Prince Marlin stood nervously outside the parlor of the deep palace. To his side, Lt. Colonel Yellowfin, his wife and second in command, and between them, a 1 month old dragonet. His daughter.
Marlin had intended to disappear with his wife and child from public life once the war was over. But the seawings pulling out of the war had pulled back the curtain on his private life.
News of his secret marriage had reached Coral. And Coral would insist that she meet the dragon he had chosen to be his partner.
But it wasn't Yellowfin that gave him worry. It was his daughter Trout. The little green and yellow dragonet clung to her fathers leg. Even she could sense the nervous energy emanating from the eldest prince.
Yellowfin gave a nod to Marlin. He knocked on the door.
A casual "doors unlocked, come in" was heard. Marlin opened the door to find his mother and father enjoying a snack of oyster meat and seaweed.
The prince and his family entered. "Mother, Father, this is Yellowfin. My wife." Gill stood up and extended his claw, shaking the Lt. Colonels claw "well well, looks like Marlin finally caught someones attention. It's a pleasure to meet you once again, Lt. Colonel."
Of course King Gill knew Yellowfin. It was him who handed down her promotion to the rank!
Marlin relaxed slightly, only to feel a weight detach from his leg. Trout stepped her way out from under her father to meet these strange new dragons.
The tiny princess was almost immediately scooped up by the queen.
"Well now, who might you be?"
Marlin calmed himself the best he could. "Mother, Father, this is Trout. My daughter, your granddaughter."
Coral and Gill were both immediately smitten by her. "My my, what a cutie pie. And to think your daddy was so intent on hiding you from grandma."
Trout boggled at all the attention she was receiving, these two strange new dragons were being very friendly to her. Her scales glittered and blink in delight. "She is adorable, Marlin. You must be quite proud of her."
Any apprehension Marlin had felt about this meeting was long gone. "Yes dad, I am quite proud of her."
This had not been Marlins post war plan for his family, but this might actually be better than what he had planned. And he was happy.
