” Sofia whispered, low so only she could hear. Amber raised her eyebrows and began to question her sister, stopping when she met her eyes and understanding immediately. It wasn’t good to draw attention to the problem right away. Amber nodded and schooled her features to be as unreadable as possible while still being polite. Everrealm Academy had taught her well.

King Joaquín, Ambassador Shoji, Queen Abigail, Prince Marzel and Princess Marissa, Princess Valentina and her guard Manuel, and King Juan Ramón with his son Prince Alonso all entered together. It seemed that apart from Enchancia, Elena had been the only one to bring more than one person. The Queen of Avalor couldn’t help but wonder if her invitation said something different, but that didn’t seem to be the case with Enchancia.

Elena waved cordially to the newcomers, everyone but Abigail, Shoji, and Joaquín rushing to her side.

“Is everything alright, Elena?” Val asked, putting a hand on her shoulder.

“I don’t know,” She muttered. All her friends shared glances and Naomi started to explain what they'd seen and what she figured out. Even Roland had come over to listen, the emotions seeming to spread through the throne room.

Two big ornate doors at the opposing end of the room opened, interrupting Naomi. A woman with bright golden hair put up in a half bun style and pale blue eyes that scanned the room quickly. She had a kind smile, though Elena swore she saw the woman's eyes narrow when they landed on her even if it was just a slight change.

“Ah, you must be my guests,” the woman said as she approached the group. “Welcome to Fantasia. I am Queen Verano, elected by the people to lead them.”

“Elected?” Naomi echoed, her arms crossed skeptically.

Verano nodded. “Yes. After the resistance against the old King Hector was finally finished, thanks to the help of these fine kingdoms,” she gestured to Joaquin, Shoji, and Abigail, “We were able to give this kingdom a new, better life. I know you all have questions," Verano said with a courteous bow. "I am happy to address any concerns you may have."

Everyone but the three named kingdoms exchanged shocked glances or uneasy looks. Sofia stepped protectively in front of her sister and father, her arms crossed and a glare directed at the queen, careful not to be too obvious. Elena, however, made no effort to hide her disdain for the so-called elected queen.

Cedric was the first to speak, his voice laced with accusation. “You would say your evil plan aloud?”

Verano's lips curled into a smirk, and she stifled a laugh behind her hand. “It’s not an evil plan if it’s for the betterment of my people.” Val raised her hand, clearing her throat slightly. “Yes, Princess Valentina?”

“I know that K- Hector wasn’t the best king ever," Valentina began cautiously, "but was all this really necessary?”

“Yes, my dear. During his rule, anyone but the wealthy were struggling simply to live, to eat, to put clothes on their backs. Yes, Queen Elena?”

“If this really was for ‘the betterment of your people’, as you claim," Elena challenged, her glare intensifying, "then prove it. Show us how much better the people are.” Mateo and Sofia exchanged worried glances as Elena's hands settled on her hips.

Mateo swiftly placed a comforting hand on Elena's shoulder, its warmth tempering her rising anger. Thanks to his touch, her dress remained a reassuring red, much to their relief.

“If you’ll be willing to sit through a luncheon with me, I’ll make sure to give you all a tour later on,” Verano curtseyed stiffly, turning and gesturing for them to follow her.

Elena bristled at Verano's imperious tone. Taking a moment to compose herself, she allowed the others to go ahead of her. Sofia hesitated to join her family but followed after receiving a reassuring nod from Mateo.

"Are you okay?" Mateo whispered as soon as the others were out of earshot.

Elena gave a small nod, attempting to smile. “Just thinking of baby jaquins.”

He gave her shoulder a gentle squeeze. “We both know how Hector could be. Maybe-”

"Hector may have been a bad ruler," Elena retorted, her voice rising, "but that doesn't give her the right to just take over!" Her dress flashed orange for a second, causing the paintings to tremble. She closed her eyes, gripping Mateo's hand to steady herself. As her dress returned to its normal red hue, so did the room's tranquility.

“It’ll be alright, Elena.” She opened her eyes to meet his kind hazel gaze. She opened her mouth to say something, but he cut her off. “It’s not like what happened to Avalor.”

With her parents, he needn't say. Elena exhaled, releasing a breath she hadn't realized she'd been holding, and offered him a grateful smile.

"Just... stay with me today, okay?" Elena's voice was barely a whisper, and her cheeks flushed a delicate pink.

"Always," Mateo replied, his own face mirroring her blush. A wave of warmth washed over him, and he silently cursed his inability to control his emotions around her. Thankfully, before the moment could stretch into unbearable awkwardness, Sofia materialized beside Elena in a puff of pink mist, her expression mirroring their shared confusion.

