Ocean's Path: Door with the Seashell

Key:

"": Speaking

(): Thoughts

*Alakazam!*: Spell Incantation

/Hello, Readers\: Magic Book Speaking

Chapter 1

I walked calmly towards the door with the Seashell on it. I opened it and stepped through, the door closing behind me, sealing my path.

I blinked and squinted in the bright sun, holding a hand over my eyes. Looking out, I saw the white beach and vast, blue sea and sky as far as the eye could see. The ample smell of the salt water on the soft wind tickled my nose. It was gorgeous!

Taking a quick look behind me, I saw that the door that brought me here seemed to have disappeared. "Just as I expected. The door is gone. Let's get started!' I pulled out my Magic Book. '*Ut mihi non loquaris Magicae Libro!*"

The book flew open, stopped on an empty page as silver mist rose from it forming words. /Hello, this is the Magic Book's customer service representative. How may I help you?\

I rolled my eyes. "Knock it off! Anyway, give me the details."

/Well, as you know, Magic Doors disappear once closed in order to prevent misuse. There are two options you have. One: You wait a hundred more years till you are powerful enough and had more training, but I doubt you'll want that.\ I growled out a 'If you didn't, I'll call you crazy!'. /So that leaves the second option: Pray for people's happiness, fulfill their wishes and grow as an Enchantress.\

I sighed. "Alright. But I have to continue my training. Don't make me mess up, it could prove fatal."

/Fair enough. I'll not mess with your training, but I'll withhold anything that's above and beyond your level at the moment. Remember, this is a test for you, to make you grow into a first-class Enchantress. Use your magic to make someone in this world happy. When you do, you'll pass the test, and the door will reappear.\

Closing the book and placing it in my bag, along with my broom and staff, I decided to have some fun. I took off my shoes, placed them in my bag before running along the beach. The feel sand beneath my feet was soothing. I laughed as I ran to the water and allowed a wave to knock me back.

Laughing again I started humming 'Part of Your World', just for the heck of it. I didn't sing it out loud. I don't sing out loud anymore. It's not because my voice is terrible. Grandmother had often commented that I could match the voice of the Mermaid Queen Ariel, a friend of hers she often visits. Her voice was said to be unmatched by anyone save her eldest son, who was named after the Sea if I remembered correctly.

The reason behind why I don't sing any longer is solely because of what happened before my life with Grandmother, back in Reality.

I looked up when I heard rumbling. In the distance I saw storm clouds. I guessed a storm must have happened not that long ago. "It's not coming this way, so why do I feel worried."

Looking around, I suddenly saw something that had washed ashore a mile or so away from where I stood. (I wonder what that is...?) Slowly, I walked towards it. When I saw the shape take the form of a human, I ran to him faster. I skidded to a stop about a yard away from the figure and blinked in shock.

"A Merman!?"

He was lying face-down so I couldn't see his face clearly but from his tanned, bare back, I could see he was well muscled. I heard him moan and ran closer, dropping to my knees beside him and turning him over.

Now I saw him better I saw I was right that he was muscled, he had an eight-pack! Golden bracers covered his upper arms and gold patterns, almost like tattoos, swirled around his shoulders and shoulder blades. He wore a golden choker with pearls and golden strings hanging down to the center of his chest. He wore a gold and ruby belt around his tail where his torso ended, and his tail ended. His tail was huge, long and covered in Silver scales that had a Sea Blue hue to them ending in a long split fin.

His face was diamond shaped with a sharp chin and nose. In place of his ears were fins that I guessed acted like ears. His hair was as blonde as dry sand, wavy like the sea and short. A circlet sat upon his head, his bangs over it, with a red gem hanging down to rest between his eyes. I wanted to see what color his eyes were so bad.

"He's still breathing! Good. He's so Handsome!" I pushed a strand of his bangs away from his face.

"Ugh... W-Water..."

I blinked before snapping to attention at what he said. Pulling my bag off my shoulder, I dug into it to find a cup. I rushed over to the ocean and gathered some of the water into my cup. Also using a bit of staffless magic, I pulled water up towards his tail changing where the tide touched land. When I was sure the water was going to keep rushing over his tail, I knelled by his head and cradled it as I placed the cup at his lips.

