Mångata
Summary: Cedric invites Sofia to a mysterious and magical land known as Mångata, a location that has never been mentioned in any texts or transcripts and has only been acknowledged via word of mouth. It's here that the Magical Protectors (Sofia's nickname for their 'team') try to unravel the mystery of two friends who went missing some time ago; however, the more they uncover, the more danger they find themselves in. [Takes place when Sofia is 16.]
Disclaimer: I don't own Sofia the First, and I don't own the name of Mångata (an untranslatable Swedish word used to express "the road-like reflection of the moon in the water" or literally "moon street"). I only own the original characters portrayed in the story, including Prince Corban. :D
A/N: Well, hi, guys! 😊 I'm happy to see how many people enjoyed Beyond Enchancia, particularly the last few chapters. And I'm also thrilled how well-received Cedric's and Sofia's partnership was. I told you I'd been planning something big, and their new status and relationship will change a lot of things for the better. For instance, Cedric essentially is forcing himself to look at Sofia as an equal now rather than a little girl who needs to be protected. He now understands that she can take care of herself if need be, and she also knows far more now that she's a teenager rather than that eight-year-old child who originally went to him for help with school work. (Wow… They've come a long way, haven't they? :D) Anyway! This story is going to be filled with a lot of mystery (my favorite genre), and the aim is to keep you guessing till the end. Is this a thing, or isn't it? Are these people trustworthy, or aren't they? Always, always question things, my friends, because…things aren't always what they appear to be. 😉 With that said, I present to you… Mångata!
PS: The pronunciation of the title is a bit tricky to put to page, but basically it sounds something like "MOAN-gah-tah." Hope that helps. 😊
Chapter 1: The Tale of the Missing Mångatans
Snow filled the grounds of the Enchancian castle, coating the land in plush, cold, white fluff. It was the first full snowfall of the winter season, though there had been some flurries here and there prior to today. The best thing about snow was how pure and quiet it was, compared to the hustle and bustle of the real world. And better yet, it was fantastic timing: Wassailia Break began for the royal teens that afternoon, and they would have a few weeks to themselves and to spend time with their loved ones.
Cedric stood at the foot of the steps, wrapped in his heavy blue robe, as Wormwood sat atop his shoulder, shivering and muttering to himself. "You know, Wormy," the sorcerer began snarkily, "if you'd worn that sweater Mummy knitted you—"
"Ravens aren't supposed to wear sweaters, Cedric," Wormwood grumbled, his beak quivering a bit as he tried to ruffle his feathers to keep warm. "We're tough birds. We can handle a bit of freezing weather." No sooner had he said that, a sneeze erupted from him. "Ugh…"
"If you say so," Cedric quipped, earning a glare from the bird. "Just go inside. There's a fire burning in the hearth in my bedroom. You can warm up."
"Oh, very well. But not because I can't handle the cold…" He narrowed his eyes at the snickering sorcerer. "Because I have better things to do than await Princess Sofia's return from school."
"I need to speak with her about something important," he defended, folding his arms.
"Whatever. Freeze your phalanges for all I care. I'm going inside." With that, Wormwood flew back toward the tower, ducking in through the open window.
Cedric shook his head before smiling as the royal flying carriage touched down, allowing the siblings to exit. He bowed respectfully as the twins greeted him before rushing past. But it was the sight of Sofia that really lifted his spirits. "Ah, Sofia," he greeted, laughing as she grinned and ran up toward him, dropping her school bag and hugging him tightly. "I take it someone is excited about her Wassailia holiday."
"You have no idea," she responded sweetly, sighing as he gently patted her back before releasing her. She picked up her previously discarded bag. "I have been looking forward to this break all semester long…" She gave him an imploring glance. "Are we still going to that mysterious land of yours? What's it called again?"
He nodded. "Mångata. And certainly, if you're up to it. And if your parents approve, of course."
She shrugged. "I'm sure they'll be fine with it. They're so busy looking after Corban or overseeing affairs of the kingdom that I doubt they'll be too upset if I venture off." She altered her voice to sound uncannily like Miranda as she said, "As long as you're safe, Sofia. Make good choices and stay warm." She giggled as Cedric's mouth dropped. "What?"
"I know some people can sound like their parents, but when you actually try to sound like your mother… That's sort of frightening and impressive at the same time."
The princess grinned. "Ooh, I could have fun with that."
"Don't even think about it, you cheeky girl." He noticed her shivering a bit and took her arm, guiding her back toward the castle. "Enough of that. We'd best get you inside before you catch a cold. Wormwood already has one, and he's been sneezing and miserable all day."
