Sofia the First: Royal Vacation

Plan gone wrong

The next morning, Megan, Arianna, Sofia, Sara, and Daisy arrived at Hugo's palace. Everyone was dressed up and ready for adventure.

"Our vacation awaits," Garrick smiled.

The group expected to find a big flying coach, but when they got outside, they were surprised to see something interesting.

"What is that?" Sara asked.

"It's the latest cloud-coaster," Garrick replied. "It's a horseless steam-powered dynamo."

"It's even bigger than the one my family has," Sofia gaped.

"With so many people joining us on this vacation, we need this thing to be big," Samira said. "All aboard!"

Everyone got into the cloud-coaster.

"We haven't even left the palace, and already I'm enjoying myself," Daisy beamed.

"This is going to be awesome," Sara smiled.

All the luggage was put in the trunk of the cloud-coaster.

"I hope this thing can hold all our luggage," Sofia said, hoping the baggage doesn't fall out.

"The luggage is securely in the trunk, and you're ready to go," the palace steward said.

"Thanks," Garrick smiled. "Seatbelts on, and get ready for takeoff!"

Everyone fastened their seatbelts. Garrick started the cloud-coaster's engine and drove it, and the coaster flew up into the sky.

"This is awesome," Hugo smiled.

"I hope Sara and Daisy are okay with being in the rainforest for a week," Axel said.

"Anything is better than living in Shuriki's tyranny," Daisy said.

"I'm glad you're okay with that," Sofia said.

"Goodness knows what animals we'll see besides flying elephants," Hugo said.

"There's a chance we'll see sloths, parrots, monkeys—who knows?" Sofia asked.

It took a while, but everyone made it to the rainforest.

"There's the lodge," Arianna pointed out.

"It looks bigger than the one my family had when we came here," Sofia said.

"Thank goodness," Grimtrix said.

Soon enough, the cloud-coaster landed, and when everyone got out, they were surprised by the lodge.

"Wow, it looks like a fancy log cabin," Hugo gaped.

"A log mansion to be exact," Axel said.

"Let's get settled in, and we can go exploring," Samira said.

Everyone got their luggage into the cabin, which was miraculously big enough for all of them. Then they cleaned out all the dust and cobwebs.

"That takes care of the cabin," Megan smiled. "What do you say we go exploring?"

"Way ahead of you, my future sis-in-law," Garrick smiled. "I booked a tour with Fabulous Freddie."

"I hope he can join us," Sofia said. "When my family was here, Freddie was too sick to take us to see the elephants."

Suddenly, a bird came flying down with a package, which landed in Sofia's hands. She read the note.

"I stand corrected," Sofia muttered.

"What's wrong, Sofie?" Hugo asked.

"Fabulous Freddie got called away at the last minute on a family matter," Sofia replied. "But he sent us two maps, so we can get around."

"Well, there are two mini schooners here, and one of them is bigger," Grimtrix pointed out. "Maybe the ladies can go in the bigger one."

"Sounds fair," Garrick smiled.

"Let's go," Samira smiled.

The women went in the bigger schooner, and the men were in the smaller one, and Sofia and Hugo each steered a boat.

Daisy, Sara, and the royals had been out on their boats for a while, and they hadn't seen very much in the rainforest, except trees.

"Why is this called the flying elephant rainforest if there are no flying elephants?" Axel asked.

"The elephants are pretty shy," Sofia replied. "You know, we've been out on these boats for a while. Let's stop for a minute, so we can stretch our legs."

"Good idea, dear," Megan praised her.

Sofia and Hugo stopped their boats by the side of the river, and everyone got out.

"That boat ride was fun, but it feels good to get up and walk," Sara said.

Then Daisy saw a sign with a picture of a monkey. "It looks like this is where we'll see monkeys," she said.

"Awesome," Axel grinned.

"Uh-oh," Sofia gulped.

"What's wrong, honey?" Grimtrix asked.

"When my family had an encounter with spider monkeys, they threw mulberries at us," Sofia recalled.

"I'm sure we can handle having a few berries thrown at us," Samira told her.

"I think I see one," Hugo pointed out. "If we remain quiet, then maybe he won't see us." But then he stepped on a twig loudly, and it got the monkey's attention.

In fact, the noisy breaking of the twig attracted the attention of many monkeys.

"I guess a little noise can go the longest way," Axel gulped.

A monkey threw a berry at Hugo, and then the other monkeys started throwing berries at the group, forcing them to flee. The women got into their boat, and the men got into theirs, and they floated away on the water, the monkeys still throwing berries at them. Sofia and Hugo got their boats away as fast as they could, but they were so intent on escaping the monkeys that they didn't pay attention to where they were going. Hugo steered his boat one way, and Sofia steered hers another.

"Is everyone okay?" Sofia asked.

"Just fine," Megan said.

"Indeed," Arianna confirmed.

"It looks like we went off course," Samira said. "We steered away from the men."

"Oops, I'd better turn the boat around," Sofia said. But she couldn't steer the schooner around. "I can't steer the boat."

"We're moving faster," Sara gulped.

"I think we're coming to a rapid," Daisy said.

The boat was moving faster, and the women were sent going down the rapid.

"Hold onto your hats!" Sofia warned as everyone ducked down.