Author's Note:
What up, boys and girls? This is TheSavageMan100, and welcome back to the Kingdom Fairy Tail express! This is the first chapter of the story's next epic arc, where our heroes visit a certain undersea kingdom and hit the brakes on a sea witch's plot to dominate the sea, see? You get the idea. I've just returned from playing Kingdom Hearts III after I've bought the game. And I gotta say, after all the time spent on playing the anticipated conclusion to the Dark Seeker Saga, I want to be honest with myself.
Kingdom Hearts III. Was. SO COOL! The worlds are wide to explore (Toy Box and The Caribbean are my personal favorites), the graphics are absolutely gorgeous, Yoko Shimomura's music is phenomenal as always, and the gameplay is super fun— Keyblade Formchanges stole the spotlight and I preferred them over those clunky attractions any day of the week. Now for the cons... My main complaints are the lack of Final Fantasy characters, the combat system being too easy for the most part, little side-quests and optional fights, and some worlds like Twilight Town lacking size in terms of exploration. The town wouldn't be the same without the sandlot where we use to play Struggle with Seifer. *sniff* On the bright side, at least the Moogles are still the shopkeepers and we got cameos from Cloud and Auron. As for the story, it was epic and emotional as usual, with SERIOUS fan-service moments to go around. I was teary-eyed to see the Sea-Salt and Birth By Sleep trios back together again, I cried along with them. On a side note, there are some things in the story that seriously ticked me off, like when Kairi got killed by Xehanort just to provoke Sora. She was in her first real fight and I thought she did well until Xemnas got the drop on her. That jerk! He could've broken her wrist or worse! The good news is, she's alive in the ending. The bad news is, Sora isn't. He misused the power of waking to revive Kairi at the risk of being gone forever, but he's just following his heart. The ending tugged at my heartstrings, giving me mixed feelings of joy and sorrow. I thought they'd share a kiss, but maybe not. #SoKaiForever. The other good news? He's alive in the secret ending! It made me want to wait another decade or less for the next game. #ComeBackSora. And my mind was blown when Xigbar revealed himself to be Luxu. Nomura, you sly fox...
All in all, Kingdom Hearts III was a captivating experience, if not entirely perfect, and a great addition to my all-time favorite video game series after years of waiting. And trust me, I'm not one of those fanboys whining and bitching about this game being crappy or a big downer for the franchise. I've seen so many criticisms that lack soul and substance, seemingly from people with little to no grasp on the series. While criticism is certainly deserved in some areas, the constant negativity just doesn't add up. Protip: You just love what you love. And I love KH3! Ha ha, I sound just like HMK a minute there. My patience and hopes for this game have been rewarded, it may give me new ideas for writing future Kingdom Fairy Tail stories, complete with a revised pacing and whole new twists. What are your thoughts and suggestions when I write the next installment or so? Don't hesitate to let me know, and I can make it happen faster than you can say "Yozora."
Opinions aside, let's keep the train rolling. It's been a long time coming after a series of exams, group projects, and wifi issues, but we're here now. I'm really, really, REALLY sorry the next chapter took longer than expected, for like, a quarter or more, but I hope it's worth the wait. No matter how much time flows, nothing can stop me from my commitment to please the readers. And the other important news is, I've finally graduated from college! Now I'm free to do this work, as long as time is my guide. Plz bear with me. Now then, the story of Kingdom Fairy Tail continues under the sea, under the sea... Sorry, couldn't resist! Let's get started, y'all!
The hidden memories resurfaced. Wendy and Kaze stood before a field of flowers that had long withered and were devoid of any sunlight or water to nurture them, all the while Grandeeney took a few minutes of her time to inspect the nest before beginning the lesson. It was only yesterday since the little mishap in Wendy and Kaze's last training period: Kaze's mood turned sour over being criticized for her "extreme tendencies", her patience with the magic she practiced ran short, and the comfort of her best friend mattered little to her. For a short while, at least. What used to be the positive and bright façade that made up the dark pink-haired girl's psyche, it was replaced with worry and doubt throughout the rest of the day. The next morning, her gaiety was renewed; it looked like she was keen on partaking in today's lesson, as if her argument with Grandeeney never existed. Everything seemed normal. Wendy hoped that Kaze would stay the strong and confident girl who would accept and fulfill any deed with dignity, the girl who always had her back since the two were young, and that hope was answered.
As Kaze rubbed her hands in anticipation, she tried to make small talk to Wendy. "Alright, back to the old grind. What do you suppose we get out of this one?"
Wendy responded, "Well, Grandeeney said we're gonna use support magic today. That's what she asked us to do, since it's part of our training."
Kaze grumbled, "Yeah, I get that, Blueberry. Thanks for reminding me. It's probably the same thing as the past few days. A chunk of magic spent on waking up dead flowers..." She gestured to the meadow of deceased herbs, "...and giving ourselves a power boost, flying on bouncy balls. Vern... What's it called again?"
Wendy corrected, "Vernier. Grandeeney taught us the names of the support magic spells we use. Remember? I memorized them all. What about you?"
Kaze admitted, "Me? Oh, I dunno. I haven't hit the books since last week. I've spent all day working out hard and building muscles I didn't even know I had."
Wendy offered, "I can help you say the support magic words! They're—"
Kaze refused, "No thanks. I'm fine with all the magic I know."
Wendy questioned, "Are you sure?"
Kaze nodded, "Yeah. I'm more of an actor than a thinker." She sighed to relief, "My best friend's so knowledgeable in magic, even when she's five years old... It almost makes me feel envious. It's like knowledge and age are one and the same." She looked at Wendy, "Know what I mean?"
Wendy smiled, "Grandeeney's the best. We couldn't have asked for a great teacher and a better mom. She teaches us Sky Magic so we could grow in body and mind. She feeds us, she gives us baths, she reads us bedtime stories..."
Kaze rolled her eyes, "Yeah, I get that. Blah, blah, blah. She's the big mama." Her face turned serious, "But that's not the issue. I'm only wondering what's the big prize."
Wendy blinked, "Prize?"
Kaze reasoned, "There has to be something really cool we get after today's training. Probably a new spell that'll make all the dweeby support magic look like taco sauce."
Wendy pointed out, "But Kaze, isn't support magic always about making the pain go away? Honestly, I think it's a good thing. We can use it to wake up the flowers. You see them?" As she pointed to the flowers, she gently put her hand close to her heart and grasped it on the spot, feeling sorrow for the withered plants. "They don't look so good. We have to help them somehow."
Kaze said dryly, "Seriously? You wanna play doctor again? Sing them a lullaby?"
Wendy pointed out, "Grandeeney said there's more to our magic than just fighting and attacking all the time—"
Kaze cut her off, "She said magic is used as a means of defense. Isn't defense the same as fighting?"
Wendy couldn't figure out what to say. "Umm..."
Kaze smiled at her friend's confusion. "It's okay. Even I can't help but wonder what I'm using this magic for. We just do what we gotta do. I've got my thing and you've got yours. Come what may, you and me will pull out all the stops." She stretched her arms, "A few weeks of working out before the seventh day of the seventh month of the seventh year; it'll be great. What's the worst that could happen?"
Wendy asked curiously, "Kaze, can I ask you something?"
Kaze spoke casually, "You're gonna."
Wendy questioned, "Why are you against using support magic, even though we're supposed to practice it?"
Kaze groaned, "We're getting to that again? Just drop it in the past where it belongs. What matters is now."
Wendy wondered, "Does that mean you're okay with that?"
Kaze grinned, "In a way. You can't chase away a dream you're chasing. Grandeeney promised us everything. We train hard and do our best to impress her, we'll be top-tier. One day, I'm gonna be strong like her. That's my dream. What about your dream? There has to be something you want from all this, right?"
Wendy blushed, "What I want from this? I..."
Kaze encouraged, "Come on! You can tell me."
Wendy took a deep breath and gave her honest answer, "Someday, when I grow up and I'm as strong as you, I'll use my magic to help so many people. I want to do whatever I can to see them smile, to give them a chance to live on." Motivated by these notions of the future, she clasped her hands together and stared contently at the light of the sun. "That's what I want."
Kaze smiled, "A humble start to a humble dream. You know, I think the same way as you."
Wendy beamed, "Really?"
Kaze explained, "That's one of the reasons why I agreed to learn Sky Magic in the first place. To be strong and protect the things that matter." She playfully touched Wendy's nose, making her giggle. "Like you."
Wendy felt ticklish at the action. "Oh, Kaze! You're too much!"
Kaze determined, "We both share the same dream, so let's get to it. Let's show 'em what we can do."
Wendy agreed, "Right!"
Soon after the quiet conversation between the two Dragon Slayer trainees ended, Grandeeney turned to face them with a courteous smile. "Ah, I see you two are eager to flex your magic, little ones! I must apologize for the short delay; I had to make sure your huts are dusted well, and the leaves and logs aren't out of place."
Wendy and Kaze replied all at once, "We don't mind!"
Grandeeney noted, "And Kaze, it appears you've calmed down and considered the advice I gave you the day before. For that, I'm quite pleased. I'm sure you toned down your violent propensity for once." She sighed to herself, "At least I hope so. But seeing the determination in your eyes the same way I looked into Wendy's, it's very reassuring."
Kaze replied, "You know me. I aim to please. Hope there's no hard feelings."
Grandeeney assured, "None at all. I only wish the best for my two pupils. My purpose is to help them grow and learn the importance of harmony and focus."
Kaze quipped, "Gimme a break. Harmony and something, yap, yap, yap. Can we get this over with already?"
Grandeeney commented, "Looks like someone's getting anxious. And a little impatient."
Kaze frowned, "Hey! I'm as calm as calmers get!"
Wendy giggled, "Kaze!"
Grandeeney eased, "Settle down. This lesson is already underway." She cleared her throat, "Today, you will function your magic in a supportive light, as opposed to simply relying on offense. In other words, the power of healing..." She motioned her talon to the withered flowers, "...which you will use to restore these shriveled old flowers I've picked up somewhere in the forest and planted in this soil."
Kaze moaned, "Here we go again. It's the same thing we do every other day."
Grandeeney nodded, "Of course it is. Providing light to the bloom is the general idea. But there are times when I bring the weary and forlorn woodland creatures to test your skill in the art of rejuvenation, whether it's to rid them of sickness, to balance the senses, to raise strength or defense, or any attribute at all." She leaned over to Wendy, "So far, Wendy's the superb healer. Over the past few weeks, she learned the names of all the support spells and followed my lead, accelerating at a wondrous rate." The dragon breathed out of admiration for the dark blue-haired infant. "Our little flower has a gift, and I can tell it has become her passion. No mother would be more proud." She gave Wendy a gentle nudge, which caused her to laugh slightly. "They grow up so fast." She leaned back and stared down at Kaze, "Have you grown in your own art of rejuvenation as well? Surely, there's more to your gift than trampling things over."
Kaze chuckled nervously, "Funny question. How should I explain this? Umm..." She rubbed the back of her head as she tried to come up with a blunt reply. "I've worked hard on what I do, I guess."
Grandeeney offered, "Then why don't we put what you've learned to the test? Let's see how far you've come. Shall we carry on?" The two Dragon Slayer trainees nodded. "The perfect healing technique ultimately requires two components. First, to generate stable healing energy in an instant, you must breathe in the air around you. But to cast your magic requires intense focus and the desire to share it with others. Are you ready?"
Wendy replied, "I'm ready!"
Kaze shrugged, "Whatever."
Grandeeney confirmed, "Good. All you have to do is fill the flowers to the brim with your Sky Magic; only then will they bloom once more with vital nourishment. Clear your minds and concentrate. The question is, who will go first?"
Wendy raised her hand, "Oh, me! Me! Me! Pick me! I wanna go first! I wanna help the flowers!"
Grandeeney chuckled, "We have another one. Alright, Wendy. It's your time to shine again."
Wendy cheered, "Yay! I'm gonna help the flowers!"
Kaze muttered, "At least I have a minute or two to prepare."
Grandeeney instructed, "Step forward and bring one half of the flowers back to life, then save the other half for Kaze. It wouldn't be fair to leave her in the dark, would it?"
Wendy smiled, "It's okay. We can share."
Kaze agreed, "Yeah, I mean, how hard can it be?"
Grandeeney grinned in satisfaction. She knew that her two adoptive children would pass with flying colors in the new trial she set up. The Sky Dragon watched Wendy walk over to the left side of the meadow. The latter shared one last glance with her best friend, who silently encouraged her to continue. Her eyes shut, she absorbed the fresh air deep into her lungs and mouth, before she held out her hands. The light blue energy based on the amount of gathered air began to glow around the hands, growing so vast it was wide enough to shower the field. Slowly but surely, the wilted flowers rose above the dirt and reached a total height of a square meter before they sprinkled with color and life. The sun provided extra sustenance, and the ground opened up in cracks to spring forth patches of green below the roots. Thanks to Wendy's healing spell, more than half of the meadow of flowers returned to health, leaving the rest to remain limp.
"How did I do?" Wendy lowered her hands and opened her eyes as her powers settled.
"Brilliant!" Grandeeney examined the result and expressed her remark. "Your skill in support magic has matured each passing day. Keep a steady pace and you'll do just fine."
"Yeah, cuz! You're doing great!" Kaze rewarded her friend with a wide smile and her thumb raised. "It's so great, in fact, I think I'm begging to learn a bit from you just for the fun of it. Since you asked me, I might give you the benefit of saying yes."
"Oh, really? Thank you so much," Wendy smiled back with redness forming around her cheeks. "I knew I had it in me."
"So did I. Who else has a knack for it?" Kaze commented. This was followed by a good round of laughter between the two.
"Magic develops in ways never thought possible," Grandeeney advised. "Most times it takes days, months, or even years of practice. Others, patience. And some ways, strength of will." She turned to face Kaze, "Do you think you can keep up? Are you feeling nervous?"
"Nervous? Why would I be?" Kaze brimmed with confidence. "I can do anything. I'm pumped up."
"I bet she is," Wendy thought to herself.
"Oh, you should be," Grandeeney smiled. "Are you ready?"
Kaze acknowledged the offer by striding towards the grass, and took time to inspect the surviving flowers still withering in place. She mimicked Wendy's actions and concentrated on imagining the flowers blessed with new life and beauty the same way her little sister figure did with the other pair. Despite her arms wavering, she maintained her balance, as she strived to gather as much focus as she could muster. And just like that, the same blue light energy formed around her open palms, seeking to blanket the target under its warmth. However, instead of the warm and comforting effect Wendy's spell had on the flowers, Kaze's surge of magic took on a different, rather dangerous quality. A rumbling force slowly gathered the amount of infinite air and encircled much of it around Kaze's glowing hands, with tiny sparks of white dancing around them. All the flowers could do was sway to and fro, plopping in the dirt. The peaceful air had been relegated to a small but dreaded rush looming over the innocent flowers, threatening to tear them from the soil rather than soothe them.
And before she knew it, Kaze clenched her hands to fists, dissolving the small torrents into a shockwave that nearly pushed herself and Wendy from where they stood. The dark pink-haired girl stared down at her hands, getting quite annoyed by the disturbance she unknowingly brought upon herself. "What the...?"
"Kaze? Is there a problem?" Grandeeney wondered. "You could rest if you—"
"No! I can do this!" Kaze insisted. "Let's go again!"
She channeled her magic a second time, and it was much harder than her first attempt. The resonance reached the same higher level of force. It only sprouted half a meter or two before it dissipated again. A third venture, and the magic grew in size and power, reaching for the sky above her shoulders, but ultimately failed and popped like a balloon. Kaze made every effort to find so much as a clump needed to amplify her support magic; she showed no restraint in her desire to see it come to play. Of course, the result was always the same. In her ninth misfire, Kaze stood on one leg, her sweating forehead buried in her hand, her breaths coming in pants. It was estimated by the amount of Magic Energy she spent that wasting more would leave a detrimental effect on her body, but she was too upset to notice or care.
"The reason she keeps failing is obvious," Grandeeney spoke mentally, keeping a close eye on Kaze's situation. "The aggressive wavelength of her magic is trying to take over. It refuses to accept the supportive side. One cannot mesh with the other. But that may not be the only problem she has..." At that moment, her senses picked up a faint stench in the unchanging atmosphere. "Something is not right. I can feel it."
"It's still not working!" Kaze's angry voice snapped the dragon out of her thoughts. "Why can't I do it right?!"
"Maybe you should take a break," Wendy suggested. "Grandeeney said—"
"I know what she says, Wendy!" Kaze snapped. "And I know what she's gonna say! She can stuff her speeches!"
"K-Kaze! What are you..." Wendy jumped at her friend's change of attitude.
"That's enough, Kaze," Grandeeney implored. "You need to relax."
"What good is relaxing at a time like this?!" Kaze shouted. "I couldn't get these stinking flowers to wake up! I tried, but it didn't work!"
"Look within yourself," Grandeeney advised. "It's the best way to acknowledge what went wrong."
"I'm fine, Grandeeney," Kaze retorted as she gestured to herself. "You see me? Is there something wrong with me? Do I look like a sick flower to you? Did I even feel anything from a cold to a fever? No! You have no reason to worry about me. I'm perfectly fine. I'm strong, smart, and tough. I'm the whole package."
"Is that what you think of yourself?" Grandeeney raised an eyebrow. "Do you honestly believe you can accomplish anything with mere strength alone?"
"Huh?" Kaze blinked.
"Your inner peace seems to be out of place somewhere along the line," Grandeeney noted. "You were so intent on releasing the power within, you let your emotions tamper your judgment. One lapse can negate a single chance at success."
"Are you saying I did an awful job at it?" Kaze threw the Sky Dragon a bitter look.
"That's not what I meant, my dear," Grandeeney reasoned. "I believe you and I always have. I've cared for you and Wendy equally since I found you, and I made it my vow to teach you the ways of the world and of magic. Your talents are without question; it's not my place to argue differently. But where there is strength, there are flaws as well."
"Meaning...?" Kaze asked suspiciously.
"I already told you the answer," Grandeeney explained. "It's neither the body nor the mind that failed you. It's the heart. You lost control."
"Control?" Kaze was shocked and hurt at what she just heard. The hard-boiled contempt at being lectured over a single misstep continued to pound through her veins like venom. "CONTROL?!" As her voice rose, so did her leg from the grass, as she stared intently at Grandeeney. "I'll show YOU control!" Before she could demonstrate her magic, she monitored herself for any reserves of magic she had left. "My tank's not full. I haven't eaten enough. I need more air! Lots of air! I won't stop... Not until I get it right!"
"Kaze, no! Wait!" Wendy protested.
She didn't listen. An extremely long inhale rumbled the surrounding winds as they slowly and steadily made their territory deep into Kaze's nostrils. Her replenishment soon boiled into gathering more power. She was dimly aware of the puzzled stares directed at her. Once she had accumulated enough air, Kaze swelled with pride to a certain degree; she hardened her resolve to let her Sky Magic function and heal the remaining flowers. All she could do now was imagine the possibilities from the new strength she gained for herself. By a stroke of luck, her healing spell may surpass Wendy's. "There we go. I'm gonna make it work this time." She gave Wendy and Grandeeney a cocky smirk. "Let a real pro show you how it's done."
"Are you sure? Because if you—" Wendy began.
"What? I'm just doing what I can to use my magic perfectly! Don't I get a little recognition for that?" Kaze's angry tone nearly startled Wendy. "I'm attempting the healing spell again. If you have a problem with that, then don't bother getting in the way."
"She never gives up, does she?" Grandeeney muttered. "I don't know what to do with her."
"Don't push it," Wendy clasped her hands. "Please?"
