Epilogue ~ The Uncollected Tale of The Little Mermaid ~

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9 Months Later

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"You know, the next time I think it's a good idea to fall in love with a fish, could someone be good enough to distract me with a pretty girl and save me the bother?"

Dalton glanced up from his book, looking at Cole out of the corner of his eye before returning his attention to the page.

They were aboard The Santiago.

She was flying neutral colours for the journey – considering the numbers of royals in the proximity – they didn't need to draw a great deal of attention given Dalton was aboard one ship and Princess Mai and her sisters were aboard the one just off the port side. The princesses were being escorted home by the king himself after their most recent visit and Cole had decided to join them for the trip there before he and his crew would part ways for the tropics, as company as well as a form of protection.

It was a clear, warm autumn day. The sea was smooth, the wind was favourable, sunset was on the horizon and they had enjoyed a day of relaxing in the sun, neatly crossing back and forth between ships that were joined, when necessary, with special bridges.

Cole had his arms folded on the side of the ship, looking down at the waves that rolled below them. Dalton sat slumped on a barrel beside him, leaning back against the ship wall, flicking through a book.

"I doubt it's something one is likely to experience more than once in a lifetime," he said. "I thought you were over all that. It was nearly a year ago."

"Yeah, I am," Cole sighed, closing his eyes and running his hand over his wild hair. "Maybe it's getting to me because it's nearly a year. Do you seriously not have anything new?"

"What do you want me to say? He's alive. He's fine. I can only tell you as much as my mother tells me, I haven't seen him since he left," Dalton said.

"Argh," Cole muttered, messing up his hair then straightening and walking around to the other side of Dalton and dumping himself on the crate beside him, crossing his long legs. "Bloody mer-folk. It was easier when I didn't know about them."

"You would still be pining after him even if you'd never learnt the truth. Also, being that I am half merman, I resent being called a fish."

"You can't transform, it's not the same."

"It is even without a tail."

Cole dropped his head back, watching the first of the stars begin to bloom amongst the sun-stained sky, greeting the moon that had appeared an hour before.

They sat in silence for a time. Cole watching the sky. Dalton reading his book.

Around them Cole's crew relaxed. Some had crossed to the princess' ship and there was a rowdy game of cards going on across the way – Dalton was fairly sure Princess Mai was winning, again – and everyone else was simply resting or minding instruments and horizon.

"Do you think he'll ever come back?"

Dalton closed his book and looked up at the sky, thinking.

"I don't know," he finally said, "My mother doesn't really discuss what he's doing or thinking. Honestly, I think he's still healing."

Cole closed his eyes. "Well, I can understand that," he muttered.

"Do you ever hear from Perry?"

Cole shook his head. "No, I won't. At least I highly doubt it. He's done with the mortal world for a while."

"You ever resent her for taking Perry away?"

Cole laughed. "No, of course not. He made the choice he was happiest with. And she got something akin to a second chance when her life was cut short. What is there to be angry about?"

"True," Dalton said.

A shout from one of his men up on the crow's nest made Cole glance up but the man was gesturing to Dray and he closed his eyes again.

After a moment, something made him open his eyes, frowning.

Something was... off.

"Captain!" Dray called, "You may want to look at this."

Cole looked around and spied the problem.

His men were almost all gathered on the portside of the ship, looking into the water.

"What?" he snapped, shoving to his feet, "I'm moping here!"

He turned as Dalton peered over the side, set his forearm on the side of the ship and looked down.

Kazimir looked up at him was the sea far below, white hair flowing out around him, ever changing eyes looking up at them with the ever present bored expression, like he was in the company of idiots.

Cole gaped at him. Mouth hanging open like a startled fish as those across the way started to notice something was amiss.

"Well speak of the devil," Dalton muttered, staring.

"Are you going to invite me up or what?" Kazimir snapped from far below, shoving his hair from his face, "Do you realise how long it took to catch up to you humans? I don't have all day to waste with you people."

"And he's as charming as ever," Dalton finished.

"I didn't think you'd come back," Cole called down.

"I never said I wouldn't."

"You said you were done!"

"I said I was done with the land. This is the sea," Kazimir pointed out.

"Don't you get pernickety with me!" Cole snapped. "Get up here! Should I drop the anchor?"

Kazimir snorted. "Like I need such human methods," he sneered before the sea lifted him upwards. He rose through the air on the waterspout until he was level with the main deck and Cole wrapped his arms around Kazimir and dragged him onto the ship, hugging him tightly, soaking his clothes leaving everyone else to gape at the sudden arrival.

"Let go of me!" Kazimir snapped, glaring, "How dare you drag me around. Release me and get me a change of clothes."

"Sure, we'll be right back," Cole said and dragged Kazimir across the deck and into the captain's quarters.

"I can walk!" Kazimir snarled.

"I know you can. You walked out of the picture perfectly nine months ago," Cole replied, dropped Kazimir in a chair in his rooms and going to a chest of draws.

