The next morning, the members of the Guard walk out to the living area. Diana turns to her teammates, holding her finger to her mouth, and points over her shoulder to the Yarl, asleep on the sofa. Jon, a long time friend, starts to giggle and then quietly smiles to himself when he realizes why Riku is sleeping there. The doors to his suite are still closed.

The team quietly sits around a table and talk in hushed voices. “I wonder if she kicked him out,” Mikala intones. Jon however knows both of them too well. “No, if that were the case, he wouldn’t be covered or have a pillow!”

They continue to talk about the dinner and the team ask Jon about Corinna and the past. He waves it off, nothing really to talk about here. He wasn’t a gossip and preferred to hear it than spread it.

Riku opens his eyes and looks around. He wonders how he became covered with a blanket overnight. Odd. He moves to sit up and a slight pounding takes over his head. “Mornin’,” he greets the team with his eyes shielded. The sun is rising in the distance, illuminating the Suite.

“Mornin’,” they reply. Diana speaks up, “How’s Morgen? She was having a hard time last night.”

Riku shakes his head indicating he doesn’t know, and walks over to the door to his bedchamber, lightly tapping on it. He doesn’t hear a reply, so he cracks it open. He sees Morgen, under the covers and curled up, but awake. She’s looking out over the land mass to their north where the snowcapped mountains meet the sea.

Morgen hears him enter the room and waves him over to her, staying covered. He sees the green dress from last night draped across a chair. He closes the door behind him.

“Riku, do you think we and the Terrans are more alike than different?” Morgen ponders.

He looks at Morgen. His eyes are a mystery to her; clouded with either confusion or, something else. “What do you mean?”

She replays the story of the mermaid little Renee shared from the night before. “And, you know, Lynnia became a Terran permanently. Why would anyone choose to do that?” She looked down the length of the bed, as if she were looking over her tail or her legs. “Do you think it is possible for us to control our tails or legs to be either one?”

Riku’s face turned serious. “Morgen, what are you talking about?”

“Myrlina said I was something called a Split Tailed Mermaid as a child. She cured me?” Morgen sat up and pulled up the bottom of the sheets on the bed. Instead of legs, or even a solid tail, two beautiful turquoise, coral, and navy tail fins peaked out from below. “I got up in the middle of the night when I realized you’d let me sleep here for the night. I covered you up with a blanket and as I got back into bed, my legs changed to these.”

Riku looked at her. He’d not seen fins so beautiful before, but he was also concerned. The potion from Myrlina was to last until they were ready to head back. “Wait here.” He gently patted her hand and excused himself.

Moments later, Myrlina and Riku re-entered the room. Morgen had shifted to sit up. “Let’s see these beauties,” Myrlina lifted the sheet to see her beautiful split tail. “It’s gorgeous.” Myrlina’s eyes lit up with excitement and turned to Morgen. “You did this, nothing else can.”

Morgen was confused. “What do you mean?”

Myrlina sighed. “Mermaids and mermen, single or split tail, and terrans are all descended from the same main genetic line. Our environment, our world, helps determine which traits come out. However, some of us can control our appearance without any potion.” Myrlina holds her hands up in the air, making air quotes on the word potion. “My potion unlocks the ability to shift, but it doesn’t actually do the change.” She pointed to Morgen’s heart, “You do.”

Riku looked at both Myrlina and Morgen. “Why did or could Morgen do this, but none of the rest of us did?”

Myrlina took in a deep breath and closed her eyes. Her legs started to shimmer and change into a single tail. Myrlina opened her eyes back up and looked at Riku. “Just think where you want to be, and it will change. I suspect Morgen was a little homesick overnight and wants to just be home.”

Morgen smiled shyly. “So, if I, say, wanted to go to the mountains, I’d need legs and all I need to do is think about it?”

Myrlina smiled. “Yes dear.” She patted Morgen’s hand.

Morgen closed her eyes, took a deep breath, and her fins began to change back into terran legs. “Do the Terrans know how to do this?”

Myrlina shook her head no. “Most, even in our world, don’t know they can even do this. Our kind, split tails, have the easiest time transforming.” Myrlina shifted her focus to Riku. “Do you understand now?”

Riku shook his head. “We’re not dealing with a different kind, we’re dealing with our own. This changes things.”