Kaze closed her eyes and held out her hands one more time. The light blue energy crackled and rose in such a scale, it was bound to serve as the catalyst for a potential storm about to consume more than the target in front of her. The wind howled into a counterpoint of violent gusts, and the flowers shook erratically. There was a long, dreadful, piercing scream in the climate, imbued with an unending motion and a horrific stench, one that Grandeeney suspected by the twitch of her nose. A familiar manifestation of emotions building within the eye of the storm. A destructive urge, a hunger for power, a lust to make the impossible look routine.
Darkness.
The Sky Dragon sensed a sliver festering within Kaze; it was taking a backseat to her growing magic as it fed the fire. Her instincts told her to interrupt the surge and converse with Kaze in regards to her faulty healing spell, but her mind said otherwise; it would do nothing more than to agitate the girl even further.
Kaze's intense focus willed the powerful breeze to swirl around her arms and knit it into a grand sphere, sparking white and cold, flinging the leaves and pebbles and twigs to the side. There was no room for healing light, only the destructive quality. As such, her veins were coursing with power, made evident by the orb's size increasing greatly. Her Magic Energy rippled and blew in the wind as the waves crept past the flower field.
Finally, Grandeeney recognized the sign. Her eyes widened in slight fear, and Wendy felt the same way. It was decided they had seen enough. "Kaze!"
Kaze's eyes flashed in a jolt of shock. With that distraction, she threw both hands forward, turning the orb into a cyclone traveling at a straight line. The spiral of wind cut the ground like a razor-sharp sword through armor, laying waste to the meadow and scattering all the flowers into the wild blue yonder. At the same time, the blast hammered Grandeeney in the chest. She was blown backwards, almost falling on her back into a bed of trees, but she used her wings to balance herself.
"GRANDEENEY!" Wendy screamed in terror.
Kaze took a few seconds to reorient herself, rubbing her fingers where she had cast the spell. She didn't wait to observe the damage before her. A sick revulsion rose deep inside, and she let it out in a frustrated scream, one so loud that she felt her throat might tear, and for a second she wanted to rush at something and smash it, to make somebody feel some tiny part of the horror inside herself. "DRAAAAAAAATTT!" Kaze roared, and she kicked the rubble. What could have been her best attempt yet at conjuring a healing spell went awry.
"Stop it, Kaze!" Grandeeney's voice mingled with both fury and worry. "Control yourself!"
"You broke my concentration! This is all your fault, Grandeeney, you BIG, STUPID—" Kaze was so caught up in her rage and her needless blaming on the Sky Dragon for her blunder, she clenched her fist and hurled a wind blast at a nearby tree, reducing it to a pile of wood. With one last incensed stare at Grandeeney, she swung around and hurried out of sight. The effect of Kaze's vexation was not lost on the other two.
"Oh, Kaze," Wendy did not take this lightly as tears slowly fell down her cheeks. Kaze had been such a great friend and the closest thing to a sister, so lovable and passive. One moment later, that friendly figure was taken over by a cranky and impatient girl. That made Wendy uncomfortable for the most part. "What happened to you? Why are you so mad?"
"It's her own time, Wendy," Grandeeney told her. She seemed to have taken this patiently, flinching only at Kaze's impulsive act. She had expected as much. "Leave her be."
Wendy only realized after a few seconds that Kaze was still not fond of support magic. Somebody had to cheer her up and set things straight for the sake of their sisterhood, as well as their bond with their adoptive parent. As for Grandeeney, who simply did her job as the teacher, she knew what came to pass.
Before the seventh day of the seventh month of the seventh year, the Sky Dragon had already made her decision. Only one among her students had the privilege to be one of the seven destined to fight Acnologia.
Later...
On that same tree stump, Kaze was wracked with the same grief she felt the day before. She always knew she was the perfect candidate for a Dragon Slayer in spite of the flaws Grandeeney pointed out, never doubting for a second that her magic was strong enough to see her through the times to come... but it never actually failed her, at least in the support category. She knew what the dragon expected of her, and followed her wisdom without hesitation. She was truly thankful to have been made an apprentice Dragon Slayer next to Wendy. She really was. In some ways- a lot of ways- she was really ahead of Grandeeney. Kaze believed she was ready for the trials ahead, only for the Sky Dragon to disregard her claims; she felt that her elder student was too unpredictable, and wouldn't let her move on. What made it even worse was being interrupted just as she was close to perfectly casting her healing spell. Kaze accused her overly critical mentor for the mishap, and coldly ignored the mess she left behind. And here she was, sitting on the stump in a kind of stupor, thinking of nothing but herself, suspended in misery.
Just then, she heard a soft voice behind her. "Kaze?"
She looked over her shoulder to see Wendy approaching her on twiddling thumbs, though it was still far from relieving Kaze of her depression. "Oh, hey, Wendy. How are you doing? Good weather we're having, more or less. Of course, it's probably gonna rain."
Wendy knew her best friend couldn't bottle up the conflict for long. She gently planted her hands on the back of Kaze's and pleaded, "I know this must be hard for you, but don't forget, we're still training. We can start over as many times as we want, no matter how many times we mess up. There's still time. We can make it work! Don't be mad because your magic goes boom. And don't be mad at Grandeeney, either. She was trying to help you, and so am I." Her eyes sparkled with hope as she went on, "Please don't be mad, Kaze. Please..."
The icy glow that had flared inside Kaze at hearing Wendy's prayer was extinguished as something warm flooded the pit of her stomach. All of a sudden, after yearning to be left alone, she felt she could use some company. "Hmm... I suppose I shouldn't take no for an answer from someone who asks nicely, but you look so cute when you beg. Maybe you should try again."
Wendy felt her gut tighten at that request. She gingerly squeezed Kaze's hand and whispered, leaning in and closing the distance. "Oh, please, please, please, please, please..."
Kaze quipped, "With a blueberry on top?" She and Wendy looked at each other for a brief five seconds. Then, as if an alarm clock had been set off, the two broke into hearty laughter. And just like that, the cloud of grief hanging thick above the dark pink-haired youth was gone away. As soon as they stopped laughing, Kaze took a bite from an apple she picked up from the grass, then reached up and felt Wendy's hand, a sigh of relief escaping her lips. "Boy, those were some good words of inspiration. I'm feeling better already."
Wendy beamed, "Really? That's great!"
Kaze smiled, "You're right, cuz. That whole magic backfire thing, it's just a bit of an overreaction on my part. There's plenty of time to improve. The old saying: 'If it ain't broke, don't fix it.'"
Wendy nodded, "Uh-huh. Why don't you take a break? You used up a whole lot of magic."
Kaze stated, "I am taking a break. You see me sitting on this stump?" She thrust out her hand to gesture to herself. "A little 'me' time don't hurt nobody in times of stress."
Wendy complied, "Right... So, uh, you're okay with this?"
Kaze responded, "I am now, thanks to you. And what you told me, it just gave me an idea."
Wendy asked, "What idea?"
Kaze explained, "I've got to dig a little deeper. See what went wrong and fix that, and work even harder to shape my magic into the kind Grandeeney will be so proud to witness."
Wendy wondered, "Oh? You think she'll be surprised?"
Kaze chuckled, "She wouldn't miss it for the world. Mine will be the best magic ever. I'll make it a hundred times better. I'll do whatever it takes to get there. No more excuses. No more setbacks. No more holding back. I'm not giving up, no matter what stands in my way." She closed her eyes, then took a deep breath as her ambition festered. "If that means I have to make tremendous strides in taking my magic to the next level, I will."
Wendy confirmed, "I don't know what you're getting at, but I believe you, Kaze. I know you'll never give up. I'll always be happy for you."
Kaze teased, "Oh, I bet you are." She grabbed Wendy and ran her fingers to the bottom of her shirt, tracing the bare skin of her chest and running up to the belly button, prompting a playful laugh from her little friend. That fun moment lasted until she set Wendy down, their eyes never losing contact. "Wendy?"
Wendy asked softly, "Yes, Kaze?"
Kaze breathed, "You remember our promise, don't you? That one day, when we complete our training, we're leaving the nest to explore the outside world together. You and me."
Wendy agreed, "Yeah, that would be amazing. So much to see and so much to do..."
Kaze cooed, "Just imagine places miles away, behind the moon, beyond the rainbow..."
The two girls sighed, and they hugged and snuggled each other. The imagination of traveling to places beyond the forest was still etched in their minds. It was so good for spirited children such as them to have dreams in life, but...
"Oh, and do you know something else?" Kaze kept the embrace.
"What is it?" Wendy asked curiously.
There was a long pause as they stared lovingly at each other... broken only by the angry, repeated, incoherent quacking of a duck that suddenly burst from Kaze's mouth right in front of Wendy's face! With a startled scream, the little Sky Maiden fell on her back...
Gummi Ship Engine Lounge
...and landed on the floor from her spot in the sofa. Her breathing came in gasps, her mind still shaken by the deafening quacks that expelled her from the dream and sent her back to the engine lounge, just as she was about to learn more about the girl from her past. At the very least, she learned some hidden aspects of Kaze's personality- ambitious to a fault, easily frustrated by failure, and obsessed with proving her power and superiority- very much the same girl she encountered and fought occasionally. Times had changed, but habits never died hard, it seemed. This experience made Wendy even more resolute in finding out what turned the girl who was once her best friend into the girl she was now. But in what way? And why? Her eyes jumped around the engine lounge, to once again assure her that she was back in the real world... but not in the way she expected. One section of the lounge was littered with bottles of water, some empty, others half-full. As Wendy overlooked, she spotted Carla standing above her level. "Oh, did you see..."
"Well, you were having an awfully long sleep until somebody quacked you out of it," Carla stated. "And I'm here looking at you right now."
"Sorry, Carla. I should've known better," Wendy sighed as she sat up. "It's a good thing I've slept long enough to get more tidbits from my dreams."
"More information on Kaze, I take it?" Carla asked. "What more do you see of her?"
"You know that in my dreams, Kaze and I were raised by the same dragon, right?" Wendy recalled. "We were Dragon Slayers in training and best friends."
"Yes, we're aware of that," Carla nodded. "Your point?"
"I think the more I dream about her, I dig deep into more of the person she was before she disappeared from my life," Wendy assumed. "Or did she? A girl I've known in my past couldn't just vanish into thin air."
"And by more of the person she was, you mean a few hidden aspects of her personality," Carla guessed. "There's more to Kaze than what you described her earlier, isn't there?"
"That's what I figure," Wendy replied. "Kaze's anything other than being cheerful and nice. She's fiercely determined to do anything she sets her mind to. I'd say she's ambitious. And besides that, she's..." What she said in her next statement made her shudder to the bone. "...aggressive, impatient, frustrated, and..." She struggled to make her words come out, "I never knew she'd act that way..."
"Very much pictures a certain someone with a ruthless disposition we've clashed quite often," Carla confirmed. "This wasn't the first time you've seen her display such an attitude. You once defined her as kind and fair in judgment. There might be a possibility that due to a certain event in the past, she changed into what she is now. They could be the same, the girl you've fought and the girl you're starting to remember. So your intuition may be right."
"I don't know," Wendy croaked, as she anxiously gripped the fabric of her skirt. "I'm not just dreaming about Kaze. What do you think all this was for? They're bringing back some memories I've missed, memories of who Kaze was before I forgot about her. I wish I could know more. And yet..."
"A mere splash in the water can unveil the tiniest piece of information," Carla advised. "The truth reveals itself if need be. Aside from that, is there anything else you know about her from your recent dream?"
"Well, when we were training, Kaze was better in Sky Magic than I was," Wendy implied. "She's obviously the better student, and Grandeeney even called her a star pupil. Kaze often bragged that her magic's the best there was. Until all of a sudden, she lost her temper and was stressed out. Her magic backfired when she tried to cast a healing spell."
"She failed at her attempt at a healing spell?" Carla breathed. "But why would she be angry over a technicality?
"I have no idea," Wendy admitted. "Maybe she didn't have a knack for support magic. She was so serious in her training, she wanted to make sure it didn't go off without a hitch. But when it did, she threw a tantrum and left. So I had to cheer her up. I didn't want to see her down in the dumps. And it worked. At the end of the dream, I heard her say, 'I'll make my magic the best ever.'"
"It certainly sounds ambitious for a Dragon Slayer in training," Carla acknowledged. "She may be desperate in proving herself worthy of the mantle."
"What should I do?" Wendy muttered. "A part of me wanted to remember everything, but something tells me if I know the whole truth, it gets even worse. Should I move on? Or just walk away and forget it all?"
"Sadly, it can't be helped," Carla confessed. "Your lost memories will return in time. Such is the course of nature. A link between you and Kaze will present itself at some point."
"I know. It's just..." Wendy's voice began to crack, and she glanced down at the floor as she struggled to keep her eyes from moistening. "What if I'm scared of my own past? What if I don't want to remember? I don't know what's going to happen anymore." She sniffled before taking Carla's paw for comfort. "Carla, what am I gonna do?"
"We all tread the path ahead of us depending on our beliefs," Carla caressed Wendy's hand with her other paw. "But you're right. A child like you could never have asked for such a heavy burden. None of us did. But no matter how dangerous it is, the only way to move is forward." She then grinned, "And if I remember correctly, you made a vow to yourself that you would face your past, and believed Kaze holds the key to everything. What happened to that determination you displayed at the restaurant? This isn't like you."
As Wendy realized where she was, she responded by stroking the warmth in Carla's paws. "Yeah... You're right, Carla. I made a promise. I'll find the truth, no matter what. One dream isn't enough to help me remember. When I see her, I'll ask her myself. More than anything, I want to know more." She smiled back, "I knew I can count on you. Thanks for reminding me."
"Anytime," Carla replied. "We made a promise of our own, to stand by your side while you confront your past. Come what may, we will face it together."
"By the way..." Wendy stood up and recalled what occurred after she woke from her slumber. "...who quacked me awake?"
"Take a wild guess," Carla groaned, rolling her eyes. Then a bottle shattered behind Wendy, making her jump.
"CUT IT OUT, YOU CRAZY WOMAN!" Wendy and Carla's attention shifted to Cana Alberona sitting at a huge table, laughing drunkenly and wrapping an arm around Donald. Romeo, Goofy, Sherria, and Juvia watched on either side of the table, looking at each other with open mouths. For a minute, Wendy and Carla expected Donald to throw a fit at Fairy Tail's alcoholic card wizard for dragging him into this predicament, but a hiccup that burst out of his beak suggested otherwise. And a bottle in his hand. And a sly laugh. He was actually drinking and gossiping with Cana! "No, really! I saw what you did back there! *HIC* You cheated! *HIC* I want a rematch! *HIC* Give me another round and... *HIC*"
Wendy's eyes widened in complete shock. "Donald got drunk?!"
Carla muttered, "Unfortunately. He and Cana engaged in a drinking contest. She won six times in a row. That explains the random raving and ranting, some of which that woke you up." She thrust out her arm towards the duck all the while conveying her disgust and anger at the scene. "Because he's drunk!"
Wendy gasped, "He is? Don't you think he's taking this a little too far?"
Carla frowned, "Typical of the simple-minded. This is what happens when you set your mind on something and then take it to the extreme. So disgraceful!"
Meanwhile, Cana was speaking to Donald, "Well, someone's being eager! How's about we make this a little more interesting? Whoever guzzles down a whole barrel gets to be king or queen of drinking in this spaceship."
Donald snickered, "Bring it on! *HIC* I'm not just *HIC* the best magician *HIC* in the Disney *HIC* Kingdom, *HIC* I'm the champion of *HIC* every contest *HIC* in the Dream Festival *HIC* last year! *HIC*"
Cana smirked, "Is that so? Let's see you prove it. Time to bring out the barrels!"
Sherria took Donald by the arm and dragged him out of his seat, then faced Cana with hands on her hips. "Oh, no you don't! Donald's had enough wine for today! Just look at the poor guy!" She motioned to Donald, who swayed side to side between a couple of hiccups. "Another bottle and he'll be sleepwalking with his eyes open."
Juvia nodded, "Agreed! Donald needs to rest up and save his energy for our journey into the next world. You don't expect our fine-feathered friend to be drunk for the rest of the trip, do you? At all times, every member of the team must stand strong, healthy, and in high spirits. That is the first rule of adventuring!"
Donald moaned, "You're joking, right? *HIC* I'm completely fine. *HIC* I can bash a hundred Heartless *HIC* with my eyes closed. *HIC*"
Sherria protested, "You can't! Not like this! There's a slim chance you can take down Heartless when you're in a haze, let alone hit one hard!"
Donald pouted, "Awww, don't be jealous. *HIC* I'm doing fine. *HIC* I can get the job done. *HIC*"
Juvia advised, "All you need is fresh water and a nap. Obviously the kind of water you get from the fridge and/or drinking fountain, but not my water. Time to sober up."
Donald let out a quack of frustration. Sherria and Juvia stepped back from him, looking alarmed. "You doubt me?! I'm gonna roast you for that!"
Sherria pointed out, "You don't even have your magic staff, too! You left it at the cockpit!"
Donald yelled, "I'M A MASTER MAGICIAN, OKAY, CRAB CAKES?!" He snatched his arm away from Sherria and flung the bottle in his hand across the lounge, missing the Sky God Slayer by the head; it shattered into pieces against the wall. He jumped up and down his seat, flailing his arms and quacking repeatedly for no apparent reason other than boasting about his greatness until a hiccup put the brakes on the meltdown. The wily snickering returned, as though he had forgotten how angry he was to begin with. "I'm glad we're having a good talk. *HIC* I'll go over the fridge and... *HIC*" But just as Donald intended to honor his word with Cana, the ordeal seemed to have left a vertigo effect on his sense of balance; he tripped on an empty bottle and fell flat on the floor. Everyone else simply stared in disbelief.
Juvia muttered, "Well, bless my bubbles... He quacked himself to collapse."
Sherria sweated, "Phew! I thought he'd never lay off the beverages. He doesn't know when to give up." She shook her head at Donald's belligerence, but smiled as she continued, "Then again, that's what makes him the kind of person he is. He's an incredibly straight-forward kind of guy, and we like him for that."
Romeo chuckled, "At least he tried his best to beat Cana for her title of best drinker. This reminds me a lot of my dad and Wakaba talking to each other and having fun over drinks. I don't get what they're saying since it's mostly adult stuff, but I can tell they had a good time." His smile faded when his mind lingered with thoughts of his father. "Thinking about him makes me wish he's here in this ship right now. Where are you, Dad? What are they doing to you...?"
Goofy remarked, "It sure is nice havin' a bunch of wacky but lovable guys in your guild, ain't it?"
Romeo's smile returned. "You bet! Every member is rowdy in their own way and they sometimes jump the gun a bit, but we love and respect each other very much. We're one big family. My dad isn't the only one."
Sherria winked, "Obviously!"
Juvia agreed, "Definitely."
Goofy asked, "Your dad's a member of your guild, too? What's his name?"
Romeo answered, "His name is Macao. Macao Conbolt. He creates purple flames that can stick to anything it's cast on. Basically, he uses fire magic like I do, except mine's got six other colors besides purple. My magic is called Rainbow Fire. The color of each flame has its own effect or property." He produced a red flame in his left hand, "Red is hot..." A blue flame in his right, "...blue is cold..." A purple flame replaced the blue, "...purple sticks..." And finally, the red gave way to yellow, "...and yellow smells like dragon fart. Put them together and you get a case of sunburn with hot, cold, stick, and stink mixed all over. I figured you saw me dish out a few colored flames on a couple of Heartless. Like, all the time?"
Goofy nodded, "Yup, we all did. It's not everyday we see somebody in the team use pyrotechnics to defeat enemies. It's like playin' with fire, but with style!" He added a quip in his comment, "Watch out, world. It's gettin' hotter in here."
Romeo reminded, "I haven't told my dad about this, but I've secretly been taking magic lessons from Master Totomaru. He was a member of the Phantom Lord guild which Fairy Tail defeated in a turf war eight years ago. Bringing up anything about the guild who disbanded his, or a certain bro I know, was strictly taboo."
