This series of stories takes place after the Road to Coronation and all other stories that I have written and will cover the next generation of characters. At this point in the timeline Sofia and Hugo's son, Ethan is 15 but is close to his 16th birthday and attending the Corinthian Sports Academy like his dad did. His brother Alden is 13 in his last year of Royal Prep, and his younger sisters, Emma and Mia, are 11. James and Clio's oldest son, Andrew, is 15 years old, attending Chivalry Hall, and their daughter Ella is 9. Amber and Desmond's twins, Aidan and Della are 14, both attending Everrealm Academy, and their youngest daughter Lorelei is 10, in the same year as Ella in Royal Prep. Hildegard and Zandar's daughter, Amara is 14 years old and also attends Everrealm Academy and is courting Andrew.


Chapter 1:

(Ethan POV) -Albuquerque-

I got home from school and plopped down on my bed sore from the grueling day. Flying derby. Enchanted Ice Dancing. Hockey. Back to back to back. My muscles were sore from going at this pace but, I loved it. I loved the rush I felt flying across the finish line, or when I landed another fireball flip or when I scored a hat trick. The one part about sports I didn't like was when people found out who my parents were, "Your the son of King Hugo and Queen Sofia... They are legends... No wonder you are so naturally gifted." I wanted them to see the blisters on my feet, the bruises along my torso and every broken bone I every received when they said that. I earned this and I am sick of getting cheap shotted at every turn.

I heard a knock on the door, "Come in." I said not bothering to get up. "Hey baby," I sat up and saw my Mom walk in. I smiled as she came further into my room. "How are you feeling? I know that it is hard on Wednesdays when you have all three practices," she said sitting down next to me. I loved moments like these with her. My mom is different than most other royal parents from what I had heard. She doesn't care about what others think about us as long as we are happy and I know when she asked me questions like those it was because she genuinely wanted to hear the answer. I stretched out my back, "Nothing I can't handle. I'll probably hit the rink later once I catch my second wind." She shook her head with a smile, "Just make sure you are cleaned up in time for dinner." "Of course Mom," I said.

I then heard the door squeak open more, "Hey champ, how was practice?" Dad asked walking in. "It was good. Coach Jackson is still asking if you would come down for a demonstration," I shrugged. Dad sat next to Mom, "I don't know. What do you think my Queen can we still show these kids how it is done on the Enchanted Ice Rink?" Mom laughed, "Maybe before the twins. Now I think it is up to you and Ethan over here." Dad and I rolled our eyes. Mom was always doing that. Saying she wasn't as good as she used to be when we were younger and that I am better than she ever was. "Mom you are amazing, I'm sure you can show those royals a thing or two" I said. "I completely agree," Dad added wrapping his arms around Mom. "Well, I'm going to go down to our rink and practice some more I have an Ice Dancing competition in a few weeks that I need to get ready for," I said standing up. Mom and Dad smiled and nodded at me. As I slung my bag over my shoulder and went outside.


(Sofia POV)

I watched Ethan as he left the room and smiled. My baby had grown up so much, I couldn't help but worry about him something inside me knew he wasn't happy. "Hey," Hugo said regaining my attention, "what are you thinking about?" "Nothing important," I smiled, "I just have a headache." Hugo shook his head, "Sofia it is always important." I stood up dusting myself off, "I'm going to check on the girls and finish the paperwork in my office." Hugo grabbed my arm, "Sofia what's wrong?" "I told you I have a slight headache," he gave me a look letting me know he didn't believe me. I sighed, "I'm just worried about him. He is working himself to death." Hugo sighed, "Sofia, Ethan is going to be fine. You are the one I'm worried about. How are you today?" "Hugo I'm fine." He shook his head, "Neither of us are ever fine today of all days." I glared at him, "Hugo, I'm fine. It was 18 years ago." Hugo nodded his head, "Yeah and I know that it still hurts every anniversary." Tears started to break the surface of my eyes and Hugo pulled me into an embrace. "I miss her too." "Clara," escaped my mouth as we held onto each other in the quiet of Ethan's room. We had told Ethan and Alden about their older sister but we tried not to be upset about it in front of them, it was our demon to deal with not theirs.


