Once Upon a Time in Enchancia Chapter 51: Interesting Times, a sofia the first fanfic

Once Upon a Time in Enchancia

Welcome to Chapter 51 of "Once Upon a Time in Enchancia". Song in this chapter: "Post Malone, Swae Lee - Sunflower" (from "Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse").

Chapter 51: Interesting Times

April 18, 1870

It was Monday morning at Enchancia Castle. In Lucinda's room, Lucinda had just gotten ready for the day. As Lucinda sat on her bed with Hexie, Rex the German Shepherd walked in.

"Good morning, Lucinda, Hexie," Rex greeted.

"Good morning, Rex," Lucinda smiled.

Lucinda looked out her window and saw Candice as a dragon hovering nearby.

"What about it, Lucy?" Candice happily asked. "Want to take a flight?"

Lucinda smiled, then turned to Hexie and Rex. "You want to know something, guys?"

"What, Lucinda?" Hexie inquired.

"I think I'm going to take a quick flight," Lucinda announced.

"Go for it," Rex said in an encouraging voice.

Lucinda opened her window all the way, then transformed into a bald eagle and flew off. Hexie and Rex watched from the window as Lucinda flew off with Candice. Hexie and Rex smiled. They had never seen Lucinda happier. It was a wonderful way to start a day.

Elsewhere in the castle, in the castle sitting room, Scarlett walked in to find Queen Cecily and Headmistress Lovegood talking.

"Queen Cecily?" Scarlett said as she walked to the Queen of Zumaria and shook her hand. "I've heard of your tale through the grapevine."

"How?" Cecily asked.

"Word gets around in the magical community," Scarlett revealed. "I must say I share the same pain that you did because Neila's ancestors killed my family, too. The only difference is that my family wasn't in any kind of magical house. Unlike tons of others, I'm completely self-taught in magic."

"I see," Cecily acknowledged. "You didn't have the formal training that Vivian did?"

"Nope," Scarlett admitted. "And while we share a commoner background, the difference is that you married into royalty, whereas I founded and built Cinnibar from the ground up myself. Being immortal does have its advantages after all. However, it's both a blessing and a curse."

"I would imagine it is," Cecily observed, before changing the subject. "If I may ask, where is Princess Faith?"

"Back in Cinnibar," Scarlett revealed. "She volunteered to watch over the kingdom while Colette and I came to help defend Enchancia Castle."

"A fine student," Headmistress Lovegood remarked about Faith. "I can see her someday becoming your magical equal, Queen Scarlett."

"Thank you, Gayle," Scarlett smiled, pleased. "What brings you and Queen Cecily together this morning?"

"Headmistress Lovegood just made me a gracious offer," Cecily began. "She's offered to give Vivian finishing training at Hexley Hall this summer. And, I've agreed."

"Excellent!" Scarlett exclaimed in delight. "Your daughter will be in expert hands."

As Scarlett, Cecily, and Lovegood talked in the sitting room, Violet was meeting with Dorrie and Candice in Violet's office.

"Well, the scourge that has plagued this kingdom has been dealt with," Violet happily announced. "With Alcina and what was left of Neila's forces finally destroyed, we can get back to living a peaceful life around here."

"Mom?" Dorrie started. "Candice and I had an idea for this weekend."

"What did you have in mind?" Violet asked, curious.

"The three of us taking a trip off-world in the First Story Keeper's Tardis," Dorrie smiled.

"Oh, my!" Violet exclaimed, impressed. "Where would we be going?"

"We brought some information on possible choices," Candice announced as she handed Violet a small notebook. "Dorrie and I thought it would be nice if you made the choice."

"Why thank you, girls," Violet acknowledged, pleased. "I'm so blessed having the two of you."

Dorrie and Candice smiled at Violet's praise.

April 20, 1870

It was a late Wednesday morning at Hexley Hall. As fifteen-year-old Lita Mizuki was walking to the conjurteria with a friend of hers, fifteen-year-old Charles Spangler, the two noticed ten-year-old Kirk Winston talking to ten-year-old Prince Chang Kai of Wuton. Kirk Winston and Chang Kai belonged to the same house at Hexley - Kennicot House. The two ten-year-olds also resided in the Kennicot House dorm because both were boarding students. As Lita and Charles approached, they heard Kai giving Kirk a hard time.

"It must be freaky having a weird girlfriend like Elizabeth West-Chadwick," Kai mocked. "She's not even like us. She's Angeloran."

"So what if Eliza is Angeloran!" Kirk shot back. "She's still a person!"

"A person with the ability to transform into a weird angel form," Kai continued to mock. "And she doesn't even use a wand to create magic. What kind of magical student doesn't use a wand to cast spells?"

"Its called wandless magic," Lita spoke up. "Only very advanced students can perform wandless magic."

"Big deal!" Kai scoffed. "She's still a freak!"

"Why you!" Kirk said in anger as he lunged toward Kai, only to be stopped by Lita.

"Yeah!" Kai laughed at Kirk. "Hide behind her skirt!"

"Enough!" Lita barked at Kai. "You haven't been here at Hexley all that long, but you've already caused a lot of trouble."

