Chasing The Tides

Chapters

II, Sonata Swims In (redux)
III, Low Tides (redux)
IV, High Tides (redux)
I, Dusk Dives In (reduxed)

II, Sonata Swims In (redux)

Now, being a man of logic, you’d think Dusk Shine would have been in constant denial and panic over his transformation and all. While true to an extent, Dusk chose to take a different approach to the situation. As a scientist, he would scoff at anyone who told him dragons and mermaids were real, unless they had solid evidence to the contrary. The purple tail Dusk had in place of his legs definitely qualified. So rather than fretting over how it happened, he decided to focus on finding out the how! Although it wasn’t until he thought about all the rewards sure to come from this did he stop freaking out and repeatedly shouting loudly about how such things were impossible and defied everything about order that let him sleep at night.

With that said, the first thing Dusk did before anything else was test the theory of if mer... whatever, could get oxygen from the water as well as air like in most legends, or if like all, admietly, know marine mammals, needed air. While he couldn’t complain when the former proved true, he couldn’t help but sigh in irritation of such an impossible adaptation.

“More questions than answers,” he mused, ten minutes of just lying on the bottom of the hole, testing himself out. “Guess this means I won’t be making it to Bubble’s party.” He chuckled

A chill ran down his spine to that. What if he was now stuck like this forever? His eyes turning to the statue that got him into this mess.

“Right,” he told himself, swimming up and placing a hand nervously out to the orb. Or maybe a pearl now that he could see without his goggles. “Test; See if the orb acts as a two way device between human, and mer. Hypothesis, should. No reason why it wouldn’t.” He touched the pearl.

Nothing happened. Before he stated freaking out, he looked down to the statues base. Careful this time so as not hit his head, he floated down to the wording to try and read the message. While he couldn’t make out the entire thing, he believed he was able to get the jist of what it was trying to say. Something about a pair of lovers, this thing being a magical ritual device, and what seemed to be a time frame that hinted at this transformation lasting for more than one day.

“Guess I might be stuck like this for at least a day.” He sighed and rested on the cave floor and looked upwards towards the surface.

“Fine, I get it! Hang out with my friends more and tried to get laid! Happy?” he shouted to no particular deity. “Oh, what to do, what to do? he to do?” Dusk rolled into his side. “What am I supposed to do now?”

His eyes lit up as realize something, looking around the water. “What can I- I can fucking breath underwater! What the can’t I do that every other human explorer could only dream of?!” He laughed loudly to himself. A quote from one of his philosophy professor coming to mind about always finding ways to turn your problems into solutions. Well, this was quite the problem, and he had just came up with one hell of a solution! The possibilities of this little unforeseen hiccup outpacing his brains ability to think.

“Now,” he grinned wickedly, tapping this fingers together. “How much film is on that underwater camera?”

****

With a snap, Dusk used up photo twenty three of his camera’s thirty. He was doing his best to conserve film, but everywhere he turned, there saw nine perfect snapshot moments that would have had Natleo stop their presses! So far, he had found ten unmarked shipwreck, one of which having real pirate treasure inside, sixteen rare and thought to be endangered species of coral, six dozens new species of crustaceans and cuddle fish, and even one, supposedly extinct, Carrabin monk seal, who had booped him on the noise. All that, and, less than an hour had passed since he had ventured out from the cave.

“I’m going to be famous!” he giddied, tossing his hands in the, um, water. Blinking, he let out a gleeful laugh and started to twirl around in joy. Then his stomach started to rumble.

“Ah,” he groaned, rubbing his belly. “The flaws of the flesh. Oh well.” He looked around at the abundant life of the reef he had stumbled into. “Not as if I have a shortage of food. Now let’s see.” As fun as chasing and eating a raw fish sounded, Dusk settled instead on a colony of mussels.

“Where’s a clam opener when you need one?” he grunted, tying to pry open the clam with both hands. When that didn’t work, he switched to a more brutal, but effective method of hitting the little bugger with a rock.

“Sometimes the most basic methods are the best,” he mused as bits of shell drifted away from the meat.

“Now then,” licking his lips, Dusk picked up the pink blob, and started to bring it towards his mouth.

Suddenly, something slammed into his side. Sending the mussel sailing out into the water where a fish hastily snatched it up. Before Dusk could have the chance to wonder if he had just become the victim of a shark attack, someone screamed at him;

“What the hell is wrong with you?! Are you out of your mind, or do you just have some kind of death wish?”

Blinking, he turned to see his ‘savor,’ was a blue haired girl, about his age if he had to guess. Now, while it probably shouldn’t have surprised Dusk as much with the day he had been having, he still found himself staring dumbfoundedly at her blue tail. Which to his luck, seemed to be, whatever she would of said to address both of them at once, the equivalent of, if not quite the same as a human man gawking at a woman’s butt or chest, was somewhere in the middle of that comparison. Judging from the way she jerked her tail back and forcing Dusk to focus on her blushing face.

It took Dusk a moment to recall words were a thing. Then he needed another one when he realized the mermaid in front of him was using words from a culture she shouldn’t have understood. Then another to realize he could hear her as clearly underwater and he could on land. Then he took an additional serval moment to ask himself what priorities were supposed to be anymore. By then, the mermaid let out a annoyed huff at Dusk’s lack of a response.

“You’re welcome,” she said, crossing her arms against her red seashell bra.

“Um… thanks.” he said. Shaking his head and trying again to sound sincere with that. Only, this time, to think that he had no idea why he should have been thanking her. “Hey! What was that for?” he asked, holding onto his side where she rammed into him. “I don’t recall doing anything bad to you.”

The girl raised an eyebrow. “What? You didn’t know mussels are poisonous or something?”

As a matter of fact, he knew for certain that mussels, at least these kinds, were not poisonous to humans. Saying that to himself made him realize how close he likely came to having a very unpleasant evening.

“Oh! Um, I guess I didn’t. Thanks.” He rubbed the back of his neck as the girl continued to stare quizidly at him. “So,” he stared, only for the camera he had strapped around his wrist to lightly tap him on the face.

At that, the girl forgot about having saved his dumb ass, to complete fixation with the camera.

“Oh wow! What is that?” She squealed, darting forward and taking Dusk by the wrist to better inspect the camera. Oblivious to the idea of such an invasion of a person personal space might be an issue, let alone when her shell cover chest started to rub up against, a now, red faced merman.

“Wait, is this a camera? And it works underwater?!” Fortunately, Dusk was in too much of an uncomfortable situation to get mad when the camera made a clicking sound. “I’ve heard about these but never thought I’d see one that was functional!!” She smiled ear to ear, before something stared to register in her mind. Accelerated by the the feeling of condensed water being spat into her cleavage.

“Sorry, sorry, sorry!” she laughed nervously, backing away, looking downwards. “I’ve been told by more than a few people that I can get overly excited at finding something new.”

“It’s,” Dusk Dusk heaved. Shaking his head and once he got his blushing under control, said, “No really, it’s fine.” Despite the situation, he couldn’t help but laugh at a bit of irony. “You know, my friends say I’m the exact same way.”

The girl looked up optimistically at him? “For realzies?”

