Dylan and Zeph have been alive for a long time. For many tides and many moons, they swam the seas and even lived among humans. Dylan walked into the Cave of Wayfinder's Grotto and remembered some of his past experiences.
From early on in their life, they grew as mermen and lived close to the sea. Kemps, the Sapphire King was and is responsible for all merfolk. Before Dylan and Zeph could leave Sulani and live among humans, they went to him for his blessing and human attire to blend in at University.
As a front and source of income, Kemps ran a retail store that gave merfolk access to whatever they needed when they traveled to or chose to live in Human Worlds. All mermen and mermaids have eternal youth and will never die from old age or most things, it was trait that gave merfolk their ehtereal beauty and handsome qualities. Immortality would raise a few eyebrows if merfolk spent too much time too close to humans. Someone would surely notice the lack of aging.
In recent years, the different worlds and the typical attire worn in those worlds have become common knowledge, but when Dylan and Zeph went to University, that wasn't the case. The way merfolk dress and their tendency to not age became less noticable and raised fewe eyebrows. Most merfolk, however, still didn't mix with humans as often.
With Kemp's blessing and some new outifts, the twins left for University and became more acquainted with humans.
Sometimes, Zeph would manipualte space and time with his Weather Machine. For Dylan, it was difficult to understand the finer details, but changing the seasons resulted in a manipulation of time because the seasons marked the progression of time. There was also the possibility of space time annomalies that Zeph often needed to use his Spiritual Powers to correct. Zeph was a Genius that could easily bring out the full potential of any technology. Dylan was grateful that he knew what he was doing.
With Zephyr manipulation of Space Time, Dylan and Zeph sometimes explored worlds in the future. The future wasn't set in stone, so the cosnequences were minimal. But, they did visit Mount Komorebi while in the middle of their college semesters.
And they sang in the hot springs together.
Dylan and his brother were always together and they supported each other through University at Foxbury. At this point, it would feel unnatural to both Dylan and Zeph if they were apart for too long.
Sefina often talks about her first meeting with Zeph in Sulani, but she did meet them sooner than that. She just didn't know it because Dylana nd Zeph were disguised as humans and dressed differently than normal. She would never admit to her choice of Haircut and outfit at Foxbury.
It was thanks to Zeph that Dylan met Cecelia. Since Dylan is Bisexual, he wasn't sure about who he wanted to date. He would have been fine with guys or gals, so it was difficult to choose. However, he immedietly fell for Cecelia and shared a Mermaid's Kiss with her. The ability was named after a mermaid that used that ability to save the life of a drowning human. Ever since, the kiss was traditionally reserved for the partner a mermaid or merman would devote themselves too for eternity.
From there. the Love between the Twins and their Wives grew quickly.
For Dylan, it was almost a devastating blow when he learned that Cecelia was turned mortal by Sarah. Inside, he cursed himself for leaving her vulnerable to attack, but in the end, her curse was lifted. Dylan wanted to make up for lost time and strengthen the Romance they had now that they were together again. Nothing was more important to Dylan and Zeph than the time they could spend witht their families. Their days of blending in with humans was behind them. Their families were their future.
While Sefina and Dylan's sons struggled to living so close to the sea all the time, it came more naturally to the older twins and Cecelia. Dylan, Zeph, and Cecelia returned to their mermadic attire, but it was something for Sefina to get used. Even though she was surrounded by water and her sandals were soaked by the Island Waterfall, she still wore human clothing.
Sefina wasn't used to merfolk gestures of Romance and gave Zeph a rose instead of a Mermaid's Kiss, Charmer's Lullaby, or a Serenade. She didn't know that merfolk held great value in their voices and used them as a primary gesture of romance. Many merfolk powers came from the songs they sang, and Sefina was still learning. Regardless, Zeph appreciated the gesture.
Zeph pulled Sefina toward the sea and showed her one of the most important gestures between merfolk partners. The life giving kiss reserved for those who a mermaid or merman loved most. It didn't take words or a song. It was a kiss that gave the breath of the sea to the reciever.
Zeph held the back of Sefina's head and his hand rested on her waist. As he pulled his hands away, Sefina's hand rested at Zeph's waist where skin turned into scales.
Zeph: "And that's the Mermaid's Kiss. I love you so much, and I look forward to the family we build together."
Back in the Grotto, Sefina gave Zeph the big news.
Sefina: "Guess what, we're pregnant!"
Zeph: "I'm so excited! I can't wait!"
While Barnaby and Wade swam to school under the sea, Dylan took this opportunity to ask Cecelia out on a date.
There was a Cafe in Newcrest that would be perfect for the merfolk couple. At the edge of the Magic Realm, Dylan and Cecelia could be themselves.
Dylan flirted with Cecelia. "I'm dying to give you that special kiss."
Cecelia flirted back. "You'll just have to wait until we return to Sulani."
Dylan: "In all the worlds, in all the Universe, I never thought I would find someone I love this much!"
"I hope nothing tears us apart again."
Cecelia: "I feel the same way."
The couple sang their Charmer's Lullaby to each other. The song set the mood for more romance. The exchance became a Charmer's Duet.
Cecelia replied to Dylan's verse with her own.
As the date came close to an end, the couple changed to their true form and cloud gazed. While they weren't on their human feet, there wasn't much point to using energy to maintain a human form.
When the couple returned to the Sulani and visited the Sand Bar to keep the Date going. Cecelia caught Dylan by surprise with a mermaid's kiss. The passionate kiss momentarily made Dylan lose focus and he turned back into a merman. Cecelia caught him as he fell to the ground and continiued the kiss.
When Dylan regained his human form, the couple went upstairs and sat together.
Cecelia: "What's your favorite world? You can't say Sulani because we both know you love the ocean."
Dylan: "That's a tough question, but if I had to choose one, other than Sulani, I would say that I enjoy the Jungles of Selvadorada. There's always something new to do everytime I visit, and the paths are always changing through the jungle."
Cecelia: "I wasn't expecting that, but it's a fair answer."
As the summer heat intesified, the couple retreated a small lagoon. Cecelia gave Dylan another Kiss. As she pulled Dylan closer, Dylan arched his back, overwhelmed by the passionate mermaid's kiss. Cecelia held him firm to her with her hand around the back of his head.
Dylan finally managed to pull away and breathed. "I never want to fear losing you to a curse again."
Dylan moved in for another kiss and Cecelia pulled the merman close.
Dylan: "As much fun as this has been, we have a couple merboys waiting for us at home. We'll have eternity to do this again. I'm yours, forever and always."
After his date, Dylan took the twins to the shore of Mua Pel'Am. It was time that they learned to shapeshift. No matter how much they might want to, no mermaid or merman could stay in their human form forever. And sometimes, with a lack of focus, merfolk could find themselves turning back into their natural form. If they found themselves on land without legs, that wouldn't end well if they couldn't control their shapeshifting.
Wade: "What color do you think our tails will be?"
Barnaby: "I don't know. I'm a bit nervous."
After Dylan dove into the surf and transformed with ease, the merboys decided to give it a try. As Barnaby entered deeper water. He felt himself fall into the water as his legs were replaced with a shimmering blue tail. He was completely underwater, but he found that he could still breathe with ease.
Barnaby muttered: "Incredible! And it feels... so natural."
Baranby was surprised to find that the sudden fall into the water and the appearance of a tail didn't scare or surprise him. It felt so... right.
Barnaby and Wade swam to their dad above the reef.
Barnaby: "This feels incredible. I don't think you could have explained this feeling if you tried."
Dylan: "The sea gives us our greatest strength. As both mermen and water elementals, our power is unlimited in the water. We can change the weather on a whim, weave spells with our siren lullabies, and call ocean threats to defend ourselves. But, one power should only be used if you are in the most dire of danger, and that's the Siren's Call."
Wade: "What does the Siren's Call do?"
Dylan: "There's no distance to great for the Siren's Call to reach the ears of the listener. It will draw them into the sea, and when they get close enough, you will be able to drain their very life force to satisfy all your needs. Humans can drown and Vampires can be weakened. It will give you the strength to fight back and even flee if you need to. But, it is an act of evil to satisfy your needs at the cost of others. Only use the Siren's Call when your situation is most dire."
Dylan: "But there's something you should know about the Siren's Call. It has no effect on other merfolk. As mermen, you are immune to it. You are both sapphire princes, and there isn't a mermaid or merman in Sulani that wishes you harm. The merfolk you should be wary of are the Darkfins."
Barnaby: "Who are the Darkfins?"
Dylan reflected on his own encounter with one. "They are a family of mermaids and mermen that have given in to their own inner darkness. Your grandmother, Arihi and Mother of the Elementals, used her power to banish them after they attacked your grandfather. Their greatest crime was taking the lives of the seven Kings and Queens that ruled over Sulani."
Wade: "How was taking the lives of Kings and Queens their greatest crime?"
Dylan turned to Wade. "Merfolk, our people, don't use royal titles the same way humans do. By taking the lives of the Seven Kings and Queens, they left Mua Pel'Am and the worlds vulenerable to destruction and ruin. It took many decades to heal Mua Pel'Am to what you see. The Royal Merfolk are Guardians that protect. It is the resposnibility we are born into."
Some time passed after the twins' first swim. Dylan taught them their responsibilities and how to protect the fragile ecosystem of Mua Pel'Am. Even though they weren't ready to take up the mantle of conversationists, they could still help keep Mua Pel'Am thriving. Barnaby and Wade continued to practice the art of Shapeshifting, but Wade struggled more than his brother. Dylan continued to offer his support. Despite their bloodline awakening and their successful transformation into pure blood mermen, they seemed under the influence of something dark. Wade seemed to be the most affected.
Barnaby came to his father one night. He felt undescribable grief and sorrow.
Dylan: "Is everything okay?"
Barnaby: "I feel like... something is squeezing my heart, and I feel so choked up. I don't know where this feeling is coming from."
Dylan feared that the remnants of Sarah's curse was passed on to his sons. Barnaby described the Melacholy of a Night's Requiem.
Dylan: "Just take a deep breathe. It'll be okay. You can get through this."
Barnaby breathed in. The Grotto was very close to the sea, and the salt air filled his lungs. That little bit of the sea helped him feel better.
Dylan: "What do you think happened?"
Barnaby: "I really don't know. I just felt so depressed. It came from nowhere."
Dylan: "If you ever feel something is wrong. Let me know, okay."
Barnaby: "I will."
Dylan: "For now, try to redirect those emotions. Go for a jog around Mua Pel'Am. I think the sea air will help."
After talking to his dad, he took his advice and went for a jog to clear his mind. He had a feeling there was something his dad wasn't telling him. There had to be a reason why he spent his childhood in the World of Newcrest.
Wade was starting to feel distant. His dad wanted to help, but it was getting difficult for Wade to be around family.
Dylan: "Is everything alright?"
Wade: "I just need some time to myself."
There was a small Lagoon in Mua Pel'Am that Wade often retreated to when he wanted to get away from his family. But, it was obvious that something was very wrong with Wade. Even though Dylan was getting sick himself, he couldn't stop worrying about his son. Dylan could feel it... something was going to happen in Henford-on-Bagley. The sickness Dylan felt was one of the burdens of being the Spirit of the Sea and having a conenction to all the Worlds' Waters.
Wade swam away from his father and changed into his human disguise. Something seemed to make him want to stop being a merman, stop being a prince, and stop being a water elemental. He relaxed on a recliner near the water. He still felt a strong conenction to being a merman.
While the two feeling tore him in apart inside, he accidentally changed back into his merform. While his legs turned into a tail, he was still wearing his shirt. His skirt would survive the transformation, but he would need new shoes.
As he dozed off, Barnaby approached him and woke him up.
"Wade, what's going on here?"
Wade felt embarrased that he lost control of his form. He quickly shapeshifted back. His brother gave him a new pair of shoes. It helped to keep a spare. Most merfolk didn't wear shoes because it would be expensive to replace them. The twins started to realize why their father and uncle dressed the way they did. While their tranformation would destroy most human clothes from the waist down, anything they wore from the waiste up would remain. If they were in the water, the human clothing would no doubt hinder their ability to swim. Consequently, it became more natural to dress the way they would in their merform, the form they always returned to one way or another.
Barnaby: "Don't be embarassed. It's not like there's a guide book for this stuff."
Wade: "It's not just that. You've picked up on the shapeshifting and have so much more control. I can't control my form to save my life."
Barnaby: "Just keep practicing, and I'll keep an extra pair of shoes just in case."
Wade: "Maybe I should go without the shoes until I have a little more control."
As day turned to night, the full moon rose in the sky. Wade felt a sudden increase in the feeling that tore him up inside. Something felt very wrong, but he didn't want to go to his parents or uncle.
Wade remembered some things his dad told him. He came from a family of elementals, and there was one family member that he wanted to talk to. His aunt and the Spirit of Mua Pel'Am's Volcano. He was certain that the Spirit of the very thing that connected all Elementals could help him.
Wade: "I love being a merman. It's amazing and incredible. To have a tail that's so powerful in the water... it's an undescribable feeling."
Wade: "But something feels wrong, and I can't control the form I take. I could grow fins right now if I lose focus."
Wade: "My brother can control his form, and I don't know what's wrong with me."
Ember listened to every word and then offered Wade a solution.
Ember: "This potion will help you keep whatever form you want when you drink it. Just be careful. The effect lasts for one day. If you enter the water, you won't be able to take your human form until the potion wears off. If you can stay out of the water for one day, you'll lose your tail and become human. I would think..."
Wade: "I don't want to think about it. Maybe becoming human wouldn't be so bad. At least I won't randomly have fins."
Wade grabbed the elixir and drank it. As the liquid flowed over his throat, he felt his voice change and the thing that made him feel so wrong faded. For a moment, he thought he was going to become human until... He felt something else. He felt an irresistable pull to the sea. What Ember didn't tell the merboy was that the Full Moon added an extra effect to the potion. It removed any curse that afflicted the individual that drank it.
The next day, Dylan woke up early and noticed that one of his sons weren't around.
"Barnaby have you seen your brother?"
Barnaby gave Sora a warning glance. Their cousin had only just been born, and he was taking to being a merman instinctively. In fact, it was a surprise to Barnaby. Sora was born a merman, ready to live in the sea. Maybe that was normal for all merfolk. But, both him and Wade were different, they weren't born ready for life as mermen.
Barnaby: "I think he went for a swim in the sea. He woke up early."
Dylan: "I see."
Both Barnaby and Dylan thought Wade's absence was a little strange.
Barnaby rushed out of the Grotto as quickly as he could swim. He almost forgot to shapeshift when he jumped out of the water.
After a short run on land and a quick swim in the lagoon, Barnaby found his twin sleeping above the reef.
Barnaby woke up Wade, and Wade thrashed a bit when he saw his tail.
Wade: "No, no, no. This wasn't what I expected. But..."
Wade paused. "It doesn't feel wrong anymore."
Barnaby turned to his brother. "Dad is looking for you."
Wade: "He can't find me like this. I can't..."
Barnaby: "What's wrong. What did you do?!"
Wade: "Nothing..."
Barnaby: "I know when you're lying."
Wade: "Okay... I'll come clean. You know how mom was human until recently."
Barnaby: "Yes. It's strange that we grew up human. You missed Sora being born. Can you believe our cousin is already swimming around like it's nothing?"
Wade was caught by surprise by the news, but he changed the topic back to his situation.
Wade: "Well, I contacted my aunt, and she gave me this potion... Well, I slorta took the potion from her before she could explain everything."
Barnaby: "I don't think drinking a potion from our Aunt is a reason to hide from dad."
Wade: "You don't understand. I felt so wrong, and I took the potion to become human. But, and I don't remember much, but..."
Barnaby: "What?! Why?!"
Wade: "I felt a strong pull away from the sea, like I didn't want to live as a merman. I didn't want to live in a world of magic. Then, after drinking the potion and feeling like I was going to become human, I found myself drawn back to the sea. I don't want to be human anymore."
Barnaby: "Isn't that a good thing? Why are you still worried...."
Wade interupted before his brother could ask another question. "I can't leave the water!"
Wade breahted. "Because I drank that potion, I can't shapeshift for one day."
Wade: "Don't get me wrong. I feel great now, but I don't want dad to know."
Barnaby: "Maybe I can sing a spell that can change this."
Wade: "It's worth a try."
Branaby learned from his father early in the week that an Inspiring Berceuse could grant a mermaid or merman the power to shapeshift by inspiring change in them. It was worth a try.
Wade: "I don't feel any different. Did it work? I don't think it worked!"
Barnaby: "Maybe we should get dad involved."
Wade: "We can't do that."
Wade: "I really screwed up. I should have gone to dad from the beginning. Aunt Ember tried to tell me before I took the potion."
Barnaby: "It's okay. We'll figure this out."
Lir overheard the merboys from the shore and swam over to check on them.
"What's going on?"
The little merman caught the twins by surprise.
Baranby: "We have a bit of Dilema. Wade can't leave the water."
Lir: "Maybe you should talk to your father and Uncle, probably Zeph. I mean no disrespect to your father, but Zeph is a little better at solving problems."
"We can't." The twins said in unison.
Lir: "Trust me when I say. I've struggled with my own parents. But, my dads were there for me when I needed them the most."
Lir continued: "Wade, if you are struggling, it's okay to go to your dad, but I recommend your uncle."
While they chatted, Dylan was running all over the island looking for his sons.
Wade: "I don't know. Do you think they can help?"
Lir: "I know they can help. You'd be surprised by what parents will do for their kids."
Lir recalled his encounter with a Darkfin. "I ran into trouble once. My dads got overprotective after they helped me out of a tough situation. I remember getting so angry at them. I didn't understand why they did what they did. But, now, I know they just wanted me to be safe and happy."
Wade: "I'm too embarrased though. I rushed into this situation without thinking."
Lir: "We all make mistakes. It's what we do after we make a mistake that matters."
Barnaby: "I'm going to get dad. We need some help bro."
Lir: "I'm sure your dad will come up with a creative solution. It'll be fun."
Note:
Getting Dylan involved almost resulted in killing both Dylan and Wade. They started telling each other jokes after splashing each other, and Dylan, being a great story teller and able to tell a crowd pleasing joke, made Wade Hysterical multiple times... If merfolk couldn't sleep in the water, I'd have a couple fish go belly up.
One thing that is very important know about Dylan, he has a lot of ways to change the emotions of sims. You can make a sim feel anything with him around. Just give him a painting easle, instrument, dj booth, or just have him tell an epic story or sing a Siren's Lullaby. Dylan is master at emotion manipualtion, but he's too nice. I'm not surprised he made his son so playful.
It was also Summerfest, Winterfest in the Summer. I have so many sims risk death by laughter during a holiday that involves Father Winter...
Barnaby found Dylan in the Grotto and told him where Wade was. Dylan was relived to know that his son was alright.
As the sun set, Dylan found Wade.
Wade wasn't entirely happy to confess his situation to his dad, but he told Dylan everything.
Dylan: "I'm really disappointed that you didn't feel like you could come to me for help."
As the sun set, the potion began to wear off.
Wade: "I'm really sorry. I didn't mean to worry you."
Dylan still felt bad for not being trusted enough to help.
Dylan thought outloud for a moment. "I guess no harm was really done. You must've been under a curse, probably passed on by your mother. It's my fault for not telling you everything, and I think I know what Ember was trying to do. We're good, and I think we all learned something from this.
Dylan: "I fogive you, but please don't do this again."
Wade noticed the sun set and felt the power to shapeshift again. "Dad, let's go home."
I love how this screenshot turned out. When Calum finished his story, his twin sons swam in opposite directions. It was an epic capture.
I caught Kemps floating above the water. lol. I had to blink to make sure I was seeing things right.
