Alverna: I don't own Yugioh or Barbie in a Mermaid's Tail. But I do own my Own Character (OC) Jade. Enjoy.
Chapter 4: The Destinies
A couple of miles outside of the city, a building with a long tunnel entrance floated with the oceans current, but always stayed by Kehmet. Inside were three female merteens.
One had long blond hair that flowed down her back, purple eyes and a white tail with purple tips. She wore a white tube top with a purple sleeveless jacket over it, and some elbow length, fingerless gauntlets.
The second had shoulder length brown hair, blue eyes, and a tail that was a slightly lighter blue color than her eyes. Her outfit was a sleeveless yellow top and a necklace that said 'Spirit'.
The third and final had long black hair, jade green eyes, and a tail that matched that color perfectly. Her outfit contained a jade green shirt, whose sleeves flowed to her elbows, and a black vest on top. A black and green chocker necklace was her only piece of jewelry.
"Okay." The black haired mermaid said. "Mai, Tea, I'm thinking of a number between 1 and 1,000,000."
"400,220!" The two said mermaids said at the same time.
"No way!" Jade exclaimed. "You got it again! I wonder if this would be more fun if we weren't psychic."
A throat was cleared and the three mermaids looked towards the door to see Duke.
"Destinies." Duke greeted. "His royal majesty seeks guidance about the future."
The doors swung open and Aknadin waltzed inside, with Duke, unfortunately, getting caught between the door and the wall. Ouch.
"Some warning would have been nice." Duke weakly muttered from the floor.
"Tell me dear Destinies," Aknadin said as he sat down in his usual chair, ignoring Duke, "tell me that I will rule over Kehmet forever."
"Ugh!" Tea exclaimed. "Just look at all of this grease. Yuck. Has it really only been one day?"
"And your color, ew." Jade added. She hated seeing clashing colors. It gave her a headache.
"Product Aknadin." Mai scolded. "You have to use product."
"The shadow magic is weak." Tea said in a monotone voice as a white blue color surrounded her. "Without a change you will poison Kehmet."
"Yes, yes." Aknadin said, a bit annoyed. "I know. I told you I'm working on that."
"You won't have time." Jade said as the blue white glow surrounded her and Mai. "Aknankanon's son has become of age."
"WHAT!" Aknadin screamed as he leapt out of his chair. Duke wisely stayed hidden behind another chair.
"Aknankanon's son is coming for you." Jade said.
"Aknankanon has no son." Aknadin said firmly.
"There is a son." Mai replied. "A son who can destroy you."
"Well," Aknadin stammered. "Then I will destroy the son first. Where can I find him?"
Aknadin towered over Jade. The glow left the girls and Jade waved a hand in front of her face.
"Mai, Tea," Jade said, "do we have any more of those breath mints?"
Mai and Tea started laughing.
"I demand you tell me where the son is!" Aknadin raged.
"Now Aknadin," Mai intervened, "you know that two much predicting is bad for us."
"Yeah." Tea added. "We get headaches and all that good stuff."
"Ah!" Aknadin cried out in frustration. "Duke, the door."
"It's right there, my pharaoh." Duke said as he timidly swam out from behind his chair.
"Get. The. Door." Aknadin ground out.
"Yes my pharaoh." Duke quickly swam to do what was asked.
"Mark my words, I will destroy Aknankanon's son!" Aknadin growled the first part and shouted the last.
Meanwhile, Yami followed Yugi as the group swam to the Destinies' Hall.
"You'll love the Destinies." Ryou said. "They're so understanding of everyone."
"But they can be a little blunt." Joey added.
"They can't be blunter than my friend Bakura." Yami replied. "You would think 'Blunt' is his middle name, but when really it's Dianna."
"Dianna?" Yugi snickered.
"I didn't say anything." Yami chuckled as well.
"I will destroy Aknankanon's son!" A voice was heard shouting from the other side of the door they were swimming to.
"Aknadin!" Ryou yelped.
"Come one Yami." Yugi grabbed his hand and pulled him behind one of the pillars as the doors opened.
"We just need to find the boy." Aknadin growled back towards Duke. "Where-"
"Pharaoh Aknankanon!" Malik gushed.
"What are you doing here?" Aknadin snapped.
"The Destinies are having a two for one sale on scale moisturizer." Joey said. "I promised my sister I would get her some."
"Well," Aknadin thought for a few seconds, "since you are here, you will be the first to know of my kingdom wide edict."
"Another one?" Duke asked, looking like he was going to collapse.
"I hereby declare," Aknadin started, "that any strangers, or anyone suspicious in Kehmet, must be turned into me immediately."
