Once upon a time, in a land far from one's own. There's a world of kingdoms, colonies and villages that lived in peace for each of their people from the far ends of the earth itself. Most of the times there will be all kinds of dangers that looms over them, depending on where to find it. But the real tale begins under the depths of the deep blue sea. Many sailors heard of the tale that stated of a rare race of creatures who lives among the fishes and other marine life. They swim with other sea mammals, talks with them and to them, fish are like birds in their realm. Just like birds are to humans. Those creatures are known as if they're called mer-people. Mermaids and mermen. Unlike human beings, the merfolk are depicted to have no legs nor feet. In fact, their bodies ended in the tail of a real fish, complete with slimy, shimmering scales, fins and everything. The tales foretold by sailors whom sailed out on the seas, that the mer-people lives in the rarely beautiful underwater kingdom of Mermaidiana. Long ago, Mermaidiana was once ruled by a cruel, wicked, dark demonic sea witch name Eraza. Before her time as the evil queen of the sea, she was once a beautiful siren who abuses her gifted powers and was punished by Poseidon, God of the sea, who stripped her of her melodic magic. But then, she sold her soul to the darkness and became a monstrous sea witch with terrifying demonic powers at her disposal. To sustain her hunger for more power, she would take a merfolk or other marine mammal, and she will drain them of their life. Instantly leaving them for dead. The more she does it, the more beautiful and powerful she becomes. Her reign of terror over the mer-people of Mermaidiana finally came to an end when a strong merman name Aquarion challenged her and that's when their duel began. The battle for the kingdom became hard fought. Eraza thought she had the upper hand by calling on her dark magic powers but she underestimated Aquarion's brute strength and his smart thinking. With the odds in his favor, he defeated the sea witch. In his victory, the mer-people crowned him as the new king of Mermaidiana. In his power, he banished Eraza to the dark trench of the seven seas where she'll be miserable for all eternity. Two years later, King Aquarion marries a beautiful mermaid name Merella who later became his queen and gave him seven adorable daughters. He cherished his royal family a lot and they went to the lagoon on the southern island where they can always hang out there, to see the sunrise from the east. It was the happiest moments of their lives but then suddenly, they were interrupted by a pirate ship sailing by. The pirates begin waging war on the other ship and the mermaids were caught somewhere in between the crossfire. King Aquarion successfully got his daughters to safety with the exception of his wife, Queen Merella giving her life to get them out of harms way. But doing so, the mermaid queen got caught in the Pirates' fishnet and now threatened by the nastiest pirates ever to sail the high seas. King Aquarion tries to save his beloved queen but he was too late. The queen is mercilessly slaughtered by the pirates. Thus, leaving King Aquarion in his bit of rage, believing that all human beings are wicked barbaric creatures and forbids his subjects to ever be in contact with them. Ten years have passed and Mermaidiana still remains the same. The mer-people gliding through the blue waters happily, fish and other creatures are doing their daily every day thing and King Aquarion himself, ruled the sea at fair hand. His mother moved in the castle to help her son raise his seven daughters whom now grew into lovingly young mermaid princesses. They were all very beautiful, just like their mother. But the youngest daughter was the most beautiful one of them all. Her skin as soft as the colorful morning sky, her tail as the color of the tropical waters, eyes as bright aqua like the waves and her hair is a radiant silky shade of a golden fiery red. Her name is Akauriana, which means a rare calamari that her mother cherish so much before she died. Her sisters love to do everyday mermaid thing such a combing their hair, decorated themselves in oysters, pearls and starfishes. They like to play around with each other and talk about mermen. But Akauriana longs for something else than an ordinary sea life. She would spend most of her days dreaming about the world above the sea. Everything from the world of humans fascinates her and she would listen to her grandmother's stories about the cloudless skies, glimmering cities and the riches kingdoms built by man. Thus, intrigues her even more as her imagination ran rampant. Even though her father made it clear that no merfolk should ever make contact with human beings, Akauriana can't help but want to see the world for herself despite her father's dismay. Her sisters and sometimes other mermaids and mermen thinks she's crazy because she loves the human world. On her 16th birthday, the king arranged a ceremonial birthday ball for his youngest daughter, to celebrate her coming of age. All of her sisters prepared for her party. They were all mesmerizingly elegant in their mermaid gowns surrounding their tails. Especially Akauriana's dress, made with colorful kelp, silk and pearl designs on it. All of the mer-people attended the ball for its not only Akauriana's birthday, but they held a special ceremonial concert to celebrate the anniversary of their mother, Queen Merella. King Aquarion is so pleased to hear his daughters sing for his people. They all have lovely singing voices and they love to sing. But Akauriana has a special trait for she has a gift; her mother's beautiful singing voice. When she sings, she'll melt the heart of every merfolk in the ballroom, even her dad's heart. As the merfolk gathered around, King Aquarion proudly announces to his people that his daughters, Akauriana included, will sing them a song. A medley that they'll never forget. The mermaid princesses take their positions and perform their song serenely. The mer-people were touched by the angelic voices of the princesses but it's Akauriana's turn to sing her debut, she sung a different tune entirely. She started singing about the humans and the world they live in. But it puzzled the mer-people, let alone, confused and disgusted. King Aquarion, out of displeasure, abruptly stops the medley.
