The first pages of the Mexican version of the Junior Novelization are available to read as a preview on Google Books. Among other things, the age of some of the Teens is revealed there: Dahlia is 16, Simon 18, and Gabo just 13. I guess that's why he's shorter than the rest. I found him quite funny in this preview, by the way. I think I'm going to like that character in the movie. Also, according to the book, Sabino is not Asha's grandfather, but her great-grandfather. That's strange because, if I'm not mistaken, they've been saying he's her grandfather everywhere else, though he's certainly old enough to be his great-grandfather.
CHAPTER 1
In a cozy cabin in the middle of the forest, 17-year-old Asha was helping her great-grandfather put on his cloak. As she fastened a button, she began to tell the story of Rosas, the beautiful city they called home.
"Once upon a time," Asha began to tell, "on a distant island, a most magical kingdom, founded by a most magical king with the power to grant wishes. People from all over came to live there in the hope that their dreams would come true."
Asha had seen King Magnifico grant many wishes: one each month in a special wishing ceremony. But that day she only thought of one wish and one wisher: her great-grandfather, saba Sabino.
She finished the story with a flourish.
"But everyone agrees that no one deserves it more than... my great-grandfather, the most wonderful, handsome and loving man, who turns 100 today!"
Behind them, a little goat in yellow pajamas ran to climb on a ledge, but Asha didn't pay much attention to it because she was finishing buttoning her saba's cape. Then she gave him a mirror.
Sabino smiled at his reflection and his eyes shone under the dense white eyebrows, which matched the hair on his head.
"And I still have my favorite tooth," he said. Asha laughed as she packed her backpack and put her favorite sketchbook in it.
"It cannot be a coincidence that the king announced a ceremony of wishes today and not any other day," commented the young woman. She knew that Sabino longed for his wish to be granted.
Sabino tapped his head with his knuckles for good luck.
"Better late than never."
"Don't be like that, saba," Asha asked. "This is your night. I can feel it." And she kissed him on the cheek.
"Well, you know what they say," commented saba, "anything is possible..."
At that moment, Asha's mother, Sakina, entered the room with a basket full of stamens.
"In the Kingdom of Wishes!" Sakina, Asha and saba said in unison.
Sakina laughed, her dark curls covered by a magenta scarf. Then she looked around the room.
"Where is Valentino?"
Asha and Sabino started searching the shelves above and, just then, Valentino fell from its shelf into Sakina's basket.
"I have it," she announced.
Asha approached Valentino, who bleated in protest.
"Sorry, but I don't speak goat language," Asha said as she carefully placed him on the ground. Valentino immediately jumped onto the fireplace.
"Let's start saba's cake," Sakina suggested.
"Ah, I can't," Asha clarified quickly. "I'm going to give a tour." She had a special job in Rosas. When tourists arrived at the port, Asha welcomed them and gave them a tour of the kingdom.
"And then... uh... I'm going to... I'm going to help Dahlia," Asha stuttered, letting her dark braids fall over her face so she wouldn't have to look her mother in the eye. Asha was going to go to the castle where her best friend worked, but not to help her. She had a secret meeting that she couldn't tell her family about, at least not yet. "So..."
"Why do you say it like that?" Her mother asked her, putting a hand on her waist.
"Like what?" Asha said in an innocent tone.
"What are you up to?" Sakina pointed an accusing finger at Asha.
The young woman shrugged her shoulders. "Why do you think I'm up to something?"
"Because I know those pauses," Sakina answered.
"I'm maturing," Asha assured her. "My breaks are changing." And she gave her mother a kiss.
"Asha..." said Sakina.
"I can't keep talking," Asha said. "I'm late." As she ran towards the door, she shouted over her shoulder. "See you at the wishing ceremony!"
Asha ran down the hill toward the kingdom, Valentino skipping behind her. A ship had docked in the port and the tourists were already leaving for the pier.
Asha sped past the sign that said WELCOME TO ROSAS!
"I'm here, I'm here, I'm here," she announced between gasps. "One second. I just have to catch my breath." She then greeted the tourists in different languages to make sure they all felt welcome. "Hello! Shalom. Salam. Are you all ready?"
Asha led the group under a huge arch. As they walked down the main street toward the kingdom, they passed cheerful bakers, florists, and musicians. Valentino climbed a stone wall to get a better look.
Tourists watched in amazement at the lucky inhabitants whose wishes had been fulfilled thanks to King Magnifico. Asha explained to them that any wish could be fulfilled, from being a talented dancer to having long, beautiful hair to traveling to outer space.
She stopped to show them the amazing fruits and flowers that were growing in Rosas as a result of some wishes coming true. She then opened the elaborate doors that led to the crowded market.
