Chapter 19:
Prince of Strikes

"Any ideas?"

A few of us raised our fins.  We were at this long Aserivan council meeting.  The council had summoned us, but I was especially annoyed.  We been talking about this problem for what seemed like a long time.  Humanics been going into the seas, the deeper parts of them and finding mermaids. 
          There also been cases of mermaids disappearing, and the only thing that they can link up to the disappearances is the humanics who happened to be nearby on that same day.

          Not only that, but it turns out these humanics could be the few related to the ones that are filled with greed.  They are looking for us.  They are trying to find us.  And that is the problem the council face.

The only thing, the council suggest we temporally go to the shore, the land and pretend to be humanics.  Terrible idea.  Terrible idea that many will not accept.

I been thinking about this a lot.  And finally I have come up with an excellent plan or idea.  Our fins may get a little bloody, but that kinda works for me.

"I have a few ideas that will work, if you allow me to speak." The council nodded.  "First if humanics and how ever they go to the sea is near, we get the ocean to move them to the land.  We move the sea and use the current pushing them back to land or to another land piece."
           I placed my fins together and turned towards the other council members.  "The second is if they are in the water and there are no ways to go up.  We can make them unable to go back where they came from, and drown.  We can also drown them if they see any of us or our secrets.
         We can kill them, using our magic, and also fight back.  These are my ideas and at least one of them will work for different situations.  You be a fool, to not do this."

"Hey, the non-fledgling prince is actually smart..." One of the royal choosers made a comment.  I had to dare myself to keep calm.

"I disagree." Many of the others gaped at the voice that said it.  Why?  Is he dumb?

"Are you...serious, kind dear sir?" Kind dear...he nothing but a-

"It will fail.  If we fight with them we could cause destruction and risk merphans' lives." He  folded his arms while speaking extra calm.
        "More mermaids will go missing, and if suddenly every land being start disappearing then they will be curious and search the seas.  They might even find us and more of us will disappear."

"Well we coul-"

"And how do you suppose we use the ocean currents and that will work?" He interrupted me,  "Those land ones will surely go and question why the waters are being like that.  What if someone records?  In conclusion, I say it will fail and we should not do that."

We all stared at them as if they were dumb.  "What?"  I mean they were dumb.

"Listen, I am sure that it will work if we do things properly.  And if you are scared so much that something will happen that endangers us more, then you must allow me to do those things." But the council members were persistent and shook their head.

"And cause harm to you?  Oh we would never dare to see that happen." I sighed internally.

"Well I and many others are not going to the land of those selfish, greedy humanics, so no thank you." I shot up and crossed my arms.  I knew this would be useless.  I knew they never understand or agree.  They never do.  I rather be out there.

"Are you forfeiting?  Do not even think abo-"

"What are you going to do about that?" I shot back grinning.

"Dear, young prince I advise you to...." But I ignored the warning the other royal one gave me.

"I do not care.  I am tired of this endless meeting we have all the time about the same exact subject.  Am I wrong?" Everyone else thought for a moment and shrugged.  They murmured in agreement.

"Well the prince does-"

"And they never agree with anything which causes us to argue.  So goodbye, I am tired of this and leaving." I was fins away from the hallway that all the other merphans who were not invited were at.

"If you leave you never be forgiven." Forgiven?  I raised my brows, I never care about that.

"Who cares...I doubt anyone of us wants to be here." The others nodded in agreement before getting up as well.  The council members looked furious. 
      How could they all be leaving, was what they were probably thinking.  But I must tell you, everyone tired of all of this.

"What?..All of you...Stop!  Stop!  No!" I left as they cried out in desperate attempts to keep me and the others there.  Fortunately, the plan of theirs failed.

I left the place and swam into the hallway with trails of other merphans following.

"Do you and everyone else want to be forced to go to the above?" I stared at him in shock.  How dare he event think about threatening me.

I glared at him, "No... Are you serious?  Do not even give me that, I am sure everyone else here would agree.  At least I have a plan along with several of the others in the room.  But you refuse it without even listening or trying it. 
        Huh?   It as if you want us to leave...As if you just really hate us and want something to happen you cold-hearted zun de zeriz of the Valerian sea!" And then I heard the other royals and many other merphans gasps.

I cursed their name by the spiteful spirits that only live in the Valerian sea.  They deserved it.  They acted like those spirits.  But suddenly I felt the sea turn colder than it was.

"How dare you!" They pointed their fins and spears at me. "Do you wish to receive the breaking of the deadliest tombs of the sea that shall never be tampered with unless thy want face great strikings of pain?"

The council members were fuming with rage. Everyone was questioning my state ability, and nonetheless had the gull to even do it.  I did not even care.  I was dynamic.   Still, those council members that never dared to listen to my advice shall I never listen to
.

