"Erica, look at me." Aqua demanded.

Erica tried to look at him, but the power from the song got her completely. She was unable to be back as a mermaid ever again.

"I know you can hear me, but I need you to kiss me."

She heard the response and was blushing. Never in her life has she ever thought of kissing a boy, let alone a merman.

"Look. I know that it sounds crazy, but I think I found a way to stop him."

While he was discussing the matter, Tatiana turned towards the corner and went towards Aqua for a strike. Erica, drowning as she was, pushed Aqua towards the side for protection. As he looked towards the direction of Erica, Aqua's eyes were in shock. His mother did the unthinkable: killing a human with her hatred heart. While trying to get close to the attack, Tatiana's power started to die down for a moment and realized blood was in her hands. Seeing what she attacked, Erica was in deep pain, keeping the blood from spilling.

"What?"
"Thank you, Tatiana." the sea witch proclaimed, "for now, the prophecy will never be fulfilled since she was part of it with your own son."
"What?"

As she started to feel guilty, Aqua then noticed what Erica had done. She saved him so that his mother didn't kill her only son in the process, however, she did it out of the love she had for him. He slowly started to swim as she barely had the chance to breathe her last breath.

"Erica..."he replied slowly, "I...I'm sorry."

Erica looked at him and smiled. She knew that he was sorry for it, but at least she mentioned that no matter what happened as long as Prince Aqua is safe and secure. However, as she started to stretch out her hands to touch his cheeks, her heart slowly started to fade and closed her eyes in defeat. Aqua tried to wake her up, but she was unable to breathe underwater. He kissed her and kissed her, but no glowing light started to grow.

"Don't leave me..." Aqua stated in tears.

She didn't respond.

"...I love you."

He placed her head towards his chest and he cried his heart out. As he cried and cried, a small light started to glow bright as the sun. Erica, as her eyes started to open, felt like her body was able to breathe again as before. As she slowly looked towards her side, Aqua and Erica glanced at each other and smiled. In just a few moments, they both kissed each other on the lips as the brightly glowing orb inside started to shine all around the chapel. The sea witch started to cover himself away from the bright light, but was defeated just as the prophecy had been foretold. While the glow continued to shine, Aqua and Erica looked at each other.

"I guess we did it." Aqua replied.
"Yes we did."
"What will happen to both of us now?"
"I guess we both move on with our lives."
"What?!"
"Look, you're a mermaid. I'm human. You will live an immortal life. I'll die of old age. You live in the ocean and I live on land. Plus, you're the king of this kingdom and I'm only a kid. I want you to rule your kingdom."
"But...I just-No. I want you to stay with me."
"If I do that, my mother will be alone. I can't let her be sad."
"But...wouldn't you be sad too if you leave me?"

Erica sighs.

"Yes."
"Then stay with me. Please. I love you."
"And I love you too, but would your mother allow me to be with you?"
"That is true."
"Your destiny will come again." a voice replied in the light.

As both Erica and Aqua looked at the direction of the voice, the Narwhal appeared to them.

"Oceana?" they both asked in shock.
"But in a different time." she replied.
"I thought you mentioned that you were going to stay over at the northern lights since they follow wherever you go or you would die?"

The lights started to show towards the North Pole area where they met Oceana before.

"Both of you have fulfilled the prophecy of defeating the sea warlock, but the time for you two to be together is not ready to be destined as of yet."
"Why?" Aqua asked.
"That is what will be foretold in future."
"Why can't she be with me? I mean, we love each other."
"Though you do both love each other, would either of you two be willing to leave what you have behind for each other?"
"I can't afford to lose my mother again after losing my father."
"And you, Prince Aqua?"
"I am the future king for my people. I can't afford to leave them in the dark."
"Then, when both of you are intending to give up life for each other, that will be the day you two will unite as one."
"But, when will that be?"
"Only the lights can show you the destiny."

Oceana and the location started to disappear. Both Aqua and Erica started to separate from each other until the light returned as normal. Aqua looked at his location and noticed that he was in the chapel standing with his "betrothed" fianc? that his mother had intended.

"Prince Aqua?" the manatee replied. "Do you?"
"Do I what?"
"Take Ms. Ariel to be your queen?"

