Chapter 2: Welcome To The Club
In the ballroom, all of the merfolk has gathered around on the polished marble floor. They were all anticipating for the medley of the mermaid princesses, to pay their lovely tribute to their late mother. The queen of New Mermaidrissia. While the orchestra is tuning their instruments, the mermaid princesses hurriedly took their positions on the stage. All of them have practiced their serenely vocals, except for Khyraphine for she is the only one of the girls who hasn't been practicing her part of the medley. So she was nervous about it throughout the evening.
The guests silence their chatter for the medley is about to start. King Oriathnius and the grandmother took their seats on their thrones. The planktons lit up the stage to the sound of the orchestra boasting the music in the ballroom. The curtains were lifted. And alas the sea king's daughters were all standing in front of the crowd. With the cue of the musical tones, they all began to sing.
Instantly, the merfolk were all mesmerized by the beauty of the princesses and touched by the angelic sounds of their voices. King Oriathnius and the grandmother both had their hearts melted from the girls singing the evening away. Each royal girl has perform her medley, one by one. But when it comes down to Khyraphine, she only sang the first verses of the song. Although the guests were completely drawn to Khyraphine's beautiful singing voice, her father and grandmother included, the music has stopped abruptly when she couldn't remember the rest of her song. The mer-people were all puzzled and confused as to why she has unintentionally halted the medley, on her own birthday celebration no less.
Her sisters quietly encourage her to sing her part. But Khyraphine couldn't remember the words to the song that she was supposed to be practicing for. Because of this, the awkward silence fills the ballroom. Some of the guests are looking at her with judgmental eyes, while some others just laughed disrespectfully towards her presence. And now her birthday celebration is ruined by her slight mishap. King Oriathnius is utterly disappointed with her. The grandmother felt rather so bad for her granddaughter. And her sisters were glaring at her with disgust.
Those things alone were enough to take a toll on the little mermaid's unpleasant feelings. She couldn't bare to handle the criticism of the merfolk, had one of the few has not said some mean things about her, especially on her own birthday celebration. Trying so hard to fight back her emotions, Khyraphine fled to the backstage.
She swam towards the dressing chambers and then shut herself in. The little mermaid sank to the floor, wallowing in embarrassment. She hasn't been practicing for her musical part for days before her birthday celebration. Her sisters went to check in on her. Cara knocks on her seashell door.
"Khyraphine!? Are you alright in there!?" Cara called out to her.
"No. I'm not alright." Khyraphine responded. "I'm such a clam, I forgot my lyrics to the medley."
"Well that's what you get for missing out on rehearsals for at least three days." scoffed Aquanette.
"Aquanette! That's enough!" Theresa shouted at her sister.
"What!? I'm just saying that if she takes her royal duties seriously, none of this would've happened in the first place." snarled Aquanette.
"Please! For the love of almighty Neptune, calm it on the sniping, Aquanette!" shouted Dahphina.
"Yeah! We don't want to worsen the problem than it already is!" says Irene, adding in.
Fraya swam to Cara's side and tries to help cheer up their youngest sister.
"Oh Khyraphine. Don't worry about it." says Fraya. "I'm sure that there's always next year to sing on your birthday."
"Not helping, Fraya." Cara said, giving her a glare.
"Oops! I'm so sorry." says Fraya, feeling a tad awkward.
Cara turns to the door, knocking on it.
"Khyraphine! Please let us in!" cried Cara. "We can help you memorize your part. So can you open the door?"
Alas Khyraphine opens the door for her sisters to enter. The mermaid sisters gathered in the dressing chamber, trying their best to help Khyraphine remember her lyrics for the medley. But before they all could do anything, Irene notice that their father, King Oriathnius is heading towards the backstage. She immediately alert her sisters.
"Umm, girls!? Father is coming!" she blurted out.
The mermaid princesses quickly lined up in their positions. King Oriathnius has entered the chamber. He doesn't seem to be pleased with what has happened in the ballroom. The royal mermaids hovered in mid water, as if they were ready for to be scolded by their father.
"Hello daddy!" greeted the mermaid princesses in unison.
"You are all dismissed." said King Oriathnius in a disappointed tone.
"Yes, daddy!" the mermaid princesses complied as they all left the chamber.
However, King Oriathnius has stopped Khyraphine from leaving with her sisters. She knew that he wanted to have a word with her. So the sea king gave out his demand.
"Khyraphine. Follow me to my chamber. Now!" King Oriathnius demanded.
"Yes, daddy..." says Khyraphine, feeling ashamed.
So she followed her father as they both exited the backstage dressing chamber.
The sea king and his daughter swam through the hallway, until they have finally enter the king's chamber. Once they're both inside, King Oriathnius slams the door behind him. He turns to the little mermaid with an disappointed glare.
