Selena rubbed one fist with her other hand as they headed outside. As they swam, she realized that they were still in their formal dresses. Stopping immediately, she asked if they could go and change before they fought.

Senator Arlong snorted; "So you two can have time to plot? No, I refuse."

Selena’s voice went hard; "Well it’s a good thing it’s not up to You, but the entirety of the Council. Or do you think that your personal authority is equal to the Council’s?"

Arlong sneered at the High Acolyte; "Shouldn’t a female warrior be able to fight in a dress?"

Selena looked ready to rip his head off, so Iris intervened; "Clearly you have never been on a battlefield, Senator.."

Arlong’s face contorted to make an ugly expression; "Neither have you!"

"But I can read.. If you know anything about the Undine’s military histories, then you would know that they’ve used the same armor for eons. I suggest brushing up on your history before making snide comments to someone better educated than yourself."

Right as he was about to snap, Senator Gravi spoke; "I think we should just get this over with.."

He motioned to Selena, but only Levi had caught it. ’I wonder if he thinks that Iris will have a better chance if Selena keeps her dress on? But won’t Iris have just as many problems, if not more?’

Moving out into the courtyard, Iris looked around and sad; "I don’t think it’s open enough out here for this. Maybe we should move this outside the gates?"

Levi looked at the senators after Iris’ voice had snapped him out of his thoughts, and said; "Or have you forgotten what led to this situation in the first place?"

Most of the senators simply nodded, but a certain few looked irritated that they had to swim farther than the gate. Iris fought the urge to roll her eyes as they waited for a unit of guards to accompany them, and another to take to the the wall.

They went around and down to the clearing outside of Iris’ quarters. A small smile touched her lips as Trident crossed her mind. They were close to the rock that he always hid behind, so she couldn’t help but think of him.

A shadowy figure swam away as they approached. ’Most likely the daytime Merman who watches me. I wonder if he’s nice like Trident? Probably best to leave it at a question, but I wonder..’

The thought prompted a realization: Iris had barely met any Undines, either. ’I’m the Queen but I’ve barely seen anyone outside of the group here, except guards. Isn’t a Queen supposed to meet people?’

As random thoughts harassed her focus, Iris shook her head lightly. Now wasn’t the time to let her thoughts wander. As she looked over at Selena, she realized that she hardly even knew about those closest to her...

The guards spread out and made a wide circle around them. Iris and Selena moved away from the senators to make sure that they didn’t get caught up in their fight. They either sat on, or floated near Trident’s rock as they waited for the show to start.

Senator Gravi steeped forward; "The rules are as such: one is declared the winner when one of you either gives up, or is knocked unconscious. No intent to kill is permitted, and no interference may be had or caused by those gathered. Are all agreed?"

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A unanimous chorus of agreement came from the gathered senators. Levi didn’t speak, he simply watched as a surge in power began to build within them. Tiny whirlpools began to spin within each of their hands as as they waited for the starting call...

Levi swam forward to be a kind of referee, then shouted; "BEGIN!"

Selena swam forward with lightning speed, and stretched out one of her hands. Iris was ready, and matched the impact with her own. Their fists hit in near perfect timing with each other as they rapidly struck at each other.

The senators were in awe of their speed and precision, even Senator Arlong. Levi watched with mild impression on his features. He’d seen much more epic battles in his time, but he had to admit that the two mortals were quite good.

Selena was the first to break their rhythm by flipping backwards, and nearly hitting Iris in the face with her tail fin. As soon as she’d completed the loop, Selena swam straight at Iris with her hands extended.

Iris had blocked one, but she’d suddenly increased the size of the whirlpool on her hand. The extra force overwhelmed Iris, and knocked her back several feet. Nearly flying into the group of senators. They scrambled out of the way just in time for Iris to slam against the rock with a harsh grunt.

She looked up just in time to avoid Selena’s assault. Dodging her head to the side, Iris countered with a hard swirling punch from her left hand. Selena flew backwards, giving Iris the time she needed..

