The school day was almost over at Royal Prep. Everybody was in the auditorium for an assembly when Miss Flora, Miss Fauna, and Miss Merriweather came in.
As usual, Miss Flora got right to the point. "Children, we have very exciting news. It's time for Royal Prep's annual singing contest and talent show."
"I remember last year," fourteen-year-old Sofia murmured to her fifteen-year-old Amber, "You played your harp and I danced. We didn't win first prize, but we still had a lot of fun."
Even though she inwardly shuddered at the memory of them winning third place, Amber managed a smile. "Yes we did. Want to team up again this year?"
As Sofia nodded, some of the princes were also talking amongst themselves.
"What do you want to do this year?" a fifteen-year-old Prince Desmond asked.
"If you think I'm repeating my act from last year, forget it," a sixteen-year-old Prince Hugo muttered. "James and I paired up and we did that juggling thing. It was a disaster!"
"Because you got stage fright?" a sixteen-year-old Prince Zandar joked.
"No; it was my fault. I'm normally great at juggling, but I just got distracted that day," a fifteen-year-old Prince James admitted.
"You? The self-proclaimed King of Fun? What could possibly distract you?" Hugo asked.
James didn't answer. He remembered that he had seen someone in the audience smiling up at him, and it had made him lose his concentration. And ever since that day, he couldn't get her sympathetic gaze or sweet smile out of his mind.
The boys were brought back to reality by Miss Fauna. "Now, if you want to sing for the talent show, please give us a copy of your music. All entries must be turned in at the end of next week."
"Flying derby may be for everyone, but singing is still a princess thing," Hugo muttered as they left school for the weekend. (A/N: Remember in the Princess Things song where Amber sings about "singing wistfully in windowsills?")
James, however, smirked. "Oh, really? Then why don't you and the guys come over to the castle tonight and put your money where your mouth is?"
That night, James, Desmond, Hugo, and Zandar were in James' room at Enchancia Castle. James brought out a large box and several microphones. He inserted a small disc into a slot in the top of the box and pushed a button as he handed the microphones out. "Singing is just a princess thing, huh, Hugo? Well, what do you say about this?
Just a small town girl
Livin' in a lonely world
She took the midnight train goin' anywhere
Hugo smirked. "What do I say about it? You're lucky I like this song!"
He joined in, Just a city boy
Born and raised in south Detroit
He took the midnight train goin' anywhere
Desmond and Zandar grinned as they took up their microphones.
Desmond started, A singer in a smoky room
A smell of wine and cheap perfume
Zandar continued, For a smile they can share the night
It goes on and on and on and on
Then they all sang together, Strangers waiting
Up and down the boulevard
Their shadows searching in the night
Streetlights people
Living just to find emotion
Hiding somewhere in the night
Hugo started the next verse, Working hard to get my fill
Everybody wants a thrill
Payin' anything to roll the dice just one more time
Zandar went again, Some will win, some will lose
Some were born to sing the blues
Desmond joined in again, Oh, the movie never ends
It goes on and on and on and on
Then they all sang together, Strangers waiting
Up and down the boulevard
Their shadows searching in the night
Streetlight people
Living just to find emotion
Hiding somewhere in the night
Don't stop believin'
Hold on to that feelin'
Streetlight people
Don't stop believin'
Hold on to that feelin'
Streetlight people
Don't stop believin'
Hold on to that feelin'
Streetlight people
Everyone applauded their rendition of the song. "Where did you get that anyway?" Desmond asked.
"Aunt Tilly gave this to the family as a thank you gift after Mom and Dad hosted her and Sir Bartelby's wedding," James explained, "It's called a karaoke machine. Mom and Dad actually don't use this very often, but since I actually like it, they gave it to me."
"We actually have karaoke machines in our kingdom," Hugo spoke up. He then looked embarrassed as everyone looked at him with knowing smirks and grins. "Okay, so singing's not just a princess thing. My brother Axel and I go into town with our dad sometimes on the weekends, and while he's talking with his friends in taverns, Axel and I sing. We actually got a standing ovation last week!"
"So, is anyone up for another song?" Zandar asked.
As the boys nodded and began hunting through the box, James' mind began to wander. He knew what he wanted to do for the talent show, and he knew how much she'd like hearing him perform, but there was a small thing stopping him: singing in public. As he thought back to that long-ago day when he last had to sing before a crowd, a lump rose in his throat and his eyes misted. He coughed and brushed a hand across his eyes as his friends looked up.
"James? Are you okay?" Desmond asked.
"What? Oh, yeah. The box is just a little dusty," James covered for himself.
His friends looked concerned for a moment, but then they shrugged and resumed digging through the box.
'How will I impress her if I can't sing in front of everyone?' James thought as he found another song. The thought was lost as Desmond went up for his first solo song.
Author's note: The first chapter of my first Sofia fanfic is finally up! Also, Don't Stop Believin' by Journey is not mine. Please read and review!