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Chapter Text

Xie Lian never imagined his life would look like this. But he supposed his actions led him to this night. Not that he could bring himself to regret a single moment. His only regret was that he had lost the love of his life, his mate. Or, who would have been his mate if he hadn’t died. 

It wasn’t unusual for the mer to wander off into open water. His parents had tried and tried to keep his curious nature from getting him into trouble. They warned him about the evil and cruel ways of man. But not even those warnings were enough to stop the beautiful mermaid. 

The young mer would often tail passing ships. Listening to the merriment of sailors and the melodies played on their instruments. Sometimes, if he was lucky, he would find a trinket or two that would fall off the ship. He didn’t know what they were, but that never stopped the mer from collecting them. 

One night Xie Lian encountered a sinking ship in the middle of a storm…. 

Xie Lian saw a figure slowly sinking into the fathoms below. He was unconscious and was going to die if the mer did nothing. Everything his parents warned him about rushed into his brain. That a human would rather hurt him, use him, or sell him than be kind. 

But faced with a life that was going to perish, Xie Lian couldn’t find it in himself to abandon them. So he dragged the boy to the surface, hitting his back to force out the water in his lungs. It took a while but eventually the boy cough up the water, but he was still nonresponsive. 

Not sure what to do, Xie Lian looked around for anyone to help the boy. When he saw everyone sailing on small boats, Xie Lian tried to reach them, but the current was to strong, and the waves kept crashing down on them. In desperation, Xie Lian was looking for anything to help them. 

That’s when he saw it. An island not far from where the human ship was sinking. Xie Lian put the boy on his back, wrapping the boy's arms around his neck, and dove under the waves. 

When they reached the shoreline, they were a good ways away from the storm. Xie Lian dragged the boy as far as he could onto the sandy beach, his body was not meant to be on land. 

Taking a rest, the mermaid finally looked at the boy, and his breath was taken away. This wasn’t a boy, it was a young man. 

A young man who rivaled the beauty of some mers in his pod. His hair was black like night and even though he was wet, Xie Lian knew his hair was soft as silk. His face was smooth and pale like the moon. His lips were soft and pink. They would flush red if bitten. 

Xie Lian caught himself marveling at the beautiful man. Averting his gaze, he shifted to crawl his way back into the ocean but was stopped. The young man was holding onto his wrist. When he looked up to look at the human’s face, Xie Lian felt something in his heart shift. His eyes. Oh, his eyes were the most beautiful pair of phoenix eyes he had ever seen. One eye was black like obsidian, and the other a brilliant crimson red. 

He never stood a chance. 

The rest was history.

They fell in love. At least Xie Lian hoped the feeling was mutual. Xie Lian had heard of humans simply mating for pleasure, not just to have babies. And with many others, not just their mates. And sometimes, they didn’t even stay with the mates they choose. San Lang explained that humans sometimes stop loving their mates. For Mer folk, giving up their virtue for their beloved meant everything to a mermaid. It meant they were mates, and their souls were entwined for life, and after. There was no undoing the bond. 

It was such a foreign concept to consider whether a human would consider a mermaid their mate. Mer folk wouldn’t. That should have been all the warning Xie Lian needed. He had tried not to fall the charming human boy. He really did. Even if his human lover never accepted Xie Lian as his, that was fine. Heartbreak wasn’t a foreign concept to him, and Xie Lian had given up his virtue. He couldn’t find it in his heart to regret it. 

Time had escaped him, it was only after his mate died that Xie Lian realized it had been months since he left his pod. Heart wreaked from grief, Xia Lian searched for his pod. With nothing left to keep the young mer around humans, it was time to go home. Even when home didn’t feel like home anymore. 

It was nearly dusk when his calls were finally answered by members of his pod. Shi Qingxuan was the first to greet him, swimming towards him with great speed. The two mers greeted each other in clicks and chirps. It was a much warmer welcome than he was expecting. The two mers joined the rest of the pod, and Jun Wu, the clan leader welcomed him back. 

Xie Lian barely remembers those moments, he was just lucky no one realized he had been mated. If it had been with another mer, it would have been clear as day that Xie Lian had found a mate that was not Jun Wu. There would have been scratches and bite marks to prove a pair had mated, and the exchange of their most precious pearls. The first pearl a mermaid weeps. San Lang was human, and Xie Lian doubts San Lang understood the meaning behind the red pearl. He had tried to explain, but the human language was still difficult for him. 

It doesn’t matter now anyway. No one would want to mate with Xie Lian if they knew the truth. Not that he would want a new mate. 

The elder mer had been courting Xie Lian for months before he left. Everyone thought it was a perfect match, both were strong and beautiful. Any offspring sired by Jun Wu were sure to be strong and healthy. But Xie Lian never saw him as a potential mate, more as a mentor who had taken him in when he lost his parents.

So it came as a complete surprise when Jun Wu held out a large white pearl to Xie Lian a few weeks after his return. Xie Lian stared blankly at it for a long time while Jun Wu spoke at him. 

“You have been of mating age for years now, and you are the only one worthy enough to be my mate. We will have strong offspring together.” 

Xie Lian didn’t know whether to laugh or cry. So he did both. Pale pearls falling to the sea floor. But Jun Wu didn’t seem to notice. 

“We will mate as soon as the breeding season—” 

“No.” 

This finally made the older mer look at Xie Lian, “I beg your pardon?” 

Xie Lian’s body was tense, he noticed Jun Wu had resumed his courting attempts, but he was praying that he would finally get the hint that the younger mer had absolutely no intention of mating with him. Now or ever. Xie Lian hissed, his webbed ears fanned out in anger and grief. 

“No. I will not mate with you.” 

“Come now, you are being unreasonable. We make a perfect pair.” 

Xie Lian had no more patience, he was more emotional these days, but who could blame him? Beautiful golden peach blossom eyes narrowed into slits. How could Jun Wu have known that the mermaid had just lost his mate? He didn’t even know Xie Lian had even been mated, to begin with.

“I’m mated.” Xie Lian growled lowly, “I gave up my pearl.”  

Xie Lian had never seen Jun Wu so furious. The older mer’s eyes looked at him in disbelief. 

“I don’t believe you, who would dare take what is mine?” 

Xie Lian’s gills sputtered in indignation, he does not belong to anyone! He is not a thing to be possessed! Jun Wu’s clawed hands gripped the mer’s arms. 

“Which mer was it? Who dared defile you? Now no one will want someone already used and sullied!”  

Xie Lian wisely kept his mouth shut, if he were to tell Jun Wu, a human-hating mer, that he had been taken by a human male, things would escalate quickly. Jun Wu snarled. 

“It doesn’t matter, my mate is dead. I will wander the seas until I join him in death.” 

“You wasted your pearl on a mer who couldn’t even survive long enough to breed you? How pathetic, but it seems you would one to take pity on just about anyone.” 

Xie Lian broke free from the elder’s grip, swimming back to have more space between the two. Hurt and offended, Xie Lian turned away, he couldn’t stop the tears. Jun Wu had a point, nothing could have ever come mating with San Lang. Xie Lian hugged himself, he felt cold. 

With nothing further to say, Jun Wu left Xie Lian, returning to his duties as the pod leader. Xie Lian swam off, wanting to be alone. He found a small cave on the sea floor and hid inside for the rest of the day. His tail curled around him defensively. 

Shi Qingxuan found him hours later, a trail of pearls leading him right to Xie Lian’s hiding place. Shi Qingxuan was a beautiful mer, with a long and frilly soft jade green tail. 

“Are you alright?” 

That was a loaded question. Xie Lian had never cried so much in his life, he didn’t even cry this much when his parents died. Xie Lian waved his friend off, trying to wipe his tears away. Shi Qingxuan set himself beside the small opening, humming softly. 

“I’m sorry about your mate. I didn’t know.” 

Xie Lian sighed. Playing with the string of red pearls decorated on his waist and on the beginning of his tail fluke. He’s a mess. 

“The pod is leaving soon.” 

Xie Lian nods his head, sniffing one last time before he leaves his hiding place and joins his friend as they swim back to the pod. None of the other members seem to know that Xie Lian is no longer a desirable mate. Not that he cared, but he really didn’t want judgmental looks. It was bad enough knowing that his best friend knew he was dirty and used, he didn’t want others to know his business. 

The pod continued on with their voyage up north, but Xie Lian was finding it very difficult to want to follow them. It felt wrong to travel into colder waters. It made Xie Lian more irritable than usual. Actually, Shi Qingxuan has commented that Xie Lian is much more sensitive than usual. And hungrier.

“Even your tail looks a little dull as of late,” The mer said as he swallowed a mackerel whole. 

Xie Lian looked down at his tail, Shi Qingxuan did have a point. He was looking a bit more, pale. Not to mention Xie Lian had suddenly become more hostile toward anyone who swam a bit too close to him. As if he was protecting his personal space.

Which was not normal, Xie Lian was social just like the other mers. He nearly bit someone’s hand off. 

Also, it was disturbing that Xie Lian was eating seaweed. Mers do eat seaweed, but only when a mer was gravid or in desperate need of nutrients. And Xie Lian had not mated during the breeding season. Breeding season was late summer, so they could give birth in the following spring in warmer waters. San Lang had mated him mid-winter. There would be no eggs to fertilize. And even if they somehow did fertilize, it would surely be impossible for any of Xie Lian’s eggs to be viable. The parents were two completely different species. 

The final nail in the coffin that Xie Lian was not carrying, was that there was no bond. Mated pairs had bonds, but so do babies with their mothers almost immediately when they are conceived. Xie Lian spent an entire night feeling for any sign of life or bond. There was nothing. 

Nearly a month later, they arrived at their destination, and Xie Lian was not doing well. Jun Wu approached him again one night. 

“I am willing to mate you, even if you are already used.” 

Xie Lian felt like he was going to be sick. Not just from Jun Wu’s words, but just in general. He honestly moved on from their last encounter. Perhaps it was too much hope that Jun Wu would notice that one of his pod members was sick. Could be dying from heartbreak. 

“I already said—“ 

“I’ve forgiven your transgression. You were foolish and gullible.” 

Foolish and gullible he might be, but this was not something Xie Lian cared to be forgiven for. He doesn’t regret his actions, even if it left him in his current state. In desperation for Jun Wu to get it through his thick skull, Xie Lian didn’t think, “I mated with a human!”

Everything was still, Jun Wu stared at Xie Lian in disgust and shock. Xie Lian felt like a sardine being gutted. Xie Lian curled in on himself, he didn’t feel safe at all.

In a blind rage, Jun Wu lashed out. Both mers baring their fangs at each other, but Jun Wu was older and had more experience. He easily overpowered Xie Lian and attempted to force a mating between the two of them. 

Once a mermaid's heart made a bond with a loved one, there was no breaking it. Even if San Lang had been human, the mer’s heart acknowledge him, even if nothing there could come from their mating. No bond. No babies. Nothing. If Jun Wu mated with Xie Lian, it would force a bond on his heart, a heart that was already filled with someone else. It will kill Xie Lian.

Consumed with grief, and tired from his weakened body, Xie Lian didn’t see the point in fighting anymore. He didn’t have the strength. If only to stop feeling the endless abyss of despair. He would join San Lang in the afterlife.

He stopped resisting, lying still on his back like a corpse. Jun Wu was biting at his neck, preventing him from escaping. The blood would surely attract sharks. Only after spending several minutes completely still, Jun Wu released his jaws on the mermaid’s pale neck and moved downwards to claim his reward. 

But it was at that moment that Xie Lian felt it. A sense of fear that was not his own. And his wounded, shattered heart, felt the tug of a bond. The mermaid had never moved so fast in his life. 

Catching Jun Wu by surprise, he hissed and smacked his fluke so powerfully against the elder mer, it stunned him. Xie Lian didn’t waste time in his escape. Swimming away.

Jun Wu had tried to give chase but was stopped when the other pod members returned. Screeching and hissing in the commotion. 

Xie Lian never bothered to look back. So he swam and swam for days. It was only after many days that the mermaid finally stopped when he was certain that he would not be followed. That he was safe. He rested on the seabed for hours and ate the poor fish that foolishly swam nearby.

He had stopped swimming aimlessly and decided to return to the place where he felt safest. The lagoon on an island where he had taken San Lang. It was isolated, with warm waters, and a large coral reef filled with food and protection. Xie Lian even found a cave to make a nest in. It was perfect for the grieving mer. 

Now, inside the safety of a cave he found, Xie Lian was finally in peace. The feeling of the bond had completely surprised him. He had been so sure he wasn't carrying. Yet here he was, happily expecting his first baby. Xie Lian would stop himself from remembering that this baby would also be his last.

It hurt too much. There were piles of fish bones, clam shells, and lobster shells littering the cave. He had gorged himself, then groomed his tail and hair. A soft content smile never left his face, even as he was sleeping right now, he was smiling. Dreaming about the baby growing safely inside him. 

The following morning Xie Lian was ravenous again and ate to his heart’s, and baby’s, content. Once satisfied, Xie Lian got to work on making the cave much more nest like. Using his tail, he sifted the sand, creating a large mound with an obvious dent inside. Xie Lian didn’t bother trying to resist his instincts, letting them take over. He was trilling softly as he went about his day getting materials for the nest.  

He collected a variety of various soft corals such as green star polyps, hammer, and toadstool, combined with seaweed and seagrasses to create a cushion of safety for the baby and mother to sleep in. Once he was certain the nest was soft enough, the mer curled up inside and let out please chirps and purring. It was big enough to coil his long silver white tail in but small enough that when he stretched, his tail hung out. It was perfect. 

Now with proper food and warmer waters, Xie Lian’s scales were beginning to regain their shimmer. Not completely, of course, nutrients were diverted to the baby. But Xie Lian was in bliss. Everything was perfect. The only thing Xie Lian was missing, was his mate. He still wept sometimes, at night. When he felt his baby was asleep through their bond. With all the pearls he shed, he thought it best to decorate the nest with them. He even took off his string of red pearls from his waist. He played with them mindlessly sometimes. 

A few months had gone by when one morning he woke with his stomach distended just so. His belly was distended but not obvious in the way it would be for humans. It was a gentle curve. Carefully, he cups at it, a pleased trill leaves his throat. This was a good sign. It was nearing the end of spring, he was beginning to worry the baby would be too small. They still might be, mer babies are amazingly tiny. But usually, there was more than just one. As far as Xie Lian could tell, he was just carrying one. 

A very small clutch that would bring a mer’s worth into question but Xie Lian never bothered to think about how small this litter would be. Considering the baby would be half human, Xie Lian didn’t hold himself to mer standards. He simply lived in peace. He was so relaxed in the lagoon, there were no predators or passing ships to worry about. He even made friends with an albino moray eel who he named Ruoye. 

He would often find himself playing with the eel when he wanted company. Being alone was daunting sometimes. Especially since he had no one to ask about what to do when the baby was born. Most mer’s say that new mothers should just trust their instincts, they’re usually never wrong. But Xie Lian didn’t know if his instincts would have answers if his baby needed something humany. Figuring he’d cross that trench when he got to it, Xie Lian continued to spend his days peacefully. 

Now, many months later, at the end of summer, Xie Lian was preparing for another change. The waters were still warm since he was in tropical waters. But ut was dark, and safe from open water. It wouldn’t be long now, he would give birth tonight. The tiny creature inside his womb was his most precious treasure given to him. The baby had unknowingly saved their mother. When Xie Lian felt the baby’s fear through the bond, that was the moment the mermaid learned that his mating with San Lang had borne fruit. It just saddened the mermaid that his first memory of learning about their baby was that their first attempt at communicating with him had been filled with fear. 

Xie Lian hissed, his silver white iridescent tail twitching in pain, a contraction. His clawed hand gently ran over his abdomen. He could feel his baby moving. His large frilled powerful fluke swished in the water. The mer smiled. 

His hair was freed from his usual red coral hairpiece, flowing beautifully around him like a halo of warm brown. He was resting on the warm white sand beneath the surface of the waves, his back resting against the coral. His gills took in large gulps every time he felt a spasm of pain. His tail would coil tightly around his stomach protectively. 

His clawed hand gently reached down, searching for the softer scales around his cloaca. Once he found it, he hissed in pain, the slit swollen, and painful, but open wide. In another spasm, the mer moaned in pain. 

Once the contraction ended, Xie Lian quickly swam upwards and began to swim in slow imperfect circles. The only sources of light came from the crescent moon and the sea sparkle algae were his only companions. It was comforting and blissfully quiet. Letting the gentle currents rock him, easing his pain. The lull of the waves nearly rocked him to sleep. Every few minutes, the expectant mother was gingerly checking the progress of the birth. Each time that he felt no progress, he would continue his circles. 

But the moon had risen higher in the night sky the next time Xie Lian looked up. He’s been laboring for hours now. The mer let out a coo through their bond, trying to encourage the baby to travel down his birth canal. The contractions were on top of each other, but nothing more seems to progress. Quickly, the mer felt the bond between mother and child, searching for any sign of distress from the infant. 

Happy 

Tired

His baby wasn’t in any pain, which relieved the mer, but why wasn’t the birth progressing? Was the baby stuck? Was there something wrong with his birth canal? The sharp pricks of worry began to poke at his heart. The mer’s tail swayed in agitation. Mers gave birth at night in near darkness, warm waters, and silence. To not attract any predators.

While Xie Lian had ensured that there was no danger, his instincts were beginning to rile up. Telling him that they had been too close to the surface for far too long. That a predator was stalking them for its next meal. This was not normal. His baby should have been born by now. He should be grooming the blood and slime off his baby. He should be holding them in his arms. He should be nursing. A fearful trill left his throat. 

Something was wrong.

Xie Lian was no longer soothed by the dark open waters, he wanted to go to the lagoon, to the shore. His instincts screaming at him to leave the water. But the other part of his instincts told him that land was dangerous. That there were more dangers and he would be more vulnerable. He wouldn’t be able to protect his child if a predator took an interest. 

Blinded by birthing pains, the mermaid didn’t have the patience nor the strength to debate which felt right. He would just have to take his chances on land. Hopefully, his baby inherited their sire’s luck. Xie Lian didn’t dwell to think about the fact that not even luck saved San Lang.

Abandoning his circles, he swims towards the island lagoon, and up the sandy beach. Using his arms to pull himself ashore. The waves rock against him gently, moving him slightly back and forth in a calming rhythmic motion. Soothing his back, his tail splashes against the waves as he tilted to his side, turning toward the sea, unused lungs huffing for air.

Now above water, with just his tail in the sea, his body finally seems to respond to the contractions. Dry land and air signaling to the mermaid that finally, Xie Lian is where he needs to give birth. He feels the urge to push. So he does, with all he has. 

He moans as his body spasms agonizingly. His claws digging into the sand. His tail slapping against the surface of the water. His body felt like he was being burned alive while being ripped apart. His lungs strained to get more air, his gills useless. His heart was filled with panic. 

Was this normal? Did giving birth really hurt this much? Xie Lian had never seen a mermaid in as much pain as he felt. Nor had he witnessed any member of his pod give birth on land. 

He pushed those thoughts far to the back of his mind. Now was not the time to panic or think about anything other than birthing his offspring. Another contraction flooded his brain, and a guttural sound escaped his lips, that one had been particularly painful. But it seemed to speed things along because the next thing Xie Lian felt was a drop. Something just entered his birth canal. 

Xie Lian, laden with exhaustion, couldn’t help the tired smile forming on his face. His baby was almost here. When the baby dropped, his tail went limp. Weakly twitching at every contraction. Xie Lian had shut his eyes as he snarled, tilting his hips in a rocking motion, blood and fluids escaping from his opening. His senses were overloaded as his frilled ears were fanned out, twitching at every sound the island made. 

Finally, with the crescent moon at its peak, did the mer feel the baby crowning, renewed with strength, he pushed one final time, and the baby slipped out. His clawed hands caught the baby with amazing speed. The mermaid laughed in joy, and tears overflowed, turning into white pearls before they hit the sand. 

Quickly, with the utmost care, he cleaned off the gunk and birthing fluids from the baby’s nose and mouth. Tearing open the the thin membrane covering them. The baby took their first breaths of air and began wailing for all to hear. Xie Lian will never forget that sweet sound. His baby was a girl if his memory of human anatomy served him well, San Lang had been quite, thorough when explaining the difference between human males and females. 

Looking down, the gentle waves were washing away the little blood he shed, his slit swollen and puffy. It looked red and abused, but the mermaid couldn’t care less. He was enamored with the sight of his child. It didn’t occur to the mermaid that normally, the tail is what comes out first. Not the head. 

Exhausted, the mer nearly collapsed to the white sand, his tail coiling around them protectively. Finally taking the opportunity to take in the features of his baby. Her head was covered with tufts of dark chocolate brown hair, soft fragile pale skin like her sire’s, and—

Xie Lian stared in mild surprise. A pair of tiny chubby legs. Kicking against his chest. 

Now his instincts made sense. Her father was human, the mer should have considered that when he was preparing for her birth. It never crossed his mind. Quickly, he looked over the baby, searching for gills, webbed ears, or scales. 

The baby cooed, enjoying her mother’s gentle prodding. Xie Lian felt his heart clench. She only had lungs. And with no gills or a tail, she wouldn’t have been able to swim to the surface. Had he given birth in the ocean, she would have drowned. Her life would have ended just as it began. He would have lost her too. Xie Lian doubted he would have been able to survive her death. 

Sensing her mother’s negative emotions, the baby began to cry. Snapping the mer away from his darkened thoughts. Xie Lian kissed his daughter’s cheek, making cooing sounds. Soothing her. 

It doesn’t do anything to think about that now. He followed his instincts and safely gave birth on land. It didn’t matter to him she was nearly entirely human looking. He hadn’t checked her eyes yet. She hadn’t opened them. 

Gently wiping the gunk off, the baby finally opened her eyes, earning a gasp from her mother. Her eyes were the most magnificent, glowing apple red that turned into gold ombre at the bottom half of her irises. A perfect blend of her parents. 

Xie Lian stood no chance against them. He felt butterflies in his stomach, elated. She looked so much like San Lang. A piece of his beloved lived on through their daughter. The mer’s smile dimmed a little, it was a bittersweet thought. 

Hungry

This was a new feeling he felt in their bond. Of course, when his daughter was inside of him, she was never hungry, her umbilical cord providing her with the nutrients her mother painstakingly procured in his hunts. But now that she no longer was connected to him other than the bond between mother and child, she was experiencing her first sensation of hunger. 

Pain

The baby girl began to cry, she was uncomfortable and didn’t like this strange new feeling of hunger. Xie Lian was more than familiar with this pain. He won’t ever let her feel the pain of starvation if he had anything to say about it. 

Propping himself up, the mermaid held her against his slightly swollen chest, helping her latch onto him. With a blissful smile, he began to nurse her. 

If this is how humans gave birth, it was no wonder they mated for pleasure instead of reproduction purposes. And a wonder as to why there are so many humans. But now he had his answer. He would do it again in a flick of a tail. Even if it brought him heartache.

San Lang, I wish you could meet her.

Chapter Text

The following morning, Xie Lian woke up with an unpleasant start. His skin and tail had been exposed to direct sunlight for far too long that he was dying up. The tide had gone down, he was beached on the sand. When he tried to sit up, his entire body jolted, aches of pain from birth. It hurt to move. Irritated, Xie Lian growled at no one in particular. 

His baby startled awake at her mother’s movements and growls. Xie Lian nuzzled her cheek, assuring her that everything was fine. The gentle touch was enough to calm her down. Xie Lian looked back to the waves, annoyed. Huffing at the predicament, Xie Lian gently set the baby down on the sand before immediately picking her back up when she whimpered. 

Hot

Xie Lian was growing very irritated. He needed to get back into the water or he’d dry out, but he can’t take the baby with him or she’d drown. His tail smacked against the sand. Earning a hiss of pain. Looking at the crook of his arm, his baby didn’t look all that pleased to still be under the sun’s harsh rays. Xie Lian’s head tilted as he thought of what to do. 

He could go into the water and just make sure her head was above the water so she could breathe and cool off. She may be more human but Xie Lian doubts anyone liked getting burned by the sun. Mind made up, Xie Lian crawled back towards the waves. Ignoring the pain near his cloaca as the hot sand irritated his sores. 

The moment the cool water touched his skin and tail, Xie Lian couldn’t stop the content trill. The water was already doing wonders in healing his body. The waves rocked them both, Xie Lian dove down with his baby, quickly swimming to deeper water in a matter of seconds before breaching the surface, holding his baby up so she could breathe. 

His daughter seemed to like how fast he swam, immediately feeling better now with the seawater cooling her skin. She cooed as her legs kicked. Xie Lian chuckled. Using one hand, Xie Lian began to groom himself. Wanting to be rid of the dried blood and birth fluids. Once that was done, Xie Lian laid the baby on his chest as his tail floated to the surface. Once satisfied she wouldn’t fall off his chest, Xie Lian floated on his back. Exactly like how a mother otter would carry her offspring on her stomach while she groomed and fed herself. 

Xie Lian washed out his hair, moving carefully so as to not jostle his daughter. His tail swayed gently against the current. He had no intention of being carried off to open water. Once that was done, Xie Lian nuzzled his baby, encouraging her to latch on his nipple so she could nurse while he groomed her. 

His clawed hands were dangerous, they could easily tear through fish scales and human skin. His baby’s skin seemed even more fragile, but so were newborn mers. Letting his instincts guide him, Xie Lian cleaned off the rest of the tissue and gunk from his baby’s neck, ears, tiny toes and fingers, and hair. She had fallen asleep by the time he was done. Lulled by his heartbeat. It was her first lullaby, listening to his heart when she was in his womb. 

As much as Xie Lian wanted to simply bask in the presence of his treasure, Xie Lian needed to hunt. Not just for himself, but for her. Xie Lian noticed she had no teeth, just cute pink gums. Meaning that she would need to nurse him for an unknown amount of time, which meant he needed to hunt to feed himself, so he could make milk for her. Hunting and defending territory was the role mer fathers were responsible for while the mothers stayed in the nest and protected their young from predators and nursed. 

But Xie Lian had no mate, so all responsibilities fell on him. He didn’t know what were the roles of human parents for human babies. Between, hunting, nursing, grooming, protecting his territory, and adapting to his half human offspring’s needs, he had his work cut out for him. Not wanting to waste any more time, Xie Lian swam back to shore, this time to the rocky parts of the beach where tidepools were deep enough for the mer. 

Finding a shady section of the rocks, the mer laid his daughter stomach up on the rock. He whined, it wasn’t ideal. But for now, it was all he could do. The tidepools were more than likely going to be his new home from now on. It saddened the mer, leaving behind the nest he lovingly built for her arrival. 

His instincts screamed at him to not leave her unprotected. They still didn’t know if the island was entirely safe. With a pain stricken look on his face, he kissed her cheek before letting go of the rocks and sinking into the water. He had just turned his back for a moment when a large wave crashed over them. The baby was swept away by the waves into the water. 

Sheer panic overtook the mer. He dove straight down, lifting her above the water. Webbed ears fanned out, and wide eyes looked over the baby. She was unharmed and cooing. Xie Lian stared at her in shock, water was dripping from her nose and mouth. And her skin no longer felt like it was too dry. 

“Baobei, can you breathe like A-Niang?” 

Of course, the baby didn’t respond, but Xie Lian slowly sank under the water, taking her with him. His tailed coiled, ready to spring up to the surface the moment he found she couldn’t breathe. Through careful experimentation, Xie Lian discovered that her lungs could breathe underwater. And her skin needs seawater to stay healthy. 

Overjoyed, Xie Lian nuzzled her and chirped excitedly. The mer was in shock and awe but relieved that they wouldn’t have to be separated from what was familiar and safer for him. He would return to the beach if needed for her development, walking was something Xie Lian knew she had to learn. How he was going to teach her, he had no idea. That would have been left to San Lang.

Xie Lian sighed but still held his smile. It was bittersweet, they made a perfect child, yet Xie Lian was the only one who knew about their treasure. Maybe San Lang did know, maybe he was looking after them in the heavens. It was comforting to think about San Lang that way.

Snapping himself out of his musings, Xie Lian started swimming back to the cave. 

The first thing Xie Lian did was show his baby the nest he made. She had no worthwhile comment about it, but when her tiny hands clutched tightly onto the soft coral, Xie Lian nearly died from how cute and precious she looked. 

Xie Lian, now feeling more at ease leaving her in the nest, left the coral reef in search of more fatty fish. He returned a few hours later, right on time to nurse the baby. He had been successful on his hunt, he would not settle for anything less than what his baby deserved. She deserved a mother who was a capable hunter, who ate the fattest and nutrient rich fish, to make milk and protect her. And that’s exactly what Xie Lian was going to do.

If anyone was foolish enough to enter a dark cave at night saw Xie Lian, they would be terrified at the sight of glowing slitted golden eyes and reflective scales. They wouldn’t have time to scream in horror, Xie Lian would make quick work of them. 

Xie Lian settled inside the nest, his tailed coiled around his daughter, like a mother boa guarding her clutch of eggs. He had moved the pearls outside of the nest, far from his daughter’s curious hands and mouth. His heart was warm and full, watching his baby’s chest rise and fall as she breathed. Her tiny hand held on tightly to his pinky as if ensuring he would stay with her all night. 

It had been a long time since he felt this happy. It had been a long time since he sang. In bliss, he closed his eyes and began to sing a gentle wordless lullaby. 

Two Years later.

Inside the cave, Xie Lian was sleeping peacefully. His head resting on his arms, which were resting against his tail, his large frilled fluke acted like a blanket, completely covering the gap in the center of the nest. 

The mermaid was roused from sleep at the sound of soft giggling, and poking against his fluke. Opening one eye, he saw a cute face peaking beneath his fluke, then pulling the fluke down to hide. Smiling, the mer closed his eyes before sitting up to stretch out his limbs. 

Opening his eyes again, he looms over his fluke, playfully tilting it up just a smidge. A happy shriek was his reward. His hands caught the giggling creature with ease. Lifting the baby over his head. A dazzling smile on the mer’s lips. 

“Good morning baobei.” Xie Lian began to pepper his daughter’s cheeks with kisses. “Did you sleep well?” 

The little girl had grown so much in the past two years. The mer had blinked his eyes and already two years had passed since her birth. Her dark brown hair was longer, and her red and gold ombre eyes sparkled with joy every time she saw him. Which was all the time. 

“Mama,” The baby cooed, grabbing onto a lock of the mermaid’s hair. 

Xie Lian settled her down on his tail as he reached for the sling he made to hold her as he went about his day. Since she had no tail, it was difficult for her to keep up with him. This is mostly true for all newborn mers, but she was the only one who would never become as fast as her parent. The fact that she could even breathe underwater was a blessing enough. 

After grooming his hair, a mermaid’s most proud feature besides their tails, he styled it for his red coral hair piece. Then he put on a thin white robe that was almost transparent, with large sleeves that ended just a little ways further than where his skin turned to the scales of his tail. It was simple and modest. His string of red pearls rested on top of the robe on his waist.

He found these robes in a shipwreck not too far from the island. San Lang wore clothes because the human body was truly pathetic against nature. And modesty. Xie Lian didn’t like the idea of his daughter being exposed. Meiling had no scales, clothes were the next best thing. She didn’t want to wear clothes at first, her arguing that Xie Lian didn’t have to wear clothes, why should she?

It took a while for him to get used to wearing human garbs, but now here he was. Helping Meiling put on a robe that was much too large for her, but it was the only one that was small enough for the time being. 

“Ready Meiling?” The mer smiled at his baby. 

 “Ups.” 

The baby raised her hands, asking to be picked up. Once the baby was settled in the wrap on his back, the mer stretched out his tail, moaning at the feeling of a good stretch, then left their home to venture out into the reef. 

Xie Lian had done his best to look after Meiling. But there were still many things he didn’t completely understand about human children. For one, he didn’t know how long babies nursed from their mothers, for mers, they stopped nursing as soon as 4 months. It would be taxing on the mother to keep using the nutrients they themselves needed, for milk. But Xie Lian didn’t know if Meiling would suffer if he weaned her that early. And given that her teeth hadn’t come in until much later, he was glad he didn’t force her to stop. 

He didn’t mind nursing her for nearly a year. She was his everything, he would have nursed for longer if he noticed she needed him too. He also noticed just how large her head was. It was massive, she couldn’t lift it up when she was a newborn. Unproprtional to her body that it was almost laughable. But the poor mer spent many a night fretting that maybe her head was deformed because it just seemed impossible for a human mother to give birth to a baby with a large head. He had done it, he’s not sure how, but he did. 

His tail would spasm in memory of the burning pain he experienced when birthing her. It took days before his cloaca looked somewhat normal again. Thankfully, he healed nicely. You would only be able to tell if you noticed his hips were wider than before he had Meiling. Subtle, but his hips would never be the same way again. And to think they were only wider just so he could push Meiling’s massive head out of him. 

Humans were inconsiderate, it really did a number on his body. Mer babies did not have such big heads, and they don’t cry when they’re born. Meiling cried with not a care in the world. 

And yet Xie Lian cannot imagine how he lived his life without her. Sure he loved San Lang, loving the human nearly killed him. But with Meiling it was different. It was like he had given birth to his heart instead, taking the form of a baby. No longer safe in his womb and out in the world, unprotected by his ribcage. He felt powerless. Only hoping the world will be kind. He could do nothing but do his best to keep Meiling safe, happy, and healthy. It consumes every fiber of his being. It’s suffocating, overwhelming, and powerful. Just as she was his greatest strength, she was also his greatest weakness. He would die for San Lang, but he would Kill for Meiling. 

Living in isolation was not as bad as Xie Lian thought it was going to be. He missed talking to a grown adult when Meiling was a newborn and would answer nonsensically, but now that she was beginning to talk, it was less noticeable to him now. 

“What do you want for breakfast?” 

“Fish!” 

“Fish it is.” 

Specifically Salmon. Hard to come by, but since it was Meiling’s second birthday, Xie Lian would make the hunt. She loved salmon, tuna was a hit or miss depending on the day, but tilapia and sea bass were a safe bet. 

Xie Lian would prefer to have left her in their nest while hunting as he used to when she was a baby. But ever since she started walking, she would wander outside of the cave. The first time it happened, Xie Lian nearly had a heart attack when he returned to an empty nest. He found her hiding in the coral, chewing on a crab. So now, everywhere he went, Meiling came with him. 

When her teeth started coming in, Xie Lian had been worried to see that they were dull. San Lang’s teeth were dull and blunt, but he had been hoping Meiling would at least grow some canines. Maybe when she was older she would grow out her dull teeth and get fangs like him. But for now, he had to chew the bones of fish into a fine paste before feeding it to Meiling. Bone marrow was too good to let go to waste. 

Now that Meiling was a little older, Xie Lian would leave the reef, venturing into open water to procure food. The journey would be a long one, maybe an hour or two before he would catch the scent of a school of salmon. Wisely, Xie Lian packed three mangos in the wrap. Cutting them open with ease with his claws before feeding them to Meiling. Mangos and salmon were her two favorite things to eat. Xie Lian offered them to her when she began to wean from his milk. 

She had been curious, they didn’t look like anything she had seen her mother eat. Xie Lian only knew the fruit was edible because San Lang ate them when he was alive and encouraged the mer to try it. It was sweet and tangy at the same time, Xie Lian liked the fruit. 

After nearly three hours, Xie Lian spotted a school of salmon, his tail swayed as he turned up right, undoing the wrap to let Meiling float on the sea floor nearby. The additional weight didn’t bother him, but it did slow him down, adding more drag in the water. For this hunt, he needed speed. 

“Wait for me right here Meiling.” The mer said in a firm but gentle voice. Pressing a finger to his lips as made the ‘quiet’ motion. 

“Yes, mommy.” The little girl nodded her head adorably.

Xie Lian gave her a quick kiss on her head before swimming up to hunt. Meiling watched her mother swim off. Watching in rapt attention how effortlessly her mother swam. Darting in and out of the school, chasing the salmon. This wasn’t the first time Meiling was left on the sea floor while her mother hunted. Meiling would catch her mother looking back at her, ensuring she was staying in place before continuing his chase. Meiling stayed still for a long time before deciding that she should collect seashells. Her attention span was like the memory of a goldfish at her young age. 

She liked shells. She loved it when her mother decorated her hair with them. Getting to her feet, Meiling walked slowly on the seabed, shifting her feet to feel for shells. When she found an orchid purple shell, the half mer baby let out a happy trill. 

Xie Lian felt her excitement through their bond. Taking a quick look down below him, he saw Meiling had wandered just a few feet away from where he had left her, chirping at a shell she found. The mer mother shook his head as he smiled at her harmless mischief. He chirped back at the toddler. Meiling looked up. He chirped again. 

Don’t wander off too far. Stay close.

That is what his chirp meant. Meiling had the decency to look bashful, remembering what her mother told her. She chirped back an apology. Nodding in satisfaction, Xie Lian carried on with his hunt. Meiling carried on with her search for pretty seashells. 

Meiling did not wander far, always answering her mother’s calls as she sifted the sandy bottom with her hands. She was so immersed in her hunt for shells, that she barely notice the large shadow looming over her. When Meiling did notice, her head tilted in confusion before looking up and seeing a large head full of teeth. 

The sound of giggles and clicking caught Xie Lian’s attention. Looking down, he saw Meiling throwing a sea shell, and a baby orca chasing after it, catching it, then returning it to her. Xie Lian smiled. 

A familiar pod of orcas soon filled Xie Lian’s line of sight. Swimming towards him. They had been hunting the salmon as well. They clicked in greeting at the mermaid, Xie Lian clicked back. Welcoming them to join his hunt. The pod was made of several mothers. Their calves near the ocean floor, playing with his own baby. 

Happy

Playful

This pod of orcas had passed by his territory many times over the years. Mermaids and Orcas were friendly with each other. But this pod in particular really enjoyed Xie Lian and Meiling’s company. Xie Lian and the orcas continued their hunt for salmon. One orca, a juvenile female was close to the babies. Playing chaperone. With orcas in these waters, Xie Lian didn’t need to worry about sharks. 

Today’s catch was bountiful, Xie Lian stuffing his net full of salmon to the brim. The orcas played with their caves and Meiling. The babies were curious about this mer child having human legs. It was quite amusing to them. Xie Lian was roped into playing with the pod when Meiling insisted they play together. 

When it was time to feed the babies, Xie Lian tore into one of the salmon, bones and all, giving the pink meat to Meiling while he chewed down the bone. Meiling looked up to her mother, an inquisitive chirp left her. 

Curious

Xie Lian smiled, “They’re orcas baobei. They’re our friends. If you ever get lost and can’t find me, call for them. They’ll help you.”  

It was dusk by the time the orcas called for their babies. It was time to go back home. Meiling was yawning, rubbing her eyes. Xie Lian tucked her into the wrap before putting her on his back. The orcas and mermaids chirped goodbye to each other before going their separate ways. The orcas back to the deep sea, and the mers back to the coral reef of their island.  

They were almost halfway home when Xie Lian noticed an orange glow coming from the surface. Xie Lian was tempted to just hurry back home, and settle Meiling into their nest. But curiosity had always been his undoing. Checking over Meiling, he found her sound asleep. It wouldn’t hurt to have a quick peek. 

Breaching the surface, the thick scent of smoke filled Xie Lian’s lungs. It was a scent that brought back painful memories. Memories of San Lang’s death. Xie Lian was about to dive back down when he heard the screaming of people trying to escape the burning ship. 

There was no storm, but the ship was ablaze. The fire putting Xie Lian into a trance. Triggering a primal response, he hissed at the sight of the burning ship. He had to get away. Far, far away. Humans were dangerous. Humans would sell him, hurt him, or kill him. They would take Meiling away from him. Overwhelmed by the onslaught of memories, Xie Lian didn’t notice a net coming right for them. By the time he did, it was too late. The net pulled them out of the water. 

The sound of clamoring humans aboard their ship grew silent when Xie Lian let out a god-awful ear-piercing screech. Waking up Meiling in the process. The net hovered over the deck before being cut loose. Xie Lian and Meiling landed painfully on the wooden deck. 

Scared

Xie Lian’s pupils constricted, his webbed ears fanned, he hissed and snarled at the humans looming over them. His child’s emotions flood the bond driving the mermaid to lose himself to his primal instincts. His tail sends several humans back. 

