A Mermaid's Freedom

[Stilia Medusa]

She wondered vaguely what a ‘motion picture’ was. Could pictures actually move like real people? It was as fascinating and unworldly as the fact that machines could travel in water, with air for it’s occupants. She wondered if it was just as cold. But now was not the time to wonder over fascinating things that she had never heard of, now was not the time to let her curious mind wander. No, now was the time to apply her silvered tongue. “Of the one woman’s crimes, all must be punished? T’is not a usual thing. Perhaps, other means of protection should be taken. Ask your fellow kin, is that truly what they want? Imprisonment? What if you yourself die? Then they would all starve in their prison.” She reasoned, hoping the mermaid would see the sense of her words. “Allow others to help protect your race, for many of other species would join your cause. Each of us had had our own struggles, to protect the secrecy of our existence, and we can certainly help with yours. I see your sense, your wish to protect them, but there are better means.”

She looked upon the others for support. Luckily the boy had switched from his blunt mannerism and words, trying to employ a message of peace. The demoness was silent, not giving her opinion on the matter, and the summoner… Well, he had initially told them that his interference would not be present. Lies through truth. She thought to herself, Deception through honesty. That is how we can convince her.

[Rennia Trayvold]

Rennia perked a brow and gazed over at Sol as he reversed gears and went down a different approach. He was a curious creature and possibly 'bi-polar' as humans liked to call it. It could possibly make the situation far more difficult than it had to be, but she hoped, for their sake, that he would stay on his current trek.

The Gorgon was another element entirely. She was offering words of peace, and trying to appease the woman they were confronting. Though something about her told Rennia that there were more to her words than she let on. It would definitely be interesting trying to work between the two present.

She listened to the woman's words. It was a mix of a false sense of duty, anger, despair even? No... like with Forgery and the snake there was something more to it. She was holding them for a reason, and that reason was something that eluded the demoness. Why was she doing it? Rennia listened carefully and mulled over those words, but no matter how many times they played back in her head, they didn't make sense.

At length she brought up her hand as if making clearance for her to speak. She waited a moment for a slight pause between them all and she looked up to the woman curiously. Before speaking she offered the woman a slight bow of her head. "If I may, Fair guardian, may I ask why you are saving these people? I hate to assume, but if I had to guess, you wish them to survive as a race? To thrive and continue to exist? Am I correct in this assumption?"

"If so, I then must ask another question. Why then, are you saving them?" The demoness looked over to the imprisoned Mermaids for a moment silently before looking back towards the woman up center. "Why are you prolonging their life, only for them to be kept here? I am sure they appreciate your attempts to protect them from humanity, but are you really letting them live? If I had to guess they are suffering here. They're surviving without living....."

"A part of living is experiencing everything the world has to offer. That includes living with the risks. When learning how to survive, there will be a few scraped knees, but if you don't let them scrape their knees, how will they learn? I applaud your efforts here m'lady... but you're not keeping them alive.... you're merely prolonging their purgatory. Why keep them alive if every day is filled with suffering and torment? I'm sure at some point, some of them would rather prefer to experience but a few short moments of the world and die... than to stay imprisoned here."

"That is not to say that your bravery and willingness to help is wrong... but you are their guardian.... you are here to guard them... not shelter them." The demoness then bowed her head again, and offered a sympathetic look after her little rambling.

[Varos Talantos]

Forgery watched the mini-battle playing out before him and listened intently to their statements. The unstable Demon immediately pulled a backstroke after realizing he was going to only anger this creature with his current tactics... at least he was smart enough to recognize a flawed strategy. The snake-being continued her own clever strategy... perhaps it would win out in the end, but Forgery wasn't sure.

Finally the Demoness spoke and everyone was quiet as she did so. After she had finished, Forgery smirked and looked back at Ursula for a response. The Mermaid stood, looking stunned by the female Demon's words... as if her eyes had been opened. She looked almost appalled and blinked as a few tears strolled down her smooth, youthful face. Forgery had only seen Ursula cry twice in her long life; this was atypical.

