The Rocks That Hold the Secrets

There is no sense in turning back.
After finding her aunt mysteriously murdered in the middle of the night, Moray now has to pick up the responsibly for an entire Queendom and a disaster of a family. Aided by never ending memories and her cousins, she has to figure out what happened to her aunt and even if she wants the throne for herself.
Aka Helsingvania's self indulgent au fic for a character who showed up once.
Chapter I
For whatever anyone thought of the ocean, no one talked about how loud it was underwater.
Even the sea dragons themselves refuse to discuss it. You can hear the imitation of laughter along the gorges, echoes of pain from the coral. Tears needed not to be felt, rather the agony can be heard through the water. The wails could be heard throughout the entire Queendom if the pain was enough.
Moray remembers how she learned this very well.
The night bore nothing but tides of grief as a mother dragged her bloodied daughter to the island palace for someone to do something, anything!
The beloved princess was dead.
Coral’s star child was bleeding out on the floor.
And Moray had to watch her closest friend be murdered right in front of her eyes.
She didn't sleep that night. No one did. Even when her fathers’ realized she was in the entourage that followed Coral, the blood haunted her foot falls and dreams
Orca was a fool looking back.
Consistently over promising her abilities and blown back up in her face. Acting like a foolhardy and petulant dragonet with everything to gain and nothing to lose. Regardless of whoever falls for it in her stead. Arrogant to no end and tenacious for ideas she never even believed in 
Especially when it concerned Moray and her fathers.
The days leading up to her death where Moray spent them endlessly in the heiress' room.
“Orca please. You can't be serious!” a plea from a mere child. An isolated child who ultimately turned out right.
“Yes, I am! Moray you out of all dragons in this whole family should understand that I can defeat her! Even Uncle Shark said I could do it! He's the one I learned from after all. C'mon you trust your dad don't you?” She looked at Moray with such enthusiasm. A face rarely shown to anyone else but to Moray and her cousins. 
But she was blinded by her confidence, she never noticed the tense air between them.
Yes, Moray did trust her father Shark. But that's because he's the only one who can stay despite his words and actions. Infinitely kinder than what her aunt ever was.
Her thoughts drifted to Thresher….who only came back for a week’s break…
Orca - ever arrogant to the point of blindness - just rolled her eyes at the lack of a response from her younger cousin. 
“C’moooon~ you know you want me to be Queen! I can make everything better! I can easily stop the war and move mountains if I so please!” She spouted, “ I just need you to trust me on this. I know what I am doing.
“Well….” Moray had began before she looked into Orca’s eyes. She was an adult now. There wasn't much room for her to say anything to deter the heiress anymore.
“If you say so.” Was the last thing she ever said to Orca.
- - -
There wasn't a time in Moray’s adult life where she went to bed when the sun went down. Being the head of communications lead her to stick out waiting for news from the war front and write it in such a way to deliver it to her aunt when she awoke in the morning. Regardless of how graphic, regardless of how much the army went through. Coral wouldn't hear the whole thing lest she go and punish a general for something they couldn't predict. She was a cruel queen behind the facade she wore to the nobility. To the students looking up to her writing.
She wasn't afraid to wear it on her children either.
Temperamental was the word Coral frequently described as amongst the councilors…well. The ones that stayed alive the longest. Moray can't help but smile fondly at the old memories of some of long dead dragons that stood beside her as she waited for messengers to arrive. Talking hours into the night as if it were nothing.
Now. Everything was done by herself.
The war was over after all. What use was there to be on call all hours of the day?
Their duties have been cut since the end of the war. No more troops to feed. No more strategizing. No more need for defense and scouting.
No more messages from the front.
That is. If the duty of publishing and ‘magic’ wasn't given to her.
Whirlpool died the way he lived, arrogant, boastful, and filled with jewelry that conducts electricity well. The only person Moray thinks was slightly upset at it was her own Aunt.
At most it was the misty eye as her largest target for fishing compliments was gone.
However she never realized how much work he took on. How much of a self-centered schmoozer he truly was when she was given forms to keep publishing and sending out different versions of the same 15 scrolls. It only took half an hour to develop a wicked migraine having to read all of it. Send it to this new remote school, send it to that one, 20 copies of one to Jade Mountain Academy here, donate another 50 to the schools in the rainforest there. There's even a new form of literature sharing from the new continent out to the west Moray never thought would catch on, now she has to inspect the bindings of these books to ensure they can survive under water.
By the time she got out of her new work space in the deep palace she could've sworn the next brightest night had arrived.
The hallways of the Royal Residential wing were quiet all except for the faint sounds of laughter of princes who were supposed to be in bed hours ago. But what can she do? She wasn't a custodian so she wasn't going to tell them all to knock it off.
Nor did she want to discourage them from playing. Those boys deserved it.
It was dark with a gentle current being disturbed by her motions. It was serene, one of the few times she was alone. No one was watching her. No one expecting anything. No responsibility-
There was a gentle light flickering in front of her. Green that rapidly flicked back and forth as if it was trying to speak aquatic.