"Akauriana!" King Aquarion shouted. "Come with me to my chambers! Now!"
Filled with shame, Akauriana left the ballroom with her father. As they both have entered the king's chamber, King Aquarion shuts the door behind him and glares at his daughter with a huge disappointed look on his face.
"Why did you sing like that?" he asked sternly.
"I'm sorry, father." cried Akauriana. "But I can't help it. I love the world of humans."
"We've been through this, Akauriana!" said King Aquarion, palming his face in disappointment. "We're not to speak about those barbaric human beings."
"How are they barbaric?" asked Akauriana. "I haven't saw one in person. And I haven't even met one."
"That's the way it should be." says King Aquarion. "It is forbidden for our kind to associate with those barbaric demons up there. Those savages are not to be trusted. You should stay away from them.
"How are they barbaric, father?" Akauriana asked. "I haven't even seen one and even met them. If only we can see what their world look like."
"Stop what you're saying!" King Aquarion said sternly. "They are the same monsters that-"
"I know what happened to my mother, but still." Akauriana says, cutting him off politely. "I don't understand. Why can't we look past it and see the wonders that they behold in that world of theirs? That is my long life dream."
Enraged by his daughter's estranged fascination with the humans, King Aquarion taps his trident on the ground, making an thundering sound so loud that the entire oceans could hear it.
"I SAID ENOUGH!" King Aquarion thundered. "I am not to hear about human beings nor hear of you going near their world above the surface ever again! Am I clear!?"
Akauriana lowers her head in shame.
"Yes, father." Akauriana replied quietly.
Remember, Akauriana." King Aquarion said with a displeased tone. "As long as you live under my waters, you'll obey my rules like a good princess."
The king open his chamber doors and points his trident at the exit.
"Now off with you!" the king demanded. "This discussion is over."
Heartbroken by her father's anger, Akauriana exits his chamber. Down the halls to the ballroom, she passed a crowd of disapproved subjects and even her sisters. Her grandmother watched in heartache as her youngest granddaughter receives judgmental eyes from everyone around her. Couldn't bare their disappointed stare, the little mermaid flees the palace. Somewhere in the outskirts of the ocean floor, Akauriana swam to her grotto, where she can be alone with her thoughts. She sat on the lone rock in the middle of the cave, filled with sadness. Before she can weep, Akauriana looks up at the surface, longing for the human realm even more despite her father's unbearable wishes. She can't help but wonder why her father and other mer-people don't want anything to do with humans. The fiery haired mermaid princess sighed.
"If only I can make my father and anyone else understand." Akauriana says to herself. "I just don't see things the way other merfolk does. Somehow, I just can't see how a world that make such wonderful amazing things could be so terrible."
The little mermaid began singing to herself. Meanwhile, in the far oceanic outskirts, a beautiful floral mermaid name Isabella is gliding through the crystal clear waters with her friends Will the dolphin and Paulina the parrot fish. Along their way, they swim past the cave where they suddenly stopped to hear someone's voice singing out of the blue.
"What was that sound?" Isabella wondered.
"I don't know, Isabella." said Will as he swam to her side. "It could be a whale singing a tune."
"Umm Will? I don't think whales sing like that." Paulina reassured.
"You're right, Paulina." said Isabella. "It sounded so beautiful. I believe that it's coming from this cave."
