Tales from the Castle - a Sofia the First fanfic
Chapter 4: A New Friend
Notes: Chapter 4 is a story I came up with, and takes place during the time Sofia, Lucinda, Ruby, Jade, and their friends are children.
New arrivals
It was early morning in the Village of Dunwitty. At Lucinda's house, as Lucinda woke up, she heard voices coming from downstairs. Lucinda got dressed, went downstairs, and entered the kitchen where her parents were talking to a man, a woman, and a girl Lucinda's age who had shoulder length black hair. The man was dressed in fancy clothes, and the woman and the girl were dressed as Witches.
"Ah! Come in Lucinda" Lucinda's father invited. Lucinda's father then turned to the man, woman, and girl. "This is our daughter, Lucinda". Lucinda's father then turned back to Lucinda. "This is Mr. and Mrs. Starwell, and their daughter, Adair. Their on the run from Neila".
"It's nice to meet you" Lucinda said to the Starwell's.
"Lucinda" Lucinda's mother started. "Perhaps you would like to show Adair your room?".
"Of course" Lucinda smiled. Lucinda then turned to Adair. "This way, Adair" Lucinda invited.
Adair got up and followed Lucinda upstairs. Adair was very nervous. In a few moments, Lucinda and Adair were in Lucinda's room.
"Here's we are" Lucinda smiled.
"This is nice" Adair smiled in a nervous way.
Lucinda walked over to Adair, and put her hand on Adair's shoulder. "It's alright" Lucinda gently said. "Your safe here. Neila doesn't know about Dunwitty".
Adair sighed in relief.
"How long have the three of you been on the run from Neila?" Lucinda asked.
"A little over ten months" Adair answered. "It appears we lost her a few months back". Adair stopped for a few moments, then continued. "Why does Neila do what she does?"
"Well" Lucinda started, "the fact is she's an evil Witch, the kind of evil Witch that gives other evil Witches a good name. Her and her followers want to take over ... everything. How did you and your parents get involved with Neila?".
"One night, Neila and some of her followers came to our house" Adair started. "They wanted us to join their ranks. And you just don't say no to Neila and live to tell the tale. So, we went with them. One night, when everybody was asleep, we saw a chance to escape and we took it. And we've been running ever since".
It had been the same story with Lucinda and her parents.
"So, what's next for you and your parents?" Lucinda asked Adair.
"There's a house here in Dunwitty we're interesting in buying" Adair answered. "We'd like to settle down ... and start over".
"Dunwitty is a nice place" Lucinda smiled. "I think you and your parents will like it here".
Adair smiled. Finally, it looked like her and her parents could start living a normal life.
A few days later
A few days had passed, and Adair and her parents were settling into their new home. Meanwhile, Lucinda walked over to Jade's house, and knocked on the door. Jade answered the door.
"Lucinda!" Jade exclaimed with glee. "Good morning!"
"Good morning, Jade" Lucinda smiled back.
"Please, come in" Jade invited.
Jade and Lucinda stepped into the front room.
"Jade" Lucinda started. "I'd like to ask you for a favor, if possible".
"Of course" Jade smiled.
"A new family has moved into the village" Lucinda started. "A Warlock, a Witch, and their daughter, who is also a Witch. Their daughter's name is Adair, and she's our age. I was wondering if you'd like to help her make some friends here?"
"Of course" Jade smiled as she hugged Lucinda. "I'd be happy to. How about we go over to her house right now and get started?"
"That would be great!" Lucinda smiled back.
Lucinda and Jade walked over to Adair's house, and Lucinda knocked on the door. Mrs. Starwell answered the door.
"Lucinda!" Mrs. Starwell smiled. "What a nice surprise!"
"Mrs. Starwell" Lucinda started. "This is my friend, Jade".
"Nice to meet you, Jade" Mrs. Starwell smiled.
"Nice to meet you, too, Mrs. Starwell" Jade smiled back.
"Could Adair come out for a while?" Lucinda asked. "Jade and I would like to show Adair around the village".
"Oh!" Mrs. Starwell smiled. "She'd like that!". Mrs. Starwell then called upstairs. "Adair, would you come down here?"
"Coming" Adair said.
Adair soon appeared.
"Adair" Mrs. Starwell started. "Lucinda and her friend, Jade, would like to show you around the village".
Adair's eyes lit up.
