Skylar moves to Avalor, where he'll learn what it takes to side with Elena, the crown princess of Avalor.
Once through the portal, Skylar notices he's inside a shaded place as sunlight barely reaches this far in. He knows exactly where he is, but he needs some time adjusting to the dim lighting conditions. He startles lightly, however, as a voice suddenly starts speaking to him: "Well, look who we have here. About time you showed up."
Skylar recognises this voice. It sounds familiar but he cannot immediately make up who it belongs to. Then he notices Migs is standing next to him now. "Eh… Skylar, prince of Vallestrella." the voice hesitantly says as if startled by Migs' presence.
By now Skylar has most of his vision back. He looks at a Jaquin in front of him. Bulky, wide head and huge paws both coloured in dark purple. *This must be a roy…* Skylar says to himself.
"Cruz." Migs states curtly yet polite.
"Migs, buddy! Long time, no see, eh?" Cruz says bearing a huge grin on his face.
Skylar almost jumps of joy as he shouts: "Cruz, amigo! There you are, haha!"
Cruz immediately replies chuckling cheerfully: "Whoa! Easy there. No need jumping at me like that!"
In the meantime, Migs walks up to the entrance of to what Skylar now clearly is a cave. There Migs looks from left to right, then turns around and sits down. "Yes, I know. We should be going. It took some time before you two got through." Cruz states firmly.
He walks toward where Migs is sitting, followed by Skylar. Migs stands up and turns around again. "Wings up, friends!" Cruz says confidently.
All fly off together and gain altitude. As they do, Skylar looks joyous still. He eyes Migs, who returns a smile. Just as Skylar wants to say something Cruz beats him to it: "Migs. Tell me, why are you coming with us?"
"He is here at the order of my father." Skylar answers enthusiastic on behalf of Migs and sounds proud.
Migs replies calmly: "Thank you, Skylar. I am indeed."
"Nothing more? As in why he sent you here?" Cruz hastily asks.
*I get a feeling he does not want me here.* Migs thinks while keeping an eye on Cruz.
"I need to speak with chief Zephyr, about…" Migs answers unmoved but then falls silent as he doesn't want to let loose too much information.
"About what?" Cruz continues asking.
"That is something between me and king Verago." Migs states firm once again.
"Ah Migs, you are acting boring again.' Skylar adds to the conversation to which Cruz nods, 'So, Cruz. Tell me, do we have a quota here, as we have in Vallestrella? And how much do we need to contribute here?"
Cruz starts laughing. He looks at Skylar with a huge grin on his face while thinking: *Are you truly clueless? For a prince, you are rather oblivious… I doubt you will pass the trials, unlike me, who passed them flawlessly.*
He clears his throat before saying at a condescending tone: "Quota? Pff, in Vallestrella perhaps, yes. Here in Avalor chief Zephyr has appointed serfs doing that for us! As Navegera I can do whatever I wish. So do you being my trainee."
Without Skylar or Cruz noticing, Migs frowns at a thought of his: *Cruz seems to be feigning responsibility… I should keep an eye on him for the sake of Skylar.*
Migs feels he needs to respond to Cruz's statement and says firm once more: "You, Cruz, can do whatever you want to train Skylar to the best of your abilities."
"Yeah, yeah. Of course, I will." Cruz says reluctant wavering away Migs' words.
Together, all three of them fly toward Mooncliff. "Chief Zephyr has been appointed by king Verago to teach new-born Jaquin cubs in Avalor and to look after their integration into the Jaquin clan. He will do so through the teachings of social values and code of conduct. So far the chief has taught two classes." Cruz says.
Skylar nods and replies: "Yeah, I heard about that! He used to teach new-borns in Vallestrella, too. Me included. I bet he is really old now!"
"Ha! Never tell him that! Just know chief Zephyr takes his role seriously! I do too and because of this I might become his successor one day." Cruz replies in both a heartily and bold manner.
"Wow! Amazing! Did he tell you that?" Skylar asks full of awe.
Cruz smirks at him and calmly says: "I know so!"
When approaching Mooncliff they spot chief Zephyr. Zephyr easily stands out from the rest through appearance alone. The grey coloured fur is one thing but his most apparent features are the thick manes surrounding his chest, throat, and neck, as well as the large eyebrows.
