greatbritishsimchallenge

[greatbritishsimchallenge]

As expected, a ship to Copperdale was a rare event and Frankie had to wait for its departure. She didn't mind in the slightest as it gave her a little more time to enjoy being with Zale, Hannah and Marina and become accustomed to her new powers as a mermaid.

The night before her departure, she laid in Zale's arms and thought back to how she dreaded Morgan leaving her on the island with a merman and two children. Now, she was sad at the thought that this time - no matter what she discovered in Copperdale - would be coming to an end. A feeling of dread knotted her stomach once again, but she couldn't tell whether the dread was at the thought of her sister being dead, or her being alive.

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[greatbritishsimchallenge]

"You are radiant," said Zale in awe.

Frankie laughed softly, "It's weird… it's like… I finally feel at home."

Nalani smiled, "you are with your people now."

Zale held out his hands to Frankie, "one of the first truths you learn as a mermaid is that words cannot do justice to emotions. I long for you to know how I feel."

Frankie couldn’t have explained the feeling even if she tried. Zale’s love poured through her like moonlight on the waves, wordless and whole. To say 'I love you' no longer felt like enough. Instead, they kissed with a depth of feeling that no words could hope to describe.

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[greatbritishsimchallenge]

"You are radiant," said Zale in awe.

Frankie laughed softly, "It's weird… it's like… I finally feel at home."

Nalani smiled, "you are with your people now."

Zale held out his hands to Frankie, "one of the first truths you learn as a mermaid is that words cannot do justice to emotions. I long for you to know how I feel."

Frankie couldn’t have explained the feeling even if she tried. Zale’s love poured through her like moonlight on the waves, wordless and whole. To say 'I love you' no longer felt like enough. Instead, they kissed with a depth of feeling that no words could hope to describe.

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[greatbritishsimchallenge]

Watching the sun rise, both of them were struck with the sombre reminder of the days to come.

"I'm still going to Copperdale," said Frankie, answering the question she knew Zale longed to ask. "You're right that Morgan has a hold over me. I wish that she didn't - believe me. But even if she didn't… I still need to know what happened. I can't spend the rest of my life fearful that Flori will be hunting for Hannah or that Morgan is alive somewhere and needs my help to return to her daughters."

Zale nodded sombrely. "I would come with you to Copperdale, I long that I could, but -" Zale began.

"You're the only medic the mermaids have got - you have to stay here," Frankie agreed. "Besides, I want you with Hannah and Marina as well. There's no one else I'd trust to leave them with."

"Should you discover the truth of events in Copperdale, do you know what you intend to do?"

Frankie could tell from his tone that this question had been playing on his mind as well.

"Not really. What I do know is that I'm not leaving you," said Frankie firmly and Zale's demeanour immediately relaxed. "Whatever happens in Copperdale, I'm coming back here. I'm coming home to you. As a mermaid, if I can?"

"Of course. I am certain Queen Nalani will welcome you with open arms."

"What about now?"

"Now?"

Frankie sat up, suddenly determined, "I don't want to wait until I return from Copperdale. I want to become a mermaid now."

"To do so before your journey would be… unwise. Once you become a Child of the Islands -"

"I know all about the pain. And I don't care. I want to leave Sulani in the knowledge that I am bonded to you in a way that nothing and no one can take away."

Zale stroked Frankie's face, "I worry that you underestimate the difficulty of the choice you are making. The pain I experienced in Britchester - that the Queen felt during her time on your ship - is not easy to bear. Nevertheless, I know you are strong and, if this is what you want, I will support you."

"I do. When I go to Copperdale, I'm going to have to pretend to be a Puritan. It's going to send me back to the dark days of my childhood. But… if deep down I know that I'm a mermaid? It will help me remember that my future is bright. It will remind me of who I am now - not the scared, controlled little girl that the Puritans and Morgan tried to make me. Not a monster or a martyr.. Just… me."

Zale smiled, "Very well. I will go and seek Queen Nalani at once."

"Wait -" said Frankie, grabbing Zale's arm as he turned to sit up, "The sun's only just risen. We wouldn't want to disturb her sleep..."

Seeing the mischievous twinkle in Frankie's eye, Zale smiled and leaned back in to kiss her.

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[greatbritishsimchallenge]

Watching the sun rise, both of them were struck with the sombre reminder of the days to come.

"I'm still going to Copperdale," said Frankie, answering the question she knew Zale longed to ask. "You're right that Morgan has a hold over me. I wish that she didn't - believe me. But even if she didn't… I still need to know what happened. I can't spend the rest of my life fearful that Flori will be hunting for Hannah or that Morgan is alive somewhere and needs my help to return to her daughters."

Zale nodded sombrely. "I would come with you to Copperdale, I long that I could, but -" Zale began.

"You're the only medic the mermaids have got - you have to stay here," Frankie agreed. "Besides, I want you with Hannah and Marina as well. There's no one else I'd trust to leave them with."

"Should you discover the truth of events in Copperdale, do you know what you intend to do?"

