Pandora is at her desk, reading over a letter for the millionth time. Next to her is a small box with four items taken from it. A ring, a shell, a scroll of old looking paper and a tiny mermaid statue. On the box was written 'Pandora's box, love grandma'. Pandora looked over at the items on the table and sighed.

"God this is so confusing"

When she looked up, she noticed two people walk past the window on the pathway carrying beach bags. She remembered those two from a few nights ago when she saw them running around on the docks one night. She knew something about them No one else did. The timing was perfect, she'd been meaning to try and find them to talk to them. She actually recognised Icarus, she went to the same summer camp a few months back. It was hard to forget the girl that managed to turn camp into a fashion show in her bring pink and orange beachwear.

Pandora was quite the contrast, preferring cooler colours like blue and purple. Although the two girls did have an eye for denim skirts it seemed.

Aries on the other hand, was someone Pandora didn't know. She only knew their name from overhearing it, and at first glance couldn't tell if they were a boy or a girl. Although queers have a way of clocking each other, and Pandora being one hell of a Lesbian quickly put two and two together and figured out Aries must be some kind of gender queer.

"Those two. That girl from camp and her friend. They'll know" she muttered to herself.

It's sunset and Aries and Icarus are sitting on the beach with a book of shadows and and a calader.

"Are you sure this is right?" Icarus asked.

"It has to be, when all the planets align the power of creation is strongest. So if this theory is right then both New moon in Neptune and full alignment days are when the spirit pool activates with the power to create a mermaid. And on regular new moons it activates with a calling basically, to draw mermaids to it to act as a check in meeting point" Aries replied.

"So when I got struck by it it was because the mermaids who made the pool put that enchanted on it to do a roll call basically"

"Exactly. But clearly the mermaids have moved locations since no one was there but us. And clearly the enchantment is a bit broken since it made you do weird things"

Icarus grabbed a pen from her bag and began to pencil in the dates magic things have happened. Aries looking through the book of shadows for any hints of something else happening.

"We should keep an eye on what happens during lithia, the summer solstice is the perfect time for mermaids to perform magic" Aries added.

"I'll write that in. Wow we have a lot of stuff coming up in the next few months we gotta be aware of"

Aries looked up form the book, looking over Icarus shoulder at a girl walking toward them.

"Ic, do you know them?"

Icarus turned to look. The girl with her long hair up in a ponytail tail and wearing a blue and yellow bikini underneath a beach button up looks so familiar, but she couldn't put her finger on it.

"No but she looks familiar..." Icarus muttered.

The girl approached and looked down at the two sitting on their beach towels.

"I know this is kinda weird since you haven't met me but... it's Icarus and Aries right?" She asked.

"Yeah?" Aries replied.

"I thought I recognised Icarus. We went to the same camp the other month"

It suddenly clicked in Icarus' head. They didn't interact much because they were on opposite teams, but there was something they did briefly talk about.

"Oh yeah! You were in the tent opposite me. Pandora right? We talked because we have Greek myth names" Icarus replied.

"Yep, that's me" she replied.

Aries gave the girls a surprised look, not only did they actually kind of know each other, they both had Greek myth names... just like they did. This Greek myth name trend was getting a bit specific for Aries to think it was just a coincidence.

The new girl sat down beside them, the other two a bit confused.

"I think you guys can help me. Don't get mad or anything but... I saw you two the other night. When Icarus was all zoned out and walked right into the ocean"

Aries and Icarus gave each other a slightly panicked look.

"You do know what I'd have to do if you told anyone about that right?" Aries said sternly.

"What we're you even doing out so late?" Icarus asked.

"I live nearby and I was pulling up crab nets when you walked by and I saw everything. I haven't told anyone and I don't plan to. Because I think you two are the answers I've been looking for"

Another confused look was exchanged by Aries and Icarus.

"Your ring Aries, I have a matching one" the girl said, taking it off and holding it up.

Sure enough, it was the same style only slightly different. Now the merfolk were intrigued.

