Thread: Neverland

The green haired mermaid was sunbathing leisurely on Marooner's Rock. She was lying on her back and her tail was hanging limply, barely touching the water beneath. A few other mermaids were giggling and splashing each other nearby. Another was singing as a merman listened happily, his head resting on his hands on a large rock. It was a calm day.

Too calm, she thought.

And suddenly, a loud noise crushed the serene atmosphere as a powerful stench spread through the area. The mermaids gagged and retched. Quickly, they submerged into the water, tears in their sore eyes as the gas penetrate into their lenses. An almost quiet laugh escorted their departure. Only then, a small pixie appeared visible to no one in particular.

“Mermaids, check!” The red haired pixie squealed in glee, flying away from the scene.

Queen Zerra opened her eyes and sighed tiredly.

"Rozalin," she muttered, her brows knitted together in irritation. She wondered whether she should warn the others regarding her vision. Too much of a hassle, she decided.

She called her maid and asked whether she knew the whereabouts of her children. Her answer dissatisfied the Queen. Queen Zerra dismissed the old maid and swam out into the front of her castle. A soft song left her lips and a moment later, Gis, her shark presented itself to her presence. She climbed onto the fish's back and whispered into it's side.

"Let's go find the children."

"There you are!"

Queen Zerra swam swiftly towards her daughter. She raised a sharp eyebrow and folded her arms neatly across her chest. "Didn't you know I have been looking for you, all day?" her voice was calm and didn't give out any indication of anger. However, there was sharp note that carried the weight of judgement and accusation.

The mermaid's eye softened as she stroked her daughter's silver hair. "It's late," she began. "Return to the castle for now. I'll speak with you tomorrow, Dorcas."

Dorcas, the eldest mermaid princess, sat at the bottom of the lake. She watched some other mermaids kindly helped the prank victims clean the stench of rotten eggs. Since she rarely socialized with the lost children and pixies above the water surface, she had little idea about how nasty Rozalin's pranks were.

"Didn't you know I have been looking for you, all day?" her mother's voice woke her up from her daydream. She immediately bowed to Queen Zerra, apologizing for her absense. "Mama, sorry - I forgot the time."

The queen ruffled Dorcas' silver hair, making the princess smiled in delight. "Yes of course." she then followed the queen back to the castle. "Why are there stinky people fooling around our lagoon?"

The Queen had followed her daughter's gaze while at the lagoon. It was not a rare sight to catch lost children socializing with the mermaids. For one reason or another, the children always had something they needed from her people. However, as long as it did not bring any harm to them, Zerra had always stayed silent on their alliance.

"It was probably Rozalin," she said, as a reply to her daughter's question. "I recognized the stench as the same one she had used on the mermaids this morning."
Really, that pixie can be a real pain sometimes. What's more, Queen Zerra could always see her pranks and tricks firsthand through her visions.

As if on cue, the Queen was stuck in a trance as another vision flashed in her eyes as if a movie scene rolling on a wide screen.

"Come here, sharkie, sharkie," she cooed. Gis was not a dumb beast but it couldn't resist the pixie's natural charms on animals. It slowly swam closer to shore towards the bright flash of red. "Gotcha!"

The shark was helpless as he floated out the water as soon as the pixie dust touched his smooth skin. The red pixie let out her infamous cackle. "Now, you stay there quietly, okay?" she mocked, playing at the shark's lack of vocals before flying away humming a tuneless song.

The shark flailed helplessly in the air, it's skin glistening with water as the morning sun burned into it's eyes.

The Queen let out a sigh before slowly cracking her eyes open. "Dorcas dear, would you mind taking Gis out on a swim first thing tomorrow morning?" she requested, without turning back to look at her eldest daughter. "Make sure you keep him in sight."

The princess nodded, "Sure, Mama." Taking care of her mother's pet was not a hard job. Little did Dorcas know what her mother had foreseen. Since she had never met the notorious pixie before, she paid little attention to the related stuff. "I'll keep him in sight carefully."

Melody swam silently through the dark waters. She knew she just entered Mermaid Lagoon. She was extremely nervous and didn't know what any of the other mermaids and men would do. Maybe she wouldn't be welcome or maybe she would be welcome...too... kindly. All of the thoughts swam in her head as she began to swerve off path. Melody regained her train of thought and began to swim straight again. She felt the pixies flutter in her stomach and felt sea sick. How would all of them react? she sighed, turning to look at a new fish swimming beside her. She was used to being followed, by fish, sharks, dolphins. Almost any sea creature you could imagine. Everything but lost children and other mermaids.

"Mama," Dorcas softly poked the queen's arm as she saw a strange shadow not far away behind them, "Somebody new has come." She was never a welcoming or warm-hearted girl, but under her mother's encouragement, she swam to a spot meters away from the stranger. There she saw a pretty mermaid with a head of soft, light red hair.

"You're new here? Never saw you before." Dorcas was not good at making friends, not ever. She squeezed out 2 sentences to catch Melody's attention, but still she forgot to introduce herself. Knowing she would chilled the water around her body, Dorcas kept a distance from the unfamiliar mermaid.