"Trouble which will no longer be tolerated," Headmistress Lovegood threatened as she walked up. "Kai, you are under house suspension for two weeks. You will study in your dorm room, and you will eat in your dorm room while you're not at Royal Prep, and when you are at Royal Prep on days when Miss Chadwick and Mister O'Toole are, you will steer clear of them during those times. Maybe being alone during the school day will teach you some humility."

"How dare you!" Kai snapped at Lovegood. "Do you have any idea who my father is?!"

"I know exactly who your father is," Lovegood informed Kai. "He's the one who instructed me to do this should you misbehave again, which you just did. Now go to your dorm room. Your lunch will be brought up to you, and after lunch, your lessons will be brought up to you."

"Yes, Miss Lovegood," Kai said in defeat as he walked away.

As the action died down, Dorrie and Candice were walking nearby and saw what had taken place.

"Well, that was intense," Candice commented to Dorrie.

"Indeed," Dorrie agreed. "The Prince of Wuton is a real character, that's for sure."

"Oh, yes," Candice acknowledged, before changing the subject. "Has Mom given any indication of where she wants to go this weekend?"

"Yes," Dorrie happily answered. "The planet of Shan Shen. It's a human colony in the future with a Chinese culture."

"Ah, yes," Candice remembered. "A planet filled with a variety of merchants and festivals."

April 22, 1870

It was a Friday night at Enchancia Castle. James and Elizabeth were in the castle sitting room playing a board game. As they played, Elizabeth started a conversation.

"James?" Elizabeth asked.

"What, Lisa?" James responded.

"There's something I have to tell you," Elizabeth started. "When I was visiting our aunt and uncle, I had a dream. It was about our past lives on the Mystic Isles."

"Our past lives?" James inquired, taken off guard.

"Yes," Elizabeth confirmed. "Turns out you were there, too. You were Jonas, court composer for King Maximilian of the Isle of Angels."

"Brilliant!" James exclaimed, impressed.

"Kirk was there as Lucas. a palace kitchen boy," Elizabeth revealed. "Prince Chang Kai of Wuton was also there as Prince Kai-Li of the Wind Walkers."

"Was Kai as big a jerk then as he is now?" James wanted to know.

"Pretty much," Elizabeth said as she and James snickered. "But, how do you know about Kai?"

"Remember, I go to Hexley Hall on a part-time basis," James pointed out. "And, Dorrie and Candice have kept me updated on his antics at Royal Prep."

"I guess it's a small kingdom," Elizabeth smiled, before turning serious.

"What's wrong, Lisa?" James asked, concerned.

"Well, I have to wonder if what I saw was real ... or if it was just some strange dream," Elizabeth pondered.

"Well, one way to find out," James suggested. "We could have Calista bring out her looking back glass. If what you saw was real, the looking back glass will show it. I'll talk to Calista this weekend about it."

"Thank you, James," Elizabeth said in appreciation.

"Anytime, Lisa," James smiled. "Shall we get back to the game?"

"Yes," Elizabeth happily answered, as Amber walked into the room.

"Did I hear game?" Amber wanted to know.

"James and I are playing The Checkered Game of Life," Elizabeth announced.

"May I watch?" Amber asked.

"Please, sit down, Amber," Elizabeth invited.

As James and Elizabeth played, Amber watched. The three had an enjoyable evening sitting together.

That weekend

On the planet of Shan Shen, Dorrie, Candice, and Violet had just wrapped up an enjoyable weekend. They had enjoyed themselves by visiting a variety of merchants and had also enjoyed themselves witnessing a dragon boat festival. The three stepped inside of the First Story Keeper's Tardis and closed the doors to the outside behind them.

The Tardis was, of course, bigger on the inside than the outside, thanks to Time Lord Transdimensional Engineering. Dorrie and Candice had made some changes to the Tardis control room. It was much like the control room of the Peter Capaldi Doctor, with the same kind of Tardis console, and two side panels. However, the walls of the First Story Keeper's Tardis control room were slate blue, with circles on the walls reminiscent of Tardis control rooms seen in classic "Doctor Who". Also, the circles on the walls each emitted a soft white light, gently lighting up the control room.

"I've said it once and I'll say it again, girls," Violet remarked. "I like your redecorating."

"Well, the First Story Keeper suggested we make the Tardis our own," Dorrie started. "Candice and I went through what the Tardis was capable of doing, and we came across this control room layout."

"A mix of old and new," Candice smiled.

"The two of you have done a very good job," Violet praised. "And, thank you for this lovely trip to Shan Shen."

"You're welcome, Mom," Dorrie and Candice happily responded.

"I think I'll go relax for a little while," Violet announced. "One of the lounge areas I came across here in the Tardis looked quite inviting."

"Candice and I will get us on our way home," Dorrie cheerfully said as Violet left the control room.

"You know, Dorrie, I got this," Candice suggested. "I know you did your fair share of walking around as well."

"You don't mind?" Dorrie asked.

"Not at all," Candice smiled. "Go relax."

As Dorrie left the control room, Candice worked the Tardis console. Candice set the coordinates for home, then she dematerialized the Tardis from where it had been sitting on Shan Shen. As the Tardis started making its way through space and time, Candice pulled out from her purse a small Mp3 player (Candice had replaced her Walkman with an Mp3 player a while back). As Candice piloted the Tardis, she turned on her Mp3 player, and a song started playing.

"Ayy, ayy, ayy, ayy (ooh). Ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh (ooh). Ayy, ayy. Ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh."

