A/N: I think we're getting close to properly starting the story now...

The three of them quickly became close. Oftentimes, they would sneak down to the beach outside Lloyd's house and play around in the water for a bit. Colette was so fascinated by Lloyd's tail, that one day he made them both a necklace with a couple of scales threaded on to wear.

"It's beautiful! Thank you Lloyd," Colette said, hugging him happily.

"Hey, I've heard that mermaid scales can help humans breath underwater!" Genis cried suddenly, before jumping into the ocean and going underneath it. The two of them waited a moment before he came to the surface again, panting. "Okay, maybe not."

"Aren't you supposed to put the scales in your mouth?" asked Colette.

"Really?" Genis mused, popping one in before going under the water again. When he didn't surface for a while, they grew a little worried and Lloyd dived under the surface, looking around for him. He soon spotted the silver-haired elf doing the frog under the water, who grinned at him before waving and going deeper. Lloyd gave a laugh before surfacing, sitting on the sand with his tail in the water.

"He's fine. Apparently scales in the mouth does work."

Colette clapped her hands together. "I'm glad I was right! But I think it has a time limit..."

"Well, I shed scales a lot. I'll just get the extras and you guys can add them to your necklaces, so if you're in a pinch you'll be alright for a while."

"Alright. Thank you Lloyd!"

Lloyd grinned, and they watched as Genis suddenly surfaced, giving a laugh. "That is so cool! Come on Colette, you try!" he urged before going under again.

It was a couple of years later, and the three of them had grown close. They wore the necklaces constantly, hidden underneath their clothes, and both had had to start a new strand due to the first being filled with scales.

However, they were also growing up, and they all knew that soon Colette would be going to Palmacosta to become a Priestess and start on her first pilgrimage around Sylvarant to spread the word of the Goddess. Dirk was also getting bored of living in Iselia, and wanted to move to an area with better resources. It was becoming clear that soon they would all split up.

Knowing this, they tried to spend as much time together as possible, having all sorts of little adventures. Between school, Colette praying, Lloyd crafting, Genis practicing his spells, and going out to play together, they tired out easily and would collapse happily into their beds in the evening to sleep.

One afternoon, Colette had gone up to the temple to pray to the Goddess Martel. There were a few other priests with her, and some citizens as well. While Genis would usually go up to pray with Raine too, she'd never seen Lloyd attend a ceremony - probably because Martel was the one who banished the mermaids to the water.

The Goddess Martel had been an elf who sought to end the war between humans and mermaids. Unable to find a truly peaceful solution, she cast the mermaids to the sea and made it so that they could never walk the earth again; this left the three remaining races to live peacefully together on the land. Although both the elves and humans worshipped her, the dwarves didn't, which Colette didn't really understand but didn't question.

Colette stood, having finished her prayers, and bowed briefly to the statue before turning. As she started for the steps, she heard people running up them and backed off to let them up.

As they piled into the prayer area, however, Colette regretted her choice. Each of the men had weapons lifted, and helmet-like things covered their faces. Colette realised they were Desians - half-elves who, unable to find acceptance on the land, joined the mermaids and helped them attack the humans.

The Desians rushed forward to attack them, and Colette drew her chakrams, intent on protecting as many citizens as she could. Flinging them forward, they cut through several Desians, felling them easily. The rest quickly turned to her, rushing forward to attack. She quickly pushed the few citizens behind the altar then lifted her chakrams again.

As several of them lifted their swords to stab her, one of them suddenly stepped forward.

"Wait. She's a priestess; we should take her back to Lord Yggdrasil."

They hesitated then nodded, surrounding her and quickly disarming her before one of them whacked his hilt on the back of her head. She went limp, eyes swimming, then they began to carry her out of the building. As they ran towards the water, Colette vaguely remembered she couldn't breath underwater and automatically grabbed her necklace, pulling off one of the scales and slipping it into her mouth before they leapt into the water.

"Lloyd! Lloyd!"

Lloyd turned from where he'd been helping Dirk forge, watching as Genis ran towards them. "What's the matter?" he asked, watching as the half-elf stopping infront of him, panting.

"C-Colette...She's been taken by some Desians!"