I created a hot spring/ spa that is merfolk friendly. The actual hot spring is something merfolk can swim in so they will change into their merman/ mermaid form. It bothered me that merfolk transform in the bathtub, but even though the hot springs are found under the bathtub category, merfolk do not change into their merform. This spa fixes that.
The gender pronoun update didn't impact some of the gameplay. For example, if the biological sex of a sim is male, but they use the she/ her pronouns, they still can't use the doors for women. The way they dress in a towel also wasn't updated for the spa pack, even with a preference for feminine clothing indicated in their gender settings. I made the spa gender neutral because one of my mermaids is transgender, and in spite of everything I did in CAS, I ended up having to change her biological sex back to female to make her functional in game, wearing the expected clothing without an unusual fit and so she could use the woman's bathrooms.
Calum decided to sing some Karaoke after meeting with his twin sons. This screenshot made me chuckle. Calum is a good merman and wouldn't drown a human, but the capture was still funny.
My merfolk have excellent singing voices, so it's always nice to watch them perform a Karaoke song. Part of me wishes they had a special singing voice unique to merfolk.
These are the extras I wanted to share before writing my next update.
At the Triton Beach Karaoke Bar, Dylan sat down with his dad, Calum. Calum wanted to talk about their growing family.
"Barnaby and Wade are quite the handful sometimes, but they have grown so quickly," Dylan said. He remembered how his sons weren't born merboys and lived a human life before they got their fins. "Sometimes, sometimes I wish they had a chance to grow up as merboys from the beginning. I think they struggle with having fins."
Dylan continued. "I recently found Wade in one of the Lagoons. He drank a potion to try and become human, but he ended up stuck in his merform for a couple days. I want them to be happy with the form they have... I know Ember meant well, but there's no undoing what we are. We are merfolk. But, I feel like Barnby and Wade have learned what that means."
Calum listened to his son and offered some advice. "I've heard some people say that the seaweed is always greener in someone else's lake, that life always seems better when you look at things from a distance. Give your sons some time to discover what they are. I know that you had to learn about being an Elemental before you mastered your own power over water and the sea."
Calum continued. "I can only imagine how hard it is for them now, but they'll fall in love with what they are. Being a merman doesn't ahve to be a burden or something to struggle with. Just like how you got comfortable with being an Elemental, your sons will grow more comfortable as merboys given enough time."
Calum got serious. "But, they are young mermen, and while they are discovering what they are, I recommend watching out for them. Vampires born from corrupted merfolk would prey on their insecurities and offer them a way out that doesn't exist. Even a Darkfin might take advantage of them like this."
"One, you need to give the twins time to grow used to what they are. Two, watch over them and protect them until they can swim on their own."
Calum's tone ligthened up. "We both know that not all vampires are inherently evil. It's just the ones born from the corrupted hearts of merfolk that you have to worry about."
"I feel better now. I know they will grow into their new forms and learn to love what they are."
"See, I told you that you were worring too much."
"Now, I understand where you were coming from when you raised me and zeph."
"Human, Elemental, or Mermadic, kids are always a challenge to raise, but every moment is worth it."
"I couldn't have said it better myself."
"Now, you have to tell me how you make those delicious cakes. Your younger sister and brother's birthday is coming up."
"I don't do anything special. I just adjust the recipe as I go." Dylan thought for a moment. "You should probably talk to Ember about cooking. I don't cook like I used to because, well you know, merfolk don't need to eat."
While Calum and Dylan chatted, Zeph showded up, and the mermen dove into the sea for a swim. Calum wanted to catch up with both of his sons.
"Now, that both of you are here, I have to ask you something very important. As you know, your little sister and brother's birthday is right around the seabed, I want to plan a special location for both of them to have their birthday."
"I was thinking that the Caldera Eco Center would be perfect!"
Zeph rolled his eyes. "Come on dad, that's not the best place for Earth Elementals to have a Birthday, and you know it."
Dylan smiled. "Zeph's right. Why would you have their birthday so close to Mount Mua Pel'Am?"
"Well, I was going to go with a pirate theme for their birthday party."
Zeph thought. "He still sees them as little guppies. This will take some persuasion."
Dylan shared the same thought.
"Maybe you could have their birthday party in another world more attuned to their Element." Zeph suggested.
"I'll start looking right away, but I was thinking of throwing a big party and inviting the whole family."
"I'm all for that." Dylan was getting excited.
"This is going to be a logistic nightmare." Zeph thought.
"But I'm for it!" Zeph was getting excited too.
After Dylan left, Calum had a question for Zeph. "Birthday plans aside, I'm worried about you and your brother. You shouldn't take so many risks in other worlds."
Zeph gave his dad a serious look. "It's complicated, but we are going to help Lir find the other lost princes. We know what we are getting into."
"Just look after your brother for me."
"I always do, but I don't get where this is coming from?"
Calum looked at his son. "You are both grown mermen, but I still worry about both of you. It's part of being your father. The Darkfins are dangerous, and they were banished for good reason."
"The Darkfins have given into their own inner darkness, and they will try to take as much power as they can. It's wise to keep your distance and not look for trouble, but I have a feeling that they won't stop with just Dylan, you, and Lir. Their thirst for vengence is too great."
Zeph listened carefully to his father's warning.
"Are you saying I shouldn't help the other princes. They could be in danger."
"I'm saying you should be careful, but I think you should try to help them. Together, you are safer than alone."
Jade maintained her overachieving standards. She didn't need anyone to tell her how important school was. Juniper, however, fell behind on his studies, lost in the majesty of the sea. Jade spent the night helping her twin with his homework.
Unlike Dylan and Zeph, who were inseperable, the younger twins were separated by the Sun and Moon. Like the Older Twins, the two were very close.
Juniper maintained the Garden that ensured Jade had a steady supply of Plasma Fruits, and if the Sun was ever too much for Jade, Juniper had plenty of Flowers that could reverse death itself. Juniper was always there for Jade and even saved her life when she risked being in the sun.
For Jade, helping her younger twin with his homework was the least she could do to help him.
Of course, Jade still needed to perform Vampiric Meditation once in a while to regain her dark energy. Every once in a while, the twins would relax their magic to shapeshift back into their true forms. Juniper chose to become a merman when his plant-like form wore off. He knew the change would be permanent, and that he would never regain the same plant-like qualities he had as a child. For Juniper, it was just another way to embrace the sun. The ability to change the weather was extremely helpful when it came to maintaining a large garden and keeping the sun at bay for his twin.
While Jade and Juniper worked on the project, Kemps walked into the Kitchen to check on them. If he wasn't a merman himself, it might've been strange to see a Vampire helping a Merboy with a school project. Still, Kemps treated Jade and Juniper like they were his own kids, even if they were his niece and nephew.
"Why do I have to do this silly project? I'm literally the Spirit of the Sun and an Earth Elemental of Plants."
"Well, that's true, but you haven't even grown into your true power yet." Kemps said.
"I can bring anyone back from the brink of death with a flower."
"That's a fair point, but you still need to master your mermadic powers."
"And how does making a robot help me with that?"
"I'll have to get back to you with that one."
"Maybe, you could learn how to be a little more responsible by completing the project. You have a lot of power, but that doesn't mean much if you don't use it properly." Jade interjected.
"That's exactly what I was going to say." Kemps said.
Jade rolled her eyes. Her family was growing a little tedious to be around.
After helping her twin with his project. Jade started her own. She chose to lead by example and complete her own projects. Fortunately, or maybe unfortunately, her parents decided to try and help her. A Merman Prince and the Mother of All Elementals were not individuals she would upset by saying no.
"So, this is what kids are up to these days." Calum said. "I wonder why I can't just call a thunderstorm and use the lightning to supercharge a wind turbine? Are kids in a human school really making electronics this way?"
"How many times have I told you that calling a thunderstorm is not the solution to our electric bill." Arihi retorted. "Might I remind you that we don't need you to get supercharged too."
"Hey, bringing the lighting is pretty cool. Why can't I bring the static shocks? Dylan and Zeph have already been supercharged."
"We both know how you get when you have too much electricity surging through you."
"Regardless of whatever Magic and Mayhem you like to conjure, I'd like to finish this project before the sun comes up, please." Jade interrupted.
"Don't worry, we'll finish this thing-a-majigger before morning." Calum reassured her. "It's just a surprise to see electricity at work like this. Ember learned to zap things almost immedietely after she learned how to set things on fire."
Jade rolled her eyes and thought. "Why would anyone want to get zapped by lighting or be proud of pyromania?"
Jade turned to her mother. "You hold power over all the Elements. I'm certain you know how crazy dad sounds."
Arihi smiled. "Honestly, I'm very proud of how powerful Ember has gotten. She still has a lot to learn, but at least no one knows it's her when she sets things ablaze now."
Jade thought. "I would make them hallucinate and talk to themselves, but I think they are already crazy enough."
Calum said. "I've said this to your older brothers, and I probably should have told Ember this too. However, we hold a lot of power and with that power comes a great deal of responsibility. We shouldn't be reckless in how we use our power. I don't encourage causing senseless chaos... But, I think Ember igniting fires is pretty cool!"
Jade pulled out her phone and typed. "I'm taking note of your contradictory stance on using power responsibily."
After Jade finished her project, she got up and helped Juniper with his Extra Credit. Calum started to stretch.
"Who let the Island Spirits in the house again?" Arihi remarked. "I swear, you commune with one Island Spirit and then twenty more show up from watcher knows where!"
"Maybe Ember will let me move in with her and Alexander." Jade thought. "I need a vacation from this family."
Calum, Dylan, and Zephyr talk about Dylan's meeting with Erik and the music he makes later, after high school. My merfolk are immortal so they wouldn't have aged a day between meeting Erik as a teen and seeing him grow in the music career.
Catching up with Family
While Zephyr caught up with his father, the merboys, Juniper and Alex, hungout in the nearby shallows.
Juniper: "See, this is a great place to swim."
Alex: "You're right. I shouldn't have doubted you."
Juniper: "I don't think there's a better world for swimming!"
Alex: "Sulani does have a lot of great places to swim. But, what's your point?"
Juniper: "Just saying that if Sulani has the best places to swim, the only place that would be better is underwater."
Alex: "I guess. I've always wondered about what it would be like to swim in an underwater world."
Juniper: "Personally, I prefer staying close to the sun. The deep sea is too dark for me."
Alex: "That's a good point. If I were to go underwater, I'd want to swim around brighter reefs and seagrass meadows."
Juniper: "Once you get deep enough, I've heard that there's no sunlight and the merfolk look very different."
Juniper: "But the crabs look like giant spiders!"
Juniper: "Could be a fairly creepy place to explore."
Juniper: "But at least there won't be any fire ants!"
Juniper: "They make my fins squirm, and trust me, you do not want to get bitten by them."
The following day, the Zalrian Mermen took the merboys to the beach to give the mermaids, their wives, a break. Juniper splashed around with his nephew, Sora.
"And the fish just kept talking... I swear, dad needs to give the fish in the aquarium more attention."
Calum: "I heard that Erik Cantrell has a grotto full of trophies from the Starlight Accolades!"
Zeph: "Dad, I don't think humans have grottos for trophies."
Calum: "Where else would you keep so many things?"
Zeph: "I don't know. It would take a cave bigger than a grotto."
Zeph turned to Dylan. "You got to meet him. What do you think?"
Dylan: "I don't know where he would keep so many trophies, but I'm going to frame the autograph I got and place it in our grotto on Mua Pel'Am!"
Dylan: "Meeting Erik was awesome! I had a great time, and I think I was so starstuck that I got a crush!"
Zeph: "Please tell me you had a little restraint."
Dylan: "I did get caught up in the moment and flirted, but he's taken. I think Cecelia would probably beach me if I went too far anyways."
Zeph: "Well, at least you guys stayed on good terms."
Calum: "Dylan, I thought I taught you better. Once you sing your Charmer's Lullaby and give another a Mermaid's Kiss, you are committed to them."
Dylan: "Dad, I know. I won't do it again."
Dylan: "By the way, have you heard the song, Whirlwind in Sulani! That's one of my favorite songs!"
Zeph: "Back of my Mind is a good song. I saw Erik get the Accolode on the TV."
Dylan: "That was an epic song too."
Dylan: "Can you believe that Erik didn't know merfolk were real?"
Zeph: "I guess he really didn't know why the host was late to the show."
Dylan: "Are you talking about Ukupanipo? Yeah, he was swimming at the beach. Being a merman, I think he just lost track of time."
Calum: "Well, I hope we can trust a global superstar with the secret of our existence."
Dylan: "I'm certain that he won't put us in harms way!"
Dylan struck a pose. "I have complete confidence that he will do right by us."
Zeph: "I'm a bit jealous though. I wish I had the chance to meet him too!"
Calum: "Now, you have to show me that autograph, I still can't believe you got see Erik Cantrel!"
As the sun set, Juniper was goofing around with Sora still.
Juniper: "What did the sea say to the beach?"
Sora: "I don't know."
Juniper: "Nothing, it just waved."
Juniper: "Have you ever thought about what life on land in another world would be like?"
Sora pulled back in the water. "Why would any merman or mermaid want to live on land and in another world?"
Juniper: "I don't know. I love to swim, but sometimes, I wonder about what humans do all day if they don't swim?"
Sora: "I can't imagine a life without my tail and staying on land."
Sora: "Juniper, don't tell me you'd rather be human?"
Juniper lept out of the water. "Me human, as if I would want that."
Juniper used his powerful tail to flick saltwater at Sora.
Sora laughed. "At least warn me before you shower me with sea water!"
Juniper: "Where would the fun be in that?!"
As the night set in, the mermen and merboys went on land to dance to Island Music.
Juniper: "And that's when I found a soda can floating in the deep sea. Can you believe that it got down into such deep water?!"
Extras:
Look Where You are Going
Juniper's thought: "I think I'll go for a swim."
"Hold on, I got to check my messages real quick."
"That's pretty cool. I didn't know Dylan had a new DJ track on Simstagram."
"Let me take a quick listen..."
Juniper feels his legs transform into a green tail. Unable to stand, he slips underwater and drops his phone in the lake.
"Well, that didn't go how I thought it would. At least my phone is waterproof."
Merfolk have Waterproof Phones!
Still can't actually use the phone while in the water. This is some of the autonmous behavior with merfolk after the update. Apparrently, my merfolk will wade in the ocean and fiddle with their phones from time to time. At least they don't try to use their phone while they swim.
Someone has a Crush on Kemps!
Autonomous Flirting does seem to be a thing now. Never noticed it as much, but a Townie gave Kemps a flirty introduction, possibly in front of her husband, Orange Bailey-Moon.
Like, I know Kemps is handsome and good looking, like most of my mermen... that's pretty normal for reef merfolk... But, he's out of your league and married to Isla.
After spending time with his family, Juniper went on a date with his girlfriend Kendra. Juniper greeted Kendra with a kiss, and the two merteens embraced.
After swimming in the Sulani Lagoon, they went to the romance Festival in San Myshuno. Juniper exchanged promise rings with Kendra.
Juniper: "I learned about this human custom and I wanted to give it a try. This is the human version of our Mermaid's Kiss. I promise to always be yours if you promise the same."
Kendra: "Of course, I promise to always be yours if you promise the same."
Kendra was so caught up in the moment that she grabbed Juniper and pulled him over onto his back and leaned in for a kiss. The moment caught Juniper by surprise and he lost control of his shapeshifting, reverting to his natural form.
In the end, Juniper relaxed and returned the kiss. With a tail on land, it wasn't like he would go anywhere anyways. Kendra made sure to support Juniper and hold him until he regained control of his shapeshifting.
When Juniper was able to stand again, the two embraced.
The Twins Get their Mom out of the House
While Zephyr was swimming around Sulani, he got a great idea. He called his mom after meeting with his twin brother. Their mom was determined to stay home for hours, and the twins wanted to get her out of the house.
When they arrived at the Flea Market, there was a thunderstorm and Dylan was prepared to meet with his mom. While his twin traveled with his mom, Dylan gathered treasures, or junk, from the sea to sell.
Calum joined them, not wanting to miss a chance to spend time with his family. It was easy for Calum to change the weather on a whim. Arihi saw her other son and decided to approach him. She prefered to avoid strangers.
Arihi: "So, your brother tells me that he's heard I'm not good at haggling."
Dylan listened, but he kept up his performance like a true actor.
Arihi: "I don't suppose you can give me a discount for old times sake?"
Dylan closed his eyes and carefully considered the request. "I don't know. It wasn't cheap to get the inventory."
Arihi: "But, I'm your mother?"
Dylan: "That's true, but I have a business to run."
Arihi: "How about this? If you or Zeph run into trouble, I'll use my powers as the Mother Elemental to help you out of any problem. You just have to ask for my help, and I'll be there."
Dylan: "Even if it means you have to leave Sulani."
Arihi: "Even if I have to travel to another world."
Dylan: "I can take that deal. I'll give you a 25% discount."
Arihi: "Really, just 25%?"
Dylan: "I can't give this away for free. I'm not running a charity here."
Arihi grumbled. "Deal!"
Dylan shook Arihi's hand. "It's been a pleasure doing business."
Arihi caught up with Calum and Zeph, her husband and son were dancing to the festival music.
Arihi: "I just bought a new lamp and made a deal with our son."
Calum: "Really!? Don't tell me you bought something we can recover from the seafloor for free?"
Arihi: "Dylan told me that he paid a lot for that inventory!?"
Calum: "And you believed him? He's the Spirit of the Sea and a Merman... It's not hard for him to bring stuff up from the seafloor."
Arihi: "I knew it was too good to be true. But, I can't go back on the deal I made."
Calum: "What kind of deal did you make?"
Arihi: "Dylan agreed to give me a discount if I step in to help him out of a tough situation, even if I have to travel to another world."
Calum: "So, how much did you get off for that? I mean, you are the Mother Elemental... Your authority is pretty strong in the Spirit World."
Arihi: "I got 25% off the items."
Calum: "25% off an item Dylan salvaged from the sea for free in exchange for a favor from one of the most powerful spiritual beings in all the worlds."
Arihi: "That just about sums it up."
Calum: "I don't believe Dylan could pull that off alone. He's creative, but..."
Zeph was dancing behind Arihi. "I love this festival music!"
After the festival was over, Zeph challenged his parents to a game of basketball. Apparently, it was supposed to be a fun human sport. Zeph proposed to his parents another deal.
Zeph: "If I win, I can enlist your help with whatever I want."
Calum turned to his son. "And if we win, you'll pay us back the money your mom paid your brother."
Zeph: "Deal."
The Mermen and Mermaid changed and prepared for the contest. Arihi wasn't half human, but she was more familiar with human attire than her merman husband and merman son. Zeph and Calum changed into active outfits they would wear around the islands.
Calum prepared to make the first shot. It was an easy 2 points.
Zeph focused his Elemental powers into his Basketball and threw toward the hoop. The ball caught on fire and landed through the hoop. Zeph won 3 points from a long shot."
Arihi threw her ball to the hoop and made a 3 pointer long shot. The parents took the lead.
The game turned fierce as the Parents competed agains their son, but in the end, it was Zeph who won. Zeph landed 3 pointer after 3 pointer. Every time the basketball flew through the air, the Spirit of the Sky had full control over where it went. For Zeph, there was no contest. His parents agreed to his terms. Arihi would help her sons once if they needed it. Calum would step in to help Zeph if he needed it.
After returning to Sulani, the family gathered at Nereus Lagoon. Jade wanted to become friends with her Uncle, Kemps.
Jade: "It would be awesome if art just magically created itself!"
Kemps: "You know, you can find a lot of joy in the act of creating too."
Jade: "Maybe I could collect works of art. There's always someone that can create. What about someone that can exhibit artwork, watch over and protect it forever?"
