This was nice. It was a bright night by the sea on the Californian coast line. The stars were out sparkling like a toddler just sneezed glitter on a black, blue, and purple canvas. The beautifully glowing moon was a waxing crescent illuminating the sandy and rough rocked beach. The ocean was gently reaching the beach and large boulders in a bright neon blue with each crashing wave and disturbance. The ocean was a beautiful sight to behold.

I had read earlier on the internet that the glow in the ocean was radioactive, bioluminescent algae or phytoplankton or something along those lines. Taking that warning to heart but still wanting to see it in person, I climbed up to the least occupied tourist outpost. I wasn't exactly a people person, but I liked to think there was safety in numbers for some occasions. The quiet murmurers of the other people were a relief from the loud streets.

I leaned against the sea foam green painted railing to settle into watching the spectacular show in front of me. While I think the ocean is beautiful and mysterious and fascinating, it always has this sense of danger to it. There are, at the very least, 20 forms of life in there that could kill me if I was stupid enough to mess with them, so I just like to watch from the safety of the beach, rocks, TV, or, in this case, railings.

Then it wasn't nice at all anymore.

A loud scuff against pavement alerted me to extra company as some drunks came by the spot. I glanced quickly to see if they were near me, but my worry was unfounded when they stopped and went into another direction. I relaxed tense shoulders and went back to my sea view.

A loud thump, unexpected flip, and terrifying dive away had me screaming and plummeting to the craggy rocks and crashing blue waves down below. Crack went my head, back, and hip, I submerged into a cool blue inferno. Darkness reined over everything since the pain was too much.

Next thing I knew, I was floating gently in a current, under the water and having a sense I shouldn't still be alive, but everything I knew before was blank. Why do I feel like I should have died? I blinked hard to try and come out of my daze. I reached a hand to rub my face in exhaustion. Only, I saw that it was webbed and tipped in claws. My forearm had spiny fins and glimmery navy scales. If I had fins then why did I think I had hands? Wait, did I always have a fish tail? Why is the upper part of my body not covered in scales and glowing softly in bioluminescent light blue? Do I have gills? Could I breathe above the surface of the ocean?

I can't remember anything, but I do have a feeling of a purpose. Not a name. Not any other knowledge. Just a purpose: help mortals, find a specific mortal, and find Maui. Not really in that order, but they feel important.

Anyways, why would I need to help mortals? What are mortals? Who is the mortal I'm supposed to be looking for? What is so special about this particular mortal? Who is Maui? How do I know his or hers name? Is he, or she, like me? Could this 'Maui' tell me all this?

It was worth a shot.

Swimming with this tail was harder than expected. I have extra spiny fins on my waist and back that direct me at the slightest movement. My hair kept flouting in my face when I adjusted one fin too much. Was it always silver? Whatever… well eventually I had most of my techniques down to not fumble so much in the water.

Maybe I should bring food?

I eyed the empty expanse before me. There doesn't seem to be any choices here. Wait! I think I saw something! Every far off, I see a shadow of something. It seems stationary so maybe it's a reef! How would I know that? Ah, well, never mind. I swam in its direction and came to a seemingly lifeless hunk of rock. I skimmed and maneuvered around to see if I could at least find clams or mussels of some kind. Not really knowing or caring how I know stuff I didn't before, I crested a large formation before beholding the sight of large bubble domes among the rocks. Blinking at the anomaly, I approached one cautiously until I felt like I was being mentally seized by something.

I don't really know what it was. It was just screaming at me to go in the other direction, so I did. I spun around and shot off, cutting through the water. It was gradually getting warmer as the waters grew brighter as the sun dawned a new day. By mid-sun, I was at my destination. I guess. I gazed at the bright sandy shore. A deep gulp through my gills, I popped my head above the water to see if I could breathe the air. Too much! I dropped back under. I can most certainly breathe up there, but the air was so rich! I need to take it slow. I need to be on this island.

Popping back up to my nose this time, I took small sniffs before gradually taking normal breathes. I creeped up the shore. My body feeling heavier the closer I get to land. Soon, I was washed up on the beach. Crawling by arms and wiggling my way up, I was able to get to the more dry part of the beach. I flipped over to sit up. Just in time to see my fin melt into two legs, I gasped and panicked when I saw that all my fins, spines, webbing, and scales melted away to white-blue skin and clear rounded nails. I even shrunk!

'Okay, calm down, maybe it's temporary and I will return back to normal when I return to the water. Alright, deep breathes, I can do this! Just need to figure these new limbs out first.'

For the next couple of hours, I tried my balance, standing, and baby steps for walking. Having legs was strange since all I knew before was a tail fin! Soon, I was able wobble a walk, then a steadier walk, a sprint, and finally a jog around this beach. Exhilarated by my mini-triumphs, I did a couple of spins and giggled until I fell over, tangled in my overly long hair. I beamed at the lowering sun.

I jolted when I heard pained cries. Happy feeling gone, I searched the lining trees with my eyes for what could have caused such a sound. Slowly, I got up to investigate. I moved through the foliage listening to the pained cries and whimpers. I crouched down low when there was a rustling and a crash. I peeked to see a feminine form trip through the foliage. She looked like she just gave birth; a swollen belly, bloody legs, very small baby in her arms, and a swallow look to her distressed face. Why was she even walking? What is she doing?

