Chapter Two
"Are you sure she's not a mute?"
She knew Cubby wasn't trying to be mean but it was still annoying as Izzy gently took Sofia's hand.
The princess looked so baffled by the gesture but seemed relaxed, trying to cover herself as what was wrapped around her nude body wasn't holding on.
Sofia blushed rapidly in embarrassment, giving Izzy a pleading look to venture away from Jake and Cubby.
"Cubby why don't you go with Jake?" Izzy told the smaller boy. "He needs help with taunting Hook or something.."
She nodded over to the captains who appeared to be bickering with one another.
Cubby could see the look of "Go away" on her face, and reluctantly went away.
"You seemed to want Chubby to go away quickly," Sofia muttered once it was just the two of them.
"Cubby. And yes I did. The cloth wrapped around you won't last all day."
"I know how to sew. I'll um think of something."
"You better think of something fast," Izzy told her, guiding her over to the railing. Over that railing was another ship a lot smaller and it ding to the two girls. "Ahoy Bucky!"
"You named a ship?" Sofia giggled.
Izzy smiled at the giggle. It was sweet and innocent.
"Well that it's name. Peter gave it to us," Izzy told her. "But now we gotta jump so we can get you a new outfit."
Sofia took a deep breath. She hadn't exactly jumped from a ship before but took Izzy's word for it.
Aboard Bucky (she still couldn't believe a ship being named something normal) and glanced around the unfamiliar surroundings, Sofia spotted some purple fabric and some flowers.
If she was lucky, maybe she could make her gown from back home if not shorter.
"So how did you get here? Where did you come from? Sofia right?" Izzy asked the girl as she noticed her gathering up some items.
"Right," Sofia said, placing the items on a table. "I don't really know how I got here if I'm honest. All I know is I went to sleep last night, got woken up by Captain Hook, and woke up chained to a ship. I'm from Enchancia, a kingdom that's miles away from here. I wasn't having the greatest day ever yesterday anyway."
"Because of this Amber girl?"
"She's my sister. Mom got remarried to the king, her dad, and Amber well.."
"You're rubbing your arm," Izzy noticed in concern. "Did she hurt you?"
"Oh it's just a small burn of tea from yesterday. I did something to upset her as usual. It at least explains to Chubby why I'm a 'mute'," Sofia smiled uneasily.
Izzy raised her eyebrow in concern. Was this girl really ok? She went to the back for a moment coming back with a first aid kit in tow.
"Come here," Izzy gestured her over. "I'll treat you as we wouldn't want you to get an infection. You're too pretty for that."
The young princess felt her cheeks flush at the compliment. She didn't really know how to react as she followed the girl's order.
"And while we're at it, we can treat your jaw. I promise I'll be gentle. If you have anymore cuts I can treat them if you want."
"Alright. I won't flinch. Mom and I were commoners before she married the king. I helped her make shoes and sometimes I would get pricked by some of the sewing needles. Though those are easy scrapes compared to a tea burn and a tiara scratch on my lower back," Sofia blushed, realizing what she was saying. "Amber's gonna kill me. I wasn't supposed to say anything. She made me promise the first time after a punch in the stomach when Mom and his majesty wasn't looking."
"Was this before or after your mom got remarried?" Izzy wondered in concern.
"After. During my welcome ball, Amber humiliated me."
"Should I know what she did?"
Sofia wanted to say something, but if Izzy were to confront Amber she would surely be dead.
"No. It's fine. I'm sorry. Just ignore what you heard," the princess choked out, tears forming in her eyes. She shook them away. Amber wasn't there. She could tell a little bit. "His majesty, well I called him Dad then. He and I had the first dance together just as planned. I was a good dancer but Amber seemed to be jealous of me. I got the attention and popularity of the night."
"So you think she might jealous of you?" Izzy asked,.
She felt this all the time though she knew Jake and Cubby would care less so she often bottled up her feelings for her only venting space was her diary. But right now wouldn't be the time to vent to the other girl as she continued to listen.
