Chapter Eighty Eight

A/N: I do not own anything other than my OCs when they come out to play. Everything else belongs to either Disney or the Greek Myths!

You know it's honestly amazing to think about the fact that there're just sixteen Choosing Love scrolls to go before the group here moves on to Choosing Home! It really doesn't seem like there's that little to go! :D

Thank you all for your continued support, reviews, favorites, and follows!

Hope you enjoy this chapter! Let me know what you think! :D

Mulan leaned over and selected a scroll, unfurling it.

"You know these have to be labeled somehow since we never pick the wrong scroll," Hercules said.

"Preaching to the choir here Herc," Meg chuckled.

Lonnie grinned as she shoved her long hair under the mask used by the R.O.A.R team.

"Took you long enough," Malinda chuckled as she shook her head.

This was it. This was the day she was finally going to try out for the team. She'd trained nonstop, with Mal. With Uma. Hell sometimes with Harry and Gil but she was finally ready.

"Not Jay or Carlos?" Dizzy asked, looking over at Lonnie. "I mean Carlos is just as good with a sword as Gil is, and Jay's one of the top swords in the Rats!"

Or maybe it was better to say that she felt she was finally ready. Mal had been saying she'd been ready for months.

"Because you were," Malinda told Lonnie, looking over at her. "You were ready after a month."

There's a pressure though, being Mulan's daughter, Lonnie thought. You've got to be flawless with the athletics otherwise people think you're a disappointment. Never mind the fact that my mom loves to bake cookies when I'm feeling down as well as spar with my dad. As long as I'm happy, mom doesn't really care if it's 'girly' or if it's 'athletic'.

Mulan nodded, giving both of her kids a kind smile. "It doesn't matter what you two do as long as you're both happy doing it. Well, and that you're safe doing it as well."

But that didn't matter anymore. She was going to try out and she was going to get a spot.

"That's the spirit!" Li'l Shang cheered.

There was nothing in the rule book that said women couldn't try out after all. All it said was that a team must comprise of a captain and eight men. Unless you wanted to be a real jerk, there was no way that could apply to women. Nowadays, when people saw the word 'men', they just thought 'humans'.

Well…unless you're Chad, Audie thought, thinking back on the second viewing.

Though really, if Hyllus, Macaria, or Mal wanted to try out for R.O.A.R., Lonnie was sure no one was really going to argue against that.

"…I'm a guy though," Hyllus spoke up.

CJ rolled her eyes. "I'm pretty sure Lonnie meant the whole Godling thing as opposed to being pure mortal."

"Oh…that makes sense."

"Assembler. Salute. Lower the point. Masks down. En garde."

She lingered in the shadows as Jay started practice.

"Hmm…probably not the best idea to surprise someone who's wielding a sword," Emir said.

Granted, she was probably pushing her luck trying out with like two weeks to go until Cotillion but she figured Jay would have enough on his mind that he'd be happy to not have to deal with official trials to fill Ben's spot since he had to drop to deal with his kingly duties.

"As long as you've got coach's approval and Ben's nod, that's 'official' enough to satisfy anyone," Emir said

Quickly jumping into the fray as Carlos flipped away, Lonnie grinned as all thought seemed to leave her mind. All that mattered was her and Jay—and winning.

"Winning? Who said you're going to win so easily?" Jay teased, looking over at Lonnie.

But that went without saying anything. After all, if she lost against Jay then there'd be no chance of her getting on the team.

"Eh, losing to the Captain is an honorable loss. They're the Captain for a reason after all," Henry said.

Jay was the captain after all. He was the best. You want to be the best, you gotta beat the best.

"Don't say that out loud! Jay's already got an inflated ego," Harry said.

Uma chuckled. "And here I thought you'd be saying that Jay learned from the best, Harry."

Apparently Jay thought so too as he took his mask off and tossed it to the side.

"Or he was just showing off," Henry snorted in amusement.

Lonnie didn't know if it was a challenge or not but what she did know was that she wasn't ready for everyone to know it was her under the mask. Not until she knew she'd won.

Hadie nodded. "Yeah, it's probably a 'now you know who you're fighting' thing. Achilles did it too."

"Kick his butt Jay!" Lonnie heard Carlos exclaim and she realized that the rest of the team had stopped practice just to watch them spar.