The tourists were amazed to see the beautiful castle and the banners with images of the gallant king. Asha explained to them that King Magnifico had founded the city of Rosas many years ago. And she added that the king was a generous sorcerer with a lot of power.
"And someone I would like to kiss" commented one of the tourists, who looked at the statue of the handsome king with loving eyes.
"Oh, God," Asha exclaimed.
She then directed the tourists' attention to a puppet show showing how wishes were granted: when the citizens of Rosas turned 18, they gave their wish to the king in a special ceremony.
"Does it hurt?" asked someone from the group.
"Do they cry?" asked someone else.
Asha assured the tourists that giving the wish was not painful. The people who gave their wishes to the king did not miss them. In fact, they didn't even remember what they had wanted! But they trusted that the sovereign would take care of them. And then, once a month, the king granted the wish of a lucky citizen.
The young woman led the tourists to a bridge overlooking the port. When they stopped to admire the landscape, Asha explained that, in Rosas, anything was possible. Although she had not yet given hers to the king, she knew that no wish was forbidden.
She then motioned to Valentino for the grand finale. The little goat kicked a lever with its hind hoof, causing a rug to unroll on the steps and the air to fill with confetti.
All the tourists started celebrating.
"I want to live here!" announced a tall man.
"Do you really forget your wish when you hand it in?" asked a mother who was traveling with her daughter.
"Forget without regret!" Asha answered. "That's what they say around here."
"I will give him my wish!" the daughter shouted, waving a hand in the air.
"I want to meet the king!" added the woman who almost fainted upon seeing his statue shortly before.
"Well, you're lucky," Asha announced. "Tonight there will be a wishing ceremony! You are invited to stay. And now, who is hungry?"
At that same moment, employees arrived to arrange a delicious variety of breads, fruit, meats and desserts.
"Courtesy of Chef Mariana," Asha explained, "who was granted her wish to be the best chef in the world!"
"Oh, this looks delicious!" said someone from the group.
When the tourists began to approach the food, Asha took the opportunity to walk away.
"Enjoy!" she shouted as she began to run towards the castle. It was almost time for her secret meeting. And, this time, she couldn't be late.
CHAPTER 2
Asha came running to the castle kitchen with Valentino behind her. The shelves were filled with beautifully decorated breads and pastries. Dahlia, wearing a neat red apron and wire-rimmed glasses, was kneading the dough. At only 16 years old, she was already an excellent baker.
"Hello. Hey, help me, best friend and honorary doctor of all that is reasonable," Asha said, relieved to see Dahlia. "My interview is in an hour. I'm so nervous I might explode." As if to prove her point, Asha began to run in circles around the table.
That was the secret meeting she hadn't told her family about. She would go for an interview to become the king's apprentice. But she was very nervous!
"Interview?" Dahlia asked, now mixing herbs in a cup. "Which interview?"
"Dahlia!" Asha exclaimed. "How dare her best friend make jokes at a time like this?"
"Aaah, you mean the interview with the sweet and velvety eye candy we have as king," commented Dahlia with a loving smile.
"Please don't talk about him like that," Asha asked.
"My best friend will be the king's apprentice," Dahlia hummed. "And I will be famous."
"I've already forgotten how to talk," Asha said. "I have no words. Is my mouth getting stuck?" she asked, pulling at the corners of his mouth.
"Only if you do that," Dahlia replied. "Drink this. It's rose and lavender. Helps with nerves. And she offered the cup to Asha."
Asha sipped her tea with wide eyes.
"Quickly," ask me an interview question.
"Well." Dahlia thought about it for a moment. "What is your weakness?"
"Weakness?" Asha repeated. "Um, I become irrational when I get nervous."
"No, no," Dahlia corrected her. "Things matter too much to you."
"Yeah? Is that a weakness?"
"That's why it's perfect," Dahlia clarified, proud of the answer that she proposed. "You are
welcome."
"Oh, I think I'm going to vomit," Asha announced. Dahlia quickly moved the bowl of dough away.
"You're in a kitchen, don't even say it as a joke. Just relax. You're surrounded by friends."
"Really?," Asha thought, and looked around the place.
With a mischievous smile, Dahlia lifted the cloth covering a tray of warm cookies decorated with the image of the handsome king. The aroma traveled to Simรณn, who was dozing on a sack of flour in the corner.
"Hmm. Cookies?" he asked with a yawn. At 18, Simon was a gentle, red-haired giant who always seemed to need a nap.
Shortly after, four other teenagers rushed towards the table, attracted by the aroma of Dahlia's baking. Hal, Safi and Gabo were racing to see who could get there first, with their eyes on the prize.
"Cookies."
"Careful!"
"They are mine."
"Cookies!" Dario repeated. But unlike the other teenagers, the tall, skinny blonde ran past the table and out of the kitchen. The others saw it and just shrugged.
