Those that needed air returned to the ship.
Fives was hitting his locker. He lost her AGAIN. And this time she wasn't coming back to him.
"Fives! That's enough!" Rex yanks him away from the wall.
Fives, mad and sad, hits Rex. The two tumbling about. Many brothers cheering for the one they wanted to be the victor.
"Fives stop it!" Echo struggles for a bit as he finally pulls Fives off of Rex.
"Let me go! Let me go!" Fives tries to break free.
"Fives what has gotten into you?" Ponds looks at him confused and angry with him.
"It's okay Ponds. He's just letting off steam." Rex stands wiping the bit a blood from his mouth.
"Fives you have to cool off, please talk to us we're here for you." Echo still holds him, trying to convince him to talk to them.
Fives breaks free heading off. Stopping at the pool. He hits the ground a few times as tears fall.
"Oh Fives." Echo looks on sadly at his broken-hearted brother after fallowing him.
"Sh-she won't choose me. After everything. She won't choose me." Fives weeps looking down at the little ring.
"I don't understand all of this but I'm sure that's not it Fives." Echo comes up to sit next to him.
"Why? Why is she with him then?" Fives whimpers.
"I don't know, technically she's still a princess. Maybe she thought it was her duty to keep peace." Echo frowns.
"I don't agree!" Fives snaps a bit in his sadness and anger.
'I just… want to be with her.' Fives places his hand over his breaking heart.
"I don't agree with it either. How can they force them to be together just so there's peace? And Ariel loves you, trust me. She looked miserable up there." Echo pats his brother's back.
'Ariel. Ariel I want to see you.' Fives can't even look at his brother, he was emotional, he couldn't think straight.
Echo didn't know what to do, what could he do? So, he just sat there with him to help comfort him.
With the girls…
Nora swam quickly after Ariel and knocked hard on the door "Ariel open up!"
"Go away!" Ariel shouts through her tears.
Nora ignored that and just swam in and said "Ariel talk to me, please." Nora comes up to the bed.
"I… I did what I needed to." Ariel whimpers hugging a pillow.
"But you love Fives. You can't let them force you into this." Nora looks on sadly.
"B-but I just got my family. I… I don't want to lose them." Ariel tries to wipe away her endless tears.
"Who says you have to choose between your family and Fives? If you explain then things would get resolved." Nora looks on sadly.
"No. No." Ariel shakes her head crying. "W-what if they call Kamino? What if they separate us?" she can't stop her endless tears.
"Oh Ariel." Nora's eyes shook at this, not sure what to do for her friend.
Then…
"Nora, can I speak with Ariel alone?" It was Lee and he looked saddened.
Nora nodded and headed out, she needed to find a way to help stop this.
"Ariel why'd you do that when you love someone else?" Lee sits on the bed patting her back.
"I… I don't…" Ariel sits up surprised.
"I saw it. The way you and Fives looked at one another." Lee looks at her softly.
"Lee I…" Ariel hugs the pillow with shaking eyes.
"I won't tell anyone." Lee assures her. "But please tell me. Tell me what it is you really want?" he looks at her softly.
"I… I want to be with Fives." Ariel hugs Lee letting it all out. "I want to hold his hand. I want to be with him in public. I want to kiss and be with him. I want to… to be with him." She feels tired after everything that happened.
'You really love him. Don't you?' Lee pats her head as she sleeps still clinging to him. 'I'll… help where I can. I swear it.' He looks at her softly.
Meanwhile…
Nora was going to find a way to stop this wedding, there had to be something they could do. She found Kit going towards Ariel's room and said "Lee is talking to her. You may want to wait a moment."
"How could Ciel do this. He can't just, just…" Kit sounded angry.
"Look I don't understand all this, but I'm not standing back on this either. I'm going to see what I can dig and up find how I can help." Nora looks determined.
"Just be careful. I'll talk to the royal family about this idea. And to Ariel. Perhaps you can help Milo and Link find out who murdered the king." Kit suggests.
"Good idea, and you try to hold this wedding off as long as possible. We can't let Ariel make a choice like this so hastily." Nora nods and the two swim off.
With the engaged couple…
Kit arrived to find Ariel asleep. Lee motioning for him to be quiet as he lays her on the bed.
The two quietly swim out at that. The two finding a spot to talk.
"You know, don't you?" Kit looks over at Lee.
"I do." Lee nods sadly.
"I'm sorry. You are a good kid and she does see you as a friend." Kit tries to assure him.
"I know that too." Lee sighs a bit. "I just wish I could have had a chance. You know?" he looks over at him still a bit sad.
"I do." Kit nods.
"Problem is how do we call off the wedding?" Lee sighs again leaning forward in the chair.
"For now we're just going to have to go with the flow. We'll have to wait until we figure out what happened." Kit explains.
"I don't know if Ariel will be okay with that." Lee sighs heavily.
"It's okay." Calls a voice from behind them, the two turning to see her. "I… I don't mind going through with it for a bit." She rubs her arm looking down, clearly not liking the idea.
Meanwhile…
Nora had made it to the throne room where Milo and Link where investigating the murder with their men and other mon cala.
"How's it going?" Nora swims up.
"Nora what are you doing here?" Milo looks surprised.
"I'm here to help. Do you two know what your father has done?" Nora looks worried.
"What do you mean, what has father done?" Link looks confused.
At that Nora began to explain.
The two looked on wide eyed.
"Why would father do that." Link looks shocked.
"Maybe he wanted to help keep what happened to Aqua from happening to Ariel." Milo glared still mad at Kit.
"Whatever it was we can't let this happen…." Nora looked around, the room was too full and said "I'll explain later, but for now we have to find out who did this." Nora looks determined.