Frankie could tell from his tone that this question had been playing on his mind as well.

"Not really. What I do know is that I'm not leaving you," said Frankie firmly and Zale's demeanour immediately relaxed. "Whatever happens in Copperdale, I'm coming back here. I'm coming home to you. As a mermaid, if I can?"

"Of course. I am certain Queen Nalani will welcome you with open arms."

"What about now?"

"Now?"

Frankie sat up, suddenly determined, "I don't want to wait until I return from Copperdale. I want to become a mermaid now."

"To do so before your journey would be… unwise. Once you become a Child of the Islands -"

"I know all about the pain. And I don't care. I want to leave Sulani in the knowledge that I am bonded to you in a way that nothing and no one can take away."

Zale stroked Frankie's face, "I worry that you underestimate the difficulty of the choice you are making. The pain I experienced in Britchester - that the Queen felt during her time on your ship - is not easy to bear. Nevertheless, I know you are strong and, if this is what you want, I will support you."

"I do. When I go to Copperdale, I'm going to have to pretend to be a Puritan. It's going to send me back to the dark days of my childhood. But… if deep down I know that I'm a mermaid? It will help me remember that my future is bright. It will remind me of who I am now - not the scared, controlled little girl that the Puritans and Morgan tried to make me. Not a monster or a martyr.. Just… me."

Zale smiled, "Very well. I will go and seek Queen Nalani at once."

"Wait -" said Frankie, grabbing Zale's arm as he turned to sit up, "The sun's only just risen. We wouldn't want to disturb her sleep..."

Seeing the mischievous twinkle in Frankie's eye, Zale smiled and leaned back in to kiss her.

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[greatbritishsimchallenge]

Story continues under the cut (mild sims spice)

Frankie lay in Zale's arms and felt the happiest, calmest and safest she had in her entire life.

She sighed and said reluctantly, "We should probably get dressed. If Hannah wakes up and finds us like this..."

"Indeed. We need not traumatise the children," agreed Zale, kissing Frankie on the shoulder before sitting up to dress.

"Was that a sarcastic joke?" asked Frankie, impressed. As Zale looked back at her, slightly confused, she corrected herself, "Never mind. You're right. The sight of my naked arse is enough to traumatise anyone."

"I disagree - it brings me a sensation of a distinctly more pleasurable origin," said Zale softly, gently pulling Frankie back onto the sand.

Frankie smiled and said in between kisses, "I had no idea you could be so... flirtatious!"

"We need not hide our true feelings any longer," said Zale, "I may finally say to you all of the thoughts that cross my mind, not solely those appropriate for polite company."

"Hmmmm.... interesting point. Does that mean I should finally confess that I've developed my own top three organs list and I'm pretty sure we are going to vehemently disagree about every single one?" asked Frankie coyly as Zale kissed her neck.

"There is not a word you could utter that would make me love you any less - certainly not when you seek to discuss medicine while in my arms. Such moments are the stuff of dreams."

Frankie inhaled sharply, joking as if Zale would regret saying that, "Alright then... in third place: the brain. I doubt you need me to even explain that one."

"I do not need an explanation as to why it is in your top three, but an explanation as to why it is only third!" said Zale, his voice muffled as he continued to kiss Frankie all over.

"I told you you weren't going to like my list! OK, two - skin. Very underrated, in my opinion. So much going on and so little understood," continued Frankie, speaking in between heavy exhales and groans of pleasure. "With how these great lords and ladies obsess over their appearance, I would bet my left leg that one day doctors will make a fortune for understanding how to make their skin fit whatever look is in trend."

"Intriguing premise, though to lose a leg as beautiful as this would be a great shame... and first?"

"Appendix."

Zale sat bolt upright, "The appendix? Surely I am mishearing you?"

"A mystery organ with a mystery purpose that can kill you dead in minutes if it explodes for no apparent reason? That is as dramatic as an organ gets," grinned Frankie.

Zale shook his head and returned to kissing Frankie, "I see our debate will be ferocious. Perhaps we should make love one more time before we enter the disagreement, lest we find ourselves unable to stand the sight of one another from then on."

Frankie raised an eyebrow, "Ok - sorry, I need to check again. That one was a joke. Right?"

Zale smiled as he pulled her clothes back off and tossed them into the sand, "I have been working on longer form jokes that utilise irony; I know how you prefer such humour to the shorter form question and response."

Frankie laughed and interlocked her hands with Zale, "I love you so, so much."

"I love you too."

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[greatbritishsimchallenge]

Story continues under the cut (mild sims spice)

Frankie lay in Zale's arms and felt the happiest, calmest and safest she had in her entire life.

She sighed and said reluctantly, "We should probably get dressed. If Hannah wakes up and finds us like this..."

"Indeed. We need not traumatise the children," agreed Zale, kissing Frankie on the shoulder before sitting up to dress.

"Was that a sarcastic joke?" asked Frankie, impressed. As Zale looked back at her, slightly confused, she corrected herself, "Never mind. You're right. The sight of my naked arse is enough to traumatise anyone."

