I managed to pull my self ashore just as the sun dipped below the horizon. Digging through the sand, I produced a small plastic bag. In it was a change of clothes and my cell phone. Focusing on turning my tail into Bikini shorts, I hid myself under the pier. Fumbling around, I pulled out my cell phone and dialed Shannon's number. While it was ringing, it began to pull on my shorts, bra, and t-shirt. I never felt comfortable leaving my underwear on the beach. Conveniently for me, she answered just as I was pulling my shirt over my head. "Lily? I thought you were going to be in Thalassinia until the wedding." she said. "Yeah well I have to rescue Quince from Lemon Bars." I joked. "Lemon bars? I thought he loved your aunts Lemon Bars. And who is overseeing things there?" "Doe and another friend." "You left Doe in charge of your big day!" she cried. "Never mind that. Can you come and pick me up at the pier, I warm water not air. In other words it's cold." "Lily, It is ninety-eight degrees outside." "No I think I know what Ninety..." after that, everything went black. The last thing I heard was Shannon Cry my name before I was out cold

Note from Author

Hey guys, I am going to temporarily switch to Shannon's perspective. Hope you guys don't mind! Sincerely, GOLDENPEAK

I frantically hung up the phone, dropped it into my purse, and tore out of my driveway. Going as fast as I could, I dialed Quinces number. he answered on the the third ring. "Shannon, what is..." "Meet me at the pier, Something's wrong with... Oh my God LILY!" I hung up the phone. And slid in the nearest parking spot. Charging across the sand, I ran towards my best friends limp body. I shook her, tears streaming down my face. No later had a checked to see if it was safe to call an ambulance, I heard a motorcycle skid in next to my car. I heard Quince call my name, and I yelled "She's over here!" He was running so fast I had a hard time keeping track of where he was. Within moments, he was on his knees with her head in his lap. "Call an ambulance!" he cried. I have never seen him in such a state. He looked so vulnerable. "We can't do that" I stated, trying to sound calm "she is still in her bikini shorts". Trying to stay collected, I said "I will call her Aunt, you need to write a letter to her father and Doe. Tell them all that we know, don't leave anything out, okay? Signal to the gull that it is urgent. From there he will take it to the king's office, where the letter will be instantly transferred to the king. it should not take more than five minutes. NOW GO!"

With that he gently laid her head back down in the sand, and took off down the beach. Within fifteen minutes, royal guards started to emerge from the water, where they assessed the situation. Doe came charging across the sand, and she cried "Don't just stand there, do something!" "We have to wait for her father" No sooner had that been said when two older looking guards charged forward, picked her up and carried her to the water." It was another two hours of fretting and sobbing for me, and in that same time Quince would let nobody touch her but her Aunt and I. Finally, the water started to foam, and the King emerged looking disheveled and frantic. When the guards started to bow, he snapped. "This is no time for that nonsense you idiots! Why have none of you moved?" "We were waiting on your orders sir" "Obviously those two have been arguing with the lot of you for the two hours it took me to get here. Get my daughter in the water, and take her home. NOW!" "Yes Sir, they said in Unison.

Quince stood up, picked up his fiance and carried her to the water. Changing into his new black tail, he dove under. Her father looked on without protest. The rest followed suit. I had no time and no way to follow them. I was human after all, and as much as her Aunt and I wanted to go with them, we couldn't.