Tales from the Castle - a Sofia the First fanfic
Chapter 16: Doppler Duplicato (Part 1)
Note: this chapter takes place when Sofia and her friends are children, is an enhanced version of "Sofia the Second", and is a special request by Sofia2015.
The day begins
Sofia was dancing in her room, moving in small circles. Clover was lying on the window seat, watching Sofia while eating a carrot.
"How's that?" Sofia asked.
"I like it" Clover admitted, hopping down to the floor. "But it could use a little more flair. Check it out!". Clover then pulled off some hip-hop style moves. "Now you try it".
Sofia tried to copy Clover's moves, but ended up falling over.
"Perfect" Clover applauded.
"It was?" Sofia asked, puzzled.
"Close enough" Clover admitted. "I think you're ready for this hoedown today, princess".
"It's not a hoedown, Clover" Sofia corrected, picking him up, and dancing him over to her bed. "It's the Highland Hootenanny, and it's going to be a-mazing! All of our friends from the village will be there. Amber and James are coming. And my favorite band in Enchancia is going to be playing".
"Who? The Moss Tones?" Clover inquired.
"Nope - The Glass Slippers" Sofia smiled.
There was a knock at the door. Sofia helped Clover hide behind a pillow.
"Come in!" Sofia invited.
"Good morning, Sofia" Roland declared as he entered.
"Morning, Dad!" Sofia greeted her father.
"So ... I'm afraid there's been a little change of plans" Roland announced as he frowned.
"What do you mean?" Sofia asked, worried.
"The Duke of Ramblingham and his daughter, Joy, are coming today instead of tomorrow" Roland announced.
"Today?" Sofia gasped, taken off guard. "Why?".
"The Duke said he just couldn't wait another minute to discuss his urgent business ... whatever that is" Roland sighed.
"But today is the Hootenanny" Sofia protested.
"I know, and I'm sorry" Roland apologized. "But you did promise you'd show Lady Joy around the castle".
"You're right, Dad" Sofia nodded. "I did make a promise".
"Great" Roland smiled. "Thank you, Sofia. I can always count on you".
Roland left the bedroom, sad that he had to have Sofia miss something she was looking forward to. "I wish some people would realize that changing their plans at the last moment affects more than just them" Roland thought with a mix of sadness, and being annoyed at the Duke.
"Oh Clover, I was really looking forward to the dance!" Sofia sighed, flopping onto her bed. "But a promise is a promise".
"Yeah, too bad you can't be in two places at the same time" Clover declared.
"If only I could" Sofia sighed. "You want to help me pick out a welcome gift for Joy?".
"Sure, Princess" Clover nodded.
Sofia and Clover picked out a doll. As they went into the hallway, Wormwood flew past them.
"Stop pointing that thing at me!" Wormwood yelped, hiding behind a golden pot.
"Come back here, Wormy!" Cedric called, running after Wormwood.
"Mr. Cedric?" Sofia asked. "What are you doing?".
"Well, if you must know, I am trying to use my new copying spell on Wormwood" Cedric explained. "So instead of just one loyal companion, I can have twenty". Cedric pointed his wand at Wormwood, and yelled "Doppler Duplicato!".
Wormwood dodged the beam, which copied the pot. The copy appeared in mid air, and fell on Cedric's feet. Cedric screamed with pain.
Wormwood flew by a banner of a former queen.
"Doppler Duplicato!" Cedric yelled.
Wormwood dodged again and the second banner fell on Cedric. Wormwood then perched on a suit of armor.
"I command you to stay right there!" Cedric ordered. "Doppler Duplicato!"
Once again, Wormwood dodged, and the suit was duplicated. Wormwood flew down the hall, and Cedric chased after him, repeating his spell.
"That's it" Sofia smiled. "Clover, I have an idea. Come on".
In Cedric's workshop
Sofia and Clover snuck into Cedric's workshop. Sofia picked up one of Cedric's spare wands.
"Now maybe I can be in two places at once" Sofia smiled.
"How?" Clover asked.
"I'll make a copy of myself using Mr. Cedric's spell" Sofia explained, "so I can go to the dance, while my copy stays here and plays with Joy. Then my Dad's happy, I'm happy, everybody is happy".
"I like it!" Clover smiled. "But that sounds like a tricky spell. Especially for someone who's not a sorcerer".
"You're right" Sofia nodded. "Maybe I should practice it first".
