WE'RE BACK FOLKS! 🎉🎉🎉

Alright. So given that this is taking place in an alternate Multiverse and since Connor is like a variant of Aiden and Sora. I figured that it would be appropriate for them to start off in the world of Hercules. Since Olympus Coliseum is were I always start every time I start up Kingdom Hearts I.

"I'll take that over following the white rabbit?" Maverick sighed in relief.

Maybe. Maybe not. We'll see.

"Oh God no." Maverick groaned at the thought of being in a world of ultimate nonsense.

Also remember those Nymphs in the scene where Hercules met Phil? What if they were around Melody's age?

I'll stop there and read the comments now.

SPYRO 101: Thanks pal! And thank you for helping me with this chapter. 😁👍

RustyPete12: Thank you! Well I can't give away anything about future boss battles. But as for Sea Slayer. Every Maverick needs a Taskmaster or Stormur chasing his hide before The Mav himself wins. But given that Conmor doesn't have a healing factor like Orion and Aiden…Yet. This could be tricky. But probably nothing Connor can't handle. 😉👍

Alright! Now that we're all here!

LET'S GET DANGEROUS! 😎


Going To Thebes.

Back inside the Stingray….

Two hours after they started their Journey in the Stingray. Melody was in the lounge room reading one of Connor's comics about the Submariner. In a Fantastic Four comic. While Dug was napping on the couch next to her. Snoring.

Melody stiffed a laugh several times, seeing how Connor's uncle used to have the hots for Mr Fantastic's wife back then. As she found it to be kinda cheesy but amusing.

Melody had read over several comics at this point. But then after she was done waiting. The young princess noticed she hadn't seen Connor for over an hour.

"Connor?" Melody called out, wondering where the young Maverick was. She got up from her seat and walked out of the lounge area and into a hallway, her bare feet lightly padding against the hard metal floor. "Are you there?"

Just then she heard grunts and the sounds of metal clinking. And it felt like something heavy was being lifted. Melody heard it coming from one of the rooms.

"Just five more! The way to be wealthy is to always be cut!" Mini-Mav echoed from the room which narrowed it down.

Melody got curious as she walked into that room and her eyes widened at the sight.

Connor was wearing black gym shorts with matching leg sleeves. Black gym shoes and he was shirtless. Showing off his six pack chest as he was seated against a workout machine. Lifting weights from a mechanism by some handles that made him pull his hands close with his grip on the handles. Lifting all the weights on the machine. He grimaced and sweated as he pulled and withdrew. Over and over.

While Mini-Mav was on the floor next to him. Counting the number of times Connor pulled his weights, displayed on the little robot's screen eyes.

That and Mini-Mav was wearing a referee's striped black and white outfit. With the matching cap and whistle hanging around his neck for the theme.

Connor's eyes were closed so he didn't see Melody walk in.

"Two more ya bum! Your own mother's cereal spoon could do more without a sweat!" Mini-Mav mimicking Mickey Goldmill from Rocky.

Melody's eyes were wide and she was blushing hard, her eyes roaming every inch of the young Maverick's physique, her feet shuffling in place as she looked on. She didn't even notice that her mouth was hanging open at the sight.

Connor then pulled two more times before he exhaled loudly and lets go as the weights loudly banged in the stack and he huffed before he took his water bottle and gulped it all down. Then he hunched forward and huffed.

"And that was one hundred pulls!" Mini-Mav declared and sang humorously with his hands raised. "I raise you uuuuuuuuuup!~ So you can stand on mountains!~"

Mini-Mav was mimicking Josh Groban. Obviously.

"Please don't." Connor deadpanned.

***Sports Whistle blow!***

"No interrupting my finale!" Mini-Mav exclaimed.

"Boy you blow that whistle one more time! It's-" Connor caught his breath the moment he opened his eyes and saw Melody standing and staring at him. "How long were you standing there?"

This snapped Melody out of her staring and she closed her mouth again, her blush now a tad darker.

"Oh, um, not long. Maybe about five lifts ago?" Melody said timidly, looking down at her bare feet.

"You just missed the first ninety-five times he was lifting a car!" Mini-Mav declared pointing at. "Padre is so strong, his sneeze caused a seismic Earthquake!"

Melody giggled at Mini-Mav's humor before she looked Connor over again.

"Yeah, he definitely looks like he could pull it off" Melody commented on his strength.

"The little Deception is not bluffing. I just lifted weights that were over 5,000 pounds. That's the weight of an average vehicle." Connor admitted as he was stretching and rolling his left shoulder. Wincing a bit.

Just when Melody thought her blush couldn't get any darker, she was proven wrong. She was feeling the hots for Connor in a way only her pre-teen innocent mind could have.

"I guess that means you wouldn't have any issues carrying me if I ever get tired?" Melody asked with a small smile.

"Girl I could carry fifty of your clones over a hike across the inner state." Connor mused a small flirt and winced as he was trying to reach behind his shoulder. "I hate to ask. But I can't reach my shoulder."

He needs someone's pretty fingers to press a sore spot on his shoulder. Melody got the message and walked over with a smile.

"Sure. I got you." Melody said as she stepped behind him and put her hands on his shoulders, making him sit down on a bench, and began massaging his sore shoulders.

"Oh yeah...That's the tenderloin..." Connor sighed as Melody's fingers relieved that sore spot on his shoulder.

While Melody got to feel his muscles as she beamed inside.

"I actually got plenty of info this morning on where that vortex will take us." Connor started a conversation. "What do you know about Greek Mythology?"

"Oh, quite a lot, actually." Melody said, pressing harder on his muscles. "Ancient history and mythology have always interested me. In fact, one of my favorite stories from Greek Mythology was about the Trojan War."

"Oh yeah, that war was a masterpiece. We even named a computer virus after their horse, that's how inspired my modern world was but that's another story. Our destination will be taking us near the harbor inside the center of Boeotia. In a town called Thebes." Connor stated as he sighed from how good it felt for Melody's hands to press against his sores as he muttered. "Uh...U-Use your palm to press under the collar bone there...Yeah right there..."

"So, we're going to a world that's based on ancient Greece?" Melody asked as she was actually excited at the idea.

"More importantly. We'll be passing Thebes. And head towards Mount Olympus. Toward their Olympus Coliseum." Connor revealed with a thrilled smile. "I just had to pump myself up for this one."

"Wow. I mean I've always wanted to visit Greece, ever since I read they're myths and history. But, wow" Melody said with amazement in her voice.

"But Well then you've read the brochures. In this world, the gods of Greek myth exist. Along with almost every Mythological character and creature of Greek culture." Connor stated.

"Greek is a beautiful word. Redundancy doesn't exist in their language. You can say it over and over until your tonsils say nay." Mini-Mav spoke like an Italian Professor.

Melody giggled at Mini-Mav's antics before looking more excited.

"Oh, this is gonna be amazing." Melody gushed as she continued the massage.

Then Connor's next statement was 'yes indeed' in Greek.

"nai prágmati. And we'll be arriving there soon. But first things first. We'll need the right attire. Cause I think we'll attract too much attention with me dressed as a Vegas rap artist and not to mention you in those slim diver pajamas." Connor pointed out their attire.

"But I don't think I have anything to wear that won't raise suspicion there. Do you?" Melody asked.

"Mel. My Greek name is Vogue. Meet me in the fabrication room. Just after a quick shower." Connor stated that he stood up feeling much better and he walked out. "No you can't come, Mini-Me."

"Awe shoot." Mini-Mav hissed and kicked the ground, pouting that he can't join him in a shower.


After a ten minute shower...

Connor and Melody walked into the research & Fabrication room as Melody took a seat and Dug panted as he walked in with Mini-Mav to see what Connor's about to do.

"Even though I'm a Maverick I choose to keep laws of the world order...to a certain degree. So thanks to Felicity and her cosmic integration with creativity itself. She can basically design any fabric into this platform right here." Connor explained and showed her towards the round white platform on the floor. Then he gestured for Melody to come over. "Step on board and I'll blow whatever part of your mind that isn't burnt to ashes already."

"Oh boy! My Master's hostage mate is about to be given a new look or killed!" Dug painted.

"Ignore that last part! Unless you don't mind." Mini-Mav echoed Dug's words.

Melody just giggled at it all, she found herself with quite the group.

"Alright, Mr. Vogue. Let's see what you got." Melody replied as she stepped on to the platform, eager to see what he had planned.

Then Connor teleported over to the terminal and started typing details of a new outfit for Melody.

"Question. Do you want this with or without shoes? Greek society always had options. Especially the high ones." Connor asked as he was typing.

"Hmmm….I think I'll take the outfit without shoes." Melody decided. "I've always preferred to be barefoot anyway."

"Being a swimmer turn mermaid and reverse. Obviously. Having everything devine about you matching from head to toe. Who could blame you?" Connor mused as he began to load up the details. "Alright...measuring sight automatically...Asking Elias Howes to remove the needle...And...Stitch."

Then a wave of light and particles waved around Melody's outfit. Until...It shifted into a brand new feminine Greek heroine attire.

Her new attire consisted of a white toga for girls, with a short right sleeve and brown fabric strap on her left. She wore a brown leather belt and brown leather wrist braces. Her skirt went down to just above her knees. And her legs and feet were bare. Her hair was done up in a braid, with a gold hair band on top.

Melody looked herself over and had a big smile on her face.

"Oh. I love it. This looks so amazing!" Melody beamed excitedly as she hopped down from the platform and she struck a pose like a little Greek model. "What do you think?"

"Aphrodite would be jealous. And smack the back of Hephaestus' head just for peeking at you. I mean...Damn girl. You're striking some serious blows." Connor complemented Melody with a quip while looking at her with admiration.

Melody just giggled and sauntered over to Connor in her bare feet and wrapped her arms around his neck.

"Thank you very much for your kind words." Melody said with a beautiful smile before giving him a quick peck on the lips. "Now let's see what your new outfit will be like."

Connor smirked and pecked her lips back before he typed a command onto the terminal and walked onto the platform.

Then the same wave of lights and particles shifted around his uniform until it flashed. And suddenly Connor looked like Leonidas from the film '300'

"THIS! IS SPART- Whoops. Wrong outfit." Connor bit his lip in embarrassment.

Then the lights shifted again as he suddenly looked and dressed like Kratos from the game series God Of War. Complete with the white paint.

"I am what the gods have made me-" Connor halted as he looked down and groaned before he scowled over. "Mini-Mav! Leave the damn keyboard alone!"

"His frustration sends power and wine to my soul and ram!" Mini-Mav declared and snickered before he put his hands up and walked away from the terminal.

Melody just giggled at their antics.

"I think you look great, you'll probably stick out more if you enter Thebes dressed like that." Melody teased Connor.

"Don't test me, Woman." Connor mimicked Kratos while pointing a fake sword towards her.

Which made her grin smugly with her arms crossed.

Then the platform finally shifted his outfit into the real attire he was looking for. Connor looked in the mirror and posed with his new outfit and shield. "Much better." He grinned.

Connor now wore a blue tunic with the strap going over his left shoulder and going around the right side of his torso. He wore gold wrist guards with a blue gem by the elbow, with the M logo on it. His belt also had a giant blue gem with the Maverick symbol on it. He wore shin guards and sandals with a smile with blue M gems on them. And on his head was a forehead guard with a gem and M on it. Strapped to his back was a round gold shield with the M symbol on it.

