Page 124 of Sea's Secret

“But how?” I asked as the dragon seemed to move away.

“All you need is here.” He looked between the two of us.

I turned to look at Meria.

“I will say–I have never had two souls come to the Mirror Sea's edge, and both have the same deepest desire. I do believe that with what you two have, there is the possibility that soul-songs will return to Terra, for yours is an exceptionally strong and powerful true love.”

“What is a soul-song?” I asked.

“Ask the sea princess; she knows of the magic that humans have forgotten about. Now, human prince, you will forget what Meria’s star just showed you, as it is her chosen desire.”

I felt a bit dizzy. “What were we talking about?” I was a bit confused.

“Never mind. Now, dive in, Dominick, and claim your star.”

I looked at Meria, smiled, took off my coat and vest, along with my boots and sword, then dove in. The water was warm, and I swam in it with no need to come to the surface for air. I swam deep, seeing so many stars glistening at the sea’s floor.

How will I know the right one to pick?

I found one that seemed to be pulsating and swam over to it, picking it up.

It was an image of my mother, her arms wrapped around me, and Peter beside us with a large grin. It was all I had ever wanted: to be wanted and loved by my mother. Another rock glistened, catching my attention, and I swam over to it. It was an image of the underwater Kingdom of Marren. I saw mermaids dive in and out of the sea from Marren Island. They were happy. Meria was there, swimming beside an older mermaid who had the same color tail as she did.

“Mother–” she said with a smile to the mermaid.

“We are free! Here, we shall stay both on land and in the sea!” I heard shouts and Meria and her mother, and so many mermen and mermaids were out of the sea, cheering.

I felt it more than actually hearing it that the freedom of existing on both land and in the sea was what would save her people; they needed to rise. I turned around, confused, because that was not the desire Meria had chosen? Had she not wanted to reunite with her mother? Why had she not taken it?

“Dragon!” I called, and he appeared beside me within a mass of bubbles. “Why is this still here? This is what Meria wanted.”

“Is it? She looked at that one and then put it back.”

“She put it back?”

“Yes, she found a desire much greater.”

I dropped the rock with my mother and brother and clasped Meria’s rock in my palm.

“Would you take her desire?”

“Yes, she deserves to have it.”

“It is not yours to take, but if you can pull it from the depths, you may have it.” Then in another flurry of bubbles, the sea dragon was gone, and I was left alone within the depths of the dark water.

There was no choice; Meria’s happiness was more important than mine. I began to swim. The star became heavier and heavier the higher I swam, but I was determined. I would do it and more for Meria. Finally, I burst through the surface, exhausted, my arms and legs aching, but I was, of course, used to pain, and I pushed it aside. I swam to the edge of the sea and pulled myself out, beside Meria.

“Are you alright? You were down there for a long time,” Meria asked.

I noticed then that it was almost morning. Time was different under the Mirror Sea.

“I am well; I got it,” I said, holding up the glowing star. She smiled, and before I could say anything else, the dragon spoke.

“You are both most deserving, pure in heart, and filled with a love so true that you have endless possibilities,” he said; then he was gone, and the ripples soon dissipated, bringing back the sea’s smooth surface.

“What does that mean?” Meria asked, picking up her glowing star.

“I am not sure.”