A.N. I named Professor MacKrill Hubert because it means bright heart.
It was the summer after Fly, Stella, Chuck, and Sasha's adventure in the ocean, and they were now a year older. They, their parents, and Sasha, were visiting Professor Hubert MacKrill again, since despite last year's adventure even Fly still enjoyed swimming near the beach. He just didn't like crabs anymore (except as food of course).
When they arrived they got a surprise: a girl around Chuck's age, with red hair, was with Hubert on the beach greeting them.
"Hello again, everyone I'd like you to meet my niece Morgan MacKrill." Hubert smiled. "She lives inland with her parents, but she loves the ocean and wanted to spend part of her summer vacation here with me."
"Oh that's right, you told us about her and her parents last winter." Bill, Fly and Stella's dad, smiled.
That winter Bill, Lisa, and Anna had invited Hubert to join them for Christmas, but he declined explaining that he had his own family to visit further inland.
"Hello." Morgan smiled. "Whoa, cool horse."
"Thanks, her name is Sasha." Stella smiled. "If you'd like you can ride her later."
"I'd love to, but first I'd better finish getting ready." Morgan chuckled, since she wasn't even in her bathing suit yet. "I just arrived a few minutes ago and didn't have time to change earlier, I haven't even unpacked yet."
"No problem, we can wait until you get your beach stuff." Fly smiled.
"Thanks, be down in a few." Morgan left for Hubert's lab.
She quickly changed into her bathing suit and got her beach supplies, and then decided to fill her reusable water bottle with a cold drink from the kitchen. Inside the fridge she found a few beakers of a red liquid.
"Heh, figures. Uncle Hube does love science stuff." She chuckled to herself. "Must be some kind of punch he invented...well, since he's a good cook it's worth a try."
She poured some of the red liquid into her bottle, failing to notice a fish label on the other side, and headed back to the beach.
She then joined Fly and Stella in building a sand castle, and also rode Sasha for a bit. Then she saw Hubert and Chuck riding the water slide they made last year.
"Wow, can I try?" She grinned.
"Sure, it's a lot of fun." Chuck grinned.
Morgan climbed up and into the slide, and loved it.
"That was amazing! Uncle Hube, how did you come up with this?" She asked.
"Actually, it was Chuck's idea." Hubert smiled.
"Really? Impressive." Morgan smiled. "Are you a scientist too?"
"Well, not a professional one." Chuck chuckled. "But I love studying science, mostly biology."
"I enjoy biology myself, mostly marine biology." Morgan then chuckled. "My parents have always joked that I must be Uncle Hube's daughter instead of theirs because of that. Especially since they're not as into science as Uncle Hube and I are, mom's a carpenter and dad's a chef."
"Yup, my brother is the reason why I became a good cook. When we were kids we enjoyed trying recipes together, especially desserts." Hubert smiled. "Good thing too, I would probably be ordering take-out a lot if I hadn't learned how to cook from him."
Everyone politely chuckled at that, including Hubert himself.
"Whew, already getting thirsty. I'll be right back." Morgan headed for her stuff.
"Okay Morgan." Hubert nodded.
Morgan took out her bottle and took a sip, only to draw back and drop her bottle with shock. She then gasped and cringed.
"Morgan? Are you okay?" Stella asked.
"Uncle...Hube...what kind of punch...did you make?" Morgan wheezed.
"Punch? I didn't-" Hubert's eyes widened with horror. "Oh no, did you get your drink from one of the beakers in the fridge?"
"Yeah-" Morgan was cut off by turning into a fish!
Fortunately, she was able to regain enough common sense to flop into the ocean before she could dry out.
"You made more of that potion?" Anna frowned.
"Well it is in case the ice caps do end up melting..." Hubert explained weakly.
"Maybe you should keep them in a locked fridge." Fly frowned.
"Right...but first I have to go after her." Hubert said. "I just need to get the antidote first."
He headed back to his lab and quickly poured some of the antidote into a flask small enough for a fish to carry. He then returned and went over to Morgan's water bottle, which had spilled some of the potion into the sand.