"We appreciate any help you can give us." Link nods and heads off to talk to some men.
Nora then started looking about the crime scene, thinking about how it could have happened and what she already knew about it.
Milo came up and said "It will be nice to work together. I hope we can find whoever did such an act. But tell me, why are you so determined to do this, and why will this affect my sister's marriage to the prince." He whispers the last part.
"Don't you want your sister to choose her own love?" Nora replies as she looks about.
"I do want her to be with someone she loves, but I also want her to be with someone responsible. That will take care of her, protect her." Milo looks on sadly.
"She can do that herself and Ariel is smart. She won't go with just anyone." Nora suddenly notices something shiny in between some cracks in the carvings of the floor.
She swims down and starts to try and grab it out. "Nora what are you doing." Milo lifts a brow.
"There's something wedged here and urgh….Got it. Ouch!" Nora recoils as her finger bleeds. And she sucks on it.
Milo catches the small thing in time and gasps "A tooth."
Nora's eyes widened at that and says "You have to get that to your brother, It might hold DNA of who it was. But I have a good idea of who." Nora glares at the shark shaped tooth.
It wasn't long till the troopers, Anakin, Padme, and Mace returned to the water.
Fives was in a foul mood and Echo was trying his best to help his brother through this.
'I don't know if I can face her.' Fives looks down sadly.
'Fives. I'm sorry….I don't know what I do if it was Nora.' Echo's looks on worried for his brother.
In the throne room…
All servants were helping the engaged pair look over wedding things. They were going over cakes and linins. But then Ariel was taken off to try wedding dresses.
'I wonder what she'll look like.' Lee ponders with a small smile.
"Where's Ariel?" Nora asked as she swam in.
"Kida and a few women pulled her off to try on dresses." Ceil sips a drink. "So, they might not be back for a bit."
"That's too bad. But we can just talk for now." Anakin sits with them.
'Dress huh? But I won't be the one to…' Fives bites his under lip as an image of Lee standing next to her comes to mind.
'Oh Fives.' Echo and Nora flinch at his hurt look.
A while later…
"We're back!" Kida calls.
"Where's Ariel?" Link sips his drink with a lifted brow.
"Don't be shy princess. Come in." A few servants lightly push her in.
"W-wait." Ariel is beat red as she's brought in.
(Her outfit: pearls lining her hair in key areas/ pearl necklace/ white sweat heart wavy bottom shirt with pearl sleeves/ pearl belt/ white sparkling sheer sash around her waist/ sheer sparling shawl over shoulders)
'Wow.' Lee and Fives look at her wide eyed.
"Doesn't she look amazing?" Kida gushes. "I wasn't sure the Merstyle would suit her, but it suits her so well. Don't you think Lee?"
"Y-yeah." Lee nods a bit red.
"Look at the shy groom." Milo chuckles.
"Go get her lover boy." The brothers shove him a bit.
Lee floats over to just in front of her. The two flushing at how close they are.
"I… I'm going to do a paramotor check." Fives swims off with a pring in his heart.
'Fives…' Ariel looks at him then back down.
Echo looks at Nora and she nods as Echo goes after him.
Once gone Nora sighs and looks to Milo and Link "Have you two found anything on the tooth yet?"
"We need a more thorough scan on it. There was no skin on it, so we have to do a bone scan of the tooth to get the DNA." Milo replies.
"So you two may be close to finding my father's killer." Lee looks on hopeful.
"We'll believe so prince Lee." Link smiles.
"That would be amazing." Ariel smiles happily at that idea.
Suddenly a servant came in "Miss Nora. Master Windu wishes to speak to you in the garden." Nora is confused by this but nods "I'll see you all later." She swims off at that.
As she was swimming off to go the garden she suddenly senses something 'What is…'
"AAAAH!" Nora yelled.
Back in the other room…
"What's going on here?" Windu asks as he enters.
"Where's Nora? Didn't you ask her to meet you in the garden?" Ariel looks confused.
"I never asked Nora to meet me there." Windu looks surprised.
That's when they heard the yell "AAAHH!"
"Lady Nora!" Milo growled as he swam off with his spear.
"NORA!" Ariel swims off, forgetting about her dress.
They soon all headed off to find out what had happened.
Meanwhile…
Nora swam back and forth, her back slightly bleeding from a scratch.
"The Quarren shall not have another Mon Cala on the throne!" a Quarren male shouted as he rushed at her.
She activated her powers but she could only do so much as she hadn't trained for underwater battle yet. She force pushed and blocked but the movements felt hard and slow with the weight of the water.
"Leave her be assassin!" Milo shouted as he swam forward and shocked the Quarren down.
"Nora. Nora are you okay?" Ariel swims up to help her friend stay steady.
"I'm okay, Ariel your dress…" Nora looks on at the white dress becoming red and pink.
"What? Oh." Ariel looks down to see what she sees.
"We can have it cleaned later, right now we need to get you fixed up dear." Kida rushes up to check her wound.
"Why did you attack her worm, she is not the princess?" Milo growled in the man's face.
"And didn't your people want this?" Link glared.
"Some of us are not blind to the truth. A wedding will not solve anything. As for the girl, she is still close to the princess and if we hurt her friend or took her captive then the wedding could be postponed. It was a warning royals." He smirks.
The girls hug each other at that and Windu glares as he swims up "I'll have him locked up and questioned. Nora you should get those wounds healed."
"Wait where are they're guards? This wouldn't have happened if they were doing they're job." Milo growled.
"They were busy fix…" Anakin starts.
"That is not their job! They're jobs are to protect the girls. But they can't even do that right! From now on they'll be guarded by my men and myself." Milo dares for anyone to object to him.
"They have protected us many times Milo. And we are Jedi we can protect ourselves if we have to!" Nora speaks up.