"Pfff...You are those who never dare listen to others and all we shall do is argue about the best idea to do for the current problem, and you say you want opinions, but never would you do follow the advice we say. I mean you are a cold-hearted zun de zeriz of the Valerian sea...I should not expect anything less."
         This angered them more and I looked at them with a challenging sneer. They pressed their hands and magic towards me.  They gave me a threatening look, but atlas I was being careless.
       "Oh? Try me! I really want to see you try to do that to a prince...." Me talking in third merphan, what am I a non-royal?  "What would they think? I mean..." I lowered my voice to a whisper.  "..Everybody cares about representation in these times, if you know what I mean?" It made them angrier than ever. 

       It was thrilling.  It was I, Mivozene that made them do that.  My parents might hate me afterwards and I surely be punished, but this adrenaline felt amazing. The council members took one of their fins and held themselves as if they were going to strike or use magic on me. They would not.  I just shrugged, not caring.  And if they did do it, it was not anything I was not used to.

But they were not hesitating on stopping.  They lifted their magic until it was barely away from my face.  I waited for some 'pain', but none came.  None came and I was confused. 
        Light suddenly engulfed me.  It was bright that covered everyone else.  They all glowed in the pink magenta glow.  Then it came to me.  In front of me was her, my dear sister.  Mina...

The thing I feared most was out and may be revealed.  It no lie what my sister is.  The legend of the descended mermaid of eons ago who have powers to control the land and sea.  The myth of the mermaid that magic was seemingly so great who has capability to control the seas and land... 

        There was a ruling if said to be born and if one knows of who it is that they should tell the council immediately.  But I did not, I knew what they do with her.  I could not let her face that.  They would try to influence her to do what they want and she never live a day of freedom again. 

That is another reason why I always make sure she never leaves our kingdom.  And thus, she was here in front of me spreading her arms out protecting me.  Why?  Why did she do this?  I can handle myself and she is always the one to get hurt.

"What going on? That light...is that...he couldn't be...No.." I heard a familiar voice.  The light was fading slowly.

Then the light completely faded.  Everyone was either gasping or in shock.  The council members were way back and they looked almost injured from the light.  I shut my eyes, frowning. 
       "What are you doing here?" I whispered, but everyone heard me.  Most merphans were silent and was starring.

"Well....well...well..." One of the members sneered, crossing his arms.  I just was annoyed everything happened like this.  They were never suppose to find out, but I never blame her.

"Do not hurt him!" I raised my brows.  She was cute.  She had no idea what she could actually do or what she was, but that was for the better.  She was too young and innocent for this knowledge.

"Mina...Leave." I urged her, but she refused staying put.  Why was she not leaving?  I am trying to save her fin and all she does is staying.

"What?" She turned her head with a confused expression planted on her face.  She did not know.  She was confused as always.  She never knows anything.  She does not know what she is.

"I said..Leave.  Get out of here, quick." And finally her eyebrows that were furrowing suddenly seemed to have a sense of what was going on.

"Why isn't that sweet..." I could tell the member was taunting me.  "You cannot run, well she cannot.  And hide this from us...Was your caring for your sister really you caring or was it selfishness knowing what she possessed?  You must of wanted it for yourself."
       I could not believe they ever say that.  I really wanted to hurt someone.

"What?  What are you talking about?  I would never.  She never do what you want..." They crept closer.  I had barely any time and she was not moving.
      "Mina do not listen to the council members!" I yelled before they could do anything.

"You know how dare you...A rule...Did you forget of that one?  All royals must know them and the punishment for breaking them is much too great and I afraid she will be the one that was bare it. 
      We cannot trust her." I glared at them.  If they hurt her, I will spend all my days hurting them.

"MIRACINE!" I yelled...The name I have not spoken since ever.  The name given at blessed times.  The true name that belongs to my little sister.  "Leave...please?" She blinked in shock and spread her arms moving fast and away. 
     She disappeared immediately.  Her, being able to control both sea and land, allows her to almost disappear easily.  That why it always took forever to find her.  The things she does, she just think it is normal.

          Her voice, her beauty voice, that sings like a siren possessing any non-mermaid that listens.  All the fish are captivated immediately and surely humanics would drown themselves trying to reach her. 

Even when she speaks, she does this thing where suddenly her eye is magenta.  She does magic and all beings expect for mermaids listen and obey her.  She can only do that, no one else.

"Look what you done?" He just slapped me.  He seriously slapped me.  And it was a pitiful one.  Not hard like it hurt, it was just so weak.  And they call these idiots the mermaid council?  Why do merphans fear them again?

"I did nothing...That not surprising.  You fool to trust me, I do not give an anervis sea about anyone but..... my sister, so it your fault for allowing me in your discussions." I suddenly felt awful I did not say Isa's name.

"You sly little-"

"Sea slug?" I offered while grinning, "Yeah I know.  But what they should know is that you plan to actually refuse any ideas of ours to stop the humanics from discovering our civilization and taking us. 
          And instead the council wants us to pretend to be humanics, and go to the surface for who knows how long.  But I never agree to that and I think you should all-" Erghk.

  I was hit with magic, electrifying magic.  It was actually kinda strong, but nothing I was not used to.

