Weekend in Charm
Ben,
Your letter disturbed me very much. I knew that Z would be a handful, but I didn't think he'd go that far. It sounds like he needs a good lesson in ethics from Merlin. After two of those lessons I was ready to never cause any more trouble.
As for how this weekend went for us, it went pretty well. As we discussed, for this first weekend, I sent Talea and Ace home to King Eugene and Queen Rapunzel with their children. I sent Marlis home with Rosamond, and Ping and Mei took Evie with them. I decided to go with with Ping and Mei in hopes that Mulan would be willing to train me. I have a feeling that I'm going to need to refine my fighting skills, just in case.
Jay paused to think about how the weekend went. It was all in all not bad, but that made him feel guiltier for how Ben's weekend had gone. Jay had purposely asked Ben to take Z so that he could avoid a fight. Z and Jay had been best friends. Z was Jay's second in command, and they had ruled the streets of the Isle. Nothing stood in their way. Their plans were flawlessly executed, and they had never suffered defeat. Jay knew that Z would be bitter that Jay never came back. Zag probably took it as a personal insult and would just love to roast Jay alive.
Jay felt like a coward, and he knew it was his fault that Ben got hurt. Being good seemed to be more difficult than being bad sometimes. He walked over to his sword that hung by his bed, and pulled it out of it's sheath with a zing. Slowly he went through the motions that Lady Mulan had taught him, making sure to let his body flow with his sword, like they were one. He reflected on his painful training session with her. They had to meet late at night, because Jay didn't want Evie to know that he was training. They had started with a few simple fist fighting moves, then Mulan decided to test his martial arts, which hadn't gone well for him. He'd ended up on his back side more times then he could count. But Mulan gave him some good tips. Then they'd moved to a cool down with the swords.
"Jamahl," Mulan said quietly as their practice swords hit against each other. "I was very doubtful when Prince Ben brought you here. But you have surprised us all. Mei only has positive things to say about you, and Ping looks up to you."
Jay had nodded, not sure what sort of response was required.
"Ping is easily influenced by . . . any one he thinks is talented and charismatic. Ever since my husband died, he has been very distant, and bitter at home. I don't want him to start following the wrong influences." Lady Mulan swung her sword faster. "If, by any chance, Ping turns to any of your villain friends, I will hold you personally responsible."
Jay nodded. Mulan's eyes narrowed. then she started a swift exchange. Jay was trying to block her sword, and step back to keep away from her onslaught, but she ended up locking their swords together at chest level, then, with her right leg, she swept his left leg out from under him and Jay landed on his back, his breath knocked out of him. Mulan held her wooden sword to his throat.
"I meant what I said. I will hold you personally responsible for Ping. You do not want me as your enemy."
Jay coughed, and finally got his breath back. "I prefer you as an ally myself."
Mulan slightly smiled and reached a hand down to help him up. "You fight well. Remember, your sword is part of you. Be unbending."
Ben, I am really worried about what Ace has planned. Talea reported to me how their weekend went and Ace is surely causing some sort of trouble. Talea told me that she loved getting to know Queen Rapunzel and that they had spoken to a great extent, comparing their locked away lives together. They had cried together, and Talea explained that she felt so totally loved and accepted by the Queen that she almost didn't want to come back to school, but that she preferred to keep learning, and helping Ping. But then she began to relate to me where her concerns are coming from. Talea, you must understand, is unlike any of the rest of us from the Isle. She grew up in isolation, with her drunk, sleepy, father for companionship. Always good and sincere, Talea is the one person I truly trusted on the Island to never betray me. She doesn't know the rest of us from the island as well as I could have wished, but I told her about everyone when I would visit her, and she told me that she was really confused by Ace's behavior.
Ace, it seems, has been all suave consideration especially towards Adeline. He flirted with her and tried to impress her with some of his card tricks, and all in all, he had the best behavior out of any one on the trips. But Talea said that his actions and words did not reach his eyes. She said that he was still cold. Ace is doing his best to trick everyone and he is succeeding. As to his reason, I do not know.
Mushu ran into the room. His white beard trailing behind him. "Jamahl! Come quick! Evelyn and Rosamond are attacking each other!"
"What?"Jay jumped up from his seat and began to run. "Where are they?"
"In my herbal class."
Running down the hall, up a flight of stairs and halfway around the building, Jay reached the herb classroom, and quickly ducked as a potted plant shattered on the door jam next to his side.
