While Liam and Susan were still trying to process not only the mermaid goddess which requesting that they spread the word about her return, they where so focused on that they failed to notice the rather large crowd of people which were gathering around them. Multiple of the people had their phones out recording or live streaming the scene before them. Some of the people even had mermaids or merman tails over their shoulders or within bags.
The crowd had been standing there the whole time listening to Aquaris speak and what she was offering. One of those live streaming was actually an influencer followed by one of the people in the news room. So while Liam and Susan where debating if they should contact the studio the studio was already reaching out to them.
"Susan...the studio wants us to go live with his mermaid queen.” said Liam as his radio earpiece, came alive.
“How did they know…” started Susan before she finally noticed everyone gathered around. She turned toward Aquaris. “Give us a moment and we will go live.”
“Of course.” said Aquaris as she moved her hands as the water, she was floating in shifted and moved into a sort of throne as she relaxed a bit.
It took a few moments, as Susan put in her own earpiece so she could talk/hear the studio as Liam put a camera on his shoulder.
“Hello this is Susan with Channel 7 news reporting from the northern parking lot by the South Beach Pier and behind me as you can see is a women who claims to be not only an actual mermaid but a sort of mermaid goddess named Aquarius.” Said Susan as Liam panned over to get Aquaris in full frame. “She claims to have come to bring her people back into the world by transforming humans into merfolk. I have seen her up close and while it may sound crazy I believe her.”
“For what I say is true.” said Aquarius as Susan stepped closer. “I have awoke from my long slumber to find all my children gone and my oceans full of human trash and waste, I have come to fix both. I will repopulate the oceans with my children and enforce ancient agreements with humans about the water.”
“Ancient Agreements?” inquired Susan slightly concerned.
“Yes, some of my most loyal servants and lovers in the past such as Poseidon made deals with your ancestors to allow travel across my ocean and for you to fish but with limits. You humans have broken those ancient codes, I should punish you all for that.” stated Aquarius “However I feel that is more of you forgetting the deal then breaking it on purpose.”
Susan began to think of over fishing, the illegal dumping of waste and the large amount of trash in the oceans. If Aquarius did rule over them all then she would be upset with what humans did to her kingdom.
Her thoughts were interrupted by a voice from the studio.
“Aquaris…” said Susan as Aquarius gave her a slight side eye for not calling her Queen but let it go. “The studio wants to know, if you’re really a goddess can you demonstrate your power in some way.”
“Of course.” said Aquarius as she raised her hand as just offshore the clouds began to darken and the winds picked up, the waves grew in height and within seconds a massive hurricane like storm was raging off shore.
Susan’s earpiece went wide as the weather man broke in and reported that a category 5 hurricane had just appeared and was sitting offshore and getting stronger by the seconds. There was no hiding it now and it was clear to everyone that not only was Aquarius telling the truth but if she could summon hurricanes like this then she had the power to do a lot of damage to the human world.
“Thank you, Queen Aquaris we can see your power.” said Susan as Aquarius smiled and dropped her hand as the storm disappeared as quickly as it had appeared. “If I may ask…how many humans do you intend to transform?”
“As many as it takes to repopulate the different kingdoms of my kind under the sea.” Stated Aquaris “A couple million for sure around the world.”
That caused Susan’s eyes to widen, a couple millions.
“I would rather take volunteers then transform by force, which is why I am offering to transform anyone.” explained Aquaris as she looked around at the crowd. “When you become one of my subjects you will know the pleasures of a the sea, a longer life, a more youthful body and beauty. If you have no home on the surface I will find you a home, if you want to see unbelievable new sights you will see it in the ocean and other wonders. I do warn, some may be transformed in ways they are not expecting or will be unhappy about.”
“What does that mean?” inquired Susan
“When I transform a person, I bring out the merperson within them, be it a mermaid or a merman, be it a tail you like or dislike.” stated Aquaris “I place no control over that, I let fate decide.”
“I see.” said Susan as she began to grasp some of what this mermaid goddess was saying. When a human transformed, they could change gender and get a tail they may not like. It was like being born with a part of your body you didn’t like.
“Who wishes to be the first of my new subjects?” inquired Aquarius