Author's note: Just so he gets the credit he deserves, this chapter was also co-written by myself and mikey1393drago. I think it may have happened on accident but we ended up writing this chapter together earlier in the week. I also want to note that the OC Aquamarine was made after I decided to not have Princess Orca appear in this story like I did before, for possible plot reasons. So the alternative was making up a new character, and that was where Aquamarine (named by mikey1393drago, if I remember right) came from. I also modified Chapter 3 of this story to reflect this change.

And this is the last chapter I'll be posting (to catch posting everything I'd written already) today unless I happen to finish chapter 10 that I started yesterday.

Chapter 9:
The Lost Heir's Return

"I don't see any palace!" Kestrel said. "Are you sure we've even flown to the right part of the archipelago?"

Clay's group had believed they were so close to their destination after another 360 miles of flight after they waited out the hurricane, and now they felt crushed that they may have flown right past the Summer Palace in the Kingdom of the Sea without even knowing it.

"Maybe we should fly back. It's on the largest island of the archipelago," Starflight suggested.

"'Fly back'?!" Kestrel screamed. "Do you know what this flight has already done to my body? I'm not gonna be flying much longer unless you want to carry me! Do you not see my damn useless wing?"

"For once I must agree with Kestrel," Glory said. "Besides you'd be lying if you said we're not lost."

Peril flies up between them, sending the group besides Clay scattering.

"Lost?!" she screeched. "Are you kidding me?" Then she growls. "Oh, that makes want me burn something!"

Starflight immediately hid behind Sunny, even though he was twice her size.

"Hey hey! Don't look at me! I didn't get us lost! And don't you think NightWings burn better than other dragons!"

Peril blinked. "When did I say anything about that? I just want to burn something to relieve this stress."

"Why are you all looking at me now?!" Clay shrieked.

"Aww Clay! So silly! I guess I'll cuddle you now then. Heh, heh."

"Ugh! They aren't gonna f—"

"Don't even go there Glory!" Sunny barked.

Glory's remark somehow went right over Drakon's head, and for that the rest of the group was thankful.

"Go where?"

"You're too young to understand Drakon."

"But aren't we all seven years old?" Drakon asked.

"Well…You're still a year underdeveloped my boy," Kestrel quickly remarked without an issue.

"Technically…!"

"Oh, here we go!" Glory interrupted. "Mr. Technical is here!"

Starflight ignored her. "Technically, we are still not mature enough to be doing things like that," he stated matter-of-factly. "We have one more year before we're even officially adults."

"Three moons, Starflight!" Tsunami cut in. "Did you forgot what your scrolls say about dragons? We're all young adults!" She paused. A funny look came over her face. "Physically anyway…"

"No I remembered correctly. We are not officially adults until age eight. We may be young adults, but we are not yet mature."

"You could say that again," Kestrel muttered under her breath. "I've known that since two of you dragonets snuck out of the cave and ended up leading Scarlet back to it." Then she felt stupid. "Enough though. Either you dragonets find this supposed Summer Palace soon or your muscles are gonna be working overtime by having to support me."

"Why don't you just glide on the wind for a while if flapping your wings is really bothering you so much?" Tsunami suggested.

"I think we're just about to be shown the way to the Summer Palace," Sunny said.

"What the heck does that mean?" Peril asked.

She backed away from Clay, who also cast a confused glare in Sunny's direction.

"That."

"A SeaWing!" Tsunami exclaimed joyously. She darted off in its direction, not even thinking to wait for the rest of the group.

"Wait Tsunami!" Clay hollered.

"Princess Aquamarine!" Tsunami called to the SeaWing who had looked familiar from the moment she laid her eyes on her.

"What? Tsunami!" Aquamarine cannot believe it. "You actually came all this way?"

"Of course! I couldn't just turn down an invitation to finally meet up with my family." Tsunami, however, changed the subject quickly, for the rest of the group's sake. That, and she'd noticed Kestrel's burning stare. "But can you show us the way to the Summer Palace? Because of, a friend, we're lost."

"Certainly. It's just down there on the largest island."

"You mean to tell me we were this close already?!" Kestrel exploded. "I could've been resting already!"

She nearly flew away from the others in a fury and up several feet to where Tsunami was conversing with her sister, but Peril flying in her way was enough to bring Kestrel to a halt. She grumbled to herself bitterly as she flew back to Clay and Starflight.

