The Emerald Key
A small boat struggled through a storm-ridden sea. A single cloaked passenger lumbered over to the front of the boat, opening a box to reveal a key with a glowing emerald embedded in it.
"There you are, my magical, powerful beauty." The woman smiled, picking up the key. "At last, you are mine! And soon, the kingdom of Hakalo will be too."
The woman cackled loudly.
"No!" A young girl rushed towards her. "Put that back! It belongs to my family!"
The girl grabbed the key, and they began to struggle over it. Losing their balance, they both fell into the water.
"Mom, dad!" The girl called, hanging on to a piece of driftwood.
The door of the boat's cabin opened, and the girl's parents emerged.
"Leilani?" The father asked. "Leilani?"
"Help!" Leilani called.
"Leilani!" Her mother yelled. "Are you up here? She fell overboard!"
"Men, the princess has fallen overboard!" Leilani's father declared. "And the Emerald Key is gone!"
"Don't worry, my sweet girl." Leilani's mother announced. "We will find you!"
"Wait!" Leilani called, as the boat moved away. "Don't go! Come back!"
A short distance away, the Enchancian royal family were relaxing on a beach. Roland and Miranda were reading when they heard a rumble of thunder. They looked up to see the storm.
"Miranda, looks like the storm's moving in." Roland declared. "We should head back."
"Let's pack up, everyone!" Miranda called to the kids.
Sofia and Madeline were standing at the edge of the shore with Clover. Sofia was wearing a white dress with a purple skirt and a straw hat with a blue, flowered band. Madeline's dress was similar, only with a red skirt, and a yellow flowered band.
"Alright, mom!" Sofia waved.
The tide suddenly pushed Clover forwards, and Sofia caught him. Madeline then spotted the key in the sand.
"Look at that." She gasped, picking it up.
"That's a fancy-looking key." Clover declared.
"I think it's made of emerald." Sofia appraised it.
"Look what I found!" Madeline showed the others.
"Hey, it's glowing!" James pointed out.
"Dad, do you think it's magical?" Sofia asked.
"I don't know." Roland shrugged. "I've never seen anything like it before."
"Well, we have books about magical jewels in the library." Miranda recalled.
"Maybe we can check when we get back?" Madeline suggested.
Rain started to fall as the storm caught up with them.
"Time to go." Roland noted, as they rushed off, servants bringing umbrellas to cover them.
The cloaked woman pushed aside some reeds, watching them.
"They have the key." She realised. "But how do I get it back? ...I know. I'll tell them that it's my key! And once I get the key, I will have my revenge on Hakalo!" She held up a glowing blue crystal. "Crystal of night and air, make me a princess fair!"
A bolt of lightning struck the crystal, and the woman cackled.
In the library, the royal family were checking the books.
"Ooh, 1001 Tiaras: The Ultimate Guide to Being a Classy Princess." Amber smiled. "I love this book."
As Amber took her book to a table, Roland brought another.
"Here it is." He declared, putting the book on the table. "The Complete Guide to Magical Jewels."
Madeline suddenly sneezed.
"Are you getting a cold, Madeline?" Amber asked.
"Actually, it's just Maddie's sinus problems." Sofia declared. "Always comes during heavy rain."
"I think this is it." Miranda pointed to a picture in the book.
Madeline compared the key to the picture.
"The Emerald Key of Hakalo." She read. "The kingdom of Hakalo is a hidden island. Only the Emerald Key can unlock the passageway to this island kingdom."
"It says the Key belongs to the royal family of Hakalo." Roland noted.
"I've never even heard of that kingdom." Miranda said as she handed the book to Roland.
"Well, I always thought it was a legend, not a real place." Roland stated.
Baileywick entered the library.
"Your majesties." He bowed. "There is a visitor at the door who says she is the princess of Hakalo."
"The princess of Hakalo?" Sofia gasped.
The royal family made their way to the main hall, where the girl from the boat stood, a flower wreath around her head.
"Where's the princess?" Amber asked.
"Right here." Leilani curtsied. "I'm princess Leilani of Hakalo, but everybody calls me 'Lani'. Sorry I'm dripping everywhere. I fell off my royal ship last night and washed up on your beach."
"Oh, you poor thing." Miranda declared.
"Someone was trying to steal my family's Emerald Key." Lani added. "And when I tried to stop her, we fell overboard. I don't know what to do now. Without that key, my family and I can never get home!"
"It's okay, Lani." Miranda comforted her.
"We found your key." Madeline held it up.
"Oh, you don't know how happy that makes me!" Lani smiled.
Suddenly, there was a knock at the door.
