Hi everyone. I feel so accomplish, two great chapters in one day. I hope you are excited because Nagisa will find out and the chapter after this one, group adventure! This chapter will be Hanon-centric. Anyway, enjoy.
Chapter 13: Love of the Aqua Princess
-Lucia's Room-
It's been one week and three days since Coco, Karen, and Noel have left, the bath house seemed a bit... Deserted. However, that won't stop the girls from saving the Red, White, and Black Mermaid Princesses. In the morning, Seira give Lucia back Julie's pearl.
Lucia is in her room, rereading the two diary entries over again. The fifth says:
Dear Lucia, 2000
I have so much to say about this month! I get to see the warm sun and starry sky for the first time! I manage to save a boy from drowning. He know who I am because we introduce ourselves, I was in my mermaid form at that time. The next day, I meet him in my human form (having human legs are a bit strange). We spent most of the month together and I had a really fun time.
Love,
Julie
She then reads entry number six:
Dear Lucia, 2000
Remember the boy I told you about? H-he and I did not meet on the last day of the month. I told him I would wait for him at night but he never came. I feel… Empty inside. I even asked Taiyo if we can wait a little longer but he said we can't, so we traveled to a place called Germany to find what we came here for. I know what I have to find now but I can't tell you, sorry. During my travel to Germany, we went to South Korea where I visit the Kingdom of Reina. I met two other mermaid princesses who are forgotten just like me! The king told me that they were not themselves for centuries. When I broke their trance-like state for a short time, they were very sweet and kind. However, when I left, I received news from the king that they reverted back to their trance-like selves again. I plan for one day to come back so I can help the two. Those sisters have suffered for a very long time because of their immortal lives... Much more than me.
Love,
Julie
Lucia was bothered by the sixth entry. The first half seemed like Julie was heartbroken just by the way she described it. Then the second half didn't make much sense. But it did give her some information. The location of the White and Black Mermaid Princesses. She closed the diary and plan to read the seventh one later. She left her room and closed the door.
-Sea-
In the sea, Hanon is sitting on a rock, splashing her tail in the water in frustration. Today, November 15 is Nagisa's birthday and she doesn't know what to get him. She sighs in stress as she gives up until she heard a voice.
"It's you again!"
Hanon turned to see her boyfriend. He is in the water, waist-deep, and he is shock to see his mermaid again.
"Nagisa!" Hanon exclaimed in surprised until she realized what she just said.
"Eh? How do you know my name?" Nagisa asked.
"Uh, um... Your friend, Hanon told me." Hanon gave an excuse.
"She did?" he questioned.
"Yeah, she did. She also told me that today is your birthday." Hanon replied. There was a quiet moment when Hanon spoke up, "B-because it is your birthday, is there something you would like?"
"Let me think..." Hanon waited for his answer anxiously. "I would like to go to the amusement park!" he suggest as Hanon sweat drop at the idea.
"Is that a bit too much and beside, doesn't that cost a lot of money?" Hanon questioned.
"Maybe but it's worth it if Hanon comes along with me." he expand his answer.
"Eh?"
"The truth is, I've been planing for this idea since my date with Hanon. I thought if I can make her smile and happy, then it'll be enough for me." Nagisa explain.
"Nagisa..." Hanon trailed off.
"But if you really insist on getting me a present, then maybe some shells from the ocean. I've really would like to have on oyster shell though because a pearl inside would remind me a lot of Hanon." Nagisa explain.
"Okay!" Hanon exclaimed in excitement as she dives into the water.
"But wait-" he was too late to stop her. "I was going to asked what's your name..."
-Sea Cave-
On her throne, Shika was looking at her three servants with disappointment. She has revived them and they gave her nothing but failure. However, she's not the type to judge, she have given them chances but maybe she should start changing the rules. However, the time to do that is not now for she has to get the Mermaid Princesses, especially Julie.