"Don't mind her. She's just been salty for a while about having to use her bad wing for flight."

Kestrel cleared her throat. "I beg your pardon? You know I can still hear you down here right?"

I'm finally home, Tsunami thought. But will mother even know me? I was taken by Webs away from here before I even hatched.

"A mother will always recognize her child," Starflight said. Tsunami's wings almost locked up from the shock of his sudden intrusion and she briefly fell into a rapid descent towards the sea.

"Gah! Ugh! S-Starflight!" Tsunami shook her head furiously as she recovered from her fright. "Go read someone else's mind for crying out loud! And don't ever sneak up on me like that again, unless you want to fish me out of the damn ocean!"

She flashed the bioluminescent scales on her tail three times and followed up it with a rapid flashing of scales on her snout and sides to say "Go disappear like a shadow you dunce!" in Aquatic before leaving him to wonder what she'd said to him this time.

"Are you coming?" Tsunami asked the rest.

"Mother will be so happy to see you, Tsunami," Aquamarine said, pretending none of that happened. "Everyone will. When you were still an egg, you were all she ever talked about. I'll never forgot the time she spent a whole week in the royal hatchery with your egg. I also remember your father had been so worried that she would never come out of the hatchery."

Wait. I need to tell them about my father in the SkyWing arena! Scarlet said he was one of her slaves she'd brought to watch my fight with Peril!

"I…think I've seen my father…" Tsunami whispered.

"How?" Aquamarine gasped. "He was taken by the…SkyWings." That's right. She said she'd been captured by Queen Scarlet. "You saw him in Scarlet's arena, didn't you?"

Tsunami nodded.

"Your mother has been planning a mission to rescue your father ever since he was captured not even two months ago," she continued. "But the council can't ever agree on a plan to save him from the SkyWings. I fear it is a lost cause now, though. Scarlet doesn't let her enemies live more than a few months, unless she has a good reason to."

Tsunami sniffed. "At least I got to see dad once…I guess. I just wish I could somehow get to know him. It would take a miracle, if what you say about Scarlet is true."

There was a moment of silence between the two sisters before Aquamarine spoke again.

"I suppose I should tell mother this when we get to the Summer Palace," she whispered. "Someone has too. She can't just go to the Sky Kingdom and have it be a lost cause." She paused. "But I know mother is bound to send in spies to at least find out if he's dead or alive. She would never give up on dad without knowing first."

"Spies?"

"Yes. She has a few SkyWings that do not agree with Scarlet's ways. Of course Scarlet does not know this, so they have been able to bring back our mother information from within the Sky Kingdom. She will have them see if our dad is still…" Aquamarine choked up. "…a-alive."

"Is that the Summer Palace?" Tsunami asked, for she cannot handle talking about their dad's fate anymore.

"Yes. That is it."

Tsunami waved back at her friends to catch up.

She looked back at Aquamarine.

"Is mother there right now?"

"No, but news travels fast here. She'll swim up from the deep palace soon as she hears her lost daughter has returned. She has been awaiting this day ever since Commander Shark and the rest of us you met that day at Diamond Spray River returned to the palace to tell her you were not with the Talons of Peace anymore. She was ecstatic. Our mother had been on the edge of depression ever since dad was captured by a SkyWing patrol. News of your freedom nearly snapped her out of it."

"Everyone, listen!" Aquamarine announced as she led Tsunami's group through the entrance of the Summer Palace.

They were all in awe of how beautiful this palace was. It was decorated all over with all sorts of corals and other preserved colorful sea life, shells, and artwork everywhere they looked.

"The lost princess has been found! Princess Tsunami is free and alive!"

"Tsunami?" several female SeaWings gasped. They were busy chatting amongst themselves and having their eyelids decorated by another she-dragon using a special octopus ink that changed color depending on the lighting.

"You can finish that later!" one of them said to the artist.

"Princess Tsunami is back!"

"Tsunami?" the artist gasped. "The egg that was stolen from the royal hatchery?!"

"Yes! The very one!"

"Woah!" Tsunami gasped. "A welcoming party."

"So many of them have waited years for your return, sis," Aquamarine explained. "They never lost hope that you would return, just like the princess in The Missing Princess."