"I disagree - it brings me a sensation of a distinctly more pleasurable origin," said Zale softly, gently pulling Frankie back onto the sand.

Frankie smiled and said in between kisses, "I had no idea you could be so... flirtatious!"

"We need not hide our true feelings any longer," said Zale, "I may finally say to you all of the thoughts that cross my mind, not solely those appropriate for polite company."

"Hmmmm.... interesting point. Does that mean I should finally confess that I've developed my own top three organs list and I'm pretty sure we are going to vehemently disagree about every single one?" asked Frankie coyly as Zale kissed her neck.

"There is not a word you could utter that would make me love you any less - certainly not when you seek to discuss medicine while in my arms. Such moments are the stuff of dreams."

Frankie inhaled sharply, joking as if Zale would regret saying that, "Alright then... in third place: the brain. I doubt you need me to even explain that one."

"I do not need an explanation as to why it is in your top three, but an explanation as to why it is only third!" said Zale, his voice muffled as he continued to kiss Frankie all over.

"I told you you weren't going to like my list! OK, two - skin. Very underrated, in my opinion. So much going on and so little understood," continued Frankie, speaking in between heavy exhales and groans of pleasure. "With how these great lords and ladies obsess over their appearance, I would bet my left leg that one day doctors will make a fortune for understanding how to make their skin fit whatever look is in trend."

"Intriguing premise, though to lose a leg as beautiful as this would be a great shame... and first?"

"Appendix."

Zale sat bolt upright, "The appendix? Surely I am mishearing you?"

"A mystery organ with a mystery purpose that can kill you dead in minutes if it explodes for no apparent reason? That is as dramatic as an organ gets," grinned Frankie.

Zale shook his head and returned to kissing Frankie, "I see our debate will be ferocious. Perhaps we should make love one more time before we enter the disagreement, lest we find ourselves unable to stand the sight of one another from then on."

Frankie raised an eyebrow, "Ok - sorry, I need to check again. That one was a joke. Right?"

Zale smiled as he pulled her clothes back off and tossed them into the sand, "I have been working on longer form jokes that utilise irony; I know how you prefer such humour to the shorter form question and response."

Frankie laughed and interlocked her hands with Zale, "I love you so, so much."

"I love you too."

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[greatbritishsimchallenge]

Zale strode across the beach, refusing to look at Frankie.

She called after him gently, "Zale."

Zale stopped in his tracks but didn't turn, "Forgive me, but I cannot bring myself to speak to you."

Frankie held out her hands, as she had done to Nalani when they first arrived in Sulani. "I don't need you to talk," she said softly, "Just listen. Zale, take my hands and look at me."

Zale kept his back to Frankie.

"You were right," said Frankie, her voice trembling. "I'm petrified. But I’m still here, holding out my hands, asking you to take them. Because I want you to know how I feel. I want... you."

Zale turned back and looked at Frankie. Frankie could see the hope and fear intermingled in his eyes.

Frankie repeated, "take my hands."

Zale took Frankie's hands and his eyes began to change colour, just as Nalani's had. As he pulled her closer to him, Frankie felt all of her emotions build to a crescendo in her chest and then pour out from her heart and across to Zale. His chest lifted with a sharp breath, as if inhaling everything she felt for him: the fear of being truly seen; the ache of lust; the sincere respect for his honesty and compassion; the adoration she had for his soul; and the deep, unrelenting fear that she was too broken to be loved.

As Zale released Frankie's hands, he placed them on her face and pulled her closer towards him, "May I kiss you?"

Frankie laughed in an awkward relief, "Ok."

As she lost herself in Zale’s embrace, the final wave inside her — the one she’d been holding back for seasons — finally broke, crashing outwards onto the shore and setting her free.

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[greatbritishsimchallenge]

Zale strode across the beach, refusing to look at Frankie.

She called after him gently, "Zale."

Zale stopped in his tracks but didn't turn, "Forgive me, but I cannot bring myself to speak to you."

Frankie held out her hands, as she had done to Nalani when they first arrived in Sulani. "I don't need you to talk," she said softly, "Just listen. Zale, take my hands and look at me."

Zale kept his back to Frankie.

"You were right," said Frankie, her voice trembling. "I'm petrified. But I’m still here, holding out my hands, asking you to take them. Because I want you to know how I feel. I want... you."

Zale turned back and looked at Frankie. Frankie could see the hope and fear intermingled in his eyes.

Frankie repeated, "take my hands."

Zale took Frankie's hands and his eyes began to change colour, just as Nalani's had. As he pulled her closer to him, Frankie felt all of her emotions build to a crescendo in her chest and then pour out from her heart and across to Zale. His chest lifted with a sharp breath, as if inhaling everything she felt for him: the fear of being truly seen; the ache of lust; the sincere respect for his honesty and compassion; the adoration she had for his soul; and the deep, unrelenting fear that she was too broken to be loved.

As Zale released Frankie's hands, he placed them on her face and pulled her closer towards him, "May I kiss you?"

Frankie laughed in an awkward relief, "Ok."

