Mermaid to Surface: Low Potential

The mermaid begged and begged to see the surface Land. The koi brought such wonderful treats back with them, though they vanished into the water within moments if left uneaten. At times, she'd been brave enough to go up to the surface, almost, near enough to see the surface, and even though she never saw the source of the cake, she saw the huge beams that ended in sculptures of some ferocious fish, like a catfish with the teeth of a human. The moment was there, almost within her grasp. Then came the day that the fish brought back signals that something new and different was here. Something on the water that was not food or water creature, though it tasted faintly like the sticks that sometimes fell into the water. It had no end, they said.
\
Inspiration: Image of a tiny boat floating over koi.
Story potential: Medium potential
Notes: