A Royal Mess
A large procession of circus performers came into Enchancia, viewed by the royal siblings.
"Hear all ye maidens!" A man announced. "Men and mischief makers! Come see the Golden Wing Circus!"
"The Golden Wing Circus is back!" James smiled.
"Oh, let's ask mom and dad if we can go." Amber suggested.
"Me and Madeline have never been to a circus before." Sofia admitted.
"This isn't just any circus, girls." James declared. "It's the Golden Wing Circus."
"The grandest, most enchanting circus in all the world." Amber smiled.
James: You know it's coming
When the wagons appear
Amber: That crazy caliope
Catches your ear
Amber/James: The coolest circus in the kingdom is here
Chorus: And the tents are rising
Amber: They're full of mystical
Unusual things
James: Like magical penguins
Amber: Tigers that sing
Footman #1: A three ring little show
Footman #2: That's not what this will be
Chorus: it's four rings of fun
Because there's so much to see
At the Golden Wing Circus
You'll hear the ringleader call
It's the Golden Wing Circus
The grandest circus of all
Gardener: Most every circus has
Some elephants too
Ladies: I hear they're gigantic
And purple and Blue
Baker: With dancing unicorns
Who enter on cue
Chorus: As they're harmonising
Up on the wire
As they're doing their tricks
When doing a tightrope
Just for the kicks
James: A tamer grabs a chair
And waves it everywhere
Chorus: Then dozens of dragons
Appear in thin air
At the Golden Wing Circus
A huge spectacular show
It's the Golden Wing Circus
The grandest circus I know
Inside the castle, Roland was admiring a newly-made stained glass window, depicting the royal family themselves.
"The new stained glass window looks outstanding, Baileywick." He smiled. "I can't wait to show it to Queen Miranda."
"The Golden Wing Circus is back in town!" James cheered. "Can we go, dad? Can we? Please, please, please?"
"Well, I don't see why not." Roland chuckled. "Baileywick, would you please arrange tickets for today's show?"
"Right away, your highness." Baileywick nodded.
"Yes!" The kids cheered.
"We're going to the Circus!" James whooped, juggling some balls. "Sof, Maddie, wait until you see it!"
James: The jugglers juggle but
They juggle way up high
"James." Roland said
James: They juggle and juggle
Play up to the sky
Chorus: At the Golden Wing Circus
There's never a stumble or fall
"James!" Roland repeated. "Not in the castle!"
Chorus: It's the Golden Wing Circus
"James!" Roland yelled. "James!"
Chorus: It visits your town
You'll hear the applause
The laughing and cheering
Simply because
It's the Golden Wing Circus
The grandest circus of all
"James, you know the rules." Roland said sternly. "No playing ball inside the castle. There are too many things that could break, like the new stained glass window.
"It's very pretty." Madeline declared.
"Of course it is, Madeline." Amber smirked. "There's a picture of me in it'
"I'm going to get your mother right now to show it to her." Roland declared, leaving the room.
"Okay, now back to the show." James started juggling again.
"James, what are you doing?" Sofia asked. "Dad said no playing ball in the castle!"
"I just want to show you one more trick." James insisted.
"But dad said-" Amber started to say.
"Don't worry." James cut her off. "It's as easy as one, two, three!"
James threw the balls up in the air, one by one. The last one bounced off the chandelier, ricocheted from an axe held by a suit of armor, and smashed through the window, leaving a hole where Amber's face had been.
"Oh, no!" James gasped.
"The window!" Sofia and Madeline said together.
"My picture!" Amber yelped.
"I didn't mean to break it!" James declared.
"Oh, dad is not going to like this." Amber pointed out.
"What do we do?" James asked.
"We have to go tell him." Madeline suggested.
The girls started walking.
"Wait!" James ran after them. "You can't tell dad! If he finds out I broke a family rule, he won't let me go to the circus!"
"Oh." Sofia said.
"It doesn't matter whether we tell him." Amber frowned. "He's going to see the window when he comes back."