"I'll get it." Baileywick opened the door.
Another girl entered the home. She was wearing a fancy dress and crown, studded with diamonds and flowers.
"Greetings, your majesties." She curtsied. "I am princess Leilani of Hakalo."
"What?!" The royal family gasped.
"I see you found my Emerald Key." The other Leilani smiled.
"Wait, she said she was princess Leilani." Sofia pointed to Lani.
"I am princess Leilani!" Lani declared.
"She's lying!" Leilani frowned. "I'm the real princess. She's trying to steal my key, just like that awful woman last night!"
"You're the one who's lying!" Lani insisted. "It's my key!" She turned to Madeline. "I need it to get home. You have to give it to me!"
"You can't give it to her!" Leilani growled.
"We're not giving this key to either of you." Roland declared, taking the key. "Until we can figure out which one of you is telling the truth."
"And that may take some time." Miranda declared. "So let's get you two dried off first."
"Right this way, ladies." Baileywick offered.
"I'll send messengers out to search for the king and queen of Hakalo." Roland announced, as they walked down the corridor. "They must be worried sick about their daughter."
"Who do you think is the real princess?" Madeline asked.
"It's Leilani." Amber declared. "Just look at her gown."
"Leilana does seem more ... princessy." James admitted.
"And Lani's so-called crown is just flowers." Amber snorted. "Not diamond flowers, real flowers."
"But Lani could still be a princess." Sofia pointed out.
"I wish there was a way to know who's telling the truth." Madeline sighed.
"There is." Amber smiled. "We give them a test. Oh, daddy?"
Sofia, Madeline and James looked at one another.
In the royal living room, Madeline sat in the middle of the two Leilani's, with Sofia sitting by Miranda.
"We have decided that best way to determine which one of you is the true princess is to hold a test." Roland declared.
"The test will have three challenges." Miranda added.
"All taken from '1001 Tiaras: The Ultimate Guide to being a classic Princess'." Amber smiled.
"I will judge the test, with a little help from the royal family." Roland announced. "And whoever does best will get the Key."
"I have to do all that just to get my key back?" Lani asked.
"You mean my key." Leilani growled. "And I am happy to do whatever you require. Thank you, your majesties."
"The first challenge will take place in the ballroom." Baileywick informed them. "Please follow me."
Soon, the royal family were sitting in their thrones in the ballroom, with the two princesses standing ready. A servant stood by, carrying the Emerald Key on a pillow.
"The handbook says a princess should be graceful." Baileywick declared. "So for this first challenge, you will dance, and we shall see which of you has the grace of a true princess. You may... begin."
The royal band started playing, and Leilani started dancing with one of the servants.
"Leilani is waltzing wonderfully." Roland smiled.
Amber made a check on her list.
Meanwhile, Lani started dancing by herself, moving around the ballroom with her arms outstretched.
"What is Lani doing?" Amber asked.
"I don't know, but it's funny!" James shrugged.
"I like it." Sofia smiled.
"Me too." Madeline agreed. "Lani, what is that dance?"
"it's called the swaying blossom." Lani declared. "It's the first dance everyone learns in Hakalo."
"Unless you're a princess." Leilani smirked. "In which case, you learn to waltz."
"The waltz is the most royal dance of all." Amber agreed. "I think it's quite clear that this round goes to Leilani."
"I don't know, Amber." Sofia frowned. "Lani's dance may be strange, but it's still graceful."
"I agree." Miranda nodded.
"It's a nice dance." Roland admitted. "But not as graceful as Leilani's waltz. Leilani wins this round!"
"Wonderful." Leilani smirked.
"Baileywick, let's move on to the next challenge." Roland urged.
"To the throne room, everyone!" Baileywick announced.
In the throne room, Lani and Leilani were sat at a table, a teapot and cups before them.
"A princess must always be polite." Baileywick read. "In this next challenge, we will be watching to see how good your manners are. James will pretend to be a duke."
"The duke of Jameslandia!" James declared, wearing a black suit and cape.
Baileywick placed two wrapped boxes on the table.
"Ladies, pretend these presents are from the duke." He instructed. "Please open them, and show us how you would politely thank him."
Leilani opened hers first.
"Oh, how nice of you to give me such a wonderful... snail?!" She gasped. "How disgusting! Why would you give me such a hideous thing?!"
Lani tore open her box.
"That's no way to open a gift." Amber frowned.
Lani looked at the snail.
"Wow, my very own snail." She smiled, letting it crawl onto her palm. "It's so pretty!"
"You think it's pretty?" Amber gasped.
"Yes." Lani nodded. "The shell reminds me of some of my seashells back home."
