With Ariel…
She had a dream again. A dream of the place she was in. But it was different. She was swimming around inside looking for someone. But who?
'Oliver?' Ariel calls out looking for him.
'Ariel! Ariel this way.' Calls a voice.
Ariel swam after the voice. She found herself bumping into someone.
'Hello Ariel.' Aqua smiles softly standing her daughter up.
'Mom? What are you doing here?' Ariel looks at her sadly yet lovingly.
'To guide you.' Aqua takes her hand.
Aqua leads her to a wall of mirrors. Ariel looks confused at her mom with a lifted brow.
'Look.' Aqua turns her to the mirrors.
Ariel saw herself in the mirrors. But there was something else. Someone beside her. As she looks closer she sees a man next to her with tan skin and scruffy face.
'Ariel.' The man with a tattoo on his left side, smiles at her lovingly.
Ariel touches the mirror then feels a hand on her shoulder. Waking up she sees Oliver their looking at her worried.
"You okay? You were calling out in your sleep." Oliver looks at her worried.
"I… I… I want to be alone!" Ariel swims off into the maze of halls.
"ARIEL!" Oliver calls but she had already vanished.
'This place is protecting her isn't it?' Oliver clicks his tongue.
With the others…
"Ariel! I know where she is!" Fives, whom had been meditating, is ready to swim off.
"Hold on." Kelp stops him from rushing out of the ship.
"Wait? Why?" Fives looks at him pleadingly.
"The ship will get there MUCH faster than you just swimming." Kelp explains.
"But…" Fives looks at the door longingly.
"He's right Fives. We'll be there soon enough." Kit places a hand on his shoulder.
"Yes sir." Fives sits playing with his ring again.
'I'm coming Ariel. I'm coming.' Fives looks ahead wishing he was there already.
Meanwhile Ariel swam about the halls, her head spinning. She felt like she was going to go insane. Images of Oliver and this man competing to take over her memories.
'It hurts. It hurts so much.' Ariel holds her head as she slides down a stone wall crying.
"Ariel." Calls a familiar voice.
Ariel opens her eyes to see her mom there. Her mom looked different, though she couldn't place it. This had to be a dream. It HAS to be. But…
"Mommy. Mommy make it stop. My head hurts." Ariel hugs her around the waist crying.
"I know baby. I know." Aqua pats her head as her daughter lays her head on her lap.
'It feels so real.' Ariel cries as she takes this in, hearing her hum.
It didn't take long for the others to arrive. They entered trying to find Ariel and/or Oliver.
"Ariel is this way." Fives feels her.
"Go. We'll hunt Oliver." Kit snarls lighting his saber.
"Sir." Fives nods heading off.
"With me." Kit motions for them to fallow him.
Fives moved down the halls looking for Ariel. He could feel her. Her fear and pain. Her confusion. And something else. Love? For him? No it was different. He'd figure it out later.
As Fives got closer Aqua started fading. Her time here was running out.
"Trust your heart guppy. Trust it." Aqua kisses her forehead before fading out of what seems existence.
'Mommy?' Ariel wakes up a bit.
"Ariel!" Fives shouts turning the corner.
"Go away!" Ariel moves to the back of the wall as close as she can. "Go away." She turns covering her ears as she shakes.
"No. I won't." Fives shakes his head moving closer.
"Why? Why are you here? Why are you doing this?" Ariel whimpers.
"Because…" Fives turns her to him. "I said I'd fallow you to the end of the galaxy. And I meant it." He looks at her lovingly, their necklaces glowing.
Ariel's head spun more. She held her head in pain. She just wanted it to stop. Someone, make it stop.
Fives took a risk at this. He took off his helmet kissing her. The false memories shattering like glass, Ariel wraps her arms around his neck kissing him back. Once their lips part Ariel saw his helmet and looks him struggling to breath.
"Fives you idiot!" Ariel grabs the helmet placing it back on him.
"I… I had to do something." Fives looks at her lovingly as his suit drains out the water.
"You could have died dummy. Dummy. D-" Ariel hits his chest crying.
"I got you. I got you." Fives holds her close.
Ariel snuggles him crying. Then she recalls something.
"Mom. Where's mom?" Ariel look around worried.
"Ariel… your mom is dead, remember?" Fives looks at her sadly.
"B-but she was here. She…" Ariel tries to recall.