Lloyd stiffened, then scowled. "I'll go after them. Do the priests know?"

"Yeah...Lloyd, Raine says she'll go after her alone! I don't want her to get hurt!"

"I thought I told you not to tell anyone," a voice snapped behind him, and the boys looked up at Raine standing behind them.

"Professor, has Colette really been kidnapped?" asked Lloyd.

"Yes, unfortunately. But you two are too young to come with me."

"That's not going to stop me. Colette's my friend, Professor; I've got to help."

"That's right! You can't expect me to sit by when Colette's in trouble, Sis."

Raine gazed at them, then glanced at Dirk. He shrugged. "I don't see why they can't join ya, Raine. Lloyd's handy with them swords o' is, and Genis is gettin' to be a mighty strong mage. Takin' them along is pro'ly a good idea. Plus, they'll just follow ya afterwards anyway."

Raine hesitated, then sighed. "Alright, fine. But you both have to be careful, alright? Dirk, the priests said you might have a stone that could allow me to grow a tail."

"Aye, I got a few actually. They're pretty rare - made from the scales of a mermaid's tail. The type those Desians use are a li'l different, though."

'That explains why he wanted some of my scales when I shed them,'

Lloyd realised, watching as he lifted a few out. They were threaded; Raine's was a necklace, while Genis' was a bracelet. He handed Lloyd another necklace, leaning in to whisper in his ear.

"I know ya could do it yerself, but this one's for Colette when ya find 'er. Plus, it'll help ya keep it a secret for a while at least," he murmured. Lloyd blinked then gave him a grin, nodding. He quickly slipped it on, gazing at it a moment before smiling at Dirk.

"We'll have Colette back soon," he promised before they hurried out.

As they ran down to the beach, Genis turned to Raine. "Sis, I thought you didn't like water?"

"I'm not a huge fan, no, but this isn't the time. What about you, Lloyd?"

"Genis has been teaching me how to swim, so I'm okay with water now," Lloyd replied.

They reached the water's edge, and Raine hesitated. "I'm not sure what will happen, so let's figure out a plan first..."

The two boys ignored her, easily diving in. Lloyd quickly felt the tingly sensation and swished his tail slightly, pushing himself forward through the water. He watched Genis float there for a moment, one of the scales in his mouth in case it didn't work, before he gave a gasp and his lower body suddenly changed, becoming a dark blue tail. He swished it, giving a laugh and spinning slightly.

"It looks great, Genis!" Lloyd said with a grin, swimming over to him.

Genis opened his mouth, forming words, though no sound came out. He looked confused, and Lloyd frowned.

"I guess you can't speak underwater because you're not actually a mermaid..." he murmured.

Genis gave a nod, sighing, then pointed upwards. Lloyd nodded, and the two of them quickly went to the surface, breaking it easily and wading there. Raine was at the edge of the water, looking panicky, and they glanced at each other before grinning and diving under again. They easily made their way towards her, pausing under the water. Lloyd lifted his fingers, counting down to zero, before they burst out of the water shouting, "Boo!"

Raine gave a squeal and leapt back, then relaxed as she recognised them. She sighed. "I thought you two had gotten hurt. Don't scare me like that again," she scolded.

"Sorry Raine. But come on in, it's fine," Genis urged.

Raine hesitated, then stepped forward into the water. She went deeper and deeper, until it was up to her hips, and stopped.

"W-When do you grow the tail?" she asked, forcing herself to calm down.

"Well...I don't know. I would have thought you'd have grown one by now," Genis replied, confused.

Lloyd considered. "Maybe you actually have to get the necklace wet."

Raine gulped. "G-Getting that close to the water?"

"It'll be fine. We're both here to help," Lloyd promised, smiling reassuringly.

"And we have to go after Colette, Sis!" Genis added.

Raine glanced between them before nodding, taking a deep breath before plunging into the water. The two boys dove down as well, watching her. She floated for a moment, looking scared, before a deep orange tail suddenly grew. She gasped, letting out her breath, and briefly panicked before realising she could breath fine.

Genis motioned upwards, and they surfaced, Lloyd and Genis grinning at Raine.

"So? What did you think?" asked Lloyd eagerly.

