Once Upon a Time in Enchancia Chapter 13: Candice and Amber's Excellent Adventure, a sofia the first fanfic

Once Upon a Time in Enchancia

Welcome to Chapter 13 of "Once Upon a Time in Enchancia". Music in this chapter: "I'll Twine 'Mid the Ringlets", "Wake up little Suzie", "In the Mood", and "Moonlight Serenade".

Chapter 13: Candice and Amber's Excellent Adventure

January 19, 1868

It was late Sunday afternoon at Enchancia Castle. Fritz and Eileen had just finished their performance in Dunwitty, and were moving themselves into the castle. As their belongings were being taken to their rooms, they heard a piano and a fiddle playing in the ballroom. As they walked into the ballroom, Fritz and Eileen saw Dorrie and Candice playing the piano and the fiddle. Fritz and Eileen recognized the tune Dorrie and Candice were playing as "I'll Twine 'Mid the Ringlets". It was then that Fritz and Eileen decided to join in.

(Eileen) "I'll twine 'mid the ringlets. Of my raven black hair. The lilies so pale. And the roses so fair. The myrtle so bright. With an emerald hue. And the pale aronatus. With eyes of bright blue."

(Fritz and Eileen) "I'll sing, and I'll dance. My laugh shall be gay. I'll cease this wild weeping. Drive sorrow away. Tho' my heart is now breaking. He never shall know. That his name made me tremble. And my pale cheek to glow."

(Eileen) "I'll think of him never. I'll be wildly gay. I'll charm ev'ry heart. And the crowd I will sway. I'll live yet to see him. Regret the dark hour. When he won, then neglected. The frail wildwood flower."

(Fritz and Eileen) "He told me he loved me. And promis'd to love. Through ill and misfortune. All others above. Another has won him. Ah! misery to tell. He left me in silence. No word of farewell!"

(Eileen) "He taught me to love him. He call'd me his flower. That blossom'd for him. All the brighter each hour. But I woke from my dreaming. My idol was clay. My visions of love. Have all faded away."

"That was wonderful," Dorrie smiled at Fritz and Eileen.

"And so enjoyable," Candice happily added.

"Thank you Lady Dorrie, Lady Candice," Fritz smiled back.

"You're welcome," Dorrie acknowledged. "And it's just Dorrie and Candice to you. Our titles are only for formal occasions."

"Then, thank you Dorrie, and thank you Candice," Eileen smiled as she playfully curtsied.

"The two of you play beautifully," Fritz praised Dorrie and Candice.

"Thank you," Candice said in appreciation.

"Perhaps you'd like a tour of the castle?" Dorrie asked Fritz and Eileen. "It will give you a lay of the land, and along our way, you can meet some of the staff."

"We'd like that," Eileen accepted.

As Dorrie, Candice, Fritz, and Eileen started walking down a hallway, Amber followed from a distance. In spite of becoming a teenager, Amber still had a curious streak. Now, Amber was focused on Candice.

"I keep seeing you with that silver pocket watch," Amber thought to herself about Candice. "I even saw you use it once to disappear into thin air. I don't know what's going on. But if I keep an eye on you, I'll find out sooner or later."

January 25, 1868

It was a Saturday morning at Enchancia Castle. As Candice walked down a hallway, she was all alone ... or so she thought. Following at a distance was Amber. Candice, thinking she was alone, brought out her silver Omni, opened the cover, and adjusted the dials.

"Now's my chance to find out what's going on!" Amber thought to herself as she snuck up behind Candice.

As Candice was pressing a button on her Omni, Amber grabbed Candice from behind. Before Candice could respond, her Omni transported herself and Amber into a time vortex.

"What's ... happening?!" Amber asked in shock as she and Candice flew through the time vortex.

"Hang onto me, Amber!" Candice ordered. "And don't let go!"

In a few moments, Candice and Amber suddenly appeared in an alleyway.

"I demand to know what's going on immediately!" Amber yelled at Candice.

"Oh! This is bad!" Candice responded, worried. "I'm going to have to go before the council. There will be questions. How could I let this happen?!"

"What are you talking about?" Amber asked, puzzled.

"What I do is of a secret nature!" Candice barked at Amber. "I took an oath! And because you were nosy, you've put my life as a Voyager at risk!"

"Voyager?" Amber wanted to know, confused.

"Well, you might as well know," Candice started, calming down a bit. "I'm a time traveler, from an organization of time travelers. We keep time on track. If something goes wrong with the timeline, we put it right."

"That's ... silly," Amber scoffed. "There's no such thing as time travel."

"Oh, I can prove it to you, right now," Candice countered. "But first, we've better change into more appropriate clothes. It's always best to blend in."

