Tales from the Castle - a Sofia the First fanfic
Chapter 3: Being Yourself
Notes: Chapter 3 is a story suggested by retro mania, and takes place during the time Sofia, Amber, James, and their friends are children.
At Royal Prep
It was a Friday afternoon at Royal Prep, and classes were letting out for the day. In a hallway, Sofia, Amber, Hildegard, and Cleo were standing talking to each other.
"I just aced my sewing test!" Sofia exclaimed with pride.
"And I just aced my outdoors test!" Cleo also exclaimed with pride.
"I envy you sometimes, Sofia" Amber said. "I wish I could sew like you".
"And I have to admit, I envy you as well, Cleo" Hildegard said. "I sometimes wish I had your nature skills".
"Wouldn't it be great if we could all switch lives for a day?" Amber smiled.
"That might be interesting" Sofia thought out loud.
"It would certainty give us an idea of how the other one lives" Cleo commented.
"It would be interesting" Hildegard smiled.
At that moment, near them, a new mirror had been recently placed on the wall. As soon as Sofia, Amber, Hildegard, and Cleo had stopped talking, the mirror started to gently sparkle a bit. Sofia noticed it out of the corner of her eye. "Strange" Sofia thought to herself as she and the others walked away. "Must be the way the light is hitting it".
Hildegard and Cleo got aboard their flying carriages and headed home. Meanwhile, Sofia, Amber, and James got aboard their flying carriage and headed home to Enchancia Castle.
The next morning
It was Saturday morning at Enchancia Castle. Amber slowly woke up. As she looked around the bedroom, she suddenly noticed it wasn't her bedroom - it was Sofia's bedroom.
"What am I doing here?" Amber thought, still half asleep.
Amber walked over to a mirror, and looked at her reflection. But, it wasn't Amber looking back at her - it was Sofia's. Amber gasped as the sight.
At that moment, a knock came at the door. Amber went over to the door, opened it, and discovered Sofia, now in Amber's body.
"Amber?" Sofia asked.
"Yes" Amber answered.
"It appears we've switched bodies" Sofia observed.
"But, how?" Amber asked, confused.
Sofia thought for a moment. "I may have an idea" Sofia said. "Remember yesterday at Royal Prep when we wished we could all switch places for a day?"
"Yes" Amber answered.
"Well, when we did that, I noticed that a new mirror had been placed in the hall" Sofia started. "After we talked about switching places, the mirror started to to gently sparkle a bit. I thought it was just the way the light was hitting it. But, what if it had the power to switch us?".
"Oh, gosh!" Amber exclaimed. "Another magic mirror?"
"It would appear so" Sofia answered. "Lucky for us we put a one day time limit on the wish".
"Then we'll change back after a day?" Amber asked.
"I would think" Sofia answered. "However, if we gonna switch bodies for a day, there's something you need to know".
"What?" Amber asked.
"Well ... I ... I don't know how to say this" Sofia said.
"Just go ahead and say it" Amber suggested.
"My amulet ... it's magical" Sofia started. "It allows me to talk to animals, and gives me the ability to summon a Princess when I need urgent help".
"So that's how Princess Jasmine came to our rescue in Tangu" Amber smiled.
"Yes" Sofia smiled back. "And since we've switched bodies, the amulet will probably work for you today. Just don't be surprised when you can understand and talk to Clover, Mia, and Robin".
"Oh my gosh!" Amber exclaimed. "That's how we found Daddy on Wassailia! Robin and Mia told you how to find him!".
"Yes" Sofia smiled, "with help from the animals in the woods".
At that point, Amber hugged Sofia, and smiled.
"I promise you, Sofia, that while we're in each others bodies, I'll take very good care of your amulet" Amber smiled.
"Thank you, Amber" Sofia smiled. "Just a few ground rules. Don't take it off, and don't do anything bad or the amulet will curse you - like the time I got a frog in my throat at the Harvest Festival. Also, keep an eye on Mr. Cee-drick. I like him, and I consider him to be a friend, but he has taken more than a casual interest in my amulet lately, why I haven't figured out yet".
"Understood" Amber smiled at Sofia. "I promise I'll protect your amulet while I'm in your body".
At Corinthia Castle
That same morning, Hildegard slowly woke up. As she woke up, she looked around and noticed that she wasn't in her room in Friezenburg Castle - she was instead in Cleo's room in Corinthia Castle.
Hildegard slowly got up, and found a mirror. When Hildegard looked in the mirror, it wasn't her reflection staring back at her - it was Cleo's.
"Oh, my!" Hildegard exclaimed. "I'm in Cleo's body! We must have switched places!"
