Chapter 17:
Prince of Events

"One..two...three and......Cheers!" A loud voice calls out to all around us, "To all mermaids, thank you for join us!" We raised our fins that and shouted by clapping, swimming around, or just yelling utter nonsense.

It was another event.  All mermaids and merphans were here.  The crowned, the noble, and the regulars.  I saw them all swimming around making them and their families proud.  Everyone cares about that, huh?  I do just for the sake of making me look good, but do I really care about any of that anymore?

  The answer is no.  I really do not.  The only things I care about is not causing them trouble with the council.  So I still do this.  This fake game where I pretend I am alright, where I pretend everything is fine and we are just friends.  What lies.

  The only ones who I care for are Mina, Isa, and....no one else.  Just them.  Maybe in a new world, in a new day I could, but in this day and age I doubt that would ever happen.

I was swimming endlessly.  I had my crown on, my hair was kept up by seaweed, and I looked different that I usually would.  And that was only because dear mother and father thought I should.  And I made it my personal mission to make sure everyone respect Mina. 

But wherever I went I saw Mina swim off.  And wherever I would go I would see many surround me at the worst possible times.  I could not understand why.  Why now when she is swimming off.  She is always exploring and since she is outside our kingdom's walls than she is more like this than usual.

"Your Highness.." Several mermaids went in front of me and blocked my view of my sister.  I tried to look around them, but it was useless.

"Kimoshei's prince, Mivozene!" Several of them echoed at once.  I closed my eyes in annoyance, but I never show any expression.  When I opened them I tried to look between them, but it was practically useless.  "Your Highness is it true that you choose a desires one, but will not say who?" What?

I could not pin who actually said that, but I still could not believe my ears.  Who made that up....Useless is it?  I mean I really do not care if merphans believe that.  Then council members will be off my tail on if I had or not.  Although, they just going to pressure me on who it is.

Just then I heard a scream.  A scream that was way too familiar.  No...I closed my eyes and muttered the words I could only think of, "Excuse me..." Erk why did I have to be so nice to them?  I pushed my way through the crowds of mermaids frolicking or just speaking with one another. 

Where did the scream come from?  Where is my sister?  She was nowhere to be seen.  Ugh.  No...no....no....  Why is she always doing this to me? 

"One more move and you will regret everything at once."  A low eerie voice spoke somewhere nearby.  I looked every direction until I pinpointed it near the caverns. 

"Oh and why is that?" 

And then I realized it was not just my sister.

"You know what happens to mermaids like you...or are you ignorant and unaware?"

"We are not ignorant, you demoiselle...DAMSELFISH!" And then I heard a dangerous sound along with many paining groans.

I follow the voices and braced myself.  Sometimes you should never mess with the ones close to me or you will regret it eternally. 

Everyone knew that.  I finally arrived and saw my sister in despair.  I glared at the mermaids and prepared to let them face the consequences.

I did what I usually did to traitors....

Water flowed from my hands and I got out my personal magic of the Pacific.  The water flowed around me embracing the mermaids who dared try to hurt my sister and...I...I grimaced. 

It locked them inside, tied them with the water....whip until only their breath was barely breathing out.  They would live, barely and painfully. 
I am not cruel, no it is them! They are the cruel ones doing this to my sister.

Then they passed out before I could get a word in.

"T-they passed out...Of the seas." I turned to my sister.  "Mina, stop swimming off like that.  You know how dangerous it is?  What if...What if something happened to you?"

"I..I know.  But you came.  It is all good, right?  Besides she came too..." I looked at the other mermaid and frowned.

"I am aware of that too..." I sighed rubbing my head, "What did they want?"

"Nothing.  They hated you."  Young Mina told me as if that was the worst thing ever. 

Hate...A strong word I never understand.  It is filled with too much emotion and feeling.  "They were talking about you.  How they thought that you thought were all great when y-you....were not."  I chuckled in amusement.

