Nail colors and connected emotion:
Yellow- Happy
Red- Anger
Blue- Sadness
Lilac- Nervous
Green- Envy
Orange- Surprise
Black- Disgust
Grey- Confused
Pink- Love
White- Neutral
Striped-Feeling more than one emotion
No color- Sleeping or half-asleep
Immediately spinning around and looking up, the group was horrified! The sculpture had come to life! It was wielding a longsword with a jewel-encrusted handle and a small, round, gold shield! Orca and her Aqua Senshi were too dumbfounded to utter a word. However, their nails' lilac, orange, and grey-swirl colors indicated how they felt.
"Intruders? Then those statues are..." Damian was shaking and sweating. His eyes become as wide as dinner plates with terror.
"Petrified mermaids!" Noel screamed, her nails now radiating black!
"I will make certain you all remain as captivating as them." Laughing, the marble male smashed one of the statues. A skeletal, lifeless mermaid with long brown hair, red eyes, and long nails spilled out!
With all their nails black now, Orca and the Aqua Senshi clutched each other. Desperately trying not to look too long or they would scream. Even Damian seemed ready to throw up. Optimistic as always and with her nails still grey, Seira walked forward, brushing past the deceased mermaid. She politely addressed the man, curtsying, "O great and powerful King of Rush City, please forgive our intrusion into your great city. We mean no harm. We are the Aqua Senshi, water-based warriors of love and justice."
For a minute, Seira's etiquette might win this regal gentleman over. Instead, he lifted his sword and brought it down near Seira! It was close enough for the impact to send her flying back into her companions! Sara caught and cuddled the terrified and sobbing girl.
"How dare you strike a little girl!" Orca screamed in rage, her nails glowing red.
"As respectful as she is and the fact you are Aqua Senshi, there is a black cloud above you. Therefore, I will still safeguard my city!" the guardian thundered.
By black cloud, he, of course, meant Damian. How could they convince this obstacle to let them live? As the sovereign raised his deadly weapon again, Orca turned away and hugged Lucy. However, to their shock, the blow never came!
"Princess! Aqua Senshi!" A new but extremely welcomed voice sounded.
The teenage mermaid girls were in awe at the mystic, magical barrier shielding them as Naia materialized! Surprisingly, she was not alone. Queen Oki and her Aqua Senshi, the mothers of Orca's Aqua Senshi, arrived too! Knowing their mother's reactions to this situation, the girls' nails turned different colors.
"Sea Goddess!" the former King of Rush City gasped when he saw Naia.
"Thou cast no further harm on the Princess or her Aqua Senshi!" Naia started chanting a sealing spell to return the giant to stone. Simultaneously, Orca and her friends rush into their parent's/guardian's arms.
Sara's elderly servant embraced Sara and Seira. Seeing the girls just relieved to be in the arms of those who loved them most, with their nails glowing pink. Damian, on the other hand? He'd turned away to conceal his disfigured features. Power, women, and riches did not make him happy. So, one crucial question remained. What was happiness? Unexpectedly, someone put their hand on his shoulder. Startled, he jumped and whirled around, staring into two vast, bright amber eyes: Seira!
"Seira, don't startle me like that." Damian tried not to snap at her. By now, he learned Seira could be childish.
"Sorry, I didn't mean to startle you. Are you OK?" Could Seira tell how sad he felt?
"How can you be so happy when you have nothing left?" Damian asked.
"My teammates' friendship makes me happy." Seria smiled.
"It's nice you have such good friends."
"Where are your friends, Damian?"
"I...never had any companions. Everyone was disturbed because of my disfigurement." Damian sulked.
Seira brightly chirped after a few uncomfortable seconds, "I'll be your friend."
"You don't have to do th-" Damian was cut off when Seira grabbed his hands. Her nails were bright yellow this whole exchange.
"I want to! Everybody deserves a friend. Please?" Seira begged.
"As strange as it is for a grown man to be friends with a teenager...I accept." Damian flinched when Seira rested her forehead on his without a hint of fear.
When Damian relaxed, Seira's pearl began to glow brightly! Seira pulled back to watch a bit as Damian's face was restored! Not knowing how or why this happened did not concern Seira or Damian, as they were just happy it happened!
"The more friends you make, the merrier your heart becomes." Seira recited what Queen Oki had taught her many tides ago when she felt devastated that she was the last of her kind. Now her nails were pink!
Damian smiled as the Aqua Senshi offered their friendship, which the man accepted. The Princesses' pearls glowed, and his face fixed itself! Exiting Rush City, no more prosperous than he had been when he entered, though the sad man no longer cared, Naia locked the gates as Damian began apologizing to the Aqua Senshi's families. Thankfully, the Aqua Senshi themselves were just happy to be alive.
Then, he turned to Naia, "I'm sorry about what happened to Lani. Not just for what I did but for her passing as well. Things would have turned out differently if I had been better."
"You chose a path that harmed multiple individuals, Damian." Naia admonished harshly.
"I know..." Damian said, and they could see he meant it.
"Occasionally, I grieve over my daughter's death for hours! I've dreamed of how much I'd blame you for contributing to it when I met you again. Yet, I believe this experience has taught you more than any rebuke from me would do." Naia fixed Damian with her sharp, cold, blue gaze.
"It has. I mean, I have. I mean-" Damian stumbled over his words, trying to find the right way to say this.
"No need to ascertain. All I need to say is this. As difficult as it is, I forgive you." Naia smiled.
"Oh, thank you, wise and benevolent sea goddess. I've learned more than one lesson well today." Damian assured them.
As Damian's sub began to ascend, Seira called out to him, waving.
"Farewell, Damian! May you always stay well!"
The End
