My Fair Fish Lady

It's not every day where you wake up next to a beautiful person. At least, that was the case for me, because I'm not married.

Not to mention that this person was a mermaid. I can't keep emphasizing how strange that is.

"Ah, it's bright..."  I said, as I groggily got up, stretching my back.

The sun was up and shining as brilliantly as one would possibly picture on a beach, displaying its mighty brightness and valor as the sand reflected its light in all directions. Adjusting my eyes to the light, I stood up and took a deep breath, taking the morning view into my sight.

Hearing the soft sounds of something brushing against the sand, I turned behind me to see that Luminara was waking up as well. Her left arm was over her eyes, as she seemed a bit disturbed by the sunlight.

"Good morning, Arden..." Luminara muttered, still drowsy and half-asleep. I guess we're both not morning people.

"Morning to you too, Luminara." I responded with a smile.

"Ugh, my back hurts..." 

"Yeah, so does mine. But hey, I told you that you could've slept in the ocean."

Luminara sat up, and did some upper body stretching. Looks like the night was a bit rough for her, seeing that mermaids usually sleep somewhere offshore.

"Back to the problem at hand then, huh?" I inquired as I turned back to face the rising sun.

"You're right, Arden. I still can't traverse land, and I need the potion for that." Luminara said, thinking to herself as she placed her hand to her lip in a graceful manner.

"Well, I don't know the terrain well. I doubt I can get back in one piece if I went out there with nothing..."

We were both drawing a blank again. Yesterday, I had taken upon the challenge myself to deliver the walking potion to her myself, but halfway through exploring the forest the sky went dark and I barely made it back to the seaside before dusk. It was without a doubt that I would not be able to navigate properly.

It should also be worth noting that I'd have no clue on the norms here. I'm in another world, a place that may transcend the laws of what I called common sense back on Earth.

While I thought to myself, Luminara scooted closer to my feet. She expressed a sense of uncertainty and shyness, when suddenly words came out of her mouth.

"H-Hey, Arden..."

"Hm? What's wrong, Luminara?"

"I just realized... We sl-slept next to each other, didn't we?" Luminara stuttered, her voice hushed and barely audible.

Took me a while to process her question, but I guess so.

"Yeah, I guess so." I responded, averting my eyes as I scratched my head. The mermaid girl seemed to be flushed from that. "You said you were fine with it, didn't you?"

"I suppose I did..." Luminara muttered, her face red as a beet. "Well then, y-you... won't mind if I made another move like that, right...?"

"Right... What are you getting at here?"

"Carry me on your back... I think I know the way." Luminara said, as she tapped her fingers together in embarrassment. She was fidgeting and nervous, anxiety written all over her face. It's clear that she's not really interacted with guys that much.

Seeing that the mermaid was getting more and more flustered, I recalled what my brother told me ages ago. "It's a guy's job to make a woman feel safe and secure." That's what my older brother always told me. I guess this would be the perfect chance to put those words into action.

"We've got a lot to do, Luminara." I said with a firm but soft voice, as I crotched down into a piggyback position. "You alright with me doing this?"

"Mm. Please be careful..." Luminara said as her expressions softened, now feeling better.

I then slowly let her crawl onto my back. It took some time, but I felt all sorts of new sensations; which were things that I wouldn't have known of if I had not been transported here. As Luminara climbed on, I felt her soft and smooth skin lean against my back. Her tail rested on my hands, and although it looked rough, her scales were smooth and rubbery, completely betraying my original expectations. I had thought that it would be a hassle to carry her on my back, as I felt as though she would slip off fairly easily. However I had to admit that this was definitely more efficient than princess carrying her like I had done last night, as her back was moist and her spine was shaped more rigidly, resembling that of a fish's top fin.

"You're surprisingly light," I said, turning my head to look at her.

"I'm happy to hear that, Arden." Luminara responded, hugging against my back as she chuckled lightly. 

I then felt it. Her breasts weren't too large, but they were noticeable; I still couldn't let myself be fazed though, as I had begun to set off for a rough and long journey.

"No dirty thoughts... No horny thoughts...." I whispered to myself, as I braced for the journey ahead. I then began walking. "Off to find the nearest village in hopes of buying it then, yeah?"

"Mm! Let's go, Arden!" Luminara responded, nodding her head as she directed her webbed hand towards the forest.

With Luminara on my back, we ventured into the dense forest of the mysterious island. The sunlight filtered through the canopy, creating dappled patterns on the forest floor as we made our way through the foliage. The air was humid and filled with the earthy scent of moss and damp leaves. To be frank, the smell of nature was somewhat odd.

"I spend too much time in a room..." I muttered to myself, sighing as I continued to walk hazily. However, I made sure not to accidentally drop Luminara, despite my growing exhaustion.

