When a mermaid washes down the Rocky Mountains during a flood, she is chased by a man who collects mythological creatures. She falls in love with a man who finds her friends. Before the collector could capture her, she is taken by the Military to Area 51 where she ends up freeing everything captured there and reuniting with her friends. 

This was my 3rd story ever written start of the year 2020.

The Jaehuyn, Haechan, and Mark are the same as from NCT. Name can easily change if I sell writes. I feel I wrote better when I placed them into my stories as I did for all of NCT 127. 

Once upon a time, there was a land filled with many magical creatures. In time humans began to civilize and become greedy over not having powers themselves. Many began to enslave and kill a magical creatures and beings to help benefit themselves. Some fled to other places in space, while others took to hiding or never being seen. Time passed and society form to what you know it of today. 

The sun was shining in Colorado’s mountains. At lake Granby, in the center, some joyful and playful mermaids were prancing around. A woman leaps pur pd the water. Her body glistening with water all around, and another two males reflecting the same actions of her. The three were playing in a most luring manner. 

“Gala la la bloop." The female says. 

“Bloop, bloop.” The one male says. 

“Ehreh, ehreh, ah, ah, ah, ah, reep, the third male shouts.’ 

The three begin to splash around the center of a lake in the middle of the Rocky Mountains of Colorado. All three dive beneath the water. Some boats near and they each search large fish nearby them. Quickly. They attach the fish to lures that were in the water nearby. All of the fisherman reeled in large catches. Excitedly, the place the fish in buckets and continue their ventures of fishing. The three mermaid all smile at one another for their success in aiding others. 

One swirls behind the girl and taps her on the shoulder. He quickly moves to her other side when she looks around her shoulder to view him. The other guy swims towards her and grabs her wrist. The three dive down far below the lakes surface. In the lakes muddy bottom, they all stand their hands in and pull put our crustaceans. Crawdads, had been grapes by their hands. One takes a bite of them. The other guy is bit on the nose and drops the crustacean. While, the girl smiles and pets her new friends. She swims away fast and places the crawdad on a rock that was surfaced above the water. She leans upon the rock with her arm straight and head rested upon her elbow. Her attention is drawn to the shore in the distance.  

A dog is running through the water with two children. A teenage boy and a young girl ate running after a dog, while a mother is setting up a picnic table and father is grilling. Both of the merman surface behind the girl. One was forth and warps his arms around her and gazes in her direction. The other crosses his arms and closes his eyes. All three become envious and curious about the humans. Soon after, the third guy completes the group hug and they all submerge breath the water. The girl begins to cycle around the water in a circular motion. Both guys swim through her motions, in opposite directions, and a colorful spark of pink, green and blue emerge in a figure; similar to a saint symbol. The three grand hands and begin to circle around below the water. A typhoon of water appears and bursts into bright colours of magical specs.  

“Er-eee, er-eee!” The girl squeals. 

‘Ah, ah, ah, ah, eee!” One of the guys responds and swims off fast. 

“Ruuun! Ruuu! Ree!” The other guy begins to count and cover his eyes as the other two mer people swim off to hide. The guy behind a cluster of algae and dogs himself into the sand. The girls grabs onto a boat rushing by. When the merman opens his eyes, his attention is quickly drawn the ti boast passing by. On his way, he attached fish and a crustacean to nearby lures, and dashes through the water towards to girl. When he nears her, she let’s go of the boat. She claps her hand and large cloud of pink fills the area. The guys stops; unable to see through the cloud. 

The girl dives out of the water. One fisherman spots her and taps his buddies on the boat to view in the direction. As they do, she is soon gone and they claim it is the beer getting to him. They all sit in the boat questioning life. The mermaid dives down into the water deep. So fast, she submerges herself in the sand and mud within a cluster of rocks. The pink cloud clears and the merman is looking around the area for both of his friends. 

The other merman is feasting on algae and crustaceans. The one guy quick6swims behind him. The girl watches from a distance and giggles to herself. Right before the one merman taps the other merman on the shoulder, his eyes look back. While his body is forward, to not draw attention that he has spotted the mermaid, he taps the other merman on the shoulder. He turns around with a tail of a crawdad hanging put of his mouth and a clump of algae in hi hanf. He smiles grandly and throws his shoulder around his friend’s shoulder. The two swim off chowing down on some algae clumps. The mermaid is attempting to camouflage herself, the scales of her body begin to reflect the surroundings. Both merman swim past her. She smiles grandly and shimmies up the water behind them. S They swim in front of her. She runs her hand together. She clasps them together and pulls them apart. A spear forms in front of her. She grabs it and stabs both guys in the butt. Both jump and flinch in shock and fear. As they turn around, all three laugh. 

Both guys look at one another and nod. Each grabs the spear and a tug if ear begins between them and the girl. She looses and the spears disappears in a glistening shape of pink. The guys reach forth and grab her arms. They hold them above her and begin to tickle her. Many bubbles begin to emerge and ripples begin above the lakes surface. The guys tails are even tickling herself and they are all stopped when lurked land around them. All quickly swim off to find nearby fish to attach to them. 

“Corala! Ra, ra, ra!” The one guy speaks. 

“Reeeeee, ga!” The second guys speaks. 

The girl shrugs and swims off fast with a cloud of pink behind her to clutter her path. Both guys fallow behind her. One swims forth, as she turns, and holds his hand out to surprise her. She swims right into him and the two hug, briefly, and she pushes him away to into he other direction. Soon, she is bumped into the other guy. Both recoil and look at one another. He begins to dash towards her and she dives out of the water. This time, no human spots her, nut she does emit a bunch of pink magical essence with the water droplets around her in the sun and water of the lake. Both guys were holding hands in the shape of a circles for her to pass through as she dived back into the water. So much colourful magic of pink, green and blue filled all of the water. 

So many fish gathered around and began to swim around all if them. Crustaceans, snails, fish and some birds landed on the surface to react to them. A fee ducks dived below the surface to watch as the mer people emitted magic. They all did what they could to help feed anyone around, and at the same time, started to dance and swim with one another. 

On the shore, a little girl watched in the distance across the lake. “Daddy!” She shouted. “Look!” As she pointed, her father kneeled beside her with am arm around her shoulder and looked in the direction of her pointing. The daughter and father looked at one another. He hugged her tightly and lifted her onto his shoulder. 

“When you see rippling and bubbles like that, you need to make a wish! It means mermaids are out there.” The father days to his daughter while looking at her. 

“Mermaids!” She speaks excitedly thinking of her known of movie/role model idol being a mermaid. 

“Yeah…… go ahead sweetie! Make a wish! Don’t tell me, cause it will not come true. But, my father brought me her for most of my life, as he is here with us on shore, and would tell me of the magics of this lake. A mermaid can grant wishes, but only will to the worthy. If you do no disturb their living, you wishes will always come true!” The father says. Both the girl and father close their eyes. The mermaid stops dancing with her friends. Both guys also stop, and the three gaze blankly. Together, all three look at one another and snap their fingers. Pink, green and blue magic emits from their hands. The little girl on her father’s shoulders opens her eyes and looks back on shore behind her. Her grandfather stands from his chair and starts to walk around in amazement and hugs the mother. The father opens his eyes and sees his rod has been upgraded to a special extreme talented fishing rod. He runs back to shore  with his daughter and sets her on the ground. Graciously and excited her grand his new rod and prances around. The girls runs up to her grandfather and is picked up and spun around in the air with a bug hug afterwards. The mother smiles and rests her hand below her chin and cheek over all of her loved ones happiness.  

The girl mermaid watches with a smile. It turns to a sorrow look as she looks away down towards the water. One of the guys rests his hands on her shoulder. She shrugs shim off and turns around. From there, she dives down into the water. Bother guys look at one another and five down after her. Both swim ahead of her and emitted a large cloud of green and blue magic. It fills the entire area and the stops to look around. When he could disperse, both guys had simulated a stage with a performance to cheer her up. It was a classic tale of a princess behind rescued by a knight from a viscous dragon. She girl clasps her hand below her ear and turns her head slightly to test it upon them. When the performance is over she claps and swims forth. As she does this, she grabs both of her friends hands and guides them through the water. Not to much time passes, and they surface at shore, secluded, around the lake. The sun is starting to set and the Rocky Mountain sky is turning pink and purple. The sunset only lasts an hour or two I’m there area. The mermaid crawls on the shore and flips herself over to watch the phenomenon. Both merman join her. 

One of the merman slides in close to the girl and wraps an arm around her waist. She smiles and looks at him. Briefly, her face fills with sorrow and looks away. The other merman kisses her and she smiles and looks forward at the sunset to avoid both. The one guys clenches her tighter with his arm as the other rests his head on her shoulder. The three watch the sun set lower behind the Rocky Mountains and the lake slowly rises to cover their tails.  

As the three friends sit on the lakeside watching the sunset, their tails shift between tails and legs with the waves crashing on shore. Both guys seem a tad down and the girls grabs both of their hands. Smiling at both, the three scoot closer to one another and gaze at all the colours of the sky reflecting off the lake.  

“You know where we should go tonight?” Asks the girl. 

“Why! We should just stay right here all night and watch the sun come up.” The once guy responds as he raises his head from the girl’s shoulder to look at her. She giggles. 

“Well you know, no matter what, I will follow. What is it you had in mind?” The other guys asks as he squeezes her hand tightly and kisses the back of her hand. As she looks at him, her head tilts some with a slight face of sorrow. The other guy throws himself around her with his arms and grabs her tightly. 

“No! We should just stay here!” He shouts. 

“Aw c' mon! It will be fun!” The girls turns around removes his hands. She holds them both between both of them and looks him in the eyes. “Nothing we haven’t done before.” The other guys rests his head on her shoulder and winks at the other guy. 

“Yeah, stop being a chicken! In fact, we should go find some! What those humans do with their eggs is splendous!” The guys explains. The girl giggles again and stands up. A tad wobbly at first, but she manages to maintain herself. With long hair, she is covered on her torso. She aids the two guys to a stand with her hands. The three stand their and take one last look at the sky as it sets. A star can be seen. All three close their eyes and make a wish. From there, the begin to walk through the forest. They find a campsite of a few men drinking. Corala snaps her fingers and a set if keys appears in front of her. She grabs them and they all proceed to a nearby truck.  

“My turn to drive!” Says ones of the guys as he grabs the keys from the girl’s hand. 

“Be careful, Haechan! Remember what you did last time! Humans don’t like it when their vehicles go away, let alone are damaged.” The girl speaks.  

“Relax Corala! Practice makes perfect! This time will be better. Not like you two have success in not damaging human things!” Haechan responds. The three laugh as they sit inside the truck. 

“There!” The one guys points and speaks. The three are app sitting in the front, and only, seat of the truck.  

“I know Jaehyun!” Haechan shouts. He sticks the key in the ignition and they drive off. 

“My truck!” Shouts one of the campers as he stands up and runs toward where the vehicle was parked. He rubs his vest for his keys. “How?” His buddies laugh and calls the ranger stations closest by to report the theft of his truck. 

Corala rolls down her window and sticks her head out. All of her hair begins to blow in the wind as she smiles. Jaehyun opens the tiny window behind him and screams, “Whooo!” After, his attention is drawn to a cooler. Where he looks inside and grabs three sodas. He hands one to Corala and Haechan. The three open them simultaneously. They all begin to chug them. In no time, Haechan finishes his first. Corala, second. Lastly, Jaehyun. In the same order, they all belch with a loud laughter after. A road block stops their path. A couple rangers and a police officer had created a barricade on the road. One approaches the vehicle. 

“Evening. License and registration." The ranger asks as he shines a flashlight into everyone’s eyes. They all snap at once and the rangers and officer begin to dance. Haechan maneuvers the truck around and the slip by the block with ease.  

“I wonder what would happen if we ever let them do whatever it is humans do in that situation?” Jaehyun asks. 

“Let’s not find out.” Corala answers. The three begin to drive. They pass a sign that says, Estes Park, after over three hours of driving, from Lake Granby in Colorado. Along the way, they used their magic to overcome and obstacles. It began to rain heavily. At the same, they heard the calling of children wishes, as they were dreaming, and did their best to grant them their wishes. This made them all feel grand when fulfilling others desires. As they entered the town, not much could be seen. All had wished ti be able to go inside the stores and restaurants. They har always been stopped for a, no shirt, no shoes, no service rule. They had no idea what that mean. The truck was stopped near a large lake; Lake Estes. The three rushed out and began to dance in the rain. With so much water on their skin, their tails reanimated. So, they all crawled into the water. Typical behaviour for them, they began to play and do as they would normally in any other body of water with one another in a joyous manner. With the rain, none of the stars or moon could be seen.  

Morning came and the rain had not ceased. The three overhear a small group of men speaking of releasing the water of the dam. The three look at one another. The guys grab Corala’s wrists and try to drag her away. She clenches her eyes shut and manages to disappear in a pink cloud. The two guys look around in fear and anger. Corala appears elsewhere in the water. Another man can be heard speaking on a phone.  

Corala has always craved to venture outside of the mountains. She felt inside her gut, that this moment was now. She tubs her hands together and claps them once. A red cape appears and Corala grabs it. Tying it around her neck, she smiles. Haechan and Jaehyun gran her arms. 

“Corala no! We should head back!” Jaehyun shouts as he struggles to restrain Corala. 

“Yeah! You know it dangerous to use your cape! If I had one, I would send us hole right now!” Haechan adds in. Coral managers to snap her fingers and sends her two friends back home to Lake Granby. Before she knew it, she had been pulled by the waters current draining out of the lake. Unknowingly, it was violent and cruel. She had no control of her movements and was carried through the waters. Along the way, her cape became torn, yet protected her at the same time. Eventually, it tore off completely and she was knocked out cold.  

Corala is laying on the shore of a large body of water. She can hear birds singing and looks around. In front of her, she can see zig zag shaped things in front of her. It is the mountains she lived in all of her life. All around her was damaged land and much water. She was in some pain and attempted to heal herself. With no luck, she started to swim, as best possible, around the area maintain her bearings. Along the way, she grabbed any bug that crossed her path and consumed it. Eating helped her feel better. None of her magic powers were working much.  

Days passed and she had noticed a change to the area she was in. Many humans had began to appear each day. One day, a man in a small motor boat was steering through the area. He had spotted Corala and became overwhelmed with finding her.  

“Oh pretty Mermaid, I mean you no harm. I only wish to gaze upon you directly.” He speaks. He takes off his fishing hat and places it and his hand over his heart. “I seen your beauty is astonishing. Even from a distance. To be able to witness it up close and personal would be a wish come true.” Coral decides to approach the man’s boat. As she surfaces, a net is thrown over her. While struggling, a metal stake is sent through her forearm. Corala screams and her tail hits the boat. It turns and the man falls into the water. Corala manages to swim away and cast a spell to remove the stake from her hand. A trail of blood is left behind and the man follows hastily. Eventually, she looses him and stays hidden for some time.  

So many days pass. Corala, looks at the sound on her arm, that is healing very slowly, and is filled with sadness. She never knew her powers would be so weak away from home and her friends. She began to think of Haechan and Jaehyun. A tear runs from her eye and she submerges herself within a lake. Nearby, was a river and also another lake. More time passed, a fence was placed around one of the lakes. With her observations and need to hide from the man hunting her, she knew the fenced in lake belong to the man. As time went on, her need to hide and flee decreased. At the same time, the amount if humans who would be in her area increased. After what the man had done to her, she knew she could never trust a human. Something she had learned from her parents a long time ago. Sadly, at a very young age, her mother had disappeared. One day, her father set out on an attempt to find her and never returned. Orphaned from her parents was not difficult for her to adjust to, but being apart from her friends had been very depleting. Often in her home, many mer folk did not live long lives. Or they would end up leaving to some place called the ocean, to live fuller and longer lives. Any attempts to go back up the mountain, had failed. Water would always end up to shallow for her to proceed through and her legs would not stay for very long or humans would get involved and she would have no option, but to flee. 

More time went by, and Coral adjusted as best possible. Her arm healed, with a scar, and some of her magic returned. If she ever used any of it, it would deplete her of strength and take time to recover. She could not so anything like she had before. Granting a wish was impossible at this point. Where she was at, she had not heard any wishes for a very long time. Children were least common in the area and families more so. From a distance, she could hear families and younger folk at a park or recreational fields, but the water was too shallow for her to view nearby. 

One day, she was approached by a police officer, for being naked, and fled. He had searched for her everyday after that. Different than the ma. Hunting her, but it still filled her with fear. What made her feel good, was still attaching fish to lures for fisherman. At time, she would listen to people play their instruments near a tiny waterfall in the river. Nearby, was a cavalry school. The horses, the wild cist with often. Especially, at night. Ducks, geese, seagulls, crane, and many other birds would join her for meals. Other animals she had befriended to pass time during the days. This time in her life, she felt even more saddened in life than before being washed down to this Natural Area of River’s Edge.

Loveland, Colorado. Fall of 2013. 

A young guy is listening to music with bulky headphones on and fishing at a lake. He is dancing with the music and has other poles set up around him on the ground with a stake in the ground attached to a rope with some fish on it. He appears to be fly fishing with the pole in his hand. The music is causing him to dance around with a feeling and look of being real into the tunes. The line is cast out and he reels it in slowly. The lure dances on top of the water. Bugs move out of the way and many fish watch in curiosity over it being food or a danger. This goes on for some time and he sets the pole on the ground. The other poles snag his attention and the guy takes some steps over to check each of them. Pausing from this, he stands up and dances. From there, he stands up fast and jogs, about a hundred feet, to a river behind where he was standing. The guy reaches into the river and pulls out a cage. Inside are a bunch if crayfish! With a smile on his face, over the success, he returns to the lake and other equipment. A couple buckets are laying around. The guy fills one with water, from the lake, and dumps the crayfish within it.  

Startled, the guy is tapped on the shoulder and looks behind him. Removing his headphones and resting them around his neck, he taps a button on the side of them and his music stops playing. A police officer is grinning and speaks, “Excuse me, Sir, I will need to see your licenses and permits for all of this. Afterwards, I have some questions to ask you about the area. You exact actions are not of my primary concern, but I am always an officer of the law, when on duty.” The office looses his grin and has a relaxed, very approachable, look upon his face. The guy complies and anticipates the officers questions. He know he is over is limit for poles and unsure about some of the other things he is doing. The officer examines his licenses and permits. For a moment, he looks over the top of them to make eye contact with the guy. Afterwards, he continues to read. Stacking them as neatly as possible, he hands them back to the guy and crosses his arms and sort of lifts his legs and repositions them in the same place. “How long or often have you been here?” 

“Uh, well, this is my first day here. I have been in the area, but can honestly say being here is my first time.” The guy responds. “Since this morning to be more accurate” The guy shuffles around his fishing vest for a cell phone. Instead he pulls out an old pocket watch and checks the time. “Wow! Is it that time already?” 

Slightly surprised, the cops asks, “Have you caught anything?” 

“Just these crayfish.” The guy responds with a smile. “I know there is no law against them being caught in this manner, I think, for this state.” 

“Yes, You are correct and have not done wrong by them. I did notice your not a Coloradan.” The officer had uncrossed his arms. Very seriously he asks, “Have you seen a woman?” With a pause and squinting his eyes more, “Naked? She has been reported many times in this area recently. Skinny dipping, stealing, and breaking rules!”  

The young guy licks his lips and smiles as he looks away to the ground. Shaking his head no and looking back at the officer he says, “I wish! Could you tell me any more. Will I get in trouble if I happen to have my cameras set up?” He points to a nearby camera mounted on a stand. “I guess I should tell you, you are being recorded. I just like to have my catches on camera. Internet purposes and of course to catch those legendary stories or make them every fisherman chases after.”  

The officer pulls out a card from his pocket and hands it to the guy. “Take this. Proof for your records and if you see her, call this number immediately. You have a nice day and hope you catch something. I would love to hear a story about a whomper here. Thank you for your cooperation.” The office turns around and proceeds to the nearby path to the next person her sees. Very soon, he stops a jogger and begins questioning her. The card reads:  

Larimer County Sherriff 

Kurt Solomon #15020 

Deputy, Patrol Division  

2501 Midpoint Dr., Fort Collins, CO 80525 

970-498-5580 

Solomokj@co.larimer.co.us 

Dispatch: 970-416-1985 

Comments: 970-498-5987 

www.larimersheriff.org 

The guy sticks it into one of his pockets of the fishing vest and repositions his headphones round his ears to hear music again with a tap of a button on the side of them. The guy walks into the water and reaches beneath the lakes surface. Pulling out some more rods to check on, he sets them o  shore and walks backwards to a fold up chair opened up for sitting. Taking a seat, he leans back for a moment and pulls out binoculars to look around. Straight in front, he can see the glorious Rocky Mountains. Some snow is covering their tips. He knows the two points near each other are Estes Park and the closets entrance to the national park; about a thirty minute drive. To the right he follows the mountains and looks at Horsetooth, where the mountains look like the mount of a steed. Red feathers would be next and greenery blocks his view of the surrounding area. He shifts his view to the left and another lake can be seen. A fence goes around the entire area. Many birds are squawking, mostly seagulls and geese with one crane next to a couple pelican, are on a tiny island in the water. There is a sing that reads: Private Property Prosecutors will be shot. A family owns it and has a home on the other side of where he is at.  