Candice brought out her wand, and waved it at Amber. Amber's green gown suddenly changed into a white blouse, a long flowing green skirt, and a green sweater. Candice then waved her wand above her head. Candice's maid outfit changed into a white blouse, a light blue long flowing skirt, and a light blue sweater.

"Where's my tiara?" Amber asked.

"They don't have princesses here," Candice explained.

"And where exactly is here?" Amber inquired.

"October 5th of 1957," Candice answered. "Buffalo, New York ... Hertel Avenue to be exact. Come on. I hope you're ready for this?"

October 5, 1957

Candice and Amber walked out of the alleyway onto a busy sidewalk. It was a Saturday morning, and many people were walking along Hertel Avenue, which was home to a variety of businesses. From a nearby record store, a tune was being played from a loudspeaker.

"Wake up, little Susie, wake up. Wake up, little Susie, wake up."

"We've both been sound asleep. Wake up little Susie and weep. The movie's over, it's four o'clock. And we're in trouble deep."

"Wake up, little Susie. Wake up, little Susie."

"What kind of music is that?" Amber asked.

"Good old Rock and Roll," Candice smiled. "I love the 1950s."

Amber then looked out onto the street, and saw a number of vehicles she could only comprehend as horseless carriages. The vehicles were in fact cars.

"What are those?" Amber asked, stunned.

"Oh! Those are cars," Candice answered.

A passing woman gave Amber a strange look.

"She's visiting from England," Candice explained to the woman about Amber. "This is the first time she's seen American cars."

The woman, satisfied with the explanation, continued walking.

"I think I'm in over my head," Amber said, apprehensive.

"Well, since we're here, I might as well show you around," Candice suggested, weary. "Just blend in. We should be fine as long as we don't ask some stupid question like ... where do you keep your nuclear wessels?"

"What?" Amber asked, not knowing the reference.

"You had to be there," Candice chuckled. "Come on. I'll buy you a chocolate malt. You'll like it."

"Okay," Amber agreed, nervous, as Candice led her into this strange, new world.

Back in January 25, 1868

At Enchancia Castle, in Violet's office, Violet and Dorrie were talking when Queen Melinda's ghost appeared before them.

"Violet," Melinda said, worried. "I think we have a problem."

"What kind of problem, ma'am?" Violet asked, concerned.

"Candice was in a hallway, and was playing around with some kind of silver pocket watch," Melinda explained. "Amber snuck up behind Candice, and that's when they both disappeared into thin air."

"Oh my God!" Violet exclaimed in shock. "Amber hitched a ride with Candice!"

"What kind of ride?" Melinda wanted to know.

"No time to explain," Violet said as she brought out her silver Omni, opened the cover, and adjusted the dials. "Luckily, Dorrie and I know where Candice was heading. We'll bring her and Amber back. I promise."

"I've always trusted you, Violet," Melinda acknowledged. "Do what you have to do."

Dorrie then brought out her Omni, and adjusted the dials on it. Violet and Dorrie then each pressed a button on their Omnis, and disappeared into thin air.

"Now there's something you don't see everyday," Melinda remarked to herself.

Back in October 5, 1957

Candice and Amber were walking along Hertel Avenue when they passed a newsstand selling a number of newspapers. One paper had a headline of Reds Fire "Moon" Into Sky. Another paper had a headline of First Earth Satellite Launch by Russia. Still another paper had a headline of Russians Launch First Artificial Moon.

"Artificial moon?" Amber asked Candice, puzzled.

"Sputnik," Candice answered. "The first satellite ever launched into earth's orbit."

"If you say so," Amber responded, not understanding what was going on.

In a few minutes, Candice and Amber approached Van Slyke Pharmacy and Luncheonette on the corner of Hertel and Parkside.

"Two businesses under the same roof?" Amber wanted to know.

"Yes," Candice smiled as the two walked in, and sat down at the counter as a waiter approached.

"What may I get for the two of you?" the waiter asked.

"Two chocolate malts, please," Candice responded as the waiter walked away to fill the order. In a few moments, the waiter returned with the malts, as Candice paid for the malts.

"I hadn't thought of it until now, but you have currency for this place?" Amber wondered.

"I come to the 50s a lot," Candice explained. "I always have some local currency on me."

Amber used a straw to start sipping the chocolate malt. "Oh! I like this!" Amber exclaimed in glee.

"I thought you would," Candice smiled.

"Well, since we're here, I want to see everything," Amber requested.

"I'm not sure that's such a good idea," Candice cautioned. "I should be getting you back."

"Well, we're already here, and I've already seen some things," Amber pointed out. "I might as well have the grand tour."

"Very well," Candice relented. "All I ask is that you follow my lead. There are things here that may be way over your head."

"Like that Sputnot thing?" Amber remembered.

"Sputnik," Candice corrected. "And yes, that's a good example."

"I promise to be good," Amber pledged. "But I simply have to see more of this place."

