Making Waves

A new magical world

"Were we ever going to come for you? Of course we were! Sending you away was the hardest thing your mother and I have ever done. You were loved from the moment you were born and still are!" He began his answer. "Come here. Sit." He sat on his chair and placed her in his lap. "Your mother, uncles and I love you so very much. You have another uncle you will meet once you are older. He is your mother's brother and current ruler of those that dwell below." He spoke as she sat on his lap, listening to him. "I have other family members?" She asked, curious and excited. "Yes, your mother's side of the family. Oceanus is her older brother and your uncle. He had a son named Sirus who is no longer with us. But he is in a better place." Fujimoto began to explain the family tree. He told her countless stories of the family members and their ancestors. "Come on, I want to show you something." He placed her on her feet before standing up and walking to the controls of the ship. "Hold on." He smiled as the ship went below the water and as it glided below the water, Marina watched in awe as the sea life passed by the window. "We are here. Follow me." He stopped the boat and took her out to the bow. "My job is to take care of the ocean and keep the balance in check." He explained as he demonstrated what he does. With every movement, Marina watched him in awe and admiration. "One day, all of this will be all yours." He turned to her and placed a hand on her shoulder. "Why am I never allowed to be around humans?" Marina asked bluntly. "Because they are filthy and constantly pollute our home!" He shouted, frightening Marina. "I'm sorry for shouting. Our home used to be beautiful and thriving! But ever since humans came along, and stopped caring about the ocean, it has been getting harder and harder to maintain the balance and beauty of the ocean." Fujimoto apologized and explained his disdain for humans. "Not all humans are bad." She pouted, trying not to say too much. "How would you know? Don't tell me you have been around them!" Fujimoto began getting worked up. "You have, haven't you?!" He interrupted her before she could say anything. "I have told Howl a million times, never to let you be near humans!" He began to fret as he inspected her up and down. "You haven't tasted human blood have you?" He searched for any scratches and marks in her body. "Blood? Ew no. Why would I taste human blood? I'm not a vampire." Marina tried to lighten the mood as Fujimoto closely inspected her face. "Okay good. You are still safe." Fujimoto sighed with relief. "Safe from what?" Fujimoto stepped away from her and began to talk to himself. "From becoming human. If you get a taste of human blood, you become human forever." He answered before he walked away while talking to himself. "What if I want to become a human?" She asked, well aware that it would get his attention back on her. "If you become human, you would upset the balance! The ocean would fall into chaos!" He began to rant on and on about the possibilities. "Aquamarina, listen to me very closely. Trust me when I say, becoming human is not something you want. Being human isn't as glamorous as you may think." He got down to her level, placed his hands on her shoulders and looked her in the eyes. "Not all humans are bad." She defended herself and her new friends as she looked away, avoiding eye contact. "I once thought the same about humans. You will learn in due time." He kissed her head and stood up. "Come, there is 1 more place I want to go." He took her hand and escorted her back inside. He took her to a large clearing under the water and used his magic to create a magic bubble for them. The boat glided through the water and inside the bubble with ease. "Come along." Fujimoto spoke after stopping the boat once again. Marina did as she was told and followed him out to the bow. "What are we doing here? What's the bubble for? How come I can breathe underwater? Are we going swimming?" Marina began asking more questions. "I want to teach you something about your powers. The bubble is to hide our presence and protect us and the ocean life." He explained as he got off the boat and held out his arms for her to jump off. She jumped off of the bow and glided right into his arms. "Cool! Again!" She jumped out of his arms and tried to climb back onto the bow. "Oh no you don't!" He held her by her waist, preventing her from getting back onto the ship. "We can play later. I promise. Just not right now." Fujimoto held her as she stopped trying to wiggle out of his arms. "Now calm down. Show me what you learned from Howl." Fujimoto placed her feet upon the ground and stepped back. Marina began demonstrating the small spells she learned that she felt confident in performing. "In the 11 years and 6 months he has had you, that is all you learned?" Fujimoto questioned as Marina made a small magic creature dance in the air. "No. I learned some other things." Marina made the figure disappear and she seemed to be slightly embarrassed. "Well, show me then." He stepped back some more to give her more space. "What's the matter?" Fujimoto asked as he noticed her body language shift from confident to unsure of herself. "I don't think I can do it." She looked down and rocked back and forth on her feet. "What do you mean? Did he not teach you anything else?" He asked with a concerned look on his face. "He did but I can't do it." She shook her head as her body language got more tense. "Why not? What's wrong? Do you feel ill?" He quickly moved close to her and placed his hand on her forehead. "You don't feel warm." He took his hand off of her forehead. "I don't feel sick. I just can't do it." She answered as Fujimoto stepped away from her again. "Why can't you do it? You were doing just fine before." He began