He clearly awaits them as he stiffly sits on a plateau in front of a big cave entrance, his home cave. He watches the three of them land near him. *No one has a similar degree of experience in overseeing the training of Jaquins becoming Guardians. This is no easy task, requiring a delicate effort in maintaining the qualifications for guardianship. This is our most important part of the security for both Vallestrella and Avalor.* he thinks while looking at Skylar, Migs, and Cruz.
Cruz lines everyone up in front of Zephyr and then sits himself down next to Skylar. Zephyr nods at him. "Thank you Cruz, for bringing me these fresh recruits. Let me introduce myself to any of you who do not know me yet. My name is Zephyr. All of you will address me as chief Zephyr, however. Now, you must be willing to start your training to become a Guardian of Avalor, I will first tell you some things you need to know about this place so that you will know of what you will be a Guardian in the first place. Avalor is home to humans. They are our closest allies here in this human world. We share many things, including our desire for exploration. This led us to them long ago using the portal you went through to reach Avalor. You see, there was a time when we…"
Cruz brings his head close to Skylar's and whispers: "Okay, you need to know the chief sometimes becomes nostalgic and starts rattling about the past that no one truly cares about."
"Should we…" Skylar starts but gets Cruz's wing shoved against his face preventing him from continuing.
"… Huh? Did someone want to say something?" Zephyr asks curtly of being interrupted.
"No, chief!' Cruz says hastily and releases an uneasy chuckle, 'Please, continue."
"Alright then. Humans first thought of us to be "alebrijes", spirit animals humans believe to exist. Something with guiding deceased loved ones to their living relatives once a year… Little did they know of us back then when clearly our relationship with them was brittle.' Zephyr says droningly with Migs hanging to his lips metaphorically and clears his throat before continuing, 'Well, let me end it here for you today. There is a lot you will find interesting, as well as much for you to see. Cruz will take you to your cave homes you will be utilising for sleeping and eating."
"Do we have a food quota we should abide to… uh, chief?" Skylar asks cautiously.
Zephyr smiles at Skylar: "Ah, good point, Skylar. Everyone! There is a quota here in Avalor like the one you know in Vallestrella. However, that does not count for any of you, trainees. You will get enough on your minds that will keep you occupied during your training. Now follow Cruz. He will show you around."
Many Jaquins start flocking around Cruz, gathering around him close up to the point he's no longer visible to anyone outside of this cramped group. All are in awe of their Navegera. All but one: Migs. He remains seated whilst all other Jaquins move over towards Cruz, thereby distancing himself passively from them, thinking: *Excellent! Now I can finally do what I had planned on doing on this lovely morning.*
He turns around and prepares himself to take to the skies, deciding to leave Mooncliff behind him for the time being. Meanwhile, Skylar's looking around, trying to find Cruz in the midst of the flock. He decides to eagerly await Cruz to approach him and personally invite him for a tour around Avalor. He and the other trainees. *I wonder who the other trainees are, and where they are… Anyhow, I will be asked first to be shown around! I am the prince, after all, and Cruz himself was waiting for me at the portal. Today is revolving around me, I just know it!* Skylar thinks while bearing a smile on his face.
However, Cruz isn't paying any attention to him at all, but instead acts delighted over all the attention he's getting from all the Jaquins around him, simply for being the Navegera. Slowly, Skylar realises Cruz has set himself other priorities than looking after his 'trainee'. Skylar feels deceived by Cruz through a thought he's having: *The Navegera has forgotten about me, despite me being a prince and all…*
Luna, who's trying to get into a conversation with Cruz, also doesn't get what she wants. *Argh, why is Cruz not seeing me? I am right here! I just want to talk… Does he not want to see me? He knows I have a weakness for him…* she aggrievedly tells herself.
Skylar and Luna end up together. They look at each other, both noticing the disappointment radiating from each other's faces clearly. Skylar starts looking around trying to shift his mind to something else. Doing so has him spot Migs up in the air moving away from them. He watches him head for Avalor city and gets an idea. He looks at Luna and starts smirking: "Come on, I have a plan."