Melody looked him over and blushed at the sight. She walked up to him and wrapped her arms around his neck again.

"You look so handsome, mighty gladiator." Melody said and kissed him on the lips again.

"Technically gladiators were Roman. Not Greek." Mini-Mav added in the background and muttered. "Shutting up now."

Connor smirked as he kissed her back. Unlike most boys who meet the right girl in their lives. Connor can see that Melody has the mindset of a Cinderella who met their Prince Charming and doesn't hold back from dancing. So Connor decided not to hold back and go with the flow in Melody's style.

Which she got from her mother considering a Mermaid can see the heart of a true man of valor and Ariel fell in love at first sight with Eric, even before they met

"Excuse me? Do you work at Little Caesars? Cuz Ur Hot And I'm Ready." Connor flirted as he picked Melody up Bridal style in his strong arms and walked out while carrying her with ease.

Melody just giggled and leaned into him, her bare feet swaying slightly as they went.

"My, you're quite the charmer." Melody chirped as she kissed him again.

"No, I'm just a contender. And there's no one else around to stop me from taking my prize by default." Connor quipped as he kissed her back on the lips and walked up onto the bridge with Mini-Mav and Dug following.

"Hmmm, well I'm glad to be your prize." Melody said sweetly with a wink as they kissed.

"If they don't come up for air in the next few minutes, I'm going in." Mini-Mav stated jokingly.

"Oh boy. Looks like Master and his prisoner are in combat." Dug said while panting.


After that in the uppder deck of the Stingray...

After that sweet moment, they went up to the bridge to set a course for the Greek World. Ready for the first step in saving Atlantis from Attuma. Connor sat Melody on her seat and he sat in the captain's chair next to her seat. As they looked to see an underwater tunnel with a whirling wave of water surrounding it.

"There it is. Oh, while you were on the platform. I had Felicity fabricate two spells into your keyblade. You should have thunder and water as your first two spells. If we run into any Heartless or thug or whatever creature that has hair. Those will mean life or death for any bystander they might attack." Connor stated as he drove the sub.

"Okay." Melody said with a nod.

'I should also note that certain Heartless will have an element base attack. Try not to use water on a water based Heartless or thunder for an electrical one. You'll make them stronger if you do so, so remember to use a spell element on a Heartless that has the opposite element.' Felicity noted to Melody.

"What she said." Connor added.

"So like using a water spell on a fire heartless, or an earth spell on an air heartless." Melody muttered in thought. "I'll be sure to remember that."

"Also about this town, Thebes used to be crime littered and full of dysfunctional events that would turn New York's economics into California. I'm basically stating that the city used to be a dump until Hercules kicked the dirt out. By that I mean he became their town's next Power Puff Girl." Connor stated while he was driving.

"That last word is Mavanese for hero!" Mini-Mav declared.

"I thought it meant desperate femboy." Dug tilted his head.

"Negatory! That's what it meant last week." Mini-Mav responded.

"Wait. Hercules, as in the son of Zeus?" Melody asked with surprise and excitement.

"No. I mean Hercules the maintenance man. Yeah I mean the Son Of Zeus!" Connor quipped with playful sarcasm and whispered. "FYI. Herc's back story is very different from the books . This world's version of Zeus was less of a whore monger and more of an enthusiastic motivator."

The Marlon Brando type.

"Good to know. I wouldn't want to offend one of the greatest figures in Greek Mythology." Melody bit her lip nervously.

Just then the gummi sub was being pulled in by the vortex which made them both yelp as the Stingray jerked a bit, causing them to lean back in their seats. The entrance to the vortex was up ahead and they knew it would be serious.

"Mini-Mav, take Dug in the bathroom just in case." Connor warned his sidekick.

Just so Dug doesn't puke seeing the ride. Again.

"Way ahead of you Captain!" Mini-Mav waved a dog business to lead Dug away as he ran out.

"Yum yum! My favorite treats, made of stuff I don't know!" Dug barked happily as he ran out after the little robot waving his treat.

"Mel. Have you ever rode a roller coaster?" Connor asked as he gripped the controls and cosmic light rays of many colors surrounded the Stingray sub outside with the whirlpool as the sub entered the cave vortex.

"What's a rollercoaster?" Melody asked, looking concerned.

"Blasphemy!" Mini-Mav yelled from outside the room, somehow having heard her.

"Let's just say it's good that you had a light breakfast and you learn to hold your breath while swimming." Connor stated as he used his neon powers to add more seat belts around Melody's waist and torso to keep her still in the seat.

Then as they went inside the vortex they could see water-like mirrors and lights of every color in the form of a tunnel up ahead with loops and spins and a trail that dips down and up like a rollercoaster. It was like an endless tunnel of lights and shapes that would make anyone dizzy enough to see their mirrors dance backwards. Melody and Connor gripped their seats like a ride was about to start.

"To think I expected this to be like Stargate. But I didn't account for the physical flows of passing through barriers of the multiverse. So let's just hang on..." Connor braced himself as the Stingray went down fast into the tunnel. "TIGHTLYYYYYYYYYYYYY!"

And the ride through the portal began as the Stingray descended down the tunnel flow fast and hard.

"AAAAAAAHHHHH!" Melody screamed and held on for dear life with her legs hunched up on her chair, as she was both terrified and excited by the sudden acceleration.

Then the Stingray zoomed up in the path that went for a swerve and quadruple loops around and around. While Dug was feasting on his treat in the lounge room oblivious to all of this.

This whole event made Connor remember when he and Noctis rode a Roller Coaster in the Destiny Island six flag and Connor called it 'Dante's eleventh level of hell'. The very level they didn't mention because the author thought it would scare the pants off of people.

"SCREW SIX FLAGS! THIS IS THE TWELVE LEVEL OF HELL!" Connor screamed as he held on.

"Whelp Padre. I kept the dog down stairs. Now what's with the..." Mini-Mav walked in optimistically before his eyes widened and he held his hands up. "AAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!"

Then the Sub went through multiple twirls on the side, following the cosmic path. Then several zig zags.

"Oh look! It's the 'Ah ah ah ah ah ah ah ah!' " Mini-Mav pointed at another zig zag swerve in excitement.

"AH AH AH AH AH AH AH AH AH AH!" They all scream going through the zig zag swerve down the cosmic tunnel.

Mini-Mav doesn't take danger or the feeling of it seriously. Then again. Most times Connor is the same way. Just not now.

"WOOOOOOOO! CONNOR, ISN'T THIS GREAT?!" Melody screamed as she now held her arms up as they went.

"NO IT IS NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOT!" Connor screamed in horror as the ride finally came up to a stop. And the Stingray was shot out of the other end of the cave.

'You have arrived. Welcome to the Greek World'. Felicity announced.

"And Padre is stuck with another thosand yard stare." Mini-Mav pointed at Connor.

Connor's expression read horror with his eyes widened and his jaw dropped with a grimace, he looked frozen as a picture.

"WOOOHOOO! LET'S DO THAT AGAIN!" Melody cheered as she pumped her fists in the air.

Connor didn't respond. He just stayed frozen in his shocked state. Melody just giggled at his reaction before getting up from her seat and sat on his lap with arms around his neck and kissed him, getting him out of his state.

"Better?" Melody giggled.

"Very." Connor whispered as his vision re-ajusted. Then he grabbed and kissed her harder which surprised her but she liked it anyway as she kissed back.

"Woah nelly." Mini-Mav covered his eyes.

Then they separated to breathe as Connor took a few seconds to center his thoughts.

"I'll meet you by the exit. First I need to go to the bathroom. I have a lot of Amazon packages to drop off." Connor breathed in humorous relief as he sat Melody back down on his chair and slowly walked off. And he whispered. "Are you there God? It's me, Margate."

Melody giggled as she watched him walk off.

"Oh, that silly boy." Melody muttered.


A few minutes later…..

Connor came over the exit hatch after checking his own vitals and heart rate. And parking the Stingray somewhere safe under water. He found Melody standing there still in her beautiful Greek heroine attire waiting for him as he walked up in his handsome Greek hero attire. If he came straight out of Compton.

"Kay. Now that I'm back somewhere close to 120 over 80. It's time to go be tourists before Augustus invades." Connor mused as he spun his keyblade. "Oh and Snoopy and Shorty will stay here to hold down the fort while we're up there."

"Awe, too bad. I would have liked to see them in action." Melody pouted jokingly. "I am curious though. How are we going to get up to the surface? Are we going to turn into Mermaids again?"

"First off. Bringing those two along and making everyone see Mini-Mav walk and Dug talk, would make Nike bankrupt and Dionysus rich." Connor quipped a point. "Second, no. Not yet. Thebes isn't under water so we're taking the express bouble."

"awe… come on, Connor." Melody begged, standing in front of him with big eyes. "Pleeeeease?"

Connor inhaled looking at her.

"No." Connor He deadpanned.

And Melody kept it up.

"No." Connor sternly repeated.

And Melody's beautiful puppy dog eyes grew slightly.

"No..." Connor hesitatingly repeated as it grew uncomfortable.

Melody kept it up and quivered her bottom lip.

"Alright alright stop! Coffee fueled Jesus that was intense!" Connor exhaled and sulked as he sighed, hanging his head back. "We'll be mermaids and swim to thebes."

Melody squealed and hugged him.

"Thank you." Melody said and kissed him on the lips.

Connor kissed her back as he pressed the button on the wall for a glass bubble to shut around them near the exit.

"Don't hammer it in." Connor responded with another kiss.

Then the glass shield filled with water from the hatch opening. And the sub's form shifter turned on. Melody was shifted into a mermaid and Connor was shifted into a merman and they both were injected out through the exit.

"Yes!" Melody cheered as she did a twirl in the water.

"I still don't get this form. It doesn't even come with pockets. I don't think." Connor frowned with his arms crossed then he shrugged. "But you're happy so who gives a shit."

Then he swam up and grabbed Melody's hands from behind like a dance pose before he smirked and she beamed a smile.

"Shall we flood the town blue? That's 'Mavenese' for swimming to the surface together with no freeways or short cuts." Connor mused.

Melody giggled and kissed him on the lips before taking his hand.

"I would be delighted." Melody said as the two began swimming off to Thebes.

As they swam together while holding hands. They swam past so many new beautiful environments that made Melody silently gasp as she looked around and beamed at the sight. The many different colorful corals and sea plants with many different underwater life.

"I've been meeting to ask. So far I've only seen you smile, giggle and tease. Do you even have a dark side? What makes you tick so I'll know never to use it or sell it?" Connor asked playfully as he wanted to get to know Melody a little bit more.

Like what are her dislikes and what makes her mad.

"Bullies are at the top of the list of things I dislike." Melody said after thinking for a moment. "I can't stand bullies."

"Oh yeah. Those hobos with warts are the empty halls with no depths of souls. On top of that they're so boring. That's why my home town never had one. We just had home boys, pimps, geeks, beach bums, cops and bikinis." Connor stated amusingly as they passed a hippo swimming by. "Bread and butter."

"Excuse me." The hippo muttered before sleeping.

