Lana's POV:

"Lana!" My parents both yell in union when we burst out of the water. They were waiting on the ship with the party guests.

"Mom! Dad!" I mouth. They let down a ladder. Floating by the ladder was Zale's cousin, Serenia, I think her name was. She joins Zale's side. I was about to climb up the ladder when I felt a hand on my shoulder.

"You can't climb up the ladder with a fish tail, Lana." Zale says with a chuckles. "Um can someone get her some clothes?" He asks looking up at my parents.

Dad nods and takes off his coat, he lets it float down and Zale catches it. I look at him as he drapes it around me. "Trust me you're gonna need it." He says looking away to hide a blush.

My eyes widen with recognition. Oh! Thats why he had to use the sail! Yeah that story about loosing his clothes during the storm did not sound all that possible.

"Go ahead and break the seashell." Zale adds, breaking my thoughts.

Pfft don't have to tell me twice! I think. I slip the seashell necklace off my head, eagerly. I lift my hand to the ship's side and smash the seashell against its hull.

It shatters into small pieces and a trail of yellow light burst from the pieces. I watch it, memorize by its glow. It swirls to me and I inhale it. I felt it go down my throat and it stays warm before it fades away.

Before I could even open my mouth to speak, suddenly I feel pain erupt from my bottom half and it grew up to my upper half. I double over and clutch the ladder.

I feel my fingernails dig into my skin and I gritted my teeth, cutting of the scream that wanted to come out. I slam my eyes shut and think to myself that it doesn't hurt.

It doesn't hurt. It doesn't hurt.

I feel a comforting hand on my back. "Hey its okay," I hear Zale's calming, soothing voice in my ear. "The pain won't last for long. Just listen to the sound of my voice. You'll be fine. It'll go away soon." 

I feel tears brim my eyes. "M-make it st-stop!" I cried out, my voice sounding hoarse. The pain was unbearable, my chest was heaving. My brain pounding.

"Shh, shh, I know. It hurts like Hell right now. Hang on the transformation is almost done. In three... Two... One."

I breathe in a sigh of relief. I feel myself shivering as I clutch the coat around me. Feeling so cold as a wind blew by. Dad's coat hangs over my entire small body since it was very large.

I look down to my legs hanging in the water and I smile. "How much I missed you guys!" I gasp and put my hand to my lips. "I can talk! Finally!" I laugh with glee.

I look up the ladder to see my parents, ushering me to come to them. I turn around to see everyone else: Zale, Serenia, grandpa, Sebastion, and Flounder. Who all turn away to leave.

"Hey," I said to them. Turning their attention to me. "You know the party isn't over. Come on, we deserve to have some fun. Please don't leave yet."

Serenia looks to Zale with a questionable look. Zale looks unsure and turns to me. "You mean you still want us here?"

I nod, "Yeah! You may have kidnapped me, but you also let me go."

"We don't have legs though," Serenia says.

I glance at grandpa. "Grandpa? For my birthday gift, can you give them legs?" I turn to Zale and Serenia. "I mean if you really want to be humans, of course."

Serenia's eyes lit up. "We- we can become humans?" She asks slowly with disbelief.

I nod, "If you really want to."

"Forever?"

"Yes, of course."

"Yes! Yes can I please be human then? Do I have to pay for it though?" She asks grandpa.

He smiles warmly, "No child. I don't do deals. Zale? Do you want to be human too?"

Zale turns to me, "Lana can we talk?" He glances at everyone else. "Alone?" Everyone nods and swims back a couple of feet.

Zale turns his gaze back to me. "Lana, I am so sorry you had to see me kill those sirens. I didn't mean to scare you. I was just trying to protect you.

"Lana I want you to know I would never hurt you. I regret want I did to you after all the kindness you showed me and the things we shared. And I have to live with that for the rest of my life. I am so sorry. I will understand if you don't forgive me, possibly never cause what I did to you and your family was horrible."

I give him a small smile. "Its alright Zale. I understand now. I forgive you. I don't think of you as a monster. You just kind of surprise me thats all. And I admit you scared me. Alot. I never saw that side of you before. But I forgot why you were doing it. You were just trying to protect me. And I appreciate that."

He smiles as he raised his hand up to my face, but then bit his lip and pull back. Then I remember that he confess to his mother that he loved me.

"Zale, do you really love me?" I ask slowly, looking into his dark eyes.

He nods, "Yes."

I smile wide. He loves me! He loves me! I scream in my head like a little girl. I feel my heart pounding in my chest so hard I was afraid it burst. Or that he can even hear it!

"I love you too, Zale." I tell him. I smile at the words. They just felt right on my lips when I said it to Zale.

He looks at my face and I see him light up. But then his smile was replaced with a scowl.

"What's wrong?" I ask.

He drags his hand down his face. "Lana, you're a princess. I am a nobody. I don't have a title or riches. You belong with a prince who can rule beside you as your king one day."

I sigh, closing my eyes. I can feel my heart drop and happiness slipped away. "You're right. Ugh stupid law!"

He gives me a sad smile. "I know. Its stupid. Think how I'll feel when I see you marrying someone else. Someone who can provide you the things I can't."

I feel his hand on my cheek and I lean into his touch. "I want to be with you though."

He takes in a shaky breath. "I can't believe a girl like you want to be with a guy like me."

I laugh as I look at him. "That and y'know you're the son of the woman who tried to murder my parents and tried to take over Atlantica."

He laughs half heartily. "Water under the bridge though right?"

I smile, "Sure, past is past."

He sighs, "Im going to miss you."

"Where are you going to go?"

"Maybe try to join a ship, go travel the world. I would like to see it." He answers.

I pull his hand away from my cheek and hold it. "Please stay."

"I-" before he could say anything a voice interupts.

"This is depressing to watch! Let them be together!" I hear Serenia yell.

"Let them be together!" Someone else joined.

"Let them be together!" Another join.

"LET THEM BE TOGETHER!" The entire ship chanted together.

We look up to the passengers that gather on the ship's rails. Watching us and listening to our entire conversation.

"Uh, how long have they been up there?" Zale whispers in my ears. Loud enough for me to hear him over the chanting.

"Long enough to hear the entire conversation." I whisper back.

"Looks like their rooting for us though." He says with a smirk.

"Lana!" I hear mom shout. She stood at the rails. I turn to her and saw sadness across her face. "I'm sorry. You're father tried to change the rules for you but he can't. He cannot be with you. Im so sorry."

I feel my shoulders slump in disappointment. Everyone on the ship went silent.

Then an idea pop into my head. I bite on my lip, unsure if my parents would let me.

I turn to look at Zale. "You know I always wanted to live in Atlantica."

"Huh?" He says with confusion.

I laugh, "Well if you really want to that is. We could be together in Atlantica. Unless you don't mind seeing me marry a different man."

Zale scowls but it quickly turn into a smile. "Lana you are a genius." He then slips his hands behind my neck and pulls me to him. He pressed his lips against mine. I smile against him as I slip my hand behind his neck and press him closer.

"Whoo-hoo!" I hear Serenia cheer.

We pull apart, remembering that we had an audience. "We'll continue this later." He whispers to me.

I smile, "Definitely, just let me talk to my parents, but first..." I turn to the ship again and raise my fist in the air. "Lets get this party started!"

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