Nexus: It's been a long time coming people. The last chapter is now here! I was almost going to do one more and instead decided to combine the two chapters into one chapter. There will still be the sequel, which I decided to name: In Trouble Once Again. Thank you to everyone who reviewed and helped me pick the name.
Lyla: And a special mention to PaperGirlInAPaperTown for the lovely long review :)
And a massive MASSIVE thank you to everyone who's ever reviewed, faved and followed this story and just gave me a little bit of encouragement to actually fully finish this story.
Nexus: And so, onto the final Chapter... And this one doesn't begin with 'The' for once!
Chapter 13: A New Life
On the other side of the portal, the group of six had stepped out into a long corridor, white being the predominant colour of the whole area. White columns, flowers, veils, floors.
"Aquata, what happened to our regular clothes?" Sirena asked as she looked down at herself and everyone else. All the females were suddenly wearing white dresses that came down to the knees at the front but fell down and dragged on the floor a little at the back, bare footed and adorned a white cloak with a hood. As for Zac, he too had a white cloak with a hood but it was a lot longer at almost full body length. His lower half was covered by a pair of baggy white trousers and he too was bare footed.
"This is how everyone in the Higher Council dresses," she responded as she pulled her hood over her head. "And put your hoods up and don't remove them until you are told to."
Everyone put their hoods up and Aquata began leading them down the long corridor. About 5 minutes later, they suddenly reached a large white door that stood 40ft tall.
Aquata knocked on the door, a voice asking. "Who is it?"
"Master, it's Aquata. I've brought the five just like you asked me to," she replied.
The doors opened up wide, a bright light stopping them from seeing whatever was now in front of them.
"Stay composed and don't ask too many questions," Aquata told everyone as she stepped through the door.
Stepping onto the other side, the whole completely white thing was still carrying on. At the back of the room, there was a single white throne with no steps leading up to it. Scattered around the room where roughly 30 mermaids, all wearing the same clothing as every other female, their hoods all up as well. Sat upon the throne though, was a man wearing the same clothing as Zac.
"Welcome," the man said as he stood up in his throne. "Zac, Lyla, Nixie and Sirena, you four were summoned here because of your actions during the last month and a half. I think there's a lot to discuss."
The man used his magic to create a portal in the middle of the room, one that showed clips from the present.
"A month and a half ago, your identity was revealed to two people, a human boy and a natural born," he began.
The man's opening words shock the group, but not Rita.
"Wait," Zac said. "David and Joe? One of them's a natural born?"
"Huh? I thought you all knew about the boy who Aquata's sister is interested in?" The man asked.
"Last time we checked David wasn't a natural born," Nixie retaliated. "Even so, David's on holiday."
The man could see that Aquata looked a little nervous. "Aquata? Is everything okay?"
"Well, you see master," Aquata stumbled out.
"Aquata you told me that you were on orders from your master to change the memories of us knowing that fact and that the HMC was now taking care of him!" Rita spoke up.
The man looked down to Aquata. "I gave you orders to change only the memories of David's friend and requested that none of these five were to have their memories changed so that they would be ready for this! Why did you change them?"
"Because I wanted to protect my sister," Aquata defended.
"Oh by changing my memories using Forbidden Memory Changing Powder to make me forget that David was a natural born? Aquata I love him, you can't just change my memories because you want to protect me or hide things from me. I'm a lot stronger and braver than I seem," Sirena explained to her sister.
"I'm sorry," Aquata said lowering her head in shame. "And I'm sorry to you too master."
"Alright we'll talk about David after we get through the first bit of our talk," the man said, regaining order.