As she lost herself in Zale’s embrace, the final wave inside her — the one she’d been holding back for seasons — finally broke, crashing outwards onto the shore and setting her free.

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[greatbritishsimchallenge]

Your writing of Frankie's struggles are so well done and relatable. And the advice of Nalani and Peggy really ring true. I'm not the best at expressing my feelings in words, but I've really been enjoying this recent arc!!

Thank you, that means a lot <3

[greatbritishsimchallenge]

Nalani and Frankie talked through the night, sharing stories from each other's lives and reflecting on everything they'd learned about the world and themselves. They talked at length about their time on the ship, sharing memories of the happier times with Lesley and Knox and all the idealistic dreams they had held.

"I was a terrible captain..." said Frankie, blending a laugh with a groan as she remembered her younger self with deep embarrassment.

"I enjoyed your leadership," replied Nalani sincerely. "Though I also met your high expectations, so I had an easier time than the others."

"What do you mean?"

"You applied the same approach to leadership as your mama applied to raising you: strict expectations of behaviour and values. Respect was to be earned, not given. Anyone who strayed beyond your rules was not worthy to be on your crew."

Frankie thought over Nalani's words and then sighed, "I was a prick."

Nalani smiled coyly, "You could be a little... priggish at times, I will not deny it."

"And here was me thinking I'd escaped the Puritans. I'm bloody as bad as they are. Worse, even, because I should've known better."

"It must be very tiring to give so much energy to hating oneself," mused Nalani.

Frankie kicked at the sand uncomfortably.

"Indeed," continued Nalani, "to hate oneself so much that you cannot allow others to love and care for you. It must be so very, very tiring."

"She's exhausted," said Peggy, stepping from the shadows of Frankie's mind.

"Would you like to talk about Zale?" asked Nalani.

Frankie avoided looking at Peggy, "I don't know what you're talking about."

"Come, old friend," said Nalani gently, "We both know that is not true."

"All three of us do," added Peggy.

Frankie shook her head, "Don't make me say it."

"I will not force you," said Nalani, stroking Frankie's arm in understanding.

"You have to," insisted Peggy. "You have listened to all that Nalani has said and now you must act."

Frankie dug her fingers into the sand as the pain in her heart made her whole body burn, "I can't."

Nalani nodded solemnly, "I shall not push you. I will return to the waters for a while - I need to check on my people. Zale will no doubt return soon, too."

Alone again, Frankie tried to avoid Peggy's gaze as walked round to face her, reciting Latin proverbs.

"Per aspera ad astra"

Through hardship to the stars

"Fortis fortuna adiuvat"

Fortune favours the brave

"Amor et melle et felle est fecundissimus"

Love is rich with both honey and venom

"Listen to those words, Frankie. I taught you better than this."

"You also told me to hide my intelligence from those wouldn't understand it, remember? You taught me to hide myself to protect myself."

Peggy shook her head in frustration, "That is not what I intended. I only meant that you should be careful around Puritans - I knew how dangerous they could be."

"Yes, you shielded me from them very well," said Frankie sarcastically, "Until of course -"

Peggy looked at Frankie hopefully, but Frankie cut herself off and didn't finish the sentence, returning to staring into the sea. Frankie could feel the urge to snort coca creeping like an itch up her body.

"Enough, Frances!" cried Peggy, losing her temper. "We both know this cannot go on any longer. Finish your sentence! Until what?"

Frankie pursed her lips as if physically blocking the words from leaving her.

Peggy grabbed Frankie firmly by the arms, pulling her up.

"You cannot hurt me," she said with a quiet ferocity. "I am not here. The only one hurt by keeping this truth buried so deeply is you. Say it, ma petite sirene. Speak and be free!"

Frankie stared into Peggy's eyes as her heart banged against her ribcage, a prisoner rattling the cage to be freed.

"Until you died," she said weakly, finishing the sentence.

"Yes," nodded Peggy slowly, "I died."

"I hate you for dying," Frankie said, her voice crumbling. In a moment she was back in that dark red bedroom, Peggy's cold body laid out in front of her and the child Frankie staring at the lifeless body, feeling lost and alone.

"Why would I want to find love when I know how much it hurts to lose it?" Frankie cried.

Peggy listened to Frankie, her expression pained yet knowing that the words needed to be said.

Frankie cried for a long time - the burning, screaming, raging cries that come from a lifetime of burying the most shameful, painful, hateful truth in the deepest, darkest recesses of your heart.

As Frankie began to lose the energy to cry any longer, Peggy spoke.

"Tell me something, ma petite sirène. If you could turn back time, would you erase me - to be spared the pain you have carried all these seasons?"

Frankie was quiet for a long moment, occasionally sniffing or sobbing. Then, with a steadiness she hadn't felt in a long time, replied, "no... never."

"Why not?"

"Because..." Frankie searched for the words. When they came, they washed over the fire in her chest like a gentle wave on sun-warmed sand. "Because it was all worth it. You were worth it."

Peggy’s smile was gentle, knowing. "And so is he."