"Jealous is a strong word. Amber hated me. Her brother James treated me with kindness the moment we met but she... Sometimes she can be nice. Just not the night of my welcome ball. I still remember her on one of the ballroom balconies after we had our family dance and wondered what she was doing before feeling something wet all over me."
"Water I assume?"
Sofia wore a weak smile, "Yeah. Water."
Izzy's eyebrows arched in full concern, trying not to express her horrified expression. "It doesn't sound like Enchancia is a good place for anyone. Maybe it was best that you left that abusive situation."
"I'm happy to be out of there too in a way but dukes and duchesses weren't supposed to laugh but they did. So did everyone else minus my family and the staff. I was soaked, cold, and felt betrayed by someone I was excited to be sisters with. I glanced at Amber with tears flowing in my eyes and couldn't say a thing."
"So why don't you talk much? Express yourself more? Call his majesty Dad anymore? Is it because of her?"
"Pretty much. But I wonder how my family feels without me being there. As much as I wanna think about it, all I can see is Amber," Sofia told the girl.
"I'm sure they miss you. Especially your mom," Izzy assured her. "Though we don't have parents on Neverland."
"Oh. Well being here is better than being back home. I'm usually not this talkative because Amber only allows me to speak if spoken to."
"I figured that much. Is this your first time actually telling someone about Amber?"
"Yes. The staff won't take me seriously as they're used to her mean ways. I can't tell my dad. I'm only his stepdaughter after all and he'll probably take her word over mine. So I mostly just bottled it up and kept quiet," Sofia told the girl.
"So, what made you think I was trustworthy of hearing this? For all you know I could be a assassin!" Izzy exclaimed, quickly pressing down the cotton soaked alcohol onto the burn causing Sofia to squeal in pain.
"I—I thought I could trust you."
"Well you're lucky Jake, Cubby, and I are good people."
Sofia squealed again at the pain, thankful that it didn't bring tears to her eyes like it had done the previous day.
…
After some time, the boys came back to check up on the girls.
"Izzy, is she going to be alright?" Jake asked with concern.
Izzy nodded."Yeah, she's going to be alright. It's just minor cuts and scrapes but we need to take it easy on her. She's been through a lot."
Jake glanced at the napping princess before turning back to his best mate.
"Did she just pass out like that?"
"Not exactly. I cleaned her up and she sewed herself a dress then passed out."
"She looks so small," Cubby muttered, holding up a broken clasp. "Jake and I managed to get something called a amulet of Avalor back from Hook but.."
"It's broken and we tried to fix it but the amulet refuses to get back together. It's like there's a spell on it or something. So what do we tell her?" Jake asked.
"We should tell her later but for now let her rest," Izzy answered, shrugging her shoulders in response.
They let her sleep for a few hours until Cubby's cooking had woken up the napping princess.
"My amulet!" Sofia squealed upon seeing the piece of jewelry. "Why is it broken? His majesty gave to to me as a welcome to the family gift."
"Well, uh we tried to fix it," Jake told her. "But it refused to cooperate so we can't do anything about it Sofia. Sorry."
The princess look devastated as she began to panic inside. Izzy took notice of the look on Sofia's face.
"Hey, why don't you come sit down and eat? You look famished," Izzy suggested with a smile. "We know it's probably not as fancy as what you have back in Enchancia—"
"I'm sure she doesn't care about that," Cubby interrupted apologetically. "Sofia looks like someone we can trust. What do you think Jake?"
"Well she has nowhere else to go so you're stuck with us. I'm Jake and I'm sure you met with Izzy and Cubby already," Jake introduced, giving Sofia a gentle smile.
"I have," Sofia muttered softly, glancing at Cubby. "But I'm not a mute. I've just been through a lot though the bandages make that obvious."
"Give him a break, he doesn't know much," Izzy said as Cubby blew a raspberry. "So, Sofia, what else do royals like yourself like to do?"
"Well I like dancing and the outdoors and exploring. It used to be tea parties but Amber ruined that for me."
"Well we can explore the island once you're up to it."
