”My Name Is Princess Nautilus!”

She smiled a little more as they rose. It was a strange feeling, dancing without a ground to dance on, but it was a fantastic feeling.

“Ah, sometimes we do. And thank you Grimm, although I don’t dance very much it’s still a wonderful thing to do sometimes. How about you? To be honest I don’t know much about your world, besides your past of course.”

“I see! I would be happy to tell you of my travels, though I’d like to hear of your kingdom in return. What sort of people are they? What do they love and cherish? Each land has a beautiful culture of its own, something meant to be appreciated! Food, song, dance, art…”

Grimm breathes a little fire into some of the lights above him, the scarlet shining and sparkling with the other colors of the magic.

“As for my people... We’re carefree hard workers! Also, bunny people like me. After Splashmaster destroyed our city, it was fixed in a few hours! We’re also the first kingdom to figure out how to do non-magical pocket dimension creation! It was fun, I played limbo in it!”

She listened intently to the other, eyes widening when seeing Grimm spitting fire.

What a nice party! The Stars are so pleasant... First raining diamonds, then fun games, she heard that she missed a museum, and now a castle to party in!

She walked through the halls of the castle. She should be happy, but... It reminded her of the home she left behind.

She sighed, looking at a finely painted picture of some distant field. She turned to head to the ballroom when she noticed purple. Oh, the Nightmare Knight!

“Ah, hello Nightmare Knight, semi-pleasant meeting you here! Unless you’re here to wreck havoc, then no! Not pleasant!”

He’s an eel.

“… Let us not get into any trouble, for his sake.”

What a nice party! The Stars are so pleasant... First raining diamonds, then fun games, she heard that she missed a museum, and now a castle to party in!

She walked through the halls of the castle. She should be happy, but... It reminded her of the home she left behind.

She sighed, looking at a finely painted picture of some distant field. She turned to head to the ballroom when she noticed purple. Oh, the Nightmare Knight!

“Ah, hello Nightmare Knight, semi-pleasant meeting you here! Unless you’re here to wreck havoc, then no! Not pleasant!”

“Oh, good. A Ripple Princess’ protector.” The royalty had those little guardians from time to time, depending on how magically inclined they were feeling. Of course their dear, reckless princess would have one. “What is it this time? A starfish? Some manner of sponge? Have they finally decided a crab would make sense?”

He mimes drinking, to be polite. “I suppose I can spend some time keeping an eye on you. This party interests me not, but I feel I cannot just leave.” He looks over the party’s crowds. “It would give me something to do.”

“Huh? Oh no, he’s an eel! Liquus is the name!”

“Hmm, you know, this whole setup seems like a pretty good way to earn some cash on the side.”  The witch was lifting a store mannequin’s arm by the fingertips, examining it up and down to see if she could tell whether or not it was candy before she’d take a bite.  “If humans are at all like my apprentice, you’d probably be able to find people around here who’d pay for an experience like this!”  A swift chomp took off a couple of the figure’s fingers, which she began contently chewing away at…

Nautilus listens to the nice melody as she accepts his hands and follows him in flow.

“Ah well, it might be because you aren’t rehearsed in the ocean. Now only birds can both swim and fly, but there are sea creatures that can imitate flight, moving through the water like how a bird travels the skies. Those are mine! A ray’s, which are just pancakes that can swim. Incredibly elegant in the water, although probably not in the air…”

She started to fly in the air to be at eye-level with Grimm.

“A sea creature… called a ray, that glides through the ocean… Ah, I simply must research it later!”

Like a pancake, she calls it… Leading the rhythmic dance, Grimm steps in time, doing a few slow spins and eventually levitating up into the air more himself. The sight of every dancer in the sky, pixies and others, the magic in the wind… it’s quite a sight.

would you like to talk about it?

please tell me what’s bothering you.

hey, are you okay?

i don’t have to know everything. just what you’re comfortable telling me.

i’m your friend. of course i care.

there’s nothing bad about going to therapy.

would you like to try a different approach?

i – i didn’t know that. i’m sorry.

is this helping?

i’ll try not to ask a lot of questions.

i’m always here if you need me.

shh, it’s alright. shh. 

we’re safe now. you’re safe now.

it was just a nightmare.

sweetheart, you have to tell me these things.

you know i’d never judge you for that, right?

i’m worried about you.

is something going on? 

everything you say will just be between you and me.

what method do you prefer?

do you need help falling asleep?

anything i could do to help?

why are you like this?

i understand. 

sweetie, is there something you aren’t telling me? what’s wrong?

let’s get you cleaned up.

this is good. this is important. 

you’re healing, and healing takes time. 

we can do more tomorrow.

how about you get some sleep, hm?

bedtime.

it’s ok not to be ok.

tomorrow is another day.

hey, hey, hey. look at me, look at me. it’s okay.

breath in for seven seconds, exhale for eleven …

do you need some space?

The morning always comes.

This will be your home, for now.

Look at you, you sorry drunk.

Don’t you worry. This will help you forget.

I’ve never been use to anyone.

I only wanted to help…

Your blood is tainted.

You shall not abscond your crimes!

Is it the blood, or are you just raving mad?

This can’t be the real you. …Please, stop.

I have no time for your petty lies.

I will never leave your side.

Your presence somehow soothes.