"I'm sorry…his butt?" Uma asked, raising an eyebrow as she looked at Carlos.

"…I have no defense for my future self," Carlos said softly, feeling rather proud that he didn't squeak.

Jay had dodged a kick from Lonnie and flipped to avoid another attack, staying low to the ground as if to attack at her legs.

'I have taught you well!" Harry grinned

"It's practice," Jay warned, as if Lonnie needed to pull her punches. She knew it was practice. She also knew that she'd have to go twice as hard in order to win in competition if she got on the team.

"Oh come on now Jay, don't tell me you need Lonnie to pull her punches on you now?" Harriet chuckled and shook her head.

"Come on Jay, you can't seriously need this Boreadon boy to pull his punches do you?" Carlos chuckled.

"Seems you and DeVil had the same thought, Harri," Harry chuckled.

Lonnie would have been offended if she didn't know all the other VKs still called Auradon 'Boreadon' on occasion. She had to agree—as much as she loved her home, there was no denying that it had been almost downright dull until the VKs came.

"She has a point…I mean look at what's been in the scrolls when they focus on the Isle," Evan said.

"You know, one of these days you're going to find someone who isn't as cool with you continuing to call Auradon 'Boreadon'," Emir told him.

"And that person will then learn why it's generally a good idea to let VKs say what they want," Mal said.

"Spend sixteen years on the Isle and then spend six months here and see how quickly sayings and nicknames still slip out of your mouth," Carlos shook his head.

"Point taken," Emir nodded.

"He's got a point," Akiho nodded.

Akiho grinned while both Ben and Emir shook their heads fondly at him.

"Besides, I want to see Jay lose to the new guy," Carlos said, turning his attention back to the match.

"If I didn't know from the scroll that I'd lose to Lonnie, I'd be more offended by that," Jay said, looking over at Carlos.

So you think I'm a boy, huh Carlos? Lonnie thought with an inward smirk as she lunged, knocking Jay's sword out of his hand with her foot.

"I thought that was already established?" Neal asked, tilting his head slightly. "That people thought Lonnie's a boy?"

Uma chuckled slightly. "Jay got his sword stolen. You know Henry would have had words for you if he saw that."

"Oh what happened Jay?" Carlos taunted with a chuckle.

"Well Pup has really come out of his shell," Uma chuckled.

"I don't think you've had your sword taken from you since you were what? Ten?" Harry chuckled from his spot on the balcony.

Lonnie tried to avoid looking too proud or cocky but she couldn't help the smile that pulled at her lips.

"If the peanut gallery could kindly shut their pie holes!" Jay snapped.

"Never!" Harry exclaimed.

"That was a nice attack," he told Lonnie.

"Why thank you!" Lonnie grinned.

"Ignore him Harry, he's just testy because he's losing for the first time in I think months," Carlos shook his head.

"Oh Harry knows that, he and Jay are cut from the same cloth," Uma chuckled. "Harry gets 'testy' when he loses too."

Well at least he's an equal opportunity taunter, she thought but then shook her head slightly.

"Really? Cause he seems to only be taunting Jay," Celia said.

She needed to stay focused, needed to keep her head in the game.

"Really? Did coach give instructions to fake right or break left?" Akiho asked.

If she lost focus, then she'd lose the match.

"That does tend to happen," Emir nodded.

"Finish him!" Chad called and Lonnie smirked slightly. Was that to me to finish off Jay or were you hoping Jay would somehow beat me without his sword? And I really need to stay focused.

Lucy tilted her head as she looked at her brother. "Yeah…what does that mean Chad?"

Okay so apparently telling yourself to stay focused isn't really being focused, she thought as Jay was able to reclaim his sword.

"Think that later! Clear your mind Lon!" Li'l Shang shouted.

It was clear that he and Lonnie were equally matched.

"High praise from Jay there considering he was trained by Harry," Uma said.

"But Lonnie was trained by Mal who was also trained by Harry so wouldn't it make sense that Lonnie and Jay were evenly matched?" Kitty asked.

If this went any further, all that would happen was that one of them would risk injury. And honestly as much as she wanted to be on the team, she didn't want to miss out on Cotillion either.

