Aquata Cove Ch. 100: Final Pt. 01

"You came back for me... Against everything, you came back..." The Soul cries as they sleep in the river of existence.

"Of course, I came back... I will always come back..." The Entity says.

"I... I need to... I cannot lose you again..." The Soul pledged softly, "As I once said... Even if I lose you in this life, I will find you again..." His soul embraces the other one, "I will walk the seas, and I will find you again... And find you again in the next life, and the one after that... I will always come find you... Whatever form you take, whatever name I have... I will come and I will wait for you..."

"My body and soul will always belong to the ocean..." The Entity looks to him with sad but endearing eyes. His being stays closer to him as their forms sail through the heavens, "But my heart will always find its way back to you... I would spend the entirety of my existence forsaking what legacy they would have of me, than to spend so much as a single lifetime without you..."

The two lovers see a bright light shining on them, calling to them as they slow down. The light shows their next destined path; an entirely new birth, a new beginning, a new future, and a new life. Both of them regain a familiar footing as they look at the portal of glorious divinity. It's time to go.

"Together..." The Soul says as he offers his hand.

"Eternally..." The Entity takes his hand.

†††

And through the eons, these two individuals will always and forever more find each other, life after life. Young or old, the man who was a soldier would see himself seeking the ocean, calling to him as if it holds a missing piece that he will always search for. And the prince who would sacrifice anything and give himself completely to the one who holds his heart. They always knew each other when they have never met. They remember one another even though nothing has ever happened before. They give everything to the other when they had nothing. Regardless of the beginning and the end, these soulmates will never stray from each other.

This is only a few of their infinite lifetimes together.

†††

"And on that fated day, Atlantis fell to the malice of man." Neron says as he wears a soaking wet cloak over his body. Myles stands next to him as they look at the full moon, "The Land Father Mithras, once a man who became the sun, wanted his people to make peace with mine. But somehow, his prudence was overlooked, and the humans of the land invaded the three Kingdoms of the Sea. And so it was, the Sea Mother Atargatis transmuted her own existence in order to protect the lives of my people, and became the moon."

"That... Is a tragic story..." Myles says.

"It is no story... To the best of our memory, it is our history." The hooded person turns to look at the man next to him, "And what of your people? Do they remember what befell the Kingdoms?"

"... No..." He shook his head, "The best I know, there was once a place called Atlantis, and that it had somehow sunk to the bottom of the ocean."

"Do they not even remember the empire that struck us down?"

"No one has even heard of such an empire, as you have described it. If there ever was one, it probably died out long ago."

"Long ago..." Neron scoffed, "It was barely a century passed. Humans have poor memories, do they not?"

"Hmph... I can hardly speak for us."

"Nnnhhh..." Neron shifts and groans.

"A-Are you ok??"

"I-I feel ill. I need to get back to the water."

"Alright, lets hurry." Myles gets up, and tucks Neron's arm over his shoulder, feeling the slick silver arm on his neck. He helps him to the edge, and lets the aquatic man slip into the surface. Neron sighs as his curtain-like fins waft and reappear around his body. His head dunks down, and comes back up, as Myles places the water-heavy robe next to him.

"Heheh... My family knows I am here, you know. They are not pleased." Neron says with a coy grin.

"Hahaha, they should meet me. I would like to have fished with them."

"Heh, no doubt they would think they are eating solid blasphemy from anything you catch..." Neron's smile faded, "And... There's something else too..."

"You... Have to go to Atlantis, don't you?" Myles asked sadly.

"Oh, you remembered what I said in the past." Neron smirked.

"Always."

"But... Myles, I do not know how long I will be gone."

"Oh..."

"My people are forever changed, and the Ningyo have just alerted my kind that we must return soon."

"The Ningyo?"

"It... Matters not... I assume we must gather, and create laws to follow in order to bring out kind together under some form of unison." Neron then reaches up, and stroke the human's hand, "I... Please understand me, I..." He looks up with fret, "I do not want you to forget me..."

"I understand." Myles says as he holds that webbed hand, "I will wait for you, for as long as it takes." He smiles as he looks at this strange and mystical creature, "Be it a day or a decade, I will remain on this land until you return."

†††

"It was... Horrible..." Emiyn the golden and purple-diamond fish merman says as he and Rico bathe in the calmly rushing river, "I have known Atarah my whole life... S-She was a beautiful Amnien..."