“Yeah! For,” he caught himself. Wondering how much he should, and shouldn’t, tell her about himself. While it cliché, and would probably backfire later, it seemed like a better idea to keep the fact he, had been anyways, a human. Not knowing if mermaid culture demand all humans had to be killed on the spot or something.

“So whered you find it?” Sonata fortunately asked about the camera. No, wait! How was he supposed to safely answer that?”

“Um, well, I, found it, and I, was looking to... To see if there was anywhere around here for it to be traded!”

For someone so smart, Dusk could be a real idiot at times. Although the fact he knew that had to count for something. Sure enough, the idea of his camera, and all the precious photos within, was for sale, caused the girls eyes to light up.

“Awesome!” She radiated. “What you wanting for it?”

Nervously, Dusk answered, “Well, er, what would you be, um, be willing to trade for it?” He lightly chuckled, hoping she would say something like five starfish to which he would go, ‘oh so sorry! I’m looking for thirty five!’

Instead, the girl put a finger to her chin in thought. “Hum... Well, I actually don’t have anything on me right now. However,” she started to look him up and down, then smirked. “If you help me with some hunting, I’ll take you back to where I rest and show you what I’ve got.” she concluded with a wink.

Dusk gulped. Which caused the mermaid’s eyes to widened in horror as she thought he thought what he did think she might of meant by that.

“I didn’t mean! That’s not... Don’t you get any ideas!” she said, pointing a finger and advanced in him. “I’m not that big of a guppy just because I’m a human geek!” She pointed a finger at him.

“No, no! Not at all!” Dusk shrieked, holding up his hands in a defensive position. Why was it that every human woman he meet had the idea his only end goal was sex? Go figure that it extended all across the evolutionary tree as well.

The girl let out a nervous chortle to Dusk’s reaction, kicking several paces back. “Hehe, right. Of course!”

“So,” Dusk added, breaking up the awkward silence that fallowed. “You mentioned about getting something to eat?”

He realized once again, that this could turn into another great problem solution senario. While he had zero intention of parting with the camera, he did have serval other human nicknacks he would gladly part with in exchange for a guide.

“I mean, if I was dumb enough to not know clams could kill me, who knows what else I don’t know?” he said in a bad acting tone. “Guess I could use some help since, um, I’m not from around here?” He spoke that last part quietly, before liking and going with it. “Yeah! Not from around here. Good thing I found such a lovely guide in my time of need.”

The girl titled her hat at that, and from the way she was looking up at down at him, he was worried he’d just blown it.

“Sure thing!” To his relief, she said suddenly and with a cheerful disposition. “If you can keep up with me.” She playful winked, she took off before he could react. And while something felt off, seeing as he wasn’t in much a position to protest, swam after her.

Author's Note

Clop to be in next chapter. Also, apologizes if the last chapter was a little dull (based on the amount of comments received). Debated having the whole story in one go, or at least combine this and chapter one. In the end, I decided to go this route with four chapters after talking with my proof reader and artist Crazy (current cover art not his, it’s coming) suggested this was was the better route. Which turned out fine by me as I can see more people in the long run (myself included) re-reading this chapter as opposed to the last. And while I said bia-daily at first, I’m waiting to see how far Crazy is on the Art before posting too much more (will be by next, promise) I also wanted II out now so I could have something a little more proud to show off and advertise to other groups before my weekend job starts.
Anyways, enough of this! Let’s get on with the story. Feel free to like a comment ❤️
Also, will move this to the bottom later, just felt like this was needed for those who started reading when there was only chapter one to base their opinions on ^^’

III, Low Tides (redux)

Sometime in their spearfishing lessons, Dusk learned the girls name was Sonata. Ironically enough, to boot, Sonata, Dusk. Caused a good laugh between them when he told her his name. All the while, Dusk continue to pester her with any, and every, question he could ask that he didn’t feel would jeopardize his identity. Not that Sonata seemed to mind. Actually, to his delight, unlike most people he knew when he’d go twenty questions on them, Sonata was more than happy to answer. Which in turned, caused Dusk to have a funny feeling in his chest.

“Yeah,” Sonata said continuing on such a conversation as they swam through a sea grass meadow. “Although, if you ask me, it’s not a good birthday cake if there arn’t any sardines.”

“Incredible!” Dusk gawked, fallowing behind Sonata as the mermaid was swimming backwards and with her hands behind her neck. “But i still don’t get how you can even start a fire if everything that would be in your reach is damp.”

Sonata shook her head in bemusement. “Well I’m not sure how they wouldn’t have fire where you’re from, but,” she sat up, smiled, and darted past Dusk. The confused boy turning around to see Sonata had spotted something in the sandy grasses.

“Oh my gosh,” she giddied, picking something up. “Dusk, look at this!”

Dusk blinked serval times before realizing Sonata had found a bottle cap.

“What do you think it is?” She asked in excitement, holding close in examination. “Do you think it’s a button of some kind? Oh! Or maybe it’s rare type of human coin?”

Despite the fact that, to him, it was only a piece of trash, he felt warm inside at seeing Sonata’s excited reaction. But before he could decided on if he should humor her or not, he noticing something in the grass Sonata’s tail had brushed aside.

“No way,” he mouth, picking up the fossil, lost for words. “Oh wow!”

It was a trilobite. Definitely a new species, he was sure of it. Although what stood out as the most amazing thing, was that it had features more associated with a crab. Did this mean the two groups were related? Did one evolve into the other! If so, then was it a trilobite evolving into a crab, or maybe it was the other way around? Either way, Dusk was confident that this would be the scientific discovery of the decade!

“What?” the scientific discovery of the millennium asked. “Now you act like you’ve never seen a trilobite before.”

“Um, I’m sure no one’s seen a living one.” Dusk scoffed at the idea, before recalling who he was talking to.

“Sure they have.” Sonata giggled in a way a kid might when trying to act all ‘sweet and innocent’ over something. He almost swore he even saw a halo around her head. “That particular kind goes great with red kelp.”

The fossil slide out of Dusk’s hand. “Alive, I, live, lie, I… oh…” His mind shut down while Sonata bursted out laughing

“Wow! You really aren’t from around here, are you?”

Dusk blushed and bit his lip. “Was it that obvious?”

Sonata rubbed her chin. “Well,” she glanced behind him, and her eyes widened in horror. “Get down!”

Before Dusk could say what, Sonata lunged forward and pinned him down into the grass. coughed as the Sonata pushed him into the sand. He tried opening his month, but Sonata covered it. She placed a finger to her lips, then used said appendage to point in the direction his back had been.

Looking upwards from where he laid, Dusk a bizarre mixture of fear, and lust filled excitement, as the plesiosaur swam into sight. Seeming not to have noticed, the prehistoric monster swam over them, close enough for Dusk to see the various scars and bruises such a predator had acquired in its lifetime. Slowly, he slide his right arm across Sonata back, and lift his left, and camera, upwards. Realizing what he was doing in the nick of time, Sonata grabbed Dusk’s wrist and pinned them down.

“No!” she quietly hissed.

“Let, me,” he grunted, trying to break free. Which he likely would have been able to do, if Sonata, pressing up to him nose to nose, didn’t glare directly into his eyes and said,

“Listen here, human, I’m not about to let you get us killed just because you’ve never seen a fucking plesiosaur before!”

