"The Elf Situation"
Clover entered Sofia and Madeline's room, finding them emerging from their wardrobe, carrying some bags.
"Hey, Sof! Hey, Maddie!" He smiled. "What's goin' on?"
"Hi, Clover." Sofia nodded. "We're just cleaning out our closet."
"Ever seen these?" Madeline asked, opening her bag to allow some glowing blue blocks to fly out. "They're Merlin's blocks. Anything you build with them will magically float in mid-air. The more blocks you use, the higher it'll float."
"James once built a castle so big, it floated away." Sofia chuckled. "I think they found it in Freezenburg."
"What? Wow!" Clover gasped.
"Hey, look!" Madeline announced, as a magic rope rose out of Sofia's bag. "Our enchanted jump rope!"
Clover went to inspect the rope, then it sprang to life.
"Hey, watch the ears!" He frowned.
The jump rope started spinning, and Sofia and Madeline jumped it.
"Jumping, jumping, all the time, spell your name and make a rhyme!" Sofia sang. "S, O, F, I, A, glad I spelled it right today!"
"Nice one, Sof!" Madeline grinned. "Why don't you try, Clover?"
Clover started jumping over the rope.
"Jumpin', jumpin', all the-" He tripped on the rope, tangling his paws in it. "Ow!"
"Are you okay?" Sofia asked.
"I'm fine." Clover nodded. "But your magic rope? It's defective."
"Don't feel bad, Clover." Madeline declared. "When Amber first showed us how to use it, she jumped backwards, right into a fountain."
The girls giggled, then sighed.
"We always had the best times, playing with Amber and James." Sofia reminisced. "But with all of us going away to school soon..."
"Maybe those days are over..." Madeline wondered, as the toys returned to the bags.
"Maybe they'd wanna play with ya now?" Clover offered. "Couldn't hurt to ask."
"You know what? You're right, Clover." Sofia smiled.
"Thanks!" Madeline added as they left the room.
In another room, Amber was reading, While James was practicing his swordwork.
"Hi, Amber!" Sofia declared, as she and Madeline entered the room. "What are you up to?"
"Studying up on diplomacy." Amber answered. "I'm going to be Queen one day, and part of that is knowing how to improve relations between kingdoms."
"But look what we found." Madeline showed off the enchanted jump rope.
"Oh, the enchanted jump rope!" Amber squealed.
"Yes!" Sofia grinned. "Want to jump us?"
Amber looked excitement for a moment, then cleared her throat.
"I've grown out of that, girls." She announced. "Being heir to the throne is a very grown-up job, so I only do grown-up things now."
"Okay." Madeline sighed. "Your loss..."
"James, remember these?" Sofia showed off the Merlin's Blocks.
"Merlin's Blocks?" He gasped. "Boom!"
"Yeah!" Madeline nodded. "We thought it might be fun to play with them again!"
"I'd love to." James admitted. "But I'm busy practicing my lunge."
"It looks pretty good to me." Sofia declared.
"Good isn't good enough." James admitted. "It's gotta be great if I wanna impress everybody at Knight School."
"Sorry, girls." Amber apologized. "We just don't have time to play with you."
"Merlin's Blocks?" Roland entered the room. "Oh, I loved those as a kid!"
"Hi, dad." Madeline smiled.
"Hi, Baileywick." Madeline added.
"Hello, Princ- Ah-choo!" Baileywick sneezed.
"Do you have a cold, Baileywick?" Amber asked.
"He does." Roland nodded. "And he's going to bed right now."
"Yes, your highness." Baileywick obeyed.
"What are you up to, dad?" Sofia asked.
"It's Royal Staff day." Roland answered. "So your mother and I are taking the castle staff out for a picnic."
"Oh, that's nice." Madeline smiled.
"They work so hard, they deserve some fun time as well." Roland declared. "Now, I'm going to need you four to hold down the fort today. Aside from Baileywick, you'll be the only ones in the castle."
"Oh, I can handle everything, daddy." Amber smiled. "It'll be good practice for when I'm really in charge."
"Good." Roland smiled back. "You can go to Baileywick if you really need help, but try to let him rest."
"You got it, dad." James nodded.
