Happily ever after with a little flavor

[missrecalled_mods]

Sponsors for the ship? So... Sponsor'ship?

Rare had an hour seemed so long on the Isle, or carried so much hope. The King and Queen spoke to all who wished to speak with them, and to Yen Sid. At one point they even opened the barrier enough to go back to the ship where they conferred inside a silence spell with Sylvando. And once more for the King and Queen to return a few minutes later. Then back on the Isle they pulled a few individuals aside once more. Oddly, not those from the Isle this time. Aqua first. Then Lea. Then Æn'kae.

Finally the hour came to an end and the King and Queen called for everyone's attention. Mal stepped forward to address everyone.

"Alright, so here is how this is going to work," she told them without preamble, once she had their attention. The wind pulled at her purple hair, pulling it like a banner behind her. "Here are the terms by which we will take the people we will name to Auradon. Each person will be assigned a sponsor. If you want to change sponsors you may let us know once we are back in Auradon. Your Sponsor will be watching out for you. You need to check in with him, her, or them, regularly. How often that will be will be between you and your sponsor, but the sponsors will report to King Ben and myself. Behave and you'll get to stay in Auradon, and we will let you know when your probation is over and you no longer need to check in with your sponsor. Break the rules of Auradon, hurt anyone, steal.... depending on how bad the act and how many were harmed, we may, with your sponsor decide to give you a warning... or you may wind up back here. This is a chance to prove that the sorting magic was wrong, that you are good people. Or can become good people given the chance." Mal looked and sounded like she was clearly waiting to make her own judgments.

"As I list each name, please go to your sponsor if he, she, or they is here. If not, come stand with the king and I."

She took a deep breath. "Xion, your sponsor is Lea." she pointed to him, suspecting that she didn't actually have to, but it was good to set a pattern.

"Utau, you are with Sylvando, who is on the ship so come join us." Then a bit of a wicked grin. "He's also keeping an eye on Nadeshiko and Nagihiko, why not let him keep an eye on all three of you," she said, knowing she was throwing fuel on an explosion waiting to happen. But she trusted Sylvando to sort out which of the kids actually belonged on the Isle.

"River you are with Æn'ki. Hope you like animals," she said with a grin that wasn't all that softer than her last as she gestured to him.

"Morgana and Emporio, you are with Aqua," she added nodding to the woman with the blue hair. "Of course we understand if any of you want to stay..."

She turned to the Headmaster. Doctor F.... We're aware of you, and your efforts, I assure you. We'll be speaking with those heading to Auradon. But for now, stay where we can see you while the rest of you, those coming with us? You have ten minutes to get your stuff if you have any and say goodbyes to anyone if you want to. Goodbyes with the headmaster will be supervised so we can make sure he is being as good as he claims these days. Alright. Ten minutes, starting now!"


**************************************************

The gathering of belongings and saying of goodbyes was accomplished in the allotted ten minutes without much trouble. Getting everyone onto the boat, then equipped with lifejackets- thankfully the boat's owner was a bit over prepared so there were enough for everyone, if only just-, and reasonably settled for the trip back took a bit longer, however. The boat was a large catamaran, painted mostly in blue and purple pastels. The life jackets however, were the standard safety orange, and so stood out as sharply as they were meant to. The water was still rough so once everyone was equipped, Sylvando advised those unused to boat travel to settle down somewhere until they were in calmer waters.

Getting back to the mainland took time as well, though not quite as much as getting there had, as the tide was in their favor for the return trip. Still, there would be plenty of time for conversation, awkward silences, or angry glaring during the trip. And Sylvando himself wouldn't be adverse to conversation, provided it didn't interfere with the steering of the vessel. Those without their sea legs would also want to be careful walking around, as the boat-while large for a catamaran- wasn't large enough to prevent it from rocking.

Once they'd reached the harbor and the Bibbity Bobber had been secured in her berth, her passengers and crew disembarked and began the trek back up to the school. There seemed to be an inordinate amount of junk that had once been clearly blocking the road before the path to and from the harbor had been cleared. All of it was the sort of things one might expect to find in a modern city- cars, sign boards, fallen trees and lamp posts, etc- but there seemed to be too much of it for the simple vanishing of the populace to account for it all. Very odd.

