Chapter 29

Metalicana sat on his coral throne and watched his son battle his way through the festival rankings. His shoulder length hair held the braids and shells of a seasoned warrior and his opponents once again trembled in fear as they faced the reigning champion. Metalicana hid his smirk behind a closed fist and watched Gajeel unarm yet another opponent. Murmurs drifted through the crowd, the events six moons prior still fresh in the merfolk's minds.

Rumors of his son's prior exploits spread through Isghar like a raging sea current. For more sun cycles than Metalicana could count, the city markets and currents had been filled with nothing but the hushed talks of the prince's shortened hair and the human princess he had fallen in love with. The sea dragon was a simple bubble in the waters of more interesting rumors.

Of course, there were many who thought to take advantage of the royal family's weakened state, but with honor and determination, Gajeel laid the rebellious thoughts to rest once and for all. Metalicana felt his chest swell with pride at the thought of his son finally becoming the wise ruler Metalicana always knew he could be.

"Your Majesty," Juvia's soft voice came from his shoulder.

Clearing his throat, Metalicana rose from his throne to begin the hair cutting ceremony. His tail twinged, the blackened scales at his side catching on one another. The court healers had repaired most of the damage caused by Acnologia's magic, but Metalicana still bore a small badge of honor at his side. It was a mark to forever remind himself of the importance of family, of the honor of swimming alongside one's own offspring as they traveled the ocean of life.

Metalicana cleared his throat to hide his grimace, but he was too late. Gajeel winced and ducked his head to look at the sand beneath his tail. Metalicana bit back a sigh and began the hair cutting ceremony.

Sometimes I wish he were as oblivious and swam by the tail of his fins as he used to be…

As happy as he was to see his son showing signs of being a successful ruler in his own right, Metalicana found himself missing the way things used to be. The sun cycles of the past when he had to chase Gajeel throughout the waters of the kingdom or ignore the human treasures he brought home after each adventure. Metalicana missed the brashness in Gajeel's actions, the restlessness in his fins. Curiosity filling his eyes until his face shone like the sun high above their ocean. The light was now gone, but Metalicana knew exactly how to help it return.

Metalicana's chest tightened and he called his trusted advisor to his throne room as soon as the festival was over.

"I need you to contact the surface bird," he told Juvia, tightening his grip on his ever present trident. "Tell her to make an audience with the human king."

The water was filled with murmurs as an entire entourage of merfolk swam closely behind their king. Gajeel quietly followed, having learned over the last few months, as the humans called them, that it is better to listen first before asking any questions he may have. Questions certainly rose to the top of Gajeel's mind, but he settled with glaring at the back of his father's head, feeling his newfound sense of responsibility disappearing by the bubble.

His father had been highly suspicious over the last few sun cycles, claiming he was investing in the future of Ishgar and even going as far as to send out Juvia on multiple diplomatic trips. Gajeel tried sending Lily after the elusive blue crab, but even he was unable to track down exactly what the king's advisor was up to.

Gajeel shook his head, ornamented with new braids and the gleaming shells his father gifted him as an early seasonal current present. He kicked his fins, catching up to his father.

Metalicana swam them through an intricate outcropping of pure white coral, which twisted and turned until it formed a large, gleaming shelf. Gajeel felt his tail slow, the water above them growing brighter the closer they came to the surface. The murmurs increased until the merfolk no longer bothered to hide their excitement. With a chuckle, Metalicana stopped at Gajeel's side.

"Not getting cold fins, are we? Hasn't it been many moons since you last came to the surface?"

Gajeel cleared his throat, willing the bubbles in his chest to disappear. "Well, yes, but I thought–"

"As this is an official order from your king," Metalicana waved his trident at the merfolk behind them, "you will just have to follow my lead."

Brow furrowing, Gajeel watched as two mermaids swam to his side. They picked at his braids and adjusted the shells woven into his hair. They brushed sea fern salve onto his back and arm fins until they flashed silver. They reached down to touch his tail, but Gajeel jerked his tail out of the way before they could catch his fins.

"What in the Seven Seas–"
Metalicana sighed and grabbed his arm. "I suppose you're as presentable as you'll ever be. Too bad first impressions are already gone. I don't suppose you can keep your hair from floating away so it looks longer, can you?"

Gajeel stared at his father, blinking in the sun-kissed water. The merking sighed again.

What is he…

"If you don't close your mouth you'll catch a flying fish. And what would she say then, huh?"

Metalicana dragged him through the water, tisking and muttering to himself.

"Wait, what's going on?" He looked over his shoulder at Juvia, who smirked and scuttled along with the rest of the entourage. His tail twinged and he looked down at his friend.