Myrlina shook her head and stood up. “Let’s let Morgen get ready,” and she headed to the door.

Riku looked over. “Can you close the door behind you? I need to talk more with Morgen.”

Myrlina closed the door and Riku turned back towards Morgen. He reached out his hand to move a stray curl which fell over Morgen’s face. “You surprised me last night. I’m not talking about being a light weight with the drinks, but how you got along so well with Edward and Renee over dinner. Normally you clam up.”

Morgen looked down and then back at Riku. “I’m not a social creature, but Edward and Renee were easy to talk to. Renee is a cute kid…Lynnia and Edward are doing a great job raising her. I know she, Lynnia, Corinna, could not have had it easy adjusting to a different world, even if she was destined for something better. Edward seems to really care for her deeply. He spoke of her so fondly, you could just see the love he has for her. How can anyone not appreciate that?”

Riku smiled to himself. “So, no hard feelings towards Corinna, no concerns or worries?”

Morgen smiled, “I wouldn’t say that, but not in THAT way!” She poked Riku in the arm and rolled her eyes.

He stood up. “Good!” Then he leaned over and kissed her sweetly on the cheek. “I’ll let you get ready. But hurry up. This is my room!”

He strode away from the bed as Morgen threw a pillow at him. They both laughed as he left the room.

Riku closed the door behind him, greeted by five sets of eyes locked on him. “What?” he shrugged.

Jon just put his hand to his head and shook it back and forth. Myrlina’s lips curled up into a sly smile.

Morgen sat in a swivel chair backwards, curled with her feet hanging out from the front of the chair, looking out over the land and water before her. She rested her chin on one of her arms, lost in thought.

In the background, Myrlina and the Guard chatted and went through the terran clothes brought for them by the tailor and seamstress. Morgen wasn’t that interested in them, so Myrlina picked out a few things for her as well.

Riku pulled up a chair and sat beside her. “You okay?”

Morgen forced a smile. “Sure, I’m good.” Riku saw right through her as he always could.

“It’s the past. Can you let it go?”

She picked up her head and rested her chin on her hand, then wrinkled up her nose and scrunched up her face at him. “Riku, I let go of those dark things in our past ages ago. We…” she pointed to him and back at herself as her face returned to normal, “we are good in my eyes, better than good. I’m also fine with Corinna. We live in different worlds now, and that is the life she chose. It was just the shock of seeing her in the same place as you, that’s all.”

Morgen looked down at the marble floor, then back up to Riku. “Are we alright?”

Riku still looked perplexed. “Why wouldn’t you trade rooms with me, or stand up to her?”

Morgen sighed. “Some things are better to fight for than others. Right now, I’m here to do a job for you and if Corinna is a key to getting the goal, we have to let her feel she has the upper hand or she’ll go on the defense. Sometimes, we lead by saying nothing unless it is absolutely necessary. She thinks she’s one up on me, but it is a competition only in her own head.”

Riku looked at her intently. Was she a quiet mermaid avoiding conflict, or was there some strategy to her actions?

Myrlina spoke up from a distance. “Sunset is approaching. Should we dress for dinner?” She dragged out the word dress as she spoke it.

Morgen twisted around in her chair and walked over to the clothes. She found an emerald green knee-length sheath dress on the rack and pulled it off. “What do you think?”

Riku and Myrlina nodded in approval and everyone separated to dress. They had learned quickly why the Terrans’ sought privacy when dressing.

---

The team headed up on the lift to the 103rd floor. Corinna greeted them at the lift door. The suite was another level of opulence. The walls shimmered as if they were coated in Bioluminescence. “A touch of home,” Corinna pointed out as they walked through a long hall to the dining room. The table was set with fine terran china, silk napkins, and silver utensils.

The Guard sighed in the background and a mumble of thanks came from them to Myrlina as they were escorted to the table for 10. She had reviewed terran dining practices with them all before heading up for dinner.

Edward VonTith entered the room and greeted Corinna with a gentle kiss on her cheek. He was a tall man, with dark hair and piercingly sharp features. “Introduce me to our guests!” Edward was a gregarious host, easy and outgoing.

