Mermaids for Venus, by Boyce
Chapter 6 : Underwater Battle, Part 2
(Everybody looked back to see who just screamed that word. A purple-haired mermaid was swimming fast toward the group)
Mina : Nelia!
Nelia : Pyron, you're alive (She swims in the arm of the merman, crying) I thought you were dead.
Pyron : Nelia... I'm still alive, and our Great Goddess here saved us all!
Nelia : (Turns to Mina) I'm sorry Mina... I... I followed you. I know it was dangerous but...
Mina : It's okay Nelia (Smiles) I've seen how sad you were in the village... I understand.
Nelia : (Swims near Mina, and hugs her) Thank you!
Pyron : Nelia... Are you sure you should be hugging the Goddess like that?
Nelia : (Smiles) Of course... I've learned to know her, and inside, she's someone just like us!
(Mina smiled hearing those words. She was now surrounded by a crowd of grateful mermen. She did her best to confort them, and talk to them. While she was doing that, a small earthquake made the room shake)
Pyron : The impact of the monster on the ceiling was too big. This room is going to collapse soon.
Mina : Then we should get out of here, and fast!
Nelia : (Starts swimming toward the exit) Come on! The village is all waiting for us!
(As she was swimming toward the hole in the ceiling, a big tentacle grabbed her, and pulled her toward the big pile of rubble, near the cage)
Pyron : NELIA!
(The mermaid screamed as she was pulled by the waist. The rocks started to shake, and the monster emerged)
Squid : Pathetic fools! You think I would die this easily?
Mina : Shit!
Pyron : NELIA! No! You bastard! (Pyron starts swimming toward the monster, filled with anger) Leave her alone!
Squid : Quiet, you fish!
(The squid hit hard the merman with one of its tentacle. Pyron went crashing into the wall, and fell motionless)
Nelia : Pyron... PYRON!
(Mina and the mermen swam toward the squid, ready to attack it anyway they could)
Squid : Insects... I'll crush you all (The squid hit every merman that was coming toward it) I'll crush you all, and I'm saving you for last human!
Nelia : Save yourself Mina! We shouldn't have dragged you into this... I'm so sorry...
Mina : Nelia! Hang on! (She was hit by one of the tentacles of the monster. She's dizzy) Damn you, squid!
Squid : (Laughs) Now watch as this pathetic mermaid serves as my meal!
Pyron : Ne... Neli... a
Nelia : Pyron... I'm sorry.
(Mina watched, as the squid was about to put Nelia in its mouth. She felt emotions filling her heart)
Mina : No... NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!
(A bright light filled the room, blinding everyone)
Squid : What... What's happening?
(Everyone looked at Mina... She was floating in the water, her hair flowing all around her head. A pure orange light was glowing around her ankle)
Nelia : The Venus Pearl!
(Mina started flashing, and slowly, a twin of Mina appeared besides her. She was identical to Mina, except she had golden eyes instead of blue ones. The crowd of mermen was completely stunned by what they were seeing)
Mina : Now you'll pay, squid!
Squid : You think you impress me with your cheap trick? I think not!
Mina : Then maybe this will convince you! (Mina lifted her injured arm, and pointed her index into the air, her twin doing the exact same movements. A golden light appeared at the tip of the finger of Mina as she charged her attack) Your time here is done!
Squid : (Laughs) That's what you think! It takes more than a light show to beat me! DIE!
(The squid dropped Nelia, and charged again at full speed toward the two twins. Nelia swam toward Pyron)
Mina : Veennuuss Creesscent Beeeam... (The 2 girls pointed their arm in front of the squid) SMMMAAAAASSSHHHHHHHHHHH!
(The mouth of the twin said the exact same words, although no sound came out of her mouth. Two golden beams emerged from the girls fingers, and collided in front of the monster. The room started to shake, and a big golden sphere build up from the beam of each girl. The room stopped shaking, and a giant golden beam emerged from the sphere, heading directly on the monster)
Squid : (Laughs) YOU CAN'T STOP ME! I'LL...
(The beam collided directly on the monster's face, and penetrated it like soft butter. The beam emerged from the other side of the monster, and ended its course directly on the ground, creating a big explosion. The bloody carcass of the monster sank slowly to the bottom, leaving a big red trail behind it)
Nelia : (Helping Pyron) Mina...
(The Venus Pearl started to lose it's glow... Mina looked at her twin, and her twin looked back at her. Her twin
started to fade away, and just before completely disappearing, she smiled at Mina. The last thing Mina saw was her golden eyes which were visible a couple more seconds than the rest of her body)
Mina : Wow... So much power
(Three of the mermen swam near the monster's body, and slapped it with their tails. A couple more of them went to imitate their comrades, while others went to help Nelia and Pyron. The room started shaking again)
Nelia : We need to get out of here, and fast!
Mina : Yes... Let's... (As she was about to swim, she felt weak and started to sink slowly, holding her head) No.
Nelia : Mina!
(As she was sinking, she felt two heads under each of her arms)
Mermn1: Let me help you, Great Goddess!
Mermn2: You saved us all, we'll help you out of here.
(Mina passed a hand to remove her flowing hair from her face, and looked at the two merman. One of them seemed younger than the rest of the captives)
Mina : Are you... Tear?
Tear : You... Of course, you know everything Great Goddess Venus! Yes, that's my name!
Mermn2: Goddess Venus, I am honored that you know the name of my son.
Mina : Your son? Aven?
Aven : (Surprised) By the Seven Seas! Yes (He bows) I am honored that you know me too!
Mina : (Smiles) Kathy talked to me about you... Poor Kathy, all of her family was taken away from her, and Tear... so young...
Tear : But I'm a tough young merman!
Aven : Tear! Show some manners in front of our Goddess!
Mina : (Smiles) Don't worry, it's okay! I know you are tough Tear. Thank you for helping me... Someone help Nelia and her lover
(She looked in the direction of Nelia, and she saw that already 3 other merman were helping her with Pyron. The mermen were fleeing out of the cavern at an amazing speed. Mina felt the pressure of the water on her eyes, and she just closed her eyes to avoid the pain. She felt a big quake, and she held tighter to her 2 swimmers. After a couple of seconds, she felt less pressure from the water on her face, and opened her eyes. She saw that they were already out of the cave in the open sea. Tear and Aven swam to the bottom, and put Mina on a big rock so she could get her senses back. She looked at the mountain, and it was now just a big pile of rubble)
Aven : Will you be all right, Oh Great Goddess?
Mina : I... I think so, I'm just weak from spending so much energy... and like I said a million times, (She smiles), call me...
Nelia : MINA! (She swam as fast as she could, and hugged Mina) You... you saved us all! (Crying) You really did it! I...
Mina : (Hugging back, smiling) Nelia... (Mina felt a hand on her shoulder, she turned back and saw Pyron) Pyron, I promised Nelia...
Pyron : I know... I know, and I thank you! You saved us all, and we'll never ever forget what you did for all of us!
Tear : A cheer for our Great Goddess!
(All of the mermen started singing for Mina, and she recognized the song : it was the same song Holly and the others sang to her as she left the village)
Mina : (Blushing) Thank... Thank you.
(Nelia took her by the hand)
Nelia : Quick! We need to go back to the village and tell all the others what happened here. (Nelia closed her eyes, and said something in a really low voice. Seconds after, the eel appeared from the side of the mountain) I'll help you Mina! Pyron! Help me please...
Mina : (Tear drop) Great, the eel again!
(All of the merman swam to the eel, and sat on it. Nelia and Pyron helped Mina swim to the eel. When everyone was on board, Nelia talked to the eel and it started swimming back to the village)
End of Chapter 6