Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

Although he was a merman, he loved adventure. Especially adventures to see the surface and exploring shipwrecks. Caine, with his red tail, loved exploring sunken ships to get a glimpse of human life. Bubble, his companion, loved to be his partner, helping collect mysterious items from shores and shipwrecks. 

He was very different from the other merfolk. Although he was the king’s son, he was just adopted. His biological parents disappeared months after his birth. Kinger, the king of the sea, chose to adopt Caine along with his wife Queenie. 

Perhaps Caine got his love of humans from his mother, who knows? She would teach him everything she knew about the human world. Caine would have so many questions for her. Just like Caine, Queenie believed that not all humans were bad and heartless.

Tragedy would strike one day. On one of her trips to the surface, Queenie was discovered by pirates and was brutally murdered. Kinger tried to stop them, but it was too late. He watched the woman he loved and cared for die. That moment, everything changed for him. He hated and despised humans, hoping death upon all of them. 

Caine tried to argue with him, trying to persuade him that not all humans were monsters. “I watched it happen Caine!” He shouted at his son. “They gutted her out until she turned into sea confetti! Your mother is gone because of those barbarians! You will not follow your mother! I will not lose you too!”

Caine knew after that there was no changing his father’s mind. The young prince, as well as Bubble, snuck out of the palace at night. They discovered plenty of shipwrecks, and even a cavern to store all their treasure in. 

“I wish Kinger would understand… I don’t get it at all… why would humans make all these amazing stuff just to want to destroy? Not all humans are bad, they can’t be! I mean, pirates killed my mother… not all of them…” Caine asked himself. 

Bubble just looked at him. Caine knew he would say something ridiculous. “Well, it was amazing when I ate that shark earlier! It was delicious! I wish you could’ve tried it!”

“Bubble, I don’t eat sharks… how did you even- nevermind.” Caine said with confusion. “I’m just lucky Kinger hasn’t caught me yet. Kinger would hate all this! I don’t think he would understand any of this.” 

The merman looked around in his cavern. He grabbed a mirror and smiled, looking into it with a grin. “It may be selfish of me, but I really do want more. And no, not more stuff, but I want to be able to walk among the humans and ask them all my questions. I need to know what a fire is! Why does it burn on the surface, yet I can’t create one here?”

“Is fire edible?” Bubble asked.

“It doesn’t look edible… all I know is that it sparks and creates light. Queenie once told me it could cook meat. She also said not to get close, as it can burn you.” Caine remembered. “She taught me a lot of things. I wish she was still around. I’m an adult now… has it already been 15 years since her death..?”

“Dawn is approaching. Best to get back to the palace before your daddy notices!” Bubble said. 

“Don’t call Kinger that!” Caine told him. “But… you are right… for once. I need to get back before he notices I left.” 

Caine quickly swam out of his cavern and rushed back to the palace. He noticed Kinger was awake, and tried to sneak back to his room without being caught.

“Caine!” Kinger called him. “Where were you? I woke up in the middle of the night and you weren’t in the palace at all!”

“Oh, Kinger! Don’t worry, I didn’t go anywhere important.” Caine tried to get out of the situation.

“Don’t lie to me Caine. I know you snuck out. Where did you go?” Kinger insisted.

Caine sighed. “I went to a shipwreck. But it’s not like I got hurt or anything!”

“Caine!” Kinger yelled at him. “You know shipwrecks are dangerous. Sharks like to make shipwrecks their nests nowadays.”

“Oh I saw a shark. But Bubble ate it.” Caine admitted. 

“Why are you hanging out with that thing?” Kinger asked him with concern. 

"HEY! I'll have you know Bubble is excellent company and can be quite helpful, isn't that right Bubble?" Caine defended his friend.

"That's right Caine! Suuuuper helpful with eating sharks and evading the authorities.” Bubble commented like the freak he is.

"That is not helping your case Bubble just shhh…" Caine whispered to the grinning creature. 

“Caine, enough. Just, go back to your room.” Kinger orders. Caine nodded, swimming to his room. 

In his room, there were two things he adored the most: a broken red mirror and a bee plush, both gifts from his mother before she passed. He sat on his bed and hugged the bee plush close to him. 

“He’ll never listen…” He told the bee. “I wish there was a way to make him listen to what I think…” 

Caine pouted. “He doesn’t understand that I feel trapped here! I can’t stand not being listened to! I want to belong! I don’t feel I belong here…”

Meanwhile, Zooble swam into the palace after getting a summons from the palace. “Kinger, what the [$!#%] do you want?” Zooble asked with annoyance.

“It’s Caine. I’m worried about him.” Kinger told them. “I know Caine will do something stupid. Please, watch over him. I don’t want him to end up just like my wife.”

“Why should I watch over him?” Zooble asked. 

“Because I trust you.” Kinger told Zooble. “I’ll know you will do a good job.”

“Can I bring Gangle?” Zooble asked him.

“Go ahead.” Kinger answered. “I trust her as well.” Zooble nods, glad that Gangle would be able to be with them.

Later once it is nighttime, Caine goes back to his cavern. Zooble and Gangle follow him without him knowing. Caine just looks at his collection. 

“I tell you Bubble, it still feels incomplete!” Caine told the bubble. He starts to organize his collection, putting the items he scored from his adventure earlier. 

“He has a collection of items from the surface?” Gangle asked Zooble, both of them hiding.

“I guess. I never knew this side of him.” Zooble said.

“Are we going to confront him?” Gangle asked.

“I don’t know- I mean, he isn’t doing anything dangerous now.” Zooble said. “If he does anything stupid, I’ll confront him. You just stay here.”

“Okay…” Gangle frowned.

Caine heard some noises from the surface through the hole in the top of the cavern. Fireworks. “That’s pretty loud… I gotta check it out!” Caine told Bubble. He dropped his bag of items and quickly swam to the surface, with Zooble and Gangle quickly going after him.

“Caine! Stop!” Zooble yelled “Dont even think of-“ but before Zooble could stop him from escaping the waters, it was too late. Caine looked at a huge ship. He was impressed. 

“Wowie!” He said with amazement. He sneakily climbed up the side of the ship and looked through a hole meant to drain water from the main deck. He saw a girl with some of her friends, who were all dancing and laughing together along with some other strange creatures of varying sizes and shapes. “I wish I could be there. It looks so fun!” 

“Happy birthday, Pomni!” A taller woman, with red hair and a button for an eye told her friend.

“Oh, thanks Ragatha!” Pomni said. “I’m actually pretty glad my parents let me set sail tonight.”

“Well, it is your 25th birthday. Congrats.” Ragatha smiled.

“She’s the same age as me…” Caine said to himself. “I gotta meet her!” 

Zooble then swam up to the surface to look for Caine. They gave him an annoyed look, not wanting to be there. They looked at Caine, concerned that he managed to climb up the ship. “Caine! What are you doing here?!” Zooble yelled up to him.

“Isn’t this amazing! Actual humans! They seem so nice.” Caine called back with excitement. “Be quiet though, or we will be caught.”

“This is dangerous!” Zooble whisper shouted at him. “We need to go back! Or Kinger will have to know about this!”

“Don’t tell him about this! Let me have this! Please!” Caine pleaded. Zooble sighed as Caine went back to watching the humans.

“Pomni! So, your parents might have commissioned something amazing for you. Here. I’ll show you!” Ragatha told her friend. She unwrapped a statue of Pomni.

“What… is that?” Pomni asked with concern.

“It’s you!” Ragatha said with excitement.

“But… why a statue of me… it’s not like I need that.” Pomni continued to stare at the statue in confusion. 

“But it’s your birthday-“ Ragatha tried to continue but was cut off.

“I really don’t need this. But thanks, anyway.” Pomni replied as she shooed away some gloinks that had gotten too close to the statue for comfort.

“W-well anyway! your parents really want you to get married, so I guess it was supposed to be a wedding present?” Ragatha’s smile is more strained now. 

“Why are we bringing this up now?” Pomni pouted as she put her hands on her hips.

