<Somewhere in the Ocean...>

The grand doors to the chamber opened with a loud creak. A purple haired mermaid, dressed elegantly in a long white dress, entered the chamber. She swam towards another mermaid at the edge of the room.

She stopped right in front of her and bowed.

???: "My Queen, I came to speak to you."

The Queen turned her head and smiled.

Ariette: "Oh, Enchantress Astoria. I assume you are here to update me about the Kingdom?"

Astoria: "Well...yes."

Astoria pulled out a magic crystal ball out from her sling bag. With a single touch, a imagery of the kingdom was showed.

Astoria: "The Kingdom's barrier is holding up just fine but unfortunately, the guards on patrol are not back with their report. They are still out in the open which is unusual."

Ariette: "Hm...I see."

Ariette swam up to her.

Ariette: "Please inform the head of the guards to send out the next patrol team in search of them. My only concern is that they have encountered something dangerous out there."

Astoria: "As you wish, your majesty."

Ariette: "Is there anything else?"

Astoria: "Oh yes! I almost forgot to mention."

Astoria coughed and cleared her throat before speaking.

Astoria: "May I ask about the whereabouts of Prince Shawn? I need to have a word with him sooner or later."

Ariette let out a chuckle and answered.

Ariette: "He and my husband are currently at the Kingdom of Bartholomew. I decided to stay put to deal with the castle's orders. So, you won't be seeing them for the next few days."

Astoria: "Is that so?..."

Ariette: "Astoria, are you alright?"

The Queen noticed a dark aura surrounding Astoria which made her a bit worried and frightened.

However, the enchantress forced her smile and said in a scary tone.

Astoria: "Never been better."

Ariette: "*Sighs* Don't tell me its another one of your 'quarrels' with my son. What did he do this time?"

Astoria inhaled and ranted it all out.

Astoria: "His highness thought it was hilarious to let himself into my study without MY permission and filled my entire desk with SEA SLUGS which I have to cast out! His ego must have gone up ever since he start calling me a 'bookworm'. How hubristic."

Ariette: Haizz... Can't they get along for once? I hope Astoria is not planning on turning him into a slug...

Ariette smiled and replied calmly.

Ariette: "Oh, I'm sure he's just messing with you! Both of you known each other for years now! Shawn is a very sweet merman and you understand that, right?"

Astoria: "Of course, My Queen. NOT until I give him a piece of my mind-!"

SLAM!!!

Head Guard: "Your Majesty!!!"

Just then, the head of the guards slammed the door opened with full strength and shouted for the Queen.

Astoria: "Oh my grades! That scared the living sea foam out of me!!!"

Ariette: "Sir Gael, what's the matter?"

Gael: "I apologise for my sudden out burst but there's no time to lose!"

Ariette: "If it's that serious, then just tell me already!"

Gael: "The patrol team have returned and they brought some company back into the kingdom! A mermaid and a merman!"

Astoria: "Intruders? That's impossible! No merfolks can escape through the barrier without the barrier crystal around this area!"

The Queen stayed silent and face was full of concern. She kept a stern look and said to Gael.

Ariette: "Take me to them."

<In the dungeons...>

Moon: This is great! Just great!

Moon gripped onto the metal bars tightly before flopped down onto the stone cold ground. Her eyes lay onto the Merman sitting against the wall.

Orion: "Don't worry, Moon. We will find a way to get out of here so don't panic."

Moon: "Are we going to get killed?"

Moon turned around with a concerning expression.

Orion: "What? No! Of course not! I mean...I hope not..."

Moon: "What do you mean 'I hope not'??!!That's not making things better!"

Orion: "What am I suppose to say?!"

Moon sulked and scanned her surroundings.

Moon: "What is this place? And...the magical blue wall we went through earlier ith the guards...what in the world was that???"

Orion: "I am not sure too. But I have heard my mother talking about a Kingdom of Merfolks before and if I am not wrong, I think we are in the Kingdom right now."

Moon: "What?!-"

Gael: "OI, YOU TWO!"

Moon: "Eeek!"

