A/N Here it is, the final chapter! Thank you everyone who has read up to this point and especially to those who reviewed the last chapter, before this was posted, chinaluv and Elements1999!

This has been a lot of fun to write, my longest fanfic yet in terms of words, and I hope you guys enjoy it too! I'm happy to have it finally come to a conclusion!

Chapter 15: Conclusion

Emma's P.O.V.

It was much better than I could have even imagined that my parents were able to get to Mako at the time they did. When the adrenaline wore off I could really feel the toll of these events, I haven't even slept since I woke up on the beach, and I struggled to keep my focus. Still I did my best, my friends were injured, badly. Not one of them even questioned as we were magically hoisted onto the ship.

Ash had been grazed by a bullet and was still bleeding, I don't think the classic guardian outfits were made bulletproof. It was hard to see when we were in the water, but after coming onto the deck of my parent's boat and drying off, Rikki had a nasty gash on her right leg. And along with the bruises around her neck, Cleo had cuts and red marks around her ankles and wrists from attempts to break the rope Hennings had used to bind them together. They were all taken care of immediately once we got on board, Lewis and Felix helped our dad, the king to bandage up the wounds and stop the bleeding. I would have helped with that as well but my mother pulled me aside for a different task. With a few magical ingredients she had brought from Sirenthia just for a case like this, she showed me how to make a healing salve. Once it was applied to my friends' wounds they healed completely, not even leaving a scratch.

We didn't really speak, everything was still too fresh. With everyone healed but near completely worn we were lead to a couple rooms on this big ship where we could finally rest knowing we were all safe and sound.

When I woke up only a few hours had passed but it felt a lot longer, definitely a much needed rest. Everyone around me was still asleep though, and there was no way I was going to be the one to disturb them, they looked so at peace. So instead I snuck up onto the deck of the ship

I walked to the front looking out at the ocean. I was surprised to find the boat was docked at a harbor I actually recognized. This boat didn't exactly blend in.

"Don't worry, there's a concealer spell on it," My mom said, surprising me a bit, it was like she could read my mind. She joined me at the railing.

"Thanks for coming … I'm sorry I ran out like I did," I apologized.

"It's alright, I understand. Your friend was in danger and you did what you needed to," She replied, "Ricardo has been arrested, Clarissa said he was the man who triggered your premonition."

"Lewis said Hennings probably still had connections on the island," I said, I'm not sure how they had felt about the guardian before discovering he was a rat.

"We had our suspicions," She nodded.

"Are they going to have to forget?" I asked without thinking.

"What makes you say that?" She returned.

"It's just," I struggled to find the words, "Lewis explained how dangerous it was to get others involved. They all put their lives on the line today, and I guess I was just wondering if there was some kind of policy, will they have to forget it all?"

"It's true there are some dangers as you've witnessed," She conceded, "We typically keep ourselves hidden from the outside world for such reasons. But I know you care for your friends and they care much for you, I trust you know what's best for them. There's no need to be hasty, you have time to make a decision. We will be staying a few days at least, I was hoping to meet and thank Lisa and Neil."

"I think they'd like to meet you too," I smiled.

"I'll give you some time to think about everything, I know you've had a rough day," My mom said putting a reassuring hand on my shoulder, "But remember I will always be here if you need me." Then she left and I was alone again looking out at the sea, which was unsurprisingly calming.

Okay, so it was all up to me. At the beginning of all this craziness, when I first found out I was adopted, it seemed like the best thing to do was tell my friends everything. Friends don't keep secrets, right? But then Lewis came around and everything changed, he convinced me how important it was to keep some things secret. Today, I truly learned why.

It didn't escape me that the only people who got out of the confrontation without injury were Lewis, Felix and myself. Cleo, Rikki, and Ash's lives were on the line, and only because they happened to be close to me. It shouldn't be that way. Plus, I am going to have to move to Sirenthia soon, I was going to have to leave them behind. How could I protect them from threats they only face because they know me when I'm hours away? I could never forgive myself if they faced more serious injuries because some of Hennings followers rise from the ashes of his defeat and seek revenge? And I couldn't ask them to come with me to Sirenthia, just uproot them like that. They deserve to live the normal life, with magical mermaid perks, that I was coming to appreciate more and more as I came to fully realize my life could never return to that.

Whether we like it or not our lives are drifting apart, and I have to make sure they don't suffer because of me.

I recalled a spell I had seen in the old family book, a spell to alter reality, and I made my decision.

Lewis was the next one up, and he joined me on the deck. I told him what I was going to do. He looked kind of sad, but I think he understood why I had to do it, and he was ready to help. After Lewis left me, to explore the ship as he put it, someone else joined me on deck.