"What's your favorite dessert? I would assume it's cake by how you reacted to my birthday cake almost being ruined, but that could have just been you acting crazy." Melody asked with a smirk.

"Ah well I've seen cakes brutally murdered on Teen Nick growing up. It was like watching the Holocaust to me. But to be honest. Cake is my second favorite dessert. My all-time favorite desserts. Plural. Is anything that's sour." Connor smiled.

"Sour?" Melody looked curious.

"I am a sour flavor addict. None of the people I know could beat me in a sour candy challenge." Connor gushed. "I won 300 bucks one time just for slurping down a cup full of liquid toxic waste and sour patches."

"I don't think I've ever heard of sour candies before. What are they like?" Melody asked.

"Kay. Imagine tasting something that feels like your face is melting. But then everything shifts and your taste buds find a better woman and decide to dump you. You chase after those taste bud, tackle them and interrogate them until they reveal what the meaning of life is." Connor explained colorfully, looking excited . "That would just be a field test of how gangsta sour candy really is!"

"I have no idea what that feels like." Melody commented on his joke.

Melody had her eyebrow raised looking awkward and wielded out by Connor's description.

"Wow. That's probably the first time you ever looked weirded out at me. Did anyone ever tell you that you don't have an imperfect expression?" Connor asked and then shifted his statement as he pulled a piece of candy out of his Mav Ring's magic storage. "Tell you what. We'll start with the basics. Try a lemon head. It's a level one on the pucker scale."

He placed the lemon head piece in Melody's hand.

"Well, here we go." Melody said putting the candy into her mouth and sucked on it, tasting the sour, her face puckering up slightly. "Mm…So….. that's what it's like. Not bad."

"Not bad? You say that now. But when I let you try the other sour flavors, you're going to wish sour was a Greek myth and then after a few seconds you'll thank God that it's not." Connor mused, sounding humorously serious as he pointed at her and then went to optimistically asking. "Okay my turn. What is your favorite dessert?"

"I think one of mine would be chocolate cake with buttercream frosting." Melody responded after giving it some thought.

"That's totally weird. The cake I gave my life to protect didn't even look like chocolate cake with buttercream...Unless it was chocolate on the inside and not really pink." Connor slowly realized as he said. "Wait. That was a chocolate cake at your birthday right?"

"Yes, it was. Chef Louis just liked adding color to the frosting" Melody said with a smirk.

"Oh yeah. and Chef Luigi acted like someone who thinks all crustaceans are bombs dipped in butter. What was his deal with Sebastian? Oh wait, it's your turn to ask a question. My bad." Connor responded as they swam past a school of tilapias.

"No it's ok. It's actually pretty funny. My Mom told me about it" Melody said as began the tale. "Apparently, when she met my Dad while as a human, they were having stuffed crabs for dinner, and old Sebastian somehow found himself in the kitchen while Chef Louis was preparing the food. Chef Louis found Sebastian and thought he was a crab he missed and tried to prepare him for cooking. Well, Sebastian fought back, and what happened was not unlike what happened at the party."

"So it became like Crusty Tom & Jerry Lewis ever since." Connor nodded and understood. "Damn. Crab Cakes should've gotten some life insurance if Aqua Gramps told him to watch over you at your place." Connor quipped.

Melody just giggled at his retort.

"Yeah, maybe. I actually didn't know Sebastian was sent by my grandpa to look out for me, or that my Mom knew he was there too. I always just thought he was just an upright, but friendly crab living close to the castle."

"Wait you can talk to fish your whole life, and you never questioned why? That's like me being born with telepathy and the recipe for 'none high-frutose corn syrup based jelly beans' and never asking why." Connor asked, looking kinda surprised.

"It's like he spoke my dreams." A female fish past by gushing.

"No it isn't." A cynical female fished scoffed im response.

"I never thought to ask. Oops." Melody admitted sheepishly.

"Wow. You really are the Aquatic Cinderella. Housemaid abuse part. I'm talking about the part that talks to animals and meets Prince charming at the ball and decided to skip all condescending necessities to first base." Connor said in humorous awe. " It's no wonder you were chosen for a keyblade. You accepted what was good for you without second guessing or doubting it."

"Well, I guess you're right about the last part at least." Melody flirted with a wink.

"I'm actually right about all those parts but I'll let you process them later. What's your next question?" Connor asked resuming the refurbished twenty questions game they came up with.

"What do you like to do for fun?" Melody asked.

All Connor did was laugh slowly and quietly before it started getting louder and faster. His laughter turned breathy as he took breaths between he laugh, almost like he was in tears. He took a moment to collect himself before talking.

"I'm sorry, what was the question?" Connor asked.

"Is he alright?" A male tilapia fish passed by and asked Melody, looking concerned.

"Yeah, I think that's just his insanity coming up for air." Melody joked.

"Speaking up coming up for air." Connor noticed the silhouette of Thebes above the water.

Melody looked up in awe as they swam over to the shores and found a pier that was empty. So they can shift back into human without no one noticing.

"I gotta say. Being a Mermaid Man is actually better than I expected." Connor complemented his form and smiled at Melody. "We should do this more often."

"I think you're right. We should." Melody replied with a peck on the lips.

On that note. Connor wrapped his arm around Melody and swam up while holding her. Then they both jumped out of the water and shifted back in their human forms with their Greek attire as they stood at the pier.


In the city of Thebes...

Connor and Melody looked around as no one was around to see them there. But the people walking by was straight ahead on the streets. And they were both completely dry. The town itself looked busy, with lots of activity for a city of a Greek era. But at least they both came dressed and prepared in case anything happens. So far they only saw humans walking by, which they can both assume maybe Mythological creatures live in different districts of the city.

Or maybe in the wilds.

"Definitely feels and smells like home. Just more outdated." Connor sighed as he admired the view comparing it to New York.

"Aaaah Shad up ya jerk!" Someone yelled in the background.

"Definitely like back home." Connor nodded as he took Melody's hand. "Stay close. We're going to cruise the streets for now."

"With you by my side, I have no worries." Melody said smiling. "Let's get going."

As they began walking. Connor was taking in the smell of a brand new world and Melody's was stepping her bare feet across the ground of the first world she's ever been outside of her world. They took in the sights and crossed the streets after the street vases were signaling them to cross as the carts stopped. They crossed over the main street and Connor saw a gyro stand. Melody noticed she could also read the signs too. Which was intriguing considering that she can understand the letters.

"I should also know to keep like grants you the magic of translating any written language. Pretty soon you'll sing London Bridge in pig Latin." Connor stated as they walked together.

"Now that is cool. I can read any book I come across now, no matter the language." Melody beamed at the info.

"Exactly." Connor winked as they walk up to a Gyro stand and he order some food. "I'll take two lamb gyros on barley wraps."

"Just try and stop me." The gyro stand guy joked as he opened his container and placed two gyro wraps and wrapped them in paper as a package. "That'll be twenty drachmae."

"Can do." Connor answered.

Then Connor placed ten silver coins and a gold one on the stand and Connor gestured Melody to follow him over to the park. And they sae a stone park bench. Connor gestured Melody to sit next to him.

"Got any more questions? We can resume and stop whenever you like." Connor hinted at their question game while he handed Melody her gyro on a napkin.

"I do actually. Where did you get the money to buy these?" She asked, referring to the currency of this world, before taking a bite of her Gyro, and found it to be very good.

"A Maverick never reveals his secrets. And but that I mean screw guidelines. I have a digital wallet based off of the cash I make. That and my allowance. Anyway. Whenever I enter into another world. Not only does our forms change to match the population. But so does our cash." Connor explained before he took a bite of his gyro, enjoyed the taste and swallowed. "Which means of you make a hundred pounds in a world based in 17th century Great Britain. It will convert into a hundred Florin if you enter a world set in the Italian Renaissance."

"Wow, that's really convenient. You could go anywhere and not have to worry about currency." Melody said, taking another bite of her food.

"Well partial to being Atlantian royalty is moving away bogus distractions, like worrying about making money." Connor mused and then asked after taking another bite. "Alright my turn. If you weren't allowed out at the ocean growing up. Where did you learn how to swim?"

"I just knew how." Melody replied easily. "It was like second nature to me. I just went in the water and I somehow knew how to swim, like it was a part of me."

"Meaning in a way. You can take the fish out of water but not the water out of the fish." Connor understood and stated. "My Mom taught me those words."

"Your Mom sounds pretty wise." Melody said before a thought came to her. "Speaking of your Mom, how did she and your Dad meet?"

"Well it's a little complicated. My Mom. Namorita was the clone cousin of Namor the Submariner. Needless to say at a certain point in her life. She joined a group of heroes called the New Warriors and they started they're own reality show. But during the pre events before the Super Human Registration Act. The New Warriors were taking on some villains that escaped from the Raft and tracked them down in Stanford Connecticut. While the team was dealing with the other members. My Mom took on a psycho name Nitro."

"Sounds dangerous." Melody commented as she listened to his story.

"Oh you have no idea. One moment my Mom has the douchbag on a silver platter and then the he quips 'You're playing with the big boys now'. And Nitro caused himself to blow up. Like an atom bomb. Taking Stanford Connecticut with him. Along with six hundred and twelve people. And my Mom's team." Connor stated grimly on those tragic details.

Melody gasped at hearing that.

"That's terrible. How did Mom survive that?" Melody asked quietly.

"Apparently a mystic mutant named Wanda Maximoff. AKA the Scarlet Witch eas in the neighborhood at the time. She saw what was about to happen and dropped my mom into a portal before the explosion took place. She survived to, but Wanda thought she had failed, because she couldn't open another portal to bring Namorita back. Because the Light of Kingdom Hearts knew she would give birth to the next Maverick. It sent her to Destiny Islands. Where my Dad found her barley alive on shore." Connor stated.

"So Kingdom Hearts knew you were going to be the next Maverick and made sure your parents would meet?" Melody surmised.

"Pretty much. And as you can tell. It went up hill between my folks and eventually I was born. But when I was about two years old I think. Attuma found a way to travel between worlds and sent his troops after my Mom when he found out where she was living at the time. Mom or course kicked their asses. But she had to leave. To deal with a war and keep me safe." Connor explained.

"So you didn't see your Mom for years then," Melody surmised, a touch of sadness in her voice.

"Not until I turned ten. Me and my dad..." Connor froze for a second and decided to hide the tragedy. "We took a trip to New York. But when our plane landed. We weren't in our New York. But the Marvel's worlds Big Apple. Sure enough that's how My mome found us. I woke up the next day with a ring and a keyblade. One thing lead to another and I was brought to Atlantis to train."

"Did you get a chance to meet any of your Mom's teammates?" Melody asked in thought.

"Not all of them. Most of them died in the Stanford bombing. Except for Richard Rider. AKA Nova. Angelica Jones AKA Firestar. And her boyfriend Robbie Baldwin AKA Speedball. That guy however was a tough shell to crack." Connor pointed out.

"What do you mean?" Melody asked.

"Out of all of the surviving New Warriors. Robbie took the hardest hit. Not only did he suffered jail time on the Raft for public opinion siding against him and his team mates during the war of the Registration Act. But he also had a decline in his powers. They only worked now whenever he was in pain." Connor explained.