"Even so, he'd revealed his identity to these two and not long after this, a Scientist by the name of Joanna Fischer caught Zac and kept him hostage at an Experiment Centre. She promised to let him go once all the test were done but after an incident out at sea, a Black Coral Sea Demon took control of her and kept Zac there for another two weeks. During this time, he was declared missing by the media. Yet you escaped due to a power boost from the Full Moon and ran into Evie, your girlfriend. You revealed yourself to her in return for her help and luckily she accepted. After further revealings to your parents, you came to Rita, Lyla, Nixie and Sirena for help. Rita agreed to train you all so that you would be ready for the Sea Demon. As well as your average mermaid powers, Rita also taught you a couple of merman powers like Shape Shifting and control over Elements. Though you picked up several skills on your own, Teleportation, Advanced Ice Magic, Water Travelling, Life Healing and most of all, a subconscious state called Override where your powers were increased tenfold for a limited amount of time, which is how you were able to defeat the Sea Demon in the end, and also how you healed and fixed Evie's bones with a little bit of magic from Sirena."
"We already know all of this, what is it leading up to?" Nixie asked impatiently.
"I'm curious as to how you managed to pull the wool over everyone's eyes, since we didn't watch you for a while after the fight," the man replied. "Care to explain?"
"Evie's father can pull strings and drew up papers to make it seem like I was on holiday too and that the form hadn't reached Rita at all, making everyone think that I had disappeared and was missing," Zac began.
"And Maya and me snuck out with more Memory Changing powder just to fix a few things up," Aquata finished.
"As for Joanna Fischer, the news stated that there had been some freak accident at EC42, stating that everyone who worked there had died, including one of my students sadly," Rita added.
"I'm sorry to hear that Rita," the man sympathised.
"Sorry to interrupt, but what about David?" Sirena asked nervously. "Is he okay?"
The man sighed. "Well my dear Sirena, we tried all we could with David but his natural born side put up quite the fight with us. I have some bad news as well, the final offering, it never came."
"What do you mean a final offering never came? Every natural born should be given one shouldn't they?" Rita asked in shock.
"I must admit, David was more that shaken at first when he learnt that in time, there was a chance he would become a merman. He always said that he would gladly except it if the final offering didn't come for some reason. We've had it happen before in the past but we didn't think that David would be unlucky," the man explained.
"So does this mean that David-?" Sirena began to ask, unable to finish her question though.
"Sirena, David is now the merman he was born to be," the man replied. "And he still doesn't know anything about you being a mermaid. Maybe it is time to tell him the truth."
Suddenly, a white portal appeared at the side of the throne and a young man stepped through, dressed the same way as Zac and the Master.
"Take off your hood," the man ordered. The young man took his hood down to reveal the curly haired boy that Sirena had fallen head over fins for.
"David?" Sirena instinctively called.
"Sirena?" David asked back.
Sirena took down took down her hood, a stream of tears beginning to flow down her face. "David!" She cried as she ran towards him and launched into a hug, which David gratefully welcomed.
After a minute or so, Sirena released her hold and took a step back.
"Sirena, what are you doing here?" David asked confused.
"Don't worry David, she was summoned by me," the master replied to him.
"Seiger? You brought her here just for me? But why?" David questioned.
The man was about to reply until Zac spoke up. "Seiger?"
The master took in a deep breath and sighed. "Guess there's no point in keeping the hoods on any more, take them off, everyone."
Within a few seconds, everyone pulled down their hoods to reveal who they really were.
"Zac, Lyla, Nixie, Miss Santos," David named off. "You were all summoned here too?"
"Yeah, we were," Nixie replied.
Zac couldn't stop staring at the man who was atop the throne, he didn't want to believe it a first but slowly came to realise that it was who he thought it was.
"Are you really, Seiger Blakely?" Zac asked.
Everyone suddenly stared at the man on the throne.
"Blakely?" Rita asked herself. "It couldn't be."
"But it is," the master said. "I am a Blakely, more importantly, I'm Zac's Grandad."
This caused a bit of a tension between everyone. The man was claiming to be Zac's Grandad as was nonetheless a merman as well.
"I- I thou- I thought you went missing when Dad was my age?" Zac asked, his face welling up with tears seeing a man who he thought was dead.
