The Royal School Fair
Sofia, Madeline, James and Amber were outside Royal Prep, where several tents were set up. They saw several students enter one, with Princess Clio and Princess Vivian sing a warm-up exercise.
"Me, may, my, mo, moo..." They chorused. "Me, may, my, mo, moo..."
"What are you guys doing?" Sofia asked.
"Warming up our voices." Vivian answered.
"I'm so excited..." Clio sang.
"To check out..." Vivian also sang.
"The performing Arts Academy!" They sang together.
"Wow, you guys sound great!" Madeline applauded.
"That must be the Institute for Science and Alchemy tent." Sofia pointed to a tent manned by a bearded wizard, Zandar mixing a potion. "Hi, Zandar!"
Zandar waved, and the potion suddenly erupted.
"And the Corinthian Sport School tent." Madeline pointed to another tent, which had an Enchanted Ice Skating rink nearby. "It all looks so fun!"
"And you know about the wall, don't you?" Amber asked.
"The wall?" Sofia frowned.
"Never heard of it." Madeline shrugged.
"Oh, come on!" Amber grinned. "I'll show you!"
Amber led them to an object behind a large curtain.
"This is the Wall of Next Steps." She announced. "It's a time-honored tradition."
"You write your school choice on a tablet." Vivian explained, as Amber gave some to Sofia and Madeline.
"That sounds interesting." Sofia mused.
"Then you take your tablet to the royal chisler..." Clio continued.
"And then, he carves your choice of school in stone." James noted.
"After that, your tablet is magically put on the wall." Amber announced. "And at noon, there's an unveiling. and we get to show everyone which schools we've picked."
"Hmm..." Madeline pondered. "Which tent should we go to first?"
"I know!" Amber grabbed Sofia and Madeline's wrists. "Come with me, girls!"
"Where are we going?" Sofia asked.
"To my favorite tent, of course." Amber declared. "It's the school where you learn to be in charge, and tell people what to do!"
Meanwhile, James approached Prince Desmond, who was staring at a suit of armor outside the Knight School tent.
"Hey Desmond, are you lost?" He asked. "The Science and Alchemy tent is that way."
"Well... deep down, I've always wanted to be a hero." Desmond admitted.
"Wait... Are you really interested in becoming a knight?" James smiled.
"...But maybe I should stick to books." Desmond said, unsure.
"Why?" James frowned.
"Because I really don't know the first thing about being a knight." Desmond admitted.
"It's a school!" James pointed out. "They'll teach you how to do everything! Come on, let's go in together!"
They entered the tent, finding it full of knight equipment.
"Brilliant!" James declared.
"Welcome!" Sir Finnegan announced. "As some of you may already know, I am Sir Finnegan. Now, as a former student of Chivalry Hall, they've asked me to show you what this fine school is all about." He picked up a javelin. "Allow me to demonstrate the kinds of skills you'll be learning. Like... tossing a javelin!"
Sir Finnegan threw the javelin at a target, hitting the bullseye.
"Whoa..." James gasped.
"Amazing!" Desmond declared.
Sir Finnegan removed the javelin from the target.
"Now, who'd like to give it a try?" He asked.
Two of the Junior Knights grabbed javelins and threw them at the target, both hitting the bullseye.
"Impressive form, my knights-to-be!" Sir Finnegan praised them.
"Wow." Desmond gasped. "It's like they're already real knights."
"Want to give it a go, lad?" Sir Finnegan asked.
Desmond reluctantly stepped forward.
"Don't worry, Des." James assured him. "Those two may be good, but this isn't a competition. Come on, what do you have to lose?"
Desmond picked up a javelin, took a run-up, and threw it. The javelin dropped to the ground, and bounced, crashing into the target before dropping down again.
"Not the best effort." Sir Finnegan said honestly. "But if you want to get better at it, Chilvalry hall is the place for you!"
Meanwhile, Amber had led her sisters to her favorite tent.
"Here we are, girls!" She announced. "The school you are meant to go to! Doesn't it just feel right? All the greatest rulers and their advisors went here. Grand Mum, daddy... Ooh, and just think: if you go here, you can become my royal advisors some day!"