"Yeah!" Ariel shouts with a small glare.
"I'm still not leaving you two alone after this." Milo crosses his arms "Now let's head to the medical bay."
"But…" Ariel starts.
"Listen to your uncle Ariel. He only wishes to protect you." Ceil nods.
"Come on now girls lets go." Kida leads them off.
Milo fallows as he calls a few men to fallow.
Windu sighed and thought 'This is not good.' As he took the Quarren for questioning.
With the guys…
Fives was cooling his head. He couldn't think straight as his heart ached.
"Fives are you okay. Talk to me please." Echo swam up worried.
"I'm sorry I just…" Fives sighs heavily, his head in his hands.
"You don't have to apologize for anything. What's happening is…..It's hard for you I know. We'll find a way vod. We'll find a way." Echo pats his brothers back.
As he pats his brother's back, they hear a commotion. They swim off. Anakin explains where the girls are.
At the medbay…
"You are not to enter." Two Atlantean guards block the door with their staffs.
"What?" Fives looks annoyed.
"Why?" Echo glares as he swims up, his girlfriend was hurt, and he was going to see her.
"Why?" Milo huffs from behind. "You two were NOWHERE to be seen when Nora was attacked. So now you can keep guard AWAY from them." He stares in anger.
"What….But we….We didn't…." Echo felt his heart ache. 'I just wanted to check on Fives, but he's right. I wasn't there. I wasn't there.' Echo felt his heart break at that.
'No. No at least let me be near her.' Fives feels the air leave him.
Fives holds his chest as he gasps for air.
"Fives, Fives what wrong?" Echo holds him as he comes out of his shock.
"C-can't…" Fives huffs.
"Get him up! Now!" The guards shout.
Echo rushes him up. Getting him to the ship, Kix gives him oxygen.
"What in the world happened? Did the suit malfunction?" Ahsoka looks at the tail sitting on the table.
"No." Link shakes his head. "As far as I can tell it's still working fine." He looks at the tail.
"Then what happened?" Ahsoka looks at it confused then glances at the man.
'Though I might know.' Anakin ponders worried.
In the medbay of the ship…
"Feeling better?" Kix pats his shoulder.
"No, but I can breathe again." Fives looks to the side.
"Mind staying with him while I talk to General Skywalker?" Kix looks at Echo sitting just outside.
"Of course." Echo looks on worried.
'Ariel…' Fives looks out at the window where he just sees the water splashing.
"Fives, talk to me. What happened down there?" Echo looks on worried.
"I don't know what happened. I just… I couldn't breathe." Fives looks almost ashamed of himself.
"You were afraid. Fives, you have a right to be with what's going on. We'll try to talk to the girls when we go back." Echo frowns. 'I'm scared too.'
"I don't know if I can go back down there. I can't watch her be with… with…" Fives heart rate goes up again on the machine.
"Oh Fives." Echo helps his brother calm, hoping it would work.
Fives felt his whole world collapsing. He wanted to be with her and fight for her, yet he couldn't.
Kix gave his assessment of Fives to Anakin. Anakin listened and it seemed he was right, it was a panic attack caused by stress. Stress of something they couldn't put in report and if the Kamino's saw this they'd think it was due to war and take him.
"Delete it." Anakin instructs Kix.
"Sir?" Kix looks confused.
"Delete it. We'll handle this on our own." Anakin pats his shoulder.
"Sir." Kix nods deleting it, a bit of relief coming over him at this.
With the girls…
"Princess, you're trying wedding cakes. Why not smile?" A servant looks at her worried.
"It might have to do with all the muscle heads." Ariel glares at the guards lining the wall.
"It's for your protection." Milo says flipping through a guest list.
"I can't wait to head back home. What should we do first when we get back?" Nora looks at Ariel. Just because she was getting married didn't mean she couldn't be a jedi.
"YOU will. Ariel will stay here." Milo explains never looking up.
"What?!" Ariel snaps.
"Well you can't be a Jedi and be a Queen. There for you'll be staying here with Lee." Milo has a small smile at that thought, of her being safe.
Ariel starts swimming off at that. The guards blocking her.
"Where are you going?" They look at her worried.
"I need a bit of surface time. You going to band me from that too?" Ariel stares sharply.
The men look at Milo, whom gives a nod. They move and Ariel swims off in a huff. Nora going with her, somewhat hoping to get in some Echo time.
Once on the ship Ariel gets dressed in some pjs and sits on the cot. She just wanted something sweet to eat and to mope.
"Can I come in?" Padme knocks.
"We just want to help you Ariel, please let us in." Nora calls in as well.
"Go away please." Ariel calls snuggling the pillow close.
"I got ice cream and soda." Padme calls.
"And I brought enough movies to binge watch for the night." Nora calls in a sing song voice.
"You're all cheats." Ariel opens the door with misty eyes.
"Only because we love you." Padme hugs her.
"And because it's the only way to make you open the door. Besides puppy whining" Nora smirks.
"I guess you'll have to take care of Scamp too." Ariel sighs playing with her melting bowl.
"Hey don't say that yet we'll figure this out." Nora holds her hands.
"They're rushing the wedding. It's going to be hard to stop it now." Ariel looks at the flickering screen sadly.
"We'll find a way, you can't be forced to do this. You have to tell them Ariel." Nora looks on sadly.
"B-but what if… if they try to keep us apart?" Ariel looks sadly into her soup of ice cream.
"Oh Ariel don't lose hope. I'm sure they'll understand. Maybe I can help postpone the wedding in some way. I mean the attack on Nora maybe a way to help us…" Padme starts.
"Yeah but…" Ariel starts.