“I think they just want grandkids-”

“Great. I still don’t feel like it. I haven’t met the right person,” Pomni turned away from the statue and leaned against the railing, looking out towards the vast ocean. “But, I’ll know when I meet them.” Pomni admitted before turning to look at Ragatha and adding. “And, I'm not even ready for children.”

“I understand.” Ragatha said as she came to stand beside Pomni by the railing.

“Princess Pomni!” A crewmate shouted. “There’s a hurricane ahead!” 

Pomni quickly got up. “[$!#%]! Just great! Like I needed that!” She cursed. 

Caine looked at the hurricane and could already tell it was bad news. Ships did not often survive ones this strong. “This could be bad…”

Pomni quickly ran towards the steering wheel and started to steer away from the storm while the crewmate ran after her. “My princess, what are you doing?”

“Preventing someone's death! I will not allow anyone to die because of my negligence!” Pomni told the crewmate. 

But, it was too late. The ship had gotten into the storm. Thunder boomed into the night and lightning started to strike, and with one bolt to the mast the sail caught on fire.

“Pomni! We have to get to the lifeboats!” Ragatha called her. Pomni nodded. But, before she could make it to the smaller boat, she heard something. 

A smaller gloink had gotten stuck in the wood. “Sorry Ragatha,” Pomni said as she ran back into the fire. She coughed as she quickly grabbed the gloink and tossed it over the side of the ship to her friend waiting in the lifeboat. Ragatha caught the gloink and watched in growing horror as the ship started to sink. 

“Pomni! Look out!” Pomni heard Ragatha’s cry but as she looked around she knew it was too late to make it to the lifeboat to save herself. Pomni took a bracing breath and fell into the water. 

Caine had been hanging onto the side of the ship for as long as he could before the storm ripped him off, and watched from the water as the flaming ship sank below the water. He quickly searched the water for Pomni after he saw her jump into the water and spotted her just before she slipped below the surface. He quickly went after her and brought her up to the surface so she could breathe. “I got you…” He said as he noticed she was unconscious. The merman brought her to the shore as Zooble, Gangle, and Bubble watched from some rocks nearby.

“He… saved a human…” Gangle murmured to Zooble.

“I’m so dead…” Zooble grumbled as they both watched the scene on the shore. 

Caine just looked at the unconscious woman. He smiled, happy that he got to meet a real human. 

Bubble popped up in the water in front of Caine. “Ooooo a real human person! Can I taste it?”

“What? Bubble no you may not! You can’t just- just go over there or something, I’m trying to think,” Caine waved his hands about and gestured towards deeper water before turning back to the woman.

“Oooookay you’re the boss! But only because I’ve already filled my licking quota for the day! Maybe you could try screaming in her face, that usually works for me when I want to wake someone up.”

“Bubble!” Caine heard him snicker before the splash in the water signaled he left. That fish could be a real annoyance sometimes, he couldn’t just yell in her face! Caine wanted her to like him! But that did spark a different idea to wake her up. Caine sat up as straight as he could and cleared his throat.

“Daisy… Daisy… give me your answer, do.” Caine started to sing. He put his gloved hand on the human’s cheek as he looked at her.

“Great! He’s singing Daisy Bell!” Zooble groaned with annoyance. 

“Shhh! Not so loud he might hear you!” Gangle put her hands up to Zooble’s face to quiet them.

“I’m half crazy all for the love of you-“ He continued. 

Pomni started to wake up. She just stared at the figure above her as he continued to sing. What was happening? She closed her eyes again to try to regain some focus, and the voice was gone. When she opened her eyes again, no one was there.

“POMNI!” A familiar voice called for her. She sat up on the sand and saw Ragatha running towards her. Pomni noticed her dress was ripped a little as Ragatha dropped to her knees beside her. “I’m so glad you’re okay!”

“Ragatha! I think someone saved me. I didn’t see much, but I heard more. He sang a song to me.” Pomni started speaking rapidly and tried to get up while stumbling a bit. “I have to find him! I need to thank him. Why did he leave?” 

Ragatha put a hand on Pomni’s back to steady her, “I don’t know anything about a guy saving you, I didn’t hear anything… let’s get you back home. I think your parents must be worried sick about you.”

“Yeah… you're right” Pomni lets Ragatha lead her away towards the palace, but not before taking one more glance at the ocean. She doesn’t see anything, but Pomni knows what she heard. She wasn’t going to forget about the voice that saved her just like that. 

Back in the ocean, Zooble was angry. “WHY DID YOU DO THAT?!” They yelled at Caine. “That human could’ve seen us! And why Daisy Bell of all songs?!”

“I think… I'm in love…” Caine admitted to Zooble with a lovesick sigh. “Pomni… She's wonderful.”

“WHAT?! No! You’re not in love with a human girl, especially a princess! We are going back home and Kinger will-!” Zooble yelled at him as they started to pull Caine towards the palace.

“Don’t tell him please!” Caine pleaded as he pulled against their grip. “He can’t know! He wouldn’t understand. Please!” 

They stared at each other for a moment until Zooble saw Caine had put on the big pupfish eyes. Man he must really want this, curse their mushy heart. “Ugh, fine! I’ll keep it to myself. But, no more going back to the surface! And no more singing Daisy Bell! Got it?” Zooble firmly asked him.

“Fine… I promise-.” Caine nodded in agreement, “As long as you don't tell Kinger.” 

The next day, Caine swam out of his room humming Daisy Bell. Zooble just looked at him with a I told you not to sing that song look. Caine just ignored their looks and swam past Kinger still humming. Zooble just put a hand to their face and gave a tired sigh, it was too early for this. Gangle gave a quiet little giggle, it was nice to see Caine happy like this.

“Oh, hi Kinger!” He greeted Kinger with joy.

After Kinger watched Caine leave the palace, he looked at Zooble and Gangle.

“Something happened last night, right? Did he meet someone new? Is he in love?” Kinger asked. “Zooble what happened?” Kinger insisted, hoping for Zooble to tell him that Caine met another mermaid. 

“It’s nothing to worry about, how about we just enjoy the good moods that are around for once?” Zooble said, acting like it wasn’t a big deal.

Kinger narrowed his eyes at Zooble before turning to Gangle. “Gangle, you’ll tell me what happened right?”

“Uhhh….” Gangle stuttered under the sudden attention, already feeling her nerves start to go up.

Zooble moved in front of Gangle a bit. “Look I already told you what happened, can’t we just leave it at that?”

“Not when I know that can’t be it! Why else would Caine be floating around the palace singing to himself!”

“CAINE IS IN LOVE WITH A HUMAN!” Gangle suddenly shouted out, the pressure from all the arguing finally getting to her. “I’m sorry we tried to stop him but there was a boat and fire and then he just saved this human woman and it was pretty cute actually but we should have stopped him and we weren’t supposed to say anything and I just-”

Zooble puts a hand on Gangle’s shoulder which stops her distressed ramble. “Don’t worry about it Gangle, I was supposed to watch him and it was my job to stop him, you’re fine.”

“I’m still sorry for saying anything” Gangle looked at Zooble with remorse.

“It’s fine, really, he was going to find out eventually-” That seemed to be the exact moment the words registered with Kinger as he suddenly reared up. “CAINE IS IN LOVE WITH A WHAT?!” Kinger yelled in anger, not expecting it all, “WHAT WAS HE THINKING?!”

“Hey there’s no need to yell like that, it’s not like anyone meant for this to happen!” Zooble tried to talk to Kinger but he didn’t seem to be listening.

“I can’t believe this, how could he do this! This can’t stand!” Kinger then reeled around to point at Zooble. “I am going to get my trident and then you are going to take me to Caine right now!”

“What makes you think I know where he is? Don’t you think you’re being a little rash right now?” Zooble was once again ignored as Kinger swam off towards his quarters. Zooble turned to Gangle, who was shaking with nerves.

“Gangle, I need you to go find Caine and tell him what's coming. I’m going to try to talk Kinger down and stall for as long as possible.”

“B-but how am I supposed to find him? I’m not sure I remember where the cave is!” Gangle was ringing her fins together as she started to get worked up again.

Zooble placed both hands on her shoulders and looked into her eyes with determination “Gangle, I know you can do this. Just, try to find some landmarks or something and you’ll find your way there.”