"Ariel... your head was confused." Fives massages her hand with his thumb hoping to calm her down.
"B-but it felt so real. S-she held me a-and hummed while patting my head." Ariel could feel tears welling up again only this time for lose.
"I'm so sorry Ariel. I wish it was real." Fives holds her close, whishing he could kiss her again. "Let's get you back to be looked over. Okay?" he moves her back a bit with longing eyes.
Ariel nods sniffling. With that they headed back to the others. Ariel looking back at the walls longingly.
On the other side, Aqua stands by the same wall only it looks see through from her end. She stands in what seems to be a lush field placing her hand on the wall.
'My guppy, all grown up.' Aqua looks at her lovingly.
"I've had enough! Let me out! Let me be with them for real, not just ten minutes!" Aqua turns to a glowing crystal sitting on top of a fountain. "Let me go. I want out. I want out. I want-" she throws rocks hitting a force field.
'I want to be with my family.' Falling to her knees weeping.
Aqua recalls the fight with the Sith. How she created a storm to drown them both. But he was able to leave on a ship while she sank with the island. Only as it started to sink, she was knocked out. When she awoke, she was in this place.
No idea why she was there she spent years exploring it. But never found a way out. She had been trapped for so long but saw no use in leaving with her daughter gone, believing her to be dead, and unable to be with her love. And now… Now she would give anything to be with them.
"Please. Please let me go." Aqua weeps looking at the see-through wall, her only window to the outside world and most likely her only way out.
Meanwhile on the surface…..
Milo had tried everything to get Nora off him. He had tried distracting her with a movie, food, he'd even tried leaving her in the garden.
Nothing worked, she just tracked him down again. 'Is she part hound?' Milo groaned as he felt her nuzzle him again.
"What's wrong love. Don't you like it when we snuggle?" Nora smiles at him still loopy.
Milo looked at her saddened and then thought of something 'What if I made her fall out of love with me. I don't want to hurt her but…..'
"Nora this isn't going to work." Milo pulls her hands off him.
"Don't be silly of course it will work." She puts her hands on his chest.
'I'm sorry.' Milo closes his eyes as he takes her hands off "No it's not. Nora. I don't love you."
"What?" Nora feels tears in her eyes at that.
'Keep it together.' Milo flinches as he feels his heart grow heavy.
"Nora, I can't be with you. I'm not the man you should be with….." Milo starts.
"No, you're my love, why are you saying this? It doesn't make any sense!" Nora starts yelling, her head throbbing again.
"Nora listen there's someone else, and he really does love you and….." Milo tries to clam her down.
"Stop! Why does everyone try to tell me how to feel. I know how I feel, don't I, I…." Nora felt her head hurt again.
"Nora are you okay?" Milo tried to help her but.
"Stay way!" Nora shouts as she runs off.
Milo sighs and thinks 'Great I just made things worse.'
Suddenly Echo came in and said "Where's Nora?"
"I thought you were with the search party?" Milo looks shocked.
"We found a cure, so I came here. Where is she?" Echo asks again.
Milo looked down saddened and said "She ran off." He tilted his head in the direction she went.
Echo jumped at that and rushed in that direction. He ran about sensing for her, until he came to the gardens, he found her crying by a fountain.
"Nora…" Echo looks on sadly as he walks over.
"Go away! All of you just stop it. Stop telling me how I feel, who to love. It hurts." Nora keeps crying unable to hold it in anymore.
"Oh Nora. I never wanted to hurt you, but I can't leave you." Echo comes up to touch her shoulder.
It felt right, but wrong, and she flinched away. "Why?" Nora says shaking.
"Because I come for you, no matter what. I knew this would never be easy. I know your hurting, but please, please listen to this." He brought out the music box and soon the song started playing and he decided to sing along.
"Can't say how the days will unfold,
Can't change what the future may hold
But, I want you in it
Every hour, every minute
This world can race by far too fast
Hard to see while it's all flying past
But, it's clear now,
When you're standing here now
I am meant to be wherever you are next to me."
Nora felt something at that, it was strong but warm. What was it? She turned to him this time and saw the little trinket in his hand, mesmerized by the dancing figures.
Echo smiles as he felt the warmth of the crystal now and saw how it glowed in Nora's as well. 'It's working.'