As Peggy faded away into the blue of the sea, Frankie could see Zale swimming up to the cove.

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[greatbritishsimchallenge]

Nalani and Frankie talked through the night, sharing stories from each other's lives and reflecting on everything they'd learned about the world and themselves. They talked at length about their time on the ship, sharing memories of the happier times with Lesley and Knox and all the idealistic dreams they had held.

"I was a terrible captain..." said Frankie, blending a laugh with a groan as she remembered her younger self with deep embarrassment.

"I enjoyed your leadership," replied Nalani sincerely. "Though I also met your high expectations, so I had an easier time than the others."

"What do you mean?"

"You applied the same approach to leadership as your mama applied to raising you: strict expectations of behaviour and values. Respect was to be earned, not given. Anyone who strayed beyond your rules was not worthy to be on your crew."

Frankie thought over Nalani's words and then sighed, "I was a prick."

Nalani smiled coyly, "You could be a little... priggish at times, I will not deny it."

"And here was me thinking I'd escaped the Puritans. I'm bloody as bad as they are. Worse, even, because I should've known better."

"It must be very tiring to give so much energy to hating oneself," mused Nalani.

Frankie kicked at the sand uncomfortably.

"Indeed," continued Nalani, "to hate oneself so much that you cannot allow others to love and care for you. It must be so very, very tiring."

"She's exhausted," said Peggy, stepping from the shadows of Frankie's mind.

"Would you like to talk about Zale?" asked Nalani.

Frankie avoided looking at Peggy, "I don't know what you're talking about."

"Come, old friend," said Nalani gently, "We both know that is not true."

"All three of us do," added Peggy.

Frankie shook her head, "Don't make me say it."

"I will not force you," said Nalani, stroking Frankie's arm in understanding.

"You have to," insisted Peggy. "You have listened to all that Nalani has said and now you must act."

Frankie dug her fingers into the sand as the pain in her heart made her whole body burn, "I can't."

Nalani nodded solemnly, "I shall not push you. I will return to the waters for a while - I need to check on my people. Zale will no doubt return soon, too."

Alone again, Frankie tried to avoid Peggy's gaze as walked round to face her, reciting Latin proverbs.

"Per aspera ad astra"

Through hardship to the stars

"Fortis fortuna adiuvat"

Fortune favours the brave

"Amor et melle et felle est fecundissimus"

Love is rich with both honey and venom

"Listen to those words, Frankie. I taught you better than this."

"You also told me to hide my intelligence from those wouldn't understand it, remember? You taught me to hide myself to protect myself."

Peggy shook her head in frustration, "That is not what I intended. I only meant that you should be careful around Puritans - I knew how dangerous they could be."

"Yes, you shielded me from them very well," said Frankie sarcastically, "Until of course -"

Peggy looked at Frankie hopefully, but Frankie cut herself off and didn't finish the sentence, returning to staring into the sea. Frankie could feel the urge to snort coca creeping like an itch up her body.

"Enough, Frances!" cried Peggy, losing her temper. "We both know this cannot go on any longer. Finish your sentence! Until what?"

Frankie pursed her lips as if physically blocking the words from leaving her.

Peggy grabbed Frankie firmly by the arms, pulling her up.

"You cannot hurt me," she said with a quiet ferocity. "I am not here. The only one hurt by keeping this truth buried so deeply is you. Say it, ma petite sirene. Speak and be free!"

Frankie stared into Peggy's eyes as her heart banged against her ribcage, a prisoner rattling the cage to be freed.

"Until you died," she said weakly, finishing the sentence.

"Yes," nodded Peggy slowly, "I died."

"I hate you for dying," Frankie said, her voice crumbling. In a moment she was back in that dark red bedroom, Peggy's cold body laid out in front of her and the child Frankie staring at the lifeless body, feeling lost and alone.

"Why would I want to find love when I know how much it hurts to lose it?" Frankie cried.

Peggy listened to Frankie, her expression pained yet knowing that the words needed to be said.

Frankie cried for a long time - the burning, screaming, raging cries that come from a lifetime of burying the most shameful, painful, hateful truth in the deepest, darkest recesses of your heart.

As Frankie began to lose the energy to cry any longer, Peggy spoke.

"Tell me something, ma petite sirène. If you could turn back time, would you erase me - to be spared the pain you have carried all these seasons?"

Frankie was quiet for a long moment, occasionally sniffing or sobbing. Then, with a steadiness she hadn't felt in a long time, replied, "no... never."

"Why not?"

"Because..." Frankie searched for the words. When they came, they washed over the fire in her chest like a gentle wave on sun-warmed sand. "Because it was all worth it. You were worth it."

Peggy’s smile was gentle, knowing. "And so is he."

As Peggy faded away into the blue of the sea, Frankie could see Zale swimming up to the cove.

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[greatbritishsimchallenge]

"You should be resting, not fighting," said Nalani gently.

Frankie hurriedly wiped the tears from her face.

"A fact I am sure Zale will recognise when he has calmed down."

"I don't know what his bloody problem is," grumbled Frankie.