Suddenly a knock on the door came, it was an Atlantean guard and said "Lady Nora, I was asked to escort you to the room down the hall. Captain Milo Tonn wishes to speak with you."
The girls looked surprised by this, wondering what he wanted. As Nora got up, she put her hands behind her and waved one. Signaling the girls to fallow in secret.
The two nod and wait till they leave before sneaking off to fallow. Once Nora was at the room the girls hid themselves to hear what would happen.
"Milo what's going on?" Nora glares still mad.
Milo turned, frowning worriedly and said "I know you and Ariel are upset with me but please I only want the best for my niece, especially after what happened to my sister." Milo looks down.
'What is he planning?' Padme looks angry.
'What's going on?' Ariel looks worried.
"I can understand this is scary but is keeping Ariel away from her choice worth it? She's much stronger than you know." Nora defends.
"I know that, she is very strong but the news of what happened and of what is to come…..It's our duty as royals to keep the peace." Milo stands.
"At the cost of your own happiness?" Nora looks on sadly.
Ariel looks down sadly. Padme patting her shoulder.
Milo looks down and says "Sometimes we must do what is best for the people than for ourselves. But in this moment, I didn't call you to talk of my niece's choices and happiness. I called you to talk about a choice you could make to help her in this time of change."
"What do you mean?" Nora looks confused.
Milo then looks up as he walks over towards a desk "We got the test results back, the DNA is of the karkarodon. We believe it might be Riff's since he has been the only one here so far. But we can't be sure yet."
'They found it!' The other two perk up at that.
Nora gasp "Do the others know?"
"They've been warned. Master Windu and Fisto have taken the case now. They will comeback with results, we'll be sure of that." Milo nods as he turns back with his arms behind his back.
'But then… why…' The two think.
"But this should give you enough information to stop the wedding, the shark goaded them into it. Why hasn't it been stopped? And how does this affect me making a choice?" Nora looks angry.
"Because the union still symbolizes a peace treaty and better prosperity. The Quarren would attack if we stopped it. Ariel must marry the prince or civil war will break out." Milo stands firm.
'So I DON'T have a choice.' Ariel looks down sadly, her heart breaking all over again.
'Oh Ariel…' Padme looks at her sadly.
"Why tell me all this in privet? Ariel should have a right to know all of this first!" Nora yells.
"And she will know. But I needed to tell you all this so you understand why the wedding has to go on. Not only that, but after what I heard you plan on returning. How can you go back after everything that's happened, and I know about the Sith after you. How can you go back to that?" Milo looks on shocked.
"Because it is my responsibility! Just like you are forcing Ariel into hers I have my own that I must do. Even if it is dangerous." Nora looks away.
Milo walks up to taker her hand and says "It doesn't have to be like that. You and Ariel can still stay close and you can stay away from this danger. If only you would take my offer to stay." Suddenly Milo gose on one knee and brought a ring out with a large pearl on it.
'WHAT!?' The other two's eyes widen at the idea.
Nora gasps at this and then glared "How dare you?!" she force slaps the ring out of his hands.
"What, but I…" Milo starts.
"I told you I couldn't be with you out of respect for Ariel." Nora growls.
"Ariel would never be that way. And this way you could always be near my niece and be kept safe from that mad man." Milo stands trying to convince her as he tries to hold her shoulder, but she backs up.
"I don't need your protection Milo. And you've disrespected me with that question after I've told you to leave it alone." Nora looks away.
"There's another reason for you not accepting isn't there? Tell me and I'll never ask again. But I want to know the truth." Milo looks on with sorrow.
Nora looks at this and thinks 'I should at least say, didn't I tell Ariel that Lee should have known as well.'
"I love another." Nora tells him with shaking eyes.
'As do I.' Ariel looks ready to cry.
'It'll be okay Ariel. It will.' Padme comforts her with a shoulder pat.
Milo looks stricken and looks down "May I know who he is?"
"No. I told you my reason Milo. Let it go now. And when you do figure it out, don't you dare do anything to him." At that Nora walks out closing the door behind her.
As she stepped out, she saw the girls looking at her worried, then she crashed in to them and cried.
"Oh Nora…" Ariel looks at her sadly.
"Is there anything we can do?" Padme asks sorrowfully.
"I want to see Echo. He needs to know about this." Nora wipes away her tears.
"Let's go then." Ariel helps her back.
With that they walked off, Padme scaring off any guards that got in their way. Not knowing that a certain Mon Cala Prince was on his way to the surface to talk. A plan in mind.
With the guys…
The guys were giving Fives space. He wasn't on a war path. He just had this cloud of doom around him.
"Come on, eat." Rex looks at his untouched food.
"Not hungry." Fives pushes it around with his fork.
"Come on Fives you need your strength, now's not the time to be a picky eater." Echo sighs.
"I'm allowed to be picky once in a while okay? I'm just not hungry." Fives pushes the tray away not in a good mood.
"Just try to eat. Okay?" Rex moves it back patting his shoulder.
"Echo!" Nora launched into him for a hug, trying to snuggle up.
Echo was shocked but happy as he held her close "Nora." He holds her back relieved to see her okay, but then he feels it 'She's so tense, what happened?'
'Ariel…' Fives sees her with Padme, then he looks at her hands.
A new ring on her finger where his had been. This one was a pink pearl with a silver band.
"I think I'm going to eat in my room." Fives sighs taking his tray as he heads out.
'Fives…' Ariel looks at him longingly.
"He's just trying to keep himself safe." Padme pats her shoulder.
Ariel nods with misty eyes.
"Nora I'm sorry for not being there, I should have protected you and…." Echo is silenced by Nora kissing him.
"Hey what we talk about. And you couldn't have known none of us did." Nora snuggles up close.
