Cardcaptor Pandora
Episode XXV
The Little Mermaid
(Segment Two of the Separate Reality Series)

Falling, falling, falling....

Out of the stars, through the atmosphere....

Splash!

Into the ocean, under the sea.

And Pandora didn't even have a chance to get accustomed to her sea legs, for as soon as she felt the water all around her, her legs were gone, and in their place was a beautiful pearlescent fin. She flipped it, feeling herself propelled forward. I'm a mermaid... she whispered, finding it strange that she could breathe and speak beneath the water as if it were normal.

a voice called, and she turned to see a little yellow and blue fish swimming towards her. Pandora, it's me! Lauren!



Don't forget me! another voice cried, and a little red crab swam as quickly as she could towards the other two. It's Sydney... in a really really strange form...

Pandora smiled nervously. Wow, and I thought I had changed drastically.

That's three of us accounted for, Sydney said, numbering with her three legs on one side. I wonder where everyone else is.

Perhaps we should swim to the surface, Pandora suggested, taking off before any of the others could even begin to protest.

When she broke through, the normal atmosphere felt very strange to her, almost suffocating. She looked around in sunlight which seemed strangely garish. Nearby she could see an island, and she swam to it quickly.

Upon a crow's nest sat a seagull singing to himself, but she knew that horrible singing voice. she called. Where are we now?

The seagull stopped and flopped clumsily down to her. Why are you in the water, Pandora? That's not very safe.

she said, lifting her fin above the water so he could see her new form.

He gasped. This is horrible! You won't be able to use your Cardcaptoring powers in that form! You can only use them as yourself.

Oh no... Pandora breathed. What am I supposed to do then?

Holly said, appearing next to her, her own fin flipping impatiently upon the surface, the logical answer would be to try and become human again. Because obviously we're not getting out of this until some card is captured.

Yes, I think we could have figured that much out, Lauren mumbled. Any bright ideas on how one goes about becoming human?

Pandora looked away into the horizon of the fading sun, wanting to clear her head and think, when she saw a ship. I'll be right back, she said to the others, wanting to see if she could come up with anything that might help.

A party was going on in the ship when she finally managed to pull herself up so that she could see through a small space between two rails. She saw many men dressed in uniforms dancing and playing instruments, but among them she saw someone she was very happy to see, even though she knew she could not let him see her. Harry was among them.

Don't get too distracted, Rangi said who had flown up behind her. You know he's here, but I don't see what purpose he serves yet. He may just be here because he has to be somewhere. After all, we all fell into this together.

Pandora nodded. I'm going back under, she said. We've got to figure this out and fast. I'm feeling far too vulnerable.

As soon as she ducked beneath the waves again, two slimy figures slithered through the water, slinking about her. They were long green eels. Good evening, Dearie, one said in a voice which sounded remarkably like Pansy's, and it had incredibly long teeth.

We have heard that you are having some difficulties, the other said, it's voice a distorted form of Ron's.

She gulped. Are you two always going to be some form of bad guy? Are these cards trying to tell me something about you two? I always knew Pansy was going to be a bad influence on you, Ron.

Ron blinked, quite confused. I don't know what you're talking about, so let's skip it and get to your problem. What might that be?

I want to become human, she said simply, not wanting to give too much information away.

And what is so important that you might want to be human? Pansy asked.

Knowing that it would be very unwise to mention the fact that she needed power, she came up with a different (but partially true) story. I am in love with a human.

Isn't that cute, Ron said flatly.

I think it's very romantic! Pansy twittered, circling around Ron and nuzzling him... just before biting his tail.

Not while we're on the job, Pansy! he said with a wink.

That's far too much information, Pandora muttered.

If you would like to be human, then we know just the person who can help you! Ron said, putting his salesman voice back on. Her name is Persephone, the Sea Witch.

Pandora knew that now she definitely had to follow through, for it would lead her to Persephone. Perhaps she knew something the others didn't. But if she was also under the sea, she obviously was not human, therefore incapable of capturing whatever card they were expected to capture.

~ * ~ * ~ * ~


Pandora swam gingerly through the entrance of Persephone's dark lair, Lauren and Sydney staying just outside of it just in case something were to go wrong.

Persephone sat calmly and quietly as if she had been waiting forever, but Persephone did not have the graceful fin of a mermaid. Her transformation had given her the body of an octopus from the waist down.

Who are you and what is it that you want? she said in a soft, sad voice.

Persephone, it's Pandora, you know that, Pandora answered, confused.

Persephone's dark eyes raised to meet hers dully. I do not know you, Pandora, but I do know your name now. What is it that you want?

I... want to be human to be with the person that I love, Pandora answered.

Persephone muttered. And I am sure you would do anything for the one you love, wouldn't you? Love.....

Pandora murmured, trying to keep Persephone's attention and wondering why she didn't seem to know who she was. Please turn me into a human.

I will, Persephone said at length, but first you must do something for me. I have long desired the Forked Staff of Triton. Bring me that, and I will grant your desire.

The Forked Staff of Triton? Pandora repeated, not knowing what it meant. Where might I find this?

You, of all people, should know, Persephone answered cryptically, then turned and moved herself into a dark tunnel.

With a sigh, Pandora turned and swam out.

~ * ~ * ~ * ~


The Forked Staff of Triton! Rangi said excitedly. But of course! It makes perfect sense now!

It does? the four Cardcaptors around him said.

