Fives and Echo had finally finished gift shopping and where heading back to the castle, but as they got there…..Kelp and Ponds intercepted them.
"What's going on?" Fives looks nervous.
"Did something happen?" Echo looks worried as he sees the hurt in their eyes.
The two look at each other and explain what happened. At that the two went running to the girls' room. Ariel was coming out of the room at the time when Fives rushed up to her.
"Ariel!" Fives runs up wrapping his arms around her kissing her. "Are you okay? Did he hurt you?" he looks at her worried with their faces near one another.
"I'm okay. I'm okay." Ariel taps her forehead to him assuring him.
"Nora, what about Nora?" Echo looked on desperate.
"S-she well…" Ariel looks at the floor not sure what to say.
Echo felt his heart break at that but said "Can I see her please?" Echo begs.
"Echo I don't think that's a good idea." Ariel shakes her head.
"Please Ariel. At least let me try." Echo keeps begging with shaking eyes.
"Maybe seeing him will help. You won't know until we try." Fives looks at her lovingly.
"Alright. But make it really quick." Ariel gives in, still really worried.
Echo rushed in at that and looked to find a crying Nora on the bed.
"Oh Nora." Echo says sadly as he comes up.
"Gasp, who are you?" Nora looks on shocked as she had sensed him.
Echo stops, heart broken by that "It's me Echo. Nora don't you remember me?"
Nora looked on at the sad man. 'He looks familiar but…' She shook her head.
Echo frowned sadly as he came up and said "Nora I…"
"Stay away! I don't know you. So, leave me alone." Nora glared at him.
Echo stepped back not wanting to trigger her and just nodded sadly as he walked out.
"Echo?" Fives looks at him worried.
"She, she doesn't even remember me." Echo feels wobbly on his legs as Fives catches him.
"I'm sorry Echo. But it's not her." Ariel looks at him sadly.
"I know it's not her talking, but still it hurt." Echo pants at this.
Then they heard Milo coming over.
"Milo." Ariel looks at him sadly.
Echo looked away not able to look at the man.
"What do you want?" Fives almost snarls.
"I came to see how you two were. And also, we had the flowers looked over and… I'm sorry but we can't find a cure." Milo looks away saddened. 'I always wanted her with me but not like this, not against her will.'
"Nora…" Echo whimpers as he fell to his knees.
"I'm sorry vod." Fives pats his back.
"Oh Echo…" Ariel looks at him heartbroken for him.
"I, truly am sorry I never wanted this I…" Milo starts.
"Go away!" Echo shouts.
Everyone jumped, not used to Echo ever acting that way.
'Echo…' The Domino's look at him impressed and worried.
"You got what you wanted didn't you? Now, now she doesn't remember me, she, she won't even let me near." Echo starts to cry hard.
Milo looked on sadly "I truly am sorry." And then walks away.
"We'll get her back Echo. Just watch. We'll find a way." Fives pats his back lightly.
"We will." Ariel nods.
Then Mace and Kit came up, both looking upset.
"What's going on? Did Oliver tell you anything?" Ariel looks at them pleadingly.
"He won't tell us the cure." Kit growls.
"Have the Atlanteans found a cure of their own?" Mace looks on pleadingly.
"No." Ariel shakes her head feeling down at the moment.
Mace felt his heart break at that 'Then we have no choice.' He looks at Kit begging.
Kit sighs at that and says "Oliver says he knows a cure but that he'll only tell you. But I don't want you near him. What if he does something?"
"What? No way." Fives holds her close.
"If there's a chance he'll give her the cure we have to try it." Ariel looks at him lovingly and pleadingly.
The two looked down sadly knowing Ariel would do anything for Nora.
"Fine I'll take you to him." Kit nods.
"I'm coming too." Fives looks ready to attack.
"No you need to help your brother through this. And I need to check on Nora." Mace says saddened as he looks over at the door, finally hearing the cries.
"Help her please." Ariel looks at Mace pleadingly.
Mace nods at that and heads in. He found Nora crying on the bed curled up.
"Nora?" Mace called as he walked up.
Nora flinched away and said "Why did you pull me away from him? I love him."
