IMPORTANT/FUTURE OF STORY:

Lately, I have been thinking of discontinuing my fics.

I just haven't been in a writing mood lately. Every time I start, I get discouraged and sidetracked. I'm either using my time for my artwork, or I'm working on my original stories, and I find myself just wanting to stop fanficiton.

At first I was just planning of going on a hiatus, but the more I think about it, the more I like the idea of just stopping. But I will not be deleting my stories off the site or off my computer, for I may comeback one day. But until then...it was nice writing for you.

Courtney

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Chp. 2 Meet the Parents

---

"You’ve got to be kidding." Raven said as she put on her uniform. It had been lying on the floor by her bed when she had woken the next day, and as if on cue, once she finished putting it on, Prodigis had walked in, with two spears in his arms.

The uniform consisted of a black iron, breastplate, with silver, shoulder plates. She wore a pair of black, firm fitting trunks, with silver, iron plated flaps that ran down her thigh and ended a few inches above her knee. Her helmet was no more than a metal band around her head with metal fins on each side of her face and her feet were bare.

"Wow!" Prodigis said with a whistle. "You wake up early."

"Habit." She answered briefly. "Why aren’t we better equipped? We’re supposed to be his guards, but we aren’t protected by anything."

"It’s just for show." He answered her as he dumped the spears onto her bed. "But if we were to spring into action, we are to reflect the word loricatus to the helmet and…oh that might be a problem for you."

"With telepathy right; like this?" she asked, and not bothering to wait for an answer as she thought the word ‘loricatus’. The next moment her body began to tingle as onyx black scales erupted onto her body.

"How do I look?" she asked as she moved around experimentally in her new scales.

He said nothing, but smiled broadly.

"Don’t get fresh." She told him as she turned towards the mirror. She saw that she still wore the uniform, just now scales covered her body, including her face. The scales had completely covered her mouth and nose; the only things left in view were her eyes.

"You do look nice though." Prodigis offered as she turned around just in time to catch the spear he had thrown at her.

"Thanks." She said dryly at his comment, wondering how her voice came out so clearly whilst being muffled by the scales. "How do I get it off?"

"Why the hurry?"

"How do I get it off?" she glowered.

"Reflect loricatus again." He answered quickly, giving her a smile. "Come on, as guards we have to escort his highness from the moment he wakes to the moment he falls asleep. He should be awakening now so we should be on the other side of his door the instant he opens it."

---

Aqualad had risen early. Today was the day. His parents were coming to check up on him and he would shock the hell out of them by showing them how responsible he was and how he kept his home in order.

He would bathe and patrol the castle to make sure everyone knew what they were supposed to do. He would supervise the decorating; check the books and important documents. He would make sure that not a single thing was out of place, and he would do it before Prodigis could tell him what to do, and if he just so happened to impress Raven while he did it...well that was just a perk.

Putting on his royal attire, Aqualad threw open the door to his room and marched out, to be immediately flanked by both Raven and Prodigis.

"What took you?" Prodigis asked conversationally as they trooped down the hall, ignoring how Aqualad’s shoulders sank in defeat.

"I’m going to get out one day without you. You know that don’t you?"

"Sure you will." Prodigis responded, and it sounded like, to Raven’s ears, he didn’t even believe his own words.

Aqualad seemed to come up with this conclusion too, for he grunted in annoyance.

"I’ve taken the liberty of conducting a to-do list for you to accomplish before your parents arrive."

"I’ve already made a list, thank you." Aqualad snapped, as he swatted the offered list away.

"Be that as it may," Prodigis said sternly, as his webbed hand gripped Aqualad’s shoulder tightly, halting the young prince in his steps. "I feel you will accomplish more with a written list, your Highness."

Raven stood there silently, and watched with an indignant expression as the two stared each other off. She guessed it was a normal occurrence with the two.

"I’m not afraid of you." Aqualad muttered as he snatched the list from Prodigis’s outstretched hand.

"Why would you be? You have no reason to, your highness." Prodigis answered as he bowed his head respectfully, and with a huff of annoyance, Aqualad preceded down the hall.

And as he passed, Prodigis looked up at Raven with a smile and whispered: "Yes he is."

"Ew, Prodigis, you got your nasty mutant slime all over the list."

At Aqualad’s comment, the smile dropped from his face only to be replaced by one of annoyance. And if she had less control over her emotions, Raven would have laughed, but she did, so she didn’t.

