The first chapter shows why Sophie and Agatha are friends:
Sophie didn’t say anything for a long time. “Maybe I became your friend to impress the School Master,” she confessed finally. “But there’s more to it now.” “Because I found you out,” Agatha grumbled. “Because I like you.” Agatha turned to her. “No one understands me here,” Sophie said, looking at her hands. “But you do. You see who I am. That’s why I kept coming back. You’re not my good deed anymore, Agatha.” Sophie gazed up at her. “You’re my friend.”
Agatha said nothing for a while. Then she touched Sophie’s hand. “Why is it you want to leave here so badly? That you’d believe in stories you know aren’t true?” Sophie met Agatha’s big, sincere eyes. For the first time, she let in the tides of doubt. “Because I can’t live here,” Sophie said, voice catching. “I can’t live an ordinary life.” “Funny,” said Agatha. “That’s why I like you.” Sophie smiled. “Because you can’t either?” “Because you make me feel ordinary,” Agatha said. “And that’s the only thing I’ve ever wanted.”
Sophie sacrifices herself to save Agatha, then tells her she loves her, thwarting the Headmaster.
Agatha is constantly fighting with the other Evers at her school in Sophie's defense.
Despite everything that happens, and all the anger that passes between them, Agatha never gives up on Sophie as a friend.
After having a nasty fight with Sophie because of the Trial by Tale debacle, Agatha is left feeling completely alone. Professor Dovey asks Agatha what would make her happy, and she answers, "To be beautiful." So, the Fairy Godmother drags the girl to the Groom Room for an extreme makeover, and Agatha, convinced that her wish has been fulfilled, feels like a new person. The girl gleefully skips around the School for Good, leaving a trail of turned heads and dropped jaws behind her. Then eventually, Agatha catches her reflection in a mirror, and sees that she looks exactly the same. She was always beautiful. All she needed was some confidence and a smile.
The moments when Sophie shows she really does have some good in her heart.
Her trampling Tedros to help Agatha during the fight in chapter 13. Followed by her trying to take the blame when the fairies drag Agatha off.
Her split-second of panic during her kidnapping when she sees Agatha about to run through the flames after her.
Her first response after wounding Hester's demon in chapter 9 is to go to help her, despite Hester deliberately setting it on her.
Teadros mentioning how Dot covered for Sophie skipping class. He has his faults but he's clearly not pleased to hear Sophie slander her behind her back.
Tedros: She crawled into empty graves to eat enough worms for the two of you, just so you wouldn't fail. Said you're her best friend.
Beatrix of all people gets one after Agatha's Rousing Speech, when she leads the charge of uglified Evergirls. Turns out the Alpha Bitch of the Evers was put in Good for a reason. Doubles as an Awesome Moment.
The Last Ever After
Sophie reconciling with Stefan, the two embracing in tears. Sophie invites Agatha to join the hug, as well.
"I love you more than anything in the world," Stefan whispered. "You're my child, Sophie." Stefan saw Agatha crying now, watching him with Sophie. "Though you've always made Agatha feel like one of mine too," he said, smiling tenderly at her.
The ending to The Last Ever After: The schoolmaster is finally dead, the Schools has been restored to order, along with the balance between Good and Evil. Sophie is now the new Dean of Evil. Agatha departs to Camelot with Tedros, but she and Sophie agree to visit one another a lot since they're a day's journey away from one another. Tedros also lifts the death warrant on his mother and Lancelot, allowing them to return to the kingdom in order to live happily together.
Lady Lesso leaves Sophie her gown, letting her take over as the new Dean of Evil.
[Sophie] spun to Professor Dovey, but the Good Dean was smiling at the box through tears. "She told us, didn't she?" Clarissa whispered hopefully. "The 'Old and the New together…'" She touched Sophie's cheek. "'Both in good hands.'"
When Agatha sees Sophie wearing the gown and how at peace she looks.
Sophie had no makeup on, sleepless bags under her eyes, and her hair was a bit of a mess, but even so, as they faced each other in silence, Agatha had never seen her friend look so calm, so assured, so…beautiful.
Agatha and Sophie's goodbye.
Agatha shook her head, tears rising. "Oh, Sophie. You'll be a wonderful Dean," she gasped, throwing arms around her. "I'll…I'll just miss you." "You'll be an even better queen, Aggie," Sophie promised. "You'll change their lives. Like you changed mine." … Agatha hugged her tighter, her tear-stained cheek against her friend's. "I love you, Sophie. I love you more than you can know." "I do know, Aggie," Sophie whispered. "Because I love you just the same."
After all the lying, cheating, beauty rituals, and chasing after cute boys, Sophie has finally managed to truly love someone: herself, flaws and all.
"I'm afraid I've already found my Ever After, Hort," said Sophie. "What? With who?" Hort asked, aghast— "On my own," she said, her voice sure and clear. "I'm happy on my own." And for the first time, she knew it was true. … "You aren't jealous that Agatha gets a boy and a crown and a kingdom and everything else?" Hort pressed in disbelief. "You aren't jealous that Agatha's a queen?" He saw her stop at the gates, faced away as students streamed past. "A tiny bit, of course," she said softly. "But then I remember…" Sophie looked back, smiling bright as a diamond. "I'm me."