Out of curiosity, Isabella and her friends followed the sound of the voice and went inside the grotto. Once they entered, they ventured further into the cave until they reach the center of the grotto. They hid in a garden of large kelp at the corner of the cave, so they don't startle whoever's singing. Peeking through the kelp, they found the singing voice in the form of Akauriana, the princess of Mermaidiana. She glided across the ocean floor, dancing, wishing to be part of the world above the surface. Hearing her sing melts Isabella's heart for she has never heard a voice so angelic in her life. After she finishes her song, Akauriana hovers back down onto the rock and gazes upon the surface once more. Isabella is so mesmerized by her voice that she wasn't paying attention and unwillingly got her tail tangled in the kelp. Thus making the mermaid and her friends tripped out of the kelp corner, startling the little mermaid.
"Oh uh hello?" says Akauriana, turning to face them. "I didn't know you were watching me."
"I'm so sorry." Isabella quickly apologized in embarrassment. "Please forgive me. I didn't mean to intrude on your privacy. It's just that we heard you singing and we can't help but wonder wheres it coming from."
"Oh! Well umm...I'm just...It's a habit of mine." said Akauriana, chuckling nervously. "Was I loud?
"I wouldn't say it was loud, but we did heard it." Will added politely.
"But meaningless to say, you do have a lovely voice." says Isabella.
"Why thank you." says Akauriana, blushing as she plays with her fiery red hair.
"So what are you doing here all by yourself?" asked Paulina.
Akauriana looks away for a second and then summons enough courage to tell them.
"Well, I kinda got yelled at by my father." said Akauriana.
"Why is that?" Isabella asked.
"He just doesn't understand me nor how I feel." said Akauriana, looking at them with her sad aqua eyes.
"You can tell us everything." Isabella said, comforting her. "I'm pretty sure we'll understand. Right, guys?"
Will and Paulina nodded happily, agreeing with Isabella. They are so friendly to Akauriana and they cheer her up enough to let them in on her secret.
"I know it's gonna sound crazy." says Akauriana as she takes a deep breath. "But I can't help but want to be..."
"Want to be what?" Isabella wondered.
The little mermaid smiles and points upward.
"Up there. Where the people are." said Akauriana, feeling warm on the inside. "And some days, I just wish I can just be a part of their world."
Shocked to her surprise, Isabella didn't know that Akauriana is into human beings and they shared the same fate for she too, longs for the same thing. The flower mermaid blurted out her secret as well.
"Really? Me too!" says Isabella, out of excitement.
"You do?" Akauriana exclaimed in surprise.
"Of course." says Isabella. "I like the human world. It's different than ours but that's what makes them so special."
"I thought I was the only mermaid who likes humans." says Akauriana, cheerfully.
"So did I." says Isabella with glee. "I feel the same way too."
The two mermaids shared a big bond and overtime, they became good friends.
"My name is Isabella." she introduced herself and turns to her friends. "These are my friends. Will the white dolphin and Paulina the parrot fish."
"Howdy!" greeted Will.
"Hi!" greeted Paulina.
The little mermaid giggles like a angel that she is and bows royally to them.
"Please to meet you, guys." says Akauriana as she presents herself. "I'm Akauriana."
"Wait! You're Akauriana?" Isabella said in a surprising tone for she has heard of her before. "The princess Akauriana of the kingdom of Mermaidiana?"
"Why yes." said Akauriana. "You heard of me?"
"Everyone in the sea know who you are." says Isabella. "You're pretty lucky to be adored by all merfolk."
"Yeah but I really don't feel lucky at all." Akauriana remarked. "I kinda feel like an outcast than a beloved princess."
"I can relate." Isabella added. "Sometimes I feel like an outcast. But now I'm not alone anymore. Don't feel too bad."
Then suddenly, Isabella had an idea since she mention that she's not alone.
"Hey, you should meet my other friends!" she shouted with glee as she takes the little mermaid's hand. "C'mon, you guys!"
"Where we going?" Akauriana asked with giggles.
"You'll see." says Isabella as she turns to her friends. "You two are coming or what?"
"We're coming!" Paulina said, following behind them.
"Right behind ya." said Will, tagging after them as well.
With the swish of their tails, Isabella and her friends took Akauriana to go see their friends on the outskirts of the ocean floor. Farther away from Mermaidiana grounds, Akauriana follows her new friends to a huge cave entrance at the bottom of the ocean floor. It's a huge rocky door that can only be opened by the password, "Friendship is freedom and freedom is destiny". Isabella says those words and the doors opens for them. Akauriana is amazed of the access that is needed for upon entering. They all went inside of the cave. Along the path down, there were hundreds of glowing plankton lights guiding them as they swam along the lite-up portholes.