Melody, startled by the sudden voice coming from the other direction, opened her mouth to scream. She then slowly closed it and became a little bit more calm. Yes, I am new here. My name is Melody. Melody Lirina, and you are? Melody gestured toward the shadow wearily.

"Dorcas," she threw out her name indifferently. She swan closer, even though that made the water get colder. Carefully she scanned the new mermaid once again, "You're lost?"

She did not like offering her helping hand, but she would make an exception as long as her mother encouraged her to do so.

Melody shocked at the generosity of the beautifully pale mermaid swam out of the darkness towards her. That is a nice name. Better then Melody for sure. Not really lost though. Just thinkin about finding somewhere to stay.

"Hello," the Queen intervened. "I am the Queen of the mermaids here in Neverland. I don't think I've had the pleasure of meeting you." She smiled warmly although it appeared as a tight line across her lips.

"I'm sure my daughter had already introduced herself," she said, resting her hand on Dorcas's shoulder. "Come, please rest for the night in the castle. A new face is always welcome in my kingdom."

She started pushing the two young mermaids lightly from their bare back. Queen Zerra had always taken priority on the hospitality to her mermaids.

Melody was never touched by another mermaid. Of what she could remember. It was thrilling for her. She began to think about her past and easily started to cry. Thank god I'm already in water. She mumbled not too worried about them seeing.

Ana watched the water roll by, as she patiently waited for the ship to arrive to Mermaid Lagoon. It was about time Ana had a talk with Zerra about the treaties. Ana pulled on her jacket as she watched the ship slow to a stop, she heaved the heavy, black anchor by her side into the sea, checking quickly to make sure there were no mermaids in the path of the great piece of metal. Ana grinned as anchor splashed, with a loud 'Whoosh!' and water everywhere. Ana leaned over the rail of the ship, gesturing for the crew to go back to their quarters.

It's about to get ugly. Ana thought to herself, waiting until all the crew members were down below. Ana turned back to the sparkling water, filled with curious mermaids and mermen, looking upwards, staring at her with curious, but neutral, eyes. Ana smiled to them, letting warmth course through her eyes. She mouthed "Get Zerra for me." to a particular mermaid that seemed braver than the rest, and watched as she swam off, eager to find her Queen. Ana let her hand drift to her sword, gripping the handle tightly.

It pays to be careful. Ana reasoned to herself, gripping the treaty she had made with Zerra in the other hand, glancing at it once or twice.

What could Zerra possibly be doing?! Ana thought to herself impatiently, letting the smile slightly slip from her face.

Queen Zerra veered herself to the source of the call. "What is it, dear?" she questioned softly to the eager mermaid. The female explained the arrival of the pirate ship on the lagoon and the request of the Captain to have an audience with her. Truthfully, she was surprised to hear of the news. "Very well," she said calmly after the girl had finished.

The Queen turned towards her daughter and the new mermaid. "Dorcas, assist me in bringing the girl to the castle. She will be staying in your room, tonight. Right now, I have some matters to attend to." And with that note, she swam off to the surface where a black shadow of the chip was visible from under the waters. Her pet had at some time followed her from behind without her noticing. Petting the shark softly on it's large nose, the Queen surfaced out to the sea.

She glanced around and nodded towards the mermaids who were still lounging by the rocks, signalling with her eyes for them to leave. They bowed and submerged wordlessly into the water. From the corners of her eyes, she noticed her youngest daughter joining the group.

So that's why I hadn't seen this coming.

Finally, she turned towards the pirate's Captain. "You called for me, Anabella?"

WHAT?! Not in my room please! Dorcas screamed silently in her mind, but she remained cool and did not show any trace of her emotion. "Alright then. Be careful, Mama. Pirates are not nice, at least most of the time..." she knew her mother was way more experienced in dealing with the pirates, but it was always better to stay alert.

Dorcas bit her lips as her mother swan away. Cool now, she turned to the newcomer and asked her to follow her coolly. "Welcome, by the way."

PIRATES!? Melody swam at the speed of light behind a rock that was sticking out of the water. She was shaking and created small waves of water. I don't have to stay, I can find a different place to stay. Melody said slowly regained her sanity. Sorry, I really don't like pirates...much.She chuckled nervously.

Ana took a deep breath. "Darling Zerra, you and I have matters to discuss, in, well, private." Ana said, walking a little further down the gang plank but staying on her ship, which gave her a small sense of security. Ana leaned back, sitting confidently on the ship's wooden board. She glanced at the various mermaids and mermen as they swam away. So cool, so neutral, so confident that their queen will protect them. Ana thought to herself, keeping herself from scoffing out loud.

Ana turned to Zerra, meeting her cool, calm eyes with her own calculating, confident eyes. She gestured vaguely to the Lagoon, saying "Madame, please tell me you have some place in which we can converse in a private manner without worry of one of your, mermaids, coming along, yes?" Ana said, keeping her voice warm.

The Queen was calm. "You need not worry about my mermaids, Anabella. They are under strict orders to return to the kingdom before nightfall."

