Enchancia Castle - a Sofia the First fanfic
Enchancia Castle: Chapter 7
Note: Chapter 7 of "Enchancia Castle" leaves off where Chapter 6 ended.
A guest
It was the day after the ball, and Kari was sitting in her bedroom. In a few moments, a knock came at Kari's door.
"Come in" Kari invited.
The door opened, and in walked Dorrie.
"Good afternoon, Princess Kari" Dorrie smiled. "You have a guest downstairs".
"A guest?" Kari asked. "Who?".
"The Scarlet Warrior" Dorrie answered.
"She's the one who gave me my amulet" Kari remarked. "But I've never met her. She gave me my amulet through Amber".
"The Scarlet Warrior very much wants to meet you" Dorrie smiled at Kari.
"Then I'll be down in a few minutes" Kari said as she got ready.
"We'll be waiting for you in the throne room" Dorrie said as she walked out.
In a few minutes, after getting ready, Kari walked down to the throne room. As she walked in, the royal family was gathered, along with Dorrie, and a woman. The woman wore a skintight scarlet outfit, scarlet knee-length boots, scarlet elbow-length gloves, and a scarlet mask on her eyes, but the eyes were still visible. The woman had long, blond hair and bright blue eyes. She was the Scarlet Warrior, a powerful magical princess from the Kingdom of Cinnibar.
"Kari" Roland started, "this is the Scarlet Warrior".
"It's a pleasure to meet you, Princess Kari" the Scarlet Warrior smiled. "You may call me Scarlet".
"It's a pleasure to meet you, Scarlet" Kari smiled back.
"And I see you've received my gift" Scarlet remarked as she looked at Kari's amulet.
"Thank you for this" Kari said gratefully as she held her amulet. "It's already given me one gift - the ability to transmit love and kindness".
"A very powerful gift" Scarlet smiled. "The first of many gifts your amulet will give you".
"What did you want to see me about, Scarlet?" Kari asked.
"There is something you need to know" Scarlet answered. "It concerns where you came from".
A revelation
Kari stood there, waiting to hear what Scarlet had to say.
"The thing is, Kari, that you come from an alternate universe" Scarlet started. "In that universe, nobody knew about creatures called Digimon".
"Digimon?" Kari asked.
"Animal creatures with special powers" Scarlet answered. "Your counterpart in the real universe had such a creature - a cat-like creature named Gatomon".
"Wow!" Kari exclaimed in amazement.
"You should know that your amulet has a special built-in power" Scarlet announced to Kari.
"What?" Kari wanted to know.
"That special built-in power is the ability to call forth your own Gatomon" Scarlet answered. "All you have to do is to concentrate. Would you like to give it a try?".
"Is Gatomon ... safe?" Kari asked, not having had experience with such a creature before.
"She's perfectly safe" Scarlet reassured Kari.
"So it's a she" Kari thought to herself. "Then let's give this a try" Kari said to Scarlet, interested in what would happen.
"Just concentrate, and your amulet will do the rest" Scarlet instructed.
Kari started concentrating. In a few moments, Kari's amulet started glowing, and then a white cat-like creature appeared before Kari.
A new friend
The white cat-like creature, about half the size of Kari, and standing like a human, approached Kari.
"Hello" the white cat-like creature said to Kari. "I'm Gatomon. It's a pleasure to make your acquaintance, Princess Kari".
"It's a pleasure to meet you, Gatomon" Kari smiled. "I've never met you before, but I somehow feel like we're old friends".
"I feel exactly the same way, Princess Kari" Gatomon smiled back.
"Please, just call me Kari" Kari said to Gatomon.
"Then Kari it is" Gatomon agreed as she extended her paw in a sign of friendship.
"I'm looking forward to getting to know you better, Gatomon" Kari said as she took Gatomon's paw and gently shook it in a friendly manner.
"I'd like that" Gatomon smiled.