“I bet she would be in there!” The guys speaks to himself. “I mean, this water here is clean, but is still market. I fell she would want to be in there, safe from people behind that fence.” A line begins to move and the guys hastily drops the binoculars. Rushing in an eager manner, his excitement  recedes. “Just a small one.” The guy grabs the line and he grabs it to start reeling it in. “There’s no fight! No fun.” The fish nears the shore and an ecstatic smile regains the guys face! A huge, probably five pound, largemouth bass is on the hook. It was already dead. The guy examines it closely in confusion. Turning to the side, he looks into his camera and beings to explain the fish he just caught and what tools were used to aid. To double check, he pulls out a fishing knife and pokes the dead bass. No reaction. “What the hell?” With closes examination, he sees the hook has been lodged through the roof of the mouth and into the brain of the fish. Very uncommon in the fishing world. Shrugging his shoulders he says, “Well this is still a story to tell. You are going in the bucket.” 

Splash  

A fish tail caught the corner of his eye near his lines casted out. One had a bobber on it and was rocking side to side. Bubbles were seen nearby. Two more of his lures were tugged on. Both had the same results as the first. They were all big keepers and tossed into the same bucket, with lake water, separate from the crayfish. As the guy looks around, he can see the cop question a small group of men on the other side of the lake. So, he decides to pack up all of his things and call it quits for the day. Not only did he have the one video camera, but pulled out a second one from within a bush nearby. A big splash is heard in the lake behind him and he turns around with the camera in hand, still recording. The binoculars are near his feet, so he grabs them to look around. “That was a big fish! I want that one!” He speaks to himself with much confidence and curiosity. As the guy begins to walk down a path with all his equipment, he says aloud, “I wonder how hot that chick is walking around here? Naked! It’s been a while……”  

The guy walks along a path to a nearby parking lot with two buckets, one in each hand. Approaching a black pick up truck with a new age camper attached to the bed, he opens up the back door and proceeds inside. All of his fishing gear becomes easy to store within compartments of the camper. The guy begins to degut the bass he had captured and throws the crayfish into a pot to boil. A laptop is pulled out and he begins to upload the footage of his cameras. Walking outside, he begins  a fire over a pit next to a commoner grill. One of the bass he had caught, he begins to fry over the pit. Before hand, he had covered them in seasoning and breading. His computer beeps and he returned to the inside of his camper. It was only a message from other fisherman he had met in his life. Something began to vibrate, and he looks to his side to see a cell phone moving across a counter.  

Crash 

Something sounds outside of metal and ground. As the guy investigates, he can see his frying pan with the bass on the ground beside the fire place beneath the grill. Confused, the guy looks around. The sun is starting to set. Over the Rocky Mountains a pink, blue and purple sky fills the scenery with some clouds. A most mesmerizing sight for the guy. He picks up the dismantled pan and bass. Cleaning the fish, he sets up one of his cameras from within his camper to examine the fire pit. Placing the fish, with new seasoning and breading covering it, he retreated back to the camper to watch. To his amazement, a bear arrives to his campsite and knocks over the pan to the ground again. Glancing at the camera, the guy flinches. 

“What the hell?” The guys speaks again with profanity. In a nearby cabinet, he grabs bear mace and a gun. The bear eats the fish and leaves the area sniffing around the picnic tables. He scratches his head and decides to cook another bass within his camper on an element, generated by fire, within his camper. He was confused over the situation he just watched. The crayfish were still boiling next to the newly added fish. On his laptop, he does a search about bears and the water nearing his area. It was common for bears to fallow water from the Rocky Mountains to plains areas or foothills where he was at. To add to his search, his researched showed common fish reactions for the state. To his undecided disposition, anything searched about a woman naked lead to profanity. He was expecting a newspaper article or blog with some sort of bigfoot type blurred photo to compare his sightings to. In his mind, he had thought of mermaids and could not find any information pertaining to them for the area either. The bear can no longer be seen. So, the guy proceeds outside to check the area. His bass is missing and a frying pan is just being burned, back on the fire pit. More confusion. Looking to the left, then to his right, nothing can be seen as helpful in the area. In fact, he sees many people leaving the parking lot in their vehicles. In no time, he is alone. Grabbing his pan, he returned to the safety of his camper. Dumping his crayfish onto a cutting board, he cuts off many of their tails and dips them in the some more seasoning and breading as he had before for the bass. He sets up a fryer and dumps them all in. Time passes, and the guy pulls one out to taste for eating. From there, he adjusts the time for the rest.  While waiting for the timer, the guy decides to check his cameras footage. At all times, he has some feeding to a computer in his camper. The pan being knocked over and fish is being consumed, but the bear is not visible on camera. He scratches his head, trying to resolve an answer. 

“What is this? Some sort of Vampire bear?” The guy speaks aloud. “Why  is he not showing up on camera? The fish, fire, and everything else shows. Why not the bear?” Enough time passes and the guy eat his dinner while examining all the footage he took for the day.  

“What the hell!” He shouts and stands up from the table inside his camper fast. He is examining the footage of his first catch. A woman’s hand could be seen, barely, out of the water. Beautiful, elegant, and very much appealing to the guy. Long nails, perfect complexion, and a scar along the index finger bone line with vanes noticeable. The fish was held out of the water before she hooked it upon his line.  

“Is this this woman Kurt is looking for?” With the guy fully energized from dinner, he decides to walk back to the part of the lake where he made his catches. Human footprints, tiny, were all over the area between the lake and river. He followed them with curiosity throughout the area. They all disappeared at a body of water, mostly around the lake he was fishing at. Only one set lead to the fenced in lake, and led away from that area. His deduction of the woman hiding out in that area was wrong. As the guy stands along the river at a very  small waterfall, he can see a horses with a sign about Calvary training across the way. Looking to his left, he sees no more than two feet deep of water. At this time of year, the water begins to depend with snow melting off the mountain. As he looks to his right, the river flowed between many trees next to a path. His attention is drawn back to the horses as one whinnies. The guys freezes in an unknown state viewing, what he thinks is, a woman next to one of the animals. Without hesitation, the guys submerges his feet into the river. He climbs the waterfall and tries to get as close as he possibly can. When approaching the fence, he stops and awes over a sexy pair of legs being seen with a horses hind legs. Muscular, sexy, and  very much appealing to the guy. With more steps taken, the guy attempted to climb the wall and fence to the area. A yellow headed blackbird swoops in front of his face. It quickly circles around his body and causes the guy to flail his arms and spin around. His footing stumbles and the guy falls into the water, back first.  

Splash 

The guy sits up and spits water out of his mouth. Firstly, he examines the area with the horses. The legs he had seen are now gone and he examines the rest of the area. A giggle can be heard. The guy is caught in a daze of the appealing sound the voice projects. Moments pass and the guy manages to snap out of his desirable phase. Walking to shore, he finds himself faced to face with a bear. The same one who ransacked his camp before. I know what to do, the guy swings his right fist at its face. Contact is made. 

“This is a real bear? I thought….. who cares what I thought!” Turning around fast, the guy dives, as best possible into the shallow water, to evade the carnivorous creature. Thinking he is being smart, the guys swims a hundred feet and runs out of the river to the nearby lake. With another dive, he submerges himself completely and swims to a small island within the lake. The sun is nearly set, and stars can be seen with the moon. Looking all over the place, the bear can not be seen. Fisherman are placed around the waterside, and a few hikers are making their rounds along pathways. A shimmer catches his eyes and the guy looks in the direction of the glisten. A hand can be seen, briefly, out of the water. Shortly after, a fisherman reels in a large largemouth bass. The hand appeared to have a charm bracelet on it. The guy is very observant and noticed a charm is missing from it in one place. When he first arrived at the River's Edge Natural Area, he had found one on the ground and picked it up. 

The guy swims toward the area, with no luck. After, he swims to shore and crawls upon it. While turning around to look back at the lake and take a rest, a bunny hops out of the bushes and startles him. They gaze at one another and the bunny hops away. The sun has set and it is now dark and the moon lights up the sky with stars. The guy could not tell if anyone was still in the area. Something takes over the guy, and he makes it his determination to see the body that goes with the rest of the hand he has seen. To himself he thinks, if the legs were…  

As the guy proceeds back to his camper, he is walking along a cement pathway. The first thing he does is search for the charm he found. It glows in the dark and is in the shape of a pyramid. Looking into it, many colours could be seen alternating. The glow dies out and it looks like a simple rock now. He sets up a camera to watch it and some near the door and windows. The guy takes off his shirt to go to sleep and hears the giggle again. Rushing outside, he looks all over and could not see nothing. A splash is heard and the guys witnesses a large tail disappearing in the water. The water ripples and the guy just looks blankly, unknowing how to feel and respond. When he re enters his camper, the charm is gone. When viewing the footage, it was as if a ghost had just lifted the item and took off.  

The yellow headed blackbird flies in and lands on the table. The two stare at one another and the bird lifts its leg out. It does this a few times and walks to the edge of the table. After many attempts, the bird flies and pecks the guys hand. It lands back on the table with its leg out. He reaches his finger out and the bird grabs it with its talons and the shake. The bird nods and flies off. Just like the bear, the bird had not shown up on camera.  

“What’s going on? I think I need a long nights sleep. Let’s see what tomorrow has in store.” The guys tells himself and lays down in bed. That night he dreamt about the legs and hand. In the water, out of the water, the bird. Shaking its talons repeated over and over throughout. At one point he sees the bass he caught start to talk to him. 

“Hello! I'm quite a catch!” The bass said. 

Roar 

The bear chomps the fish in two pieces and starts to chase the guy. The guy stops and realizes it’s not real. He turns around to see the bunny hopping toward him. As he reaches down to pick up the bunny, he is slowly drowned by water all around him. The bird flies through the water and lifts him out if it. When looking below at the lake, the large fish tail is seen again. He looks in his hand to see the charm. Holding it out in his palm, all the colours are resonating and a bright light blinds him.  

The guy wake up and sits up fast. Looking around at everything. The dream felt so real. He brushes his hand through his hair and it is wet. Smells like lake water, but his pillow is dry. To his laptop he runs to review all of the footage. He sees a woman’s silhouette in one camera very distant from his truck. The cameras exhibit white static up until a couple hours before he woke up. 

Back at Lake Granby… 

“Awwwhhg! I miss her!” Haechan shouts. 

“I know, I do too.” Jaehyun responds. 

“Why did she have to go like that!” Haechan complains. 

“I know, I agree with you.” Jaehyun adds in. 

“I want to go look for her! We should go.” Haechan grabs Jaehyun's forearm and starts to swim. He stops and looks back as his hand goes empty. 

“I know! But where she is? We don’t have a clue!” Jaehyun gets upset. 

“We can find her. She would never be gone this long. What if she’s hurt? She needs us!” Haechan crosses his arms and pouts with his head slightly tilted. Jaehyun looks away and stares blankly down. Suddenly, a charm on each of their wrists begins to glow. A square on Jaehyun and an orb on Haechan. They each only have one charm on their bands.  

“Corala!” Both of them shout at the same time. Both smile and grab each other hugging and spinning around. They stop as a couple lures are sunk near them from the surface. Each if them grab fish and attach them. Soon after, they swim off fast through the lake.  

“I can’t believe it! I…I am so happy!” Jaehyun shouts. He swims around Haechan with his arms out to the side and spirals a few times. 

“Ooohhh! Yes! I feel so great inside. It’s been months! She must be okay!” Haechan swims beneath Jaehyun and looks up at him with his back towards the ground. “How come she didn’t do any magic? Our charms have never lit up like that without something happening.” 

Jaehyun stops and makes a puzzled look. “What if someone has her charm bracelet?” 

“Noo! We need to find her!” Haechan is scared and upset at the same time. The two swim off fast to a secluded part of the lake with much foliage.  

The two nod at one another before surfacing. As they do, simultaneously they shout, “You will not mock me!” 

“Dos I detect mermaids! One voice seems to  be absent.” A short man with red hair, beard, cape, clothes, and a pipe jumps out of a tree. His eye brows are bushy and mutton chucks compliment them. As he puffs on his pipe, smoke rings rise. “Where is the…” He stops and grabs his heart with a fake faint gesture, “ breath taking Corala!” he flutters his eyes as he gazes up into the sky. From there, he shakes his head and looks at the two guys with a thinking look. “Ya' know, I haven’t actually sensed her in months.” He rushes on his hands and knees close to the water into Haechan's face. Angrily he shouts, “Where is she!” He scoots in front of Jaehyun, “What happened to her!” They both shrug with gloomy faces. The man stands up and turns around with his arms crossed. “It will come at a price. Or…” he begins to pace around the area. 

“You know we can’t do much without Corala.” Haechan says. 

“Here.” Jaehyun snaps and a light of green appears. It disappears and a dagger with white pearls encrusted within the blade.  

“No!” Haechan leaps at Jaehyun to try and grab the dagger. “Corala gave that to you!” 

“Take it.” Jaehyun unsheathed it from its white casing and re placed it before handing it to the man. 

“I am a Far Darrig. I have no need for combat, but your gesture of the gift of priceless gems, is most appealing to me. I shall help you, but as for you.” He looks at both merman.  

“Well…” Haechan hesitates. 

“C' mon! You have been complaining the most for months.” Jaehyun instigates. 

“Yea…but, I like my treasures. Especially the ones from Corala. I know he wants something of hers.” Haechan closes his eyes to think. A minute passes, “Okay.” He claps his hands together and pulls them apart while opening his eyes. A green flash of light fills between his palms and as it disappears a red hand held harp appears.  

“Ooo! Red is me favourite colour!” The Far Darrig rests the dagger between his belt and coat. After, he grabs the harp and begins to strum it. “Two little fishies sought me out today. It used to be three who would taunt me. They would often just say it was play. I never hated, in fact I can not complain for that is my way too. What shall they do? I can help you! How much, I do not know. With these gifts, I will see what can be shown. Come back at night, when the full moon is bright. Tis' be the best time to see what I have for the. Corala must be free! Or is it someone else who I can sense their pleas? I will need a bit more payment from these two. A scale from each, or else her you shall not reach. If we had one from her, this would be easier. What do you say? Have we got a deal? I accept you pay and now we must pact the seal.” He uses magic and holds his right arm out with two right hands. Both guys accept and red, green, and blue sparks fly around. 

Haechan raises his tail out of the water and his tail is green and black. The Far Darrig uses the dagger to cut a section of scales out. “Ooouuuch!”  

Jaehyun covers his mouth. “I know, but we have to. He releases Haechan. He raises his tail of blue and white. Clenching his face much, he resists the pain as much as possible. Both guys are bleeding and Heachan is hugging his tail.  

“Good! I shall begin a brew and see what this will do.” The Far Darrig snaps his fingers and disappears. 

Haechan dives under the water and bubbles begin to surface with ripples. “Oouucchh!” He is screaming underwater and petting over his wound as he hugs his tail. Jaehyun smiles and hugs him. “She was always here to heal us and make us feel better and cheer us up and just… why can’t she be here nooooww!” 

Jaehyun grabs Haechan’s wrist and starts to swim him deeper into the lake. “Let’s swim it off. Maybe it will heal. At least we don’t have those shark things we have heard about in the ocean. After all this, we should venture there.” 

“Yes, but maybe not in the hot summer. It is nearing soon. She has been gone since fall. That’s too long. Everyone else is so boring.” Haechan answers. 

“Yea… I miss when we would combine out magic. Remember when the Far Darrig told us how Corala was an Irish Mermaid and we are Asian ones. Irish apparently have more magic and can utilize there powers out of their origin homelands. I guess where he is from there are many like her. I mean she was the only one to have that red cape of hers. Yet, none of the others around here have had them. Well, he parents, but they have been gone a long time.” Jaehyun explains. 

“Yeah, and he cape is similar to his. Do you think everyone from that part of the world have capes like that? I want one. Remember when we caught over trying on Corala’s? It didn’t amplify our powers, like her. We should of hid it so this would of never happened. UGH! We have a few days until the moon is full again. I can’t wait that loonngg!” Haechan speaks. 

“Well, we will have to. I don’t know of anything else we could do. We have been to all of our usual hanging out spots. She has never been gone this long. We just have to be patient. 

The two guys spend the next few days just lollygagging around. Helping people catch fish, playing some games, and lounging under the stars. A few times they would begin to hallucinate seeing Corala and become excited. When realizing it wasn’t her, they would become saddened.  

“Noo! Why did it have to be raining all day!” Haechan shouts. 

“I know, I am upset too.” Jaehyun responds. 

“What happens if it doesn’t stop raining and the moon doesn’t shine?” Haechan asks in a complaining tone of voice. 

“I don’t know. There is nothing we can do.” Jaehyun responds with a sigh. 

“How about we try to do some sort of magic together. Maybe, if we call out to Corala through our charms, she will hear us and be able to help.” Haechan stops and gasps loudly! “What if she is sad! What if that is why it is raining? We are not there to hug her! Noo!” 

“Let's try. You just filled me with unpleasantness.” Jaehyun holds his hand with open palms towards Haechan. They places there hand together and close there eyes. There charms begin to glow. The rain slowly stops. The two open their eyes and smile giddily. As they surface, the clouds still fill the sky. Time passes and they part just in time to see the sunset. “We should remember this moment. I have a weird feeling something grand is about to happen. Something that will forever change out lives. Let's hope the Far Darrig comes through for us. He always had a soft spot for Corala, but some others of Lake Granby…” 

“Whatever happens, I just want to be with you and Corala forever. I miss her laughter. I miss yours too. Mine too!” Haechan stares off at the sunset with Jaehyun. When the moon is out and the sky is fully dark, they proceeded back to the secluded foliage. 

At River’s Edge Natural area of Loveland, Colorado in the spring …... 

The guy is walking among the paths of the River’s Edge Natural Area. Below a bridge, he spots  the mysterious woman combing her fingers through her hair in the early morning. The guy runs towards her to the area. She sees him and quickly disappears into the water. As he approaches, she becomes un noticeable. Any other men had gawked and not said anything or approached out of lack of confidence in themselves previously. The woman had watched over the man with curiosity looking for her around the area. The man was I  full aw over with her wet hair, naked body, and full exhibit of mystery about her. Even with her hair slightly curly and wet, it appealed as very much appealing to the man. The woman’s hair was a red, brown and gold colour. He stood within the river with water to nearly his knees gawking over expectations of seeing the woman again around the area. The man walks to where she had been sitting on the shore. He can see some of the same tiny footprints from the night before around the lakes and river. The man places his foot next to one of the foot prints and takes a photo for comparison for his records. To the far distant, within the river, a shiny glimmer catches his eyes. A pearl glistens around a charm bracelet in between a square and circular shape of the charm he had previously been in possession of. Out of nowhere, all of it disappears and looks as if it had never existed or presented itself in the area. 

“Okay? I know I saw her this time. I know I saw that charm from before with others. Should I stay here? Or should I take an attempted down one of the paths fi the river?” The man speaks to himself. He cups his hands around his mouth and shouts, “Hello!” Nothing can. E heard as a testing beyond the emptiness of water and foliage. “My name is Ian! It’s nice to meet you!” no response to the man is heard or seen. No luck of a response, Ian heads back to his truck after many hours. Unsure what to do, he opens a beer and watches the sunset behind the glorious Rocky Mountains. So many colours could be seen. This time, not giggles could be heard as he peeped for bedtime. In the morning, the video footage of him was present for the whole night. Simply him tossing and turning at certain points, with no white noise or static disrupting the recordings of his cameras. As he eats his breakfast, of eggs and bacon, he is disrupted. 

Knock. Knock. Knock. Knock. Knock. Knock. 

Ian is disrupted form his examinations of the video clips by a visitors at the only door to his camper at the back of his truck. Slowly and cautiously, he opens the door. 

“Good morning Mr. Graider. I am sorry to disturb you this early in the day, but a few things are brought to my attention as one of the Sheriffs for Larimer County Colorado. Yes, it is just as dawn breaks, 6:17 a.m. to be precise, but seeing as I have had previous engagements with you, it seemed best for me to inquire and alert you about some pressing manners that have been established recently and over looked.” Kurt Solomon of the Larimer county sheriff’s quickly spoke to Ian as he opened the door to his domicile.  

“Okay. Do go on.” Ian calmly explains and has no problem opening the door to his camper fully. In fact, after it is opened he jumps out to make full eye contact with the officer questioning him.  

“As before, have you seen a woman, naked, prowling about the areas of this place? Anywhere?” Kurt asks. 

Ian laughs slightly and looks to the side. As he regains eye contact with the officer, her says, “No. I would love to witness that, actually.”  

“Do you have any information that you would feel would be pertinent to this situation?” Kurt asks. 

“I’m…I'm not sure.” Ian scratches his head. “inhale seen some bears. Is that helpful?”  

“Bears?” Kurt expresses a look of astonishment. 

“Yeah. Is that normal for around here?” Ian asks. 

“Yeah. This area is to populated to have bears migrating around here. Anything else?” Kurt speaks.  

“Uhhh…I don’t think so.” Ian responds. 

“Alright. For now, I will overlook this camper in this area. However, if a report of this woman happens and I am not in patrol of the area, you may not get a pass as easily. Or if this woman is caught and I happen to be around here.” Kurt places sunglasses on his face a proceeds back to his cop car. Ian looks around and sees that nobody else is in the area. He watches Kurt make a report from within his car. After, Ian rushes to get dressed for the day and takes a jog around the area. Kurt parks his car not to far west of the parking lot Ian was stationed in. A water treatment plant was positioned in this area and cause a large pond to have a recognizable odor. A bridge could be seen below this area with the river connecting to the pond and proceeding to the mountains and far east alongside the path. The cop remains in this area and then guy parks his truck above the bridge at the end of the parking lot where the cop was stationed. Not too much time passed as the guy positioned himself there and Kurt had been called away elsewhere.  

