Disclaimer: I do not own any of the characters in this or Sofia the First by any means.

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Princess Amber woke with a jolt, hearing something shatter in her sister Sofia's room, right next door.

"Sofia?" She jumped out of bed, bolting out the door without even considering putting her shoes on.

She halted at Sofia's doorway, taking in the surrounding scene. Pieces of a lamp were shattered on the floor. She couldn't see Sofia for a moment while her eyes adjusted to the darkness of the room, but then she saw her, lying on the floor beside her bed.

"Sofia? Oh, Sofia!..." She threw on a pair of her sister's slippers that were sitting by the door and made her way towards the younger princesses' small, unmoving figure. She kicked away nearby pieces of glass left from the lamp.

Amber crouched down beside Sofia and pulled her sisters head into her lap. She let her hand down and accidentally stuck herself with a piece of glass.

"Ouch!" She smacked it out of her hand before going back to the task at hand.

Sofia let out a small groan, slowly coming to. Amber pulled her arms around her younger sister, careful not to touch the princess's pajamas with her hand, which she was certain was bleeding by now.

"Sofia?" Amber said her name in a soothing but concerned voice, she was scared for her sister, but she knew that seeming afraid at the moment would only make things worse.

"Amber?" Sofia struggled to get her name out, "What happened?"

"Oh Sofia," Amber gazed down at her sister, the minimal light coming through the window enough to make out her face, "I think you fainted."

"Fainted?" The younger princess's voice was a mixture of confusion and exhaustion. She tried moving to stand herself up.

"Here, let me help you. Please, Sofia, take your time." Amber allowed Sofia to pull her head off of her lap, and Sofia pulled her legs to her side, so she was still resting but supporting herself against the side of her bed, instead of on Amber.

Amber gently stood up and began helping her sister up, putting her arms around the other princess.

Once they had stood up, they held a hugging position, Amber making sure Sofia could stay upright.

Shaky, the young girl started towards the door. She knew they would have to tell their parents what had happened. She was still unsteady, so Amber moved to her side to support her, putting her arm around her little sister, supporting part of her weight.

Sofia started worrying about the fact that her sister was sacrificing her sleep for her. It appeared as though everyone who helped her always got hurt. Sofia started feeling lightheaded.

They got out into the hallway and moved towards their parents' room before Sofia became overwhelmed, the room spinning around her.

"Amber…" she groaned and her sister froze.

"Sofia? What's wrong?" Amber asked her sister, concerned.

"Amber… we need to sit…" she struggled to explain what she meant, but her sister understood.

Amber began helping Sofia to the ground, but before they could get very far, Sofia crumpled into her arms.

They were near one of the rope bells, so after bringing Sofia to the ground, Amber began pulling it over and over, hoping someone would hear it.

Baileywick, the castle steward, came rushing around the corner. "What's wrong? Princess Am–" he stopped mid-sentence, seeing Sofia unconscious in her arms.

Amber's eyes were pricked with tears, and she was trying her best not to let them fall. She was more concerned about her sister than she had ever been, but she wanted to stay strong, she didn't want Sofia to see her scared if the princess woke up.

Baileywick rushed to the door of the king and queen, knocking on it.

King Roland opened the door after a second, confusion evident on his face, Queen Miranda right behind him, rubbing her eyes.

"Baileywick, what are you doing here? It's not sunrise yet," Miranda questioned him.

The steward apologized, "I'm sorry for bothering you at this time, your majesties, but something is wrong with Princess Sofia. Princess Amber is with her now. Come quick."

As soon as they heard those words, Roland and Miranda rushed to Sofia's room, before seeing the two on the floor in the hallway.

Amber didn't notice them approaching, too caught up in trying to wake up Sofia.

James had come out of his room, hearing the commotion and was standing on the side of the hall watching, concern apparent on his face.

Amber was talking to Sofia still, despite her being unconscious. "Sofia? Sofia? Come on Sofia please wake up…"

"Sofia? Oh my goodness, Sofia, sweetheart!" Miranda knelt on the floor with the two of them, one hand around Amber's back, the other one smoothing Sofia's hair.

Amber allowed herself to melt into her mother's embrace, still holding Sofia firmly, as though if she didn't something horrible would happen.

"Baileywick! Get a cold, wet cloth, and bring it back here." Miranda told the steward.

"Yes, your majesty!" Baileywick sprinted down the hall to the maids quarters.

Miranda pulled Sofia so the young princess was laying on both Amber and herself.

"Mom?" James finally spoke up.

"Yes, James?" His mother looked at him, her eyes soft with concern and affection for her children.

"Will Sofia be okay?"

"She'll be alright, don't worry James. Everything will be fine." Miranda assured him, hoping she was right.