“We caught one!” 

“I didn’t know this island had mermaids!” 

“Look! It’s got a kid in its claws!” 

“We gotta get the kid first!” 

That was going to be a very hard no for Xie Lian. The mer screeched angrily. Meiling clung to her mother tightly, weeping silently. Xie Lian hoped no one noticed that her tears turned into pearls. Most of the humans were smart enough to back away, out of the mermaid’s powerful tail’s reach. 

“We don’t have time for this, we need to get away before those pirates come back!” 

“How dare they destroy our nets and take our catches.” 

Was this a fisherman’s ship? Xie Lian subtly looked above the humans. There were many nets and hooks. Harpoons and lots of rope. But they all looked too large for catching fish. Even tuna were not that big. Then the scent of blood hit him like a landslide. It was the scent of other mermaids. Ice filled the mer’s blood. Looking down, he noticed the blood and mermaid scales. 

This deck of the ship was littered with different colors of pearls. This ship hunted mermaids. And they caught him. Xie Lian hissed, rearing his tail. 

“They’re coming back!” 

“Shit, Crimson Rain is gonna kill us all!” 

“Put him in the tank below deck! We’ll deal with them later!”

Whoever Crimson Rain was, terrified the humans. And if humans were scared, Xie Lian had even more reason to be. The crew started to drag them down the stairs, Xie Lian screeched louder. Trying but failing at shredding the ropes. As the net moved, Xie Lian could spot a ship not so far in the distance heading straight for them at an alarming speed. Something shiny winking at him. The sails were red like blood. Xie Lian growled lowly. Hugging Meiling tighter.  

The net’s bottom was open, dumping them into a small, dirty tank. But only Xie Lian was dumped in. The humans took Meiling away, putting her in a smaller tank. The Meiling started choking with how little oxygen the water had. Xie Lian breached, taking in large gulps of air. 

Mama

Meiling weakly called for him through the bond. 

The mer was growing desperate. They had to escape. Or at least bide their time in a better tank. They were going to suffocate with how polluted this water was. Meiling started to cough harshly now. Xie Lian was almost lost to his primitive mind now. Seeing that the tank was made of glass, he banged his tail against the glass. It did nothing. 

Right as he was about to try again, something rammed into the ship. Sounds of shouting and clanging metal came from up above. The water falling out of the tank onto the floor. Xie Lian waited with bated breath before he tried again. This time earning a large crack in the glass. Encouraged, Xie Lian hit it again. 

The glass shattered, water rushing out taking the mers with them. Meiling sputtered, clawing at her neck. Xie Lian was about to get to her when his ears perked at attention. Someone was coming down the stairs. 

Xie Lian was running out of time. His eyes darted around, searching for a dark place to hide. There! 

A phoenix ruby eye looked through a telescope, the glass twinkling under the moonlight. Hua Cheng could see a mermaid trapped in the poacher’s net. He had already laid waste to the first poaching ship he encountered. Now it was time to finish off the rest. He enjoyed killing useless trash like poachers that hunted mermaids.  

It has been three years since he last saw his beloved. And not a day went by that the pirate didn’t search for him. Sailing the seven seas in the hopes that one day he would find the mermaid he loved. Hunting poachers was a pastime. 

He was dressed in a long black captain’s coat with red inner layers and gold trimming along the hems, black trousers, and boots. A white shirt with a cravat. On the right side of his hips rested his sheathed sword. His hair was black as night, a lock of hair braided with a red pearl near the tip.

The first thing Hua Cheng saw below the deck is the shattered tank laying on the floor. Water flooding everywhere. The quiet weeping draws his ruby eye towards a smaller tank. He frowned. It was a little girl, stuffed into a small tank filled with polluted water. It angered the pirate, to see the human poachers treating their own kind, especially a child. 

Sheathing his sword, Hua Cheng opened the lip of the tank. Reaching into the tank, pulling the little girl out. She coughs violently, desperately trying to get away from him. She didn’t scream. The humans more than likely beat her more if she made a sound. Setting her on the floor, Hua Cheng took in her pale skin, healthy with a few bruises, and her dark chocolate brown hair. The robes were much too large for her, and she had no shoes. Or proper undergarments.  

Looking back to the tank, he noticed several tiny pearls littering the bottom. They were probably the tears of younger mers that had been torn from their mother’s arms. He was going to enjoy spilling their blood. 

“You’re safe now. There’s no need to cry.” 

The child didn’t respond, but she did open her eyes. Hua Cheng stared at them in surprise. Her eyes were like nothing he had ever seen before. They revealed his own. Her eyes were the most magnificent, glowing apple red that turned into gold ombre at the bottom half of her irises. The gold was a similar shade to that of his beloved’s. Looking back to the tank littered with pearls, Hua Cheng had a strange thought. Could she have shed those tears? 

No, that wasn’t possible. When she was in the water, she had no tail, scales, or gills. She was human. So why did they dump her into the tank? Hua Cheng was about to ask her when a high chirp echoed in the room. The little girl’s head bobbed up, listening attentively. 

Hua Cheng knew that sound, he had heard it many times when encountering poaching ships. Each chirp meant different things. This one was meant for mothers and their young. It meant danger, and hide. 

Looking behind him, he saw a trail of blood that led to a dark corner of the room. A pair of slitted glowing golden eyes were glaring at him. The broken glass hadn’t just been from the impact when the ships collided. Hua Cheng reached for his sword, not drawing it out just yet. 

“I mean no harm.” 

The mermaid released a hiss, Hua Cheng could see the mermaid’s tail ready to strike. The mer’s eyes darted to the little girl beside him, then released a high chirp. 

Hua Cheng was shocked when the little girl chirped back happily, running towards the mermaid without fear. Hua Cheng didn’t have a chance to stop her. The mermaid crawled closer, into the light of the lanterns. 

Hua Cheng’s eye widened. After three years, it was him. It was Xie Lian. His beloved. And he was as beautiful as the day they had been separated. And the little girl-

The girl climbed onto Xie Lians back, wrapping her arms around his neck. The mermaid nuzzled her cheek, trying to soothe her. They were chirping at each other. Happy to be reunited.  

Hua Cheng was staring at the pair awestruck. They were obviously mother and child. You would have to be blind if you failed to see the tender way the mermaid looked at the girl, how gently he touched her. But the child had legs? Hua Cheng caught a glimpse of something reflecting the light. Xie Lian had a shard of glass embedded in his tail, that was where the trail of blood was coming from. He probably hadn’t even realized, hyperfocused on escaping. 

With Meiling back under his care, Xie Lian turned his attention back to the pirate. Who had just been staring at them dumbly.

Not wasting this opportunity, the mother mer bolted for the stairs. Even without legs, Xie Lian was terrifyingly fast on land. His claws dug into the wood to drag himself. He was on deck in a matter of seconds, hissing and shrieking when the fighting humans got too close. 

“Wait!” 

The pirate with the eye patch from before called for them, Xie Lian didn’t spare him a glance. He was getting out of here thank you very much! 

Xie Lian climbed over the railing, holding onto Meiling tightly. Looking her over for any injuries. She was only bruised. Xie Lian snarled. How dare the humans treat her this way. He would kill them himself if he didn’t have priorities. Xie Lian hissed one final time before the pair dove into the water. 

By the time Hua Cheng got to the railing, they were long gone. Hua Cheng couldn’t believe it. His beloved had a child. A child who had legs instead of a tail. He didn't think it was possible, not with two different species. But his beloved was perfect and always surprised him. Xie Lian had done the impossible and birthed a half human child. Judging by how old the child looked, it fit the timeline. It had been three years. The little girl was his. He had a daughter. A laugh erupted from the pirate. His eye tearing up.

“Gege, this lowly one is honored.” 

Hua Cheng turned back to deal with the poachers. They were going to kill his beloved and child. Or worse. A wicked smirk formed on the pirate's lips as the pathetic trash begged for mercy. 

How dare they try to hurt Xie Lian. Stressing the poor mermaid when they separated him from their daughter. Locking them up in the disgusting tanks. Hua Cheng was right, he did enjoy killing the worthless trash. They didn't deserve to live.

They had no right to touch what was his. And now that he had found Xie Lian, who had a wonderful surprise with him, Hua Cheng was never letting them out of his sight again. After all, pirates did love their treasure.

Chapter Text

Xie Lian did not return to their island home. It wasn’t safe anymore. It pained him but he had no choice. His nest was no longer a suitable place to raise his young. Xie Lian had spent the entire night awake, worrying over the smell of his blood from where the shard of glass was embedded into his tail would attract sharks. He did not have the energy to deal with that. Meiling was crying almost all night, thankfully, the mother mer managed to keep her weeping quietly. He hated to do it, but he couldn’t add one more thing to his list of misfortunes for the day. From Meiling being shoved into a disgusting tank, the poachers, losing the security of his nest, the wound on his tail, and his blood attracting sharks, he was very much stressed. 

Xie Lian had looked over Meiling, finding no cuts or scratches. Other than a few bruises and shaken up by the encounter, she was alright. Once the mer was satisfied with his inspection he tended to himself. Meiling won’t survive if Xie Lian didn’t take care of himself. When he pulled out at the shard of glass, the blood had nearly started a whole new set of sobbing from the toddler. Thankfully his hide was thick enough that the wound would heal in just a matter of two days. 

When he felt Meiling’s hunger, the mer snarled. He had left the salmon from his earlier hunt behind on the poacher’s ship. Never had Xie Lian held such resentment toward humans more than that moment. His daughter innocently looked to him for food, her hair in disarray and her eyes red from sobbing. He was tempted to go back and destroy the remaining ship. It had been a long time since he last used his power, sealed away. But he was strong, he could do it. 

His parents had been King and Queen of the mer Kingdom before they died. He had been the disciple of Mei Nianqing. Jun Wu had taken him in years ago. He ruled over a different kingdom closer to the Arctic. It was where the pod had been returning to when Xie Lian left. Mers who hadn’t started families of their own didn’t make the migration. Xie Lian didn’t understand why Jun Wu made them migrate; his parents never did, and neither did the rest of their kingdom. 

Jun Wu had told Xie Lian that his parents weren’t strong enough to make the journey, only the strongest and most talented could join his pod. Only a few could learn magic or were born with the gift. Xie Lian was born with it and cultivated it. Meiling showed no signs of having inherited the gift. Not that it mattered to the mer at all. She was perfect, with or without a tail, the same held true for if she had been born with a gift. 

Xie Lian searched for the orca pod. On edge from the poachers. The safety and numbers of the pod were excellent protection. He found them by sending out long distant calls, finding them late into the night. The pod welcomed them, nuzzling each other. The calves were more than excited to play with Meiling. Poor Meiling, she hadn’t wanted to let go of her mother the entire night. Traumatized. 

The ship that had collided with the poachers stayed near the island for a long time. Nearly a week. Xie Lian didn’t check himself, one of the scouts from the pod told him. When the ship left, Xie Lian still didn’t go back. Just because they left, didn’t mean they were gone for good. 

As for Xie Lian, he was exhausted. He had been swimming for nearly an entire day. He would catch Meiling dozing every so often. He encouraged the toddler to sleep on his back, but even that took effort that the mer did not have. 

Graciously, the grand matriarch of the pod offered him a salmon that they had caught during their hunt. Xie Lian ate most of it. He would need his strength while they traveled with the pod for a new home. With how tense his body was recently, Xie Lian needed to conserve as much energy as he could. Not to mention that he had to carry Meiling on his back everywhere the pod went. She would never be able to keep up. 

“Mommy, home?” 

Meiling had asked him one night. Her eyes were full of hope and longing to return to the nest she had grown up in. They were resting on the sea bed while the orcas had taken a rest. They didn’t want to go anywhere near the surface. Xie Lian sighed, tucking the girl’s bangs behind her round ears. 

“We have to find a new home baobei. We can’t go back. It’s too dangerous.”  

“Why?”

Xie Lian winced. How was he supposed to explain to a toddler that humans had found them and were more than likely looking for them? How was he supposed to explain to his half human child whose first experience with her own kind was the reason why she lost the only home she had ever known? 

“Because some really mean people wanted to hurt us. So we had to leave.” 

“Oh…” Meiling's eyes dimmed as her hope to return home was snuffed out. 

Xie Lian wanted to cry as realization dawned on his baby’s face. Xie Lian wished he could go back to the poachers and sink his fangs into their flesh. But that would help no one. Least of all Meiling.

Meiling didn’t say anything more. Nor did she act like her usual happy, playful self. Xie Lian was constantly feeling her grief through the bond. It pained him. He didn’t know what to do besides keeping her warm, colder waters meant he had to help her regulate her body temperature, well fed, and safe. He was working on the happy part. 

They continued to live with the pod of orcas while Xie Lian examined every place the orcas traveled to. Searching for a suitable place to make a new nest. Keeping each other safe. Whenever a ship was nearby, the pod would swim above the mers, drawing attention away. 

“Mama, Mango?” 

Xie Lian’s shoulders fell. Meiling looked crestfallen. There would be no more mangos for a long time. Maybe forever. 

At least that’s what they both thought, until the grand matriarch of the pod, who Xie Lian named Sying,brought a large collection of exotic fruits in her mouth. There were bananas, apples, pineapples, kiwis, and mangos. Meiling had chirped in excitement. Xie Lian was touched. 

“Sying, where did you find these?” 

The elderly orca made clicking sounds, bobbing her head as she swam in the general direction of where she procured such delectable food. Xie Lian could see the keel of a ship in the distance. It looked like the orcas were bullying the humans. They must have wanted to perk up the baby mer’s spirit. 

It must have been a trading ship, with several boxes of goods floating on the surface of the sea. Meiling eagerly bit into an apple. Xie Lian was grateful she was not a picky eater. She loved anything that was food. The baby orcas were curious about the fruits, trying it themselves, before deciding that mackerel and milk were much tastier. Xie Lian placed a hand near Sying’s eye, smiling with glassy eyes. 

“Thank you, you have no idea how much this means to me.” 

The orcas all made happy squeaking sounds. Happy to help the mer. Xie Lian packed as much of the fruit as he could carry in the wrap that Meiling was quickly outgrowing. The robes were starting to fit her a little better. Xie Lian took it as a sign that he was doing something right if she was growing so fast.

Meiling had taken to riding on the orca’s backs, holding on to their dorsal fin. It gave the mermaid a well deserved break to stretch out his limbs and groom himself. Sometimes, the orcas would take Meiling on little adventures to coral reefs they would pass by, and the older mer and orca mothers would stay in deeper waters to hunt. The only reason Xie Lian felt comfortable with that arrangement was because Sying’s granddaughter, the juvenile who was chaperoning the calves on Meiling’s birthday, was always looking after them. Xie Lian named her Ban Zhu, meaning spotted pearl. If anything spooked Ban Zhu, she rallied up the babies and brought them straight to the pod. Meiling included. 

Xie Lian had to admit, it was wonderful having help. It really does take a pod to raise young. Knowing that the pod had accepted them as part of their family, finally, put Xie Lian’s heart at ease. Xie Lian could even begin to describe the overwhelming relief and joy he felt when Meiling started to smile and laugh again. She even became close friends with one of the calves, a male who Meiling adamantly named Yue Tao. Moon Peach. It was very unique. Yue Tao didn’t seem to mind. 

The pair could almost always be seen together. Exchanging gifts in play. Chasing each other for fun, it was good hunting practice for when they grew older. Yue Tao was Shu Ying’s younger sibling. Their mother, who Xie Lian named Shu Ying, characters for warm hearted and clever, was closer to Xie Lian. Gossiping amongst themselves like seagulls.

Almost an entire month later, the pod arrived at an island that was very similar to the one Xie Lian had made his nursery for Meiling. There was a cave too, but not made of coral like their former home had been, but it served its purpose. One day, just as the pod was finishing up a hunt, Xie Lian heard familiar chirping. Frilled ears perked up, trying to find the source of the sound. Xie Lian was just turned around when someone collided right into him. 

They tumbled in circles before they finally came to a stop. Xie Lian managed to pry himself free before he finally got a good look at who crashed into him. His eyes widened. 

It was a Sea Dragon! Xie Lian couldn’t believe his own eyes. Jun Wu had said they had been driven to extinction. Hunted by humans and mermaids who wished to gain the sea dragon’s magic and powers for themselves. Most died since sea dragons were formidable beasts that could lay waste to an entire pod. Sink ships, create huge tidal waves, and summon storms. They could even disguise themselves as mers. 

Jun Wu had even told Xie Lian that these creatures were wicked and vile. They were imprisoned in the deepest trench of all seven seas for the sins they committed. Sea dragons and Mermaids used to live in peace and harmony hundreds of years ago, until the sea dragons betrayed them and began to eat mermaids and their roe. Which was so heartbreaking because mermaids at most laid seven eggs. The dragons were dangerous savages and not to be trusted.

This just reminded the mer mother about the poachers who would have killed them by cutting out their hearts and selling their scales and tears. Using them for spells and magic on land. If mer folk found out that this sea dragon, there would be chaos.  

Upon closer inspection, Xie Lian realized that this sea dragon was just a baby. Not just shrunken down in size, but an actual baby. Xie Lian could tell because the second the dragon looked up at him, it froze before dashing to hide in the coral. Grown adults don’t do that unless they were prey animals. It was a small thing, but unfortunately not small enough. Their tail and hind legs sticking out. It started to whimper. 

And clearly stuck. Meiling wasn’t with him right now, so if the dragon did pose any threat to him, he could deal with it knowing his daughter was safe. He swam closer to the trembling scaly body. 

“Hold still, let me help you.” The mer spoke gently, running a cautious hand down the creature’s back. 

When the baby did nothing but let out a whimper, legs going limp, Xie Lian began to tug. It took a few tries, not wanting to hurt it by pulling too hard, but Xie Lian was successful. 

The hatchling shook their entire body, shaking off the bits of coral stuck to their skin. Not that Xie Lian could finally get a good look at it. 

The creature’s scales were deep indigo, very much like ink. Her spine had bright pink frills trailing along its body leading to the most beautiful pink tail that Xie Lian had ever seen. It reminded him of a pink sea nettle jellyfish that seemed to encompass the entire tail. Their dark scales made the pink look like it was glowing, it probably did at night. Curious and cautious golden eyes, beneath a pair of pink coral, shaped antlers that were just starting to grow. The dragon was truly breathtaking. Xie Lian couldn’t help but smile at the adorable creature. 

His smile seemed to help relax the hatchling before it took off in a flurry of bubbles. Xie Lian wasn’t offended. He was actually rather proud the that baby wasn’t quick to trust strangers. Thinking of babies, reminded Xie Lian of his own. He wanted to start building his nest. 

He had collected some of the soft corals he had used in his old nest when he heard Sying squeaking. Depositing the corals on the sandy floor, Xie Lian exited the cave to sea Sying floating just above the cave entrance. In her mouth was a lot of kelp and sea sponges. She had caught on to what Xie Lian was attempting to do. Xie Lian accepted the offerings for his nest with a bright smile. 

“Thank you Sying. These are perfect.” 

Sying smiled in a way that only orcas could pull off. The elderly orca bobbed her head before she went to search for more. Returning every so often with new items. Xie Lian turned a few offerings away, showing it much too sharp to sleep on. Meiling could easily get hurt. Sying was a kind soul, she never got upset. 

Such offerings for nests were part of the courting process for mers. If San Lang had been a mer, he would have needed to provide nesting materials and food to show he was a capable hunter who would keep his mate and young well fed. But alas Xie Lian had to do everything himself. True he missed San Lang, but he was honestly content with his life. 

It was dusk by the time he finished, Ban Chu was still small enough to fit her giant big head through the cave opening to take a peek inside. Meiling was in a fit of giggles watching the orca blocking the entrance. Yue Tao was the only one who could fit inside. 

Shu Ying called for her young, and the two young orcas said their goodbyes. It was not a permanent goodbye. Since they accepted Xie Lian and Meiling into their pod, they were more than likely going to live primarily in the island’s vicinity. Xie Lian gently lowered Meiling into the nest, waiting for her judgment. 

He suppose he should be grateful Meiling didn’t try to appease him. It would have hurt him more if Meiling forced a smile. The little girl poked and prodded at the new nest. Xie Lian tried to make it identical to the one they lost. Maybe it wasn’t a good idea. He had hoped that it would be enough to give Meiling some semblance of familiarity. It did, but it also had bright bitter, fresh memories. 

Meiling tried not to cry, but she immediately raised her arms when she finally had the courage to meet his eyes. Xie Lian did not hesitate to embrace her. He cooed, rubbing her back as he rocked them. Meiling shook as she silently wept. It really dawned on the toddler that they were really not going back home. That their adventure didn’t lead them back to their island. 

“I miss nest mama…” Meiling mumbled against his neck “ I wanna go home…” 

“I know baobei,” Xie Lian listened, “I know, right now, everything is new and it can be scary. But Mama isn’t going anywhere, I’m right here.” 

Meiling sniffled, relieved that even though everything was gone, her mother, who had always made her feel safest, was still here for her. Xie Lian gently tilted his chin up, smiling at her.

“I know it doesn’t seem like it right now, but you may grow to love our new home. You might even make some new friends. Doesn’t that sound fun?” 

Meiling shook her head. But then nodded, she wasn’t feeling that way right now, but the effort is what counts in Xie Lian’s book. Being open minded will only help her cope when the only certainty in life, is that change is inevitable. 

“It’s time for night night now.” The mer said lowly, easing himself into the nest, coiling his tail. Then laying the toddler in the center of the nest, his fluke covering her like a blanket to keep her warm in case there is a chill. Meiling reached for the mer’s hair. Gripping a lock of it gently, Xie Lian didn’t discourage her. 

“Night night mommy.” 

“Night night my treasure.” 

Xie Lian kissed her goodnight before settling his head to rest on his palm. He wasn’t going to sleep just yet. Not for keeping watch, the orcas would alert him before he sensed anything. He just wanted to make sure that he was awake if Meiling had any nightmares. And because he couldn’t sleep. His thoughts filled with everything that has happened to them in the past few weeks. About the dragon hatchling that was more than likely going to be their neighbor. 

Over the next few days, Xie Lian took to investigating the new island. It was much bigger and Xie Lian could tell sharks frequently hunt here. There were shark teeth everywhere. But now with the orcas, Xie Lian didn’t see any. 

Until one day he found the hatchling being chased by small newly hatched shark pups. They were in no way a threat to him, but to a baby sea dragon, the threat was very much real. Especially if the hatchling didn’t know how to hunt just yet. Which was very odd to the mer. Jun Wu had said sea dragons were just like sharks. Already born knowing how to hunt with a thirst for blood.

The golden eye hatchling was backed up against sea rocks, hissing and growling at the sharks that insistently tried to take a nibble. Xie Lian felt his heart ache for them. He knew that one day the sea dragon could very well be a threat to him and Meiling, Jun Wu had expressed his contempt for them on more than one occasion. But right at that moment, Xie Lian felt sympathy. 

It was torture. And Xie Lian didn’t stand for it. The mer approached the sharks, he was much larger than they were. His shadow was more than enough to scare off the sharks. He hissed, just to make the message clear. 

When he looked back to the hatchling, their golden eyes stared at him curiously. As if shocked that anyone would help them at all. The hatchling released a cute wheezing sound as their frilled ears perked up at him. Xie Lian smiled. 

“They weren’t very nice were they?” 

The hatchling puffed out a bubble of air. Xie Lian chuckled. He sat down in front of the baby. Tilting his head. 

“You have very beautiful scales.” 

The hatchling brightened, letting out a happy chirp. Clearly, they could understand him, so maybe they were not as young as he thought. 

“Where is your home? Your sires?” 

At that, the hatchling paused. Their little five-clawed hands kneading the sand below them. The dragon looked down. Ah. 

“I lost my parents too. When I was younger.” 

The dragon wheezed, it was a sad wheeze. Then looked in the general direction of the cave where Xie Lian had taken up residence. Xie Lian froze. He had made his nest in their home, and the dragon didn’t even try to put up a fight. His heart filled with guilt.

“Thank you for letting me make a nest here.”  The dragon looked back at him, Xie Lian continued. “It’s very cozy, it’s perfect for my own baby.” 

At this, the creature made a repeated chirping sound. Full of longing for a playmate. They had more than likely seen Meiling playing with the orcas. A thought crossed his mind. The mer was surprised at himself. 

“Do you want to play with them?” 

The hatchling’s tail began to wag, the tail looked like a ribbon tied to a stick, their eyes hopeful. The mer chuckled. 

“Just be careful not to bite or scratch. My baby has very fragile skin.”  

The creature agreed with a happy trill. Xie Lian didn’t know what he was doing. Playing nice with a future predator. It was just that something about the hatchling tugged at his heartstrings. It was a baby, and Xie Lian was full of maternal instincts and hormones. And the baby was not at all like how Jun Wu described sea dragons to be. They were extremely intelligent and quite tame. Xie Lian felt that he could trust the hatching. He was beginning to think Jun Wu was not being as forthcoming as he made himself out to be. He was wrong about all humans being evil, so he was probably wrong about dragons too. 

Xie Lian swam with the hatchling, clicking to draw the orcas' attention. Once Xie Lian introduced the hatchling the orcas began their inquisitive lookover. The hatchling looked to Xie Lian, eyes asking if they really had to subject themselves to such an investigation. Xie Lian simply chirped positively. The hatchling wailed in protest but did not put up a fight. 

Unsurprisingly to Xie Lian, the hatchling passed the orcas’ inspection. The mothers returned to hunt in deeper waters while the calves stayed behind to play. Meiling swam to her mother slowly, Xie Lian held his arms open wide to receive her. Pressing kisses once she was in his arms. 

“What’s that?”

Xie Lian waved the hatchling over, who watched Meiling closely for approval. Xie Lian smiled at both of the babies. 

“This a sea dragon, they want to be your friend. Do you want to be friends Meiling?” 

Apple red and shimmering gold ombre eyes looked over the dragon with curiosity, slowly reaching out a hand to pet it. The hatchling swam closer, purring at the girl’s soft hand. Meiling giggled when the hatchling began to swim around them in excitement.

“Pretty!” 

And that was all Xie Lian needed to hear. After that, Meiling was always around the sea dragon and the two orcas Ban Zhu and Yue Tao. Xie Lian still looked for any signs that the hatchling had bad intentions toward them. 

Those concerns quickly vanished when the hatchling chirped excitedly outside their cave. Xie Lian barely had time to comb Meiling’s hair before she escaped him. The little creature somehow managed to procure a mango. Offering it to Meiling with pure joy at having been able to gift the toddler such a sweet fruit. There must have been a mango tree on the island. 

“Mama mango please!” 

Xie Lian cut the fruit expertly, eating a piece for himself when Meiling tried to feed him a slice. The creature was so happy to see that they were enjoying the fruit. Meiling fed a slice to the dragon, who lovingly ate it even though they were prone to eating meat. Which Xie Lian must admit, he rarely ever saw them eat. Xie Lian didn’t know much about dragons, but he was certain that the little thing should be eating much more than the few measly scraps they manage to find. The poor thing wasn’t growing as fast as they should be. This irked the mermaid more than he would have anticipated before he it dawned on him. 

The sea dragon was a hatchling. Who was alone? Competing for food with the shark pups. It couldn’t hunt, and had never once taken the food Xie Lian procured for Meiling. Nor did they take any of the orcas’ catches. The baby was more than likely starving. 

After that, Xie Lian started hunting for three mouths to feed. The first time he offered a whole fish to the dragon, the little beast barely accepted it. It was only after using a firm voice that they swallowed the damn thing whole. Meiling clapped her hands excitedly. Ban Zhu and Yue Tao squeaked in approval. Xie Lian softened his gaze and proceed to feed them more. He didn’t need to chew down the bone, the little dragon’s teeth were much more equipt for that than mers. After doing this for nearly a month, Xie Lian felt that it was time to invite the dragon into their nest. Permanently. 

When night fell, Xie Lian invited the hatchling to stay. The hatchling was hesitant at first, but settled a little ways away from the nest, curling into a cute ball. Xie Lian had been right about the little beast glowing. Their dark indigo scales blended in perfectly with the dark water, the pink frilled tail glowed, as well as a few spots along the spine. Truly, the creature was a thing of beauty, inside and out.

“I meant in the nest you silly thing.” 

The mer chuckled as he lifted the dragon, very much like how a human would pick up a cat, and deposited the dragon in the center. Right where Meiling slept. The little creature looked up at Xie Lian with wide eyes. Xie Lian pet the dragon’s head tenderly. 

“If you want, you can be part of our nest. Not just for tonight.” 

The little beast stared in disbelief and longing for a long before Xie Lian let out a coo, lifting them up, and rubbed their heads together. Bonding. Mers could adopt other orphaned mers, Xie Lian supposed he was just unorthodox to adopt a dragon as his own. Oh if Jun Wu could see him now. He’d probably have a heart attack and die. 

The little hatchling began to head-butt the mer gently in enthusiasm. Xie Lian took this as a sign that the hatchling accepted him as their adoptive mother. It would take a few months for a new bond to form, but Xie Lian was confident that he made the right decision. Meiling wholeheartedly agreed. 

After nearly six months, Xie Lian woke up to the sound of giggles. From two different voices. Opening his eyes, two pairs of eyes were staring at him. One belonged to Meiling, and the other looked familiar, but the face was most certainly not. The mer bolted up, his eyes wide as he looked over them. 

The dragon was nowhere to be seen, but there was a little mer child who was around Meiling’s age. She had pale skin, long dark ink blue hair that looked so soft to the touch, pink rosy cheeks, and glowing bright indigo eyes. Her ears and tail were the same shade of scale the little dragon had, but her fluke was bright pink, full of frills, and huge. It looked delicate but Xie Lian had no doubt that it could cause serious damage. Meiling helpfully answers his suspicions.

“Mama! She look like us now!” 

Xie Lian knew sea dragons had magic and could look like mers, he just wasn’t expecting the little beast to grow so soon!

“I see.” 

The little dragon probably wanted to look more like them. As cute as this form was, Xie Lian needed to make himself very clear. Gently, the mer pulled the transformed sea dragon onto his lap. 

“Little one, as beautiful as you are, I don’t want you to force yourself to use your magic just so you can look like us. You’re too young to do this all the time. We don’t care about what you look like. You’re mine now, and I won’t have you hurting yourself. Understand?” The mer raised an expectant brow. 

The little dragon shrunk into herself, nodding her head. Xie Lian smiled, then placed a kiss on her temple. 

“When you get tired, go back to your natural form. Promise me.” 

“I promise.” 

Xie Lian had just been expecting a simple nod of her head, so forgive him if he needed a moment to gather his composure. He blinked dumbly for a moment or two. 

“Good. Now, I can’t keep calling you little one forever. You need a name.” 

Meiling immediately offered suggestions. Xie Lian refuted all of them. No, you can’t name your sister mango. No, you can’t name her shell. And no, you most definitely can’t name her salmon. Turns out, the little dragon already had a name. 

“Mingzhu. My name Mingzhu. I hear in egg. Before I hatch.”  

Mingzhu, meaning Shiny Pearl.

“Mingzhu, it’s perfect.” 

The two babies were so excited that Xie Lian let them play a little longer before could he settle them into the nest again. They would be restless with all that pent-up energy. Finally, nearly an hour later, the two tired each other out, cuddled together in the mer’s coiled tail. Xie Lian watched them with adoring eyes. 

Turns out, Mingzhu was just a few months older than Meiling. They looked like fraternal twins. Which was fine with Xie Lian. His instincts purred in bliss as he rested on the sea bed, taking a well deserved nap as his two daughters played in the coral. Mingzhu was also, very strong. She easily swims while helping Meiling. Always going on adventures with Ban Chu and Yue Tao.

The mer couldn’t believe that not too long ago, he lost the love of his life, had left his pod, and lost his nest. Now, look at him. He had a new pod of orcas to call family, and two children. He must admit, he had no intention of imprinting, but the seas always had ways to surprise him.  Xie Lian’s tail curled as he sighed happily.

Turns out, the ocean had a few more surprises to give him in the years to come.

Chapter Text

“Get the harpoon ready!” 

“She’s a big one!” 

“She might be the matriarch!” 

The ship was in a frenzy, the raging storm above them providing cover from other passing ships to sea what they were attempting to do. The captain of the ship was overseeing his crew at the helm. 

“Bring her in!” 

The creature in question that was caught in the human’s net, was a familiar orca. The orca helplessly cried out to her pod. Tail splashing against the water. The crewmen were all on deck, the only light provided by the oil they had collected from previous whaling. 

The calls were answered, black heads with white underbellies bobbing in and out of the water, trying to find a way to help their captured family member. Clicking frantically. The orca bit on the ropes of the net, but it was no use. The cries were deafening, their squeaks filled with panic and grief. 

The net began to lift, pulling the adult orca out of the water with great effort.  The pod watched helplessly as their pod member was being taken from them. 

The orca was several feet above the water before the pulley system began to creak and groan. The sound of wood beginning to creak. Taking this as a sign, the orca began to struggle, the ship began tilting to the side from the cumbersome weight of the animal. 

The captain took the harpoon from one of the crew, if the animal struggled any more, it would tilt the entire ship. He shot the animal right through the heart. The orca went limp. The crew began to cheer at finally managing to find a wild pod of orcas in open water. Celebrating a successful whaling. 

The orcas had grown silent as the waves rocked them. Then they began to sing the most heartwrenching song. It was out of sync, ear piercing, and not at all pleasant to hear. The crewmen were used to it. Their grief fell on deaf ears. 

“Let’s head home lads. We’re getting paid!” 

The ship sailed back to land. Delivered the whale, and collected their coin. Drunk on rum, the Captain barely noticed the whore was swindling most of his coin as she half-heartedly rode him. This last whaling earned him nearly a year’s worth of earnings. He couldn’t care less if she tried to swindle him. 

Once the hour was finished, she kicked him out of the tavern, tossing his pants and boots in his face. So he went to another tavern and drank so more. Then paid for another whore. The barkeep informed him to wait a few minutes. One of the girls would be made available to tend to him. So with nothing better to do, he flirted horribly with the barmaids. Who continuously brushed off his advances. Soon nearly everyone avoided him. Giving the drunk captain a wide berth.  

After nearly an hour, from the side of his eye, he saw someone approaching him in almost sheer transparent white. The figure was silent, clutching a thick grey cloak tightly in one delicately unblemished hand. 

Just from the hand alone, the captain could tell the creature before him was a thing of beauty. His bleary eyes couldn’t make out the pale face, but they had gold eyes, and their hair seemed to glow. Gentle warm brown hair flowed heavenly down their chest. Finally, a whore worth paying for. 

“About bloody time.” 

The figure said nothing, only grabbing the hand’s wrist tightly. It almost crushed it. But drunk on rum, the captain felt no pain. The captain began to move to the stairs to the room upstairs where he would be serviced. 

The figure stopped him, shaking their head no, pulling him towards the cavern exist. Where the docks were just in view. The captain was about to protest when the figure parted their soft pink lips, a melodious song filled his ears. 

“What song is this? It’s lovely.” 

The figure in white didn’t answer, luring the drunkard out of the tavern. The whore he paid for finally walked down the steps, looking for the next client. It was night now, so she had pickings of who to service. But the barkeep inform her that it was a drunk captain with no pants. 

She rolled her eyes in disgust but a job was a job. She needed the money. She spotted her client being guided out of the tavern by a cloaked figure who from the hands alone, she could tell this person was breathtaking. 

“Hey, stop trying to steal my clients!” 

She grabbed the figure in white’s wrist. Looking down, she noticed the figure was walking barefoot and the wet white robes they were wearing barely did anything to give them a semblance of modesty. The face that looked back at her nearly made her gasp in shock, glowing slitted eyes glared at her fiercely. She let them go. 

The pair continued to walk down the stone paved ground, heading straight for the sea. The night air left a chill running down the captain’s spine. The captain struggled to find his voice, a thick fog clouding his judgment and thoughts. His limbs felt heavy but dutifully followed the beauty. 

The song that left the figure's lips seemed to have attracted the rest of his crew, who were all wading in the gentle waves of the ocean. Looking up blindly at the full moon. The figure walked into the waves with no hesitation. 

Once the captain was waist deep into the water, like the rest of his crew, the figure began to change, a glowing light emanating from the lower part of their body. The captain didn’t even react to the beauty revealing themselves as being a mermaid. The tail was covered in iridescent white scales, the fluke large and frilled. The song the mer sang was too powerful for him to think clearly. 

The mer began to sink into the water, the crewmen and the captain walked into the water, then began to swim into open water. The captain should’ve begun to tremble in fear when his crew was being dragged underwater one by one. But he felt nothing. Only lust and the desire to see the mermaid. 

The mermaid breached the surface once the water had turned red with blood. Clawed hands cupped the captain’s face, a serene smile on the mer’s face. Had the captain not been drunk on the aphrodisiac effect of the mermaid’s song meant to lure him, he would have noticed that the smile was not a serene one. It was a smile that would make children cry. The mer continued to sing, pulling the human under the waves with them. 

Deeper and deeper he was pulled underwater. He could barely see anything past the blood. Large bodies of black and white filled his fading vision. It was the orcas he had chased down and killed one of their pod members. One of them swam up right beside the mermaid. The mermaid laid a comforting arm over the creature’s head, petting it. It was massive compared to the mermaid, and they were just petting the orca like it wasn’t a top predator of the seven seas. 

Then the song stopped, and the captain snapped out of his daze. The water burned his lungs. The mermaid no longer looked as beautiful as he first thought. No, the mermaid looked like a monster. The captain tried to swim up to the surface, but he was no match against an entire pod of killer whales.  

The orcas would drag him down, then let him go. When he was nearly at the surface, they would drag him down all over again. Torturing him. The last thing he saw, was glowing gold slit eyes.

Mingzhu and Meiling were cuddled on top of each other in the nest. Pearls littered the cave. The tears proof of their grief. Xie Lian was laying down, tail curled around them as he continuously nuzzled their heads. His own tears were hidden somewhere. He didn’t want his daughters to see him cry. 

Shu Ying, Ban Chu and Yue Tao’s mother, had been killed. Ban Chu was seven years old, Yue Tao was three. They still needed the care of a mother, and Sying had rose to the occasion despite her old age. His own girls had grown so much in the past two years. They were five years old now, experiencing their first loss of a loved one. 

They had been enjoying a sunny day at the beach. Xie Lian was sunbathing on the rocks as Mingzhu and Meiling raced around the sandy beach. Xie Lian was the first who heard the orcas returning from their travels. He quickly realized that this greeting was not going to be met with joy.

When he learned of Shu Ying’s death, a wrecked sob left his throat. He was angry, full of grief. Fueled by the desire for justice. So he waited nearly a week for the full moon. It would be the only time he could go on land. He left with the pod, leaving his children under the care of Ban Chu and Yue Tao. The pod helped him with descriptions of the crewmembers. Finding each of them celebrating with alcohol and a woman humping their laps. He killed them all as they drowned. 

Xie Lian figured, the fewer whalers there were, the safer his family would be. He didn’t like violence, but the mer was seriously beginning to think that most humans were evil cold heart monsters. But then he would remember Meiling. Her sire was a human. 

Meiling hadn’t taken the news well. That humans had once again caused them pain. Xie Lian did his best to keep her opinion of humans neutral. But when Meiling was beginning to notice just how different she was compared to her mother and sister, Xie Lian didn’t know how to make her not think the worse of them. 

She had been staring at nothing as they ate. Xie Lian wasn’t as hungry, but he doubled his efforts to feed the twins. Xie Lian noticed Meiling was looking at him and Mingzhu. Then to her mother’s tail, then her two legs. Xie Lian didn’t like the scrutiny in her eyes.

“Mama, why don’t I have one?”

Xie Lian nearly stabbed himself in the mouth with a fishbone. He was dreading this question. He was hoping he would have a few more years before he had to give an answer. But given every interaction Meiling has had with the humans, she was realizing she shared too much of a resemblance for it to just be a coincidence. Xie Lian chose his words very carefully.

“Meiling doesn’t have a tail because her baba was human.” 