"Good, there's still some left." He said. "Might as well use it all up."
"Hold on, Chuck and I are coming with you." Fly said. "We already discussed it, we've been down there before and so can help you."
"Right, I mean we don't have to worry about Joe anymore but you never know what else we might encounter." Chuck agreed.
"All right, but only if it's okay with your parents." Hubert agreed, not wanting to waste time arguing.
"Well we will be worried about our kids, but they were able to save themselves last time they were down there." Lisa said.
"Especially thanks to Charles, in fact since he can fight off a swarm of piranha then it probably would be best if he went with you." Anna added.
"Very well, and I promise to protect them as if they were my own kids." Hubert nodded.
"I'm coming too." Stella said.
"Sorry Stella, not this time. I don't want to have to worry about you along with Morgan." Fly shook his head. "Besides, you need to help Sasha keep our parents company while we're gone."
"Oh fine..." Stella reluctantly gave in, truthfully not wanting to leave Sasha behind anyway.
Hubert, Fly, and Chuck each took a sip of the potion and headed underwater. Fly and Chuck turned into a California Flyfish and a jellyfish again respectively, while Hubert turned into a large shrimp.
They swam on, until they spotted a scared-looking Vermillion Snapper hiding in a kelp bed.
"Morgan!" Hubert called as they swam to her.
"Uncle Hube?" Morgan said with surprise, swimming out of the kelp bed. "Thank goodness, not only can you get me out of here but you can explain what the heck happened to us in the first place."
"I'm sorry Morgan, you see I invented a potion to turn people into fish in case the polar ice caps melt and flood the world." Hubert explained. "I was keeping the potion in the fridge because I made it out of organic materials, it goes bad if I leave it out too long. I should have told you, but I'm trying to keep it a secret as much as possible since the potion is for emergencies only."
"Yeah, like your little sister accidentally drinking it, so you have to drink it too to go after her." Fly added.
"Fly? Chuck?" Morgan finally recognized them. "You two have taken the potion before huh?"
"Yes, as Fly explained it was to get Stella who drank it by accident when your uncle was going to test it on himself last year." Chuck explained. "Fortunately he created an antidote, so we'll be able to turn human again."
"Yes, but even so...well truthfully I was also afraid that you would be tempted to drink it due to your love of the ocean. Fly, Chuck, and Stella nearly got killed, especially Fly, so...I just didn't want to lose you." Hubert hung his head.
"It's okay, and I'm sorry too. I should have asked first before drinking something I didn't completely recognize." Morgan gently smiled.
Then unexpectedly, a long brown fish with stripes and spots swam up to them. An intelligent-looking fish too. Fly and Chuck drew back warily.
"Oh thank goodness you two are all right, I've been worried about you." She smiled before looking confused. "But where's the cute little starfish? And the seahorse?"
"My sister and Sasha?" Fly glanced at Chuck with confusion. "Um...back on land...who are you?"
"Er...well we've never really given ourselves names yet so..." The fish winced.
"You're a Zoarces viviparus, or Viviparous Eelpout." Chuck said, still looking at the fish with suspicion. "At least that's your species anyway."
"Right...oh yes, you obviously still have bad memories of Joe. I don't blame you either." The eelpout sighed. "Don't worry, I was never on his side. I was the only one, besides the four of you of course, to realize how selfish and egotistical he really was from the beginning. Then I saw him scold Shark and Crab after the four of you escaped, and when he tried to execute them I realized that he wouldn't hesitate to be crueler to the rest of us. Truthfully, I became fond of you four for defying Joe. You especially were very brave." She turned to Fly and smiled.
"Uh...thanks." Fly relaxed, realizing that they could trust this fish. "So you've obviously been wondering where we've been...truthfully, we've been on land. We're actually humans, and we also turned Sasha the seahorse into a land horse so that she could stay with my sister Stella."
"Humans?" The eelpout looked surprised, but got over it. "Well, I have to admit it does explain where that potion came from in the first place."
