Chapter 3: Royal Prep
During breakfast, King Roland the Second asked Princess Amber a serious question. "Amber, did you or did you not spy on me while I was giving welcoming gifts to your new sisters?"
"Somebody is in trouble." James snickered.
Amber ignored her twin and then answered with a defiant tone. "Yes. Yes, I did."
"Why did you do that?" Roland demanded.
"I was just passing by when I heard you giving them jewelry and I became curious." Amber explained.
Roland's features softened at that. "That's okay but why didn't you let us know you were there?"
"Well, it seemed you wanted things to be hidden since you didn't give them in public like Miranda did when she gave James and me those embroidery patches with the royal crest." Amber explained, hoping she'd not have to admit her jealousy.
Roland stopped to think about that. "You do have a point, Amber. However, I still want to discuss this in private with just the six of us and we'll do so after returning from Royal Prep."
Baileywick then approached them. "Your Majesty, the carriage is ready to take the Prince and the Princesses."
"Good." Roland replied. "It's no good being late for school at the first day."
The kids then took the carriage. "Why does this carriage have wings?" Sofia asked.
"You'll see." James happily answered. The horses pulling the carriage had wings and could fly. The kids were being flown to school. "Wow! I never flew to school before." Sofia commented.
Arriving at Royal Prep, Sofia and Lydia, as new students, were personally welcomed by the Headmistresses. Fauna, Flora and Merryweather introduced themselves to Sofia and commented on how nice it was to see Lydia again. The two Princesses were given an introductory song about Royal Prep. Said song made mention of the Golden Rule. Given the age gap between them, Sofia and Lydia were placed separately. When Sofia was led to a classroom, she tried to curtsy to her classmates but accidentally dropped her books. Amber was dismayed as the other classmates rushed to help Sofia. Sofia was, to her jealous stepsister's dismay, learning fast in her classes. Then came recess and Amber was talking to her two best friends Princess Hildegard and Princess Clio. Sofia soon approached to get herself acquainted to them. "Hi. I'm Sofia. I'm Amber's sister."
"Stepsister." Amber corrected again but Hildegard and Clio had eagerly gone to greet Sofia.
"Nice amulet." Hildegard said.
"Will you wear it for your ball?" Clio asked.
"Do you know about the ball?" Sofia asked in surprise.
"Everybody here knows, Sofia." Another Princess showed up. "Our families have been invited as well."
Now Sofia was worried. She had initially thought he would only embarrass herself in front of people within Enchancia. Meanwhile, Amber approached James. "James, have you ever introduced Sofia to the enchanted swing?"
James was shocked at this. "B-but Dad told us to make her and Lydia welcome."
"You did this to Prince Zandar back when he was a new student here, remember?" She maliciously asked and it convinced him. However, when James was about to make the suggestion to Sofia, she saw Lydia walking around in a sour mood. Sofia then decided to follow Lydia to see what that was about and James followed them out of concern as well. Amber decided to go after then in hopes Sofia and/or Lydia were up to no good and she could get them in trouble.
"Lydia!" Sofia called for her. "What's wrong?"
"Oh, Sofia. My new classmates were so looking down on me I couldn't stand being near them." Lydia explained.
"Why would they do that?" Sofia asked in confusion.
"They said we're not real Princesses but rather peasants whose mother wormed her way into a King's heart." Lydia answered.
"How mean." James commented.
"What about you, Sofia?" Lydia asked. "Did anybody insult you over our origins?"
"No." She answered with a smile.
"Glad to hear that." Lydia commented.
"What's that?" James asked while pointing at something on the floor. It was a bird that fell from its nest.
"Oh, no!" Sofia exclaimed. "Lydia, will you help me return this bird to the nest?"
"Sure thing, Sofia." Lydia replied and then cast a levitation spell on Sofia. After Sofia placed the bird back on the nest, her amulet briefly glowed and Lydia gently put her back to the floor.
"Awesome!" James exclaimed.
Sofia and Lydia then heard the bird thanking them. "Did I hear someone thanking me?" Sofia asked.
