In the dark, crushing depths of an abyssal trench, a group of fishmen guarded an ancient outpost. Their forms were lit faintly by bio-luminescent lanterns as they stood watch near a crumbling ziggurat, their eyes ever-watchful for predators. When the water began to shift unnaturally, the guards instinctively gripped their weapons tighter. But instead of an intruder, they felt an overwhelming presence that demanded their attention. Slowly, the guards turned, their bioluminescent eyes glowing faintly in unison as they faced Ethel's direction. The leader of the outpost, a seasoned veteran with scars along his fins, dropped to one knee. "She has awakened," he murmured, his voice trembling.

Nestled within a sprawling kelp forest, a peaceful village of fishmen lived harmoniously with the ocean's natural beauty. They farmed seaweed and tended to pods of glowing plankton, their children playing among the swaying kelp fronds. Without warning, the kelp itself began to shift unnaturally, bending toward the far-off glow of Ethel's kingdom. The villagers, sensing the change, abandoned their tasks and gathered in the village square. Every fishman turned in the same direction, their bodies rigid, their expressions unreadable. Even the children stopped their games, their tiny fins fluttering nervously. An elder raised a clawed hand toward the distant light and whispered, "The queen has called us."

A forgotten battleground on the seafloor lay littered with the bones of ancient sea creatures and rusted weapons of wars long past. A clan of fishmen scavenged among the ruins, salvaging tools and relics. They worked in grim silence until an inexplicable energy surged through the water. The fishmen dropped what they were carrying, their gills flaring as a singular thought overtook them. Slowly, every one of them turned eastward toward Ethel's domain. One of the fishmen, younger and less experienced, hesitated before following the others. "What's happening?" he whispered. The clan leader, his scales dulled with age, answered without looking away. "The queen rises, and we obey."

In the shadow of hydrothermal vents that spewed scalding water into the abyss, a tribe of fishmen thrived in the warm currents. They sang guttural songs, their voices harmonizing with the hum of the vents as they worked to extract precious minerals from the seafloor. Their songs ceased abruptly as a wave of energy swept through the waters. The heat of the vents seemed to cool in comparison to the aura emanating from Ethel's distant presence. The fishmen stopped their work and faced the same direction, their heads tilting slightly as if straining to hear a call only they could perceive. Their leader raised his trident high, the glow of the vent's light reflecting in his wide eyes. "She commands, and we follow."

In a hidden grove of luminescent anemones and midnight-black sand, a solitary fishman priest knelt before an altar made of coral. He whispered prayers to the ancient spirits of the sea, his voice reverent and steady. As he prayed, the altar began to vibrate, a soft golden glow emanating from its core. The priest looked up sharply, his fins trembling as he felt the overwhelming presence of Ethel. Rising to his full height, he turned instinctively toward the glow in the distance, his webbed hands trembling. "It is no longer the spirits we worship," he murmured to himself. "The queen has come to claim us all."

…

The palace loomed ahead, its grand towers and spiraling architecture gleaming faintly with bioluminescent light in the dark waters. Ethel and Charna swam side by side, their forms cutting through the ocean like twin currents, their shared presence still radiating the aftermath of their conquest. The creatures of the abyss parted in reverence as the queens returned, their shadowy forms casting long streaks of light and dark across the kingdom.

As they entered the great hall, the echoes of their movements reverberated against the intricately carved stone walls. Ethel flicked her now-normal trident through the water, dispelling the lingering shadowy energy as it reverted to its golden glow. Charna followed, her presence less imposing but no less commanding, though her exhaustion was evident in the slight droop of her shoulders.

Before Charna could say a word, Ethel spun on her heel and stretched luxuriously. "Well," she began, her tone breezy and full of mischief, "I think it's time for my vacation."

Charna's fins fluttered in disbelief as she placed her hands on her hips. "Are you kidding me?" she asked, her voice tinged with exasperation. "We just conquered an entire underwater kingdom, Ethel. You can't be serious right now."