“And apparently, so will Sofia,” Elena quipped, a hint of amusement tempering her bewilderment. “I thought you were going with your family.”

Sofia shrugged, equally puzzled. "I don't know what happened. One minute I was telling my dad I couldn’t wait to head home, and the next, my amulet brought me here."

“That’s strange.”

“As much as I want to figure this out,” Mateo cut off Sofia’s next words. “We really should catch up to everyone.”

With a nod, Elena, Mateo, and Sofia hurried to catch up with the others, a shared sense of unease lingering in the air. As they entered the grand dining hall, they were greeted by a lavish spread of delicacies and the sight of the other royals already seated. Queen Verano, with a warm smile, gestured for them to join the feast.

"Please, indulge yourselves," Verano said graciously. "Our chefs have exquisite culinary skills, and now they finally have a chance to experiment.”

Elena politely declined, stating that she wasn't hungry. Mateo followed suit, though he couldn’t help but look longingly at the delectable dishes, while Sofia hesitantly, but politely, accepted a small plate.

Throughout the luncheon, Verano regaled her guests with tales of Fantasia's prosperity within the last year and the newfound contentment of her people. However, Elena remained unconvinced, her skepticism growing with each passing moment.

. . .

Wormwood perched on the fence, dropping his satchel into the brush below. He'd retrieve it later, once he'd found some morsel of food in this rundown farm. It wasn’t going to be the finest meal like he'd enjoyed in Cedric's tower, but anything was better than four years of prison rations.

A man with a shock of reddish-brown hair, his mustache and locks caked with dirt and dust, trudged closer. His brown eyes smoldered with a familiar fire of resentment. Wormwood observed him, noting the way he fidgeted with his ill-fitting farmhand clothes, scratching at the hay clinging to them. He muttered to himself, fragments of phrases like "royal," "should still be," and "stupid so-called resistance" drifting across the field.

As the man reached for a pitchfork, recognition struck Wormwood. This disheveled figure was none other than King Hector of Hectoria. Why was a man such as this, of his stature, working in such a desolate place? He should be in the palace, with all the power and riches his heart desired.

King Hector's head whipped towards the road, drawn by the sound of galloping hooves. A magnificent carriage, pulled by two golden horses with flowing white manes, sped past. King Hector unleashed a torrent of curses at the carriage, but it continued on its way, leaving him fuming.

Wormwood's brow furrowed as he witnessed the spectacle, his gaze drawn to the glint of a crown adorning the head of a blonde woman within the carriage.

"That's my crown, you... you crown thief!" King Hector's voice was a mixture of rage and despair as he hurled the pitchfork to the ground, watching the carriage disappear over the hill.

Not the sharpest tool, is he? Wormwood thought, but his beak curled into a sly smile as he connected the dots.

Hector was no longer a king. The throne had been taken from him by a resistance of sorts. While Wormwood didn’t remember much of the kingdom, he knew Enchancia remained purposefully civil with it before and had never signed a trade agreement with them. And considering how King Roland tried to be friends with every kingdom he could, that said something.

So that woman with the crown had taken his throne and stuck him on this farm. Wormwood touched a feather to his beak thoughtfully.

“Why find the most evil master when you can mold one yourself?” Wormwood mused, a wicked glint in his eye.

“Who’s there?” Hector’s head whipped around to him, searching the area around the raven.

“Over here, good fellow,” Wormwood said, louder than before. Hector’s brown eyes finally fell on the small bird and he approached cautiously. The bird bowed, schooling his features to a mix of awe and reverence. “My name is Wormwood.”

“A talking bird, huh? If I still had my zoo, you’d be the main attraction.”

“Yes, I’m sure I would,” Wormwood said smoothly, hiding his annoyance. Flatter and use him, he thought, putting on a smile. “King Hector of Hectoria, is it? I’ve heard great things about you.”

Hector scoffed, crossing his arms much like a child. “Apparently you’re the only one. Just ‘cause I didn’t build a school or two or made some new roads, I’m suddenly a ‘bad king’.”

Wormwood quirked an eyebrow, feigning surprise. “Really? Those don’t seem like the actions of a bad king at all. In fact, it sounds like prioritizing wisely.” Hector’s face lit up, his emotions as transparent as glass.

“Well duh. I graduated years ago and my personal roads are just fine.”

“Why spend money on the people when you can spend it on what you want?”

“Exactly!”

“I believe we could help each other out, my king,” Wormwood said, flying to perch on his shoulder.

“You do?” Hector beamed, puffing out his chest.