Meiling didn’t react. Xie Lian had mentioned this person called baba before, but she didn’t really know what that word meant. She understood the concept, but in practice, she had no idea what he was talking about. But she did know the word human, they were the reason why they had to leave their nest. Why they couldn’t go home. Why Shu Ying was dead. Meiling decided she didn’t like humans. But knowing that she was half human? That let loose to a meltdown that revealed volcanos. 

“NO!” The little girl screamed at the top of her lungs. Xie Lian winced, his frilled ears twitching in pain. “Human bad! Meiling is good!” 

Xie Lian gently pulled Meiling to his chest, cooing at her. How was he supposed to explain to a child who had so much loss because of humans, that not all humans were bad? He doubted Meiling and Mingzhu would believe him if he tried to share his memories of San Lang. They more than likely didn’t want to hear anything related to humans.

“Meiling is a good girl. She’s the best. Not all humans are bad baobei.” 

“Mommy lie!” Meiling shook her head, tears fell to the floor. Mingzhu started crying as well. “I hate humans! I’m not human!”  

Xie Lian would never hold it against her. “You’re right, I’m sorry. Sshh, mommy’s sorry. Please don’t cry.” 

Meiling was inconsolable. Her face was red from crying so much. Xie Lian settled the babies into the nest, Mingzhu and Meiling holding onto each other. Xie Lian barely slept that night. In the following days, Xie Lian began to worry. Meiling was not eating properly. Growing pale and lacking energy. Her beautiful red and gold eyes dimmed. Xie Lian could feel the little girl’s self loathing through the bond.

Disgust

Anger

Hatred

Dispair

Grief

It was suffocating. Xie Lian could barely breathe. He would have to force her to eat, not cruelly, but he was scolding her for being wasteful of the food he spent hours hunting. That had the opposite effect. She then outright refused to eat. Saying she was undeserving. It was breaking the poor mer’s heart. Meiling would just stare at his tail, at Mingzhu’s, at the orcas. 

Longing.

Xie Lian would happily give her his tail if he could, just to stop the onslaught of self hatred Meiling felt for herself. Xie Lian didn’t know what to do, the orcas didn’t have a clue either. They were growing worried, noticing the distinct lack of joy and playfulness. Xie Lian was facing the very real threat of Meiling dying at this rate. 

Xie Lian did everything he could think of. He initiated play, he brought her favorite food, he offered to let Meiling do whatever she wanted, he sang to her, he groomed her. Nothing. She was showing signs of failure to thrive. Xie Lian didn’t sleep anymore. He would watch Meiling breathing at night. Afraid death would come for her. 

She had been like this for only a week and already she looked on the brink of death. Xie Lian’s resolution broke. He would take her to a healer. He would take her to Jun Wu if he had to. He’ll do anything, just please, to any gods where listening. Please don’t take his baby. They already took his mate, they can’t take his children. 

Xie Lian must’ve fallen asleep as he prayed because the sweet sound of his daughter’s giggling could only be from dreams. Xie Lian himself had grown weak, stress does that to the body. He didn’t want to open his eyes. Once he did, the dream would end. He would have to face the reality that one of his children was dying. 

“Mommy, mommy wake up! Look!” 

Mingzhu shook the mermaid, eyes bright in joy. Xie Lian placed a hand on her cheek. Mingzhu was happy, smiling brightly. 

“Mama I taught Meiling to change! She’s like us now!” 

“Mingzhu….” 

“No really! Look!” 

The sea dragon tugged at her mother to sit up, barely contained excitement. Xie Lian didn’t want to look at the thin face of his daughter, so he didn’t. 

“Mingzhu, please… now isn’t-” 

The sea dragon sighed, then gently pulled his face to look in the direction of Meiling. Xie Lian had to remind himself that Mingzhu was nearly just as strong as he was despite being so much younger. Finally, he looked obediently. His eyes widening. 

Meiling was high up at the ceiling of the cave, smiling at him with an excited wave. Xie Lian felt himself choking up in relief. He could see the pure elation on her gaunt face. He could feel it, he didn’t need the bond to tell him what she was feeling. He could see it on her face, clear as day. 

Joy

Excitement

Anticipation

“Can I have a snack?” 

Xie Lian was dumbstruck. She wanted to eat. Xie Lian didn’t know whether he should laugh or cry. So he did both. It must have startled the twins because the next thing he knew, he was being hugged and kissed by the girls. He grabbed them and fell into the nest, holding onto them so tightly. Afraid they would turn into seafoam. 

They stayed in the nest for a long time, the girls cooing at their mother. He had been under so much stress, he was overwhelmed with relief to see his daughter smiling again. When Xie Lian finally gained his composure, he peppered kisses all over their faces. He had no idea why what had changed overnight for Meiling to feel better. But he was thankful.  He only noticed exactly what brought such joy back to the girls. Xie Lian wouldn’t believe it if he wasn’t staring at Meiling. She was beaming with happiness and pride. 

Her legs were gone, and instead, there was a magenta red scaly tail, the scaling turning into an ombre of shimmering gentle gold at the base of her tail, and down her frilled fluke. Just like her eyes. The fluke looked delicate, like large ruffles that reminded Xie Lian of flower petals. He could tell the tail and fluke, while stunning to look at, were powerful. Just like his. Cute gold webbed ears replaced her human ones, but her hands and eyes still retained their human appearance. Her smile revealed that she had a canines, but the rest of her teeth were still dull and blunt. But the thing that truly took the mer mother’s breath away, was the look of pure, innocent joy.  

“Mama I’m like you now!” 

There was no denying it, she looked just like them. But how? 

“I told you,” Mingzhu grinned. “Meimei had magic too, so I taught her to change!” 

“Yes,” Xie Lian didn’t know what else to say, holding his girls. “Yes you did.” 

With Meiling gaining her tail, her appetite returned at full force. Xie Lian was overjoyed and thankful. Once Meiling gained back the weight she lost, and was feeling cooped up in the nest for too long, did Xie Lian finally allow her to leave the cave. The orcas excitedly congratulated the little mer child on her new tail. Letting her practice the feel of swimming with a tail instead of legs by letting her hold onto their flippers. Mingzhu would shift in and out of her dragon form, chirping excitedly. 

With a new tail, came new lessons. Xie Lian held onto Meiling’s hands as he helped her learn to swim again. Meiling naturally picked up the skill in just a few hours. Learning to stop was an entirely different lesson. In her eagerness, Meiling would swim too fast, crashing into the orcas. Not that they minded. They found it amusing. 

It took a little while, but Xie Lian was proud when Meiling no longer needed him to watch her every second. But like all babies, Mingzhu and Meiling would tire easily, so he would carry them on his back as he went about his day. Their tails curling around his waist so they would fall off. Xie Lian had wondered if the tail would vanish and her legs would return once she fell asleep. It didn’t. As much as Xie Lian loved Meiling’s new tail, he still missed her legs at times. Because that was her natural state, the way she had been born. Or, it was her natural state. Now, the tail was her new and prefer form. It was more than likely permanent. Having a tail meant that Meiling had more opportunities for independence when she became an adult. That she would be able to survive on her own if she needed to.

Xie Lian’s only concern was that Meiling would have moments where her self loathing returned when she couldn’t do something that she had seen him or Mingzhu do with ease. Her hatred for humans was more than clear.

With the twins tucked safely in the nest, their tails curled over and under each other, Xie Lian watched them sleeping peacefully. His own tail coiled around them protectively. Shielding them from catching a chill. He was brushing his fingers against the bridge of their noses, lashes, and lips. He only prayed that when she was older, her hatred for her human heritage would never bring her close to death again. 

“Captain.” 

Hua Cheng looked up from the maps that littered his desk. The candles burning red wax. The voice belonged to his first mate, a rather average looking man who donned dark clothes. Hua Cheng sat down in his leather chair. 

“What is it Yin Yu?” 

“A crew of whalers was found dead two weeks ago. The waves were stained with blood.” 

Hua Cheng brought a hand to his temple, agitated. His search for Xie Lian was taken far longer than he liked. Another two years had gone in the blink of his one eye. He had searched the island where he last saw the mermaid and their daughter. He found nothing but a pod of killer whales that lived near the lagoon. Hua Cheng desperately wanted to find them. To meet their child. She would be five years old now. 

Hua Cheng had hoped that Xie Lian stayed on the island, but he didn’t hold it against the mermaid for not recognizing him. Hua Cheng has changed. Xie Lian had undoubtedly changed as well. When the poachers found their home, Xie Lian more than likely felt it too dangerous to continue raising their daughter there. 

“And this new of use to me how? We hunt down poachers. Whaling is perfectly legal.” 

Yin Yun stepped closer, then bent down on one knee. 

“There were reports of a figure who lured the men into the sea by song. They were wearing a wet white robes and walked barefoot. The figure was described to have otherwordly beauty, brown hair, fair skin, and gold eyes. The men drowned before they were torn apart by an unknown creature.” 

Hua Cheng rose to his feet, eye wide. That was Xie Lian it had to be. But why? Why did his beloved deem it necessary to kill those worthless humans? Xie Lian was not prone to violence. Unless, unless those whalers made a grave error that Xie Lian felt it was justifiable to kill them. 

“Where did they make their catch?” He demanded.

“On an island, far from where you first encountered him, near the north.” 

“What did the whalers catch?” 

“An Orca captain.” 

Hua Cheng’s eye narrowed. An Orca. A Killer Whale, the same species that had lived on the island where he found them. Hua Cheng looked down at his map. A soft laugh left his lips. Brilliant. Truly, Xie Lian was brilliant. The mermaid had joined an orca pod, more than likely because he would have been exiled by Jun Wu who would have killed their child if he had a chance. But this is the first Hua Cheng had ever heard of a mermaid being on good terms with killer whales.    

Which means the whalers had killed a member of the pod Xie Lian considered family, and Xie Lian took justice into his grasp. Hua Cheng grinned. This also means that the legends were true. Once a mermaid was of age, they could use a spell during the full moon, that would allow them to trade their tails for legs as they please. Hua Cheng looked back to his first mate.

“Yin Yu.” 

“Yes Captain.” 

Hua Cheng held the bright red pearl to the candlelight. If mermaids could go on land, the legends being proven true with Xie Lian killing the whalers, then it was only reasonable to assume that the spell would work for him. He will get a tail and finally, reunite with his beloved.

“Send a letter to He Xuan. I’m going to need that spell after all.” 

Yin Yu bowed, then left the Captain’s Quarters. Hua Cheng held the pearl to his chest. If his heart could beat, it would be racing. Soon, he will be with his beloved. He will explain everything. 

Xie Lian wouldn’t know that their child was more than just half human. She was also half ghost. He needed to get to them, their daughter could start showing signs any day now. He only hopes that Xie Lian will forgive him, for keeping the truth about him being a ghost for so long. 

“Gege, my child, please wait for me a little longer.”

Chapter Text

Meiling and Mingzhu were floating on their backs like otters on the ocean surface, snacking on the fresh kill their mother caught for them. It was a large tuna, blood dribbling down their chins as they tore into the meat. It was a warm, beautiful sunny day. Perfect for sunbathing. 

Ban Chu was swimming nearby, checking over the territory with other juveniles. Yue Tao would catch the chunks of meat the mer children tossed. Meiling looked to her sister. 

“When do you think Mommy’s coming back?” 

Mingzhu looked in the distance, her eyesight was far superior compared to the mers. She sniffed the air. 

“Soon, I think mama got another one.” 

“Yummy!” 

The girls giggled. Mingzhu took the leftover bones that Meiling couldn’t eat herself. Their mother still had to chew it down. The girls were not surprised when their mother breached the surface beside them. They hadn’t seen him coming, which would be worrisome that they were unaware of how dangerous that mistake would be if they lived out in open water. 

The older mer had done an exceptional job raising them this far on his own. Well, with a bit of help from the orca pod. The mer children were innocent of the true horrors that the ocean would not hesitate to throw at them. They’ve been lucky to have such a dutiful and fierce mother. Even more so that mermaids were like orcas, the daughters and some sons, staying with their mothers for life. 

Xie Lian smoothed his hair back, shaking his head before he joined his girls, floating on his back while eating his own score of tuna. The girls had reached the age where now they were beginning to mimic what they see their mother do. Learning and gaining more freedom to explore outside of the nest, but still far too young to leave the mer’s watchful gaze. 

It amazed Meiling and Mingzhu just how much their mother noticed things. They had tried to sneak up on the older mer in their game of play. Xie Lian had felt their presence long before they even got close to him. When they ambushed him, the mother mer dramatically claimed defeat. This play would help them learn hunting skills when they grew much, much older. For now, he would encourage their efforts to surprise him in play. 

Licking the blood off his fingers, Xie Lian let out a soft trill as he looked at his offspring. Mingzhu and Meiling immediately swam closer to him. Not resisting when he pulled them onto his chest and began to groom them. He combed their hair and checked for scales that might cause a problem later. Next, he preened them and finished with a kiss on their heads. 

Xie Lian would have to hunt again soon, with Mingzhu being a sea dragon, the girl had an insatiable appetite. Her stomach was a bottomless pit. Xie Lian was thankful his species could store food in their stomachs before it was digested so that when food became scarce, he could still feed his young. It was very similar to how penguins fed their chicks. Xie Lian still had to do this when the girls got hungry in the middle of the night. 

It was not something a mermaid would do in front of other mers, it was natural yes, but it was simply because of the threat of someone taking their food. And it was an incredibly vulnerable position for the mother to be in. This loving act of intimacy was only done with mothers and their babies.  

“Mama, can we go treasure hunting again?” 

Xie Lian hummed as he ran his fingers down Mingzhu’s midnight blue hair. Treasure hunting was basically Xie Lian scavenging strange objects he finds in sunken ships. He’s found lots of pillows that the girls absolutely loved to cuddle with in the nest. 

Xie Lian smiled and then sank beneath the waves, taking the girls with him. The older mer was taking them to a sunken ship that was near the island and not at risk of falling apart. It was a new way to spend together with his little ones. He still did it mostly on his own for clear safety reasons, and it was his moments alone that he could indulge in his curiosity. The reason he even introduced the activity to the girls, was to try to teach them about humans in a way that wouldn’t feel forced. 

With Meiling’s intense hatred of humans, Xie Lian had to be honest that he had been scared to breach the subject about their father. Mingzhu might not be San Lang’s child by blood, but Xie Lian hopes that if the human had been alive, he would have loved her as his own just as much as Xie Lian did. And given their ages, the girls probably don’t even remember Mingzhu being adopted. They more than likely believe that they had always been twins. Xie Lian saw no point in explaining. He will of course explain when they’re older but for now, there was no real reason why he had to tell them. 

It would take several hours to reach the ship, it was a good distance away from their island home. The waters there were particularly dark and noticeably cold. Xie Lian informed the pod of their little adventure to which Sying then followed them with the rest of the pod. It wasn’t wise to go alone. The pod would wait close by but didn’t like going into those dark waters. Sying didn’t particularly know why, but her own grandmother urged her fellow orcas to stay away. Since Xie Lian was fully grown, she couldn’t very well stop him. But she did warn him.

Xie Lian assured her that it was safe, he had entered these waters many times himself when he was scavenging. He would keep a close eye on the girl’s body temperatures, warming them up if they got too cold. If he needed help, he would call for them. Sying, ever the caring grandmother, nuzzled Xie Lian before watching the small group leave. 

The difference in temperatures was subtle. It was nothing like the arctic waters Xie Lian had to endure growing up. Still, Xie Lian was thankful that he naturally had a high body temperature, easier to warm up his babies. 

Reaching the sunken ship, and the mer reminded his daughters to never stray away from him, and if something felt scary, they would leave. Ban Chu and Yue Tao of course followed to which the eldest mermaid felt grateful. Orcas would scare off any potential sharks in the nearby area. The shipwreck was a sight to behold, with massive white sails and littered debris everywhere, it never failed to impress the little mermaids at Xie Lian’s side. 

By comparison, they were the size of the end tip of his fluke to where his fluke began. It might seem like the girls hadn’t grown that much, but given how small they had been when they were babies, they have grown a lot. But mermaids grow over a period of over 100 years, they still had a lot of growing to be done. And that was just to become juveniles. Xie Lian himself is 327 years old. Barely reaching adulthood by the time he became a mother. To his little ones, he was ancient. 

Upon entering the ship, the first place they searched was the captain’s quarters. It was littered with maps and papers that the ink had faded already. Books were too fragile so the mermaid tended to ignore them. In the far back of the room, the group spotted a wooden trunk. Xie Lian smiled. 

“Look, there might be something inside.” 

The girls chirped in excitement. Xie Lian easily yanked open the lid, the metal lock snapping like it was a mere twig. The trunk was, to his dismay, filled with gold. Xie Lian sighed, he had no idea why humans were obsessed with these shiny metals. 

“Aww…” Meiling mumbled. 

Xie Lian left them to explore the trunk further as he looked over the rest of the room. Ban Chu squeaked hello from the glass window. The twins clicked back. Xie Lian opened the glass window, and Yue Tao didn’t waste any time swimming into the room with them. 

“What’s this mommy?” 

Meiling held up a large object that held a long thin sharp silver metal on one end, and what looked like a handle on the other. Xie Lian quickly, but gently, pried her small hands off the dagger.  

“Something my treasures shouldn’t be playing with.”  

Meiling avoided anything sharp after that. Mingzhu opened a door that led into a smaller room filled with clothes. Both girls hissed before quickly shutting the door, hoping their mother wouldn’t see. Xie Lian chuckled, they still didn’t like wearing the robes he found for them. 

Yue Tao held a soft looking fabric in his mouth, proudly showing his find to Xie Lian. Xie Lian felt the fabric, soft like the fur pelts San Lang once showed him. It was a soft shade of orchid pink and plump purple. It had embroidery in the shape of willow leaves. Xie Lian thanked the little orca before calling the twins. Letting out a chirp. 

Look, I have something nice for you. 

The blanket was a hit. The girls loved the shades of orchid pink and plum purple. Even rubbing on their cheeks, instantly purring at how quickly the blanket warmed them. It was a large blanket, so Xie Lian didn’t have to worry about them outgrowing it anytime soon. 

The next thing they found was a smaller wooden box filled with pretty looking trinkets. Xie Lian had seen human females wearing them in their hair. There were also pearls on a string and a beautifully engraved hair brush. As beautiful as they were, Xie Lian didn’t like the idea of the twins accidentally poking each other in the eye. He wisely hid the box again. But he did keep the golden bristle comb. 

“Mama come look!” 

Mingzhu held up a wooden frame, inside was a picture of a human woman holding an infant in her arms. Xie Lian gently took the picture into his clawed hands. The woman was smiling, proudly looking at her baby with dark circles under her eyes. Xie Lian could relate. It was hard, being a mother. It was the most underappreciated role, but it was also the most rewarding. Xie Lian showed the picture to Meiling. 

“Look, doesn’t she look beautiful?” 

The picture was met with narrowed eyes. Meiling stared at it in scrutiny. “What’s it doing?” 

“ She , is holding her baby.”  

“Oh.” 

“Your baba was a human too. Not all humans want to hurt us.” 

It was ironic. Xie Lian was a mermaid who had been so curious about humans that he accidentally fell in love with one and birthed said human’s child. Yet his children wanted nothing to do with humans. They don’t even acknowledge their father was a human. Xie Lian suspected that if it wasn’t for Xie Lian showing them trinkets made by humans as babies, they would never listen to his stories about humans now. 

Xie Lian sometimes can’t sleep at night. Meiling has never once said it, but he knows she resents him for picking a human to be her father. Cursing her to be half human. Xie Lian is grateful that the bond doesn’t go both ways. Normally it would if she had been a full blooded mermaid. He doesn’t want her to know that she doesn’t even have the privacy to have her feelings.  

He didn’t stop her from expressing her opinions, hoping it would be an opening to a conversation. But she never did. Hiding her feelings as always. Keeping everything bottled inside was only hurting her more. But just as she deeply resented his choice of mate, she also seemed to recognize that she wouldn’t be alive without the human. Reluctant tolerance. And Meiling didn’t love Xie Lian any less, in fact, she was even more clingy. Afraid that her disdain for her human father would make Xie Lian pick a human over his own child. 

That, is what broke Xie Lian’s heart. Knowing that Meiling didn’t feel safe enough to openly say she didn’t want him to talk about humans or even bring up San Lang because she was afraid Xie Lian would abandon her. Xie Lian had no idea where she would even conceive the notion that he would pick San Lang over them if he knew. It made him sick. 

He wanted to talk about it. He desperately wanted to tell Meiling he would love her no matter what. That she was entitled to have her feelings and opinions, and that Xie Lian was truly the only person in all seven seas who had her best interests at heart. But that would reveal he knew exactly what she felt. Reveal the bond. He couldn’t do that. He hopes one day she will forgive him, but as her mother, Xie Lian was terrified of having a repeat of her depressive state. The bond was the only thing keeping Xie Lian sane. 

Meiling looked uncomfortable and didn’t seem to care. Swimming away to look at things that didn’t remind her of humans. Xie Lian sighed, dropping the subject. He still had 3 hundred years to change her mind. At least Mingzhu didn’t completely hate humans. Granted she hasn’t really met one, but ever since Shu Ying’s passing, she doesn’t really have a reason to like them. But she did help in Xie Lian’s efforts in talking about humans. 

Progress was slow, but at least now Meiling didn’t scream at the top of her lungs when he mentioned her father or humans. And she liked collecting human things. Xie Lian put the picture frame on the wooden desk. 

Frantic squeaking pulled the mer out of his thoughts, it was Ban Chu and she was calling for them to leave now. Xie Lian hissed, taking the girls into his arms before bolting out of the room. Yue Tao was squeaking in panic, calling for his sister. 

The group found Ban Chu being circled by a Bonefish. Made entirely of the skeletal structure of a fish, and glowing beady eyes with a mouth full of sharp teeth. Deadly creatures that shouldn’t be this far out of their territory. 

Xie Lian paled. Now he knew why Sying didn’t want them to enter. Ban Chu was keeping a good distance from the bonefish, but no matter what she did, the bonefish didn’t let up. Xie Lian called for the other orcas, but he didn’t know if they would be enough. 

It may be just one bonefish for now, but a whole school could come out of nowhere. Xie Lian didn’t know how he was going to get them out of this. Meiling buried her face in his neck. Mingzhu looked enthralled. Shaking as she hissed. She was getting ready to leap out of his arms. 

“Mingzhu no!” 

Too late, Mingzhu slipped from his grip, letting out excited clicks. Catching the bonefish's attention. It abandoned its pursuit of Ban Chu and was heading straight for her. Mingzhu only chirped excitedly before she transformed into her natural state of a sea dragon. 

The bonefish immediately changed direction, now being chased by an over-eager dragon ready to sink her much more impressive set of jaws into its boney body. In this form, her body was much faster than a mermaid’s fastest speed and proceeded to chase after the bonefish. With Mingzhu’s lack of hunting experience, she made up for it in stamina. 

“Mingzhu wait!”  

“Wow!”

“A-Mei, don’t encourage your sister!” 

“But I didn’t say anything!” 

Their voices fell on deaf ears as the young sea dragon easily caught up to the bonefish and proceeded to snap her powerful jaws on the tail. Destroying its tail. The Bonefish couldn’t propel itself forward, doomed to be the sea dragon’s teething toy. Mingzhu had lazily crunched on the bones, trilling as she scarfed down her meal with great enthusiasm. 

The bonefish weren’t the biggest Xie Lian had seen, but it was nearly the size of Xie Lian. It had been a while since Mingzhu had transformed, surprised to see that in just three years, Mingzhu was longer than him in her natural state. If she was already this big as a five year old, Xie Lian could only imagine how big his baby was going to become when she was fully grown. She was going to be massive. She already had outgrown him. Xie Lian didn’t know whether to laugh or cry. 

Mingzhu was probably the last sea dragon, the top predator of all seven seas. And with Mingzhu’s obvious love for her sister Meiling, Xie Lian felt a weight off his shoulders. They were going to thrive. No harm would come to them. 

But a nagging feeling reminded Xie Lian of Jun Wu. How the dragons were either killed or imprisoned. Xie Lian’s maternal instincts snarled at the idea of something still being a threat to his offspring. And the mer suspected Jun Wu was in the center of all it. 

Being away from Jun Wu had honestly allowed Xie Lian to think for himself. Living alone was the best thing that has ever happened to him. Besides his children and his orca family. And food. And his scraps. And naps. Oh did he love naps.  

Sying arrived with the rest of the pod, ready to fend off any predators but was instead greeted by Mingzhu happily mauling the bonefish’s head. It was like this, her jaws biting into the skull, her back hindlegs kicking at the fish. Exactly like a cat would with a toy. By the time she was done, she looked so disappointed that her snack was gone. Her lips pouted.  Xie Lian might have to give Mingzhu hunting lessons sooner than he anticipated. His baby dragon was growing up so fast. 

After having a close call with the bonefish, Xie Lian felt it was time to get his little ones home. They’ve had enough treasure hunting for one day. The orcas circled the smaller members of the pod, escorting them back to their island home. Mingzhu turned back into her mermaid form. 

By the time they arrived, it was dusk, which meant it was time to settle the twins for bed. Xie Lian laid out the new blanket in the nest, the girls instantly started rubbing against the comfy blanket, letting out happy chirps. Mingzhu and Meiling tuckered themselves out, piled on top of each other. Xie Lian was curled around them as usual. 

He was exhausted, today was a full day. Despite how tired he was, he couldn’t sleep. With Mingzhu growing faster than Xie Lian initially thought, he was trying to figure out how to find information about sea dragons. Mingzhu deserved to have the best possible education about her species. With humans, his knowledge was minimal, but with dragons, he had nothing substantial. He was raising children almost completely blind and it bothered him a great deal.

The only place where he might find some seaweed scrolls about dragons would have to be in the mer kingdom up north. Where Jun Wu reigned. But Xie Lian didn’t think the scrolls would be objective and fact-based. Xie Lian pressed the heel of his palm to his eye, a headache was sure to come. Xie Lian closed his eyes and tried to fall asleep. 

The mer was woken up late into the night by the babies who needed to be fed. After feeding them again, the sun had come up. It was time to hunt for their next meal. Xie Lian left the twins under Ban Chu’s watch. He had started to hunt for the two orphans when Sying was struggling to keep everyone fed. Xie Lian tried to help ease the burden off of the elderly orca as much as he could. 

Xie Lian would return around dusk with the other orcas. This wouldn’t be possible without Ban Chu helping him. Yue Tao followed close behind, chasing a fish. The orcas were practically the mer's own babies at this point. 

Xie Lian didn’t return at dusk, but Sying did. With food. Mingzhu and Meiling accepted the matriarchs offering when they woke up from their nap. Letting out inquisitive chirps about the whereabouts of their mother. 

Sying answered in clicks, the mer had encountered old friends. He’ll be home soon. The twins looked at each other in confusion. They didn’t know their mother had friends. Then again, Xie Lian didn’t tell them many things about his past. Not thinking anything of it, the babies returned to their napping. Growing up was such hard work after all. 

Xie Lian and Sying had just finished swallowing down their meals whole. This time their meal was sardines. The other orcas were enjoying themselves, squeaking at a job well done. Xie Lian was just licking off the rest of the blood on his fingers when he heard someone calling his name. 

Which was impossible, as intelligent as his pod mates were, they did not possess the ability to communicate with him in an actual voice. Several voices, actually. And, they were calling him ‘your highness?’ Xie Lian shook his head, cleaning out his ears. He must be hearing things. He hadn’t been called that in a long time. 

“No more pufferfish for me” 

He didn’t nibble on pufferfish so that statement was a joke more than anything. The orcas began to circle him, squeaking in a frenzy. Now Xie Lian was really confused. His puzzlement was finally answered when he saw four mers swimming right for him. He recognized all of them.

“Shi Qingxuan?!” 

Xie Lian stared in shock at the familiar faces. Feng  Xin and Mu Qing looked just as surprised as he felt. Feng Xin had a bright cerulean tail and Mu Qing’s tail look like copper scales. Shi Qingxuan hugged him tightly, crying crocodile tears. 

“Where have you been?! Do you have any idea how much I’ve missed you?! You just left without saying so much as a goodbye?!” 

Xie Lian didn’t really have anything to say that. He just stared at his friends for a long time. Shi Qingxuan let him go before staring at Xie Lian expectantly with those teal eyes of his. Ming Yi, Shi Qingxuan’s best friend, stared at Xie Lian suspiciously. Xie Lian is not really sure why. Ming Yi’s tail was nearly all black with specks of gold scales here and there. His fluke was just as big as Xie Lian’s. And he looked irritated. 

“Are you alright Ming Yi?” 

Ming Yi shook his head at Xie Lian’s question. “It’s nothing, I just lost a pet of mine yesterday.” 

Xie Lian sympathized. Shi Qingxuan stared at the black scaled mer in amazment. “Ming-Xiong! You never told me you had pets! You’ll have to show me sometime.” 

“Well? What do you have to say for yourself after all these years?” Feng Xin demanded. 

“Six years later and here I find you living with a pod of orcas?! How could you do this?!” 

Xie Lian shook his head, “What are you all doing here?” 

“Looking for you! You are a very difficult person to find. Orcas, brilliant. I should’ve thought of that.” Shi Qingxuan laughed. 

“You’ve been looking for me?” 

“Obviously, after you left Jun Wu said you abandoned the pod after you attacked him. I didn’t believe him because, for one, I know you. You wouldn’t have left without a good reason. So I would sneak away to look for you but Ge would always drag me back. Then Jun Wu tried implementing curfews and was just being a pain in the fluke, so I left.” 

“And we followed him. He wasn’t that good at keeping a low profile.”  

They spoke so quickly, Xie Lian barely caught everything. Xie Lian hissed at the mention of Jun Wu. The Orcas were unfamiliar with this newcomer, Shi Qingxuan jolted when he noticed the pod started circling them. Feng Xin, Mu Qing, and Ming Yi equally looked uncomfortable. While mermaids and orcas were on friendly terms, that didn’t automatically make them chummy with each other. There was a reason why sharks were terrified of orcas, mermaids had a healthy respect for them. 

“Mind telling them we’re not a threat?” 

Xie Lian shook his head as he chirped at the pod. The orcas relaxed and swam away, not too far. Just in case Xie Lian needed support. Sying however joined Xie Lian’s side. Smiling eerily at the mers.

“Wow, you’ve changed. I like this version of you. Making friends with killer whales.” 

Xie Lian sighed, rubbing his temple. “You should head back to the pod.” 

“No way, I’m done with them. So stingy.”  

“It isn’t safe out here without a pod.” Mu Qing added.

“Although you seem to be doing just fine.” Ming Yi raised a brow at the orca who was happily showing her teeth at him. “More than fine actually.” 

Xie Lian was about to answer them when a strange little fish caught his attention. It was small, but it had brilliant silver white scales and red eyes. It was a white butterfly fish and was just swimming around them. It reminded the mer that he had babies to feed. He looked back to others. 

“I’m very sorry but I have to go.”

 Xie Lian started to swim away, the orcas followed after him. The other mers followed as well. Xie Lian immediately hissed at them, the orcas began to click aggressively. Xie Lian didn’t want them to learn about either of his daughters. If they found out about Meiling, they might kill her, and if they learned about Mingzhu, her fate might be worse. Xie Lian would never allow that.

The group looked very much shocked at how quickly his temper fluxed. Even the butterfly fish seem surprised. Xie Lian’s eyes were slits, his white frilled ears twitching, his fangs bared. Shi Qingxuan quickly tried to laugh it off. 

“Haha if I didn’t know any better, I’d think you had babies waiting for you with how territorial you were being with us.” 

“...”

“Oh my god, you have babies?!” 

“Please leave.” 

“WHAT?! WHO DID THIS TO YOU?!” Feng Xin yelled angrily, which was quickly met with an orca dragging him down by his tail. 

Xie Lian didn’t retort that he did this to himself. If Feng Xin was smart, he wouldn’t retaliate. Two other orcas followed. Sying left, clicking to Xie Lian that she would feed his girls in his stead. Ming Yi’s gills sputtered.  

“I’m sorry, babies? As in, more than one?” 

Shi Qingxuan tutted at the mer, “Ming-Xiong, did you forget we have clutches?” 

The white butterfly fish seemed to faint. Not that Xie Lian noticed or cared. Xie Lian was growing agitated. So he opened his mouth.  

“It’s true, I actually have 13 babies waiting for me,” the butterfly fish all but died at this point. 

Better to let them think he has way more than two, they would think twice before deciding to kill off his clutch. Xie Lian was in no mood to take any more risks today. He already had a close call yesterday, he didn’t want to press his luck. 

“You’re kidding.” 

Xie Lian shook his head and started listing off the names of his children. “Ban Chu is my eldest, Feiyu, Ruyi, Zanli, Deiyu, Dongmei, Ming Xia, Xiao Hui, Mingzhu, Yue Fang, Meiling, Jing Meng, and Yue Tao.” 

“Yue Tao?” 

“I was running out of names when I was pushing them out of me. It was night time and I was hungry.” 

Ming Yi’s shoulders were shaking, it looked like he was really trying not to burst out laughing. Shi Qingxuan was in complete shock, Feng Xin looked like he wanted to vomit, and Mu Qing looked downright appalled. The butterfly fish was weakly swimming away. Good thing too, Xie Lian was going to add that fish to the girl’s breakfast if it didn’t leave soon.

Xie Lian managed to convince them to leave, and meet in a few days. Ming Yi said something about having to meet up with an acquaintance of some sort. Not that he cared. Xie Lian had no idea how he was going to pull off what he planned to do. Under no circumstances would they meet his children. They might have been friends years ago, but that was then, this is now. And now, he doesn’t fully trust them. They could still be loyal to Jun Wu. 

Given his luck, Xie Lian was not willing to take that risk. 

Chapter Text

He Xuan found Hua Cheng sitting behind his desk, face in his hands. His hair was unkept, his clothes were disheveled, and the man looked like he just came out of battle. He Xuan could faintly hear Hua Cheng mumbling the 13 names Xie Lian had given. To be quite frank, he looked like shit. He Xuan rolled his eyes. 

“He’s a mermaid, he’s built for this sort of thing.” 

“With a mate,” Hua Cheng’s one eye glowed, glaring at the fellow ghost. He had clearly been crying, “He has been taking care of 13 children for 6 years, alone. I deserve to die again with how much suffering I’ve caused him.”

“Well, at least you’re aware of it. And dying would be the easy way out, he’ll still have to care for 13 offspring. Unless you were food, I doubt he’d care if you died again. Also, why do you look like that?”  

“I am experiencing the birthing pains Xie Lian would have endured.” 

“Why?”  

“I need to make it up to him somehow.” 

“And this is making up to him? He doesn’t know that you’re still here. It means nothing.” 

“...” 

Hua Cheng’s mind was in shock, he wasn’t thinking clearly. He waved away the birthing pains. He Xuan looked around the room and saw tiny robes of various shades and colors all delicately folded and wrapped. He seemed to be struggling with toys. Water would damage most of the toys made by humans. Jewels meant nothing to a mermaid so that was out, Hua Cheng was out of his depth. 

He Xuan took his seat on the chair in front of Hua Cheng, took the bowl of fruit from the desk, and proceeded to eat it. Hua Cheng ran a hand through his wild black locks. 

“It could be worse, they couldn’ve died. You should be proud your little mermaid kept all of them alive for this long. Unlike the news I received. Something ate one of my bonefish. I’m gonna kill whatever did it.”  

“You dare compare your pets to infants? You who are courting Shi Qingxuan?” 

“I am not courting him. I’m biding my time.” 

Hua Cheng didn’t believe him for a second. But he dropped it, he had more important things to worry about. Like trying to win the favor of 13 babies. He couldn’t bribe them, that would be wrong and surely piss off Xie Lian. 

Hua Cheng groaned into his hands. He had no idea how he was going to do this. All he knew was that he loved them, all 14 of them. But love and luck weren’t going to be enough this time. Hua Cheng suddenly knew what he had to do. He looked up at He Xuan. 

“Tell me everything about mer folk courting.”

Xie Lian sat alone at the top of a rock formation, but he wasn’t enjoying the beautiful star filled night sky.  The night air had dried his warm brown hair, his tail curled around the rocks, gracefully falling into the sea. He could hear the periodic breathing of the orcas. Sleeping nearby. The mermaid had been sitting there for hours, thinking about what he should do.

It had been about two weeks since he first saw his old pod members. Xie Lian did return as promised, but not with his children. Ming Yi, Feng Xin, Mu Qing and Shi Qingxuan looked rather disappointed that he didn’t bring his babies. Oh and the white butterfly fish from before was there again. 

“So when can we meet them?” 

Preferably never. But Xie Lian hadn’t outright said that, though the air was heavy with the implication. Xie Lian felt conflicted and confused. He didn’t know what to do. So he told them half of the truth, that his babies had a human sire, and Jun Wu lost it when he found out. But that was about it. He wanted to trust them, but something was holding him back.

He knew what it was, of course he knew what it was. It was fear. He was afraid because he was alone, excluding the orcas of course he would never discredit them, but other than that, he was a single parent with no mate to help him if something went disastrously wrong.  

The mermaid sighed, looking into the still water, his golden eyes glowing reflectively back at him. His hair fell over his shoulder. Xie Lian noticed his every flaw. He was tired yet he couldn’t sleep peacefully these days, the dark circles under his eyes proved it. He was thin, hunting consumed 40% of his energy, defending his territory took 20%, and caring for his babies, 40%. His tail was lacking its usual shimmer and luster, a sign that he wasn’t receiving enough of the nutrients he needs, the bonefish had started to edge closer to his territory, making food that much harder to find.  

His hair was dry and not as beautiful as it once was. He had little to no time to groom himself. His mind was a mess. Stress has been his enemy for a long time. Despite being away from Jun Wu, and seeing things in a new light, Xie Lian still had many questions. Did his parents really die of humans killing them? What exactly happened to the sea dragons? What if Jun Wu knew where he was and was coming to kill his babies at this very moment? 

That shouldn’t be possible because he made the four mers swear secrecy, but even then, it did little to ease his paranoia. Jun Wu always seemed to know things, even if it shouldn’t be possible. All of it, made Xie Lian tired. He just wanted to live in peace with his orca pod and babies. To not have to worry about finding food, to not constantly worry about rogue mermaids finding their nest.  

Maybe, maybe it was time to go on land? 

It had crossed Xie Lian’s mind before. To leave the sea, but his girls would be heartbroken to leave behind the only family they had ever known. And the orcas would surely protest. If it was just Meiling he had to consider, he would’ve attempted to live among humans by now. But he could never abandon Mingzhu, and she needed the sea. 

Xie Lian covered his eyes, trying to hide his vulnerable state of mind. Only the moon herself had ever seen him at his lowest, and her gentle light always brought comfort to him. Pearls fell into the ocean. He didn’t know what to do. With a heavy sigh, he lowered his hand, looking into the water again when he caught sight of silver scales. Xie Lian’s head tilted, his eyes blinking. It was a school of those strange silver white butterfly fish. He had no idea that they glowed in the dark too. 

The school swam around his resting rock. Some brushed against his tail faintly. It was like they were putting on a display to pull him away from his dark thoughts. It seemed to work, unknowingly bringing a small smile to his lips as he enjoyed their magnificent dance. 

Their intricate movements had Xie Lian’s head swaying as they moved, following along. Xie Lian laid down on his stomach, resting his head on his crossed arms as he watched the butterfly fish dance. He had never seen this breed before but had to admit they were quite beautiful to look at. 

Too bad he had babies to feed. 

With no warning whatsoever, Xie Lian dove head-first into the water and caught four of them, killing them instantly. The school of fish actually froze, watching Xie Lian breach the surface again. Then proceed to devour the four tiny morsels like they were nothing but oyster meat. The blood dribbling down his chin gave him a terrifyingly divine look.  

The mermaid was trilling in pleasure as to how surprisingly tasty the meat of the fish. His hunger-driven mind paid no attention to the fish that seem to turn pink when Xie Lian began to lick his fingers clean. Not that he noticed. He was thinking that hopefully, they weren’t poisonous. 

Xie Lian had warned Mingzhu that not everything she sees is food, and here he was out under the moonlight putting things in his mouth that he had no idea if it was safe to eat. Xie Lian’s gills sputter. He was a hypocrite. 

