While the kingdom had mostly stayed the same. The young royals had changed over the ten years.

Allura was 23 years old and her brown hair had been cut short from the long length it used to be. Her tail was light blue with light pink fins and a matching light blue seashell bra.

Hira was 22 and her hair had stayed the short cut it always was, she liked it that way. However, she had dyed her a magenta colour. It took a few years of begging her father to let her do it though. Hira also wore a light brown choker around her neck. Her tail was white with light blue fins and a white seashell bra.

Axca was 21 years old and her hair had stayed the same length it was. Hence why her brown hair was tied into up with a bun at the back of her head, the rest of it flowing down to her shoulders. Axca wore a necklace made out of dark brown beads around her neck. Her tail was dark purple with light indigo fins and a matching dark purple seashell bra.

Ezor was 20 years old and had cut her hair to end at her shoulders. Like Hira, she had dyed her hair, but hers was teal. Like her sister, it had taken a while to convince her father to let her dye it. Ezor wore a gold choker around her neck. Her tail was a dark teal with light teal fins and a matching teal seashell bra.

Shay was 19 years old and her hair, like Hira's was cut short, and as a result, had started to curl. Her tail was light green with lighter green fins and a matching light green seashell bra.

Narti was 18 years old and her hair was half the length it used to be. She always tied it into a low ponytail. She was the last of the children to dye their hair. She had dyed it a dark blue and that was when Shiro finally put his fin and said no more to dying hair. Narti wore a gold flared choker around her neck and a beaded gold armband around her upper arm. Her tail was dark blue with blue fins and a matching dark blue seashell bra.

The last of the royals, was the youngest and only prince. Keith. He was now 17 years old and his hair had grown and was starting to create a small mullet at the back of his neck. His tail was red with light red fins.

Keith yawned as he woke up to the sun shining through the window. He opened his eyes and smiled seeing two sea horses swimming outside the window. The pair noticed the young prince looking at them and gave him a wave of their fins before swimming off.

Just as the merman in charge of the young royal children knocked on the doorway and entered the room.

"Sorry to interrupt your sleep Your Highnesses but it is morning now," Lotor said as he swam into the room, his servant Rolo entering behind him.

Lotor was the son of Haggar, the evil witch who had been banished from Altea years ago. However, Shiro took pity on her young son and he was raised by a close friend and eventually was put in charge of the royal children.

Lotor had white hair that fell past his shoulders and a light purple tail with dark purple fins, around his neck was a gold chain with a purple seashell attached to it.

His servant Rolo had been recruited a month after Lotor was promoted. Rolo, like Lotor, had white hair but his was shorter and his tail wasn't a normal merman's tail. It was more like the tail of an eel, it was dark blue with dark orange fins.

"Hey!" Hira exclaimed as Rolo snatched her pillow from under her head and tossed it into Rolo's arms.

"Apologies Highness, but rise and shine," Lotor said which made Hira huff and face plant into her bed.

"Why so early?" she whined, taking her pillow back from Rolo who handed it to her with a kind smile.

"Well, we mustn't be late," Lotor said as the other princesses started to wake up.

"But it's still dark outside," Shay said sitting up in her bed. The early morning haze in her brain making her forget to take her sleeping mask off.

"Good morning Highness," Rolo said gently slipping the mask off of Shay and placing it on her pillow.

"Good morning," Shay replied with a smile.

"But I was dreaming about someone," Ezor groaned pushing her face into her pillow with a groan.

"And you'll dream about that someone again tonight Highness, but you must get up," Lotor said with a sigh and a roll of his eyes.

"Can't we have 5 more minutes?" Axca groaned pulling her blanket over her head. Only for Rolo to pull it off and onto the ground beside her bed.

"Unfortunately not Highness."

"Like you need 5 more minutes," Narti said with a roll of her eyes.

"That's easy for you to say, I-"

"Highness," Lotor said with a growl. Axca rolled her eyes and pulled her blanket back over top of her.

"Can't we meet Father later?" Hira asked, only to be slipped out of bed when Lotor raised the end of her bed up and tipped the princess out of her bed.

"Unfortunately I don't get to make those kinds of decisions," Lotor said letting go of the bed. "Any decisions really," Lotor growled under his breath. He was brought out of his thoughts when he seen the princesses were still in their beds. "GET UP!" he yelled. The princess jumped at the raised voice and hurried to start getting ready.

Keith had gotten out of bed as soon as Lotor entered the room this morning and had seated himself by the window, staring outside at the kingdom below as their morning started.

"Apologies Lotor," Allura said as she swam past Lotor, rolling her eyes as she passed him.

"Now remember, this is a special time with your Father, you-"

"Special? It's the same every morning," Keith said with a roll of his eyes.

"He's got a point you know," Ezor said as she applied a pink lipstick to her lips.