"Explain yourself, Khyraphine." King Oriathnius demanded. "What happened out there? Have you forgotten your own part of the medley?"
"Well... I haven't been practicing my notes lately..." Khyraphine stammered in embarrassment.
"So you haven't been practicing for this part, let alone, not bothering to show up at the rehearsals for a few days of time." sneered King Oriathnius. "Yes! I have been told by the conductor of your recent absences. Do care to explain why!?"
"I'm so sorry, daddy. I just forgot about today." says Khyraphine.
"You forgot about your own birthday celebration!?" King Oriathnius questioned sharply.
"Yes... I have..." Khyraphine uttered softly.
"Oh Khyraphine! What am I going to do with you?" sighed King Oriathnius. "When will you get your head out of the clouds and back underwater where you really belong?"
"I said that I'm sorry." Khyraphine spoken up. "I didn't mean to forget about my birthday ball..."
"Well you have!" snapped King Oriathnius, interrupting her. "And all because of your careless, reckless behavior, the entire celebration is ruined. Your own birthday celebration!"
"But daddy. I-" says Khyraphine, but then got interrupted again.
"Is it too much to ask of you to simply take your royal duties seriously!?" King Oriathnius snarled.
"Well I'm sorry that I can't be perfect like my sisters!" Khyraphine shouted so suddenly.
"Khyraphine!..." says King Oriathnius, losing his patience.
"Why do you expect so much of me?" cried Khyraphine. "I'm trying to be the best daughter that you could ever have. But it is never enough for you. This whole thing is so unfair!"
"ENOUGH!" thundered King Oriathnius. "You will have to respect the way I run this kingdom! And you will learn to be a proper crown princess!"
"Hmph! I feel more like a prisoner in my home rather than a princess." pouted Khyraphine. "Or best yet, an outcast to the entire kingdom of New Mermaidrissia."
"Don't you start with giving me that attitude, young lady!" King Oriathnius shouted. "I don't want to hear another word from you!"
"But-" says Khyraphine, but then got interrupted yet again.
"In due time, you will come to understand your role in the royal society!" shouted King Oriathnius as he continue. "And you will be married off to nice refined gentle-merman who will be worthy of a husband, and the next successor to the throne!"
"But what if I don't want to get married off to someone I barely even know!?" Khyraphine says, raising her voice. "Why can't I decide for myself!?"
"I SAID ENOUGH WITH THE ATTITUDE, KHYRAPHINE!" thundered King Oriathnius. "You will learn of your role! And you will take your duties seriously! And I am not to hear of your misbehavior again! Do I make myself clear!?"
Khyraphine felt defeated. She could hardly win an argument with her father. Instead of another word, she responds with a slow nod. King Oriathnius points his powerful trident at the doors, opening them with the use of the magical technology that immediately recognize his trident's aura.
"Good! Now off with you! The discussion is over!" King Oriathnius demanded angrily.
Khyraphine did as she was told. But before she was halfway out the doors, King Oriathnius has one more final word for his daughter.
"Remember, Khyraphine! As long as you live in my ocean, you will learn to obey my rules!" says King Oriathnius.
Khyraphine silently acknowledges her father's harsh words. As she swims out of the chamber, King Oriathnius slams the doors behind her. The little mermaid felt so angry and frustrated, let alone, heartbroken by her father's bitter disappointment. She couldn't held back her emotions any longer. So she fled from the palace halls.
Along the way, her sister's were swimming down the hallway, where they notice Khyraphine swimming pass by them without saying a word. The mermaid sisters began to worry about her. Even the grandmother saw her fled the castle grounds from her window, feeling a tad distraught for her granddaughter.
Khyraphine successfully snuck her way outside of the kingdom's perimeter and swam over to the oceanic outskirts. While she swims along the way, little do she know that her friends, Wade the big blue dolphin and Serene the pink fairy fish were swimming through the reef when they both spotted her heading towards a cave. They wonder what she is up to. So they both decided to follow the little mermaid inside of the cave. Once that they all inside the cave, Wade and Serene swam through the kelp that is surrounding the place, until they had found their friend Khyraphine sitting on the rocks, letting out a deep sad sigh. They swim over to check on their friend.
"Hey, Khyraphine! We could've known that we find you here." said Wade.
The little mermaid turns to acknowledge that her friends have swam by. Although in slight sadness, Khyraphine put on a little smile.
"Oh! Hello, you two." greeted Khyraphine.
"What are you doing all the way out here, by yourself?" asked Serene. "Should you be at your birthday celebration party?"
"Yeah, about that..." Khyraphine sighed as she stared down at her own glowing tail. "It didn't go the way I have hoped."
"Why is that?" Serene wondered.
"Yeah. What happened?" Wade asked, wondering as well.
The little mermaid princess drew her deep breath and then she explained her situation.
