Stories by TrainerKelly

PLEASE NOTE: This is a ROUGH DRAFT. It is the VERY FIRST DRAFT OF THE STORY. YOU are the very first person to read it – I haven’t even read it in its entirety yet!

You WILL come across numerous issues including:

• spelling mistakes;
• grammar issues;
• weak sentence structure;
• repeated words;
• unnecessary words;
• missing words;
• lack of details/descriptions;
• confusing details/descriptions;

Critiques/criticisms, while appreciated, most likely will be discarded at this stage! Thank you.

Additional Note: Doodles, Sketches, and Artwork may be added over time. These are not the story illustrations! They do feature characters and places within the story, however.

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Brent  shot up from his bed. He felt as if he were buzzing. He slipped out and opened his curtians. The rising sun greeted him with its gentle, warm glow and the night sky seemed to wave good-bye. He opened up the windows and took in the fresh air. The last bit of grogginess he was experienced washed away with the breeze that brushed his face as it poured in through the window and flooded his room. 

Brent quickly got dressed and left, rushing down the corridor. He walked into the servants quarters and looked at the servants schedule one more time with nervous anticipation, only to be grinning up to his ears.

Listed on the schedule for the late afternoon was Brent assisting Angelica with her ball gown. I cannot believe it is still here. I cannot belive it did not change. 

Brent couldn’t fathom how he was fortunate to have been assigned such an important duty. It didn’t even bother him with the fact that he wasn’t going to be the only one – Bedelia and Natalia were both going to be there too. Okay, sure, he didn’t really like the idea of Bedelia being there, but just the fact he was even going to be within the vicintiy to assist with Angelica getting ready for the ball was more than enough. This was exactly why he needed to get the choker done today. He tapped his pocket, checking to make sure it was still in there.

Brent quickly skimmed over the rest of his schedule – he was to first help set up the ballroom with the final touches for tonight’s ball, then the kitchen for additional ballroom preparations. From there, he was to report to the dressing room and be on stand-by beside Princess Angelica’s newest dress that was to arrive later today. 

Brent began to tremble. He could not wait to get the day started. 

***

Brent stared up at the dress that had been wheeled in not too long ago. He could only imagine what Angelica would like wearing it, with its boned top and skirt made of layers upon layers of tulle. And what he could imagine, he knew she would be absolutely beautiful, even if she continued to look miserable at the ball. 

He pulled a small book out of his pocket and leaned against the wall. The book’s cover appeared to be well-loved with its rough edges and fading ink. The binding appeared to be curling, but the book held together surprisingly well. It was simply tilted “Air Magic Notes”. Brent had no idea if he had any genuine magic power – although in all honesty, he suspected he did – but the book was interesting to him. It was written by King Aerlden, before he was king – back when he was just a simple court mage. The notes were brief and to the point, but detailed enough for Brent to follow along. A part of him longed to try them for himself, but fear of him causing harm stopped him. 

I wonder how much of the ability described in here is a natural gift or due to hard work? Brent looked at his own hand. He wjggled his fingers, as if trying to warm them up somehow. A faint blue glow began to surround his hand. His stomach clenched, noticing the faint outline. 

“Brent, bring the dress, now!” 

Brent jumped, whipping his head towards the door. He stuffed the book back into his pocket and ran behind the dress. “Yes, ma’am!” he replied, watching Bedelia promptly turning her back to him. Brent’s heart pounded as he pushed the dress out the door. 

Brent stumbled forward as Bedelia swiped the dress from him and whealed it behind the partition. 

“Natalia, get back here!” yelled Bedelia. 

Natalia and Brent exchanged smiles before Natalia raised her hand. “Yes, Ms. Bedelia!” 

Just before Natalia slipped behind the curtain, she said, “The princess requested her baby pink folding fan with the dark pink sparkles. I need you to grab it!” She winked and disappeared behind the paritition. 

