Classy, Controlled Chaos - The STEAM Team Adventures

🛟 Asphyxiation [1/4] 🛟

Tia's POV:

As Northwynd's new guardian, I was required to patrol the kingdom on watching shifts.

Dubbed the Riptide Ranger, I was constantly recognized by many on ever walk I took, hiding my scars with Arthur's paint and keeping my captain's coat over my face as a hood.

River, the young merchant who kept selling candied treats out to those on the harbor's boardwalk, came skipping up to me with a box of his signature sugarcoated apples. "Hi there, Miss Riptide! Do you want some apples today, as usual?"

"Of course," I chuckled, pulling out a couple sand dollars from my shirt pocket. "How much?"

"Two sand dollars for one." He smiled at me, tipping his junior sailor hat. "As you can tell, I want to be a captain like you when I grow up!"

He beamed with pride at his dream. "One day I'll be just as good as you."

I gave him a chuckle, giving him the money I had. "I know you will, River. You're going to make a fine sailor."

He gave me three candied apples and trotted off, happily skipping along the docks without a care in the world.

Man, I wish I was still as innocent as he was.

I strode over to one of the wooden dock poles, climbing up and perching on top of it like a pelican, scanning the water. 

After a few moments of silence, I fell into a crouch, stabilizing myself by keeping my tail against the beam.

"It's lovely out here, isn't it?" A familiar voice chuckled, approaching me. "I wish we still had sunlight, though. It'd be better than this."

It was Edward who was walking over, a contented smile on his lips.

He was wearing nothing but his casual clothes; A simple white t-shirt and a pair of navy blue shorts to match.

His tiny golden crown was gone too, which made him look bald, in a way.

"Hi, Edward." I mumbled, politely greeting him with a flick of my tail. "What are you doing here?"

"I got bored of being cooped up inside." The prince replied, leaning on the pole I was perched on. "I know it's for the best, but my father thinks I'm still weak. He's not wrong, it does hurt to walk a little bit, but I'm strong."

As if to prove himself, he pushed himself upright on the deck, struggling to regain his balance but managing to plant his feet perfectly still.

"See? I'm fine." He smiled confidently. "I'm getting better and- WOAH!"

Before I could react, Edward slipped on a loose, slick floorboard, making him lose balance and slip into the harbor.

In one swift leap, I ripped off my captain's coat, diving in after him.

He was thrashing around like an idiot, screaming and fighting against the water as it dragged him down.

I, on the other hand, remained calm, smoothly wrapping him into a slipstream and guiding him to the surface with the pull of my artificial current.

Once we were decently close enough to the surface, I seized him from under the shoulders, pushing his head above the water.

"No matter how many times your personality will change, your lack of intelligence will stay the same." I grunted, bubbles cascading from my mouth as I cursed him below the surface.

Luckily, the waves washed my insults away, letting him focus on trying not to asphyxiate before we reached the shoreline.

My arms felt weaker every passing second... I was strong, but the ocean was much stronger.