"Well, in for a penny, in for a pound," Candice remarked. "We'll finish up our chocolate malts, and then we'll get started."

Meanwhile, in an alleyway, Violet and Dorrie appeared out of thin air as they looked around. Then they heard a voice from behind them.

"It's good to see you again," a female voice said as Violet and Dorrie looked and saw three figures walk towards them.

Two of the figures were Scarlett and Faith, wearing modern day clothing for that time but the third figure was unfamiliar to them. She was the spitting image of Scarlett, only her hair was worn in a long ponytail and she wore a nice looking short-sleeved red dress and shoes as well as a bracelet.

"Scarlett? Faith?" Dorrie asked as she smiled.

"In the flesh," Faith smiled back.

"How did you get here?" Dorrie wondered.

"The old-fashioned way. We're immortal, remember?" Faith remarked.

Violet then looked to the third person with a smile and a bow. "You must be young Princess Skylar."

"Yes, Violet. I am," Skylar acknowledged. "You must be from a time when I was still a toddler."

"Scarlett, how did you know Dorrie and I would be here?" Violet asked, puzzled.

"You told us about this in the past," Scarlett acknowledged. "Or, you will tell us about it."

"Ah! I see," Violet remarked.

"I suppose we've better find Candice and Amber," Scarlett suggested.

"Yes," Violet agreed as she turned to Dorrie. "We've better change into period clothing."

Violet and Dorrie brought out their wands, and waved them over their heads. Violet's maid outfit changed into a 1950's dress, and Dorrie's maid outfit changed into a 1950s sweater, blouse, and skirt.

"We've better get started," Violet directed. "Candice I can trust in this time period. Amber, however, is going to be a handful."

"Agreed," Scarlett acknowledged as the five walked out of the alley.

Walking around

Candice and Amber left the Van Slyke Pharmacy and Luncheonette, as Amber stared at a large building up the street where a lot of people were coming and going. The front of the building had a large sign which read A&P.

"What is that?" Amber asked, curious.

"Oh," Candice remarked. "That's a supermarket."

"Supermarket?" Amber wondered, not quite understanding the term.

"A very large store where groceries are sold," Candice explained.

"It's so large!" Amber pointed out, amazed. "May we go inside?"

"I don't see why not," Candice smiled.

The two walked up to the store, and walked inside. Candice and Amber then started walking around the store, and Amber soon became awestruck at the sights around her: aisles of packaged food, a self-service dairy department, a refrigerated produce department, self-service meat cases, and a fresh frozen food department.

"What's TV?" Amber asked, looking at the TV dinners in the fresh frozen food department.

"TV is short for television," Candice explained. "Imagine watching a play on a box which shows images and sound, and that's TV".

"Sounds interesting," Amber remarked, impressed.

"We've better be going," Candice suggested.

"Okay," Amber acknowledged as she and Candice walked out of the supermarket, and started walking down Hertel Avenue.

"Amber, don't turn around," Candice said as they walked. "We're being followed."

"Who's following us?" Amber wanted to know.

"Two women," Candice informed Amber. "I first noticed them in the supermarket. Just keep walking."

In a few moments, Candice and Amber ducked into an alleyway, as the two women quickly followed them.

"Hold it right there, girls!" one of the women ordered.

"We detected your wands a while back," the other woman said to Candice and Amber. "We're going to need to see your learners permits."

"Who are you?!" Candice demanded to know.

"Department of Magical Law Enforcement - Buffalo Office," one of the two women responded.

"Oh, great!" Candice said under her breath, annoyed. "MACUSA!"

"MACUSA?" Amber asked, not knowing what Candice was talking about.

"Magical Congress of the United States of America," Candice answered.

"Well, come on," the woman pressed Candice and Amber. "Let's see your learners permits."

"Oh my God!" the other woman exclaimed upon looking at Candice, and seeing Candice's Omni attached to the waistband of Candice's skirt. "This one's ... a traveler."

"Are you sure?" the first woman asked the other woman.

"I'm sure," the other woman confirmed, pointing at Candice's Omni.

The two woman then stepped back in shock.

"We're sorry," the first woman nervously apologized to Candice. "We didn't mean to harass you."

"We'll be leaving now," the second woman said, worried, as the two women quickly ran from the alleyway.

"What was that all about?" Amber asked, taken off guard by what just happened.

"MACUSA has strict orders about not bothering Voyagers, or as they call your kind, travelers," Scarlett answered as she walked up. "It's something that goes back to the early 1900s when they had a run in with Lady Nancy."

"Scarlett," Candice smiled. "It's good to see you. But, how do you know about MACUSA?"

"In the present day, Cinnibar and MACUSA have a diplomatic relationship," Scarlett explained. "Because of that relationship, we have an information exchange. And that's how I know about MACUSA's rule against bothering Voyagers."