to think of what could be wrong as she just stood there and shrugged her shoulders. "Are you nervous? There is no need to be nervous. It's just you and me. You were doing very well earlier." He softened the look on his face and took a few steps forward to place his hand on her shoulder. She avoided his gaze, knowing he was right but not wanting to admit it. "Listen sweetheart, it's just you and me. You aren't going to hurt anything or anyone. And if you can't control your powers, I can help." He wrapped his arms around her and pulled her in for a hug. "What if I hurt you?" She tried to hold back tears and seem strong as he held her in his arms to comfort her. "You aren't going to hurt me. I am a powerful wizard, remember? Far more powerful than Howl." He assured her as he stroked her head. "You promise?" She gently pushed him away to get out of his embrace. "I promise. Howl is my younger brother and I have been studying far longer than he has." He held out his pinky and softly smiled at her. She hooked her pinky around his and took a step back. Taking a deep breath, she tried to transform but failed. With each failed attempt, she grew more and more frustrated. "Aquamarina. Take a deep breath. Calm down. You have to have a clear, level mind and belief in yourself. Take a minute to calm down and clear your head. Just breathe." He advised her from a safe distance. Taking his advice, she took a deep breath to calm down and clear her head. After trying again, she finally transformed into her pre-fairy form. "I did it!" She cheered before losing her balance and nearly falling. "Focus now." Fujimoto warned as she regained her balance. "What does this do?" She asked as she touched the necklace that was now glowing. Within a flash, a staff appeared in her hand. "What's this?" She began waving the staff around like a baseball bat. With a swing of the staff, a magic wave appeared and cut through the water. "Neat!" She continued to swing it and made more appear. "Be careful with that! It's not a toy!" Fujimoto yelled from down below, avoiding the damage. "Look over there, do you see that fish? Use your staff and summon it. Clear your head and concentrate. Use the feeling of your power and the ocean flowing through you." He pointed to a strange looking fish. Looking over, she pointed her staff at the fish and did as he instructed. With a flash of the staff, the fish changed directions and began to swim towards them. As it got closer, it appeared larger and larger. "Too big!" She shouted as she tried to fly away from it, only for it to follow her. It was large enough that one gulp could easily swallow her whole. "Stop trying to get away from it! It isn't going to hurt you! You have it under your control!" Fujimoto called to her as he flashed a device at it, breaking her spell and his taking over. "Oh." She looked back and saw it swimming in place. "Why does it look like that?" She pointed to the odd marks on it. "Just like most of the sea life, it has been infected. Use your powers to revert it to its normal state." He began to instruct her. "Stay calm and get it under your spell again." He flashed the device again, breaking his own spell. She held out the staff again and got the large fish under her control. Using the feeling of the ocean and her magic flowing through her veins, she healed the fish and the strange markings disappeared. Releasing the fish, she floated down to the ground. "Very nice job. The more you practice, the better you will get." Fujimoto complimented her as they watched the fish swim away and joined the others, being welcomed back into the group. "You have done a good job of building up endurance when flying. Your wings look strong." He noted as he inspected her wings. "Uncle Howl would make me fly whenever the castle moved." She began explaining her learning routine under Howl's care and guidance. "This outfit is suffocating." She pulled on the sleeves on the dress. And within the blink of an eye, the dress went from a puffy pinkish-red dress to a better dress with a high-low skirt and beading. "Where did you learn to do that?" Fujimoto questioned her changed appearance. "Dunno. I thought about it and poof, a new outfit." She answered to the best of her abilities. "Why is there an eye in the middle of this crystal on top of my staff? Why does it look so creepy?" She held out the staff to show Fujimoto. "That is the Eye of Algarock. It enhances your powers when used correctly and once you master yours and its powers, it will allow you to rule over all that dwells below the waves." He began to explain its powers and how it came to be in her possession. "One day, you will rule over all that dwells below and become the new guardian of the ocean. Howl has done a good job of teaching you the basics and then some. However, you need more work on your powers before you turn 16. How would you like to study and train with me? I can teach you all that I know. From mastering your powers, controlling the creatures of the ocean, making potions, to anything else you may want to learn. Once you turn 16, you can go to a special school and master your fairy powers." He held his hand out for hers. "You don't have to answer now. Howl and I have already discussed it and he thinks it is a good idea. But we are leaving it up to you." He placed his hand at his side and got down to her level. "We don't want you to feel forced or rushed." Fujimoto spoke softly as Marina seemed to be lost in thought. "6 more months." Marina finally spoke up after a few moments of silence. "I want to spend 6 more months with Uncle Howl. On my 12th birthday, you can take me and we can start." Marina held out her small hand after transforming back to normal and waited for his response. "Sounds more than fair." Fujimoto smiled, held his hand out to hers, and shook her hand.