Chapter Reupload: this chapter appear to have page error when first uploaded. Website FFN Still hasn't able to access since then. Add a new chapter of same content.

So apparently there was issue with the website where all chapters update from 31 Oct 2020 encountered issue and they finally fix it. (6 Nov 2020). So Yay, the story can be viewed on website again!

Chapter 7: Day 8

Green.

Green algae, green statue, green coral and green SeaWing.

So many things that were in green was just had to be tidy. Rainbow gathered her algae duster and began to swat against the statue and coral covered in green algae. Above her was the green SeaWing dragonet, Prince Turtle. Floating aimlessly in the hallway. It was a shame because that was the one thing she just haven't figure how to 'tidy' yet.

At least, the little prince's appetite had returned. She was beginning to worry as he was getting skinner by the days. But a few days of eating had returned him to that cute chubby state he was when she first met him. Or probably even tad bit fatter than before. She wondered how he managed that even though having eat those little food that she had delivered to him. May he have hunted for himself?

The question hung at the back of her mind as she continued to clean the corals.

"Turtle?"

A SeaWing who was much older than Prince Turtle stood at a hallway. Uttered the name which might as well lost to the sea itself except for her. To hear others mentioned the word. That itself was a miracle on its own.

"It's your lucky day, Turtle." The SeaWing flashed. "I just returned back from my far away heroic expedition."

"But Fin. You shouldn't-"

"Now, now. Before you say anything."

Turtle was about to flashed something again, but he was interrupted by the sudden passionate hug from the SeaWing.

"There. Phew." He heaved a sigh. "That's should fill up my quota of social interaction since I last left. It gets pretty lonely out there, you know?"

Prince Fin. Rainbow thought. One of Prince Turtle's the elder brothers. The one most dragons would remember him as an adventurer and most likely to be one.

She heard that he left the palace two weeks ago on some sea hiking. And by the depths of the sea, she was glad of it. Not because he was away. But only because he wasn't at the dinner gathering when she had use him as an excuse to fetch Prince Turtle's food.

Which meant that Prince Fin also haven't been to the gathering held by Prince Hammerhead.

"Shouldn't you have a bodyguard or someone to take along with you?" Prince Turtle flashed.

"I would have. But alas-" He feinted a distress. "My uncultured brothers want little to nothing to do with this." He nudged the little Prince with his wing. "At least, here's my little brother awaits at the hallway near the entrance. Ready to receive my glorious arrival."

"I guessed. But you shouldn't-" Turtle flashed.

"Ah, ah." Prince Fin flashed. "Before you delivered me any news. I must insist that I would be the first to share my adventure. And you, my little brother, shall be the first to hear it."

And so, he began. With his flashing scales and moving talons, his stories unravel before them. How he fought against the dangerous sea currents to his destination. That he discovered new lands and coral reefs for possible new village. How he found the largest pearl that anyone had seen, unable to bring it back due to its weight. And ending with a close call with a group of Great White sharks that almost bit him as flopped himself up to shore.

Even Rainbow, who was busying with her usual duty was captivated by his stories.

"I'm pretty sure great white sharks doesn't hunt in group." Prince Turtle stated.

"Oh. Huh." Prince Fin put a talon over his chin. "But surely they are almost as big as a great white shark though. And the way they swam towards me. I'm thought for sure I was a goner."

"Right. And that will be the end of famous Prince Fin, who gracefully sacrifice his life for honour of our tribe. And a big pearl that seem woven out of thin air."

And then off they went. Prince Fin chased his little brother around trying to smack him with his wing while Prince Turtle swam through cracks and currents, dodging the incoming assault. A rare moment of happy scales flashed above Rainbow as the two princes swam around the hallway.

Recent events had cause so much distress among the SeaWings, there were much less activity around the gathering hall. The energy they displayed here was quite a contrast. Especially noticeable for Prince Turtle. His gold glint eyes shone with energy of both joy and alive. Almost as if everything had gone back to normal.

Almost.

