The next morning the Skipper chuckled at the pile of fish that was now on the beach. Urchin was just pushing Gilligan's full lobster traps when he looked up and smiled. "Morning Skipper!"

"Heh morning Urchin! You've been busy."

"Well you all have been so good to me that I wanted to return the favor."

Skipper nodded as he sat in the sand. "You're the one that's been good to us. Thank you. That conversation was something Gilligan and I needed."

He nodded. "I had a feeling. Where is he now?"

"Helping Mary Ann with breakfast. Heh he hasn't stopped talking about yesterday!"

Urchin laughed. "The ocean is a wonderful place to live. There's danger but there's amazing things."

The Skipper was silent for a minute. "Urchin are you and Captain Silas...uh close?"

"He made me his first mate," Urchin said. "I'm close to all of my friends. Why do you ask?

"Well I mean…" he took a deep breath. "What happened to your fin?"

Urchin only shrugged. "I saw the ship after it caught fire and Silas had been thrown off. I swam up and grabbed him before getting him to the surface and making sure he got to a piece of wood. We heard another explosion and the window was coming straight for us. I pushed him out of the way and it fell on top of me. Cut me up pretty bad. My tail never healed but it's ok."

He shook his head. "You have the same bravery Gilligan has."

"I think he and I are mirrors to each other. Erik was explaining to me one day about alternate dimensions where the people and creatures all mirror each other. The world determines the mirror. Like how in my world there's a lot of magic and magical creatures but here there isn't."

"There's voodoo." Skipper chuckled. "I'm convinced that's what's really keeping us here!"

Urchin chuckled himself. "Or fate. Skipper what would have happened had you not been shipwrecked?"

"Heh well they'd have all gone home and we'd have never seen them again." The Skipper smiled softly. "It'd have been a shame really. They're all great people...even the Howells!"

The merman grinned. "If it weren't for the clothes I'd swear they were Truan and Isabella! The Queen always tells us that he only thinks he's the ruler but to always listen to her instead!"

The captain let out a bark like laugh!

After a minute Urchin smiled at him. "You want to become a merman for a day? I know you're a sailor but how much have you seen under the sea?"

"Erm well...not much I'm afraid. Are you sure?"

Urchin nodded. "Go tell Gilligan so tell everyone where you're going. I'll have you back by sundown."

For some reason a wave of excitement filled the old sea salt as he got up and practically ran off. Urchin watched him go amused.

Meanwhile…

Erik managed to get all of the ingredients he needed and worked on the potion. It had been agreed that once the portal was opened then they would all board The Gilligan to fetch their friend.

He looked up seeing the other version of Silas get a tail and swim off with Urchin. The wizard began to wonder if the portal had really been accident or not. From his own observation through the mirror Urchin was making a big difference in the lives of these humans...these castaways.

Back with Urchin and Skipper

As expected the Skipper had a bit of trouble with his tail but Urchin kept quiet even though his eyes danced in amusement. He took the Skipper on a slightly different route than he had taken Gilligan.

The fascination and awe on the Skipper's careworn face said it all as fish of many colors swam around him.

Urchin only smiled as he swam a bit further ahead and used his magic to call out to the creatures.

That was when it really got interesting. Octopus' and jellyfishes joined the fish creating a dance around the two that seemed almost magical.

Urchin looked around before he saw a light reflecting off of something shiny. In curiosity he swam down and picked it up. It was a gold compass and he opened it to reveal an inscription. His eyes went wide and he smiled before swimming back to the captain. "I think I found something of yours."

Jonas looked at him confused until the compass was in his hands. His eyes went wide! "My gosh…"

The compass had been a gift from Gilligan on their first Christmas together in Hawaii. He had saved up for months to get it. Inscribed in it was "Captain Jonas Grumby" and underneath that was "Brave".

He swallowed as he looked down seeing an anchor and instantly knew where he was. "This is where we were when the storm hit…"

"What happened?" Urchin asked.

