Legend of Mermaid (PG) OCxOC
Legend of Mermaid
Long ago, very far out in the ocean and very deep, so deep it was out of reach for humans an underwater kingdom existed there. Although everyone in land would think that nothing but yellow sand was at the bottom of the ocean, but in fact the most beautiful scenery is underwater. Where the both large and small water Pokemon would swim across and in between the most gorgeous flowers and singular plants as birds in the sky who rest in branches of the trees here in land. In a castle made of the pretties corals and long, gothic window made of the clearest amber and with a roof made out of shells that open and close as water flows over them and each with a glittering pearl that would be fit to a diadem of a queen, there lived the sea princesses and their grandmother, the Queen mother or Queen of the Sea, as she was known throughout the kingdom.
The Queen mother was the one who ruled the sea; she was widow and had been for many years. Despite of having retired many years ago as the Queen, she had to take again the throne as her son and her daughter-in-law had died a few years ago. She was a very wise woman, and exceedingly proud of her high birth; on that account she wore twelve Shellders on her tail; while others, also of high rank, were only allowed to wear six. She deserved all her merit since taking care of all seven sea princesses was no easy task. They were six beautiful girls but the youngest was the prettiest of them all. Her skin was as soft as the petal of a rose, her eyes were as blue as the deepest sea but like all the others she had a fish tail instead of feet.
All day they would play in the halls and corridors of the castle as well as in the garden where each and every one of them had their own little plot of ground in the garden, where she might dig and plant as she pleased. One of them arranged her as a Luvdisc, other as a mermaid and all of them were very beautiful but the youngest was shaped as the sun. It was round with red and orange flowers to form the rays as a sunset. She was a strange child, thoughtful and quiet and she didn’t care for much but her best friend Vaporeon, her pretty flowers in shaped of the sun and the white marble statue representing a handsome boy which had fallen from a wreck.
There was nothing she found most fascinating than the world above the sea. She made her grandmother tell her about that world and how the flowers up in land would have a delightful fragrance unlike below the ocean. That the fishes from the tree would sing beautifully. Her grandmother had said fish since saying bird would have only confuse her as her granddaughter had never seen birds. She had once asked Vaporeon above the world above but she refused saying it only brought back bad memories and never again did the curious mermaid attempt to ask her beloved friend.
“When you become fifteen,” said her grandmother “you will be given permission to rise to the world above the sea; you will be able to enjoy the moonlight and the soft breeze, to hear the melody of the fishes in the trees, to see the ships sail by, the forest and towns.”
The next year, the oldest would be given permission to go explore the world above but since each was one year younger than the other, the youngest would have to wait seven years. The eldest promised her sisters she would tell them all about it once she returned as each of them promise that they would tell each other what they’d see when their turn came. All of them longed to see the world their grandmother talked about but none wanted to see that world as much as the youngest who had to wait the longest time.
The next year the eldest daughter was allowed to rise to the surface. She had hundreds of things to talk about when she came back. She talked about the music, the sounds of carriages and human voices, the sounds of the bell ringing in church. However, the most beautiful thing was to lie in the moonlight, on a sandbank, in the quiet sea, near the coast, and to gaze on a large town nearby, where the lights were twinkling like hundreds of stars. Just imagining what it must be like made her long for it even more. The descriptions were not enough, she’d have to see it with her own eyes but it was still six years away.
Each of the sisters saw different things and all of them had different perspectives in which was most beautiful and more enjoyable about the world above the sea. With time and because they could go whenever they wanted to see that other world so different from theirs, they became indifferent but they would still go every now and then, together, to enjoy the different views. The little mermaid could only watch them swim away disappearing in the distance feeling forlorn and ready to cry, except that mermaids had not tears, which made it all the more painful.
“I wish I were fifteen years old” She said looking up at the world she yearn so much to see. “I just know I will love that world and the people who live there.”
Whenever she’d say something like that Vaporeon would only look at her tenderly and stayed quiet.
At last her fifteenth birthday came. “Now, you’re a grown up,” said the elderly woman “you must allow me to adorn you like your sisters.” She placed a wreath of white lilies in her hair and each petal was a pearl. The old lady then ordered eight Shellders to attach themselves to her tail to show her high rank.
“But they hurt me so,” the little mermaid said.
“Pride must suffer pain,” replied her grandmother.
Obediently she allowed her grandmother decorated her. She would have preferred to have a flower from her garden and attach it to her hair than all this grandeur. However, she couldn’t help but accept the elder’s wishes since she knew it was a tradition and also because she was a princess.
“Farewell,” Said she as she swam up towards the world she had longed to see for so many years. Vaporeon was about to follow her but the elder stopped the Pokemon. “You mustn’t go. Not this time, let her see whatever she wants. Next time you may go.” Vaporeon nodded and obeyed respectfully.
The first thing she saw when she surfaced was the sky decorated by fireworks, illuminating the night. A joyful sound she heard in the distance coming from a nearby town. She swam closer to the town, careful not to be seen.
‘Such a magnificent sight!’ she thought. It was even better than what she had imagined. People were dancing and chattering happily on the streets. “Vaporeon, don’t you-?“ she looked around to find herself completely alone. She felt slightly scared at first but then she remembered that the first time of her sisters had also been like this. They had all gone to the surface alone.