“Indeed. It sounds to me that you did absolutely nothing wrong and deserve to be back on your throne.”

Hector nodded along, his smile growing as he spoke. “Yeah, I do!”

Wormwood mirrored his smile, though his was laced with a hint of amusement. The man was so transparent, it was almost comical. But as long as Hector's gullibility served Wormwood's purposes, he didn't care.

“I would be absolutely honored if you’d allow me to assist you in this task," Wormwood declared, his voice dripping with feigned sincerity.

“Alright let’s- wait.” Hector's smile faltered, suspicion clouding his eyes. “What’s in it for you?”

"Ah, a wise question, my king," Wormwood chuckled, his voice smooth as silk. He hovered before Hector, feigning wide-eyed innocence. "Even the most loyal servant requires sustenance. A bit of food, a comfortable roost– nothing extravagant, I assure you."

Hector studied him, his eyes searching for any hint of deception, but finding only the mask Wormwood had carefully crafted. Perfect.

“If you can help me get back my crown, I’ll make sure you get a feast everyday.”

“You have my eternal gratitude, Your Majesty,” Wormwood said, bowing his head dramatically. “Alas, I have some other matters to attend to before the day is done. Shall we reconvene here at sundown?”

“Uh, why can’t we just leave now?”

“Leaving under the cover of night would be far more prudent, my king. We wouldn’t want your usurper to catch wind of our plans prematurely, now would we?”

Hector looked down, stroking his chin thoughtfully. “I guess that makes sense.”

“Splendid!” Wormwood exclaimed, turning to take flight. “Until tonight, my king.”

. . .

Since Mateo was the royal wizard and not her Chancellor, Verano insisted he stay behind. Though initially upset, Elena was relieved that Naomi could join her, along with Amber and Sofia. Sofia's presence was less of a choice and more of a magical insistence, as her amulet kept poofing her back to Elena's side anytime she tried to leave.

Roland had been hesitant to let them go without him, but with both Elena and Naomi present, and his promise to let Amber take the lead on this trip, he reluctantly agreed to travel in a separate carriage. Cedric, however, was adamant about accompanying them and managed to convince Verano to let him take Queen Abigail’s place.

Inside the carriage, Verano, Naomi, and Amber occupied the back row, facing Elena, Sofia, and Cedric. Both Elena and Cedric kept a watchful eye on the queen, though Cedric maintained a more neutral expression.

The tour of the kingdom showed that Verano was indeed playing the part of a loving and fair leader. Construction projects for new schools were underway, and they had to take detours due to road repairs. Elena's initial suspicions wavered in the face of it; it was something she knew King Hector had many chances to do and had never done.

But when Verano mentioned that she knew how important it was for a kingdom and that Elena had set a great example, one that King Hector never took, Elena had to look up at her jaquin friend’s flying high above them and imagining them as kids. She hadn’t known them then, but the idea of them as cute baby jaquins helped her not get as angry. The breeze carrying the fallen leaves of the coming autumn also helped.

As their carriage bumped along a forgotten dirt road, they passed a humble farm with a modest barn and house. Elena guessed it was a simple dwelling for one, not a place of profit. A lone man toiled in the fields, his unruly reddish-brown hair and mustache coated in dust, his ill-fitting overalls a jarring contrast to his bearing. Elena's heart sank as she recognized the former king, reduced to a common laborer.

"That was King Hector, wasn't it?" she asked, her voice sharp as they crested over a hill..

Verano sighed, a dismissive sound escaping her lips. "Yes. Hector now resides on my childhood farm, hopefully learning the value of hard work."

“Why?” Amber asked, keeping her face hidden behind her fan. “I would have assumed you would have him sent to the dungeon.

"The dungeon is for true criminals, not spoiled children," Verano replied, her features remaining neutral. "With time and effort, Hector may yet prove himself worthy of his former title, and the people may choose to reinstate him."

"But you're the queen," Cedric interjected, confusion evident in his voice.

"For now," Verano said with a shrug. "Leadership is not a birthright but a privilege earned through service. In seven years, the people shall decide who is most deserving to take my place."

“That’s different, but it sounds like a nice idea,” Sofia offered. Verano smiled gently at her, either missing or ignoring Elena’s growing scowl.

"But it's his birthright," Elena countered, crossing her arms defensively. "He shouldn't have to prove himself worthy of his own kingdom."

Verano's next words, though spoken gently, ignited Elena's anger. "Some deserve to inherit their kingdoms, like you," Verano remarked, causing Elena to freeze, her eyes widening in surprise. "Unfortunately, others have to take them by force to make positive changes."

Elena's dress flared bright orange.

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