"Welcome to the finest tent at the Royal School Fair!" King Habib announced. "At Everrealm Academy, you will learn to be future rulers and advisors, just as I, King Habib, did when I studied there! To show you the kinds of things you will be learning at Everrealm Academy, we will start by making a magical coat of arms for your own personal kingdom!."
"But how do we know what to put on our coat of arms, King Habib?" Sofia asked.
"Ah, I'm so glad you asked." King Habib smiled. "Think about three symbols you would want to represent your own personal kingdom."
"Only three?" Madeline frowned. "That's tough."
"Indeed it is." King Habib agreed. "As is ruling a kingdom."
"Wanna share a coat of arms, Maddie?" Sofia offered.
"Sure do." Madeline nodded.
The students went to work.
"Hmm... Well, I want our kingdom to have heart." Sofia declared. "So..." She drew the outline of a heart on one section of the coat of arms, which changed into a magical picture of a beating heart.
"Okay." Madeline grinned. "I couldn't imagine a kingdom without family and friends." She drew a picture of her own, which also became an animated picture of their family.
"I see this in rubies, diamonds and... pearls." Amber painted gems in her coat of arms. "Perfect!"
"Very nice, Princess Sofia and Princess Madeline." King Habib declared. "Exceptional, Princess Amber!"
"See?" Amber asked her sisters. "Isn't this fun? Can't you see yourselves going here?"
"It is fun, but... I could see myself at other schools too." Sofia admitted.
"Me too." Madeline added.
"Oh, this is just the tip of the royal iceberg." Amber declared. She picked up three sceptres, and gave two to her sisters. "Can you imagine if we all went here? The three Enchancian Princesses?"
They then heard music.
"Do you hear that?" Sofia asked.
"I think it's coming from the Performing Arts Academy tent." Madeline nodded.
"Next up, my young royals: how to throw a royal ball!' King Habib announced.
"Sofia? Madeline? Where are you going?" Amber asked, noticing her sisters about to leave. "Don't you want to stay?"
"Uh... We just want to check this out." Sofia declared.
"We'll see you later, Amber." Madeline added.
Sofia and Madeline entered the Performing Arts Academy tent, finding Vivian and Clio indulging in Magical Music.
"So this is where everyone's been hiding?" Hildegard asked as she joined them.
Sergio Adagio leapt into view.
"Welcome, my darlings, to the Performing Arts Academy tent!" He announced. "Oh, I would never have been as legendary as I am without this wonderful school. Now, grab an instrument, join in the music making!"
"Thank you, but I already know what school I'm going to." Hildegard declared. "I'm just here to pick up a friend."
As Sofia and Madeline accepted the instruments, Hildegard walked over to Clio.
"Clio, it's time to go visit our school now." Hildegard declared. "The School of Royal Fashion. Our top choice, remember?" Clio didn't respond. "...Um, Clio?"
A stream of Magical Music flowed off Clio's harp, knocking Hildegard over.
"Ha, ha! Magical Music is just one of the very fun things you'll be learning at this school." Sergio Adagio declared.
Sofia and Madeline played their instruments alongside Vivian and Clio.
"Excellent, Princess Clio!" Sergio Adagio applauded.
"That was so fun!" Sofia smiled.
"You can say that again!" Madeline agreed.
"A-mazing." Vivian grinned.
"Woo-hoo!" Clio cheered.
"I suppose." Hildegard shrugged. "But I must be going to my dream school now. ...Clio, did you hear me? I'm leaving."
"Bye, Hildey!" Clio waved. "Have fun!"
"Don't try to stop me." Hildegard declared. "I'm really going now!"
Hildegard looked back, seeing that Clio hadn't moved. She stormed off angrily.
"Next, I will demonstrate the dance you will learn if you come to the Performing Arts Academy." Sergio Adagio declared. "The Tengu Tango!"
Sergio Adagio performed an impressive dance, earning applause from the girls.
"Isn't this school the best?" Vivian smiled.
"We've got to go here, you guys!" Clio urged. "Let's put all of our choices down at the same time!"
They all took out their tablets.
"Oh, Sofia, Madeline, are you going to join us?" Vivian asked.