"That's what your father cares about," Lotor said grabbing the red brush that he knew was Keith's and handed it to the young prince. "Predictability, presentation, and punctuality."

"That's all Dad cares about," Keith muttered under his breath.

"Got a point," Shay said with a smile as she finished brushing her hair.

"You've got your own mirror!" Axca snapped as Ezor bumped her out of the way to brush her hair.

"I know, I just like bugging you."

"Two minutes!" Rolo called out.

"Stop primping!" Lotor snapped out swimming towards the doorway.

"Come on Keith," Allura said with a sigh taking the brush from her brother's hand and started brushing through the small knots in his hair.

"Why can't he let us do something different? Just once," Keith asked with a sigh.

"Give him a break, he's a king remember?" Allura said pulling her hand away as she knots had been brushed away. "You try running a kingdom."

"I wouldn't run it like this," Keith muttered under his breath.

"Don't upset him Keith," Allura said turning from her brother and starting to head back to the vanity to put the brush back.

"Just because you're the oldest Allura, doesn't mean you get to boss us around," Keith said with a roll of his eyes.

"Yes it does," Allura said in a sing-song voice, a smile on her face.

"Rolo if I'm late again, I'll never get a promotion and my plan will never-"

"Lotor," Rolo said nudging his shoulder, quickly shutting the merman up.

"Come on girls, and Keith," Allura said leading the pack out of the room.

"Not that I want a promotion Your Highnesses, looking after you all is what I live for," Lotor said with a forced smile following the royals out of the room before turning to Rolo as the teens went on ahead. "I hate this job."

"The less said the better," Rolo said with a sigh.

"Come on," Lotor said with a roll of his eyes, the pair swimming to catch up to the teens.

"Good morning Your Majesty," Slav said as he entered the throne room.

"Slav, anything to report?" Shiro asked as the crab landed on the throne beside him.

"Nothing major Your Majesty, everything has all been taken care of for you," Slav said with a shake of his head.

"Honestly, what would I do without you?"

"Well, for starters, you'd be out there dealing with nonsense arguments and trying to determine who is right and who is wrong."

"Yes, especially when it's between the sprat and the smelt," Shiro said with a smile. Turning his head upon hearing commotion approaching.

A few moments later, his children entered the throne room. They bumped into each other causing a small argument before Lotor followed and they got in line before the throne.

"Good morning everyone," Shiro said as the pack quieted down.

"Good morning Father," the teens replied, bowing with smiles on their faces.

"Lotor," Shiro greeted with a tip of his head.

"Good morning Your Majesty," Lotor said with a smile on his face, bowing down as the teens did, Rolo following suit behind him.

"You're late this morning," Slav commented which caused Lotor to shift his gaze tightly to the crab beside the king.

"I uh-"

"Never mind that," Shiro said with a wave of his hand, wanting to avoid any argument that would start. Lotor and Rolo bowed once more before swimming to the side of the throne.

"Your Majesty," Slav said with a nod of his head. Shiro sighed before turning his attention back to his children.

"I assume you've all been attending to your royal duties this week?"

"Yes Father, we're working very diligently," Allura said swimming forwards, being the oldest, she was the spokesperson for her siblings.

"But we're always done early," Keith commented from behind.

"Shhh," Allura said turning to Keith with a small glare.

"And the coral is in bloom," Keith added lifting his gaze to meet his father's, ignoring his sister's trying to shush him. "So I thought, maybe we could go for a swim on the reef?"

"Not today Keith," Shiro said with a shake of his head and sigh.

"But, it only happens once a year," Keith added, playing with his fingers. "It could be fun."

His sister's all exchanged looks. Their father had always been uptight, ever since their mother passed away. Perhaps, they all secretly hoped he would let them have a fun day.

"I don't have the time," Shiro added giving Keith a stare.

"I was just thinking we could just skip the morning walk?"

"Keith," Slav said stepping in. "Your father said no."

"Yes sir," Keith said with a sigh, swimming back in place. He couldn't help but notice Lotor give him an almost sympathetic look but chose to ignore it.

"Nice job," Allura said under her breath. The teens all moved out to the side as Shiro got off the throne, trident in hand, and started heading for the door.

"Let's be on our way then."

"Be on time tomorrow," Slav commented to Lotor as he followed after the king. Lotor grumbled under his breath for a few moments before following after the pair, the teens following after.

As the royals walked throughout the kingdom, the people stepped to the side to make way for them to pass by, bowing down as they did.

Keith allowed his fingers to run through a seaweed bush, tugging a strand free and playing with it, chuckling softly as he ran it under his chin.

As they walked past, Ezor caught sight of a mermaid with tan skin, and blue hair. With a soft blush on her cheeks as their eyes met, Ezor waved a small wave to the mermaid who waved back. Both making sure Shiro wasn't looking. Keith smiled as he snuck up behind his sister and tickled her back with the seaweed strand.

