Over the course of an entire week, two different groups were constantly on the move; one leaving in direction of the seashore (or so two of them thought) and the other following the first one's trail. And during this time, both Samurai and mermaid wouldn't stop thinking of each other never mind how far they were.

During the first night alone with Ikra in a forest clearing, at one point Ariel pulled out a fork. However, she still thought it was a dingle-hopper, as Scuttle had once explained it as. Not a common food utensil, but a hair-combing device.

Ariel took it out of her bag and began to comb her thick auburn locks with it. Ikra, who had been eating, stared at Ariel, looking bewildered. Noticing her expression, Ariel hastily put the fork back into her bag, feeling foolish.

The other woman simply shrugged and pulled out a hairbrush.

"Here." she said, approaching Ariel, "It's more like this."

She gently took Ariel's long, ruby locks and began to brush.

Sebastian watched suspiciously. They might be following this woman for now, but there was something about her that just didn't feel right.

Also he could've sworn at some point, when the woman brushed Ariel's hair…. she ran one of her gloved hands through it with a look of greed and something else he couldn't decipher, but he knew meant bad news. And he found himself hoping Jack and Scuttle could reach them before any bad happens.

Meanwhile, Jack and Scuttle were busy following their trail.

In the midst of their search, when they stopped to rest, Jack looked round where they were and recalled how he been teaching Ariel self-defense.

"Clench your fist," Jack instructed, gently shaping Ariel's small hands into position.

"Now, you strike."

"Right!" she said.

As she hit Jack's hand, she stumbled and fell half-landing on top of him. They couldn't help but burst out into laughter.

"Once more now," Jack encouraged Ariel as he helped her up.

Now anywhere without the spirited young woman now… just seemed so… empty. Scuttle watched him unusually silent.

At the same time, the other group was preparing to retire for the night. Ikra had already fallen asleep, so for now it was just Ariel and Sebastian.

"T'is had to be the worst week of me whole life." complained Sebastian, Ariel absentmindedly patted him still thinking about past events.

The crab continued, "I hope you appreciate what I go through for you, young lady!"

Ariel didn't seem to hear him, she was busy on her back looking up at the stars.

"Tonight I hope to dream about Jack…" Ariel thought as she drifted into sleep

Jack sighed. Ever since they'd met, he hadn't been the same. Yes, his quest remains a great priority but first he had to find Ariel. He wasn't about to let her story end like his – with Aku.

He closed his eyes recalling the first time Ariel had sang. Up until now, no sound upon this Aku-infested terrain had ever sounded so immaculate to him and Ariel's voice seemed to give him the strength to remember to be strong no matter what trials or tribulations lay ahead of him.

Before the sunset of the eighth day, both groups were now close enough to meet other.

As they neared the high hill, Ariel had already confessed to Ikra that she had feelings for Jack the night before.

"Listen," Ikra put her hands on the younger woman's shoulders. "Don't waste your time on him, you deserve better!"

"I can't forget about Jack that easily! He means too much to me;" Ariel protested. "Even if he doesn't really know it."

"Listen to yourself, you're daydreaming about the wrong guy!" Ikra said to her, "You're young, there are others far more willing and much more powerful…."

"Ariel!"

"No, Ariel wait!"

Ariel and Sebastian spun around to see Jack and Scuttle fast approaching.
Immediately, Jack rushed to Ariel's side and pulled her from Ikra protectively.

"Ikra is not what she seems!" he said, pulling out his sword, "She is Aku!"

His words hit her like an anchor, "What?!"

Sebastian let out his trademark high-pitched yelp.

Meanwhile, Ikra glared angrily at Jack for a moment, but then she smiled a wicked smile.

"Perhaps the time has come to show you my true face." she purred.

Then her black dress then came together to form a shapeless fold like the end of a ripped cloak. Her body grew longer, the torso broader and stronger-looking. The head then grew three horns on each side and the eyebrows became fiery.

Jack gripped his sword tightly.

Scuttle gulped. Sebastian's tiny legs began to tremble nonstop.