"That's just what I'm thinking" Clover nodded. "You gotta test it out. On that apple!". He pointed to an apple on a shelf.
"Good idea" Sofia smiled.
Clover ducked as Sofia pointed her wand at the apple and said "Doppler Duplicato". The force of the beam knocked Sofia back, but succeeded in duplicating the apple.
"That's funny" Clover tapped the duplicate apple. "It's pink, but it looks just as delicious!". He started juggling the apple. "I think you got it, Princess! But, er... we need to make a few more, just to be sure".
"Sorry Clover, I don't have much time" Sofia giggled. "Here it goes".
Sofia said "Doppler Duplicato", and tapped herself with the wand. A duplicate of Sofia was then made, who wore a pink gown.
"Whoa" Clover gasped. "She looks just like you, except the dress ...".
"Hi, there" Sofia greeted.
"Hi, there" the copy repeated.
"I'm Sofia" Sofia declared.
"I'm Sofia" the copy of Sofia repeated.
"So, do you just repeat everything I say?" Sofia asked.
"So, do you just repeat everything I say?" the copy of Sofia repeated, before smiling. "Hah! Just kidding! I can say whatever I want, just like you".
"Oh, good" Sofia smiled. "Now, I suppose you're wondering why I made you?".
"I suppose you're about to tell me" the copy of Sofia joked.
"I need you to play with a little girl named Joy, so I can go to the village dance" Sofia explained. "Okay?".
"Sounds like fun!" the copy of Sofia smiled. "I'd love to".
"Great" Sofia beamed, giving her copy the doll. "Joy should be here any minute. All you have to do is give her this gift, and show her around the castle".
"Can't wait!" The Sofia copy sang.
"Okay, good luck" Sofia smiled, as she left the workshop.
"Have fun at the dance, kid!" Clover waved. He took a bite of the apple ... and spat it out. "This is rotten!".
"Uh-huh" the copy of Sofia boasted. "Just like me". The copy of Sofia then threw away the doll "Whoops! I won't be needing that!".
"Sofia must've messed up the spell!" Clover gasped. "She made a bad apple!"
"And a bad Sofia!" the copy of Sofia said as picked up Clover and locked him in Wormwood's cage.
"Sofia!" Clover exclaimed.
"No, no, no" The Sofia copy scolded. "I can't have you telling the real Sofia and ruining all my fun!".
"Hey, let me outta here!" Clover demanded.
"No thanks" the copy of Sofia giggled.
Clover reached for the original apple.
"I'll take that" the copy of Sofia said as she snatched it up and took a bite out of it.
"You really are rotten" Clover snarled.
"To the core!" the copy of Sofia smiled.
The copy of Sofia skipped over to the door. "Buh-bye!" the copy of Sofia grinned as she walked out and slammed the door behind her.
Lord Gilbert arrives
Downstairs, the copy of Sofia saw Amber and James walking over.
"Ooh, opportunity!" the copy of Sofia smirked. "Hey James, think fast!".
The copy of Sofia threw the apple she had at James' feet, causing him to trip. The copy of Sofia then laughed.
"Sofia, why would you do that?" James asked.
"Because it was hilarious!" the copy of Sofia grinned.
"No, it wasn't!" James pouted.
"That's so unlike you, Sofia" Amber noted. She checked Sofia's forehead. "Are you feeling okay?".
"Never better!" the copy of Sofia declared.
"See you at the coach" James grumbled.
As Amber and James walked to the coach, the real Sofia walked past them.
"Hi!" the real Sofia smiled. "Ready to go?".
"How did you get out here so fast?" Amber asked, taken off guard.
"What do you mean?" the real Sofia asked.
"And weren't you just wearing a pink dress?" Amber added.
"Oh, right" the real Sofia said awkwardly. "I changed".
"When?" Amber asked.
"Just now" the real Sofia shrugged. "We'd better hurry. The dance is about to start. Come on!"
They rushed over to the coach and got in.
After they left, another coach arrived. Roland and Baileywick stepped out of the castle as a fanfare played.
"May I present Lord Gilbert, the Duke of Ramblingham, and his daughter, Lady Joy" Baileywick announced, as the rotund duke and his small daughter emerged.
"Greetings, everyone!" Gilbert said loudly. "Your favorite Duke has arrived!".
"I suppose it could be worse" Roland thought to himself about Gilbert. "It could be King Sal from Erlandia ... and his freeloading friends".