"What are you girls doing here?" Lee looks surprised to see them.
"J-just wanted some shore time." Ariel looks to the side playing with the ring.
"And we wanted to get away from the guards." Nora growls. "Did you need to talk to us Lee?" Nora looks confused now.
"Actually… I wanted to talk to the guys." Lee rubs the back of his head.
Echo tenses at this keeping Nora close "I don't think Fives want's any company at the moment." Glaring slightly at one of the people hurting his brother.
"Please, I have something I need to talk to the both of you about." Lee takes a hold of his arm lightly.
Echo sighed seeing the sincerity in them and said "Fine. Just don't set him off." Echo glares.
"Thank you." Lee nods.
"Lee, what are you doing?" Ariel looks at him worried.
"It'll be fine. Don't worry." Lee smiles softly heading off.
"Why don't we go back and watch the movies? Have snacks and chill out?" Padme motions for them to go back.
The two nod, heading off. The three watching movies and having snacks trying to forget all that just happened.
With the guys…
Fives sighs as he pokes at his food, nibbling it a bit. Sighing heavily at it as he recalls the ring on Ariel's hand.
'I could never give her anything that nice.' Fives looks at his food sadly.
"Fives, we have a visitor." Echo calls walking in.
"Who?" Fives sighs heavily.
"Me." Lee calls coming in behind him.
"Prince Lee." Fives nods, trying to keep his temper down.
"I'd like to propose something." Lee starts.
'Maybe the wrong choice of words.' Lee sees the pain come across Fives face.
"What is it?" Fives looks to the side in pain.
"I want to set up a secret wedding for you and Ariel." Lee says calmly.
"W-what? Why would you…?" Fives looks at him shocked.
"I know. I know about you two and I want to help." Lee explains.
"But how could we do this? The castle and the base are both practically on guard from everything." Echo looks on shocked.
"I know somewhere we can set up. It's a coral reef just a turtle ride away." Lee explains showing the holo map. "Think Nora and Amidala will help? Senator Amidala can even officialize it." He explains.
"I'll head of to tell them now." Echo smiles getting ready to leave.
"Just keep it a secret for now. I want to surprise Ariel with it having all the things she loves for… for the one that's not going to happen." Lee tries to pick his words carefully.
"Prince Lee, we're confused, why are you helping them?" Echo raises a brow.
"Why are you doing this? Don't you love her?" Fives looks at him confused.
"I do and that's why I'm doing this." Lee nods. "I want her to be happy and you'll do that." He pats his shoulder.
"Thank you." Fives smiles softly at him.
Echo smiles as well, glad to see his brother happy as well. 'I think Lee will be a good king to his people. Especially since he's willing to sacrifice his own happiness for his friends.'
With that Echo headed off to tell Nora and Padme.
Padme and Nora where sitting in Nora's room. Poor Ariel needed time alone and they decided to allow it.
"I hate this. How can they do this to her." Nora looks down sadly.
"I know. I wish we could do something. To stop it." Padme sighs.
"We just might have found a way." They looked over to see Echo and Nora launches at him again.
"Oh Echo. Echo I have to tell you something, something I didn't get to tell you before." Nora looks on sadly.
"I have to tell you both something too. Something that will help Ariel and Fives." Echo smiles as he then tells them Lee's plan.
"That's amazing." Nora jumps.
"I'll be happy to officiate it. But how will we know what Ariel wants for her dream wedding without giving it away." Padme frowns.
"Leave that to me. I know a few things about her already and I can have girl talk with her. I'll make sure to find out absolutely everything." Nora smiles, excited about this.
"I guess the maid of honor has it covered. But I wonder if we should make this a double wedding with how excited you are." Padme chuckles.
The two flush and shout "NO!" the two looked at each other as Padme looked surprise.
"It's not that I wouldn't, it's just….It feels to fast for me." Echo flushes.
"Yeah and I wouldn't want to take away Ariel's big day either." Nora flushes too.
Padme smiles at that "That's understandable."
Echo then said "Oh Nora you wanted to tell me something."
At that Nora deflated and said "Um well…Please don't get made when I finish telling you this." So, Nora explained what Milo did.
Echo was ready to pop and go on a man hunt, but seeing Nora's worried look he cooled down as he took a breath and said "How about we concentrate on the wedding."
Nora smiles at that and snuggled into him. Echo held her close taking in her morning glory smell.
Later….
Nora walked into Ariel's room and said "Hey Ariel can I come in."
"No." Ariel snuggles a pillow still wanting to be alone.
"Don't make me use my secret weapon." Nora threatens teasingly.
"Just try it." Ariel huffs.
Nora shakes a jar and Ariel shot up recognizing the sound of stare candies.
"Not fair. Those are my favorite." Ariel pouts eyeing the jar.
"I know." Nora smirked as she walked in.
"What's that for? Ariel finally sees the wedding magazines in her hands.
"I decided you deserved some fun." Nora smiles.
"Fun? How?" Ariel looks at it sadly.
Nora smirks "By imagining 'your' prefect wedding with 'your' perfect man." Nora looks on sadly now.
'Fives…' Ariel feels tears swell up at that.
"I'm sorry I never wanted to upset you I just…" Nora looks away thinking 'Maybe this was a bad idea.'
"No. No. At least in a fantasy I want to be with the man I love." Ariel rubs her misty eyes.
"Really? Are you sure?" Nora looks worried.
"Yeah." Ariel nods sniffling a bit.
So the two started looking at the magazines.
"Why underwater magazines?" Ariel looks at it confused.
"It was all I could find." Nora shrugs. It was true, it was all she could find.
"Guess that makes sense." Ariel sighs a bit.
"Well at least Fives would look hot as a merman." Nora chuckles.