The camera fell lifeless to the sand. Unable to process, Dusk attention turned to closeness the circumstances had brought them. The way their bodies pressed tightly together, how her face sparkled in the middays suns reflection one the beast had passed, her eyes, and the fact he felt something poking Sonata’s lower half. Which didn’t go unnoticed by the mermaid judging by her maddening blush. Only once she was sure it was safe, did she quickly push off of him.

“Whoa! Wow, yeah, sorry about that.” She, kicking at the sand and looking anywhere but at him.

“Um, it’s fine.” Dusk let out a shame filled laugh. “Friends are always telling me I tend to get ahead of my myself. That one day it be the end of me. Didn’t think it would be so literally.” His started to rub at his wrist. “So… Ah hell with it! Let’s not dance around with the subject.” He rubbed his head before asking, “What give me away?”

Sonata shrugged. “What didn’t?”

Dusk cringed to that, before adorning a cheeky grin.. “By chance this a common occurrence among your kind?”

Sonata let out a puff. “Well if it helps, most wouldn’t believe you were a human even if you could prove it.” She rolled her eyes. “I find most people are dense like that.”

“Ah!” Dusk nodded in empathy. “I know the feeling.” He smiled warmly at her. “Glad you’re not as dense as the other fish.

“Yeah, well,” Sonata started, before realizing that was a compliment and blushed. Although to save fave she added, “I can swim circles around them any day!”

Dusk chuckled. “I don’t doubt it.”

Sonata face smiled and figured with her hair. “So, how did,” she blinked, looking down at Dusk’s tail eyes started to twinkle as she leaned down to look at his tail, and what had sprouted out from it.

“Sorry! Sorry!” she bashfully cried out when he noticed his errection, and that she had been staring at it.

“Well, um, I!” Dusk stammered, covering it with his hands. Of all the things to happen today!!!!

“You know,” he started, moving his hand away to look. “I was actually starting to wonder about that, truth be told.” He shallowed as Sonata bite at her hands. “Um, I swear! I wouldn’t know what I can do to help the situation!”

“No, no!” Sonata waved off. She sucked in some water, exhaled, then looked at Dusk dreamily. “I’m actually somewhat flattered.”

Dusk gluped. “You… You are?”

Sonata smiled. “First time anyone’s found me attractive.” she frowned. “Most think I’m too irritating.”

Dusk fumed. “What? No! Why wouldn’t they? Idiots if you ask me. You seem like a smart, inquisitive, cheerful, pretty—

She let out a depressed sigh. “Something about being a human geek and not showing interest in simply popping out babies makes you unattractive to most guys for some reason.”

Now, it’s safe to say Dusk had never been successful with the opposite gender before. Not for lack of trying. Once, twice. Okay, A lot! Or rather, it was never something he considered bothering with. He had friends, but they were proving to be complicated enough. Truthfully, he hadn’t want to add romance before to make his busy life all the more hectic. Which as a consequence, made the few times he tried miserable failures. Even that one prostitution Berry had secretly arranged for him couldn’t fallow through and demanded her money back. That being said, most of the girls his friends tried to set him up with just didn’t do it for him, no mater how hot the guys claimed they were. It seemed to be their personality’s, or lack there of, that never clicked with Dusk before.

Then there was Sonata. In spite of her not being human, she had everything and more Dusk though of in an idea girl. Cute, full of charm and energy, and a character he could help it fall for in only the short time he’d know her. Add on the fact she didn’t seem board and irritated with him either.

So , for once in his life around the opposite sex, Dusk said the thing she needed to hear, had it been intentional on his half or not.

“Well, I care a lot more that you’re a charming, beautiful, and the funnest girl I’ve ever hang out with and talked to.”

They were quiet for a second, before Sonata softly said, “You think I’m beautiful?”

Dusk blinked in confusion at such dumb question. Fortunately, he only said, “Absolutely.”

Sonata held a hand to her chin, circling around in the water for awhile, before lunging forward, pressing her lips against his.

Dusk recoiled at first to the sudden display of affection. His brain telling him to get this crazy girl off. Which briefly brought up an, particularly, bad memory of a girl Elusive set him up with. However, this forced kiss didn’t feel the same. Where that other girl’s kiss had been drunk, hollow, and meaningless, Sonata’s had, heart, love, determination. For lack of a better word he could describe. So what if it was sudden? He thought as the two of them laid back down on the sand, their tails starting intertwining. He liked her and, incredibly, she liked him back. For once, he couldn’t care less about logic or what might be rational. From what he read, when had romance ever been logical? Which he knew wasn’t not true. The proof of that came as he felt his member poked at Sonata’s tail.

Sonata pushed, laying besides him in the grass to get a good look at his shaft.

“So,” Sonata stayed, tugged at her hair.

“I mean, NOT, that I wouldn’t want too!” Dusk spoke up. “Not because I don’t think you’re beautiful, I.” He chuckled his tongue. “If that’s okay with you, I’d rather not rush. Please?”

Sonata gave him a look to that. If it was more of relief or disappointed, he could guess. Maybe it was a mixture of the two? Either way, he let out a breath when Sonata nodded happily to his request.

“Of course! Although,” she let out a sly grin, “as a pair of curious young minds who have never seen a merman’s erection before, wouldn’t it be such a wasted opportunity to not… Study it?”

Dusk stared at her. Although from the way he felt his lower half twitch, he couldn’t say no.

“Sure,” he nodded. But before he could lift a hand, Sonata stopped him.

“And, I suppose,” Sonata said giving a so-so motion. “Now that we’re past the liars revealed trope, I’m guessing since you’ve meet me, you’ve been, shall we say,” she flashed her eyelashes. “Curious to study my lower half?” She lifted her tail up in display.

Dusk was sure he saw a few boiling type bubbles floating around his head. “Well I mean! Er, that is, if you’d be okay with it.”

Sonata kissed him on the cheek. “I promise only if that would be okay with you.”

He answered her with a kiss to the lips. With that, Sonata lifted up off the sand, arched her body to circle above him, and placed her tail next to his face. Landing herself by his upper torso by his tail, her hand right around his pelvic bone would be.

Dusk shuttered at her touch. Although that didn’t keep himself from ‘exzaming’ her own tail. Which, sexual arousal aside, had been something her really wanted to do at some point. The issues being being on how he was supposed to ask without sounding like he wanted to... Well, do what they were short of doing right now!

The first thing he took note off was her tail fin. Noting as he fingered it, that along with being translucent, the texture was firm. Definitely made of cartilage. However, where his own took on the shape of an arrowhead like a fish’s, her’s was more crescents shape. Much in the way most marine mammals such as seals and dolphins would be.

Sexual difference, he concluded.

Speaking of, as he touched her fin, the tail started to wiggle. He looked nervously to Sonata, who gave him a reassuring nod while fingering his own tail fin. The warm pleasure running through his body, assured Dusk the he hadn’t hurt her, and continued his study.

Moving along, he looked to the part of the tail where the knee would have been if Sonata’s tail had been a costume. Although with a better and up close view, he noted to its flexibility. Poking it a bit, running his hand further up, he hypostatized this was due to individual fish bones of sorts at each bend. Not that he had anyway to confirm without cutting her open. He mental slapped himself for that. Thankful to have mature enough to figure out on his own that asking a girl if her could dissect her on their first date, would have likely killed any chance of a second one. Not that Elusive would let him live it down if he heard he even considered the idea at all.

