Tales from the Castle - a Sofia the First fanfic
Chapter 28: An Alternate Universe
This is a birthday story for Sofia2017 planning. Be advised that this story starts out with the Matt Smith Doctor from "Doctor Who" (I needed a way for Dorrie and Candice from "Dorrie" and "Dorrie: Book Two" to get into an alternate universe). This story then moves on to an alternate universe with the Principality of Albuquerque, Hugo ... and a younger adopted sister.
At Enchancia Castle
In Dorrie Cooper's room in Enchancia Castle, twelve-year-old Dorrie and her sister, twelve-year-old Candice, were doing some homework when a strange sound filled the room. They looked up to see a blue Police Box materialize in the corner of the room.
"The Doctor!" Dorrie happily exclaimed.
"He's back!" Candice smiled.
One of the doors of the Police Box opened, and out stepped a tall, young man with white skin, short brown hair, and wearing a tweed suit and a bow tie.
"Doctor?" Dorrie asked, puzzled, since the man was new to her.
"Ah, yes," the man smiled. "It's me, The Doctor. I've regenerated."
"Not bad," Candice complemented The Doctor.
"Thank you," The Doctor smiled. "How about a hug, you two?"
The Doctor, Dorrie, and Candice shared a group hug.
"Fancy a trip?" The Doctor asked Dorrie and Candice.
"As long as we're back before supper," Candice responded.
"No problem," The Doctor happily acknowledged.
The Doctor, Dorrie, and Candice stepped into the Police Box, which was actually The Doctor's ship, the Tardis, which was bigger on the inside than on the outside. The Tardis had the ability to travel through time and space.
"I see you're not the only thing that's changed," Dorrie observed as she looked around the Tardis control room. It was different than the Tardis control room she remembered.
"Well, I've redecorated a bit," The Doctor explained. "You need a change every so often."
"I like it," Candice smiled.
"And we're off, then," The Doctor smiled as he adjusted some controls on the Tardis console, and the Tardis dematerialized out of Dorrie's room.
"Where are we off to?" Dorrie asked, curious.
"I thought maybe a trip to Fhloslon Paradise," The Doctor announced. "It's a great vacation planet."
Suddenly, the Tardis started shaking.
"What's going on, Doctor?" Candice asked, concerned.
"We're being caught by the pull of an alternate universe," The Doctor answered as he tried to control the Tardis. "Just do as I do. Just hold tight, and pretend it's a plan."
"If you say so, Doctor," Dorrie acknowledged, nervous.
Arrival
In a few moments, the Tardis materialized in a wooded area.
"Where are we?" Dorrie wanted to know.
"Tricky things, alternate universes," The Doctor started. "The surroundings tend to be the same, but things are different. We appear to have landed in the Principality of Albuquerque."
"That's where Hugo lives," Candice commented.
"I see this universe also has a Crystal Ball network," The Doctor reported as he adjusted some knobs on the Tardis console. "Let's see if we can access it, shall we?"
The Doctor continued to adjust the knobs, and soon a news broadcast with a woman popped up on a view screen on the Tardis console.
"In royal news, tonight at Enchancia Castle, there will be a special fund raising event to be hosted by King Roland and Queen Melinda. The fund raising event will raise money for one of King Roland and Queen Melinda's favorite charities, the Melahan Foundation for the Advancement of Educational Excellence."
"Interesting," Dorrie remarked. "A universe where King Roland's first wife is still alive."
The news broadcast continued. "In magical news, the four way alliance between House Cosmarune, House Magwin, House Revargia, and House Weasley has been successful in once again driving off the terrorist plans of Neila and her forces. In a statement from House Cosmarune, Lady Riane, matriarch of House Cosmarune, said that it is only a matter of time before Neila's forces are completely defeated."
"A House of Cosmarune at full strength ... and helping to send Neila packing," Candice said, impressed.
"We'll be here for a little while," The Doctor announced. "Some of the Tardis circuits have been damaged. It will take a little while for them to regenerate. Perhaps we should spend the time looking around Albuquerque."
"Sounds like a plan, Doctor," Dorrie agreed.
The Doctor, Dorrie, and Candice stepped out of the Tardis, and started walking. In a few minutes, they encountered two royal guards.
"Who are you?!" one of the guards demanded to know.
"Yes. I'm The Doctor, and these are my traveling companions, Lady Dorrie and Lady Candice of House Cosmarune," The Doctor answered. "We found ourselves in your Principality, and we thought we would visit, if that is acceptable?"