It was Ash, he didn't say anything at first, just stood next to me looking out at the waves. I didn't even have to turn to know it was him, I could just sense it. I was afraid to face him, I didn't know what to say. What do you say to the person who literally took a bullet for you? What do you say when you've been keeping secrets that have just recently come out in the open, we hadn't had anytime to talk about it yet. What do you say when soon, you're going to be covering your secrets again and you have to leave them behind?

"Thank you," I said, finally turning to him.

"Thank you too," He replied, with a small smile as he looked back, "I saved your life, you saved mine, I think we're even now."

"Why did you do it?" I asked, I could feel tears coming to my eyes as I recalled the scene from just earlier this morning, but I wiped them away, "Why did you risk your life for mine?"

"Why?" He looked confused, not by his actions but by my question, "Because I love you."

I was stunned, this is the first time he's ever said that to me.

"After all I did? After all I put you through? All the secrets?" I asked.

"Yes, I don't like secrets but I know you were going through a lot and your heart's always been in the right place," He explained, "I love you, Emma."

He surprised me further with a hug, after a moment I reciprocated. In his embrace I felt so safe, I could feel the tears returning.

"I-I love you too," I replied as we came out of the embrace though our hands still interlocked, "But-" the words caught in my throat.

"But what?" He urged gently.

"But I have to leave, soon," I turned away, "I have to go to Sirenthia, and I don't know when or if I'll ever come back."

"I'll just have to come with you then," He stated after a moment of thought.

"What?" I asked, giving him a look I hoped conveyed how crazy I thought that was.

"If you can't stay here, then I'll go with you," He repeated.

"No I can't ask you to do that," I told him, "Leave your family, friends and well everything behind just to be with me."

"You don't have to ask me, I know what it means, and I want to do it. Plus it's not like you're going to another planet" he winked, "I'm sure I'd be able to find my way back to Australia if I ever needed to. As long as you want me to come, I want to go with you. I want to have the chance to know the real you. I want to give this relationship a real shot with all the cards on the table."

"You mean it?" I asked in disbelief.

"I do." He insisted.

I explained to him what was going to happen when I leave, and though I could tell he didn't like it, he didn't argue.

Then I introduced Ash to my new found parents and filled them all in on what we had discussed. I think they hit it off great!

Finally I left them to their conversation when Cleo and Rikki came up together. I apologized profusely for what had happened, though they insisted they didn't blame me. They were in better spirits than I thought they'd be. I wound up filling them in on what I hadn't already told them, confirming what Lewis had told Rikki but the information was new to Cleo. I also wound up telling them I was going to have to leave, for a really long time. They made me promise to come back and visit, and I really hoped I would.

It was still early in the afternoon when my mother insisted we go visit my adopted family. Her and father had even cast a translation spell he dug up so they could understand and speak English fluently. I knew it was a good idea but I was really nervous because I had no idea how to explain all the worry I must have put them through, it's been days since I've seen them with only one phone call yesterday. Plus I had no idea how they were going to react to everything I had to tell them now … Anyway Cleo, Rikki, and Ash each went their separate ways for the time being, they probably to their own families to assure them that they are safe and sound.

When we got to my house the first thing my mom (Lisa) did, to my surprise, was give me a hug.

"I'm so glad you're back, where have you been?" She didn't sound mad, she sounded worried. I could see Elliot and dad (Neil) close by in the kitchen, listening in.

"There some things I need to tell you, all of you," I stated, walking further into the house and ushering in Lewis and our parents, I could hear their gasps. Even though they had changed into more civilian like clothes, they still had quite a regal presence, "Mom, dad, I've found my birth parents, meet Christine and Leonardo of Sirenthia. These are my adoptive parents, Lisa and Neil, and my brother Elliot."

"Thank you so much for keeping my dear daughter safe for all these years. I've heard great things, she was lucky to find such a loving home as yours," Christine gushed to Lisa as they exchanged a handshake.

"Why, thank you," Lisa responded shyly.

"Sirenthia? Forgive me I don't think I've heard of that country, where is it?" Neil asked curiously.

"Oh you wouldn't have, it's a beautiful island in the middle of the ocean," Leonardo explained, "It's quite isolated from the rest of the world and we like to keep it that way."

"Lewis, why are you here?" Elliot asked bluntly.

"Well, neither of us found out until very recently, but Lewis is actually my twin," I explained.

"But you've known each other forever, Lewis were you adopted too?" Lisa asked, surprised, maybe that she hadn't noticed any resemblances before. I mean I kind of felt that way too but it isn't very obvious we're related.

"Not really …" Lewis replied hesitantly.

"I can explain everything, but you're all going to want to sit down for this," I stated, and led everyone into the living room. Once everyone was settled, they looked to me expectantly.