Corinna made introductions then guided everyone to their seats. “Yarl Riku, you’ll sit at this end of the table. Myrlina and I will sit with you. Edward will sit in his normal seat and next to him, our daughter Renee. Morgen, please have a seat to Edward’s right. Jon, come sit next to me,” as she patted the seat next to hers, “and the rest of the Guard, feel free to take whichever seat suits you.”

Morgen felt isolated from the rest of the table, nothing new there. But she smiled at Edward and Renee. Corinna’s daughter was a cute girl with her mom’s blond hair and her father’s square jaw. Edward spoke to Morgen kindly, asking about life under water and her interests. Small talk seemed to come easy for Morgen with Edward and Renee.

Little Renee told Morgen a story about a mermaid who lived in the mountains. Interested, Morgen asked “How does she do it?” Renee then shared elaborate details about a lake, a waterfall, a magic potion, and something called a cabin. It intrigued and entertained Morgen. Edward chuckled at his daughter’s story telling capabilities and gave her a high-five at the end of story.

Riku watched the exchanges on the other end of the table and finally relaxed. Corinna made small talk at their end of the table. They kept the liquids going, including water, wine, and liquor along with a beautiful bounty of seafood called Sushi. Corinna swore by it to the mermaids and mermen as the next best thing to their own food.

Little Renee headed off to bed as the adults continued to enjoy the evening in the living area. Edward continued to supply Morgen and the rest of the party with drinks. Morgen enjoyed the sweet taste of one drink, but started to feel light headed, so she nursed that last drink for the rest of the night.

Together Corinna and Edward made lovely hosts for the evening. As the evening wound down, the Guard recommended to the team to return to their suite. Yarl Riku nodded in agreement. The Guard headed toward Myrlina who stood up and thanked Corinna for a lovely evening.

Riku walked over to Morgen and offered her his hand to stand up. But, Morgen was not able to move. Her legs were unable to hold her up. Riku and Edward both helped her up to her feet. She finally found her footing, but was a bit unstable. Riku helped her to the lift as they all thanked the VonTith’s for a lovely evening.

Once in the lift, Morgen held on to the bars to steady herself. The rest of their party exited into their suite. Riku turned to Morgen. “Let me help you.” She waved him off and took a step forward, but started to collapse. Riku caught her. “You’re a lightweight on the alcohol, aren’t you.”

Morgen smiled. “What’s alcohol?” and passed out.

Riku swept her up in his arms and carried her into his bedchamber. He laid her on the bed and closed the door behind himself as he walked back out to the living area. He spread out on the couch to catch some sleep of his own.

Myrlina watched the events between Morgen and Riku from her room and then quietly shut her door, smiling to herself.

Lynnia, as she was originally known, was a mermaid who left the Seamount decades ago. She grew up with Riku, Jon, and Morgen but was always destined for something more as she would say.

Morgen’s eyes turned black as coal. Riku and Lynnia in the same room brought back upsetting memories for her. She always felt like a third thought when they were all together. Independently they were great, but, cold shivers ran down her spine seeing them in the same room. She took deep breaths to calm herself, trying to hide her feelings and move past it.

“Morgen! It’s wonderful to see you again!” Corinna approached her and went in for a hug. Morgen forced a smile and nodded back at her. “Riku, I have set you and your team up in our largest suite.” Corinna did a quick head count. “Yes, there should be enough beds set up for all of you. Follow me.”

Morgen stepped back to walk with Myrlina as Riku and Corinna led their group up to the entrance of the tunnel. Myrlina sensed Morgen’s angst and smiled kindly at her. “It’s okay to let go of the past my dear. They have.” She nodded at Riku and Corinna.

“I’m not so sure. Why didn’t Riku tell me she would be here?”

“He planned to. Like always, she has impeccable timing.”

Morgen sensed Myrlina had dealings of her own with Lynnia.

Myrlina continued, “Who do you think transformed her into human form permanently?” She gave a sideways smile. “I still wonder if I did the right thing. We expected her to be a voice for our people with the Terrans.” Morgen and Myrlina continued on in silence.

Meanwhile, Corinna pointed out sites to Riku as they made their way to Aurora Central. “This is where you will be staying. Our main building is 103 floors high. The 101st floor is the suite reserved for dignitaries and the location where you will be staying. There are 5 bed chambers with baths and a large open living area. It has 360 degree views of Aurora, and truly a sight to behold.”

