Aquagon

By L. M. Wilde

To end over a decade of conflict known as the Mergon Wars, Queen Azula of the Merworld and King Nogad of the Dragoworld sign a treaty they feel will restore lasting peace. Unfortunately, the pact requires a union between her daughter, Princess Aqua, and his son, Prince Dagon, who have never met. Aqua and Dagon face the challenges of an arranged marriage before and after the wedding day occurs.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Trafford Publishing
• Release date: Aug 15, 2014
• ISBN: 9781490744469

L. M. Wilde

L.M. Wilde has enjoyed stories all her life. Her sister taught her to read when she was very young, and that opened her door to literary adventure and delight even further. Extensive reading and an avid imagination have sparked ideas for her own stories and books for as long as she can remember. L.M.‘s schooling brought her friends who also read both for academic success and entertainment. When she shared her ideas with them, they enjoyed her writing and encouraged her to continue, always eager to read the next chapter, often before it was written. Delighted that her work was appealing and interesting, L.M. embraced their support, and this book was born. In addition to reading and writing, L.M. Wilde enjoys friends, historic languages, theater, music, and almost anything she has read. Her hobbies range from academic study, particularly language and history, to music to baking. L. M. lives in Kenosha, Wisconsin with her family and pets, including a cat, a dog, a cockatoo, and a turtle.

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© Copyright 2014 L. M. Wilde.

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without the written prior permission of the author.

isbn: 978-1-4907-4445-2 (sc)

isbn: 978-1-4907-4446-9 (e)

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Contents

Chapter 1 Aqua

Chapter 2 Dagon

Chapter 3 Aqua

Chapter 4 Dagon

Chapter 5 Aqua

Chapter 6 Dagon

Chapter 7 Aqua

Chapter 8 Dagon

Chapter 9 Aqua

Chapter 10 Dagon

Chapter 11 Aqua

Chapter 12 Dagon

Chapter 13 Aqua

Chapter 14 Dagon

Chapter 15 Aqua

Chapter 16 Dagon

Chapter 17 Aqua

Chapter 18 Dagon

Chapter 19 Aqua

Chapter 20 Dagon

Chapter 21 Aqua

Chapter 22 Dagon

Chapter 23 Aqua

Chapter 24 Dagon

Chapter 25 Aqua

Chapter 26 Dagon

Chapter 27 Aqua

Chapter 28 Dagon

Chapter 29 Aqua

Chapter 30 Dagon

Chapter 31 Aqua

Chapter 32 Dagon

Chapter 1

Aqua

I swam over to my window and looked out. I didn’t want to marry Prince Dagon, but I knew that I had to. If I didn’t, another war would break out. This was the treaty. I would marry him, and his friend would marry my sister.

He was coming to meet me and I him. Well, actually, we were going to a special meeting place, since my fiancé couldn’t breathe underwater. How lame, I thought, my future husband can’t breathe underwater like me, which means… Realization hit me. I can get away from him by going underwater! Joy and happiness flooded into me. I had to go out and celebrate.

I threw on a fun dress and grabbed some flip-flops. Then I swam out my window and glided away before the guards could notice me. But although the guards didn’t notice me, someone else did.

Aqua? What are you doing out here? My ex-boyfriend Bleu asked me. I was forced to break up with him because of the treaty and my fiancé. His deep voice made my heart swim.

Celebrating! I just realized that that jerk I have to marry isn’t able to follow me underwater! Wanna come? I replied joyously.

Is that okay? I mean, since I am a boy and you are a soon-to-be-married girl… Bleu started, his blue eyes looking jokingly at me.

But we are still best friends! Come on! I exclaimed, gaining for myself several glares from passersby. I was surprised that they did not recognize me, their princess! It was all for the better though. If they noticed me, they would notify the paparazzi and then the police would show up and then, even worse, Mum would show up and take me back to the confinement of the castle and yell at me.

Okay, I was just teasing, of course I’ll come with you Seaweed! Bleu used his nickname for me.

And besides, Bluegill, just because I was forced to break up with you doesn’t mean I don’t love you, I whispered so only he could hear. Bluegill was my nickname for him, seeing as his tail was blue, and he had blue streaks in his black hair. He was roguishly handsome, which was just my type. I still couldn’t believe that my waist-length seaweed green streaked red hair and matching tail and eyes was his type. He smiled ruefully when he heard me.

Likewise. I still love you, my pearl, I giggled when he called me that. I absolutely loved it when he called me that. At that, we swam over to some rocks to transform into humans. His blue tail transformed into denim shorts. Since I was wearing a dress, my tail simply transformed into legs. I slipped my flip-flops on, and Bleu slipped on his, which he always carried on him, just in case I had time to hang out with him on mainland, where we went when we wanted to be alone.