"Yes, my fault." Hubert spoke up. "I shouldn't have left it where Stella could reach it."
"Oh we've already been over this, it wasn't really anyone's fault." Chuck said. "It was just a combination of accidents and well-meaning but misguided decisions."
"Huh?" The eelpout said.
"Chuck means that none of us meant any harm with the mistakes we made." Fly chuckled. "You'll get used to the way he talks when you get to know him more."
Chuck playfully stuck a tongue out at Fly, and the eelpout giggled.
"So, this is Hubert and I'm his niece Morgan." Morgan spoke up. 'Those two are Fly and Chuck. And I don't want to keep calling you Eelpout, so maybe we can give you another name."
"I'd actually really like that." The eelpout nodded.
"Hmmm...how about Zoe? It's similar to her species' science name." Fly suggested.
"Sounds good to me." Morgan nodded.
"I like it." Zoe smiled.
"Zoe it is then." Hubert smiled.
"So, if you're normally humans what are you doing back here?" Zoe asked.
"Oh I accidentally took the potion so they came to get me." Morgan shrugged. "Guess we should take the antidote before your parents start to worry."
"I think it's too late for that, you know parents." Fly chuckled.
"Oh yeah." Morgan chuckled as well.
"Yes but even so we should head back soon anyway." Chuck said.
"Oh...well I guess it is important that you return to your parents but you just got here." Zoe looked disappointed.
"Hm, well we don't really have to leave until this evening since Hubert invited us to dinner." Fly noted.
A.N. Last year Hubert insisted that everyone call him by his first name.
"We shouldn't stay here that long, but I guess a few more minutes wouldn't hurt." Hubert said. "At least since Zoe has obviously been worried about you, so it would be kinda rude to leave her without some more info."
"Right, like what happened to Joe and how did Fly survive the wound Crab gave him?" Zoe asked. "I mean...that wound did look fatal..."
"Oh surviving the wound was a cinch once I turned back into a human, it merely turned into a broken leg which isn't a big deal for us." Fly waved a fin dismissively. "Joe though...er, he stole the remaining antidote from us and we really needed it, so I resorted to tricking him into drinking more of the antidote while he was still underwater. The antidote turns other fish into humans too, so once he drank enough of the antidote he...well...drowned."
"Drowned?" Zoe said.
"The land creature equivalent of a fish being out of water for too long." Chuck explained. "In short: Joe died."
"Oh." Zoe said with relief. "I mean I probably shouldn't be glad about death in general, but I was worried that Joe might become too dangerous a ruler. So as long as he isn't a threat anymore..."
"Exactly." Fly nodded.
"I suppose...keep in mind I don't know the whole story." Morgan crossed her fins and raised an eyebrow.
"Oops, sorry Morgan." Chuck said sheepishly. "We'd best explain now."
So they did, at least the summary of it. Chuck and Fly explained that they were hanging out at the beach, when the rising tide caused them to find a secret entrance leading to Hubert's lab. Then they went through Stella turning into a starfish and them turning themselves into fish to look for her. They also explained about Joe and dealing with him, Crab, and Shark.
"That reminds me, whatever happened to Shark?" Fly asked Hubert. "I mean I know he got stuck in that tube thing underwater before you and dad freed him, but you two never found out for sure whether he was alive or dead."
"That's true, we were too focused looking for you, Chuck, and Stella that we didn't think twice about the shark." Hubert nodded.
"I never heard anything either. I guess if he did survive then he just swam somewhere else to start a kingdom of his own." Zoe shrugged.
Unfortunately, their questions were suddenly answered by Shark appearing!
"You two!" He said angrily. "This time I'm gonna eat you before you can cause any more trouble!"
He went after Fly and Chuck, who instantly swam away. Hubert made Morgan hide amongst some rocks so that Shark wouldn't notice them.
"We've got to save them, but how?" Morgan asked.
"I'm not sure...I don't want to risk losing the antidote or you getting hurt..." Hubert hesitated.
