On July 6, the world of country music lost a great legend. Charlie Daniels passed away at age 83.

If Candice can sing this classic Charlie Daniels song while she watches the fight between Maleficent and Constance and Zahida, and supplies music for it in Niagara14301's Dorrie Book 2, let's see what she, Dorrie, James, and Wendell can do with it! I thought it would be fun if, following Candice's magic show in chapter 23 of the same story, James invited her, Wendell, Dorrie, and Timothy to his room to sit in on one of his writing sessions. Wendell even remembers a song that James plays as one that he faced off against him with, but he tells him that it's going to be used for fun this time around. For another variation on this classic, see chapter 5 of my story A Puzzling Mystery Weekend. Charlie Daniels' music is not mine, and on a more serious note, rest in peace, Charlie Daniels.

Following Candice's magic show, Wendell was going to his room for the night when Dorrie and Candice stopped him.

"Hold it, Wendell," Candice smiled, taking his arm.

"You're not going anywhere," Dorrie smirked, taking his other arm.

"What could I have done now?" Wendell asked, frowning a little. "I've already apologized to Timothy and all of you for how horrid I've been; what more do you want?"

"To let you start having some fun," Candice smirked.

"Oh? And how do you propose we do that?" Wendell asked.

"Let's start by all of us visiting James," Dorrie smiled.

"James is angry enough at me," Wendell admitted, recalling how James had shouted at him for how he'd treated Timothy, who had come up to see what was going on. "It's going to take some time before I'm back in his good books again."

"Don't worry, Wendell," Timothy smiled. "You'll be back on James' good side before you know it!"

"I wish I had your optimism, Timothy," Wendell smirked as they arrived at James' door.

Wendell was surprised to see Gwen and Chef Andre there as well. "Sir, ma'am, I'm not here to cause trouble; I was invited…" he blurted out, recalling that one of the rules at the castle that he had to follow while he was working there was staying away from not just Timothy, but Gwen and Chef Andre, the kitchen, and Gwen's workshop.

"Don't worry, Wendell," Gwen assured him, "Violet told us how you apologized to Timothy, and we just came to see how you're doing."

"Are you guys going to stand there all night?" James called out to them, "This new story of mine won't write itself, you know!"

"Wendell, you're in for a real treat," Dorrie grinned. "James never lets us sit in on his story writing sessions!"

"I didn't even know he was a writer," Wendell admitted.

"Well, then, young man, you're going to get a surprise," Chef Andre smiled. "Prince James frequently submits stories he writes to the local children's magazine in Dunwiddie: Adventure Stories Weekly."

"That's right," James said as he sat up on his bed. "I've got four boxes of stories in here." He led them over to a corner of the room and lifted each box as he explained what was in it. "This box has my favorite stories in it, and which haven't gone to the magazine." He lifted the second one, explaining, "This one has copies of the magazine that have my stories in it. This one," he raised a third box, "is the same magazine, and they have stories I like, but they don't have my stories in them."

"And this one?" Chef Andre asked, motioning to the fourth box.

"That's my 'try again later' box," James replied. "Sometimes I don't like the way a story's going, so I put it in there and I try and think about how I can make the story work. Sometimes I find new material that I can use, but sometimes I end up throwing the story out, since I don't like how it's going, even with the new stuff."

"I've done that myself, Prince James," Gwen smiled. "It's all part of the inventive and creative process."

"And the stuffed animals?" Wendell asked, motioning toward the stuffed tiger, dog, and dragon on the bed.

"My writing consultants," James smirked. "Prince Blizzard, Little Rex, and Sir Blaze-a-Lot have come up with a lot of brilliant ideas for my stories!"

"And I suppose that's why you wanted me to bring my own doll, Jenny?" Candice smirked, holding up her doll.

"That's right," James grinned. "There's nothing wrong with a fresh set of button eyes looking at my stories and offering their ideas!" He heard Wendell trying to turn a laugh into a coughing fit, but he said, "Laugh if you want, Wendell, but Miss Flora, Miss Fauna, and Miss Merryweather have told me, and the rest of my Creative Writing class at Royal Prep that stuffed animals are brilliant listeners, and they come up with good ideas too! You just have to listen to what they say!"

"Prince James, before I forget, I made something for you," Gwen said as she produced a flat piece of wood which was glued to a large pillow. "Just put the paper on the wood and write normally on it. The board's even padded so you can put it on your lap. That way you're not cramped or sprawled on your bed as you're working."

"I'll have to try that with this new story," James smiled. "Thanks, Gwen!"

"I brought some snacks as well," Chef Andre added, holding out a tray of cookies. "We can't have you writing on an empty stomach!"

"Don't forget to play something fun while you're writing!" Dorrie smiled.

"Okay," James grinned. "Timothy, since it's also your first time watching me write, why don't you pick something from the box of tapes and CDs over there?"

"Okay!" Timothy grinned. He rummaged through the box for a minute, then smiled as he pulled a CD out. "How's this one?"