At that moment, a knock came at the door.
"Come in" Hildegard invited.
The door opened, and in walked Cleo's mother, Queen Katherine. Katherine was dressed in a Buttercup troop leader uniform. She looked at Hildegard (who she thought was Cleo) and smiled.
"Good morning, sweetheart" Katherine smiled.
"Good morning, Mom" Hildegard smiled back. Hildegard decided to play along until she found out what was going on.
"Are you ready for the nature hike today?" Katherine asked.
"Oh yes, I'm ready" Hildegard smiled. "That's right" Hildegard thought, "Cleo's a Buttercup Scout".
"I'll let you get ready" Katherine said as she hugged Hildegard. "See you at breakfast".
Hildegard smiled as Katherine left the room.
"Well, I've better get dressed" Hildegard said as she walked into Cleo's walk-in closet. As she walked into Cleo's closet, Hildegard immediately knew where to find things. Hildegard soon realized that she had access to Cleo's memories, which would make living life as Cleo much easier.
Hildegard put on Cleo's Buttercup Scout uniform, and then looked at herself in the mirror. "Cute uniform" Hildegard smiled. "Comfortable, too".
After breakfast, Hildegard and Katherine went out into the courtyard of Corinthia Castle. In a few minutes, Katherine's Buttercup troop arrived.
"Good morning, girls" Katherine greeted the Buttercup troop with a smile.
"Good morning, Queen Katherine" the scouts said with a smile.
"Girls" Katherine announced, "we have a new Buttercup with us today. Her name is June Lawrence. Let's give June a nice Buttercup welcome".
"Buttercups! Buttercups! Make some room! Buttercups! Buttercups! Watch us bloom!" the girls happily chanted.
"Cleo" Katherine smiled at Hildegard. "Would you like to present June with her Buttercup vest?"
"Of course" Hildegard smiled as she took the vest and helped June put it on. Hildegard then smiled at June, and said "Welcome".
June smiled back, as if it was the first time in a while that anybody had been friendly to her.
As the girls gathered near the front gate, Katherine took Hildegard aside.
"Cleo" Katherine started saying to Hildegard, "please stay close to June today. She's new to our area, and I'd like her to have a friend right off the bat".
"Of course" Hildegard smiled.
"You see, Cleo" Katherine started, "June wasn't treated well at the last place she lived, and her and her family had to move as a result".
"Bullied?" Hildegard asked, sadly.
"I'm afraid so" Katherine sadly replied.
"I'll make her feel welcomed" Hildegard smiled.
Suddenly, Hildegard started getting images from Cleo's past. In her past, before she met Hildegard, Cleo had a friend. Then one day, the friend stopped hanging around with Cleo. When Cleo asked the friend what was going on, the friend told Cleo that she wasn't in enough for the friend's new in crowd. The friend then tossed Cleo aside ... like garbage. It made Cleo very sad, and it wasn't until Hildegard came along that Cleo could trust anyone to be a friend. And, even now, Cleo was very careful not to do anything to drive Hildegard away, because she didn't want to loose another friend.
Hildegard found herself tearing up. "Why, Cleo?" Hildegard sadly thought to herself. "Why didn't you ever tell me about this? How dare somebody treat my precious Cleo like garbage?! If I change back to my body, I promise you Cleo that one of the first things I'll do is to hug you and tell you that I'll never throw you away like that!".
Hildegard composed herself, and went over to June. Hildegard then put her arm around June. "Let's say we have an enjoyable day today" Hildegard smiled at June.
June smiled back at Hildegard, happy that somebody was being friendly to her.
At Friezenburg Castle
On that same morning, at Friezenburg Castle, Cleo awoke. As she opened her eyes, Cleo noticed that she wasn't in her room at Corinthia Castle. Cleo was instead in Hildegard's room in Friezenburg Castle.
Cleo got out of bed, and soon came across a mirror. As Cleo looked into the mirror, the reflection staring back at her wasn't that of her, but of Hildegard.
"Oh, gosh!" Cleo exclaimed. "Have Hildegard and I switched bodies? Did that wish actually come true?"
Cleo started going through Hildegard's dresser, deciding she had better get dressed first, then figure out what to do. As Cleo went through Hildegard's dresser, she discovered Hildegard's locked diary. Cleo picked up the diary, and immediately knew that Hildegard wore the key around her neck. Cleo felt her neck, and discovered the diary key.