"I did in a sense. It's a long story boy," Seiger began. "When your dad was 10, he'd found out that I was a merman, a natural born one nonetheless. Your dad accepted that and life was fine, until he reached the age of 16. Much live David, Heira's ears had appeared, meaning your dad was going to become a merman if he accepted the final offering. When the time came, he didn't do it though. I understood why he didn't, he didn't want all the troubles that I had and didn't want anything to do with me in the end. Your dad left me two years later and married your mother. Since he left, the Higher Mermaid Council found me and took me in for a little while. During my stay, their last master died and they needed a new one. Normally, a mermaid would take place but no-one would stand up and take the position. I offered to do so, even though there was controversy over a merman ruling the Council, and a few days later, I found myself where I am now. Your Dad did come back to try and see me but by that time I was gone and no-one knew where I was so I was declared dead after another two years. And then many years later, you fell into the Mako Island Moon Pool and became a merman, Zac. And due to my new duties to the Council, I couldn't ever really go back to land, especially after being declared dead. And now, my grandson finally knows everything."
Seiger jumped down from his throne and landed on the floor with a decent thud noise. He spread his arms out for his grandson, Zac welcoming them and having a brief hug with his Grandad, which to him felt great.
"Dad may not wanted to have been a part of all of this, but after everything I've been through, I don't see why he didn't," Zac questioned.
"Your Dad was quite finicky back then and the last thing on his mind was becoming a mythical creature," Seiger explained.
"As touching as this all is, there's something I need to tell David," Sirena spoke up.
"What is it?" David asked.
Sirena turned to look David right in the eyes. "I'm sorry for lying to you for a while David. The truth is Lyla, Nixie and myself... are mermaids."
David didn't quite know how to respond to her words. "You're a mermaid?"
"Yeah, I am. And now, you're a merman," she replied with a smile. David returned the smile and entered another hug with her.
"Awe, all's well that ends well," Lyla said, putting her arms around Rita and Nixie.
"Actually, we're not done yet," Seiger announced. "There are two more issues at hand." He summoned another white portal next to the one that David had come out of. "Come on out."
Another male dressed in white stepped out of the portal, but he was in chains. He looked up to see a set of familiar faces.
"Zac, is that you?" The male asked.
"Wait, is that Cam's voice?" Zac asked looking at Seiger with confusion.
Maya took down the male's hood to reveal the supposedly "moved to America" Cam.
"Oh hey, took you long enough to find your way here," Cam joked.
Zac smiled at him for a moment before turning his attention to Nixie. "You said he moved to America."
"Well, he was about to, and then the Council took him in for questioning so that they could try and find your location. Seems they kept him here ever since," Nixie explained.
"Sorry for keeping you here for so long Cam," Seiger apologised.
"So why didn't you release me once you found out that he was safe?" Cam questioned.
"We figured it would be easier to return you to the human world once everything was back to normal," Seiger replied. He fired a shot of wind magic at Cam's chains, breaking them off of him.
"Careful with that stuff would ya?" Cam joked as he rubbed his wrists, then walking over to join Nixie. "Hey you."
"Hey to you too," Nixie replied with a smile. She didn't want to admit it but during her time on land, she'd fallen for the funny but slightly charming human boy.
"And now, the final issue," Seiger announced, looking at Zac. "We'd like you to work for the Higher Council, and to join the Mako Island Pod."
Zac was completely taken in this. "Me? Work for the HMC, and actually join a pod?"
"We've had words with the Mako Island pod, and after learning of your triumph over the Sea Demon, they all trust you, and have decided to let you join. The pod could use a strong protector. Lyla, Nixie and Sirena, your banishment from the pod is lifted as well as yours Rita, you may freely return and see the pod any time you wish. David had also been allowed to join," Seiger explained.
"Hang on, wouldn't David and Zac have to give up their lives on land for this? And what if we kinda don't just want to return to our lives at sea?" Lyla asked.
"If Zac is to work for us, then yes, he must give up the life he had on land. As for David, he would be allowed to stay on land, much like you three and your friend Rita, you may return freely yet still stay on land," Seiger replied.
"If I give up my normal life though, I'll never see my parents or Evie again, will I?" Zac asked with sadness in his voice.
"Not entirely. You'd live with the Mako Island Pod and work for us just like Aquata and Maya do. You'd still be allowed on land to see your parents. As for your girlfriend Evie though, we have a special invite for her. We would allow her to become a mermaid and come live with you."
"Woah, let another human become of us?" Nixie asked.
