Author's Note: This is a long-running story with multiple arcs. Unlike some previous works, this one isn't entirely finished yet, although the ideas are solidly formed. It's just not all written out yet. Feel free to check out other works I've done, namely "The Best of Intentions" and "Jealousy". However, this story is fundamentally different from the others, in that Sofia doesn't start off with romantic predispositions... but it doesn't end that way!

As always, I love to hear your comments, questions, and concerns.

Disclaimer: I am not 'The Disney", and therefore I do not own Sofia the first at all; I just enjoy a healthy dose of imagination like the rest of us!

Please check out the master who created the beautiful cover art, cookiesnet, over on DeviantArt: HT TP semi colon slash slash fav dot me slash d8yodc6

Chapter 1: Revelations

It was just another typical afternoon in Cedric's workshop. Except this time there was a special occasion looming on the horizon. Sofia had Cedric cornered at the potions table, with Wormwood circling overhead.

"Please Mr. Cedric." Sofia was standing behind the sorcerer while he had his back turned. She knew the man was trying to avoid her, so she continued to inch forward, effectually pushing the man into the potions table and forcing him to slide into the corner. Still, he seemed resolved to deny her requests.

"No."

"Please…" She was pleading in an exceptionally high voice and trying to act cute, but it was to no avail.

"No."

"Please please please Mr. Cedric!"

"Poseidon's pumpkins girl I won't do it! Badgering me all day isn't going to change my mind."

The girl backed off a couple inches, allowing the sorcerer to extract his stomach from the hard edge of the table, and he gave out a little sigh of relief. But she wasn't done yet, just switching tactics. She took a couple steps pacing back and forth behind him. She knew it aggravated him slightly to have her pacing about the workshop while he was brewing because it always broke his concentration. After a couple turns she clasped her hands in front of her body and leaned into his face entirely too close again. He let out a series of groans and rolled his eyes in an exaggerated manner.

"But Mr. Cedric, just think of how ah-mazing it will be when I win the tournament and you can stand triumphantly in front of all those stuck-up sorcerers as my mentor. I'll even give you the silver star." She started batting her eyelashes at the man, and he raised up an eyebrow. It worked on Rolland when she wanted him to let her travel to see Oona or go off with her friends on camping trips, so maybe it would work on Cedric too.

"The silver star does sound rather nice... But no Sofia, there is no way I'm going to sponsor you for the sorcery tournament this year. You don't attend Hexley Hall, it's not your place to enter." He shook his head and turned back to the bubbling cauldron on the table. Sofia let out a huff, and her eyes darted around. She'd need to push harder.

Sofia stood on her tiptoes and leaned in to his face, which elicited a rather stern stare from the sorcerer. "But I'm really good at sorcery, you said so yourself."

He took one hand and finally pushed her backward, reestablishing his personal boundaries. The other hand came up, with a finger extended. He shook it menacingly in her face. "For a ROYAL you're good, not a magic student. You can forget it. I'm not doing it, end of story."

With that he pulled out her stool, and patted the top. She was supposed to be seated and reading another herbal remedies book after all. Reluctantly the princess sat atop the stool, but wasn't going to let this go. No way. She took the book into her hands, and opened it to a random page. Cedric for his part turned his back to the girl, as if to pretend the last hour of pleading hadn't happened. She quietly raised her knees up to the stool seat to gain some height and leaned over to where Cedric's head was. With his back turned she could sneak up on him, and was now only an inch from his ear.

"Please Mr. Cedric."

"ARGH!" He practically jumped out of his skin, and dropped the vial of dragon toenail shavings he's been weighing. "Merlin's mushrooms girl! Are you ever going to let this go Princess?"

Sofia let loose a wild grin and plopped herself back onto her stool, letting her legs dangle too and fro. "Nope, the tournament is three weeks away and I'm going to bug you every single day for hours on end until you nominate me."

His eye began to twitch in irritation, but she knew he'd never kick her out. They'd crossed that particular hurdle long ago. "I'm a ROYAL sorcerer Sofia, I serve the King. I'm not your life coach."

He let out several sighs, and stooped down to collect the toenail shavings, and she bent down to his level while he tried to avoid her constant invasion of his space.

"You know, I could ask Mr. Greylock to nominate me. He thinks I'm an amazing sorcerer too." Some of her brown locks tumbled into her face as she said it, and she grinned as she moved them back behind her ear. Cedric froze at the mention of the other royal sorcerer's name and finally looked straight at her. They sat there on the floor, staring each other down for a few moments.

"That's not funny and you know it Sofia."

A wicked smile broke out on her face, and she started giggling. She had him in the crosshairs now. The rivalry he had going with Greylock was a particularly sore spot for the sorcerer, and she intended to get her way.