Kemps: "The sea and island jungles are full of hidden treasures to recover, but exploring the depths and lost ruins isn't a game. It can be dangerous."
Jade: "I'm not afraid of danger. I think it would be cool to find hidden works of art and lost treasure!"
Kemps: "That sounds very ambitious. Where would you begin?"
Jade: "Maybe I could explore the mountains or brave the dense jungles!"
Kemps: "What about the depths of the sea?"
Jade: "If an opportunity showed itself and I could explore the ocean depths, I would do that too! But, I'll start with the land first."
Jade: "I want a perfect collection of art! Something I can be proud to show off!"
Kemps: "You almost sound like your older brother. He's had multiple works of art sold to Galleries over several decades. Of course, he never sold it under the same name."
Jade: "See, immortality comes with risks. If I created art, I would have to create new identities every so often. It's much more reasonable to collect and preserve what is created."
Kemps: "So, you want to own an art gallery to display works of art?"
Jade: "I want to own a museum where I can preserve works of art!"
Kemps: "That actually sounds pretty cool."
A Date by the Lagoon
A day or two later, Juniper had another Date with Kendra. The merteens sat together and kissed.
The mood seemed right, so Juniper extended his arm and made a move.
The young merman pulled the young mermaid close. Kendra didn't mind.
Juniper looked at Kendra and decided to pull away when he saw her blush.
Kendra: "You don't have to stop."
Juniper: "I know."
Juniper: "I know I'm not a true reef merman, but I'm so glad I get to spend this time with you."
Kendra: "Don't say that. You're just as much a reef merman as the rest. Who cares if you're a half-blood?"
Juniper: "I was born more of a plant than anything else, and this form, it's been something to get used to. But, I'm glad it let's me spend more time with you."
As Juniper wrapped his hand around Kendra's. Kendra rested her hand on his. Juniper looked into Kendra' sea green eyes, an eye color shared by all reef mermen and mermaids. Kendra stared into Juniper's green eyes, green like the chlorophyll in plants.
Kendra: "Did I ever tell you that green is my favorite color?"
Juniper smiled. "Did I ever tell you how much I love you?"
The merteens looked into each other's eyes. The moment was interrupted when Kemps started to sing. He was clearly trying to sing badly, but because he was a merman, he simply couldn't distort his voice to sing bad. Possibly a curse of the mermadic voice or a gift, Juniper was grateful that it was impossible for any merman or mermaid to sing badly.
When the song ended, Kemps struck a silly pose at thin air. Zeph was ready to go home and so was Juniper and Kendra.
"I will find a way to get the lowest score on a Karaoke Machine if it's the last thing I do." Kemps declared.
The melody from Kemps's voice came out pitch perfect and still sounded better than the original song. It was an odd personal goal, but Kemps had fun with it.
Dylan warmed up his DJ skills for his younger brother's Birthday Party. In Sulani, they would wear traditional merfolk attire and then travel to the Mountain Forest of Granite Falls to continue the celebration. At Granite Falls, Calum wanted the merfolk family to try to spend more time on land, closer to his youngest duaghter and son's elements.
Sora complained. "Do I really need to go to Juniper's Birthday Party? Me, Barnaby, and Wade had plans."
Zeph rolled his eyes. "Of course you need to go to your Uncle's Birthday Party."
Sora continued to complain. "That's not fair. Barnby and Wade will be swimming off to a lagoon, and I have to go to the Birthday Party on land!"
Zeph listened to his son before responding. "You'll get lots of chances to swim too, but it's not every day that a merman or mermaid comes of age. I'm sure Dylan will be bringing Barnaby and Wade to the party too."
"Why can't we just have the birthday another day?" Sora asked.
"You know it doesn't work like that." Zeph replied.
As the sun began to set, the Spirits of the Sun and Moon came together for their birthday. Despite being Earth Elementals, their power resonated more with their respective celestial elements. Sora relectunantly did as his father wished and joined the party.
As the sun began to rise, Jade had to leave to hibernate until night. The merfolk gathered and danced. Dylan showed off his skills as a DJ and made the party worthwhile, but Calum made a lot of plans for his family. The celebration wouldn't end close to the sea.
While Calum organized the camping trip, Juniper went to the World of Mt. Komorebi to reconnect as much as he could to his elemental powers. Even though he was an Earth Elemental, he lost his ability to draw power from the land after becoming a merman. He knew that his choice to become a merman was irreversible, and he knew that his elemental connection to the land was completely severed as a result. However, the Earth Element had two major sub-elements. The land and plants were two parts of a single whole. Jade embodied the Land. Juniper embodied the Plants.
After changing into traditional merman attire, Juniper focused on trying to connect his body to the Plants on Land and in the Sea. His attempts at meditation proved harder than expected. His first problem was controlling his shapeshifting. He was a merman now. A human form wasn't his natural form.
After attempting to connect to his element, Juniper almost reverted to his natural form. He managed to catch himself before he lost control of his shapeshifting. He couldn't connect to the Earth Element if he had a tail. Merfolk were the Denizens of the Sea, empowered by the Elements of Water and Air.
The more Juniper tried to connect to his element, the more he struggled. In a way, he was envious of his older brothers. They were true Reef Mermen and the Spirits of the Sea and Sky. They empowered all merfolk, including him. Dylan and Zeph didn't have to try to connect to their element. As mermen that were always mermen, it came naturally to them.
Juniper wanted to give up.
'As far as Elementals are concerned, I must be the weakest. I can't even connect to my element without nearly turning back into a fish.'
Still, Juniper wanted to keep trying. If there was a way to connect to the Plants, he would find it.
Eventually, he stopped comparing himself to his older brothers.
'Yeah, Dylan and Zeph are powerful. Their forms align with their elements perfectly.'
'Dylan reigns over the creatures of the sea and Zeph controls the weather. All merfolk draw their power from them.'
Juniper breathed. 'But plants, they give us air to breathe on land. Mermadic Kelp can turn humans into half-merfolk. Plants have power too!'
Juniper smiled. 'Plants are the source of life in both the sea and on land. I connect the Sea and Land.'
Juniper made another pose. He felt his connection to plants grow. 'Plants connect the Land to the Sky.'
With his hands and feet touching the ground, he could feel his elemental power. 'I am an Earth Elemental. I'm the Spirt of the Sun. I embody the plants that grow on land and in the sea.'
Juniper laid on the yoga mat and breathed. 'I am a merman. I do get power from my older brothers. But, I'm the source of life on land and in the sea. Without me, plants would wither. Life would fade.'
Juniper relaxed and smiled. 'My power is still there, in me. It always has been.'
After finding the root of his power, Juniper could effortlessly maintain his human form and connect to the plants around him.
'Trees grow into the Sky. Kelp grows deep into the sea'
Eventually, Juniper needed to return to his natural form. In the hot spring, he could still feel his power. 'No matter what my form is, whether I'm a plant, look like a human, or have a tail, my power comes from plants and plants grow on land and in the sea.'
Extra:
Ember and Caleb needed a break from their Boyfriends.
Ember is now the Fiance of Alexander Goth who is now a Reef Merman. Caleb is Damion's boyfriend.
I imagine that Ember needed a break from Alexander because, even if Ember is the one responsible for Alexander's transformation, it might be a little exhausting living with a barnacle brain that drank a potion that he was not supposed to drink.
Still, Ember doesn't have the same stress Caleb has. Caleb's boyfriend is collecting the Souls of the Darkfin Family. He's living with the Angry ghost of one of Damion's victims.
Movies and the Great Outdoors - The Granite Falls Vacation Day 1
After visiting the spa, Juniper and his family left for Granite Falls. Calum had plans for his merfolk family to spend some time on land, closer to his youngest daughter and son's element.
Jade broke off from the rest of the family to explore the National Park. She ignited an old bonfire. The flames singed her a bit, but she quickly recovered.
Unfortunately, the burst of flame also choked out the fire once it ignited. Jade took a deep breath drank a plasma pack and tried to ignite the fire again.
Eventually, she got the fire to burn steady and the ligth attracted some flies. Jade swatted away the pests.
Jade wasn't human. She wasn't a mermaid. She was an elemental like her siblings, but that's all she had in common with them. To an extent, she enjoyed the time she had alone. However, her vampiric traits made it difficult for her to spend time in the sun. After her vampiric power started to manifest, she grow increasingly distant from her twin and the rest of her family. She was the Spirit of the Moon and at home on Land. Her twin was a merman and the Spirit of the Sun.
Even if Jade felt alone and spent much of her teen years distant from her family, she was not forgotten by them. Zeph decided to follow Jade into the forest.
When Zeph caught up to Jade, he gave his little sister a hug.
"What are you doing alone in the forest?" Zephyr said.
"I'm often alone at night because everyone sleeps when I'm awake." Jade replied.
"You aren't alone Jade. Me, my twin, your twin, your older sister, dad, and mom, we are all here for you."
"I know, but I enjoy the time alone."
"It's okay to enjoy some time alone, but don't be afraid to catch up with your family."
"By the way, have you heard the lastest song on the backyard station?" Zeph asked.
"I did, but I like the sound of nature and life on land." Jade answered.
"It is nice to listen to the sound of nature. Sound, it travels through the air. If you ever feel really alone, just remember that. I'm the Spirit of the Sky, I'm always with you wherever you can hear songs on the wind."
"Thank you, it does mean a lot."
"Speaking of wind, have you ever tried to fly?!"
Zeph leaned back. "I can't say that I have."
"You should really try it some time. I always fly around as a bat!" Jade enthused.
"But, I can't turn into a bat. I'm more of a fish, remember?"
"Then be a flying fish! Fly through the sea and leap out of the water!"
Zeph didn't know how to respond, but he felt more energized listening to his sister's enthusiam.
Jade continued to enthuse about flying. "You're the Spirit of the Sky. For you the sky isn't the limit. The limit is beyond the sky!"
Zeph looked up confused, but he couldn't help but feel a burst of energy.
Zeph pointed up. "You know that, as the Spirit of the Sky, I control the weather and seasons. I don't fly?"
"You are just limiting yourself thinking like that. You gotta be what you want to be, do what you want to do."
"You're right!" Zeph was getting pumped. "I can control space and time. I'm the Spirit of the Sky! I'm one of the twin forces connecting the worlds!"
"See, you gotta hold onto that, especially when you are on land! You are more than a fish out of water!"
"What do you think? Was that motivating? Are you pumped?"
"That was such a weird conversation, but I feel so energized."
"So, I gotta ask. As the Spirit of the Sky, can you really see all the worlds?"
"I can, but I have to concentrate to get a clear view of another world. Some worlds are easier to see than others."
"What about Granite Falls? Were you able to see this world before we got here?"
"I could. I can sense changes in the weather. Might be good if we get a little rain. In fact, we'll be getting a lot rain this week."
"Can't you do something to change the weather?"
"I would, but we need the rain. Don't forget, you're on vacation with a bunch of fish out water. We need it to be a little wet to stay on land."
"I guess I can respect that."
As the sun rose on the horizon, Jade headed back to the lodging to hibernate. As a bat flying through the cabin, Jade saw her dad. Out of everyone in her family, she knew it was easier for her to be on land and blend in with humans. It was clear that the rest of her family would inevitably struggle with human attire. Mermadic attire was a part of mermadic culture, and mermadic culture was a significant part of how her family lived in the sea and on the Islands of Sulani.
When the sunshine peaked through the trees, Juniper was wide awake and left for the national park with his girlfriend. Juniper and Kendra threw horseshoes.
"I hope spending time on land isn't too much of a struggle." Juniper said.
"To be fair, I don't think merfolk typically spend this much time away from a place to swim." Kendra replied.
Kendra tossed the horsehoe and it just missed the metal rod.
"That was close." Kendra said.
"Here, let me try." Juniper held the horshoe up and aimed.
'This is actually kinda fun.' Kendra thought. 'I wish we had more games to play in the water.'
Juniper threw the horsehoe and the couple watched it fly through the air.
"That was nowhere near the goal." Juniper said.
"Let me show you how it's done." Kendra held up the horseshoe and aimed.
Kendra flicked her wrist. "You gotta throw it like this."
When the horshoe hit its mark, it disappeared in the dirt.
"That was a good shot!"
"It's all in the wrist."
"But, I had a little luck from my little sunflower."
Juniper blushed. "Maybe a four leaf clover would be more lucky."
"I'm feeling a little dehydrated." Kendra said. "I'll head back to the cabin and soak in the tub after a cup off coffee. It's still really early."
"I think I'll continue to hang out around the park." Juniper said. "Are you sure you can make it a full week on land."
"I'll be fine. But, it is getting a little dry up here in the mountains."
Juniper started to hike. He pulled out his phone and checked out the guides on local plants.
"So, there are a lot of unidentified plants around here." Juniper muttered. "I had no idea."
Juniper walked up to one of the bushes mentioned in the guide and picked some of the strange plants. If anyone would figure out what these plants were, it would be the Elemental of Plants.
For his twin sister, Juniper wanted bring back some minerals from the land. For him, it was like hunting for buried treasure.
Juniper felt the roots in the ground, a connection between plants flowing through the forest. He felt drawn deeper into the woods.
Eventually, he found a tunnel formed by intertwined roots and branches. It seemed to call to him from the deepest part of the forest.
Juniper was familiar with hidden paths created by plants. After reconnecting to his element, he could feel the hidden secrets within plants, the portals and connections they created.
Juniper took the plunge and pushed through the tunnel of roots, branches, and leaves.
In the deep woods, Juniper found a place almost barren of plants. However, the presence of the water and air elements was strong. He knew that his older brothers would no doubt be aware of this place. The plants seemed like new growth here, possibly a result of his presence.
Soon, a storm started roll over the mountains. The rain offered relief to the merman. Juniper was feeling a little dried out.
The rainstorm turned into a thunderstorm, and Juniper had to leave for the Cabin. He planned on returning to this hidden place deep within the woods. At the cabin, Juniper soaked in a tub of warm water. He changed back into his natural form and relaxed as best he could. The bathtub was very cramped and his tail had hang over the side.
Because the thunderstorm wouldn't let up, Juniper and Kendra went to an outdoor theater near the cabin. The movie of choice was obviously Campground Massacre III.
The weather helped to set the mood. At first, the couple was excited to see the movie.
The guy on the screen gave the teens a warning about an Urban Legend.
"No one survives the Chainsaw Freezer Bunny." Juniper said.
"I don't think the Chainsaw Freezer Bunny is real." Kendra added. "Let me look this up to be sure."
As the movie continued, Juniper turned to Kendra. "By the way, you look beautiful."
"You are quite the catch yourself." Kendra said.
"You don't think this Forest is cursed like the one in the movie."
"I can't imagine it is." Kendra reassured Juniper.
"Honestly, it could be with all this rain. I really wish the sun would come out already."
"We shouldn't be talking while watching the movie."
"Oh no, there's the Chainsaw Freezer Bunny." Kendra gasped.
"He's going to get the Chainsaw." Juniper sobbed. "That was my favorite character too."
"He died too young." Kendra said.
"But, I know you would keep me safe if there was a crazy bunny man on the loose." Kendra flirted.
Juniper blushed. "No one would get through me. I would definitely keep you safe!"
While teens died one at a time in the movie, Kendra and Juniper continued to flirt.
"And I would keep my sunflower safe too!"
Juniper blushed. "Together, no one would get to us."
"I love you so much." Juniper said.
"I love you more." Kendra said.
"Horror movies are all the same." Juniper said. "The group always splits up."
"Are you saying they should have stayed together?"
"Of course, there's strength in numbers."
"But, there's always a guy that tries to impress the girl with his bravery." Juniper explained. "They shouldn't take crazy risks like that."
"But, what if the girl does get impressed by his bravery?" Kendra asked.
"Still, it's better to work together in those situations. Bravery is great if you live, but not everyone is that lucky in those movies."
"True, they normally have major plot armor, or there's plot holes, when they do survive"
"Don't get me started with the plot armor and plot holes. Have you seen some of those B-rated horror movies? They are more like comedies because of it."
Exploring the Great Outdoors - The Granite Falls Vacation Day 2
The Merfolk were starting to miss the sea, and when the Radio started playing Island Music, they gathered around the stereo and started dancing.
"So, is it going to rain like this for the whole vacation?" Sefina asked.
"It'll rain enough to keep things wet for us." Zeph answerd.
"Is it normally this hard to be on land like this?"
"It usually is. Merfolk aren't exactly meant to be out of the water forever. It's dad's idea to give Jade and Juniper a chance to connect to the land."
"Well, ever since I became a half-mermaid, I haven't spent this much time away from the water."
"At least, we can bring a bit of the islands with us listening to this music." Sefina said.
"Not going to lie, all mermen and mermaids tend to love music. It's part of what we are." Zeph replied.
"Maybe more so with Dylan." Cecelia added. "He's still playing the violin in the thunderstorm!"
"I've told him so many times. Just beceaus merfolk can't die when struck by lighting, it doesn't mean we should want to get struck!"
Cecelia continued. "But he always says that Bringing the Lightning is fun. I swear I sometimes worry about our merboys back home. I hope they don't start taking risks like their father."
Sefina checked her phone. "It says the weather will clear by morning. So, I think we'll be good for now."
Zeph decided to leave and check on his twin.
"At least we aren't living in a game where some higher power makes us take unnessacary risks." Sefina said.
"We don't need a higher power that makes us take dangerous risks. Dylan playing the Violin right now is proof of that." Cecelia replied. "Watcher knows what happens if we could actually die getting struck by lightning."
Since Zeph was gone for a while, Cecelia figured that he started listening to Dylan play the Violin instead of getting him out of the thunderstorm. Cecelia left and ended up listening to her husband song too. As the night set in, Jade woke up from her hibernation and flew down the stairs as a bat.
"I'll never get used to all this magic." Sefina thought. "At least it keeps things interesting."
As Sefina danced, Jade changed into her human form and drank some plasma from a plasma pack.
"So, I thought Vampires ate humans and merfolk?"
Between sips, Jade answered. "We make plasma from... fish and frogs too.... I've read that merfolk... only taste so good because they are like fish, in the magical sense."
"But you don't drink their plasma?" Sefina asked.
"Of course not, most of my family are merfolk. I don't drink eat family."
"Well that makes more sense than Zeph's excuse for not eating fish."
"Well, for a genius, he just hasn't figured out that bigger fish eat smaller fish in the ocean, but that's a Child of the Ocean for you."
Eventually, Sefina also left to listen to Dylan's music outside. Jade started the night dancing to the Island Music.
For Jade, being alone in the night wasn't too bad. She didn't consider herself to be a loner, but she enjoyed having some time to herself. As a bat, she flew to the Ranger's Station in the National Park. While there, she played a little guitar.
She noticed that her supply of plasma was getting low, so she decided to try fishing around the national park.
When she felt her hook get caught, she went to rail in her catch.
But, all she pulled out of the water was a chest with some herbs in it.
'This would be more interesting for Juniper.' Jade thought.
Jade cast her line again and felt it hook something again.
This time, she pulled a trout out of the water.
It didn't take much effort for Jade to turn it into filtered plasma.
Jade returned home as the sun began to rise. Juniper woke with the sunrise while Jade was headed to bed. Juniper watched the Magic Realm's Morning News. Apparently, a ghost was campaigning to lead the Realm of Magic. Juniper didn't know if it was just a spectral projection or a politician from the Afterlife.
Deciding not to think about it, Juniper went for a walk around the woods. His human attire was getting a little uncomfortable, and since there weren't humans wandering around the woods, he changed into his merman attire. Juniper figured that he didn't need to hide what he was if there was no one to hide his mermadic identity from. His brothers, girlfriend, and father seemed to feel the same way. Sefina, being half human, continued to wear human attire, and Cecelia simply stuck with her Island attire.