"If Zac wishes to work for us and live the Island's pod then yes, Evie is allowed to. Besides, bet you didn't actually know that your girlfriend is a natural born eh?" Seiger added, winking at Zac.
"No way. Evie's one too?" Zac asked in disbelief.
"Both Evie and David are one in the same. Remember how Evie's mother died, that's true but she was also a mermaid. The same one who was a surrogate mother for David, that's how both of them have mermaid genetics making them natural borns," Seiger explained. "I still need a final word on what everyone wishes to do with their lives. I will give you a minute or two to work out what you want to do with them."
"Rita, you wouldn't mind if I stayed on land with you, would you?" Lyla asked. "I've grown really curious about the human world, and I also don't want to leave you."
Rita smiled at her. "Any of you three are welcome to come see me any time, and yes Lyla, you can still stay with me." Lyla gave Rita a brief hug.
"Nixie, what about you?" Rita asked.
Nixie looked up to Cam. "You still have to move to America right?"
"Yeah, nothing can change that fact," Cam replied. "Though, you could always come with me?"
"Why would I want to come with you, land boy?" Nixie teased.
"Admit it, you love me really, fish-chick," Cam smirked.
He first received a punch on the arm from Nixie, followed by a smile and a big hug. "The punch was for calling me fish-chick, don't call me that again... but, you got me. I do love you Cam."
"David? What do you want to do?" Sirena asked him.
"Well, I'd prefer to stay on land but I don't mind," he replied.
"Would you mind if I stayed with you?" Sirena asked sweetly.
"As in, live with me?" David asked, getting a nod in response from Sirena. "I don't see why not."
"And what about you Zac?" Rita asked, everyone focusing their attention on him. He had the biggest decision to make out of everyone. Either remain on land and go back to a normal life and let Evie naturally become a mermaid, or live with the Mako Island Pod, have Evie join him, and work for the HMC?
"I'd like to come stay with the pod and bring Evie with me," he said confidently. "But only if Evie agrees to it."
Seiger smiled at his decision. "Then it is set. Evie is to come with you and be transformed into the mermaid she was born to be and live with the Mako Island pod, with you. But as you said, only if she agrees to it. Lyla, Nixie, Sirena, David, and Rita have made their minds up along with Cam being set free as well. With this sorted, this summoning is over and everyone may return home."
Seiger summoned another white portal to the right of him. "This should take you back to Rita's house."
Sirena and David were the first ones to leave, followed by Rita, Lyla, Nixie and Cam.
"Zac, you okay?" Rita asked as he looked reluctant to move.
"I'll see you soon hopefully Grandad," Zac said as he gave Seiger one more hug.
"I hope so too," he replied. "Now go, I'm pretty sure Evie will be wanting to hear about this." He ushered Zac out of the portal, really wishing that Zac would come and work for him. After all, Seiger only had another 5 years on the Council and then a new leader would be needed, a position he hopes Zac will fill.
- At Rita's place -
Everyone was now in Rita's Grotto, discussing what they would each do. Zac already stated that he would return home tonight and tell Evie everything the next day. Sirena was all ready to move in with David and Lyla would be staying with Rita for a while longer. Nixie and Cam called Cam's mum and dad in America, the two parents so very pleased to hear that Cam was safe. The two decided that they would leave next week for America, Nixie promising that she would swim out to see the pod when she could. Lyla, Rita, Nixie and Cam were all in the main part of the grotto, just enjoying talking to each other in general. Zac, Sirena and David were all in the water of the Ocean exit, with Zac teaching David a little bit of merman magic.
David, was a lot like Zac, he was really fast at picking up his new powers. He'd already mastered shape shifting and basic fire, air and lighting magic as well as the three kinesis water powers (hydro, hydro-cyro and hydro-thermo), telekinesis, levitation and invisibility.
By the time he had mastered some basic ice magic with Zac's help, it was time for everyone to leave. Zac decided to swim back home along with David and Sirena, after saying a quick goodbye to everyone else. Lyla would be sleeping upstairs and for the next few nights, Nixie would sleep upstairs too and Cam would sleep at Zac's house, since they had one spare bedroom in the main house.
