Sofia the First: I See the Light

Ouch

In gym class, Sofia was doing back hand springs on the balance beam, and Hugo was watching from the uneven bars. He was sure there was something magical about this girl that can surely make any boy fall under her love spell. Amber glared jealously at Hugo—she was sick of failing to get him to like her the way he likes Sofia.

"It's not fair," Amber fretted. "Sofia gets Prince Hugo to love her, and when I do the same things, he doesn't react."

"Maybe it's because she adds a little humor," Clio surmised.

"You mean like this?" Amber asked. She started to do a mocking impression of Sofia. "Oh, look, I'm Princess Sofia, and I'm really good at making boys fall in love with me because I'm not really a princess. Whenever someone is in trouble, I just jump in and help them, which makes that person like me more than..." But then she turned to find that Sofia had been listening—and she saw the hurt look in her sister's eyes. "Sofia...," she said nervously.

But Sofia was near tears, and she ran into the locker room without giving Amber a chance to say anything. Everyone turned to glare at Amber.

"My dad warned me to watch my back with certain girls," Hugo frowned.

Amber was shocked to hear that. For the rest of the day, Sofia ignored Amber, and so did everyone else in Royal Prep. After school, when the kids went to Enchancia Castle, Amber had no idea what to think, and she just stayed in her room. Suddenly, there was a knock on the door.

"Come in," Amber called.

The door opened, and in entered Roland and Miranda, who were very angry with her.

"Amber, you made fun of your sister at school?" Miranda glared. "What were you thinking?"

Amber was very nervous now. "I just wanted to make Prince Hugo laugh," she replied with a nervous smile.

"By hurting Sofia's feelings?" Roland asked angrily. "Why?"

"Because...because...," Amber said nervously.

"Because why, young lady?" Roland asked angrily.

"Because I wanted Queen Samira to like me the way she likes Sofia," Amber replied. "I could never get her approval before, and Sofia was able to win her over easily."

"That's because Sofia makes Hugo happy," Miranda said. "Have you ever done anything to make him happy?"

"I thought he was happy that Hildegard, Clio, and I have been drooling on him for his looks and riding skills," Amber said. "I mean, he seemed happy."

"All it takes is a beautiful smile to hide the pain you're feeling, Amber," Miranda said. "Sofia helped him achieve a very important goal and brought out the best in him. What's more important to you, making sure Hugo is happy or making sure you're happy?"

That question pierced through Amber like a nail through a suit of armor. "Hugo deserves happiness, and he is pretty cute with Sofia," she said sadly. "I'm sorry."

"I think you should apologize to your sister, not to us," Roland said.

"And you can apologize to Prince Hugo tomorrow," Miranda chimed in.

"Okay," Amber sighed. She went over to Sofia's bedroom and found her sister reading a book. "Sofia?"

Sofia turned to the door, and she wasn't happy to see her sister. "Oh, it's you," she glared.

"Sofia, I'm sorry I made fun of you," Amber apologized. "It's just that before the tryout race, I used to have a crush on Hugo, and now that you're friends with him, I have a crush on him again—but he likes you more, and that made his mom like you. I can never get Queen Samira to like me."

"Because you only liked him for the way he looked and the fact that he's a great rider," Sofia said.

"I know, and I'm sorry," Amber sighed. "I think I owe Hugo an apology, too, because I reacted badly to his crush on you."

The next day at school, Amber saw Hugo, who was rather prickled at her for the way she made fun of Sofia.

"Hugo, I'm really sorry I reacted badly to you liking Sofia," Amber apologized. "I'm especially sorry for liking you for the way you look and not thinking about your well-being."

Hugo was rather skeptical, but Amber was the sister of the girl he was in love with. "It's okay," he smiled.