He knew that magic was frowned on outside of magic class, but this called for some.
Evie, with dirt spread all over her face, was preparing to throw a cactus plant at Rosamond. Rosamond, her perfect blonde hair all askew, had picked up a small spade and was preparing to fling it.
Jay flung his hands out in front of him, pressed them together and brought them close to his lips. He blew on his thumbs, then slowly opened up us fingers so the air passed through. But instead of it sounding soft like the air he blew in, it came out like a piercing whistle. Evie screamed and covered her ears, dropping the plant which subsequently shattered at her feet. Rosamond had been so shocked, that she hadn't wasted any time by letting go of the spade in order to cover her ears, so she just held it pressed against the side of her head.
Jay stopped blowing and the ear shattering whistle faded to nothing. Silence reigned. Rosamond, instead of looking ashamed, tried to look proud. Evie rushed towards Jay.
"That witch stole Marlis from me!" Evie sobbed.
"I'm not a witch. You are! Your mother is the one who boils potions."
Jay put a hand out to keep Evie from leaping on top of Rosamond. "What happened? Where is Marlis?"
"He was delayed, looking for a flower that matches my hair," Rosamond said, moving to walk past Evie. "She just can't stand the fact that her boyfriend prefers my looks to hers." With a sweep of her fine dress, Rosamond left the room.
"I hate her!" Evie screamed. Jay pulled Evie close and she cried frustrated, heart broken tears, into his shoulder. "I wish we had never come! Princesses are awful! How could Marlis fall for someone like that!"
Jay just held Evie close as she continued to cry. He tried to think of what he could say. But he had never been particularly good at this sort of thing. Making up his mind, Jay picked Evie off her feet and carried her to a bench where he sat her down.
"Princess Evelyn," he said softly. She half laughed through a sob. No one in Charm had ever addressed her as a princess. But Jay knew that's what she was, even if she inherited the title because her mom was the Evil Queen. "Evelyn, you are so much more than Rosamond. Rosamond is beautiful, but that is all she is. Prince Ben sent her here so that we could help teach her that there is more to being royal than just looks and inheritance."
"She's right!" Evie cried. "I'm not as beautiful as she is, and Marlis likes her more."
"Evie, there is more to you than looks! You are smart, and gifted at many things that Rosamond can never even think of. You are incredible!"
"She said no one here would want me because I'm just evil, the daughter evil, the princess of evil. I just want to show her how evil I can be!" Evie twisted her ring, and a small blade appeared.
Jay wondered if Ben's letter had brought bad luck to him. "I think what you want to do is give that ring to me."
Evie laughed. "Jay! You, more than anyone, should appreciate revenge."
Jay felt uncomfortable at that comment. He'd forgotten that, and he didn't particularly love being reminded of that instance. "Evie," he said trying to sound reasonable, "Why don't you hit Rosamond where it will really hurt her?"
"Which artery should I aim for?"
Cursing himself for phrasing it that way, he shook his head. "Not a physical injury, but a real one." A small voice in his head said that this was unwise, but it was the only way he could think to diffuse the situation. "Princess Rosamond has been trying to catch Prince Flynn's attention for years. He looks the other way when she enters the room. If you really want to get Rosamond mad, get Flynn to like you, or teach you how to do something. Flynn is really good at architecture. He can help you with that class."
A heartless smile spread across Evie's lips. "You really haven't changed, have you Jay?" She gave him a quick kiss on the cheek to say thank you, then left the room.
Looking around at the wreckage, thinking of Evie's parting words, Jay's heart dropped.
Your luck seems to have spread, Ben. Evie and Rosamond had a fight over Marlis today. I may have put Evie on a path of revenge, which was probably unwise. I suggested that she flirt with Flynn. After she left, I approached Flynn to give him a heads up. I'm not as good at this good guy thing as I'd like to be. My friends from the Isle see that I have changed in some ways, but they see that I'm the same in others, and it becomes confusing for them, and, frankly, for me.
Ben, I'm really trying to keep to our plan, and help my friends. But now I feel like I'm swimming in deep waters, and I somehow forgot how to swim. I hope that we both make it.
Best Wishes,
Jamahl
P.S. Z doesn't like mentioning this, and I am the only one who knows. It probably wouldn't be appropriate for you to bring it up, but Z has magical healing abilities. As a villain, he is extremely ashamed to have such an ability, but with your injury it might be useful. Use this information at your discretion. I know Z hates me by now and this breach in his trust will make no difference.
