Chapter 13
Last
time: Finally feeling the sand beneath
her feet, Serenity tried to get up and walk the rest of the way,
panting for air as she dragged herself, but quickly fell to her knees
with how weak she was, she was forced to crawl to the shore, passing
out on the dry sand once she'd made it. Her last thoughts were of
her sandy haired love, hoping that she would be able to see her again
and that wherever she was, she was safe.
Now:
Luna looked up at the bright lights coming from the surface with interest, wondering what was going on up there and if her daughter was alright, while strangely enough, also hoping for the safety of that human who help her escape before Beryl made her big change. Fucking bitch, should have fried her instead of exiling her.
Suddenly, her mouth dropped open in shock as she watched both her trident and crown sink to where she was currently trapped in the muddy ground. The instant that the blade touched the ground, a bright light engulfed her, reverting her back into her normal majestic shelf. She gasped in shock at the sudden change. 'They must've killed her!' She thought in complete awe, that a human and a mermaid would actually be able to kill the sea sorcerer. 'Ding dong the witch is dead' she sang in her head as she inspected her hands to making sure that everything was as it was before. She rolled her eyes as she discovered sand in and mud in, well every where. That would have to Waite though. She couldn't help but smirk proudly as she picked up her trident and crown before swimming off to find his daughter. Keep in mind that did not mean she wasn't grounded.
As the Queen swam off Beryl's spells where unraveling. All the seaweed creatures in Beryl's den cringed in fear as they watched the strange ash come upon them, not knowing that they were Beryl's ashes. Once they were touched by the substance, they were immediately changed back into their true forms with hundreds of bright and sparkling flashes. After all what's a celebration with out fireworks.
Gasping happily at their luck, they all swam away
as fast as their fins would carry them from their former dark and
gloomy prison, none of them daring to look back.
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The sun shone brightly through the puffy clouds in the bright early morning sky and onto the sandy beach. Serenity was still lying there, stirring in her sleep occasionally as the sounds of seagulls and the water on the shore disturbed her. Still she slumbered on and dreamed heart that lay beneath the sea.
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Haruka was perched up on a boulder off in the distance in the water, watching to make sure that the water didn't get too high while she slept. She couldn't help but sigh sadly at the sight of her. What she wouldn't give to be able to crawl up there and lay down in the warm sun with her, but her mother was watching, and she wouldn't like that. At least she hasn't dragged me back…again. This would be the last time she'd see her princess. She wouldn't even get to say goodbye. Haruka bit at her lip and blinked back the on slash of tears.
Luna had found her swim to the surface early that morning, shortly after she was changed back to normal and freed from Beryl's horrendous spell.
Her tail was badly injured, so using her trident, she healed it to prevent the scent of her open flesh from reaching the noses of any nearby predators before grabbing her wrist and trying to drag her back to Luntesants. But after so much begging, pleading, struggling and even frantic yelling on Haruka's part to let her go back, she couldn't help but sigh in annoyance before loosening her grip on her daughter's arm and reluctantly following her to the surface. She honestly did know where Haruka got her stubborn streak.
She supposed that if Haruka wanted to check up on that human so desperately, then she should let her. She figured that it was at least owed to the human after doing the sea a favor by killing that bitch, and she must admit she was a bit curious to.
The second Haruka's eyes landed on Serenity, lying unconscious on the sand and just out of reach of the tide, she immediately tried to swim over to her, worry spreading through out her body at the sight. But a strong hand gripping on her shoulder kept her back. Luna still didn't want her over there. Honestly she couldn't win for losing.
And thus, she found a comfortable spot on a rock out in the water to keep an eye on her, making sure she didn't get carried away by the water, although should the current chose to sweep Serenity towards her, how was she to stop the current…Although her mother might…She sighed again her bottom lips trembled as tears filled her eyes. After all of what she'd gone through, her mother, the humans, that dress they tried to make me wear, Beryl, after all of that, they still couldn't be together. It simply wasn't fair. Wasn't love suppose to win in the end?
Luna looked over at her daughter with interest as she watched the human on the sand longingly. This was her first time to the surface, but with how Haruka so casually acted, she'd obviously been up here plenty of times. A hell of a lot more than what she'd originally thought. She should nail her fins to the floor.
She found this predicament to be so strange. When she first clamed to love a human, at first she was far too angered to take it seriously, thinking of it as more of a crush, but still knew that she must of held some emotion for her, and that in itself threw her over the deep end. Still to face Beryl for a chance with that human, she faced the human world all alone just to see her. Damn…it was love.
Artemis swam up next to her, not saying anything yet, but still hoping to perhaps get the queen to go easy on her when she punished her for swimming away from home and making that deal with the witch.
"They really do love each other, don't they?" Luna asked from out of nowhere.