"I forget the lyrical part of the medley." says Khyraphine as she went on. "Now everybody in the kingdom are all looking at me as the misfit princess of the royal family."
"Oh Khyraphine..." says Serene, feeling rather bad for the crown princess.
"Not only that, my father is angry with me again." said Khyraphine. "He always has high expectations of me. He wants me to be the perfect daughter and a crown princess, just like my sisters."
"Well what's so wrong about that?" Wade asked. "I mean, we think that you're perfect just the way you are. Everyone creature knows that you're the most beautiful mer-person in all the seven seas."
"Thank you, Wade. That made me feel a little bit better." says Khyraphine, smiling a little. "If only everyone creature could see that. Especially my father."
"Oh cheer up, Khyraphine." says Serene. "He won't stay mad at you for long. You're his favorite daughter. I'm sure he'll get over it eventually."
"I doubt it, Serene." said Khyraphine.
"Hey! Don't fret over it, Khyraphine." says Wade as he tries to comfort the little mermaid. "You know that you can always come talk to us. We are here for you. Best friends always have each other's back dorsal fins. And we always be there for each other, especially through thick and thin."
"Wade is right." says Serene, agreeing with the big blue dolphin.
Their upbeat attitudes has cheered her up to the point where she gets up from the rock, hovering in mid water.
"Why thanks, you guys." said Khyraphine, smiling faintly. "I knew I can count on you two for anything. You always find ways to cheer me up."
"Aww don't sweat it." said Wade. "That's what friends are for."
"Yeah! You should never be afraid to tell us what's on your mind." says Serene, adding in. "That is, if there's something else on your mind."
Khyraphine turns to glance up at the light shining through the hole above.
"You know, you're right about that, Serene." says Khyraphine as she swims to the middle of the cave. "If only I could make everybody understand. Especially my father. For some reason, I just don't see things like the way other merfolk does. Maybe they're right. Maybe there is something wrong with me. Somehow I just don't see how all possibilities that make our worlds so wonderful, could be so bad?"
And then, the little mermaid has burst into a song.
"What if they're right? Were they right about me?" She sang. "I wish they would tell me what they see what I couldn't see? But what do they all really know about me? Does any creature in the entire sea?"
She swam around the cavern, as if she was dancing.
"I wish I could be his perfect daughter, but for what reason, I keep yearning for another?" sang Khyraphine, glancingly looking upward. "Perhaps something not from the ocean floor. Just what is it that I'm yearning for? Could it be my personal freedom? My true calling? Unknown adventures? No! Wait! It's something more."
Wade and Serene turn to each other, shrugging out of confusion. Despite of that, they listen to Khyraphine as she convey her feelings and her longings through a song.
"No matter how hard I tried, to convince myself it's not possible. My place is down here. But my inner voice is shouting out loud, saying that something wonderful is out there." Khyraphine sang, swimming upward toward the light. "I don't know what it is, but it's telling me that I should answer this calling. Could this be my calling? And my heart is strangely beating. And to all these signs that are leading... To a place that we're forbidden to go."
Khyraphine smiles as she dreamily express her long life desires for both Wade and Serene to hear.
"Since my childhood, I have these dreams." Khyraphine sang, remembering her past dreams. "When I close my eyes, I've dreamt of a place where the sky is so blue. The sun is so warm and bright. And the fluffy creatures, I think they're called seagulls, are soaring over through. Ships are sailing by. I can't believe my eyes. As if I never had seen them before. People who have two things, strange as it seems, like the limbs have touch the floor. I can see them moving, dancing, running and walking around with those... What do they call them?"
"Feet!?." Wade and Serene answered out loud.
"Oh yes! Feet. Of course." exclaimed Khyraphine, giggling as she then continues her song. "I can see them jumping around with joy and laughter, strolling along down the... What's that again? Oh yeah! It's called a street. Up there is where the cities are built. Where the beasts roam. Where all the brave heroes are beloved and well known. That is where the people are free. And that is where I want to be. All my life, it seems like I have been dreaming. Dreaming of their world."
Meanwhile, outside of the cave, the mermaid Elenabelle and her friends were swimming across the ocean floor. It appears that Elenabelle has forgotten something when she and her friends were about to head back to their home. She has dropped her favorite floral jewelry in the meadow's reef, where they've just met the little mermaid and her friends. And just as Elenabelle has found her flowery necklace, she could hear the sound of somebody's voice, echoing from the blue. As if that said someone is singing. The mermaid's friends can hear it too.
"Hey! Did you guys hear that?" Elenabelle wondered.
"Yeah. I heard it, Elenabelle." said Ottoman.
"Me too." says Norie. "It sounded like someone is singing."
"I know." said Elenabelle as she felt her heart melting to the voice. "And it sounds so beautiful. I wonder who that is? And where is it coming from?"