Ian used his binoculars to look around the area. Ian exits his vehicle and  continues to examine the area with binoculars. Suddenly, he turns and find himself face to face with a bear! As he lowers the binoculars, the bear is nearly touching noses with him. Ian runs fast to the inside of his camper on the back if his truck. 

“Stupid bear! Tell me what you think of this!” Ian speaks to himself and grabs his bear mace. Rushing out fast with the mace held for attack, the bear was nowhere to be seen in the area. To the distance, the bear could be seen running along the pathway to the lake he had previously been acquainted with. Ian has no trouble running to catch up with the creature. It disappears in his sight along the lakeside where he had previously been fishing. The same footprints could be seen proceeding from the shore to the water. A lathe splash catches his attention. It is from the lake that has a fence around it. Ian examines with his binoculars. A large home could be seen on the other side of the water fenced in. Ian walks around as much of the fenced area as possible. It is private property to the Hoffman family. They own that area and had signs posted around about no trespassing. Ian becomes tired of the pointless search and heads back to where his truck his parked. Before reaching it, he walks beneath the bridge it is parked over and walks into the river. It is really shallow in this area. Only of few inches of water. Ian places his hands on his hips and sighs. 

His eyes are covered and cheek is kissed. Ian freezes up. Thoughts race through his mind and without knowing, his red hoodie is removed from his person as he wore it. When Ian regains himself, he looks around the area and brushes his hand across his cheek. 

“I know…she…” He speaks to himself. After the area can be seen of her not being present, he notices his hoodie is gone. Ian cups his hands around his mouth and yells, “You’re welcome! You could of just asked and I would have willingly gave you that!” No luck to identify the woman, Ian decides to drive to the Promenade Shops at Centerra  in Loveland, Colorado. About 15 minutes from his location. He buys clothes from many from many of the shops in different styles. All for women. Hours pass and he returns to the River’s Edge Natural area. The main parking lots are blocked off to civilians by police and army. He heads back tired he bridge near the water treatment plant. As he exits his truck, he climbs on top of his camper and looks through his binoculars at the police and army in the nearby distance. They are running in formations all over the area. He looks behind him towards the Rocky Mountains of the river flowing from the west. Nothing could be seen from the direction of the woman or any legal authorities. Suddenly, out of a part of the path that curved, a woman could be seen walking the path. She was barefoot and wearing his hoodie. The man starts to run as fast as possible towards her. When he nears her, he stops his running and snakes up as best possible to her. She sits on a rock and he just stops and hawks over her. She pulls her legs up and hugs her knees. As she rests her head on her knees it seems she is sobbing. Stopping, she looks at her bracelet and raises her head. A few tears fall from her eyes and hit the ground. They turn to diamonds as they impact the ground. She notices Ian walking towards her and become frightened.  

“Hi…my name is Ian.” Ian calmly speaks. “Ian Graider.” He holds his hand out for a gesture of shaking for greeting. She has no response and just looks scared. He takes a few steps towards her slowly. “I would like my sweatshirt back. Stealing is wrong, but I do have some clothes more suited for you. You may have them. As a gift from me.” Ian takes more steps and is within a few feet of the woman. “I really like that hoodie you have on. It is memorable to me from a school I attended.” The girl looks at her charm bracelet and males a gloomy face. A small smiles fills her face and she looks back at Ian. “Wow!” He stops walking and stares at her. “You’re smiles is so much appealing. Please don’t frown or be sad around me.” He reaches his hand and takes more steps closer. “Do you have a name? Like I said, I am Ian. Ian Graider.” He becomes close enough to make contact. He att6to remove the hoodie. Something pink pushes him back some. She stands up and removes the garment herself. She is left naked and Ian's jaw drops as he just stares and gawks. Her hair covered most of her torso, but Ian is very much mesmerized by her appearance. The woman throws the hoodie at him, over his face, and disappears. “Wait!” Ian shouts as he removes the hoodie from his head. She is now long gone. A few footprin6could be seen around the rock where she walked out of the water to the rock and stood up. But, no escape was noticeable. Confused, Ian proceeded back to his truck. Kurt Solomon was waiting for him. 

Corala is relaxing in the river gazing at her charm bracelet intensely. “Why did this react to him?” She questions out loud. “I'm sorry guys. I miss you both so much. I…I don’t even have an idea what way to go to try and get back. This river isn’t deep enough for me to follow to the mountain and splits off so many times. I don’t know what I was thinking.” She makes a grim face. “I just wanted to explore down here. I…I didn’t expect to loose my cape and had planned to be back within a couple days. It’s been months now. There is this man. He keeps searching for me. Trying to capture me. He has an unusual item about him. Not sure what it is, but my magic does not affect him due to the item. At the same time, something  about him really hits me.” She grabs her heart with a hand slightly closed. “I can feel something drawing me, but I’m too scared to investigate.” She smiles, “There is this other guy I have been watching. He found my lost charm.” She giggles, “He's really cute!” Corala beings her charm bracelet close to her face. A flash if green shines across the spherical charm and a blue for the square. After, the pyramid shines pink. “Maybe, I will see if that guy will help me. Or if he knows anything about that man chasing me. I barely escaped some of his traps a few times. It was so scary.” 

During the winter a couple months prior… 

Corala is sitting on the island and smiling towards the mountains. It is snowing and the area is still destroyed from the flood. Very rarely did someone venture around. A tiny prick is felt in the side of Corala's neck. She feels and pulls out a tiny dart. Instantaneously, her vision becomes blurry. Looking around, she can not focus on anything. Her body becomes numb as she begins to fall over. Managing to catch herself with her arms, she starts breathing heavily. Another prick is felt in her shoulder and she face plants the ground. Rolling over, she can not see anything. Darkness fills her eyes and as her arm shakes, she use every bit of strength to snap her fingers. A pink cloud of dust explodes around her body. Her magic could not fully fight the effects of the poison being admitted throughout her body. With some vision and strength back, she rolls over and pushes herself off the ground. All of her instincts are telling her to get into the lake. A splash is heard from behind her. Not taking any chances to look back, she crawls to the water and keeled into it. He tail and fins reform as she sinks to the bottom of the lake. She hugs herself and gazes blankly as the poison overwhelms. Many fish of the lake gather around her and start to peck at her to wake her up. One smacks her face with its tail. No luck, the fish scatter as a net is tossed into the water. Together, the creatures of the lake push Corala to the opposite side of the water, away from the net and man trying to catch her.  

Corala laid at the bottom of the lake for a very long time. She was unsure if it was a couple days, many hours, or just a few minutes. Her eyes open and she finds many red eared sliders and crayfish stationed on her. Lots of fish began to swim around excitedly of her awakening. Her palms squeeze the sides of her head from pain. She thinks, and just remembers being pricked by the darts. One was still in her arm. Fast, she pulls it out and examines it. Only about an inch of tubing, where the poison was, another inch of fuzzy feathers for a tail, and a half inch of needle that had penetrated her skin. She feels around to make sure no others are still in her. Feeling weak, she know she needs to eat. With it begin winter, bugs were not on the menu. Algae and soggy pale plants were her goal. After eating so much, she carefully surfaces. It was a warm sunny day and she sees a woman jogger on one of the paths with a dog.  

Beep. Beep. Beep. 

Corala is startled and looks towards the sound. A truck could be seen backing up with many men around. She uses some magic to create a Yellow Headed Blackbird and flies it in close to eavesdrop.  

“Yeah, we gotta’ get started on the renovations of this area. The city has granted us to start, and work on the nicer days like this. They want this place as good as new by Spring.” A construction worker says.  

Corala swims to the island. Cautiously, she looks around. She could see where a boat had made shore and boot footprints in the mud. The other dart was still sitting there with poison still inside. She makes it disappear into a flash of pink light. She approaches the shore on that side to find more tracks and tire marks. Not of a car, but something smaller with a tiny trailer. They lead south around the fenced in lake area. She follows them.  

“Look boys!” A construction worker shouts. 

“What? I don’t see anything.” Another shouts. 

“There! A woman! Naked! Across the lake.” He replies. 

“No way! You must be imagining things. She probably just has on a jogging suit of that colour.” 

“I don’t know, that does look like she is naked. Do we have binoculars anywhere? Or a telescope. Oh! I know! Phones!” The men all pull out their phones and attempt to record and take photos. She can no longer be seen. 

Corala follows the path to the house belonging to the fenced in lake area. Property of the Hoffman’s. Corala takes a step onto their property. Frozen, a voice could be heard in her mind. A woman, shouting, “Go away.” Corala runs and dives into the lake and hides at the bottom of the lake, hugging herself. 

“How? That sounded like? It can’t be? What sort of magic is this?” She speaks to herself.  

“Ree. Aahtch. Creenie bereet.” Can be heard above the water. 

“What is that?” A construction worker speaks. 

“Sounds like a dolphin or a whale of some sort.” 

“Don’t be dumb. Must be an app on someone’s phone or a video being watched. Get back to work!” 

A few fish begin to rub up against Corala in the hope to comfort her. She grabs one and hugs it. “Haechan! Jaehyun! I miss you! I'm sorry!” 

Some days pass and Corala decides to venture to the river. The water had been really low. She takes some steps into the water and quickly she falls to the ground. Her leg is caught in a bear trap. It has been altered some and Coral can not get her leg free. All of her magic is not working and she notices a special band around one of the chains attached to the trap. The Far Darrig had some of these. Only, this one was green and his were always red. They do not allow magic to be used and Corala panics over how this would be possible. She knew any mythological creature would never use a human made object to trap anything. They always have their own methods and traditions to stick by. A few minutes pass. 

“Well, what do we have here. Mmmmmm……” A man speaks to Corala. “I know what you are. If you want things to be easy. Just co operate. Take my hand.” He reaches out with an open hand gesture and one foot into the water. Corala squints her eyes in disgust and fear. “Oh, I know that look. Please, just take my hand and this will go smoothly for both of us. Corala splash water into his face and attempts to stand and run away. He foot is caught and she falls into the river. Enough water engulfs her and her mermaid form returns. She starts to flop around like the trapped caught fish she is. The man stabs a metal stake through her tail and starts to pull her close. Corala claps her hands in an attempt to cast magic, with no luck. She does manage to change her teeth into a carnivore manner and bits the man on the leg. He screams and stumbles back as she drops in the water. Green and blue magic appears around the trap and Corala is realized. She runs upriver and hides beneath one of the bridges. Her leg is bleeding and she manages to heal herself.  

“Was that you? Jaehyun? Haechan?” She whispers and looks at her charm bracelet.  

A few more weeks pass. In the middle of the night, Corala was sitting at one of the picnic tables around one of the lakes. She know dawn is breaking and takes a stand.  

Poof. Poof. Bang! 

Smoke fills the area with a flash of blinding light. A thud could be heard from someone jumping off the roof of the picnic area and landing on the ground. A net was thrown over her. Corala frees herself and casts her own spell of pink dust and a golden flash of light. “Argh!” She hears the man grunt and summons the dart she found from her first encounter with this man. She runs up and stabs his neck. While holding it in, she is flailed around by him. Soon, he falls to the ground and Corala runs to the lake and hides within the center. Looking at her charm bracelet, she notices the pyramid charm is missing. Upset, she is also relieved that it is not her friends charms. She thinks back to the day she received these charms. 

Years ago…… 

Corala is swimming fast. She soon stops as Jaehyun blocks her path. Switching  direction,  Haechan swims up from below and grabs her. The two guys begin to tickle her with their tails and hands. “Stop! Please! Alright! I will do some magic!” She shouts in a surrendering historical tone. They release her and eh grabs her stomach. “Just feel lucky, I don’t use my magic on you two to do stuff like this.” 

“Go ahead!” Haechan opens his arms out to the side. “I will embrace it!” Corala giggles.  

“Don’t taunt her, you never know what she would do.” Jaehyun tells Haechan and lowers his arms down. “Please! It’s been so long. Do some magic!” 

“What should I do?” Corala asks. 

“Well…” Haechan points and then pulls his hand under his chin to think. 

“You could?” Jaehyun looks away and thinks strongly. 

“I love you both so much. How about I reflect that admiration with some gifts?” Corala responds. 

“Gifts?” Both guys respond simultaneously as they look at one another. 

Corala swims around both of them twice. “Yes.” She summons her red cape and ties it around her neck and magic pink dust begins to radiate from her body. 

On the third round of circling them, she plucks a hair from each of them. “Ouch!” Haechan complains 

“Hey!” Jaehyun reacts. 

“Relax, you won’t miss these.” Corala holds a hair from each if the guys between each of her index fingers and thumb. A cyclone begins to form around her in one direction as she spins around in the opposite direction. She stops gayer the hairs disappear in a black and white glow. Her whole body glows gold, including her eyes. She moves her hands out to the sides of her shoulders with open, slightly closed, hands facing to the surface of the water. She claps her hands together and rotates them 90 degrees. Pulling a hand up and one down, a dagger with pearls encrusted on the handle appears. It rotates once between her hands and stabs into a white casing. The blade was a pink metal colour. She spins around and shifts to the side some. As she claps her hands again, she rotates them 90 degrees again and pulls her hands apart. This time a red harp with golden strings appears. Corala grabs each item in their hands and present them to the two adoring guys caught blankly in amazement. “Here you go. A dagger for Jaehyun to reflect his robustly appearance of fierceness and a harp for Haechan to reflect his gift of music.” Both guys grab the items and hug her. 

“Thank you!” Jaehyun speaks. 

“I love it!” Haechan shouts. 

“We must give you something.” Jaehyun looks at Haechan. 

“That’s okay! I was able to do this over the magical wonderful feeling you to have in my life. I hope it is the first of many to come.” Corala answers. 

“No! We have to give you something!” Haechan grabs Jaehyun’s hands and the two rest their open palms against one another between their shoulders. A bracelet appears made of pearls. Corala grabs it. 

“It’s so pretty! Thank you!” Coral turns around and hugs the bracelet. Jaehyun holds his dagger out towards her and Haechan begins to strum his harp. Corala places the bracelet on her wrist. The bracelet glows pink, the harp green, and dagger blue. In between the three of them, a pyramid, two spheres, and two squares appear. Corals casts another spell to make 3 of the items attach to her charm bracelet. At the same time, the remaining items appear on bracelets around Haechan and Jaehyun. The three smile and group hug as they spin around in the water. 

Back in the spring….. 

Corala is gazing at her bracelet. “Why did only one pyramid appear that day?”  

“Good morning Mr. Graider!” Kurt Solomon greets Ian out front of his truck. “Do you know why I am here?” 

“I saw the woman you are looking for. By the Calvary horses.” Ian responds.  

“Thanks for that information. How about the bear?” Kurt asks. 

“Well…… I can show you this.” Ian shows the footage of the non showing bear and explains how he seen it, but does not have it on recording. Kurt Solomon, one of Laramier counties sheriff’s, arrests Ian. They hold him for 72 hours and impound his truck. Just make sure he wasn’t crazy. Lie detectors confirmed his truths and special agents, Margret and Manny, interrogated him repeatedly. They use a strange device by his cheeks and state he has been exposed, bit never explain the  nature of the exposure. Eventually, Ian explains about the dream he had. By this point, he was not going to spill about the charm her had in his possession for a short while. Ian is released from custody and pays to have his truck out of impound.  

Ian returns to the River's Edge Natural Area with more determination and belief of the woman he has been encouraging. In the end, he sides with her and want to proceed her from sleazy government scum. He is frightened over the thoughts of what they may do to her. After some fishing, he returns to his camper on the back of his truck. He becomes frozen and drops his catch. It hits the bumper of his truck and falls to the ground. His jaw is slightly open and eye shave not blinked for a minute. In his bed, the woman was taking a nap. Naked and not under the covers with a cute smiles upon her face. He takes a step forth and she wake up fast. She makes a geature with her hand and disappears in a pink and gold cloud of dust and light.  

“Wow!” Ian speaks aloud.  

“That was close!” Corala teleported beneath the bridge where Ian’s truck was parked. She was testing him and knew she could rely on him for aid. “If only I had my cape…it tore on a tree when I was washed down the mountain. I have not been able to summon it. Must of shredded.” As she takes a seat within the shallow shore of water, scales quickly form around her legs into a tail. “I am the only mermaid around for many miles. Not one animal has been able to determine their likeness towards me or ever witness. Maybe, I should just make my venture to the ocean? I have no idea how to get there. No! I must find my friends and fulfill out promise.” She picks up a fish from the water and kisses it on the lips. It turns into a young boy wearing a similar hoodie to the one she stole from Ian. “Could you go above this bridge and try to get me clothes, what you have on around you.” Corala tugs at the hoodie. “Then, bring something down to me. For some reason, my magic does not work to create clothing. There is a guy with a black pick up truck who has some inside his camper.” The boy nods and walks off. Coral creates a magical Yellow Headed Blackbird to view the situation. The back door of the camper is open and Ian is looking through one of the exterior storage compartments near the back tire. All of his electrical equipment had been permanently confiscated by the police. The boy struggles to climb inside the camper, but manages to do so. 

“Hold it!” Ian rushes over and glares at the boy. “What do you think you’re doing Little dude?” He crosses his arms. The boy is frightened and begins to shake. Ian undresses his arms and looks at the hoodie. “Hey, that hoodie is from…” The boy turns around and swiftly grabs se clothes and attempts to rush out of the camper. I am hold shis arm out and grabs the boy. He sets him back within the camper and holds him still by shoulders. With on hand he grabs a dress from the boy’s hand as another garment falls. “These are not yours. In fact they are for a special woman.” The boy smiles and nods his head. “Wait! Do you know where she is? Can you take me to her? Or just tell her to come herself.” The boy shakes his head no and attempts to run off, again, with a pink leather dress. Ian grabs him around the torso this time and the boy turns into a bass. Ian catches it after a few failed attempts of it flopping around the air. The bass smacks Ian in the face and he tosses it over the ledge into the river. Rushing over to watch it swim away, Ian spots a foot slide out of his view below the bridge. He slams everything shut to his truck and rushes down below the area. Running with the pink dress in his hand, he slides in the dirt and drops the dress to the ground. Corala was sitting out of the water with her tail raised and looking back over her shoulder. Being prepared, she did not want to fully face him in the need of a fast escape.  

“Holy fuck! Is that? Are you? You’re…you’re a…a mermaid? No way! Yes, way?” Ian brushes a hand through his hair and paces around the area. She runs on shore and hides within a bush of clustered greenery. “Wait!” 

“Do you seek to harm me? Or capture me?” Corala asks. 

“No! Please! I just want to talk to you. And look at you. Your extremely beautiful! I have never seen anyone like you. Well, I have never seen a mermaid, but that’s not what I mean.” Ian states. 

“What do you mean?” Corala speaks and sticks her head out. 

Ian gazes at her face. “I…your… well… looks! This face.” He brushes her cheek. “Your hair. Your voice! Please! I wish only to protect you.” 

“From the man who has made many attempts to capture me? Poisons, traps, nets, smoke, lights, injured animals, fake creatures, and so much!” Corala rushes out of the bush and approaches Ian close to the face. He takes a few steps and raises his chin high, with his back hunched some, trying to not make contact with the naked Corala. 

“Sure. But, I was more speaking of the law. They ate looking for you and you should be careful.” Ian answers and leans backwards and down to pick up the dress. He hands it to her. 

“Law? You mean those policeman officers? They’re easy to evade.” She grabs the dress. “I am talking about this man who live at the house beyond the fenced in lake. He has, unusual items to aid him. They are almost mythological like, hit I would not know of anyone allowing him to use them for manners in which he has been. I fear he has some captured and they need to be freed!” Coral reaches her hands above her head and slides the dress on as best possible. “Something has been speaking to me and I think helping me. Or else I would have been captured already. 

Ian laughs, “No. Here let me help you.” Ian walks over and starts to rotates the backwards dress on Corala. She pulls her hair out and flicks it behind her. “Put your arm through this and well…” he points to her thigh. “Your leg through that hoop. That’s better. I don’t know of this man you speak of, but I will help you. I feel so lucky right now.” 

“That would be the luck of the Irish!” Coral nods her head and smiles. 

“Irish?” Ian questions. 

“Yes. I’m an Irish mermaid. If you are feeling lucky around me, you should try you luck and the outcome will always be in your favour.” Corala states. Ian gets close and rests a hand on her shoulder. With slight hesitation, he grabs her chin and forces her to look up. From there, he kisses her. Lots of pink and gold sparks fly around the area. Her bracelet lights up corresponding to the clouds with green, blue, black, and white. When the two stop kissing, they gaze into each other’s eyes. 

“Wow! You were right! That was lucky!” Ian says while breathing hard. “Were all those sparks something to do with being a mermaid?” 

Corala giggles, “Doesn’t that happen when human kiss?” 

“No. In fact, stuff like that never ever happens. Or is know about in life.” Ian lowers his hands around Corala’s hips and pulls her closer to him. Corala looks at her bracelet. 

“Heachan! Jaehyun!” Her face becomes grim. “My friends…” 

“What about them?” Ian asks and brushes some hair out of her face. 

“My bracelet had only ever reacted when I am around them. They have the matching charms to mine.” She looks at Ian’s face. He plants another kiss to her lips. Sparks fly around again. A twig snaps and Corala disappears within the cloud of pink and gold.  

“Wait!” Ian looks around the area frantically. 

“You best watch yourself!” A man’s voice speaks. 

“Who’s there? Show yourself?” Ian shouts. The man walks around a tree and stares at Ian. 