While the fin, and possible bone structure, was fishy, he noted how the outside had a texture closer to a seal’s. Not that he knew what seals felt like from personal experience, it was simply how he would describe it. Moving on, her eventually reached the point where her tail ended, and her human skin began. Which while clearly not stitched, it did look to him almost as if the two half’s were sown together in some way. In part because her back side lacked the curve of a human buttocks, and was perfectly smooth up to the curve of Sonata’s human waistline.

“How’s the view?” Sonata teased.

Dusk jerked back. “Well I mean! It’s a very nice body. Tail! Figure, shape, sorry!”

Sonata snorted to that. “Well just relax, you dork.” She adjusted her positing, bringing her fingers to his fully erect member. “Still, I propose we should get to the main, feature, of one another?”

Squirming in her grasp, his tail arched back before composing himself to search for Sonata’s. It took him a bit, but soon enough he found an opening just inches below her divide. He tried to open it up, but found its strong resistance. Likely an adaptation to keep seawater out.

“What are you doing down there?!” Sonata giggled.

“Well, um,” Dusk muttered, a little taken aback. “Did you not want me too stop?”

“No!” Sonata paused for a moment. “Just stick your finger into it. Don’t worry, it won’t bit.”

He let out an unconvincing laugh. However, the good news of the implication was that it meant oral sex would probably never happen between them. Which was more than fine by him. As it was a sex concept he could never for the life of him figure out why it was appealing.

Doing as instructed, he stuck his pointing finger into her tunnel. The passage clamping tightly as he saw Sonata’s tail squirm. The mermaid repaid in kind as his breathing increased.

“Anything to note?” He question, adding another finger to start stroking her insides.

“It’s, ah, warm,” she cooed. “Mine?”

‘Well,” Dusk flushed, feeling around. “Also warm. Very tight.” Surprisingly dry, he thought of saying, but felt wrong. Not that there wasn’t any moisture, but he certainly wouldn’t have expected what felt like air pockets either. “Say,” he mouthed thinking of something he didn’t feel himself. “Do you see any testicals?”

“Any what?”

Already taking that as a no, he made sure by rephrasing. “Anything that looks like a pair of spheres?”

“Um, no,” Sonata answered quizidly. “Should I?”

“Don’t worry about it then!” he said to her, than to himself, “So they’re fully internal like any other marine animals. Well that be a first to all of —

Eventually, somewhere in the examination, the pair of them became more focused on as a sudden buildup of pressure in their abdomens. Dusk started to say more, but from the way he felt Sonata’s body tense, pushing his curiosity to the side, and started to pick up the pace. Moving his fingers back on forth much faster as he felt Sonata fallow his lead.

“Clo… Close?” Sonata asked a few minutes later.

“Ye… Yeah.” Dusk nodded, adding another finger to try and heighten Sonata.

“Oh, yes!” she hissed. “Keep that up! Good work.”

With that, he picked into a wild, unorganized rhythm. Only caring when a particular part he touched caused her tail to arch. His own arching back as he—

The way Sonata came down had Dusk, at first, question how truthfully she was about that not biting quote. After he wiggled his fingers to confirm that they were still attached to his hand, did he register Sonata’s screams. Realizing what this meant, the idea that he had been the one to bring a wonderful girl pleasure, it was more than enough to set him off. His shaft pulsing and squirming as he released into the open sea.

Once the two of them and calmed down, they turned to each to look at each other. Wordless, Sonata lifted herself up, then floated back down on Dusks chest,coiling her tail around his. They stared at each other, smiling goofly for a minute before bringing their lips together.

Author's Note

Happy singles, but better than forcing yourself into an unhappy arrangement, awareness month! Where like you, I like, I spend the month listening to and reading others romance/porn stories.
Enjoy this chapter? :) then please let me know ^^’
but did you want to see how the final chapter will play out right now? Then consider becoming a pre-reader today!

Also, while the character art is still a work in progress, CrazyDude’s has gotten the background art fishied that you can see now! And if you’re interested and can spare a dime, consider commissioning him. He’s got a wedding to plan, and I’m told the nsfw final version he plans to make is a real, splash ;p

https://www.instagram.com/crazydudegonemad/?hl=en

IV, High Tides (redux)

“A bottle cap?” Sonata asked, fingering the object in question.

“Yeah.” Dusk explained, resting on the flat coral rock next to her. “We use them to seal up different kinds of liquids of various flavors.”

“Fascinating.” She beamed, staring more intently at her new treasure.

Dusk chuckled. “Guess it be hard to explain since you have an endless supply of water?”

Sonata rolled her eyes. “I get the jist of it.”

After their little, examination, the two spent the remaining day freely asking the other questions about their respected worlds. It was nice. More than that! With nothing to hide, he found himself opening up to Sonata in ways few others had before.

“Okay,” she said, setting the bottle cap to the side and turning to him for her next question. “More myth exchanging time! Lets see.” She rubbed her chin. “is it true some humans can fly when they’re in danger?”

Dusk arched an eyebrow. “Define ‘flying’ Sonata. Because we have vehicles that take us in the air.”

Sonata stared in wonder. “Really? Well, I mean, we have stories about humans that can sprout wings to propel out of the water when in danger.”

Dusk thought about that, before thinking, “By chance any of those legends mention how colorful the wings are? Or if s there’s a fast moving boat not too far away?”

“Now that you mention it,” Sonata pondered, “the wings are described as very colorful. And there a few stories about how the human was trying to fly to the safety on a nearby boat that was racing away from the same danger.”

With that, Dusk started to laugh. “Sounds to me what you’ve been witnessing, are parasailers.”

She stared blankly at that.

“Let’s see, how do I put this?” Dusk snapped his finger once he came up with something. “You understand the concept of wind and even how sails work, right?” When Sonata nodded, he went on. “Same concept. Only the sail, or sometimes parachute, are large enough to create lift. Like a kite. Then, when you tie it up to a boat and travel fast enough, the lift is powerful enough to carry a person into the air!.”

Sonata stared dumbfounded. “That actually sounds kind of fun!”

“I’ll remember that for our next date.” He teased. As soon as he said it, the water became still.

“Anyways!” He cut off. “How about this for a mermaid legend? Is it true mermaids can’t,” he stopped when he noticed the water around them glowing orange. “Oh my. Getting kind of late.” He turned to Sonata. “Is being out at night a thing we shouldn’t be doing?”

Sonata focused her head towards the fading light and shrugged. “About the same, although not preferred by most. Maybe slightly less for someone like you.”

Dusk clicked his tongue. “Harsh.”

Sonata’s eyes widened. “What, no! I didn’t mean—

“Hey, Sonata, it’s fine! Makes me really glad I found you. Else I’d be a goner by now. Sure will make me appreciate being human again.” He laughed, then frowned at Sonata’s reaction. “What... Oh.” He cursed himself.

“So, how much film do you have left?” she asked plainly, looking to the camera still tied to his wrist.

Dusk lifted up the hand to examine it. “One.”

