Greetings! Welcome to the ninth chapter of this tale.
All the characters and other elements mentioned in this chapter belong to Craig Gerber and The Walt Disney Company.
Sofia comes home after flying derby training and goes to her private quarters. After a bath and put her usual princess outfit instead of her flying derby outfit, she arrives at the castle library, where Baileywick find her.
- I found you, Princess Sofia. Come with me. The king demands your presence in the throne room, to make an important statement.
Sofia is surprised and grateful at the same time.
- In the throne room? Now? Strange. I'm going right now. Did dad say what's the matter?
- The king said to me, princess. But forbade me to tell anyone else.
- No problem. Let's go.
Sofia and Baileywick go together towards the throne room, where Roland is on his throne. Miranda, Amber and James are on their own thrones. Gwen is in front of the raised floor in front of the thrones, waiting Sofia. The princess sees Gwen.
- Hello, Gwen.
- Hello, Princess Sofia. The king told me to come here.
While this, Roland and the twins get up from their thrones and stand on the raised floor in front of the thrones. The king seems nice to Sofia.
- Sofia, come here, please.
Sofia stays in front of her father.
- Hi, dad. Baileywick told me you have something important to say.
- Amber, James. The time has come.
Sofia does not understand anything, when she sees the two siblings approaching to her. The twins seem friendly. James gives her a black, small, and square jewelry box.
- Sofia, this is yours.
- A gift? How nice! Thank you, James. What is it?
Sofia takes the box and opens it. Only she sees what's inside the jewelry box. A mix of astonishment and surprise takes Sofia. She does not believe on what she sees. Her eyes widen.
Inside the box, there is a gold sun pin. Much like the James's one.
- James, this pin is like...
Sofia don't finish the phrase, when she sees that James is no longer using his sun pin on his jacket.
- James, do you know what you're doing? This is your sun pin. Only the crown prince of Enchancia can use it.
James wants to encourage Sofia.
- Sofia, my sister. I think we have to say that only the crown princess can use it.
Sofia is worried about James.
- James, I once said that you will be a great king. I can do it, but you deserve to know that this path you want to put me is a path without return.
- It's funny, Sof. Our dad told the same thing when I and Amber asked him to give you this.
- Amber, are you involved in this?
Amber says.
- Sofia, can I talk to you after all of this? Our dad is watching us and want to talk to you.
Sofia goes to the front of King Roland, full of doubt.
- Dad, from two years ago I do everything to be a real princess. Now do you and my siblings think I'm worthy and ready to... This? A crown princess? This is bigger than anything I've done in the past. It is the biggest duty that I can take.
- Sofia. You are worthy and prepared for this. Your siblings think the same thing. The question now isn't if you can do it. The question is if you will do it.
- Do you trust on me so much? And James? And Amber? And my mom? And the people of Enchancia? And the dukes and other nobles? Do they trust on me too?
- You can be sure of it.
Trust. In the past, Sofia has always suffered from self-esteem and trust issues. Today, no more. She is more self-confident. But she would never wish to take the place of anyone in royalty. Neither the place of her siblings. But she can not refuse something she considers a mission. And she knows she's ready. This is a job that Sofia never would claim for herself. It's something she would accept only if asked to accept. The love and the trust she has from her family and from Enchancia were the incentive she needed to do what she chooses to do. Sofia is excited, and turns to Amber, catching the sun pin from the box and showing it to her older sister.
- Amber! Help me with this! Please! I don't want to ruin my dress.
Amber laughes a little.
- Sofia! You're talking like me!
Amber helps Sofia to put the sun pin on her lilac dress, just above the left breast. Then Roland takes the right hand of Sofia and takes her to his right side on the raised floor in front of the thrones. Roland announces the changes requested by James and Amber in his office.
- I have a proclamation. The succession line to the throne of Enchancia was changed. Now Princesa Sofia is on the first place, Prince James is on second, Princess Amber is on third and Duchess Matilda is on fourth. Therefore, I must inform all of you that Sofia is being appointed the crown princess of Enchancia. Since this moment. Baileywick, inform about it to the whole kingdom, write it on a parchment for me to sign and seal, and send letters about this to all the other kingdoms.