Oh wait.
That was aquatic.
There was a dragonet in the hallway in front of her yelling desperately for help.
Her pace hasited and she realized who it was and where she was.
It was Auklet at the very end of her leash. The leash went into Aunt Coral’s room.
Oh.
Oh this wasn't good.
Moray flashed in response showing that Auklet should stay here while she investigates. The dragonet - the poor thing - merely drifted down to the carved rocks and lowered her head. It wasn't like Auklet could run away and that thought pained Moray greatly. How could she tie another daughter to her, how dare she-
No. There is a baby in distress she needs to follow through what she promised to do.
She headed through the archway with a curtain of kelp to keep it private. The slime of the plants scraped across her scales as she passed statue after statue of cetaceans to adorne the Queen's chamber. The room where the passageway ended was bathed in pure darkness for both of. The easiest way to keep the queen from being assassinated was having no windows for the assailant to enter and leave.
Ironic really, because Moray could only smell the iron in blood through her barbells.
The darkness removed all forms of color from the scene. But it didn't take much to spot the whirls of liquid floating around her Aunt's neck.
Truthfully, Moray didn't know how she expected her aunt to finally perish. But so silently and so anticlimactic was never in her mind. Moray couldn't admit that she was in shock. She couldn't.
No. She had a job to do.
She gently approached the body and cut off the harness from her aunt's chest. Scooping it into her talons and rushing back out to grab Auklet into her grasp.
The dragonet didn't expect the rush as she went head over tail in her grasp and wiggled aggressively to get comfortable.
STOP! STOP! STOP! She flashed rapidly. What happened? Why won't wake?
I'm sorry. Moray could only flash in response. Auklet doesn't deserve to know just yet. She was just a baby, she wasn't old enough for school yet! To tell her the woman she has spent her entire life attached to was murdered in her sleep would hurt her as much as it would the dragonet.
There are benefits to not ratting out your cousins when they're not sleeping. Going back down the hallway showed brief lights through their kelp doorway.
Still awake. Good.
She took a sharp turn and nearly lost Auklet pushing off the wall. Bursting in showed a group of dragonets about 3 to 5 years old. Rough housing and the like. Pausing in their steps seeing Moray burst in.
I NEED YOU TO FIND GUARDS AND OTHER STAFF! She demanded of the dragonets now that she got their attention.
They all turned to look at one another, some moving, some willing themselves to ask a question. They didn't know Moray; she couldn't play with her cousins anymore.
What happened? One had asked, hopeful of a response.
No time. You'll learn in the morning.
The dragonets nodded and moved to start their search. She figured that some of them would get their older brothers. Heading out once they all swamp past her, Auklet started hitting her arm, wanting down. Obliging, Moray released her to swim and look around.
To say she looked tired and confused was the few things she could say with her whole chest. Poor Auklet, constantly on the verge of nodding back off to sleep but staying up to see if her mother was all right. So young yet took up a stubborn strength at such a young age. It was like history was repeating itself-
Will mom be good? Was what she had finally asked. There were dragons finally stirring and racing down the hallway. Coming up to the duo to ask the problem one for Moray to lazily gesture to the Queen’s Chambers.
I don't know. Is all she can respond with. But it's fine if you go back to sleep, I'll stay with you.
Thank her. The dragonet last said, curling up in her wing. She was so young, she didn't know aquatic properly yet. She was trying her best but there was no use in hiding the truth forever.
The time drifted by much like the dragons who came to move her aunt's body for autopsy. It was clear what did kill her, but the matter of who and maybe why was still out of reach. Many dragons passed by giving a quick nod before continuing to clean the chamber. Some asked where Auklet was and showed where the dragonet was being safely kept along her side.
The sun began to softly filter through the waves and skylights when everything was finished. That was when her father finally approached her. Slowly and gently, the same way he has done for her entire life.
How did you know?
I was just going to my room and saw Auklet in the hall asking for help. I couldn't leave her there.
Did you see anything?
I didn't kill her if that's what you're asking.
I know you wouldn't, Dear one. Just asking if you saw a figure, a weapon, anything at all.
I just went in and made sure she was alright so Auklet could go back to sleep. She was storming up something fierce, she was terrified.
Thank you for thinking about your cousin.
There was a pause between the two.
Well. The commander had started.
We should contact the others shouldn't we? Figured Tsunami and Anemone should be informed.
Yes we should. Moray nodded. It was the obvious choice to do here.
Very well, it'll be done…
Her father took a long, deep pause and looked away from her eyes.
… Your Majesty.
Oh.
She had forgotten about that.
Chapter II
Throughout the war she was rarely called by her official title. There wasn't time to be properly treated as if she was the only heir to the throne as daughter after daughter were murdered in their shells.
She was referred to as commander and general more than princess. She couldn't fault the younger recruits, after all she spent her time coordinating and communicating with the heads of the military. 