A young boy appeared briefly on the balcony of the humongous house before the sea, he waved and the crowd roared with excitement; that made her forget about her fear. She wondered why everyone was so excited about the boy. She couldn’t see him very well and opted to swim closer hoping to get a better look. However, when she was finally within a good range to see him properly he went back inside.
Disappointed, she swam back towards the town and away from the mansion which looked like castle to her. The party continued for few more hours and she enjoyed watching the humans enjoy themselves. As the party was ending she decided to look for a safe place to pass the night, or what was left of it. She found a cave and because of the rocks near it she thought it would be a perfect hiding place for her.
The next morning when she went out of the cavern she swam back to the manor. She saw him from afar on the balcony as she got closer a soft melody whispered in her eyes. She then noticed it was the boy who was playing a flute and making the sweet melody. She listened closely and became dazed by the sound; without even thinking or being aware of what she was doing she started singing along.
The young man stopped playing at the sound of such splendid voice; he had never heard such beauty. The tender song ended abruptly as he was looking for the source of the voice.
The little mermaid quickly hid behind some rocks when she realized he had stopped playing. She had been warned before people in the surface did not like tails, they found them repulsing; her grandmother had once told her. It suddenly made her feel sad having fins instead, of what humans called legs.
The boy who played such lovely music, such gentle sound… she wanted to meet him, to talk to him. However, she did not feel confident presenting herself as a mermaid and there was also the fact that they didn’t speak the same language.
She decided to go back home. If there was a way in which she might be able to talk to him, to turn human even if only for a day… her grandmother would surely know.
She swam as fast as she could to the castle in the bottom of the ocean. Through the halls she looked for her grandmother.
“Back already?” asked the wise woman with a hint of surprise in her voice.
If it hadn’t been because she was a mermaid and they were underwater, she would have most probably been drenched in sweat.
“Grand…mother…” her voice was agitated and her cheeks were rosy.
The elder motioned her beloved granddaughter towards the bed and signaled her to sit.
“You came here to tell me what you saw, Aqualle?” the older woman asked with smile upon her face.
The little mermaid simply nodded. She then proceeded to tell the elder woman about the flashing lights in the sky and how the people seemed to be celebrating something. About the boy who played such lovely sound, the route she took to get there, everything.
“As eager as you were, I had been expecting you to go very far.” Her grandmother confessed. “The people you saw were celebrating the anniversary of the town they built a year ago.” She said.
“They seemed so happy dancing and singing.” She said as she recalled what she saw and played it on her mind. “Oh, how I wish I could have legs and dance! I wish I could be human if only for a day!” She thought out loud.
“You mustn’t think that!” gasped the grandmother aghast. “We feel ourselves to be much happier and much better off than human beings. We sometimes live to three hundred years, although when we cease to exist here we only become the foam on the surface of the water, but during the three hundred years that we have to live, which is really quite long enough; after that we can rest ourselves all the better.”
“I see,” said Aqualle slight sad. “Grandmother, if we become foam when we die, what about humans?”
“Like us, who go back to the water; humans go back to dust.” Said the elder woman.
The girl looked sadder. The woman looked at her tenderly and smiled slightly. “I understand that you feel curious about them but humans-“
“I don’t think all humans are bad.” Protested the little mermaid, knowing what her grandmother would say. “I just don’t understand how someone who can create such gentle and beautiful sound could be bad? How those people who can create such beautiful things could be so bad? That is why I wish I could talk with them, to try and understand them!” She said passionately almost as if she was crying.
The elderly woman sighed. “I know I’m going to regret this,” she said mostly to herself as she took off her necklace that had the shape of a Shellder and a pearl in a silver color inside it. “Here.” She said as she put it in her granddaughter’s neck.
A pale greenish and bluish light surrounded the young mermaid. She looked scared.
“G-grandmother?” She asked unsurely of what was happening.
The light became brighter and brighter blinding everything. Once it was gone, Aqualle opened her eyes again and saw her grandmother next to her petting her head.
“What happened?” She asked feeling disoriented and dizzy.
“Look inside the pendant.” Her grandmother told her with a sad smile.
Aqualle opened the pendant which had changed color as well as the pearl inside it. They had both become cerulean.
“This Pearl can grant you three wishes,” Started her grandmother. Aqualle got excited by the news but her grandmother continued, erasing her smile. “The wishes can only be related to you and you can’t wish for infinite wishes. However, for every wish a price must be paid.”
“A price?” she asked unsurely.
“Yes,” The old woman said solemnly “and it has to be of equal value, you could say. Your first wish I assume it would be able to change into a human, correct?”
Aqualle nodded timidly still slightly confused. “Well then, when you are in land,” started her grandmother again “your fins will change into legs, only as long as you have this pendant. You must not take it off, at least not on land, for when you take stop wearing that pendant you will turn into bubbles.” The little mermaid gasped. “You will turn into bubbles if you take it off in land, here, in the sea if you were to take it off nothing will happen but,” she emphasized the word but. “You won’t be able to turn into human ever again.”
“Aqualle, I heard you came back!” Vaporeon came rushing into the room. Vaporeon realized she had come directly into the Queen’s quarters’ without permission and bowed apologetically.
