Mermaids for Venus, by Boyce
Chapter 4 : Do Not Worry
/ Nelia's House \
(Mina was having a hard time to get some sleep. The heavy sound of bubbles leaving her mouth each time she breathed kept her awake. After a couple of hours, she got out of her bed, and swam toward one of the 'windows' of Nelia's house. Nelia's house was really close to the Plaza, and she had a view on the statue of the Goddess)
Mina : The Goddess Venus... Unbelieveable. Who would have thought that a statue of me would be lying at the bottom of the sea, and that I would be a Goddess for these mermaids. But if this squid is as tough as I've heard, what can I do against it? I'm no fish, I'm just a girl at the bottom of the sea. I can't battle underwater... Sigh
Nelia : Something bothering you, Mina?
Mina : Surprised Nelia! You startled me...
Nelia : I'm sorry... it wasn't my intention
Mina : (Smiles) Don't worry about it, Nelia. You're not sleeping?
Nelia : I had a hard time sleeping ever since this monster appeared in our village. I'm having nightmares each night about it.
Mina : Poor Nelia... (She swims over her, and hugs her) I'll do what I can to help you out...
Nelia : (Hugging back, crying) I'm so sorry that we impose this burdain on you... I...
Mina : Shhhhhh...
(Nelia stayed in Mina's arms, hoping with all her heart she would succeed)
Mina : I need to change our thoughts Nelia... Let me tell you about my world.
Nelia : You mean the world above the water?
Mina : Yes. If my instinct is correct, the coast is not far from here. Where I live, there are millions of other people, just like me.
Nelia : Millions of Goddesses? Amazing...
Mina : (Laughs) No, not like me. There are other people, just like each mermaid is different in your village.
Nelia : I see... I studied the humans, but since the only sketches of humans we have here are representations of our Great Goddess, I've never really seen another human being.
Mina : (Smiles) Where I live, I have great friends... The sweet and gentle Amy, the hot-tempered Raye, the tall and strong Lita and the clumzy but lovable Serena. Oh! Remember the other girl you saw swimming with me? That was Raye.
Nelia : Yes... the dark-haired girl, I remember.
Mina : Who knows? Now that I know about this village, maybe one day I could present my friends to you.
Nelia : (Smiles) I would be my honor to meet your friends.
(Mina smiled, but paused, and tried to remove all of her flowing hair out of her face. Nelia watched her, and smiled)
Mina : How come your hair doesn't flow into your face like mine do?
Nelia : I don't know... Maybe it's evolution, but our long hair always flows around, but never into our face.
Mina : I usually have a red ribbon that runs through my hair, and helps me to keep it in the back of my head.
Nelia : (She grabs the reb ribbon) You mean this piece of tissue?
Mina : My ribbon! Yes, that's my red ribbon (Nelia hands it to her) Thank you!
(Mina tried to attach the red ribbon in her hair, but since her hair was flowing all around, it was impossible for her to attach it correctly)
Nelia : (Smiles) Want me to help you?
Mina : (Removes the ribbon) Naw... Just keep it for now (She hands Nelia the ribbon). I've got use to my hair flowing all around. (She let go of a big yawn, translated in a big cloud of bubbles coming from her wide open mouth) I think I'm going to try to catch some sleep now.
Nelia : Thank you for cheering me up, Godd... I mean Mina!
Mina : It's my pleasure Nelia. Please try to catch some sleep too.
Nelia : I will.
(With these words, Mina swam back to the bed Nelia lent to her, and after a couple of minutes, her heavy eyes closed, and she felt asleep)
/ Village's Plaza \
(Nelia's was cleaning some pearls when Mina woke up. They said Hi to each other, and immediately went to the village's Plaza, where Holly and all of the other mermaids where waiting for them)
Holly : It is my honor to welcome you again, Great Goddess.
Mina : The honor is all mine, Holly. (All of the other mermaids bowed to Mina) Please, you don't have to...
(In the back, Mina could hear voices that were getting closer to her)
: Come on, swim faster! We are going to miss the Great Goddess.
: (Swims faster) I know I know!
(Mina turned herself to see the two familiar faces of Olive and Elysa. Mina looked at them, smiling at the two young mermaids)
Mina : Hello Olive... Hello Elysa. How are you doing?
Elysa : I'm doing fine!
Olive : And me too, Mina!
Holly : Olive! Please don't disrespect our Great Goddess... Call her Goddess Mina.
Olive : But Nelia said we could call her Mina.
Holly : Nelia!
Mina : Please Holly... I don't see any problem for anyone to call me Mina. It is my name.
Holly : But... you are a Goddess...
Mina : Trust me Holly. There is no offense at all. Please don't yell at these little mermaids...
Olive : Mina! Elysa and I made these for you.
Elysa : We hope they will bring you good luck!
Mina : (She swims down to the two little mermaids) What did you make? (Olive shows the gifts they made) They are beautiful!
Olive : These are scale rings for your tails. We hope they will make you swim faster!
Mina : Ah... Anklets!
Elysa : Annnk... lets?
Mina : (Smiles) Yes! (Shows her ankles) This part of my body is called an ankle. The rings you made for my legs... I mean my tails should go here!
(Olive gives one of the two rings to Elyse, and they each attached one to Mina's ankles)
Olive : There you go!
Mina : (Hugs them) Thank you so much! I really love them.
Elysa : Yay! The Goddess loves our gift!
(Elysa and Olive started to danse around)
Mina : Kids... You just have to love them.
Holly : I'm sorry to interrupt...
Mina : (Turns to Holly) Yes... the monster. Is there anything I need to know?
Holly : I wish we could help you more. I know nothing about this creature... I'm sorry.
Mina : It's alright Holly. Well... I hate long good-byes, so I'm going to be on my way now.
Holly : I also have something for you. (She gets out a pearl) This is our Venus Pearl...
Mina : It's Marvelous... But I can't accept this...
Holly : Please. The Venus Pearl belongs to the Goddess of Venus. It is said that it was a gift by the Goddess of Venus who came here 1000 years ago. It might help you in your battle against your enemy.
Mina : Alright, thank you very much (Holly attached the pearl to one of Mina's anklet) Great! I didn't have any pockets anyway...
Holly : One last thing...
(Holly closed her eyes, and concentrated with her scepter in hand. Seconds later, a growl was heard and a giant eel appeared at the other side of the Plaza)
Mina : An eel! Watch out!
Holly : Please calm down... this eel is tame. It will lead you to the lair of the monster. This way, you will be able to keep your forces, and avoid the long swim to get there.
Mina : You mean I need to ride this thing?
Holly : Is there a problem?
Mina : I guess not... It will be the first time I ride an eel. (Mina swam slowly to the eel. She looked at it, and hesitated. But she had confidence in Holly, so she got on the slimy beast) Ew... It's slimy.
(The crowd of mermaids started to sing for their beloved Goddess)
Holly : This is our song of courage. May it bring you courage and power.
Mina : I'm honored Holly (She bows).
Holly : Best of luck to you, Great Goddess of Venus!
(Holly mumbled some words, and the eel started to swim toward the monster's lair. Mina looked back at the village, and saw Olive and Elysa waving at her. She waved back at them. She tried to spot Nelia to wave at her, but she couldn't see her in the crowd. She didn't see her after they got to the plaza together. As she left the village, she could still hear the song of courage the mermaids were singing for her...)
End of Chapter 4