"Today, I want you to try something a bit different. I want you all to trap one of those mermaids. So long that they aren't in danger, their pearls won't call for the other. Once you trap one, trap the others, and then you scoop them up all in one catch." Shika explained.
"Hai, Shika-sama!" the winged demons obeyed in unison.
"You shall start with the Aqua Mermaid Princess." Shika ordered. "Now go!"
-Ocean-
In the ocean, Hanon is searching for many shells as she can, but not just any shell. She was looking for the pretties one or ones that are unique and also an oyster that could contain a pearl.
'I wonder what Nagisa would do with all of these though and with the pearl.' Hanon thought as she found a beautiful cream shell.
The winged demons found her, but they didn't make a move on her... Yet.
"Why aren't we capturing her?" Lanhua asked, getting impatient.
"Because if we do, the others will help." Lady Bat reminded her.
"Aw, but I can't wait forever! I want to beat my rival!" Alala whined.
"We have to know what she is doing." Lady Bat insist.
"It appears that our friends is looking for shells..." Lanhua notice.
Lady Bat sent one of his bats to spy on Hanon. They waited until the bat returned to its owner. The bat made some squeaking sound.
"Well? What did it say?" Lanhua questioned.
"He said that the Mermaid Princess is looking for an oyster shell so she can get a pearl." Lady Bat answered.
"Why would she wants a pearl when she already has her own?" Alala asked.
"Who cares why she wants it!" Lady Bat snapped. "Now that we know what she wants, let's go set our trap."
"Yeah." the others agree.
-Hollow Cave-
Hanon continued to search for an oyster when something caught her eye. Something was shining from a distance. Out of curiosity and interest, she swim towards it. She enters the hollow cave to find an oyster shell with a creamy pearl inside. However, when she hold it, the cave entrance started to cave in, trapping her inside.
Hanon swim to the entrance to try to move the rocks, but it's no use. The rocks were to heavy. She place her ears to the large boulders to heard talking from the other side. She couldn't tell the voices, but she know that they are on the other side. She started banging on the rocks.
"Hello? Anyone? I need help!" Hanon yelled.
From the outside, the three winged demons can hear Hanon's scream and distress.
"My, my, my, don't we have an excited princess?" Alala comments.
"An ugly princess." Lanhua corrected Alala.
"She's very annoying, that's why she's my least favorite." Lady Bat sighs. However, it was still on caught princess.
"What should we do now? I didn't think we get this far." Lanhua asked.
"We can either wait for the others to come or just look for them." Alala suggested.
"I prefer they coming to us instead of us going to them." Lanhua replied.
"Good idea and we can keep watch so this one doesn't escape." Lady Bat added.
Hanon continued to search frantically for a way out. There were no other exit so she looked at the top. There was a hole at the ceiling, but she wasn't sure if it's wide enough for her to escape. However, she tried. When she got to the top, she can only stick her arms out. In other words, the hole is not wide enough.
"What am I going to do?" Hanon asked herself.
-Pearl Waters-
On land, Nagisa went to Pearl Waters to see if Hanon was there. When he got there, he saw Lucia.
"Oh Nagisa." she started.
"Have you seen Hanon?" he asked.
"No, she left a while ago and she hasn't come back. Why? What's wrong?" Lucia questioned in concern.
"No, it's nothing. If Hanon does return, make sure you tell me!" Nagisa told Lucia as he runs to find her.
"Ah, wait Nagisa!" Lucia tries to stop him with no prevail.
"Lucia, what's wrong?" Rina asked her.
"It's Hanon, she hasn't came back and Nagisa is searching for her!" Lucia exclaimed.
Rina put her hand on her chin, "But if Hanon is in danger, then our pearls would have lead us to her..."
"Rina, we have to look for her too!" Lucia insist.
"Right, I'll go get Seira." Rina replied.
"I'll go ahead, meet me in the ocean." Lucia told her as she left.
"Okay." Rina agrees.
-Beach-
Nagisa started to run to the beach, the sun was starting to set. He looked out in the water. For a second, he thought he saw a shine so he blink to see if he was seeing things. Nope, the shiny light is still there. His eyes then notice the cliff.
