The aquatic gang venture onward through the pathway, leading them into the halls of another ancient murals on the walls. Whilst swimming by them, it appears to tell them another story. During their time, the Nai'Viqians has also worship another god. It was a great white shark that might have resembled Duncan. The one shark whom Ariel and the gang encountered on their journey. As the story unfolds, it seems that most of the Nai'Viqians have had enough of their mechanical god and the traditions the alpha rulers built within their civilization. So they turn to worship a majestic shark instead. The shark embodies the strong power and wonders of the seas itself. The little mermaid and the gang read the ancient murals of the historical accuracy, all the while swimming through the exit of the hall.
They've had enter the abyss, where there's no floor beneath them or anything else. Just a big school of fishes swarming around the place. A wondrous sight to behold. With Abzû leading the way, they all have swam through the funnel of swarming school of fishes. At the end of the path, the sound of the whales' songs can be heard. The aquatic gang stops by a lone shark statue for a slight moment.
"I wonder where's the sound coming from?" wondered Ariel.
"Beats me, Ariel." added Flounder, shrugging his flippers.
"Let's just hope it's not the sound of us becoming someone's lunch." said Sebastian in a concerning tone of voice.
"Oh Sebastian. You worry too much." teased Travannus, folding his muscled arms. "It's just the sound of whales singing a tune. No harm to that."
Abzû sat on top of the sculpture and he went into his deep meditation. His sonic telepathy envisions the whales passing by the ravine. Then a tiny tropical fish swimming along and multiple grey sharks passing by the triangular door at the edge of the cliff. Now he knows where to go.
"Everyone, follow me!" Abzû called out to them. "I know where we can go!"
"Ok! You lead the way, Abzû." said Travannus, nodding his head.
They follow Abzû upward to the cliff. There they have found the triangular door on the rocks. The door has open by activation once approached. Then they have enter the doorway.
Once they've swam to the other side, the sea change colors again. And this time, it is as orange as the sunset. The door shuts behind the group. Now they must swim forward down the path of the kelp forest, ultimately leading them to the gigantic iron chains laying around the ruins. They follow the chain wherever it might take them to. It lead them to the ancient ruins covered in fall-like kelp. The little mermaid and her friends were all at awe of their surroundings.
"What is this place?" Ariel wondered.
"Beats me, red." said Travannus, scratching his chin. "But I'm even more baffled of the oversized chains laying around the place."
"Well to be honest, I'm glad it is not a fishing net." Flounder remarked humorously.
"I'm with you on dat, Flounder." says Sebastian, adding in. "Anything is better than becoming crab cakes, mon."
Ariel swims closer to the gigantic chains
"I wonder where these giant chains leads to?" wondered Ariel.
"Looks like there is only one way out." says Abzû as he swims by the little mermaid's side. "Come on. Let's keep going."
"Okay, Abzû." Ariel replied agreeably.
The rest of the group follows behind Ariel and Abzû, all the way towards the ancient ruins. As the gang explore the place, they were greeted by the sunfish who acts as their guide.
As the sunfish guide the group through the autumn colored reefs, then all of a sudden, they all have heard the sound of someone's singing voice echoing throughout the ruins. A voice so ethereal, so pure and so full of soul. From that sound alone, Ariel and her friends could immediately recognize that singing voice for it sounded so familiar. That is when both Ariel and Travannus knew who that voice belonged to. It belong to another friend of theirs.
"What was that ethereal singing coming from?" Abzû asked the group in wonderment.
"I think I heard it too, mon." says Sebastian as he too heard the voice.
"Yeah! Me too." says Flounder, listening closely as does the others. "I heard that singing voice also."
"We all do, my little buddy Flounder." said Travannus as he knows the sound he's hearing. "And I think we know who it belongs to."
"You're right, Travannus!" said Ariel as she too recognize that familiar voice. "It has to be him! I just know it!"
"Umm who are we talking about?" Abzû asked in confusion.
The little mermaid swam ahead of the group to find that singing voice.
"Come on, you guys!" Ariel beamed happily, swimming away in a rush.
"Wait for us, Ariel!" bellowed Flounder.
