I want to thank the person who favorited the story and is following too. I've also decided, first chapter aside, that I'll be doing double chapter updates.
Chapter Two- Ocean Acclimation
Malachite smiled as he and the other lords followed Darien and Serena up to the castle. He had been chosen and in a year he would be married and a permanent merman. He looked forward to spending the next several months learning to be a merman since he would be one for the rest of his life, as would Jedite, who was talking happily.
"Wow, that Raye is stunning," the blonde sighed. "I'm taking her on a tour of the kingdom tomorrow and then a picnic in the garden."
"All right, enough already," Zoicite snapped. "Have some consideration for those who weren't chosen." He indicated himself and Nephlite. The coppery-blonde and brunette stormed past their fellow lords as well as the prince and princess and into the castle.
"I didn't mean to make them mad."
"It'll be all right. They'll get over it," Serena said. "I think you two are lucky. Did you know that Raye is a priestess, Jedite?"
"Yes. That was one of the things we talked about. I was thinking about becoming a priest."
"Wonderful. And Malachite, you're just as lucky. Princess Mina is a wonderful girl."
"Wait. Princess Mina? She didn't say she was a princess."
"She didn't? Huh. She likes being addressed with her title, at least occasionally. Anyway, I know how Mina is because she's my sister."
"Seeing as you both have blond hair and blue eyes that's not a surprise."
"So, Malachite," Darien said. "You and Jedite will be mermen next summer."
"Yes and I want to let you know that starting tomorrow, I'll be a merman until winter solstice."
"You will?"
"Yes and Mina said she'll be human for winter and spring."
"That's an interesting idea."
"Lord Malachite," Jedite said. "Since I'm meeting Raye tomorrow, I'd be happy to take your clothes back to the castle and bring them and clothes for Mina on the winter solstice."
"Sounds good. Thanks."
Mina swam back to the palace, her thoughts on Malachite and what she could show him during the two seasons he would be visiting her. She was curious about life on land and knew she would savor each and every thing she would experience. She opened her bedroom door and saw her friends, Lita and Amy, waiting for her.
"Mina!" Lita exclaimed as she and Amy swam up to her. "How was it? The wedding, I mean. You probably miss Serena already."
"Hi, girls. The wedding was fine and yes, I do miss Serena, but we can visit in the cove."
"Oh, Mina," Amy said, pointing at her neck. "You're engaged! Congratulations."
"Thank you."
"So, who's the guy?" Lita asked. "Are you going to live on land or stay here?"
"I'll be staying here, though I plan to spend winter and spring on land. My fiancée will be here tomorrow and he'll spend all summer and fall with us."
"But who is he?" Lita pressed.
"His name is Lord Malachite."
"Lord Malachite?"
"That's right, but he asked me to drop the title since we're a couple."
"You're engaged to one of the lords!? Oh, Mina, I am so jealous!"
"I figured you would. Actually, I thought both of you would." She looked at Amy questioningly.
Amy smiled. "I am a little envious, but I'm happy for you. I'm more occupied with my studies at this time, but I will marry eventually. By the way, Mina, I noticed the center shell on your necklace."
Mina looked down. "I noticed it earlier and mean to ask Malachite why he chose this shell and why it's in the center. I'll be sure to ask him tomorrow."
"I look forward to meeting him," Amy said.
"Me too," Lita added. There was a pause and then…
"You're engaged to one of the lords!"
Malachite and Jedite made their way down the path to the cove, a dress over one of Jedite's arms and a pair of shoes in his hand. Neither one wondered how to change forms since they had asked Darien last night.
"Prince Darien, how does one change forms?"
"That's easy, Malachite. You touch the crystal and say, "human to merman." It worked in a similar way for Serena."
"My thanks, Prince Darien."
The two men arrived at the cover to find Mina and Raye already there. "I hope we haven't kept you waiting long," Jedite said as Raye pulled herself out of the water and took the dress.
"Not long at all," Mina assured them.
Raye pulled on the dress before touching her crystal. "Mermaid to human," she intoned. There was the same white flash from yesterday and Raye found herself with two legs. She looked up to see Jedite offering his hand. She took it and was pulled to her feet.
Her knees trembled and then buckled, but Malachite caught her before she hit the ground. "Thank you, Lord Malachite."
"My pleasure," he said as he set her upright. She swayed on the spot with Jedite nearby to catch her. Slowly, she stopped swaying.
"I think I'm stable now. I didn't think standing on legs would be hard."
"Try walking," Jedite said, offering his arm.
Raye took his arm and attempted her first step. Her leg shook slightly after put her foot down, but it stopped and she took another step.
Mina watched Raye's attempt to walk. She wanted to pay attention because she would be learning herself in two seasons. She was also anxious to get Malachite in the water so she could teach him to swim with a tail, not to mention see what color tail he would have.
Malachite approached Mina as Raye was now trying to walk without support. "Serena let it slip that you're a princess as well as her sister. Why did you not tell me?"
