Kawaii-Cherri: Well, here it is, the confirmation chapter of what's actually going on. I've got big plans for this Fanfic, might even have some whole... government conspiracy stuff. Haven't decided yet. I hope you enjoy!

Chapter eleven: Part of your world.

Sebastian breathed in deeply and dove into the water, feeling the ice-cold surf cover his entire body. It was pure instinct when his body began to change. Scales erupted from his skin and he felt webbing begin to meld his fingers together; his legs disappeared as they became wrapped in thick muscle and his fins split away like a fine paper cut. There was a brief ripple of pain while his vertebrae burst through his skin, developing into sharp points, and growing flexible cartilage as skin joined the bones together to create a large dorsal sail. It took merely moments for him to become completely unrecognisable as his skin darkened with navy blues, black and striped variations of grey and his body metamorphosised into another form. He breathed in deeply, the water filling his lungs and burning harshly before his gills slit open down the side of his ribs. With another deep inhale, Sebastian felt his secondary set of gills open; they were on his throat and helped him absorb oxygen when in stationary water. He clicked his teeth together, satisfactorily; they were sharp and pointed like the larger sharks that roamed the waters. With a couple of blinks, he could see around him clearly. It was with practised ease that he turned to face deeper water and began to swim forward.

He was only a teenager when his curse first manifested. A terrible sickness came over him and he felt as if his entire body was tearing itself apart. It lasted months and had stages, from being able to barely breathe unless in a humid room to suffering from severe skin issues, such as becoming dry and severely raw; like he had suffered third degree burns. It was around his time that his skin started to secrete the toxin and it hadn't stopped since. Sebastian hadn't wanted to worry his mother and as he legitimately thought he was going to die because of his symptoms, he had turned to Demetrius and his step-father had been the one to help him. Demetrius had also set the rules that Sebastian lived by, they had kept him and everyone else safe and there had only been one incident. It had involved Maru trying to wake him and she had touched his skin, receiving a large dose of the toxin and it caused her to go into shock. Luckily, Demetrius had already created the reversal antidote and when she awoke, she didn't remember a thing. Sebastian had kept everyone at arm's length since then.

There was a reason why he had returned to the ocean this morning. Normally, the only reason he swam was because if he didn't, his skin would crack and bleed after about a month. Not even a salt water substitute worked. Today was different though, he had purpose. Sebastian swam carefully from rock to rock, using seaweed and any sort of shipwrecks for cover. Just like on land, the sea had its own monsters hiding in the depths. Although Sebastian was over an impressive twelve foot long, there were things that wouldn't hesitate to take a bite out of him. Finally, he found the cave he was looking for and swam inside.

The inside seemed to be made from mother-of-pearl, it decorated every inch of the interior. Almost as if a large shell had been buried into rock and coral; perhaps a reminder of a monster that had since long passed. In the middle of the cave on a pedestal was a deep blue conch shell. Sebastian circled it a couple of times, wondering if it was the right thing to do. He sighed as he looked along the length of his tail, while it was powerful it was also very decorative with many fins and shining luminescent patterns that wove across his scales. With a swift movement he swept up the conch and held it in his hands, turning it over as he contemplated.

It had been almost five months since that night at the Saloon and his heart was heavier than ever. His relationship with Elspeth was something he treasured; they had shared many things. Secrets, desires, fears. While he was becoming more comfortable with touch, he kept a healthy distance and wouldn't allow any… spontaneous interactions, just in case there was the possibility of Elspeth catching his skin. Demetrius had obviously discovered that Sebastian hadn't isolated himself from the young farmer and there were almost weekly arguments about her safety. Sebastian pointed out that now he knew of Elspeth's day to day life, there was almost no chance of her catching him in his alternate form.

Sebastian held up the conch in one hand. 'For you, Elsie,' he whispered to himself before he blew into the thin tapered end. It made a deep bellowing noise that seemed to vibrate through the water. Sebastian felt the pressure around him increase and he winced, uncomfortable. Though he was more acclimatised to deeper and colder water, it didn't mean it was pleasant. The echo seemed to ripple and he put down the conch, he knew it wouldn't be long and so he waited patiently. Curiously, he looked around at some of the stones that littered the floor. Perhaps he could give one to Elspeth; she got excited when she found jewels in the cavern and these were just as sparkly. They would probably sparkle even more so in the sunlight and not just lit by small glowing patches of algae.

