*Amber's POV*

I really liked Sofia. She was tall though and she was the same age as me. We bonded and I watched as she built her room. Yes, she built it. I had asked her why she'd rather build it herself when the staff could do it but she told me that if she let others do it, then she wouldn't have the satisfaction that she did when she completed it. I smiled because until Sofia was done with her room, she'd sleep in mine. I'd always wake up to see her asleep in the window nook.

Today was going to be a great day. See we were going to see the Flying Derby. Sofia was so excited and I needed my derby tiara. We got into the carriage and I could tell Sofia was excited. She was even bouncing in her seat.

"Sofia, settle down. It's not going anywhere." mom said.

Sofia stopped and settled for wiggling in her seat. "Sorry mom, I'm just excited. We've never been to a Flying Derby before in person."

"You've never been to a race before?" dad asked.

"We've never had the time or money." mom said, "Sofia settled for regular horses."

"Well, you're going to see some of the best racers in the kingdom. In fact, we'd already be there if Amber didn't keep us waiting for fifteen minutes." James said.

I groaned but we took the high road and made it in time for the racers to make their fist rounds before the official start. I couldn't believe I was saying this but I knew that if Sofia knew, she would do it.

"You know Sofia, we have a junior Flying Derby team at Royal Prep." I said.

Her eyes lit up, "Really?" she said.

"Tryouts are next week and sign up's tomorrow." I said.

James had been trying to get on the team but I knew because of Hugo.

"Sounds fun. Are you trying out James?" she said.

Sofia didn't really like James, but she still tried.

"Yup." James said.

I couldn't help but rib him a little. I knew that when tryouts came around, Sofia was going to tryout not watch. So when the time came, Hugo was being mean and told Sofia she couldn't try out just because she's a princess.

"We princes are meant to handle the rough stuff that's certainly not suitable for girls. We're the ones who ride horses, climb trees, fight monsters, and save fair maidens." Hugo said with a sneer.

"A princess can do that too." Sofia said.

"When has a princess ever done anything of the sort?" Hugo smirked.

"Princess Boudicca of Airlann, Royal Advisor Mulan, Queen Elsa, Princess Anna. Queen Merida, Queen Rapunzel, Queen Cinderella, Snow White, Tiana, Jasmin, Belle, Pocahontas, Ariel, need I go on?" Sofia said.

Well dang, Sofia knows her stuff.

Hugo huffed, "Well that's not how we do things here."

I steered Sofia away, knowing that the topic would come up at dinner.

"Everyone, I have announcement," Sofia started, "I'm going to be trying out for the Flying Derby team."

I was happy, James wasn't too happy, Dad looked surprised and mom just smirked.

"That's great, a step up yes?" she said.

Sofia nodded.

"But Sofia doesn't even know how to ride a pegasus," James protested, "She probably doesn't even know how to ride a horse."

Mom snorted a little and Sofia had a smirk.

"Then someone will have to teach her," dad said, "like her older brother."

"But…" James started.

"Oh don't worry. I know how to ride a horse." Sofia said nonchalantly.

"Besides James, you could use the extra practice." I said.

"What about riding clothes?" James tried.

"Oh I have some." Sofia said.

And so the next day, I went to watch Flying Derby practice to see Sofia try out.

*Sofia's POV*

Once school ended, I changed into my riding gear. I was the last to get my pegasus.

"Good afternoon Sir Gillium." I said.

"Ah Princess Sofia. How nice of you to come back. I take it you still want to try out for the team?" he said.

"Yes." I said.

"Right, well…I'm afraid that almost all of the pegasi are taken. There's only one left and no one wants her." he said.

"That's alright. I'm not picky. I've dealt with issues before." I said.

"Come along then. I'll take you to her. She's been passed from handlter to handler but no one's been able to get through to her. She had a companion but we couldn't take him since he wasn't a flying horse." he said.

I followed him to the stables. Interesting, a flying horse and a normal horse as companions. However I stepped into the barn and in the back most pen was a beautiful gray and white mare with a cloud stamp on her forehead.

"She's beautiful." I said.

"Aye, she's a sight to look at, but fair warning princess. She has a bit of a temper." he said.

I watched as the mare tried to scare off a handler with a glare.

"Her name is Tepest and she's one of the rougher pegasi to handle. No one wants to ride her because she's rowdy. I won't blame you if you want to reconsider princess." Sir Gillium said.

"She's perfect." I said.

I walked over to her and she looked at me with a guarded look. I stopped at the edge of her pen and held my hand out.

"I'm not going to hurt you sweetie. Come here." I said.

She trotted around her pen a little and eventually got curious. She came over and sniffed me.

"Yeah, you're just misunderstood aren't you. You're a sweetheart." I said.

She looked at me with her beautiful brown eyes and let me pet her muzzle. I praised her as I pet her. Sir Gillium moved and she reared.

"Shhh it's okay sweetie. I've got you." I said, I turned to Sir Gillium, "I've got her from here."

He looked uncertain but Tempest put her muzzle in my hand again and he left.

"Hi sweetie, I'm Sofia." I said.

"I'm Tempest." she said.

"Such a pretty name for a pretty lady." I said.

Her tail swished.

"Are you comfortable with a saddle?" I asked.

She backed up, "Nuh uh. I don't like those itchy things."

"It's okay, I'm not going to make you wear one if you're not comfortable yet. Do you allow for people to ride you though?" I said.

"No but I would like you to try." she said.

"Alright. I'll go slow so you adjust to having me on your back." I said.

"Actually, I want you to ride me." she said.

"Oh really?" I said.

"Yeah, let's go catch those losers." she said.

"Okay." I chuckled as I opened her gate and led her out.