All of a sudden, the head guard entered the dungeon with a loud booming voice. Both Orion and Moon turned their heads towards his direction.

They also noticed that the guard was not alone too.

Gael: "My Queen, these are the prisoners. I was informed that they had been roaming around our territory."

Ariette just remained silent as Gael called out to one of his fellow soldiers.

Gael: "Bring one of them out now!"

Merguard 1: "But...sir..."

Gael: "That was an ORDER!"

The guard nodded and went to unlock the door to the cell. Two Guards entered the cell and stared at the two prisoners.

To her horror, one guard grabbed Moon by the arm with force  as she was the closest one to the entrance.

Moon: "HEY! DON'T TOUCH ME!"

Moon forcefully attempted to free her arm by hitting the guard's arm countless times but to no avail. (She even tried to bite his arm which was no a good choice)

He began to drag the mermaid out of the cell.

Orion: "LET HER GO!"

Without hesitation, Orion swam up and held onto Moon's other arm.

Moon felt like it was some sort of 'tug of war' game but in a more serious situation.

Merguard 2: "ENOUGH! Stay put!!"

The second guard, who was in the cell as well, locked his hands through Orion's arms and pulled him away from Moon.

Moon: "ORION!"

Orion: "LET GO! SHE'S INNOCENT!!"

The guard holding onto Moon was successful in getting her out of the dungeon and forced her to kneel onto the ground.

Gael: "Do you not any respect?! Greet your Queen!"

Witnessing this, Astoria was furious by Gael's actions. She could not stand him mistreating a woman like that.

The enchantress was about to confront him when Ariette blocked her with her hand and shook her head.

Ariette: "Sir Gael, I think you are taking this a little too far."

Gael: "B-But...your majesty, they are offenders of the law of this kingdom! They don't deserve any kindness from us at all!"

Ariette: "Still, Sir Gael."

The Queen swam up to Moon and got onto the the floor.

Ariette: "This mermaid is still undeniably young. Your actions towards will only scare her or even hurt her as well. We haven't heard her side of the story yet so you have no right to treat her poorly."

Moon was surprised by Ariette's words. She lifted her gaze and met with the her eyes.

The princess was mesmerised by Ariette sophisticated outlooks. The Queen has flowy blonde hair that reaches down to her waist and captivating sea blue eyes. She was indeed one of the most graceful mermaid Moon had ever laid eyes on.

Moon: "M-My Queen..."

Moon said in a shivering voice. She was still unsure of the Queen's intentions.

However, she noticed the Queen's eyes to have slightly widened as she stared at Moon intensely.

Astoria: "Is there's a problem, My Queen?"

Ariette did not replied once more and her stare never left Moon.

Suddenly, the Queen reached her hand out and took a strand of Moon's dark blue hair.

Ariette: "My dear, what's your name?"

Ariette asked out of the blue. Moon was cautious but answer out of courtesy.

Moon: "M-My name is Moon..."

That was when the Queen's eyes widened with utter surprise. She immediately questioned and demanded an answer from Moon.

Ariette: "Moon?! Is your name really Moon?"

Moon was confused by Ariette's question.

Moon: "Yes...?"

As the princess glanced at the enchantress standing right behind Ariette who gasped in shock too.

This made her even more puzzled.

Moon: "Why are you so shock? Is my name that weird for you all to react so strangely?"

Ariette: "No, my dear. It's not that."

Saying that, Ariette looked into Moon's eyes again but this time, with determination.

Ariette: "My Beloved Niece has finally answered to the Kingdom's calls after all these years..."

Moon & Orion: "What?!"

Both Moon and Orion shouted at the same exact timing.

Ariette: "Welcome...Moon, to the Kingdom of Anahita."

To be continued...

HEY EVERYONE!!! ITS CHEWY!!! I am so sorry for taking so long to update and I also apologise for the mistakes in this chapter (I took a lot of time to plan and I kinda rushed it) I have a lot of things on my plate right now when it's comes to my studies. I may not be able to write for next few weeks due to my exams and I hope you all will understand! I promise I will come up with a better chapter the next time I update! Okay, I gotta go, byeee! Love ya ❤️