The kingdom of Atlantica fell into silence as news concerning the loss of their Queen began to spread. Everybody seemed to just stop, work coming to a halt, the lives of each citizen becoming centred on grieving and mourning the loss of a much loved woman who to many, had seemed more a friend than a Queen. But none grieved more than the family who had watched her disappear, her husband, her seven daughters, and the human boy she had saved and taken into her care.

The journey back to the palace had been a sombre one, and a slow one, the tension that hung in suspension around them weighing heavily upon the children as they sought their father's comfort and at the same time, to protect their brother from the unwavering hatred that the sea King held against him.

Unfortunately, it had soon become apparent that Triton was in no fit state to help his daughters, blocking out their cries as best he could, swimming ahead of them and only glancing back every so often to ensure that they were still following him.

Alana held Andrina as the younger girl wept, her cries hoarse now after so long. There were only four years between the two girls, but without Athena, Andrina had sought motherly comfort through her older sister in the hope that she would be able to replace the love that the late Queen had felt for her children. She had tried seeking comfort from her eldest sister, but Attina hadn't said a word since the incident above the waves, and lagged behind the rest of her family, arms wrapped around herself and her head ducked. Her father had been right about humans… about Eric. Why hadn't her mother warned her? She had said that as long as they loved their little brother he would never lead them to harm! She had lied. Hadn't she? Her father certainly seemed to think so.

With a heartbroken sob, Attina brought her hands to her eyes, hiding herself from the world. She was so confused, so lost, so unsure now of what she ought to believe. Her mind having been pulled so far form the truth that she wondered whether it would ever find the right path again.

Arista and Adella, who swam with their arms wrapped around each other, noticed their big sisters distress; so odd was it that Attina showed weakness like this that at first they simply froze, unsure of what to do, before swimming quickly to each side of her and wrapping her in a tight hug.

Aquata looked back to her sister, only continuing with her journey once Arista and Adella arrived at her side and it became apparent that Attina had no intention of pushing them away. With the knowledge that her sister wasn't alone, the blue-tailed mermaid turned her attention back to Eric, whose hand she held tightly in her own.

Despite how long it had taken him to adjust to life under the sea, Aquata was certain that she had never seen Eric look so unsure of himself… so pale… so hurt. His entire body trembled, his tail working automatically as he swam alongside her, hardly aware that he was moving at all, or of where he was going, and simply allowed Aquata to pull him along.

She was only seven.

She wasn't ready for this… wasn't ready to support her brother and sisters… she had just lost her mother!

Aquata bit her bottom lip in an attempt to keep her emotions hidden, at least for a little while. However, as small arms tightened around her waist, it became apparent that she had been unsuccessful in doing so, and lowered he gaze to three-year-old Ariel. The little mermaid swam beside her in a similar state as Eric, except now her face was lifted upwards, her sea-blue eyes wide with concern for her older sister, who managed to muster a small smile, her left arm pulling Ariel into a loving and protective hug.

'We'll be okay,' she said, her emotional state meaning that her voice barley resembled a whisper. Even as she'd spoken, Aquata wasn't certain that her words were true; yet Ariel seemed to understand, merely nodding slightly and coming to rest her head upon her sister's shoulder, being less able to make these long journey's given her three years, but knowing deep within her that, not only Aquata, but all six of her older sisters, and Eric, would always be there for her should she need them.

Upon entering the palace and having made his way to the throne room, Triton released Andrina's hand, leaving her to seek comfort from eight-year-old Alana, and turned towards where Aquata held tightly to Eric's hand, her eyes pleading as she stared up at her powerful father with bravery and determination that far surpassed her seven short years.

'Aquata, go with your sisters,' instructed Triton monotonously, motioning with his head to where the other six girls were filtering slowly into the corridors of the golden palace, their faces downcast and their small frames trembling with fear and despair.

'No!' exclaimed Aquata, gliding in front of Eric in an attempt to protect him, her bottom lip trembling as she fought both the tragic and recent loss of her mother and the knowledge that her father would show Eric no mercy the minute they were left alone. 'It wasn't his fault!'

Triton sighed, his eyes steely as he took the trident into his hands, the power that it held never ceasing to amaze him; however, never before had he used that power in the way he would now, and never on one of his own daughters.

Turning back to Aquata, the sea King regarded her with sorrow; he didn't want to do this, his hatred was with the human boy, not her. Yet he felt he had no choice, and lowered the trident in her direction, marvelling at the fact that she made no attempt to avoid the golden light that flowed from its tip and enveloped her, her desire to protect Eric being far stronger than the care she had for herself in this instant.