- The next morning -
Zac woke up the joyful sound of someone knocking on his door, rather loudly. Instead of just getting up out of bed, he used his powers to open the door for whoever was knocking on it.
"Finally, I thought you'd never open your door," a voice said.
Zac immediately sat up once he recognised the voice.
"I need your help here Zac."
"Evie," Zac said obviously.
"What are these?" Evie asked him pointing to her ears. They'd become Heira's ears, but unlike David's, the fins were that copper/ orange shade.
"You might want to sit down, there's a lot to discuss after yesterday," Zac replied hopping out of bed and throwing some clothes on.
"I'll say," Evie remarked as she sat down on the sofa. "Where were you, Lyla, Nixie and Sirena yesterday? I know Principal Santos wasn't in but I didn't think you four would be off too. What happened? And just what the hell is up with my ears, do you know anything?"
"Okay, slow down," Zac said as he tried to calm Evie down, she seemed a bit panicky, especially after waking up and seeing her ears like they were.
"After the incident at EC42, the Higher Mermaid Council called for me and the girls to talk about what happened. It turned out that David didn't actually go on holiday," Zac began, being quickly interrupted by his girlfriend.
"But he specifically told us that he was doing so," Evie pointed out.
"Yep, that was because the Council have something called Memory Changing Powder which can edit, make or erase memories. Sirena's sister must have used some on you and also used some on us four, even though she wasn't supposed to. David's actually a natural born merman, he had a surrogate mother who was a mermaid." Zac left out that the fact that it was Evie's mother.
Evie didn't quite know how to react to this news. "So David, is like you now?"
"Yeah, he's currently going to stay on land and Sirena's going to move in with him," Zac replied. "Lyla's going to stay with Rita and Nixie's moving to America with Cam next week."
"And you're going to stay here right? You're not going to move anywhere are you?" Evie asked with hope. After looking at Zac's facial expression though, her's dropped. "Zac?"
"The Higher Mermaid Council wants me to work for them," Zac said in a slightly low sad tone.
"So?"
"I'm joining the Mako Island Pod, living my life out at sea," he finally replied after swallowing hard.
"I see," Evie said at first. "So you're just going to leave your life that you have here? Your friends? Your parents?" She paused. "Me?" She asked as tears began to well up in her eyes.
Zac wiped some of the tears from her eyes. "I'm not leaving you behind, you're coming with me," he smiled.
"But, I'm not a mermaid like Sirena or Nixie," Evie pointed out, drying her eyes. "So how's that going to work out?"
Zac rubbed her ears gently. "I learnt something whilst I was at the HMC yesterday. People who have ears like this, are natural born merpeople."
Evie froze up a little when Zac gave her this information. "Natural born?"
"When a mermaid or merman has a daughter or son on land, the mermaid genetics in their bodies are passed down. I'm not sure what age triggers them to awaken but when they do, they get ears like yours with either orange or blue fins. Give or take a week or so, the genetics grow stronger, so strong they can trigger a transformation without the need of a Moon Pool or the Full Moon, unlike me who did. There is a good chance that you get a final offering, and if you say no, you won't be able to become a merperson ever in your life again and all previous magical energy and genetics disappear, meaning if that person has children, the genetics of their grandparents wouldn't be carried down," Zac explained.
"So I- I'm a natural born mermaid?" Evie asked in disbelief, her face showing worry.
"Yeah, you're not too worried about it are you?" Zac asked in return.
Evie took a minute to calm down. "And if I accepted a final offering or it never came, I'd be a mermaid and I would come and live with you?"
"Yeah, that's what I was hoping to talk to you about today actually," Zac said honestly. "But I'll only move to the pod if you come with me." Evie's head shot up to look at Zac. "I'm not going to live my life out in the ocean if I can't have my girlfriend with me." He leaned towards her and brought her into a passionate kiss.
"And if I wasn't a natural born mermaid?" Evie asked curiously. "What would you have done then?"
"Gotten permission to turn you into one," Zac replied with a smile. "I'm not going to leave you behind, I really want you to come with me and live with me out in the Ocean, and just be free."
