Chapter 12

Gale swam through the brown coloured murk of the water in a straight line.

I'm sure Katrina fell in a straight line downwards; hopefully I can get to her –

Gale's eyes widened as she saw a large floating mass of seaweed drift in front of her. Before she could continue her swim she heard a loud rumble from above.

What the hell could that be?

"TIDAL WAVE!" A female voice shouted from the depths of the water.

Gale tensed as she felt herself getting hit by a gigantic wave which caused her catapult downwards in a spinning spiral. Gale began to drift as she let unconsciousness take over from her.

A few seconds late Gale opened her eyes to see Katrina in the jaws of a large shark; she was bruised and had numerous scratches across her body. Gale grimaced as she began to take control of her body, stopping her descent out of control and began to swim towards the seabed.

"Do you like it?" The female voice from before said cheerfully.

"Who's there?" Gale said as she suddenly felt very self conscious when she landed a few metres away from Katrina.

"My name is Phoebe. One of the generals of King Akbar's Thirteenth regiment." The female voice said.

Gale was just about to ask another question but she was interrupted by a growing dampness in her clothes as a bunch of bubbles suddenly appeared before materializing into a blue skinned woman with gray scales. She wore sea shells for a bra and had cold blue eyes. Gale glanced at her legs only to blanch backwards as see saw a fish's tail instead.

"W-what are you?" Gale asked.

"A mermaid duh and as for the thing around your friend that's my pet shark: Basil!" Phoebe said excitedly.

The shark dropped Katrina, clearly enthused by his master calling his name and swam towards Phoebe who patted the shark before giving Gale a grin.

"Are you ready to die?" Phoebe asked.

Before Gale could reply Basil charged towards her and snapped his jaws around Gale's hips. Phoebe laughed as Gale felt a searing pain in her hips as she felt the sharp teeth of the shark bit into her like knives cutting into butter.

I need to get out of this bind...

"Whilst you and Basil get acquainted be and your friend here are going to have some more fun!" Phoebe said as she clapped her hands in delight before swimming towards Katrina's unconscious form.

"Don't you dare touch her!" Gale screamed.

"Oh and by the way your friends are fighting my ghostly servant, Blackbeard." Phoebe said calmly.

"That is so not fair!" Gale whined.

"Basil, have some more fun with your chew toy!" Phoebe ordered.

Gale felt herself being flung across the ocean before crashing into a piece of jagged rock. She felt the world around her flicker black and white as she felt her mind drift back into the past.

Flashback (Gale 15 years old)

Gale could barely move as she felt herself sliding across the ship. Thunder roared across the sky. She had stowed away on this merchant ship for about a month until she was discovered and now she was being forced to become part of the crew.

"Hoist up the sails wench!" A man yelled as he mopped the floor in his apron and brown shorts.

"Leave her alone Barney she's only a wee little girl." Another man replied.

Gale turned her head to the sound of the second man. He wore a red bandanna which barely contained his shaggy black hair and a stripped t shirt and a pair of black shorts.

Alex looks so cool!

"You alright lass?" Alex asked as he walked over to her. He looked unfazed by the lightning which cackled in the stormy night.

"I'm alright. I was just wondering when we'd be reaching Crocus?" Gale asked nervously as she took Alex's outstretched hand and got to her feet.

Alex laughed a hearty laugh before stroking his beard.

Please say soon...please!

"I don't think we'll be reaching Crocus for another week at least considering the amount of storms we've been getting." Alex said.

Before Gale could complain a harsh voice interrupted her.

"Get on your post you bloody scallywags!" A deep voice shouted.

Gale shuddered as she turned to the tiller to see a man who wore a dark green pirate jacket with golden rims. He had bright red hair and a jagged scar across his peach coloured face. His name was Max and he was quite frankly one of the most ruthless pirates around.

"Quit standing kid and go to the kitchen where you belong!" Max shouted as he pulled out a pistol.

"But I thought we agreed that I was-"Gale started before Max fired a gunshot which caused a bullet to poke through the wooden floor a few centimetres from her right foot.

"Head off to the kitchen...or else I'll put a bullet in your foot." Max said angrily.