He looked her over, and she knew he was trying to deduce if she would really go to Greylock for help.

"You wouldn't."

Sofia looked back at him, and touched her forehead to his. "Try me."

The man let out a series of groans. "Merlin's mushrooms." She had him now.

Cedric stood and looked up at the raven circling the tower ceiling. "Wormy help me!"

A series of caws came from the soot colored bird.

Sofia grinned at what the raven had said, then looked back down at Cedric. "Wormwood says you should quit while you're behind."

"It's quit while you're AHEAD Sofia."

"But you're not ahead Mr. Cedric."

It took a second for Cedric to process it, then he reached around and slapped his forehead hard. Sofia couldn't help but break out in giggles to see him squirm like this.

Cedric finally let the hand fall and looked up at the bird. "Wormy you traitor."

The bird began crowing again, and Cedric turned to Sofia. "What did he say that time?"

Sofia couldn't stop giggling but finally mustered out the answer, "You don't want to know Mr. Cedric."

The man crossed his arms and turned away from the raven, and the bird alighted to preen his feathers.

Sofia stood there staring at Cedric, and he stared back at her for the longest time with his arms crossed. Finally he let out an exasperated huff and threw his hands into the air.

"Alright I give up. I'll nominate you!"

Sofia squealed in delight and began jumping up and down. Cedric rolled his eyes and went back to brewing his potion. "Sofia, let's be clear about something."

She stopped jumping and returned to his side. "Yes Mr. Cedric."

"If anyone asks the King made me do it, unless your Father asks, in which case the fairies made me do it. Got it? The last thing I need is everyone knowing I was argued down by a teenager."

"Hey that's not very nice Mr. Cedric." She pouted at the man. He just rolled his eyes and dropped more fly wings into the brew.

"Don't be too disappointed when they fling you across the dueling arena Princess."

Sofia narrowed her eyes. "Awww Mr. Cedric, that's no way to talk to your apprentice."

He shot her a sideways glance. "You're not affiliated with me outside this tower, understood."

Oh. That was too harsh. The girl started to sniffle and felt her eyes squint. "Mr. Cedric, you're so mean to me."

He started to notice the onset of waterworks, and grew worried. "Don't cry Sofia."

It did little good, as tears had started to form and her hands were balled into fists near her eyes in a desperate attempt to stop the oncoming waterworks.

"Pleeease don't cry Princess." Cedric flung up his hands and made calming motions toward the girl.

"BWAHHH!" The sniffles intensified and Cedric began to panic.

"Alright already. I give up! You're going to do great and you're my special little apprentice. Just don't tell anyone else, okay." Sofia stopped the sniffles, bolstered by his apologetic words. Over the years their friendship had grown incredibly strong, and she knew he was happy to have her in his life. A grin broke out on her face.

Cedric let out a series of deep breaths at the averted crisis, and flopped down onto his stool as the potion next to him bubbled away. "Oh Merlin, what did I ever do to deserve this fate?"

Sofia was quick with a response. "You tried to steal my Amulet, a bunch of times."

He looked over at the girl and chortled a bit at himself.

"Well I supposed I did, didn't I? And you just had to bring that up, didn't you princess?"

"Well you asked." Sofia lunged forward and hugged the sorcerer. He'd been good natured about letting her do it ever since the amulet incident, and she knew he gave her infinite leeway now in part because she knew all his dirty little secrets. Not that she'd ever expose them to anyone else, but there were simply no hiding dark truths between them anymore, and it afforded a level of friendship she found hard to come by in this world of glittering parties, elegant dresses and false pretenses.

Reluctantly the sorcerer returned her gesture, mainly because he knew she'd just keep hugging him until he relented. His nose found her hair, and he seemed happy to finally have the pestering over with.

"Your hair smells really good today Sofia."

"Thanks Mr. Cedric."

"Wait… is that smell my extremely valuable ladlelilly extract? The one we scaled a mountain last year to procure the flowers for."

Sofia's eyes went wide. She'd taken some to make her hair extra shiny for a ball a few weeks back, and the compliments from Amber had inspired her to add it to the daily beauty regimen.

"Maybe."

"SOFIA." The hug disintegrated and his disapproving finger was once again wagging in her face. Displeased sorcerer. It was best to quit while she was ahead; after all she'd gotten what she wanted.

"Okay Mr. Cedric I've got to go practice now so BYE!"

Cedric stood there with a disapproving scowl. That had to go. Sofia leaned forward and kissed his cheek just as Winnifred always did and it produced a half smile on the curmudgeonly sorcerer. With that she absquatulated from the tower, slamming the door behind her.

