Harley swam through the dark, winding tunnels, her fins gliding effortlessly through the water. She finally reached the Sea Witch's den, where Sophia was stirring a bubbling cauldron.
"Hey, Soph, what's cookin'?" Harley asked, trying to sound casual.
Sophia looked up, startled. "Oh, just makin' some potion to make the fish think they're birds," she said with a grin.
Harley chuckled. "Laddie, you're a genius! I bet those fish would be like, 'Wait, I can fly!' And then BAM! Splash!"
Sophia giggled, her eyes sparkling. "Shut up, Harley! My potions are legit."
Harley winked. "I'm just messin', Soph. So, how's life been?"
Sophia shrugged. "Same old, same old. Guarded by Mom."
Harley leaned in, a mischievous glgle escaping. "Speaking of which, I gotta tell you somethin'. My brother found your locket and, get this, he's interested in you!"
Sophia's expression turned guarded. "I...I don't know what you're talkin' about, lady."
Harley sighed. "Come on, Soph, I'm sorry about what happened. Yoi had to leave the land because of Yvonne's spell. Miguel didn't mean to cause trouble."
Sophia shook her head. "My mom said he's danger-"
"My brother's not dangerous!" Harley interrupted. "He's actually really nice, and he likes you, for real."
Sophia hesitated, then shook her head again. "I don't think so."
Harley pouted playfully. "Fine, be that way. But if you're not gonna hang out with Miguel, can we at least swim around and collect some pearls?"
A small smile crept onto Sophia's face. "That sounds nice."
Just as they were about to swim off, Yvonne appeared, her eyes flashing with warning. "Harley, what are you doin' here? Leave, now!"
Harley swam away.
"Sophia! This is the last time I see you with these royal brats! Got that?"
"Yes, Mother."
~~~
Miguel swam into the Sea Witch's den, his heart racing with a mix of excitement and fear. He found Sophia alone, humming a gentle tune, her beauty radiating like a pearl in the dimly lit cavern. He was taken aback, his words getting stuck in his throat. But then, he remembered the lines he'd often used to woo the ladies of the sea court...
"Sophia, the fairest of the ocean's daughters," he began, his voice low and smooth, "your beauty dethrones the sea blue in my presence."
Sophia's face lit up with a smile, but it was fleeting. "Aren't you the Sea prince?" she asked, her voice firm.
Miguel nodded, his eyes locked on hers. "Yes, I'm the Sea prince who has fallen madly in love with you, and I can't get up."
Sophia chuckled, a hint of sadness in her eyes. "You're charming, but I value my life more than anything else. If you love yourself, you'll get out of here right now."
Miguel's expression turned earnest. "I love you more than I love myself, Sophia. All I want is for you to be back to your human life. That woman isn't your mother – she cast a spell on you. We're meant for each other, I know it!"
Sophia's eyes narrowed, and she raised a potion, threatening to splash it on Miguel's face. "Leave these premises!"
Just then, Yvonne appeared, her eyes blazing with fury. "Prince Miguel, leave here if you know what's good for you." The staff in her hand glowed red, and Miguel knew it was time to retreat.
He swam away, his heart heavy with determination. "Just you wait, Yvonne," he muttered under his breath. "I'll save Sophia and break this curse."
Lina and Harley giggled, scorching shrimp shells with a crab claw torch. The game was on – who could flip the most crustaceans into the "ocean's trash can"? Harley was winning, naturally.
Just as Lina was about to protest, Queen Adana's voice echoed through the seaweed. "Attention, young mermaids! Gather at my castle for a meeting. Each and every one of you is fit for Prince Miguel's hand."
Harley squealed, "Ooh, a royal matchmaking!"
Lina rolled her eyes. "Like Miguel cares."
Meanwhile, Miguel was far from the party, stuck on Sophia. He hovered outside the Sea Witch's den, his eyes glued to the entrance. The Sea Witch corked a bubble of darkness around the den, trapping Sophia inside and Miguel's hopes outside.
Undeterred, Miguel swam closer, his voice a whisper. "I'll find a way, Sophia."
Back at the castle, mermaids sparkled like diamonds, vying for Miguel's attention. Queen Adana beamed. "Lina, Harley Cordelia, help me convince Miguel to choose a bride!"
But Miguel was a no-show. He swam up, shook his head, and said, "Sorry, Mother. Not interested."
Adana's smile shattered. The mermaids' faces fell like anchors. Harley whispered, "Guess that's a wrap." Lina patted Adana's shoulder, a silent apology.
Miguel was gone, chasing the one he wanted – the girl in the witch's captivity.
Miguel slumped against a coral column, his mind drowning in Sophia. Harley zipped towards him, her eyes wide with worry.
"What's wrong?" Miguel asked, reading the panic on her face.