"Did you hear?" the one guard said to the other. "These two girls are from House Cosmarune. Perhaps they can help with Princess Madeline."
"How do we know we can trust them?" the other guard responded.
"If I may ask, what exactly is going on?" Dorrie asked the two guards.
"Maleficent is going on ... that's what is going on," one of the guards responded.
"Maleficent tried to get King Garrick to allow her to set up a base of operations here in Albuquerque," the other guard added. "When King Garrick refused, Maleficent cursed young Princess Madeline with a sleeping curse. The princess is in a sleep state as we speak, and nobody can wake her up."
"What is it with Maleficent and sleeping curses?" Candice whispered to Dorrie. "Looks like she's the same no matter what the universe."
"If you'll take us to Princess Madeline, we'll see if we can help," Dorrie offered.
"I don't know," one of the guards responded, unsure.
"Trust me when I say anybody who would use a sleeping curse is no friend of ours," Candice reassured the guard.
"Very well," the guard relented as he and the other guard led The Doctor, Dorrie, and Candice to Albuquerque Castle.
A sleeping princess
The two guards, The Doctor, Dorrie, and Candice arrived at Albuquerque Castle where the two guards met with King Garrick.
"I understand you're from House Cosmarune," Garrick said as he approached Dorrie and Candice. "If there is any help you can give my daughter, I'd be forever in your debt."
"Take us to her," Dorrie requested.
Garrick led Dorrie, Candice, and The Doctor to a bedroom where a young girl with white skin and red hair was sleeping in a bed. Next to the bed was Hugo, who was gently holding the girl's hand.
"Please, Madeline," Hugo pleaded. "Please wake up."
"Hugo," Garrick started, "these girls are from House Cosmarune. I'm hoping they can help reverse whatever Maleficent did to Madeline."
"I'd be grateful if you can do something for Madeline," Hugo said to Dorrie and Candice. "I've been close to her ever since we adopted her."
"We'll do what we can," Dorrie reassured Hugo.
"I'll have to find Maleficent," Candice announced. "If I can reason with her, perhaps she'll give me the cure, or reversal spell, or whatever is called for to bring Princess Madeline around."
"How can you trust her?" Dorrie asked, concerned.
"I can't," Candice admitted. "But I have to try."
"Very well," Dorrie agreed, knowing that once Candice set her mind on something, there was no changing her mind. "But how are you going to find her?"
"Knowing Maleficent, she'll be skulking around near this castle," Candice explained. "She'll want to be close by so she can witness her handiwork."
"You be careful, young lady," The Doctor said to Candice. "Maleficent can be a dangerous customer."
"I have my protections," Candice reassured The Doctor as she raised her wand, and disappeared in a puff of smoke.
Facing Maleficent
As Candice had predicted, Maleficent was indeed skulking around near Albuquerque Castle.
"King Garrick will live to regret saying no to me," Maleficent said to herself.
"What is it with you and cursing kids?" Candice's voice asked from behind Maleficent.
Maleficent spun around to see Candice standing there with her wand pointed at Maleficent.
"You'll need more than a wand to face me, girl," Maleficent chuckled.
"So be it," Candice responded as she concentrated, and turned into her own version of Maleficent, only with a white outfit.
"Who are you?!" Maleficent demanded to know.
"You may call me Candice, Mistress of All Good," Candice announced.
"How absolutely sickening," Maleficent mocked. "A good version of myself. Have we met before?"
"Not in this universe," Candice admitted. "I knew a different you in a different universe."
"And what exactly do you want?" Maleficent asked, interested.
"I want to know what you did to Princess Madeline, and how to undo it," Candice requested.
"Say please," Maleficent taunted Candice.
"Kiss my backside!" Candice spat. "I'm not playing nice nice with the likes of you. You'll tell me what I want to know, and that's all there is to it!"
"Well, you've got fire, I'll admit that," Maleficent said, somewhat impressed. "But I don't give away my secrets so easily."
"I didn't expect you would," Candice said as her eyes started shining with a bright green glow.
"A staring contest, huh?" Maleficent said, taken off guard. "So be it, fool!"
Maleficent's eyes started shining with a bright green glow, as she and Candice stared down each other. The two stared at each other with powerful intent. Maleficent started gaining the upper hand, but Candice then overpowered Maleficent with an intense stare. Maleficent then fell over onto her back, defeated.
