Greetings! Welcome to the tenth chapter of this tale. Unfortunately, the last one. But with bittersweet scenes and the last surprises.
About Princess Sofia becoming the Crown Princess of Enchancia, this is a possibility for the TV show. There are many easter-eggs on the three seasons already transmitted. At least here in Fanfiction we can imagine how this could happen.
Thanks to Luiz4200, by some ideas for this chapter and Chapter 5: The Leadership Badge.
The characters and other elements from 'Sofia the First' mentioned in this chapter belong to Craig Gerber and The Walt Disney Company.
One question remained in Sofia's mind, after she became a crown princess. What would be the reaction of royalty and nobility of one hundred and forty kingdoms she knew, at least by name? Her past as commoner is known, but almost all the dignitaries of the kingdoms recognize her princess status and treat her well. However, a crown princess with a commoner background is someone unheard. Being recognized as a daughter of King Roland with full rights serves as encouragement. But she can only be sure of this when she face the princes and princesses of the Royal Prep and all the guests of the royal ball on next Saturday. The ball of the second year of her parents's marriage. And the second year of Sofia as a princess. And, now, her debut ball as crown princess.
Thursday and Friday arrived, and Sofia was very well received at the Royal Prep. The teachers greeted her personally. The school also received a letter from Roland about Sofia. All princes greeted Sofia gently. Sofia has always treated the princes on the same way. Only Hugo gets more attention from her, for reasons that Sofia has not yet realized. And now she understands some princes. These are the princes she knows that became crown princes still very young. Among them: Zandar of Tangu, Jin of Wei-Ling, and Khalid of Khaldune. Now Sofia knows she can keep her strategy group with Jin and Khalid without fearing what her siblings will say about it. In addition, the two princes are getting more peaceful and less impulsive. And are two good friends to Sofia. The Tri-Kingdom Region will be on good hands.
The princesses received Sofia well, too. But with greater enthusiasm than the princes. Sofia does not know why. Only a princess did not greet Sofia on Thursday or Friday: Hildegard. In fact, the youngest daughter of King Henrik wanted to greet Sofia and is proud of the youngest princess of Enchancia, but had a lot to say, and wanted to talk privately.
Before that, Hildegard talks with other princesses. Including Amber, whom she asks ironically:
- Are you letting Sofia being a crown princess instead of you? This is not typical of you.
Equally ironic, Amber says, defending her sister.
- Yes, I do. Even in these matters Sofia is getting more like our dad. Different than you thought about Sofia and our dad in the past.
Hildegard remembers how rudely she talked to Sofia before the last Dads and Daughters Day, about Roland "not being Sofia's real dad". Hildegard replies, ashamed.
- Sorry! You're right, Amber.
So Hildegard goes to talk to the other princesses. The other girls talk about other issues about Sofia.
Saturday arrived. There is a dance class at the Royal Prep in the morning. Some students come and dance in pairs. Sofia and Hugo, Amber and Desmond, Hildegard and Zandar...
Before returning to Freezenburg and prepare for the journey to the ball in Enchancia, Hildegard calls Sofia in the corridors of Royal Prep. Hildegard seems friendly.
- Sofia, please, I need to talk to you. Only with you.
Sofia asks her siblings to wait in front of the school, and goes to speak to Hildegard.
- Hi, Hildegard. Please don't take too long. My siblings are waiting outside.
- Okay, Sofia. I want to congratulate you.
- Thank you.
- I'm surprised by what James and Amber did for you. Them and your dad. I have something more to say. Something I doubt that the other princesses told you. They only talk about it to each other. I needed to tell you.
Sofia is curious.
- I don't understand. What are the other girls talking?
- In fact, all girls are proud of you. For a reason that you don't know. You are serving as inspiration for all of them, and they have hope that you will be a good successor to your father.
- Hildegard. I will not be the first queen of the history. And I don't expect to be the last.
- No, Sofia. The princesses don't talk about it. You deserve to know things about the royalty that you don't know. Under very luxury, jewelry, crowns, tiaras, beautiful dresses, beautiful shoes and balls, there is also unfair things.
Sofia is surprised.
- Hildy, you're talking like the Merry Band before they met me.
- The Merry Band? What is it?
- Oops, never mind. Sorry. What's unfair that you want to tell me?
- Sofia, do you not see? The Kings rule over almost the one hundred and thirty-eight kingdoms. And almost all of these kings replaced kings, and so on. Princesses has little chance to ascend the throne. Most of thrones are given to the eldest son of the king, no matter how many older sisters he has. Some princesses become at least consort queens, if they marry kings. The princesses who are or will be heads of their kingdoms are the older of sisters with no brothers, or are the only daughters. It's impossible to not remember on Elsa of Arendelle or Rapunzel of Corona. You are different from all of them.
- I don't know why I'm different from them in addition to my past as commoner. Neither you judge me by this anymore.
- It's true, but you are much more. You are the youngest of your family and have two older siblings. One of them is a prince. In fact, I know you are much better than James and Amber on leadership. Please don't tell them I told this to you!
- Don't be afraid, Hildy! I will not tell them.
- The kingdoms remain trusting more on the princes than us, even though we are as competent as them. But you began something new that can change even what will happen in the kingdoms after our time.
- I never thought of it in this way, Hildegard. Good to know. Thank you. But what I most wish is to be worthy of the trust of all. Including your trust.
- Sofia. I trust on you and I'm proud of you. Not as much as I am proud of my sister Astrid, the next queen of Freezenburg, but I'm proud of you, Sofia. You always were right. The princesses can be anything.
- You're being so kind! Thank you, Hildegard.
The two embrace, and go out the school house.