The small crab looked up at her in confusion, not having expected the question, but also not wanting to waste the rare moment of patience that the queen displayed. "Yes, they do. I've seen them alone before." He almost whispered back, remembering their time dancing in the village and the boat ride in the lagoon fondly. "Well, it's like I always say, Your Majesty. Children got to be free to lead their own lives."
Oh how he felt so sorry for the princess right now. The spell was gone and she was a mermaid again. Their chance was gone. It's never easy to love someone and not be with them.
Luna thought about the answer that the tiny red crab had given her. 'They really do love each other.' She thought somewhat sadly as she thought on Artemis' worlds. "You - always say that?" the queen questioned with a 'yeah right' tone of voice that he didn't pick up on. She sighs and looks back to her daughter looking to the human.
Serenity stirred again, bringing a hand up to rub at her eyes.
Haruka heaved a heavy sigh as she swallowed over the large and painful lump in her throat, tears streaming down her face. She was waking up, so it was time to leave before she was seen. If only she could stay for just a little longer.
"I have only one more problem left." Luna told the small crab sadly, not bothering to look at him as powered up her trident.
"And what would that be, your Majesty?" Artemis asked slowly, wondering what it could be.
The queen smiled sadly. "I'm just going to miss her." Was the sad reply she gave, before slowly leveling out the golden trident with the flow of the water, pointing it at Haruka while a sparkling, golden aura flowed out and to where she sat.
Artemis gasped in shock, unable to believe that the queen was actually going to let her daughter be with a human.
Haruka, however was too caught up in her despair to notice the golden aura that snaked its way up her tail at the moment. Finally, blinking at the bright light that surrounded her lower half and worked it's way up, she couldn't help but gasp in complete shock as she quickly looked himself over, wondering what the hell was happening to her. Hadn't she been through enough?
Snapping her head towards her mother, she it dawned on her what was happening as she excitedly jumped into the water with a splash and swam over to where she floated while she still had a tail, and wrapped her arms around her.
"Mother, thank you so much!!" She cried out, truly grateful for the gift she was being given.
Luna, a little unsurely, hugged her back tightly. "You had just better make this relationship last." She said harshly. "Now get over there before I change my mind." She commanded with a brilliant smile despite her tears.
Haruka simply beamed at her before wiping her eyes and going back under the water. The last time she'd ever breathe in the sea.
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Serenity groaned as he turned over on the damp sand that clung to her clothes. Sitting upright, she took a quick look at her surroundings before remembering what happened the night before.
Her heart clenched when she didn't see Haruka anywhere. 'She must've been taken home.' She thought to himself sadly, slowly bringing her knees up before hiding her tear filled face in her hands.
It wasn't fair. All they had to do was share one simple kiss and they could be together forever, but because she blew all of her chances when they were together, she would never get to see her sandy haired mermaid again.
'No, no, no!! This isn't fair! I want her back!!' her heart cried in complete agony, while unsuccessfully trying to hold back hot tears and sobs with a painfully dry throat.
What ahe didn't see when she had her face hidden, was Haruka's head slowly come above the sparkling water that still surrounded her, and walk a little unsurely towards her. She was so excited that she was scared. Her mother changed her back into a human, without the pain unlike how Beryl had done, and she was at least wearing a pair of sparkling silver shirt and black pants. The sand was all squashy between her toes.
All she had to do now was walk over there! She was finally going to be with her princess! 'Don't trip, don't trip!' She mentally shouted at herself as she tried to get used to having legs again.
Nothing could describe the emotions that were going through her as she gazed upon her princess, and she almost cried at the sight of her. She just couldn't wait to hold her.
Serenity finally sniffled before slowly raising her head to the bright light that invaded the dark space in which she was hiding her face, thinking that it was just the early morning sun. But when she saw her love, practically sparkling as she walked towards her and was outlined by the still rising sun, she only cried harder.
"Oh sweet Selene." She whispered in sheer disbelief at the sight. She was here! Haruka was human again! And she was coming back to her!!
Smiling brightly and leaping to her feet, Serenity ran down the sand and into the water as fast as she could while ignoring the screaming protests of her tired and aching muscles. Quickly splashed through the bright blue water before pouncing onto her love, and in her mixture of sheer happiness, excitement, relief and joy, the both fell into the shallow water, holing onto one another will all there might.
"Don't you ever leave me ever again." She whispered into the ear, hidden beneath sandy locks desperately.
"I won't." Haruka promised, savoring the warmth that Serenity's arms gave her before reaching her head up for a soft kiss that Serenity more than happily responded to.
It seems that in the end love did win.
Now we can walk,
Now we can run,
Now we can stay all day in the sun.
Just you and me,
And I can be,
Part of your world.