"All I want to do
Is come running home to you
Come running home to you
And all my life I promise to
Keep running home to you
Keep running home
To you."
Echo looked deeply in her eyes hoping she could see how sincere he was. She felt his stare and looked into his eyes, something about them was familiar. 'I know those eyes. Their like the dawn.'
"And I could see it
Right from the start
Right from the start
That you would be
Be my light in the dark
Light in the dark
Oh, you gave me no other choice
But to love you."
At that the necklaces brightened up more and Nora began to remember, remember him, remember they're time together.
'Nora come back to me.' Echo begs with tears in his eyes as he finishes up the song.
"All I want to do
Is come running home to you
Come running home to you
And all my life I promise to
Keep running home to you
Keep running home
Home to you."
Echo closed his eyes putting all his love in these words as Nora felt herself gasp as she thought 'Echo?'
"Can't say how the days will unfold
Can't change what the future may hold
But, I want you in it
Every hour, every minute."
At that Echo opened his eyes hopefully, he felt her side of the bond strong and saw her staring at him in shock and tears.
"Echo. Oh Echo…." Nora gasps at all this.
"Nora your back I…" Echo tries to hold her but she pulls away.
"No! How can you look at me? I, I betrayed you. I kissed Milo, I…..How can you still love me?" Nora was gasping at this unable to come to grips with what she had done.
She didn't get enough time to think much on it as she felt soft lips touch hers and her eyes widened as she then felt strong arms around her and they stayed there as he pulled back and said "Cause I come running after you no matter what. I love you. Please believe that. It was never your fault." Echo taps their heads together.
At that Nora felt no more fight in her and just limped in his hold. "Echo…mi amour."
Echo smiled as he nuzzled the top of her head and said "Mi amour." They stayed there for now. Not wishing to move, not wishing to acknowledge the world around them, just each other and their love.
The others returned around sunset. Ariel brought to the medical bay.
"They look perfectly fine. Though they might be out of it for a while." A doctor looks her over.
"Thank goodness." The Tonn family sighs with relief.
"You scared us." Kit looks at her softly.
"W-what about what I saw? Is there a chance… I mean is it possible mom is…" Ariel looks at them hopeful.
"Ariel…How could that be." Nora looks over confused and worried for her friend.
"Oh guppy…" Kida starts placing a hand on hers lightly.
"W-we looked all over those ruins when it first fell. We found no trace of her." Ceil chokes on his words slightly.
"But I…" Ariel starts with her eyes misting.
"I looked too guppy. I searched high and low for her for months. Seeing if I felt anything. But there was nothing." Kit looks at her sadly.
"But she was there. She WAS." Ariel starts emotional.
"Oh guppy I know it felt that way but…" Kida starts patting her head.
"No!" Ariel calls shaking her head. "She was there. I felt her. I-" she motions to herself with tears in her eyes she jumps off the bed running off.
"Wait Ariel…" Nora tries to get up but she was confused by this and she was worried for her friend.
"I'll go." Fives starts to head off.
"No. I know you want to be with her, but I think this is a father and daughter thing." Kit pats his shoulder heading off.
"Is there really no way? No hologram? No reason she'd feel she has to hide?" Fives looks at the royal family pleadingly.
"If there was, we would have never given up looking for her." Ceil shakes his head.
"The poor girl. She must be so confused." Kida looks worried for her.
'Ariel…' Fives looks out the window longingly.
"Everything will be okay amour." Echo kisses the top of her head.
Nora looks on sadly thinking 'I hope so.'
In the garden…
Ariel looks out at the water watching the waves. She was curled up a bit still sniffling.
"Can I join you?" Kit stands next to her.
Ariel just shrugs as she watches the water. Kit sits next to her watching the water himself.
"I'm not crazy." Ariel sniffles a bit.
"Who said you were?" Kit watches the water.
"I know what I saw. She was there." Ariel starts with a hic in her voice.
"Ariel…" Kit starts.
"She was there. She was there! She was!" Ariel starts shouting as tears fall.
"Ariel…" Kit starts.
"She was there. I felt her. I did. I…" Ariel hics. "Tell me she was there daddy." She looks at him with tears falling down.
"Oh guppy." Kit scoots over hugging her. "I believe you saw her. I believe she helped you, in your mind or heart she took form and helped you through that. That's what I believe." He pats her head pecking the top of her head.
