6 The Journey of Cordelia and Sophia

Cordelia Carbon comes from a long line of Carbon’s. Carbons are the “King of the Elements” due to their ability to form more compounds than any other element, which makes Cordelia the princess…much to her dismay. All of Cordelia’s life she has wanted to be a normal element, just like her best friend Timmy Tin. One day, Cordelia became so angry with her parents, the king and queen, and her duties as a princess, that she decided to run away. She wrapped up her bright red, curly hair into a bun, snuck past the castle guards, and went off to meet Timmy Tin at the park.

Sophia Sulfur is a girl of the forest. She hides away in a small cottage surrounded by beautiful wildflowers and lively animals. Sophia used to be loved by the townspeople for her ability to protect them from disease and support them in their everyday lives. One day, Sophia came across an evil witch in the forest named Helga Hydrogen. Helga cursed Sophia with a spell that would make her toxic and reek of a pungent smell. She ran far far away to a park to try to escape the smell of rotten egg that followed her.

As Cordelia enters the park, the first thing she notices is the pungent smell surrounding the playground. She then notices Timmy Tin along with all the other elements covering their noses and pointing at a girl sitting on a bench by herself. The girl has pale yellow skin with brown ringlet hair and she is clearly distressed from the treatment of the other kids. Cordelia immediately walks up to the girl. “Hi! My name is Cordelia Carbon, why are you crying?” The girl answers saying, “Hello Cordelia, my name is Sophia Sulfur. I haven’t always smelled like this, but I was cursed by a witch in the forest and now I am not myself.” This information shocks Cordelia. She has never come across an element that has been cursed, and she knows she has to help Sophia Sulfur. Cordelia says, “Well, let’s go find the witch!”

Cordelia and Sophia begin the trek to the forest and slowly become acquainted with one another. Cordelia shares that she is the princess of Elementia and why she ran away saying, “I am tired of being a Carbon and having to constantly form strong bonds with other elements and Carbons. I want to be normal!” Sophia, wanting to forget her own situation, becomes determined to help Cordelia as well. Sophia says, “But Cordelia, being a Carbon is amazing! You remain solid at room temperature, you are a non-metal, and you have four valence electrons. I have six valence electrons, which is a lot to take care of!” Cordelia sighs and says, “I know, I just wish I had less duties. Sometimes, I wish Carbon didn’t occur in all living organisms. Anyways, enough about me, let’s talk about you! What was your life like before you were cursed?” Sophia pauses and then says, “I used to love visiting the village and helping people out. I would help people achieve healthy skin and muscles, help them make and digest their meals, help them make important things like glass and cement, and many other things that are essential to their well being.” Sophia immediately loses the smile that began to stretch upon her face and says, “Now things just aren’t the same. The animals in the forest seem to still like me and they have used my foul smell to their advantage to keep them safe. However, I feel like I will never be able to go to the village again. Nobody wants me around anymore.” Cordelia says, “But Sophia, I love having you around! Your rotten smell does not define who you are as a person. I am hopeful that we will cure you, but you have so much to love about yourself even after being cursed. You have not lost your worth at all, you are just a different version of yourself. You are still kind and brilliant and I am so glad I have you in my life now.” Sophia gives Cordelia a smirk and begins to feel almost normal again.

Before the girls know it, they encroached upon the witch’s cottage deep in the forest. Here, the trees lay still, creaking and groaning, almost as if they were alive. The sky seemed to disappear under the thick canopy and the girls looked at each other in worry. In the blink of an eye, Helga Hydrogen appeared in front of them with a wide smile on her wart-studded face. “What do you two little elements want? I believe I know the one who reeks of rotten eggs,” Helga said. Cordelia shot forward in a burst of anger and said, “Take back the curse you wrought upon my friend! She does not deserve what you did to her!” Helga merely laughed which angered Cordelia more and then Cordelia said, “I am the princess of Elementia, the daughter of the Carbon King and Queen, I demand you release Sophia Sulfur of this curse!” Helga stopped laughing and said, “No, I will not release your friend. She will be in misery just as I am in.” It was then that Sophia Sulfur realized the witch was just like her and Cordelia. “I understand you feel unhappy with yourself, we all do at times,” Sophia said. “I tend to doubt myself and my abilities, but then I remember that we’re not perfect and trying your best is enough. Cordelia is one of the most amazing elements I’ve ever met and yet she doubts herself and is unhappy with herself too. She doesn’t see that she is an amazing princess and has the ability to better Elementia. I believe you are good, but you don’t believe it yourself.” The witch was taken aback, never has anyone seen good in her. Sophia then said, “You know what, I am okay with myself as I am now. I will go on with this smell and I will be proud of myself no matter what.” The witch whispered something under her breath and the stillness was broken with a swift wind and then an eerie silence. With that silence came the chirping of birds, an onslaught of sunlight, and…no smell. The witch said, “You have believed in me when no one else has, for that, I will grant your wish.”

Sophia and Cordelia never saw Helga Hydrogen after that, but they heard rumors of a good witch in the town that would grant wishes. Sophia went on to be a doctor with a knack for gardening and always took in animals in need. Cordelia became queen and was the best queen Elementia had ever had. Every Tuesday, Sophia and Cordelia meet up for tea and chat away for hours. The two best friends lived happily ever after.

Carbon Fun Facts:

• Carbon is a nonmetal that can bond with itself and many other chemical elements, forming over ten million compounds.
• Carbon has the highest melting/sublimation point of the element.
• Carbon as a diamond is the most expensive and brilliant of all the natural gemstones and the hardest of the naturally occurring abrasives.

Sulfur Fun Facts:

• Pure sulfur has no smell.
• Sulfur is the 10th most abundant element in the universe.
• The majority of sulfur is stored underground, for example under the ocean or in rocks.