Now it's afternoon at Enchancia Castle. In her room, Sofia puts the outfit she will wear during the gala ball in the evening. The dress she asked to do for her is a bit bigger and like the dress she wore at the premiere ball. Only the color is different. The dress is not lilac. It's dark blue. The same color of most jackets that her father wears. Sofia learned to talk through symbols. Her new shoes have the same color. She puts a new tiara, similar to her first tiara, but with dark blue diamonds, not purple. We can't forget that Sofia always has the Amulet of Avalor on her neck. Finally, she put the sun pin on the new dress and takes a fan with the same color of the dress. Sofia looks to herself on the mirror, and smiles.
After this, Sofia goes to one of the castle halls, and sits on a chair, holding her closed fan, posing for Bryce Twigley, an artist of the Post-Medieval Art Museum that makes paintings for castles around the world. Roland asked Bryce Twigley to make a painting only with Sofia.
The castle has an older painting, similar to this. One of Prince Roland (the present King Roland) at ten years old (as Sofia today), wearing an outfit very similar to Prince James's one. Including the sun pin. Only the jacket is blue. Instead of green, the favorite color of James.
After Bryce Twigley finished the picture and said farewell to Sofia, the crown princess stands there, looking at the picture. On the paint, Sofia has the same shining smile that touches the hearts of everyone in the Royal Prep, in Enchancia and in the other kingdoms. The same shining smile that the real Sofia has right now. That's when she hears the voice of a woman behind her.
- I wonder what they will say about this picture in the future. "Look how Queen Sofia the First of Enchancia was when she was ten!"
Sofia turns back and embraces Aunt Tilly, who is wearing one of her princess outfits, including a tiara.
- Hi, Aunt Tilly. Glad to see you again!
- Me too.
Sofia thinks about what Tilly said and says to Tilly.
- Really, this title will be beautiful.
- Not only beautiful. It will be a strong and impressive title for a strong, impressive and fair queen.
Sofia touches the sun pin with her right hand, and says.
- So... Is this the destiny you didn't tell me?
- Sofia. Only you could figure it out. It was something that no one could tell you. Moreover, it was something that can not be imposed on you. You must choose by yourself.
- Aunt Tilly, there is something fun. The last time I heard "Sofia the First" was on my debut ball. I told my father that if he is Roland the Second, I am Sofia the First.
Tilly laughes a little.
- Sofia, do you have the gift of prophecy? Sometimes we say things that only take on new meaning many years later.
- Many things have changed in meaning during these last two years, Aunt Tilly.
- Well, Sofia. I think I know you more than many people. Maybe I know you more than yourself. Before you ask, I want to tell I trust on you in this new journey you began.
- Sorry, Aunt Tilly. I can not follow your way as ambassador, always traveling the world. And, when being a queen, I don't know if I will can dedicate myself to the Secret Library as I do today.
- Sofia. Your future will be very different from mine. About the Secret Library, it is magical, as you have seen. It will not give you a number of missions that hinders your work in the kingdom. Do not be impressed about that many books. You will do it well until the day you find another worthy princess to be the next storykeeper.
- Well, Aunt Tilly. If you say it, I'll do it all. I will be crown princess, queen and storykeeper.
- What a whiz bang idea!
- But... Sometimes I feel ashamed. It's like I'm being watched by someone I don't know, but this someone sees and hears me through... My amulet. What a strange feeling! About another storykeeper, I don't want to think about it now. I think if you refer to a daughter or niece. It's too early for that, Aunt Tilly. I prefer to think of something I want to do for you when I am queen.
- What do you want to do, Sofia?
- I met many princesses, Aunt Tilly. I think it is unfair the Enchancia kingdom call you duchess. On the day of my coronation, I will command the ceremonial of Enchancia to re-call you Princess Matilda, as in the past.
- Sofia, my dear, do not worry about it. I haven't lost my princess status. I just took a position between the dukes, helping Roland to rule over Enchancia. Moreover, this time belongs to you, Amber, and James, it's not my time. You are the princesses and the prince of Enchancia.
- As you spoke of James and Amber, if they do not become king or queen in another kingdom, I will command the ceremonial to treats them as prince and princess, too. Even if they take places with the dukes. It's my final decision. I will not negotiate it. I think about many other things. A queen must hear everyone, must be a leader and a fair mediator between the inhabitants of the kingdom. Many things can be changed. I want everyone to be on my side under the sun.
- This is something I've always liked on you, Sofia. Always thinking on others. And doing different things.
Sofia and Tilly embrace. After that, Tilly goes to the ballroom, to find Sir Bartleby. The time of the ball came, and Sofia is found by the other relatives. Roland wears his military uniform. Miranda, Amber and James wear new outfits for the occasion. The five go together to the door that leads to the ballroom.
- May I present the Royal Family! - Baileywick announces to everyone.
Kings, queens, princes and princesses of many kingdoms are at the ball. And all the nobility of Enchancia. All the kings, queens, princes, princesses and nobles greet Sofia personally. Now Sofia knows she will have no problems with any of them. Sofia welcomes them kindly. And smiles, overjoyed.
Two years ago, during the debut ball, Roland was the first to dance with Sofia. Today the story is different. When the waltz begins, she hears another voice beside her.
- May you give me your first dance, Milady?
It is the voice of Prince Hugo.
- Sure. Always - Sofia says.
About this, what will be Sofia's destiny? Only she knows.
This is 'The Rise of Sofia'. I hope everyone will enjoy this.
I'm waiting for comments and suggestions. Any reported writing mistakes will be removed.
Thanks to everyone!
In time: Elsa and Arendelle were taken from 'Frozen', owned by The Walt Disney Company. Rapunzel and Corona were taken from 'Tangled', owned by The Walt Disney Company.