"Yeah." Ariel smiles with a small flush.
"Okay so first things first, dress?" Nora smiles.
"I'm not sure. I… I kinda like the one I had on." Ariel flushes at the thought.
"He did seem to love you in it." Nora chuckles, secretly pointing it down.
"Really?" Ariel has a small smile at that, feeling better.
"Now what about cake?" Nora looks over smiling.
"Um… Oh this one!" Ariel points at one.
The cake looked a bit like bubbles with frosting and red velvet inside. Then shell like candies decorating it.
"Oh that sounds yummy and pretty." Nora couldn't help but draw the cake for her.
"That looks good." Ariel looks at the drawing of the event.
"Thanks, it just sounded so good. 'Oh no Echo stay away from it.'" Nora pretends like she's slapping him away and laughs.
"He'd want it too." Ariel giggles.
"Oh flowers. What about flowers?" Nora looks on giddy.
"Water lilies and… ocean flowers. They're so pretty." Ariel pictures them together.
"That would look amazing. What about décor and any other small detail you may have?" Nora looks on curious.
"Hmm… light blue and white streamers. Then coral lights." Ariel ponders. "Oh and the rings… I want mine to be pink sea glass in the shape of a star for my mom and silver band. And Fives would be larger with a small pink glass gem in the middle." She plays with the one on her hand wanting something simple.
"That sounds like a dream come true. Oh wait the song, what would be the song?" Nora looks on dreamy eyed.
"Um… It Happens in a Flash." Ariel smiles softly at all of this.
Nora had to gush at that. Then Ariel took her notebook away.
"Hey give them back." Nora looks worried.
"Why are you writing all of this down?" Ariel looks at her, sad again.
"I thought it might be something you might like for after." Nora looks down. 'I wish I could tell you the truth, but I can't.' Nora feels bad.
"Thanks." Ariel hugs her for that.
Nora hugs her back hoping this would work. Then Ariel went to a fresh page.
"Wait what are you doing?" Nora looks confused.
"You're turn." Ariel smirks.
Nora went red and shouted "What?"
"It's time to plan YOUR perfect wedding." Ariel smiles enjoying the idea of pay back.
"But I…" Nora tries to find a way to escape.
"No buts and no escapes." Ariel cuts her off.
Nora sighed, she supposed it would be fun and it would keep Ariel from getting suspicious. Though she worried a bit looking at her friend's plotting smirk. And with that Ariel began her questions.
'I can at least plan her perfect wedding and give it to her.' Ariel starts writing everything down.
After asking the same things and taking them down. Ariel was feeling a bit down again. After all this wasn't really going to happen. Not for her anyway.
"Hey you okay?" Nora asked. She had been smiling not long ago, she had hoped she had cheered her up. 'If only you knew.'
"I think I'm just going to lay down for a bit. You go get some time with Echo in." Ariel gives a sad smile as she hands the notebook back.
"Sigh, okay Ariel I'll see you later." Nora looks on sadly as she heads off 'Time to perform my maid of honor duties anyway.' She smiles softly hoping to get this done as soon as possible.
Later on with the others…
"Ariel…" Fives sighs listening to what happened.
"Just think of how happy she'll be to see all of this done for her and you standing there." Padme pats his shoulder lightly.
"I just… I wish…" Fives starts looking at the little rings back in their box.
"Hey you'll be together soon, and she'll be the happiest women in the galaxy, trust me." Nora hugs him hoping to cheer him up.
"Yeah just imagine how happy she'll be when she sees what you've done for her and that you'll be inseparable soon." Echo pats his back.
"Thanks." Fives looks at them with a small smile.
With that they split up with things to do. Padme has the flowers and décor. Nora keeping Ariel as busy as possible to keep her spirits up. Lee kept Fives busy with trying on tuxes with him as to not look suspicious. Echo got the other brothers together to gather the money for the rings and cake. All ready and willing to help to stop this forced wedding from happening.
All keeping the Jedi out of this. They didn't want them to get caught up in this and they needed to keep focused on keeping the peace. Find some other way to ease tensions.
A few days later…
"Nora where are we going?" Ariel looks confused as they ride the seahorses off, having ditched the growing number of guards.
"Oh come on, like you didn't want to escape the wall of meat surrounding us. And I can't say, it's a surprises." Nora smirks.
"Nora this is nice but… but my wedding is tomorrow." Ariel says drained of life. "Please, I just want ice cream and movies."
"Trust me this beats ice cream and movies any day. You'll thank me later." Nora's smile grows.
"Okay." Ariel sighs as they head off.
Meanwhile the others are finishing getting little things ready. They couldn't really get any food aside from the cake. They move the streamers about making sure it looks like Nora's sketches.
Fives was over by a steam vent getting ready. There wasn't much to put on, but he still struggled with it. Feeling nervous.
"Hey what's taking so long. The bride will be here soon." Echo smiles as he swims over.
"I can't get these cuffs to lock." Fives laughs nervously.
(Fives outfit: silver collar that fell to his shoulders/ silver cuffs that fall to his wrists with blue glass gems lining it/ light blue sash around his waist/ clean shaven)
"Here let me help." Echo helps put the cuffs on his shaking brother. 'Still trying to be the brave one.' Echo smiles sadly.
"What if… what if she says we can't do this? That her duty to the people is stronger." Fives looks down sadly.
"Fives she loves you. Yes, she has a duty to her people, but she has a duty to her heart as well. And I think she knows that the right thing to do is to be with you. We once broke our duty to fallow our hearts. Don't you think they do the same for us?" Echo pats his shoulder.
"Thanks." Fives smiles softly at that.
"Anytime. You can pay me back when I finally decide to take the big step." Echo laughs nervously. Still not quite ready for that. 'Though it be nice.'