---

Raven was in need of some much needed meditation, and she finally got her chance, after trudging behind the arguing couple for hours, when the two decided a bit of practice training was in order.

They had jumped into one of the many pools around the castle that held rooms and other places that were submerged in water. This particular one lead to a training room, this she could tell by the many weapons that were shelved on the walls. She had opted to stay above and keep watch, and after only a little goading from the two, and a forceful no from her, they had agreed, and left her to the peace she craved.

That peace was short in coming. Whenever she had finally gotten into deep meditation, she was interrupted by servants, asking her if she was alright, where was the prince, why was she grey, if she needed anything, Oh we didn’t know anyone was in here, the list went on and on. She was also interrupted by Aqualad and Prodigis, whose combating was loud and boisterous, and sometimes would send explosions of water through the pool to rain down on her. And lastly, the thing that just wouldn’t allow her to meditate was her own mind.

‘Just what the hell am I going to be doing besides guarding?’

The thought wouldn’t leave her alone.

Along with wondering why she and Prodigis were the only ones in skintight trunks for armor. Whilst traveling around the castle with the two, Raven had spotted other guards standing around. They had been fully armored. She had thought that the only guards around were her and Prodigis, but upon seeing the others she had gotten confused.

When she had voiced this to Aqualad, Prodigis had told her that they were guards of the castle, and while they too protected the prince, they protected the home while we protect the prince directly.

That still didn’t answer her question about why they were so underdressed, why she was so underdressed, Prodigis was alright, being a guy, but too much skin was showing for her liking, even if she could cover herself up with the scales, they were still a bit clingy.

Not that she was complaining completely, she did get a bit of a show with Prodigis. Even though he was some mysterious sea creature, he didn’t look even a quarter bad in his trunks, and she found the sight of his muscled toned body cross her more than once, less than three, but more than once.

She inwardly smirked as she knew the feeling was mutual, she had caught him staring at her a few times when they were patrolling with Aqualad, and pride reared its identical head and teamed up her hormones to make her pull her shoulders back and give him a small, meager, enticing look. He responded with a few flexes and a suggestive smile.

This had continued for a while before Aqualad had rounded on them with a clenched jaw. Shortly after this, the two boys had retired to the practice grounds, which is how this train of thought had taken Raven for a ride.

“Your Highness!” a voice screeched loudly, breaking Raven’s meditation once again.

Sighing silently she opened her eyes and stood up as she cast a blank stare onto the servant who had interrupted her.

It was a girl, a few years younger than Raven, with ratty white-blonde hair, pointed brown teeth, and webbed hands. Her skin was grey-green and looked clammy and wet; she wasn’t an attractive child at all.

“Oh, my apologies Mistress.” The girl mumbled in embarrassment as she bowed lowly. “But scouts have spotted a carriage approaching, we believe it is the Queen and King. Should I inform his Highness?” the girl asked with a blush.

“I’ll do it.” Raven offered, as she inclined her head towards the girl, an obvious dismissal which the girl recognized with apparent disappointment.

“Very well, Mistress.” The girl replied as she slowly began to leave.

Not waiting for the girl to depart, Raven stepped over to the pool, and with a few quick recited words, had pulled both males out of the water and deposited them on the floor.

Hearing a gasp behind her, Raven had barely enough time to move before the girl servant was past her and helping Aqualad up, her blush bright and glowing across her face.

“What’s going on?” Prodigis demanded with clear annoyance as he hoisted himself up off the floor.

“She…” Raven began as she nodded her head at Aqualad’s admirer, “said that a carriage approaches and that everyone believes it’s your parents.” The last part was directed at Aqualad, who was oblivious to the love-struck pre-teen still attached to his arm.

“Are you sure? How far off are they? How long til they get here?” Aqualad asked with nervous excitement.

“Not sure, maybe you should ask your appendage there?”

“How OH!” Aqualad had gotten his first look at the messenger and jumped at how close she was and how she stared at him adoringly.

“Miranda! It’s you!” He greeted anxiously.

“Yes my prince.” She breathed out.

“How long Miranda?” Prodigis asked as he took control.

“Only a few moments away, sir.” Miranda answered without taking her eyes off her prince.

“Then there’s no time to lose.” Aqualad declared as he shook the water off his body, along with Miranda’s grasp, and quickly adorned his noble clothing once again.

By the time he was ready, Raven and Prodigis were suited once more and stood at attention with their spears perched by their sides.