'If I get to the cliff, maybe I'll see what is making that light.' Nagisa figured as he started to run.
When he reached the cliff, he found out that the strange light is directly below him. So he jumped into the chilly waters.
-Ocean-
Once he's in the ocean, Nagisa started to swim. He was getting closer to the light when he saw a small hole. It was wide enough to put his hand through but instead, he looked in it. He then saw a pair of aquamarine eyes staring right back at him.
"Nagisa!" it was the aqua mermaid's voice who called to him. Nagisa want to speak but he couldn't. "Here." she gave him her aqua pendant. He looked at the necklace closely.
'It looks the same as Hanon's.' he noted.
"How did you get trapped in there?" he asked. He was surprised that he could breath.
"I don't know how, but when I went in, the entrance caved in." Hanon cried.
"Can you find any other way?" he questioned.
"No, I've search but I couldn't find any and this hole isn't big enough." Hanon started to panic.
"Why did you went in there in the first place?" Nagisa asked.
"I-I wanted to give you... Your birthday present." Hanon wasn't looking at him. She felt a bit ashamed of herself for acting recklessly.
"Don't worry, I'll get you out!" Nagisa assures her.
"Mm." Hanon nods her head. "Make sure you keep my necklace with you. It'll help you breath underwater." she advised him.
"Okay." he told her as he hold her hands.
"Ahh!" Hanon suddenly screamed as something grabbed on her tail.
"What's wrong?" Nagisa asked in slight panic.
"Something has grabbed my tail!" Hanon exclaimed as she is suddenly pulled away from Nagisa's hands.
A group of enchanted seaweed continued to pull Hanon down. Others started to tie itself, forming a cage, entrapping the princess. Hanon tried to struggle her way out, but it was useless.
"I'll come back for you! I promise!" she heard Nagisa voice from the small opening.
"Okay!"
-Land-
Back on land, Nagisa went back to the cliff. There was a boulder on the side of the cliff, if he can push it below the cave, it will surely widen the opening, no doubt. Unfortunately, it was too heavy to move. However, Nagisa didn't give up. He is not going to let his mermaid down.
"Come on. Come on." he told himself as he tries to move the large rock with no prevail.
The boulder started to move a little bit. He continue to push even harder when he felt it started to move a bit more. His hands started to hurt, but he didn't stop. He keep on pushing until he heard the rock started to move more and more. Finally, with one more push, he manage to get the boulder to fall directly below him. He then dived back into the water.
-Hollow Cave-
Hanon waited until she heard a large cracking sound. The boulder widening the small hole, crumbling into small pieces in the process. She then saw Nagisa swimming towards her. When he is getting closer, her eyes widen as a blast of energy knocked him out. Unfortunately, the blast was so strong, he dropped her necklace.
"Nagisa! Nagisa! Nagisa!" she cried as she called out his name.
"Aw, how sad. We were just waiting for your friends to come when we heard a loud sound. We wonder what could it be when it appears to be a stupid human helping out an ugly Mermaid Princess." Lanhua insulted both her and Nagisa.
"You know, I don't understand why that boy like you. He should like me instead!" Alala pouted.
"Even though your my least favorite, nobody steals you love, but me!" Lady Bat insist. "But it looks like you can't transform. You don't have your pearl with you." he picks up Hanon's pendant.
"Stop right there!" a voice shouted.
The three turned around to see Lucia and Seira.
"Well, well, if it isn't the Pink and Orange Mermaid Princesses." Alala replied cheerfully.
"It's nice to see you again, Seira. Did you missed us?" Lanhua asked as Seira became tensed. She was not really glad to see her enemies again. In fact, she was surprised that they haven't changed one bit despite Michel did.
Out of no where, Rina tackled Lady Bat, making him let go on the pendant. It landed next to Hanon as she tries to reach it. Despite the seaweed is retraining most of her movement, she stretched out her arm, reaching closer to her necklace.