"There are things you should know about Gatomon" Scarlet started explaining to Kari. "First of all, Gatomon speaks and understands English, so you don't need to have the power to talk to animals in order to understand her. Also, Gatomon has fighting skills, as well as the ability to change into a few different beings that have even more advanced fighting skills. These fighting skills will come in handy when it comes to protecting you from danger".
"You'll find me to be a valuable ally" Gatomon added.
"I'll let all of you get acquainted with Gatomon" Scarlet smiled. "I'll take my leave of you now".
"It's always a pleasure having you visit the castle, Scarlet" Roland smiled.
"And it's always a pleasure visiting here" Scarlet smiled back, before turning to Kari. "Until we meet again, Princess Kari". Scarlet then clapped her hands, and disappeared in a puff of smoke.
Kari and the rest of the royal family spent the rest of the afternoon getting to know Gatomon better.
That evening
Kari was in her bedroom getting ready for the night. Laying on Kari's bed was Gatomon. A small round door at the bottom of a wall opened, and Clover tried to squeeze his way into Kari's bedroom through the opening. However, Clover was a tad larger than the opening, and he got stuck halfway through the opening.
"Who is that?" Gatomon asked, looking at Clover.
"Oh" Kari started, "that's Clover - Princess Sofia's rabbit". Kari then walked over to Clover. "Want some help getting out of there?".
Clover nodded yes, and Kari pulled on Clover until he was out of the opening. Kari's amulet then started glowing.
"Thanks, kid" Clover said, gratefully. "I thought I was stuck for good".
"Your welcome ... wait! I can understand you!" Kari exclaimed. "When I helped you, my amulet must have given me the power to talk to animals!".
"Hey! That's great, kid!" Clover exclaimed with glee. "I'm Clover. And you're the new princess". Clover then noticed Gatomon. "Cat in the castle! Cat in the castle!" Clover exclaimed in fright.
"Don't worry" Gatomon reassured Clover. "I'm Gatomon - Kari's friend and protector. And I'm not eying you for food. Quite frankly, since this castle is full of food, I don't really need to go after live prey".
"Well, since you put it that way, nice to meet you" Clover smiled, reassured.
"Nice to meet you as well" Gatomon smiled back.
"We've got some snacks up here" Kari announced to Clover. "You're more than welcome to join us".
"Well, in that case, don't mind if I do" Clover said, pleased.
Kari and Gatomon spent the next hour getting to know Clover, as the three enjoyed some snacks. Soon, however, it was time for bed. Gatomon laid down on Kari's window seat, while Clover laid down on Kari's bed. Kari, laying in bed, turned toward Gatomon.
"Good night, Gatomon" Kari said to Gatomon.
"Good night, Kari" Gatomon smiled as she turned over and went to sleep.
Kari then looked at Clover. "Good night, Clover".
"Good night, kid" Clover smiled as he went to sleep.
Kari laid in bed for a few minutes before going to sleep. As she laid in bed, she looked at Gatomon and Clover sleeping. Kari smiled at the sight. This was a wonderful new life, and Kari couldn't be happier.
A surprise visit
The next morning, Miranda was sitting in her study finishing up her appointment schedule for the upcoming week. When she was finished, she got up and looked out a window. She saw Kari and Gatomon walking toward the back of the castle, having a pleasant conversation.
"I'm glad to see Kari happy" Miranda thought to herself. "Is there more I could be doing for her?".
At that point, a small necklace with a pink gem stone that Miranda wore around her neck started glowing. Before Miranda knew it, a nine-year-old girl wearing a witches outfit, a tiara, and a pear shaped amulet with a light blue gem stone, appeared before her.
"Don't be alarmed" the girl reassured Miranda. "My name is Princess Odette. I'm from the future. Your necklace summoned me".
"Why, hello there" Miranda smiled. "Scarlet told me my necklace had the power to summon a princess or queen, but this is the first time it's actually done so".
"I'm here to tell you that you're doing a fine job with Kari" Odette smiled. "You're there for Kari, and are giving her all the love she could ever want. That's very important considering the life Kari had before she came here".
