Sofia laughed. "Don't be silly Princess." She said.
Gunther let out a snort. "If she was, Princess, why would she be here?" He tried to back Sofia up.
"And wouldn't Dragon have sensed it too?" Smithy put in.
Lavinia shook her head. "I heard her talking to Gunther, in the stables."
Sofia's eyes widened. "What... exactly did you hear, dear Princess?"
"You were talking about magic and what magic you had, so I thought you were some sort of fairy, but then Gunther asked if Dragon had the same magic and you said that 'each dragon is different.' meaning that you are a dragon and the only story I know of a dragon turning into a girl is the one you told me about." She folded her arms. "You're the dragon queen who was tricked by the evil wizard weren't you?"
Sofia got up. "Princess Lavinia..."
"Is it true, Sofia?"
She looked up at Jester.
His eyes were wide in shock. "Is this the secret that you tried to keep from us?"
Jane had heard what Lavinia had said and walked over to Sofia. "Sofia...?" She placed her hand on the girl's arm.
"Yes..." Sofia said, still looking at Jester.
He looked down. "I thought something was strange, but I didn't judge, we all have our pasts and don't really want to let everyone know about it." He looked up again and smiled. "Don't worry... we're still your friends, that's what you feared right? That we won't like you or be afraid?"
Sofia cupped her mouth and nodded. Tears threatened to spill out.
"Well you're a lot politer than our Dragon." Rake laughed.
"And useful." Jester muttered.
Gunther smiled at her. "These fools are too nice to dump someone like you."
Sofia met his eyes and nodded.
Lavinia hugged her around the middle. "Now you have to tell me all the stories from your travels!" She cheered.
Sofia laughed. "Fine, but only one a day. I have a thousand years of memories to remember for that many stories."
Gunther looked to Pepper, she was looking back at him with a knowing smile. He frowned.
"Just have to break it to Dragon now..." Jane sighed.
Sofia smirked. "I know a way to let him know... where is he?"
"My tower."
Sofia stepped away from everyone and tilted her head back. Blue and purple flames surrounded her. She opened her mouth and gave a most powerful roar.
Everyone jumped.
"Wow! That was more fearsome than Dragon's!" Rake hid behind Jester.
"Jane! Jane!" Dragon came flying towards them. "Did you hear that?! It's another dragon! Come on, let's go see it." He exclaimed.
Everyone laughed, even the tight-lipped Lady Turnkey.
Dragon frowned. "What?!"
"My dear Dragon... who do you think smells like a dragon here?" Jane asked.
"Apart from you?" He tilted his head.
She nodded, laughing.
He looked to Sofia. "You have a dragon! Why didn't you tell me when I asked you?"
"No, you big green frog... Sofia is the dragon!" Gunther said with a smirk.
Dragon looked at Sofia closely. "You roared like that?"
Sofia nodded. She let out a breath of smoke.
Dragon's eyes were wide as a full moon as he stepped back. "You are one! We've found another dragon!" He exclaimed looking to Jane in excitement.
Jane nodded, laughing and snorting.
"Actually, I think she found us." Jester pointed out.
Sofia sat back down and looked to Jester. "It's true, I found out about Dragon through Sir Theodore, that's what led me here and to accept his request." She looked down at her hands. "I think I have more reason to stay now though." She smiled. "I feel like for the first time since the curse, that I am wanted. That I belong somewhere." She glanced at Rake who was still shaken. "Sorry if I scared you Rake..." She bowed her head.
"That's quite alright." He was still slightly hidden behind Jester.
She thought for a moment. "How about I make it up to you by showing you a rare rose." She suggested.
He slowly came out from hiding. "Rare?"
She nodded. "It can only grow with black dragon magic. I am a black dragon, even when dragons roamed the earth, a black one was rare."
His eyes were like dinner plates. "Show me?"
"Do you have any rose seeds?" She asked.
He nodded and rummaged in his pouch and pulled out a small bag. "Here." He handed them over.
She took out a seed and held it in her hand, she put both her hands together.
