Sand Castle Fun
Summary: On a hot day in Merroway Cove, Sofia finds a way for both her and Amber to escape the heat much to the older girl's surprise.
The second day on their second trip to Merroway Cove was unbearably hot.
While the adults stayed inside to keep cool, the children were busy keeping themselves shaded.
At least the two Enchancian sisters were, resting on their beach chairs while their brother was more daring and reckless as he sprinted in his swim trunks toward the water below.
Normally Sofia would've joined him but advised to take it easy after cutting her knee the previous night by accident resulting from clumsiness, the freak breeze was doing her some good.
"James!"
Amber's cry of disgust filled the air as Sofia shook the salty seawater out of her hair.
The blonde haired prince shrugged, stifling a laugh at the mortified look on his twin's face as she felt drips of water touch her skin. "It's our vacation Amber, we're supposed to be soaking wet!"
"I'd rather not be. Too salty for my liking," Amber muttered.
"And I'd love to join you James, but Baileywick said I shouldn't get my bandage wet," Sofia frowned. "Maybe next time."
"All right then. Your loss," James smirked, giving her a sympathetic look before going back into the water.
"Who does he think he is? A merman?" Amber scoffed as she stood up, squeezing the water out of her bathing suit.
"James is only trying to keep cool out here just like we are, Amber," Sofia smiled.
"That may be so Sofia but I'd appreciate it if he'd not do something so revolting for once."
The younger Enchancian princess giggled, smoothing down her bathing suit as she placed her knees in the sand.
"What are you doing?" Amber asked curiously.
"Since I can't go into the water and you can't stand it, I was thinking we could do something here and take breaks if we need to," Sofia suggested.
"What is it exactly?"
"Sand castle building."
"Oh. Clio did something like that once. She said she quite enjoyed herself," Amber smiled. "Though I am a bit concerned about the heat. I don't want to look like the lobster at yesterday's dinner table."
"Neither do I so that's why I thought we should do breaks in between," Sofia muttered.
"Thank Enchancia."
"Come on! It'll be fun!"
"That's what you said about Buttercup hiking and flying carpet riding," Amber frowned. She sprinted towards a side of the beach, seeing a pink seashell. "Though I'd love any opportunity for some decorating."
"Yay!" Sofia cheered. "You won't regret it, I promise."
Amber rolled her eyes playfully, hesitantly watching as her sister's bare hands touch the sand in front of her.
She frowned, seeing a simple tower being created.
"No. That won't do," Amber muttered, getting on her hands and knees. "I appreciate your artistic value Sofia but leave an expert at work."
"You? An expert?" Sofia teased.
"Who's gotten high marks in art? Me, that's who."
"Okay if you say so."
"I believe I do," Amber smirked.
Sofia sighed, continuing to do her own castle.
In between breaks, Amber seemed invested in building her sand castle, adorning it with various sea shells she'd found around the beach while Sofia stuck to the simplicity of sand castle building.
Plain and lacking adornment.
Within the hour, both girls were finished as Amber stood up, shaking sand out of her hands.
"Oh girls they're beautiful."
The girls turned, seeing Miranda wave a fan in her face.
"Thanks Mom," Sofia smiled.
"Yes thank you Mother but what are you doing out here?" Amber wondered. "I thought you're staying inside with Daddy."
"I was but the sun's beginning to set so he insisted I'd come and get you," Miranda explained. "Where's your brother?"
"James went inside a few minutes ago. Said he was getting cold from swimming," Sofia smiled.
Miranda chuckled, leading the girls inside.
Once they were changed into their regular clothes, Amber and Sofia sat next to each other at the dinner table as James snickered.
"What's so funny dear brother?" Amber wondered.
"Did you look into a mirror while you were getting dressed?" James smirked.
"No. It wasn't on my mind. Why?"
"You're looking a little red around your face."
"No. That's absurd!" Amber retorted. "Right Daddy? Mother?"
"No I'm afraid James is right Amber. You do look red from the tip of your nose," Roland muttered.
"As Sofia does," Miranda added. "Perhaps you two got sunburned from being out in the heat all afternoon."
"We did take breaks in between," Sofia recalled.
"Perhaps not enough," Amber admitted. "But I had fun."
"That's something I thought I'd never hear you say, Amber," James smirked.
"Well I like to release my creative side when I have the opportunity to James even if it meant getting that awful sunburn."
"Don't worry Amber, it's only gonna be for a few days," Sofia assured. "It won't be so bad."
"Bad for Amber maybe," James snickered.
"James…." Roland warned.
"No it's okay Daddy. I'll mange," Amber smiled. "As long as Sofia's with me, I'll be just fine."