I have to be back at two o’clock precisely. That way I can get ready to meet him before Mum or anyone comes looking for me, I informed Bleu.

Bleu laughed and said, Well, we have 2 hours then, where do you want to go? Our regular bar?

I pondered. No, I can’t drink any form of alcohol, Mum will know if I even take a shot glass. Let’s go to our regular diner.

Sounds great! He wrapped his arm around me and led the way to Izzy’s Diner, where we were seated farthest away from the beach in a booth, so we could sit and cuddle next to each other in peace. I ordered lemonade and a cod fillet. Bleu ordered coffee and a shrimp skillet. After we ate, we strolled down some of the streets farther away from the sea holding hands and laughing. We then walked into the park and sat on one of the secluded benches in silence.

Fifteen minutes left before we should be heading back, I sighed. I was having a perfect time.

And I have the perfect way to end it, Bleu said mysteriously. Then he put his hand behind my head, pulled me close, and kissed me. And I kissed back, forgetting about the time. His lips felt cool, and I had to force my blush down. We pulled apart.

Thank you for a glorious time. See you at midnight? At this park? I hoped he would say yes.

Yes, but not forever, I have work in the morning, he replied happily. He then brought his hand up to my cheek, and I let the blush creep up as I held it there for a second. He kissed me again and then led me back to the beach, where we transformed and parted. I swam quickly back to the castle, past the guards, and through my window. I took off my dress, replacing it with a fancier one and put my flip-flops away, and, grabbing a purse, put some high heels in it, some shells, and a book. I combed my hair, and tossed myself on my bed just as my mother came in.

Oh darling, you look ravishing! Mum, Queen Azula, cried, I can’t believe my baby is all grown up! Your father would be proud.

Yes, of course, Mother, I said, rolling my eyes in my head. I always had to act perfect for Mum, even though she knew I wasn’t. She loved me in her own special way.

Ready to go? Mum asked me, probably knowing I wasn’t, but she always knew how to respond and trained me well. Everyone says that I look just like she did when she was my age. Now her hair had lost its streaks, her tail had lost its color. Everything about her was gray, except her eyes, which were still my seaweed green.

Yes, Queen Azula, I replied. When we had transformed and arrived, we looked out to the distance and saw five winged figures soar towards us. I had, by then, decided that I would only survive by thinking of Bleu.

As they came into view, we saw that they were, indeed, dragons. Their transformation took seconds. Their wings folded into their backs, their front legs shortened into arms, their back legs stood up into human ones, and their heads morphed into those of a human.

All the dragons had gold scales, but when they humanized, only two of them looked like they could be related. One, I guessed, was King Nogad, seeing as he had a gilded crown on his gray hair, had a regal air about him, and wore a gold suit.

The other stopped my heart. He had golden hair and eyes, and was wearing a black suit. It reminded me of a bumblebee. His eyes looked friendly, but yet harsh, his facial expression was stern yet kind. He looked mysterious in every way. I forgot all about Bleu. This man stared at me for what seemed like hours, and I didn’t even glimpse at the other dragons. I politely stopped staring at him.

King Nogad sneered, Queen Azula, this, he gestured to the mysterious man, who I realized was wearing a crown, is my son Prince Dagon. Prince Dagon bowed. That man was my fiancé? I felt as if I could fly.

Mum said in a cold voice, King Nogad, how splendid to see you. This, she gesticulated to me, is Princess Aqua, my daughter. I curtsied.

I saw King Nogad nudge his son and whisper something to him. Dagon then gently lifted my hand and kissed it. All my regard for him left me. His hands were so incredibly rough! I saw him wince slightly when he touched my hand, and guessed that he didn’t like how slimy my hand was. This was not a lovely start to anything.

When shall the date of the wedding be? King Nogad asked.

Mum replied, How about in a month’s time? That sounded awful to me. I did not want to marry this man. I wanted more time as a free single woman. Thoughts of escape came to me.

Sounds delightful. And they will meet here each Tuesday and Thursday to get to know each other? King Nogad continued. I was having difficulty controlling myself. I wanted to scream. I wanted to swim away.

With bodyguards of course. Mum added.

Of course. King Nogad agreed. Then they started discussing my wedding dress and his suit. I looked around and saw an apartment building. I wondered if it had any apartments for sale. Before I knew it, it was time to go. I was relieved. When we got home, I swam to my room, flung myself onto my bed, and fell asleep.