Brent mumbled “yes” under his breath as he turned his attention briefly to the curtain. Although he couldn’t see anything in detail, he could still see the outline of Angelica’s body. He watched the sihollhoute of her bathrobe drop to the floor and her standing with nothing on, surrounding by both Bedelia and Natalia on either side. He smirk spread across his face, which quickly softened as his heartbeat dropped. I can’t even see how she fully looks, but I can tell she is just so beautiful. He watched Bedelia and Natalia quickly dress Angelica just like a doll.

Brent suddenly felt jolted. He looked around, only to remember there was no clock in the room. Her fan! He ran out of the room, down the corridor, going one floor up to Angelica’s bedroom. He quickly, but quietly opened her door and slipped right in. He held his breath, feeling as if he was doing something he wasn’t supposed to be doing. He walked over to her armoire and opened the double doors. He turned his head to his right, scanning the long row of folded fans hanging off from it on hooks. He spotted the requested fan, grabbed it, shut the armoire, and slipped back out of the room. 

Brent’s eyes met with Angelica’s as he entered back into the room. He couldn’t even breath a word. His face lit up as he watched her’s do the same. Angelica skipped up to him, exclaiming, “Oh, Brent, you brought my fan!” 

Brent presented the fan to Angelica. “Yes, of course Princess Angelica, anything you desire, I will do my best to fulfill your request,”

Brent shivered ever so slightly as Angelica brushed her fingers against his hand as she was taking the fan out of it. They looked at each other right in the eyes: Brent’s was just screaming about how beautiful Angelica looked. Angelica’s seemed to be asking him what he thought about her. 

Just as Angelica finished removing the fan from Brent’s hands, Bedelia stepped in between them. She leered at Brent, who returned it right back to her. Bedelia slightly turned her heads towards Princess Angelica, keeping her angered gaze on Brent. “Princess, there is no time!” 

“You keep saying that! It’ll take no time at all – just watch,” said Angelica. She yanked the tie that was in her hair, allowing her wet hair to settle on her back.

Brent silently snickered watching Bedelia become speechlessly flustered as Angelica walked passed her to the lit vanity. With swift movements, Angelica used her fan and air magic to quickly dry her hair and flair out her her bangs. His smirk grew as Angelica whipped her head back at Bedelia with smugness. “I told you it would not take me all that long.” 

Bedelia clicked her tongue.

Brent laughed internally. 

Brent’s attention briefly turned away from Angelica, who was putting on her tiara, by Natalia who let out a whispery gasp and ran out from behind the partition, holding a pair of heels from behind the partition. 

“I would say my outfit is complete.” 

“Oh, but princess! Your shoes!”

“Thank you, Natalia.” 

Brent watched Angelica lift up the bottom of her dress high enough to expose half her calves. Natalia knelt down and slipped on the princess’s heals. Bedelia walked away from Brent and moved closer to Angelica and Natalia. 

“You are lucky that we have such efficient staff. Now, put on your gloves. We best be going.” 

Angelica slipped on her gloves and turned to Bedelia with her fan. “You and Natalia are dismissed.” 

Natalia stood up and bowed. “Yes, Princess.” 

“Thank you for all your help.”

“You are too kind.” 

Natalia passed by Brent, gave him a smile and a wink, and exited out of the room. Brent couldn’t stop smiling. 

Brent moved closer towards Bedelia and Angelica, entering into their vision fields. 

Angelica raised her head. “I dimissed you as well.” She bore her stare into Bedelia’s eyes.

Bedelia turned her scowling face towards Brent. “You are to head to the kitchen next.” 

Brent’s smile disappeared, his face seeming blank of emotion. “Yes, ma’am.” 

Angelica moved beside Brent, immeditately causing him to relax his body. “Bedelia, I dismissed you, not Brent. I understand that you are head of all servants as appointed by my parents, but I am second to my parents in terms of final say. He is to stay with me until I dismiss him.” 

“Princess Angelica, the cooks need help preparing the feast for tonight.” 

“Brent is to stay with me until I dismiss him.” 

Bedelia paused for a moment, leering at Angelica. Angelica and Brent both leered back.  “…as you wish. But please be aware, I shall bring this up to your parents.”  

