Najenda was the name of a certain silver-haired, purple-eyed young general who was working for The Empire. This brave young woman wasn't aware of how corrupt The Empire was, but that would soon change in a couple days…
The beauty stood on the beach, looking towards the blue, sunny sky ahead with her arms crossed. Her silver white braid was blowing in the wind. Her lavender eyes examined around, moments before she saw something rather odd in the water. Her eyes widened slightly in wonder.
A young male with light colored skin, bright green hair and bright green eyes was looking at her, practically up to his shoulders in the wet ocean. He had a long bang that covered his left eye completely and his shoulders looked broad and strong, meaning that he must work out. A small smile was on his handsome face as he stared at Najenda. To be honest, Najenda was confused.
"What is a guy doing swimming in the ocean? And looking at me for that matter?" Najenda thought with a puzzled expression.
The male's eyes widened at the female's expression.
"Oops! Was I staring? Sorry…" said the male shyly, his cheeks turning a rosy pink as he looked away. His eyes flicked back to her. "I just… Have never seen such a beautiful lady before…"
Najenda approached the male, who was still up to his shoulders in the water. Was he flirting with her? The female appreciated the male's sweet comment. "Why thank you." Najenda replied. "Are you okay? I've never seen you around here before… Aren't your legs tired of swimming for that long?"
"Nah." the male said as he shook his head of green locks. He then closed his eyes happily. "I love swimming. I've been swimming since I was a teeny tiny baby."
"That long?" asked Najenda who was now extremely confused. Maybe he had swimming lessons when he was that young?
"Maybe this'll help…" said the male as he swam over to a nearby rock. He put both of his hands on the rock and pushed himself upward out of the water. He leaned against the rock, before quickly turning himself around onto his slender back, showing his toned stomach, slightly muscular arms, and masculine chest. He then sat down on the rock and to Najenda's surprise, what came out of the water wasn't legs like she was expecting. Instead, right below the mysterious male's waist and hips was a big, long, and shining scaly green tail.
"You're… A merman?" asked Najenda in disbelief as she approached the merman who was sitting on the rock. She sat down in the sand right next to the stone he was sitting on.
The strange male laughed. "Your reaction is just like the other humans I encounter." he said simply and playfully, as he wrapped his thin arms around his tail. He rested his head on the grassy-colored appendage with a soft smile and gentle eyes. "Usually when people see me, they assume I'm just a teenager swimming in the ocean, so I get on the rocks on the beach and surprise them! It's fun!"
"I just didn't know mermen existed in real life…" said the gray-haired female as she looked to the side, visibly unhappy with herself for not knowing this. "I know Danger Beasts exist… But to be honest, I thought mermen were only in fairytales and fiction…"
"We exist! Mermaids too!" exclaimed the merman.
Suddenly, the two were interrupted by a loud, rumbly, growling sound. The merman looked down at his midsection, which was where the sound had come from. He rubbed his hands against his gurgling tummy.
"By the way, do you have anything to eat?" said the male with a nervous laugh. "I'm starving!"
Najenda began to think. She crossed one arm under her well-endowed chest and put the hand of her other arm to her chin. Didn't she have some snacks in her pocket?
"Also, I can't eat fish because that's cannibalism." spoke the male.
Najenda sighed and reached into her pocket, and she pulled out a small, plastic, zip-up bag. She handed it to the merman.
"What are these?" asked the merman as he opened the bag and pulled out an orange cracker that was in the shape of a fish.
"They're crackers, they aren't fish. Try one." Najenda said nonchalantly.
The male shrugged and ate the cracker in only a few bites. His eyes widened after eating the tasty snack, and he started shoveling fish crackers into his maw.
"Are they good?" asked Najenda with a smile and a hand on her hip.
"Yes!" said the merman with a mouthful, moments before he shoved more snacks down his throat.
"We haven't introduced ourselves. My name is Najenda." said Najenda as she held out her hand to the male. "It's nice to meet you!"
"Well, it's nice to meet you too! My name is Lubbock, but you can call me Lub!" said Lubbock as he licked the cheddar crumbs off his peach-colored lips. He shook the strong beauty's hand, moments before he used his other hand to give her back the snack bag that was now empty. The cheddar-tasting crackers were now sitting in belly, waiting to be digested.