Ottoman heard the singing voice echoing from a nearby cave. He turn to his friends, pointing them to the cave.
"I think it's coming from that cave." says Ottoman.
"Let's find out who it is with that voice." said Elenabelle as she swims towards the cave. "Come on, you two."
"Wait for me!" shouted Norie, catching up with Elenabelle.
"Right behind you, gals!" shouted Ottoman, using his jet speed to catch up.
Alas the three friends swam to the nearby cave. Therefore they follow the sound of the voice, entering the cavernous entrance.
When passing through the dark cavernous pathway, Elenabelle and her friends has swam towards the garden of large kelp. And they hid there for they don't want to startle whoever is singing. To their utter surprise, they have found who that beautiful singing voice belongs to. It is Khyraphine. The mermaid that they've helped escape from the deadly Black Sea Dragon inside of the shipwreck moments ago.
As Khyraphine sang halfway through her song, Elenabelle can feel her heart melting to the harmonious angelic melody. She has never heard anything that sounded so heavenly melodic in her entire life. The same thing can be said for Norie and Ottoman. So they hid in the kelp garden and they watch in awe as the little mermaid continues to finish her song.
"I can feel these dreams within my own heart." Khyraphine sang as she swam to the sand-filled bridging rock. "There is no dream that is afar. Not so far from me nor out of my reach. Tell me what must I have to give, in order to live, out of the blue water? What should I even pay, to spend the day, on the beach. Feeling the warm sand. Up there on the mainland. But they'd never understand, nor they reprimand their own sons or daughters. So it's time for bright young men, bright young women, who are sick of swimmin', to make a stand!"
Khyraphine swam to the rocks ledge, where she found an abandoned book.
"Who's ready to know what other people might know? Or where to go? Just ask them questions for some answers." Khyraphine sang as she reads the book, turning the pages. "All of this yearning for the world above the sea is killing me inside. My heart is beating so strangely, like a thing called fire which is burning so bright. Oh! That's what it does! It burns! So when is it going to be my turn?"
The little mermaid Khyraphine turns to abscond towards the light shining in the middle of the cave from above.
"I can no longer fight this feeling anymore? Just like before. Now and forevermore. Up above, I want to explore near the shore!" sang Khyraphine, hitting the high note as she reaches out to the light above her. "Where this new life seems to be calling for me. Strange as it may seem. Someway, somehow, I'll come out of the deep blue sea. All my life, I wish I could be where I want to be. And I will never stop dreaming. Dreaming of their world..."
Then she sank down to the rock below, right beside her friends. Both Serene and Wade watch the light from above, alongside with Khyraphine.
Deeply hidden in the large kelp, Elenabelle is touched by the mermaid princess's longings for the world above the sea. As does her friends. In fact, they're so mesmerized by her song, that Ottoman is easily distracted to notice that one of his tentacles are suddenly tangled in the kelp. He tries to free himself from the kelp, but at the cost of accidentally blowing his friends's cover. Thus they unintentionally startled the little mermaid and her friends. As Serene quickly hid herself in the mermaid's silky dreadlocks, Khyraphine turns to notice that she have other visitors inside the cave. She recognizes the mermaid that saved her and her friends from the Black Sea Dragon inside of the shipwreck earlier.
Alas the two best friends rejoice for they have meet again.
"Oh hello, Elenabelle! It's good to see you again!" cheered Khyraphine, happily hugging her friend.
"Hello, Khyraphine!" cheered Elenabelle as she too embraced her back. "It's good to see you again too."
Ottoman and Norie both swam to greet Serene and Wade, circling around each other joyfully.
"Yo, Wade! What's up?" Ottoman greeted with a tentacle shake to Wade's flipper.
"Hey, Ottoman! Great to see you!" Wade beamed.
"So we've meet again, Serene." says Norie, happily.
"Yeah, likewise, Norie." says Serene.
As the likely best friends all has gotten acquainted once again, the two young mermaids visited with each other with their conversation.
"How did you know where to find me?" Khyraphine asked in wonderment.
"Well I was about to swim home, until I realized that I've dropped my sea flower necklace." Elenabelle explained as she continued. "So I went back to retrieve it. But then I heard you singing inside of this cave. So I've follow the sound in here, and there you are."
"Oh! That." says Khyraphine, feeling a tad embarrassed. "I just happen to be caught up in the moment. It's always been a habit of mine."
"Well strangely enough, I have that habit of singing to myself too." said Elenabelle as she went on. "By the way, you have the most beautiful singing voice."
"Why thank you." says Khyraphine, abashed by that compliment.
"You're welcome." said Elenabelle, smiling warmly.
This just in, it crossed Ottoman's mind that the little mermaid did mention about singing at her birthday ball. So the octopus brought it up to the girls.
