Trista and Rubeus' glances of each other is important later on, but for now on to the third obstacle. This one is inspired by the shipwreck chase scene in Disney's "The Little Mermaid." The shark type mentioned below is a real type of shark as well as what Michelle says in the story.

Chapter Six- Success

The currents that had been gentle throughout their journey had become a little bit stronger and seemed to be coming from behind them. Amara was finding herself being propelled a little faster than before and slowed the movement of her tail so that she was moving at the steady pace she had been going. She looked at Michelle, who had looked back at her. "Why did the currents getting stronger?" she asked.

"It's a normal part of the ocean. Some currents are stronger or faster than others. But these currents seem stronger than most. It might mean that a chasm is nearby and if there is, then the resting place of the mirror might be close."

Amara hoped that was true. The sun was setting and they only had one night to retrieve the mirror before the potion wore off and she became human again. She knew that even if they didn't get the mirror this night, Michelle could just give her The Breath of Life and they could continue their quest. She was torn out of her thoughts by the sound of howling. She frowned as she focused on the sound; it was unlikely that a sea creature made that sound. She heard the howling again and came to the conclusion that it had to be currents and water rushing over and into a chasm and a deep one at that.

The mermaids rounded a bend and there, some distance away, was an old shipwreck that was situated dangerously close to the opening of a chasm. The ship creaked slightly and tilted in the direction of the chasm slightly. The strong currents threatened to send the ship over the edge and Michelle just knew that the mirror had to be there. The stories that had been passed down through the years spoke of a shipwreck near a bottomless chasm as the hiding place that Neptune had chosen for his mirror. The stories just never said how close to the edge the ship would be, possibly because the chasm wasn't that big when Neptune hid the mirror. Either way, this was their final obstacle to obtaining the mirror.

Amara said, "Is that it?"

Michelle nodded. "It is as the stories described."

"Then, let's go." Amara started forward and suddenly she came to a stop. She looked back to see that Michelle had grabbed her fins and was pulling on them. "Michelle, what-?" she began.

"Shark!" Michelle exclaimed.

Amara looked back at the ship to see the distinctive shape of a shark circling the ship. She darted back to Michelle's side and they floated there watching the shark as it circled the ship as well as swim inside and come back outside.

"We'll need to time it just right so we can get in without it noticing us," Michelle said.

"But, won't it smell us? I mean, sharks have a strong sense of smell," Amara pointed out.

"You're right, but if we're quick, we should be able to find the mirror and get out before it realizes we're there."

Amara doubted they could find the mirror before the shark sensed them, but she didn't want to waste time arguing with Michelle. So, she simply nodded and waited for Michelle to give the word. The shark swam inside the ship and Michelle said, "Now." The girls darted forward and managed to slip inside the ship through a hole just before the shark reappeared outside the ship.

"Perhaps, we should split up to find the mirror," Amara said softly. "That way, we can get out of here faster."

Michelle nodded. "I agree. You search this part and I'll go down below. Let's meet right here once we've finished and we'll search the rest of the wreck together."

Amara agreed and the pair split up to begin the search. Michelle descended to the floor below and began looking in every nook and cranny before moving on to the next section of the floor. Her search was punctuated by the creaking of wood and the howling from the chasm which only served to make her nervous and sent her heart pounding. She was afraid of meeting up with the shark and she pushed that concern to the back of her mind as she continued her search. She had searched half of her floor when she spied something shining at the far end where holes in the wood allowed light from the full moon to spill into the ship. The light seemed to be bouncing off something. She squinted slightly and slowly the shape of a hand mirror was visible. She gasped softly. It's the mirror! It just has to be!

Suddenly, a large shape came through a hole to her right- it was the shark! It took a snap at her and the near miss sent Michelle into motion. She swam toward the far end of the ship toward the mirror as fast as she could. She had to get there, she just had to! The shark was close on Michelle's tail, her fins mere inches from its sharp-toothed mouth. She flicked her tail harder and she shot like a bullet toward the object in front of her and grabbed it before shooting upward, to meet back up with Amara. The shark, unable to make such a sudden and sharp turn, plowed right into the rotted wood in front of it. The ship lurched to one side and the creaking of wood sounded all around them. The creaking ceased just as the shark managed to wheel around and head upward to find the prey that had momentarily escaped him. When he emerged from the opening he swam through, his sense of smell as well as his eyes told him that there were two sources of food instead of one. He swam toward them and they took off with him in pursuit.