"Here." I slowly poured some water in his mouth and looking at him I forgot everything, including the vow I made not to sing aloud anymore. I softly sang to him.

"~What would I give to live where you are?

What would I pay to stay here beside you?

What would I do to see you smiling at me?

Where would we walk? Where would we run?

If we could stay all day in the sun,

Just you and me, then I could be

Part of Your World!~"

I didn't notice the rays of the sun signing down on us, framing me from behind. I did notice when his eyes slowly opened. His eyes were a beautiful Aquamarine color, and I couldn't help but be mesmerized by them. I blinked and blushed, pulling away as he slowly sat up looking around.

"Where am I...?" (Holy Seagulls! His voice is beautiful!)

I bit my lip and asked, "What's the last thing you remember?"

He looked at me with a small frown. "If I recall correctly... I came close to the beach because I wanted to see humans...' he said brushing back his wet hair. 'I had suddenly got caught in a storm and it washed me away!"

I looked in the direction I last heard and saw the storm clouds. "Well, it's gone now. Far to the North, if I'm not mistaken."

"You were the one who saved me then? The one whose beautiful signing voice I heard?" he asked .

I blushed and looked away but nodded. I was upset I had broken my vow.

"Then you have my thanks. Who are you?" he asked.

I looked back at him and smiled, inclining my head in greeting. "Enchantress Anneliese. Granddaughter and apprentice to..."

"An Enchantress? You?" he grimaced with a small scowl and suspicion in his eyes.

I raised an eyebrow with my own scowl. "In training. We are different from those Black Ones, Witches as some would call them. They are nothing but abusers to Magic! They twist and weave spells, rituals and potions so that they get what they want in the end and cause misery to others at the same time!' he seemed a bit taken aback at what I was saying. 'Enchantresses defend and grant wishes to those who are pure of heart. If we make a contract with someone, we make sure it's fulfilled and they gain True Happiness, even if we give up our lives in the process."

He looked at me sorrowfully. "Forgive me. Where did you come from?"

I blinked calming down a bit. "I accidentally came through one of the Magic Doors in my Grandmother's work room. Magic Doors are tricky things, and they disappear when closed to avoid misuse. Through curiosity I walked through the one that led here, and I can't return until I somehow help someone find their 'Happily Ever After' using my magic somehow."

Deciding to show him I was an Enchantress, I picked up some sand into my hand. Letting some slide through my fingers, I clenched my hand tight and muttered, "*Succenderetur palma florebit et in ungue adamantino vertite harena!*" My entire hand turned red, hissed with heat and when I opened my hand and released the spell, he gasped. For in my hand was a diamond that fit perfectly into my palm. I handed it to him, and he examined it in awe.

After a round of silence, he looked at me with apprising eyes. "You really are an Enchantress! Allow me to introduce myself. My name is Ocean. I'm the Eldest son of the Queen of the Sea."

I gasped. "The Queen? Her name wouldn't happen to be Ariel would it?' when he nodded I laughed. 'Well then, your Highness, allow me to reintroduce myself. Enchantress Anneliese, Granddaughter and Apprentice of the Enchantress Hime."

He gasped. "THE Enchantress Hime!? The woman who often visits Mother and helps her strengthen the protections around the palace?' At my nod, he laughed. 'Well, this is a pleasant surprise!"

I smiled but then it dropped into a small frown as I remembered I broke my vow.

Ocean's smile dropped. "What's wrong? Why the long face?' He peered into my face. 'You helped me, the Prince of the Sea. You should look happier. Is something bothering you?"

I shook my head. "No, I'm very happy you're alright, it's just... I broke the vow I made to never sing aloud again"

He looked at me shocked. "Never sing aloud again!? Why make a vow like that?"

I shuddered having a small, painful flashback. I gave a grim smile. "Let's just say it has to do with my Father."

