How I Became the Sea

Opening his eyes, a teenager with dark skin, blue and green eyes and a dark blue wetsuit with light blue highlights was deep down under the sea. He tried holding his breath and attempted to swim up to the surface for air. When he surfaced, the night sky was empty with no stars. Nothing was there all except for the moon and its light illuminating the boy. He turned around and noticed a huge man with a beard, glowing blue eyes and a huge trident. He points at the boy and a huge wave hurdles towards the boy. He quickly tried to swim away in a vain attempt to get away from the clossial wave, but quickly gets engulfed in it.

"Ryan. Ryan!" a voice said as he was attempting to swim up to the surface, "Ryan!"

Suddenly, the boy with curly hair woke up and gasped a big breath of air. He looked at his hands and sighed in relief, "Thank God, i-it was just a dream."

Ryan was greeted with a playful punch by a decently-built girl with reddish-brown hair, "Hey dude, what happened, got a nightmare?"

Ryan shook his head and rubbed his eyes, "N-no, I'm fine. I'm okay, Ava."

Ava smiled, "Good for you 'cause we're at your most favorite place in the world, Aquaworld!" she then pointed outside the bus's window to reveal a sign labelled "Aquaworld", decorated with a dolphin and the ocean.

Ryan gave off a small smile, "Yeah... sucks that it's closing due to low funding after this field trip."

Ava nodded, "Yeah, that's a bummer, but for now, let's just enjoy it while we still can, man!"

A man with brown hair, a white polo shirt and glasses with a nametag labelled "Steven Sandlers", "OK kids, welcome to Aquaworld. Any of you have any questions before we proceed?" Mr. Sandlers asked as the bus made a full stop on the parking lot.

The class stayed silent, but Ryan slowly raised his hand.

"Yes, Ryan?", Mr. Sandlers said.

Ryan gave off a slight sigh before saying, "Well, uh, might I talk to my friends here?"

The man gave off a nod, "Of course."

Ryan gave off a weak smile, "Thank you, sir."

"Alright, now if anyone dosen't have any more questions, please proceed outside in an orderly-" suddenly, he was cut off as the entire class excluding Ryan grabbed their bags and ran outside the bus in a clustered manner, "Fashion. Ya know Ryan, out of all these kids, I'd say you're the best one ready for college. Listening to authority like a good employee of the month!"

Hearing his compliment, Ryan snickered, "Thanks, Mr. Sandlers." he said as he got up, picked up his blue backpack and walked towards the exit, "Um, you first?"

Mr. Sandlers gave a nod, "Thank you, Ryan." he said as he got off the bus. Ryan hops out of the vehicle after the teacher got out.

The class made their way towards an area with a ticket booth and a huge enterance decorated with a blue whale and many other types of sea creatures. The class looked in awe at how beautifully well-made the entrance was and a few got out their phones and took some pictures. Ryan looked at the enterance with a look of nostalgia.

Ava looked over at a photo stand-in with a seal on it. Ava approached Ryan, "Say Ryan, can you take a photo of me over there?"

Ryan gave a slow nod and took Ava's phone. She walks over and placed her head into the hole where the seal's head should be. She gave of a menacing grin as Ryan took the photo.

Ava smiled and approached the boy with curly hair, "Thanks, man." she said as she got her phone back from Ryan.

The teacher then stood in front of the class, "Alright class, now form in a straight line and proceed to the atrium in an orderly-" just then, all the students rushed over and made their way into the enterance in an unorganized fashion except Ryan who remained outside, "fashion. Of course."

Ryan and Mr. Sandlers got into the enterance and into an atrium with three dolphins decorating the western side of it along with a huge screen to the east showcasing many varities of fish. There was a man with a captain's hat standing near some small and medium-sized tanks containing different species of fish and other little marine creatures. The man looked over at the class, "Ah, you must be the class that's I'm going to educate about the ocean," he goes. He then notices Ryan in the crowded mess of students, "Ah, my dear nephew!"