Feeling rejuvenated by having a worthy snack, Xie Lian had forgotten about his audience and proceeded to groom his hair. Plucking out magenta and indigo scales here in there, but the mermaid didn’t have the heart to toss his babies’ scales. 

Once he felt a little better about his appearance, his iris snapped to his peripheral vision, side-eyeing the fish. Not that it mattered to the school of butterfly fish, to them, he looked divine even as he looked at them with hunger in his glowing gold eyes. 

The tiny fishes let out air bubbles, stunned to be under the mermaid’s gaze. Neither the fish nor the mermaid moved. One stared in awe and a healthy dose of fear, the other eyed them in contemplation and cruel intentions. 

The lack of movement of the fish just made the mermaid make up his mind. The mermaid never pulls his eyes away from the school of glowing fish, but he let out a loud chirp. The glow school of fish seemed to flicker in shock. The mermaid just rang the dinner bell. 

No sooner had Xie Lian called for his babies, Ban Chu, Mingzhu, Meiling, and Yue Tao were coming straight for them. The fish, if Xie Lian had to give them an expression, looked confused as well as shocked. 

That didn’t last long when Mingzhu easily snatch five with just her mouth, swallowing them whole. Meiling went straight into her mother’s arms. Xie Lian rubbed his cheek against her head before tilting her on her back, Meiling opened her mouth. Xie Lian lowered his head, his mouth opening wide right above her. Transferring any food he had eaten earlier into her mouth. 

The fish didn’t know what to do, swim away or watch the mermaid feed his young. The latter felt too intimate for their small red eyes. Just when they thought it couldn’t be more confusing, Mingzhu transformed into her dragon form and began picking off the tiny fish one by one. The school of fish was thoroughly overwhelmed. 

“Ban Chu, make sure Mingzhu doesn’t eat all of them.” 

Xie Lian said, licking his lips clean again. Meiling curled adorably in his arms, purring in contentment at having a full belly. Ban Chu to her credit, didn’t bother the small fish. But her white underbelly did spook them, they were not expecting two orcas to be under the mermaid’s care. 

Despite being killed off one by one, the fish seemed to want to stay, simply avoiding Mingzhu’s jaws at the very last second, which only made the baby dragon more excitable. She was going to be a pain to put to sleep. The fish, however, seemed to be looking for something. Swimming in and out of the coral, even into the nest Xia Lian clearly had made with love. 

Xie Lian of course wasn’t paying attention to the fish who seem to be trying to make sense of the situation, Xie Lian called back Mingzhu, who turned back to her mermaid form. Ban Chu and Yue Tao were swimming just inches away from the mermaid. 

“Mama I like the fishies. Taste good.” 

Xie Lian trilled softly, rubbing his head against Mingzhu’s, “I’m glad my love.” 

The few surviving fish finally saw Meiling’s eyes. Magnificent apple red and gold irises stared innocently at the fish. The toddler was clearly sleepy, trying to cuddle closer into her mother’s arms for warmth. But what truly caught their attention, was the beautiful magenta red and gold scaled tail curled around Xie Lian’s waist. They were still working through the baby sea dragon.  

It was a heavenly sight to behold, Xie Lian holding the two girls in his arms, Ban Chu and Yue Tao obediently listening to the mermaid's every request. It was moments like these when Xie Lian felt the most at peace. So he sang. 

It was the same lullaby Xie Lian had been singing for years, but it never failed to bring sleepy smiles. In the mermaid’s mind, this was paradise. They were his greatest treasures. 

Over the next few days, the school of white butterfly fish seemed to swim more slowly, as if depressed. Or trying to engage with Xie Lian’s children. Always watching the family. The white butterfly fish were everywhere. And there never seemed to be an end to them. They didn’t even swim away when Mingzhu would snap her jaws at them. 

Almost like they were happy to be eaten. Xie Lian told his babies to stay away from the suicidal fish. He did not want his girls to get whatever parasite the fish clearly had in their brains. The fish always came running whenever Xie Lian called out for a member of the orca pod, excitedly waiting to see who the name belonged to. 

And they were always droopy whenever the names turned out to belong to the orcas. Xie Lian really had no idea what to make of the fish. Even when the fish caught him staring at them. The fish would be the first to look away when Xie Lian was glaring at them suspiciously. 

Shi Qingxuan had made the comment that the small fish were his adoring fans and were desperate for his approval. Xie Lian did say while they looked pretty, they did make him feel like he was being watched, and it irked the mermaid to no end. 

Feng Xin and Mu Qing offered to dispose of the fish, but Xie Lian waved that thought away. They were harmless and clearly not poisonous. It was an offer in the hopes of earning favor in meeting his children. 

Although Ming Yi seemed to be trying to call his bluff about having 13 children. Xie Lian didn’t feel bothered, to him the orcas who he listed might as well be. 

“What is Ruyi’s favorite color again?”

Pink.

“Dongmei’s favorite snack?”

Mango amazingly.

“Do they sleep with you?

Actually yes, sometimes. 

Xie Lian knew Ming Yi knew, he suspects the white butterfly fish. Xie Lian will make quick work of those little fish tonight, Mingzhu will be thrilled. The fish backed away as if they could tell what Xie Lian was thinking. So when the group told him they had to return to Jun Wu’s pod or Shi Wudo would come looking for them, Ming Yi took that opportunity to confront him about it. Taking him somewhere more private to talk. This annoyed the little butterfly fish. 

“I know you don’t have 13 babies.” 

“I know those white fish are spying on me. I also know that you are in love with Shi Qingxuan, but you are in denial. ”

“....Motherhood has made you mean.”

Xie Lian only grinned as he waved goodbye when Ming Yi swam away after that. Xie Lian hasn’t seen him since. Xie Lian slept very well that night. Until he noticed a faint red glow appearing in the distance every night. Just at the edge of his territory. And every time Xie Lian went out to see what it was with one of the orcas, there was always a fresh kill. And every night, the kills were bigger than the last. 

Xie Lian didn’t feel comfortable taking food from a predator that was clearly much more skilled than he was, taking the food could be seen as a sign of disrespect. And since the crimson red glow never entered his territory, Xie Lian had no real reason to chase them away. 

He did try, the first night he saw the glowing red bioluminescence, but whatever the creature was, it was fast. Xie Lian wondered if maybe, it was a sea dragon. He doubted it, but if it was, they were invaluable to him. He just didn’t want to know if the dragon saw him as dinner instead of a fellow being.

No matter, Xie Lian was not ready to get eaten anytime soon. Unless he died, then he would hope that his babies ate his corpse so they would survive for a little while. When he confessed that he told his children to do that, the butterfly fish scattered in a frenzy, Shi Qingxuan looked sick, Ming Yi looked scared, Feng Xin and Mu Qing got into another shouting match. 

Xie Lian was completely unbothered, if he had a cup of tea in his hands, he would be sipping it with a smile. As if he didn’t just admit that he told his children to resort to cannibalism if he died. Xie Lian would probably come back from the grave just to make sure they ate him. It was morbid, but hey he’s got to do what a mother’s got to do. 

Besides, it’s not like other animal species didn’t do the same. Although he must admit, the orcas cried all night when he told them about it. The white butterfly fish seemed to grieve with them. Xie Lian really needed to see a healer if he found the idea of being eaten by his children after he died from some unfortunate accident a happy one. 

He was probably a little broken in the head. But that’s alright. As long as he didn’t do something ridiculous like go back to Jun Wu’s pod and agree to become his mate. Now that would be a sure sign he was losing his marbles. 

The butterfly fish seem to agree. That night, in his territory, the red glowing creature left a massive bluefin tuna. Now that, had Xie Lian drooling. But his paranoia forced him to leave it there. But now that the creature entered his territory, and that sent Xie Lian on alert.

So the following day, Xie Lian hid within the coral, his tail perfect camouflage. The butterfly fish were looking for him, but every time one of his babies called, the fish always went back. Xie Lian used that to his advantage, taking those moments to swim further into open water. 

It was almost at the moon’s peak when finally, Xie Lian caught sight of the crimson red light. His eyes widened in shock. It was a merman, at least, it looked like a merman.

From where Xie Lian could see in his hiding spot, he could see that the merman held immense strength. His body was lean and fit, all the signs of a dangerous hunter. The nails on his hands were black and sharp, they could inflict serious wounds on whoever he faced. And his tail was like blood, glowing menacingly, a warning for other creatures to stay away. Specks of silver scales ran along the back of his tail and down to his fluke. His fluke was not frilly like Xie Lian’s or his daughters, but he could tell that the merman’s tail could easily flip a small boat with one strike. 

Everything about the merman screamed that he was an ideal mate. Had Xie Lian not fallen in love with San Lang, he might have been an option. However, Xie Lian’s heart was not open to love. Unfortunately for the red stranger, Xie Lian was not exactly fawning over the sight of him. No, quite the opposite actually. Xie Lian was pissed. 

And when the white butterfly fish came towards their master. Xie Lian seethed. This merman had been spying on Xie Lian and his family for days and was leaving behind food. And tonight, he brought two large bluefin tuna. Was the crimson merman implying that he wasn’t a fit mother? That he was incapable of taking care of his own babies by himself? Xie Lian’s eyes contracted.

How dare this rogue merman enter his territory? How dare a complete stranger judge him for doing his best? How dare he?  

So, Xie Lian did want any mer would do when their territory had babies to protect. The red merman wasn’t looking anywhere near his hiding place, focused on hunting something. Xie Lian barely hissed out a warning before tackling the merman into the sea floor. Catching the merman off guard, who hissed back. 

The merman tried to grab whatever was attacking him from behind with his black claws, his tail moving erratically to try to shake Xie Lian off his back. Blinded by his overwhelming need to protect his offspring, Xie Lian failed to notice that the merman was also bigger than he was. But what Xie Lian lacked in size, he made up for in strength. He sent the merman crashing into a rock formation. 

The commotion attracted the attention of his pod members, ready to join and help him defend his territory. Xie Lian’s tail flicked in agitation. 

The red merman was growling underneath the rocks that buried him. The stranger sounded very pissed off. Xie Lian didn’t scare easily, not even when a clawed hand burst from the rubble. The red tail crumbled the remaining rock to dust.  

Xie Lian could only see one red eye narrowed to a slit glaring at him. Both mers were sizing each other up, clearly the other was a formidable opponent. When the dust finally cleared enough to for the red merman to see his attacker, his demeanor changed. 

He completely froze. Staring at Xie Lian in awe and shock.

Xie Lian was confused. Shouldn’t the mer be retaliating? 

Now that they were face to face, Xie Lian got a good look at this stranger. There were deep crimson antlers on its head, like Mingzhu’s. His hair was long and luxurious, a coral red pearl was tied to the base of a small section of his hair styled in a small braid. One phoenix crimson eye glowed, and his right eye was covered by a black shell. His webbed red ears added to his enchanting appearance. His skin was pale, but it radiated beauty that could only be described as otherworldly. 

The red merman sat on the sandy sea floor, his tail curled in a way which left him vulnerable to attack. Xie Lian just stared at him in pure confusion. This stranger was submitting? After one throw? 

The orcas looked at each other, not even Feng Xin submitted that quickly. Xie Lian was so confused that he didn’t notice that he sat down on the sea bed. Very much like a cat would, tail curled around him elegantly. Studying the mer from the distance. 

The quick change of atmosphere completely took Xie Lian by surprise that he was no longer angry. He was downright curious.  

One of the orcas was having none of their lack of interaction. So they took it upon themselves to push the red merman around. Bumping their head into his back several times. The merman looked annoyed, but he didn’t stop them. It was hilarious. Xie Lian trilled out a soft sound of approval. Of what, he wasn’t sure. 

Sying seemed bored once the red merman had little reaction to the younger orca’s bullying. Calling them back to her side. The red merman let out a small breath. When he moved his tail, Xie Lian’s eyes contracted again, snarling.  

The merman instantly froze. Xie Lian’s eyes returned to normal. That was as clear as Xie Lian was going to get. The white scaled mer tilted his head as he really took in the merman. Though the stranger was handsome, nothing really said that this was a young mer. So, why did he submit so easily?  

They sat like that for a long time, it must be painful for the red merman to keep his body still for so long. Xie Lian didn’t care. He only cared about getting the message that the red merman was in his territory, and he wasn’t exactly welcome. 

Xie Lian’s white webbed ears perked when the sound of soft chirping interrupted their silent staring contest. His head moved to where the sound was coming from. The red merman didn’t hear anything, but Xie Lian knew the crimson mer knew who was calling for him. 

When Xie Lian looked back at the merman, he was surprised to see that the merman wasn’t looking at him. He was looking in the direction of the nest, where his babies were calling for him. Xie Lian didn’t like it. 

The mother mer hissed again, and the rogue mer looked away instantly, bowing his head. Xie Lian’s gills flared. He had no idea what to make of this strange merman. 

Sensing Xie Lian’s ire, the merman moved and continued to do so even when Xie Lian let out another shrill warning. The stranger persisted, swimming cautiously and slowly to where the two tuna were. Bringing them back with him to his spot. Pushing the fish towards the mother mer. 

An offering. 

This didn’t sit well with the mermaid. Without warning, Xie Lian closed the short distance between them in less than a second, his face millimeters from the crimson mer who stared at him in surprise. Xie Lian reared his head back, and let out an ear-piercing shrill cry. 

The crimson mer close his eye and covered his ears. The painful sound was too much for his sensitive ears. When the noise finally stopped, the merman opened his one eye to see that the ethereal mother mermaid was gone. So was the pod.

Hua Cheng released the breath he was holding, he genuinely felt fear for the first time in a long time. This was not how he hoped to meet his beloved again, but he couldn’t stop the smirk appearing on his lips. 

Xie Lian took the tuna.

Chapter Text

Xie Lian began to see more offerings of food and items for his nest. And each time he left them where he found them. He absolutely did not want anything to do with this rogue mer. Especially since now the crimson merman was growing bolder. The brilliant red bioluminescence was hard to miss.

Meiling had been swimming with Yue Tao, when she spotted a hint of red in the distance. And the spot of red moved, Meiling got spooked, swimming back to hide under the blanket in their nest. Mingzhu was a lot more curious, she could afford to be. With her tough hide and quick reflexes. 

If Meiling had been able to spot him, that meant the merman was in his territory. On the outer rim. Xie Lian’s fear level was slowly rising. If the rogue mer realized that he could more than likely overpower Xie Lian, given how frail Xie Lian has become, he could easily kill off his daughters and claim this island as his. Or worse, kill Xie Lian’s young in front of him and take the mother mermaid as his prize. Forcing him to mate and bare the crimson mer’s offspring. 

Like hell Xie Lian would allow that to happen. He’d rather rip off his own head. Xie Lian was very stressed. Often looking up to the heavens and shaking his head. When was he going to catch a break? 

“Mommy, can you do my hair please?” 

Xie Lian was thankful for the distraction. The mother mermaid took the golden brush in his hands, and began to gently brush out the knots in Meiling’s hair. Mingzhu was gnawing on another bonefish she caught. When did that happen, he had no idea. They were growing so fast, yet not fast enough to be able to defend themselves. Mingzhu maybe, but Meiling had no claws or fangs. Utterly and completely helpless.  

Xie Lian scolded himself, he didn’t want his babies to grow up faster than they deserved. And they deserved to grow at their own pace. 

“Mommy, why are you sad?” 

Xie Lian shook his head, smiling. “I’m not sad baby. Mommy is just a little tired that’s all.” 

That was the biggest understatement of the century.

“Why is mommy tired?” 

“Oh no reason, I just enjoy looking at my treasures.” Xie Lian hummed as he playfully started tickling the little mermaid. “Admiring your beauty is hard work.” 

The little girl started laughing, trying to evade her mother’s gentle claws that tickled her. Mingzhu joined in, going right for Meiling’s neck. 

“Mommy no! Jiejie no! Tickles!” But it was no use, the little girl succumbed to the onslaught of tickles. 

Xie Lian mercifully stopped when he felt Meiling wheezing a little too hard. Changing his attacking method to kissing her face all over. 

“I want Mama’s kisses too!” Mingzhu exclaimed happily. 

Who was Xie Lian to refuse? Meiling wiggled her way out of Xie Lian’s arms, switching with Mingzhu who quickly received a tickle attack. 

“I said kisses! No tickles!” 

Xie Lian smiled, “Now that wouldn’t be fair to your sister.” 

After giving the sea dragon a fair dose of tickles, the mermaid peppers her face with kisses. Xie Lian loves holding them up above his head, blowing raspberries on their tummies, they were still so small. And they still had that delicious milky baby smell. Xie Lian would get drunk on it. 

The butterfly fish like to watch them too. Some were biting onto the coral as they watched. It looked like they wanted to join the family. Xie Lian had tried to eat them all off but there was no end to them. Xie Lian was about to start brushing Meiling’s hair again when he was tackled by the two little mermaids, attacking him with tickles. Xie Lian didn’t restrain his laughter or surprise. 

“Oh not fair! Two against one!” 

The girls only giggled, completely unaware that Xie Lian wasn’t actually ticklish. He was, when he was a guppy, but he grew out of it. He didn’t want to ruin their fun. Since they didn’t have many options to play with.  Xie Lian dramatically feigns death at the two tickle monsters, before rawring back to life and chasing them out of the cave. 

The game had progressed to hide and seek. Mingzhu was probably hiding among the coral, Meiling was more likely hiding behind Sying. Xie Lian crossed his arms, placing a finger to his cheek. 

“Where are my little mermaids, hmm? I’m going to gobble them up when I find them.” 

Soft giggles reached Xie Lian’s ears. Slowly, Xie Lian stalked a small patch of coral. The butterfly fish followed Xie Lian. 

“Where is my little monster?” 

“Not here!” Mingzhu’s voice said. 

Xie Lian grinned, “If my child isn’t here, where else could she be? Oh, whatever shall I do? ” 

Xie Lian swam above the coral, spotting a frilly pink tail hiding in a crevice. Gently, Xie Lian pokes at the tail, earning a burst of shrill laughter as Mingzhu leaves her hiding spot. 

“Mama found me!”

“Mhmm, I did. Now let’s go find your sister.” 

Meiling was indeed hiding behind the grandmotherly orca. Sying tried to feign innocence when being questioned by the older mer. They played a couple more rounds before Xie Lian grew tired, so it was nap time. 

Although his babies were tactile most of the time, Meiling just didn’t want to be touched. She wanted to be close but didn’t want hugs or kisses. Xie Lian had been worried it was because of how she felt about herself but was relieved to know that she just simply had a limit to people touching her. 

It reminded Xie Lian of the cats the mer had seen on land. Meiling acted very much like a cat whose boundaries must be respected, otherwise, it is not a fun day for anyone. Mingzhu didn’t really understand Meiling’s aversion to touch since Meiling could touch them whenever she wanted. But the sea dragon never pushed. It didn’t mean Meiling didn’t love Mingzhu or Xie Lian, she did, just a couple of inches apart thank you. And it was rare that Meiling requested space, like today for example. 

“Mommy I want bubble, too much…” 

“Okay, let me just move Mingzhu here.”

With Mingzhu tucked close against his chest, Xie Lian laid his tail in a larger circle than he usually did. Giving Meiling plenty of room to sleep next to them, but not invade her personal bubble.

“Thank you, mommy.” 

“Of course baobei.” 

With both little girls settled in for their nap, Xie Lian dozed off. The butterfly fish watched Meiling. She was farthest away from them but she truly looked happy to have space for herself to sleep. Over the next hour, Meiling unconsciously got closer to the pair, Xie Lian opened one eye when he felt Meiling cuddling next to them. 

The mermaid turned his body, his tail bringing them closer. Later, when they all woke up, Meiling was back to freely giving and receiving touch. She just needed time to decompress in a safe space. Thankfully, Xie Lian was that safe space.  

But something the butterfly fish didn’t fail to notice was that no one ever talked about their father. And for an incredibly brief moment, Xie Lian off handidly mentioned how their human father San Lang, ate mangos. Meiling stopped eating mangos. 

The butterfly fish later caught Xie Lian muttering to himself as he was opening clams he found. That he should have just not said anything cause now Meiling wouldn’t eat the fruit. So the next day, Xie Lian fibbed saying humans don’t like mangos and Meiling went back to eating mangos to her heart’s content. 

It didn’t take long for the owner of the butterfly fish to piece two and two together. It also didn’t take long to figure out where the little mermaid’s legs had gone. The school of fish found Xie Lian simply staring at Meiling’s tail sometimes. Always with a sad smile. 

Meiling’s ghostly heritage altered her appearance. Not that Xie Lian knew about San Lang actually being a ghost. As for Mingzhu, the fish didn’t really know where the sea dragon blood came from. Maybe Xie Lian was a descendant? 

The details didn’t matter, Xie Lian raised the girls with love given equally. In an attempt to curry favor, the crimson merman began to send elixirs. Some for headaches, others for sleep. But with each gift the merman gave, Xie Lian only seemed to get more and more upset. 

Xie Lian felt that his capabilities as a mother were being questioned, it was honestly wearing the mer down. With his patience waned, Xie Lian sat at the edge of his territory after putting his babies to sleep. Waiting for the rogue mer to show up. 

He was not left to wait long. The silver butterfly fish arrived first, then the faint glow of red followed behind. The crimson mer did not look surprised to see Xie Lian. Good, so the damn butterfly fish were telling their master that he was not pleased. 

The crimson merman stopped his advance, giving the mermaid a wide berth to leave. The dark water illuminated blood red from his bioluminescence, Xie Lian did not waver. 

“Why do you keep leaving behind offerings? I do not remember asking for them.” 

The merman did not flinch at the mermaid’s cold tone, but it was close. He bowed his head.

“This lowly one apologizes if the offerings were not to your tastes.” 

Xie Lian snarled, “You’re so insincere.” 

“Believe me, you will find no one more sincere than me.” 

Fat chance, but Xie Lian was curious, “Who are you?” 

“This one is called Hua Cheng.” 

“ Hua Cheng. I kindly ask that you stop leaving behind those offerings. I do not need constant reminders that I am raising my offspring alone. Please take your insults to someone who will listen.” 

“You misunderstand, those offerings were not an attempt to offend you. I would never dare do such a thing.” 

“Then why have you been loitering around my territory?” 

Hua Cheng stared, stunned, “Surely you must know…” 

“If I knew, why would I ask you when I much rather be with my children?” 

Hua Cheng’s pale skin turned a shade darker around his cheeks. “.... I am courting you.” 

Xie Lian stared. Hua Cheng swallowed. It was so quiet you could cut the air with a knife. Until Xie Lian burst out into hysterics. Hua Cheng was looking anywhere but at the laughing mermaid. Actual pearls fell from Xie Lian’s tears. The mermaid had to hold his stomach from how hard he was laughing. His entire body was shaking. 

Every time Hua Cheng thought Xie Lian’s laughing was slowing down, one look back at the red mer had Xie Lian laughing all over again. The mermaid’s face was flushed red from laughing so hard. 

“I-I’m sorry!” Xie Lian doubled over again as he laughed, “I’m not- laughing at you ! I swear!” 

Hua Cheng did not believe him. 

“Courting?! Me ? A mer who clearly has already been mated with children? Oh that’s a good one!” 

Finally, after a good 15 minutes, Xie Lian managed to breathe somewhat normally again, sniffing every so often. Taking deep breaths to calm his erratic heartbeat. Hua Cheng was, pouting. Xie Lian wiped his eyes. 

“Oh I haven’t laughed that much in years. Thank you for that, that was hilarious.” Xie Lian felt relaxed, he hadn’t had a good joke in a long time. “I didn’t know I needed a good laugh.”  

Xie Lian was on such a high he waved off the merman, swimming back to his nest. “Courting me? Pfft, that will make anyone die laughing.” 

Hua Cheng swam in front of Xie Lian, stopping several feet away from the mermaid, still giving him space. Xie Lian’s brow raised. 

“What?” 

“I wasn’t joking, I want to court you.” 

Xie Lian couldn’t help but smile in disbelief as he shook his head. “Nice try but you already used that joke.” 

Hua Cheng said nothing, staring at the mermaid intensely. Xie Lian's spine straightened, eye blinking quickly.

“Oh, you’re actually serious.” 

“Let me court you.” 

Xie Lian’s jaw dropped, gaping like a flabbergasted fish. His arms moved stiffly as if he had rigor mortis. Hua Cheng risked getting a bit closer, just to make sure his beloved was not going into shock. 

“ Why?”  

The mermaid’s voice croaked out. Hua Cheng relaxed when the mother mermaid seemed to start functioning again. 

“There is no one else I want.” 

Xie Lian shook his head, he was doing that a lot. “No, no, no, that makes no sense. I clearly have young, I’m in no way a suitable mate. My heart has already made its claim, you can’t mate me.”   

Hua Cheng swam just a bit closer, they were only a meter apart now. His head tilted as he locked eyes  with the mermaid. 

“Who told you that?” 

Xie Lian was about to answer when he stopped himself. It had been his Goushi and Jun Wu. Jun Wu always reminded Xie Lian to stay pure and untainted. Xie Lian didn’t listen, and now he was alone. He couldn’t even call himself a widow. San Lang had never expressed that he saw Xie Lian as his mate. 

“It doesn’t matter, it’s still the truth.” 

“Are you sure about that?” 

Xie Lian didn’t like the gleam in the merman’s crimson eye. 

“Everyone knows that. If a mermaid is mated, they can’t be with another, even after their mate dies. It will kill them.” 

“I can assure you, that is a story mer folk tell younger mers to encourage good behavior.” 

Xie Lian’s eyes hardened, “You’re lying.” 

“My source is very reliable. I don’t suppose you know the merman Pei Ming?” 

Of course he knew that was. The philandering flirt Pei Ming, he had fathered so many young, with so many different mers. He was still alive, and so were the mothers. From the last Xie Lian heard, Pei Ming was still mating with mers left and right. Why hadn’t Xie Lian realized? 

Xie Lian felt his balance falter, his hand went to his temple, his thoughts jumbled together. 

Xie Lian didn’t notice Hua Cheng holding him steady, helping him sit down on a large rock. Once the merman felt confident that XIe Lian wasn’t going to topple over, he gave the mermaid his space to process. 

Hua Cheng must be speaking the truth. This was yet another lie from Jun Wu that Xie Lian learned. Was everything Jun Wu had said a lie? Why would Jun Wu lie about something as important as this? Xie Lian had been so afraid when he first laid with San Lang. He was sealing his heart to a man who hadn’t even claimed Xie Lian as his. 

Then San Lang died, leaving Xie Lian alone. He accepted his fate. There was no one to blame but himself. Then  Xie Lian learned their coupling had resulted in Meiling, the mermaid had been grateful to have just had a piece of the man he loved. But Meiling was more than that to the mermaid. She was her own person. She is the reason he kept fighting. She still is.  

All the while Xie Lian was putting his thoughts together, Hua Cheng patiently waited Xie Lian was grateful the merman didn’t try to bombard him with more. Xie Lian looked up at the merman with a vacant stare. 

“Alright, I conceded to your reasoning. How did you even know about Pei Ming?” 

“Everyone knows about him.” 

That was much true.  

“Still, I am not looking for a mate. I’m flattered, truly, but you should look elsewhere. I don’t want to give birth again, so you would get no offspring from me.” 

“.... Offspring, is not entirely what I am after.” 

“Again, I already have children. I will not mate with you.” 

This was starting to get a little repetitive, like how it was with Jun Wu. He just wouldn’t take no for an answer. The mermaid wondered if this was going to be a repeat.

“What if my intentions are simply to take care of you and your family?” 

Xie Lian lolled his head, his brow raised. “What would you ask for in return?” 

“Nothing.” 

Xie Lian scoffed. “Everyone wants something from me.”

Hua Cheng insisted that he didn’t want anything. “I only ask that you let me take care of you. I’ll give you anything. You only need ask.” 

Xie Lian shook his head again. Lifting himself off the rock, his arms crossing. “what if I wanted you to leave?” 

Hua Cheng grimaced. Like he was dealt a lethal blow. He genuinely looked like he was in pain at the mermaid’s words.

“....I would ask you, please don’t make me.” 

Xie Lian wished he could say he felt pity, but he had no energy to spare these days. Maybe once upon a time he would given romance a chance, but reality didn’t give him that luxury. 

“Answer the question.” 

“....I would leave….” 

Xie Lian said nothing again. Hua Cheng was left waiting for what felt like hours before Xie Lian sighed as he swam to leave. 

Blessedly, Hua Cheng didn’t stop him. 

Shi Qingxuan showed up for an unexpected visit a few nights later. The white butterfly fish had lowered in numbers, now Xie Lian would only see them once in an entire day. The green jade mer had asked to meet his babies, and again Xie Lian said no. 

In order to distract the mer from shedding tears. Xie Lian brought up the topic of Ming Yi courting Shi Qingxuan. 

“He still won’t court me!” 

“Maybe you should court him instead.” 

“I’m the one who has to carry babies! If I’m going to throw away my figure, I want to be serenaded! No offense.”

Xie Lian looked at his own hips, then shrugged. It could be worse, he could be dead. 

“What gifts did you want?” 

“I want things for when I build a nest, I want a new coral fan. I want fatty fish, a pet turtle, sea rabbit, anything! I’d take a pufferfish at this point. Ming Yi is a deep sea mer, so I asked for squid!”

All of those things Xie Lian had received from Jun Wu, and never once had Xie Lian accepted his courting. 

“You can get those things yourself. You don’t need to have them come from Ming Yi. Make your nest, mate him, and have your babies. You get what you want and he gets what he wants.” 

Now that Xie Lian knew mermaids won’t actually die if they mate with another mer, Shi Qingxuan had his options. The green tailed mermaid pouted but stopped when he really took in the other mermaid’s words. 

“But’s its not the same thing… I want to be courted even though Ge doesn’t approve, I want to have babies with him. Not alone.” 

Ah, right. How could Xie Lian forget that tiny detail? 

“You’re right. Forget what I said.” 

Shi Qingxuan huffed, sitting directly in front of the exhausted mother.

“Didn’t you want those things?” 

“I did get them, but they mean nothing to me. I got them myself, and I had babies by myself. San Lang contributed, what 8 minutes to me having to raise them for 300 years?” 

“But if they’re half human, don’t they grow faster?” 

Xie Lian was so tired, he just buried his face in his hands, and groaned. Shi Qingxuan patted his back. 

“Have you considered finding another mate?” 

“No.” 

“Why not? Don’t you think San Lang would want you to be happy?” 

“San Lang is dead. What would a corpse want for the living?” 

That was harsh. San Lang died, he never knew. Xie Lian rubbed his temple, he didn’t know what was wrong with him. He was more, bitter as of late. It was probably just the exhaustion talking. Or Hua Cheng. Shi Qingxuan wasn’t offended. 

“What if San Lang miraculously came back? Would you want to be courted then?” 

Xie Lian was growing irritated. As much as the thought amused the mer, Xie Lian knew he just wouldn’t have the patience. He already had six years of experience, he would grow frustrated when San Lang wouldn’t know what to do. 

This is exactly why mers only had babies when they were properly mated. Excluded Pei Ming, but if you mated with him and got pregnant, that was your own fault and Xie Lian had no sympathy for you. Love, Xie Lian has learned, is not everything. It helps, and it’s nice, but it isn’t what Xie Lian needs. Or wants. 

Yes, meeting Hua Cheng had definitely put him in a foul mood. 

Mating with a new partner, it would just stress Xie Lian even more. He had no one to blame but himself. And he couldn’t very well blame San Lang. He died before Xie Lian knew he was carrying. It doesn’t do anything to bring him pain to think about that man. 

“Oh please, you’re telling me you wouldn’t take the chance to find love again?” 

Xie Lian shook his head, “What if he wanted another baby? I wouldn’t be able to give them that. This clutch is my first and my last.” 

Sensing that he had touched a sensitive topic, Shi Qingxuan wisely kept silent. Taking in the older mer’s words. 

“You don’t know what it’s like. Raising them without a mate and not knowing half of what their needs might be, it’s terrifying. I have no idea what I’m doing half of the time, just praying that my mistakes don’t hurt them in the future.” 

Once the words started pouring out, Xie Lian couldn’t stop it.

“And what if the merperson I find doesn’t want my children? There is no way I would abandon them just for another mer to force me to carry their offspring. I would kindly tell him to go look for Pei Ming or a human female. At least with them, he’d have a better chance of finding a mate to have a baby with than me going through that again. I felt like I was dying the first.” 

“What if they did want your babies too, and not have any more…. You just… mate for fun? Like Pei Ming?” 

That turned Xie Lian green. 

“Mating is not pleasurable enough to make me want to do it again. It is not a need, Shi Qingxuan. They lie and say it is, it is not the same as you need food, sleep, and being able to breathe. Those are needs. Mating, mating is not a need.”

“Oh…”

How could Shi Qingxuan argue? He has never mated, but Xie Lian has. Clearly, Shi Qingxuan doesn’t need to mate either. 

“But what if I wanted to? To have babies with Ming Yi?” 

“Then I wish you luck.” 

The pair said nothing for a long time. Letting Xie Lian have the time to breathe and just, be. The poor mother mermaid probably hasn’t anyone to vent his frustrations to. Keeping those feelings to yourself, it must darken your thoughts over time. Xie Lian clearly was disillusioned to love now. He was more than likely completely over courting and finding someone. 

With Moonrise just a few hours away, Shi Qingxuan decided to take his leave, hugging Xie Lian goodbye. 

“I think you should let someone try. Maybe not for love, but at least help you. You deserve better, and you deserve to be taken care of. You just, need to learn to trust, and hope again.” 

With nothing more, Shi Qingxuan swam away. Xie Lian was left stupefied. Was that the real reason he denied Hua Cheng? Not because he wasn’t naive about love and mates? Has he really been so beaten down by grief and paranoia that he no longer trusted others? Had hope? 

When Xie Lian returned to his nest, the mermaid was thinking about his behavior for the past few years. Unless he was with his children and pod, Xie Lian really acted poorly to everyone else. Xie Lian even found himself feeling guilty for laughing at Hua Cheng who for the most part, seemed to be genuine. Changing the way he thinks won't happen over night, but he can start now.

So he went out to find Hua Cheng. Who was leaving another gift behind. It was a large sea sponge. Xie Lian did his best to not roll his eyes. Not that it mattered, Hua Cheng could tell. 

“You don’t like it.”

It wasn’t a question, so Xie Lian didn’t bother to lie. 

“To be perfectly honest, I could just get all the courting gifts myself.” 

“Isn’t the point of courting, to receive them instead?” 

“Yes but I already have those things. They may be excellent gifts for new pairs, to build their nest and start families. I already have those things and babies. It’s meaningless to me.” 

Hua Cheng didn’t look offended. He seemed relieved. At least now, he knew what the mermaid didn’t want. 

“So what would you like instead?”

Xie Lian thought it over. Remembering Shi Qingxuan’s words. His own behavior and what he honestly needs.

“I want a contract.” 

Hua Cheng blinked. 

“Pardon?” 

Xie Lian grinned, it wasn’t sincere but he was trying. 

“A contract. I tell you what I need in a mate, you attempt to provide them for me in a certain amount of time before I consider courting you.”

The merman nodded slowly, understanding.

“Go on.” 

“My terms are simple. I need food, that is obvious. But I also need sleep. I need my children safe and well-fed. If you can keep us fed without me needing to hunt at any point in say a month-” 

“6 Months. If this is a trial, you should make it worth it.”  

“6 Months then.”  

“Then I have my own terms.” 

Xie Lian inclined his head, arms crossed. 

“I will provide you and your little ones with food, and protect your territory. I will still provide gifts as well. I would offer to look after your children when you need rest, but I doubt that I am worthy of it. For now.” 

Xie Lian shook his head, “That is not typical courting behavior, you’re asking for the role done by mer fathers.” 

“We’re not your typical courting pair. I like it.” Hua Cheng was grinning as well. “I have terms as well.” 

“That is?” 

“Every night, except when you are exhausted, we meet. Just to talk, nothing more. I want us to get to know each other, I want to hear about your daughters. And on the full moon, we dance.” 

Xie Lian blinked in surprise. Dance? That was what humans did. How San Lang taught him how to walk. Xie Lian didn’t have the courage to speak, so he simply nodded. Hua Cheng continued. 

“You come to me for anything, even if it’s silly.”

That was going to be difficult but it was a fair request. Xie Lian spoke next. 

“...Alright. I have more terms, no mating of any kind. I do not wish to partake in that again. And promise not to lie. I’ve been lied to long enough.” 

“....I can’t promise that I will not lie, I can only promise that everything I do will be in your best interest.” 

Xie Lian relaxed, he would have stopped the entire thing if Hua Cheng swore such a naive thing. Everyone lies, Xie Lian does too. That was the most honesty he has heard in a long time.

He was also a bit surprised at how easily Hua Cheng accepted the fact that no matting would occur between them. 

“I accept that. My children come before everything. Even if they do like you, if you cannot find it in your heart to love just as deeply as I do, and only desire me, I do not want you. I will know if you fake it.” 

“Of course Gege. On the subject of your children, I have one last request, I only want to meet until you feel ready. And no matter what happens between us, I want to be part of their lives.” 

That was… an odd request. Hua Cheng didn’t know them. Disregarding the butterfly fish, being with them is completely different. Xie Lian hummed as he looked at Hua Cheng. The merman seemed confident that he could fulfill Xie Lian’s terms. 

“One last thing, do not expect love. I will not give it.” Xie Lian felt Hua Cheng would move on as soon as the merman realized that he wasn’t worth it. “Should you feel that you cannot fulfill these terms, we part ways, no hard feelings.” 

“But I still get to see the children from time to time?”

Xie Lian sighed. As if the merman will actually want to, “Yes. Do you accept these terms?” 

Hua Cheng smirked, “I accept.”

Chapter Text

For the first month, Xie Lian struggled to remind himself that Hua Cheng was still around. Leaving food every day at dawn and dusk right on schedule. Xie Lian felt a little guilty when he didn’t meet with the merman like he promised he would, but without having to hunt and look after his territory, the mermaid was growing restless. When he wanted to sleep, he couldn’t. Xie Lian felt as if he was slacking on caring for his daughters. 

In the second month, Xie Lian did meet with Hua Cheng, but he only stayed for a few minutes before he went back to the nest. Xie Lian didn’t fail to notice the longing look the merman would get every time he had to return to his babies. He didn’t know how to feel about the merman wanting to meet offspring that were not his own blood. Xie Lian didn’t want to think about the worst of Hua Cheng just yet, but Xie Lian would be an unfit mother if he didn’t entertain the idea that Hua Cheng wanted something more of his daughters. 

So he kept Hua Cheng on a short leash, the red scaled merman never pushed the clear boundary Xie Lian set. For that, the mermaid was grateful. But he did feel guilty whenever Hua Cheng wanted to know more about them. All the answers Xie Lian gave were short and surface level, he didn’t trust the merman enough to share the more intimate details of his children. Like Meiling’s self loathing, or Mingzhu’s true origins. 

As for dancing on the full moon, Hua Cheng would ask if Xie Lian wanted to dance. But every time Xie Lian said nothing and simply sigh in resignation, Hua Cheng would smile and change his mind. Saying something about dancing would come more naturally with time. Xie Lian would give him a placating smile, and that would be it. 

Now it was nearing the end of the fifth month, Shi Qingxuan had snuck away from the pod to visit Xie Lian. Hua Cheng didn’t stop him from entering Xie Lian’s territory. Shi Qingxuan was no threat, if Hua Cheng had been overly possessive and refused to let anyone meet Xie Lian, that wouldn’t bode well for their trial courtship.

The clear self control and respect did not go unnoticed. If Hua Cheng grew jealous of everyone in Xie Lian’s life, what would that mean for Meiling and Mingzhu if the courtship did work out? If Hua Cheng wanted offspring of his own, he would more than likely push Xie Lian to put all his energy into the merman’s blood children. Leaving the girls with scraps. 

But he didn’t, Hua Cheng seemed to pay attention to what Mingzhu and Meiling liked. When the salmon and sea bass were quickly devoured, the merman took note and brought more. As for the gifts Hua Cheng said he would still give, they were never for Xie Lian. They were for his girls. First, they were colorful sea shells that could be easily braided into their hair. Soft ribbons, and soft robes for children that Xie Lian had only seen on land. Then it was seaweed paper with squid ink for them to draw or write. 

