I got a review, and this chapter was written, so I decided to post it! Yayz! I haven't even started chapter 2 yet, so don't expect it to come around very quickly. This is actually my second attempt at writing a Fujimoto fanfic, the first being about how Fuji and Granmammare met and fell in love, but I suck at romances, so it went over like a lead balloon. Of course, it might have gotten better once I got past the whole 'meeting' part and to the adventure that results in the 'falling in love' part, but I hadn't the patience. I really suck at meetings. It's so much easier for me to write something if the characters all already know each other. Something you might notice in the following story. Well, sometimes I'm okay. Like in Liam's story. He meets one of the other main characters because she runs him over. Oh, wait! Liam! He's in this. He's from something completely different, but I stuck him in because I created his character around the same time I saw Ponyo. I was inspired to create him by some clothes I found in It's A Wrap, and I went through literally over 2000 names before I named him Liam. No joke. There was a list, and I went through it. You don't find out a lot about him because he's not important to the plot and I shouldn't have put him in anyway. But I did. Because I heart him. Anyway, I own nothing except for Liam and Vidar (well, I own Vidar's character, not his concept. The Norse own his concept.)

Sorry I made the author's note so long. You won't hear another peep from me, I swear. Until next chapter. But I won't make it too long. All the necessary explaining is over. So I'll shut up now. Enjoy the story.

Living in the ocean means never having to salt your food.

- Takayuki Ikkaku, Arisa Hosaka and Toshihiro Kawabata, Animal Crossing: Wild World, 2005

Chapter One

By The Pricking Of My Thumbs

Twelve years later

Fujimoto could still remember what it felt like when he realized his daughter had vanished – the tightening of his chest, panic welling up in his throat, his stomach falling to his toes. Dismay when he realized she was in love with a human, when Granmammare suggested they let Brunhilde – sorry, Ponyo – do as she wished. Of course he'd barely objected – to Granmammare's face, at least. Later, he kicked himself. He never forgave himself. Why? Why had he let this happen? Because he knew Ponyo would never give in. Because he knew he could never stand up against his wife for long – he loved her too much to argue. Because he knew any way it ended would never be a happy ending for him.

At least he got to visit her on weekends.

Fujimoto stood on the dock, oblivious to the odd stares he attracted from the nearby sailors. His dark grey eyes followed the small purplish-pink car as it wove its way down the mountainside, taking the turns a bit too fast, loosely interpreting the speed limit. It screeched to a halt in a parking spot near the water. Three door slammed open – two in back, one on the driver's side – and the first one out was his daughter. She'd grown into a lovely young lady. Seventeen now! How the years fly! She looked a little like her mother did when Fujimoto first met her. Her orange hair fell around her shoulders, and she wore a red tank top and jeans that subtly showed off her curves. She probably had a large following of adolescent boy admirers, but of course she wouldn't notice, or care. She only ever had eyes for Sosuke. The boy, who had grown into a fine young man. The boy, who still remained faithful to Ponyo, much to Fujimoto's surprise. Fujimoto had been ready to tell his wife "I told you so" when Ponyo came running home five, ten years later with a broken heart, but it hadn't happened yet. With each year that passed, the likelihood of a break up seemed less and less, and the boy had begun to grudgingly grow on Fujimoto.

Ponyo looked around, searching for her father. She noticed him immediately. (He's pretty hard to miss.) Her face split into a large grin, and she sprinted forward, skidding to a stop. "Hi, Dad," she said breathlessly.

"Hello, fish," Fujimoto replied, ruffling her hair. "You're excited to see me today."

Her smile widened even more, if possible. "My friend Yuki – I've told you about her – she invited me to go to America with her over summer break! Lisa said yes, but she said I'd have to ask your permission too, so please, Dad, please, say yes, I really want to go!"

He blinked, her words taking a moment to sink in. She'd said it so fast and excitedly. Then the hairs on the back of his neck began to prickle. "America?" he asked cautiously.

Ponyo's smile began to fade a little. "Please?"

Fujimoto swallowed. "I don't know, Ponyo. I-"

At that moment, Lisa and Sosuke came up. Fujimoto shot a beseeching glance at Lisa.

"Dad," Ponyo wheedled. "Yuki has relatives there, and we're going to stay with them. So we won't be all by ourselves over there. She already got an extra ticket, and I was the first one she invited, because her parents said she could bring a friend. Summer break's in two weeks, and we'd be leaving as soon as school lets out."

"I don't feel good about it," Fujimoto told her. "It's a whole other country, one you're unfamiliar with. I don't like it."

His daughter's mouth drew into a tight line, and she looked down.

"Sosuke's not going?" Fujimoto asked.

Ponyo shook her head, but didn't say anything.