"Needless to say, I keep her in check. She was a bad bad, nevertheless (yeah). Callin' it quits now, baby, I'm a wreck (ayy). Crash at my place, baby, you're a wreck (ayy). Needless to say, I'm keepin' her in check. She was a bad bad, nevertheless. Callin' it quits now, baby, I'm a wreck. Crash at my place, baby, you're a wreck. Thinkin' in a bad way, losin' your grip. Screamin' at my face, baby, don't trip. Someone took a big L, don't know how that felt. Lookin' at you sideways, party on tilt. Ooh, some things you just can't refuse. She wanna ride me like a cruise. And I'm not tryna lose."

"Then you're left in the dust. Unless I stuck by ya. You're a sunflower. I think your love would be too much. Or you'll be left in the dust. Unless I stuck by ya. You're the sunflower. You're the sunflower."

"Every time I'm leavin' on ya (ooh). You don't make it easy, no, no (no). Wish I could be there for ya. Give me a reason to (to, to). Oh, every time I'm walkin' out (ayy). I can hear you tellin' me to turn around. Fightin' for my trust and you won't back down. Even if we gotta risk it all right now, oh (now). I know you're scared of the unknown (known). You don't wanna be alone (alone). I know I always come and go (and go). But it's out of my control."

"And you'll be left in the dust. Unless I stuck by ya. You're the sunflower. I think your love would be too much. Or you'll be left in the dust. Unless I stuck by ya. You're the sunflower. You're the sunflower (Yeah)."

As the Tardis approached Earth, Candice was suddenly alerted by the Omni reader on the Tardis console. The Omni reader was something that Dorrie and Candice had added to the console, and was a device where one's Omni could be plugged into.

"Mom, Dorrie," Candice called out. "I'm picking up something."

"What is it, Candice?" Violet asked as she entered the control room with Dorrie.

"I'm picking up something from the Omni reader," Candice announced. "A disturbance in the timeline, coming from England in 1895. Its a red light situation."

"Well, as Voyagers, we have a duty to check it out," Violet pointed out as Dorrie started activating some controls on the Tardis console.

"I'm setting coordinates," Dorrie reported. "Candice, take us in."

"Doing it now," Candice acknowledged.

September 12, 1895

Male narrator: "During the later years of Queen Victoria, there were many tales of a remarkable personage known as the Great Detective. I refer, of course, to Madame Vastra, the lizard woman of Paternoster Row in London and her extraordinary adventures; her beautiful assistant, Jenny Flint; and their mysterious henchman, Strax, who could be best described as a man with the head of a toad."

It was a Thursday afternoon in Birmingham, England. On an out of the way street corner, a blue police box materialized out of thin air. Standing nearby was Madame Vastra, Jenny Flint, and Strax. In a few moments, Strax walked up to the box and pounded on one of the doors.

"Hello? Exit the box, and surrender to the glory of the Sontaran Empire!" Strax demanded.

"Strax!" Jenny called out. "Must you always do that?"

The door opened and out walked Violet, Dorrie, and Candice dressed in 1895 clothing. Violet then turned around to look at the Tardis.

"A police box?" Violet asked, taken off guard.

"Well, I had to disguise the Tardis to fit into the surroundings here," Candice explained. "Good thing this Tardis has a fully functional chameleon circuit."

"Excuse me?" Vastra asked, wearing a period dress complete with a hat and a veil. "Where is The Doctor?"

"Ah!" Violet exclaimed in surprise. "You obviously know The Doctor. I can see where our Tardis as it looks now would throw you off."

"Who are you?" Vastra questioned.

"I'm Violet Cooper, and these are my daughters, Dorrie and Candice," Violet answered.

"You said your Tardis?" Jenny asked, puzzled. "We weren't aware there were any other Time Lords out there?"

"Well, we're not Time Lords," Dorrie started explaining. "We know a Time Lord who no longer needs the use of a Tardis, so he gave Candice and me guardianship of his."

"I see," Vastra acknowledged, half taken off guard, and half impressed.

"And you are?" Violet wanted to know.

"Yes, we mustn't forget the niceties," Vastra apologized. "I'm Madam Vastra; this is my wife, Jenny; and our assistant, Strax."

"Ah!" Dorrie exclaimed, impressed. "The Great Detective!"

"You've heard of me?" Vastra asked, curious.

"I should say we have," Candice smiled. "The three of you are well known in history as the Paternoster Gang."

"You travel in time?" Jenny wanted to know. "Well, of course, you would, having a Tardis."

"Yes," Violet acknowledged. "Normally, I and my daughters do assignments for an Earth-based time-traveling organization. Our job is to keep history on track."

"Oh!" Vastra said in recognition. "You would be Voyagers."

"You know of us?" Violet asked, taken off guard.

"Oh, yes," Jenny smiled. "We encountered two of your kind a few years ago. One Phineas Bogg, and his partner, Jeffrey Jones."

"Those two get around," Dorrie whispered to Violet about Phineas and Jeffrey.

"One question, if I may?" Vastra started. "I didn't know Voyagers used a Tardis. When did that start?"

"We're a special case," Violet explained. "We were returning to Earth from a vacation on an alien world when Candice's Omni picked up a disturbance in Earth's history. As Voyagers, we were obligated to investigate."

"I wasn't aware that an Omni could be used inside of a Tardis," Vastra observed.

