*Roland's POV*
I was watching Sofia and James race. Sofia was fast and had tied with James, who was a little upset at 'losing'. It was a little obvious that Sofia was just playing, for fun. James wanted to go again, thinking that it was a fluke. That girls shouldn't win against him. I was going to scold him for that and I would later, but I saw the glare Sofia shot him. Uh oh. I thought those two were getting along, but apparently not. Sofia agreed to the rematch. I started and Sofia absolutely smoked James. Instead of swinging over the pond, she just jumped. She climbed the wall without the rope as she jumped up and pulled herself over. She ran through the rotating plates by weaving through, ran through the windmill and hurdled over the bushes.
"Nice job Sofia." I called.
I pulled James aside after the race and told him that it was improper to treat any girl like that. He had done fine with being king for a day, but I think that was because Sofia was the one behind it all. Just then a cat came running by. I sneezed because I'm allergic. Sofia picked the cat up and Miranda came around.
"Oh there you are. I've been looking all over for you." she said.
I sneezed again.
"Oh dear. I forgot you were allergic. Come on Sofia, lets go see if anyone in town wants a new cat." Miranda said.
Sofia went with her mom and James came up to me.
"Dad, can you help me do what Sofia did?" James asked.
"Uh sure." I said.
I was unsure as to how Sofia did it, but she did. I tried to replicate it but only managed to fall in the water. James tried but wasn't anywhere close to Sofia's jump. After the whole baker situation, Miranda pulled me aside and told me about Sofia's side of how they lived. I was a little upset that this man was the cause of all their problems. That Sofia had to learn more than a person her age. A child shouldn't have been a major provider for the family.
It was obvious that her work in the village made her strong and that she was able to do feats of strength like that because she had been doing it for years.
Amber had gotten a little jealous and had told me. She had also found a well but had gotten a bad feeling about it. I was proud of her for not touching the well because it was the very well I had found. I was surprised Amber had found it.
A few days later, James was better at the course and had challenged Sofia again. Those few days gave Sofia an advantage actually. She had been out and about and it was clear that she was working on something. She grew stronger and the course had become easy for her. I would have to think about some more obstacles to put into the course or create a whole new course just for the fun of it.
In those few days, Sofia had helped an aspiring inventor named Gwen fix the pudding server that her father had made. For her good work, I granted her the status of being the Royal Inventor. Sofia also took Lord Gilbert's daughter, Lady Joy, with her to the Highland Hootenanny Dance. She was doing so well with being a princess.
*Sofia's POV*
Today was a break for me, the Buttercups were going to Mystic Meadows to earn our good deed badges. I got ready and met the rest of them in the main room.
"What's up?" I asked as I saw their faces.
"Ruby's mom is sick, so the trip is canceled." Jade said.
"Wait a minute, I can take you." Baileywick said.
He went and changed into his troop leader uniform so he could take us.
"Mr. Cedric's parents live there, so why don't we bring him?" I asked.
"Hmm, good idea Princess. We'll wait." Baileywick said.
I ran to Cedric's tower and knocked. I invited him but he didn't want to since he would have to see the family wand. I decided that my good deed was to help him get his family wand. We were about to go when I noticed his attire.
"Mr. Cedric. You can't go looking like that." I said.
"Why not? These are my best robes." he said.
I looked him over and decided to change his robes. I grabbed a magic wand and said a spell Lucinda was teaching me. It was a transfiguration spell and I transfigured his robes into something more presentable. Instead of his dark purple robes, they were a deep royal purple with some golden threads, making the robe sparkle. Underneath was black slacks, white shirt with a deep royal blue vest. The bow I got rid of and his hair was cut nicely.
"There. That looks better." I said.
He looked over himself in the mirror and smiled.
"Why thank you Sofia. These are the best robes I've seen." he said.
I smiled, "Now come on, let's go."
He came with me. We were greeted by his father and mother when we arrived at Mystic Meadows. I helped him by making sure his father couldn't interrupt him and saw that Cedric was a great sorcerer. By the time we left, Cedric had gotten his family wand and we all gained the good deed badge.
*Roland's POV*
I had brought my kids with me to meet with Emperor Quon of Wei-LIng. Jin and Jun had offered to give a tour of their palace and my kids went with them while I talked with Quon.
