In the kingdom of AQUARIA, like every kingdom, Aquaria has a King, a Queen and their royal children. In this magical underwater world, the rulers are King Orion Calypso and Queen Haisly Calypso. They've led the kingdom for a long time, the King has been around for 356,464 lunar cycles to be exact, then the Queen for 293,473 lunar cycles. They're wise, calm and respected by everyone in the sea.
Aquaria is the biggest kingdom of all kingdoms in the ocean, so everyone respected it a lot. All the other kingdoms bowed and reported to this one. It was a place of deep sapphire waters and towering structures made of shimmering pearl, a beacon of light in the vast, uncharted depths.
The royal couple has five daughters, no sons. They weren't very blessed with sons. Only girls and their oldest is Princess Cleo, who is 108,541 lunar cycles old. She's strong, serious and always believed she'd be Queen one day, so she spent her entire life training for it.
She had mastered the art of command, the history of the currents and the combat styles of the deep-sea guards. To Cleo, the throne wasn't just a seat, it was her destiny, etched into her mind since she was a small fry.
Next is Princess Clara, who is 81,291. She's kind, curious and has a special way of connecting with sea creatures. She's very different and unique, calm and too beautiful. Then there's her twin sister Ariel, also 81,291, but they look nothing alike.
They were born at the same time with Clara, but Clara came first, so she's considered the one elder. While Clara spent her time whispering to the shy garden eels, Ariel was out racing the swiftest currents. Ariel is bold and loves adventure. She's also sweet and very, very kind.
After them comes Shelly, she's 67,822 years old. She's sweet and clever, often found in the royal library deciphering ancient shell-scripts. And the youngest is then little Princess Kelly, just 31,610, full of energy and always asking questions about why the sky is blue and how the jellyfish glow. The royal family is packed and full of love.
Aquaria lies hidden between the Great Barrier Reef and the shimmering shores of Atlantis. The clear blue waters of the Cerulean Abyss protect it like a blanket. The kingdom is filled with mermaids and all kinds of sea creatures who live in colourful coral homes, sing with the waves and celebrate the magic of the sea. Giant whales act as moving islands and schools of neon fish light up the streets like living neon signs.
And today, the palace of Aquaria had never glowed this brightly. Coral lanterns pulsed with gentle light, schools of silverish fish twirled in synchronized dances and the music echoed through the coral arches. Mermaids, sea creatures and even the oldest beings of the sea had gathered for the special day. The atmosphere was filled with excitement, the water humming with the collective heartbeat of thousands of spectators.
Today was the day Clara, the second princess of Aquaria, would be crowned as the future Queen. The oceans have spoken and chosen its Queen, which is her. This news had sent ripples of shock through the Seven Seas, for never in history had the second-born been elevated above the first.
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Princess Clara floated nervously behind a curtain of pearls at the entrance of the Grand Hall where the ceremonial of being crowned was happening. Her tail shimmered in gentle shades of purple and pink, her hair braided with strands of soft sea silk that trailed behind her like a comet's tail. Mini, her loyal seahorse friend, zipped around her excitedly, his tiny fins fluttering at a mile a minute.
"You look amazing, Clara ! Like, legendary amazing," Mini squeaked, his voice high and bubbly.
"I feel like I'm going to faint," Clara whispered back, her heart pounding like crashing waves against a rocky cliff. She adjusted the pearl silk on her bodice, her hands trembling. Just then, the curtain lifted.
A hush fell over the crowd as Clara slowly swam forward, guided by Oceana the octopus, who used her many arms to keep the path clear and graceful. Her sisters, Ariel, Shelly and Kelly stood by the side of the royal platform, beaming with pride. Ariel gave her a secret thumbs-up, while little Kelly hopped up and down.
The only one missing princess was Cleo, the eldest. Clara's eyes flicked around the room nervously, but there was no sign of her. She really needed Cleo on this day, to walk down the hall side by side with her. The absence felt like a cold current in the middle of a warm summer bay.
King Orion and Queen Haisly sat tall and proud on their thrones made of sea stone and glowing shells. At their feet was the Royal Elder of the Sea, Calantha. She's the oldest mermaid in all the oceans, her hair was silver and floated around her like a cloud and her voice sounded like wind through ancient coral. Once in front of her parents and the elders, Clara bowed respectfully, her purple tail curling tucked neatly beneath her.
"Clara of House Calypso, second daughter of King Orion Calypso and Queen Haisly Calypso," Calantha began, raising her staff made of driftwood and sea crystal. "You stand before the Kingdom of Aquaria today, not as a child, but as one chosen by the sea itself."
The crowd held its breath. Some smiled with genuine joy, while some were still wondering how the second daughter was chosen as Queen over the battle-hardened Cleo. But no one dared question the royal prophecy or edict.