"How did that come about?" Candice asked, curious.

"There was an incident in New York City in the early 1900s where Lady Nancy's adopted family found out about the existence of wizards and witches," Scarlett started. "MACUSA was about to Obliviate Lady Nancy's adoptive family when Lady Nancy put her foot down. To drive the point home, Lady Nancy brought out some kind of pistol that shot out a beam of light that disintegrated anything it hit. Needless to say, that scared the living daylights out of MACUSA, and the two sides came to a deal - Lady Nancy's adoptive family would keep quiet about the existence of wizards and witches, and MACUSA would never bother Lady Nancy's adoptive family again."

"Well, well, well," Candice chuckled. "Lady Nancy used a phaser pistol. Nice! But, how did MACUSA find out about Voyagers?"

"The truth be told, Lady Nancy had become the the magical community's equivalent of The Doctor," Scarlett answered. "She would show up from time to time in different time periods to help out the magical community when needed. It soon became apparent that she was some kind of time traveler. As part of the deal to protect her adoptive family, Lady Nancy was forced to reveal to MACUSA that she was part of an organization of time travelers who made sure that time stayed on track. MACUSA, from that time forward, simply referred to Lady Nancy's kind as travelers, since Lady Nancy never gave them the name of the organization. Shortly afterward, MACUSA passed a rule that travelers were not to be harassed ... out of fear of what might happen."

"There you are," Violet said as she, Dorrie, Faith, and Skylar walked into the alley. Violet then turned to Amber. "To put it lightly, Princess Amber, you've put us into an awkward situation."

"If I had known ..." Amber started.

"What were we to do?" Violet asked, becoming slightly annoyed. "Post an ad in Enchancia Today?"

"You have to understand, Amber, that what Mom, Candice, and I do is of a secret nature," Dorrie explained. "We can't just have the entire world knowing what we do. Having the world know of the existence of Voyagers could in itself mess up the timeline."

"Well, at least this portion of the timeline is okay," Candice announced as she pulled out her Omni, opened the cover, and the green light came on indicating that time in 1957 was as it should be. "But, I'm going to have to go to Voyager Command and explain this. I don't know what will happen."

"I've gotten you into trouble, haven't I?" Amber asked, concerned.

"I don't know ... yet," Candice acknowledged, somewhat worried.

"Well, we'll find out soon enough," a woman's voice came from behind them. Everybody looked to see Lady Diana standing there.

"Juliet Baring is ... a Voyager?" Amber thought to herself, stunned.

"Ma'am," Violet said to Diana. "What are you doing here?"

"Voyager Command wants to see Candice, and Princess Amber, immediately," Diana announced.

"I understand," Candice silently acknowledged, before turning to Amber. "Take my hand. Let's get this over with."

"I'll let Voyager Command know you're on your way," Diana said as she opened her Omni, adjusted the dials, pressed a button on her Omni, and disappeared into thin air.

"We'll come with you," Violet said to Candice and Amber.

"We'll lend moral support," Dorrie added.

"Scarlett, Faith, Skylar?" Violet asked. "The three of you going to be okay here?"

"Yes," Scarlett confirmed. "The three of us will do some sightseeing here, then return to Cinnibar."

As Amber continued to hold Candice's hand, Candice used her other hand to adjust the dials on her Omni. Candice then pressed a button on her Omni, and the two disappeared into thin air. Violet and Dorrie then adjusted the dials on their Omnis, and each pressed a button on their Omnis, disappearing into thin air as well.

Facing the music

Candice, Amber, Violet, and Dorrie all appeared out of thin air in a large room that was very dark. Suddenly, lights in the large room came on as a man stepped forward.

"We took over control of your Omnis," the man explained. "We had you sent directly to this part of Voyager City. Lady Candice, you are to report to Commissioner Richardson's office immediately. Princess Amber, you are to come with me. Lady Violet and Lady Dorrie, you may wait in the hall."

Candice walked out of the room as Amber was led away. Candice, now outside of the room, found a computer terminal which she accessed, and discovered how to get to Richardson's office from her present location.

"Good luck, Candice," Dorrie said as she gently hugged Candice.

"Commissioner Richardson is an understanding man," Violet smiled at Candice. "I'm sure things will work out."

In a short while, Candice arrived at Richardson's office, and knocked on the door.

"Enter," Richardson invited.

Candice opened the door, and walked in. "Commissioner Richardson, I surrender my Omni to you pending a full investigation."

"That won't be necessary, my dear Candice," Richardson smiled. "What happened to you was an accident. Everything is fine with the timeline. You're not being held accountable for this. Princess Amber will, however, have to answer for her actions."

"Please don't punish her," Candice pleaded. "She may be impulsive, but she didn't know any better."

