When Orion hid away with Oceana, the ruins were in a bit of an uproar as scuba divers have been spotted by the ancient text. The realm was sealed off by a door in the ancient language that only a merman or mermaid could read. No one knew this, but the divers were a search party, looking for traces of Orion.
They were unable to find anything and gave up an hour later. If they were unable to find anything in the next two days, his ‘death’ would be reported to the media and Maria would have to notify Helen and Penelope.
King Neptune, Queen Gemini and Marina were the only ones that knew why the divers had come. Marina found Orion swimming around alone one day and brought him to the palace as Neptune wished to speak with him. “We have to bring you back before the divers discover our realm.” Neptune urged him.
“I can’t. I have so much soul-searching left to do. I have to help settle the feud because without me, your wife could die.”
“What if that’s already her destiny, her life tied to...”
“…Dragoonas. I have no doubt that it is, but in a defeat, her life may be spared.”
“But you’re in danger too and you’re a remarkable young man. I’d hate to lose you to the likes of Hades and Adam.”
“That’s all right. No one ever appreciated me because of my wheelchair. Zeus couldn’t give me legs to walk on because my spirit was tired out from that journey it took.”
“The whole reason why you survive down here was because of that. Your legs can change form, but you can’t walk on them. He paused, “But something can be done about it if you were to answer your destiny.”
“But I could also never make it back; I may die and never return to Earth in any way, shape, or form.” He thought, “Neptune, if I ever return to Penelope, would I be able to tell her…?”
He smiled proudly, “Her destiny has come from your past, so, of course you could. Her destiny is tied to yours; that’s why missing her is making you suffer so much.”
He sighed, “I wish, I desperately want to see her again.” He touched his heart, “My heart hurts for her so much.” He swam away in sadness, “Excuse me, your Majesty, I don’t feel well.” He swam to his ‘shell of solitude’ (from his first day underwater) to rest. “This sadness is hurting my soul; I can’t take it anymore.”
For the first time in a long time, Orion cried, every tear symbolizing how much he wanted to see Penelope, to touch her and even to kiss her lips. Orion had the worst feeling in the pit of his stomach that he wouldn’t be able to return to see her face again. He wished on, throughout the night, but nothing came true.
The next day, Orion took a trip back to the ancient scriptures on the walls to read, “Return to place of origin.” He wondered, “But what is my place of origin? Who am I really? If I was born as a faun and then a centaur, why is my destiny underwater? Hardly any of this makes sense to me at all.”
“Orion.” He looked back and saw that Misty was behind him. “You shouldn’t be out here during this time. You could expose our world.” He turned away, swimming in sadness. “Hey, are you okay?”
He sighed, “No, I feel terrible. I don’t feel very well these days.” He moaned slightly with the pain in his heart.
“Just be careful. Depression shows weakness down here and the black dragon can sense that. Look, I’m sorry, very sorry if what I did upset you or angered you.”
“I’m grateful that you saved me, but I really wish that you knew how to change me back.”
“Melissa and I are looking for an answer. I promise that we’ll find it and bring you back.”
“I can’t stay here forever.” He sighed, “I’d love to stay, but forever is too long to be without Penelope.” He wiped his eyes; “I’m missing a part of my heart without her and it’s already killing me.”
He felt pressure building up inside of him as he swam slowly to the Palace. At that point, Dragoonas’s red eyes opened and he flew towards the direction he sensed the hurt coming from.
“Orion, you’re luring him here! You have to hide.” Misty grabbed his arm, trying to pull him away.
He winced and coughed, “I can’t move.” His heart beat rapidly as the darkness awakened inside his heart. His voice echoed, “Oceana, help!” His eyes were clouded by darkness and he grabbed onto the silver tail that ran past him. She carried him to his seashell, hid him inside and waited for Dragoonas. Her light stunned him temporarily while Orion’s light, which made the shell glow, scared him away.
Orion screamed in pain as his internal light slowly disappeared; Misty gasped in fright, worrying about what was happening to him.
Misty and Oceana quickly opened up the shell and Orion had his eyes shut. He appeared to be asleep, but he wasn’t breathing. His tail grew darker with the darkness inside and his face was paler than Oceana’s scales. Oceana nudged him, but he didn’t move. Misty shook him, “Orion, Orion, can you hear me? Please don’t be dead, wake up! Wake up!”
Oceana felt a slow heartbeat, his chest was red, but it was only internal. Misty knew it to be a significant sign of depression, but it’s the worst case she’d ever seen. Oceana wrapped her tail around him and cried one tear; in fear that she lost the only person that could help her defeat Dragoonas. She helped bring him back to the Palace. At the gates, Misty carried him inside in tears.
<< Back
Return to Home Page
Next>>
