Edit: This started out as sharing an idea for a potential Legacy, but this thread has become a place where I keep my rotational stories together. The challenge I created will be a significant part of ...
For Gay Couples, the one that carries the child doesn't pass on the tail color. Mermen and Mermaids can carry children in gay relationships.
Elemental Bloolines can influence a different tail color.
For Example, Dylan and Zephyr inherited their grandmother's blue tail color because they are Water and Air Elementals.
Ember was born a spellcaster in spite of merfolk Parents because she's a Fire Elemental.
Juniper inherited his father's greenish tail because he's an Earth Elemental of Plants.
Jade was born a Vampire despite merfolk parents because she's an Earth Elemental of the Land.
Elemental Occults Rule
Due to the nature of certain Occults and their abilities, I came up with a few rules for which type of occult the Water, Air, Fire, Earth, and Shadow Elementas can become. I split Earth Elementals into two variations, Land Elementals and Plant Elementals.
Kemps is the Sapphire King because he is the oldest son of the Sapphire Queen. This makes Calum the First Prince, and next in line for the royal title. Reef, the adopted son of the Sapphire Queen, is a Lord and Keeper of Merfolk History.
It was believed that the Blue Tail was lost because Kemps and Calum inherited their father's tail, a typical result of merfolk genetics.
With the Bloodline believed to be broken, Kemps inherited the title of Sapphire King and Calum inherited the title First Sapphire Prince.
After Calum fell in love with an Elemental and had children, the Blue Tail resurfaced in the Bloodline. Dylan and Zephyr became the joint heirs and the Second Crown Princes because they inherited their Grandmother's Blue Tail. Age gave Kemps Seniority and that's why Dylan and Zephyr never inherited the title of Sapphire King.
Barnaby and Wade are destined to be drawn to the sea because their Father is an Elemental of Water and the Spirit of the Sea. They are fated to become mermen when their bloodline awakens, but any descendants of theirs will not share the same fate if they are born before their bloodline awakens. Barnaby and Wade will inherit Dylan's Tail.
The order of succesion for the title of Sapphire King is as follows:
Kemps: Current Sapphire King
Calum
Dylan and Zeph: Joint Second Princes
Barnabus
Wade
This makes the first born twin of the Twin Legacy the Heir and the Second Born twin a spare.
Barnaby and Wade's Toddler Days
Raising a pair of twins can be stressful, however, Sefina promised Zephyr that she would help look after his brother's family. While Cecelia learned to live life as a human and went to work in a human career, Sefina took time to help care for the twins. As was intentional, the Twins didn't know they were royals or had a connection to the sea. They didn't know that Elementals, Merfolk, Vampires, and Aliens existed. They didn't know about the Darkfins hunting the Royal Bloodline they were apart of. They were blissfully oblivious to the dangers of the magic realm even though they lived in one of the few magical worlds. Barnabus was the older twin and Wade was the younger twin. The difference in age was seconds to minutes.
While Wade played with the blocks, Sefina focused her attention on Barnabus. Barnabus, or Barnaby as his mother lovingly called him, was a wild toddler and needed the extra attention. Wade was Angelic and never misbehaved.
Instead of Sefina trying to teach a young toddler that couldn't speak table manners, she though it would be more helpful to teach him how to speak. Before leaving the Business Career to become a Gardener and work outside like she always wanted to, she ate a lot of Pizza at Foxbury. This brought back memories of when she first met Zeph.
And that's when she found out what Zephyr was soon after. She saw his shimmering blue tail when he lept out of the water to splash her, and oddly, she wasn't totally startled by the absence of legs. Zephyr at the time wasn't confomring to merfolk traditions and wore a fish net top. Apparently, young mermen were rebelious to tradition too during their University Years. Later, Zeph went shirtless, even in his human form, distanced himself from humans, wore more gold and silver trinkets, and left the netting behind when he had to represent the Merfolk of Sulani as a prince. The fish net was human junk that wasn't suitable for a prince, so Zephyr was told.
Naturally, Sefina didn't want to leave the twins home alone, so she brought them with her. Cecelia was home at the time, so she joined Sefina at the City Festival. Wade learned to speak and his first words was a Joke he learned there.
Even though their father, uncle, grandparents were at the festival, the twins never had a chance to get to know them. Still, Dylan and Zeph were always keeping watch over them at a distance. It was hard. Dylan, Zeph, Calum, and Arihi wanted to be a part of their lives, but they also had to keep their distance for their protection. It was Cecelia's wish that they didn't know about the magic realm yet. At home, Barnaby wandered into the bathroom and started splashing in the toilet.
The afternoon rainstorm hit, and Cecelia held the umbrella over herself and the twins. Barnaby were unaffected by the rain, and Wade gave his brother a hug.
The next morning, Barnaby snuck into the cabninets and grabbed some baking ingredients for an art project. He saw his mom painting a lot, and he thought art was fun.