He took a shuddery breath as his mind replayed those horrible moments. "We had gotten a weather report saying that the seas were calm. Earlier that day Gilligan had commented on how all of the birds were flying inland and asked if a storm was coming. I told him the radio had said there wasn't."

They swam down to the anchor and the captain felt his guilt return. "I should have listened to him. He's always been more intune with the animals. Anyway we got our five passengers and set sail. Everything was going just fine until the weather started getting rough. Our tiny ship was tossed as I told Gilligan to see to the passengers. I couldn't see anything as I tried to keep us afloat." He stopped a moment as a thought occurred to him. He bent down and smoothed away the sand. A piece of rope floated up and he saw something that he knew would take away Gilligan's guilt and even a bit of his own.

The rope looked like it had been snapped!

"The anchor broke?" Urchin asked as he looked at it.

The captain broke into a smile. "The anchorline broke! He didn't forget to tie it! It must have broken when he threw it and it hit on something! I can't wait to tell him!"

'It's not his fault at all! He did everything right. Everything I told him to do that day.' Skipper thought. 'I was exonerated too. The others don't blame me so why do I keep feeling so guilty?'

"You ok Skipper?"

"I'm...I'm ok…" He looked at him. "The guilt never left…My passengers and crew are my responsibility. I feel so rotten about Ginger losing her career and Mr Howell's always worrying about his corporations. I know Mary Ann gets homesick and the Professor has to miss his own life. Gilligan's really the only that seems to have adopted the island." He smiled a bit. "Or maybe that's the other way around."

Urchin had been quiet and listened to the Skipper. He raised a hand with a smile. "I can help with that guilt."

He took a deep breath and nodded. "I'm ready now to let it go."

Urchin put his hand on the captain's chest and his hand glowed. He watched as the guilt lifted and it seemed like a few years had been knocked off of his teddy bear features.

Once finished the Skipper reached up and put his own large hand over the merman's. "Thank you."

Urchin smiled. "You're welcome Skipper."

Together they swam back finding Gilligan waiting with a towel. The boy only smiled as he held it up allowed the Skipper the get dressed.

Once he was dried off he put his hands on Gilligan's shoulders.

"How was it?" his first mate asked with a smile.

"The anchorline was attached Little Buddy. It broke during the storm."

Gilligan's eyes went wide. "Are you sure? How do you know?"

"We found it along with this." He pulled out the compass and Gilligan's own eyes went wide!

"Oh Skipper...I swear I was gonna get you a new one when we get rescued!"

The Skipper put it back in his pocket before meeting his eyes. "You did everything right that day on the Minnow. The shipwreck was NOT your fault." He took a deep breath. "Nor was it mine."

Gilligan swallowed before looking at the merman. "You brought him back!"

The merman just smiled.

"Little Buddy I am so sorry. The yelling and insults stop right now. The put downs end now!" The Skipper put his hands on Gilligan's cheeks and made the boy look him right in the eyes. "I took my guilt and anger out on you ever since he shipwreck but that ends right now. YOU are not at fault! YOU kept me going through that storm. YOU have been keeping me going ever since the day I met you. You have been nothing but loyal to me. You have remained my friend no matter how awful I was to you. You lost me at some point but Little Buddy I'm back." He pulled the boy to him in a hug. "I'm home. There's something I want to do Gilligan. I want to tell the others what you did for me. You are a hero and it's time they knew just how much you have done for me."

"Skipper you don't have to…"

"We've all gained up on you. Its high time you got the respect you deserve. Things are gonna change Little Buddy."

Gilligan swallowed as he shut his eyes for a moment before looking at Urchin and mouthing "Thank you" to him.

Urchin only nodded before slipping under the water. As he lay on the lagoon floor he sighed as he was hit with a wave of homesickness. He wanted to go home and see Corla. He worried about her and the others.

Still he trusted Erik and hoped that maybe his friends could meet the castaways.