A/N: Media is Mer Lumian <3 

At Fabian's transformation, the creature swirling towards us paused. As if sensing the presence of the Mer Queen's son because of the silver tail, the megalodon let out a low wail and took off, disappearing back down the trench and into the darkness. 

Fabian and I were left clutching each other, our gazes staring in the direction that the monster had vanished. Slowly, our heads turned to stare at one another, wide-eyed and disbelieving. Fabian's webbed hands trembled as he clutched my shoulders, and we both looked down at our Mer transformation. When I let out a low exclamation, only bubbles erupted, and a smile replaced Fabian's frown. 

He squeezed my shoulders firmly before letting go and stretching out a hand. The jerk of his head towards the temple and the gesture made sense. Entwining our hands as best we could-- Mer hand holding proved difficult-- we steadily swam back to the temple.

Still in a dazed blur, we burst through the shelter of the air chamber and gasped. My transformation was immediate: the metallic fins separated, becoming the separated jewellery once more, silver and liquid at my wrists and ankles and around my neck. My wings were freed: I stretched them out, feeling the tense muscles relax. They were still soaked, and it made me shiver.

When I finally looked up, a row of temple shamans were kneeling before us, including Eleras. 

Fabian was standing-- half naked, to boot-- and shivering from the sudden change. I looked to him, uncertain what to do, but he was busy trying to hide his modesty, and I blushed and tried not to peek too much. A shaman swept up to him with robes and a towel, and a second clamped a warm shrug around me. I pinned the towel into my hair, enveloping the long dark strands to stop them dripping onto the floor.

'Eleras?' I heard Fabian rumble, 'What's going on? Why did I...?'

Follow me out into a deep ocean with nothing but your clothes? Transform? Scare us all to death? 

Fabian didn't know where to start either. He ruffled his damp hair, sending sprinkles of water across me. I sent him a cool glare.

Eleras rose from the ground. Behind him, our group of friends were watching the shamans in a mixture of curiosity and confusion. Sakura barrelled past them to throw herself at me, crushing my ribs into a hug.

'You nearly drowned! I told you not to go! We were so scared...!'

I was about to laugh at her fear when I heard her stifle a sob. At that, my smile faded, and I raised my arms to hold her back.

'Thank you,' I whispered. 

When she backed away, she quickly wiped her eyes and stared at me in protest. 'I didn't doubt you for a minute, but when that whopping big shark thing appeared...'

Sakura mimed a huge jawed bite, making me snort. For a hysterical moment out there, I had thought that too. Behind her, Scarlett stepped up, and she took my hand in both of hers, letting out a relieved sigh. Her pale shoulders brushed against Sakura's dark ones as the two crowded me. 

A familiar blur of red appeared from my right, jabbing me with a playful punch. Valkyrie grinned at me. 'You can't die unless I tell you to.' 

She pulled a tongue at me as I laughed, knowing that with her ability to mark others for death, she was telling an entirely true joke. 

To my left, Kirsten was taking advantage of Fabian's bareness and feeling his muscular arms. 'To think, we have another Mer in the group! Does this mean you'll be the heir now? Will Sirena take you back?'

'Don't be stupid, Kirsten,' I heard Iggy reply, 'Fabian won't leave Lumina for the mother that gave him away.'

'What shall we do?' Niamh asked us, standing in between the two. 'Now we can go to the Sapphire district, but these guys all think you're going to save Exertia, so congratulations, there's that to contend with too.' 

Fabian was trying to untangle Kirsten's wandering hands. Annoyance rose in my throat towards the brown haired girl, but couldn't think of an acceptable excuse to set her on fire for touching my not-quite-lover's skin. 

Eleras said, 'For now we are content to know that Mihael and Aegea's work will be continued. We have waited many years for this day.'

Fabian cleared his throat. 'I think I need to clear my head, guys. Look, I'm sorry, but could I meet you back at the palace?'

We all looked over at him, startled, but he was edging away from Kirsten's fingers and Iggy's jokes. In fact, he was stepping backwards, away from the rest of the room entirely as an unfamiliar emotion filled his eyes and his breathing quickened. 

'Fabian, wait--' Niamh began, but he shook his head.

'I'm sorry,' he said again, and his eyes sought mine desperately. There was something pleading in them, but I couldn't sense what. I stepped around my friends, and made certain to step in front of Kirsten entirely, and tilted my head to look upwards at him.

What is it? I wanted to ask. But with his eyes darting to look at everybody, I knew he wouldn't answer. 

I smiled and took his hand, and he relaxed slightly. I turned to address Niamh and Iggy. 

'Will you help the others to return? Call Morwena to bring the submarine here. They won't have to make that long journey.'

Surprised, Niamh and Iggy nodded in silence.

I then looked to Eleras. 'Thank you for all your help. I promise we will return soon, once we're in a better position to help you. Lately everything has been happening very quickly.'

Eleras inclined his head, and as one, the shamans rose from the floor. 

'As you wish, my queen,' Eleras replied, and my face flushed. 

To Sakura, Scarlett and Valkyrie, I said, 'Take care of each other. I'll come to your rooms when we return to plan for Sapphire.'

Sakura looked as though not coming with me was worse than swallowing her own sword, but she nodded stiffly as Scarlett gave her a kind nudge. 

