The Chosen Path

Daytime had come. Melinda hurried to the beach so she could meet Lugia again and talk to him about what happened yesterday evening. By the time she got there, she stopped for a while to breathe and relax herself. Once she feels better, she takes off her shoes, but before she even touches the water, she hears someone say her name. Looking around, she sees no one. "Hello? Is someone here?"

"Yes," the voice answers. "Come look behind this rock."

Melinda walks closer to the rock on her left. "Who are you? How do you know my name?"

A man dressed in silver armor walks into the light. His dark blue hair reaches down to his waist and his eyes are red as blood. He smiles at Melinda and asks, "Are you surprised, my friend," speaking as if he and Melinda had met before. But Melinda didn't recognize this man. "Melinda, it is me. Lugia," he says, kneeling down at her.

She was confused. She took a closer look at the stranger's face. His hair matched the color of the scales on Lugia's back and they did have the same eye color. Melinda's fear suddenly turned to joy. "It is you!" She says joyously and wraps her arms around him. Lugia chuckles and does the same thing. Melinda was curious about something though. She knew monsters had the power to take on the shape of humans to be with their friends, but never knew how it was done. "How did this happen to you? How did you become a human man?"

"Do you really want to know?" asked Lugia. "Come closer and I will tell you a secret." So Melinda moves closer to Lugia and he whispers in her ear, "I made a wish on a Wishing Shell."

"Wishing Shell?" Melinda softly asked.

Lugia nods again and shows her a silver conch big enough to fit in both of the palms of her hands. "I thought about what you said when we were swimming together. You said it was like dancing. After that, I could not help but want to dance. But this form is only temporary, so I will soon turn back into my original shape."

Melinda was too thrilled to speak. She had heard about Wishing Shells before, but had never seen one before. It was one of the greatest treasures the people of Atlantis have tried desperately to get their hands on. The Shells had the power to fulfill the heart's desire of whosoever wielded them. There had to have been dozens of them buried in the sand. All Melinda could say was, "Amazing."

Lugia started to feel awkward. He cleared his throat and said "Now while it is true that I turned into a human because I wanted to dance with you, I am afraid I need to ask you a favor. I mean not to be of any inconvenience, but I need to ask you, would you teach me how do dance the way people do?"

Melinda's eyes began to shine. She had never danced with a partner before, but she had watched Dartz and Iona dance several times. She remembered what she had learned from watching and told Lugia what to do step by step. She held his left hand with her right one and placed Lugia's right hand around her waist.

"Is this really how you humans dance?"

Melinda was just as unsure, so she told him, "I have watched my brother dance many times before. This is how I have seen him do it. The most important rule about dancing with a partner is that the man leads the girl through the process. But since we are just practicing, I will lead you."

Lugia decides to go through with the plan and together, he and Melinda watch their feet as they move. Back and forth, then left and right. They even spin around, release their hands, and move them to their sides. Lugia even releases Melinda's waist and spins her around. They stop and chuckle nervously. "I feel so shaky. My legs are unable to stop trembling. Do you feel the same way?" Melinda smiles and nods. "Perhaps we should stop?"

"Oh, no, my friend. This is definitely how we dance. And this is how we are supposed to feel. It is the desire to keep going and it means we are having fun."

He takes a minute to think. "Yes, fun." Then he smiles and chuckles. "I… like it. May we do it again?"

"Of course!" Melinda answers joyously, obviously wanting to dance again as well. "But this time, you must lead. And move with expression this time."

Lugia holds Melinda and tells her, "All right, I believe I understand how to do it, so let us have a real dance," and starts moving again. They no longer look at their feet, but at each other. They smile and laugh at each other, showing their expression of fun.

Lyra came to the beach with the rest of the group looking for Melinda. They found her, but didn't expect to see her dancing - with a monster? He looked like Dartz, but his hair was darker and his bangs were shorter. Yusa wanted a closer look, but Suri took his arm and pulled him back. Zephyr wanted to call Melinda, but Lyra clapped his mouth.

"Keep quiet," whispered Faline. "We don't want to disturb them." Then she holds her hands together and sighs. "How romantic."

The twins looked disgusted. They knew hardly anything about being in love. Sometimes, they would see a girl and consider her pretty. They would even fight over the same girl, but be left for someone else.

Lugia stops and lifts his head. He smells the air and tightens his eyes. "We are not alone."

Melinda looks around, then turns back and sees her friends clapping for her performance. "Everybody," she calls out. "How did you find me?"