"Well…at least an injury here wouldn't mean the same as one on the Isle," Claudine said softly. "You could probably get patched up before Cotillion."

Grabbing Jay's sword, Lonnie did a quick flip before taking off her mask; her hair cascading out like a curtain.

"Okay, was there a camera in that room? That sounds like a slow mo reveal you'd see in a movie," Li'l Shang chuckled.

"It's Lonnie!" Evie gasped from her spot on the balcony with the other cheerleaders.

"Huh, in my time it was Jane who said that," Audie said. "Also, my timeline's Lonnie didn't try out until maybe two to three days before Cotillion so at least you're giving yourself more time."

"Who else did you think it was? Mal? Too tall to be her plus she's standing right next to you!" Lonnie heard Uma scoff good-naturedly from her spot next to Harry and gave the Godling a small smile.

"Hey!" Mal exclaimed. "She's not that much taller!"

"I'm 5'6"," Lonnie said with a shrug.

Uma chuckled. "That's four inches over you, cuz."

"You were good," Jay told her, pulling her attention back down to the ground.

"You were," Audie nodded. "I almost wish these scrolls were visual so you could see it or at least my timeline's version of you since it doesn't seem like you change much between timelines."

"You should put me on the team," she told him, handing him back his sword.

All of the VKs looked over at Jay.

"After that? If you say anything other than 'done, welcome aboard', you're crazy!" CJ exclaimed.

"I like her!" Harry called out before Uma smacked him on the shoulder. Jay shook his head as he looked back at Lonnie but before he could say anything, Chad came rushing up to him.

"Jealous," Mal muttered as she looked over at Uma.

"Wha-what was that for?!" Harry exclaimed.

"You can't be serious. We'll be the laughingstock of the league! And what'll happen next? We'll have girls playing Tourney? Come on guys!"

"Why can't girls play Tourney?" Abby asked. "Just have a girl's league so they don't have to go up against any behemoths on the boys' side."

"Well I mean, you're on the team Charming so if anything you'd be less of a laughingstock," Harry called.

"Harsh…but I get the point he's trying to make," Kitty sighed.

Yes he knew Chad had a hypnosis on him but as long as he was in denial, Harry wasn't going to go out of his way to be nice to the pampered prince.

"As harsh as it is…that's fair," Aziz said softly. After all, your couldn't help someone who didn't want the help.

Plus Lonnie just kicked Jay's ass. She earned her spot and he knew it.

"Language mom," Lonnie teased.

If Jay listened to Charming over logic, well then Harry would just have to put him through his paces again just like he did when they were kids!

"And you know I'll do it too Jay!" Harry nodded fiercely.

"So? What's wrong with girls playing Tourney or even coming on the team here?" Jay asked Chad, turning to him.

"I mean…Tourney I can kinda see. You do need some upper body strength though really why not set up a female league for Tourney like Abby said?" Robin said. "And besides, ROAR is more flexibility and being able to move quickly. The smaller build of a woman might actually be more beneficial than the bulk of a guy."

Chad ignored Harry and pulled a well used rule book out of his back pocket. "So? So? Have you not read the rule book? Section two, paragraph three, eleven dash four. 'A team shall comprise of a captain and eight men.' Hmm? You should read the rule book."

"…You just carry that on you?" Kitty asked, tilting her head. "I mean I get Jay having a copy as Captain but you?"

"I did," Lonnie said, her voice flat. "Only someone trapped in the fourteen hundreds would think that meant women couldn't take part in R.O.A.R. Besides, you're down a man ever since Ben had to leave to do all that king stuff."

"…I mean…scroll Chad does have a hypnosis on him," Dizzy said softly. "So wouldn't he technically be trapped in the 1400s too?"

"Can we use that when talking to him?" Akiho asked.

"I kinda figured you would regardless," Lonnie shrugged and the two boys grinned.

"Two? Only Akiho said….and Emir probably grinned as well," Aziz said, shaking his head.

"Was there any doubt that he didn't?" Ashaki asked.

Chad shook his head. "Exactly Lonnie. You just made my point. We're down a man."

Shang stared at Chad. "If my only female soldier hadn't been in my army, I would have been dead."

"Okay," Harry's voice broke through and everyone looked to see him make his way toward them. When he had left the balcony, Lonnie wasn't entirely sure.