"Mina, they are not important so I could care less.  If that is all then we sho-"

"No!  Then they talking about how undesired you are and that you doing it on purpose to make everyone want you and then they were being mean to me a-and..." Her eyes became red.

  If mermaids could have tears underwater, she would be full on crying.  I comfort her by placing my arms round her.

"Shhhhh, Mina." I leaned down stroking her hair.

"I want...I want...Mother!" She cried out and I could only try to comfort her.

"Okay.  I will get a servant so they can take you...Since I have to deal with her." She nodded.  I peeked my head around until I found one. 

I waved them over here and the servant lowered their head towards me.  I asked them to accompany my sister and they proceeded to do so and left.

"Now...Isa...." I turned to the ice princess.  "What of the great oceans were you DOING?  Here?" I was furious with her. 

What was she doing?  She could of gotten hurt.... Is this what my father meant by getting into trouble?

"I...I...umm..." She muttered taking a few fins back.

"My sister is one thing.... She does this a lot, but you?  I expected more from you...  Or you could of at least come and get me.  I would of believed you.  But no- you went head first and now look at you.  You are hurt."

I yelled at her.  I was furious, I just could not believe her.  If something happened to her I never forgive myself.

Why is she always getting into danger and trouble?

I want her... I need to make sure she is safe and protected

"I can handle myself!  I wanted to help her, okay?  She is close to you and I thought she might like me that way." I could not believe that words that just came out of her mouth.  She was there because of that reason?

"Are you serious?  Just because you think she does not like you?  She does not even remember you!  If you want my sister to like you...Just....J-just tell her a story about...out of this word things.  She likes that kind of stuff."

I could not believe her and it made me so....I do not even know.  I just was frustrated and felt like my fins were boiling.  If something happened to her I not know what I do.

"Zen..." She reached her palm out.

"Do not." I turned away, glaring.

"I will not do it again...Okay?" She mutters quietly, but I know Isa and she always doing stupid stuff which all makes me have mini heart attacks.

"Promise me." I demanded.

"I...promise I will try to not." She lower her head, not looking at me.

"Try?"

"Yes.  Try.  Look what if you are not around or something happens to you.  I do not want to promise something when there is a chance in a dangerous situation you are not there and it is only up to me." I sighed, looking at the icy mermaid in front of me.

She the only one that would think of situations like that.

"Of all the oceans, Isa..." I rubbed my face.  "Why will you not promise me?  It make me feel a whole ocean better!"

"Zen....What if there an emergency or a time you are not there and because I promise something I am unable to do something.  What if you are not even around and it is just me?  What if something happens and it is-" I put my fin up.

"All I hear is what if..what if..and what if.  Relax, I doubt that would happen and if it was then you could easily get me.  Or someone I know. 
        You could get your butler, Zuri, the one who blessed me, or get one of those bubble speaking to things that the council has been giving to merphans.  And with that call for me." I set my hand on her shoulder.  "It be fine.  Okay?  I just...." I sighed.  "I never want to see you hurt."

Then she looked at me.  With her eyes she looked into mine, so deep and grey like ice that is barely blue.  "I..Really?" I nodded, "Oh Zen you do not have to worry....
         This will not happen again." I sighed in relief.  Finally my Ice flower is being a little bit reasonable.  "Because I will be able to take them out." My eyes flew open.

"What?" I yelled.

"I said I will be able to take them out.  Anyone you send my way.  I will and I will protect them all." Isa put her hands on her hips grinning. 
      "Ah yes, and then everyone will see that I be able to handle myself...even you!" She pressed her lips together.

I furrowed my eyebrows.  Does she know what she is doing?  She knows how frustrating it is when she always goes against what I say.  And then she does that and she just so....

I care for her way too much than I should, so much that I want to.  I do not care anymore.  "Isa just be quiet."

"Stop talking already." I gazed at her eyes and I felt them soften.  Her hair that glistened as if they were ice.

"Huh?" She tilted her head and a confused expression was brought to her face which made her more beautiful than before.
      "What?  What you...Why are you looking at me like that?"