The remaining six having been divided up throughout the day. Three used on the family of trilobites Sonata had showed him, two with Lacey, Sonata’s pet monk seal, and he had even gotten, to Sonatas reluctant help, a decent shot of the plesiosaur from a safe distance. Which meant there was only one left, and he wanted to make sure he saved it for something special. Which was hard for him to decide what counted as special enough.

“In that case,” Sonata shimmied, laying herself down on her side, holding her head up with one of her hands and winking to Dusk.

“Um, what are you doing?” Dusk inquired

Sonata smirked at him. “I believe you would call it, posing.”

Dusk blinked several times before the gears aligned in his head. “Oh… OH! I mean,” his face flushed as he struggled with the camera. “Are you sure?”

The topic had come up when he almost snapped a photo of her playing with Lacey. When she dashed out of the cameras range, it told him all he needed. Neither of them bringing the subject back into the light until now.

“I mean,” he sighed. “Sonata, even if I swore never to show these to anyone,” a promise he would never be able to keep, “it would still be photographic evidence of your kind existence lying around my bedroom.”

“I don’t care.” Sonata said, wrinkling her nose, “I want you to be able to remember me. You know. For when you do go back home.”

Dusk nodded and brought the camera to his face. Lowering it when he realized just what she had said. “Sonata-

“Better take it before it’s too dark to see.” She said, resuming her pose. Although Dusk couldn’t when he saw that her face was getting puffy.

“Sonata, I,” he set the camera down and got to her eye level.. “Well, I mean, this doesn’t have to be the end.” He brought himself to her eye level. “I like you. A lot. Like, a lot lot. Which, I know is probably just the hormos talking after only knowing you for a single day. Still, I know one thing; Out of all the incredible things I’ve seen today, well, it’s not really that much of a contest about has been my greatest discovery.”

Groaning, Sonata asked. “And that would be?” She blinked. “Oh… Oh!” Her face reddened instantly. “It wouldn’t have to do with that fact I’ve saved your life several times?”

He playfully bopped her on the noise. “A part of it.”

She giggled and gave his a quick kiss. Then sighed. “I just don't want to get my hopes up too high. I don’t want whatever we seem to have to ended after today either.” She closed her eyes. “But you can’t say that’s a certain.”

“I… No, you’re right.”

The two remained quiet, the sun setting ever more behind them.

“So… Are you just going to pass the opportunity to photograph a willing and, not just a beautiful, but a probably re-write most of you known history, model?”

Dusk’s grinned in bemusement. “Oh Sonata.” He gave her a kiss. “I really, really hope this won’t be the end for us.” Nevertheless, we swam back to his camera, took aim at the lovely mermaid in front of him, and snapped his last photo.

With that, Sonata lifted off of the rocks, swam over, and sat herself down onto his lap. Holding onto each other, two spending their last moments of that day watching the underwater sunset

“Hey wait a minute,” Sonata inquired as the night fell. “I don’t think you told me how you ended up like this.” She ran a hand upon his tail for emphasis.

“Oh right! As a matter of fact, where it happened isn’t too far from here. Would make a nice place to rest for the night. Um, that is, if you don’t mind. Not that I’m sure you don’t have-

She silenced her nerd with a kiss. “Come on! I want to see. Now!”

With that, hand in hand, the two swam to the grotto where Dusk had undergone his transformation, . Leading Sonat right up to the mermaid statue, he explained all that had happened.

“And you can’t change back at will?”

Dusk shook his head and place a hand on the pearl. “Nope. Not for lack of trying. Actually, do you guys have a written language?”

“Yeah.” Sonata nodded uncertainly.

“Well, there’s an inscription at the base that looks like a form of what's called Latin in my world. However, when I tried to read it, I couldn’t make out more than a few base words.” He led her down to the inscription to show her.

“Well it’s definitely atlantean.” she confirmed. “Although a bit of an older dialect than what are use to nowadays.”

“Can you read it?” He asked with bated breath.

“Yeah, I think so” She ran a finger across the words, before perking up. “Just don’t mind if I get a few words wrong.”

“Of course,” he assured by rubbing at her back.

Eyes sparkling, she read over the text a couple of times before her face life up. “Oh! It’s basically a condensed version of Atargatis!”

Dusk squinted. “Who what now?”

Sonata blinked at him. “You never heard of,” she looked down at his tail. “Oh right! My bad.”

“It’s okay.” he said, giving her shoulders a squeeze, and her check a kiss. “Actually, something about the name sound familiar.” He nervously chuckled. “But why don’t you tell me the mermaidized version, dearest?”

Sonata giggled at the nickname. “Right away, Dusky!” She kissed him on the noise before explaining. “The long and short of it is; a human maiden by the name of Atargatis falls in love with a merman. The only problem, aside from the obvious, she was already married. From there the story various on on if the marriage was abusive or not, and how badly. And while many say her husband was a drunken, anyone who cares to look it up will tell you that was defiantly an addition to further demonize humans. You know how myths and legends go.” She paused as the two of them looked at each others lower torsos.

“Anyways,” she blushed and pointed back to the writing. “To be with her merman lover, she killed her human husband, and then the two found a way to turn herself into a mermaid so they could be together.”

“Well!” Dusk said, stunned. “Sounds a little extreme there.” He rubbed his chin. “Then again, some human legends I’ve heard about would make that tame by comparison.” He shook his head and looked to the statue. “So I’m guessing this is what transformed her?”

“Eh,” Sonata stammered. “It’s actually never touched on most of the time. Most tend to focus on the why rather than how. If you know what I mean. The few who do more commonly source a magic sea witch or goddess rather than a magical statue.” Actually, she never heard of one that said it was a magic statue, but that was besides the point as she kept reading. “Now, according to what I can make of this last bit of text, I think it says, word for word;

“For how cruel it was that our ancestors did not take the same path? So we found a way to be, if only for a day. Not till... our love is true? I think that’s what it says. Not until our love is true, could we be forever. Fearful that this magic could force me back, but wishing not to deny the happiness I’ve found to others, hidden here it shall stay. Only to be used for those with no other way.”

Dusk scratched his head once Sonata had finished. “Sounds like one heck of a Romeo and Juliet story.”

“A who story?” Sonata quizzed.

“Eh… A popular human romance couple.” Dusk explained, looking nervous. “Didn’t exactly end well for them. The sum of the story is it’s about two rival families kids that falling in ‘love’ and deciding to kill themselves rather than be torn apart by their bickering houses.”

Sonata whistles loudly. “And you call mine extreme.”

Dusk shrugged. “I don’t disagree. Personally thou, dispute how romanticized it is, I think its more about what happens and cautions parents when they try to sexually oppress and control their kids’.”

“Huh. I guess you can say the same for Atargatis.” Sonata lifted off the cane floor, unintentionally touching the pearl as she pulled herself up. “Although Atargatis wasn’t so much about anyone separating them, as it was, GAH!” Sonata cried out, body arching backwards as the same green light from before started to emanate from the pearl.

Dusk sprang up to try and help! Pulling her with all his might, and even foolishly attempting to break the statue, but to no avail. As they kept fighting, as before, the water around them started to swirl into a whirlpool that grew faster and faster. Upon seeing a a second vortex form around Sonata’s tail, and realizing there was no way to stop this, Dusk dropped the rock he was using to try and smash the statue, and swam by Sonata’s side so he could try and comfort.