Once Selena had steadied herself, she looked up to where the Queen was, but didn’t see her. She had slipped behind the enormous rock and out of her sights.

Selena approached the rock with caution. Creeping up silently while rebuilding her power. As she neared the side that she assumed Iris to be on, she lept forward with her mini-vortex, and struck nothing but sand..

As it kicked up into a cloud, Selena was suddenly blinded. She tried to feel around herself, but the sand made it impossible to actually see. Before she realized it, something zipped past her, and nearly knocked her to down.

Before she could grasp her situation; Selena was bombarded with tiny quick attacks. In all of her centuries fighting in battles, she’d never seen this kind of strategy before. Iris had figured out to use the sand cloud to her advantage.

’I remember what the Selkies did to me.. I guess I own them a thank you for the inspiration!’

The thought caused determination to well up within Iris as she rushed past Selena, dealing blow after blow to her. She’d ripped the flowing part of her dress off to cover her eyes and mouth as she dashed in and out of the sand cloud. It wouldn’t last too long, but enough to disorientate Selena; or so she’d hoped..

With a warrior’s scream, Selena sent a massive pulse of magic throughout the water; effectively blowing the sand away. She grinned broadly as she looked over at the stunned Iris.

"That was quite ingenious, my Queen.. I feel like I can go to my allotted limit now without worry."

Iris pulled her face cover down, and smiled back cockily; "That’s what I was goin’ for! Bring it on, Selena!"

Slamming her hands together, Selena began to build massive amounts of magical power, and focused it into her combined palms. Iris mimicked her movements; knowing exactly where Selena was going with it..

The water around their respective hands began to whip and whirl. The pull from the tiny, but growing vortices was nerve-racking, so much so that the senators retreated back to the wall, along with the awe-inspired guards.

Selena and Iris began to slowly separate their hands, expanding their respective vortices, and inciting fear within a select few scheming senators. They didn’t realize that their young Queen could handle herself so well..

Arlong in particular fretted over the magnitude of her powers. ’How am I supposed to control something like that?! Can Selena even beat her?! Those Sea Hags probably had all of this planned out from the beginning!’

The truth was: they didn’t. Selena and Iris were genuinely fighting each other, and genuinely enjoying it. They both had smirks on their faces as they readied to clash...

Shifting their hands towards each other, their powers collided with an earth-shattering boom. The waters nearly parted with the opposing forces crashing into each other. The waters shook throughout the Undine Kingdom as Iris and Selena cried out with their efforts.

Even Levi found himself swimming back a bit as their powers seemed nearly matched... Nearly.

With an added bit of umph; Selena began to overwhelm Iris. She pushed back as much as she could, but Iris knew that this was where Selena shined. Her vortex was much more compacted and rhythmic than hers. Each pulse reinforcing the last.

Iris’ new powers weren’t as uniformed. It was like she had to send out a continuous string of new attacks that were stronger than the previous, just to counter hers. Iris was obviously more powerful under the set parameters of the fight, but Selena’s experience was overwhelming her all the same.

Right when Iris could feel Selena’s power maxing out, she dodged to the side while simultaneously stopping her attack. For a split second, Selena’s heart dropped as she thought that she’d accidentally taken out the Queen..

Stopping her barrage, Selena looked for Iris with trepidation.. Relief washed over her as she watched Iris’ tail fin disappear behind the rock again. She immediately went after her, expecting the sand trick again..

Right as she rounded the bend, Iris came down from above her. Selena saw her shadow, but it was too late..

Iris took the ripped piece of her dress, and covered Selena’s face with it. When she went to pull it off of her face, Iris hit her in the stomach, grabbed her arm, then flipped her over her shoulder with every bit of strength she had... Slamming Selena against the rock, and knocking the wind out of her.

Creating a tiny vortex with her finger and holding it up to Selena’s neck, Iris stated as she breathed hard; "I think this makes me the winner.."