“B-but what do I do when-” but Zooble had already swam after Kinger, leaving Gangle floating in the throne hall alone. “O-oh fish.”

Gangle started to look around outside trying to find a landmark to start from when she noticed Bubble carrying something huge, made out of stone. She quickly swam over and started to follow beside him, “Bubble… that looks heavy. What is that?”

“A statue. I'm going to eat it.” Bubble said like the freak he is, before adding much quieter “It’s heavy. Help me please.”

“I don’t think we can eat statues- why would you want to eat it anyways?” Gangle asked in concern. She grabbed the statue anyway and helped him. “Where are we bringing this?”

“Caine’s cavern. I think he’d love to eat it too.”

Oh, that worked perfectly for her goal! Bubble would lead her right to Caine.

The two continued to swim until they reached the secret entrance, where they swam inside and set the statue in the centre of the cavern. “This looks delicious in this light, it’s perfect!” Bubble said with excitement. 

Gangle just looked at Bubble with a concerned face. She didn’t say anything, wow did this fish say some weird and unsettling things. 

Not long after Caine swam into the cavern to update his collection and stopped when he saw the statue. “Wowie! Is that… is the statue from the ship? Bubble, where did you find this?!” 

“In the wreckage of the ship, it was supposed to go to my stomach but it was tooooo big for one bite.” Bubble replied, rolling upside-down.

Caine paused “You have a stomach? I can’t tell-“

“Thank you, I worked out.” Bubble said.

“.....Anyways you are not eating that!” Caine yelled at him. He looked in the statue’s eyes. “Pomni… is this the closest I’ll ever get to be with her? Am I just stuck here, forever?” 

“Well, I know a guy who knows a guy-“ Bubble started. 

“How many people do you know?” He asked with concern. Bubble shut up then and watched Caine try and flirt with the statue. 

Gangle slowly swam towards Caine as he continued to circle the statue “U-um Caine? There’s something I need to tell you-”

Caine put his hand out to Gangle without taking his eyes off the statue. “Not now Gangle! I’m trying to come up with the right line to say to get her to woo for me! Hmmm, how about ‘Hello my lovely paper flower’? No wait, can flowers be paper?”

“W-well, technically they can be, but really Caine I need to tell you about-”

But before Gangle can try to warn Caine, Zooble and Kinger enter the cavern. Caine remains oblivious and continues to drape himself over the statue while Gangle shrinks out of the way and into a corner. Zooble drifted over to float beside her and watch from a bit of a distance.

“Caine, Gangle and Zooble told me what happened. Why did you save that human?” Kinger asked him while he continued to swim towards him.

Caine turned around and stared at him. “She would’ve drowned.” 

“So what?” Kinger asked, voice raising. “That’s one less parasite.”

“Pomni isn't a parasite! I should know! I hang out with Bubble!” Caine argued. 

“That doesn’t matter. You should’ve let her drown.” Kinger told him, still moving closer.

“I- no. I wouldn’t let her drown… I love her, okay?!” Caine yelled as he gripped the statue protectively.

Kinger just stared at him in anger. “You… love her? No! You can’t! She’s a human! Human just like the pirates who killed her! You don’t know her at all!” Kinger yelled at him. 

“Maybe if you actually cared for her hobby, she wouldn’t have to die-“ Caine spat out before he could think about what he was saying, but it was too late to take it back. Kinger looked furious. 

“Don’t talk about her like that!” Kinger roared. “I saw it happen! Those barbarians murdered her! They didn’t give one [$!#%] about it! They spilled her blood and enjoyed every bit of it!” Caine wearily watched Kinger look at his collection. “Why must you collect all these? You know they will eventually hurt you!”

“They don’t! They aren’t dangerous!” Caine had raised his voice again as he argued back.

“They are! And I will stand for this no longer! This ends now!” Kinger then aimed his trident at them. Caine watched in horror as his collection was blasted in pieces. 

“Kinger! Stop!” Caine pleaded in fear. He watched his father figure continue to destroy more of his collection. “Stop! You can’t do this to me!” 

Kinger then pointed his trident at the statue, Caine following his gaze and eyes widened with panic “No! Don't hurt her!” He cried. He swam to protect it, but it was too late. The blast struck the statue, and all that was left now was rocks and rubble. “Pomni… I…” 

Kinger felt some of his anger fade as he lowered his guard and turned to Caine. “Caine… you need to go back home. Now.” He ordered.

“Kinger… I didn’t think you would take it this far…” Zooble breathed out as they looked around at the now destroyed cave, feeling guilty. Gangle was trying to quietly cry behind Zooble, frightened by all the destruction.

When Caine didn’t respond Kinger tried again, “Caine.”

“No. Go away.” Caine was crying with a look of both anger and deep sadness, looking at his broken collection.

Kinger reached towards him, “Caine, I-“ 

“GET THE [$!#%] OUT OF HERE! I HATE YOU!” Caine screamed at him in anger. It was very unlike himself to swear. But, in his anger, he did it anyway.

“Caine I don’t want to lose you- I've already lost your mother-“ Kinger tried to reason. He wanted to apologize. But, Kinger realized it was too soon.

“You’ve already lost me. Get out. Now.” Caine ordered.

That hurt his heart to hear, but Kinger knew this was the only way to keep him safe. Caine would realize that, he just needed some time. So Kinger nodded and left the cavern. Zooble, Gangle, and Bubble watched Caine sob over the broken statue.

“You too… just leave me alone…” Caine spoke through sobs.

“Caine- I’m sorry. I didn’t know he would go this far-“ Zooble apologized. Caine didn’t bother to look at them.

“Leave. Now.” Caine ordered. Caine rarely used that tone with them, so Zooble nodded and left Caine to be alone, leading Gangle out by the fin as they swam off to give him space. Bubble followed behind them. 

After everyone left Caine just cried, letting out all the hurt and anger and heartache he was feeling. 

Caine sobbed and sobbed, not taking note of how much time had passed until a voice spoke from above him.

"Oh wow, that Kinger sure did a number on this place huh? What a shame."

"Oh yes, a shame," there was another voice. Caine looked up and saw two eels swimming down to his level. One was green and had a white belly with pink spots under her eyes, while the other one was yellow with blue fins and black triangles above and below his eyes.

“Can… you leave?” Caine asked between sniffles. He had never seen these eels before, why were they here? “W-who even are you?”

“We have an offer for you,” The yellow eel said. “We can take you to Jax. He’ll give you a solution to your little problem.” 

“Jax- the sea warlock? No. I can’t.” Caine crossed his arm and turned away. He knew that Jax was bad news.

“But imagine: you and that princess. Forever. Together.” The green eel persuaded him. 

Caine snapped at the two before turning away again. “Leave me alone. Go. Please.”

“Suit yourself, just wanted to help.” The eels said in unison. The green eel flicks the broken statue’s face towards the merman. Caine picks it up and looks at it. 

“Wait…”

“Poor Caine…” Gangle said in sadness as she cried into Zooble’s shoulder. Gangle was worried about Caine, and truthfully so was Zooble. Bubble just stares at the two while rotating slowly in place.

“I didn’t mean to tell Kinger! I really didn’t know he would go this far!” Gangle continued to apologize.

Zooble continued to rub her back in comfort, “I know you didn’t, I’ll be okay, Caine will understand after he calms down.”

They then saw Caine pass them, following the two bright coloured eels they hadn’t seen before. 

“Caine, where are you going?”

“I’m going to see Jax.” He answered. 

"WHAT? Are you crazy? That f[&#%$]ing rabbit warlock won't help you!" Zooble yelled at him with concern.

"Y-Yeah, this sounds like a really bad idea…” Gangle added

Oooooooh! I've always wanted to taste dark magic!" Bubble commented.

"Not helping!" Gangle and Zooble said in unison. Bubble shut up after that.

“Well obviously this is the only option left! If you're so concerned you can just go and snitch to Kinger! You seem to like doing that!" Caine argued.  

Caine slowed as he neared the entrance. It looked like the jaws of some deepsea creature, its fangs closing in so close it feels like it could snap him in half at any moment. The eels pause at the entrance.