Xie Lian hasn’t given the girls the gifts yet, not because he didn’t appreciate them, he did. He truly did, but if Hua Cheng was taking risks to procure such thoughtful gifts, Xie Lian felt that it should be Hua Cheng to receive thanks. But he wasn’t ready to introduce him to the two halves of his heart. He wasn’t ready. So, Xie Lian had hidden the gifts on land while the girls were either sleeping or playing. 

As for how Xie Lian felt about Hua Cheng, the most Xie Lian would admit is that he doesn’t believe Hua Cheng would hurt his children. The merman has been, incredibly understanding to the point Xie Lian poked him in the face, just to make sure he wasn’t hallucinating. It was completely unintentional and Xie Lian burst out laughing, saying his apologies and explaining that he was certain he was slowly losing his mind. Hua Cheng genuinely looked concerned. 

The merman hasn’t brought up meeting the girls, to which Xie Lian is grateful. But now that the days were starting to blur together, Xie Lian was once again feeling anxious. So when Shi Qingxuan showed up, Xie Lian didn’t turn him away. He needed to think about something else. At least that was the goal.

“You look better, not so skinny anymore.”

Hua Cheng has been providing food. 

“You’re scales and hair are shiny again, are you eating seaweed again?” 

No, I’m eating well and I am finally sleeping through the night. Because Hua Cheng is protecting my territory.

“You look happier.” 

I have more time for my children….. Because of Hua Cheng, I don’t have to worry so much….  

“Will you ever let me see your babies? They deserve to be spoiled by their uncles!” 

Hua Cheng hasn’t met them yet he spoils them already…. 

Xie Lian hummed softly, shifting to a more comfortable position as they sunbathe on a rock. Resting his head on his crossed arms while resting his eyes. It had been a while since he just had the time to just, lay still. Shi Qingxuan chuckled as he was snacking on some clams he brought with him. 

“If I didn’t know any better, I’d say you found help.”  

Xie Lian didn’t open his eyes, the warm sun felt good on his back. But he had been friends with jade scaled mermaid for years, Shi Qingxuan gasped excitedly. 

“You met someone! I thought you were done with love!”

Xie Lian frowned lightly. That was a massive leap, and he never renounced love. He loves his children. He loves his parents, his orca pod. His friends. He still loves San Lang. 

“I never said that.” 

Shi Qingxuan tsked, “Well maybe not in those exact words, but you were very angry months ago. You don’t trust us anymore….” 

You don’t trust your best friend didn’t have to be spoken. Xie Lian opened his hand, gently taking Shi Qingxuan’s hand in his. 

“I’m sorry, but, they’re my life. I do trust you. It’s just, I don’t think I’m ready to bear my hearts to the world just yet. They’re still so small and fragile. I wish you could understand how I feel, but I never meant to hurt you…” 

“I know, I’m just impatient. Ignore me.” Shi Qingxuan patted Xie Lian’s hand, smiling warmly. “But I am curious, did you meet someone?” 

Xie Lian sighed, he was hoping to just spend the day sunbathing. “Yes.” 

Shi Qingxuan trilled happily, beginning his questions and rambling about who could have won over Xie Lian’s wounded heart. Xie Lian lightly shook his head as he rolled his eyes, choosing to go back to sleep. Ignoring Shi Qingxuan’s pestering for more details for the most part.

“Is he handsome?” 

“As far as I can tell, you’d think so.” 

“When did you meet?”

“Last season.” 

“Does he know about your babies?” 

Xie Lian shook his head. “Yes.” 

Shi Qingxuan looked surprised, “And he is courting you?” 

“He’s on trial. I haven’t accepted any courting gifts.” 

“That's so…. Unromantic.” Shi Qingxuan pouted, genuinely disappointed.

Unromantic it may be, but it was what Xie Lian wanted. He wasn’t going to let random mers come and go from his daughters' lives. That was unhealthy and cruel, what if Meiling and Mingzhou got attached and Hua Cheng decided he changed his mind? 

“Well, in any case, I am happy for you. You deserve to have happiness again. I would have thought you have looked for another human mate,” 

“Happiness is not what I’m after. A human mate won’t give me what I need, so why would I waste my time?” 

The words just came out, Xie Lian blinked in shock as he took in the words spoken with no hesitation. Was that, truly how he feels? If he wasn’t looking for happiness in a new mate, then what exactly was he doing giving Hua Cheng this ridiculous trial? He didn’t love Hua Cheng, but he did love his daughters, and he was happiest when he was with them. He loved San Lang, but even that seemed so… fleeting now. 

Xie Lian had thought that he would share his memories of San Lang with his children, expressing the love he felt for the human. But in all honesty, he rarely spoke of the man.  For the simple reason that his children didn’t have good opinions of humans. Talking about San Lang only brought pain, so why bother mentioning him? Not because of what Jun Wu had said about Xie Lian acting out and mating with a human just so he wouldn’t mate with the older merman.

Was Xie Lian just in love with San Lang because he was a human, or did he truly love him? What if San Lang had been a merman, would Xie Lian have even looked his way? Xie Lian didn’t want the uncertainty and unpredictability of humans anymore. With Hua Cheng it was different. So far, Hua Cheng hadn’t faltered, not even once. That, truly gave Xie Lian peace of mind. Until he remembers that the crimson merman could leave at any point without so much as a warning. It hit the mermaid all at once like a meteorite. 

Xie Lian didn’t want happiness, he wanted the security the red merman provided. And not just for himself, he wanted it for his babies too. Babies needed routine and certainty of the care of their parents. With the trial ending soon, Xie Lian realized he had gotten somewhat started to depend on Hua Cheng’s contributions. But with the end coming so soon, Xie Lian didn’t know if he had the courage to wait for Hua Cheng’s verdict. 

Deeply unsettled, Xie Lian sat up, fear gripping his heart like a fish caught in a net. He didn’t want to be vulnerable on the surface anymore. He was suffocating. 

“I have to go.” 

“Wait- I want to meet him next time I visit!”

Xie Lian had dived back into the water by the end. He swam back to his nest, fed his daughters, and settled them in for their nap. Going through the motions to distract himself from the true implications of the trial as he waited for nightfall. 

Xie Lian had been waiting for Hua Cheng to call it quits. He wanted Hua Cheng to call it quits. And with every day the merman faithfully brought food and protected Xie Lian’s home, the mermaid grew nervous.He was ticking time bomb. 

When it was finally night, Hua Cheng appeared. In the same spot, at the same time, without fail. Xie Lian exploded. 

“We’re done, you can leave now.” 

Hua Cheng starred in clear bewilderment, “Have I done something wrong-” 

“No and that is exactly why I need you to leave, leave before you do!” 

The mermaid was clearly, very frustrated, his eyes glowing bright gold. Anything could set Xie Lian off. Hua Cheng carefully made no quick movements or raised his voice.

“You want me to leave, because I have fulfilled your terms?” 

“I want you to leave before you change your mind one day and I will be left to pick up the mess . ” 

The mess being that Xie Lian will have grown to depend on the merman and his babies will be heartbroken over someone who had intentions of being part of their family, then suddenly leaving. Best to never tie the string on his finger, that way it won’t hurt when the string is cut one day. 

“I thank you for everything you’ve done, but now it’s time to end whatever this is.”

“You seem so certain that I will change my mind and leave. Have I done anything that would give you that impression of me?”

“Quite the contrary, but I can’t count on you to always be around. I’m ending this here.”

Hua Cheng’s eye narrowed just slightly, “You can’t, or you won’t ?”

Xie Lian had no answer, but the silence told Hua Cheng everything. Xie Lian can trust, he is just choosing not to. 

“Is this what you really want? Despite the fact that I want to stay?”

Xie Lian’s tail swayed aggressively, the mermaid looked cold. 

“I’ll tell you what I don’t want then. I don’t want you here.”

“Why?”

The mermaid scoffed, “Why does that matter?” 

“It matters. It matters to me, to you, and your daughters. I want to hear the words.” 

Xie Lian glared. “That would be unnecessarily cruel.” 

“As cruel as just ending this before you even give it a chance to bloom?” 

“I gave it a chance.” 

“No, you really didn’t. You didn’t fulfill my terms.” 

Xie Lian smiled, “Even more reason to end this. I don’t meet your needs so let’s end this.” 

Hua Cheng didn’t look at all impressed, he looked a bit angry even. The crimson tail swayed in the water as if trying to keep his temper under control. 

Xie Lian didn’t want to admit it looked good to see the merman have other emotions, it was quite dull just having his every request and wish catered to him without so much as a blink of an eye. 

“I know that you needed time to trust me, trust my intentions, so I never pushed. But that’s over. You want to end this? You tell me exactly why, and to be perfectly honest, I don’t think I’m your reason.” 

Xie Lian scoffed, his head shaking. This is not what he wanted, he wanted a clean break. If he had known Hua Cheng would fight this, he would have never agreed. Xie Lian was not planning to share his fears with Hua Cheng. He had no intention to.

“Why do you even care?” 

“Because believe it or not, I am not doing this for just you anymore. I was in the beginning, but now I’m fighting for them.” The merman pointed in the direction of the nest, where Meiling and Mingzhu were tucked away, sleeping peacefully. “I’m not just going to leave just because you want me to.” 

The mermaid backed away when the merman got too close for his comfort, “You don’t even know them.”  

Hua Cheng softened, “I don’t need to know them to love them.” 

The mermaid was flustered, unbelieving. “That’s not possible. They’re not yours. They’re mine…” 

Hua Cheng’s anger seem to vanish all at once, his eye closing as he took controlled breaths. His hand turned to fists before he opened his eye again. He wasn’t angry anymore, but Xie Lian detected the same feeling of longing and desire to love from months away. 

“I may not know, personally. But from what I have seen from my butterflies, I know they’re perfect. And I would never do anything to hurt them,” Hua Cheng looked pleadingly at the mother mermaid, Xie Lian was not all prepared for what the merman had to say next. 

“I know that you are a wonderful mother. I know you lay awake at night, wondering if tomorrow you will be able to feed your children. I know you scold yourself when you feel that you made a mistake. I know that even when you are exhausted to the point of breaking, you never say no to playing with your daughters. I know you worry about rogue mers like me finding your nest. I know you are loyal to your friends even when they don’t deserve it. I know you cry under the moonlight because you don’t want to scare your daughters. I know you like to sleep in sometimes but you don’t allow yourself to because you have mouths to feed. I know you have been wearing yourself thin just to make sure your children don’t starve. I even know about you having mated with a human lover-” 

“How-”

“I know.” Hua Cheng interrupted, his eye staring at the mermaid with great reverence, “ I know you’re exhausted from caring for them by yourself. I know you blame yourself for everything.” 

Everything Hua Cheng was saying, he openly laid out every unseen thing Xie Lian had ever done, has felt. Xie Lian had wrapped his arms around himself, he felt exposed. His eyes were wide and glassy from unshed tears. 

Hua Cheng dared to enter the mermaid’s personal space and gently reached out to cup Xie Lian’s cheek. 

“And I know, none of it, was your fault.” 

Powerless, Xie Lian felt trapped in a corner, and Hua Cheng was the one who captured him. He thought he could escape, get away from this, and continue to live on his own. Xie Lian thought he knew what Hua Cheng was after, not believing in the merman, when Hua Cheng had been nothing for honest from the very beginning. 

“So please, if you’re going to push me away, at least be honest.”  

The crimson merman was looking at him with such earnest eyes, pleading with him to reveal his deepest, more vulnerable parts of himself. Still, Xie Lian was afraid. Hua Cheng had lulled him into a sense of security that the mermaid was oh so tempted to give in. 

To say the words terrified Xie Lian because if it was out in the open, he would be at the merman’s mercy. The mermaid was exhausted, tired of fighting to keep Hua Cheng at a distance when the mer had been nothing but faithful. Saying kind words to bring down the walls around Xie Lian’s fragile soul. 

If Xie Lian wanted Hua Cheng to leave, he would have to be honest, not just to the merman, but to himself. Was he really going to just have to trust that Hua Cheng won’t hurt him if he bears his heart? When so many people have before?

It seemed he didn’t have much of a choice, not with Hua Cheng gently cupping his face, and now his other hand holding onto the mermaid’s wrist. Almost as if the merman was afraid Xie Lian would turn to seafoam and disappear forever. Xie Lian’s head tilted as his own eyes locked onto Hua Cheng’s ruby eye. It finally dawned on the mermaid. 

Hua Cheng was being vulnerable with him, had been since the beginning, and Xie Lian had fought him every step of the way. No matter how many times the mermaid lashed out, Hua Cheng still wanted to stay. Xie Lian wasn’t the only one who was afraid, wasn’t the only one with something to lose. Hua Cheng, was someone he could have trusted from the beginning, and wanted to trust, because somewhere, deep down, Xie Lian instinctively felt that Hua Cheng wasn’t going to hurt him. 

“I- I don’t want my babies to get attached to someone who may not even stick around. I don’t want to love someone else just so they can leave me again. My mate, my parents, my friends, everyone left me. You are making it very difficult to keep you at a distance. 

Hua Cheng’s shoulders relaxed, his features turning soft as he smiled at the mother mermaid. 

“I suppose you’ll just have to trust that I won’t leave, ever. I would never willing want to.” 

“I-I can’t, I can only trust in my own capabilities, and the fact is that I don’t need you.”  

“You’re right, you don’t need me. But you are leaving out something that’s also important.” 

The merman swam a bit closer, they were just inches apart now, his one eye baring his feelings to the mermaid. Xie Lian felt his breath being snatched away, the expression on Hua Cheng’s face said everything. Xie Lian swallowed. Hua Cheng already knew . 

“You want me. Maybe not for love, that’s alright. But you want help. You want to trust that I won’t just leave you or your daughters. Others failed you. ”  

“You don’t even know me, what could you possibly see in a mermaid like me that would make you want to court me?” 

Hua Cheng somehow got even closer, gazing into gold eyes. 

“If it isn’t you, I want no one else. So please, let me court you and I will show you.”  

Xie Lian stared at the merman. Speechless. Everything Xie Lian has done, every sacrifice he has made, was acknowledged. Xie Lian got to see the product of his hard work every day, and they called him mama, and he was content with that. The mermaid didn’t need thank yous or repayment, watching his treasures growing up was rewarding enough. 

But this? For another grown adult to say it out loud? For the first time in forever, Xie Lian felt seen . He felt appreciated. Xie Lian knows he should be alarmed that Hua Cheng knows so much about him, a little too much. But Xie Lian didn’t sense any ill intent. 

Pearls sank to the ocean floor as Xie Lian finally cried openly for the first time in a long time. Hua Cheng didn’t recoil or scold him but pulled the exhausted mother into an embrace as Xie Lian grabbed onto Hua Cheng for dear life as he wept out the years of pain and loneliness. 

Hua Cheng gently ran his fingers through the mermaid's hair as he whispered soothing words. Rubbing the mermaid’s back as he cried. Assuring him that he was a good mother. That he was strong and brave for raising his babies all on his own. That he was beautiful and deserved help. And that Hua Cheng was not going anywhere. 

Xie Lian was overwhelmed, but being in the merman’s arms felt grounding, that he wouldn’t be swept away from the current. He felt safe. No one had ever made him feel like that. No one but…. San Lang. Xie Lian’s heart clenched painfully.

“You deserve to be happy, to find love again.” 

Shi Qingxuan’s words came back, and Xie Lian felt that, for this moment at least, he believed the jade scaled mermaid. With a hoarse voice and shaky breath, Xie Lian spoke after what must have been hours of ugly crying. 

“Y-you can’t leave.” 

“I won’t.” 

Hua Cheng pulled away just enough to whip the last of the tears away. Xie Lian couldn’t see very well, his eyes swollen from crying so much, but he make out the glowing red eye. He may not be able to see the merman’s face, but he could tell just from the gentle touches, that Hua Cheng will not hurt him. So, Xie Lian will trust again.

“Show me.” 

It had been a few days since that night, the trial had officially ended. Hua Cheng could now properly start courting the mermaid, but the merman felt that there was no need to rush things. He will once Xie Lian has had enough time to process his emotions and thoughts. 

As for today, Hua Cheng was nervous. Which was rare. The pirate could end a battle with a glare and a few strategic blows. He would know everything about his enemies and defeat them with ease. He never cared about what people thought of him. He didn’t waste his time thinking about useless trash.

But this, this was different. He cared very deeply about what Xie Lian, his beloved, thought of him. The mermaid had caught the pirate completely off guard one night when they met again. The mermaid was more gentle and open with him now, allowing himself to trust the pirate’s words and actions. 

Hua Cheng knew Xie Lian still didn’t love him, but that didn’t matter to the pirate as much compared to what he was going to face today. Hua Cheng was sure that Xie Lian would have postponed this as long as possible. The pirate had been wrong. Hua Cheng could only hope and pray that everything goes well. 

Hua Cheng was waiting in the reef, Xie Lian welcoming him into his territory for the first since this began. The sun had been up for only an hour or two, which meant that Xie Lian would leave the cave any second now. Hua Cheng wanted to change his appearance to make himself look less scary, but he doubts Xie Lian would be happy about that. 

If he was alive, Hua Cheng would die from his nerves alone. Never in his life had ever felt this way. Not even he met Xie Lian again after six years. Xie Lian may not think much of the pirate meeting the mermaid’s treasures, but to Hua Cheng, it was a huge honor. An honor Hua Cheng worked hard to reach. Xie Lian didn’t know the girls were Hua Cheng’s by blood, not that it mattered to the pirate. They belonged to Xie Lian, which made them worth more than anything the world could offer. 

He was meeting his daughters, today . 

Before Hua Cheng could fall into another spiral of thoughts, Xie Lian emerged from the cave, radiant as the sun. But all Hua Cheng could focus on was the sight of two tiny mermaids holding onto their mother’s hands.  

The pirate knew they were small and young, but his brain just didn’t comprehend just how fragile they looked compared to Xie Lian. If they were human children, you would think they were infants, not six year olds, who were close to turning seven. It was easier now, to understand why mermaids took 3oo years to fully mature. 

Hua Cheng felt his tongue stuck in his throat as he took in the adorable babies. Meiling had grown a bit, her apple red and gold eyes were still as magnificent at the day he first looked upon them. Her dark chocolate hair was longer too, reaching the middle of her back, and her tail matched her eyes. The shade was more pink compared to Hua Cheng’s eye and tail, while Hua Cheng had silver, she inherited gold. 

As for Mingzhu, Hua Cheng found her to be beautiful as well. Her hair looked like midnight ink blue, her skin pale like the moon, and her long indigo tail had pink frills at the end. Her features didn’t remind Hua Cheng of himself or Xie Lian apart from her gold eyes. Hua Cheng couldn’t stop the smile that crept up his lips. 

None of that mattered, what mattered was that the pirate loved them both. Xie Lian was smiling brightly at Hua Cheng, the mermaid seemed to see it. So the mermaid brought the girls closer. They had never seen another mer before, so this must be as big of a deal to them as it was to him.

“This is Mingzhu and Meiling.” Xie Lian gently pushed the girls forward enough so they could see Hua Cheng. “And this is my friend, his name is Hua Cheng. He’s been waiting a very long time to meet you.”

Hua Cheng didn’t move closer, he didn’t want to startle the little mermaids. Allowing them the option of coming closer to him if they wanted. Xie Lian let go of their hands, but he stayed right behind them in support and encouragement. Mingzhu was the first to approach, and from the very little knowledge the pirate knew about them, Mingzhu was the bolder one of the two. 

“Hi.” 

“Hi,” Hua Cheng smiled. 

Meiling took the chance to swim closer to her sister, taking in the merman’s appearance. Mingzhu was tilting her head side to side, sniffing the pirate now and then. Whatever reservations the little sea dragon might’ve had flew out the window once she seemed satisfied. 

“Why do you have an eye patch?” 

“Mingzhu!” Xie Lian exclaimed in shock.

“What? You said I could ask questions!” 

Hua Cheng stared at the little girl in surprise before he burst into laughter. The pirate felt something permanently sinking its fangs into his dead heart. It felt euphoric.

Chapter Text

Hua Cheng couldn’t sleep. Not when the sight before him filled the ghost with feelings of admiration and intense love. The feelings and desire to protect and nurture his beloved and their little ones. 

Xie Lian was fast asleep in the cave. His entire body curled around the precious treasures that were so fragile and enchanting. The ghost could only make out the tiny tails of indigo and magenta scales, safe in their mother’s protective arms. Xie Lian was smiling in his sleep as he cuddled his daughters to his chest. 

Hua Cheng wanted to be inside that cave. To be right next to Xie Lian and share the responsibility of caring for their girls. It was just too soon. Hua Cheng was at the reef every day for the past two weeks. He would play with Mingzhu and Meiling, Xie Lian was always close by. The mermaid didn’t bother to hide his presence, ensuring that his children were safe and intervening when necessary. 

The cave was a boundary that the girls unknowingly established to the two older mers. On the day they had met, they all played together. But when it came time to feed, they looked at Hua Cheng in caution. Xie Lian intervened when the girls didn’t start eating right away in the newcomer’s presence. The mermaid led the girls back to the cave where they ate in peace and then took a nap before they came back out to play with Hua Cheng again. 

Xie Lian was following their lead, allowing them to make the choices themselves on how they wished to establish this new relationship with a stranger. They were friendly and very happy to see Hua Cheng. But Xie Lian hadn’t exactly given Hua Cheng an invitation to enter the cave. Which is where the family was at their most vulnerable when they were feeding or sleeping. 

The nest was a sacred space, and Hua Cheng had no intention of invading it. So Hua Cheng would stay up at night since he didn’t need to sleep and keep watch. The orcas were not teasing him anymore so he took it as a sign of their approval for him to be around the family. 

Hua Cheng knew the girls were small and young, he just didn’t fully comprehend just how dependent they were on Xie Lian. If they were human children, they would be bigger and play in the dirt and run around. But not them. No, Meiling and Mingzhu were delicate. Like most marine life when they were babies, the only difference was that mers cared for their offspring for centuries. 

The first time they played tag together, Hua Cheng panicked when he sent Mingzhu spinning when he touched her. The little girl loved it, asking him to do it again. The ghost became very aware of his clawed hands and focused on barely putting any strength behind his movements around them. They were delicate like sea jellies. 

Xie Lian had clearly mastered and perfected just how much force he had in his movements. The mermaid assured Hua Cheng that a little push like that wasn’t going to hurt them, just sent them flying in the water. Xie Lian then demonstrated sending the girls back with just one stroke of his tail, the water pushing them back. While the girls enjoyed the motion of fast moving water, Hua Cheng’s heart nearly restarted. 

It always sent Hua Cheng into a dark place whenever he remembers that Xie Lian was going to do this on his own for hundreds of years. So far the mermaid had managed on his own, but with Mingzhu’s appetite growing on a daily bases, Xie Lian wouldn’t have been able to maintain her growth. Mingzhu appeared to be the strong out of the two, with her bold and cheerful deposition, she rarely thought twice before doing something impulsively. 

Hua Cheng hoped that she would learn to better control her impulses as she got older. It wouldn’t be in her favor if she recklessly got herself into danger as an adult. But for now, she was under their care. As for Meiling, while she was not as strong as Mingzhu, she lived with curiosity but had an air of cautiousness about her. 

The girls were nearly the exact opposite yet they got along well. Something the ghost didn’t fail to notice was that Meiling thought in a very different way they most other people. She was aware of everything. Of her environment, of herself, and the people around her. She was incredibly analytical and perhaps had a bit too much self-awareness. 

Hua Cheng had been playing with the girls, a simple game of finding a pearl under a sea shell when Meiling had paused. She stared at Hua Cheng for a long before she said ‘Hello.’ The ghost was taken aback, but he said hello in return. Xie Lian noticed right away and quickly pulled Meiling onto his lap. Announcing that he was going to touch her and put her on his lap. 

Hua Cheng stayed in place as Xie Lian simply began to rub the little mermaid’s back and hum a little melody. Meiling had just been staring at Xie Lian for a long time before he spoke. 

“It happened again huh?” Xie Lian smiled as he tucked a lock of hair behind her webbed ears.

“You’re mommy.” 

“Yes.” Xie Lian smiled as he nodded. 

“You weren’t mommy before.” 

“That’s right.” 

Meiling stared at her mother in complete fascination and wonder. Gently touching his face and hair. 

“You’re like me.” 

“Uh-huh.” 

“You had a name.” 

“My name is Xie Lian. But I’m also mommy to you.”

“You had a mommy.” 

“Yes, and I loved her very much.”

“You see things.” 

“All kinds of things.” 

“You’re a person like me.” 

“Yes, I am.” 

“Mingzhu is my sister.” 

“Yes.” 

“You’re my mommy.”

“I am.” 

“I’m glad your my mommy.”

“Me too.” 

Xie Lian continued to answer whatever comment Meiling had to say. Hua Cheng was truly out of his depth. He had no real way to describe what he saw. It was like watching someone who already knew the answers to questions, suddenly state the obvious answers in complete and sincere realization and awe. 

Once Meiling had finished her moment of realization Xie Lian let her go play. Upon noticing the questioning look on Hua Cheng’s face, Xie Lian smile before he sat next to the merman. 

“She has moments like that sometimes.” 

“But she knows all this.” 

“Yes. I don’t really know how to describe it but, it started when she was 4 years old. She knows all of it. She just, has to let it sink in again?” Xie Lian smiled as he looked to where the girls were playing. “She thinks very differently from anyone I have ever met. It’s like she is understanding and becoming aware of the depths of the world around her all over again. Even when she already knows.” 

When Hua Cheng said nothing, clearly listening to the mermaid in attention, Xie Lian relaxed and continued. 

“Merfolk are social and tactile. She just isn’t. Only with certain people she loves. The orcas don’t touch her unless she initiates touch first.” Xie Lian’s hand moved as he tried to find the words to explain. “She comes to me sometimes when she needs a hug. I call it her ‘emotional recharge.’ I stop whatever I’m doing and just give her a tight hug and we stay like that until she tells me that she’s ‘full’ again. Then I wait for the next time. It’s usually a few days later but it has been getting longer each time.” 

Hua Cheng nodded along, his eye always returning to watch the two girls as the mermaid was speaking. The ghost could clearly see what Xie Lian was saying. He smiled at the clear devotion and care Xie Lian had for the girls' needs. 

“It’s so odd. I don’t give her milk anymore, but now I give her….” Xie Lian’s clenched and unclenched as he searched for the right words, “something that maker her ‘energized’ for any future interaction until the next time. And if I’m not there, she wants and enjoys being alone. It’s amazing, I can feel what she feels. She could be surrounded by other mers and feel completely alone, but when she’s actually alone, she loves it.” 

Hua Cheng chuckled. Meiling reminded the ghost of a cat back on dry land. The ghost had a feeling that Meiling would love cats. While Hua Cheng could understand wanting to be alone, he never wanted to part from his beloved and their treasures ever again. Being alone was miserable for him. 

“It sounds like Gege makes his daughter feel loved that even when she is alone, she knows you love her. Whenever you are.” 

“You might be right.” Xie Lian laughed, his cheeks flushed. “How could I not love them? They’re my heart, taken form of two little mermaids.” 

When dawn finally broke, Mingzhu was the first one to wake up. Chirping at Xie Lian to be fed. The mermaid was still groggy but dutifully chirped back and placed Mingzhu under him to feed her. Then he did the same when Meiling woke up. 

Hua Cheng didn’t know that mer mothers regurgitated food on command. Normally humans would look away in disgust and were awkward. The ghost was surprised when he first witnessed the feeding habit through the butterfly fish. The ghost had no real opinion of it other than it was clearly normal. A natural evolution mermaids developed from nursing, to regurgitating food. It must be safer for the mother to have digested the food, killing any harmful agents before their babies ate it.

But then again Hua Cheng was clearly biased. Anything Xie Lian did was met with praise on the ghost’s part. Xie Lian had blushed when asked about it. Not knowing he had been seen. Hua Cheng assured him he wasn’t repulsed, just curious. Xie Lian then explained that it was an act only done by mothers to their young and it was incredibly intimate and meant for bonding. Mer father’s rarely did so, embarrassed to be put into a vulnerable position. 

Hua Cheng quickly criticized the mermen who were unwilling to feed their own offspring. Surely bonding with their children would be beneficial. How dare they leave the mermaids to do everything alone. Xie Lian tried to defend the mer fathers. Explaining that mermen had other responsibilities such as hunting and protecting the family. 

“Gege did everything on his own perfectly, they’re just useless trash.” 

The mermaid stared at the ghost in stunned silence for a moment before he awkwardly laughed and excused himself. Hua Cheng decided not to bring it up again.

Once Xie Lian had finished feeding the girls, he began to groom them. Another act that was left to mermaids. After that was done, the mermaid guided the girls out of the cave, and when Meiling and Mingzhu saw Hua Cheng waiting in the reef, excitedly swam over to him. The ghost prepares to catch Mingzhu when she was swimming too fast.

“Cheng-gege!” 

“Good morning,” Hua Cheng grinned as he caught Mingzhu just before she crashed into him, then held her upside down. She liked it for some reason. “Did you sleep well?” 

“Uh-huh! I had a dream about fish!” 

“What kind of fish?” The ghost indulged. 

“The kind I can eat!” Mingzhu laughed with her entire body. “I like bonefish. They taste good.” 

Hua Cheng’s brow raised. He lifted Mingzhu up by the fluke of her tail, bringing her face to face while she was upside down. 

“Bonefish?” 

“Yep! I caught one and ate it! Mama said bonefish were dangerous, but I love 'em!” 

“To eat?” 

Mingzhu nodded her head excitedly. Huh. Hua Cheng blinked in surprise, Xie Lian joined in. 

“We were near their territory on accident. I nearly had a heart attack when Mingzhu started chasing one, then ate it in one sitting.” Xie Lian looked at Mingzhu with a firm expression. “Don’t go looking for them anymore. I told you they were dangerous.” 

Mingzhu’s smile fell, “Yes mama.”  

Xie Lian watched her for a brief moment before placing a quick kiss on her cheek, then swam off. Hua Cheng put Mingzhu right side up as the ghost was deep in thought. Black Water had mentioned something was eating his pet fish. He just didn’t know what the culprit was. 

“So, how many did you catch?” Hua Cheng smirked at the little girl. 

“This many.” Mingzhu held up one hand, all five fingers open. 

“Tell you what. You can catch Bonefish but only if I’m there,” The ghost had to witness it for himself. “And I won’t tell your mother.” 

Hua Cheng paused. That sounded like the wrong thing to say. Wasn’t this exactly what human mothers told their children not to do with strangers? Before Hua Cheng could change his mind, Mingzhu agreed before she swam off. A feeling of instant regret washed over the ghost. He was undermining Xie Lian’s parenting. If Xie Lian found out, who knows how he’ll react? 

This was not how he wanted to start off the relationship between the girls and himself. Telling them to keep secrets from their mother? Since when do children keep secrets?! The ghost swam after the girl in barely controlled panic. 

“Mingzhu!” 

Thankfully, Mingzhu mercifully released Hua Cheng from their agreement and was able to appease her with lobsters. If Hua Cheng felt that orcas were eyeing him suspiciously, laughing at his earlier transgression, that was his business. And if they bullying him all over again, no they weren’t.

“I wonder why the orcas are bullying Hua Cheng.” Xie Lian spoke aloud as he braided Meiling’s hair, watching the orcas messing with the merman.  

“Who knows.” Mingzhu shrugged as she excitedly tore into her meal. Xie Lian shook his head and let it go. 

A few days later, Ban Chu informed Xie Lian that one of his friends arrived near the island. Xie Lian smiled as he thanked the young orca. Ban Chu squeaked before rejoining the rest of her pod that was enjoying the jellyfish bloom. 

Thousands of Moon Jellies were floating around the island. The girls always looked forward to the Bloom each year Xie Lian had explained. While the Moon Jellies provided an endless source of entertainment and stimuli, they were also quite delicious. Mingzhu once had eaten so many of them one year, Hua Cheng was actually concerned she would make them extinct. Or at the least get a little sick. But as always, Mingzhu’s endless iron stomach didn’t waver. 

“Could you watch them while I go meet with a friend? I won’t be long.” Xie Lian asked. 

Hua Cheng was currently being manhandled by Mingzhu in her dragon form, which was a bit startling. She was tiny as a mermaid but huge as a dragon. And apparently still had a huge amount of growing to do. Mingzhu had Hua Cheng pinned underneath her scaly underbelly on the sea floor, and Meiling was messing around with the ghost’s hair. It was probably the most color the ghost had ever adorned in years. 

“Of course Gege.” 

Xie Lian laughed softly at the wheezed-out response before looking at his daughters. “Play nice. Don’t accidentally kill him while I’m gone.” 

“We won’t!” 

Oh, they very much would have if Hua Cheng wasn’t already dead. Hua Cheng was very grateful he didn’t need to breathe. If his beloved had borne sons instead, it may have been a different story. The ghost would at least have had a chance in retaliating in their games. But with daughters? The poor ghost found himself utterly helpless to their every wish and command. 

The ghost, wisely, accepted his fate. 

Hua Cheng remained still before eventually closing his eye. Enjoying the feeling of Meiling’s hands in his hair and Mingzhu shifting every so often as she tried to snap her jaws at the moon jellies. It must have been quite sometime later when the ghost woke up because the first thing he noticed was that Mingzhu wasn’t in her dragon form anymore. 

Using the butterfly fish to help him see, he was relieved to see that Mingzhu and Meiling were on his chest, watching him with curiosity. 

“You killed him Mingzhu.” 

“I did not! He’s just sleeping!” 

“He’s not breathing.” 

Mingzhu seemed to pause, her eyes widening before she placed her hands on Hua Cheng’s face. 

“Cheng-gege! Wake up!” 

Hua Cheng, did not, ‘wake up’ so to speak. But he was struggling to keep his face neutral. Mingzhu let go of his head, looking to her sister. Stunned. 

“Oh my sea jellies he’s dead.” 

“I told you, you ate too much.” Meiling eyed her sister. “You're too heavy.” 

“I’m not! Mama says I’m healthy! He does it all the time and Mama didn’t die!” 

“He’s not Mama.” 

When Mingzhu and Meiling began to get nervous, Hua Cheng decided he should probably ‘wake up’ now. He spring up, his arms catching both girls, the girls stared at him in surprise, frozen. Hua Cheng grinned. 

“Boo.” 

The girls instantly relaxed, giggles erupting from both of them. 

“Cheng-gege you scared us!” 

The ghost let Meiling go when she started to struggle free from his embrace. Mingzhu stayed put, enjoying the contact. Both girls were smiling. Hua Cheng smiled back at them. Relieved to see that they were not in tears or in panic. He didn’t know if they liked pranks.  

“I think it’s time for your nap.” 

“Aww…” 

Hua Cheng guided them back to the cave but stayed outside while the girls entered their nest and settled themselves in for their nap. Hua Cheng leaned against the wall of the cave. Watching them through the silver butterfly fish. It was almost dusk now, the girls would wake up in the middle of the night to be fed again. Once the ghost heard the rhythmic sounds of even breathing as they slept, Hua Cheng left them under Ban Chu’s care with a few butterfly fish. 

“What?! How could you do this to me?!” The jade mermaid wailed. “He got to meet your babies before me?! How is that fair?!” 

“I felt bad, he had been so patient and kind. He really wanted to meet them.” Xie Lian laughed awkwardly.

“I want to meet them!” The mermaid batted his lashes. “I need to know if I’m cut out to be a mom!” 

“My children are not for you to experiment with. Besides,” Xie Lian changed his position on the rock to get more comfortable. “I don’t think you could handle them. They are much stronger than they look.” 

“They’re what almost 7 now? They’re still babies.” Shi Qingxuan pouted. 

“Then I’m sure you can wait another few months.” 

Shi Qingxuan gasped in mock outrage. “Cruel! You are cruel!” 

The pair continued to talk for a while about all kinds of things. How Shi Qingxuan’s courting was going. How Feng Xin and Mu Qing were doing. The year-long Migration Jun Wu had implemented since he left and so on. 

They had been talking for a few hours before dusk fell, Shi Qingxuan noticed a red glow coming toward them. Strangely, the silver butterfly fish from before were also heading their way. The jade mermaid tensed. It was coming from Xie Lian’s territory.

“Do you see that?” He pointed to the red glow. 

Xie Lian turned to look in the direction of the island. Relaxing as he noticed the familiar red glow. “Oh, that’s just Hua Cheng.?

Shi Qingxuan froze. His head turned slowly, his eyes wide. “H-Hua Cheng?” 

Xie Lian blinked. “Yes, do you know him?”  

Shi Qingxuan stared at the white scaled mermaid in disbelief. “Do I know him?! He’s the one who Jun Wu has been warning us about!” 

Xie Lian frowned. He didn’t remember anything about that. The only thing he remembers Jun Wu warning them about was a human pirate called Crimson Rain. Which Xie Lian had encountered once in his former home. He had to abandon his nest because of that human. 

It couldn’t be the same person. Hua Cheng was clearly a merman. He was kind and gentle. He hadn’t done anything to warrant Xie Lian mistrust or judgment. Hua Cheng was everything but a cruel poacher who hunted merfolk.

“Are you sure?  He’s been courting me for nearly a year now.” 

Shi Qingxuan let out an undignified squeak. “Courting!? When I said you should find someone to love again, I didn’t mean with the most dangerous man in the seven seas!” 

“Maybe it’s just the same name? He hasn’t done anything to hurt me or my children.” 

“Oh my gods, you left him alone with your children!” 

Xie Lian gave an unimpressed look at his friend who wisely quieted down when Hua Cheng arrived next to them. Xie Lian offered the merman a welcoming smile. 

“Hello. Where are my children?” 

“I left them under Ban Chu’s watch. They’re taking their nap.” 

“Ah, I see. Thank you.” Xie Lian swam next to Hua Cheng. “This is my friend, Shi Qingxuan. He’s from my old pod.” 

Shi Qingxuan gave a nervous smile before he rose from his seat. 

“We’ll it’s getting late, I should probably head back.

“It’s not that late. I didn’t mean to disturb you two.” Hua Cheng gave him an eerie smile back.  

Shi Qingxuan didn’t believe him for a second. “No really, I should swim back now. Ming Yu and Ge will be worried about me.” 

“A-Xuan” Xie Lian grabbed the mermaid’s hand, his eyes pleading. “You won’t tell them where I am, right?” 

Don’t tell Jun Wu about Hua Cheng.  

Shi Qingxuan paused, eyeing the crimson merman for a moment before he reluctantly nodded. The two mermaids said their farewells before they parted ways. Promising to see each other again soon. On the way back, Hua Cheng asked if the mermaid had enjoyed his time with his friend. 

Xie Lian admitted that he did and was looking forward to seeing him again in the coming months. Maybe next time, he would feel ready to tell his friends the truth about how many babies he actually has and introduce them. 

When they reached the cave, Hua Cheng bid the mermaid good night, Xie Lian wished him a good night in return. When the mermaid entered the cave, he was pleased to see the girls cuddled in the nest, safe and asleep. With a fond gaze, Xie Lian sank into the nest and nestled the girls close to his heart. 

He tried to fall asleep. But worry picked at his brain. Xie Lian got lost in his thoughts. There was just no explanation he could find that would explain how it would be possible for the pirate and Hua Cheng to be one and the same. If Shi Qingxuan had mistaken Hua Cheng for a human, the pirate must have done some unspeakable acts against his former pod. 

But Hua Cheng was good to his daughters and to him. The crimson merman protected them and hunted food for them. Played with them and was so gentle. Hua Cheng did more than what most mer fathers did, and never push Xie Lian to mate. It was more than what the mermaid had expected. 

Xie Lian just couldn’t imagine Hua Cheng doing something so despicable. He supposed he would have to keep an eye on anything that could be suspicious. Either about Hua Cheng or from the pirate. And if they were the same person, why was a pirate spending time with the very thing he hunts down? 

Xie Lian pushed those thoughts away. He didn’t feel that Hua Cheng would hurt them, but if he was toying with them, Xie Lian must admit, Hua Cheng was a brilliant actor. The mermaid’s heart clenched painfully. He hugged his babies as close to himself as he possibly could. His eyes narrowed into slits as he curled his tail to cover the girls completely. A low rumbling purr vibrated from his chest, meant to soothe the girls into a deeper sleep. His heart hardening twice over than when he lost San Lang.

