Mature Content Warning: A little foul language. However, there is kissing and graphic lesbianism (or at least girl focused bisexualism) in this chapter. In short.. if girls who are interested in loving girls, is offensive to you... skip this chapter.

I honestly hate that I have to put that sort of disclaimer as it ruins the 'surprise' of a chapter. Still, I don't want to alienate people.

Author's Note: This chapter is shorter than the others. Honestly, I will probably combine this chapter and the last chapter in the finished story because they feel like they belong together, to me. If not... I'll just have to figure out a few scenes to add to flesh it out more. Either, we can move beyond the talk heavy stuff after this chapter and head into combat and romanceness in the next few.

Chapter 27: Love is for Girls

The first rays of the morning sun were seen as a magical thing by many people. In the world of ARS, the light of dawn could cause changes to many different races. Trolls became weak, sluggish. Vampires took damage. On the morning after a full moon, a mermaid would have an opportunity to have two things that they normally did not have.

Neira wiggled her toes happily in the sand. She would only have them until she fully submerged her body in the ocean, and until then she wanted to enjoy the feeling for just a little while longer. The mermaid girl had regained her magic at dawn, but due to a curious mystical loophole she would also keep her human legs for a short time.

She had come to the other side of the hill so that she could give her saviors some time to themselves. The guy she had tried to breed with during the full-moon had gone to sleep and his beautiful companion had taken up the next watch.

“You really seem to enjoy that.” asked a happy feminine voice.

Neira turned to look at the one who had spoken and then smiled gently. “Hey, Ero.”

The mermaid had been delighted to meet the fairy girl earlier. Perhaps it had something to do with both of them being associated with water?

The fairy fluttered up and down for a moment. “Hi! How are you feeling?”

The mermaid’s face turned a slightly darker shade. “Like a total slut. I totally don’t know what that was about. Right?”

“It’s OK. Scott isn’t upset, though Rhea will probably watch you like a hawk for a while.”

“Shyeah, really?” Neira’s cheeks took on a rosy glow when Rhea’s name was mentioned.

“That girl... Rhea, what’s her deal? Is she like, with that guy?” asked Neira.

Ero giggled. “Well, they talk about it a lot and Scott likes her. She really, super likes him, but they have issues.”

“Issues? Wow...issues, huh... So, Rhea isn’t with him then?”

The fairy tilted her head to the side. “I’m not sure. They like to cuddle a lot, and they hold hands, and they kiss and stuff.”

“Kiss...” Neira glanced over at the elf girl then looked away. Her face turned bright red and she pressed her index fingers together.

“Yeah, she’s wanted to be with him for a long time, but well... It’s one of those work in progress things.”

“Rhea wants to be with that guy like, real bad?” Neira pouted softly then crushed a little sand between her toes.

“I notice that you use her name a lot, but don’t say Scott’s name.” asked Ero in a casual tone of voice.

“Huh? Oh, that guy...? Yeah, I guess I don’t...”

Ero giggled excitedly. She knew a secret! Well, she suspected that she knew a secret.

“By the way, what’s your deal? Like, why are you and Rhea with that guy, Ero?” asked Neira.

“Scott... His name is Scott, remember?” asked the fairy.

“Right... So, your deal..?”

“Oh, that’s simple! My deal? Well, Scott and I are totally BFFs! Rhea and Scott are sort-of-but-not-quite-maybe-kind-of-but-not-really lovers.” said Ero in a giddy manner.

“Right...” Neira’s eyes widened and she shook her head. How was she supposed to process that?

“See, simple.”

“Shyeah... No. Uhm... What’s a BFF?” asked the human form mermaid.

“We’re bestest friends forever!”

“Wow, really?” asked Neira.

“Shyeah!” exclaimed Ero.

“Right, wow. Like... That’s so cool. I’ve never been friends with a guy.”

“Have you ever been anything with a guy?” asked Ero curiously.

“What? No way! Last night would have totally been the first time... like, for sure.” Neira giggled softly then shook her head. Guys were weird.

The buxom mermaid sighed softly then looked at Rhea again. “Rhea’s like, super pretty. Right?”

“Shyeah. Totally.” said Ero, adapting the mannerisms of her new associate.

Ero could not stand it anymore. “Are you... not interested in boys?”