Aqualle smiled happy to see her dear friend. “Vaporeon! I’m so glad to see you.” She swam towards her beloved friend.
“Sorry, your Majesty.” Vaporeon apologized.
“No worries. I understand. Well, I’m little tired so if you don’t mind I’ll rest.” She dismissed them.
“Yes and thank you, grandmother, thank you very much.” Aqualle hugged the older woman ecstatic.
“Don’t thank me yet,” said her grandmother while hugging the girl. “Listen, because if you were to reveal to human that you are a mermaid you will turn into foam. Furthermore, you won’t be able to speak in your human form but you will be able to understand what they say to you. Also every time water touches you, you will turn into a mermaid.”
“I see,” Aqualle said with a slight disappointment in her voice. ‘I wanted to show myself to that boy and sing to him.’ She thought sadly. “Isn’t there any other way in which I can turn into human and talk with them?”
“Child, what I had given you is merely a disguise to be able to dwell in the human world.” The grandmother said sadly. “You should remember the legend of one of our ancestors who was very much like you. In the end, she became foam. That is why you shouldn’t fall in love with a human; nothing good has come out of it before.”
Yes, she remember that story and she also knew that girl wasn’t one of their ancestors, but a closer relative; the youngest sister of her grandmother. Aqualle felt for her, since she had been told that she looked just like the youngest sister of her grandmother which was why she doted on her more than the others.
“I won’t fall in love with him, grandmother” Aqualle said solemnly. “I don’t have any feelings for him and if I were to become fond of him I shall return here immediately to stop my feelings from growing.”
Her grandmother smiled tenderly and hugged her tight. “There’s no need for that. I just don’t want you see you hurt.” She released her. “Go and do what you want to do. Remember to always listen to your heart.”
“Thank you,” she kissed her grandmother goodbye and left the room.
“What is that about turning into a human?” asked Vaporeon worriedly. “I can understand that you are curious but to go to that extend?”
Aqualle smiled to herself and giggled. “Oh, it’s because I haven’t told you yet. I met this boy who played such lovely music. I want to meet him!”
“Isn’t turning yourself into a human going a little overboard?” asked Vaporeon suspiciously. “You aren’t in love with him, are you?” she said almost accusingly.
The little mermaid stopped in her tracks as they were both on their way out of the castle and had reached the garden. “No,” she denied. “Of course not, I just saw him and heard him playing this song.” She said in a dreamy voice as she recalled. “It was just so lovely but I’m not even sure how he looks like. I’m just impressed, you could say.” She said smiling.
Vaporeon looked at her not completely believing her but welcomed her words and explanation. They swam once again towards the city she had just visited away from the underwater kingdom.
It was night already by the time she returned with Vaporeon so they had no option but to sleep on the same place she had the night before.
“I can’t believe you slept here.” Vaporeon said almost protesting. Aqualle just sighed and Vaporeon decided to leave it at that. It didn’t took long for her companion to fall asleep but the excitement and anticipation made it hard for her to sleep; without noticing she had left this world behind to go to the world of dreams.
The next morning…
He wasn’t exactly angry but he was upset. How could his own parents do that kind of thing to him? He was only sixteen years old, there were so many things he wanted to do, so many places he wanted to see.
The day before he had hear such beautiful voice singing and it had made his day. He thought that nothing bad could happen, after listening to the mysterious woman’s voice he felt that only good things could happen to him that day. How wrong had he been!
Now, he thought of the song as the song of the Legend of Mermaid. After all, mermaids were supposed to bewitch sailors with their singing so they would crash into rocks and drown at the bottom of the sea. He felt as a sailor drowning at the moment.
So, maybe he was making a big deal out of it. He did know it was going to happen after all, he just didn’t expect it to be so soon. He just didn’t want to get married so soon and much less to a girl he did not love. He did not dislike her but he couldn’t say he like her either, not romantically.
Sure they had been engaged since they were born but it was unfair to both of them. Gabrielle, his fiancée, was in love with another man and he did not love her although he did care for her.
The situation they were in was so problematic! If he were to refuse her, it would start a conflict between the families and she couldn’t refuse him since her opinion did not count to her father’s eyes. Actually, it appeared Gabrielle’s father had found out about her rendezvous with that boy and now he was forcing her to marry him.
//\\//\\//\\//\\//\\//\\//\\
She woke up with the sound of the melody from the day before, just as beautiful as she had first heard it. So beautiful and mystifying what the music she felt as if the sound was embracing her while warming her heart. This time unlike yesterday she felt as if someone was calling her. Vaporeon continued to sleep soundly and so she decided to go to the source of the melody.
This time he was at the beach right below the balcony he had been yesterday. This was the first time she had seen a human so close but seeing him so close was… She sighed. There were no words to describe what she was feeling. Not once had she seen such a beautiful creature. His dark hair only accented his milky white skin and his eyes which were a mix a green and blue.
“He is so handsome.” She said to herself as she felt herself swoon by his mere presence.
“Who is?” asked a familiar voice from behind her startling her.
“GYAH!” She yelled. “Don’t scare me like that Vaporeon!” She reprimanded. “Look,” she pointed to the boy who had stopped playing his recorded and was turning to look in their direction. Aqualle ducked behind a rock hiding herself from him. “Is he still looking this way?” she asked Vaporeon who was swimming around as if nothing.