Xie Lian prayed, for Hua Cheng’s sake, that he wasn’t acting.

Chapter Text

The seasons changed once more with the beginning of summer. A time of bountiful food, rich colors, melodious songs, and dazzling displays of courtship. Summer had always been a time of excitement, especially for the mermaids who were making their yearly migration back to the mer kingdom and were interested in finding mates to start a family with. 

Hua Cheng’s presence was now familiar, whether he would remain so was entirely up to the mermaid. After Shi Qingxuan left, Xie Lian worried that Hua Cheng might have done something to his friend if what the jade mermaid said was true. Hopefully, Shi Qingxuan hadn’t been scared away for good. 

With the seventh anniversary of Meiling’s birth near the end of summer and the beginning of fall, Xie Lian felt it was nearly time to finally introduce his daughters to his friends. He would allow them to meet once the season ended. He didn’t need any rogue mermen or desperate mermaids stealing his children in order to satisfy their primal instincts. The season often drove those without mates crazy if you weren’t careful. Most importantly, however, Xie Lian will finally make a decision on what to do with Hua Cheng. 

Which means that Hua Cheng could start becoming more aggressive and territorial in his ‘claim’ on Xie Lian. Since Xie Lian had been mated, even by a human, then bore a clutch, Xie Lian was not going into a breeding season ever again because his mate died. While Hua Cheng would have to suffer every summer if he wanted to remain as Xie Lian’s potential mate.

The tiny detail of Meiling being conceived outside of his species' breeding season, meaning that he more than likely could carry another clutch, will stay with Xie Lian to his death. He had no intention of giving the crimson merman hope. If Hua Cheng asks, Xie Lian will simply lie saying humans are gravid for much shorter time periods, then how is he to know? If the merman hints otherwise, Xie Lian will know that Hua Cheng is more than what he made himself out to be. 

No one can the truth, if they do, then they have very deep connections with the world above the sea. Xie Lian can explain his, birthed the proof even. The mermaid is interested in seeing how Hua Cheng would explain himself in such a scenario. 

If he was a pirate, he was in Xie Lian’s domain, it wouldn’t take much to kill him. He killed fish to eat, now he just kills in larger quantities. He will be sure to put his the merman’s carcass to good use.  His babies mustn’t starve. He killed the whalers who hurt his pod. Granted, he didn’t eat them, but recently he has found himself caring very little about the well-being of humans who seem to constantly be a shark tooth in his tail. 

First falling in love with one, San Lang died after he used Xie Lian but the mermaid didn’t really blame everything on the human. Xie Lian was the one who allowed himself to fall so he had no one to blame but himself there. Second, said human left behind his seed to be cultivated in the mermaid’s womb. Third, the humans showed up in the lagoon where the mermaid had made his nest. And Lastly, the humans killed a member of their pod. 

It was just his luck that his own child would already be born into the world hating herself. Who knew a baby could be born with a built-in self-criticizing and self-hatred button? Xie Lian would grow a headache just thinking about how Meiling would let herself fall into the endless abyss if he allowed it. And now? Now he has to worry about Hua Cheng’s teasing. Meiling has done everything in her power to avoid Hua Cheng’s teasing, but alas the little mermaid can only swim so far. 

Xie Lian slowly rose from his deep slumber. Feeling the soft touches of Meiling and Mingzhu pressed against his chest. The mermaid nuzzled their cheeks as he let out soft trills, encouraging them to wake up from their dreams. The nest felt warmer, meaning the water's temperature has risen. 

The mermaid slowly pushed himself up, looking towards the ceiling of the cave where specks of sunlight filtered through. The sun was higher, which meant it was officially summer. Xie Lian smiled as he closed his eyes. Soaking up the warm rays as he remained nestled with the girls, his tail providing warmth to them. 

Xie Lian took in a deep breath before he stretched out his limbs, his tail uncurling around his babies, finally waking them up for the new day. The mermaid watch fondly as Mingzhu and Meiling groggily sat up, chirping softly for their mother. Refusing to open their eyes, they didn’t want the light to assault them awake just yet. Preferring to be lovingly woken up by the mermaid, just as he always had every morning before feeding them. 

Once the girls were fed, Xie Lian led them out of the cave, Mingzhu was excited to play with Hua Cheng again. Meiling had no real opinion about the merman other than ‘he’s nice.’ Which was fine by him, Xie Lian had his own reservations, especially now. The coming season did not help with Xie Lian’s suspicions of the merman.

If Hua Cheng had noticed no further progression in their interactions and the mermaid kept a much closer eye on how the merman played with Meiling and Mingzhu, he made no comments about it. Xie Lian wasn’t blind to Hua Cheng’s clear desire for more, but that wasn’t the mermaid’s problem. Xie Lian was more than happy to let the merman wait. Was it cruel? Probably. But what took precedence, romance or the quality of life Xie Lian’s family will have? 

The question offended Xie Lian. His family came before everything. If Meiling and Mingzhu were miserable, how could Xie Lian be happy? His children would suffer, which meant he would suffer with them. One would have to be a narcissistic, vindictive, manipulative bastard to prioritize finding a mate over keeping their babies healthy, happy, and safe. 

No, Xie Lian will not allow himself to fail. Not this time. Especially not with the only clutch he will ever have. Meiling was more than just San Lang’s child. Mingzhu was more than just a little orphaned sea dragon who needed a mother. They were Xie Lian’s. They were his reason to take care of himself and not settle. They were a reflection of himself, and if they were well-fed and happy, so was he. 

A healthy and happy mother had healthy and happy babies. Xie Lian was also pleased that while his babies may not be aware of it completely, they were receptive to his subtle cues to keep Hua Cheng at arm’s length. They were still allowed to play with him, but only with their mother close by. Meiling had always wanted her space so it was no obvious change, Mingzhu was a bit more obvious but again, not Xie Lian’s problem if this bothered Hua Cheng.   

With summer, came the time to fatten up for the coming winter. Xie Lian had to eat in much greater quantities so he could feed the girls during the colder months. Xie enjoyed hunting, he needed to sink his fangs and claws into something otherwise he will end up hurting Hua Cheng prematurely.  

With warming water, Xie Lian had allowed the girls the option of whether or not they would were their robes. Mingzhu never liked it so her answer was instantaneous. Meiling always prefers to be warmer so she left it on. As for Xie Lian, he ran warmer than everyone, so he decided to not wear his either. 

Meiling was the only one who didn’t have protective scales along her arms or chest. Xie Lian had been collecting the fallen scales and sewing them to create a small covering that would cover her chest. He made the same for Mingzhu even though she had scales. She liked how it looked on Meiling and asked for one as well. 

Xie Lian sighed in relief, purring at being free from the clothing. He may have gotten used to wearing clothes, but he did need a break now and then. 

The mermaid smiled as the warm sunlight touched his tail. Sitting on the familiar rock where he has taken to perching on, he begins to groom himself. Coming out his long hair that was now the healthiest Xie Lian has ever seen, with all the weight he’s put on, he’s not surprised his body finally has enough energy to make him look as he once did before he birthed Meiling. His skin no longer bruised easily from lack of nutrients, and his tail… was vibrant. 

Xie Lian stared as he began plucking away old scales and smoothing out the new ones underneath. The mermaid held one of the newer scales to the sun and felt his lips part in surprise. His white silver scales now had a hint of shimmering gold. 

His mother had once told him that her grandmother had golden scales, he assumed that is where Meiling inherited them. Xie Lian didn’t recall ever having golden scales. It had always been white that almost looked like silver. Then again, the memories of his childhood are blurry, especially after his parents died. Never had his scales ever been gold under Jun Wu’s care. 

Xie Lian lowered the scale, his eyebrows furrowing. Was, was his tail always supposed to be gold? Xie Lian looked towards the cove, Meiling and Mingzhu were playing to their heart’s content with Ban Chu. Meiling’s tail was covered with magenta and gold scales, did the gold come from him? 

Anger rushed into Xie Lian's heart. Had Jun Wu really deprived him for so long that he didn’t even let Xie Lian grow properly? To the point of lying about their own species' mating habits? Xie Lian snarled as he dove back into the water and swam away from the island. 

Had Jun Wu’s influence been so strong that if Xie Lian never felt Meiling’s fear while she was nestled in his womb, he would have remained in that state. Blinding doing has he been told? A state of never allowing his body to fully mature, to produce the colors his body was supposed to naturally make? Were his scales white because he wasn’t being allowed to thrive within his own pod? 

Xie Lian swam for a long time before he finally stopped, pearls fell from his cheeks as he hugged himself. He was in deeper water, and his tail looked white again. The mermaid glared before he swam closer to the surface, letting the sun reach his scales. Again, the softest glow of gold returned. 

Xie Lian felt the anger start to fade, in its place he began to feel the harsh reality of betrayal. If Jun Wu’s grip on Xie Lian was barely beginning to loosen, then how could his former pod members ever break free without someone lifting the veil over their eyes? Xie Lian felt an ominous aura sitting on his chest. 

Xie Lian didn’t know what to do. He left Hua Cheng with his treasures without warning, and all he wanted to do was warn his friends about Jun Wu. They might not ever believe him, but he had to try. They deserved to know the truth if they’d to be even willing to listen. But how would he prove it? He had no evidence yet. The only thing he had was himself and -

Mingzhu .

Xie Lian paused his pacing. It all came back to Mingzhu’s species. Jun Wu always went on and on about how the Sea Dragons are the reason why the kingdom fell to ruin. Jun Wu also had an extreme hatred of them and humans. Saying they were nothing short of brutal and monsters, but then, Xie Lian found an orphan baby sea dragon. Has been raising her as his own for over 3 years. Every Jun Wu had warned them about, was wrong. 

Except for one thing. The Pirate Crimson Rain. 

Xie Lian hissed at the memory of the human. How he had driven them out of their home. Shi Qingxuan even stated that Crimson Rain bared a very striking resemblance to Hua Cheng. That he was Jun Wu’s enemy. The mermaid groaned in pain as he tried to make sense of all the thoughts flooding his mind. 

He needed to go back. He needed to confront Hua Cheng now. Possibly remove the children from the line of fire in case things escalated. He needed answers, he spent nearly the entire summer avoiding Hua Cheng but he couldn’t care less about the merman’s feelings right now. His family was on the line. If Hua Cheng is who he says he is, then Xie Lian hopes he will one day Hua Cheng will forgive him. 

Just as he was about to make the swim home, Xie Lian heard Shi Qingxuan’s voice. He turned around just in time to catch the jade mermaid who was swimming excitedly towards him. 

“A-Lian! I have missed you much these past few months! Wow, you look gorgeous, but of course, you do.” The mermaid laughed.  

“Thank you, I didn’t know you were visiting.” Xie Lian smiled at his friend.

“I wasn’t planning to until next month, but I saw you from my nest, it’s not that far from here. You’re a long way from your island.” Shi Qingxuan waved his hand excitedly. His eyes are bright and warm with happiness. 

Xie Lian’s eyes widen. Had he really traveled that far so quickly? He must have swam for hours before he stopped. Shi Qingxuan was still talking about he spent the summer and whatnot, but Xie Lian wasn’t listening. The mother mermaid was biting his lip, he left his babies alone for hours. How he could have let his emotions get the better of him? They must be starving, he has to go back and feed them. 

“It was lovely to see you again A-Xuan, but I have to go back, I have been away from my babies far too long-” 

“Wait before you go! I have to tell you something!” The jade mermaid interrupted. “Maybe I should tell you with Ge and Ming Yi, oh this is so exciting! Ge won’t be happy at first but he will be once I tell him he’ll be an uncle in the spring!” Shi Qingxuan squealed in joy.

Xie Lian paused, surprised once again as his eyes darted up and down from his friend’s face to his stomach. Shi Qingxuan’s stomach was taunt and he looked bloated, like how Xie Lian was when Meiling first revealed herself. He must be carrying a large clutch.

“You’re gravid?” 

Shi Qingxuan nodded excitedly. “I felt them just a few nights ago! They were so excited. Ming Yi was out doing something and just returned this morning, Ge was visiting my nest!” 

Xie Lian felt himself smiling, before pulling the mermaid into a tight hug. Shi Qingxuan was shocked but returned the hug. 

“Congratulations. I’m so happy for you A-Xuan, you’ll be a wonderful mother.” 

Shi Qingxuan pulled away, wiping away bright yellow pearls. Tears of joy. “Thank you, I haven’t told Ming Yi yet.” 

“I’m sure he’ll be happy.” 

“Oh, I should hope so!” Shi Qingxuan laughed as he hand palmed his stomach reverently. “I honestly didn’t think I would have a clutch this season. Ming Yi surprised me out of nowhere by mating me in-” 

“I really, don’t need the details-” 

“- the spring then he just started giving me this strange grass every day. But once summer began he avoided me so much. It was really strange. Then he showed up again for a little while, gave me more of the grass, and left again. Then I felt our babies and now he’s back. He’s so weird, I love him.” 

Xie Lian blinked. “Spring?” 

“Late spring, right before the season began why?” The jade mermaid blinked curiously.

Xie Lian looked at his friend, holding his hand out to touch the gravid mer’s vulnerable stomach. Once permission was given, Xie Lian gently felt the skin around the area. Feeling for the eggs that Xie Lian knows, he should not be able to feel. Not this early, if this was a true mermaid pregnancy. 

“A-Lian, you should become a healer with how intently you're staring at my stomach.” 

Xie Lian ignored his friend, “Show me the grass Ming Yi has given to you.” 

“Uh, alright.” Shi Qingxuan reached into his pouch and showed him the grass.

Xie Lian took the grass, sniffing it, tasting it. The mermaid’s brow furrowed. His hand pressed a little hard against his friend’s stomach and paused when at last, he found what he needed. Shi Qingxuan was happily explaining how he planned to decorate his nest and other nonsense, but Xie Lian felt nothing but dread.

There were no eggs. 

But there was one large presence inside. San Lang had mated Xie Lian in the winter. Shi Qingxuan in late spring. There should have been no possible way for Shi Qingxuan to be this big only a few days after conception. Xie Lian can understand why the jade mermaid wouldn’t think anything of it, Mermaids immediately know when they are pregnant, they feel the bond form between mother and offspring instantaneously. 

But that was not the case for Xie Lian, because his mate had been human. Humans don’t have a breeding season. Yes, mers can mate whenever they like as clearly pointed out to him by Hua Cheng, but they could never conceive outside of the breeding season because mermen and mermaids were practically sterol while their bodies prioritized survival over reproduction. Summer was a time of bountiful food. 

And the grass Ming Yi had been feeding to Shi Qingxuan, Xie Lian had seen it before, as a way to prevent conception The grass looked ordinary to the untrained eye, but Xie Lian had seen it before, on land. San Lang had explained it was a rare herb. Extremely difficult to come by. Mermaids don’t have such a thing, with so few mermaids compared to humans, babies were always in demand. If Ming Yi gave this to Shi Qingxuan, a plant grown from above the sea, then he had been trying to prevent a pregnancy.

Shi Qingxuan felt a bond, but he only mated in the spring. and was only carrying one offspring that was definitely not developing in an egg. Xie Lian felt a bond after he was mated in the winter, and he was only carrying Meiling who was birthed, not hatched. That could only be possible if- 

If Ming Yi was never a merman, but a human . 

Fear crawled up his spine. If Ming Yi was a human, who became a merman, then that means… 

Hua Cheng is Crimson Rain. The pirate drove them away from their home. Who somehow, turned himself into a merman. Was alone, with his babies. 

Xie Lian felt his blood run cold, going catatonic. Xie Lian didn’t notice he was been guided into Shi Qingxuan’s nest

“You have to see my nest! That way you can visit in the future and our babies can play together!” 

The mermaid was left in a state of complete shock that he couldn’t find the power to stop him. Something was wrong. Everything was wrong. The water was far too cold, and what looked like bonefish were coming towards them. When they arrived at the nest, which was hidden in a cave that a waze to get to, they found Ming Yi and Shi Wudu were glaring at each other with great ferocity it nearly choked the two mermaids. 

Shi Wudu was bleeding, laying on the floor while Ming Yi stood above him. It was like an out-of-body experience, Xie Lian could hear the confusion in Shi Qingxuan’s voice. Then the booming voice of Shi Wudu cursed Ming Yi, who in return only laughed mockingly. Shi Qingxuan’s eyes darted between the two. 

Xie Lian placed himself in front of the pregnant mermaid. “What is the meaning of this?” 

Shi Wudu took that as his cue to explain. “He’s working with Hua Cheng, the rogue merman that’s hunting us down! He killed the real Ming Yi!”

Shi Qingxuan’s head shook. His jade-green eyes stared helplessly at his mate. “Ge, Ming-Xiong, what’s-”

“Don’t call me that.” Not-Ming Yi glared at the jade mermaid. His voice, however, was smooth and calm.” 

“For once, we finally agree on something.” Shi Wudu snarled. “I knew there was something wrong with you from the moment I laid eyes on you.” 

The merman remained perfectly neutral before his body began to change into his real form. He was tall, with pale skin like Hua Cheng’s. With a long black tail with speckles of gold. His eyes glowed gold in hatred. The ever-so-familiar face that Shi Qingxuan once knew was now dreadfully foreign. 

“Who-”

“He Xuan. It’s the least you could do. Learn the name of the man whose life you’ve ruined.” He Xuan languidly approached Shi Wudu before looming over him. 

He Xuan, was the name of one of the Pirates that Xie Lian had heard of. Black Water Sinking Ships, he controlled the bonefish. The bonefish that Mingzhu loved to snack on. Which meant that He Xuan is working with Hua Cheng. 

The very same man who Shi Qingxuan had warned Xie Lian about. That Jun Wu had warned them about. They were natural enemies. Xie Lian was so confused, was Jun Wu not at fault after all? Had it all just been Hua Cheng telling him nothing but lies?

Shi Qingxuan shook his head, “I don’t understand. How did I-” 

“Oh, I know you don’t. I didn’t believe it at first, but you never knew what your brother did. You grew up completely oblivious.” 

Shi Qingxuan winced at the harsh tone, his heart began to beat faster. The jade mermaid didn’t understand what was unfolding before his eyes. The merman before him, was his mate, but not anymore? That couldn’t be true, Ming Yi treated him with care. He looked at his brother.

“Ge, what is he talking about?” 

“He has nothing to do with this!” Shi Wudu spoke up.

“Nothing to do with him?” He Xuan sneered. “Your little brother, was going to live a life of misfortune, so you switched his fate with mine, and this has nothing to do with him? 

“You got what you wanted, you ruined my brother, didn’t you? Used him even when he didn’t know! Now let him go and-” 

“Let him go? 

Xie Lian could feel the words cut Shi Qingxuan’s heart like a knife. Xie Lian held the gravid mermaid’s hand tightly, looking for any possible escape. Shi Qingxuan curled in on himself, trying to look smaller. He was in danger, and from what Xie Lian could tell, Shi Qingxuan was reacting to his baby’s fear. 

“Ming-Xiong I-” 

“ Shut up!”  He Xuan shouted.

Shi Qingxuan closed his eyes, his tailed curled around himself. Xie Lian glared at He Xuan fiercely. 

“Back off.” 

“You stay out of this-” 

“I will do no such thing. He clearly knew nothing.”

“Which makes him so detestable!” 

“Then you are the same as he is!” Xie Lian pushed forward, his eyes glowing gold right back at the ghost.  

“Tricking him, making him only to throw him away when he was a victim just like you!” 

“He is not the same as me because he didn’t die now did he?” He Xuan's tone grew cold. 

 Shi Qingxuan paled, his hand shot up to his mouth as black pearls fell from his eyes. This wasn’t good. Xie Lian needed to his friend out of there. Xie Lian was about to pull his friend to an open when several bonefish blocked their path. Pushing Xie Lian away from Shi Qingxuan.

“I’m sorry.” The jade mermaid whispered, his hands covering his stomach. 

“What good is your apology? Are you willing to die for your sins along with his brother?” 

Shi Qingxuan wasn’t apologizing to He Xuan, he didn’t know the full story just yet, but he got the gist of it. The jade mermaid was apologizing to the baby inside him, who could feel his fear and terror. The betrayal and grief would be enough to cause a miscarriage. Since this was Shi Qingxuan’s first clutch, if He Xuan didn’t kill him, then the loss of the baby would kill the mermaid. 

 Cold dread washed over Xie Lian, he had an inking of what He Xuan planned to do. Shi Wudu understood at once as he watched his brother cover his stomach. He Xuan however, still didn’t know that his attempts had failed. Xie Lian is not sure how the ghost will react once he knows that his enemy, also is the mother of his child. He doesn’t want to find out. He Xuan made his way over to the jade mermaid before Shi Wudu let out a growl, and darted right for the ghost. 

He Xuan hissed as the two mermen began to fight each other viciously, Shi Wudu was going to die, everyone knew that. But at least in this way, Xie Lian can get Shi Qingxuan away from here. Xie Lian began to pull the mermaid along with him when they heard the sound of flesh tearing. 

Shi Qingxuan released a silent scream as he witnessed Ming Yi, no, He Xuan, rip off his brother’s head. Xie Lian covered Shi Qingxuan’s eyes, he didn’t need to see this. Xie Lian held his friend tightly as they swam toward his island. They would be safe there. At least until He Xuan came for Shi Qingxuan’s head next. There was one thing on his side, however. Something Xie Lian will not be putting off any longer.  

It was nightfall when they arrived at the island. Hua Cheng was more than likely somewhere, which is fine by Xie Lian. He would more than likely kill Hua Cheng on the spot if he saw him right now. 

The orcas welcomed the mermaids, squeaking in concern at the clearly distressed mermaid. Xie Lian took him to rest inside the nest, where Mingzhu and Meiling were sleeping. Unharmed, and from the looks of it, well fed. Xie Lian breathed a sigh of relief. 

Shi Qingxuan made no comments about meeting his children or the fact that there were only two babies present. His silent weeping was the most he was going to get. He didn’t want to wake up Xie Lian’s children. The experienced mother encouraged the mer to sleep beside his daughters. Shi Qingxuan didn’t want to sleep, but the day had taken more than either mermaid would vocally admit. He fell asleep quickly.

Xie Lian had tried to get the mermaid to eat something on the way, but everything the jade mermaid ate, came back up. Shi Qingxuan tossed and turn all night, which didn’t surprise Xie Lian who was awake, keeping watch. For either Hua Cheng or He Xuan. 

As the moon reached its peak, the mermaid heard Mingzhu waking up. The little sea dragon rubbed her eyes before she smiled excitedly at her mother.

“Ma-”

“Shhh,” Xie Lian raised a finger to his lips as he pointed to his guest and Meiling. “They’re sleeping.” 

Mingzhu nodded in understanding before she swam over to him, hugging him tightly. Xie Lian returned the embrace wholeheartedly. 

“Who is he mama?” 

“A friend, he’s very hurt right now, so we have to take care of him.” 

“Okay.” 

Mingzhu settled herself comfortably on the mermaid’s lap. Xie Lian was thankful, her senses were far superior to his. Nothing could sneak by her without her saying so. Xie Lian breathed in another deep sigh. The pair stayed motionless for the better part of the night before Mingzhu fell asleep again. Once Xie Lian settled the baby back into the nest, he returned to his place at the cave entrance. His mind races to make sense of everything.

Hua Cheng was the pirate Crimson Rain. Of that Xie Lian no longer had any doubts. He Xuan was Black Water. Were they both ghosts who could shift at will? Xie Lian could only walk on land for three days during the full moon. He Xuan played a role to get his revenge, so what did Hua Cheng want? 

The feeling of dread returned, conveniently when the familiar glow of red reached their eyes. Xie Lian felt his heart breaking, his girls, they already grown attached to him. But Xie Lian could not let this stand.  

Xie Lian sent a quick whistle for the orcas to guard his nest, then swan out to confront Hua Cheng in deeper water. Sying followed him. If there was going to be a fight, Xie Lian wanted every advantage he could get. Black Water more than likely already told Hua Cheng what transpired. The only thing Xie Lian didn’t know, is if they know that he doesn’t have the entire picture yet. Best to let them think he does. 

The red glow seemed to fade the closer Xie Lian got to Hua Cheng, who was waiting patiently for the mermaid. His expression grim. Xie Lian found himself hating it. Hua Cheng swam a bit closer, his butterflies swimming close by.

“Gege are you alright-” 

“Who are you?” Xie Lian hissed. “No more lies.” 

“Gege, I swear to you, I have never once lied to you.” 

Xie Lian scoffed, his hands clenching into fists. “You’re the pirate Crimson Rain, aren’t you?”

The silence was very telling. Hua Cheng looked like he had just been gutted. Xie Lian smiled as he laughed softly, his head shaking when the silence continued. 

“You’re working with Black Water, to get revenge.” 

“No, I regrettably needed him at times, but it was never for revenge.” 

“Then what? To play house with my children ?” Xie Lian snarled, “You do know that right? That they are children! Not toys you can pick up and toss away like trash!” 

“I would never do that, I love them!” 

“I don’t believe you!” Xie Lian hissed, his webbed ears fanning out, his eyes turning to slits. 

Hua Cheng backed away, letting the mermaid take as much space as he wanted. Xie Lian did not accept the mer’s attempt to appease him. Xie Lian was very much, pissed.

“I want you gone. Don’t ever come back.” 

“I can’t do that.” Hua Cheng looked wounded even as he stood firm. 

“Oh, I think you very much will.” Xie Lian pressed forward. 

“I need to be here, Meiling will be showing signs-” 

“Don’t you dare utter her name! What signs?!” 

Hua Cheng hesitated, but he didn’t back away this time, “Signs of her ghost heritage.” 

“Oh, that’s rich.” Xie Lian started laughing. “So that answers whether you were dead too. Bravo, I actually believed you were alive. What next? You’re going to say you know this because your her father?” 

“...” 

Xie Lian’s laughter faded, his eyes began to glow, and his body became tight like a coil. “That’s not funny.” 

Hua Cheng dared to move closer, and Xie Lian swam back. Hua Cheng stopped, looking pleadingly at the mermaid before he sighed. His eye closed. His body began to shift, shrinking a bit before a familiar that has haunted Xie Lian’s dreams for years is there again, in front of him.

Xie Lian watched in shock as Hua Cheng, shifted into his love, into his San Lang . When the merman tried again to swim closer, Xie Lian backed several inches back, his head shaking in disbelief.

“Gege, I wanted to tell you. I was waiting for the right time, but after today with Black Water, I knew you would make some connections.” 

Hua Cheng, San Lang,- whoever it was, Xie Lian felt betrayed, and black pearls fell from his eyes. How ironic, it’s as if he had seen a ghost. In this case, he very much has. Hysteria began to flood Xie Lian's brain. He couldn’t make sense of this, of any of it.

“How dare you? Change back to your true form.” Xie Lian snared at him. 

“This form is just when I was younger before I died.” 

No, that couldn’t be, unless…

Xie Lian’s hands went to the head, it hurt to think. Hua Cheng had been plaguing the pod for decades , which means that if San Lang has been dead the entire time, does that mean Meiling is also dead? Would she be half living, half dead? Were there actually signs he missed? How did he not notice? Was Meiling nothing more than just a figment of his imagination because he was so deep in despair after San Lang died? But San Lang didn’t die? No! Xie Lian gave him his pearl, if Hua Cheng has been around for years, then he must know what it means to give up one’s pearl. 

But Hua Cheng was a ghost! Who was hunting Jun Wu? Him? What does he want? Meiling had to be real, the birth was too real? Is Meiling- 

“She’s not dead Gege, I promise you.” Hua Cheng gently held the mermaid’s wrists. 

Had he been saying everything out loud?

“Yes, but I don’t blame Gege at all. I would be the same if I were in your place.” Hua Cheng wiped the tears away. 

Xie Lian was so lost in thoughts, he didn’t realize that Hua Cheng was holding him, looking pained to see the black pearls falling from his beloved’s eyes.  

“Hua Cheng, stop it. Please. This is too much…” Xie Lian refused to accept it. He wouldn’t. Because if he did, then there was something much larger at play. And his babies weren’t safe. Shi Qingxuan wasn’t safe. Jun Wu wasn’t safe.  “Please change back…” 

He was powerless against the face of his dead mate. But if Hua Cheng changed back to his true form, Xie Lian could muster up the strength to kill the ghost. If a ghost can even be killed. Hua Cheng remain in the current form, but a familiar red pearl rested in the palm of his hand. Xie Lian felt all the fight leave his body, his heart began to beat quickly. 

He knew this red pearl. It was the first he ever shed that wasn’t white. Every mer could tell their one special pearl apart from the rest. The one in Hua Cheng, in San Lang’s, hand was his. It called out to him like the water calls out to the mers who travel on land, to come home. 

Xie Lian pulled away, looking at the face of who he thought to be his mate, but really, it had been Hua Cheng all along. Hua Cheng who fathered his child, who taught him many things in the world above. Hua Cheng who had returned. Black pearls turned to a faint yellow. 

“San Lang?” 

Hua Cheng turned to his true form. A hopeful smile appeared, “I’m here.” 

“I don’t understand, I-”

“I know. I will explain everything. You don’t have to believe me, but please believe me when I say that our time together on land meant everything to me. I never stopped searching for you after we got separated. I have always loved you.” 

Xie Lian stared in awe at the ghost, frozen. Hua Cheng took the initiative to place a silver chain with a diamond ring around the mermaid’s neck. Xie Lian looked at the ring, not entirely sure what it meant. 

“Ghosts have this gesture, of giving their ashes to whoever they love.” Hua Cheng cupped the mermaid’s cheek. “I’m yours to do with whatever you wish.”  

Xie Lian didn’t know who kissed who, but he the moment their lips met again after years apart, it was like lightning struck in the mermaid’s heart. He was overwhelmed by too many emotions, too many thoughts, and worries. He remembers crying all over again while Hua Cheng comforted him, but then nothing. He must’ve fallen asleep, because when he woke up, Hua Cheng was laying beside him, watching over him. Which lead to another session of crying every time Xie Lian so much at looked at Hua Cheng. When the ghost shifted to his more youthful appearance, that just made the crying worse . 

Honestly, Xie Lian was trying to stop. But after 8 years of believing his mate was dead, well he was dead, but not dead gone? That alone sent the mermaid into another fit. And it wasn’t pretty either. It was the ugly crying. Full-on snot and hiccups, the works. 

Xie Lian doesn’t know how long he spent crying, but he could recall moments when Hua Cheng, or is it San Lang? Left to tend to their babies. Wow, their already ? Xie Lian glared at his own body for forgiving his mate much too quickly. But oh his poor sweet babies . They had been playing with their baba and no one knew.

There Xie Lian went into another phase of new tears. Xie Lian was crying at everything. At himself for being this pathetic that he couldn’t even get his own emotions under control. For not taking care of his babies for 2 days. For just simply having feelings that were coming in waves that felt more like a tsunami. 

It was awful. 

Xie Lian wished he could say he was embarrassed, but he really did not care if Hua Cheng saw in him his sorry state. The ghost can suffer in silence for all the mermaid cared. It was Xie Lian who had to do everything! Was going through everything! Let him feel his feelings in peace! 

Once his emotions, finally ran threw him, mind, body, and soul, Xie Lian felt like his normal self, save for a massive migraine from all the crying. To which he quickly remedied with a deep sleep. The next time he woke up, he was in his nest beside Shi Qingxuan who was cuddling his babies. 

As for Hua Cheng, he was nowhere to be found. But a few of his butterfly fish were. Just near the reef. Xie Lian may have accepted who Hua Cheng was, but he was nowhere near ready to just roll over and forgive the ghost. The mermaid began to think. 

Jun Wu more than likely knew everything that had been going on, so that meant the number of people he could trust was limited. He didn’t trust Hua Cheng completely either, and poor Shi Qingxuan was in no state to be of much help. Not that Xie Lian would ask, but the mermaid was gravid and suffering from a brutal betrayal. Who knows when Jun Wu will show up, Xie Lian was now more than certain the older merman didn't let Xie Lian without having an assurance of some sort. 

He Xuan was probably going to come after them. Xie Lian had no idea what exactly Hua Cheng and He Xuan agreed to, but he was not willing to put his entire trust in the crimson ghost right now. Xie Lian was a danger around his own children because of his lack of knowledge of what is going on. The mermaid hissed quietly. He couldn't have that.  Hua Cheng may be furious with the mermaid, but his priorities remain on protecting his children. And he couldn't protect them if he had constantly worried that someone would use his daughter against him. Looking over his shoulder, his mind somewhere else other than where he needed to focus.

The mermaid didn't it want to come to this, but the mermaid honestly felt he had no choice. Land was not an option, nor was blindly trusting San Lang-Hua Cheng, whoever. Xie Lian eyed the butterfly fish and Mingzhu. 

A snack was more than due, and a certain sea dragon was going home. 

Xie Lian wrapped the girls tightly in the soft pink and purple blanket. They were sound asleep, he didn’t want to scare them, be he had to hide them. Sying was waiting dutifully out of their cave, holding the small bag Xie Lian put several fruits, small fish, and clams in. 

Ban Chu held her mouth open for Xie Lian to put the top of the blanket in her mouth, the little mer babies were cuddled together inside. Xie Lian felt his heart being torn apart. Being separated from his young was actual torture for a mermaid. Xie Lian couldn’t stop the pearls from falling.

The orcas all looked at the mer with great sadness. Yue Tao squeaked as he rubbed his head against Xie Lian’s cheek. Xie Lian hugged each of the orcas tightly. He was entrusting them with two pieces of his entire heart. It was killing him. 

Shi Qingxuan was resting on the back of one of the orcas. He has grown too weak since he separated from his mate. But the will not survive if he sees He Xuan again right now. As much as it pained Shi Qingxuan, he still cared for the baby in his womb. Being around Meiling and Mingzhu made him even more determined to live long enough to give birth. 

Sying bumped her head, clicking with grief. Xie Lian placed his hands on the sides of her head. Looking eyes the orca who had been as close to a mother in a long time. 

“Take care of them.”  

Sying squeaked once, then pulled away. Ban Chu was in the center of the pod, protected at all sides. And the pod swam away. He knows they’ll be safe. He knows they’ll live. But his heart felt the full force of a mother losing their children. This pain was a million times worse compared to when he lost his mate. Xie Lian fell into sobs. Hugging himself to the point that he nearly broke his arms, doubling over in pain. He started to scream, scream at the sheer burning agony. 

The orcas arrived at the skeleton of what was once a magnificent sea dragon. Its jaw was wide open, allowing the orcas to all fit inside comfortably. Sying lowered the makeshift sling gently on the dark sand.  

Ban Chu and Yue Tao clicked lowly at the bag, Meiling and Mingzhu had woken up in their journey. Pearls littered the bottom of the blanket. Cautiously poking their heads out of the sling, the girls took in their new surroundings. It was dark, and desolate, small underwater volcanos kept the water warm enough for them that they wouldn’t have to worry about losing body heat. 

The girls chirped longingly, waiting for their mother’s calls. But it was only Shi Qingxuan’s calls who answered them, the orcas too. Offering them food in an attempt to soothe them. Meiling started to cry harder, the sea was darker here, scaring the little girl. The white underbellies of the orcas looked like glowing ghosts, it was frightening. 

Mingzhu trilled, turning into her true form, her bioluminescence instantly brought light and comfort to the little mermaid. Brilliant pink frills of her tail chased away the haunting white. Glowing golden eyes stared into the dark abyss. 

Shi Qingxuan watched the sea dragon, who had grown so much in the span of a few months, lighting up the dark water. She was longer than the orcas now. This is where Mingzhu belonged, in the deep. She would grow quickly and thrive.

Her dark indigo scale made her invisible, only drawing attention to her tail which looked like a glowing pink sea nettle. It was dangerously beautiful. Mingzhu was finally in a place that was filled with properties that screamed at the sheer power sea dragons possessed from centuries ago.  

Mingzhu looked to her younger sister, eyes studying her. Meiling looked confused, lost without her mother. Her magenta-red and gold eyes and scales glowed as well. Their mother had more than likely found this place, and planned to live here if their nest was found. 

White caught Mingzhu’s eye, turning her attention to a school of bonefish. With the dragons gone, someone made their home over their bones. Mingzhu licked her lips, her long snout opening wide. 

Xie Lian and the orca pod had done their best to look after her in the tropical seas, but now, it was Mingzhu who will look after them in the darkest fathoms of the seas. Where her species reigned. The true master of the seas has been returned to her ancestral home.

Chapter Text

300 years ago….. 

Wu Qiuyue laid motionless as the pirate who sired all three of her children thrusted again. She stared at the starless night sky as the crew shouted praise the sight of a pirate forcing himself on the being who he interchangeable called his wife and the crew’s slave. 

“Fucking moan you whore!” The pirate, who stole her when she was just 13 years old, shouted. Wu Qiuyue once again made no sound. After 11 years of being imprisoned on this hell hole of a ship, she had grown numb to the mindless rape, starvation, beatings, and endless torment that she was subjected to than she cared to remember. 

Despite the odds, she was still alive, yet she wished for death like one wished for air. The only thing that brought her any joy was her third son, Hong-er. Remembering him always made her suffering worth it. Out of all of the children she birthed, he was her favorite. He was the only one who did not hurt her. Her eldest sons were corrupted by their pathetic father. 

But oh, not Hong-er, the son who looked nothing like his sire. He was her mirror image with one difference. His eyes were beautiful. Unlike any she had ever seen before. Crimson like blood. She knew from the moment he was born that he was special. His sire must have felt it too, since he tried to drown her son shortly after she spent two days trying to birth him. 

It took everything she had to save him, she only hoped that on nights like these, where her husband felt like sharing that she prayed her sons were already asleep. She didn’t want them to see her like this… weak, frail, and powerless to do anything. 

Her body was the only thing she had to offer. If it kept the crew’s eyes away from her children, she would endure this. Wu Qiuyue was young, startlingly so. She gave birth to her first son at 14. Her husband was a cruel man. Giving her body no rest and birthed her second son at 16, and her third and final son at 19. 

Wu Qiuyue had tried to escape, many times. Each time ended with her nearly being whipped to death, or taken by force by the entire crew.  Her captor kept her pregnant as a way to discourage her from running away. He knew how much she loved her sons, and that she would never abandon them. So he used their children as her chains, then corrupted them when he encouraged them to beat her with him.

But then she gave birth to her sweet Hong-er, whose sire cursed him from the day he was born. Wu Qiuyue did not care. She did the best she could to shield them, but there was only so much a beaten-down person could do. 

So when she was tossed into her cell at night, she would weakly embrace her child, would hold him in her arms, and sing a lullaby, praying to the gods that someone hears her prayers and save them. 

Finally, the man finished inside of her. Just like everyone else. The man spit on her, before grabbing her by her long midnight black hair, and dragging her below deck, and tossed her into a cell. Weak and starving, she made no sound as her bones collided with the harsh floor. 

The feeling of cold wet chains were familiar as her captor placed the shackles on her feet and wrists again. The man, no, the monster, smelled of wine and musk. It was vile and wretched, if she had any food in her stomach, she would throw it up in the stench. 

She made no sound as he pulled her long hair towards him, his dirty hands holding her jaw so tightly, she felt the bones beginning to crack. 

“You better make some fucking noise tomorrow, otherwise. I’ll have my men try out that abomination next time.” The man smirked. Gesturing to the sleeping child on the floor.

Wu Qiuyue’s eyes shaped to the man, like a predator, she hissed and tried to push the man away. This earned the desired response. The man grinned as he dropped her, satisfied at the defiant glare. 

“There it is, I was beginning to think you lost your fire.” The monster let out a Boisterous laugh before he slammed the prison door closed. 

Blinded by his own pride, Wu Qiuyue smiled to herself as she ran her hands through her son’s soft black hair.

He forgot to lock the chains and door.

She waited patiently, wanting to make sure everyone was passed out drunk before she quietly removed her chains. She grunted in pain as she lifted her little Hong-er in her arms, still sound asleep, and made her way up to the deck. 

The first thing she saw when she reached the deck was the crew half naked and passed out all over the ship. Her eyes landed on the ropes that held up a lifeboat on the side of the ship. Should there ever be a need to abandon ship, the lifeboat would simply be dropped into the sea.

