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Viv came back accompanied by an orca from Mama Orca's pod. She had not expected for Neil to have regained his consciousness, and she really didn't know what to do when she realized that Neil had learned of the situation at hand.

Thankfully, her orca companion took over. "Mama Orca wishes to see both of you," he said. "Please follow me."

Just like any newborn fish, it didn't take long for Neil to feel comfortable in his new tail. In a few hours, he could swim as well as most of natural born merfolks. If there was any problem, it would be his back; unused to the new swimming style, it became a bit tense, but he was assured that it wouldn't last long.

Neil glanced at Reine, surrounded by two orcas some distance away from him. Her hands were moving everywhere, making gestures that he didn't know. Sometimes her fingers seemed to be hesitant, but the orcas guided her as best as they could.

Looking at her, Neil remembered what Mama Orca had told him when there were just the two of them:

"Do not burden yourself for what she has done for you… that is the last thing that she wants you to do. Instead, use it, finish what you are here for and continue your life as it should be."

But, still, he didn't—he couldn't—understand why she would go to such great lengths to assist him. Clearly, this was way more than what he had given her—if there was any at all—in their bargain. Or so he thought.

"Guilt."

"Huh?" Neil turned around and found that the pink dolphin had somehow made her way to his side.

"She felt super guilty for proposing that we try descending."

The two of them then turned to watch Reine learning a new language in silence. A moment later, an orca cracked a joke that prompted everyone to laugh—even Neil himself couldn't hold his chuckle back.

He froze, however, when he saw Reine. Her mouth was slightly open, but there was nothing coming out from it.

It seemed that from now onwards, silence had become a permanent addition to their party.

Ariel remembered that Eric had warned her against rebuilding the wall, but at that time, she didn't know what else to do. She had thought that Melody and Eric Jr would be very disappointed when they returned, perhaps even enraged, but she was prepared for that. They were adults—they surely would understand.

It turned out that they never came back at all. The bulk of her mental preparation for their disappointment turned to be her shield against the aggravated grief over losing both of them simultaneously.

Now, she stood alone on her balcony, watching the cold wall. Her eyes scanned the concrete structure that stood between the palace and the ocean. Twice, the wall was erected to barricade the two worlds. Twice, it failed.

Perhaps it was pointless, after all.

"Ariel…"

She turned to face her husband and see how much he had changed from their first meeting. His dark brown hair had greyed out, and his skin curled into wrinkles near her eyes and mouth. Just like she herself, she supposed.

"Allen will be fine, dear," he assured her. "And Neil, too…"

"I know," she replied. "I am just… amused," she paused momentarily, turning back towards the sea. The sea breeze, recognising her voice, woke up and caressed her. She didn't know what to make out of it—assurance or another consolation. She closed her eyes and she swore she could hear the sound of the ocean waves in her ears.

"How some things could change so drastically… while others remain basically the same."

A melody was faintly heard as they swam away from the capital. Soon, a small figure of a red crustacean appeared on a rock, blowing a pipe instrument. "Sebastian!" Rod called excitedly, waving his hand. "There's someone I want you to see!"

The crab looked at him for a moment. "He is Princess Ariel's grandson," Rod remarked, which greatly shocked the crab.

"Horatio Thelonious Ignacious Curstaceous Sebastian Crab the Third," the crab introduced himself in a distinctively Jamaican accent, bowing gracefully. "My grandfather had been the most loyal advisor of the royal court, before that bi—octopoid lady took over."

"So… why did you bring me here?" Allen asked. "Obviously not just for some pleasant introduction, I suppose?"

"Sebastian knows everything about Tritonean era!"

Allen sighed heavily. "I still don't understand why you want me to rebel against the current king."

"Because his claim to the throne, by the Classic Atlantean Law, is not legitimate," the crab replied, putting down his musical instrument.

"Not legitimate?" Allen asked skeptically. "Explain."

"By that law, the rightful king is identified and acknowledged by the trident itself. The trident will glow upon touch by this acknowledged monarch."

"Well, I saw the trident glows when—"

"His bracelet," Rod interposed. "He wears a bracelet made from King Triton's hair!"

"What?!"

"Sir," the crab said. "My grandfather often spoke of the Last Princess and her descendants above the sea. My family, and all those loyal to King Triton have long been waiting for a true descendant of Triton to come back to the sea!"

Allen sighed heavily. He knew he was a prince and someday he would sit on a throne—but he had never expected it to be an under-the-sea throne.

Heck, he didn't know it existed until recently.

"That is the most ingenious plan ever, Your Majesty!" Morgana cheered with a courtly approving tone.

"However, it seems that he fancies Guinevere over the others," the King rubbed his chin thoughtfully. "I had wished that she is kept out from this… affair."

"Why so?"

"I do not enjoy the thought of mixing the Seeress' blood with… some Tritonean."

"Consider, Your Majesty," she lowered her tone and deliberately dragged the word 'Majesty'. "How the Tritonean partial-godly blood would enhance the Seeress' blood! No one—no one—could challenge the Throne, ever!"

Her dark green eyes were ablaze with fervor anticipation as she spoke. The greenish aura that seemed to cloak her body in her magical prowess grew stronger as well.

She had thought that being encased in an ice cube would be the end. Oh, how wrong she had been! Her true magical power was awakened—and she was stronger than ever! She was even stronger than her fat sister, Ursula, could have been! She had sworn to pay her debts towards Triton when she was free—and her choice had fallen upon this certain merman—then just a court member—to fulfill her goal.

She kicked Triton out from his golden throne and made this merman the King. The bracelet trick worked wonders for more than a decade—even the most loyal of Triton followers couldn't dispute it… because they didn't know (how ignorant).

Now, who says you need the trident to be king?

Gwen watched everything—the conversation—through her crystal ball. The vision itself was hazy, but the voice was clear enough for her to listen. It seemed that her preventive measures, to a certain extent, was effective.

She knew her grandfather would not let a Seeress to be married to a Tritonean. His pride over the Seeress' legacy and inheritance in the House of Helenian was too much for him to allow that.

She closed her eyes and recalled the words she had told Allen much earlier in their acquaintanceship:

If you want to stay alive, stay close. If you want to go back, don't stay close.

Her chest clenched tightly, in the worst possible manner, that her hand immediately clutched it and her body trembled slightly.

It seemed that Allen had missed the bullet intended to keep him down to a lifetime of being a hostage underwater, just like as she had planned.

But that bullet shot her down instead.

The truth behind the Helenian rule is revealed!

Will Allen act on it?

Stay tuned for the next update!

Thanks for reading! Please rate and review! ^^

A/N: For those of you unfamiliar with the sequel of The Little Mermaid, Morgana is actually the primary antagonist in that movie while Ariel's daughter, Melody is the primary protagonist.