Piranha and her father were her mentors for years on end. How to communicate in code, how to use your resources and environment to the fullest, and how to gain the trust of your peers.
Though, the issue was she didn't have any experience in leading and politics. Now that was what sacred her the most.
Being queen was a distant dream ever since she poked her head from the egg. It was supposed to be Orca. It was supposed to be someone else, anyone else. It was supposed to be Coral’s miracle child that was stolen away.
But now she's the only one with enough experience to lead.
Well. That's if said miracle child didn't want to take it.
Truth be told, Moray didn't know what to think about Tsunami.
Moray remembers Aunt Coral’s mourning and mounting rage when the egg was stolen. She went dead silent for months and held herself up in her chambers in the summer palace. When she had finally emerged she had a scroll with her. The Missing Princess. Her magnum opus that she used to cope with her daughter being lost to moons only knows.
She remembers having to read it as it was recommended to her. It wasn't the most beautiful thing she's ever read, but she can understand what her aunt was going for.
A hope that her daughter would be alive and well and would come back home despite an over dramatic story about how she did.
The real thing was a lot more interesting than what Coral had imagined. The only living princess was taken to fulfill a prophecy that would end the terrible war and chose a SandWing queen. Fighting in arenas, training RainWings in combat, finding the NightWing homeland, and ultimately fulfilling what she was told she would.
There was this sort of aura around her. While gossiping about how she was a barbarian raised by SkyWings and SandWings, Moray had seen through it all and saw a kid.
That's what she was. An arrogant, self imposing kid.
Yet another self assured dragonet thinking she had all the wisdom and power.
History tended to repeat itself, didn't it?
Despite never talking to her, she did see and feel her actions. Who didn't? She was the talk of the palace. Knew little to no manners but caring to no end. Picked fights with the staff as if her life depended on it.
Cared not for the treasure but the dragons in front of her. Furious when she learned about her friends and demanded them to be freed instantly.
She even was willing to defy the queen herself despite just arriving to meet her own mother.
Tsunami wasn't like her sister before her.
Tsunami can learn to do better. Tsunami can fill all the faults Moray had, and no one could say no to the missing princess taking her inheritance.
She may have had the experience, knowledge, and achievements under her wing. But Tsunami had the will and confidence to be a full and proper queen.
Moray knew she was putting too much faith into Tsunami, abandoning her friends and responsibilities of a peace directed school to rule over a tribe that never gave anything back to her.
She knew that many would question how legitimate her claim to the throne is. Again, many who served in the war had forgotten her title. Everyone wanted to see a daughter and not a niece ascend to the throne.
In fact, she was so forgotten that she expected a civil war to break out as soon as Coral’s death was announced and her coronation would be given a date.
The only thing she could hope for is her cousins being responsive to the issues and not starting any fights…or better yet another succession war.
- - -
As soon as Moray said the word early that morning, a messenger was woken up and sent to Jade Mountain Academy to collect the princesses - and that one prince that attended, Moray forgot that Coral had allowed one to go - to return back home. She decided to meet them halfway on the edge of the bay. A quaint little island with a lagoon and construction on the welcoming grounds.
Not the official new island palace Coral was planning before she had passed, but rather a place to take in weary dignitaries and let them rest before traveling any farther.
“Auklet, stay in the lagoon! I don't want you to get dragged out to sea!” Moray had yelled from the shadow of the palm trees.
“But I wanna see orange fish!” She yelled back. She was certainly getting into that back talking stage. The dragonet was getting antsy and excited since she hasn't seen her sisters in quite some time.
What makes it worse now is that she was free from the harness and didn't have to sit still like what she was with Coral. Her energy knew no ends as she spent the whole midday swimming and harassing the fish.
Well the ones stupid enough to swim back in after Auklet chased them back out 
It was good knowing that she was having fun out of the duo. Moray refused to let anyone else watch her until Tsunami and Anemone arrived. And at the same time Auklet wanted to stay by Moray if that means she gets to run free and play.
Her simple desires could help but bring a smile to Moray’s face. The simplicity of youth can't go unstated.
Such as watching her eyes widen and her jaw dropping when she spotted something behind Moray.
It took them four days but they had finally arrived.
The dragonet sludged out of the water and bounded across the beach to where the group of dragons had landed. It seemed some guards had joined them and followed them to the island. The dragons didn't notice the dragonet running until one of the heavily muscular ones fell over when Auklet reached her.
That was Tsunami. No other explanation. Moray took this as her cue to stand up and greet them.
“Auklet be careful! Your sisters are sore from all that flying!” She called out as she approached.
“No, I'm fine!” Tsunami got back up, using her talons to grab Auklet by the scruff.
“M’ray! It's s’nami!” Despite being suspended in the air, she was still wiggling with enthusiasm.
“Yes. I can see her. Can you see who else is here?”
“‘nenmone and turtle!”