"Brillliant!" James grinned. "And everyone's heard this phrase around the castle at one point or another: I love this song!"

When the music started, he began singing as he took up his pencil and glanced at Sir Blaze-a-Lot, The devil went down to Georgia
He was lookin' for a soul to steal
He was in a bind
'Cause he was way behind
And he was willin' to make a deal

Candice joined in with a whoop. "Dare I say it, yee hah! But before this gets too far ahead, I'll be right back!"

"And anyone who knows and likes the song, feel free to jump right in," James agreed as Candice vanished in a puff of smoke.

"Okay!" Dorrie giggled as she watched James write something down after looking over at Little Rex.

When he came upon this young man
Sawin' on a fiddle and playin' it hot
And the devil jumped
Up on a hickory stump
And said, "Boy, let me tell you what

"This song…" Wendell couldn't help but chuckle when he heard the opening notes. "It had to be this song!"

At the same time, James was singing, I guess you didn't know it
But I'm a fiddle player too
And if you'd care to take a dare, I'll make a bet with you

Now you play a pretty good fiddle, boy
But give the devil his due
I'll bet a fiddle of gold
Against your soul
'Cause I think I'm better than you"

"What's wrong with it?" Timothy asked.

"I stole a girl's horse, and Prince James challenged me to a lute battle with this song to see if I'd give her back, which of course I didn't," Wendell smirked good-naturedly, but he shrank back under Dorrie's disapproving frown. "But if it's any consolation, he beat me, she got her horse back, and now my hands hurt every time I hear this!"

At that moment, Candice re-appeared, holding her fiddle up.

When she saw her, Dorrie waved as she sang, The boy said, "My name's Johnny
And it might be a sin
But I'll take your bet
You're gonna regret
'Cause I'm the best there's ever been"

"I can't say I'm surprised to hear that," Chef Andre chuckled, "Prince James inherited his birth mother's ear for music! I've heard him play this myself, and it's a wonder if anyone could keep up with him!"

"Queen Melinda would have been proud of him that day!" Gwen smiled, since she had heard the story about James and Wendell's lute battle as well.

Candice started playing her fiddle as she, James, Dorrie, and Timothy sang together, Johnny, rosin up your bow and play your fiddle hard
'Cause hell's broke loose in Georgia, and the devil deals the cards
And if you win, you get this shiny fiddle made of gold
But if you lose, the devil gets your soul

As Candice took a fiddle solo, she grinned as she watched James glancing at Jenny, as if asking for her thoughts.

James nodded as he wrote something down and continued, The devil opened up his case
And he said, "I'll start this show"
And fire flew from his fingertips
As he rosined up his bow

Then he pulled the bow across the strings
And it made an evil hiss
And a band of demons joined in
And it sounded something like this

Attracted by the whooping and clapping, Violet came up to see what was going on. "What's going on here?"

"Just a little music after Candice's magic show," Dorrie smiled.

"I see," Violet smiled. "Have fun, then, but try to keep the hootenanny down to a low roar, all right?"

"No problem!" Candice grinned. "And Mom, James is using Jenny's ideas in his story too!"

"Well, then, we'll have to read it and see what ideas she had," Violet smiled as she left them.

At the same time, as he watched James glancing at Prince Blizzard, Timothy joined in the song, When the devil finished
Johnny said, "well, you're pretty good, old son
But sit down in that chair right there
And let me show you how it's done"

James, Dorrie, Candice, and even Wendell joined him, He played Fire on the Mountain run boys, run
The devil's in the House of the Rising Sun
Chicken in a bread pan pickin' out dough
Granny, does your dog bite? No child, no

"See, Wendell, we told you this song's fun!" James grinned as he listened to Candice's fiddle solo.

"Well, as long as I don't have to play it!" Wendell smirked, rubbing his hands as if he was trying to get the feeling back in them.

James nodded as he continued, The devil bowed his head
Because he knew that he'd been beat
And he laid that golden fiddle
On the ground at Johnny's feet

Dorrie joined in, Johnny said, "Devil, just come on back
If you ever want to try again
I done told you once you son of a bitch
I'm the best that's ever been"

Everyone finished the song together, He played Fire on the Mountain run boys, run
The devil's in the House of the Rising Sun
Chicken in a bread pan pickin' out dough
Granny, does your dog bite? No child, no

As everyone applauded and as Candice took a bow, even Wendell was smiling broadly. "I never knew this song could be so much fun! And James, thank you for letting me watch you and your plush friends work!"

"Any time, Wendell, and speaking of stories, congratulations, you're in my good books again!" James grinned as he looked up.

"One thing you should know about Prince James, Wendell, he's got quite a way with words!" Gwen smiled.

"So I'm beginning to see," Wendell smiled. "And it looks like I'll have to subscribe to this magazine of yours now as well!"

"We can make copies of the stories for you too," Dorrie agreed. "That way, you can have something to read when you go back home."

Wendell smiled. "I can't wait!"