Kinema Citrus 15th Anniversary Production
22nd Junior Boxing Tournament Women's MVP Award Mari Otsu
Episode 1
Mermaid Princess Lara
Really?
1777 A.D.
Is this really where we come from?
I wonder what color she'll be.
Color?
I'm pretty sure she's a red mermaid!
She'll match me!
She's a blue mermaid.
No, red!
Blue!
Stop it, you two. Father is watching.
No matter her color, she will be beautiful as my daughter.
Look, my daughters!
Our sixth princess, Lara, is born.
Lara, 0 Years Old
Hey, Lara! It's me, your big sister!
1780 A.D.
No, Lara! Don't chew on that!
Lara, 3 Years Old
Goodness!
She's just like you when you were little, Luna.
That's not true!
Having lived for a thousand years, I see all of you as mere infants.
And every one of you is a noble inheritor of the royal blood.
Noble? Even Lara?
That's right.
Lara is also one of the princesses of light.
Lara!
That's your father's head from the sculpture!
Lara, let go of it this instant!
You got tired of being in the palace, right?
Come with me to the outside world today!
Your Majesty, your daughter Lara may be a special one.
I sensed the same quality as in Her late Majesty.
Lara is not the only one.
They are all my special, precious daughters.
That's just a nicety, isn't it?
Surely you must hope to see the princess resurrected too, Your Majesty?
I have no interest in such nonsense prophecies.
In any case, prophecies are forbidden by law.
You must not be the wet nurse.
Do you really expect me to remember every single law?
Hello, Rowan.
A witch?!
Grace!
I came to see my precious niece.
How heartless of you to not send any news.
As a banished one, you are forbidden from entering this palace.
The girl is a special one.
Do not think you can constrain her with laws.
Her light can also become a blade that brings your palace to ruin.
By law, dabbling in the forbidden is punishable by death.
Impale her!
Are you bored?
I thought this would be exciting for you.
Over there!
Did you see something?
What's that?
Th-That belongs to humans!
Unhand it right now! Goodness!
Humans?
Yes.
They're vile, cursed beings.
Even touching them is a serious sin!
Good night, Lara.
Be a good girl and go right to sleep, okay?
So weird.
Lara...
1787 A.D.
From this moment on, you are officially part of the royal family.
Lara, 10 Years Old
I grant this royal ring to the new princess.
With this ring,
you are now allowed to swim across wider and farther seas than before.
However, you are forbidden from approaching
the world of humans above this sea.
Humans?
They are vile, cursed beings.
We merfolk are beings who live by light.
We cannot let the vile humans taint our light.
This is a sacred law.
Lara!
So what did father tell you?
He told me to stay away from humans.
That's what I thought.
Father can see right through everything.
But they live close to this sea.
I want to see them at least once.
I've heard that at least a hundred times.
You're such a fool.
Am I?
A total fool.
So what if you meet a human? What's that supposed to change?
A total fool, huh?
1792 A.D.
Lara, 15 Years Old
What's this?
Your Highness!
Extinguish it now!
Where is he?!
Your Highness!
Hurry!
Your Highness!
I need to tell everyone.
Your Highness!
Lara.
Lara!
Oh, what was that?
What's wrong?
It's no fun when you're feeling down.
Not that you can't be annoying otherwise.
Luna...
What?
Are humans...
Father?
Huh? What's going on?
What is this?
What is this about?
I am aware that you have, on numerous occasions,
brought relics from the land here.
But this time, it cannot be excused as a mere breach of our laws.
Sand from the human world was found in your chamber.
Why do you do this, Lara?
I have warned you many times to stay away from humans.
Humans are vile, worthy only of contempt.
I don't know...
What are you saying?
I really don't know...
Are humans really such vile creatures?
Those words you just spoke are far more sinful than anything you have done.
Until the day a hundred mornings have passed,
I forbid you from leaving the palace.
Why did I say such a thing?
So, your reckless words led you here.
I never imagined you'd have the nerve to speak against Rowan.
Who are you?
The most noble one.
She's Lady Grace, the witch.
Lady Witch?
That's right.
I'm also your aunt.
What? Really? I didn't know that!
Well, that matters not.
I brought you a gift today.
A gift?
It's a fabulous gift.
After all, it can grant your wish!
My wish?
This is a potion that'll turn a mermaid into a human.
