Hooray for chapter 6! Enjoy :)
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It was warm.
That was the first thing that came into Jeanette's mind as she awoke. She felt warm and a bit sleepy. She didn't know where she was, but it was relaxing. She wanted to go back to sleep…
"Jeanette…"
"…up."
"Jean…up."
"UP AND AT 'EM, JEANETTE!"
The Chipette jerked upward. Her eyes shot open and she let out a startled cry. As she came to her senses, she realized that she was on land…or more specifically, on a rock. The next thing she noticed was that her vision was clear; though she remembered losing her glasses when…she frowned. What had she been doing?
"Jeanette!" the voice that had startled her out of drowsiness spoke again. It was lively and bubbly. Jeanette could only pair that voice with one person…
No…it couldn't be…
"Jeanie!" a pair of arms wrapped around her, and she found herself on the receiving end of a giant bear hug.
Yep, it was.
"A-Annalise?" Jeanette gasped. "Is that you?"
"You bet your starfish it is!" the pink haired mermaid released her old friend. She was grinning from ear to ear. "It's so great to see you again!"
"H-how…" Jeanette blinked. "What happened?"
"I'll explain soon. Follow me!" Jeanette finally noticed that Annalise had leapt onto the rock, and watched in silent wonder as she propelled herself into the water beneath them. Jeanette started to stand up-
And realized she couldn't feel her legs.
Looking down in alarm, Jeanette saw something she'd thought had left the realm of possibility long ago.
"My…tail…" she breathed. Gingerly, she ran her hand down the familiar purple scales. She remembered how strange and awkward it had seemed the first time she'd had it. Now, however, it seemed almost completely natural, like an old friend who, after seeing them for the first time in ages, you hadn't forgotten a single thing about. A shiver passed through her as her memories of the last few hours came rushing back.
"Jeanette, come on!" Annalise called again. She popped her head above the surface. "We have important stuff to talk about!"
"C-coming!" Jeanette scooted to the edge of the rock. Gazing down at the water, she wondered if she could pull off the same jump Anna had done. Mustering up her determination, she leaped off the rock…and almost collided into her mermaid friend head-first.
"Whoa!" Anna giggled. "Your diving could use a little work, Jean." She helped the Chipette right herself before beckoning her into the sea. "Let's go, no time to waste!"
Jeanette followed Anna into the water. The feeling of its coolness, the smooth way her tail slid through it…it really was like an old friend, a feeling that couldn't be matched. She breathed in deeply. The water actually felt good in her lungs, rolling and replacing the air that she regularly took in. She smiled; not until now had she realized just how much she'd missed being a mermaid.
Annalise led Jeanette through a stone archway into a large cavern. Groups of pale glowing crystals illuminated the cave, casting a bluish light over everything. Jeanette heard voices resonating from the back of the cavern, and the familiarity of them caused her to swim faster.
"Jeanette!"
The Chipette stopped at the sound of her name. Her jaw dropped in shock as the voice's owner rounded the corner.
"S-Simon?" she gasped. She was suddenly wrapped in another bear hug. When Simon finally released her, she was able to take in his appearance: his glasses were gone, as was part of his jersey, which now reached only to his waist. The most shocking thing, however, was the dark blue tail flicking expectantly where the chipmunk's legs used to be. He caught her glance and gave a half-smile.
"Yeah, it's a bit strange for me as well," he rubbed the back of his head. "But everyone else is here, and the same thing happened to them!"
"C'mon, you two!" Anna said. "I'm sure you have a lot of questions."
Annalise led them into a chamber of sorts. It vaguely reminded her of Sherri's lair, but this cave was bright, and had a light, wholesome atmosphere. Shelves stocked with books and bottles lined one wall. In the center of the room was an empty cauldron with what looked like a bubble floating above it. Floating around it were the 'munks and 'ettes, along with Ripple ("Hey Jeanette, long time no see!"). Each of the former chipmunks also had a tail: Alvin's was a bright red, Theodore's a gentle forest green, Brittany's a stunning hot pink, and Eleanor's was a rich shade of lime.