"W-why? Why didn't she leave? Why did she stay after the Sith left?" Ariel asks holding her father close.
"Ariel I don't think…" Kit starts.
"Please." Ariel cuts him off. "Please tell me." She looks at him desperate for the full truth.
"Your mother had just given birth to you when the news of Darth Maul coming came to this planet." Kit starts. "Your mom came up with a plan to stop Maul. But it would mean someone with water ability had to stay. AKA your mother." His voice breaks a bit at that.
"Why? What could she do that others couldn't?" Ariel looks at him with shaking eyes.
"She could sink the island of Zala. She could try to keep him from leaving or at least make him think everyone was dead." Kit continues. "But he saw through it and took the last ship."
"Why not try to swim home? She could have done that couldn't she?" Ariel looks at him with her heart breaking.
"She couldn't." Kit shakes his head.
"Why?" Ariel's voice cracks with tears dripping down.
"There was a barrier around the island to keep everyone safe." Kit wipes her tears away, but they're replaced with new ones. "She couldn't get past it. Not until it was halfway underwater and by then… by then she'd be dodging debris." He closes his eyes trying to chase images of her falling out from his imagination.
"But with her Jedi skills couldn't she have dodged them?" Ariel gives one last desperate plea.
"No guppy. Not with how tired she would have been from shaking up the water to sink the island." Kit shakes his head.
Ariel clings to him again. Kit rubbing her back as she lets out her sadness. Him letting his own sorrow out as well.
While this is going on Fives was trying to get the cooks to let him in the kitchen.
"No. I'm sorry prince Fives, but we were warned about your… cooking ability." The cooks clear their throats as they talk to him.
"Who told you? And what did they say?" Fives crosses his arms, ignoring the prince bit.
"Princess Ariel and her friend. They um… might have mentioned what happens when you're near a kitchen." A cook looks at the others wondering what to say.
"Your brothers may have mentioned a few things as well." Another says clearing his throat.
"We told them about how you were banned from the mess hall kitchen." Echo has to chuckle at the memory as he comes in.
"I just want to make something for Ariel. I want to make her some porridge to… to make her smile again." Fives looks down sadly.
"I think he can be trusted to make porridge. Trust me it's the only thing he's never burned." Echo assures.
"Um…" The cooks look at one another.
"I promise to keep the kitchen in one piece. Troopers promise. He just wants to help Ariel." Echo salutes.
"Alright." They nod stepping back.
With that they head in, Fives heading straight for the ingredients and supplies he'd need.
As they walked in Echo had to stop frozen as he noticed something in the far back 'Cake…Nora's birthday.'
Echo looked down sadly "Sigh, what a way to spend her birthday."
"What's up?" Fives turns to him as he starts the stove.
"I just. They had all this big stuff planned and now… I don't know if she'll let them. After everything she'll be too embarrassed and too irritated for something so big." Echo sighs.
"Guess that's true. Doubt Ariel is up for anything either." Fives sighs at that. "What about the music box?" he leans on a counter looking at Echo.
"She saw my gift, but I haven't given it to her yet technically. I need to do that soon. Try to save this day a bit." Echo sighs again sitting on a stool.
"This is just a bad day over all isn't it?" Fives rubs between his eyes.
"Tell me about it. I wonder if they'll even remember what today was anymore." Echo frowned.
"I wonder if they'd want to." Fives is the same.
"Well I can at least bring her some birthday cake. How about we leave the porridge and bring them that instead. Might be a safer option." Echo rushes to turn off the stove that started flaming up. "Sigh, really, even that?" Echo covers his face.
"It's just a little fire." Fives rubs the back of his head looking away.
Echo shook his head and they cleaned up before grabbing some birthday cake for the girls. Echo found a candle and glared at his brother to step three feet apart at least, saying "I don't need you burning this up too."
Fives huffs crossing his arms.
With that they headed off to find the girls.
With Nora...
Nora decided to go to her room thinking 'I just want to hide in my room till we get back home and forget about this whole mess.'
On the way she bumped into Ariel, at that they jumped shocked but Nora hugged her tight and said "Are you okay? I was worried."
"I'm okay." Ariel wipes the last bit of her tears away. "How are you?" she looks at her friend worried.
"I just want to hide till we leave. And Echo's with Fives at the moment. Said something about keeping him from being banned from the royal kitchen." Nora shrugs.
