Through Hearts And Waters

The way the dazzling sunlight touches the surface of the ocean and scatters its essence across the waters until it stretches out to its final extent; Soleil finds this fascinating ever since she mustered up the courage to approach the surface of the seas. Back when she was young, Soleil has always been adventurous. She ventures out to places no one dared to go, depths no one dared to dive.   Her only friend, Aria, is the only one who can manage to put up with her. Aria is the one who protects her from all the prejudiced stares and harsh finger pointing she gets from the mermen around their town. For Aria, Soleil is a courageous ball of sunshine, who deserves the world and needs to be protected. Not that Aria is having a hard time though. Soleil is as cheerful and bright as the sun, not being fazed by the negativity around her.   Even though she is criticized by a lot of mermen, Soleil is a beautiful mermaid who is admired and pursued by many. Beautiful as the prettiest coral that you have ever seen with a tail as warm as the colors of the sunset, and long hair that reminds you of the deep and dark void, they say. Her beauty is not unheard of, even to the farthest reef that you know.   Even in the palace of the king of the Mediterranean, Triton, is no stranger to such rumor.   King Triton is a mid-aged merman of wisdom, determination, yet short-temperedness. He is recognized to be the most efficient, witty, and a merman who knows how to handle power, and might as well as conquer it. Because of his great ways of ruling, the god of the seas and oceans, Poseidon, took interest in him, and eventually the two became good friends. Poseidon aids King Triton when it comes to battles, while King Triton serves as his advisor when he encounters problems regarding the sphere of power. King Triton is a powerful merman, indeed.    ------------------------------   "Look Aria! Look at them bouncing and moving around with those... thingies!" Soleil exclaimed in amazement, grabbing and shaking her friend's shoulder excitingly.   "They are called legs, Soleil. That's what Lady Zahara calls them. And they it seems that they appear to be dancing." Aria said, playfully annoyed, while grabbing her friend's hand off her shoulder.   "What? You call that dancing? They look like they have been touched by an electric eel!" Soleil said in horror.   "Hey, to each of their own. You even dare to call yourself a graceful dancer when you look like a seaweed under strong currents." Aria smirked playfully.   Soleil just smiled sheepishly, can’t help but agree to her friend’s words.   "Anyways, let's go back before any of them sees us." Aria tugged Soleil's hand quite urgently.   Soleil took one last breath of air, closing her eyes and letting her skin absorb the friendly warmth of the sun.   "...Fine." Soleil said, puckering her lips in defeat, letting Aria pull her underwater.    ------------------------------   Just when they arrived at their reef, almost all the mermen's eyes were shifted to her.   "Where have you been, you two?" An old mermaid approached them.   "We just went to see huma-"   "Jellyfish! We went jellyfish watching!" Aria cut off Soleil.   "Youngsters, always wandering. Soleil, King Triton has come to see you! He is on his way here now!" The old lady warned her.   "Again? Sweet mother of seahorse, he is persistent! What are you going to do with it, Soleil?" Aria asked, worry lacing her tone.   "I will do as I always do, Aria." Soleil sighed, not really keen on meeting the king.   "This kid, don't you realize you're lucky to have a king falling head over tail for you? With King Triton, your life will be so much better!" The old mermaid mumbled while swimming away.   Soleil ignored her. Mermaids like her don't know what she really wants, what she really need.   And she knows King Triton doesn't either.   Not long after, they heard strong tails swishing through the waters. King Triton has arrived, along with his royal guards.   "Well, I'm just going to be right behind you, just so you know." Aria patted Soleil shoulder reassuringly, swimming past her.   Soleil sighed yet again as King Triton approached her.   "Good day, your majesty." Soleil and Aria said as they bowed.   "Good day, Lady Soleil. You're as bright as ever." King Triton complimented, flashing his charming smile at the mermaid.   "Thank you, your majesty. May I ask what is your highness doing here?" Soleil said, prolonging formalities.   "Why, it is to see you and your beauty! Here my lady, the loveliest bunch of them all." Triton said, offering a beautiful bouquet of purple and turquoise anemones, with a touch of pink bursts.   "Well, at least they're better than the last ones." Aria mumbled to Soleil.   Soleil just glared at Aria.   "My apologies, your majesty, but I can't really give you what you are demanding from me. I am not the mermaid for you." Soleil carefully said, sighing at the prettiest sea flowers she has seen today.   "You have been rejecting me for the last weeks, Lady Soleil! Why can't you accept my admiration? Am I not attractive? Is my power not enough for you? Tell me anything you want, and I will give it to you in return for your affection!" King Triton, exasperated, exclaimed quite loudly which garnered all the attention of the mermen around them.   "I'm so sorry, your majesty, but I'm not like anybody else who wants your power or your fame. I'm not interested in falling in love yet, nor being in a castle where I can swim all I want, whenever I want, but not anywhere beyond its walls." Soleil explained, trying to appease the king.   "I can give you that! I will widen my kingdom, extend my boundaries! Just marry me and all of these will be yours!" The king is now frustrated on how the mermaid is acting towards him.   "You don't understand, your highness. I just want to be free, with nothing holding me back, and nothing to reciprocate just to achieve what I want. My greatest apologies, King Triton, but I don't want to be your wife." Soleil bows in apology, ending their conversation by swimming away from him.   "...Those are beautiful flowers though, Soleil." Aria quipped.   "Let's just go home, Aria."   "Already? But it's not noon yet!"   "Talking to King Triton is a bit of a burden, you know. I'm tired. Let's just go home and have some tea." Soleil spoke with exhaustion.   "Okay, do you want to come over my place instead? I just restocked some jellyfish jam that you liked so much." Aria suggested, eager to comfort her mermaid.   Soleil nodded with a small smile on her face. Oh, how grateful she is to have a friend like her!   “Race you to it!” Aria cheekily taunted as she swished her white and lilac tail, speeding up away from Soleil. The orange-tailed mermaid laughed as she followed suit.   Meanwhile, King Triton is left with humiliation. Throwing the bouquet of flowers down, he furiously swam back to his castle.