Neira gaped at her like a fish, heh, and then shook her head. “No, no... Boys are... well... boys. I don’t like ever really get to see many of them who don’t look like a trout. Right? I just...”

“Like girls more...?” asked the fairy.

The mermaid giggled softly then hugged her knees. “Well... shyeah. Love is for girls. Boys are for making babies. Like, everyone totally knows that.”

“Totally.” said Ero, a mischievous smirk forming upon her sweet pink lips.

Neira bit her lower lip then placed her chin on her knees. “I like need to try and help my people. The Shar-Shar are so harsh.”

“We’ll do what he can to help you.” said Ero.

“Shyeah, Rhea told me that...Thanks for wanting to help. I totally appreciate it. Right?” Neira breathed in and out once, slowly.

Ero fluttered over and landed on the mermaid girl’s head. “We’ll do what we can to help your people. If those Shar-Shar are all about strong as the ones that chased you, Scott could take them out by himself.”

“Wow, really? Is that guy really that strong?”

“His level isn’t high at all, but he’s already defeated an army by himself. He’s used to fighting a few hundred opponents at a time if they are around his level.”

“Whoa.” Neira blinked slowly then her eyes widened. “Maybe I should totally have that guy’s babies, after all.”

“Totally.” said Ero her mischievous smirk returned with a vengeance. Things were about to become quite interesting.

***

The early morning sea breeze invigorated the senses and filled a recently rested Scott with a sense of calm. After he had awakened from his brief rest, they group gathered together near the campfire and began to discuss the situation.

The strange amalgamation of stereotypical 1980s style American ‘valley-speak’ and modern California surfer girl mannerisms endeared Neira to the man. The fact that she was incredibly cute, and not the least bit aggressive toward him helped as well. She had tried her best to get at him throughout the night, but now it was as though she was indifferent to his presence.

“So, you think there are about one hundred of the Shar-Shar in their village?” asked Rhea.

“Shyeah, if that. They are weak, but outnumber us like, a lot.” said Neira.

The elf girl leaned in to share her map screen with the mermaid, and the new girl’s cheeks rapidly darkened. “Can you tell where there village would be on this map?”

“Uhm... I totally do not know how to read a map...” said Neira. Map skills and maps in general were not common among her people.

“How about landmarks?” asked Scott.

Neira looked up to him then smiled shyly. “I guess...I should like, be able to guide you to our grotto at least.”

“Your grotto is it on the surface or in an undersea cave?” asked Rhea.

“Huh? Oh, right... it’s both, for sure.” replied Neira. She smiled gently at Rhea and then her eyes widened ever so slightly.

“Would you be able to find the Shar-Shar village if we go to your grotto?” asked Scott.

“Totally.” Neira nodded at him then smiled before glancing at Rhea once more.

“Alright, how far do you think it is from here?” asked Rhea.

Neira bit her lower lip and thought about it carefully. “Uhm, I am not too sure about distance. I like, think I had to swim for a while, but it doesn’t feel like it was too long. If it wasn’t for the full-moon, like, making me weak and stuff it wouldn’t have been so long. Right?”

“Right.” said Scott.

Neira flashed him a gentle smile then lowered her eyes quickly. Slowly, her gaze returned to Rhea.

The elf girl looked down at the human-form mermaid then sighed loudly. “I hate to ask this, but can we get the blessing of the sea from you? We will probably have to fight underwater a lot.”

“Oh for sure! I’d totally give it to you, Rhea.” replied Neira with great enthusiasm. The girl struggled to her feet then wobbled a little. She gave off the impression of a young girl trying to wear heels for the first time, or a newborn deer attempting to stand.

“And Scott...” said the elf.

“Oh right, and him.” said Neira quickly.

Scott squinted at the mermaid then looked to Rhea. He suspected something was going on, but no one had bothered to clue him in entirely.

“Uhm, but I like totally need to be in the water to do it and I don’t trust these feet thingies to get me there.” said Neira.

“Do you need me to carry you?” asked Scott. She probably did not weigh that much and he did not want her to get hurt due to her inexperience with human legs.

“Uhm, maybe Rhea should carry me...” said Neira before glancing at the elf girl.

“Right.” said Rhea. She rolled her eyes. Unlike Scott, she had a much better idea of what was going on. She knew the racial concepts used in creating the people of this world after all.

“That’s totally awesome.” Neira clapped her hands then held out her arms to the beautiful elf maiden.