Goofy commented, "Guess that makes sense how you look so amazin' with those flames. You're a wizard, just like your old man. Maybe even better!" He cheerfully took Romeo's hand and shook it, "Congratulations, Romeo!"
Romeo grinned, "It's been my dream to be a part of the best magical guild in the world, like my dad before me. And there I was. Thanks for the compliment." He and Goofy chuckled with each other.
Later...
Sherria and Juvia took the utmost care in carting Donald, still being befuddled by the evidently potent liquor, over to a nearby bed. "Sweet... Daisy... Mae..." was all he sung before he dozed off amid his quick trip to the mattress. Only when his head was gently placed on the pillow did the mumbling give way to snoring. All the while, the mechanical white-gloved hands worked around the hour to sweep the floor clean. Wendy, Goofy, Romeo, and Carla were left to oversee the dusting of bottles and liquid.
With the one person who may have the aptitude to rival her mastery of drinking sent off to bed, Cana casually twirled the empty glass in her hand. "So much for another round." She then shrugged with a modest grin, "You snooze, you lose. More for me!" She reached down her seat, pulled out a barrel of beer somewhere beneath the table, then set it down in preparation for a new feast to satisfy her alcoholic appetite.
"Are you sure you wanna drink..." Goofy started, but Cana had already slurped a sample of the booze from the barrel's open hole. "...all of that?"
"Yeah, it's totally worth it," Cana answered. "A girl's gotta save up gas in the tank. And I'd be damned if I let it go to waste." With that said, she lifted the barrel above her head and let the rest of the wine pour down her throat.
Goofy blinked, "Where did she learn to guzzle this much booze? She must've gotten a set of pipes."
Romeo stated, "It's kinda her thing since she was young. At least, that's what I heard."
Carla explained, "According to Master Makarov, Cana's drinking habit began at the age of thirteen, two years before the legal age. That frequency had grown to the point where thirty percent of the Fairy Tail guild's liquor budget is consumed."
Goofy exclaimed, "Thirty percent?! That's a whole lotta booze! No wonder Donald couldn't keep up with her!"
Carla shrugged, "Well, when it comes to beverages, she happily guzzles them. Any decent person wouldn't walk in her shoes."
Romeo nodded, "Same here. I'm kinda too young to drink."
Wendy added, "Me, too."
Goofy looked over at the Sky Maiden and asked, "Say, Wendy, since our co-pilot's restin' up till we reach the next world or so, we thought we could use an extra. Care to join me in flyin' the ship? He taught ya the ropes, after all. Think of it as a new test run."
Wendy nodded with a smile, "Why not? Donald's been a great pilot, but it'd be nice if someone else takes the wheel once in a while. I want to give him a chance for a break. And I was looking to practice more on my piloting skills, anyway. I'm sure he won't mind."
Goofy beamed, "A-hyuck, then come on up! We've got some star-trekkin' to do!" He motioned to the cockpit entrance.
Wendy complied, "Okay!" She didn't hesitate to follow the royal knight up the ladder, and so did Romeo and Carla. It was just another sporting chance to see their Sky Dragon Slayer friend polish her skills as a pilot. Juvia and Sherria only took a minute to see Donald snuggle in the bosom of his bed before they caught up with the others. Only two people remained in the lounge- one a sleeping duck and the other with a mouth full of booze.
Gummi Ship Cockpit
Soon enough, Wendy and Goofy were both operating the Gummi Ship in Donald's stead, passing by chunks of floating rocks and mowing down droves of Heartless ships with the vessel's superb artillery in the eyes of the party members who came into the cockpit for a view of the stars. Romeo, Carla, and Sherria once again admired Wendy's mastery of the controls, while Juvia was simply astonished at her first time seeing a child taking the wheel next to another, like a grade student who learned the instructions from top to bottom, a feat fitting for a prodigy. As the ship came to a stop and inspected the one place where Monstro swallowed the group, they were relieved to know that the whale was nowhere to be seen. Back on track, the Gummi Ship was free to advance from where it last left Agrabah. Wendy and her friends conversed amicably as the journey continued, telling stories about some of Fairy Tail's biggest hits and misses, the same time as Goofy sharing his take on Donald's occasional temper fits, making them all laugh.
Sherria rubbed her head in processing the gossip, "I still can't believe this. At one time he exploded because he couldn't open a window? We've really been hanging out with a duck who has a short fuse the whole adventure! I'm surprised he didn't snap when I accidentally overcooked that pudding."
Goofy replied, "You gotta give him some credit. Donald keeps tabs on his temper from time to time, but that's just his way of showin' he's worried about things."
Romeo chuckled, "Not too honest, is he? He's just doing what he thinks is right, and wants to make sure things don't go off on the wrong foot. His heart's still in the right place."
Goofy nodded, "Uh-huh, he's our buddy through and through. If it weren't for him and me, you fellas wouldn't be having the best field trip in outer space right now."
Juvia retorted, "We almost died! On more occasions than one!"
Carla pointed out, "Every field trip has its bumps. We can't complain about that."
Juvia cleared her throat, "No, of course not. My apologies. I meant no disrespect."
Wendy asked Goofy, "So how long before we arrive at the next world?"
Goofy checked the radar, then gave the results after a brief analysis. "We're just about two minutes away. We're almost there."
Sherria asked, "Oh, already?"
Carla confirmed, "That didn't take long at all."
Goofy announced, "We're back in business, gang! For the first time since Monstro, we're arrivin' at a new world!" The rest of the crew cheered at the good news.
Juvia breathed, "It's about time. I have no intention of becoming food for that mammal again."
Romeo grinned, "Yeah. A new place where it doesn't involve stomach acid or organs."
Wendy smiled, "I can already tell it's going to be a breeze. We can—"
"I'm back!" Just then, an awfully familiar voice mingled with the merriment. Donald entered the cockpit, his mood uplifted since he woke up from the nap he took an hour and a half ago. "Are we there yet? What's going on? What were you doing while I was down there?"
"You were sleeping in the engine lounge, so I took over for you," Wendy turned to face Donald without lifting a finger from the handle. "The good news is, the next world is minutes away."
"Huh? We're almost there?" Donald blinked. "And you took the co-pilot's seat?"
"I just thought I'd let you know," Wendy said innocently. "Sorry I didn't ask you, Donald."
"In your absence, Wendy has sharpened her piloting skills," Carla informed. "The lessons you taught her seemed to have paid off yet again."
"Yeah, you should've seen it!" Romeo beamed. "There's this small fleet of Heartless, and the asteroid field..."
"Wendy took 'em all out without even takin' a scratch," Goofy stated. "And she did it with just one hand!"
"Too bad you missed it," Sherria teased. "You were sleeping back then."
"Wendy flew the ship?" Donald's eyes widened in surprise. "Without me?!"
"Oh, dear," Carla moaned. "Here he goes again."
"B-But how?" Donald was at a loss for words. He didn't expect Wendy to operate the Gummi Ship without his supervision, her maturing skill with the controls even more so. "How did you—"
"I learned from the best," Wendy giggled. "You're a great teacher, Donald. I just wanna say thank you for giving me this chance to drive the ship with you and Goofy. If it helps, I might even fly the whole thing by myself! What do you say?"
"Hmm..." Donald pondered his decision over, then a hearty laugh burst from his beak. "For a kid, you sure are bold enough to make grown-up decisions. You even put everything I taught you into this test!" He gave a friendly pat on the Sky Dragon Slayer's back. "Not bad, Wendy. If you keep on being good, I could let you drive solo..."
"Really?" Wendy said happily. "Thank you so much, Donald!"
"But next time you want to show your stuff in the cockpit, don't leave me out of it," Donald bargained. "Let me see with my own eyes. And for the record, you should've asked me first."
"Okay. You won't miss it next time," Wendy promised.
"That is, if you're snoozing off again," Sherria joked.
"Hey! I was just napping!" Donald protested.
"At least you're back in good shape," Carla confirmed.
"And in high spirits, no less," Juvia agreed.
"You said it," Donald nodded. "I don't know what happened lately, but for some reason after I slept, I feel like I can do anything. I'm as healthy as a hen!"
"The intoxication is finally out of his system!" Juvia remarked. "That nap did the trick, and now he feels fine, as if he had forgotten that he was drunk before."
"Huh?" Donald cocked an eyebrow at the Rain Woman. "What are you talking about? What was I doing?"
"Oh, nothing. Nothing at all," Juvia lied. "You took a bump on the head and lost consciousness, so Sherria and I tucked you into one of our beds. Someone had to take your place while you were out." She turned and gestured to Wendy. "But you have nothing to worry about. Thanks to Wendy, the ship hasn't suffered a hit."
"Really?" Donald rubbed the back of his head in confusion. "Did I actually bonk my head?"
"Just as I thought," Juvia affirmed. "He has no recollection of what happened lately. The drinking contest he had with Cana seemed to have become a forgotten memory."
"Everybody, look!" Wendy called out as she pointed ahead, compelling the crew to look out the window. Their new destination happened to be a globe with a craggy rock exterior around an orb of pristine blue waters serving as the epicenter. The surface was decorated by aquatic creatures of all shapes and sizes, a field of seaweed rising like flowers and floating in the gentle currents, the splintered remains of a sunken ship, and a grotto resembling the skeletal body of a deceased sea monster. Somewhere deep below the ocean waves stood a majestic palace comprised of a series of golden towers that stretched high up towards the surface. The palace gleamed brilliantly amidst the vast stretch of water, sheltering the feeling of mystery and enchantment to any traveler who visited. As the new world came into view, it didn't take long for Wendy and her friends to examine the glint of golden infrastructure that soared above the rest. "Check it out!"
"A underwater sea palace! I haven't seen anything that looks exactly like it in ages!" Juvia breathed.
"Juvia, you've been to a sea palace before?" Romeo questioned.
"Not really," Juvia answered. "But I've seen makeshift designs, pictures, and a three-story pagoda-style restaurant also named Sea Palace in my time."
"Sea Palace? That popular restaurant in Baslam where they serve dishes like fried dumplings, lobster, and Peking duck?" Sherria asked. "No offense, Donald."
"None taken," Donald assured.
"The one and only," Juvia replied. "I often visit the Sea Palace to satisfy my taste buds with the utmost delectable of seafood. A little dinner and dancing..." She lowered her voice to speak quietly to herself, "...with Gray..." then resumed the topic, "...comes around once in a while. My best-loved dish is lobster with the finest fruit sauce available, complete with wheat toast and lemon on the side."
"So why seafood and sea palaces?" Goofy wondered. "Is it 'cause you're a water wizard?"
"Given water is my magic of choice, I tend to be fascinated by any object or place tied to it," Juvia explained. "A sea palace is no exception. But never have I ever seen an actual one, especially one so... beautiful." At that moment, her eyes began to burst with hearts. "This would make the perfect getaway spot for me and my darling Gray! Just imagine, the wonders of the deep at our fingertips! Somebody pinch me!" Donald did exactly what the Rain Woman unwittingly suggested by pressing his fingers between her arm, earning from her a pained yelp. "OUCH! I meant figuratively!"
"Oh, I'm sorry. I thought you asked," Donald said slyly.
"Looking at it right now, it takes us back to the one we saw in Agrabah," Romeo pointed out.
"But this one's even prettier with the light all around it," Goofy implied.
"Yeah, like a lighthouse," Donald nodded.
"Hey, what if this place happened to be the center of a grand kingdom where all the fish and the merpeople live?" Sherria suggested.
"Merpeople?" Wendy echoed.
"You know, the ocean people with big tails that let them swim faster?" Sherria explained. "They live deep under the sea in a huge kingdom. When I was young, Cousin Sherry used to tell me tales about them before bedtime."
"Oh, you mean the mermaids?" Wendy smiled. "I've known about them, too! Grandeeney never read me bedtime stories related to mermaids, but I've read some books in my younger days. Can't you just like them? They're mysterious, captivating, and very bright."
"Cool! My best friend is a fan of deep sea stories, just like me," Sherria admired. "What's your favorite, Wendy?"
"Annabel Lee," Wendy answered. "It's about a mermaid who started out in an orphanage before becoming the star of the sea circus. Her dream is to win enough money to support her adopted family." She sighed affectionately, "Every time I read that story, I see myself in Annabel, wanting to follow her dreams and putting smiles on everyone's faces... It does ring a bell." She cleared her throat and asked, "What about you, Sherria? What's your favorite?"
"Mine's I Dated a Seahorse. It's a comedy," Sherria replied. "The main character is a merman named Bob who fell in love with a seahorse named Grace. They married at the end, much to the shock and dismay of his mother and father. The dynamic was so absurd, I couldn't stop myself from laughing."
"I've never read that book, but I'd like to see it sometime," Wendy giggled.
"Sure! As soon as we find a way to bring back our world, I'll show you my book collection," Sherria proposed.
"You think we'll find real merpeople there?" Wendy wondered, pointing at the palace submerged in the water.
"Just a feeling," Sherria responded, following her friend's gaze.
"Hey, guys! Did somebody say merpeople?" The group nearly got scared out of their wits upon seeing two faces popping on the monitor screen. The first to greet them was a chipmunk with a black nose and a single buck tooth.
"If you're lookin' for 'em, hoo boy, you've come to the right place!" The second chipmunk with two bucked teeth and a red nose added to the cheery message. Only then in a moment did the panic subside.
Wendy cried out, "C-C-Chip and Dale!"
Sherria stammered, "W-W-What a surprise!"
Romeo blinked, "How long have you been hearing us?"
Chip replied, "Didn't we tell you before? We can ghost worlds a billion miles away! And our comms are open 24/7."
Dale chuckled, "If they weren't turned on all the time, who's gonna share stuff on the world you've stopped by? Good thing we fixed 'em!"
Donald snapped, "Well, don't scare us like that. It's inconsiderate!"
Chip apologized, "Sorry, Donald. We didn't mean to jumpscare ya. We've experienced some technical difficulties recently."
Dale reminded, "Remember the letter we sent about the new tournament? It's all we had to give our word."
Goofy chortled, "A-hyuck! How could we forget?"
Donald grumbled, "Yeah, how could we?" The booby-letter incident was still fresh in his mind, much to his consternation.
Chip smiled, "But now that the comms are patched up and runnin' again..."
Dale urged, "...you can ask away!"
Wendy cleared her throat before speaking to the chipmunks, "What's this new world called?"
Chip answered, "Atlantica, the great kingdom of the sea. While it's technically the name of the world, it's actually below the surface."
Dale stated, "It's an underwater world filled with dozens of varieties of sea creatures; fish, sharks, dolphins, seahorses, eels, crabs, jellyfish, the list goes on."
Chip continued, "This world's also home to the merpeople, aquatic folk with upper bodies of a regular person and tails of a fish. And by tails, I mean big ones!"
Dale implied, "You might think the merfolk's some ol' fish fairy tale, but the myths are bogus when you see 'em in person. In this world, merpeople are real!"
Sherria chimed, "Called it! There are mermaids down there! We'll get to meet them in the flesh!"
Wendy beamed, "Atlantica sounds like a good place to explore. Wouldn't hurt to go down there and see, maybe even meet some mermaids!"
Romeo agreed, "Yeah, I'd like to get an up close and personal look on them, too. First fairies, now merfolk? A whole lotta reason not to believe in the myths!"
Juvia stated, "I've been to places underwater, but a grand kingdom filled with merfolk isn't one of them. And speaking of mermaids, one of the official guilds was named after them."
Carla stated, "You refer to Mermaid Heel, a female-exclusive guild in which Kagura is its strongest member." She folded her arms as to contemplate whatever fate had befallen not just Mermaid Heel, but other guilds in the wake of darkness. "Who knows what became of the legal guilds now... Are they captured by the dark guilds as well? Or did they vanish along with our world? How many others suffered the same fate...?"
Goofy interjected, "We've stopped at someplace new, didn't we? Chances are, we get to find somethin' down in the water. Maybe Fairy Tail and the King?"
Juvia questioned, "Are you sure? I doubt it's possible since Atlantica is situated under the ocean."
Goofy suggested, "It's a feelin' I have in my gut. Our pals could be down there swimmin' with the fishes. Yup, they just gotta be."
Wendy implied, "Now that I think about it, I feel the same way."
Romeo nodded, "Me too. This can't be anything out of the ordinary."
Carla wondered, "But how is it possible? We agreed to search every world for any trace of our missing friends, but a great underwater kingdom is most unlikely."
Chip advised, "Be mindful that Atlantica's an underwater place."
Sherria reminded, "Yeah, we noticed. Thanks."
Dale stated, "If you wanna land there, you gotta use your best diving equipment."
Sherria agreed, "Sounds like a good—"
Donald boasted, "Ha! Who needs diving equipment when we've got magic? We'll get down there and no one will suspect us."
Sherria's eyes widened in alarm. "W-W-What did you say? No diving equipment?!"
Chip complied, "Okay, Donald. The floor's yours. Let your magic do the talkin'."
Dale encouraged, "Have a nice underwater adventure!"
"This is Chip..."
"...and Dale..."
"Over and out!"
"Hey!" Sherria tried to protest, but the monitor had already switched off.
Donald addressed his teammates, pressing several buttons on the dashboard. "Okay, guys. Prepare for landing."
Sherria exclaimed, "Land where?! In the sea?!" She frantically waved over to the structure of Atlantica. "If case you haven't noticed, we have two major problems. One: The whole place is under the ocean. And two: We'll drown!"
Juvia tried to make the best out of a complicated situation, "But not me! My body is completely made of water. It allows me to traverse sub-aquatic areas with ease. As a bonus, I can create bubbles with oxygen trapped inside that enable those who put their heads in to breathe underwater."
Sherria breathed, "Oh. Well, that's good."
Juvia said sadly, "Unfortunately, the bubbles only last for fifteen minutes, and I can regenerate them only if I'm on the surface."
Sherria whined, "Not good."
Carla told Donald, "I'm afraid Sherria has a point. We can't breathe underwater, and Juvia's magic is limited."
Donald said happily, "No need to worry, guys. I have something even better. This is perfect!" Seeing the confused looks on his friends' faces, he decided to clear the air. "Back when Goofy and I started exploring worlds, I've mastered a spell that can change people's physical forms. It lets us adapt to special environments we can't access by any normal means. This magic is free and guarantees safe exploring in different areas, from under the sea to a thousand feet underground— just about anywhere you wanna get to."
Sherria asked hopefully, "Anywhere? Does that mean we won't drown?"
Donald winked, "Of course not! Just leave it to me. I'll use my transformation spell to turn us all into sea creatures so we can breathe underwater. No one's going to drown."
Sherria repeated her question with a dash of enthusiasm laced into it. "Really?!"
Carla likewise shared the Sky God Slayer's concerns, albeit less excitable. "Are you certain?"
Donald stared back with a puzzled expression. "Didn't you hear what I just said? No one is going to drown. My spell's the best option. Always works, always has, always will."
Sherria cried out in relief and pulled the royal court magician into a tight embrace. "Oh, thank you! I was worried for a second there— I thought we're gonna dive in without being prepared." She released the hug and eyed Donald expectedly. "I don't know how this'll work, but I trust you, Donald."
Donald patted the amaranth-haired girl's back in response. "Of course you should. They don't call me the royal court magician for nothing. When will you learn that my ideas are great?"
Carla pointed out, "That's funny, because I thought you recklessly rushing into the line of fire without a proper strategy and your indecision between rules and morality were not really great ideas."
Donald retorted, "Anything sounds bad when you say it with that attitude, princess."
Carla groaned, "Oh, never mind. Whatever you're proposing, it's worth experiencing for ourselves. You said you've learned a spell that can alter any physical appearance to suit our needs in different environments, have you not?" A nod was Donald's only reply. "Very well, then. I'm interested to see your feat come into play. Show us what you've got."
Donald smirked, "No problem. When the magic happens and we made it safe, you owe me a hundred munny you don't believe me."