"Got it!" Hanon exclaimed.
"For trapping our friend..." Lucia began.
"And hurting her boyfriend..." Rina added.
"We won't forgive you." Seira finished.
~Pink Pearl Voice!~
~Green Pearl Voice!~
~Orange Pearl Voice!~
Lucia and Rina transform to their idol form while Seira automatically transform into her super idol form.
"Pichi Pichi Voice Live Start!" they began to sing Perfect Harmony.
Arashi no umi ni utarete makesou na ima wo
Furiharae ai wo mitsumete kono mune ni
The winged demons started to scream as they covered their ears.
Tachiagaru yo nando demo yakusoku no tame ni
Shakunetsu no raito wo abite shibuki ga mau
The seaweed that trapped Hanon started to loosen its grip on her. She manage to break free.
Taiyou yori mo atsuku atsuku atsuku
Utagoe wa motto takaku takaku takaku
Ima koso, ima koso
Hanon put on her pendant around her neck and started to swim towards Nagisa. She immediately brought him to the surface.
Hageshii kodou afuredasu ai no MELODY
Takanaru kodou shinjitsu wa tatta hitotsu
Kumori no nai kagami ni utsushite
Tsutawaru kodou wakiagaru ai no chikara
Soshite umareru atsui pafekuto hamoni
"Love Shower Pitch!" they finished as their enemies scream. "Do you want an encore?"
"No!" Alala shouted!
"We would have caught all of you if you haven't surprised us!" Lady Bat yelled.
"Next time, I'll defeat you. Your beauty does not compare to mine!" Lanhua comments as the three of them retreat.
"Should we go check on Hanon?" Lucia asked.
"No, we should give them some privacy." Rina answered.
"Yeah, your right. Let's go home." Lucia suggested as the three agreed.
-Land-
On the sandy beach, Hanon laid Nagisa on his back. He started to stir. When he opened his eyes, he saw an image of Hanon collide with his mermaid. Their faces match, then he realized, they are the same person. He tries to get up but Hanon didn't let him.
"Don't strain yourself." she softly told him as she tries to leave to get some water.
Nagisa grabbed her wrist, "Hanon." he called her as he prevents her from leaving. Hanon stops as her face is looking away from him.
"Just now... What did you call me?" Hanon asked. The way how he just called out her name surprises her. Nagisa sat up and hugged Hanon from behind.
"Hanon," he repeated. "My mermaid." he added as her eyes widen in shock.
He turned her so his eyes can meet with her aquamarine eyes. They both close their eyelids as they lean and kiss.
'He did it. He is able to realized... That I'm the one.' Hanon thought as they both pulled away.
"Why have you never told me?" Nagisa asked.
"Haven't you ever read the story?" she asked, a bit irritated that he doesn't know because that could've been the reason why it took him too long.
"Well yes, but I didn't think that you would be a mermaid." Nagisa put his hand behind his head.
"Then do you still love me, even though I am a mermaid?" she asked, her face soften as her eyes are now replace with concern.
'Is he going to reject me because I hid the truth from him?' Hanon thought.
"I will always love you and I love even more now that I know your true self." Nagisa answered.
Hanon is surprised with his answer but most of all, she is happy. He have always love her, whenever she was a human or a mermaid. She hugged him tightly and then gives him another kiss.
"We should be going. The others are waiting." Hanon replied as she turned back into a human. "Oh, but before we do... Happy Birthday, Nagisa." she gave him all the shells she has collected and the oyster shell.
"Thank you Hanon, but knowing your secret is the best birthday present I ever have." Nagisa replied as he take her present.
Hanon giggled happily as they linked hands and walked to the bath house together.
-Pearl Waters-
When they entered, Lucia came towards them.
"Big news, Hanon. We-" she stops to notice Nagisa is with her. She then whispers to Hanon, "Does Nagisa knows?"
"I can hear you, you know. And yes I do know." Nagisa answer.
"Then come." Lucia told them as they enter the dining room.