James looked from the suit of armor, to the window, and back again.
"Uhh... not if we hide it." He realised. "We can move that suit of armor in front of the window. Mom and dad will never see it!"
"I don't know..." Madeline said.
"Please?" James pleaded. "I don't want to miss the juggling jesters! And the circus only comes once a year! Pretty, pretty please?"
"Maybe we should help him." Sofia offered. "He really wants to go."
"But he broke my part of the window." Amber said testily.
"Come on, Amber!" James begged. "I'd do it for you!"
"He'd do it for you." Madeline agreed.
"Alright, fine." Amber gave in.
"Great, thank you." James sighed with relief. As he rushed over to the armor, he added. "Help me push."
James, Sofia and Madeline pushed as hard as they could, to no avail.
"Wish this armor wasn't made of armor!" Sofia groaned.
"It's... not... moving!" Madeline puffed.
Amber was waving her fan over them.
"Amber, you're not even pushing!" James realised.
"Isn't it enough I'm not telling on you?" Amber said haughtily.
"Amber!" Sofia said harshly.
"Okay." Amber sighed.
James and Amber pushed, while Sofia and Madeline pulled. Slowly, the armor started to move. The axe started to slip, but James stopped it.
"Got it!" He declared, before going back to pushing.
"Rollie, can't you just tell me what the surprise is?" Miranda's voice emitted fromthe corridor.
"Oh, you'll see." Roland's voice chuckled.
"Mom and dad are coming!" James gasped.
"What do we do?" Madeline asked.
"Oh, I know!" Amber dashed for the door. "I'll keep them from coming in. But hurry, and cover up that window!"
Sofia, Madeline and James kept on pushing.
In the corrider, Roland and Miranda (whose eyes were shut) were approaching.
"Okay, just a few more steps." Roland instructed. "And..."
Amber stepped out to meet them.
"Hi, mother." She smiled. "Hi, daddy. I have a surprise. A new song I wrote on the harp, just for you."
"Oh, and I can't wait to hear it!" Roland grinned. "But first, I want to show your mother her surprise."
"But daddy, please?" Amber begged, taking Roland's hand.
"I, er..." Roland stuttered, as his daughter pulled him away. "Well, I suppose the surprise can wait a bit longer..."
"Wonderful!" Amber beamed. "Let's go to the music room! Quickly!"
"That was close." James sighed in relief. "Now, let's finish moving the armor."
"Alright." Sofia nodded.
They continued pushing.
"A little further." James groaned, as they moved the armor into place. "There!"
"Wow." Madeline smiled. "You can't even see that it's broken."
"Told you." James smirked. "Problem solved. Thanks, buddy."
James leaned against the axe's shaft, causing it to tilt onto the window, cracking it heavily.
"uh-oh. James gulped. "That wasn't part of the plan."
Over in the music room, Amber was playing her harp. Roland was sleeping, but Miranda was listening intently.
"Psst, wake up." Miranda hissed, following up elbowing him. "Rollie!"
"Hmm!" Roland jerked awake. As he checked his pocket watch, Miranda hit him on the leg.
"That was called 'song for my beloved parents #1'." Amber declared.
Roland and Miranda stood up and applauded.
"Well done, Amber." Roland smiled.
"That was lovely, Amber." Miranda agreed.
"Oh, hank you." Amber smiled. "Thank you. Oh, thank you so much! And now, 'song for my beloved parents #2'."
"Actually, Amber, its time to go to the throne room." Roland declared.
"Oh, yes." Miranda nodded. "I've been told there's a surprise for me there."
"And I want to show it to your mother before we all leave for the circus." Roland said. "So, Amber, if you will excuse us..."
"Oh, not yet!" Amber gasped. "First, I have to... show you my new tiara. Pretty please?"
"How can I say no?" Roland sighed.
"Oh, it's very simple, really, dear." Miranda told him. "I say it to the kids all the time."
"Oh, if you don't have time for me, I understand." Amber said, putting on a sad face, and throwing in a few sobs for good measure. "I know you're very busy."