"Harry might not be able to teleport but he can move when he's annoyed," Uma said.

"Charming, you really want a man instead of Lonnie? Put me in her place. I can guarantee you won't want me on the team with you."

Harriet shook her head fondly. "No, no you really don't. Harry would wipe the floor with you Charming, I guarantee it."

Jay snorted in amusement but sobered up as Harry turned to Jay. "The only reason I'm down here instead of Uma or Mal is because DeVil's lass is currently trying to prevent both of them from murdering you for even entertaining this idiot's words.

"Jane is holding back Mal and Uma? A furious Mal and Uma?" Audie asked. "Go Jane!"

If we were on the Isle, you wouldn't be turning away a good swordsperson just because they were a girl and not a guy. Bonny, Sammy, and Harriet would definitely disagree with you."

"Got that right!" Harriet and Sammy spoke up at the same time.

"If I could maybe get a word in?" Jay asked.

"Depends. Are you going to be an idiot?"

"Probably depends on what he's going to say," Claudine said.

Jay shook his head and patted Harry on the shoulder as he turned to the team. "I come from the Isle. Like Harry said, things are kinda whack over there."

"Understatement," Celia muttered.

"That's an understatement Jayden!"

"Full name? Really Malinda?!"

"When you're being an idiot, I don't see why not!"

Ashaki chuckled. "Oh yeah, she's your sister alright."

Jay shook his head in amusement once more. "Anyway, there's one thing the Isle does have on Auradon. If you're strong, we want you on our side. Boy or girl. If the coach doesn't have a problem with it, I have no issue with bringing Lonnie on board. You all took a chance on me and Carlos back during the Tourney season and I'm sure there was probably a rule about VKs trying out."

Lonnie grinned and couldn't help herself and rushed over to hug Jay.

"Oh….sorry," she said, flushing slightly as she realized what she did.

Jay shrugged but smiled. "It's alright."

"Why would there be? There'd never been a VK to try out," Chad pointed out.

"Think you just made Jay's point for him, Chad," Lucas said.

"Exactly," Jay told him. "But if you truly have an issue Chad, we could always have Coach have a parent conference with Mulan and your mom…?"

"Yeah, that'll shut him up. We all know how that'll go down," Audie chuckled.

A few of the other team members burst out laughing at the image of Mulan chewing out Chad as the Charmington heir flushed in embarrassment.

"I'm happy to have that talk," Mulan said, raising an eyebrow as she looked over at Chad.

"Alright, alright," Jay shook his head. "Back to practice you lot. Harry, back to the balcony with you. Lonnie, if you want to stay and practice with the rest of us, I'll partner with you."

"Why not just get Harry to do it since he's down there?" Henry asked.

Harriet raised an eyebrow. "Uma's already whacked Harry once, you do want Lonnie in one piece don't you?"

"Sounds good Jay," Lonnie grinned as they quickly got back to work. In all honesty though practice seemed to go by faster than Lonnie thought it would. It didn't matter though. Lonnie felt like she was on cloud nine. She'd done it! She'd made the team!

"I didn't think you'd want to get beaten again so quickly Jay," Lonnie teased.

She couldn't wait to tell her brother! She couldn't wait to tell her mom!

"We are so proud of you," Li'l Shang and Mulan said at the same time.

"Thanks you guys," Lonnie grinned.

Shang shook his head. "Oh really? Just your mom and brother and not me?"

"Lonnie!"

Lonnie turned as she grabbed her duffel to see Jay running up to her.

"Ooh! Is he going to do what I think he is?" Lucy asked with a grin.

"Hey," she said with a small smile.

"Hey, I just wanted to say good job today," Jay told her. "It's been a long time since someone stole my sword during a sparring match. I have a feeling that Harry's going to be giving me some ribbing for a couple of weeks."

"Oh you can bet on that!" Harry grinned.

"Well you got comfortable then," Lonnie shrugged. "You always spar with Carlos in practice and then you always spar with Harry when you're in here on your own. Either Harry or Mal or Uma. Uncle Yao always told me you need to mix it up when you spar otherwise you get complacent. But something tells me it won't take you too long before you have me on the fence. There were a couple of times that match you almost had me."

CJ nodded. "She's right, some of the crew could do with mixing up sparring partners."