Bedelia walked past them and out of the room.

Brent and Angelica stood there in complete silence, listening for the footsteps to completely disappear down the hall. 

“Is she gone?” 

Brent first started walking backwards, but soon pivoted and poked his head out the door. He looked both ways down the corridor, seeing no one in sight. The corridor was so empty, it was as if it was keeping a secret. He pulled himself back inside and flashed a smile at Angelica, still holding on the doorframe. “Yes. No other servants besides from myself in sight.” 

Brent watched the layers of Angelica’s dress bounce up and down as she scurried towards the door. She grabbed his hands and gently pulled him further inside, getting him out of the view of the door. “How do I look?” 

Brent’s gaze softened, looking at her pink multi-layered gown. It had been finished up only a few hours ago in a rush – from Brent’s understanding it was missing a few minor finishing touches, but there was no time left to out them out. The top of her gown appeared to be similar to a corset and pushed her bosoms up and together. Ruffles ran down the seams of the top. Her sleeves exposed her shoulders with longer pieces cascading down that flowed behind when she walked. Spilling out from the bottom was layers upon layers of sparkly tulle, making it hard to distguish one layer from the other. 

Brent grasped Angelica’s hands tighter, pulling them closer to his face. “You are the most beautful lady in all the land as always, Princess. Shame I couldn’t accompany you.” 

Angelica gave him a solemn smile. “Such a shame, indeed.” 

“I’m sure there will be many fine gentlemen to your liking.” 

Brent lowered his & Angelica’s hands. He began to take a step back, physically distancing himself from her. The scowl that appeared on Angelica’s face halted him from doing anymore. “Why are you distancing yourself from me now?” 

Brent forced a big smile on his face. “I’m just concerned about your future.” 

Angelica removed one hand from Brent and place it on her hip, slightly turning away from him. She lowered her head, gazing into his eyes with a succulent pout. “Do I even have to say it?” 

Brent’s toes curled looking back into her eyes and he bit his lip. 

The edges of Angelica’s mouth slightly turned upward. “There are no other gentleman but you.” 

Brent mirrored back Angelica’s smirk. He lifted her hand up to his mouth. “Good thing I’ll still be there when you get bored, ya?” 

Angelica giggled in return. “I might just have to bother you then.” 

Brent kissed her hand. “I welcome it.” 

PLEASE NOTE: This is a ROUGH DRAFT. It is the VERY FIRST DRAFT OF THE STORY. YOU are the very first person to read it – I haven’t even read it in its entirety yet!

You WILL come across numerous issues including:

• spelling mistakes;
• grammar issues;
• weak sentence structure;
• repeated words;
• unnecessary words;
• missing words;
• lack of details/descriptions;
• confusing details/descriptions;

Critiques/criticisms, while appreciated, most likely will be discarded at this stage! Thank you.

Additional Note: Doodles, Sketches, and Artwork may be added over time.

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Astral Isles – where the stars shine down from the sky both day and night. The stars glistening rays kiss the lusious land with its gently rolling hills, scattered forest, and hundreds of flower-covered meadows. The sand on the beach and its watery companion that surround the isle always are twinkling back to the stars with a silent giggle. 

Spread throughout the land were homes where hardworking people worked and played. You wouldn’t be able to tell from their medivial-style homes that they had many modern devices within. 

Right in the center of Astral Isles – where the North Star shined down – stood a grand castle. It’s light gray stone walls piled high, reaching towards the star above that so kindly graced their prescence. The castle itself seemed to glitter like the stars throughout the day, as the sun’s rays kissed its walls. 

Up on the second floor balcony of the castle (there were technically four floors, but some of the towers easily made it twelve), a young lady stood in a pool of water, completely naked, as the a waterfall poured onto her golden locks from the mouth of a lion statue. Soapy suds glided their way down her wheat-coloured skin and into the water below. As the soap finished washing out of her hair, she turned around and faced the waterfall. She slowly stepped underneath it, allowed it to gently wash over her face. She moved her hands of it, guiding the water to every part of her face. 

