Reimagia
Summary: Now a graduate of Ever Realm Academy, Sofia accepts Cedric's invitation to train in a secret realm called Reimagia, which is home to some of the most powerful sorcerers on earth. However, there's a dark force lurking in the realm, destroying conjurors one by one, all while offering cryptic clues to his identity. If Cedric and Sofia can't solve the mystery, they'll be next.
Disclaimer: I don't own Sofia the First or any characters affiliated with the show. However, I do own the Kingdom of Reimagia and many new OCs mentioned in the story.
A/N: All right, so the first chapter was 14 pages long, and I JUST realized that. Lol. Well, I guess most of you are okay with longer chapters anyway. Just a note that a few of these chapters WILL be long, because there's a lot of content to cover: discussions, training, riddle solving, etc. 😉 Needless to say, some of you have already seen the mysterious stuff starting to happen. You will be meeting some new characters soon. Remember what I've always told you: things aren't always what they seem. As John Kramer says in many of the Saw movies: "Your instincts will tell you to do one thing. I implore you to do the opposite." Yes, that is a very strange analogy, but I think it'll make sense in the context of this story before I'm done. :D Enjoy!
Note: To form the land of Reimagia, I was inspired by multiple places: Switzerland, New Zealand, Iceland, Avalor, a vast majority of Wyoming and Montana, and even New Mexico (particularly the color scheme). 😊 Also, fun side note: I've been using the Sims 4 to create my layout for Reimagia, including a few of the buildings. Naturally, I created Cedric and Sofia. Well… Sofia is a straight-A student (naturally) with a side-job as a secret agent (don't ask…) and an affinity for starting bonfires and never dousing them (seriously, she's set the place on fire THREE TIMES already), and Cedric has discovered a love for fishing and randomly singing to trees. *face palm* I'll say this: it's never boring in the Sims version! Lol!
Chapter 2: In the Palm of Your Hand
After clearing things with Miranda and getting her blessing as well, the two friends prepared for their trip to Reimagia. Both were rather anxious yet excited, because they knew it would probably lead to some new and exhilarating changes: namely Sofia's potential transformation into a full-fledged sorceress. Of course, they wouldn't get ahead of themselves just yet… There was still much she needed to learn and a lot of training she would need before that could happen. Luckily, she already had a massive magical advantage, so that definitely benefited her a great deal.
Sofia had discovered her cracked portrait the evening she'd returned from her graduation party. She knew that it had been intact before she left, and there was no wind since her window had been shut. Ultimately, she chalked it up to maybe Rex accidentally knocking it off or something, and she soon forgot about it after replacing the frame and glass. After all, the picture itself was fine, which was all she cared about. Still, something didn't settle well with her about it, even if she'd determined a probable cause…
Reimagia required a different method of travel than that of flight or sailing, since the realm only existed via a magical passage of sorts. The AutoCoach could get them to their destination, but only if they took the precise route as indicated by the magical society.
"How exactly are we supposed to get to Reimagia?" Sofia wondered as she helped Cedric load up the AutoCoach the following week. "If we aren't going to fly there… How do we get there?"
"There is a secret cave just north of here that many magic wielders have used in the past to pass from one realm to the next," he explained with a bit of difficulty as he hauled her trunk onto the back of the coach. "What on earth did you put in here, Sofia? Boulders?"
"I actually brought most of my things with me," she admitted with a sheepish grin. "If I'm going to be training with you and away for a while, I want to feel like I'm home, you know?"
"Yes, well, 'home' is going to break my back." He groaned as he settled the trunk into place, and then he frowned. "…I suppose I could have just used magic to lift it…" He tossed his friend a minor look of annoyance as she snickered. "Oh, very funny." He glanced up as he heard a caw and blinked as Wormwood landed on his shoulder. "Wormy? What are you doing here?"
"I just came to see the two of you off, I suppose," he muttered indifferently, yawning. "I'll be staying with Nina, and not with your smothering sister, Cedric. If I have to hear her gush about her new pair of boots one more time, I will return to the Mystic Isles and ask them to lock me up."
