Hi everyone. There will (unfortunately) be news at the bottom of this chapter. It is very important for you to read it and the reason why I'm having it at the bottom is so you won't forget about it after you read the chapter. Please enjoy.


Chapter 45: The Wilting Rose

-Pearl Waters-

Coco was not doing too well... Mentally. As a matter of fact, she feels at a fault again. Despite her friends assures that she was not to blame, the Yellow Mermaid Princess kept on blaming herself for being a terrible friend. The result is because they have searched for Julie all night and this morning and there is still no sign of her.

"Coco, it wasn't your fault." Lucia comfort her.

"She's right, Coco-san. You couldn't have handle the situation, even if you want to." Hippo agreed.

"It's my fault! It should have been me! I should be the one who got that bite, not Julie!" Coco protest. As she looked down, she muttered, "I should be the one to suffer, not Julie."

"Coco, if you were the victim, you would have gotten all your memories stolen and they could turn you against us. Julie wouldn't want that." Hanon counters.

"I know, but still... She still had to deal with that stupid vampire." Coco retaliate.

"But-" Lucia was about to say something when she is stopped by Nikora.

The purple haired woman just shook her head and gestures the other Princesses to leave Coco alone for a while. The living room was almost empty. The only one who didn't leave was the Orange Mermaid Princess.

"Coco." Seira spoke up. When she didn't respond, Seira sat next to her friend. "Are you acting this way because you are reliving the feeling of guilt?"

"What are you talking about?" Coco questioned. She didn't know why she asked since she knows the answer.

"I know because I am Sara's successor. You felt that you've failed at being a good friend with Julie just like you failed to help Sara when she was suffering, am I right?" Seira asked.

"When she sacrifice herself for me, I saw a piece of myself in her eyes. That look of uncertainty and belief that everything will be okay." Coco spoke.

"Everything will be fine. After all, when Sara was suffering, even though you couldn't do anything about it, you stayed by her side. The same will be with Julie." Seira comforted her friend.

"We were suppose to find my love one. I still don't even know his name." Coco replied.

"We'll find him again and when we do, he'll love you and accepts you as a mermaid." Seira assures her.

"I hope that Takumi will realize who you are too." Coco gave a small smile.

'Julie is amazing. She is everyone's sisters. She's childhood friends to Miyuki and Akari, sisters to Lucia and Sakura, and sisterly friends to me, Coco, Rina, Hanon, Karen, and Noel.' Seira thought.

-Sea Cave-

In the sea cave, the Sea Witch was trying to locate the Red Mermaid Princess.

"I don't understand. I first saw her shine when she suddenly disappeared. It's like she's gone from the face of the earth!" Shika muttered in confusion and frustration. She looked up to see she has company. "You have failed?"

Lady Bat appeared to replied, "I was close, if the others didn't have come."

Shika noticed that Lady Bat didn't look so well. He looked rather ill. A smile spread on her face.

"Ah, I see that you have drink her blood. How unfortunate... For you." Shika sneered

"What is happening? What is this?!" Lady Bat questioned. He feel like he has drank poison. His throat is thirsty, his heart beats too fast, and his body feels like it's burning in hot flames.

"You are feeling the effects of her blood. Although her powers are quite tempting, it is actually bittersweet, tasting sweet with a later bitterness in the end." Shika explained.

"Why? It was so good before." the vampire questioned, feeling extreme pain throughout his body.

"That is because she is not who you think she is. She is cursed as a werewolf in her past life, her curse follows her after she was reborn as a mermaid. And you, as a vampire, made the foolish choice in drinking werewolf blood. Her blood serves as a double edge sword... But it's probably towards you only." Shika finished explained. "That is why you should receive her powers indirectly though me and not directly though her blood."

"Why do you want her so badly?" Lady Bat asked.

"She is like her name from her past life. Beautiful, yet dangerous... Like the rose. A beauty like that deserves to be mine." Shika answered. "I suggest that you stay rested for a couple of days. You'll continue to feel the effects until her blood is out of your body. As for Julie... Her body as of now is heavily drained from all of her strength. I'll find her eventually."

-Ocean-

Julie was trying to rest as Taiyo takes her to the Underwater Temple of the Red Mermaids. Back when the red mermaids rule the North Pacific Ocean, a temple was built by the people. It was built for the awakening of the Red Princess. However, because many previous Red Mermaid Princesses would not accept her fate as the successor of Terra Elaina, the temple was never used. That is, until now.

"Taiyo, are we there? I can't take it anymore." she spoke quietly.

"We're almost there. That vampire meant to steal your memories though your blood. However, because you have been fighting against it, your body feels extreme tiredness. Tomorrow night, you'll be free from the suffering you have dealt with." Taiyo replied. "The location of the temple isn't far. You're special, Julie. Like Lucia, it seemed that you are destined for something greater."

Julie understood very well what he meant by "destined". He means that she was meant to be a successor of a Goddess, but which one? In all in the secret archive in the royal library, Julie remembered a book she used to read. There were three Goddesses: one rule the sea, another rule the earth, and the last rule over the fairy world. Julie represents all three worlds from her origin. The ocean as a mermaid, the earth as Princess Rose, and the fairy world with her connection with flowers. However, Lucia is destined to officially become the new Sea Goddess on her 18th birthday.

The selkie doesn't even know which world his princess will rule. Since the ocean is taken, Julie can rule either the Earth, for it is the ocean's opposite or the fairy world, a magically land where one's power is connected to all of nature. Both worlds are nature-based, but Julie's powers are flower related. They say that fairies are given the power over a certain type of flowers. So who knows...

-Pearl Waters-

Lucia was worried. They still haven't found Julie yet.

"Lucia." The girl turned to see her boyfriend. She gave him a sad smile before returning her gaze to the blue sea. "I'm sure she'll be okay."

"How can you be so sure, Kaito?" Lucia questioned.

"Because I know your sister is strong. She wouldn't let a little thing stop her." Kaito reassures her.

Lucia was still unsure. However, she wanted to thank Kaito for the assurance. But how? She knows why. She gave him a kiss.

"Thank you, Kaito." she replied.

She gave him another kiss, but it was cut short by the sound of... Wilting? She looked at a vase full of roses on a table. However, the red color of the roses started to turn grey. First the roses dried up and then it started to wilt.

'What's happening?' Lucia thought in worried.

"Lucia, come quick!" Hanon exclaimed from the living room.

"Why? What's wrong?" Lucia asked.

Hanon didn't say anything, but gesture her to come inside. The couple went inside to join all the Mermaid Princesses, Nikora, and Hippo as they watched the news.

"Attention. Wide news report." a reporter replied in the microphone.

"All of a sudden, despite it is the end of Winter Break in Tokyo, many roses in other region are starting to wilt at rapid speed." a male reporter explained.

"This strange phenomenon occurred yesterday when many rose bushes started to wilt. It first started in one country, but now it started to spread throughout the world!"

"Just what is going on?" Rina questioned as Lucia became worried even more.

She quietly muttered out her sister's name:

"Julie."


I hope you enjoy this chapter. As I said above before the story, I have a message that you have to read. I am sorry to say this (especially because of this chapter), but I am starting to lose interest in writing this story. And whenever I'm losing interest, I write less fun, short (and non-making sense) chapters. However, at the same time, I don't want to end it here. Therefore, I am going to take a really long break on all Mermaid Melody so that I can rebuild on my interest for this story, other MM stories, and possibly future stories as well. Until then, feel free to read any of my stories that might be of interest. See you all some day...