Hi everyone. Sorry if I haven't update on the weekends. I had some things to do at that time, plus I was still sick on those days. However, I am feeling much better and I'm ready to update more chapters! Yay! This chapter was a bit difficult for me, so I have to put some thoughts into it because I didn't know how I wanted it to be structured, but now I do so anyway, enjoy.


Chapter 29: The Crystal of Slumber

-Ocean-

Julie and Sakura swam as fast as they could. They have a lot to do and in such little time they have. They have to get Shika's transferred darkness out of Miyuki and save Kyle if he haven't escape yet. It was a duo mission. First, they plan on saving Miyuki since who knows what the darkness can do to her while she sleeps. Then later on, they'll come up a plan to rescue Kyle.

-Lands of Origins-

They travels to the Lands of Origins. It was exactly was it's called. They can learn histories of everything or the meaning and depth behind it.

"Looks like this is the place." Sakura comments as she looks around.

There was at least seven islands, each are different with their own environment. The island they are going to is the one with the beach. They didn't have to swim over there since all the islands are connected by a bridge.

"Yes, it is." Julie replied as she got out of the water and transform into a human. She was wearing a red blouse and black pants. Her hair was tied in a ponytail. Sandals are worn on her feet. She gave her sister a hand to get out of the water.

Sakura takes the hand and transform into human form as well. She's wearing a deep red dress that reached her ankles and matching flat slippers. She was having trouble walking since she was born yesterday, but she is handling it better than last time.

"Should we have told them that we would be gone?" Sakura questioned since they have left while everyone else was asleep.

"I left a note for Akari, so she would tell the girls not to worry." Julie answered.

-Beach-

When they got to the beach, the sisters notice an old man with a long stick.

"Excuse me sir." Julie walked over to the man.

"My, if it isn't my lucky day to be graced in the presence of the two Red Mermaid Princesses. What can I do to assist you, Your Highnesses?" the man asked.

"We would like to know the history of the Black Pearl in depth and how to get rid of the darkness that lays within." Julie answered.

"Ah, the history of the pearls. Well you see, when the Black Pearl was born out of the teardrop of Aqua Regina, it contains the sadness in her heart, but it also carries hope. However, an ancient power, fueled with darkness went into that pearl specifically since all the others were light and the Pink Pearl was not born yet. Also, because that pearl was born to give rebirth to the most regretful hero of all, it has insecurities of it's own just like the hero has." the man explained.

"And that hero was my sister, Snow White. She regretted her decisions when she was known as the Snow Queen." Julie replied.

"Yes, how very strange for the most purest princess of all to be reborn as the cursed Black Mermaid Princess. Of course, it seems destiny wanted to challenge Snow White by seeing that given a new life, will she be able to become strong and live for herself and not be dependent of her two sisters?" the man questioned.

"It is true that Snow White was dependent on me back when I was Rose Red..." Julie trailed off.

"And when Yuki onee-chan became dependent on Akari onee-san." Sakura added.

"Yes, the girl has a good heart, but she is tempted by the darkness that old Sea Witch gave her... Just like when she was tempted to eat the Queen's apple." the man comments.

"The only way to free Yuki is if we cut the link between the Black and White Pearls. It's so the sisters won't be at risk of being in danger." Julie told the man.

"But we don't know how." Sakura replied.

"Ah, but you do, dear child. You are blessed by three Goddesses of Light, the Blissful Child. The sun represent the White Princess' powers since she stands in light, the moon represent the Black Princess' powers for she is in the shadows, and the stars are all the others since you have remained hopeful at saving suffered souls." he advised the ten year-old.

"What do we have to do?" Julie asked.

"You'll have to go to the Mystic Lands and find the Crystal of Slumber, to seal in that extra darkness." the man explained.

"What about Yuki? How will she wake up?" Sakura questioned.

"The power to do that lays within you, Princess." he didn't give her the direct answer.

The sisters didn't have time to questioned what the man meant by that because he told them that the Mystic Lands is a special place, for it will disappears when the sun is gone. It won't come back for another ten years and they can't wait that long. They dived back into the water and swim as fast as they could.

-Mystic Lands-

It was close to sunset and the girls didn't know where to start. Where would you find a crystal with strong powers in the middle of a magical land?

"Julie onee-chan." Sakura called out to her.

"Hm?" Julie asked while trying to look for the stone.

"What do you hope in the future, after we complete it... The Jewel of Restoration?" she questioned.

Julie stopped to think about it. The Jewel of Restoration is what she has been looking for ever since she was eleven years old. It was that empty orb that she kept hidden in her music box. It was incomplete and it is needed to join the separate worlds together again. Terra Elaina, the Earth Goddess was counting on them to complete it. And they must.

"I hope that the world between mermaids and humans can be at peace and co-exist again." Julie answered. "It would be a better place if there wasn't any fighting because... Humans can live with love in their hearts. It's really a miracle that some of us were reunited with our past lovers."

"Onee-chan..." Sakura trailed off.

"What is it?" Julie asked softly.

"What was your and Snow's story? I mean the others know and even I, but only in small details." Sakura questioned.

Julie smiled, remembering those nostalgic memories of hers, "I was the first daughter and was cursed to live for sixteen years. A half year later, Snow was born, however, mother and father didn't want the same to happen to her as did with me, so they made sure to keep her existence a secret. She was shy while I was outgoing. One day, Stepmother was brought into the family after mother died. An old friend of mine overheard the Queen and told Snow. Remember the sacrifices I mentioned before?"