Sofia laughed. "I can think of a few who might actually comply with that, so be careful what you wish for."
The bird rolled his eyes before clearing his throat. "So… How long do you two plan to be gone?"
"It's hard to say," Cedric responded honestly. "We could be gone a few weeks or a few months… Depending on how long it takes for Sofia to complete her training."
"Ugh, that long?" Wormwood sighed. "Not that I mind staying with Nina and Mr. Birdsong. But it's always so boring when I don't get to harass the two of you after a while." He grinned as Sofia gave him a pointed stare.
"Thanks, Wormwood," she deadpanned. "Love you too."
"It's June now," Cedric surmised. "If I had to guess, I'd assume we'll be back before Wassailia. And it's not like we can't visit or anything, especially with the twins' birthday coming up."
"Amber would be so irritated if we didn't come to their birthday party," Sofia realized, laughing. "You're right. We'd better remember to come back for that at least. I just hope James gets to celebrate with her." She sighed. "Amber has been sort of sad about him not being around much, and now with me gone too…" She shrugged. "I hope Desmond can cheer her up, because she pretty much broke down last night when I reminded her that I'd be gone for a while."
"It's nice that you're so close to your sister," the sorcerer remarked as Wormwood began lifting into the air. "At least yours isn't a suffocating know-it-all."
"No," the princess agreed with a grin. "That was Hildegard. And we are definitely not sisters." She laughed.
"I suppose I'll see you both whenever you choose to grace us all with your presence again," the raven informed them sarcastically. "Do try to be careful and not get yourselves killed."
"What cheery words of comfort, Wormy," Cedric returned just as sarcastically as he and Sofia clambered into the AutoCoach. "Send our best to Nina. And for Merlin's sake, be good."
"Ugh. I'll settle for 'tolerable.' 'Good' is still such a detestable adjective in my vocabulary…ironically enough."
After bidding the bird farewell, Cedric and Sofia took off north toward their first destination.
"Now, we're looking for Caegan's Caves," Cedric told his friend as the AutoCoach carried on its way. "You'll recognize them by their unique 'C' pattern, complete with a deep cenote in the center. We must enter through the right set of caves to get to Reimagia."
"What's to the left?" Sofia instantly wondered.
"I'm not quite sure, but my father stressed going to the right. And as you very well know, I'd rather not go against his word, especially if it's something that's going to get us lost."
"Hmm. Maybe one day we'll figure out what the left side holds." She smiled and leaned back against her seat. She absently reached up and grasped her amulet, sliding the pink jewel along the chain until it encountered a tiny obstacle: the new, small, purple raven charm he'd given her several months ago, when he'd first named her his partner. She glanced up toward her friend. "Are you as nervous about this as I am?"
He sighed, folding his arms. "Probably more, to be honest…"
She frowned in concern. "I know it's going to be difficult, and it's going to take time… Is there anything else I should know?"
"I'm going to be absolutely honest with you, Sofia." He unfolded his arms and reached out one hand, taking hers. "You already know how dangerous magic can be. For a princess with no magical lineage, possessing the magical qualities alone is simply unheard of—and amazing. However, properly learning the techniques to utilize those abilities as a sorceress will take training and patience. But it is dangerous learning those techniques, and you can and probably will get hurt sometimes."
Sofia nodded slowly as she gently squeezed his hand. "I'm sort of used to that by now."
"Yes, I know, but I want you to keep your wits about you. If you slip up at the wrong time, then not only could any magical mishap be dangerous, it could also potentially be fatal. It doesn't matter if it's light or dark magic…" He sighed heavily. "Again, I'm more than certain that you can become a magnificent sorceress. After all, I never would have offered you the opportunity if I didn't believe you could… I guess I just see you as Sofia—my closest friend—first, and then a magically-talented princess second." He smiled. "Which is the way it should be."