"We'll be back this afternoon." Roland told them. "I have a peace summit scheduled to finally settle the Elf situation once and for all. As long as they keep squabbling, we'll never get that road built. Anyway, have fun today!"
Roland left the room.
"This is perfect!" Sofia beamed.
"Oh, isn't it?" Amber agreed. "I'll be in charge of the whole castle today!"
"And I'll be first knight of the kingdom!" James waved his sword. "Like a grown-up!"
"No, she meant we'll have the whole castle to play in." Madeline confirmed. "When will we get a chance like this again?"
"I see this as a chance to be Queenly." Amber declared.
"Yeah, and I see it as a chance to be... knightly." James smiled. "Sorry, girls."
"But everyone should have some fun in their lives." Sofia pointed out. "Even Queens and knights."
Sofia/Madeline: Put your sword down
Close that book now
It's time for the four of us to play
There's no one in the castle
It won't be any hassle
It's all our playground today
Let's go do the things we've always wanted to
Skate on down the hallways in our Wheelie Shoes
We may be growing but we're not grown-ups yet
When we get busy it's so easy to forget
That you've gotta have fun
Yeah
You've gotta have fun
How does it feel to do a cartwheel
Through the throne Room now and then?
Or hiding and seeking behind an antique thing
Tag
Hey you're it again
James: I forgot just how much fun I have with you
This empty Castle is just like a dream come true
All: We may be growing but we're not grown-ups yet
When we get busy it's so easy to forget
That you've gotta have fun
Yeah
You've gotta have fun
Amber: Sorry but I've got more important things to do
Sofia/Madeline: But making time to play is important too
Amber: Oh, I don't know girls
School is coming soon
Sofia/Madeline: All the more reason to join our happy tune
Sofia/Madeline: Do you remember last September?
We played Musical Magic Wands
Amber: Oh
James tried to cast a Fly Spell
James: The wand flew but I fell
All: Right into the Royal Duck Pond
The three of us have always had the best of times
Outside tougher playing until the dinner bell chimes
We may be growing but we're not grown-ups yet
When we get busy it's so easy to forget
That you've gotta have fun
Yeah
You've gotta have fun
Yeah
You've gotta have fun
Yeah
You've gotta have fun
A little while later, the kids were one a cushion suspended by Merlin's Blocks, with James holding the enchanted jump rope, Rex holding the other end in his mouth.
"You were right, girls." James admitted. "Having the castle to ourselves is the best! Ready, Rex?"
Baileywick entered the room.
"Children, this note just arrived by messenger- ah-choo! -pigeon." He announced. "The flying coach your parents took with the staff is having - ah-choo! -mechanical... mechanical- ah-choo! Is broken."
"Oh no!" Madeline gasped.
"Everyone is fine." Baileywick assured them. "They'll just be home later than expected."
"But aren't the Elves due here soon?" Amber asked. "For the peace summit?"
"I will just have to entertain them until he... until the King..." Baileywick sneezed again. "...Returns."
"I think you should go back to bed." Sofia suggested.
"Right now." Madeline added.
"They're right, Baileywick." James agreed.
"We can take care of everything." Amber declared.
"Oh, I don't know." Baileywick frowned. "Those elves can be... difficult."
"You need to rest." Amber urged. "We are perfectly capable of entertaining the elves until daddy gets here."
"Well... alright." Baileywick gave in. "The agenda has already been made, so is the food. Come get me if- ah-choo! Come get me if..." He sniffled. "Just come get me."
As Baileywick left the room, Sofia, Madeline and James jumped back on the cushion.
"Okay, boy." James told Rex. "Ready to take off?"
Rex barked excitedly.
"Wait, James!" Amber stopped them. "You heard Baileywick. The elves are coming. Maybe we should stop playing around, and get ready."
"Come on..." James pleaded. "One little ride. Then we'll get ready."
"What can it hurt, Amber?" Sofia smiled.
"Haven't you been having fun?" Madeline asked.
"I have... Oh, okay!" Amber climbed on. "One ride."
"Yes!" James cheered. "Go, Rex!"
Rex ran forward, carrying the cushion with him.
As Rex pulled them through the corridors, they all laughed merrily... until they saw a closed door ahead.
"Wait, Rex!" James yelped.
"Look out!" Sofia yelled.
Rex stopped in his tracks, but the cushion flew past him, carrying him along, and crashed.