Gunther watched as flames surrounded her hands, he was glad she didn't have to hide, but he was bummed that he wasn't one of the only ones to know about it. He sighed.
Sofia opened her hands, from the fire rose a black stalk, covered in thorns, and there beginning to bloom was a perfect royal blue rose. She smiled at Rake. "There you have it." She handed the blossom to Rake.
He examined the rose. "This is beautiful!" He stared at it.
"I could plant a full rose bush of them for you, if you'd like." She suggested.
He stared at her. "You'd really do that?!"
She nodded. "I don't have much use for my magic here, might as well find something for it."
He smiled. "Thank you."
"Sofia!" Dragon's head appeared beside her giving her a fright.
"Dragon?"
"Are there anymore dragons out there?" He asked.
She shrugged. "I haven't met one since I was cursed until now, I'm sorry."
He hung his head.
She petted his snout. "But I do know how to read Dragon runes... quite fluently too."
His eyes lit up. "Really?! Can you help Jane and me?" He asked.
She nodded. "Of course, but I need to ask you something too."
"Anything!"
She rolled her sleeve up to reveal her mark. "Have you seen this symbol before?"
He looked more closely at it. "I can't say I have."
She sighed. "I need to know what it is; it may be the only clue I have to find the sorcerer who trapped me in this body."
"I'll help you find the sorcerer. Don't worry about that."
"Sofia... about the ball..." Lavinia looked up at her.
"Yes, princess?"
"Will you be dancing with Gunther all night? Because I want to dance with you too." She added.
Jester snickered.
"What makes you assume I'll dance with Gunther at all?" Sofia asked with a raised brow.
She smirked. "Because he's your sweetheart."
Gunther spat out the water he was just drinking. "Princess, we've been through this, Sofia and I aren't courting. We've barely met."
"But you haven't been apart since you met!" She stated.
Sofia looked to Lady Turnkey, to find her sat on the seat next to the rose bushes, completely ignoring the goings on.
"That's because we're friends." Gunther explained.
Smithy was watching the interaction. Some part of me wishes that it was me that the princess was teasing about Sofia...
"So, can I dance with Sofia and Jane at the ball?" Lavinia looked to the girls.
"Of course, you can." They said together.
Sofia stood up. "I'm going to train." She stated. "I'll see you again, princess." She smiled.
Lavinia nodded. "Can I watch you practice?" She asked.
Sofia looked Lady Turnkey.
She nodded. "But keep far away, princess, don't want you getting caught in it."
"I want to watch too!" Cuthbert said, finally.
Sofia looked to him. "Any reason, your majesty?" She asked.
"I want to see what the fuss is about? I know you have dragon magic, but it doesn't mean that you can handle a sword." He folded his arms.
Sofia looked to Gunther. "Squire Gunther, would you care to spar?" She asked.
He smirked. "Of course." He stood and headed for the training ground with her and Jane, the royal children followed.
Jester watched them leave. "Gunther is sure interested in our little dragon queen." He smirked.
Smithy sighed.
Jester looked to him. "Are you sweet on her too, Smithy?"
Smithy's face turned pink. "W-what makes you say that?"
Pepper laughed. "It's obvious."
"You knew her secret from the start, didn't you?" Jester raised a brow. "That's why she went to your forge to hide after the heat got too much here last night."
He ran his hand through his blonde hair. "It doesn't mean anything. I do like her very much. But I think she sees me as a brother or something. Unlike Gunther."
"I think she only sees a strong friendship with any of us." Rake piped up. "She's a dragon, we are humans. That kind of puts everything in its place. Neither you nor Gunther have the right to fall for her."
Smithy looked to the gardener. Sometimes he's the smartest out of all of us. "You're right. Even if I did fall for her, it'd be nothing more than a dream."
Pepper stared into her cup of water. "But she did go to the sorcerer to transform into a human because she fell in love with one."
Smithy's eyes widened. Of course...
"But now she wants her dragon form back." Rake reminded her.
Jester looked at him. "Maybe love will make her not want to."