Ariel's blue eyes followed the entire transformation in silent horror. Then she heard Aku's deep, rough voice talk to her.

"It is I," he then spoke in Ikra's voice, "Aku."

The ex-mermaid froze in place, at a loss for words.

"Yes, merchild, you have been deceived. I and Ikra are one and the same."

Ariel shook her head as if she could negate the monster's words. "No, no it can't be..."

"Oh yes." Aku smirked in her direction, "You see, your coming to me for assistance proved quite useful."

His words now confused the group.

"What's he mean Ariel coming to him? I thought she visited a human in the swamp and he gave her the potion."

Scuttle's words shocked Jack and he turned to Ariel worriedly. He had hunch, but he only hoped it wasn't true.

Ariel stared up at the dark lord in confusion, "What . . . what are you talking about?"

Aku answered her coolly, "I knew that by allowing you become another human and letting you wander the Earth, your own reckless actions would be your impertinent father's undoing!"

Sebastian and Scuttle gasped in shock. He did all this to defeat King Triton? That's why he let Ariel become human?

"But no one was able to ensure your capture -" he then snarled in Jack's direction, "-and the Samurai's interference pulled you even further from my grasp!"

Ariel could barely comprehend what was happening. She felt as though she was going to faint. No, no, this was unfair. Scared as she was, this monster used her and toyed with her emotions and she wasn't going to take it.

"You tricked me!" she said heatedly.

"You've no one else to blame but yourself."

The harsh truth made the ex-mermaid hang her head in shame. Next, Ariel almost lost her composure when the demon coiled around her like a floating shawl and gently stroking through her red tresses with his talons.

"Tell me, Ariel..." he cooed to her, "Is being a simple human everything you dreamed? Isn't that what you sought out? Is it not that the reason you abandoned your father and your kingdom?"

A dry sob escaped Ariel.

Jack shouted indignantly in her defense, "Enough Aku, she does not need you tormenting her!"

It was here that her three friends quickly realized that Aku never took his eyes off Ariel for one second.

Ariel looked up slowly and saw that his large face was inches from hers and it took every ounce of her will-power to keep from screaming.

She recognized that expression he wore, it was a look that she had seen many times on the less than a friendly males she'd encountered. It was a look of sheer wanton desire. Ariel whimpered fearfully, for the way Aku was looking at her now made her shake.

"Why so fearful? You look as though Aku had plans to devour you." He chuckled evilly, "No fear of that, except for a good taste here and then."

Ariel heard a strange sound from Jack, it seemed half-panicked, half-furious.

Scuttle nervously whispered to Sebastian, "M-maybe he's just doing it to scare us and Ariel, then get Jack mad."

Sebastian turned to Scuttle and snapped, "Well, if he is, then he's a doing a very good job at it! Arielle is scared out of her wits!"

"No matter," Aku begrudgingly pulled away. "You may have chosen to join forces with the Samurai, daughter of Triton, but it is a mistake you'll soon regret. Your time as human will end by sunset upon the fortnight, should you so much fail as set one foot within the oceans under Aku's reign or fail to reach Atlantica – you belong to me!"

With that, he vanished into thin air before Jack could even take a swipe at him.

They all stood there petrified for a moment.

Finally, Scuttle piped up, his voice edgy, "He's bluffing- it's not like he can be everywhere at once-"

"But we can't even afford to take that chance!" Sebastian cried. He gasped, "My nerves are shot! I'm gonna march meself straight home right now and - -"

Jack gently scooped him up. "Wait."

"And don't you tell me to wait young man!"

Jack carefully had Sebastian face Ariel and the crab instantly stopped the hysterical tirade.

For Ariel was in so much shock that she slumped down to sitting position. "This-means...I-I can't go home...!"

When she said those words she began to cry in with her arms over her knees.

So, Jack placed a gentle hand on her shoulder and said, "Ariel, I know not how long it takes, but I will help you return home . . . . I make this promise to you."

Ariel looked up at him, her hand on his. She threw her arms around him, sobbing uncontrollably and Jack gently held her.

"This is a promise I that I have every intention of keeping...I will not leave you until I have fulfilled it."