"Well, the truth be told, we have a special Omni reader built into our Tardis console," Candice spoke up. "The Doctor helped us build it."

"And which version of The Doctor would that be?" Strax inquired. "We've met two versions of him."

"Gray-haired man, wearing a black suit," Dorrie answered. "Doesn't like to be hugged."

"Oh, yes," Jenny remembered. "We met that version a few years ago when that dinosaur appeared out of thin air in London."

"He's regenerated again," Violet announced. "Would you believe into a woman with blond hair?"

"Curious," Vastra remarked, intrigued. "But, where The Doctor is concerned, one learns not to be surprised after a fashion."

"Indeed," Violet agreed. "So, what brings the three of you to Birmingham?"

"A most curious case," Vastra answered. "Someone has stolen the FA Cup. We were brought in to investigate."

"FA Cup," Candice thought out loud. "Rugby?"

"Yes," Vastra confirmed. "The cup was made of silver."

"We have a magical version of rugby where we come from," Dorrie revealed. "We call it dazzleball."

"Then you would be from the other dimension?" Vastra inquired. "Where?"

"A kingdom called Enchancia," Violet started. "Our home is in 1870. You know of our dimension?"

"Indeed, I do," Vastra announced. "I've had contact with a few people from your dimension. They work for the Sapphire Agency. I joined forces with them to track down a large purple snake who came from your dimension. He was causing trouble over here, but he managed to leave Earth before I could capture him."

"That snake again!" Dorrie exclaimed in disgust. "We've had encounters with him as well."

"Getting back to the FA Cup, what do you know of its disappearance?" Violet asked.

"Not much, I'm afraid," Vastra reported. "It was stolen last night from a shop window where it was being displayed. That is all anybody knows."

"Perhaps we can be of assistance," Violet suggested as she brought out her electronic Voyager guidebook, and plugged it into her Omni by way of a patch cord. After looking at the small view screen on the guidebook, Violet looked at Vastra. "According to this, the cup was stolen by a thief who wants to use its powers to commit more crimes."

"What do you mean, powers?" Vastra asked, puzzled.

"It turns out the cup has supernatural abilities," Violet explained. "It gives the user enhanced rugby abilities like fast running, and dodging things. These are abilities that would be quite useful to a thief."

"Agreed," Vastra acknowledged. "Does that device of yours tell you anything about our thief?"

"Yes," Violet answered. "He'll rob a shop tonight. We can lay in wait for him, and catch him when he arrives."

"Then it appears we have a plan of action," Vastra said, pleased.

That evening

In a back alley in Birmingham, Violet, Dorrie, Candice, Vastra, Jenny, and Strax waited for the thief to arrive. As they waited, Dorrie and Vastra had a quiet conversation.

"You said you had an encounter with a large purple snake," Dorrie started. "I'd be interested to know more."

"Of course," Vastra complied. "He was working with a magical teacher from a school in your dimension. I believe you call the place Hogwarts."

"I know of it," Dorrie confirmed. "Fine school. Candice and I go to Hexley Hall. It's a magical school in Enchancia."

"I see," Vastra acknowledged.

"So, tell me more about the snake and this teacher from Hogwarts," Dorrie requested.

"The two of them were aiding one of the most notorious criminals of our time - Jack the Ripper," Vastra revealed. "The snake was controlling the Ripper's mind, while the teacher was using his powers to help the Ripper escape after each murder."

"What was this teacher's name?" Dorrie wanted to know.

"Elexander Gaunt," Vastra answered.

"Gaunt," Dorrie said under her breath, recognizing the name. "Voldemort's mother was a Gaunt."

"Who?" Vastra asked, curious.

"Let's just say the next century will bring evil times to the magical world," Dorrie informed Vastra. "What happened to this Elexander Gaunt?"

"When I was able to stop the Ripper, the snake fled into space, and Elexander escaped through a previously unknown portal back to your dimension," Vastra told Dorrie. "The agents from the Sapphire Agency who were helping me followed him back to your dimension and arrested him. He was imprisoned somewhere called ... what was it again? ... Oh, yes! Azkaban."

"A place for the worst of the magical world's criminals," Dorrie explained. "I didn't know you stopped the Ripper."

"Yes," Vastra admitted. "It was a nasty affair. The snake had poisoned the Ripper's mind to such an extent that I had no choice but to ... eat him. He was stringy, but tasty all the same."

"Somebody's coming," Candice announced as she, Violet, Dorrie, Vastra, Jenny, and Strax hid behind some crates.

A short man holding the FA Cup cautiously made his way into the alley. As he approached, Strax rose up and aimed his Sontaran laser rifle at the man. "Hold it right there, human scum!" Strax ordered.

The man turned around and was about to flee when Violet raised her wand and pointed it at the man. "Immobulus," Violet shouted as a magical stream of energy hit the man, causing him to freeze in place.

"Well, well, well," Candice gleefully said as she walked up to the man. "You weren't expecting witches, were you?"

Violet walked over and took the FA Cup from the man's hand as Dorrie, Vastra, Jenny, and Strax walked over.

"Well, that would appear to be that," Vastra said, pleased.

"Unfortunately, it's not as simple as that," Violet cautioned. "In the original timeline, the thief was never captured, and the FA Cup was never recovered."