"Prince Fin! You mustn't-"

A bright flash down the hallway caught all their attention. A servant swam towards Prince Fin and flash softly with her wing blocking the view.

"What? Really!?"

Prince Fin stole a glance at Prince Turtle then back to servant. The servant nodded in response.

"Fin. I had tried to tell you-" Prince Turtle flashed.

"Sorry. I must go."

And then Prince Fin was gone. So does the gleams in the little prince eyes. The servant who came disappeared alongside with Prince Fin down the hallway. But just before the servant was out of sight, Rainbow thought she gave her a nasty look before turning the corner. Once again, the little prince slumbered into state of depressed. Or had his shoulder slummed even lower than before?

Like having a bite of the fattest and juiciest salmon you ever had; only to have it snatched away by a shark.

Rainbow gave an inner sigh as she continued her cleaning duty. Silently cursed the servant who had ruined the moment.

Speaking of servants. Rainbow started to notice the hostility from other servants as well. There hasn't been throwing any claws or talons yet. But the way they watched her as she was working. They looked as if they as saw a venomous man-o-war jellyfish, avoiding her at all cost. Giving her a sneering look that were none too worse than one she just received.

So be it. She thought. I'm here to work. Not to make friends.

But somehow those thoughts don't sound right to her.

"Rainbow."

Rainbow snapped herself from the threads of thought into view. Beside her was a SeaWing waiting for her to response.

"Oh! Hi Mako." She shook herself.

"I have been looking for you." Mako glanced around before adding. "Where is that prince you're taking care of?"

"Oh, he must have swum off somewhere." She flashed.

"You mean drifted off." Mako mocked. "The way he held himself like that. I don't think any self-respecting SeaWing would call it a swim."

"He's just a child."

"I know. I know. I'm just joking." She waved her talon dismissively. "On a more serious note, there is something I need to warn you about."

Mako dragged her to an empty hallway down the corner before flashing.

"Rainbow." Her snout wrinkled as she flashed with anxiety. "You're in danger. The dragons from the higher ups were not pleased with you and- Don't give me that look. You know you're not supposed to stay close with that dragonet."

Rainbow couldn't help to be shock at the revelation. Sure, she knew her risk being the caretaker of the 'exile' prince. But endangering her life? That's just ridiculous.

"Who was it? Was it the king?" She asked. "Or was it Tidal? Oh, why didn't he talk to me about it?"

"It wasn't the butler. But still." Mako continued. "It's best you leave that prince of yours alone. Do you understand me?"

"But-"

"No 'but's. I'm telling you as a friend. And moon's sake-" Mako flashed in a hurried. "I'm getting weird looks from others just because I'm seen with you. So please."

Mako grabbed a hold on Rainbow's talon and gave it a squeezed before she swam ahead before vanished behind the corner.

Rainbow felt as if the wall around her were closing down on her. Only deep breathes through gills had brought her back to her senses.

Danger from above. That's not what she had expected when she had taken up this task. From the day she came working her, she had only done what she was told. So why? Why was her being targeted by someone? Was it from the council? Or was it the royal family? It doesn't make any sense.

All she knew was is that this job was her final lifeline to her grandfather's livelihood. And all of that had led her to this exact moment.

.

About a year ago, she was like any dragon of the sea, roamed happily beneath the surface. Hunting sea delicacies for her family. Tending the corals with her grandfather. Taking care of her little brother. Their family lived at the outskirt area 'Bay of the Thousand Scales'. Far away from the place of beauty which they called the 'Deep Palace'. They, nevertheless, had a comforting life. War had only been among the topic for casual talk. Never a thing of concern.

Her grandfather spent most of his time tending his coral gardens around their caves while her parents went pearl hunting to trade with nearby villages for living. As for her, she would be taking care of her younger brother while occasionally show herself at the coral garden to tend with corals with her grandfather.

That was until the day when she brought the fishes back to the caves, only to be greeted by the coughing of her grandfather. It all started with just 'a cough'. Then gradually it worsened. Until it was hard for him to even speak.