“What’s the matter? He’s just inside. Come on little fish, don’t be a scaredy catfish!” The two called to him as they continued going in.

“I am not a scaredy catfish!” Caine protested before shrinking, slowly floating forward deeper into the entrance.

Zooble, Gangle, and Bubble watch Caine follow the eels into the cavern. “Are… we going to enter too?” Gangle asked Zooble. “It looks very scary and spooky.” 

“Yeah. Just, don't make a sound. I’ll hold your hand.” Zooble told her. “I know you can be brave. We’ll just stay behind the seaweed curtain. We can watch from there.”

It was so dark he could hardly see anything other than the two eels, their scales giving off a soft green and yellow glow. As they turned the corner and Caine was in almost complete darkness before suddenly bright neon lights lunged at him from the side, Caine darting back at the creature slammed into bars Caine didn’t even know he was there. The bang that rang off the bars seemed to have woken up the other creatures because Caine was now surrounded with what looked like hundreds of glowing neon eyes on all sides. The beasts slammed into the bars as Caine screamed and zoomed forward, trying to watch all the creatures and trying not to look at them. Caine just kept swimming forward until he reached the end of the entrance where there were no more cages, bursting through a curtain of black seaweed into a bigger round room. Caine was still breathing hard as he glanced behind him at the curtain. What were these things? And why were there so many? And what were they doing here? 

“Oh what’s this, have you guys brought a friend to see me little ole me? You shouldn’t have,” A new voice made Caine turn around. Lounging back in a circular opening in on of the back walls was a merperson with the top half having the standard merperson torso in a purple colour, while the bottom half turning to a deeper purple, almost looking black, with neon spots that looked like the eyes he had seen in the darkness of the entrance. As he leaned forward out of the hole Caine could see what resembled sea bunny ears sticking out of his head that swayed to the side as Jax tilted his head, a wide yellow smile on his face as he looked at Caine.

“Are, are you Jax? The sea warlock?” Caine asked, voice small as he recovered from his fright. 

“Who else would I be?” Jax slipped off the edge of the hole in the wall and floated down to rest on the ground, being almost as tall as Kinger. The two eels came over and weaved between his tentacles as he moved closer before moving over his shoulders, “Froggy and Kaufy here were just telling me all about your little, human problem, and I can absolutely help you with that.”

“R-really? You can help me?” Caine’s excitement pushed through past his fear, before he added, “but I thought you were, well, evil? Are you, well, good now?” 

“Thats right! I’ve turned over a new seaweed leaf and I’m now using my awesome powers for the good merfolk of the kingdom,” Jax says as he floats around the cavern, almost circling Caine as he floats in the entrance way.

“What about all those neon eye creatures in the entrance! That looks pretty evil to me! I-I heard, well Kinger told me that you were exiled because you started doing d-dark magic, he didn’t say anything about you changing your ways.”

With Jax facing away from him Caine couldn’t see the smile that grew on Jax’s face before Jax morphed it into a sad look before he turned around. “Oh those little things? Those are just what happens when people fail to live up to their end of the bargain, consequences and eye for an eye and all that jazz,” Caine didn’t look any less concerned with Jax’s explanation so Jax continued, “Whaaat you don’t believe me? I’ve helped so many people with their issues, and all of those folks got exactly what I advertised, they knew what they signed up for.”

“So what is this ‘deal’ you want to offer me?” Caine was still sceptical of what this deal might be, but he wasn’t going to leave before at least hearing it out.

“Oh it’s simple! I’ll give you legs so you can walk around up there to your little hearts content, and all you gotta do is make her fall in love with you and get her to kiss you in, let’s say 3 days,” Jax said as he flicked his hand like it was no big deal as he added, “of course if you don’t, there will be a cost.”

“A, a cost? What kind of cost?” Caine knew it seemed too good to be true, of course there would be a cost.

“Oh nothing big, just that your soul would belong to me for the rest of time,” Jax shrugged with a smile on his face as he came closer, “Of course that would be no issue for you, since you have sooo much charisma and natural charm. Not as much as me, but hey you come close right?”

Caine felt the weight of that deal as he thought about the terms, “So, you’ll give me legs and all I have to do is get her to kiss me?” 

“And make her fall in love with you blah blah blah.”

“Well that doesn’t sound that bad…” Caine thought it even sounded not too hard at all. He could picture it now, Caine would find Pomni on the shore, sweep her into his arms, and confess to being the one that saved her-

Caine’s daydreaming was cut short as Jax patted him on the shoulder, “See! Easy peasy. But oh! I almost forgot, I will need some payment upfront, you know how it goes.”

“Wh-what do you want? I didn’t bring any jewels on me-” Caine starts to worry, because of course there would be payment, before being interrupted by the rabbit warlock.

“Oh I don’t want anything like that, just hmmm… lets say your voice for a fresh pair of legs.” Jax told him as a wide smile overtook his face.

Caine was in shock. “My, my voice? B-but I need my voice! How will I-”

“What, are you telling me you don’t have anything going for you but your fancy pipes? You got your….charming looks, and humans are all about reading body language these days” Jax interrupted him once more, voice still easy going while the sarcasm was lost on Caine. 

“Re-really?” Caine didn’t know anything about that, was that really true? Because that might work in his favour if it was.

“Sure they are! No one to do small talk anymore, everyone is right now to business. A few looks, a touch here and there and bam! Kiss kiss fall in love and all that,” Jax really seemed to know a lot about humans, Caine thought, maybe that was how things went on the surface. Seemed like a shame though, Caine loved small talk.

“If I become human, I won’t be able to see Kinger or Bubble… or Gangle… or Zooble…” Caine lamented, knowing if he did this he wouldn’t be able to go back.

“Why worry your little teeth head about them? They didn’t seem like they cared that much about you, and just think; you’ll have your princess all to yourself, all happy in the sun and sand, and whatever,” Jax continued to persuade Caine as he circled him. Jax could tell he was close to accepting, but just needed one more push to seal the deal.

“I’d get to be with Pomni…and feel the sun..” Caine asked in excitement, finally being able to meet her.

“Yeah yeah, sun and Pomski and all that, do we have a deal?” Jax asked, using his magic to create a golden scroll. Along with the scroll came with a quill in the shape of a fish’s skeleton.

Caine looked at the quill and then at the scroll. “Yes, deal.” He answered.

 Zooble and Gangle look in fear behind the curtain of seaweed as they watch Caine sign his name at the bottom. Before Gangle could shriek in fear, Zooble puts their claw-like hand on her mouth, not wanting to be caught.

“Alright then, let's get this show going!” Jax told Caine. 

Caine watches Jax mix different potions together. The bottles explode into the cauldron. Caine swims back to avoid the explosions while Jax cackles. 

“Remember! If you don’t get her to kiss you, then you will turn back into a merman on sunset!” Jax warned. Caine nodded, understanding that he couldn’t turn back now. The water around them was churning with magic, streaks of colour flashing as the current grew stronger and stronger until they were in the middle of a small whirlpool.

“Now… I want you to sing.” Jax told him.

“Sing? W-why?” Caine asked.

“Gotta get that voice outta you somehow don’t I? Now come on jaws, SING!” 

Caine breathes for a second before singing. He knew what he wanted to sing. Thinking of Pomni, he could only think of that song. Caine started to sing only for Jax to yell, “Come on what is this suddenly shy? SING LOUDER!” to which Caine rose his voice above the water and magic swirling around them. Jax throws another bottle into the cauldron before holding out his key locket. 

Caine covers his chest with his gloved hands, watching as a wispy hand made of purple magic zipped from the locket and into his mouth. It left as quickly as it went in, and Caine watched as his voice left him in its grip before getting sealed away in the locket.

Green and yellow smoke rose from the cauldron and surrounded the now mute merman. A gold current splits his tail into a pair of legs, and his gills quickly transform into lungs for him. He tries to swim, but starts to sink, not knowing how to swim without his tail. 

“Caine!” Gangle shouts, swimming into the cavern so she could grab onto his shoulder with her ribbon hand. Zooble followed Gangle quickly and grabbed his hand. 