"My grandmother gave it to me before she died many years back. She called it her heart of the sea and never let anyone touch it until she gave it to me. The letter she gave me with it had this cryptic note on it and after watching you two and seeing the ring it all kind of clicked. I think she was also a mermaid"

The girl reached into her pocket and handed Aries the letter, Aries unfolded it and Icarus looked over her shoulder to read it.

'Dearest Pandora,
You are deserving of my heart of the sea, and I do hope you can finish the journey I started many years ago. You always liked problem solving and I'm sure you'll figure this problem I leave you out. Savour your time at sea darling, it's the best years of your life.

Love grandma'

"I think your right. And I'm guessing that she wants you to become one too, just died before she was able to turn you" Aries replied, handing the note back.

"That was so sweet" Icarus added.

"Actually... you might provide us some answers too... has anyone in your family other than you're grandma been weary around water?"

"No. In fact we're all divers and fishers" Pandora replied.

"So none of the kids got the mermaid gene then" Icarus said.

"That might be why the mermaids made the spirit pool in the first place. So when their kids who have the mermaid gene and a human gene making them not fully mythic, grew up they could transform them" Aries added.

"That makes sense! But... hang on how did I become a mermaid then?" Icarus asked.

It felt silent for a moment, the three suddenly realising there was more to this magic than they thought.

"Your mum isn't a mermaid... your grandparents aren't merfolk... what about your dad?" Aries pondered.

"... he left when I was a toddler. I have no idea what he is" Icarus replied.

"If he's where you got your gene, maybe the reason he left is the same reason the pod moved"

Again it was silent, everything suddenly falling into place. The magic was gene activated. If a regular human fell into the pool nothing would happen, but if a half mythic fell into the pool...

"Pandora you're onto something here, your grandmother definitely wanted to transform you" Aries said.

"How do I do that? I mean, I know it's a big change but for her..." Pandora replied.

Aries and Icarus looked at each other, contemplating letting another person they just met in on the whole magic thing. Especially since they had all kinds of plans involving izroulia and the pod.

"You know you can't tell a soul about this right? If a human found out-" Icarus began.

"It would be a disaster. I know, but I'm willing to keep the secret as hard as it will be" Pandora said.

Clearly she was very close with her grandmother or she wouldn't be so passionate about this, it was clear she was serious. Aries looked down at the calendar in their book, the date for an activation only a few weeks away.

"I mean, there is an alignment on the 15th, it's possible" They said.

"That's pretty soon though, not much time to prepare" Icarus replied.

"I'll do it. Just take me there and I'll do it" Pandora jumped in.

Another brief silence, the two original merfolk thinking the situation over one last time.

"Alright. Give us your number and we can organise something, but seriously don't mess this up. No humans can know about this" Aries agreed.

Pandora smiled, quickly getting out her phone to pull up her number so they could all exchange information.

"Thank you, this makes everything make sense" she replied.

With the information exchanged and the date set, Pandora had to get home before sunset and the other two decided to swim before night fell. They headed to the spirit pool to talk a little more about everything. After a relaxing swim they leaned up on the sides of the pool and chatted.

"You sure this is a good idea?" Icarus asked.

"No idea. But she clearly has the genes and is passionate about it. She's got a mermaid signet ring that's proof enough" Aries replied.

"And if things go wrong? I mean from the little bit I interacted with her at camp she seems trustworthy but..."

"Don't make me think about that I have no clue"

There was silence for a moment, only the water rippling making any noise. The two contemplated, this was a perfect opportunity to unravel the mystery of the pod bug it could make a mess as well.

"so we're just bullshitting this and hoping it works?" Icarus asked.

Aries shrugged.

"Yep" they admitted.

"Fuck I hope this works out" Icarus sighed.

They both looked up at the sky, only just starting to show stars. That alignment was only a few weeks away, and it was all happening so fast.

"Yeah me too, I hope this works" Aries said.

A/n: this is where season 1 would end. Again this was originally written to be a web series in a 12 episode per season format. So this is where season one would end, and the next chapter where season 1 would start (And with each season I've always planned to have a new theme song). So I'll be posing this story in chunks by season, so I can work on converting each season from script to book form in order. Stay stunned for season 2.