Fortunately they didn't have to do anything, Zoe - who swam away earlier - came back with what looked like the spike of an urchin. She then charged and stabbed Shark in the dorsal fin with the spike. Crying out in pain, Shark swam away.
"Hey great work Zoe!" Fly smiled, impressed.
"Thanks, after seeing your bravery I decided to try being braver too." Zoe blushed.
Morgan looked at her suspiciously, starting to wonder...had Zoe gotten a crush on Fly?
But then Shark came back, and this time saw Hubert, Morgan...and the flask, which had the anti-fish logo on it.
"The potion!" He said, now going after Hubert and Morgan.
Hubert and Morgan froze with horror, but luckily Fly and Chuck saw what was happening and zoomed ahead to pull them out of the way in time. This caused Shark to slam into a rock wall instead, causing pieces of rock to break off and fall down. Chuck and Morgan swam away from the rocks in time, but Hubert was in the path of a sharp one without knowing. Fly, seeing this, automatically swam to Hubert and pushed him out of the way...getting sliced in the chest instead!
"Fly!" Chuck screamed with horror.
Hubert, seeing Fly, dove down and caught him before swimming him away from the rest of the rocks. Chuck gathered enough sense despite his horror to grab a piece of seaweed, and then swam over to Hubert and Fly to use the seaweed as a bandage so that Fly wouldn't lose too much blood this time.
"Oh Fly..." Chuck choked.
"Relax Chuck, I'll be okay." Fly smiled reassuringly...despite knowing that he was in serious need of medical attention.
Hubert, Morgan, and Chuck were so worried about Fly that they didn't notice that Shark had recovered and was going after them again. Zoe, despite also being worried about Fly, fortunately did due to being farther away and dove in to bite Shark on the nose.
"Hey!" Shark protested. "I'll get you first!"
Zoe swam away as Shark went after her, and managed to trick him into getting stuck between two giant rocks. Chuck and Morgan saw this and caught up to Zoe.
"Hey, nice move." Morgan smiled.
"Thanks." Zoe smiled back.
"Come on, it's time we ended this threat once and for all." Chuck said determinedly, having spotted a boulder on top of the rock wall.
He led them to the boulder and, getting the same idea, they helped him push the boulder off the wall. It fell...and landed on Shark's head.
Chuck, Morgan, and Zoe cheered over the end of the threat, only to stop with horror upon realizing that the impact of the boulder landing caused a shockwave that removed more pieces of rock from the wall. Seeing one head towards Hubert and Fly, Zoe zoomed ahead and pushed them out of the way, getting hit by the rock instead.
Horrified, the others swam down to her. She was still alive, but unconscious and not looking well at all.
"She saved us...we have to save her." Fly said weakly.
"Of course we will." Hubert nodded. "You two get Zoe, I'll continue carrying Fly."
After picking up Zoe, they all swam back towards shore. Morgan drank the antidote first and ran to get a bucket, which Chuck put Zoe into after filling it with seawater. Hubert then drank the antidote and gave some to Fly, then Chuck drank.
"Oh thank goodness...what happened to Fly?" Lisa asked with horror, seeing the gash on his chest.
"A rock was about to hit me when..." Hubert choked. "I'm so sorry."
"Don't be, it wasn't your fault." Bill said reassuringly.
Morgan, meanwhile, had rushed Zoe into the lab.
"Where is Morgan going?" Anna asked.
"A smart fish got hurt saving us from the shark we told you about, so Morgan is taking her inside so that we can heal her." Chuck explained.
"Best get me healed too, this salt water really stings." Fly winced.
Bill helped Hubert carry Fly inside. They cleaned his wound and treated it, but it was still clear that he would need to be taken to a hospital soon for stitches.
"Heh, hope I don't get a scar. Then I'd have to wear a shirt while swimming." Fly joked.
"I think that's the least of your worries." Bill frowned, unamused.
"Right...sorry."
"It's okay, after all the important thing is you'll survive." Bill calmed down.
"Chuck's seaweed bandage helped with that." Fly smiled.
Bill and Lisa gave Chuck a grateful smile.