“I want my mermaid. If you interfere, well, I have made people disappear before. Attempt to alert the authorities. Ha, ha, eh, he, ha, ah! I know them to well. Along with the people of this city. They will take my side over some no for food wilderness man.” He takes some steps backwards and points to Ian. “Watch yourself and do not interfere!” The man makes his exit and Ian watches him examine all the areas along the path heading eats back to the main lakes. A Yellow Headed Blackbird tweets at Ian. It sits on a branch and flies off. I am fallows it back to his camper. The bird lands on top and looks down towards it. After, it disappears. Ian opens his camper and is tackled with a hug by Corala. 

“What a magical hug! Just like our magical kiss. In fact.” Ian wraps his arms around Corala and kisses her again. Very slowly he pushes her into the camper. 

She pulls away from him and asks, “Could you tell me about the ocean? Is it far?” 

“The Pacific is about 1, 000 miles from here and the Atlantic is around 2, 000. The rest are much farther than that. Is that where you are from? How did you get here?” Ian replies. 

“I was born in the mountains. Lake Granby.” Ian slowly pushes Corala farther into the camper. “We have been told of the ocean and that is where our kind thrive. I…I have also been told I could not return without my cape. But, my friends could and be safe there.” 

“I can keep you safe. We could leave this area and that man would never find you.” Ian starts to embrace Corala. 

“But…but…my friends. I have to find them again. I did something bad, and cause these awful past few months for me.” Corala beings to stutter. 

“Is everything about it truly awful. Like, right now?” Ian asks. 

“No. Right now, I encourage this moment to continue.” Corala kisses Ian this time. 

The next day…… 

Ian takes Corala out all over the city of Loveland, Colorado. At Centerra shopping center he buys her many new clothes. At lunch, Corala did not find her meal appetizing and did not eat much. When they were at Lake Loveland, she spoke to an otter and he returned with some friends to give her algae. Anytime a bug flew by, she would snatch it and eat it. Ian was a tad grossed out, but respected she was not human. At the end of the day, Corala became saddened and asked to be taken back to the River’s Edge Natural area.

“What’s wrong? Was today not fun? You were smiling until a little bit ago…is it those friends of yours?” Ian asks Corala when she begins to walk away from his truck back to the lake. 

She turns around with a sad look and grabs her heart with a slightly clamped fist. “I miss them so much. Today would of  brought them joy in the same manner as me. For a couple decades, we have never been apart.” She lowers her hands to the sides and looks towards the ground. “I have never been away from them this long.” 

“Where can we find them? You said you were born at Lake Granby. I can take you there.” Ian adds in. 

“Really?” Corala rushes towards Ian and Gatsby other of his hands. She hugs them near her face and closes her eyes. She being to glow a pink colour. Ian examines with amazement and awe. “What about the presence I feel beyond the fenced in area? You say you want to help me, but so far have no exhibited anything to gain mistrust towards that.” 

“Whoa! Don’t talk like that. I do want to help you and feel concern for whatever you ate feeling.” Ian moves his hands to grasps Corala’s face. “You ate the best thing to appear in my life. I want you to find you friends. As a human, I am jealous of your relationship with them and do not want to thing about things. At the same time. The fenced in area is private property. Normally, humans do not proceed past that. Some sort of plan and stale outages must be made to properly invade. I do not posses magic like you and it take to conform a plan.” 

Corala smiles and leans into one of Ian’s hands and rests a hand on it. “Okay. I can sense your ambitions and believe in you.”  

“I wish I could I could have a photo of you. I should of got a new phone today.” Ian gawks. Corala smiles greatly and snaps her fingers. A bunch of photos from their day appeared and rained over them. “How did you do that?” 

“Well, you said, I wish, and as a mermaid granting wishes is one thing I do.” Corala explains.  

“I wish, for all my electronics back.” Ian asks. Pink dust appears all over the inside of Ian’s truck. He rushes and opens up  the back and is ecstatic. When he looks back, Corala is gone. Disappeared with no sign of her entering the lake. Ian becomes disappointed and is struck in the head with a rock. When he looks over, Corala is running down a pathway. Very fast, Ian has no issues catching up to her and pulling her into his arms. As he holds her from behind, he whispers into her ear, “I wish for a repeat of last night. Doesn’t have to be right now, but…” A dart hits both of them and they fall to the ground. Ian attempts to crawl on top of Corala and is kicked over. 

“Stupid! I have come for my prize!” The man hand cuffed Corala and picked her up in his arms. Walking away he laughs! 

With much struggle and a slur Ian manages to speak, “I wish Corala was not drugged and escapes.” A pink cloud surrounds the man and Corala. She leaps out of his arms and dives into the lake. The man drags Ian off instead. When Ian awakes, he finds himself in a cell.  

The next day, it is raining and Corala spends most of the day pouting on the island. Unsure what to do and missing everyone. In the afternoon, she was crying into her knees when her charm bracelet began to glow. She could sense Jaehyun and Haechan. Closing her eyes, she knew the weather may have been affecting them too. Concentrating, she uses her magic, combined with theirs, to disperse the weather. Corala continues to sit on the island and enjoyed seeing the full moon as the sun went down. 

Back at Lake Granby…… 

“You will not mock me!” Haechan and Jaehyun simultaneously shout as they surface the lake. 

“Blast! Although, I don’t have time for mischief right now anyways. It took a lot, but I think I can help you to the radiant damsel you seek. Come here on shore, to my cauldron, and take a peek.” The Far Darrig speaks. Haechan and Jaehyun walk on shore and are naked with no fins or tails. “These, you both need, or else to stand out you will indeed.” He tosses jeans and t-shirts to the guys. “No, No, the undergarments go first, then the trousers with shirts! To look in my pot, I shall show you the plot. Traveling down the river she did go. Where exactly is unknown, but I can sense her presence and more others as well. Not like you, but you will have to help them too. With your scales presented and gifts so splendid, I can help you to her, but be warned, this is not what I would prefer.” 

“What do you mean prefer?” Jaehyun asks. 

“I can send you to her, but at a cost of your own. Instead, I would rather you call her by phone.” Far Darrig tells. 

Heachan says, “Phone? She does not have one.” 

“Her, maybe no. But, someone else’s she can loan. She could tell you her location and I could help you there, all I would need is some of your hair.” Far Darrig explains. 

“What is the cost for you to send us directly to her?” Jaehyun questions. 

“Permanently, shall you be carried by feet. Any magic, may never be handed.” Far Darrig looks in anticipation to the guys as they look at each other. 

“We'll call her, connect us.” Haechan replies and plucks a hair from Jaehyun and himself. 

“Ring, Ring, here’s my phone, I will just put it on speaker for all of us to call.” The Far Darrig pulls out a phone and magical numbers leave the cauldron and enter the phone. After a couple rings, Corala is heard. 

“Far Darrig? I saw your face appear on this phone. Could you help me? Are you nearby? Please, not right now, any of your lies.” 

“Corala!” Jaehyun and Haechan shout. 

“Guys! I'm so sorry. I wish I had never left. I should of listened to you two!” Corala tells them. 

“Where are you? I can sense you, but at the same time, I ask for a favour from you.” Far Darrig asks. 

“River’s Edge Natural Area. What favour do you ask?” Corala hesitantly speaks. 

“I have found you from a friend. One that had been lost and forgotten. He needs your help and he needs to be saved. Somewhere beneath in a cage out of the suns rays.” Far Darrig says. 

“That must be the magic I sense. I was already planning on helping them. It’s just beyond this fence. I am scared and unaware what lies on that place. An evil man has already attempted to capture me and drag me to that place. I need some help, my friend is trapped there too. I just have no idea what I should do.” Corala states. 

“I can help your friends make there way there. Fast and exactly to you, that they have chosen to beware. By tomorrow’s end, you shall see your friends. Just do not forget our deal or they will see their ends. Goodbye for now!” Far Darrig chants. 

“Wait!” Jaehyun shouts. 

“No!” Haechan shouts.  

“Don’t worry you guys. Wipe away your frowns. Look what I am about to pull out.” The Far Darrig pulls out bus passes from the cauldron. “A bus you shall board and take down the mountain. I have used my magic to make sure one will be headed there boundin'. Climb aboard in the dawn light, from there you will have to search and help her in the plight. Beware of the man she speaks. In fact, take some of these treats.” From the cauldron, he pulls out red rings that cause magic to not work when placed around something. He also pulls out some fairy dust to increase their magic. After, his disappears in a cloud. The two guys wait for dawn and climb aboard the bus. It takes hours to make it down the mountain. They end up having to walk some miles to the River’s Edge Natural Area. Both are tired and not used to legs or cloths. Along the way, they are fascinated by the city of Loveland, Colorado. 

They reach the baseball fields of the area. “Errreahh llullullu ooopp!” Jaehyun shouts. 

Pop. Pop. 

“Blowah!” Haechan adds. 

In the distance Corala replies, “Friiiiiies!” 

Click. Click. Toad sounds. 

They all run towards each other and become very happy to see one another. Haechan begins to skip and jump around. The three group hug. The guys squeeze Corala so much she has trouble breathing and is lifted off the ground. The set her down. 

While shaking a finger in her face, Haechan scolds her, “Don’t you ever do that again!” After, he hugs her again and rocks her side to side. 

“It’s so good to see you! We missed you!” Jaehyun says softly with relief in his voice. 

“I'm sorry. So much has happened.” Corala says with some regret. 

“Let’s go home!” Haechan grabs both of their wrists and starts to walk off. Corala stops and releases herself. 

“We have to help my friend and the Far Darrig's friend. You do not want to go against his favour.” Corala demands. 

“Yeah…” Jaehyun looks away and begins to think. “Where do we start. Could we just walk around some and catch up. Or better yet…” He tips off his shirt and starts walking towards the lake.  

“Yeah! These ate stupid why do humans wear them?” Haechan takes his shirt off. 

“Wait! Not in the daytime. We need to be careful. Come with me.” Corala takes them to Ian’s truck and they all remove their cloths and teleport within the lake. She explains about the man's darts and shows them the fenced in area. At the same time she tells them of Ian and her time with him. 

The next day, Corala was looking through Ian’s truck. A knock is pounded on the door. 

“What is that?” Jaehyun asks as he and Haechan are looking around the area. 

“It’s what people do before going through doors sometimes. I will see what it is. Maybe it’s Ian!” Corala opens the back door. 

“Hello…mam!” Kurt was at the door and quickly turned around. “I would ask that you dress yourself please and step out of the vehicle.” Corala snaps her fingers and is dressed in the pink dress. She jumps out and taps him on the shoulder. “Whoa? That was fast. Thank you kindly. I would like to speak with Mr. Graider. Is he around?” Corala shakes her head no. “Kurt looks inside the vehicle and sees Haechan eating a crawdad and Jaehyun struggling to put on some pants. He looks back at Corala. “This is his vehicle. He usually doesn’t leave it parked in one spot for too long. I have to write him a ticket. Could you direct me to where he is when he will be back.?” Corala looks down and away with sadness. “What’s wrong?” 

“He's…he's not here. I…I don’t know where he is exactly. I have an idea, but…” Kurt places his hands on his knees and leans down to look at her face. 

“As an officer if the law, and one of Larimer County’s sheriffs, my duty is to serve and protect. My training shows you are in distress or traumatized by something. Just tell me and I will see what can happen.” Kurt smiles. 

“Well…” Corala raises her arm and opens her palm as she looks up. “Someone has been using these. A man drug Ian off.” 

Kurt grabs the empty dart from her hand. “Why did you not report this?”  

“I…I’m…we're not from around here. I'm scared. Well, not since my friends showed up.” Corala hesitantly answers. Jaehyun sits with his legs hanging over the bumper of the truck. Haechan holds out a crawdad to Kurt. 

“No thanks. Ok. I believe you. But, I will need you to come with me to the station to file a full report if the event.” He looks down and away as his says with sorrow. “I wish there could be an easier way about this.” 

Corala smiles and kisses Kurt on the lips while squeezing his cheeks. Before he could respond, a pink cloud of smoke appeared around them and when it disperses Kurt is holding a hand written report of the entire event and a DVD with footage if the scene. “Wha?” Kurt looks at the stack of papers and the disc. He reads over it fast. “Could I watch this on your computer?” Corala looks at Jaehyun and shakes her head slowly not know what is the computer. Haechan Hoover’s over Kurt's shoulder to see what was happening. “I see this is your residence at the moment, but I would appreciate if you clothed yourself.” Haechan walks away and looks at Jaehyun to put on his cloths. Corala sits close to Kurt and watches the video with him. It showed Ian chasing Corala and hugging her from behind. Two darts are launched and strike their necks. The two fall to the ground and Hugh shows up. Kurt pauses the video when the cloud of smoke appears. He looks at Corala. “What is this pink cloud?” She blankly stares. 

“Magic!” Haechan answers and takes a seat. 

“Oh, like a disappearing act. I get it. I just never seen it in person before. In the future, other officers may not be calm as I was. He returns to watching the video. “Don’t you wish real magic existed? My job would be so much easier.” Corala looks at Haechan and Jaehyun. Kurt stops the video again with footage of Corala having a tail out of the lakes water. “When you said magic…” A cloud of pink, green, and blue smoke fills the entire truck. It disperses and everyone’s clothes are lying on the ground as they are no longer to be seen. Kurt scratches his head and jumps put of the truck to look around. Nothing. He has a puzzled surprised look and watches the last few minutes of the video with Ian being drug away. He jumps out of the truck and looks at the report in his hand and the DVD. He decides to leave the DVD in the truck and walks back to his patrol car to call in the missing person report. After, he is advised to wait for back up to confront Hugh Hoffman of the incident, but they will need more time for a warrant.  

Corala and Jaehyun begin to chase Haechan who has a bucket of crawfish. “Hey! You could have had these when we were back there. There so good and are mine!” He shouts. Jaehyun grabs his tail and tugs him close as Corala takes his bucket. She looks inside and it begins to glow gold. Very quickly, the crayfish multiply and the bucket fills. “Corala! Yay!” Heachan shouts and hugs Corala as the three share the bucket. Later in the day, they heard a bunch of birds squawking from the island in the fenced in area. 

“It can’t be that bad in there if the birds are socializing it up as they are. Man, they sure have tons to say unlike the ones back home. There must be dozens of them over there. 

“Anytime I get close to that fence, I hear…I hear a woman’s voice. It’s confusing cause she sounds so familiar. But, she is always warning me to stay away. I have never tried in the middle of the night. I think we should venture there then.” Corala tells her friends. 

In the middle of the night Corala, Haechan, and Jaehyun teleport to the lake within the fenced area. This lakes water is more clear and has many more species of fish. 

“This place doesn’t seem so scary.” Haechan swims around. Corala is starring across the lake into a window speechless and frozen with confusion. 

“Hey! Corala!” Jaehyun shakes Corala with no response. He and Haechan look in the direction of her gaze. “Is that?” 

Two previous days before…… 

Ian wake up in a cell with a wicked headache. He pushes himself up and leans against the wall as his grand his head. He brushes a hand through his hair. “Corala!” he shouts and looks around. The room is very dark with a glow of a computer lighting up not to far outside of his cell. As his looks around, other glows begin to illuminate the area. 

Whinnie! 

In the cage beside him is a unicorn! Across the way he sees a lamp shake with a genie appear. Throughout the ceiling hanging cages were filled with different fairies and pixies. They all stare at Ian. He runs his body to try and see if he is sleeping or hallucinating some how. He finds the dart in his neck and pulls it out. As he examines it a wooden trap door is head. Everything ceases their glows and cowers. Lights turn on and footsteps can be heard in the distance. The man exits the stairs. He grins and looks at Ian through the cages. As he walks between them all he taps a cane on the cages of the fairies and pixies. They light up and stand in fear. 

“I figured you would be awake by now. No…this is not a dream. You are very much alive and real. Do you like my collection?” The man stops and opens his arms out to the side as he slowly circles around the room. “This is one some of my collection.” He pulls out a steal and whistles. “C' mere boy!” A dog runs out from below the computer desk with 3 heads. The man tosses the steak and the three heads catch it simultaneously and consume it. “Don’t worry, I am not un hospitable. My wife will be down shortly for a meal for you. I know my toxin leaves one with a large appetite. I can’t have you just withering away down here. You will bring me what I want and after, I will erase you mind and return you to tour previous life.” Ian stands and approaches the man by the bars of the cage. He reaches an arm out to greet Ian, “My name is Hugh Hoffman.” Ian looks at his hand with thought. “No tricks. From one human to another.” Many of the creatures begun to murmur around the room and react to the statement.  

“Ian Graider.” Ian shakes his hand. 

“Yes, I already knew from your wallet. Don’t worry. I put it back in your pocket. I was surprised to not find a call phone on you, but at the same time respect you more for not being dependent on it with you at all times.” Hugh speaks. 

“Why do you want Corala? What do you know about mermaids? What do you plan to do with all these creatures?” Ian asks. 

“Well, I consider myself to be a collector. While others obsess over trend and sports, I have found a higher enlightenment. One that goes oblivious to most. I don’t have any intentions for them, but many have been useful to me. Corala…” Hugh walks away and paces around with his hands behind his back. “She isn’t for my happiness.” Footsteps can be heard by women’s heels. “Ah, delightful!” A woman walks over with her head down towards a tray of food. Hugh rushes over and wraps his arm around her waist with his other hand on her shoulder. “I would like you to meet the most beautiful person on the planet. Grace and modest with an ability to see good in everything. My wife.” 

She raises her head slowly to look up at Ian. “My name is Brinea. I am pleased to meet you. Please.” She kneels and slides the tray if food below the bars. “Eat and enjoy. She stands up and looks at Ian in the eyes. Ian notices a shark tooth with a cassiterite gem within it. The gem is glowing a blue and green colour. She turns to Hugh. “Is there anything else you wish of me, my husband?” 

“No dear. Wait for me in the house. I shall be there soon. I just need to finish settling in our guest.” The two kiss and Hugh walks over to his computer as Brinea exists. “Stunning! Isn’t she? All Irish mermaids have appearances of striking looks. Now, I will trust you to stay right here and not make an attempt to escape. The only way in and out of here is through that door.” Hugh points to the stairs. “I will know if that door budges.” He taps a button on his key board and many of the creatures wail momentarily as magic pours into a tiny vial from cords of the cages next to the computer. He grabs the vial and takes his leave. Ian paces around his cage and thinks. He thinks about Corala’s smile and then about Brinea. Her sharks tooth and gem were magical of some sort.  

“I wish Corala would get me out of here!” Ian whispers.  

“Ah, ha, heeh, he, ho! Do my ears deceive me? Be that a wish I hear? Grant it, many of us could, if we were not trapped within this place of fear!” A short man with a beard and green attire begins to dance around in a cage across from Ian on the other side of the computer. “Ian Graider be your name. I am Saint Delcan Dater, and want to know, would you like to play a game?” 

“Game? Like what?” Ian asks. 

“Oooooh, well not much of a game, but if you toss me a potatoes from you soup, I can be sure to take away your pain.” Delcan asks. Ian flings a few pieces of potatoes from his spoon to the little man. “Not selfish, nor demanding, I can see your heart is wishing for her safe landing.” He squeezes the potatoes in his hands and they turn to gold nuggets. He tosses one at Ian. 

“You keep it.” Ian tosses it back. 

“You know, that will be rewarding to do, but for now sitting is all we can do.” Delcan puts the gold in his pocket and does a dance. Ian eats his food and flings all of his potatoes to Delcan. In his mind, he know he is magic of some sort and his instincts tell him he is a Leprechaun. With the belief Delcan or Corala will free him, he sits and just observes what he can around the room for time to pass.

Heachan runs his hands together and pulls them apart. A telescope appears. As he looks through it he says, “Corala! Is that?” He hands the telescope to her and she looks through it. She can see within the home of the man and a woman is sitting beneath a lamp in a rocking chair reading a book.  

“Mom!” Coral drops the telescope and dives into the lake fast.  

“Wait!” Jaehyun shouts and dives above Corala and grabs her. Haechan grabs her wrists as she panics.  

“I have to see her. I have to ask her why she left!” Corala frantically speaks.  

“We don’t know what will happen if we get close. We need to scope out the area.” Heachan holds Corala’s hands around his neck and looks into her eyes. She slowly calms her breathing and takes a deep breath. 

“Thanks, you guys. You’re right. I could of just ruined everything for us.” Corala smiles. Suddenly, she pushes Haechan underwater when feeling Jaehyun’s grips loosen. 

“Hey!” Haechan shouts as Corala covers his mouth and grabs Jaehyun’s falling body with her tail and sinks them all to the bottom of the lake.  

Above the water, a screech was heard and Hugh maneuvers a small motor boat out of a cluster of trees. He shines a tiny spotlight in the water. Corala pulls out the dart from Jaehyun’s neck and pulls him away with Haechan’s help. By the wrists the pull him through the water. The area is unfamiliar and they keep ending up in shallow areas where they would splash and draw Hugh’s attention. After so long, Corala teleports them below the bridge where she first spoke with Ian. She hold Jaehyun over her lap on the shore and Haechan watches. She leans down and kisses him. Her body glows pink and his blue. He begins to move and is feeling better. Corala leans up and looks around disoriented and colapses. 

“Corala!” They both scream and grab her. 

“She has used too much magic. What happened? I remember trying to stop her and…I don’t know. Now.” Jaehyun places Corala into the water and holds her so she doesn’t float away in the current. 

