Chapter 6: Conversing with a Wife
Ancientmermaimon, ruler of the Mermaid Valley, carried out her responsibilities as usual. From the early hours of the morning, she immersed herself in the crystal-clear waters to oversee the well-being of her kingdom. She organized the distribution of marine resources, ensured the safety of its inhabitants, and attended to any matters that demanded her attention.
The Mermaid Valley, a magical enclave amidst the vast Net Ocean, was home to sea creatures of all shapes and sizes. From the tiniest reef dwellers to majestic creatures of the depths, all found refuge and protection under Ancientmermaimon's rule.
The ancient sunken ruins that comprised the valley bore silent witness to a legendary past. Marble columns rose majestically among the remains, covered with algae and multicoloured corals that gave the place a magical aura. The sun's rays filtering through the water created a play of light and shadow that made the ruins glow with an unreal brilliance.
Ancientmermaimon, with her mane already tinged with white but always impeccably groomed, moved gracefully among the ancient structures of the Mermaid Valley. Her armour, composed of scales in shades of sea blue, gleamed underwater, reflecting the authority and wisdom that emanated from her being. Each scale was meticulously arranged, uniting her essence with that of the ocean she loved so much. A matching helmet extended over her back, where several delicately decorated fins protruded, giving her a majestic and powerful appearance at the same time. Additionally, she carried a golden trident, a symbol of her leadership and dominion over the waters she ruled with firmness.
It seemed like a peaceful day, so she soon retired to her residence, the ancient galleon transformed into an elegant mansion. This was the true heart of the Mermaid Valley. The remains of the ship, probably sunk during the reign of the Dark Masters but before the rise to power of the Three Great Angels, had been carefully restored by Ancientmermaimon and her people. The tattered sails gently waved with the current, recalling its past as a feared sailboat on the seas.
The entrance to the residence, a lacquered door on the starboard side of the ship, had been carefully restored by Ancientmermaimon to cover the hole caused by its sinking. Upon crossing the threshold, a luxuriously decorated interior was revealed, with furniture rescued from the seabed and carefully restored. The mix of styles, from antique furniture to more modern pieces, created a unique and welcoming atmosphere.
Ancientmermaimon patiently awaited the return of her beloved Neptunemon in the main hall, where the rays of light filtered by the water created a play of dancing shadows on the coral walls. Although they had recently married, they had known each other for many years. It seemed like fate. It was said that they were destined to rule the seas together, in the days when her husband's greatness still made itself felt. For now, they were content with the Mermaid Valley and Island Zone.
Ancientmermaimon was immersed in a mixture of anxiety and curiosity as she awaited Neptunemon's return. Her mind wandered between the multiple responsibilities as ruler of the Mermaid Valley, where daily tasks demanded her constant attention, and the strangeness of her husband's delay. He had always been a methodical and exemplary Digimon. He had left for a mysterious family meeting, an event that seemed to be happening more frequently lately. She found it intriguing that the Olympians, known for their past quarrels, were meeting more often, although their relationships were usually tense and fraught with conflict.
Finally, he arrived. Ancientmermaimon watched him attentively as Neptunemon leaned against a nearby coral column. Unlike her, his armor was more sober in comparison, with deep blue tones merging with the shadows of the marine environment. Two red ribbons adorned his armour, and he wore a purple hauberk, the color of great emperors, which gave him an air of nobility and distinction in the middle of the ocean. Neptunemon had a robust build and a penetrating gaze that reflected his strong character and wisdom forged in the vast ocean. His blue helmets with fins matched his armour, but the most notable thing was his trident, metallic gray with the tip elaborated with sharp Tylomon teeth.
"What have you been up to?" asked the mermaid with interest when Neptunemon finally returned. Her tone revealed a mixture of curiosity and concern.
"I told you there was a last-minute Olympian meeting. I had no choice but to attend," he replied, with a hint of doubt in his tone, as if he were evaluating how to handle the situation. He didn't want to involve his wife in the conflict. The less she knew, the better.
"Who called it?" inquired Ancientmermaimon, her eyes searching his for any clues. Her husband being so mysterious was not common, and she wanted to find out what he was hiding.
"Mercurymon," Neptunemon answered, trying to sound confident.
"And what was it about?" she insisted, her furrowed brow denoting her growing intrigue.
"I don't think you'd be interested in knowing," he evaded, trying to steer the conversation towards another topic. "How was your day? I'm sure it was much more exciting than mine."
"But of course, I'm interested. If these meetings are going to take my husband away from home without notice... of course, I'm interested," retorted Ancientmermaimon firmly, her voice indicating that she wouldn't let the matter rest until she got a satisfactory answer.
"Honesty has always been the key to our relationship. Is that going to change now?" he added with a touch of persuasion, seeking to keep the communication open between them.
Neptunemon sighed before responding. "It's dangerous," he finally said, trying to convey the seriousness of the situation. Perhaps his wife would stop asking.
"Do you think I care about danger?" she countered, her defiant tone showing her determination to face any adversity alongside him. "Continue," she insisted. Her husband had no choice but to yield to his wife's stubbornness.
"So in today's meeting, Mercurymon already had a plan, which we should execute," Neptunemon continued after a brief pause, gradually revealing the plot they were involved in. "Well, not all of us. Only four of us. I'm not included. I abstain as much as possible from these things," the sea god tried to justify himself.
Ancientmermaimon looked at him indignantly, feeling the disappointment burning in her chest. She thought she had guessed what her husband had been hiding from her.
"No, darling, I'm not going to participate. If I ever do act, it will always be through peaceful means," she declared firmly, showing her ethical principles and her rejection of violence as a means of conflict resolution. In the past, Neptunemon had had a more irascible nature, but Ancientmermaimon's positive influence had calmed him down.