"Sorry I'm late!" the copy of Sofia told Roland as she walked over. "Just had to take care of a little business".
"King Roland!" Gilbert bowed.
"Lord Gilbert" Roland nodded.
"Hi, Sofia! I'm so happy to finally meet you!" Joy exclaimed in excited glee.
"And I'm just thrilled to meet you!" the copy of Sofia smiled in a fake way. "Do you want to see my room?"
"Yes, I'd love to!" Joy nodded.
As the girls went inside, Roland turned to Gilbert.
"So, what's the urgent business that couldn't wait until tomorrow?" Roland asked. "Seriously? Couldn't it have waited until tomorrow?" Roland thought to himself.
"Well, uh, remember last month, when I had the inspiration to hold a parade with two hundred elephants?" Gilbert smiled. "Well, I did it! With two hundred and four! I even had a dream that we made some polka-dotted, so we did!".
Gilbert's servant unrolled a painting of polka-dotted elephants walking through Ramblingham.
"And it was a magnificent parade! Until we discovered that the Ramblingham bridge is only strong enough to hold two hundred and three elephants" Gilbert continued.
The servant unrolled another painting, depicting the bridge in ruins.
"Luckily, the elephants were all okay. The bridge, on the other hand? Not so lucky. And that is why I am here, your majesty. To humbly request that your royal architect design a new, slightly stronger bridge" Gilbert requested.
"I see" Roland mused. "Baileywick, can you summon the royal architect?"
"Of course, your majesty" Baileywick bowed.
"Thank you, your majesty" Gilbert shook Roland's hand, then hugged him. "You're the best king a duke could ask for!".
"A simple thank you is enough" Roland said as he pulled free. "Really".
Later
Meanwhile, the Hootenanny was in full swing as Amber, James, and the real Sofia arrived.
"Oh, I love this song!" the real Sofia smiled.
"Hey, there's Ruby, Jade, and Lucinda" James pointed out.
"Hey, guys!" the real Sofia waved. "You ready to dance? I've been really looking forward to this".
Back at the castle, Cedric was still trying, and failing, to duplicate Wormwood.
"Wormwood, would you stay still and let me copy you?!" Cedric growled, ducking as Wormwood flew over him. "Doppler Duplicato!".
The spell hit a stool, and Cedric tripped over the duplicate of the stool.
"Alright Wormy, I give up" Cedric sighed. "For now ...".
Joy and the copy of Sofia walked by.
"I love your castle" Joy told the copy of Sofia. "And I love your dress. And I really, really love your amulet. It's so pretty and sparkly!".
"Oh, this thing?" the copy of Sofia said as she removed her amulet. "Here, take it".
Joy squealed as she put on the amulet. The copy of Sofia yawned as Joy put on the amulet.
"Thank you, Sofia!" Joy smiled. "I love it!".
Cedric and Wormwood gasped.
"Wormwood, d-d-d-did you see that?!" Cedric pointed in shock. "Sofia, she just ... gave the Amulet of Avalor away!"
"So, what are we gonna do now?" Joy asked.
"Cause as much trouble as possible" the copy of Sofia smirked.
"What?" Joy asked, confused.
"We're going to prank people" the copy of Sofia said slowly. "Play tricks, be rotten ... you know, have fun".
"Umm ... I don't really wanna do that" Joy cringed.
"Why not?" the copy of Sofia asked.
"Princess Sofia" Cedric said as he walked up to them. "Did you really just give your precious amulet to a little girl?".
"Why?" the copy of Sofia asked. "Do you want it?".
"Well ... yes!" Cedric admitted.
"Hmm" the copy of Sofia mused. "Well, if you close your eyes, and wish for it, I'll give it to you".
"Really?!" Cedric gasped in amazement.
"That's what I said" the copy of Sofia grinned. "Now close your eyes, and wish".
"Oh, I wish for the Amulet of Avalor, I wish for the Amulet of Avalor ..." Cedric repeated, unaware that the copy of Sofia was leaving with Joy. "I wish for the Amulet of Avalor!". As he held out his hands, Cedric realized something was wrong. He opened his eyes, and realized that Sofia and Joy were gone. "Did the princess just ... trick me?!" he frowned, disappointed and taken off guard at the same time.
Back at the Hootenanny
At the Hootenanny, Sofia was dancing with Amber, and James was dancing with Ruby, Jade, and Lucinda. The Glass Slippers started singing.