Corinna always knew how to impress. They loaded onto the lift which brought them to their floor. “Riku, you can set up access once in the room for your team to come and go as they please.” Corinna looked into the lens which registered her eyes and opened the lift’s doors.

The suite was the picture of opulence. The mermen and mermaids were in awe of the gleaming surfaces and hard marble floors of the suite. A chandelier hung in the entry, alit with multicolored lights which projected warm washes of colors throughout the main living area. Corinna escorted Riku to the large bedroom to the left. “This will be your suite.” It was finely appointed with a large bed and fine linens. Riku was not overly impressed since it was not the merman’s custom to use such a piece of furniture. But he expressed his gratitude.

Next Corinna showed Myrlina to her room. It was equivalently appointed but with a slightly smaller bed. “Thank you Corinna. These are fine quarters.”

Corinna showed the Guard to their two rooms, outfitted with two single beds each. The Guard shrugged at each other as if to say what do we do with this? Corinna clarified for them, “Since you can’t float in air, this is where you lay to sleep.” They shook their heads in understanding.

Finally Corinna took Morgen into a small room. “Normally this is an office for the dignitary, but we brought in a cot for you to sleep on.” Morgen just smiled. She knew she had the worst room in the place, but she didn’t care. She didn’t plan on being here long and looked forward for this trip to be over as soon as possible.

Riku walked in and saw the setup. “Corinna, this is not acceptable. Morgen should have a proper room.”

Corinna looked befuddled. “This is the best I can do. There are no other rooms we can set up.”

Riku turned to Morgen. “Take my room. I won’t be getting much sleep anyway.”

Corinna crossed her arms, her face turning sour, seeing that Riku had Morgen’s back like this.

“Yarl Riku, it is okay. I’ll be fine in this study. Do not trouble yourself,” Morgen replied. “I have never slept on anything but water, it will be good.”

Riku had a look of disbelief on his face. She still puts up with Lynnia’s antics after all these years. “Suit yourself. We can talk more about this later.”

Corinna dropped her arms to her side, feeling she won yet again. It was always about winning with her, even with decades old rivalries.

The team regrouped in the main area of the suite. Corinna made a few more announcements. “I will have a tailor and a seamstress come up to get you all measured and some Terran clothes delivered for you to wear while you are here. It will make you all more comfortable if you are dressed like us. We will meet at sunset in the our suite. We are two floors up on the 103rd floor. See you then.”

Corinna turned and caught the lift to go on to her suite. Myrlina rolled her eyes behind Corinna’s back, which made Morgen chuckle a bit.

Morgen let out a sigh after the doors shut on the lift. “Can we relax now?” She threw the question towards Riku, who laughed.

“Lynnia is still up to her old tricks. How did I not see them before.” Morgen just looked at Riku, expressionless. Then something outside the window behind him caught her eye.

She walked over to the window. She saw beautiful red rock formations coming out of the water nearby, and the water was shades of turquoise, emerald, and sapphire. The light from the sol reflected off the waves which were calm and small. “Is that home?” She drew in a breath. “I’ve never seen it from above.”

Everyone walked over to the window to join her in the view. Riku rested his arm on her shoulders. “Yes, Morgen. That’s home.”

The team arrived at the entrance to Terra. They swam into a cavern which had a shallow landing area. Yarl Riku and Morgen surfaced first. Morgen exhaled the water in her lungs then took in a deep breath of air. She was a little lightheaded from the rush of air. Her eyes flickered to a deep purple as she looked at Riku. He was always intrigued when her eyes would change.

Jon signaled to Diana before surfacing for her to watch him, then do as he does. They both emerged from the water and he exhaled the contents of his lungs then breathed in a deep breath. Diana exhaled afterward, but when she inhaled, she began to cough viciously. “Exhale more, you need to empty your lungs!” Jon commanded.

Diana exhaled again with a mixture of air and water coming out of her mouth, and started giggling. “Not as graceful as underwater, that’s for sure!” she chuckled as she wiped her face off. She then took in another large breath of air and smiled. “The air is sweeter than I expected.”