“Princess, you mustn’t stay under the water for long.” 

If her eyes had been opened, she would have rolled them. The young lady – a princess – whipped her head into the direction of the voice of the older woman. “I know, I know,” she said. She waved her hand towards the woman as if she was trying to shoo a fly. “My skin will prune if I do. I’ll be out in a second.” 

After one quick wash to the face, she stepped a few steps backwards towards another woman who stood by the steps. The woman held a pink towel out to the princess with both hands, slightly bowing to her as she did. The princess thanked the woman, grabbed the towel, and began to dry off her body. She turned to the woman, only a couple of years older than her, with a smile. The woman bowed her head in acknowledgement to the princess’s position. 

The older woman from earlier, with her graying blonde hair tied up high in a bun and high-collared dress, hissed to the princess. “Hurry, we do not have much time.” 

The Princess glanced to the woman with slight disdain. She walked behind a changing screen, opened her arms wide to allow the towel she had wrapped around her loosely to fall to her feet. Another woman – older than the first one by the tub, but younger than the naggy one – grabbed a white bathrobe and helped the princess get into it. Once it was all tied up and the princess and the servant nodded in acknowledgement to the process being done, she headed off to re-enter the castle . The nagging older woman followed shortly behind. 

“The guest will be arriving soon and you are not even close to being ready!” 

“Is that not what the dressing room will get us to do?” 

The older woman glared at the princess as they rounded the corner. “Your hair – ” 

“Will be fine,” assured the Princess. “Just get me me a folding fan.” 

Before the woman could say anything more, the princess burst through double doors. The room itself appeared to be long, but small – one side was set up with a large vanity, while the other side had a changing partition and a large mirror. However, in the middle of the wall directly across from the entrance way was the doors to the closet that house mannekins upon mannekins of royal wear specifically for the princess. 

The princess turned to the servant woman that stood a few feet away from the door. “Please get me one of my folding fans.” 

“Yes, right away, princess. Which colour would you like?” 

“Make it the baby pink one with the darker pink sparkle.” 

“As you wish.” 

The older woman huffed. “I cancel that order – I will need her assistance! Princess, you do not have tiime!” 

“Bedelia, do not raise your voice at me.” The princess spun around and held out a finger to the older woman. Bedelia paused for a moment. Her face paled for a brief moment before she groaned. 

“Just get behind the partition.” 

The princess did as she was told. Bedelia followed shortly behind. Before the princess could relax, Bedelia had pulled a hair tie from her apron and yanked the princess’s hair and twisted into a bun. 

“Ouch! Do not be so rough!” cried the princess. 

“Forgive me, Princess Angelica,” said Bedelia without an ounce of regret. “I do not want your sopping wet hair to ruin the dress.” 

“As I said, there is no problem.” 

“You cannot be so relient on magic. I understand that it’s a tradition that you are carrying on, but it has proven to be unreliable over the long run.” 

“Unreliable for who?” Princess Angelica asked, glancing over her shoulder. She could see Bedelia’s eye subtly twitch. 

Without saying a word, Bedelia finished with the princess’s hair and quickly opened the doors to the dressing room. “Brent, bring the dress, now!” she hissed. 

“Yes, ma’am!” responded Brent. The blonde-hair teenage boy with a short goatee grabbed the waste of a mannekin and begun to roll it out. His sunflower-yellow locks of perfectly curled hair bounced as he pushed it down the middle of the closet and into the main changing room. The moment it was out of the closet, Bedelia yanked it from him and pushed it behind the curtain. 

“Natalia, get back here!” Bedelia yelled. 

“Yes, Ms. Bedelia!” replied the servant from earlier who had been standing near the door. 

Natalia turned to Brent. “The princess requested her baby pink folding fan with the dark pink sparkles. I need you to grab it!” She rushed off. 

Brent smirked as he watched the middle sillhouette behind the changing screen go from clothed to unclothed. He let out a quiet sigh and his face relaxed as he watched the middle sillhouette turn around, allowing the other two to put on articles of clothing. Princess Angelica yelping from her corset being pulled too tight brought him back to the reality that he was staring too lovingly at her sillhouette for far too long. He took a deep breath and rushed out of the room and down the corridor. 