Sakura nodded, "Yes."

"Well, everyone made sacrifices, but unlike the final battle, these were small sacrifices. I sacrificed my memories to protect those around me. If the Queen were to know people were helping me, they would have faced her wraith. I'm guessing at that time, I was the 'fairest of them all'. Plus, my time was very short because I only have one year before my curse would take affect. For one year I lived on as Briar Rose. After I woke up from a hundred year of sleep I remember everything and head back home. However, Snow changed. She was cold, distant, and ruthless as the Snow Queen. After she saw me, she was happy, but it didn't last long. She explained to me that the reason why she was snatching children was because she was looking for... The Blissful Child." Julie paused and look at Sakura.

"There was a Blissful Child in the past?" Sakura questioned.

"Yes, however, the Snow Queen didn't know where to find the special child. One day, she saved a girl who was closed to freezing to death. Pitying the little girl, the Snow Queen took this child into her care. They formed a strong bond like mother and daughter and the Snow Queen learns to find love again. However, Stepmother returned and kidnapped the child in her bedroom. The Snow Queen was devastated for she once again lost someone who is close to her. This was before she lost me..." Julie trailed off. "The girl in fact, was the Blissful Child herself, but neither knew of that. Do you remember who you were long time ago?" Julie quizzed her.

"I was Gerda in the past, wasn't I?" Sakura asked.

"Yes." Julie answered. She then sighs in frustration at the fact that they haven't found the crystal yet and the sun would be gone soon.

Sakura gasped, "Onee-chan, I think I know a way to find the crystal."

"How?" Julie questioned.

"I'm the Blissful Child, my powers can bring bliss and miracles. If I used my powers, maybe it can lead us to the crystal." Sakura explained.

"It's worth a try... Do it." Julie replied.

Sakura closed her eyes in concentration as her body glowed red like the setting sun. Energy waves spread out from her to the entire land similar to like how bats uses sonar detectors. The energy waves was getting stronger at one point and it was located between two trees that are separated from the forest. Sakura opened her eyes.

"There!" she unleashed her powers on that spot exactly and the crystal was brought out of the ground. It float from the ground to Julie's hands.

"You did it!" Julie exclaimed happily as she hugged her sister proudly.

"Yes, I did." Sakura smiled. "Let's go and save Yuki onee-chan."

"Mm!" Julie agrees.

They dived back into the ocean and swims back to Japan as fast as they could.

-Beach-

Back in the bath house, Akari was waiting for the sisters at the beach with Miyuki's body floating in the water, cradled by the gentle sea. She looked to see the full moon is out. In the note Julie left, Miyuki has to be in the moonlight because the double shine the light on her before doing the spell to release the darkness. For them to take out the darkness and destroys it, the process must be done as close as before.

"Akari!" she heard Julie called to her.

"Julie, Sakura!" Akari exclaimed as she swims over to them. "What did you find?"

"This." Julie showed Akari the crystal.

"This... This will free Yuki from the darkness once and for all?" Akari questioned.

"Yes." Sakura confirms.

"Should we have told the others about this?" Akari asked in a quiet tone.

"It be best if they don't know for now. They should not know about Sakura's gift yet, in case if Shika were to get them." Julie answered.

"Okay." Akari replied. She sighs, "Alright, let's do this."

They formed a circle around Miyuki while they are being bathe in the light of the full moon. Julie hold out the crystal and chant the spell:

The purest princess in the past,

Becoming a Queen of Snow,

Died a hero's death

Reborn once more into the world

The Princess of Night

A kind Goddess in the future

Take the evil out of thy heart

Thus, bring thy darkness into the light

I release thou from thy curse

Once and for all!

Once Julie complete the spell, the darkness was slowly being suck out of Miyuki's sleeping body and from the Black Pearl, going into the clear crystal. All of the darkness from Shika went into the stone until it mostly turned black. The crystal than float to Sakura as she touch the object. The moment she made contact, she destroyed the extra darkness, turning the Crystal of Slumber into an ordinary stone. She then leans forward and kiss Miyuki on the cheek, releasing her powers as the Blissful Child onto the girl.

Miyuki opened her eyes as Akari tearfully hugs her sister, "Yuki, you're awake! Oh, thank goodness!"

"Nee-chan?" Miyuki was a bit confused as she was release from the hug. She looked around herself to see Julie and Sakura until she only looked at Sakura, feeling like she knows her somewhere. "Gerda?" escaped from her mouth.

"That was my name, but now, it's Sakura." she smiled at her old friend who was like a mother to me in the past.

"Oh!" Miyuki hugged Sakura suddenly. "I missed you. When you disappeared that night, I've searched all over for you, but you were gone."

"It's alright, Yuki onee-chan. Now, we can have a new start. You were like a mother to me back then, but now... Now, you are like a sister to me. Let's start over, okay?" Sakura suggested.

"Okay." Miyuki smiled as tears of joy went down her face.

"Come on, let's go." Julie told the girls as she transform into a human.

"Go? Go where?" Miyuki questioned as she wipe the tears from her eyes.

"To home, of course. To celebrate for your awakening." Akari answered for Julie as they transform too.

-Pearl Waters-

Once they reached the bath house, everyone hold a party for the girl, for she no longer has her cursed touch and she can finally do things that she couldn't do before. She can hug her friends and hold hands with them, it was truly a miracle that befall on her. With Shika's darkness gone from Miyuki's Black Pearl, the link that was suppose to be the downfall for both Miyuki and Akari is... Gone.


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