(Ethan POV)

I loved my parents but sometimes they were too perfect to be around. It was so much pressure all the time and I just needed some air. They were the perfect couple, the perfect king and queen. I was only their first born. I began to skate around the rink clearing my head. I missed feeling free. I moved along to the music that was playing in my head jumping and flipping in the air in no particular order. I landed my final jump and skated off to the side. "Nice show" I heard a voice say.

I turned and saw a girl in squire attire. She had golden blonde hair that was tied up in a low ponytail and a braid that started at the top and went down into the ponytail. She had a hand placed firmly on her hip. "Thanks?" I said though it sounded like a question. "I've never seen a guy move like that on the ice," I rolled my eyes. My Dad made a lot of headway against the stigma of princes ice dancing but there will always be people who are against it. She stopped herself, "Oh no, that is not a bad thing. It's unique." She smirked at the end of her realization. "Well Thank you," I smiled. I sat down on a snow bank next to the ice. She came closer and sat down next to me stretching her arms out behind her to catch her from falling in as she leaned back.. "For someone who looked so happy on the ice a few moments ago you don't seem to be very happy right now," She said shoving my shoulder playfully. I shrugged, "It's different being on the ice. I can escape. The moment I get off its back to reality." "What is so wrong with reality?" She asked. "Picture perfect parents who I'm never going to live up to" I muttered. This quieted her down as she stared at the frozen rink, "I wish my parents were picture perfect or even around." I heard her say. "What happened to them?" I asked turning towards her. She shook it off, "Let's just say I don't talk about them for a reason." We stayed silent for a moment.

She smiled at me again and broke the silence, "So a charming, athletic, young man with perfect parents outside of a castle in the kingdom of Albuquerque." She said bringing a hand to her chin, "Wild guess. You are a Prince?" She asked questioningly. I let out a quick breath of amusement and nodded. "Alright well I guess you aren't going to tell me your name" She said leaning back into her arms. "Tell me yours first," I said. She bounced her head back and forth thinking about it, "Alright fair enough, Damira. Friends call me Mira." I nodded, "Alright Mira..." I started but she stopped me, "Damira to you. Who said one conversation made you my friend?" I laughed at this. "Alright DA-mira" I emphasized the first part of her name to get her to laugh which worked, "I'm Ethan." "Just Ethan?" she asked. I rolled my eyes and stood up to go right in front of her. I went into a bow, "Prince Ethan Asher Albridge the First at your service." "Why the First?" I thought about it for a second and shrugged. "I don't know. It is a whole thing with my parents." She laughed and stood up going into a clumsy curtsey, "Well Prince Ethan Asher Albridge the First" she spoke in a fake fancy accent that was making me laugh flailing her arm around as she said the First, "I better head off." She began to walk away. "Will I see you again?" I asked. "Maybe one day," she whispered as she walked away.

I sat back down in the snow bank when a vision in pink tackled me from behind and came forward. I looked down at her and shook my head, "That was not very Princess-like Princess Emma." She was too busy laughing to care. And I started laughing too as I straightened her out and brought her closer to me on my lap. "Mom said to get you for dinner," she said as I was helping her get the snow out of her hair. "Did she tell you to tackle me when you told me?" I asked. She shook her head, "No, she just said not to yell if you were in the middle of a flip again." I shook my head that was her preferred way to give me news. I finished dusting myself off and grabbed my coat, "Well come on we don't want to be late," I said holding out my hand to hers. Emma was my ball of sunshine in this place. She was always smiling and goofing around. I think she loved being royal more than any of us.

"How was your day at Royal Prep?" I asked as we walked into the house. She and Mia had two more years there before they chose their secondary schools. "It was ah-mazing" she picked that one up from stories about Mom. She continued telling me all about her day and I twirled her around as we walked into the castle. We got to the dinning room and the family was waiting for us. Alden had his nose stuck in a book and Mia was muttering something to herself. Emma took her seat next to Mia, "Sorry to keep you waiting." I said sitting down. Alden closed his book and looked up, "What were we talking about?" He asked. I coughed out "Book worm." He stared at me, "Got a problem Momma's Boy?" I narrowed my eyes. I loved my brother but we both knew how to get under each others' skin. I rolled my eyes though as I saw my Mom looking at me. I wouldn't argue with him now and he knew that. I turned toward Mia, "How was your day Mia?" She looked like a deer caught in the headlights. She was very shy and sometimes stuttered when caught off guard, "I-It was g-good. We w-won the Enchanted Science Fair" She said and smiled up at me. Alden then started rubbing circles into her back. We all knew that Mia had trouble speaking so we made sure to encourage her whenever we could. "Congratulations," I said smiling at her before refocusing on my food.