“No,” Her loyal Pokemon replied. “He is looking somewhere else. You can come out.”
Timidly she came out from behind the rock and stared at him dreamily.
“I guess he is.” Vaporeon said startling her again.
“Eh?”
“I guess he is handsome…for a human.”
Aqualle sweat-dropped at the tone Vaporeon had said “for a human” it was obvious she still dislike them very much.
//\\//\\//\\//\\//\\//\\//\\
He had stopped for a moment his playing, thinking he had heard her voice but there was no one. He resumed his playing once again. Regardless of what he had previously thought about the song he was still hoping to listen at least one more time to that beautiful voice. He was used to listening to singers with prodigious voice but not once had anyone had the effect of leaving him wanting more.
The rainbow wind blows at a far off the coast
Before dawn, there was a melody I heard
And it was very nostalgic song
The song floated in the air accompanying the soft summer breeze. He listened for a moment paying attention to the song with his eyes closed.
The birds now fly, towards the eastern sky
Now escape to the Treasure Island using this shortcut,
He opened his eyes and looked around; there was no one but him. He closed his eyes and followed the sound.
Where the paradise of the seven seas lies
After the stormy night
To tell you, my love, I will be born again
Even if everyone journeys away from here
As long as we sing the melody of seven countries,
Even if I went away,
I will never forget…
His eyes opened abruptly with the sudden movement beneath his feet and the coldness of the water. It was then when the song came to an end.
//\\//\\//\\//\\//\\//\\//\\
Aqualle saw him reached down and picked up a rock and threw it at the sea. He continued watching it bounce on the water a few times before it vanished into the water. She then, saw him walking away from the beach.
Aqualle let out a sigh once he was gone.
“Are you sure you don’t have feelings for him?” asked Vaporeon skeptically. “It sure does seem like you have a thing for him.” Vaporeon added disapprovingly.
“I don’t have a ‘thing’ for him. I just find him interesting, that’s all.” She said defensively. “Well, he is gone now so I can approach the mainland.” She added thrilled.
“Remember that you won’t be able to talk in your human form and you take the pendant off either.” Vaporeon warned.
“I know, I know,” she said while swimming at the coast. “I can’t wait to see all the marvelous things humans do and make.” She giggled as she imagined herself dancing and walking around the streets.
Once they reached the seashore, the pendant glowed with a pale light and just as her grandmother had told her, her fins changed into legs. Her long dark wavy hair that would have been able to reach her knees became shorter and reached only half her back and looked dark brown. Her eyes changed and looked completely green.
“How do I look?” Aqualle asked telepathically to Vaporeon, for mermaids are able to communicate with other sea creatures even without a voice. Aqualle smiled at Vaporeon happily and then turned around on the spot as a little kid, admiring her dress.
“You look like a human girl.” Vaporeon answered distantly and started walking away.
It was very similar to the dresses she had seen other girls in town wearing the first night she had been able to come to the surface. Aqualle followed Vaporeon believing she would know her way around better.
Music filled the town as well as the energetic chattering of people doing business. Everyone seemed so happy to her eyes, they were all courteous and polite. Some would greet her but she would only smile back. Oh, how did she yearn she could talk in human form.
“Vaporeon,” She thought slightly sad as she stopped on her tracks forcing her friend to do the same. “Let’s go back. Let’s go back to the sea, please.”
“Is something wrong?” asked a worried Vaporeon to the girl.
“Let’s go back first.” She said with very sad eyes. Vaporeon understood and led her back to the beach.
“What happened? Did you finally realize humans are better to be kept away from?” asked Vaporeon worriedly but with bitterness in her voice.
“It’s not that!” she protested. “I still don’t think humans are as bad as grandmother or you say they are.”
“You don’t know anything!” Vaporeon snapped back. “My trainer abandoned me, that’s what humans do they use you and then throw you away.” She said bitterly.
Aqualle looked sad at Vaporeon’s words. It was the first time she had told her what had happened; what it had made her hate humans.
“Oh, Vaporeon, I’m sorry. I’m so sorry.” She threw herself at her friend and hugged her tightly. “Still, I don’t think everyone is like that. Merman or human, both of our races are able to love, hate, suffer, smile, feel happy, sad, we all share the same emotions; that’s why I don’t think every single human is bad. We shouldn’t stereotype, that’s what I believe.”
“Oh, look what we got here.” Said a male voice from afar.
Aqualle looked behind and saw two young men accompanied by a Machoke and a Sceptile approaching her menacingly. They didn’t look much older than herself but she felt intimidated. They way in which they were looking at her and Vaporeon was enough to make her realize what Vaporeon and her grandmother had always told her. So, there were human who were bad, but hadn’t she said so herself just a while ago?
She held even tighter onto Vaporeon, who glared at them.
“Pretty lady, you have a very interesting Pokemon with you.” The one who had black hair said with a horrible smirk.
“Vaporeons are unusual Pokemon, didn’t you know?” teased the one with brown hair. “I’m sure if we’d sell it, it’d make us rich. Don’t you think, John?”