Juniper checked maps as he walked up to a sign at the edge of the Lodging grounds. He wanted to find some more unidentified plants.
As far as he could tell, there wasn't a lot of new varieties around the area, but most of the plants he was looking for grew in the summer. Juniper realized he had some plasma fruit on him, and remembered his sister. He walked back to the cabin to plant it. He didn't know why he didn't think of doing this sooner.
He knew that the magical plasma fruit took a while to grow, so he hoped that it would grow before Jade's Plasma Supply ran out.
After nurturing the growth of his plants, he decided to try and figure out what some of the herbs he harvested were.
He pressed the leaves of the first plant between his fingers. The leaves made his fingers feel a slight itch, like something related to poison ivy.
Because he was the Earth Elemental of Plants, he easily overcame the itch from the plant's leaves. He still wasn't closer to figuring out what it was.
Next, Juniper tasted one of the berries he picked. It could have been poisonus, but he wasn't worried about it fro the same reason the poison ivy like leaves didn't bother him. As he ate the strange berry, Zeph walked up.
Zeph took a deep breath as he watched his younger brother eat the unknown plant.
"Why in the Universe did you just eat that?"
Juniper was taken aback. "What do you mean?"
"What if it was posionous?"
"So." Juniper replied.
"So, you could have died?"
"I thought you were a genius." Juniper replied.
"I am."
"Did you forget what I am?"
"No... Maybe. You're a reef merman like us, right?"
"In this universe, I'm the Spirit of the Sun, Elemental of Plants..."
"Oh." Zeph replied. "I forgot."
"I'm immune to the negative effects from plants."
"So, what did it taste like?" Zeph asked.
"Sweet, maybe like elderberry." Juniper answerd.
"What's that buzzing all of a sudden?" Zeph muttered.
"Maybe, choosing to wear mermadic attire was a bad idea." Zeph thought as he wacked at the mosquitos.
After chatting with his brother, Juniper went for another hike. Despite being deep in the mountains, the signal was surprisingly good. He tried to learn a bit more about the herbs as he walked.
As he picked the berries, he noticed that every herb in Granite Falls came in two very similar varieties. One herb would hurt a human that ate it. The other would help a human that ate it.
While he was out collecting herbs, he also found some frogs that his sister could use for plasma.
All around Juniper, it was clear that his twin older brothers still had a great deal of power here. Streams with fish flowed through the mountains and the weather bent to Zeph's will. The cloud cover helped to keep him and his family from drying out. The more Juniper thought about it. The more he reralized that his family was going to great lengths for him. His father planned an entire week for them to be on land. Even his father, a Child of the Land and Sea couldn't find that comfortable. They did this for him and his twin sister.
Juniper wanted to find as many treasures as possbile while he was here! It might be a while before he returns to the land like this.
Back at the lodging, Jade had a daymare and woke up. She went to the outdoor theater and chatted with her older brother.
"Did you hear about the fishing tournament between vampires?"
"No." Zeph answered.
"They were neck and neck!"
Zeph smiled and chuckled. "That's so cheesy."
"So, how's your day been?" Jade asked.
Zeph decided to sit next to Jade. He didn't tell his sister, but his human feet were starting to hurt. It was getting hard to stay on land like this, in an unnatural human form.
"It's been good. I've done a lot sitting, listening to Dylan play his music. I saw Juniper eat a strange berry."
"Remember that time you caught a squid. It squirted ink on your shirt. It took forever for you to get it clean."
"Is that why mermen don't wear shirts?"
"That's absolutely the reason." Zeph answered.
"Mermen prefer to not wear shirts because the are a pain to clean when they get dirty."
Zeph looked away as he held his hand to his mouth.
'I'm a liar.' Zeph thought. 'Mermen don't wear shirts because the fabric would be a safety risk when we swim. It's normal to not wear a shirt because we don't wear one in our natural form.'
"Anyways, merfolk must be at the top of the food chain in the ocean!" Jade enthused. "Just like how some vampires eat humans."
"Actually, merfolk aren't at the top of the food chain in the ocean. There are bigger fish out there." Zeph replied.
"No way, with all your magical power, you still have to worry about getting eaten by a bigger fish."
"Yeah, the earliest merfolk that started mermadic culture, developed merfolk society around our need to survive in hostile waters."
Calum overheard his son and daughter talking and decided to join the conversation.
"Dad, Zeph told me the craziest thing. There are bigger fish that ate merfolk! Can you tell us more. You must be 100s of years old, older than any of us!"
"Well, as you know, mermen and mermaids will never die from old age. We don't even need to protect ourselves from the elements. Because we are of the sea, and the sea can boil around volcanoes and freeze near the polar Ice Caps, we are immune to changes in temperature too. We can call thunderstorms at will and can't die when struck by lightning. In many ways, merfolk can live forever and almost never die. We don't need to dress the way humans need to. We don't live exactly the same way humans do."
Calum took a breath. "The keyword is almost."
"Merfolk have eternal youth and will never grow old or ugly. Merfolk are characterized by humans as beautiful and handsome for a reason. But, we can die. Your grandmother, she died before any of you were born. The Sapphire Royal Family isn't without it's fair share of tragedy. But, yes, in ancient times, merfolk did need to struggle to survive in the sea. Everything from how we dress to living in family groups, that culture started from our need to survive. Now a days, we aren't at risk like before, but we still maintain the culture that was shaped by our environment."
"Dad that was a great explanation! I didn't even know most of that."
"So, you'll be around forever?" Jade asked.
"As long as I live, I'll always be here for my family." Calum answered. "And, I don't plan on being shark food anytime soon."
"I have to ask though. Why did you go on land? I mean, I know a lot of mermen, mermaids, merboys, and mergirls. Most merfolk stay close to the water or in the water."
"I'm both a Child of the Islands and a Child of the Sea. I saw the seagulls fly over the water, and was drawn to the Islands of Sulani as much as the Sea called to me. As a young merman, I wanted to live close to the tides, in a place between the land and sea. I wanted to live among humans, but I never wanted to give up being what I am. I am proud to be a merman."
"What about that Little Mermaid Movie? You didn't happen to talk to any birds to figure out what human stuff was?"
"Please, merfolk aren't completely ignorant of humans and human things. Spirits know that enough human junk ends up in the sea, and we can see them use things on the shores." Zeph said.
"Zephyr isn't wrong. Merfolk know enough about human culture to blend in when we need to. Some merfolk know more than others because they live closer to humans."
"My mind is blown!" Jade said.
"With all the different worlds out there. I can only imagine how many different mermen and mermaids are out there."
"Almost all merfolk live in the waters around Sulani. Only a few very small pods can be found anywhere else." Zeph said.
"Still, the idea that there are merfolk I haven't met yet is exciting!"
"It's possible that there are mermen and mermaids that have been around longer than humans." Calum added. "There's no telling where they are. But, most merfolk have lived long enough to know how to stay hidden. It's unlikely that they will go out of their way to show themselves. Like anyone, we just want to live our lives the way we want to."
"Imagine, an underwater world where there could be merfolk to meet and new places to see! I'd be excited to see that!" Jade enthused.
"As cool as that would be, even a vampire would need help visiting a world like that." Zeph said.
"I'd still want to see the world underwater!"
"Maybe one day." Calum said.
"Just, whatever you do, don't ask Saphran about the latest issue of Dolphin World Magizine."
Zeph continued. "How any merman or mermaid can find his "art" interesting is beyond me?"
"He's also figured out how to use a phone and is posting underwater photography on simstagram under the name Azure Photography!"
Zeph breathed.
"Saphran will talk your block off about his success. I don't know how I ended up with a dolphin familiar like him. Saphren, Dylan's familiar is much more grounded."
"Well, we don't get to choose our familiars." Calum said.
"Do you think we can trade them out for another?" Zeph asked.
"You know that's not how it works."
Extra:
Dylan didn't have much of a role in this update... He was playing the Violin all day. lol. He's definitely dedicated to his music.
Fishing around Granite Falls - The Granite Falls Vacation Day 3
After learning a little bit about merfolk history, the sun set and Jade met with her twin brother before he went to bed. The Radio was playing Country Music, so the twins danced for a bit. For Juniper, the merman side of him made it hard to resist lure of good music.
"What do you think of the Backyard Music?" Juniper asked.
"I love it!" Jade replied.
"It's almost as good as the Island Music!"
"Who knew the forest mountains had such a great radio station?!"
"If I had the energy, I would stay up all night listening to this music!"
Jade nodded in agreement. She started to grow envious of her older twin brothers. They had a solid relationship and weren't seperated by the day and night, sun and moon. As Jade grew in power, the sun became increasingly intolerable. And Juniper wasn't much of a night merman, preferring the sun and daylight.
Once the moon rose over the Horizon, Jade could feel her power grow stronger. She knew it was time to hunt. Despite being a Vampire, she wasn't keen on hunting merfolk or humans, and if she could, she would prefer plasma fruit or frogs. She couldn't deny that fish were good for plasma packs though. Merfolk long since overcame the predators in the sea, but any merman or mermaid would be a tasty meal for a vampire on the hunt. Jade refused to feed on her family.
Feeding on merfolk was sometimes a tempting prospect. Merfolk were bigger fish overflowing with the vitality of life. She could understand why others of her kind would hunt them, but no matter how tempting it might be. She wouldn't feed on merfolk. She angled the fishing line and focused more on a better kind of prey; something that she would prefer to feed on instead.
Granite Falls had a lot of trout, and the trout were easy to make into Plasma Packs. While Juniper spent a lot of time exploring the forest, Jade struggled with her thirst.
Had she been born a mermaid and not the Spirit of the Land and Moon, she wouldn't have to struggle with this. She would feel guilty drinking anyone's plasma without permission. It was a weakness. Still, her catch for the night was a good one!
After sipping on her fresh plasma pack, she felt better. While dancing with her twin, she had temptation from her untamed thirst. She needed to work on that. Watcher forbid that she attacked her twin brother or another family member.
While wandering around the woods, she found some unusual fireflies. They blinked in all the colors of the rainbow. She took this opportunity to catch them.
The night didn't last long enough, and as the sun rose, she needed to take cover before her thin skin burned. Juniper woke up and headed for a lake near the Cabin. Using his mermadic powers, he drew strength from Dylan and summoned an aquatic lure.
Juniper spent the day fishing with his older brothers. Dylan and Zeph were Children of the Sea, and that made fishing a bit awkward. His older brothers enjoyed fishing, but they didn't like to catch fish.
Juniper tried to watch his brothers and learn more about the Reef Merfolk Culture. Reef Merfolk loved the sea, were strongly attuned to it, and their love of fish and sea life was something he struggled to understand. When Dylan and Zeph cast their lines, they were fishing for something different.
When Dylan pulled some old lake grass out of the water, Juniper was more confused. Wasn't the goal of fishing to catch fish? Dylan seemed happy about his catch. His older brother tossed the weeds to the side and continued to fish.
And then, Dylan pulled a chest out of the water. Every time he cast his line, it found everything except fish in the water. Dylan was excited about his catches, and Juniper grew more confused.
After Juniper felt a tug on his fishing line, he pulled a fairly large fish out of the water. He felt proud of his catch, but there was something that also felt wrong. He simply didn't understand. Dylan leaned back and cast his line out to deep water. Zeph patiently let his line drift in the water.
'What am I missing?' Juniper thought. 'Why didn't Dylan or Zeph congradulate me on such a big catch?'
When Juniper cast his line, Zeph pulled a chest out of the water. Juniper couldn't believe it.
'How did he hook that? His line was floating at the surface? Is someone helping him?'
Juniper started to feel exhausted. His skin was drying out. Even if he found a way to connect to his element, one thing remained true, his human form required energy to maintain and that energy was getting depleted.
Soon, the weather began to turn. A rainstorm blew in just in time. The drops of water restored some of the merman's energy.
Zeph did say that there would be rain this vacation. It must be hard for them. They are spending so much time and energy on land so that I can reconnect with my element. But, I want to be more like them, like a true reef merman.
Juniper felt a tug on his line and caught another fish.
I wonder. Is it possible that the fish are helping my brothers hook the treasure in the water? Maybe. Maybe the fish aren't helping me because I keep catching them?
Just then, Zeph pulled another chest out of the water. His brothers managed to catch a lot of treasure, but there was more to it. Juniper just couldn't understand it.
As the sun set, Juniper started to grow tired. His brothers, on the other fin, were on roll and not tired in the least.
Mermadic Legends and Campfire Stories - The Granite Falls Vacation Day 4 - Part 1
As the night set in, Jade woke and went to explore the woods. She wanted to try and collect some of the unidentified plants around the National Park.
The Summer was the perfect time to harvest the herbs, and she knew that her twin would appreciate having some of the seeds to grow.
As Jade wandered through the silent forest, she started to think about moving somewhere closer to the land. She loved living in Sulani with her family, but she started to feel more distant from the aquatic home she knew. Granite Falls felt more like home, and she started to wonder if another world with less water would feel the same.
As she walked, she fiddled with her phone and checked out the different worlds. Among all the worlds, there were a few that caught her attention, but she wasn't sold on any of them yet. She didn't even know what she would say to her father and mother. The only other family member she had that wasn't half-fish was her older sister. Jade considered talking to her first.
The glint of crystal caught Jade's eye and she excavated the gems from the earth. From the earth, she recovered a chest.
'I wonder what's inside this. I'll open this later.' Jade thought. 'The sun is starting to rise again.'
After Jade returned to her Cabin and began hibernating, Juniper woke up and left for the Granite Falls National Park. The park had a large lake that he could stretch his fins in. It was a much better alternative to the cramped bathtub. Juniper sat on the ledge of the pond and tried to identify the strange berries he found.
'It has a strange taste.' Juniper thought. 'Not quite Elderberry.'
He took another taste of the berries.
'Maybe Huckleberry?'
'No, it's kinda mucky?'
'I know what this is! Muckleberry, False Huckleberry!'
After figuring out what the berry was, Juniper decided to slip into the water. How he missed the feeling of swimming and being in his natural form.
As he felt the water splash around him, he flicked his fins in the water. His older brothers and his girlfriend were chatting in the middle of the pond. He wanted to join them, maybe give the reef merfolk oral tradition of storytelling a try!
"You guys looked like you were having fun! How about I tell you guys a story?!"
"Sounds exciting!" Dylan replied.
"I'm interested." Zeph added.
"Sounds like fun!" Kendra added.
"The story starts around the distant Islands of Sulani, far from the Mountains of Granite Falls!"
Juniper turned to Dylan.
"The Pirates had a lot to deal with around the Sulani Seas, in particular, Captain Samwell Handwich. All merfolk remember him and his pursuit of the Hearts of Sulani!"
Juniper turned to Kendra. "If you can believe it, my older brothers are one of the seven Hearts of Sulani, the Sapphire Princes! What Captain Samwell Handwich was looking for was actually our Grandmother, the late Sapphire Queen and the original Sapphire Heart of Sulani!"
"Now, before my brothers interject, I want to make it clear. Pirates mistook the Hearts of Sulani for simple buried treasure. They never knew that the true Hearts resided within the hearts of the Sulani Pod's Royal Families. My brothers already know this, but together, they are the true Sapphire Heart. As special as my brothers are, the Sapphire Heart isn't enough to achieve the fabled wealth promised by legend."
"All Reef Merfolk know that the Hearts of Sulani were represented by Island Trinkets. The Legends say that the Six Hearts are united by One. Captain Samwell wanted the one that would give him the wealth of six, and he hoped to find it among the islanders. It is said that Jocasta gave him the first Heart of Sulani. Soon after, Captain Samwell obtained all Six Hearts, but he could never find the one to unite them! Many fought him to claim the treasure, a treasure he never truly found."
Juniper turned to Dylan.
"Among Captain's Samwell's greatest foes was the dreaded Darkfins, merfolk that gave into their inner darkness. Captain Samwell believed that these mermen and mermaids knew where to find the True Hearts and hunted them."
"Captain Samwell sailed the seas, searching for the mythical merfolk. During his search, many storms blew in from nowhere and slowed him down."
"Eventually, the storms sank Captain Samwell's boat. That's when Coraline Zalrian rescued him."
The older twins took a knowing glance at their younger brother. Kendra was surprised to hear that a mermaid saved a human.
Zeph made a sideways glance Dylan. 'Don't tell me you told him?'
"Our grandmother endured many hardships in her lifetime. Our First Grandfather died shortly after our father was born. And our grandmother fell for a human."
Zeph smiled. "Dylan, You definitely told him."
"In Captain Samwell's crew, there was a sailor that caught Coraline's eye. To save the young man, Coraline gave him the magical kelp that made him a merman. Caspian Kailani became our second grandfather. Caspian was Captain Samwell's first mate, and Captain Samwell grew envious of him after suriviving the wreck."
"After Caspian Kailani learned to shapeshift, many years had already passed. Captain Samwell was handed wealth and fame all his life. He was given everything, and over the years, he felt entitled to the Legendary Wealth that only the Hearts of Sulani united by One could offer him. Captain Samwell was stranded on Mua Pel'Am, and he refused to leave. While Caspian and Coraline fell deeply in love, Captain Samwell grew angry with jealousy. The only thing he could remember was a beautiful mermaid choosing his first mate instead of him. The image of a sapphire blue tail burned into his mind."
"During one stormy night, Captain Samwell realized that his firstmate wasn't only rescued by the mermaid instead of him. He was rescued by one of the very things he was looking for, a Heart of Sulani, the Sapphire Heart. He also remembered how he survived. A creature of the deep saved him, a Darkfin."
"I didn't even know this until Dad told me." Dylan said.
Juniper turned to Dylan. "This part is exciting and sad at the same time."
"Caspian eventually returned to the land. He found his captain, but his presence only angered Captain Samwell. Caspian became a merman and never aged. Captain Samwell grew old as a mortal human. Eventually, Caspian and Samwell broke into a fight. Caspian was stuck between Mount Pel'Am's lava and the Captain that grew to hate him. Caspian didn't know why his Captian hated him. He didn't understand his envy."
"But the Darkfins knew." Zeph interjected.
Juniper kept his focus on Dylan. "The Darkfins told Samwell many lies. They promised him wealth and immortality in exchange for doing a simple task. They wanted him to kill Caspian. They promised Samwell that he could regain his youth if he took it from Caspian. They said he would gain untold power that would allow him to claim what he desired if he succeeded."
Juniper turned to Kendra. "Captain Samwell sailed the seven seas and used his good looks and charm to get everything he wanted. In many ways, he was given everything. This was the first time he had to take it for himself."
"Before Captain Samwell followed through with his plan to push Caspian into the Volcano. He began to remember his adventures with his Firstmate. A song carried on the wind, and the old captain remembered his friendship with Caspian."
"Old Captain Samwell was decieved by the Darkfins. He was led to believe that he could gain what he desired by taking the life of his best friend. When Samwell lowered his sword, he learned that mermadic kelp was the only way to get what the Darkfins promised him. The Darkfins were plotting to hurt the Sapphire Queen by taking away the one she loved. The one named Flaira filled Samwell with rage. She lied to him. And used him as a pawn in her scheme."
"Flaira seethed with anger when she saw Caspian and Samwell joking about old times by the shore. Flaira began to sing a Siren Song that threatened to lure Old Samwell into a watery grave. However, Caspian was immune to the effects, and he ended up saving his best friend before the mermaid could pull him under."
"Caspian Kailani returned to the sea that day. Samwell chose to remain human. The following days, the merman and old pirate captian met to talk about old times until Samwell's last days."
"The Darkfins watched and became more consumed by their inner darkness. In the shadows, they continued to plot new ways to get revenge on the Sulani Pod."
"It's said that Red Beak was with Samwell through all his adventures and even hid his treasure before he passed on."