Carla rolled her eyes, "I won't get my hopes up."
Wendy suggested, "Please cast your spell, Donald. We're ready."
Romeo grinned, "Let's see what this magic of yours can do."
Juvia nodded, "I'm looking forward to this for a while."
Donald acknowledged each of their requests with a thumbs up. "Thanks for counting on me. Just a swish of the wand and we're there. Oh, and one other reason why this magic is important."
Wendy asked, "Why?"
Donald answered, "Our forms will let us blend in so everyone won't find out what we are or where we're from. And whatever you do..." He added as a warning, "...don't tell anyone." He placed a hand to his chest and proclaimed rather proudly, "We have to protect the world order!"
Juvia echoed, "World order? By that definition, you mean the natural state of things."
Carla assumed, "So basically, when your spell activates, our alternate forms will serve as disguises in certain worlds to avoid standing out. One slip of the tongue or wrong appearance will cause an uproar. The inhabitants down there are probably afraid of what they can't comprehend."
Donald huffed, "It's about time you caught on... for once."
Sherria confirmed, "Well, it's back to being tourists again."
Wendy smiled, "It's still a new world, after all. What could happen?"
Romeo asked, "Aren't you gonna get us down there?"
Goofy beamed, "No problem! We'll use the Gummi Ship's warp system. It's an easy way to get under the water without openin' the airlock." He reached for the coordinate panel and dialed a few numbers. "All we need is a free spot to warp in."
Romeo's eyes widened. "Whoa, you can actually teleport us down there?"
Goofy replied, "Cid made some extra modifications to the system while he fixed the ship after that whale-sized fiasco. You probably haven't heard of the upgrade since you were busy cozyin' up in your beds."
Romeo's jaw dropped. "You were awake early in the morning the other day? Were we the only ones who didn't know? Why didn't you tell us sooner?!"
Goofy grinned, "A-hyuck, sorry I didn't tell ya since you're asleep back then at the hotel, and I don't wanna disturb ya. But I'm tellin' ya now. Somebody had to check up on our vessel. Turns out, Cid made it a little bit better durin' repairs!"
Romeo commented, "That's Cid for ya. He always has an idea."
Sherria remarked, "We couldn't have asked for a great mechanic who improved a great cruise ship." She held a hand to her mouth and called out in the air, "If you're hearing this, Cid, I just wanna say thank you!" Everyone else laughed along at the gesture.
Donald determined, "Alright, we're going down to Atlantica. Prepare for landing!"
Later...
The Disney Kingdom's resident wizard was chuckling to himself as he readied his staff, gathering as much magic as he could for himself, Wendy, Goofy, Romeo, Carla, Sherria, and Juvia to adapt forms suitable for underwater travel. The group formed around the center of the cockpit by the time the automatic warp function was nearing its last seconds, as Goofy had already picked a location to disembark. It had been a good long while since Donald had used a magic spell like this one, but it was worth the wait. For a time, the magic ensured that exploring areas never reached by ordinary standards was akin to walking down the streets or climbing a hill. On top of that, the stability of that particular world would remain in balance while the heroes did their usual business of preserving it.
Soon enough, the magic drawn from Donald's channeling grew into a cloud of dust that converged around the members of the entourage present for the next journey. Just before the spell could take effect, Wendy began to voice her concerns about the upgraded warp system. "Umm, Goofy? We're not gonna turn inside-out when we dive in, are we?"
"Uh..." Goofy couldn't find the right response. "Maybe."
"WHAT?!" The others screamed in shock. What should have been the start of a debate was cut short when the timer indicated on the dashboard hit zero. A stream of data emitted from where the group once stood before they vanished, and if one could look out the window, they were plunged into the surface of the world by a beam shot somewhere from the ship. For the first time since Monstro, a new venture had begun, all the while leaving Cana as the only passenger to help herself to the crew's hospitality. Perhaps if they hadn't called her in, she may not have spent the rest of her time drinking away at another barrel of beer.
Tranquil Grotto
In the mystical world under the ocean, the waters were calm and gentle, not unusual in this particular grotto which, despite being enclosed by sturdy walls of rock, had maintained its tranquility and beauty. At the very center was a giant white clam atop a stony bed. The light filtered through the waters and cast distorted lines across the sea floor, casting its spell of infinite serenity. It was an easy place for any fish to find some measure of peace. A school of angelfish passed through the grotto, playfully swooping around the clam. But a strange thing occurred the moment they regrouped. Seven streams of bubbles emerged from out of nowhere. Then, following only a few seconds after, seven figures tumbled into the watery atmosphere. Several angelfish let out a frightened yelp, and the entire school scurried away.
Wendy found it amazing how she breathed the water like it was air, and she immediately knew what it meant for her and the others as they examined the changes around them. However, she barely noticed what changed her in appearance until it struck her too late. Wendy cried out, "Hey, it worked...! The magic worked! I'm actually breathing normal air!"
"So am I! It's amazing we didn't get water into our lungs; instead we get fresh air. It's like the water's turned into air. We can breathe whenever we want." Once Sherria expressed her own astonishment, she inhaled and exhaled a quantity of water into her mouth, testing out a theory that she could not drown in this state, and then discovered there was no uncomfortable sensation of salt burning in her lungs. Like Wendy, she had no idea of her current baring. "Donald's spell did the trick, just as he said it would. We're not inside-out, either." She stretched her arms in a blend of elation and relief laced into her sigh. "Thank goodness! No one drowned! I'd give him a big hug for being true to his word. We made it here like nothing's changed."
"Really? Nothing's changed at all besides us not drowning?" Wendy tapped her chin. "Donald said he'd turn us into sea creatures when we came here. But what kind he is talking about? I feel all right, but all of a sudden, I don't quite feel like myself. Sherria, do you notice anything different?" As she turned to ask her friend's opinion on this matter, she was frozen in shock at what she just witnessed, as though the water itself had turned to ice.
"No, not at all. I didn't see any—" Sherria looked around, and she was instantly overwhelmed at seeing Wendy's new aquatic body. The utter excitement compelled her to point her finger and scream at the top of her lungs. "OH MY GOSH, WENDY! YOU HAVE A MERMAID'S TAIL!" Indeed, the Sky Maiden had retained her human appearance, only that her upper body was completely shirtless. In fact, the only thing she wore right now was a silver seashell bra with a blue strap and a light blue water lily in her hair. The most notable change was her legs, which had melted together to form a light blue fishtail and a white dorsal fin.
"SO DO YOU!" Wendy screamed back, already startled at seeing Sherria, who had lost all her clothing for a starfish bra with a salmon strap and seaweed earrings, and now had a crimson tailfin.
As they grasped the meaning of their arrival in the ocean world, the two girls swam to each other, then began to run their hands over their supple new tailfins and each other's, tracing the smooth and silky outline. They couldn't stop themselves from marveling at their aquatic forms, shuddering in wonder and awe with wide smiles spread across their faces. It felt like they were in heaven, like a fantasy had come true; throughout their childhoods, Wendy and Sherria had been fascinated by tales under the sea, but never imagined they would become the very creatures told in these tales. "We're... We're mermaids..." The moment those words were whispered out of their mouths, their spirits soared higher. "We're really mermaids!" Wendy and Sherria grabbed each other's hands and spun around in the water, laughing and chattering with joy.
"Hey! You look like you're enjoying yourselves." That merriment was only brief when they saw Romeo coming in. Like Wendy and Sherria, he was no longer wearing his usual garments, save for the yellow scarf around his neck, and instead had a rainbow-colored tail of a dolphin complete with a dorsal fin. The girls' faces quickly went red at the sight of him.
"Ro-Romeo?!" Wendy uttered. "You're a—"
"MERMAN!" Sherria squealed. "You've turned into a merman!"
"Of course I have!" Romeo laughed. "It took me a while to get used to my new look. Turns out, it's how Donald's magic works for us to breathe underwater." He took a few seconds to inspect Wendy and Sherria's mermaid bodies, then his smile grew even broader. "Huh, who would've guessed he'd turn you two into mermaids?"
"I wouldn't. Did Donald turn us into mermaids because we're just plain cute?" Sherria guessed. "It's kinda obvious."
"Pretty much, yeah," Romeo nodded. "I gotta say, you two look great today. Especially you, Wendy. And by great, I mean way cuter." Wendy's delicate eyebrows shot up quickly, and she stared in surprise as the pair froze, both realizing what he just said. "I mean, you're cute as always, Wendy. You really are. You mean well. I mean, you're good. I think... you're... I... uh..." Romeo stammered nervously, inwardly slapping himself from digging his own grave at complimenting a girl for her looks.
His ranting was stopped by a weak giggle, and the feeling of Wendy's hand caressing his. "I think you look great as well," she smiled softly. "I can tell by the tail. It's the colors of your Rainbow Fire, isn't it?"
"Thanks," Romeo returned her soft smile. "I guess we both look great."
"It's true," Wendy nodded.
"What about you, Sherria?" Romeo faced her. "Do you like your new getup?"
"Are you kidding? It's fantastic!" Sherria beamed. "I've always wanted to dress-up as a mermaid! It's like I'm the princess of the ocean, like Princess Pearl from the story Princess Pearl and the Magic Clam! You probably haven't read that. It's the best-selling novel in the past three years. Or at least second best? I don't know. Still, I have a copy back home, and I'll let you read it if you like."
"Sounds good!" Wendy smiled.
"Why not?" Romeo grinned.
"This aquatic form is rather astounding!" The three looked around and saw Juvia swimming in with a mermaid appearance of her own, her sole attire being a polka-dotted bra, and her tailfin a darker shade of blue than Wendy's. She flipped her tail and found herself propelling in the water while spinning around to gesture herself. "Being a mermaid for the first time in this strange and wondrous land does have its benefits. For once, I'm not foam floating endlessly in the water, rather I'm a big fish in a really big pond. I feel so carefree!" She crossed her arms around her shoulders, unable to contain her happiness. "And gleeful! If only Gray felt the same way I did instead of being broody from time to time. He may be here in this place right now, dressed as a merman, tall and handsome..."
"Juvia seems to be enjoying herself," Wendy remarked. "She actually likes being a mermaid."
"Well, so do you," Romeo pointed out. "Both you and Sherria."
"Yes, we are!" Sherria chirped. "Being a mermaid's the best idea ever!"
"See? I told you there's nothing to worry about. Not with my magic around!" Hearing Donald's voice, they saw him along with Goofy and Carla floating down to their level. However, their aquatic bodies didn't look the same as the others were. Goofy had transformed into a sea turtle, yet his head remained that of a dopey-looking dog. Donald's body up to the torso was bare, but his bottom half was altered into a set of blue and yellow tentacles. As for Carla, she had turned into a catfish with white scales, leaving only her head unchanged. "By the way, Wendy, I didn't change any of your adorable looks," Donald continued. "I made you even prettier by putting a water lily in your hair. It looks good on you."
"You did that for me?" Wendy gasped, blushing at Donald's design for her transformation. She reached for the lily on the right side of her hair and touched it. "Wow... Romeo wasn't lying about me looking great..."
"Yeah, I'm glad I wasn't," Romeo chuckled sheepishly.
"And what do you think about your look, Carla? Do you feel fish-eriffic?" Donald sounded smug as he spoke to the white Exceed, hanging upside-down. "I made you a catfish because you're a cat. Catfish! Get it?" He laughed at his own joke, all the while paying no mind to her dry expression.
"Still attempting at humor, I see," Carla sighed. "And assuming this form while we're present within this world under the sea is of little consequence; as long as it's suitable to my liking, it matters not to me."
"Whatever you say, tuna cat. Don't come crying to me when you get your lips stuck to a hook," Donald taunted.
"Don't be so sure, duck. Unexpected things might happen to you besides me," Carla retorted.
"They think I won't last long out there? I'd like to see them try! I'll show 'em some magic!" Donald scoffed.
"So Goofy's a sea turtle, Donald's an octopus, and Carla's a catfish. Why them instead of merpeople like Wendy, Romeo, and myself?" Sherria questioned.
"What's wrong with the way we look? Carla likes it, Donald likes it, and I like it, too. I think this is rather fun," Goofy chortled, swimming past Donald and Carla lazily.
"Well, it's not like we can change how we look now. Might as well make the best of it," Wendy suggested.
"Yeah, let's. I hope we keep it that way a bit longer. It feels great being a sea creature," Sherria agreed.
"Even a mermaid! It makes me want to explore this place a bit more," Wendy smiled.
"Don't forget, we still have to find Fairy Tail and the King," Donald reminded.
"And the Keyhole somewhere 'round these parts," Goofy added.
"Guys! Someone's coming!" Romeo pointed to the tunnels ahead, and the seven looked to see four characters heading towards the alcove.
Two of the newcomers were aquatic animals. One was a chubby yellow fish with aquamarine eyes and sky blue stripes along his top side, and his pectoral, dorsal, and tail fins had alternating sky blue and dark sky blue stripes. His dorsal fin lined his back and was frayed near the front, vaguely reminiscent of hair. The other was a red and salmon-colored crab, though he seemed to be a conglomeration of several different animals. For instance, his claws somewhat resembled those of a lobster, and the structure of his carapace was similar to that of a turtle. The crab's noseless face was vaguely humanoid with a large mouth, large eyes, and a brown line, though he obviously didn't have any hair. The third and fourth to enter the grotto were mermaids like Wendy, Sherria, and Juvia— one a year younger than the Rain Woman, and the other just around the same age. The first mermaid had a green tail with paler green translucent fins, and wore a brassiere made out of purple seashells. She had bright blue eyes, long bright red hair, and full red lips. The second mermaid had a tail with glittering orange scales, and unlike her counterpart, she sported a strapless blue and white bra. Her shoulder-length blonde hair was tied to a few pigtails, and a pink Fairy Tail stamp was located at the back of her right hand. By a stroke of fate, Lucy Heartfilia had survived her own ordeal with the Alliance of Evil and acquainted herself with the native trio!
"Come on, Sebastian!" the red-haired mermaid beckoned the paddling crab to catch up.
"What's the matter, slowpoke? Too exhausted out your shell? Maybe next time, you should let me carry you around more often, just as long as you don't pinch my skin. I don't like marks on my shoulders." Lucy advised, as she followed her counterpart close behind along with the chubby fish.
"Ariel, wait! Slow down! Don't leave me behind!" the crab named Sebastian wailed in a heavy Jamaican accent. "And you're right, Lucy. I should've let you carry me, considering I'm too short and less than able to keep up." He pushed himself forward, swinging his arms wildly through the water and panting from exhaustion. "So help me, my swimming is not as strong as it appears to be... If only I had my carriage of seahorses, I'd—"
"If you knew you couldn't match the speed of a mermaid like Ariel and myself, why did you agree to tag along in the first place?" Lucy questioned.
"I have my reasons to tag along. The sea king is awfully worried for the well-being of his youngest daughter. If anything happens to her, he'll be furious with us, mostly me!" Sebastian dreaded.
"Don't worry, Sebastian. Anything that comes our way, they'll end up grinded to a mass of bubbles before they even make a move. Me and my spirits can—" Lucy stopped mid-sentence when she halted in the presence of those present in the alcove, her eyes widening in total surprise. Wendy and her friends were equally shocked to recognize the blonde girl who arrived earlier with another mermaid and two sea creatures. For a moment, there was silence.
"Hmm? What is the matter?" Sebastian saw the befuddled look on Lucy's face. "Have you found-" He came to an abrupt stop, finding himself face to face with an upside-down octopus-duck hybrid narrowing his eyes at annoyance. The crab suddenly let out an alarmed scream and backed away as quickly as he could. "MORE INTRUDERS! Keep them away from me! They're going to attack me!"
"LUUUUUCCCCY!" Wendy, Romeo, Carla, Juvia, and Sherria exclaimed with the greatest bundle of happiness at reuniting with a face in the Fairy Tail guild most familiar- a close friend and ally of Natsu Dragneel, a steadfast member of the guild's strongest team, and a cheerful personality. Wasting no time, the entourage paddled over to the celestial wizard and huddled around her for a group hug mingled with cheer and laughter, leaving Donald and Goofy to observe with smiles of hope and relief. Success after success of rescuing scores of missing Fairy Tail wizards had been a respite from all the turmoil and obscurity, but finding one among the most invaluable made it all the more sweeter. Second of all, three out of seven members of Team Natsu had come together, leaving the missing count down to four. Finding Lucy in Atlantica brought great joy into Wendy's heart; she longed to see one of her best friends again, and the latter felt the same way. A minute after the group hug dissolved, Lucy caught Wendy in a hug of her own, and it seemed she was giving her the tightest embrace.
"WENDY! I'm so happy you came!" Lucy's tears were made invisible by the water, but seeing the glimmer in her eyes, it showed how much she missed the Sky Maiden. "You don't know how long I've been waiting for someone to actually find me in the bottom of this ocean! I was so worried!"
"Oh, Lucy..." Wendy sniffled, huddling into her friend's bosom. "I'm so sorry we kept you waiting. It's been hard for us, I know. But it's okay. We're here now... It's okay..." A sob escaped her throat. "I thought you were gone... I was scared. I had no idea what happened to you. That's why I've been looking for you...!" Another sob, and she squeezed Lucy back. "I'm so glad I found you, Lucy! I missed you very much!"
"I missed you too, Wendy," Lucy wiped her eyes and placed her hand on the back of Wendy's head. "I've been waiting for this since the first day I got myself a tail." Pulling from the hug, she divulged the details of her present adaptation to the aquatic environment, wiggling her tail as an example. "Oh, right. I haven't told you yet. I've become a mermaid since I first came here."
"You're a mermaid, too?!" Wendy gasped in shock as she examined Lucy's new appendage, particularly the scales reflected by the rays of light around the grotto. "How did you become one? And your tail, it looks so... amazing."
"I know, right?" Lucy grinned. "Every time it reflects sunlight, the scales shine like pearls you can find in oysters. So basically, it makes me the prettiest girl in the ocean!" Sighing to herself, she struck a pose akin to a fashion model, as per exuding one of her self-indulging beauty appeals. "I have to give props to Virgo for working on the design. It's not easy being a fabulous mermaid for the first time, you know. I mean, a girl always gets her chance at staying young."
"Huh?" Wendy asked curiously. "Are you saying that Virgo helped you..." She waved her arm around Lucy's visage. "...be like this?"
"Yeah, it's kind of a long story," Lucy admitted. "But I promise you, I'll tell you everything. You can count on it, just as you've always counted on me." She let out a relieved breath. "All this time, I've been searching for anyone in the guild who may have stumbled here the same way I did, but seeing you coming here..." She weakly grinned and shrugged, "Guess I got lucky. The two of us are back together again, so everything's okay."
"Yes, it is," Wendy chuckled.
"Right now, I want to ask you the same question," Lucy inspected Wendy's aquatic body. "How did you turn into a mermaid?" She turned to face the rest of the group, appearing to be startled when she asked her next set of questions. "What's Juvia, Romeo, and Sherria doing here? They're merpeople as well? Is Carla a catfish now? And why are they with a duck who has tentacles for legs and a turtle with a funny-looking HEAD?"
"Does she mean us?" Goofy wondered.
"I think it's kinda obvious," Donald muttered.
"And they talk, too!" Lucy exclaimed. "I've seen cats with wings, frogs dressed in robes, then talking fishes and crabs. Now I've discovered a duck who looks like a squid and a turtle with the face of a dog. What is this universe coming to?"
"For your information, missy, I'm not a squid," Donald clarified. "I'm a duck who uses magic to turn my legs into tentacles so I can swim and breathe underwater. And another thing, it's an octopus, not a squid. There's a difference."
"And I don't just have a dog's head; I am one," Goofy stated. "He transformed me into a sea turtle."
"Okay, that pretty much sums it up," Lucy confirmed, before her eyes widened in realization. "W-Wait a minute! If the duck guy used magic to make himself an octopus, and turned the other guy into a sea turtle, then..." She turned to face the rest of the entourage as her astonishment grew.
