Sophia's Story
A Disney crossover by talking2myself
DISCLAIMER: I do not own any recognizable Disney characters. All original characters are my own creations.
CHAPTER 21. The Haunted Mansion
"And that's how I met Kelsey," Sophia concluded. She glanced over at Bernard who had been listening to her story in rapt silence. The two of them were once again aboard The Spirit heading, speeding away from the forest and the Sprite. Bernard stared at her, hanging on her every word with his mouth hanging open. Sophia rolled her eyes. "Alright, get it out of your system."
Bernard shook his head, suddenly realizing that she had finished her story.
"Go ahead and ask," Sophia sighed.
"Ask what…?" Bernard asked.
"All your burning questions about Kelsey," Sophia said. "I'll get the obvious ones out of the way. Yes, she really is that cynical it's not an act. No, she wasn't mean persae… although she wasn't always the most diplomatic or sensitive person to visit the Kingdom. No, she and Aaron never had a "thing" and she would be insulted that anyone would imply such a thing. No, I haven't heard from her or Rob or Emma since they left The Kingdom the second time and I don't think she's ever going to return." Sophia's voice cracked slightly as she spoke that last word. A moment of silence passed before Sophia cleared her throat again and seemed to recover. "Did I miss anything?"
"Have you ever met Chelsea?" Bernard asked sheepishly.
Sophia's eyes widened. "Oh, so you know about her?"
"She was on the Nice list at the North Pole," Bernard said. "And the Naughty list… her and Jack tend to waffle between the two lists quite a bit."
Sophia groaned. "I can imagine." She let out a sigh. "To answer your question, no I haven't ever met her. Will seems to like her quite a bit, Jack has gotten into quite a bit of mischief with her if the rumors are correct."
"Do you want to meet her?" Bernard asked.
"Nope," Sophia said dismissively.
"I hear she's nice," Bernard said. "She's a lot like Kelsey from what I hear."
Sophia gave Bernard a cold look. "If your best friend went away forever, could you replace them with a different person? Even if they were really similar?"
Bernard frowned. "I see your point."
Sophia nodded. "Don't get me wrong, I'm sure she is wonderful. Will tells me that she is not Kelsey. She never could be, but she is Kelsey's creation." Bernard perked up and Sophia held up a hand. "It's a long story that I don't even fully understand. Chelsea isn't Kelsey's replacement. She's… she's mostly Kelsey's way of telling us that she is still with us in some way. She's building the Kingdom, sending us new adventures and companions." Sophia sighed. "I don't know. Maybe I will meet Chelsea someday, but not now…"
Bernard nodded. "That's fair. And so Madam Leota was your second teacher?"
"Yes," Sophia said. "She was a bit unusual, but she never accidentally enchanted me so I'd say she was an improvement over my last one and I did somehow successfully become a godmother."
"And you never found your sister?" Bernard asked. "You never discovered what actually happened to her?"
"Well, I never said that," Sophia said.
"You found her?!" Bernard cried, perking up. Sophia let out a sigh and rubbed her temple with her free hand. "We still have a long trip…" Bernard added sheepishly.
"Alright, alright!" Sophia groaned. "Oh where to start? She paused for a moment before she began. "So after I met Kelsey, we had a series of misadventures which took us all over the Kingdom and ultimately wound up with me getting introduced to Madam Leota and her and her cousin going home. I missed her, but I thought I would never see her again." Sophia gave Bernard a sheepish look. "Honestly, I was a little relieved when she went home. I thought I was done with all my adventures." Sophia cleared her throat. "Now, at this point, I was back on track with my Godmothering career. Don't get me wrong, I had given up hope of ever finding my sister again, but I had no desire to spend the rest of my life tidying up after dwarves. Plus, I wasn't totally sure where I stood with Snow White after the little incident during the Apple Festival ball."
"Oh yeah," Bernard cried. "You and Kelsey crashed through a stained glass window." Sophia glared at him. "Right, you were saying?"
"Anyway," Sophia continued. "Continuing my godmother studies seemed like the most natural path for me. I joined Madam Leota and the strange spirit that lived in the Evil Queen's mirror at her haunted mansion."
"A haunted mansion?" Bernard repeated. "And you stayed there?"
"Yeah, and frankly I'll take a haunted mansion over an enchanted castle any day of the week," Sophia grumbled. "Although I will admit it was a bit intimidating the first day that I arrived…"
-888-
"Not that I'm concerned about your welfare or anything," Jack said imperiously. "But are you sure about this love?"
