Hello, everyone, and welcome to a new edition of Variations on the Classics! If Melinda and Amber can sing this classic song from Sesame Street as they celebrate Amber's discovery of Amberina Major, let's see what Roland and Miranda can do with it as they help Amber! I thought it would be nice if, after they sing James to sleep (see chapter 28 of Do You Want to Sing Together XXII), they give Amber a special lullaby of her own to help her, since she was the one who found Sofia after the Flying Derby Race in theblindwriter95's story Amber's Promise, and she needs some comfort as well. Miranda even remembers it as one she used to sing to Sofia when she was little. Thanks to theblindwriter95 for helping with the story. Sesame Street's music is not mine.

After softly closing James' door when they saw that he was asleep, Roland and Miranda went down the hall to Amber's room to check on her. They knew that James had been very upset about what had happened to Sofia following the Flying Derby race, and they had spent some time with him, helping to make him feel better. James had blamed himself for not being there to help Sofia when Prince Felix of Martinstein and some of his friends attacked her. Roland and Miranda had assured him that what happened wasn't his fault, that everything had happened too quickly for him to know what was going on, and that they knew he'd help Sofia when she started her physical therapy. However, they both knew that James' reaction to what happened to Sofia was nothing compared to Amber's, since she was the one who found her.

"Do you think we'll have to sing Amber a song too?" Miranda asked, smiling in spite of herself.

"She and James always responded well to music when they were angry or upset," Roland smiled. "In fact, I recall a song Melinda used to sing to her and James when they were having nightmares."

"Really?" Miranda asked.

"It always helped," Roland recalled. "And after what she's been through today, Amber surely needs it."

Miranda nodded softly. Amber didn't even bother to change nor fuss about her caked with Sofia's blood dress that resulted from carrying her upon coming home, having been too rattled up to care.

At the same time, just like James had been finding comfort with his plush friends, Amber was trying to take comfort with hers. She hugged her pink cat Duchess Kitty, and her sparkly teddy bear Princess Sparkle Bear, and like James had done when he was talking to Prince Blizzard, Little Rex, and Sir Blaze-a-Lot, Amber was telling them about what had happened and was hoping they'd help offer some comfort to her.

"I've never seen Sofia like that before," she murmured, hugging Duchess Kitty. "Her face was so red, and her clothes..." She shuddered when she remembered how ripped and bloody Sofia's riding clothes had been. "I tried to stop Felix and his friends from hurting her!"

"You did everything you could to help her, Amber," she heard a voice behind her.

Amber looked around. "Duchess Kitty? Princess Sparkle Bear? Did you say something?"

"No, they didn't. But I did," Miranda smiled warmly, taking her in her arms. "I see you changed your dress."

"I thought it'd be the best to," Amber muttered softly. "I didn't even notice how much blood it was covered in." She frowned slightly. "Sofia was so scared. She looked like she'd been crying for a while before I got there, a-and s-she still had vomit on her chin from throwing up, but you probably didn't notice."

"Oh we noticed," Roland frowned. "Your sister was fussy with everyone who cleaned her up."

"Really?" Amber blinked, holding back tears.

"Oh, yes," Miranda murmured. "You know how upset she got when we were trying to cut her clothes off of her, and how she kept softly screaming 'no.'"

"That's right," Amber closed her eyes to keep the images from surfacing, but it was no good. "I asked Baileywick if I could stay with her and try to help keep her calm, but he said no."

"We thought it was for the best if you and James didn't see any more of that," Roland said as he sat next to her. "You two had been frightened enough, and we didn't want you to be any more upset than you already were."

"It's just... why Sofia? What did she do to get hurt like that?" Amber wondered. "Felix looked like he felt remorseful for what happened, looking at me with sad eyes before he left but he wasn't that way with his friends around."

"Maybe he tried to talk with them before what happened," Miranda assured her. "But it didn't work."

"I wish it had," Amber grumbled. She hugged Duchess Kitty close to her. "Is Sofia okay? How hurt is she?"

"She's got some bumps and bruises, and her arm's bandaged," Roland explained. "It's not broken, but we're mostly concerned about her back. You said Prince Felix kicked Sofia in the back when you found her?"

Amber nodded as she remembered seeing it. "I've never heard her scream like that," she murmured, leaning into Miranda's arms. "I didn't know what to do for her! All I did was scream for those boys to stop hurting her!"