Ryan moved a little closer and his eyes widen, "Uncle Stuart?"

Stuart approached his nephew and gave him a hug, "Last time I saw ya, you were about the size as a baby sea otter!"

Ryan reciprocated the hug and smiled, "Y-yeah, it's been a while. I'm glad to see you again."

The teenager and the captain separated as Stuart walks towards an area labelled "Riverbank", "Alright Mr. Sandlers, how's about I take the lead from here on out."

"By all means, go on." the teacher responded.

Stuart went over and swiped a card over a turnstile gate, "Alright everyone, please proceed in an orderly fashion."

Mr. Sandlers snicked, "Yeah right, good luck with that."

Just then, the entire class formed a line as an employee stamped their wrist and they all go inside the area one by one.

Upon seeing this, Sandlers eyes were wide open as he took his glasses off and wiped them with a rag, "What am I doing wrong?" he uttered as he put on his glasses back and proceeded to line up with the rest of the class.

The class were inside a forested area with a huge tank containing yellow blacked-striped fish called tiger barbs.

A student takes a photo of it and said, "You know, I have these fish in one of my twenty gallons. For some reason, when I put other fish in it, they always kill them."

Ryan scoffed at what his classmate just said, "Um, maybe you should do your research. I think you're keeping less than six, that will cause them to become real aggresive."

They then come across a huge tank containing a massive white pacu and some red-tailed catfish. A student placed a finger on the glass and the pacu follows it, "Look, he wants to eat my finger!" another student quipped.

Ryan made his way towards a pond filled with koi. He saw an employee with a blue cap and brown hair, "Hey, Lester... H-how's the koi?" he asked, avoiding eye contact and waving at the man.

"Oh they're doing fantastic! Wanna feed them?" Lester suggested.

Ryan gave a nod, "Y-yeah, thank you."

With that, Lester got out a bag full of flake food and handed it to Ryan. The boy with curly hair dipped his hand into the water with the food. This caused the koi to nibble on his fingers, "Aw, looks like they like you!" Lester commented.

Ryan smiled as he got out his phone and looked at Ava, "Hey Ava... wanna take a photo of me and the koi?"

Ava responded with a nod, "Of course, Ryan." she said as she took Ryan's phone and took a photo of him feeding the fish. Ryan gently petted one of the fish and Ava made sure to photograph that as well, "Thanks, Ava."

Ava then gave Ryan's phone back, "What are friends for?"

The class made their way towards an exhibit called "Shallow Coast." The area was cave-themed with stalactites and stalagmites along with some tanks featuring starfish, sea urchins, sea horses, pipe fish and ribbon eels.

There was an area that consisted of an opened tank with chocolate chip starfishes and some blue starfish. Ryan reached in and gently touched the starfish. He closed his eyes and took a deep breath before exhaling. He felt the starfish's life force and could tell it liked its home, "Man... sucks that you have to leave this place. The employees were keeping you happy, but I guess it's for the best. The ocean's way bigger than this tank anyway."

Ava went over and took a selfie of her and a frog fish, "I thought these things only live in deep water."

Ryan went over to correct the girl, "Actually, there are angler fish that live in shallower water."

"Huh, the more ya know, the better, I guess." Ava said with a shrug.

Ava went over and took a selfie near the opened starfish tank. Another student walked over and smirked, "Hey Ava, splash fight?"

Ava looked over and had a stirn look, "You better not-" suddenly, the student laughed as he splashed some water towards Ava. She almost got hit, but she jumped backwards, "Why you..."

Ava ran towards the student, waving her fist at him as he ran and chuckled throughout the cave.

Ryan took some photos of a spotted flounder and then another at some cleaner shrimp in another opened tank. Ryan placed his hand into the water and the shrimp almost immediately swam up and nibbled on his fingers, "Sorry guys, don't have any food."