Mace sighs as he sits next to her and says "No you don't Nora. It was those flowers, they made you fall in love with him. You love someone else. And he's outside that door hurting."
Nora looked up at him at that and said "He said he was called Echo. Who is he? Why do I love him and not Milo? It makes no sense. I don't remember him. And I feel like I love Milo. I… I want out." Nora tries to rush out, but Mace holds her, she struggles and even hits his chest.
"I hate you! I hate you!" Nora cries.
Mace closed his eyes, his heart hurt at that but thought 'She's not thinking straight, you have to keep her away before she does more thing she'll regret.' "You think that now but hopefully you'll feel better soon enough."
Nora just cried at that as she falls back to the bed sobbing. Windu looked away saddened but thought 'Did you feel this way when I left you Zyanya? It looks like that's all I'm good for.' He sits down next to her hoping to calm her.
In the dungeon…
"Well been a while Selke." Oliver smiles at her.
"Ariel to you traitor." Ariel huffs with arms crossed.
"Oh come on. I'm bored. Play with me." Oliver smirks.
"Now tell me the cure." Ariel glares at him.
"Not with THAT here." Oliver glares at Kit.
"I'm not going anywhere." Kit snarls.
"I'll be fine dad." Ariel doesn't break eye contact with Oliver, the two staring the other down.
"Are you sure?" Kit looks at her worried.
"Go." Ariel nudges for him to go.
Kit heads out at that. Just outside of the room.
"Now talk." Ariel demands.
"As you wish." Oliver smirks with victory.
With the guys…
Echo was pacing back and forth, Fives, Kelp and Ponds looked on worriedly.
"Echo calm down." Fives tries to get him to sit.
"I can't Fives. I can't just sit here, I have to find a way to help her. She's crying so much. I can practically feel it." Echo holds his head not noticing his slightly glowing crystal.
"We'll find a cure. Just take a breath." Fives tries to calm him.
"Would you sit around if it was Ariel?" Echo shouts.
Then Kelp and Ponds looked on shocked as Fives looked down sadly.
"Fives I'm sorry." Echo starts.
"No." Fives shakes his head "You're right I wouldn't sit around. We need some sort of plan." He ponders.
"Yeah but what? Sounds like that stuff is pretty strong." Ponds frowns.
"We could always force the two in a room." Kelp chuckles.
"What do you think?" Fives looks over at his brother.
Echo shakes his head and says "No, she was afraid of me even being near her when I came into her room. Doing that would just scare her even more. I don't want to do that to her."
"What about a challenge?" Ponds points a finger.
"Challenge?" The two Dominos look confused.
"Hey that might not be a bad idea. You and Milo will duke it out and then you can show Nora who the better guy is." Kelp smirks.
"Nora's not like that, fighting with Milo might just upset her you know." Echo frowns.
"Maybe a different type of challenge. Like art or a quiz about Nora. Something that shows who knows her better." Fives ponders.
"You think?" Echo looks curious.
"It's worth a shot." Fives shrugs.
"It might work. But first let's hear what Ariel and Fisto have to say then we'll see if we have to go with our plan." Ponds calms them down.
They all nod at that, though Kelp was already planning on taping the whole thing if it does goes down. With that they went to go see if there was any progress.
In the dungeon…
"You're a monster you know that?" Ariel looks at him with hurt and hate.
"Those are my terms. Take it or leave it." Oliver looks at her as if he won.
Ariel heads out deep in thought and pain. As she heads off, she sees Echo fighting to keep himself together.
'I have no choice.' Ariel steals herself for what is to come.
"Ariel have you found anything." Echo looks on worried as they all walk in.
"He has the cure hidden along with his ship. He'll give it to me if… if I help him leave." Ariel looks down sadly.
"Ariel there has to be another way." Fives looks at her worried.
"No there's not." Ariel shakes her head as a tear falls.
Ariel then reaches out her hand to them with a serious expression. Fives and the others try to take a step but feel sleepy. The troopers passing out.
'Goodbye Fives. I love you.' Ariel pecks his cheek, another few tears dropping on to him.
Heading off she finds Nora pouting on her bed.
"What do you want?" Nora looks at her mad and confused.
"I'm taking you to be with your love." Ariel holds her hand out for her friend's.