The aquatic group follows her into the autumn-like ancient ruins. While they are following the sound of the voice, as well as the giant chains, Ariel and her friends swam into the abandoned gardens filled with seaweed covered sculptures everywhere. That is where Ariel and her friends has finally found the one with the soulful ethereal voice. It was another merman sitting on top of the marble statue. That merman happens to have a richly melanin light brown skin, aqua eyes and an head full of long platinum blonde dreadlocks when he is in his aquatic form. And just like the little mermaid and the mutant merman themselves, this merman too has also a fishtail with aquamarine gun-like metallic scales as well as along on his upper body, complete with shimmering rainbow sheen reflecting upon the scales and the fins. And lastly with the dragon tattoos on the end of his tail-fins. He is an ethereal little merman named Thomas. Alongside with him is his personal sea pixie named Tickallo. He is singing to himself and Tickallo just happens to be mesmerized by the merman's tune. As he finishes his song, the group swam up to their friend.
"Hey, Thomas!" Travannus called out to his friend. "I knew this has to be you singing out from the blue!"
The little merman turn to notice that his friends are approaching him. He too is filled with joy to see them.
"Hey, guys!" greeted Thomas with joy. "It's great to see y'all coming by."
"Hello, Thomas!" greeted Ariel as she happily hugs him. "It's great to see you here too."
Thomas hugs the little mermaid back. Then he turns to allow Travannus to give him a big masculine bear hug. Tickallo swims over to greet Flounder and Sebastian for they too were also best friends, through the merfolk of course. Abzû just hovered in mid water, admiring the mermaid friendship right in front of him. They have a lot catching up to do for they have not seen Thomas in a while, because of his otherworldly heroic duties, above the surface and under the sea. Nevertheless, they are happy to swam into him in the autumn ancient ruins.
"So what are you doing here all by yourself, Thomas?" asked Travannus.
"Funny you should ask." Thomas responded. "I just had time off of my work and other things. So I thought since I have all the free time to spare, why not go swimming in the open sea."
"Well I can agree with you on that." says Ariel, playing with her ombré red locs. "It is a perfect day for a swim. And not to mention, going on another adventure."
"I bet." said Thomas, wholeheartedly. "Is that what brought you guys here as well?"
"Kinda." says Travannus, scratching his head.
"We are kinda helping our new friend here find some answers about himself." said Ariel.
"A new friend?" Thomas wondered. "Who's that?"
He notice Abzû slowly approaching them for he is quite shy of this newly encounter. So on behalf of Abzû, Ariel introduce the two.
"Thomas, meet our new friend, Abzû." says Ariel. "And Abzû, this is Thomas. He's another friend of ours."
"Why hello there, Thomas." says Abzû, lending out his hand. "It's a pleasure to meet you."
"Yeah, likewise." said Thomas, giving him a handshake. "The pleasure is all mine. So I take it that you're not from around here, am I right?"
"Yes, you can say that." Abzû replied. "As a matter of fact, I don't know where my origins are. I just need to find out who I really am. Which is why Ariel, Travannus, Flounder and Sebastian are helping me out. So it's not just an adventure, but sort of like a personal mission as well as uncovering so many secrets, so many discoveries and a mystery."
"Oh you should've been there with us, Thomas." Flounder added. "A lot of things happen while we were on this journey. It's quite scary, but a lot of it is fun and it's really fantastic."
"Oh really?" wondered Thomas.
"Yes, mon!" said Sebastian. "You gotta see it to believe it."
During the conversation, Travannus suddenly has an idea. So he makes an friendly offer that Thomas could not refuse.
"Say! Why won't you come with us, Thomas?" said Travannus. "You and your sea pixie, Tickallo."
Everyone agrees with the mutant merman that Thomas should come along with them on their journey to help Abzû find himself, uncovering secrets, solving the mystery, making new discoveries and restoring the oceans habitats. Thomas was touch by their inclusion. And he turn to his sea pixie Tickallo who is shrugging his shoulders. The little merman turn to face them.
"You want me and Tickallo to come with y'all on this journey?" Thomas asked.
"I don't see why not." said Abzû, happily agreeing with the others.
"Of course!" says Ariel.
"It is never a party without you, Thomas." said Travannus, putting his muscular arm on Thomas's shoulder. "So what cha say? Are you in?"
"Yeah! Come with us." said Flounder joyfully.
"Ha! There's room for two more." said Sebastian.
Thomas turns to his sea pixie once more.
"What do ya think, Tickallo?" Thomas asked. "Shall we tag along with them?"
"Heck yeah!" boasted Tickallo agreeably. "I'm so pumped for this."
"So that settles it then." Thomas complied strongly. "We're in."
The little mermaid and her friends cheered for Thomas, the ethereal little merman is joining the group on this fantastic journey. Alas they continue to be on their way.
