Author's note: I apologize for the long wait... I really hadn't meant for it to take this long... I just kept putting it off after I got stuck in a rather stupid spot, then I got busy and fatigue started taking my nights from me, which are usually the times I'll write. Hopefully updates will be more frequent in the future, but I'm not going to fill you with false hope and tell you that's what will happen for sure. It will be updating though, that I can say for certain. Perhaps not as quickly as I'd like, but hopefully quicker than before. Anyways, enough of my rambling... Here's chapter two. ^-^

xxx

The water is still alive with the violent enthusiasm I was exuding. I had never felt this kind of energy before. My heart is racing... But I love it.

I smirk, and tie up the bedsheet I had filled with all of the items I deemed necessary for my journey: Food, a dagger, a simple, handmade dress for once I got on land, a small, oddly shaped pendant I had found at the bottom of my secret spot, and my tiara, which I planned on discarding later at Serenity's door. It seemed as though I had everything I could possibly need. However... It felt as though I was missing something... I shake my head, then turn around and stare at the door, eager to take my leave...

'What else could I even need?' I think to myself. Thrusting the makeshift bag over my shoulder, I take a deep breath. As I make for the door, I feel the tiara digging into my shoulder blade. "Damn it, I..." I mutter, then realize mid sentence something I had indeed forgotten. With a sigh, I set down my bag and make my way over to my desk. I pull out a crimson coral sheet and an elegant carving tool, and on it, I write:

Father, please forgive me... But I won't be returning; by the time you receive this note, I'll be gone. I leave this behind not for closure, but so that you're informed on what's going on, and cannot press charges against anyone innocent. I'm leaving my place on the throne to Serenity. You will honor this, or you will watch your kingdom fall. I apologize, albeit half-heartedly, but I simply cannot bear to stay here any longer...

Sincerely, Evaestusceine Oceania Aquaeir

PS: Don't bother trying to find me. You won't be able to, and I'm sure you know why. No wonder you never wanted me in the palace library... You knew that something like this might happen after I learned about my ancestry... My biology... The reason mother was executed... I understand everything now, and that is why I must go. Farewell, father.

I grab another sheet, and write a second note:

Dear Serenity... I beg you not to worry when I tell you this... Please, I need you to understand... I have to do this... For my sanity... Already, I am a mere shell of what I used to be. If I don't leave now, one day, I'll break completely. I'll eventually slip into an eternal, inescapable state of sorrow... Every night... I can feel myself fading, wasting away... Coming ever closer to that state... Yet, the memories never fade... I cannot look into the face of another mermaid without feeling a terrible weight in my chest, one so awfully sore... No, not after I witnessed what I did ten years ago... No... Nevermore... That being said... I need you to do something for me; for the kingdom. Take my tiara, and place it upon your head; then present yourself to my father. I'm sure you understand the importance of what I'm asking you to do... Serene needs an heir, and my heart isn't up to it. You're far stronger than I... And I believe in you. Dearest Serenity, oh... How I'll miss you so... I cannot express... I wish you the best of luck, and most of all, happiness.

Your loving friend, Oceania

I quickly read over the letters; satisfied, I back away from my desk, slowly twirling the carving tool, which was still in my hand. My eyes fixed upon my remaining stack of coral sheets, a thought crosses my mind, 'This will surely be quite the adventure... I should bring a means of journaling.' I grab my letters and the stack of coral sheets, and swim back over to my makeshift bag. I untie it, and gently place the extra coral sheets and carving tool in with the rest of my items. With a satisfied nod, I tie it back up and throw it back over my shoulder.

Holding the letters tightly against my chest, I place my hand on the knob... And open the door.

A light current brushes against my face, and my eyes widen in excitement. 'I'm really doing this...', I think to myself, astonished. I blink out of my trance, and turn my head to look at my chamber door. Holding a hand to my chin, I let out a soft giggle, and turn back around. I begin swimming cautiously through the long corridors; I never look back again.

After moments that felt like hours, I make it to my first destination...

I stand before my father's room.

I lightly place the coral tablet on the floor in front of his chamber. With a timidness unlike me, I gingerly slide the crimson tablet under his door.

Once I felt confident that he was asleep and there were no guards watching, I began slowly backing away. After I was a seemingly safe distance from the door, I bolted.