"But... If she was truly able to summon lightning and turn the waves to giants, maybe it is best if no one has that power..." Rico says.

"But she was good! She held no ill-will to anyone! A-And they... Her own mother..." Emiyn swallows, "Painted her with liquid fire..."

"HHh!" Rico gasps.

"She ran away on land, and... Several humans started to attack her. I-I tried to help her, but... By the depths..." Emiyn covers his forehead, "The Black Sun began to arrive, and I had to flee..."

"Emiyn..." Rico puts his hand on the other's shoulder, "What happened to her was not your fault."

"I know that, but... I..." Emiyn shakes his head, "I still feel there was something I could have done...

†††

Dureau floats on the broad wood plank, his half of his body submerged below the surface of the ocean. The battered and injured sailor breathes slowly as the shock stills his body, unable to make himself paddle from the wreckage of the ship... An entire armada of ships litter the sea from a horrific onslaught. Every ship has been obliterated, all of them chomped and broken, all of them destroyed by what looked like a giant shark. Every man on any of the ships is dead; if there are anymore survivors, they are silent.

As far as he knows, Dureau is the only one left alive; of both the pirate ships as well as the royal fleet.

"Everyone... Gone..." He mumbles, too tired to carry on. His face meets with the saturated wood, completely exhausted... "What do I do... Whadh... Do I do..."

As the sailor succumbs to sleep, flourishes of cyan and white glimmers from the waxing moonlight. The sentient veil of beauty orbits around the floating man, going completely unnoticed.

Holding his trident in his hands, Axenus looks about this human with caution. His transparent and glowing sting-filled tentacles propel him smoothly around. He can quickly just kill him and show him mercy from the sea. At least he'd be with his comrades on the other side. Guardian Megalodon was sloppy, it didn't even devour half of these land cretins.

Humans and their floating wars across the ocean. They kill each other and trash the vast expansion of the water with their blood and wreckage. And to what end? To riddle the beautiful sea with their spheres of solid rock and fire? Shattering mutilated trees and raking everywhere with needles of wood? Breaking the serenity of the air itself with the furious clouds of man-made explosions of thunder?

Father was right to summon the Guardian and stop their battle. Better to wipe them all out with the mighty strike of the Guardian than to let their horrendous chaos ruin the sea any longer than they already have.

... Still, looking from under the surface, Axenus can see the pain and fear of this man as he slept... And as far as humans go, this one doesn't look completely dangerous. His face is appealing to the eye. It would be a shame to put an end to a creature with handsome features. The more he looks at this man, the less disgusted Axenus feels towards this forsaken monster.

"... There is a small island not too far from here." Axenus concluded as he puts his trident to the mount on his back. To the best of his knowledge, humans are known to frequent that spit of land as a resting ground where they take the food that is spawned and grown there, "He can decide where he can go on his own..." The jellyfish merman puts his translucent hands onto the long and thick rope attached to the broken raft and then waves his graceful form to pull the dormant human along.

†††

A grand ceremony takes place in this small native village. The chieftain's son, Naeem, stands proud, dressed in beautiful feathers with his robe around his body. He smiles brightly as his mate, Katsumi, a tan man with many elaborate metallic markings branded on his body, both ever present in this form and when he is of the water. A few years older than Naheem, stands in his own blue and red robe, wearing bands of small shells around his arms, neck, legs, and head.

The shaman that stands between the two of them rattles her rod over the two of them, ordaining their bond in this wonderful day.

They hold hands and bring them up and turn to the rest of the people, the peaceful tribe cheering for the two of them as they prepare to celebrate.

†††

Lukyan huffs as the muscular and overweight man chops the last log of the day in half, panting and sweating as he looks at the sunset on the horizon. It's been almost 8 years since Cadao disappeared... Two decades they've shared together, and moving on just seems utterly impossible, which suited his isolated home in the cabin. As cold and distant as Lukyan wants to be, he just cannot bring himself to leave the shore. He cannot abandon that little bit of hope that someday...

Hitching the load of wood to his back, the burly man walks down the hill through the woods, as he does all the time. He traverses the lonely trees from his logging area, and soon finds his quaint hut. Something is different though.