Roland knelt beside his wife and daughters as Baileywick returned and handed him the cloth, already neatly folded the way they needed.

"Thank you Baileywick," he nodded at the steward, putting the cloth across Sofia's forehead.

Everyone felt so small and helpless, sitting there in silence waiting for Sofia to wake up.

Amber had put her hand in Sofia's, holding onto it, wishing her sister would wake up.

"Come on," she whispered, "Sofia wake up, please." She was becoming exhausted and leaned into Miranda while they both held the younger princess.

After what felt like forever, Amber felt Sofia's hand shift, tightening around her own.

"Sofia?..." her voice was suddenly hopeful.

Sofia groaned, and Amber shook Miranda awake, who had fallen asleep holding her daughters.

"Mom! Sofia is waking up!" Amber was very joyful about it.

"Sofia…" Miranda said sleepily before remembering the situation, "Sofia! You're awake!"

Roland, James, and Baileywick, who had fallen asleep against the wall, began stirring at this.

Roland took in his surroundings while James immediately said "Sof!" and went over his mom and sisters.

Sofia slowly opened her eyes, realizing she was on the floor, looking up at Amber with bewilderment in her eyes. "Amber? What happened? Why are we out–"

"Shhhh Sofia calm down. You fainted. Twice." Amber tightened her hand slightly on her sisters, trying to keep her calm.

Sofia was suddenly aware of all the attention being on her. "Fainted? I- I couldn't have. I don't remember anything. Anything except-" she stopped. Her face began to get white, her breathing quick and shaky. "AMBER-" tears began streaming down her face.

"Sofia? What happened? Sofia, I'm right here." Amber pulled her sister up against her. "I'm right here. Don't worry Sofia. You're okay."

Sofia began clinging to her, hugging her, sobbing.

Miranda tried to comfort her daughter, but Sofia only wanted Amber for some reason.

"Hildegard, Vivian, Clio–" Sofia breathed their names in quick breaths, unable to calm down.

Amber glanced down at the princess in her arms, her face softening. "Did you have a bad dream?" She felt Sofia nod before the princess stiffened.

Sofia looked up at her, tears still in her eyes. "I- I'm sorry I caused so many problems."

The princess looked so small and vulnerable all of a sudden and Amber wondered what happened. This was her sister. The same one who had fought off so much, and was always so strong. She started to wonder if the most recent adventure had taken a toll on Sofia more than she had previously thought. But there was no time to think about that now. Her sister was not okay, and she needed to be there for her.

Queen Miranda looked at her daughter and Amber could tell she was thinking the same thing, watching the small princess cling to Amber.

"Amber please don't leave me. Please–" Sofia was struggling to breathe.

"Sofia, listen to me. I will never leave you. I promise. You're my sister." Amber laid her chin on the top of Sofia's head. Sofia was finally starting to calm down so Amber decided to ask a question. "What do you want to do? We can sit here. We don't have to talk, or you could tell me what upset you. It's okay either way."

Sofia shook her head, "You- you deserve to know. After all, you've been there with me through all of it." She sighed and pulled herself away from her sister's grip. "Can we sit by the wall? I want you all next to me."

Everyone moved towards the wall, but Baileywick watched them, moving to leave, not knowing if he was welcome.

Sofia got herself situated against the wall, and glanced up at him, "you too Baileywick. You're a part of the family too."

"Oh! Thank you, Princess Sofia." Baileywick nodded and made his way over to join them.

Amber pulled her arm around Sofia's side, Miranda pulling her arm around the two girls from Sofia's other side, "Okay. We're listening."

Sofia sighed. "Okay. Well it- it started right after everything with Vor. Seeing someone just disappear right in front of my eyes and knowing it's-." She stopped suddenly and pulled her face into Amber's shoulder again. Amber put her other arm across to reach Sofia's hand, holding it.

"Sofia I know this is hard," Miranda told her daughter, "but we can't help unless we know what's going on."

"W-what if you can't help?" Sofia's eyes were growing shiny again.

"We'll always try our best," James leaned to see her and chimed in, "Sofia, we're a family. We try our best for each other. You've risked your life for us. Helping you through this is the least we can do."

"Thanks, James. I love you." Sofia looked around her. "I love all of you."

Roland looked at his daughter, proud of how far she had come. "Are you ready to continue?"

Sofia nodded. "It's just- I realized some things are permanent. It's not like when Mister Cedric betrayed us and things eventually got fixed. It's… permanent." She looked up at her sister. "I've been having these nightmares since and it even comes to my mind during the day. Vivian had to help me when I went to visit her the other day. We were out in her enchanted garden and it suddenly hit me–"

Miranda looked at her daughter, "Is that why you came home late that day?"