We were all talking, laughing and enjoying each other's company when I noticed that Dad was getting quiet and focused on me more than the others. "So Ethan," Dad started and I knew where the conversation was going to go, "are you thinking about courting anyone?" There it was. My Dad had been asking me this almost daily now and I was growing more annoyed each time he asked. "No, not at the moment," I said not making eye contact. He sighed, "Ethan you need to start thinking about this." Mom hushed him, "Hugo, give him time he is still young." She said placing her hand on my arm. "He is almost 16," Dad started. Mom now narrowed her eyes, "When we were 16 we weren't even speaking to one another. We didn't even begin courting until a week before we were married." She said softly but firmly clearly trying to warn him. "Who's fault is that?" Dad muttered loud enough that the entire table could hear. I let out a breath and started rubbing my temple as I shared a look with Alden. Dad just made a huge mistake and he realized it as Mom dropped he utensils and threw her napkin down on the table, "D-D-Don't fight," Mia started. Mom turned toward her, her expression softening, "We aren't going to fight sweetheart, Mommy is just done with dinner." She then faced Dad a scowl returning to her face, "And Daddy is sleeping in the guest room tonight." I could see Dad's face droop as he started to realize what he had done. Mom walked out of the room kissing Emma and Mia on-top of their heads and saying bye to Alden and I before ignoring Dad as he tried to talk to her, "Sofia? Come on Sofia..." Mom just continued leaving the room.


(Hugo POV)

I watched as Sofia left and I went up to go after her, "Sofia." I said the exact wrong thing and I knew it as soon as I said it and now I was going to have major damage control. I caught up with her down the hallway, We talked about this before. I have apologized before. I thought I was protecting everyone. Don't you dare make me feel guilty about that." "Sofia you know that is not what I meant." She was still refusing to face me. I grabbed her wrist and turned her around, "Sofia." I spoke softly. She looked up at me and her clear blue eyes showed me everything. She was furious and hurt and the next few minutes would be critical if I said the wrong thing. "Sofia I'm sorry," I started but she cut me off, "Why do you keep doing this?" "Doing what?" I asked genuinely unsure about what she was talking about. "Why do you keep pressuring Ethan with this? I know he is almost 16 but, we found each other when I was 18. Amber and James didn't start courting their partners until they were 19. Your brother abdicated from the line of succession and married Prince Astrid when he was 19. Why are you making a big deal about this now." I sighed, "The advisors..."

"THE ADVISORS HAVE NO CONTROL OVER ANY OF THIS," she started screaming, "DON'T YOU DARE BRING THEM INTO THIS." Angry tears were rolling down her face. I tried pulling her into my arms but she pushed me away, "Hugo don't." I stood helplessly until she calmed herself down. "The advisers have not said anything yet," I restarted as I had her attention, "but they will soon. I don't want them to suggest an arranged marriage to him like they did to me, but if he isn't with someone then they will and I don't want him to be trapped." Sofia brought her hands to her face and I tried again to wrap her in an embrace. This time she let me and I held onto her as she was overwhelmed with everything, "I just don't want our kids to go through what we did. I want them to be happy and safe and loved. I c-can't..." she started choking up and I guided her to a nearby room so that the kids wouldn't see us. "Sofia, we made sure that what happened to us, what happened to you can't happen to our kids." I rubbed circles into her shoulder as we sat side by side. She faced me, "Promise me you are going to stop bringing it up. Even if it is just for a little while. After he is 16 or maybe not even until he is 17 we can talk to him about it, but no more ambushes at the dinner table. Promise me." I nodded my head, "Alright I promise." We sat next to each other for a little while before I finally asked, "So am I still sleeping in the guest room tonight or..." She glared up at me but I saw a smirk on her face, "You are an idiot sometimes." She stood up and walked away, "That doesn't really answer my question" I called out, but she was already walking down the hallway.


