Various Trials: Be Courageous, Young Child

Geode watched from the corner of the nest as Mal took the other three away, a look of sadness in her eyes. She didn't have the skills like the others, her flippers felt weak and heavy all the time, like she didn't have the strength or ability to venture further out of their cave whenever they went near the mouth of it. She didn't like what was waiting outside, she didn't know what could possibly be out there! And with her parents occupied with the others there, who would look after her...? What if she just vanished and no one knew where she went?

With a small, pitiful whimper, she hunkered back down into their nest of softened kelp, looking downright miserable as she rested her head on a softly chittering reviled sea slug. She liked that one, and it gave her a small amount of comfort to know it was there. Sure, it was Spessy's companion, but she still liked it...But... It wasn't her fault she was scared of such large, open waters, right? It wasn't like she was intentionally just not wanting to go out there, her flippers felt like jelly whenever she tried. The constant teasing and jeering of her siblings never helped matters, no matter how much her mum snarled and snapped, nothing ever happened. They would always tease her for not being able to go outside, for not playing chasey outside, for not playing hide and seek... It wasn't like she didn't want to play! She just couldn't go outside, the wide, open waters seemed so terrifying to her.

"I thought you'd be here my little munchkin, why are you hiding..?" Spessy asked, her orange nose gently nuzzling Geodes cheek, making her give the tiniest sigh.

"I didn't want to go with them, and I felt sad I'm missing out again on what they're doing." Geode said, her voice soft and sad.

"Why don't they get scared like I do?"

"Because they have me out and about!" A voice chirped, one which made Geodes head perk right up, the stinging tears suddenly clearing as a smile broke out over her face.

"Aunty Sammy!" She chirped as she saw the smaller singer near the entrance of their den, Samoa's appearance always something that brightened the little girls day up that little bit more. She was always so fun to play with! Much more fun than her siblings and their eternal teasing. The smaller Aqrion twisted herself up, dashing towards her favourite aunt, almost crashing into her. But Samoa pulled herself back, just in time, then lowered her head to give a gentle nuzzle to Geode. Spessy, who was watching the two of them closely, beginning to laugh softly as she scooped up her little Slug, placing it back on the rightful place on her shoulder. It agreed, chittering away happily.

"Good to see you too, Geo, you should be out there playing with your siblings! I already said hi to them, why don't we go play?" Samoa asked, gesturing towards the entrance of the den yet again... Geode looked worried for a few moments, biting her cheek softly.

"I... I don't like it." Geode said quietly, casting her gaze away, a small feeling of helplessness coming back to her, the jeers and teasing of her siblings ringing in her mind. Words that hurt and cut her deep, it wasn't like she intentionally avoided it, it just scared her!

"A giant scared of the water..? Now isn't this a conundrum!" Samoa declared, a small smile on her face, "You see how big your mummy and daddy are, you think anyone wants to pick a fight with them..?"

Geode looked up at Sammy in surprise, before slowly turning her head towards her mum. Those spikes which broke through her skin, looked dangerous and sharp, but whenever she'd touched them, they were almost dull and smooth. Maybe she made sure they wouldn't hurt her...? Realising she was rambling to herself, she shook her head and looked back to Samoa, "No... No one picks on my mum! Or dad!"

"That's right, because they're all big and scary aren't they!" Samoa asked, surprising Spessy a little, knowing the Singer was putting a small act on for her daughter, trying... Something to encourage her a bit more. The singer gently nosed Geodes chest, as if trying to emphasize a point.

"Nooo! Mum's not scary, she's a teddy bear." Geode giggled, smiling down at the nosing singer.Samoa looked up at Spessy, then slowly returned her gaze to Geode, "Between you and me... I haven't met a single creature willing to mess with your mum and dad. They're the King and Queen of the ocean! No one does anything without their say so."

Geode gasped, looking absolutely shocked! Why hadn't they told her about that earlier? "They're a King and Queen?! Really?!"

"Really, really!" Samoa responded, "Do you know what that means, lil Geo?"

"No..."

"It means you're a princess!" Samoa declared, nodding her head up and down enthusiastically, chirping loudly with the same enthusiasm, before she stopped suddenly and continued, "Did you know that you're a princess?"

Geode's thoughts were racing as she looked to her Aunty Sammy, looking absolutely surprised. Why didn't she say that earlier, why didn't anyone tell her that, not even her mum and dad? Maybe they were keeping it a secret! Oh no! She couldn't let the others hear... Geo slowly raised a flipper, pointing to herself, "If I'm a princess... That means I'm really special, doesn't it?"