Lucinda, Jade, and Adair walked around the village. As they walked around, Lucinda and Jade got to know Adair, and introduced Adair to the village children, including Ruby. The village children made Adair feel welcome.
That night, at Adair's house, Adair had just got ready for bed when her father knocked on the door.
"Come in" Adair invited.
"I wanted to say good night" Adair's father smiled. "Did you have a good day today?"
"I had a wonderful day" Adair smiled. "And I made some friends today".
"Oh! That's wonderful, sweetheart" Adair's father smiled as he hugged Adair.
The next afternoon
Early the next afternoon, Adair was walking over to Jade's house - she had been invited to a tea party there. As Adair walked on the sidewalk, she noticed a girl her age with reddish hair, and wearing a fancy blue gown and a tiara. It was Princess Sofia.
Sofia noticed Adair, and walked over.
"Hello" Sofia smiled as she extended her hand in a gesture of friendship. "I'm Sofia. What's your name?"
Adair knew it could be only one person - Princess Sofia of Enchancia.
"My name is Adair Starwell, Princess Sofia" Adair smiled as she shook Sofia's hand. "My family and I just moved here a few days ago".
"Welcome to Dunwitty, Adair!" Sofia exclaimed with a smile. "By the way, just call me Sofia - I'm not one for being formal, especially around other kids".
"Nice to meet you ... Sofia" Adair smiled.
"Did you know there's another Witch family in Dunwitty? The Magwins" Sofia commented to Adair.
"Yes" Adair replied. "Lucinda and I have already become friends. Her and Jade introduced me to the other village children yesterday.
"So then, you've met Ruby too?" Sofia asked.
"Yes" Adair smiled. "In fact, I'm going over to Jade's to have a tea party with her, Jade, and Lucinda".
"So am I" Sofia grinned. "Let's walk over there together".
"I'd like that, Sofia" Adair smiled.
In a little bit, Adair, Sofia, Lucinda, Ruby, and Jade were having a nice little tea party in Jade's back yard.
"Adair", Ruby started, "you have any hobbies?"
"I paint landscapes" Adair answered. "Now that my parents and I have settled down, I hope to start painting again. My dad says we could even sell some in the restaurant".
"The restaurant, as in the former restaurant near the village square?" Jade asked.
"Yes" Adair smiled. "My parents will be opening it in the near future. My father is a trained chef".
"Oh! That's wonderful!" Sofia smiled. "It will be nice having a restaurant there again".
As the tea party went on, everybody had an enjoyable time. Lucinda looked at Adair. Adair was truly happy, for the first time in a long time.
"Adair" Sofia started. "Ruby, Jade, Lucinda, and I are having a sleepover next Saturday night at Enchancia Castle. Consider yourself invited".
"Thank you, Sofia" Adair beamed.
After the tea party, Lucinda walked Adair home.
"That was a wonderful tea party" Adair smiled. "It was nice to have fun again".
"And the fun is just beginning" Lucinda smiled. "Sofia always puts on the best slumber parties. You'll like it at the castle".
That next Saturday
It was now Saturday. Early that afternoon, Adair, Lucinda, Ruby, and Jade gathered at Jade's house. Soon, a royal carriage carrying Sofia pulled up.
"Wow!" Adair exclaimed in awe.
Everybody climbed aboard the royal carriage, and started off toward Enchancia Castle. In a short while, the royal carriage reached the courtyard of Enchancia Castle where Baileywick, King Roland, and Queen Miranda were waiting.
"Miss Adair Starwell, Miss Jade Chen, Miss Lucinda Magwin, and Miss Ruby Hanshaw from the Village of Dunwitty, and Princess Sofia of Enchancia" Baileywick announced.
Everybody climbed off the royal carriage, and walked over to King Roland and Queen Miranda.
"Hello, girls" Roland smiled. "Welcome".
"Mom, Dad" Sofia started. "This is our new friend - Adair Starwell".
"It's a pleasure to meet you, Adair" Roland smiled.
"We hope you enjoy your stay at the castle" Miranda smiled.
"Thank you, King Roland, Queen Miranda" Adair smiled as she curtsied.
Sofia, Adair, Lucinda, Ruby, and Jade walked into the castle as Roland and Miranda looked on.
"What a well mannered young lady" Miranda remarked about Adair. "And It's nice that Lucinda has a Witch friend".
