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 26. Wedding Crashers
Sophia's copper curls whipped free of their pins as she poked her head out of the coach window. "Can't they go any faster?" she whined.
Madam Leota sighed had her compact open and was applying powder to her cheeks, making her look even more ghastly. She rolled her eyes. "Sophia, the driver and footman may be dead, but we are not and I would like to keep it that way."
Sophia groaned and pulled her head back inside the coach. The coach hit a bump and the whole carriage jolted, nearly flinging Mirror from his seat with a yelp. Madam Leota didn't even flinch. She snapped her compact closed and shoved it into her handbag. She reached out the window and thumped the side of the roof.
"Dullahan! For heaven's sakes, watch the bumps!"
"Sorry madam," a wispy voice responded.
Sophia sighed and slumped back in her seat. "Relax Sophia," Leota ordered. "We're almost there."
It was true. There were some definitive advantages to having an undead coachman. The ride might have been a bit treacherous, but Dullahan didn't need to stop to eat or drink. Sophia wasn't sure how the nobility of Andalasia would react when a black hearse with a transparent driver arriver pulled up in front of the gates of the castle, but they would cross that bridge when they got there.
Sophia fidgeted in her seat, adjusting her tiara. It was the same one that Edward had given her years ago. She attempted to polish it as much as possible with the hem of her skirt. Sophia's stomach was doing somersaults and she couldn't decide if it was because of her nerves, the knowing beginning or simply that she was getting motion sickness due to the crazed ride.
"You are a vision of loveliness, Sophia my dear." Mirror praised her. His masked face was expressionless as always, but Sophia could hear the smile in her voice. "We will arrive shortly. There is nothing to fear."
"Thanks Mirror," Sophia muttered, smoothing down her skirts. She sighed heavily. "Now what am I supposed to say?"
"I'd open with Hey Balloon Sleeves! Where's my sister?" Madam Leota said.
"Always a fan of the direct approach," Sophia muttered.
"Oh don't act like you're not," Madam Leota said with a shrug. She glanced out the window. "My this place is truly a playground," she remarked, crinkling her nose. "You can practically see the pixie dust floating through the air."
Sophia had to admit, Andalasia was a bit cheery for the likes of Madam Leota and Mirror. She was a bit shocked that the two of them hadn't shriveled up in the sunlight, but both had insisted on coming with Sophia. She couldn't help but be touched by their support even if it could make things very interesting later.
"Ooh ooh!" Mirror cried. "The trip is over! So is the wait! Look ahead! We are approaching the gate!"
"Stop the coach!" Sophia cried.
The coach halted so suddenly Mirror was flung from his seat again. Sophia rose to her feet and flung open the door. "We're stopping here?" Madam Leota asked.
"I think it might be best," Sophia said. Dullahan, the coach driver. Stood before the door. He smiled Sophia and lifted his hat off. As he did, his ghostly head came off with it, before he plopped them both into place.
"Hmm, I see your point," Madam Leota said. "Come along, Mirror." She snatched her purse from the seat and hopped down from the steps. Mirror managed to pick himself up off the floor and followed the two ladies, dusting off his robes.
Sophia hurried through the gates and up the pathway that led to the palace. The butterflies in her stomach doubled. This wasn't the first time that she found herself racing up the pathway to try and halt a wedding. Sophia struggled to keep her cool. Narissa was gone. She had nothing to worry about. Well, almost nothing… She was painfully aware of the royals strolling around them taking notice of her and her companions. Sophia wore the same scruffy pink gown that Giselle had made her while Madam Leota wore a maroon velvet dress covered by a black cloak with cobwebs still clinging to her clothes and hair and Mirror's masked face and dark robes.
Sophia had nearly made it inside the palace when a guard stopped her. "Excuse me, miss, are you on the guest list?"
"I need to speak to Edward immediately," Sophia said.
"And you are?" he asked.
"Sophia," she snapped impatiently before adding, "I'm his sister-in-law."
The guard's eyes widened. "I… I will send for the King…"
"Oh and give him this," Sophia gingerly removed the tiara from her curls and handed it to the guard. "He'll want to see me." The guard nodded and vanished inside the palace.