"Then what are we to do?" Jenny asked, puzzled.

"I'm sure Violet here has a solution, my dear," Vastra gently said to Jenny as Vastra put her arm around Jenny in a comforting way.

"Let me see," Violet thought out loud for a few moments. "You can say you tracked down where the thief was holed up, but the thief had high tailed it. All you found was a pot full of melted silver, obviously what was left of the FA Cup. I can magically change something into a pot of melted silver to back up the story."

"That sounds plausible," Vastra said approvingly. "And what happens to the cup?"

"Dorrie, Candice, and I take it with us," Violet explained. "We know of a place where it can be stored safely."

"Then we'll leave it in your capable hands," Vastra acknowledged.

"What about this vermin?" Strax asked about the man.

"Um, yes," Violet acknowledged as she reached into the man's wallet pocket, brought out his wallet, pulled out twenty-five pounds, and handed the money to Vastra. "The team who was displaying the cup will have to pay a fine for losing the cup. This should cover the fine nicely."

"Indeed it will," Vastra smiled. "And what do we do with this man?"

"I have an idea," Dorrie said as she raised her wand.

"Wait," Violet directed as she pointed her wand at the man. "There's something I want to know. Unimmobulus."

The man unfroze as Strax grabbed him.

"Please don't hurt me," the man pleaded.

"That all depends on you," Violet warned in a stern voice. "How did you know the cup had, shall we say, special qualities?"

"Some bloke told me," the man blurted out, nervous.

"This bloke have a name?" Violet wanted to know.

"He called himself Drake," the man answered.

"Great," Violet said in disgust. "Drake again. Once again he's interfering with history."

"Who are you people?" the man wanted to know.

"In a few moments, that won't matter," Violet said as she turned to Strax. "Let him go."

"Let him go?" Strax asked, puzzled.

"Yes," Violet acknowledged, before turning back to the man. "Stand right there, and I won't turn you into something unnatural."

"Standing right here," the man complied, nervous.

"Dorrie," Violet directed. "Hit it."

Dorrie raised her wand, pointed it at the man, and said "Obliviate" as a magical beam of energy shot from Dorrie's wand, hitting the man, and causing the man to fall to the ground, unconscious.

"What did you do?" Jenny wanted to know.

"Its a memory erase spell," Violet informed Jenny. "He won't remember anything about the FA Cup, and his role in stealing it. Just leave him here. He'll wake up on his own in a little while."

"Then I'd say our business is concluded here," Vastra acknowledged.

Violet opened up the cover of her silver Omni, and the Omni's green light flashed on, indicating that the timeline was normal.

"Green light," Violet smiled. "Everything in this time zone is the way it should be."

A short while later, Violet, Dorrie, Candice, Vastra, Jenny, and Strax were in the First Story Keeper's Tardis.

"I must say, this is quite impressive," Vastra remarked. "It reminds me of our Doctor's Tardis."

"I'll be back in a few minutes," Violet announced as she left the Tardis control room. A short while, Violet returned with a pot of melted silver. "The silver I promised you," Violet said as she handed the pot to Vastra, who in turn handed it to Strax.

"This will do nicely," Vastra said in appreciation. "It will back up our story. We've better be on our way."

"It was nice meeting you," Violet smiled at Vastra, Jenny, and Strax.

"And it was nice meeting you," Vastra smiled back. "Safe journey, ladies."

Vastra, Jenny, and Strax stepped out of the Tardis. As they stood looking at the Tardis, the Tardis dematerialized out of sight.

"We've best be off," Vastra said to Jenny and Strax. "We have a story to convey."

Inside the Tardis control room, Violet turned to Dorrie. "Set coordinates," Violet instructed. "We're going to Warehouse Ten."

"Coordinates set," Dorrie responded.

"Candice," Violet instructed. "Let's get to Warehouse Ten."

"On our way," Candice acknowledged.

April 24, 1870

It was a Sunday afternoon in Enchancia. In the vast underground storage facility known as Warehouse Ten, Queen Scarlett of Cinnibar was waiting for a new warehouse agent to arrive. In a few moments, Scarlett heard a woman gently cough behind her.

"Queen Scarlett," the woman said as Scarlett turned around.

"Welcome to Warehouse Ten," Scarlett smiled. "It's good to have you here, Naomi Turner."

"I'm honored to be here," Naomi smiled back. "I couldn't believe it when Elena told me such a place existed, and that she wanted me to represent Avalor here as a Regent."

"We're honored to have you," Scarlett warmly acknowledged. "I believe you have something for us?"

"Yes," Naomi said as she pulled out a small, but long, box from her pouch. "The two broken pieces of Shuriki's wand. We were storing this in Avalor, but Elena decided it might be safer here."

"A wise precaution," Scarlett agreed as she took the box from Naomi, and put in on a table. "We'll have it stored in our dark vault - a place where we store the most dangerous of supernatural artifacts."

"That sounds good, Queen Scarlett," Naomi acknowledged.

"Please, just call me Scarlett," Scarlett requested. "All my friends do."

"Then Scarlett it is," Naomi smiled. "And just call me Naomi."

"Good," Scarlett smiled back.

"So, Scarlett," Naomi said as the warrior queen looked to her.

"Yes, Naomi?" Scarlett wanted to know.

"I think you should know that my grandparents named my mother after you after you saved their lives at sea once," Naomi revealed.