The moment Princess Angelica emerged from behind the screen, Brent reappeared back in the room with the requested fan. Princess Angelica’s face lit up as she saw his and the fan. She skipped up to him.

“Oh, Brent, you brought my fan!” 

“Yes, of course Princess Angelica, anything you desire, I will do my best to fulfill your request,” replied Brent, holding out the fan to her with both hands.

Princess Angelica took the fan out of his hands slowly, letting her own brush against his. The two of them stared into each other’s eyes. Their smiles may have been small and humble, but their eyes told a completely different story. 

Bedelia stepped in between them. She bore a spiteful gaze into Brent’s face as she spoke to Princess Angelica over her shoulder. “Princess, there is no time!” 

“You keep saying that,” complained Princess Angelica. “It’ll take no time at all – just watch.” 

The princess yanked the hair tie from her head and let her damp hair fall to her back. She rushed up to the vanity mirror and flicked open the fan. With a fell swoop on the left and on the right side of her body, heated air ran down from the top of her head to the ends. As the heated air was followed with a distinct sizzle, crackle, pop, and then utter silence. Her golden locks returned to their slightly wavy natural state. With a slight curved swoop on both sides of her bangs, they straighted and flared outward. It had taken her less than a minute to do all of this. 

Bedelia stuck up her nose as the princess turned around, A smug look spread across the princess’s face. “I told you it would not take me all that long.” 

Bedelia clicked her tongue. 

PLEASE NOTE: This is a ROUGH DRAFT. It is the VERY FIRST DRAFT OF THE STORY. YOU are the very first person to read it – I haven’t even read it in its entirety yet!

You WILL come across numerous issues including:

• spelling mistakes;
• grammar issues;
• weak sentence structure;
• repeated words;
• unnecessary words;
• missing words;
• lack of details/descriptions;
• confusing details/descriptions;

Critiques/criticisms, while appreciated, most likely will be discarded at this stage! Thank you.

Additional Note: Doodles, Sketches, and Artwork may be added over time.

---

Bubbles gently floated towards the surface as Rose’s bright reddish-pink hair swayed in the ebb & flow of the water. Rose’s relaxed sleeping face complimented the light breaths coming out from her mouth. 

“Mmmm…can…dy…” she mumbled in her sleep. 

She flipped over on the sea moss-covered rock she was sleeping on. Her arms, which had been close to her chest, rolled off to hang off the sides of her rocky bed. 

Slowly, Rose began to float from her rocky bed.

She gasped. Her eyebrows lifted, her eyes still closed. “I’m…zz..fly…ing…wow…zzzz…candy!” 

She rose up through the depths of the ocean and up to the moonlit surface. The waxing gibbous moon and the glittering stars reflected on the ocean’s waves that carried Rose away.

The ocean continued to carry Rose across its surface, carrying her further and further away from where she had been. The moon and stars above soon began to fade into the oncoming dawn. 

***

Mellany closed the door to her beach house behind her. She walked down her steps and onto the sandy beach. Her boots caused the sand to make crunching sounds beneath her as she headed towards the shoreline. 

You could still see the darkness of night up in the sky, but dawn was quickly approaching just beyond the horizon of the ocean. Mellany stopped at the shoreline, faced the orange-coloured sky, and took in a deep breath. The air was just crisp enough to satifsy her. 

Mellany closed her eyes and smiled, listening to the gentle ocean breeze running past her ears and the seagulls calling to each other. She soon turned her face towards the sun, peaking up over the ocean. 

“Good morning, sunshine,” she greeting. 

Now, what to do today… 

Mellany began to walk once again along the shoreline. 

This was a typical morning routine for her – there was something about the cool ocean breeze, the gentle crashing of the waves, and the noisey seagulls all before the sky was fully lit that helped to clear her mind and set up her day. 

