On the Contrary

Summary: Cedric and Sofia take Nana with them to a mystical realm called Opakari, which is said to be the reflected version of the Ever Realm. Here, they must navigate the unusual qualities of the new realm while also trying to solve a lingering mystery: the disappearance of the Immortal Princess Orenda.

Disclaimer: I do not own Sofia the First. However, I do own the OCs mentioned in here (minus Nana, who belongs to MarionetteJ2X) and the Opakari Realm.

A/N: Okay. Pay attention to some things going on in this chapter. Even the minutest of details will mean something important later in the story. But I think most of you know that by now. 😉And yes, this is a shorter chapter, but I think the next one will more than make up for it!


Chapter 2: The Other Side


At the beginning of April, Cedric, Sofia, Nana, and Wormwood set out from Enchancia in the AutoCoach to a destination the Conjuror's Board had given them. A specific set of unnamed caves just north of the kingdom was supposed to be the 'turning point,' so to speak.

"I don't think I've ever been so nervous about going to another realm," Sofia told them with a small sigh, trepidation clear in her voice and on her face.

"Nervous?" Cedric asked as he turned from looking out the window, allowing his gaze to fall on his friend across the way. Seeing her nod, he frowned. "Why are you nervous?"

"I don't know," she admitted. "I can't explain it. I don't have any good reason yet… The Conjuror's Board only told you that there's an 'issue.' They never said what the issue is. Even they don't know." She shrugged. "Maybe that's why I'm nervous… We usually know what we're getting into. This time we don't, and there are more lives at stake." She glanced down between them at Nana, who was sleeping on a palette of blankets and pillows, a serene smile plastered on her angelic face.

"That's comforting," Wormwood commented with a yawn from his spot beside the princess. "See, this is why I'm perfectly fine not going on these trips with you two. We don't know what we're getting into, and I'd prefer to enter a situation with both eyes open and more knowledge than what we currently have."

"Maybe it won't be as bad as it could be," Cedric reasoned, trying to look on the bright side for once. It was so strange for him to act as a positive voice of reason to his partner, who was typically just that. And Wormwood? Well… He was an entirely different story altogether. "I mean, hopefully not to jinx us, but I highly doubt anything could be as bad as what we dealt with when we fought against the Never Realm."

Sofia inhaled once before sighing. "Y-Yeah… I'd hope not. Still, something about this feels so…different."

"Well, I for one think the child has the right idea for a change." Wormwood hopped down from his seat next to Sofia and stepped over to Nana. He then used his wing to brush the blankets aside before settling down next to the sleeping girl. "Wake me up when we're on the other side, or whatever it is we're trying to do." He yawned once again before curling up next to Nana and going to sleep.

"And he says he doesn't care about her," Sofia laughed softly, her gaze lifting from the sleeping duo to her partner.

"I think he's more than proven himself wrong by now." Cedric smiled and held out a hand to the princess, grasping hers as she accepted and moved over to sit next to him. "Whatever this mission ends up being, we'll be all right."

She blinked tiredly toward him.

"I know safety for all of us is your top priority. I can assure you that I'll do everything in my power to see to it that every one of us stays safe."

"Hmm." She smiled. "Words of comfort that I actually believe." She grasped his arm and leaned over onto his shoulder. "My hero."

He chuckled and removed his arm from her hold, wrapping it around her instead. "Get some rest, Sofia. We're still a few hours away from our first destination."

She nodded, resting against him and closing her eyes, falling into a comfortable slumber as the AutoCoach moved onward.


A sudden jolt some hours later startled everyone into alertness.

Cedric grabbed his wand before peering outside the window, noticing a range of caves far below their hovering point. "This is it," he informed the others, sheathing his wand as Sofia scooped Nana into her arms and Wormwood settled onto her shoulder.

"What happens now?" Sofia wondered.

