“I honestly cannot believe he was going to pull that prank on his own sister.” Jun shook her head lightly; Sofia gave her a sad smile.
“Step-sister. Amber and James have made it clear I’m not welcome in their family, I’m just Somepony who lives with them now.” Sofia stopped and sighed. “They likely wanted to try and humiliate me on my first day – not expecting me to catch on so quickly.” Jun frowned softly and placed a hoof on Sofia’s back.
“Well, you have me now. And we are going to be best friends, I’ll help you learn all the prank items in school so you can’t fall victim to any of them.” Jun said. “Oh-” The sound of a branch breaking caused the new friends to turn, Sofia sighed when she noticed it was just Prince Zandar.
“Prince Zandar.” The Princesses curtsied.
“Princess Jun, Princess Sofia, may I join you on your walk?” He asked, “I’d rather hang out with you than James right now.
“Sure the more the merrier, and just call me Sofia.” Sofia smiled; the trio began to walk the path.
“So, I’m actually curious, what did you do in the village Sofia?” Zandar asked. “Living as a royal we don’t get to see the other villages of other kingdoms. I’m curious if Enchancia is any different from Tengu.”
“Well, Mom and I owned the shoe shop in the village, everypony got shoes from us, from galloping shoes to slippers. Mom made the shoes of course, though I know exactly how to make them – she always said I was too young, but she would let me make deliveries around the village alone. It was great! I got to see everypony and talk to them. That’s when I didn’t have school though. But school was fun too, I was – hopefully I’m still on the dazzle ball team – and I am a member of the Buttercup troupe!”
“The Buttercup troupe?” Jun asked, Sofia brightened up happily.
“Oh yeah, it’s this group run by my friends' mom, we basically go out and do things, learn things and earn patches! It’s so much fun! Last time I earnt my being prepared badge and tent setting up badge!” Sofia told them.
“Oho, that actually sounds a lot of fun, a big adventure.” Zandar grinned.
“I would love to do something like that. It would get me out of the palace a lot. I love my family, but sometimes they don’t seem to understand I would love an adventure.” Jun sighed happily.
“Sometimes it is, I could ask -” Sofia stopped, her ears twitching, the other royals looked around, listening but confused, Sofia trotted forward softly, her new friends following, they soon found a baby bird who had fallen from their nest.
“Poor little guy.” Jun gasped, Sofia careful lifted the baby bird up and let them hop onto her nose. She then reared up, resting her forehooves on the tree giving the baby a chance to get back into the nest. The mother bird snuggled her baby as Sofia backed off with a smile.
“There, safe and sound.” Sofia smiled.
“You have to be careful little guy,” Jun added. A bell rang causing the ponies to join.
“Oh, we have to get back. Come on Sofia!” Zandar said, Sofia grinned.
“Coming!” The three of them galloped back towards the school building, missing the soft glow of Sofia’s amulet and the glow from under her gown.
~*~*~*~
“You should come and visit Wei-ling sometime Sofia!” Jun told her as the ponies came out of the academy at the end of the day. Jun and Zandar were still with Sofia, she loved that she had new friends in her new school.
“I would love to, I’m sure I can ask Dad.” Sofia smiled. “It would be great for me to learn about the other Kingdoms too.”
“And don’t forget Tengu! I have to show you how to fly a riding carpet!” Zandar grinned.
“That sounds so fun!” Sofia beamed happily but sighed as she looked at the carriage where Amber and James were already sat. “Well, time to head home.”
“Don’t let them get you down Sofia. You’re a pretty cool Princess.” Zandar told her, Sofia smiled lightly.
“Thanks, see you, tomorrow guys.” Sofia galloped over to the carriage and jumped in. She waved to her friends as they set off home.
Sofia jumped out of the carriage the moment it landed back at the castle, rushing inside to avoid James and Amber. She stopped when she got into the main hall, where she greeted some of the maids happily. They seemed surprised but happily greeted her back.
“Mom!” Sofia beamed, seeing her mother.
“Sofia, how was your first day?” Miranda trotted over to her daughter.
“Ah, actually it was tons of fun. I made a new friend, Princess Jun of Wei-ling and Prince Zandar of Tengu. We took a walk around the gardens and helped a baby bird. It was great, I’m really looking forward to tomorrow. I don’t feel so alone there.”
“I’m glad. Didn’t you spend time with Amber and James?” Miranda asked.
“Honestly Mom, they made it clear they don’t like me, and James almost humiliated me at school today – so, I think I want to keep my distance for now,” Sofia told her.
“I understand. I’ll let you handle it at your own time okay?” Miranda hugged her; Sofia snuggled her back.
Sofia headed straight up to her room, carefully putting her new books onto her reading desk, planning to make notes later. She kicked off her shoes and got out of the gown with a huff, she planned to wear something, more comfortable to dinner, but as she trotted into the closest something else caught her eye.
~*~*~*~
“Sofia’s late.” Miranda frowned as everypony was seated for dinner. Amber and James rolled their eyes.
“Can we not just start without her?” Amber asked.
“No, dinner is for us to eat as a family,” Roland replied, his ear twitched, as he looked to the left just as Sofia burst into the door.
“Sorry! Got distracted.” Sofia came bouncing in.
“And what was so distracting to hold up dinner?” Amber scowled. Sofia ignored her, beaming at her mother.
“My cutie mark! I got my cutie mark!” Sofia told her happily, she turned and showed them her flank, sure enough, there was a winged heart with a crown underneath it with a tear-shaped jewel identical to her amulet above it. “I only noticed it when I was changing into something more comfortable! But I got it!”
“Oh, sweetie!” Miranda hugged her tightly.
“Daddy, why did she get her cutie mark first?” Amber complained.
“Everypony gets there’s when its time. It’s not a competition to who gets theirs first.” Roland told her, but Amber continued to pout. “Your cutie Mark has your amulet on it.” He pointed out to Sofia, who looked again, holding the tear-shaped jewel.
“I do – huh.” Sofia frowned.
“Clearly, it was meant to be.” Roland smiled. “Congratulations Sofia.” Sofia beamed as she sat down to enjoy dinner – she couldn’t wait to show and tell Jun and Zandar tomorrow.