Sonata opened her eyes, a sense of relief filling her up as he wrapped his arms around her. However, it wasn’t enough as a bolt of energy surged from the statue and into her body, casing the to clasps onto her stomach with her right hand

Du… Dusk?” she heaved, holding onto him tightly with her right arm. “What’s... What’s happening to me?!” The mermaid screamed.

“It will be over soon!” He promised, one hand tucked under her chest while the other rested on the one Sonata held to her belly.

Before Sonata could ask what he meant by that, the worse pain of all raced through her torso. Her tail started to violently trash about, and in a flash, split in two. Fallowed by an additional series of lights to each new limp, each letting out a crack as, in the place of her tail and finn, out popped a knee, ankle, leg, and then a foot. After one final flash, the magic started to die down, and once the pearl released its grip on Sonata, the merman raced the girl to the surface to get her metaphorsized lungs the air they now needed.

“Wha... what was,” Sonata asked between serval coughed once Dusked hauled her onto the dry grothos floor.

“Well, see for yourself.” Dusk said, as he placed her on the stone floor. Happy to see his belongings were where he left them before focusing his concerns back to whatever reaction Sonata would have.

Wiping her eyes, she looked down to her tail- No! Sonata realized, mouth agape. Lifting one of her feet, she stared at it for a moment in disbelief. Wiggling her toes, for conformation, she let out a glee filled sequee.

“A little mermaid, are we there?” Dusk mussed.

“Not anymore!” Sonata smiled. Oblivious to the human cultural references they had both just made. “This is incredible!”

Dusk raised a finger to point the reference out, but focused instead on, as he always did, the facts of the moment. “Incredible indeed.” He pulled himself out of the water to sit next to her. “But why did it work for you and not for me?”

“Maybe it’s only one way?” Sonata guessed. Her smile vanishing. “What if we misread the writing? And what if, instead of turning back in a set time, we’re stuck like this forever?”

Dusk looked to his tail. “Well, I guess we won’t know until,” he began, before noticing that Sonata had pulled her legs to her chest. “Hey, it will be alright.” He placed his hand onto her knees.

Sonata smiled meekly at the action. “Well, yeah. But what about you? I’d hate to think I ruined your life because of me!”

“Hey! Sonata, this isn’t your,” he blinked. “You aren’t worried about yourself?”

Sonata bit her lip. “Well, you make it sound like you have much more of life up here than I ever had down there.”

Holding her hand, he looked down and their lower limbs. “Wasn’t always like that.” He trailed off, his gaze drifting to Sonata’s leg. An action that was not lost upon the former mermaid.

“Like what you see?” Smiling, she stretched her foot onto Dusk’s tail.

The action caused the poor merman’s pelvic to stretch out of its hold.

“Hey, I said I take it as a compliment.” She wiggled her toes on it, as if giving some approval. “Go ahead.” Sonata offered, hand now cupped into Dusk’s as she blushed back. “I already let you, examine, my tail earlier.”

“Well, that was,” he started to protest, but the infectious smile from Sonata made him lost for words. So instead, he took her foot into his hand and ‘examined’ it.

As his erection hardened, his mind freely wandered to the smoothness of her new limbs. It seemed to indeed be a perfectly normal pair of human legs. If he hadn’t seen the transformation himself, he would never have guessed that a moment ago, they were conjoined. As he traveled upwards, by the time he was about to reach her hips, he soon realized a very critical detail. He jerked away at that. Face redder than it should have ever been.

“What? Don’t tell me now you’re getting shy.” she teased.

He nervously grinned. His eyes unable to stop staring as Sonata up and down. Her human form arousing him more so than before, he surprised her with a sudden kiss. The former mermaid letting out a surprised squeak, but in no way protested as she cupped his neck, and lead him down to the floor with himself on top. They kissed passionately for several moments, eventually finding themselves rolled over onto their sides. Dusk‘a merman member poking Sonata’s leg causing them to stop.

“Um,” Dusk rubbed his neck. “Maybe… another, examination, is in order?”

Sonata cooed. “Or,” she pushed him onto his back, sat up, and scooted her hips in front of his erection.

“Whoa, whoa!” Dusk started to protest. “I thought we were going to take this slow?”

“Oh,” Sonata sighed. “I mean, well, if you really don’t want to.” She twiddled her thumbs. “I was just thinking, well, maybe this could be an opportunity to... see wheatear or not mermaids and humans would or wouldn’t be genetically compatible.”

Dusk stared blankly at her. “Did you just make the argument for having sex by theorizing that I might not even get you pregnant because we’re different species and then saying that there’s only one way to find out?”

“Um, more or less.”

Grinning widely, he sat himself up and pulled his girl in close. “Do you have any idea just how turned on that made me?”

“Probably a considerable amount.” she tried to say nonchalantly.

He answered her with a kiss.

When they broke, she, more legitly, asked, “So, I mean, I really want to. But if you honestly don’t want right now, that’s fine!”

Truthful, that did sound preferable. He considered himself a smart enough man to know all the risks of unprotected sex on a first date sex. But honestly, even he had meet Sonata in any other way in his old life, he probably would have said no. However, after the day he just had, and with everything they accomplished, the best of it now sitting on his lap, along with the smart way she had put things,

“You know what,” he reached his hand down between themselves, lining himself up with her. “I think that would be the perfect last scientific discovery to end this day on.”

Grinning ear to ear, Sonata reached her hand down with him, helping him to enter her without breaking their embrace. Both letting out a loud gasp as the two became one.

“You… You okay?” He breathed, feeling his heartbeat quicken.

“Ye... yeah.” Sonata nodded, turning her gaze back to him. “Very, very okay.” The two stared at each other with bedroom eyes. More than happy to just stay there, together, joined, before Sonata leaned forward to then resumed to make out session. Dusk all to eager to wrap his arms around her back as she held onto his head.

Now, both being inexperienced in sex, but somewhat knowing the basic idea, they soon wanted more than to sit still. The bigger problem in their case, was that one of them had a pair of legs, while the other had a tail. In theory, the easiest way they could have done was to have Sonata sitting on top of him, cowboy style, while they did it. However, neither of them really wanted to let go of each other as they kissed, so lying down, the two of them started by moving their hips. Which was slow going, and even caused them to slip out of each other more than once. This would cause a laugh before they put themselves together, and eventually found a pattern that worked. Which ended up being fine for what it was as they were more interested in love making opposed to lust filled sex. Sonata lifting herself up, as Dusk arched his back to meet back with her. He then came down just slowly enough to not come out of her, as she slide back down at pace to help keep that from happening until Dusk’s tail rested back on the floor. Repeat while their hands started to explore and play around with their upper halves. Dusk at some point uniting Sonata’s seashell bra and tossingit to the side. Allowing their chest’s to press together while he rubbed at Sonsta’s bare back. Sonata, meanwhile, ran her fingers through his smooth black and purple hair before moving downwards her well. Feeling up with own side and chest while keeping their love making going. Leading to his stomach as she started to finger around, and even into his belly button.

