It was a new day in Enchancia when Sofia, James, Amber, and a few of their friends were taking a break from playing. They were sitting around a table in the gazebo, having a snack, when Sofia saw some of their pets playing together.

"James, I've wondered about this for a long time," Sofia started, "I know how Jagger got his name, but how about Eddie Monkey?"

James looked up and grinned from where he was spotting his pet baboon's double back flip. "I thought the answer might be pretty obvious, Sof," he said as he was knocked off balance and they landed in a bush. "I'm okay!" he added as they helped him up. "It was like this…"

James' flashback

It was his first trip to the Goldenwing Circus. He and his eight-year-old sister had come back loaded with souvenirs. Roland and Melinda thought they might be too keyed up to sleep that night, but the kids crashed immediately after dinner.

Later that night, everyone awoke to strange sounds. Flanked by guards, Roland went out to investigate. They were joined by James, who had been up getting a glass of milk. They reached the castle courtyard and were just about to start hunting when they saw a strange shape

When the guards got closer, everyone saw that it was a small baboon that they had seen with the circus, who had possibly escaped, and had gotten itself tangled in some flower bushes. He squealed as he tried to free himself.

Suddenly, before anyone could stop him, James knelt by his side. "It's okay," he said softly, "I can help."

"Be careful, James," Roland said, but he kept the guards back so James could help the animal.

Using a trick his mother always used when he or Amber got hurt, James started singing to the animal as he started freeing him, and it was a song he'd heard the guards sing on occasion.

Got a surprise especially for you
Something that both of us
Have always wanted to do

We've waited so long
Waited so long
We've waited so long
Waited so long

The baboon looked up at the new voice.

I'm gonna take you on a trip so far from here
I've got two tickets in my pocket, now baby
We're gonna disappear

We've waited so long
Waited so long
We've waited so long
Waited so long

I've got two tickets to paradise, won't you
Pack your bags, we'll leave tonight
I've got two tickets to paradise
I've got two tickets to paradise

Oh-oh-oh-oh-ooh-oh-ooh-oh-ooh-oh-ooh-oh-oh
Oh-oh-oh-oh-ooh-oh-ooh-oh-ooh-oh-ooh-oh-oh

Liking this song, the baboon grunted at James, who obliged by finishing the song.

I'm gonna take you on a trip so far from here
I've got two tickets in my pocket, baby
We'll disappear
(Know why?)

We've waited so long
Waited so long
We've waited so long
Waited so long

I've got two tickets to paradise, won't you
Pack your bags, we'll leave tonight
I've got two tickets to paradise, won't you
Pack your bags, we'll leave tonight

I've got two tickets to paradise, won't you
Pack your bags, we'll leave tonight
I've got two tickets to paradise
I've got two tickets to paradise

When the baboon was free again, he jumped on James' shoulders, knocking him over.

"You're just like your mother," Roland chuckled as he helped him up, "But I don't think you or Amber ever did that when we took out your splinters and thorns."

"And it doesn't look like this monkey will be leaving Prince James' side any time soon," one of the guards agreed.

"Well, it seems like you've got yourself a new pet," Roland smiled, scratching the baboon's head. "Any thoughts on a name for him?"

James grinned. "In honor of the song, I'll call him Eddie Monkey!" (In fact, that's what James had thought the original singer's name was, before his mother set him straight.)

"You're definitely your mother's son," Roland smiled.

End James' flashback

"Great story, James!" Sofia cheered. "Anyone else have a pet name story?"

"How about this one?" their friend Princess Sandra spoke up as she passed around a plate of ginger cookies she'd brought with her. "And I think it's time I set the record straight on this!"

Sandra's flashback

It was her first day with the knights for fencing lessons. Sir Peter, Orillia's most decorated senior knight, also had her go on a patrol around the castle with him, since she had been named an honorary squire. They had just finished when they heard Ezekiel's dachshund Spike barking, and chasing a yellow tabby colored kitten that had somehow managed to get into the castle.

"Spike! Stop! Leave that poor kitty alone!" Sandra scolded.

Hearing someone speaking on its behalf, the kitten leaped into her arms.

"Don't even think about it," Sandra frowned at Spike, who started barking again. "Regardless of what Zeke says, cats are welcome here!"

"I feel the same way, Princess," Sir Peter smiled as he stroked the kitten's head and shooed Spike away, "But you know that Prince Ezekiel has allergies to cats."

"And you know that he only wants attention and the allergies all in his head," Sandra countered. "I've wanted a cat since the first time I saw one when I was younger, and that's the excuse Mom and Dad always gave."

Sir Peter smiled. He'd seen Sandra's collection of cat related books and her stuffed animals, and so he knew what her favorite animal was. He had a cat, but he kept Soldier in the stables to keep the mice at bay. He also saw her in the stables with him on several occasions, petting him and singing to him. ("Soldier, you sing too! And Sir Peter, if cats weren't meant to sing, that musical would have never been composed!" she'd always told him when he told her that cats couldn't sing.)

"Oh, let her keep the cat, Sir Peter," Sir Nathaniel agreed. "I'm sure it will stay away from Prince Ezekiel, since Spike is always with him."