"How ... did ... you ... do that?" Maleficent asked, shocked.
"Well, good wins over evil," Candice answered.
"You don't have to be insulting about it," Maleficent said, disgusted.
"Now, tell me what you did to Princess Madeline!" Candice demanded.
"Oh, very well," Maleficent relented. "I slipped a ralotin syrup into Madeline's drink when she wasn't looking. Once she drank it, she was out like a light."
"And the antidote?" Candice requested.
"You don't think I'm gonna give that up, do you?" Maleficent chuckled.
"I didn't think you would," Candice admitted as she pulled out her copy of Maleficent's spell book. "However, I have my own source of information."
"Wait!" Maleficent exclaimed, shocked. "Is that ... a ... copy ... of my spell book?"
"It sure is!" Candice smirked as she looked through the spell book. "Here we go. The antidote for ralotin syrup".
"Don't you dare!" Maleficent warned.
"Sorry," Candice mocked as she waved her wand over her head. "It's been fun, but gotta go. Bye."
"Noooooo!" Maleficent screamed in anger as Candice disappeared.
Two castle guards walked into view, and spotted Maleficent. The two guards fired crossbows at Maleficent, as Maleficent beat a hasty retreat. Meanwhile, Candice reappeared inside of Albuquerque Castle. Candice waved her wand over her head, and returned to her normal appearance.
Returning Madeline to normal
Candice walked into Madeline's bedroom where King Garrick, Prince Hugo, Dorrie, and The Doctor were waiting.
"King Garrick," Candice started, "I'll need the use of a magical workshop, if you have one. I have the recipe for a cure for Princess Madeline."
"I'll have one of my people take you there," Garrick said as he went to fetch a servant.
"How did you manage to get it out of Maleficent?" Dorrie asked Candice, impressed.
"An ounce of bargaining, a pinch of trickery, a soupcon of intimidation, and voila! The perfect recipe for a towering reputation without ever having to spill one drop of blood," Candice smiled.
"I'm going to have to keep an eye on this one," The Doctor happily thought about Candice.
Candice was led to Albuquerque Castle's magical workshop where she found all the ingredients needed to make the antidote. In a little while, Candice returned to Madeline's bedroom with the antidote.
"Help me lift her head up," Candice requested of Hugo as both tilted Madeline's head up. Candice then carefully poured some of the antidote into Madeline's mouth which the sleeping Madeline swallowed. In a few moments, Madeline started waking up.
"Hugo?" Madeline asked in a French accent. "What am I doing in bed?"
"Oh! Thank God you're okay!" Hugo happily exclaimed as he hugged Madeline. Meanwhile, Garrick, Dorrie, Candice, and The Doctor smiled at the touching scene.
"The three of you must stay for dinner," Garrick said to Dorrie, Candice, and The Doctor.
"We'd be delighted," The Doctor smiled. "May we freshen up?"
"Of course," Garrick agreed as he had a servant show the three to where the bathrooms were.
In a little while, Dorrie, Candice, and The Doctor were walking down a hallway toward the royal dining room when they heard King Garrick talking to a woman.
"Your daughters, along with their friend, The Doctor, will be here in the dining room shortly, Lady Mary," Garrick said.
"Daughters?" Lady Mary responded, shocked. "I only have one daughter - Dorrie. And who is this Doctor character?"
"Oh, my!" The Doctor said to Dorrie and Candice. "I think it's time we were leaving. I for one don't want to answer questions from the alternate universe version of your birth mother, Dorrie. It would be awkward to say the least."
"Agreed," Dorrie acknowledged.
"I suggest we wand our way out of here," Candice suggested.
Dorrie and Candice waved their wands above their heads and The Doctor's head, and the three disappeared in a puff of smoke. In a few moments, the three appeared next to the Tardis.
"This seems familiar somehow," The Doctor remarked. "Ah, yes! Now I remember! Jo and I were on the planet Peladon pretending to be ambassadors from Earth. We had to beat a hasty retreat when the real Earth ambassador showed up."
"Perhaps we should be on our way," Candice suggested.
"Quite right," The Doctor agreed as he opened one of the doors that led inside the Tardis. The three then entered the Tardis, closing the door behind them.
"Is the Tardis ready to go?" Dorrie asked.
The Doctor walked over to the Tardis console, and checked some instruments.
"The damaged circuits have regenerated," The Doctor announced. "We'll now be able to return to our universe. Now, let's say we head over to Fhloslon Paradise, then I'll get the two of you back home in time for supper."