"Jeanette!" her sisters swam to her and locked her in an embrace. The middle Chipette wondered exactly how long she'd been asleep; everyone else seemed used to swimming already.
"Thank goodness you're okay!" Eleanor said. "You're not hurt, are you?"
"I don't think so…" Jeanette looked over her arms. "No, I'm fine. You all are okay, right?"
"It was weird at first, but having a tail is…kind of fun, especially one this beautiful," Brittany said, looking down at her new appendage.
"Well, now that everyone is here, let's get some answers going." Annalise clapped her hands. I'm sure that, first of all, you'd like to know why all of you have tails."
"Yeah, I thought only Jeanette, Brittany, and Eleanor had mermaid powers," Simon pointed out.
"Well, that is true, Simon," Anna started. "You and your brothers don't have any mermaid – or, in this case, merman –powers at all. However, that doesn't prevent your ability to gain them. When you came in contact with a very powerful mermaid magic, it transferred to you as well, therefore turning you into mermen. That powerful magic being Jeanette."
"I thought Queen Marjorie took away my powers, though," Jeanette said. "How come I still have them?"
"That's just the thing," Annalise pursed her lips. "If Marjorie's spell had worked, you wouldn't be here right now."
"Another thing, why are we here, exactly?" Brittany asked. "What was that…thing kidnapping Jeanette?"
"It used to be a mermaid." Ripple said grimly. Anna nodded.
"When we found you all, she was taking you back to whatever sent her. We managed to get you away and into my cove." Anna briefly gestured around the cavern. "You were already transformed when we found you. My guess is that Jeanette's powers hadn't been removed at all, and had just been put in a dormant state. They re-awakened when she inhaled the water. The energy built up from being asleep so long exploded into you."
"Okay, I can comprehend that," Jeanette said. "But why would someone want to kidnap me in the first place?"
"Either another mermaid is after your power…or someone wants revenge." Anna bit her lip.
"You…you don't think Sherri is back, do you?" Simon asked.
"I don't know. I wouldn't be too surprised, though." Anna folded her arms across her chest. "She knows a lot of dark magic."
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"You wanted to see me?"
The grating voice of her underling really annoyed her. She let out an annoyed sigh.
"When are you going to learn how to follow directions?" she said in her soft, yet stern voice. "No-one told you to go and get revenge."
"But you know what she did to me!" Sherri cried. "Her crimes can't go unpunished!"
"Her crimes are not my concern," the soft voice continued. "It is the crimes of her grandfather and grandmother that must be punished. The penalty is severe, and they did not serve it."
"But he's dead. He's already served it!" Sherri objected.
"Not properly, he hasn't."
"Why are you so technical!?"
"I merely enforce the rules as correctly as possible. Unlike my younger sister…" the voice grew bitter. "I have a thorough understanding of law and how to punish those who do not obey it."
"Then you must know that SHE is deserving of great punishment-
"As are you."
"…M-me?" Sherri's voice cracked.
"Your crimes nearly destroyed a capital mermaid city," the voice said. Sherri could hear the smirk in it. "There is no need to call you out. I gave you a chance to redeem yourself. And instead, you use it for your own benefit. Look where that got you."
Sherri glanced down at the sharp, sickly green scales that covered her skin. A surge of anger washed over her. She had half a mind to tell the other mermaid off, but she interrupted her thoughts.
"I will give you one chance to recover them. Bring them to me. Do not be blinded by their misdeeds against you, Sherri."
The green monstrosity of a mermaid scowled. After a moment, she performed an over-exaggerated bow. "Yes, your Highness."
"You are dismissed."
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There you have it!
So, Sherri isn't the main villain? Nope, not at all! There's more to this new voice that meets the…uh, ears?
Stay tuned for the next chapter! …Which probably won't be up until Friday or Saturday.
~Smiley :)