Tales from the Castle - a Sofia the First fanfic

Chapter 29: A Gathering of Voyagers

This is a holiday story set within Chapter 44 of my story "Dorrie: Book Two". Song in this chapter: "The Little Drummer Boy" (Celtic Woman version).

December 24, 1866

At House Cosmarune in Corona, Violet, Dorrie, and Candice had just arrived via the Floo Network. The three stepped out of the large chimney in the master study of House Cosmarune. Violet then turned to Dorrie and Candice.

"I have a special surprise for the two of you," Violet happily announced. "We've been invited to a very special event."

"What event?" Dorrie asked, curious.

"Diana and Tricia time traveled back to the far past to help guide the three wise men to Bethlehem," Violet explained. "Diana and Tricia have invited us to come to Bethlehem to witness the miracle of miracles."

"We're going to Bethlehem?" Candice asked in awe.

"To see the Baby Jesus?" Dorrie asked, also in awe.

"Yes," Violet smiled. "Our holiday guests won't be arriving for a few hours, so that gives us of plenty of time. Take hold of my arms, my precious ones."

As Dorrie and Candice held onto Violet's arms, Violet brought out her silver pocket watch size Omni, the time traveling device carried by all Voyagers. Violet adjusted the dials on her Omni, pushed a button on her Omni, and the three disappeared into thin air.

Bethlehem in the time of King Herod

After traveling through a time vortex, Violet, Dorrie, and Candice arrived in Bethlehem of the far past. The three ducked into an alley, brought out their wands, and magically transformed their clothes into clothes from that time period.

"Wish we could do that," a man's voice came from behind Violet, Dorrie, and Candice.

Violet, Dorrie, and Candice looked behind them to see two male Voyagers they knew well - Phineas Bogg, and a teenage Jeffrey Jones.

"Nice to see you two again," Violet smiled at Phineas and Jeffrey. "What brings you here?"

"Diana's invitation," Phineas answered.

"This is a once in a lifetime opportunity," Jeffrey smiled. "We couldn't pass this up."

"Now, to find some period clothes," Phineas announced, wanting Jeffrey and himself to blend in.

"No problem!" Violet happily exclaimed as she raised her wand, said a spell, and magically transformed Phineas and Jeffrey's clothes. "I'll change you back when we leave."

"Whoa!" Jeffrey exclaimed in awe.

"Thank you, Violet," Phineas smiled.

Violet, Dorrie, Candice, Phineas, and Jeffrey made their way through the nighttime streets of Bethlehem. In a little while, the five found their way to the manger where Mary, Joseph, Baby Jesus laying in the hay, the three wise men, a little drummer boy, Diana, Tricia, and a woman in a cloak were standing. Diana motioned Violet, Dorrie, Candice, Phineas, and Jeffrey to come inside.

As Dorrie and Candice watched the scene unfold, the woman in the cloak pulled down her hood, revealing a white woman with orange hair. The woman then cheerfully waved to Dorrie and Candice.

"Whoa!" Dorrie said, impressed.

"Princess Anna is ... a ... Voyager?" Candice asked in awe.

"You'd be surprised who some of us are, Candice," Phineas smiled.

A tribute to the new born King

Music from an angel chorus gently filled the manger.

"Vene redemptor gentium. Ostende partum virginis. Miretur omnes saeculum. Talis decet partum deum."

"Puer natus est nobis. Filius datus est nobis."

The little drummer boy stepped forward, and started singing.

"Come they told me, pa rum pa pum pum. Our new born King to see, pa rum pa pum pum. Our finest gifts we bring, pa rum pa pum pum. To lay before the King, pa rum pa pum pum, rum pum pum pum, rum pum pum pum. So to honor him, pa rum pa pum pum. When we come."

The angel chorus resumed singing.

"Puer natus est nobis."

The little drummer boy then continued singing.

"Baby Jesu, pa rum pa pum pum. I am a poor boy, too. Pa rum pa pum pum. I have no gift to bring, pa rum pa pum pum. That's fit to give a King, pa rum pa pum pum, rum pum pum pum, rum pum pum pum."

"Shall I play for you? Pa rum pa pum pum. On my drum?"

The angel chorus resumed.

"Puer natus est nobis. Filius datus est nobis."

The little drummer boy then continued.

"Mary nodded, pa rum pa pum pum. The ox and lamb kept time, pa rum pa pum pum. I played my drum for Him, pa rum pa pum pum. I played my best for Him, pa rum pa pum pum, rum pum pum pum, rum pum pum pum."

"Then he smiled at me, pa rum pa pum pum. Me and my drum. Me and my drum. Da da da dum."

The angel chorus finished the song, as Diana, Tricia, Anna, Violet, Dorrie, Candice, Phineas, and Jeffrey curtsied and bowed.

"Puer natus est nobis. Filius datus est nobis."

