the_isle | You're From The Isle If Anybody Asks

First Awareness

Those used to this by now probably knew what it meant when they felt their magic return for a moment. For the rest, suddenly their powers were back. Just for a few minutes, but a lot could be done in a few minutes. If the person even noticed their powers were back, that is.

Of course those on the shore might have seen the hazy indistinct shape through the barrier coming closer, might have seen the moment the hole in the barrier opened. Might have seen King Ben leading people down a gangplank through the barrier with crates of supplies....

Unions, Re And Otherwise

Once the supplies were unloaded, the barrier was sealed up again. King Ben seemed to be in charge during the unloading, Once the barrier was closed again, by the green magic streaming from the Queen's finger, it was Mal who seemed to be in charge.

"Alright, listen up. We have 2 hours and the clock is ticking. I'm not FG but we're keeping to a deadline anyway. If you want to come to Auradon or know someone you want us to bring back, you have 2 hours to convince us. You and everyone else, sharing the same 2 hours. Along with anyone who has a supply request for our next visit, or updates. Those of you bringing supplies to the school, time to get cracking. Two hours passes faster than midnight at the ball."

Those Who Left

(Please TL Here for boat and Auradon Shenanigans. TY)

Those What Remain

Once those going back to Auradon had left and the barrier was back in place, it was for those who remained on the Isle to sort the supplies and figure out how to get done everything that needed to be done with the people that remained.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Xion stayed close to Roxas, clinging to his hand. She was terrified he'd vanish. Also terrified that he would choose to stay here instead of coming back with her to where Axel was waiting for them. She just wanted to go back with Roxas so they could all have ice cream and watch the sunset. Not talk to some strange somebody that Roxas might decide he wanted to be with instead of her.

"Roxas!" Eli said quietly but with clear relief. There was a moment when she tried to hide it, tried to mask. But failed. She always was a trash liar. Especially with her expressions. But right on the heels of relief was something that actually did steal her smile. Fear. "Did.... did they kick you out?" she asked in a whisper. "I... I made a bet... I have to go to fulfill my end, but if they kill me... you get what Foulques owes me for the bet, okay?" she asked, having not noticed Xion at all yet.

He frowned at that. "I didn't get kicked out. I'm here to get you. I'm sorry I left without you last time, there was so much going on and..."

He shook his head. "No one's gonna hurt you there, I promise, but even if someone tried, I'll protect you."

So many emotions on her face. Surprise, tentative joy, catching herself and being wary. then something that was like a mix of longing and pain. "Don't get yourself hurt for me," she mumbled. The unspoken "I'm not worth it" was clear in her expression.

He could tell something was going on by her face. She seemed almost happy, and then upset, and other things in there he wasn't equipped to decipher. He caught himself wishing for Axel, then remembering the redhead was waiting for them back in Auradon. Hopefully he'd be able to help Roxas understand Elianne better, but that was only if he could get her off the Isle.

"No one will get hurt. But... people might get hurt if you stay here. I didn't really understand it, but apparently something is wrong with time, and you have to leave the Isle's shield to fix it. So... please, come back with us?"

She wanted to argue, but her shoulders slumped. "I hafta. I made a bet..." she mumbled. "So I gotta go there. Even if they're gonna know I don't belong there...."

"None of us belong there. This isn't our World, but you don't belong here either. So isn't it better to be where you don't belong where there's food?" Since she was a Somebody, he hoped that might sway her a bit. They'd spent a lot of time together here looking for food.

Her stomach growled before she could reply. She shook her head. "ISn't it like the city?" she asked, saying the word City with a mix of the hope used for the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow and the bitterness of having been rejected. "Needing money cause you get got as soon as you lift? I got no money, Roxas... At least here no one's putting me in jail for theivin."

"I'm... not really sure, but I don't think so. You don't need Munny for food. Malia makes lots. And there are a lot of missions to do if you want to help, but you don't really have to. You won't get in trouble. Right Xion?" He... didn't think he was explaining this right, but Xion had been there longer than him. Maybe if she helped explain, Elianne would understand easier.

Xion's eyes went wide under her hood. She had to talk? Why was Roxas making her talk?