“I don’t know. A dart, the man, everything happened so fast! It was scary! What should we do?” Heachan speaks and holds Corala opposite of Jaehyun. 

“I will be fine…” Corala mumbles and sits up within the river. It is shallow her and all of their tails are visible. Since it is night, they have no fear over being seen. She nearly faints again and is held up by her friends. She grabs each if their hands. “We have to go back. Let’s go.” 

“But…” Jaehyun begins to speak. 

“I will be fine. There is a lot of things around there that can help me. My mom needs help too.” Coral grans both if their hands and they swim down river. They can see the man searching the lake for them. This goes on until sunrise. A jogger comes near and they all hide. With the sun up, they need to be less conspicuous. Unable to do more magic, they stealthily make their way back to Ian’s truck and get dressed. They decide to walk along the path where Ian was taken. At the end of the path, there is a fork. To the left the path goes between the lake and fenced in lake. The right, leads around the fenced in lake and through some field. Corala takes a step and stops. Haechan and Jaehyun both stop too.  

“I know what you want. I am sorry I can not help further. Please, wait a couple hours and Hugh will be gone. I can only have moments of freedom at random to aid. Find the bush out of place. 5-1-6-5.” Corala’s mother speaks to all of them mentally.  

“Did…did you hear her? She’s the one who has been protecting me.” Corala walks to a nearby table and takes a seat. She gazes in happy and sad look. “It was her, every time. I thought it was you guys. We have to help her. Some sort of magic must be affecting her.” Suddenly, water balloon explodes between all three of them. Multicoloured magic emits out of the water and enters everyone’s body. Corala stands up. “I feel…full if magic again! Quick! What should we do?” 

“Remember that Kurt guy? He said something about helping people. What if make ourselves look like him?” Haechan suggests. 

“Yeah!” Corala squeezes him and kisses him on the cheek. “That should work!” She closes her eyes and when they open a cloud of pink, gold, green, black, blue, and black appears and disappears fast. They are all in police uniforms and take off walking along the path to the house. 

Knock. Knock. Knock. 

The front door opens, “Oh. What a surprises, again. Why is it you are hear a second time?” Corala’s mother answer the door and seems to be in a daze. All three notice the magic sharks tooth with the Cassiterite gem. 

“Who is it!” Hugh shoves Brinea out of the way and takes stance in the doorway. “Ohh. Like untold you pigs the other day. I have done nothing wrong. If people trespass I take full amends of the Make My Day Law and if they get hurt and flee, well, that’s not my problem. Have you brought a warrant this time?” Corala makes one magically appear behind her and hands it to him. “Humph! Go ahead, search the place!” They all walk in and just before the door shuts, Kurt shoves it open. 

“Thanks guys! I had to respond to a call and almost didn’t make it. I will take over lead.” Kurt Solomon enters and does a full search of the place. At one point he is alone with Corala and leans into her and whispers, “I wish we could find clues to help our case.” Corala snaps her fingers and a flock of birds begin squawking loudly outside. Hugh heard the snap and starts to stare down Corala suspiciously. She does her best not to look at her mother who is in some sort of trance staring at her. Everyone looks out the window. In no time, the flock of birds uncovers a bush with a trap door. Hugh pulls out his darts and quickly strikes everyone. Corala is pushed out a window and rolls on the ground. Hugh followed her fast when her hair falls out and sunglasses hit the ground. Corala dodges many darts and reaches the door. Entering the code, 5-1-6-5, it opens. She runs inside fast.  

“Corala!” Ian shouts. She runs to him fast and they hug through the bars.  

“Cover your ears!” She tells him. After, she screams very high pitched. Her teeth had changes and tails appeared with fins on her. She falls to the ground as all the glass pixie and fairy cages explode. They swarm around her and zap her with lots of magic. Corala uses more powers to free all the other creatures. She joins together with everyone and the cause an explosion! A hole creates and escape. Hugh was nowhere to be seen. She rushes to her mother and friends. Her mom was gone, but gestures Ian close by as she grabs her friend’s hands. They are all teleported inside of Ian’s truck. There is not much room and it is crowded. Ian hugs Corala tightly and starts to kiss her. She resists and leaps out of his arm. A kiss to Heachan on the lips and another to Jaehyun. She passes out again as they regain their strength. Ian lies her down in his bead and glares at Jaehyun and Haechan. 

“Who are you?” Ian asks. 

“I am Jaehyun and he is Haechan. Are you Ian? Corala told us about you.” Jaehyun explains. 

Ian stops glaring. “Why did she pass out? Can you revive her?” 

“No. We are not like her.” Haechan says and begins to look for more crayfish. 

“You’re not mermaids? What are you?” Ian removes his glare and questions them. 

“we are mermaids!” Haechan shouts. 

“We’re just different types of mermaids than her.” Jaehyun adds in. 

“So, what do we do?” Ian asks. Jaehyun and Haechan look at each other and clap simultaneously. Ian disappears and reappears inside Hugh's house. “Kurt!” Ian rushes over to him and picks him up. He takes him to the closest road and flags down a car to take him to the hospital. Ian takes off running back to his truck. When he arrives, Corala is awake and speaking with her friends.  

“Reeeeah-ah-ah-ah ree!” She says. 

“Re-yah- ba!” Haechan speaks. 

Pop. Pop. 

From all of them and Jaehyun finishes with a. “Gloop, gloop, reeeee!” 

Ian opens the door to the truck and says, “Is that mermaid language? How did you learn English?” 

Corala giggles, “Magic. Yes, that is mostly our native tongue. Some of my dialects are different from them, but is comprehensible. Come inside! Hang out with us! That will make me so happy for us all to be together!” Coral pulls him in and nearly faints. Ian grabs her and guides her to sit on his lap. Her head hits the table fast and hard. 

“We need to get her in the water.” Jaehyun tells. Ian drives his truck to the bridge where he first communicated with Corala. It is less inhabited and they place Corala in the water. Jaehyun and Haechan take off their clothes and Ian gets uncomfortable until the enter the water and gain their fins and tail. Time passes and Corala wakes up as the sun is setting.  

The next morning, Ian freaks out to find Jaehyun draped over him and Haechan straddling Corala. He jumps up fast and is grossed out. Jealous over what he sees with Corala he turns around fast to hear his door being opened. An army guy bashes him in the head to knock him out cold. They grab Corala a capture her. Haechan and Jaehyun were left, but also wacked in the head unconscious. 

“What?” Ian wakes up with another headache and sits up fast. “Corala!” 

“She’s not here.” Haechan pouts and looks grimly down at the tiny table inside the back of the truck. 

“The army!” Ian says and pulls up nearby army bases on his computer.  

“She is so much farther from us that before.” Jaehyun adds in. 

“You mean…” Ian slams his fist down on the table. He looks at both merman. “We need to find her. I will help you. How did you find her before?” 

“We had help from Far Darrig.” Haechan answers. 

“Far Darrig?” Ian questions. 

“Yeah, but…well Corala did free all those creatures. He may help us again.” Jaehyun says. 

Poof! 

“Ian Graider! You are even greater than the rest! I can answer you two that Far has been pleased by the last feud. In place of him, out of my own kind heart, I will help you all know exactly where to start!” Saint Delcan Dater appears laying on the counter on his side. He stands up and looks around. “Say, this is quite a home. If it were mine, I would not waste much time to roam.” 

“It’s all yours if you help us get Corala back.” Ian gets on his hands and knees to beg Delcan. 

“Well, as a leprechaun you have given me gold. Something never ever known from the legends told. Help you I will, but know the trial ahead will be full of thrills. First off, you must seek her mother. Without her help, you will all be smothered.” Delcan explains 

“What help does she have that we need?” Ian asks. 

“A cape, so red, with power to even rise the dead.” Delcan disappears. 

“Cape?” Ian is confused. 

“Yeah, Corala used to have one. With it, she can do so much amazing magic!” Haechan answers. 

Ian walks up to a revolving door at McKee hospital in Loveland, Colorado. He proceeds through and takes a few steps. Stopping and looking back, he can’t help but shake his head in an amused manner. Haechan was attempting to walk into the door and kept stopping from fear of it moving. Jaehyun was examining it and had a very confused and intrigued look upon his face. Ian walks back through to outside. 

“It’s not that hard. Just keep walking and when the opening comes on the other side step out. Haechan grabs his hand to hold and Jaehyun wraps around his arms. I am shakes his head again and guides them through the revolving door. Once they were inside, Ian shakes them both off of him. “C' mon. Let’s see if Kurt is still here. Just a guy feeling I have. I can’t explain it.” He walks up to the secretary and begins to tell a lie about being his old brother in law. Jaehyun and Haechan are drawn to a pot of coffee by the smell. Someone walks up and pours a cup. 

“Man, what luck! Freshly brewed!” They speak and take a sip with both hands on the cup and steam fogging up their glasses. They walk away and the two guys mimic their actions. 

“Ouch!” Haechan shouts and drops the cup. 

“Yikes!” Jaehyun shouts and sets the cup down fast and takes a deep breath. He holds it for a moment and exhales. 

“Yeah, it’s hot.” Ian pours himself a cup and adds creamer. He tries to hand it to Haechan and he shakes his head no. Jaehyun grabs it and pours it into his cup. Ian begins to shake a bag if sugar and hands it to Haechan. “Try this.” He puts the whole thing in his mouth. “No!” Haechan flinches and spits the packet out. “Open it. Like this.” Ian pours sugar into his coffee and Haechan dumps a packet on his tongue.   

“Wow!” Haechan grabs his cheeks and smiles greatly. 

“Mmm…” Haechan closes his eyes and has a tranquil expression. 

“It’s called sugar. There are loads of things with this in it.” Ian picks up his coffee and begins to stir it. “It makes stuff taste better.” He attempts to hand his cup to Haechan and he shakes his head no. Jaehyun added a bunch of packets to his cup and the remaining Haechan took with him. The three preceded to a patient room within the hospital. Ian knocks on the door and is told to enter. Inside, Kurt was sitting up in a bed. 

“Who are you?” Kurt Solomon asks. 

“You don’t remember me?” Ian asks. 

“Or us?” Jaehyun adds in. 

“I don’t ever remember meeting you. Did I save your life? I am an officer of the law and usually do remember most of my interactions. That is one reason I was made a sheriff.” Kurt responds he scratches his face and Haechan and Jaehyun both quickly notice a bracelet around his wrist. It has a green shine to it. 

“That bracelet!” Jaehyun rushes over. “Did… did someone give you that?” 

“Oh, this?” Kurt smiles. “Yes! A beautiful woman. She stopped by to visit me early this morning. I was feeling rather bad until she walked into my room. It fills my heart warmly to know their ate kind souls who go around to cheer up folk around here. She had to leave fast, but her face was the best medicine so far. I was hit by a car and a gentleman brought me in here in his truck.” 

“I am the one who rescued you from being trapped and poisoned. A woman in a car brought you here.” Ian explains. 

“What? This must be some sort of joke. Poison!” Kurt begins to stand up. Jaehyun grabs his bracelet and the two begin to struggle. Ian shuts the door and Haechan covers Kurt’s mouth. They manage to remove the bracket. When it snapped, blue dust filled the area and quickly disappeared with no evidence of the bracelet left. Kurt grabs his head. “Uh, what…what happened? I…I remember.” He looks up and is puzzled looking at Haechan and Jaehyun. “Where is…” 

“The army took her. What do you plan to do. We just saved you, again. I feel you owe us. You are not in uniform and this is completely off the record.” Ian sternly speaks. 

“I wish I knew the answer to that.” Kurt looks around and runs his fingers in his palms. Still confused he looks at all the guys. 

“That only works with Corala.” Haechan tells.  

“Corala…wow…the army you say?” Kurt looks down to think. “This is all above my pay grade. I am left between the boy inside me who wants to believe fairy tales and the man who outgrew them to do his job. At the same time, my job is to protect and to serve. I remember being at that house. A woman came up to me. Wow…her beauty was exhilarating. Mesmerizing. Her eyes began to glow and…well I woke up just now. Here with you. She had on this red cape, which I thought was odd. Not really anything from pop culture and definitely a fashion seen around here. I…I do remember a dream? She and I were swimming in the ocean. I had fins and a tail. She asked me to protect her most prized possession. An image of, Corala, appeared and she said it was her daughter.” 

“She is! That was a dream, but at the same time she was reaching out to you psychically. It’s something mermaids like them are capable of doing.” Jaehyun explains. 

“Please!” Haechan drops to his knees and grabs Kurt's hand. “We need to help Corala! She needs to be free and herself. What Ian told us about the army sounds horrible!” 

“Well…” Kurt looks around at everyone. He closes his eyes to think. With a deep breath, he smiles and exhales. “The boy inside me is screaming at me to believe.” Everyone smiles. Jaehyun and Haechan hug everyone. Kurt is confused and Ian shrugs them off. 

“Yeah, they do that” Ian tells Kurt. 

“I don’t know of any military bases that would have prisoners. In the event we were to encounter an alien life form or un identified vehicle we are to contact the military. I can only think of the movies as a clue.” Kurt begins to talk. 

“Of course! You’re saying, like, Area 51 or something like that?” Ian asks. 

“Yeah. Other than that, I would have no idea. Unless, do you think that woman?” Kurt is cut off. 

“No, she is being controlled by some unknown magic to us.” Jaehyun says. 

“We need her cape though.” Haechan adds in. 

“How will we get that? Could you teleport in and out?” Ian asks. 

The two merman look at one another. Jaehyun responds, “One or the other.” 

“We are nothing without Corala! Hey! What about the Far Darrig? Or that Delcan dude?” Heachan states. 

“Maybe.” Jaehyun crosses his arms and stares at Haechan. “What are you going to sacrifice this time?” 

“No!” Haechan gets upset. “We have to figure something out.” 

“What are you guys? Who is Delcan and Far…Far…” Kurt asks with curiosity. 

“Darrig. He is a Leprechaun of the sort.” Jaehyun answers.  

“Leprechaun?” Kurt’s eyes open wide and he stares blankly. 

“What do you mean, of the sort? Delcan is one correct?” Ian is curious. 

“Yes, but a Far Darrigs tend to torment people or make them slaves if you don’t know the magic phrase to keep yourself safe.” Haechan says. 

“What’s the magic phrase?” Kurt asks, still with his eyes opened wide. 

“You will not mock me!” The merman speak simultaneously. 

Poof 

“Hey! I am nothing like cousin!” Delcan appeared. “Although, a magic phrase spoken by magic merman still counteracts my magic. I won’t be able to cloak for a little while now.” He takes the coffee from Jaehyun and chugs it. He swirls his finger over the top and the cup refills, hot and steamy. “This will refuel my energy lickety-split!” 

“You’re…you're…” Kurt mutters and blinks multiple times. 

“Yes! Consider yourself lucky. I don’t know what it is about you two humans, but I trust you and like you. I already said I would help. Only, I can’t help you with the cape.” He jumps onto the hospital bed and sits down. “It goes against Irish Lore Dli.” 

“Irish Lore Dli?” Kurt mimics. 

“Yes! The law of wee folk! Irish Merrows can not be captured by another magical creature of Irish decent by their capes. If I were to even attempt to touch a cape, not in a manner that may be aiding, courteous, or life saving, I could undergo an evil curse! I don’t want that. I just only gained my freedom. I wish for it to say that way! I need to check on all of me pots of gold! I will help you realize a simple solution to aid you.” Everyone leans in. “I was not the only one to escape that prison.” He snaps his fingers and disappears. 

“Did you really disappear? Or are you hear with us still?” Ian looks around and starts to grab around the air. 

“Mermen?” Kurt looks at Haechan and Jaehyun. “How is it you do not have magic like Corala?” 

“We do, it’s just different and not very strong away from water. We are not of Irish decent. We were told we are Asian. Whatever that means?” Jaehyun says. 

Kurt and Ian chuckle. “What’s so funny? Tell me!” Heachan starts to shake Ian. “What is Asian and Irish? What would you two be? Give me more sugar!” 

“They are heritages around the world. There are almost 900 around the world. Asia happens to be where Asians originate. It is one of the largest on the planet. Irish would be from Ireland. Both places are fat from here. We are American. Which this country was built on multiple heritages migrating here and over thousands of years being how it is today. It is still very mixed.” Kurt explains. “You should go. I think my fellow officers were due to visits today.”

Back at River’s Edge Natural Area… 

“Do you guys know any easy way to catch other magical creatures?” Ian asks. 

“Well, sort of. Every magical creature is attracted to other sources of magic.” Jaehyun answers. 

“We don’t really have much experience with other creatures.” Haechan adds in. 

“No, but I do have an idea. One thing all magical creatures love is food. If we set out a nice banquet and douse it in some magic dust, I am sure something will show up.” Jaehyun suggest. 

“Ooo!” Haechan runs over to Ian and places his head on his shoulders. “You should make some of that yummy crusty crayfish!” Ian pushes him off. 

“We will have to catch some. What about this magic dust?” Ian speaks. Jaehyun snaps and a tiny glass vial appears with a cork in it. “What does it do?” 

“Well, this is from a pixie. You just simple take a pinch of it, think about what you want and toss it.” Jaehyun makes a whole bag of sugar appear. “It has to be simple. It can not heal or teleport you anywhere.” 

Haechan crosses his arms. “I hated that winter. That stupid pixie! She was always mean. With her jokes and pranks. I wonder what ever happened to her? She just up and left without a goodbye. Corala was very sad for a while.” He sighs. “I miss her! We need to hurry.” Ian opens up a compartment on the side of his truck and pulls out some cages and buckets for catching crawdads. The three walk to the area between the lake, river, and fenced in lake. Ian sets up the cages. The sun is begging to set around the area. Heachan and Jaehyun are eating lots of sugar from the bag. Before it was dark, Ian pulled out a couple dozen crayfish in a cage and dumped them into a bucket. They went back to his truck, where he began to prep them for frying. The merman watched carefully. When Ian picked up the first one to drop in the fryer, it disappears in a tiny cloud of green smoke from his hand before hitting the oil. 

Gasp! 

“What are you doing!” Haechan yells as he hugs the tiny crayfish. 

“This is how you cook them. Well, I cook them. Most just boil them or eat them raw.” Ian picks up another and it drops into the fryer. 

Gasp! 

Haechan disappears in a green cloud with his clothes lying on the floor. Jaehyun has a sad grim look on his face as he looks at the floor. 

“What’s wrong?” Ian asks. 

“The shriek and scream of dying.” Jaehyun replies. 

“Oh, I’m sorry.” Ian kindly says. 

“No. I get it.” Jaehyun says. 

“Well, for humans, we typically eat things that are dead. Eating something alive is wrong to us, unless it’s sushi. That would have to come from the ocean.” Ian attempts to console Jaehyun. 

“Ocean? What do you know about the ocean?” Jaehyun’s face becomes curious. 

Ian laughs, “Corala was inquisitive about it too. It’s a couple thousand miles away from here. Most of the planet is covered by it.” Ian stops frying and turns to face Jaehyun. “Would she be safe there?” 

“We have been told many of our kind venture to or from there. We always talked of going there one day. The Far Darrig told us our powers would work better in the sea water than in these lakes.” Ian pulls out the basket to the fryer and dumps the contents onto a plate with paper towel. “Will you take us there? After we free Corala?” Jaehyun asks. 

“Yes. If it means her protection and helping you guys out. I fear for whatever may be happening to her right now.” Ian answers. A few minutes pass and Ian removes the paper towel from the plate. Jaehyun arranges the crayfish to be presentable and conjures shiny decorative items to decorate the plate. 

“Let’s go find Haechan. I know how to cheer him up.” Jaehyun states and the two walk to the picnic area near the lake. “Reee, ereeech, reee!” 

“Gloop, gloop!” Haechan responds. He surfaces just his eyes and top of head from the water. Jaehyun holds out the bag of sugar and grabs a crayfish off the plate. He dumps it in the sugar. Haechan surfaced more and tries to grab the food. Jaehyun eats it and just smiles at him.  

“I know it was a scary thing to hear. If it is something you do not want toe experience again, you do not have to.” Jaehyun hugs Haechan.  

“So, what do we do now?” Ian asks. They set the plate on a rock near the shore and sprinkle the pixie dust over the food. Haechan stays in the water nearby and the other two hide behind some foliage nearby.  

Smack 

Ian hits a few mosquitos that were biting him. “You’re lucky these things don’t attack you.” The sun has completely set.  

Meanwhile… 

“We’re just about there.” A soldier looks in a rear view mirror of a hummer at Corala restrained in metal casing around her limbs, chest, and neck in the back seat. She glares at him unhappy. “Aww, don’t make that face. You will be very well taken care of from now on.” The vehicle stops at a gate with other soldiers. They inspect the credentials of the driver and allow them to pass. A couple hours went by and the vehicle stopped. The sun was nearly gone. The back door to the hummer was opened and a solider stepped out. Her grabbed Corala and drug her out. Bright flood lights turned on blinding her. She was drug into an elevator and made a decent down below the earth’s surface with a group of soldiers. The elevator ride took around 15 minutes. When the doors opened more soldiers were awaking with a team of scientists and doctors. 

“Welcome! My name is General Neil Reynolds.” A general walks over to Corala. She was begin held by her legs and shoulders off the ground in her restraints. “My, you are a pretty little catch we caught!” He taps her on the nose and she turns her face away. “I can see you need time to settle before we get acquainted. Take her to the isolation tanks.” They carry her off down a hallway to a large room with many cylinder metal tanks. A tiny round window was on the outside if each of them. Corala could see many water creatures within each tank they passed. In the center of the room was a large crane. They placed her on a flat surface attached to the crane. It raised her above the tanks and over to an empty one. They dropped her inside it. A soldier jumped in, by rope, and detached her restraints. Large metal rings were placed around her wrists and neck. He was lifted out fast and a couple thousand gallons of water was dumped onto Corala. Her fins and tail appear as she quickly surfaces and begins gagging. She tries to climb out of the tank and is pushed off the ledge. The lid to the tank is shut and a scientist walks to the window. Corala looks at her confused.  