"And Dad told me once that he grew up with cats," Sandra agreed. "It might be nice for him to see one around the castle again."

"Well in that case, how can we say no?" Sir Peter asked. "What do you think you'll name your new friend, Princess?"

"Well, I've always liked the name Amber," Sandra smiled.

"I'm sure the oldest princess of Enchancia will be honored to have a namesake," Sir Steven, Orillia's second most decorated senior knight, smiled. "But let's take her to the royal vet first."

When she got permission from King Robert and Queen Patricia to keep the cat, they took her to the royal vet for her first checkup.

"Well, this is a very healthy, and handsome, kitten," the vet smiled. "But there's one thing you should know about. It's not a 'she'. It's a 'he.'"

"Well, I should have figured that out when you said handsome, but it's no problem. I can alter the name a little," Sandra replied. "I'll call him Ambre, spelled A-M-B-R-E, and pronounced like the Spanish word hombre, which means male."

"Once again, Sandra, your talent for word play comes shining through," Robert smiled; he heard how easily his daughter had defeated the ogre who had been threatening the kingdom.

End Sandra's flashback

"And that's how I got Ambre. But though he and Spike don't normally get along, they do work together when they have to," Sandra finished her story, recalling that she had asked Spike and Ambre to work together to do some spying for her.

"And what about Spike?" Sofia asked.

"Zeke got him from a friend whose dog had puppies and he named him Spike," Sandra replied. "Sorry if his origin story isn't very exciting. But I should say, when Dad first met Ambre, it was pretty much love at first sight! He, and I, have spoiled him rotten ever since! Dad always makes sure Ambre has fresh chicken, since that's what he gave him when I introduced them. And we always make sure Ambre has a toy or a ribbon to chase."

"You mean Ambre's the king of your castle?" James asked.

"Pretty much!" Sandra joked.

"That was an impressive story, Sandra, and I almost had a namesake," Amber smiled. "But it was so nice of you to save the best for last!"

"What do you mean?" James asked.

"Who's the best? Other than Clover, of course! But I learned his name when we first met," Sofia asked.

Amber's smile widened. "Praline, of course!" she gestured to her peacock, who was preening his feathers.

Amber's flashback

For a field trip at Royal Prep, Miss Flora's science class went to Albini Island, where they saw lots of tropical plants to collect for the school greenhouse, and rocks for the class rock collection.

"The sooner we find plants and get out of here, the better!" Amber had grumbled. If there was one thing she hated, it was having to go outside.

"You'll be fine, Princess Amber, there's nothing wrong with getting a little fresh air, and we rarely get an opportunity for a field trip like this," Miss Flora assured her.

"All right…" Amber sighed, but she frowned at James, who was running all over the place, picking up all kinds of rocks and leaves.

"Prince James, don't touch that one!" Miss Flora's voice cut into her thoughts, and she looked up to see James jerk his hand back from a plant. "Leaves of three, let them be!"

As she rolled her eyes at her impulsive brother, Amber continued her search for plants, when she found what looked like a really pretty rock. She brought it back to Miss Flora, who smiled. "Princess Amber, you didn't find a rock; that is the egg of a peacock! And it appears ready to hatch!"

Everyone gasped as the egg hatched in her hands. The baby peacock looked up at Amber, chirping happily.

"Why is she looking at me like that?" Amber asked; she was nervous, but still awed at what had just happened.

"He's imprinted on you," Miss Flora smiled. "That's what happens when a baby animal sees what he claims as his mother for the first time."

"Well, I suppose I can make him comfortable in the castle zoo," Amber hesitated.

When Roland and Melinda learned about Amber's find, they were more than willing to accept the peacock in the royal zoo. The family named the bird Praline, after the treats Amber brought out to him following her mother's tea party, and which the bird had gobbled down when Amber offered him one.

End Amber's flashback

"Wow! Even before you joined the Buttercups, you proved that you were an outdoor princess!" Sofia smiled.

"I guess," Amber shrugged, but she couldn't help but smile.

Their stories were interrupted by one of the maids, calling them in for lunch. As they sat around the table eating, they continued their conversation.

Author's Notes

Thanks to Niagara14301 for inspiring me with their story Glimpses; this collection of flashbacks is not like that.

Also, thanks to FutureFashionDesigner for inspiring me with the collection of stories called Randomness; this collection of flashbacks is not like that.

Albini Island was mentioned in Princess Adventure Club

Two Tickets to Paradise by Eddie Money is not mine, and was referenced in chapter 32 of Do You Want to Sing 2gether.

Sofia would think Clover is the best pet in the kingdom, which he is, thanks to the events of Blue Ribbon Bunny!

"If cats weren't meant to sing, that musical would have never been composed." This is a reference to Andrew Lloyd Webber's classic musical Cats.

Spike and Ambre working together is from chapter 5 of The Secret Love Song. It should be noted that they have a relationship like Clover and Wormwood, and they only work together when they have to, but for the most part, they avoid each other.

Praline and Eddie Monkey's backstories are completely made up.

Any other ideas for pet stories?