He looked around the area to see what happened and noticed that all were not destroyed, the sea warlock was gone. Aqua then took a deep breath, looked at the manatee and provided him a straight answer.

"No."

All were shocked at his response.

"Is there a reason why, Prince Aqua?"
"I do."

He swam towards the center and explained everything of what has happened and what he will choose to do in the near future. His mother, the brothers and sisters of the bride and groom, and King Triton heard all what had happened and somehow didn't respond to his promotion. Though they clearly did not understand, they knew that this was the decision of the groom. Ariel then agreed of this decision and went towards her father. She told her father that since she was not ready to be married to someone she never loved, she shouldn't be forced into something she was prepared for. In agreement, her father took his children and started to return back to Atlantica. As King Triton's family left, his mother went towards Aqua with a concerned look on her face.

"You know, your father would have loved to see you married to a decent mermaid of royalty, but now I know. Your father would have been proud of you for this particular choice. You will be a great leader, my son."
"I know, mother."

As he looked towards the ocean, he sighed deeply.

"What's the matter, my son?"
"Nothing."

He took a deep breath and glared straight towards the sky.

"If I ask for one favor before my reign, would you allow me to have this opportunity just this once?"
"What kind of request do you have in mind?"

He smiled and glanced towards the sky again. At that exact moment, Erica woke up from where she sat by and noticed that the sun had already rose up. She carefully got up from her seat and stood. Erica did feel a bit shaky at first since she had got up from her sleep. Thinking that she wasn't dreaming, Erica then tried to move her legs and they were in excellent shape. With joy, she was running around the water and sand, but then something hit her. If she returned back to land, then that may mean that her mother is still back at the house. Erica quickly started to run towards her home with tears in her eyes and called out to her mother.

"Mom! Mom!"

The door was open and her mother looked outside to see who was coming. As she saw her daughter running towards her direction, Ms. Germaine ran towards her daughter and cried in tears.

"Erica! I'm so glad that you're safe."
"I'm sorry, mom! I'm so sorry!"
"For what?"
"For saying those terrible things to you. I-I never mean to..."
"It's okay, my dear. I'm sorry too. For blaming you and your friend."
"My friend?"
"Yes, your merman friend."
"Oh."

She looked towards the ocean and sighed deeply.

"Are you alright, darling?"
"I'm fine. Thank you."
"You sure? You can tell me anything."
"Don't worry, mom. As long as you are here, let's have the memories of us together."

Both of them walked towards the house and enjoyed the night together as a family. As the night started to fall, Erica walked towards the sea and glanced at its reflection. Thinking about Aqua so much, she sat on the ground and sighed deeply. She glanced at the ocean as the waves went to and fro. She knew that she will meet Prince Aqua again, but when was the only question she had in her mind. She didn't care, however, Erica will only fall in love with a little merman and no one looking at the night sky, she notice a small light coming in the few bubbles coming from the entrance of the cave. Not knowing what that was, she started to slowly walk towards the cave to see what the commotion was all about. As she entered the cave, she noticed that a shimmering light started to come out of the water. A figure then started to rise and walk towards the shore.

"Who are you?" Erica called out.

The figure then looked at Erica and started to walk towards her. In fear, she started to back away, but her body was unable to move at all. It wasn't because she was too afraid to run, but it was because something held her to the position. At that exact moment, the figure was about a feet away from each other. Since the light was too bright to see who was behind there, Erica tried to see if she can look at the eyes.

"Erica." the figure replied. "Thank you."

For just a few moments, the figure went towards her lips and kissed her. The kiss was so magnificent, however, that she embraced it with all her heart. Sadly, the kiss had ended so soon as the figure moved away from her lips and started to walk towards the water to disappear. As she touched her lips, the figure and light was gone.

"Erica!" her mother called, "It's time to eat."
"Coming mother." she called back.

As she walked away, something then hit her. She knew who the figure was all along and turned towards the waters.

"Aqua..." she responded silently and stood there with joy in her heart.

- To Be Continued -

** Don't worry a sequel will be coming soon to an ocean near you. If you would like for me to place an epilogue of what happened afterwards, please review this story or send me a message about it and I will see if I can get one ready. Thank you viewers for reading the end of The Little Merman. **