“They’ll arrive at the court room entranceway.” Aqualad told them quickly before he took off at run down the hall with Prodigis on his tail, fatigue they would have felt from the training completely gone.

And with a glance at Miranda, Raven followed behind in their wake.

---

The castle was abuzz with excitement. The King and Queen were coming for a visit after so many years. The court room was quickly being filled with servants as everything was cleaned and arranged for the last time. The throne pillows were fluffed and turned over, with Aqualad’s being the smallest and sat in between each of his parent’s.

The Red Carpet was rolled out, fresh flowers were arranged, the drapes were pulled back to let in some sea light, and the great windows, which also served as doors, were opened so Aqualad could greet his parents. This room, like many others, was dry, and remained so even after the doors were opened. The water remained where it was, a shimmering curtain of water that held the balcony in its grooves. Raven was impressed.

Stopping at the wall of water, Aqualad took a deep breath as the trumpeters trumped passed him and went to wait on the balcony.

“So what do you think that father of yours is going to do this time?” Prodigis asked as he took his position on one side of the door, and Raven the other.

“My father? I’m won’t take all the fame, I like to share. I have no idea what your uncle will do?”

“You two are cousins?” Raven asked with a raised eyebrow.

“Of course,” Prodigis answered her with a smile directed at his cousin. “All of the Imperial Guards are the family of the second branch. When Poseidon retired as King of the Oceans, he had two sons he could have chosen to be his successor. One brother was my great to the nth power grandfather, and the other was his. They had a contest between to see who would rule and who would protect.”

“And your grandfather lost?” Raven guessed.

“Are you crazy?” Prodigis asked with a bark of laughter. “My grandfather won! Who wants to be king, I mean really? My grandfather loved the ocean and what better way to show that love than to protect it. Kings rule it, Imperial guards protect it. Why rule the thing you love when you can keep it safe. By protecting the Kings and Queens, we protect the seas. Besides, if anything was to happen to him I would then be King. That’s why I make sure nothing happens to him. Everyone watches the King. If he does one thing un-kinglike, he’s a disgrace. I don’t need that. He can have it all.”

“If you’re done making me feel bad…” Aqualad interrupted with a playful grin, “I do believe I see your uncle’s carriage.” And without waiting to here a comeback, Aqualad wafted through to the other side, his hair floating around him like an oil spill.

“HE’S YOUR FATHER!” Prodigis yelled back in vain, “His father’s a bit eccentric. I don’t claim him. Luckily his guard is my father, and he keeps him in line.” By the look on his face when he spoke of his father, Raven got the impression that Prodigis thought highly of him.

Trumpets blowing brought them back to their senses and as they looked out, Aqualad glanced back at them, grinned broadly, and gave them two thumbs up, reminding Raven of why she had thought him so fetching the first time they had met.

Upon seeing him walk out farther she made a move to follow him but Prodigis’s spear stopped her in her tracks. “We wait here.” He informed her.

Nodding that she understood, she retreated back to her post by the door and stood to watch the reception.

The carriage came speeding from out of nowhere. The world’s largest conch sell, being pulled by, of all things, eight massive black sharks. The person driving, beyond her understanding, managed to abruptly stop the carriage directly in front of the balcony.

She couldn’t hear what was going on, but she could see it. Out from the carriage stepped three people. The first was obviously the Queen. A mermaid with long flowing green hair with a tail to match. She soon developed Aqualad into a hug and smothered him in motherly kisses.

Raven heard Prodigis snort with laughter.

The other two were men, the bigger one being the King, for he swooped Aqualad up into a bear hug and swung his body from side to side like a rag doll. The other man, stood off to the side, fully armored, way more than Prodigis and Raven, much to her annoyance.

“Here they come.” Prodigis announced unnecessarily as he stood up straighter and stared straight ahead.

First through was Aqualad, looking embarrassed and disheveled. Straightening out his clothing he gave her a quick smile before he moved towards his throne. Next to come was the King, and though he seemed big from afar, up close Raven could see that the man was really mammoth.

He was a dark skinned man more than 7 feet tall and extremely burly, with inky black hair cut short atop his head with a thin, yet rugged, beard, and a wide smile. She watched as, like Aqualad and Prodigis, water simply rolled off him and his clothing, leaving them dry to bone. Upon entering the room, his eyes immediately fell on Prodigis, who vividly swallowed.