It was a lot to take in for Evie. It was hard enough to accept that Zac was a merman to begin with. It then became hard to accept that the three new girls in town were mermaids and that her school Principal was one as well. Now David was joining the ranks and Evie was going too very soon as well possibly whether she liked it or not? If this is what fate had in store for her, then she would go with the flow of it.
"I'll come stay with you then," she replied, a massive grin taking over on her face. She couldn't help but admit that she was actually really excited about all of it. Getting powers like Zac and living underwater with her amazing boyfriend.
"Seriously?" Zac asked, the same grin appearing on his face too.
"Seriously. If fate wants me to be a mermaid and to be one with you, then so be it," she replied, giving Zac another hug.
"If your mind is made up, then lets get to it," Zac said as he stood up off of the couch. Seiger had given him one last bit of magic before he left, the power to create portals to the Higher Mermaid Council. He waved his left hand in front of him, the familiar white portal appearing.
"And where does it lead to?" Evie asked.
"The Higher Mermaid Council," Zac replied, extending his arm to Evie pulling her up off of the couch. He clasped her hand tightly and walked with her through the portal back into the white corridor, appearing just in front of the humongous door.
"Zac? What happened to our clothes?" Evie asked, looking down at herself. She was dressed like all the other mermaids were earlier, white dress, barefooted, hood up.
"It's a thing for the council. Everyone mermaid or not always wears clothes like these," Zac explained. "And keep the hood up."
Zac knocked a few times on the door, Seiger answering, "Who is it?"
"Hey Grandad, I brought her for ya," Zac replied.
"Grandad?" Evie asked confused. "I thought you said your Grandad went missing when your dad was young?"
"Turns out Seiger's a natural born merman and when dad refused to become one, the Council took him in and appointed him their new leader," Zac explained as the double doors opened wide, Zac still holding Evie's hand.
"Ready?" He asked.
"Ready as I'll ever be," she replied, walking with him into the circular room.
Seiger was there to greet him with his hood already down. "Well, that didn't take very long did it. One day and here she is."
Zac took his hood down, Evie following in response to him doing do. "It's nice to finally meet you Seiger Blakely," Evie said, bowing to him a little.
"Oh please, just call me Seiger. And the pleasure is all mine dear Evie," he replied bowing in return. "I'm just glad my grandson can now share this world with me, and now, with you." He clicked his fingers and the roof of the room suddenly disappeared, a familiar glow filling the room.
"Moonlight," Zac stated obviously.
Within just a few second, Evie's ears began fading. She felt funny on the inside, as her inner matrix was being shifted. After the ears were gone, Seiger clicked his hand again, the roof re-appearing and the moonlight fading.
"The HMC have always had a massive supply of moonlight, for situations just like this. Congratulations Evie, you're now a mermaid," Seiger explained, nodding his head to her.
Evie grinned from ear to ear and walked over to Seiger, giving him a brief hug. "Thank you."
"Like I said, pleasure's all mine. Just enjoy your new life with my grandson."
Evie looked over her shoulder at him. "I will." She then broke the hug and returned to Zac's side.
"So, two weeks, I'll expect to see you here 9am sharp for your first job with us Zac," Seiger said, scrolling over to Evie. "As for you, mermaid school, same time."
"Mermaid school?" Evie asked confused.
"To learn your new powers, though Zac would be more than welcome to teach you a few," Seiger hinted.
Zac smiled at his Grandad, creating a portal to take him back home. "See you in two weeks then."
Seiger smiled back and watched as the happy couple left through the portal.
- Now back at Zac's place -
"Zac, where are you?" Rob called as he opened the door to Zac's pad.
"Maybe he went out for a bit?" Zac's mum suggested.
The pair had been discharged and had just returned home.
"Maybe he did," Rob speculated as he began closing the door. He didn't close it fully once he heard the sound of footsteps, opening it wide to find Evie and Zac now suddenly in the room.
"You weren't using invisibility were you?" His mum asked, crossing her arms.
"Maybe and maybe not," Zac teased, walking over to give his parents a hug. "Glad to see you were discharged okay."