The two rushed Caine to the surface, the ringing of Jax’s laugh fading as they swam upwards. Once his head finally popped out of the water, he started to breathe like he had never before, panting and shaking. 

“There there. We got you.” Gangle comforted him, still holding onto him. Caine looked at her and nodded, still breathing rapidly.

Chapter Text

Gangle and Zooble helped Caine swim to safety. The prince squints in pain as he is faced with the bright sun, finally feeling the effects of Jax’s magic. Once he finally got to the shore, he just sat on the sand, still breathing fast. After calming down, he looks at his new legs, his eyes growing bigger after finally being able to see it in all his glory.

Zooble furiously looks at Gangle and then at Caine. “He has legs! GANGLE! HE HAS [$!#%]ING HUMAN LEGS! He just had to sign a contract with a [$!#%]ing sea bunny who he KNOWS is evil and made a deal with him!” Caine looked frightened over the sudden shouting rant. “Caine! Listen to me! We have to go back to Jax! We have time! We can get him to give you back your voice so you can…”

Caine gives Zooble the pupfish eyes again before Zooble could finish what they were saying, shaking his head rabidly. They hated it, knowing that they could never win when Caine pulled them out. “Ugh, fine. I’ll help you look for that princess.”

Gangle uses her transformation magic to shapeshift into her seagull form. She first takes off Caine’s fishnet cape and sets it aside on the nearby rocks. Then, she looks around the sandy beach and finds an old sail and rope. She brought it to Caine and helped tie the ripped sail around Caine’s body with the rope, covering his waist and chest. “T-There you go. Now you are all covered up. Sorry, it’s the best I can find.” Gangle told the prince. Caine gave her a smile, thanking Gangle for her kind deed.

Caine gives a determined nod and tries to get up, but falls onto the sand, not used to standing up. “Caine! Are you okay?” Gangle asked in concern. Caine nods and tries to get back up. This time, he manages to stand up on his own for about 5 seconds. “Don’t worry, I’m sure you will get used to walking.”

Ragatha and Pomni are walking together on the shore. Pomni’s personal gloink, Fifi, follows them. Fifi the only one Pomni felt easy around, and the same gloink Pomni had saved from the ship. Pomni sighs as she looks around the sandy beach, “I can’t get his voice out of my head Ragatha, I have looked everywhere for him.”

“I’m sure you will find him eventually. I’d like to meet this mysterious savior of yours.” Ragatha assured her friend, smiling encouragingly at her.

“I hope so too…” After Pomni said that, Fifi started to jump up and down and quickly ran in the direction they were going. “Hey! Fifi! Where are you going?” Pomni shouted as she chased the gloink.

Fifi jumps around and scares Caine, chasing him onto a rock. What was this creature? It looked somewhat familiar, Caine thought, before his head snapped up with wide eyes as he heard the voice that came around the corner.

“What has gotten into you?” Pomni asked her gloink before seeing the man on the rock, who was wearing a…sail?

“Are you okay? Sorry, I'm pretty sure gloinks are harmless when there is only one of them. Sorry about that, Fifi isn't usually like this.”

She took a closer look at him. “You look… kinda familiar. Have we met?” She asked him. Caine nodded, wanting to tell her everything. “So… you're the one? You saved me, right? Tell me your name!” She grabs onto his hand and smiles at him.

Caine gives her the pupfish eyes and opened his mouth to say his name, but nothing came out. He forgot he couldn’t talk at that moment and looked down, frowning.

“You can’t speak..?” Pomni asked him. Caine nodded sadly. “Then… I… uhhh… you couldn’t be who I thought. Sorry.” Pomni lamented as she looked away.

Ragatha then manages to catch up. “Is that the guy who saved you?” She asked. Caine just stared at Ragatha with an I SAVED HER! expression.

“He’s not. Fifi was bothering him. Plus, he can’t actually speak.” Pomni told Ragatha.

“That’s too bad. Do you know why he’s wearing a sail?” She asked Pomni.

Pomni shook her head. “I have no clue… maybe he’s a survivor from a shipwreck?”

“I mean, we can always bring him back to the palace. I don’t mind cleaning him up and dressing him,” Ragatha suggested.

“Yeah… you can do that, can’t just leave him here,” Pomni nodded as she took Caine’s gloved hand and helped him off the rock. After Caine stumbled the two girls helped Caine walk to the palace.

Caine makes eye contact with Zooble from the shore, eyes wide and full of excitement. Zooble rolls their eyes but smiles, giving him a thumbs up before darting back under the water to avoid being seen.

Upon entering the palace, Caine looked amazed and excited. It was so huge and fancy, and it looked just as big as the palace he lived in with Kinger! It felt familiar but also new at the same time. There were so many decorations and pillars, and many things he had never seen before! He had so many questions and practically vibrated not being able to ask them.

“I’m going to head to my room for a while. Will you be okay cleaning him up on your own, or should I ask some other maids to help you?” Pomni asked Ragatha as she stepped away towards a hall.

“Don’t worry about me. I’ll give him a bubble bath in the main bathroom, I don’t need any help doing that,” Ragatha assured her with a smile. Caine frowned, knowing he wouldn’t get to be with Pomni right away.

Ragatha led him to the bathroom, starting a warm bubble bath for Caine. Caine looked amazed by the bubbles, looking impressed that they could be created by humans with just a bottle and running water.

Ragatha then helped him undress, untying the rope that held the old sail in place. She starts to take off Caine’s gloves, to which Caine protests silently. “Don’t worry. I’ll clean these and dry them for you, then I’ll give them right back after, promise!” She said as she holds out her hand with a patient smile. Caine gives a small nod then puts his hands into hers. Ragatha gently took one glove off, setting it aside on the marble sink. Caine just nods and lets her take the other one off. Caine looks at his ungloved hands, feeling his bare hands touch each other. It was strange, feeling things so…intensily. When was the last time he took his gloves off? And everything seemed so much more, sharp above water.

Ragatha then helped him get into the warm bath, letting him sit down. Caine quickly puts his hands in the water, now out of sight. The doll starts to clean him up with a bar of soap. “Don’t worry, I’ll be careful.” She assured him. “And after this, I’ll find you some new clothes. You can’t be walking around with just a sail around you after all.”

“Anyways, why can’t you speak? Were you traumatized from the shipwreck?” Ragatha asked as she scrubbed his back. Caine didn't know how to answer, but nodded anyway. He guessed he was going with this store story, it did sound more believable than what he really was. “Oh, I’m sorry. I hope you’ll recover your voice soon.”

Caine just looked at the bubbles and smiled. The bath felt so good with the warm water touching his skin. He felt so relaxed and started to lay in the tub, letting his head touch the water. After seconds had passed, he felt weird. The same feeling after he turned human. He had completely forgotten that he no longer had gills and could no longer breathe underwater.

Ragatha quickly grabbed him and pulled his head out of the water. “Are you okay?” She asked him in concern. Caine nodded, and then looked at the scrub brush in Ragatha’s hand, wondering what that was for. “Here… I need to get that seaweed smell off you.”

After the bubble bath was all over, she wrapped Caine up in a towel and started to dry him. She then helped Caine walk to another room that was connected to the bathroom. It was filled with lots and lots of clothes, all of varying styles and colours. Caine looked amazed, never imagining that he would ever get to wear human clothes, and he had so many options! He then looked at an unfinished dress and pointed at it.

“Oh, that thing? It’s a dress I'm making. Sadly Pomni doesn’t really like wearing dresses, but I still like to design and make dresses when I’m bored sometimes,” Ragatha answered, smiling at him. “I’ve made plenty of dresses. Do, do you want to see them?”

Caine nodded in excitement. Ragatha took out a pink ballgown. “I recently finished this one. I like how it came out.” Caine looked at it and started to smile. “Do you… want to wear it?” Ragatha asked.

Caine didn't really understand gender norms. All he knew was Pomni was a girl and didn’t like wearing dresses. Maybe he would enjoy wearing one. Caine looked at her and nodded again. Ragatha looked happy that someone was interested in her work. She helped Caine into the dress and started to tailor it to fit his size, feeling grateful that they were surprisingly close to the same size.