She looked out into the ocean as she contemplated her day, awaiting for an idea to drop into her head like it normally did. Sometimes something would happen in the water that would give her mind the exact jolt she needed to come up with a great plan. Sometimes it would be a dolphin jumping up in the far distance, other times, a wave that was a bit bigger than usual. Regardless, it was something that fully woke her up and inspired her through the whole day. 

Mellany halted as something bobbing a short distance away caught the corner of her eye. She curiously looked at it. 

“Hm?” 

She took a few more steps forward to get a bit of closer look, stepping into the waves. Her eyes widened and she gasped. 

Mellany turned around, calling into all directions of the shore: “Lifeguard! LIFEGUARD!” 

Mellany stared out into the shoreline void of any human life, besides from herself. 

“…#&@!” 

She grabbed her head. 

There’s no lifeguard at this time in the morning! 

“UUUUUUUUGH!” 

Mellany began to take off her black fingerless gloves. “Welp, I guess it’s something I just gotta do myself.” 

She began to remove the rest of her clothing: her white-midrift jacket with rolled-up short sleeves with black cuffs & collar and two breast pockets, matching white shorts with black cuffs, black socks, and black boots. She was left wearing her black bathing suit that acted as her regular shirt. 

Mellany laid them all down far enough from the ocean waves. 

As soon as her last piece of clothing was removed, she hopped into the water. 

She swam over to the head bobbing just above the water’s surface and wrapped her arm around their waist. She swam back to shore as fast as she could, holding the person tightly. 

Mellany quickly scanned the person. A girl, mostly likely around her age, with bright reddish-pink hair, two necklaces, a belt, and a lacey baby doll that split just under her chest down all with a rose motif and…

…fins and a tail. 

Mellany screamed and promptly dropped the half-human creature. She scurred away on her hands and feet, just as the creature stirred awake. 

“Huh?” the creatured murmured. “…wet…sand…water…foaaaaaam….aaaaaaiiiir…” 

The creature’s eyebrows raised, her eyes flittering open. “Hmmmmmm?” 

“Oh, did a float to the surface again?” the creature mumbled. She pointed to her lips in thought, looking down at the sandy beach. She lifted up her head, finally noticing the bewildered Mellany. 

“Who are you?”

“WHAT ARE YOU?!” 

The creature giggled. “Oh, I’m a mermaid, silly!” she said as she lifted her tail full out of the water. 

Mellany stared at the mermaid. 

“…” 

Then she let out a scream. 

“AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!” 

The mermaid’s face lit up with delight. “Your name is ‘AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH’? Wow! What a pretty name! it sounds a lot like ‘ah’!” 

Mellany stared at the mermaid once more, this time less bewildered and puzzled. She wasn’t sure if she was supposed to laugh, scream, fight, or what. 

“No,” finally replied Mellany. “I’m Mellany.” She raised an eyebrow. “Who names their kid after screaming?” 

“Ooooh!” the mermaid said, clapping her hands together. “I thought that might have been some weird human thing! Tee hee!” 

“I’m Rose, nice to meet you!” 

Rose, the mermaid, began to crawl towards Mellany. In a panic, Mellany crawled further away. 

“No way,” Mellany rasped. “You CAN’T be real!” 

Rose pulled her head back in surprise, just before giggling again. “Oh, Mellany! You’re so silly. Of course, I’m real! I’m right in front of you.” 

Mellany’s eyes glanced over Rose. “Yeah, I know.” 

She then looked Rose straight in the eye. “You’re not going to drown me, are you?” 

Rose paused for a moment, just before letting out unabashed laughter. 

Her arms buckled and she fell down to the wet sand, grasping her stomach. She began hitting the sand with one of her hands. 

“Drown…DROWNING…drowning someone…DROWNING!!!” 

Tears began to stream down Rose’s face. “Ow! My stomach..my stomach hurts now!”

Mellany tensed up. “That wasn’t supposed to be a joke.” 

After a good moment more of unrestrained laughter, Rose quieted down. She looked up at Mellany from where she laid on the ground, still holding her stomach. 