"What the hell kind of shark is that?" Amara demanded as they swam.

"It's an Oceanic Whitetip Shark," Michelle answered from behind her. "They're usually found around shipwrecks. This one must have made this ship its home and perceives us as intruders as well as prey."

"Swell," Amara grated. "Will it keep following if we leave the wreck?"

"Possibly. It'll be hungry after expending so much energy chasing us. If we can outsmart it, we'll be able to get away."

"Wait…I think I've got an idea. I'll distract it and get it to chase me while you get out."

"Amara, I can't let you do that!"

"And why not? I can swim faster than you and I already said I had an idea. I know how to outsmart it and make my escape."

Michelle sighed. "All right, Amara. You win. Go for it."

Amara arced upward and swam over the shark, grabbing and tugging on its dorsal fin as she passed. "Hey, you big bully! Come and get me!" She tore away from the scene as fast as her fins would go while the shark turned around and took off after her and Michelle stared after them.

"Please, be careful, Amara," she whispered as she turned to look for a way out of the ship.

Amara knew exactly what she was doing as she led the shark to the upper decks of the ship and then over the side once she had reached the top deck. She circled the ship a couple of times, glancing back once to insure that the shark was still following her: It was. She put on a burst of speed and headed straight for the ring that connected the anchor chain to the rest of the ship. She was small enough to slip through it, but the shark's nose would get stuck in the ring, at least as long as it was intent on pursuing her and wouldn't think of going around the ring.

She reached the ring and floated inside it, waiting for the shark to make a beeline for her. She watched as it got closer and closer, its pit-less eyes focused on her intently. She was almost nose to nose with it when she backed out of the ring and the shark's nose went through the ring and got stuck. The shark shook its head to remove the ring, but it was no use; its nose was wedged in too tight. Amara smirked in satisfaction until she saw the ship tilting to one side with an ominous creaking of wood. The ship was falling into the chasm; the water's strong currents were going to push it over the edge! Michelle! Amara thought as she swam back into the ship to find her love.

"Michelle! Michelle, where are you?" Amara shouted.

"Amara, over here!"

Amara turned around there was Michelle floating by the stairs the led to the top deck. She swam toward her and they clasped hands for a moment before Amara said, "The ship's falling! We've got to get out of here!" The pair swam up the stairs and tore through the water to put as much distance between themselves and the ship. Once they had done so, they stopped.

Amara and Michelle panted as they turned to watch the sunken ship fall into the bottomless chasm. Once it was completely gone, they both looked down at the object in Michelle's hand. It looked like an ordinary hand mirror, but inscribed on the back of the frame was the mark of Neptune.

"We did it," Amara said in soft amazement. Then she grinned and exclaimed, "We did it! I'll be able to stay a mermaid!" She seized Michelle and kissed her, the fins of her tail stroking Michelle's tail.

Once Amara pulled back, Michelle blushed as she said, "We better head to the surface. It's almost dawn and the potion will wear off."

The blonde nodded and as they headed hand in hand, Amara's thoughts were in a whirl. Once the potion wore off and she was human again, Michelle would invoke the mirror's magic to make her a permanent mermaid. She wasn't worried about her kingdom; it was a small part of a vast empire ruled by Princess Serenity and Prince Darien. Plus, she left the land in the hands of Princess Mina who would rule them with the same kindness that dominated her own domain.

Rubeus paced the length of shore that his magic had told him was where Amara would use to become human again. He was dwelling on the eyes he had seen yesterday, peering at him from the sea. He found them captivating for no reason that he could discern. He shook his head to drive the image from his mind. He was here for one reason and one alone: To seize the Mirror of Neptune. The power of the mirror was what he was after, it was all he wanted.

Or do I? The image of those eyes flashed through his mind again. I can't stop thinking about those eyes. It's as if the owner of those eyes knew what I was after and was judging me. I want that mirror and I will get it to fulfill my dream. Yet, I feel as if what I'm doing is not the right way to achieve my dream. Do I really want to go through with my plan? Rubeus's thoughts were still torn when he saw the water's surface starting to ripple. Someone was coming! He quickly stepped behind the rock face to await Amara's arrival, while firmly telling himself to follow his plan.

I forgot to mention that Amara tricking the shark into the anchor ring was also from "The Little Mermaid."