Everyone laughed, amused by what had just happened, as the Merlin's Blocks floated above them.
"Oh, that was so much fun!" Amber giggled.
"Let's do it again!" James declared.
Just then, there was a knock at the door. Sofia, Madeline and James opened it to find two elves, a red-haired female and her male attendant, waiting there.
"Is this the Enchancian castle?" A female elf asked.
"What? ...Oh, yes!" Amber realized. She cleared her throat and curtsied. "It is."
"Well, that wasn't the kind of greeting we were expecting." The female elf frowned.
"Sorry." Sofia, Madeline and James apologized.
"But I like it!" The female smiled. "Tree Elves love magic. Especially tree magic!" She pulled her ears, causing a tree to appear, the Merlin's Block's flying into the leaves.
"You call that magic?" A blue-haired female scoffed as she and her own attendant approached. "Let the River Elves show you how it's done!"
The River Elf wiggled her, causing the tree to vanish, and replacing it with a group of stones which had water spraying upwards.
"Thete you go, showing off again." The Tree Elf scowled.
"Who, me?" The River Elf sneered. "I'm not the one wearing a tacky green tunic!"
The two elves turned away from each other.
"You see?" Amber told her siblings. "I told you we shouldn't have been goofing off. Look what we've done!"
"We were just having fun." James pointed out.
"Well, the fun is over." Amber declared. She cleared her throat again, and approached the elves. "Ahem. Excuse me, but are you here for the peace summit?"
"Indeed we are." The Tree Elf declared. "I am Arielf, Queen of the magical Tree Elves."
"More importantly, I am Elfabel, Queen of the far more magical River Elves." The River Elf announced.
"I am Princess Amber, heir to the throne of Enchancia." Amber declared. "This is Prince James, Princess Sofia and Princess Madeline."
"I'm afraid the King has been delayed." Sofia revealed. "His carriage is having difficulty."
"But if you don't mind waiting..." Madeline offered.
"Oh, there is no need to wait." Amber interrupted. "I would be happy to run this peace summit in my father's place."
Sofia, Madeline and James gaped.
"Well, I have no objections." Arielf nodded. "So long as the River Elves actually let us talk this time."
"We would... if Tree Elves had something interesting to say." Elfabel smirked.
"Um... Princess Amber, may we speak with you for a moment?" Sofia asked.
"Excuse me, your highnesses." Amber curtsied.
"I don't think this is a good idea." Madeline whispered.
"Me either." James agreed.
"Oh, why not?" Amber smiled. "I have been reading all about how to help kingdoms get along. This is a perfect time to try out my diplomacy skills!"
But dad has been trying to solve the elf situation for years." Sofia pointed out.
"It's really complicated." James frowned.
"And it's very important to dad." Madeline added.
"Then imagine how happy he'll be when we get this resolved!" Amber grinned.
"I don't know, Amber." Sofia frowned.
"Sounds risky..." James mused.
"How about this?" Amber offered. "I'll go and get daddy's agenda. You know, his list of things to do for the peace summit? And I'll follow it to the letter, okay?"
"I guess that might work." Madeline declared, as Amber rushed off.
"So, ladies." Sofia turned to the elves. "Your majesties... nice weather we're having, don't you think?"
"We River Elves prefer it rainy." Elfabel stated, conjuring up a rain cloud.
"We Tree Elves prefer it leafy." Arielf created a burst of leaves.
"'Leafy'?" Elfabel frowned. "Is that even a thing?"
"It most certainly is." Arielf declared.
"Says who?" Elfabel scowled.
"Wow." James frowned. "I can see why dad can never solve the Elf Situation. They really don't like each other."
"Madeline and I have met elves before." Sofia declared. "But they weren't arguing all the time like these elves."
"That's right." Madeline nodded. "They just wanted to have fun."
"Okay!" Amber rushed back in, holding a scroll. "According to the agenda, we should start by offering our guests refreshments." She checked the scroll. "Oh! The chefs already prepared the food before they left."
"You can read that?" James asked.
"Just barely." Amber shrugged. "Daddy's handwriting is terrible. You three get the food, I will escort our guests to the dining hall."
"We're on it!" Sofia nodded.
Sofia, Madeline and James departed.
