Happy weekend, everybody. 😊
I am hoping that this chapter will be a treat for you!
This is one that I've been wanting to share for a while, and if you've followed the story all along, you'll see how the events led up to this point.
This one is kind of a bookend to my very first post of the story!
Recap of Episode 77 so far:
Part One: The Peace Zone is being made new, and the princesses there look forward to a new adventure!
Part Two: A great honor is bestowed, and a friend group grows.
My dedication this week is to Alyson ( @AlyzGlimmering ), who is a wonderful new friend and new reader of my fanfic!
I also am calling out to the inimitable and wondrous Jasper ( @ProfessorQuinn ) who really shouldn't miss this one.
And Kit ( @ArchduchessKittycat ), you'll like this, too!
Come with me as the tide turns anew in the life of a princess!
Mermista stands beside a light teal curtain with a somber expression, eyes downcast. Her hair is braided behind her with threads of filagree silver twined within it.
In a change to her typical outfit, a teal skirt flows from her hips, and a light mantel of sea blue-green drapes from her shoulders, clasped at the neck with a fastener of gold, at the center of which is a brilliant pearl.
She sighs and looks up to see her attendant standing close by and facing her with a golden tiara in his hands. He offers it out to her with a look of invitation.
Mermista holds out a hand to bring pause to his action.
Mermista: Hold up. Just . . . give me a second, okay?
The attendant nods, and Mermista turns away. Gathering up a piece of the curtain, she presses her face into it.
Mermista: [groaning] Ugggggggggggggggggggggggghhhhhhhhhhh.
She lifts her head up again and turns back to her attendant, nodding to him.
Mermista: Okay. I’m ready.
Mermista’s attendant carefully places the tiara to rest atop Mermista’s head and pulls back the curtain beside him. Bright sunlight spills through the opening.
Mermista takes a deep breath, and she passes through, out into the brightness.
The former princess, now a queen, steps into a large, open space that rises gently around her on three sides like the inside of an enormous clean, white clamshell half. The sunlight graces the surfaces of twin pools of water -- one on each side -- while 3 steps lead up to a small raised platform standing about halfway between the center and the base of the shell.
Mermista surveys the gathering of more than a thousand people, some sitting and some standing along the gently-tiered incline that fans out around her, facing the platform.
Upon her entry, the crowd erupts into a jubilant shout, and applause and cheering rise and ring out to reverberate across the outdoor assembly space. A fanfare bursts forth from a collection of musicians settled near the curtain wall behind the platform.
Mermista smiles with a tiny blush as she walks quickly over to the steps and ascends. Another attendant awaits her there. He bows low and humbly offers out her gleaming trident to her.
Mermista accepts this with a nod, and the attendant steps back and retreats from the platform deferentially.
Memista turns toward the crowds and raises her trident boldly, eliciting a renewed thrill within the heart-warming cheer rising to embrace her. She pivots slowly, sweeping her smiling gaze from one side to the other across the gathered people of Salineas.
Countless beaming faces gaze back at her: young and old, shining as burnished hues from chestnut to copper to walnut. They give voice to love for their leader, calling her name and shouting joyfully. Mermista’s gaze comes to rest on one face quite different from the rest: a dashing buccaneer with a cheeky but innocent gleam in his eye and a sparkling grin like ocean mist catching sunshine. Sea Hawk gives her a friendly salute from the front row and bows deeply.
Mermista smiles, and tears of emotion fill her eyes. She blinks as she sweeps her trident in a horizontal motion, signaling the crowds and the musicians to fall silent.
For a moment she stands and inhales deeply.
Then she speaks in a loud voice.
Mermista: [confidently] Thank you, people! I’m really glad to see you all. Your enthusiasm. It really gets me. [she touches her fist to her chest] Like . . . deeply. No joke.
She leans forward and passes her trident down to one of her attendants, then straightens up and gestures to herself with both hands.
Mermista: [with feeling] But this celebration isn’t really about me.
She points outward to the audience, gesturing across the rows.
Mermista: This is about you!
Her statement inspires some wondering murmurs amongst the crowds, and some of them turn toward one another questioningly.
Mermista continues, gesturing outward, palms up.
Mermista: You fought and struggled while I was away during the last weeks of the war. And then . . . when I finally came back to bring you home again . . . you were all super-chill about it.
Mermista pauses, bringing her hands to her heart as she continues in a quieter voice.
Mermista: [with emotion] I wanna thank you. I’m really grateful for all of your support. For me. And . . . for being so understanding about . . . what was going on with my dad.
She sniffs another deep breath and sighs. Dropping her arms to her sides, she lifts her head, smiling out to her people, with eyes shimmering with tears.
Memista: And yeah. I’m your queen now. True. [matter-of-factly] But, I mean, there’s really no need to make a big thing about it because I’m literally doing the same things I did before as your princess.
She shrugs and gestures in a casual dismissal.
Mermista: I mean, . . . can we be real? It’s basically, like the exact same job.
And with that, she leaps down from the platform with a confident flair.
Mermista: But as your queen, i’ve got something to say.
Mermista stretches out her arm and points commandingly.
Mermista: Sea Hawk. Get over here.