"Where are we?" Akauriana asked her friends, wondering.
"This is what we call our secret sanctuary, Akauriana." Isabella answered. "Home to a few of the many rarest creatures of the sea. To most of us, it's like a shelter for runaways, like me."
"It's beautiful here." Akauriana exclaimed, looking around her.
"But that's not even the best part about this place." said Will, gleefully swimming around them. "This place holds many magical secrets that is hidden somewhere inside the cave. But only if we believe hard enough to search for them."
"It's exciting though." Paulina added in. "You'll love it here, princess."
As they come upon the guardian swordfish guarding the gate, he notices them.
"Hello, Isabella." said the swordfish.
"Hello there." Isabella greeted back. "I want to show my new best friend this sanctuary. If you please let us in?"
The swordfish nods as he opens the seaweed curtains for them. Akauriana cannot believe her eyes for she sees a lot of colorful rare sea creatures and beings. Nymphs, sea fairies, sea emps, hybrids and so much more. Even the luxurious fluorescent gardens, where the water sprites live are a wondrous sight to behold. Most of them checks out Akauriana as Isabella escorts her on a tour of the secret sanctuary. Fascinated by the place, Akauriana became so distracted that she wasn't paying attention to where she's going and she bumps into another mermaid name Nixie. She was not pleased of the princess.
"Will you watch where you're going!?" snapped Nixie out of disgust.
"I'm so sorry." says Akauriana, bowing politely as she could. "I didn't mean to bump into you. It's just that I've never been here before and it's so wonderful here."
"Yeah, yeah! So the sanctuary is the most beautiful place in the sea. So what?" Nixie said with a nasty tone.
"I'm new here. I just thought I should let you know." said Akauriana.
"Uh, duh! I know that." Nixie snarled, giving off a cold stare. "I just don't care. And you are so not worth my time and effort, you-"
"Nixie!" a voice shouted out of nowhere. It was a bubbly cheerful mermaid, Lee Lee swimming towards the two. "That's no way to treat a newcomer, especially if this is her first time here. You should at least try to be nice to someone!"
Nixie rolls her eyes in disgust, annoyed with Lee Lee's upbeat personality. The black hair mermaid stuck up her nose in a mean manner.
"Whatever, Lee Lee!" said Nixie as she turns to Akauriana. "Listen here, Red! You better not do something stupid around here or you can leave. Got that?"
Akauriana nodded and Nixie storms off into the coral grounds. Lee Lee swims by her side.
"Don't mind her." said Lee Lee. "She just got crabs up her tail since she ran away to here years ago."
"Oh ok." says Akauriana.
"I'm Lee Lee, by the way." said the cheery mermaid as she twirls her big flowing orange hair.
"I'm Akauriana." says the little mermaid, smiling.
Oh! So you're that mermaid princess that lives in Mermaidiana!" says Lee Lee, getting all hyper and excited. "That's so cool! I must ask, how did you get your hair to look so shiny? How many siblings you have? What's the inside of the palace like?"
This just in, another mermaid with Isabella swam up to them. That mermaid has a yellowish green tail with blue starfishes. She has deep blue eyes and a long luxurious flowing dark brunette hair. Her name is Taliah and she is the "By The Books" mermaid who knows almost everything, even about humans. They greeted their new friend and Taliah swam around Akauriana, examining her from head to tail.
"You must be princess Akauriana, am I right?" asked Taliah.
The little mermaid nodded. The young African mermaid also knew about her and her royal family.
"I am Taliah." she introduced herself. "Isabella told me everything about you. She said that you also have a thing for human beings too. Is that true?"
"Yes, that's right." Akauriana answered. "I've dreamed about their world all my life. I felt like I belong up there more than I do here, under the sea."
"See? I told you she's just like us, Taliah." says Isabella.
Lee Lee was already all over Akauriana long after knowing that she has an interest for human beings in the world above the water. This just in, Taliah is starting to like the little mermaid and that's when they all became her friends. Akauriana felt like she fit in with them as they talked about everything relating to humans and the things they've created. Ships, cities, crafts and anything made by man. Taliah seems to know so much about them, just like Akauriana's grandmother who tells her stories about them too. Despite of Nixie's disapproval, the mermaids, along with Will and Paulina, welcomes Akauriana with open arms. Now she visits them everyday, spending most of her time with her new best friends as well as exploring the wonders of the secret sanctuary and the creatures that now dwells among in the reef on the inside of the cave.