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]

She made a little sound, smiling again more finally. "...Well... I could very well take my first shape, but I don't know how productive that would be...." She shook her head, setting the thought aside. It was a joke, more than anything... whatever that joke was. "...It might be fun, though, sometime."

[aquawayfinder]

She gave a small chuckle. "You never know. That might be exactly what someone needs."

[queen_butterfly]

"Perhaps if someone needs a subject for a drawing or painting...?" She shook her head. "A good laugh, at the display of proof that insects, as well, are just as affected by what they consume?" Ah yes, a fluttery little creature weaving and bobbing in the air, only to miss landing on the flower and having to climb up from the grasses below... a comedy show in up close and live nature-documentary form!

[aquawayfinder]

"Or maybe they need the feeling of being trusted enough to be around you when you seem to be more vulnerable than usual. "Feeling trusted is a very powerful thing."

[queen_butterfly]

A second's pause, and she closed her mouth, blinking. That angle, she hadn't considered.

"Mmm."

Oh, she was definitely going to have to ponder that for a bit. What else might she have been overlooking, likewise?

"...I suppose there's something similar to be said for a unicorn, as well, isn't there...." It wasn't exactly a question, just her connecting a few other dots.

[aquawayfinder]

"There could be, but a lot of cultures have other connotations around unicorns that while you might find amusing... laughing at someone's beliefs probably wouldn't get you the results you were hoping for."

[queen_butterfly]

"....Do tell?" Well, that certainly had her curious! One can't very well say a thing like that and not elaborate!

[aquawayfinder]

Now see, if Terra were here, she would have happily redirected Mallia to him, and been amused to watch. But she probably shouldn't do that to anyone here. And it was probably just as well for Æn'kae that a certain pirate wasn't here, or he'd be the one answering.

"There are, in many worlds across many realities certain... stories... that tell that only people of a kind of purity can approach or be approached by a unicorn. It is understood by those cultures that if a unicorn accepts someone's touch they have never taken part in the physical acts that most species use to create young of their own kind. Though there is also a presumption that they are innocent of other things, such as murder. In most cultures that have these stories they are taken fairly seriously. And for some reason, in many of them such purity is seen as a point of pride for females and shame for males. Thus the presence of a unicorn can either make a girl seem more attractive by the rules of her culture or a boy a thing to be mocked by the same."

She shook her head. It was all so much foolishness, really.

Still, would have been fun to watch Terra try to explain it to Mallia.

She missed him and Ven. So much.

[queen_butterfly]

"So about how it is with the humans in my world, then. Hm... I suppose I was wondering if it was something else." She shook her head a little, idly leaning it back against Aqua again as she peeked up at her once more. "I know where those came from, though, if you're curious." It was hard to tell if that was a smile of amusement, or sadness, at that angle....

[aquawayfinder]

"If you wish to share, I am always interested in learning more about the worlds my friends come from. At least in places like this where it is safe to do so."

[queen_butterfly]

"Well... in my world, at least... they were always quite sensitive to others' intentions."

She looked back up to the courtyard there, to where she was taking her time in making their images appear and solidify to illustrate them for Aqua. They were thin creatures, dainty and long-legged, built very much for sprinting and jumping more than bearing any weight. And they were small, compared to those in some other worlds, surely, not as tall as a horse, not as heavily built... but the head shape was probably familiar enough, if Aqua looked closely. Under the long hair of the mane and the twist of that horn....

They all looked rather a lot like deer.

The closer one took a few steps toward them, big eyes looking them over, and its tail flicked behind it, long and thin and tufted toward the end to match the long fur of its hooves. No adults would be riding this creature, that was for certain. Perhaps Xion could, or Mallia in her current form... but Aqua would probably be too much for the furry quadruped.

"It was much like with the ents... they could always tell when someone meant them harm or just wanted to play."

The unicorn stepped forward again, lowering its head to sniff toward the human, tail swinging a little more... and another step, close enough that she could easily reach up to pet its head, if she wanted. It looked soft... short fuzzy gray-brown fur covering its face with a pattern of spots, freckle-like, dusting it all over.

"Their herds could never be very big... when many were together, they were easier to find, I think. But they were as social as anyone. So any chance to make friends...."

Behind that one, the others seemed a little shy, though not put off, simply giving that first one room. Different colors, different markings, some patterns even rather horse-like. Dark reddish brown, a silvery gray that was nearly white in some places, tans and taupes and near-black... one of them, a new little fawn, had no horn yet, the far-longer hair in its mane and tail and ankles still yet to grow in, currently barely longer than the velvet covering the rest of it, an unsteady baby that wanted to come see what was going on there as well, tail wagging and little nose sniffing eagerly at them.

These were merely illusions... but perhaps the apparent request to be petted was as valid as any?

[aquawayfinder]

She offered her hands to the illusion creatures for inspection. "They are adorable," she said with a friendly warmth to her voice.

[queen_butterfly]

"They were," the littler figure agreed quietly, looking up at them, watching as the dusty-silvery-colored one sniffed gently at Aqua's offered hands... and then ducked lower, pressing its face into them, nuzzling around for attention. Mallia smiled more, but there was something sad to it.

"And a good many of them liked their hair played with, too." ...Which would explain the apparent insistence, and getting closer, wouldn't it? The dainty unicorn took another short step toward her; Aqua wouldn't even need to lean forward, to reach a decent bit of this one's mane, past its bangs.

[aquawayfinder]

"One thing I have learned," she said gently, "Is things that are gone in one reality, walls that have fallen... stand strong in others. It might be possible to bring them back in your reality, when your world is ready for them once more."