The corridors seem distanceless as I race through them. The cool currents I'm creating are invigorating, and I swim faster to amplify the feeling. My speed increases yet again as I reach the balcony... 'This is it...'

Whoosh...

Open ocean... At long last...

'It's been a while...'

I let out a laugh... One with sound. 'When even was the last time I did that?' Although the sound is ripped from my own ears due to my swift swimming, it echoes across the empty kingdom. (Most mermaids were along the shorelines at this time... Rendering the kingdom empty. With the wide spacing of houses and other establishments, any sound loud enough would echo for miles.)

I make an abrupt turn, and navigate myself through the zone until I reach Serenity's house.

I open my bag and remove my tiara and her note... My hands are shaking as I set both items down in front of her door. With a rough tug, I close the bag back up. I'm quivering as I rise, and a lump forms in my throat. With an unsteady sigh, I close my eyes, and tap thrice upon the door. My eyes shoot open, and I take a breath I didn't realize I had been holding. With one last look, I whip around, and take off...

I'm swimming faster than I ever had in my life, further accelerating every moment. Millions of emotions are swirling inside of me, and things begin fading into each other; both emotional and physical. At this point, I'm mindlessly gliding through the water.

Suddenly, a tug of pure energy pulls me from this spell, and I bring myself to a staggering stop. Catching my breath (and my balance), I slowly follow the alluring energy... A bright, cyan glow in the distance captures my attention. My curiosity takes over, and I swim over to see where this beautiful, drawing aura was coming from. I sink to a sitting position, captivated by what I felt and saw... I lift the giant, glowing stone, and hold it to my chest... It radiates a warm, enticing energy with a strength unlike anything I had ever felt. Yet... It feels so familiar... Like it's a part of me.

With a new vigor, I tightly grasp the stone and dart off in a different direction. As though the stone was somehow guiding me, I end up at my secret place... The place. Memories flood my mind, but one in particular. There was nothing that could erase what I had witnessed here. My determination stronger than ever, I rush to the surface. The cold air is invigorating... My eyes close, and a smile creeps across my face as I glide through the air. I'm enjoying a weightless, airborne moment until...

Gravity takes over.

Water projects from my mouth like a fountain as I fall to the ground. I hit the ground and gasp, taking my first breath of air in a long time. It's sharp and cold in my lungs, and I'm caught in a coughing and laughing fit. "Haha... Hahaha... Ha... Hahahaha!" I'm laying on the ground trembling, holding my sides. It finally begins to subside, but I'm still in a daze as I attempt to get up.

I move to lift myself to a sitting position, but used to being in the water, I gather too much momentum and knock myself in the head with my knee. I snort on impact, then laugh again. My eyes are teary. "Hehe, my face is leaking." I lose it and crack up at my own stupidity.

When I finally regain myself, I take a deep, shaky breath and wipe the tears from my cheeks. I focus my attention on my bag... I untie it, and scan the contents. 'Everything's here.', I mentally note. I lift the dress from the sheet, causing other items to slide off and fall back down in the process. It flows in the gentle breeze as I hold it up. Focused now, I pull the dress over my head. I slide my arms through the long sleeves, and allow it to fall loosely off my shoulders. I reach my hands back, and find the laces. I tighten them a bit, and tie them in a loose bow at the top, just below the nape of my neck. The dress now fit tightly around my waist, while still exposing my shoulders and most of my back. The loose skirt flowed out around me.

"Okay..." I say aloud as I look down at the less familiar extremities replacing my tail. I lean to one side, and place my hands on the ground; I awkwardly manage to bring myself to my feet. Smiling, I take a step. Then another. Then a few more until I feel stable enough to lift my bag. I do so in a wobbly manner, but I manage. "Whew..." I exhale. The dress gently brushes my thighs as the wind blows, and I gaze at the night sky.

"It's so beautiful...", I think aloud.

I must have been standing there for quite some time, because once I was aware that I had been staring, the sky was a gradient mixture of purples, pinks, and oranges... I smile, and look back down at the water. The young sun made it sparkle in a way I'd never seen before... I never knew that the world could be so bright and colorful...

I giggle, then let out a yawn. "Oh, geez..." I whisper to myself. With a rueful smile, I advert my attention to the deep forest beyond the small cove... With a nod of my head, I begin walking into the forest...