Cleo looked at Hildegard's diary, not knowing whether to open it or not. There was a part of Cleo that considered such things to be private. But there was another part of Cleo that wanted to know what Hildegard truly thought of her. Cleo already had one friend dump her. Perhaps in reading Hildegard's diary, Cleo could find out about any faults she might have in Hildegard's eyes, and work to correct them.
For the next few minutes, Cleo wrestled with the notion whether or not to open Hildegard's diary. In the end, however, curiosity got the better of her. Cleo put the key into the diary lock, and unlocked Hildegard's diary.
Cleo opened the dairy to the last few written pages, and started reading. One entry read:
I had a play date this morning with Cleo, Amber, Sofia, Ruby, and Jade. There are times I really envy Ruby and Jade. The two of them are so open and honest, and love to laugh and joke around. I wish I could be like them, instead of having to present a reserved appearance. There are times where I'd just like to let it out in public like the two of them do. That must be Heaven itself to be able to do that.
Another entry read:
I overheard Prince Hugo this afternoon at Royal Prep downgrading Sofia to some of his friends because she's a commoner. He's got his nerve! Sofia's one of the sweetest, kindest persons I know. She's had a positive effect on a lot of us, even Amber who has become less stuffy as a result.
And then there was an entry about Cleo:
I spent the day with my dear friend Cleo. I always have the best times with Cleo. She's my best friend, and I love her dearly. I can't imagine my life without Cleo. I can be open around her. I can laugh, and sometimes even cry, around her and she won't think badly of me. She's a sweet, kind soul. And I'm very blessed to have her as my best friend.
Cleo shed a tear of happiness over the entry about her. "She likes me!" Cleo thought with happiness. "She really likes me!"
Cleo then closed Hildegard's diary, locked it, and put it back where she had found it. Cleo then looked at the diary and said "Don't worry, Hildegard. I'll never tell anybody, not even you, that I read your diary".
At that point, Hildegard's mother knocked on the door, then came in.
"Hildegard" Hildegard's mother said to Cleo. "Time for breakfast".
"I'll be right down ... Mother" Cleo answered, deciding to play along with the body switch for the time being. Cleo quickly got dressed, then headed for the dining room.
Back at Enchancia Castle
Amber, still in Sofia's body, had spent the morning in Sofia's room. At one point, Clover came in, and Amber and Clover had a pleasant conversation about everyday things. Clover never suspected he was actually talking to Amber.
"Sofia's blessed to have this amulet" Amber thought to herself. "I can see why she treasures it so".
After a while, Amber left Sofia's room, and walked down the hall. A few moments later, Amber came across Queen Miranda.
"Hello, Sofia" Miranda smiled, thinking it was Sofia. "How are you doing today, sweetheart?"
"Fine, Mom" Amber smiled, trying to be as much like Sofia as possible.
Amber knew what would come next. Miranda would want to hug Sofia. And why not? They were mother and daughter. The thought, however, made Amber nervous. It wasn't that Amber didn't love Miranda. Deep down inside, Amber loved Miranda very much. The problem for Amber was that she had lost her mother, and she was very afraid to become close to Miranda, for fear that someday she might loose Miranda as she had lost her birth mother. That was a pain Amber never wanted to experience again.
At the same time, Amber was so very hungry for the closeness of a mother. Perhaps, being in Sofia's body, this was an opportunity to take advantage of.
Miranda stepped toward Amber, who she thought was Sofia, and hugged her. Amber suddenly melted into Miranda's arms. It felt so good to be held and loved by a mother once again.
Sofia, in Amber's body, saw the touching scene as she slowly walked up. Sofia didn't want to ruin the moment. Sofia saw that Amber was enjoying being held and loved.
Miranda saw Sofia, in Amber's body, and smiled. "Hello, Amber".
"Hello, Mother" Sofia smiled, trying to act as much like Amber as possible. "I think Amber would like to have more moments like this with Mom" Sofia thought to herself. "Perhaps I can open a door for her". Sofia, in Amber's body, walked up to Miranda and hugged her. "I love you, Mother" Sofia smiled.
Miranda hugged Sofia, in Amber's body, back. Sofia, meanwhile, smiled at Amber. At the same time, Amber realised what Sofia was doing, and smiled back at Sofia, being very greatful for such a door being opened.
After a little bit, Sofia and Amber walked together down the hallway as Miranda watched. King Roland walked up behind Miranda.
"Miranda?" Roland asked. "Is everything alright?"
"Yes, Rolie" Miranda smiled. "Everything is perfect. Amber just hugged me, and said that she loved me. It's a dream come true".
Roland hugged Miranda, happy that Miranda was happy.
Sofia and Amber turned a corner, then stopped.