"Be as that may, she still needs to be questioned," Richardson pointed out. "We need to find out about her character. And, we've arranged for a test."

"What kind of test?" Candice wanted to know, worried.

"Princess Amber is going to be told you are facing charges over this," Richardson explained. "How she responds will determine how we treat her."

Richardson then turned on a view screen. Candice and Richardson looked upon a scene where Amber was standing alone in a room. Suddenly, three men and three women walked in, and sat down.

"Princess Amber," one of the men started in a stern voice. "Lady Candice is being charged with unauthorized transportation of a non time traveler to a future time, that non time traveler being you. You should know this is a very serious charge against Lady Candice. You are here as a witness."

"Please, sir," Amber begged. "It's not Candice's fault. I grabbed her from behind just before she disappeared into thin air. I'm the one who should be held accountable, not Candice."

"That may be true," the man acknowledged. "However, Lady Candice was the Voyager, and you were transported into the future because of her. Serious damage to the timeline might have occurred as a result."

"Was there any damage to the timeline?" Amber asked, curious.

"No," the man answered. "But, that isn't the point. Time traveling is a serious business, and we can't have amateurs traveling back and fourth through time. Lady Candice will need to answer for her actions."

"That's not fair!" Amber exclaimed. "I was responsible, not Candice. She's a good person. There must be something I can say to prove to you that Candice is a good person."

"I don't see how this could affect our decision," the man said to Amber.

"I, for one, would like to hear what Princess Amber has to say," one of the women responded.

"Very well," the man relented.

"I've known Candice for the past few years," Amber started. "She's a person of good character. I'm proud to call her a friend."

"An interesting way to treat a friend," another man pointed out. "Waylay her to discover one of her secrets."

"Not one of my shining moments," Amber admitted, ashamed. "I've done a wrong to Candice. She deserves better. She's always been there for me."

"In what way?" one of the women present wanted to know.

"Candice has seen to my needs," Amber answered.

"She's a maid at Enchancia Castle," another man pointed out. "That's her job there."

"Okay! You want to know who Candice truly is? I'll tell you!" Amber exclaimed, becoming annoyed. "Everybody thinks that Princess Hildegard is my best friend. While Hildegard is a good friend, Candice is my best friend. Who but a best friend would listen to my closest secrets, and keep them? Who but a best friend would sit with me every year on the anniversary of my birth mother's death, and offer her shoulder for me to cry on?"

Amber stopped for a moment, then continued, with tears forming in her eyes. "Candice is the best person I've ever come across. She deserves better than to be punished for something that wasn't her fault. I'm the one to blame. Punish me ... not Candice!"

"We're not going to punish anybody," the first man announced.

"You've passed our test," one of the women added.

"What ... test?" Amber wanted to know, puzzled.

"A test to see what kind of person you are," another of the women answered. "When push came to shove, you stood up for Lady Candice, offering yourself up in the process. Only a person of good character would do that. I think you've learned a valuable lesson today."

"I have, ma'am," Amber admitted. "Not to be nosy, and to ask permission before ever doing something that might inconvenience somebody."

"You learn from your mistakes," the first man smiled. "There's hope for you yet. It's something that will serve you well in your current role as a princess of Enchancia, and when you become Queen of Enchancia. We will, however, have to ask that you not reveal the existence of Voyagers, and keep the true identities of Lady Candice, Lady Violet, and Lady Dorrie a secret."

"I promise," Amber pledged.

"Then I think our business here is concluded," the first man announced.

In Commissioner Richardson's office, Richardson turned off the view screen.

"What happens now?" Candice asked.

"We let Princess Amber go home," Richardson informed Candice. "She passed our test with flying colors. The timeline hasn't been damaged. The princess has learned a valuable lesson, and she's promised to keep our secret."

"Why do I get the impression there's more going on than meets the eye?" Candice wanted to know.

"Ah, yes," Richardson smiled. "You're a quick one. Never could keep you out of the loop for long."

"What's going on?" Candice pressed Richardson.

"This was meant to happen all along," Richardson revealed. "We decided to let events play out to see what would develop."

"To what end?" Candice wanted to know.

"To see if Princess Amber had the stuff to become a Voyager one day," Richardson answered.

"Mom told Dorrie and me that Sofia and Lucinda are eventually destined to become Voyagers," Candice pointed out. "Is Amber now destined to become a Voyager as well?"

"Yes," Richardson confirmed. "But, she'll need more experience before we extend an invitation to her. Take her on an occasional Omni trip ... nothing dangerous, mind you."

"Yes, sir," Candice acknowledged. "Won't Sofia and Lucinda need such experience as well?"

"No," Richardson answered, "since the two of them travel with The Doctor from time to time."

"That's right!" Candice remembered. "Sofia and Lucinda know The Doctor."

"Well, it is a small world, isn't it?" Candice remarked in awe.