- It will be done, Your Majesty. By the way, congratulations, Princess Sofia - Baileywick says, proud of her.
- Thank you - Sofia says.
All those present seem proud of Sofia. Including Miranda, who left her throne and is beside her husband from the time that Sofia received the box with the sun pin. Sofia hugs Miranda.
- Mom, do you trust on me too?
- Sofia, my dear. Don't worry. I always trusted on you.
- Thank you, mom.
After this, Inventor Gwen also hugs Sofia.
- Congratulations, princess. You encouraged me a lot. Now I must encourage you.
- Thanks, Gwen. It's a hard work, but someone must do it. I'm sure that it's what I must to do.
- I am grateful to the king. He chose only two people outside the royal family to see you becoming the crown princess: me and Baileywick.
- You're a loyal inventor. And a good friend.
Roland says goodbye to the children.
- Children, I have some chores to do. See you later at dinner.
- Behave yourselves! - Miranda says.
The children say goodbye to their parents, to Baileywick and to Gwen, who are leaving the throne room. Sofia, Amber and James remain there.
While leaving the room, Roland tells to Miranda.
- I'm impressed. The children did this so early and without going into war against each other.
Roland does not know that this outcome has cost a lot of fighting between them and many tears to Sofia and Amber.
Meanwhile, Amber seems embarrassed, and tells to Sofia.
- Sofia, I need to confess something. I'm really a terrible sister. Sorry.
- Why?
- I have not been a good sister to you. I was jealous of you again, again, and again. I went to your room looking for something I could use against you on this issue about being a possible successor to our dad. But I found something that made me to like you more than on the past and realize that you are much better about this things and I should be loyal to you.
Sofia seems to understand her sister.
- What did you see in my room?
- I read your work done with Jin and Khalid. I really loved what you wrote about the royalty and the villages. Look, Sofia. You are inspiring me to be a better person. I do not speak only on royalty issues. I talk about being a good person for everyone. But sometimes I stay being just a foolish and selfish princess. What you wrote in schoolwork convinced me that I will never be as good at you are on leading the kingdom. In fact, I'm proud of my dear little sister being a crown princess. But how long will I still making mistakes and apologize to you?
- Amber, I'm also learning a lot. Everybody teach me to not be so hard on myself. Everyone teach me to do correctly what must be done, and trust on my own skills. I can't do prejudices on others. Since you asked me forgiveness on the day of my debut ball, I saw that behind your fancy style there is a good heart. That's why I never give up on you. I will forgive you. Always.
- Really, Sofia?
- It's true. I wish you never give up on me. I want to always count on your friendship. Forever.
The two sisters embrace. James joins the sisters on embrace, and says.
- Girls, there is still plenty of time. How about playing hide-and-seek in the castle before dinner?
Amber says.
- James! Are you thinking on playing after this most important thing that happened in this room?
- We have to do something to celebrate along with Sofia, right?
Sofia says.
- Okay, James. Let's go. I stay here by closing my eyes and you two hide yourselves. I'll catch you both.
- Not if I go the most smarter! - James says, and runs out.
- Find me, Sofia! - Amber says, and runs out, too.
Sofia puts her face on one of the castle pilasters and uses her hands to cover her vision, before seeking the twins.
- One, two, three, four...
Sofia, Amber, and James play and laugh a lot in the corridors of the castle. Their laughs are heared by everyone. These are three kids increasingly responsible. But they are still kids.
This is the Chapter Nine. I hope everyone will enjoy this.
Unfortunately, the next chapter will be the last! At least, in our story, Enchancia has now a new crown princess. The most graceful crown princess emerged after a long time in one hundred and forty known and unknown kingdoms. What is the meaning of all of this? More surprises are coming.
I'm waiting for comments and suggestions. Thanks to everyone!