Choir: If I make a promise to a friend as grand as you, to that special promise, you can bet that I'll be true!
Main Singer: And so I say that any day we make a date to play, I'll be there with time to spare no matter what's in my way!
Choir: He'll be there no matter what gets in his way!
Main Singer: Nothin' can keep me from keepin' my word.
Choir: No swarm of bees or unicorn herd!
Main Singer: Not getting' lost and forgetting' the map.
Choir: And not the urge to takin' a nap!
Main Singer: Not even the chance to see my favorite magician.
Choir: Not even a stop beside a well perfect for wishing! Oh, if I make a promise to a friend as grand as you, to that special promise, you can bet that I'll be true!
Main Singer: And so I say that any day I make a date to play, I'll be there with time to spare, no matter what's in my way!
Choir: He'll be there no matter what gets in his way!
Main Singer: Nothin' can keep me from keepin' my word.
Choir: Not a cake that tastes so great it's absurd!
Main Singer: And not Uncle Mack, oh, he really can yack!
Choir: No stops for lunch or even a snack.
Main Singer: So if I make a vow, I'm gonna stick to it!
Choir: And in case you missed a thing, we're gonna review it!
Main Singer: Nothin' can keep me from keepin' my word!
Choir: No swarm of bees or unicorn herd!
Main Singer: Not gettin' lost or losin' a map.
Choir: Not getting a rest or takin' a nap!
Main Singer: No magic spell.
Choir: Or wishing well! Or cakes no matter how good they smell!
Main Singer: Not Uncle Mack who likes to yack.
Choir: Not breakfast, lunch, or even a snack! Oh, if I make a promise to a friend as grand as you, to that special promise, you can bet that I'll be true! And so I say that any day we make a date to play.
Main Singer: I'll be there, if the weather's fowl or fair.
Choir: He'll be there no matter what gets ...
Main Singer: No matter what gets!
Choir: No matter what gets ... in the way!
The lyrics began to strike a chord with the real Sofia. She realized that she hadn't kept her word to her father.
"Sofia? Are you okay?" Amber asked.
"Oh. Mm-hmm" the real Sofia nodded. "I was just listening to the song".
"Oh, I wasn't paying attention" Amber shrugged. "What was it about?".
"Keeping promises, no matter what" Sofia sighed.
Back at Enchancia Castle
Back at the castle, the copy of Sofia ran with Joy down the hallway, laughing.
"That trick was mean!" Joy admonished the copy of Sofia.
"I know" the copy of Sofia giggled. "Now come on, let's go find someone else to prank!".
"But I don't want to prank anyone else!" Joy declared.
"Then what do you want to do?" the copy of Sofia asked.
"Take a tour of the castle?" Joy suggested.
"That sounds like fun to you?" the copy of Sofia inquired. "Wow! Going to the dance was the way better part of this deal".
"Dance?" Joy asked. "What dance?".
"Okay, Joy, tell you what" the copy of Sofia smiled. "I'll give you a tour of the castle. But let's play hide and seek first".
"Ohh, I love hide and seek!" Joy cheered.
"You hide, I'll seek" the copy of Sofia instructed. "Go on".
The copy of Sofia started counting, and Joy ran down the corridor. Once she was gone, the copy of Sofia stopped counting. "Buh-bye Joy" the copy of Sofia waved. "So long, little miss no fun!".
The copy of Sofia ran down the corridor, laughing wickedly, as she made her way to the castle courtyard and some coaches.
"Coachman, I need you to take me to the village dance" the copy of Sofia instructed.
"Well, yes" The coachman acknowledged as he helped the copy of Sofia into the coach. "But didn't I just see you go to the dance?"
"Obviously not" the copy of Sofia answered. "Now hurry".
"Of course, milady" The coachman bowed.
The coach then left the castle courtyard.
Meanwhile, Cedric was discussing matters with Wormwood on the way to his workshop.
"Maybe Sofia giving her amulet away is good news after all" Cedric declared.
Wormwood squawked in confusion.
"Because now, all I'll have to do is get it from that little girl, and she is certainly no match for me" Cedric smiled.
Wormwood chuckled.
"I just need to find something I can trade her for it" Cedric mused, taking the key to his workshop out from the gargoyle's toe. "Now, what do little girls like most? Hmm... of course! A cupcake! I'll conjure an enormous, irresistibly delicious cupcake, and offer it to her for the amulet! Oh, that'll do the trick!".