Nalani tilted her head sympathetically, "I consider us old friends, Frankie. So, shall we dispense with lies and masks? They will be tiring for you to maintain, and tiresome for me to ignore."

Frankie dropped down on the sand, "he doesn't get it. My family... we're complicated... but, when it really matters, we're there for each other. To this day, whenever I've been struggling, I imagine Peggy and Maggie and my mama by my side and they help me figure out what to do... ok... maybe not my mama, she usually just yells at me, but still... even that is useful sometimes."

"How intriguing," replied Nalani. "Though, of course, you know that they are not there, don't you? The words they speak - whether guiding or condemning - come only from you."

"I know," Frankie begrudgingly agreed, "but... I wish they were here. I've lost my mama and Peggy and probably Maggie... I can't lose Morgan too. In her own way, she protects me... I'd just go from fuck up to fuck up without them."

Nalani sighed, "I had a similar feeling aboard your ship, shortly after Lesley's murder. I had begged my parents to let me leave Sulani and, when they refused, I ran away. To therefore find myself trapped in a human mutiny... well, you can imagine how naïve and foolish I felt. At the time, I believed I made a monumental mistake that evidenced my unworthiness to one day lead my people."

"But you don't now?" asked Frankie curiously.

"No, I do not. I am much kinder to my younger self. I did not like being born a princess - the sense of my life being pre-destined felt too constraining. My parents allowed me to run the stall in Sulani, in the hopes it might give me a sense of freedom and independence; it only worsened my feelings. Day after day in that market I was surrounded by humans with the free will to come and go from Sulani as they pleased, while I was tied to the islands forever more."

"When I discovered your plans to leave Sulani, it makes complete sense that I would try to join you and seek the sense of freedom that I so craved. The trouble was that I misunderstood the concept of 'freedom' in much the same way that you have."

"How's that?"

"I believed freedom to be something external - something 'out there' that I needed to seek and find. I thought I had to leave everything behind to be free. But I was wrong. I didn’t realise freedom could come from accepting the parts of myself I was running from. The journey to me reaching such a realisation began the day I boarded your ship."

"Nosce te ipsum," muttered Frankie.

"I am afraid you shall have to translate," said Nalani, "I am not as multilingual as you and Zale."

"Know thyself," repeated Frankie. "It's a Latin proverb that Peggy taught me once. I remember thinking it was so stupid - how could someone not know themselves? It's not like you could ever be a stranger to your mind."

Nalani chuckled, "I would go so far as to call it one of the easiest and most common things in the world - we are all capable of lying to ourselves and others with such success that we can formulate entirely new persons who have no connection to the truths in our heart."

Frankie exhaled heavily as she mulled over Nalani's words. Nalani surveyed Frankie's face and then said,

"The day you allowed me to empathise with you, you let me see far deeper into your soul than you intended. I learned a great deal about the truths in your heart. May I share some of what I felt? It may help."

Frankie bit her lip and nodded.

"For most of your life, the love you have experienced has come with conditions. With your mama, it was religious belief. With Maggie, societal expectations. With Morgan, blind loyalty. You have felt obliged to twist yourself into shapes that never quite fit in order to please them. You would complain about it, certainly, but still you did it. There is one exception to this: Peggy. She saw who you were and loved you unconditionally. You thrived under her care as you were free to be yourself."

Frankie bit her lip harder to try and quell the tears that were building in her eyes and said quietly, "Bloody hell. How do you do that?"

There was a sparkle to her eyes as she answered, "I did not do anything. You are the one who told me everything; I have simply put it into words."

"Simply," Frankie repeated with a small scoff.

"It becomes easier with practice," said Nalani.

"For a mermaid, maybe," grumbled Frankie. "You know - if the mermaids started charging people to share their souls with you so you could then help them understand their feelings, you could make an absolute fortune. You could call it... therapia... after the Latin for 'healing'."

Nalani smiled knowingly, "you are always thinking of how you can help others, aren't you?"

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[greatbritishsimchallenge]

"You should be resting, not fighting," said Nalani gently.

Frankie hurriedly wiped the tears from her face.

"A fact I am sure Zale will recognise when he has calmed down."

"I don't know what his bloody problem is," grumbled Frankie.

Nalani tilted her head sympathetically, "I consider us old friends, Frankie. So, shall we dispense with lies and masks? They will be tiring for you to maintain, and tiresome for me to ignore."

Frankie dropped down on the sand, "he doesn't get it. My family... we're complicated... but, when it really matters, we're there for each other. To this day, whenever I've been struggling, I imagine Peggy and Maggie and my mama by my side and they help me figure out what to do... ok... maybe not my mama, she usually just yells at me, but still... even that is useful sometimes."

"How intriguing," replied Nalani. "Though, of course, you know that they are not there, don't you? The words they speak - whether guiding or condemning - come only from you."

"I know," Frankie begrudgingly agreed, "but... I wish they were here. I've lost my mama and Peggy and probably Maggie... I can't lose Morgan too. In her own way, she protects me... I'd just go from fuck up to fuck up without them."