Duke rolled his eyes, and focused on one of the pillars. He thought he saw something.
"Duke!" Aknadin snapped. "Are you listening to me?"
"Yes your highness." Duke bowed.
"And anyone who violates this law," Aknadin continued, "will be sentenced to a lifetime in my dungeons."
The three mermen in front of Aknadin, plus Duke, all looked at each other. This was bad. Aknadin had finally flipped.
"Have you three seen anyone strange?" Aknadin looked at Ryou, Malik, and Joey.
"No your majesty." Malik replied. "Ryou and I were in the shop immediately after the Festival. That is, until Joey decided to drag us along when he went shopping for his sister."
"No one asked you to come." Joey shot back.
"I came because I like the magazines." Ryou smiled, and Malik completely blanched.
"Oh no." Malik moaned. "I'm doomed."
"Did you see anyone?" Aknadin asked Joey.
"I did see someone." Joey admitted, and Yami felt his hear stop. "Right by the Seaflora Flower Shop, immediately following the Festival."
"What did this stranger look like?" Aknadin demanded.
"I was actually wondering how much he charged." Joey said with a grimaced.
Yami felt like pounding his new friend. He was not a prostitute.
"Where did he go?" Aknadin asked.
"Towards the western coral, out of town."
"Out of my way." Aknadin snapped. These boys were now of no used to him right now, but he needed them so he could keep up with the latest fashions. Not that he ever wore any of them.
"Here we go again." Duke muttered. "See you later guys."
"Bye Duke." Ryou chirped.
"That was close." Yami muttered as Duke swam off.
"I know." Yugi agreed. "Come on." And the two swam down the hall, the others following. Pushing open the doors, Yami got his first glance at the mermaids.
"Hey Yugi." The brown haired one said, waving.
"Hi Tea." Yugi replied.
"These are the Destinies?" Yami asked
"You'd better believe it." The blond haired one said with a -you argue with me you are in so much trouble- tone of voice.
"Lay off him Mai." The final blacked haired mermaid said. "He's not from around here."
"Is it that obvious?" Yami asked with a cringe.
"Afraid so." The one who defended him replied.
"Alright Jade." Mai relaxed. "I love the neck belt."
"Sit, sit." Tea encouraged, and Yami sat in the chair they were gesturing to.
"Well, that will hold Aknadin off." Joey said as he closed the doors.
"But not for long." Ryou pointed out.
"Yeah." Malik agreed. "Aknadin won't rest until he finds Aknankanon's son."
"Aknankanon's son." Tea said in a monotone voice as the blue white glow surrounded her and her fellow psychics, making Yami turn in his chair to look at them. "Atemu."
"You are destined to overthrow Aknadin," Jade continued in the same tone, "but the tools you need are spread far and wide."
"Without them," Mai added on, "you will not succeed."
"The Millennium Puzzle." Tea said as she manipulated a picture with the light in the room to show an upside-down pyramid with the Millennium Symbol on it.
"The Dreamfish." Mai added as she changed the light to show a blue fish.
"And Aknadin's own protective necklace." Jade finished as she changed the light, showing a grey seashell on a fresh piece of grey twine.
"So," Yami said, beginning to think, "if I gather all of these things and defeat Aknadin, will I be normal again?"
"You will get what you seek." Jade said.
Yami felt his heart leap. Then it accrued to him. This was almost too good to be true.
"Wait." Yami said firmly. "How do we know this is for real and not something you're making it up?" As he waited for an answer the glow vanished.
"You don't." Tea simply said.
Oh, joy.
"That's all for today." Mai drew out. "But, we are having a sale on scale moisturizer. Two for one!"
"That's why I'm here." Joey grinned.
"Serenity put you at it again?" Jade asked with an all knowing grin.
"You know it." Joey replied.
"Okay," Yugi grabbed Yami's wrist, "before we get all caught up in this, beauty stuff, we have to go. We were just given a job to do."
"Yeah." Yami agreed, despite Joey's and Ryou's groans of protest.
"Atemu." Yami turned back at the door to see Jade glowing again. "Tell Bakura he will be bumped up to the Masters Surf Team before the next meet."
"Okay." Yami said, a bit weirded out. The glow around Jade faded and she giggled and looked to her fellow mermaids.
"I have no idea what that means."
As the group swam away from the Hall, Yami thought about what he needed to get. First, the Millennium Puzzle.
"Yugi." Yami stopped swimming.
"Yes Yami?" Yugi turned around.
"You told me that you would tell me about the Millennium Item and what they did." Yami said. "Now seems like a good time, since we're looking for the Millennium Puzzle."
