If you're new to the Seven Deadly Sins series, this is the fifth story. You can find the order of reading on my profile, or if you'd prefer, the entire series in one story titled 'The Horsemen's Cycle'.

Sloth: What They Didn't Do

The Barge

The Court Room was beautiful, that much could be said without question. All oak pillars stands, allotted seats for every house decorated with extravagant crests. Velvet curtains pushed to the side of huge french windows, and two carved thrones made of wood and blue silk. But the centrepiece of the room wasn't any of that.

There was a table in the middle of the rectangular room. It, too, was made of oak, and it has a glass top embedded inside it. Beneath that glass top was a yellowing, extremely detailed map of the Isle of the Lost, in all its glory. The map had been drawn by Yen Sid, who had used magickal ink, and so it was far more than an ordinary map. At all times, this map knew the location of everyone on the Isle of the Lost and could give requested information and video footage of them if asked.

The map wasn't perfect, of course. Its data had to be updated once a month, when Yen Sid returned from the Isle to attend the Isle Court {sometimes, it chilled him to the bone. The Isle Court was more sinister, more cruel, than the Iron Court, because they were bitter, but the Iron Court were just angry}.

The Royal families started filtering in, one by one, some bringing in children (a three-year-old Audrey played outside with a three-year-old Ben {somewhere on the Isle, a three-year-old Mal lay beaten, and a three-year-old Evie wore high heels, and a three-year-old Carlos couldn't speak a word}) and other just bringing themselves, or their hero, or their spouse. All taking their brand new seats, sombre for the first-ever Isle Court. Unprepared to deal with their ugly pasts.

There was a system, to the seating of the Houses. The King and Queen took their thrones and altogether held about twelve votes, between the Noble and Ancient House of Beast (it had been renamed) and the Four Votes granted to them by right of conquest of the Noble House of LeGume. Next to them, at the same level, but not quite the Queen of Auradon, sat the representative only other Noble and Ancient House, Queen Elsa of Arendelle {Twelve votes, excluding the votes of the Southern Isles}.

Then sat the Baron Houses, Houses that were Noble or Ancient, but not both. The most prominent houses being the Ancient House of White {eight votes, between Right of Conquest, and the votes of House White} and the Noble House Rosiers and {seventeen votes, between Prince Phillip, Briar Rose, the Right of Conquest, and the votes of the Moors}. The Ancient Houses of Agrabah and Charming next to them, each holding eight votes. The Noble Houses Hercules, Fitzherbert, Triton and Maldonia each held five {to the fury of Zeus, whose son spent three weeks calming him at the thought of his legacy not having more sway}.

On the second tier from the bottom sat the Knighted Houses. House Fa, Rolfe and Radcliffe. Knighted for Notable Causes, and often holding Right of Conquest votes, but not… well, not princes and princesses, not royal blood, not what mattered here in Auradon.

A round 105 votes between the entire court. One hundred and five votes that determined everything about the Isle of the Lost, and most of them belonged to Houses aligned with Briar Rose, and so she decided everything that happened to the Isle of the Lost.

To Maleficent.

To Maleficent's daughter.

"Calling the Isle Court to order!" King Adam's voice echoed across the chamber, "To order now, to order!"

The hall quieted down. The last of the Houses' representatives slipped into their seats, and then there was silence. The King cleared his throat and began a well-rehearsed (but badly thought out) speech.

"We, as the United States of Auradon, have always strived to bring good, order and peace to the world. We right the wrongs the villains of our past did to us and our nation. And we don't do wrong by them. We did not kill those who antagonised us, but only moved them, so that they may live out their days in peace," he paused, every eye in the room following his every move, "It has come to my attention that there is a problem with the Isle of the Lost, and the court is gathered to debate a response."

Mutters ran through the room. The Isle of the Lost. They tried not to think about it, really. If they ignored it, it might go away, and so would the memories and the fact that they weren't really the heroes, "They cannot grow food on the Isle of the Lost. Crops die within days. Livestock doesn't last much longer and is often ill. There aren't enough clean water sources for them." The King cleared his throat again. Now to face their wrath- "Belle and I propose we send a quarter of Auradon harvest over, every season."

Screams ran through the courtroom. Shouts and accusations flew. Angry whispers abounded. Obviously, the idea was not approved of.

"Any other ideas are welcome to the floor. Raise your hand, and each idea will be thoroughly explored and votes for eventually."

"We give them nothing!" Several hearty cries echoed the call, "They took everything from us!" King Adam frowned, his glasses sliding down his nose. An expected response, but not a welcome one.

"We'll table that for now. Anyone else?"

Silence reigned through the courtroom, everyone questioning their ideals. What was fair? What did they deserve? Would they still be heroes if they gave nothing? Briar Rose leaned down a seat, to whisper into the ears of Phoebus and Esmeralda de Châteaupers {de Châteaupers was a Vassal House of Noble House Rosiers}. When she straightened, she smiled, and Adam knew that whatever she wanted, she was going to get. Then Phoebus stood up.

"We send them Auradon's leftovers. The end of our harvest, what's left in butchers' shops and the bread bakers throw out. They can make with it what they will." And that idea was the best Adam had heard so far. Better than Belle's ridiculous quarter plan. And definitely better than leaving them to rot {though they deserved no more}.

"Those for?"

76 votes.

"Those against?"

20 votes.

A clear winner.

"Motion carried."