"You're so sweet Najenda." said Lubbock. "Is there any way I can repay you for your kindness?"
"I'd like to get to know you better." Najenda told him. "But I don't have time because I'm a general." The gray-haired woman stood up.
"General?" asked Lubbock with a sad face. "You have a job?"
"Yes, I do. Listen, I'd really like to get to know you better, but you're a merman and mermen don't have feet to walk on." the older female explained, causing the younger male to look at his jade tail.
Najenda began to walk away and waved goodbye at the handsome merman. "It was nice meeting you. We can continue this conversation another day and another time, when I'm not busy of course." After those words were said, she began to walk away.
After she took several steps, a bright, sea foamy green light engulfed the beach behind her. She quickly turned around in surprise and saw something amazing once the light cleared.
Lubbock was standing on two feet! The male's tail was gone, now replaced by two strong legs that matched his light skin. He was also clothed, as his body was in a black tank top with shorts that matched in color. He ran towards Najenda with energetic eyes and a bright, big smile.
"Najenda! Guess what?" hollered Lubbock playfully. "I forgot to tell you that I have a human form!"
"Oh." Najenda said quietly as she was still in disbelief. When did mermen have human forms? "I see…"
Lub giggled as he proudly put his hands on his hips and stuck his chest out.
"So, where are you heading?" asked Lubbock.
"Well, I work for The Empire, and I was going to head back there. You can come along, if you aren't obnoxious." explained Najenda with a serious expression.
"WHAAAT?! Who said I'm obnoxious?" complained Lubbock who crossed his arms, gave an annoyed stare and pushed his lips into a kissy face.
Najenda sighed and began to leave. "Come along." Her words resulted in Lubbock following her back.
When they got there, Najenda told the soldiers that Lubbock meant no harm and is what she called "just a friend", resulting in more salty complaints from the merman. The silver-haired woman with the braid walked through the hallways, with Lubbock trailing behind her.
She eventually stopped at a door after several twists and turns in the hall, confusing the younger male. Was this room important? She opened it up, showing Lubbock the inside.
Inside was a nice, fancy, regal-looking bedroom. There was a dresser, a desk with a mirror on the wall, and the biggest thing that caught Lub's brilliant green eye was a king-sized bed with big, fancy white pillows and covers. There was a door next to the bed.
"This is my bed-…" before she could finish, the merman yelled "IT'S HUGE!" at the top of his lungs and burst right in, resulting in Najenda face palming. The slightly muscular, but slender male that was wearing all black jumped and landed into the general's bed, causing the mass of pillows to fall on the carpet, which was possibly dirty!
"This is the best, softest, most comfortable bed I've ever seen!" exclaimed Lubbock as he childishly bounced up and down on the older woman's bed. "My bed is just a hard, rough clamshell. There's no pillows or blankets, my bed sucks ass! But you on the other hand, are sleeping on luxury!"
Najenda approached the pillows that were on the floor, picked them up, and placed them back on the bed.
"I told you not to be obnoxious." she stated quietly and sadly. "Anyways, the door next to the bed leads to the master bathroom. Since you're a merman, feel free to take a bath. You'll have to leave though."
The green-haired male's one visible eye widened in surprise. His expression saddened.
"But why?" he asked, pouting his lips and his eyebrows curving upwards. His sad, glittering eyes were like an innocent puppy.
"Well, you're a merman. And I don't wanna hurt your feelings but isn't your home back in the ocean?" asked Najenda honestly.
Lubbock looked down sadly. "It is. But even though I'm a merman, life down under the sea is kinda boring." Najenda sat next to him on the bed. "And the food I've tasted so far is way better!"
"You only had crackers…" said Najenda simply.
"I KNOW THAT!" shrieked Lubbock, moments before he grabbed both of her hands. "How about this? I'll spend the night and if you really can't stand me, I'll go back!"
"Well… I know you're just a teenager... How old are you? Asked the gray-haired, lavender-eyed general.
"Fifteen!" Lubbock replied to her answer.
"You're not a man yet, but I'll let you stay the night." Najenda stated as Lubbock's eyes became big, and a huge smile appeared on his face. "Just… Try not to be too crazy…"
"YAY!" shouted the teenager loudly and excitedly.