Three long, wonderful years had passed.

Three long, wonderful years since Lumina's dream had come true, that is. After a lifetime of loneliness, the princess of Seagundia had finally made her way out of isolation and home to her parents.

She had watched as the world changed around her, all for the better. When Caligo had been exiled, he'd been sent back to his home waters, never to return "if he knew what was good for him," her father had said. Caligo had been seen in Seagundia since.

With his absence, King Nereus had relieved most of Caligo's soldiers of their duties. The new Trident Squad army was under the leadership of a new general of the guard. She had shown up about a month after Caligo's departure, sought out due to her reputation as a powerful, yet kind and honest mermaid. Her name was Katrena. She had the power to command tempests, one she had inherited from a distant ancestor.

Lumina's family had grown and changed as well. Her cousin Fergis was now engaged to Cora, one of her best friends. Scylla was now the royal potioneer, and Kuda and Spike were known throughout Seagundia as "fish royalty." Lumina's short romance with the prince of the nearby undersea kingdom of Amphitrite was now over; he courted Sandrine these days, but he was still a dear friend of Lumina's, as was his twin sister, Kell.

Lumina had changed, too. She was well known as a benevolent princess who made sure of the well-being of common folk. It was due to her, with the combined help of Scylla and Fergis, that many illnesses now had cures in the form of potions. The distribution of the sulfur lily, which was an antidote to most poisons, was also her idea. With her experience as an explorer, she, accompanied by Spike and Fergis, had scouted out the coral reefs for as many as they could find.

Thus far, it had been a busy week. Sandrine and Scylla were fussing over the decorations for Cora's and Fergis's wedding, trying to gather as many of Fergis's favorite plants that were in Cora's preferred colors of red or orange (some of them had to be dyed), and Katrena was almost panicked with the placement of the guards during the event. Eos, the new captain of the guard, was unable to get anyone to agree on anything, and had pleaded with Katrena for advice. Since then, Katrena had brought it on herself to settle the matter for Eos's sake.

It was thus that Lumina saw the pale, dark haired mermaid sighing heavily as she sat on the edge of an outside balcony.

"Katrena?" Lumina asked.

The startled mermaid jumped, causing her white-gold armor to clank somewhat.

"Oh, I'm sorry," Lumina said. She quickly picked up one of the many large blue pearls she'd been carrying.

"Let me help," said Katrena, gathering half of the pearls. "What are these for?"

"They're supposed to go on the banners at the reception," Lumina replied. "I made them glow – what do you think?"

Katrena smiled. Lumina, understanding, smiled widely back.

"I can take these," Katrena said. She began to reenter the castle. Lumina turned to follow her, but stopped when she saw the surface of the ocean grow dim.

"What's going on?" she said.

Katrena turned. Lumina had let go of her share of pearls. As they floated downwards, she was swimming slowly but purposefully toward the surface.

Katrena dropped her share too. "Princess!" she cried, speeding after Lumina.

Lumina didn't stop swimming, but she did look back.

"Katrena?!" she gasped.

"Princess, you cannot go up there! There is danger, I can feel it!"

"What could be there other than the sun?" Lumina laughed as she pushed forward.

Katrena swam until she was neck and neck with Lumina.

"Princess, I just have a very bad feeling. Whatever is up there, whatever is happening, it is not good and you should not go near!"

Unfortunately for Katrena, her words had the opposite effect than she intended. Her curiosity sparked, Lumina made a bolt for the surface.

Splasssh!

Two mermaids, one fair haired in royal garments, and one dark haired in gleaming armor, broke the surface of the ocean. Right away, they both noticed something was off. The sky was shrouded by swirling, thick gray clouds.

"Work of a storm siren," Katrena said, glaring.

Lumina looked at her quizzically.

"I recognize this power when I see it. I have it!"

Lumina looked into the distance and saw someone. That someone was waving their hands about, undoubtedly commanding the storm.

Just as Lumina started to consider following Katrena's advice and getting back underwater, a bolt of lightning struck the waves not very far from where they were.

Lumina gasped, shocked and horrified. Katrena instinctively grabbed Lumina's wrist and pulled her below the surface.

"Look!" Lumina cried out.

Katrena could see a whirlpool appearing where the lightning strike had hit. It was headed for the castle's highest tower.

"Evacuate!" Katrena called, releasing Lumina. "The castle is under attack by a storm siren!"

Soon, the entire royal family and castle staff were outside, thanks to the quick actions of Eos and Katrena's other guards. Everyone watched, eyes wide, as the whirlpool completely surrounded the highest tower, and they all gasped and cried out when a sapphire colored light came from the tower, covering the whole kingdom for five seconds, before fading away along with the whirlpool.