She stuttered a moment as she began a return to what the Demoness said, but stopped, seemingly realizing that it was an ineffectual statement. Her mind's gears were obviously working and she bit her lip contemplatively. After a long silence she stopped working at her lip and set her jaw in a clenched fashion. She walked three short paces to her right and picked up a dagger. She turned her head at the three and, looking directly at the one who most recently spoke, nodded firmly. "You are wise, fair being. If you are as old as you look, beyond your years. But I sense you must be far older than you appear for the wisdom that you have spoken."

Ursula twisted the handle of the bladed weapon and the bottom sprung open, releasing a key into her waiting hand. She hurried over to the cage and placed the key into a large lock on the side and turned it after taking what she must have been sure would be her last breath.

Without a grunt or any sign of struggle, she flung the heavy iron grate open and took one step to the side as her people calmly emerged from their long-standing cage. A single one, head high in a proud way approached Ursula alone (who handed her the dagger that had held the key). The proud one raised the dagger and threw it to the other side of the cavern. "You were misguided. We recognize your dedication and that you have only learned from this. There will be no punishment." After she finished speaking, she pulled Ursula into a great embrace which left Ursula crying.

Meanwhile, a graceful, tall Mermaid with silvery hair glided over to the trio. "Your help has been inexplicable. You have restored us to our seas and now we have something for you." She turned to her right and collected three large conch shells from another Mermaid who had plucked the items from a nearby shelf carved into the cavern wall. The graceful one continued, "These are the most valuable things we can bestow upon you." She handed one to each of the creatures. "When you blow through the narrow end, we will all hear and come to your aid as will any aquatic life that is near you. It's magic will be strong for all time and as long as you live it may serve you well. Do not misuse it or this gift will be removed and you will never see one of us or be aided through any influence of ours again." She bowed deeply and the rest of the Mermaids followed, including the proud Mermaid and Ursula. The graceful one spoke once more. "We are eternally indebted."

Forgery watched with a grin on his face. They'd done it. He stood up and slapped his hands together. "Good job, everyone! It's so happy, isn't it?" He pointed his finger at the submarines and the hatches smashed shut and latched themselves. "Now, let's clean up and get home, shall we?" The front of the submarines crumpled violently and water flowed freely into the vessels, but the cracks were not large enough for a Human to get through. The vessels sunk to their watery grave, bubbles trailing behind.

"No need for them spoiling the confidentiality of us all, hm?" He grinned wickedly and point at the trio. "As for you, I'm sure you'll want to be going home." With a snap of his finger, the three, and Forgery, too, vanished from the cavern and back where they'd all started, though the submarines were missing and a silver goblet was resting on a nearby rock. "Now. If you've any questions, ask them quickly and we'll get them answered. If not, sip from the chalice and whatever place you have in your mind while you drink is where you'll be.... just like that." He smiled warmly, eyes glinting in the sunlight. "Anyone?"[/size]

[Stilia Medusa]

She blinked, surprised. The demoness certainly spun wise words, and it did Stilia a feeling of happiness. The woman was like a heroine from one of her books, saying exactly the right thing. It gave her trip to the cold ocean that wonderful allure again, like it was a story. And she nodded in agreement to the woman’s words.

It was that that secured it, and she could see that Ursula saw the knowledge in the demoness words, and Stilia had to agree with the mermaid’s as well. The demoness certainly spoke to wisely to be of such a young appearance, and Stilia did hope that as her life progressed the same golden tongue and knowledge would be blessed upon her. Soon, the shells were bestowed upon them, and she thanked the mermaid who gave it to them; the crew was destroyed, which didn’t even faze Stilia, seeing the sense in it; and they were returned to their departing point. She regarded the shell in her hands, and lookedover to the demoness. “I must say, your words would do any Gorgon proud. They were as honest as Ishtara’s and as clever as Forgery’s. They were indeed wise, and as enchanting as a Euryale’s song. I find it a pleasure to have met someone with a tongue as clever as yours.”

She cast a glance at the boy. “Rashness you have shown, and rashness you have restrained, which was a well done feat considering your shown personality.” She said, in a way that made it both a compliment and a criticism. Finally, she turned to their summoner. “Although I know not of whom you truly are, your power is respectable, and I do thank you for choosing me. Unless we do perchance meet again, I bid my adieu.”

She approached the silvered goblet, and brought the cup to her lips, swallowing but a small amount of the liquid inside. Next thing she knew, she was before her nest, but not for the reasons of staying. No, the Gorgoness had experienced something like she had never felt before, and decided that she could not simply stay in the nest her whole life. It was time to talk to the Elders.

