Water Under a Burned Bridge

02. Dragon Attack

Before too long, they reached a cove where a large ship laid anchor. Fireworks and noise erupted from the vessel.

"Looks like a party" Aquarius said.

"You don't say" Alizeh said, rather sarcastically. She clearly got a kick out of his naivety.

Giving her a look, he rolled over. Sending her into the water.

"Aquarius!" She shouted splashing about. Before sending a gust of wind her own way, drying her wings. Satisfied, she hovered in the air.

It was then that Aquarius saw him. 

Him. 

The prince. 

The crown placed about his bright blonde hair seemed to demand his royal status. His piercing blue eyes seemed to glitter all of their own accord.

Involuntary, Aquarius sighed, leaning upon a large rock blocking their view of the ship's passengers.

"What?" Alizeh asked, attempting to look in the same direction. "Who is she? Dammit Aquarius, I wanna gawk too"

Without a word, despite himself Aquarius dared to swim past the rock and toward the ship. Closer and closer still he dared. Not that the existence of mermen was so alien, but that doesn't make humans exactly trust worthy.

"To Sir. Henry" one man said, raising the glass in honor of the prince.

"Henry" Aquarius repeated to himself.

"Perhaps it is time we found you a wife" another man interjected.

"You know my stance on commitment" Prince Henry laughed. "I have an allergic reaction to it"

That last remark probably should have been a 'red flag' to Aquarius, but he was far to busy falling deeper and deeper into Prince Henry's sky-like eyes.

"Can we go now?" Alizeh asked, sitting herself upon his shoulders. "Seriously Aquarius I don't like humans"

"If you're so scared" Aquarius said, not even changing the direction of his gaze. "Then you go"

"Maybe I will" she pouted, and flew off.

On any other day, Aquarius would've taken off after her. But not today. Instead, he made the choice to fall in love. A stupid choice, but he had been known to do stupid things in the past.

After what felt like hours, a loud screech took everyone's attention.

After a moment, there was again silence. Until a terrifying shape came from the clouds. Screeching and swooping down at the water was 'the dragon'

Just as the gossips had described him. Black all over, with almost blood red scales. He seemed to blend in with the night sky. His scales glimmered in the moonlight. The gusts of winds caused by his massive wings were something Alizeh could only dream of casting.

Long black horns that nearly kabobed Aquarius, came protruding from his head. All that became nothing to fear, when the dragon set the large ship ablaze. Hell fire came from its jaws, and right at Prince Henry.

Fortunately, a crewman threw him into the water below before the fire could do any damage.

Miffed that he'd lost his prey, the dragon threw his head back and sent flames this way and that. It didn't take long before the whole ship burst into flames.

Not that Aquarius could be bothered to look at the pretty display, he frantically searched the water surrounding him for the prince.

He scanned the waves over, before locking eyes with the fearsome beast. The dragon seemed to have been doing the same. Diving under, Aquarius spared himself the wrath of the beast's teeth. Which would have more than likely killed him upon contact.

Turning over barrels, and other pieces of the ship that had fallen into the water, there he was. Prince Henry. The dragon saw him too. Floating aloft a plank of wood.

The dragon flew at his full speed, just as Aquarius swam. Just before the great beast could seize him, Aquarius pulled him below the waves.

Prince Henry struggled until he realized what had happened. Pulling him away from the aftermath, Aquarius found a secluded beach where he sat with him for a good while.