" Fine." Gale muttered as she walked towards the ladder which led to the lower decks of the ship.

Why the hell did I even come here...from a Captain's first mate to kitchen girl...

"Brace for impact!" A voice shouted suddenly.

Gale looked up in surprise as she saw a giant tsunami speeding towards the ship.

Uh Oh...

Gale couldn't move as she felt fear overtake her body. She was oblivious to the shouts of her crew who warned her to get to the lower deck.

I'm going to die...

The oncoming wave seemed to hang upwards for what seemed like centuries as it loomed of Gale only to come completely crashing down. Gale felt her body getting slammed against the side of the ship.

That's gonna leave a mark...

Gale felt her body being swept off the ship as she plunged into the murky depths of the water. She watched as a familiar looking green jacket floated towards her and she grabbed it gingerly. It still felt fairly warm to the touch.

I'll survive dad...that's a promise...I just need to rest here first...

Gale traced a circle in the water and entered it causing a bubble to appear as she closed her eyes and fell asleep.

Back to Present

Gale's eyes jolted awake to see that Basil had now released her from his jaws and was now gripping Katrina in his teeth. Gale stared at her side to see a patch of dried up blood.

I'll fix that later...time for some good old fashioned payback!

Gale swam towards Phoebe and raised both her hands in front of her.

"Leviathan's Rage!" Gale shouted as she began to glow bright blue.

"What is that?" Phoebe yelled as Basil dropped Katrina causing her to drift downwards.

Suddenly the blue light died down to reveal a transformed had light blue scales on her cheeks in addition to clawed hands and ran a hand through her pointy teeth before giving her opponent a grin.

"Is that supposed to scare me?" Phoebe said as she regained her composure and splayed out her hands, sending a small wave of water towards Gale along with Basil who hurtled towards Gale like a rocket.

Gale smiled before reaching out to Basil's speeding form and holding him in place, slowing down the sharks momentum completely. Gale then proceeded to stretch the shark's mouth as far as she could until she could her a satisfying click.

"Looks like shark breath couldn't cut it. Wonder if you'll be even more of a challenge" Gale said as she clicked her fingers which caused the wave approaching her to dissipate into bubbles.

"Uh..." Phoebe muttered.

Gale didn't give Phoebe a chance to move as she shot towards Phoebe and punched her in the jaw before quickly dealing her a powerful kick which sent her crashing down towards the seabed.

This is fun!

Gale chased after Phoebe's falling form and released a barrage of water claws which tore at Phoebe's scales causing her to scream out in agony.

My have the tables turned...time to shred this fish to pieces!

Before Gale could continue her onslaught she was interrupted by a large crash above her. She looked up to see Aria and Giselle grappling with a bearded man as they fell downwards.

"What the hell?" Gale said in surprise.

Giselle and Aria dethatched themselves from the man and they both delivered a powerful kick to the side simultaneously causing the man to crash into Phoebe.

"Where's Katrina?" Giselle asked as she swam down to Gale whilst shouldering Aria.

"What's up with her?" Gale asked as she looked at Aria who held her side.

"Just a scratch. Now where is Katrina?" Aria grumbled.

Gale shuddered as she quickly traced through her memory.

I've been so busy thinking about taking down this chick I forgot one of the crew...idiot!

Gale's eyes darted around the water until they fell upon Katrina's form a few metres away.

"There she is!" Gale shouted excitedly as she pointed.

"Blackbeard get the girl!" Phoebe shouted as she pushed off the man and pointed at Katrina.

Giselle nodded quickly at Gale before shooting off to Katrina with Aria swimming in pursuit.

"Looks like it's just us two left...I'm going to enjoy beating you up!" Gale said with a smirk.

"Ocean's Wrath!" Phoebe shouted.

Gale felt her body grow extremely weak as her scales began to retract and her body turned back to normal.

What the hell?

"Ocean's Wrath is a powerful ability which causes me to use the very power of the water around us and make it all explode!" Phoebe shouted with glee as the water began to vibrate rapidly.

Just before Gale could question her further she spotted out of the corner of her eye Giselle and Aria swimming towards her with Katrina being carried by Giselle.

