*Miranda's POV*

I decided to go to the parent meeting and met with all the teachers Sofia had. All of them said that they enjoyed having her in class. It was refreshing to have a student interested in the topic they teach. I was not expecting Ms. Fauna to bring up Sofia's father.

"What brought it up?" I asked.

"I was looking at Sofia's application and it stated that she had no father. I was just curious to see why." she said.

"Oh, well. It's not very pleasant. I had met Balthazar years ago in finishing school. We sailed and roamed about before settling in Freezenburg. We got married and we moved to Enchancia because I was pregnant and Freezenburg was no place to raise a baby at the time. We arrived here and settled into Dunwiddy. I actually ran into my two best friends from school and just so happened to be neighbors. I had Sofia. I worked as the village cobbler trying to provide enough money off of my job for Sofia. It helped that Balthazar was bringing in more money from his trading business. However, when Sofia was three years old, he had left. He had gotten an offer from a crew mate of his saying that they needed someone to captain the ship and he took it. He left us behind because he was done taking care of Sofia. He said that she could take care of herself and didn't need him. With his income gone, I had to pick up the slack and work odd jobs. Sofia is a very very bright child as she started helping me. I had always encouraged her to go play but she refused. She has a very steep learning curve as by the time she was five, it was her that was pulling in the necessities. I just kept the roof over our heads. It was Sofia that had kept the shop and provided the food because she learned how to hunt from the butcher. She's also a good judge of character. I hadn't seen her toothy grin in a long time and when Baileywick came in, the grin was on full display." I said.

"I've also noticed that while Sofia is open with everyone, she's always got a quiet air around her, as if she's hiding something. She's also wary of James." she said.

"Yes. Oddly enough, the one Sofia's really clung to is Amber. I would have thought it would be James because of his rambunctiousness. Sofia's always been a little closed off. Ever since Balthazar left really. The other children ruthlessly teased her about it and she learned very quickly not to let them get to her. Ruby and Jade, her two best friends and coincidentally my best friends daughters, protected her. It wasn't until Sofia hit a growth spurt and had lost her temper with one of the boys that the bullies stopped completely. She came home that day quieter than usual. I waited until she came to me to tell me and she told me that she had lost her temper. One of the boys had called her a name that I won't repeat and tried to get her to go out with him. She said no and he tried to hurt her. She flipped him and knocked him to the floor. It was her first and last fight. After she had beaten him with no problem, the other children stayed clear of her. The family whose kid got beaten, apologized to Sofia for his behavior and had moved villages." I said.

"I've also noticed that she does really well in classes. She's actually at the top of her classes. She's always working alone but when she has to she'll work in a group." she said.

"Ah, she's always done that. Once I knew that Sofia could handle the job at the shop, I would go travel to other villages to see if I could find any work and bring home money. Apparently in the times I was gone, Sofia would meet new people and she's always had them wrapped around her little fingers. She had managed to get the local butcher, who did not care about his prices nor polite to the customers, to calm down. She actually calls him grandpa." I said.

We sat talking about Sofia and what she's done. I was impressed that she was doing so well here.

*Flora's POV*

Two weeks till the big Halloween ball. The students were setting up the ballroom and we were watching from where we were. The week before the ball was parent teacher conferences so the students didn't have school. We went to go see how everyone was doing.

"Oh everything looks wonderfully spooky." Fauna said, "Oh, this year's ball is going to be just oh, splendiferous."

"And to make it even more exciting, we're making a small change to the costume contest." I said.

"This year, you'll all have to make the costumes yourselves." Fauna said.

Many of the princes and princesses looked confused.

"Um, you mean our hand maidens will have to make the costumes themselves." Amber said.

"No dear. YOU are going to sew, stitch and craft your own costume. And so will Cleo, and Hildegarde, and Sofia. Everyone." I said. "Good luck."

*Amber's POV*

When we get home, I try to make my costume but I'm having trouble getting started. Sofia comes in.

"Oh Sofia." I said.

"Hi, I thought you'd want some help." Sofia said.

"No thank you. I'll be just fine." I said as I watched Sofia thread the needle.

So I give it a bit and try to sew but I nearly gave up.

"Oh Sofia, it's beautiful." I heard mom say.

I got up to go see what Sofia did. I went to her room to see that Sofia had made a beautiful silver swan costume.

"Whoa, you made that?" I asked.

"I know, it's beautiful right?" mom said.

"It is. Sofia, I'd like to take you up on your offer now." I said as I twiddled my thumbs.

Sofia just chuckled softly, "Sure Amber."

So together, with Sofia showing me the thread, I managed to make myself a butterfly costume. I smiled, proud of myself for accomplishing something on my own. It was an awesome feeling. When Sofia, James, and I arrived at the party, the music was playing. I hung out with Hildegard and Cleo and told them what I did. Cleo had made a leopard and Hildegard just had an eye mask. When it came time for the judging, the music cut out. We all looked over to see Sofia sitting and pull out a flute. She began playing a haunting melody. It actually built suspense as we waited to find out who won. Vivian picked up the music and added to the creepy feeling. Sure enough, Sofia won the contest, like she should.

A few weeks later, we all got the notice that the carnival would be in town and I thought it would be a great idea to bring Sofia with us since she's never been to one. We make it outside and James runs into dad.

"Dad?" James asked.

"What's going on?" I asked.

"Your Aunt Tilly is coming." dad said.