"I don't know." Sofia frowned. "I do love performing..."
"Me, too." Madeline agreed. "But I know we both had fun making our coat of arms."
Sofia spotted Jun walking past.
"Jun!" She declared. "Let's see how she's doing!"
"See you guys later!" Madeline told Vivian and Clio.
They joined Jun outside.
"Jun, you look confused." Sofia noted. "Are you having trouble deciding?"
"Because we are too." Madeline admitted.
"No, I just can't get this pen to work." Jun shook her quill, loosening the ink. "Oh, there we go!"
"You decided already?" Sofia asked.
"Yeah, see?" Jun showed off what she'd written. "I'm going to the Science and Alchemy School. What about you two?"
"We're still not sure." Madeline shrugged.
"But that's great, Jun!" Sofia smiled. "We're happy for you!"
"Can I help you, girls?" Jun offered. "They'll be unveiling the wall soon."
"No, that's okay." Madeline shook her head. "We need to get going."
"We need to pick something, and we've got a lot of tents to visit." Sofia added.
The two went over to the Corinthian Sports tent, where they saw Hugo Enchanted Ice Skating, waving at him as he passed by.
The two checked in on the Royal Fashions tent, seeing Baileywick supervising as Princess Penelope stitched a dress.
Later on, they saw Princess Zoey climbing to the top of a rock wall. She waved to them, and they waved back.
"Sofia, Madeline!" Amber called as she rushed over. "I've been looking all over for you! Have you decided which school you're going to choose?"
"Well, not yet." Sofia shrugged.
"It sort of seems like everyone knows where they want to go but us." Madeline sighed.
"You've got to pick something!" Amber urged. "Time's running out."
"Yeah!" Vivian agreed.
"Come on!" Jun added.
"You have to choose!" Hildegard declared.
"Uh, we're still not sure..." Sofia admitted.
"There must be a tent we haven't tried yet." Madeline mused.
"What about Chivalry Hall?" Desmond suggested. "James adn I are headed back there now."
"Yes!" Sofia nodded. "We haven't been to that one yet!"
"It's worth a try." Madeline admitted. "Show us!"
Shortly after, Sofia and Madeline saw the future knights on horses.
"So, what's this school all about, guys?" Sofia asked.
"Well, this is where we practice our jousting skills." James declared. "Why don't you two give it a try?"
"Jousting? Sounds fun." Sofia smiled.
"Let's do it." Madeline nodded.
Sofia got on a red-covered horse, while Madeline got on a blue-covered steed.
"Hyah!" Sofia declared, causing her horse to race toward the practice dummy.
Just as they were about to pass the dummy, Sofia thrust out the lance, hitting it hard enough to make it spin around.
"My turn!" Madeline urged. "Hyah!"
Madeline also succeeded, though her strike was a little off-center.
"Way to go, girls!" Desmond smiled, as the others cheered.
"Yeah, Sofia!" James whooped. "Yeah, Madeline!"
"Nicely done, Princesses!" Sir Finnegan declared. "Have you jousted before?"
"Uh, no." Sofia noted.
"Not really." Madeline shrugged.
"Well, you could've fooled me." Sir Finnegan smiled. "Anyone else want to try?"
"I can't believe you were so good at it on your first try." Desmond told the girls.
"How do you know you won't be good at it too?" Sofia urged.
"I know I won't be that good." Desmond sighed.
Sir Finnegan picked up a lance.
"The trick is to hold the lance firmly." He told Desmond. "Like this, you see?" He handed Desmond the lance. "Come on, give it a try, boyo!"
"Hyah?" Desmond said hesitantly. "Whoa!" He yelped, as the horse started galloping. He then dropped his lance. "Oh no!"
The lance bounced across the ground, and into the Science and Alchemy tent, hitting several beakers, which exploded into multi-colored smoke. Colored streams flew out of the smoke and covered the suit of armor outside. The armor started moving on its own.
Meanwhile, Desmond got off his horse.
"Des, are you okay?" Madeline asked.
"Everyone's better than me at this stuff." Desmond frowned. "Even other kids who've never tried it before. Who am I kidding? I don't belong at Chivalry Hall."
"Come on, Des!" James urged.
