"You good there? What happened?"

"Ugh, she packs a punch." Thanatos sits up straight and rubs the back of his head. "I think I pushed her buttons too much."

"You think?"

"Where is she?"

"We don't know, she just... left."

~{Chelsy}~

Shit shit shit shit. They hate me now, they fucking hate me now. They're never gonna let me follow them again. They're not my friends anymore, shit!

"Hey! Watch it!" I move past them and keep moving. I wasn't in the right state of mind, I just needed to be somewhere else. Somewhere alone.

Of course, that never happens.

"Please, I'll pay you! Just hide me somewhere!"  Someone tugs on my hand and stops me in my tracks.

"Leave me alone." I growl out.

"I'll pay you, just let me hide!" Her eyes looked full of fear. I didn't necessarily want to, but I supposed I should.

"Uh... fine. Come with me."

To be perfectly honest, I had no idea where we were going. I just stopped somewhere far away.

"So, what was that about? Someone chasing you?" She hands me a few jewels, which I tsk at

"Yeah, basically." She tucks a piece of hair behind her ear

"Why?" I cross my arms.

"Do you promise not to tell?" I falter before nodding. "I'm Princess Marilla."

I freeze. Out of everyone here, this was the last person I would ever want to see.

"You- you're what?"

"I said-"

"I know what you said! You need to go back, take your money!" I try to push the jewels back into her hands hut she refuses.

"No! I'm not going back, I don't want to be in that stupid castle anymore! Everyone in there hates me!" It was pretty clear that she was young, way too young to be on her own. If I left, who knew what would happen to her?

"I... I know the feeling. But, you're way too young to be here."

"No I'm not! I'm 7, I almost have my mark!" She huffs.

"Well, I'm 14. I have my mark. You really shouldn't be here."

"You're 14!? Can you show me your magic, please, please, please?" She tugs on my shoulder more.

"Princess. You need to go home. Your parents-"

"I don't see your parents! I don't get why I have to go and you don't have to." She crosses her arms and turns away from me,

"Well, your parents are worried about you. My parents haven't seen me in a year. Your parents love you unconditionally. My father doesn't care about me. You are a princess. Me? I don't matter."

I was pissed. I was so pissed at this little girl who hadn't done anything wrong.
I know why I did it. I know where the words came from.
But I shouldn't have done it.

Yeah.

She backs away from me, her eyes watering.

"Your parents love you... every parent should love their child." Her voice wavers.

"Perhaps every parent should, but not every parent does. I... sorry. I shouldn't have blown up like that."

She actually starts crying and I slightly panic. I was never good with comforting people, so I just let her cry into my shirt.

"Er, it's okay. You haven't done anything wrong."

"But it's not fair! You should have good parents too!" She was a good kid, I knew that.

"Hey, it's okay. Everyone is born in different circumstances, you just have to make the most of it."

"You sure?"

"Yeah. But you really should go back home. It's not safe out here."

"Can you come with me?"

"Yeah, sure. Let's go, Princess." Her fingers wrap around my arm and we swim back.

~~~

"Marilla! Darling, you had me worried sick!" Queen Nahla scooped her up in her arms and held for for a moment.
I looked away.

"Mommy! Meet my friend uh..." She looks at me.

"Chelsy Torrent. Cascade if you want to be formal, your majesty."

"Torrent?" Her eyes narrow.

"It's from my father's side."

"Uh, honey, go to your room for a second. I'll be right there." Marilla pauses before disappearing around the corner.

"I assure you, I'm not trying to get back the throne or anything. My family lives in Prebia, we don't want anything to do with this."

"I wasn't very worried about that, but I am wondering why you're here."

"I'm with some friends. We got lost and ended up here."

"How- what happened?"

"My father survived. His friend dressed up as him and Lucifer didn't do his homework."

She paused.

"So you're living in Prebia?"

"Yeah. We really don't want to be... here. No offense."

"None taken, really. I guess you have somewhere to go?" I nod before Marilla burst back into the room.

"Noooooooo! Don't go, pleaseeeee!" She clings onto my shirt.

"Honey, I told you to go to your room."

"I don't care! I like Chelsy! Can't she stay, please?"

"Honey, she has friends and family she needs to go back to." She picks up Marilla.

"She said her family doesn't like her." Marilla huffs, but Queen Nahla looks over at me

"Is that true?"

"I... I don't have the best relationship with my dad." I look away. Today felt like I was oversharing way too much.

"Well... you're always welcome here, Miss Chelsy." She gives a small nod. "But I'm sure you have somewhere to go."

"Yeah, thank you for listening." I wave goodbye before walking to the end of the hallway. I turn around one last time before stepping through the gateway. When the water touched my skin, I felt a little better.

~~~

"Hey, guys. Sorry for leaving, but I have had a day."

"Really?"

"Well, I met the queen and the princess."

"I-"