The Zora watchman gasped in surprise as he saw his queen approaching the entrance of Zora's Domain, hidden behind the waterfall.
"Q-queen Nodoka?" he stuttered. His gaze fell on the big bear and the little Zora girl standing next to Nodoka, looking sullenly at the ground.
Nodoka smiled at him. "Please, go and tell the king we'd like to have a formal meeting arranged... I'd like to make an introduction."
"Uh, right away, my lady..." The gaze of the blue-scaled merfolk fell on the winged bear. "Um, my lady... about that bear..."
The queen smiled. "Oh, don't worry, he's tame! He's the pet bear of my first-born daughter... Ranko!"
The male Zora gasped in surprise. "F-first child?" he asked in surprise. Instantly realizing that this girl was his queen's daughter and therefore also royalty, he quickly bowed in front of the girl, who didn't seem to be very impressed at all.
"I'll... I'll go and tell His Majesty right away," the guard said and elegantly jumped through the waterfall.
'Ranko' blinked. "The entrance is behind the waterfall?"
Nodoka smiled down at her daughter. "Don't worry, Ranko... you'll get used to your new form. Water is a Zora's natural element and you'll love the feeling of flowing water running over your smooth scales..."
Ranma cringed upon hearing her mother call her 'Ranko', but accepted her fate with a sigh... After all, in a sense, she WAS Ranko now...
'That doesn't include bears, does it?' Genma signed with a growf. 'And you know how wet fur stinks...'
"Just 'bear' with it, husband..." Nodoka grumbled. "There are many worse things than wet fur... like, a nice, sharp katana, for instance...?"
Genma gulped and raised another sign: 'I'll be good...'
----
The Zoras that were assembled within the throne room waited in anticipation. Agitated murmurs were audible, and the honor guard of King Zora - two male Zora warriors armed with harpoons - were flanking the entrance.
Princess Ruto stood next to the chubby form of her father, fidgeting nervously with her fins. If what the guardian had told them was true, then she had an elder sister... and she would meet this sister in several minutes.
If her father was agitated in any way, he certainly didn't show it. Relaxed like always, the king just goggled at the entrance, his big, fish-like eyes never blinking once.
And then, she shell horns heralded the arrival of the guests of honor... The queen of the Zora kingdom and her previously unbeknown daughter, Princess Ranko...
Ruto went stiff when she saw her mother entering the room, clutching the hand of a Zora girl that was slightly older than her. From what Ruto could see, this girl had a trim and fit body, and she promised to become as beautiful as her mother as soon as she would reach adulthood (the same thing that Nodoka had often told Ruto).
Actually, most of the Zora could see the similarities between the two princesses... Ranko was older and slightly bigger than Ruto, and she didn't have an extensive head like her younger half-sister, but a tiny fishtail dangling from the back of her head... but no one could deny the fact that there were many similarities the two girls shared with their mother...
Finally, Nodoka and Ranko came to a stop in front of the throne. Ranko seemed to be very uncomfortable, as she desperately tried looking down at her wet feet.
"Honorable Zoras..." Nodoka spoke. "My beloved husband and king... and Ruto, my youngest daughter... I hereby introduce to you the daughter of my first husband, and according to Zora laws, your second princess: Princess Ranko!"
The Zora applauded. Ranko shuffled around nervously as she looked around the assembled fish-people.
Then the king replied in his gurgling bass voice: "Welcome back, my beloved wife and queen. I'm very happy that you managed to find your first daughter." He looked down at the young girl. "I also welcome you, Ranko... Surely, I can imagine it will be pretty demanding for you to accept your new status as a princess... but I can assure you, you have the support from all of us. Don't see your title as a burden... but instead see it as a chance for a new beginning, a chance for you as well as for the Zora of this kingdom."
He made a dramatic gesture with his stubby little arms. "May Nayru's wisdom be with you!"
Enthusiastic cheering from every Zora commenced.
----
After the formal introduction, most of the Zoras left the throne room.
While King Zora looked down at his stepdaughter with gentle eyes, Ruto came walking down the stairs of the throne to stand in front of Ranko.
Nodoka smiled and gently pushed her older daughter forward.
Ranma was very edgy... not only was she a man pretending to be a girl, she also had entered a new, previously unknown culture... and was automatically accepted as their new princess.
But regardless of that, she took some steps forward and gave the younger Zora girl standing in front of her a cute smile.
"Um... hi there! I'm Ranko... wanna be friends?"
At first, Ruto had stared at the other girl with a nervous expression... but now, her mouth widened in a broad smile, as she jumped forward to embrace Ranko in a big hug.
"BIG SIS!" she shouted. "Welcome to the family..."
The king and queen looked at each other and smiled. That went pretty well.
Ranma smiled as she hugged her little sister back. True, such a close contact with a girl wasn't what she would do under normal circumstances (and the fact that Ruto was completely nude was an additional issue)... But somehow, it felt good keeping her arms around this other girl, knowing that she was a part of her family.
Ruto sighed as she looked up into her 'oneechan's' face... She had always wished for a big sister... and today, her wish had come true.
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(Posted Tue, 12 Dec 2006 23:23)
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