"Darling, it's part of life." Her mother had said. "We have done everything we could. I think it's time we move on with our life."

"We tried a taking him to all sort of healers but your grandfather wasn't recovering." Her father had said.

But deep down inside her, Rainbow knew that her parents hadn't tried their best. But the healing admission itself wasn't cheap. Days of hard-earned labour had to spend in order to cover the cost of healing even if they did not show no sign of recovery. She even had to join in on pearl hunting just to cover the cost. Her mother was first to give in and decided not to spare any more treasures or time, and eventually her father too ran out of treasures too.

"It's okay, Rainbow." Her grandfather's scales flashed weakly. "She's right. My time is almost up."

"No! No! She was wrong." Rainbow stroke his talon firmly in hers. "Why! Mother why! What's the use having all these treasure lying around doing nothing while there is a chance to save you?"

"The family need food and they don't grow of out the corals. And besides." Her grandfather sighed. "All the healers haven't had a clue why I hadn't been cured."

"All the healers of the region that is." She replied.

Which gave spark to her last resort.

"Grandpa. Where would you say the best healers of the SeaWing kingdom could offer?"

"The Summer Palace? Probably." He coughed again before flashing. "Definitely the Deep Palace. The best of the best often attracted to place of power."

"Well then. That's where we'll go then."

Even with much of the resistance from her grandfather, he still willed himself to be carried by her back. By the break of dawn, she managed to bring him all the way to the Deep Palace itself.

"Please. I beg you." Rainbow plead to the guards. "My grandpa is dying and he need the best healer in the kingdom could offer."

But the guards wouldn't budge. Stating that if they allowed her to enter, what stopping others to do so. And so, they patrolled in front of her preventing her to enter the realm of Deep Palace while her grandfather's health was taking its toll after a long journey of swim. Each cough slightly heavier than before. All hope seemed lost on her.

What came after that was the scene she had remembered fondly throughout her working days in the palace. He, who seemly appeared out of nowhere, had brought the gleam of last hope before her. Even in faced the fierce guards of palace, he held his place firmly against them. His bright aquamarine scales couple with stripes of green elegantly shone against the rays of light as he flashed.

"Let them in."

The guards hesitated but he quickly added.

"I will handle the rest."

As quickly as they came, the guards swam away at his command. The green SeaWing then move towards her and without a word, motioned his talons to healers nearby. The healers quickly carried her grandfather away into palace. She managed flashed her last few words to her grandfather before she turned herself to face her SeaWing saviour.

The way he presented himself, his posture, his word. She knew it her heart that this SeaWing was a dragon with power.

"How can I thank you." Rainbow managed to flash.

"It wasn't much." He said. "But I do hope you do not think ill of the guards that were before. They were merely doing their job."

Rainbow nodded but that thought had never crossed her mind. She was busy focusing on how to get her grandfather into the care of the best healer. And was relieved that she managed to do so.

"Where do you live?" He asked.

"North of the thousand bays. A little away from the top of dragon's tail." She answered.

"You're long way from home." He said. "I don't presume you would swim here and there to check up with your grandfather."

"I'll m-managed." She stammered a flashed. "Or I could just find a place around here. A-and a job."

She definitely not looked forward to those dreaded payments coming from the best healer.

"Would you perhaps be considering working in the palace?" The green SeaWing flashed energetically. "Nowadays, we are short in dragon-powers. War is raging and more dragons were relocating to that effort. But jobs don't just disappear out of thin air. Work with us and considered it as payments towards your grandfather's treatment."

"In additional to a job, we also provide a place to live to the dragons who worked here." he continued. "So, what do you say?"

Rainbow did not know what to feel. All those days of laborious work and tightening their money are finally over. She nodded her head so hard; it might as well fell off her neck.

"I'm sorry. I haven't introduced myself." She said. "My name is Rainbow."

"Tidal." He flashed while holding out his talon. "Butler of the Deep Palace."