"Wow, that sounds pretty rough." Melody symphosize with him.

"What he did next to deal with the tragedy deserves most of our sympathies." Connor said in his own sympathetic tone.

Melody became slightly worried about the answer to her next question.

"What exactly did Robbie do then?" Melody asked with concern.

"He had a member of the Raft's medical staff to put together a new suit for him. Given that Robbie had the ability to heal along with kinetic enegery powers. He could heal any physical wounds. But PTSD is sometimes un-healable." Connor stated as he showed Melody some trading cards. One of Speedball. And another of Penance.

"Who are these guys?" Melody asked, looking bemused by Speedball's appearance and a tad intimidated by the appearance of Penance.

"This is Robbie...Speedball, before the Stanford explosion." Connor pointed at the first card and then he pointed at the second card. "And this is Robbie afterwards. He blamed himself for not stopping the explosion. So. He had the doctors put together a suit to cause himself pain. Six hundred and twelve spikes inside the suit to represent the number of people that died in Stanford. The sixty longer spikes were the sixty children that died. With this suit he could use his powers again. And he renamed himself, Penance."

Melody gasped, horrified by this bit of information.

"Oh my God. That's just awful!" Melody exclaimed. "He shouldn't be doing that to himself! It wasn't his fault that those people died."

"Everyone tried telling him that. I always figured because he couldn't punish Nitro. He punished himself instead." Connor sighed. "He's been this way ever since. And when I found out, I've been working on a way to restore his powers back to their original state without the need for pain. I'm not there yet, but I'm close."

"Well, if anyone can figure it out. It's you." Melody said, giving him a small smile.

"No. I may find an answer for his powers. But only Robbie will have to see for himself. He wasn't Nitro. The darkness of guilt and self harm can go pretty deep." Connor sighed and stated. "For now he's anything but useless. He joined a group of reformed supervillains called the Thunderbolts. They're like the Suicide Squad for Marvel. Needless to say that group saved a lot of lives. And best of all they didn't make a bad first impression in the box office...Yet...Maybe."

That last statement was a stab at the first Suicide Squad film. Melody giggled a little seeing that he was being silly again.

"It's amazing how you talk about about something serious one moment, but are able to add humor no matter what." Melody commented.

"My fans expect a quota of at least three or five jokes during a conversation. Don't expect me to go Dark Knight." Connor remarked and gestured that he was black. "Or in my case, the Really Dark Knight."

"I'll keep that in mind." Melody giggled before finishing what was left of her Gyro.

"With that said." Connor said as he finished his gyro and stood up as he completely forgot why they were there after having a nice conversation. "Remind me again why we're here?"

"I don't know, something about visiting Mt Olympus?" Melody said while kicking her bare feet as she was seated back on the bench and could barely reach the ground.

"Oh that's right. We're going to need three things to get there. A horse. An Atlas Charm and directions on how to get there." Connor listed to Melody .

"The Olympus Coliseum is down south of there Bruh." A Greek Hippie stated as he past by Connor while pointing towards South.

"We're going to need two things to get there. A horse. And an Atlas Charm." Connor listed to Melody while putting an X to the third thing

"Horses for Sale!"

Connor and Melody turned towards the direction of the voice, and saw a man by a stable with several horses.

"Horses for sale!" The man shouted again. "These strong beasts will get you to anywhere you want to go!"

Connor and Melody froze for a moment before they looked at each other again.

"You might wanna be careful. There's a chance I'm haunted." Connor deadpanned about how convenient this was.

"Oh really? Well. Let me try and see if I'm haunted too." Melody mused with a smirk before speaking up. "Now all we need is an Atlas Charm!"

"Sorry. Doesn't work that way. We would have to sail a two day journey to the Mountains of Sparta in order to get a stone from the statue of Atlas which rests on-" Connor dejected at first.

But then something cut him off.

Right next to the park exit they both heard something convenient.

"For the last time. We did not order a crate of Atlas Stones!" A guard near the entrance of a Greek Mansion argued with a Greek delivery guy.

"Well pal you could've told me that before I unpacked them!" The delivery guy next to a large crate of Atlas Stones argued back.

Melody just turned to Connor and smirked.

"What was it you were saying a moment ago?" Melody asked with a cheeky look.

"IS ANYTHING HARD IN THIS TOWN?!" Connor screamed and echo in frustration.

Everyone in town paused to look at Connor for five seconds. Before they resumed like nothing happened.

"And to think. I got an A+ in school for talking about how hard life was in this town." Connor sarcastically muttered to himself before he handed Melody a small bag of dracmae. "I'll handle the stone. You go by the horse. Pick a fast one though."

"Right. I'm on it." Melody said, taking the money before giving him a quick peck on the lips. "Good luck Mr. Lucky."

"We're in Greece, Mel. Not Ireland." Connor deadpanned and pecked her lips back which made her giggle a bit.

While Connor went over to talk to the guy with the crate of Atlas stones Melody went over to the man selling horses near the small market area. Most of the horses seemed healthy and in different colors.

Connor went up to the delivery man trying to negotiate with the guard at the mansion entrance.

"Come on I lost four hundred dracmae trying to deliver these stones!" The Delivery Guy protested.

Before the guard could state that it's not his problem. Connor placed a bag of coins on the Delivery Man's cart.

"Here's five hundred. Keep the change." Connor stated as he bought the stones and dragged the crate away.

Leaving both the guard and the delivery guy silent and in shock.

Meanwhile, Melody walked over to the stables. The stalls and shops were set up less complex but more to the point. It's as if this merchant has his shop on the road. But it looked decent enough to make the money. Hopefully the horses were in quality conditions.

"Excuse me, sir?" Melody called, getting the horse sellers attention. I was wondering if you had any fast horses, and strong enough to carry two people?"

"Of course, my dear. I would say the horse at the end of the stables will be your best bet." the salesman pointed towards a big black horse with a white mane.

"I'll take him. Thank you." Melody said, paying the salesman before walking over to the horse.

The horse looked up and was mildly shy to see Melody. But she gave the horse a kind expression with her pretty face and a gentle tone.

"Hey boy. My name's Melody. Nice to meet you." Melody soothed as she let the horse lose from the stall.

The horse neighed and rubbed his face at Melody, making her giggle.

"Such a sweetie, aren't you?" Melody cooed before grabbing the reins the salesman gave her and put it on the horse and started leading him out of the stable. "Come on. Let's go."

She and the horse walked away from the stables to meet up with Connor. Who was successful with his deal.

"And I was thinking a walk through this town finding these objects would be like a scavenger hunt or a role playing video game. But I doubt the Coliseum will be this convenient." Connor commented as he took a stone from the crate and looked at the horse which he smirked as he recognized it as an Italian ebony stallion. "A Knight Rider. Nice pick. Got a name for him?"

"I'm not sure." Melody said while tapping her foot on the ground trying to come up with a name. "How about Lightning? No, maybe it should be something related to Greece."

Connor pondered for a second before he thought of something clever. As he smirked. "I think we'll call him, Sorbo." He declared.

"Sorbo?" Melody asked looking curious.

"The last name of easily the best Hercules actor I've ever seen on TV, Kevin Sorbo. Plus it sounds foreign enough to pass for a Greek name." Connor explained why it's perfect for this world.

The horse does seem strong enough for the name as well.

"Sorbo." Melody said, giving the name a try. "I like it. Alright. Our new horse is named Sorbo."

Then with the name settled. Connor climbed onto Sorbo with ease and mounted him. Given that Sorbo was a trained horse, he didn't have a problem doing what he's bred to do. And the horse can detect that Connor is a valiant warrior.

Then Connor reached down for Melody's hand. "Ready to the burn the wind?" Connor made a western quip for riding a horse.

"Ready as I'll ever be." Melody said, taking Connor's hand, letting him pull her up onto Sorbo's back. She sat behind Connor with her arms wrapped around his waist.

Then Connor snipped the reigns on Sorbo's mame lightly which made him whiny a bit as he started to walk at a moderate speed on the road.

As Connoe were galloping through the steeets and following the rules of the road. They stopped at a Greek version of a stop light. Or a stop vase. To look up at a giant statue of Hercules in the town square.

"Huh...Here I thought he was going to be naked with a club and the Namean Lion's skin as a censor bar." Connor remarked seeing Hercules' statue.

"Well, you did say that this world's Hercules would be different. I guess Appearance also counts" Melody said, looking at the statue. "Guess he's already made quite a name for himself here."

"Personally I'd put a statue Jason and the Argonauts on the other side of town. Like maybe near whatever this world calls a gas station." Connor said with a shrug.

"What's a gas station?" Melody asked curiously.

"A place where the cars go to drink. And a capital political war token." Connor quipped.

'A gas station is a business and franchised establishment beside a road for selling fuel or gas for motor vehicles to run.' Felicity explained for Connor from his ring lighting up.

Which suprised Sorbo as he heard his ring talk.

"What she said." Connor added to Melody.

Then they rode towards the south exit. Heading towards their destination on horse back to the Olympus Coliseum.


Outside the city of Thebes...

Then they rode Sorbo outside the south gates of Thebes passing over the grassy fields of the many country sides of Greece. Connor made sure to follow the trails and signs which all pointed to the Olympus Coliseum. Which seems to be the only part of Olympus mortals are allowed in. But that goes without saying if heroes from all over compete. Which they'll soon find out more about. Connor knew this ride would take a while, so he let's Sorbo the horse ride at a steady pace.

Before Connor re-enaged the twenty questions game with his friend Melody.

"Alright to pass the time. Q-time. How old were you when you first started swimming out of the wall?" Connor asked.

"I think I was about eight years old when I first snuck out." Melody stated after giving it some thought. "It was a spur of the moment thing. And after that one time, I was hooked."

"Nice. Funny thing is that's the age I started building muscles on my body. I planned to have the built of five different celebrities when I turned seven. So we both kinda got hooked on something that built us up I guess." Connor remarked about his early workout days.

"Yeah, I guess so." Melody muttered, leaning into Connor's strong back, feeling thrilled and relieved to be with someone so kind and indestructible. "So what was it like when you first became the Maverick and got your keyblade? How did it feel?"

"Honestly. It was pretty scary at first. I thought I was possessed and maybe I had to perform rituals or thought I was about to grow a second head or something. But then I saw that I could fly. Shoot lasers out of my fingers...Breathe underwater and talk to fish." Connor admitted and listed. Then he smiled. "And then what made it thrilling all of a sudden was realizing I was now in the world of all the heroes I grew up reading about and saw on the big screen. I guess the better question would be, what was it not like?" Connor said in thought about his first experience. "The funny thing is the ring fed knowledge into my brain on how to use all of my abilities and how to control them."

"So you knew how to do what you can do just like that? That's quite convenient. And a little bit of cheating." Melody quipped.

"Well if playing the hero game fair means I do something crazy like start a school fight after turning someone's groin guard green. Then I'd rather skip the preliminaries and cheat." Connor quipped back and said with a mild serious note. "Besides, I think it's dangerous to be clueless with the power I have."

"Fair enough." Melody conceded. "But I have to admit, it's quite amazing. You could technically have a world full of information at the tip of your fingers without having even needing to lift a finger. You probably used it cheat during your studies."

