The Grand Sorcerer - (Sofia the First, Cedric!SI)

I was busy- I was supposed to be busy. That was the plan: be busy.

Normally, people are busy because they have a reason to be busy that entails being busy- but I was being busy for… well, other reasons.

I needed to be busy, and yet I was caught up by the one situation that yanked me out of my workshop, through the halls of the castle and then finally in front of the throne room. Maybe I am rushing too fast now since this all seemed like a 'death warrant' in the making without further details.

Around two decades ago, I got inserted in the body of the young boy that would become one of the first villains in the show 'Sofia the First'. Yes, I was 'Cedric the Sorcerer', even though the title was ill-fitting considering my few contributions to Enchantia after I was taken in as the Royal Sorcerer following my completion of magical studies.

It was all a matter of nepotism behind my hiring, my father was the former Royal Sorcerer, and he happily gave up the role once I flawlessly completed a test he put me through. Nothing truly intense considering the years of magical education and training at my disposal, but enough to get a last bout of praise from the old man before yeeting me into a job I had been half-excited about.

I have not… I wouldn't say I have followed this series before the insertion. The show, from my understanding, was a mess and a half when trying to fit with the rest of the 'Disney Lore' since some characters from other series and movies were canon to the show and… and I wasn't even sure if it was worth it to be stuck with the job.

Mind you all, it paid a lot considering the efforts I put out and it provided me with a dark room to use as my personal magical workshop whenever I needed to. The issue was the 'plot'. And the fact it was 'important' I was somewhat tied to it.

In fact, one could say that I couldn't escape 'Episode 0/the Movie Pilot' as I got asked by the king to speak privately with him. As I arrived at the throne room, I took notice of some artisans working on creating a new throne for the newest Queen, Lady Miranda.

King Roland II had lost his first wife a few months after giving birth to their twin children, Amber and James. Queen Lorelei was of weak constitution, and the event happened around a time when I wasn't around as I had a feeling I could have done something to help her.

Since I was stuck within a timeline where medieval medicine was limited by normal herbal infusions and magical bullshit, it was fair to say that stuff that could have aided the woman into a safe recovery had not been entertained due to a lack of knowledge.

Nowadays, I have spearheaded a few textbooks on medicine that should prevent issues of that sort and in regard to other lesser illnesses. The last thing I needed was for the kingdom I worked for to have a plague-tier issue coming from around the corner.

Still, the meeting with the king was a bit like I had expected it to go. It was about his newest move to just marry Lady Miranda after they got 'doki doki'd' to one another and pretty much sped up to the point where the 'jet lag' was hitting the entire newly-united family.

"What do I have to do to show little Sofia that I will be the best father yet?"

"Patience, self-discipline, and moderation," I answered flatly. "Magic can't fix this without creating more problems in other aspects of your family. Such as the fact I had yet to hear any interest to address potential grievances both Princess Amber and Prince James have perceived through this sudden situation."

The barbed speech was one that I hardly used in front of a royal member, even rarer when that was aimed at the king, but the man needed to be reminded that I wasn't just a Genie with a quick solution and that the mess was bigger than just with a child.

"I know but-"

"To build bonds, time is needed if not demanded. Merely creating firm and legal bonds through your new wife, King Roland, doesn't mean the child will instantly take a liking for you. Likewise, this doesn't mean your twins will claim that, just as easily, Lady Miranda is their new mother."

Groaning and scratching the side of his head, the king shook his head. "I know it's just… Why is it so complicated?"

"Because some strong actions will always have big ramifications. I am sure I told you this already and… I think it's time for me to go back to my arcane research. I prefer to not be disturbed unless it is for some important reason, sire."

"Go, go. I need to… think."

I have a feeling he is still going to give Sofia the Amulet of Avalor. If so, then things will be 'acceptable' since I can predict a few events before these messes happen.

Yawning, I was back to my workshop to finalize my last good effort to complete an efficient steam engine that could be used to handle a few of the more tedious tasks around transportation but also in regard to mills and other similar mechanisms in need of automatization.

I may be a magic user, but if I could also make a name as someone that is trying to improve things without involving temporary magic, then I wouldn't say no to that.

After all, I am Cedric the Grand Sorcerer, and I refused to refrain from mere silly spells in this round of life I was stuck with.

Sofia was sure this was the place.

The kind maid had told her that Sir Cedric was a grumpy man at an early hour, but that was also busy with royal chores early in the morning. Which meant that the girl could get her hands on some books and, hopefully, find a spell that could turn her into a true princess before her royal ball.

Why did she even get one from her new 'father'? She couldn't get it, but the other servants said it was important to show the world that she had 'value'. And… and she felt she had to do something to stand out to make the effort worthwhile.

The prank she was subjected to by Amber and James at Royal Preparatory School told her they didn't see her as a sister either and… and that made any idea of making 'good effort' work silly. Not even the headmistresses' song got her mind to soothe and calm down so…

So it had to be magic to help her with this.