"Sounds good," Candice smiled.
The Tardis dematerialized into thin air, carrying The Doctor, Dorrie, and Candice to Fhloslon Paradise. The three had an enjoyable time on the vacation planet. The Doctor then took Dorrie and Candice back to Enchancia Castle. As the Tardis appeared in Dorrie's room, Violet was waiting as The Doctor, Dorrie, and Candice walked out of the Tardis.
"Have a good time, did we?" Violet smiled at Dorrie and Candice.
"The best," Dorrie smiled back.
"The Doctor took us to Fhloslon Paradise," Candice happily added.
"Nice place," Violet commented. "The Doctor took me there once."
"When was that?" The Doctor asked Violet, puzzled.
"Sorry," Violet apologized. "A future version of yourself took me there. Forget I said anything, Doctor."
"No harm done," The Doctor smiled. "I should be off."
"Please stay for supper," Violet offered.
"How would you explain my presence?" The Doctor wondered.
"You're an old friend of mine - Doctor John Smith," Violet responded. "We're having roast beef tonight in the servants area. You would be more than welcome, Doctor."
"Then I accept your gracious offer," The Doctor happily said to Violet.
As Violet, Dorrie, Candice, and The Doctor walked to the servants area, the four had a pleasant conversation. The conversation, and a good supper, was a fine way to end the day. Everything was right with the world.
Back at the alternate universe Albuquerque Castle
Hugo discovered Madeline looking out a window at the night sky. "Penny for your thoughts?" Hugo happily said to Madeline.
"I was just wondering who those three really were," Madeline said, referring to Dorrie, Candice, and The Doctor.
"We may never know," Hugo pointed out. "I do know this, however - they brought you back to us, and I'll be always grateful to them for that."
"I'm glad you're my big brother," Madeline smiled at Hugo.
"And I'm glad you're my little sister," Hugo smiled back.
Author's notes
"An ounce of bargaining, a pinch of trickery, a soupcon of intimidation, and voila! The perfect recipe for a towering reputation without ever having to spill one drop of blood" - this is the same line that Captain Shakespeare used with Tristan and Yvaine in the movie "Stardust".
Fhloslon Paradise is from the movie "The Fifth Element".
John Smith: an alias The Doctor has used from time to time in "Doctor Who".
"Just do as I do. Just hold tight, and pretend it's a plan" - this is the same line that the Matt Smith Doctor used with Lily Arwell in the "Doctor Who" Christmas special "The Doctor, The Widow and The Wardrobe".
Lady Mary: Dorrie's birth mother as mentioned in my stories "Dorrie" and "Dorrie: Book Two".
House Cosmarune is from my stories "Dorrie" and "Dorrie: Book Two". The House of Cosmarune was originally created by Skyrimfan for Skyrimfan's stories "Lucinda the First" and "Rise to Power: Queen of Corona". Skyrimfan has given me permission to use the House of Cosmarune, and I have given Skyrimfan permission to use Dorrie and Candice in "Lucinda the First" and "Rise to Power: Queen of Corona".
House Magwin would be a house which would include Lucinda and her mother (as readers of my stories will remember, Magwin is the last name of Lucinda and her mother).
House Revargia is something I borrowed from my story "The Storm" (and is the house that Vivian's mother is connected to).
House Weasley would, of course, be a house of the Weasley's of old from "Harry Potter".
Madeline is based on Madeline from the "Madeline" book series.
Neila is from my stories.
Queen Melinda is from Jolly Roger Brat's stories (and is used here with the permission of Jolly Roger Brat, under a joint agreement that we're allowed to use things from each other's "Sofia the First" stories).
Soupcon: a slight but appreciable amount.
The Principality of Albuquerque is something I borrowed from Chapter 6 of mine and Sofia2017 planning's story "Sofia and Lucinda the First".
The staring contest between Maleficent and Candice was inspired by "Disney Descendants".
"This seems familiar somehow," The Doctor remarked. "Ah, yes! Now I remember! Jo and I were on the planet Peladon pretending to be ambassadors from Earth. We had to beat a hasty retreat when the real Earth ambassador showed up" - this is a reference to the ending of the 1972 "Doctor Who" serial "The Curse of Peladon". Jo is Jo Grant, The Doctor's traveling companion at that time.
Voila: "there you are" (as in "voila, the cake is a masterpiece").