Once they arrived at the school, they were led past the pretentious sign and statue of King Beast and directed into the lobby. There, they were issued phones and information sheets. On account of everyone being exhausted, no formal welcoming ceremony was planned for that evening, and those staying were directed to the dorms to get showered and settled in. Since that was sure to be a process in itself, Ben, Mal, Sylvando, the other sponsors, and anyone who still had the energy would likely be around for all that as well until everyone got settled. Thankfully the exhaustion had been anticipated, and it was announced that there was soup in the kitchen's refrigerator that had been premade and portioned out and needed only to be reheated for supper at each person's leisure.

The next morning however, proved that Auradon was still Auradon and couldn't really go without some kind of official welcome, as those who came down to the lobby would find a simple but tasty breakfast of muffins, fruit - provided by Malia-, tea, and coffee waiting for them along with the eternally chipper Sylvando, ready to answer any further questions they might have.


****************


Professor Yen Sid and the Headmaster stood and watched the ship through the barrier until they could no longer see it. Then the headmaster, looking bitter, turned on his heel, stalked back to the school, muttering under his breath about needing to speak with someone. He did not say who, but it did not seem like it was likely to be a pleasant conversation.

Yen Sid, on the other hand, turned to those who chose to remain. “Shall we get these supplies in before the humidity destroys them?” he asked, gathering his things into his bag before grabbing it and one of the boxes.

Comments

[queen_butterfly]

"...Stress, perhaps? It can be quite draining...." She looked away from him as she said it, and brought the mug to her mouth, delicately trying a little sip. It was hot, but she didn't seem to be put off by that, at least.

[hotheadwarmheart]

"Maybe...", Lea said, though he didn't sound very convinced. "I've been stressed before though, and this feels different. Kinda like... like if you overdid it on a workout, and then you're all stiff and uncomfortable the next day, except it's not physical, if that makes any sense. Anyway, not a lot I can do about it besides wait for it to pass."

"How about you? Judging from how you're sitting here curled up on yourself, I don't think I'm the only one who's tired."

[queen_butterfly]

"It's...." She was quiet a moment, thinking, frowning to herself faintly. "...It's not exactly a too much at once sort of tired, but a too many. And nothing is standing out enough to focus on it. I've been trying to figure that out." She looked about to take another little sip, but paused, looking up to him again. "I still have almost all of what I'd collected this morning, if you'd like to see if it helps you...?" And with that, she reached into... well, it wasn't clear where, unless she'd had it tucked between her neck and her knees somehow, but she produced one of those little water bottles like she'd been handing out a while back, its contents still glowing faintly with a sparkle that ordinary water simply shouldn't have had. "I can always gather more."

[hotheadwarmheart]

Lea nodded his understanding at her dilemma, sipping his own tea, but shook his head at the offered bottle. "Thanks, but no thanks," he said. "I appreciate the gesture, but I'm fire aspected; not sure what drinking magically charged water would do to me, but it's probably nothing good." Would it get him drunk? Make him sick? Whatever the case, he had no intention of finding out.

"That reminds me though... I saw how Mal was chugging these yesterday, and I was a little concerned. See, we have magic restoring potions back home too, called Ethers, and while they're really handy, relying on them too much- instead of, ya know, actually resting and letting yourself recover naturally- or drinking too many within a short period of time can have some bad side effects. The dose makes the poison, as they say. So I just wanted to make sure that these won't cause any unexpected problems down the line if she keeps doing that."

[queen_butterfly]

"Not that I'm aware," she said, giving the little bottle a funny look, not quite following yet. "...Why, is it bad for humans to drink too much water...?"

[hotheadwarmheart]

"Well too much of anything generally isn't good," Lea said. "And Ethers have some other things in them too, besides water; different kinds of plant extracts and things that are mixed together in a certain way and then chilled. But in this case, it's less about the water and more about taking something that gives you a sudden boost of magical energy to let you artificially extend your limits. It's like with spells or healing potions that heal you physically; it works well, and it's fine in the short term, but eventually, you have to stop and rest and let your body actually recover. You can't just keep chugging potions in lieu of actually taking care of yourself, ya know?"