[Solemn Creed]

Sol listened patiently as both the apparent demoness and gorgon spoke but he listened especially to the demoness who had spoked last. Her words were so simple, elegant, and they carried the sort of emotion that seemed just right to break the guardian of the mermaids. She was successful in her intent and the mermaid began to weep. She then preceeded to unlock the cages releasing the captives within. Sol was presented with a magical conch that he was told that were he to blow in it they would come to aid him. All of the others were likewise presented with a conch and Sol immediatly understood that this was an enormous honor and that under no conditions should he abuse it. the man then teleported them back to where it all started and asked them if they had any questions.

[glow=red,2,300]" Yes my good man, i have but one and that is who are you? I would greatly enjoy knowing."[/glow] Sol asked in as polite a respectful manner as he possibly knew to the one who had the power to do with them as he wished. As Sol stood there he patiently awaited an answer.

[Varos Talantos]

Forgery smirked at the Demon. "I can understand the bluntness you possess, Solemn Creed. It is a gift, from my understanding, in the minds of many of this planet. I can hardly stand it, but that is because I am Forgery Zaytsev, the one our recently departed Gorgon friend spoke of. Our personalities and tactics differ greatly and I do not hate you for it." He moved closer to the Demon and placed his face close to his, whispering in a rasp voice, "But I do pity you." His Asian face flashed away, revealing his true appearance, cracked flesh, blind eye, and all. He grinned at the Demon and his Asian form took over again. He stepped backwards from the Demon with his signature smirk.

"Now. Think of a happy place." He raised his left hand, snapped his finger, and the Demon was gone. Forgery snickered. "Hope he thought of a good one."

[Rennia Trayvold]

The demoness watched as her words sunk in. Her deep red eyes were hidden by her eyelids as she slowly closed her eyes in a blink before opening them. She gave yet another bow as the woman spoke to her. She was surprised that her first round was all it took. Rennia had been prepared to argue her position, but it seemed that she didn't need to. "I speak partly from experience I suppose...." Her look became momentarily distant again as she remembered said moment.

She raised her head and looked over as she watched Ursula wander over to the prison and release the mermaids. She even tilted her head as the one approached her. For a moment, the demoness thought that was the end of her. That thought was quickly dispelled as the dagger was thrust across the clearing. Her eyes traced that dagger as it spun and hit the ground, skittering it's way to a stop.

Rennia turned her attention to the mermaid who made her way up to the three of them. She remained silent as the woman spoke, holding out her hands to delicately take the conch shell that was offered to her. She then slid it carefully into the bag she kept at her side, taking great care to keep it out of harm's way. As etiquette demanded, Rennia offered her own bow in return to the mermaid who had offered the gift. Then she watched the rest of them as they made their way about.

Her attention however soon snapped over to Forgery, whom spoke only but a simple line before the three vessels they had made their voyage on suddenly began to crumple. Rennia's eyes snapped over to the vessels and she watched as the three iron ships became tombs for the men upon them. What a waste, was about the only thought Ren had. She looked back to Forgery only in time for them to be instantly transported back to where the whole thing had started. This time, however, the subs were gone... for good no less, and there was a silver cup there. Forgery kept it brief, and explained the purpose of the cup, to send them to wherever it was they wished to go....

Then the Gorgon approached her, and spoke to her. Rennia offered a slight smile, a placating one at best. Smiles generally weren't something Rennia did often, but she did it in this case to be polite. When she had finished speaking, Rennia paused momentarily before offering up her own reply. "There are times when one should tell someone what they want to hear, and there are times when one should tell someone what they need to hear. I believed, and correctly apparently, that this was one of the times when the latter is correct. Her heart was in the right place, but she was misguided in her pursuit to protect them. She saw what she wanted to see, and that was the survival of their kind. I merely showed her what she needed to see, in hopes that she would find a way to correct her efforts, and continue them through different means."

Rennia waited until the Gorgon had left, and then after her the demon male. She considered, and even almost attempted to stop the male and give him her opinion on his actions in the previous events, but she stopped herself. Even if she had, she felt it would make no difference. That one was bound to do what he wanted, when he wanted to. Not that there was anything wrong with living your life how you wanted, Rennia just didn't feel like wasting her efforts telling him how much she didn't appreciate him risking her life along with his. That was something Rennia was very keen on. Risk your life all you want, but don't drag her into it.