“Tsunami, I think you should put her down-” A short and dark green dragonet started before Auklet tried to bite him.
Tsunami chuckled and put her on the sand once again.
“Hi Moray…erm…Why doesn't she have her harness on?” Anemone was the first one to acknowledge Moray fully. The younger princess was confused about the situation.
And Moray had to agree that this was an unusual circumstance. She didn't spend much time with anemone simply talking. They were always on different sides of the room, different sides of the meeting. They never had the time to spend time together due to Coral and Whirlpool.
“You've gotten the news of what happened didn't you?” She watched their faces. Everyone looked away. It seemed that they had. It was Tsunami who looked back at Moray.
“How did it happen?”
Moray turned to look at the guards around her. They were staring at her, curious and definitely going to spread this in the barracks. The Queendom hasn't been informed yet of what happened.
“It's best we discuss this in private, come on there should still be food left over for you.”
The trio nodded and moved to gesture for Auklet to follow along. Making their way along the wooden planks leading through the island foliage, no one spoke. All except the youngest who was babbling and looking at rocks on the side of the path. They found a collection of individual buildings that weren't connected. It was the same style of the ancient island palace centuries past. The thatch roofing with high roofing and stone flooring that echoed the claws that touched it.
They approached a large building held up by pillars and walls made of tapestries crafted with love. Moray stood to the side and gestured for the group to walk up to the table in the center.
“Isn't this the one from the Summer palace?” She heard Tsunami ask Anemone.
“It is,” she couldn't help but respond, “the solid volcanic stone withstood the firebombs and it was brought here. Not sure if it was going to be added to the new palace since so many wedding feasts and coronation dinners were held on it.”
“I guess I didn't think of that.” Tsunami sat on the banana leaves on the floor and rested her talons on the angled sides of the table. Auklet had run to follow her every move and sat between her two sisters, while Turtle - was that his name? - sat on the opposite side. Moray decided to sit next to him, it wasn't her place to take the head of the table.
She wasn't ready to take the head of the table.
The table - in fact - was in dead silence, both between the great and the uncomfortable nature of speaking to Moray.
She doesn't talk to the rest of her family. The war kept her far from her younger cousins as the older ones joined the army. The ones she was already friends with before any of them were thrusted into it.
Would she ever gain back that close relationship she had with them? She didn't know. She most likely would never know.
She sighed and straightened back up, addressing the crowd.
“Last night I found Queen Coral Wavebreaker dead in her chambers. There was an infection running around the palace that caused welts that would explode into a bloody mess and make you bleed out. However, that wasn't the cause.”
She paused, steeling herself for what was next.
“She was murdered in her sleep. The assailant tried using the disease to mask the murder. We don't know who did it or why. But right now the queendom needs succession before we can catch the assailant.”
The silence fell heavier the second time once she had finished.
“So.” Tsunami huffed. Looking as if she was debating if she really wanted to say what would come next,
“You’re going to ask me to take it?”
“No.” Moray responded instantaneously.
“I’m not going to force you to take anything unless you want to. I’m not going to force you into that role and abandon everything you built up in the last year. Anemone and Auklet are too young. I’m the only one that’s been here the longest and I’m the oldest here. It only makes sense.”
“I didn’t expect that. I was told that I was going to have to stand up and take it, but you not forcing me? That’s the boldest thing I've ever seen you do.”
“Well, you aren’t going to go to the SandWings and ask for assistance in getting back your ‘rightful throne' right?”
Now that caused a stifled laugh from the Prince beside her and a smile to spread across Tsunami’s face. The only one who didn't get a kick out of it was Anemone who narrowed her eyes and looked at her dead on.
“I didn't know you had a sense of humor.” was the only thing she had said.
“No. No you wouldn't.” Her mind started whirling a bit like eddies. The war wasn't that long ago huh.
“Now that is out of the way.” Turtle was the one that spoke up.
“What should we do about this? Should we investigate? Should we even look into it?” He’d asked the table.
“Yes,” Moray said softly, “we can't let this go. The matter is who is going to take it on.”
Soon enough Anemone and Turtle turned to look at Tsunami, who wasn't aware of her voluntary offer of solving the mystery. In fact she was eyeing up the oysters that were being walked up to the table. Only turning back when Anemone shoved Auklet over and grabbed Tsunami's arm.
"Well, you know how well Tsunami had figured out the last murder in the family~" she had looked at her sister's eyes longingly and spewed every word she said in a sickly sweet manner that had to be sarcasm.
“Anemone…” a droned response was the only thing that could be used.
“Look. I know I am amazing. I found out about the statue, saved Auklet in her shell, gave the queendom hope, ended a war, and leading the future of Pyrrhia AND Pantala. But I can’t simply give up everything I’ve worked for in a wild gull chase!”
“Yes. Such an impressive list you have,” Moray couldn’t help but roll her eyes a bit, “‘course this isn’t speaking about how little you've contributed. Seems like you merely fell into them.”