She glanced to the seas beyond until where her line of sight was restricted by the vast waters, allowing only a glint of the setting sun to be visible to her. "You should know better, Captain, than to come to the lagoon when the skies are dark. It is not safe for mortals to come anywhere near here when the moon is out."

Queen Zerra flicked her glance back to the Captain. "I will meet you at the shores of Crocodile Creek." She announced with a tone of finality. "And I strongly advice you depart with your pirates from this lagoon as quickly as your ship can take you, Captain Ana."

Is the queen going to be okay!?Melody shouted pacing (swimming) back and forth. What if they take her? What if they hurt her!? Meoldy began frantically flailing her arms around thinking about all the possibilities.

"Where are you going to?" Dorcas questioned as Melody suddenly swan away. She never liked taking care of others, not to mention having the chase after them. However she knew Melody could get into trouble if she get lost. After all, she was not familiar with the lagoon and the regions surrounding the lagoon.

Okay, the prime princess agrees to play with you, she picked up her speed and swan fast after Melody. It was lucky to her that the water was cool, otherwise swimming around at such pace could be dreadful.

"Mama would be fine. She's far stronger than anybody else," she tried to relieve her.

Are you sure?She sighed while frowning. Sorry for running off like that, I hate pirates.She frowned some more. I am too much trouble I should leave shouldn't I?

"If you leave suddenly, that would really be too much trouble," Dorcas rolled her eyes. Now she no longer minded having another mermaid in her room. She just hoped her mother would not scold her for letting the newcomer swimming around lunatically.

"Can we go to the castle now?"

Okay, sorry. She sighed, she felt nervous and was being immature. Let's go. After that she stopped frantically swimming around and decided to do as she was told.

Queen Zerra started swimming back towards her kingdom. Since the disappearance of the lost children's previous leader, Peter Pan, barely anyone heeds the fatal warnings given by the mermaids. The young boy, even though mischievous and a determined rule breaker, but he knew of the mermaid's night calls to the moon. Their musical and melancholy voices had no parallel in the world. But be warned, their alluring wails carries a deadly wave to any mere mortal who hears them—for none had lived to tell the tale.

Once, a raid had been made against them by the alliance of the Indians and lost children to kill the merpeople out of irrational fear. And thus, as the Queen, Zerra had to make an agreement with the Indian Chief that she would contain her mermaids in the kingdom whenever the sun sets—on the exception of the night where a full moon peaks. Luckily, tonight was not those nights.

The Queen was surprised when she ran into the two mermaids. "Why are you two still here?" her voice was calm for she saw the distress in the new mermaid's eyes. "Come now. You shouldn't be out here at this time."

"Pirates are really annoying," Dorcas leaned against the huge column in the castle. She was doscontented about her mother being dragged around to attend conference, at least that was what she thought. A sister of hers came and hugged her arm,"Big sis, I've learnt a new song! Want me to sing it to you?"Dorcas kept her poker face and shook her head. The silver-haired mermaid believed she sang the best among the siblings, so she was not interested in her sister's voice.

Princess Dorcas swam to the entrance of the castle, leaving her sister panting at the original spot.

Queen Zera drew the curtains to her daughter's room. It was still a little after dawn and her kingdom was still in darkness, the lights haven't reach beneath the surface of the waters. Her younger children were still sleeping soundly in their respective rooms in the castle but the Queen did not like to pamper her eldest daughter into making it a habit to be a late riser.

"Dorcas dear, it's time for you to rise," she whispered softly, brushing her daughter's silver strand that had fallen across her eyes while she was sleeping. The new mermaid had fallen asleep in the bed her maids had prepared the night before by her orders.

"Gis is waiting in the courtyard for her morning swim. For which you had promised to attend to yesterday." There was a slight strain in her voice indicating her agitation as the visions from yesterday played in her mind once again. "Make haste now."

She swam to Melody and with a warmer air, shook the girl's shoulders slightly. "It is time to wake up, my dear." She was the Queen, so it was a given she had to play the role of a host for her guest, after all.

"And Dorcas, please bring our guest along with you. It might help her to get to know our kingdom better. That is all." The Queen graced the two mermaids with a final smile before exiting the room.

"Oh morning, mama," Dorcas rubbed her eyes then stretched her arms. Queen Zerra reminded her to take Gis, the queen's beloved pet, for a swim. The prime princess was still sleepy, but she dared not breaking the promise she made to her mother. Getting up slowly and lazily, she nodded and left her comfortable bed. Her mother told their guest, Melody, to go with Gis as well. The selfish princess rolled her eyes a bit though she did not really mind having Melody with her.

After the mermaid queen had left, Dorcas swam to the courtyard. The shark excitedly swang its tail like a puppy. Patting its smooth body, the princess smiled slightly. "Let's go, Gis," she ordered in a calm voice. Then they waited for Melody and started to swim out of the castle.

Melody awoke in a large room. It seemed she was still in the castle with her knew friend Dorcas. She had forgotten all that happened after the queen left to see the pirate. She must have been so worried.