Chapter 12: The Idol of Wisdom
The beams of the early morning sun shone through Lapis and Jamie's tent as a new day began. The human boy awoke right away, but the blue princess didn't even stir. She was still sound asleep and cuddling her boyfriend.
"Good morning, Lapis." Jamie said as he attempted to gently nudge the blue girl awake.
Lapis only chuckled in her sleep and mumbled, "Gimme another blankie," before she buried her face in the chotch of his shoulder and continued to doze.
A clever smirk spread across Jamie's face as he got an idea.
"Lapis, it's time to wake up." he said in a singsong tone as he began to pepper his girlfriend's face with light kisses.
The soft, warm lips of the human boy tickled the young princess's face. Almost immediately, she ended laughing herself awake.
"Wake up, sleepyhead." Jamie told the blue girl as her eyes fluttered opened.
"Morning, babe." Lapis yawned, stretching her arms out.
"I assume you had a good night's sleep, right?" her boyfriend asked.
"For the most part." the princess answered as she rubbed her eyes.
As everyone ate their breakfast and chatted amongst each other, Lapis stared down at her plate, lost in thought. Some of her friends noticed her spacey look and became a little concerned.
"Something on your mind, Lapis?" asked Pearl.
"I was just thinking." the blue princess responded. "Even if we manage to find the cave where the Oceanic Heart is kept, I still have no idea how we're going to repair the damage the Black Scale Clan brought to it. Remember, the Oceanic Heart has been around for eons. I don't think any ordinary mermaid's magic is strong enough to undo the cracks in it."
"Hey, let's go visit Obsidian." Lemon Jade suggested, her eyes lighting up. "Maybe she can help."
"Who's Obsidian?" Lapis questioned.
"Obsidian, the Idol of Wisdom." Rainbow Quartz said. "Mermaids from all over the Pacific Ocean go to her for information and insight."
"Ask her any question: past, present, or future." Iris added. "She'll always have the answer."
"Just like Garnet in the Atlantic Ocean." Ruby chimed in.
"Well then, let's go see this idol." the young princess declared, standing up confidently.
After wrapping up breakfast, transforming into mermaids, and giving Steven and Connie their magic bubbles; the group of mermaids and human kids swam to meet the fabled idol, guided by Rainbow Quartz. Pretty soon, the friends had come face to face with an extraordinary statue. The statue looked like a massive woman with eight arms just like a spider.
"There she is." Iris announced to the group. "Everyone, meet Obsidian."
"That's Obsidian?" Connie said as everyone stared at the statue in awe.
"Yes." Lemon Jade replied, turning to a blushing Lapis. "Okay, Lapis. She's ready for any questions you have."
"Go on, dear." Rainbow Quartz encouraged the meek princess. "Don't be shy."
"Hello, Obsidian." Lapis said softly, after clearing her throat. "I am-"
"Princess Lapis Lazuli of Iridesca from the Atlantic Ocean." a woman's voice bellowed from the idol.
"How do you know who I am?" the young princess asked, being taken aback.
"I have been around for millennia." Obsidian answered. "I know and have seen everything, even the events that are still to come. Now, you must be here because you seek knowledge on how to defeat the terrorists of the Oceanic Heart; have you not?"
"Yes, is there anything in the ocean we can use to repair the damage that's already been inflicted upon it?" Lapis responded.
"Hmm, I sense that you are greatly affected by the faltering the ocean's life force, is that not true?" the idol spoke.
"Of course it is, but why do I feel great pain when the heart is attacked?" the young princess inquired.
"I could tell you, but I believe that you will soon find out for yourself." answered Obsidian. "As for information to the save the heart, you will need an ancient artifact called the Tsunami Trident."
"But where is that?" Smoky Quartz asked.
"The trident rests in the Manta Ruins, just to the northeast." the statue acknowledged. "But it can only be activated by a strange type of magic."
"Sounds like valuable information to me." Peridot proclaimed. "Well, we better get going."
"Wait!" Lapis cried out before her group swam off. "Before we go, can I ask you one more question?"
