Commission between the wonderful kingv and I

Dance by the Waterfall

It had been a month since the festival, and Rhea was getting anxious to see Lucky again. Rather, Taisho as was his real name. He liked it when she called him Lucky, though. It made him feel like he could break away from the title of Prince. She really did feel honored he enjoyed it that much. However, he hadn't come around since that night, but after so long she was starting to worry. Had he been hurt? Was he caught back up in his Prince duties? Was he even still alive?

Rhea sighed as she walked along the beach, shaking her head clear from bad thoughts. She looked out into the ocean, hoping to see that multicolored tail or long flowing black hair or even that smiling innocent face. Unfortunately, she saw nothing so she continued on.

She had attached her iPod to the strap on her swimsuit, and her headphones which hooked around her ears stayed put as she bobbed her head to the music. After a while of walking, Rhea reached that special place she had found only a few days after Lucky disappeared. She had been so eager to show it to him, but sadly she had been unable to find him and she couldn't get to Aquios without that air pocket thing he made.

Reaching the cliff she carefully moved through the brush until she found the opening. It wasn't that big, but when you moved further inside it opened up into a big cave. It had an exit that lead to the special place, which was where she aiming to get to. The area could be reached from the ocean, but she hadn't been able to get anyone to teach her how to swim. Lucky had promised, but things such as life made it difficult. Besides, she wouldn't be able to bring her iPod or other items to the place. Like the cot and blankets and lanterns to fill the cave. She had other trinkets she couldn't all keep in her room, too. They were all things she hoped Lucky would enjoy seeing.

She smiled as she heard the roar of the waterfall after travelling through from one end to the other. She knew if he ever came around again, Lucky would love it.

Rhea had worked hard at Marissa's magic shop and with May. With that money she had bought a swimsuit she had had her eye on since she realized she was really in love with Lucky. It was a one piece, with red inch-thick straps and it narrowed into a soft v. From the elastic below her breasts down it was white, and then a black skirt was attached to make it more modest. In a way it reminded her of Lucky's koi tail.

After she had found his Sun Sphere he said he would make sure to return it and break away completely so he could be with her. It made her heart soar every time she thought about it. He was such a sweet person. She sighed as she walked up to the lagoon the waterfall fed and she jumped upon one of the many rocks that littered the pond. Rhea giggled as a song played and she got really into the beat and started dancing, jumping from one rock to the other and swaying her body. She twirled and let her worries drop away. Lucky wouldn't want her to be sad.

What she didn't realize, however, was that Taisho had been on his way to see her when he saw her from a distance. He wanted to surprise her, so he ducked down before she could see him, and followed the blond. What was she doing? What was that human contraption she had attached to her swimsuit? What were those on her ears? So many questions! He grinned, but the smile vanished when she disappeared into the cliff. Where did she go? She didn't slip, did she?!

Panic seemed to well inside him and he swam forward and touched the pendant she had given him. Popping out of the water he was about to turn human when he saw an opening in the cliff off to the side. He heard a waterfall, too. The panic dissipated as he concluded she must've gone through the opening. Curious, he looked around and saw a split in the cliff face. He went to it and slipped through to the other side.

What he saw surprised him greatly. The waterfall was large and roaring, the greenery around the lagoon seemed to shimmer from the spray, and the pond itself was rippling and sparkling. The human world sure was beautiful. Sure, the sea could be enchanting with all its marine life and trenches and underwater mountains…but nothing like this. Taisho swam a little further into it, but when he peered around a bush, his breath caught in his throat.

Before, he couldn't see her clearly, but now….now it was like everything faded away and all that was left was Rhea.

Dancing upon the rocks was his gorgeous guardian angel. Her pretty amethyst eyes were closed in bliss and her golden locks paled by the moonlight fell graciously over her shoulders. Among the ripples already made by the falls, her little feet created more. She bent down and cupped some water in her hands, and then she let it fall from her fingers as she twirled. The water droplets looked like crystals before they hit the surface again.

The lagoon was shallow, so if she accidentally slipped and fell she would be okay. Those long legs of hers could keep her well above the top. The swimsuit she wore was very different from that cute strawberry one she had during the picnic dates we had. It accented her figure and it really fit her a lot better. Red was definitely more her color, and white didn't look too bad, either. He especially liked how the black skirt hit just enough but still left room to tease.

Wait…those colors…

Taisho tilted his head curiously and his tail swished back and forth as he thought about it. Oh! That's right, of course! He brought his tail out of the water and examined the key traits that marked him as a koi. His main color was a pearly white, but then he had red and black splotches everywhere. He wasn't one to brag about being a koi, but he had to admit he was very unique.

