Disclaimer: I don't own Mermaid Melody or any of it's characters. but you already knew that right?

EARTH & OCEAN
Chapter Two: A Fateful Meeting

Salt water splashed happily against a set of jagged rocks that shot out of the ocean near white beach. A blond head popped out of the crystal clear water next to the sharp rocks, taking a deep gulp of the sea air. Th young girl with bright blue eyes scanned the silent beach as she held onto a bag made of seaweed in one hand and the side of the rocks with the other. After being satisfied that no one was on the shoreline and spoted a large group of weather worn rocks stacked in a pile sitting on the beach, she dived back into the water. A pink fishtail fallowed her as she quickly swam to the beach. The young mermaid loved to swim fast, she always had ever since she was a young mermaid. Once her abdomen touched the bone white sand, she tightened the bag around her neck and started to drag herself up onto land. She dug her delecite fingers and elbows as she pulled her self to the blunt rocks and couldn't help but feel glad that it wasn't too far away from the water. She reached the rocks and and leaned her back on it, taking big deep breaths. once her lungs started to need less air, the blond mermaid untied the seaweed bag from her neck and opened it. The bright sun started to dry her fin as she pulled out a dripping wet white and pink dress from the bag and layed it out on the sand next to her. She let out a sigh as the her drying fin started to tingle like a limb that had fallen alseep and closed her eyes. While her fin dried more and more, she cringed from the pain her bottom half was now creating and bit her lip as suddenly, there was a sharp tug at the center of her tail. There was a pop sound and the blond girl looked down at the bottom half of her body. Instead of the pink fin she was used to, she saw a pair of bare legs and feet. She couldn't help but gingerly touched her left leg in aw. the skin felt like her upper arms or stomach, but the blond felt acward not seeing her fin. She sat that way for a moment until she decided to stand up. The blond gripped the rock where a small ledge was created above her head and pulled herself up. Her new legs shook as she steaded herself against the bolders until her body became acustomed to the strange movement of standing. She bent over and picked up the now dry piece of clothing and pulled the tank top style dress over her head. Once she was dressed, she pulled two ribbons from her pocket and tied her ankle long blond hair into high ponytails. She then pulled out a pair of sandles from the bag and started to tie them onto her new feet, glad that tehy were currently dry as well. Now that she was ready, the mermaid let go of the rock and took a step away from the ocean. Her body tumbled foreward and landed with a thunk on the sand. She brought her head out of the beach and spat out a handfull of sand before she stood up once more. The girl took another step and sighed when she did not fall again. The mermaid took another step, and another until she had circled the cluster of bolders on the beach. Once satisfied with her walking ability, she then slowly walked off the beach and up to the village a short walk away. As soon as the mermaid entered it, the village surrounded her with new smells and sounds. Everywher she looked she could see small houses made out of wood with thatch roofs and small stalls selling merchandise, food and customers. Off in the distance the blond could see a black castle as if it was made out of volcanic rock with sharp points that resembled the crags she found near the beach jetting out of the ocean. The blond girl continued her walk through the village until she saw a young girl of maybe six or seven with corncob colored blond hair and brown eyes trip next to the apple cart. There was a crash sound as the girl grabbed the cart for balance and it tipped over with her, spilling red apples everywhere. The mermaid ran to the mess and grabbed the girl's wrists while the vender started to pick up the fruit unhappily. She started to pull the girl out from the cart, but lost her footing and fell backwards onto her bottom. The young girl screamed as she was suddenly yanked from under the cart with the force of the trip and landed on top of the blond mermaid. The two looked at each other for a brief second before they burst out laughing at themselves. The girls continued to laugh for a few moments until they needed air and helped each other up.

"I'm so sorry mister!" said the young girl with the corncob colored hair to the vender between giggles. the blond girl nodded in agreement and the two started to pick up the fruit from the street. They skipped the ones that were either bruised or smashed by someone that passed by and handed their armloads of apples to the vender. he grunted a thank you and pushed his cart away from the two girls.

"Thank you for helping me." said the young girl as soon as the cart and it's vender were out of sight. "My name is Coco."

"My name is Lucia...and it was no trouble at all." said the blond mermaid in disguise. Coco smiled at her and said "That's an awefully pretty name. I wish mine was like yours."

"But Coco is so pretty as well. It makes me think of chocolate!" said Lucia with a smile of her own. the corncob blond girl giggled and said "Are you from the village?" Lucia thought for a moment. He mind raced at what to answer-should she say yes? or say no?

"No, i'm from another village and am just visiting today." she anwered once her mind calmed down with a shake of her head. Coco grabbed the much taller girl's hand and said "In that case." she dug around her dress's pocket with her free hand until she found what she was looking for, saying "Ah!" at it's discovery. She pulled out a small white envolope and placed it in Lucia's hand that she held with hers.

"Let me give you this: it's an invitation to my brother Kaito's birthday party tonight." As soon as the younger girl released her hand, Lucia held up the letter and said "Thank you Coco, but why would you want to invite me?"

