Chapter 1: Once Upon a Prince

Author's Note / Warning: If you know what transgender means and you're opposed to the idea, now is the time to leave. If you don't know what any of that means, or you're okay with the idea, then this is the story for you!

Once upon a time, in the magical kingdom of Enchancia, there lived a young boy named Sofin…

"Sofin, it's time to go! Come on, honey, the coach is waiting!"

"Coming!" Nearly bursting with excitement, Sofin took the stairs down two at a time, running towards his mother's call and the giant coach waiting outside. Today was the day he and his mom would officially become members of the royal family, after his mom, Queen Miranda, got married to the king. Sofin could hardly wait to meet Prince James and Princess Amber, his new siblings. Today was going to be the best day ever!

As the young boy entered the coach, he heard a pair of voices call "Sofin!" behind him. Turning to see Ruby and Jade, he waved his best friends goodbye as the horses began to trot.

"I'll miss you!" called the boy towards the two children, as the coach started moving.

"Tell us what Prince James is like!" yelled Ruby as the two faded into the distance.

"I will!" yelled Sofin back, though he wasn't sure if they had heard him. As the coach continued, Sofin marveled at the well-made road, the beautiful trees, and the rising peak of the castle slowly coming into view.

The trip felt like it was over in seconds, and before he knew it, the horses had come to a halt in front of the royal family, with a wide audience. A servant opened the door as loud trumpets announced the royal arrival. His heart still ready to burst with joy, Sofin descended the steps and held his mother's hand as the two walked up the stairs to meet their new family. Seeing how well-dressed the royals were, Sofin was thankful that the castle had delivered a pretty purple suit and pink dress for the two of them to wear before the ceremony.

Nervously adjusting his bowtie, Sofin bowed deeply before the royals as his mother curtsied. As King Roland and his mom left to do all the formal steps of bringing families together, Sofin took it upon himself to make a good impression on the royal children. Ruby and Jade were counting on him!

"Hey there!" said Sofin, walking up to the pair.

"Good morrow, Sofin," said James. What a charmer!

"Great morrow, Prince James," he responded. Nailed it. "Princess Amber," he said, moving up to the girl. She stepped back a little bit. "I'm so glad we're siblings."

"Stepsiblings," corrected Amber with a small frown. Right. Stepsiblings. In all the excitement, he'd forgotten that Amber and James weren't really going to be his siblings. That didn't do one thing to quell his excitement, though.

His mom, Queen Miranda, came to greet the two as well. She gave Amber and James badges with the royal crest on them, as a welcome-to-the-family gift. They were really pretty—but then again, so was everything his mom made. King Roland joined the group, and for a moment Sofin felt like he could really belong as a part of the family.

One of the servants, a tall man with gray hair wearing a black suit, stepped in front of the royal family, gesturing to the crowd. "All hail Queen Miranda and Prince Sofin!" he announced. Sofin bowed deeply as the audience broke into cheers. Best day ever.

"Mohit Flora!" shouted a raspy voice. Right before Sofin's eyes, the sky filled with dark thunderstorm clouds, which began to rain. Sofin caught just a couple drops of water before one of the servants moved to cover him with an umbrella. Being royalty was amazing.

"Cedric," said King Roland in a disappointed tone, "I said flowers, not showers." Sofin didn't care which, magic was magic. He had just watched a real-life sorcerer cast a spell into the sky and change the weather! Could this day get any better?

It apparently could, as the sorcerer managed to fix his spell and turn the raindrops into falling petals. Sofin grabbed at one absentmindedly. "Ooh, rose petals."

Seeing Amber and James waving at the cheering crowd, Sofin wondered if he was meant to wave too. Wait, but he had two new siblings for those sorts of questions. He whispered in Amber's ear, "Should I wave?"

"Yes," responded his new sister, and Sofin was comforted by her being helpful again. Seems she really just was having a bad day. Excited that that problem was over with, Sofin waved at the crowd enthusiastically.

The newly crowned prince made his way inside, and though Amber seemed to want to show Sofin the banquet hall, Sofin was sidetracked by the sight of servants helping to place two new thrones next to the three for the members of the royal family. One of them was purple and sized just right for Sofin. He marveled at the thought of his own throne, next to the king's. Prince Sofin. It was a dream come true.

Not looking where he was going, Sofin accidentally bumped into the sorcerer from earlier. What had the king called him again? Ceedric? That sounded about right.

Sofin gushed over the new sorcerer as he described the incredible feats he was capable of doing if he weren't stuck in the castle entertaining kids. He was surprised when the sorcerer managed to simply vanish in a puff of smoke. Right. Magic. Before he had much time to think on what Mr. Ceedric had said, Sofin was interrupted by the tall servant from earlier, who introduced himself as Baileywick, the castle steward. And, he was late for food. Oops.

As the boy stood in his new room later that night, Sofin felt a little bit overwhelmed. The food at the banquet had been delicious, but what was he supposed to do with the six different forks and five different knives and four different spoons that all looked mostly the same? And then the king wanted to host a ball where he was expected to dance? He had no idea how to dance! He had his own room now, the walls painted light blue, complete with a giant wardrobe full of suits of every color. It did feel a little bit off, but Sofin figured he was just used to his old room. And plus, why was he complaining? He got a new room, a new home, and a new family. So why didn't he feel as excited as he did just that morning?