Sofia nodded very slowly, "I'm sorry. I wasn't ready to tell you. Vivian doesn't know why it happened. She just helped me because she's dealt with these sorts of things before. She called them panic attacks."

Amber chimed in, "so what was the dream about?"

Sofia looked at her. "Oh, Amber it was horrible!" Tears started welling up in her eyes. "Me, you, Vivian, Hildegard, and Clio were all trapped. Vor, Prisma, everyone that despises me, they were trying to hurt you guys. They… killed Clio and Hildegard. I woke up when they went up to you. I tried to come to check on you. Then I guess I hit the ground."

Amber glanced at her, "and then that's when I found you, wasn't it?"

Sofia nodded hard enough it shook her shoulders, and Amber winced when her shoulder rubbed against the palm of her hand. Miranda noticed and grabbed Amber's hand.

"Amber! You're hurt!" Miranda gave her a look of concern.

"What?" Sofia looked at Amber, worry in her eyes, "why didn't you tell me you were hurt?"

Amber shook her head at them. "It's not important right now. It's just a cut from the lamp."

Baileywick immediately went into steward mode, "what lamp? There shouldn't be any lamp that can harm the children of this castle."

Amber pointed to Sofia's room. "When she fainted the first time, I think she accidentally knocked over a lamp. The glass is all over the floor in her room."

By now the sun had risen and one of the maids passed by the entryway to the hallway they were in, one of Amber and Sofia's favorite maids at that.

"Marcy!" Baileywick shouted for her, realizing she was headed for the children's rooms to help them get ready for breakfast.

"Yes, Baileywick?" She noticed the royal family on the floor beside him and bowed to them. "Your majesties."

"Marcy, be careful if you go into Sofia's room. There is glass on the floor. Please find someone to clean it up. And could you please bring up some bandages from the castle doctor for Princess Amber? I will deal with the rest of it myself. I'll be down to see her later with Princess Sofia." Baileywick told her.

Marcy nodded before quickly heading off in the direction of the castle doctor.

"Baileywick I don't need help right now. Sofia does." Amber told him as soon as Marcy left.

Baileywick shook his head at her, "nonsense, Princess Amber. Your hand could get infected because of the floor of the castle. You need help just as much as Sofia does."

Marcy came back, handing the roll of bandage to Baileywick and leaving, and Baileywick knelt in front of Amber and her sister, taking the eldest daughter's hand and wrapping it neatly in the bandaging.

"There!" He spoke after he was done, "that'll do. After we deal with everything else I'll bring you to the castle doctor with Sofia and me."

"Oh alright…" Amber spoke, "thanks Baileywick."

"Not a problem, Princess," he nodded to her as he got up and returned to his spot against the wall.

Sofia was quickly becoming overwhelmed again, feeling like her actions were the reason her sister was hurt. She started feeling like she couldn't breathe again. Seeing images of people in her mind, being harmed because they simply knew her. Her heart was racing.

Amber noticed her sister shaking, the young girl letting out a noise every once in a while.

"Sofia?" Amber put her hand in her sisters, but Sofia didn't take it. Amber looked up at her mom worriedly. "Mom she isn't responding!"

"Sofia? Sof?" James joined in, trying to get his youngest sister to respond.

"Honey? You're alright now. You're safe." Miranda spoke calmly to her daughter despite being scared.

Roland didn't take his eyes off his daughter, suddenly feeling a lot more helpless than he had before. He continued to watch her, struggling against something in her mind.

"Sofia?" He spoke her name quietly, worried about his youngest daughter.

"Sofia!" Amber practically yelled her name when her sister suddenly fell forward, and she caught her. She pulled Sofia back and leaned her sister against her, as King Roland commanded Baileywick to get the castle doctor immediately. The room was sudden chaos but all Amber could hope was that Sofia would be okay. She looked down at her bandaged hand, wondering why her sister had suddenly started panicking.

"AMBER!" Sofia woke up with a start, screaming her sister's name again. She felt Amber's arms wrap around her immediately, and she melted into her touch.

Miranda, Roland, and James looked at her with shock.

"Sofia, you're okay. You're okay. I promise." Amber gazed down at her gently, holding her close.

Suddenly, they heard a voice.

"Sofia?" Chrysta's voice rang out as her enchantlet formed a circle and Chrysta appeared in the middle.

"Sofia, do you want to–" Chrysta stopped, taking in the scene in front of her. Sofia's puffy eyes, her almost pale, looking exhausted, her being supported by her sister, the queen on her other side.

"What's wrong, Princess?" Chrysta looked concerned, her usually sassy voice calm and quiet, calling Sofia by the 'nickname' she had been using since Sofia started training.