Raine considered. "...It's not as bad as I thought it would be," she admitted finally. She gave a small smile. "It's almost relaxing."

"Then let's get going. You'll get used to it, Professor," Lloyd grinned before diving, Genis quickly following. Raine soon also went under, following behind the two boys and surprised at how easily Lloyd could manoeuvre. Even Genis was having some trouble, though he was obviously better than Raine.

She blinked as she noticed something suddenly. Lloyd was actually faster than them, and often had to glance back and make sure to check his speed so that he didn't go too far ahead. She quickly realised it was because of the primary dorsal and pelvic fins around where his hips would be, which allowed him to be better streamlined and cut through the water easier.

Glancing back at her own tail, she saw she didn't have the same fins. 'Why is Lloyd's different?' she wondered, looking back at it with a frown.

Lloyd suddenly stopped, lifting his hand. The two of them halted in confusion, looking around. Suddenly several fish started swimming around them, before a green and white dolphin appeared. It gave a cry, swimming excitedly, and Lloyd grinned before reaching out a hand. It quickly stopped next to him, and he gently stroked it.

"Who are you?" a voice demanded suddenly, and they watched as a red-haired man with a purple tail swam up infront of them.

Raine attempted to reply, then blinked when she realised she couldn't. The man frowned.

"You are unable to speak...Are you Desians?"

They quickly shook their heads, and Lloyd wished he could explain. The man didn't look convinced, however.

"If you aren't Desians, then you are intruders. Intruders must be killed," he snapped, lifting a hand. The water swirled about it, suddenly becoming a sword.

Lloyd quickly pushed Raine and Genis back, floating infront of them with his expression set. The man scowled then lunged, sword rushing at Lloyd.

The dolphin suddenly headbutted his hand, the sword missing Lloyd by inches. The man looked surprised, turning to the dolphin.

"Noishe, what are you doing?" he asked.

The dolphin - Noishe - gave a series of cries, swimming protectively infront of Lloyd. The man listened for a moment, before relaxing slightly, the sword vanishing.

"Noishe seems to trust you, so I suppose I will take a chance and do the same. Come here a moment."

They hesitated, but Noishe looked at Lloyd, eyes pleading. Lloyd gazed at him a moment, then sighed before nodding to the other two. They glanced at each other before swimming forward. The man lifted his hands to their throats, murmuring something, before they suddenly gasped and drew back as if stung.

"That hurt," hissed Genis, before realising what had just happened.

The man motioned to Lloyd, and he quickly went over to him. When the man lifted a hand to his neck, he blinked before frowning.

"Boy.."

"Don't tell them," Lloyd whispered.

"Very well," the man murmured, withdrawing his hand. Lloyd swam back towards the two of them, who appeared delighted to be able to speak again.

"Anyway, thanks. I'm Lloyd, and these are Genis and Professor Raine. Who are you?"

"Kratos. If you aren't here for a good reason, I suggest you leave; we don't take kindly to outsiders."

"Well, we're looking for our friend. So we can't go yet!" Genis said, folding his arms.

Understanding glowed in Kratos' eyes, and he frowned. "And so you're searching for them? That's very stupid of you." The group frowned, Lloyd opening his mouth to retaliate, but Kratos cut him off. "If you want to find them without dying, you'll need my help."

"Why should we trust you? Mermaids hate the people from the land," Raine said suspiciously.

"Under normal circumstances, I wouldn't particularly care. However, Noishe has grown attached to you, and he is a very good judge of character. If he has chosen to trust you, then I shall as well. Whether you wish to trust me is up to you."

Before the two of them could say anything, Lloyd turned to them. "He has a point. We don't know very much about mermaids, and if we want to find Colette, we'll need all the help we can get."

They hesitated, before finally Raine sighed. "Alright. I'll trust your judgement, Lloyd. But if you show any signs of turning on us, I won't hesitate to attack you," she added, glaring at Kratos.

"As you wish," Kratos replied, before turning and starting off.

The three of them glanced at each other before following after him, Noishe easily keeping pace with Lloyd.

A/N: All the chapters are getting pretty long...Oh well. Anyway, Kratos and Noishe finally arrive! We're actually into the story now, so no more plot-setting :)

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