The class made their way towards a huge room with black walls and huge tanks. One of them had a shipwrecked deisgn to it. Ava took a photo of her standing near a sawshark.

Ryan went through a tube that ran through the massive aquarium. The class looked in awe as one of the students took a photo of a guitarfish swimming on top of the tunnel. Ryan turned and wandered around. He placed a hand on the glass and sighed in a sad tone, "Boy, I'm sure gonna miss this place..." Ryan said as he slid his hand on the glass. Suddenly, a current followed where his hand slid. Ryan noticed this and jumps back, holding his hand. The boy placed his finger on the glass and moved it around, causing a current to follow it. Ryan screamed like a little girl and ran out as fast as he could outside the tube.

Mr. Sandlers noticed this, but didn't say a word. He just carried on and proceeded his way out of the tube.

Although Ava didn't see the current flow around Ryan's hand, she saw Ryan running out in a panicked manner. Ava decided to follow Ryan to see what was up.

Ryan makes it to a room filled with giant stingrays, fish and sharks. He breathed in and out in a panicked manner, "Did I just? What the heck was that?!"

Ava made her way out of the tunnel and found Ryan. She approached her best friend and put a hand on his shoulder. Ryan jumped back, spooked.

"Ryan, are you okay? Normally, you'd be excited about this stuff." Ava pointed out.

Ryan didn't know what to say as explaining what just happened made him believe she was gonna think he was crazy. Ryan gulped, "I-it's nothing. Just all worked up this place is gonna close forever."

Ava walked over and placed a hand on his shoulder once more, "Don't worry Ryan, maybe when you grow up, you'll make that aquarium zoo you always talked about. Maybe you'd be more successful than this place." she reassured.

With a sigh of relief, Ryan nodded, "Thanks Ava, that's just what I needed."

Ava gave a playful pat on Ryan's back, "Aye, that's what best friends are for!"

Ryan then sat on a bench and sighed. He looked back at the tanks and then slowly stood up. He walked over to the exit where he looked down at the ocean below him, "Must be nice knowing you'll finally be free. Hopefully the ocean's not too rough on you guys."

Ryan stood there, leaning on the railings with a look of a nostalgic frown as Ava walled beside him. Then his uncle Stuart made his way to the duo, "Hey sonny, how ya doin'?"

Ryan gave off a sigh, "I dunno. I'm probably gonn be bummed out for a while knowing that this beautiful place is gonna be gone forever."

Stuart looked over and saw the "Marine Beasts" exhibit and that gave him an idea. He placed a hand on the boy's shoulder, "Aye, I heard you had a friend here, what's her name... Akira?"

This made Ryan jolt up, "Oh right! Akira!" Ryan said as he ran towards the Marine Beasts area, looking left and right before taking a sharp turn, "Been a month since I've last been here. Now if memory serves me right..."

Ryan then made it to an area with a huge pool containing a pink bottlenosed dolphin and a woman with blonde hair. Ryan made his way to the two, "Bethany, Akira!"

The two of them noticed the boy, "Ah Ryan! Nice to see you!" Bethany said as she swam towards the boy.

Ryan looked over and crouched down and placed a gentle hand on the dolphin, "How's that prosthetic tail I made?"

"Fantastic. Akira can finally swim properly again." Bethany answered.

Stuart and Ava caught up to Ryan as he rubbed the side of Akira. The timid teenager turned around, "Hey guys, I'd like you to meet Bethany and Akira."

"I've already met captain Stuart, Ryan. As for you, you must be that Ava girl Ryan was always talking about." Bethany joked.

"Bethany!" Ryan said with a hint of blush.

"You mean the fat one?" Akira said.

This made Ava cross her arms in annoyance when she heard what the dolphin just said.

This made Ryan's eyes widen upon hearing this, 'Did I just understood her?' he thought to himself.