"That is a great honor for me," Scarlett happily acknowledged. "But I'm afraid I don't remember saving your grandparents ever."

"How could you not?" Naomi asked, taken off guard.

"I'm over 300 years old. I save a lot of people," Scarlett explained. "For your grandparents, the day the Scarlett Warrior saved them was the most important day of their lives. But for me, it was Tuesday."

Suddenly, a strange whirring sound filled the room where Scarlett and Naomi were meeting. In a few moments, a blue police box appeared out of thin air. Then, the police box changed its appearance to a tan metal box with two doors attached.

"Doctor?" Scarlett called out. "You've fixed your chameleon circuit?"

"Sorry," Violet called out from inside the First Story Keeper's Tardis. "Not the Doctor. We'll be right out."

In a few moments, Violet, Dorrie, and Candice walked out of the Tardis, dressed in 1870 clothes.

"Well, well, well," Scarlett said, impressed. "I should have known it was the three of you."

"We were taking the First Story Keeper's Tardis for a trip," Violet informed Scarlett. "When we were coming back, we made a side trip and came across an artifact that should be stored here. It gives the user faster than normal speed and allows the user to dodge things. It could be used for evil if it fell into the wrong hands."

"Another item for the dark vault, then," Scarlett announced as she took the FA Cup from Violet.

"Another item?" Violet asked, interested.

"Naomi is the newest Regent for the warehouse," Scarlett explained. "She brought us Shuriki's broken wand."

"Elena thought it would be wise to bring it here," Naomi spoke up. "By the way, you just missed Sofia and Lucinda. They were here delivering an artifact, but they had to get back to Enchancia Castle."

"We'd appreciate it if you wouldn't mention to them that we were here," Violet requested. "They don't know we have access to a Tardis. They'll know eventually, but when the time is right."

"Understood," Naomi acknowledged. "You need to keep the timeline on track. Everything happens in its proper order. It's what you people specialize in. What was it Elena called you? Oh, yes. Voyagers."

"You know about Voyagers?" Violet asked, taken off guard.

"Elena told me in the strictest confidence," Naomi reassured Violet. "There is some advanced technology here in the warehouse, and Elena wanted to prepare me for that. The fact that you, Dorrie, and Candice are Voyagers will remain between the five of us."

"Thank you," Violet said, grateful.

"I thought you had little pocket watch things," Naomi pointed out. "I didn't realize you had some kind of ship."

"We're a special case," Violet smiled.

"Want to take a look inside?" Dorrie asked Naomi.

"Yes!" Naomi exclaimed, excited.

"I'll take these artifacts to the dark vault," Scarlett said as she left. "Have fun."

"You should know, Naomi," Candice started, "that this ship isn't as small as it appears."

"Okay," Naomi said, cautious, as she stepped into the Tardis and looked around. "What the?!"

Naomi then ran out, quickly walked around the outside of the Tardis, then slowly walked back in.

"Everything okay?" Dorrie asked with a smile.

"This thing is ... bigger on the inside than on the outside," Naomi remarked in amazement.

"Really? We hadn't noticed," Candice joked, before turning to Dorrie. "I've always wanted to say that."

"Seriously, this ship of yours is a miracle," Naomi said, impressed.

"We think so, too," Violet said with pride. "Would you like a tour?"

"Yes, please," Naomi answered, excited.

As Dorrie, Candice, and Violet showed Naomi around the Tardis, the four had a pleasant time. It was a nice way to spend the afternoon.

Later that afternoon

Naomi had left for her ship that would take her back to Avalor. Meanwhile, at Enchancia Castle, Violet, Dorrie, and Candice had returned. As they passed by the castle sitting room, they noticed activity inside.

"What in Heaven's name is going on here?" Violet asked, taken off guard.

"Elizabeth had a dream at Aunt Louisa and Uncle Alexander's about the past on the Mystic Isles," James explained.

"And I'm going to verify if what her dream states is true or not, using my looking back glass," Calista happily added.

"Can we sit in?" Dorrie asked, hopeful.

"Of course," Calista smiled. "You'd be most welcome."

(End of Chapter 51).

Behind the scenes

Before we get started, I want to say that I continue to be well, and I hope that you and yours are well. The coronavirus threat is still with us, but we're starting to see a light at the far end of the tunnel. However, we can't afford to start relaxing just yet. We need to continue practicing safe procedures (wearing a mask when out in public, continuing to practice social distancing, washing your hands on a regular basis, and following rules set forth by your local government). In these ways, we can help slow the spread of the coronavirus. It's going to be a while before we come to the end of the tunnel, but if we all act responsibly, we will be able to get through this.

And now, let's return to a more normal version of Behind the scenes. In this edition, we'll look at the 1894-95 FA Cup.

The 1894-95 FA Cup was connected to the 24th season of the football (rugby) competition known as the Football Association Challenge Cup (more commonly known as the FA Cup). The cup was won by Aston Villa, who defeated West Bromwich Albion 1-0 in the final of the competition, played at the Crystal Palace in London. This was Villa's second victory in the FA Cup.

The cup was stolen from the shop window of William Shillcock in Newton Row, Birmingham where it was being displayed and was never recovered despite a ten pound reward. A new cup, made by silversmith Howard Vaughton, replaced the cup that had been stolen. Aston Villa had to pay a fine of 25 pounds because the original cup was lost while in their possession.