“Don’t worry. You will adjust to the water. I can tell you spent your time in freshwater. This is water directly from the ocean.” She walks away. Corala is sad and stinks to the bottom of the tanks. She hugs her tail and rests her head on it for comfort thinking about her friends. 

The scientist walks into a room with monitors and  examines Corala. “Interesting…” She pulls out a walkie talkie and speaks into it. “Professor. Professor. Professor!” 

“What, what? I am at the pond making sure everything is prepped for her cooperation. Let’s cross our fingers she will.” The professor responds. 

“She’s different.” The Scientist speaks. 

“Different? How so?” The professor asks. 

“Well, for starters, she's…she’s…uh…” The scientist hesitates. 

“Just spit it out. What was her reaction to the water? How is her appearance?” The professor questions.  

“Stunning! Absolutely beautiful! She still maintained her feminine physic. She needs to adjust to the salt water, but did not display symptoms of suffocation. No fight was put up what so ever. Her tail is double, maybe triple, of her upper body. Very maintained, shiny gold and pink scales. Fins around her wrists, elbows, and behind shoulders. Dorsal, pectoral, and ventral fins. She seems to have, a few tentacles out of her ribbon down her backside. Her hair remained and she has not displayed any verbal communication, yet. She is sad and moping in the tank right now.” The scientists describes. 

“Really? Good work Carol. Continue to examine her. I don’t think she a decent from the Acheloos River or a daughter of a sea ruler. This is a very lucky catch we have indeed!” The professor explains. “Bring her a variety of food and see what appeals to her most.” 

Carol picks up a landline and hits the intercome button with a button labeled, Kitchen. “Bring me one of everything from the aquatic menu for sampling of a new specimen.” 

“Of course, Ms. Gaul. Should be there in thirty minutes or less.” A person responds. Carol walks to the window of Corala’s tank. 

“If you cooperate. There will be no need of violence. We are going to open the tank. Do not make an attempt to escape.” Carol looks up at some walkways above that have soldiers in place with guns. “We will lower a tray down with food for you. You may have anything you like. I'm sure after that long journey you are very hungry.” The tank was opened and tray was lowered with all sorts of fish, sushi, algae, vegetables, a slice of pizza, granola, and other food items of sort. Corala first ate the different types of algae that were provided. After, the corn and a couple sushi. She spit a lot of the seafood out, but did like the crustaceans and mollusks. To their surprise, she ate the pizza and tried all if the human food offered to her. Lastly, she ate a bunch of types of bugs. The ones with flavour were consumed fast. After she was done, she swam to the window of the tank and looked at Carol. The lid was closed and Corala returned to sitting at the bottom. Carol watched the footage of her eating and finished her analysis. After, she typed it up and sent it in an email to the professor. He reads it. 

“How interesting…” The professor says while reading off a tablet. 

“What?” A guys voice can be heard as the Professor stands at the edge of a lake. 

“You may have a new friend. One who can actually help and relate to you and a deeper level. Maybe…no no. It is wrong to force love.” The professor happily answers. 

“Love?” The guy asks. 

“Yes, yes. It has many forms. I am sure you will love her dearly as a friend, just as you do everything else here, but to be in love...that is different. Just go about your business. I will return later. Hopefully with her.” The professor turns around and walks away. He approaches a metal door within a large glass bio dome around a pond. On the other side is a lake that provides the water to the pond. 

Back at River’s Edge Natural Area… 

“Look! She’s eating them.” Jaehyun tells Ian. 

“Who?” Ian looks around and sees nothing. “I don’t see nothing.” Jaehyun stealthily walks behind the pixie as she eats. He is noticed and she takes off flying over the water. Haechan jumps up and clasps his hands around her. Magic begins to spark between the cracks of his fingers. 

“Calm down! We won’t hurt you. We need your help.” Haechan slowly opens his palms. The pixie flies around him and through the water examining his body. She circles around Jaehyun and Ian. 

“Here, land on my palm. I have a gift for you.” Jaehyun holds his palm out and the pixie abides. He sprinkles the remaining pixie dust over her and a green dress replaces the ragged cloth she was wearing. Tie up knee high socks in the same colour of green as the dress with white ribbon laces, a white corset, green gloves with white bows, and a white choker necklace appeared after. She bows to him. Haechan snaps his fingers and a tiny hat appears on top of her head as her hair is pulled back in a black bow. She looks up with a feeling of happiness and confusion over the generosity. 

“What’s going on?” Ian asks after seeing the pixie dust used. The pixie flies up and taps his nose. Ian flinches when he sees her. 

“You’re the man who was captured last. You’re human. What makes you so special? Here you stand with two delightful merman and my presence is a shock to you. What did Hugh want with you?” The pixie speaks. 

“He’s a madman. I was protecting Corala.” Ian answers. 

“Yeah, we need your help to rescue her.” Heachan speaks. 

“Corala? No woman by that name is imprisoned by Hugh. In fact, he has failed to regain hostage of anything magical since the day you escaped. Wait a moment!” She picks up a crayfish nearly her size and chomps into it. With a mouthful she asks, “Is she the one who freed us all? She looked so much like Lady Brinea.” 

“Yes! And we need Brinea's cape to help her. We know she is under some sort if enchantment.” Jaehyun answers. 

“Yeah…it is an odd magic. None of us were able to deflect its magic. This is so good! Humans are so great at making food!” The pixie says. 

“I'm glad you like it.” Ian knells down to her level as she sits with her legs out and a crawdads between her legs munching down. “My name is Ian. It makes me happy you enjoy my recipe.” 

“Ian…” The pixies stands up and wipes her mouth on her arm. “My name is Midge.” She bows. “I am very grateful for all of this generosity! I will help you. Only…” She closes her eyes for a moment to think. “I can’t directly summon you the cape. It’s powers exceed my own powers. If you didn’t already know, Brinea has repaired all the damage done at Hugh's place. I'm sure she has also altered humans to not notice his actions at all too.” 

“We know of someone who undergone that. His name is Kurt Solomon. A police officer. You man see him around and he will aid you if you need it be done.” Ian tells Midge. 

“Kurt Solomon…okay got it! Thanks again! Now, what I could offer to you in aid is to scope out the whereabouts of Hugh. We noticed Brinea can sometimes snap out of the enchantment for a free moments and is herself. We need a moment where Hugh is not present and her as herself. I will also find out where the cape is often kept. She doesn’t usually wear it. I will be back when I have more information! I will hungry then to for some more grub, anything you got will do!” Midge disappears. The guys all look at one another and just hang out for a while. Haechan and Jaehyun try to get Ian to swim in the lake many times and he refuses. After some hours, Ian returns to his truck for some sleep. He has another unusual dream. 

“Ian.” Corala’s voice whispers. He opens his eyes and sits up. He was laying on the ground near the lake. He spots Corala gesturing him to come forth. He stand so fast and runs toward her. He attempts to hug her and she disappears. “Over here.” She whispers again to his left. She is inside the lake with her head and end of her tail sticking out. Again she uses her finger to gesture him forth. Ian takes off his shirt and shorts and dives into the lake. He swims to her and gazes into her eyes. She combs wet hair out of his face. He attempts to kiss her and she disappears again. As he looks around, he is caught off guard and pulled beneath the water. Father and father he is drug. An image of Hugh laughing illuminates the water around him. After so long, he finds he can breath underwater. He looks around. His body begins to feel odd. Looking at his arm, fins begin to sprout. As he examine his other arm more appear and a tail wraps around his legs. “Ian.” He turns around to see Corala holding her hand out for him to take. When he grabs her hand and blinding white light takes over. When his vision regains, he is holding Corala’s hand as they fall down and dive into the ocean. The two swim around and dance throughout the ocean together as merfolk. Eventually, they hug and Corala pulls away grabbing his hands between them. He leans in for a kiss and she disappears. A round glass window becomes visible in front of him. He looks through it to see a scientist woman writing on a clipboard. She walks away and Ian leans back from looking through the window. It disappears and Ian looks around. 

“Please!” Brinea’s voice could be heard. Ian is pulled down through the water again. It becomes very dark. Soon after, Ian opens his eyes again to find he is back in the cell of Hugh's captivity. Brinea is leaning down as she did before to offer him food. When she stands this time, she is wearing the red cape and removes it from her face. “Take her to the ocean. Let her be free and safe from all this horridness.” Ian nods and everything disappears. A glow begins to shine blue. Ian finds himself standing near a pond. When he looks up, no sun can be seen. Only concrete. Looking forward he sees a fin splash in the water. He runs toward it and sinks fast. He is back at the River’s Edge Natural Area lake. He can see Jaehyun and Haechan playing with Corala. He swims forth, in human form, and joins in. After some time, he is chasing Corala and hears Jaehyun and Heachan calling his name. 

“Ian!” Haechan speaks. 

“Hey! Ian!” Jaehyun speaks.  

Ian’s eyes open and he wakes up to them hovering over him. “He covers his face fast with a hand. “Clothes!” He points to a cabinet. The two merman dress themselves, more easily than the previous times. Ian is mixing some powder in a glass of milk to drink. When the cabinet shuts, he turns around. “Has Midge come back? Can we trust her?” 

“We can count on her. It’s just that…” Jaehyun begins to speak. 

“We’re booored!” Haechan interrupts.  

“You were very sweaty and moving around I’m your sleep. Were you dreaming?” Jaehyun asks. 

“Yeah…about Corala and Brinea and you guys and…someone else.” Ian replies. 

“Coral reached out to us too psychically, very briefly. It is something she has been able to do. I assume her mother too. That tells us she is still alive. As long as she was not in danger she should be okay.” Jaehyun speaks. 

“Let's hope midge comes back soon. I don’t know what to do about your boredom, but I am going to watch a movie on my computer. You two can sit there and watch too.” Ian sets up his computer and the three watchable few movies to pass the time. 

At Hugh Hoffman’s ranch…… 

Midge has been stealthily observing and taking note of everything. She has managed to decipher the pattern in Brinea’s enchantment controlling her. The cape often moves and when she is not being controlled she has it on. This makes the situation confusing to deal with. Midge decides to leave a coded message within the hood of the cape just before Brinea would put it on. It took a few times, but Brinea returned a message begging for her to help Corala as much as possible and to please figure out the best plan possible. 

In the isolation tanks room… 

Corala is sitting at the bottom of the tanks hugging her tail. A tap is heard on the window and she looks up fast. 

“Good Morning! My name is Professor Dieter Heinshuul. I hope you did get some rest, because I have the whole day planned out for you. If you cooperate, it will go by smoothly. You may not even have to return to this tank.” The professor says. Corala nods her head and the tank is opened. The crane drops a platform with some clothes on it. Corala jumps onto it and pulls the T-shirt on with sweats after. “You are very civilized. I respect your decision to cloth yourself.” The platform is moved between all the tanks. The professor offers his hand in assistance to Corala off. She glares at him and hopes off on her own. He places a hand on her back between the shoulders and guides her out of the room. “This way…” They approach a door with two guards. “Has the subject been brought in yet?” 

“Yes, Sir!” The soldier responds. 

“Good, we can begin.” The professor takes Corala into the room. There is a large pool within the floor. Carol was leaning on a metal bar a few feet from the waters edge. The floor angles downward from the metal barrier to the pool. Something leaps up to try and grab Carol and slides back into the water. Corala stops walking and has a look of fear. “It’s alright, she won’t hurt you. Just walk over and take a look.” 

“Galalala loop, gloop, pop, pop.” Corala speaks. Suddenly a loud screeching scream is heard and causes all the humans to flinch while grabbing their ears to block out the sound. A mermaid leaps put of the pool to gaze upon Corala. This one is very much different from herself. Her entire body resembled a fish. She had no hair or skin. Just scales and fins. Her claws were long and narrow with a lot of webbing. Corala walks to the railing and looks into the pool at her.  

“Why have you brought me this…this…trickery! I sense she is not human, but what is she exactly?” The mermaid swims around defensively and fiercely looks at the Professor and Scientist.  

“Abalone, please relax.” Dieter speaks. Abalone hisses at him and all the fins around her face quiver. “No tricks. She is like you, in a way. Will you please just hear her out?” 

“Fine! But, this does not change things. Tell me, girl, who are you? Where did you learn our language?” Abalone asks.  

“My name is Corala. It is my native tongue. I have spoke it for many years. First learning it from my mother, before…” Corala hesitates and doesn’t want to put her mother or any of her friends in danger. “She was captured. I made friends with all sorts of aquatic creatures in lakes and rivers.” 

“Why are you so human? Prove to me you are like me, just speaking is not convincing me. Join me in here. You are not one of my sisters or relatives.” Abalone. 

“Go ahead Corala, dive on in. We have people ready to rescue and restrain her if she attacks.” Carol tells. Corala takes her clothes off and moves beneath the bar. She slides down the wall and splashes into the pool. Very quickly she took her mermaid form. Abalone swims around her and examines her body. The two begin to speak to one another in their native tongue of the ocean. Corala held her wrist restraints out and harpoon went into Abalones tail fast. She was quickly pulled out of the water and put to sleep by a dart and drug out of the room. Corala is worried and feels much sorrow for her and the situation.  

“Corala. You must know that I am aware of the different species of mermaids. I am aware you have magical powers. That is why the restraints are on you. Do not make any attempts for allies or escape. There is none and I do not wish to keep you in the isolation tanks. I am going to lower a ladder down for you climb out of there. Please do as I ask.” Dieter waits for her to exist the pool and re dress. He takes her to another room with just a table and chairs. The Carol watches from a two way mirror into the room. Everyone sits down.  

“When will I get to go home?” Corala asks. 

Dieter chuckles while leaning back in his chair some. From there, he leans his arms on the table and holds his hands. “Never.” Corala’s face becomes shocked and she almost cries. “This is your new home. The human world has no need and can’t comprehend the existence of magical creatures. I need you to tell me about you. Your life. Your home. Friends. I could at any moment have Ian terminated. So, please, just do as I ask.” A lot of time goes by and Corala evasively answers his questions and told lies. They ate lunch and Corala was brought to another room. She was told to walk inside and the door was shut behind her. A plastic window overlooked her from a control panel up very high in the room. On a intercome, “I will remove tour restraints.” The metal around Corala’s wrists and neck fall off to the ground. Metal clanking echoed the metal encased room. “Demonstrate for me some of tour powers. Just know that, teleporting will not work and the entire room is impenetrable.” A panel opens up and a bunch of animals enter the room. Some birds, a cat, a dog, a bunny, a goat, and tiny monkey. Corala summons a yellow-headed black bird. She uses it to dance with the other birds and sing songs. 

“Look professor!” Carol points to a screen and the bird is not showing up on camera. “I thought we modified all of our cameras to pick up all magic? How powerful is she?” 

“I don’t know. Let’s keep watching.” He answers. 

Corala’s is petting the dog and rubbing his belly. She summons a large juicy bone for him to gnaw on. Next, the goat grabs her attention and she mimics him bleating.  

“Enough Corala. Show us something more exciting and powerful. No more of this child’s play.” The professor shouts over the intercom. 

“Like what? I don’t use my powers very often unless I was escaping a human.” Another panel opens up and a soldier walks in. 

“How about this? I give you full permission to do as you please right now.” Dieter states. 

Corala walks up to the soldier and looks him in the eyes. He begins to sweat and seems nervous. She picks up the bunny and turns it into a woman who walks over and kisses the soldier. The two begin making out and Corala fills the area with a pink cloud of smoke. The cat turns into a tiger and begins to chase the couple around the room. Corala can not be seen anywhere. 

“Where is she?” Dieter asks and is confused to her presence gone on the cameras. They begin to shake and the screens all fill with white noise and static. Corala’s voice could be heard very softly, slightly raspy, through the noise. 

“Let me go! Or you will regret this.” She speaks. The screens all go black. The woman disappears back into a bunny, that the soldier is now holding while cowering to the tiger. A hand slams against the plastic window. Back up lighting comes on. Corala is floating in her mermaid form, only with a more fish like look to her face and the sharp teeth. She breaths on the window and it becomes covered by condensation on both sides of the glass. The scientists pulls out a tranquilizer gun and preps it. A slight chill brushes her neck and she turns around to find Corala standing there with her hair draped over her face looking down at the floor. Carol fires the weapon and the figure disappears. Dieter looks and sees nothing but a dart in the wall. He grabs Carol’s shoulder and she turns around panicked. Corala was hissing at her with sharp teeth and Carol thrashes her arms at Dieter. She is hallucinating. The plastic window is hit with a loud thud and cracks. Water begins to leak in and shapes into Corala. Dieter pulls out a vial of white dust and throws it at her feet. Corala passes out and all the condensation disappears. Carol stops freaking out and the power returns.  

“What happened? How did she?” Carol starts taking deep breaths.  

“Very unusual. We need to replace her restraints and drop her back into the isolation tank. I never would of guess her powers could be like this. I must consult a friend and old colleague of mine for further information.” The professor says. Corala is returned to the tank. She passes out and sinks to the bottom. 

While asleep, Corala begins to dream. Many images of creatures flash through her mind. One in particular showed her images of space and other worlds. She was also shown much of the earth. So many cries and pleas for her aid. The dream quickly became a nightmare. When she awakes, she quickly looks out the tiny window of her tank. Directly across from her, she could see Abalone all bandaged up. The two make eye contact and Abalone smiles at her. Corala manages to smile back and swims away with sorrow. She thinks about Haechan and Jaehyun. Whenever she used to feel this way, they would always try to cheer her up. Until that day when Coral decided she wanted an adventure.  

“Corala. I will forgive you for what you did earlier. I did give you permission and nobody was harmed. Just know in the future, I will take extra precautions. I want to show you something.” Professor Dieter pulls out a photo, printed on paper, and shows it to Corala. She freezes and stares blankly. It is of her mother and that man who was chasing her back at River’s Edge Natural Area. The two are smiling at each other, holding hands, and dressed in a formal wedding attire. “I do not want you to endure the same fate as your dear mother. But, those arrangements can easily be made. If you behave, I may actually allow you to visit with her.” He turns around. “Maybe…” The professor leaves and Corala is more frightened and angry. She lays down in the tank and holds herself wishing for this to all be a horrible horrible dream she will wake up from soon. 

The professor walks to the enclosed pond. A young man surfaces in excitement. He too has fish like fins and a merman tail. “Did you bring me my friend?” he asks. 

“No. Sorry. Not today. But, I do have something for you.” The professor hands him some scales from Corala and some from Abalone. “Hold these in each of your hands and concentrate.” 

“On what?” The merman closes his hands with the scales in each palm. “Wait!” The palm with Corala’s scales turn into two large cookies! “How?” The professor begins to laugh. The merman attempts to hand him a cookie. 

“Keep it. You earned it and your mannerisms excel that of anyone in all of Area 51.” The professor leaves and the merman enjoys his dessert. He beings to think. In his mind, he can seen Corala laying down sad in her tank. He still grabs the other scales and can see Abalone sulking with bandages in hers.  

“Abalone. I have never been able to see you before. Who is that pink and golden girl?” He speaks in his mind telepathically to her. 

“Corala. She may the one to grant us all our wishes. Please, do not let anyone know besides us.” Abalone responds back, also telepathically. “I too have been acquiring new traits.” 

“Okay. Maybe she is the one the professor mentioned joining me here at the pond. Maybe, you can help convince her to behave enough to be brought here. I really wish you could of stayed.” The merman finished his cookies and loos down at his feet and legs as he sat on the shore. As her returned to the water, his tail appeared, very similar to Jaehyun and Haechan’s. In the pond were many fish. Giant salt cubes dropped down from the ceiling to keep the pond more ocean like for the creatures who also reside within. A stingray, seal, starfish, eels, a dolphin, and many other fish were present. Mark begins to play and swim around with all them. 

Corala has more nightmares throughout the night. With no sunlight, she is unsure to how much time has passed and the nightmares are making it difficult for her to sleep. She feels very exhausted from the day before. Something she does not want anyone to know. She begins to swim around her tank. This is the longest she has ever gone without plenty of swimming or walking. She sees many employees begin to feed other creatures in other tanks. Corala looks through her window to watch. When someone passed, when tapped on her window and pointed to herself. The employee looked at a clipboard and examined the outside of the tank. They looked back at Corala and shook their head no before walking away. Some time passes and Corala begins to feel weak. Laying at the bottom of the tank she begins to look up and think.  

Telepathically she whispers softly, “Jaehyun…Heachan.” 

“Hi! I don’t know who they are, but my name is Mark.” Mark is swimming around the pond and stops when he hears Corala’s voice. Telepathically he asks her, “Are you Corala? Abalone told me of you. I want to see you smile.” 

“Yes…that is me. If Abalone told you of me, then I can trust you. I usually present all my mermaid friends with special gifts. With the restraints, I am unable to perform the simplest of spells. At the same time, being in this water has allowed me to excel in my abilities recently. I…I am loosing track of myself. Time feels endless and untraceable for me.” Corala starts to share. 

“I think it has been two days since you arrived. I was told you would join me in this pond if you cooperated.” Mark answers. 