"Does the duke of Jameslandia give great gifts, or what?" James boasted.
"I love it." Lani smiled. "Thank you."
"Um, excuse me, everyone?" Leilani asked. "I believe I misspoke earlier when I called the snail 'hideous'. I meant to say 'adorable', and I thank you for your generosity."
"I thought Lani was much nicer when she opened the gift." Madeline declared.
"Me, too." Sofia agreed.
"But Leilani curtsied when she thanked James." Amber pointed out.
"Though Lani sounded more sincere." Miranda added. "And gracious."
"I agree." Roland nodded. "Lani wins this challenge!"
"That means it's even." Madeline smiled.
"But I should have won!" Leilani protested. "I curtsied. She didn't curtsy!"
Leilani pushed her chair out, bumping Violet, who spilled tea all over the floor.
"Oh, my apologies." Leilani frowned.
"Here, let me help." Lani helped Violet clean up.
"Thank you, m'lady." Violet smiled.
"No girls, since we have a tie, whoever wins the next challenge wins the test." Roland declared. "Baileywick?"
"I'm afraid the next challenge takes place outside." Baileywick revealed. "And it's still raining, your majesty."
"Okay girls, we'll have to continue this in the morning." Miranda stood up. "But we invite you to stay in the castle tonight, as our guests."
"I don't have time for that." Lani frowned. "My family's out there somewhere, and we need that Key to get back home."
Lani raced out of the throne. Stepping outside, she placed her snail in a potted plant. She sighed as she looked at the rain. Nearby, Clover was struggling with a bucket on his head. Spotting him, Lani walked over. Sofia and Madeline came outside just in see her pull him free.
"Hey there, little fella." Lani smiled. "Did you get stuck in there looking for a snack? Don't worry, I'll find you one."
Lani picked a blueberry from a nearby bush and fed it to Clover. She then carried him out of the rain.
"Let me dry you off, poor thing." She used a cloth to dry Clover. "You're soaking wet."
"Lani, are you okay?" Sofia asked.
"Not really." Lani sighed. "No-one believes I'm the real princess, do they?"
"Well, we're just not sure yet." Madeline declared.
"If I don't get the Emerald Key back, my family and I can't go home." Lani despaired. "Can you imagine never being able to go home again?"
"I couldn't." Sofia admitted.
"Me neither." Madeline frowned. "Ah-choo! ...Sorry, it's the rain."
"You know, Sofie&Madeline I may not know how to waltz, or dress as fancy as everyone else, but that doesn't mean I'm not a princess." Lani declared.
Lani: I may dance quite differently than you Don't know your ways Or what I should do
Far from home I'm feeling lost at sea But I try as best as I can To do the right thing wherever I am 'Cause I was taught That's just the way of royalty
I always thought to be a princess true All that matters are the deeds you do Look for a wrong and make it right Be kind to others day and night Let your inner light shine through
That's how to be a princess true
"You're right Lani." Sofia declared. "That's exactly how a princess should act."
"And it's the way you've been acting all day." Madeline nodded. "With Violet, and Clover... which means you're the real princess!"
"So you believe me?" Lani smiled.
"We do." Madeline beamed.
Sofia/Madeline: All along you have shown so much heart And your kindness has set you apart It took a while But now We finally see It's how you act and not how you look It's from within you and not from a book So it's clear for us to see That you deserve the emerald key
All: And now I know to be a princess true All that matters are the deeds you do
Lani: Look for a wrong Sofia/Madeline: And make it right Lani: Be kind to others Sofia/Madeline: Day and night
All: Let your inner light shine through That's how to be a princess true
A princess like you
"I'm so glad you believe me!" Lani smiled. "Now I just have to convince the rest of your family."
"Oh, you will." Sofia smiled, as she and Madeline led her to a guest room.
"This will be your room." Madeline declared. "But let's get you some pajamas first."
As they walked away, the second Leilani peeked out from behind a corner, and changed back into the cloaked woman.
"It looks like I'll have to make extra sure that little princess fails tomorrow's challenge." She plotted, taking off her ruby ring. "I know just the thing."
She sneaked into Lani's room, and placed the ring under her bed's mattress.
"My magic will ruin Lani's sleep." The woman declared. "She'll be exhausted for the final test!"
The bed suddenly became extremely lumpy.
"That should do nicely." The woman smirked, leaving the room.
That night, Lani found it impossible to get to sleep.
"Rise and shine, everyone!" The fake Leilani knocked Lani's door. "You too, Lani!"
As she skipped across the corridor, she encountered Sofia, Madeline and Clover.
