** Happy April Fools Day every reader! This is the actual chapter of the story, not an April fool joke. Enjoy this story! **
"I'm sorry about your loss, Ms. Erica." Aqua stated as she had finished her story.
"No, it's okay, I just feel like both of our situations are kind of the same. We both have something that we cherish so much upon, but was loss to us completely. That somehow doesn't stop us at all, does it?"
"I guess not."
They both sat down, watching a school of fish pass by.
"Ms. Erica." Aqua stated.
"Yes, Aqua?"
"I know that I need to meet with the elderly whale about this matter, but I can't go out there all alone. Could you come with me to this journey?"
"Me?"
"Yes. Knowing my mother, she would want me to be with someone close to, but none of my brothers or sisters would be able to help me."
"But where does the elderly whale live?"
"According to Sebastian, the elderly whale lives where the lightest part of the sea, but I don't know where that would be."
"Well, we can't figure that out if we are sitting in the water."
She started to swim towards the shore, but was stopped by Aqua.
"Where are you going?"
"To find help."
"Not up there, you won't. Haven't you forgot about Sebastian's warning?"
"I know, but how else are we going to find the elderly whale's location."
"Still though, if seen by a human, that would be a disaster for my mother."
"Then who do you suggest we ask?"
He then thought for a moment and then started to smile.
"Come with me."
They both swam until they came across a pod of whales and dolphins.
"Fowler!" he called as they came close to the group.
Fowler started to come forth and was the most fascinating dolphin any creature would even imagine. His silver-like body shined brightly as the sun with the most adorable blue eyes. He seemed kind of small for a dolphin his age, but he had a kind of stubborn attitude of a shark.
"Aqua, what's up?"
"Oh, you know, doing what I do best."
"You know it."
They did their secret fin-shake to each other, but as they finished, Fowler then noticed Erica.
"Who's this hot mermaid?"
"This is Erica: a friend of mine I recently met. Ms. Erica, allow me to introduce you Fowler: one of my best friends I have ever met in the sea."
"Pleasure to meet you, Ms. Erica."
Erica couldn't speak. She seemed speechless to see a dolphin so close to her grasp.
"Ms. Erica?"
"You have to excuse her, Fowler. She seemed a bit occupied with the world around her."
"I'll say. It seems like she's not around here."
Fowler's comment snapped Erica's mind off completely.
"What? I'm sorry, Fowler. It's just that, I've never seen this beautiful rubbery skin before."
"Really? Well, I'm honored."
In her mind, she felt a bit relieved. If they seemed suspicious of her not being a mermaid, that may be a problem for her. Aqua then explained Fowler about the prophecy and is in need of directions to where the elderly whale lives.
"So, let me get this straight: You two are fulfilling a prophecy by the elderly whale and need to bring the elderly whale to your mother?"
"Yep." Aqua replied.
"And you want me to help you find this creature?"
"That's right." Erica agreed.
"Well, I don't know. It seems kind of risky."
"Please?" both Erica and Aqua begged.
Fowler looked at them with sad puppy eyes. He sighed a little and smiled.
"Okay. Let's go!"
"Do you know where the location could be?"
"Sure. Any creature can show you, including me."
They started to follow Fowler on to the direction he went towards, but as time went on, the three group started to feel a bit hungry. Fowler was the first to complain.
"We went to our journey and not an hour has past for me to get lunch."
"Easy for you to say, Fowler. You eat fish wherever and whenever you go, but I haven't eaten at all."
"Me too."
"Fine. What would you guys want to eat?"
"Well, I could go for some seaweed."
"Okay, you Erica?"
"Um...some..."
She then forgot that she was only allergic to one thing: seafood. She was not wanting to prove that she was a human just like that.
"Algae?"
"Okay. Coming right up."
He then swam further on as she and Prince Aqua started to sit by the corral reef to wait.
"You sure you want algae?"
"Why?"
"Well, for one, Algae is a type of nonflowering plant of a large group but lack true leaves and for someone like you to try, that seems pretty bold."
"Is it bad to try?"
"Well, I wouldn't know. I haven't tried before."
"Well, you should."
"How about this? If you say it is good, I'll try it. If not, then polite pass."
"Okay."
At that exact same moment, Fowler then came in with the items he need for the meal: an actual fish for him, some seaweed for Aqua, and one big algae for Erica. From what she was able to see, it was something she was not going to be pleased over.
"Here you go."
"Thanks, Fowler."
"Yeah...thanks."
Both Fowler and Aqua started to eat while Erica just stared at her food. Since this meal was actually from the sea, she wasn't sure if she would cause an allergic reaction. In order to face her fears, she slowly grabbed the tip of the algae, bit a piece of it, and started to chew. In shock, her taste buds didn't show any type of allergic shock at all and the flavor seemed kind of bitter in a way. As she continued eating, Aqua then noticed that she started to enjoy the meal. He came close and started to put his hand forward.
"What?"
"A promise is a promise."
"Oh. Okay."
She then tore a piece of algae and handed it towards Aqua. As he took a bite, he then noticed the bitter taste for a moment and tried to find his seaweed for more flavor. With satisfaction, he enjoyed it even better. While eating their meals, both Fowler and Aqua finished their meals and started to move forward. Erica, who was just following them behind, felt like she was being followed. She stopped and noticed the two eels who were the henchmen of the warlock came towards her from the darkness.
"Who are you two?"
"We are messengers of the one you call warlock."
"The warlock?"
She completely forgot all about the warlock who sent her here for a moment, but as they started to come close, she never thought that he had various amounts of henchmen with him.
"Why are you two here?"
"He's getting a bit impatient with the bargain."
"You need to take that opportunity now."
"What? Why?"
"In order to fulfill your destiny, you need to pay the price of the bargain he provided you."
"I-I can't."
"Why not?"
"Well..."
"It's that boy, isn't it?"
"What?! No."
"You sure? You seem to take a liking to you, though you two are the chosen creatures to fulfill the prophecy."
"But still, even if I do like him, which I don't, I don't even have the courage to do it."
"That's too bad. Even the warlock hasn't told you then what happens if you fail."
"What do you mean fail?"
"Well, the Lake of Time does have its timeframe. It does not last forever."
"You have until the sunrise of the day of your father's death to return or your life will return."
"Return to where?"
"Back to where you started: a lowly selfish girl who thinks of no one but herself."
"But...I'm not-"
"Who was the one who allowed her father to die?"
"Who was the one who disobeyed her own mother?"
As they started to beat her down with words, she stood there lifeless.
"Get that hair."
"Before its too late."
They both swam away from her and fled back into the darkness. She then had to think about what they had mentioned and the timeframe that Erica has. She only has that amount of time to cut his hair down or will return back into the future to never see him again. Though she knew that it wasn't right to do so, she couldn't have the courage to do it without his knowledge. That seemed wrong. With no response for a few moments, she felt a bit of touch by her side. As she looked, it was Aqua who noticed she wasn't moving.
"Are you okay?"
"Yes...I'm...fine."
"You sure? If you don't want to join us, I completely understand. Fowler and I can find the elderly whale."
"No. I want to join. I just thought there was something following us. That's all. We need to get to the elderly whale fast."
She swam towards the front of the group and left Aqua there to ponder. Forgetting about it for a moment, he continued forward and came near Fowler throughout the journey.