Harley bled words fast. "I overheard Yvonne telling Sophia she'd mix a potion to send her back to the human world! Because of you, Miguel! You're making life unbearable for them both."
Miguel's gut twisted. "What else?"
"Mom has gone to plead with Yvonne to let you see Sophia, just once. She can't bear to see you like this." Harley's voice dropped to a whisper. "Miguel, our mom's actually begging the witch... for you."
Miguel's surprise morphed into resolve. "My mom..."
Harley cut in, "The thing is, if Sophia's gone, Yvonne'll trap you. Cast more spells. You'll ache forever, and without your true love, the curse won't be broken...you'll die devastated."
Miguel's jaw set. Sadness and determination wrestled on his face.
Harley whispered, "If we don't do something..."
Miguel straightened. "Sis, it's time to act really fast."
Miguel slipped through the tiny hole, his eyes locked on Sophia. She jolted, potion bottles clattering as she spun around.
"What are you doing here, Prince?"
Miguel raised a finger to his lips. "Shh, Sophia. This woman's playing you. She wants to send you back to the human world to suffer... because I fell for you. And her real daughter... it's a long story."
Sophia's eyes narrowed. "You're talking nonsense!"
Miguel stepped closer. "Listen, Zegler said you're my true love. You're the one who can break my curse. Say you love me, Sophia."
Sophia's voice rose. "You're crazy! Leave me alone!"
Miguel shifted tactics. "Okay, deal. You go back human, and I disappear forever. Never see me again."
Sophia scoffed. "No deal. I was never human. Yvonne's my mother."
Miguel's eyes dropped to the green fruit in his hand. "Try this. It's delicious. One bite."
Sophia hesitated, then snatched the fruit. "I'm not eating—"
Miguel begged, "Eat it. Then I leave you alone."
Sophia took a bite. Suddenly, scales morphed into skin. Gills vanished. She gasped, lungs bursting with air.
"What's happening?" Sophia's voice was human, panicked.
Miguel smiled, backing away. "Guess it's deal time."
Sophia gasped, lungs burning as she thripped towards the surface. She struggled to breathe, water rushing past her newly formed legs. But she couldn't break free – a barrier blocked her path.
Miguel darted forward. "Let her go!"
Yvonne materialized, fury etched on her face. "How could you give her that fruit?"
Miguel's voice was a plea. "She ate it. At least let her go!"
Yvonne sneered. "You and Harley... trouble. Zegler slowed me down, but now... your human love'll die before your eyes."
Miguel's desperation spiked. "Please! Just let her go!"
Yvonne corked a laugh as Zegler and Harley intervened. "Let the girl go, Yvonne."
Yvonne huffed, lifting the barrier. But before Sophia could escape, Yvonne snapped a web, binding her leg.
Zegler's voice was steel. "What's up with you? Let her go!"
Yvonne smirked. "Gonna play a little game."
Zegler's eyes narrowed. "What are you doing?"
Yvonne whispered a spell, and Sophia transformed – shrinking, curling into a fetus. She shot upwards like a cannonball.
The group's faces twisted in shock.
Miguel roared, "What have you done to her?!!!!"
"Just harmless stuff for you to finally see that you deserve to be miserable! After killing my daughter, you think you can be happy?"
"It wasn't his fault, Yvonne!" Harley snapped.
"Shut up, Harley! I think it's time you finally keep quiet for good! Out of this sea!" She pointed her staff to Harley and before Zegler could do anything, Harley also transformed into a fetus and vanished.
"Harley!!!!!" Miguel cried.
Yvonne's voice cut through the chaos. "Everybody shut up when I'm talking!"
Miguel sobbed, his heart shattered. Lina, who'd been eavesdropping, zipped to Queen Adana's chambers.
"Your Majesty... Harley... she's... she's gone."
Adana's face crumbled. "How much more damage will Miguel cause in this sea?" She wept, Lina's words sinking in.
With Lina by her side, Adana confronted Yvonne. "I apologized! Thought this was over! Why ruin my son and my daughter?"
Yvonne sneered. "Can your apologies bring my daughter back?"
Adana's tears flowed. "What's wrong with you?! We talked, I apologized..."
Yvonne's eyes blazed. "I don't wanna hear it! I've been alone too long. You awakened my anger."
Zegler snarled, pointing his staff. "Begging this witch? Enough!"
Yvonne's body jolted, like a thousand volts coursing through her. Magical creatures swarmed, binding her. Aggressive sea plants writhed, tormenting her as she screamed.
Adana, still weeping, turned to Miguel. "Harley's spell.... how do we reverse it?"
Miguel faced Zegler.
"Harley and Sophia have been taken to the human world and by the kind of spell, she turned them into fetuses. Which means, they'll go and grow as human babies in the womb and be born."
"What? Does that mean Harley and Sophia will be born in the human world and never come back?" Miguel asked.
"Yes, Prince Miguel."