Pomni passed a door in the hallway and heard Ragatha’s voice, filled with excitement. She opens the door to find Ragatha fitting a dress on Caine. “Oh! I finally found you! What are you doing?”

“O-oh hi Pomni! Well after the bath he needed some, you know, actual clothes and he didn’t seem interested in any of the pants and he really wanted to try the dresses I made. And it looks like he really likes it, so I got carried away.” Ragatha informed her friend with a smile, finally happy she could put someone in one of her handmade dresses. “You don’t mind if he wears any of your old dresses, right?”

“Go ahead. I don’t really wear those anymore.” Pomni agreed. “If it makes him happy, he can have them.”

Caine looked very happy after hearing that, accepting this gift from his crush as an honor. He then waved at Pomni, very happy to see her. Pomni waved back.

Pomni then entered the room. “I think his muteness might have been caused by trauma from the shipwreck he was in. Poor guy.” Ragatha told Pomni as she finished the final touches on the dress.

After the dress was finished being tailored, Ragatha let Caine sit on the nearby couch. She helped put shoes on him, and then offered him new white gloves. “I hope these are okay. I’ll get your old ones cleaned up by tomorrow.” Ragatha notified him. Caine gave Ragatha a grateful look and quickly put the new gloves on. They felt more comfortable than the ones he wore in the sea. The fabric felt soft and gave a smooth feel to his skin!

Pomni smiled at Caine, knowing he was getting comfortable at the castle. “Oh… is there a way we could help him regain his voice?” Pomni asked her.

“I don’t know. I’m no doctor.” Ragatha said with concern. She then looked at Caine, who ran up to Pomni to say hi. “He really does like you. Maybe you should spend some time with him.”

Pomni then looked at Caine. “Do you live nearby?” She asked him. Caine didn't know how to respond. He guessed he did, but how was he supposed to tell her that he is from the sea, especially without a voice. He just shook his head no, going along with the shipwreck lie. Pomni then smiled at Caine and asked, “I would really like to get to know you. Would you like to stay here?” Caine answered with an excited nod.

“So, what’s for dinner tonight?” Ragatha asked, putting away her sowing supplies and materials into a cabinet.

“I heard the chef was making stuffed crab tonight.” Pomni answered. Caine gave a concerned look, hoping that the chef wasn’t cooking Zooble, knowing that they have a crab form. Though he did eat fish and sea creatures, he just ate the unintelligent ones.

“Okay, I’ve put everything away.” Ragatha told her friend. “I’m pretty sure that our guest is hungry too.” Caine nodded, feeling really hungry. He couldn’t remember the last time he had a meal.

The two girls then showed Caine to the dining room. It was long and luxurious. There were a few mannequin servers around the table, some staring at Caine. Pomni sits down, and gives a gesture to Caine, allowing him to sit next to him. She then stares out the window, looking at the ocean.

“She’s been like this since she was saved yesterday. She says a young man saved her in the ocean and brought her to shore.” Ragatha told Caine. Caine smiled, but wished Pomni knew that he was the one who saved her. “I do believe her. She is my friend. But, it’s hard to actually believe that some guy managed to save her there.”

“He was real! Ragatha, it happened. And… when I do find him, I'll ask him to marry me.” Pomni told Ragatha, causing Caine to blush.

She… wants to marry me? Caine asked himself. He looked at the utensils, and then at the others, and then Pomni.

“Anyway! I’m pretty sure our guest would like to go on a tour of the kingdom.” Ragatha suggested. Caine nodded, wanting to go on that tour.

“Oh… okay. I can do that tomorrow morning.” Pomni agreed.

After dinner, Pomni shows Caine to his new room. It looked cozy. “Here. I guess this is where you’re going to be staying.” Pomni told him. The room felt much bigger than his room in the palace where he lived with Kinger. He sat on the bed, and smiled. The bed felt so comfortable and the pillow felt soft. But, he felt like something was missing.

“Oh! Pomni!” Ragatha said, holding something in her hands. “During dinner I went back to the beach to see if I could find any clues about our new guest and I found this little bumblebee plush on the beach, and thought it might belong to him. Weirdly, it also came with this note.”

“It did?” Pomni asked her. She looked at the plush.

“Yeah. I gave it a nice wash since it was all wet and sandy.” Ragatha told her. She then came into the room with the bumblebee, and handed it to Caine. Caine could recognize this plush anywhere! It was the same one Queenie gave him before she was killed. That plush was his comfort item, the thing he always slept with at night. Zooble must’ve snuck into the palace and got it for him. He quickly hugged the bumblebee, happy to be reunited with it.

“What does the note say?” Pomni asked her.

“It just said Don’t mess this up Caine! I don’t know what that means.” Ragatha answered with a confused face.

“Maybe… that’s his name?” Pomni guessed. She then sat next to him. “Is your name… Caine?”

Caine nods happily, still snuggling with the bumblebee stuffed animal.

“That’s a nice name.” Ragatha complimented him.

“I’m glad now we know what his name is.” Pomni told Ragatha. “Caine, you should get your rest. Ragatha will help fit another outfit tomorrow for you in the morning.”

Pomni then hands Caine a nightgown. “Here. I think you’d like this. Can you get undressed all by yourself, or should I let Ragatha help you get dressed?” Caine shook his head no, thinking he could get it off himself. “Okay, if you insist. Have a great night, Caine.”

After the two girls left, Zooble and Gangle entered through the window, with Zooble in their crab form and Gangle in her seagull form. “I see those two got our note.” Zooble told Caine.

“I thought of the idea… I know how much you love Bumble… and I guess since you live here now… you shouldn’t be separated from it.” Gangle explained.

“Sorry Bubble couldn’t make it, though not from a lack of effort, that crazy fish. Just know he’s cheering for you on the sidelines.” Zooble told Caine. Caine understood, knowing that Bubble didn’t have the ability to breathe out of water unlike Zooble and Gangle. And honestly, he was glad Bubble wasn't there, knowing that Bubble would probably be pestering the others.

Gangle then noticed the dress he was wearing. “Zooble! He looks so adorable in that dress! It fits him so well!” Caine smiles more and gives Gangle a little twirl in the dress, making Gangle giggle and clap her wings.

Zooble then transformed back into their merperson form and gestured for him to come towards them on the window sill. “Here. I’ll help.” they said as they pointed to the night gown. Zooble helped Caine get out of the dress, and then helped him put on the nightgown. “I hope you appreciate what we are doing for you. Now, we have to make a plan to get that princess to kiss you. I overheard her asking you to go on a tour, and I think that could work. So, you’ll need to look your best.” After fully wearing his new nightgown, he laid on the bed, letting Zooble tuck him in. “We will watch over you. Just don’t mess this up!”

“I don’t want him to turn into one of those creepy things Jax keeps behind those bars!” Gangle shrieked, still frightened by what she saw earlier.

“He won’t turn into whatever those were, we’ll make sure of it. If he did, Kinger would never forgive me.” Zooble assured Gangle. “I’ll make sure that Pomni will kiss him. It’s the best I can do after letting Kinger destroy his collection. And Caine… I’m sorry about earlier-“

Before Zooble could fully apologize, Caine was already asleep, still hugging the bumblebee plush. Zooble sighed before giving the blanket a few pats. “Goodnight Caine.”

Back in the ocean at his palace, Kinger has been worried, swimming back and forth in the throne room with nerves. He hasn’t seen either Caine, Zooble, or Gangle since that afternoon. Two little low-poly fish guards, one yellow and the other red, entered the throne room and approached the worried king.

Kinger turned and gave both the fish a desperate expression. “Have you two or anyone else seen Caine, Zooble, or Gangle?” Kinger worried. “I haven’t seen them since I checked up on Caine but that was hours ago.”

The truth was after his anger had cooled, Kinger was ashamed of what he had done and had been too worried about Caine’s reaction to check on him earlier. Only after dinner had come and passed did he go and check, only to find his son’s room empty, as well as his cavern. Maybe if he hadn’t destroyed Caine’s collection, maybe Caine wouldn’t have run away. He missed Caine dearly, just wanting him to be safe. His thoughts were consumed with the worst scenario: that Caine was gone just like his wife.