She returned his smile. "Thanks, Mr. Cedric. And I understand how dangerous this training will be. I promise to stay focused and keep out of harm's way as much as possible." She tilted her head curiously as he released her hand. "And what will you be doing while I'm training? …Or will you be the one training me?"
He laughed. "No, no… If that were the case, we could have just stayed in Enchancia." He clasped his hands into his lap. "There are a number of revered trainers in Reimagia who can offer you plenty of guidance: from wand spellcasting to light magic enhancement to hand magic to—"
"Wait, someone actually specializes in hand magic?" she asked, intrigued as he nodded. "Really?"
"Well, there was the last time I heard, anyway…" He shrugged. "I suppose we'll find out when we get there."
The AutoCoach flew onward until they eventually arrived at Caegan's Caves. The rocky landform was indeed in a 'C' shape, with a beautiful blue pool of water settled directly in the center of the caves. The cave on the left looked rather dark and gloomy, with vines covering the entrance; the cave on the right looked more open with some light shimmering within. With a magical order, Cedric veered the vehicle to the right, sending them into the well-lit caves.
Before long, the AutoCoach picked up speed, and the view outside their windows quickly changed from stony walls to open skies.
"Is this it?" Sofia asked, gasping as she looked out the window. "Is this Reimagia?"
Cedric smiled and nodded. "Yes."
The Kingdom of Mahiya and the Mystic Isles were no doubt beautiful, but Reimagia had a mixture of the magic of those lands and the charming qualities of Avalor. All around, the skies were painted with varying shades of blue, purple, red, gold, and so many other variations. Whereas stars would normally sparkle at night anywhere else, they shimmered amid the opaque rainbow colors of the sky here. Surrounding the area were numerous mountains with some snow still covering the topmost sections, and large bodies of crystal-blue water nestled at the banks of the large landforms. One particular landform was actually a bit smaller than the mountains (perhaps more like a tall hill), and it was a combination of clay, rock, and grass. Hovering at the backside of this was a grand silver stone that seemed to grow from the earth far below, making it perhaps the largest single stone ever beheld. And of course, no magical land would be complete without cascading waterfalls, which fell from a grand precipice to the southwest of the main hill. One waterfall even fell in streams of rainbow water.
Leading up the hill was a colorful road made of black, blue, purple, silver, and deep orange iridescent stones. Along the way were several buildings and stands, which were probably either marketplace fixtures or village houses. Farther up the hill lay a domelike building, something that looked a bit like an apartment, a setting with multiple colorful buildings, and at the very top was a stone castle with blue and green streaming flags on the highest point. Upon second glance, the friends noted that among the grass and rocks were multiple colorful crystals growing from the land, which was both a beautiful yet strange sight.
"Wow," Sofia breathed in awe. "I can see why this land is hidden now…"
"Yes," Cedric murmured, "but unlike MÃ¥ngata, this place is more well-known in the magic circles. It's not a complete mystery, except to the non-magical people, of course."
"And this is where we'll be living for a while," she realized with a grin as Cedric nodded. "I guess I should start my letter now: 'Dear Mom, Dad, Amber, James, and Corban… I love you guys, but Reimagia is beautiful and magical, and I've decided to just stay here. Please send the rest of my things…and Clover. That is all. See you at Wassailia. Love, Sofia.'"
Cedric rolled his eyes as she laughed. "Your sister would track you down and drag you back if you ever did that. Besides, as beautiful as it is, Enchancia is your home and a part of you. You'd miss it eventually."
She smiled, noticing the truth behind his words. "You'd miss it too."
"Of course," he admitted, smiling softly. "Enchancia is as much my home as it is yours, my dear."
"Hmm." She sighed happily as she clasped her hands. "So, where do we start?"
"We must meet at The Galley with the current leader of Reimagia: Sir Leignton. He will help us get settled into our temporary dwelling, and he'll figure out a method of training for you."
"You know, you never did answer my question earlier. What will you be doing while I'm training?"