…

Sofia prepped tirelessly for the tournament. She studied Cedric's old schoolbooks as if her life depended on it. Several parties and royal gatherings occurred during this time, but Sofia was uninterested in their happenings. While Sofia was accepted in royal society and played her part well, she'd grown distant of late as Amber and the others began to fawn over the gallant sex. In contrast Sofia found herself consumed with magical learning, and turned a blind eye to the romantic entanglements of her peers.

While Sofia was already considered a spell-casting prodigy at Royal Prep, the respect of the magical community eluded her. This was mainly due to her hybrid royal-peasant upbringing, and what she wanted more than anything else was acceptance among their ranks. This tournament was a chance for her to prove she belonged, and she wasn't going to pass up any opportunities.

Two days before the tournament Sofia decided some real life practical experience would help prepare her and decided to go to the secret library. Each story was unfinished, and usually required some fantastical adventure to complete. Usually she coaxed Cedric into joining her on the exploits under some false pretense as a magical security blanket, but this time she wanted to go alone. This time would be REAL magical experience under pressure. The perfect practice for thinking on her feet during wizard duels at the tournament.

Sofia informed Clover of her intentions and her loyal friend accompanied the princess on the journey to the secret library. Ever since Aunt Tilly had informed her of the library's existence Sofia had tried to make a pilgrimage as often as possible, leading to several wonderful adventures.

Sofia nestled into the story chair and down from one of the library's many levels. As it floated softly down Sofia couldn't help but notice its plain cover and thick binding, this one uncharacteristically had lots of pages. Inside its pages would be a fairy tale in desperate need of completion. She took the book into her hands and began reading aloud the title for her friend to understand its contents.

"The Tale of the Shoemaker and Fish Merchant."

"Oh Clover, This looks like a good one." The rabbit was chewing on a carrot he'd brought, and seemed not to care. Sofia shrugged and continued reading aloud.

"Once upon a time there was a fish merchant named Birk. He was born in Friezenburg and lived a nomadic fishmonger's lifestyle."

Sofia's head began to drop to one side. Clover looked at her quizzically. "What is it Sofia?"

"It's just that, my father was named Birk, was a fishmonger, and he lived in Friezenburg before moving to Enchancia. It's an odd coincidence, that's all."

"Birk sailed the seas and traveled the lands selling his fish to the happy villagers. One day he traveled to the kingdom of Galdiz and stepped on a pointy rock, ripping a hole in his shoe. He went to the village shoemaker, Miranda, for repairs. Their eyes met and it was love at first sight."

Sofia couldn't believe it. They WERE her parents. It didn't make sense, her father was dead and her mother had remarried King Rolland the Second. She was living happily ever after as Queen of Enchancia. This story didn't need finishing.

Clover jumped up and put his paw on the page, the half-eaten carrot abandoned on the floor. "It IS your parents Sofia! Keep reading!" Sofia continued onward through the pages.

"They were married and moved to Enchancia, where Miranda gave birth to a beautiful daughter named Sofia. One fateful day Birk received news that war had broken out between his homeland of Friezenburg and the kingdom of Maldonia. His younger brother Sal had been taken as a prisoner of war. Birk valiantly sailed home to his village and fought the invaders, however he was also taken prisoner and sent to the land of Maldonia. There he remains, in the work camp upon an island in the sea, dreaming of his true love…."

Frantically Sofia scanned the multitude of pages left blank, but there was nothing further. The reality of what she'd just read began to sink in.

Her father was alive, and imprisoned somewhere in Maldonia.

Waves of emotions rose up in Sofia. The sound of her Papa's voice as he sang her goodnight lullabies, the strength of his arms as he rocked her to sleep as a small child. Most of the memories were just simple feelings. She'd been so young when the war broke out, completely incapable of understanding why her Papa disappeared one day and never returned. There was however one memory her mind always came back to. She was standing no taller than a kneecap in tall grass by an oak tree, waiting for him to return. She would only find out later from the baker next door that she had waited by that tree every afternoon for months as a small child, fully expecting her Papa to come walking over the hills as if he'd just returned from any other fishing trip. It broke her heart all over again to recall the moment she'd realized he was never coming back. Miranda was a cobbler, and one cannot live eating shoes. Sofia had watched from the window as someone bought her Papa's favorite pair, the one's her mother had so meticulously crafted with love. Once the realization set in that her Mom no longer needed the shoes because her Papa wasn't coming home Sofia had run upstairs and cried, so hard it felt like her eyes would fall from their place, so long her breathing became erratic. All of the pain and the hurt, all of the anguish for all those years hadn't been necessary. Her Papa had been stolen, his life forcibly taken away. Now that the injustice was known there was not a minute to loose. Sofia was the one Aunt Tilly chose to complete the stories, and it was up to Sofia to set her father free.