Your letter disturbed me very much. I knew that Z would be a handful, but I didn't think he'd go that far. It sounds like he needs a good lesson in ethics from Merlin. After two of those lessons I was ready to never cause any more trouble.
As for how this weekend went for us, it went pretty well. As we discussed, for this first weekend, I sent Talea and Ace home to King Eugene and Queen Rapunzel with their children. I sent Marlis home with Rosamond, and Ping and Mei took Evie with them. I decided to go with with Ping and Mei in hopes that Mulan would be willing to train me. I have a feeling that I'm going to need to refine my fighting skills, just in case.
Jay paused to think about how the weekend went. It was all in all not bad, but that made him feel guiltier for how Ben's weekend had gone. Jay had purposely asked Ben to take Z so that he could avoid a fight. Z and Jay had been best friends. Z was Jay's second in command, and they had ruled the streets of the Isle. Nothing stood in their way. Their plans were flawlessly executed, and they had never suffered defeat. Jay knew that Z would be bitter that Jay never came back. Zag probably took it as a personal insult and would just love to roast Jay alive.
Jay felt like a coward, and he knew it was his fault that Ben got hurt. Being good seemed to be more difficult than being bad sometimes. He walked over to his sword that hung by his bed, and pulled it out of it's sheath with a zing. Slowly he went through the motions that Lady Mulan had taught him, making sure to let his body flow with his sword, like they were one. He reflected on his painful training session with her. They had to meet late at night, because Jay didn't want Evie to know that he was training. They had started with a few simple fist fighting moves, then Mulan decided to test his martial arts, which hadn't gone well for him. He'd ended up on his back side more times then he could count. But Mulan gave him some good tips. Then they'd moved to a cool down with the swords.
"Jamahl," Mulan said quietly as their practice swords hit against each other. "I was very doubtful when Prince Ben brought you here. But you have surprised us all. Mei only has positive things to say about you, and Ping looks up to you."
Jay had nodded, not sure what sort of response was required.
"Ping is easily influenced by . . . any one he thinks is talented and charismatic. Ever since my husband died, he has been very distant, and bitter at home. I don't want him to start following the wrong influences." Lady Mulan swung her sword faster. "If, by any chance, Ping turns to any of your villain friends, I will hold you personally responsible."
Jay nodded. Mulan's eyes narrowed. then she started a swift exchange. Jay was trying to block her sword, and step back to keep away from her onslaught, but she ended up locking their swords together at chest level, then, with her right leg, she swept his left leg out from under him and Jay landed on his back, his breath knocked out of him. Mulan held her wooden sword to his throat.
"I meant what I said. I will hold you personally responsible for Ping. You do not want me as your enemy."
Jay coughed, and finally got his breath back. "I prefer you as an ally myself."
Mulan slightly smiled and reached a hand down to help him up. "You fight well. Remember, your sword is part of you. Be unbending."
Ben, I am really worried about what Ace has planned. Talea reported to me how their weekend went and Ace is surely causing some sort of trouble. Talea told me that she loved getting to know Queen Rapunzel and that they had spoken to a great extent, comparing their locked away lives together. They had cried together, and Talea explained that she felt so totally loved and accepted by the Queen that she almost didn't want to come back to school, but that she preferred to keep learning, and helping Ping. But then she began to relate to me where her concerns are coming from. Talea, you must understand, is unlike any of the rest of us from the Isle. She grew up in isolation, with her drunk, sleepy, father for companionship. Always good and sincere, Talea is the one person I truly trusted on the Island to never betray me. She doesn't know the rest of us from the island as well as I could have wished, but I told her about everyone when I would visit her, and she told me that she was really confused by Ace's behavior.
Ace, it seems, has been all suave consideration especially towards Adeline. He flirted with her and tried to impress her with some of his card tricks, and all in all, he had the best behavior out of any one on the trips. But Talea said that his actions and words did not reach his eyes. She said that he was still cold. Ace is doing his best to trick everyone and he is succeeding. As to his reason, I do not know.
Mushu ran into the room. His white beard trailing behind him. "Jamahl! Come quick! Evelyn and Rosamond are attacking each other!"
"What?"Jay jumped up from his seat and began to run. "Where are they?"
"In my herbal class."
Running down the hall, up a flight of stairs and halfway around the building, Jay reached the herb classroom, and quickly ducked as a potted plant shattered on the door jam next to his side.
He knew that magic was frowned on outside of magic class, but this called for some.
