Page 17

Song: "Pursuit"

Iolana: Otieno, would you look at that!

Otieno: Iolana, I see it... though it's awfully hard to believe...

Iolana: The mermaid has returned... and she's brought a two-legged friend with her... And now's the time we finally pay her a visit.

The sharks emerge from hiding.

Otieno: Well! Look here!

Iolana: The lone mermaid again separated from her companions!

Phyre: Sharks!

Otieno: That's right, but if you're nice we may let you go...

Phyre: You can't do anything to me–we're at peace!

Otieno: You're alone... who's gonna know?

–
Iolana and Otieno are Dawn and Ed if you couldn't tell, lol. I think I looked up all kinds of water-related names for the characters; they’re all very unique. Also I love how no one questions how a human is underwater like this.

Page 18

Chris: I don't believe she is alone!

Iolana: (jealously) Yes, Otieno, I don't believe she IS...

She swims closer to Christopher.

Iolana: You, however, HUMAN, would make a fine trophy... A proper tribute to the Shark King... So, while we're at it, we might as well bring him a mermaid SPY!

Phyre: You'd call me a spy, would you? The only way you'd do that... is if you could have caught me!

–
Oh… the “plot”... LOL

Page 19

Otieno: I knew they'd bolt!

Iolana: Shut up!!

Chris: Up ahead–we can hide in there!

Phyre: The kelp forest? But that's the division between our land and the sharks!

Chris: It doesn't look like the sharks are following boundary lines at the moment.

Phyre: Good point.

Otieno: They're going in the kelp forest!

Iolana: That'll slow them down!

They swim away as the sharks follow after, leaving Sapphyre's necklace behind.

Page 20

As Sapphyre and Christopher–and Iolana and Otieno–make their way through the kelp forest, they get caught in the vines.

Phyre: They're going to catch us–

Llyr: No they won't–come this way!

He hides them away in the kelp.

Iolana: Wh–where are they?? We couldn't have lost them!

Otieno: I don't see them up ahead... Maybe they've gone back the other way!

–
Vance makes his leafy-sea-dragon debut!

Page 21

Llyr: Good, they turn away.

Sapphyre notices Christopher has a hand on her shoulder and they nervously part.

Llyr: You are safe for now, though they may return.

Chris: Thank you, sir, we truly appreciate it... May I ask who–who you are?

Llyr: Oh! I apologize... I am Llyr, and you are in the realm of the Kelp-Dwellers!

Page 22

Song: "Forest"

Kambu: Ah! Welcome! Llyr, thank you for guiding these two. I am Kambu, leader of the Kelp-Dwellers.

Phyre: (shyly) I'm Phyre. And this is Christopher.

Kambu: A pleasure. It has been some time since we have seen a mermaid--or a greater expanse since we've seen a human. How is it you breathe underwater?

Chris: Well–

Phyre: I've never heard of Kelp-Dwellers before.

Kambu: Ah, because we live in secret. We are found when we need to be found.

Chris: Actually, Llyr found us.

Kambu: We do find those who need us if necessary!

–
Leafy Mioko and Raeya! 

Page 23

Kambu: Llyr is young, but he knows what he is doing.

Kelp Queen: You are free to stay as long as you wish.

Kambu: All are welcome! No one is turned away!

Chris: I believe we should stay awhile, don't you think?

Phyre: But what about you? Don't you need to return to the surface?

Chris: I'll let you know when I'm ready to return. Let's enjoy this peaceful place for now... together.

–
I don't remember the Kelp Queen/Raeya's name…

Page 24

Sapphyre and Christopher find themselves getting closer...

But Iolana and Otieno are unable to find them.

Otieno: Come on, Iolana, we're not going to find them.

Iolana: ...Fine.

They swim away, reluctantly.

–
That was a quick falling in love sequence, lol. It’s like the whole story was put on 2x speed (or more lol).