"Of course, my dear." Obsidian replied. "Go ahead."
"We're trying to find our way to the mermaid kingdom of Opalescensia, but the magical navigation instrument that I have only leads us back to Iridesca." the mermaid princess informed the great statue. "Is there something that we can use to guide us to Opalescensia?"
"As a matter of fact, I believe I might have something of the sort that may be of use to you." Obsidian answered.
In a swirl of magic, a rolled up paper appeared that was yellow with age.
"An old map?" Peridot said, raising an eyebrow.
"That's not just any map." Iris gasped. "This is the Infinity Map."
"Okay, and why is that so amazing?" Amethyst asked, not showing the slightest bit of excitement.
"Because the Infinity Map can show you how to get to anywhere you want to go, no matter what part of the world you're in." Lemon Jade told her.
"This is perfect." Lapis beamed. "Thank you, Obsidian."
"You're welcome and good luck to you all." Obsidian wished the princess and her friends.
"Now that we have what we need, let's go pay a visit to Queen Yellow Diamond." Lapis declared, clutching the map in her hands.
"Not so fast, goody goodies." a wicked voice sounded off.
Everybody turned around to find Emerald who had managed to sneak up on the heroes undetected.
"Who are you?" the mermaid princess asked the frightening character.
"I am Emerald, the ringleader of the Black Scale Clan." she introduced herself. "And you must be the famous Princess Lapis Lazuli. I've heard so much about you. I must say, you're even more charming in person."
"Oh yeah?" Lapis remarked. "Well, I've heard enough about you and your friends. So if you'll excuse us, we're going to get as far away from you as possible."
"You're not going anywhere, little princess." the evil green mermaid snarled. "Except straight to Jasper, of course."
At the snap of her fingers, a pair of black ink-like hands emerged from behind her and made an attempt to grab the blue princess. However, this attempt was thwarted when a ball of sunlight the size of a beach ball appeared and destroyed the inky hands. The ball of light blinded Emerald and she made a hasty retreat while her eyes were covered.
"Whew, what luck." Rhodonite sighed in relief.
"Yes, but where did that ball of light come from?" Pearl questioned.
Just then, a pair of unfamiliar mermaids appeared before the group.
One of the mermaids was lanky and looked like she was about thirty five years old. She had vermilion skin, brick red eyes, and peach colored hair. She wore a salmon colored one-shoulder top and had a gaudy pinkish-orange tail.
The other mermaid was probably thirty eight years old and very muscular. She had bright orange eyes, orange and yellow hair that looked like fire, orange skin. She wore a bright red tank top that tied in the front and a sparkly orange tail.
"Sardonyx? Sunstone?" said Rainbow Quartz, recognizing the two mermaids. "Do my eyes deceive me? I feel like I haven't seen you two in years."
"Rainbow!" the vermilion mermaid, Sardonyx exclaimed. "Oh, it has been far too long since we got together."
"And Iris." the big orange mermaid, Sunstone said to Rainbow's daughter. "Just look at you. You've gotten so big."
"Could someone introduce us; please?" Amethyst asked, after she cleared her throat.
"Sorry." Rainbow Quartz apologized. "Everyone, these are two of my old friends Sunstone and Sardonyx."
"It's a pleasure to make your acquaintance." Sardonyx said warmly. "And who are you little charmers?"
"This is Princess Lapis Lazuli." Iris said to her. "She and her friends have travelled all the way from the Atlantic Ocean to save the heart of ocean before it's destroyed."
"You sure managed to show up just in the nick of time." Steven commented. "You were able to drive that mean green mermaid away so easily."
"Almost too easily." Lapis muttered, skeptically.
"Hey, turn that frown upside-down." Jamie encouraged her. "Emerald's gone. We're safe now."
"I don't know." the blue princess said, feeling unsure. "Something doesn't feel right."
All of a sudden, she felt a familiar sharp pain in her chest and cried out in agony.
"Not again." she groaned.
The Oceanic Heart was faltering again and goodness only knew what kind of disaster would strike in the marine world next.