Squinting at the sunlight, he gasps as he sees a very cruel delusion before him. There, standing next to the cabin, lean and somewhat short with brown hair, Cadao stares right back at him. It is like he never even left... Those golden eyes... The black tribal symbol around his left wrist... The equipment made of seashells and teeth and kelp... The layered surface of patches on his body that are still dripping with water.

"You..." Lukyan lets the wood drop from his back before he takes a few steps forward. "Cadao YOU" The two men soon embraced each other tightly. Lukyan's eyes turn wide as he feels Cadao hug him back. Both of them feel a surge of emotions as they look to each other. He pushed his forehead with the other as his chest pulses with intensity, "I thought you died... I thought you died..."

"I'm sorry, I am so sorry..." Cadao mutters quietly.

"D-Dad?" Comes a young voice. The two of them look, and see a small boy look at the both of them. Lukyan's blunt mind looks at the kid, and immediately notes this boy... Is the spitting image of Cadao...

"Cadao..." Lukyan's eyes look to the merman with a hot blare.

"Wait for me inside, Son..." Cadao tells him as he ushers the boy into the cabin. He then looks to the now flustered man, "L-Lukyan, I-I can explain-"

"Did not take you long, I see." Lukyan huffs with emotion, "I waited for you..." His eyes rim with angry tears, "I thought you died in that storm, and I WAITED for you!"

"Lukyan, please, let me explain. His name is Ronin, and-"

"No! You..." Lukyan frowns and growls, before turning and picking his axe back up, deciding to go back to the forest, "You and he can go. And I-"

"No, stop, he is yours!"

Lukyan stops and turns to him, the bearded, chubby woodsman giving Cadao a strange look.

"What??" He says with a disdained look.

"Lukyan, he... His name is Ronin. H-He has your... Eyes, and..." Cadao rubs his arm, feeling a little embarrassed. As he understands it, this is probably impossible with humans. "H-He talks and acts just like you, and..."

"Don't lie to me, Ronin, just, leave me be." Lukyan says lowly as he walks again, too hurt to even look at him.

"NO! Nononono!" Cadao runs forward, and blocks him from going further, "I am telling you the truth, he is your son!"

"HOW?!" Lukyan shoves him back, "You are not a woman, Cadao! This is just insulting-"

"Would you listen to me?!" Cadao raised his voice, "You, you know... You know I am a seahorse merman, Lukyan."

"And what does that have to do with anything?"

"Y-You do not know?"

"Just get to the point, Cadao."

"I- Well- it's just... With seahorses, both merfolk and animal, it is the males who bear children."

"... What?"

"With the animal, seahorses mate, and the female passes the children to the male..." Cadao says a little awkwardly.

"Cadao... Why have you been gone for 8 years? Why did you not come sooner, this doesn't make any sense."

"I do not know what happened, Lukyan." Cadao shook his head, "That storm was from a ruthless Noita, and I somehow ended up on the other side of the world." Cadao grows more upset, "I was lost... I did not have my pod - what pod would host a merfolk with a half human child? It was just me, the ocean, and a strange goat-like creature."

"And... Him?" Lukyan nodded to the cabin.

"I was on my own... I had to take care of him all alone, I had to nurse him by myself and also try and navigate the entire ocean, and even went on to land, I could not understand any of the languages to where I looked. I am so sorry, Lukyan, I... I'm so sorry..." Cadao wipes his eyes.

"So... You really were..." Lukyan says as he puts down his axe.

"He is the only thing that kept me going through these years, kept giving me the will to keep looking."

"That boy..." Lukyan pointed to the cabin, "He is mine... Really..."

"I can never lie to you." Cadao says with pleading eyes, "Not now, not ever..."

"So... Not only do you go away for almost a decade," Lukyan says as his eyes get red and moist, "But you bring home a beautiful son that I did not get to raise..."

"We are here now, Lukyan." Cadao rubs those beefy arms, "He is still so young, we can still bring him up together. He's wanted to meet you for so long."

"Alright, Cadao..." Lukyan brushes the tears from his face, "Let me see if this boy is anything like me..."

"My... Father actually made something with him... I met with my pod, and... He was the only one who accepted Ronin... He only wished that he could see him every sun." Cadao then takes something from his belt, and brings up a small tool. Lukyan takes the very small item with his thick fingers. "I assure you... He is everything like you." Lukyan turning it over and examining the short rod with a sharp scallop shell tied at the top on one side of the shaft. Like a tiny axe.