"Lily? Do you know–"

"...I promised not to tell…I promised not to tell…I promised–"

Gajeel growled and shook his tail fin to dislodge his traitorous best friend. He tugged at his arm, but his father's grip remained firm even in his advanced age. The group of merfolk quickly followed after, their excited chatter making Gajeel's pulse pound in his chest. Gajeel held his breath as the group broke the surface. He blinked against the bright sun blinking on the surface of the water and the murmurs around him stopped.

A school of rowboats bobbed in the water, each filled with as many humans as they could hold. His father let go of his hand and regally swam through the boats, the humans turning in their seats to watch him drift past. Gajeel slowly followed, tail twitching and splashing. His head jerked to scan each rowboat., trying to spot a familiar patch of short, blue hair.

"Gajeel!"

A sweet, sweet voice cried out his name and a patch of bright blue hair flashed in the sunlight. Gajeel dashed towards his human, only to be jerked to a halt by his tail fin. He winced and growled at his father, hearing human laughter float around him. His face turned warm.

He glanced back at Levy and saw her stumble backwards in her rowboat. Her cheeks turned an adorable shade of pink and her father rolled his eyes at her. Metalicana grunted and moved towards a raised piece of coral sitting out of the water.

He effortlessly lifted himself from the water and positioned his tail into a comfortable position with his trident resting gently on top of his scales. Lily released his suction from his tail and Gajeel lifted himself onto the coral between his father. Levy's rowboat gently floated closer to the coral seat. Levy peeked up at him and smiled. Gajeel could hardly breathe.

Levy sat as graceful as a sea fern at her spot in the front of the rowboat. She wore a long, yellow covering he had never seen before with a piece of thin, white fabric tied around her shoulders. Her pearly skin turned sunkissed and warm, her soft pink lips bringing the memory of their kiss fresh to his mind. Lucy positioned herself close behind his human and held a shading tool over Levy's head. The shade did nothing to hide Levy's adorable pout and Gajeel gripped the coral tightly, forcing himself to remain seated instead of jumping into the rowboat with her.

The human king cleared his throat and stroked the whitened hair at his chin. "I thank all of the honored guests who have come to bear witness to this momentous occasion. Two peoples have gathered here together, one of the earth and one of the sea, in the hopes of creating a lasting peace and friendship between our two nations."

The king paused and looked to Gajeel. Gajeel startled when every one of his fellow merfolk turned to look at him.

"Well?" his father prompted.

Face warming under the sun, Gajeel cleared his throat and translated as best as he could. Metalicana nodded, tilting his head closer.

"I still don't get how you know what they're sayin' when they talk that fast," he whispered, stroking his own chin.

Gajeel shrugged, "I had several sun cycles where I was forced ta only listen."

"Hmm, I suppose I should start practicing more then." He looked around at the humans staring at them in awe.

Gajeel shifted, but before he could question his father further, the human king continued his speech.

"As promised, I have brought my daughter to discuss the topic at hand. I have given it a great deal of thought, and I am highly supportive of an arranged marriage between our two peoples."

Levy and the other humans gasped and Gajeel nearly slipped off the coral shelf.

Metalicana cleared his throat, his voice suspiciously light. "What did he say?"

Gajeel shook his head, scratching at the decorations in his hair. "I don't…he wants me to…I can marry Levy?"

"Is that so," his father hummed, a gleam in his eye.

His father winked before turning to the human king. "Human female make good mate for son. Make him behaving, gihee."

Levy snorted and Gajeel held back a snarl.

"Marriage gifting for offspring, promise from king."

The trident gleamed in his father's hand. Humans and merfolk held their breaths as Metalicana dipped the gleaming prongs into the water directly below Gajeel's tail. Gajeel watched the water turn golden and shimmering, tendrils of bright light flowing from the trident to where he sat on the coral. It traveled up the shelf and surrounded his tail and body in a glimmering light. His scales tingled as if a thousand starfish crawled across his scales.

His tail stretched and pulled and in a flash became two legs once again. He ran his hands along his new body, which was covered in the same black pants white shirt he wore as a human. His skin turned a dark tan, his teeth smoothed and the fins along his face and ears disappeared, leaving behind small disks that adorned his face.

Cheers and whistles erupted from the spectators. Gajeel grinned at Levy, heart full and bursting. A shimmering light floated away from her rowboat and back to his father's trident. Metalicana lifted the trident out of the water, each of the three prongs a dull, gold. Metalicana took a deep breath and addressed the human king.

