Water lapped in soft waves on the shore of Beach City, a nondescript small town usually left off the map of the Eastern United States. Nothing of note ever happened in Beach City, really. It was completely ordinary in every way- even a bit under the threshold of ordinary, if such a concept existed.
However.
There was one resident of Beach City that made this story worth writing (and reading, although that might be a bit presumptuous of the author).
And of course- the mermaids.
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Strong tails for swimming.
Lapis allowed her tail to swish behind her absentmindedly, thoughtless. There were surely better ways to spend her time than idling here.
Teeth like razors, for attack. A taste for the more... macabre, especially surprising for creatures so beautiful.
She worried her lip gently, stifling a yawn. Lapis was unsuccessful, and tastefully brought her slender fingers up to hide her mouth, water gushing between her fingers. The salt on her tongue did little to rouse her from her boredom.
Sharp nails for defense, among other things. Gills, for breath, large eyes for sight. Muscular bodies- though some were packed into lithe frames made for speed instead of intimidation.
Lapis wished she was anywhere but here, anywhen but now. She wanted something new to entertain her, occupy her. She wanted to feel, to know.
She didn't want to be Lapis Lazuli any more.
"Miss Lazuli, are you even paying attention? This information is imperative for your success as the heir to the kingdom. The least you could do is pretend to be interested." Pearl's thoughts nearly assaulted her with their fervor, and Lapis briefly wondered why she had gotten one of the most annoying Pearls she had ever met as a tutor and guide. Then she realized that she was in trouble, if the teal slits pointed at her were any indication.
"I'm sorry. No, my mind is… somewhere else." Lapis offered, shrugging and pursing her lips. Pearl's eyes narrowed, and she huffed, bubbles spiraling up from the corners of her mouth.
"I should say so. Please invest more effort into your studies, Miss Lazuli. It might come in handy one day." Pearl reminded her, bringing her hands together. She steepled her fingers and looked behind her, up, around, anywhere but Lapis. Pearls had no tact, though that might have been hypocritical coming from her.
"Alright, we can quit for now. I promise I'll try harder tomorrow, you can be dismissed." Lapis rolled her shoulders and swam backwards, waving a cursory goodbye to her tutor. She barely caught the "Very good, Miss Lazuli." before she was gone.
She spiraled up and away from the drop-off that they had held "class" on, looking up at the sunlight permeating the top of the water. Even from fathoms below, it still stung her eyes, and she loved it. The motion of the waves caused an almost hypnotic pattern that mesmerized the mermaid, and she floated closer. Finally, the pain became too great to handle, and she turned down, blinking spots from her vision. She laughed a little at the sensation, the pressure behind her eyelids. Lapis then propelled herself back down into the colder waters, her body slipping comfortably into the higher compression of the Undersea.
Weaker mermaids could only survive in the upper levels, so she got the chance to get closer to the sun with every lesson from Pearl. Her tutor lived about 6 levels up from her, nearly at the cusp of the Undersea. She scoffed at the thought. Why was it that she, in all her boundless privilege, couldn't have what a Pearl had? She swam harder, faster, and reached the Seafloor in record time. Only Diamonds and the like could make it this far, and she felt a slimy shiver travel down her spine at the thought. She didn't want to be a Diamond. She didn't want to be royalty. She wanted…
What did she want?
"Lapis." She felt her name caress her, and she whipped around. The Queen's guard were the few born strong enough for the Seafloor, and Jasper was more than born strong. She lived strong, ate strong for breakfast, trained from birth to serve dutifully. It made Lapis feel weak and helpless, the exact opposite of how one of her guards should make her feel.
The phosphorescence on Japser's ears and tail, face, arms, made her look like some sort of warrior, and the orange glow did nothing to help soften the man-eating grin on her face.
"Jasper." She replied curtly, turning back around.
"You're back early. I'm concerned, of course." A hand on her shoulder nearly had her hissing in discontent.
"Nothing happened. Thank you, but I'm fine." She said, with a bit less confidence, as the hand moved from her shoulder up to her neck. She dared not move, with Jasper's claws so close to her gills.
"If you have time to kill, princess-"
"Jasper, princess! White Diamond demand your presence at once. Well, she could care less about Jasper, but as long as you're here I guess." Peridot appeared out of the gloom, glowing a bright, unpleasant green. She was an engineered type, a slight Mer with a mechanical function and tenacity.