"Oh, Amber, I will always make time for you." Miranda assured her.
"So it's settled." Amber brightened up instantly. "You'll see my tiara. It's in my room." Amber dragged her parents by their hands. "Come on, we can take the long way!"
Back in the throne room, the others were examining the damage.
"It's all cracked now." James despaired. "What are we going to do?"
"Now, we tell dad." Sofia declared.
"And miss the circus?!" James gasped. "There must be something else we can try. Oh, we can cover the window with a curtain!"
"But dad will open it when he shows mom the window." Madeline pointed out.
"Maybe we can get the royal glassmaker to make a new window." James mused.
"I think that take a long time." Sofia said.
"Maybe Mr. See-drick can fix the widow with magic." Madeline suggested.
"Great idea." James nodded. "Let's go ask him."
Up in his workshop, Cedric was mixing a potion. He took a sniff.
"Ah, smells like evil." He smirked.
The kids rushed into the room
"Mr. See-dric!" Madeline called. "We need your help."
"Oh, do you?" Cedric sneered.
"I broke the new stained glass window in the throne room." James explained.
"Can you use your magic to help put it back together?" Sofia asked.
"Oh, yes I could." Cedric nodded. "If I didn't have a thousand other important things to do."
"You have a thousand things to do?" James asked.
Cedric looked at the girls' amulets.
"Buuut, I suppose I could make a little time for you." He crooned.
"Really?" James smiled. "That's great!"
"Thank you so much, Mr. See-drick." Madeline smiled.
"Oh, it's no trouble at all." Cedric smarmed. "Oh, it's no trouble at all. Now, I have a potion to brew, so run along, and I will meet you in the throne room."
As James shut the door, Cedric and Wormwood turned to each other and laughed evilly.
A short while later, Cedric stirred his potion.
"Little do they know that this potion will not fix their broken window." He sneered. "But it is going to get me Sofia and Madeline's precious amulets!"
Cedric laughed. Wormwood joined him, but ended up coughing slightly.
"I just dip my wand into the potion, like so, and... voila!" Cedric declared. "Now, Wormy, watch what happens when I poitnt my wand at something. Hatusi!"
Cedric zapped a bottle, which floated over to him.
"It gets pulled right into my hands!" Cedric smirked, before showing off the spell some more. "Hatusi! Hatusi Hatusi! Hatusi!"
One of Cedric's beams bounced off a bookcase and back at him, causing him to be pulled over to the bookcase.
"Whoa!" Cedric gasped, slamming into the bookcase. "I guess the spell only works on little objects..."
Cedric collapsed to the floor, joined shortly after by a rain of books.
"Lucky for me, Sofia and Madeline's amulets are nice and small." Cedric grinned. "And once I have the Amulets of Avalor, I can use their magic to take over the kingdom! Finally!"
Cedric laughed evilly. Wormwood laughed for longer.
"Right." Cedric said, grabbing Wormwood's beak. "Enough evil cackling. let's get those amulets!"
Sofia, Madeline and James waited in the throne room.
"Where's Cedric?" James asked.
"I'm sure he'll be here soon." Sofia assured him.
"Hello, children." Cedric slid into the room. "Your favorite sorcerer has arrived!"
"Oh, good." Madeline smiled.
Cedric approached the window.
"Oh, that is one broken window, alright." Cedric stated.
"So, can you fix it?" James asked.
"Of course." Cedric opened his spell book. "I have a spell right here."
Sofia, Madeline and James tried to look, but Cedric slammed the book shut.
"We knew you could help." Sofia smiled.
"Right, now, I'll need you three to stand in front of the window." Cedric directed them.
"Why?" Madeline asked.
"You'll see, you'll see." Cedric said quickly. "Now, just stand perfectly still. Don't move an amulet- I mean, a muscle!"
"I really hope this works." James whispered.
"Me, too." Sofia agreed.