"Good morning, princess Sofia." She curtsied. "Princess Madeline."
"Good morning, Leilani." Sofia nodded.
"Who let a rabbit in the castle?!" Leilani shooed Clover aside, then skipped off down the corridor.
"Oh, huh-huh-huh." Clover snorted. "If that girl's a princess, I'm a skunk. And I smell good."
"Sofia?" Lani yawned as she came out of her room. "Madeline? What time is it?"
"Almost time for the last challenge." Madeline answered. "Are you okay?"
No, I'm really tired." Lani yawned again. "I barely slept last night. I just couldn't get comfortable in that bed."
A bell rang.
"Breakfast is served!" Baileywick called.
"Well, you'd better hurry and get dressed." Sofia told Lani. "The challenge starts right after breakfast."
"Okay." Lani rubbed her eyes as she went back into the room.
After breakfast, they all went down to the maze.
"Chapter eight: A princess must be smart, as well as nimble." Baileywick read. "Therefore, your next challenge is a race through this maze. Good luck, and may the true princess win. On your mark, get set, go!"
Leilani rushed in first, with Lani stumbling behind. As they raced, Lani ran into a dead end.
"Which way now?" She frowned, turning back.
The royal family watched their race from their thrones atop the stairs.
"Why is Lani moving so slowly?" James asked.
"She didn't sleep well." Madeline explained.
"Maybe she's not used to sleeping in the castle?" Amber suggested.
Clover, Robin and Mia arrived just in end to see Leilani exit the maze fast.
"And Leilani wins the challenge!" Baileywick declared.
Some of the family applauded as Leilani bowed.
"That settles it." Roland smiled. "Leilani is the real princess!"
"But dad, Leilani didn't sleep well last night!" Madeline protested.
"I think we need another challenge." Sofia added.
"No we don't." Amber retorted. "The test had three challenges, and Leilani did better on two of them."
"But Lani acts more like a princess." Madeline insisted.
"I'm afraid Amber's right, girls." Roland stated. "We gave them a fair test, and Leilani did better. So we must conclude that she's the true princess."
The servant gave the Emerald Key to Roland, who brought it to Leilani.
"Princess Leilani, I am pleased to return to you your Emerald Key." Roland gave her the item.
"At last, it's mine!" Leilani smirked. She then realised everyone was looking at her funny. "...Again."
"Your majesty!" Another servant rushed over. "One of the messengers located the Hakaloan royal ship. The king and queen are on their way."
"Marvellous!" Roland smiled.
Leilani barely hid her scowl.
"Oh, I'm so excited!" She lied. "Perhaps one of your coaches could take me to meet them?"
"As you wish." Roland turned to the servant. "Please escort princess Leilani to our coach."
"Right this way, princess." The servant indicated.
As Leilani left, Lani finally came out of the maze.
"Did I win?" She asked. "Where's Leilani? Where's the Key?"
"I'm sorry." Roland apologised. "Leilani made it out of the maze first. We had to give her the Key."
"But she's not the real princess!" Lani said, heartbroken. "How could you give her my Key?"
Lani ran back into the castle.
"I think we made a big mistake." Sofia sighed, as she and Madeline followed.
"Lani!" Madeline called.
"You know Miranda, if Lani isn't the princess of Hakalo, then who is she?" Roland wondered.
"We'd better go find out." Miranda declared.
As a storm once again raged outside, Lani sat on her bed, crying. Sofia and Madeline entered the room.
"Lani, we're sorry." Sofia apologised.
"What are we gonna do now?" Lani asked. "How will I ever get back home?" She slumped back on the bed, only to straighten up again. "And why is this bed so uncomfortable?"
"Impossible." Amber said, as the rest of the family entered. "Our beds are the softest in the kingdom."
"Let me try it." Madeline sat on the bed, then immediately got off. "Ow! Lani's right. It's really lumpy."
"That's why I couldn't sleep last night." Lani declared.
"Oh, excuses, excuses..." Amber sighed, as she sat on the bed too. "Oh! it feels awful! No true princess could ever sleep on this!"
"There must be something under the mattress." Sofia reached under it, and pulled out the ring. The lumps on the bed vanished. "Look!"
"That's Leilani's ring!" James gasped.
"Leilani must have put it there so Lani wouldn't sleep well, and fail the test!" Madeline realised.
"Well, I know one thing." Miranda frowned. "A true princess would never cheat."
"If Leilani was cheating , then you're the real princess." Amber told Lani.
"Hello, people!" Clover yelled, poking his head the room. "I could have told you that yesterday!"
"We did make a big mistake." Roland admitted.