Jasper pulled away with a growl. "Why can't that old pufferfish just keel over yet? She's been on her deathbed for ages."
Lapis shot after Peridot, who had already begun her trek back to the Monolith. She could sense Jasper behind her though. Always behind her.
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"I just think she's a bit... inexperienced, Howlite. That's all." Cymophane stated, swimming back and forth in front of her queen. The regal mermaid lay crippled in the darkness of her throne room, permeated by elegant strings of white bioluminescent algae and a myriad of deformed deep-sea fish.
"Lapis Lazuli is the only heir fit for my place. She is curious, with a kind heart, but firm and opinionated. She will be a fine Queen, Yellow." Howlite's thoughts were feeble, and Cymophane was reminded of a sucker-fish barely clinging to what sustained it. "And you will be her faithful adviser, as you were to me."
Cymophane nodded tersely. Of course she would, she knew her place. Though she was a Diamond as well, she lived to serve the reigning Queen. That was why she had an assistant modeled after her, for Lapis herself... though Peridot was more trouble than she was worth. And speaking of-
"Her Highness Lapis Lazuli and Diamond Guard Jasper, as requested." Peridot nearly shattered the silence, and Howlite slowly sat herself up straighter. Cymophane rushed to assist her, placing a hand on her lower back.
"Thank you, Peridot. Leave us." Cymophane waved her free hand at the young Mer, who bowed and left with a sullen expression. Howlite gestured for Cymophane to back away. She took her position to the right of her Queen, watching her carefully for any faltering movement.
"I don't remember asking for you, Jasper." Howlite's tone was teasing, though the guard tensed. The Queen's gentle prodding at the mind could be a bit uncomfortable for mermaids used to less direct contact. Cymophane suppressed a smirk as Lapis tried to hide her flinch as well. She had a long way to go if she wanted to rule properly, powerfully.
"I was only joking. You were simply watching your charge, which is quite appreciated. Now, Lapis. We have important matters to discuss." Howlite continued, resting her hands in her lap. The fish gathered around her, bathing her in eerie light.
"If I may speak freely, White Diamond… are you up to it? You look…" Lapis interjected, and Cymophane nearly scoffed. She was truly tactless.
"I am fine enough, Lapis. Being sure that you are educated adequately is of more import than my health at this moment in time. Yellow will make sure that I don't overexert myself." Cymophane shifted a bit, rattled, as the Queen gazed at her. Her eyes were already so lifeless. But it wasn't as if Howlite could live forever. She was the oldest mermaid in the ocean by centuries.
"Now, the first matter we must address- your escort…" she began, as a figure came out of the shadows, gauntlets clenched.
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Steven's bare feet burned on the hot sand, though he countered this by performing quick hop-steps to reach his destination. His dad looked up as he sat the pails, shovels, and sea-shells down on the towel he was lying on.
"Nice work, kiddo. Better get building before the tide gets too high." He said, leaning back and adjusting his shades. Steven nodded and gathered the supplies back into his arms, dancing out to the blissfully cooler, wet sand. He gathered one bucket of the damp stuff- his foundation- and scanned the beach for a good spot to dump it and begin construction. A little ways left of where his dad set up camp was what looked like the perfect place- but out further, and back down towards where the waves were rolling in, a gleam caught Steven's eye. Puffing his cheeks out, he glanced at Dad. It was probably out of his line of sight. But he'd only be over there for a second. Two, tops.
And it would look really great on his castle, whatever it was.
He started out at a light jog towards the shiny object, kneeling when he reached it. It was half buried in the sand, and Steven gingerly pulled it out- displaying admirable concentration for a twelve year-old with a castle to get back to. It felt solid, but fragile, and was smooth and almost egg-shell colored on one side. But on the other… the Sun bounced off of the purple surface, making it sparkle like a piece of jewelry. Steven spent a few moments just tilting the thing, eyes wide and starry. It fit just in the palm of his hand, and he stood to wipe the sand off of his swimshorts. He needed to show Dad!
"Dad! Hey!" He called, and his dad sat up almost groggily. Who could nap at the beach? "Look what I found! It's like a rock, or something, but not? Check it out!"
Steven held out his prize triumphantly, and his dad looked nonplussed for all of three seconds. Then, he stood abruptly, startling Steven backwards. Dad grabbed his hand, pulling him away from the beach to their house just up the hill.
Steven's pink pail, his favorite, lay on the sand as the waves broke against it, still filled, but forgotten.