The princess smiled. This wasn't bad. They weren't as bad as her history book or James described them to be well there was Hook but he was a minor issue.
"Now come, come sit! We're cooking up Burbon Chicken!" Cubby cheered.
…
"For someone who treated her poorly, you seem to care for her now that she's gone."
Amber looked up from her diary and glanced at her twin with a sigh.
"You don't have to remind me," Amber scoffed.
"Yeah well I was the one who had to comfort her after your stunt at her welcome ball. Just when I thought you had gotten along with her because you taught her to waltz after ruining her chance the first time with Cedric's trick shoes, you humiliated Sof in front of everyone! Hildegard still won't shut up about it!" James growled. "You put on a nice sister act for the public but abuse Sofia in private!"
"You take that back! I was simply teaching Sofia how to be a woman!"
"How to be a woman huh? What does throwing 'water' on our sister at her welcome ball and then you burning her with tea result in womanhood huh?! HOW IS THAT TEACHING HER TO BE A WOMAN?!"
"How do you know about the tea?!" Amber gasped.
"Sofia's cries are always loud. If she's not quiet and even speaking softly like our friend Vivian used to, it's crying," James sighed. "Whoever Sof comes back with, I don't even care if it's a pirate, they'll be more furious than I am."
"Y-You think that person will be out to get me?! N-Nonsense! Daddy would never let anyone harm me!"
"And I won't," Roland assured, hearing the twins' conversation. "I would do anything to protect you two and Sofia. And whether you like it or not, she's family. Has been since the day I married her mother."
Amber, said nothing. What could she say? She just prayed to the heavens that Sofia was in safe hands and whoever was with her was treating her with care. And that they weren't pirates.
And if she came back, it was time to treat her nicer.
Sofia was only eight after all while she and James were a year older, having Amber frown at herself for the wrongdoings but wouldn't fully admit it to the public.
Yet.
But if her sister never returned or worse showed up dead, she would never forgive herself.
…
"Hey yay. What are you doing out here?"
It was starting to become night time as Sofia glanced at Izzy.
She had been taking it easy as promised to the boys ever since lunch had ended after complicating Cubby on whatever Burbon Chicken was, sneaking out when they weren't looking.
It felt wrong to perform the act but the princess couldn't resist. Just sitting in the sand while warm in her homemade dress made Sofia feel at ease.
"I'm just relaxing that's all. It's really pretty here," Sofia told Izzy as she looked out into the orange and purple gradient sky.
Due to her being in the castle and being busy with homework and such, she never had time to look into the sky like she did when she was a commoner.
"Yeah, Sometimes if you come out here, you can see stars shooting across the sky. It's really beautiful," Izzy smiled as she next to her.
"Usually it'd be dinner by now. Afterwards Violet, one of the maids, would bathe me and then I was usually left alone until bed. Sometimes I would visit James in his room, trying to avoid Amber all together but usually I just stayed in my room. We could go outside at night but I didn't want Mom or his majesty or our steward Baileywick to ask any questions about why I have a bruise somewhere."
"Amber never hit you at night?"
"Not really. She always claimed she needed her beauty sleep and her bedtime was at eight so I was safe from her until the morning time," The princess replied. "Seeing that you three live in tight quarters with one another do you guys often bicker?"
"Depends. Jake and Cubby respect my privacy and I respect theirs," Izzy smiled, shrugging her shoulders. "Just don't wake Jake in the middle of the night."
"He's a grouchy pants?"
"Grouchy pirate is more like it!"
Sofia blushed at Izzy's laugh, at how nice it was.
Izzy took notice of her blushing and giggled as she leaned in closer, feeling her own cheeks flush. "You know, you're really cute."
"Me?" Sofia asked in surprise, turning crimson. "I don't think so."
"No. That's Amber talking. What do you think?"
"I feel weird. I've never had a crush before."
"Neither have I," Izzy replied. "But Sofia you gotta let Amber go. She can't hurt you here, I promise I won't let her hurt you." With that she grabbed Sofia's hand and kissed her palm as she shot her a look. "That's my personal promise."