*Sofia's POV*
I was enjoying the tour because it was calming over here. Today I had decided to wear a blue tunic with black pants and of course my boots. I also was carrying a knife I had made in my left boot. You never know when you might need one. Jin and James had run off together and came running back with a scroll in their hands.
"We're off to go find the treasure of the Jade Jaguar." James said.
Before we could say anything, they were gone. When we met up with our parents later, dad had asked where the boys were.
"They're looking for the treasure of the Ruby Rhino or the Saphhire snake or something." Amber said.
"You don't mean the treasure of the Jade Jaguar." Emperor Quon said.
"Yes that's the one." Amber said.
"Oh no." Emperor Quan said.
I sighed, "Let me guess, he's real."
"Yes." Emperor Quan replied.
He told us the tale of the jaguar and so dad and he went after the boys. I knew we had to go help. I got Amber and Jun to agree and their royal sorcerer Wu Chang helps us by telling us of a secret path to the jaguar's lair. I grabbed a sword that was still sheathed and put it around my back. We went off and soon came across the cave. Our fathers were trapped.
"Come on, lets go." Amber said.
"No, if we go in we can get trapped just like they are. We have to go around the back." I said.
"Alright." Amber said.
So we went around. We came across a maze of warriors that won't let us pass. I looked around as the other two wanted to give up.
"We have to go over them." I said.
"Over?" Amber asked.
"Yep. The vines." I said.
After passing the Maze of Warriors, we encounter silver moths which Amber deals with by taking her fan out and fanning them away. We got out of there and to a lagoon with giant lizards. Jun played her flute and we got across the lagoon by hitching a ride on the lizards to the other side. We soon found the secret entrance behind the waterfall. I got the Jaguar to agree to let our family go because the boys were being idiots and we didn't want his treasure. The Jaguar agreed and he helped us out.
*Tilly's POV*
It was a great time in the kingdom as it was Sofia's birthday. She was turning nine. I managed to get Bartleby to tell me that she had passed the junior knights test with flying colors. He also told me about her when she was younger. Apparently, all the knights had met her at one point or another. Sofia had written to me about her adventure with the Princess of the hidden kingdom of Hakalo. She had told me how she found the key and that this witch had tried to take it by imitating the real princess but the real princess was proven by a test. I decided to test her again but got busy with Story Keeping.
*Sofia's POV*
The next couple days are a little hectic. Amber, James and Vivian bring their pets to school. I don't because I know its against the rules. Professor Popov is serving as the substitute teacher because the fairies were giving a new student a tour of the school. The pets accidentally get mixed up. Robin, who had followed me to school, perched on my shoulder.
"Robin, will you go to Fauna and get her attention. I have a feeling this won't end well." I said.
"Sure thing Sofia." she said.
She flew off to find the fairies. I helped try and calm the pets down but it didn't work because James tried to get them back to normal but used the wrong potion. Thankfully, Robin managed to bring Fauna to the scene as well as the others.
"What is going on here?" Fauna asked as the pets sat down quickly.
I told them what had happened and that I sent Robin, who flew over and sat on my head. I lifted my hand to her and she perched there where I pet her with my other hand. The new princess, Princess Zoey, was excited.
"Mom, I want to go here." she said.
I went up to the Queen and curtsied.
"Your Majesty, this normally doesn't happen here. This was a mistake that was easily fixed but the classes here are wonderful. Definitely enough to keep Zoey here entertained if she like this." I said.
"Oh, well, I suppose." the queen said.
"Please mom." Zoey said.
"Oh alright." the queen said.
"Yes." Zoey cheered.
I smile as we get a new student. Then the next day in Enchanted Art Class, we were put into pairs to paint a picture. I got paired with Hildegard. I learned so much about her during that fiasco. After a few mishaps, all because she pointed her paintbrush at the wall of Enchanted Paintings instead of our own, I learned that the reason why she was so uptight was because she thought she had to be in order to make friends.
I revealed a little of my own experiences to her and she was sorry that she got us into the mess in the first place. We managed to get the task done and I taught her to sail. We finally got back to the original painting we were in and were told how to get out. I quite enjoyed it because I got to know more about Hildegard. She hugged me and I let her.
