Guest: This Lucia isn't the canon one, she's more based on the RP I manage instead of her canon personality. Also, do note that this takes place an unspecified amount of time after the series ends, which means that Lucia would have changed a bit by the time Hippo and Yuri's story passes.

Knux2511: This one was hard, no kidding. Why there is more information for Karen/Subaru than this one when both had exactly the same amount of screen time I never know.

Title: Marriage

Couple: Nikora/Maki

Enjoy the story.

"Nikora-san, can I talk to you?"

The purple-haired mermaid turned away from her checklist to look at the man that stood behind her, her face colouring a bit at their close proximity. "Ah.. Maki-san," she said, her brown eyes widening a bit. She hadn't expected to see the human man here. Self-consciously tucking a strand of purple hair behind her ear, the young woman offered the man a polite and nervous smile. "Did... did you need something?"

The beach-house owner just gave her a slight smile that seemed almost nervous. "Can you walk with me, Nikora-san? Just out to the beach? there's something important I'd like to talk to you about." There was a strange sort of tone in his voice that the woman didn't recognize, though she felt her heart flutter a bit.

"Uh... okay, Maki-san," Nikora said, trying her best to cover up her nervousness as well as her heated face. "Give me a second..." She quickly pulled away and walked into the living room, calling for Lucia. As the princess looked at her with a smile, she quickly told her to watch the hotel, face covered with a blush.

Lucia seemed to know what was going on, and the pink princess giggled enthusiastically. "Alright, Nikora-onee-chan," she said with a smile. And then, with a look that was entirely too mature for her, the princess said in a serious tone of voice, "Nikora-onee-chan, no matter what your decision is, I'll always be supporting you, okay? Listen to your heart. It always knows best." With that said, the blonde then returned to her homework, not saying another word.

The princess knew something that the woman didn't, Nikora was certain. She just didn't know what it was.

Still eyeing the blonde suspiciously, the woman walked out with Maki, starting up a casual conversation with the human man, finding herself slowly relaxing as they walked out from Pearl Piari to the sandy white beach that lay in front of the building. The setting sun reflected rays of warm orange light off the calm sea waters, dyeing the waters, the evening sky, and the lacy white clouds a warm, welcoming orange hue that melted into golden yellow and red at the edges. Clearing her throat as she reached the very edges of the water, just enough that the warm sea water didn't lap at her heels, Nikora changed the topic, nervously looking out across the horizon.

"You said you wanted to talk to me about something, Maki-san?"

When she didn't get a reply from the human, Nikora anxiously turned back, worried she had said something wrong. Much to her surprise, the brunette man was down on one knee, kneeling on the warm sands of the beach with a small smile on his face. "M-Maki-san," the mermaid stammered, feeling her face heat up.

Maki clasped one of her hands in his own, saying, "Nikora-san, you are an amazing woman. Beautiful, charming, intelligent, everything about you is perfect. To have known you is the greatest joy in my life. Nikora-san..." He reached behind him and produced a small box, one that the mermaid recognized as containing a ring inside, and opened it to reveal a shining golden ring. "Please, marry me."

"Maki-san..."

Nikaro didn't know what to do at the moment, her face colouring into a bright shade of red. She could accept, surely, but if she did that, then she would have to stay in the human world, didn't she? And her life in the ocean, none of it would matter, of course. She could remain in the human world, living out her life in peace and joy. She could decline, of course, but if she did that, then she would return to the kingdom with her princess and ruler, ultimately never to return to the human world, and leave with regrets.

To stay, she would leave her home and her life. To leave, she would leave her heart and her love. Which to choose?

Nikora desperately wanted someone to make the choice for her.

Nikora-onee-chan, no matter what your decision is, I'll always be supporting you, okay?

Her princess' words rang in her ear, and Nikora understood their meaning now. No matter what her decision was, Lucia would always be in support, even if she chose to leave, even if she chose to stay. So, what was her decision? It still wasn't an easy one. Her mind told her to go home; she had been gone for so long, surely, she felt homesick, right? Her heart told her to stay; her home she could visit, but Maki couldn't be visited like her home.

Listen to your heart. It always knows best.

Listen to her heart. Of course. It seemed her princess knew what was best for her as well. Listen to her heart, accept Maki's proposal, cherish what she loved. Her home could be visited when she had to, but Maki was one of a kind. With a smile, the mermaid made her decision, and she knew that she wouldn't regret it.

"Yes, Maki-san!" Nikora said with an incredibly bright smile, her heart racing with joy as the man slipped the modest ring onto her ring finger. With strength the purple-haired mermaid didn't know she had, she pulled the man to his feet and kissed him.

Two months later, Nikora was clad in a white mermaid-style dress, walking along the beach before the wedding took place. Her hair pulled back into an ornate bun, simple jewellery adorning her neck and ears. The call of a dolphin distracted her, and the woman turned to see Momo, her princess' faithful dolphin, reach out with an envelope.

The woman took it and opened the letter enclosed within.

Congratulations on your happy ending, signed your younger sister, Lucia.

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Next chapter: Karen/Subaru (Fate)