Morg: Heyo! The wait for this one isn't as long as it could have been.

Ikuto: What does that even mean?

Amu: Kind of sounded like a threat.

Morg: No! No! Of course not. I'm just saying I feel like writing so here.

Ikuto: It was still a long wait.

Amu: This is why she owns nothing. No drive.

Morg: I've got plenty of drive, just no direction.

Ikuto: I can second that.

~At the Water's Edge~

The water became gloomier and gloomier the further Amu swam with the sprites. Wherever it was that the two royals and Kairi had trapped the kraken, it wasn't a very welcoming place. Luckily for Amu, she wasn't really worried about the visibility in the water. Not when she had her abilities. She could use the elements around her as her eyes. That and her companions were by her side. Along with Musashi. The little fish hadn't left her since Amu told him not to.

The chief brought the group to a halt before motioning further on ahead. "Due to his distressed state, not even I can get near him. He's thrashing too much, but I fear that he'll destroy himself before getting free."

Despite the creature they were speaking about being rather formidable and terrifying, Amu couldn't help but feel sorry for him. Being trapped was never a good feeling. The monster might have tried to kill Utau, Tadase and Kairi, but it wasn't any different than the merpeople killing fish for their food. "Do not worry. I won't let him die."

The sprites didn't look too sure about Amu's promise, but the mermaid didn't let their disbelief stop her. Moving further ahead, she came upon the sight of giant rocks pinning struggling tentacles. The movement of the large appendages was definitely less than it should have been. Amu knew that she needed to hurry.

Stretching her arms out into the water beside her, Amu let her head fall back as she let her powers release. The pinkette could feel the motion of the water around her, the way some of the sand at the bottom of the ocean moved a bit with the current. She felt the rocks pinning the kraken and the large beast itself. It was weak, but it would live.

Head snapping up, Amu kept her eyes closed as she slowly brought her hands before her body with her arms still extended. Moving as if she was truly lifting a large weight, Amu raised her hands through the water before her.

The sprites behind her could see Amu's movements, but they had no idea if anything was actually happening within the ruins. Little did they know, the stones holding down their beloved pet were being raised through the water by Amu's abilities alone. The mermaid didn't stop lifting until the giant rocks were far above their captive.

The kraken slipped from its prison the moment that it realized that it could. Amu thought about just dropping the stones. The weight was great, but she'd said that she could fix the ruins even if the chief had told her that freeing their pet was enough. Amu wanted to make certain that she was able to take all three of the merpeople being held as prisoners. It wasn't likely that there was something else that she could do to get them.

Amu was far from stupid. Even if she managed to get two of the other merpeople, it wasn't like she could just sneak back into the camp for the third. She had to take them all with her the first time she left. If she didn't, there was no way to save the ones left behind. Amu had to do everything she could.

With the kraken quickly leaving the area, Amu began to use her control over the water to feel out the bits of the ruins that weren't destroyed. The dark water was too difficult for her to see through to find the ruins that way. Using the water was the best way she could think of to figure out where each stone she was holding belonged.

The rocks that were still standing seemed to form some sort of columned hall of sorts. There was no roof, but creatures in the ocean didn't need such a thing. There wasn't really anything they needed the protection from that couldn't destroy said roof anyhow.

Understanding what she had to do, Amu began moving her hands as if she was actually stacking rocks rather than using magical abilities to do so. The stones that the royals and Kairi had knocked down were returned to their place with seemingly no effort on Amu's part. The sprites couldn't see how it strained her to use her powers so much. Amu couldn't stop, though. She couldn't allow for someone to be left behind.

After each stone was back in its place, the pinkette dropped her arms and let her powers return to being dormant. Her mind was exhausted, but a few nudges and snuggles from her companions gave her the needed strength to face the chief of the sprites once more. "It is done."

Hardly believing what she was seeing, the chief swam forward further to look over their grand hall. The pillars stood tall and straight once more. Their ancestors would be pleased to see such a glorious place returned to its former glory. "It is companions you seek. You may take whoever you want. Sprite or mer. They are yours. Anything else you require, you need but ask."

Tired as she was, Amu was rather thankful for the response she'd gotten. Having used her powers so much already, the pinkette knew that she wouldn't be able to do much of anything else. Until she got the other three, however, she was going to have to pretend like she wasn't feeling so weak. The sprites couldn't know that she was drained when she used her powers. They were creatures that would take advantage of any situation no matter if they'd been helped or not. "I am in need of some provisions. I'm a bit worried that it'll be too much for one or two to carry."

Gesturing for Amu to return to the tribe with her, the chief clapped her webbed hands, making the bracelets and shells adorning her arms jiggle and clink together. There was much to celebrate. They would be doing so for some time to come. The mermaid that had such amazing powers could have anything she wanted. "Then by all means, take all three as your slaves. We'll give you one of our greatest knives so that you may easily keep them under control."

Amu thought about turning down the knife as a gift, but then again, it might come in handy at some point while they continued their journey. Saying no could also raise questions that she didn't want to try and answer in her exhausted state. Amu just wanted the others to be free so that they could leave, and so that they could go meet with Ikuto and the others.

