Pichi Pichi Pitch

Chapter 4

It was the day after the Mer-Prince Gareth came to ask for Lucia's hand which she rejected of course. Nikora sent warning letters to the other mermaid princesses to tell them not to hear what he has to say. Nikora came to the main hall which is by the main doors to the palace, where she found Lucia gazing at the fountain. "Lucia, the replies have just arrived." She said as she handed Lucia the letters. "Thank you." She opened the one from Caren's kingdom first, then Coco, then Rina, then Noel, then Hanon, and last but not least Seira's.

"According to Coco, they've come to her country too, and that they requested the same thing. She was unsure of what to answer, but she has rejected him as well. Now he's going to Rina's kingdom." Lucia said as she read the last of the letters. "What did the rest say?" Hippo asked as he walked to where Nikora stood. "They all say that they'll refuse but they can't guarantee he'll stop there." She answered.

"So what do we do?" Hippo asked. "I have an idea, if we go back to the surface and we stay for a while, he might give up and leave for his country." Lucia said. "No, that won't work, if you leave, the kingdom won't be able to stand up against him if he invades us." Nikora said. "She has a good point." Hippo agreed.

"Well, what can we do, if he does invade us and the others are helping protect us, he could send other soldiers into their countries." Lucia said. "Well, maybe if we meet with all the princesses together we could come up with some plan to avoid conflict with him." Hippo said. "That's a perfect idea, I'll right the letters this time." Lucia said as she swam back into her room. She pulled out stationary and a pen and began to write.

Dear Princess,

I Princess Lucia, have requested a meeting with all the mermaid princesses to discuss an important issue about the prince of the sea of Japan. We need to find a plan to avoid war and conflict for refusing his request to join countries, please come to the North Pacific Kingdom as soon as the prince has left your kingdom. This meeting is mandatory for the safety of our palaces. You have one week to arrive.

Princess Lucia, of the North Pacific.

Lucia made five more copies of her letter and immediately sent them away. She was unsure of her friends thoughts on the matter, but it would be something that absolutely has to be helped.

Lucia looked out her window and began to think. Kaito, I wonder what you're doing? Your so close yet out of my reach, how I long to see your face again. A knock came to her door. "Lucia?" Hippo called. "Come in Hippo." She called back. He entered the bedroom and walked to her window and stood by her. "Lucia, I know you're thinking about the human boy, and I'm sad to say that unless he's a prince, you can't be together."

Lucia's head looked to Hippo's direction. "Well, why not, I mean it doesn't matter whether or not he's a prince! I don't care, I'm the princess, I should be able to change that rule!" Lucia shouted. "Lucia, those laws were told by Aqua Regina herself and laws aren't meant to be broken or changed. I'm sorry to say, that you might never see Kaito again. And it's not possible to change those laws even if you are royalty." Hippo said. Lucia swam out of the room.

"Forgive me Lucia, but romances between creatures of great differences, all end in sadness and despair." Hippo said. That's what it was like for Yuri and me. He thought.

Lucia returned to the fountain she was at earlier, and some tear fell down her cheek. Stupid Hippo, stupid laws, if I can't be with Kaito, then I refuse to be with anyone. The foun-tain began to glow as a bright light-covered figure rose out of the shell statue that was in the center of the fountain. "Lucia, princess of the North Pacific, keeper of the Pink Pearl." Lucia heard a voice call out. "What is wrong Princess? You shed tears upon my fountain, and you carry a burden upon your shoulders.

Tell me, why do you cry?" The voice called. "Aqua Regina?" Lucia asked. "Yes, I am Aqua Regina, goddess of the sea, guardian of those who live within. Now tell me, why do you cry?" She asked again.

"I went to the surface and lived there for a long while, and I found a human boy I met seven years ago who had my pearl. And I found out he loved me just as I left, and I love him, but Hippo says I can't be with him because he's not a prince."