Dusk shivered delightfully at that, and returned in kind as he placed a hand between their chest to feel up Sonata, now very firm, own. This caused the girl to break apart for a moment to breath. Leaving Dusk to worry for a second if he had done something wrong, only for Sonata to take in the hand that had been groping her for assurances. When they returned to their kissing, Sonata had moved one of her hands around his neck, as she used her other to feel up his back. Leaving Dusk free to move his arms up and down Sonata’s waists and new formed human hips as their love making continued.

As they got more comfortable the longer they went on, the quicker and graceful the pace became as well. As they felt like the end was in sight, the pair had to stop kissing all together. Opting instead to lay their heads on the others shoulder at the beginning of the end., Marveling at the feeling neither could of ever achieve when they had tried to please themselves alone in the past. Dusk felt a sudden spark that informed him of the approaching and impending end. Realizing he wouldn’t last much longer, he was about to ask Sonata how close she was. That and, with a momentary clear head, he had every intention to pull out despite the earlier conversation. He was about to say so out loud, when he noted how he still felt very tingly down below. Not just in the way a guy would normally feel just then, but in a way more in line to everywhere below his navel building up to a climax as he wiggles his—

“What the?!” Dusk shrieked.

Lifting up his reforming toes, he found that the rest of his tail was splitting down the middle

“Son, So... Sonata!” he cried out as he saw his knees flex back to life.

“Ye… Yes?” she asked. Tongue hanging out and lustfully oblivious to the transformation.

“St… Sto,” he said weakly, a strong tingle running down his reforming hamstrings. “I’m… I’m chan… Oh,” he moaned out, the sensation as the transformation started to effect his midsection. “No we… we should…. Should…

Eventually, Sonata realized what was happening to Dusk. Looking behind her, she let out a surprise gasps as Dusk’s legs were returning to their more human skin tone. She sat herself up, and started in aw as more and more of Dusk started to become human beneath. Which somehow, made thing even sexier for her. Go figure she would have a transformation fetish of sorts. Meaning, there was no way she wasn’t going to ride out this fantasy taking. Well, that was, if Dusk would be okay with it. That said, she would certainly try to make a case for finishing

“What if.... What if sex, needed?” She spoke quickly. Letting out a moan as the morphing skin around his crouch began to tingle her own. “To change back? Or else not? Need do right? Inside?”

Dusk thought on it for only a second. Surely that wasn’t the cause of the transformation despite the coincidence. It had to be because the day had ended and that’s what the stone meant. As opposed to a literal twenty four hours he first thought. Even if they had already witness the sun setting earlier. Then again, it could have meant the day had to completely end, not just—

“Ple... Please?” Sonata asked. A tone of sadness in her voice. “But... might not be too.”

With only seconds left to decide, the girl of his dreams asking him to finish inside her, Dusk wrapped his arms tightly around Sonata midsection. Creating a firm hold that wouldn’t allow for a sudden slip up for the next few seconds even if he tried. Not that he wanted to anyone.

The feeling of Dusk’s arms tightly around her, along with the vibrations she felt of Dusk’s shaft as it pulsed with transformation magic inside of her, pushed Sonata over. Slamming down upon him once more, their hips pressed tightly together, she screamed and came into her first human orgasum. Which in turn, forgetting his worries and fears, only happy he had made her happy, Dusk too came to his own climax. Holding her close, screaming out each other names, they felt Dusk’s merman lower digit spazzing once, twice, while Sonata squeezes on him more tightly as she felt her innards warm up. Then upon his third ejectculation, the pair of them felt his shaft shift to the magic. As on his fifth blow, the two of them let out an ear piercing scream as it fully change back into a human part, cumming for a sixth, seventh, and even eight time. Three more small sprouts later, the pair of lovers collapsed onto the floor, panting heavily.

Once Dusk had caught his breath, he rolled Sonata off of him to confirm his transformation. Lifting himself up, pulling in his legs and pelvic area.

“That was something,” he commented, wiggling his toes. Still at a loss for breath.

Sonata took a bit longer, replaying the memory of what had just happened over and over before picking herself up to look as well. “No kidding.” She smiled as she leaned next to him, staring at his legs. “So, this is your human form, huh?”

“Well, yeah! I mean, it’s not that great, I know.” He blushed

She silenced his fears with a kiss. “Honestly,” she commented, placing her legs next to him, “they make you look even more adorable.”

He chuckled, pulling Sonata into an embrace as the pair stared at their new lower halves. The implications of what this could mean sinking into the pair of them.

“So, if the love making was what caused this,” Dusk pondered. “And not the fact the day ended, does this mean if I want to turn you back into a mermaid, I’d have to turn myself back into a merman, and then have sex with you again?”

“I’m in no rush!” Sonata spoke a little fast. “I mean, we could wait to see what happens. Besides,” she pushed off him in an attempt to stand up. “I figure, fair is fair. I got to show you around my home, only fair you do the same.”

Dusk quickly leapt to his feet as he saw Sonata already starting to wobble. “Easy there!” He instructed, more experienced in walking. Holding her by her waist while she used his elbows for balance while learning how to stand up. He made sure she got the basic idea of walking before allowing her to try so one her own.

One step, then another, then another. Each made easier as Dusk assured Sonata that, really, all humans did when they walked was falling forward, with style. Seeing this was true, she continue on until Dusk felt like she might have it.

“Right,” he said, reaching up to her own elbows. “Ready to try on your own?”

“No,” she nodded in a way meaning, ready or not.

“Don’t worry,” he smiled reassuringly, “I’ll catch you if you fall.”

Filled with his confidence, she took a breath as Dusk let her go and took a step back. Arm’s stretched out for balance, several seconds passed before she was sure she wouldn’t fall over by standing still. Now she just had to do that while walking. Tentatively, she inched her left foot forward, her Dusk just within arm’s reach if she needed him. She then tried with her right foot, taking a bigger step, and a bigger one after that.

“I think I,” a bit overconfident, she held her foot up on the next step for a bit too long and started to fall forward.

Dusk, as he promised, reached out and caught her and she wrapped her arms around his neck for support.

Pulling themselves up, the two of them locked eyes and found they really didn’t want to let go. So instead, as Dusk pulled them up straight, Sonata brought her boyfriend into a kiss.

“So,” Sonata began as they pulled away. “Does this mean we’re, you know… a couple?”

Dusk grinned at his girlfriend. “What made you think we wouldn’t be? I mean, you do want to be, right?”

Sonata nodded and said yes several times, then brought her man in for a kiss, as if sealing the deal. The two continued to stand there and hold each other, when a very familiar presence interrupted them.

Looking down between them, Sonata giggled. “Well, sure doesn’t take a lot to get you excited.”

“I…” Dusk began, Sonata already reaching between them. “Wait! I,” he paused at her look of disappointment. His heart racing. “I mean, well…

Did it really make any difference now? Just because they were both human. While we was sure his conscious would have a stern talking to himself in the morning, his hand moving down to meet her’s told him he could just explain how pills worked in the morning.