Ezor immediately erupted in shrieks trying to get the feeling of seaweed off of her, causing Keith and Narti to burst into laughter.

"That's it," Ezor said with a growl before chasing after Keith who already turned tail and swam off, seaweed strand still in hand. The merpeople watching in confusion as two royals swam away from the group in a game of chase.

"Got it!" Ezor cried out as she snatched the seaweed strand from Keith and chased after her brother, giggles emerging from both of them. However, both weren't watching where they were going and ended up crashing into the rest of their sisters, the group falling to the ground.

"Careful!" Allura cried out she fell. Lotor turned at the sound of the small commotion and his eyes widened seeing the teens on the ground. He turned back to see they were almost at their destination, which meant Shiro and Slav would be turning around any minute now.

"Get up," Lotor said motioning with his hands for them to get off the ground. However, the royals just started laughing at how crazily desperate he looked. However, they did eventually get up, their giggles dying away as Shiro turned around and they quickly got into their formation.

"That will be all Slav, Lotor," Shiro said turning to the two who bowed their heads down. "Good day everyone."

"Goodbye Father," the teens replied, bowing down with smiles on their faces. As everyone started to head off, Keith was stopped by his father.

"Keith." Keith scowled but turned back to his father and swam up to him.

"Yes, Dad?"

"He sounds grumpier than yesterday," Narti commented to Axca.

"Which means it's time for us to go," Axca said pulling her sister away and heading back to the palace.

"A prince does not tickle a princess with seaweed," Shiro said staring down at Keith who grimaced.

"You saw that?" Keith asked softly. Shiro raised an eyebrow and Keith let out a sigh knowing the answer already. "I was just trying to have some fun."

"You disrupted your sisters," Shiro commented folding his arms in front of his chest.

"They laughed," Keith added softly

"Well, I didn't."

"But Dad, why can't we-"

"Is it too much to ask that you simply walk with your family?"

"But that's all we ever do," Keith huffed with a sigh.

"Keith," Shiro said, warning in his voice.

"Can't we ever just do something different?"

"Enough!" Shiro yelled, making Keith freeze in place. "You have to respect the way I run this kingdom," Shiro said manifesting a seashell-shaped scraper into his hand. "Barnacles."

"What? But that'll take all day," Keith said with a shake of his head.

"Well then," Shiro said handing the scrape to the young prince. "You'd better get started."

Meanwhile, back at Lotor's quarters, Rolo was finishing his duties around the quarters. He just finished cleaning Lotor's bedroom and was now on his next task, which he hated.

Feeding the electric eels Lotor kept, luckily, he kept them in a cage and only Rolo had the key for it. Why Lotor kept electric eels, he couldn't tell you.

Stacking the meat onto a long wooden stick, Rolo took a deep breath before sticking the meat into the cage and cried out as he yanked forwards, the eels not only eating the meat but half of the stick as well. Rolo yanked back and sighed in relief.

"No manners," Rolo said to himself, tossing the stick into the cage as well, seeing as they seemed to eat anything. Just as Lotor entered his chambers.

"If I have to watch these spoiled royal brats one more day, I swear I will beach myself," Lotor snapped as he collapsed on the couch.

"They're not all bad," Rolo said as he brought over a tea set with Lotor's favourite tea in it.

"You heard that little claw-boy Slav, "You're late," he says," Lotor mocked before shaking his head with a growl. "If Shiro wasn't looking I would have squashed that crustacean into a crab cake."

"Sugar?"

"No," Lotor said taking the teacup from Rolo and leaning back against the couch with a sigh. "Did you feed them today?"

"Yes," Rolo said with a nod. "Twice."

"And the key?"

"Where it always is," Rolo said motioning to the satchel attached to the belt around his hips.

"You know, we could always move the plan to get revenge for my mother to tomorrow if you give me the-."

"And end up like your mother?"

"Not if we-"

"King Shiro would banish you faster than you could get the key and unlock your pets," Rolo said with a shudder. "Which is why you made the plan to get close to the king."

"Not if Slav is there," Lotor pointed out as Rolo grabbed the empty teacup from Lotor and heading back to the kitchen with the tea set. "He's so uptight," Lotor said with a huff. "So what if I'm late every once in a while and the children are miserable, at least they're there."

"Nobody is perfect," Rolo called out, exiting the kitchen.

"Exactly!" Lotor cried out getting off the couch. "Nobody is perfect."

"Except Slav," Rolo pointed out with a roll of his eyes.

"Everyone makes mistakes," Lotor said turning to Rolo with a soft glare. "Slav is bound to make a mistake at some point right?"

"Not likely," Rolo said with a shake of his head. Lotor groaned and collapsed onto the couch once more.

"Then keep an eye out for any little thing that could be useful for our plan."

"Your plan," Rolo pointed out with a sigh.

"Just keep an eye out!"

"As you wish," Rolo said with a sigh.