“Tch, like you can beat that.”
Moray had completely forgotten this side of Tsunami. No manners had nothing of the feeling of a growing headache behind her eyes. The plates were finally placed on the table and everyone but Moray began to eat. Chatting with each other noisily and as if Moray wasn’t there.
Oh this is going to be a long coronation.
Chapter III
“Say anything you want, the cave will repeat it and keep it.”
“Forever and ever?”
“As long as the cave doesn't collapse.”
The two cousins sat on the basalt rocks jutting out into the ocean. The ocean was alive and thrashing that day with the cloud cover cooking up a storm. Regardless of the weather Orca was always on the move. While not allowed to travel north or west because of the war, nothing was stopping her from swimming north east and out of the bay.
Since the classes were off today, nothing stopped the heiress to drag along her younger cousin to witness her “humble palace” where she was the true queen of the ocean.
“Why do you come all the way out here? Aren't there islands you could've played castle on?” Moray couldn't help but to ask. Turning to look up at the much taller Orca.
“Tch, because everyone would've found me and told mother.” she spoke like the spitfire she always was, shoving off any of her problems and walking into the cavern.
“Oh my dear! You're making me so proud of your ambitions! Maybe you could bring your younger brothers along and train them to help you lead! Like c’mon she doesn't want to leave me alone now, my best best she would come waltzing in and trying to act like the Dowager King to help me learn. The point of play isn't to learn, it's to get away.” 
“Why did you bring me then?” Moray looked sullenly down at her talons. Orca wasn't afraid to share her opinions regarding her parents with the dragonet, but there was always something there that didn't seem…truthful.
The older she became the more she came to doubt what Orca was saying. The two were close, there was no doubt about it. There wasn't a memory she had where Orca wasn't there. One of the few enthusiastic to play and interact with her outside of her fathers.
“It's because~~ I need a good advisor. Don't wrinkle your snout at me! You know you'll be better than the whole council. Maybe even better than your father…”
Moray wasn't aware she had wrinkled her face, but she wasn't going to let it up now.
“Okay you can stop, I have something for you.” She'd turn and trotted to the side where she grabbed something from behind a boulder.
Coming back with a white sandblasted wooden box. Moray couldn’t help but to be curious as gifts only were ever given on hatching day. Her attitude changed as her mood lightened.
“I saw this being made by the jewelers and thought of you! ‘Course mom wasn’t going to be wearing these since she doesn't like sapphires or reptiles, it was only fair to give them to you!”
Orca had opened the box and revealed a pair of silvery wrist cuffs. The metal was painted and engraved with iguanas diving into the water and flying back out, avoiding the large rounded sapphires the same color as the sea.
“Orca! Wow! I-”
“Go on, take ‘em, you’ll grow into them. My trusted advisor needs to look good after all!”
- - -
The sun kept shining regardless of how much she wished it wouldn’t.
And it also didn’t stop the morning call as servants that rose with the sun came in and opened the windows to alert the queen to be that it was time to face the day.
Not only was there pressure behind her eyes from the sudden bright light, but a weight on her back that wasn’t there last night. It was none other than Auklet who surely tuckered herself out doing 15 laps around the buildings with her sisters. She was slowly understanding as to why her aunt had kept her daughters on leashes after the destruction of the statue, but she came to resent her choices even more.
“It seems the princess had a rough night. I heard she was thrown in with you after you had gone to bed. They fed her some of those honey treats.” The chambermaid said to her as she began to put out scrolls and set up her jewelry box.
“Yeah I gathered that.” She began to shift and Auklet rolled off her back and hit the floor with a squeak.
“The scrolls I put out are regarding the invitation list, dinner service, and when you plan on getting your crown.” She sat off to the side, head held high. Moray knew that she didn't remember her name and had to figure out how to dismiss her.
“Thank you, erm…You’re dismissed.” She quickly got out, and if the chambermaid was insulted she didn’t show it.
“Thank you, your majesty.” The maid had turned to leave and Moray had sighed with relief.
“When’s breakfast?” A young voice piped up from behind Moray, none other than Auklet who was rudely awakened.
“They’ll come and get us when it's ready.” She had gotten up and grabbed the scrolls.
“What’s that?”
“Boring stuff you wouldn’t like.”
“Like what?”
“Taxes, planning, jewelr-” Moray couldn't finish her sentence before hearing a small gasp from Auklet.
“CAN I SEE? CAN I SEE? CAN I SEE?” She bounded over and settled in her arms to nose around in the scrolls.
“I don't know, they're all for me-”
She was silenced by the look Auklet gave her. She had turned her head upwards and pinned her ears back. She was upset that she couldn't be a part of something so mundane…something her mother died with her. Moray owed her it. She sighed and pulled out the diagrams showing the potential design for string pearls she was offered.
“How about that one!” She pointed at the first one. Her mood has not yet lightened but trying to make herself feel better.