"Like you and Ryan?" Harriet asked, raising an eyebrow.

"Do it and you'll regret it," CJ said firmly.

Jay gave her a small grin. "Yeah...oh! I wanted to apologize for Chad."

"Why are you doing that? Chad can do it himself," Kitty shook her head.

"I've known Chad practically all my life. I know he's an idiot."

"True but you shouldn't have to deal with that coming from your teammate. I guess I got distracted being captain there rather than doing what made sense."

"Hey, Jay's never been Captain of anything before and logic won out in the end…after a whack on the head," Uma said.

Lonnie shrugged again as she brought her dufflebag over her shoulder. "That's alright. You can take me to Cotillion to make it up to me."

"Oooh! I wish this was set up with a screen so we could see Jay's face at the moment!" Harry grinned.

Harriet nodded. "He got beaten at the thing he invented!"

Lonnie flushed as the other VKs grinned.

Before Jay could say anything, Lonnie walked out of the gym. Just as she turned the corner, she realized what she'd just said.

"Um…that is…if you'd like to Jay," Lonnie said, the flush still evident on her cheeks.

"Oh Gods!" Lonnie muttered. "I mean, what if he already has a date? Or what if he didn't want to go with anyone? Or what if he was going to go with a group of friends or something I just—?"

"I wouldn't worry Lonnie," Akiho said. "Jay did say he didn't want to 'break the girls' hearts' remember?"

"Lonnie!"

Lonnie turned around to see Jay running after her.

Second time today, a girl could get used to this, she thought as Jay caught up to her.

Do I need to have a talk with my little sister about her first crush? Li'l Shang thought, looking between Lonnie and Jay.

"What time?"

"Huh?"

"I'd say give her at least an hour and a half to two hours to get ready," Lucy said.

Jay chuckled at her dumbfounded look, clearly having not expected his question. "What time do you want me to pick you up? And are you alright with Uma, Harry, Carlos, and Jane tagging along?"

"Of course," Lonnie said with a grin.

"Of course," Lonnie nodded, a smile pulling at her lips. "And does six work?"

"Six works perfectly. That was actually the time Jane needed to leave to make sure everything was set up alright anyway," Jay told her. "You can celebrate getting on the team in style."

"Aww! So Carlos can pick Jane up at the same time!" Dizzy grinned.

"Coach could always say no," Lonnie pointed out. Plus Cotillion was a couple of weeks away after all.

"It's coach," Akiho said, shaking his head. "If you're a good player and work well with the team, you could be a blue and orange platypus wearing a fedora and he'd let you on the team!"

"Between Ben storming down to his office to yell at him if that happens, Mal storming down to his office to yell at him if that happens, your mom storming down to his office to yell at him if that happens and me storming down to his office to yell at him if that happens, Coach isn't going to risk it," Jay told her.

"Yeah Lonnie, Coach likes his life," Emir nodded. "You're on the team."

"Besides Ben wouldn't yell, Coach just wouldn't want the disappointed puppy eyes directed at him," Akiho chuckled.

"Now, if you'll excuse me, I have to go hide from Harry. He's still mid rant about why I was an idiot for even thinking about listening to Chad."

"Coward," Harry muttered, shaking his head.

"Jay!"

"Gotta run!" Jay chuckled and Lonnie shook her head in amusement as Jay ran off only to have Harry walk up.

"Well Harry, you must have something to say f you're not running after Jay ranting at him," Mal chuckled.

"Jay was here?"

"Just missed him," Lonnie told the pirate.

"How diid you miss him? He's what, two inches shorter than you?" Harriet asked.

Harry shook his head. "Gods, clearly the boy was not thinking when he considered listening to Charming of all people. I mean, Mal and Uma have kicked his butt more times than he can count with a sword. You don't discount a fighter when they're good just because they're a girl!"

"I think Lord Hades is right about the sun melting people's brains," Harry nodded.

"Harry, it's alright," Lonnie said but she was touched by the boy's concern. "I got on the team and Jay apologized for being an idiot. That's all that matters really."

"As demonstrated with Gil, Harry does not like idiots or stupidity," Mal nodded.

"If you're sure?"

Lonnie nodded. "Hey, why didn't you try out? I'm sure being raised as a pirate, you're pretty handy with a sword."