"I'm very sad that Kari's foster parents treated her so badly" Miranda commented, sadly.
"I know what she went through" Odette remarked in a sad tone. "I was an orphan, and I wasn't treated well in the orphanage I was in, simply because I was a witch".
"I'm so sorry" Miranda said as she went over and gently hugged Odette.
"I was discovered by the king and queen of the kingdom where the orphanage was, and the two of them adopted me" Odette started. "It was the beginning of a whole new life for me - a life filled with love and happiness".
"A happy ending" Miranda smiled.
"Yes" Odette smiled back. "And that's what Kari has now".
"Tell me, Odette, is there anything else I can do for Kari?" Miranda asked.
"You and your entire family are giving Kari so much love and kindness" Odette answered. "Just keep doing that".
"Anything else?" Miranda wanted to know.
"Kari will have occasional flashbacks to those times when she was mistreated" Odette sadly answered. "During those times, be there for Kari, and reassure her that everything is going to be okay. I know that helps me a lot when I have such flashbacks".
"Consider it done" Miranda agreed.
Odette's amulet started glowing. "Guess it's time for me to leave" Odette announced.
"Will I see you again, Odette?" Miranda asked.
"Yes" Odette answered with a smile. "We'll see each other again". Odette then vanished.
In the future
It was thirteen years in the future. Things had changed in Enchancia. King Roland and Queen Miranda had retired, and had left the kingdom to James and his wife, Vivian. Roland and Miranda, upon retiring, had moved to the royal mansion in northern Enchancia.
On this day in the future, it was a sunny day, and Roland and Miranda had their grandchildren and their young friends over for a visit. Their grandchildren and their young friends always looked forward to these visits.
Royal carriages started arriving in the courtyard of the royal mansion, and a man announced the occupants of each carriage. Soon, a maroon carriage pulled into the courtyard. A ten-year-old boy, and a nine-year-old girl, stepped off of the carriage.
"Prince Drake, and Princess Odette, of the Kingdom of Hanleigh" the man announced.
Drake bowed, and Odette curtsied, in the presence of Roland and Miranda. Miranda, of course, remembered Odette from thirteen years earlier, but kept that to herself so things would proceed as they were meant to.
"Drake, Odette" Roland smiled, "it's nice to have the two of you here".
"Thank you for having us, sir, ma'am" Drake smiled back.
"You're most welcome" Miranda said with a smile. "Everybody is gathered in the reception hall".
Drake and Odette walked inside the royal mansion to see their friends.
An hour had passed, and everybody was enjoying their visit to the royal mansion. At one point, Odette found Miranda alone.
"Ma'am?" Odette called out in a friendly way.
"Ah, Odette" Miranda smiled. "Are you and Drake having a good time?".
"Everybody is having a wonderful time" Odette answered with a smile.
"Good" Miranda acknowledged, pleased.
"Since we're alone, I should tell you that a few days ago, your necklace summoned me" Odette announced. "It took me to you thirteen years in the past".
Miranda walked over to Odette and hugged her. "Then we've come full circle" Miranda smiled.
"Yes, we have" Odette smiled back.
"How are you doing, Odette?" Miranda wanted to know.
"I'm doing fine" Odette smiled. "I never knew life could be so good".
"That's wonderful to hear, Odette" Miranda said, pleased.
At that moment, a ten-year-old girl walked in. It was Miranda's granddaughter, Princess Tara.
"Grandmother" Tara announced with a smile, "everybody is ready in the reception hall".
"Well then, we've better get going" Miranda smiled as she put her arms around Tara and Odette.
In a few moments, Tara and Odette walked into the reception hall, followed by Miranda. A 24-year-old woman then snuck up behind Miranda, and covered Miranda's eyes.
"Surprise!" the woman cheerfully exclaimed.
"Kari!" Miranda exclaimed with glee as she turned around to see Kari standing there. "This is a wonderful surprise".
