"Sofin! Pssst! Wake up!"

Sofin slowly awoke to the sound of a rather insistent bluebird whispering in his ear. He rubbed his eyes tiredly and pulled himself up into a sitting position. His eyes slowly adjusted to the brightness of the new day as he turned to look at Mia. "What time is it?" he asked tiredly.

In response, Mia moved a wing to cover his mouth. "Shhhhh," she whispered, "we don't want to wake her up." She pointed a wing at a mass of blankets, where Sofin could hear the tiny snores of his sister from underneath the covers. Amber was definitely still asleep.

"Right," whispered Sofin, feeling a bit more awake. Looking through the glass dome, he could see the sun, still rising above the horizon. It was definitely too early for school. "Why did you wake me up so early?" he whispered to the bluebird.

"Last night, after you tried those jumps and it didn't work out, I asked Robin how to make you feel better, and then Robin told me to ask Clover, and then Clover told me to ask Whatnaught, but Whatnaught couldn't respond so I went to ask Minimus, and then Minimus told me he wanted to see you before school."

Sofin's half-awake mind took a few seconds to understand that sentence. "Oh, Minimus wanted to talk." The prince briefly considered just falling back into the covers and closing his eyes, but he couldn't. Not while a friend was waiting for him. With a silent yawn, Sofin stood up from the covers, trying not to make too much noise. "Okay, let's go."

Tiptoeing out of the observatory, Sofin followed Mia through the castle's corridors and outside to the stables. The training field looked beautiful in the early morning light. With careful footsteps, Sofin opened the door to the stables and moved to Minimus's stall. The pegasus was already wide awake.

"Sofin!" said Minimus excitedly. "You came!"

"Mhm," agreed Sofin tiredly. He unlocked the door in front of Minimus's stall. "Come on, let's go for a fly outside. We can talk in the air."

Sofin opened the door and exited the stables, Minimus trotting along behind him. The royal climbed onto the purple pegasus, letting out a yawn. "Sorry, Minimus," he explained. "I slept pretty late last night, and woke up really early." Now securely seated on the winged horse, Sofin called out, "Giddy-up!"

Minimus flapped his wings and soared up into the air, moving slowly to avoid jostling the little prince. He flew in lazy circles around the training field, not really going anywhere. The feeling of the cool wind against Sofin's face did wonders for waking him up. After just a few minutes of flying, he felt ready to speak up.

"Hey, Minimus. What did you want to talk to me about?" asked Sofin.

"Mia told me about everything that happened with the cheerleading team. I know how you must feel," replied the purple winged horse.

"You do?" asked Sofin, confused.

The pegasus nodded. "Before we met, when I was the only flying horse in the stables without a rider, I was feeling really sad about my life as a Flying Derby racer. I've always wanted to fly in the Derby, you see. But everyone told me that I couldn't do it, that my wings were too small, that no matter how hard I tried I'd never be able to fly in the Derby. And after a while, I started believing it too. I thought I was never going to become a Derby racer."

Minimus smiled beneath the prince. "But that all changed with you, Sofin. You thought I could become a good Derby racer, even though I didn't. You believed in me when no one else would. You made me practice and practice and we crossed that finish line together. It was the best feeling I've ever had. And now, I feel like I can do it! I feel like we can go to the Flying Derby championships and win. And it's all because you believed in me, Sofin. Let me tell you how I felt, when we crossed that finish line ahead of Hugo."

Still flying in slow circles, Minimus opened his mouth and began to sing.

"We'd taken off, into something new,
There's so much we'd gotta do.
And you're the only one who thought I'd make it through.
With a friend to see me though,
There's nothing I couldn't do,
And I spread my wings and soared into the blue!
I could be anything,
I could see anything,
I could teach anything,
I could reach anything,
I could do anything,
So could you, anything that you try,
Soon you'll see,
You could be anything."

Minimus paused. "Don't you see, Sofin? It's the same thing, but instead of me being afraid to fly Derby, you're too afraid to cheerlead. But you love cheerleading, just like I love Flying Derby. So no matter what everyone tells you, no matter what your family says or the coach says, you've gotta keep trying. You've gotta go to tryouts today and show them that you've got the right stuff!"

"But what if I don't have the right stuff?" said Sofin, still feeling hesitant. "I'm not any good at cheerleading."

"Then you have to practice until you are," said Minimus. "Just like I did. You were born to cheerlead, Sofin. Now show them you can do it!"