†††

The bell rings as to indicate the release of the students. The young Chinese teenagers file out of the institution one by one, chatting amongst themselves as they either go home or attend some other matter.

Xiang, 14 years of age, runs out of the back area of the institution, his pack fastened on his back as the boy rushes with zeal to the usual route. It's been about 6 months since his friend of the ocean was here, he might be back! He can already picture Bahari with a new story to tell of his most recent adventure.

Running through the old path within the bamboo fences towards the shore, Xiang's insides race with joy as he sees the sharp green dorsal fin with the bronze streak on the edge, rising and sinking in circles. He's here!

†††

"How long is he going to make me wait??" Lance snarls as he wipes the counter of the pub he works in, "I'm bloody sick of playing these games... I don't even know... Agh... Probably just stood me up again... If I know him..."

"Uhh, Lance?" Comes a knock. Lance looks, and sees Sachiel come in, carrying a small parcel with him, "Are... Are you free?"

The young and agitated Englishman holds his hands open as he gestures to the empty pub, not a patron in sight for the evening, "Can't you see I have my hands full with all of these people."

"Right..." Sachiel nods, and comes to sit on the bar, putting the parcel aside. "Lance... I just want to say I'm sorry... For everything."

"Hhhhh." Lance takes a pause, still channeling with frustration. "Look, you know how I feel about you. But this isn't funny anymore. I told you before I'm willing to be flexible with what you have, but YOU need to be there for the plans we actually make."

"I know..." Sachiel nodded.

"Bollocks." Lance says as he slings the towel over his shoulder and goes to start put up the chairs on the table, "Look, we've been through this before. Half the time, you don't even show up and you make me feel like a bloody idiot."

"Lance, I'm sorry-"

"No, I'M sorry. I keep pushing these expectations on you. For example, expecting a straight answer to a question. Or expecting you to come to our dates, I-" Lance clenches his jaw in anger, "You know I put myself out for you! You didn't even show up to the Christmas Party at Covert Garden and I was going to dance with you! I been thinking it up for ages!"

"Lance, I told you, the Razirah of my pod has problems with fear and anxiety. When she calls me, I HAVE to come back to the pod, no matter how small the problem."

"That is what you ALWAYS say, Sachiel! And it was believable at first, but it's like you have to leave about 5 minutes when you get here, and," Lance scoffed as he opens his arms again, "I mean, please do tell me if I'm wasting my time! Because I'll cut things off if THAT will make things easier for you."

"Lance, I'm sorry I haven't kept to my word. It's not fair that I keep leaving you alone and wondering where I am... And, it's actually what I came to discuss with you."

"Hhhh, right." Lance puts up the last chair, and walks to the counter, and takes a seat, "What is it this time?"

"I have... Been doing a lot of thinking, about you and I, and about my pod. I can't have you and them at the same time, so... I came clean, and I told my parents about... Us."

"What??" Lance raises his eyebrows at him, "Are you mad?? I can't even tell MY parents about this."

"I had to. And... They were not completely pleased that I have a relationship with you, but... After explaining how things were," Sachiel speaks slowly and slightly deliberately, "They told me as long as I was happy, that is all that mattered."

"They said that. Two fish with just one son." Lance says skeptically.

"Yes, yes they did, and..." Sachiel continued, "We agreed that it was best if I were to leave the pod and be with you."

"What, leave your family??" Lance said in shock, "Blimey, Sachiel, I- I didn't want THAT. Isn't there some sort of compromise??"

"No, there isn't. Th-They still love me, and they are letting me go." Sachiel nodded curtly.

"That's it? No catch, no strings, nothing?"

"I have to live near the water." Sachiel says, "My body can't cope without the sea for too long, but as long as I go into the sea once in a while, I will be fine."

Lance adjusts on the counter to lean forward, looking into his lover, "Now Sachiel... Is this REALLY what you want? You realize you are rearranging your whole life just for our relationship. Didn't you say you were supposed to be your Dad's successor when you grow up? Are you completely sure about this"

"It's done." Sachiel says, "I've already turned in my trident, I've made my decision, and..." He takes Lance's hand, "I need to give you the sort of attention you've given me."

"So, you're serious this time."

"Yes..." He nodded.