(Ethan POV)

Alden and I exchanged a glance and I watched as he started the countdown tapping his finger on the table. In 3...2... "Sofia," Dad stared standing up to go follow Mom. We waited until he was out of ear shot and started laughing. Emma and Mia looked at us, "What's so funny?" Emma asked. "You'll understand when you're older." I went with and she huffed crossing her arms. Emma was never the most patient of the 4 of us. We continued eating dinner together and Alden and I brought the twins to their rooms.

They had each gotten their own rooms when they were 8 but, they were connected by a door. Alden took Mia and I took Emma and we both tucked them into their beds. Emma looked up at me, "Are Mommy and Daddy going to be alright?" I smiled at her, "They always are. They love each other a lot, Daddy just said something stupid. Remember all the stories about them when they were kids, they fought back then too but, they were always there for each other and always cared about each other." She nodded as she looked up at me, "Why does Daddy keep asking you about princesses?" I shrugged, "I think he is worried that I am going to end up all alone." Emma shook her head, "You'll never be alone, you are stuck with me." She whispered as she started falling asleep. "And you're stuck with me," I whispered back. She was passed out at that point and I looked down at her necklace and the Clararose pendant on it. When I was older Mom and Dad told me what happened and why they gave it to all of us. I looked at my pin and smiled, "Keep them safe."

I went into the hallway and saw Alden who had just finished with Mia, "How was she?" I asked. He shrugged, "Worried, she always is when they fight, however rare it is." I rolled my eyes, "She'll learn soon enough, whenever they fight they make up a few hours later and everything is perfect again." He nodded his head, "Yeah, I think that they are fighting more often is what is freaking her out. Ever since Dad started talking about..." "Don't you start too, please. Dad was lucky he met Mom when they were young, I haven't met the one yet." Alden nodded, "Yeah I know, believe me I am not trying to rush you. Once you find someone, their sights will be on me finding someone." I went over to his slugging my arm over his shoulder, "What's the problem golden boy worried about having to find someone?" I asked as I began to mess with his hair as he tried to show me off, "Stop, E, stop." He said laughing. He finally got me off and we both took a break, "Yeah I am scared. We have some pretty epic family legacies to live up to. Mom and Dad, Aunt Amber and Uncle Desmond, Uncle James and Aunt Clio, Uncle Axel and Aunt Astrid," he started rattling off and I couldn't help but laugh, "What?" he asked. "I just find it funny that 3 out of 4 of the couples you just listed are now King and Queen of their respective kingdoms." Alden thought about it for a moment, "Yeah, thank god for Uncle James and Aunt Clio." I nodded my head and we walked down the halls to our rooms.

It was a pretty normal day for our family and later that night I heard a knock on the door and saw Mom coming in, "Mind if I come in?" She asked. I nodded my head and sat up on the bed as she came closer and sat next to me. "Are you alright? After all the craziness with dinner?" I smiled, "Yeah Mom. I'm all good. The girls were a little worried but, Alden and I told them it was all going to be fine." Mom nodded her head, "Your Dad and I both love you. I hope you know that." I rolled my eyes, "Of course I do. You tell me nearly everyday." She smiled, "Then clearly I am not saying it enough if it is only nearly." We both laughed for a moment. "Ethan all I want, all your Dad and I want is to see you and your siblings happy. Are you happy?" It sounded like a simple question but it didn't feel that way. I mean I should be happy, I had good friends, a loving family, I did well at sports. I had by all means a perfect life but still sometimes it didn't feel that way. Still I flashed a smile to Mom, "Of course I am happy." She nodded her head but I wasn't sure if she believed me. She looked over at the clock and then back at me, "Go to sleep soon. It's getting late." I nodded my head and watched as Mom stood up. She stood still for a moment but she looked off balance, "Are you alright Mom?" She turned toward me and smiled, "I'm fine baby just got up a bit too fast. Remember, this weekend everyone is coming over." I nodded my head and watched as she left. Something seemed off with Mom but I couldn't put my finger on what. I decided to let it go for now but I would ask Dad about it later.

Usually at night, I think about the routines I had memorized or the games I had coming up but, tonight Damira entered my mind. I was curious about her... it wasn't the right word but, the only word I could think of to describe this newfound fascination of her. I wanted to know if I would see her again. I would but, I never thought it would happen the way that it did.