"Because that would make him less available to Uma," Malinda muttered.

"Out of respect to you, since you're Benny's friend, I won't make the easy sword handling joke," Harry chuckled.

"Um…thanks?" Ben said.

"But also of course I'm good with a sword. On the Isle, if you weren't good with a sword, you didn't live long. But R.O.A.R's got too many rules that I'd never do well with."

"Says the man who practically has the Pirate Code memorized," Uma snorted.

"Pirates don't like to be contained sort of thing?"

"More like you gotta be ready to do anything to survive a fight," Harry stated. "When we were kids, Mal, Uma, Jay, and I had bags of smoke bombs stashed in barrels all over our territory. Just in case we ever got cornered and needed to make an escape. Something tells me that wouldn't fly here. Or kicking someone in the shins."

"Hey, the captain's a VK so it's worth a shot Harry," Uma said.

"You did see me kick the sword out of Jay's hands right?"

Harry grinned. "Why yes, yes I did!"

"That's a good point," Harry nodded. "But if I joined, I wouldn't have any time to spar with Uma."

"He would make time, we all know it," Sammy chuckled.

Lonnie couldn't help the small smile that pulled at her lips at that. It was obvious that the first mate had feelings for the squidling. She wasn't sure why they insisted on being in denial but it sure was frustrating—and it was probably worse for Jay and Mal since they knew them so well.

"We're not in denial!"

Jay shook his head. "I mean come on, if other people can see it then you clearly are!"

"Hey Harry?"

"Yeah Lonnie?"

"Thanks for coming to my defense back there," she told him.

Harry shrugged. "You've been a good ally to us since we got there. I have my allies' backs."

Harry gave her a small smile of his own. "Like I said, if Jay's going to be an idiot, I'm going to call him out on it. He's been my friend since I was five and he was six respectively. You don't have a friendship like that without gaining the ability to tell the other person when they're being moronic."

"He's right!" Chip nodded.

"I know that well," Lonnie nodded. She was after all friends with Ben. The number of times she had to drag him out of his office before the VKs came was far too many for her liking. On top of that, Jordan was never shy in telling someone when they were being particularly dense.

"Yeah, Jordan is definitely not afraid to be the voice of reason," Li'l Shang nodded.

"I'm sure you do, dealing with Charming all the time," Harry chuckled. "Well lass, I hate to leave a gorgeous girl like yourself by her lonesome but I have to go and hunt down Jay to make sure he understands the level of stupidity he almost hit today. I mean, my Gods. Gil might have been smarter!"

Henry snorted. "I don't think Harry will let this go. Jay better brace himself for the next few days."

"I can take care of myself Harry," Lonnie chuckled. "But I appreciate the offer."

"I wear pink while kicking people's butts! I can definitely handle myself," Lonnie grinned.

She might never know why Harry hated the son of Gaston but she knew it wasn't really the time to ask.

"He's jealous," Ashaki 'coughed'.

Harry nodded and ran off. Lonnie shook her head as, just as the pirate rounded the corner, Mal and Uma walked up to her.

"Don't worry Harry, looks like Lonnie will have backup," Rowyn said.

"Do I just have a sign on me that is a beacon to the VKs?" Lonnie asked with a chuckle.

"Huh?"

"Jay and Harry were just here," she explained.

"Hey I don't mind that idea, of having a beacon for the VKs," Lonnie grinned.

"We know. We saw," Uma stated.

"So you came to give her a high five if you're not looking for the boys?" Dizzy asked.

"We wanted to give you guys space in case Jay tried to backpedal on his invite for you to join the team," Mal told her. "If that was the case, Uma here would have had to hold me back as I would have killed him."

"Hey easy on the murder Mali! I thought you liked me!" Jay chuckled.

"Oh no, it was nothing like that," Lonnie said and bit her lip. "Jay...he was just confirming what time he'd pick me up for Cotillion."

"Oh if only the rest of the Isle knew! Jay's finally picked his 'solo girl'!" Harriett grinned.

"As one does," Mal nodded but Uma paused.

"Yes, rather shocking isn't it cap'n?" Harry nodded.

"Wait...I thought Jay was going alone?"

"He was…and now he's not," Ashaki grinned.