"That's right!" Donald nodded proudly. "Thanks to my magic, we're all sea creatures. We're free to do whatever we want in the ocean."
"Truth be told, we've been usin' this magic to blend in with the locals," Goofy explained. "Somebody's gotta keep the world border."
"It's world order!" Donald facepalmed in annoyance. "How come you always forget to pronounce it right?" He turned to examine Lucy, "We've ran into another Fairy Tail wizard, who happened to be a mermaid like Wendy, Sherria, Juvia, and that red-haired woman who came by earlier. I don't know how she got herself a tail, but I doubt it's anything ordinary."
"World order, huh?" Lucy questioned. "So you guys are making yourselves familiar with these waters, same as me."
"Uh-huh," Wendy nodded. "This is the first time we've come to a world that's under the ocean."
"We have so much to catch up on," Lucy affirmed. "You see, before I started all this—"
"I found them, Ariel! I see them!" A shivering Sebastian pointed his claw at Wendy and her companions, cowering behind the red-haired mermaid. "Creatures even more imposing than the ones we saw! Look out!"
Goofy implied, "Guess the blonde lady's story will have to wait. Best not to break it down in front of the crowd."
Donald advised, "Remember, it's to keep the order."
Sherria asked Wendy, "Hey, Wendy, is this crab mistaking us for you-know-what?"
Wendy wondered, "Could it be the Heartless? They must've chased them all the way here."
Sebastian continued to cower before the young heroes. "Don't let their appearances fool you! For all I know, they're demons in disguise poised to strike us at any moment!"
Lucy noticed the crab freaking out at a mere glimpse of her friends whom she recently reunited, and tried to interject on their behalf. "Um, Sebastian?"
"Here's what we're going to do. On the count of three, I'll distract them!"
Lucy tried again, "Sebastian."
"When that happens, you and the others swim as fast as your fins can carry you!"
Lucy loudly said, "Sebastian!"
"One, two..."
Lucy finally had enough of Sebastian's cowardly rambling and yelled, "SEBASTIAN!"
Sebastian froze in the water for a second before floating over between the group and Ariel. "Yes, Lucy?" he asked quietly.
"Have you seen anything that looks like bubbly jellyfish or ghosts with eyeballs hanging from chains popping out of their sockets?" Lucy frowned. "I haven't! All I see are normal seafolk and merpeople! Just like us!"
"Hmm? They're not monsters?" Sebastian asked in confusion. "Then why did they frighten me?" He gestured to Donald, "One of them has eyes that are as cold as stone!"
"Well, you almost ran into my face! You should've watched where you're going!" Donald stated angrily. "And who says we're anything like those 'creatures' you keep rambling on about? We're completely normal, like she said."
"Take it easy, little guy. We're not gonna hurt ya," Goofy grinned. "We're nice and friendly! See?"
"Y-You are?" Sebastian gasped in realization. "Oh, I'm so sorry! I have no intention of causing you any trouble. Please, kind ones, forgive my haste. I meant no offense."
"Nothin' to it," Goofy chuckled.
"I know this is a rough start, so let's rewind a bit and set this straight," Lucy sighed, and she began introducing the group. "Those people are from the same ocean I'm from." Her lips curled into a smile. "In fact, they're my friends." They nodded in agreement, before she looked at Donald and Goofy. "Well, except those two, because I haven't met them."
"And I don't blame her," Donald shrugged.
"So you're telling me that the strangers are actually the friends you've been looking for?" Sebastian's jaw dropped. "We've run into them?!"
"That's right," Lucy nodded. "They're from my ocean. They're my friends."
"Am I hearing things? Is this true?" the mermaid named Ariel swam over to Lucy with a bright smile. "You've finally found them? All of them?"
"Some of them, actually," Lucy clarified. "But the rest can't be far. I just know they're out there. No matter what happens, I must find them." She tightened her fist in resolution, "I'd give anything to reunite with all my friends."
"Oh, I'm so happy for you, Lucy!" Ariel caught her in a hug and spun her around in place. "These past few days have been a blur, but all that hard work spent on looking for anyone from your ocean finally paid off!" She released the hug to look the blonde-haired girl straight in the eyes. "And you're right, more of them may be out there. But don't give up, Lucy. We'll find them. We can get through this."
"It's not much, but I'm glad it turned out fine," Lucy beamed. "If you and Flounder hadn't helped me, I never would've come all this way. So thank you."
"No, I should be thanking you," Ariel replied. "I just needed to get my father out of my hair for some fun and adventure outside the palace."
"I can relate," Lucy said slyly, as she and Ariel laughed together.
Meanwhile, Wendy spoke to her friends, "The other mermaid who came here with Lucy... They know each other?"
Goofy assumed, "She and her ocean buddies must've taken care of her the entire time we're out there."
Donald implied, "I don't think she even let on where she's from, either. She's got a really interesting disguise."
Goofy recalled, "Speakin' of, I remember Wendy talkin' to Jasmine about someone named Lucy in Agrabah. We heard she's the daughter of a wealthy businessman who ran away from home to join Fairy Tail so she can get a taste of adventure, freedom, and fun. It's all comin' together now. Seein' her right here, and Wendy callin' her name..." His smile widened, "Yup, she's definitely the one."
Wendy took heed of Donald and Goofy's conversation and turned to face them. "Huh? You heard about Lucy?"
Donald nodded, "For a while. During that pep talk in the alley with Jasmine. Is there anything else you told the princess about this Lucy character? I've been meaning to ask you that for some time now."
Wendy responded, "Oh, you mean her background? I made it short, sweet, and to the point. I didn't let on where she's from. It's for keeping the order, isn't it?"
Goofy cheered, "Hey, you hear that, Donald? She knew what she was doing and played straight!"
Donald sighed, "That's what I thought. I wanted to find out if she spilled the whole background. Otherwise, we'd..."
Goofy told Wendy, "Gawrsh, you seem to know a whole lot about Lucy."
Wendy nodded, "That's right. She's a special friend of mine. She's a celestial wizard who not only summons spirits to help her fight, but also combines their magic to wear Star Dresses."
Donald quacked, "She can summon spirits and dress up at the same time?!"
Goofy commented, "Sounds like this sweet gal can do anything! How amazing is she?"
Wendy beamed, "Very amazing! Besides Erza and Sherria, Lucy is the closest thing I have to a sister. She's smart, caring, and refuses to give up when times are tough. Of course, she and her Celestial Spirits work well together as partners. Lucy and I shared plenty of adventures together. We're a part of the same team, which some considered to be best in my guild."
Goofy echoed, "The best in your guild? You work with the toughest team Fairy Tail's got?"
Wendy admitted, "That's what they all say. My friends and I saved the day countless times. I've always been a part of their team. And if I'm a member, that makes me one of the best. Age and magic doesn't matter." She blushed at making that statement, "I figured that's one of the reasons everyone's so fond of me."
Donald snickered, "Of course they are. Because you're just plain cute."
Wendy giggled, "Yeah, that, too. I did what I could to please everyone."
Goofy proposed, "Say, if we have the time, can you give us a background about this Fairy Tail team you've been a part of?"
Wendy complied, "Okay! I'll tell you all about my team and what we did back in the day."
Donald remarked, "It's no surprise Lucy's on your team, and that you're in one before ours. We get to see one of your best friends in person, and I'm starting to take a liking to this girl."
Wendy giggled again, "I knew you would."
Meanwhile, it was Ariel's turn to assuage Sebastian's worries as she examined the group. "You see, Sebastian? They don't look like one of them. Lucy's telling the truth, and so do they. They're friendly and they mean no harm. Right, Flounder?" She looked down at her chubby fish friend, who also hid behind the mermaid.
"I don't know," Flounder answered hesitantly, giving Wendy and the others a wary look. "There's something weird about them, especially the guy with short hair and those three girls."
"Oh, you mean..." Wendy's eyes widened.
"Us?" Romeo pointed to himself.
"H-How weird, exactly?" Sherria laughed nervously.
"What are you getting at?" Juvia raised an eyebrow.
Ariel started to swim around the four, coming up close as she tried to think of a good way to describe them. "They do seem a little different. Where are you from?"
Wendy tried to explain, "We're—"
Ariel held up a hand to stop her. "Let me guess. You're from Lucy's ocean, aren't you? A different ocean that's really far away from ours?"
Wendy was astonished at how observant Ariel was. "Y-Yeah! That's right."
Ariel surmised, "You must've ended up swept here by accident, just like her. Or did you come all this way looking for her?"
Wendy answered, "Same thing you asked. A lot of things happened, and we got separated from each other. We've been searching for friends who are missing, like Lucy." She smiled and bowed in respect to the little mermaid. "Thank you so much for looking after her. It means a lot to us."
Ariel chuckled, "Oh, it was nothing. When we ran into her for the first time, she was lost and all alone. I didn't want her to feel bad, so me and Flounder had to help. And of course, Sebastian, too."
Sebastian muttered, "I only agreed because I'm making sure nothing bad happens to you. Why is it that every time you go out there in the open, terrible omens follow?"
Ariel teased, "You're just scared because of those creatures chasing our tails."
Sebastian argued, "And for good reason! They constantly roam the waters beyond the boundaries of Atlantica, hunting down anything or anyone that moves!"
Ariel told Wendy, "Taking it from him, we've seen stuff happening outside Atlantica. Strange monsters pop out of nowhere and are running amok all over the ocean. Most of the fish and merpeople retreated to the palace for their own safety."
Wendy questioned, "What about you? Won't you be safe in the palace, too?"
Ariel blinked, "Who, me?" She rolled her eyes in amusement, "Pfft, this is nothing. I'm way strong to let any of this stop me. If I spent time in the palace all day, life under the sea would get really boring. That's why Flounder and I went out for some fun in the water. Lots of exploring before the recent stuff happened. Some are a bit normal, others dangerous, and we got into trouble sometimes, but we're able to play it off. It's all in good fun overall."
Wendy grinned at the irony. As much as Jasmine craved for a life without restraint, Ariel wished for the same. "Wow, that's really brave of you. When's the last time you've been outside the palace?"
Flounder stated, "Well, there's this freaky accident with the big jellyfish. One of them slapped me real hard on my left cheek." He rubbed that aforementioned spot in slight pain. "Ouch. It still hurts."
Ariel sighed, "No matter where we go, those creatures always show up, giving us nothing but trouble. They just had to spoil everything."
Wendy gasped, "They gave you a hard time? Really?"
Ariel replied, "More than once. With them around, the sea's never been more hazardous. That is, until we met Lucy..." She gestured to the celestial wizard, "...who showed up in the palace a few days ago. We decided to help her by finding friends who may have stumbled into our ocean as she did. The monsters always got in the way, but she helped. As it turned out, Lucy is no ordinary mermaid; she's a wizard!"
Flounder beamed, "She's really the best! You wouldn't believe some of the cool things she did! Lucy's got this whip that grows longer than a squid's tentacles, and a set of magic keys that lets her bring out magic friends out of glowing round gates, and they attack with super magic moves! Besides that, she puts on magic clothes and does tons of magic like her magic friends did!"
Donald muttered, "I think he repeated 'magic' a couple times..."
Goofy guessed, "I think he's excited."
Lucy winked, "All in a day's work. Me and my Celestial Spirits are on the job to do what no one else can't. The outside ocean can get pretty rough."
Carla asked, "But how are you able to use your magic while underwater? And as a mermaid, no less?"
Lucy suggested, "Can't explain. I'll tell you when we have time to ourselves."
Donald huffed, "Yeah, let's. We've caused enough trouble in some worlds as it is."
Sherria chuckled, "Don't worry about it. The only trouble caused around here is your temper tantrum."
Donald argued, "No, it's not!"
Wendy giggled, "Still, I always knew you'd pull through, Lucy. I wish I was there with you. That would've been so great!"
Romeo cheered, "I wish I was there, too. You're as cool as Natsu! Just as he's my big bro, you make a perfect big sis!"
Lucy sighed sadly, "Yes, I know. You mean well. And sorry for the trouble. It's a shame you missed out. You should've seen me riding the currents with Aries, Scorpio, and Cancer..."
Wendy stated, "But we're back together, aren't we? Everything's okay now." She turned to Ariel, "Thanks again."
Ariel acknowledged, "No problem."
Sherria beamed, "Isn't it great to have Fairy Tail's strongest Celestial Spirit wizard on our team? We're the winning team, and quite frankly, we always win!"
Goofy concurred, "It's true. A-hyuck!"
Juvia remarked, "My love rival lives. As a mermaid, of all people!"
Lucy waved to the Rain Woman. "Hey, Juvia! Good to see you, too!"
Juvia immediately gave Lucy a dark and menacing stare as clouds fumed above her head. "You think you can win him over by assuming a mermaid form more dazzling than mine? You think you're better than me?! This will not stand! We will fight for Gray!"
Lucy sweated as the fumes brushed back her hair. "Umm, that won't be necessary." Juvia ignored her and continued to stare her down.
Sherria sweated, "I didn't know Juvia had a rival for Gray's affections."
Carla muttered, "Just ignore her."
Romeo smiled at Ariel, "Like Wendy said, we're thankful. Because of you, Lucy's back with us, safe and sound. But while it's a blast seeing her again after all this time..." His smile suddenly disappeared. "...there's one other problem we had to deal with."
Ariel wondered, "What is it, then?"
Romeo chuckled nervously, "We're... kinda new to this whole thing. This is the first time we've been to these waters. We want to explore them, but we're not really used to them."
Lucy discerned the conversation as she spoke mentally to herself, "This must be the duck's magic."
Sherria pointed out, "And another thing, we can't swim properly. It's an initial experience for us. Because we're—" Donald elbowed her on the side, making her yelp before she could finish her sentence.
The royal court magician hissed at Sherria's ear, "Order!"
Sherria whispered back, "Sorry!"
Wendy stated, "They have a point, you know. This is our first time here. So we're hoping someone around here would show us the ropes."
Ariel understood the group's concerns. "Oh, I see... In that case, Sebastian can show you how we swim around these parts."
Wendy beamed, "Really? You'll help us?"
Ariel nodded, "Of course! He'd be happy to help."
Lucy offered, "And I'll help, too. I've been under this ocean over the past few days, and I've adapted to its surroundings. So let me show you how a mermaid handles these waters."
Sherria cheered, "That's great! We're counting on you!"
Romeo encouraged, "Teach us how to swim!"
Juvia shook her head, "I think I'll pass. I'm no stranger to subaqueous places, and I can explore them with little effort, even in the ways of the merpeople. It's ironic, considering I'm one of them." She wagged her tail to make her point.
Lucy muttered, "I'm thinking it's pretty obvious."
Sebastian, who was in a supposed glaring contest with Donald, turned at overhearing his name being called to a matter that required his attention. He panicked as he stated, "Ariel, King Triton will not like this! Taking a stranger under our wing is bad enough, but having more could bring about a disaster!"
Romeo wondered, "There's a king in this world, too?"
Sherria assumed, "Seems that way. Where there's a sea kingdom, there has to be a king or queen ruling it."
However, Ariel disregarded the crab's claims as though she had heard the exact thing a thousand times and was getting tired of it. She smiled widely and assured him, "Oh, don't worry. We helped Lucy before, so why not help her friends? It's going to be alright." She looked to the group, "What are your names?"
Wendy introduced herself and her friends. "I'm Wendy. And these are my friends Romeo, Sherria, Juvia, Donald, Goofy, and Carla." She gestured to each of them as she said their names, and they greeted the little mermaid accordingly.
Ariel giggled softly, "Well, it's nice to meet you all! My name's Ariel. This is my best friend Flounder, and that's..." She threw the small red crab a playful glance, "...Sebastian." He frowned at the manner in which he had been introduced, but remained silent. She turned to Lucy and said, "Okay, let's help them out."
Lucy agreed, "You bet. It's time to show them the ropes." She then glanced away and thought about the entourage's current predicament. "I should probably let them know of the Celestial World magic that allowed me to come into this undersea world, when the time is right."
Sebastian grumbled under his breath, rubbing his chin with one claw. "Easy for you to say... Here I go, helping unfamiliar folks get accustomed to how we do things under the sea..." Then, with an exasperated noise somewhere between a sigh and a groan, he swam over to Wendy and company. "Alright, then, young travelers. Those of you who have little experience swimming properly, come forward." Wendy, Romeo, and Sherria did as they were told. "It's time you three learn the customary code of the merpeople's art of swimming." He glanced at Flounder and gestured for him to come closer. "Your first lesson is to practice swimming with Flounder. Try to tag him."
Flounder smiled and wiggled his tail playfully. "Yeah, it'll be fun!"
Sherria grinned, "Tag Flounder? Sounds easy."
Romeo stated, "Don't forget, we're still newbies."
Wendy complied, "Alright. We'll do our best."
Sebastian declared, "Very well..." Wendy, Romeo, and Sherria prepared themselves for the lesson, and waited for the crab's signal. "Begin."
Flounder suddenly sprang to life, darting away from the three merpeople in training. Wendy, Romeo, and Sherria gave chase with their new tails, both determined and excited, leaving everyone else to observe their actions.
Sherria remarked, "Phew, what a first exercise."
Romeo breathed, "I'm starting to get the hang of it."
Wendy encouraged, "Don't give up. We can do this."
Ten minutes of practice later...
All three of them were swimming around the grotto, keeping up with Flounder at an impressive pace and tagging him in multiple sections of the alcove. Ariel, Lucy, Donald, Goofy, Carla, and Juvia eventually joined in, occasionally commenting on how quickly they adapted to their new bodies, and even helped them out a bit in case they fell out of line. Soon enough, when Flounder became too exhausted to play tag, it was Lucy's turn to be the leader. The three young merpeople followed, and it was clear that her speed was beyond Flounder's. Nonetheless, the result was the same. Their swimming exceled greatly, and that impressed Sebastian. It wasn't long before Wendy, Romeo, and Sherria had all gotten the hang of their aquatic forms, and were perfectly capable of keeping up with a mermaid and a tropical fish.
"This is a lot of fun!" Wendy cried happily, shifting her backside to swim upwards.
"I love being a mermaid!" Sherria exclaimed, performing a loop-de-loop.
"Everything else is straight-forward!" Romeo laughed, spiraling into a barrel roll around Sebastian.
"Congratulations, you three!" Goofy clapped his flippers.
"Good job, guys. You learned fast," Lucy admired.
"Very well done, indeed," Juvia grinned.
"Aww, it was nothing," Sherria blushed.
"Thank you, Sebastian," Wendy smiled.
"You're really great," Romeo agreed.
"It's no trouble at all," Sebastian acknowledged. "Any sane person with little experience in the deep would ask the aid of an equally sane person for advice."
"What's that supposed to mean?" Donald asked suspiciously.
"Never mind that," Sebastian denied. "Now, let's move onto self-defense."
"Sebastian!" Ariel pointed at what she spotted outside the alcove, and everyone immediately spun around to see. A swarm of jellyfish glided through the water, heading straight into the grotto. However, upon closer inspection, Wendy and her friends soon realized that they were no mere jellyfish. They were Heartless! This aquatic type was classified as Sea Neon, and they had a number of features that distinguished them from ordinary jellyfish. While they had a number of small bluish-green tentacles dangling beneath them, they also had two massive pale blue ones in the front that allowed them to deal large amounts of damage whenever they swung. Within their light grayish-blue transparent heads and hidden behind the prominent emblem were their sinister visages, complete with a crooked toothy smile, bright yellow eyes, and a medium-length plume that ended in a spiral.
"Not here, too!" Goofy panicked.
"Figured as much," Carla confirmed.
"Them again! Won't they ever give up?" Lucy gritted her teeth.
"They just can't leave us alone, can they?" Romeo tensed.
"I'm telling you, they're relentless," Lucy stated. "They even tried to take my Gate Keys!"
