Feferi found Eridan that evening at the sandy little cove at the city fringe. He was barefoot, sleeves rolled up and collar open, and he lay on his front, kicking his legs idly, chin resting on his hands. A dreamy expression was on his face.
"How did the meeting go, your majesty?" Feferi asked politely.
"Huh? Meeting? Oh, oh yes, it wwent fine," Eridan said, shrugging dismissively. "Oh, I saww Nepeta come in. You're a miracle wworker, she looked like a real princess." He sighed. "Not that she wasn't beautiful before. I think she likes me."
Nepeta had barely spoken to Eridan, but Feferi kept her counsel on that. "I'm sure she does."
Eridan reached into his pocket and produced two tiny glass bottles, two slips of paper, and a stub of charcoal. "Let's make sure, shall wwe?"
"Oh, you remembered our old game!" Feferi squealed, clapping joyfully.
The tiny prince sobbed, looking miserably at the scratch on his knee.
"Oh, don't cry!" Feferi said, brow wrinkling in concern, her stubby fingers clutching a handkerchief. "It's alright, it's not deep ... spit?" Eridan obediently spat into the handkerchief, and Feferi mopped his face with it, then cleaned the cut. She bent down and kissed it. "There! All better?"
"Y-yeah," Eridan mumbled, looking at his knee. "Thanks, Fef."
"Good!" Feferi cuddled him, then jumped up and picked up the picnic basket. "C'mon!"
The twins were seven, and really should not have been out alone at dusk, even only a short distance from the palace. Eridan, however, had been determined to slip his leash, and Feferi could not refuse to help him, so they had sneaked out together with cake and milk for a suppertime picnic. As Feferi looked up at the sky, she reflected that the trouble they would get in later would be entirely worth it. The sky was clear, fading from blue to pink to orange, and outside the city with nothing to block her vision she could see it arching overhead from one horizon to the other.
"Hey, look at this!" Eridan's voice brought her out of her reverie, and she saw him hopping from foot to foot atop a rock. She scurried to join him, and blinked at what she saw. The sunset was sparkling off the water, but between the glittering waves she could see something beneath the surface. A long shadow, moving rapidly towards them.
Suddenly, a long white tentacle broke the surface and rushed towards them. The twins shrieked, leapt from the rock, and ran back up the beach as fast as their short legs could carry them. A booming voice echoed through their heads.
WHO DISTURBS THE GREAT GL'BGOLYB?
Eridan, shaking with fear and anger, stomped his foot in the sand. "I am Prince Eridan, and this is my beach, you big ugly monster! Go away or Mama wwill have you pulled up from your stupid sea and served with chips!"
BRAVE LITTLE FOOL. I HAVE BEEN HERE LONGER THAN YOUR MAMA, AND I WILL BE HERE LONG AFTER YOUR GREAT-GRANDCHILDREN ARE DUST. The tentacle stretched toward them, unable to reach. I HAVE AWOKEN FROM A CENTURY'S SLEEP, AND I AM HUNGRY.
"Wwell, you're not eating me!" Eridan squeaked, running further up the beach until his back was against the cliffside. "Fef! Come awway before it gets you!"
Feferi sucked her fingers thoughtfully. "Um. Would you like some cake instead? I'm sure it tastes better than people."
The tentacle curled curiously. ARE YOU OFFERING ME A GIFT, LITTLE ONE?
Feferi nodded frantically, and said "Yes! You can have my supper if you don't eat my brother!" She reached into the picnic basket and pulled out a little bottle of milk and a slice of cake. "I know it's not much, but it's all I've got and it's really good. I-if you don't like it you can eat me instead, but please let Eridan go?"
I AM IMPRESSED, LITTLE ONE. YOU FEAR ME, AND YET YOUR ONLY THOUGHT IS OF YOUR BROTHER?
"Well, yes. I'm supposed to protect him!" Feferi sniffled. "The gods chose him to be king, and Mama tells me I was born to protect him." She stepped closer, holding out the treats to the monster. She screamed when the tentacle wrapped around her shoulders, fully expecting to be pulled under, but instead the tip plucked the cake and bottle from her hand while the rest curled around her in an approximation of a hug.
POOR LITTLE NEGLECTED SOUL. The monster sounded sad, though neither child understood why. Eridan was born to be king, Feferi was born to serve him. That was how things were. IN RETURN FOR YOUR KINDNESS, I OFFER YOU A BLESSING. ANY TIME YOU LACK FOR SOMETHING, WRITE YOUR WISH DOWN, PUT THE PAPER IN A BOTTLE, AND THROW IT TO ME. THE GODS WILL DO WHAT WE MAY.
Before the children could reply, the tentacle released Feferi, leaving her dress soaking wet, and disappeared under the water, taking the food with it.
Eridan looked at her. "Do ... do you want to share my cake?"
The twins had never again spoken of that day, and neither was sure it had been anything but a dream. The monster's blessing stayed with them, though, and any time either child wished for something, they would perform the ritual. More often than they were entirely comfortable thinking about, it worked.
Eridan leaned the paper against his thigh to write. Feferi watched the words take shape; "I wish the princess would love me". He rolled up the paper slip and put it in one bottle, then handed the other paper and the charcoal to Feferi. "Here. Wwe'll throww them in together."
Feferi wrote and bottled her own note. The twins stood hand in hand and, with their free hands, hurled their messages as far as they would go.
"So wwhat did you wwish for?"
"For you not to be so ugly."
"Hey!" Eridan blushed.
"Just kidding!" Feferi giggled. She was the only one Eridan would not have beheaded on the spot for such insolence. "I wished that I would always be able to come to your aid when you need me."
"Awwww, thanks!" They turned and walked back up the beach, still hand in hand.
"You know, I'm surprised you don't do this more often. I think this is the first time you have since the year we started doing this. You must have sent a hundred bottles that year, and then you just stopped."
"Wwhy wwould I need magic bottles for my wwishes?" Eridan's eyes sparkled happily. "You already giwe me ewerything I need."