It was morning in the city of Avalor. Princess Isabel had just opened her eyes and then sat up in her bed and looked out the window. She then smiled and jumped off the bed and hurried over to her wardrobe to get dressed.

Isabel was excited because it was her first day returning to school. When Avalor was in chaos during the invasion of Ash along with Elena's disastrous coronation, it had taken time for Avalor to officially return to normal. But now that everything was as it was again, the school had opened back up. Isabel couldn't wait to see all her friends and meet her new schoolmates; she had even heard she'd be receiving a new teacher. She didn't know much about her but she had a feeling she was going to be just as nice as all teachers were to their students.

After putting on her usual light blue dress and brushing her hair, Isabel ran down the hall and down the steps and into the dining room where she almost bumped straight into Esteban. Isabel also nearly fell back but Esteban helped steady herself.

"Sorry, primo." Isabel apologized.

"It's alright, my dear. What is the hurry?" Esteban asked, smiling down at his youngest cousin.

"Today is my first day of school." Isabel said, now smiling.

"I'd never thought you'd be this eager to be in a classroom." Esteban chuckled, his brown eyes sparkling in amusement.

"Of course I'm eager! We...well, we all know we need to help the community of Avalor heal and it is sort of a great distraction for other kids since..."

Isabel's smile faltered and she looked down. Esteban sighed and then he knelt down to Isabel's level and touched her shoulder while Isabel kept looking at the ground.

"You're right. It is what Avalor needs and it's what our family needs to do. Heal. I know it has been a month since then but we are all working on it." Esteban said, quietly.

Isabel looked back up and then smiled and she hugged Esteban who hugged her back tight. There were tears in Isabel's eyes but she was smiling fully again.

"I'm really glad you're back, primo."

"As am I."

They pulled away and then Esteban wiped away Isabel's tears while wiping away a few of his own. Isabel then grabbed onto Esteban's hand and began to drag him over to the table.

"Come on! We got to eat and then the coach is going to take me to the schoolhouse." Isabel said, tugging on Esteban's hand.

"We wouldn't want you to be late, would we?" Esteban asked, laughing.

After eating, the coach had arrived to ride Isabel over to the schoolhouse. Once she got there, Isabel hopped out of the coach and then had looked at the building. It hadn't changed at all and that made Isabel want to rush back in and see if anything else changed but instead, she walked slowly and into the schoolhouse. She looked around at the classroom. Desks were still in their place and the chalkboard, while a bit dusty, appeared to be the same, not a crack anywhere. Isabel inhaled the scent of the wood and chalk. She missed that smell. Isabel then had taken off her pack and placed it beside her desk.

"Isa?"

Isabel turned and exclaimed in happiness at the sight of her best friend Cristina who had wheeled herself over to Isabel's side. Isabel ran over and carefully hugged Cristina who hugged her back and then they pulled away.

"I've missed you a lot, Cristina."

"You saw me at the coronation." Cristina pointed out, giggling.

"But it feels like eternity since then." Isabel giggled back.

The two girls giggled again just as more kids began arriving. Isabel recognized some of her friends but there were other arrivals she had not met yet like she imagined there would be. Avalor had grown in a month. After greeting and hugging her friends, Isabel introduced herself to the rest of her schoolmates. They all seemed nice but some were shy since Isabel was the crowned princess. The kids heard the bell ringing and they went over to their desks and sat down. They then had heard the door closed and turned as a woman began making her way over to the desk. She was a woman about the same age as Dona Paloma. She had long ebony hair tied up in a braid and blue-green eyes. Her outfit was fit for a teacher but her posture seemed to give Isabel a small uneasy feeling as if she could tell while this woman was nice she was also going to be strict. The woman walked to the desk and then turned to the kids.

"Buenos dias, students." The woman finally greeted.

"Buenos dias." The students greeted back.

"I am going to be your new teacher for the year. My name is Senorita Vera. I know that you are all here to learn but let's be clear before we do begin, we are not here for fun. My father was a former guard of the royal army and he had taught me that it's better to be firm than gentle-hearted all the time and I clung to his every word. Children should not waste their hours on nonsense when they need to know the basics of how everything works and how cruel the world can be." The woman said with a scowl.

"The world isn't like that all the time, Senorita Vera." Isabel said, frowning.

All eyes fell upon Isabel including Senorita Vera's who went up to her and gazed down at the girl who stared back at her now shrinking back somewhat. Maybe she shouldn't have said that. That was not making a good impression with the teacher.

"And what would you know about how the world really is, little mouse?" Senorita Vera asked, narrowing her eyes at Isabel.

"Well...I do believe there is people who are not very nice to others and should be punished..."

"I suppose you are referring to people like me, aren't you?" Senorita Vera interrupted; voice lowered dangerously.

"What? No. I mean...I mean that while people can be cold at heart and pure evil...it doesn't mean that they can be redeemed if given a chance." Isabel corrected.

"Ah, you mean people like your dear cousin, Esteban?" Senorita Vera challenged, rage filling her eyes.

Some of the kids gasped. Isabel opened her mouth to say something but nothing could come out. She wanted to defend Esteban but she knew if she did so then she would make things worse so instead, she turned away as tears filled her eyes.

