Chapter Nine- Underwater Transition

Joey left at dawn after day three and no one saw him leave, however he did leave a note, saying a ship from his kingdom came by and left at dawn. He knew his return would be questioned as no ship would be sighted prior to him showing up at the docks. Perhaps I should tell Gozaburo and Mokuba the truth. I mean, they'll be family in about a month and a half. They've been so warm and friendly and they'll probably accept my being a merman as Seto did. Speaking of Seto, I wonder when the potion will be ready.

"Seto, when do you plan to visit your future in-laws?" Gozaburo asked at breakfast two days after Joey left.

"I honestly don't know, Father." Gozaburo had insisted on being called Father when he married their mother and neither boy could see no reason not to do so.

"I see. Any idea how far away his kingdom is?"

Seto recalled his conversation with Joey on the trip over and said, "I believe two to four days."

"Well, I insist you start your travel out there this afternoon."

"Yes, Father, but I will take a small boat and go alone."

"Alone?" he repeated.

"Yes, alone." Seto's voice was ice.

Gozaburo heard the tone and knew there was no arguing with Seto. He is old enough to sail alone. "All right, son. Be careful and I want to hear about your trip when you come back which will be…?"

"A little over a week."

Seto packed some clothes thinking he might fish and swim, perhaps visit Joey and teach the merboy to swim with legs. A knock drew him from his thoughts. "Enter," he called.

The door opened and Mahad entered, a beaker of liquid in one hand. "Seto, I heard you planned to leave to see Joey today."

"That's right. Father wants me to visit his family." He gave a bitter laugh. "That's not going to happen unless Joey convinces his family to come to the surface."

"That would be ill-advised and Joey won't do it in any event."

"Why is it?"

"He didn't tell you? Contact with humans is technically forbidden and Joey fears banishment from the sea. If his mother learns you're human, she may turn Joey human permanently and he would be unable to swim under the waves again."

Seto gaped at the news and then swallowed hard. "Okay. Then I'll just meet Joey and spend time with him, probably teach him to swim with legs. He did ask for me to teach him."

"Or you could swim with a tail and meet Joey's family, after all." Mahad held up the beaker.

"You finished it?" Seto took the beaker.

"It's finished. Once you drink it, you'll be able to be a merman for three days for the rest of your life."

"And it works like Joey's? I have to be in the water at dawn?"

"Yes. But, you'll be human at dawn after day three whether in the water or not."

"Mahad, thank you. I can't wait to surprise Joey." Seto drank the potion, but didn't feel any different and said as much.

"That means it is working. It's currently lying dormant, waiting for you to be in the water at dawn whenever that may be."

Two days later, Seto was still sailing across the ocean. He knew Joey's home was only half a night's swim from Yugi's kingdom, but that didn't really tell him much. He continued to sail well into the night of day two before choosing to drop the anchor and climb into the water, holding onto the rope ladder on the side. He floated there, watching the sky lighten and as the first rays of the sun lit the sky.

Seto gasped as his top faded away and his legs felt stuck together. He released the ladder and ran his hands down his legs which felt scaly. He allowed himself to sink and saw a scaled gold tail where his legs had been. He couldn't help smiling at the sight of it. I'm a merman! He managed a twirl in the water and laughed in delight. This is so cool!

He soon got a hold of himself and started swimming in the direction his boat was pointed. He took his time to admire his surroundings. The sea was a beautiful world. He could see why Joey wouldn't want to be permanently banished from it. He looked left and right, amazed at the pretty coral and the bright flowers.

"Seto!? Is that you?" gasped a familiar voice nearby.

He turned to see Joey staring at him with his mouth open. He came closer, smiling at the blonde's reaction. "Yeah, it's me. Mahad finished the potion three days ago. I drank it then and just changed at dawn today. I can now be a merman for three days from now on."

"Yes!" Joey cheered and whirled in a circle. "I absolutely love your tail. Gold is unusual, but it looks good on you."

"Is your family awake? I'd love to meet them."

"Actually, they're still sleeping, but the marketplace will be open. Come on." Joey took off with Seto behind him.

The market was indeed open and Joey took him on a tour, pointing out various stalls and speaking some of the vendors. Those they spoke to looked envious of Seto's tail and told Joey he was lucky to be engaged to such a handsome merman.

"I couldn't agree more," he said to one vendor.

Seto was quiet for most part. He was a visitor to this underwater world and felt a bit awkward as opposed to whenever he visited Yugi. He could only chalk it up to him being in an unfamiliar setting, in an unfamiliar form, and his status being that of a commoner. Joey had told him that he had told the queen the he and Yugi were common mermen, not royals.

"There's only one royal family in the sea and that's mine," he explained. "But just be you and everything will be fine."

"I hope they like me."

"I'm sure they will. I should warn you, Serenity may turn siren during your visit. It's been a while since her last time."

Seto nodded, thinking about how Joey saved the ship during the siren attack on the way home. "Joey, now that I've changed, will I be able to resist the siren song while in human form?"

Joey blinked. "I don't know. Possibly. That would be nice." They reached the palace's front doors and two guards opened the doors. They swam down a corridor to another set of double doors which Joey pushed open and led the way to a throne where a mermaid with curly brown hair and a pale pink tail sat on a throne. She leaned forward and tilted her head curiously. "Joseph?" she asked.

"Mother, this is my fiancée, Seto. Seto, this is Queen Marina."

Seto bowed. "I am honored to meet you, Your Majesty."

"It's nice to finally meet you, Seto. Joseph spoke happily about you."

Recalling the story Joey told him on the trip back home, he said, "I've known Joey for years and started liking him last year and knew that I wanted to be with him for the rest of our lives. I spent the entire year planning how to phrase it and when to say it. It was fortunate that Yugi's grandpa threw a party shortly after Joey arrived. I was worried and nervous that he would say no when I asked him."

"But he didn't," Marina said with a smile. "I look forward to having you as part of the family."