Sofia the First: Hugo's Hiccups

History Repeats Itself

Sofia and her best friend—and boyfriend—Prince Hugo remembered the time they won the Flying Crown for Royal Prep. It was also the time they became friends.

When Sofia and Hugo first met, they had a rocky start because they didn't like each other. Hugo tried to discourage Sofia from trying out for the flying derby team because it was a princely thing. But Sofia decided to do it anyway, but it wasn't easy staying on her horse. Hugo made fun of Sofia for failing to ride Minimus. During the actual tryout race, Hugo cheated by making Sofia fall off Minimus, but James came to the rescue by helping her get back on her horse. Together, Sofia and James beat Hugo to the finish line and won the tryout race.

Months later, Sofia and James were expected to ride in the flying derby championships against the Junior Knights, but James wound up spraining his wrist. The only rider who could take his place was Hugo, who was more focused on being the first to cross the finish line than doing team plays with Sofia. But then, Sofia learned that Hugo bullied her because his family was putting pressure on him to live up to their legacy, and he didn't work very well under pressure. She offered to help him get what he wanted as long as he worked with her on a team play called the Flying Slingshot. Hugo agreed to do it with her, but he was a little too stubborn to do it the way it was supposed to. He was so frustrated that he quit at the last minute, but then Sofia helped him realize that being part of a team is very important. That's when Hugo agreed to race with Sofia, and during the race, he agreed to fling Sofia instead of the other way around. They performed the slingshot perfectly, and they won the Flying Crown. That's when they became friends.

Now Sofia and Hugo are students at the Corinthian Sports School, and they're on the flying derby team there. They hoped to race in the championships for this school.

It was the day of a flying derby race at Corinthian Sports, and Sofia and Hugo were hoping to win this. If they do, then they'll get to ride in their first championship race at CSS. When they win that race, they'll win the Flying Crown trophy, which was much fancier than the original.

"This is it, Hugo—if we win this race, we'll get to move onto the championships," Sofia beamed.

"This is awesome," Hugo beamed. "Oh, the race is about to start!"

Sofia and Hugo were racing against the team from Wesloch, and they were at the starting gates. Mr. Ellis, the headmaster of Corinthian Sports, was by the gates.

"Riders, on your wings, get set, go!" Mr. Ellis announced.

With a wave of Mr. Ellis's wand, the gates opened, and the riders took off. First, they flew the hedges, and then they flew under the bridge while the water was spraying. The Wesloch team pulled ahead of Sofia and Hugo.

"Hugo! Give me a wing blast!" Sofia called.

"Good plan," Hugo called back.

Hugo dropped back, and Electra flapped her wings to help Sofia and Minimus fly faster. Sofia flew past Wesloch, and Hugo flew after her. The teams flew over the mud pit, and then they flew through the rings of roses. Both teams flew through the bell tower, and now Sofia and Hugo just have to cross the finish line, but Wesloch's team was just about to catch up to them.

"Sofia, they're catching up," Hugo said.

"Let's do the double swerve," Sofia suggested. "I'll block, and you go!"

"Great idea, Sofie," Hugo smiled. He flicked the reigns and flew ahead.

Sofia stayed behind and blocked Wesloch from trying to pass her. Hugo was in the lead, and he crossed the finish line, the whole crowd cheering loudly. Sofia and Hugo landed in the winner circle.

"We did it!" Sofia whooped. "We're going to the championships!"

"This is awesome! Our first championship race for the Corinthian Sports School!" Hugo cried.

Sofia's and Hugo's families came running over to congratulate them.

"Congrats, baby bro!" Hugo's big brother, Axel, cried, hugging him tightly. "It seemed like only yesterday you and Sofia were going to race for the Flying Crown for Royal Prep for the first time."

"And now they're going for the fancier version," James beamed.

"This is going to be tougher than when we raced for the Flying Crown at Royal Prep," Sofia declared. "We're going to be racing against the Senior Knights Academy."

"The Senior Knights?" Amber asked. "Are they good?"

"The best—not even the Junior Knights have been able to beat them," Hugo said.

"I'm sure you and Sofia can beat them, baby bro, as long as you do that flying slingshot," Axel told him.

"We're really counting on you guys," Linda said.

"Yeah, Corinthian Sports has never won the Flying Crown, let alone made it to the championships," Rafael added.

"I'm sure we'll win as long as we do all our best team plays," Sofia smiled.

Hugo nodded in agreement, but as confident as he was, he was also a little nervous. He and Sofia had been able to beat the Junior Knights easily, but beating the Senior Knights won't be any easier.

That night, Hugo was with his family at dinner. He was really nervous about this championship race, and he barely ate his food.

"Hugo honey, is something wrong?" his mother, Queen Samira, asked.

Hearing his mother's voice snapped Hugo out of his thoughts. "Oh, nothing, Mom," he smiled.

"Are you sure?" his father, King Garrick, asked. "You've barely even had a nibble of your food."

"I'm just thinking about the championship race," Hugo admitted.

"Excited, aren't you?" Axel asked. "We're all looking forward to it."

Hugo smiled, trying to hide his nervousness. He didn't want to let his family down, but he was afraid that he and Sofia wouldn't win this race—and being a flying derby champion of Royal Prep, he was sure he and Sofia would be embarrassed to death if they lost.

Later, Hugo and Axel were in their bedroom, ready for bed. Hugo was afraid that he and Sofia wouldn't win the championship race, and then something happened.

"Hic!" Hugo let out a loud hiccup.

Hugo's hiccup scared Axel very much.

"Excuse me," Hugo smiled sheepishly. "Hic!"

"Are you okay?" Axel asked.

"I think—hic—so," Hugo replied. "Hic!"

Suddenly, there was a knock at the door.

"Enter," Axel called.

Hugo and Axel's uncle Grimtrix came in. "Are my nephews ready for bed?" he asked.

"Just about," Hugo replied. "Hic!"

"I doubt Hugo could be ready for bed with those hiccups," Axel declared.

"You did wolf down your food, boy," Grimtrix pointed out. He waved his staff, and a glass of water appeared in Hugo's hand. "Water should help get rid of those hiccups."

"Thanks, Uncle Grim," Hugo smiled. He drank down the whole glass of water, and he didn't let out a single hiccup.

"Better?" Grimtrix asked.

"Much, thanks," Hugo smiled.

"Well, now that your hiccups are gone, you can get some sleep," Axel smiled.

"That's for sure," Hugo agreed. He crawled into his bed, and Axel crawled into his own.

"Good night, boys," Grimtrix smiled.

"Good night, Uncle Grim," the brothers chorused.