"Really?" Nora jumps up at that.
The two head down to the dungeon. Nora very confused on what's going on.
"Princess? What are you doing b-" Ariel tosses the guards to the wall knocking them out.
"What are you doing?" Nora gasps.
"What's needed." Ariel takes the keys off one of the men.
"Well look who's back." Oliver smirks.
"Don't test me sleemo." Ariel snarls opening the door.
"Why are you with Oliver? What's going on?" Nora looks utterly puzzled.
"He has something we need to bring you back to your love." Ariel takes her friend's hand as they follow him out.
Ariel felt her stomach turn at this. But this was all she could do for her friend. The only way to solve this was to give something up. In this case it was her own freedom.
After a few fights with guards, and a trek on the beach, they find a cloaked ship. It was made to look like a bolder.
"Give her the cure." Ariel demands.
"How do I know you'll honor the rest of our deal?" Oliver eyes her with something in his hands.
"Which one of us isn't a double dealer?" Ariel stares sharply.
"Alright this is it." Oliver hands it over to Ariel.
"I'm testing it." Ariel takes a sip of it.
Ariel sips it but then feels dizzy falling to the floor.
"Ariel!" Nora gasps.
"Time to sleep." Oliver knocks Nora out as well.
Ariel wakes up in a different cell from Nora.
"Awake are we?" Oliver looks at Ariel with a smirk.
"You double dealing…" Ariel looks at him still out of it.
"You won't think that for long." Oliver smirks pressing a button.
Soon a pink smoke surrounds her. Ariel coughing as she falls to the floor. Oliver smirking.
"Now you're mine." Oliver hits her with something that makes her tail appear again.
With that he drags her into the water. Taking them off to a cave until she wakes up.
On the ship….
Nora woke not long after and saw her friend missing.
"Ariel…He took her, he." Nora felt her powers flicker but for some reason they didn't activate. "What?" She tried again but they again just flickered.
"What's going on?" Nora whimpers.
Suddenly a hologram of Oliver appeared "I'd figure you try to escape with those powers of yours so I gave you a special little mixture. You'll be suppressed for a while, don't try coming after me. Wouldn't want something happening to your BFF." Oliver smirks before the hologram shut.
Nora gasps at this "Why, why did she do this? What was she trying to do, what's even happening?" Nora shouts a she holds her head unable to figure out what was going on. Her mind and heart fighting each other.
Back at the castle…..
They guys had been found knocked out and where in the sick by. Echo felt Nora's pain and shot up "Nora!"
"Take it easy Echo. You took a doozy there." Link says as he holds him down.
"No…I have to go. Nora…." Echo tries again.
"Fisto and Windu are out looking for the girls, and Oliver we just have to wait…." Link tries again but.
"Ariel. I-I need to find her." Fives manages to get himself up.
"Please you have to rest." Link tries.
It didn't help, the two jumped out of their beds and rushed out. Link sighed and thought 'So much for being king.'
As they ran Fives noticed that Echo seemed to know where he was going.
"How do you know where to go?" Fives looks at him surprised.
"Nora. I can sense her. She's sad I… I don't know how I just can. I know where to find her." Echo rushes at this, running faster than ever before.
"Lets go!" Fives rushes off with him.
'Where are you Ariel?' Fives looks worried unable to feel her at all.
In the ocean…
Ariel woke up to her head spinning a bit. But then she saw him.
"Oli!" Ariel hugs him with a drunken like smile on her face.
"Good to see you're awake my love." Oliver lifts her head by the chin lightly, pecking her lips.
Ariel leaning into his lips. A piece of here feeling off. This was the man she loved so why did this feel wrong? Then a faceless figure came to mind.
'Who was that?' Ariel moves back looking confused.
"Something wrong?" Oliver lifts a brow at this.
"No. It's nothing." Ariel smiles in her haze, looking at him as if he's the only man in the galaxy.
"Well then let's go. We have to find a safe place to hide for a while." Oliver holds his hand out for hers.
"Kay." Ariel giggles taking his hand.
On the ship…
Nora had finally calmed down and was now trying to find a way to escape. She had tried putting her hand out to unlock the door somehow but couldn't. Now she was just pushing against the bars trying to make them budge.