Gabo, 13 years old, the shortest of all, had to struggle to reach a cookie.
"Careful, Safi!" Dahlia warned a teenager with dark curly hair. "They're lemon..."
Safi, who was allergic to almost everything, sneezed on the tray of cookies.
Gabo withdrew his hand immediately.
"No!" He complained. "Oh, life is very unfair!"
"Take mine," someone offered with a sweet voice.
Gabo turned around and found Bazeema, a slim teenager in a yellow dress who had appeared out of nowhere.
"Aaay! Bazeema!" Gabo shouted. "Where did you come from?"
The shy teenager had the habit of scaring her friends with her sudden presence and then disappear just the same, without warning.
"Here I was," she replied with a smile.
Gabo took the cookie and bit the head off.
"Gross!" He exclaimed, spitting out the piece. "They are healthy?"
"Sure," Dahlia answered. "That's how the king likes them."
"Oh, my nerves are back," Asha announced upon hearing the mention of the king, and took a huge gulp of her tea in the hope that the herbs would calm her down.
"Oh, right," Gabo responded. "You have your interview with the king. Don't worry, we will comfort you when you fail."
"Gabo!" Hal shouted. With her contagious smile and her bright hoop earrings Hal was as cheerful as Gabo was grumpy.
"What? Most people fail at everything."
Darรญo returned to the kitchen at that moment.
"Ah, there are the cookies!" he exclaimed and went to take one.
"Careful, Dario!" Dahlia warned him. "Safi sneezed on them."
"Oh, OK. Thank you," said Darรญo, taking a bite.
Gabo shuddered when he saw it.
"And, well..." he continued, addressing Asha, "the truth is that I don't blame you for trying to cheat the system."
Asha raised an eyebrow.
"What?" I'm not trying to cheat the system.
"Please," Gabo said. "Everyone knows that, as a general rule, the king's apprentices get their wishes granted and their families as well."
Asha opened her mouth to debate it, but Gabo wasn't completely mistaken. She did hope that the king would grant saba his wish.
"Not always" Dahlia clarified to defend her. She wanted to name an apprentice whose wish had not been granted, but none occurred to her. "Well, maybe yes, always."
"Your saba turns 100 today and is still waiting," Gabo pointed out.
The other teenagers came over to support Asha.
"This will be your night."
"I can feel it."
"Everyone believes it."
"Ignore him."
But Gabo continued.
"And, furthermore, you turn 18..."
"Happy Birthday!" Dario shouted at her.
"In a few months" Gabo clarified. "And when you give your wish to the king, you don't want to end up like Simon here."
From his comfortable bed, which was a sack of flour, Simรณn opened his eyes suddenly.
"What's wrong with Simรณn, here present?" he asked in a sleepy tone.
"It's not your fault," Gabo said as if nothing had happened. "Everyone turns bored when they deliver their wish."
Simรณn sat up suddenly.
"Did I become boring?" He asked, and he sounded hurt. "Do you believe that?"
As if to change the subject, Safi suddenly sneezed.
"Boring, no," Asha said. "No, only..."
"Calmer," Hal pointed out.
"Calm" added Dahlia.
"Moreโฆ comfortable?" Bazeema suggested.
Simon's face was filled with sadness. He knew his friends were being nice.
"Don't worry, Simon," Asha told him. "You are still you and I bet your wish will be granted soon."
"Unlike your poor old saba," Gabo commented, bad-tempered, "who keeps waiting."
Asha, who had already had enough of listening to him, took a fistful of flour and blew it on his face.
"Asha?" asked someone else.
Queen Amaya had just entered the room. She looked out of place in the flour-covered kitchen in her elegant off-white dress and shiny cape.
"The queen" murmured Asha.
The teenagers ran to welcome her.
"Oh, God," Dahlia said, making her friends line up. "Fast."
"How exciting," Hal commented.
"Don't sneeze," Safi whispered to herself. "Don't sneeze!"
Gabo groaned when he saw the clumsiness with which the teenagers moved.
"What a shame we are," he muttered.
But everyone began to bow. Even Valentino bowed his head as a gesture of respect.
"Would you like a cookie?" Dario asked, offering the queen one of the sneezed cookies. Dahlia removed his hand immediately.
"No, thanks." The queen was busy looking for the next sovereign's assistant. "Asha, the king is ready to receive you."
"Already?" Asha asked, confused. Am I late? I thought...
"Don't worry," the queen reassured her. The last interview...
Someone let out a sad lament from the stairs behind the Queen.
"It was a disaster!" a man shouted before running out of the castle.
"It was over soon," Amaya concluded. "Let's go?" she asked heading to the door.
"Oh, okay," Asha said. "I'm ready!" But there was panic in her eyes. "I'm not ready at all" she whispered to Dahlia.
