Over the past several days, Sam had grown more and more curious to see the merboy Daniel. Judging by the trinkets he wore, he was someone rich, probably famous, perhaps even…dare she think it...royalty? Without so much as a second thought, Sam changed into her black two-piece, strapped on her mask, flippers, and oxygen tank, and dove into the picturesque ocean. It wasn't long before she saw a familiar face.

"What's up?" she asked as he swam across her faceplate.

"Kie estas la Talismano?" He asked, regarding her bare neck. 1

"What?"

"La talismano, kie estas gi?" Daniel asked, taking a cue from Sam's curious expression, this time drawing a finger from his left shoulder to his right one. 2

"I took it off," Sam replied, making like she was removing a necklace, "I was having trouble breathing." She finished, placing her hands on the side of her neck and moving them like gills. Without saying a word, Daniel pretended to scrub himself before pretending to place an amulet around his neck.

"Where'd that one come from?" Sam asked, pointing to the new amulet around his neck, identical to the old one.

"La anstataui. Sam, mi havi decida al vida via mondo car mia mem." He stated, gesturing to his head before pointing to the surface. 3

"Alright, but I want to experience yours, too." Sam replied, pointing to her eyes, head, and gesturing all around. Grabbing her wrist in a vice-like grip, he swam just fast enough so that she could catch up, even though his record speed was just shy of 10 ½ knots. As they swam, Sam marveled at the texture of his skin. Starting from the backs of his palms and going down his arms and either side of his dorsal fin, his skin looked like it was covered in thousands of long, white needle-shaped scales. Danny came to a halt as he felt Sam stroke the back of his arm with her free hand. Letting her go and gently pushing her aside, he puffed out his chest, a ridge of spines starting from his hands and going down the side of his back, erecting themselves, like a puffer fish before flattening them again and going on their way.

Another thing Sam noticed was the long, sharp teeth he had which showed as he grinned, giving him a rather sinister appearance. Something else Sam noted was that where there were no spines, the rest of the body was rock solid and if Sam looked closely, she could swear it was made of interlocking scales so small, the only way one could see them clearly would be under a microscope.

Finally, as the sun was setting, they rested on Danny's favorite rock. As the crimson sun dove into the ocean, Sam couldn't help but gaze at Daniel. Who was this merboy, so youthful, but so mysterious and stern at once? She watched as the sun's dying rays got caught in his hair so raven it was almost blue and danced in his eyes in much the same way the two of them had swam and played in the sea. Noticing his hand by her side, she let her hand descend on his, which he jerked away instantly. "Something the matter?" she asked, noticing the forlorn look on his face. A quick leap off the rock and a belly flop into the water before he darted away was his response, leaving Sam alone to wonder.

That evening, Sam drew herself a bath in her private bathroom. As she soaked in the Jacuzzi/bathtub, she went over the day's curious events in her mind before she remembered him asking her about the amulet. Looking over at the ornate grey, emerald studded necklace as it lay on the sink, she grabbed it, sitting back down in the tub before putting it on again. This time, though, instead of having trouble breathing, she couldn't breathe at all. Looking down, a most curious sight met her eyes as she felt her neck, which now had an odd tingling sensation that slowly spread over the rest of her body. Gills. Sam though as her knuckles rubbed against her throat. It was as she was drying off when she heard a familiar noise.

Daniel gazed at the moon as he sat sidesaddle on his favorite rock, moonlight glistening off his emerald tail. It was absolutely beautiful out. The sky was a navy blue. The wind whistled through the palm trees as some dolphins cavorted amongst the waves. Somewhere, a person taking a moonlight swim splashed as he or she dove into the water. With lightning speed, Daniels spines stood erect as something startled him by tugging on his tail. His fears were abated, however, when he turned to face his attacker. It was Sam, but not Sam. Where flesh had covered her, she was now covered in scales and spines. As she smiled, he no longer saw several perfect, pearly white rectangles, but now saw several perfect, pearly white fangs, and where her legs had been, there was the most elegant tail he'd ever seen on a mermaid. It was blue and purple with green spots down the sides, ending in a beautiful, exotic, pacific blue fin. He barely had time to react when she pushed him back, embracing her as she fell onto him. Wrapping her hands behind his head, she pulled him close as their lips met for the first time.

OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

1. "Where is the amulet?"

2. ""The amulet, where is it?"

3. "It's a replacement. Sam, I've decided to see your world for myself."

4. "Pardon me, miss, but can I help you?"

A/N: Daniel has always had those features described in this chapter, they're not part of the Transformation.