"Okay." Yugi nodded, and swam down to a bunch of rocks they could hide behind on the ocean floor. "First, the Millennium Scales, held by High Priest Karim. The Scales are used to sense the balance of good and evil in a person's heart, and also contains the power of duel monster fusion. I believe you call it Polymerization in your Duel Monsters game.
"Next is the Millennium Ring, owned by High Priest Mahad. The Ring can sense the presence of an evildoer and can sense the other Millennium Items, like a dousing rod.
"Third is the Millennium Necklace, born by High Priestess Isis. That is used to see visions of the near future, and occasionally the past.
"There's the Millennium Key, wielded by High Priest Shada. It is used to look into a person's soul and actually see the good and evil, as well as if there is a Ka. Rumors also say it can look into your 'soul room', whatever that is.
"High Priest Seth holds the Millennium Rod. Its uses are sealing a person's Ka, if it is a threat, as well as control your mind if you are not careful.
"And lastly, the Millennium Puzzles. That is used for, well, I'm not sure. But my grandfather said that the box it was originally held in has this description, 'The one who solves me shall gain the powers and knowledge of darkness'. Though I got no clue what that means. It was also said that the person who solves the puzzle will be granted one wish. The pharaoh is usually the one to wear it."
"What a mouthful." Joey commented.
"How do you know all of that anyway?" Ryou asked.
"I have a grandfather who is the Head Advisor in the Pharaoh's court, remember?"
"Oh yeah."
"So we need to find the Millennium Puzzle." Yami stated. "Where is it?"
"No one knows." Joey said flatly.
"What?" Yami asked, just as flat.
"I said earlier, when we first came to Kehmet, the Millennium Puzzle disappeared the same time Pharaoh Aknankanon had." Yugi intervened. "It has been assumed that he hid it."
"The question is where." Malik's shoulders drooped.
"I remember something grandpa told me." Yugi answered. "Pharaoh Aknankanon confided with him on many topics he refused to tell others about."
"And?" Joey asked
"Pharaoh Aknankanon said the puzzle was 'where merfolk could see, but never touch'."
"Big help." Malik rolled his eyes.
"We could ask grandpa." Yugi said defensively.
"We don't have anything to lose." Yami agreed.
"Except your soul if you get caught." A familiar voice said.
Alverna: That's the end of this chapter.
-Readers send her death glares; some grab their torches and pitchforks-
Alverna: Okay! Okay! I'll finish!
"Gah!" Joey jumped and whirled around. "You arrogant prick! Quit sneaking up to places where you don't belong!"
"But it's so much fun to watch you freak out dogfish." The same snide voice said. Yami knew he knew who it was, but he couldn't put his finger on who it was. Couldn't see him either.
"Why you!" Joey lunged at the figure in front of him. As he moved out of the way, Yami got a good look at the person Joey was irritated at.
He wore a creamy under tunic with a blue outer tunic on top of that. Golden arm cuffs ran from his wrist to his elbows, while a golden belt circled his waist. A priest hat covered his hair and an odd staff, which Yami assumed was the Millennium Rod, hung loop on his belt.
What caught Yami's attention though, was his icy blue eyes and seashell necklace around his neck.
"Kaiba?" Yami gasped.
Alverna: Should I leave it here?
-Readers send her death glares, again; reach for their torches and pitchforks, others pick up flames to add into their reviews-
Alverna: Never mind!
"Yami." Seto gave a brief nod.
"You know each other?" Malik yelped.
"Rivals." Yami gave an offhanded shrug. "What are you doing here?"
"I could be asking you the same thing Sennen." Seto shot back.
"Sennen?" Yugi asked.
"Last name." Yami quickly answered.
"Why are you here?" Seto said threw gritted teeth.
"Like you weren't eavesdropping?" Yami said with an eye roll.
"You're trying to find the Millennium Puzzle." Seto said with a sigh, knowing it was useless to deny it.
"And fulfill his destiny." Malik added.
"I'm only doing this so I can return to normal." Yami glared at Malik.
"Creepy how he acts like Marik." Seto commented.
"You think I didn't notice that?" Yami turned his glare to his brunette rival.
"Who's Marik?" Joey asked.
"One of my insane friends." Yami answered. "He actually looks like Malik only, uh, rougher."
"That is creepy." Ryou shuddered.
"Don't shudder to soon." Yami turned his attention to him. "I mentioned Bakura earlier, and he looks like you, only crazier. Kind of like how I look like Yugi, only not."
"This is insane!" Joey practically screeched.
"What was the first clue dogfish?" Seto asked.
"Don't start." Yami growled. "Kaiba, please answer why you are here, besides the fact you are High Priest Seth."
