Tales from the Castle - a Sofia the First fanfic
Chapter 19: Back to the Beginning
Note: this chapter is a little different since it starts off during the 2015 movie "Cinderella", and features a teenage Sofia from my Sofia and Lucinda as teens series of stories.
A time of despair
Cinderella was locked in the attic of her home. She had been locked up there by her stepmother who had discovered that Cinderella was the mysterious woman who had appeared at the royal ball.
As Cinderella sat in despair, a bright light appeared in the attic. Cinderella looked up to see a seventeen-year-old young woman with red hair.
"Who are you?" Cinderella asked, nervous.
"I'm Princess Sofia of Enchancia" the seventeen-year-old answered as she gently knelt down next to Cinderella. "Why are you so sad?".
"I'm sad because I've lost everything" Cinderella sobbed. "I've lost my parents, and now I'm loosing the man I love".
"Don't give up" Sofia said as she gently held Cinderella's hand. "All is not lost. The Prince is looking for you as we speak. He will find you, and the two of you will live a long and happy life together".
"Really?" Cinderella asked.
"Really" Sofia smiled.
"Oh! Thank you!" Cinderella exclaimed in happiness as she hugged Sofia.
"You're very welcome" Sofia happily acknowledged.
At that point, Sofia's amulet started to glow.
"I have to be leaving" Sofia informed Cinderella.
"Will I see you again?" Cinderella asked, hopeful.
"As a matter of fact, you will" Sofia answered. "However, when we meet again, I'll be a child, with no knowledge of what has just happened here".
"What will I have to do when I meet you as a child?" Cinderella wanted to know.
"You'll know" Sofia smiled before disappearing.
Cinderella sat there pondering what Sofia had said. As the hours passed, and Cinderella started to worry that she would never be found, the Prince discovered Cinderella's whereabouts, and had her try on the glass shoe which was a perfect fit. The Prince and Cinderella were soon married, and had a happy life together.
A few years later
Cinderella was walking in the castle when she felt a strange sensation. Before she knew it, she was transported to a castle she had not seen before. As she looked down a hallway, she noticed a young red haired girl sobbing.
"Oh, my!" Cinderella thought to herself. "This is Sofia ... as a child".
"What have I done?!" young Sofia cried out in despair.
Young Sofia then looked up and saw Cinderella standing there.
"Cinderella?" young Sofia asked, puzzled. "What are you doing here?".
"Your amulet brought me here" Cinderella answered. "It links all the princesses that ever were. And when one of us is in trouble, another will come to help. Why are you so sad, Sofia?".
"I tried to use a magic spell to make myself a good dancer" young Sofia explained. "But it put everyone to sleep. I should have just let them laugh at me. Can you undo the spell?".
"Only you can do that" Cinderella informed young Sofia. "But I think I can help you find your way".
Cinderella then started singing.
"Everyone's heard about the day that true love came for me. He carried me off and far away from my stepfamily. But ever since I wed the Prince and left my hurt behind, there's one regret I won't forget that weighs upon my mind".
Cinderella and young Sofia then walked up a stairway, as Cinderella continued singing.
"My stepsisters let their jealousy harden their heart. But when they ruined my ball gown that's not all they tore apart. If only we had tried to see a way to start anew, we may have found that this time 'round our friendship only grew".
"We could have been true sisters, if we only made amends. True, true sisters. And ever after friends".
Cinderella continued singing as she and young Sofia reached the top of the stairs, and started walking down a hallway toward young Amber's room.
"You suddenly feel that all is lost, frightened and alone. But maybe yours isn't the only heart that's sinking like a stone. Though many of the ones you love are frozen in a trance, someone who's a lot like you never made it to the dance".
"But Amber's been so mean to me" young Sofia pointed out.
"Perhaps all she needs is a second chance" Cinderella suggested, before she and young Sofia started singing together.
(Cinderella) "You could be true sisters". (Young Sofia) "Sisters". (Cinderella) "If you only make amends. True, true sisters". (Young Sofia) "Sisters". (Cinderella, and young Sofia) "And ever after friends".
Cinderella soon found herself transported back to her own castle, as her prince walked up.
"And where did you go?" the Prince asked Cinderella with a smile.
"A few years ago, a kind young woman offered me encouragement during my darkest hour" Cinderella answered. "I was just able to return her kindness".
"That's one of the things I love most about you" the Prince smiled as he gently hugged Cinderella. "You're such a kind and caring person".
Cinderella and her prince walked down the hall as they held hands. Everything was right with the world.
Author's note
I hope you enjoyed this chapter of "Tales from the Castle". After seeing the 2015 version of "Cinderella", I wanted to do a story which combined that movie with "Sofia the First: Once Upon a Princess", along with the teenage Sofia from my Sofia and Lucinda as teens series of stories. This chapter was the result.