Sofia took Adair, Lucinda, Ruby, and Jade up to the castle observatory. Once there, they discovered five beds were set up.
"Is this where we're having the slumber party?" Adair asked.
"Yes" Lucinda smiled. "Is this wonderful, or what?"
"I love astronomy" Adair smiled.
"So do I" Sofia smiled back. "In fact, Lord Beinstock, the Official Royal Astronomer of Enchancia Castle, will be here tonight for anybody who wants to do some star gazing".
Everybody had a wonderful time at the slumber party. Sofia and Adair enjoyed some star gazing with Lord Beinstock. Adair and Lucinda entertained everybody with some magic. And Ruby and Jade sang and danced, with everybody joining in.
A week later
In Dunwitty, at her parents restaurant, Adair was helping out by taking orders. The restaurant had only been opened for a few days, and business was already booming.
As Adair was walking over to a table, she noticed a familiar face sitting at the table - Queen Miranda.
"Hello, Queen Miranda" Adair greeted. "Welcome to our restaurant".
"This is a lovely place you and your parents have here" Miranda commented.
"Thank you, Queen Miranda" Adair smiled. "Are you ready to order?"
"You have a fine menu here" Queen Miranda smiled. "I'm trying to decide between the Apricot Chicken and the Chicken Parmesan. Do you have a suggestion?"
"The Chicken Parmesan is excellent" Adair smiled. "It's one of my father's best dishes".
"Chicken Parmesan it is then" Miranda smiled back.
Adair finished taking Miranda's order, and in a little bit returned with Miranda's meal. After Miranda had finished, she walked over to a wall where some of Adair's paintings were for sale. One of the paintings caught Miranda's eye - a beautifully painted scene of the Dunwitty Village Square.
"Is there anything else I can do for you today, Queen Miranda?" Adair asked.
"I'd like to purchase this painting" Miranda answered with a smile. "Please add it to my bill". Miranda looked at the painting again, then back at Adair. "Your really quite the talented artist".
"Thank you, Queen Miranda" Adair smiled with pride.
"And please pass on my complements to your father" Miranda smiled. "That was an excellent meal".
"I'll be happy to" Adair beamed with happiness. "Thank you".
Later, at Enchancia Castle, King Roland came across Miranda having two servants hang the painting on a hall wall.
"That's a nice portrait, Miranda" Roland commented. "Where did you get it?"
"I bought it in the village, Rolie" Miranda answered.
"A local artist?" Roland asked.
"Would you believe Adair Starwell?" Miranda responded with a smile.
"Incredible!" Roland said in awe. "She's quite the talented artist for a girl her age".
A new addition
The following Saturday, at Enchancia Castle, Sofia, Queen Miranda, and Baileywick were standing in the courtyard. Sofia was wearing her Buttercup scout uniform.
In a few minutes, a wagon pulled into the courtyard.
"Enchancia Buttercup Troop number forty seven" Baileywick announced.
Mrs. Hanshaw, Ruby, Jade, Meg, Peg, and Lucinda stepped down from the wagon, followed by ... Adair.
"Hello, everyone!" Sofia smiled as she joined the rest of the Buttercups.
"Everybody" Mrs. Hanshaw started, "we have a new member of our Buttercup troop with us today. Please give a warm Buttercup welcome to Adair Starwell".
Sofia, Ruby, Jade, Meg, Peg, and Lucinda joined together and chanted "Buttercups! Buttercups! Make some room! Buttercups! Buttercups! Watch us bloom!".
"Who would like to present Adair with her Buttercup vest?" Mrs. Hanshaw asked.
"I will" Lucinda volunteered with a smile.
Lucinda helped Adair put on her Buttercup vest.
"There you go" Lucinda smiled at Adair. "Your a Buttercup now".
Adair beamed with pride.
"Well, girls" Mrs. Hanshaw smiled, "let's start our nature walk".
Mrs. Hanshaw, Adair, Sofia, Ruby, Jade, Meg, Peg, and Lucinda walked the short distance to the Peppertree Forest. As the day progressed, everybody had an enjoyable time walking through the Peppertree Forest. As for Adair, it was one of the best days of her life. She had her family, and she had new friends. She also had a sense of peace she hadn't had for a long time. For Adair, everything was right with the world.
Author's note
For more about Neila, see my stories "The Newest Princess", "Incident at Royal Prep", "Being Summoned", "A Scarlet Evening", and "The Storm".