Cedric turned his back to them, then spun around, yelling "Hatusi!". The kids ducked, and the beam struck the window, pulling Cedric in.
As the kids looked at the window, they gasped. Cedric had become a part of it.
"Oh, Mr. Cee-drick..." Madeline cringed.
"At least the crack's not there anymore." James pointed out.
"But Mr. Cee-drick is!" Sofia groaned. "This is just getting worse and worse!"
Over in Amber's room, Amber was scouring her tiara collection.
"Ruby tiara? No." She mused. "Opal tiara? No. Here it is! My new tiara!"
"Um, Amber?" Roland spoke up. "We've seen that one already."
"We gave it to you for your birthday." Miranda reminded her.
"Oh, well..." Amber hurriedly donned another. "Have you seen this one? This one has pink diamonds in it. Whooo!"
"Amber, dear, we're happy to see all your tiaras." Roland declared. "But now, it's time for your mothr's surprise."
"But, you didn't even see the diamonds!" Amber cried, as they got up to leave. "Sparkly, sparkly diamonds... Oh, this extra-special tiara is one of a kind! Ohh, daddy, wait!"
Roland waved, shutting the door.
"Oh, this is impossible!" Amber groaned, putting her tiaras back and following them.
Back at the throne room, Cedric was still stuck.
"James, Mr. Cee-drick is stuck in the window!" Madeline declared. "We have to tell dad!
"I could use magic to fix everything!" James picked up Cedric's wand.
"But you're not a sorcerer." Sofia reminded him.
"How hard can it be?" James asked, picking up the spell book. "I'll just find a spell in Cedric's book, wave his wand around, and-"
"I really don't think we should do this." Madeline insisted.
"There." James found a spell. "This spell looks like it'll work"
"I can't look." Sofia covered her eyes.
"Me, neither." Madeline followed suit.
Outside the throne room, Amber was still trying to stall her parents.
"Mom, dad, look at the new ballet step I just learned." She started dancing. "And plié, and Jeté, and plié! Jeté!"
"Sorry, darling." Roland led Miaranda further. "After we go to the throne room."
"But. daddy, I've been working on my yodelling!" Amber said desperately "Don't you want to hear it? Yodel-ay-e-hoo!"
Back in the throne room James was about to cast the spell.
"Zapra-zem, zabra-zoo, free our friend, and fix the window too!" James zapped the window.
Cedric started returning to normal.
I think it's working!" Sofia cheered.
Cedric was pulled out of the window.
"Oh, Poseidon's pumpkins!" He smiled.
As Cedric fell to the floor, the window was shown to be whole again.
"James, you did it!" Madeline smiled.
"Yep." James said smugly.
Suddenly, the window started cracking.
"What's happening?" James asked.
The window shattered to pieces.
"Oh, no!" Sofia and Madeline said together.
"Uh, oh." James gulped, just as Roland, Miranda and Amber came into the room.
"The window!" Roland gasped.
"Oh, it wasn't me, your majesty." Cedric said, beating a hasty retreat. "It was the children!"
"What is?" Miranda asked. "What's going on?"
"It was a stained glass window here of the entire family." Roland sighed, picking up a piece. "That was your surprise? I had it made just for you."
"Oh, Rollie, that's so sweet." Miranda smiled.
"I guess I have to tell them I broke the window." James declared.
"But then you won't get to go to the circus." Sofia pointed out.
"I know." James nodded sadly.
"Children, you know the window was a surprise for your mother, and it was very important. to me." Roland said sternly. "Now it's broken. What happened here?"
"Mom, dad what happened was-" James started to confess.
"We broke it." Madeline said suddenly.
"It was our fault." Sofia added.
"But James broke-" Amber interjected.
"We were playing ball in the house." Madeline interrupted again.
"You did this, girls?" Miranda gasped.
"We're sorry." madeline apologised.
"So are we." Miranda declared. "This... this seems so unlike you two."
"But it seems a lot like you." Amber whispered to James.
"We're very disappointed in you, girls." Roland admonished them.