"Excuse me?" Amber told the elves. "Would you mind... turning off your magic?"
The Elves complied, removing everything they'd created.
"Thank you." Amber smiled. "Now, if you would please follow me. We have some refreshments for you."
"Lead on." Elfabel nodded.
"Very well." Arielf pushed Elfabel aside.
Soon after, all three were sat at the dining room table.
"Welcome to the peace summit." Amber declared.
"Excuse me, Princess." Elfabel spoke up. "Would you kindly ask my counterpart to keep her tree magic to herself?" She used a magic bubble to send a leaf back to Arielf, splashing her with water.
"Ahh!" Arielf yelped. "You did that on purpose!"
"I'm sure she didn't mean to-" Amber started.
Arielf used her magic to make some acorns fall on Elfabel's head.
"You're not getting the last laugh this time!" She declared, pulling an ear.
"Ow!" Elfabel suddenly stood up, pulling a pine cone out of her seat. "Why, I ought to..."
"Please don't do this!" Amber urged. "You really should-"
Sofia, Madeline and James entered the room, bringing the food.
"Eat!" Amber smiled.
"Snack time!" Arielf beamed.
"Good. Enjoy." Amber sighed. "Now, to the next item on the agenda..." She struggled to read her father's writing. "James, a little help?"
"In a second." James declared, busy with the food.
"Oh, this juice is deliciously sweet!" Arielf smiled, as Sofia poured her some more.
"Yet, satisfyingly sour." Elfabel added.
"Madeline, can you read daddy's writing?" Amber asked.
"It looks like 'I your cheese fancies'." Madeline frowned.
"These elves sure love lemonade." James noted.
"James, what does this look like to you?" Amber held up the scroll.
"Uh... 'I your cheese fancies'." James declared.
"But what does that mean?" Amber frowned.
"How should I know?" James shrugged. "You're the one who's gonna be Queen."
"Oh, maybe Baileywick can help!" Amber realized.
"Go." Sofia urged. "We'll take care of things here."
"I'll be right back." Amber left the room.
"Is there more sweet-sour juice?" Ariefl asked.
"Comin' right up!" James nodded.
"Are there more finger sanwiches?" Elfabel inquired.
"I could go for a bit of tea." Arielf smiled.
"Of course." Madeline nodded.
"At least they're eating instead of arguing." Sofia whispered to James.
"Comin' right up again!" James smiled.
As they handed out more food, Madeline tripped, sending the teapot and cups flying. Arielf and Elfabel both used their magic to save the tea. They then shared a smile.
"Hey..." James noted.
"Did they just... smile?" Madeline asked.
Elfabel wiggled her nose, causing the teapot, cups and saucers to stack in formation. Arielf pulled her ear, causing the cups to stand on the saucers sideways.
"It actually looks like they're having fun." James smiled.
As they drank their tea, Elfabel noticed a leaf in herc up. She and Arielf scowled and turned away from each other.
"Or at least, they were having fun... for a minute." James sighed.
"Well, for the first time since they got here, they seemed to be getting along." Sofia noted. "We've got to keep the fun going."
Meanwhile, Amber knocked on the door of Baileywick's room, then entered. Baileywick was sitting on his bed, drinking too.
"Baileywick?" Amber asked. "Im so, so sorry to bother you."
"It's no bother, Princess- Ah-choo! -Amber." Baileywick declared. "How can I help?"
"I can't read daddy's agenda for the peace summit." Amber handed him the scroll. "What does this say?"
"It says to have the elves air their grievances." Baileywick declared.
"Air their grievances?" Amber took back the scroll. "'I your cheese fancies', 'Air your grievances'. I see it now."
"Each party must be given a chance to say what bothers them, so they can decide how to fix it." Baileywick explained, before sneezing again.
"Oh, thank you, Baileywick!" Amber ran out of the room. "Feel better!"
Back in the dining room, Arielf and Elfabel were still sour.
"So, that thing with the cups and saucers... was that something you've done before?" Sofia asked.
"Dish-wishing?" Arielf chuckled. "Oh, yes. It's a favorite pasttime of us Tree Elves."
"But it was invented by the River Elves, of course." Elfabel smirked.
"There you go again." Arielf scowled. "Always with the last word!"