Myrlina next appeared, with vials in her hand. She opened one vial of green iridescent liquid and swallowed it whole. Around her the water churned and bubbled. She swam over to a lip in the pool of water and pushed herself out of the water. Modesty was not a concept for sea creatures, but Myrlina stood up and walked over to a small table. “These were left for us by the VonTiths. They will expect we be clothed when they arrive.” She slipped on a short gown and walked back to the edge of the pool.

“Yarl Riku, since you have done this before, let’s have you go next.” She handed him a vial which he quickly downed and transformed. Riku jumped out of the pool and swiftly slid on a pair of trousers.

Myrlina stooped down next to Morgen. “You’re next. Ready?”

Morgen looked uneasy, but took the vial and downed the potion. She felt her tail split into two and strange appendages appeared below her hips. Morgen pushed herself out of the pool into a seated position and stuck her legs out in front of her, trying to figure out how to use these sticks to stand.

Myrlina picked up a dress and draped it over Morgen’s head as she sat there, then offered a hand for her to stand up. Morgen was a little unsteady at first, teetering like a newborn taking her first steps. Myrlina escorted her over to Riku who took over duties to teach Morgen how to walk with these new legs.

Myrlina returned to the pool to help the remaining Guard out of the pool and into clothing. The Guard members plodded back and forth, heavy on their feet. However, Morgen took to walking fairly quickly as Mrylina expected.

Riku took Morgen into his arms. She pulled back, looking around. “Yarl, what are you doing?” Her eyes grew large as she looked around at their team.

“Dancing. We will need to practice.” He wrapped his arm around her waist and held one of her hands up. “Just follow my lead.”

While Morgen may have quickly walked, she fumbled a bit and stepped on his toes as he tried to lead. She couldn’t lift her head up, she was too busy watching her feet.

Riku started to laugh and let her hand go, the lifted her chin. “We will practice more later. I’ll need to tell you about the VonTiths and get you caught up on the details for our visit.”

The tapping sounds of footsteps began to grow louder from the tunnel. A beautiful blond haired, blue eyed Terran entered the cavern. “Hello, everyone. I’m Corinna VonTith, your host for your visit and First Lady of Aurora.”

The travelers looked up. Morgen’s mouth dropped. “Lynnia?”

At first light, the team assembled to head to Terra. Yarl Riku addressed the volunteers from the Guard. “Today, you will be on a peaceful mission to Terra, but each of you are responsible for the safety of our traveling partners, Morgen whom many of you know, and Myrlina.

Myrlina bowed her head to the Guard and Morgen. Her hair was wild and cropped short with electric blue and violet streaks. She looked unlike the typical mermaid. Her tail was a deep royal blue and violet pattern, very rarely seen.

Riku continued to speak. “Myrlina is skilled in the art of transformation. She is knowledgeable in how to alter our fins into the necessary legs we will need to walk on Terra.”

Morgen and the Guard’s eyes widened in wonderment.

“It doesn’t hurt. I have done the transition before. But, it does feel odd to move upright and in legs. We will have a bit of time to practice once to get to Terra before we encounter our hosts, the VonTiths.”

Morgen’s nerves showed as her tail changed to pastel colors. Riku saw and smiled encouragingly her way. Morgen spoke up, “How long will it take and how long will we stay that way?” She wasn’t too thrilled with losing her tail for this trip.

Myrlina spoke with an air of confidence which only advanced age brings. “The transformation is quick, no more than a few minutes. I will reverse the change when we are ready to return.”

Diana next spoke, “But Terra is full of air. How do we breathe?”

Riku looked at Diana with surprise. “Have you never breathed air, Diana?” She shook her head.

Jon floated up to her. “Sir, I will show her how.”

The Yarl replied, “Very good. Then let’s head out.”

The trip to Terra would take only a short time, less than one tenth of the daylight. The team spoke amongst themselves. Myrlina swam up to the Yarl. “Sir, I should have some words with Morgen before we arrive. Should I inform her of Lynnia while we speak?”

Riku flashed back to their shared youth. Oh, Lynnia, what a number she did on both Riku and Morgen. Thank goodness she moved on from it. “Hold off on Lynnia; I should share that with Morgen. But please speak with her on the rest.”