Sofia put her head down. She didn't want the protectors to see her so weak, let alone Chrysta, her previous trainer, and the best protector in the Mystic Isles.

"Princess, talk to me," Chrysta demanded.

"I- I can't-" Sofia shook her head, not daring to look at her.

She heard Vega speak as she stepped to join Chrysta in the enchantlet picture. "Sofia? Are you okay? You look drained."

Orion chimed in, "we were going to ask you to come train with us today, but change in plans. We're coming to you."

Sofia tried to disagree, but Chrysta stopped her. "We're coming whether you want us to or not, Princess."

With that, her enchantlet closed up.

"Oh Amber, what am I going to do? I don't want Chrysta to see me like this." Sofia looked at her older sister.

"It'll be okay Sofia," Amber told her, "she just wants to make sure you're okay."

Just then, the castle doctor came down the hall with Baileywick.

"Your majesties," she greeted the royal family before turning to Roland specifically. "What seems to be the problem?"

Miranda stepped in, "Sofia has fainted three times in the past few hours. We aren't sure why."

The doctor leaned down to take a look at Sofia but continued talking to everyone else. "Is there a common factor between each time it has happened?"

"Not that we know of-" King Roland started, but was stopped by Amber.

"Yes. She was panicking each time." Amber glanced up at her father. "Daddy, think about it. The first time, she was panicking because of the nightmare. The second time I was there and she started getting shaky again. And you saw this last time."

"Sofia, what were you panicking about?" The doctor eyed her.

Sofia swallowed hard. "Each time- each time it had to do with someone getting hurt because of me. I've been nervous about it since Vor–" she stopped, struggling to catch her breath.

"It's okay. You don't have to continue. Your majesty, I think I know the problem." She turned to Roland.

"You do? What is it?" The king suddenly looked hopeful.

The doctor looked at the young princess, looking so small in her sister's arms. "Her body can't cope with what she's been through. She's going to need help. A lot of it. The good news is, though, she seems to have a lot of help already with her. She will be okay. Just be there for her. Like Princess Amber is now."

Chrysta, Vega, and Orion stepped into the hallway, having heard what the doctor said.

Chrysta looked at the small girl who had once been her trainee. "Does this mean she can't be a protector anymore?"

Orion glanced at Chrysta. "We've had a protector with this problem before."

Vega smiled as she realized what he was talking about.

Chrysta gave him a confused look, "who? Why don't I remember this?"

Orion gave a small laugh and crouched down to see Sofia. "You know, Sofia, you're not alone in this." Sofia wouldn't meet his gaze, so he simply continued. "You're not alone because Chrysta's trainer suffered the same way."

Chrysta looked at him, bewildered. "But Orion, you were my trainer."

Orion nodded without taking his eyes off Sofia.

Realization seemed to hit Sofia and Chrysta both at the same time, and Sofia looked up and smiled at him.

Orion smiled back. "Princess Sofia, I will help you get through this the best that I can."

Sofia was very happy about that. "Thank you, Orion." She reached out to hug him, partially pulling herself out of Amber's grip.

Amber moved slightly and Sofia had realized her sister had fallen asleep holding her. She smiled at the thought, and let herself back into her sister's arms.

Roland had noticed as well, and he asked Baileywick to check whether or not Sofia's room had been cleaned up from the glass. Baileywick went to check and returned with a nod. With that, Miranda picked up Sofia, Roland picked up Amber, and they carried their daughters to Sofia's room, laying them both gently in Sofia's bed. Amber immediately snuggled up to Sofia, partially opening her eyes. She smiled at their parents, before closing her eyes and falling asleep with Sofia.

Miranda looked at them and smiled. It was odd to think that her daughters didn't know each other a few years ago. She and Roland had met when Amber and James were nine years old, and Sofia was eight. She was always worried about whether Sofia and Amber would ever get along, but eventually, they started going on adventures together and grew closer than anyone else in the castle. It was always Amber, Sofia, and James. The unbreakable bond.

She saw James crawl into bed with them, laying beside Amber, and smiled. She knew he wasn't as tired as they were, he had been up playing knights in his room before all the commotion started, he just wanted to be there with his sisters. Before Sofia came around, it was just him and Amber, the twins, but he had grown to love Sofia just as much as he loved Amber. No one could doubt the three had a bond that went beyond step-siblings.

With that, Miranda glanced at Roland, who was smiling at the sight in front of them, grabbed his hand, and they left the room, softly closing the door behind them. Today was a day where the castle could stay asleep. Sofia could do without the usual craziness of the castle, she needed rest. So Roland postponed today's royal duties for tomorrow, and he and Miranda headed back into their room, sending Baileywick to his, and the protectors returned to the Mystic Isles, making a promise to check on Sofia tomorrow.

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