Here's the next chapter!

I'm not entirely happy as to how this chapter turned out, but whatever.

I don't know how often I'll be able to do chapters since I start college classes tomorrow.

Well, enjoy the chapter.

Kingdom Hearts © to Disney and Square Enix!

The Little Mermaid © to Disney!

OCs © to me!

Chapter 12: Atlantic- Missing Persons

"Finally! I am free! And I have the power to destroy my enemies!"

"Indeed. Now, you will hold up our end of the deal?"

"Of course…"

"So, you guys went to Olympus?"

"Yep," Ryô smiled at the image of Blaze on the screen, "and you went to the Pride Lands. Sounds fun." He sighed. "And you at least found some sort of reasoning behind the actions of Briana's goons."

"Yeah, we did." The red-head nodded. Suddenly, she stopped, turning around to look and listen to someone. "Sorry, Ry. I've gotta go. We're coming up on a new world."

The boy looked at the radar near him. "Same thing here. Talk to you later, Blaze."

"Later, Ry."

The boy sighed and pressed the button calling everyone else to the cockpit. "Well, this should be fun…"

"I am so glad we don't have to be merpeople again."

"I don't know, Justin." Xally grinned, "I had fun!"

Terra took in a deep breath, allowing the ocean air to fill his lungs. "Well, let's go find Ariel and Eric. We need to see if they know anything about Pith." The group walked up towards the castle. In the water, merpeople went to and fro. They all smiled to see the two worlds getting along, but something seemed off. None of the merpeople smiled.

They looked sad and angry.

"And it looks like the Sovereign Enforcers have started here. Creating more problems and dissention." Luna's hand clenched as she saw a mermaid wiping away a tear as her angry husband held her close.

"And just when things were starting to get good around here."

"Calm down everyone! We can't just toss around blame when none of us know what is happening."

Glacies quickened her pace. "That's Eric."

Coming around to the front of the castle that faced the town, they saw a mob of people. Ariel and Melody stood far away as Eric attempted to calm the angry crowd.

"You only say that because you married one of them!"

"Leave Ariel out of this!"

Ariel looked over and saw the group; she let out a sigh of relief as she pulled her daughter towards them. "Oh, I am so glad to see you!"

"Good to see you too." Aqua bowed. "We haven't been here since the day you brought her to meet the merpeople(1)." She gestured to Melody. "So, what is going on here?"

Melody rubbed her shoulders, glancing at the angry mob. "Some kids have been going missing by the shore. People are blaming the Atlanticans for it, even saying that Mother is orchestrating it all."

"That's so stupid!"

"Yes, it is." Terra groaned. "You were right, Luna. They've already started working here."

Ariel looked between them. "Who?"

"There's a group of people who have kidnapped Pith, and now they're going around stirring up trouble on other worlds."

"Pith!?"

Ryô nodded. "Yes, apparently they might be just distracting us or trying to make darkness more prevalent on other worlds. Either way, they're probably behind this whole thing, them and someone from your world."

"I will let Eric know… and maybe you could try and convince these people…"

"We can try." Terra straightened up and strode over beside Eric. At first, the man seemed surprised to see Terra, but soon gave a grateful smile and stepped back. "Everyone, please calm down. My name is Terra. I and those with me have been tracking down a group of people that have been trying to cause trouble all over the place. We believe that they are responsible for what has happened here. If you give us time, we can prove this."

"And if you're wrong," cried a woman, "my son will die if he isn't dead already!"

"We will find them, I give you my word. Just give us some time and do not judge the Atlanticans too quickly and harshly."

The people muttered amongst themselves before a man stepped forward. "Fine. Two days. We want an answer then."

"Thank you."

Slowly the people dispersed, the ruler stepped up beside the Keyblade Master. "Thank you, Terra. I thought the people were going to riot."

"Don't worry, your highness, we will take care of this situation."

"Not without me," Eric shook his head. "This is my kingdom; I'm helping."

"Alright." Aqua and the others approached. "Perhaps we should split up. If people are vanishing into the ocean we should have some of us searching down there. The rest of us can search up here."

Melody grinned. "I'll go with the group in the ocean!"

"Melody…"

"May I?"

"... Alright."

Terra nodded. "I guess I'll go with Melody," he looked around and saw the pleading face of his daughter, "as well as Xally. Who else wants to go?"

"My prince," Luna bowed her head, "I'm curious about this world, I'd like to join them."

"Go ahead, Luna." The blond boy smiled. "Guess that means I, Aunt Aqua, Justin and Glace will stay up here."

Ariel nodded. "I can go talk with my father and see what he can do."

"Alright."

"I love this!" Xally held her fin and giggled.

"Remember why we're here, Xal." Terra tested his fin before swimming towards the shoreline. "We need to find a place where some of us can hide and watch, while the others search. Melody, Xally, you two stay here. It'll be getting dark soon, so keep an eye out."

"Yes, sir!"