Cedric opened the door, finding Clover in Wormwood's cage.
"Oh, how did you get in here?" Cedric asked Clover. "Oh wait, doesn't matter. Because if there's anything little girls like more than cupcakes, it's bunnies!".
Bad and good collide
Back at the Hootenanny, Sofia dancing was interrupted by the arrival of her copy.
"Hi there" the copy of Sofia smirked.
"You shouldn't be here!" the real Sofia gasped. "What are you doing here?".
"Looking for something fun to do" the copy of Sofia replied. "And I think I've found it".
"But if you're here, then who's playing with Joy?" the real Sofia asked.
"That's your problem" the copy of Sofia pointed out.
"Your not being very nice" the real Sofia declared.
"That's because I'm not very nice" the copy of Sofia smirked. "I'm a bad Sofia".
"Oh, no!" the real Sofia gasped.
"Oh, yes" bad Sofia declared. "You can call me Sofia the worst".
The copy of Sofia moved into the dancing crowd.
"Hey, come back here!" the real Sofia yelled.
Bad Sofia danced with Amber, then stood on Amber's foot.
"Ow!" Amber yelped. "Sofia, why did you do that?!"
"Because it was fun!" bad Sofia sneered. "Way fun!".
"Humph!" Amber huffed, just as good Sofia took Amber's hands. "What has gotten into you? And why do you keep changing your dress?"
"Umm, can't talk right now" good Sofia said as she spotted her copy.
As good Sofia made her way through the crowd, Sofia spotted her copy throwing James into a hay bale.
"Oh, no!" good Sofia gasped in shock as bad Sofia laughed.
Being duped
Back at the castle, one of the servants saw Joy crouched in her hiding place.
"Um, is everything alright there, mum?" the servant asked.
"Yes" Joy answered. "I'm playing hide and seek with Princess Sofia. She's going to find me any minute now".
"But, er ..." The servant stuttered. "She left in a coach a few minutes ago, mum".
"She left?!" Joy said indignantly. "I'm telling Daddy!". Joy then stomped away angrily. Since Joy wasn't familiar with the castle, she had a little trouble finding her way around. In a few minutes, Joy spotted a girl her age, wearing a maid's uniform.
"Hello?" Joy inquired as she walked up the girl. "Could you help me?".
"Of course, milady" the girl smiled. "My name is Dorrie Cooper. How may I help you?".
"I'm looking for my father, the Duke of Ramblingham" Joy answered.
"Ah, yes" Dorrie smiled. "He would be with King Roland, and the royal architect. Go down that hallway, and it will be the door near the end of the hallway".
"Thank you" Joy said, still shaken with what had happened with the copy of Sofia.
"Is anything wrong, milady?" Dorrie asked, concerned.
"I was playing hide and seek with Princess Sofia" Joy started, with tears in her eyes. "While I was hiding, she left the castle in a coach. She left me alone here!".
"I'm so sorry you had a bad experience here at the castle" Dorrie said as she gently placed her hand on Joy's hand. "That is so unlike Princess Sofia".
"Sofia did what?!" Queen Miranda exclaimed as she walked up.
Joy then told Miranda what happened.
"I'm so sorry my daughter felt the need to do that to you, Lady Joy" Miranda apologized. "As Dorrie just said, it is so unlike Sofia". Miranda then turned to Dorrie. "Please find Sofia and have her report to my study".
"Yes, ma'am" Dorrie acknowledged as she went off to look for Sofia. In a little while, Robin and Mia found Dorrie in a hallway looking for Sofia.
"What cha doing?" Mia asked Dorrie.
"I'm looking for Sofia" Dorrie answered. "She left Lady Joy by herself, then snuck off to go somewhere".
"Oh, my!" Robin exclaimed in shock. "That isn't like Sofia at all!".
"Tell me about it" Dorrie acknowledged. "Queen Miranda wants me to find Sofia, and have her report to the Queen's study".
"We'll help you look for her" Robin offered. Dorrie, Robin, and Mia then made their way down the hallway in search of Sofia.
(Continued in Chapter 17).
Author's note
For more about Dorrie Cooper, see my stories "Dorrie", Chapter 15 of "Tales from the Castle", Chapter 5 of "Sisters", and Chapters 5 and 6 of "Enchancia Castle". Meanwhile, for more about how Dorrie can talk to animals, see Chapter 7 of "Dorrie".