Ethel's lips curved into a smug smile as she tilted her head, golden strands of her hair drifting lazily in the water. "Oh, I'm completely serious. You've got it from here, right? You're great at this 'managing-the-kingdom' thing."

Charna groaned, pinching the bridge of her nose. "Where are you even planning to go?"

Ethel leaned casually against one of the grand coral pillars, her grin widening. "Oh, just to visit Lucy. I hear the whole birth of evolution thing is about to kick off on Earth. And—" she wagged a finger teasingly, "—I wouldn't miss the first step onto a new planet for anything."

Charna's eyes narrowed, her jealousy flashing briefly before she shook her head. "Of course you're going to have fun while I'm stuck here cleaning up this mess," she muttered, though her tone was laced with reluctant acceptance. "I put myself up to this, didn't I?"

Ethel pushed off the pillar and swam closer, her demeanor softening just slightly. "You sure did. But you're amazing, Charna. They'll be lucky to have you whipping them into shape."

Charna rolled her eyes but couldn't suppress a faint smile. "Yeah, yeah, whatever," she muttered, crossing her arms.

As Ethel turned to leave, her form already glowing faintly in preparation for her departure, she glanced over her shoulder. "I love you, you know."

Charna huffed, waving a dismissive hand at her sister. "Yeah, yeah, I love you too. Now go, before I decide to chain you to a throne."

Laughing, Ethel shot forward, leaving a trail of shimmering light in her wake as she disappeared into the abyss, heading toward Earth and the next chapter of her journey. Charna watched her go, shaking her head fondly. "Typical," she murmured, turning back to the throne room with a resigned sigh. "Alright, let's get to work."

Barely a day had passed since Ethel's departure from the oceanic kingdom when she arrived at Lucy's laboratory, a sprawling facility hidden away in a remote, desolate landscape. The air around the lab was eerily still, the only sounds being the faint hum of machinery and the muffled voices of scientists deep in thought. The building itself was a fusion of advanced design and utilitarian simplicity, its sleek exterior belying the monumental research happening within.

Ethel entered the main chamber, her golden hair flowing down her back and catching the sterile white light of the lab. Her regal yet relaxed demeanor made her presence almost magnetic. She scanned the room, her sharp eyes quickly finding her sister, Electra, who was hunched over a glowing console, her fingers flying across the controls. Electra, with her shorter frame and perpetually messy hair, barely noticed Ethel until a shadow fell over her workstation.

"Hey, shorty," Ethel teased, her voice warm.

Electra looked up, startled, her wide eyes softening immediately as she recognized her sister. "Ethel! What are you doing here?" she exclaimed, a mixture of surprise and excitement in her tone.

Without a word, Ethel bent down, placing a series of affectionate kisses on the top of Electra's head, her height advantage making the gesture seem both teasing and protective. Electra flushed, half in embarrassment and half in delight.

The other people in the lab, previously engrossed in their work, began to notice the interaction. A few of them exchanged confused glances, unsure who the striking newcomer was. Sensing their curiosity, Electra straightened up and cleared her throat, gesturing to her sister.

"This," Electra announced, "is my sister. The Empress of the Sea."

The moment the words left her mouth, a ripple of recognition and awe swept through the room. The isolated scientists, who had spent years submerged in their research and experiments, had heard whispered tales of an ancient ruler of the ocean, but never imagined meeting her face-to-face. Suddenly, they rushed forward, eager to greet Ethel, their voices blending into an unintelligible chorus of admiration and curiosity.

Ethel, however, raised a hand, her expression kind but firm. "That's sweet," she said, her voice cutting through the commotion, "but I'm not here to disrupt your work—or to hold court." Her lips curled into an easy smile as she turned her gaze back to Electra. "I'm here to spend time with my sister. Could you show me around?"

Electra smirked, shaking her head at her sister's nonchalance. "Sure, but don't complain if it's not as fancy as your underwater kingdom," she joked, already moving toward a nearby corridor.

Ethel chuckled, falling into step beside her. "Trust me, Electra, I've seen enough palaces for a lifetime. Show me what brilliance looks like up here."

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