The High Seas Queen

Chapter One: Coronation Day

It was a blue day, like most days in the underwater Mermaid Kingdom, very blue. Which just means the sun is out, giving my nerves a tiny break from the knots that currently reside in my stomach and only giving me enough relief to think; ‘Maybe today won't be so bad after all!’ There was a sharp persistent knock on my door that dragged me from my own thoughts to my maids in waiting. They were shouting for me to open the door, or I would keep up the whole ceremony, and we’d all be late. Surveying the air bubble that is my room knowing that very soon the air will be replaced with water and my peace will be replaced with chaos. I straightened my posture and wandered over to the door, walking slowly and taking longer than I should have. When I opened the door, five people rushed in chattering about the outfit, my hair and my silhouette. The bubble popped and water rushed in after them.

“Oh! Right my appearance,” I almost shouted. Having been stuck in my own thoughts, I totally forgot that I had to shift from ocean land form to mermaid for the ceremony with the merfolk who live in Oki, otherwise they might not accept me. Afterward, I have to greet the ocean animals in the form of my aura animal, an orca, both deadly and beautiful. Both ceremonies are to show all the underwater dwelling inhabitants that I, and the other rulers, are here to protect them from the beings that live above the waves.

“Hurry, hurry now girl, we have to get you ready. They will soon be waiting for you and the ceremony will have to start without you and, seeing how you are the main event, that might get a little awkward.” I smiled at Carmen while she continued to speak. If any of the other maids or ladies had spoken to me in such a manner, Carmen, having been with me my whole life and also my head caretaker, would have thrown them out. “Don’t you see the urgency here. Your parents, siblings, even the city dwellers wait for you, silly girl.” She has always called me that, “silly girl,” and I have always loved it.

I took a breath and continued towards the attached bath. “Cameron, I'm going, I'm going. You fret too much, all my stuff is laid out there and my hair has been washed and brushed. All that's left is your magical touch. So really we are waiting on you.” I laughed a little when I saw her scowling at me before she got to it, ordering the other young merfolk woman what they should be doing, before leading me to the vanity that had belonged to the current Queen, my grandmother Pearl. I took my seat and was given a quick makeover. My hair was made into a long thick braid that trailed down to the small of my back and my makeup lightly done with hints of rose gold, my favorite color. The next step was to adorn the glass top that was made for today, made from melted glass and flecks of gold. It was sculpted to my upper body and fastened behind me with a singular fabric band around the back. Once I moved out of my room into the cool ocean water, I would trade my two legs for a singular dark purple tail.

It didn't take too long to get ready, so to stay calm I kept taking huge gulps of breath while I ran the vows I would need to recite and the short speech I needed to give through my mind over and over again. I was to be the next High Seas Queen, the ruler of rulers, as my grandmother would be passing her role onto me. The title skipped around sometimes depending on the previous Monarchs' health and what life was like for our people under the waves. My grandmother, although still alive, chose me to precede her in this role when I was very young and no one argued. The story goes that I was born with an incredibly strong aura that was felt above and below the waves. I had very little problem with shifting to my orca or finding a special crew to sail my ships. I have been raised to take over and, honestly, I was ready and very excited to follow in my grandmother's footsteps to be this generation's High Seas Queen.

“It’s time.” I took one more long releasing sigh and moved out into the expanse of water. As I spun around to wave at Cameron while I floated there, I took her in. As a permanent resident of Oki, she is always in mermaid form. She is shorter than me and has a light teal color to her tail. Being a more elderly merfolk, it is a wonder she has never gone mad and turned siren. “Thank you, Cameron. Your continuous nurturing while watching over me and your loyalty to the family has been irreplaceable. I will never be able to repay you in any way that truly matters, other than continuing to help you take care of yours with this employment. Is there anything I can do for you?” I asked her, with the knowledge that she would never ask for anything, as I have often asked her this over my lifetime, and she always turned me down.

“Be the best Queen you can be.” Her answer struck me hard, and I knew that if we didn’t move soon we would be blubbering messes even here under the waves. “Off you go silly girl. I'll clean up here and see you after the ceremony to get you ready for the after party.” She shooed me away and turned back to the other maids waiting in my room. I had this odd feeling that maybe there wouldn't be an after party.

‘Just nerves, we’ll be fine.’ The orca aura that resided in me was proud and strong. If we could help it, nothing could go wrong. That thought carried me to the open space where we were having the ceremony. When I entered, I saw my family, the other rulers and, looking out, I saw my people. The Merfolk gathered to see me take the Queen’s vows and step into the place of the Monarch Pearl. The ceremony was a blur as I repeated the vows Grandmother recited and bowed as she placed the crown, a silver circlet with small gems and shells, upon my head. When the ceremony ended, I took note of the feeling deep in my gut, alerting me to the new power I held. The city's limits were now connected to me and I could feel a ripple in them.