Listen, And The Stars Shall Speak

Anything But Mother

Shore's heart sank. Oh, he was in soooooooo much trouble. Orange looked at him guiltily. 

"Dad I-" he started.

"Save the explanation for your mother." Kelp suggested. Shore's eyes widened.

"Oh no." His fear spiked up a mile. Mother?! She'd rip him to shreds! "Please no. Anything but Mother, anything but Mother." Kelp smirked and grabbed him by the arm. Shore tried to pull away. "Dad please! She'll kill me!!!" 

Kelp stopped to look at him.

"How come you never get this terrified around me?" he asked. Shore stared at him like he had grown an extra head.

"Because you're not Mother. Surely you've noticed by now that she will literally kill you if you make her angry enough." Kelp smiled slightly.

"Trust me, I've noticed. She put a chakram to my throat once."

"A chakram?! Please tell me she doesn't have any on her now."

"No promises." Shore gulped. He was going to die. 

"Can't you just yell at me and give me a punishment? Please?"

"I think this is a better punishment." Shore dropped to his knees.

"PLEASE." he begged. "I WILL DO ANYTHING. JUST DON'T FEED ME TO MOTHER." Kelp fought back a laugh.

".....Nah." His face fell and he mentally started to write a will.

Kelp ushered him through the door, and Ander paused at the sight of his terrified face.

"Are you walking the green mile to your doom?" she asked. "Shall I start saying prayers? Super astra kalendis placet tuendi dumtaxat horrificam utriusque frater eius." She traced a star over her heart as Kelp and Shore stared.

"He'll be fine." Kelp insisted, walking away to find Joy.

"Physically, it's probable. Mentally? He'll never recover."

"Comforting." Shore said sarcastically. Ander shrugged and started muttering Latin phrases under her breath.

"WHERE HAVE YOU BEEN?" Joy demanded, her scales bright with red anger, and a slight tinge of worry and concern. Shore cowered and wished the floor were lower.

"I'msorry,I didn't mean to be late but Orange and I lost track of time." he said in a rush.

"That doesn't answer my question." she growled back. Kelp stood to the side, ready to step in if Joy got to riled up. Shore glanced at his father in surprise, and also silently asked for help. He shrugged in response.

"She's like a crazed animal when she's mad. Do what she asks and you might get away with most of your limbs intact." Kelp offered. Shore nodded meekly.

"Orange and I went to a Jazz club in the Sandwing Kingdom." he admitted. "In a bar called the Scorpion's Tail."

"You went to a bar in Sandwing Kingdom, by yourselves?!" Joy exploded. "Did you even think to tell anyone where you were going?"

"No,"

"Well there's a great idea!" 

"Ah, she's getting sarcastic. That's usually a good sign." Kelp offered.

"What if something had happened?! Huh? Then what? You're a Prince, Shore! Someone could've kidnapped you!"

"But no one did!"

"But they could have." Joy seethed. "You are so grounded."

"For how long?" Shore asked.

"Indefinitely." She glared at him and took a step forward. She seemed to grow even more imposing.

"And if you ever sneak out and do something as stupid as this again," she warned. "You'll be mi-"

"Okay!" Kelp interrupted, quickly cutting Joy off. "I think he gets it."

"I don't think he does." Joy growled. Kelp held her back. 

"Room." he told Shore. "Now." The dragonet obliged, sprinting from the room.

Ander poked her head in the room.

"I know what she wished to threaten." she commented. "Much hilarity of a statement. You are a very sapien draco. Muy sapien." She waltzed away, leaving her parents confused. 

Joy shut her eyes and sighed.

"I think he's learned his lesson." Kelp insisted. "The second I told him he had to deal with you he started freaking out."

"Why would he do that?"

"Because apparently, you are the scary parent. What that makes me, I have no idea." Joy cracked a grin.

"The scary parent huh? Not sure if that's a title I want to have." Kelp shrugged.

"Just means they listen to you more."

"They listen to you too."

"If you say so." 

Shore fell to his bed with a sigh.

"So, how much trouble are you in?" A voice asked. He looked up. Rin, always the gossip.

"I'm grounded indefinitely." Rin shook her head.

"Rookie mistake, getting caught. You have to learn to be steathier." 

"Oh yea? And how would you know?" Rin rolled her eyes. 

"How many times do you think I've snuck out?"

"Never."

"Fourty-six and counting. Never been caught either." Shore's eyes widened and he raced over to his sister.

"Teach me your ways." he begged.