"Her friend only has one extra ticket, and we can't afford to buy one for me," Sosuke explained for her. "I don't mind, though. I don't really like the idea of flying."

"I could come with you," Fujimoto suggested.

Ponyo looked up at him incredulously. Every seventeen-year-old's nightmare was that their funky-dressed sea wizard dad came with them on a summer getaway. Well, maybe not every seventeen-year-old. "No way!"

"Ponyo, I really don't like it. I've got enemies, and the human race provides plenty of dangers on their own."

Ponyo chewed on her bottom lip, her eyes bright and on the verge of tears. "I really want to go, Dad," she pleaded.

Fujimoto glanced over at Lisa. She shrugged. "I thought it would be good experience for her, to go see the world."

Fujimoto sighed. Lisa was right, he had to admit, but he just had a really bad feeling. He was prickling all over. "I'm sorry," he finally said.

"Whenever something means a lot to me," Ponyo replied, "You always try to stop me."

Her tone hit Fujimoto like a punch to the gut, leaving him winded and reeling.

She spun around and stalked back to the car, and Sosuke followed her, glancing back at Fujimoto. Lisa stayed for a moment. "Fujimoto," she said. "I know it's hard to let go of her, but she's growing up. She needs her freedom. Making her hate you by trapping her here won't solve anything."

Fujimoto had nothing to reply with, and Lisa returned to her car.

There went his visit.

Fujimoto opened the door to his underwater home and was greeted by a chorus of shouts. Five thirteen-year-olds ran circles around him, asking him where their older sister was, why he was home so early, why he looked so down. He told them Ponyo couldn't make it this time, so he'd come back. Then he asked, "Where's Liam?"

The five of them pointed down the hall. "The office," they said together.

As they'd grown, Fujimoto quickly learned he could keep all of his daughters, so he gave them a choice. They could go and live with their mother, who moved constantly around the sea, or they could live with him. Most of them had taken the first choice, and five stayed behind. Honestly, he hadn't expected any of them to stay, so he felt rather flattered. Still, taking care of five adolescent demigods and making sure nature stayed in balanced was difficult. Which was where Liam came in. Five years back, he'd put out a post for an assistant, and an old friend of his called Liam Macaulay answered. Liam's real name was Xiucoatl, but since he lived in the human realm, he had to have an alias.

Fujimoto pushed open the office door. "I'm back," he said wearily.

Liam turned in his chair, his bright green eyes concerned. "What happened?"

The sea wizard sighed, then explained what had taken place. When he'd finished, Liam scratched his nose and said, "I understand your concerns, but aren't you being a little overprotective?"

"I can't shake the feeling that something terrible will happen if I let her go, though," Fujimoto replied.

Liam ran a hand through his hair. "How many enemies?"

"Enough to make me worry."

Liam rubbed the bridge of his nose. "Maybe you should let her go. Probably, any of these enemies of yours won't even know she's in the country. They're all some form of deity, right?" When Fujimoto nodded, he continued. "Deities don't pay a lick of attention to the comings and goings of humans, and your daughter's a human now. She'll be able to slip in and out just fine. Is there anyone who you know to be in America who you're specifically worried about?"

Fujimoto knew this, but somehow it made him feel better to hear someone else say it. He thought for a moment, uneasiness flickering through him. There was a name on the tip of his tongue, but he knew for sure that that particular god was in the Middle East. So he said, "No."

Liam shrugged. "Then let her go. Let her see the world while she's still young. She'll be okay."

Fujimoto stood in the doorway, torn. Then he spun and ran back down the hallway, back outside and onto his boat.

Liam sighed, doodling a small face on his hand with the pen he was holding. "Not even a thanks," he muttered.

Lisa saw Fujimoto's boat pop to the surface below her house. "Ponyo!" she called. "Your dad's here!"

"I don't care!" Ponyo shouted back.

"Maybe he's changed his mind," Lisa heard Sosuke point out.

Ponyo tore out the back door in a swirl of thudding footsteps and red shirt. Lisa smiled as the teenage girl took the trail down the side of the cliff as fast as she could to greet her dad. Fujimoto held a brief discussion with her, then Ponyo did a little twirl and hugged him around the neck, then began clambering back up the path.

Fujimoto looked up and saw Lisa in the window. Lisa slid open the glass. "I'm glad you changed your mind!" she called down to the wizard.

"Thank Liam!" Fujimoto replied. "I told her to make sure she doesn't do anything that would attract the attention of any nearby gods, and to be careful. The world is a dangerous place!"

Lisa grinned. "She'll be fine!"

Even from the cliff top, Lisa could tell Fujimoto was less than thrilled. "I hope you're right," he said, shaking his head. "For her sake."