Tales from the Castle - a Sofia the First fanfic
Chapter 10: Immediately after "Mom's the Word"
Note: this chapter takes place during the time when Sofia and Lucinda are children, and is set immediately after the episode "Mom's the Word".
Later that day at Lucinda's house
In the front room of the house where Lucinda and her parents lived, Lucinda and her mother sat down on the couch and had a talk.
"I'd like to have a talk with you, my little witchlet" Lucinda's mother said to Lucinda.
"Here it comes" Lucinda started. "I know what your gonna say, Mom. Your disappointed in me".
"I wouldn't say disappointed" Lucinda's mother gently said. "I'd say taken off guard, but not disappointed. I wish you had said something to me before this".
"I didn't know how to tell you, Mom" Lucinda quietly said.
"So tell me, my little witchlet, how did this all come about?" Lucinda's mother asked.
"I wanted to make friends when we first came to the village, but because hexing was all I knew, none of the kids here would be friends with me ... or invite me to parties" Lucinda started. "Well, I wanted friends, and I wanted to be invited to parties. Deep down inside, I just wanted to be a kid".
A look of sadness came across the face of Lucinda's mother. She could tell that Lucinda had been hurt by that.
"Then I met Sofia" Lucinda said. "She helped me to make friends with the other kids. I reversed all of my hexes, and became a good little witch from that point forward. I even got invited to a birthday party. And you want to know something, Mom?".
"What, my little witchlet?" Lucinda's mother asked.
"It felt good to have friends" Lucinda answered, "and it felt good to be invited to a party. I like having friends. I like being good. It's a wonderful feeling. Please don't make me give it up".
Lucinda's mother hugged Lucinda.
"Oh, my dear, precious witchlet" Lucinda's mother reassured Lucinda, "I would never do that to you. You've obviously found a life that makes you happy. It would be cruel to take that away from you. Every child deserves a happy life".
"Oh, thank you, Mom" Lucinda cried with tears of happiness. "Thank you".
"No" Lucinda's mother smiled, "thank you ... for becoming my teacher".
"What?" Lucinda asked, being taken off guard.
"You've given me something to think about, my little witchlet" Lucinda's mother smiled. "I can't promise it will happen overnight, but if you can change, then perhaps I can change too ... with your help".
Lucinda and her mother again hugged each other.
"Your father is going to be happy about this" Lucinda's mother remarked. "The village apothecary shop is up for sale - it's owner is retiring. Your father is interested in buying it. This could be a new start for the three of us. You and I could help out in the shop".
"That sounds nice, Mom " Lucinda smiled. "I'd like that".
The next day
At Lucinda's house, a knock came at the front door. Lucinda's mother walked to the door, and opened it. Standing there was Sofia.
"Princess Sofia" Lucinda's mother smiled. "Please, come in".
"Thank you, Mrs ..." Sofia started, "what is your last name anyway?".
"It's Magwin, Princess" Lucinda's mother smiled as Sofia came in. "Marla Rowena Magwin".
"Thank you, Mrs. Magwin" Sofia smiled.
"Lucinda" Marla called up the stairs. "You have a visitor".
Lucinda came down the stairs, and smiled when she saw Sofia. Lucinda and Sofia then hugged. Marla smiled at the touching scene. Friendship was a good thing ... even for witches.
"Mind if we go out back, Mom?" Lucinda asked Marla. "I've been teaching Sofia how to fly a broom. She's actually getting quite good at it".
"Do you have a broom of your own, Princess Sofia?" Marla asked.
"No, Mrs. Magwin" Sofia answered.
"Please, wait here" Marla smiled. "I'll be right back".
After a few minutes, Marla returned ... holding a broom in her hand. Marla then handed the broom to Sofia.
"This is my old Cleensweep" Marla said as she handed the broom to Sofia. "I'd like you to have it. Consider it a way for me to make up for what I did on Mothers Day".
"Thank you, Mrs. Magwin" Sofia smiled as she hugged Marla.
"Your welcome" Marla smiled back. "You two go out and have fun".
An hour later, Lucinda and Sofia came back inside.
"Mom?" Lucinda asked. "Sofia has invited me to go over to the castle for dinner. Is it okay if I go?".