Carefully, she stepped on a barrel, and with great effort, hoisted her son up on the boat, and slipped him inside. Once secure, Wu Qiuyue surveyed the ship for any signs of her other sons but they were nowhere in sight. 

Which meant they were with their captor. 

Steeling herself, she walked barefoot over the broken glass, she didn’t notice the bloody footsteps she left behind. 

Reaching the captain’s quarters, she silently opened the door, the moonlight allowing her to see everything she needed. Her sons passed out on their hammocks, and her devil asleep on his desk. It was almost as if the moon itself had blessed Wu Qiuyue with this moment, when she saw the glint of a dagger hanging just above his heart. 

The rage of over a decade of pain and misery surfaced in a silent inferno as Wu Qiuyue took the dagger in her hands, holding it over the monster’s heart. Her teeth bared as she shook, the dagger rattling softly. 

Oh how she dreamed of this moment. To slay her monster, to watch the life fade from his eyes. His black, soulless eyes, that gleamed as he tortured her, her son, and encourage her older sons to hurt too. To finally end this hell and be free with her children. 

She just had to aim for the heart. That’s it. It will be over. She’ll be free. 

But could she really kill someone? Could she really live with that blood on her hands? 

But if she didn’t, who's to say he won’t rest until he’s hunted her down till the end of the world? 

Was she even worth it? Was he even worth it? 

Tears flowed down her cheeks, she lowered the dagger. She couldn’t do it. She wasn’t a devil like him. Silently she pressed a hand to her mouth, silencing her sobs. She simply couldn’t. It was all she had left. She won’t let him make her a killer. 

She turned to leave, but let out a whimper when she felt her long hair being pulled roughly back, forcing her to fall back. The familiar stench of his breath crawled over her neck. 

“You should have killed me when you had the chance,” the man growled out. 

NO! She was so close! 

“Oh A-Yue, how could you even think of running away,” He pressed a kissed to her neck. “You’re far too beautiful to simply let go. Think of the crew, we would be lost without you.” 

Wu Qiuyue shook in fear, the pirate grinned. Then he dragged her away by her hair, back to her cell, the crew still passed out. She cursed her long hair. It was always her hair. When she was younger, she loved her hair. How beautiful it was, how happy she was that Hong-er had her hair. How beautiful it looked on him. 

But that was before. Now all she felt for her hair was another chain to this life. Whenever her captor wanted, all he had to do was pull her hair. She was held down by her own hair. 

She wanted to cut it off. 

Her captor joyously explained how he would put another son in her to keep her with him, how she would love this new son. Failing to notice that his last son was no in their cell. And he laughed. His laugh was obnoxious and disgusting.  

“What a terrible son, doesn’t listen to his father, only his whore of a mother.” 

She knew her husband was taunting her, mocking her, she knew that if she closed her eyes and let him have his way, he would eventually tire of her stillness as he humped her against her will. Then slap her from acting like a stiff corpse. 

So she let him have his way, just to keep his attention on her, not on her missing child. He kept her still, gripping her hair. She was in pain, and she bled from down there all over again, the same scars that didn’t have time to heal. She laid there frozen on the cold wet wood, unmoving as he tucked himself back into his pants. 

Wu Qiuyue struggled against him, glaring at the pirate. 

“Now, now. Think of our little Hong-er. How frightened he will be when he realizes you abandoned him. Who knows what could become of him.” 

Her son was all she could ever think about. He was her very reason to still live in this hell. 

“You don’t want me to hurt him, and I don’t want to hurt you. I’m honestly surprised you tried to kill me, after everything I’ve done for you.”

Done for her? DONE FOR HER?! And the man had the gull to threaten HER son?!

All at once, the years of torture and agony broke through her skin. Her eyes wide with madness and roaring furry. Taking the very chains that imprisoned her, she struck him on the head, then took his sword on his hip and stabbed him. 

The man was so taken by surprise that he had no time to stop her. He stared in shock at the figure looming over him. Who wasn’t a weak woman who could abuse. But a creature that had endured the worst of the gates of hell, her eyes were fierce like the very flames he pulled her from when he slaughtered her family, and burned her village. 

He couldn’t even scream in pain when she pulled the dagger out and began to stab him widely, her lips curled in a snarl. 

Wu Qiuyue doesn’t remember how many times she stabbed him, but when voices above deck began to shout at an oncoming storm, she stopped, blood decorated her face like the markings of a predator who made their first kill in years. 

She remembers every transgression he had ever done to her. How dare he touch her with sullied hands? How dare he turn her older sons against their own mother? How dare he utter such monstrous words about killing her son?

How dare he?

She pulled the man by his scalp, holding him to her face, just before his putrid soul could escape her vengeance. She smiled, wide and full of manic bliss.

“You will never hurt me, or anyone I love, ever again.” 

She plunged the knife into his throat, silencing him forever, and when his eyes were hollow, she dropped him. She stared in wonder as the corpse, shock evident in her face. Her shoulders trembled. 

She was laughing. Hysterically. The shaking spread throughout her body, she covered her mouth to try to stifle her laughter, but she was filled with intense relief, she was free. She was free! And so were her children!

Her laughter faded, sanity returning. Her children!

As quickly as she could, she ran up the stairs, finally noticed the ship was being rocked by large waves, the howling wind nearly muffled the voices that were shouting for their captain to give them orders. 

Clutching onto the doorframe, she braced herself against the wind and rain, the crew was anxious, staring at the sea and sky in fear. 

“We’ve sailed right into the triangle!”

“Where’s the captain!? He needs to get us out of here!” 

Carefully, Wu Qiuyue gripped the railing, making her way to the captain’s quarters for her two sons. She noticed that the lifeboat where she hid Hong-er was lowered, he was safe. 

Strengthened by assurance of her youngest’s survival, she braved her way back to her children. Whimpering in pain every time she dares to take a wider step, the pain between her legs limiting her. 

Finally, she reached the room where her sons were sleeping in, only to find the first mate holding her sons, and the same sword she used to kill her captor. All her previous triumph left her.  

“I couldn’t believe my eyes at first. I didn’t think you had it in you to kill your savior.” 

She said nothing, her body swayed with the ship as it rocked back and forth. Her body felt heavy. She leaned against the wall, taking gulps of air. 

She was dying, all her energy was used, now there was barely anything left to keep her standing. Still, she looked at the accomplice of her hell, she chuckled lowery. 

“I dreamed of that moment, for years.” Wu Qiuyue lazily turned her head to look at her sons. Who only stared at her with disgust and hatred. But that was alright, they could hate her all they wanted if it made them feel better. They would never go with her now. Now she just needed to get to Hong-er, at 6 years old, he couldn’t survive on his own. 

She still had unfinished business, her son still needed her alive. So she gathered herself, and bolted out of the room. The first mate shouted at the crew to capture her. 

She managed to avoid their sights, she was almost there! She just needed to get into the boat. Reaching the railing, she looked down to see where the lifeboat was. Only to stumble when she found nothing. 

Her hope began to dwindle, looking out to the raging sea, she saw a small figure sailing away from the death triangle that her foolish captor led his men straight into. 

He was far away, he must’ve woken up and took his chance. Hong-er escaped. He was going to make it. She prayed he would. 

A crewman grabbed her frail arms, snapped the bones clean. She smiled through the pain as she was dragged to a pole, and tied with chains. 

“The ship is sinking!” 

“We need to offer a sacrifice to the gods! We’ll get through the triangle if we offer them a sacrifice!” 

It came as no surprise, when they stabbed her, then offered her to the sea gods. She only laughed maniacally as they began to realize that she was worth nothing to gods. 

The dark clouds thundered and roared as lightning struck the mast. The ship grew aflame. The blaze slowly creeped closer to the pole Wu Qiuyue was chained to. The crew was aimlessly tossing buckets of water back into the sea as the ship took on more water than they would put out. 

“Abandon ship!” 

Like rats, they all jumped into the raging sea. Without a small boat, they would surely drown to their deaths. Wu Qiuyue barely saw her sons jumping into the sea, not sparing her, their mother, a glance. 

She didn’t bother to call for help. No one had come to save her. Overwhelmed with despair that she wouldn’t be able to see her son grow up, she helplessly screamed into the storm. 

Her voice grew hoarse as the flames kissed her flesh.

This is it. This was the end. This was her end. 

With a final roar of thunder and strike of lightning, the ship sank beneath the waves of the raging sea and azure flames. As the flames burned her flesh off her bones, eyes melted from the scorching heat, she prayed to any god who was listening, to finally let her die. Let her find peace in the afterlife. 

But of course, her pleas would not be heard. 

The first thing Wu Qiuyue saw when she opened her eyes was darkness. And that was all she would see for the next 300 years, left to rot at the bottom of the Bermuda Triangle, a lone ghost meant to haunt the vessel that kept her prisoner for nearly her entire life. 

She remembers the day when she lost Hong-er, how she tried and tried to free herself from the ship. It was futile. Her soul was bound to her corpse, which was little more than a few bones here and there. At the very least, she could walk around the ship.

As the years went by, the triangle welcomed more unfortunate souls who died miserable deaths just like hers. She would stroll the deck, staring up to the moon that was her only companion. Alone and lost at sea, Wu Qiuyue would find herself dreaming of a future where she might one day find her son again. 

She would embrace him tightly, tell him how much she loved him, how hard she fought for him. That she had prayed for her son to live a life of bliss, and to find love.  

It was lonely, but it gave her time to heal. She witnessed the rise and fall of the mer people, to which she learned that the legends were true. She saw the reigns of terrors that mercilessly attacked merchant ships. 

Her hatred of pirates burned blue flames that reached the surface, always sinking the ships that were foolish enough to enter the triangle. She had heard stories of the triangle that was now her grave. How strange that it was in a place of unsolved mysteries that became her domain. 

That was, until an idiot called himself the Night Touring Green Lantern, a merman who died, tried to take over. Wu Qiuyue watched in amusement as he tried and failed to bend the seas to his will. The moon laughed with the she-ghost. 

Once, a pirate dressed in crimson red tried to take the triangle’s power. Wu Qiuyue burned his ship from the bottom of the sea. That was the only ship who escaped her. 

Of course, she wasn’t really trying to kill anyone, just pirates. As if the seas in the triangle grew favor with Wu Qiuyue, she began to fade in and out of consciousness, stronger each time she awakened. 

Sleeping through the decades, she was surprised to find a little mermaid with a beautiful shimmering magenta and gold scale swimming aboard her ship. Looking for something. 

The ghost made no sound as the little mermaid drew closer, frantically searching for… something. Wu Qiuyue could see it was a little girl, no more than 8 years old. 

Whatever the merchild was doing, she shouldn’t stay here. Wu Qiuyue silently went towards the little mermaid. 

“Curious little mermaid, aren’t you?” 

Meiling froze, turning around quickly to see what looked like a human woman dressed in glowing blue coming towards her. The woman was a deathly beauty, her hair long and luscious, like silk, and her skin translucent, you could see her skeleton. And her eyes glowed in blue flames. 

The ghost was dressed in rags, bruises from her life that she could never move on from still marred her bluish-gray translucent skin. Her hair was black and full of gentle curls, just like Hua Cheng’s. The ghost looked a lot like Hua Cheng. 

It reminded Meiling of the birds of paradise that lived in her island home. 

Meiling gripped her bag tightly. The ghost’s eyes tracked her every movement. Despite the terror Meiling was feeling, the ghost seemed perfectly serene.

“I’m not going to hurt you dear. I don’t hurt children.” The ghost looked away, to the place that Meiling had been searching through. In the hopes of finding a book or something that would tell her how to help her uncle, who was due to give birth soon. 

“Looking for something?” The ghost smiled, a teasin glint in her eyes. “Treasure perhaps?”

Meiling shook her head. 

“Then what are you looking for?” 

Meiling took a deep gulp of water, steeling herself. “The treasure I seek is knowledge. To help save my uncle. He is gravid, and due to give birth soon.” 

The ghost seemed unphased, floating away from the trunk that Meiling had just been looking though. Floating down a hallway. Meiling took it as a sign to follow. 

“Mermaids live in pods. Surely he will have the knowledge to deliver safely.” 

Meiling bit her lips. Looking back from where she came, and into the room where the ghost woman was standing. A room filled to the brim with books. Her mother would have a fit if he knew Meiling was doing something this stupid. But her mother had been gone for months, and she needed answers, now. 

“It’s not a normal birth…” 

The ghost raised a brow, urging Meiling to continue. Meiling felt a little more confident. 

“He’s going to birth… a creature like me. Half ghost, half mermaid. He’s been in labor for two days…”  

This seemed to fascinate the ghost, her eyes wide in surprise. 

“In all my years, I have never once heard of such a thing.” 

The ghost loomed over the little mermaid, taking in Meiling’s appearance, paying special attention to her eyes. Meiling knew her eyes were like no other. Something flickered in the ghost’s gaze, something soft, and filled with sorrow. 

“It’s the truth. I have been looking for shipwrecks to find something to help him.” 

The ghost stared for a long time, Meiling could feel the soul’s longing and guilt close to shattering the poor woman. Finally, the ghost looked away, her face grim. 

“I’m afraid my small library will not have the treasure you seek.” 

“But you're a ghost, you must know something?” Meiling pleaded. 

The ghost sighed, before looking to the deck, where her bones layer scattered, the sword still impaled into her rip bones. Meiling saw the spirit’s attention shift to the pole with bones.

“The only knowledge I have, is how to birth a human child.”

“You’ve delivered?” 

“Many times, not all were living. Stillborn. Only three lived.”  

Meiling’s shoulders drooped. She was running out of time, and the ghost was only person she had found in months, Mingzhu was searching for help as well, even the orcas. 

Given the choice between watching her weak caretaker die in childbirth, and the ghost who offered a slim hope, Meiling made her choice. 

“You’re imprisoned here, by the sword? If I can free you, will you help me?”

The ghost gave a small smile, “Oh little one-”

“Will you?” 

“I want too, but it’s not that simple-”

Meiling took off, stopping in front of the pole that held the pieces of the woman’s bones. The sword seemed to be the only thing keeping her soul trapped on the ship. Without wasting a second thought. Meiling pulled. 

“Wait!” 

Blue flames burst free when the sword pulled free. The ghost stared in shock. Meiling blinked in surprise, the blue flames didn’t burn her. Meiling looked up to the woman who was suddenly inches from her face, staring into her eyes with awe. 

Surprising warm hands gently cupped the little mermaid’s face. Her fiery blue eyes dimmed, a smile on her lips. 

“Hong-er?” 

Meiling watched the woman for a long moment,gentle, Meiling took her hands in her own. 

“No… I’m Meiling… may I know your name?”

The woman closed her eyes, taking a deep breath, pulling the little mermaid into a warm, loving embrace. Strangely, Meiling felt overwhelming love coming from her. 

“Wu Qiuyue.” The ghost answered, gently pulling away, blue fiery tears falling down her cheeks. “But please, call me grandmother.” 

“Grandmother,” Meiling repeated, “please help me save my uncle. He’s all we have.” 

“We?” 

“I have a sister, my mother left us to keep us safe, my sire is dead. My uncle, he’s all we have.” 

Those words seemed to spark something inside Wu Qiuyue, the next moment the ghost stood, and the ship lit aflame with blue fire. In a flurry of bubbles, the ship began to move. 

With utmost care, Wu Qiuyue cradled the little mermaid in her arms. Her eyes glowed fiercely. Her appearance began to shift. Meiling could feel the ghost was a very powerful one.

“Take me to him.”

Present Day, 6 six years later 

Hua Cheng sat alone in the Captain’s Quarters, thinking about everything that had transpired in the last 6 years. Finding no trace of his daughters, the orcas, or even his beloved. He had managed to find Xie Lian twice, but each time, the mermaid slipped through his fingers. 

Hua Cheng remembers that day like it was yesterday, he had returned to an empty nest, the butterfly fish were swimming around the reef desperately searching for the little mermaids who held two large pieces of his undead heart. 

The ghost knew his family was alive, but as for their current state, that was yet to be determined.

“Captain, the Blue Fairy Phoenix has struck again!” One of the ghosts on his ship shouted outside of his private room. 

Hua Cheng snarled, rising to his feet. He was growing tired of this Blue fairy, a ghost who sailed the seven seas, doing nothing but hunting down pirates, and burning them in brightly azure flames. 

Bursting through his door, Hua Cheng raced outside, and pulled his telescope, and looked through the lens. His heart nearly restarted in shock as he was stopped short to stare at the sight before him. 

It was a woman, standing aboard a pirate’s sinking ship, staring across the water, right into Hua Cheng’ eye. He had heard of the ghost pirate who was sinking ships faster than He Xuan ever did. 

The ghost had short hair styled in an under pixie cut with a left sidebang, she was still deathly pale like a corpse, but no longer was she the frail ghost from before. A small golden feather earring hung on her right pointed ear. Her clothes were lightweight in material, loose, flowy and non constricting. The colors appeared in such a way that reminded one of the sky, weightless and floating through the air. She wore pants. Her top was what looked like the top part of a crystal blue hanfu with faded gold vambraces that looked like a pair of wings.  Her lips and fingernails were black, under moon or sun light, it looked like the deepest iridescent blue. Her eyes were striking with blue eyeshadow that mimicked feathers. 

And from the look of her blue flames that burned on the ocean’s surface, the Blue Fairy Phoenix was coming straight for them. 

Chapter Text

Present day

The seas raged, the sky burned as the thunder roared above the battling ships. One ship’s flag was that of a white flower with a silver butterfly, and the other was another pirate ship who’s colors were nothing extraordinary.

Blood fell into the sea, staining it red. This must have been the 3rd ship that Crimson rain had attacked in this month alone. Jun Wu looked up from below the waves, disdain and contempt etched upon his face. 

Crimson Rain was beginning to prove to be more of a problem than he initially thought. For years, the Crimson Pirate had been picking off the pirate Jn Wu had under his hand. All because they were in search of one mermaid. 

Xie Lian has not been seen for 6 years. The last sighting Jun Wu knew about was from Shi Wudo, who reported that Shi Qingxuan had met with Xie Lian on more than one occasion. 

Jun Wu had been pleased to hear the report, it was his chance to bring Xie Lian home, and finally mate him. He had been on his way to see Xie Lian himself, and drag him back to the pod if he had too. 

By the time he arrived at Ming Yi and Shi Qingxuan’s nest, he found nothing. The rock formation had been completely destroyed, and what Jun Wu could only assume was what was once the beginning of a nest, was now ugly and torn to shreds. 

So he went on. The merman had arrived at Xie Lian island a few days later, hidden among the coral reef on the shores of an island. Jun Wu had been impressed at the place the mermaid had decided to call home. There was plentiful food, but he despised the island. It was not the way of their pod. 

If Xie Lian decided that this small paradise was he deserved, Jun Wu would simply have to correct a few things. Not finding the mermaid who had consumed his every thought, he had continued to explore the reef. 

Oh, how he wished he didn’t. 

Jun Wu had discovered a nest. A nest with Xie Lian’s scent all over it. And the scent of offspring. Someone had bred his choice of mate, and Xie Lian birthed their brood. Jun Wu had snarled at the faint scent of another merman. 

How loose Xie Lian had become. Moving on so quickly from one merman to the next, birthing bastards. In a blind rage, Jun Wu had destroyed the nest. It was enough. So he destroyed the reef. Still that did nothing to satisfy him, so he ordered the stupid humans who were so greedy for the lost gold in sunken ships, to burn the island to ash. After that, Jun Wu began to send those pirates out to search for Xie Lian, and to kill any young who accompanied him. 

But that had been 6 years ago, and none had Xie Lian. Jun Wu’s efforts were always somehow being undermined by the Crimson Rain Sought Flower Pirate. Who was working with another ghost pirate, Black Water Sinking Ships. 

There was a lower ranking ghost pirate but he proved to be more of a nuisance than a useful pawn. The Night-Touring Green Lantern was nothing more than a siren who craved human flesh.  

Jun Wu had heard many reports from the humans under his control, a ship who’s captain was the soul of a dead woman who was once the wife of a famous pirate king. 

Her power was so great, that not even Crimson Rain had dared to go after her. At least, that was the story. Jun Wu had no choice but to see for himself if the rumors were stuff of legend, or old fairy tales to scare children. The Sea Queen struck justice everywhere her gaze landed. Sparing no mercy for pirates. 

For years, sailors had returned to their ports telling tales of a fearsome sea queen who would skin pirates in the blink of an eye, burn their souls in burning blue flames, and would turn them into nothing but sea foam. 

One sailor had dared to gaze upon the Sea Queen, saying her beauty was of no other, her eyes burning bright like the moon, and like the sea, the surface revealed nothing of the dangers below, but her rage could rival the Ghost Pirate King Crimson Rain. If she wished for it, there was little doubt that she could kill him. 

There were even rumors that the pirate king had come across the Sea Queen, passing ships claiming to see his ship burning blue. The queen was never seen, but it was always the same tale, that the Sea Queen left crimson rain’s ship bearing the marks of her rage. 

There were endless reason why pirates feared the sea Queen, the first being that she was a woman with an unparalleled amount of power and knowledge. Said to have been granted to her by the sea and moon. That she was their divine offspring. 

An offspring who did not forgive the crimes of mortal souls. Pirates began to bring women aboard their ships, in the hopes having a woman would shield them from the Blue Fairy Phoenix’s soul piercing gaze. Alas it never helped, she would return the women to land, and kill the rest. 

For those who were saved, they spread words of praise of the Queen, how her ship could turn into mist, and go beneath the waves with ease. A pod of orcas always followed the ship, ensuring that any pirates who abandoned ship would not escape their fate. 

While orcas were terrifying themselves, what truly terrified them was a creature long thought to have been driven extinct. A sea dragon, with deep indigo scale, glowing golden eyes, and a tail that glowed like a bright pink jellyfish was longer then the Blue fairy Phoenix’s ship. 

Truly, the Blue fairy phoenix was blessed by the moon to have such a creature at her beck and call. 

The Blue Fairy Phoenix, the Sea queen, Divine Offspring of the Moon and Sea. Or so the legend goes. Which leads Jun Wu to this night, climbing aboard a ship with the intention of creating an alliance with the ghost captain. 

Pulling himself over the railing, the first thing Jun Wu could see was the deck of the ship was empty. The ship itself was dark, the wood black like ink, the masts were hideous and plain. Everything was shrouded in darkness, befitting of her kind in Jun Wu’s opinion. Inferior beings should remain hidden in black. 

“Blue Fairy, come out so we may have a little chat.” 

The ship went silent. Not a croak or crick sounded. Jun Wu shifted his feet, loathed at having to use legs to climb the ship with the moon at its peak. The merman waited, growing impatient the more time ticked by. 

“Truly, is this how you treat guests? If this is how you treated your husband, it’s no wonder you died at sea.” 

The ship came alive, blue flames danced along the railings, preventing any chance of the merman finding an exit if he needed an escape. Jun Wu merely smiled. Pleased at gaining a reaction.

The distorted voice of a woman spoke, softer whispers trailing after her every word followed. The temperature dropped rapidly thaat Jun Wu could suddenly a clawed hand from the very breath he released reaching for him. He had no choice but to take a step back. 

“It is the fool who dares mock the one whomst they’ve trespassed onto their home. It is the fool who dares speak in an arrogant air when they’ve come with intentions of seeking help.” 

Jun Wu clenched his jaw. “I do not need help .” 

The voice only chuckled, Jun Wu felt his temp begin to rise. He hated how much it reminded him of Crimson Rain. The voice stopped with a sigh, as if a mother looking upon an unruly child.

“What must I do to be rid of this most unpleasant intruder?” 

“Get rid of the Ghost Pirate that foil my plan.” 

The ship tilts, almost like the woman had tilted her head in thought. 

“No.” 

Jun Wu was not surprised. 

“I know what you want.” 

The voice chuckled again. Jun Wu felt as if he was suddenly a child once again, being indulged in this mere conversation, finding amusement in his words that seem childish. Angered, Jun Wu raised his voice.

“I know you detest pirates as much as I do.” 

The voice only grew louder in her laughter. It was only a sliver louder, yet Jun Wu felt as if his voice was being drowned out. 

“Why don’t we work together and be rid of pirates once and for all? I will give you the lost treasures of Xianle.” 

The voice slowly calmed, returning to silence. A torch lit up beside the merman, floating blue eyes stared down at him. They were fierce, and looked down at him as if they knew something he didn’t. 

“No.” 

Jun Wu did not like her answer. 

“Why not?” 

“I know of your kind. You are worse than the monsters that live in my realm.” 

Jun Wu had never been offended in his life. “I beg your pardon?” 

“I do not give it. Get out. I will only ask once.”  

The blue flames cleared a path, leading to a plank. Jun Wu scoffed. 

“You cannot be serious.”

The blue flames remained. With great injury to his pride, he walked to the plank. Glaring at the ship. 

“I will not forget this transgression! You will pay for not joining me!” 

In response, the masts came loose. Coming straight for the merman, knocking the merman off the boat at a great distance. When Jun Wu resurfaced, the ship was gone.

The sea was still, the sky dark, clear, and illuminated by the stars and moon, their light reflected on the still waters. A child stared down into the sea, watching the star reflections. A content smile on her face. She had pitch black hair, her skin was pale like death with the slightest blush of life in her rosy cheeks and lips. Her golden lychee eyes were like her mother’s, so were her lips, nose, and her temperament. 

She was dressed in deep blue robes that matched the depths of the sea of which she was born. The fabric, embroidered with waves and dragons shimmered under the moonlight in their silver splendor. Two braided buns on her head. White pearls interwoven in the braids. 

The sounds of blowholes from the sleeping orcas, and the heat from the burning azure flames brought peace and security. The little girl looked up to the ship where she had lived her whole life. The ship she was born on. 

The masts are translucent like the wings of fairies. There were no flags, only burning flames. There were engravings of feathers all along the surfaces of the canons, polls, and the helm. On the plaque above the Captain’s quarters were the phases of the moon above the door made of gold.

On the starboard bow and port sides of the ship were letters that said The Last Wish . A fitting name really, given who the Captain was, and who will inherit the ship. 

“Daiyu.” 

The child startled, looking at the voice who called her. The girl  was the most striking person Daiyu had ever seen. Her hair the colors of seafoam blue and luminous pearls, with soft hues of iridescent purple. It was styled into a single loose braid with smaller braids interwoven with golden ribbons, her bangs artfully framing her face. Her pale skin that was as fair as the moon, her face was void of emotion except for glowing seafoam blue serpentine eyes glaring at her that were identical to her hair. 

She was dressed in clothes that were not from any of the neighboring countries. She was wearing a pastel silk blouse underneath a sea blue leather vest that was reminiscent of scales. Her hands were hidden by soft seafoam gloves that were tucked into her golden braces that were etched with feathered wings. She wore dark pants and brown boots. On her hips was a shimmering golden sash where the glint of a dagger’s hilt was fastened. 

Everything about this person screamed that she was born from another world. Which was true from what Daiyu knew of their history. The little girl gave a smile in return to the glare. 

“I wasn’t going to sneak out! Honest!” 

The older girl said nothing as she took her place beside the younger child. Daiyu grinned wider as she returned her gaze to the sea. It was a common sight, seeing the children away late into the night. Ever since their grandmother, Wu Qiuyue saved Shi Qingxuan, they have lived under the safety of the Moon, and sleep when the orcas are awake to alert them of any dangers.  

“They won’t arrive any faster if you spend your time staring at the water.” 

Daiyu sighed, laying her head on her arms. Daiyu knew it changed nothing, but still, she always wanted for her older cousins to return. Mingzhu would be the first to reach the ship, she was the fastest. Pia, who had stayed behind to babysit Daiyu and was currently standing beside her, would arrive last. Meiling would arrive soon after Mingzhu. 

Daiyu is not sure of Pia’s past, all she knows is that on one particular night, Wu Qiuyue returned to the ship with Pia while Daiyu was a newborn. Declaring her to now be part of their family. Daiyu had grown up with 3 elder sisters who were all fiercely protective of the youngest mermaid. 

Pia stepped away from the railing, returning to the helm. Daiyu followed after her. 

“I wanna steer!” 

The older girl’s gaze only hardened. “Daiyu.” Two pearly white fangs peeked out as she spoke.

The little girl sighed. “I won’t do what I did last time Jiejie!” 

Last time referring to the one time Daiyu excitedly spun the wheel too hard, almost crashing them into rocks. Without dignifying Daiyu with a response, the older girl lifted Daiyu by the collar of her robes and began to walk back down the stairs. Daiyu simply crossed her arms.  

“I never get to do anything fun.” 

“You are just like your mother. Unnecessarily whiny.” Daiyu stuck her tongue out as Pia held her at eye level. 

Barely raising a brow, Pia returned the 6 year old to the ground. Daiyu took her place on the stool so she could return to watching the sea. 

The older girls were out hunting, but they always returned with human objects they found at human ports. Sometimes they would bring Daiyu a new toy to play with. At times, their hunting party would take days to return home, sometimes weeks. 

Given that Pia had to stay behind, to look after Shi Qingxuan while their grandmother had her own errands to do, the girls would return to the ship soon. Daiyu hoped that her cousins were alright. 

Bonefish have become a massive pain in the recent years. Daiyu personally loved seeing Mingzhu eat them. It always amused the little girl how frightened the fish would become once they realized what happened. 

As Daiyu continued to look at the open water, the orcas began to stir awake. The familiar glow of green in the distance alerted Daiyu.

“The Green guy is back.” 

Pia’s eye barely twitched. Daiyu shrugged at her annoyance. “Maybe you should eat him this time.” 

“He smells rotten.” 

“How do I smell like?” 

Pia looked over the little girl, her eyes narrowing in thought. “Irksome.”

Dairy frowned, her lips pouting. 

 “Mama?” 

“Bratty.” 

“Mingzhu jiejie?”

“Maddening.” 

“Grandma?”

“Scorned.” 

“Meiling jiejie?”

Pia paused, reflecting. “She smells like hope.” 

Daiyu stared in surprise. That wasn’t what Daiyu would have thought. Meiling was always so quiet. Curiosity peaked, she continued. 

“What do you smell like?” 

Pia looked away, adjusting her grip on the wheel. 

“Dissonance.” 

Daiyu groaned loudly. It was another word she didn’t know. Pia always gave her hard words that she would have to learn when it was time to study. She hated studying. 

“Why do you always have to say hard words!” 

“I’m not living with an illiterate on this ship. Do you want to grow up and ask people for help only for them to say ‘congratulations you’re an idiot?’ Because you don't know what a word means?” 

“I’m not an idiot!” 

“Exactly, now go study and come back when you learn what ‘dissonance’ means.” 

Daiyu groaned as she walked down the stairs. Protesting at every step. Pia shook her head before looking to the sea. The orcas began to circle the ship. The green light had faded farther into the distance.

After a few moments, the green glow had faded completely. The orcas one by one fell back asleep. Pia remained at her post. Still as a statue, unblinking for hours until dawn broke. 

The first rays of sunlight, Pia left her post to check on Daiyu. Walking past the kitchens and storage hold was Daiyu’s nursery. The black wood of the ship was covered by toys littered about the room. The bed was still made so Daiyu hasn’t prepared for bed.

The room was full of the whimsy found in bedrooms of children. A small warm gold chandelier hung on the ceiling, with crystals shaped like birds slowly turning. Creating beautiful fractals along the cream colored walls of the room. 

There were two grand wooden bookcases filled with many books, dutifully stocked by Meiling and Pia. Mingzhu had given the child books with pictures inside. Those were currently Daiyu’s favorites. 

In  between those bookshelves was a wooden desk as black as the ship, and a glass window brought light into the room. Along the walls of the room was a mural painted by Meiling. It was of the night sky, the contrasting bright  paint against the background fit seamlessly with the sky that Daiyu could see out of the window from her bed. 

Meiling had painted their pod as constellations…

So the orcas will protect you in your dreams… 

Meiling painted their family as wishing stars….

So that our family will be remembered when you feel most alone…. 

Mailing painted the sky turning into the  sea…

Because we sail on a sea of stars. 

“Time for bed Daiyu.” 

Daiyu whipped her head back, her hands clasp together. 

“Can I stay up for 5 more minutes?!” 

“Those five minutes will be used to get ready for bed.” 

“Then can I have 10 more minutes?” 

“No.” 

“Why?” The little girl huffed. 

“Because you get cranky when you don’t sleep.” 

“You don’t sleep.” 

“I don’t need it. I’ll sleep when I’m dead.” 

“Are you dead?” Daiyu grinned. 

“The dead don’t sleep.” Pia placed her hand on Daiyu’s head, gripping it gently. “Bed. Now. Do you want to say good morning to your mother?” 

Daiyu sighed but nodded. Sliding off her chair, running out of her room, across the hall and into her mother’s room. Bursting through the door with a smile. 

“Mama! Good morning!”

Shi Qingxuan laid in his bed, still sleeping. Daiyu carefully climbed up the bed but stopped when Pia lifted her up and set her gently beside the sleeping mermaid. 

It had been like this ever since Daiyu was born. Most of the time Shi Qingxuan was asleep, his body weakened from an event that he never talked about. The few days when he was awake, he spent every second with Daiyu. Singing to her, playing with her, trying to make up for the time that is taken from him since the incident. 

Wu Qiuyue would infuse her energy to him, but it would only help with the pain that he always smiled through. Daiyu would ask him as many questions as she could. What he liked to do, what he liked to eat or drink. Once, she called him Sleeping Beauty. Her reasoning is what you would expect of a child her age. Her mother was beautiful in her eyes, and he slept a lot. As for the prince who saved the princess… 

Blissfully, she never asked about her sire. Shi Qingxuan was thankful she never asked. Pia wasn’t surprised. Daiyu’s whole life had been filled with females, the idea of a father never crossed her mind. Why would she when she had all she could ever need? A mother who loved her as much as he could, a grandmother that fulfilled her every wish, a cousin to play with, another cousin to give her wisdom, and an older sister who would teach her how to survive. 

The first time Shi Qingxuan witnessed Daiyu being scolded by Pia, Daiyu ran to her mother to make the older girl stop being mean. Pia will never forget the faraway look in his green eyes, the clear grief and longing desperately hidden behind a smile. 

The mermaid had tucked a lock of Daiyu’s hair behind her ear and gave her a smile. 

“Listen to your Jiejie Daiyu.” 

That was all it took for Pia to become Daiyu’s older sister. Later that same day, Shi Qingxuan asked to speak with Pia alone. When they were in his room, his eyes filled with tears as he kneeled before her. 

“Please take care of her. Even when I am awake I am useless. Please don’t hide anything from her. Please teach her how to survive and live honestly in this world. Please don’t let her live in ignorance as I once did.” 

Pia wasn’t a fool. She knew Shi Qingxuan was referring to mistakes that were somehow related to Daiyu’s father. Pia didn’t ask then, she wouldn’t now. She simply helped the mermaid into his bed and left. 

Pia still has no idea why Shi Qingxuan thought she was the perfect candidate, was barely 8 years old when Daiyu was born, but she wasn’t about to argue with a mermaid who was constantly knocking on death’s door and running away. 

Daiyu laid her head on her mother’s chest and told him about her night. After that, she gave him a kiss good morning and took Pia’s waiting hand and obediently went through the bedtime routine. But not before Pia could escape the dreaded part. 

“Tell me a bedtime story.” Daiyu grinned as she lay tucked into her bed with her stuffed fairy doll that looked absolutely horrific. Pia tried to burn it. 

“No. My stories give you daymares.” 

Daiyu pouted, watching Pia pull the thick black curtains over the window. 

“Why are you always so mean?” 

“Remember what I told you about the Greek gods?”

Daiyu sat up, excited that she may finally learn something about her sister. Dutifully she answered. 

“That they’re inbred assholes?” 

“Exactly. I’m 50% arshole. Story time over.” 

“That’s not fair!

“That’s your bedtime story. Now sleep.” 

Daiyu huffed, but closed her eyes. Pia pushed the girl back into bed with a finger to her forehead. The older girl stayed standing over the little girl until Daiyu’s breathing began to slow, asleep. 

Satisfied, Pia left to the helm. Her serpent eyes narrowed even more as they adjusted to the light. The familiar ripples in the water warned of rain. The orcas squeaked in greeting at her. 

The day was cool and the orcas played in the waves. Pia remained still.  Focused on staying on course. Once the sun had yielded to the moon once again, Pia finally moved to ensure that everything was in order on the ghost ship. 

Tending to its aches and groans. Once that was done, Pia moved on to the kitchen and prepared Daiyu’s breakfast. Pia won’t have to eat for another week or two. The last she ate was 3 months ago. She had eaten a great white that the orcas had attacked. She couldn’t let easy pickings go to waste. 

As she welcomed the night, the familiar silhouette of a large azure bird was flying straight for the ship. The bird had deadly silver talons, a long tail longer than its body that looked like a peacock. It’s wings were strong and spread wide, its neck was like a swan, with fiery blue eyes, and its beak was curved, perfect for inflicting damage to any poor soul. 

Pia watched as the graceful bird flew around the ship before making its descent. The bird locked eyes with Pia before bursting into flames. Pia closed her eyes from the intense heat. When she opened her eyes, Wu Qiuyue stood in the bird's place, a wide smile on her face. Pia lip’s formed a fraction of a smile. 

“Hello mother.” 

Chapter Text

The moon was waning, and men and women walked the darkened streets in relative peace. Ignoring the boisterous sounds coming from the brothers and taverns that were open all night until the wee hours of the morning. One such tavern was bustling in an uproar, men and women chanting, cheering, and booing as they watched on from every corner of the building. The air was thick with anticipation to see who would win the prize from their game of cards. 

The pirate was a large man of European descent. He was the captain of the many ships docked in the harbor in Port Royal. He wore a large leather coat, and a sword strapped to his waist. His beady eyes never looked away from his opponent. 

The current reigning champion, was a girl no older than 13, humming a sea shanty as she waited for the pirate across from her to make his move. It was a strange sight, to see a grown man glaring murder at a young child who looked simply kept her eyes locked on the prize if she won this game. 

She wore a soft pearl pink robe with magenta-red magnolia flower petals embroidered whimsically along the collar of her robes. A matching magenta sash was tied to her waist. She wore a golden hairpiece in the shape of a magnolia flower that held her long chocolate-brown hair up in a high ponytail. Several smaller braids followed along from her scalp and into the hairstyle. Her side bangs were long and framed her face wonderfully as they were pulled back into her side braids. 

Beside the table, was another pirate snarling at the girl’s companion. Another girl the same, but who was much taller and simply smiled easily. She was dressed in a long traditional soft pink hanfu with a darker shade of pink that looked like jellyfish, and a dark indigo outer robe. Her long ink hair was styled with a golden hair stick in the shape of a sea shell. 

No one knew who these girls were. All anyone knew was that one night, many months ago, a single ship alight with blue flames sailed to their shores. And the next night, it was gone, and these girls appeared. The tall girl had unparalleled strength, and the other was wickedly cunning. Always with a dark-looking book in hand. 

The townspeople spread rumors that she was a witch, abandoned in Port Royal but the mysterious ghost ship. The girl had made friends with the local feline population, especially the black ones who were more than happy to lay on her lap as she read her mysterious book that no one seemed to read. 

The fact that black cats loved the strange girl, and the fact that she could read, was enough proof for the people to accuse her of being a witch. But strangely enough, no one did anything. It was the most bizarre thing. Often forget about her until they see her on the streets, but once she leaves their sight, they forget once more. The pirates that were currently in port, took an interest in the strange girl. 

The Captain had found the girl reading quietly in the tavern. The captain didn’t know why he approached her, he simply felt like he was being reeled in like a fish on a line. 

“What a strange sight this is, a girl reading.”

This gained no reaction from the girl, who simply flipped the page, and stroked the current cat on her lap. Purring in contentment as the cat stared unblinkingly at the pirate. 

“What, are you deaf?” 

The moment the girl’s eyes locked onto the pirate’s, a feeling of unease ran down his spine. Her eyes were none like he had ever seen. A matching pair of golden like the sun, and red like an apple eyes. They were intense, as if they looked into his core, cutting up every lie like a surgeon and stitch. 