As we walked, Luminara guided me with her soft voice, pointing out the safest paths and warning me of potential obstacles. She seemed to know the forest well, despite her inability to traverse it herself.

"I'm surprised that you know this place well, despite being a species that lives in the ocean most of the time." I stated, catching Luminara's attention.

"I know I'm a mermaid, but I've always been curious about the world above waters. This island is essentially the land on top of my home, and I've read about it a lot." 

"Interesting. You're much more studious than I am, for sure." I commented, as I turned back to look at the scenery around me.

"Thank you, Arden. No one's really ever said that to me." Luminara said, her voice grateful.

"It's true. I am grateful to you for guiding me thus far." I replied, smiling to myself.

Occasionally, we came across exotic creatures that looked native to this world. Colorful birds with feathers that shimmered like jewels fluttered overhead, and tiny luminescent insects danced around us like twinkling stars. The forest was filled to the brim with all sorts of creatures, vibrant with many colors and sounds.

"Wow, this place is incredible," I remarked, taking in the breathtaking scenery around us.

"I'm glad you think so, Arden," Luminara replied with a hint of pride in her voice.

We continued walking for what felt like hours, and Luminara shared stories about her life underwater and the various sea creatures she had encountered. Her enthusiasm was infectious, and I found myself captivated by her tales.

"Wait? So you do dance on an open clam?" I asked, as she was talking about stage performances.

"That's right! Clam Dancing is a common activity amongst us." Luminara said, leaning closer to my head.

Man, I thought that type of stuff only happened in fairy tales.

"Hey, Arden, can you tell me a bit about where you're from?" Luminara asked as a curious expression dawned on her face. "I only found you on the beach in your weird outfit. Where are you from?"

"You might not believe me... But I'm from another world." I said, my voice firm.

"Wait... Really?" Luminara inquired, seemingly more curious now. "You're not joking?"

I shook my head, my expression serious. "I promise you, I'm not joking. I was just an ordinary college student back in my world, studying and living a normal life. After getting knocked out by an old man though, I ended up there on that beach."

"I've heard tales of humans with otherworldly origins. I can't believe I'd meet one!" Luminara said. She leaned in closer, her curiosity piqued. "Tell me more about your world! What's it like there? Are there other creatures like me?"

"No, nothing of the sort. The only race are humans, and we live in a world where metal structures pierce the clouds, and metal boxes with wheels move us around conveniently, as though they were horses with incredible speed." I said, thinking back to the bustling city I lived in. "The skies would have gigantic metal birds, carrying humans as we flew over to different countries."

"Wow, that sounds so different from here," Luminara said, her eyes gleaming with wonder. "You think we'd be able to explore there together one day?"

"You're sure enthusiastic. But the oceans aren't as fresh as you think they are. With development comes a cost after all." I said, thinking about the environmental degrading as the world continued to move. "But it's not all too bad. I guess I could show you if I find a way back."

"It's a promise then, Arden!" Luminara said as she smiled, cheerful from all the tales we shared with each other.

As we neared the outskirts of the forest, the trees began to thin out, and the sound of distant chatter reached our ears. Luminara's face lit up with excitement as she recognized the signs of civilization.

"Arden, we're getting close to the village!" she exclaimed. "The merchant who might have the walking potion should be there."

"That's great news," I replied, feeling a mixture of relief and anticipation. "Let's head there quickly then."

As we approached the village, it came into full view—a quaint collection of wooden huts with thatched roofs. The villagers seemed to be going about their daily routines, tending to their stalls, chatting, and laughing with each other. The atmosphere seemed warm and welcoming.

Luminara and I walked into the heart of the village, drawing curious glances from the locals. A few children stared wide-eyed at the sight of a mermaid perched on my back, and they giggled when Luminara waved at them with her webbed hand. It seems like the locals here know about the merfolk, so I won't dig into it too much.

"Seems like the children like you." I said, looking around the village.

"I've snuck up here once with a transformation potion." Luminara giggled as she whispered into my mischievously. "I found it fun, which was what led me to convincing myself to leave the ocean in the first place."

"Really? Well that's surprising. I never knew the fair fish lady could pull a move like that. Cover me surprised." I said, laughing as I saw how Luminara pouted in response to my reply.

"Besides, I'm not the only one getting looks. Your weird outfit stands out, too." Luminara said, pointing at my clothes. 

I then looked around and saw the number of eyes on me. It seems that we were both drawing a lot of attention. I guess they don't usually see someone wearing a trench coat walk in with a mermaid on their backs.

Ignoring the gazes though, I walked to what looked like a trade hub, and braced myself before entering the area.

"Alright. You ready, Luminara? It seems lively and bustling in there."

"Mm. Open the doors when you're ready, Arden." Luminara smiled, as she confirmed her stability with me.

And so I stepped in, to be greeted with a sight of sparkling, shiny lights.