"I...might have asked him to go to Cotillion with me. As a way to make up for being an idiot and almost listening to Chad," Lonnie explained.

"A fair trade," Harry nodded.

She had expected gasps. She had expected squeals. She had not expected Mal to turn to Uma with an outstretched palm and say 'pay up."

"It's Mal and Uma. When have they ever squealed?" Hadie asked, tilting his head.

"Wait, you bet on me?" Lonnie asked as Uma fished out some cash from her pocket.

"Maybe," Malinda said, drawing out the word and giving Lonnie a grin.

"We bet to see which one of you would ask the other one to Cotillion," Mal stated and grinned as Uma slapped the cash into her hand. "Pleasure doing business with you."

"I think you're becoming a little too much like your older cousins, Mal," Persephone said, shaking her head fondly.

"You didn't cheat and conscript Aphrodite did you?"

Malinda shook her head. "I did not! And even if I did, you could have done it too Uma."

"Of course not! I've just known Lonnie longer than you have."

"A month! You've known her a month longer than I have!"

"Which is a decent amount of time," Lucy said.

"And clearly that month matters," Mal chuckled and then turned to Lonnie. "Good job today. Now...what took you so freaking long? You know how many days I've asked Jay about practice only to find out nothing happened?"

"As has been said, a month's a decent amount of time," Alexandria nodded.

Lonnie chuckled. "I know, I know. I kept you on tenterhooks. I just wanted to feel ready before I did it."

"I get it," Uma said softly.

"You were ready after a month of us training you."

"Patience is a virtue Mali," Hadie chuckled.

"Yeah I had the skills...but I didn't feel ready. Does that make sense?"

"Yep," Jay nodded.

To her surprise, it was Uma who nodded. "Even after months of Harry training me on swords, I didn't truly feel ready to lead our crew until we bested Freddy in our first fight. Sometimes it's less objective and more subjective."

"And Uma led us to victory amazingly!" Harry grinned.

"I can't believe there was a time you didn't feel ready to lead the crew," Mal shook her head. "You've been leading us since I can remember."

"You know…it's kinda funny that, with the fact that Mal's the co captain, she's the one who got the Queen title," CJ said.

Celia shook her head. "Uma's a Queen too! Queen of the Sea!"

"You and Harry are not a crew of nineteen, some of whom are older kids who might not handle being ordered by a younger kid."

"Younger you may be but you kinda have the sea power to kick their butts if you wanted to," Henry said.

"When it's a bunch of pirates' kids and you're the granddaughter of the God of the Ocean…?"

"Exactly!"

"...you may have a point there," Uma nodded and Lonnie chuckled at their antics.

"So Lonnie, we were going to go and get dinner. Wanna join?" Mal asked.

Lonnie shook her head. "I'd love to but I probably smell worse than Emir's gym bag right now. Let me go and shower up and then I'll join you guys."

"Hey! It doesn't smell that bad!" Emir exclaimed.

"Have you smelled your gym bag?" Akiho asked.

Li'l Shang shook his head. "That's just your official welcome to the 'I do sports' club little sis!"

"You know we usually don't mind...hang on! I have a spell for that!" Mal grinned.

"You do?"

"Of course she does!" Hadie grinned.

"When you guys first came to Auradon, Jay, Carlos and Akiho all rank to high heavens because they'd just come from practice and we were going to go and get food," Mal explained to Uma.

"You know, we really need to revisit this 'all magic is banned' rule. We need spells like that," Phil Jr. said.

Audrey sniffed. "It's—."

"Gateway magic, I know," Phil Jr. rolled his eyes.

"Let's see...how did that spell go again? Oh right!"

She pointed her pointer finger at Lonnie and said, "beware, forswear, make the stench disappear!"

"Thanks Mal," Lonnie smiled.

Lonnie chuckled as the sweat and grime from practice seemed to vanish almost instantly and Mal grinned.

"Seriously need to remember that one," she said as the three of them started to make their way down to dinner, Jane and Evie quickly joining them along the way.

"Hey! What about me?" Jay called.

"I think you were still running from Harry," Malinda chuckled.

Mulan shook her head. "Well that's the end of the scroll. Who wants to read now?"

"I'll read," Kristoff said.

"Have at it," Mulan told him with a small smile.