~~~~~
Miguel and Cordelia swooped through the coral, chatting about turtles. Suddenly, Miguel's eyes sparkled. "Could we raid the witch's den? Find some treasures? She's gone, right?"
Cordelia hesitated, then shrugged. "Okay, if you think it's safe."
They swam in, scouring the cavern for loot. Miguel's gaze landed on the green seafruit. He popped it in his mouth, grinning mischievously.
Cordelia gasped. "Miguel, no!"
Too late. Miguel's tail split, morphing into legs. He stretched, human now, lungs bursting with air. Cordelia's eyes widened as Miguel shot upwards, a human bullet.
He thripped to the surface, gasping like a fish out of water. Kicking wildly, he swam to shore, collapsing onto sand.
Dizziness hit. Miguel curled, shrinking – a fetus now. The world spun, and he was airborne, a tiny bundle hurtling through space.
Thud. Warmth. Darkness.
Miguel's consciousness faded as he landed in Hazel Jackson's womb. Growth pangs began and a new life unfolded.
Cordelia's voice trembled as she recounted the horror to the royal family. They gathered around Zegler, Queen Adana's eyes pleading.
"Can you bring Miguel back?" she begged, her voice cracking.
Zegler's face was somber. "Nothing can be done. The seafruit Miguel ate was laced with a potion – it turned him human, then a fetus. The curse's done its work."
Adana's world crumbled. "What about his return?"
Zegler's words were heavy. "The human who bears Miguel will likely die in childbirth. She'll birth not just him, but all his curses. We must forget him."
Harley's fate hung in the air. "She'll grow in a human too. If destined, they'll be siblings again."
Sophia's name lingered. "If she's his true love, they'll connect. If not, Miguel's curse remains."
The group's faces fell like anchors. Cordelia's sobbed loudly.
Zegler's eyes were firm. "It's out of our hands now."
Miguel's fate was sealed – a human life, cursed or not, unfolding elsewhere. The sea's secrets kept, its mysteries deepening.
~~~~PRESENT~~~~
Veronica closed the tale of Mortopia, and Gabriela felt the whole thing settle like a tide‑soft dream—unbelievable, yet somehow real enough to make her cheeks flush. Her eyes shone with happy tears.
"Does that mean my name was Sophia and I was named Gabriela when I was born? Was that why Hazel Jackson died? Yvonne is so cruel!" She paused, then added, "One more question—was Michelle actually Harley?" Veronica gave a small, knowing nod, and Gabriela gasped, "Oh my gosh, they were destined to be siblings again. If Miguel knew, he'd have regretted hating Michelle at first." Veronica's voice softened, "I don't think you should tell Miguel. Pretend you've got a therapist for these strange dreams. Keep it to yourself." Gabriela hugged her tightly, "Thank you so much, Veronica," and the sea breeze seemed to whisper a quiet promise of new beginnings.
"But who are you?" Gabriela asked, not breaking the hug yet.
"Lina." Veronica whispered and Gabriela's eyes widened.
"Oh."
"Now that I know about the dreams, will they stop?" Gabriela questioned.
Veronica broke the hug.
"Yes, it should."
~~~~
Gabriela and Miguel's romance kept blooming, and they became the couple everyone chased. They hit basketball games, red‑carpet premieres, and every flashbulb seemed to love them more than the next. Gabriela promised to sign the modelling contract after her marriage.
Miguel was planning a vacation for them.
"Let's get away, just us." She smiled, and they booked tickets to a massive resort that felt like its own little town.
At the resort, Gabriela handled office calls while Miguel made sure it was just the two of them. They raced bicycles along palm‑lined paths, chased each other through sand dunes, and danced in the wind as the sun dipped low. Outdoor picnics turned into candle‑lit dinners, and inside their suite they binge‑watched movies, snapped goofy selfies, and pulled prank after prank on each other.
When they weren't cooking together—spaghetti splatter and laughter filling the kitchen—they'd curl up on the balcony, watching stars and planning their next adventure. Every moment felt like a scene from a movie, and they were the stars.
They stood side‑by‑side in the resort's tiny kitchen, flour dusting their cheeks as they whisked batter for a chocolate‑lava cake. Gabriela laughed, "Imagine a pop‑up runway on the beach—models strut while drones drop mini‑cakes to the crowd. Instant buzz, right?" Miguel grinned,
"And we could livestream the whole thing, let fans vote on the next flavor." He tossed a pinch of sea‑salt into the mix, and the scent of caramel swirled around them.
While the cake baked, they frosted each other's noses with whipped cream, then slipped a hidden note into the batter:
"If you find this, you owe me a midnight swim." The oven timer pinged, and they pulled out a glossy, golden cake that looked like a treasure chest. As they sliced it, the first bite exploded with sweet‑salty magic, and Gabriela's eyes sparkled—she'd just found the perfect marketing hook.