"They tried to take your keys?" Sherria gasped. "Why?"
"It's as if they're attracted to them just by looking at them," Lucy explained. "I don't know if it's the gold, silver, or just the outline, but one thing's for certain— those Heartless must've mistaken my Celestial Keys for the—"
"Fight now, talk later!" Juvia insisted. "The jellyfish are attacking!"
"Class is over! Good luck!" Sebastian screamed, paddling furiously past Wendy. He and Flounder ducked into the safety of the white clam in the middle of the grotto, while Ariel swam into a side cave. The young heroes, however, had no intention of turning tail, as they readied their weapons and magic, with Goofy securing his shield on top of his shell.
"This lesson is about self-defense, right?" Romeo asked.
"It would appear the idea is to implement our attacks with underwater movement," Carla stated.
"Well, we're gonna have to give it a shot! We got this!" Wendy determined, as she summoned her Blue Mistral Keyblade.
Unbeknownst to the Sky Dragon Slayer, Lucy had examined the process of materializing the key-shaped weapon, and her eyes widened in awe. "Is that... the Keyblade?!" she uttered.
"Here they come!" Sherria shouted. To say the least, it was enough to distract Lucy from her astonishment and let her focus on the problem at hand.
A total of forty Sea Neons encircled Wendy and company in all corners of the grotto. Once the fact that they had their prey right on the spot settled in, they went on the offensive. They may look laid back by nature, but their oversized tentacles propelled them at high speeds for a ferocious attack, and they attacked in numbers. Overall, they were not tough opponents. This was the ideal moment to begin Sebastian's lesson on self-defense, which had been interrupted by the arrival of those pesky Heartless. The Sea Neons attacked with their spinning appendages, but Wendy used the Blue Mistral, coupled with her newfound underwater agility, to slay a few strays with ease, all the while striking more with Sky Dragon's Roar and Sky Dragon's Wing Attack. Donald cast Blizzara against a separate group, Goofy used his shell to bash, Romeo shot Blue Fire and Yellow Fire, Sherria slugged with her black wind-fueled fists, Juvia blew several away with Water Nebula, and Carla's fins made for an effective weapon. At the end of the first wave, a Sea Neon snuck behind Lucy. However...
"Strike Raid! Go!" By the time Wendy tossed her Keyblade, it was transformed into a spinning disc empowered by light, and it struck the Sea Neon before it could attack Lucy. As another pack went in for the kill, Wendy retracted the Keyblade and threw it again, effectively destroying them. The more Heartless coming in, they were dealt with quickly each time Wendy executed a Raid. "This is it! Judgment!" This was the final, more powerful finishing strike that erased the rest of the Sea Neons in one fell swoop. Wendy was pleased that her new ability had ended the skirmish in five simple blows, and that Lucy was spared the idea of having a pained back at the hands of a Sea Neon. She swam over to her friend and asked, "You okay, Lucy?"
"Didn't see that coming. Thanks," Lucy smiled.
"More incoming!" Romeo yelled, signaling the alarm of a new horde of Sea Neons entering the alcove in place of the first.
"Not on my watch! Open, Gate of the Scorpion! Scorpio!" Lucy swiftly slashed the water with her Gate Key of choice, and the Zodiac Spirit himself appeared on the scene in a portal with his iconic stinger cannon, locked and loaded with Sand Magic, and... dressed in a scuba diver's suit?!
"Under the sea again, baby! You're about to get wicked wet behind the ears!" Scorpio boasted, his voice somewhat distorted yet clearly understandable mainly because of the rebreather covering his mouth. "Or in this case, wicked dusty!" Aiming his Sand Buster at the approaching swarm of Heartless, he released a torrent of sand mixed with bubbles to decimate them. Just before Scorpio had time to reload, he failed to notice ten Sea Neons closing in on him. Fortunately, Lucy slapped the Heartless in place with the Fleuve d'étoiles, giving Scorpio ample time to sink them in another wave of sand. As for the rest of the Sea Neons, Wendy effortlessly took care of them with Stop, Gravity, and a string of Keyblade combos, Donald with Fira, Goofy with Goofy Tornado, Romeo with Purple Fire, Carla with her fins, Sherria with Sky God's Bellow, and Juvia with Water Cane.
A couple of minutes passed. Once the last batch of Heartless was cleared, Wendy and her friends turned to one another, exchanging eager high fives and friendly pats in the back. If it hadn't been for Ariel and the others showing them how to swim better, they probably would've been easy targets.
"That was pretty easy!" Romeo remarked. "Guess that concludes our first lesson at underwater combat."
"Once you get the hang of it, it's not so bad," Carla affirmed. "And even in these circumstances, the water has no effect on our magic. It must be an effect of Donald's form-changing spell."
"So cool!" Sherria shook with glee. "Who knew that fighting under the sea wasn't so hard? And it's all thanks to our new and improved swimming! I really love being a mermaid!"
"Did you see that, Goofy?!" Donald pointed a finger at Lucy and Scorpio, amazed at the prospect of witnessing the scope of Celestial Spirit Magic over the course of the battle. "She made that guy with the cannon... tail... thing... appear with the swipe of a key! Just like Wendy's Summons!"
"Yup, I saw it, too!" Goofy nodded with a wide grin. "So that's what Lucy's magic is about... She uses a magic key to call her spirits, and they work together, makin' a great combo! Like when she whupped 'em before he used his cannon to blast 'em out of the water." She turned to Wendy, "You were right, Wendy. She was amazin'."
"You saw her in action, didn't you?" Wendy asked.
"We did, but what about the Star Dress stuff?" Donald questioned. "Is she saving it for later?"
"Maybe so, but don't worry," Wendy smiled. "It'll come around in no time."
"Once again, we saved the day, Scorpio," Lucy turned to the Celestial Spirit with a satisfied grin. "Not a single Heartless in sight."
"No rest for the wicked," Scorpio smirked. "Thank this specialized swimming equipment we've picked up from Virgo. If us spirits aren't prepared for this wicked underwater adventure, we may as well be having saltwater sundaes. And by the way, Lucy, I'm diggin' the mermaid look. You look just like my girl, if not hotter than her."
"Oh, please. It's no big deal," Lucy blushed. "Speaking of, how's Aquarius? I just..." Her smile disappeared at the thought of the Water Bearer, whose contract with Lucy had long since expired when her Gate Key was destroyed in the middle of the Tartaros incident as a means to summon the Celestial Spirit King, the one being that would come close to halting the dark guild's ambitions. Losing the spirit she bonded over the years took its toll on Lucy, and even after she gained the power to change into a Star Dress based on Aquarius's likeness and magical power, she still grieved for that loss. "I just wanna know if she's alright."
"She's totally fine, believe me," Scorpio understood the pain in Lucy's eyes. "Even after her Gate Key was destroyed, she's still the smokin' hot babe I knew the moment she filled her jar. It's not like she went down with the sinking ship that fateful day. She's home free for now. And yeah, she's a little upset about her contract with you going down the toilet. But that shows how much she misses you."
"I know that," Lucy sighed sadly. "I know that deep down, she still cares. I miss her, too."
"But, hey, you still got us to kick around!" Scorpio patted her on the shoulder. "Just give us a shout when you're in the mood for some fun in the sun, and we'll give you a real wicked time."
"Thanks, Scorpio," Lucy's smile returned. "Even after she's gone, you and all the other spirits are always there for me."
"It's all part of the job description, Luce," Scorpion grinned. "What else can we do?"
"Scorpio!" They turned to face Wendy as she swam up to them. "Thanks for helping us take care of those Heartless. We owe you one. And, uh..." She burrowed her eyebrows upon seeing his underwater attire. "What are you wearing? Why are you...?"
"Oh, didn't see ya there, Wendy girl," Scorpio chuckled. "I see you've got your own mermaid look. And plenty of questions on your mind. It's a tough explanation, which is why I'm leavin' Lucy to break it down. Besides, I'm on a tight schedule in the Celestial World. Don't wanna keep my girl waitin'." He looked to his Celestial Spirit wizard one last time, "I gotta go now. Aquarius would get pissed if she finds out I'm fraternizing with another mermaid."
"I understand," Lucy giggled. "Don't be late for your date, alright?"
"Born to be wicked! Scorpio out!" In a flash of light, he was returned to his own realm.
"It's times like these I miss the old days," Lucy sighed to herself.
"So, Lucy, what is it you're going to tell us?" Wendy asked eagerly. "Is this about how you became a mermaid and somehow made your way into this world?"
"I'll tell you as Scorpio said I would, but first, I want to ask you some questions," Lucy suggested. "Now that it's just us, and the others aren't around at the moment..." She scanned the alcove to notice that Ariel, Sebastian, and Flounder were still taking refuge in their respective hiding spots. "Let me see it."
"See what?" Wendy blinked.
"Let me see it," Lucy repeated. "You know, the key-shaped weapon in your hand?"
"Oh..." Wendy acknowledged her friend's request, and then produced the Keyblade in her hand, clear enough for the Celestial Spirit wizard to see.
As soon as the others regrouped, a gasp escaped Lucy's mouth. The topic that had lingered in her mind for quiet some time and right before the battle commenced had presented itself in front of her. "You... have the Keyblade..." Everyone reacted the same way in knowing that she was aware of the weapon's existence.
Wendy nodded hesitantly, "Y-Yeah... Why do you ask? And... how do you know about the Keyblade?"
Lucy looked down at the sword secured in Wendy's right hand. The weapon spoken about in legends, said to be the bane of the dark forces threatening to consume the light, equal in creation and destruction, tranquility and ruin... The Keyblade was a truly marvelous, yet frightening weapon. "Wow... I really don't know what to say. Everything I've learned from the stories turned out to be true!" Lucy thought out loud, as she leaned in to take a closer look.
"Stories?" Romeo echoed.
"That's right," Lucy nodded. "You see, when I was a little girl, my mother used to tell me stories about the Keyblade. It's a legendary weapon that was forged during the age of fairy tales, as either a beacon of hope or a harbinger of chaos. The very weapon the Heartless feared most, the one thing that can unlock anything you set your mind to... I didn't think it was real, but the legends were telling the truth after all."
"She knows the Heartless, too!" Donald quacked.
"But didn't ya say your mom's stories told ya about all that?" Goofy wondered.
"They did, but I was little at the time," Lucy clarified. "My mom didn't tell me much about the Keyblade, only in nursery rhymes about a "key that shines with the light of stars in the sky." So far, Twinkle Twinkle Little Key was my personal favorite."
"That's wonderful!" Sherria cooed.
"Years before I joined Fairy Tail, I checked the local library for some quality reading," Lucy continued. "You can't go traveling the world on an empty brain, right?" She chuckled at her remark. "Anyway, that's when the old transcripts of legends scattered through time and space piqued my interest. The nursery rhymes all added up: the origin of the Keyblade, the Heartless, other worlds, and important stuff."
"So she is aware of the existence of other worlds as well," Carla confirmed.
"Can you tell us more about what you've learned?" Juvia asked.
"I'd like to, but you'd be sitting on a couch, seeing me ramble on for an hour or less," Lucy answered. "And I can tell you guys have an important task ahead of you."
"I see. And you're right," Carla nodded. "We have a job to do, and it always comes first."
"The short version of the story is, I've got enough on my plate as it is," Lucy implied. "This isn't the first time I've seen stuff that's out of the records. Or in this case, out of our world."
"Well, welcome to the club," Sherria quipped. "Want a membership card?"
"First, I've stumbled onto this majestic place under the sea, my first journey in a different world somewhere in outer space," Lucy continued. "Then there's the Heartless, ranging from scary ghosts to pesky jellyfish to balloon-sized fish, ready to eat our hearts out. Literally. And now, the Keyblade in Wendy's hands..." She squealed happily, "I wanted to see it pop into her hand to be sure! It completely matches the old key I saw at the Kingdom Exhibit during my last tour of the place!"
"You've been to the museum?" Romeo's eyes widened.
"Obviously! What's a girl to do?" Lucy grinned. "And seeing them all come to life is more than enough to believe in the legends." She crossed her hips, "So, if there's something you missed, don't hesitate to ask."
"No, we're good. We can already tell you know a whole lot," Wendy smiled.
"And another question, one in a topic completely different from what I asked earlier," Lucy suggested. "What have you been up to while I was in the deep blue sea?" She gestured to Donald and Goofy, "Who are these animal people? Did they accompany you the entire journey? You've explored other worlds, fighting Heartless with that Keyblade in hand, didn't you?"
"You figured it out, huh?" Wendy remarked.
"I have my ways," Lucy admitted.
"That's Lucy for ya. She's a really smart person," Romeo grinned.
"Okay, here's how it all went down..." Wendy cleared her throat, as she was ready to explain what went down during her travels.
"I'm all ears," Lucy said eagerly, leaning closer to listen what Wendy had to say.
A few minutes later...
As Wendy and company each took turns giving parts of the adventure's summary, Lucy was taking in what had occurred following her apparent exile to Atlantica. Now it was Juvia's turn to conclude the story on the group's behalf. "...and that's how we arrived here."
"Now I completely understand what you're going through," Lucy confirmed. "You're undertaking a daring mission to save our guild and the universe from a powerful alliance of dark guilds and villains from different worlds bent on domination. And who better to travel with you than two lively animal friends who happened to be royal officials?" She turned to face the two Disney Kingdom travelers and greeted them with a courteous smile. "Thank you, Donald, Goofy, for helping my friends. I appreciate what you've done for them." She shook each of their hands, "Everybody in Fairy Tail would've been lost forever, myself included, if you hadn't jumped in on the first sign of trouble. I was beginning to wonder how Wendy and the others found me here. Now I know why."
"It's no biggie. We're your friendly neighborhood explorers on the job," Donald grinned.
"Yup, that's us and a bunch of Fairy Tail pals crossin' the interstellar road," Goofy agreed.
"Most of all, I'm glad to hear that Natsu is alright," Lucy held a hand close to her heart, taking comfort in knowing that one of her closest friends, the boy who invited her to Fairy Tail these past eight years, was mostly safe. Wendy and company nodded as to affirm her concerns regarding the news. "I always had faith he'd pull through, even after all this happened. Remind me to thank Mira and Happy for the news." She brimmed with enthusiasm, "And if case we go back to Traverse Town, I'd like to find Levy somewhere in the streets and give her a big hug."
"No doubt," Sherria promised, before deciding to change the subject. "Now can you tell us how you blended in?"
"Yeah, Lucy! We wanna know how you turned into a mermaid!" Wendy said happily.
"Come on, Lucy! Tell us everything!" Romeo urged.
"Well, you told me your story. Now I'm going to tell you mine," Lucy complied. "As you've no doubt guessed, I used to be a prisoner in one of their ships. Before they took me away, the last thing I saw was a flash of light..."
That night, before the fateful attack on the Fairy Tail guildhall, she was knocked out cold by a powerful blast the moment she entered her room. The sound of rubble. The screams of fury and vile intent. The ashes that graced her cheeks like snow. As she came to, crawling on the cold steel with her hands bound, she discovered herself locked away in the hull of a ship setting off into space. Clearly, she could see the stars and the sun in perfect view, and even looked around to notice the guards bearing the mark of the mercenary guild keeping a keen eye on their captive. She had become a prisoner of Sleepy Hollow, forced into the Alliance of Evil's sinister plot. Any attempt to resist the guards' authority was met with brutality, yet it had no effect on her pride and self-esteem.
...and here I was. While in captivity, I overheard the crew discussing evil plots one after another. It was all part of their job, as it turned out. The Alliance of Evil hired the Sleepy Hollow gang and Kaze Viriniam to capture our guild, and they held almost everyone in each of their ships, including me. I assumed a few members managed to get away at some point, like Wendy and Carla. For a time, I was their prisoner, but not for long. You know the old saying; you can't keep a good girl down.
Indeed, she proved herself resilient in the face of danger; having outsmarted the prison keepers and broken free from her cell, she changed from her regular outfit into a Star Dress of her choosing, and held off the crew attempting to restrain her in a valiant struggle.
It was almost too easy. Well, for less than two minutes... An asteroid damaged the engine as I fought them, setting the ship to collide with a nearby world. Thankfully, the crash wasn't so severe.
Another blast. By the time the ship hit solid earth, there was darkness. And then silence. For a long while after, Lucy didn't move a muscle, until she heard ocean waves and fire mingling with metal. She gathered what remained of her strength to remove herself from the scrap heap and stood back up to her feet, still warm and slightly burned. As she exited from the ship's crash site, she found herself in the shore of a beach. Seeing the ocean illuminated by the sun somewhat grafted a new hope in Lucy. She relished her freedom from the Sleepy Hollow aggressors, but she couldn't help but guess what befell the rest of Fairy Tail, whether they had miraculously escaped or crashed into this world or a different one.
I had no time to rest, though...
Of course, the threat of the Heartless was never far behind. Lucy was caught in a circle by a battalion of twenty Search Ghosts, and she hastily prepared for battle. These strange new opponents were quite tricky and intimidating, but were ultimately defeated by Lucy's quick thinking and cleverness. From the dust, glowing hearts greeted her as they rose into the sky, carefully shielded by the sun's rays. Determined to find out more of her surroundings, she peeked into the water to discover the silhouette of a merman being chased away by those of the creatures she defeated earlier. The shadows prancing in the water depicted a scene where the predators stalked their prey until they cornered him and ate him alive. Lucy's eyes widened with fascination. And soon, it all made sense.
Bit by bit, I recalled the old transcripts as I continued investigating the beach. When you add it all up, it leads to one conclusion. The legends are real! My gut told me I wanted to explore the world below the ocean, knowing that my chances of finding our friends in Fairy Tail are high. They could be anywhere, even under the sea. Unfortunately, I couldn't stay underwater for very long, and I don't think surface people are welcome in merfolk territory. I'd all but lost hope when Virgo came before me.
"Hello, Princess," Virgo greeted. "I see you wish to venture into an undersea world. In other words, a world within a world apart from yours."
"Yeah, that's the idea," Lucy nodded. "I've been to space once before, and the moment I crashed, I knew for an instant this place isn't Earth-land. So what can you do to help?"
"I'm going to transform you into a mermaid so you can blend in perfectly with the surroundings and denizens of the undersea world," Virgo proposed. "That way, you can breathe underwater and see the wonders of the deep at your leisure. I will also equip our fellow contracted spirits with specialized aquatic equipment in the case you wish to summon them during times of battle. Your Star Dresses will be usable as well. There are no changes to your magic whatsoever in this state."
"Hmm... Sounds interesting," Lucy rubbed her chin. "Okay, I'll take your word for it. Do the magic!"
"And one more thing," Virgo advised. "Once you're underwater, act natural at all times. You are not to enlighten anyone of who you are and where you come from; this will violate the local order. This is a world different from Earth-land, so be on your guard. Understood, Princess?"
"Act natural. Got it. Thanks, Virgo," Lucy confirmed.
"Will you punish me if my advice isn't helpful?" Virgo asked.
"Not today. For now, work your stuff, please," Lucy urged.
"Very well. Let us begin," Virgo nodded. "One... two... three!" As she flexed her arms, the magic had begun to take root.
Lucy felt the sensation of a feather aloft in the air. The soaked sands were gone from beneath her feet, and her legs stuck together like glue. The next thing she knew, she was caught in a whirlwind of color and sound. As the magic receded, she splashed in the water. Then a joyful gasp brought her out of her thoughts as she sat on the sand holding her new sparkling coral tail in delight. "It worked! I don't believe it! I'm a mermaid!"
Virgo suggested, "If you may, say it loud and say it proud, Princess."
Lucy repeated with a loud and exuberant voice, "I'M A MERMAID!" She dove into the water with a grace she didn't know she had, it even astonished the Maiden.
Virgo smiled, "Safe travels, Princess. May you go with the grace of Aquarius." Her duty fulfilled for now, she returned to her home in the Celestial World.