Rhea sighed then walked over and hefted the girl onto her shoulder once more. Neira’s upper half hung down Rhea’s back, while her human booty was perked up in the air. The human-form mermaid placed her hands to her mouth then giggled happily. She never once looked toward Scott.

The sorcerer followed Rhea and her giggling humanoid cargo down to the beach. Ero made a few giggling sounds inside his head that allowed him to know that she was aware of the situation as well.

“Hey, Ero.” asked Scott.

“Yah?” asked the fairy from within his mind.

“Will you need a blessing as well?”

The fairy tittered gently. “No. I’m like totally a water fairy.”

Scott groaned. “Are you turning into a California girl on me, Ero?”

“Totally.” remarked the fairy girl, before she laughed once more.

“Won’t you need a tan or something?” asked Scott.

“Shyeah! Want to rub some lotion on me so I can get a totally wicked tan, Scott?”

“At this point I might just dip you in the lotion bottle.” replied the man with a soft laugh.

“Harsh.” said Ero, but she laughed anyway.

Once they reached the shore, Rhea released Neira and the girl took a few trembling steps back then looked down. The beautiful girl sighed at her feet then looked back up. “Right, so let me get in the water and I can give you a blessing.”

The mermaid staggered into the surf and kept going until there was enough water to completely submerge her body. She slipped under the water and a few second later she popped up again. “I’m like, ready now.”

She pointed to Scott. “Let’s get him out of the way first.”

“Out of the way?” asked Scott lightly. What was he, some sort of chore?

Rhea grinned at him then shook her head. If only he knew. He would figure it out soon enough.

“What do I do?”

“Come here and I’ll take care of you.” said Neira. She smiled gently, but spoke without any sort of enthusiasm.

Scott waded into the surf and stood before the lightly bobbing mermaid. He was uncertain how she could have her entire torso out of the water when she no longer had legs to stand on, but he decided not to question it. “What now?”

Neira gently lifted her hands and clasped his cheeks. “Now, I give you a blessing.”

He blinked when the girl parted her lips slightly and leaned forward. Neira kissed him softly on the lips. It was a quick, almost chaste, kiss.

You have been accepted by a denizen of the ocean. The mermaid Neira has granted you her blessing and as such, you will be able to breathe ocean water as though it was air. Your blessing will last until the next full moon.

“Uhm... thank you.” said Scott.

Neira’s cheeks turned a slight shade of pink and she nodded. “I’ve like never blessed a boy before. Was it, OK?”

Scott smiled at her. “Well, I certainly feel blessed.”

Her cheeks darkened further and she giggled before looking up at him. “You’re a nice boy, aren’t you?”

“Sometimes...” said Scott.

“That’s good to know. Right?” asked Neira.

“Right.” said Scott.

“Ahem.” said Rhea.

Scott and Neira turned to see that the elf girl had come much closer during their little chat. She wore a slightly annoyed expression, and had her arms crossed.

“Oh, Rhea! Are you like ready for me to give you my blessing?” asked Neira.

“Totally.” said Rhea, with a smirk.

The elf girl leaned forward and puckered her lips cutely. Neira, however, slipped her hands up and gently cupped Rhea’s face.

Rhea blinked when she was drawn forward and passionately kissed on the lips. Neira’s hand slid up to cup the back of her head.

Scott tilted his head to the side and watched the surprising maneuver. Was that how it had looked when he was blessed? Somehow, he felt as though he had been given poor customer service.

Neira clasped Rhea’s lower lip between her lips then drew back slowly. “So... Now you’ve been blessed by the sea. Right?”

Rhea’s eyes went wide and she touched her lips. “Totally.”

The mermaid giggled then wafted her tail around in the water. She had met a couple of really nice people.

Ero laughed softly inside of Scott’s mind. “Maybe I should get a blessing after all. They look interesting.”

Scott snorted at the fairy and the two girls turned toward him. They looked askance at the man and he shook his head. “Sorry, Ero was doing commentary.”

“I bet.” said Rhea. The elf girl shook her head then started to laugh a little.

Scott laughed as well. It was an absurd situation, after all.

Finally, Neira joined in with a nervous laugh of her own. Everyone else was laughing, so it seemed appropriate that she should laugh as well. Mostly, she was happy that no one had been offended.