Aqualle looked horrified, she felt like running except her fear prevented her from moving.
The man named John laughed sinisterly. “Aren’t you gonna say anything?” He teased. “Aren’t you gonna start yelling for help?”
Aqualle flinched as they grew closer; they were within ten feet now.
“I think we have a mute, Mat.” John said still smirking.
“I think you’re right.” He smirked. “She’s pretty though, let’s have some fun.”
Vaporeon released herself from Aqualle’s hold and stood in between those guys and her friend. She growled at them as a warning.
“Oh, this one is a feisty, huh?” said Mat as he reached behind him. “Sceptile, Bulletseed!”
Sceptile’s mouth’s starting spitting small golden-like seeds. Vaporeon could have easily dodged that but if she had the one who would have received the hit would’ve been Aqualle.
“Vaporeon!” She mouthed as they couldn’t hear her voice. She glared at them.
“Stop! Stop right there!” Another male voice came from afar.
“Shoot!” Cursed Mat. “It’s him, we better scram.” He said to his friend. “You’re lucky little lady.” They run leaving an injured Vaporeon and a scared Aqualle behind.
“Are you ok?” asked Aqualle through telepathy.
Vaporeon stood up and nodded. “I’m fine. Are you ok?”
Aqualle smiled relieved. “I’m okay,” she replied.
“Are you both all right?” They heard the same voice asked.
When both Vaporeon and Aqualle looked up to see the face of their savior, they were shock to see that it was none other than the boy from the beach.
He extended a hand to help Aqualle up to her feet but she was so shock she didn’t notice and stood up on her own. Even if she could have talk as human, she thought, she probably wouldn’t have been able at this moment. She was too shocked and still scared, so without thinking she ran away. Vaporeon watched her for a second; she looked back at the man and mewed a ‘thank you’ before running after her friend.
The boy was left stunned there as he watched both Pokemon and girl run along the seashore.
He smiled to himself. “Seems she’s okay.”
//\\//\\//\\//\\//\\//\\//\\
She ran and ran till she had no more energy to continue running. Her breathing was agitated and she flopped into the sand heavily. Her entire body was shivering despite the hot weather, tears filled her eyes and she let them run down her face.
“Aquelle,” Vaporeon approached and nuzzled against her. “Everything is fine now, you’re safe.” She said tenderly.
“Vaporeon,” she wailed as she held onto Vaporeon’s neck once again. “I put you in danger. If I hadn’t been so stubborn, if I hadn’t wished- if only I had listened to you-“
Vaporeon nuzzled against her cheeks and licked her tears. “What is done is done.” She said softly with a half smile. “Besides,” she continued with a whole smile “‘not all humans are bad.’” She quoted. “That boy came and helped us. You were right, maybe not all humans are bad.” She said trying to cheer Aqualle.
Aqualle smiled slightly and dried her tears. “He did, didn’t he?” She thought of the boy she had seen and saved them. Realization, suddenly hit her. “Oh, no!”
“What’s wrong, Aqualle?” asked Vaporeon worriedly.
“Because I was so scared I ran away without thanking him.” She said feeling mortified. “He will think I’m ungrateful and hate me!”
Vaporeon sighed; sometimes this girl could really exaggerate. “I don’t think he is going to hate you for something like that. I think that he would understand that you were scared and ran away on impulse.” Vaporeon said patiently as she patted Aqualle’s hand with her paw.
“Really?” she asked with big teary eyes.
“Yes,” Vaporeon nodded. “If you want to thank him, why not go back? He might still be somewhere close by.” She encouraged.
Aqualle finished drying off her face and stood up. “Ok, then I’m going!” She proclaimed all pumped up and ran off back the way they had come.
“Wait!” Vaporeon yelled after her. “You can’t talk! How are you gonna thank him?” she yelled after Aqualle which made the human-looking girl stop in her tracks abruptly.
Vaporeon finally caught up with her friend and saw her crying, again.
“What should I do?” sobbed Aqualle.
Vaporeon sighed. Why was it that under the sea, everyone thought of her as quiet and thoughtful when in reality she was so…Vaporeon sighed. Seriously, the reason why everyone thought that was probably because she was always daydreaming about the surface and now that she was here, she finally let out her true colors. She really was a crybaby and her mood could change so easily too, such complicated girl; she really was a handful sometimes.
“Why don’t you just wish to have your voice as a human?” Vaporeon suggested offhandedly.
She giggled to herself. “I hadn’t thought of that, heh.” She closed her eyes and took a deep breath. “I wish, I wish with all my heart; my voice in this form I could have.” A pale light surrounded her just as when she was in the underwater palace and from the pendant the image of her grandmother appeared in a sort of window.
“Grandmother!” Gasped Aqualle surprised.
“Your Majesty!” exclaimed Vaporeon also surprise.
“So, your second wish is your voice. The price will be not being able to sing in your human form.” The older mermaid said in a business-like tone. “You wish so much for that boy to hear your song so you will never be allowed to sing as a human. If you were to sing it would be a very horrible sound. Are you still willing? He won’t recognize you in that form since you won’t be able to tell him you’re name as a mermaid.”
“Yes, I accept the conditions. Otherwise, I won’t be able to get my answers and I’d like to be like the other human girls.” She said solemnly.