"I found out about this part of me a few months ago." Seto said. "I took a medical leave, so I could sort things out. Eventually I found out that my necklace changes my forms from merman to human and back again."
"Okay then," Yami nodded. "Now back to the first item. It's 'where merfolk can see, but not touch'."
"That doesn't give us much to go on." Ryou sighed.
"Wait." Yami said as a thought popped into his head. "I have an idea, but I need to check something first." Yami lifted his wrist and pressed the on button on his video watch. "Yes! I have bars!"
Back in Malibu, Bakura was throwing darts at the dartboard of people he hated, Rex Raptor and Weevil Underwood included.
Marik was actually studying, something that worried Bakura. Marik never studied. A very familiar ding came from the computer, breaking Bakura's concentration.
"Yami's calling!" Marik yelled as he bolted towards the computer. "Put him on screen."
Same old Marik. Never mind.
"Keep your surfboard under you, ya wild one." Bakura pushed Marik away from his laptop. "I'm going."
With a few clicks and taps on the keyboard, Yami's face appeared on the screen.
"Yami, are you okay?" Bakura said as immense relief filled him.
"I'm fine," Yami said before a rampage could start. "I'm in Kehmet. And I've made some new friend, along with an old rival."
"Say what?" Marik asked.
"Leave me out of this!" Seto's voice came from off-screen.
"Kaiba!" Bakura and Marik yelped.
"Yep." Yami grinned. "But first, I have something I need you-"
"Are those more humans?" Ryou interrupted as his face, along with Malik's, appeared on the screen.
Bakura's and Marik's jaws drop. They didn't know that they also had merfolk look-alikes.
"Do they have toes to?" Malik asked, earning weird looks from everyone, except Marik.
"Five on each foot," he grinned as he put his foot up on the desk. "Check 'em out."
"Are those real merfolk?" Bakura asked, still slightly skeptical.
"Yep." Yami nodded. "Bakura, Marik, meet your merman look-alikes, Ryou, and Malik."
"Hi!" Marik said.
"I like your shirt." Malik said. "Matches your eyes."
"Uh," Marik wasn't sure how to respond to that. It wasn't everyday a merman compliments your clothing choices.
"They run a fashion store." Yami grinned. It wasn't everyday Marik was speechless. "Anyway, why I called. I need you guy to run a search on 'Millennium Puzzle'."
"That I can do." Bakura said as he pulled up a search engine and typed in 'Millennium Puzzle'. "Nothing comes up."
"See," Malik groaned, "it doesn't exist."
"We don't know that for sure." Yami said, not willing to be stuck with weird hair for the rest of his life. "What did you say about it Yugi? It's where 'merfolk could see…'."
"'…but never touch'." Yugi finished. "Right."
"Where could that be?" Yami asked.
"We can't touch things on dry land." Malik offered.
"But we can't see them there very well either." Ryou added.
"So it would have to be underwater." Yami concluded. "But in a place you couldn't reach."
"But where could that be?" Joey punched the sand in frustration.
"Bakura," Yami focused on his friends again, "can you look up and see if there are any underwater caves off the coast? One's with big air pockets in them?"
"On it." Bakura typed in the search engine again. "Yes. There is. Big Yafos Cave. About 40 miles southwest form the coast of Malibu."
"Great!" Yami cheered.
"I know where that is." Malik grinned.
"Then let's go." Joey said as his tail twitched with excitement.
"One sec." Yami rolled his eyes. "Bakura, great news. Coach is going to bump you up to the Masters Surf Team before the next meet."
"Wait." Bakura gave him a skeptical look. "How do you know that?"
"I have my sources." Yami loved to tease Bakura. "Talk to you later. Bye!"
"Have fun on your wild goose chase." Seto said. "I have to report in to Aknadin. If I stay any longer I could lose my soul."
"See you later Kaiba." Yami nodded briefly.
"Don't get killed." Seto replied. Wait, Kaiba cared? "I still have to beat you in the tournament."
"That only will happen if all of Team San Francisco gets pummeled." Yami reminded him.
"Between the two of us, it will happen." Seto said, then turned and swam back towards Kehmet.
"Jerk." Joey muttered.
"True." Yami agreed. "But I would rather have him as my ally than my enemy."
"Well let's get going." Ryou said, ready for Aknadin to fall from power.
"Follow me." Malik grinned.
"Malik, last time we followed you, we got hopelessly lost." Ryou reminded.
"Oh yeah!" Malik had the decency to look sheepish.
"Don't worry." Yugi shook his head with a smile. "I know the way."
"Then let's go." Yami said firmly, and they all swam after Yugi.
Alverna: That's it. Chapter updates for this one is really going to slow down now.
Review?