Sofia the First: Stepmomster

Checkmate

"Princess Amber, Cedric, follow us," Baileywick said calmly despite the sounds of the chaotic mobs and shattering objects.

Amber's heart dropped to her stomach.

"Wait! I forgot..." her voice faltered as she took one last look at the cauldron in Cedric's room.

It was urgent. Amber couldn't stay behind and risk her life and she couldn't bring herself to reveal her secret plan to revive her real mother during a time of turmoil.

All she could utter then was, "Goodbye, Mom..." just before she followed everyone else down the winding stone staircase.

The riots became louder and louder. The indistinct cries became one large voice that chanted, "Death to the peasant queen! Death to the peasant queen!"

Tears welled up in Amber's eyes. She did not care that peasants had stormed the palace anymore. She didn't mind getting trampled and killed by them. She could not live without her real mother. She was so close to reuniting with her, yet the opportunity slipped right through her fingers. Life with Miranda was unbearable. Her heart ached with great misery and regret-- regret for not having gone back to take the potion. But she couldn't turn back now. It was too late. She chose to save herself.

She wiped the tears off her face with her sleeve. In times of trouble, even she couldn't take the time to be royal and prim.

"Where are we going?" James asked Baileywick as they exited the tower.

"We're searching for Princess Sofia! Once we find her, we'll look for an escape!" Baileywick answered loudly over the racket erupting everywhere.

"Baileywick, did you order the military to suppress the rebels?" Miranda piped up.

"Yes, your majesty, but their numbers decreased quickly. It seems the rebels have the upper hand."

"Impossible. The peasants' farming tools are no match to the royal arms."

"The details of the fight are beyond my knowledge."

"Cedric!" Miranda called as they rushed through a corridor with torn curtains and broken pedestals.

"Y-Yes, your majesty?" he said timidly.

"Do you know any spells to get rid of this chaos?"

"Your majesty, my wand isn't working."

"What?!"

They ran to the empty foyer to rest. Everything was a wreck; the grand chandelier was tangled in the chains that held it up, the red carpet that covered the marble grand staircase was tattered and paintings were missing and scratched.

All of a sudden, a peasant woman of bronze complexion with a bow and a quiver of arrows emerged from behind a pillar. She was dressed in a dark green tunic with a white undershirt and a yellow hose. Her dark wavy hair was arranged in a braid under a red hat, her confident posture suggesting unflinching fierceness.

Another peasant emerged from a pillar across from her. He was a burly man with unkempt hair dressed in rags. He carried a torch in one hand and held together Sofia's hands in the other. Sofia struggled to release herself from his grip, but he was too strong.

Amber boiled with anger at the sight of a stranger's hands on her sister. She gritted her teeth in rage.

"Sofia!" Miranda cried.

"Mom!" Sofia responded.

The peasant woman announced, "All right everyone, listen up. Hand yourselves over and no one gets hurt."