"Because I want the person who helped me have fun on her one night in the village. Also, My brother Kaito just had his heart broken and I think you two can become good friends." Lucia let a small smile cross her face as she put the envolope in her own dress pocket and said "I see. Well then, when is it?" Coco let her childlike features show how happy she was as she answered with joy "At sundown in the village's square. It's a masquerade party so don't forget to wear a mask!" the young girl started to run towards the castle off in the distance and she called back "I'll see you then Lucia!" The two waved and Lucia watched as the small girl disappeared in the distance. She turned to the village once again and started looking at the shops. 'now, where am I going to find a mask?'

The sun slowly lowered west behind the dark onix castle, turning it into a siluette against the orange and pink sky. Lucia figited her hands around her white mask with lace dangling from one side as she slowly fallowed the crowd of villagers. Everyone were wearing some form of masks so as the group started to file through the small opening between buildings into the square, two armed guards checked everyone for invitations. Once Lucia saw this, she quickly put on the mask that covered up only her eyes and the top of her nose while fishing the white envolope from her dress pocket. When it was the blond girl's turn, she was checked, the huseled into the square to let more people in like an obedent sheep. The square was just a large area where the ground was made of brick and a fountain with a miniture castle in the center stood in the middle of the courtyard. Lights and paper lanterns were hung above the party goers and an orchestra was in front of the fountain. A large group of people were dancing near the fountain and a table full of food and drinks was pushed off to the side. This is where Lucia walked over and grabbed a glass of red punch.

"HAPPY 18TH BIRTHDAY KAITO!" the crowd all chanted in unison. there was a cheer and the music started up again as people partnered up. Lucia finished off her drink and thought 'So he's only two years older than me...' as her name was called over the crowd. The blond turned around to see Coco in a full face mask and a fancy yellow party dress running towards her. When she finally reached Lucia, she was out of breath and sucking in big gulps of air.

"I'm glad...you came...Lucia!" she said with breaths between ever couple of words. The blond couldn't help but smile at the young girl. She made Lucia feel like an older sister instead of the youngest like back at her home. Once Coco's breathing slowed down to normal, Lucia said "Thank you for inviting me." Coco reached up and grabbed the blond's wrist, then started to pull her through the throng of people at the party.

"Come with me. I wantcha to meet Kaito." she said with a smile. The young girl dragged Lucia across the square and through the slightly annoied people until they reached the rim of spectators of the ones danceing. Coco pointed to a young man in the center and said "That's my brother." He was tall, wearing a simple prince-like uniform and a mask that covered his full face. His hair was sort of a brownish rust color and his eyes were the most prettist brown Lucia had ever seen. The music slowed to a stop and the dancers took a bow while the spectators apploded. The pairs seperated as the orchestra took a quick break and Coco waved for her brother. He spotted her and walked over to the two girls, smiling all the way.

"Hello girls. Coco, who's your friend?" Kaito said as soon as he reached the two.

"Kaito, this is Lucia. She's the one who helped me earlier with the apple cart." answered Coco with happiness. Kaito never took his eyes off of Lucia through the answer. He nodded and said "Oh yes, Coco told me about you. But she never said that you were so pretty." the blond felt her face burn as the music started up again. Kaito took her hand gently and said "May I have this dance Lucia?" the blond could only nod as he lead her to the center of the dancing couples. As they starte to move their feet, Lucia found her voice once again whispered "Um, I want to warn you, I'm not very good on my feet." Kaito let out a light chuckle and smiled.

"That's all right. If you start to fall, I'll catch you." They continued to dance, with Lucia keeping her eyes on her feet until the music stopped once again. By this time, the sky was navy blue.

"You did well for someone who's not good on their feet." Said Kaito with a smile as he walked her back to the rim of spectators. Lucia felt her cheeks heat up even more as she said "Thiank you. You are a great dancer." her mouth felt like someone shoved cotton into her mouth and the fibers had sucked out all of the moister from the inside. She looked up at the dark sky and gasped as Coco walked up to them.

"What's wrong?" asked the young girl. Lucia let go of Kaito's hand and said "I'd better get back. My dad's gonna be very mad."

"I'll walk you." Kaito offered but Lucia shook her head.

"That's okay. I'll be fine as long as I'm not late. It was nice meeting you two." she started to walk back into the crowd where she would be lost from the two, but the young man grabbed her wrist, stopping her in her tracks. She looked at him with questioning look as he said "Lucia, before you go, can you please take off your mask?" She watched as the young man removed his mask, revealing a face as beatuiful as his eyes in Lucia's book and said "Your turn." Lucia just smiled as she removed the white eye mask with her free hand. She knew her eyes must have reflected off of the lights because Kaito gasped, making her smile more.

"Happy Birthday Kaito." She said, then tried to walk away, but the young man just gripped her wrist tighter. She forced a slightly anoyed sigh down as Kaito said "Wait, can I see you again tomorrow?"

"I can't. I'm not allowed out of my house except on the one day breaks for the war."

"Then I'll meet you next week, here at noon." He leaned in and kissed Lucia's cheek lightly before letting go of her hand. The blond just stood there for a second, stunned before she quickly left Kaito and Coco, her face all red.