I smirked as the boys looked on in shock that I chose Tempest. I arrived just as Sir Gillium was explaining that Friday was the tryout race and that we could practice whatever, whenever, and how long we wanted. Great. Though honestly I wanted to give James a chance, but he gives off a vibe I don't like. So I whispered to Tempest to make it seem like I was new at this.

"Need some help?" James asked.

"Please." I said.

He helped me up, "You know, sooner or later you'll have to do this on your own." he said.

I knew that and didn't let it get to me. We went to a secluded spot and I was riding for the 'first time' and fell off a couple times.

"You've gotta stay on the horse if you want to race." James said.

"I know you're a bad racer James, but you're an even worse teacher. I guess Flying Derby isn't a princess thing after all." Hugo said.

I growled low, but kept it in.

"Sofia, i'm gonna go practice more. You've got it from here." James said and left.

"Who the heck are they to say that? You're a better rider than either of them." Tempest snorted.

I ignored it and we went to go practice on our own. Elsewhere. I kept her grounded first and ran Blackjack's routine. Then we ran the course.

*Sir Gillium's POV*

I was keeping an eye on all my racers and Prince James came in with his fastest time yet. I haven't seen Sofia yet though. It was nearing the end of practice and I was getting worried. Sofia hadn't shown yet, I know she is though. I heard a whinny behind the stadium and saw Sofia and Tempest doing a grounded run. I watched as Sofia was moving fluidly as if she's ridden before. She moved towards the track and I clocked her as she made her way through the course. She's definitely going to make it, even Hugo couldn't match that time. I watched her as she landed and took Tempest into the stables. She waved away our stable hand. I was curious but Sofia made a pale of water and one of soapy water. While waiting for the water to warm up, Sofia made Tempest a feed. She mixed wheat, oats, some roughage, and added something that looked like fish oil. I waited for Tempest to kick it over but she didn't, she actually stuck her muzzle in the bucket and started eating. As she was eating, Sofia cleaned her off. I watched as the other pegasi looked on in wonder and if a pegasus could look jealous, they pulled it off. They even whinnied in protest.

"Don't worry, I haven't forgotten you either." Sofia said with a chuckle.

I watched as she handed them each a cube of something, looked like honey carrots. From that day on, I watched as Sofia interacted with the pegasi, it was blatently obvious that they had a favorite. I watched as Sofia took off and was doing very advanced maneuvering and even found a secret that most never find out. Pegasi have a second set of wings, a set that most people never get to see. The day prior to the last day before the race, James and Sofia raced and I watched as James tried to overtake Sofia on the back stretch but Tempest showed that she was really just gliding and shot past James, winning the mock race.

"Wow, you're really fast." James said.

"Thanks." Sofia said.

*Sofia's POV*

The day before the big race was crazy. Mom wanted me to have new riding clothes but I wanted to ride in the clothes I wore while winning the Terrell Circuit. She grinned at me and let me do it. She then told me something really good.

"Sofia, you know how I told you that I was keeping a surprise?" she said.

"Yes?" I said.

"Well, regardless if you win, after the race, we are going to pick something up. It's supposed to be your ninth birthday present but I decided that you'd enjoy it much more." mom said.

Well now I gotta win. I ate breakfast and ran off to head to school. I got asked a bunch of questions, both by the princess and princesses equally on why I was racing and such. I just told them they'll have to wait and see. The morning was loaded so that the afternoon was spent cleaning the course and making it look nice. Us riders were able to get a small ride in. I told Tempest of my old steed Blackjack and she looked shocked, well as shocked as a pegasus could be.

"Does he have a white diamond on his head? And his chest and just above his hooves?" she asked.

"Yes that's him." I said.

"Wow, small world. He was my companion for the longest time. A bunch of handlers were trying to tame both of us but I came here and he was sent somewhere else. It made sense because this place only handles us pegasi. I wished I knew where he ended up, now I know. How is he?" she asked.

"Last I saw him, he was great. I won the Terrell Circuit with him." I said.

"Wow." Tempest said.

I spent the rest of the time with Tempest till I had to leave for home. I fed her some pregame feed of purely fresh cut grass, some fish oil, oats and corn. When it came time for the big day, I blocked out everyone and focused. I leaned down to whisper in Tempest's ear that she'll do just fine. So, when the starting shot went off and the gates dropped, we sped out of the gate. We had found a more efficient way of getting through the course. Instead of slowing down at the rings, I would jump off Tempe as she zoomed through the ring and I landed on her again. The bridge we did a tight roll and we spun through the trees. We zoomed to the tower but as we were crossing over the house, one of the other riders, Hugo, tried to cut us off but we rolled under them and made our way towards the steeple. The crowd went wild as James and I crossed the finish line, making the team. I heard Amber cheering for both of us. I heard the announcement that I made the team.

"We did it Tempe, we made it." I said as I held her muzzle in my hands as she whickered.

I smiled and awarded her with a good feed today. My family congratulated me and Amber gave me her Derby tiara. When we got home, mom guided me to the stables. A whiny, a very familiar one, reached my ears and I opened my eyes to see Blackjack standing there in his majestic glory.

"Mom, did you buy him?" I asked.

"Well, he is your horse isn't he?" mom said.

I hugged her in happiness and went to go say hi to my dear friend. He snuffled me and I let him. We spent the rest of the day in the stables just enjoying each other's company and eventually we went out for a ride.

AN: Hey everyone. I'm not dead. Yay. Anyway, work has been taking up a majority of my time and by the time I sit down to write I'm too tired to think of anything good. This chapter has been in the works for a minute so hopefully you all like it. Going back through the other three chapters on here I realize that Sofia's age is a little funky to figure out. When Roland and Miranda marry, Sofia is eight. By the time she starts school she's nine years old.