She laughed softly as they entered through the front doors before closing them behind them. "This is going to sound strange, but I honestly didn't even know ravens could sneeze."
"That's probably because it happens so infrequently."
"Huh." She shrugged as they continued walking together. "So… Tell me more about Mångata." She was so focused on Cedric that she completely missed the soft blue glow of her amulet.
"I wish I could," Cedric responded with a small sigh. "Like I said a few months ago, the land is shrouded in mystery, and it's only known to very few people via word of mouth. I do know that someone from my family's lineage described the land as 'The Land Where Dreams Begin,' but I couldn't fathom the context of…" He blinked and trailed off as he noticed the strange blue hue shimmering in the peripheral of his vision, and he turned, gaping at the princess. "Sofia, why is your amulet blue?"
"What?" She glanced down and gasped, realizing what was happening. "Oh, um…" She'd never fully explained her role as a Story Keeper, and she certainly hadn't elaborated on the Secret Library when they were in a rush to save their kingdom back in May. Perhaps now that things were much calmer, she could indulge her friend. "Well… It's an interesting story…" She laughed at the irony of her words, but she could tell that he didn't understand the joke. "Come on. I'll explain on the way."
"To where?"
"The Secret Library."
As they took Sofia's shortcut (which Cedric instantly recognized from their previous journey to save their kingdom), the teen took the time to explain her full role as a Story Keeper and everything it entailed. She recounted the stories she'd helped to finish, including Princess Elena's. By the time she was finished and they'd reached the Secret Library, Cedric had pretty much decided that this role was probably one of the safer ones she'd taken on…for the most part.
Once they sat down on the usual bench, a black and silver book soared down from one of the top shelves, stopping before the friends long enough for them to read the cover.
Cedric's eyes widened as he previewed the title. "The Tale of…the Missing Mångatans?" His mouth fell open in surprise as the book was absorbed into the large pendulum. "What on earth?"
Sofia leaned toward him and whispered, "My amulet must have understood that we had plans to go there. Whatever story this is, it must have something to do with the land."
He seemed perplexed. "Well, that's reassuring…"
A visual appeared before them: a fair-skinned boy with wavy and short light brown hair and dark green eyes flipped through a book before a brown-skinned girl with long purple hair and matching eyes hurried up next to him, stealing his book and running off with it, causing the boy to holler out and chase after her. The boy was dressed in upper-class clothing consisting of a teal and black tunic with dark pants and shoes. The girl wore a pastel-pink tunic and beige pants, both which seemed to be faded and well-worn, and tattered pale pink flats.
The narrator's voice sounded through the library, startling Cedric, as he wasn't used to it. Sofia just smiled and patted his hand as they watched the scene unfold.
Once upon a time, in the mysterious land of Mångata, two best friends named Rayasenia and Mordecai navigated their daily lives as teenagers with peculiar characteristics. Rayasenia, called Raya by those closest to her, was a fifteen-year-old witch who was disowned by her family when she'd accidentally yet permanently disabled her sister with magic.
Sofia gasped. "Oh, no…"
Raya's friend, Mordecai, was a fifteen-year-old wizard who only cast spells with the use of his hands, which was seen as both fascinating and unsettling to those in the magical community, especially since hand magic was in the process of being outlawed for undisclosed reasons. Mordecai, unlike Raya, came from a fabulously wealthy family yet was often exploited for his abilities, which ultimately caused him to run away from home.
Cedric leaned forward, enthralled by the tale.
The two teenagers eventually met and instantly formed a close bond. However, one day, the pair went missing, and no one ever heard from them again…
Sofia waited for the rest of the story, but for some reason the narrator simply stopped. She blinked but turned to Cedric. "Usually, at this point, my job is to give the story a happy ending." She stood up, pulling him to his feet. "That means that we need to find those two teens and help them return home safely."
"I see…" He shrugged as she released his hands. "Well, why not? We're going to Mångata anyway." He winked at the grinning princess. "Might as well make it an adventure worthwhile." He extended his arm to her, chuckling as she linked arms with him. "You still need to tell your parents of this journey, though."
She nodded as they began walking together. "Yes, Mr. Cedric…" She giggled as they disappeared from the Secret Library, which turned eerily dark the moment the two friends left.
The only source of light was from the blue pendulum, which suddenly began sparking and pulsating, a dull humming coming from within before it all just completely stopped, plunging the Secret Library not only into darkness, but also into a dead silence.
To be continued…
Next Chapter: Here We Go Again