Myrlina nodded and swam closer to Morgen. Morgen’s tail was back to its normal colors, she had worked through the initial nerves. “Morgen, I will need to go over a few more things with you regarding our visit to Terra.”

Morgen still wasn’t thrilled about this. “Did you know I knew your parents?” Morgen was surprised. Her family didn’t know many from the Seamount and kept to themselves. “Yes, see, you are from the Split Tail clan, as am I. This means you are already adept at walking. But you do not remember this as you were very young when we transformed you to a single tail like most of the other mermaids. Your da’ wanted you to keep your dark hair as a reminder.”

Morgen looked at Myrlina with confused eyes. “That’s not even possible!”

Myrlina continued. “You will need to be more adept at walking than the Guard. The Yarl is already knowledgeable, but you should find the transformation easier than the Guard. While we are on land, you will also need to wear something called a gown. It is why you were chosen for this assignment.”

Morgen looked at Myrlina. “You mean, clothes? I have seen these things before, but why do we need to fit in to their world?”

Myrlina looked over Morgen. For all her intelligence, she had a hard time fitting in at times. “Morgen, the Yarl is counting on you to stand by his side through these discussion and your counsel. Can you do it?”

Morgen paused a moment, getting her bearings. Walking, clothes, Terrans…she could do it, but Riku was going to owe her after all this was done. She half-heartedly smile and nodded in agreement to Myrlina.

Terra was just up ahead. Soon, there would be no turning back.

Riku approached Morgen’s reef den. A school of yellowtail parrotfish swam around the structure. He spotted Morgen looking over a part of bleached coral. She had a concerned look on her face as he approached.

Her hand moved a wayward tendril of hair out of her face, and noticed Riku approaching. She waved at him and met him halfway. She sensed concern on his face. “Is everything okay?”

Riku was suddenly nervous. He was overthinking what he needed to say. “Yes, um, would you accompany a team, including me, to Terra? I need your assistance with our current issue.” He waved a hand towards the ocean water. His tail, usually bold, faded a bit, betraying his confidence.

Morgen looked around. She really didn’t know how to respond. He hadn’t been around the past few weeks, and now he turns up asking for him to go to a place she never has gone. “How can we go to Terra?” she looked down at her fin. She knew Terrans had legs; she had seen them before, but it had been a few years. “And, why do you need me?”

Riku flipped his tail back and forth. “Morgen,” he started, then he paused. “Sometimes I don’t know what to say to you.” He looks past her, then he looked back, then down to his fin, and then finally back up. “I just know I need you by my side through this. You’re extremely intelligent and will help me to weed through the details.”

Morgen blushed at the compliments, but also was concerned, “I need to attend to my reef. Do you see the bleached coral?”

He floated over to the reef. “This is why I need your help. The Terrans are polluting our world and I need to make them aware of the situation and address it.”

Morgen looked down. She knew she could help him and was willing to go, but she was still confused. “But, how can we go to Terra?”

Riku’s eyes lit up. “I have someone who will help. She is very powerful in a realm which you have not been exposed. I’ll introduce you to her before we leave.”

“And, when is that?”

“At first light.”

Morgen’s eyes widened. “In the morn’? So soon?” She became panicked. “But, I have so much here to take care of.”

Riku placed a hand on her shoulder. “It’s okay. I’ve arranged for someone to take care of the reef while we are gone. Promise.”

Morgen knew she wouldn’t refuse the Yarl, but she was a little rattled. “Let me get my head dress, and we can go.”

They headed out to the Seamount. Riku tried to reconnect with Morgen; he knew his preoccupation with his work sometimes made her think she didn’t matter. “Do you remember, when we were young, going to the Terran beach? Remember breathing the surface air instead of the water?”

Morgen played back that time in her mind. It was night. Riku taught her how to exhale all the liquid in her lungs, spitting it out through her mouth like a fountain. That first breath was intoxicating. The moon above shown in the night sky along with the stars. Riku had kissed her that night, under those stars. “Of course, I remember.”

“Well, we’ll have to breathe air again when we go to Terra. It may not be exactly like last time, but,” he turned to Morgen, “I hope it will be even more magical once we get the work done.”

Morgen’s coral portions of her tail turned deeper in color, almost like a blush, as they arrived and entered Seamount.