"Sleeping," he jested, grinning as she scoffed. "I'll be nearby, I'm sure. You're my partner, after all. I can't just leave you unattended."
Sofia poked his arm playfully. "I'm your partner—not your puppy. I'm not going to wander off if you're not there the entire time."
He smirked and grasped her hand, causing her to laugh. "Good to know."
Before long, the AutoCoach settled outside the rather small castle (The Galley, according to Cedric), and the two friends exited. As they approached the entrance, two guards stepped forward, halting them.
"State your business," the female guard insisted, her hand wrapped around her sword as she patiently awaited their response.
"We are here to see Sir Leignton," Cedric responded calmly, though after seeing the woman's weapon, he felt anything but. For whatever reason, real weapons still unnerved him, despite the fact that he had magic to counteract them, if need be. Perhaps it was that 'mortal' side of him that urged him to remain wary and cautious. "I am Cedric the Great from the Kingdom of Enchancia, and my partner Princess Sofia of Enchancia is accompanying me."
"And what business would a sorcerer and a princess have with Sir Leignton?" the male guard asked, standing next to his own partner. "Our leader is a very busy man. Unless you have official business, we're going to have to deny you entrance to Reimagia."
"I'm training to be a sorceress," Sofia finally gushed, grinning at the older guards, who blinked at her. "Tell them, Mr. Cedric."
Cedric sighed and pressed one hand to his temple as the guards turned their gaze to him. "She is… I apologize for her zealous declaration, of course."
"Nonsense," the woman laughed, finally showing some sense of ease. "That is a celebratory cause, and all you had to say. Come with us, and we'll introduce you to our leader."
After ensuring that a few more guards stood in their place, the two partners led the Enchancians into the castle.
Sofia took in her surroundings, her mouth agape in awe as she looked at all the magical surroundings: the floating candles, the constantly-changing portraits, the rainbow light streaming in through the top windows… It was simply amazing. "I love magic," she sighed wistfully before smiling toward her friend.
Cedric chuckled and nodded before amicably linking arms with her. "As do I, my dear."
When they arrived at the throne room, the friends noticed a man on a large black throne, but rather than a crown on his head, he instead wore a dark blue thick robe underneath what appeared to be silver-inlayed armor. His dark hair curled freely about his head, though they could clearly see some silver beginning to paint the dark locks. He also had a matching mustache and a thick pair of rounded spectacles.
"Sir Leignton," the male guard began as he and his partner bowed respectfully. "We present to you visitors from Enchancia: Princess Sofia and Cedric the Great."
"Ah!" Sir Leignton laughed, standing up and hurrying toward the two friends, startling them. "Goodwyn's boy, huh?"
Cedric blinked a few times before swallowing nervously. "Y-Yes, sir…" Oh, what exactly had he heard about him? It couldn't be very good… Not after all the mess with his sister's hair and everything that had shadowed him since his youth. And of course, he'd had that run-in with the Conjuror's Board a number of years ago…
"You're the one who helped save Enchancia some odd years ago, eh?" He reached out, deftly shaking the younger sorcerer's hand. "Pleasure to meet you, Cedric. It's an honor to have someone of such high moral caliber here in Reimagia."
Sofia smiled and winked at her friend, who gazed at her in confusion after the man had released his hand. "That's our Mr. Cedric. He's always doing great things for us."
Sir Leignton chuckled. "And I've heard of you as well, Princess Sofia. I've been told of your Protector obligations and your superior skills with magic, which is somewhat rare for someone with no magical lineage."
"Heh… I've kind of always loved the idea of magic. But Mr. Cedric helped me discover my appreciation for it, and he's the main person who's trained me to be as good with magic as I am now."
Cedric smiled proudly.
"I see." The old man nodded. "You two have a strong bond. I can sense it."
Sofia absently played with the tiny purple raven charm attached to her amulet's chain, wondering if Cedric was currently wearing his matching pin beneath his robe. She figured he was. "More than you know, Sir Leignton." She smiled happily.