In 1958, an interesting twist to the theft took place. An 80-year-old man called Henry (Harry) James Burge confessed to a national newspaper that he had committed the burglary at the shop, which at the time had been owned by William Shillcock. The Sunday Pictorial published the exclusive story, with the headline "soccer's biggest riddle" on Sunday, February 23rd of 1958. Burge even posed for a photograph showing how he broke the shop's rear door open with a small crowbar. In his admission, Burge stated that he and two other men entered the shop and stole several pairs of football boots along with the cup. He alleged that the silver FA Cup was melted on the night it was stolen, to be made into fake half crowns. Discrepancies were soon spotted by Birmingham police between Burge's tale and a related report in the Birmingham Post.

The Post's story read: "Mr. Shillcock arrived at the shop on the morning after the theft and saw the back room covered with plaster, looked up and saw a hole in the roof. The robber or robbers got onto the roof from the entry and this was done by climbing with a hand and foot on each wall. The lead on the roof was stripped off and the lath and plaster broken through. To get back again a pair of steps found in the shop were used."

The Chief Superintendent decided that no realistic possibility of a conviction of Burgh was available, despite Burgh's long history of being a thief who broke into homes and shops. The file was then closed, leaving the fate of the cup a mystery.

Later in 1958, Burgh was sent to prison for stealing from cars. The judge, having heard of Burge's record of 42 previous convictions going back to 1897 and on hearing that Burge had been sentenced to a total of 46 years and 11 months imprisonment during his lifetime, said: "When you appeared last year I told you that if you did this sort of thing again instead of retiring from a life of crime I should send you to prison for a long time. Because of your age, I had hoped to do what your counsel asked (leniency) but society has to be protected from a man such as you who has spent a lifetime in stealing."

Burge was released from prison in 1961 and placed in an old people's home. He died in September of 1964. Did he really steal the cup? Burge confessed to the crime, but differences in his account and William Shillcock's account means the truth is still unknown to this day.

Author's notes

Avalor, Elena, Naomi Turner, and Shuriki are from "Elena of Avalor".

Azkaban, Hogwarts, Immobulus, Obliviate, Voldemort, and the Gaunt family are from "Harry Potter". Unimmobulus is a reversal spell I came up with.

Bloke is a slang term for a common man in the United Kingdom, Ireland, Australia, New Zealand and South Africa. The earliest known usage is from the early 19th Century when it was recorded as a London slang term.

Chameleon Circuit: The chameleon circuit is the component of a Tardis that changes its outer shell to assume a shape that blends in with its surroundings so it is unnoticed when it lands. As "Doctor Who" fans know, the Chameleon Circuit on The Doctor's Tardis is broken, forcing the outside of The Doctor's Tardis to remain in the shape of the last thing it posed as (a Police Box). The Chameleon Circuit on the First Story Keeper's Tardis, however, is fully functional.

Charles Spangler, Elizabeth West-Chadwick, Kirk Winston, Lady Louisa Windson-Pepperton, Prince Chang Kai of Wuton, and Sir Alexander Pepperton the Second are characters created by MisuteriTenshi / SailorWednesdayMercury, and are used in this story with the permission of MisuteriTenshi / SailorWednesdayMercury.

Drake, Jeffrey Jones, Omni, Phineas Bogg, and Voyagers, are from the "Voyagers!" TV series.

Elena has known about Voyagers since Chapter 16 of my story "Dorrie: Book Two".

Elexander is a boy's name from the 1800s. I wanted something that would sound like a magical name for Elexander Gaunt, so I picked Elexander as a first name. Elexander is said to mean "Fidelis" (or "faithful, loyal").

Having a member of the Gaunt family help the snake was the idea of Brigade701.

Having Scarlett and Cecily have a conversation was the idea of Ben10Man (who also provided some of the dialog for the scene). I added in Headmistress Lovegood, and the idea of giving Vivian finishing training, to help round out the scene.

Having the Peter Capaldi Doctor helping Dorrie and Candice to build an Omni reader came about as a result of an online conversation between me and Brigade701.

"During the later years of Queen Victoria, there were many tales of a remarkable personage known as the Great Detective. I refer, of course, to Madame Vastra, the lizard woman of Paternoster Row in London and her extraordinary adventures; her beautiful assistant, Jenny Flint; and their mysterious henchman, Strax, who could be best described as a man with the head of a toad" - this is a somewhat rewritten narration of that featured in the "Doctor Who" Children In Need special "The Great Detective".

"He's regenerated again," Violet announced. "Would you believe into a woman with blond hair?" - this is a reference to the Jodie Whittaker Doctor from "Doctor Who".

Lita Mizuki was created by MisuteriTenshi / SailorWednesdayMercury and myself.

Miss Gayle Lovegood (A.K.A. Headmistress Lovegood) is originally from my stories "Dorrie" and "Dorrie: Book Two", and is an ancestor of Luna Lovegood from "Harry Potter".

"Oh, yes," Jenny remembered. "We met that version a few years ago when that dinosaur appeared out of thin air in London" - this is a reference to events in the "Doctor Who" episode "Deep Breath".

Personage: a person whose actions and opinions strongly influence the course of events.