The couple went to the Dance Floor and danced together. Cecelia blew Dylan a kiss. Since they were in a Magic World, Dylan wore traditional merman attire. He had his image as a merman prince to maintain. He still had a responsibility to represent Sulani Merfolk.
Like his brother, Dylan wasn't using his human form as much, and the magic to shapeshift came at a price. It hurt to stand, like daggers in his feet. Eventually, he had to sit down during the date. He was trying to get used to being in his human form again, and he thought he was past the discomfort. The pain would go away if he spent enough time shapeshifted.
Cecelia, having been a mermaid herself, understood that it took a lot of effort for Dylan to be on land. She didn't mind sitting down with him.
Dylan and Cecelia snuggled close to each other. It was hard for both of them. Dylan was bound to the sea, and Sarah Darkfin took Cecelia mermadic magic. Though Sarah was defeated in the Ruins of a Selvadorada Temple, her curse still kept Dylan and Cecelia apart after death. It was only a matter of time before Barnabus and Wade's bloodline would awaken. Cecelia would die a mortal death, and Dylan would have to help his sons after she was gone.
The date was just what Cecelia needed to keep going. It helped her have a bit of fun and socialization before looking after the twins again. She taught Barnaby shapes while Wade learned shapes on his own.
Cecelia stepped in to endure the toddler soaking while Sefina used the bathroom counter to make a fruit salad. When you lived off the grid and grew your own food, you made do with whatever you had. Cecelia and Sefina had lots of fruits they grew in their garden.
The twins didn't know why it became dark sometimes, and Cecelia and Sefina always kept the tears and fears away by spending quality time with them. The house was getting bigger and used more power than it produced. Soon, they would need more wind turbines. After all, the Spirit of the Sky looked after them. They had the sky and the wind on their side.
Sefina told a bold story to help pass the time. "And that's how Rex Treks brings us the wind. With every roar, we get a gust of wind that helps to keep the lights on.
The power came back on, but Cecelia and Sefina had to go to work. The twins were taken to daycare even though they weren't happy. Cecelia and Sefina did find a daycare that would take good care of the boys.
Later that night, strange lights began glowing outside. They hypniotically called to Sefina. In much the same way that the Cecelia and Sefina kept the twins true identities a secret, Gui never told them that he was an Alien when he renovated their home. Unfortuantely, associating with Aliens put Sefina and Cecelia on their radar. And, magic was a curiosity for aliens that specialized in science.
While Sefina was abducted, Ember came over to check on her sisters in law. The sky was unforgiving and she was struck by lightning outisde their doors. For Ember, it was a harmless zap that sent a clear message. It wasn't time for Ember to meet her nephews.
Despite everything that happened outside, the twins were still protected from the truth. Barnaby made silly faces with his brother and took a liking to comedy.
Much like their Father and Uncle, Barnaby and Wade were very close and spent a lot of time together. They didn't know a lot of people and their world was still very small. Barnaby was the one that pushed the boundaries of their world and looked for adventure outside. Wade stayed in his pajamas most of the time. He liked the outdoors but he didn't try to leave the safe comfort of their nursery as often.
Eventually, the twins outgrew the high chairs. It reached a point where they ate in bed or on the floor. It was difficult to have them do much else. When the wind slowed, the power went out, and this became normal for the twins. The light from windows helped to keep the dark away.
At least until the summer thunderstorms blacked out the sky, but this was also a relief. The thunderstorms brought the wind and the power eventually turned back on.
As the week grew closer to an end, the boys were clearly growing fast. Barnaby loved to rough house with Cecelia and he was still young enough for Cecelia to enjoy it too.
The Alien Activity didn't escape Zephyr's notice, and he showed up the next day to check on his wife, Sister in Law, and Nephews. Much like his brother, this was going out of his way. It didn't look like it, but it was hard on him to take human form.
Sefina: "You don't think we have anything to worry about."
Zeph: "As long as they don't make a habit of showing up. I think you and the twins will be fine. I'll watch over you guys, and if they return, I'll see what I can do to keep you guys safe."
Back at the house, Barnaby pushed Wade away. Wade lovedgiving hugs, but Barnaby felt like he was getting too big for them. This was a surprise for Wade.
Friday arrived faste than expected and the local bars had a speical to show appreciation to their patrons. Cecelia and Sefina had a date night with their Husbands in Sulani. They huddled around the warm embers of the Beach Bonfire before getting something to eat. As Mermen, Dylan and Zeph were sustained by the sea and never needed to eat, but their wives were different. The next day was Baranby and Wade's Birthday. There wasn't a lot they could do to celebrate while trying to stay on the down low. So, a family gathering was out of the question.
Dylan was struck by Lighting when he came to visit. I think Dylan and Zeph would have been more involved with the toddlers if the game had the option for the twins to interact with them. Unfortunately, I couldn't even introduce Baranabus and Wade to Dylan and Zeph until they aged up. It's not like Dylan and Zeph didn't try to be there. They did visit fairly often and did their best to be as involved as possible.