[mist_the_point]

"Aye," Foulques said. "I was merely thinking back over the day's events, and became lost in thought." He considered for a moment before moving to pick up a box or two himself. "Between the two of us, we should have no difficulty getting the remainder of this undercover. That is, if you have no objections." Far better to walk and talk rather than leave the cargo out in the damp while they stood about, after all.

[elvendryad]

"Why would I object?" He gave a little more of a smile, setting that second box beside the first. The desktop's surface would suffice, it looked like; Chell dug his hands down under the sides of it, double-checking that he could indeed get a grip on it again, then took them out to quickly brush the sand off on his thighs' plating, and went for another of the bigger boxes. "These seem as though they wish to fall apart before too long...."

[aquawayfinder]

Aqua nodded. "Nothing yet that we could not handle. The worst has been the scarcity of supplies and the lack of solid information, but it seems you endured worse of both of those on the Isle."

[misery_called_npcs]

"When the Isle was first populated over twenty years ago, no children were banished by most definitions. Of course to one of my age it could be argued that Anastasia and Drizella were but children following in their mother's wake. However their acts were cruel and they were of age to know better, even with their upbringing. By the law, they were adults, and had been treated as such. So I suppose it could be argued based upon how one defines children that some few were banished in the first. However, aside from those few debatable cases, imprisoning children had never been the intent. The children who were here after the barrier rose were those who began here. Foreseeing that such children would be born in due time I volunteered to come here myself to teach. I will admit I did underestimate just how many children there would be, and that those trapped here would create multiple schools and zealously keep them and their students apart."

Leaving him unable to help many of those children directly until recently.

"As for the more recent sorting, we are working only on theory that there is some sorting going on that follows the lines of the original intent. But it is thus far only a theory. Part of what I am to do here, especially as so few of you are of age or inclination to be students, is to gauge people as they arrive to find arguments both for and against that theory and should it fail, formulate one that can stand against scrutiny, against the evidence that I collect, and the evidence collected by those in Auradon."

He stroked his beard a moment. "What concerns me in all of this is that it seems thus far both sides have largely had innocent people arriving very nearly exclusively. I find myself distrusting this on principle. Any random assortment of people as large as the combined Missrecalled and Misery-called have become is statistically likely to have at least one person that is not in fact largely innocent. This suggests a number of possibilities, few of them pleasant. The most concerning is that there is in fact a mix, and we are simply failing to see what is there in some who have arrived - and will continue to fail to see it until it is far too late. Another is that there is some choosing and that your arrivals are not in fact random. But if that second is to be proven to be the case, then we must examine once more the possibility that the sorting between Auradon and Isle is intentional. In which case one must question why. I have yet to find an easy answer to such a question, even in theory."

[aquawayfinder]

"Well..." she considered. "There are things that I always considered to just... be part of what everyone knew until I had to explain them myself to someone who had never seen one. I've had to do it many times over. Perhaps if I explain one first you can use that as an example to learn how to explain Stands?"

[utauhoshina]

El cackled and charged again.

Utau looked past the small spirits to Emporio with a raised brow, as if asking if he was seeing this insanity.

She seemed to have recovered from her upset, however. There was no sign now that she'd been crying.

[aquawayfinder]

"I think so. We can ask the King which direction the farms that would need us most are in, so even if we find a roundabout way, we have an idea of what direction to try for. And speaking to the newcomers is a wonderful idea. For a lot of reasons."

[lovebites_sodoi]

A harsh scoff. "You've got no idea. Not exactly an ideal place for someone to go, 'gee, I should change my ways!'" The whole concept of the isle didn't sit well with her. Had she the power and chance, she'd destroy it so no one would go through that suffering and humiliation again.

[aquawayfinder]

"I suspect that the people who created the place, well before we arrived, did not think that the people they sent there had the capacity to change, no matter what their situation. It is the current King and Queen that are trying to give people a chance."

[lovebites_sodoi]

"And yet, there are still people over there." Sure, some had chosen to stay here, but it still didn't sit right with her. And the people like Facilier and Tremaine... their evil would only fester and worsen, and gods forbid they got their hands on actual power.

She sighed, shaking her head. "This isn't getting us anywhere. Just rehashing what I already knew."

[seacub]

It seems like a good way to start; if they know what's common knowledge between them, it should be easier to identify what needs an explanation in the first place right?