Samoa nodded again! "It does indeed lil Geo!"

Geode looked down, her young self trying to process what she was saying. She was special...? Even though she was so scared of the ocean? How did that make sense..? Why would a princess be scared of her own kingdom! No princess was scared of anything in the stories her mum and dad told them.

"You know, if Spessy and Mal are both a Queen and King... Do you think anyone or anything would want to mess with their princess?" Samoa asked softly, glancing to Spessy, who gave her a smile and nod of approval.Geode gasped again. They wouldn't, would they! In all those stories her mum told her, they always, always helped the princess! Anyone who was super duper important always was looked after.

What was more special and important than a princess? Geode shook her head, "No! No one would want to. Nothing would!"Samoa chuckled, but didn't want to lose momentum. Trying to use Geodes excitement as encouragement and courage, she gestured towards the entrance of the den, "Well, what do you say? Wanna go outside, little Princess, and go have a look at your kingdom?"

Geo paused for a few moments... Those former thoughts coming crashing in again, making her excitement fall to nerves. Would it even be safe to go outside? What if there were big evil creatures wanting to spook her, or hurt her, what if they were laying in wait just to get her as soon as she left the safety of her den?

But at the same time... Aunty Sammy was right! Her mum and dad were the king and queen of the ocean! No one would want to mess around with their daughter and get themselves in big trouble with them. Even in the stories no one wanted to mess with the princess! But...What if the stories were lies? What if they weren't true and not based on things that could and do happen? What if they were just something that mum and dad said, with no real meaning?

But... Aunty Sammy never lies. Not at all, and she said that she was a princess! So a princess she most definitely was! And being afraid of her own kingdom was definitely not a way for a princess to act. A pleased and excited look went over Spessy's face as Geo raised her head to her Aunty Sammy, the young Aqrion nodding.

"I-I think I'd like to." Geo stammered, trying to hide her nervousness, but failing miserably. Spessy smiled, slowly swimming past the pair of them, waiting on the other side of the cave entrance, venturing into the vast ocean, waiting for them, watching Samoa work her magic. It was the last thing Spessy could think of and Geo always seemed to have a soft spot for her 'Aunty Sammy'.

"Alright, then let's take a look, shall we..? One small stroke at a time." Samoa instructed, keeping pace with Geo as she swallowed hard. She wanted to be brave, she wanted to show that she wasn't scared. Subconsciously, she hugged close to Aunty Sammy's side as her flippers slowly moved through the water, pushing her forward towards the entrance of the den.

The bright circle of blue grew in size with every stroke of her flippers. Geode's mouth felt dry with every second they drew closer. She felt her heart beating in her ears, hammering with fear. She wanted to stop, wanted to turn around and go back, hide underneath the covers of their nest. Hide away from it.

But she swallowed again, steeling herself as she forced herself to keep moving forward against her will. Would a princess be that scared?

The circle grew larger again, drawing within metres of her.She paused. She couldn't do it. She squeezed her eyes shut, her breathing heavy as she whimpered. Could she do it? Even if she was a princess? How did they find the strength to keep going..? She felt Samoas side against hers, making her eyes open again, looking up at her with fear.

"Come on lil Geo, Aunty Sammy's here, I won't let anything happen to you." She said softly, trying to reassure the young one. It definitely made Geo feel a little more confident as she nodded shakily... Before continuing forward again.

She was less than a metre away. The vast ocean waited for her, the kingdom of her parents, her siblings... Her kingdom!Inches...She could see it now, the shimmering light from above, the schools of dancing fish, kelp flowing gently in the currents, all shimmering and sparkling together with life, as if to welcome their new princess to her kingdom. Geo swallowed, one more stroke...And she'd done it. She pushed herself through the entrance, the furthest she had ever been. Nerves came over her, worry, fear... Before sheer confidence and excitement overthrew them all, this was her kingdom! This was what she was missing out on for these long weeks! Months! She couldn't wait anymore as she turned to dive down into the waters, catching the rest of her siblings playing among the kelp.

This was her kingdom, her land and she didn't want to waste any more time hiding in her den!

-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-

A trial featuring Spessartine and Samoa teaching and showing Geode how to be courageous!

https://www.deviantart.com/aquella-imports/art/Samoa-0372-862476166

https://www.deviantart.com/aquella-imports/art/Spessartine-0317-857139841

https://www.deviantart.com/aquella-imports/art/Geode-0606-893631850

Word Count - 1800

Prompt: Depict your Aqrion facing his/her worst fears.