"I don't see why not" Marla answered. "Will it be okay with your parents, Princess Sofia?".
"My mom is the one who extended the invitation" Sofia answered.
"Then go have a good time, my little witchlet" Marla smiled at Lucinda.
At Enchancia Castle
Lucinda and Sofia flew to Enchancia Castle on their brooms. As they landed in the courtyard, they were met by Queen Miranda.
"Oh, my!" Miranda nervously smiled as she saw Sofia land on a broom.
"Hi, Mom" Sofia smiled.
"Well, this is a surprise" Miranda remarked as she saw Sofia dismount the broom.
"Lucinda has been teaching me how to fly a broom" Sofia said.
"Please don't worry, Queen Miranda" Lucinda said. "I would never let anything happen to Sofia".
"I know you wouldn't" Miranda smiled at Lucinda. "I'm glad you were able to come for dinner".
"Thank you for having me, Queen Miranda" Lucinda smiled back.
"Your very welcome, Lucinda" Miranda said.
At that moment, Amber and James walked up.
"Did I just see you fly up on a broom, Sofia?" Amber asked, taken off guard.
"Yup!" Sofia smiled. "Lucinda's mom gave me her old Cleensweep as a gift".
"Your so lucky, Sof!" James exclaimed in glee. "You've got a broom!".
"Not exactly princess-like, Sofia" Amber pointed out.
"Well, you have our flying carpet from Tangu" Sofia pointed out to Amber, "and you fly that".
"Since you put it that way, you do have a point" Amber admitted.
At that moment, Baileywick walked up.
"Dinner will be served in a half hour" Baileywick announced.
As everybody walked into the castle, Lucinda stopped Queen Miranda.
"May I talk to you for a moment?" Lucinda asked Miranda.
"Of course" Miranda smiled.
"On behalf of me and my mom, I want to apologize for what happened on Mothers Day" Lucinda started. "We didn't make a very good impression, did we?".
"As far as I'm concerned, it's forgotten about" Miranda smiled at Lucinda. "Let's just start fresh".
"Thank you" Lucinda said, relieved.
As Miranda and Lucinda walked inside the castle, Miranda put her arm around Lucinda.
"I should tell you, Lucinda, that Sofia doesn't just friend anybody" Miranda remarked. "The simple fact that Sofia counts you as a friend tells me everything I need to know about your fine character. I'm happy she has you as a friend".
Lucinda smiled in gratitude at Miranda.
At dinner, everybody had a good time. Roland, Miranda, Amber, and James got to know Lucinda better, and were impressed with Lucinda's manners. By the end of dinner, Lucinda had become friends with the royal family, and they looked forward to future visits from Lucinda.
After dinner, Sofia walked Lucinda out to the courtyard.
"Thank you, Sofia ... for dinner" Lucinda shyly said. "Your family is very nice".
"They really like you, Lucinda" Sofia smiled. "Will you come over more often?".
"I'd like that" Lucinda said as her face lit up.
"Then we'll make arrangements for next Saturday" Sofia smiled.
"I've better get going" Lucinda said as she mounted her broom. "I'll see you on Saturday".
"See you on Saturday" Sofia grinned.
Lucinda then flew off on her broom as Sofia waved goodbye. At that same moment, Amber walked up to Sofia.
"I like her" Amber said of Lucinda. "Your lucky to have her as a friend".
"And I'm lucky to have you as a sister" Sofia smiled.
"Why ... thank you" Amber smiled back.
Sofia and Amber then walked into the castle with their arms around each other's shoulders.
A few weeks later
Lucinda's father had bought the village apothecary shop, and the grand reopening was taking place. It was a successful first day, with many customers and a lot of sales. As Lucinda's father took care of filling orders, Lucinda and her mother happily greeted customers. Everybody who visited the shop agreed coming into the shop was a very pleasant experience, and that they would be back to do more business at the shop.
As the day came to an end, Lucinda's mother smiled at Lucinda.
"This was a pleasant day" Lucinda's mother remarked. "I can see why you like being good. It does feel nice".
Lucinda smiled at her mother, happy that everything had worked out well. It was the beginning of a wonderful new chapter in their lives.
Author's note
A Cleensweep is one of a variety of brooms described in the "Harry Potter" books.