"We have to stop her, dad." Sofia declared.
"You're right." Roland nodded. "To the coach!"
The royals ran out of the room.
"Come on!" Clover told Mia and Robin. "We've gotta help 'em!"
They all got into a coach, Roland at the reins. Luckily, Leilani's coach had just left, so they were able to catch up to her, just as her coach reached the forest.
"Leilani, stop!" Madeline called, suppressing a sneeze.
"You wouldn't want to leave this behind, would you?" Sofia held up the ring.
Frowning, Leilani turned to the coachman.
"Can this thing go any faster?" She asked.
"Stop that coach at once!" Roland ordered.
Obeying his king, the coachman pulled on the horse's reins, stopping them.
"They all know I'm the real princess." Lani told Leilani. "Now give me back the Key!"
"Never!" Leilani yelled, before changing back to her true self. She then used her crystal to blast the coachman into a bush.
"It's you!" Lani gasped.
"Yes, and now your key is mine!" The woman gloated. She leapt into the driver's seat, and snapped the horses' reins. "Away!"
The coach started moving away.
"Hurry, dad!" Madeline called. "Get her!"
The chase recommenced.
"She tried to steal the Key from my ship last night!" Lani recalled. "She's the reason I fell overboard. Who are you?!"
"I am Mamanu." The woman declared. "I was once the royal enchantress of Hakalo."
"I've heard of you." Lani noted. "My father caught you stealing magical crystals from the royal museum. He banished from the kingdom forever!"
"But now that I have the Emerald Key, I will rule Hakalo!" Mamanu gloated. "You and your parents will never see home sweet home again!"
"No!" Lani gasped.
Mamanu cackled as her coach moved ahead.
"Heyahh!" Roland snapped the reins. "Faster!"
As the ride got bumpier, Miranda and Amber held on to each other.
"Whoa!" James smiled.
As the chase continued, Clover, Mia and Robin arrived on the scene.
"Okay y'all, I've got an idea." Clover panted, out of breath. "Tell every woodland creature in the forest to stop that creepy lady!"
"You got it!" Robin smiled.
The animals spread out into the forest.
"Oh, we've losing her!" Roland groaned.
"Maybe not." Madeline pointed to a flock of birds, led by Mia and Robin. "Look! The birds are going after her!"
"What's this?" Mamanu gasped, as the birds flew in front of the horses, forcing them to stop. "Keep going! What's wrong with you?!"
"Hold on." Roland called, as the coach went over a deep slope.
"Whoa!" The passengers gasped.
Mamanu leapt out of her coach, and started running.
"She's getting away!" Lani yelled.
As Mamanu ran up a slope, Clover hopped in her way.
"Stop right there, creepy lady!" He smirked.
Clover whistled, and more birds began swarming Mamanu.
"What is this?" She gasped. "Get out of my way!"
Lani and the royal family finally caught up to her.
"Look at that." Miranda declared. "Those woodland creatures are stopping her."
Mamanu found her way blocked by a bear and a stag. Meanwhile, Lani snuck up on her.
"I'll take that, Mamanu!" She rushed over and grabbed the Key.
"Give that back!" Mamanu yelled.
"You'll have to get past me first." Sofia stood in front of Lani.
"And me." Madeline added.
"Past all of us." Roland declared, as the entire family joined them.
A trio of royal guards appeared.
"Guards, seize her." Roland ordered.
As the guards advanced, Mamanu held up her magic crystal.
"You have not seen the last of me." She thrust the crystal down, and vanished in a puff of smoke.
"Where'd she go?" James asked.
"Far away, I hope." Amber declared.
"You have no idea how much this Key means to me." Lani smiled. "And my family."
"Speaking of your family, I say we head back to the castle, and meet them." Roland grinned.
Lani took Sofia and Madeline's hands as they left. Sofia and Madeline gave Clover, Mia and Robin a smile.
At the dock, the Hakaloan royal ship was waiting to leave.
"Thank you for taking care of our daughter, and keeping our Key safe." Lani's father smiled.
"You're very welcome." Roland declared.
"Now we must be heading home." Lani's mother said.
"So... I guess it's time to say goodbye?" Sofia sighed.
"We don't say goodbye in Hakalo." Lani told her. "We do this." Lani performed a swaying dance, waving her arms slowly. "It means 'until we meet again'."
"Until we meet again." Madeline smiled, as she and Sofia hugged Lani.
As Lani got on the boat, Sofia and Madeline performed Lani's dance. Lani waved to them.
"Emerald Key, lead us to Hakalo!" Lani's father commanded.
The Emerald Key glowed brightly, and the ship departed the dock.