"I take it you are here for a reason?"
Cedric nodded in response, placing his hands on his friend's shoulders. "Sofia has asked to be properly trained in order to become a full-fledged sorceress."
"Oh…" The older man cleared his throat before lowering his spectacles and cleaning them with a cloth from his robe. "That training takes a while: a few months at least. And that's for someone with a magical lineage and years of magical experience." He replaced his spectacles and slid the cloth back into his robe. "Are you quite certain you can handle such intense training, young lady?"
Sofia frowned thoughtfully. She'd been through a lot already, with her defeat of Vor and several other villains, her transformation from a village girl to a princess to a Protector… Surviving the harshest blasts thrown at her in the past… "I can do it." She folded her arms before beaming up at Cedric. "Besides, I have Mr. Cedric on my side. I wouldn't be here if it wasn't for him. He believes in me, and that's good enough for me."
Cedric nodded fondly toward her before looking toward Sir Leignton. "I'm more than confident in her abilities, Sir Leignton. There's no one I know more capable or more deserving than Princess Sofia."
The leader smiled softly. "Very well then. However, as it appears you will be here for a while, allow me to accommodate you in our Diamond Dormitory: our newest and most comfortable suites Reimagia has to offer."
"Just like in Mahiya," Sofia mused, noting the twinkle in the leader's eye.
"Oh, yes… I've heard of your venture to Mahiya as well." He hummed. "Not to mention your bravery and selflessness with saving the kingdom. Well done, Princess Sofia."
She smiled uncertainly. Really, just the thought of Mahiya still made her uneasy. Sure, she'd helped save the land, and Dexter was now in charge, and Kitanya was now working on retaining her redemption in the Mystic Isles. But after losing Master Elgraste, she still had a hard time coping with his absence, and it had been almost two years now. "Thanks, Sir Leignton…"
"Now then, what sort of magic have you learned to do?" The leader was utterly fascinated with this princess already, especially since her predicament was unique and highly unexpected. Never had he heard of a non-magical princess opting to become a sorceress. It simply wasn't done.
"Mr. Cedric and my teachers at Royal Prep taught me a lot of different spells, some types of potions… One of my friends, Lucinda, tried to teach me a few hexes, but I told her no." She laughed. "She's a witch though, so her magic is a bit different, from what I understand."
"Oh, absolutely," Sir Leignton agreed. "Witches have their own form of magic that they've learned to perfect the last several centuries. Sorcerers and witches normally don't intermingle with a lot of spells, but sometimes their magic can be very potent and useful when used properly." He folded his arms and smiled. "Any other magic?"
Sofia exchanged glances with Cedric, an unsure expression on her face. She could practically feel her hands beginning to pulsate, causing her to wring them together. With a quiet nod from her friend, she admitted, "I also…sort of started learning hand magic."
Sir Leignton's calm demeanor shifted slightly to a more interested one. "Really now?"
"Yeah, it's a long story, but… Mr. Cedric helped me get used to it, and I've sort of learned how to control it enough to where it's not hurting me all the time. I still feel some uncomfortable jolts every now and then, but it's not as bad as it used to be."
"I see…"
"But… I did feel it again a week ago." She heard Cedric gasp softly and blinked, gazing at him. "I meant to tell you but forgot about it… I didn't know if that meant anything or not."
"Sofia, I wish you would have told me," Cedric muttered before the leader stepped in.
"Young lady, I must say, hand magic is exceptionally rare for non-magical people with nary a magic lineage to speak of. To be able to utilize it effectively shows great control and mastery of the craft, so I encourage you to continue training with it; learn how to completely control it and cultivate it to be something you can rely on." Sir Leignton smiled thoughtfully. "Rare though it may be, it's definitely a blessing to have the power you seek right in the palm of your hand—literally."
Sofia laughed. "Yeah, I'm big on blessings… Just ask my amulet."
