"Princess Shirahoshi? You mean the giant mermaid?"
Fleet Admiral Sengoku raised an eyebrow as he recalled reports from his subordinates about the princess of Fish-Man Island known for her massive size and reclusive nature.
"Yes, that's her. There was some kind of explosion, but the details are still unclear," Tina replied. Her informants on Fish-Man Island had only picked up fragments of what happened. No one had the full picture yet.
"Alright. Keep following that Rin Pandora and his group and I want special attention on Artoria. I have a feeling there's more to both of them than meets the eye," Sengoku said with authority, suspicion lingering in his voice. There was something about those two… something that could shake the balance of power.
"Understood." Tina nodded firmly.
---
A few days later – Fish-Man Island, Ryugu Palace
"Princess Shirahoshi."
Artoria, now mostly recovered from the venom that had incapacitated her during the Sea King attack, stood at the entrance of Shirahoshi's chambers. Her strength had returned, and the first thing she did was visit the princess.
"Sister Artoria!"
Shirahoshi's entire demeanor brightened the moment she saw her. The normally tearful and timid mermaid princess had become attached to Artoria over the past few days.
"How have you been holding up?"
Artoria stepped closer, noticing Shirahoshi's usual melancholy expression. Something was bothering her.
"Oh, it's been miserable. Ever since I sneaked out the other day, Father has posted twice as many guards at my door. I can't even sneak a mosquito out with me now," Shirahoshi pouted. After her secret trip to Gyoncorde Plaza, where she had tried to feel close to her late mother, Queen Otohime, King Neptune had increased surveillance tenfold even holding her lessons inside her room now.
"He only wants to protect you, you know. I was going to scold you about that little escape stunt," Artoria began, arms crossed only for Shirahoshi to quickly cut her off.
"Okay, okay! I know it was dangerous, and I already got scolded a lot! See? I'm still in one piece!"
She flashed a nervous smile, trying to avoid another lecture.
"Still… if anything had happened to you, I wouldn't have been able to forgive myself," Artoria sighed, her tone softening. Despite being from different races and even different worlds, a sisterly bond had blossomed between them during their time together.
"Wait, you didn't just come here to scold me again, did you?" Shirahoshi quickly changed the subject, worried Artoria had come just to lecture her.
"Oh right. I actually came to tell you that… we're leaving tomorrow."
Artoria's voice was calm, but the words hit Shirahoshi like a Sea Train.
"What!? You're leaving?"
Shirahoshi gasped, her voice rising in disbelief. These past few days with Artoria had been like a dream and now she was leaving?
"Yes. We've already stayed on Fish-Man Island far too long. Rin thinks it's time we resumed our journey," Artoria explained. While she had been recovering, Rin and the others had been idle. But now that she was healed, it was time to move on.
"But didn't you promise to stay with me here in Ryugu Palace for a while longer?"
There was a trace of panic in Shirahoshi's voice. The bond she'd formed with Artoria was precious to her one of the few real connections outside her family.
"I know I said that but Rin needs me now. I have to go with him," Artoria said gently but firmly. There was no hesitation in her voice. She owed Rin her loyalty and her heart.
"But I don't want you to go…"
Shirahoshi's tears began to well up again, rolling down her cheeks one by one. She didn't want to lose someone who treated her like an equal, not just a fragile princess.
"Don't cry, Shirahoshi. I promise, I'll come back to see you."
Artoria reached forward and placed her hands on the princess's shoulders, trying to console her like an older sister would.
"Then… then let me come with you!"
The words escaped Shirahoshi's mouth before she could stop them. The idea had suddenly bloomed in her mind—leaving her tower, joining Artoria and Rin, seeing the world outside for the first time.
"Absolutely not. It's far too dangerous," Artoria replied immediately, her tone sharp and final. "This isn't a pleasure cruise it's a voyage through chaos. Everyone on our ship can fight. You can't. If something happened to you, we'd be in danger too."
"I… I wouldn't get in the way! I'll stay quietly on the ship!"
Shirahoshi's huge eyes were wide with desperation. She believed that just staying hidden aboard would be enough to join them.
"You can't," Artoria insisted. "Your size alone would make that impossible. You're larger than our entire ship and without any combat skills, you'd become a target for every pirate in the sea. And let's not forget you're the Mermaid Princess. Any pirate who captures you would become an instant legend."
Shirahoshi was stunned. Artoria's words weren't cruel they were honest. Painfully honest.
"And even if I said yes, do you really think King Neptune would allow it? Or your late mother, Queen Otohime do you think she'd want you to throw yourself into such danger?"
Artoria's voice softened again, invoking names Shirahoshi held close to her heart.
"If they don't agree… I'll sneak out again," Shirahoshi muttered under her breath, a stubborn glint appearing in her eyes.
Artoria exhaled heavily, rubbing her temples. This girl really was trouble.
---
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