Years past. Four years- actually. Time swims by, huh...? Seemed like just yesterday it was her 5th birthday- now that she was turning 9 it seemed all to far away. The day her parents disappeared. She knew they would come back though! They had too! They had promised her, and her parents never broke a promise- but for now... she was picking Sea Lilies!
   She giggled at the irony of their name as she swam though the fields picking out the finest and arranging a bouquet. They were for a very special person so they had to be very special flowers!! She knew that much. She arranged them in purples and pinks- she personally loved the two. Such pretty colors!!! Once it was finally complete to the very last petal in the proper place- she smiled. Hurrying out of the fields, swimming faster than a dolphin.
   Poppy's smile may have been brighter than the sun itself that day when she stood at the castle step. The step was a marble stone in from of the golden and silver archway that lead into the palace. The arch itself was the size of 30 mer swimming over each other.
   Two Mermen knights guarded the entrance carefully. Poppy smiled up at the guards with glee. "Poppy reporting, sirs" she said officially, saluting with one hand.
   The guards both rolled their eyes. "Hey, Poppy." The one on the right said with words laced in hatred, or annoyance.
   He remembered my name!!! She thought optimistically.
   "I have a gift for your head guard!!!" She said holding the bouquet out proudly for them to see.
   The one on the left spoke next. "Oh. Im sure she will love it." He said sarcastically chuckling with the other guards. The head guard they knew hated flowers. Or anything nice for that matter. She was probably one of the most cold hearted mermaids they knew.
   "Can I swim ahead and give it to her?!?" She asked excitedly, her tail flipping faster in anticipation.
   "I dont see why not." The right one spoke nodding to the left one with a smirk. Blue eyes glimmering in mischievousness. "Go on ahead then." He said unable to contain a chuckle, he knew what would happen.
Poppy smiled saluting once more then swimming ahead. They seem nice!!! She thought. So very helpful and understanding too! Though, I wish I knew where she was so I could give her the bouquet now.... hm. Oh! Oh! I know! Her office! Wait- I don't know where that is. Do head guards get offices? No! Thats a head MASTER. Hmm. Or... oh! The training room, duh. She loves to train! And kick dragon behind!!! She's so cool.
And so she quickly swam to the training room. As expected there she was. Fighting expertly against a dummy. Poppy quickly swam up behind her, silently. Tapping her shoulder to give her- before she knew it there was a knife to her neck! "Ah! Lilliana its me!!! It's Poppy!!!" She said desperately.
   The head guards eyes barely softened as she looked down at the girl. She pulled her knife down her expression didnt change though. "Oh. Sorry Poppy. Gotta stay prepared, kid." She said as if that made up for just holding a knife to-
   "Its fine!!! What a rush! To have YOUR knife almost touch my neck! Like wow, a huge honor." She said honestly- not sarcastically. "Anyways! I made this bouquet for you!!" She said holding it out for her. "They are Sea Lillies, just like your name!!! LILLIana! See!!! Oh oh! And I arranged the colors just for you!!! Pink and purple my personal favorite!! But I hope you lik-"
   "Triton, do you ever shut up." She rolled her eyes going back to training punching the dummy a little more aggressively.
   "Oh well um not really. But I uh- Im turning 9 today!!! And I... wanted to know if you will start training me to be a guard like my Papa!" She asked- slightly fazed by her idols outburst.
   "HA!" Lilliana laughed out. "Your kidding? Right?!? You? A guard?!? Some flower picking ninni?!?" She laughed stopping as she turning around to examine her. "Not in a thousand stars would you ever be a guard!" She laughed.
   Poppy swam in place- confused... w-what?... I'll never be a guard? Not in a thousand stars... but I-... I'm a flower picking ninni?!... oh- well I guess I am a little childish to be a--- her thought was cut off by a girls voice.
   "Oh my! What a lovely bouquet!!! Did you make this yourself?!?" A mer asked... she had sea blue eyes and long sandy blonde hair, with light blue streaks of waves in the mix. Pearls were strangled though it elegantly and a crown of blue, green, and white flowers and pearls laid on top of it all. She had a tail that shimmered like diamonds. A bluish green haze. Perfect in every way.
   Her friend, Poppy presumed, had features that were pale and soft- though her eyes were silver, her hair was a clashing deep violet and braided up into a bun. While her tail was also a lovely shade of purply lilac and silver. Though, hers didnt sparkle in quiet that same way.
   "Uh... y-eah I did. Th-thanks..." Poppy said rubbing her nose. She realized her eyes had gone red too apparently. Was it that obvious to Lilliana?!? She hoped not.
   The purple mer swam over and held the bouquet. "Why it is gorges! Love the purple." She nodded in approval. As The blue girl swam around Lilliana and took Poppies hand, pulling her out of the room with the purple one by her side.
   "Very lovely indeed!" The other agreed. "Im Crystal by the way, and my faithful companion here is Chloe." She nodded at her.
   Chloe rolled her eyes at Crystal. "Princess Crystal and her FPBF." She corrected.
   "FPBF?" Poppy asked confused.
   "Faithful Peasant Best Friend." Chloe explained.
    "Okay- another question... why did you pull me away from Lilliana... I was trying to giver her the bouquet." Poppy explained.
   They were both quiet for a moment. "We over heard most of it from outside- AND IM NO BETER THAN ANY OF YOU." Crystal explained.
   "Oh." Poppy muttered.
   "Look, Sea shell..."
   Sea shell...
"Lilliana is wrong. Your a strong independent young girl and I'm sure your papa-"
   Papa...
   "Is proud of the girl you've become. Dont listen to her, you definitely have what it takes to be a head guard one day." Chloe reassured her with an honest smile.
   A head guard like papa was- Poppy added mentally.
   "And you make the best bouquets in all of Oceqias!" She added nodding at the bouquet.
"Chloe is right. Never let people tell you your dreams are impossible. Ever." Crystal added.
Poppy smiled at them. "Your right. I'm Poppy soon to be head guard, on her way to the top! I'll show Lilliana I have what it takes!!!"

~Crystal
AN- Sorry the chapter was so long! Hope you enjoyed!! Feel free to comment opinions or questions!