"And since you two broke a castle rule..." Miranda added.
"I'm afraid you'll have to stay home from the circus." Roland finished.
"We understand." Sofia nodded.
Baileywick entered the throne room.
"Alright, everyone, time to leave for the circus." He said, before notinging the empty window frame. "The window!"
"Sofia and Madeline were playing ball in the castle." Roland stated.
"Sofia and Madeline?" Baileywick said, confused.
"Could you escort them to their room, please?" Roland requested.
"Of course, your majesty." Baileywick nodded.
"Have fun, everyone." Madeline waved, as she and Sofia followed Baileywick.
James felt quite guilty.
"Now, shall we?" Roland offered.
"Uhh, I'll meet outside." James declared, running after Sofia and Madeline. Meeting them on the stairs, he told Baileywick. "I just need to talk to them for a second."
James led them out of Baileywick's hearing range.
"Why did you tell them it was you who broke the window, when it was really me?" He whispered.
"Cause we didn't want you to get in trouble." Sofia declared.
"But now you're in trouble." James pointed out.
"James, we know how much you love the circus." Madeline stated. "We wanted to make sure you got to go."
"Wow." James said. "Thanks."
"You'd better get going, James, or you'll be late!" Baileywick called.
"Go on." Sofia urged. "You can tell us all about it when you get back."
"Okay." James sighed. "Bye."
The royal family got into ther carriage.
"Coachman, to the circus." Roland ordered.
As the carriage rode off, James looked back at the castle, where Sofia and Madeline were looking out of a window.
Inside their bedroom, Baileywick set down a platter conting a teapot and three cups.
"Girls, I haven't known you as long as I've known James." Baileywick declared. "But I know you all well enough to know you wouldn't play ball in the castle if the king told you not to. James, on the other hand? If you did take the blame for him, that was very kind of you. But a lie is a lie, even if you're trying to help someone."
"We didn't think about that way." Sofia admitted.
"Maybe next time, you will." Baileywick smiled. "Peppermint tea?"
Baileywick pulled out the girls' chairs.
"We'd love some." Madeline smiled. "Thanks, Baileywick."
"Anytime." Baileywick said as he poured the tea.
At the Golden Wing Circus, the show was well underway. The performers were doing all sorts of amazing things. The royal family were watching from their private box.
"Having fun, James?" Roland asked.
"I guess so." James sighed.
"And now, for our next act, the amazing juggling jesters!" The ringmaster announced, as the jester came into the centre ring.
"Sofia and Madeline would have loved this." Miranda said.
"it's too bad they broke the window." Roland frowned.
"I hear the jesters are your favorite, james?" Miranda asked.
"Yeah." James said dully.
"Is something wrong?" Miranda asked.
"Um, it's just..." James mumbled. "I have something to tell you. Sofia and Madeline didn't break the window, and they weren't the ones playing ball inside. It was me."
"What?" Roland gaped.
"They took the blame, so I could go to the circus." James confessed.
Roland and Miranda looked at each other, then at Amber. Amber smiled nervously.
"Amber, were you playing the harp and showing us your tiaras to keep us from seeing the window?" Miranda asked.
"Maybe." Amber replied. "Yes, it's true."
"I think it's time we all went home." Roland declared.
As the royal family left their box, the ringmaster took notice.
"The king left?" He said.
Back at the castle, Roland was giving his children a talking to.
"We're very disappointed in you." He said sternly. "James, you broke a castle rule."
"And then the three of you tried to hide it from us." Miranda added.
"I'm sorry." James admitted.
"Me, too." Sofia nodded.
And me." Madeline agreed.
"Very sorry." Amber stated.
"When one of you makes a mistake..." Miranda started.
"You need to tell us." Roland continued.
"Otherwise, the problem could get worst." Miranda finished.
"A lot worse." James agreed.
"Families need to be honest, and not keep secrets from each other." Miranda summarised.
"Just tell the truth from the start." Roland told them.
"I promise to do that from now on." James pledged.