“Diggy!” The King yelled in a loud boisterous voice, as he fell upon his nephew and hugged him in the same fashion as Aqualad, who, Raven saw, smiled in satisfaction at his cousin’s demise.

“Good to see you, boy!” he said as he set Prodigis down and patted him on the back, sending the strange boy flying to the floor.

“You too, Uncle!” Prodigis muttered as he tried not to wince at the pain in his back.

Raven tensed as the man turned to face her, but before he could crush her small body, for that’s what she thought was coming; a feminine hand had pushed through the curtain of water and tapped him on the shoulder.

“Oh where are my manners.” The King exclaimed loudly, making Raven realized that this man always spoke loud, even when embarrassed.

“Come now, my dear Semiramis, how could I forget you?” Reaching one of his gargantuan hands back out into the water he wrapped it around his wife’s waist and pulled her through and into his arms, for her fins were incapable of walking.

Queen Semiramis was an extremely curvy woman, mer-woman, with sea green hair, blue tinged skin, and eyes like her son.

“Prodigis, my dear.” Semiramis greeted as her husband swiveled around so she could see him. “So good to see you again, you’ve grown quite a lot since last we seen you.”

“And you,” this was directed at Raven as the Queen was turned to face her. “You’ll have to excuse me for a while. Getting my dry land legs is quite a tiresome act, and I’ll be out of it for a second.” Smiling apologetically, Semiramis and her husband left to join Aqualad.

Last through came the King’s imperial guard. Prodigis’s father. She knew this because Prodigis was the spitting image of this older sea creature. He stepped through regally and took a quick survey of the room before addressing his son. It wasn’t the greeting Raven had been expecting,

“Boy.” Prodigis’s father greeted gruffly.

“Old Man.” Prodigis responded without looking at him.

“You’re still as puny as ever.”

“I could beat your old retched body with one finger, my eyes blinded, a fatal wound, and under a minute, even if you weren’t only a few minutes away from death, you old miserable decaying fart.”

Raven stared disbelievingly at the two as they stared angrily at each other.

“That’s my boy,” the old guard said proudly as he wrapped his son into a one armed hug and patted him on his bald head. “Oh, who’s this?”

“This is Lady Raven.” Prodigis answered with a devious smile. “Our new Lady Imperial Guard.”

“New Guard? Why weren’t we informed?”

“She just arrived yesterday.”

“Yesterday. What do you mean yes…Oh no. He didn’t?” suddenly a smile identical to his son’s sprouted upon the old guard’s face.

“He did!” Prodigis answered mischievously.

“Is she...?”

“She’s here to be just a guard.” Prodigis interrupted. “That’s all he told her.”

“So she doesn’t know?”

“Not a clue.”

“No matter how indifferent I am towards other people, I must say you two are getting on my nerves talking about me as if I wasn’t here.” Raven spoke up gruffly.

“My apologies, Mistress.” He said with a smile as he gave her a quick bow. “I am Maiestas, Imperial guard to my brother, King Tantus, but you may call me Mai.”

“Where’s the other guard. The female one. Aqualad said it was tradition for the King to have two.”

“Of course its tradition. Just…to tell you the truth.” Here Mai leaned in close and began to whisper. “Female guards don’t last long.”

“Stop dad,” Prodigis scolded him with a frown, “You’re scaring her.”

“No one’s scaring me. You’re making me angry. Now what don’t I know and what happened to the other guard?”

“I don’t know if I should tell you, ask my father?” Prodigis offered with a smile.

Raven scowled and turned towards Mai, who smiled in return. “He’s your counterpart, ask my son?”

Raven, despite herself, turned back to Prodigis. “Ask my…”

“I could kill you both now in a blink of an eye and put your souls in jars, tell me what’s going on.”

“I like her!” Mai exclaimed happily after a pause. “What do you think of my son? Fine looking boy, eh?”

“Dad?” Prodigis cried out, plainly embarrassed, before stalking off towards Aqualad.

“Son!” Mai barked as he followed suit.

“Jars!” Raven growled in annoyance.

“Aww, that’s much better!” She heard the queen sigh.

Glancing up, Raven saw the queen standing up on a pair of newly formed legs and wrap a skirt around her naked waist, before turning towards Raven with a smile. And before Raven knew it, the Queen had a spear in hand and her face had gone hard and cold.

And with the eyes of an eagle fixed on Raven, Semiramis threw the spear. Raven stood there frozen, not sure what to do and in a blink of an eye, the spear was upon her.