Dragons & Mermaids

Chapter VII

Over the next few weeks Ashley had made six more rescues and became more and more known as Princess Oceana, Mermaid Princess of the Water Hole. Once a fisherman tried to capture her and mount her on his wall as a trophy. However we “sabotaged” his boat winch. I used magic to destroy it and Ashley got away. We hung a rope swing on the tree when we weren't rescuing people. Ashley was such a show off on it. She would jump on it, in human form, let go and transform into Oceana. I was equally as much of a show off as her. I would grab the rope let go and thrust myself up with magic. No matter what my angle, I would always land head first into the water, which made my friends laugh so hard that their stomachs hurt.

“That's a nine point eight!” Adam shouted.

“I give you ten, bro!” Tyler judged.

“Why?” Kayla asked.

“C'mon, he landed head first into the water from fifteen feet. That's a ten.”

“His legs were slightly parted. Eight.” Sarah judged me. “And ten for being a Rider.”

“Oh! Ya just had to ruin it, didn't ya?” Liana asked. “When you gonna stop?”

“I'll stop when Matthias admits he's a Rider.”

“That's not gonna happen.” I called from the water.

“Why?”

“Cuz I ain't a Rider, ya dope.” We then burst out laughing.

“You just got verbally owned! Oh, snap!” Adam yelled.

I swam toward shore and laid on my towel. Chest heaving.

“Ya know it's funny what happens in like five years.” Lamar said. “I mean, look at Matthias. Five years ago, he had a round stomach not a six pack like it is today.”

“And Ashley was a girl who had a dream and the dream came true.” Tyler said.

“The rest of us haven't changed much.”

“Other than Adam got crazier, that's it and Sarah came.” I added.

            We laughed at my comment. Adam did do some pretty stupid stuff in his days. He used to tell Javion that he was a loser and that ended when he got a broken arm. Ashley was still in her mermaid form and by the shore. She had made a shell belt, which she wore around her waist to accessorize herself.

“Ya guys think I should show myself?” she asked.

“No way. As Oceana, you're a hero. Keep it that way.” Kayla stated.

“Okay, well you think I should make a shell top to go with the belt?”

“Oh! We ain't answering that! That's girl talk.” I said.

“What's girl talk?” we heard the Queen ask.

            Ashley quickly transformed and hid the belt behind her. The Queen came from around the tree. “Nothing. Just who's the cutest boy in the village.” Kiera covered.

“That'll be me.” Adam said, as he beat his chest.

“Oh, yeah right!” Fred, Lamar, Tyler and I said.

            The girls laughed at our protest. He went in the tree and jumped in the water.

“You know I didn't have as much free time as you did when I was your age.” She said. “Ashley, what's that?”

“What is what?”

“That behind you. And don't lie to me.”

“It's just a shell belt I made for Oceana. Silly, I know but, I wanted to thank her for saving the people who were in trouble.”