It couldn't be the fairies, so the Royal Sorcerer could help. Sir Cedric had a reputation as a 'difficult figure'. He wasn't bad, but he was deemed by many as someone that hardly liked to spend time with people. Even the King hardly spoke with Cedric unless he was needed for an emergency: he even beat his own father's record of saving the monarchy by twelve times.

All those achievements further drove Sofia to believe he may have some books on the matter. Like any self-respecting wizard should in her opinion. Slowly, she snuck inside his workshop, a place that looked quite dark and gloomy, but also mesmerizing as she could see artifacts of all sort lingering ominously by shelves and pedestals.

It was a first step into seeing magic just as she imagined it. Odd, mysterious, alluring and-

"Not easy."

Surprise flared as the door closed behind her just mere moments she had stepped inside the gloomy room.

Sofia dreaded as she tried to open the door, shivering as she saw the handle not budging at her incessant efforts and, nervously so, she turned to the source of the voice.

Deep in the room, in front of a fireplace, stood a comfy couch where someone was reading some papers.

"Princess Sofia… I hope you understand that I was expecting you. Your hopes to look into my books without my permission were ill-placed."

"H-How?" The girl asked back, tense as she refrained from approaching the voice just yet.

"Magic is a complex subject. In fact, one could say that magic is akin to live as it has its own unique and mysterious abilities. Such as the ability to see into the future."

Her attention perked at this. "Th-Then you know-"

"About yours when it comes to the royal ball?"

"Yes!" She squeaked, a bit impatient over the interjections.

"Obviously," The magician assured, waving a gloved hand to the side. "If you are to go to the ball, you will manage just fine if not gain the reputation of a lovable child."

…Really?

Before she could ask that, the child was stomped by the next words uttered by the mage.

"If you had, however, managed to find a book that would have made you so popular that the king would have been urged to make you his heiress."

More delight burned upward within her mind. "Really? Then you are-"

"And then that would have gotten your twin siblings ostracized and neglected for being 'envious' of your beauty and your smarts. They would resent you and then, upon the end of the spell, they would plot to see you undermined and removed from the crown for being a greedy individual."

"...W-What?"

He sighed, then snapped his fingers- in less than a moment, Sofia found herself 'yanked' closer to the fireplace and right beside the magician. He was slim, his hair black with the front locks white. Sharp dark eyes aimed at the blaze consuming a few wooden logs.

"Magic is not a simple tool. It can be helpful if used in short-termed situations. Such as creating a bridge over a large fall, or even establishing shelter from the rain. But to change the view others have on you? It will only do more harm than not."

"...Oh."

"Alas, what you need to understand is not 'how to be a true princess' as that is a process, I am sure the fairies were clear on the matter," Sir Cedric remarked quietly, tilting his head to look at her. "What you miss, young lady, is the answer to another simple question that is, truth be told, similar to your worry."

"That is?" She asked, less nervous and more curious.

"Do you think your mother is a true queen at this point?"

The sharp question caused Sofia to stop thinking about herself and turn her mind to her mom, then frown.

"She is… not. Is she?"

"Your mother understands that the role requires duties and studies she will never be able to fully apprehend before the completion of her chores as a royal consort. However, she knows that experience and what little knowledge she gains from each day can help her do her job better. Your mother is not a proper queen, but she has the right mindset to eventually become one. What you lack, Sofia, is the right mindset - if you want to be better and you work to be better, then you will become what you seek to turn into."

"A proper princess?" She asked, quiet and yet giddy.

"Do you?" He asked back and she nodded.

"Yes."

"Then work with that. Wanting to do something is the first step of accomplishing it and the process to then achieve it requires effort, care and, most important of it all, will to accomplish it from beginning to end."

The child nodded, eyes glowing in understanding at what she was hearing. It wasn't the perfect answer, but it was enough to make her understand at once that maybe, just maybe, she was overthinking it.

She was made a princess just a few days ago and she started the Royal Preparatory School today, it made sense that she could never hope to be the very best just now. But she could try, like her mom is doing, to stand up to the expectations and try to work with what she had.

With another snap of finger, the girl realized that she had been brought to the door, now wide open for her to leave from.

"Learn from this important lesson: magic is not a silly shortcut. You either learn to be better yourself first, or you will never amount to much."

This was a harsh take on the lesson, but the little princess nodded before stepping out of the workshop - just quickly enough as the door closed once more behind her, sealing the mysterious sorcerer away.

And while it had been a scary encounter at first, the brunette smirked and thought that maybe, just maybe, Sir Cedric was not as bad as she had thought early on and…

Maybe he could make her his apprentice! After all, Magic sounded so cool!

AN

Inserted!Villain becomes pseudo-dad/uncle to Lil' Protagonist.