Tranquil Grotto
Lucy concluded, "And that's how my undersea adventure began. I've spent the last few days getting used to life in Atlantica and the places outside. It felt so carefree. And gleeful!"
Juvia took offense to her earlier statement being copied by her so-called love rival. "I said that, you ignorant boob!"
Lucy stated, "Along the way, I've defeated dozens of Heartless with both Celestial Spirits and Star Dresses. Every time I summon a spirit, they appear dressed in clothing suited for undersea travel. I'm pretty sure you've seen Scorpio dressed in a diving suit."
Wendy chuckled, "Of course we did."
Lucy sighed, "I've been looking for Fairy Tail members, but even with Ariel and the others supporting me, I had no luck in my search. But they meant well."
Romeo comforted, "Well, we're here now. We're back together, and that's all that matters." He could barely suppress the urge to cry, as he was overwhelmed with elation in finding one of the people he idolized next to his father Macao and his brother figure Natsu. "It's good to have you back, Lucy."
Wendy agreed, "He's right. Our team wouldn't be the same without you." She placed her hand on Lucy's cheek and caressed it for comfort. "We need you. More than ever."
Lucy felt touched by her friends' concern and resolve, reminding her that she was never alone. "You guys..." That strong sense of determination was all the edge she needed, and soon she looked at Wendy and company, all itching to have her fight by their side. "It's settled, then. I'll join you on your quest to stop the Alliance of Evil and reunite the guild. I don't know where this path leads, but I'll see it through with you to the very end, no matter what. And like Natsu always says..." She pumped a fist into the water, "I'm fired up now!" The rest of the group cheered happily at that declaration.
Donald approved, "Welcome to the team, Lucy!"
Goofy grinned, "Good to have ya aboard!"
Carla admired, "We are honored to have you fight with us once more."
Sherria chimed, "Thanks for joining us. This is gonna be great!"
Juvia grumbled, "You better not steal my thunder, bimbo."
Lucy affirmed, "Alright, let's get down to business. You all came here in search of the Keyhole somewhere in Atlantica, right?" She turned to face Wendy, "And you have to seal it before the Heartless can get to it."
Wendy replied, "Uh-huh. But we don't know where to start."
Sherria asked, "Should we ask the merpeople for clues? Or the sea creatures?"
Romeo implied, "I don't think they haven't a clue what's a Keyhole."
Goofy nodded, "You have a point there, on account of them bein' sea critters."
Donald argued, "And we can't just ask them. They'd say we're crazy."
Juvia questioned, "Per chance, what if they do know? The sea kingdom could be the ideal place. Think about it. Where there's a kingdom, there's a city. Where there's a city, they are buildings. And where there are buildings, there are—"
Donald cut her off, "We know already! But Atlantica's an underwater city. It's way different than the others. It doesn't have doors or windows or anything like that, does it? I mean, didn't we see it mostly..." He waved his hands around to make a potential impression of Atlantica, "...aquamarine?"
Carla groaned, "You really are exceptionally dim, aren't you?"
Donald snapped, "What do you mean by that?!"
Romeo asked, "So where do we go first?"
Wendy suggested, "We should go see the kingdom. I bet if the Keyhole's somewhere in a place like this, we'll find it."
Carla questioned, "And if it's not there?"
Wendy smiled, "We'll keep looking. And we won't give up till we find it."
Romeo approved, "Good thinking, Wendy. I'm interested in seeing this sea kingdom, anyway."
Sherria concurred, "Well, you're not the only one. Who's up for some fun in the water?"
Lucy grinned, "A scavenger hunt for a Keyhole hidden in the deep blue sea, huh? Count me in."
Wendy declared, "Okay! Let's go to the sea kingdom!"
Romeo and Sherria complied, "Right!"
Donald and Goofy agreed, "Yeah!"
Lucy suggested, "If you're going to Atlantica, let me lead the way. I know this ocean like the back of my hand. But first..." She turned to the side cave and called out, "The coast is clear! You can come out now!"
Wendy and her friends turned to face Ariel, who swam back upon hearing that the Heartless were gone. She laughed carelessly and threw her arms around the Sky Maiden's neck in a hug, sending them both twirling through the water. She pulled away and gave Donald, Goofy, Romeo, Sherria, and Lucy similar treatment. Ariel said excitedly, "That was amazing! I saw each of you fighting with Lucy, and you defeated all these monsters by yourselves. You're all wizards, just like her, aren't you?"
Wendy wondered, "Oh, you noticed?"
Ariel nodded, "I did. And I heard you and the others talking things after the monsters have gone away. I didn't understand much of it, but I'm guessing it's mostly stuff from your ocean."
Donald gulped, "I think we let out too much. She overheard us!"
Ariel assured, "But it's okay. What matters is that they're gone, thanks to you."
Goofy grinned, "Nope, doesn't look like it. We're still in the clear."
Carla frowned, "So there are aquatic Heartless as well. Why are we not surprised?"
Ariel pointed out, "All we could do was swim for it when they came out and leave Lucy to deal with them. Right, Flounder?" She blinked in confusion when she failed to find her best friend at her side. "Flounder...?"
"Ariel! Is that you? Help!" Everyone turned to see where the muffled voice came from, which turned out to be the inside of the clamshell.
The little mermaid swam right up to it, putting an ear to its surface. "What are you doing in there?"
"We were hiding from the jellyfish, and—"
"And now we're stuck!" Sebastian's voice whined. He may have struck a claw against the clam's interior since it seemed to jump slightly in place. "Would you be so kind as to get us out of here? Anyone at all? Please! Heeeelp!"
"You need help? Hold on..." Wendy raised her still drawn Keyblade and struck the clamshell, which made it pop open. Flounder and Sebastian swam out into freedom, gasping and wheezing as though they almost suffocated.
Flounder hurried to Ariel's side, shaking himself from the stress of being trapped inside. "Sorry, Ariel. I didn't follow you when they showed up."
Ariel grinned helplessly, "Yeah, I should've just dragged you all the way. But don't worry. Wendy got you and Sebastian out of the clam."
Flounder looked at Wendy with wide eyes. "S-She did?" He swam over to her with the intent of expressing his gratitude for the deed. He smiled as he spoke, "You saved me. Thank you, Wendy."
Wendy smiled back, "It's what I do best."
Sebastian scratched his head in agitation. "How embarrassing. Just when I had time to kick back and relax after the monsters are gone, I was trapped in a clam. How am I ever going to explain this to the sea king?"
Wendy turned to Ariel and asked, "They chased you all the way here, didn't they? Are there any other places they might've gone to?" While referring to the area where the Sea Neons originated, she was attempting at finding a hint on where the Keyhole may have originated.
Sebastian yelped and clapped his claws over his head at hearing this revelation. "Oh, no! Those monsters might be heading for the palace, too!"
Ariel likewise shared the crab's worried expression. "We'd better head back right away!"
Flounder raised one fin objectively. "B-But what if we run into more on our way back?"
Wendy offered, "We'll help you get to the palace. In fact, we wanna go there ourselves. If there are more Heartless, then we'll have to fight them. And we'll protect you, too." Her smile widened, "Leave it to us!"
Lucy suggested, "You could use some extra bodyguards. I've been guarding you for a long while, and I'm thinking it's time we give them a chance. You can trust them, Ariel. They're my friends."
Romeo nodded, "Yep. We'll be your bodyguards."
Sherria beamed, "Your best protection ever!"
Ariel cheered, "Really? Thank you, everyone! I'll introduce you to King Triton when we reach there. He's my father."
Donald quacked, "Wak! You're the daughter of a king?!"
Goofy exclaimed, "That makes you a princess!"
Sherria gasped, "Oh, my gosh! We're in the presence of ocean royalty!"
Wendy apologized, "We're so sorry, Princess! Where are our manners?"
The four bent over and lowered their heads in respect for the little mermaid, whom they originally perceived as a normal denizen of the sea, only to discover she was royalty all along. Romeo, Lucy, and Juvia could barely stifle their laughter at this odd yet rather familiar gesture. Carla, on the other hand, was concerned of Ariel's status. If she was a princess, could she be related to the Princesses of Heart? Was she like Alice, Jasmine, Erza, or Hisui? Either way, this was another significant reason to join the young mermaid in the palace.
Ariel laughed nervously, "Yeah, so you've heard. I'm a princess of Atlantica, the youngest daughter of King Triton. But no need to be so formal around me. Just call me Ariel." Wendy and the others rose at that.
Sherria commented, "It's not every day we get to see a royal princess swim in some parts of the ocean."
Ariel grinned, "I've been hanging around with Flounder all day. What do you expect?"
Sebastian mumbled, "Not the most regal princess, I'd say."
Wendy questioned, "Anyway, which way to the palace?"
Ariel answered, "The trident markers on the walls point the way there." She pointed to the aforementioned carvings in one part of the wall, pointing its teeth towards outside the grotto. "We won't get lost as long as we follow them. So, shall we get going?"
Wendy complied, "Yes, let's!" Donald, Goofy, Romeo, Carla, Lucy, Sherria, and Juvia followed suit.
Sebastian said indignantly, "I don't want to face more of those horrible monsters again." And thus did the heroes set out for the palace, with Ariel swimming forward to lead the way.
ATLANTICA
Undersea Valley
The world outside Atlantica was practically boundless on all sides; the first area was an enormous valley with numerous alcoves, high-rising rocks, and currents throttling upwards. Having worshipped and adored tales of the deep blue sea her young life, it was no surprise that Wendy often wondered what it was like beneath the pristine blue waves. She once brought the subject up with her old Cait Shelter guildmates, which led to an afternoon of dreaming up the most amazing things while staring in the shallows of the sea. But she never imagined anything quite as incredible as the real thing. Judging by the wide open space and the number of alcoves, the valley was riddled with multiple pathways. It was fortunate there were trident markers etched on the rocky partitions that pointed where Wendy and her friends needed to go. The markers served as their guide on their way to King Triton's palace. Along the way, swarm after swarm of Sea Neons barred their path, forcing Wendy, Lucy, Donald, Goofy, Romeo, Sherria, Juvia, and Carla to fight them off. Ariel, as it turned out, was able to hold her own in battle as well; she not only had her tail to whack enemies with, aside from tricky swimming techniques, but also a collection of bottles containing magic, from offensive and defensive elemental properties to healing. As for treasures, they were able to discover them within giant clams, some of which had to be opened with magic.
Calm Depths
The next path led the group to a cave hosting a strong current that instantly shoved them to another alcove. Fortunately, there was a trident mark pointing towards it. Following it showed them a second part of the area that boasted another current of its own, shooting upward to the undersea valley. A horde of thirty Sea Neons attacked, but they were no match for Wendy and her companions' physical attacks and magic. Fighting underwater was indeed a different prospect than on land, yet given time and practice, the heroes implemented their respective techniques with little effort. However, Wendy's Summon Magic was restricted underwater, as opposed to Lucy, who summoned her Celestial Spirits freely. It's no surprise that Virgo prepared suitable aquatic gear for her brethren to assist their wizard in battle; Wendy assumed her summoned lacked the means to traverse subaqueous habitats.
Undersea Cave
Once they made it past the area, they were in a small dark cave home to a few alcoves, but overall unremarkable. All of a sudden, fifteen Search Ghosts stormed the cave, brandishing their claws. Much like the Sea Neons, they were easy to outsmart and defeat, though their constant warping made them difficult targets, mostly when it comes to an aquatic environment, in contrast to fighting them on land.
Undersea Gorge
Going higher up, the party made it to open waters, and saw the palace far off into the distance. They reached a vast area which, similar to the valley, also boasted alcoves, a few podium-like rocks with clams and numerous paths to other areas. The one thing less pleasant about the gorge was the sheer number of Heartless that were around. If it weren't for them, Ariel and Flounder would have preferred to just swim around and play all day. Coupled with the encroaching mass of Sea Neons was a new type classified the Sheltering Zone, large in size and boasting attack power significantly greater than a regular Sea Neon's, but sluggish in speed. If a Sheltering Zone was destroyed by a weapon as opposed to magic or a critical hit, they broke up into three Sea Neons. Still, their superior might was not to be trifled with. Five Sheltering Zones prowled the area alongside forty Sea Neons, but Wendy retaliated with basic Keyblade combos and magic, Donald with Fira and Blizzara, Goofy with Goofy Rocket, Ariel with her speed and maneuverability, and Lucy with her Fleuve d'étoiles. Three Zones dispersed into nine Sea Neons over the course of the battle, but Wendy got rid of them quickly using Strike Raid. The rest of the Sea Neons were easily dispatched, and the group was free to proceed onward.
Triton's Palace
The party finally made their way into the palace courtyard, a large colorful area comprised of different clam shells and a gigantic hollow conch shell at the center. Unfortunately, Sebastian's fears proved true when a new wave of Heartless broke through the boundaries of the majestic citadel, a new breed called Screwdivers. Colored in shades of soothing sea and dark green with gold bands and highlights, the Screwdivers took on a form suitable for their underwater habitat. Sleek in form, they had finned feet to assist them in gliding through the water. Their elaborate helmets helped them with both camouflage and mobility, though its use as the former was debatable. While the helmet was shaped like a fish to help them blend in further, the fish's gaping jagged mouth served as the helmet's eye slot, besides the angular spiral black eyes, and the sinister glowing yellow eyes gave any Screwdiver a fierce and lethal appearance. The fins at the back of their helmets served as a three-bladed propeller, allowing them to charge through the sea with great bursts of speed. The Screwdivers' dark green clawed hands also gave away their violent tendencies, but their favorite weapon was the trident; medium blue and featuring three flared prongs ending in lethal barbs, they preferred to use these whenever possible.
"Why won't they leave us alone?!" Sebastian complained.
"You said it. They're worse than ever," Donald worried.
"It's almost like they can't wait to get a piece of us," Goofy added.
"Maybe so, but we can still take 'em," Lucy determined, taking out one of her Gate Keys.
"We're gonna have to. Let's go!" Wendy urged, tightening her grip on the Blue Mistral.
In underwater combat, the Screwdivers were unpredictable creatures, dashing forward one minute, cowardly retreating the next for a new tactic. By far the most difficult enemies to face in an aquatic environment, Wendy and her friends did their best to stave off their crazed onslaught, and got stung by their tridents on occasion. It took a minute or less to analyze and predict their movements, and they eventually got the upper hand. Wendy destroyed five Screwdivers with a blend of Keyblade strikes and Sky Dragon's Crushing Fang, Romeo burned away four with Purple Fire, Donald crushed three with Gravity, Goofy smashed three more with Goofy Tornado, Juvia diced four with Water Slicer and Water Jigsaw, Sherria blasted three with Sky God's Boreas, and Carla slapped two with her fins.
"Lucy Fin!" After tying up the last three Screwdivers in her whip, she finished them off with a single tail swish that served as a substitute for her trademark Lucy Kick, all the while keeping hold of her selected Gate Key.
The last to storm the courtyard were two separate squadrons of Screwdivers riding two immense angler fish-like Heartless called Aquatanks. The Aquatank was by far the largest in the water-type Heartless category, complete with jagged jawlines and bright yellow eyes, albeit awkwardly placed on top of their balloon-shaped bodies. The bodies' jagged-stripe pattern in alternating light blue and turquoise echoed the jaw, and the sharp dorsal and tail fins were rather pointy, though more curved in nature. The pectoral fins, which gradated from turquoise near the body to a dark blue at the tips, were long and ended in sharp claws. The top of the head was a dark navy blue, and from it sprouted a glowing spiral yellow lure. Docile unless provoked, Aquatanks unleashed powerful strikes similar to a Sheltering Zone, and often came along carrying a pack of Screwdivers. When their antennas glowed, they unleashed a strong lightning attack that not only caught enemies within range, but healed all Screwdivers in the vicinity. On top of that, they absorbed lightning magic to regenerate.
"Sounds like a job for the Golden Bull! Do your thing, Taurus!" Lucy swiped her Gate Key, and the Celestial Spirit himself sprung forth from a mixture of bubbles and light, wearing a swimming cap, goggles, and a snorkel in his mouth.
"Ready to roooooooool! Here's your order of chopped fish, made raw and juicy for your pleasure!" Taurus swung his ax and blew away the two Aquatanks in a mighty blast, forcing the Screwdivers to lose their grip on them. "First comes the slice n' dice..." He made a dash for each of the disoriented diver-type Heartless and chopped them to pieces one at a time. "...then you put 'em in a pot for the steeeeeeeew!" He then finished the combo by smashing an Aquatank into a wall like a baseball bat.
"I don't think that makes sense..." Donald sweated.
"But still very effective," Goofy confirmed.
"Nice moves, Taurus! You go—t" Romeo was cut short when the second Aquatank smacked him a couple of times, before crashing him against the giant conch shell using its belly as a battering ram.
"Romeo!" Wendy cried out for her friend, and then focused her anger on the Aquatank that caused him harm. "Get away from him!" She assaulted the Heartless with a swift 12-hit combo, dodged several attacks, countered with another combo, flung it upward with a tailfin variation of Sky Dragon's Claw, then ended the string with one final slash down the middle. With the Aquatank slain, Wendy turned to Romeo, whose back was slowly healing from impacting the conch shell. "Hey, are you—" Her concerns suddenly gave way to pain when she felt herself being stung by jolts of electricity, courtesy of lightning emitted from the antenna of the last remaining Aquatank.
"Hang in there, missy! I'm on the moooooooove!" Taurus took notice of the Sky Maiden's plight and waved his ax, splitting the antenna in two and stopping the electric flow.
"Hey, you!" Before the Golden Bull could deliver the final strike, Romeo rushed in and pummeled the Aquatank in a fierce 30-hit combination of Purple Fire Fists, destroying it at the last punch. He rubbed his nose confidently with his finger and said, "Serves you right."
"Aww, I was about to turn this oversized fish into sushi, but this kid beat me to it!" Taurus pouted. "Noooooo way this is gonna end like this. Bring in more fish!" He gave Lucy a flashy grin, "The beautiful Lady of the Lake hasn't seen more of my deep sea mooooooves! Still sexy in that mermaid form, Miss Lucy! You're a total absoluuuuuuute beauty!"
"Sorry, pal. Your time in the spotlight is over," Lucy smiled innocently. "Get some air until then, Taurus. You earned it."
"Come on, Miss Lucy! I hardly broke a sweat! In fact, I'm getting ready for round twooooooo..." Taurus was sent back to the Celestial World before he could start on another perverted yet futile attempt to woo over the blonde-haired girl.
"It never gets old," Lucy muttered.
"Are you alright, Romeo?" Wendy asked him.
"I've seen things that hurt harder than a balloon-sized angler fish," Romeo smiled. "So yeah, I'm okay."
"Phew..." Wendy breathed. "For a second, I thought you'd..."
"Have my back literally against the wall?" Romeo quipped.
"You have a point there," Wendy giggled.
"I think that's the last of them," Sherria confirmed. "Now we can—"
Sebastian let out another horrified cry as a new army of Screwdivers entered the palace. "They're everywhere!"
Ariel turned sharply down into the long passageway to the throne room. "Quick, this way!" Everyone followed her as they tried to outmaneuver the pursuing Heartless.
Throne Room
Even as they entered the elegant round room, they kept throwing glances at the Screwdivers, who were unrelenting in their quest to slay the Keyblade master and her companions. Just when it was believed that the chase could go on for an eternity, a bolt of lightning shot past the group, obliterating the Heartless. Wendy and company came to an abrupt halt, and turned around to stare in awe at the empty spot that had once been occupied by the horde.
