So the MerPrince has been treating me as his target practice. I'm flipping around the training ground as he sends sparks of thunder after me. It sizzles across the sand, missing me by a whisker. Lucky I'm in the mood for stretching.
"Mother, I think the trident is broken. It can't seem to catch up to Ling Yue."
"Son, perhaps you should try holding it tighter. Treat it like it's an extension of your arm." The Queen of Merfolk adjusts his grip. "And perhaps try anticipating where she's going to land."
She moves his arm with the trident. It fires a thundershock right where I land, sending electric pain searing through my body. My hair sticks up like a frazzled urchin.
I whip out a water tendril toward them. The electric current flows from the trident, to me, and crackles back to them. We're all getting fried together. Sharing is caring. Now everyone has the same frazzled urchin hairdo.
"That's it! Training's over! My beautiful hair!" The Queen huffs as she swims off, no doubt in search of a mirror. The trident, as though on cue, pries itself out of the prince's grip and zooms back to the palace. He glares at me, his golden curls in a furball, his nostrils flaring.
I manage to smooth my hair down and flick it back. I had plenty of practice in the electrified prison in the Celestial Realm.
"Why you little..." He darts at me, arms stretching out to wring my neck. Eep! I don't want to be his lunch. I kick my legs as fast as possible, weaving through unsuspecting guards. The raging royal bowls them over in hot pursuit of me.
I spot a school of squid floating by the outskirts of the palace walls. A devilish grin spreads across my face. I dive under them at the last second—he follows straight into them. A cloud of black ink bursts as they flit away, making him cough and splutter. His blonde curls and face are now dyed ebony, his eyes wide with surprise, and tiny ink bubbles pop around his nostrils.
I roll in the sea, laughing. "Sorry, Your Highness, you need to take a look at your reflection." I pluck out a mirror from my mystical satchel and show him how he looks. With a quick glance, he leans back his head, letting out a boisterous laugh.
The guards are approaching us behind him. He starts to panic—probably doesn't want his subordinates to see him like this. I quickly form an air bubble around him and pluck out a sponge and soap from my satchel. I hand them to him. "Don't worry, I'll take care of the guards. You clean yourself up."
He swiftly lathers himself with the soap, furiously cleaning as soap bubbles pop everywhere. I swim toward the guards, who slow down at the sight of me. I hold out my hand. "Halt! State your business." I cross my arms, blocking their way. They try to swim around me, but I keep side-stepping to block their path.
"His Majesty has asked us to escort His Highness back to the throne room." The guard captain puffs his chest at me. They try to push forward, but I wrap an air tendril around them, gathering them together. They struggle to free themselves in futility as their helmets collide.
"You're not allowed to pass me unless His Highness says so."
The MerPrince coughs behind me. "Ling Yue, it's okay. Let my guards go."
I turn around to see the most dashing merman, the most radiant he's ever been. His golden curls fluff around his radiant skin, muscles gleaming. His golden iridescent tail glitters, basking in rays of sunlight. Mermaids swimming by start to fawn over him. He cleans up well.
"As you wish." I step aside, releasing the air tendril. The guards let out a collective sigh of relief.
They about-face, heading back to the palace with the prince trailing behind, his golden curls streaming behind him. I shoo away the growing line of mermaids following us. Their persistence was getting on my nerves.
"Swim along! He's out of your league." I point to the back, but they don't listen, fiddling with their hair and batting their eyelids. I may as well try my new move on them.
I whirl out a water tendril, then an air tendril in the opposite direction, combining them into a growing water whirlwind that sends the mermaids scattering. One mermaid flies towards the prince. I grab her tail just in time and fling her away. I brush my hands. All in a day's work of bodyguard duties.
***
In the throne room, the King of Merfolk strokes his beard, eyeing both of us. "It's good to see you haven't killed each other yet." He takes a good, long look at the young heir and says, "Son, how did you get your hair so shiny like that?"
I run a hand over my face, trying to stifle back laughter as I rummage through my satchel for another bar of soap. I float it over to the King, who accepts it and gives me a knowing wink.
The young heir rubs the back of his neck and blushes. "Father, why did you want to see me?"
"Oh, right. Yes. I received reports that on the outskirts of our kingdom, our people have been attacked. I thought it would be a good opportunity for you and Ling Yue to investigate it."
The prince gives me a sideward glance. "As you wish, Father."
Guess he's fine with going on an adventure with me... I wonder how much treasure I can pilfer under his nose...