"I have to recite some ancient magic, which will transport us to Opakari." He withdrew a piece of parchment from his robe and grimaced at the writing. "Oh, wow… This might be more difficult than I thought. But we'll give it a try." He glanced back at the others. "You all need to hold onto something sturdy."

Nana blinked before reaching up and grabbing Wormwood's wing.

Wormwood scoffed at the child's decision. "I appreciate the sentiment, dear girl, but I'm about as 'sturdy' as a sock. Perhaps take hold of something made of a metal instead of feathers and flab."

"Flab that you wouldn't have if you'd switch to a healthier diet," the sorcerer reminded him as Sofia and Nana grabbed hold of a silver bar on the other side of the coach.

"Look who's talking, Mr. Fly Cakes Enthusiast." He rolled his eyes before gasping as Nana quickly grabbed him and hugged him to her. "Ugh, children…"

"Go ahead, Cedric," Sofia encouraged him, nodding.

Cedric held onto the bar on his side of the AutoCoach with one hand while holding the parchment in his other hand. He clearly began reciting the ancient spell he'd been given, and before long, the AutoCoach itself began glowing.

The girls gasped in surprise as the coach began slowly turning upside down, causing Nana's blankets and pillows to fall to the ceiling once they were entirely turned. They were holding on to the side of the coach and attempting to push themselves into the seat as best as they could, but it was clear that they were getting close to slipping.

"Cedric, hurry!" Sofia called, noticing that her partner still seemed to be muttering the words. "I can't hold on much longer!"

"No need," he responded as he finished reciting the spell. "The spell is complete."

"Huh?" Before she could question him further, Sofia felt everything settle back into place. The blankets and pillows reversed their direction and landed on the floor again. She looked outside and noticed that the sun appeared to be upside down momentarily, and then it sank into a normal position. That's when she realized… They hadn't just turned… The entire realm had!

"What just happened?" Wormwood asked, baffled. He realized that Nana still had a hold on him, but he wasn't complaining. At least he knew if the AutoCoach flipped around again, he'd be secure.

"We're in Opakari." Cedric pointed outside. "The scenery is different. The grass is pink instead of green. The water is orange instead of blue… Opakari is known as our reverse realm, so it appears that it's lived up to its name." He suddenly exhaled, collapsing against the seat he was sitting in.

"Cedric?" Sofia gently placed Nana and Wormwood onto the little girl's palette before moving over to her friend, grasping his hands. "Are you okay?"

"Just a bit dizzy… I'll be all right." He laughed tiredly as she frowned. "That must have taken more magic and energy than I realized."

"Next time, ask me to help you," she reminded him in less of a chiding manner and more of a concerned one. "We're—"

"—a team, I know," he finished, smiling gently at her. "I will."

Sofia smiled back.

Wormwood groaned in discomfort as he moved a bit in Nana's grasp.

Seeing the bird trying to maneuver a bit, the little girl released him, only to gasp and catch him as he fell back against her. She was concerned, especially since she'd never seen him so weak and out of sorts before.

"Wormy?" Cedric asked tiredly. "Are you all right?"

"I have the…strangest sense of déjà vu…" He frowned thoughtfully as he looked toward the other two. "Like… I feel…like I've done something before… Like I've forgotten something that should seem so familiar… But I just can't remember what. It's so bizarre…"

"Maybe after we explore Opakari a bit, we'll figure it out," Sofia told him. Truth be told, she was now concerned about Wormwood. She'd never seen him react like that to anything. Cedric getting dizzy and feeling strange after magical exertion? Been there, done that. But Wormwood? "Just hang in there, Wormwood. Okay?"

He nodded, sighing as he felt tiny hands gently caressing his feathers in a comforting motion. He instinctively leaned in a bit more toward Nana, who reached forward and hugged him carefully.

Cedric and Sofia exchanged glances, unsure what to make of the situation.

Meanwhile, the AutoCoach finally landed in a lush area in the mirror realm to their own: Opakari.

To be continued…

Next Chapter: Just the Opposite