"You got Sofia to us," Miranda assured her. "You helped carry her to us after it happened."

"I could've done more!" Amber protested.

"You were calming her down on the way home," Roland smiled, stroking her hair. "Sofia focused herself on you despite the pain she was feeling."

"She wasn't scared with you around," Miranda added with a smile.

"I wanted to help her," Amber agreed, "I've tried to help her since she first came here."

"And you have helped her," Miranda smiled. "You taught her how to dance, you were so supportive of her when she first flew in the Flying Derby tryout race, and you even gave her Derby tiara when she won her spot on the team."

Even though Miranda had mentioned the Flying Derby, Amber had to smile at the pleasant memory of Sofia zooming across the finish line with Minimus. She had been so proud of her, that she wanted to give her something special. She was even proud of James, but she didn't think he'd like a tiara as a prize.

Sofia had changed her somehow. Even if her recent memory of her before the attack was her being angry with her but Amber couldn't remember why.

The Sofia she had seen in the stables bloody, scared, and throwing up that afternoon wasn't the sister she had been used to up to that point.

She grit her teeth, remembering Sofia's scream as Amber recalled the sound of her back breaking. It was more painful than a broken wrist.

"You know we're going to do everything we can to help Sofia, don't you?" Roland's voice broke into her thoughts. "James offered to help her when she starts doing physical therapy."

Amber looked up. She had remembered that James had been talking to some of their friends when she went looking for Sofia, and how he had been humming a song to calm her when they were on the way home immediately following the attack. "Is James okay?" she asked.

"He was upset about not being there to help you get Sofia out of there, but we told him that it wasn't his fault; you know he was talking to his friends," Miranda explained.

"He's going to write Sofia a story to cheer her up as well," Roland added.

"Nothing scary, right?" Amber asked.

"No, it's going to be for fun," Roland smiled. "He said he's going to put your and Sofia's dolls and stuffed animals in it, as well as his writing helpers."

"I remember he did that when we were little," Amber smiled. "I always loved reading about our plush friends and the adventures they had!"

"And you'll enjoy it again," Miranda smiled.

"Sofia will too," Amber yawned.

"You had a long day," Roland smiled, taking her from Miranda's arms. "Now it's time for you to go to bed."

"Daddy, what about Sofia and Royal Prep?" Amber asked. "If she can't go back, she'll be far behind."

"Don't worry about that, Amber," Miranda smiled. "If Sofia has to miss school, we'll all help her get caught up."

"And right now, we're going to help you," Roland agreed. "We all know that music makes everything better, so why don't we help you with a song you always loved?"

He found one of her tapes, found the song he was looking for, and took her in his arms as he sang, Well I'd like to visit the moon
on a rocket ship high in the air

Amber smiled. She'd loved that song ever since she was little.

Miranda smiled beside her. She remembered singing this to Sofia when she was younger too, and couldn't help but join in herself.

Yes I'd like to visit the moon
but I don't think I'd like to live there

It was keeping Amber calmer than what she had been all day, and Miranda smiled as she stroked her hair.

Roland and Miranda sang together, Though I'd like to look down at the earth from above
I would miss all the people and places I love

Roland patted Duchess Kitty's head and gave her to Amber as he continued, So although I might like it for one afternoon

He and Miranda finished the verse, I don't want to live on the moon

"I haven't sung this in a long time," Miranda smiled as she nuzzled Princess Sparkle Bear against Amber, then tucked her in beside her.

Roland smiled as he and Miranda continued the song, I'd like to travel under the sea
I could meet all the fish everywhere
Yes I'd travel under the sea
But I don't think I'd like to live there

Amber yawned again, trying to fight back her eyes that were beginning to droop. "I'll help Sofia with her physical therapy too," she murmured.

"We know you will, Amber, and James told us he'd help her as well," Miranda smiled.

She continued the verse, I might stay for a day there if I had my wish
but there's not much to do
when your friends are all fish
and an oyster and clam are not real family
so I don't want to live in the sea

"Did James tell you that he and I will ride Minimus and help get him used to being around people again?" Amber asked.

"Yes, and he said you'd take turns riding him in the Flying Derby to get him used to that again," Roland agreed.

He started the bridge as he kissed Amber's forehead, I'd like to visit the jungle
hear the lions roar

Miranda smiled as she joined in, Go back in time and meet a dinosaur
There's so many strange places I'd like to be
but none of them permanently

"Maybe I can be in the Flying Derby until Sofia's healed," Amber offered.