"That was too close," thundered a masculine voice from behind. They all turned and faced the speaker, who happened to be a old large merman sitting at the oyster-shaped throne. By all looks, the party could tell he was the king Ariel wanted to introduce them to. He had eyes that were about the same color as Ariel's, bushy light grey eyebrows, long white hair, a thick white beard and mustache, and a widow's peak hairline. He was well-muscled and wore gold gauntlets with several studs on each wrist. The merman's lower body was that of a dark blue fish with cyan, translucent fins. As signs of his royal status, he wore a yellow five-pointed crown that somewhat resembled a sea star on his head, and carried a golden trident. "As long as I have my trident, I will not tolerate those creatures inside this palace." His glare was penetrating and his growl was empowered with absolute authority, it proved sufficient enough to make those present in the throne room shudder, most of all Sebastian. The merman tightened his hold on the golden trident for a moment, then placed it into a holding spot next to his throne. His eyes were then fixated on Ariel, never losing an ounce of intensity in doing so.
"Daddy!" Ariel greeted happily as she swam up to him. However, her smile faded at the sight of his disapproving face.
"Oh, Ariel!" the merman spoke, his tone scolding and heavy with exasperation. "When will you listen? It's dangerous out there!" For a while, it seemed as though she meant to explain her actions, but she apparently gave up half way. She folded her arms and gave a small, careless shrug at her father's overprotective nature. Understandably, he was still upset. "I just don't know what we're going to do with you, young lady. Ever since the strange creatures began lurking outside, you've been acting so careless. And as a result of that behavior..."
"Careless and reckless behavior!" Sebastian added, having moved to the throne so he could give Ariel a proper scolding of his own, and he floated above the merman's head.
"...the whole kingdom was..." the merman continued.
"In an uproar! That's all! The citizens panicked over your sudden disappearance!" Sebastian concluded, swimming in front of Ariel to rebuke the young mermaid. "The monsters are present in every corner of the ocean, completely ruining our peace, attacking anyone who wandered off. None who ventured outside ever returned. Whatever happened to these poor souls could also happen to you! Do you have any idea how worried everyone is for you, mostly your father?" Before he could add more criticism, he noticed the elderly merman gazing at Wendy, Romeo, Donald, Goofy, Lucy, Carla, Sherria, and Juvia with unwavering stern eyes. Ariel's father was clearly suspicious of the entourage's arrival by the time his daughter came in.
Sebastian swam over to one of the throne's arms and cleared his throat. "Behold!" He turned to the newcomers, gesturing to the man in the throne. "You swim before the ruler of the seas: His Majesty, King Triton." The feeling was palpable; they never expected the sea king to have a dominant visage, and that added more to their unease. They nevertheless bowed respectively to the noble king.
Wendy lowered her voice so she could speak to her friends in private. "He's Ariel's father?"
Sherria replied, "Obviously, he's the king and she's a princess. And we get to see him in person— the ruler of all the ocean."
Lucy pointed out, "I never met King Triton, to be honest. Ariel tried to keep me from him because she told me he's not fond of strangers. But seeing him for the first time, he looks so..."
Donald suggested, "Serious?"
Goofy added, "Masculine?"
Lucy shrugged, "A little of both. And I'm starting to guess why no guy has ever tried to hit on Ariel. With an intimidating king like him as her father, you've got to have nerves of steel to even ask her out. And I doubt he's the kind of person who'd give his daughter to any man."
Romeo breathed, "Well, I wouldn't have him as my dad. Good thing I have one who's less intimidating."
King Triton dropped the glare and was eyeing the group curiously. "And who are they?"
Ariel explained, "They helped us fight off those creatures."
Triton said warily, "They don't look like anyone from around here."
Wendy remembered the same story she and Lucy gave to Ariel and her companions. "We're from an ocean very far away."
Carla nodded, "That is correct. We've just arrived recently, Your Majesty. We have no hostile intentions."
Triton asked suspiciously, "Oh? Is that so?"
Goofy chuckled merrily, swimming around Wendy and Donald in a circle. "Yup. We came to find the Keyhole."
Triton was oddly stunned at this bit of news. "The what?"
Donald and Carla hissed angrily, "Goofy!" Wendy, Romeo, Lucy, Sherria, and Juvia looked baffled that the clueless captain of the royal guard would just blab out something that no one in this world would or should be aware of.
Goofy cried out in surprise, "Gawrsh! What did I say?"
Ariel wondered, "Keyhole, you say? What's so important about a Keyhole?"
Goofy began to answer, "A-hyuck! Well, it's a—"
Triton retorted angrily, "There's no such thing! Certainly not here."
Ariel pleaded, "But, Daddy..."
Triton groaned, placing a hand on his forehead and immediately putting the present matter on hold. "Oh, Ariel, how many times must we go through this? You could have been seen by one of these creatures if you hadn't left the palace!"
Ariel argued, "Daddy, I'm not afraid of them! And I already told you, they helped us fight them off!" He thrust her arm to gesture at Wendy and company.
Triton swam over to his daughter and lifted her head under his fingertips. "And I told you, it's dangerous outside. Do you think I want to see my youngest daughter snared by the claws of a fish-like thing with a harpoon?"
Ariel told him, "I'm sixteen years old. I'm not a child anymore!"
Triton barked, "Don't you use that tone of voice with me, young lady! As long as you live under my ocean, you'll obey my rules!"
Ariel tried, "But if you would just listen..."
Triton yelled, "Not another word! And until those creatures are gone, you are not to leave the palace again! Is that clear?!"
Sebastian clasped his claws over his mouth as he watched the exchange with increasing anxiety. Ariel scowled at her father, tightly pressing her lips together to keep herself from arguing back. Her hands clenched into fists and she whirled around, swimming away from the throne room.
Wendy called out, "Ariel, wait!" She and the gang swam after the distressed mermaid.
Triton slumped back in his throne and sighed heavily as he watched his youngest daughter exit for a long moment. "Perhaps I'm being too strict... I'm just concerned for her safety."
Sebastian, who was standing on one of the throne's arms, grunted, "Hmph! Teenagers. They think they know everything. You give 'em an inch, they swim all over you." He swam about the throne room as he went on, "And you're right, Your Majesty. You just wanted to ensure Ariel is safe from harm. But I must admit, now I'm quite curious about this Keyhole."
Triton raised a hand to the crab, interrupting him. "That need not concern you, Sebastian. Have you anything to report?"
Sebastian answered, "Just as you suspected, Your Majesty. The monsters seem to be coming from Ursula's grotto."
Triton exclaimed, "I knew it!" He slammed a fist on the throne in anger. "The sea witch is up to no good again!" He stroked his white long beard thoughtfully, "I see exile from the palace has taught her nothing."
Sebastian agreed, "Yes, she poses serious danger."
Triton glared at the crab as he reminded, "And I told you to keep Ariel away from such danger, did I not?"
Sebastian stammered, "Your Majesty, please, I, uh..." The king's royal retainer was struggling to find the right words in his defense, though he was too afraid to give a straight answer. Regardless, he had Triton's permission to leave the room and resume his assigned job of supervising Ariel, as well as her new friends. The ruler of Atlantica decided that he was indeed most curious about them.
Triton's Palace
In the courtyard, Wendy and company were swimming as far as they could, all the while Lucy commented on King Triton's attitude. "And here I thought my father was hard on me..."
Carla implied, "He's simply looking after the well-being of his daughter, however questionable his actions are." She sighed to herself, "His strict and overly protective attitude almost reminded me of myself..."
Wendy recalled, "I didn't remember you acting a lot like Ariel's father. Maybe you're a little bit strict, but you still mean well. You've looked after me for a long time, and you wanted to help me grow into what I am today. It makes me feel like you're more of a mother than a guardian, as Grandeeney was to me. You're so kind and caring..."
Carla nodded, "I suppose it's true. I'm not that kind of guardian who would subject a child to the whims of the mundane. To see you follow the right path and mature into a capable young lady... That's what I wish for the most."
Wendy smiled warmly, "And I'm thankful for that, Carla."
Carla smiled back, "Likewise, Wendy."
Donald reached over and bopped his fist over Goofy's shelled backside. "Nice going, Goofy! They almost know what we're up to, all because you blabbed about the Keyhole!"
Goofy laughed sheepishly, "I'm real sorry, Donald."
Donald quacked in frustration, but it was so garbled with his raspy voice that it was completely unintelligible. Romeo quickly swam over and clamped the duck's beak shut, muffling his angry rambling. He whispered urgently, motioning to Ariel and Flounder, "Keep it down!" Donald blinked in surprise and looked over at the little mermaid and her friend, suddenly ashamed of the fact that he'd lost his temper again.
Only when Romeo released the royal court magician did Ariel face the group with an apologetic expression. "I'm sorry about my father. He is so stubborn at times."
Lucy placed a comforting hand on Ariel's shoulder. "Oh, trust me. I know how you feel." She knew very well how cold and strict her father Jude was in her younger years, so much that her daughter felt it was necessary that she ran away from home. At least according to her, ever since her mother Layla died, Jude became more concerned in putting all his time and effort in the interests of the Heartfilia Konzern, rather than his own child. But as time passed, however, his attitude changed for better or worse once he lost his fortune, and he slowly regretted ever being cruel to Lucy. One month before Lucy's return from Tenrou Island eight years ago, Jude passed away, and news of his death was passed over to his heartbroken daughter by an employee at the Love & Lucky guild. He sent birthday presents and letters in the hopes that Lucy would receive them even after she disappeared. He expressed his desire to see her again, even finished off the last letter by telling her he had always loved her. Lucy had never forgotten that despite all the ups and downs, Jude was still a loving father. In a sense, she and Ariel were on the same boat, albeit in different ways.
Carla told Ariel, "When Goofy mentioned the Keyhole, your father was awfully defensive. The way he acted... It's as if he knew what we came here for."
Wendy wondered, "If he knows where it is, shouldn't he tell us? What else does he know?"
Flounder interjected, "Umm, excuse me, but what's so special about this Keyhole?"
Wendy explained, "Let's just say we have to find it before the monsters get to it."
Juvia suggested, "I'd say we should ask the sea king, but..."
Ariel assured, "Don't worry about him. I can help you with that."
Wendy beamed, "You will?"
Ariel nodded, "Absolutely! Truth be told, I want to get out of this palace and see the world, but Daddy won't allow it. At least with them around."
Wendy asked, "So where do we get started?"
Ariel was deep in thought for a moment, then something came to mind. "Can you all follow me to my grotto? There's something I want to show you all. It's right outside, in the gorge."
Wendy echoed, "Your grotto?"
The little mermaid nodded, a mischievous glint apparent in her eyes. She motioned the group to follow her and Flounder as she sped away from the courtyard.
Undersea Gorge
When they returned to the gorge, there was no Heartless in sight. Ariel paddled down towards the entrance to a cave on the sea floor, which was covered by a large round boulder. "There it is. See?" She pulled the rock forward before she and the others slipped inside, as the boulder began falling back into place.
Ariel's Grotto
Wendy's eyes were wide and her mouth hung open as she looked around, marveling at all the metal and wood and light around the group. The magnificent shining palace of the sea king was a sight to behold, and a secret stash of collectables in the seemingly most unreachable place in the ocean was another. Ariel's grotto was a tall circular room, with the roof revealing a hole that allowed sunlight to shine down from the waves. Level upon level of shelves spiraled upwards, each containing a variety of tools and old junk undoubtedly collected from the surface world. Pots, books, silverware, devices, chests, just about anything that regular humans used or made up in the land above. At the end of the room, there was a trident-shaped impression engraved in the rock. Wendy breathed, "Wow! This is... so wonderful!"
While looking off to the side, Romeo nodded, "It really is. I mean, look at all this stuff! It's like an undersea vault."
Sherria asked, "Ariel, how come you never told us you have a collection?"
Ariel grinned, "Would you be surprised if you never asked?"
Sherria admitted, "N-No, I guess not. Since we didn't ask, you've been saving it for a surprise, haven't you? I kinda like being surprised."
Lucy pointed out, "I had no idea about this place, either. Suppose there are a few things you didn't let me know about..."
Ariel smirked, "Well, you'll find there's more to me than your standard mermaid princess."
Lucy chuckled, "I understand."
Sherria remarked, "But still, all this stuff in one place!" She gestured around to observe some of the treasures and knick-knacks. "I bet it's the kind you only find in antique shops or the attic. Picture this, Wendy..." She faced her friend, "It would be a great place where we'll put our stuff in. We keep our valuables safe, and then check in so we can use them."
Juvia stated, "Well, this place definitely has a familiar scent of rare resources secured in a spot where no one will ever find and use them for their own gain."
Wendy smiled, "It's almost like all these things are precious to her."
Sherria agreed, "Exactly my point. I've got a feeling she's keeping them here like precious memories. She wanted these moments to last forever."
Wendy sighed happily, "Just like friendship lasts forever. I don't ever wanna forget."
Sherria nodded, "Me too. It's the greatest treasure of all."
During the time spent on investigating the grotto, Wendy looked over a chest situated between a barrel and a cuckoo clock. She opened it to reveal two items of vital importance: a torn page of Merlin's book, and another set of Dalmatian puppies trapped in a bubble full of oxygen. She deftly secured the items, knowing that their use was great an opportunity to pass.
Found Torn Page. Page 3 of Merlin's Book is in your possession!
Found Dalmatians. Numbers 55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60, 61, 62, and 63 returned home!
Ariel, who was in the middle of examining the old candelabra holding a knife on the left, a fork on the middle, and a spoon on the right, spoke to Wendy, "So, what do you think?"
Wendy beamed, "This place looks great! Where did you get all this?"
Ariel explained, "These are all the things Flounder and I've collected while exploring the sea. I think it's all from the outside world. My father probably won't approve of this. If only I could make him understand." She carefully swiped the utensils in each spot. "I just don't see things the way he does. I don't see how a world that makes such wonderful things could be bad."
Wendy remarked, "I can't imagine why."
Ariel fantasized, "Someday, I'm going to see what's out there. I want to see other worlds. Does that sound strange?"
Wendy shook her head, "No, not at all. You see, I used to feel the same way."
Ariel echoed, "Used to?" Donald flinched and made a knife gesture with his neck, silently reminding the Sky Dragon Slayer to never reveal anything of their actual existence.
Wendy hastily corrected herself, "I mean... I still do. But it would be fun."
Ariel confirmed, "Oh, I see... Hey, why don't we try looking for that Keyhole you were talking about? I've seen many great things happen in the ocean, but this sounds like something out of this world."
Romeo questioned, "But, Ariel, what about your father? What will he—"
Ariel abruptly snapped, "Oh, he treats me like a little girl. He never wants to let me do anything. He just... He just doesn't understand."
Unbeknownst to anyone, Sebastian eavesdropped on the conversation from behind a rock, having sneaked into the grotto to find out what the sea king's headstrong daughter may be up to. Worry was spread across the crab's face; once the king was informed of the problem at hand, there would be judgment.
Lucy said unsure, "I don't know, Ariel. Things could turn ugly. There's more danger just waiting for us out there, besides the Heartless. Are you sure you're up for it?"
Ariel determined, "Yes, I am. If finding that Keyhole helps you, then I want to help, too. We're friends, right?" She held Wendy and Lucy's hands in her own, and the three looked at one another. After a while, Wendy and Lucy smiled and nodded in approval.
Wendy responded, "Alright, let's do it. We'll find the Keyhole together."
Lucy advised, "But you have to stay by our side at all times. Got it?"
Ariel cried happily, "Oh, I knew you'd understand! Thank you!"
Donald asked, "But where do you think it is?"
Goofy nodded, "Yup, we still need to find where it's at."
Ariel proposed, "Let's check out the sunken ship. You can make it there through the strong currents in the calm depths."
Flounder stated, "There's this dolphin who can swim against the currents. But he's scared of those weird things swimming around. So if we chase them away, I think the dolphin will play with us. If you grab onto him, he'll take you past these currents."
Ariel assured, "With the dolphin's help, we can get there. Come on!" She led Wendy and her friends out of the grotto, completely unaware they were being spied on by two sets of eyes. The eyes belonged to two moray eels with predominantly dull blue-green skin, dark fins lining their spines and undersides, and long mouths filled with sharp white teeth. They were nearly identical, save for their eyes; one eel's left eye was a glowing yellow and his right one was a normal white, but the reverse was true for his twin. As the eels came out of hiding, their golden eyes suddenly fused as one by the time they inched close, glowing like their vicious grins...
Meanwhile, in a secret lair that could only be traced within the dark side of the ocean, the wicked sea witch Ursula gazed into her cauldron at an image of Wendy and Ariel through the view of her eels' assimilated golden eyes, laughing to herself. "Those impudent fools will never find the Keyhole. As expected, the angelfish with the Keyblade has arrived on my world. And with the school of fish following her lead, they may prove to be a nuisance." With a single hand movement, Ariel's image floated out of the cauldron. "But Triton's pretty little daughter could prove useful. And I've got the Heartless and dark guilds on my side." Her long tentacles swayed behind her as she stared intently at the projection. "Triton, my old friend... Your day is coming." She cackled loudly, confident that the next step of her agenda would soon come to fruition.
"An interesting development, to say the least," a female voice spoke behind her. "They've taken the bait."
"Yes, they have. Got any more bright ideas..." Ursula turned around to face the speaker. "...partner?"
"I have a few." Emerging from the shadows was Diva of the Headless Horsemen, enveloped in a specialized white aura that made her immune to aquatic habitats. She walked next to the sea witch, as though the underwater gravity supported her weight, with a set of platinum keys in hand. "The show's about to start, and the actors are ready. We're about to give the audience something they'll never forget..." With a snap of her fingers, multiple pillars of flame rose at either side, shocking the sea witch and almost causing her to fall flat on the floor. At the same time, the pyrotechnics revealed a humanoid, hunchback, demonic-looking beast from the cover of darkness behind Diva. He had a reddish brown complexion with light red hair, a bulky exterior, and sharp horns on his head.
"But first, it's time for opening night!" A couple of spotlights shone on Diva from four support drones floating above her on the ceiling. "Please rise for Diva Ferham's Glamo-tional Beauty Pageant! Anyone volunteering, please step up! The rules are simple: whosoever is the most beautiful on stage will be the winner. Oh, wait! I am! No one's around to enjoy the show or join me in this contest of charm. Because I'm the only star and the only model!" Expressing a fit of haughty laughter, Diva struck several fashion poses on her self-made stage, showered by flashes from invisible cameras. "Heed this warning, Miss Wendy Marvell! When we meet on stage, you'll be crushed under the weight of my glamour, like so! For my glamour is the size of a planet, and my dazzling good looks are the land and sea! Simply put, I'm a titan! To challenge a cosmic being like moi would be so wrong!"
"I don't know what's even bigger: her self-indulgent fantasies or her ego," Ursula groaned tiredly. "I'm almost tempted to turn this tramp into a polyp, just to teach her some manners." She begrudgingly looked over Diva, who continued posing at her own leisure. "Still, as long as she's disposable, my hands are full."
"Ooooh, I can't wait to get started, Ifrit. It's up to you, my darling, to light my day in times of darkness. You and your fellow Aeons will be my shining stars for the upcoming performance. I always like my fashion shows... extra CRISPY!" Diva boomed, as she turned to face the creature she called Ifrit. With a roar, the beast's body erupted in a raging inferno that nearly engulfed the whole lair, much to Ursula's dismay.
And this was only the starting point of the turmoil to come.
Author's Note:
I can't believe it took me about more than three months to complete it. More than three months, I tell you! All the effort and planning has finally paid off! Your patience is all the reward I need. Once again, I'm sorry it took SO VERY LONG, but the job is done. The first chapter of the Atlantica arc is released to the public.
Lucy has joined the party, but there are more dangers to come! Next up, Wendy and her friends find themselves lured into a trap by the cunning Neptune Trident dark guild, as well as the third Headless Horseman, Diva Ferham. Everybody, brace yourselves for some tension, drama, and Final Fantasy references in the arc's second chapter. Lotta things gonna happen, baby.
Don't forget to fav and review, and leave your thoughts. This is TheSavageMan100 signing out, and I'll see you next time. Later!