"Well, no matter who invented it, it sure looked like you were having fun playing it together." Madeline pointed out.
"I guess we did use to have fun dish-wishing with them..." Elfabel sighed.
"Until you broke my great-grandelf's best dish!" Arielf growled.
"For the millionth time, it was an accident!" Elfabel groaned. "And you didn't have to break my family's best dish, just to get back at me!"
"Could you, maybe, show us how it's done?" Madeline asked.
"We are going to be studying elf history in school." Sofia added.
"We need to know all about the elves." James smiled.
"Well, I suppose there's no harm in that." Arielf declared.
"Just get us some more dishes." Elfabel instructed.
James rushed out of the room, bringing back more dishes, cups and saucers.
"Ready or not, here they come!" He declared.
Elfabel wiggled her nose, causing the objects to fly upwards.
"Watch this!" Arielf pulled her ear, causing the dishes to form a perfect stack.
"Beautiful!" Madeline beamed.
Elfabel made the dishes form a smiley face. Not to be outdone, Arielf made it "wink".
"It's working." James whispered. "They're really getting along!"
Together, the elves made the dishes dance around the table. Amber returned at that moment.
"What is going on here?" She yelped. "Stop!"
The elves returned the dishes to normal positions.
"We thought it would help the elves get along if they could have some fun together." Sofia explained. "Like they used to."
"That's ridiculous!" Amber scowled.
"But Amber, it's working!" James pointed out.
Amber approached the elves.
"Arielf, Elfabel, I'm sorry that my brother and sisters subjected you to this childish activity." She declared.
"Oh, we really don't mind." Arielf smiled.
"We're good." Elfabel agreed.
"You don't have to be polite." Amber told them. "Don't worry, we can stop all this playing, and proceed with the conference."
"We were kind of..." Elfabel started.
"Having fun." Arielf finished.
"Well, now you get to stop having fun, and air your grievances." Amber announced. "You each get to tell the other what you're made about. Isn't that great?"
"We already know all that." Elfabel declared. "Can't we just go back to playing?"
"I'm afraid not." Amber refused. "The agenda says 'you must air your grievances'." She turned to Arielf. "Now, I insist you tell Elfabel everything about her that drives you crazy!"
"Amber!" Madeline hissed.
"Well... they do wear blue tunics." Arielf pointed out. "It's so silly!"
"Not as silly as green!" Elfabel frowned. "And they put 'elf' at the end of their names, when everyone knows it's supposed to be at the front!"
"The front? Ha!" Arielf stood on the table. "Nose wiggler!"
"Ear tweaker!" Elfabel joined her.
"Ohh, this isn't going like it was supposed to!" Amber cringed. "What are we supposed to do next?"
"Uh, how about some more dish-wishing?" James suggested.
"I have no wish to wish any dishes with the likes of you, Elfabel." Arielf declared, creating a shield with plates.
"Well, I have no wish to dish a wi- I mean, to dish a wish- Oh, forget it!" Elfabel created her own shield.
"Please!" Sofia pleaded. "You were having so much fun together just a minute ago!"
"Well, that was before we remembered how much we can't stand them!" Elfabel scowled.
"I beg to differ." Arielf snarled. "It's us who can't stand you!"
"How dare you!" Elfabel yelled. "I am glad I broke your great-grandelf's dish!"
"That is it!" Arielf spat. "We want nothing to do with you ever again!" She got up and walked away
"Well, we want nothing to do with you even more ever again!" Elfabel retorted, also standing up. "Oh, you're not walking out. I am!"
"Wait!" Madeline called. "Arielf! Elfabel! Come back!"
"...Did I just ruin the peace summit?" Amber asked.
"Yep, sure looks like it." James admitted.
"And dad will be home any minute now." Sofia added.
"We just wanted to have a fun day." Madeline sighed.
"I thought we were making progress with the elves." Sofia frowned. "They were talking, and getting along. But then..."
"I took over." Amber realized.
"You were just trying to follow dad's agenda." Madeline pointed out. "But maybe if we kept the elves playing, everything would have been fine."
"So much for acting like a grown-up." James shrugged. "I guess sometimes it's best to just act like a kid!" He put a couple of spoons over his head like horns.
"James, you are absolutely right!" Amber smiled.
"I am?" James frowned.