Mina blushed. "Oh, I'm sorry. I told myself that if I was paired, I wouldn't use my title, even though I like being addressed that way. I did plan to tell you, but I forgot."
"I understand."
"There is something I want to ask. Why did you choose this shell for the center?" She pointed at her necklace.
"I chose it because it is unusual to see yellow and orange together on a shell. It's just a coincidence that it symbolizes you hair and tail."
"Of course, but it's very special to me."
"Malachite, we're ready," Jedite said.
The white-haired lord turned to see Raye standing confidently in a pair of flats Jedite had chosen for her. He nodded. "All right. Everyone, close your eyes."
Once everyone's eyes were closed, Malachite quickly removed his clothes, folding each item as he removed them. He moved to where Mina was and found the water up to his ankles. He sat down, legs out, and touched the crystal. "Human to merman," he said, eyes closed.
There was the flash and Malachite opened his eyes to stare at his body. It seemed odd the way his skin smoothly transitioned to scales and fins. He admired the color; it was light blue with a thin white line running down the center. The full impact hit him and a grin lit up his face. I have a tail! I'm really a merman!
He heard a sharp inhale and looked to see Mina looking at his tail with an expression of awe and admiration. "Malachite, you look amazing."
The new merman looked at his tail and tried to move a part of it; the fins twitched and then the lower part moved from side to side. He looked up at Mina. "I'm ready to learn to swim with a tail."
"Great," Mina said.
He looked back at Jedite. "I'll see you later."
"Of course and sooner than winter." Jedite gathered up Malachite's clothes before leading Raye up the path.
Mina grabbed Malachite's hand and pulled him further into the water. She then ducked under, still holding his hand and Malachite instinctively took in air before going down. She looked at him and laughed. "Malachite, you're a merman now. You can breathe underwater."
He let his breath out and took another breath before giving an embarrassed smile. "It was instinct. It'll take a while to get used to ocean life."
"Hopefully, not a long while," Mina said, moving her tail up and down under his tail, making it move up and down too.
He smiled before moving it himself. He gave the fins a small flick and he moved forward a little. He flicked a bit harder and he moved forward a little farther than before. This isn't too hard, he thought. Actually, this is cool. I feel like I belong in the sea. I can hardly wait for when I will live here full-time.
Mina darted in front of him. "Follow me. I have a couple of friends who want to meet you." She started swimming for the palace, going slowly for Malachite's benefit.
So she was surprised when he drew alongside her. She grinned at him before going a little faster. She glanced back to see her fiancée gaining speed. Oh, this is perfect, she thought. A racing contest is a perfect way for him to practice his speed.
Mina kept up the pace and by the time they reached the front of the palace, Malachite's speed was just as good as any merman. He was panting slightly, his hands on the part of his tail where his knees would have been. "Did you…have to go…that fast?"
"Sure. It helped you learn to swim fast."
His blue eyes sparkled even though he narrowed them. "Very sneaky. I had no idea you were teaching me. Why are we at your home? I thought I was meeting your friends."
"We are. I suggested the palace gardens and they agreed. Also, while you're here and when we're married, you'll live in the palace."
"That makes sense," he said as he followed her inside. His level of comfortable lifestyle wasn't going to change one bit. He was a lord who lived his life in a castle serving his prince. Now he was engaged to mermaid princess and, once married, he would be a merman prince living in a palace.
Mina led him through the beautiful gleaming halls and through a door that opened up to a lavishly decorated and brightly colored garden and in the center was a gazebo where two mermaids waited, one with a green tail and one with a blue tail.
"Hi, girls," Mina said as they drew closer. "This is my beloved, Lord Malachite. Malachite, this are my dear friends, Lita and Amy." She gestured to the green-tailed girl first, then the other girl.
Both girls bowed as Lita said, "A pleasure to meet you, Lord Malachite."
"You don't have to bow or use my title all the time."
"That's like Mina," Amy said as they straightened. "She doesn't like anyone bowing to her, but she does like to hear her title every now and then."
Lita swam closer and circled Malachite. She took in his long silver-white hair, deep blue eyes, bare muscular chest, and his pale blue tail. Wow, Mina's really lucky. This guy is beautiful.
Soon, the foursome were seated in the gazebo, swapping stories of life on land with life in the sea. The things Amy and Lita told him convinced him that he would love being a merman.
"You know, I've been wondering about Raye," Lita commented. "I know she went to The Pairing, but I haven't seen her since she went."
"Oh, she got paired too," Mina said. "She's now engaged to Lord Jedite."
"She's engaged to a lord, too!?"
"Uh-huh. Plus, Jedite will be a merman too."
"Are they around?" Amy asked.
"No," Malachite answered. "They're both on land enjoying a tour and a picnic. I should add that Jedite's interested in becoming a priest."
"He's going to change his title of lord to priest? He sounds like a relaxed guy."
"He doesn't really care for his title like I do, so yes, you could say he is a relaxed guy."