What are you talking about?
"My father, the palace, the laws!"
"They're all so constricting!"
"I want to go to the land and see him again."
That is your wish.
What do you...?
I love staring into this mirror.
This is a magic mirror that shows you everything you want to see.
It was quite entertaining.
How you breached the law, how you spoke to Rowan...
And your face when you encountered that human.
You saw something, didn't you?
This mirror tests the hearts of those who look into it.
It shattered because your heart was shaken.
What did you see?
What is it that you want to see?
What is the thing you really want?
How boring.
This is a forbidden potion that crosses the line between mermaids and humans.
I have no intention of giving it to a coward like you.
Farewell.
I...
I know I'm not a coward.
But... I'm a total fool.
I know that I'm supposed to obey my father...
I do...
We are born twice.
We're born once to exist.
Then a second time to live.
These are words from a certain human.
What you do with your life isn't up to Rowan or the laws.
It's up to you, Lara.
Blessings to you, my brave princess.
Goodbye, Lara.
When you take this potion, you'll turn into a human.
What a magnificent blue sky.
But it is only a temporary thing.
It sure is nice to get out of the castle on a day like this.
Before you vanish into foam, you must find true love.
True... love?
It is not simple infatuation.
It is a dazzling light that can be born only in the deepest part of the heart.
You mean...
First, you will meet the prince.
After that, everything depends on you.
But in exchange...
I will take your voice.
My voice?
The surface world is a harsh and sensitive one.
As with Rowan before,
a single misspoken word can be enough for them to ostracize you.
But fear not.
That's right.
True love is light itself, beyond words.
I want to see it...the ending of a foolish mermaid's tale.
The real value of the love that blossoms between mermaid and human!
Show me whether it is true love or not, Lara!
A tragic heroine, huh?
What a dull ending.
So you were a mermaid...
Did you really think that vile, repulsive form of yours could deceive me?
Lara, just stay away from humans.
So what if you meet a human?
What's that supposed to change?
Maybe they were right after all...
But I fell in love with a human.
I fell in love... with you.
Father...
"Mermaids are beautiful and humans are vile."
That's what you've always said.
But it seems like that's not true.
It was me... I was the vile one.
But why?
Didn't I just die?
Where am I?
That...
Belonged to Father...
Father!
Sisters!
Where are you?!
What is this place?
This is a magic mirror that shows you everything you want to see.
Show me...
What happened here?!
What did you do to my daughter?
I gave her some potion, that's all.
She chose to take it herself.
I can't believe she went to the human world.
This is going to bring calamity!
Your Majesty! The light of the palace is gone!
I've never seen this before!
The law should never have been broken.
The royal bloodline has been cursed!
The palace's ruin?
That has nothing to do with me.
I cannot forgive you.
However, as things stand...
Stop speaking in riddles, Rowan.
You wish to abandon the old palace and move to a new dwelling.
And you need my help to do so, don't you?
Help from me, the witch you dread so much!
That witch!
Just how much time has been lost to bring us to this distant land...
Are we fated to fade away now?
Lara, you will one day be reborn.
The last light that remains within me...
You, the princess, must receive it.
No matter how sinful you may be...
Still, I...
I love you.
This is all my fault.
It's because I made the wish!
Because I wished to become a human...
It's all my fault!
I... I...
I'll offer my body, my life!
So please...
Give them back!
My father... everyone!
Is that what you really want, Lara?
You...
You did all this!
What are you talking about?
This all began with you.
I know!
Rowan and the others are not exactly dead.
They are just in a deep sleep.
I gathered their faint light within seashells
just before they vanished into nothing.
And...
The only one who can awaken them from their slumber is you, Lara.
I will grant you a trial.
It will be the most dreadful trial you have ever faced.
If you choose to proceed, then impale me with your own hand!
If you wish to save them, show me your resolve!
Show me your story once more, Lara!
It's the potion!
Blessings to you, my brave princess.
What... is this place?
2026 A.D.
Mari! Hurry up!
2026 A.D.
Around Otsu City, Shiga Prefecture
Gosh, what's going on with you, Gon-chan?
And that's how we met.
To Be Continued
Translation: Sachiko Takahashi
Timing: Andy Ellis Editing and Typesetting: Ashley Barboza
Quality Control: Riley Dalton Translation Check: Sriram Gurunathan