Tales from the Castle - a Sofia the First fanfic
Chapter 26: Standing Together
This is the first of two chapters designed to promote the 2017 American Red Nose Day. This chapter was inspired by an idea by Jolly Roger Brat.
In Britain, Red Nose Day has been a yearly charity event for a number of years. And it is a pleasure to announce that the United States, for the third year in a row, is putting on it's own Red Nose Day which will include a special fund raising broadcast on NBC-TV the night of Thursday, May 25th of 2017.
The American Red Nose Day is on a mission to end child poverty - one Nose at a time. Money raised supports programs that ensure children in need are safe, healthy and educated. Half of the American Red Nose Day's grant money will be spent right here in the United States on projects close to home. The other half will be spent in some of the poorest communities in Latin America, Africa and Asia.
Beneficiaries of American Red Nose Day grants include charity organizations such as Boys & Girls Clubs of America; charity:water; Children's Health Fund; Feeding America; Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance; National Council of La Raza; Save the Children; and the Global Fund.
Where can you buy a Red Nose? Walgreens is the exclusive retailer of the Red Noses, available at Walgreens and Duane Reade locations across the United States.
Now, lets have our story which takes place a few weeks after the "Sofia the First" episode "The Silent Knight".
Another knight ceremony
A few weeks after King Roland had awarded the Shield of Valor to Duchess Matilda, the knights of Enchancia were getting ready for another ceremony.
As the knights practiced, James was helping to clean up the parade ground. As James was cleaning up, he noticed some boys around his age throwing trash around. As James watched, he wondered why they were making such a big mess, and simply not just throwing the trash away.
As James walked over to tell the boys to stop, he slipped on a banana peel they threw, and went down hard.
"Squire down!" James groaned in pain as Candice and Sir Finnegan raced over.
"We've better get out of here!" one of the boys, frightened, shouted.
"Not so fast!" Candice barked as she produced her wand, pointed it at the boys, and magically put some bushes in their way. "Get back here, now!"
The boys, sensing defeat, slowly walked up to Candice.
"Is this all you can do?!" Candice asked in disgust. "Make a mess and cause mischief?!"
"Oh!" one of the boys retorted. "You'd know about mischief, wouldn't you? You were created by Maleficent!"
Candice, deciding to play along, got a wicked look on her face. "Well, boys ... you don't know the half of it, do you? She also gave me her temper. Want to see it?"
"You know, lads," Sir Finnegan said, "I've only seen Lady Candice angry once ... when a nasty troll sniffed around here looking for trouble. By the time Lady Candice was finished with him, he was begging for mercy."
The boys gulped in fright.
"Well, how about it?!" Candice snapped at the boys. "You going to clean up this mess, or what?!"
The boys quickly started cleaning up the mess they had made.
"You know, Sir Finnegan, that I never had an encounter with an evil troll," Candice chuckled.
"Yes," Sir Finnegan smiled. "But they don't know that, now do they, lass."
"Point taken," Candice grinned.
"Lets see if we can get you to sit up, Prince James," Sir Finnegan said as he helped James to sit up. "Are you okay?"
"I'm fine," James grinned weakly, "but I don't remember my ankle being the size of a grapefruit."
Sir Finnegan and Candice looked at each other, concerned.
"I suppose I'm lucky I didn't impale myself on your sword, Sir Finnegan," James confessed as he picked up the sword which was next to him. "I was just about to bring it over to you."
At that moment, James tried to get up, but Candice stopped him.
"Let me check you over, just to be safe," Candice suggested to James.
"Very well, Mom," James joked.
"His ankle is definitely sprained," Candice announced to Sir Finnegan about James.
"But I have to help the knights," James pleaded.
"I can help out," Candice suggested. "James and I have a friend who is a female squire, and I know enough from watching the knights to know what to do. I even know the three phrases each squire needs to know."
"Then lets hear them, lass," Sir Finnegan suggested.