Page 8

Song: "Storm"

The man is taking on water and his sails are torn as he battles to stay afloat in the storm.

Christopher: This–this may be it... This is where my journey will... end!

The boat capsizes.

–
Christopher was an attempt at a new character but he was heavily influenced by the Eleventh Doctor. With the rest of the characters being borrowed I’m surprised I was concerned about making him a separate character, honestly.

Page 9

Song: "Deep"

The man struggles to return to the surface, but the water, waves, storm, and the breaking boat prevent him. He soon falls motionless, sinking to the ocean floor... beside a mermaid.

Page 10

She swims up to him, cautiously. 

Phyre: A human... what do I do? He'll die... if he hasn't already. But I'm not supposed to do anything... he's a HUMAN... But...

Page 11

Gently leaning over him, Sapphyre brings her lips to his and kisses him.

At once, the man gasps, eyes wide open. Horrified, Sapphyre darts away as he struggles to catch his 'breath.'

Christopher: What... How... I'm... I'm underwater! I'm breathing...

Their eyes meet.

–
I'm not sure what gives Sapphyre the gill-giving ability in this story… it’s possible it’s a mermaid thing (since she mentions how she’s not ‘supposed’ to do something to help him–insinuating that she could?) or maybe Lady Aria gave her the ability like Neva does in the final. If it was ever explained, it was in the bits I didn’t get to and don’t remember.

Page 12

Chris: Wait! You're–you're a–Gahh! Th-this water! This is just... so odd...

He feels his neck.

Chris: AGHH!! My neck! What on earth?! GILLS?? (defeatedly) My word... I have got to be dreaming. I've died and I'm dreaming. I have to be... Seeing things... Breathing underwater...

He notices Sapphyre.

Page 13

Song: "Shadowplay"

Chris: But... but it's not a dream, is it. I'm really here, and you're really a mermaid. And you... you saved me...

Phyre: (backs away before he can touch her) ...Yes.

Chris: ...Why?

Phyre: You needed saving...

Chris: And the... GILLS... How long will these be here?

Phyre: I'm not sure... long enough for you to return to the surface.

Chris: What makes you think I want to return?

Phyre: Because-because you're human... you belong there.

Chris: I suppose so... (reaches for her hand) ...What's your name?

Page 14

Sapphyre again retreats.

Chris: ...Sorry.

Phyre: What's yours?

Chris: Christopher. And you?

Phyre: Phyre.

Chris: Phyre?

Phyre: As in Sapphyre.

Chris: ...Beautiful name. It fits you. (watches her swim by) ...You don't say much, do you?

Phyre: I don't often speak to humans.

Chris: What about other mermaids?

Page 15

Sapphyre turns away, flustered.

Chris: What's wrong?

Phyre: (rushes at him) What about you?

Chris: (surprised) What about me?

Phyre: Why would you say you would not return to the surface?

Chris: I am merely a traveler... I've no ties to anyone on the surface... I move where I must, stay where I must... I was sailing where I must when the storm did me in...

Phyre: Do you feel you... belong on the surface?

Chris: I suppose... Don't quite belong anywhere. Why? You seemed rather defensive a moment ago...

Phyre: It was nothing.

Chris: Is it really? Something tells me there is as much about you that is hidden... As there is about ME.

–
Oh, the dialog… lol

Page 16

Phyre: It's just... nothing. I have a few friends. Sometimes I just need to be alone. More than the other mermaids... a lot more...

They get closer.

Phyre: (turns away) ...Why am I telling you this...

Chris: I'm not sure. But something tells me you needed to.

Phyre: (closes her eyes and begins to give in) I suppose.

But two figures are watching in the distance…

I guess I got sucked into this enough to write it out and finish it… so here goes nothing 🙂

This was one of many attempts to write something for Sapphyre the Mermaid, and while I ironically still remember the story, I never finished these drawings. And then, as well all know, when Sean/Luis showed up, everything for Sapphyre’s story started falling into place at last, and this whole weird thing was scrapped.