"We'll have to see how Sofia reacts to the idea first," Miranda smiled. She noticed at Amber was starting to fall asleep. "Sweet dreams, sweetheart."

Roland nodded in agreement as he started the last verse, So if I should visit the moon
well I'll dance on a moonbeam and then
I will make a wish on a star
and I'll wish I was home once again

"And just like James' plush friends are going to give him ideas for his new story in his dreams, your plush friends will sing in yours," he added with a smile, tucking Duchess Kitty and Princess Sparkle Bear in with her.

"Music makes everything better, right?" Amber murmured.

"That's right, Amber," Miranda smiled, "Music, and family, make everything better."

She and Roland finished the song together, Though I'd like to look down at the earth from above
I would miss all the places and people I love
so although I may go I'll be coming home soon
cause I don't want to live on the moon
no I don't
want to live
on the moon

Amber eventually went to sleep as Miranda and Roland stepped out of her room and smiled.

All three of their children were finally asleep after a long and hard day. Who knew that one race would end in a disaster?

"We'll get through this together, Miranda," Roland murmured.

"I know we will, Rollie," Miranda smiled. "We just have to take it one day at a time."

"Do you need a lullaby to help you sleep too?" Roland grinned, seeing her yawn.

"We can sing something together since you look as tired as I am," Miranda smirked. "After all, music has been known to make everything better, but first we should try singing some of those songs we talked about or sang to James and Amber to Sofia, if she's up to it."

"After all she's been through today, she will be," Roland agreed.

"By now Sofia's probably awake," Miranda smiled. "I guess one visit couldn't hurt."

They looked in Sofia's bedroom, seeing her covered in bandages. Sofia was sleeping peacefully, most likely due to the sleeping potion Roland had asked Cedric to give her. Like James and Amber, Cedric had been devastated by what had happened to his apprentice and started getting ingredients for just about every healing potion in his books. Roland made a mental note to ask Cedric to give Sofia a potion for dreamless sleep, just like what he used to give James and Amber when they had terrible nightmares.

Hearing his musings, Miranda nodded in agreement. Sofia needed rest and time to recover after what had happened, and it wouldn't help her if she woke up screaming from nightmares.

They sat on either side of her, careful not to disturb her, and Miranda gently reached out and stroked her hair while Roland tucked her rag doll Maryann in with her.

Sofia sighed softly in her sleep, whimpering a little in pain as she moved to her right side before returning to her peaceful posture.

"That's my sweet baby girl," Miranda whispered gently, stroking her hair.

"I'll give this back in the morning," Roland whispered, taking Sofia's amulet out of his pocket.

"You didn't want her hurt as she was being cleaned up?" Miranda asked.

"She wore it under her jersey for luck," Roland explained. "I took it off her when we started cutting her out of her clothes."

"Good idea," Miranda agreed. "She always tried to be careful with it when she wore it around the horses, and told me she wore it under her jersey for safe keeping when she was riding."

"I knew she'd be careful with it," Roland smiled, but he couldn't help but sigh. "According to the stories my mother told me about it, the amulet was supposed to watch over the princess who wore it. I just wish it could have protected her better."

"Amber helped her, since you told me about the legend too, when you first gave it to Sofia," Miranda smiled. "You said it summoned help when a princess needed it. And just like that, Amber found her and helped her to safety."

"I can't argue with that logic," Roland smiled.

"Well, we better let her sleep," Miranda smirked softly. "Sofia has a big day of being checked over tomorrow along other things."

"Maryanne will sing to her in her dreams if she needs it," Roland smiled.

"Oh, yes, the children's plush friends love singing as much as they do," Miranda smiled. "A few days ago, I saw James working on one of his stories, and Amber invited Sofia and Maryanne to join them. Sofia was so excited when James asked Maryanne's advice!"

"They do have wonderful imaginations," Roland smiled, but it faded a little. "And they'll need all of their creative ideas to come up with ways for Sofia to practice her physical therapy."

"Their plush friends and the girls' dolls can help too, right?" Miranda grinned.

"Of course," Roland grinned, "As you so eloquently put it, Miranda, the more the merrier!"

Sofia started to stir a little before falling back to sleep as Miranda and Roland stepped out of her room.

They would all get through what happened one day at a time.