"So much for being a hero." Desmond walked away sadly. "Looks like it's Science and Alchemy for me..."
"What about you, girls?" James asked his sisters. "Is it gonna be Chivalry Hall for you?"
"It could be, I guess..." Sofia shrugged.
"Sofia! Madeline!" Amber rushed over. "What are you doing? The wall unveiling's going to start soon!"
"Amber, we know!" Madeline nodded.
"It's just... how can we choose between Magical Music, Enchanted Ice Skating, Jousting..." Sofia declared.
"Everyone has to decide." Amber pointed out. "If you don't, you might not have a school to go to."
"But it really seems unfair to make us decide in one day." Madeline frowned.
"Oh, girls, don't overthink it." Amber declared. "This is how it's been done for years. Generations of royals can't be wrong!"
Amber: So you're having a hard time
Deciding what to do
It's a good thing I'm here
To help you see things through
The choice you need is clear anyone can see
You've got to go to Everrealm Academy with me
"I don't know." Sofia frowned.
"Me neither." Madeline added.
Amber: Come on Sofia and Madeline
All you've got to do is choose
Just pick a school
It's easy to do
Go on Sofia and Madeline
Really you've got nothing to lose
We all just want to know
Whatcha gonna do
All: Yes, we really wanna know
Just whatcha gonna do
Clio/Vivian: If you're choosing the best school
Ours should be the one
We'll be singing and dancing
And having lots of fun
Those other schools are fine
But they don't do the trick
You know performing arts is the one you should pick
"Maybe." Sofia mused.
"I guess..." Madeline frowned.
Vivian: Come on Sofia and Madeline
All you've got to do is choose
Just pick a school
It's easy to do
Go on Sofia and Madeline
Really you've got nothing to lose
We all just want to know
Whatcha gonna do
All: Yes, we really wanna know
Just whatcha gonna do
Sofia/Madeline: We just cannot see
Which school is right for us
Each one we past
Looks like it would be a blast
Don't know which choice to make
With all our dreams at stake
It's impossible to pick a school so fast
"It's gonna be fine, girls." James encouraged them.
James: Don't have to feel stressed
You've seen all the tents
So just decide which you like the best
"For once James is right." Amber nodded.
Amber: There's no need to stall
Just make a simple choice
And get your name on that wall
"But it's so permanent." Sofia groaned.
"Like, forever!" Madeline added.
All: Come on Sofia and Madeline
All you've got to do is choose
Just pick a school
It's easy to do
Go on Sofia and Madeline
Really you've got nothing to lose
We all just want to know
Whatcha gonna do
Yes, we really wanna know
Just whatcha gonna do
Whatcha gonna do
Whatcha gonna do
"So what's it going to be, girls?" Amber asked.
"I... I just don't know, okay?!" Sofia groaned.
"Me neither!" Madeline yelled.
The two sister ran off, just as Fauna arrived.
"Hurry children!" She urged. "The bell has rung. The unveiling of the wall will be starting soon."
"Oh, Sofia and Madeline are going to miss out!" Amber sighed. She then spotted their dropped tablets. "...It would be wrong to pick for them. But if I don't put something down, they might not have a next school!" She started writing.
Meanwhile, Desmond was with Zandar, cleaning up the Science and Alchemy tent.
"Sorry again, Zandar." He apologized.
"Des, you can't just give up on your dreams!" James declared.
"I'm just facing facts." Desmond sighed. "Science and Alchemy is my thing. Being a hero is not."
"Come on, it was only a couple of demonstrations!" James pointed out.
"Yeah, and if I can't even do those, there's no way I can make it in knight's school." Desmond declared. "Face it, James. This is where I belong. Where I know what I'm doing, and nothing can go wrong."
As he said this, the enchanted armor walked by outside.
"Let's go, children!" Merryweather urged. "Hurry, now!"
"To the wall!" Flora added.
Amber was looking for Sofia and Madeline, finding them sitting on a bench.
"Girls, I have exciting news!" She announced.
"We know, we know." Sofia sighed.
"But we still haven't picked a school yet." Madeline groaned.
"Well, then you'll love this." Amber smiled. "Because, surprise! I just picked one for you both!"