"There's like no sign of them, not of your son or Zooble or Gangle. it's like they totally vanished, sorry.” The yellow fish answered.

As Kinger kept thinking of where his son could possibly be and how sorry he was, the red fish suddenly added, "I thought I saw him, but it was just a clam.”

"Dude, read the room." The yellow fish scolded his brother. Kinger shook his head as he realized these two stupid fish were not going to be helpful.

Kinger let the two annoying fish leave the throne room. After he was all alone, he sat on his throne, starting to sob. “What have I done..?”

The sun rises as Caine wakes up. When he looked around, he noticed that both Zooble and Gangle were gone. He smiled, not wanting either of them to be caught.

Caine then heard a knock on his door. “Caine? Are you awake?” Ragatha asked from the hallway. The dentures quickly got up and opened the door. “There you are. I’ve got to fit another dress on you. You said you wanted to wear another one, right?” Caine nods happily. He then follows Ragatha to her dressing room.

Caine and Ragatha find Pomni in the living room, getting ready for her and Caine’s tour.

“Oh! Good morning Caine!” Pomni greeted Caine. Caine walked over to her and gave her an excited expression. “I see you’re ready to go on the tour?” Caine nods happily.

The two get on a horse-drawn buggy, taking a road leading to town. Caine was bouncing in his seat as they made their way towards town, head constantly moving and pointing at things. His excitement at getting to see a real human town overrides his disappointment at not getting to ask his questions, deciding to start trying to answer some of them by observing first. Caine is pretty clever after all, he can figure some things out by himself surely!

Pomni smiles as Caine whips his head around as they go along the path, but gives him a confused look when Caine moves forward to lean over the buggy, seemingly to watch the ground and the horse’s feet clapping. She quickly pulls him back up as she says, “Don’t do that Caine! You’ll get hurt!” Caine nods as he sits back down beside Pomni, deciding to point at things and trying to mime his questions to minimal success.

As the two pass over the bridge connecting to the town, Zooble, Gangle, and Bubble watch the two from the river below.

“What is he doing?! Is he even trying?” Zooble grumbled, giving Gangle and Bubble a frustrated look as they watched the two park the cart and start to wander around the market place.

“I think it’s really sweet, they look so cute together.” Gangle squealed, happy that Caine looked happy with Pomni.

“Well, they can be cute together after they [$#%!]ing kiss so he doesn’t die!” Zooble huffed.

“Want me to bite him to remind him?” Bubble snickered, already moving to act on his suggestion.

“No! Not helping Bubble!” Zooble yelled at Bubble.

“Aw, no fun.” Bubble fake pouted before going back to licking the rock they were hiding behind.

“How would that even help?” Gangle whispered to herself.

At the town market, Caine was turning his head so fast Pomni feared he would pull something. He just couldn’t decide what to look at first! There were so many new things to see! He watched a mannequin pushing a cart of chickens and sheep as he held Pomni’s hand. He then turns around to see a small human looking puppet, performing a show for some younger mannequins sitting in front. But how was it moving? Caine let go of Pomni’s hand and up to the booth, pulling one of the puppets off the puppeteer’s hand. So there was a human underneath hidden from view! Thats so clever! Caine continues to look at the puppet, not noticing the puppeteer yelling at him to give it back.

“Sorry!” Pomni apologized for Caine, grabbing the puppet from Caine’s hand and giving it back to the puppeteer, “maybe just stick by me for now okay? Don’t let go of my hand, we’ll go see something else now.”

Caine smiled and nodded, seeing this as a great sign. She wanted to hold his hand and to stick together! This was going so well!

Pomni looked around the town square, trying to think about what to show Caine next. She started to lead him down a less crowded street as she continued to think. Pomni felt Caine stop walking, and when she followed his line of sight Caine was looking at a tree. Specifically at the round something dangling from the branch. It was a beehive, with buzzing noises coming from inside. Pomni remembers the bee plush Caine has and moves them closer, Caine’s eyes never leaving the hive. He just watches them fly around, mesmerized, and starts to raise a hand up to touch before Pomni gently moves his hand back down. Caine looks to Pomni, who is looking at him with a smile.

“Don’t bother them, okay?” Pomni gently warns Caine. “They will sting you if you do. If you want honey, I’ll take you to a stall that sells them, okay?”

Caine nodded and followed her. She bought him a honey cake from a stall. “Here. I know this has honey in it.”

Caine smiles and takes a bite, freezing in place as his eyes widen. Pomni sees him pause and starts to panic, did he hate it? Wait, was he allergic?? Pomni considered giving him the heimlich maneuver but before she can make a decision Caine starts enthusiastically devouring the rest of the cake, quickly eating the whole thing. He jumps up and down a few times before picking up another one and starting to eat that one too.

Pomni lets out a sign of relief and chuckles, “I’ll take that as you really like honey huh?”

Caine nods and Pomni actually laughs as she sees his face has honey on it.

Caine stops his eating as Pomni continues to laugh as she turns to pay for the second cake, watching the way her face scrunches up. Her laugh really is the best sound Caine has ever heard, like a chorus of dolphins or the sweetest siren song.

Caine was so caught up in sound that he didn’t realize Pomni had returned, holding a cloth out to him, still with that soft smile of amusement, “You uh, got a little something on your face.”

Caine takes the cloth with a look of gratitude and tries to clean the honey, but doesn’t have much luck.

Pomni takes pity on him and holds out her hand again, “Here, let me help with that.”

Caine blushes with embarrassment, he’s a grown merman after all he should be able to clean his own face. But he still hands over the cloth, blushing for a different reason as Pomni gently wipes off the offending honey. They were so close, close enough that Caine could see the faint blush on Pomni’s face from the earlier laughter, and could see the swirling colors of her eyes as they met gazes.

Pomni didn’t think she had ever seen eyes like Caine’s, the green and blue colours shining with affection. They reminded her of the ocean, deep and full of wonder and secrets. She swears she’s seen these eyes before, and finds herself leaning in before freezing. Pomni’s face heats up as she jumps back with wide eyes, suddenly feeling flustered she blurts out “uhhhh I KNOW ANOTHER SPOT WE SHOULD GO TO, FOLLOW ME!”

Pomni takes his hand again and quickly starts leading him back to the cart, trying to avoid everyone’s eyes. What was she thinking??

Caine jolted forward and tried to keep up with Pomni’s suddenly fast pace as his mind swam. What just happened?

“Oh you have got to be kidding me! They were so close!” Zooble threw their claws up as they watched Caine and Pomni disappear back to the cart.

“I know right! That was a perfect moment, like right out of a romance book!” Gangle squeeled, wings flapping.

“Thats it, we have to intervene. Caine can’t afford to miss another opportunity like that,” Zooble said as they crawled over to Gangle.

“R-right!” Gangle bends down so Zooble can climb on her back.

“Oooo I know some great ways to help!” Bubble chimed in as Gangle picked him up with her webbed feet.

“Why do I have a feeling your ideas aren’t going to be very helpful…” Gangle whispered as she took to the sky, following after Caine as the cart went further away from the town.

Later that day after Pomni had taken Caine to a few more spots, the two arrived at a lagoon outside of town. Pomni notices a boat on the shore and gestures towards it to Caine, “Hey Caine, you want to go on a boat ride?” She asked him. Caine nodded and followed her over, watching as she pushed the boat into the water.

Pomni helped Caine get into the boat. She picks up the ores and starts to row, going out onto the lagoon. Pomni can think of at least a few spots he might like, but is content to just go with the flow as she watches Caine’s face as he takes everything in.

Caine looks around as they float deeper out, looking down at the water. He looks at his reflection and sees himself grow a bit sad. It’s been amazing seeing all the things on land, but he can’t help feeling a little homesick. He starts to think of Kinger and the big fight they had while looking at his reflection.

Pomni notices Caine’s shift in mood and frowns, wondering what could have happened to cause it. Was he remembering something from the wreck? Should she ask? No, that was probably rude, she’d wait for him to say- for him to make the first move.

This results in both of them not looking at each other, Caine looking at the water and Pomni trying to give him space as they continue on forward.