Shouts and harsh lights rang through the air behind the woman. She started and rushed towards the rocky cliff in fear. Stamping feet of burly angry men stampeded past me toward the woman before splitting off searching under the foliage. Scared that I was going to be discovered and beaten to death by their blunt weapons, I snooped quietly back towards the beach.

I waded into the water as soon as I could, but something was nagging me to look up to my left. Looking in that direction, I stared in horror as the woman clutched her baby at the top of the seaside cliff before letting it go. I could hear a whisper of a heartfelt apology as I gazed at the falling infant. I rushed through the water to the falling infant. Leaping through the air to grab it before it hit the surface of the water, I flipped over to face the sky with the infant in my arms. I took the brunt of the impact as I cradled the infant close. Holding it gently and carefully, I pulled it to the surface just to see the end hair of the woman disappear back down the cliff. I looked back down at the infant. In just one of my hands, I saw how it was so small. I tensed when yelling spiked in volume. I cradled the infant closer to my heart as I drifted as silently and smoothly as I could with the baby out of the light of the moon and into the shadow of the jutting rock the baby was thrown off of to listen to the voices recede in the distance before wincing at the dull thuds before silence. I clutched the infant to my shoulder in silence for the mother.

I looked back down to the infant to see it wasn't breathing. Heart racing, I leaped onto the nearest rock. I shrank, and the baby could be held in my arms more comfortably. Placing my webbed ear against it – his - chest, I waited impatiently. A small heartbeat was all I need. I laid him face down gently across my newly formed lap and pressed down firmly on his back in small gentle thumps until he coughed up water and some kind of goo. He whimpered and started to cry. I panicked. If he cries too loud, he will get us spotted! Bringing him to my chest to gently hug him, I started to hum and shush him until he quieted down. I sighed in relief.

I looked up to see if I was spotted by the beings, but almost fell off my seat when the ocean was staring at me. No, it didn't have eyes. It was a singular calm wave just standing, flouting, whatever in front of me, looking in my direction. I hugged the infant closer to me, nervous. What did it want?

I whispered an uncertain greeting. I don't know if the angry men were still around or not, and I don't feel comfortable in knowing the ocean has taken interest in me. I stiffened when it nodded. It motioned a few times away from the island. It wants me to swim. I shook my head.

"I can't. He cannot breathe underwater. He-he will become too cold. He would not survive."

Even now, I could tell he was too young to travel. I looked down at the infant in worry. I felt the water swipe at my back, shifting my hair forward. When it came into contact with the baby, the strangest thing happened. Ripples of silver bloomed on his body. My hair moved of its own accord. It started to wrap around us in a harness. Soon, I had a silver cocoon strapped to my chest. Before I could blink in confused bewilderment and awe, I was toppled over into the water with a splash. Panicked, I frantically swam for the surface, but the pressure kept me under. Confusion and stress then melted away when I could still hear his steady breathing. I relaxed a moment in relief.

That was a mistake.

Suddenly, the currents changed to jerk me at high speed away from the island. I was tense for the entire ride. I was worried for the infant since I'm pretty sure he hadn't had anything to eat in a long while or at all, and night had already passed! I was scared for both of our well beings since the ocean is taking us to an unknown destination. I don't know what is going on; who I'm supposed to ask; or even what to do but stiffly follow/allow the current take me and the baby to the dot in the horizon.

The baby was starting to cry out in hunger, and I had nothing to give him. I silently begged the ocean to help me or at least help the baby. Then I was gently laid on the bright sand. I looked around to see an expanse of untouched beach and thriving vegetation. Anger was ignited in my blood. Dropping me off on this unpopulated island will NOT help my baby! I seethed at the ocean until I was able to stand. My hair fell away to reveal my crying baby. Anger melted into desperation. I turned to the forest to see if I could search for anything to feed him when I stopped short at seeing a woman made of plants standing at the tree line.

I held onto him tighter. Who is she? What is she? Where did she come from? I eyed her suspiciously when she opened her arms. I pursed my lips. I melted into a couple of tears when I heard his whimper. He was in pain.

"Can you help him?"

She simply nodded and smiled gently. Reluctantly, I handed him over slowly. I lingered moment's touch, petting his tuft of curly dark hair. I watched as she carried him with care. Biting my lip, I hovered for a moment when she turned her back on me. The baby's whimpers and cries started to muffle then silenced. It felt like a slap in the face. What is she doing? I raced around her to see her feeding him with a large white bud at the nib. I relaxed and smiled with relief.

Until I noticed that the more he drank the darker my vision became. My calmed thoughts scattered to a dulled pace. My muscles weakened until I collapsed onto the packed earth of the island. My hearing sharpened to hear a high note until shutting off. The smells of the soil, flowers, and sea snuffed out in my nose. I couldn't speak. Everything was fading.

With the last of my vision, I glared at the passive vegie woman smiling sadly at me. All I wanted to do was help him. What did I do wrong?

Everything was dark.