"Some of the wounds are still healing so we have to take it easy," Rob replied.
Zac looked over at Evie who was motioning for them to tell them about what happened.
He turned back to them and prepared himself. "Um. I have some pretty major news for you. I'm not going to be living here any longer, I'm moving out soon."
His parents were rather shocked by his words. "Moving out? Where will you be going then?"
"Maybe I should start by telling you something important Dad. Seiger, isn't dead," he began.
"What do you mean not dead? He was declared dead once there were no records of where he'd suddenly disappeared to," Rob pointed out.
"I know that Grandad is a natural born merman. And that you didn't take the offer and left him," Zac said firmly. "Why did you never say anything once you found out about me then?"
Rob was struggling for a decent reply. "To be completely honest, I wanted to forget all about Dad as his mythical side and I did. When I found out you were a merman too, he didn't cross my mind. Besides, all magical energy was drained from my body," Rob explained.
"Even so, he's not dead. He's currently still the leader for the Higher Mermaid Council, alive and well. The only reason I'm bringing him up, is because he wants me to come and work for him."
"What?" Zac's mum first said. "Work for a council of mermaids?"
"Yeah, and to go and live the pod out on Mako Island and be their protector, along with Evie," Zac explained.
The parents looked over at Evie. "And how would you live with him?" Rob asked. "Wait for a full moon and be transformed or something? Like Zac was?"
"Well," Evie said slowly. "I kind of might be a natural born mermaid, and I might just have been properly transformed into one."
Zac's parents quickly caught on to it. Evie was now a mermaid like Zac.
"I see," Rob said. He couldn't believe it, his son was finally leaving home along with his girlfriend to live on an Island with other mermaids and even have work. If Zac was happy with moving out there with Evie, then he would stand by the decision.
"Go for it then," Rob cheered. "Have fun with your lives and make the most of what you have. And, take good care of each other." Rob could feel a tear coming to his eye, quickly wiping it away.
Zac gave his parents a group hug, Evie joining in.
"Just take care out there son, look after yourself and Evie," his mum said encouragingly.
"Give Seiger my apologies from all those years ago," Rob asked. "I think it would make him happy to know that I don't resent him any more."
"I'll make sure I tell him" Zac said as he broke up the hug. "We plan on leaving for Mako next week just after Cam and Nixie take their plane to America."
- Next week, at the airport -
Zac, Evie, Lyla, Sirena, David and Rita were all saying goodbye to Nixie and Cam.
"Take care out there Cam, I'm going to miss my buddy," Zac said sadly.
"You'll be fine, you've got Evie and a whole pod to take care of," Cam reminded him.
Zac smiled as Cam gave him a goodbye bro-hug.
Nixie was giving hugs to pretty much everyone.
"David, take care of Sirena for me," Nixie asked as she hugged him. "And the rest of the pod."
"I'll do the best I can," David promised as he let go of Nixie, who moved onto Sirena.
"You take good care of David as well. The pod needs a kind hearted male like him."
Sirena couldn't respond as tears came streaming out of her eyes. "I'll miss you Nixie," she sniffled out.
"I'll miss you too. And everyone else. I can always swim from America for a weekend or something," Nixie suggested.
Nixie hesitated before hugging Lyla but she was probably the one Nixie gave the biggest and longest hug too.
"We weren't the best of friends to begin with but I think I'm going to miss you the most Lyla," Nixie admitted.
Lyla was rather touched by her words. "Thank you Nixie. We'll always have our arguments after all," she joked.
Nixie was tempted to punch Lyla for that one. "Just remember those words," she warned.
Rita gave Nixie and brief hug before lecturing her.
"Don't get too close to water or anything, keep your secret hidden from Cam's parents and just take good care of yourself."
"I'll be fine Rita, I've got Cam looking out for me," Nixie said. Rita turned her head to Cam, who gave her a smile and a nod, Rita doing the same in return.
Lastly, she moved onto Zac. "Come on mer-boy, you gotta give me a hug too."
"I guess so," he replied, giving Nixie a friendly hug. "Now you had really better look after my pod mister, and make sure Evie settles in well and gets used to her new life. Don't forget, I'll be visiting to check in on you all some time."
