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

[lovebites_sodoi]

"Master" Aqua? Sounded like someone had a big head.

"That's right. So, what, you're gunna follow me around and make sure I don't kick up a fuss?"

[aquawayfinder]

"Of course not," she said with a gentle chuckle. "I'm your sponsor, not your babysitter. But we do need to talk often, and I will be keeping my eye on you when we're together. And of course, you are more than welcome to join my classes. I teach all manner of things. As of now my class is mostly Æn'Kae and Lea, but I suspect Xion will be joining us in a few days as well. Rren joins at times also, though mostly we have agreed to wait until we are back in their reality before their training resumes. If Khell arrives, however, that may change again."

[lovebites_sodoi]

The mention of "classes" got Morgana thinking of Tremaine, and she frowned. Not off to a good start.

"Teaching what, exactly? They were teaching us how to be... villain-y over there, so, what, you're teaching us to help little old ladies cross the street?"

[aquawayfinder]

"I'm pretty sure the oldest ladies here right now are me and Mallia, and we can cross the street all on our own, I assure you," she said with a gentle chuckle. "As to what I teach, all sorts of things in specifics. But overall it is called Mastery. Specifically Mastery of the self."

She started stretching lightly.

"When it comes to Mastery of the body... Most people unless they have done some physical training think their body is just their body and it does what they want. Until you ask them to turn a cartwheel. Mastery of the body is learning your body's limitations and how to make it do as you need it to do. Finding which limits you can slowly train outward. Making yourself stronger and more flexible. Faster. Some of it is combat training, some of it is stretching, some of it is stillness training, some of it is strengthening of muscles, heart, and lungs. It is working towards a Mastery where when you need to stand utterly still no itch or sneeze will betray you. So you can sleep when you chose to try, and wake up when you need to wake up."

She smiled and swapped to a different stretch. "Then there is Mastery of the mind. Math, science, the history I teach generally... well most of it does not apply here, but I am learning the history of this world. For anyone who cannot read, reading. Literacy is harder to teach in hubworlds due to their innate nature, but we manage. I usually teach art and music as well, but there are those here far better at both than I am, so unless they refuse to teach I shall leave the teaching of it to them. Then there are philosophy and ethics, which cross the boarder between mental and emotional."

"For emotional Mastery there is a lot that we can do. For some reason most people think that emotional Mastery is forcing yourself to not have emotions. It is not. It is about understanding and acknowledging your emotions but not letting them rule you or your choices. It isn't being unfeeling if someone attacks your friend, but being able to think when they do which way to help them will actually help the most. Because just charging in is rarely the best way to protect your friend."

"Mastery is realizing how complicated everything is, and figuring out when times are calm what would be best to do when times are not. And make it all second nature so that you never freeze up when it matters."

"And of course for those with the aptitude there is Mastery over powers. Magic if you prefer to call it that. Just like with the others, sharpening it into a tool for you to use, strengthen your power and your control, so that you Master your power rather than it Mastering you."

[lovebites_sodoi]

It only took a few sentences for Morgana to stop listening. It all sounded like some New-Age, hippie stuff. Blah blah blah. What did Morgana need to Master her own body for? With her magic (mostly) back, she was already master of her own self. If she'd gotten her nail file back, she would have worked on sharpening her claw-like nails during the whole explanation, but alas, she made to make due with crossing her arms while Aqua went on.

When it seemed like the young woman was finished, Morgana was less... wordy. "Nah." A click of her tongue. "Unless the King and Queen of this uncanny valley order it, I think I'll skip these classes like I did when I was an actual kid. You have fun with those."

[aquawayfinder]

"I assure you I will, though fun is not the point. The offer will remain open, should you change your mind, however."

[lovebites_sodoi]

"I doubt it. Anything else I need to know?" She tossed her hair a bit. "I already crossed my heart about being a good little girl on this floating heap. I couldn't even commit a decent crime here if I wanted to."

[aquawayfinder]

"Well, did you get a phone already? And has anyone shown you around?"