The tricky part would be doing it without endangering the worlds and the borders between, but as a Master she had some ideas. "Just please promise me you won't try to travel between realities on your own, my friend."

[queen_butterfly]

"I don't know... bringing them back would be futile, if the humans continue to be as the humans have been; they are the reason the fae are all but entirely gone from my world as it is. ...If I'm honest...? I...."

She was hesitant. "...Even if I do have it on good authority that the humans seem to have already improved... that it's apparently no longer a death sentence, to not seem to be one of them, when among them... even if things continue to seem to get better... I don't know. I don't know if I could take that kind of disappointment again... to get my hopes up in the first place... and the decision shouldn't be mine. It isn't about me. It isn't my place... and I don't want it on my head, even if I know that saying so might be selfish. ...Perhaps if you can visit my world, and bring it up with them themselves, in the future.... If someone was able find a few fairy eggs yet, then perhaps one of the few elder unicorns could be sought out, to be asked." She was quiet in saying so, but managing to keep her voice from breaking, leaning more against Aqua's side.

[aquawayfinder]

"I said when the world is ready," she said, gently. "I would not want to help to bring them back just to suffer either. But I understand you not wanting it to be down to you to choose. I will keep that in mind, my friend."

[queen_butterfly]

Another little pause. "...I hope there's at least one of them left, anyhow." She frowned, chewing on her lower lip again. "....Though... I suppose that if there aren't, there might still be others that knew them....?

"Oh, it doesn't matter. I thought everyone gone, and yet someone eventually did find me... and my friend...." She snuggled into Aqua's side again, hugging. "I'm sure we'll find someone who--"

A pause. Quieter, "Chell may have known them, but.... But he was lost some good many centuries ago." From how she said it, it was clear that she didn't mean he'd simply taken a wrong turn at the creek. And now her mood was killed again. Lovely....

[aquawayfinder]

"But he isn't lost here," she said gently. "He is here, working hard to help those who need it, isn't he?"

[queen_butterfly]

"Yes, but does that help for the someday you mention? ...He said he fell in his forest and has been asleep since... but I have no idea where his forest is. Or if it still stands, when I am from. I thought to ask him what became of him, when we met on the shore, but...." She shook her head. "Clearly, we ought to speak more yet, and figure out how to find each other, whenever it is we each return.... If that's even possible. What if his present is yet in my past, and his forest was destroyed, between then and my present?"

She looked back up to where those illusory unicorns were idling, and made a face, more a wince than anything. "I can't imagine he knows anything of what's become of the world in his absence... including that so many of our kin have been wiped from the face of if....

"Why does everything have to be so complicated? ...If you could help me not to forget to sort all of this out with him when we can, I would appreciate it. I'm beginning to feel that perhaps I ought to be writing all of this down...."

[aquawayfinder]

"I will do my best to help," she assured her. "But you might be making things harder on yourself, by borrowing trouble you might never encounter. It is wise to plan for multiple bad possibilities, but you need to plan just as much for the positive ones."

[queen_butterfly]

"Yes, but always first things first. Where is he? And depending on when he wakes, the answer to where I shall be may change quite drastically. I think we've been over this before, my sister?" She was careful to use her native word for the title, peeking up at her with a small smile. "If I find myself back, when he is still gone, I should like very much to wake him once again."

Quieter, "He need not remember this world yet, for me to welcome his return to our own with all haste... assuming it possible."

[aquawayfinder]

She reached over and rested a hand gently on Mallia's chest. "Your hearts are connected. I am confident you will find each other again. In any and every world that contains you both. And I would be honored," she said, taking her hand back, placing it on her own heart instead, "to be your sister as well as your friend."

[queen_butterfly]

She managed a bit of a smile in response to that last statement, and hugged more onto Aqua's arm again, leaning back against her, practically demanding -- though gently! -- more hugs. "I'm afraid you have more confidence in him and I finding each other than I do. And have overestimated how much time we spent together, in the last... quite a few centuries. I think last we were actually in the same place, it was the town in which we both spent our earliest years." Her smile faded some at that, her voice growing quieter. Absently, she dismissed the unicorns' images, silently retrieving their energy as she did. Perhaps Aqua would notice the faint slip of shadow that tried running along the frosty ground toward her? Or perhaps not; it was faint and entirely fleeting.

"It isn't that I know him. It's that I know our kind. It's how I can be so certain that no matter where or when you should find yourself, should you be able to come visit, you have but to make contact with any of them, use our words as is our custom, and they will accept you.

"...And I think our worlds may work quite differently. Had I been able to find anyone in mine, after the fire... I wouldn't have tried to retire. But I couldn't find even my other half...." The term didn't seem to quite translate; she was most certainly using one she hadn't yet taught Aqua. Therefore, it wasn't likely to be one in common use in proposing good relations on meeting someone.... "So, I ought to rely on planning, not faith, when it comes to finding others back home. Why do you think I've been insisting on you learning some of the greetings?" She peeked back up at her again, seeming amused. "I wish to take no unneeded chances, with something so important."

[aquawayfinder]

She tensed at the shadow but when it proved to not be Heartless or Unversed she relaxed again and gave her friend another warm hug. "Love isn't about quantifying how long you had together. But connections that run deeper and you can work on those here..." she said, kissing her hair gently. "But I am happy to learn all you want. Just please... when you do wind up back, have faith. In your heart. In their hearts. Even if it feels like forever, being alone isn't. I promise."