"You're right, Minimus," said Sofin. "I can still go to the cheerleading tryouts. I can show them I'm ready to learn and get better. And I can still become a cheerleader." Sofin continued the song where Minimus had left off.

"Cause I know, with you by my side,
It'll be a better ride.
Together we can be each other's guide.
And the only way to win,
Is to try and try again.
They wanna count me out, but I'll make them count me in!
I can be anything,
I can see anything,
I can teach anything,
I can reach anything,
I can do anything,
So can you, anything that we try.
Soon I'll see,
I could be anything.
Anything…"

The song drawing to a close, Minimus flew one last circle, then landed on the ground. Sofin dismounted the flying horse. The sun had begun to rise in the sky, now. It was time to get ready for school.

"Good luck out there, Sofin," said Minimus.

In response, Sofin ran forward and gave Minimus a huge hug. "Thanks, Minimus," he said, his face buried in purple hair. "I needed that." Tears of joy started leaking from his eyes. "I really needed that," he repeated.

"Anytime," said the horse. "But you've got to go now, or you'll be late for school."

Sofin wiped his face dry, then waved goodbye to the pegasus. "See you soon, Minimus!" With those words, Sofin headed back to the castle to get ready for school. He was getting onto that cheerleading team, whether the coach liked it or not. And the first step to doing that? Find the girl who had given him the note in the first place.

He didn't see her at all in his morning classes, but right before recess, Sofin spotted some familiar light brown hair in the crowd of students rushing to the playground. It was the girl who had stayed behind to talk to Professor Velova after him, and then given him the note telling him when cheerleading tryouts were. Sofin immediately started making his way through the crowd, trying his best to get to the brown-haired girl. He ducked and weaved across the masses of students, some familiar faces and some less so. Trying his best to not let the girl out of his sight, he pushed through the crowd until finally breaking free of the group of royals. He walked to the unknown girl, who was wearing a pretty pink sundress patterned with red roses.

When reaching her, he introduced himself. "Hi, it's nice to meet you. I'm Prince Sofin." He gave a little bow. Maybe he was being a little too formal? He just wanted to make a good first, or second, impression.

The girl giggled. "The pleasure is all mine. Princess Charlene." She curtsied with a mischievous smile, then popped back up to look at Sofin. "But I think we're already met."

Sofin nodded. "Why did you give me that note earlier?" he asked.

The girl shushed him by putting a finger to his lips, then looked around carefully. The playground was filled with lots of other princes and princesses, but no teachers in sight. "Sorry about that," she said, after she was done looking. "I just wanted to make sure Professor Velova wasn't around."

Sofin just nodded. He really didn't want the professor overhearing this conversation, that was for sure.

"I'm the captain of Royal Prep's cheerleading team," said Charlene. "I stayed behind to talk to Velova about tryouts as well. But I heard you ask about tryouts and not get an answer, so I scribbled it onto a piece of paper and dropped it when I pretended to bump into you." She rubbed the back of her head. "Sorry about that, by the way."

"It's fine," said Sofin. That was the least of his worries right now. "Why did you think I should be on the team?"

"Well," said Charlene, "Velova sort of has…weird expectations for what makes a good cheerleader. For her, it's all about passion and dedication. She thinks being energetic is super important for cheerleading. So when you walked up, all nervous and stuttering, I guess she thought you didn't have the passion a cheerleader needed. So she didn't even give you the time of the tryouts."

Sofin thought about Velova's classes, and how she always tried to bring excitement to the class. He thought about how Velova loved Amber, who was really passionate about Rapunzel. Weirdly enough, that explanation made a lot of sense. But, something was missing from that answer. Sofin asked, "So she didn't reject me just because I'm a boy?"

Charlene looked confused. "Of course not. Why would that matter?"

"Well," said Sofin, "cheerleading is a sport for princesses, and I'm a prince. That's why I was nervous in the first place."

"Ohhhhh, that makes a lot of sense," said Charlene. "Nah, Velova doesn't care about that stuff. Neither do I. If you do well at tryouts, you'll make it on the team."

"But," said Sofin, "I'm not any good at cheerleading."

Charlene gave him a light slap on the back. "Then practice, silly," she said. "I gave you that slip after Velova said no because I watched you during the Flying Derby. I saw how you didn't give up, even after Hugo knocked you off your horse. I know you have the determination to do well at cheerleading."