"Their Doctor is the one who existed just before your current Doctor," Richardson said to Candice. "The two of them will eventually meet the Doctor that you and Dorrie now know."

Richardson stopped for a few moments, then continued. "You, your mother, Dorrie, and Princess Amber should be returning home to Enchancia Castle."

"Understood, sir," Candice said in acknowledgment.

"Your mother, and Dorrie, are being briefed on what just happened," Richardson informed Candice. "Princess Amber will join them afterward, and the four of you will then be free to return home."

"Then I'll take my leave of you," Candice said. "I'm sorry for any problems this incident may have caused."

"No harm done," Richardson smiled. "Please, don't be a stranger. I look forward to us accessing the television archives. Quite frankly, you've hooked me on Harvey's Festival of Fear."

"It is a fun show," Candice smiled back. "I'll see you in a few days."

"Looking forward to it," Richardson happily said as Candice left.

January 26, 1868

It was a Sunday afternoon at Enchancia Castle. Most of the royal family had gone off to various places for the afternoon. Meanwhile, Dorrie and Candice had opted to spend the afternoon in the Secret Library doing a bit of tidying up. As they worked, they heard somebody enter the library.

"Who's there?" Dorrie called out from an upper level.

"Just me," Amber called back. "I didn't have anything to do this afternoon, and I thought I'd spend some time here in the library. But, since you were here first, I'll find something else to do."

"Nonsense," Candice called down. "Come up and join us."

"Thank you," Amber smiled as she climbed some stairs that led up to where Dorrie and Candice were. "Cleaning up a bit?"

"Yes," Dorrie smiled.

"I have an idea," Candice said as she brought out her Walkman. "We could have some music as we work."

"What did you have in mind?" Dorrie asked.

"You'll see," Candice grinned as she popped a cassette tape into her Walkman, and pressed the play button.

In a few moments, the Walkman started playing In the Mood by Glenn Miller.

"Hey," Dorrie said, pleased. "I can get use to this."

"I like this," Amber smiled as she and Dorrie started tapping their feet to the music. "What kind of music is this, if I may ask?"

"It's called jazz," Candice cheerfully answered. "Specifically, the Glenn Miller Orchestra from the late 1930s and early 1940s."

"Sounds like an interesting time period," Amber remarked to Candice. "You and Dorrie are so lucky to be Voyagers. By the way, I'm so sorry for what I did. I shouldn't have pried into your personal business. I'm truly ashamed."

"It's water under the bridge," Candice reassured Amber. "As long as you keep mine, Dorrie's, and our mom's existence as Voyagers a secret, Dorrie and I will consider the matter closed."

"Thank you," Amber acknowledged, grateful.

"Should we tell her?" Dorrie asked Candice.

"Tell me what?" Amber asked, curious.

"Candice has been given permission to take you on the occasional Omni trip," Dorrie smiled.

"You mean I can take more trips?" Amber asked, hopeful.

"Yes," Candice happily answered. "We won't be going anyplace dangerous, mind you. However, if you handle such trips well, you may find yourself receiving an invitation to become a Voyager in training a few years down the road."

"I'm honored," Amber said in awe, before turning serious. "But, I don't deserve it. Look what I did to Candice. I could have gotten her into real trouble. That's no way to treat a friend."

"You learned from it," Dorrie pointed out. "That's what's important. Let's just start fresh from this point forward. This can be a new chapter in our lives."

"Then a new chapter it is," Amber smiled, before turning to Candice. "You wouldn't have anymore of that wonderful music, would you?"

"Yes," Candice complied with a smile as she fast forwarded the cassette tape in her Walkman. "This is another piece from Glenn Miller. It's called Moonlight Serenade."

Candice pressed the play button button on her Walkman, and the slow, relaxing melody that was Moonlight Serenade started playing. As Candice, Dorrie, and Amber listened to the pleasant melody, they sat back and relaxed. It was a wonderful way to spend a Sunday afternoon. All was right with the world.

(End of Chapter 13).

Behind the scenes

In this edition of "Behind the scenes", we take a look at events from 1957 in order to give you a taste of what that time was like.

January 3: The Hamilton Watch Company introduces the first electric watch.

January 4: After 69 years the last issue of Collier's Weekly magazine is published in the United States.

January 6: Elvis Presley appears on The Ed Sullivan Show for the 3rd and final time. He is shown only from the waist up, even during the gospel segment, singing "Peace In The Valley". Ed Sullivan describes Elvis thus: "This is a real decent, fine boy. We've never had a pleasanter experience on our show with a big name than we've had with you. You're thoroughly all right."

January 13: The Wham-O Company produces the first Frisbee.

January 21: President Dwight D. Eisenhower is publicly sworn in for a second term as President of the United States.