He had found a couple he liked the shape of and was deciding between the two when he heard it. Singing. It was a calming, soothing tune and became louder and louder. Sebastian turned to face the entrance of the cave and that was when she entered. Her long, blue, slightly shimmery hair floated around her as she paused, halting herself by holding onto the cave walls. Green scales covered her tail and rippled with iridescence as it swayed behind her. 'There you are, sky-child!' She said in pure joy. He wasn't given much of a chance to say anything as the mermaid swam forward and pulled him into a deep embrace, holding him close to her chest. Seashells and pearls were strung everywhere; around her neck, wrists, waist and woven throughout her hair. He twisted and squirmed but she didn't relent, stroking his hair and grabbing at his fins. 'Look at how much you've grown!' She cooed. 'I have not seen you in this form for many, many years!' She squeals.

With a final wriggle he slipped out of her grip and shook his head. One of her seashells had fallen into his hair and he felt it get caught. It took a moment for him to pick it out and he rolled his eyes as he offered it back to her. 'Hello, Calypso,' he said, a small smile on his features. 'You've gotta be careful-'

'Oh, hush, sky-child, you know that your skin does not hurt me,' she said as she swam around him, pulling at his fins again and running her hands down his tail. 'My, you really have grown into a fine young mer.'

'My toxin might not hurt you but I still have spines in my fins,' he pointed out as he curled his tail up to his chest to stop her from pulling and poking at him. 'I need to talk to you,' Sebastian said as she finally gave him some space. She raised a brow and picked up the conch, taking a seat on the outcrop, waiting to hear what he wished to ask. Sebastian cleared his throat, 'Calypso… I need to know…' he began as the current caused him to drift around her. He looked down at his tail and skin, 'will… I always be like this?' Sebastian asked.

Calypso tilted her head. 'You will always have two forms, that is the way you were born,' she said simply. There was no need for pleasantries, their relationship wasn't based on surface level politeness, it went deeper than that.

Sebastian sighs and shakes his head. 'No. Not that. I mean… this. Like this. Toxic,' he said bluntly as he looked away from her and at the stone he held clenched in his hand.

Her heart panged for him and she purses her lips. 'Sky-child. I told you the first time that I knew you were blessed. You are the one who controls your fate,' she said softly. 'It has been almost thirty generations since there was another like yourself. The magic does not reveal itself to just anyone,' Calypso said as she waved her hand and created a series of tiny pin prick lights that shaped themselves to her will. She waved her hand and they created a picture of two hearts. 'When two souls are bound,' she said as the lights turned into a depiction of a mermaid necklace, 'there is a chance that either one of the two souls, or even both will become reborn. There is an even greater chance that a child created by these two souls will be touched by the sea. If their love is true that is,' Calypso smiles and looks at Sebastian who had his arms crossed. 'When their hearts awaken.'

He flicked his tail in annoyance. 'That doesn't solve my problem,' he said. 'I can't touch anyone without risking their life,' he mutters.

Her eyes widened and she leapt forward, grabbing his face with her webbed hands. 'Oh, my, by the shells,' she said as she looked into his black eyes. 'You have found a love!' Calypso squealed as she squeezed his cheeks. 'You wish to show her the dance of desire? The winding of wonder? Eternity's embrace?'

Sebastian wished he could drown. 'Please, stop,' he said through squished cheeks.

She giggled and squealed in delight, spinning him around in a circle as she held his hands. Suddenly, she stops when she realises the problem. 'Oh… but you cannot show her your love as she may get hurt,' she said, sadly. 'My sky-child, I cannot help you… I'm sorry.'

'Why?' Sebastian said as he looked at her with frustration. 'You know what's going on with me. You know what I am and how I came to be… yet you can't tell me how to actually survive with this curse!' He snapped, feeling his teeth grind together.

Calypso sighed and swam over to the conch, picking it up and placing it back in its original place. 'Sebastian,' she said seriously as she looked over at him. 'If I told you step by step how to correct what you wish… it wouldn't work. This has to be something that you solve,' Calypso sighs and swims back over to Sebastian. She can see the frustration on his face and it pained her to see it, it felt cruel but it was unfortunately the way the magic worked. The last mer that was born under the sky became blind during their metamorphosis. It could take a while but they all figured it out in the end, she was sure that Sebastian would be no exception. She brushed his hair back from his face, looking into his eyes. Calypso could tell that if they weren't underwater that his tears would fall freely. 'Have you told her how you feel?'