"You were born under the full tide of the Silver Moon. The prophecy, told long before your time, spoke of a child born with a heart so pure it would make the Pearl of Elyria awaken once more. And it has. In all these years, we've searched all the seven oceans, from the Sapphire Depths to the Coral Reach, looking for the person born at this time and we've found her. It's you, my dear," she added.
Gasps whispered through the hall like bubbles rising to the surface. The pearl around Clara's neck, a family heirloom she had worn since she was a fry, began to glow softly with a rhythmic, pulsing light.
"Why her ?" someone murmured in the crowd, a voice filled with confusion.
"Yes, why her ? She is a twin, so how can you be sure that it is her and not Ariel ?" another one murmured.
Calantha continued, her eyes glowing with an inner light that matched the pearl. "Clara speaks the language of the deep. She can hear the whales sing and talk to the smallest crabs. She doesn't seek power, she shows mercy. She doesn't crave attention, she listens. That, dear Aquaria, is the heart of a Queen. And to answer your questions, when Clara was born, the ocean heart glowed and shone its bright light straight to her. She carries the birthmark of the silver moon on her body. That's how we got to know she's the chosen one."
Clara felt her throat tighten. She hadn't asked for this. She preferred the quiet corners of the reef to the bright lights of the throne room. But hearing Calantha speak made her feel both proud and scared at the same time. They all looked at her with so much hope, like she's the light they've been waiting for, but knowing that she's just an ordinary girl inside scared her even more.
"I thought the rules stated that a prince or princess cannot be crowned Queen or King till they're well trained, mastered all the royal rules, knows the history of all seven oceans and turned 100,000 lunar cycles. She's not even 90,000 lunar cycles !" One of the mer-lords spoke up while standing up, his face stern.
The other mermaids and mermen nodded in agreement with him, a low rumble of conversation filling the hall.
"Once the prophecy is out, we cannot go against it or it will anger the ocean. Which is why we will perform the ceremony the right way, but she will just be assisting the Queen, do her training and be the crown princess until she turns 100,000 lunar cycles. This way the ocean will be happy and we will stay safe," Calantha explained again and the people nodded, understanding it now. The logic was sound, respect the magic, but respect the tradition of age as well.
Queen Haisly rose next, walking down to her daughter and placed her hand on Clara's shoulder. "My lovely daughter," she said gently with a proud smile and Clara somehow felt better. The warmth of her mother's hand calmed the storm in her chest.
"You may be young and yes, full of questions. This is a huge responsibility, I know, but we have watched you grow. We have seen your love for this kingdom, even when you didn't know it. The Pearl chose you, the entire ocean heart chose you and now it is time. Time you claim your rightful place next to me, time to be a Queen to your people." She then bowed softly to her, and Clara bowed back, her heart swelling.
King Orion stepped forward too, holding a crown which was shimmering in his hand. It was fashioned from rare violet coral and encrusted with diamonds from the deepest ocean trenches. He stood before Calantha and gave the crown to her, as it is the duty of the elder to bestow titles or crowns to the next generation.
Calantha bowed before placing the small crown made of pearl and coral on Clara's head. It felt surprisingly heavy, a physical weight representing the lives of millions. "May you rule wisely, bring peace to the seas, carry power and wisdom with you wherever you go. May your reign be long and your people thrive and may the Gods of the ocean guide you, always by your side," Calantha said and bowed once again to Clara, who just smiled, her heart beating even faster now.
"Let it be known across the seven seas," King Orion said in a loud, clear voice that vibrated through the water, "Princess Clara of Aquaria is the chosen heir of the throne. May she lead us into a time of peace, magic and unity." The crowd erupted into cheers and claps. Mermaids twirled in the water, creating tiny whirlpools of joy.
Dolphins leaped in celebration near the palace skylights and colourful shells formed heart-shaped patterns in the water through ancient magic. Clara chuckled, looking at the mermaids dancing happily. The fear was still there, but it was being pushed aside by the warmth of the kingdom's love.
She stood straight, facing them and seeing that she wanted to speak, the crabs stopped clacking and everyone maintained order again. The silence was absolute.
"I, Clara Calypso, second princess of the Aquarian Ocean, accept this title and responsibility bestowed upon me. I vow to protect our oceans and all its creatures. I promise to keep our kingdoms safe and thriving. I swear to listen to the tides and guide our people with wisdom. Moreover, I promise to always ensure our people are happy and healthy. I will never disappoint the oceans," she concluded.
It was so beautiful that the elders nodded in solemn approval. Her voice hadn't shook, it had carried the strength of a true ruler. Her sisters swam to her and hugged her tightly in a bone-crushing hug.
Even little Kelly managed to wedge herself in, giggling. The music beamed again around the hall, louder and more triumphant than before. As the celebration began, Clara looked toward the entrance one last time, hoping to see Cleo's shadow. But the doorway remained empty, leaving a small, stinging ache in the middle of her greatest triumph.