Eezeyal then made a noise that Sofia understood as a "Yes, it was that bird."
"I can understand Eezeyal too!" She exclaimed.
"The amulet must have blessed you, Sof." James suggested since Amber had previously told him about what she heard about the Amulet of Avalor. "Fantastic! Wait until Dad hears about that."
"No!" Sofia shouted in horror. "If he learns the amulet is really magical, he'll want it back."
"Oh, right." James accepted. "He might be afraid it'll eventually curse you as well."
"That's right, James." Sofia lied, not wanting to admit she thought King Roland would instead want it back to use the amulet's powers for himself. Having secretly overheard the conversation so far, Amber was satisfied enough to leave without listening to the rest.
"So, Lydia, since James knows about the amulet, do you think we should tell him about…"
"The Earrings of Thornberry?" Lydia completed. "Yes, I think we can trust him."
Later on, the Enchancian Prince and Princesses went back home. At the throne room, they were surprised at finding not only their parents but also Royal Sorcerer Cedric. "Dad, what's Cedric doing here?" Amber asked in confusion. "I thought it'd stay between just the six of us."
"Your mother and I changed our minds and decided to let Cedric in." Roland explained, making Amber uncomfortable at the idea of considering her stepmother as her mother.
Cedric then started at Sofia's amulet and then checked upon the book he brought to the meeting. "Merlin's Mushrooms!" He exclaimed. "Your Majesties! This is indeed the Amulet of Avalor!"
"Should I be concerned about a possible curse, Cedric?" The King asked.
"Indeed, Your Majesty." Cedric answered with a smile. "After all, 'With each deed performed, for better or worse, a power is granted, a blessing or curse'."
"Do you also know the rhyme, Mr. Cee-dric?" Sofia asked in amazement.
"It's Cedric." He corrected her while trying to remain calm since it wouldn't do him any good to yell at a Princess in front of the King and the Queen. "And yes, I know of the rhyme."
"Maybe Sofia should take it off before it curses her." Amber suggested, showing more concern over the possibility of a curse than she really has.
"Amber is right, Sofia." King Roland the Second agreed. "We don't know what'd make the Amulet of Avalor give you a curse."
"Please, Roland." Sofia pleaded with watery eyes. "Don't take the amulet. I've just got the ability to…"
"To what?" He was really concerned now.
"To understand animals." Sofia said as she conformed to the fact there was no turning back at that point.
Roland then gave some thought to that. He then looked at Lydia for an expert's opinion, making Cedric upset. "Roland, as I said before, if the amulet curses her, the curse will only be in effect while she wears the amulet."
"All right, I've made my decision." The King announced. "Sofia may keep the amulet but she'll take it off as soon as it curses her. Is that clear?"
"Yes." Everybody said.
"Good." He stated. "Everyone is dismissed except for you, Cedric. I want you to follow me to the jewel room to figure out what else has magical properties in there."
As everybody went to their rooms, Amber was upset Sofia wasn't forced to remove the Amulet. "It's okay." She thought. "I'll just wait until it curses her. Perhaps I'll induce her to do something wrong."
The next day, Queen Miranda led Sofia and Lydia to a gazebo. Two guests were waiting for them. "Ruby! Jade!" Sofia exclaimed.
"Did you like the surprise, Sofia?" Miranda asked and then turned her attention to Lydia. "Sorry, Lydia, but I've lost contact with all your friends from before you went to Sorcery School."
Sofia, Ruby and Jade were chatting when James suddenly showed up. "James?" Sofia asked.
"Hi, Sof." He said. "I thought I'd like to know your friends." He then approached the tea set. "May I?"
"Sure." Jade and Ruby replied and he poured them some tea. The girls were delighted. "So, Sof, are you and Lydia ready for the ball?"
"Oh, no!" Sofia exclaimed in horror. "We still haven't learned how to dance!"
Unbeknownst to them, Amber was overhearing it and was delighted to learn Sofia and Lydia had a weakness.
"Don't worry, Sof." James reassured her. "You have one dance lesson with Professor Popov before the ball and that's all you need."
"Not if I have anything to say about that." Amber thought.
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