In only a matter of seconds, the Princess's eyes were pulled shut, her body falling limp as the weight of sleep overwhelmed her. Triton swam forward and took her in his arms, pressing a kiss to her temple for handing her off to one of the maids that worked for him.

'Take her upstairs, and put the girls to bed,' he said, watching as she left before turning his attention back to the boy whose people had destroyed the happiness of his family.

Unsurprisingly, the boy hadn't said a word since his conversation with Ariel above the waves and remained sobbing softly, his arms wrapped around himself and his eyes fixed on the ground, too afraid to meet the gaze of the sea King. He had never had to face up to his foster-father before, Athena having always been there to protect him and to keep her husband's anger at bay; and so it was needless to say that Eric was terrified, knowing full well that he didn't stand a chance against the power and might of the King even when he was without his trident.

Even so, this provoked no sense of sympathy, and without wasting another second, Triton angled the Trident towards the boy, a lightning bolt of white energy striking the five-year-old and sending his body reeling backwards against the far wall of the throne room.

An agonised scream tore through the waters, the young human-turn-merboy's head thrown back, his body convulsing as pain wracked every fibre of his being. So horrific was the pain that the five-year-old made no attempt to fight against the darkness that pressed so heavily against his mind, and succumbed to unconsciousness the moment it was within his grasp.

Still the sea King remained unwavering in emotion, his lips pressed into a tight line as he regarded the boy, who's limp body continued to be pressed against the wall by the immense power of the trident, the force of which was surely enough to leave him bruised if not completely broken. If Triton had been able to form a single rational thought he might have realised the severity of what he was doing to the boy; but the recent and sudden death of his wife had rendered him unable to recognise anything but hatred for the people of the land and the boy that had been the link between the two.

Finally, he allowed the power of the trident to cease, Eric's bruised and battered body falling to the floor, his breaths shallow. A twinge of guilt flared through Triton as he regarded the five-year-old, his thoughts being pulled back three years ago to the image of his wife as she saved the life of the very boy who now lay unconscious at his hands. What would she think of him?

Straightening up, Triton shook the thought from his head. Athena was gone, and he would deal with the boy in the way he deemed appropriate.

Swimming through the kelp forest, Triton began to notice a growing feeling of unease swelling within him. He had no way of knowing that the trident had done what he had intended it to, he couldn't know until Eric awoke, and so far the boy hadn't so much as stirred, remaining almost completely motionless safe for the slight rise and fall of his chest. His intention had been to wipe the boy's mind completely, leaving him with no trace of memory that he had ever been a part of his family, or any family for that matter, and hopefully that uncertainty would deter him from ever returning to Atlantica.

Only now noticing that he had arrived at his destination, and regarded before him a small run-down house, secluded from civilisation completely.

Raising a fist, Triton pounded on the door, only having to wait a moment before a plump mermaid in her early forties opened the door, her deep purple tail seeming darker given the density of the forest around them and her grey-streaked chocolate-brown hair tied in a loose bun at the base of her neck.

A shocked gasp escaped her lips as she came to realise who stood in front of her.

'Your majesty!' she exclaimed, as she sunk into a curtsey before the King, her eyes widening as Triton held out a young boy by the wrist before her.

'You owe me a favour Nastasya,' he said flatly. 'Take him.'

With a little hesitancy, the women reached out and took the boy into her arms, immediately struck speechless by the bruises that covered his body and blanching at how every one of his joints seemed to crack at the movement.

'What happened to him?' she asked, her voice coming to nothing more than a whisper.

'You needn't concern yourself with that,' replied the King, 'his name is Eric, and each night at sunset his tail will be replaced by two human legs, to be reversed again at sunrise. You will take care of him and prevent him from asking unnecessary questions. Do you understand?'

Nastasya couldn't bring herself to reply, her mouth hanging open as she tried to take in all she had just learned.

'He… he's just a boy,' she muttered, her heart aching for the little merboy in her arms, 'what could he have possibly done to deserve that?'

Triton narrowed his eyes, regarding Nastasya with a cold gaze before turning and swimming quickly back the way he came, leaving Eric with the long and draining journey of figuring out who he was and where he belonged, and Nastasya with the even more difficult job of helping him through it. As soon as he was out of sight, Triton sighed, tears coming to his eyes as he realise that he had succeeded only in abandoning the most prominent memory he and his kingdom had of Athena's kindness. Then again, if it hadn't been for Eric he wouldn't have needed to.

This was his fault; his and that of the world in which he had been born.