"Caspain returned to the shore one last time, and he found his best friend's remains. To honor his last wishes, Captain Samwell and Red Beak were put to rest in the lava of Mua Pel'Am."
"Captain Samwell passed on to the Netherworld and found peace. After his long life, he spent so much time looking for treasure, only to nearly lose his best friend to his obsession."
"The Sulani Pod soon realized that humans were susceptible to corruption and greed. The Legend of the Six Hearts United by One was just one of many stories that led to a rise in piracy. To guard against further corruption, the Sulani Pod took up residence around the Sulani Islands. Over the years, the merfolk managed to tell new stories that inspired humans to seek different treasures."
"There are humans that continue to look for treasure, but the legends they chased no longer led them to the Darkfins. As it turned out, the original legend that was past on to Jocasta came from the Darkfins. The Darkfins used song to plant the seed of greed in the minds of those that fled Barnacle Bay. Jocasta didn't know better, but she remembered the Legend woven in Mermadic Song."
"Even though the Mermadic Royal Families aren't what they used to be, the Zalrians remain the Guardians of Mua Pel'Am and protect the Island Sacred to all Merfolk. We tell the stories in song that inspire those who crave adventure. We sing legends that lead humans away from the Darkfins and their influence."
"So Dylan, how did I do?"
"I couldn't have told that story better myself!" Dylan answered.
"You got a real talent for storytelling!" Zeph added.
Comments
Dylan and Zeph have been alive for a long time. For many tides and many moons, they swam the seas and even lived among humans. Dylan walked into the Cave of Wayfinder's Grotto and remembered some of his past experiences.
As a front and source of income, Kemps ran a retail store that gave merfolk access to whatever they needed when they traveled to or chose to live in Human Worlds. All mermen and mermaids have eternal youth and will never die from old age or most things, it was trait that gave merfolk their ehtereal beauty and handsome qualities. Immortality would raise a few eyebrows if merfolk spent too much time too close to humans. Someone would surely notice the lack of aging.
In recent years, the different worlds and the typical attire worn in those worlds have become common knowledge, but when Dylan and Zeph went to University, that wasn't the case. The way merfolk dress and their tendency to not age became less noticable and raised fewe eyebrows. Most merfolk, however, still didn't mix with humans as often.
With Kemp's blessing and some new outifts, the twins left for University and became more acquainted with humans.
Sometimes, Zeph would manipualte space and time with his Weather Machine. For Dylan, it was difficult to understand the finer details, but changing the seasons resulted in a manipulation of time because the seasons marked the progression of time. There was also the possibility of space time annomalies that Zeph often needed to use his Spiritual Powers to correct. Zeph was a Genius that could easily bring out the full potential of any technology. Dylan was grateful that he knew what he was doing.
With Zephyr manipulation of Space Time, Dylan and Zeph sometimes explored worlds in the future. The future wasn't set in stone, so the cosnequences were minimal. But, they did visit Mount Komorebi while in the middle of their college semesters.
And they sang in the hot springs together.
Dylan and his brother were always together and they supported each other through University at Foxbury. At this point, it would feel unnatural to both Dylan and Zeph if they were apart for too long.
Sefina often talks about her first meeting with Zeph in Sulani, but she did meet them sooner than that. She just didn't know it because Dylana nd Zeph were disguised as humans and dressed differently than normal. She would never admit to her choice of Haircut and outfit at Foxbury.
It was thanks to Zeph that Dylan met Cecelia. Since Dylan is Bisexual, he wasn't sure about who he wanted to date. He would have been fine with guys or gals, so it was difficult to choose. However, he immedietly fell for Cecelia and shared a Mermaid's Kiss with her. The ability was named after a mermaid that used that ability to save the life of a drowning human. Ever since, the kiss was traditionally reserved for the partner a mermaid or merman would devote themselves too for eternity.
From there. the Love between the Twins and their Wives grew quickly.
For Dylan, it was almost a devastating blow when he learned that Cecelia was turned mortal by Sarah. Inside, he cursed himself for leaving her vulnerable to attack, but in the end, her curse was lifted. Dylan wanted to make up for lost time and strengthen the Romance they had now that they were together again. Nothing was more important to Dylan and Zeph than the time they could spend witht their families. Their days of blending in with humans was behind them. Their families were their future.
While Sefina and Dylan's sons struggled to living so close to the sea all the time, it came more naturally to the older twins and Cecelia. Dylan, Zeph, and Cecelia returned to their mermadic attire, but it was something for Sefina to get used. Even though she was surrounded by water and her sandals were soaked by the Island Waterfall, she still wore human clothing.
Sefina wasn't used to merfolk gestures of Romance and gave Zeph a rose instead of a Mermaid's Kiss, Charmer's Lullaby, or a Serenade. She didn't know that merfolk held great value in their voices and used them as a primary gesture of romance. Many merfolk powers came from the songs they sang, and Sefina was still learning. Regardless, Zeph appreciated the gesture.
Zeph pulled Sefina toward the sea and showed her one of the most important gestures between merfolk partners. The life giving kiss reserved for those who a mermaid or merman loved most. It didn't take words or a song. It was a kiss that gave the breath of the sea to the reciever.
Zeph held the back of Sefina's head and his hand rested on her waist. As he pulled his hands away, Sefina's hand rested at Zeph's waist where skin turned into scales.
Zeph: "And that's the Mermaid's Kiss. I love you so much, and I look forward to the family we build together."
Back in the Grotto, Sefina gave Zeph the big news.
Sefina: "Guess what, we're pregnant!"
Zeph: "I'm so excited! I can't wait!"
While Barnaby and Wade swam to school under the sea, Dylan took this opportunity to ask Cecelia out on a date.
There was a Cafe in Newcrest that would be perfect for the merfolk couple. At the edge of the Magic Realm, Dylan and Cecelia could be themselves.
Dylan flirted with Cecelia. "I'm dying to give you that special kiss."
Cecelia flirted back. "You'll just have to wait until we return to Sulani."
Dylan: "In all the worlds, in all the Universe, I never thought I would find someone I love this much!"
"I hope nothing tears us apart again."
Cecelia: "I feel the same way."
The couple sang their Charmer's Lullaby to each other. The song set the mood for more romance. The exchance became a Charmer's Duet.
Cecelia replied to Dylan's verse with her own.
As the date came close to an end, the couple changed to their true form and cloud gazed. While they weren't on their human feet, there wasn't much point to using energy to maintain a human form.
When the couple returned to the Sulani and visited the Sand Bar to keep the Date going. Cecelia caught Dylan by surprise with a mermaid's kiss. The passionate kiss momentarily made Dylan lose focus and he turned back into a merman. Cecelia caught him as he fell to the ground and continiued the kiss.
When Dylan regained his human form, the couple went upstairs and sat together.
Cecelia: "What's your favorite world? You can't say Sulani because we both know you love the ocean."
Dylan: "That's a tough question, but if I had to choose one, other than Sulani, I would say that I enjoy the Jungles of Selvadorada. There's always something new to do everytime I visit, and the paths are always changing through the jungle."
Cecelia: "I wasn't expecting that, but it's a fair answer."
As the summer heat intesified, the couple retreated a small lagoon. Cecelia gave Dylan another Kiss. As she pulled Dylan closer, Dylan arched his back, overwhelmed by the passionate mermaid's kiss. Cecelia held him firm to her with her hand around the back of his head.
Dylan finally managed to pull away and breathed. "I never want to fear losing you to a curse again."
Dylan moved in for another kiss and Cecelia pulled the merman close.
Dylan: "As much fun as this has been, we have a couple merboys waiting for us at home. We'll have eternity to do this again. I'm yours, forever and always."
Cecelia: "I'm the same for you."
Learning to Shapeshift for Guppies
After his date, Dylan took the twins to the shore of Mua Pel'Am. It was time that they learned to shapeshift. No matter how much they might want to, no mermaid or merman could stay in their human form forever. And sometimes, with a lack of focus, merfolk could find themselves turning back into their natural form. If they found themselves on land without legs, that wouldn't end well if they couldn't control their shapeshifting.
Wade: "What color do you think our tails will be?"
Barnaby: "I don't know. I'm a bit nervous."
Barnaby muttered: "Incredible! And it feels... so natural."
Baranby was surprised to find that the sudden fall into the water and the appearance of a tail didn't scare or surprise him. It felt so... right.
Barnaby and Wade swam to their dad above the reef.
Barnaby: "This feels incredible. I don't think you could have explained this feeling if you tried."
Dylan: "The sea gives us our greatest strength. As both mermen and water elementals, our power is unlimited in the water. We can change the weather on a whim, weave spells with our siren lullabies, and call ocean threats to defend ourselves. But, one power should only be used if you are in the most dire of danger, and that's the Siren's Call."
Wade: "What does the Siren's Call do?"
Dylan: "There's no distance to great for the Siren's Call to reach the ears of the listener. It will draw them into the sea, and when they get close enough, you will be able to drain their very life force to satisfy all your needs. Humans can drown and Vampires can be weakened. It will give you the strength to fight back and even flee if you need to. But, it is an act of evil to satisfy your needs at the cost of others. Only use the Siren's Call when your situation is most dire."
Dylan: "But there's something you should know about the Siren's Call. It has no effect on other merfolk. As mermen, you are immune to it. You are both sapphire princes, and there isn't a mermaid or merman in Sulani that wishes you harm. The merfolk you should be wary of are the Darkfins."
Barnaby: "Who are the Darkfins?"
Dylan reflected on his own encounter with one. "They are a family of mermaids and mermen that have given in to their own inner darkness. Your grandmother, Arihi and Mother of the Elementals, used her power to banish them after they attacked your grandfather. Their greatest crime was taking the lives of the seven Kings and Queens that ruled over Sulani."
Wade: "How was taking the lives of Kings and Queens their greatest crime?"
Dylan turned to Wade. "Merfolk, our people, don't use royal titles the same way humans do. By taking the lives of the Seven Kings and Queens, they left Mua Pel'Am and the worlds vulenerable to destruction and ruin. It took many decades to heal Mua Pel'Am to what you see. The Royal Merfolk are Guardians that protect. It is the resposnibility we are born into."
Some time passed after the twins' first swim. Dylan taught them their responsibilities and how to protect the fragile ecosystem of Mua Pel'Am. Even though they weren't ready to take up the mantle of conversationists, they could still help keep Mua Pel'Am thriving. Barnaby and Wade continued to practice the art of Shapeshifting, but Wade struggled more than his brother. Dylan continued to offer his support. Despite their bloodline awakening and their successful transformation into pure blood mermen, they seemed under the influence of something dark. Wade seemed to be the most affected.
Barnaby came to his father one night. He felt undescribable grief and sorrow.
Dylan: "Is everything okay?"
Barnaby: "I feel like... something is squeezing my heart, and I feel so choked up. I don't know where this feeling is coming from."
Dylan feared that the remnants of Sarah's curse was passed on to his sons. Barnaby described the Melacholy of a Night's Requiem.
Dylan: "Just take a deep breathe. It'll be okay. You can get through this."
Barnaby breathed in. The Grotto was very close to the sea, and the salt air filled his lungs. That little bit of the sea helped him feel better.
Dylan: "What do you think happened?"
Barnaby: "I really don't know. I just felt so depressed. It came from nowhere."
Dylan: "If you ever feel something is wrong. Let me know, okay."
Barnaby: "I will."
Dylan: "For now, try to redirect those emotions. Go for a jog around Mua Pel'Am. I think the sea air will help."
After talking to his dad, he took his advice and went for a jog to clear his mind. He had a feeling there was something his dad wasn't telling him. There had to be a reason why he spent his childhood in the World of Newcrest.
Wade was starting to feel distant. His dad wanted to help, but it was getting difficult for Wade to be around family.
Dylan: "Is everything alright?"
Wade: "I just need some time to myself."
There was a small Lagoon in Mua Pel'Am that Wade often retreated to when he wanted to get away from his family. But, it was obvious that something was very wrong with Wade. Even though Dylan was getting sick himself, he couldn't stop worrying about his son. Dylan could feel it... something was going to happen in Henford-on-Bagley. The sickness Dylan felt was one of the burdens of being the Spirit of the Sea and having a conenction to all the Worlds' Waters.
Wade swam away from his father and changed into his human disguise. Something seemed to make him want to stop being a merman, stop being a prince, and stop being a water elemental. He relaxed on a recliner near the water. He still felt a strong conenction to being a merman.
While the two feeling tore him in apart inside, he accidentally changed back into his merform. While his legs turned into a tail, he was still wearing his shirt. His skirt would survive the transformation, but he would need new shoes.
As he dozed off, Barnaby approached him and woke him up.
"Wade, what's going on here?"
Wade felt embarrased that he lost control of his form. He quickly shapeshifted back. His brother gave him a new pair of shoes. It helped to keep a spare. Most merfolk didn't wear shoes because it would be expensive to replace them. The twins started to realize why their father and uncle dressed the way they did. While their tranformation would destroy most human clothes from the waist down, anything they wore from the waiste up would remain. If they were in the water, the human clothing would no doubt hinder their ability to swim. Consequently, it became more natural to dress the way they would in their merform, the form they always returned to one way or another.
Barnaby: "Don't be embarassed. It's not like there's a guide book for this stuff."
Wade: "It's not just that. You've picked up on the shapeshifting and have so much more control. I can't control my form to save my life."
Barnaby: "Just keep practicing, and I'll keep an extra pair of shoes just in case."
Wade: "Maybe I should go without the shoes until I have a little more control."
As day turned to night, the full moon rose in the sky. Wade felt a sudden increase in the feeling that tore him up inside. Something felt very wrong, but he didn't want to go to his parents or uncle.
Wade remembered some things his dad told him. He came from a family of elementals, and there was one family member that he wanted to talk to. His aunt and the Spirit of Mua Pel'Am's Volcano. He was certain that the Spirit of the very thing that connected all Elementals could help him.
Wade: "I love being a merman. It's amazing and incredible. To have a tail that's so powerful in the water... it's an undescribable feeling."
Wade: "But something feels wrong, and I can't control the form I take. I could grow fins right now if I lose focus."
Wade: "My brother can control his form, and I don't know what's wrong with me."
Ember listened to every word and then offered Wade a solution.
Ember: "This potion will help you keep whatever form you want when you drink it. Just be careful. The effect lasts for one day. If you enter the water, you won't be able to take your human form until the potion wears off. If you can stay out of the water for one day, you'll lose your tail and become human. I would think..."
Wade: "I don't want to think about it. Maybe becoming human wouldn't be so bad. At least I won't randomly have fins."
Wade grabbed the elixir and drank it. As the liquid flowed over his throat, he felt his voice change and the thing that made him feel so wrong faded. For a moment, he thought he was going to become human until... He felt something else. He felt an irresistable pull to the sea. What Ember didn't tell the merboy was that the Full Moon added an extra effect to the potion. It removed any curse that afflicted the individual that drank it.
The next day, Dylan woke up early and noticed that one of his sons weren't around.
"Barnaby have you seen your brother?"
Barnaby gave Sora a warning glance. Their cousin had only just been born, and he was taking to being a merman instinctively. In fact, it was a surprise to Barnaby. Sora was born a merman, ready to live in the sea. Maybe that was normal for all merfolk. But, both him and Wade were different, they weren't born ready for life as mermen.
Barnaby: "I think he went for a swim in the sea. He woke up early."
Dylan: "I see."
Both Barnaby and Dylan thought Wade's absence was a little strange.
Barnaby rushed out of the Grotto as quickly as he could swim. He almost forgot to shapeshift when he jumped out of the water.
After a short run on land and a quick swim in the lagoon, Barnaby found his twin sleeping above the reef.
Barnaby woke up Wade, and Wade thrashed a bit when he saw his tail.
Wade: "No, no, no. This wasn't what I expected. But..."
Wade paused. "It doesn't feel wrong anymore."
Barnaby turned to his brother. "Dad is looking for you."
Wade: "He can't find me like this. I can't..."
Barnaby: "What's wrong. What did you do?!"
Wade: "Nothing..."
Barnaby: "I know when you're lying."
Wade: "Okay... I'll come clean. You know how mom was human until recently."
Barnaby: "Yes. It's strange that we grew up human. You missed Sora being born. Can you believe our cousin is already swimming around like it's nothing?"
Wade was caught by surprise by the news, but he changed the topic back to his situation.
Wade: "Well, I contacted my aunt, and she gave me this potion... Well, I slorta took the potion from her before she could explain everything."
Barnaby: "I don't think drinking a potion from our Aunt is a reason to hide from dad."
Wade: "You don't understand. I felt so wrong, and I took the potion to become human. But, and I don't remember much, but..."
Barnaby: "What?! Why?!"
Wade: "I felt a strong pull away from the sea, like I didn't want to live as a merman. I didn't want to live in a world of magic. Then, after drinking the potion and feeling like I was going to become human, I found myself drawn back to the sea. I don't want to be human anymore."
Barnaby: "Isn't that a good thing? Why are you still worried...."
Wade interupted before his brother could ask another question. "I can't leave the water!"
Wade breahted. "Because I drank that potion, I can't shapeshift for one day."
Wade: "Don't get me wrong. I feel great now, but I don't want dad to know."
Barnaby: "Maybe I can sing a spell that can change this."
Wade: "It's worth a try."
Branaby learned from his father early in the week that an Inspiring Berceuse could grant a mermaid or merman the power to shapeshift by inspiring change in them. It was worth a try.
Wade: "I don't feel any different. Did it work? I don't think it worked!"
Barnaby: "Maybe we should get dad involved."
Wade: "We can't do that."
Wade: "I really screwed up. I should have gone to dad from the beginning. Aunt Ember tried to tell me before I took the potion."
Barnaby: "It's okay. We'll figure this out."
Lir overheard the merboys from the shore and swam over to check on them.
"What's going on?"
The little merman caught the twins by surprise.
Baranby: "We have a bit of Dilema. Wade can't leave the water."
Lir: "Maybe you should talk to your father and Uncle, probably Zeph. I mean no disrespect to your father, but Zeph is a little better at solving problems."
"We can't." The twins said in unison.
Lir: "Trust me when I say. I've struggled with my own parents. But, my dads were there for me when I needed them the most."
Lir continued: "Wade, if you are struggling, it's okay to go to your dad, but I recommend your uncle."
While they chatted, Dylan was running all over the island looking for his sons.
Wade: "I don't know. Do you think they can help?"
Lir: "I know they can help. You'd be surprised by what parents will do for their kids."
Lir recalled his encounter with a Darkfin. "I ran into trouble once. My dads got overprotective after they helped me out of a tough situation. I remember getting so angry at them. I didn't understand why they did what they did. But, now, I know they just wanted me to be safe and happy."
Wade: "I'm too embarrased though. I rushed into this situation without thinking."
Lir: "We all make mistakes. It's what we do after we make a mistake that matters."
Barnaby: "I'm going to get dad. We need some help bro."
Lir: "I'm sure your dad will come up with a creative solution. It'll be fun."
Note:
One thing that is very important know about Dylan, he has a lot of ways to change the emotions of sims. You can make a sim feel anything with him around. Just give him a painting easle, instrument, dj booth, or just have him tell an epic story or sing a Siren's Lullaby. Dylan is master at emotion manipualtion, but he's too nice. I'm not surprised he made his son so playful.
It was also Summerfest, Winterfest in the Summer. I have so many sims risk death by laughter during a holiday that involves Father Winter...
Barnaby found Dylan in the Grotto and told him where Wade was. Dylan was relived to know that his son was alright.
As the sun set, Dylan found Wade.
Wade wasn't entirely happy to confess his situation to his dad, but he told Dylan everything.
Dylan: "I'm really disappointed that you didn't feel like you could come to me for help."
As the sun set, the potion began to wear off.