"Never keep your eyes off your opponent!" Phoebe shouted as she sent a wave of water towards Gale which sent her hurtling backwards into the arms of Aria.

"We need to leave. Blackbeard turned into dust and fish are dying instantly for some reason." Aria ordered.

Gale gave a quizzical look towards Phoebe.

"Someone had to be sacrificed besides the King gave every member of the thirteenth regiment the ability to bring one soul back from the dead it's no big deal!" Phoebe said casually.

Giselle and Aria's jaws dropped.

"That amount of magic is insane..." Giselle exclaimed.

"And risky...there has to be some sort of serious drawback." Aria said thoughtfully.

"I'm going to explode along with this area of water." Phoebe said calmly.

"How can you be so calm?" Gale asked in disbelief.

"My king's orders are absolute besides who says I'm the only one that's going to die...after all Gale I killed all of your friends three years before and I left you alive for the finale!" Phoebe said as she lunged towards Gale and clawed at her feet.

Gale let out a scream of pain as she felt Aria swim upward; it felt as if a bird's talons were raking against her very skin as Phoebe's claws tore into her boots to the flesh.

"You should have heard Alex's screams for you! They were music to my ears!" Phoebe said hysterically.

"Kick her off you!" Giselle shouted as she rose past Aria and Gale to break through to the surface.

Gale began to kick out against Phoebe with her feet. The pain in her legs stung her like a million bees but she would endure. She had been through too much to be beaten by a crazy mermaid.

"NO!" Phoebe yelled as Gale finally kicked Phoebe from her grasp.

Gale could only smile as she saw Phoebe getting smaller and smaller until she was nothing more than a speck as Aria broke through to the surface.

Gale's vision was greeted by the harsh sunlight of the early morning.

"What now?" Giselle asked as she swam towards Gale and Aria. She was back in her normal form and looked weary.

"Wake up Katrina! We need a ride out of here!" Aria ordered.

"I can't she's unconscious still..." Giselle complained.

"Find her keys! The one with the griffin head!" Aria argued back.

Gale glanced at the Olympia which was now nothing more than a burning ship. She took a deep breath before blinking quickly.

"We need to hurry up. The vibrations in the water...bad..." Gale said wearily.

"Found it!" Giselle yelled triumphantly as she pressed the silver key into Katrina's hand.

"Now what?" Aria asked.

"Turn the key in her hand." Gale said.

"That won't work she needs to say the –"Gissele started before Gale interrupted her.

"Do it!" Gale shouted.

That came out harsher than I expected...

Giselle gripped Katrina's hand and turned it as if she was locking a door. Gale smiled as she saw silver glow emit from Katrina's hand before it quickly died down.

Aria whistled causing Gale to hear the beating of wings above her. Gale looked up to see majestic Griffin lowering itself next to her. It had reddish-gold fur and seemed twice the size of a shark. It cawed loudly with its golden beak as Giselle loaded Katrina onto it before climbing onto it and pulling up Gale followed by Aria.

"Take us to the magic council headquarters turkey!" Aria ordered causing the Griffin to squawk in annoyance before taking off.

Gale shuddered as she heard a loud bang coming from the water; she glanced back at the ocean and saw the water rise upwards like a wall before falling back down with a loud crash.

I'm sorry Alex that you had to die because of my weakness...

Titan couldn't believe his luck.

He had been in the midst of a great battle a few seconds ago and now he was rowing a boat alongside his best friend Boreas thanks to a crazy psychotic blind girl.

"Keep rowing!" Seyella shouted as she poked Kotamo with her finger.

How the hell did she know where to him?

"Ugh why do I have to row the boat can't I swap with Kotamo?" Boreas moaned as he held his stomach mid row.

"I'm too tired..." Kotamo said lazily as he lay across the boat.

"What the hell how can you be tired!" Titan and Seyella said simultaneously.

"What? I'm a big guy who needs long naps..." Kotamo said as he closed his eyes only to be awoken by a loud slap across the face by Seyella.

"Wake up! Titan swap with Kotamo for the last leg!" Seyella ordered.

"That's not fair!" Boreas whined.

"I don't give two shits!" Seyella shouted.

This second in command thing is really getting to her head...

"Yes Ma'am!" The two boys said.

