Merformers: Prime: The Shark and the Betta

Chapter 1: The Arranged Marriage

"But I don't want to get married!" Firestar said out loud.

The young mermaid never asked for an arranged marriage and she never thought that Sentinel Zeta Prime would play matchmaker between Firestar and her friend, Inferno—one of the finest Automermen who would serve and protect the merfolk of Cyberlantis. But Firestar wasn't ready for marriage and although it was required by the laws of the sea for a male to choose his mate in order for them to multiply for the survival of their species, she did not love Inferno. In fact, she only love him as a platonic friend and brother-figure.

"Now, young Firestar." said Moonbeam, Firestar's elderly mermaid guardian, "You know that the law requires that a male and female should join together and have children in order for us to multiply for the good of the future of Cyberlantis and you, my dear, should stop refusing to accept this arranged marriage between you and your friend, Inferno." she said in a reassuring statement.

"But what if Inferno and I aren't meant to become mates? This is all a big mistake! I like Inferno, but only as a friend and brother-figure. But I don't want to get married! Not with him!" Firestar said.

"I understand, child." Moonbeam replied as the elder mermaid began to groom Firestar's gills. "When I was young, I also didn't want to get married, but the law says..." she was cut off when the young mermaid interrupted saying, "The law is wrong! Alpha Trion says that every creature has the right and freedom to decide their own fate and that no one should be forced into something that they don't want to do or be." Firestar told her guardian.

"I will not argue with Zeta Prime about canceling this arrangement between you and Inferno. I know that you feel like the laws of Cyberlantis are unfair and unjust, but we must trust and obey them if we are to maintain order around the seas." Moonbeam said to the young mermaid.

Firestar sighed as the elder mermaid continued to groom Inferno's bride-to-be. Later that day, Firestar swims over to find a place where she could contemplate on wether or not she should join with Inferno as his mate or leave him at the altar and be punished by the High Council for wanting to get away from the arranged marriage that Zeta Prime set up for both Firestar and Inferno. What bothers the poor beautiful sea maiden is that she doesn't know exactly why she should be married when she knows that she has the right to marry whoever she wants and not someone who is not only her friend and brother-figure, but also someone who's overprotective and sometimes obsessed with her. Maybe the real reason why Zeta Prime had chosen to play matchmaker was because Inferno loved Firestar with romantic intentions but she wouldn't accept his affections for her.

"Hello Firestar!" a feminine voice said. It was Chromia, Ironhide's girlfriend and a friend of Firestar.

"Hi, Chromia." Firestar said as she greeted her friend.

"So I hear that Zeta Prime has arranged for you to get married to your friend, Inferno. Is that correct?" Chromia asked.

Firestar sighed, "Yeah. I'm not really happy or excited about it." She admitted to her friend.

"How come? I thought that you and Inferno were very close." Chromia assumed.

"We are, it's just that I don't have any romantic feelings towards him. I only love him platonically but he thinks that he and I are meant to be together." Firestar told the blue mermaid.

"Have you ever thought about telling Inferno that?" Chromia asked.

Firestar nodded, "No. I'm afraid that if I told him that we should just remain friends and say no to this arranged marriage between us, it would break his heart. I know that Inferno is strong and brave, but he has to understand that I'm not ready for marriage. Plus, I've never been in love before and being forced to love someone, especially if that someone is your friend. It makes me feel scared." The beautiful mermaid expressed her fears.

Chromia sat right next to her as she patted Firestar on the back to comfort her. "I am sorry to hear that, Firestar. Why don't we go out with our friends and have some fish for lunch? Will that make you feel better?" She said.

Firestar smiled at Chromia before she answered, "Yeah, sure. Maybe some food will help make me feel less afraid of this situation."

Chromia and Firestar swam over to get some lunch with their mermaid friends. They ate some fish and they played music and they spent some time together while talking about how Firestar doesn't have to marry the merman that she doesn't love but only cares for as a friend. Meanwhile, Optimus Prime and his Automermen had returned from collecting food and resources for the people of Cyberlantis while also keeping the warlord, Megatron, and his Deceptisharks at bay away from their territory.