“Ugh! Now they’re not talking!” Zooble grumbled, the three of them hiding behind some reeds to keep a closer eye on things.

“M-Maybe they’ll talk soon?” Gangle knows as she says it that it doesn’t sound that convincing.

“Well we don’t have all day! Pomni needs to kiss him now!” Zooble let out, trying to think of some way to get the two to stop messing around and just kiss.

“I got this!” Bubble announced, dipping back underwater before either of them could stop him. He popped back up closer to the boat, opened his mouth and started to scream at the top of his gills, “AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!”

Pomni yelped at the sudden loud screaming, almost dropping the ores trying to cover her ears. Caine jumped as the boat rocked and saw Bubble, giving him an angry stare. Oh that fish did that on purpose, Caine just knew it!

Pomni looked up at Caine and gave a strained smile, “Man, I hope someone puts that thing out of its misery…am I right? Heh heh.”

Caine gave his own strained smile in return while he gestured for Bubble to shut up right now with a hand behind his back.

Bubble suddenly got pulled underwater, Zooble dragging him back away from the boat and to another rock where Gangle had landed on, “BUBBLE SHUT THE [$!#%] UP THAT IS NOT HELPING!” Zooble whisper-yelled as they put their hand over his mouth, shutting him up.

“I mean… I guess romantic music could help them talk…” Gangle suggested, “Maybe if we make some music, they might talk and kiss…”

“I think that could work,” Zooble admitted

“Y-You really think so?”

“Worth a shot,” Zooble shrugged before looking at Gangle fully, “and I know if you do the vocals we have an even better shot.”

“m-ME!?” Gangle blushed.

“Sure, I’ve heard you sing and it’s pretty good. Plus you know romance songs better than anyone I know…”

“O-oh really? Well, if you think it will help I could give it a try…”

As the two had been talking, Pomni had gone back to rowing. Now that the silence had been broken and Caine was looking around again, it felt awkward not to try to talk about something. “Soooo…what’s your favourite color?” Pomni asked, trying to start a conversation. Caine looked at her with a raised eyebrow, tilting his head to the side.

“Uhh nevermind! Silly question I guess. How about, um, did you have a favourite thing we did today?” Pomni asked again.

Caine’s face lights up as he starts to mimic things with his hands, whatever he was trying to convey getting lost as his hands blur together from how fast he is moving. If he had his voice back, he would talk nonstop for 57 straight minutes. He had so many things he wanted to say! So many questions to ask her!

“Slow down! I can’t get any of that that fast!” Pomni says with a bit of a laugh, happy to see his excitement, “How about starting with one thing first okay?”

Caine nods and thinks before trying to mimic a bee.

“You really must like bees, huh?” Pomni asked him, still smiling. Caine nods with enthusiasm, wishing he had his voice back so he can talk about bees with Pomni.

The atmosphere started to feel a little more romantic, the nature around them seeming to change to shift. Caine noticed it and, knowing the likely reason, started to blush. Maybe this was it. Maybe he could get Pomni to kiss him here and now.

“You… must have a lot to say, don't you?” Pomni asked. Caine nodded, really wanting to tell her everything. He would even tell her that he was a merman who traded his voice just for her, not even caring if Zooble told him not to tell her that information. He wanted her to know the truth.

He then felt Pomni hold his hands. His eyes looked at her with a happy expression, not looking away.

Pomni leaned in and gazed into Caine’s eyes. Caine closed his eyes and leaned in as well, heart pounding in his chest.

But before they could kiss, the two are knocked off the rowboat as it is flipped. Caine starts to flail in the water, panicking because he still hadn’t learned to swim with legs yet. Pomni quickly grabs onto Caine, preventing him from sinking, “Here… I got you.” Pomni assured him. She then quickly turned the boat back to the way it was and helped Caine get back in.

After she got back on the rowboat she looked at Caine who was soaking wet and starting to shiver, feeling the cold water settle into her skin as well and sighed, “Let’s head back now, I’m sure Ragatha would be happy to run you a bath to get you warm.”

As she rowed herself and Caine back to shore neither of them noticed the two eels slip away back under the water.

At the same time Jax watched the two through a crystal ball, smirking as his sabotage worked.

It looked like Pomni and Caine were no longer talking again, both quiet and focused on getting inside. He then saw Ribbit and Kaufmo enter his cavern and grins at the two eels.

“Good job you two, that was so close. That brat! He’s much better than I thought. That princess will be kissing him by sunset for sure!” Jax ranted as he swam up to grab ingredients from his shelf and smashed them in the cauldron in anger. “Kinger’s son will be mine! I’ll make him suffer by making him watch the only thing he has left abstract in front of his eyes!”

He clutches his key locket as a plan forms in his mind. If he could distract Pomni using Caine’s voice, Caine would have no choice but to return to the sea. His grin widens as he throws more potions into the cauldron, the perfect plan taking form.

The moon shines bright as Caine watches Pomni play the song she heard on her flute. He smiles as he listens to the sweet song, letting out a longing sigh as he rests his head on his arms outside the window of his bedroom. Pomni looks up and spots him, waving to him with a smile.

“You know Pomni, if you are looking for that dream boy, I’m pretty sure he’s currently watching you from his bedroom window.” Ragatha comments to her friend as she comes to stand beside her.

Pomni blushes and quickly turns away, waving her hand around dismissively, “Who Caine? No no, why would I like Caine? There's nothing going on, why would you think that? I’m, I’m still waiting for the guy with the voice remember! Yeah, I’m, still waiting so, I can’t like Caine,” Pomni’s voice had slowly lost its volume by the end, ending in more of a hesitant whisper than the frantic exclamation it started as.

Ragatha’s expression softened from teasing to understanding. Pomni sounded unsure, more like she was trying to convince herself more than her.

“I’m going to bed. I’ll see you tomorrow, okay?” Ragatha would leave Pomni to think about it for tonight, and hopefully in the morning she will have come to the realization that Ragatha had seen written all over her face all day.

“Yeah, goodnight Ragatha…” Pomni waved her friend goodbye before taking a glance back up at Caine’s window. He wasn’t there, probably gone back to sleep.

She sighed, thinking about what Ragatha had said. Did she like Caine like that? Sure the guy was sweet, always excited about everything and eager to learn, way too much energy for such a short guy, face oddly expressive for not having typical facial features.

His eyes were the most expressive she had ever seen, filled with so much wonder for everything around him…and they got so wide when he looked at her. She couldn’t understand how eyes could say so much, or be filled with so much joy, or display so much affection when they met eyes….

Oh man what was she even thinking about at this point, she was still waiting for the one that saved her…right? Pomni frowned, thinking harder about that. Why was she even waiting for him? Sure he saved her and all that, and had the most beautiful voice she had ever heard, but she didn’t know anything about him! Would she even like him?

Would he even care to notice that she got motion sick and slow down for her to catch her breath? Would he do something ridiculous just to get her to laugh? Would his eyes be full of so much wonder and affection it makes Pomni want to both run away and lean in?

She looks at her flute before coming to a decision, chucking it into the ocean waters.

Pomni did say she wanted to marry the man who saved her, but Caine really had grown on her. She almost kissed him in the hidden lagoon earlier!

“What am I even doing..?” She asked himself. She started to walk back to the palace, but stopped when she heard something. She turns back towards the waves, searching the shoreline for the sound. She could have sworn it sounded like-

There it was again, a voice singing and it was getting louder.

It was just like the voice she heard, but more menacing and ominous. She looked around, looking for the voice until she spotted someone walking along the shore. He looked to be a yellow-fading-into-green gummy crocodile, with a white underbelly and familiar looking eyes, one blue, the other green. He wore a key locket around his neck, which glowed brightly. Pomni just stares at him, not knowing what to do. Was it really him?

“Excuse me, ma’am, is this flute yours?” The gummy crocodile asked. An eerie golden mist winds through her, entering her eyes which enchanted her with a spell that hypnotized her.

Pomni just nodded, and took her flute back. “Y-Yeah… that’s mine…” Pomni answered. “What’s… your name..?”

“Gummigoo.”