Casting this weirdness aside, Ryan shook his head and ignored what just happened, instead focus on other things. Just then, the dolphin blew some water at Ava with her blowhole. Ava merely dodged the water stream, but some of it got into her right hand. Ava quickly puts it in her jacket's pocket, "You damn sea cow, how dare you!"

"Akira!" Ryan said in a scolding manner.

"What, I was just showing that bitch her place." Akira scoffs.

This agitated Ava. She wanted to say something back, but she felt like she couldn't.

"Akira, apologize at once!" Ryan ordered.

"Fine. I'm sorry. There, happy?" Akira said until it hit her, "Wait a minute, you can understand what I just said?"

Ryan then stood up and stretched his body. Stuart looked over at the boy, "Best you prepare boy, you and your class are heading over there!" Stuart said, pointing at a not huge, but decently-sized yacht.

Ava looked over and her jaw dropped, "We're going in a cruise?!" she asked in excitment.

"An educational cruise. We'll be releasin' some of the animals, but we want to teach you all about them before droppin' them off." Stuart answered.

Bethany then got out of the water and got a towl to dry herself' "Yep, same goes with Akira. Say Ryan, maybe when your class is studying about the marine creatures, maybe you and Akira..." she said as she went into her locker and pulled out Ryan's wetsuit.

Ryan looked in awe and looked at his uncle, "You really mean it?!"

Stuart proceeded with a nod. This caused Ryan to jump up and down in excitment. Ava looked at her friend with a smile, "Glad you managed to make him happy."

Just then, a few men wheeling a container full of saltwater approached the pool. "Alright guys, you know what to do." Bethany said as they lifted the pink dolphin out of the water and into the container.

"Looks like we better head back to your class, boy." Stuart said as Ava followed suit.

Ryan turned around and waved goodbye at the dolphin as Akira made a playful splash.

...

A few minutws later, the class was gathered around the yacht. Mr. Sandlers went over with a board and pen, "Alright class, proceed in an orderly-"

Suddenly, all the students ran towards the bridge of the boat all except for : of course - Ryan, "Of course... Let's go, Ryan." Sandlers said as they got on board the vessel.

Some men and Bethany boarded the container holding Akira onto the boat and everything was ready.

The captain blew the horn, signalling its departure. It left the docks and into the open ocean.

...

A few minutes later, Ryan approched the end port deck of the yacht wearing his dark blue wetsuit with blue highlights. Ava was on the tip of the boat, leaning on the railingd waiting for the boy. Bethany and other workers came in and got the container to the port deck, "Alright, here we go."

Bethany and the other staff lifted the dolphin and carried her to the railings. "Three, two, one!" Bethany signalled as they released the dolphin into the ocean.

Ryan looked over at his uncle who was standing in the middle of the port deck, giving a thumbs up.

With that, Ryan swan dives into the ocean and is greeted by Akira who playfully swims around him. He then held Akira by the side and jumped gracefully out of the water.

Stuart then returns to the steering wheel as Ava took pictures of Ryan riding Akira.

Ryan held onto Akira tightly as they spun around in the air. Then the boy got on top of Akira and summersaulted back into the water and got his grasps on Akira once more.

Ryan held onto Akira as the two breached up and the boy with curly hair - like an acrobat - landed perfectly onto Akira's lower side.

Afterwards, the dolphin and Ryan spun once more in the air, this time, Ryan leaped up on Akira's back and spun downwards into the ocean and Akira swam as fast as she could towards the boy. Ryan quickly grabs Akira as the gracefully jumped into the sunset.

A satsifyed Ryan hugged Akira and smiled, "Thanks a lot... that was amazing."

"Ah, no problem, Ryan." Akira responded.

After understanding what she just said again, Ryan asked, "Hey Akira, how come I can-"

Suddenly, a gunshot was heard, "What the heck was that?!" Ryan asked as he and Akira felt a surge of cold water surrounding them. A massive wave approached the two. Ryan held on as tight as he could as Akira tried to swim away from the behemoth, but they were eventually consumed by the massive wave.

"Ryan!"