Natalie blinked and glanced at Sirene. A date day with her brother? She smiled, then she blushed and waved her hands in front of herself. "Y-y-you want my help figuring out a date? I don't know what he's into as far as that!" She was acting a bit flustered and embarrassed since she didn't really know what kind of date her brother would go on. "I-I'm sure it wouldn't matter as long as he was with you."

Natalie grinned with pleasure. "Are.. You.. Kidding?! Of course he'll love it!" Natalie was almost as excited as she was. She couldn't believe she had managed to swipe tickets, all because she noted to them that her brother was a prince. Natalie giggle to show her excitement, and hugged her friend as they reached the castle. She released Sirene when she noticed her father and Nathan looking devastated. "Hey.. What's the matter?" She asked quietly, swimming towards her father, who couldn't look at his daughter. "I don't want you or your brother leaving the kingdom for awhile. Sirene, I want you to stay with us, you can share a bedroom with my daughter." Natalie was really confused, and worried. She glanced at her brother who turned and swam back inside the castle. What happened while they were gone? Her father swam back inside as well and Natalie held Sirene's hand as she led her to her bedroom. What was going on?

Natalie shook her head and pouted. "No way! Being grounded has never stopped me, so why should it matter now? Besides.." She hugged Sirene. "He said he wanted you to stay with us. You get to live here~" She said, trying to sound happy. Why hadn't her father said anything other than not to leave the kingdom?

Nathan lightly knocked on her door and poked his head in before joining the girls.

Natalie sat on her bed and huffed quietly. Was she being childish? Very. She was upset and confused about the whole situation.

Nathan hugged Sirene without really saying anything at first. He held her for a minute, just so he could calm down. "Pirates.. The very thing we fear most, are here in our ocean. We're already missing a handful of mermaids. Father has already issued a curfew and announced that no one should leave their homes until it's safe." He explained calmly. Natalie brightened some. "Pirates?" Nathan glanced at her. "Don't even think about it.. This isn't a game Natalie. Those pirates will skin you alive and sell your scales, or sale you entirely as a slave, or something much worse." Nathan shivered just thinking about it and held Sirene close to him.

Natalie really felt the sting in her words when Sirene spoke, and lowered her head with guilt. She really felt ashamed of herself for being so selfish. "I don't mean to worry anyone.." She murmured softly. "I'm sorry.. I'll be good.. I'll stay within the kingdom until it's safe again.." She promised quietly.

Nathan sighed quietly and held Sirene's hand. "Come on, let's give her some time to think. I can show you around the whole palace since you'll be staying with us." He suggested quietly so only Sirene heard him.

Nathan sighed under his breath as he watched Sirene go and hug her. "Sometimes it's the only way to get through to you." He said quietly. Natalie gently placed her hands over Sirene's arms as she hugged her and nodded lightly. "I know.." She murmured softly. "Nathan's right though, I need some time alone- just to think about my behavior." She said with a small smile before hugging her. "Go on and get a proper tour of the castle." She teased.

Natalie smiled until the pair left the bedroom, then she flopped down on her giant seashell of a bed covered with two different blankets and snuggled her pillow. Did she really worry everyone like that? It were times like this that she wished her mother wasn't out and about. Natalie gasped and lifted her head at the thought of her mother. Where was she now, and why wasn't she home? "Mother.. Where are you?"

Nathan sighed quietly and tightly hugged Sirene when she went to cover her face and began speaking. "Sometimes she's like a child that needs to be scorned. She only feels bad because she knows it's the truth.. I don't think that will hurt your friendship." He tried comforting her. "Sirene.. Our mother is one of those missing mermaids.." He murmured softly as he held her close to him. "I will protect you and my sister, no matter what."

Nathan only buried his head in her neck. "If being Prince doesn't kill me first.." He murmured . "I don't know what to do, Siriene.. Father will most likely have a search party of guards out looking for the missing merpeople, and if he joins them then Natalie and I will have to watch over the kingdom until he returns.."

Nathan held her tightly, trying his best to hide his anxieties, but he was shaking a littke. "That's what I'm worried about. Natalie is a lot like father, and if she finds out about her mother missing- I'm afraid she'll go out looking by herself. We can't tell her." He hardly ever lost his cool, but deep down he was honestly terrified.

Nathan inhaled slowly as an attempt to calm down, then raised his head. "She's not mad not after the talk we had with her." He murmured, offering her a faint smile. He gently took her hand. "Let me show you our castle's library. " He suggested, knowing how much she loved books.