"Eh...Maybe. Still I don't want to think of it as cheating and getting away with the hard work. I think...It's like the ring taught me everything and helped me through all the hard work. So I can do the harder parts for the folks who can shoot lights out of their skin or have a magic Keychain." Connor explained his mindset on it.

"It should sound absurd. But coming from you, it doesn't." Melody muttered.

"I know! Girl I'm like the Comedy Of Errors. Accept they forgot to tell what the errors are!" Connor beamed with a chuckle. Connor takes pride in what's natural about himself.

"Or Maybe they chose not to tell for your sake." Melody joked.

"Nope. They just don't see any errors. Besides I'm a living lie detector. If anyone complements me, I know when they're just saying it or not." Connor stated.

"So you can tell when anyone is lying, no matter who it is or what it's about?" Melody asked.

"Pretty much. My neon power heighten all of my senses. I can smell really far. See really far and heae really far. But I can also hear a person's heart rate. And a hesrt rate shifts whenever that person is lying. Why do you think I knew you were pulling my leg back on the island were we first met?" Connor explained and pointed out.

No fair. You big cheater!" Melody pouted cutely leaning in to him.

"I can't help it girl! It's like breathing! you don't learn how to breathe you just do it!" Connor exclaimed humorously as Melody laughed while leaning against him.

"Or like a fish swimming. It just does it. Or a goofball telling jokes. He just does it." Melody joked.

"EXACLY!" Connor exclaimed joyfully and added without changing his expression, because of Melody's tease. "Bite me."

"Don't tempt me." Melody flirted with a wink.

"Wait...Are you one of those Mermaids from horror films?" Connor inquired pretending to look scared. "Are you gonna eat me in my sleep?"

"I won't eat you. Maybe nibble on you a little." Melody mused with a flirty tone.

The young Maverick turned to give the Princess an amused smolder.

"Mel? Not in front of Trigger here." Connor muttered gesturing the horse.

Melody just giggled.

"He probably shouldn't see this either." Melody muttered before giving Connor a quick kiss.

Connor kissed her back, before his ears picked up on some soft noises coming from up the soft stream ahead.

"Wait. Did you hear that?" Connor perked looking ahead.

"Hear what?" Melody asked, looking around confused.

"Shhh..." Connor shushed quietly as he picked up on the sound. And he recognized the smell and sight of the Oasis straight ahead.

"Yah." Connor quiet signaled the reigns on Sorbo to cause him to ride straight ahead.

While Melody hold on close to Connor as he rode across a path and a bridge. After a minute of the horse galloping across the open fields. Connor caused the horse to stop at some near by bushes.

"Come on." Connor whispered to Melody as he stepped off the horse and helped her down.

As Melody got on to the ground, Melody looked down and gasped.

"Whoa. Look at the grass." Melody said, as the ground beneath her bare feet was glowing. "Why is the grass glowing?"

"Because of them." Connor grinned as he saw from his position behind the breaches of a silica tree. "Look."

Melody walked over and gasped at the sight.

Before them was an Oasis. And hanging around were three young Nymphs.

One Nymph sitting on a branch had light green skin with yellow hair and a purple flower in her hair. She wore a short dark green dress and was barefoot.

Another Nymph sitting by the water in the grass had caramel colored skin with green hair and a white flower in her hair. She wore a short brown dress and was barefoot.

And the other Nymph sitting on the cliff above the water had light blue skin with blue hair. She wore a short dark blue dress and was barefoot.

"Wow! They're beautiful. But what are they?" Melody asked, interested in their recent discovery.

"They're Nymphs. Greek Spirits of nature. They guard the natural order of all the green on this planet." Connor whispered an answer.

As he watched the Nymphs giggling and splashing each other by the waters.

"Amazing." Melody whispered as she watched them giggling.

Just as Melody was about to stand up and meet and greet them. Connor quickly placed a hand on her shoulder.

"Hold on. They're scared of humans. Back during the war between Xerxes. The Persian army had mercenaries who use to hunt them down and kill them for sport. Now they run whenever they see a human." Connor whispered a warning for Melody not to scare them.

"That's terrible. How can they do that to them?" Melody whispered.

"Let's just say they served the wrong gods who gave them the wrong perspective towards morale." Connor whispered and answered.

"Wait...I know that smell." The blue Nymph perked up and sniffed a bit gaining the other two's attention. Then she gasped in joy as she softly beamed. "Girls. I think I found a mermaid!"

"Mermaid?!" The other Nymphs exclaimed excitedly before looking around, trying to find the mermaid.

"Are they talking about us?" Melody whispered, a tinge of excitement in her voice.

"No, I think they're talking about just you." Connor whispered as he quirked his eyebrows.

"Wait..." The green Nymph sniffed and gasped. "And an Atlantian!" She beamed.

"No, I think they're talking about us." Connor whispered a correction to himself.

"Hello?! Is anyone out there?!" The caramel colored Nymph stood up and called out.

Melody decided to step out first, catching the Nymphs' attention.

"Hi. I'm Melody." Melody greeted with a wave and a kind smile.

"A human?" The green one gasped in fear.

"No Phoebe. She just looks human. She's definitely a mermaid." The blue one protested.

"Um... I'm actually part human and part Mermaid" Melody said timidly.

"Oh. So does this mean you're not here to hunt us and make our pelts into a trophy?" The caramel Nymph asked nervously.

"No way! Of course not!" Melody said quickly, trying to disperse their concerns. "I would never do anything like that!"

"And...What about your friend over there?" The blue Nymph pointing towards Connor behind the silica vines.

"She bought him for a date to Caligula's night club." Connor said gesturing the horse.

"Hmph!" Sorbo huffed a snort.

"I'm kidding!" Connor held his arms up.

Melody giggled again, never getting tired of his antics.

"He's like me. But he's part human and part Atlantian." Melody explained before smirking. "He's a little crazy. But he means well."

The blue Nymph smiled as she saw they were friendly, and shifted into a rush line of water that waved towards Melody, and she shifted back to a normal Nymph as she gestured herself.

"I'm Daphne." The blue Nymph spoke her name and gestured to the caramel one. "And over there is Melissa."

"And I'm Phoebe." The green one gave a short timid wave.

Then Connor teleported over and muttered to Melody. "Brace yourself, you're about to become a hieroglyph." He mused before he introduced himself. "The name's Connor. The current Maverick. And this is my partner Melody."

The three Nymphs gasped in surprise and excitement.

"An actual Maverick?!" Daphne exclaimed.

"Amazing, and one of Atlantian Decent!" Melissa said.

"We haven't seen a Maverick for Centuries!" Phoebe stated.

"Wow. You're very well known." Melody said quietly to Connor

"Technically it's whoever kept this ring warm before I came along was well known. And the ones before that." Connor stated with a shrug. "But I digress."

"Come on sit with us. Please?" Melissa asked like a little girl while they invited Melody and Connor to sit among the soft leafy mats near the stream.

"You both look like you've been riding out there for a few hours." Phoebe said as she came over and took both Melody and Connor's hands gently tugging them over to the others.

"Yeah. We've been riding since we left Thebes hours ago. This is the first time we've stopped so far." Melody commented as she and Connor were lead the leafy mats and sat down.

"We can't stay too long though. We're looking for every last piece of the Pearl of Asarius." Connor explained as he sat down next to Melody. "You could say we're on a cosmic scavenger hunt."

"But with a lot more action and excitement" Melody muttered quietly.

"What's the pearl of sar...Asar..." Melissa tried to ask.

"That's a good question." Connor beamed pretending she did ask before he explained. "Imagine a blessing from Zeus. And a handsome fish bought it. And it's put in a fragile package and Zeus sends Hermes to deliver it to the one that bought it. Only Hermes was so clumsy that he caused the package to shatter across the the planets as Hermes flies by to deliver it. So because of this. The handsome fish has a hunky more bad ass descendent who goes on a quest with a hot and striking free-spirited sea horse, to find every last piece of that package to put it back together. Starting in this world."

All three of the Nymphs looked at each other with shocked awe at the prospect of such a concept.

"Wow. That's quite an item you are on the hunt for." Melissa muttered.

"To think something on par with a blessing from Zeus could possibly exist." Phoebe commented.

"In the wrong hands, it could spread devastation throughout the lands." Daphne stated with a grim look.

"Basically the Pearl was created by a scholar named Asarius from the original Atlantis. And with it. We can access the original city and find the first Trident of Aquarius. The first ever to role the seven seas." Connor expressed how important this was.

"And if our enemies get a hold of that, they will spread darkness throughout every world, with nothing to stop them." Melody stated seriously.

"They will turn water into darkness if they get the trident. And water is everywhere." Connor stated before he shifted into his Maverick form. "And I'm standing between them and the water."

The Nymphs gasped in awe of the Maverick's armored form and his noble valor to protect all worlds.

"Don't you mean we?" Melody smugly asked as she sat with her legs crossed and her playing with her toes.

"And you are?" Maverick humorously inquired at Melody.

"I'm the little Sea Horse the Hunky Fish would be lost without." Melody retorted with a smirk. "Probably swimming in circles after exercising one fin for too long."

"So you're a Mary Sue and I'm the dude with all the credibility." Maverick teased back.

"Oooooooooh." All three of the Nymphs mused.

"Only problem is your credibility is all soggy." Melody quipped.

"Says the girl who's been swimming since she was...How old were you when you started swimming again?" Maverick inquired as he halted his retort.

"I told you I was eight years old when I first started swimming." Melody said before she decided to pretend being offended. "You don't remember what I said to you not even an hour ago? Wow. And I thought you paid attention to me."

"Yesh you're right. I also missed the part where you said you're all time favorite desert is chocolate cake with butter creme icing and how you love to feel the water, sand and freedom beneath your feet without prejudice bullies putting a wall over your life." Maverick described perfectly and humorously, then he pretended to gasp and whispered like a girl. "It's like he doesn't even know me."

Melody flushed, happy to know Connor really listened to her when they talked.

"Awe, Connor." Melody cooed and leaned forward to give him a kiss on the lips.

"Awwwe!" The three Nymphs gushed at the two.

"That's so sweet!" Melissa said.

"They're so cute!" Phoebe commented.

"They make a lovely couple!" Daphne finished.

Hearing this, Melody blushed and leaned away.

"Oh, um, we're not dating." Melody stuttered out, embarrassed.

"Ha! Right. And Zeus was killed by a Spartan." Melissa scoffed playfully as the others smirked and didn't buy it.

"Well...Only in fiction." Maverick muttered before he shifted back into Connor.

Connor connected his statement to the one Melissa made to make a God Of War reference.

"We're just...Really good at our job and we're partners who admire each other. Honest." Melody was nervously saying while Connor was behind her making kissing gestures with his hands and winking as he hinted to the Nymphs, they definitely are near the border of a relationship.

All three Nymphs just giggled at the two. Melody, guessing Connor was doing something, quickly turned her head to catch him. But he was faster and stopped before being caught.

"Oh sure." Melissa said sarcastically.

"We totally believe you." Phoebe added with just as much sarcasm.

"Yeah, there's nothing going on between you two at all." Daphne said sarcastically with a smirk.

Before Melody and Connor could say anything. Connor received a buzz from his ring's comms and opened it up.