Kazimir pursed his lips, glancing at the doors that had swung shut behind them, before lounging back in the chair, absently drawing the water out of him and the chair and floor, leaving it as a hovering ball off to one side.

"I did mean it, I can't apologise for saying what I said about none of it being worth it compared to losing Aeralie," he said slowly and Cole shook his head.

"I'm not that petty," he said, turning around and throwing a set of clothes across the room to him, "I can't compare to the girl you shared your life with. I can't compare to your best friend and sister. I'm not angry about what you said back then."

"So what?"

"So. You walked away. In just a moment. I haven't heard anything from you or even about you in nearly a year. I'm allowed to worry and worry makes me cranky."

"What was there to worry about?" Kazimir asked, "I just went home."

As he spoke, he transformed back to his human form. His white hair giving way to black. His dizzying eyes giving way to amber. His long tail giving way to long legs.

Getting to his feet, he pulled on his trousers then picked up his shirt.

"I was worried about you, just in general. I know how hard it is to lose people like that," Cole said, walking over and handing him a length of thin leather for his hair. "I just wanted to know how you were."

"I'm fine," Kazimir said, shrugging on the shirt.

"Are you really?"

Kazimir glanced at Cole, then snatched the leather away and tied up his hair.

"Well maybe not always," he muttered, locking his hair in a knot and turning to Cole.

Cole looked at him for a moment, then held out his arms.

"I also missed you," he added, "I feel I need to mention that since you're kind of stupid when it comes to emotions."

Kazimir glared at him. "I am not," he said even as he stepped forwards and slid his arms around Cole's waist, hugging him, resting his cheek against his shoulder.

Cole laughed, the sound reverberating through Kazimir as Cole wrapped his arms around him and squeezed him tightly.

Kazimir pushed away far too soon however.

"I didn't come here just to see you," he said, turning to the doors, "I wanted to speak to Dalton as well."

"Will you leave as soon as you're done?" Cole asked as he reached for the doors.

Kazimir paused before he lowered the handle.

After a moment, he glanced back. "No, I don't have to leave right away," he said, then opened the door and walked out, gesturing for the ball of water to follow before he tossed it over the edge of the ship.

"I have something for you," Kazimir said by way of greeting when being faced with his twin after nine months without a word, looking at Dalton then to the sea as a thin spout whirled upwards and dropped something in his hand.

He held it out and Dalton raised an eyebrow.

"I thought it was gone," he said.

It was his Heart.

He hadn't expected to ever see it again after the few minutes he'd held it.

"Yes, well, it got a little lost in the confusion, but I found it again," Kazimir said, "I figured you should put it back where it belongs so you don't lose it again."

"But we didn't know how," Dalton pointed out.

"It's a lot simpler than we gave it credit for. Admittedly, it's easier if you're in your merman form but that side of you is dormant for now. Just press it to that scar on your chest, it'll fit itself back into place soon enough."

"That's it?" Dalton said, staring.

"That's it."

Dalton looked at the jewel Kazimir held out to him, then reached for it and unbuttoned the first few buttons of his shirt, pushing it aside and pressing the jewel against the old scar.

Nothing happened.

He felt like an idiot as everyone stared, waiting for him to sprout a tail.

"It's not doing anything," he said, glaring at Kazimir.

"Yes it is," Kazimir said, nodding at it.

Dalton looked down and blinked.

Carefully, he drew his hand back and the jewel didn't fall away as soon as the support left it. It hung there, fixed to the skin.

And it was slowly sinking into him as he watched, his eyes widening as his mouth fell open.

"It's going back!" he gasped, his head snapping up and staring as Kazimir.

Kazimir nodded and held up a small pearl of light.

Dalton recognised it instantly. It was exactly like the little ball of power Dago had swallowed months ago that had resulted in the near ending of the sea and the death of a princess.

He looked at Kazimir.

"This is your half of the power," Kazimir said, "I have no access to it, I merely carried it with me because my... our mother thought you dead. But now you're back and you're heart is back where it belongs, you should have this back. They are rightfully yours after all."

Dalton took the pearl without hesitation, staring at it as it shone between his fingers, then swallowed it.

"The transformation might destroy your clothes," Kazimir belatedly pointed out – and Dalton just knew he did it on purpose but he didn't have time to say anything because, the next moment, he fell over.

Everyone rushed forwards, crowding around him and staring as Dalton sat up and looked down at himself just in time to see his boots simply vanish into nothing as pale blue fins burst for the place his feet should have been as his trousers shredded when his legs zipped together as scales formed, made of a hundred iridescent shades of blue and his hair, which moments before had been a deep red, lengthened until it reached well down passed the end of his spine and turned pitch black.

He sat there, stunned, for a long time, before he looked up at Kazimir.

"Huh, you have eyes like me in this form," Kazimir said in a very uninterested tone. "What colour are your markings?"

"My what?"

"The markings on your chest."

"The scars?"

Kazimir resisted his favourite old eye roll. "Sure. Those."