With the girls…
"Ta da, here comes the bride!" Nora shouts as she stretches her arms out to show Ariel the wedding.
"W-what is all of this?" Ariel gasps seeing it all.
"Your wedding. Your real one." Lee swims over to her.
"W-what? But Lee…" Ariel looks at him shocked.
"I would NEVER want you to marry me out of guilt or duty." Lee cuts her off taking her hands into his lightly. "I will talk with the Quarren after Riff is outed. I'm sure they'll listen then." He looks at her softly.
"Thank you." Ariel hugs him with a few tears dripping down.
"We're friends aren't we?" Lee hugs her back, his heart breaking and swelling at the same time.
"Come on. Time to get the bride ready." Padme pats her shoulder with a smile.
"B-but my dress…" Ariel sniffs a bit rubbing her eyes.
"I got you covered merbride." Nora pulls up the bag and says "Your original wedding dress cleaned and ready as you requested." Nora smirks.
"You're the best." Ariel hugs her.
"Just doing my duty as maid of honor. At least I better be." Nora glares playfully.
"Well I don't exactly have time to find someone new." Ariel giggles a bit at that.
The two hug and then they go and get Ariel ready behind some steam vents as well. Lee smiled at this as he went to tell the guys the girls had arrived.
With the guys…
Fives was finishing straightening everything up. He was a bit fidgety with everything going on, he couldn't stop his nerves.
"The bride has arrived." Lee smiles kindly, yet sadly.
"I really am sorry Lee. We never meant to hurt you." Fives looks at him a bit sad himself.
"Don't be. Like I told Ariel, I'd never want her to marry me out of duty or guilt. She deserves to be with someone she loves, and maybe I'll find someone for myself someday." Lee still smiles sadly.
"We wish that for you Prince Lee. You're a good guy." Echo smiles.
"You'll find someone, and they'll be the luckiest girl on any planet." Fives smiles softly at him.
Lee rubs the back of his head and says "Thanks. Now you better get in place before the bride finishes."
That's when it finally hit Fives.
'Bride. I… I'm getting married. I'm…' Fives starts to have another panic attack as what's about to happen hits him.
"Oh no Fives calm down, you can do this. Breath." Echo comes to pat his back.
"What should I do?" Lee looks worried.
"Just give us a moment." Echo nods.
Lee looks worried but nods as he swims off.
"Hey you got this. All our brothers want this for you, they all contributed to this. And I think general Fisto would be happy she's marrying for love and not duty. And Fives… they would have loved her." Echo looks on sadly.
Fives calms a bit but looks sad.
"I brought you this." Echo gives Fives a picture he drew of their batchmates in a laminated frame.
"You think they'd be proud?" Fives rubs the picture lightly with his fingertips.
"They'd be so proud of you Fives. I know I am." Echo looks up misty eyed.
"I miss them." Fives feels a few tears drop at that.
"Me too. Now come on. Hevy would be shoving you out the door while Cutup and Bait would be trying to rile you up to get going." Echo wipes his eyes.
"Thanks for being here vod." Fives smiles at him wiping the tears away.
"Always Fives." Echo nods as they head off.
They put the picture on a nice piece of coral near the front. In a way imagining they're brothers there to see this.
With the girls…
Padme had helped Nora with getting Ariel dressed, then headed off to get ready for the proceedings.
"My heart feels like it's ready to jump out." Ariel places her hand over it with a nervous yet happy chuckle.
"You look beautiful." Nora says misty eyed as she finishes up her friend's underwater makeup.
"You okay?" Ariel looks at her worried.
"I'm okay, just so happy for you. I can't believe you're getting married already. But considering things I guess this is the best time. It's so romantic." Nora gushes.
"Thank you. For all of this." Ariel looks at her softly, her own eyes a bit misty.
"Well I wasn't going to let you go through with it anyway. But I'm glad Lee came up with this before I did something crazy." Nora chuckles.
"I guess this it. The big dive." Ariel stands, an endless smile on her face.
"Oh come here." Nora smiles as they hug.
As they pull back Nora says "I think you're ready." Nora smiles.
As they came out they were shocked to see Kit there.
"Dad!" Ariel calls wide eyed as her heart drops.
"Fisto we can explain…" Nora tries.
"No need." Kit shakes his head then swims up to Ariel and says "I felt how sad you were and had to come back. Mace took over for me and well….I fallowed you here and my guppy is getting married." Kit has tears fall from his eyes.
"Dad…" Ariel smiles at him with misty eyes.
Kit kisses the top of her head as he hugs her "Can I walk you down the aisle?"
"I'd love you to." Ariel hugs him, overjoyed to have him here.
Nora smile at the scene then gave Ariel her flowers before getting her own. That's when the march started.
Nora went down first scattering some flowers about and Echo felt his heart going a mile a minute. 'Oh if she's makes me feel like this now, I don't know how I'll survive our own wedding.' Echo gulps.
'Here we go.' Fives takes a deep breath waiting to see his bride.
Suddenly the song 'It happens in a flash' started up and Ariel was supposed to come down the aisle. What no one suspected was that she be coming down with Kit as well.
All of them look ready to scatter. But stay sitting for their brother and seeing Kit's loving expression for his daughter.
'Wow.' Fives sees Ariel in her wedding dress.
Kit kisses the top of Ariel's head as he swims to a seat. Ariel turning to Fives smiling.
"We're here today to bind these two together in marriage. And I believe Fives has his own vows." Padme smiles at him.
"Ariel, I have been in love with you since we met. I would travel to the end of the galaxy and back again just to see you smile and I will spend every day keeping that bright light in your eyes." Fives holds Ariel's hands looking at her with endless love.