"What?" Sofia frowned.
"It's already at the wall, waiting to be carved in stone!" Amber declared.
"Amber, how could you?!" Madeline yelled.
"Time was almost up, and you had to put something down." Amber pointed out. "I figured since you had to go somewhere, the best place was with me!"
"But we like other schools too!" Sofia retorted.
"Well, you have to pick one." Amber replied, "That's the rules."
"That doesn't mean you get to chose our schools for us!" Madeline reprimanded her.
"We need to fix this." Sofia scowled. "Come on, Maddie."
"Girls, wait!" Amber pleaded.
Meanwhile, the boys were still cleaning up the Science and Alchemy tent when they heard a crashing noise outside. They ran out to see the enchanted armor waving its sword, around, cutting up the tents.
"Is there anyone inside that armor?" James asked.
"Doesn't look like it." Desmond admitted.
"Then how's it duelling?" James frowned.
"The only thing that could possibly cause that is a cometolifium potion." Desmond realized.
"A what?" James gaped.
"It's a potion that makes inanimate objects come to life." Desmond explained. "Some must have spilled on the armor."
James saw Sofia and Madeline rushing through the tents, unknowingly nearing the armor.
"Sofia, Madeline, look out!" He yelled.
Sofia bumped into the armor, and Madeline bumped into her, causing them both to fall to the ground. The armor swung its sword at them. They barely dodged in time.
"Hold on, girls!" James declared. "I'm coming!"
James grabbed some swords from a group of duellers, and rushed over.
"I'll make a potion to stop it!" Desmond declared, rushing back into the tent.
Sofia and madeline continued to narrowly avoid the armor's strikes.
"Please, let us pass!" Madeline pleaded.
The armor shook its helmet. Sofia saw the students gathering by the wall.
"Look, Mr. Knight, there are two tablets with out faces on it that we really need to find!" She declared.
The girls tried to run past, but the armoer blocked them with its sword.
"Oh, boy!" Madeline gulped.
James slid under the armor's leg.
"Here, take these!" He gave Sofia and Madeline a sword each.
Together, they tried to fend off the armor, but it was too strong. Desmond then rushed over with a reversal potion.
"Here!" He rolled the bottle over to James. "Pour this on the armor!"
James splashed the armor with the potion. The armor collapsed, lifeless again.
"Thanks, guys." Sofia smiled.
"Yeah, we owe you one." Madeline added, before they rushed off to the wall.
"Well done, lads." Sir Finnegan declared. "Now that was quick thinking on your part, Prince Desmond."
"I didn't do anything." Desmond claimed. "James poured the potion."
"Which you made!" James pointed out. "I never would've stopped that armor if it wasn't for you. You're a hero!"
"But I'm not a knight." Desmond frowned.
"No-one ever said you had to be a knight to be a hero." Sir Finnegan smiled.
"That's right!" James agreed. "You're a hero alchemist!"
"Indeed." Sir Finnegan smiled. "And there is a long tradition of alchemists and knights working together to save kingdoms."
Desmond smiled.
Shortly after, everyone gathered around the wall.
"Welcome to the finale of the Royal School Fair: The unveiling of the Wall of Next Steps!" Merryweather announced.
A group of trumpeters played a fanfare.
"We're too late!" Sofia sighed.
"The curtain, if you will." Fauna requested.
"Oh no!" Madeline gulped as the curtain parted, revealing the wall.
"As you can see on our wall, each member of our graduating class has chosen where they will go after they leave Royal Prep." Merryweather declared.
Sofia and Madeline's tablets were right next to Amber's, in the Everrealm Academy section. They glared at Amber, who waved back.
"So children, move forward, and see what your fellow students have chosen for their next schools." Fauna urged.
"Wow, Zooey, you're going to the School for Adventure?" Desmond gasped.
"Well, where else would I go?" Zooey shrugged.
"Oh, Chivalry Hall!" Amber noticed James's picture.
"Way to go, James!" Vivian added.
"Kalid, you're going to the Schol of Royal Fashions?" James asked.
"Surprise!" Prince Kalid grinned.
"Everrealm Academy!" Clio smiled. "Congratulations, Amber!"
