Once Upon a Princess

What if Amber turned on Sofia at the last minute?

Sofia made her way to the king's side, where she had been standing when she accidently put everyone to sleep. She looked up at her new stepfather before glancing down at the piece of parchment she held. However, before she could even utter the first syllable of the counter spell, the paper was snatched out of her hands.

The young girl gasped in surprise and looked toward Amber, who was now standing next to her holding the parchment. She hadn't even realized that the blonde princess had moved closer to her, but she thought nothing of it. After all, they were true sisters now. She smiled warmly. "Will you say the spell for me?"

Amber hummed as she read the counter spell to herself. "Yes, I'll say the spell." She smiled sweetly toward the other girl. "But not for you."

Sofia frowned in confusion. "Amber—"

"That's Princess Amber to you, village scum," Amber seethed, pulling a wand from her sleeve and pointing it at Sofia.

Blue eyes widened. "Where did you get that?"

She shrugged carelessly. "I swiped it from Cedric's desk when you weren't looking. And before you ask, yes, I know some spells. Like this one. Illigo!" Ropes flew from the wand's tip and tied themselves around Sofia's wrists and ankles, causing her to fall back on the polished floor. Amber smirked mockingly. "Good way to fall from grace."

Sofia could only sit there and stare up at the golden haired princess, whose lovely eyes were now filled with hatred as she glared down at her. Amber hadn't been very nice to her since she arrived at the castle with her mother a few days ago, but Sofia had hoped they could be real sisters, but now… "I thought you said we were—"

"Sisters?" She spat out the word like a piece of rotten fruit. "I lied."

Sofia looked down at her hands, which were tightly bound in her lap. She drew in a deep breath before looking back up at Amber, matching the princess's glare with one of her own. "Why are you so mean to me? What did I ever do to you?"

"You waltzed into my perfect life," Amber growled. "Things were just fine before you showed up. I got everything I wanted when I wanted it. Now everyone fawns over you like a newborn. Daddy even decided you needed this stupid ball to introduce you as a princess." She gestured around the room with a contemptuous look. "Why should you get a debut ball when I don't even remember mine?"

Sofia had had just about enough. Cinderella was wrong; Amber didn't deserve a second chance. She had tried her best to be kind to the older girl, but Amber was too selfish to change. Sofia couldn't remember ever feeling quite as angry as she did now. "I'll tell my mom and the king about this," she said coldly.

Amber didn't even bat an eye. "Do you really think Daddy will believe you over me, his real daughter?" She twirled the wand, a malicious smile crossing her lips. "Hmm… I should make sure no one will ever believe you." Before Sofia could react, Amber pointed the wand at her throat and said, " Silenco."

Sofia tried to speak, but no words came. Her eyes widened in horror.

Amber sneered as she bent forward until she was eye level with the now mute Sofia. "Now be a good village girl and let royals talk."

Sofia just glared at her.

With Sofia literally silenced, Amber moved to stand before her father. She took a minute to tuck the stolen wand back into her sleeve and run delicate fingers through her hair, making sure every strand was in its proper place. She was about to say the words that would undo the sleeping spell when she paused. Leaning down, she took her skirt in both hands and ripped the area that Sofia had fixed for her not long ago. She ripped a few more places just for good measures. Finally satisfied, she spoke the counter spell.

Immediately, the ballroom came back to life as if nothing had ever happened. Near the door, Cedric got to his feet and looked around before muttering angrily and disappearing in a puff of green smoke. He couldn't care less that the new princess seemed to be sitting on the floor. All that mattered to him was that his plan to obtain the Amulet of Avalor had failed.

Roland smiled at his oldest child. "There you are, Amber. I was wondering where you were." He then frowned when he saw Sofia sitting on the floor with her wrists tied up. "Why is Sofia tied up?"

"Oh, Father, something terrible has happened," Amber began with a convincing sniffle.

"Rollie?" Miranda asked in concern, walking up to her new husband with James beside her. "What's going on? Why is Sofia tied up?"

"That's what I'm wondering." He turned to the blonde princess. "Amber?"

Amber sucked in a shaky breath. "I—I saw Sofia put you all to sleep. I was standing right out there." She gestured toward the doorway. "When I confronted her, she attacked me. She ruined my dress!" She sobbed as showed her father the tears in her skirt. "I had no choice but to tie her up. I had to go to Cedric's workshop to find a way to wake you all up." She shuddered fearfully. "Father, there's something wrong with her. I don't know what she was planning to do, but it couldn't have been good."

On the floor, Sofia was appalled by Amber's lies. She wanted to protest, but she knew she couldn't. She just sat there and glared heatedly at the other girl, something that didn't go unnoticed by the king.

Miranda narrowed her eyes at her stepdaughter. Beside her, James scowled at his twin, not believing anything she said. However, before either of them could say or do anything, Roland motioned to the castle steward.

"Baileywick, take Sofia to her room," he commanded. "And make sure there's a guard outside her door at all times."

"Yes, Your Majesty." He bowed dutifully before walking over to Sofia, picking her up, and carrying her out of the room.

"Roland!" Miranda exclaimed, grabbing her husband's arm. "You don't really think my daughter would do those things, do you?"

"But why would my daughter lie to me?" he challenged, giving her an icy look.

The queen gritted her teeth angrily. "We are going to discuss this privately, Your Majesty." Tightening her grasp on his arm, she dragged him out of the ballroom.

The ball was over before it had really begun. And the king and queen seemed to be having a disagreement. Amber hummed in satisfaction as the guests began to disperse. If she was lucky, the shoemaker and her daughter would go right back to the village where they belonged.

James balled his hands into fists as he strode over to his twin. "I know this is all your doing, Amber," he growled. "What did you do to Sofia this time?"

"You don't know anything, dear brother, so don't act like you do." She smiled sweetly as she reached up to pat his cheek. "I'll see you in the morning." With that, she strutted out of the ballroom and headed for her bedroom. After all, a princess always needed her beauty sleep.