"Oh Fives…" Ariel is misty eyed looking at him.
"Do you have vows yourself?" Padme looks at Ariel.
"Fives, you saw me. Saw me in a way I have never been seen before. I always felt like something was missing, I just never knew there were two. And finally. Finally my puzzle is finished." Ariel looks at with shaking yet loving eyes.
"The rings please." Padme looks over at Echo.
Echo smiles at his brother as he gives his wring "Wait a go vod."
Nora smiles as well as she hands Ariel her own ring "Go get that ring on him." She chuckles lightly.
"Do you, Fives Domino, take Ariel Tonn as your wife?" Padme looks over at him.
"I do." Fives slips the simple ring on her hand.
"Do you, Ariel Tonn, take Fives Domino as your husband?" Padme looks over at her.
"With all my heart." Ariel slips the ring on looking at him with endless love.
"By the power vested in me as a Republic Representative, I know declare you husband and wife. You may kiss the bride." Padme smiles at them.
Fives cups Ariel's face kissing her soft and long. Ariel leaning in as she places her hands on his. The two ignoring the woops and hollers of the brothers as they just enjoy this moment.
After that they danced a bit. Taking in these moments of not needing to hide. It was nice to just be in the other's arms again.
And then they cut the cake. The two having a small frosting fight with one another. Having fun with each other and the others. But then…..
"It's time to go." Kit looks at the couple sadly.
"No." Ariel clings to Fives.
"Ariel…" Kit looks at her sadly.
"No. I'm not letting go now." Ariel shakes her head holding him close.
"It's not forever. It's just for a while more." Fives pecks the top of her head lightly.
"B-but… W-we're supposed to get a wedding night." Ariel looks at him a bit red.
'Oh if looks could kill.' Fives feels his heart nearly burst at that.
"W-we can when back on Atlantia. Maybe." Fives rubs the back of his head slightly.
Ariel snuggles into Fives still not wanting to let go. But her grip loosens enough that Fives could, reluctantly, get free. Ariel reaching for him as he goes, Nora holding her back.
"It's just a bit longer guppy." Kit pecks her head, helping her get back to the palace.
Fives looking back to see Ariel's loving and longing eyes. Him much the same as Echo helps him keep moving.
Nora, holding her close, tries to comfort her friend "Come on Ariel. It's to keep you both safe. It's one more day, you can do this."
"I don't wanna. I… want to be with Fives. I want…" Ariel cries clinging to her friend as she lets it all out.
"I know Ariel, I know." Nora feels for her friend, she does. But just helps her let it out as they swim off.
Fives isn't all that happy to be going either, looking back as they go to the ship.
"Hey tomorrow everything will be settled and then you two won't have to ever let go." Echo pats his brothers back.
"I know. I know. I just…" Fives looks down sadly.
At that moment Rex came up to him and said "Hey, we're proud of you vod. First of the 501st to be married. We'll all tease you later but for now congrats and we'll help you through till tomorrow. Come on the guys have a present for you back at the ship." Rex smirks.
"Really? What?" Fives looks curious but nervous.
Echo frowns at this 'I have a bad feeling about this.' As they swim off.
Since it was the day before the wedding the girls had to stay at the castle but they'd be going back to the surface for a debrief time.
Once on the surface and back in regular uniform the guys walk into the mess hall where Rex said everyone wanted to give him his gift.
The two were a bit unsure about it but as they entered…
"Toss the groom!" Fives was suddenly swarmed by his brothers as they grabbed him and then began to toss him.
"Do something Echo!" Fives calls as he's thrown up.
"Oh I am." Echo smirks as he holds up his pad to record the event. At first he had shook his head but thought 'Well might as well get in the fun.'
"ECHO~" Fives shouts with a slight glare.
"Sorry Fives it's just the best man's job to embarrass the groom." Echo chuckles.
'I'll get you back for this.' Fives glares a bit.
With the girls…
They were in Ariel's room and Nora knew that her friend truly would go for a movie and ice-cream day if she didn't do something.
When they had arrived Milo was mad they ditched, but Kit told him he was with them the whole time and to back off. They could see a sort of tension off the two, but they'd ask about it later. Nora then dragged Ariel off.
"Where are we going?" Ariel looks sad.
"I am not going to let you sit around all depressed. Listen since your dad's here, Milo called off the muscle guards. Let's take the opportunity to do something fun. I mean we never did get to have your bachelorette party." Nora smirks.
"But I'm married." Ariel lifts a brow at that.
"Bridle party then. Whatever. Let's celebrate!" Nora cheers as they head to the royal gardens and she says "Come on tell me. What do you want to do?" Nora gushes.
"Marry you and Echo?" Ariel smirks.
Nora flushes at that and covers her mouth from shock "Echo and me… Oh no I don't think we're ready for that." Nora flicks her fake fin about.
"Why?" Ariel looks a bit confused as they sit.
"I just don't think we're ready for that step. I just, I feel there's still more to do and know about each other before taking that step. You know." Nora looks down still flushed but smiling.
"I get it." Ariel nods looking at her simple ring smiling. "Then how about karaoke." She smiles.
"Karaoke yay!" Nora cheers as they two head off to find some way to set a karaoke machine up.
Not knowing that a certain captain of the guard had overheard them 'Echo… The trooper!? She's with a trooper and Ariel approves of them and that they should…' Milo felt outraged at this and then he swam off with purpose.
"Um sir where are you going?" A guard of his own asked as he passed by two mermen. Both looked worried at how tense he was.
"I have a mission on the surface. Keep the princess and her friend safe while I'm gone." And with that Milo swam off.
The two men looked at each other in fear. When the captain was like this, the poor sap who he was angry at had better swim as fast as he can.