“Very well,” said her grandmother and she closed her eyes and Aqualle was once again surrounded by a brighter light. “Remember, you only have one more wish.” Her grandmother reminded her. “Use it wisely.”
“Yes, grandmother” she said with a smile, slightly surprise to be able to talk again.
The light fade and the image of the Queen disappear with it.
“That was really cool, huh?” said Aqualle admirably to Vaporeon who had kept quiet the whole time.
“Yes, quiet impressive.” She agreed.
“Well, don’t just stand there,” Said Aqualle enthusiastically. “Let’s go, we gotta find him!”
When they arrived to the place where they had been attacked, no one was there. It was completely deserted. They checked the surroundings but only Pokemon were in the area. They even approached the surroundings of the town, without getting to close since they didn’t want to be seen. Without success they returned to the beach area and checked again, just in case.
Aqualle sighed. “He is not here, although that’s to be expected since I ran off and…” she sighed again.
“What do you want to do?” asked Vaporeon. “Continue searching or…?”
“Let’s call it a day. It’s getting dark again, it’ll be harder to look besides I think we’ve had enough for one day, don’t you think?” She said with a tired smile.
Vaporeon smiled the same way. “You’re right. Let’s go to the cave and rest.”
The Next Day…
It was very early in the morning some stars were still in the sky and the sky had a soft shade of purple mixed with orange and pink. The rays of the sun were beginning to shine as the day came to life. Aqualle woke Vaporeon up and convinced her to go with her to the place where she had first seen him the day before. They swam behind the rocks and Aqualle sat on one of them as the soft breeze caressed her wet hair and face. They were right before the balcony they had seen him come out.
“He came before when he heard me sing,” she had said to Vaporeon as they swam. “So, perhaps, if he hears me he’d come out again.”
“You’re gonna let him see you? As a mermaid, I mean?” Vaporeon had asked flabbergasted.
Aqualle had only smiled as a response, which had let to where they were now.
//\\//\\//\\//\\//\\//\\//\\
He laid asleep soundly in the comfort of his room. The dim light would penetrate from the fairly opened window. The soft breeze filled the room carrying with it a beautiful melody.
The rainbow wind blows at a far off the coast
He stirred in his sleep.
Before dawn, there was a melody I heard
And it was very nostalgic song
His bluish eyes opening slowly, at first he didn’t realize it and then it hit him. It was the same song, the one he had been yearning to hear. He stood out of bed and ran toward the balcony.
The birds now fly, towards the eastern sky
Now escape to the Treasure Island using this shortcut,
His mouth opened slightly and his eyes widen with surprise. Sure, he had called this song “Legend of Mermaid” but… he could have never thought that it had been a real mermaid who sang.
Where the paradise of the seven seas lies
After the stormy night
He listened to her singing still in daze. He watched her as some water Pokemon came near her to listen to her too.
To tell you my love I will be born again
Even if everyone journeys away from here
Her wavy hair was very long and dark and it dance with the air. Her fish-like tail glistened with the rays of the sun reflected on the water.
As long as we sing the melody of seven countries,
Even if I went away,
She was very beautiful and he felt mesmerized. The necklace around her neck in shape of a Shellder captured his attention for a second, he felt as he had seen it before.
I will never forget…
It surprised him when she suddenly turned around to look at him directly and smiled. He opened his mouth to say something, anything, but he was speechless.
She turned around again and dived into the sea.
“Wait!” He yelled after her. He dressed as fast as he could so he could go after her.
She surfaced again and looked at him still smiling. He ran out of the room and towards the beach below. She wasn’t there anymore when he finally reached the beach. He sighed disappointed.
//\\//\\//\\//\\//\\//\\//\\
Aqualle had seen him ran out of the room. She knew he would go to the beach to look for her.
“Told you it’d work” said Aqualle, in her human form, to Vaporeon.
“I never said it wouldn’t” Vaporeon replied coolly.
They were both standing several feet away from him, far enough out of hearing range.
“So… aren’t you going?” Asked Vaporeon as Aqualle simply stood there gazing at him.
“I’m nervous,” she confessed.
“Oh, c’mon, he’s not gonna eat you, you know.” Vaporeon replied. “Besides, I’m here. I’ll go with you.”
“Thank you,” Aqualle said as she breathed in deeply and armed herself with courage.
She walked slowly, too slowly, in Vaporeon’s opinion. At the rate Aqualle was going the guy would probably leave. He was already beginning to walk back to his mansion. Vaporeon suddenly darted towards him.
“Vaporeon!” Aqualle yelled as she saw her friend run towards the boy. She ran towards them to try to stop Vaporeon.
The boy turned around slightly started by the shout and saw the Pokemon running towards him.
“Vaporeon! Stop!” Aqualle yelled but it was too late. Vaporeon had already tackled the boy and thrown him out of balance so they were on the sand. Vaporeon licked him on his face.
‘The things one does for a friend.’ Vaporeon thought to herself.
“I’m so sorry,” Aqualle apologized when she was next to them. “Vaporeon get off him,” she said and Vaporeon obediently did as told.