"And what does this magnificent plan consist of?" she inquired sarcastically, her voice resonating with irony as she challenged the logic of the situation. Her words reflected her skepticism towards the actions of the Olympians and her disbelief at the apparent grandeur of Mercurymon's plan. He was not someone she held in esteem, being the youngest of the remaining Olympians present.
"Marsmon, Minervamon, Apollomon, and Mercurymon will depart in three days to Ophanimon's castle," explained Neptunemon, his grave tone revealing the seriousness of the matter.
"Are they going to kill her?" she asked with concern, fearing the worst for the ruler. They had coincided at some events in the past, and she had found her charming. She couldn't understand why they intended to harm her.
"No, no. They're just going to kidnap her," he replied, trying to calm her fears while sharing the information he had acquired at the meeting. Ancientmermaimon felt momentarily relieved to hear that they did not plan to murder Ophanimon.
Ancientmermaimon frowned at the news. "But why would they want to kidnap Ophanimon?" she asked in confusion, trying to understand the motivations behind such action. It made no sense to her.
Neptunemon sighed, feeling the weight of the truth on his shoulders. "The Olympians are trying to regain control," he confessed, revealing the true reason behind Mercurymon and the others' plan.
Ancientmermaimon looked at Neptunemon with a mixture of disbelief and sadness. "What do you think about all this?" she asked, seeking to understand her husband's perspective amidst the complicated situation.
Neptunemon lowered his gaze for a moment before responding honestly. "Sometimes, I miss the old times when we were important and powerful," he admitted, his voice laden with nostalgia and sorrow. He especially felt somewhat powerless. Mercurymon's words in the first meeting had hurt his pride more than he had thought.
Ancientmermaimon nodded with understanding, feeling empathy for her husband's pain. Although she did not completely share his feelings, she understood the weight of the responsibility they had borne on their shoulders in the past. "I understand how you feel," she said softly, placing a hand on his in a gesture of support. "But we must remember that our duty now is to maintain peace and stability, even if it means relinquishing certain ambitions of the past." Neptunemon replied by remaining silent. It seemed that, for him, there was no turning back.
Ancientmermaimon regretted having insisted so much on knowing that information. When they got married, she had admitted to being part of the Olympian world, but she had never imagined that those family ties would lead to such dangers and suicidal decisions. "You know what? I think it's time for us to go on our honeymoon," she suggested, trying to steer the conversation towards something more positive and comforting. "We need to get away from all this for a while. There are many marine territories we haven't explored together yet. What do you think of Macro Sea, also known as the North Sea? Or maybe we could visit the Proxy Islands. They're beautiful at this time of year..."
"It's not a very suitable time," Neptunemon objected.
"That's exactly why. We'll get away from the bad stuff," she insisted with a sweet and compassionate smile. "We can't let this trap us. And we've been procrastinating for too long."
Neptunemon nodded with a slight smile, grateful for his wife's attempt to bring some joy to their lives amidst the uncertainty. "We'll go wherever you want, my love," he replied tenderly. "You know I'm always looking forward to being by your side." Ancientmermaimon smiled again, feeling comforted by Neptunemon's response.
"Proxy islands?" the mermaid inquired.
"Proxy islands," her husband repeated with determination.
"Then we'll leave in four days," she decided, feeling excitement at the prospect of escaping together to a quiet and beautiful place. "I'll take care of everything here and in Island Zone. I'll find a charming hotel, and everything will be ready in no time."
"I thought you'd prefer to leave as soon as possible," Neptunemon pointed out with curiosity, although his concern was not entirely hidden.
Ancientmermaimon calmly nodded, trying to maintain composure in the face of imminent uncertainty. "There are many things to prepare," she explained, trying to mask the whirlwind of thoughts that engulfed her. "Besides, if the kidnapping doesn't go as expected, I don't think you'll be in danger," she added, trying to instill confidence in both her husband and herself.
Neptunemon looked at her with concern, knowing that Ancientmermaimon's reassuring words were not enough to dispel his fears. "We'll run," he corrected. He feared that his involvement in the revolution would put his beloved wife in danger, but he also felt obligated to fulfill his responsibilities as an Olympian. "Okay," he finally accepted, although part of him still feared for her safety. "In four days sounds perfect," he added, trying to convince himself that everything would go according to plan.
Ancientmermaimon observed the worried expression on Neptunemon's face and realized that his fears were not unfounded. "We'll be fine," she assured with a calm smile, trying to convey confidence to him.
However, Neptunemon couldn't help but think about the irony of the situation. They had waited so long to enjoy their honeymoon, but now, instead of escaping worries and dangers, they were forced to face them together. Still, he harbored hope that, at least, they would be united in this new trial that fate had in store for them. Besides, he knew that Ancientmermaimon was a formidable fighter, capable of defending herself in adverse situations. However, he was also aware that the enemies they would face were powerful, and they couldn't underestimate the danger they represented.
"We'll face whatever comes," murmured Neptunemon, trying to convince himself as much as Ancientmermaimon. "At least we'll be together to defend each other," he added, clinging to the idea that their union would be their greatest strength in times of adversity.
Ancientmermaimon nodded, recognizing the bravery despite the pessimism in Neptunemon's words. "You're right," she responded with reinforced optimism, trying to infect him with it. "After all, how bad could our luck be to be attacked just on our honeymoon?"
Neptunemon smiled at his wife's confidence. "Let's hope you're right," he said, feeling a little relieved to see her so sure of herself.
Together, they began to make plans for their trip, trying to leave behind, for a moment, the worries and focus on enjoying their time together before destiny brought them back to the danger looming on the horizon.