The aquatic group resume following the gigantic chains into the ruins. From there, they have found the turning anchor line. It must be tied to the giant chains. Out of the slightest of curiosity, both Ariel and Abzû each took a side and the they turn the wheel around. Thus loosening the chains in motion. It looks like as if it is the key to unlocking the ruins' doors. All they have to do is find the other anchor line.
Whilst venturing through the red kelp, Abzû found another small robot that he can fix. All good as new. Now he just have to free the stingrays from their prison. Then they all continue to follow the path. The aquatic group found the second giant chains but it was blocked by the coral. So the small robot cleared the coral away for the gang to swim through. Once inside the cave, they have found the other chain anchor. Ariel and Abzû tries to turn the wheel but it was too stiff due to the rusty gear for thousands of years. Since he is the only muscle of the group, Travannus helps them turn the wheel.
"Save your hands, you two." said Travannus as he cracks his fishy webbed knuckles. "Let me handle this one."
Although he is strong with his mutant power, but not even he could turn the rusted wheel around. This seems like it could be a two person job after all. Thankfully, Travannus turns to Thomas whom is equally as strong as does he.
"Can you give me a hand at this, would ya, Thomas?" Travannus suggested.
"Sure! I'll take the other side of the wheel." Thomas replied as he swam over to the other end of the wheel.
And with all of their strength, the two mermen turn the wheel. Alas it's finally turning. The chains has loosened and the doors has slowly opened. The little mermaid and her companions swam towards the doors. But first, Abzû has to free the Zebra Sharks from the platforms. Along the way, they've encountered a pod of manatees who wave at them as they were passing by.
As they all has entered the doorway, Abzû freed the lion fishes during their journey. Then the waters turns into a deep shade of blue green. All the while as they passed by the glittering caverns. It so happens when Ariel saw Duncan the shark swimming by the reefs beforehand disappearing again. The gang navigates through the caves, until they found their exit.
Now the ocean floor has darken. But luckily for them, a blue light appears from the abyss below them. It was another pillar with the portal on top. The aquatic group knows they must enter the portal to another twilight realm of the gods. This time, it is Thomas's turn to touch the ethereal waters. He hovers downward to the water below him.
"What the freak is this?" Thomas uttered in astonishment. "Are we floating above water? In this realm?
"Go ahead! Touch the water!" Abzû bellowed from above.
So Thomas did what Abzû said and he touch the ethereal waters. The luminous blue light led them to the shrine of the ruins. And they indeed have followed it there. The little mermaid's group has made it to the shrine. There they stood before the lone bubble.
"Ok! This is it." says Ariel as she turns to the others. "Are you guys ready?"
"You bet I am." said Travannus with strength.
"I'm ready when you all are." said Abzû as he puts on a brave face.
"What is going on here?" questioned Thomas in confusion.
Travannus and Ariel both took his hands, pulling him towards the glowing blue bubble.
"Trust us on this one, Thomas." said Travannus, smiling. "It'll make sense once you get the hang of this. You're going to love the next part."
"Ok then, everyone. There is no backing out now." Ariel said with a princess's pride. "Let's all do this together."
"Yeah, about that. We'll be right behind you guys." said Flounder as he hid himself into Ariel's locs.
"Same here." says Tickallo as he too hid in Thomas's long locs. "I'm new to this whole thing, and I'm not sure what's going to happen. So I'm taking cover."
"I'm with you guys on 'tis one." says Sebastian as he too hid behind Travannus's dorsal fin. "Just let us know when its over."
The mutant merman rolled his eyes in a slight annoyance. As the four figures came to an agreement, they placed their hands onto the bubble. Thus it fused with Abzû's essence in an instant. What followed after the rumbling sensation, out came the trio of whale sharks ascending towards the ocean world.
And their natural habitat has been restored. The little mermaid's heart has melted, knowing that the more they help the other marine life, the more of the ocean habitats are restoring back to the way they were before. Thomas too has his heart melted for he now knows what is really going on around him. The whale sharks, being the kind and gentle giants that they are, thanked the little mermaid and her companions for bringing restoration back to their waters. As for their appreciation, the whale sharks offered the gang a ride to the far off open doors. Miles away from there.
After a long minute ride, they arrived at the foot of the doors. They all have said their goodbyes to the whale sharks and the gentle giants swam off, biding the adventurous heroes farewell. Now the group must hence forth through the doorway and continue their journey for there's still much to be done. Freeing the aquatic creatures, restoring the rest of the oceanic habitats and finding the answers to the truth of Abzû's past.