Sophia stood there, tapping her toe impatient, pointedly ignoring the stares of the people around her. A few moments later, the guard returned and he was not alone. Edward was staring at Sophia like he had seen a ghost. He hadn't changed at all. His hair was perfectly coifed and he was dressed in his finest clothes holding the tiara in one hand. He gazed at her in shock, "Sophia? Is that you?"
"Where is my sister?" the words came flooding out of her mouth before Sophia could stop them.
"Sophia, I can't believe you're here…"
"I SAID WHERE'S MY SISTER?!" Sophia exploded. Everyone went silence and then stared at her intensely.
"Sophia, please come inside," Edward said gently. He handed Sophia the tiara and led her inside the palace. "You're alive," Edward repeated. "I can't believe it."
"Where is she?" Sophia demanded. "You can't get married to her."
"I'm not marrying her," Edward said.
"WHAT?!" Sophia froze in her tracks and stared at him uncomprehendingly.
"I'm sorry," Edward said. "You would have made a wonderful sister-in-law. I hope we can still be friends…"
"EDWARD!" Sophia's voice broke with emotion as she spoke. "Where is Giselle?"
"Ah," Edward said. "So… this is awkward, but my stepmother might have sent her to a faraway corner of the kingdom."
"WHAT?!" Sophia screamed.
"Don't worry!" Edward insisted. "She's alright. I found her."
"She's alive," Sophia cried, hope springing into her heart.
"Yes," Edward said enthusiastically. "I found her and we got to spend a lot of quality time and we realized that we are just meant for each other."
"Really?" Sophia asked. This seemed to good to be true. Giselle was alive. Alive and not going to marry Edward.
"Yeah, I met this great girl named Nancy and your sister taught me that it's good to date a girl before marrying her."
"You don't say," Sophia said skeptically. Honestly, that did not sound like Giselle.
"So I've been dating Nancy for a few years," Edward said. "And we are about to get married. I'm sure we could find a spot for you."
"EDWARD!" Sophia yelled. "GISELLE! Please!"
"Oh right," Edward said. "She decided to stay in New York City."
"Stay?" Sophia's heart dropped into her stomach.
"Yeah, she met a guy there and she decided to stay with him," he said.
"Another guy?!" Sophia groaned. She clutched her curls and let out a scream of frustration. THAT sounded more like her sister.
"She's in love," Edward said.
"Like she was in love with you?" Sophia snapped. "Where is this New York City place?"
"Edward?"
The two of them whirled around to see a woman decked out in a massive wedding dress with white poufy sleeves and a glimmering veil. The woman lifted her veil so she could see her face. She had dark wavy hair and stared at her in confusion. She didn't resemble Giselle in any imaginable way.
"Love muffin!" Edward cried. "You look gorgeous!" He hurried to her side and pressed a kiss to her cheek. "Isn't it bad luck to see each other before the wedding?"
"Are you ready? Everyone is waiting."
"Oh yes," he said. "I was just explaining how we met to Sophia," he gestured towards Sophia. "She's Giselle's sister."
"Oh!" Nancy cried. "Nice to meet you. Giselle is a lovely girl."
"How do I get to New York City?" Sophia asked wearily. This conversation had left her completely exhausted.
"Darling," Edward said. "Why don't you go ahead and get ready. I'll be there in a moment."
"Okay," Nancy said. She smiled at Sophia. "Nice meeting you." Sophia nodded and watched her as she vanished down the hallway in her shimmering gown. Edward returned his attention to Sophia. "There's… a well outside in the palace courtyard. My stepmother shoved her into it." He looked guiltily at the floor. "I'm sorry about that."
"So if I jump into the well it will take me to Giselle?" Sophia asked.
"Well, yes, but I should warn you," he said. "It's a very strange place… full of Unreal people."
"I'll take my chances," Sophia said. She turned and started back down the hall.
"Sophia!" Edward called. Sophia turned. "It's good to see you again," he said. "I'm glad that you are alright."
Sophia gave him a sad smile. "It's good to see you too. Congratulations." Edward grinned and hurried into the church. As Sophia headed back out of the palace, she could hear the organ begin to play as Edward and Nancy began their new life together.