u/NatureNut49

For example, I always thought Proteus (from TTTE) was like a recurring fan character, like what Herobrine is to Minecraft, but no, he's canon. Do you guys have any personal examples of this kind of thing?

fanfic timeeeee

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"Dear Seahorse,

I'm very proud of you becoming a father, and I'm sure your wife Shoal is as well. However, I am unfortunately unable to attend the hatching of my grandchild, as I'm giving Auklet etiquette lessons. Hopefully, I'll be able to meet my grandchild soon.

Love,

Queen Coral."

Prince Seahorse near-imperceptibly sneered as he read the note his mother left. Sure, she had the decency to explain why, but what kind of grandmother misses the hatching of her grandchild? And for what? Teaching his baby sister how to curtsy? It can't be that important.

Seahorse looked back at the egg lying on a nest of seaweed, his brothers gathered around. Turtle somehow convinced Tsunami to let him come home for a bit to attend his brother's dragonet's hatching, but Tsunami herself was a very busy dragon, and Anemone couldn't... or wouldn't.

A tiny snap brought everyone's attention back to the egg. Seahorse gently shoved Octopus' head aside as the eggshell cracked, and then, a tiny, pea-green snout broke through. Seahorse's wife, Princess Shoal, gasped slightly as more and more eggshell came away.

Seahorse dug a talon into a hole his dragonet had made, and gently lifted it up, separating from the rest of the egg as the red insides swirled out into the water. Fin gently held up her head as he peered at Seahorse's brand-new dragonet.

It's a girl! He flashed in Aquatic. Celebratory flashes lit up the hatchery as Fin handed his niece back over to Shoal, who held her daughter up high. Seahorse felt a tear come to his eye, instantly vanishing into the rest of the water.

What's her name? Yellowfin asked, eyes focused on his niece. Seahorse's mind went blank. Somehow, someway, he never once came up with a name for his dragonet. His mind rushed to come up with a name. A tolerable name. One you could speak in any context.

One word came to his mind - Tigerfish. "Princess Tigerfish" sounded good. So did "Queen Tigerfish." Or even just plain ol' Tigerfish. Tigerfish. Her name is Tigerfish. He flashed resolutely. Shoal touched snouts with her daughter. Hello, Tigerfish. I love you.

Each of his brothers took turns getting a good look at their niece, more than a few also having a tear or two coming on. Turtle was the last, and Tigerfish giggled as he gently pressed his nose to her belly. You know, he flashed. One day, when you're big and strong, you might be a Queen.

It hit Seahorse like a physical blow. Turtle was right. One day, when Tigerfish was big and strong, she would be a Queen. A better Queen than Coral, certainly. Not a braindead goose, who pulled her tribe into war with no guarantee of anything to show for it.

Not a selfish, spiteful hagfish who rips dragons apart for what wasn't really their fault.

Not an insensitive, dismissive harridan who wouldn't look at her hatchling twice when it turned out male.

Not a horrible shrew who thinks of the poor as barely dragons.

Not a monster.

Yeah. He nodded slightly as he took his daughter back into his talons, eyes looking shellshocked. His brother Loach snorted slightly, perhaps interpreting Seahorse's thousand-fathom stare as it simply finally kicking in that he was a father.

As Seahorse looked down at Tigerfish, he flashed 12 words.

One day, when you're big and strong, you will be a Queen.