Sora complained. "Do I really need to go to Juniper's Birthday Party? Me, Barnaby, and Wade had plans."
Zeph rolled his eyes. "Of course you need to go to your Uncle's Birthday Party."
https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52283423741_8f2faf4207_b.jpgSora continued to complain. "That's not fair. Barnby and Wade will be swimming off to a lagoon, and I have to go to the Birthday Party on land!"
https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52283906590_6c08c35731_b.jpgZeph listened to his son before responding. "You'll get lots of chances to swim too, but it's not every day that a merman or mermaid comes of age. I'm sure Dylan will be bringing Barnaby and Wade to the party too."
https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52283692864_23ea326a98_c.jpg"Why can't we just have the birthday another day?" Sora asked.
"You know it doesn't work like that." Zeph replied.
https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52283906555_999f971017_c.jpgAs the sun began to set, the Spirits of the Sun and Moon came together for their birthday. Despite being Earth Elementals, their power resonated more with their respective celestial elements. Sora relectunantly did as his father wished and joined the party.
https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52283423726_cb90271051_b.jpgAs the sun began to rise, Jade had to leave to hibernate until night. The merfolk gathered and danced. Dylan showed off his skills as a DJ and made the party worthwhile, but Calum made a lot of plans for his family. The celebration wouldn't end close to the sea.
https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52282443152_fe4eb16339_b.jpgWhile Calum organized the camping trip, Juniper went to the World of Mt. Komorebi to reconnect as much as he could to his elemental powers. Even though he was an Earth Elemental, he lost his ability to draw power from the land after becoming a merman. He knew that his choice to become a merman was irreversible, and he knew that his elemental connection to the land was completely severed as a result. However, the Earth Element had two major sub-elements. The land and plants were two parts of a single whole. Jade embodied the Land. Juniper embodied the Plants.
After changing into traditional merman attire, Juniper focused on trying to connect his body to the Plants on Land and in the Sea. His attempts at meditation proved harder than expected. His first problem was controlling his shapeshifting. He was a merman now. A human form wasn't his natural form.
https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52282443067_78b9f3e511_b.jpgAfter attempting to connect to his element, Juniper almost reverted to his natural form. He managed to catch himself before he lost control of his shapeshifting. He couldn't connect to the Earth Element if he had a tail. Merfolk were the Denizens of the Sea, empowered by the Elements of Water and Air.
https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52283906070_4fcc891c52_b.jpgThe more Juniper tried to connect to his element, the more he struggled. In a way, he was envious of his older brothers. They were true Reef Mermen and the Spirits of the Sea and Sky. They empowered all merfolk, including him. Dylan and Zeph didn't have to try to connect to their element. As mermen that were always mermen, it came naturally to them.
https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52283434288_3aa2c454b6_b.jpgJuniper wanted to give up.
'As far as Elementals are concerned, I must be the weakest. I can't even connect to my element without nearly turning back into a fish.'
https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52283692744_c0b1617a75_b.jpgStill, Juniper wanted to keep trying. If there was a way to connect to the Plants, he would find it.
https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52283692324_2f4eb28565_b.jpgEventually, he stopped comparing himself to his older brothers.
'Yeah, Dylan and Zeph are powerful. Their forms align with their elements perfectly.'
https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52282443012_7f4eb74471_b.jpg'Dylan reigns over the creatures of the sea and Zeph controls the weather. All merfolk draw their power from them.'
Juniper breathed. 'But plants, they give us air to breathe on land. Mermadic Kelp can turn humans into half-merfolk. Plants have power too!'
https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52283434253_37bef76747_b.jpgJuniper smiled. 'Plants are the source of life in both the sea and on land. I connect the Sea and Land.'
https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52282443002_77d4669b31_b.jpgJuniper made another pose. He felt his connection to plants grow. 'Plants connect the Land to the Sky.'
https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52283434223_50ba2cb65f_b.jpgWith his hands and feet touching the ground, he could feel his elemental power. 'I am an Earth Elemental. I'm the Spirt of the Sun. I embody the plants that grow on land and in the sea.'
https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52283434183_c5422f83a6_b.jpgJuniper laid on the yoga mat and breathed. 'I am a merman. I do get power from my older brothers. But, I'm the source of life on land and in the sea. Without me, plants would wither. Life would fade.'
https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52282442937_f255791f3b_b.jpgJuniper relaxed and smiled. 'My power is still there, in me. It always has been.'
After finding the root of his power, Juniper could effortlessly maintain his human form and connect to the plants around him.
https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52283906030_4048d16182_b.jpg'Trees grow into the Sky. Kelp grows deep into the sea'
https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52283423556_18ff6b869e_b.jpgEventually, Juniper needed to return to his natural form. In the hot spring, he could still feel his power. 'No matter what my form is, whether I'm a plant, look like a human, or have a tail, my power comes from plants and plants grow on land and in the sea.'
https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52283692509_f4923a471d_c.jpg
