All dialogue in this chapter is in Arissian

Chapter is also from novo's perspective.

“Why don’t you go out more, Novo?”

I sighed to myself. “I prefer to stay here with my people where I’m needed, I thought we established that, Silver.”

“Well, it’s just that...doesn’t living in this castle get lonely after a while, don't you have like, friends or someone like that. What about that surface girl you know, Solaris? And weren’t you married at one point?”

“Celestia’s moved on since I last met her, and I prefer not to discuss my marriage, and I assume he has moved on, too. Why does it matter to you, anyway?”

“Well, with Skystar going to the surface more and more, and hanging out with guys and stuff, I was wondering why you weren't doing the same.” Silverstream just sheepishly smiled at me. “Don’t hate me.”

“Silver, your concern is...understandable, but like I said, I prefer to stay here. The ocean and this kingdom have always been my home, and the people here look up to me, SkyStar has...other interests, to say the least, and I believe she is at a point where she can make her own decisions”

“Oh, I understand.” All of a sudden, Silverstream was hit in the back with a plastic suction cup harpoon. Her kid brother, a child around 7 years old with pale skin, curly green fins/hair and a light grey tail named Terramar floating behind her, giggling mischievously.

“You’re it,” he said smugly, sticking his tongue out.

“Why you…” Silversilver turned to him and playfully chased him out of the throne room, Terramar continually swimming ahead, teasing her.

“These two…” I looked up at the ceiling, saying to myself. “May Naga and Ray bless them.”

Just then, my daughter, SkyStar came into the throne room, her usual awkward and socially inept demeanor replaced with uncertainty and sense of suspicion. Something which definitely put me on edge, though I tried my best not to show it.

“SkyStar! What brings you here? It better not be ANOTHER shell.”

“Mom, I want to know something!”

“Yes, what is it?” I said, hiding my dread, hoping she wasn’t going to ask what I thought she is going to ask about.

“Did you really try to shove my dad out of my life?”

I looked at her sternly. “What brought this on?”

Sky looked down at herself. “I met my father, Sea-Snail, earlier today.”

“You didn’t tell me you went out to the surface.”

“I thought I was old enough to go up there.”

“I also said you need to tell me whenever you are going anywhere,” I said sharply.

“Sorry, I guess I...forgot.” my daughter looked at me, a touch of sternness still in her eyes. “Anyway, I met my father today, well, technically I met him two days ago, and I asked him why he left me alone, and he said you drove him away, I was just…”

“That was from a chapter of my life I’d rather not look back on. And I prefer not not discuss it with you at this time. Where did you meet him, anyway?”

“When I was hanging out with Spada the other day, he was helping me with a drink mishap, though I didn’t know who he was at the time.”

“I see.” I closed my eyes and sighed. “That will be all.”

“But you didn’t.”

“I said, that will be all.”

SkyStar just gave up and sadly swam out of the throne room. When she was out I grabbed a glossy pink sphere from beside my throne and flipped the switch on the back of it, it sprawling into a robotic jellyfish, called a ‘Stinger’, Stingers are usually used for retrieval, advisory and sometimes scouting purposes, though their use differs depending on how their programmed and who’s using it. I usually just use mine to help with scheduling and giving orders to Scouters and Advisors.

“I need you to retrieve my sister, for me, there is something I wish to discuss with her, in private.”

I looked at my sister and sighed. “When I removed Sea-Snail from my daughter’s life, I thought it was for the best. I believe that his open attitude towards surface dwellers would put us and my daughter in danger. Over time, I eventually learned what a mistake that philosophy was and that I should have handled my relationship with him a lot better.”

“So you know you made a mistake. What are you so worried about?”

“I’m worried he may hold a grudge after all these years. That he sees me as hypocritical and unfit to take care of SkyStar, and that he’ll take her away and raise her himself.”

My sister rolled her eyes. “Paranoid as usual I see,” she said to herself.

“Try to put yourself in this situation, your husband spends a lot of time on the surface, right.”

“Yes.”

“Well, what if he divorced you, took full custody of your children and refused to let you raise or even see them, all the while preventing you from doing anything, would you let him continue to raise your kids if he returned several years later, especially if his actions contradict things he said in the past.”

She looked down on herself. “No, not really.”

“And that’s what I’m worried about, I can’t lose her any more of my family, especially after the incident at the Canterlot Embassy all those years ago.”

“So you’re just gonna hide from him?”

“I SAID I DON’T WANT TO START ANYTHING!.” I snapped at her before resuming my composure. “Honestly, Ocean, I am scared to death about this, every time I think of Sea-snail I am reminded that I took Skystar away from him when he had done nothing wrong. For years I have prayed to Naga and Ray to forgive me and make me forget the whole thing happened.”

“Novo, look…” Ocean put an arm over my shoulder. “You can’t just keep hiding away from your problems, and I highly doubt Naga and Ray are going to forgive you unless you confront this.”

I sighed and looked at her, reluctant. “I know you’re right, Ocean, it’s just...I need to sleep on this.”

“Ok,” Ocean made her way out. “See you later, and I hope it goes well.”

Soon enough, she was out of the room leaving me to my thoughts. “Why do I have the feeling it won’t?” I said to myself, fearful.

Author's Note

Queen novo, while on the surface regal and composed, deep down she is fearful and anxious, at least that's how I see her

Anyway, that's my two cents, Likes and comments are greatly appreciated, , MJP out.