Sea Hawk’s blinks his eyes, mildly startled, but then smiles and springs from the crowd, jogging lightly to Mermista’s side, where he arrives beaming and standing proudly with hands on his hips. He looks out at the audience and chuckles.
Sea Hawk: [mildly self-conscious] Ah! Haha, haha!
Mermista claps a firm hand on his shoulder at arm’s-length, addressing the people as she gestures to Sea Hawk.
Mermista: You all know this guy. He’s my driver.
Sea Hawk’s smile falters slightly as he glances her way.
Mermista: [continuing] And . . . [smiling and nodding] . . . kind of annoyingly, . . . he has stayed by my side, faithfully . . . through everything.
She glances at him with a heart-felt half-smile.
Mermista: [warmly] No matter what.
Mermista turns toward Sea Hawk, laying both hands on his shoulders and turning him to face her. He grins widely with confidence.
Mermista: [with a little nod] Sea Hawk. You have served me and my people with honor. You have shown that you care about them. And that you respect me.
Sea Hawk looks at her with glistening eyes, and his lower lip is trembling slightly.
Mermista: And honestly, you’ve really been a big help when things were tough. So . . . [looking down, with slight hesitancy] I’ve been thinking it over, and . . . [looking him in the eyes again] I . . . wanna give you a promotion.
Sea Hawk straightens up proudly and humbly nods at this.
Mermista’s hands slide down to take Sea Hawk’s in her own.
Mermista: [earnestly] I was thinking . . . How about . . .
There is an electric pause.
The audience seems to be holding its collective breath as they await Mermista’s word.
As she finishes her sentence, her expression blooms into a wide beaming smile!
Mermista: [in joyful release] . . . king?!!
Sea Hawk gasps with eyes widened, and his whole body jerks upright in surprise!
Sea Hawk: [in massive delight] Ah-AH!!
Suddenly, he drops to one knee, holding Mermista’s hands in his. He gazes up to her with loving eyes.
Sea Hawk: My lady!! I accept!!
Mermista: Good!
She steps back pulling away from his grasp and, with a quick flick of her fingers at her neck, unclasps her mantel and tosses it to the surprised attendant, who hastily gathers the material in his arms.
She grins and points to her face with both hands.
Mermista: [to Sea Hawk] See this face? [she pauses] This . . . is my shanty mood!
A whooping cheer rises from the crowd all around.
Mermista turns her attention to the orchestra at the back and points to them with regal authority.
Mermista: [with firm casualness] Hit it, guys!
Immediately the band strikes up a spritely chorus of strings and flutes in an infectiously rhythmic reel!
Mermista turns to Sea Hawk, absolutely glowing, lifts her skirts, and begins to dance!
As her caper brings her close to him, she starts singing.
Mermista: [with pride]
I am Mermista, Queen-of-the-Sea.
And this is Sea Hawk, my soon-to-be!
I claim him now o-ffi-cial-ly
To be my only one!
With this, Sea Hawk leaps to his feet, joining in with the dance and the shanty.
Sea Hawk: [ecstatically]
I’m Captain Sea Hawk! I am he!
My Queen Mermista is claiming me,
For us to make (and I agree!)
Our two adventures one!!
With their eyes locked in perfect synch, Mermista and Sea Hawk dance around one another in beautiful harmony.
Mermista: [singing with conviction]
So this is how it is gonna be!
Sea Hawk: [supporting]
We’ve sung it aloud, and shantily!
Mermista: [in happy abandon]
I’ve chosen him! He’s chosen me!
Now Shanty Time is done!
Taking each other’s hands, they swing each other around, as they gradually draw nearer to one side of the dance floor.
Mermista and Sea Hawk: [together, extending the chorus]
Now Shaaaaantyyyy Tiiiiiime iiiiiiiis dooooooooooone!
As the music approaches the height of excitement, they dance a last few energetic steps, and all at once, Mermista pulls Sea Hawk very close to her, halting beside one of the pools of water. For a brief moment, the musicians pause.
Mermista: [finishing the song]
Now Shanty Time is done!
And as the band strikes the last chord, Mermista takes Sea Hawk in a rapid dip-kiss, holding him low out over the water!
The crowd explodes into wild applause and cheering.
Mermista and Sea Hawk, still kissing, overbalance and flop into the water with a terrific splash!
The people are on their feet, stomping and clapping, and cheering with even greater enthusiasm.
After a couple of moments, Sea Hawk and Mermista pop up again, their clothes soaked and their hair matted down. Mermista hangs onto Sea Hawk’s shoulders, and Sea Hawk holds her tightly by the waist.
For a few seconds they turn toward the audience, blinking and giddy with joy.
Mermista smiles and blushes a little.
Sea Hawk pulls off his sopping wet bandana and raises it high, waving it to the crowds.
Sea Hawk: [in a mighty voice] AAAAAD-VEN--
Mermista grabs his head and swiftly stops his proclamation with another kiss!
Sea Hawk relaxes and smiles through the kiss.
And as their people adore them with their joyful cries and applause from all around, Mermista and Sea Hawk, oblivious to anything other than holding each other, slip slowly down into the water once more.