"Hey...how's Zoe?" Fly asked worriedly.
"Not good." Morgan shook her head, coming in. "She has internal wounds but is too small for an operation. Not even Uncle Hubert can think of a way to save her."
"Well...what about making her human? Fly's injuries become less severe when he turns back into a human, so it might work for Zoe." Chuck suggested.
"I did think of that, but...well Fly did say that Joe looked deformed when he tricked him into becoming human." Hubert walked in.
"Maybe that just has to do with the fish's personality?" Fly shrugged.
"He could be right. We still don't know why we turn into the fish we do...well, Fly's first name and Hubert's last name explains their fish forms, but we still don't know why I turn into a jellyfish and Stella turns into a starfish." Chuck agreed.
"It's worth a try either way." Morgan agreed. "I'll get some of my clothes for Zoe."
"No, better use mine. We don't know what size she'll be as a human and I am bigger than you." Hubert said.
So he went to get a spare shirt and pants, and lay them on the floor. Zoe was then carefully placed into the shirt, and given the antidote until she reached human size and form. To everyone's surprise, she actually looked normal - pretty even - for a human save for the dark brown spotting on her brown skin and her black and brown striped hair. She even seemed to be around Fly, Chuck, and Morgan's age.
Zoe then groaned and slowly woke up, only to bolt upright with shock upon seeing her hand.
"You turned me into a human?" She asked confusedly.
"It was the only way to save your life." Chuck said.
"Oh. It's worked, I think I'm only bruised now." Zoe winced a little from the pain. "So...now what?"
"Well...maybe just leave you as a human until you're fully healed then turn you back into a fish?" Hubert said unsurely.
"Mmmm...nah. I don't want to go back into the ocean or stay in a tank." Zoe shook her head. "I'd rather stay with my new friends." She then smiled.
"Well...how would we explain where you came from?" Anna asked.
"Actually, it's kinda obvious when you think about it." Fly chuckled. "Just say we found her injured by the beach and she lost her parents in the sea. It is true in a way, and we won't need to worry about keeping a more detailed story straight either."
"That could work, and we could just shrug off her lack of a last name by saying she got amnesia during the storm." Chuck added.
"Okay...I guess she could just stay here too." Hubert shrugged.
"No...I'll adopt her. She does want to stay near her friends, and we live more inland." Anna offered.
"After having seen Fly and Stella's relationship I think I'd like having a sister." Chuck shrugged with a smile.
"Sounds good to me too." Zoe smiled. "No need to worry about my fish parents either, I don't even know who they are. They probably were amongst the many fish who didn't take the potion."
"Good point...but despite that I still have to admit I'm a bit surprised that you'd want to give up your fish form and home for us." Chuck admitted. "I mean, I can't imagine giving up being human and my home for anything. Save for the ice caps completely melting of course."
"I guess you could say that one friend in particular is more than worth it." Zoe smiled at Fly.
Fly couldn't help blushing at that, but otherwise had no idea what she meant. Everyone else, except for Stella and Sasha, caught on and smiled.
"I...I don't get it. What do you mean?" Fly asked awkwardly.
"Really? I thought you finally started using your brains last summer." Chuck playfully teased him with a nudge.
"Yeah well not everyone can be an insufferable genius." Fly playfully retorted, giving Chuck a friendly headlock and noogie. "Now will someone please tell me what's going on?"
Zoe answered his question by suddenly kissing him. Fly froze and stiffened, wide-eyed, at that. Zoe then ended the kiss with a blush and smile, while Fly just sat there still frozen. After a few seconds he finally blinked, and to his own surprise felt his heart beating faster.
"Oh..." Was all he could say.
Stella giggled, mostly because she already liked Zoe and so liked the idea of Fly dating her. Bill, sensing Fly's awkwardness, cleared his throat.
"Sorry to interrupt, but I think we should take Fly and Zoe to the hospital now." He said.
Remembering Fly's wound, everyone else agreed. Hubert, Morgan, and Zoe went into Anna's car with Chuck...after a few minutes of explaining cars to Zoe that is.