Wade: "I'm really sorry. I didn't mean to worry you."
Dylan still felt bad for not being trusted enough to help.
Dylan thought outloud for a moment. "I guess no harm was really done. You must've been under a curse, probably passed on by your mother. It's my fault for not telling you everything, and I think I know what Ember was trying to do. We're good, and I think we all learned something from this.
Dylan: "I fogive you, but please don't do this again."
Wade noticed the sun set and felt the power to shapeshift again. "Dad, let's go home."
I caught Kemps floating above the water. lol. I had to blink to make sure I was seeing things right.
I created a hot spring/ spa that is merfolk friendly. The actual hot spring is something merfolk can swim in so they will change into their merman/ mermaid form. It bothered me that merfolk transform in the bathtub, but even though the hot springs are found under the bathtub category, merfolk do not change into their merform. This spa fixes that.
The gender pronoun update didn't impact some of the gameplay. For example, if the biological sex of a sim is male, but they use the she/ her pronouns, they still can't use the doors for women. The way they dress in a towel also wasn't updated for the spa pack, even with a preference for feminine clothing indicated in their gender settings. I made the spa gender neutral because one of my mermaids is transgender, and in spite of everything I did in CAS, I ended up having to change her biological sex back to female to make her functional in game, wearing the expected clothing without an unusual fit and so she could use the woman's bathrooms.
Calum decided to sing some Karaoke after meeting with his twin sons. This screenshot made me chuckle. Calum is a good merman and wouldn't drown a human, but the capture was still funny.
My merfolk have excellent singing voices, so it's always nice to watch them perform a Karaoke song. Part of me wishes they had a special singing voice unique to merfolk.
These are the extras I wanted to share before writing my next update.
At the Triton Beach Karaoke Bar, Dylan sat down with his dad, Calum. Calum wanted to talk about their growing family.
"Barnaby and Wade are quite the handful sometimes, but they have grown so quickly," Dylan said. He remembered how his sons weren't born merboys and lived a human life before they got their fins. "Sometimes, sometimes I wish they had a chance to grow up as merboys from the beginning. I think they struggle with having fins."
Calum listened to his son and offered some advice. "I've heard some people say that the seaweed is always greener in someone else's lake, that life always seems better when you look at things from a distance. Give your sons some time to discover what they are. I know that you had to learn about being an Elemental before you mastered your own power over water and the sea."
Calum continued. "I can only imagine how hard it is for them now, but they'll fall in love with what they are. Being a merman doesn't ahve to be a burden or something to struggle with. Just like how you got comfortable with being an Elemental, your sons will grow more comfortable as merboys given enough time."
Calum got serious. "But, they are young mermen, and while they are discovering what they are, I recommend watching out for them. Vampires born from corrupted merfolk would prey on their insecurities and offer them a way out that doesn't exist. Even a Darkfin might take advantage of them like this."
"One, you need to give the twins time to grow used to what they are. Two, watch over them and protect them until they can swim on their own."
Calum's tone ligthened up. "We both know that not all vampires are inherently evil. It's just the ones born from the corrupted hearts of merfolk that you have to worry about."
"I feel better now. I know they will grow into their new forms and learn to love what they are."
"See, I told you that you were worring too much."
"Now, I understand where you were coming from when you raised me and zeph."
"Human, Elemental, or Mermadic, kids are always a challenge to raise, but every moment is worth it."
"I couldn't have said it better myself."
"Now, you have to tell me how you make those delicious cakes. Your younger sister and brother's birthday is coming up."
"I don't do anything special. I just adjust the recipe as I go." Dylan thought for a moment. "You should probably talk to Ember about cooking. I don't cook like I used to because, well you know, merfolk don't need to eat."
While Calum and Dylan chatted, Zeph showded up, and the mermen dove into the sea for a swim. Calum wanted to catch up with both of his sons.
"Now, that both of you are here, I have to ask you something very important. As you know, your little sister and brother's birthday is right around the seabed, I want to plan a special location for both of them to have their birthday."
"I was thinking that the Caldera Eco Center would be perfect!"
Zeph rolled his eyes. "Come on dad, that's not the best place for Earth Elementals to have a Birthday, and you know it."
Dylan smiled. "Zeph's right. Why would you have their birthday so close to Mount Mua Pel'Am?"
"Well, I was going to go with a pirate theme for their birthday party."
Zeph thought. "He still sees them as little guppies. This will take some persuasion."
Dylan shared the same thought.
"Maybe you could have their birthday party in another world more attuned to their Element." Zeph suggested.
"I'll start looking right away, but I was thinking of throwing a big party and inviting the whole family."
"I'm all for that." Dylan was getting excited.
"This is going to be a logistic nightmare." Zeph thought.
"But I'm for it!" Zeph was getting excited too.
After Dylan left, Calum had a question for Zeph. "Birthday plans aside, I'm worried about you and your brother. You shouldn't take so many risks in other worlds."
Zeph gave his dad a serious look. "It's complicated, but we are going to help Lir find the other lost princes. We know what we are getting into."
"Just look after your brother for me."
"I always do, but I don't get where this is coming from?"
Calum looked at his son. "You are both grown mermen, but I still worry about both of you. It's part of being your father. The Darkfins are dangerous, and they were banished for good reason."
"The Darkfins have given into their own inner darkness, and they will try to take as much power as they can. It's wise to keep your distance and not look for trouble, but I have a feeling that they won't stop with just Dylan, you, and Lir. Their thirst for vengence is too great."
Zeph listened carefully to his father's warning.
"Are you saying I shouldn't help the other princes. They could be in danger."
"I'm saying you should be careful, but I think you should try to help them. Together, you are safer than alone."
Jade maintained her overachieving standards. She didn't need anyone to tell her how important school was. Juniper, however, fell behind on his studies, lost in the majesty of the sea. Jade spent the night helping her twin with his homework.
Unlike Dylan and Zeph, who were inseperable, the younger twins were separated by the Sun and Moon. Like the Older Twins, the two were very close.
Juniper maintained the Garden that ensured Jade had a steady supply of Plasma Fruits, and if the Sun was ever too much for Jade, Juniper had plenty of Flowers that could reverse death itself. Juniper was always there for Jade and even saved her life when she risked being in the sun.
For Jade, helping her younger twin with his homework was the least she could do to help him.
While Jade and Juniper worked on the project, Kemps walked into the Kitchen to check on them. If he wasn't a merman himself, it might've been strange to see a Vampire helping a Merboy with a school project. Still, Kemps treated Jade and Juniper like they were his own kids, even if they were his niece and nephew.
"Why do I have to do this silly project? I'm literally the Spirit of the Sun and an Earth Elemental of Plants."
"Well, that's true, but you haven't even grown into your true power yet." Kemps said.
"I can bring anyone back from the brink of death with a flower."
"That's a fair point, but you still need to master your mermadic powers."
"And how does making a robot help me with that?"
"I'll have to get back to you with that one."
"Maybe, you could learn how to be a little more responsible by completing the project. You have a lot of power, but that doesn't mean much if you don't use it properly." Jade interjected.
"That's exactly what I was going to say." Kemps said.
Jade rolled her eyes. Her family was growing a little tedious to be around.
After helping her twin with his project. Jade started her own. She chose to lead by example and complete her own projects. Fortunately, or maybe unfortunately, her parents decided to try and help her. A Merman Prince and the Mother of All Elementals were not individuals she would upset by saying no.
"So, this is what kids are up to these days." Calum said. "I wonder why I can't just call a thunderstorm and use the lightning to supercharge a wind turbine? Are kids in a human school really making electronics this way?"
"How many times have I told you that calling a thunderstorm is not the solution to our electric bill." Arihi retorted. "Might I remind you that we don't need you to get supercharged too."
"Hey, bringing the lighting is pretty cool. Why can't I bring the static shocks? Dylan and Zeph have already been supercharged."
"We both know how you get when you have too much electricity surging through you."
"Regardless of whatever Magic and Mayhem you like to conjure, I'd like to finish this project before the sun comes up, please." Jade interrupted.
"Don't worry, we'll finish this thing-a-majigger before morning." Calum reassured her. "It's just a surprise to see electricity at work like this. Ember learned to zap things almost immedietely after she learned how to set things on fire."
Jade rolled her eyes and thought. "Why would anyone want to get zapped by lighting or be proud of pyromania?"
Jade turned to her mother. "You hold power over all the Elements. I'm certain you know how crazy dad sounds."
Arihi smiled. "Honestly, I'm very proud of how powerful Ember has gotten. She still has a lot to learn, but at least no one knows it's her when she sets things ablaze now."
Jade thought. "I would make them hallucinate and talk to themselves, but I think they are already crazy enough."
Calum said. "I've said this to your older brothers, and I probably should have told Ember this too. However, we hold a lot of power and with that power comes a great deal of responsibility. We shouldn't be reckless in how we use our power. I don't encourage causing senseless chaos... But, I think Ember igniting fires is pretty cool!"
Jade pulled out her phone and typed. "I'm taking note of your contradictory stance on using power responsibily."
After Jade finished her project, she got up and helped Juniper with his Extra Credit. Calum started to stretch.
"Who let the Island Spirits in the house again?" Arihi remarked. "I swear, you commune with one Island Spirit and then twenty more show up from watcher knows where!"
"Maybe Ember will let me move in with her and Alexander." Jade thought. "I need a vacation from this family."
I’m going to check on my game tomorrow, but I had a great trip.
Just got back from my cousin’s wedding in the mountains, and I got to see some wonderful places, including a bit of spelunking before my flight home.
If I wasn’t on the forums; I was with family. It was a very busy weekend!
https://forums.thesims.com/en_US/discussion/comment/18152479/#Comment_18152479
https://forums.thesims.com/en_US/discussion/comment/18155139/#Comment_18155139
Dylan had a chance to meet one of his favorite famous idols here:
https://forums.thesims.com/en_US/discussion/comment/18167668/#Comment_18167668
Calum, Dylan, and Zephyr talk about Dylan's meeting with Erik and the music he makes later, after high school. My merfolk are immortal so they wouldn't have aged a day between meeting Erik as a teen and seeing him grow in the music career.
Catching up with Family
While Zephyr caught up with his father, the merboys, Juniper and Alex, hungout in the nearby shallows.
Alex: "You're right. I shouldn't have doubted you."
Juniper: "I don't think there's a better world for swimming!"
Alex: "Sulani does have a lot of great places to swim. But, what's your point?"
Juniper: "Just saying that if Sulani has the best places to swim, the only place that would be better is underwater."
Alex: "I guess. I've always wondered about what it would be like to swim in an underwater world."
Juniper: "Personally, I prefer staying close to the sun. The deep sea is too dark for me."
Alex: "That's a good point. If I were to go underwater, I'd want to swim around brighter reefs and seagrass meadows."
Juniper: "Once you get deep enough, I've heard that there's no sunlight and the merfolk look very different."
Juniper: "But the crabs look like giant spiders!"
Juniper: "Could be a fairly creepy place to explore."
Juniper: "But at least there won't be any fire ants!"
Juniper: "They make my fins squirm, and trust me, you do not want to get bitten by them."
The following day, the Zalrian Mermen took the merboys to the beach to give the mermaids, their wives, a break. Juniper splashed around with his nephew, Sora.
"And the fish just kept talking... I swear, dad needs to give the fish in the aquarium more attention."
Calum: "I heard that Erik Cantrell has a grotto full of trophies from the Starlight Accolades!"
Zeph: "Dad, I don't think humans have grottos for trophies."
Calum: "Where else would you keep so many things?"
Zeph: "I don't know. It would take a cave bigger than a grotto."
Zeph turned to Dylan. "You got to meet him. What do you think?"
Dylan: "I don't know where he would keep so many trophies, but I'm going to frame the autograph I got and place it in our grotto on Mua Pel'Am!"
Dylan: "Meeting Erik was awesome! I had a great time, and I think I was so starstuck that I got a crush!"
Zeph: "Please tell me you had a little restraint."
Dylan: "I did get caught up in the moment and flirted, but he's taken. I think Cecelia would probably beach me if I went too far anyways."
Zeph: "Well, at least you guys stayed on good terms."
Calum: "Dylan, I thought I taught you better. Once you sing your Charmer's Lullaby and give another a Mermaid's Kiss, you are committed to them."
Dylan: "Dad, I know. I won't do it again."
Dylan: "By the way, have you heard the song, Whirlwind in Sulani! That's one of my favorite songs!"
Zeph: "Back of my Mind is a good song. I saw Erik get the Accolode on the TV."
Dylan: "That was an epic song too."
Dylan: "Can you believe that Erik didn't know merfolk were real?"
Zeph: "I guess he really didn't know why the host was late to the show."
Dylan: "Are you talking about Ukupanipo? Yeah, he was swimming at the beach. Being a merman, I think he just lost track of time."
Calum: "Well, I hope we can trust a global superstar with the secret of our existence."
Dylan: "I'm certain that he won't put us in harms way!"
Dylan struck a pose. "I have complete confidence that he will do right by us."
Zeph: "I'm a bit jealous though. I wish I had the chance to meet him too!"
Calum: "Now, you have to show me that autograph, I still can't believe you got see Erik Cantrel!"
As the sun set, Juniper was goofing around with Sora still.
Juniper: "What did the sea say to the beach?"
Sora: "I don't know."
Juniper: "Nothing, it just waved."
Juniper: "Have you ever thought about what life on land in another world would be like?"
Sora pulled back in the water. "Why would any merman or mermaid want to live on land and in another world?"
Juniper: "I don't know. I love to swim, but sometimes, I wonder about what humans do all day if they don't swim?"
Sora: "I can't imagine a life without my tail and staying on land."
Sora: "Juniper, don't tell me you'd rather be human?"
Juniper lept out of the water. "Me human, as if I would want that."
Juniper used his powerful tail to flick saltwater at Sora.
Sora laughed. "At least warn me before you shower me with sea water!"
Juniper: "Where would the fun be in that?!"
As the night set in, the mermen and merboys went on land to dance to Island Music.
Juniper: "And that's when I found a soda can floating in the deep sea. Can you believe that it got down into such deep water?!"
Extras:
Look Where You are Going
"Hold on, I got to check my messages real quick."
"That's pretty cool. I didn't know Dylan had a new DJ track on Simstagram."
"Let me take a quick listen..."
Juniper feels his legs transform into a green tail. Unable to stand, he slips underwater and drops his phone in the lake.
"Well, that didn't go how I thought it would. At least my phone is waterproof."
Merfolk have Waterproof Phones!
Someone has a Crush on Kemps!
Like, I know Kemps is handsome and good looking, like most of my mermen... that's pretty normal for reef merfolk... But, he's out of your league and married to Isla.
After spending time with his family, Juniper went on a date with his girlfriend Kendra. Juniper greeted Kendra with a kiss, and the two merteens embraced.
Juniper: "I learned about this human custom and I wanted to give it a try. This is the human version of our Mermaid's Kiss. I promise to always be yours if you promise the same."
Kendra: "Of course, I promise to always be yours if you promise the same."
Kendra was so caught up in the moment that she grabbed Juniper and pulled him over onto his back and leaned in for a kiss. The moment caught Juniper by surprise and he lost control of his shapeshifting, reverting to his natural form.
In the end, Juniper relaxed and returned the kiss. With a tail on land, it wasn't like he would go anywhere anyways. Kendra made sure to support Juniper and hold him until he regained control of his shapeshifting.
When Juniper was able to stand again, the two embraced.
The Twins Get their Mom out of the House
While Zephyr was swimming around Sulani, he got a great idea. He called his mom after meeting with his twin brother. Their mom was determined to stay home for hours, and the twins wanted to get her out of the house.
Calum joined them, not wanting to miss a chance to spend time with his family. It was easy for Calum to change the weather on a whim. Arihi saw her other son and decided to approach him. She prefered to avoid strangers.
Arihi: "So, your brother tells me that he's heard I'm not good at haggling."
Dylan listened, but he kept up his performance like a true actor.
Arihi: "I don't suppose you can give me a discount for old times sake?"
Dylan closed his eyes and carefully considered the request. "I don't know. It wasn't cheap to get the inventory."
Arihi: "But, I'm your mother?"
Dylan: "That's true, but I have a business to run."
Arihi: "How about this? If you or Zeph run into trouble, I'll use my powers as the Mother Elemental to help you out of any problem. You just have to ask for my help, and I'll be there."
Dylan: "Even if it means you have to leave Sulani."
Arihi: "Even if I have to travel to another world."
Dylan: "I can take that deal. I'll give you a 25% discount."
Arihi: "Really, just 25%?"
Dylan: "I can't give this away for free. I'm not running a charity here."
Arihi grumbled. "Deal!"
Dylan shook Arihi's hand. "It's been a pleasure doing business."
Arihi caught up with Calum and Zeph, her husband and son were dancing to the festival music.
Arihi: "I just bought a new lamp and made a deal with our son."
Calum: "Really!? Don't tell me you bought something we can recover from the seafloor for free?"
Arihi: "Dylan told me that he paid a lot for that inventory!?"
Calum: "And you believed him? He's the Spirit of the Sea and a Merman... It's not hard for him to bring stuff up from the seafloor."
Arihi: "I knew it was too good to be true. But, I can't go back on the deal I made."
Calum: "What kind of deal did you make?"
Arihi: "Dylan agreed to give me a discount if I step in to help him out of a tough situation, even if I have to travel to another world."
Calum: "So, how much did you get off for that? I mean, you are the Mother Elemental... Your authority is pretty strong in the Spirit World."
Arihi: "I got 25% off the items."
Calum: "25% off an item Dylan salvaged from the sea for free in exchange for a favor from one of the most powerful spiritual beings in all the worlds."
Arihi: "That just about sums it up."
Calum: "I don't believe Dylan could pull that off alone. He's creative, but..."
Zeph was dancing behind Arihi. "I love this festival music!"
After the festival was over, Zeph challenged his parents to a game of basketball. Apparently, it was supposed to be a fun human sport. Zeph proposed to his parents another deal.
Zeph: "If I win, I can enlist your help with whatever I want."
Calum turned to his son. "And if we win, you'll pay us back the money your mom paid your brother."
Zeph: "Deal."
The Mermen and Mermaid changed and prepared for the contest. Arihi wasn't half human, but she was more familiar with human attire than her merman husband and merman son. Zeph and Calum changed into active outfits they would wear around the islands.
Calum prepared to make the first shot. It was an easy 2 points.
Zeph focused his Elemental powers into his Basketball and threw toward the hoop. The ball caught on fire and landed through the hoop. Zeph won 3 points from a long shot."
Arihi threw her ball to the hoop and made a 3 pointer long shot. The parents took the lead.
The game turned fierce as the Parents competed agains their son, but in the end, it was Zeph who won. Zeph landed 3 pointer after 3 pointer. Every time the basketball flew through the air, the Spirit of the Sky had full control over where it went. For Zeph, there was no contest. His parents agreed to his terms. Arihi would help her sons once if they needed it. Calum would step in to help Zeph if he needed it.
After returning to Sulani, the family gathered at Nereus Lagoon. Jade wanted to become friends with her Uncle, Kemps.
Jade: "It would be awesome if art just magically created itself!"
Kemps: "You know, you can find a lot of joy in the act of creating too."
Kemps: "The sea and island jungles are full of hidden treasures to recover, but exploring the depths and lost ruins isn't a game. It can be dangerous."
Jade: "I'm not afraid of danger. I think it would be cool to find hidden works of art and lost treasure!"
Kemps: "That sounds very ambitious. Where would you begin?"
Jade: "Maybe I could explore the mountains or brave the dense jungles!"
Kemps: "What about the depths of the sea?"
Jade: "If an opportunity showed itself and I could explore the ocean depths, I would do that too! But, I'll start with the land first."
Jade: "I want a perfect collection of art! Something I can be proud to show off!"
Kemps: "You almost sound like your older brother. He's had multiple works of art sold to Galleries over several decades. Of course, he never sold it under the same name."
Jade: "See, immortality comes with risks. If I created art, I would have to create new identities every so often. It's much more reasonable to collect and preserve what is created."
Kemps: "So, you want to own an art gallery to display works of art?"
Jade: "I want to own a museum where I can preserve works of art!"
Kemps: "That actually sounds pretty cool."
A Date by the Lagoon
A day or two later, Juniper had another Date with Kendra. The merteens sat together and kissed.
The young merman pulled the young mermaid close. Kendra didn't mind.
Juniper looked at Kendra and decided to pull away when he saw her blush.
Kendra: "You don't have to stop."
Juniper: "I know."
Juniper: "I know I'm not a true reef merman, but I'm so glad I get to spend this time with you."
Kendra: "Don't say that. You're just as much a reef merman as the rest. Who cares if you're a half-blood?"
Juniper: "I was born more of a plant than anything else, and this form, it's been something to get used to. But, I'm glad it let's me spend more time with you."
As Juniper wrapped his hand around Kendra's. Kendra rested her hand on his. Juniper looked into Kendra' sea green eyes, an eye color shared by all reef mermen and mermaids. Kendra stared into Juniper's green eyes, green like the chlorophyll in plants.
Kendra: "Did I ever tell you that green is my favorite color?"
Juniper smiled. "Did I ever tell you how much I love you?"
The merteens looked into each other's eyes. The moment was interrupted when Kemps started to sing. He was clearly trying to sing badly, but because he was a merman, he simply couldn't distort his voice to sing bad. Possibly a curse of the mermadic voice or a gift, Juniper was grateful that it was impossible for any merman or mermaid to sing badly.
When the song ended, Kemps struck a silly pose at thin air. Zeph was ready to go home and so was Juniper and Kendra.
"I will find a way to get the lowest score on a Karaoke Machine if it's the last thing I do." Kemps declared.
The melody from Kemps's voice came out pitch perfect and still sounded better than the original song. It was an odd personal goal, but Kemps had fun with it.
Dylan warmed up his DJ skills for his younger brother's Birthday Party. In Sulani, they would wear traditional merfolk attire and then travel to the Mountain Forest of Granite Falls to continue the celebration. At Granite Falls, Calum wanted the merfolk family to try to spend more time on land, closer to his youngest duaghter and son's elements.
Zeph rolled his eyes. "Of course you need to go to your Uncle's Birthday Party."
Sora continued to complain. "That's not fair. Barnby and Wade will be swimming off to a lagoon, and I have to go to the Birthday Party on land!"
Zeph listened to his son before responding. "You'll get lots of chances to swim too, but it's not every day that a merman or mermaid comes of age. I'm sure Dylan will be bringing Barnaby and Wade to the party too."
"Why can't we just have the birthday another day?" Sora asked.
"You know it doesn't work like that." Zeph replied.
As the sun began to set, the Spirits of the Sun and Moon came together for their birthday. Despite being Earth Elementals, their power resonated more with their respective celestial elements. Sora relectunantly did as his father wished and joined the party.
As the sun began to rise, Jade had to leave to hibernate until night. The merfolk gathered and danced. Dylan showed off his skills as a DJ and made the party worthwhile, but Calum made a lot of plans for his family. The celebration wouldn't end close to the sea.
While Calum organized the camping trip, Juniper went to the World of Mt. Komorebi to reconnect as much as he could to his elemental powers. Even though he was an Earth Elemental, he lost his ability to draw power from the land after becoming a merman. He knew that his choice to become a merman was irreversible, and he knew that his elemental connection to the land was completely severed as a result. However, the Earth Element had two major sub-elements. The land and plants were two parts of a single whole. Jade embodied the Land. Juniper embodied the Plants.
After changing into traditional merman attire, Juniper focused on trying to connect his body to the Plants on Land and in the Sea. His attempts at meditation proved harder than expected. His first problem was controlling his shapeshifting. He was a merman now. A human form wasn't his natural form.
After attempting to connect to his element, Juniper almost reverted to his natural form. He managed to catch himself before he lost control of his shapeshifting. He couldn't connect to the Earth Element if he had a tail. Merfolk were the Denizens of the Sea, empowered by the Elements of Water and Air.
The more Juniper tried to connect to his element, the more he struggled. In a way, he was envious of his older brothers. They were true Reef Mermen and the Spirits of the Sea and Sky. They empowered all merfolk, including him. Dylan and Zeph didn't have to try to connect to their element. As mermen that were always mermen, it came naturally to them.
Juniper wanted to give up.
'As far as Elementals are concerned, I must be the weakest. I can't even connect to my element without nearly turning back into a fish.'
Still, Juniper wanted to keep trying. If there was a way to connect to the Plants, he would find it.
Eventually, he stopped comparing himself to his older brothers.
'Yeah, Dylan and Zeph are powerful. Their forms align with their elements perfectly.'
'Dylan reigns over the creatures of the sea and Zeph controls the weather. All merfolk draw their power from them.'
Juniper breathed. 'But plants, they give us air to breathe on land. Mermadic Kelp can turn humans into half-merfolk. Plants have power too!'
Juniper smiled. 'Plants are the source of life in both the sea and on land. I connect the Sea and Land.'
Juniper made another pose. He felt his connection to plants grow. 'Plants connect the Land to the Sky.'
With his hands and feet touching the ground, he could feel his elemental power. 'I am an Earth Elemental. I'm the Spirt of the Sun. I embody the plants that grow on land and in the sea.'
Juniper laid on the yoga mat and breathed. 'I am a merman. I do get power from my older brothers. But, I'm the source of life on land and in the sea. Without me, plants would wither. Life would fade.'
Juniper relaxed and smiled. 'My power is still there, in me. It always has been.'
After finding the root of his power, Juniper could effortlessly maintain his human form and connect to the plants around him.
'Trees grow into the Sky. Kelp grows deep into the sea'
Eventually, Juniper needed to return to his natural form. In the hot spring, he could still feel his power. 'No matter what my form is, whether I'm a plant, look like a human, or have a tail, my power comes from plants and plants grow on land and in the sea.'
Extra:
Ember and Caleb needed a break from their Boyfriends.
I imagine that Ember needed a break from Alexander because, even if Ember is the one responsible for Alexander's transformation, it might be a little exhausting living with a barnacle brain that drank a potion that he was not supposed to drink.
Still, Ember doesn't have the same stress Caleb has. Caleb's boyfriend is collecting the Souls of the Darkfin Family. He's living with the Angry ghost of one of Damion's victims.
Movies and the Great Outdoors - The Granite Falls Vacation Day 1
After visiting the spa, Juniper and his family left for Granite Falls. Calum had plans for his merfolk family to spend some time on land, closer to his youngest daughter and son's element.
Jade broke off from the rest of the family to explore the National Park. She ignited an old bonfire. The flames singed her a bit, but she quickly recovered.
Eventually, she got the fire to burn steady and the ligth attracted some flies. Jade swatted away the pests.
Jade wasn't human. She wasn't a mermaid. She was an elemental like her siblings, but that's all she had in common with them. To an extent, she enjoyed the time she had alone. However, her vampiric traits made it difficult for her to spend time in the sun. After her vampiric power started to manifest, she grow increasingly distant from her twin and the rest of her family. She was the Spirit of the Moon and at home on Land. Her twin was a merman and the Spirit of the Sun.
Even if Jade felt alone and spent much of her teen years distant from her family, she was not forgotten by them. Zeph decided to follow Jade into the forest.
When Zeph caught up to Jade, he gave his little sister a hug.
"What are you doing alone in the forest?" Zephyr said.
"I'm often alone at night because everyone sleeps when I'm awake." Jade replied.
"You aren't alone Jade. Me, my twin, your twin, your older sister, dad, and mom, we are all here for you."
"I know, but I enjoy the time alone."
"It's okay to enjoy some time alone, but don't be afraid to catch up with your family."
"By the way, have you heard the lastest song on the backyard station?" Zeph asked.
"I did, but I like the sound of nature and life on land." Jade answered.
"It is nice to listen to the sound of nature. Sound, it travels through the air. If you ever feel really alone, just remember that. I'm the Spirit of the Sky, I'm always with you wherever you can hear songs on the wind."
"Thank you, it does mean a lot."
"Speaking of wind, have you ever tried to fly?!"
Zeph leaned back. "I can't say that I have."
"You should really try it some time. I always fly around as a bat!" Jade enthused.
"But, I can't turn into a bat. I'm more of a fish, remember?"
"Then be a flying fish! Fly through the sea and leap out of the water!"
Zeph didn't know how to respond, but he felt more energized listening to his sister's enthusiam.
Jade continued to enthuse about flying. "You're the Spirit of the Sky. For you the sky isn't the limit. The limit is beyond the sky!"
Zeph looked up confused, but he couldn't help but feel a burst of energy.
Zeph pointed up. "You know that, as the Spirit of the Sky, I control the weather and seasons. I don't fly?"
"You are just limiting yourself thinking like that. You gotta be what you want to be, do what you want to do."
"You're right!" Zeph was getting pumped. "I can control space and time. I'm the Spirit of the Sky! I'm one of the twin forces connecting the worlds!"
"See, you gotta hold onto that, especially when you are on land! You are more than a fish out of water!"
"What do you think? Was that motivating? Are you pumped?"
"That was such a weird conversation, but I feel so energized."
"So, I gotta ask. As the Spirit of the Sky, can you really see all the worlds?"
"I can, but I have to concentrate to get a clear view of another world. Some worlds are easier to see than others."
"What about Granite Falls? Were you able to see this world before we got here?"
"I could. I can sense changes in the weather. Might be good if we get a little rain. In fact, we'll be getting a lot rain this week."
"Can't you do something to change the weather?"
"I would, but we need the rain. Don't forget, you're on vacation with a bunch of fish out water. We need it to be a little wet to stay on land."
"I guess I can respect that."
As the sun rose on the horizon, Jade headed back to the lodging to hibernate. As a bat flying through the cabin, Jade saw her dad. Out of everyone in her family, she knew it was easier for her to be on land and blend in with humans. It was clear that the rest of her family would inevitably struggle with human attire. Mermadic attire was a part of mermadic culture, and mermadic culture was a significant part of how her family lived in the sea and on the Islands of Sulani.
When the sunshine peaked through the trees, Juniper was wide awake and left for the national park with his girlfriend. Juniper and Kendra threw horseshoes.
"I hope spending time on land isn't too much of a struggle." Juniper said.
"To be fair, I don't think merfolk typically spend this much time away from a place to swim." Kendra replied.
Kendra tossed the horsehoe and it just missed the metal rod.
"That was close." Kendra said.
"Here, let me try." Juniper held the horshoe up and aimed.
'This is actually kinda fun.' Kendra thought. 'I wish we had more games to play in the water.'
Juniper threw the horsehoe and the couple watched it fly through the air.
"That was nowhere near the goal." Juniper said.
"Let me show you how it's done." Kendra held up the horseshoe and aimed.
Kendra flicked her wrist. "You gotta throw it like this."
When the horshoe hit its mark, it disappeared in the dirt.
"That was a good shot!"
"It's all in the wrist."
"But, I had a little luck from my little sunflower."
Juniper blushed. "Maybe a four leaf clover would be more lucky."
"I'm feeling a little dehydrated." Kendra said. "I'll head back to the cabin and soak in the tub after a cup off coffee. It's still really early."
"I think I'll continue to hang out around the park." Juniper said. "Are you sure you can make it a full week on land."
"I'll be fine. But, it is getting a little dry up here in the mountains."
Juniper started to hike. He pulled out his phone and checked out the guides on local plants.
"So, there are a lot of unidentified plants around here." Juniper muttered. "I had no idea."
Juniper walked up to one of the bushes mentioned in the guide and picked some of the strange plants. If anyone would figure out what these plants were, it would be the Elemental of Plants.
For his twin sister, Juniper wanted bring back some minerals from the land. For him, it was like hunting for buried treasure.
Juniper felt the roots in the ground, a connection between plants flowing through the forest. He felt drawn deeper into the woods.
Eventually, he found a tunnel formed by intertwined roots and branches. It seemed to call to him from the deepest part of the forest.
Juniper was familiar with hidden paths created by plants. After reconnecting to his element, he could feel the hidden secrets within plants, the portals and connections they created.
Juniper took the plunge and pushed through the tunnel of roots, branches, and leaves.
In the deep woods, Juniper found a place almost barren of plants. However, the presence of the water and air elements was strong. He knew that his older brothers would no doubt be aware of this place. The plants seemed like new growth here, possibly a result of his presence.
Soon, a storm started roll over the mountains. The rain offered relief to the merman. Juniper was feeling a little dried out.
The rainstorm turned into a thunderstorm, and Juniper had to leave for the Cabin. He planned on returning to this hidden place deep within the woods. At the cabin, Juniper soaked in a tub of warm water. He changed back into his natural form and relaxed as best he could. The bathtub was very cramped and his tail had hang over the side.
Because the thunderstorm wouldn't let up, Juniper and Kendra went to an outdoor theater near the cabin. The movie of choice was obviously Campground Massacre III.
The weather helped to set the mood. At first, the couple was excited to see the movie.
The guy on the screen gave the teens a warning about an Urban Legend.
"No one survives the Chainsaw Freezer Bunny." Juniper said.
"I don't think the Chainsaw Freezer Bunny is real." Kendra added. "Let me look this up to be sure."
As the movie continued, Juniper turned to Kendra. "By the way, you look beautiful."
"You are quite the catch yourself." Kendra said.
"You don't think this Forest is cursed like the one in the movie."
"I can't imagine it is." Kendra reassured Juniper.
"Honestly, it could be with all this rain. I really wish the sun would come out already."
"We shouldn't be talking while watching the movie."
"Oh no, there's the Chainsaw Freezer Bunny." Kendra gasped.
"He's going to get the Chainsaw." Juniper sobbed. "That was my favorite character too."
"He died too young." Kendra said.
"But, I know you would keep me safe if there was a crazy bunny man on the loose." Kendra flirted.
Juniper blushed. "No one would get through me. I would definitely keep you safe!"
While teens died one at a time in the movie, Kendra and Juniper continued to flirt.
"And I would keep my sunflower safe too!"
Juniper blushed. "Together, no one would get to us."
"I love you so much." Juniper said.
"I love you more." Kendra said.
"Horror movies are all the same." Juniper said. "The group always splits up."
"Are you saying they should have stayed together?"
"Of course, there's strength in numbers."
"But, there's always a guy that tries to impress the girl with his bravery." Juniper explained. "They shouldn't take crazy risks like that."
"But, what if the girl does get impressed by his bravery?" Kendra asked.
"Still, it's better to work together in those situations. Bravery is great if you live, but not everyone is that lucky in those movies."
"True, they normally have major plot armor, or there's plot holes, when they do survive"
"Don't get me started with the plot armor and plot holes. Have you seen some of those B-rated horror movies? They are more like comedies because of it."
Kendra laughed. "I've seen a few of those."
The Merfolk were starting to miss the sea, and when the Radio started playing Island Music, they gathered around the stereo and started dancing.
"It'll rain enough to keep things wet for us." Zeph answerd.
"Is it normally this hard to be on land like this?"
"It usually is. Merfolk aren't exactly meant to be out of the water forever. It's dad's idea to give Jade and Juniper a chance to connect to the land."
"Well, ever since I became a half-mermaid, I haven't spent this much time away from the water."
"At least, we can bring a bit of the islands with us listening to this music." Sefina said.
"Not going to lie, all mermen and mermaids tend to love music. It's part of what we are." Zeph replied.
"Maybe more so with Dylan." Cecelia added. "He's still playing the violin in the thunderstorm!"
"I've told him so many times. Just beceaus merfolk can't die when struck by lighting, it doesn't mean we should want to get struck!"
Cecelia continued. "But he always says that Bringing the Lightning is fun. I swear I sometimes worry about our merboys back home. I hope they don't start taking risks like their father."
Sefina checked her phone. "It says the weather will clear by morning. So, I think we'll be good for now."
Zeph decided to leave and check on his twin.
"At least we aren't living in a game where some higher power makes us take unnessacary risks." Sefina said.
"We don't need a higher power that makes us take dangerous risks. Dylan playing the Violin right now is proof of that." Cecelia replied. "Watcher knows what happens if we could actually die getting struck by lightning."
Since Zeph was gone for a while, Cecelia figured that he started listening to Dylan play the Violin instead of getting him out of the thunderstorm. Cecelia left and ended up listening to her husband song too. As the night set in, Jade woke up from her hibernation and flew down the stairs as a bat.
"I'll never get used to all this magic." Sefina thought. "At least it keeps things interesting."
As Sefina danced, Jade changed into her human form and drank some plasma from a plasma pack.
"So, I thought Vampires ate humans and merfolk?"
Between sips, Jade answered. "We make plasma from... fish and frogs too.... I've read that merfolk... only taste so good because they are like fish, in the magical sense."
"But you don't drink their plasma?" Sefina asked.
"Of course not, most of my family are merfolk. I don't drink eat family."
"Well that makes more sense than Zeph's excuse for not eating fish."
"Well, for a genius, he just hasn't figured out that bigger fish eat smaller fish in the ocean, but that's a Child of the Ocean for you."
Eventually, Sefina also left to listen to Dylan's music outside. Jade started the night dancing to the Island Music.
For Jade, being alone in the night wasn't too bad. She didn't consider herself to be a loner, but she enjoyed having some time to herself. As a bat, she flew to the Ranger's Station in the National Park. While there, she played a little guitar.
She noticed that her supply of plasma was getting low, so she decided to try fishing around the national park.
When she felt her hook get caught, she went to rail in her catch.
But, all she pulled out of the water was a chest with some herbs in it.
'This would be more interesting for Juniper.' Jade thought.
Jade cast her line again and felt it hook something again.
This time, she pulled a trout out of the water.
It didn't take much effort for Jade to turn it into filtered plasma.
Jade returned home as the sun began to rise. Juniper woke with the sunrise while Jade was headed to bed. Juniper watched the Magic Realm's Morning News. Apparently, a ghost was campaigning to lead the Realm of Magic. Juniper didn't know if it was just a spectral projection or a politician from the Afterlife.
Deciding not to think about it, Juniper went for a walk around the woods. His human attire was getting a little uncomfortable, and since there weren't humans wandering around the woods, he changed into his merman attire. Juniper figured that he didn't need to hide what he was if there was no one to hide his mermadic identity from. His brothers, girlfriend, and father seemed to feel the same way. Sefina, being half human, continued to wear human attire, and Cecelia simply stuck with her Island attire.
Juniper checked maps as he walked up to a sign at the edge of the Lodging grounds. He wanted to find some more unidentified plants.
As far as he could tell, there wasn't a lot of new varieties around the area, but most of the plants he was looking for grew in the summer. Juniper realized he had some plasma fruit on him, and remembered his sister. He walked back to the cabin to plant it. He didn't know why he didn't think of doing this sooner.
He knew that the magical plasma fruit took a while to grow, so he hoped that it would grow before Jade's Plasma Supply ran out.
After nurturing the growth of his plants, he decided to try and figure out what some of the herbs he harvested were.
He pressed the leaves of the first plant between his fingers. The leaves made his fingers feel a slight itch, like something related to poison ivy.
Because he was the Earth Elemental of Plants, he easily overcame the itch from the plant's leaves. He still wasn't closer to figuring out what it was.
Next, Juniper tasted one of the berries he picked. It could have been poisonus, but he wasn't worried about it fro the same reason the poison ivy like leaves didn't bother him. As he ate the strange berry, Zeph walked up.