"Okay, now warning this is going to sound unbelievable but the proof is right in front of you so please keep an open mind, and a lot of this will have to just stay between us," I warned my parents, keeping in mind how nervous I had always been about them finding out I was a mermaid; this was so much more. They nodded their understanding, though of course they didn't understand what they were about to hear, so I took a deep breath and continued, "Christine and Leonardo are the rulers of Sirenthia, the Queen and King, Lewis and I are prince and princess. This is why I was so elaborately dressed when you found me. I'm the heir to the throne, which is why when I was three, I was kidnapped. He tried to flee with me in a plane but he crashed near Mako Island, he died on impact but I swam to safety on Mako which is why you found me there. Lewis was sent here to live with bodyguards for his safety. Sirenthia has been isolated from the rest of the world for a long time, so that is why no one understood the language I spoke and why no one responded to the flyers, it didn't reach them."

"Cool," I heard Elliot sort of whisper. I smiled, I'm glad he was impressed, but I was more worried about how Lisa and Neil were taking it, they were shocked silent for a while.

"But … you've known each other since kindergarten, why didn't you recognize each other?" Lisa asked eventually.

"Well you know I had amnesia, so I had no idea who he was," I explained, but I wasn't sure how to explain Lewis' apparent amnesia.

"And Lewis didn't recognize her because of me," Leonardo confessed, "When Lewis was sent to live with the guardians I modified his memory to believe they were his family for 10 years, so he would remember the truth when he turned 13. The cover up was important for his safety and we wanted him to have a happy childhood, even if it wasn't with us."

"Wait, you modified his memory? How?" Neil asked baffled.

"Remember when I told you to keep an open mind? Well, he used magic. All of Sirenthia's rulers, my ancestors, have been wielders of magic, with different gifts but also shared abilities to perform spells," I tried to explain without shocking them too much.

"A child's magical specialty usually manifests itself around their 17th birthday," Christine explained.

"M-magic?" Lisa asked astounded, Neil looked doubtful.

"Like card tricks and hypnotism and bunnies out of hats, right?" Neil asked, with a nervous laugh.

"No, real magic. Like telekinesis, premonitions, Cryokinesis, that kind of thing," I insisted.

"Wow, can you show us?" Elliot asked excitedly.

"I don't really have my powers under control at the moment, but perhaps Lewis can give us a demonstration?" I looked over to him. I could hardly freeze up the whole place and even if I did get a premonition when I tried it would hardly be as visually impressive as Lewis' object manipulation.

"Well sure, what's something you want right now, maybe something from your room? Something I've seen before," Lewis asked.

Elliot took a few moments to think, "My soccer ball?"

"That'll work," Lewis said, and after a few moments of concentration Elliot's soccer ball fell and bounced right in front of him.

"That's awesome!" Elliot exclaimed.

"Remember Elliot, no playing soccer in the house," Lisa admonished.

Elliot stayed sitting with his ball and a beaming grin. Too bad Neil and Lisa didn't look as happy, they looked confused, concerned, and doubtful.

"It's okay, I know this is a lot to take in, but it's all true and if you have any doubts or questions, I can answer them," I stated.

"Where have you been the past couple days? You weren't really at Cleo's house were you," Lisa asked, looking almost disappointed since she just uncovered my lie.

"Well I did go to a sleepover at Cleo's but … the next day I found myself at Sirenthia and I found my birth parents. I spent the day with them. I didn't know the best way to tell you guys where I was without explaining all this stuff which I thought would be better to do in person," I explained to the best of my ability trying to put off my last, and arguably biggest, surprise.

"Wait, what do you mean you 'found yourself' on Sirenthia? How did you get there? And why didn't you tell us before you went, we would have understood," Lisa insisted.

"It's a bit more complicated than that," I sighed.

"You mean they don't know?" Christine asked concerned.

"That's a little more complicated too," I replied, "Okay whatever, everything's coming out in the open anyway, and I knew I couldn't keep this secret forever. Remember when I quit the swim team?"

They nodded.

"Well, it wasn't because I didn't want to swim anymore, in fact I wanted to swim more than ever, but I couldn't do it competitively anymore," I tried to explain.

"Why didn't you say so, we would've understood," Lisa stated, not understanding.

"Not exactly, I guess a better way to put it is I couldn't swim publicly anymore," I tried.

Elliot's eyes lit up with realization, "Kim was right! You're a mermaid!"

I smirked, "Yup, you junior sleuths almost got me last year."

"Wait, what?" Neil asked.