[lovebites_sodoi]

"I already had my own phone before I arrived at this place." She moved to pull it from her skirt pocket, the odd coffin-shaped design. She was very sure this time around, no one would catch her singing dreamily to pictures to her favorite ducks.

probably. hopefully. maybe.

"And I can always explore on my own."

[aquawayfinder]

"A lot of us had our own phones when we arrived," she said kindly. "But they don't connect to the local network, so the King and Queen have paid for a phone for each of us that will. It also comes with a charger designed for this world. As for exploring, it is easier with a friend. Especially one that knows which rooms are available to be claimed."

[lovebites_sodoi]

Friends? As if. Every sentence made her want to roll her eyes further and further.

"Are you going to be a pain in my cobwebs until I agree to this? If it gets you out of my hair, you can show me around, but try not to make this a habit."

[aquawayfinder]

"Then let's start the tour," she said, undeterred. "After all, as your sponsor part of my job is making sure you have every reasonable advantage here."

[lovebites_sodoi]

"Reasonable. That can be a tricky word." She snorted, but followed Aqua anyway to see where this would lead.

[aquawayfinder]

"It can be," she agreed. "It is a word that leaves little space for either side to take advantage or abuse the other."

[lovebites_sodoi]

So, at least she admitted that "this" side could be abusive as well. Something to keep note of.

"Looks like it's worked so far, at least on the surface."

[aquawayfinder]

She meant more personally, any two people in a conversation, but that was fine. She led towards the welcome desk.

"This was our first successful attempt to make it to the Isle to rescue people," she said. "We're learning as we go along. It is up to people like you and I to make it work, to make it easier for those who might come after."

[lovebites_sodoi]

She sighed, half-listening. being able to switch outfits again was great... as much as she enjoyed her villainous heels, they'd been exhausting day after day. For a long trek like this, her usual steel-tipped boots were heavenly.

"A-huh. So what exactly have you been doing over here? I'm guessing not fetch for animal skins or have professors teach you the right way to laugh manically."

Sorry, not sure how I lost this.

[aquawayfinder]

"A mix of things. Trying to get to the Isle, trying to get to food sources. Trying to help new arrivals settle in. I've also been training myself and any who wish to learn. We've been learning about hub worlds in general. Mallia recently discovered an area over by the museum that got us access to a lot of new businesses. The King and Queen are willing to pay for some things if we need them, and we can earn money if we wish to as well. They're trying to start up an economy so that we can have what we need while we're here, without stealing from the people whose businesses we're discovering."

[lovebites_sodoi]

So they did have money here... there was a flash of greed in her eyes, but reality snuffed that quickly. Like she told Ben and Mal, being a criminal would be pointless here - there was no way to leave with the loot. Never plan a heist if you don't have an escape vehicle.

"I don't suppose any of those businesses have anything to do with music and concerts? The best way for me to earn money is by doing what I always do - playing a hot gig to a loud audience."

[aquawayfinder]

"There is a dance school that Nadeshiko and Nagihiko are working at, they might be interested in collaborating. But I think the King and Queen are open to new business ideas. The school has an auditorium and the Castle might also have a suitable venue if you want to do indoor concerts. And a lot of open space on campus for outdoor concerts. And I know at least one other of the Missrecalled plays music."

[lovebites_sodoi]

Nadeshiko, Nadhihiko... those names sounded familiar. Didn't one of them have a grudge against Utau - who was probably the 'other Misrecalled musician'.

"I suppose it's a start. I'll need to up my practicing. I'm not really used to working with others... but beggars can't be choosers."

[aquawayfinder]

"Auradon seems to be very interested in teamwork in general. And I for one happen to approve. Working together builds bonds between us, and it is harder to break a stronger bond. We have better protection from outside forces that wish to do us harm, the closer we are to each other."

[lovebites_sodoi]

Ughhhh, one of those types. Morgana rolled her eyes so hard she could've seen her own brain.

"... Do we actually have 'outside forces' to worry about here?"

[aquawayfinder]

"In my experience, always. Though there are enough odd things happening to us from within to want to be able to count on each other as well. Have you been filled in yet on any of that?"

[lovebites_sodoi]

"Better to hear it from the horse's mouth... or, well, the human's, I suppose. Go ahead and spill it."