"Prince and princess still learning things," he gestured between him and Levy, "Having many moon cycles before ceremony. Must learning more."

King Makarov nodded, "I agree, they still have much to learn about each other. You have my word that we will treat your son with the respect he deserves."

"Human princess alsoing," Metalicana gestured to the merfolk behind him.

A mermaid swam to Levy's rowboat and handed her a bright red sea flower. Gajeel rose to his feet, quickly testing his new legs. He needed to get to Levy, to feel her warmth and to see her smiling face up close. To hold her and kiss her again. He hopped to a lower part of the coral shelf and looked up just in time to see the mermaid yank Levy out of the rowboat and into the water. Bubbles rose to the surface.

"Levy!" Gajeel cried, hearing echoing gasps around him, and jumped into the water.

He sank deeply beneath the waves. His lungs tightened and he frantically waved his arms and legs, remembering at the last moment to hold his breath. He twisted and turned, scrunching his eyes as he waited for the curtain of bubbles to disappear. White coral surrounded him and he bobbed gently in the water, feeling strangely light. The tightness in his lungs eased and something floated past his vision.

He twisted, seeing his gray and silver tail float in front of him.

"What…"

"Um…Gajeel?"

Gajeel turned at the sound of Levy's voice. He froze, heart pounding as he stared at Levy.

The prettiest mermaid he had ever seen swam upside down in front of him. Her smooth, pearly skin was covered in yellow and cream scales from her neck to her torso, and darkened until they became a deep orange at her waist. A dark orange tail floated above her head, her cream colored tail fin dangling helplessly in front of her face. Levy's short, blue hair floated every which way in the water, but did nothing to hide the confused glare she aimed his way. Gajeel gulped, his face turning warm.

"Quite staring and help me, you dummy!" she squeaked and chirped, a current twisting her until she was even more lopsided.

Gajeel shook off his shock and smirked at his once-human. Her eyes widened as he came closer, but turned to sharp spears when he twisted upside down.

"Did ya already figure out our language? I knew you were smart," he said with a chuckle, taking her gently by the arm to straighten her out.

Levy waved her hands in small circles, which only started turning her again. "W-what? I don't…think I have?"

Gajeel threw his head back and laughed.

Now I see why magic disappeared long ago!

Levy squeaked and tilted, flapping around like a fish out of water. A booming laugh floated on the current next to them. Metalicana drew up along side them, his teeth flashing in a grin much too smug for Gajeel's liking. His father patted him on the shoulder and tilted his head to catch Levy's eyes.

"I see my son is already doing his duty and assisting you, Your Highness," his eyes sparkled and Gajeel growled. "Your father has given us permission to host you for a few sun cycles, so do make yourself at home. I trust you to make our guest is comfortable, son.

Gajeel grunted as his father thumped him heavily on the back.

"I expect both of you to be present at the end of the sun cycle for dinner!" Metalicana swam away in a peal of laughter, his entourage following closely behind.

Gajeel turned back to Levy, holding out his hands so she could grab hold.

"Ah, and don't worry," Gajeel glanced over his shoulder at the sound of his father's voice, "as soon as either of you return to the surface, your skin will dry and your tail will disappear. You are both heirs to your kingdoms, so we can't have you stuck in one place, now can we?"

Gajeel gaped and Levy stammered. Metalicana waved and finally swam away, leading the rest of the merfolk back to Ishgar. Levy wiggled her tail and tilted backwards. Gajeel bit back a grin and swam in a circle around Levy; his father's rushed explanation could wait for later.

"It could be worse, ya know," he said, ducking his head to avoid a flailing arm, "we don't have any stairs ya gotta figure out how ta use."

Levy cringed, "I'm sorry I laughed so much at you, so please don't tease me…"

"Gihee, too late fer that, Shrimp!"

Gajeel watched her flap and flop for a moment longer before finally having mercy.

"Here," he said, taking hold of both her hands, "relax yer core, lean forward and let the water lift ya up. Slowly move your tail up and down."

Levy followed his directions and slowly righted herself in the water. She tilted and wobbled slightly, but after just a quarter of a tide she was able to slowly swim in a straight line. Her tail propelled her forward and Gajeel wrapped an arm around her waist. The bright sun shone down through the waters above them and colorful fish swam past. Lily tried suctioning onto Levy's new tail, but a clack of Juvia's claws drew him away.

"C'mon," Gajeel murmured, tilting his head to place a lingering kiss on Levy's lips, "this time I get ta show you my world."

The End

Thank you so much for reading my story, even though it took me forever to finish! It was a lot of fun to write :D I hope you all have a great week and I'll see you next time! Stay safe and God Bless :)