Dalton glared at him, then unbuttoned his shirt and pulled the fabric aside, looking down at himself.

"Gold," he said and they were. The strange, bizarre scars that had baffled him all his life, now shone an intricate patterning of brilliant gold. He stared at them for a long, long moment, then looked at Kazimir. "How do I change back?"

"Wait! Wait, wait, wait!"

Everyone looked around at the snarl and saw Princess Mai wobbling her way around the specialised bridge between the two ships, staring between Kazimir and Dalton.

"What... I don't... what's going on?!" she cried.

"Ah," Kazimir muttered, "Hello Mai."

"Don't 'hello' me! Tail! He has a tail! You had a tail!"

"I suppose I have a few things to tell you," Kazimir said. "Put simply, he's a merman."

"Simply?!" she cried, the rounded on her sister as Daphne carefully followed. "Merman! He's a magical fish!"

"We're not fish," Dalton and Kazimir snapped at the same time.

Daphne just smiled slightly. "I know what he is," she said and Mai almost choked on her gasp.

"What?" she cried in horror, "How?!"

"Well... he told me," Daphne said simply and Mai grabbed her.

"And you didn't think to tell us?!" she shrieked, shaking her.

"I wasn't my secret to tell!" Daphne choked out, her eyes spinning.

"Mermen! They're mermen!"

"It's not that amazing, Mai, relax, I'll talk through it all later," Kazimir said, frowning at her, folding his arms.

"You might not think so, and you would be wrong," Mai snapped, rounding on him.

Laughter made everyone freeze.

Soft, distant, echoing laughter passed them by just as the last of the sun set and in an instant, they were plunged into starry darkness and then the sky lit up again with a thousand shades of light as The Northern Lights gleamed overhead.

Soft female laughter echoed passed them followed by answering male laughter.

And cool breeze drifted passed them, catching Kazimir's hair and pulling it as Kazimir looked around, watching the lights above.

"Kazimir," Cole muttered, staring then stopped, looking up.

He could hear singing.

Soft, wordless and beautiful, how could he ever forget that voice that made you fall in love in a second?

It danced over the moonlit waves and when he looked up at the sky, he was sue he could just make out the roll of flowing hair and something akin to a tail rippling through the lights.

Cole looked at Kazimir as Kazimir watched the lights.

"She made recovery easier," Kazimir said gently as everyone crowed around Dalton as he started to change back, someone running off and returning with new trousers as the princesses gazed very pointedly up at the sky and not at him.

Cole looked up as well, moving over to stand beside Kazimir.

"I owe Perry a lot," Kazimir said as he closed his eyes, listening to the gentle, soothing song, "Aeralie lost a great deal as payment for an innocent wish. She was just The Little Mermaid with the reasonable dream and she paid a price that was too great. I'll never swim with her again. She'll never be physically here. She'll never be alive... but she's here."

He opened his eyes, the dancing lights reflecting in his gaze, and Cole watched as a trail of light did what he would have thought impossible and separated itself from the mass, drifting down from the sky and circling them, coiling through Kazimir's hair and brushing against his cheek.

Cole stared at the light for a moment, then almost laughed, smiling, watching, sure he was seeing the hazy shape of a woman in the ever changing light.

"Perry said he'll catch up with you one day, by the way," Kazimir said, making Cole look at him.

Cole grinned and looked up The Northern Lights.

"I'll be seeing you," he called, saluting as the lights shimmered as laugher echoed through the night.

Kazimir looked at the shimmer of light beside him, then smiled at it, a soft mix of easy contentedness and impossible sadness in the tiny tilt of the mouth before he nodded.

"I'll see you later," he said and the light drifted away, leaving them behind.

"So you can speak to her?" Cole asked.

"We never really needed our voices to be able to speak," Kazimir said.

Cole looked at him for a moment, then gently slid an arm around his hips and pulled him closer.

"I'm glad," he muttered, "I'm really glad."

Kazimir glanced at him, then rolled his eyes and returned his focus to Dalton who had discovered his ice powers by freezing the cuff of his sleeve.

Cole turned his attention back to the sky, watching the lights above that shimmered with laughter as if they were there on the deck with everyone else, as if the sky was not untouchable and no one had been left behind.


~~~

Next Up:....

Art By: Pinterest Image.


*Wraps up story, locks it into a chest and hurls it into the sea*

Right, well we're done with that one, on to the next story.

Thank god!

That took SO LONG

I'm so glad to be done with this book.

~ I've totally not edited this chapter. I'm exhausted and I think i'm getting a cold so I'm going to bed lol ~

I've decided that rather than stuffing a load of chatter in at the end here as usual; i'm going to do one more upload.

I never do Author's Notes at the end of my books, but i feel for this one, i probably should.

Also, it means this chapter and story can sit with you for a bit before i get down to the 'backstage' side of things and chatter about near future plans and issues and intentions and stuff.

Author's notes, probably up tomorrow.

Niiiight!

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