I do not own Sofia the First.

My creative take on Roland choosing a successor to his throne. Since I am physically incapable of swearing, there is a made up insult in this chapter that I'm sure you'll know it when you see it. It's up to interpretation. This story will be a two-shot.

Royal Brawl

Standing before their father in the throne room, the royal twins stood straight with their chins up. King Roland II surveyed his eldest children, fingers tapping against the gold-rimmed arms of his velvet throne. The other royal seats, normally occupied by the other members of his family, were empty. His queen was off with his stepdaughter Sofia, visiting old friends from the village they once hailed from.

"I suspect you know why you're here."

"You're going to choose a successor, right?" said James eagerly. Though his father had not stated outright why he wanted to meet with them, he had his suspicions. He and his sister had turned eighteen a few weeks ago, and as such were waiting in tense excitement for the decision they had waited almost all their lives for.

Amber shot a slight glare at her brother. "Try to show some restraint," she said under her breath. "I don't know what you're getting excited for anyways."

James ignored her as Roland gave a soft laugh. "Yes, James. You are both of age, and I am certainly getting older. While Royal Prep has taught you both invaluable skills, there will be a more intensive, different type of training that will take place for when my successor prepares to take over the throne.

His tone grew serious as he continued, "And it is best that my successor is chosen now, so that you have ample time to prepare for the day when I retire from my position as King of Enchancia. I want you both to know that I put a lot of thought and care into this decision. It does not mean I value one over the other-it means that I think one of you will be better suited to handle the responsibilities that come with running a kingdom. I love you both dearly."

"We love you too, Daddy," chirped Amber. Her heart thudded in anticipation. This was it-the moment she'd been waiting for was finally coming. She would officially be declared the future Queen of Enchancia.

Roland took a deep breath. "The successor to my throne, and the future King of Enchancia, is James."

But he need not say the last part. The second he uttered the word King, James let out a roar of delight, hopping up and down in order to let loose his rising levels of euphoria. Amber felt the smile freeze on her face, and her fingers bit into the golden material of her gown.

No. No way. There's no way he just said that the future ruler is James.

The blonde boy raced over to his father and nearly tackled him into a hug. Roland smoothed back his hair and said, "I know you'll do me proud, and I know you'll be up for the challenge." He glanced up at his daughter, who was staring at them with an odd smile on her face. "This was a very hard decision for me, Amber. It was no slight against you or your capabilities. I-"

"I understand," she interrupted, managing to find her voice and smooth out her expression. "Really. I'm sure James will make a great ruler."

No he won't it should be me. But that's not what you want to hear. And I don't want to hear all the reasons why James the Goof-Off is better to rule this kingdom than me. So we're going to pretend everything is fine.

Roland extended out his arm and Amber moved into the embrace, the smile she was forcing hurting her facial muscles.

"You mother and sister will be informed of the decision once I am back from royal business in Tangu. The rest of the kingdom will be informed at a later date, after James has been through a few training sessions." He stood up from the throne and straightened his blue blazer. "I'm off. Baileywick is here if you need anything, and if you can't find him, you know where Cedric will be."

"Bye, Daddy." Amber waved after him, and the solid doors closed behind him.

James crossed his arms. "I'm not stupid. You're absolutely livid right now, aren't you?"

The happy mask fell from her face, revealing cold eyes and a harsh scowl. She rounded on her twin, and hissed, "Of course I'm livid! I'm furious! I'm angry! I'm everything but happy and pleased right now!"

James' brow creased in irritation. "Why not? Why can't you be happy for me? I would have been happy for you!"

"Because that's how it should have been!" snapped Amber, fingers clenching into fists. "We've always expected that I would be the one the crown would be passed to. So of course it's a huge letdown that you're the one-"

"It's always about you, isn't it!" exploded James. "Amber has to get her way, everyone has to listen to Amber, it's always Amber Amber Amber! You don't care about anyone but yourself!"

"I do too!"

"You have funny ways of showing it! Yeah, you have your moments. But your bad moments are the ones that stand out in my mind. Like when Sofia first got here, you made her life miserable!"

"But that wasn't for long!" protested Amber.

James levelled a finger at her. "But you still treated her like she was nothing. And that means something of your character."