However, she needed to rest for a while. Kairi would understand that need, but the two spoiled brats weren't aware of how her powers affected her. Amu tried to keep that from anyone she wasn't friends with. If more merpeople knew then there was the chance that someone would try to do something to her when she couldn't do anything to fight back.

Considering that the prince wanted to take her as his bride, Amu really didn't want that information falling into his hands. Hopefully, since she was saving his life, he'd be a bit more considerate towards what she wanted and not what he wanted. Somehow, Amu sort of doubted that would ever happen.

Using the last of her strength, Amu swam back towards the tribe's dwellings. She could sit and rest in one of the homes for a bit while things were prepared. By that time, she'd have three slaves to help her leave without the sprites being any the wiser of her condition. After what she'd just done, Amu figured that she had the right to laze around while others prepared things for her. At least, that's the front that Amu was going to use to mask the true reason for why she was just going to sit and watch.

From her vantage point, Amu was doing just that. She observed the sprites moving about as they gathered food and threw in other trinkets to show their appreciation for her actions. Amu felt a bit bad for tricking the creatures currently rushing to get the things she might need. They were rather happy even though she'd done her deed with ulterior motives. At least they could live in ignorance. Amu would never let them find out about her true intentions.

Leaning her head back, the pinkette let her eyes fall shut as she rested. Her companions were there to watch over her. Ran was rather diligent when it came to that sort of thing. Amu had nothing to worry about. Su nudged her when the chief began to approach them, letting the pinkette sit up properly before being addressed.

Bowing slightly to show her appreciation for what the mermaid had done for their tribe, the chief straightened with a smile before gesturing for Amu to look at the three merpeople holding different sized bags. "Your slaves are ready with your provisions. I, on behalf of all my people, wish you the best travels. If you find yourself in need again, please don't hesitate to rely on us."

Amu agreed though she was rather certain that she'd avoid coming back to this particular location at all costs. As soon as they were out of the area, Amu was going to try and find Ikuto's ship so that they could decide what to do. The whole point of going after the pearl was to stop the three merpeople that were now with Amu from using it. Now that they did have them, they could go back. "I thank you."

Returning the bow that Amu sent to her, the chief motioned for the pinkette to follow her out. They made their way through the tribe's dwellings while sprites both cheered and jeered. The cheers were for Amu. Her slaves weren't treated as kindly.

Smiling and waving, Amu acted every part of the amazing mermaid that had restored their sacred ruins. Tadase, Utau and Kairi followed after her with their heads down while they carried her stuff. Amu didn't feel so bad about them carrying the bags. She didn't exactly have enough strength to do so at the moment, and they'd be sharing whatever was in the bags anyhow.

Motioning to Miki, Amu sent the little fish off on a patrol. She wouldn't come back until she was certain that there were no sprites around. Amu was to keep up the façade until Miki returned.

With the dagger that she was given by the chief, Amu didn't speak to the other three. They didn't dare to speak to her. Just when Amu thought she couldn't go any further, Miki came back.

Kairi was quick to drop his bag and catch Amu as the mermaid began to sink towards the ocean floor. They weren't far above it, but he knew that Amu wouldn't like hitting it. "Are you okay?"

Sighing, Amu leaned into the embrace as Kairi set them gently on the ocean floor. She could see Tadase and Utau approaching them with curious looks on their faces. They'd snagged the bag that Kairi had dropped.

Focusing back on the merman still holding her, Amu nodded her head. "Yeah, just had to use quite a bit of my strength to get you three out of that mess. You're all lucky that I was in the area to do something before they did something to you."

Kairi was more than aware of how lucky they were. "Musashi said he knew were you were. Said that you were close by and that he'd get you. I didn't know how you'd be of help, but I'm glad that he did."

Smiling at that, Amu lifted a hand to rub her fingers against the little fish. Once a fish became a companion, they were able to travel wherever their merperson went, despite the type of fish or water. "We were coming after you."

Still confused about what was happening, Utau put her things down before dropping beside the other mermaid. Her injuries made her head hurt a bit and she was tired as well. "Who is we?"

Looking at the other girl, Amu decided that if they were meeting up with the others then she might as well explain everything. "At first it was just Nagihiko, Rima and I. Then we met Ikuto, Kukai and Yaya."

"Yaya?"

Glancing over at the merman with his hand on her shoulder, Amu stored how Kairi had responded to that name for another time. "Yeah, we were trying to find you guys to stop you. The pearl is dangerous. Going is suicide."

Tired of everyone telling him what to do but then not explaining what was happening, Tadase threw his stuff on the ground. "Well, we're going to get it. And you'll be my bride."

The other three ignored the angry prince as they settled down to take a break. Amu was rather glad that the two royals weren't directly asking her what was wrong with her. Soon enough, they'd be able to keep heading north.

.

Morg: There you go.

Ikuto: I don't like that I'm still not with Amu.

Amu: It's been like two chapters.

Morg: Love is love, Amu.

Ikuto: Yeah.

Amu: You make no sense.

Morg: You wouldn't understand.