“It's a little too similar to what Grandmother had. The point of this is so every queen can have something unique.”
“Why?”
“Every queen may get the same crown that stays with them at all hours, but all of them are different from the last. Different styles, different values. Your mother prided herself on her craft, always wearing the pink hued pearls that draped her entire body. It represents her creativity and art. Now they're trying to figure out what to do for me.”
“Are you going to use those blue ones?”
“What blue ones?”
“The ones you always wear as a bracelet.”
“Oh! Those ones. Maybe.” Her eyes turned to the box sitting on a podium in the corner of the room. After the war there weren't many council meetings so she didn't have to wear them as much as she used to.
“Mom said they never matched your eyes, but they do now.”
Dragonets were known to begin saying stuff randomly - by the moons she still remembered anemone and her weird obsession with the SkyWing arena - but this one struck her weirdly. Her eyes were always sapphire blue, shades lighter than what her bracelet had.
“What are you talking about?”
“Your eyes, they’re bright and blue like ‘sunami’s scales. But mom always said they were always dull and grey when she talked about you.”
Moray huffed and smirked. Always over the aesthetic details that dragon had. A knock on the wood as a dragon walked down the pathway signaled that breakfast will be served soon and Auklet squealed at this. Running over the scrolls and tearing the edges with her claws, she barely waited for Moray to get up and begin heading out.
By the time Moray gathered her scrolls and poked her head out into the morning sun, Auklet was already down the path to the hall using her own self-made paths across the island. Behind her, she could hear the grumbling of her cousins. Tsunami at least got up faster than her counterparts meeting up with her on the path.
“Working during breakfast?” Tsunami had yawned, eyeing up the scrolls with disdain.
“Important matters that need to be resolved soon. I can’t push this off any longer.”
“What even is all in it?”
“I think you know what it all is.”
The two paused on their walk and looked each other in the eyes. It was starting to become clear that Tsunami wasn’t appreciating the attitude. But she wasn’t willing to sacrifice someone else for this role, and all the things she was shouldering were starting to get to her.
Before they could even begin moving again, none other than her father came around from a branching stone path. He had his helmet off and it was clear he took this as a special occasion to get time off. Happy to get such as he approached wordlessly and pressed his head against her own as a sign of affection. Brightest smile that matched the eyes he shared with her.
“You took the morning off for this?” She’d ask, giving a solemn smile.
“I think I’m the only one here who knows the most about this sort of thing. And I’ve received more correspondents for you.”
She rose a brown and took a step, signaling to keep moving towards the hall. She didn’t even notice Tsunami had already left, seeing Turtle and Anemone were up.
Once everyone had sat down and the trays were being let out, the table broke out into two different conversations. One between father and daughter, and the other between siblings.
“I just got word this morning, your grandfather wants to be here for the coronation.” Shark had said, releasing it out of the blue. And Moray had spat out some of the cold shrimp she was chewing on. Grabbing the attention of the rest.
“He’s still alive?”
“Indeed. Apparently he’s been relaxing on the SandWing’s shore all this time.”
“Wait, what do you mean Grandfather?” Tsunami had addressed the duo for the first time all meal with a nasty glare, “I wasn’t aware we had one.”
“My father, the Dowager King Requiem. He was banished some time after your mother won the throne. Didn’t like the direction the war was turning after we lost the MudWings to Burn.”
“I did hear stories of him,” It was Turtle that readily spoke but did only now, “We were told he was aloof, distant. Didn’t like his daughter very much.” His sisters turned to him confused. Moray couldn’t blame them. They never were there for this sort of thing, unlike the princes and the counts that educated and trained them.
“So after all this time he was alive and well and we’re never told of him?” Anemone looked with a soiled sneer. Of course she would be the most offended being constantly dragged around everywhere and hearing everything, a secret such as this was rare for her.
“Anemone, what do you think banished means?” Turtle had retorted.
“Well how should I know when no one talks to me about this!”
“Grandpa and I were close,” Moray sighed, “Hearing me taking it in place of my younger cousins would’ve sent him in a spiral of relief and joy.”
“I can’t believe word got out that fast. It seems like nothing gets across here in the sea.”
“When will he get here?”
“He should be here to see you after you get your crown.”
Moray groaned and rubbed the bridge of snout.
“Wait, I didn’t think SeaWings wore crowns? My mother never did when I’ve seen her.” Tsunami was trying to stuff her mouth but paused at the comment.
“You remember the crest she had on her head?” Shark prodded.
“Yeah.”
“That was her crown. Made from bone and scales to be a part of her. She can never lose it in the sea.”
The only thing he got out of that exchange was the suddenly dawning disgust from Tsunami and the acute unsettled face of Anemone. Poor turtle however looked as if he was going to gag.
Auklet, however, was the quietest she's been in a while and happily ate.
“Glad I dodged that, I remember her moaning for days on end in pain. Had to take her out several times to get some peace and quiet.” Shark chuckled darkly.