"Come on. I have to get out! I can't just sit here. Ariel." Nora whimpers at the thought of her friend in danger.
After more shoves she fell down in pain, her shoulder hurting. She curled up and thought 'Why did she do that? What did she mean by helping me get to my love? What's going on?'
Suddenly she heard someone enter the ship.
"Hello anyone there?! Help get me out of here!" Nora shouts.
She heard running and found 'Wait, isn't that the one they call Echo. What is he doing here?'
Then Fives came up.
"Where's Ariel?" Fives looks around nervous.
"Oliver took her. He said if we fallowed he'd hurt her." Nora looks sadly as Echo got her out. He tried to come near her, but she ignored him.
Echo felt a sting at that but shook it off. 'We'll get her back to normal soon. First we need to help Ariel.' He thinks.
"What happened? Where did he take her?" Fives looks panicked.
"I don't know, I was knocked out. I don't understand what's going on. Why did Ariel help him? She said she was going to help me back to my true love, how would helping Oliver do that." Nora looks on confused.
Echo frowned 'She can't be on this mission, she's too confused. She needs to be kept safe.'
"We don't know but you need to go back to the castle, it's not safe for you." Echo says sadly.
"Why didn't you use your powers?" Fives looks confused.
"Oliver left a message saying he used something to suppress them for now. That's why I was stuck in there." Nora looks down sadly.
"Fives you should look at the ship recording, maybe that will give you a clue. I'm going to call the generals to get help." Echo says sadly as he walks off.
"Alright." Fives looks at him sadly.
Nora was still confused by this, but walked off with Fives to see the footage.
As they looked at the footage Fives felt his stomach turn. He wanted to cook a certain fish after seeing what he did to Ariel.
Nora looked on confused 'What did he mean by that? What did he do to Ariel?' Nora looks on worried.
Suddenly Kit and Mace entered the ship. Mace rushed up to Nora and hugged her saying "Nora are you okay?"
Nora didn't react at first. She didn't understand what was going on. So she just said "I don't know." Mace looked sadly down at her, Echo explaining what she had told them.
"I'm going to kill him." Kit fumes seeing the footage.
"I get first strike." Fives huffs ready for anything.
"We'll find a way. For now there are some guards here. Why don't you go back to the castle till we return?" Mace looks down at Nora.
"But Ariel…" Nora looks on saddened.
Mace took a breath, how could he get her out there.
Echo then came up and said "Milo's out there worried about you. You shouldn't keep him waiting."
At hearing his name Nora's zonked out look came back and she rushed out of the ship. He could hear her scream out "Milo!" and then several kissing noises. He felt sick from all of it.
"Are you okay Echo?" Fives places a hand on his shoulder.
"She's safe. That's what matters. Now we have to get Ariel back." Echo looks over stoically, trying to be brave for his brother.
"We should join them. Maybe they can find Ariel." Fives looks at him sadly.
"We can't do that. He said he hurt Ariel if he saw us. So, a large army wouldn't help." Echo looks down.
"Then we'll have to go ourselves." Kit says with a glare.
"We'll get them both back we promise." Mace nods as they then head off to get they're scuba gear on.
As they came outside to tell the guards they're plan. The others couldn't stand seeing Nora hanging on to Milo. In fact, he seemed miserable about it. He just wanted to find a cure and his niece.
When Milo heard the news "No way I have to go find my niece."
"I want to find Ariel too." Nora pouts.
Mace takes Milo to the side and says "Listen here you. Echo broke his hear to let her come to you so she could be safe while we go on this mission. Are you going to break his trust?"
Milo paled at this and looked down "But Ariel….."
"The rest of us will find her. You should go back to the castle and call for reinforcements in case things get more complicated. Or he tries to escape form your planet." Mace glares.
At that Milo nodded as he went back to a lovesick Nora who snuggled up to him. Echo looked away broken, but Milo looked back and thought 'I promise she'll be safe and back in your arms soon.'
With that they guards headed back.
With Ariel…
The two swam in the unfamiliar open water. Ariel giggling as she swam around and flirted with Oliver. Him looking thrilled at this.
Then Ariel stops. Something felt familiar about this area as a song played in her head. She started swimming in a different direction.