"Now that I've open a door for you" Sofia smiled at Amber, "I want you to promise me that if we return to our own bodies, you'll take advantage of being close to Mom".
"But she's your mother" Amber started. "I don't want to take time away from the two of you".
"She our mother" Sofia smiled. "You have as much right to her love as I do. Please tell me you'll take advantage of it".
"Yes" Amber smiled as he hugged Sofia. "Thank you, thank you, thank you".
That night, Sofia, Amber, Hildegard, and Cleo went to sleep. During the night, the spell came to an end, and the four returned to their own bodies. The next morning, the four awoke to discover they were back in their own bodies. Each of them smiled. They were richer because of the experience. Sofia had given Amber the gift of being held and loved by a mother. Amber now had the gift of being held and loved by a mother whenever she wanted. Hildegard had found out about Cleo's past, and would be able to show Cleo that she would never throw Cleo away. And Cleo discovered that Hildegard was a true friend, a friend who would never leave her.
That Monday at Royal Prep
Sofia, Amber, Hildegard, and Cleo arrived for school on Monday morning. After the four hugged each other, Sofia and Amber told Hildegard and Cleo about what Sofia had seen the mirror do on Friday. The four decided they had better warn Miss Flora, Miss Fauna, and Miss Merryweather about the mirror, and what it had done.
Upon hearing what the mirror had done, the three headmistresses investigated, and found that the mirror was something called The Reverse Switch Mirror which alows people to switch bodies.
"That mirror was never meant to be displayed" Miss Flora started. "It is being taken down as we speak. I apologize for any inconvenience it put you through".
Sofia and Amber smiled at each other, and Hildegard and Cleo smiled at each other.
"Actually, Miss Flora" Amber started, "it wasn't an inconvenience. The four of us found out things that have made our relationships even stronger".
Miss Flora smiled. She could see on Amber, Sofia, Hildegard, and Cleo's faces that some good had come out of this.
"You've better run along to class now" Miss Flora said to Sofia, Amber, Hildegard, and Cleo.
As Sofia and Amber left for class, Hildegard turned to Miss Flora.
"Miss Flora?" Hildegard started. "May I speak to Cleo for a little while, alone? I have something I very much want to say to her".
"Of course, Hildegard" Miss Flora answered. "The classroom across the hall is empty. Take as long as you need".
Hildegard and Cleo went into the empty classroom, and shut the door. Hildegard then hugged Cleo with a warm embrace.
"What was that for?" Cleo wanted to know.
"I found out about your past, Cleo" Hildegard started, with tears in her eyes. "I know how that so-called friend threw you away like garbage. I will never do that to you, Cleo. Never. Your my best friend, and I love you".
Cleo cried with happiness as she and Hildegard hugged once again.
"If I may ask, Cleo?" Hildegard asked. "Who was the piece of filth who treated you with such disrespect?".
Cleo hesitated for a few moments, then answered. "... Princess Deidre".
"Well!" Hildegard exclaimed. "It will be a cold day before I have anything to do with her ever again! I never really liked her to begin with. And now I have a personal reason not to like her - she treated you, my best friend, like garbage. You deserve better, Cleo. You deserve much better than what she handed you. If you ask me, you're well rid of her".
Cleo smiled in gratitude.
"Something else, Cleo" Hildegard started. "I know your afraid to do anything that might cause me to drop you as a friend. You don't have to be afraid any longer. We will always be friends. From this point forward, I want you to be yourself. If you have a different opinion, I want you to voice it. If you want to do something different than what I am doing, I want you to do it".
"Thank you" Cleo smiled.
"Changing the subject, there's a new girl in your Buttercup troop" Hildegard said. "Her name is June Lawrence, and she is new to your area. Her and and family had to move from where they were living because June was the victim of bullying".
Cleo gasped.
"I've already made friends with her on your behalf" Hildegard smiled. "You'll like her. She's sweet and kind. I think the two of you will hit it off nicely".
Hildegard and Cleo hugged once again. Their friendship was now even stronger.
That afternoon at Enchancia Castle
School was over with for the day, and Sofia, Amber, and James had arrived back at Enchancia Castle. James was in a hurry to get started on a school project, and quickly went to his room.
As Sofia and Amber walked into the castle, Queen Miranda was waiting for them.
"Welcome home, my precious ones" Miranda smiled. "Did you have a good day?".
"Yes" Sofia smiled as she hugged Miranda.
"It was the best" Amber smiled as she also hugged Miranda.
As Amber hugged Miranda, she felt so happy. Amber had a mother who loved and cared about her. And Amber could now return that love. For Amber, it was the most wonderful feeling in the world.