Nalani sighed, "I had a similar feeling aboard your ship, shortly after Lesley's murder. I had begged my parents to let me leave Sulani and, when they refused, I ran away. To therefore find myself trapped in a human mutiny... well, you can imagine how naïve and foolish I felt. At the time, I believed I made a monumental mistake that evidenced my unworthiness to one day lead my people."

"But you don't now?" asked Frankie curiously.

"No, I do not. I am much kinder to my younger self. I did not like being born a princess - the sense of my life being pre-destined felt too constraining. My parents allowed me to run the stall in Sulani, in the hopes it might give me a sense of freedom and independence; it only worsened my feelings. Day after day in that market I was surrounded by humans with the free will to come and go from Sulani as they pleased, while I was tied to the islands forever more."

"When I discovered your plans to leave Sulani, it makes complete sense that I would try to join you and seek the sense of freedom that I so craved. The trouble was that I misunderstood the concept of 'freedom' in much the same way that you have."

"How's that?"

"I believed freedom to be something external - something 'out there' that I needed to seek and find. I thought I had to leave everything behind to be free. But I was wrong. I didn’t realise freedom could come from accepting the parts of myself I was running from. The journey to me reaching such a realisation began the day I boarded your ship."

"Nosce te ipsum," muttered Frankie.

"I am afraid you shall have to translate," said Nalani, "I am not as multilingual as you and Zale."

"Know thyself," repeated Frankie. "It's a Latin proverb that Peggy taught me once. I remember thinking it was so stupid - how could someone not know themselves? It's not like you could ever be a stranger to your mind."

Nalani chuckled, "I would go so far as to call it one of the easiest and most common things in the world - we are all capable of lying to ourselves and others with such success that we can formulate entirely new persons who have no connection to the truths in our heart."

Frankie exhaled heavily as she mulled over Nalani's words. Nalani surveyed Frankie's face and then said,

"The day you allowed me to empathise with you, you let me see far deeper into your soul than you intended. I learned a great deal about the truths in your heart. May I share some of what I felt? It may help."

Frankie bit her lip and nodded.

"For most of your life, the love you have experienced has come with conditions. With your mama, it was religious belief. With Maggie, societal expectations. With Morgan, blind loyalty. You have felt obliged to twist yourself into shapes that never quite fit in order to please them. You would complain about it, certainly, but still you did it. There is one exception to this: Peggy. She saw who you were and loved you unconditionally. You thrived under her care as you were free to be yourself."

Frankie bit her lip harder to try and quell the tears that were building in her eyes and said quietly, "Bloody hell. How do you do that?"

There was a sparkle to her eyes as she answered, "I did not do anything. You are the one who told me everything; I have simply put it into words."

"Simply," Frankie repeated with a small scoff.

"It becomes easier with practice," said Nalani.

"For a mermaid, maybe," grumbled Frankie. "You know - if the mermaids started charging people to share their souls with you so you could then help them understand their feelings, you could make an absolute fortune. You could call it... therapia... after the Latin for 'healing'."

Nalani smiled knowingly, "you are always thinking of how you can help others, aren't you?"

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[greatbritishsimchallenge]

"It is good to see you up and moving, but take care not to wear yourself out," smiled Zale as Frankie and Hannah joined him and Marina.

Frankie sighed, "I'll do my best, but I can't make any promises. Hannah, take Marina, will you?"

Frankie told him about her conversation with Hannah.

"When will you go?" asked Zale quietly.

"I don't know, exactly. Soon, but I'll need some time to get everything organised and then there's the question of how soon I'll be able to get a ticket for a ship to Copperdale. But I know Hannah will grow more agitated with every day that passes; she needs to see me go and know an answer is coming."

"I do not think Hannah is the only one who craves an answer."

Frankie shrugged begrudgingly, "She's my sister."

"Is that truly why you seek her?" Zale asked.

"What?" asked Frankie, annoyed by the scepticism in his voice.

"I wonder whether it is love for your sister that compels you to find her, or the belief that you are not free until Captain Morgan releases you."

"I haven't been Morgan's prisoner for a long time."

"I disagree," said Zale, and Frankie could feel the anger building in him.

"What are you trying to say?" asked Frankie, surprised by how upset Zale's behaviour made her. "I stopped coca so I could be a responsible caregiver. I've managed to stop Hannah from running away and now I'm going to try and rescue my sister. I don't see anything wrong in any of that."

"It is all incredibly noble of you, and if I believed for a second that loyalty and integrity were your sole drivers, I would not speak as I do," argued Zale. "But I believe there is another driver that has steered every self-sabotaging and reckless decision you've ever made: there is something you fear. And until you face that fear and acknowledge it, nothing you do will satisfy you in the manner that you seek."

"Believe me, I faced it," spat Frankie, "When the coca left me in hell, I faced every horrible thought I hold about myself. And now I'm awake and sober and none of them are any less true and I would give my left leg right now for a snort of coca to make it all go away again - but still, I know that I am doing the right thing here. I have to do whatever it takes to keep Hannah safe!"