"What did he say..."
"He not serious..I thought-"
"I never go up there!"
"Stupid humanics!"
"I hate them.."
"How could they..."

"You broke a rule.  Nonetheless even if you forgot or never knew about that rule, you still broke one. 
        'Rule 5, all mermaids of the forsaken sea of thy who hold crowns of royalty shall always know all rules to knowledge.'  Five or twenty-one, you choose." I shrugged, I had so much worse and I would be fine.

"And my sister?"

"If you accept this in place of her, than no harm will be placed on your sister....for now." For now did not sound reassuring, but if I do this than none will come and I prevent anymore from coming to her.
       "And we also be keeping your sister so we can find out more about what mythological merling can do." I glared at them.

"Absolutely not!  She will stay with me...I take responsibility anything she does that happens that may be upsetting to many." I gave a fierce glare and they looked at each other than surprisingly they nodded.

"Do as you must then...It be an honor in front of everyone...from the members of the council so please do as you will." I sounded really masochism to anyone or even in the face of the council, but that was not true. 
       I knew that if I did this than it would make myself look good.  And everyone would praise me, the things I do for everyone else.  I had to..my parents would never even look at me the same again.  Every day would be more suffering...and pain.

~And do the punishment begin.

It did not even hurt...much.  Nothing I was not used to.  I was getting struck and I did not care.  But what made me care and saddening were the cries of my sister.  I heard her desperately trying to stop it, but they would not let her.  It hurt me to hear that and everyone knew it was her. 
       The others look sad or conflicted on what their faces should show.  But another face eliminate it from the rest of the crowd.  Isa.  She was hurting and looked like she was in pain.  I hated it. 
         I hated how she looked.  How she was in deep sorrows.  I could just tell.  And Miza, oh thank the oceans for him being there.  Miza was there trying to calm her down, but still she was tearing up.  She could not watch me.  Look away...
         I thought.  Then suddenly Miza took the ice princess and swam out of the area.  It made me feel better.   I wonder who all heard her, or did they think it was just my sister.

After numbness and strikes, it finally stopped.  I finally caught my breath and I looked up at then.  I thought about looking at everyone with sadness to make them feel guilty and hate them, but then I realized something.  I did not want to show weakness. 
       I closed my eyes and shrugged lifting up from where I was from.  Then I opened my mouth to only say, "Oh?  Is that it...I had much worse..."  Every gasped and started to praise and tap their fins together. 

        I swam away from the praise and everyone else though.  I wanted to be alone.

"How cool..."
"So brave and handsom, what a prince..."
"For him to be that strong..Nothing bothers Prince Mivozene"
"Oh desire me!"
"Wow..."

I heard voices of approval and appraisal, but I ignored them, swimming off.  I was swimming for awhile and awhile, away from everyone and everything....

~~~

"You!" She was far too upset with me.  Her eyes were red and they narrowed as if they were trying to glare.  "How could you do that?!...."

"Isa.." I whispered, "I am fine."

"No!  Do not even dare to say that...and brush it off like it is nothing!" She furrowed her eyebrows and crossed her arms.  She did not even look at me.

"I wish you left sooner...I did not like how hurt you were." She blinked her sadness away after I spoke.

"Zen...I know you care for your sister, but still... Did you have to?  And why did you not tell me about your sister?  Is that why you were always worried and afraid for her?" Suddenly her voice softened.  "Are you...hurt?"

"I am fine!  I'm alright." I slumped down.  "It did not really hurt or...not much.  Nothing I was not used to." Then she glared at me.

"Zen!  How...How could you say something like that?  And as if it was a joke too!" I stopped and put my arms around her.

"I am okay...Shh...I am here now." I felt her relax and calm down.

"Mayzozen?" I laughed at her attempt to say my name.  "Hey!"

"Call me Zen,"  I held her close, both arms crossing her chest in a X shape. "I want to be called something special...and different."

"Zen?" She whispered again.

"Hmmm?" I tilted my head until I was leaning against the crook of her neck.

"Never leave me?  I do not...want anything to happen to you and I be alone you are the only one I speak to besides Miza.  You are my first and only friend." I groaned when she said friend. 

Can she stop calling me that?  I know she means it in a good way and regardless she cares for me a lot, but still.

"I never knew friends kiss a lot..." I muttered sarcastically.

"Zen!" She started turning dark coral around her cheeks and lower neck.  "Please?"

"I never let that happen to me or to you.  I promise you that..." I lifted up smiling for once.  For once it felt true and real, 

"And stop calling me your friend especially to my face.  Maybe when your with others, yes it makes sense, but with it only me?" I crossed my arms, frowning.

"That why you always got so-" She widen her eyes in realization, but before she could actually say the embarrassing thing out loud I interrupted her.

"Yes!  Now hush." I look at her for awhile.  Sitting quietly, smiling, and hair flowing with the sea.  I took her in.  I pressed my nosed against hers, cupping her cheeks softly. 
        Again I kissed her in a dearest way.  "I will see you soon." Then kissing her cheek, I left with much hope and what Isa would call happiness.