Oh man. I turned to Sofia to tell her about Aunt Tilly, as did James, but Sofia backed up.

"I'm going to go change." Sofia said.

She ran off really fast and when she came back, she was in her riding clothes. Form fitting but loose pants and a long sleeve shirt that showed off her form. Her boots had no heel to them and she was around my height. When Aunt Tilly arrived, she actually got us all correct.

*Tilly's POV*

I arrived at the castle and I was excited to see the queen and the newest princess again. Sofia had a quality about her that I liked. I greeted them normally and we made our way inside. I had to smile when Amber and James tried to scurry off to the carnival. Oddly enough, Sofia was the calm one.

"Amber, James, the carnival can wait." Roland said. "Tilly, we will be having a family dinner in honor of your visit. Can you bake one of your apple pies?"

I chuckled at his excitement, "I'd be delighted to, but I'll require apples and some little helpers."

Amber and James decline and ran off. Sofia stayed behind.

"I'll help you." she said.

I looked at what Sofia was wearing and it seemed that she was dressed already for an adventure. It was obvious from her figure that she was used to the hard work and I knew that she would be the one to take on very important roles. We headed for the Arabella Orchard but it wasn't there.

"It's gone." Sofia said.

"It must have moved to a better place." I said.

I rummaged around in my bag to find the Locus Pocus map.

"How can an orchard move?" Sofia asked.

"It's a special orchard and is always looking for the right place to grow. It's what makes the Arabella Apples so rare and delicious." I said.

I pulled out the map and I showed her how it worked. It showed us that we had to cross the Melodious Meadow, Gargantuan Gorge, and then the Orchard. Sofia asked about the hills and I shuddered to think what was in those hills.

"The Horrid Hills, oh no we won't be going there. Come along now." I said.

When we neared the meadow, Sofia stopped for a second and tilted her head. She had a spacy look on her face as she focused. By the time I tried to see what she was seeing, she beamed.

"I know how to cross it." she said.

I followed her through the maze and took us right out.

"Wow, you're good at mazes. I thought we'd get lost." I said.

She shrugged and we continued onward. When we reached the Gargantuan Gorge, there was a rope bridge, but after Sofia threw a stone, it broke.

"Well, they don't make rope bridges like they used to." I said as I tried to connect with Sofia, "We'll have to find another way across."

"Do you hear that?" Sofia asked.

"What?" I asked.

As soon as I did, I heard a sound that seemed like someone crying. We went to find out what it was and found a Giant.

"Excuse me. Mr. Giant sir?" Sofia called out.

Well, she's certainly not afraid. She managed to get the giant to tell her what was wrong and that he had stepped on a thorn.

"We can help you get it out." Sofia said.

The giant placed his foot on the edge of the gorge and I found out that it was the whole bush.

"That's not a thorn dear, that's the entire bush." I said.

Sofia just went up to the bush and pulled. I was about to help when it came out.

"There you go Mr. Giant." Sofia said.

"Oh thank you Tiny ones. How can I ever repay you?" he said.

"Can you give us a ride over this canyon?" Sofia asked.

"Of course. Hop on." he said.

So we hitched a ride on the giant. From this height, we could see the entire kingdom. The giant set us down on the other side. We thanked him for the ride and moved on to the orchard. We picked apples and put them in a bag. Sofia carried them with ease.

"Sofia, when we get back, how about I make the pie and you make your stew? I've heard a lot about it and tried it in a few other places. Once I heard that you were the creator, I had to try it from the original." I said.

"Okay. Sure. We don't have the meats we need right now though. I'd have to go get some." she said.

"Well, lead the way then." I said.

We put the apples in my bag. I made it so that it would be easier to get when we get back to the castle. I was expecting Sofia to move but she stopped and sniffed the air.

"Oh, this will be fun. " she said, "Aunt Tilly, do you have a bow and arrow?"

I pulled it out and she took it. She slung the quiver and the bow around her shoulders and took off. I followed her and actually had to run silently. Sofia was making very little sound. Soon she stopped and dropped to the ground. Tracks. It was obvious she knew how to hunt and I quickly realized that's what we were doing. I watched as Sofia spotted something and drew the bow. She shot and hit a deer. It was an older one. Damn she was a good shot too. I watched her as she stuck the bow behind her again. She knelt next to the fallen deer and said something. She also held a very familiar amulet, it was the Amulet of Avalor. So, the Library chose her. Alright then. I was going to help her out a bit by providing something to drag the deer behind us, but Sofia just manuvered the deer in a way that she lifted it on her shoulders and carried it.

"Nothing is as it seems." Sofia said with a grin.

I smiled as we made our way to the castle. She brought me to a small cabin in the woods, just outside the village actually. I helped her prepare the deer and we cleaned off before getting the deer ready to move. We made the pie and Sofia made the stew. The stew from the other places weren't as good as hers. They were a good substitute but hers was amazing.

*Unknown POV*

I had been keeping an eye on a certain princess. I had Gary send his cousin once I saw where she was going. I wanted to see if she would help regardless of what she was doing. His cousin came in to see me.

"Chief, she's strong for her age. She pulled it out with no problem. She also carried a deer by herself." he said.

"Good job. Thank you for doing that." I said. "You can go now."

He lumbered away.

AN: Any ideas on who the mystery person is?

R&R if you please. I do like reading the reviews. ~Immortalshark