"And the only means by which you can keep her safe is to leave her alone? To be so far from her that you will have no means of ascertaining nor guaranteeing her safety? Do you truly expect me to believe that this is your logic?"

Frankie stammered, unsure of how to respond.

"Should you wish to leave, I will not stop you. But do not expect me to pretend that I do not know your true intentions. You have refused to speak openly with me since I confessed my feelings for you; this is not you embarking on a noble mission to rescue your family. This is you running from me. And I only wish I understood why."

Zale turned from Frankie and launched himself into the water.

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[greatbritishsimchallenge]

"It is good to see you up and moving, but take care not to wear yourself out," smiled Zale as Frankie and Hannah joined him and Marina.

Frankie sighed, "I'll do my best, but I can't make any promises. Hannah, take Marina, will you?"

Frankie told him about her conversation with Hannah.

"When will you go?" asked Zale quietly.

"I don't know, exactly. Soon, but I'll need some time to get everything organised and then there's the question of how soon I'll be able to get a ticket for a ship to Copperdale. But I know Hannah will grow more agitated with every day that passes; she needs to see me go and know an answer is coming."

"I do not think Hannah is the only one who craves an answer."

Frankie shrugged begrudgingly, "She's my sister."

"Is that truly why you seek her?" Zale asked.

"What?" asked Frankie, annoyed by the scepticism in his voice.

"I wonder whether it is love for your sister that compels you to find her, or the belief that you are not free until Captain Morgan releases you."

"I haven't been Morgan's prisoner for a long time."

"I disagree," said Zale, and Frankie could feel the anger building in him.

"What are you trying to say?" asked Frankie, surprised by how upset Zale's behaviour made her. "I stopped coca so I could be a responsible caregiver. I've managed to stop Hannah from running away and now I'm going to try and rescue my sister. I don't see anything wrong in any of that."

"It is all incredibly noble of you, and if I believed for a second that loyalty and integrity were your sole drivers, I would not speak as I do," argued Zale. "But I believe there is another driver that has steered every self-sabotaging and reckless decision you've ever made: there is something you fear. And until you face that fear and acknowledge it, nothing you do will satisfy you in the manner that you seek."

"Believe me, I faced it," spat Frankie, "When the coca left me in hell, I faced every horrible thought I hold about myself. And now I'm awake and sober and none of them are any less true and I would give my left leg right now for a snort of coca to make it all go away again - but still, I know that I am doing the right thing here. I have to do whatever it takes to keep Hannah safe!"

"And the only means by which you can keep her safe is to leave her alone? To be so far from her that you will have no means of ascertaining nor guaranteeing her safety? Do you truly expect me to believe that this is your logic?"

Frankie stammered, unsure of how to respond.

"Should you wish to leave, I will not stop you. But do not expect me to pretend that I do not know your true intentions. You have refused to speak openly with me since I confessed my feelings for you; this is not you embarking on a noble mission to rescue your family. This is you running from me. And I only wish I understood why."

Zale turned from Frankie and launched himself into the water.

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[greatbritishsimchallenge]

Frankie woke to the sight of Hannah packing a bag.

"What are you doing?" Frankie asked groggily.

"I'm leaving," said Hannah gruffly.

Frankie carefully eased herself out of bed, "What are you talking about? Leaving for where?"

"Don't know. Don't really care. But I'm not staying here."

"Hannah - Hannah! Stop and talk to me, please. What's going on?"

"They're dead, Aunt Fran. All of them. They're dead or they need help. Otherwise they'd have come back for me, wouldn't they? So, either I need to go find them and help them, or I just need to get on with my life."

"And what if your mum returns here? What if Flori is still alive?"

"Exactly. What if, what if, what if. All these questions and uncertainties are keeping me stuck on this bloody island. That's why my first stop is Copperdale. If I don't discover anything, then -"

"Copperdale? you can't go there! You're a spellcaster! That's the most dangerous place in the world for you!" cried Frankie.

"I knew you'd be like this - I knew you'd try and stop me," Hannah said. "But I also know that you will let me go - because you get it, Aunt Fran. You know what it's like to feel trapped and to be willing to do anything to have some kind of say over your life. I've waited until you're feeling better, but I can't wait anymore. I have to go."

"Wait - wait - what if I try to find them?" The words tumbled out of Frankie’s mouth before she fully understood what she’d said. Hannah blinked at her. So did Frankie.

Seeing that she was getting through, Frankie continued, "You're right. I know what it's like to be trapped in a life you didn't ask for and don't want. So, consider this a request and not a command - stay here and take care of Marina. I will go and find out what happened to your family and either bring them back here or bring you the truth. After that, what you do with your life is up to you."

Hannah thought it over, "Promise?"

Frankie exhaled in relief, "I promise."

For a moment, Hannah looked guilty, as if feeling she'd been too hard on her aunt, but then she straightened her back and raised her chin, hardening herself in a manner Frankie had watched Morgan do many times. She walked out of the cave without another word.

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