Aqua Regina's body finally became visible to Lucia's eyes, she was beautiful with emerald green eyes, long flowing blonde hair, and a staff that was a relic of the sea. "That is why you shed tears? Come now Lucia, just because someone says you can't that doesn't mean you have to listen. Even though I wrote those laws, I wrote them to protect mermaids and others from suffering broken hearts. But if you are sure that your love can end in happiness, then try. Why do you think I let you remain when you revealed yourself to him?" Aqua Regina said. "You mean I really would turn into bubbles?" Lucia asked. "Yes, mermaids who reveal themself in any way, turns into foam. But a mermaid I feel is pure of heart can overlook the rule."

"So I chanced fate and I'm still here, that means that I can see Kaito again." Lucia said, her big smile returned to her face. Kaito, of the Panthalassa clan? "I see that you two were destin-ed for each other. And he's more of a prince then you think, so I overlooked the fact that you revealed yourself strictly to show the one you love the truth, because you felt like you were lying to him." Aqua Regina said.

"Yeah, I felt like I was living a lie, like my love for him was nothing but lies. I was seeing how he thought about the mermaid me, and I felt like I was torn in half. Like he loved half of me and the other half was waiting for him to realize that I was that half to equals the rest of me." Lucia said, she was con-fused by her words. "Lucia, no matter what you say or do, you are who you are, and Kaito realizes that now, I suggest you go to him." Aqua Regina said. "But I can't, I have to stay because of that prince of the Sea of Japan." Lucia said sadly.

"Yes I heard of him, he's prince Gareth, heir to the garnet stone of the Sea of Japan. I might be able to protect the sea, but first, you must all do something very important." She spoke in a way of a serious, yet still calm and happy tone. "What is it, tell me, I'll do anything!" Lucia said. "First you must gather the princesses and come back to my fountain, I'll need to tell you all at once. Please Lucia, bring them to me, so you can summon me, so I can protect the seas again." Aqua Regina said as she faded back into the shell statue in the center of the fountain.

Lucia immediately went to find Hippo ad Nikora but stopped by the main doors. She said I should go see him, but what did she mean he's more of a prince then I think? "Lucia!" Someone called. She looked to her left to see Coco the yellow mermaid princess swim up to her. "Coco, you're here already? I sent the request letters about an hour ago." Lucia said. Coco gave Lucia a big hug. "I was already on my way when one of your dolphins found me and I read the letter, I came to talk to you about the prince." Coco said as she let go.

"Well, you should wait til the others get here, I have something to discuss with everyone." Lucia said. "Lucia, come on, we have to help rebuild the rest of the palace! Oh Coco, welcome, why don't you help us." Nikora came and shouted but then lowered her voice. "Aww, do I have?" Coco whined. "Coco!" Lucia shouted. Coco stuck her tongue out and pulled down her lower eye lid. "Just kidding, of course I'll help." Coco said. "You better be joking!" Lucia said in a mock anger tone. "I am, I am, don't worry, so how much more needs rebuilding?" She asked. "Just the throne room." Nikora said.

"Here Momo, be sure he gets this." Hippo said as he handed Momo the letter he had written. Momo swam away and Hippo left Lucia's room and walk down the great hall. Lucia, I know this is a little harsh, but I have to protect you from getting hurt. I hope what I'm doing is the right thing to do, Aqua Regina, Lucia, please forgive me. He continued to walk down the hall and outside to the civilian homes that still had to be repaired. It's for your own safety, Lucia.

Kaito was walking home from school, he walked by the beach on the way. It's been four days now since Lucia left, it's way too quiet around here. Life seems so dull without those three here. He thought when he looked to the ground and saw a letter. With: To Kaito. Written on it. "What's this, it's not in Lucia's handwriting, but it could be important." He said as he flipped it and opened it.

Kaito,

My name is Hippo, I am Lucia's guardian and trusted friend. I have sent you this letter to inform you that Lucia is not able to return to the surface. Lucia is the princess of the North Pacific Ocean and cannot be tangled in human affairs. I have to say you two shall never be together. She is a mermaid, and you are a human, that is something nothing can change. I'm sorry that we ever came to the surface, I'm only doing this so Lucia won't suffer a broken heart like those before her.

Hippocampus of the North Pacific.

Kaito stood there, staring at theten words that haunted him the most. 'I have to say you two shall never be together.'