“Pond. Are there others with you? Could we bask in the sun on the shore? Watch it rise and set with many colours?” Corala asks with her tone of voice less sad and soft. 

“Others? Like me? Or us? No. But, of the aquatic sort, yes. Definitely yes! We play and swim all the time. I am not sure what a sun is really like, but was told the atmosphere simulates it in here. The only colours in my sky are grey, black and the light of the lighting. What’s it like to do magic? How do you grasp it?” Mark says. 

“I want to show you the wondrous colours of the sky, one day. It is quite the sight to be seen. Magic…it has always come natural to me. Do you posses this skill? I am aware Abalone does not.” Corala becomes more into the conversation and starts to swim around her tank again. 

Mark is swimming around the pond, “Yes. But, very little. I was able to very easily with your scales. I never knew I could accomplish as I had so fast with no struggle. I am wondering if you would be able to teach me stuff. If we meet in person. I can only assume those scales were not given for me to use willingly. What else can you tell me? Have you ever met other mermaids before Area 51? That is the name of the place we are in.” 

Corala examines her tail and sees she is missing a couple dozen scales from her tail. “Area 51…” Corala takes a mental note to remember the name of where she is at. “My two bestest friends in the world are Mermen. We have grown up together in a place that took a days drive to come from with many others.” Her voice returns to a whisper and begging tone, “Please do not tell anybody!” 

“I won’t. Everything we are saying is between you and I. I was born here. My parents…my mother did not survive my birth and my father took his own life after some experiments.” Mark’s voice becomes grim. 

“Wow! I'm sorry. If I could hug you right now, I would. That is how my friends and I always cheered one another up. I suddenly feel awful. I used to complain about my life and didn’t realize how worse off others were. Yes, we would hear stories of our kind being killed or disappearing, but nothing like this place. If I’m given the opportunity, I will do what I can to free as many as I can. It’s just…” Corala stops speaking. She hears someone outside her tank. The lid opens and she is taken out of the tank by a claw on the crane. She is dropped into a smaller tank and it is sealed for no escape. Corala calmly sits and watches as she is wheeled to a room. The professor walks in. 

“Corala! Today, I am going to need some samples from you.” He opens a small hole in the side if the tank towards the top. “Please give me your arm. I need a blood sample from you. In this from and human. The professor takes all sorts of samples from Corala. She becomes very faint. When she is sitting in the chair, she starts to sweat and go warm. She is typically cold. The professor places bus hand on her forehead. “My dear, you are burning up. You must get some food into you. I am almost done and a buffet will be brought to you. I couldn’t have you eating before these tests for accuracy. Tomorrow, we shall see you states and actions with some tests I have for you. That may help me determine if you need to stay in isolation or not.” 

At River’s Edge Natural Area… 

“Go fish!” Haechan shouts. Jaehyun snaps his fingers and makes a largemouth bass fall on the table. 

“I keep telling you, you don’t have to do that.” Ian grabs the fish and drops it in a bucket next to him with other fish. 

Poof 

“Midge!” Ian, Haechan and Jaehyun shout. 

“Goodie! You’re all here. I think I have figured out the best way for you to get the cape.” She lands on the deck of cards and looks around. “What are you doing? Are these tarot cards or magician cards of some sort? This would be a lot for summoning.” 

“It’s a card game. There are many different kinds. With technology, nowadays, it is a slowly dying activity.” Ian answers. He sets his cards on the table. “What can you tell us?” 

Midge begins to walk around with her hands held together behind her back. “Everyday, Hugh walks outside to grab a roll if paper in a plastic bag.” 

“A newspaper. It has information about events going on around the area and sometimes world.” Ian interrupts. 

Midge stops and crinkles her face some. “Newspaper.” She returns to walking around. “Brinea makes him breakfast, which they eat at a table. Time will pass and he will sit in the chair.” She sits on the deck if cards and mimics what she has seen. “Puts his arms on the sides of the chair and pushes it back with his feet up on another part of the chair that pops out!” She stumbles and Haechan pokes her with his finger to save her from falling. “He turns on this rectangular box,” she draws a rectangle box with her hands out of pixie dust, “and watches it for hours.” 

“Lots of human watch TV, that does not mean he will he distracted.” Ian interrupts again. 

Midge flies up to his face and gets angry. “Listen!” She relaxes and returns to standing on the table. “He eventually falls asleep!” 

“Great! Sorry for interrupting. Please continue.” Ian becomes excited with anticipation. 

“When he falls asleep, Brinea often goes outside to tend a garden. She doesn’t wear the cape when outside.” Midge explains. 

“Let’s go right now! It’s been two days since Corala was taken. She is so sad!” Haechan speaks up. 

“But, I only watched them for two days. The reason I came back, is Hugh put in a new security system. He spotted me and attempted to recapture me. I have no idea where they are all located or what it’s capable of doing.” Midge says. 

“Hmmm… that is something we do need to figure out. Corala did not show up on my cameras, are you saying his system detects mythological creatures?” Ian says as Midge nods in reply. “Let's see if this can help. Let’s go.” Ian pulls out a drone and everyone walks to the outer fencing of Hugh Hoffman’s property. He flies his drone around the property and takes photos of all the cameras. After so long, Hugh shoots the drone out of the air with a shotgun. “Damn! Let’s get back to my truck.” They return to the truck and Ian pulls up his laptop. All of the photos he took managed to be sent to his computer. Of course, the start of the recording footage only showed Ian standing alone. “What sort of magic can you help to aid? Could you somehow cover up the lenses of the cameras so they could not see anything? Paint them? Put bags over? Or…” 

“I may be able to do that. You have to promise you will save me if I am captured.” Midge floats in front of Ian’s face. 

“Of course!” Ian reassures. 

“We will be able to teleport you in or out.” Jaehyun says. 

“Right. Maybe, in. Then, Midge can cover the cameras and I will be able to sneak out. Perhaps, you two would be able to speak with Brinea if there would be anything she could do to help us?” Ian plans out. 

“Whatever we need to, to save Corala. Life is so boring without her! I almost want to get captured myself just to be with her.” Haechan says. 

“Hey! That’s not a bad idea.” Ian becomes filled with ideas. 

“What!” Haechan’s eyes open wide and a bit scared.  

“Yeah, I doubt Delcan will be able to take all of us and this way we have someone on the inside.” Jaehyun adds in. “You’re the one who suggested it.” 

“But, I wasn’t being serious. I will think about it. Let’s just get the cape and try to speak with Brinea first.” Haechan answers. 

“Alright. We have a plan. Tomorrow morning we shall see how it all plays out.” Ian says. 

“Ugh! More waiting and boredom!” Haechan shouts. 

“How about some yummy food?” Midge asks. 

“Yes! That would be great.” Haechan gets excited. 

“Okay. Let’s go grab some grub. In fact, why don’t you try something else? I will take you to a restaurant. Midge, will anyone see you? You could eat off my plate or, I should be able to place it out of sight for you between me and the booth.” Ian begins to walk out of the back of the truck and looks at everyone. 

“Don’t worry about me! I will not be seen by anyone but you, for as far as humans go.” Midge smiles. 

“Okay. I will drive us. You all stay back here and stay seated. I will open this door when we are at the restaurant.” Ian closes the back of the truck and hops in the driver seat.  

(Do I add a funny dinner scene? Do they go laser tagging? Or glow mini golf? Or is it nearing to close to the end of the story for the cute and funny?) 

Area 51… 

“Corala…” Abalone whispers telepathically. “Corala!” Corala opens her eyes and swims to her window and looks across at Abalone. “How are you feeling? I want to warn you about something. I'm sure they will put you through an obstacle course to test you abilities.” 

“Obstacle course?” Corala asks telepathically and makes a confused look. She notices a camera focus closer on her. So, she begins to swim around her tank as Abalone still stares. 

“Yes. There will be objects to swim through, around, or with. They will time and record your speed and agility. Sometimes unsuspected things may happen to test your reflexes. I'm sure you will do fine. It’s just…I would rather you restrain from uses you magic to escape. The room and course will he a trap. They want to know how much they will be able to use you for their benefit.” Abalone explains. She flinches and cowards away from Professor Dieter approaching. He stops at Corala’s tank. 

“Good morning Corala. Are you ready for a day of fun?” He smirks. “Not like what you imagine, but you do seem a tad bit restless. How about some exercise?” The tank opens and a platform is dropped, like before, with clothes and lifts her out. They walk to a room with a playground of a sorts set up. 

“Grass!” Corala runs in and lays on the grass. She smiles and thinks of many memories of being in grass throughout her life.  

“It’s good to see you smiling. If you cooperate, you can be on grass anytime you want. When you are ready, go ahead and move about the room. Do as you wish and at times we will give you instructions for tasks. When we are finished here, we have similar equipment set up in a pool for you to do the same in your mermaid form.” The professor walks into a room with a two way mirror and sits with Carol and other researchers. A few guards are in the room with special gear on watching Corala closely. She sits up and looks around. One of the soldiers walks over and detaches Corala’s restraints. They hit the ground and the soldier flinches and aims his gun at Corala. She looks up glaring at him with her wrists still held out. “Do not do anything you may regret. I am allowing you the use of your abilities to par take in these observations.” She looks away and stands up. The soldier walks backward to his post. Corala approaches the slide and climbs up. 

Taking a seat, she pushes herself and raise her arms in the air. “Wee!” She runs around and relates her actions. After, she runs up some stairs and completes an animal matching game. From there, she turns around and crosses monkey bars. She skips the last one and jumps to the platform. Before her, is a rock climbing wall up to another slide. She proceeds and takes her way down a winding slide. There was no room for her arms, but she giggled all the way down. To the left, she climbed up a winding bar all the way to the top and slide down it. This made her a tad dizzy. When she stopped wobbling, she ran back up some stairs and jumped across some sectioned out pieces of plastic that rocked side to side. On the other side, she grabbed a handle above her head and kicked off the ground. She slide across and jumped onto another platform. A third slide was nearby and tunneled. She crawled up it and took a straight pole to the ground.  

“Could you start over? From where you began on the first slide and repeate what you did?” The professor asked over an intercome. Corala listens and does it exactly as she did before. “Good. Could you do it faster?” She listens. Could you do it running?” Again, Corala listens. 

“She has great stamina. Either she has similar traits as a child or has been around children at play on a jungle gym.” Carol writes some things down. 

“Yes, let’s see how she takes on this next challenge.” The professor says to Carol and the other researchers. He presses the intercome button to speak to Corala, “I want you do it anyway possible, in the fastest you could see it done. Use your abilities.” Corala relates her steps, but teleports herself to each activity. At the same time, she slowed down time and sped herself up. In just a few seconds she completed the challenge. “Very good.”  

“These readings are phenomenal! They exceed anything else we have present here.” Carol is examining some screens that detected magic. A wall opens up an obstacle course is in the new room. 

“Okay Corala. I will hit a button for a beep to sound. When you hear it, I want you to run and jump over the hurdles, crawl under the net, run through the tires on the ground, climb the wall, turn left, grab the rope to swing across the mud, make another left, jump onto the trampoline and jump over the horse, run up the stairs, walk across the beam, run down the stairs, jump through the hoops, make a left, climb up the net, down the net, and hit that button for another beep to sound.” The professor explains. Corala does this and repeated doing it many times. She begins to sweat. Something she has never experienced before. Before finishing the course this time, she fainted. A nurse ran over with a machine and tools to take her vitals. A bottle was handed to her after with water. “Open the lid and drink the water inside.” Corala is confused, but listens. “For now, that will be enough. You did very well. In fact, you broke record of all the specimens. I have a surprise for you.” The professor walks out and escorts Corala down a hallway. They enter a room with many employees eating at tables with trays of food. “Mark!” The professor calls over Mark, who was leaning on a wall. He grabs Corala’s hand and pulls it toward Mark. “I want you to meet Corala. Show her around the cafeteria, please. I will be back in an hour.” 

“Nice to meet you Corala.” Mark grabs her hand and kisses the back of it. “My name is Mark.” 

“Good boy. A gentleman with manners and hospitality. Just know, that all the soldiers in here are ready to attack, even if their mouths are full.” The professor exits the cafeteria. 

Mark walks Corala across the room to a line to get food. “What’s wrong?” He asks telepathically. 

“You remind me of my friends. I miss them terribly.” She answers back telepathically. She does not want the facility to know of them and end up trapped in this place.  

“You'll see them again.” Mark smiles. Corala’s stomach growl, and she blushes. Mark laughs and the two get trays full of food with everything offered. They sit at a table in the corner away from others. Across from each other they begin to eat. Corala look around the room. She makes eye contact with Mark and blinks her eyes real fast a couple times.  

“What just happened? Where did they go?” The professor was watching on the cameras. Shortly after, they reappear back on camera just eating.  

“I do wish they had cookies today and not brownies.” Mark says. Corala flicked her wrist with some food on it and two cookies appear on his tray. He gazes at them and then looks at Corala. How…” 

“Why did that solider look over at them like that?” The professor rewinds the footage and one of the soldiers at a table to  he side looked over as if he just seen a ghost. Nothing showed up on the camera of anything but them just eating. “Make sure you get a report of why he did that at some point today. My spies do not have good angles to view them. 

“I don’t have a choice. If a wish is called, I must grant it. I'm not sure how much I can grant. Usually, I would of made hundreds. This place makes my powers feel off. At the same time, I don't tire as I used to.” Corala explains telepathically.  

“That is the coolest! Do your friends grant wishes too? I can do some magic, but I need help of something else usually.” Mark looks excitedly as he speaks with no words to be heard aloud. 

“They do not grant wishes, but they can do magic. Unlike some others we knew, they did exceed there powers. We were once told it was from being around me so much.” Corala explains. 

“Told? By whom?” Mark questions. 

“By a Far Darrig.” Corala answers. 

“Oh. I have met one of them. What is it….you will not lock me.” Mark says while making a thinking face. 

Corala laugh, “You will not mock me.” The two laugh together and begin to talk aloud. Corala asked many questions. “What are soldiers? Why do they dress alike? What are all these other people? What is this food?” Mark does his best to answer everything. An hour passed and the professor showed up. He escorted her to a room with a large pool. Inside the water and out of the water were obstacles. Mostly, giant ring, small rings, bars, and some floating items on the surface of the water. Corala made her way into the water. As before she had to run the course over and over. She would leap out and through rings. Other times, she would grab smaller rings and pull herself from one to the next. In the water she would swim through rings, around poles, under and over bars. Sometimes she would knock floating balls into the air by her tail or arms. This went on for hours. Corala was having fun having the chance to swim and play. Lake before, she had to utilize her magic abilities.  

“Your not going to hurt me? I promise I will not harm you or the soldiers in here. Well, I will try not to harm the men here. I'm not really sure what hurts humans or what they can withstand.” Corala looks into a camera as she wades in the water. 

“Do as you like, do not attack and we will remain civil.” The professor answers. Corala crates a wave of water beneath her and zooms through the course fast. Many of the waves splash the soldiers. “What else can you do with the water. Forget about the course.” Corala creates a typhoon with herself in the center. She raise high up to the ceiling and it forms around her body as If she was sitting on a high backed chair. She summons all sorts of fish to rain from the water around her. When they hit the water they all begin to float. Corala drops and ceases everything. She grabs one of the floating bass and hugs it. 

“What happened to them? Why is this water different than the lake you took me from?” Corala asks with sorrow. 

A team of employees run in an begin to scoop out all the dead fish as the professor speaks, “These fish are freshwater. The echo system you grew up in is all fresh water. Rain that falls from the sky is also freshwater and when it is treated that is what is human drink or use to create other beverages. Typically, mermaids are from the ocean.” Corala looks up. “Do you know it?” She shrugs slightly. “Have you ever been there?” Corala shakes her head no. “The ocean is salt water. There are a couple hundred thousand species in the oceans across the planet. Plus, millions we have not determined or been able to discover, yet. 71 percent of our planet is covered by the ocean and we have only discovered about 5 percent. Perhaps, you and Mark could help me explore more of it.” A projection of some common aquarium salt water fish shows on the wall. “Could you summon any of these?” Corala still holds the dead bass in her hands. She closes her eyes and a cloud of pink surrounds the area. After, a baby dugong is in her arms. She hugs it and begins to show it how to swim around. She summons some kelp and feeds it.  

“You have a home for this little guy? He will not disappear.” Corala says. Carol walks in with a tank and they place the dugout within it.  

“I will take it to Mark.” Carol exits the room. 

Corala returns to using powers. She makes another tidal wave and it turns to ice. She breaks it from the ice pool and the two hard surfaces clash with one another and shatter into lots of shiny glistening crystals. Corala slides across the slippery surface and starts to loose her tail and fins. Quickly, she jumps up and dives through the ice beneath the water. The ice quickly melts and steam begins to rise from the water. The entire room fills with fog. Nothing can be seen. Corala summons a yellow-headed black bird and teleports it throughout the facility. She examines everything and sees there are thousands of different creatures. They were divided between, humans, earth animals, magical/mythological, Aliens, mechanical, and artificial. She is unable to teleport the bird outside of the facility and believe the only exit is out the elevator she came down and a few ladders throughout the facility. She sees Mark in the pond and the lake nearby. The fog begins to disperse and she makes the bird disappear. She did see many screens and maps of the entire Area 51 and has an idea of what to do the next time opportunity is presented to her. Corala had crawled on the ground and began to breath heavily in exhaustion. 

“That will be all for today.” The professor reattaches her restraints. Corala was taken back to the isolation tank. Telepathically, Corala tells Abalone all about the facility she examined. The two begin to think and plan.  

Before Corala had fell asleep, Mark spoke to her, “I want you to know, I had a dream today when I was napping. I had seen you, with two others. You all seemed so happy and to be having lots of fun. I wish that we could have that fun and for all of us to play together. Even Abalone and some of the other begins here.” Corala’s left restraint on her wrist fell off. A soldier came in fast and removed all of them and put on new ones. 

River’s Edge Natural Area… 

It was early morning and the sun was barely colouring the sky. Ian got ready and walked out to the lake with Midge sitting on his shoulder. Nobody was around the lake. He could see many bubbles out near the center.  

He cuffed his hands around hut mouth to project his voice, “Reek, keep, leak, leap, keep, beep!” Midge breaks out laughing. “Hey, learning a new language is hard. I’m not sure how they managed to do it.” 

Midge flies in front of his face, “Magic of course. But, they would have to grant you how. I don’t know it myself and could not ever, seeing as only aquatic creatures are capable of allowing you their native tongue.” She circles around him. “Say, German or Latin, now those I could easily grant you. Seeing as humans do not have any laws within the mythical world.” 

“Mythical world?” Ian questions. 

“Yeah, we all have our own laws or guidelines. Pixies and Fairies do not follow the same rules. As you have seen, there are different types of mermaids. Not all of them can walk on land. Werewolves and vampires may both be nocturnal, but one can walk in the sun while the other can maintain their powers at all times. Maybe, after all of this is done, we can teach you more.” She flies back to his shoulder and rests her head on his. “You are a much nicer human than that awful Hugh. I want to go somewhere new, but I don’t know of where and can exactly teleport myself there without ever have bending there before. One of those pixie rules.” 

Splash 

“Did you call us?” Jaehyun and Haechan surface from the lake. Haechan stretches and yawns.  

“I tried.” Ian answers. 

“It was a good try, but very human. Please don’t ask my to explain jt.” Jaehyun says. 

“Here’s the plan I was thinking. You guys teleport me inside, right after Midge blocks the cameras. Then, you two try to talk with Brinea. I don’t think it will take me long to find the cape, but just encase it does, Midge come find me or help me. When I exit the home, depending on if you are getting through to her or not, I will join you or flee fast. From there, we will meet back at my truck and try to contact Delcan. If he's not already here.” Ian explains the plan. 

“No, he’s not. I would be able to see him.” Midge answers. “I will go watch and send a signal for you to initiate the plan.” She disappears. Not too much time passes and some pixie dust sprinkles in the area. Jaehyun and Haechan teleport Ian inside the home of Hugh and Brinea and themselves to the lake nearby within the fencing. As they were told, Brinea went out to her garden after Hugh fell asleep in the recliner. Ian begins to walk around the house. He forgot to ask about the set up of the place. 

“Look. Around her neck.” Haechan whispers.  

“I know, but we can’t really do nothing. It’s a weird magic. It feels like Corala, but different…” Jaehyun whispers back. The two slowly surface in the lake. Brinea catches glimpse of them and slowly turns her head. She is gazing blankly. In a few moments, the sharks tooth necklace and Cassiterite gem begin to glow. A cloud of (colour) dust surrounds her head. She begins to blink a bunch and looks around.  

“You!” Brinea quickly dives into the lake and appears between Haechan and Jaehyun. She hugs them both. “Where is my Corala? You all need to leave. I can’t over power the magic of this sharks tooth. Sharks are our enemy and a megalodon is unbeatable to us, be careful in the ocean. Take these.” Brinea let’s the guys go and claps her hands together and two Kyanite charms accompanied there bracelets. “Take Corala to the ocean and these shall help you. They belonged to her father and I, long before we left the ocean to see the world on land.” She quickly disappears and reappears on shore and grabs Ian. She summons a bracelet, just like Corala, Haechan, and Jaehyun's, it had only the pyramid charm on it exactly like Corala’s. “You take this. I can’t go on forever protecting it. You all must leave now, and never return here.” She makes them all disappear in a giant flash of (colour) smoke. Midge joins them in the parking lot of the park. Ian shows everyone the cape and they all cheer. Suddenly, a couple of army men drop out of the sky with parachutes. They point gun at them. Midge manages to rescue Ian with the cape. A lot more of the army show up and capture Jaehyun and Haechan. They cast magic to make their charm bracelets disappear for safe keeping. A helicopter arrives as they are being restrained and are escorted to the Area 51 base. They are greeted by General Neil Reynolds and taken to a special holding room with a pool. Both are scared and upset, but slightly happy they can sense Corala. 