"One, cover for me," Candice started. "You use that one if you have too many things to do at the same time and your knight needs something done quickly. If that happens, find another person and ask him to help you out."
"And the second?" Sir Finnegan asked.
"Two: Oh, good idea, Sir," Candice continued. "Flattery gets you everywhere."
"Not bad, lass," Sir Finnegan said, pleased. "And the third?"
"Three: It was like that when I got here!" Candice answered with a smile. "How many times did I say that when I was with Maleficent? She was an expert at being mistress of all evil ... and an expert at leaving messes in her wake."
James and Sir Finnegan chuckled at Candice's remark.
"But I still need to help the knights," James pointed out.
"There are ways you can still help out," Sir Finnegan said to James. "However, Lady Candice will be in charge of running for you until you're better."
"I'll be your legs, James," Candice promised.
The next day
On the parade field, the knights of Enchancia performed in an exhibition which showed the public what the knights do. During the exhibition, James was able to keep Sir Finnegan's equipment at the ready, and would hand various pieces of equipment to Candice to take to Sir Finnegan. The public enjoyed the exhibition very much.
At the end of the exhibition, King Roland walked up onto the stage with the boys who had been responsible for causing James to be injured.
"Ladies and gentlemen," Roland started. "Thank you for attending today's exhibition. Before we leave, these boys would like to address Prince James. If you would, James?".
Sir Finnegan helped James to get up.
"When you do down, lead with the bad foot, and when you go up, lead with the good one," Sir Finnegan instructed James.
"Thank you, Sir Finnegan," James said gratefully as Sir Finnegan helped James onto the stage.
"Your welcome, Prince James," Sir Finnegan smiled as one of the boys stepped forward.
"Prince James," the boy started. "We really feel bad about the mess we made yesterday, and that you were injured because of it. Please accept our apology."
"Well, accidents do happen, and I'm on the mend," James admitted. "Apology accepted."
Everybody in the crowd clapped as James and the boys shook hands.
"There is one more thing," Roland announced. "Lady Candice, please step onto the stage."
"Me?" Candice asked, puzzled.
"Go on, sweetheart," Violet said to Candice with a gentle nudge, as Dorrie gave Candice a smile and a thumbs up sign.
"Lady Candice," Roland began. "You helped Prince James with his squire duties when he was injured. As a token of my thanks, I present you with a gift certificate to the village general store."
"Thank you, King Roland," Candice said in appreciation. "However, I didn't do all that much."
"Didn't do all that much?!" James said, surprised. "If it hadn't been for your help, Sir Finnegan wouldn't have gotten his equipment when needed."
"And, lass," Sir Finnegan added, "you did a fine job grooming my horse this morning. You stepped in and helped Prince James, and a fine job you did, too. You can take pride in that."
"Indeed," Roland agreed. "Lets have a round of applause."
The crowd clapped in happiness as Candice and James stood together.
"Thank you for helping out," James whispered to Candice. "You're a good friend."
"You're welcome, James," Candice whispered back. "You're a good friend, too."
As the crowd continued to clap, Candice and James smiled in happiness at each other. It was a fine day ... a day that would be remembered always.
Author's notes
Dorrie and Candice and from my stories "Dorrie", "Dorrie: Book Two", and "Enchancia Castle". Violet is their adoptive mother.
I want to thank Jolly Roger Brat for the idea for this chapter, as well as providing some of the dialog seen in this chapter, and giving permission for me to use some things from his stories in this chapter.
Sir Finnegan is originally from the "Sofia the First" episodes "The Silent Knight" and "The Secret Library: The Tale of the Eternal Torch".
The female squire that James and Candice know is in fact Sandra from Jolly Roger Brat's stories.
The three phrases each squire needs to know are from Chapter 6 of Jolly Roger Brat's story "The Rise and Fall of Eze Gray".
And remember, there will be a special fund raising broadcast on NBC-TV the night of Thursday, May 25th of 2017. You may also support American Red Nose Day by purchasing a Red Nose at Walgreens and Duane Reade locations across the United States.