Evie, with dirt spread all over her face, was preparing to throw a cactus plant at Rosamond. Rosamond, her perfect blonde hair all askew, had picked up a small spade and was preparing to fling it.
Jay flung his hands out in front of him, pressed them together and brought them close to his lips. He blew on his thumbs, then slowly opened up us fingers so the air passed through. But instead of it sounding soft like the air he blew in, it came out like a piercing whistle. Evie screamed and covered her ears, dropping the plant which subsequently shattered at her feet. Rosamond had been so shocked, that she hadn't wasted any time by letting go of the spade in order to cover her ears, so she just held it pressed against the side of her head.
Jay stopped blowing and the ear shattering whistle faded to nothing. Silence reigned. Rosamond, instead of looking ashamed, tried to look proud. Evie rushed towards Jay.
"That witch stole Marlis from me!" Evie sobbed.
"I'm not a witch. You are! Your mother is the one who boils potions."
Jay put a hand out to keep Evie from leaping on top of Rosamond. "What happened? Where is Marlis?"
"He was delayed, looking for a flower that matches my hair," Rosamond said, moving to walk past Evie. "She just can't stand the fact that her boyfriend prefers my looks to hers." With a sweep of her fine dress, Rosamond left the room.
"I hate her!" Evie screamed. Jay pulled Evie close and she cried frustrated, heart broken tears, into his shoulder. "I wish we had never come! Princesses are awful! How could Marlis fall for someone like that!"
Jay just held Evie close as she continued to cry. He tried to think of what he could say. But he had never been particularly good at this sort of thing. Making up his mind, Jay picked Evie off her feet and carried her to a bench where he sat her down.
"Princess Evelyn," he said softly. She half laughed through a sob. No one in Charm had ever addressed her as a princess. But Jay knew that's what she was, even if she inherited the title because her mom was the Evil Queen. "Evelyn, you are so much more than Rosamond. Rosamond is beautiful, but that is all she is. Prince Ben sent her here so that we could help teach her that there is more to being royal than just looks and inheritance."
"She's right!" Evie cried. "I'm not as beautiful as she is, and Marlis likes her more."
"Evie, there is more to you than looks! You are smart, and gifted at many things that Rosamond can never even think of. You are incredible!"
"She said no one here would want me because I'm just evil, the daughter evil, the princess of evil. I just want to show her how evil I can be!" Evie twisted her ring, and a small blade appeared.
Jay wondered if Ben's letter had brought bad luck to him. "I think what you want to do is give that ring to me."
Evie laughed. "Jay! You, more than anyone, should appreciate revenge."
Jay felt uncomfortable at that comment. He'd forgotten that, and he didn't particularly love being reminded of that instance. "Evie," he said trying to sound reasonable, "Why don't you hit Rosamond where it will really hurt her?"
"Which artery should I aim for?"
Cursing himself for phrasing it that way, he shook his head. "Not a physical injury, but a real one." A small voice in his head said that this was unwise, but it was the only way he could think to diffuse the situation. "Princess Rosamond has been trying to catch Prince Flynn's attention for years. He looks the other way when she enters the room. If you really want to get Rosamond mad, get Flynn to like you, or teach you how to do something. Flynn is really good at architecture. He can help you with that class."
A heartless smile spread across Evie's lips. "You really haven't changed, have you Jay?" She gave him a quick kiss on the cheek to say thank you, then left the room.
Looking around at the wreckage, thinking of Evie's parting words, Jay's heart dropped.
Your luck seems to have spread, Ben. Evie and Rosamond had a fight over Marlis today. I may have put Evie on a path of revenge, which was probably unwise. I suggested that she flirt with Flynn. After she left, I approached Flynn to give him a heads up. I'm not as good at this good guy thing as I'd like to be. My friends from the Isle see that I have changed in some ways, but they see that I'm the same in others, and it becomes confusing for them, and, frankly, for me.
Ben, I'm really trying to keep to our plan, and help my friends. But now I feel like I'm swimming in deep waters, and I somehow forgot how to swim. I hope that we both make it.
Best Wishes,
Jamahl
P.S. Z doesn't like mentioning this, and I am the only one who knows. It probably wouldn't be appropriate for you to bring it up, but Z has magical healing abilities. As a villain, he is extremely ashamed to have such an ability, but with your injury it might be useful. Use this information at your discretion. I know Z hates me by now and this breach in his trust will make no difference.
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