The three wise men walked over, and gave the Baby Jesus their gifts. Mary then motioned Diana, Tricia, Anna, Violet, Dorrie, Candice, Phineas, and Jeffrey to come over. Diana and Tricia smiled as Anna knelt down next to Baby Jesus.

"What a sweet baby," Anna happily said. "You're going to bring so much hope to the world."

Violet, Dorrie, Phineas, and Jeffrey smiled as Candice knelt down, and gently placed her hand on the cheek of Baby Jesus.

"May you be blessed always," Candice started, "through good times and bad."

It was a bittersweet moment for Candice. She knew how much hope Jesus would bring the world, and she also knew the agony he would suffer on the Cross.

Diana, Tricia, Anna, Violet, Dorrie, Candice, Phineas, and Jeffrey slowly left the manger at that point, and wound up in an alley. Diana, Tricia, and Anna each brought out an Omni, and motioned their goodbyes to Violet, Dorrie, Candice, Phineas, and Jeffrey. Diana, Tricia, and Anna then adjusted the dials on each Omni, pressed a button on each Omni, and disappeared into thin air.

Violet brought out her wand, and transformed the clothes that she, Dorrie, Candice, Phineas, and Jeffrey were wearing back to normal. The five then looked out of the alley and saw a wonderful sight at the end of the street. Dozens of people were walking toward the manger.

"Look at that, Bogg!" Jeffrey said, impressed.

"People coming to see the new born King," Phineas observed as he wiped a tear of happiness from his eye.

"We've better be going," Violet announced.

"Quite right," Phineas agreed.

"You two have any plans for the holiday?" Violet asked Phineas and Jeffrey.

"Actually, Jeff and I haven't quite made up our minds, yet," Phineas answered.

"The two of you are more than welcome to spend the holiday at House Cosmarune," Violet invited.

"Uncle Erik has sent over some people from Corona Castle to help with our celebration," Dorrie announced.

"Uncle Erik will be attending, along with other guests," Candice added. "It's going to be a good time."

"Well, then," Phineas smiled, "Jeff and I accept your fine offer."

"Good," Violet smiled back, pleased.

Violet, Dorrie, Candice, Phineas, and Jeffrey each brought out an Omni, and adjusted the dials of each Omni.

"Green light," Violet smiled as the green light on her Omni flashed on, indicating that the time line was as it should be.

The five then pressed a button on each Omni, and disappeared into thin air.

In front of the manger, the people who had been walking toward the manger stopped, and kneeled in honor of the new born King. It was truly a wonderful sight to behold.

"If you want to learn more about the birth of Baby Jesus," Jeffrey said in a voice over, "take a voyage to your local public library. It's all in books!".

Author's notes

For more about Diana, see Chapters 47, 48, and 49 of my story "Dorrie", as well as the "Inside Dorrie's world" segment in Chapter 28 of my story "Dorrie: Book Two". She is currently a specialty Voyager in charge of keeping royal history on track. Tricia is Diana's adopted teenage daughter (for more about Tricia, see Chapters 42 and 43 of my story "Dorrie: Book Two").

House Cosmarune is from my stories "Dorrie" and "Dorrie: Book Two". The House of Cosmarune was originally created by Skyrimfan for Skyrimfan's stories "Lucinda the First" and "Rise to Power: Queen of Corona". Skyrimfan has given me permission to use the House of Cosmarune, and I have given Skyrimfan permission to use Dorrie and Candice in "Lucinda the First" and "Rise to Power: Queen of Corona".

"If you want to learn more about the birth of Baby Jesus," Jeffrey said in a voice over, "take a voyage to your local public library. It's all in books!" - Sorry! I couldn't resist using Jeffrey's end message from each episode of "Voyagers!".

Jeffrey Jones, Omni, Phineas Bogg, and Voyagers are from the "Voyagers!" TV series. As readers of my stories "Dorrie" and "Dorrie: Book Two" will recall, Violet is an undercover Voyager assigned to Enchancia Castle, with Dorrie and Candice having recently been named as Auxiliary Voyagers.

Jolly Roger Brat recently used "The Little Drummer Boy" in Chapter 43 of "Do You Want to Sing Together XVII". "The Little Drummer Boy" is used here with Jolly Roger Brat's blessing.

Princess Anna is from "Frozen". I've been toying with the idea for a while now of having Anna be an undercover Voyager assigned to Arendelle, and I decided that now would be a good time to reveal that fact. Anna would have qualified to be a Voyager because of her bravery in "Frozen".

The Floo Network is from "Harry Potter".

Uncle Erik is in fact King Erik of Corona, who is the grown up son of Eugene and Rapunzel. Erik is quite close to Dorrie and Candice because of his past relationship with House Cosmarune, so much so that Dorrie and Candice, with Erik's blessing, refer to him as uncle. Erik is a character created by Skyrimfan, and is used in my stories with the permission of Skyrimfan.