So, let's pick up where we left off. Bridgette just discovered that Blaineley is actually her mother...

Thanks for your review, SilverWriter0927 (because Trent isn't a thief – I only chose Gwen because she's Duncan's only other canonical love interest – I am a Gwent shipper, though), Gage the Hedgehog (most generic review I got...sorry, but it's true), Bloodylilcorpse (nice idea, it's just I see more Zoey as Cinderella), Heather, and the Guest reviewers. But...Labyrinth isn't Disney. Tangled is good, but I don't know...I can't see Tyler as a skilled thief, klutz that he is, and Lindsay has that ditzy sweet personality, but can you see her looking for a way out of a tower if she was told she'd hate it out there?

Okay, and to the other reviewer, xandra19 – I don't think I'll actually do any of the old ones – too unrealistic. But thanks for the other ones – I might end up doing Mulan Gwent-style. I like that idea.

Bridgette blinked at the villainous mermaid, trying to align her with the picture she'd built up of her mother. But her mind wouldn't accept it. How could her own mom have used her that way?

"Maybe you're smarter than I thought." Blaineley mused, circling the young mermaid. "But you should have noticed earlier. I could have used any of your sisters, but you were just much more fun than any of them. You were so ridiculously grateful for the chance I gave you – it was pathetic. Heather, Dakota and Eva would have all known it didn't pay to act like that. You jumped into it straight away, too. Gwen would have actually wanted to think it through – decide when she was calmer, not upset like you were. And you didn't suspect a thing. Izzy and Sierra may be a little strange, but at least they would have thought there was something weird about my offer. Stupid little girl."

Bridgette felt tears in her eyes, but she blinked them back. No way was she going to cry here. But Blaineley saw, and laughed again, knowing what she was feeling. "Crybaby! Don't worry, I'm not going to harm even one blonde hair on that pretty empty head of yours. You're not going to-"

"Give her back now, Blaineley!"

Bridgette's head jerked up at the voice. It was Chris, with Courtney hovering behind.

"Oh, Chris!" Blaineley exclaimed. "Why...it's been a few years." Now was her time, but seeing her ex was a little nervewracking. "So...how have you been?"

"Give my daughter back." Chris ordered. "You had no right to make any kind of deal with her!"

"No chance! She's mine!" Blaineley said firmly. She pulled out Bridgette's contact. "That ridiculous trident of yours may be able to destroy little statues, but this contract is unbreakable. Maybe you should have taught your silly little girl how to know she's being conned."

"Chris, I'm sorry!" Bridgette called out. "If I hadn't been so hurt...I shouldn't have done it...I didn't know..."

"Of course..." Blaineley said slyly. "I may forfeit her...if you make a deal with me."

Chris hesitated at this. He knew what Blaineley would ask for. She wanted to rule the ocean, while he languished alone in exile. But Blaineley continued with other demands.

"As well as ruling, I can reverse exile of my two men," she said, gesturing to the mermen, who were still hovering in the background. "And I want to be able to promise that they can choose to be engaged to MY daughters if they choose so."

Chris scrutinized Alejandro, then Justin. Although he knew that they were bound to be just like Blaineley, he couldn't deny that he could see them making beautiful partners for any of his girls. And besides, he thought, some of them needed to settle down.

"Fine." he said finally. "But if you go back on it..." Bridgette wanted to protest, but she knew Chris wouldn't listen to her. All the same, her head screamed Don't do this! It's you she wants! I made this stupid decision! Let me face the consequences!

"Oh, stop your threats, McLean – go read the contract if you're worried. Everything you need to know is there." Blaineley said carelessly.

Chris signed, and Blaineley smirked. The contract hadn't mentioned the polyp transformation – the many merpeople she'd scammed before exile that lived in her cave with her. Those polyps with her were those merpeople. Sure, she'd considered threatening to reduce Bridgette to the same, but she didn't.

Bridgette (and Courtney) could only watch in horror as the former ruler of the sea became nothing but a tiny creature, easily mistaken for seaweed.

Blaineley picked up the crown and trident. "At last! It's mine! All mine." She turned to her men. "Justin, show the people Chris' contract and get things ready for my return! Alejandro, you have the responsibility of telling my daughters. Show them Bridgette's contract and tell them what their own sister has done. Let me know when you've chosen your one."

Blaineley paid no attention to her youngest daughter, who was trying hard to think of what to do. Courtney sat with her...and suddenly, her eyes lit up.

"Find the boat." she whispered to Bridgette. "Try to find Geoff – climb up like I was trying to – explain everything. I'll try to get DJ and the girls to help me think of a way to defeat Blaineley, but we might need some human help...at least, this time."
So, while Blaineley disappeared to the kingdom she'd been banished from fifteen years before, Courtney followed, desperately trying to beat Alejandro and Justin to the kingdom and her stepdaughters, and Bridgette glided up, up, up, desperate to find the human that, in just a few short days, had become a permanent fixture in her mind.

She was lucky. The ship hadn't moved off yet, and Geoff himself was in one of the attached rowboats. Bridgette heard yelling from the ship, and Geoff calling back "I have to go out! She's obviously in trouble!"

The blonde mermaid swam to the boat as fast as she could and pulled herself up. "Geoff!"

"Bridgette?" Geoff's face went from confusion and concern to relief. "You're okay!"

Bridgette nodded. "But the rest of the ocean floor might not be. I made a really stupid decision a few days ago, and now my father is a polyp and my mother, who was exiled – she's taken over the sea and who knows what she'll do with that power. I know, I should've been able to explain before. But now, we might need your help."

Geoff may not have been the brightest of bulbs, but he didn't need it spelled out. "Right! What do I need to do?"

"I'll report back if I can later on. Make sure everyone's well out of the way while we're still planning." Bridgette said. "If I don't come back, it'll be one of my friends – probably Courtney or DJ...they'll tell you who they are. Be careful about which merpeople talk to you, because she's not the only one – she's got two helpers."

"Don't go!" Geoff pleaded her. "I don't want to lose you! I've only just met you, I know, but I've already decided – I want to get to know you. I feel some kind of connection there."

Bridgette's face softened. "I feel a connection with you, too." she admitted. "But there's no time now! If we don't fix this trouble – trouble that I caused – finding time to get to know each other will be the least of our problems. I don't want anyone to get hurt, and it's not just us – my friends, my sisters and my stepmother are at risk. And my father is too."

At that moment, Courtney surfaced. "Bridgette, back down! Blaineley wants you back with your sisters. I think tomorrow is when she's going to perform this huge ceremony to make herself queen. I have some ideas to stop her, but I need to get you and your sisters to help me." She looked up at Geoff. "I'm guessing Bridgette told you the problems?"

"Yes, and I want to help in any way I can!" Geoff said. "What can I do?"

"I need to talk to Bridgette and her sisters first." Courtney said. She gave a time and place for when she could talk to him. "But right now, it's not safe for us to be caught talking to you. Bye."

Bridgette had to say her goodbyes too, and go back to her home, where her six sisters were, all looking glum.

Yeah, I'm making it longer. Just a little bit, though.