"You want to speak about character?" shrieked Amber. "You're a fool with absolutely no sense of what it means to be responsible. You don't listen to the rules and you didn't work half as hard as I did in Royal Prep. I can't fathom why Daddy chose you to run this place! You'll screw everything up in a month!"

James' eyes darkened. "You know what? I think I know why he chose me over you."

He strode for the doors leading into the corridor and Amber glowered after him. "Oh really?" she said with heavy sarcasm. "What reason would that be?"

He paused in the entryway, glancing coolly over his shoulder. "Because I'm not a stone-cold bitochian."

Eyes enlarging, Amber could only stand still in the middle of the tiled floor as her brother departed, the insult flying through her brain.

Then the heat exploded, fiery rage flowing through her veins and face burning red with fury. She took off out of the throne room, and before she could properly think about what she was about to do she had already done it.

She had caught up to James, spun him around and punched him in the face.

The blonde male stumbled back, expression dazed for only a moment before he charged forwards and gave his sister a shove to the floor. "Are you trying to prove my point or something?"

Amber kicked him harshly in the shin, bringing him down to the floor. "I spent my entire life working to be Queen!" she snarled. "And I'm second choice? To you?"

James launched forwards and pinned his sister to the floor. "You weren't second choice," he snapped. "I overheard Dad speaking with Sofia a week ago, when they thought they were alone. He wanted her to be the next in line for the throne, but she declined. The only reason I was chosen is because she has the right to pass it on. She's not of royal blood. So guess what? You were third choice, if you were even considered at all!"

And then they were fighting, truly fighting. It wasn't the kind of fighting siblings normally did, with playful jabs and joking verbal spars. This was fighting with the intent to harm the other, with Amber throwing punches and James yanking at her hair while trying to press her face into the hard floor.

They were both expressing their emotions through physical exchanges. James was hurt that his own sister was spiteful of his future, and Amber was devastated that everything she worked for was for naught.

It was this sight Baileywick came upon when he entered that particular marble corridor-the twins thrashing about on the floor, screaming at each other and fists flying. Shocked for only a brief instant, he moved into action.

"Cease and desist this instant!" he bellowed, but his order fell on deaf ears. He strode over and grabbed hold of James, but the boy was not letting go of his sister. There seemed to be a deeper meaning to their fighting, and Baileywick was determined to figure it out.

After he prevented the siblings from doing any more harm to each other.

"Cedric! Ced-ric!"

It was by some miracle that the Royal Sorcerer of Enchancia heard the holler from the depths of his magical lair. But the steward was not prone to shouting with such volume, and such Cedric picked up on it instantly-and it did help that the door was open to let in some air (and the sounds that came with it).

The purple robe-adorned man flew up the steps and into the marble corridor where the commotion was currently happening. "Merlin's bloomers! What in bloody blazes is going on?"

"That's what we're about to find out." Baileywick grunted when James accidently jabbed him in the stomach with his foot. "Get Amber for me, please."

Cedric took the girl by her arms and the two men hauled the twins apart from each other at last. Taken out from the heat of their fight, the red faded from their vision. Amber panted heavily, her right cheek throbbing in pain. James felt his heart thud in his chest and he raised a hand to touch his nose, which was coated with his blood.

Baileywick found himself breathing heavily as well. "I don't know what this is all about, but the two of you know that such behaviour is unacceptable, especially for members of royalty. You're supposed to be setting examples for the public."

"No, James is supposed to be setting an example for the public," muttered Amber, though her tone no longer held anger. She had moved on to sadness, and her tone was heavy with the negative emotion.

James felt his stomach twist and he looked at the floor. Now that the ice had left her vision, he saw devastation and with the haze gone from his own eyes he clearly saw the dark mark he had left on her cheek.

Understanding washed upon the royal staff members and they exchanged glances with each other. "James, you'll come with me," said Baileywick finally, his hands moving to grip the boy's shoulders. "Cedric, will you take Amber?"

"If I must," he replied. "Come on then. I suppose we have to talk…or something."

Cedric led the girl down the corridor. Baileywick nudged James gently in the opposite direction, and he slowly obeyed, legs moving though they felt like they were made out of lead. His brain repeated the most horrible of thoughts, as if it were on a loop.

I think you may have just lost your twin sister for good.

And this was something that James truly could not bear.