"I know, I know," Zac said tiredly. "Like everyone else has said, stay safe, and don't get into trouble."
Even if she didn't punch Lyla, punching Zac on the arm wouldn't hurt. "I know that," she said sarcastically. "You do the same."
She walked and stood back next to Cam, just as an announcement went off.
"All passengers boarding flight A34J927 to California, please go to Gate 31 for immediate boarding."
"That's us," Cam pointed out, taking Nixie's hand and almost dragging her through the Gate behind them.
"Bye guys!" Nixie called waving with her free hand.
They all stood waving in return, not stopping until they couldn't see her any more.
"So, she's really gone now," Sirena said, tears still in her eyes.
Lyla drew her in for a comforting hug. "She'll be back to visit us soon, remember?"
"Yeah, you're right," Sirena replied, drying her eyes.
"Me and Evie need to get back home and make sure everything is sorted out," Zac said.
"What's there to sort out?" Lyla asked confused.
"We need to make sure all of our stuff that we're leaving behind is either put up for sale on the internet or stored away somewhere," Evie explained. "But we'll see you all down by the dock outside Zac's at 7 yeah?"
Everyone nodded their heads and all went their separate ways home. Evie and Zac had Evie's Dad waiting to pick them up and drop them over at Evie's house first. David, Sirena and Lyla all went home with Rita in the Taxi they came in.
- Later on that day, 7PM -
Evie and Zac stood on the edge of the dock outside Zac's house, staring at the setting sunset. Out there somewhere was their new life, and they couldn't wait to start it. They turned around to see Lyla, Sirena, David, Rita, Zac's parents and Evie's Dad waiting to say goodbye to them.
"It's not goodbye for us because we'll see you all soon enough," Lyla said, still giving a hug to both Evie and Zac, maybe lingering a little on her hug with Zac, earning a little glare from Evie.
After giving a hug to the others, it came to the parents.
"Well, what can we say?" Rob stated. "Our children are off to go live their lives out at sea, as mythical creatures that we didn't think were real."
"It's still hard to grasp even for me," Zac admitted. "But this is just where I'm meant to be."
Zac gave his mum the biggest hug out of everyone.
"I'm going to miss you son," his mother said, her voice filled with sadness. "I guess this is goodbye."
"It's not goodbye entirely mum, you just won't see me for a while. We'll try and come back and visit when we can, I promise," Zac replied as he released his hug.
Evie had just said her goodbye's to her dad, who turned to Zac. "Take good care of my daughter Zac Blakely, anything happens to her out there and it's on your head."
"I won't let any harm come to her," Zac replied, the mermaids glancing at him. "And you guys and the pod, don't worry."
They all smiled as the final rays of sunlight glistened across the waters of the ocean.
"You ready for this Evie?" Zac asked, taking her hand.
"I was born ready," she joked, clasping her hand even tighter.
They briefly turned around and gave one more goodbye before diving into the water hand in hand, just enjoying the serene peace on the way to Mako Island.
"So, our new life begins now."
- Meanwhile, in a completely unknown location -
"Well well, so it has come to pass. The ancient prophecy has begun, it's first chapter fulfilled," a voice could be heard saying as it closed a book lying on a table. "Zac Blakely, Mako Island will meet its doom and you will not stand in my way. The prophecy dictates that Mako Island will fall and the merman who tried to save them all will die in his efforts. I look forward to our upcoming battles."
Nexus: It's... over... it's really over...
Zac: But you had lots of fun writing it didn't you?
Nexus: Yeah I did. And that last bit at the end, is a little teaser for the Sequel, In Trouble Once Again. I don't know when I'll begin writing for it as there is a lot to work out for the first few chapters. There should be a lot more action from the start and there are a lot of mechanics to now involve as well as a few new ones.
Question remains, who is the voice at the end? And what's this of an ancient prophecy that tells of the destruction of Mako Island? You will all just have to wait...
Thank you to everyone who has supported me through finishing my first story. Hope to see you all soon! xxx
Hugs and kisses, Karen