"What up Padre?! How's the trip?! Ran into any hot robot Sirens?" Mini-Mav quipped on the comms.

"What's wrong M&M?" Connor inquired.

"We...Got a leak in the gym. Dug thought one of the pipes was a bone." Mini-Mav admitted.

"I should've painted them black. Connor muttered and said. "I'll be right there."

Connor then hung out and stood up.

"Something wrong?" Melody asked.

"Nothing. The kids were playing in the wrong room again. I'll be right back. In the mean time, you enjoy some gossip with Blossom, Bubbles and Buttercup while I go fix a leak." Connor stated as he stood up and handed Melody a small round glowing coin with an M on it. "Oh and keep this with you. I'll be able to beam back to your location as long as you have. Wherever you are. Just don't have it with you when you use the restroom, I like my eyes the way they are."

Melody rolled her eyes at his joke.

"I'll leave it with Sorbo if it comes down to it." Melody said with a smirk.

"Aieght. So you girls...Do whatever girls do to past the time. Pink. Tea parties. Glitter. Whatever yall femmes do!" Connor exclaimed humorously trying to find the right words before he beamed himself back to the sub to stop a short incident.

Leaving Melody to hang with some Nymphs her age. So they all sat together on the grass to chat and socialize. For a bunch of Greek mythological creatures. They sure do pass well for girls around Melody's age. Even if they might be a few centuries or so older. They haven't matured or matched their age with their time. So it counts still.

"Sooooo? If you two are not dating. Than what's with the kissing hmmm?" Phoebe smirked with her chin leaning on her palm looking at Melody.

"Uh... I don't really know." Melody said nervously as she held her bare feet while sitting with her legs crossed, rocking back and forth slightly. "It... It just felt right. But... We're just friends."

"Phoebe, Melissa and I are friends too. But that doesn't mean we kiss intimately." Daphne mused with a smirk as she was laid on her stomach with her bare feet kicking enthusiastically.

"You're talking those steps into a zone most girls are afraid to go to when it comes to a guy." Melissa smiled as she was sitting on a tree branch above Phoebe

"And that's okay. Most girls do." Phoebe encouraged. "It will become easier when Connor takes that next step for you."

"I guess. I mean, I don't know about that." Melody murmured, looking down at the ground. "Deep down, I would love nothing more than for us to be more than friends. But at the same time, it feels like the only reason we're together right now is because my grandfather ordered him to look out for me. And I honestly don't know if at the end of our journey, if Connor will want to be with me or move on after everything's all said and done. And that makes me wish our journey never comes to an end. Is that selfish of me to want that?"

"Of course not. You just don't want to let go of something that's always meant to be." Phoebe encouraged Melody.

"Did he give you something you always wanted without you or anyone else asking?" Melissa asked.

"Does he receive you whenever you share your affection?" Daphne asked.

"Did he bleed for you?!" All three Nymphs asked at the same time gushing.

Melody thought back and realized what they were saying was true. He gave her something she always without being asked, he never shied away from her affections, and he did bleed for her.

"Yeah, he did. Everything you just said, he did for me." Melody stated, a glint of hope in her eyes.

"Then you shouldn't have to worry that he doesn't feel the same. Because love is putting someone's needs before your own." Melissa smiled.

"But here's one thing I noticed. You're worry about whether or not he knows that you feel the same." Daphne stated.

Melody looked down in thought.

"You're right. Part of me worries whether or not he feels the same, or if he even knows I how I feel for him." Melody muttered, turning her gaze from the ground, to the water.

Then Melody started to feel the magic of Fantasia work around her as she sang while looking at the Maverick in her reflection.

"How does he knooooooooow I love him?~ How does he knooooooooow I'm his?~" Melody sang with the beautiful voice of the likeness of her mother. Singing from her heart.

The three Nymphs smirked at each other.

"They always sing after staring into water." Daphne whispered and giggled.

"I know right?" Melissa giggled with her.

"Hey girls. Let give her a hand." Phoebe pulled out a heart shaped harb and strumed it to signal some friends.

Then three white doves came flying down and landed in the middle of where the Nymphs were standing.

The dove in the middle was holding two maracas. And had a Jemacan dreadlocks and beard style for some reason.

The dove on the left was holding an instrument sea shell that looked like a small keyboard. And the dove on the right was holding some bongos.

The Nymphs pointed to Melody and winked. And the doves winked back.

"How does he know that you love him?~" The middle dove started the beat like an expert Jamaican singer .

Melody turned to see them and was curious.

"Who are they?" Melody inquired.

"Straight from Aphrodite's garden. the Carriers of Love!" Melissa presented them as she zoomed onto a tree branch.

"Just roll with it Melody." Phoebe winked as she got on a branch as well.

"I'll take this next verse with them." Daphne mused before she zoomed up a branch and all the Nymphs caused the whole Oasis to shift and light up into an illuminated forest. Complete with bright colors like neon and ocean themed.

"Woah..." Melody awed at the sight as she stood up and looked around.

"Where was I again? Oh yeah." The middle dove pondered and started with his band again. "How does he know that you love him?~"

Then the Nymphs danced on the branches as they caused the trees to dance.

"How do you show him you love him?~" Daphne started singing with the band from up in the trees above Melody.

"How does he know that you really, really~" The middle dove sang.

"Truly love him?~" Daphne and then the dove sang together. "How does he know that you love him?~"

"Wow. This is happening." Melody said with awe.

"How do you show him you love him?~ How does he know that you really, really, truly love him?~" The dove and Nymphs sang.

Then Melody skipped across the forest as the Nymphs danced across the branches above her. The Princess followed them as they sang.

"It's not enough to take the one you love for granted~" Daphne sang. "You must remind her or she'll be inclined to saaaaay~"

Then Melody jumped on a boulder and sang out to everyone as the doves whistled with the music.

"How do I knooooooow he loves me!?~ How do I knooooooooow he's mine!?~" Melody sang to them.

"It's quite simple!" The Nymphs respond to her.

"Well, does he leave a little note to tell you You are on his mind?~" Melissa sang as she wrote a note on a leaf and placed it in a tree hole like a mailbox.

"He prefers words to letters." Melody shrugged a response.

"Send you yellow flowers when the sky is gray?~" Phoebe sang as she danced around two a male Centaur giving a female Centaur some flowers, making her gasp and smile.

"Well he gives me neon flowers." Melody smiled.

"Heeey!~" Phoebe beamed.

Then Daphne stood by a group of Dancers that were dancing to the music as she sang the next lines.

"He'll find a new way to show you~ A little bit everyday~" Daphne sang while dancing with the Centaurs. Then the other two Nymphs went to her side and started singing with her.

"That's how you know~ That's how you know!~ He is your love~" the three Nymphs sang together.

Melody smiled at her friends as she pondered. "Still. It kinda feels like I'm leaving him to do the heavy lifting on this part." She admitted."And waiting for him to lift."

"Not a problem. Simply support his role while you follow your destiny. And be patient for him to act." Daphne stated as she walked with her down a path.


Meanwhile back with Connor on the Stingray…..

Maverick was repairing the sub's leak with Advance welding equipment. Using an arc welder to seal the damage while the sub hovered above the waters. It's a good thing his tools were too loud for him to hear the subs playing their instruments above the sky singing to him.

"You got to show her you need her!~ Don't treat her like a mind reader!~ Each day do something to lead her!~ To believe you love her!~" The middle dove sang and moved to the beats while doing so.

Which made Maverick raise his head and look over his shoulder.

Despite his advance hearing. The Couriers of Love were made by the gods. So they were impervious to his hearing.

"M&M?! Did you say something?!" Maverick called.

"No thanks! I'm trying to quit!" Mini-Mav answered over the loud welding equipment.


Back over with Melody and the Nymphs…

Melody was standing in the river with the water just above her ankles as the water began to form moving images of people made of water. Thanks to the magic of Daphne demonstrating this.

Two rows of them were lined up. One row males dressed as grooms and the other rows were females dressed as brides.

"Everybody wants to live happily ever after~" Daphne sang, skipping between the rows of grooms as they crossed over to each other, each groom dancing with a bride, spinning her about. "Everybody wants to know their true love is true~"

The brides and grooms converged into a tight group before separating.

"How do you know he loves you?-" Daphne sang as she ran between them. "How do you know he's yours?-"

"Well, does he take you out dancing~ Just so he can hold you close?~" Phoebe sang as she danced with a watery image.

"Well..." Melody pondered the moments Connor held her close and during the first song he sung and they danced.

"Dedicate a song with words Meant just for you?~ Oooh!~" Melissa sang as she flipped off a branch and swan dived into the water.

"Definitely!" Melody beamed, making them cheer.

"He'll find his own way to tell you~ With the little things he'll do~" Phoebe sang words of wisdom as she held Melody's hands in encouragement before she pulled her over to dance with her and the other two Nymphs on the river.

"That's how you know~ That's how you know he's your love~" The three Nymphs danced with Melody on the water, their singing now about to get a tad softer. "He's your love!~ He's your love~"

Then all three Nymphs gasped in awe looking down at Melody's right hand. Which made the Princess look down to see the keyblade glowing in her hand.

"Oh my gosh! You're a keyblade Wielder too!" Daphne beamed at the sight.

"Yeah. I am. I guess you can say it was another gift from Connor." Melody beamed herself as her keyblade glowed brighter.

"Yeah but it's glowing because it's gaining a new extendment to your water spell! Wave it!" Phoebe said in excitement.

Melody looked curiously as she waved her keyblade and it caused the water to form many moving images of every dancer and street performer in existence.

Making Melody smile and her eyes widened at the amazing sight. As the Nymphs took her hands and gently tugged her forward as they skipped across water and the water dancers.

Then the Couriers of Love began to chant the tune and beats in the background as the Nymphs sang.

"That's how you know he loves you!~ That's how you know it's true!~" Daphne sang with the other two harmonizing with her.

"Because he'll wear your favorite color~Just so he can match your eyes~" Phoebe sang and winked.

"Blue and green are kinda my favorite colors." Melody stated.

"He'll even make a private picnic

By the star's glow~ Oooh!~" Melissa sang.

"That would be nice." Melody sighed at the thought.

"His heart will be yours forever~ Something everyday will show~" Daphne sang encouragement as they formed rings of water around Melody and the Nymphs flew around her with everyone dancing around Melody as she looked around like a child enjoying a circus.

"That's how you know~ That's how you know~" Everyone sang while the three Nymphs flew around Melody. "That's how you know~ That's how you know~ That's how you know~ That's how you know he's your love~" everyone continued to sing with only the three Nymphs singing 'he's your love' in Harmony.

Then as the music quieted down they could hear the doves playing the echo as they flew in the middle of the Nymphs with their instruments.

"That's how she knows that you love him~ That's how you show him~ you love him~"

"That's how I'll knooooow~" Melody sang with them feeling hope.

"He's got to show her he need her~ Don't treat her like a mind reader~" The Couriers of Love sang the beat

"That's how I'll knoooooow~" Melody sang while looking out.

"That's how he knows that you love him~ That's how you know that you love him~ It's not enough to take the one you love for granted~" Everyone started singing the final verse for a pose.