"I think we have said all there is to say, haven't we? Now dry your tears. You are a girl of 13. A girl like shouldn't waste such arguments on crying." Senorita Vera said firmly, crossing her arms.

Isabel sniffled and nodded and wiped her eyes. Internally, she was crying loudly. How dare this woman insult her cousin and say such other hurtful things? Senorita Vera glared at Isabel till her eyes were completely dry and then she returned to the desk. Cristina turned to Isabel with a saddened glance but then she and the other kids paid attention.

When Isabel returned to the palace, all Isabel wanted to do was return to her room. Her talk with Senorita Vera was only the beginning of her bad day. Afterwards, Senorita Vera had blamed Isabel for a prank pulled by the boys and made her sit by the corner, she also had her clean off the chalkboard as punishment, and then when it was time for lunch, she accidentally caused some of her food to spill on Senorita Vera who then had taken her lunch away and for that, she had to scrub the floors during recess, and while doing so, she slipped and a whole bucket of water had dampened Senorita Vera's skirt. Isabel had found her voice that time and tried to apologize but then to Isabel's surprise...Senorita Vera had hit her across the face.

It was the first time since anyone had struck Isabel and it hurt. She could still feel the slight pain on her cheek. It was sore and had left a bruise. That was why Isabel wanted to go to her room, she didn't want anyone to notice what happened but that wasn't going to be easy to avoid.

To Isabel's relief, she made it her room and sat on her bed and hugged her knees together as tears fell down her face, stinging the bruise. She couldn't even reach up to wipe her tears because when she would touch her cheek, it ached. Isabel's tears streamed down until there was a knock at the door. She looked and saw Esteban poking his head in.

"Isabel? Prima? It's time for dinner. How was school?" Esteban asked.

"Oh. It was...It was great." Isabel lied, sniffling, faking a smile.

Esteban saw Isabel's eyes and face covered in tears despite her smile. Concerned, Esteban walked over to the bed and looked down at Isabel who tried to hide her bruise.

"Isabel? Are you sure you had a good day? You look as if you've been crying. What's wrong?" Esteban asked, worriedly.

"N-Nothing. I'm okay, primo." Isabel said, trying to sound casual, failing miserably.

Esteban looked closely and then noticed Isabel's hand over her cheek. Esteban reached to lower Isabel's hand but then to his confusion and growing concern, she moved away.

"Esteban, I said I'm fine." Isabel said, her tone sharper.

"Isabel. Please. Let me see what you're hiding."

Isabel shook her head and Esteban sighed and then sat on the bed while Isabel didn't face him and kept her hand to her cheek. Esteban touched Isabel's shoulder and smiled gently, but his eyes were full of worry.

"Isa. Trust me. Whatever you're hiding, you are not going to get in trouble for." Esteban assured.

"But that's the problem, primo. It's nothing I did. It's really my new teacher." Isabel said, looking down.

"What did she do, mijita? Let me see." Esteban urged in a soft tone.

Esteban's fatherly smile and voice made Isabel feel confident enough to take her hand off her cheek. When she did, Esteban's eyes widened in horror and his jaw went slack. On Isabel's cheek was a large and blackened bruise with tiny faint signs of a handprint.

"Isabel? Did your teacher...hit you?" Esteban asked, dreading the answer.

"Yes." Isabel replied, nodding.

"Isa."

Isabel had begun crying and she hugged Esteban who immediately hugged her back protectively and began smoothing down her hair as she wept into his coat and clutched onto it tight. He could feel her shaking against him.

"I didn't want to tell because I didn't want no one to make such a deal about it. I'm sorry, primo. Maybe...Maybe I am trouble." Isabel said, voice breaking.

Esteban's anger was slowly bubbling up in his stomach. Not because Isabel said such a thing because he knew it wasn't true. She was never trouble. It was anger towards that new teacher for doing this to her. And what if Isabel wasn't going to be the only to be mistreated and yet what if she was? Esteban focused back upon comforting his cousin.

"No, Isabel. You are not trouble. You are a wonderful and loving person. Avalor is lucky to have a caring and fearless princess like you. You are everything...to Elena, to our abuelos and to me and to the kingdom. You're amazing." Esteban said to Isabel.

"I don't feel amazing now." Isabel sniffled.

"I know my dear but you are no matter what. Don't let anyone else tell you're not otherwise. You are special to Avalor, Isa. And to our family, you're our gift. I think your Mama and Papi would be proud of you for how far you've come."

Hearing those words along with the soothing sound of Esteban's heartbeat had made Isabel relax until her tears had come to a stop and her frown slowly curved into a small smile as Esteban felt her body stop shaking. The two pulled away and Esteban gently tilted up Isabel's chin.

"Now, do you feel better?" Esteban asked.

Isabel nodded and then Esteban gave her another hug and then wiped away her tears. They heard footsteps and saw Armando by the door.

"Ahem. The rest of the family is waiting for you two." Armando announced.

"Okay, Armando." Isabel giggled.

It made Esteban happy to hear Isabel laughing after crying, she was definitely feeling better. But then as they walked out of the room, Esteban wondered what was to be done regarding this issue. Should he address Elena on the matter or confront this teacher himself?