February 4: The first nuclear-powered submarine, the USS Nautilus, logs its 60,000th nautical mile, matching the endurance of the fictional Nautilus described in Jules Verne's 1870 novel Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea. It is decommissioned on March 3, 1980.

March 1: Dr. Seuss' The Cat in the Hat is published in the United States.

March 26: 22-year-old Elvis Presley buys Graceland for $100,000.

March 27: The 29th Academy Awards ceremony is held in Hollywood. Around the World in 80 Days wins Best Picture.

March 31: Rodgers and Hammerstein's Cinderella, the team's only musical written especially for television, is telecast live and in color by CBS-TV in the United States, starring Julie Andrews in the title role. The production is seen by millions, but this 1957 version is not to be telecast again for more than 40 years, when a kinescope of it is shown.

June 21: John Diefenbaker becomes the 13th Prime Minister of Canada.

July 9: Elvis Presley's Loving You opens in theaters.

July 16: United States Marine Major John Glenn flies an F8U supersonic jet from California to New York in 3 hours, 23 minutes and 8 seconds, setting a new transcontinental speed record.

August 5: American Bandstand, a local dance show produced by WFIL-TV in Philadelphia, joins the ABC Television Network.

September 4: Governor Orval Faubus of Arkansas calls out the National Guard of the United States to prevent African-American students from enrolling in Little Rock Central High School.

September 4: The Ford Motor Company introduces the Edsel on what the company proclaims as "E Day".

September 9: The Civil Rights Act of 1957 is enacted, establishing the United States Commission on Civil Rights.

September 14: Have Gun - Will Travel premieres on CBS-TV.

September 21: Perry Mason premiers on CBS-TV.

September 23: The Academy Award-winning movie The Three Faces of Eve is released.

September 24: U.S. President Dwight D. Eisenhower sends federal troops to Arkansas to provide safe passage into Little Rock Central High School for the "Little Rock Nine".

September 26: Leonard Bernstein's musical West Side Story makes its first appearance on Broadway and runs for 732 performances.

October 2: David Lean's film The Bridge on the River Kwai opens in the United Kingdom.

October 4: The Soviet Union launches Sputnik 1, the first artificial satellite to orbit the earth.

October 4: The Avro Canada CF-105 Arrow delta wing interceptor aircraft is unveiled.

October 4: The sitcom Leave It to Beaver premieres on CBS-TV.

October 11: The Jodrell Bank radio telescope opens in Cheshire, England.

October 31: Toyota begins exporting vehicles to the United States, beginning with the Toyota Crown and the Toyota Land Cruiser.

November 3: The Soviet Union launches Sputnik 2, with the first animal to orbit the Earth (a dog named Laika) on board; there is no technology available to return it to Earth.

November 8: The film Jailhouse Rock opens across the United States, and its star Elvis Presley continues to gain more notoriety.

November 13: Gordon Gould invents the laser.

December 6: The first United States attempt to launch a satellite fails when the Vanguard rocket blows up on the launch pad.

December 18: The Bridge on the River Kwai is released in the United States. It goes on to win the Academy Award for Best Picture. Additional Oscars go to Alec Guinness (Best Actor) and David Lean (Best Director), among others. This is Lean's first Oscar for directing.

December 19: Meredith Willson's classic musical The Music Man, starring Robert Preston, debuts on Broadway.

December 20: The Boeing 707 airliner flies for the first time.

Author's notes

As readers of my story "Dorrie: Book Two" will remember, in Chapter 33, Dorrie and Candice came across Harvey's Festival of Fear while going through the television archives of Voyager Command. Obviously, Candice has gotten hooked on the program ... and has brought Commissioner Richardson along for the ride.

"Candice and Amber's Excellent Adventure" is a play on "Bill and Ted's Excellent Adventure".

Candice's Walkman first appeared in Chapter 31 of my story "Dorrie: Book Two", and would be the TPS-L2 model from 1979.

Department of Magical Law Enforcement, and MACUSA (Magical Congress of the United States of America), are from "Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them".

For more about Lady Diana, see Chapter 49 of my story "Dorrie".

Fritz and Eileen are original characters created by Brigade701, and are used in this story with the permission of Brigade701.

Having Amber learn a lesson from her trip with Candice, and becoming a better person in the process, was the idea of Brigade701.

"Juliet Baring is ... a Voyager?" Amber thought to herself, stunned - Amber would have known Lady Diana under Diana's alias of Juliet Baring, since Diana (as Juliet Baring) oversaw Lucinda's transformation from a commoner to a princess of Enchancia.

Lady Nancy is originally from Chapter 14 of my story "Dorrie: Book Two". Lady Nancy is a Voyager, and a witch, who is actually a grown up version of Nancy Oleson from "Little House on the Prairie" and "Little House: A New Beginning".

Obliviate is from both "Harry Potter" and "Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them".