“Gee-whiz, you humans sure are funny!” She wiped a tear from her eyes. “Nobody does that anymore!” 

Rose paused for a moment.

“Well, almost nobody.” She shrugged. 

Rose took a deep breath, fully regaining her composure. She pushed herself up off the ground, giving Mellany a big, friendly smile. 

“Certainly not me, no siree!” 

Mellany stared at Rose’s glittering eyes intensely.

She finally let out a sigh. She let her tense body relax for a moment, before getting up off the ground. She brushed the sand off from herself. 

“I thought you were someone drowning, so I tried to save you.” 

“Oooh! That explains a lot! I was wondering why I was so close to land! I don’t usually float that far.” 

Mellany began putting the rest of her clothes back on. “You normally float to surface?” 

“Yeah, all the time! I don’t know what it is, but I can’t seem to keep my body heavy enough to keep me down below!” Rose giggled. 

“You’re weird.” 

“Am I?” asked Rose. She paused for a moment. “Well, I guess I am, even by mermaid standards…” 

Mellany yanked her jacket forward, her shoulders raising up with it. “Do you know how to get home from here?” 

Rose looked over her shoulder at the ocean. Her eyes narrowed. “Hmmmm…” She turned back to Mellany. “Yeah, I think so.” 

Mellany forced a smile on her face. “Great. Now, shoo.” 

“Huh?! You want me to leave?!” exclaimed Rose. “But…but I want to know more about you!! Are all humans like this?” 

Mellany held out her hand, turning away from Rose. “I want to go back to denying your existance.” 

Rose became dejected. 

“D-deny me? Isn’t that like me denying a human?” she cried. 

“…you’re a mermaid. I grew up being told mermaids aren’t real. Yet, here you are, in front of me…” 

Rose fell back into the sand, laying on her side. She took the bottom of her shirt, knawing on it. “But I AM real…and I DO exist…why are you humans so weird? Don’t you have stories about us?” 

“Yeah, we do, like fairytales and stuff.” 

“What are ‘fairytales’?” 

“Fictional stories.” 

Rose turned to bury her face in the sand. “Fiction…we are…fiction…” 

Rose began to sob. 

Mellany flinched. She turned her eyes towards Rose’s tail smacking the water between each sob. 

Mellany brought her hand to her chest. Her shoulders lowered. She let out a sigh. 

Mellany took a few steps forward and knelt in front of Rose. She placed one hand on the mermaid’s shoulder. “Hey, I’m sorry…don’t cry.”  

Rose perked up. Mellany quickly retracted her hand. 

Rose sniffled and rubbed her eyes. “You’re forgiven.” 

Mellany and Rose exchanged smiles. 

“Are humans always up this early?”

Mellany shrugged, leaning back to easily talk to Rose. “I dunno. Some are.” 

Rose shifted her own position, using her tail to act like a chair. “Ooooo. What were you doing up so early?” 

“I usually wake up this early. It’s quiet enough for me to think.” 

“Do you have hard time think at other times of the day?” 

Mellany shook her head side to side in thought. “Hmmm..sometimes.”

She stopped nodding her head. “I plan the best in early morning.” 

“What were you planning to do today?” 

Mellany frowned. “I was figuring that out when I saw you.” 

Rose covered her mouth and giggled. “Oh! Oops. Sorry about that.” 

***

He could see the two young woman – one a human with coal-grey hair half-shaved, half fashionably cut that was shorter in the back than in the front with bangs, a neckalce, dark tan skin, and white clothing with accents of black; the other one a mermaid with bright reddish-pink hair that jut barely reached her shoulders , messy as if the wind pulled it into a thousand directions, with cream-coloured skin, fins, a tail, and an overall rose-motif to her clothing & accessories. 

He had been watching from behind the shack since the human pulled the mermaid out from the water. If he had been completely honest, he had arrived early to specifically look for others. It seemed, however, the universe was on his side today. 

He’s lips twisted up and lifted his wand that glinted as the sun hit its tip. 

“Perfect. Targets.”