The plan

"We need a plan."Said Jim and he sat down by the water.

"I guess it's no use for me to stay a mermaid any longer." Said Melody, most likely, she had this thought for a while. Ram looked surprised. "You too, Ram, we need to become human to go on land and solve this case."

"And how are you going to do that?" Asked Jim.

"Well, I never actually ran away from Atlantica, they are still waiting for my return. I'll go back together with Ram to tell my grandfather what's going on and ask him to turn us into humans."

"How do you know he's not mad at us?" Wondered Ram. "Maybe he won't listen and tell us it's too dangerous."

"Trust me, if he was against my goal, he would have stopped me before I could reach you two."

"Ok, go back there and then?" Asked Ram her. "I don't suppose I can swim back here with legs."

"No you're right." Agreed Melody slightly down. "My mum had trouble with using them at first too."

"What if." Started Jim thoughtfully . "I let Morph go with you, he can help."

"Who is Morph?" Asked Ram surprised. "Was that that thing you wore around your head?"

"Exactly." Jim took out the key out of his pocket and let go of it in mid air. Morph turned back into his normal pink formless self and flew to Ram. Ram watched in disbelieve how Morph happily circled around his head.

"He is so cute. " Said Melody when Morph flew to her while he made happy sounds.

"Morph can transform himself into a little longboat for you two to get back here." Told Jim them. "I'll be here every evening to see if you're back."

"Right." Agreed Ram. "Come on Melody." He held out a hand to her and pulled her softly off the rock, into the water. Morph turned himself back into the key with a chain on it and hung himself around Ram's neck. Melody and Ram swum away and Jim walked back to his apartment.

"I was wondering." Began Melody, who wanted to start a conversation after a while. "Do you have something you always wanted to do as a human, Ram?"

Ram was silent for a moment, it was clear he hadn't thought about that much. "I guess, to climb into a big tree in a forest and sit there for a while."

"Oh right, you don't have forests here. You going to love it, it's very peaceful and the smell of the trees is very nice."Agreed Melody.

"What was it, you wanted to do as mermaid, when you became it for the first time, then?" Asked Ram her.

"Nothing in particular, I just wanted to go into the depths of the sea, without any need for air."

"What is it like to have legs?" Asked Ram curious.

"Well, first of all, I think it's the gravitation, you have to get used to." When she saw Ram's confused look, she tried to explain. "You know the feeling when you come out of the water? The water forms a pressure on your skin and drips off in little drops of water. The gravitation makes the water to fall. This pressure is small, but it will pull you down, if you're not standing well on your legs."

"Ahah." Said Ram slowly and looked still a bit confused. "I think I will just let things happen to me."

"Good." Laughed Melody. "We're nearly there."

"Princess Melody? When did you get out of the castle?" The guards did not understand.

"Don't worry." Comforted Melody them. "My grandfather knows everything about it."

"Erh, Alright then." Said one of the guards and they both let them pass.

While Melody felt herself become a bit nervous to see her grandfather and aunts again, Ram took this opportunity to take a look around. Even though he was familiar with the family, the castle was usually off limits for him. First they would look for the king in his study, if he wasn't there, they should go to the throne room. The king seemed to had kept his promise, because no single servant looked surprised or shocked to see Melody, they probably thought she had been here the whole time.

King Triton opened the door of his office. Thank goodness, they didn't have to look for him long. "Melody." He said in pleasant surprise. "You're back, Come inside, then you can tell me the details of your journey." They went inside. Melody was completely calm again, she didn't do anything wrong to her family.

At Jim's house it was already cold and dark outside. Jim lay on the couch in his living room. He was deep in his thoughts, though it was not quite about important stuff. At eight o'clock P.M he stood up. "I don't think they're back yet, but I promised them I would at a look every day." He put his shoes on.

The sea made small, curly waves by the sea's will, it was a very peaceful sight.

Jim kept thinking while walking calmly on the waterline. 'What I should do? When I see them again, maybe tomorrow? I don't get it. I never had any contact with humans or almost human beings like the merpeople from my own age. Especially my feelings towards Melody are strange to me. It's different from my feelings towards Ram, Silver at that time or even towards my mum. She is female and I love her, but it's not the same. It is really different actually. The other day when Melody asked me to hold her a little longer, I would gladly have done it, even though she was as cold as ice and I didn't want to angry Ram. Why did I almost choose such a small thing above the feelings of a friend? A very good friend? I guess, I have to talk with him about it.' Jim Sighed, he had never been the sort of person who would talk about his feelings easily. He walked on, over the beach. In the distance, he could see the masts of the harbored ships. Now he thought of it. Why was Morph so afraid when we went to look for that ship together? 'I have to ask him that as soon as I got the chance.'