Azure's POV

It was evening when we arrived at the sea gate, the sky was a shade of peach that the water reflected. The boat scrapped the bottom of the shallows, and Sea Hawk jumped out, followed by Glimmer, Bow, and Adora. I swung my legs over the edge, and Bow carefully placed his hands on my hips, and helped me down.

"Thanks." I said, embarrassed as I felt heat collecting in my cheeks. Bow rubbed the back of his neck.

"Yeah, I mean, it's no problem." He quickly turned away.

"Where is everyone." Bow asked.

I looked around, not feeling any presence within fourteen hundred feet of me.

"It's deserted." I observed, Glimmer looked up at me.

"You can't sense anyone?" I shook my head pointing ahead.

"I can sense up until the stairs. Lights are on in the castle though." Glimmer looked up at the castle.

"Hmm, very odd indeed. If I know the Princess Mermista, which I do, something's amiss." Sea Hawk said looking around.

"Halt! Halt, Halt I say!" A voice cane from high in the tower.

I looked up to see a guard, but only one. I did not move as he ran down the stairs and jogged towards us. Once he reached us, seeing we had no weapons on hand, he bent over, gripping his knees as he took a breather.

"What's your business in Salineas?" He asked and stood up.

"Were here to speak with princess Mermista." Glimmer was saying, and Sea Hawk elbowed past her.

"Tell her Sea Hawk is here. She'll be happy to see me." He smirked.

We were shown up the many... many stairs to the large throne room. The whole castle seemed to be made from pearlescent tiles, and sandstone. In the center of the back wall, a huge throne of shells stood. It looked like a giant conch shell with cushion. A woman with a braid of black hair going off her shoulder, with the slightest sea blue tint.

"Ew, who let him back in here?" The woman groaned.

Mermista, looked bored, and tired, her almond brown eyes drooped.

"Princess!" Sea Hawk called rushing towards her.

The green marble floors that lead up to the Princess buckled in a short flight of wide stairs. Water poured down in front of every window and ran in calm rivers next to the walk away.

"It has been too long. I've dreamt of you night, and day since we parted." Sea Hawk said extending a hand.

She just nodded and looked past him.

"Uh-huh, and who are you?" She asked us. I pulled my travel cloak around my body a little more.

The Guard walked past Sea Hawk to Mermista's side, nearly knocking Sea Hawk over.

"My name is Glimmer of Bright Moon. We've never met, but our parents fought in the Rebellion together." Glimmer explained.

"Oh Ya, I remember hearing about that old Princess alliance. My dad says it was a total disaster." She said in her droning voice.

Glimmer looked down defeated. To either break the tension, or just for kicks, Sea Hawk listed compliments.

"I didn't think it was possible, but your beauty grows within each passing day." He said, stepping forward, but the guard blocked the moment.

"Will you quit it? I'm trying to talk to my new friend Twinkle." Mermista groaned.

"Butler bring us some hors d'oeuvres." Mermista said, and I watched as the guard pulled out a cloth from his pocket and rapped it over his arm.

"Ooh, hors d'oeuvres!" Sea Hawk oohed.

"For everyone but Sea Hawk." She added.

"Your guard is also your butler?" Bow asked, and she nodded, as Sea Hawk sat on her throne arm rests.

"I'm a little understaffed right now. Everybody fled because the gate is falling apart or whatever." She said standing and walking over to the window covered with water acting as a curtain.

"What?" Glimmer Bow, and Adora gasped. My gasp shortly follower, and they looked at me.

"Was that planned? I was unsure if we were doing a group thing." I asked quietly.

"Yeah, I know right? It figures I inherit a kingdom that's crumbling." She said waving her staff gently the water stopped, and I looked out onto the city, and the sea gate.

"But its fine, I'm handling it. It's just kind of inconvenient because the Horde won't stop attacking us." She said crossing her arms and turning away from us.

Glimmer walked up to her. "Why is the gate falling apart?"

Mermista shrugged. "I mean who knows, it's getting weaker every day, and if the Horde tries to attack us again, we're all pretty much dead." She said flatly. I walked over.

"The Horde is the reason we're here; we want to reform the Princess alliance." I said, and she looked at me.

"Who are you, and why are you here?" She asked, and I crossed my arms, flushing red.

"Never mind what I'm wearing, but my name is Alpha Azure of what used to be Lupin." I said looking away.

"Wow, that's kind of sad." She deadpanned.

"None of us stand a chance on our own, but we might be able to stop them together." Mermista just snorted and walked away.

"Sure, because that went so grate the last time." Glimmer followed her towards us.

"Why should I help Bright Moon? It's not like they've ever done anything to help us."

Sea Hawk hiked a boot on the throne. "Mermista if I may." He said placing a hand on his chest and taking a deep breath.

"No, no more shanties." Mermista growled, an annoyed scowl on her face.

"Why did you bring him here? He is so annoying." Mermista grumbled, learning down to Glimmer's level.

"I thought you said she liked you." Bow said, looking at Sea Hawk to fix his sleeves.

"We have a rich, and complicated past." He admitted, still trying for gold in Best Pirate Tour Guide, I was a little sick of it.

"If by that you mean you got us kicked out of the dolphin social, for challenging the doorman to a duel, then sure." She said.

Sea Hawk turned evening-sky pink, and fell into her lap, stretching over her horizontally.

"I don't recall doing that." He said hastily. Mermista just kept talking.

"And that time you set out gondola on fire in the Tunnel of Love." Mermista said, picking him up, and shoving him off her lap.

He jumped up, and chuckled leaning on her throne with a mischievous chuckle.

"That I do recall."

I crossed my arms and tried to look like I was interested in the current subject.

"This is First One's writing." Adora said, and I turned to see her standing in front of a large slate of marble, carved with the intricate swirling patterns that I now recognized as the ancient beings written language.

"Who is she again? What is she doing?" Mermista asked, and Bow smiled.

"That's Adora, she has a magic sword." He explained. Glimmer walked over to Adora and narrowed her eyes.

"What does it say?" I asked walking over myself, Adora narrowed her eyes, and ran her hand over a large triangular symbol.

"Uh, something about the gate. The first ones must have built it. It looks like the gate gets it power from the Salinean Rune Stone." Having no idea what was possible with Rune stones because I had none, I wondered aloud.

"The gate could be failing because it is losing its connection to the power source." I tried, and Adora nodded.

"Do you think you can fix it?" Glimmer asked, and Adora shrugged.

"I can try." Glimmer them turned to Mermista and spoke firmly but eloquently.

"Look, Mermista, you need our help, we need yours. If Adora can fix your gate, will you consider joining us, please?" Mermista flopped back in her seat with a groan.

"Ugh, I dunno I guess." She whined.

"But he has to leave." She said pointing at Sea Hawk.

I did not think it was very fair that he had to leave when he was basically worshiping her. I can see how it gets annoying but... I do not exactly have someone telling me how pretty I was every five minutes.

"Where am I supposed to go?" Sea Hawk asked as he stood.

"Maybe wait with the boat, okay buddy? We'll take care of the gate." Bow said gently leading Sea Hawk towards the entrance.

"I'll go with him, not like a wolf can help right now." I said. Bow looked a little crest fallen before he smiled and nodded.

"Sounds good, we'll let you know if you guys can help." I gave Bow a thumbs up, and nodded...