Not wanting to shy away or show weakness, he sat across from her, noticing a cup with dice, and a stack of cards. He took the cup of dice into his hands. 

“How about a game of dice.” 

The girl returned her gaze to her book. 

“I don’t play.” 

The pirate smugly chuckled.  

“Why not? Don’t have any luck?” 

The girl flipped a page. 

“I detest gambling. It’s crass, unbecoming. Relying on sheer luck and talent.”  

The pirate was curious, he couldn’t help but lean forward. His head tilted in fascination. The girl took a sip of her mug, it smelled sweet, like chocolate. He set the cup of dice down. Taking the deck of cards instead.

“Then why the cards?” 

The girl flipped another page. 

“Based on past interactions I’ve had with other pirates, cards are the only other game they can play.” 

“Oh, young miss has met others like me then?” 

“No.” 

The pirate frowned. “Then what are you spitting on?” 

The girl humed. “You are probably the only one who might be able to deliver a message for me.” 

“Aww..” The pirate cooed mockingly. “Searching for a father lost in sea?” 

“If you’re so curious, play the game. We will discuss terms as we progress.” 

“What makes you think I’ll play fairly?” 

“I’m counting on the fact that you won’t. We’ll need 3 others to join.” 

The pirate sat back, his hand rubbing his chin, he looked at his first mate and two other members of his crew. They each sat down and began to distribute the deck. The girl finally closed her book. Her face was impassive and cold.

Each received 7 cards. Odd. 

The girl revealed the house’s first card. Clover. 

“After you.” The girl spoke. 

The cards landed on the table. The cat that was once on the girl’s lap was now sitting on the table, watching the cards. The captain cleared his throat. 

“What’s the message?” 

The girl raised a brow, placing a low card down. 

“How courteous, I was fully expecting you to ask what I would give you in return if you won.” 

The captain pitied the girl, his hand was filled with high numbers. He smiled at the girl. 

“I assumed you had already thought of a prize.” 

The first mate lowered another card. The cat tilted their head. The girl took the first mate’s card. The captain frowned but was stopped before he could speak of it. 

“The same thing that almost every man demands as a prize. My virginity, my life, a child, truly they are predictable.” 

“Given that they live their lives out on sea, it’s not surprising.” 

The girl sighs with a smile as she lays another low card. A 3 with spades. The time the other crew member takes it. The girl lays another card. The same crew member returns the card he just took. The captain put his highest, a King of spades.  

“The prize,” The girl eyes the book the black cat is currently sitting on. “Is the book.”

The captain sat back, looking at the book as if it was all he could ever want. The book that everyone was curious about. But, why? It’s not like anyone could read it. Unless she was offering more than just the book. The secret of how to read it? 

“That book best be worth it.” 

Time ticked by, the captain now had only 2 cards left. The girl had nearly had the whole deck in her hands. The other members of his crew still had 5 cards. The girl put 6 of clovers down. The first mate put his king of clovers down. The others placed theirs down. Fresh set, the first mate now had 4 cards, he put his card down. The captain chuckled. 

“I can see that your luck is terrible.” 

 “The worst.”  

“Then why play this game?”

“Because this game isn’t about luck.” 

“You have nearly the entire deck in your hands.” 

“Yes.” the girl smiled.

Now with three cards, the girl put another low clover on the table. The first mate took it. Then she placed another higher clover down. The first mate returned the same card he had taken. The girl repeated the process. Hoping to distract the girl, the captain cleared his throat.

“What is the message you want me to send? Why not ask a merchant.” 

The girl switched to hearts. “Because he doesn’t attack merchants. Poachers on the occasion, but he enjoys fighting other pirates.”  

The girl’s hand had reduced significantly now. The captain was on his last 2 cards, but no matter how many times the captain thought he was going to win, he would always end up with more cards in his hand. It was as if she had trapped them in an endless loop. A maze where she was the only one who knew the key to escaping. 

She placed a Joker of spades, the captain relaxed. He placed 4 of spades. Finally, only one card left. The girl cleared the deck. She places a 2 of spades. The captain sat forward. His heart began to beat quickly. 

Looking up at the girl, even though she had the most cards, and he only had a 7 of clovers left, he knew she knew how the game would finally end. 

He had lost. Before the game ended. 

“Take your card captain.” The girl gave the pirate a smile that did not ease him. It reminded him of a predator baring their teeth, right before they go for the kill. His mind began to scream at him. 

He had never played this game before, yet he knew how to play. How was that possible?

Compelled, he did. Again. And again. And Again. Until she had no more cards in her hand. She won. 

The crowd erupted in an uproar. Unbelieving even as they witnessed it with their very eyes. The girl had bested them. While everyone was cheering and screaming as the whore were getting fucked within an inch of their life, the captain stared blankly at the girl as her eyes bored into him.

“Do you what the difference is, between luck and labor?” 

The patrons in the tavern began to one by one fall asleep. The captain felt his breathing beginning to slow. The cat hissed. 

“Luck will eventually run out.” 

The girl rose from her seat, walking slowly around the table, her head tilted as she picked up the book, the cat hopping onto her shoulders. 

“If someone were to give me luck, I spit it out and wish for bad luck instead. They can have their luck. I don’t want it.” 

“It doesn’t hurt to have it…” 

“Oh but it does,” She leaned closer, her eyes glowing, “ it makes you comfortable, impotent, and incompetent.”    

She looked down at the pirate, her smile still cold. “The same for talent. Without hard work, it will only take you so far.” 

The captain struggled to break free from the spell she cast. Grunting in effort. She remained still. Cats began to enter the tavern, from the doorway and windows. All of them black. 

“It was very hard for me to get here, to get to you, Black Beard.” 

“Should I be flattered?” 

“No. You’re a pawn in my game of chess. When you wake up, you won’t even remember me. But you’ll be compelled to follow through with our contract.” 

The captain looked around, the tavern began to disappear, turning into dust. He bolted from his seat, his chest heaving. The girl looked as serene as ever. 

“What have you done to me?”

The girl simply hummed, placing her arms behind her as she began to circle the pirate. 

“Nothing really, just enter your dreams.” 

The floor gave out beneath his feet. He screamed, crashing into pitch-black water. It was cold, and it felt like he was sinking further and further. 

“Luck doesn’t work on me. I suppose you could say I’m like those black cats your kind are so suspicious of.  I take good luck and turn it into bad luck.”

Water entered his lungs, his vision began to blacken. He was going to die.

“You’re not going to die.” 

The water vanished, the captain landed harshly on his back. 

“However, once you deliver my message, I make no promises that Crimson Rain won’t kill you if the Blue Fairy doesn’t.” 

The captain startled awake, covered in a cold sweat. Everyone was back in the tavern, fucking the whores, drinking to the brink of death, and singing horribly. He quickly fled the tavern, nothing was missing on his persons. Ignoring the odds looks people were giving him, he made his walk back to his ship. For the life of him, he couldn’t remember why even left his ship in the first place. 

Meow

The captain froze. It was a black cat. With eyes that glowed gold like the sun, and red like an apple. The man remained frozen, watching as the cat leisurely crossed his path. 

The smell of urine filled his nose.

Following her grandmother, Daiyu couldn’t but admire the glowing sea life around her, including the supreme she-ghost whose aura glowed hauntingly stunning. Wu Qiuyue glowed like the moon under the water, guiding the way. Wu Qiuyue’s tail was perhaps the most stunning Daiyu had ever seen. It was long, strong, and transparent, seeing the bones burning beneath the translucent scales, flares flickering off, fading into the dark sea. Her eyes were entirely black save for the glowing blue irises, her claws were black, long, and terrifyingly lethal. The fluke of her tail fanned out like a burning crescent moon, Daiyu couldn’t resist chasing after the flares that burned off her grandmother. 

If any mer gazed upon Wu Qiuyue, they would all cower in fear at the mere sight of such an ominous-looking mermaid, whose body was as long as a humpback. If they were brave enough, their eyes would linger just long enough to see Daiyu swimming beside the massive mermaid, and think the young mermaid was her child with Diayu’s natural coloration. 

Her ears were frilled, and her face was framed in soft scales that scattered all the way down to her tail. The scales were iridescent in a beautiful gradient of sapphire to wispy black, with a splatter of ghostly white spots that were frightening to other predators of the deep. Her eyes glowed gold the deeper she dived into the depths. 

Reaching an underwater cliff, Wu Qiuyue paused, looking down into the black hole, Daiyu watched in keen interest. There she could see the white bone fish that were swimming aimlessly in a circle. Looking up, Diayu could see a dark ship floating above them. The orcas began to swim to the surface. Wu Qiuyue gazed a soft click, and dove down into the pit of bonefish. 

Stay here.

Daiyu pouted, settling herself on the cliff, shuffling the sand to make herself a pillow as she waited. She didn’t know why they were here, all she knew was that in the past month, her mother’s condition had seemed to worsen, and the only solution Wu Qiuyue found seemed to involve the bonefish. Something about their essence would restore something lost in Shi Qingxuan. Daiyu looked back up to the ship that rocked above the waves. 

She didn’t understand why she was brought along this time. Her family never brought her along, not unless they had no choice. An uneasy feeling filled her. Daiyu leaned forward to get a better look. Wu Qiuyue had just grasped a handful of the bonefish in her giant clawed hand, and shoved them into her mouth, the fish began to scatter in a frenzy. Enticing the supreme ghost to hunt them. 

Daiyu

Daiyu turned her head. Searching for the voice. It was so faint, like a whisper. It sounded just like her mother’s voice. 

Daiyu…

The girl tilted her upwards, looking to the ship above. The little mermaid felt a strange tugging in her heart. The pull felt oh so familiar. It reminded her of her mother. Daiyu unconsciously began to swim closer, and closer until by the time she realized what she had done, she had climbed aboard the ship. Daiyu’s jaw dropped at her thoughtless actions. 

Daiyu quickly tried to climb back over the rail but paused. The pull was so much stronger on the ship. Her eyes began to change, gold turned into a brilliant shade of teal as she walked towards the strange feeling. 

Daiyu….

The little mermaid walked across the deck, walking past the many skeletons that littered the wooden floor. Reaching for the golden handle, she opened the cabin door that led into a black room that smelled cold and wet. It was dark and reeked of seawater. In the center of the room was a black desk, with a small wooden chest. 

In a trance, the mermaid’s head tilted, her eyes glowing brighter, shifting into a pair of gold and teal, very similar to another half-ghost half-mermaid child. 

Daiyu

The voice sang. Daiyu placed her hands on the chest. Pieces of wood had begun to decay, from the small holes, Diayu could feel something warm, and glowing hidden inside. 

Open it…

Daiyu opened the chest. Her eyes widen at the sight. It was a beautiful teal pearl, delicately placed on a golden pillow. Daiyu took the pearl into her hands. The glowing pearl glowed brighter, and a soft humming emanated from the pearl. It was warm and full of life. 

This was her mother’s pearl. There was no doubt. 

Suddenly felt cold. The feeling of being watched ran down her spine. A dark shadow cast over her. Daiyu looked up, clutching the pearl to her chest tightly as a pair of bright golden eyes glared down at her. Daiyu’s eyes returned to their brilliant gold. The ghost’s eyes changed from anger to astonishment.

The man was tall, with his long black hair up in a ponytail, his pale like death, and pointed ears. He was dressed in the finest black robes with golden accents. 

“How did you get on this ship, I put up a barrier.” The man stared at the little mermaid in curiosity.

“Why do you have this pearl?” Daiyu hissed, her eyes returned to their swirl of teal and gold slits.

The man eye’s changed again, there was something about this child that tugged at him. Kneeling to look at the child at level, realization dawned on his sharp features. Finally, he leaned closer, really taking in the girl’s appearance. Daiyu backed away.

“Shi Qingxuan?” The ghost choked out.

Daiyu glared at the ghost. “Why do you have my mother’s pearl!” 

Awestruck, the ghost fell to his knees and gripped the little mermaid by her shoulders. “Where is he? Where is your mother?”

Frightened, Daiyu released an ear-piercing scream. Shattering all the glass on the ship. The ghost had to cover his ears, and Daiyu ran out of the room. Screaming as the skeletons began to stand and chase after her. Wincing in pain, The ghost followed after the little girl. 

“Wait! Don’t hurt her!” 

The little girl dodged the bony hands trying to grab her. She ran to the rail but stopped in her tracks when other skeletons blocked her path. Daiyu’s heart beat wildly. The skeletons cleared a path for the ghost who held out his hands placatingly.  

“Let me help you.” 

“Just so you can eat me too!? No, thank you!” Daiyu glared. 

The ghost lowered his hands. “Give me that pearl.” 

“Over my dead body.” 

“You don’t seriously expect to win this. You have nothing to help you.” The ghost raised his brow. 

“No, but I do have one thing.”  Daiyu retorted. 

“And what might that be?” 

“Grandma!” The little mermaid grinned wickedly before she ducked. The sound of water erupting at the back ship alerted the supreme. 

There in all her might and power, Wu Qiuyue towered above the ship, she was the size of a five-story building. Her eyes glowing blue, her tail alight with blue flames. 

With the distraction, Daiyu was tackled into the sea. He Xuan turned his attention back to the mermaid, he gripped the railing of the ship as he looked over. She had barely regained her tail when a giant sea serpent with iridescent seafoam green and purple scales circled the mermaid. The sea serpent lifted its head out of the water, unhinged its jaw and swallowed the little mermaid, and swam away. He Xuan was frozen in horror. 

“Blue Fairy…” He Xuan glared up at the She-Ghost. 

“Black Water.” 

That was all that was spoken before the ghost brought her clawed hand down onto the decaying ship. Her fluke rose out of the water, and bringing it she smashed it down, sending a powerful wave, capsizing the ship. 

The sea serpent unhinged its jaw, and Daiyu slid down the large snake’s forked tongue. The saliva was a perfect lubricant that sent the little mermaid sliding across the deck of Wu Qiuyue’s ship. She clapped her hands excitedly as she looked up at the sea serpent’s golden eyes. 

“Let's do that again!”

The Sea Serpent’s eyes narrowed. Her forked tongue flicked out angrily. The matching feathers on her head were all fanned out, and her golden slightly spiral horns looked like a crown. Her webbed tail circled the ship, and her long wings did the same. Encasing the entire ship.

Daiyu pouted, her hand dropping. “I’m sorry Jiejie…” 

Pia’s eyes closed in acceptance. Her head turned away as she slowly dove into the water to shed back into her more human appearance. Daiyu opened her palm with a smile. The pearl was glowing fiercely. Quickly the mermaid rose to her feet, slipping along the way as the saliva made running a hazard. 

The little mermaid burst into her mother’s room. The pearl was practically burning in her hands now. Pulling a chair to climb up, Daiyu hopped onto her mother’s bed. With a dazzling smile, Daiyu placed the pearl over her mother’s heart. 

The pearl began to glow so brightly, that Daiyu had to look away and cover her ears as a high pitch humming came from the pearl. Then nothing. Cautiously, Daiyu peeked one eye open. Shi Qingxuan remained still. Daiyu’s shoulders dropped. 

Why hadn’t it worked? 

Tears welled up in her eyes. Gently, Daiyu laid her head to rest on the sleeping man’s chest. She grabbed onto a lock of his brown hair tightly. 

She stayed there motionless. She had really hoped that she could heal her mother. Silently sobbing now, Daiyu didn’t acknowledge whoever began to stroke her head or rub her back. They simply continued to hold onto her gently. 

“Oh, Daiyu, I hate seeing you so upset…” 

Daiyu sprung upright, eyes wide. There Shi Qingxuan was, awake and smiling beautiful at her. 

“Mama…” 

Shi Qingxuan cooed at his baby, using his sleeve to wipe away the tears. Pulling her onto her lap. Daiyu wrapped her arm tightly around his neck. The mermaid continued to console his child, rubbing her back as he gently rocked them back and forth. 

“Mama’s all better now, Daiyu.” Shi Qingxuan looked at his reflection in the mirror, seeing his teal eyes reflected at him. Slowly, they turned into slits, glowing brighter as he remembered who had done this to him. To them. The mermaid’s heart hardened. 

“And this time, I will not fall.”

Chapter Text

Pia sat alone in the crow’s nest. In her truest form. Her eyes were cold, slits like the snake she was. The nails on her hands were more like the talons of a bird of prey. Her hair was gone, in its place were long thing feathers that crowned her head. Her golden horns matched the golden speckles along the sharp features of her face. Her skin was replaced by scales, varying in toughness. Her wings were tucked against her back tightly, and her legs were replaced by a long webbed tail that curled around her. Her arms were crossed as she leaned back against the wooden pole behind her.  

She often sat alone. Simply soaking up the quiet that she enjoyed. Serving the still waters that rocked the others below into a soothing sleep. It was morning, just right before dawn. No matter how many times she would look to the east, she never grew tired of the change in air. Just before the first rays of sunlight emerged. 

It had been a month since their encounter with Black Water. The bonefish had never been this active before. It was good that they weren’t stupid enough to leave their territory. Shi Qingxuan had thrown himself into the deep end of motherhood. Trying to make up for lost time. Daiyu was now often too exhausted for any lessons that Pia had prepared for the child. 

Shi Qingxuan took over anything he possibly could relating to Daiyu. The man was desperate for the child he barely held as an infant. He was a man dying of thirst and finally found a source of water to quench his thirst. Pia didn’t care. It left more time for her to prepare to join Jun Wu’s pod. To track down her birth father. It was the only thing left to do now. To fulfill Meiling’s plan. 

The sound of a shifting wind drew Pia out of her thoughts. Her appearance changed, back into her more human, and aesthetically pleasing form. Her horns, feathers, wings, webbed tail, scales, snake tongue, slitted eyes, and fangs were gone in the blink of an eye. It was what everyone wanted to see. Could stand to see, instead of her monstrous truth. 

Wu Qiuyue landed beside her, blue fiery wings disappearing as she sat beside the girl. A gentle smile on her lips. 

“You don’t have to change. It must be taxing to hold that form all the time.” 

Pia shook her head. “Shi Qingxuan might be awake. He’ll scream.” 

“If he does, well, I’ll just throw him overboard and scold him as he climbs back up.” Wu Qiuyue chuckled.

“There’s no need. I know what I look like. It wouldn’t be fair to him.” 

Wu Qiuyue’s brows furrowed. “It already isn’t fair. You have to maintain this form. I happen to like your true self.” 

Pia eyed the she ghost. “I’ve had to maintain this form long before you met me. You just caught me in my weakest.” 

“You were a child. You were alone, exhausted, and starving. I didn’t give a damn about your appearance.” Wu Qiuyue crossed her arms. “For anyone who does care about how someone looks, I give you my blessing to just eat them. They’re simply judgmental people who have no business judging someone for things that are out of their control.” 

Pia stared at the woman. Pia knew that Wu Qiuyue had been sold for her beauty as a child. An exotic beauty they had called her. Pia could see the same beauty that had been passed down to Meiling. Pia’s own birth mother had been a woman of intense beauty. Pia never saw what made her beautiful. She was just someone who took one look at her child and threw her off a cliff, to drown in the sea. 

“Why, I’d have given anything to look like you do. It would scare off the monsters that look handsome in the eyes man.” Wu Qiuyue’s eyes flamed up in anger. “You could be the most beautiful man in the world, and I’d still choose a rotting corpse of a pig of You. The pig won’t betray me.” 

“That’s cause it’s dead.” Pia retorted. 

“That’s true. Which means, it’s not lying.” Wu Qiuyue calmed. “Beauty just makes people vain. Which makes them reveal just how truly ugly their souls are.” 

Pia offered no opinion. She didn’t think about her feelings on the matter much. She simply existed with her appearance as a statement of fact. Growing up, human children were cruel. But it never bothered her. Which might have unnerved them more. She never shed a tear, not even when they hit her. It hadn’t hurt, it was more of a nuisance than anything. They would scream and cry to their mothers. Then she’d be chased out of the village, and the cycle would repeat. 

The had been a time when she first learned kindness. But she took it with a grain of salt. It was a boy, who had been blind. He offered her food and taught her how to speak. Pia knew, however, that if the boy could see, he would have never helped a creature like her. When the boy left, the village didn’t hesitate to throw her out. Only that was the first time she was thrown into the sea once more. 

Wu Qiuyue rested her head on top of the younger girl’s head. Her eyes closed as she began to hum the same lullaby she always sang. Pia Shifted away. The she-ghost’s smile didn’t fall. She simply crossed her legs as she stared out at the horizon. 

“Why don’t you take Daiyu to the docs today? I’m sure she misses her Jiejie.” 

“Shi Qingxuan doesn’t want me around her.” 

“I’m sure that’s not true.”

“I remind him of Black Water and his late elder brother. I remind him that I have been the one looking after Daiyu. I do not evoke happy emotions.” 

Wu Qiuyue’s eyes closed as she took a breath she didn’t need. “Well, he’s a mother again so he can suck it up. Daiyu loves you.” 

“My lack of emotions unnerve him.”  

“Well, that can unnerve anyone. Just wait until he meets Meiling again. He’ll find you quite cheery in comparison.” The she-ghost laughed. 

Pia said nothing. Wu Qiuyue pursed her lips as she leaned her head on her adopted daughter’s shoulder. 

“Pia…. don’t ignore me.” 

“...” 

The she-ghost proceeded to start poking at the girl’s cheek. “Pia~” 

“Yes?” 

“Nothing. I just wanted you to look at me.” The she-ghost’s expression turned into mock seriousness. “While I do think your human form is very nice, I much prefer my child’s true appearance.” 

“You do realize that technically, you’re only 11 years older than me. You died at 24 years old.” 

“Well, I’ve been dead longer than I’ve been alive.” Wu Qiuyue shrugged her shoulders with a carefree smile. “I’m still old enough to be your mother.” 

“That’s a distressing thought.” 

“Well, I have to laugh about it sometimes. Otherwise, I’d be an evil ghost.” 

 “That’s a trauma response.” 

“So is not having any emotions.” The ghost countered. “But I mean it, take your sister out to the docks, make a day of it. I’ll keep Shi Qingxuan busy. There is much to do  in motherhood besides coddling your child.” 

“Fine.” 

The supreme smiled, then quickly kissed the girl’s cheek. Pia’s eyes flashed gold, her fangs and serpentlike tongue flicking out. The she ghost laughed as she tured into her avian form. Flying away quickly when the teenager hissed. Pia returned her gaze to the horizon. Grateful that she hadn’t missed the sunrise. 

The girl sat motionless for an hour, soaking up the sun, and warming up her cold-blooded body. When she heard the voices of Shi Qingxuan, and Daiyu, the sea serpent finally opened her eyes, looking down to the deck below. Leaning over the edge, Pia released her grip and fell. 

Falling several meters high would normally injure the average human, but Pia wasn’t human to begin with. She landed perfectly on two feet, earning a cheerful laugh from Daiyu who stared up at her with fresh eyes. Shi Qingxuan was frowning. Pia simply stared. With a huff, the mermaid folded his fan.

“Next time just climb down.” 

Pia simply tilted her head. Her seafoam blue eyes locked with his teal ones. “Why?”

“You could hurt yourself!” 

Pia didn’t understand why that mattered. So instead her eyes fell to the child between them. Daiyu stared at them with overwhelming joy. Remembering her promise to the ghost, she looked back up to the mermaid. 

“I’m taking Daiyu to the docks.” 

Shi Qingxuan was taken aback. “No. I don’t want her anywhere near humans.” 

Pia simply lifted Daiyu and tossed her into the sea. “Take it up with Wu Qiuyue, it was her idea.” 

Shi Qingxuan stared in shock as Pia climbed over the railing and jumped. When the mermaid’s brain finally caught up with what just transpired, he raced over the deck. Ready to follow after them only to be stopped by Wu Quiyue grabbing the collar of his shirt. 

“Where do you think you’re going, young man? We have chores to do while the children play.” 

“B-but, she’s a baby!” 

“And Pia is a deadly sea serpent. Nothing is going to happen to her. Now, I think learning how to sew should be the first lesson on today’s list.” 

“Put me down!” 

“Oh hush, you’re acting like a baby.” 

“You are barely older than me!”

“Little baby!” 

“WU QIUYUE!” 

The first Daiyu wanted to do when they reached the docks was to eat. She was ravenous. She held onto her elder sister’s hand as she skipped along. She smiled as the vendors and merchants who smiled at her. 

Daiyu loved going into the crowded marketplaces. Today was especially busy. People were running past, there was a lively buzz in the air. But the crowd never bothered the little mermaid. Reminiscent of a school of fish clearing a path for a shark. Because what she didn’t see, was the absolute terror in the people as they walked around them. 

Pia hated crowds. She detests them. This was one of the few times that an emotion ever managed to appear on her face. Everyone steered clear of the pair as they walked. Not wanting to draw that deadly glare towards them. 

Pia smelled the air, it reeked with the scent of human odor and food. As they walked by the crowds, Daiyu paused, stopping to read a sigh. The little girl squealed in excitement and pulled on the teen girl’s cloak. 

“Jiejie! Look!” 

When Pia looked at the sign, her anger simmered down. Her brow raised. Several people paused to read the sign. Some then went down the path where the sign directed them. 

Eating Contest: 12 levels. 13 level is a surprise dish from one of the townspeople.  

Center of Townsquare. Starts at noon. 

The girl looked at Daiyu. “You want to join an eating contest?” 

Daiyu giggled. “No! Not me. You!” 

“Me?” 

“Yes! You’re an abyss!” Daiyu began to pull on her hand. “Come on! Let’s go!”

Pia wordlessly followed. Daiyu pulled Pia through the crowd, her smile growing bigger when they reached the line to sign up. Pia noted that most of the people waiting in line were huge men, some fat, and others just bulk. There was a pregnant woman, but other than that, no one seemed to be interested. 

Pia leaned to the side, looking over the prepared courses. Watching the reactions of several people turning green at some of the recipes. Pia didn’t see what the problem was. Food was food. Taste was the last thing on her mind. However, that apparently was a big deal for most humans. 

When they finally reached the signup sheet, there was a man who looked at up Pia in surprise. Then he looked around before awkwardly laughing. 

“Where are your parents?” 

“Don’t have any.” 

“Ah…. I see.” 

“I just need to sign?”

The man gave a weak laugh. “You want to sign up?” 

“That’s why I’m in line.” 

“Ah. Right. Here.” The man gave her a quill. “It’s a waiver. The last dish doesn’t taste so good.”

Pia didn’t respond. Simply looking over the wavier. Signing in her name in acknowledgment that should she die from the food, it was not the fault of the cook or those involved. When it came to emergency contact information, she simply skipped it . The man hadn’t stopped staring at her. 

“Are you sure you want to do this? You’re so thin. You could get sick or worse…..”   

Pia shrugged. Handing the quill back to the man. “I don’t get sick.” 

“If you need money, there are other options.” 

Pia stared at the man in confusion. The man pointed to the prize money next to the surprise dish. 

“Isn’t that why you’re signing up?” 

Indeed. There was a prize. A cash reward if you make it through the 13 courses. Pia hadn’t even noticed it. Money was not something she thought about. Food was she mostly concerned herself with. 

“No. I just eat a lot.” 

The man made a face Pia couldn’t recognize. “....Good luck then.” 

Pia took Daiyu to a bakery as they waited for the beginning of the competition. Daiyu rambled on and on about how she was excited to see Pia win with ease. How Pia’s only real competition, Mingzhu, would probably be upset at the missed opportunity of free food. Pia just sat in silence as she swallowed her food. 

Once they finished their breakfast, Pia took Daiyu shopping for a new dress. The little girl was growing fast. After that, it was time to prepare for the contest. The walk back was much more crowded at noon. Pia blamed it on the spectators just wanting to see who could eat the most and fast. 

In total, there were 13 contestants. One for each dish. Pia was seated in the middle since she was the smallest, and people were already booing at her. Some chanted that she was much too skinny, too small. That she wasn’t a real challenge for the others. Daiyu was seated on a chair behind her. Cheering for Pia in excitement. 

The pregnant woman from before was seated beside her on the left, and on the right was a buff man who was missing a leg. He reeked of cheese. The woman smelled decent though. She even offered a warm smile. Pia ignored them both. She looked at nothing as she waited for the speaker to finish the introductions. 

“Ladies and Gentlemen, the fish course! Cherry Pie!.” 

The man from before was stronger than he looked. Placing a pie before each contestant. As well as a utensil to help them eat and a napkin. When he arrived at Pia, he stared at her for a while longer before he smiled and placed the pie in front of her. Pia eyed him as he continued. There was something off about him. 

Once the man walked off the stage, the speaker raised a red flag.

“Ready. Set. Go!” 

The crowd erupted in cheers and applause. Clapping in excitment. The family and friends of the contestants encouraged the competitors to eat faster. Pia remained still with her arms crossed. Daiyu shouted at her to eat. Pia remained still. 

The people who were focused on booing her started to curse at her. Pia didn’t care. Her focus was on which contestant was almost finished with their pie. He was a man who reminded her of a goat. When he was at his last piece, Pia leaned forward. Her eyes flashed gold. Diayu cheered even more excitedly. 

Pia's mouth opened wide, then wider. Then ever wider still, the crowd grew a little quiet as they stared in horror and awe. There was a soft cracking noise. Pia dislocated her jaw, picked up the pie, and just swallowed it whole. Her jaw returned to its normal position. Licking her lips, Pia looked to the contestants who stopped eating to just stare at her. The only one who didn’t was the pregnant woman who was happily eating her pie in pieces. 

Pia looked at the crowd. Unbothered by the silence. The men who were eating alongside her quickly rushed to finish their pies. The crowd burst into louder cheers. Everyone started cheering for Pia. The serpent didn’t fail to notice the man who gave the wavier staring at her in shock.

“Well folks, that’s not something you see every day. On to the next course! A stack of ribs!” 

The man from before set the plates in front of the contestant. He paused for a while in front of Pia. Pia didn’t acknowledge him. The scent of the ribs was very enticing to the carnivore. The bones were massive. The size of her forearm. The scent wafted in the air, the crowd was murmuring among themselves that perhaps they should go eat too. When the flag dropped, everyone jumped into their ribs. 

Pia lazily brought the entire bone above her head. This time, her jaw only widened just a bit, and she let go of the bone. It traveled easily down her throat. She closed her mouth and tilted her head back down. The crowd once again, stared in horror and awe. Pia could just swallow the entire thing, but Pia felt that toying with the contestants brought a little fun to Daiyu. Who was giggling like mad behind her? Pia lifted the next rib and repeated. 

As terrifying as she was, she was thankful for her strange anatomy. When she turned into her monstrous form, like when Mingzhu turned into a full dragon, Pia had a sharp curved golden beak with fangs full of venom. With no gag reflex, could unhinge her jaw, a crop to store food, and seven stomachs, it was the only thing that kept her alive when she went years without food. 

Level by level, Pia would sit back, and at the last second, devour the dish in front of her. The crowd was now cheering for her, overexcited. Daiyu was having the time of her life, watching her elder sister simply eat away the competition. Pia was thinking about how she would complete her chores when they returned to the ship. 

She had to wash the sheets. Not her favorite task but it was relatively easier than pulling up the anchor. The weight wasn’t the issue, she just didn’t like wasting energy unless necessary. Then she would have to plan out Daiyu’s lesson plan. The girl was falling behind, which Pia knew Meiling would not approve of. Pia didn’t approve of it either, then she would more than likely dump Daiyu into a bathe. She can’t stand the stench of sweaty humans. They see to–

“Ladies and Gentlemen, we have reached the 13th level! Please, bring in the last dish!” 

Roused from the list of things the girl had to do, Pia noticed that the pregnant from before had left the stage. So the was the man who sat beside her. The only one who was left was Pia and the Goat man. Funny, she could go for a goat. Oh, perhaps that is what she should prepare for dinner. She’ll just have to swallow one on the way back and cook it later. 

The man from before returned with two small bowls of what was probably the worst concoction known to man. It was putrid, and the meat was charred yet Pia could smell it was completely raw inside. The soup was a color that should not exist in any realm. Even the poor man who had been serving the food looked at the food and Pia in pity. Felling a tug on her cloak, Pia looked down to see Daiyu holding her nose. 

“Jiejie, you don’t have to eat it. It smells bad.” 

“If I die, I’ll just haunt you for making me do this.” 

Diayu pouted. She did not look amused. The crowd had backed away, the smell was revolting. Pia kept her tongue inside her mouth and held her breath. Daiyu returned to her seat, the goat man looked like he was on the verge of throwing up. Pia still looked as uninterested as a snake. 

When the flag came down, the Goat man picked up his spoon. Pia lifted the bowl, tilted her head back, and just poured it all in. Not even wincing when a fish bone jabbed her esophagus. She was used to her food kicking and screaming. The taste, however, was something that would send satan crying back to God. Begging for forgiveness. So, not the worst she’d eaten. 

Pia gently lowered the bowl back down on the table. Looking beside her, the goat man lay passed out on the table. He had only had a spoonful. Her tongue ran over her teeth. She leaned over, took his bowl, and tilted her back. She wasn’t one to waste food. Even if it was poisonous. 

The crowd had gone silent. It was impossibly still as everyone just stared at her. Daiyu burst from her seat and cheered. The crowd went feral. The speaker was rambling on and on about how in all his years of hosting this competition, he had never seen anything like it. He offered her congratulations, then the prize money. Daiyu did most of the talking. Pia remained in her seat unbothered. Finally, when all was said and done. The pair made their way back to the docks. Daiyu wouldn’t shut up. 

“We have to come back next year! You’ll be bigger and can eat more!” 

“I need to get fabric. These dressed won’t last you at the rate you're growing.” 

“Jiejie, are you listening? You won, don’t you feel happy?”

“I was going to win no matter what happened.” Pia looked down at the child. “What is the point of doing a challenge when you already know the outcome? It makes the entire experience cheap.” 

“So why did you do it? You didn’t have to….” the little mermaid pouted. 

“Free food. You never know when your next meal is going to be. Speaking of which, we need a goat.” 

“A goat? Why do we need a goat?” 

Pia ignored the girl, veering directions. Her lips parted just so as she scented the air. Her tongue flicked out. The trace led the pair towards a small pen where a goat was gazing. The pen was next to a butcher’s shop, so the goat was set for death anyway. Pia looked to the butcher behind the stall. 

“How much for the goat?” 

“A lot more than a few coins with get ya.” The butcher laughed. 

Pia reached for the bag of coins Daiyu had been carrying. Tested it’s weight. Then leaned over the pen, and picked up the goat. She hummed in thought before putting the goat down, then reached into the prize money, and set ⅔ of the money in front of the man. Pia took the leash. 

“I’m taking the goat.” 

The butcher stared in shock at the amount of money on his stall. Daiyu followed after Pia. Cooing at the goat. She began to pet and talk to it. Pia handed the leash over to the child. Pausing in their path as the teenager scented the air to make their way back to the sea. 

“I’m going to call you Little Spot. Cause you have a spot on your back.” 

“You shouldn’t name things you're going to eat.” 

Daiyu stared up at the older girl in horror. “We can’t eat him!” 

Pia raised a brow. “Yes, we can. It’s very easy actually.” 

Daiyu defiantly wrapped her arms around the goat’s neck, climbing onto its back. “NO!” 

Pia was about to scold the girl but paused. Her eyes flashed gold as they turned into slits. Her tongue flickering. Her head turned to look behind her, she sensed someone coming. The sound of footsteps confirmed her suspicions. Pia lifted the girl and goat and swallowed them whole. Daiyu shouted in surprise. Pia dropped her arms to her sides, two daggers fell into her hands. 

Her mouth opened, and a warning hiss vibrated from her throat. Her grip tightened on the handles of the daggers as the footsteps grew louder. Her nails growing longer, her fangs began to peak out. Her body wound up tightly, ready to strike. 

When the person who was following them turned the corner, they yelped in surprise. Not expecting to see the girl right in front of them. Falling to the floor in surprise before laughing awkardly. It was the man from before, the one who kept staring at Pia throughout the competition. The man quickly stood up, dusting off his robes. 

“I’m sorry if I startled you. I just needed to see you one last time.” 

Pia scented the air. The man’s intentions didn’t reveal anything sinister. Still, she didn’t relax. Her eyes returned to their seafoam blue hue. The man’s eyes widened just a fraction more. His eyes took in her entire appearance. He looked a bit confused but relaxed.

“Why?” 

The man gave a soft little laugh. “At the competition. You reminded me of someone. Well, two someones.” 

Pia raised a brow. This was a first. “And who might they be?” 

“My friend, who I have not seen in years, and who he thought was his mate.” The man gave a somber smile. “I’m just surprised to see you, so much bigger than your actual age.” 

Pia stared at the man as he had grown a second head. “What?” 

The man gripped her shoulders, Pia hissed in anger, her eyes flickering gold. 

“You’re Shi Qingxuan’s child, right? With Black Water? Your eyes, your appetite, although you grew much faster than my child did.” 

Pia stared in stupefaction. “ What?”

“Which means you know where Meiling is.” The man’s eyes began to water. “Please tell her I haven’t forgotten about her. Or her sister Mingzhu. I’ll come for them once I’ve ended this.” 

Pia didn’t dare move. Her brain short circuting. How did this man know Meiling and Mingzhu? Did he know about Daiyu? No, he thought Pia was Shi Qingxuan’s and He Xuan’s child. Pia didn’t know if she felt insulted or disgusted more. She didn't belong to anyone. The man hadn’t stopped talking. His golden eyes just continued to stare at her with such an intensity that Pia felt like a deer in headlights. Just who in the bloody hell was this man?

“You have the scent of seawater all over you. And you somehow survived my soup. I knew then.” 

This man didn’t know shit.

“Excuse me?” 

The man then pulled Pia into a bone-crushing hug. Pia was left speechless. She did not like hugs. The man was crying, he spoke softly. Whispering things that Pia could not process in her current state of distress. 

“Please them I love them very much. Mama will come home once he knows they’re safe.” 

Finally, her brain started to piece together just who this man was. But when she finally found her voice, the man let go of her and ran off. Pia stared in silence. Rattled, she shivered in unease. Then opened her jaw and spit out Daiyue and the goat before she turned away and threw up the partially digested food she had eaten. 

“Hey! You can’t just eat me every time I say no!” Daiyu glared at the older girl who sounded like she was hacking up a lung. 

Pia fell to the floor, heaving. Daiyu’s glare dropped. Quickly rushing to her sister’s side. Growing concerned. She had never seen her sister this way. Pia kept looking in the direction of the town square. 

“What happened?” 

When Pia could finally breathe, she looked at Daiyu with golden eyes. 

“I think I just met Xie Lian.” 

Two months later

Xie Lian stared in obvious surprise. Pei Ming was making ridiculous insinuations about where Xie Lian had been for the past decade and a half. Feng Xin and Mu Qing were fighting among themselves but at this moment, Xie Lian couldn’t care less about their pointless bickering. 

Xie Lian just continued to stare. His tail was the only thing keeping him upright. Finally, Pie Ming noticed just what exactly he was staring at before he groaned. 

“Yeah, I know. She looks nothing like me.” 

Xie Lian looked at Pei Ming. “What?”

Pei Ming motioned his head towards the person in question. “She showed up two months ago. On the day I was going to ask Yushi Huang to be my mate. Talk about terrible timing.” 

Xie Lian still couldn’t believe that Pei Ming wanted to settle down but that was not what he cared about at all. 

“Who is she?” The mermaid asked. His heart was racing. 

Pei Ming looked back to the girl who was sitting beside his intended mate. “That’s Pia. Her mother’s name was Aphrodite.”  

Xie Lian felt the air escape his lungs. Pia didn’t blink. Her tail swayed gently. Pia, the girl who had encountered two months ago, looked up. Her eyes locked with his. He couldn’t move, his body felt paralyzed, like a rabbit in a trance with a fox. 

From this far of a distance, Xie Lian shouldn’t have been able to see it, but he knew what he saw. Xie Lian just knew. She came to Jun Wu’s pod, just for him. Pei Ming kept speaking. 

“Pia is my daughter. Gives me the creeps, but Jun Wu tested her blood. She’s mine. Doesn’t look anything like me though. Which is a shame.”

Xie Lian swallowed. Pia hadn’t looked away. Hadn’t blinked in the entirety since they’d locked eyes. He knew. He knew she knew as well. There was a subtle smirk across her face. 

He was caught.