I gripped Fabian's hand and pulled him back towards the water. He went first, exiting the crowded room with a final nod of goodbye and leaving behind the towel, and moments later I saw the flashing silver fin as he transformed, further out in the water. 

I looked at Kirsten, who had folded her arms whilst watching Fabian disappear. The girl's eyes flickered to me, and she quirked her eyebrow. What?

I smirked. 'Try not to harass anybody else on your way back.'

And then I leaped into the water.

----

I followed Fabian at a distance as we both adjusted to our new bodies. His panic had given me a strong purpose and desire to help him, so I felt that he would approach me when he wanted company. So, for now, we swam towards the bright lights of the Underwater city, whilst at the same time avoiding meeting any Mer along the way.

I watched his lithe form, glad the water cooled any blush. For all its newness, Fabian suited being Mer: his beautiful silver scales matched his silver hair, and his bare chest was something I could get used to. Each kick came easily, and he glided in front of me like a fish.

I waved a webbed hand in front of my face, trying to cool my hormones. What was I thinking? Five minutes as a Mer, and you're salivating over one!

And in between being a reincarnated version of myself and a man named Mihael, and a candidate for this throne and with the responsibility of saving another-- I certainly had other things to be thinking about.

Annoyed at myself, I concentrated on making my strokes as easy as Fabian's. My own fins were not as pretty; a dull metallic sheen, I still marvelled at the intricate scales that did not rust in the water. What were they made from, and what magic held them together? I hoped one day, when I had a spare few weeks, to find out. 

My sigh was only a flurry of bubbles.

I flicked my tail, feeling the surge as I shot through the water. The bottom was filled with seaweed, and I loved darting through it, watching it swish out of my way. Every so often, I would dislodge some slumbering fish, and they'd shimmy away as I approached. 

I was surprised when Fabian, after skirting around the town, began to rise. He swam upwards, and a fear hit my heart: what was he doing? Where was he going?

Above meant danger, and above meant...

Freya.

I tried to catch up, thrasing my tail and wiggling my body in the way I had seen Niamh do. Although I streaked through the water at an alarming rate, Fabian was more skilled, and he remained far ahead even with my rush.

So I followed him, no matter what. Even when my instincts roared at me to turn away, because I was terrified of what might be above. 

The surface beckoned, a bright light when all around had been dark. My Mer eyes were sensitive: as I broke the surface, I felt momentarily blinded by the world around me.

But then my vision settled, and I drew a deep breath of fresh air. 

Around, the world was quiet and still. 

I spun, feeling my tail help me pivot, as I surveyed my surroundings. Amazed, I found myself in the middle of a lake. 

I blinked, trying to get my bearings. Mountains arose in the distance, cluttering the far shore. The nearest shore, I noticed, had a series of caves amongst the reeds. But for all my worry, there was not a soul in sight. No boats sat upon the lake, and the other shore was too far too make out anything. 

Shaking my head in wonder, I thought about where Fabian had gone. I'd lost him during the ascent, but I had a feeling that he hadn't bothered to swim for the farthest shore. No, I turned and swam confidently in the direction of the dark caves.

Soon, the water became more shallow, until my tail was scraping along the pebbles. I marvelled at how the lake became a deep city, all on a floating island. 

But then again, after hearing the story of Exertia, perhaps the island wasn't so far-fetched at all. If we had all originated from another world...

Perhaps a beautiful but deep lake was only one of many wonders we left behind. 

As my body began to leave the water, I felt the transformation kick in. By the time I reached the reeds, hovering as high as my waist, I was once again legged and shivering. 

Wading through the mud and water, I stepped towards the closest cave.

Looming and large, the rock descended from a high cliff that then opened into a dark cavern, expanding out over the water. I was still wading through reeds as I entered it, feeling the shadow cool my skin even further. The darkness made it hard to see, and I had no idea how far the cave stretched back.

When my feet finally hit pebbles without water, I lifted my hand and conjured a flame. It bobbed in the air above my fingers, emitting a yellow glow across the walls. 

The cave was much more shallow than I first thought: I could see the end less than ten metres away. It was dry and free from wildlife-- as, I supposed, most of Angelica was. On a boulder I saw Fabian, his knees to his chest and his arms on his knees, deep in thought. His shoulders were bare, and his transformation had left him in only thin shorts. I swallowed. 

Stop it, Lumina, I warned myself. 

But at the arrival of the light, I saw him look up and give me a tense nod. Then he turned back to brooding. 

Giving a shrug, I set about finding a piece of dry wood. Some had been washed up, and although some were damp, some had been left out for a long time. I scooped them up, criss-crossing them in front of Fabian and then casting the fire onto the logs.

The flames errupted into a nice campfire. I sat down next to the flames and Fabian, appreciating the warmth and letting the silence settle back over us.

Finally, after what seemed like an age, Fabian spoke. 

---

A/N: Halloooo. What do you think of Fabian's reaction? And what is he about to say to Lu..........?!?!

Please don't forget to vote and comment your thoughts :D

Also if you're enjoying my fantasy work, I'm writing a "similar" fantasy/adventure called Swan Song-- look for it on my profile and give it a read if you like the sound of it!

lots of loveeeeeee

Larissa

p.s, new cover: like it??

P.S. P.S. EMPIRE OF STORMS IS OUT!!!!! AAAH I hate waiting for my pre-order copy...