He blinked in shock but didn't push it. "Other than that,' I said. 'I'm also worried about Grandmother and my friend Princess Marybell. What would they think when they find I've disappeared? I need to find someone I can make truly happy with my magic if I can ever return home."

"Who do you have in mind?"

I looked away a bit. "Well, I only got here not too long ago, and the only person I've met is you...' I turned to him. 'Um, would you let me make you happy?"

His eyes widened. "What's that, so suddenly...? You want to make me happy?"

"I can't do much, I'm still training. But little things at a time can work. And sometimes small things can become big, the more I work with my magic the more I will be able to do."

"Make me happy, huh..." he muttered with a frown. He crosses his arms and thinks. He then looks up at me. "You're an Enchantress, right?' I nodded slowly. 'In that case..."

Before he could say anything, I heard shouting from the direction of the forest that is opposite to the sea.

"Someone's coming! You need to go Ocean!" I scrambled up. I used my magic to bring the tide up further, so the water was to my lower chest. Ocean was submerged for a second, but then floated up, bringing his head above the water.

"Will you be alright?' he asked me worriedly. 'I can hear them calling your name."

Indeed, that was my name being called.

"Perhaps I took the place of someone with that name when I stepped through the door. If that's true, I'll play the Amnesia card and pretend I hit my head on a rock or something.' I shrugged before shooing him towards the Sea. 'But I rather you not get captured or anything! I'll try to return tomorrow if I can. Go!"

He gave me a worried look before nodding and diving under. A mile or so out, he popped up and waved. I waved back as my magic made the water return to the position it was in before and drying my clothes at the same time. I then schooled my face into a blank look and transformed my clothes to look like a simple dress, a bit ripped as if I fell down a rugged hill. I also used magic to give me a rather large cut and bruise on my left temple that was somewhat bleeding.

"Anneliese! So, you were here this whole time!"

I turned to see a tall man with pale skin and Grey hair. He was wearing a white suit with black and gold accents and a purple and black sash around his waist clasped with a turquoise gem. He wore white pants and black elegant boots on his feet. His mantle was elegantly white, and the inside was red and black with a high collar. He had narrowed black eyes and a circlet of gold rest on his head. He wore what looked like a silver headband around the back of his neck and the ends stopped by his ears. Attached to the ends were silver fins much like Oceans.

He ran over to me and placed his hands over my shoulders. "Anneliese, I've been looking for you. Please do not worry me so."

I looked at him blankly. "Anneliese. Is that my name? Do you know me?"

He looked at me in shock, also noticing the cut and bruise, before he turned to the second man accompanying him, a servant of some sort, and said, "Bring the coach."

The servant nodded, "Right away, sire!" and ran off. He then turned back to me with a look of worry.

"My name is Aster. What was the last thing you remember?"

I slowly blinked before looking at the ocean. "I... Woke up at the bottom of a cliff with my head pounding. Before that, nothing...' I looked up at him. 'Do you know me, sir? And why do you have fins for ears?"

He smiled sadly. "They are for decoration. Merpeople are the symbol of immortality. So, many people wear them as a charm for good health.' I blinked and nodded, understanding. 'You are Princess Anneliese of Kongerige vied Havet, the Kingdom by the Sea. Daughter of the former King."

"Former?" I asked tilting my head to the side.

"He... Was not the best father to you.' Aster replied looking at me sadly. 'I am ruling in his stead until you find a husband and ascend the throne. I was one of your Fathers friends, a King of a neighboring Kingdom, before I found out..."

He was interrupted by the coach arriving. "Come on, Anne. Let's get you home and into a warm bath."

He helped me into an elegant coach and went off. As the sun began to set, we arrived at a grand palace. I stared in awe. "Where are we...!?"

It was white and gold with lush green plants and flowers growing all around. "We have arrived at your residence, princess." Aster said.

I blinked at him and nodded. "I still don't remember anything."

He sighed and pulled me into a hug before kissing my forehead. "It's alright. Your memory will return in due time. Let's get you inside."

(I'm a princess in this world? What are they going to pop onto me next? A marriage proposal from Aster?)

Chapter 2: CLICK 9