I awoke at eleven. The water was dark, and I didn’t want to alert anyone, so I got dressed in the dark. I put on a tank top and put my flip-flops in my purse. I then went to some rocks to transform my tail into some denim shorts and put on my flip-flops. I walked to the park and waited for a bit, twirling my hair as I did so. All of a sudden, slimy hands came over my eyes. Guess who? a familiar deep voice whispered in my ear. I giggled.

Bluegill? I asked. The hands came off of me and I whirled around only for my lips to meet Bleu’s. He pulled me closer and I didn’t worry about my blush.

So, how is your fiancé? Bleu asked jealously, as we pulled apart.

Horrible! His hands are rough and- He gave me a big smooch. I realized my voice had been rising. I started more silently, -his father is awful, and I don’t love him. I love you.

I love you too, Seaweed. You will always be my pearl, Bleu whispered in that voice of his that always made my heart swish. He then pulled me into his arms as I kept whispering my complaints as he stroked my hair. When I pulled myself away, he only pulled me into a kiss. I closed my eyes and wished the moment would never end. When we pulled away from each other, I realized that we had lingered too long. We had been there for an hour! He gave me a quick peck and we parted. I rushed home and slept for as long as I could before waking up to get ready for the day. I made myself a cup of awakening tea and drank it as I put on my favorite shell bikini top and swam down for breakfast, where Mum was waiting to tell me my schedule.

Hello, dearest, how did you sleep? Mum asked me.

Not well. I had to make myself some awakening tea, I responded truthfully as I swam over to my cushion.

Well, that’s disappointing, for today’s schedule is packed. After breakfast you have your first fitting for your wedding dress. You will go to my quarters for that. Then you have your final exams for school, followed by you giving up your rights to the throne to Princess Seashell. I almost winced at the thought of my younger sister ruling the Merworld and me being princess of the dragons.

Seashell was flirty and beautiful and she knew it. Her hair was strawberry blonde with pink streaks that matched her slender tail, and her eyes were ice blue. She was jealous of Bleu and me because she didn’t understand why she wasn’t his type. I was finally glad to have something that she didn’t, and didn’t see why she could be so jealous of me, seeing as she had twenty-four suitors and counting. Mermen were always trailing her, even though I had to marry before her.

She was overly happy when we heard the news that I was to marry Prince Dagon. That meant Bleu was hers. But Bleu was never interested in her, always in me. He would never fall for her, and she was engaged as well. After that, it is lunchtime and a short break. Then you will accompany me to a meeting, following that is your meeting with Prince Dagon, as it is Thursday. Afterwards is supper and the rest of your day is free, Mum finished my schedule just as I finished my tuna sausages and scrambled fish eggs.

So first I get fitted for my wedding dress? I asked.

Yes, now follow me, and we will start, Mum replied. I followed her down the hallway to her quarters.

Why wasn’t Princess Seashell with us at breakfast? I inquired.

Oh, Princess Seashell is sick today, Princess Aqua, Mum replied. I almost snorted. Seashell was always telling Mum she was sick, so she could escape her royal duties and spend a day with one of her suitors. Mum never suspected anything.

She is sick very often, isn’t she? I prodded, trying to make Mum suspect.

Yes, but she refuses any of the medicines I send her. Her immune system is weak, Queen Azula replied. Sometimes I couldn’t believe how she didn’t realize Seashell’s lies.

When we arrived at Mum’s quarters, I looked in awe of what I was forced to give up. Her rooms were large, bright and watery with a homey feeling. When I walked into the dressing room, I almost gasped. I couldn’t believe that Seashell was going to receive all this, and I was to get nothing, just a foul winged creature for a husband. I felt as if my luck was running out. The master of dresses was waiting, and he took my measurements and told me the fabric was coming in on Saturday. I then swam to my classroom to take my exams for which I had forgotten to study. I remembered most of the material though. I guessed my luck wasn’t all gone. But then it was.

I was swimming down the hall when Seashell showed up. Hey sister! She cried, Finally giving me the throne? I am so happy that you are so generous, she laughed for a long time. I forced myself to not cry or get angry. Aw, goody two-shoes sister, not showing her emotions in public. You’re so good at that aren’t you? Such a mommy’s girl, Seashell continued. I wanted to slap her.

All of a sudden she was gone. I sighed. Then I noticed a small crevice in the wall. I peeked in for a second, only to see her kissing one of her favorite suitors.

Best for her to not get caught by other suitors or Mum, for like it or not, Seashell was betrothed too, and it was not the man she was kissing whom she was to marry. It was a dragon named Felix. I had never met him, and neither had Seashell, but it did not seem as if she cared. She was probably going to elope with one suitor after Mum died and then there would be