"Oh boy." Ariel sighs shaking her head a bit.
At that the girls entered, and as they did, they saw they're gowns hanging on the doors of the closets. That's when they remembered.
"Right the birthday party." Ariel sighs heavily at that.
Nora just ignored her as she went to crawl under her bed and then screamed "This is the worse birthday ever!" Nora started crying.
"Maybe we can still save the day. We could still have the party." Ariel pats her back.
"No, I don't want a party! Not after all that! It's so embarrassing and… and I'm tired." Nora whimpers.
"Anything you want?" Ariel pats her back.
"I want chocolate, lots of it and I want to hide in here till we leave." Nora groans.
"You can't do that." Ariel shakes her head a bit.
"Yes I can, it's my birthday and I'll cry if I want to." Nora sniffs.
'Poor Nora.' Ariel pats her back as her friend lets out her frustrations.
Suddenly they heard a knock on the door.
"Who's there?" Ariel goes to the door.
"Hey." Fives smiles with two pieces of cake in hand as the door opens.
"We came to see the birthday girl." Echo flushes as he looks down at the slice of cake with a candle on it.
"This is sweet guys but…" Ariel takes her piece and looks over at Nora still covered with the blanket.
"I don't want a birthday." Nora whimpers.
Echo frowns as he walks over and says "I thought so. Maybe we can skip the big party and just have something small. I never got a chance to give you your gift properly." Echo rubs her back.
Nora looks at him and says with a distant look "The little heart. I remember, was that what you were going to give me?" Nora looks on shocked.
Echo flushes rubbing the back of his head as he pulls it out and says "I still am." He turns it on and Nora smiles at the little dancing figures as the song starts.
"Best gift ever." Nora holds it closer as it finishes and snuggles into Echo.
Echo smiles as he holds her close and says "Want to make a wish?"
"Yes. Wish." Ariel claps for her to do that.
"Go on. Blow it out." Fives motions for her to get it over with.
"Don't really need one." Nora shakes her head just happy to have Echo holding her.
"Yes." Ariel demands with a smile.
Nora thinks a bit on this and then blows out the candle.
"What's the wish?" Fives smiles.
"Can't say or it won't come true." Nora chuckles.
"It won't?" Echo looks confused.
"It's just a game Echo and the wish is just supposed to be secret." Nora pecks his lips.
"Really?" Fives looks at Ariel.
"Yes." Ariel smiles pecking his cheek.
"You sure you don't want to do anything else." Echo looks at her worried.
"I'm not sure. Today was just too much." Nora looks down sadly.
"How about just a small party in the garden? No extra guests, just us, the generals, Kelp, Ponds, and the Tonns." Echo suggests.
"Yeah that could work. What do you say?" Fives smiles at her.
"But how can you get it ready in such a short time?" Ariel looks confused and a bit excited.
"Just leave it to us. Meet us in the garden in three hours." Echo kisses Nora before leaving.
"We'll have it ready." Fives pecks Ariel's lips before heading out.
As the guys left Nora flushed and then she realized it "Wait, what should I wear?" Nora panics now.
"Why not wear that dress?" Ariel motions to the one on the hanger.
"I guess I can always wear something else tomorrow." Nora thinks.
"Let's get ready then." Ariel smiles taking her own gown down.
Nora nods as she flushes at that, she really would like to see Echo's reaction to the dress. With that the two got ready.
Nora would be wearing brown lipstick, some shimmering goldish blush, and bright light teal eye shadow. Ariel wore pink lipstick, some light peach blush, and light purple eye shadow.
With the guys…
Fives had a small group helping him set up the garden for the party. Putting up streamers and lanterns.
Then Echo had a group helping with food. Setting up tables with a lot of Nora's favorites on two different tables.
"Okay. That should do it." Fives looks at everything proud of what they accomplished.
"They're going to love it." Kida smiles at everything as she comes to check on the setup.
"It is amazing." Milo looks around, walking about with his mother. "Let me know how it goes."
"Wait, you're not coming?" Kida looks at her son saddened.
"I think it's best I give Nora space for a while." Milo looks down sadly.
"But…" Kida looks on sadly.
"Mother I'll be fine. I'll lead the petrol to look for Oliver tonight. Have fun." Milo assures her before heading off.