A blush crept over his cheeks as he recalled just how much Rhea enjoyed stroking it and how she thought how pretty it was. Was that why she chose that swimsuit? It reminded her of him?

Either way, he noticed the soft splashing from her dance had stopped. Frowning, Taisho looked around the bush. She had such a sad expression on her face as she gazed up at the moon. Just what was she thinking of that could cause her to be like that?

The answer to his unspoken question came when she looked down with a sigh, whispering a soft "Lucky…" under her breath.

The Sea Prince was startled when he heard that. Rhea was thinking of him? Why? What did he do to invade her thoughts? Perhaps…it was the same reason she filled his mind? He sure hoped so, because while he watched her turn around and head into the mouth of a cave, he reached into the blue sash around his waist. He had gotten in the habit of wearing it because she became uncomfortable whenever he transformed and had no clothes to put on.

Taisho pulled out a little vile full of a pink liquid and examined it. It glowed a little, but he knew it was safe despite appearances. He thought back to how he had acquired it in the first place.

-Flashback-


Taisho swam through the home the magician owned and went to the purple beaded curtain in the back. After knocking on the door, it had opened but no one had been there. Moving apart the curtain he saw the man he was looking for adding glowing bottles from a basket onto the shelves behind his counter. Swimming up to it, he attentively tapped the bell, "Excuse me? Are you Carver?"

"I am, but who's asking?" he turned to look at his guest. Carver was a green haired, copper tailed magician who lived in the deeper parts of Aquios. He didn't do spells or incantations, he mostly dealt with potions and he was well known for the success of them. It was a very good thing he didn't deal with anything illegal or else he would be in jail with all the things his concoctions were able to do.

"Ah, Prince Taisho, welcome. Oh, wait," he paused and placed a finger on his pouty lips. His pretty boy face was twisted into a mischievous smile, and his hot pink eyes were sparkling, "Word around the reef is you've been calling yourself Lucky. Isn't that right?" He played with a silver choker around his neck and it had a pink stone in it.

That was another thing about Carver, he accepted a lot of different types of payment, and he often wore it. He preferred silver, interestingly enough, but some days he had on gold. Personally, Taisho thought the gold fit his coloring a lot better, but who was he to say anything about his fashion sense? The prince smiled and nodded, "That's right."

"It's been a while since I last saw you around here, kiddo," Carver floated over his desk and moved towards the back where a rock couch with lots of cushions sat. Behind it was another purple beaded curtain, and it led out into a garden he tended to. He never went out there, he was way too nervous about what he might find. The greenette had once told him that was where he kept most of the ingredients for his potions. "Whacha need, Lucky?" he inquired as he added more bottles to the shelves.

Taisho blushed darkly, "Well, I've got this girl I like…and we've kissed, so I'm sure she likes me, too. I'd really like to do something nice for her, but I don't know what."

Carver froze and it was a good thing he hadn't picked up another bottle, or he would've dropped it. He turned to the young prince, "Just what do you want me to tell you? Why not go to your brother?"

"Well…that's the thing…Telios isn't one for humans, and even though he's met her I'm not so sure he approves," he dug into the blue sash around his waist, "I have money…"

"Of course you do. What do you want to know?" Carver sat the basket on the couch and floated over to the koi, holding out his hand and watched as a few gold coins were produced, "You brought me gold. You must be serious. You usually bring me silver."

Taisho smiled, "I know. I really like this girl, Carver, but I've got no clue what I'm doing. I have more…please tell me what I can do…"

-End Flashback-

Biting his lip, Taisho looked at the vial and then looked at the cave. The potions master had told him it would be best if he took a sip, too, but gave the rest to Rhea. A blush crossed his cheeks as he remembered the…information Carver had shared, and appreciated the fact that this little potion would keep Rhea 'protected' from getting pregnant. He had certainly been kept in the dark about that sort of thing, but if Rhea wanted to, he would…take the next step, as the magician put it. It was difficult for a human to turn into a merperson, so he would have to stick with…uh…pleasuring her, in his human form. That was okay, he liked being human anyway.

Taking a breath, he hauled himself onto the embankment of the lagoon and touched his pendant. Groaning once he was changed, he held his head. He was always dizzy after transforming, but once he got over it he got the most invigorating feeling of excitement. Taisho situated the sash so it covered his lower half and then looked at the vile. Just a tiny sip, and then the rest would go to Rhea. He should probably wait to give it to her, after he made sure she wanted him, but what was the harm in taking a little now? The koi popped the cork and let a few drops touch his tongue before he capped it again.

Surely it wouldn't do anything…

At least, that's what he thought.