Elated, Sonata giddied as they joined together once more. She let out a squeak as Dust lifted her up, and pinned her to the wall of the cave. Once there, he brought her back into a kiss she eagerly returned. With that, the two went right to work, bodies intertwined, moaning loudly, rocking back and forth, lost to any reason. All that mattered to them was who they were holding on, and were connected. They didn’t last long, finishing one after the other almost as soon as it began. Standing there, naked and exposed to the evening air lips brought together as they slid back down to the cave floor. In no hurry to get anywhere as they reflected, while their limbs intertwined into a beautiful mess, of a singular body.

Author's Note

Hope you’ve enjoyed the story. Could still really use some feedback if you have any,
Also, please be sure to check out my friend for his help, and consider buying art from him to help pay for his wedding.
https://www.instagram.com/crazydudegonemad/?hl=en

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I, Dusk Dives In (reduxed)

Dusk Shine looked into the hidden sea cave’s pool, about ready to dive in.

When he had first discovered this place, he was more than eager to take a, purely scientific, expedition. While he was doubtful there would be anything like magical artifacts, he was hopeful enough to believe that he was the first person, if not ever, in a long while to discover it! Honestly, if Dusk hadn’t been collecting fern samples for a biology report, he doubted he would of stumbled the caverns entrance in the first place. By that he wasn’t paying attention and almost fell to his death. A minor inconvenience in the name of science. He explored more and eventually found what looked to be a grotto at the end of the cave that likely lead out to sea. Now, a week later, he was back with some additional equipment to explore further.

“And seven,” he told himself after another breath. “Alright, I suppose that’s good enough!”

Unfortunately, since he was a poor college student, and his major wasn’t related to marine biology, a scuba equipment wasn't in the pile of equipment. So instead, looked up and read all he could in free diving on free diving. Which seemed simple enough to him. While Dusk wasn’t stupid enough to call himself a professional, he at least felt confident enough that the additional help would buy him a few extra precious minutes under.

Just as he was ready to hop into the water, his phone buzzed. With a role of his eyes, Dusk pulled the device out of his backpack.

Bubble Berry: hey, dusky! Free tonight? I may have a ‘friend’ who would ‘love’ to meet you at a party I just happen to be throwing! ;) <3

Dusk rubbed his forehead and replied.

Dusk: I’m a bit busy today, Berry. Sorry, but thanks for the invite.

He waited a moment to see if Berry would reply.

Bubble Berry: Oh… well, we’ll be eagerly waiting if you can come!

With that out of the way, Dusk gave a knowing smile and put his phone down. After that, he slipped on his snorkel, googles, a pair of flippers, and dove in. He debated for a moment to grab his additional water proof camera and writing pad, but decided to hold off on the first dive. Wanting more to see how deep the pool went, and if he could reach the bottom.

He lowered his head in the water, pleased to see the visibility was decent. Looking around, he guessed the hole was about twenty to twenty five feet, and at about each six to seven foot was a cave that he couldn’t see from the surface where they went. Eager, and with no signs of anything potential dangerous living here, he began his decent

“Entrance one of three,” Dusk spoke to himself when her surfaced again. “Nothing but a hallowed out wall that goes about three meters back. Although thinking on it, it was a rather smoothed surfaced. Perhaps caused by natural erosion? Or maybe someone dug it out? Probably erosion. Still, always valid to explore every hypositics.” He sucked in a breath and dove back in.

“Cavern two,” he commented when he surfaced for a second time. “The passage that confirms that this cave, dose indeed, connect with the sea. Already hypnotized that from the water being salty, not fresh. While I could view the ocean, I’m not sure I would be able to safely swim the entire length. Still, a grand discovery nonetheless! Now for the grand finale.”

With that, he took in a longer breath, and prepared for his dive to the very bottom. Down he went, keeping his excitement in check at what he might find. While something like pirate treasure was a high improbability, that didn’t mean there couldn’t have been other rich discovery to be found.

His hand touched the floor, relived he had estimated the depth and his lung limitations correctly, giving himself about two, maybe three minutes before he’d have to surface. Which was good, cause the sight in the third cave nearly took his breath away.

Inside, was some sort of humanoid statue. No, Dusk realized. It was a statue, of a mermaid. Marble white, the mermaid stood with one arm stretched out, her face an unreadable expression that had long been eroded by time. In its hands, sat some sort white orb that was likely meant to be a massive pearl even if it wasn’t actually one.

While Dusk should of just gone first, he couldn’t help but immediately swim up to it, thinking this would be the most incredible find from the trip.

Wonder who built this? he thought to himself. For that matter, how did it get here? Tides and currents? Then how’s it in one piece? Unless someone put it here, at the very least that arm would have snapped off in the journey!

He first started to reach for the orb, but paused upon seeing the statue sat on some sort of pedestal. Turning his attention to the base, he noticed that there was some kind writing on in. Swimming up closely, he realized the words scribbled on was some kind of Latin. Not that he could be sure without additional references, but he felt sure that this was a lost or even unknown dialect. Which, the good thing about latin, is that if you knew the original, from there, you could most likely figure out any other langue that it evolved from. With the knowledge Dusk did have, he thought he could make out at a first glance words that translated to change, days, and love.

He rolled his eyes at that last part, feeling a pain in his chest that reminded him it was time to rising up for air. He would come back in the next dive with some paper and charcoal to etch the words for further study. There was no telling where this discovery would lead him! Those thoughts were interrupted when he hit his head on the mermaids arm.

A stream of bubbles escaped his mouth as he tried to make out what had happened through the pain. Not thinking once about it, he flailed around, grabbing onto the first thing his hand touched for some support. In this case being the orb free statue was holding.

He rubbed his head with his free hand, and started up, pushing off of the orb for extra propulsion. However, instead of zooming upwards, he was pulled back down.

What the?! his eyes widened in panic upon realizing his hand had stuck to the orb. He tried yanking free, but to no avail. It was as if the thing had been coated in some kind of glue. Just as he was about to seriously panic and debate trying to cut his arm off, the orb began to glow bright green.

He felt a spark of electricity run through his body, and the next thing he knew, the water around him started to swirl, forming into whirlpool. If he wasn’t mor worried about drowning or what was with the green light, he might of noticed a condensed miniature vortex was forming around his legs that seemed to be picking up a faster speed than the main one around him. Although he soon felt something was going on to his body, most notably in his lower half. Looking down, he saw the cyclone and he began to kick around to try and break free. His flippers flying of past the current, but his feet unable to escape.

There was a flash of light, and Dusk closed his eyes to a sharp pain in his chest, and an even worse one down below as his swim trunks were ripped apart. In another series of flashed, each of his legs pulled themselves upwards to his chest, and when they shot back down, his human skin had been replaced by a sleekly substance, and his foot spread out into a flipper. After both of his legs had been changed, there was another flash, and the magic merged them into a singular limb.

Once done, the vortexes started to die down, and the orb released its grip of Dusk’s hand. Thinking only of not dying, he took the freedom to rocketed to the surface, his breath still held until he breathed. It wasn’t until, still breathing heavily, and having pulled himself up out of the water, did Dusk check to see what had happened. Although he already had, as impossible as it was, a wild guess from the inability to wiggle or feel his toes. With that in mind, he didn’t even dare put the words to thought, until he lifeted up to eye level, his purple mermaid tail...

🧜‍♀️

Merman? Mer-person? Or was there some other kind of classification/pronunciation? Sure, some might of questions his priorities, but it still seemed important to figure out to him!