After the two had left, she gazed over at Forgery. For a long time she gazed at him in silence, before she slowly closed her eyes once again and tilted her head in a recognizing nod. "And so we meet again Forgery. With a different face as always. Though I suppose now is when you tell me you picked me because you knew I would say that, isn't it? To be honest, a part of me is disappointed. I wanted to show you what this 'soulless weapon' could do. Or I could have gotten out her...But I suppose it all turned out for the better." The demoness offered a shrug.

"I suppose the only questions I have are... Have the gods decided to return to this forsaken world after all? And why of all people did you pick me. There have to be countless more qualified people than me to have done that.... so why did you pick me of everyone?"

She waited for her answers before she would wander over to the cup. She took in a deep sigh before reaching down to pick it up. She gazed into the cup for a moment before looking back to Forgery. ".... Anywhere... huh?" She then gazed back to the cup and brought it to her lips for a sip.

Immediately the world melted away and she was instantaneously transported a world away to a small tropical island. She gazed around the once happy cheerful landscape. Now it was all bleak and dreary. Years had passed since that fateful day, and ever since then the land had fallen into decay. The buildings that once dotted the main island, it's 'capital' were now crumbled ruins. The trees had all died, as had the grass. Rennia proceeded through the streets of what had once been a proud city. The eerie silence made even the slightest noise echo loudly. Even though there was water all around them, it made not a sound, stiller than still.

Finally Rennia made her way to an island that had been called 'Sunbright'. Here she came upon a few rows of small stones. She walked over to one of them and knelt down in front of it and reached out with her hand. She gently brushed off the dust that had collected on the stone to partially reveal writing on what was, now, clearly a headstone. The name remained hazy and unreadable however. She knelt there in silence for several minutes before she took in another heavy breath and sighed once more.

"I met someone today you might have related to...." She couldn't help but smile, even during the somber moment, and even a faint laugh as she began talking to the grave. "She was so much like you. She wanted to defend her people... just like you did. I... Just wish you would have been there to meet her... to set her straight.... She could have learned so much from you." She took in another deep breath, fighting back a few tears. "I'm sorry I haven't stopped by. I'll try better in the future... I promise." With that, the demoness stood up, casting one last lingering look upon the headstone before turning to gaze at the others there. Memories flooded back to the demoness of the inviduals buried there. She bit her lower lip and closed her eyes, breathing deeply to steady herself. Every part of her wanted to let out the feelings buried deep inside of her, but she resisted that urge. She finally turned and made her way back towards the town.

Now it was time she saw about finishing her mission.....

[Varos Talantos]

"I suppose the only questions I have are... Have the gods decided to return to this forsaken world after all? And why of all people did you pick me. There have to be countless more qualified people than me to have done that.... so why did you pick me of everyone?"

Forgery stood solemnly as the last of the three spoke, poker-faced as it were possible. She voiced her questions and felt the need to let him know she remembered him, though, of course, He knew already. It was acceptable, though. Most beings lost their memory over time (especially such a long one) and Gods were the exception, not the rule.

Rennia finished her questions and only after a few seconds silence would Forgery answer (to ensure he didn't interrupt and as a show of respect). "Yes, some of us have. There are some still bound up in Shangri-La, but a few of us are trying to set things right." He cocked his head at her. "You, Rennia, are always more comfortable with violence, bloodshed, gore. You still believe someone else could have done better... perhaps you are right. Regardless, if you learn anything, hopefully you've learned that sometimes words are more powerful than guns. Hopefully you've learned that you can solve problems in other fashions than brutal slayings. Don't misunderstand me, I'm a fan of Death and His work by all means! However, by recognizing the power held in violence... and in words..." Forgery smiled at Rennia sincerely as he attempted to bestow knowledge. "Only then can one begin a path to true power." He closed his mouth, obviously finished and the Demoness walked over to the goblet.

He nodded in reply to her final question and after she drank it, she vanished. The cup remained there on the rock again and Forgery picked it up. Lifting it, he announced to evidently nobody, "Cheers, Ishtara, you bitch. Messed you up some more." He sneered and sipped from the cup.