"Gatomon and I were in the area, and we thought we'd drop in for a visit" Kari cheerfully announced.
Miranda looked over to the children who were happily playing with Gatomon.
"So, how is married life treating you, Kari?" Miranda inquired.
"Quite well" Kari answered with a smile. "Jarrett sends his regards. We're both looking forward to having you and Dad over for dinner next week".
"Your father and I are looking forward to it as well" Miranda smiled.
In a few moments, Miranda sat down, and everybody else sat down as well.
"Before we have tea and cake, I thought a story would be nice" Miranda announced. "This was one of Sofia's favorite stories when she was a child. Once upon a time ...".
Everybody sat back and enjoyed the story that Miranda read to them.
Back in the present
It was afternoon, and eleven-year-old Kari had just walked into the castle with Gatomon. Kari stopped for a few moments, and looked down the great hall. Kari thought back to the bad times with her foster parents. It had not been pleasant for Kari. There were times that Kari feared that her new life at Enchancia Castle was nothing more than a dream - a dream she would wake up from and find herself back with her mean foster parents.
"Kari?" a woman's voice gently called out.
Kari looked behind her to see Miranda standing there.
"Is everything alright?" Miranda asked as she gently hugged Kari.
"Yes" Kari answered in a quiet tone. "I was just thinking back to the bad times. It just sort of popped into my head out of nowhere".
"That's to be expected" Miranda gently said. "You went through some very bad times, and that's bound to stick with you. However, know that those times are behind you. You'll never be treated badly again. You are now a part of this family, and we love you so very much".
"Thank you, Mom" Kari said gratefully as she hugged Miranda.
"You're very welcome, Kari" Miranda smiled. "Let's say you, I, and Gatomon go to the sitting room. I've had some tea and cookies brought there. I thought the three of us could have a relaxing time together".
"That sounds good, Mom" Kari smiled back.
"Thank you, Queen Miranda" Gatomon smiled.
As Miranda, Kari, and Gatomon walked toward the sitting room, Dorrie watched from a distance.
"You're going to be alright, Kari" Dorrie thought to herself. "Of all the places you could have been brought, you wound up here at Enchancia Castle, a place of second chances - for Sofia and her mother, for myself, for Lucinda, and now for you, Kari. This place is truly a miracle".
Author's notes
At that point, a small necklace with a pink gem stone that Miranda wore around her neck started glowing - this is the same necklace that Miranda wore in the beach scene in "The Emerald Key". When I first saw Miranda wearing the necklace, I wondered if perhaps it could have been magical, so I decided to go ahead and make it magical.
Kari and Gatomon are alternate universe versions of those characters seen in "Digimon: Digital Monsters". In regard to the Gatomon seen in this story, she can digivolve into different beings (such as Nefertimon, and Angewomon) thanks to the power of Kari's amulet, instead of having to use a Digivice, the Crest of Light, or the Digi-Egg of Light. If Kari needs help, and Gatomon is away from Kari, Kari's amulet has the power to transport Gatomon to Kari's location.
Prince Drake is from Chapters 12 and 13 of my story "Witch Tales".
Princess Odette is from Chapters 12 - 14 of my story "Witch Tales".
Princess Tara is from Chapters 5, 12, 13, and 14 of my story "Witch Tales".
The Scarlet Warrior (A.K.A. Scarlet) is a character created by jakevoronkov1, and is used in my stories with permission from jakevoronkov1.
"You're going to be alright, Kari" Dorrie thought to herself. "Of all the places you could have been brought, you wound up here at Enchancia Castle, a place of second chances - for Sofia and her mother, for myself, for Lucinda, and now for you, Kari. This place is truly a miracle" - for Sofia and Miranda, this refers to "Sofia the First: Once Upon a Princess". For Dorrie, this refers to my story "Dorrie". For Lucinda, this refers to my story "The Newest Princess". And for Kari, this refers to this story, "Enchancia Castle".