Sebastian chuckles and flicks his tail derisively. 'You assume it's a woman?' He said to joke. Her face paled in response and he gave her a weak smile to ease any guilt she felt. 'It's okay,' he reassures. 'Also, no. I've not told her. I can't. It feels too empty,' Sebastian admitted. 'We could be lying on her bed and I'm completely covered, hood up and everything and I look over at her; wanting to say something but I know that all I'll desire to do after I speak is embrace her. Kiss her. Show her how I feel,' he sighed.

The mermaid giggles and pinches his cheek lightly, making him scowl and brush her hand aside. 'Sky-child, I did not mean about your feelings,' she said as she took his hand as pulled him to follow her. He didn't resist and swam beside her as she led him out the cave and into shallower water. The sun had risen and illuminated the corals that grew and thrived. He could see all the different types of fish and plants; it presented an odd type of serenity. Calypso leaned on Sebastian's shoulder as they watched the creatures dart back and forth. 'I was talking about your blessing. Look at this. How many of those under the sky can enjoy this? Our world is filled with just as much wonder and danger as that on land and you get to have both!' She said as she smiled at him motioning with her hand at the landscape in front of them.

He sighs and looks back at her, 'I understand what you're trying to say but Calypso, what good is all this when I'm living in complete isolation? Fearing that I could hurt those I care about,' he said, noticing something on her wrist. He made a mental note to ask her about it, it was different from all the other trinkets she wore.

Shaking her head, she placed her hand on his chest. 'You need to let go of your fear. Tell her. About how you feel, about who you truly are. Only then will you have taken hold of your fate,' she says hoping he'll hear what she's trying to convey. They drifted in silence for a moment and simply enjoyed the scene before them. Calypso tugged on his hand, 'come sky-child. I need a few things, you can help me gather them,' she said simply as she dove towards the reef. It would be payment for her time and advice, something that she had discussed with him when she first spoke of the summoning conch.

She showed him what she was looking for and he helped her search for certain shells and plants, bringing them back to her to place in the woven bag that she had over her shoulder. Calypso sang lightly as they foraged and Sebastian enjoyed the simplicity of the task. Most fish left him alone and it meant that he really didn't have to worry about any of the smaller, surprisingly dangerous creatures. He batted a small jellyfish away with his hand and reached down to pick up one of the shells Calypso needed.

She swam past and he caught up with her easily, 'what is your bracelet?' He asks as they pause, floating beneath the current. Calypso lifted her arm and looked at her wrist.

'I assume you mean this one?' She replied, touching it. It was some sort of braided material in blues and greens, woven together it was pretty. In the middle there was a set of scales, ranging in size, smaller on the outside, there were three matching pairs and in the middle of the scales was an oval stone in mother of pearl green and a white pearl. The largest scales were a glittering white, the scales under that were green, and then the smallest set were blue.

'It's beautiful,' he said, honestly.

Calypso grins, 'it's apt that you've asked about it, actually. It is… a representative of my bond,' she tried to explain in a way he'd understand. 'The stone and pearl were chosen by my mate, then these white scales are his. Those ones are mine, and these, these are our child's,' she says with a smile. 'Scale removal can hurt,' she said as she showed him a small scar on her hip from where hers had been taken. 'Our child's scales are taken from when they shed in growth, so don't be concerned about that,' she laughs. 'If our parents were alive, we'd have their scales on our bracelets as well.'

Sebastian panicked, 'have I taken you away from your child?' He asked looking at her in worry.

She laughs and shakes her head, 'do not fear, sky-child. My child has but long grown and started their own pod,' she assures. Sebastian remembered that merpeople live incredibly long lives; Calypso had promised to take Sebastian to her homeland when his time on the shore had come to its end and his family had all moved on. He'd outlive them all, unfortunately.

He fell quiet as he contemplated if it is something that he should do. Calypso smiles at him and places a hand on his shoulder. 'Find a pearl and make one for your love. Oh… the braided material is my hair, along with my mate's. You do not have to use hair though,' she giggles. Sebastian smiled in relief, Calypso's eyes drifting back over the reef. Suddenly, Sebastian was tackled and thrown into the sand. He panicked and thrashed before realising it was Calypso who had driven him into the ground. She placed her hand over his mouth and shook her head. 'Shhh,' she whispered. Sebastian looked around, thinking it was some sort of monster that was resilient to even this amount of sun. It was worse.

'Elsie!' He said through her fingers as his eyes widened in panic.

Whomp, so there you have it!

Be well. Stay safe.