-Dining Room-
In the dining room, Hanon notice that Karen, Noel, and Coco are back. Kaito is with them and so is Masahiro. Wait, Masahiro! When did that happen?
Lucia's pendant opened to reveal the Red Pearl next to her Pink Pearl. The Red Pearl shined as Julie's spirit appeared.
"Everyone, listen carefully. All of you must go to the Kingdom of Reina to rescue the White and Black Mermaid Princesses." Julie urgently tells them.
"But where is the Reina Kingdom located?" Noel asked.
"In South Korea. The pollen's source is at the kingdom. It's spreading much quicker than I thought. If the pollen isn't stopped in time, everyone will become really sick, even you Lucia." she explain as she disappears.
"You heard her, we have to go that kingdom." Karen spoke.
"When will we go?" Seira questioned.
"Tomorrow." Nikora suddenly came in.
"Ah, onee-chan!" Lucia called out Nikora.
"We cannot wait as the pollen spread. Many lives are at stake. You shall all go tomorrow and save the royal sisters of light and dark." Nikora told them. "Kaito, Masahiro, and Nagisa, I want you to go and protect them. Kaito, as the Panthalassa Prince, you won't have a problem protecting Lucia. Masahiro and Nagisa, don't feel inferior to Kaito. Your love and strength will be enough to protect the ones you love."
"Hai." they both replied.
"I will go too." Hippo volunteered.
"The penguin can talk!" Nagisa exclaimed.
"Is that the same Hippo?" Masahiro questioned.
"Of course I can talk and I am the same Hippo! You saw me in my human form, that's all." Hippo told the two humans.
"Then it's settled. Tomorrow, we'll go." Rina replied.
"Oh, I almost forgot." Noel pulled out a coral as Karen took her charm out.
"When did you get that?" Hanon asked.
"I got this coral when I entered the cave of knowledge. I've passed all it's test." Noel answered.
"And I receive this charm from Subaru when Alala showed off a couple of days ago. It was my courage that saved Subaru from that fairy." Karen told her. The two items shined along with Julie's pearl. "Six down, three more to go."
-Beach-
At night on the rocks, Seira was singing her song, Birth of Love. She hoped that Takumi would come.
Ai to yume ga hitotsu ni nari
Kanashii "ima" o hoshikuzu ni shite
Kureru kara shinjite..
Umareta koto hokori ni shite
Tsuyoku hikaru tenshi no you na
Manazashi o kumorasenai de
Kono chikara yume no tame ni
Kaseru nara umarete yukitai no
Ai ni naritai..
Takumi heard the melody and headed towards Seira until he found her.
"You came, I knew you would, Takumi." Seira smiled gentle at him.
"You want me to come?" he asked.
"Yes, you see... Tomorrow I have to leave. I have to save other Mermaid Princesses... Like me."
"When will you come back?" he asked in concern.
Seira smiled sadly, "I don't know." Takumi looked down at the sand. "However, when I do come back, you'll know. Goodbye, Takumi." Seira dives into the water as Takumi looked at the beautiful full white moon.
-Lucia's Room-
Lucia picks up Julie's dairy and read the seventh entry.
Dear Lucia, 2002
I'm sorry I can't be of much help despite me turning thirteen. I cannot surface again to save Akari and Yuki. Akari is the White Mermaid Princess, the older sister and Miyuki, Yuki for short, is the Black Mermaid Princess, the younger sister. I cannot even help you or the other Mermaid Princess fight against the rising Panthalassa….
I am being sought out by an enemy. In case if I get captured, know this- everywhere I go, there will be clues to help you.
Love,
Julie
I hope you have enjoyed this chapter. I didn't know when is Nagisa's birthday because there is no date, so I made it up myself. If you remember in episode 1, when Kaito had Lucia's pearl, he could breath underwater despite he was the Prince of the Sea. More depth into Aqua Regina's past will be further explain in chapter 14-16. Anyway, see you soon. Bye.