Sofin sighed. When he was little, his mom had told him that sometimes thoughts weren't enough to let out all your feelings. That was why he kept a diary, probably still lost in the piles of luggage. If he couldn't write, then he could only think of one other way to let his feelings out.

"Everything seems crazy big, and I'm feeling unsteady.
Mom says I'll be just fine, but I don't think I'm ready.
New school, new friends, new family, and a ball where they want me to dance,
I'm just a little kid from a small small town, in this world I don't stand a chance.
I'm not ready to be a royal. I don't have what it takes.
Tons of silverware, don't know what to wear, and I'm gonna make a bajillion mistakes.
I'm too average to be a royal. I respectfully refuse.
I don't know the rules, I don't want the jewels, and these feet were made for comfortable shoes!
Shelves bursting with trinkets that I'm afraid to touch.
Fancy toys, and ginormous pillows, it's all much too much.
Too much!
I'm not ready to be a royal, one look and that seems clear.
Cancel my debut, keep your royal crew, and if I ever find mom's room, I'm outta here."

Pausing for breath, Sofin found himself lost in the maze of the castle's hallways. Why did everything have to be so big? He missed his simple life, just him and his mom living together in the village. If he was at home, he wouldn't have any trouble finding his mom right now.

"I'm Sofin, not a noble child. Just Sofin, even my wave is wild.
I'm not ready to be a royal…"

"Sofin?"

Sofin turned to see his mom, in the frame of an open door. The troubled boy ran to his mother and hugged her, looking for comfort. As his mom hugged him back, Sofin felt just a little better about the whole situation.

His mom led Sofin to sit on one of the couches. "What's bothering you, sweetheart?" asked his mom, and Sofin spilled everything. The dining table, the ball, he didn't even know how to dance. The words came and kept on coming. He knew King Roland was standing behind the two of them, but in that moment it felt like just him and his mom, as she held him and nodded and offered words of encouragement.

"I just don't know anything about being a prince!" finished Sofin, frustrated and sad. How was he supposed to learn everything in a week before the dance?

"Just try the best you can," said his mom, holding the boy's shoulders so that he would face her, "and if it's not good enough for all those stuffy dukes and duchesses, then that's their problem. You don't need to learn everything at once. Just take it one step at a time, and soon you'll be just as good of a prince as your brother James."

Sofin wiped away a tear. "You really think so?"

"I know so," responded his mom, who pulled him into a final hug. When the two came apart, King Roland cleared his throat to get the two's attention.

"Sofin," said the king, "I have something for you. Consider it a welcome gift." Sofin looked to his closed hands, wondering what the gift might be. The king opened his hands and revealed a small amulet, with purple chains holding a silver-studded amethyst. "I know it might not be the most princely of gifts, but…I suppose I just felt it would be right for you. It's almost like the amulet wanted you to wear it. Do you like it?" He seemed rather unsure of himself.

Sofin stared at the gorgeous purple amulet. Its surface was so shiny he could see his own reflection in the jewel. The silver swirls resting atop the amethyst seemed to hold tiny, blue and glinting sapphires. The whole design sparkled with life. "I…I love it. It's beautiful," said Sofin, and the king relaxed. Sofin let the king clasp the amulet around the boy's neck.

As the king placed the amulet, he spoke again. "It's a very special amulet, so you must promise to never take it off. That way, you'll never lose it."

Sofin admired the gem some more, holding it in his hands, then looked at the king seriously. "I promise."

"In that case," said King Roland, "it's best you be off to bed. You'll need to wake up bright and early for prince school in the morning.

"Prince school?" said Sofin, slightly confused. He was going to go to a school with only princes?

"Royal Prep, where all the princes and princesses from every kingdom go to learn our royal ways. Including everything you need to know for the royal ball," said the king. Sofin felt immediately relieved. He was going to go to school for a week before the royal ball: he'd have plenty of time to learn dancing and waving and everything else he might need. Maybe he'd even find new friends there, like Ruby and Jade!

Excited for the next day, Sofin merrily walked back to his room, stopping to say hello to the sorcerer, Mr. Ceedric, on the way. After getting ready for the night, Sofin moved to sit on the giant, plush bed. As he lay down, Sofin realized the mattress was really soft. He tentatively poked a finger into the bed, watching it sink a few inches. Maybe a little too soft. Sofin tried moving over to turn off the light, but struggled to move while half-stuck inside the mattress. Eventually realizing he'd never get to sleep on that type of bed, Sofin pulled himself up and spied a reading nook sitting on the windowsill. It probably wasn't supposed to be a bed, but it had a cushion, a red pillow with gold tassels, and a pink blanket. Turning off the lights, Sofin made his way to the nook and snuggled into the makeshift bed.

As Sofin pulled himself under the covers, he realized he was feeling much better about being royal. He'd learn everything he needed for the dance at his new all-royal school. Even if he wasn't totally ready to be a prince, he had two amazing siblings willing to help him along the way. And, fingering the amulet he had been given, Sofin knew the king thought he could become a great prince too. As Sofin's eyes slowly closed, he thought to himself, 'Tomorrow's going to be better.'

Author's Note: Thank you for reading the first part of Sofin the First! This is the only chapter that mimics the events of the show. From Chapter 2 onwards, the story's entirely new.