Since I based the story on Cirque du Soleil’s “KA,” the story is VERY surface level and condensed for ‘time.’ With that, and nearly all the characters being someone from the Tale of Ace Gallagher, it feels very much like a play that the Ace folks are putting on. Maybe “Gemini” and “The Doctor” are Sapphyre and Christopher? The Gemini Archives were still going on at this point, so it’s very possible for a Jill brain to do.

Since this was meant to be a rough sketch to get the story out before fully realizing it digitally, these are not incredible drawings lol. There's a lot of unfinished bits, the backgrounds are here and there, the words are almost unreadable at times, and even the shading to designate the merkind/sharkind's markings fade out. I’ll type out the words in case they’re too scribbly.

Lastly, seeing this now with all the mermaids "naked"... yeah, I think I made the right call in giving them clothes. It's just awkward enough, even though I thought I was being cool by making them "natural." It’s funny how things change.

Page 1

Song: "O Makunde" (Intro only)

A small sailing ship on a vast ocean approaches a storm... and someone is watching below.

–
This is the best drawn page in the entire thing… probably because it’s the first page. Don’t get used to it lol.

Page 2

Song: "Pageant"

Nearby, among the rocky crags in the deep ocean, a village of merpeople sing and dance in a lively celebration. A regal mermaid sings at the center as a younger mermaid swims up to her. 

Kallista: Lady Aria!

Page 3

Aria: Kallista, my dear! Where is Sapphyre?

Kallista: Oh, you know her; she's probably off by herself again.

Aria: I should have known. I hate for her to miss the celebration.

Kallista: I will find her.

Aria: Good. And bring her this - a necklace from the celebration. Perhaps she will join us?

Kallista: I do hope so. (returns to the crowd and finds another merman) Hey Shael! Let's go find Phyre!

Shael: All right.

They swim off together outside of the village to find her.

–
I think Aria's TOAG counterpart was Mioko’s sister? But this character does become Neva in the final Sapphyre story, and Kallista/Khallista also makes the transition, though here, she's based on Athena. Shael is James.

Page 4

Song: "Koudamare"

Kalli: Phyre! I wondered where you'd gone off to... there's a celebration today! You must come back to the Enclave!

Sapphyre: What are we celebrating this time?

Kalli: A year without sharks!

Sapphyre: (turns) Oh, hi Shael.

Shael: Hi.

Kalli: Yeah, he's here too.

–
I've always liked the word Enclave and this is also why Sapphyre's village in the final version is called Enclei.

Page 5

Kalli: He's so quiet you forget he's there... not unlike you. Only if you're quiet, you're usually not even there.

Phyre: Kallista...

Kalli: Here.

Phyre: What's this?

Kalli: A necklace from the celebration. Please come back with us, Phyre. Come celebrate!

Phyre: (looks at the necklace in her hands) ...I just... I don't know...

Kalli: Phyre, you need to! You never do anything with the other merkind! Why? Why do you stay so separate?

–
The dialog in this is probably not how I'd write it now, lol

Page 6

Shael: Kalli, be kind.

Kalli: I just want to know! She's so separate from everyone else! And half the time, she's separate from us!

Phyre: (heatedly) Maybe because half the time I don't fit in with the rest of merkind.

Kalli: Fit in? How do you not fit in? We're all the same!

Phyre: We're NOT the same.

Kalli: (also heatedly) All right–do you think you'd fit in better with the HUMANS??

Phyre: I doubt I'd fit in with ANYONE!

–
I think I translated my markings for Kalli’s speech bubble there... did I not have an eraser? lol

Page 7

Shael: ...Phyre!

Kalli: (murmuring) Leave her be... maybe she'll come back around.

Shael: It's storming on the surface.

Kalli: Then let's return to the Enclave.

The scene transitions above the surface as Shael swims away.