Zeph took a deep breath as he watched his younger brother eat the unknown plant.
"Why in the Universe did you just eat that?"
Juniper was taken aback. "What do you mean?"
"What if it was posionous?"
"So." Juniper replied.
"So, you could have died?"
"I thought you were a genius." Juniper replied.
"I am."
"Did you forget what I am?"
"No... Maybe. You're a reef merman like us, right?"
"In this universe, I'm the Spirit of the Sun, Elemental of Plants..."
"Oh." Zeph replied. "I forgot."
"I'm immune to the negative effects from plants."
"So, what did it taste like?" Zeph asked.
"Sweet, maybe like elderberry." Juniper answerd.
"What's that buzzing all of a sudden?" Zeph muttered.
"Maybe, choosing to wear mermadic attire was a bad idea." Zeph thought as he wacked at the mosquitos.
After chatting with his brother, Juniper went for another hike. Despite being deep in the mountains, the signal was surprisingly good. He tried to learn a bit more about the herbs as he walked.
As he picked the berries, he noticed that every herb in Granite Falls came in two very similar varieties. One herb would hurt a human that ate it. The other would help a human that ate it.
While he was out collecting herbs, he also found some frogs that his sister could use for plasma.
All around Juniper, it was clear that his twin older brothers still had a great deal of power here. Streams with fish flowed through the mountains and the weather bent to Zeph's will. The cloud cover helped to keep him and his family from drying out. The more Juniper thought about it. The more he reralized that his family was going to great lengths for him. His father planned an entire week for them to be on land. Even his father, a Child of the Land and Sea couldn't find that comfortable. They did this for him and his twin sister.
Juniper wanted to find as many treasures as possbile while he was here! It might be a while before he returns to the land like this.
Back at the lodging, Jade had a daymare and woke up. She went to the outdoor theater and chatted with her older brother.
"Did you hear about the fishing tournament between vampires?"
"No." Zeph answered.
"They were neck and neck!"
Zeph smiled and chuckled. "That's so cheesy."
"So, how's your day been?" Jade asked.
Zeph decided to sit next to Jade. He didn't tell his sister, but his human feet were starting to hurt. It was getting hard to stay on land like this, in an unnatural human form.
"It's been good. I've done a lot sitting, listening to Dylan play his music. I saw Juniper eat a strange berry."
"Remember that time you caught a squid. It squirted ink on your shirt. It took forever for you to get it clean."
"Is that why mermen don't wear shirts?"
"That's absolutely the reason." Zeph answered.
"Mermen prefer to not wear shirts because the are a pain to clean when they get dirty."
Zeph looked away as he held his hand to his mouth.
'I'm a liar.' Zeph thought. 'Mermen don't wear shirts because the fabric would be a safety risk when we swim. It's normal to not wear a shirt because we don't wear one in our natural form.'
"Anyways, merfolk must be at the top of the food chain in the ocean!" Jade enthused. "Just like how some vampires eat humans."
"Actually, merfolk aren't at the top of the food chain in the ocean. There are bigger fish out there." Zeph replied.
"No way, with all your magical power, you still have to worry about getting eaten by a bigger fish."
"Yeah, the earliest merfolk that started mermadic culture, developed merfolk society around our need to survive in hostile waters."
Calum overheard his son and daughter talking and decided to join the conversation.
"Dad, Zeph told me the craziest thing. There are bigger fish that ate merfolk! Can you tell us more. You must be 100s of years old, older than any of us!"
"Well, as you know, mermen and mermaids will never die from old age. We don't even need to protect ourselves from the elements. Because we are of the sea, and the sea can boil around volcanoes and freeze near the polar Ice Caps, we are immune to changes in temperature too. We can call thunderstorms at will and can't die when struck by lightning. In many ways, merfolk can live forever and almost never die. We don't need to dress the way humans need to. We don't live exactly the same way humans do."
Calum took a breath. "The keyword is almost."
"Merfolk have eternal youth and will never grow old or ugly. Merfolk are characterized by humans as beautiful and handsome for a reason. But, we can die. Your grandmother, she died before any of you were born. The Sapphire Royal Family isn't without it's fair share of tragedy. But, yes, in ancient times, merfolk did need to struggle to survive in the sea. Everything from how we dress to living in family groups, that culture started from our need to survive. Now a days, we aren't at risk like before, but we still maintain the culture that was shaped by our environment."
"Dad that was a great explanation! I didn't even know most of that."
"So, you'll be around forever?" Jade asked.
"As long as I live, I'll always be here for my family." Calum answered. "And, I don't plan on being shark food anytime soon."
"I have to ask though. Why did you go on land? I mean, I know a lot of mermen, mermaids, merboys, and mergirls. Most merfolk stay close to the water or in the water."
"I'm both a Child of the Islands and a Child of the Sea. I saw the seagulls fly over the water, and was drawn to the Islands of Sulani as much as the Sea called to me. As a young merman, I wanted to live close to the tides, in a place between the land and sea. I wanted to live among humans, but I never wanted to give up being what I am. I am proud to be a merman."
"What about that Little Mermaid Movie? You didn't happen to talk to any birds to figure out what human stuff was?"
"Please, merfolk aren't completely ignorant of humans and human things. Spirits know that enough human junk ends up in the sea, and we can see them use things on the shores." Zeph said.
"Zephyr isn't wrong. Merfolk know enough about human culture to blend in when we need to. Some merfolk know more than others because they live closer to humans."
"My mind is blown!" Jade said.
"With all the different worlds out there. I can only imagine how many different mermen and mermaids are out there."
"Almost all merfolk live in the waters around Sulani. Only a few very small pods can be found anywhere else." Zeph said.
"Still, the idea that there are merfolk I haven't met yet is exciting!"
"It's possible that there are mermen and mermaids that have been around longer than humans." Calum added. "There's no telling where they are. But, most merfolk have lived long enough to know how to stay hidden. It's unlikely that they will go out of their way to show themselves. Like anyone, we just want to live our lives the way we want to."
"Imagine, an underwater world where there could be merfolk to meet and new places to see! I'd be excited to see that!" Jade enthused.
"As cool as that would be, even a vampire would need help visiting a world like that." Zeph said.
"I'd still want to see the world underwater!"
"Maybe one day." Calum said.
"Just, whatever you do, don't ask Saphran about the latest issue of Dolphin World Magizine."
Zeph continued. "How any merman or mermaid can find his "art" interesting is beyond me?"
"He's also figured out how to use a phone and is posting underwater photography on simstagram under the name Azure Photography!"
Zeph breathed.
"Saphran will talk your block off about his success. I don't know how I ended up with a dolphin familiar like him. Saphren, Dylan's familiar is much more grounded."
"Well, we don't get to choose our familiars." Calum said.
"Do you think we can trade them out for another?" Zeph asked.
"You know that's not how it works."
Extra:
Dylan didn't have much of a role in this update... He was playing the Violin all day. lol. He's definitely dedicated to his music.
After learning a little bit about merfolk history, the sun set and Jade met with her twin brother before he went to bed. The Radio was playing Country Music, so the twins danced for a bit. For Juniper, the merman side of him made it hard to resist lure of good music.
"I love it!" Jade replied.
"It's almost as good as the Island Music!"
"Who knew the forest mountains had such a great radio station?!"
"If I had the energy, I would stay up all night listening to this music!"
Jade nodded in agreement. She started to grow envious of her older twin brothers. They had a solid relationship and weren't seperated by the day and night, sun and moon. As Jade grew in power, the sun became increasingly intolerable. And Juniper wasn't much of a night merman, preferring the sun and daylight.
Once the moon rose over the Horizon, Jade could feel her power grow stronger. She knew it was time to hunt. Despite being a Vampire, she wasn't keen on hunting merfolk or humans, and if she could, she would prefer plasma fruit or frogs. She couldn't deny that fish were good for plasma packs though. Merfolk long since overcame the predators in the sea, but any merman or mermaid would be a tasty meal for a vampire on the hunt. Jade refused to feed on her family.
Feeding on merfolk was sometimes a tempting prospect. Merfolk were bigger fish overflowing with the vitality of life. She could understand why others of her kind would hunt them, but no matter how tempting it might be. She wouldn't feed on merfolk. She angled the fishing line and focused more on a better kind of prey; something that she would prefer to feed on instead.
Granite Falls had a lot of trout, and the trout were easy to make into Plasma Packs. While Juniper spent a lot of time exploring the forest, Jade struggled with her thirst.
Had she been born a mermaid and not the Spirit of the Land and Moon, she wouldn't have to struggle with this. She would feel guilty drinking anyone's plasma without permission. It was a weakness. Still, her catch for the night was a good one!
After sipping on her fresh plasma pack, she felt better. While dancing with her twin, she had temptation from her untamed thirst. She needed to work on that. Watcher forbid that she attacked her twin brother or another family member.
While wandering around the woods, she found some unusual fireflies. They blinked in all the colors of the rainbow. She took this opportunity to catch them.
The night didn't last long enough, and as the sun rose, she needed to take cover before her thin skin burned. Juniper woke up and headed for a lake near the Cabin. Using his mermadic powers, he drew strength from Dylan and summoned an aquatic lure.
Juniper spent the day fishing with his older brothers. Dylan and Zeph were Children of the Sea, and that made fishing a bit awkward. His older brothers enjoyed fishing, but they didn't like to catch fish.
Juniper tried to watch his brothers and learn more about the Reef Merfolk Culture. Reef Merfolk loved the sea, were strongly attuned to it, and their love of fish and sea life was something he struggled to understand. When Dylan and Zeph cast their lines, they were fishing for something different.
When Dylan pulled some old lake grass out of the water, Juniper was more confused. Wasn't the goal of fishing to catch fish? Dylan seemed happy about his catch. His older brother tossed the weeds to the side and continued to fish.
And then, Dylan pulled a chest out of the water. Every time he cast his line, it found everything except fish in the water. Dylan was excited about his catches, and Juniper grew more confused.
After Juniper felt a tug on his fishing line, he pulled a fairly large fish out of the water. He felt proud of his catch, but there was something that also felt wrong. He simply didn't understand. Dylan leaned back and cast his line out to deep water. Zeph patiently let his line drift in the water.
'What am I missing?' Juniper thought. 'Why didn't Dylan or Zeph congradulate me on such a big catch?'
When Juniper cast his line, Zeph pulled a chest out of the water. Juniper couldn't believe it.
'How did he hook that? His line was floating at the surface? Is someone helping him?'
Juniper started to feel exhausted. His skin was drying out. Even if he found a way to connect to his element, one thing remained true, his human form required energy to maintain and that energy was getting depleted.
Soon, the weather began to turn. A rainstorm blew in just in time. The drops of water restored some of the merman's energy.
Zeph did say that there would be rain this vacation. It must be hard for them. They are spending so much time and energy on land so that I can reconnect with my element. But, I want to be more like them, like a true reef merman.
Juniper felt a tug on his line and caught another fish.
I wonder. Is it possible that the fish are helping my brothers hook the treasure in the water? Maybe. Maybe the fish aren't helping me because I keep catching them?
Just then, Zeph pulled another chest out of the water. His brothers managed to catch a lot of treasure, but there was more to it. Juniper just couldn't understand it.
As the sun set, Juniper started to grow tired. His brothers, on the other fin, were on roll and not tired in the least.
As the night set in, Jade woke and went to explore the woods. She wanted to try and collect some of the unidentified plants around the National Park.
As Jade wandered through the silent forest, she started to think about moving somewhere closer to the land. She loved living in Sulani with her family, but she started to feel more distant from the aquatic home she knew. Granite Falls felt more like home, and she started to wonder if another world with less water would feel the same.
As she walked, she fiddled with her phone and checked out the different worlds. Among all the worlds, there were a few that caught her attention, but she wasn't sold on any of them yet. She didn't even know what she would say to her father and mother. The only other family member she had that wasn't half-fish was her older sister. Jade considered talking to her first.
The glint of crystal caught Jade's eye and she excavated the gems from the earth. From the earth, she recovered a chest.
'I wonder what's inside this. I'll open this later.' Jade thought. 'The sun is starting to rise again.'
After Jade returned to her Cabin and began hibernating, Juniper woke up and left for the Granite Falls National Park. The park had a large lake that he could stretch his fins in. It was a much better alternative to the cramped bathtub. Juniper sat on the ledge of the pond and tried to identify the strange berries he found.
'It has a strange taste.' Juniper thought. 'Not quite Elderberry.'
He took another taste of the berries.
'Maybe Huckleberry?'
'No, it's kinda mucky?'
'I know what this is! Muckleberry, False Huckleberry!'
After figuring out what the berry was, Juniper decided to slip into the water. How he missed the feeling of swimming and being in his natural form.
As he felt the water splash around him, he flicked his fins in the water. His older brothers and his girlfriend were chatting in the middle of the pond. He wanted to join them, maybe give the reef merfolk oral tradition of storytelling a try!
"You guys looked like you were having fun! How about I tell you guys a story?!"
"Sounds exciting!" Dylan replied.
"I'm interested." Zeph added.
"Sounds like fun!" Kendra added.
"The story starts around the distant Islands of Sulani, far from the Mountains of Granite Falls!"
Juniper turned to Dylan.
"The Pirates had a lot to deal with around the Sulani Seas, in particular, Captain Samwell Handwich. All merfolk remember him and his pursuit of the Hearts of Sulani!"
Juniper turned to Kendra. "If you can believe it, my older brothers are one of the seven Hearts of Sulani, the Sapphire Princes! What Captain Samwell Handwich was looking for was actually our Grandmother, the late Sapphire Queen and the original Sapphire Heart of Sulani!"
"Now, before my brothers interject, I want to make it clear. Pirates mistook the Hearts of Sulani for simple buried treasure. They never knew that the true Hearts resided within the hearts of the Sulani Pod's Royal Families. My brothers already know this, but together, they are the true Sapphire Heart. As special as my brothers are, the Sapphire Heart isn't enough to achieve the fabled wealth promised by legend."
"All Reef Merfolk know that the Hearts of Sulani were represented by Island Trinkets. The Legends say that the Six Hearts are united by One. Captain Samwell wanted the one that would give him the wealth of six, and he hoped to find it among the islanders. It is said that Jocasta gave him the first Heart of Sulani. Soon after, Captain Samwell obtained all Six Hearts, but he could never find the one to unite them! Many fought him to claim the treasure, a treasure he never truly found."
Juniper turned to Dylan.
"Among Captain's Samwell's greatest foes was the dreaded Darkfins, merfolk that gave into their inner darkness. Captain Samwell believed that these mermen and mermaids knew where to find the True Hearts and hunted them."
"Captain Samwell sailed the seas, searching for the mythical merfolk. During his search, many storms blew in from nowhere and slowed him down."
"Eventually, the storms sank Captain Samwell's boat. That's when Coraline Zalrian rescued him."
The older twins took a knowing glance at their younger brother. Kendra was surprised to hear that a mermaid saved a human.
Zeph made a sideways glance Dylan. 'Don't tell me you told him?'
"Our grandmother endured many hardships in her lifetime. Our First Grandfather died shortly after our father was born. And our grandmother fell for a human."
Zeph smiled. "Dylan, You definitely told him."
"In Captain Samwell's crew, there was a sailor that caught Coraline's eye. To save the young man, Coraline gave him the magical kelp that made him a merman. Caspian Kailani became our second grandfather. Caspian was Captain Samwell's first mate, and Captain Samwell grew envious of him after suriviving the wreck."
"After Caspian Kailani learned to shapeshift, many years had already passed. Captain Samwell was handed wealth and fame all his life. He was given everything, and over the years, he felt entitled to the Legendary Wealth that only the Hearts of Sulani united by One could offer him. Captain Samwell was stranded on Mua Pel'Am, and he refused to leave. While Caspian and Coraline fell deeply in love, Captain Samwell grew angry with jealousy. The only thing he could remember was a beautiful mermaid choosing his first mate instead of him. The image of a sapphire blue tail burned into his mind."
"During one stormy night, Captain Samwell realized that his firstmate wasn't only rescued by the mermaid instead of him. He was rescued by one of the very things he was looking for, a Heart of Sulani, the Sapphire Heart. He also remembered how he survived. A creature of the deep saved him, a Darkfin."
"I didn't even know this until Dad told me." Dylan said.
Juniper turned to Dylan. "This part is exciting and sad at the same time."
"Caspian eventually returned to the land. He found his captain, but his presence only angered Captain Samwell. Caspian became a merman and never aged. Captain Samwell grew old as a mortal human. Eventually, Caspian and Samwell broke into a fight. Caspian was stuck between Mount Pel'Am's lava and the Captain that grew to hate him. Caspian didn't know why his Captian hated him. He didn't understand his envy."
"But the Darkfins knew." Zeph interjected.
Juniper kept his focus on Dylan. "The Darkfins told Samwell many lies. They promised him wealth and immortality in exchange for doing a simple task. They wanted him to kill Caspian. They promised Samwell that he could regain his youth if he took it from Caspian. They said he would gain untold power that would allow him to claim what he desired if he succeeded."
Juniper turned to Kendra. "Captain Samwell sailed the seven seas and used his good looks and charm to get everything he wanted. In many ways, he was given everything. This was the first time he had to take it for himself."
"Before Captain Samwell followed through with his plan to push Caspian into the Volcano. He began to remember his adventures with his Firstmate. A song carried on the wind, and the old captain remembered his friendship with Caspian."
"Old Captain Samwell was decieved by the Darkfins. He was led to believe that he could gain what he desired by taking the life of his best friend. When Samwell lowered his sword, he learned that mermadic kelp was the only way to get what the Darkfins promised him. The Darkfins were plotting to hurt the Sapphire Queen by taking away the one she loved. The one named Flaira filled Samwell with rage. She lied to him. And used him as a pawn in her scheme."
"Flaira seethed with anger when she saw Caspian and Samwell joking about old times by the shore. Flaira began to sing a Siren Song that threatened to lure Old Samwell into a watery grave. However, Caspian was immune to the effects, and he ended up saving his best friend before the mermaid could pull him under."
"Caspian Kailani returned to the sea that day. Samwell chose to remain human. The following days, the merman and old pirate captian met to talk about old times until Samwell's last days."
"The Darkfins watched and became more consumed by their inner darkness. In the shadows, they continued to plot new ways to get revenge on the Sulani Pod."
"It's said that Red Beak was with Samwell through all his adventures and even hid his treasure before he passed on."
"Caspain returned to the shore one last time, and he found his best friend's remains. To honor his last wishes, Captain Samwell and Red Beak were put to rest in the lava of Mua Pel'Am."
"Captain Samwell passed on to the Netherworld and found peace. After his long life, he spent so much time looking for treasure, only to nearly lose his best friend to his obsession."
"The Sulani Pod soon realized that humans were susceptible to corruption and greed. The Legend of the Six Hearts United by One was just one of many stories that led to a rise in piracy. To guard against further corruption, the Sulani Pod took up residence around the Sulani Islands. Over the years, the merfolk managed to tell new stories that inspired humans to seek different treasures."
"There are humans that continue to look for treasure, but the legends they chased no longer led them to the Darkfins. As it turned out, the original legend that was past on to Jocasta came from the Darkfins. The Darkfins used song to plant the seed of greed in the minds of those that fled Barnacle Bay. Jocasta didn't know better, but she remembered the Legend woven in Mermadic Song."
"Even though the Mermadic Royal Families aren't what they used to be, the Zalrians remain the Guardians of Mua Pel'Am and protect the Island Sacred to all Merfolk. We tell the stories in song that inspire those who crave adventure. We sing legends that lead humans away from the Darkfins and their influence."
"So Dylan, how did I do?"
"I couldn't have told that story better myself!" Dylan answered.
"You got a real talent for storytelling!" Zeph added.