"Hey, Milly," Lyra calls back as she and the rest of the group walk up to her. "I was on my way to the cave and I saw you talking to this man. I gathered the others and you were dancing with him."

Lugia walks up to Lyra and smiles at her. "Hello, Lyra. It is nice to finally meet you."

Lyra looks up in confusion. "You know my name?"

Lugia nods and faces the rest of the children. "I also know about Suri and her little brother Yusa, the half-demon twins Tiberius and Cassius, shy little Faline, and the studious Zephyr. I am sure you have heard of me as well. I am Lugia."

All the children gasp and face Lugia with amazement. They dreamed of meeting him, but never expected to meet him as a human. Soon they all get down and kneel before him. "Lugia, it's such an honor to be in your presence."

"We can't tell you how happy we are to finally meet you," Tiberius told Lugia.

Cassius agrees and shakes Lugia's hand. "We really need your help."

Lugia raises his arms to ease everyone's excitement. "I am aware of your situation, my friends. And I understand you want me to help you. But please understand, I am one monster and the king is one man."

"What are you saying?" Yusa asked.

Lugia shakes his head. "I do not have the power to change Dartz's mind. He must do so on his own by trusting in his own heart. But I believe if anybody can help him find his way, Melinda can."

The girl's eyes widen. "Me? But what can I do?"

Faline places her hand on Melinda's shoulder. "If Lugia thinks so, then I believe in you. He may have a point. You know your big brother better than anyone else. You may be able to help him see reason."

"But I already tried yesterday," Melinda explained. "He refused to listen to me."

"Do not surrender hope, my friends," said Lugia. "Strength is not based upon size or power, but by heart. And with your hearts put together, you can fulfill your dreams. But I can give you something that may help you." He places his Wishing Shell in Melinda's hands. "Take this with you, Melinda. I will find many more as I return to the sea. And remember, you only get three wishes, so choose carefully."

Melinda holds the Shell close against her chest and whispers, "I will always keep it safe."

"Worry not about it. This Shell is yours, Melinda. Just be careful and make sure your brother does not see it." Lugia sets his hands on Melinda's shoulders and adds, "Melinda, because I am your friend, I have concerns and worries about you. I want you to be safe and happy."

Melinda's eyes shine once again. She knew that friends are supposed to care about each other, but her heart was telling her that Lugia's feelings for her were stronger and deeper than that. Unable to contain her feelings, she hugs Lugia. He wraps his arms around her as well and rubs her head.

The others weren't sure what to make of all this. For Lugia to trust Melinda with such a responsibility, could she be the chosen one? Were these two in love? When they finally stop hugging, Lugia faces everyone and tells them, "All of you continue to look after each other." After that, he walks into the water and takes on his original form. All the children wave 'goodbye' as they watch him dive down and swim away.

"Hey, Milly," Tiberius suddenly said. "With that Wishing Shell, you could do anything."

Cassius agreed. "You could even wish for your brother to change his ways."

"No," she told the twins. "If I want to help my brother find his way, I need to be patient. And so do the rest of you. Nothing good will come from forcing him to change his mind without thinking."

Again, Faline agreed with Melinda. "We need to wait a little while longer. We want the king to see the good inside all of us. To do that, we have to work together to help him see reason."

Lyra added another point to the matter. "The powers of the Wishing Shells can also be dangerous. All the more reason why we have to be careful and let Milly hold on to it."

Zephyr walks up to Melinda and places her hand in his. "I don't want to make it seem like I'm putting pressure on you, Milly, but now, it seems like our fates are in your hands. And remember, we all believe in you."

After hearing Zephyr say that, it seemed like protecting her friends was a great responsibility for Melinda. Now she knows she has everyone's trust and isn't willing to let them down. She already said she wanted her friends to be all right and unharmed, meaning she would have to obey her brother. Still, as much as she wanted to remain with her family, she had no desire to continue the legacy. Other than that, she knows that one day she'll have to confess her love to Lugia.

There were bigger problems at hand now though. Now that Dartz knew of Melinda's friends, he was starting to become suspicious about her behavior and losing trust in her. That was all the more reason she had to keep her distance. She finally spoke and said, "I realize that, Zephyr. So I have to ask you not to expect me tomorrow until nightfall. I need to set things right with my brother. Hopefully at the same time, I will be able to think of a plan to reason with him."

Everyone agrees to let Melinda have her way and tells her to be careful. She promises them that she will and heads for the palace.