He chuckled. “No problem.” He looked at the girl who really sounded worried. “Oh, it’s you! The girl from yesterday.” He saw her necklace, it looked exactly like-
Aqualle blushed when she was recognized. “Oh, you’re the boy who saved me.” She said pretending to have just realized. She sat on the sand next to him. “I wanted to thank you and apologize about yesterday. I was so rude, running away like that after you saved me.”
“You must have been very scared,” he said as he reached to her cheek and caressed her with his hand. She blushed cute and looked away. He stopped what he was doing and got up.
She nodded. “I was.” She replied.
“They won’t bother you again,” He said as he extended a hand to help her up. She looked at his extended hand curiously. “You’re not gonna run away again, are you?” He teased.
She smiled. “No,” she took his hand. “I won’t run away.” He helped her to her feet.
“Good. Say, you’re new in town, aren’t you?” he asked.
She felt as if a Chinchou had given her a Thunder Wave. Her heart skipped at beat. “Um, yes, I’m new in town.” She replied shakily.
“Then, what would you say if I’d show you around town?” He asked.
She blushed again. “Eh?” She looked at Vaporeon who was behind him.
Vaporeon nodded approvingly. ‘It’s okay, since you wanted to learn about humans now you have a human to teach you, right?’
“…I-okay.” She agreed nervously.
“Good. Oh, I almost forgot.” He said suddenly. “We haven’t introduced ourselves. I’m Luke.”
She smiled. “My name is Aqualle.”
He showed her around town and she was amazed and overjoyed by all the things she saw; the people selling their products in the market, the park, and the fountain in the middle, the houses with their different colors and shapes, the Pokemon flying in the air and all the people walking about and chattering. Her dream had become reality and on top of that she had made a friend. She couldn’t help but smile.
Vaporeon, who had hated humans for so long still dislike them but she felt she could trust this boy. He had saved them once and was kind to them. She felt however, he was hiding something because when he smiled it just seemed faked. The day went by so quickly for Aqualle, she didn’t want it to end but it was inevitable.
They were back at the beach where they had found each other earlier.
“This town only has one year since its foundation and on Saturday, next week, there will be a great ceremony. The people are gonna choose a god so it’d be under their protection. It was supposed to be a few days ago but my father was away and since it seems he won’t be here, I’ll have to do it.”
“Eh?” Aqualle looked confused.
He smiled at her confused expression.
“Hope you had a good time,” Luke said although he knew the answer.
“It was the best! I have never seen so many people and-“ she covered her mouth, she was saying too much and it may sound strange.
He looked slightly confused. “You’ve never seen so many people?” He asked.
“I-um, that is,” she stuttered trying to find a way out of the situation she had just placed herself into. “I gotta go!” she suddenly exclaimed. “Sorry, goodbye.” She ran and Vaporeon dashed after her.
He was left there standing flabbergasted for a moment before he started laughing. “See you tomorrow here!” He yelled after her. “She sure likes to run.” He commented to himself as he continued watching her silhouette until she disappeared into the darkness of the night. ‘I hope I can see her again.’ He thought. ‘I like her.’ He grinned as he decided to go back.
//\\//\\//\\//\\//\\//\\//\\
Aqualle had stopped running at the exact same spot as last time and again she was sitting in the sand.
“I did it again!” she bellowed and punched the sand before her.
Vaporeon sighed. “Well, it’s not you’re fault not to be quick-witted.” She replied with a hint of sarcasm.
Aqualle darted an angry gaze at Vaporeon. “I’m not stupid. I just- I just couldn’t come up with anything on the spot.”
“Well, that’s irrelevant now.” Vaporeon said. “He said he wanted you to meet with him again tomorrow. Are you going?”
Aqualle bit her lower lip and nodded. “I’d like that. He taught me so many things today. I want to know more.” She said in a dreamy voice.
Vaporeon started walking way from her friend, who was still daydreaming. “If that’s the case, we should get some sleep,” Vaporeon said. “Right?”
Aqualle smiled broadly and quickly got to her feet. “Yes,” she giggled. “I can hardly wait.”
The Next day…
It was almost as if the day was repeating itself, a copy from yesterday because just like the day before. Aqualle and Vaporeon had swum up right his balcony and she sang her song and again he had come down to the beach looking for her in her mermaid form. Unlike yesterday, however, he saw her standing in the beach looking out at the sea, waiting for him. Vaporeon was swimming in the sea and playing with other Pokemon as she was requested to leave them alone for a moment.
“Good morning!” she greeted with a smile.
He was slightly surprised to see her so early in the morning. “Good morning,” he replied the gesture. “You heard the song too?” He asked curiously.
She had already practice her answer to him, so her replied was unwavering. “I did, I felt that if I came here you’d be here.” She said with a small blush on her face with went unnoticed by him.
“Do you know who sings that song?” He asked as he walked and stood next to her though not looking at her but at the sea.
“No,” she lied and looked away from him and at the sand. “Who?”
“A mermaid.” He responded with a faraway look on his face. “You know,” he looked at her in the eyes. “The first time we met I thought you were that mermaid.”
Aqualle was utterly shocked; her eyes big with surprise and gasped escaped her lips.
“Of course,” He returned his gaze at the sea before even seeing her reaction. “I now know that’s impossible since you can talk.”
Aqualle blinked. “What does my talking have to do with anything?” She asked curiously.