"Say! Speaking of which, did you mention that you have to hurry home for your birthday celebration with your family?" Ottoman wondered.
When he said that, the little mermaid sadly glance down at her tail for a brief moment, before facing her five friends.
"Well... about that..." said Khyraphine as she choked on her words for a short second. "I... I kinda blew it at my party."
"Hmmm? Blew it?" Elenabelle wondered with question. "What happened?"
"I missed my rehearsals for the past few days. And now my father and sisters are angry with me because of that." Khyraphine said with sadness in her tone.
"Why are they angry with you?" Norie asked out of curiosity.
Wade chimes into the conversation. Thus he lets it slip to the other mermaid and her friends.
"That's because her family wants her to take her role seriously in the royal society." says Wade without catching himself.
Elenabelle was stunned upon learning about Khyraphine's true heritage. As so does her friends.
"Wait! You're a princess?" Elenabelle gasped in slight shock.
"Yes. I am a princess." said Khyraphine, nodding responsively. "The crown princess of New Mermaidrissia."
"Wow! The kingdom of New Mermaidrissia!?" Elenabelle gasped surprisedly. "Why didn't you tell me that before?"
"I forgot to mention it before I left." says Khyraphine, toying with her long locs. "So that was my bad."
"No way! That's so cool!" Ottoman beamed excitedly. "I've heard many great things about New Mermaidrissia. It is like the most rarest, and beautiful kingdom in all the seven seas. There's lots of merfolk of any ethnic group, different species, and different unique individualities. And you being the crown princess of the most beloved royal family ever!? Oh don't ya feel lucky to be part of that regal bloodline!?"
Khyraphine makes a sad expression for she felt differently about her place in the kingdom's royal society.
"Yeah. Well I don't feel lucky at all." says Khyraphine with sadness in her eyes.
"Why is that?" Elenabelle wondered.
"If anything, I feel more like an outcast, a misfit if you will." said Khyraphine with a saddening manner. "But more like a prisoner than a princess in my own home."
"Oh!... Is that why your father and sisters are always frowning upon you?" Elenabelle asked the princess.
The little mermaid nods her head slowly out of shame, frustration, and sadness. Elenabelle can feel her new friend's pain. She swam closer to show her sympathy for Khyraphine.
"Oh I believe I can relate." says Elenabelle as she sympathizes with the little mermaid. "Sometimes I feel like I'm an outcast in the eyes of other merfolk too."
"Really? You feel that way as well?" Khyraphine asked in wonderment.
"Yeah. I do." said Elenabelle. "In a matter of fact, every one creature of the sea used to make fun of me when I was growing up. Some would call me the oddball of the ocean world."
"Oh that's terrible." said Khyraphine, feeling sorry for the mermaid. "Why would they say such things to you?"
Then Elenabelle reveals her deepest secret that she rarely tells anyone else, but her closest friends, and Khyraphine.
"That because... I have a strong fascination with the dry world of humans." Elenabelle blurted out.
Khyraphine was surprised about Elenabelle's revelation. As does Serene and Wade. But to Ottoman and Norie, they already knew that for they've been with her the longest time. So they weren't surprised at all. But for Khyraphine, she didn't knew about it until now. All her life, she thought she was the only one who yearns to know more about the world above the sea. She thought she was all alone, because all the other merfolk wouldn't dare to speak of humans. Let alone, swim up there to the surface. Not just because her father, King Oriathnius has forbid it. This relieves Khyraphine to know that she's not alone anymore. The crown mermaid princess took her friend's hand, assuring her that they're both are quite alike, due to their similar fascination with the world of humanity.
"I guess we're both oddballs of the ocean floor." Khyraphine chuckled softly.
"That may be true." said Elenabelle with a grin. "But we're also not alone either."
This just in, Norie swims to Elenabelle's side, whispering in her ear.
"Hey, Elenabelle. Why don't we introduce our new friends to the others?" Norie whispered.
"That's a good idea, Norie." said Elenabelle, agreeing with the seahorse's suggestion.
"Hey! What you two whispering about?" questioned Wade.
"Oh! Norie was saying that we should take the three of you with us to meet our other friends." said Elenabelle.
"Your other friends?" Khyraphine wondered with an angelic giggle.
"Yes! They're into the same things as you and I." said Elenabelle. "Trust me. You'll like them as much as they'll like you."
"Yeah! They're all awesome!" Ottoman added. "The minute you guys meet them, you'll fit right in. So what cha say?"
Khyraphine turns to her friends. Both Serene and Wade have decided with her to go meet these other friends that Elenabelle has mentioned. So she agrees to this as well. Alas she has finally given her answer.
"Alright then. I don't suppose why not." says Khyraphine as she made her choice. "So when can we meet them?"
"Oh I'll take you to see them right now." says Elenabelle as she took the little mermaid's hand. "Come on! Let's go."