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

Readers of "Once Upon a Time in Enchancia" will remember that in Chapter 20 it was revealed that the First Story Keeper was a renegade Time Lord like the Doctor. In Chapter 20, it was also revealed that the First Story Keeper had evolved to such a point that he can now travel through space and time simply using the power of his mind. At that time, he gave guardianship of his Tardis to Dorrie and Candice.

Regent: a person (among many) assigned to Warehouse Ten. A regent is responsible for tracking down supernatural artifacts for placement in the warehouse. Some regents are also responsible for the day to day operations of the warehouse.

Shan Shen is from the "Doctor Who" episode "Turn Left".

The Kingdom of Angelor is a kingdom created by MisuteriTenshi / SailorWednesdayMercury and is used in my stories with the permission of MisuteriTenshi / SailorWednesdayMercury.

The Kingdom of Cinnibar is a kingdom created by Ben10Man and is used in my stories with permission from Ben10Man.

The Paternoster Gang are from the Matt Smith and Peter Capaldi eras of "Doctor Who".

The Sapphire Agency is an original organization created by MisuteriTenshi / SailorWednesdayMercury for MisuteriTenshi's story "Return to Smurf Village", and for this story as well.

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. Meanwhile, the character of Colette (A.K.A. Lady Colette Cosmarune) is a character that I and Ben10Man created and is based on Bayonetta from the video game "Bayonetta" (please note that Colette, and Madam Collette of Enchancia Castle, are two different characters who are not related in any way, shape, or form).

The scene with Calista, Elizabeth, and James in the castle sitting room was the idea of MisuteriTenshi / SailorWednesdayMercury (who also supplied the dialog for that scene).

The scene with Elizabeth and James playing a board game was based on an idea by MisuteriTenshi / SailorWednesdayMercury. The board game they are playing, The Checkered Game of Life, was created in 1860 by Milton Bradley. The game board resembled a modified checkerboard. The object was to land on "good" spaces and collect 100 points. A player could gain 50 points by reaching "Happy Old Age" in the upper-right corner, opposite "Infancy" where one began. Instead of dice - which were associated with gambling -, players used a six-sided top called a teetotum. The game eventually evolved into The Game of Life which we know today.

The scene with Lita Mizuki, Charles Spangler, Prince Chang Kai, and Kirk Winston was the idea of MisuteriTenshi / SailorWednesdayMercury. I added Dorrie and Candice into the scene to act as a bridge to events coming up in the chapter.

The scene with Naomi telling Scarlett that Naomi's grandparents named Naomi's mother after Scarlett was the idea of Ben10Man (who also supplied the dialog for that). I then expanded the scene, making Naomi a Regent for Warehouse Ten.

The snake is an earlier version of the snake seen in the 2010 TV series "The Little Prince". Readers of my stories "Dorrie: Book Two" and "Once Upon a Time in Enchancia" will remember that the earlier version of the snake played a role in those stories.

Using "Post Malone, Swae Lee - Sunflower" in this chapter was the idea of Battlefieldfan2. I decided to use it as traveling music when Candice was piloting the First Story Keeper's Tardis.

Warehouse Ten is from my stories "Dorrie", "Dorrie: Book Two", "Changes", and "Enchancia Castle". It is a warehouse housing paranormal artifacts that existed before the current Warehouse 13 (as seen in the TV series "Warehouse 13").

"Yes," Vastra admitted. "It was a nasty affair. The snake had poisoned the Ripper's mind to such an extent that I had no choice but to ... eat him. He was stringy, but tasty all the same" - this is a reference to events early on in the "Doctor Who" episode "A Good Man Goes to War". Vastra, in Victorian London, arrives at her home on Paternoster Row and asks Jenny to contact Inspector Abberline of Scotland Yard to tell him that Jack the Ripper had claimed his last victim. When Jenny asked Vastra how she found the Ripper, Vastra simply replied "Stringy, but tasty all the same. I shan't be needing dinner". Having the snake, Elexander, and the Sapphire Agency being involved was my way of expanding upon the events described in "A Good Man Goes to War".

Disclaimer

Charles Spangler, Elizabeth West-Chadwick, Kirk Winston, Lady Louisa Windson-Pepperton, Prince Chang Kai of Wuton, Sir Alexander Pepperton the Second, and the other original ideas from MisuteriTenshi / SailorWednesdayMercury are the property of MisuteriTenshi / SailorWednesdayMercury, and are used in this story with the permission of MisuteriTenshi / SailorWednesdayMercury.

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

"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.

"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.

"Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse" and everything associated with it © Columbia Pictures, Sony Pictures Animation, Marvel Entertainment, Arad Productions, Lord Miller Productions, Pascal Pictures, and Sony Pictures Releasing.

"The Little Prince" (2010 TV series) and everything associated with it © Antoine de Saint-Exupery, Saint-Exupery-d'Agay Estate, Gallimard, Reynal & Hitchcock, Method Animation, DQ Entertainment, Rai Fiction, LP Animation, La Fabrique d'images, Sony Pictures Home Entertainment, and ARD.

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.

"Warehouse 13" and everything associated with it © Universal Cable Productions, NBC Universal Television Distribution, and SyFy.

I only own Alcina, Candice Cosmarune-Cooper, Dorrie Cosmarune-Cooper, Elexander Gaunt, Miss Gayle Lovegood, Neila, the Omni reader, and Unimmobulus.