“What do you mean?”
All eyes were on Shark, and he could only help but to smirk being put on the spot. Ready to pounce at any of them if they make a comment based on his narrowed eyes. There are times you can tell her father wasn’t tense. But the faint muscle twitches in his face made it plainly clear he was ready for anything regardless whether it was a family breakfast or not.
“Well it's a long story. If you would kindly be silent long enough I can tell you the whole thing.”
“Father, please.” She placed her head in her talons. Knowing exactly what story he was going to tell.
“It began when I was younger. Coral came from a hatching of two girls. Lucky right? Well one was preferred over the other. Coral was artistic and held little interest in policy and economics, her sister did and was taken into these roles well. That was until she no longer wanted to be one. But rather be a prince, protect the place and his homeland from the SandWing sisters. His parents understood this wish and renamed him to Prince Shark.”
The silence was deafening. And Moray couldn’t help but to groan and turn away from the prying eyes.
“Are you serious?”
Chapter IV
The constant rise and retraction of the chest was beginning to lull her to sleep. Being pressed against one of her dads’ chest in a simple fabric sling was the fastest way to finally lay her down for a nap. It was peaceful being with her dad on what is a quiet afternoon. It seems like both of their lives the second she laid eyes on them was nothing but being sent across the entire ocean and throwing her between their claws. Her father was very important, his sister was the queen after all. Aunt Coral always remembered to tell both Dad and Father that.
But now it seemed as if nothing needed to be done. Taking a nap with dad. Rain pattering against the canopy above. The rustling of sand underneath her.
And the sudden rush of seawater that caused her to jerk and look out of the sling. Above her dad was in a violent grimace that wrinkled his iridescent scales something fierce. A face Moray comes to remember more than his own smile.
He was swimming through the kelp that stuck against her scales and left residue that would stick sand for days to her. Seeing this she couldn't help but to sleepily squawk at this situation, wherein Thresher only paused and placed his talons around her and flashes his scales. Something she was beginning to learn meant to soothe her.
It worked for her, but not for him. Something she had longed for was to be able to whip away her Dad’s worries. She was trying to get her arm out of the sling to each for his face like what she saw father did. Everytime he did his expression would lighten and it would-
Claws scraped along rocks behind them in the tunnel and Dad had whirled back to find the SeaWing raising his talons up. It was Grandpa! Framing innocence with his big black eyes.
Dad sighed seeing it was only him, the lights on his snout asking a question. Only grandpa to reply with another question. Dad has replied about something about going deep, meaning he was going to give her to father, meaning he had to go away again. Moray pouted at this. He was always away and the time he was here with her was always short. 
Grandpa had said something about him taking her followed by him looking down and gesturing to come along.
Moray couldn't help but look at the face of her dad as worry was kept on his face. She backed further wanting to stay with him, but he ultimately undid the sling - with her in it - and handed it over to Grandpa. She'd turn to look at him in despair, he'd merely scratched her ears and swam off.
Grandpa had turned and placed her in the crook of his neck and went back to the palace and back through that sticky plant. Splashing onto the rocky shore made for that scary Sand dragon and placed her down.
“You got the day with me, now what does my favorite granddaughter want to do?”
She can only look down at her claws. Already missing the feeling of her dad.
- - -
“No. I don’t believe you.”
Tsunami - ever the pigheaded one - stood tall and stared her uncle down with the same contempt Moray couldn’t help but flinch seeing her aunt in her face.
“You’re telling me that this whole time my mother’s comments about you come from you being the favored heir and her getting the throne being a fluke? That if it wasn’t her it would’ve been you?” She pointed accusedly towards the commander.
“Tsunami please.” Turtle whimpered, trying to grab her arm to stand down.
“Turtle, I’ve been learning a whole lot of stuff in the past few minutes. Can you allow me to be in disbelief over SOMETHING?”
The two stared each other down, a battle of wills and something she didn’t expect the quiet prince to be able to handle.
Moray had no choice but to speak up.
“Funerals bring out secrets from everyone. It isn’t just for our forsaken family.” She looked dead in the eyes of the wayward SeaWing insulting her father.
“Me and my sister never got along. So what? Her funeral is in a few days and we have the time to reminisce. She wasn’t kind to me or my family, so why should I be in return?” Shark huffed and reached to grab his daughter’s talons to hold. She watched as he closed his eyes, knowing exactly what he was referring to.
“What are you talking about?” Anemone had piped up, mimicking her sister’s shrill tone, “My mother always spoke that she gave you everything! She always said you didn’t pay her respect for anything.”
Moray involuntarily snapped her jaw shut and turned to face the waning poise of her father.
See, her father may snarl. He may roar. But his fury isn't in his words or teeth. It's in the lack thereof. There were a few points in her life where this deadly silence hung around her father like fog. His eyes narrowed and brows drawn.
Still and steady, just waiting to pounce.
“If she was so great, then why did she send my husband to his death?”