"Ariel? Where are you going?" Oliver follows her.
The two soon find themselves over what looks like a sunken city.
'Ironic.' Oliver huffs to himself.
"Wow." Oliver looks at the temple still standing in the middle of a maze of pillars. "How'd you know this was here? Ariel?" he looks at Ariel confused.
'Ariel. Ariel come.' A familiar voice calls to her.
"Ariel." Oliver places a hand on her shoulder.
"W-what?" Ariel shakes her head looking at him coming out of her haze. "Where are we?" she looks around at the slightly familiar place.
"You didn't know about this place?" Oliver looks at her confused.
"No." Ariel shakes her head.
'Jedi call?' Oliver looks interested and a bit perplexed.
"Well for now let's go in and rest." Oliver takes her hand leading her into the only standing building.
With the others…
Back at the castle. "Pleas will you help us." Ceil looks at the Quarren and Mon Cala that on holo call.
"Ariel is my friend. Of course I'd come." Lee motions to himself, now wearing his king garb.
"We wouldn't be standing here like this if not for her bravery. And Nora helped us see Riff for who he really is." Ri nods to them.
With the guys…
Fives is playing with his ring as one of his legs shakes wildly. He felt so uneasy. He could feel Ariel for a second. A second. And now he couldn't feel anything. He has no idea where she is.
'Ariel. Ariel where are you?' Fives looks at the wedding photo Rex had taken of them.
"We'll find her Fives we'll find her." Echo grabs his brother shoulder.
"How did you know where Nora was?" Fives looks at his brother confused.
"I don't know. I just did. It felt like… like we were connected, like…" That's when Echo's eyes widened.
"What? What is it?" Fives looks at him confused.
Echo grabs his kyber crystal and says "The crystal, know I remember. It always warmed up whenever I felt her. Fives you don't think this could be like an actual bond, do you?" Echo's eyes widened.
"Maybe." Fives touches his own. "We need to tell the generals." He looks ready to run.
The two rushed up to the generals who were finishing up loading the ship they'd be using.
"What's the matter?" Kit raises a brow as he sees them rush in a panic.
"We have something to tell you. It's important." Fives holds his necklace out of breath.
Echo then explains what he's felt with Nora and the crystal.
At that the two Jedi looked at each other and both said "Force bond."
"What?" the two say shocked.
"A force bond. It's complicated and rare. You know how the girls tend to know how to find each other?" Kit asks.
"Yes." Fives nods interested and curious.
"It's similar but this bond works with couples. It was something that happened a lot at a certain point in our history, but they haven't been seen since we cut ties to emotions. These bonds are strong and special. They help the couple find each other if in trouble or in pain. Usually with the help of a kyber crystal the couple can more easily do this." Mace explains.
"We thought we noticed this at some point when you boys helped the girls heal but with everything happening, we didn't have the time to explain. And simply took it as our eyes tricking us. Now we know that's not the case. The girls are force bonded to you boys. That means your love is meant to be." Kit smiles, happy his daughter had truly found her other half.
"You mean we're bonded to them. How can this be, we're not force sensitive?" Echo is shocked.
"You don't have to be. As long as one of the partners is force sensitive and you wear kyber crystals, your medicholrine will affect each other and your bond will always recognize you as…" At that Windu's eyes widened.
"What is it?" Fives looks a bit nervous holding his crystal.
"Echo you have to go back to the castle. Nora knows you're her true love, you just have to activate your crystal." Mace looks sternly at him.
"How? I barley understand it. And why didn't it work before when I found her?" Echo looks confused.
"Because it was only going one way. You have to make her feel the bond as well. Do that and she'll be cured." Mace sighs happily.
"Will it work for Ariel too?" Fives looks hopeful yet also worried.
"Yes, she'll be cured if you can connect with her as well, but we have to be near for that to happen. And it will be difficult with Oliver around. But we can at least find them now." Kit smiles.
"How?" Fives says with his voice cracking with desperation.
"I'll show you. It similar to a Jedi bond to a padawan…" And so Kit began to show Fives how to find Ariel.
Echo looked worried at Fives but Mace patted his back and said "Go, she needs you."
Echo nodded in thanks and rushed off.