"You're following in your family's footsteps." Hildegard pointed out.
"What about you, Hildey?" Amber asked.
"Oh, the School for Royal Fashions." Clio looked at the wall. "Of course. ...It'll be weird, going to a different school than you, Hildey. I know that you're mad at me, but-"
"Actually, Clio... you made the right choice." Hildegard admitted. "You were born to perform." She held her best friend's hands. "I'll miss you."
"I'll miss you too, Hildey." Clio beamed.
"Sofia, Madeline, you're going to Everrealm Academy?" Vivian asked. "Amazing!"
"No, we're not!" Sofia said angrily.
"No way!" Madeline added.
"Girls, what are you doing?!" Amber hissed.
"But it says so right there." Hildegard pointed.
"No, it doesn't!" Sofia yelled.
"It does so!" Amber insisted.
"No, Amber, it doesn't!" Madeline retorted.
Sofia and Madeline grabbed some chisels.
"We didn't choose that school!" Sofia declared.
"And we're going to erase it!" Madeline added.
They both began chipping away at the school symbols in their tablets. But they ended up breaking them both. The students gasped.
"Children, what's going on here?" Merryweather asked. "Sofia, Madeline, what happened to the wall?"
"We're sorry, Miss Merryweather." Sofia apologized. "But the truth is, we like all the schools."
"And we don't want to pick just one!" Madeline added.
"I'm sure this is all a big misunderstanding!" Amber announced. "You had the most fun today with me at Everrealm. Right, girls?"
"We had fun at all the schools today." Sofia admitted.
"So, which school do you want to go to, then?" Kalid asked.
"Girls, it's a simple question." Fauna told them.
"It's not simple at all!" Madeline retorted. "That's the problem!"
"At first, we were really excited about the fair." Sofia declared. "But it's too big of a decision. I don't know what I want to do."
"And neither do I." Madeline sighed.
"You know... I'm not really sure what I want to do either." Jun confessed.
"You're not?" Sofia smiled.
"Not really." Jun shrugged. "I just put something down so I wouldn't miss out."
"Me too!" Clio admitted.
"I'm so glad I'm not the only one." Hildegard sighed happily. "It's too hard to decide in just one day!"
"I wish we didn't have to pick." Desmond sighed.
The other students started agreeeing.
"Children, please, please." Merryweather frowned. "This tradition exists for a reason. There comes a time in each of our lives where we all must make a choice."
"But that doesn't mean your choice has to last forever." Fauna added.
"Did you know that once upon a time, I wanted to be a tooth fairy?" Merryweather revealed.
"You did?" Sofia gasped.
"Wow." Madeline gaped.
"That was my first choice." Merryweather admitted. "But after a while, I found a different path. And perhaps, so shall you. Ladies?"
The fairies used their magic to move all the tablets out of the school areas.
"In keeping with tradition, you must all make a choice." Fauna said firmly.
"But if you are not sure, you can always change your minds." Merryweather said fairly.
The fairies made chisels appear by the tablets.
"So go forth, and write whichever school you wish on this wall." Fauna smiled.
"And no matter what we choose..." Sofia started.
"It won't be forever." Madeline finished.
"Oh, nothing is, my dears." Merryweather declared.
The students rushed over to write in their new schools
"Girls, I hope you're not mad at me." Amber told Sofia and Madeline. "It's just... we're all going in different directions, and I didn't that for the three of us."
"It's okay, Amber." Sofia smiled. "We know you were trying to help."
"But how about next time, asking before making such a big decision for someone else?" Madeline suggested.
"Great idea." Amber said sheepishly. "So, which school are you picking?"
Sofia and Madeline looked at the wall, then each other.
"Are you thinking what I'm thinking?" Sofia asked Madeline.
"Sure am." Madeline nodded. "Actually, Amber, we'd be happy with you at Everrealm... For now."
"Yes!" Amber cheered.
"Well, I'm glad that's settled." Fauna chuckled. "Because it's time to celebrate!"
"Congratulations! Congratulations! Congratulations to us all!" The students sang as they all explored the different subjects. "Congratulations! Congratulations! Congratulations to us all!"