"HE'S MY LOOOOOOOOOOOOOOVE!~" Melody sang out with everyone doing the echo and the Nymphs harmonizing.

As the sung ended. The Centaurs rode off and the water images faded as Connor immediately teleported back as he looked around the area and saw flower pedals all over like confetti. As if he missed a parade or party.

"Did I miss the Forest Olympics or something?" Connor inquired about the girls.

"Uh... Nope!" The three Nymphs and Melody said at the same time, shaking their heads.

"Uh, we were just showing her some of our abilities." Daphne made an excuse.

"And it got a little hectic." Melissa bit her lip nervously.

"And a bit messy." Phoebe said sheepishly..

"But I learned a lot from them." Melody finished with a nervous smile.

Between them talking and shaking their heads together, and their half truths, warning bells were going off in his head. But Connor decided to leave it. As he wanted to move onto something else that he needed to tell Melody.

"Kay, well... I found a shortcut to the Olympus Coliseum. They're welcoming in new heroes and their Trophy for the gold cup has the pearl shard we're looking for." Connor stated to Melody.

"That's great. We just have to compete, win it all, and the pearl is as good as ours." Melody said with Glee.

"Oh, can't you stay a little longer!?" Daphne asked with a cute pout.

"Yeah, it's been a long time since we've made new friends." Melissa said sadly.

"And you guys are great." Phoebe finished.

Melody felt her heart tugged as they begged them to stay. While Connor didn't have it in him to make a direct 'no'.

"Oh...Well as much as me and the misses love to stick around a bunch of wet and leafy figurines like yourselves. I don't want to keep you all hanging. I mean keep you from your family. Maybe parents?" Connor nervously made a logical excuse.

The three Nymphs looked at each other, sadness evident on their faces.

"We... Don't have parents." Daphne said with tears in her eyes, taking Connor and Melody by surprise.

"We don't even have a family." Phoebe said with her own tears.

"They were all killed by barbarians and foreign hunters. We are the last of our kind." Melissa said, tears trailing down her cheeks.

Melody placed her hands on her mouth hearing how they lost everything in such a horrible way. While Connor was feeling the same way. He was already thinking of a way to correct this injustice. But given that he already read that Hercules himself already dealt with these foreign invaders and by that means, they're families were already avenged. So really there's nothing Connor can do...

Unless...

"Then. Come with us." Connor offered to the Nymphs which made Melody's eyes widened. "Our ship is pretty big. And one of the rooms could use a little green."

"Are you serious? They can come with us?" Melody said with hope in her eyes.

"If the Pointer Sisters agree to it." Connor said with a smirk.

The Nymphs looked up and gleamed. Bur Daphne was the first to speak.

"Connor. We would love to come and help you on your journey. But the gods commissioned our kind to guard the green of the planet." Daphne dejected.

"If they made you before. They can just make more." Melody stated a fact.

"It's not that simple." Phoebe said, looking sad.

"Maybe not. But it's still a possibility. They won't just offer us a prize if we win. But a boon. When I win that right at the Coliseum. I'll request for Hercules himself to speak with Zeus to release you all." Connor stated.

The Nymphs were surprised to hear this. The gods could give Connor and Melody anything they want.

And they would give that blessing to the Nymphs.

To be free finally. To go to any world they want. And not trapped in a world that could turn on them. Sure Hercules made it better. But there's nothing left for the Nymphs here now.

And they can have a better life if they're released from this world.

"Y-You would do that for us?" Melissa asked in a small hopeful voice. "Give up having a boon from the gods to help us?

Melody came over and took her hands while giving all of them a warm smile.

"Of course." Melody softly replied.

"The Multiverse is much bigger than this world. You all deserve to your share in it." Connor stated with a smile to the Nymphs.

All three Nymphs just stared at them before squealing with joy, tears flowing from their eyes as they pulled Melody into a hug.

"Thank you! Thank you!" All three said at the same time as the four of them jumped up and down slightly in the water, their bare feet creating splashes throughout the water.

"Woah! Hey!" Melody exclaimed and laughed at their happiness while not trying to trip.

"Thank God you can breathe underwater. Otherwise you'd be the Titanic with these ladies." Connor smirked with his arms crossed watching Melody being hugged by all three.

The three Nymphs soon ended the hug with Melody and tackled Connor into a hug.

"Connor, you and Melody are too kind!" Daphne said.

"We don't know how to repay you two!" Melissa added.

"But we'll do our best!" Phoebe also added.

"Ugh...Well. You can start by showing your ever loving gratitude to the old jazz dancing tree." Connor groaned as he felt his back popping from their group hug.

The three Nymphs realized they were squeezing a bit too tight and stepped back.

"Sorry." the Nymphs said at the same time.

"It's fine. I think you loosen and woke up my lazy vertebrae. Now I'm going to use it in the games." Connor stretched his back.

"You three wanna join us and come watch us compete in the Coliseum? If not we can take you all to our Sub to relax and wait for us to get back." Melody offered the Nymphs.

"Oh, we would love to come watch you two compete." Daphne said with great enthusiasm.

"Yeah. A Maverick competing in the Coliseum? That's a once in a lifetime opportunity!" Melissa exclaimed.

"There is no way we're missing that!" Phoebe agreed.

"That's great and all. But I don't think Sorbo can carry many calves on the way over there." Connor pointed about the horse. Then he whispered to them. FYI she's carrying the rear side." He pointed at Melody.

"I heard that." Melody deadpanned.

The three Nymphs giggled and looked at the two.

"That's okay. We don't need to ride horseback." Daphne said.

"We can just fly there without any trouble." Melissa explained.

"Yeah. Watch this!" Phoebe said before nodding to Daphne and Melissa who nodded back.

Daphne went first, turning herself into a floating stream of water, circling around Melody, who looked in awe, and Connor, who looked impressed.

Melissa went next, turning into a gush of air, flowing between the two heroes of the deep.

And Phoebe went last, turning into a bundle of floating leaves, scattering about.

"Wow. That's amazing." Melody said, a twinkle of awe in her eyes at the sight.

Connor nodded slowly.

"Lead the way then Ladies. Cause the map is confusing and I intend to live forever. So far so good." Connor quipped as he walked over to Sorbo. "Let's hit it, Trigger."

The horse snorted as Connor climbed up and helped Melody get on top.

"Not that I won't mind. But They don't have a dress code at the Coliseum do they?" Melody asked Connor as she wrapped her arms around him once she was on the horse.

"Not that I know of. Worst case scenario they'll probably ask you to compete while naked. Blame the Louvre for that guess." Connor stated with a quip.

Melody blushed hard at the thought.

"Y-yeah. Let's hope it doesn't come to that." Melody stuttered nervously at the thought.

though if Melody was older and more mature. Perhaps a dark part of her mind hidden deep down probably wouldn't mind, especially if Connor was there.

Then Connor rode Sorbo and followed the Nymphs as they streamed across the sky. Leading Connor and Melody towards the Olympus Coliseum, to compete and win the Pearl Shard.


Later at the Olympus Coliseum...

Connor and Melody finally rode up to the courtyard entrance of the Olympus Coliseum. Thanks to the Nymphs. They made it without losing time. And thanks to the Atlas Stone acquired by a delivery boy with bad directions, they didn't have to deal with any dark magical obstacles.

Before long, they came upon the courtyard of Olympus Coliseum. Before them was a large wall with a large door at the center at the top of a set of stairs, surrounded by three Columns on each side, and standing to the sides were two giant statues of gladiators with their swords crossing above the entrance of the Coliseum.

"Holy shit. This place looks so much better than the nude artwork. Or Clash Of The Mother ***king Titans!" Connor exclaimed looking around the Coliseum in amazement. "This place makes the Roman Colosseum and Madison Square Garden look like a bathtub and a lego house!"

The inner sports fan of Connor's early days spoke out of those quips.

"It really is something, isn't it?" Melody said with her own awe. "So this is where we're going to compete?"

"Inside there. Definitely. And we're not just talking about some standard Greek WWE homeboy with the body of an average Chris Hemsworth. We could end up battling titans. Minotaurs. Demons. Heartless or even Medusa." Connor stated and added. "Luckily the Atlas Stones will protect us from any dark magic such as the latter."

"Thank goodness. I wouldn't want to be turned to stone" Melody said with a shudder, having heard the legends of Medusa.

"Still, screw Madusa. The Sphinx is the stuff of nightmares. Not to be confused with the giant puppy in Egypt." Connor stated as he gulped a bit mentioning the Sphinx.

The three Nymphs then changed back to their original forms and floated around Connor and Melody.

"I wouldn't worry either way. You guys will definitely dominate this tournament." Daphne stated.

"And if there's anything we can do to help, just say the word." Melissa stated.

"Absolutely. Although I don't think we'd do well in the tournament, even if we've had to fight for survival in the past." Phoebe mentioned.

"Leave the man and femboy slaughter to us. You girls just sit back and enjoy the ass whoopin." Connor eased the Nymphs excitement and concerns. Then he looked at Melody. "We'll have to sign up inside. Are you ready for this?"

"I was born ready." Melody said with excitement and determination burning in her eyes.

"Alright. Let's go and raid some scores and fans." Connor smirked back and looked at the Nymphs. "You three wait out here for a second. And watch the horse."

"Okay." All three Nymphs nodded.

Then Connor and Melody went inside the Lobby. Inside the lobby weee stone and bronze torches to keep the room illuminated and on the left was shelf of trophies behind glass. Once bronze trophy, one silver, a gold trophy and a platinum one. Each one bigger than the first, with the platinum trophy as the biggest.

"That, would look really awesome on my displays back home." Connor smiled looking at how cool the platinum trophy looked.

"Hey. What about me?" Melody teased a whine. "Maybe I want something gold and shiny on my shelf."

"I'll buy you a goldfish." Connor shrugged, making Melody playfully snort.

Then they noticed the hero training Satyr, known around these parts as Philoctetes or Phil for short, polishing the rule plaque on the left side of the entrance.

"Excuse me, where do we sign for~" Connor tried to ask.

But Phil mistaking the sound of Connor's voice for someone else's.

"Great timing. Give me a hand, will ya? Move that pedestal over there for me." Phil pointed at a large stone block on the right side of the lobby. "I gotta spruce this place up for the games."

Phil didn't even turn around to see them.

"I think you got me mixed up with someone else taller and whiter, Billy the Coach." Connor snorted as he tried to say but then he turned around and gave a bemused look at Melody. "Mel? What are you doing?"

Melody was trying to push the pedestal like Phil asked, her bare feet pressing onto the ground hard as she tried to push it over. But it was hard.

"I'm trying... To move this..." Melody grunted as she tried to move the pedestal with all her might. But it would not budge. Melody stopped pushing and leaned on the pedestal, breathing heavily. "Man, this thing weighs a ton."

"You're a competitor Mel, not a secretary. Let's stay on topic." Connor deadpanned.

"Ugh..." Melody sighed as she stood back up and huffed. "Fine. That thing's too heavy anyway."

Phil heard this.

"What? Too heavy?" Phil started as he turned to face them. "Since when have you been such a little-"

He stopped talking when he looked down and saw Connor and Melody in front of him.

"Oh. Wrong guy." Phil muttered.