And so the two young mermaids has exit the cave. Their companions follow right behind them. Thus they all swam to the outskirts of the ocean floor.
After a mile away from the populated kingdom, they've venture through the reefs, passing through the kelp forest, until they come across the ravine that leads them to the secret cave down below. The cave is heavily guarded by a huge rocky door that can only be activated via magic, and with a secret code word. And only Elenabelle knows the secret code word in order to enter the cave. Khyraphine and her friends were all in awe of what they've saw. As they waited alongside with the other two sea creatures, Elenabelle hovers towards the door. Thus she utters her secret code word to activate the entry.
"The ocean waters are as clear as the endless sky." Elenabelle chanted. "Realms are vast as if far and wide. Let the coral moon shine so bright. Hear thy crash of the roaring tides. So I wish to gain access to the inside."
The cave's door magically heard the young girl's plea, and then rocks has slowly open per granting her request. Khyraphine was amazed at this as does her friends. Then the mermaid turns to everyone.
"Follow me." said Elenabelle, bribing the others to come inside.
And alas they all follow the mermaid into the cave's entrance. Once that they're inside, the rocky door has closed behind them. The little mermaid's friends jumped out of being startled by the closed door, but Elenabelle ensures them to not be afraid. They all swam down the cavernous passageway, with the crystal lights to guide them safely to the other side of the cave.
Once they've made it to the end of the passageway, the other three found themselves in a place that they never knew about until now. The place is filled with botanical reefs that are as tall like trees, rarer fruits and vegetation hanging out from them. Each one have different magical effects once they're edible. Living amongst the beautifully luminous reefs are the vast of rarest sea creatures ever to be discovered, such as sea sprites, tide-borne elves, aquatic primates, sea-salt dwelling mutants, and many more.
As they were passing through the reefs, a very few pods of tiny selkies swam over to check out Wade and Serene, as if they were quite curious about them. Ottoman is amused by this as he was swimming by their side.
"What's all that about?" Wade wondered.
"These little creatures are called the selkies." Ottoman explained. "They're pretty harmless. And they're showing the sign that they like you two."
"I think I can gel with that." says Serene as she then plays with the selkies. "Well at least they're not vicious. Not to mention that they're quite cute."
"See? We told ya that you'll love it here." said Norie as she too plays with the selkies.
While the companions are occupied with the attention of the rare creatures, Khyraphine and Elenabelle continue to be on their way through the undersea cavernous forest. This discovery of the place is unlike anything else that the little mermaid has ever seen before in her life.
"Where are we?" Khyraphine asked. "What is this place?"
Elenabelle turn to show Khyraphine around the sacred grottos.
"This is what we call, the Sacred Oasis of Brinedieave." Elenabelle explained and she went on. "It's like a sanctuary for most of us when we have nowhere else to go. A hideout, if you will. But for these creatures, this place is their home."
"Oh wow! It's beautiful here." says Khyraphine in astonishment.
"I know, right?" Elenabelle chuckled as she takes Khyraphine to the other side of the oasis's watery forest. "Come on! My friends's cove is right over the jellyfish aisle."
"Oh!? You lived in a cove with your friends?" Khyraphine wondered.
"Yep. All six of us." Elenabelle answered with a confident smile. "We share the same place. You can say that we're kinda like roommates in a way. But they don't prefer it like that. If anything, they like to think of it as a club for outcasts, kinda like you and me."
"Oh really? Well what are they like?" Khyraphine asked the mermaid.
"You'll see." says Elenabelle.
The two young mermaids continue to swim through the sacred oasis. They come across the jellyfish aisle. The jellyfishes fill the reefs forest with their bioluminescent shifting colors. Khyraphine is in awe of their beautiful display. The jellyfishes greeted the mermaids as they swam pass by the swarm. Once the two aquatic girls made it to the end of the aisle, they have finally arrived at the cove. The place where Elenabelle has called home.
Just as they were halfway to the cove's entry, the mermaids were greeted by a small pod of merfolk who has welcomed Elenabelle back home. There were three young mermen and the other two mermaids. They were all the exact same age as Khyraphine herself. Now she gets to meet with one of them.
One of the mermen swam up to Elenabelle with a friendly embrace.
"Hey! Welcome back, Elenabelle!" greeted the redhead merman.
"Thanks. It's good to be back." says Elenabelle with a warm smile.
"So did you find some more human things out there?" the other merman asked.
"I did." Elenabelle replied. "But I also found something far more interesting. Or perhaps, someone interesting."
"Really? Like who?" says the merman with dark brunette hair.
Then the big muscular merman turns to notice Khyraphine whom is right beside Elenabelle.
"My my! She is a pretty one." said the blue skinned muscular merman. "So who's your new friend right there?"