Sophia frowned as she stared up at the mansion. She stood between Will and Jack gazing up at the doorway to what appeared to be an abandoned building. Will had a hand clasped protectively around Sophia's shoulder, as if he too wasn't entirely sure if leaving her here was in her best interests.
It seemed odd that these two would be the ones left at her side. Kelsey and Emma had gone home and the Genie was nestled back into the Cave of Wonders with only Kelsey's assurance that one day Aladdin would find him and free him. That left Sophia alone with the two pirates. Will refused to leave Sophia until she was safely in the hands of her new teacher and even though Jack was quick to deny any sort of budding friendship between the two of them, he didn't seem particularly eager to leave her alone in Monstropolis.
Sophia had traveled with the two pirates back into the Princess Lands and through the Dark Forest. Sophia was more than a little apprehensive for several reasons. Reason number one was that the mansion was far too close to the Enchanted Castle for Sophia's comfort. Sophia had returned to the castle with Kelsey during their adventure and she had hated every second. Her second visit to the Enchanted Castle had ended with them fleeing in a panic with a magic mirror in their position. They had actually stumbled across Gracey Manor because they needed a hiding place.
And yet here, she was. About to enter a mansion filled with 999 ghosts after she had spent months risking her life in one hopeless quest after another. And one year ago, I accepted a maid position just because I wanted my life to be normal for a little while, Sophia mused to herself.
"Sophia," Will said. "You don't have to stay here. You could come with us."
"Yeah, the crew would love that," Sophia muttered.
"The Pearl would be a lot cleaner," Jack said thoughtfully.
Sophia set her jaw and made her way up the steps. She lifted the handle of a heavy doorknocker and rapped it twice. Sophia crossed her arms and waited. Jack and Will jumped as they heard a shriek from somewhere within the ghost.
"What was that?" Will cried.
"Oh that was a ghost," Jack said. "Trust me, I know about these things."
"That's it," Will cried. He followed Sophia up the steps and clasped her arm. "Sophia, you can't stay here. We need to…"
Suddenly, the door swung open and Sophia thought Will was going to throw her over his shoulder and tear off through the woods. A strange yet familiar duo appeared in the doorway. It was a tall slim woman with a head full of dark bouncing curls and bright red lips and a strange hooded figure in a long robe and what appeared to be a theatre mask. Sophia recognized both of them, but she to admit it was a bit odd to see them both with… well…bodies.
"Ah, Sophia my child," the woman grinned. She spoke with a strange lilting accent. She wore a long skirt and wrapped herself up in colorful shawl. Rings and bracelets glinted from her fingers and wrists.
"Madam Leota," Sophia said with a nod. "Mirror."
The figure nodded at her. "Ah, Ms. Sophia how far you have roamed! Welcome, welcome to our spooky new home!"
Sophia cringed. She had forgotten the Mirror's irritating tendency to speak in rhyme. "I'm here for my training," Sophia said, looking to Madam Leota.
"Of course," Madam Leota said. "Rest assured, I will hold up my end of the bargain. Come inside and we'll get you settled."
"Can you give me a moment?" Sophia asked. Madam Leota nodded and ushered Mirror back inside. Sophia turned to Will and Jack.
"Well, it's been a delight," Jack said. "Don't forget to write!" Jack scowled. "Bloody hell, now that foolish Mirror has got me doing it too…"
"Sophia are you certain this is the right thing do?" Will asked cautiously. He looked up at the mansion. "This place seems dangerous."
"No more dangerous than the Underworld or the West Wing," Sophia pointed out.
"I suppose…" Will said.
"Will, I have to do this," Sophia insisted. "It took me this long to find a teacher. I might not get another chance."
Will sighed and nodded. "Okay," he said. "But if you change your mind, you can contact us right? Through magic water?"
"Yes and I will do so at the first sign of trouble," Sophia promised.
Will didn't look entirely convinced. "I wish you luck, Sophia," he said.
"You too, Will," Sophia said with a smile. "Don't worry about me." She hugged Will tightly before adding "Worry about Jack."
"Always," Will sighed.
Sophia waved at Jack. "Good bye Jack, don't get arrested."
Jack tipped his hat and gave her a grin. "No promises love."
Will slowly made his way down the stoop. He turned back one last time and Sophia waved at him. "Goodbye."
"Goodbye," Will said in a soft voice. The two of them waved back at her one last time before vanishing into the darkness of the woods. Sophia drew a deep breath and stepped into the mansion.