*Baileywick's POV*
I was busy getting the castle ready for the Royal Jubilee. When it was done, the families were finally arriving. King Magnus arrived and with him came the steward. I accepted the gift from Slickwell. I went along with the itinerary but accidentally stumbled. I almost crashed into Roland when Sofia caught me. I was startled by the sudden trip up but had no clue why.
Slickwell introduced himself to Roland. We get into the castle where Roland explained the itinerary, the adults will play some games and go on a cruise while the kids would be entertained by Greylock. I heard Sofia nudge Cedric and he volunteered to entertain as well.
Oddly enough, Sofia didn't go with the rest of them. She stayed by my side the entire time. After another bout of clumsiness, Slickwell urged me to retire. I was old, but Sofia stepped up and defended me. She put on a smaller version of my outfit along with a pocket watch. My old one since I used the one Sofia gave me for my birthday. She helped me a lot, though it didn't help because it still happened. When I claimed to retire, one because I was getting a fishy feeling, two because I wanted to see what would happen, I gave the pin to Sofia.
I watched what happened when Slickwell took over and the staff was very very unhappy. Sofia figured it out and foiled the man's plan. She grabbed my attention and had told me that it was all a plan to get me to retire so that Slickwell could have my job.
We hurried to reach the ship before it set sail, but we couldn't so we ran to where Cedric and Greylock were entertaining the kids. They ran over and returned the ship home. We ran to check on everyone.
"We're fine Baileywick. Thank you." Roland said.
He turned to the other royals and apologized for the mess.
"Allow me to clean it up." Slickwell said.
But he slipped in the spilled gooseberry cider. Sofia stepped up.
"No. Allow me to tell everyone what you did." she said in a cold voice.
I caught Miranda's wince at the tone. Sofia explained what happened in a clear voice. She told the royals about Slickwell's plan to take my job and that I was innocent. Roland fires him as did Magnus. I watched as he tried to reason with his king.
I told Roland that I couldn't leave when there was so much work to be done. The staff was a lot happier and got things done with a pep in their step. Sofia stayed by my side still as the Jubilee went on. I asked her once why she didn't go join the others and she told me that she already knew Cedric was a great sorcerer. Plus if she wanted to, she could go ask him to perform anything for her.
Then almost as if it were the next day, we were prepping the castle for the King and Queen's wedding anniversary ball. It was a month after the whole Slickwell debacle, which just goes to show you how fast a month can go by. Something had happened between James and Sofia but I have no memory of it. All I know is that James was being a little nicer to Sofia. Then the next couple weeks, Sofia was back to her projects.
*Sofia's POV*
It was Wassailia again and this time I made Cedric a case for his wand. I made Baileywick an engraving of an ice lily. Mom got a new dress as did Amber. James I made a helmet for him. I made a pen case for dad so he could put all his pens there and not search for working pens again. I made my way up to Cedric's tower to give him my gift.
I knocked on his door.
"Ah Princess Sofia. What can I do for you today?" he asked.
"Well, I wanted to give you this. I made it myself. I wanted to thank you for being a really good big brother." I said.
"Brother?" he asked a little confused but touched.
"Yeah, you protect me like a big brother should and you also make sure I'm doing what I'm supposed to." I said.
"Why, thank you Princess." he said.
I hugged him before leaving. I ran into Baileywick and I was told about ice lilies. I decided to go look for them on top of having the engraving. I took Luna with me and we met up with a Fox named Whiskers and he agrees to take us to the lilies. Along the way, I met a faun who wants to get rid of her ice touch. A winter witch named Glacia was able to grant the wish, only if she was given a good gift.
We managed to give Glacia a good one, the gift of music as Winter, the faun I met, played a song for her. After hearing that she only got visitors because they wanted something, I decided to visit just because I could. We left the palace and Winter headed home. As I made my way home, I decided to do something. I brought the carriage around to Glacia's palace.
"Glacia?" I asked.
"Oh, it's you again Princess. What do you want?" she asked.
"Well, since you're here alone on Wassailia, I was wondering if you would like to come with me and celebrate the holiday with my family and I at my palace." I said.
"Really?" she asked.
"Yes. No one should be alone on Wassalia." I said.
"Well, thank you very much. I would love to." she said.
So we flew back to my castle where I gave Baileywick the flowers along with my gift. I introduced my family to Glacia and Cedric made it snow around the tree which made it all the more beautiful.