"Who is..." Eli leaned around him and that was when she noticed. Her eyes went a bit wider and she looked at her, trying to see under her hood. "Who are you?" she asked.

Xion shrunk back more, but kept clinging to Roxas' hand.

"Who is she?" Eli asked Roxas instead.

Oh right... He forgot Xion tended to be like this with new people. She talked so much more with him and Axel. He squeezed Xion's hand. "Elianne, this is Xion. She's one of my friends, you remember I told you about Axel? He's here too. Well, in Auradon. He couldn't come back to look for you with us cause coming here makes him... sick, I guess."

"Xion..." Eli repeated, trying again to get a look at her. "How.... how old is she?"

"Oh, um, a few days younger than me I guess? We were- we joined the Organization around the same time." He shrugged.

Eli frowned, considering. "She seems... younger than you...." And something was softening in Eli's face. The girl... reminded her a little of Jade. Jade didn't open up easily either. Hadn't... She forced herself to focus on the new child rather than letting herself be sick.

Roxas looked between them. "I guess? Does it matter?" They were both made from Sora, they had similar memories. If anything, this Xion should be 'older' than him, considering she had more memories, had experienced another weird World like this one, from what he understood. Though she didn't really talk about it.

"Just..." Eli was unsure. "Xion, it's okay. I'm Roxas' friend also. I won't hurt you. Okay?"

Xion tensed more, clinging and trying not to let Eli make eye contact. She just wanted to go back to Auradon with Roxas to just be with him and Axel and no one else. Why did her friends need more friends? Why wasn't she enough?

He glanced from Elianne to Xion and back again. This... wasn't going as well as he'd hoped it would. He tightened his hold on Xion's hand, then reached for Elianne's. "We can all be friends. And Axel. Then we can all have ice cream together!"

"Ice cream?" Eli asked, head tilting.

Xion was crushed. "You want... to share ice cream... with someone else?" she whispered. She knew Axel wanted to... but Roxas too? Why did she have to share her two best friends with other people?

"Yeah, ice cream, you remember I told you about it before? Or, well, I tried to, I don't think I did a very good job. It's cold, and sweet, but also a little bit salty. If you don't eat it fast enough, it melts everywhere, like snow. You eat ice cream with people who are your friends. Wouldn't it be nice to have another friend Xion?"

"Why... am I not enough?" Xion whispered, a tear rolling. Why did Roxas and Axel always want to make all these new friends? Where was she broken as a friend?

"What..? That's not... Xion, I didn't mean it like that." Roxas didn't know what to do. He knew he didn't want Xion to cry though. He reached for Xion's other hand. "Of course you're enough." Was this about her being a puppet? He didn't understand...

Eli slipped closer as well, and not used to Xion and not knowing to leave her time to speak, she added her words to Roxas'. "I'm not gonna steal your friend. I'll spit on it, if you want. I mean he left with you an left me behind, didn't he?" She was trying to be comforting. "So you know he likes you more. I'm just the extra deadweight." She was speaking mater of factly.

Xion clung to Roxas' gloves, still afraid, wanting to just run away with Roxas. All the way back to Axel. If only her dark corridors would work...

He looked back towards her. "Elianne... I'm sorry, I didn't... I didn't mean to leave you here." His chest hurt. He wasn't good at talking like Axel was. How had he ended up saying everything wrong?

"Xion and Axel are my best friends." Here he looked back to Xion, squeezing her hand. Then back to Elianne. "And Elianne is my friend too. Just- come back to Auradon with us. Axel can explain it better. He's good at explaining things. I'm not..." He shook his head. He wanted to have ice cream with his friends. And for no one to be left behind. And for no one to be upset.

Eli shrugged. "I'm used to being left behind."

Xion's shoulders slumped. At least this Somebody wasn't a best friend also but... why did Roxas and Axel keep wanting people to come with them for ice cream?

"It was an accident..." It hurt to swallow suddenly, a little bit. And his chest felt so heavy he was starting to think maybe something was wrong with it.

"Worry about her, I'll keep," Eli said. "he's your best friend, right? Then she's the one that matters here." And she'll tell herself not to be hurt. Sadly her face was expressive.