She is swimming around her tank with a look of confusion and worry. “Abalone. Have you ever had contact with anything besides from within this room. Or even this section of the facility?” Corala asks telepathically. 

“Yes. Creatures that resemble me, but not aquatic in any form. From, space, they say at times. Not very often, and it is always brief. Why do you ask? I’ve never seen them.” Abalone responds. “I know you met Mark. We often speak to one another.” 

“Ever, since the other day, when I went through the whole place, things have been speaking to me. Calling out for aid! Begging me!” Corala grabs her head around the temples and clenches her body. “I don’t know what to do! I can’t help right now! Please! Let me think!” Corala telepathically shouts throughout the whole facility. Nearly everything non human reacts to her pain. Readings begin heightening on all sorts of monitors.  

“Corala!” Abalone, Mark, Jaehyun, and Haechan all shout simultaneously to her telepathically. 

“Ahg!” Corala begins to shout out loud. It turns into a high pitched shrieking wailing sound. Everything glass shatters throughout the isolation tanks room. Water begins pouring out and creatures make attempts to gather to Corala. Abalone becomes in a trance, along with Mark in the pond and the other creatures reading within that area, and Haechan and Jaehyun watch knowing they can do nothing. They look at one another with fear. 

“Corala…” Jaehyun whispers. 

Haechan hugs him, “What’s happening to her? She sounds scary. What are all these other things in this place I sense?” The isolation tanks end up under a level 8/10  level protocol and soldiers with other employees begin to detain all the loose creatures. Corala wades in the water within her tank looking up. So many voices are speaking to her. Different dialects, tones, words, sounds, all sorts are filling her mind. She has not sensed her friends through the commotion. Suddenly, a high pitched electrical frequency emits over the intercome if the whole facility. 

“No! Not the Pickedge!” General Reynolds shuts down power to the aquatic sector. 

“What are you doing!” Professor Dieter Heinshuul shouts over a walkie. 

“It must be done. This is the work of a specimen out of the Violet sector. I will not allow this in my facility. He is using your new little mermaid to make some sort of an attempt. Only that sector seems to be reacting. They are all displaying signs of control, just like the Pickedge usually does. Give me a moment and he will be put to sleep and in an isolated dome.” The general replies. The professor enters the isolation tanks room. As he makes his way to Corala’s tank, many of the creatures attack him. Abalone confront him. The room has water nearly to the human’s knees. Her eyes, along with everything else in the room, are solid black and vicious. 

“Abalone. I know we have had our differences, but whatever you are attempting will not free you from this place.” The professor attempts to reason with her. She hisses and the fins in her tail merge together into a sharp edge. Corala screams again when the ring noises returns as second time. The restraints around her fall off and she appears between Abalone and the professor. Corala stares at Abalone.  

“All humans in this place must be punished, who are not being mistreated themselves!” Abalone's voice speaks with another’s simultaneously. Abalone shrieks and grabs her head as she falls to the ground.  

“The Pickedge has been isolated. I will return power to your sector now.” The general speaks over the professor’s walkie. Corala rushes to Abalone and drapes her over her lap. She looks up at the professor and Abalone's eyes return to normal as she turns her head to look at him too. 

“She didn’t mean to. I didn’t mean to. Something…Something else here took hold of me. When my restraints broke off…I could see…I could see it. I think. I don’t really know what it was.” Corala pleas. 

“I believe you. Both of you. However, I have rules and these tanks will be prepared post haste.” The professor grabs his walkie and changes frequencies. Corala drops Abalone and claps her hands. Everything in the room returns to normal and its tanks. The soldiers look around confused and all the tranquilizers were gone and anything dead was now living again. “How…” 

“Please…I don’t want anything or anyone hurt. This was an accident and I fear being controlled like that again.” Corala is standing and looking down at the floor. The professor places new restraints back in her and she is returned to her tank. For dinner that evening, she was given a bunch if algae tablets. She did not mind, but really wanted more human food. 

“What do you think happened?” A man asks Professor Heinshuul. He and many others are gathered in a meeting room to discuss what happened at the Area 51 base. Doctors, scientists, soldiers, and other educated people from throughout all sectors of the base are present.  

“Without having studied this, Pickedge, I am denied any knowledge over, I can only go based off of what General Reynolds has relinquished to me. General.” The professor speaks aloud and takes a seat in his chair. The general approaches a podium at the front of the room. 

“At 14:00 hours today, a specimen, known as a Pickedge, from the violet sector, also know as Alien Attention, made contact with a specimen, a mermaid…” 

“Irish Mermaid.” The professor interrupts. “Her name is Corala and she speaks just like the rest of us, eats like us, but definitely is not human at all times.” He sits back down. 

“Corala, in the blue sector, also know as Magical Mysteries, and took control of her. Some of you know, that taking control of humans is known of by the Pickedges, but has never been done without replacing ones spinal cord. We believe this connection was done telepathically. At the same time, the Pickedge somehow tapped into the electrical systems for the blue sector. Possibly using Corala. Unless, Corala did this herself?” The general explains. 

“It is a possibility, but the readings shown during this event were not matching the ones taken from any of our observations.” The professor stands and turns on a slideshow on a projector of photos and footage during the attack. “When this all happened, the Pickedge somehow took control of Corala. He tapped into powers, I believe she did not know and maybe still does not know, she had. We have seen some of our other mermaids, like Abalone here, with the ability to control other aquatic creatures. As you can see by these photos, there are many differences between these two mermaids. Corala, has never displayed and signs of control and this situation has left her frightened. During one of our tests, she felt much sorrow over a bass dying from her hands, simply from no knowledge between salt and fresh water. However, Corala does have exceptional magical powers. From the dead bass in her hand, she gave it new life as a baby dugong, which is thriving here. We are unsure what all she can accomplish and research is being done none stopped to collect everything we need. However, I really would like permission to at least hypothesize with at least one person knowledge of this Pickedge. A connection between it and Corala must be there. I'm not sure how long it’s been here, but for over two decades nothing from my sector has ever connected with anything outside of blue. Many mythological creatures stay segregated. Pixies and fairies, even though they are every different, to aquatic life and weather they are human or animal. A centaur does not acknowledge a unicorn and vise versa. However, the aquatic life forms do take liking to all one another regaurdless if they have magic capabilities or not. My merman here lives a normal life as if it were an aquarium attraction.” The professor turns off his projector.  

“Merman? Are you breeding here? I was denied that right in the red sector. What’s so wrong with a robot that can have a baby?” Someone in the crowd shouts. 

“And that will still never happen! Robots and mechanical things are not living and are not meant to be bread. They are designed to be built!” The general aggressively shouts. 

“Yes, some breeding has taken place and as the general mildly explained it is all done by nature. Nothing altered by humans.” The professor adds in. “In the near future, I will be making a request for a breeding program on some of my subjects, but that is of no concern right now.” 

“Sir! I volunteer to share certain information about the Pickedge to see if we can find that connection between the two. I understand what would be considered useful and secretive.” A doctor raises his hand from the crowd.  

“I suppose, we must so this does not happen again. I fear what may happen if some other things here are able to reach out to this Corala. Hell, a woman like her could have most of the men here caught in a pre pubescent state if she does take her human form. All I know is, when something happens that I don’t have an answer to, I need it answered!” The general slams his fist down on the podium. “Get back to work!” The room clears and the doctor walks up to Professor Heinshuul and his top scientist Carol Gaul. He shakes both of their hands. 

“Pleasure to meet you both. My name is Doctor Liam Malt. I know it’s not typical for socialization between people here, but I am eager to get to know you both.” The doctor leans in to them both with a hand shielding his mouth and whispers, “Between us, the General is a hard ass!” Please, could I see this Corala? The Pickedge is still unconscious right now.” The three walk to the isolation tank. The doctor looks in to see Corala sleeping. “Uh…wow…you…I saw…I…she’s…stunning. In person, she exceeds her photos. Does the glitter and glow not show up on camera?” 

“What?” The professor shoves him out of the way and looks in. Corala has a golden glow around her body with pink glitter floating all around her like steam. “No!” He knocks hard on the glass. “Corala! Corala wake up right now!” She opens her eyes and stops glowing.  

“Hello professor. I was really exhausted from earlier. I didn’t notice I fell asleep.” Corala smiles some. “I was dreaming. You were there.”  

“Tell me about this, dream…” The professor asks and Carol pulls out her tablet to begin taking notes. 

“I seen you walking down the halls. You went to the room where I first met Abalone. Inside the water, were these two merman. Like me, you asked them many questions, took samples of there DNA, and directed them to do things.” Corala looks down with a sad look. “Unlike me, you took them to a place I have not been. There was lots of grass and a warm lighting. I seem many other creatures you showed me through pictures. Mark was there too! One of the merman scared him and you talked him into not hiding and the other two into relaxing. Shortly after, I woke up and was here.”  

“He, he, ah, ah, ha, ha!” The professor begins to laugh and walks away with Carol and Liam. They enter his office.  

“What’s so funny?” Liam asks. 

“How did she know?” Carol asks. 

“Know what?” Liam adds in with confusion and curiosity. Dieter points to a photo on his wall. It is of a wedding party that he is best man in. “That bride looks very much like Corala.”  

“Ohhh…that would be her mother.” The professor answers with a smile as he prints some things from his computer and grabs them out of the printer. He throws photos on the table of Jaehyun and Haechan. They were captured at the same place as Corala. Where my beat friend Hugh and his wife Brinea live right near. The government is aware of her presence and from events in the past Hugh is allowed his lifestyle. Corala was trying to coax me into believing she does not know these guys. So far, they seem just like Mark, just with a higher handle on there powers, but nothing like Corala’s. What I want to know, like you asked Carol, is how or what is helping her. Twice, Corala’s restraints have broken.” Dieter pulls one out from the drawer of his desk to show.  

“That looks like a standard restraint from the base. But, something feels off about it. What is this spike? Ouch" Liam touches the restraint.  

“A sharks tooth, m' boy! The natural enemy of a mermaid. Other than that, it is said a mermaid is unstoppable when properly trained or sourced with certain amenities. Between this and scales of other mermaids, we are able to control many of the magical creatures here to our likings. Of course we do use some of their magic as well, but a mermaids magic never fails.” He drops another photo on the table. “This is who we need to watch out for. His name is Ian Graider. All of his possessions have been requisitioned. Even his cell phone was found in a grocery store. He is human, but he is being helped by some magical creatures. To our knowledge, he should not be able to get in here, but who knows.” 

Somewhere in Loveland, Colorado… 

Ian buys a bunch of potatoes, red, yellow, brown, purple, tan, gold, pink, and pretty much everything he could find. He also bought a pot with some gallons of water. He and midge went back to the natural area beneath one of the bridges. She helped him boil all of the potatoes. Of course she ate some, but Ian set the pot out and had her sprinkle pixie dust over the pot. Before the sun set, Delcan appeared. Ian did not see him, buy Midge pointed him out. I am grabs Delcan and he disperses his cloak. 

“Drats! How did you…oh. Hi Midge. I had been begin to miss everyone from Hugh's. I see you've drawn a liking to this man too. Say…” Delcan looks around. “Where are the other two? I was on the look out for them.” 

“There not here. It’s time to hold up your end of the words. You can keep all that.” Ian directs. 

“All of it?” Delcan asks excitedly. 

“Yes, the pot, the potatoes both cooked and raw over there, the water, all of it! I got the cape.” Ian says and Ian un buries the cape. 

“Oh! That is lady Brinea’s cape. You were successful! Just like I anticipated! With this generous offer, I have no choice but to grant you three wishes. Of course, I can not make you fall in love, I can not kill anybody, and no wishing for more wishes.” Delcan flips a gold coin with his face on it and holding up three fingers.  

“Heads!” Midge shouts. When Ian grabs it, it lands on the heads side. The other side had a pot of gold. When his flips it around, Delcan's hand now holds five fingers up. 

“Very good Midge. I am not angry. You know have 5 wishes, unless Midge wanted them herself?” Delcan asks. 

“No. I give them to Ian.” She makes a wish bone appear. “However, I do have one wish…” She holds it out to Delcan. He flutters his fingers and rolls his eyes. 

“Okay!” Delcan shouts and grabs the wish bone. 

Simultaneously, Midge and Delcan speak, “One-two-three!” The wishbone a snaps and Delcan growls some and gurgles.  

“Fine! You win. But, I will only go if Ian promises me another golden pot like this.” Delcan taps the cooking pot and it turns to gold. 

“Deal! Whatever it is, I will get you dozens of those in different shapes and sizes.” Ian states. 

“Oh, ho! Goodie be! Are you two ready? I will count to three! Ian, I know what your first wish shall be, and go ahead.” Delcan says with excitement as he jumps, clicks his heels, and claps within a jig. 

“Goodbye Ian.” Midge momentarily makes herself as large as human. “I will be of no use where you are going with the magic I just used, but Delcan will be there at your side until you come back here. Plus, wishes are very powerful. I think you know that already.” Midge disappears. Her voice can still be heard. “Thank you Delcan. I will tell all my friends of you and we shall be awaiting for tour return with gifts and a celebration! Save the mermaids Ian!” 

“Okay! For my first wish…” Ian flips the coin into the air. “I want you to take us to where Corala is, but a safe place.” The five fingers turn to four and Ian catches the coin. 

“Of course. Remember, my life is on the line and I am an honest Leprechaun. Now, a wish from my cousins a Far Darrig…that could not go as planned. Ian asked and Ian wishes, help us get to those fishes!” Delcan grabs Ian’s hand and the two disappear. 

Ian and Delcan land in the desert. Ian faxe plants and rolls some as Delcan holds his arms out to catch his balance.  

“Where are we? I don’t see nothing!” Ian asks as he pushes himself up and takes a stand ,while being defensive to look around. 

“This is where she is. I swear! You said safe and I really don’t want to be here, but am bound by the wish.” Delcan responds. 

“For my 2nd wish,” Ian flips the coin. “I wish for a device to help me locate ourselves, enemies, an layout of the area.” Delcan makes it so and an advanced cell phone appears. 

“Don’t worry. Nobody will ever be able to detect that, beside a magical begging, but they would not have much interest in it. Other than the magic and it should be indestructible!” Delcan gloats. Ian turns on what looks like a futuristic smart phone. For being 2014, a touch screen was something not common, but was very easy for Ian to adapt to. He turns it on and sees there are many land mines within the area. He does a more in depth scan to find thousands of bi signatures below them. Directly below them, he sees many fin shaped projections. One, he knows is Corala.  

“I found her! You did it!” Ian picks Delcan up and spins him around. They get close to a land mine and it explodes! Ian dives them off the side for cover. He looks at the phone and sees sensors turning on in the area of the mines activation. Miles away, robots have been deployed to investigate and terminate them. He is able to Jack into the robots orders and programming. “For my third wish,” Ian flips the coin. “I wish for gear and weapons to aid us in our success over this rescue!” The coins rotates in the air and lands heads up with Delcan’s face showing two fingers showing on his hand. Ian is quickly equipped with bullet proof armour around all of his vitals on his body and a fitted spandex suit to accompany the test of his body. Many weapons, unknown to him covered him and Delcan. 

“Attention! Items from the violet storage locker have just gone missing. Green glitter and a cloud of smoke appeared around the items as they disappeared. Our senses show they are still close by I  the area, but not reading within the base. An unknown lifeform and human have been detected on the surface without passing through any of our barriers, whether they be on the surface or air.” A voice speakers over Liam’s walkie. Dieter switches the station of his walkie to hear similar reports. The base begins to rile up. 

Haechan and Jaehyun suddenly stop swimming within swimming throughout the pond. Both look up and gaze heavily concentrated. Mark swims around both of them with curiosity over what caught there attention with other beings of the lake. The baby dugong has surfaced on the beach and began to focus facing one direction. Where Corala is. Suddenly, Mark freezes. He can hear Corala’s voice. She is meditating within her isolation tank.  

“Mark! Please concentrate as much as you can and help everyone else do the same!” Abalone directs. He stops and closes his eyes. 

Ian takes a weapons off the back of his chest and begins to aim, miles across the desert. He can see the robots incoming. With precise aiming, he takes then all out. Taking advantage of the time, he looks at his phone again of the area. He begins to help guide Delcan through the land mines. Along the way, he picks up many other signatures calling out to him. Some magical and others being electrically superior. Ian makes an attempt to connect with them through the device. Immediately, the phone shocks his hand floats above his face. A grey light absorbs him and Delcan. The two appear within the base. Face to face, Ian walks up close to an alien being. Strapped in many restraints and wires, the two share memories. Ian’s being happy and positive and happy with Corala or his life. The alien’s memories showed Ian of life beyond the planet, seclusion within, and mixed of both bad and good within the facility. Towards the end, he seen Corala and the aliens attempt to free everything within the base. Ian holds out a device from his chest, it is unknown to him, but felt right. It launched an orb like barrier around himself, the Alien, and Delcan. Soon after, the three of them were quickly proceeding down hallways of the facility. At one point, the alien froze and began to glow a (colour) colour.  

“Ian!” Jaehyun and Haechan call out to him as soon as he hit the surface above the base. They were not restrained once put within the pond. The directed all of their powers to help aid Ian in the direction of feeing Corala 

Corala stops swimming around her tank. She senses Haechan and Jaehyun using there powers. Filled with joy, she also sends so much going on throughout the facility. Corala freezes. She looks straight head and can see out her window to Abalone, who is glowing a dark green colour within her tank. An hour passes and Corala is filled with an uncontrollable energy again. As before, she shrieks and is shatters all the glass within the facility. Last time, it was only the room she was in. The same time, she saw Ian within the walls of the facility. She let go of all fight and the whole base became overrun with the ultrasonic signal to cause everything to cringe, halt, and beg for it to stop.  

“Ear plugs are available at every medic station. This is a level 9/10 situation. The base has been breached and we need everyone available at there posts, post haste!” The general repeated one the intercome and all radio frequencies. “Top level advances have been advised. Not in an Area 51 uniform or specimen, destroy. Anything attacking you, destroy if you can not apprehend.” 

Ian watches the alien display actions and can see Corala in her mind displaying the same things. Corala’s section becomes overrun as before. This time, she decides to join all of her aquatic comrades. Abalone summons a golden trident. She takes to eliminating every solider within the room. Corala manages to revive all fallen creatures who have escaped from the tank. The force takes over again for her to shriek aloud. The restraints break and fall off. Corala can sense everything within the base. Every camera is visible through her eyes with all electrical devices. I am draws her attention. He is attacking his way through the base to her. Corala focuses and breaks out of the control one her. She looks at Abalone. A title wave is summoned and filled the entire area with water. Everything make its way through halls to the main entrance. The water splashes pit and drains away below the room. Many of her friends begin to flop around on the floor. Ian bursts through a door. She slowly gains her husband form and the two run to one another. As they hug, the alien overwhelmed them both. Ian wrapped Brinea’s cape around Corala6nexk before she disappeared. 

“Please! Help everything have freedom of this place!” He speaks. Corala looks into the eyes of the alien creature; Pickedge. She can see through all of the facility, again. Through his eyes. She finds her friends and is teleported there immediately. Within the lake, she freezes and becomes mesmerized by the warmth of the artificial sunlight. Quickly, Haechan and Jaehyun squeeze her. She snaps put do her daze. 

“Guys!” Corala shouts. She see Mark. “MARK!” she swims through her friends and grabs him close. At the same time, she taps into the aliens mind and shares the next situation with him. “You once asked a high desire of me, I can not relate the words. But, if you can find them now, it will make all the difference.” 

Mark hugs Corala. “I wish for everything that has been calling out to bento cease it’s sorrow.” 

“I wish to have fun times again!” Jaehyun ask and hugs Corala and Mark. 

Haechan warps himself around them all, “I wish, for Ian to make us all a banquet of that yummy crayfish at the ocean!” Corala disappears and everyone looks around. Everything that had been calling out to her makes their wishes too her way the same time, including the alien aiding Ian. Corala leaps into the air and a bright golden pink clod overwhelms the entire facility. Every single specimen had disappeared with many soldiers. Freedom is all they wanted. When Corala landed in the water of the lake, her aquatic friends had all grabbed her and teleported themselves to the ocean. Ian could no longer sense Corala. 

“For my fourth wish, I wish for you to take me to Corala. Put her in my arms!” Ian shouts as he flips his coin. Near the beach, Corala lays draped over his lap. “Corala…” Ian whispers and brushes hair out if her face. She opens her eyes and looks around. To herself she can feel everything that was at the facility still; only with peace within. She sits up to see her friends and the ocean laid out. Before her with a beach. She looks ar th bracelet on Ian’s hand. Her mother flashes through her mind and she drags him into he water. Far below the water's surface she takes him. Bubbles surplus them both. After time, Corala and Ian both appear with mermaid form. Many others like them as other form the facility disappear throughout space. Jaehyun and Haechan’s Kyanite charms glow. In the gate distance, many others od there kind be heard. Corala, makes her goal to check in on so much, no having the power of her mother’s cape. Midge, was relived of their success. Friend her mother was possible, and she took her back to Lake Granby, along with places I  space she had never thought of beyond earth. Within afresh days, she was back in the oceans with all her friends to begin a new life with new friends.