"So will I." Sofia agreed.
"And me." Madeline nodded.
"On the rare occasion that I do something wrong, I'll be sure to tell you." Amber declared.
"Good." Roland smiled.
"So, what are we going to do with the rest of the afternoon?" Miranda inquired.
"I could play 'song for my beloved parents #3'." Amber offered.
"Um..." Roland said uneasily.
"Your majesties, someone is at the door, who would like to have a word with you." Baileywick announced.
"Who is it?" Roland asked.
"You should come see for yourself." Baileywick declared.
"Okay..." Roland shrugged.
"We'll be right back." Miranda told the kids.
Baileywick lead Roland and Miranda to the front door, where they found the ringmaster waiting for them.
"My King." The ringmaster doffed his hat and bowed in one fluid motion. "My queen."
"Ah, what brings you to the Castle?" Roland asked.
"We saw you leave the Circus early." The ringmaster declared. "Were you unhappy with our show?"
"No, no, not at all." Roland chuckled.
"We had a family matter to attend to." Miranda declared.
"Believe me, if our children had a choice, they'd watch the circus all day, everyday." Roland chortled.
"In that case, my friends and I would be happy to give you a special performance right now." The ringmaster declared, opening the door to reveal the entire troupe outside.
"Okay." Roland chuckled. "Hmm. Er, what do you think, Miranda?"
"Well, the children seem to have learned their lesson." Miranda smiled.
"Hmm, true..." Roland agreed, turning to the ringmaster. "Sounds marvelous. Thank you".
A short while later, the royal family were sat on their thrones in the courtyard. The children had their eyes shut.
"What's the surprise?" Sofia asked.
"You'll see." Roland smiled. "Open your eyes."
The children saw the Golden Wing Circus before them.
"The Golden Wing Circus?!" James gasped.
"They're here?!" Madeline grinned.
The performers went into full show mode. One lifted another a lady on his shoulders, and a monkey climbed on top. The lady handed the monkey to a dog balanced on an elephant's trunk, who in turn passed the monkey onto a trapeze artist.
"Is that a monkey?" James asked.
"Is that a tutu?" Amber gasped.
"Looks like a tutu to me." James declared.
The monkey ran across the tightrope, hopping down onto a horse, then back onto the stage.
"Yeah!" James cheered.
Next, the ringmaster pulled a glowing ball from out of nowhere, followed by another. He threw them to the ground, which made a puff of smoke. The smoke rose up (the ringmaster having vanished), and exploded, creating a fireworks style image of a dragon.
"A dragon?" Roland gasped.
"Dragon!" James cheered.
The fireworks dragon released purple streams of light from it's mouth, which also exploded, forming the shape of a bird.
"Wow." Madeline gasped.
"Beautiful!" Roland declared. "Amazing!"
"Awesome!" James added, as the bird soared through the night sky, he added "Brilliant!"
The bird exploded, leaving an animated unicorn shape.
"Oh, a unicorn!" Amber gushed.
"Isn't it lovely?" Roland asked.
As sparkles from the unicorn fell onto the stage, the ringmasters and juggling jesters appeared in three puffs of smoke.
"They're amazing!" Sofia turned to her mother. "Thank you."
"You're very welcome." Miranda smiled.
"I'm glad you got to see the circus today, girls." James told Sofia and Madeline.
"Us too." Madeline grinned.
"Look at that trick!" Amber pointed at a juggler lying on his back, on an elephant, juggling with his feet.
"Cool!" James cheered.
"What a showman!" Roland cheered.
"Yeah." James nodded. "I wonder if I could do that?"
"Just don't try it inside, alright?" Sofia smirked.
"Alright." James high-fived Sofia.
Chorus: It visits your town
You'll hear the applause
The laughing and cheering
Simply because
It's the Golden Wing Circus
The grandest circus of all
The ringmaster juggled three glowing balls rapidly. From out of the ring of light came a puff of smoke, which burst an image of the stained glass window of the royal family.