"That's my favorite story!" Tsunami piped up. "I used to read that all the time when I was under the mountain with some of the Talons of Peace."

"Then you'll be even happier to know that our mother is The Missing Princess' author."

Tsunami choked. "W-What? She is?!"

"Yes! Your mother is a talented writer. She has written many stories on scrolls in her lifetime," Aquamarine explained. "Her most well-known stories in the Kingdom of the Sea are, of course, The Missing Princess, but there's also The Tragedy of Orca, Claws of Murder, On the Differences between Clams and Oysters, and Gill & Coral."

"The Tragedy of Orca?" Tsunami asked. "Who is Orca?"

"We try not to talk about it."

Tsunami was bothered by the sudden shift in Aquamarine's tone. She had been so happy one minute, and now she was speaking ominously.

"Okay…"

"I'll tell you later, when we have privacy. It's just really tragic. We try not to talk about it in public spaces, just in case our mother is within hearing range. It's a true story of a tragedy she experienced before any of our siblings from your generation were born." She paused. "That includes Princess Turtle and Prince Cerulean, too."

"I remember them. They attacked me at Diamond Spray River."

"Yes. Mother gave them a harsh talking too in the Deep Palace. She grounded them to their chambers for a week."

"So they're still grounded?"

"Thankfully! They're out of my scales for a few more days. I couldn't stand taking them on mainland patrols. They may be the same age as you and me, but I tell you, they act like children sometimes. I don't know why mother insists on Uncle Shark and I taking them on patrol?"

"Commander Shark is our uncle?!" Tsunami exclaimed.

"Yep. On our mother's side."

Suddenly, a commotion broke out just around one of the corners in the room.

"My daughter!" a noble-sounding female voice cried. "Is it true that my daughter is here in the Summer Palace?!"

"What's happening?" Peril asked.

She had been standing in the middle of the room to stay away from anything here that might burn. She didn't wish to make a horrible first impression in a place she has never been. Still, there are some SeaWings giving Peril nervous glares, for they have noticed how her scales are steaming not unlike boiling water, as if they knew Peril was a dragon with firescales.

"What was Princess Aquamarine thinking bringing SkyWings here?" one of them hissed. "Burn and Scarlet aren't allies of her majesty!"

"And what's worse is, that SkyWing there has firescales!" said another. "One wrong movement and she could end up burning down the entire Summer Palace!"

"Her majesty won't be pleased when she sees her," said a third.

"They're only insults," Peril started averring to herself, under her worried shaking. "No need to argue. Don't think about attacking," she kept telling herself.

"Honestly, she's not safe to even be in the water! The heat coming from her, the water will evaporate," insulted a fourth SeaWing, this time female.

"Well I guess you can't handle a sauna, witch," Peril muttered under her breath, as she glared at that female SeaWing.

"Peril, relax! I'm…" Clay started, trying to comfort her, but Peril interrupted him mid-sentence.

"How can I relax if everything around me burns?" She looked around, trying to find some water to hide from them. "I don't care if water evaporates around me! I'm going there to calm down!"

Peril began to head off.

"And while you're at it, keep away from us!" a previous SeaWing shouted towards her, which quickly caused her to cry in depression.

Clay looked at him and shook his head in disgust, wishing he could say something. He felt bad that Peril was getting bullied, but if he attacked any of them, he may be imprisoned by Queen Coral herself. They were all complete strangers, even Tsunami for Queen Coral had only seen her as an egg, after all.

"Who does she think she is, coming here with her dangerous scales?" The same SeaWing questioned, looking at others to see if they agreed.

Clay however has had enough.

He walked up to him ready to have words.

"So this is how you treat your guests. You dislike one and then talk behind her back! How could you?!"

Clay stormed off, trying to find Peril and check she was alright, much to the surprise of all his friends who witnessed him lose control.

The SeaWing he'd shouted at, just stared in awe and shock.

Where did that even come from? he wondered.

Peril had already found a deep pool outside the palace, wide enough for her wings to not even touch the ground for many meters. She sank low so only her head was above the water, and she had her back to the Summer Palace.

When he finally came out of the palace, Clay instantly heard water boiling and followed the sound until he found where Peril was, still crying loudly.

"Oh no. Peril."

Peril looked to Clay, sniffling and wiping her evaporated tears from her snout.