Luna and Terra swam off, leaving the two girls alone. After a long time, they saw a merman swimming their way: a boy with blond hair. He waved. "Mel Mel!"

"Alex(2)!" Melody swam over and hugged him. "What are you doing here? It might not be safe."

"I heard from my parents that you were here. I just wanted to check on you." He smiled. "Anyway I can help?"

Xally nodded. "We're keeping an eye out for whatever has been taking kids. If we see it, we need to follow."

"Alright."

Aqua knocked on the door to a house; a young woman, clutching a little boy opened the door. "What do you want?"

"We're going to find the missing children." She calmly spoke. "I heard your daughter was one of the kid; please, tell us all you know. It will help us locate her."

The woman studied the Keyblade Master for a moment before stepping to the side. Coming inside, Aqua saw three other children. "My husband is a sailor," the woman said as she sat down the child in her arms, "Elin loved to go to the docks and watch for his ship. One night, she did not come back. Two other children were with her, also watching for the same ship. Vibeke and her brother Kasper. They never came back either. We searched for days but could not find them. Then, my nephew Sigurd, who'd gone to look for them, vanished as well." She gestured to the two elder children in the room. "Orla and Rikke wanted to go look for them, but I couldn't let another one of my babies die."

"They might be alive." Aqua soothed.

"I wish that to be true, but I do not trust that hope. None of us do." The woman stood up. "That's all I have to say."

Aqua nodded and began to leave. "Miss!" One of the other children came running out, Orla. "I-I kinda snuck out one night and saw something that might help. It was when my friend Lis went missing. I saw something come out of the water and walk on land. I don't think it was an Atlantican… it was glowing and much bigger than a person, but no one believes me."

"Orla, thank you…"

As night fell, Aqua and the others sat on the beach, watching the ocean. The town was silent, everyone hiding inside.

"You sure about this, Justin?"

"Of course!" The boy stepped out onto the beach and began to look at the shells. He'd offered to be bait for whatever creature came. His eyes watched the sea, but they saw nothing in the moonlight.

"What's that!" Luna pointed. She and Terra watched a cloud of white foam jet through the water. "I don't think that's normal."

"Me neither. Follow it!"

They swam after the foam, but it shot away, leaving them behind.

The foam passed by Xally and went up into the waves overhead. "Whoa! Did anyone see that!?"

"I did."

"Same," Alex looked at the two girls, "but I've never seen anything like that before."

Justin paused as he heard a noise. He looked and saw a white horse, beautiful, nearly glowing in the moonlight, come out of the waves. It looked at him and whinnied, turning its flank to him, as if inviting the boy to climb on its back.

"A horse?" Glacies narrowed her eyes at the beautiful creature.

"Glowing and taller than a man…" Aqua recited from Orla's description.

Eric suddenly gasped as he pointed. "Look, its hooves are backward! It's a Kelpie(3). That's what's been taking the kids; Justin needs to get away!"

The boy in question stared at the horse. He knew it was dangerous to get on its back, but it couldn't hurt to pet the beautiful creature. Reaching out his hand, he went to pet it.

"JUSTIN NO!"

His hand touched its flank just as Eric cried out. "What?" He tried to pull away, but… "My hand! It's stuck!" His hand seemed glued to the horse's flank. The white animal whinnied and began running into the water, dragging the boy with it. "MOM! GLACE!"

Justin gasped for breath before the creature pulled him under. He caught a glimpse of Xally, Melody, and a young merman as the creature pulled him straight down. A bubble covered his mouth, offering some oxygen as they dove deeper and deeper into the depths.

Eventually, the air grew thin in the bubble and darkness took the boy.

"After them!" The three merpeople began to swim. "Alex, wait here! My dad and Luna will need to know where we went."

"But!"

"Just do it!"

The two girls swam as fast as they could, but in the dark water, the foamy figure that pulled Justin away faded into the blackness. "What now, Xally?"

"Give me a moment." Closing her eyes, the girl reached out, attempting to sense her brother's presence. "Down further, and towards the open ocean." They dove down, following her senses into an unknown, dark crevice.

Eventually, they came to a cave that opened up above them. Slowly going up, they found themselves in clean air once more. From where they floated, they could see a rocky cave that looked like some sort of house, but with rocky cells lining the back.

There, they saw a white horse drag Justin's unconscious body into one before the animal vanished into foam and slid into the water.

Nearby, a table and chair of rock stood, and sitting on the chair was a creature that looked like a manta ray, in some respects: a purple-skinned humanoid with a ray-like fin as a cape.

"One of the Keybearers?" A girl strode into view. She had dark skin, pink hair and eyes, and wore a dark purple oriental dress. "I knew they would come eventually."

"Then why didn't you mention them, Rodia?" A the manta-like man hissed.

"You did not need to know at the time, Manta(4)."

Manta snarled. "These Kelpies keep bringing me random children. Yes, I can use them to bargain for the throne and trident, but I want Triton's granddaughter!"

