She had eyes that could lead others out of the darkness, yet she was trapped in a dome with no signs of life nearby. Sore bruises formed on her arms as the chains restricted any movement. They cuffed her forearms together after hours of her struggling resistance. No words, no sounds, just silence.
She gave up on hope.
"After hours of it trying to break free, we finally calmed the creature down."
"Creature...?"
"Yes, the creature we caught...it's..."
The silence broke. She faintly heard voices in the distance, becoming closer and closer. Footprints followed the voices echoing from afar, and the creature slowly opened its eyes. Everything was a blur to her. Her eyes fluttered, trying to adjust to the lighting.
"She's not a creature, don't treat her like one. Take the chains off her, immediately."
The man's voice was demanding, yet gentle. Once her eyes fully opened, she saw a silver-haired man standing in front of her on the other side of the glass dome. Her eyes widened.
Why...? Why?! She thought. She didn't know what to feel, shock or anger. The chains were released, and she could now swim freely.
"You're a mermaid, am I correct?" the man asked.
The mermaid smashed her hands against the glass as she glared into the man's eyes. She then gritted her teeth and swam to the center of the dome, crossing her arms.
The man chuckled. "I don't intend to harm you. I'm letting you go."
She looked over to the silver-haired man as her arms loosened. The mermaid was genuinely shocked.
"But sir!" the man's escort said.
"I said, set her free," the man argued.
"All the hard work would go to waste!"
"It's only natural to thank the one who saved me, so I'm setting her free."
The mermaid swam towards the man and placed her forehead against the glass. The man didn't understand, but he copied her actions. Thank you. If we ever meet again, call me Light. The man heard a voice in his head that resembled a woman's. For some reason, the voice seemed familiar, but it also soothed him. The mermaid smiled as the dome was being dragged away to the ocean. He was in awe, he believed without a doubt that the mermaid was talking to him.
"Wait! My name is Hope! Hope Estheim!"
Little by little the dome was dragged away, until it wasn't seen anymore.
Hope chuckled. Is this what they call love at first sight? He thought to himself.
"But I guess it'll never work out..." Hope sighed.
"Uh, sir...? Your majesty? Are you alright? You're saying some weird things..." His escort said.
"Pablo, you've been my escort for how many years?"
"Five years, sir."
"And in those five years, you didn't notice that I talk to myself?"
"No comment..."
"Okay, back to work. Academia isn't going to run itself."
"Lightning! Where have you been?" a young mermaid yelled.
"Serah..."
The two embraced each other, glad to be together again. The sisters were separated from each other for weeks without any form of contact.
"Sis, what happened...?"
"It's a long story..."
"I need to know, Lightning."
"... Alright."
"Serah! It's too dangerous! What do you think you're doing?!" Lightning yelled.
"We have to save him, Lightning! He'll drown!"
"It's too risky!"
"But Lightning!-"
"Just stay back, Serah! I'll save him!"
The horrendous storm caused the waves to rise higher than usual, and once the waves crashed into a ship, the chance of survival was minimal. The task of saving the young stranger also brought danger to the rescuer. Ship debris flew everywhere in the air and scattered through the sea.
She sped through the waves, dodging the scattered pieces of debris. Then, she dived deep into the ocean, catching the young drowning stranger. Lightning kept him as close to her as she could, so he could avoid the broken off fragments of the ship. She managed to get out of the situation without harm.
Lightning noticed that the young man was trembling, as if afraid. He was completely unconscious when she brought him to the shore. Lightning pressed her forehead against his. You'll be alright. You're not alone, she said to him, but not aloud. His trembling body stopped, and Lightning fled back to the ocean.
The gigantic storm ended; however, the ocean water leveled, and Lightning was trapped within the lake located near the castle of Academia. Hours later, the young man was taken in and Lightning tried to find an exit out to the ocean. She couldn't find any exit as the castle is the most protected building in the city.
The trapped mermaid found herself in a more difficult situation. Lightning got caught into a net. Later on, she found herself in a dome, chained up. She met the one she saved, Hope Estheim, and was released back into the ocean.
"That's the story." Lightning sighed.
"Sis, you bonded with the human, Hope Estheim?"
"I had no choice, he was scared. What was I supposed to do?"
"But he's the handsome king of Academia!"
"Serah, how do you know this?"
"Don't change the subject, Lightning. So, you met him again? It must be fate!"
"There's no such thing as fate."
"Typical, Lightning." Serah giggled, "Let's head home, I'm sure the others are waiting to see you again."
"...King?" Lightning murmured.
"Did you say something, sis?"
"It's nothing. Let's go."
Bloopers
The mermaid swam towards the man and placed her forehead against the glass. The man didn't understand, but he copied her actions. AND THEN THEY KISS KISS FALL IN LOVE!
"Pablo, you've been my escort for how many years?"
"Cinco years, señor."
(a/n: I hope you enjoyed this chapter and I would really appreciate it if you left a review. A little constructive criticism wouldn't hurt :3)