Even though they had returned briefly to Earth, it was not entirely unusual to see such things as dragons around here. This was a world filled with superheros and ... well, not so super heroes. Splash counted herself among the latter category because she didn't much think swimming about was all that hot - especially what with the stuff to dodge in the water. But she'd watched the other parts of their body bond to dragons, and that might make her more amazing if she could do it too.
There were three incredible dragons, now. Splash leaned against the sun-warmed brickwork edging the pool, and watched them. Sabre's black kept to the shadows of course, not particularly liking the bright summer sun of Southern California. But Snowbird's silver danced in the air and played with... Wait. Whose was that dragon up there?
Splash tilted her head, and dunked herself below the water again, dousing herself before rising out again. She waved her arm, and gave off a chittering call, in the hopes that they'd hear her.
Perhaps it was Snowbird who called mentally to her silver Kenzepten, and he dove down toward the pool. The other dragon followed him. He was a handsome dragon, with short dark horns, and a long body. Snowbird threatened to take over the mutual body and communicate with him, but Splash insisted on staying.
"Who are you? I don't know you." She said, simply. The back of her mind was filled with the other voices deriding her for being simple. She ignored them. "Where are you from?"
The dragon landed, his skin was a shade of coppery-yellow, a pretty color indeed. I am searching for candidates, but ... normally those who fly do not bondsearch those in the water. He peered at Splash, and then at the canyonsides below, where the city popped up, and then far far away the beaches and pacific ocean. But you would do well on a seafaring dragon, would you not?
"I think I would!" Splash gasped. Excited, she did a backflip into the water and came up again.
Then you ought to come with me. Vegliante cove is having a hatching and they are in need. I came because someone suggested searching other ... worlds... The dragon looked around, and with doubt in his eyes looked back. Are you sure that this world is appropriate to bring dragons?
"I think so," Splash said, "there are people who fly and blast heat from their eyes, why not dragons too?"
I see your point...
"We would have to do something about where to live, though," Splash asserted both vocally and into the mids of the others she shared this body with. "Because this is obviously not even big enough for me."
There is a lake, Kenzepten spoke up, Not too far from here. If we're all going to be staying here anyway.
"They cannot agree on where to remain, so I think coming back here is the best idea." Splash agreed with the silver dragon.
You can't be serious, we like living here. Scintilla grumbled. She was kind of pouty because the Pelar area was still waiting for their eggs to harden and she'd been requested to go there - and waiting for her was torture. It galled the glamour-using woman that someone else would bond before she did.
But we can make due, Summoner told her. Splash, if you think you're likely to bond a sea dragon - and I don't see why you wouldn't, we could have people build us a new, bigger house with dragon accomodations at this lake.
We could do that, Scarlett seemed to mentally nod. It would work. And we could make arrangements for new dragons. The hopefulness in her mind was overpowering! She really wanted to join in.
I think it's a good idea, Snowbird put in. So, Splash, tell this dragon that you'll have to wait until we have everything started up, before going with him.
With a little resignation, Splash told him this and he flew off back to his world - Alskyr - and informed the Cove leaders that a seafaring multiple-minded shapeshifting-bodied person would be coming to their beach. While he did that, Summoner and Scintilla got to work. They called construction firms, landscaping people, and seemingly ignored the fact that they were probably building on public land down there, but the lake was a nice natural one stuck among the canyons. In fact, the canyon walls were nicely dotted with high cliffs (ones which occasionally had houses on their tops - which might get sticky, but then they'd just exert some more mental energy on their owners if they complained about the dragons...) where the flying dragons could roost in blasted-out caves. It was all starting to come together nicely for them.
All of them even agreed, that the takeover of the businessman's house was enough to establish them in the world, but this would give them a permanent place. They could model their new home after it, if they wanted. But what it turned out they did was they made a whole new kind of house - long hallways and many rooms, one fit for each of the personalities to live in, including a beautiful indoor lagoon designed for Splash. It would lead directly to the lake.
It would have cost millions to make. Fortunately, the foreman and construction crews working on it were ... all male. And Scintilla messed with them, best.
***
Splash wandered through the waves at Catena Isle, in the Vegliante Cove, and made friends with whoever she could find. Most people didn't understand that she was a mermaid - but even less so when she shapeshifted into one of the other personalities in her shared body.
The other two dragons bonded to the Some-body came along, but had to wait outside. When finally the hatching was called out, Splash joined everyone in the cove shelter.
There was an immensely old yellow dragoness waiting in the waters, and Splash was humbled by her presence. Many of the sea dragons were as well.
The first hatchling lept out and showed himself off as a big aqua, bonding to a strange kid. Shortly after, however, a pretty indigo of small size came out and slipped right into the water near Splash.
"Hello!" Splash said, not sure what to make of this. She felt a little humming in the back of her head, the presence of the other minds were congratulating her.
"Hi." The indigo said. Cheer was in her eyes, and her tail was a bit swishy as she asked, "I'm Fortundoross. Can I go back to Earth with you?"
"Yes!" Splash said, truly enjoying the new feeling in her mind. The others would send their dragons back to earth - because there, they would spend no time at all while Splash had the body. And when she was ready, Splash would have to alert them to teleport her back. Eventually. Right now, she was enjoying everything!
Fortundoross grew but it was clear that she would always be small - tiny in fact. That suited everySome, because of space considerations. That lagoon wasn't all that huge. Some of the bigger sea dragons here were almost longer than their whole house!
Splash and Fortundoross however were mostly concerned with learning how to work through currents and get stronger - strong enough to swim deeply into the ocean and come back unharmed.
"I like how you can swim beside me, instead of clinging on - and we can go so deep! The others bonded humans cannot do that!" Fortundoross happily sang.
"I'm very glad too," Splash said, grinning. "Now, I just have to remind the others that we'll be done soon and they can get some sun."
"I like some of them - but I still do not like having to share you so much."
"I'm sure you'll get used to it. Kenzepten and Katana are nice dragons. And there will be more, you know."
"I know," the indigo sighed, "I know... Let's head back." The waves were choppy so they went near the bottom of the sea, gliding along until they got to the bay again.
Tiny Fortundoross had grown deep in color, and Splash loved her that way. The lagoon that the rest of the girls had enjoyed for sunbathing would serve perfectly for them to swim in now.
While Fortundoross did like the open sea, at least once they almost got sucked out into the deep ocean too far to get back - and in Splash's panic she suddenly turned into one of the Others! Deep beneath the waves, Scarlett almost drowned!
They wouldn't be repeating that mistake any time soon. The teleport back to their home from Catena's Vegliante cove was smooth, and the flight over the hills into their new home was thrilling. Snowbird was in control when Kenzepten and Katana carried their indigo colored sea-faring companion to her lagoon.
"We can even send you out to sea if there's a rescue to be done," Sarah said, knowing that Splash could hear her within her mind. "So don't worry about being 'useless'." She could feel the others muttering - that was one of Scintilla's favorite lines.
Then we will swim when we're needed. Thank you!
"You're welcome, and by the way, there are tons of fish in there. It's fully stocked like a bloody lake."
Fortundoross bugled and the other two dragons laughed.