"And you shall have her." Rodia widened her stance and made a sweeping motion with her arms from the water to the shore. Suddenly, Melody and Xally found themselves propelled forward by a floating water projectile. They skidded across the ground, landing at the feet of the girl. "Triton's granddaughter and another Keybearer."

The girls looked up and saw Manta looking down at them, face decorated with a wicked grin. "Now, we can get to work!"

"Again!"

"Papa, can we take a break, please?"

Vanitas looked at his daughter who stood across from a Spiderchest Unversed. "You've almost got it. Try one more time."

"Yes, Papa." The girl clutched her staff as the Unversed performed an attack, spitting a bubble of poison. Vanette began glowing as she held out her staff. The blue glow seemed to seep into her. "Alright… let's try this." Her staff glowed and the girl suddenly spit a bubble of poison, just like the Unversed. "I did it!"

"Good job, Nettie." Vanitas dismissed the creature. She'd progressed so much over the last few days. Going from no way to fight to being able to create a shockwave, from the Bruisers, create fire, from the Red Hot Chili, and she could sink into the ground, from the Flood. Now she could spit poison.

The little girl giggled, wiping the purple sludge from her lips. "Thank you, Papa!" Akame nuzzled her. "So, you said Braig liked to come here?"

"Yeah, he likes to come here and screw with the people here." He looked up and saw the sun falling towards the horizon. "I guess we can spend the night in that abandoned cottage." The two walked through the forest and found themselves at a cottage with a small mill in the running stream.

As her father went out to look for firewood, Vanette pulled the rations out of her satchel. Some salted meat and vegetables... nothing much. Maybe her father could find more. The girl began to look around the cottage, she found a few dresses around and some cloth, mostly in green, blue, and pink colors.

"Vanette!"

"Coming, Papa!" She ran down the stairs. She could see Vanitas laying wood in the fireplace. "Do we want to use some of the meat we brought?"

He nodded. "Yeah, we'll go into the town tomorrow and buy some more food."

They ate and soon little Vanette began to rub her eyes. Vanitas picked her up and carried her up to one of the bedrooms. He laid her in bed, smiling as she curled up with Akame.

Suddenly, the hairs on the back of his neck stood up and a painful shudder ran through his body.

An Unversed just died.

Out in the forest, a single eye looked down at the vanishing blue creature. "Vanitas… now you're here... This is going to be fun."

I don't know how I feel about this chapter, but here it is.

Please review!

Footnotes:

(1) I'm making it so that the entire gang came to that event since they never went to Atlantica in my KH3 rewrite.

(2) This is the young merman from the movie.

(3) Kelpies were water horses in Scottish myth that would drag children down to their deaths.

(4) This is Evil Manta from "The Little Mermaid" tv series, but I am going with the story that he was never freed before, so he never turned good in the end.

VAs:

Rodia- Alex McKenna (Senna, Mickey Apple, Lindsay Flatt, Abby Macy)

Judge or Judge Not?

We have one of the most quoted passages in the bible sitting as the most misquoted passages as well. We hear "don't judge" thrown around all the time. But when one looks at the entire passage, there is a lot more to this and the "don't judge" line makes a little more sense.

Matthew 7:1-6, "Judge not, that you be not judged. 2 For with the judgment you pronounce you will be judged, and with the measure you use it will be measured to you. 3 Why do you see the speck that is in your brother's eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye? 4 Or how can you say to your brother, 'Let me take the speck out of your eye,' when there is the log in your own eye? 5 You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother's eye.

6 "Do not give dogs what is holy, and do not throw your pearls before pigs, lest they trample them underfoot and turn to attack you."

Let's start with the middle of this passage, with the part that talks about the speck in your brother's eye and the log in your own. This here is telling you to make a judgment, about yourself, look at yourself and see what you need to improve on, or what you need to let God improve in you. If you are doing something wrong, screaming at someone else to stop doing that same thing isn't going to do anything but tick them off and make you look stupid and rude.

Then if we jump up to what judgment you use will be used to you, that is pretty self-explanatory. If you go around pointing fingers, and chewing people out about every little thing, people will do the same to you, probably about your pointing fingers. Here's the thing, instead of yelling at random people, which isn't going to help a thing, build a relationship with them. Love them, then you can say 'hey, this probably isn't the best thing for you to be doing'. That way they know you and understand that your concern comes out of a place of love and not judgment. Even Jesus did this. He ate supper with the tax collectors and sinners; he spent time with them and loved them.

Now, as for that last verse about dogs and pigs, basically, that means don't waste your time arguing with someone who isn't going to listen at all. If you are trying to tell someone that they are in the wrong and they don't care, they won't listen to you. Don't waste their time and yours arguing with them!

Build that relationship first, and then tell them in a loving way and out of love. Don't bash it over their heads. Do it in love. Let them speak into your life and be able to correct you when you need it so then you can speak into their lives as well.