Sofia's face was fully red as she remembered her mother feeling the way she was after leaving the castle from delivering Roland his slippers.
Of course Miranda didn't say she was in love so the young princess didn't get it at the time.
Now she did, seeing something made of flowers and sticks behind Izzy's back.
A tiara?
"Izzy you got something to show me?" She asked, her heart was already overwhelmed with feels.
The pirate girl looked away, letting go of the princess' hand. "Maybe..."
"What is it?"
"Well I made it today while you were resting and the boys watched you. I thought I make you something to make you feel more at home." Izzy revealed a crown made of sticks and twigs along with vines. As for the jewels, it was lilies. "I only give lilies to my absolute best mates."
"You think I'm a best mate?" Sofia choked, feeling tears in her eyes. "Izzy, it's only been not even a day yet since we meet."
"But you two seem to be getting along," Jake added, startling them both.
"Did you hear everything?"
"I saw you kiss her hand Izzy. You both need to knock off whatever's going on here. Because of this, Sofia will be taking your bed."
Sofia shook her head. It felt out of place and disrespectful to Izzy, her only friend since her arrival that she couldn't remember.
For a boy her age and with how polite and gentle he had been earlier, Jake certainly wasn't acting that way at the moment.
"She wasn't doing anything wrong!" Sofia protested, dusting sand off her dress.
"No, Sofia it's ok. Jake's just upset that he didn't spend any time with you," Izzy teased a smile, and then Sofia felt a quick peck on her lips. "Or that he didn't get to kiss you first."
The two kids saw as he walked away back to the hideout. Silence filled the air.
What just happened?
The only sound Sofia heard afterwards was Izzy humming as the homemade tiara was placed on her head.
Maybe she should spent time with Jake tomorrow morning. She rather him be the boy she met upon her rescue from Captain Hook than a male Amber.
"Jake could I hang out with you tomorrow?" Sofia asked upon returning to the hideout. "I don't know much about Neverland, and I could use a guide."
"Of course Sofia," Jake smiled as he straightened himself. "But I apologize for how I acted. Izzy's always wanted a girl to be friends with and I couldn't see anyone else but you."
"Thank you. For a moment you almost reminded me of Amber. I guess Izzy told you?"
"During your nap. She wasn't kidding when she said you've been through a lot. But we as a trio, to the best of our abilities, will make you feel comfortable here. It's not the best but we make it work. Do you trust us?"
His green eyes looked into hers to find any hesitation.
Sofia nodded, not hesitating as some tears came to her eyes.
Boy was Jake reminding her of James at the moment.
"Where are my nightclothes?" The princess asked, nearly embarrassed.
"I'll show you and don't worry they've been washed in clear ocean waves and dried with the warm breeze," Jake assured, taking her hand.
Sofia almost flinched at his touch as a stray tear went down her cheek.
The princess followed him pass their bedroom to another bedroom down the hall. It was a decent size with a lot of things Sofia didn't expect to see within a pirate hideout owned by kids around her age. Her nightgown was folded neatly on top her current bed.
"This will be your room. The bathroom is towards our room and if you get thirsty at night, just head to the kitchen."
"Thank you. I just thought—"
"All pirates were dirty, rotten bad guys?" Jake interrupted with a laugh. "You're not the first to assume that and you won't be the last." He gently squeezed her hand. "If you need anyone of us during the night, just shake us awake."
"I thought Izzy said you didn't like being woken up in the middle of the night," Sofia frowned.
"Well, after what Izzy told me, I'll try not to be too grouchy. I'm sorry if I am. Just get some rest. You had a big adventure today. It's no good if a pirate is grouchy in the morning!"
He beamed at her giggling. She wasn't fully there yet and Peter would no doubt be furious with Amber for her actions if he ever got a chance to meet Sofia before Jake found himself giving her a peck on the cheek.
Almost like a big brother would.
Maybe having another girl in the crew, and one to protect for that matter, wouldn't be as horrible as he thought it would be.