"But what about passion? What about energy?" asked Sofin. "How do I know I have that?"

Charlene laughed. "You're here now, aren't you? Even though Velova said no, you came to talk to me. Know it or not, you really do love cheerleading." She poked Sofin in the chest. "I'll see you at tryouts later, Sofin. Good luck!" With those parting words, Charlene walked away, probably to find some of her own friends.

Charlene was right. He did love cheerleading. And he wanted to be a cheerleader, no matter what everyone told him. So when classes for the day ended, Sofin headed to the place Charlene had told him, inside the big gym. He was ready.

The rest of the girls hoping to try out were standing in a long line, faced sideways towards Professor Velova and the current cheerleading team, headed by Charlene. The professor was wearing a beret. Sofin walked to one end of the line and stood, facing the professor just like everyone else. He could hear whispers from the girls in the line, but he didn't care. They could talk, but nobody was going to stop him.

Professor Velova seemed to notice that Sofin was there. "Sofin?" she asked, sounding more confused than angry. She walked towards the prince, standing directly in front of him. "How did you know when tryouts were?"

Sofin carefully avoided looking at Charlene.

"It doesn't matter," continued the professor when Sofin gave no response. "My answer still hasn't changed. You simply don't have the passion to become a cheerleader." Her voice was flat, devoid of any real anger.

Sofin took a deep breath. This was it. He'd gone through so many troubles over the last few days, but now he was here, ready to try out just like every other girl in this line. He just needed to prove it.

Sofin looked Professor Velova directly in the eyes. "Professor Velova, I know you said I couldn't become a cheerleader. And I know cheerleading is a princess thing and not a prince thing. But I don't care, because I love cheerleading from the bottom of my heart. Ever since I saw the cheerleading team perform at the dazzleball game against Hexley Hall, I've wanted to join. I just need a chance to prove to you that I'm just as excited and passionate and energetic as every other person in this line. I need a chance to prove that I can be anything that I try. Please, Professor Velova, just give me a chance."

The professor was silent for a moment. She took a step back, still looking Sofin in the eyes. Sofin started feeling nervousness rise in his chest. Did his speech work? What would she say?

Finally, the professor spoke. "I'm sorry, Sofin. It seems that I misjudged you when you first came up to me. There is more to you than meets the eye, isn't there? If it's a chance to try out you want, then it's a chance to try out you'll get. You've certainly shown you have what it takes by coming here today." With those final accepting words, her face broke into a wide smile.

Sofin wanted to jump in joy right then and there. He wanted to rush forwards and pull Professor Velova into a hug. But neither of those would have been proper, so instead he just responded with a heartfelt, "Thank you." All the heartache was finally over. Now all he needed to do was do well at tryouts.

Then tryouts began, and Sofin realized very quickly that it wasn't nearly as difficult as he had expected. They weren't asked to do flips in midair or touch their toes or anything crazy like that. Instead, Professor Velova and the cheerleading team just had them do some stretches. The hardest thing he had to do at tryouts was do a roll across the floor and stand up on his feet, which Sofin did with ease. Many of the other princesses struggled with that.

"Don't worry," whispered Charlene in Sofin's ear, "the really hard stuff comes after you get on the team." Sofin was glad for it.

When tryouts finally ended—and more than one princess had already left—Professor Velova cleared her throat, getting everyone's attention. "Since three of our members left last year, there are three available spots open on the cheerleading team for this year," she said. "I'd like to welcome to the team Princess Clara, Princess Evelyn, and Prince Sofin."

Yes! He made it! He really made it on the cheerleading team! Yes! Sofin was almost ready to explode in excitement.

"Thank you to everyone else for trying out, and we hope to see you all again next year," continued Professor Velova. "For those members who did make the team, practices are on Fridays after school. Please speak to Charlene or me if you have any questions. But before that, I do need to take this year's cheerleading team picture for the yearbook. New members in the center, please!"

His heart filled with joy, Sofin joined all the other cheerleaders and faced the camera. He was here. This was real. He hadn't fallen asleep in the observatory and started dreaming. He was a cheerleader.

"Smile!" said Professor Velova. How could he not? Then, with a click of the camera, the picture was taken and the moment was saved forever.

Author's Note: Thanks for reading! Charlene is an OC of Sofia2017 planning (check them out!), though Velova is my own character.