"And we can still save this peace summit!" Amber added. "We'll just catch up to the elves, and get them to have fun again!"
"Right!" Sofia nodded. "I'll go get the Merlin's Blocks."
"And I'll get the magic jump rope!" Madeline added.
"And I'll pack up some drinks and treats." James grinned.
"It's time to have some fun!" Amber cheered.
Some time later, the kids were in the royal carriage, seeking out the elves.
"There they are!" Sofia pointed down below.
The carriage landed in front of the elf carriages, blocking their way.
Amber leapt out of the carriage.
"My good elves, I'm afraid you can't leave just yet." She announced. "There is one last item on the peace summit agenda."
"Forget it!" Arielf shook her head.
"No thank you." Elfabel refused.
"Games!" Amber smiled.
"Games?" Arielf and Elfabel repeated.
"I realized I should never have stopped you earlier, when you were doing exactly what you needed to do." Amber admitted.
"Er... shouting?" Arielf offered.
"Insulting each other?" Elfabel suggested.
"No... having fun!" Amber declared.
"Having fun together, you stopped arguing." James pointed out.
"You don't care who wears what color tunic." Madeline smiled. "Or even who broke whose dish a long time ago."
"Whatever differences you have disappear!" Sofia added.
"You know, there might be something to that." Elfabel told Arielf.
"They are... kind of fun to play with." Arielf admitted.
"So, what sort of games did you have in mind?" Elfabel asked Amber as she got out of her carriage.
"You didn't happen to bring along some more dishes, did you?" Arielf asked, exiting her own carriage.
"Ready or not, here they come!" Madeline held up a pile of dishes.
Arielf pulled her ear, causing the dishes to fly up, and form into a stack.
"Well wishes!" Elfabel smiled. "Here's something right off the top of my head. Or maybe yours!"
Elfabel wiggled her nose, and the dishes stacked themselves on top of Arielf's head.
Arielf giggled happily.
"Look, we brought other stuff too!" Madeline declared, bringing out two enchanted jump ropes, while James brought out the Merlin's Blocks. "Show 'em, Amber!"
"Jumping, jumping, all the time, spell your name and make a rhyme!" Amber sang as she jumped over the rope. "A, M, B, E, R, I know that I will go far!"
Arielf took Amber's place.
"Jumping, jumping all the time, spell my name and make a rhyme!" She sang. "A, R, I, E, L, F, ...why does nothing rhyme with F? You're right, girls. I forgot how much fun it is to have fun!"
Meanwhile, James was showing Elfabel the Merlin's Blocks.
"Just put them together." He put several blocks together, and they lifted him off the ground. "The more you use, the higher you float."
As Elfabel gathered the blocks, Arielf joined her, grabbing a bunch that lifted her up. Elfabel made a seat out of her blocks and floated after her, pulling her down before she went too high.
"Oh, thank you, Elfabel." Arielf smiled.
"You're welcome, Arielf." Elfabel nodded. "You know, I never did say I was sorry for breaking your family's best dish. Is it too late now?"
"Oh, it's never too late for that." Arielf declared. "And let me just add: I actually like your blue tunic after all."
"I was just thinking your green tunic looks pretty sharp too." Elfabel smiled.
"We also brought everything we need for a little peace picnic." Amber announced, as she and her siblings had prepared the food.
"Who wants sweet-sour juice?" James offered.
Moments later, Roland and two guards were riding horses back to the castle, when they ran across the "peace picnic".
"You've got to show them who's boss." Elfabel advised Arielf.
Amber realized Roland was there.
"May I present my father, King Roland of Enchancia?" Amber told the elves. "King Roland, I believe you know Queen Elfabel and Queen Arielf."
The elves curtsied.
"They're actually getting along!" Roland gasped. "I don't believe it. You solved the elf situation!"
"Uh-huh." Sofia nodded.
"That's right." Madeline agreed.
"We did." Amber smiled.
"Yep!" James grinned.
"Well done, children!" Roland beamed. "...But I'm not sure I can call you 'children' anymore. You've really group."
"Actually, it wasn't being grown up that saved the day." Sofia pointed out.
"It was not being too grown up." Amber declared. She slapped James on the back. "Tag! You're it!"
"I love this game!" Madeline chuckled.
They all ran around, enjoying the fun.