"I'm a mermaid," I stated, confident that even if they took the news badly, though I really hoped they wouldn't, I had a magical resolution in the form of dimenticum, "I became one a couple years right before I quit the swim team with Cleo and Rikki on Mako Island. I've known about magic for quite a while. The full moon can mess with our minds if we look at it or it's reflection, which is why I totally messed up your birthday party by the way, still sorry about that, and why we regularly had sleepovers on those nights. When I stayed at Cleo's it was a full moon and it compelled me to swim to Sirenthia and I woke up on the beach. Another effect is we forget whatever we did while 'moonstruck,' which has led to many awkward situations."

At last everything was out in the open. I have to admit it did feel pretty good to get it all off my shoulders. Neil and Lisa had a lot of questions, all I had answers too, and I was happy to see that with time they were coming to terms with all this wild new information. Lisa, Neil, and even Elliot promised not to tell anyone. My parents were even able to answer some questions they had about Sirenthia, until they were caught up to speed with all that I knew about my birthplace. It must have been hours since we began, it was getting late. So I finally decided to ask the question that had been weighing on my mind.

"So as the heir to the throne I have to go back to Sirenthia. I have to train to rule, I have to get my powers under control. I don't want to leave you guys but it is just something I have to do," I explained, "And it's more than that. Sirenthia still has powerful enemies, and everyone who knows me could be in danger. Before I leave we're going to cast a spell to protect them. But you're my family and I don't want to just leave you, would you consider coming to see Sirenthia and spending some time there with me?"

"Of course we would," Lisa said with no hesitation. It was discussed further and they eventually decided to spend about a year on Sirenthia. Elliot was super pumped, and I was starting to feel a lot better about going to Sirenthia to live.

Everything went pretty quickly after that. Leonardo and Christine couldn't stay too long, and just two days later we were having a going away party including everyone who knew us, our departure to be early the next morning. I mingled with everyone but of course spent the majority of the time with Cleo, Rikki, Lewis, and Ash. Even though I had also spent the entire day with Cleo and Rikki, starting with a morning swim, then a trip to the amusement park (not water rides), and a trip to the Juicenet for old time's sake before the party. They knew I was leaving so they enjoyed the day and were just as sad about our separation as I was but they had no idea about my plan because I know sure as hell they wouldn't approve and yet I couldn't convince myself it wasn't the right thing to do.

The party, for all the short term planning and magical compelling it took to get so many people here, was a success. And by 7 it was time to do probably the hardest thing I will ever do in my life. I went with Ash and my family, adopted and by birth, into the house. We all held hands to form a circle, Lewis, our parents, and I began to chant a pre-rehearsed spell over a pre-made potion. It was in a long-forgotten language so I didn't focus too much on the words but on what, by the description accompanying it in the book, I knew it would do, what I particularly wanted it to do. The potion bubbled and sparked to life with each word. After repeating the incantation three times it sparked very brightly and the room filled with smoke for a few moments. My parents confirmed it had worked.

We went out and announced how happy we were to leave tomorrow for our 'trip around the world.' It was the cover story of course. The difference now was that everyone, even the people who had once known of Sirenthia, of all these new secrets that had been revealed since I found out I was adopted, would too believe this lie. They would all believe this until they didn't have to anymore, until they've completely forgotten about us. It wasn't permanent, and that's why I chose it, the moment they saw any member of my family, Ash or I they would recollect their memories associated with that person, so it's more like the memories are tucked away rather than erased. Which means Cleo and Rikki will probably be fairly mad if/when I do return for casting the spell, but also that they will be safe in their lack of knowledge of me or Sirenthia while I'm away.

I tried, and failed, to hold back tears as I hugged my friends goodbye for the last time in who knows how long, but I was comforted with visions of them happy and safe when we come together at some point in the future. I knew then I definitely had made the right decision.

3rd Person P.O.V.

Off in Sirenthia Emma began her training, to control her magic and to eventually become Queen, with many loved ones around to be great support.

And back in Australia well, lots of things changed. With Emma and Ash gone Wilfred unfortunately wound up closing the Juicenet for good. Cleo and Rikki eventually forgot about Emma for the time being, and met a new mermaid named Bella from Ireland. With no memory of Emma they forgot the significance of the lockets and wound up trading them for blue crystals from the moon pool. Though Emma resolutely wore her own as a reminder of her promise to visit.

Lewis had grown much better at hiding his own secret and continued his training in Australia, while still keeping regular contact with the happenings in Sirenthia. He rarely found a need to lie anymore, that is except perhaps when he 'went to America to study'.

And when they all reunite in the future, this will be the summer they never forget (again).

A/N There you have it! I'm sorry if some things seemed too rushed or forced, but I think it came out pretty good. One of the main objectives in writing this story was to creatively fill that space between season 2 and season 3, when so much changed (I found it hard to believe when they so easily gave up wearing their lockets), and I think this story accomplishes that. If you liked it, please review what you liked best! If you have any suggestions for me to improve my writing, please share!

That's all folks!