Elenabelle introduce her friends to the little mermaid princess.
"Everyone! I want you guys to meet Khyraphine." Elenabelle introduced her to the merfolk. "She's into the same thing as us."
The three young mermen were all pleasantly surprised of the fact that Khyraphine is another mermaid who secretly yearns for the dry world humanity. It didn't take them long to get acquainted with each other. The redhead merman is the first to introduce himself to the crown mermaid princess.
"Well it's a pleasure to meet you, Khyraphine." said the redhead merman as he introduce himself. "My name is Rion."
"The pleasure is all mine, Rion." greeted Khyraphine.
Then Elenabelle introduce Khyraphine to the other two mermen.
"This big guy here is Aladiolus." Elenabelle introduce the big muscular blue skinned merman with icy hair.
"Yo!" greeted Aladiolus with a brooding salute.
Khyraphine respond with a shy wave to the merman. And then Elenabelle introduce the last merman.
"And this is Yeon." says Elenabelle, introducing the merman with the ombré moon crescent, cardinal red and light green tail.
"Hello." greeted Yeon with a friendly gesture.
"Why hello there." greeted Khyraphine with a wave.
Aladiolus turns to Elenabelle for some answers.
"So where did you two meet up?" Aladiolus asked.
"Well it's a long story short." said Elenabelle as she continues her side of the story. "We met inside a sunken ship. When a Black Sea Dragon came out of nowhere and tries to eat her and her friends, I had to do something to help her. Thanks to Ottoman who blinded the sea dragon, giving us the chance to escape from the dreadful beast. And we were going our separate ways after the fateful encounter, only to swam into each other again moments ago. Not only that, I come to find out that she's the crown princess of New Mermaidrissia."
Hearing that part of her story really surprises them. They all have heard of the royal family of the rarest kingdom of the sea, but they were not expecting to find themselves in the midst of one's regal presence. To show their respect towards the little mermaid, they were quick to bow down before her.
"Why it's an honor to meet you, your majesty." Aladiolus uttered respectfully.
"Yes, an great honor to meet you, princess." says Yeon, bowing his head.
Although she is flattered by the mermen's response, Khyraphine felt a tad embarrassed of the fact. She could rarely care much for formalities, due to her free spirited nature. So she gently denounce it with her grace.
"Oh please. There's no need to be formal with me. Really." said Khyraphine with grace and warmth in her smile. "Just call me Khyraphine."
"Okay, Khyraphine." says Rion, nodding out of respect.
"Please forgive us for that." said Yeon. "It's just that we have heard of your royal family name, and your kingdom. But we never thought that we get the chance to meet you in person."
"Really?" Khyraphine wondered.
"Yeah. Your reputation does precedes you, Miss Khyraphine." says Yeon as he continued. "Every creature in the seven seas knows who you are. I mean, living in one of the most rarest kingdoms of the sea!? Oh man! Don't you just feel admired by everyone around you or what?"
Then the little mermaid avert her eyes in slight distraught. Despite the fact that she is part of the royal family of the kingdom, she feels differently about it otherwise. Elenabelle knows that too, because she could relate to Khyraphine on a deeper level. The crown mermaid princess shares her honest grievances to the young mermen.
"Well if I were to be honest with you guys, I don't feel like a princess at all." says Khyraphine.
"What? Why is that?" Rion asked in confusion.
Elenabelle swims up to vouch for Khyraphine. And she told them everything on her behalf.
"Because she is more like a free spirit, kinda like us." says Elenabelle.
Aladiolus is starting to see where they're both coming from. So he shares his input to the conversation.
"Hey, it's okay to feel like that you don't belong in an environment you were born into." said Aladiolus and he went on. "Because I went through the same thing when I was growing up. Everyone makes fun of me for being different than them. And the fact that I also have an strong fascination with human beings too."
"We all do!" says Rion, adding in.
"We think that humans have the coolest things up there." said Yeon, also adding in.
That cheered Khyraphine up a bit, knowing that she's not entirely alone in her curiosity of the dry world above. All because they too yearn for the same things as does she. This just in, two more mermaids arrive at the cove. The one mermaid has fairer skin, long sun kissed blonde hair, lavender eyes, and a long purple tail with pinkish hues in her flowing tail fins. And the other mermaid right beside her, she has a lighter tan skin, her eyes are as bright at the tropical sunrise, long flowing brunette hair, and long tail with the shades of an Ombre golden orange to bright pink stripes on the fins.
Elenabelle notice the other two mermaids swimming up to the group.
"Oh hey, Khristina! Hi, Lexie!" Elenabelle greeted aloud. "Nice of you gals to come in."
"Hey, Elenabelle. Welcome back!" cheered Khristina as she hugs the mermaid. "What's the word on the reef?"