He'd gotten up from the table and slid out a phantom in the daylight. Leaving as if he didn't state something that was tearing his heart apart for longer than anyone else was alive for.
Only then did silence fall upon the table.
She didn't pay any mind to the angry whispering between the other occupants, or Auklet looking confused as to what had happened.
Moray didn't need to say anything after her cousins began something, but she needed to say something to her father. Without a word she stood up and raced for the door to stop her father from sulking in the ocean for 12 hours straight claiming it was a patrol.
She was stuck wading through her disdain for her father's lack of awareness of how is work isn't a coping strategy. She didn't even notice the prince scrambling to block the entrance.
“Stop! Please! Look. This wasn't how this conversation was supposed to go,” He pointed a glare at his sister's that barely had left the table, “We were theorizing, the last time there was a murder in this family it was because of animus magic. And so I have to ask-”
“Ask what? Insinuating that I am secretly one too?”
“No! No…I was going to ask. Did Orca ever give you
 Anything at all?”
It was as if a urchin needle dropped. She didn't need to hear what he was exactly asking to understand his intentions. Moray felt as if she wasn't breathing right and began to suck in as much air as she could through her mouth. She looked dazed at the others around her. Ultimately turning to flee with them calling out her name as she madly dashed.
Her talons kicked up sand as she darted to the room she was staying in. If there was a proper door there was no doubts that it would've slammed again the wall, thus damaging the drift wood. But she couldn't worried about the reused drift wood her aunt had designed, no. It was something else entirely.
Something that had been under her nose all this time.
Once she made eye contact with the box, she remembered the small. The intoxicating, smug, scheming, and honest of all smile she had seen when the box was traded talons. She held it and tears began to trickle in the corner of her eyes.
Holding it close to her chest - the place it's been for the past 15 years - she runs back out. Knocking over staff who saw the camotion and came to comfort. She could hear her cousins yelling after her as she rushed to get away from the foliage and to hit the water.
Orca may not be alive, but she knew exactly how to achieve her revenge. With the adrenaline building and the momentum she built up, Moray lept into the lagoon with no second thoughts and swam out to sea. If she rushed it and pushed herself, she would be able to arrive in the matter of hours. Flying over islands, swimming through currents, even grasping on the faster animals that came by to have a little more push.
By the time she saw the island, the sun was setting setting the rocks all into a brilliant orange glow. Her body was sore and her energy was waning. The last thing she would do before she would fall over, she planned for this regardless of how spur of the moment this is. The cave Orca had showed her all of those years ago was still standing as she dragged her soaked body in. Water pooling around her claws.
She took the delicate white wooden box that was now scared from her grip on it, held it in both of her talons, lifted it over her head. And in a grand smash slammed it on the stone floor, splintering it to glorious pieces. The cuffs now sat sadly in the ruins of its container she had kept all of these years just for them. The iguanas in the dim light look as if they were beging her to not do this. But she paid them no mind and went through the motions her father had taught her for throwing tridents.
Her son was poor, but her overhanded strength never failed her. One right after another they slammed against the stone, denting profusely to the point the sapphires popped out and clattered to the floor. They were unrecognizable. The gifts she was given was all but incinerated.
“You really are the scum of the sea floor, y'know that Orca?” She spoke with her whole chest as she sat back on her haunches. She was hoping that her voice would travel to wherever Orca had ended up.
“You really went and lied to everyone who was close to you? You decided that the people who cared for you and loved you would be better as pawns despite them willingly taking your pit falls?” Her words echoed through the shadows of the cavern and it's tide pools.
“Y'KNOW WHAT! YOU DESERVED TO LOSE IN SUCH AN EMBARRASSING WAY! YOU THOUGHT YOU WERE THE UNTOUCHABLE PRINCESS WITH EVERYONE WORSHIPING THE GROUND YOU WALKED! LOSING DUE TO YOUR OWN HUBRIS WAS PURE AND HONEST JUSTICE! GOOD RIDDANCE TO YOU AND EVERYTHING YOU WANTED!” Moray had shouted into the cave, the volume of her voice pained her and racked her head. But no one ever raised their voice at her, it was about time Orca understood what it was like.
She snarled as she rubbed her face, her exhaustion was catching up to her now and was making her eyelids heavy. When she managed to look back up again, there was a faint glow in the rapidly darkening cave. Her vision hasn't activated yet, leading her to stumble through the dark to the source of the glow. It has died but she found where it was coming from.
The stone she picked up slowly became clearer as her vision kicked it. It was the size of her talons, and turning it over she found an inscription.
It was neat, formal, and engraved into the simple black rock.
Reading it over, it was everything she just said repeateded back.
Category:Fanfictions
Category:Fanfictions (Semi-Canon)
Category:Fanfictions (Incomplete)
Category:Genre (Mystery)
Category:Genre (Adventure)
category:Mature Content
Category:Work in Progress
Category:Content (Helsingvania)