"Fine." Kida sighs at that. "Well the rest of you should get ready for the party." She motions for them to get going.
The men nod heading off to get ready for the same party. Kida looks around at everything smiling. It was very well done. Then she walks over the cliff edge to watch the water.
'Aqua, if you are out there come home. Please come home.' Kida looks out with sad eyes.
"Time to get ready myself." Kida wipes a few tears that have fallen and heads off.
With the girls…
Nora looks around the halls a bit nervous. Jumping a bit as she hears someone's coming.
"You okay?" Ariel looks at her confused and worried.
"I just, I'm worried about running into Milo." Nora flushes as she stares down.
"Oh yeah, being around Milo would be hard wouldn't it?" Ariel realizes. "What happened?"
Nora rubbed her arms and explained what had happened during her hazed moments.
"Hello girls." Kida comes up in her nice red dress.
"Hello Kida, you look very nice." Nora smiles at the elder women.
"Um… a-about before…" Ariel plays with her sleeve looking at her gran and the floor.
"It's alright guppy. You were confused." Kida hugs her, Ariel nuzzling in a bit. "And don't worry, Milo has placed himself on guard duty all night. He wants to give you space." She looks over at Nora.
"Sigh, that's really appreciated." Nora looks away fidgety.
With that they head to the garden.
In a different hall Kit sits under the portrait of Aqua, staring at his holo image of the two of them.
"I told her Aqua. I told her what happened." Kit says sadly. "Did I really do the right thing? Taking away her faith you could be here."
"You did what was needed." Mace calls from his left, sitting next to him.
"I still feel her you know. From time to time I can hear her humming or picture her splashing in the pool. There are days I could SWEAR I could reach out and touch her." Kit looks at the image as a few tears fall.
Mace pats his shoulder, just being there for his friend. He needed to let these things out. Holding them in for twenty odd years, he had a lot to let go.
At the garden…
"Wow, this looks amazing." Ariel looks around with shining eyes.
"I can't believe you all did this for me." Nora looks on watery eyed.
"Happy birthday!" they all cheered as they came up to hug her and congratulate her.
Echo looked on stunned at seeing Nora 'Wow she looks, she looks like a dream.'
"Sure about not marrying her yet?" Fives nudges Echo's side.
Echo flushes deeper at this and says "If she keeps this up I may have to reconsider." Echo tries to calm down before heading up to see her.
Fives chuckles to himself at that.
As Echo reaches Nora he says "Happy birthday amour." He kisses her and everyone claps.
"Don't you look nice." Ariel laughs at bit at Fives hat.
"I know. I know. I just… wanted to impress." Fives rubs the back of his head.
"Well I think you're fine without this." Ariel takes the hat throwing it to land on a bush.
The guys had all gotten dressed as well.
Fives was wearing a white royal Arabian hat with gold trim leading to a sky blue stone with a navy blue feather at the top (gone)/ blue jacket with black trim/ blue and black trim sash that went around body/ navy blue high collar long sleeve shirt/ dark gray pants/ black slippers.
Echo was wearing a white slightly puffed shirt with a dark purple collar over his chest with silver trim and a white gem in the middle of the collar. Slightly puffy dark gray pants. A purple cloth down the middle with a silver trim hanging form a silver belt. Dark purple shoes. A small purple hat with a small white gem on the side.
Not long after the two Jedi came out to the party.
Windu looked on sadly and said "She looks so grown up."
"You okay?" Kit looks at his friend.
"It's just…. We barely got them and now, they're moving on so quickly. I wonder how long before I have to give her away." Mace sighs.
"It shouldn't be for a while." Kit pats his shoulder.
Mace nods before heading up to Nora who still seemed a bit nervous about it all.
As he comes up he puts his hand out and says "May I have the first dance?"
Nora smiles and nods Echo nodding as well as he backs off.
"May I have this dance?" Kit holds his hand out for Ariel's.
"Sure." Ariel takes his hand.
"Have fun." Fives pecks her lips.
They go out to the dance floor and soon a song starts, Kelp had decided to DJ and he smirked as he decided to help the generals out with a little something of his own.
"She spins and she sways to whatever song plays. Without a care in the world. And I'm sitting here wearing the weight of the world on my shoulders. It's been a long day and there's still work to do. She's pulling at me saying 'Dad I need you. There's a ball at the castle and I've been invited. And I need to practice my dancin'. Oh please, Daddy, please!'" They were all shocked by the song.