Slowly, the boy nods. "Okay. Uh.... ...What do you want to explain, then?"

Obviously after all, he can't begin to guess what it is that Aqua would have to repeat over, and over.

[seacub]

"Uh..."

Honestly Emporio's just as lost.

Maybe more.

"I....I don't know how to stop them..."

Perhaps no one can....

[aquawayfinder]

"In some cases, they chose to remain. In the case of those like Lady Tremaine..." she shook her head. She had her own experience with the woman's Darkness.

"Alright, then feel free to ask me what you wish."

[aquawayfinder]

"I have lived multiple lives at this point, and my memories of some differ, but for most, my Keyblade remains more or less the same." So saying, she summoned Her Keyblade in its Brightcrest form. "Every version of my memories has had a Keyblade, and grew up with those who had Keyblades. So when I explain what a Keyblade is, I have to start from a different place than I would with people who grew up with me."

She smiled warmly, holding it out carefully so it wouldn't be in anyone's way. "A Keyblade is a weapon of magic. In most cases, Keyblades choose their wielders. They appear to someone who has the potential, but by their own choice. No one knows how a Keyblade chooses. But generally they are weapons of Light, and they come to those who keep the Darkness at bay. But sometimes someone who has a Keyblade can be lured to the Darkness. But once a Keyblade chooses a person, it is theirs, no one can take it from them, and it will not reject them." Even Aqua had things she didn't know about... So she did not know she wasn't exactly right.

"Our Keyblades are weapons, but they are also tools. They amplify our own powers, enable us and those around us to affect certain kinds of foes that cannot otherwise be interacted with, and give us abilities of various sorts that we would not have had without them. For some people, that is all a Keyblade is. But advanced students and Masters learn other functions as well, as we study. And more, the Keyblades learn us, and we become stronger together."

"One interesting thing about Keyblades," she added with a smile, "is that they can change their forms depending on the Keychain you attach to the end. Each form has its own strengths and weaknesses. This form is called Brightcrest, and it amplifies magic and agility. When we are on the shore, after everyone has had a chance to rest, I would be happy to demonstrate other forms, if you wish."

[utauhoshina]

Utau sighed and coughed once softly into her hand. Both little Charas looked back at her. She gave them a purple eyed glare.

"Awwwwwww...." the devil one grumbled, but they both floated back to sit on her shoulders. She crossed her arms, nose up in the air, watching him through his lashes. What would he do now?

[lovebites_sodoi]

"... I don't have too many questions. I guess the only thing on my mind is, how often are people dropped off here?" She made an airy gesture all around them. "When should we be expecting new neighbors?"

[elvendryad]

Chell was quiet another moment, just thinking that over... but only a moment. "Have you considered that it could be mere chance? ...Or relative? Few people are purely good or evil. Perhaps, rather than bringing only those monsters with naught but hatred in their hearts here to this place, the line is instead being drawn somewhere in the middle, after weighing those being brought? That if the worst that any of those has done is say something unkind to their mother as a child, that it would be them to appear here?"

He glanced back to him, raising an eyebrow. "How many of those brought here have you spoken with at length, to know better them and their lives and deeds? Because this is the first time I believe we have had significant conversation...." Given that Chell had spent his days thus far outside, babysitting the ent... had they more than seen each other in passing, prior to the ship's arrival? ...Had they even seen each other in passing prior to it?

[seacub]

It's a beautiful device. He watches it materialize in the woman's hand, eyes captured by the way the light dances across it. It's not quite like Stands, he thinks. Stands are a part of someone after all. And yet in a sense, it is. A stand removed from another, will only work with a new user if they deem them acceptable.

(Thinking about how Weather Report has done that for him is...odd.)

Light and Darkness dance in his thoughts, and Emporio nods to convey that he's understood the explanation so far. It's still very different...but it sounds... "It sounds like...a keyblade is something with its own soul, almost," he admits, blinking at the device.

He nods though, as he thinks of seeing the other forms. It could be nice. A chance to better know each other. "...I'd...I'd like that. Yeah."

[seacub]

Well, at least there's some peace now. Emporio looks incredibly apologetic though, even sheepish.

"...I'm sorry for the trouble he caused..." he mutters, referring of course to Weather.