Omni, and Voyager, are from the "Voyagers! TV series.

Phaser pistol is from classic "Star Trek".

Princess Faith (Queen Scarlett's adopted daughter) is an earlier version of Faith seen in the "Torchwood" episodes "Dead Man Walking" and "Fragments".

Queen Melinda is an original character created by Jolly Roger Brat, and is used in my stories with the permission of Jolly Roger Brat.

Scarlett's daughter, Skylar, is an original character created by Ben10Man for my stories (the fact that Scarlett's daughter, and Elena of Avalor's Jaguin, share the same name is simply an interesting quirk of fate).

Sputnik was launched into orbit by the Soviet Union on October 4th of 1957. Newspapers covered the event the next morning, and the headlines I used in this chapter are actual headlines that appeared across the United States that morning.

The A&P Supermarket, and the Van Slyke Pharmacy and Luncheonette, are actual places that existed on Hertel Avenue in Buffalo during 1957.

The Doctor is from "Doctor Who".

The Scarlett Warrior (A.K.A. Scarlett) (A.K.A. Queen Scarlett) (A.K.A. Queen Scarlett Katherine Felchenerow) is a character created by Ben10Man, and is used in my stories with permission from Ben10Man.

The scene with Scarlett, Faith, and Skylar meeting Violet and Dorrie in 1957 was the idea of Ben10Man (who also supplied the bulk of the dialog for that scene).

"Their Doctor is the one who existed just before your current Doctor," Richardson said to Candice. "The two of them will eventually meet the Doctor that you and Dorrie now know" - Sofia and Lucinda's Doctor is the Matt Smith Doctor, while Dorrie and Candice's Doctor is now the Peter Capaldi Doctor.

"We detected your wands a while back," the other woman said to Candice and Amber. "We're going to need to see your learners permits" - by the 1950s, I figured MACUSA would have had a rule against underage wizards and witches using magic outside of a school environment. Considering that in "Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them" all wand owners in the United States had to be licensed, I figured that extended to underage owners. I also figured that underage owners would not be fully licensed, but instead would be issued a "learners permit" with legal limitations put upon their use of a wand.

"Well, since we're here, I might as well show you around," Candice suggested, weary. "Just blend in. We should be fine as long as we don't ask some stupid question like ... where do you keep your nuclear wessels?" - this is a reference to Mr. Chekov's scene with the policeman in "Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home" (granted, "Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home" was set in the 1980s. However, since the Soviet Union launched Sputnik into orbit in 1957, there was mistrust of the Soviet Union by the United States at that time, and Candice's comment would reflect that).

"Yes," Richardson acknowledged. "Lucinda introduced Sofia to The Doctor when he visited Dunwitty a while back. Turns out Lucinda had met The Doctor a few years earlier on another trip he took to Dunwitty" - this is a reference to events in my story "A Day in Dunwitty", and events in Chapter 2 of my story "Glimpses".

Disclaimer

"Bill and Ted's Excellent Adventure" and everything associated with it © Interscope Communications, Nelson Entertainment, Orion Pictures, and De Laurentiis Entertainment Group.

"Elena of Avalor" and everything associated with it © Craig Gerber, Disney Television Animation, Team TO, and Disney-ABC Domestic Television.

"Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them" and everything associated with it © J. K. Rowling, Heyday Films, and Warner Brothers Pictures.

Fritz and Eileen and the other original ideas from Brigade701 are the property of Brigade701, and are used in this story with the permission of Brigade701.

"Harry Potter" and everything associated with it © J. K. Rowling, Bloomsbury Publishing, Arthur A. Levine Books, Little Brown, Heyday Films, 1492 Pictures, Patalex IV Productions, and Warner Brothers Pictures.

"Little House on the Prairie" and everything associated with it © Ed Friendly Productions, NBC, Worldvision Enterprises, CBS Television Distribution, and NBC Universal International Television Distribution.

"Little House: A New Beginning" and everything associated with it © Ed Friendly Productions, NBC, Worldvision Enterprises, CBS Television Distribution, and NBC Universal International Television Distribution.

Queen Melinda and the other original ideas from Jolly Roger Brat are the property of Jolly Roger Brat, and are used in in this story with the permission of Jolly Roger Brat.

"Sofia the First" and everything associated with it © Craig Gerber, Jamie Mitchell, Disney Television Animation, Toiion Animation Studios, Team TO, and Disney-ABC Domestic Television.

The Scarlett Warrior and the other original ideas from Ben10Man are the property of Ben10Man, and are used in my stories with the permission of Ben10Man.

"Voyagers!" and everything associated with it © James D. Parriot Productions, Universal Television (MCA), and Scholastic Productions.

I only own Candice Cosmarune-Cooper, Commissioner Richardson, and Dorrie Cosmarune-Cooper.