"Sir Leignton, I hate to interrupt," Cedric began as he clasped his hands behind his back, "but Sofia and I have had quite a journey, and we could really do with some rest… Is there any way we could see this Diamond Dormitory you mentioned?"
"Oh, of course." He signaled his previous two guards and gestured toward the guests. "My guards will lead you there. Your luggage, as you'll find, has already been stationed there."
The princess beamed. "It's amazing the way you magical people always do that: getting our luggage set up without us knowing or asking for it."
The leader laughed. "We aim to please, Princess Sofia. I know you're both tired, so get a good night's rest, and meet me here in the morning. I'll introduce you to some of the most powerful wielders here, and we can set up a training plan for the princess."
Cedric nodded as Sofia latched onto his arm. He chuckled as she yawned, covering her mouth with one hand. "That sounds good, Sir Leignton. Thank you."
The Diamond Dormitory had something of a misleading name. Rather than either being made of diamond or even looking like one, the dorm in question was really quite colorful. The bottom level was golden, and the top level was divided into two sections: the smaller dark pink one and the taller light pink one. In order to enter, they had to use the provided staircase to make it to the next level.
Upon entering the dormitory, Cedric and Sofia were impressed. The current level consisted of two large fish tanks (one directly to the left and the other just to the right of the door), a huge bookcase in the far-right corner of the room, a large brown sofa with a coffee table, and a beautiful fireplace across from the sofa. Next to the large fish tank on the left, there were three panels of trickling waterfalls, which seemed to continuously circulate. There was a set of stairs leading up to the next level, but there was also one behind the sofa that seemed to lead downstairs. Choosing to travel downward first, the friends descended the stairs and found that this was the area where their kitchen, washroom, and even small swimming pool would be. It was a well-lit and well-stocked area too.
They ascended to their previous level before taking the second set of stairs up to the top of the building. Here, they found a small bedroom that they would share. Sofia's trunk was already next to her single bed, made up with royal purple covers. Cedric's bed was covered in deep ebony covers, and his own luggage was settled in front of it; his bed was situated directly beside the banister of the staircase. Between the beds rested a nightstand with a solitary lamp. In the corner across from Sofia's bed was a large, ornate armoire where they could store any clothing they wished. Last but not least, a set of double doors opened from the room and onto a balcony, overlooking the entire area of Reimagia, giving them a great view of the ocean.
"This place is awesome!" Sofia gushed as she sighed and collapsed onto her own bed, a happy smile on her face. "And this is just the dormitory. I wonder if there's anything else outside."
"A bonfire," Cedric responded, sitting on his own bed. He smiled as she blinked and turned toward him. "I already saw it out the window."
"Oh. Sounds great!" She yawned before sitting up. "So, are we going to meet anyone else before getting some rest?"
"Not tonight. I think it's best to settle in for the evening." He smiled gently as she nodded in agreement before staring longingly at her pillow. "Allow me." With a simple wave of his wand, he watched as Sofia's traveling outfit changed into one of her usual purple-colored pajama sets, and her hair was swept back into a loose braid.
She grinned at him. "That's seriously the most useful spell there is."
He laughed. "You have no idea. Especially after a long night of working and you just don't have the energy to physically prepare for bed. It helps tremendously." He repeated the same spell on himself before setting his wand aside on the bedside table. "Best get some rest, Sofia. Tomorrow is going to be a big day for both of us."
She nodded and lay down, tugging the thick covers up to her chin. "Good night, Mr. Cedric."
"Good night, Sofia." He turned over and pulled the covers over his head, sighing heavily.
"Hmm." The princess gazed out the window where the full moon beamed down, illuminating the surrounding mountains and nature. "Tomorrow…is going to be great." With a satisfied smile, she drifted off to sleep.
A dark chuckle echoed outside as narrowed red eyes peered through the window, the gaze focused on the sleeping princess. "Keep dreaming, princess," the male voice mocked, the darkened figure snapping and disappearing into the night.
To be continued…
Next Chapter: One By One