"Oh. Hey, Clay."

She turned away again, but Clay already knew what he was going to do.

"Ah. A hot spring. I'm so glad we have you with us Peril."

He casually joined her in the water, completely enjoying the warmth bubbling around him. He swam to be beside Peril, and brushed his head against hers.

She did the same, and a smile formed on her face, which was what Clay had hoped she would do with his comfort.

Suddenly, a majestic-looking SeaWing rushed around the corner. She was wearing all sorts of bead necklaces and other trinkets, ones that would only be found in the ocean, over her neck.

The other SeaWings became silent and started bowing in the presence of this larger SeaWing, which Clay's group mimicked. Something told them all this was Queen Coral.

"Tsunami dear!" She lifted her daughter up from her bowing posture, as she wept with joy and hugged Tsunami. "How I hoped we would all get to see you one day. I haven't seen you since you were an egg in the royal hatchery. And look at you now! My long-lost daughter is all grown-up!"

Tsunami blinked away tears.

"I always knew I had to have a mother somewhere in Pyrrhia who would love me!" she cried happily and hugged her mother tightly.

Suddenly, Coral realized something. Commander Shark had said there would also be a MudWing and a second SkyWing in the group her daughter was traveling with, but she did not see either of them.

"Where are my other two guests, dear?" Coral asked.

"Well. Our fellow SeaWings…" She paused to glare at the five in question. "…were disrespecting my friend Peril. I would have done something, but Clay got there first and well, he kinda lost control."

"Did he strike?"

"No mum. Clay knows not to attack when there is no threat, as does Peril. She is just different is all, but I have no grudge. She headed to the large pool out there, and Clay followed moments after."

"I shall find them and bring them back." Coral started to head off, but looked at the SeaWings in question. "Any more insults, and you will be dealing with me! Understood!"

"Yes, your majesty!"

All the guilty SeaWings rapidly saluted at exactly the same time, before Coral headed towards the pool where Tsunami had said Clay and Peril headed.

"Ah. Hello Clay and Peril," Queen Coral kindly spoke as they both turn to bow in her respect, after getting over the initial fright they experienced from her unexpected greeting. "No need for that, but thank you for your kindness. I hear there have been some issues in the Summer Palace."

Much to both Peril and Clay's surprise, the queen dipped a foot in the water before diving so suddenly, splashing water over the area.

"A perfect degree."

She knew not to touch Peril but did not show it, for it would disrespect her guest. Coral lounged with a stretch, making Clay slightly uneasy.

Oh three moons! I'm in a hot bath with a queen! Clay thought, while trying to hide from Coral that he was shaking like a leaf.

"Ahh!" She let herself sink deeper. "It has all been sorted amidst my tribe. They will not make any more insults because they know I mean business if they do."

"I'm sorry, if I come across as an issue to your fellow SeaWings," whispered Peril. "I never asked to be like this."

"No no, it is perfectly fine," said Coral. "But there is a banquet at my palace soon if you would like to join us. We never eat underneath the water when it comes to celebration and visitors. My daughter has informed me on everything, so don't worry. Everything is planned for your appearance. So please, don't let insults upset you."

She climbed out and shook the excess water off her body.

"I look forward to your visit my little dragonets."

She headed off back to the confines of the Summer Palace. Clay and Peril look at each other, caress once more then climb out to head inside the queen's Summer Palace.

Upon entering, they saw that all the dragons which had been there were now gone. Did they leave them behind? Moments passed by and Tsunami's head appeared from under the water.

"Are you two lovewings done? We have all headed off to the feast."

"Lovewings!" Peril bellowed unorthodoxly.

"Sorry, it was just a term of endearment. I thought you liked Clay a lot more than you show."

"I do but…just don't bring it up!"

"Okay. I'm sorry."

Clay then said something. "Em. Where is it you have all gone?"

"To the banquet. I just said."

"Banquet?" Clay gasped. "Say no more!"

He then unprecedentedly dived under the water within seconds before Peril could even think.

"Wait! Clay—"

He soon realized his mistake, and bobbed his head out of the water. "Whereabouts do we go Tsunami?"

Tsunami simply giggled.

"There is an island in the peninsula, the farthest and smallest island. It is where the banquet will take place. Quickly, follow me! You are late, the pair of you!"