Sweet...maybe I can catch some Z's...

Titan thought to himself as he closed his eyes.

Dream Sequence

Titan opened his eyes to find himself staring at a man dressed in black armour. He wore a golden crown with a red ruby embedded in the centre. They were in a dark forest, Titan could practically feel the gloom emitting from the man who was sat in a really tall throne.

"There's no way you can beat us..." The man said.

"Who are you?" Titan shouted.

"I am King Akbar..." The man said as he clenched his fist.

"Why do you want Celina!" Titan shouted angrily.

"Calm down...I bought you here to warn you that if you try to defeat me one of these futures is destined to occur..." The man threatened as he waved his palm causing multiple spheres to appear in front of Titan.

Titan's eyes widened as he saw a griffin carrying Gale's group, a scythe protruding out of Claire's chest, an angry looking Marc with tears in his eyes, a lifeless Mark on the ground and Celina sat atop a throne with Axel and Nari kneeling before her.

"You have been warned..." King Akbar said as he waved his hand dismissively causing Titan's entire world to turn upside down.

Titan woke up with a shudder down his spine.

Was that real or was that fake...

"Glad you're awake sleepyhead were here." Bri said.

Titan looked at her in shock.

"What?" Bri asked.

"Nothing. Just glad to have you back..." Titan said lamely.

Bri shrugged her shoulders and offered a hand to Titan which he took gratefully as he stepped out of the boat. As soon as Titan stepped out the boat melted back into water causing Kotamo and Boreas to smile.

"Let's go. We've finally reached Leji's island." Bri said as she led the group towards a large mansion with marble walls.

I need to keep this a secret...if I tell them it'll just cause an argument or something...

Nari could barely contain her shock. The explosion had managed to rip apart a bunch of trees but the building the trio had chosen to stowaway in was untouched.

Nari stared in surprise at the newcomer who had appeared from the ball of light. She had platinum hair and wore pure white armour. In her right hand was a sword and in her left hand was a shield.

"Who are you?" Trace asked threateningly.

"Give me the girl." The woman said.

"No way!" Nari shouted.

"Give me to her; she's going to die if you choose otherwise. She's at risk of exploding." The woman said.

"Why should we trust you?" Trace asked as he stood protectively in front of Axel and Celina.

"Because Gunslinger...My name is Faye Briarwood...you know of my family, do you not?" The woman said formally.

"Briarwood?" Trace said in disbelief.

"What in the world?" Nari asked.

"Don't trust her-"Axel protested.

"Shut up!" Trace shouted in anger as he summoned a pistol and pointed it at Axel.

"Calm down Trace." Nari warned.

Why is there so much tension in here?

"No he needs to calm down! He's been acting all agitated because of Celina recently and I want the truth!" Trace screamed.

"I can give you the truth if you want...just follow me..." Faye said as she slashed with her sword causing a white circle to appear.

Trace dropped his pistol and walked into the circle. Nari watched as Faye gave her a smile.

"What about you?" Faye asked.

"I'm not a child so quit addressing me like one...I'm staying here with my –"Nari started before she quickly faltered as she saw Axel hoist Celina back on his shoulders and walk towards the circle.

"What are you doing?" Nari asked incredulously as she walked next to him..

"I'm going after Trace for a start and plus I'm curious to see if I can take out the King before he can get his hands on Celina." Axel whispered.

"Are you crazy? You're practically handing her over-"Nari said before Axel interrupted her again.

"I know it's a tough decision but there was a reason I put Celina to sleep...no one else can wake her up except for me so even if he does get her I won't be able to use her. Now play along so that we can take the King down..." Axel whispered before walking into the circle.

He's got some serious explaining to do...I hope your plan is as straightforward as you make it out to be...

"...Yes...prepare for their arrival..." Faye said quietly before shoving Nari into the portal.

Nari gulped in surprise as a brilliant light filled her eyes.

A/N

So there we have it...quite possibly the longest chapter I've ever wrote. Really hope you enjoyed this chapter! What do you think of Titan's dream? Do you think all those futures are possible or only some? Who's your favourite character so far? Any tips or suggestions put them in a review!

Scrawlx Out!