Luke smiled and returned his gaze back to her. “You see,” he began. “Merpeople posses some magic and even some come to land but without their voices.” He explained. “Of course, there are human who unfortunately can’t talk but someone without a voice who suddenly appears, that usually means that their merpeople.”
‘So if I hadn’t wished for my voice in this form, he would have known.’ She sighed mentally since she couldn’t let him see how stupid she was feeling at the moment. She no longer desired to talk about this; she knew it would only make her feel worse.
“You were saying something yesterday,” she started. “Something about a ceremony to choose a guardian for the city, I’d like to know more about it.”
Luke smiled at her. She sure seemed eager to know about many different things and he couldn’t help but think of her as a child who has just seen the world for the first time.
“Everyone in town already knows this,” He started. “I am from a family who are very devoted to the gods.”
“So… you’re like a priest?” she asked unsurely.
“Not really.” Luke replied. “I can use a little magic and my job is to be a protector, a Guardian*.”
“A Goo-are-dee-an?” She asked with a little difficulty when saying it since it was the first time she had her that word.
“You can use Protector, or Guard if you want. After all, Guardian is a foreign word use by my ancestors.” He said.
She nodded. “So…what are you suppose to protect?” She asked not really understanding that part.
Luke took a moment to answer. It really was hard to explain and he was telling her more than the people in town knew about. They only knew of his family as a family who was powerful and who the gods seemed to protect as if they were special.
“I am the Guardian, Guard, Protector; however you want to say it, of the Earth and Sea.” He confessed. “I am supposed to protect all living creatures in the ocean and here on land. A Guardian job is to protect this planet.”
“That sounds pretty cool.” Aqualle said. “Although, it sounds like it’s not an easy task.”
“It’s not.” He admitted. “We can never stay in a place for too long and we are only allowed to marry someone from the same group of people, that is to say other Guardianes*. We are a small group and third parties wouldn’t really understand it.” He said with a tone that indicated he was feeling sad for some reason.
“If others wouldn’t understand,” Aqualle started timidly. “Why are you telling me this?”
He looked at her with a slight hint of surprise. Why was he telling her all of this? Why was he telling her and talking to her as if she would understand?
“I don’t know,” he confessed as he pulled back some strains of her hair behind her ear. “Somehow, I just felt like you would understand.” He smiled tenderly at her.
She grinned back and closed her eyes and she enjoyed thoroughly the touch of his hand in her cheek. Her heart was pounding against her chest and she didn’t understand why but she was feeling extremely happy even more than the first time she was able to walk on the land. She felt even happier than the first time she saw the town in the company of Vaporeon.
“Enough of that,” he said as he stopped caressing her cheek. “Let’s do something fun. Where would you like to go today?” He asked.
Her smiled became bigger and her eyes sparkle with anticipation. “Anywhere, I’ll just let you surprise me.” She replied.
He laughed at her response. “Ok, then,” He turned around and offered her his arm for her to cling. “I’ll take you to a place I think you are going to like.”
She gratefully accepted his offered and took his arm. “I’m so excited.” She said.
“Aqualle,” Her name in his voice was music to her ears. “Aren’t you going to call for your Pokemon to come too?” asked Luke before they started walking.
“It’s okay, Luke.” Aqualle said. Oh, how she liked that name. “Vaporeon looks like it’s having fun.” It was true too; Vaporeon was playing tag with a group of Corsola and Horsea.
//\\//\\//\\//\\//\\//\\//\\
It wasn’t what she was expecting and although it was really beautiful and under other circumstances she was sure she would have loved the place but right now she was human and on the company of Luke. Her heart was hammering against her chest with pure anxiousness. Her breathing was slightly agitated and she was sweating even though the weather was not hot. Even the cool breeze of early spring did not help her to feel any better.
Luke and Aqualle were currently on a boat sailing, the word for the place where they were currently in she did not know. It was not a lake but it was not exactly a river either although it was connected to a river, sort of. Plants grow around it and the Pokemon with wings and feather sang on the trees around them. It was truly beautiful, seeing the sun reflecting its rays on the water making it sparkle; hearing the symphony of the Pokemon as they flew near them and the other water Pokemon swimming close.
She really liked that place, how could she not? However, she was dreading what was ahead.
“There’s a cave under that cascade,” Luke had said. “I want to take you there, there’s something I want to show you.”
She had tried to think of something so they wouldn’t go there but nothing occurred to her. She felt absolutely helpless and scared. She knew perfectly well that if the water were to touch her she’d go back to her mermaid form and if he saw her in her true form, then he will realize that the mermaid he had heard singing and had tried to talk was her. He would definitely find out she was a mermaid and that would mean her doom, she’d become bubbles.
They were really close now, the sounds of the water falling into the water was loud. Her heart thumping so hard it was becoming painful.
‘I wish Vaporeon’ she was thinking but stopped herself. ‘No, I can’t wish that. I can’t even think of wishing for Vaporeon, he’ll figure it out if I were to do that.’ She fidgeted on her sit.
“Are you alright?” asked Luke after seeing for the last few minutes as they had been approaching to the fall that Aqualle was becoming more and more uneasy.
~*~*~*~*
A/N:It was too long so I had to dive it in two...
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