Of course! Everything from what card we're looking for to why Persephone has no real idea who we are! It is the Water Card! And since Water is the element of Slytherin, it has a particularly strong hold over Persephone. The Element Cards in some ways practically call the Cardcaptor of their house to them, especially one as strong as Water. And the Forked Staff of Triton is where it is hiding. Whoever has control of the Staff has control of the Water Card, and, along with, control over all of the waters of earth.

And I am supposed to get this for Persephone? Pandora said nervously.

I don't think that's such a great idea, Lauren said, laughing uneasily. I mean, come on, it's Persephone....

If it's the only way, then it's the only way, Pandora said. But once we give it to her, we'll have to be ready to immediately fight her for it. But by then I should be able to use my Cardcaptoring powers.

~ * ~ * ~ * ~


The Forked Staff of Triton did not sound too difficult to find, but it was more a matter of taking it that would be the problem. Rangi explained that only one of pure heart could take it from where it was found, and if that person did not have a pure heart, then they would turn to stone. Pandora was not very fond of this idea, but there seemed to be little else to try. After all, she was the true Cardcaptor (at least that's what Rangi always told her), therefore it should easily be hers. She only hoped he was right this time.

She swam cautiously into the underwater cavern Rangi had told her she would find it, Lauren and Sydney following. You don't think there are sharks around here, do you, Pandora? Lauren asked, trembling as she looked around, jumping at the slightest of sounds.

Oh, Lauren, Pandora sighed, I think that sharks will be the least of our worries here. You're not scared, are you?

Lauren said, laughing shakily. I'm never scared! I am the Heir of Gryffindor, after all!

Hey, what's that? Sydney said suddenly.

What?! Where?! Is it moving?? Does it have big teeth?!?! Lauren cried, swimming about frantically.

Pandora rolled her eyes and peered into the darkness where Sydney pointed. There was something which emitted a faint light, brightening the dark cavern where no sunlight could reach. And as they neared it, they knew they had found what they needed. The Forked Staff of Triton.

Are you really going to touch it, Pandora? Lauren asked, swimming closer to the bottom until her eyes met the gaze of a long-term resident of the cavern, the stony eyes staring lifeless into hers. Immediately she swam behind Pandora, never minding that she was the Heir of Gryffindor.

I have no choice, Pandora said, looking over the bodies of stone which lay strewn about all over the floor of the cavern. Now she understood why Persephone could not just come and get it herself. Someone of pure heart... but were her own motives any purer?

She reached out, feeling the energy emitting from the golden Staff. This was certainly a Hogwarts Card. If only she could use her powers...

But there was no backing out now. She took a deep breath, praying that it would not be her last, and gripped the Staff tightly.

And nothing happened.

Lauren, Sydney, and Pandora all seemed to breathe out at once, a huge sigh of relief. Pandora pulled the Staff from the seaweed which clung to it, holding it up to examine it. So this is the Forked Staff of Triton, and the one who holds it has complete control of all the ocean.

Don't let it go to your head, Pandora Dear, Sydney said, yanking at Pandora's blonde hair with her claw as she slowly moved back out from the cave. You have a card to capture, not an ocean to rule. I know I personally am looking forward to being human again...

~ * ~ * ~ * ~


A dark look of sheer pleasure passed over Persephone's face the moment her hands touched the Forked Staff of Triton, the look of sadness gone immediately. Well done, Pandora, she hissed, her black eyes flashing towards her. I shall grant your wish then, right now!

She pointed the Staff to Pandora, and a bright flash of light shot towards her, engulfing her. She felt the painful split of her fin, but in a moment it was over, and her legs kicked at the water as her lungs begged for air. She looked up, the surface so far away. She would be dead long before she could reach it.

So instead she brought the air to her. With all of her magical energy, she called forth her own Staff, then summoned the powers of the Wind Card. Before Persephone knew what was going on, a beam of air rushed all the way to the bottom of the ocean where they were, parting the waters until they were in something like the eye or a tornado, standing on dry ground beneath them while the vicious ocean swirled about them.

You think you can beat me so easily? Persephone cried, smiling cruelly as she gripped the Staff of Triton close and began to grow. The ocean obeys me!

Pandora looked up to see the wall of wind she had created weakening to the waves, knowing that within seconds they would be once again over her head. she cried, jumping on her Staff and flying from the ocean floor just in time before the waves collapsed.

Persephone cackled madly. That was clever of you, but you will not last long.

All around the waves grew larger and larger, and in the distance Pandora could see the ship she had seen Harry on rocking so violently, she knew it could capsize at any moment. But the water was so strong.... What did she have that could defeat water?

And then she knew precisely what to do. Freeze Card! she called, make these waters an encasement of ice around Persephone!

A shimmer glistened upon the waves, making them beautiful through the stormy grayness, and suddenly crystals appeared all about where Persephone thrashed about, until the ice had trapped her, making her completely unable to move.

Pandora smiled, landing gracefully before Persephone and the Staff which now stood as tall as Hogwarts itself. She had defeated the Water Card and its master. Water Card, come back the Center, you new Master awaits. Hogwarts Card, return!

The Card floated gently towards Pandora, and she caught it as the sun came out and began to warm the waters.

That was frightening, a voice said beside her, and she saw Lauren standing beside her in her usual form. Behind her stood Holly and Sydney upon the ice.

It was, she agreed, gazing up at Persephone who began to shrink, breaking up the ice upon which they stood. But Pandora was not worried. After all, they had caught the card. At any moment, she knew they would move on to the next, and she would be ready for whatever Separate Reality awaited her.

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