"You're going to be fine," Dahlia replied in the same tone. "Just don't touch anything, and don't forget to bow and tell him I love him." She paused. "It's a joke. Don't tell him that."
Asha could only nod with wide eyes as she followed the queen, who was already leaving the kitchen.
"Bye bye. Don't have too much hope" Gabo shouted at her.
Dahlia didn't have to scold him, because Valentino, always loyal to Asha, did it for her.
-Beeeee!
CHAPTER 3
While Asha nervously followed Queen Amaya up an elegant staircase, she observed the beauty of the place. The staircase curved in an arc that seemed infinite. The mirrors on either side reflected the shocked expression on Asha's face.
The queen offered her some advice as they climbed the steps.
"The apprentice must always keep the fire lit, because the king likes his tea to be hot."
"Understood," Asha responded, listening carefully.
"He also likes to talk, a lot," the queen added with a laugh. "Feel free to just listen to it."
"Ah, I'm a good listener," Asha commented, animated. Her nerves were lightening with every step. The queen had an incredible ability to calm her down.
"He's very special," continued Queen Amaya. "Everything has its place."
"Oh," Asha exclaimed with a hint of curiosity.
"Some objects may seem strange, but it is none of your business why a sorcerer needs what a sorcerer needs" the queen reminded her.
"Sure," Asha acknowledged.
"And, above all, do not expect to see the wishes," Queen Amaya warned her. "Don't even think about asking him."
"Yes ma'am. I mean, no, I won't, Your Majesty."
They arrived too soon at the high doors of the King Magnifico's study. Amaya turned to the young woman.
"I believe in you, Asha."
"Oh really?" Asha asked. She didn't know the queen knew her!
"Uh-huh" the queen answered.
"Thank you, ma'am," Asha said. She touched a braid and asked her quietly. "Why?"
"I have seen how you take care of others," the queen explained, staring at her. "It's obvious how much you love this kingdom and its people."
"Of course," Asha murmured, her cheeks flushed.
"That kind of generosity has always been the true essence of Rosas" pointed out the queen.
"Oh." Asha gave a nervous giggle. Then she looked away, pleased and honored by the compliment.
Amaya took the young woman's hands in hers.
"Now," she said in a warm tone, "are you ready to meet the king?
"I hope so," Asha murmured. She took a breath to steel herself as Amaya opened the heavy doors of King Magnifico's study.
"Wow," Asha whispered, and entered a huge circular room with a highly decorated floor and bookcases that reached to the ceiling. Several rolled up scrolls rested on the majestic desk. Herbs, flowers and even animal organs floated in glass jars. But the Magnificent King was nowhere to be seen.
"He will arrive in a moment," the queen assured her. "I'm going to see how the ceremony goes."
"Oh, okay," Asha said, surprised that the queen left her there, alone. "Uh... Goodbye."
As the queen left, Asha saw her reflection in a huge mirror. Despite her lavender dress, which made her look more adult than she was, she looked as small and overwhelmed as she felt.
Then she turned her attention to the books. She approached the bookshelves and read the titles printed on the spines: Fire Magic... History of Spells...
A book was inside a locked display case decorated with some engravings.
"Oh, wow," she whispered as she examined them. They were insects with wings; hornets. "Mmm..." She reached out to touch one.
"No, no," an imposing voice shouted behind her. "No, no, no. That book is banned, Asha."
The young woman turned around and found King Magnifico in front of the mirror. As he stepped toward the light, it illuminated his handsome features: piercing blue eyes, perfectly combed silver hair, and a strong jaw beneath his well-trimmed beard.
"Oh!" Asha exclaimed, surprised. "Hello. I was just, uh..." When she pointed towards the engravings in the display case, they came to life. The insects rushed towards her like real hornets!
"Oh! What's going on?" she shouted. "Get away from me!" she ordered, shaking her arms in despair.
The king ran to help her.
"I... I put a spell on the glass!" he explained.
"I only thought the engravings were pretty!" Asha said as she ducked to avoid the swarm.
"Yes, but the book... The book is dangerous," the king clarified.
Asha moved from side to side to get rid of the hornets.
"Then why do you have it?" she asked as best as she could.
"A king must be prepared for everything," he explained. "Wait. Do not move. Now I solve it." While the king made movements with his hands, the hornets began to obediently fly back towards the display case.
"Are they mortal?" Asha asked. "They look deadly!" She kept moving desperately.
"Please. No. Oh, stay still," the king begged her. "Stay still."
"No... get away!" Asha shouted. "Stay away! Shu! Shu! Shu! Shu!" She turned from side to side, waving her arms. But when she realized the hornets were gone, she paused to catch her breath.
"A little exercise," the king said with an amused expression. "Hey, are you okay?"
(Sabrina Carpenter)*new