"Well... it's kind of a long story." says Elenabelle as she continues her explanation. "So for the short version of it, I just so happen to meet another mermaid who is not only a crown princess of New Mermaidrissia, but she too is into humans as we are."
"Oh is that so?" says Khristina as she turns to notice Khyraphine. "I take it that you must be new around here. Am I right?"
"Yes, that's right." said Khyraphine.
"Well then, how quaint to meet your acquaintance." says Khristina as she introduce herself to the mermaid. "I'm Khristina. I kinda run this little club of ours. But I feel that everybody can share tribute to this group. Just as long as they're human related, that is."
"Oh really? That's wonderful." said Khyraphine and she too introduce herself. "I'm Khyraphine."
"My my! What a beautiful name you have there." said Khristina.
"Thank you." says Khyraphine, abashedly.
The other mermaid, Lexie is less than ecstatic about the prospect. She doesn't care much for meeting new people, and she is not fond of Khyraphine's new arrival to the cove. The blonde mermaid is quite apathetic and mean spirited towards the little mermaid. So by the time she was introduced to Khyraphine, Lexie brush her off with an unwarranted attitude.
"Lexie. This is Khyraphine." Elenabelle introduced the two girls. "She's our new friend and the newest member to our club."
"Hmph! So I've heard." scoffed Lexie as she then turns to glare at Khyraphine. "Just so we are clear, new girl! If you start blabbing about how wonderful your life is, compared to others, you can feel free to leave here."
Then she swims off, leaving the cove. Khyraphine became utterly confused, for she has done nothing wrong to warrant Lexie's spiteful behavior towards her expense. Before she can feel a way about this exchange, Khristina swims to her side and cheers her up a tad.
"Please don't mind her." said Khristina, placing her hands on the mermaid's shoulders. "She always been this way since she join our club nearly three years ago. I'm sure it's nothing personal against you."
"I sure hope so." Khyraphine uttered.
"But look on the bright side, Khyraphine." says Rion, trying to lighten up the mood of the group. "At least you have a few of us to back you up. So you already have my support."
"And my support as well." says Yeon, chiming in after Rion.
"You got my stamp of approval." said Aladiolus, crossing his arms.
Khristina took charge like the club president that she is, and she hovers in mid water right alongside with both Khyraphine and Elenabelle.
"So? All in favor then?" Khristina boasted. "Who votes on our friend, Khyraphine, to join our little club?"
All of the young merfolk raise their hands. They voted for Khyraphine to join their club inside of their cove. All except for Lexie who just glares in disgust before leaving earlier. Khyraphine felt like she now belongs in their club in the Sacred Oasis of Brinedieave. Because of their warm welcoming of her, her sadness of her birthday ball mishap has faded away. Upon entering the cove, she was astonished by all of the human things that the they've collected from multiple shipwrecks on the ocean floor. They've hid their treasures away from the outside reefs.
This just in, the two mermaids' companions came to join them in the cove. Both Wade and Serene were surprised to see all of the human objects laying everywhere on the ledges. Ottoman and Norie gives them a short tour of the merfolk's cove, before joining Khyraphine and Elenabelle along with the young group. After making her announcement, Khristina turns to the little mermaid for she has something to say to her.
"It's official!" Khristina boasted joyfully as she then give Khyraphine a yellow sea flower that matches her tail. "Welcome to our club, Khyraphine."
"Thank you, Khristina." says Khyraphine with joy.
So from these days going onward, Khyraphine would come to the Sacred Oasis of Brinedieave, to visit her new friends in their cove. Whenever she could sneak away from her princess duties, right under her father's nose. Neither does her sisters knows where she could be going days before. They were suspecting that she was avoiding her family, practically her father, King Oriathnius. But that was only partially the case.
Khyraphine would often go on numerous adventures with her best friends, Wade and Serene. And of course with her new friends from the club. They would explore every ends of the oceans, finding and collecting human treasures, all the while evading dangerous sea creatures. Such as sharks, sea serpents, giant octopuses, and many more deep sea monsters. And Khyraphine would often do this behind her father's back. During these days, the young merfolk of the club would tell each other stories about what they've learned about the world above the sea. Stories about heroic people who fought against all kinds of evil. Thus becoming legends themselves long after their time has passed. Large cities, weapons, clothes, and sailing ships, all that were made by man. Seagulls would soar through the clear blue skies, wild beasts that roam on land, and areas that keeps mystical secrets hidden from the outside world.
These stories would fascinate Khyraphine even more. Her imagination fuels her excitement and her curiosity. Alas making the little mermaid yearn to see the dry world above for herself, despite her father dismay. But she is not alone for she has her friends by her side. They all keep their adventures a secret from every other merfolk and sea creatures alike.
Undeterred by their judgement for their fixation, Khyraphine and friends would do everything they can to learn more about humanity and the world they live in, by any means necessary.