'I wonder who danced with her at the father daughter dances.' Kit looks at her a bit sad at what he missed.
'It would have been nice to have these dances with him when I was little.' Ariel dances close to him.
Mace was shocked and thought 'But I'm not her father I…' He sees how flushed she is and then thinks 'But she's the closest thing to a child I'll ever have.' He smiles and then he helps her to keep dancing.
Nora is shocked by this but smiles as she thinks 'At least things are better.'
"So I will dance with Cinderella. While she is here in my arms. 'Cause I know something the prince never knew. Oh I will dance with Cinderella. I don't want to miss even one song. 'Cause all too soon the clock will strike midnight. And she'll be gone. She says he's a nice guy and I'd be impressed. She wants to know if I approve of the dress. She says, 'Dad, the prom is just one week away. And I need to practice my dancin'. Oh please, Daddy, please!'"
'I wish I could rewind time to have these moments with her.' Kit pictures Ariel as a little girl dancing on his boots.
Ariel smiles at him just enjoying this time with him.
'I've missed so much, had any of my children gone through something similar to this. I wonder if she has. I know she has this going on now. I do approve of Echo but… I feel like I'm losing her all at once as I just found her.' Mace tries to keep his tears at bay, Mace Windu does not cry.
Nora danced on happily, she was glad to be enjoying herself and twirled about laughing trying to get Mace to enjoy himself as well. And seeing the small smile he has.
"But she came home today with a ring on her hand. Just glowing and telling us all they had planned. She says; Dad, the wedding's still six months away. But I need to practice my dancin'. Oh please, Daddy, please! So I will dance with Cinderella. While she is here in my arms. 'Cause I know something the prince never knew. Oh I will dance with Cinderella. I don't want to miss even one song. 'Cause all too soon the clock will strike midnight. And she'll be gone."
'My guppy is already married.' Kit sighs a bit to himself at that.
'Always be your guppy dad.' Ariel hugs him as the song ends.
'A wedding. I wonder if that will happen soon… Hopefully not too soon.' He holds her close as the song starts to end wishing it was just a bit longer. But as it ended Nora let go and smiled saying "That was fun Mace."
"It was." Mace smiles.
Then Nora rushes off to Echo, and Mace feels he has to hold back his tears once more before heading over to stand under a tree. Kit comes up to Mace at that.
"You doing okay?" Kit stands next to him.
"Sigh. Just feeling for the first time in a long time my friend." Mace responds.
"I'm here for you my friend." Kit pats his shoulder.
With the girls…
The girls had gotten the guys to come dance with them now.
Nora had suggested running home to you. Echo blushed at this as Ponds whistled at that.
Fives starts whistling the song. Ariel hitting his arm lightly reminding him to be nice.
Echo looked annoyed, but Nora pulled him off to dance saying "Let's just enjoy ourselves."
Echo nods at that and does as they begin to dance.
"Come on. Time to dance." Ariel pulls on Fives hands lightly.
"Alright. Alright." Fives smiles as she tugs him out to the dance floor.
Ponds comes over to the DJ booth and says "Nice work there on the last song."
"Thought the general could use it. So got a guess as to when those two will tie the knot?" Kelp nods at the birthday girl and her date.
"I don't know, they may take a bit. I heard they want to wait." Ponds shrugs.
"I give it a month, tops." Kelp smirks.
"Be careful Kelp, general Windu may not appreciate that." Ponds raises a brow.
"Forty credits, you in?" Kelps smirks.
"Oh you're on." Ponds shakes hands with him.
Nora and Echo enjoyed themselves as they dance happily to several songs, Nora not really wanting to let go. Echo was much the same, after everything he just wanted to hold her for as long as he could.
The Domino's were just the same. They didn't want to let go of each other.
Kida then called "Okay everyone time for cake!"
At that they all headed over, they sang the happy birthday song and soon Nora blew out the candles.
"Two wishes in one day. I wonder if there's anything I can do to make them come true." Echo looks at her smiling.
"Yeah is there?" Ariel looks excited.
"Something with bells maybe." Fives sips his drink, Ariel nudging him a bit.
Nora chuckles and says "Thanks guys but these are things that will happen in their own time." Nora smiles.
With that they all started to really wonder what she wished for.