"I said quiet..." Then without a moment to spare I pressed my lips to hers.  I kissed her.  I am kissing her.  She was still, frozen, and in shock.  Probably paralyzed.  She felt cold and ice, but at the same time it was filled with feeling and emotion.
         Then she kissed me back, finally.  Like ice but comforting and coolness that only so softly presses on your lips.  Then we both stopped and looked away.

"Z-zen..." I was surprised she was able to say my name even though she was being nervous.

"Hmm?" I asked like I had no idea what she was going to say.

Why did you...."

"Kiss you?" She looked away turning pink.  I grinned, "I knew you always had a thing for me.  I be stupid not to notice."

"Oh...Heheh...Ohhhh yeah?" So precious, but still nervous.  I was enjoying every moment of this.  "But you never answered me..."

"I care for you too much than I should, if that is what your wondering.  I probably get in trouble for doing that to be honest since your not my......Ugh....stupid desires." I rubbed my face and leaned back annoyed.

"I don't mind." She moved her hair to the side causing me to take a breath of water.

"I know.  It just me being....me.  And I...just kissed her." Bubbles whistled from my mouth.

"Oh...It is me right?  That is all my fault." Isa looked down, blaming herself. "And now you hate me and our relationship will never be the same." 

      If tears could be seen underwater, she would have full on tears.  But she was sobbing hard and I did not know what to do.  So I did the best thing I could think of.

"That not true.  It is not you, Isa.  It is me, and the council and their stupid desires.  You have not seen what they do to merphans.  I mean your parents are the few ones that make it alright, but you have not seen what I have.  Do you not see it, Isa?  I am afraid...
          And I do not want to hurt you.  I care about you a lot and if I admit it to anyone else they make me do something I am not ready for.  And my sister...If they find out about her, they do something worse to her.
        They just make her be with some strong mermaid just because they want what she has..." I blinked when I realized I said all of that.  I told her without realizing.  I told her about my sister too.

"Zen..." She looked up at me and smiled, I said before I did not mind, and I will wait for you and how ever long you need.  But I want to be here with you and I do not think I can last if I never kiss you again.  I...I liked it and I want to again,"
        She quickly looked away as she become more pink.  "Is that strange or weird or maybe it is just me and-" I chuckled at her phrasing and kissed her again.  But this time it was quicker.

"No it not just you.  I want to as well.  And as for just a few seconds ago, you were talking too much...." I brushed my fingers through my hair and stared longingly at her.

"You said that you should not kiss me though..." She was right, but at this point I started something I could not stop.

"You liked it, and kissed back."

"So did you." She argued with a small grin on her face.

"Fair, but I want to kiss you again.  And again and again.  But the members and-"

"We do not have to tell them."

"But that are always saying not to!" I exclaimed.

"I was always a rulebreaker." She raised her head shyly.

"True..."

"So in secret?" She clasps her hands together excitedly.  "No one has to know."

No one has to know, I liked that idea.

"Not even your parents or anyone you talk to." I told her just to make sure none of the ones she is with a lot is told,  "Not Miza!  I know what you talk about with him."

"What?  How did yo-"

I chuckled at her question that had such an obvious answer, "He makes that stupid face and then tell me why he says implied things about....how I look.  That saying the least amount too." Isa grinned sheepishly.

"Alright...alright!" She raises her fins up, "But please tell me by if this lasts until I am full fledged because then I will be questioned about desires."

"You think it last that long?" Isa nods her head.

"Yes.  I like you." She leans into my chest and I could only feel desire for more.  I embraced her with my arms.  Then I heard the sounds of the council members calling in special selected ones to discuss the actions that the humanics been causing.

"Oh, the council...I have to go." I whispered and she nodded her head.  As I swam off I turned my head and saw her stare back at me.

~~~~

AN//

I literally love these characters so much, that it gonna hurt me for what I plan to do at the end of part 1.

Plus they are so cute together.

I need to write more of either part 2 of this, the sequel, TPTT&TL, or Miza's parents' story