"Gee, what was your first clue?" Connor muttered quietly enough so only Melody could hear, making her hold back a giggle.

"What're you doing here?" Phil said as he jumped down from the pedestal he was standing on and walked up to them "This here's the world-famous Coliseum. Heroes only. And I got my hands full preparing for the games. So run along pipsqueaks."

"Did he just call us pipsqueaks?" Melody whispered to Connor with her eyebrow twitching in irritation.

"I think Cabrito here is looking to be medium rare." Connor muttered back quietly.

Phil stood in front of them with his hands at his waist.

"Look, it's like this." Phil started as he started walking around them and to the other side of the room. "Heroes are coming from all over to fight ferocious monsters right here in the Coliseum."

"We kinda sort of in context 'based on a brochure we didn't read' knew that. You got a legendary keyblader and an aquatic but spicy trainee keyblader right here. Got our hero cards right here." Connor summoned his keyblade and Melody did the same thing.

"Heroes?! And what does that make me?! Apollo's nanny?! Ahahahahahahaha!" Phil bursted out laughing. "Good one! Ahahahahaha!"

"I'm very tempted to show you the foreskin of the last monster I slew." Connor snorted at Phil with his arms crossed.

"Ew!" Melody looked at Connor weirdly for that statement.

Phil continued laughing as he stood next to the pedestal Melody couldn't budge.

"Hey, if you can't even move this..." Phil said as he started to push on the pedestal himself. After a minute, he turned around and started pushing with his back. "You can't call yourself... A hero!"

Connor and Melody looked on, unimpressed at the display, as Phil was unable to budge the pedestal. Phil eventually collapsed on the floor with his back to the pedestal, panting, trying to catch his breath.

"Okay, so it takes more than brawn." Phil said as he got up from the floor. "Well, well, let's see what you can do."

"Will there be an audience?" Melody asked.

"Of gods. Men. Centaurs. You name it. But not for these rounds. We'll start with the basics." Phil stated as he stood up.

"Which is?" Connor inquired.

"Two words: Training always comes first." Phil declared holding two fingers then he opened the doors to the training arena. "Follow me, Kid. Your girlfriend too."

And so they followed Phil through the entrance within the battlegrounds of the arena.


Inside the Arena of the Olympus Coliseum….

The arena grounds were huge. It had two sets of stone bleacher seats on either side of the arena, with a metal gate at the other side. The arena had four pillars on each side of the fighting area, with three raised platforms. There were several wooden barrels set up. Three Next to each other, then two with two on top, then three with three above them on one end of the first raised platform with two on two at the other end of the platform, and one barel on the other two platforms.

Up in the audience's seats were only four people. Daphne, Melissa and Phoebe. And the horse Sorbo who was asleep in his horse stall/seat.

As Connor and Melody followed Phil up near the arena platform he turned around to look up at them firmly.

"Alright Kiddies. The rules of the first round are simple. Destroy all these barrels by any means necessary before the timer runs out." Phil stated the rules and asked. "So who's going first?"

Connor flipped a coin and it landed on his hand and saw tails.

"Πρώτα οι κυρίες." Connor gestured Melody humorously in Greek.

Which means 'Ladies first'.

Melody giggled and rolled her eyes at him.

"Thanks. Wish me luck." Melody said, giving him a quick kiss before walking up to the starting point, readying herself for the first round.

Once Phil sees Melody in position. He notices all the barrels are stacked and lined up in the right positions. And he decided it was time to go.

"First round is basic combat! Bring out that keyblade of yours and show the empty wine bin who's boss! You got sixty seconds to smash all the barrels!" Phil declared like a coach. "Ready...Set...GO!"

Melody dashed over to the first stack of barrels and spun slash at them with her keyblade. Causing them to shatter. Then she ran up a pillar on her bare feet and kicked off and she twirled and smashed through several more. Then she bounced off a wall and dived and rolled into another stack. And shattered them. Then Melody did some back flips backwards and jumped into the air and tossed her spinning keyblade into two more stacks.

Then she landed and caught her keyblade as it came back and held it up and shouted "Thunder!"

Then a thunder spell struck the last stack.

Thus Melody managed to win the first training round in 40 seconds.

"Not bad! For a beginner." Phil complemented Melody in his own way as he walked up to her.

"Thanks...I think." Melody said while catching her breath.

She could hear the Nymphs cheering for her.

"But this next round will be a bit challenging. Given that your Keyblade Wielder. We will be testing out your skills of freeflow magic." Phil stated the rules of the next round.

Freeflow magic? What's that?" Melody asked, confused, never having heard that term before.

Which made Phil facepalm himself.

"Oy. Newbies. Alright, here's how it works. Freeflow or flowmotion as the scholars call it, is when you use the energy embedded in your keyblade to traverse, run and climb on anything in your environment. Nevermind anything about how high something is or how tall that person is or how much you think you're related." Phil explained the magic of freeflow. "For examples. For this round..."

More barrels then appeared in front of a set of stone walls. The second wall ahead floated just a little bit higher than the first wall. Then the third floated a little higher. And this repeated for the next seven walls. And each one had rows of barrels stationed on the walls.

"Use your freeflow abilities to run up these walls and let those barrels have it. Remember when using freeflow, gravity becomes mildly lighter. You become more agile and more nimble. And you can do more damage while doing so." Phil added. "Now my question is two words: Are you ready?"

"That's three words actually. But..." Melody got into position, keyblade in hand. "I'm ready."

"Alright. And remember. Destroy the barrels by any means. While in free flow. Same amount of time. Aaaaaaaaand...GO!" Phil stated.

Then Melody felt the knowledge of her keyblade and skills flow within her heart as she jumped and ran up the first wall. Then she used her freeflow tether powers to levitate and grab the first row of barrels.

Then she jumped over to the next wall and grabbed those barrels.

And she ran and repeated with the other four walls as Connor and the Nymphs were surprised to see Melody run on freeflow skillfully on her bare feet like she has done this for years.

Then Melody managed to grab and connected many rows of barrels. She jumped over the seven walls and threw all the barrels into the last one at once, and smashed all of them together. Then Melody ran over the last wall. Flipped in the air and landed on the ground for a perfect landing.

Phil gawked a bit and shook his head to forget his shock.

"Well well! You finished in thirty seconds this time!" Phil stated as he checked the time as he commended Melody's skills. "I'll admit. You're better than I thought."

"Thanks. Using Freeflow was really fun actually." Melody said with a smile.

"Believe me it can only get trippier from here on out. But as for the games. You're boo bufra over there needs to do his part." Phil gestured Connor who was standing at the back typing on his gummi phone. "If he can pass the last two rounds of the training course, under your score. You both will probably have a chance to go to the games. Starting with the Preliminaries of course. Gotta do it by the scrolls."

"I understand. And we'll win no matter what." Melody said confidently before turning towards Connor. "Hey, Connor! It's your turn!"

Connor nodded as he shifted into his Maverick form and jumped flipped into the air and landed in front of them.

"S'up." Maverick responded as he stood up.

"Do you have to be a drama queen?" Melody snorted after Maverick landed.

"Girl, I ain't holding back my swag. I don't care if we're competing in a Twelfth century chess tournament." Maverick snorted back.

Phil's jaw dropped the entire time as he did not expect Connor to switch into a Maverick suit. Then he shook his head and came back to his thoughts.

"Woah woah! Time out! Hold the pigeon!" Phil gestured a time out gaining Connor's attention. "When were you going to tell me you were a Maverick?!"

"I only pick the moments right for plot conveniences. Why?" Maverick inquired what Phil asked.

"Why?! Kid! Every single god of Olympus knows the legends of the Maverick! Of all the times they saved our world and others out there! The Maverick mantle gives you instant hero status!" Phil exclaimed quite loudly. "This means you can participate in any of the cups for the games!"

"Really?!" Melody asked, excited for her friend. "But what about me? Do I have to do the other rounds then since Connor doesn't have to?"

"Are you kidding? Being with the Maverick gives you the same privileges to participate with him!" Phil explained. "In fact, you didn't even have to go through the training course!"

Melody was surprised by this before a thought came to her and she turned to Maverick who changed back to Connor.

"Did you know about this?" Melody inquired, staring at her friend.

"Look I got an A++ describing the the war between Athens and Sparta. There ain't no hieroglyphs that told me this was possible." Maverick said in his own defense.

"Awe, and I thought you were just pretending not to know just to see me in action." Melody said with a cute pout.

"Well...What if I was? You wanna crucify me for making you sweat for nothing?" Connor inquired smugly.

"Not at all." Melody smiled, walking up to him and wrapping her arms around his neck. "In fact, I think I liked you watching me."

Before Connor could respond. Phil came up to them acting like a coach.

"Alright save it for the honeymoon or date night kiddies! Whichever comes first." Phil interrupted them, making the keyblader duo blush. Then he looks at Melody. "But first things first. If Mav here is gonna be wearing that armor. You'll need to match his height. And I doubt you'll get by just being dressed as a member of the Artemis club." He gestured to her Greek outfit.

"But this is the only outfit I have right now." Melody said, looking at her outfit. "I don't even have any armor."

"No duh. Why do you think we have Hephaestus working right next door? If anyone can forge you a magic armor for a keyblade warrior. It's him." Phil stated pointing down the east hall.

The Nymphs overheard and beamed as they came flying back and stood next to Melody.

"Oh oh oh! Could we help with the designs?!" Melissa squealed, looking excited.

"And colors?!" Phoebe asked as well.

"Eh. Why not? Don't expect to get paid." Phil shrugged as he saw no problem with that. Then he pondered one more thing. "All you need right now is a name. Something catchy and could fit anywhere. Something close to home. Something that sounds dangerous but screams necessity."

"I think you just described a tsunami." Connor pointed out.

"Tsunami..." Melody whispered, before her eyes lit up with delight. "That's what I'll call myself. Tsunami."

"Epic." Connor nodded with a grin.

"Tsunami. I like it." Daphne commented.

"Now all you need is the armor." Melissa stated.

"Let's go talk to Hephaestus. Come on!" Phoebe exclaimed as all four girls walked off to get Melody some armor.

Melody chuckled as she followed after the nymphs as they followed Phil. So far things were going to plan for them. Even if Connor didn't plan for Phil to let them in the games so easily. But they won't complain. If anything, their journey will only get harder as they get closer to the end. But with their hearts and power strong. They will win. Because if they can take the games.

They can take on the Multiverse.


THAT'S ALL FOR NOW FOLKS! 🎉🎉🎉

So yeah! Between the Civil War comic references and a parody of that song from Enchanted. Melody now has friends around her age!

And if you're wondering where Hercules is. Go play KH I and see the fight with Herc saving Sora and the others from the Hydra. If Connor is Sora's variant. It is an unavoidable comparison heading Connor's way.

But make no mistake. Connor's journey will be different from Sora's. He'll visit different worlds and certain ones will have a different conclusion. For example. He didn't get a golden ticket from Hades to get in like Sora did.

As for what Melody's armored form will look like. Well. Every Maverick needs a Blaze or Shift. 😉

Thank you all so much for reading! Don't forget to fav! Follow and Leave comments to let me know your thoughts!

And as always Disney/Square Enix fans!

FISTBUMP! 👊👊👊👊👊👊👊👊👊👊