I only wanted…to be your….friend

Would you ever think to love me?

You let the blood get the best of you.

Remember yourself. You are not a beast.

You are no more than a beast. I should’ve known.

Too proud to show your true face, eh?

I don’t seem apt for this life anymore.

Please, just stop. Stop, please!

Of course…I do love you.

We are born of the blood, made men by the blood, undone by the blood.

My eyes grow heavy…Let me rest a while. I’ll be fine, just wait.

Whatever can be gained from this place, it will do more harm than good.

We must find a way to surpass our own stupidity. 

Isn’t it time someone put you out of your misery?

I’d like to tender my thanks, but I haven’t much to offer.

Just think about what you’re doing. It’s utter madness.

What good is your immortality now!

You’ll be one of them, sooner or later.

May you find your worth in the waking world.

Have you got a screw loose? Or is it your…animal intuition?

You hunters have got more blood on your hands.

Hunters are killers, nothing less!

You call me a beast? A beast? What would you know? I didn’t ask for this!

Without fear in our hearts, we’re little different from the beasts themselves.

You can’t bottle everything up inside. You mustn’t be afraid to share.

Rancid beasts, every last one of us.

I should think you still have dreams?

But…do the gods love their creations?

May the good blood guide your way.

You know not the value you posses. 

The things you hunt, they’re not beasts. They’re people.

If you insist on hunting them, then I will hunt you first. You understand me?

What is the meaning of this? Why turn your blade on me?

The princess smiled at this gesture. “Ah thank you, Grimm! Unlike me, you’re dark, but a comfortable dark like looking at the night sky or sleeping under a pillow, just feeling the emptiness hug you!”

Nautilus smiled and went towards a fairy and got two wings on her back, although they looked neither like fairy nor bird wings, but instead kinda like a Manta ray’s?

She turned back to Grimm with her wings. “Yes, you may!”

Wow, that’s… probably one of the cutest things anyone’s ever said about him. Gently, he takes Nautilus’s hand while staring in interest at those unusual wings. But then Grimm soon turns his gaze to one of the pixies, silently asking for a special song—the pixie nods!

The music picks up into a romantic waltz, filled with flowing piano and accordion as Grimm leads their simple dance.

“Ah well, it might be because you aren’t rehearsed in the ocean. Now only birds can both swim and fly, but there are sea creatures that can imitate flight, moving through the water like how a bird travels the skies. Those are mine! A ray’s, which are just pancakes that can swim. Incredibly elegant in the water, although probably not in the air...”

She started to fly in the air to be at eye-level with Grimm.

Nautilus was with Liquus, who was... Big and buff. She didn’t like looking at him but if this is his ideal self then she won’t mind

They were in the cellar, finding the place after examining the walls thoroughly. There she sees a blue-haired man and decided to walk up to him.

“Hello, sir! Having fun?”

“Oohoohoo, yes, certainly!” James says, sounding definitely not at all nervous. “And if you see any of my, err, friends around looking for me--” people he definitely doesn’t owe money he doesn’t have because of card games-- “you never saw me. Got it?”

His mannerisms and gestures are mimicked by the Pokémon on his arm, echoing his ‘words’ with “Mime, mime!” They both look at the girl’s companion at the same time.

Nautilus blinked and turned to Liquus. “Ah! He’s no Pokemon, he’s my guardian! Right, Liquus?”

What a nice party! The Stars are so pleasant... First raining diamonds, then fun games, she heard that she missed a museum, and now a castle to party in!

She walked through the halls of the castle. She should be happy, but... It reminded her of the home she left behind.

She sighed, looking at a finely painted picture of some distant field. She turned to head to the ballroom when she noticed purple. Oh, the Nightmare Knight!

“Ah, hello Nightmare Knight, semi-pleasant meeting you here! Unless you’re here to wreck havoc, then no! Not pleasant!”

It was when he came upon a nice landscape painting that he had something to focus his mind on as well, not caring for the party or the festivities. Then, he had a yell to focus on. It was that little Ripple Kingdom princess. Left alone to wander a party full of strangers? Irresponsible.

Suddenly guilt struck the princess. “Oh no! What would my parents think about me? I just never thought to ask anyone to accompany me, I just wanted some fun! Oh no...” She shook her head. “Well, I do have my protector when things get wild, so...”

“My dear princess,” Grimm starts, getting down to his knees to bow before Nautilus. “These blue lights of the fairies are but a tiny sparkle to your luminosity, but would complement you well. They say they shall grant wings to those without so that we may take to the sky…”

“For the kindness you have shown me during our time in the city, may I humbly request this dance?”

Nautilus smiled and went towards a fairy and got two wings on her back, although they looked neither like fairy nor bird wings, but instead kinda like a Manta ray’s?

He glances at the tiny teacup that’s placed in front of him. To Leo, the cups and the appertaining teapot look like the kind of set that’s used to play tea party with dolls and plushies, but he keeps that thought to himself,  out of respect to the princess sitting across of him.

“Yes, there is!”

“Look–” she says, pulling up her basketful of assorted seashells, “I collected them all from the Golden Ward’s beach. I plan on putting them back, but wanted to show you.” WHY put them back when she can just make necklaces out of them, you ask? It’s simple: She doesn’t need all these shells to make a necklace!