The food at the feast was probably the best I had ever eaten, and ever would eat, in my entire life. When we arrived, the rest of the crew had already been there for an hour or so, but there was still so much food left. Servants and cooks kept bringing out more food as plates grew empty. I saw Alfred stuffing his face with some kind of meat pastries, and he waved me over excitedly.

"Take a look at this!" he said excitedly as he untied one of his shoes. He took off his sock and wiggled his toes.

"Your foot!" I gasped.

"Good as new!" Sure enough, all that was left of his old injury was a small pink, circular scar. "That guy took me to some doctors first. Must have seen me limping or something."

"I'll have to put in a good word for Henry," I said with a laugh.

"Put your shoe back on, you bloody fool!" Arthur sat down beside me and glared at Alfred. "Hasn't anyone ever taught you some manners?"

"Sorry, Big Bro. Just showing (y/n) my cool new scar."

"It's better?" Arthur asked in surprise.

"Yup. They've got some weird magic stuff here that fixed it right up," Alfred explained as he put his sock and shoe back on. "The food's good too. You should eat some."

I didn't have to be told twice. The empty plate in front of me quickly filled up with all sorts of delicious looking things. There were lots of meat pastries, fruit tarts, large roasted birds, baked fish, fresh fruits, and more. I couldn't get enough. Whenever there was room on my plate, I filled it with more food.

"This is so good!" Cook exclaimed from across the table. "I has ta get the recipe!"

"Maybe yer cookin'll get better!" someone shouted.

"No more apples n' herring!"

"No more cabbage porridge!"

The bantering continued long after we had finished. All of the food had put everyone in good spirits, and most of the crew left to go cause some mischief somewhere else. I excused myself to find the baths. One of the servants was kind enough to lead the way, and I soon found myself soaking in a warm tub. I stayed in there for as long as I could without being a nuisance. My eyelids were starting to get heavy, so I decided it would probably just be best to go to bed. I was led to another room and collapsed into a soft white bed. It took all of my willpower just to crawl under the covers before drifting off to sleep, my mind giving way to the comfort of unconsciousness.

Captain Kirkland woke early the next morning as was his custom. He didn't like sleeping in too late. It made him feel lazy. He dressed quickly and found the dining hall again where they had eaten yesterday. It was laid out again, but not with quite as much food this time. Arthur took a seat and filled a bowl with porridge. He was accustomed to eating alone, but found the silence unnerving after the festivities of the night before. It never occurred to him that eating alone was a rather lonely thing to do. He ate some porridge and sighed.

"Morning."

The Captain turned around to see the mermaid standing in the doorway. She had on new, clean clothes that fit her well. The mermaid was the only woman he had ever seen look so good in trousers. "Good morning."

"You're up pretty early," she said as she sat down next to him.

"I could say the same for you." He spooned more warm porridge into his mouth.

"I went to bed too early last night so now I'm up early." She grabbed a spoon and stuck it in Arthur's bowl. "Lemme try some of this." She put the spoon in her mouth and grimaced. "Oh tides, Arthur! This isn't sweet at all!"

"Of course not. Why does it need to be sweet?"

"Because it tastes nasty otherwise." The mermaid found a small bowl of sugar and began dumping spoonful after spoonful into his porridge. She stirred it in and had a taste. "Mmm. Much better. You should try it."

"I would rather not..."

"C'mon, Arthur."

"Fine, just for you, princess." He took a spoonful of the sweetened porridge and hesitantly put it into his mouth. The taste was enough to make him spit it out into a napkin with a curse. "That's bloody repulsive!"

"I like it," she said as she took another bite.

"Then you eat it." He pushed the bowl toward her and reached to get himself a fresh, unsweetened bowl. "Bloody disgusting..."

The rest of the Captain's crew eventually joined the two of them in the dining hall. Some looked refreshed after a good night's sleep, but others looked hungover. Arthur had no idea where they would have found the booze in the first place. Breakfast was a quick affair, and soon everyone was getting ready to board the ship. A lot of the local Luxsparians had come out to the docks to watch them go. They had brought gifts for the departing crew, and the Captain had an armful of random items ranging from clothes to good luck charms by the time he reached his ship. They didn't appear to be that friendly at first, but the Luxsparians were actually very gracious hosts.

"It saddens us to see you leave so soon." The old man was waiting for them at the dock next to the Queen Lady. "It's been so long since we've had guests. We pray that you will come back once your quest is compete."

"We'd be honored," Arthur replied. He shot the mermaid a sidelong glance and saw her smiling faintly. It occurred to him that if they succeed, she probably would not ever be coming back.

"Thank you for your hospitality," she said. "And I was wondering if I could ask you a question."

"Of course, my dear. Ask away. I am curious to hear what you have to say."

The Captain was also curious as to what her question could be.

"Well, I just..." She lowered her voice. "Is it true your people come from the moon?"

Arthur almost burst out laughing. He had to bite his tongue to keep himself in check.

"Ah, so you have heard the rumors," the old man said. He laughed softly. "There are few here who remember that far back. Oh ho ho ho. It has been a long time indeed. Now it is time for you to go. We will open the mist for you and send our strongest winds to aid you."

The Captain wasn't sure if the old man was being serious about coming from the moon, but he agrees that it was time to leave. "Thank you for all of your help."

The old man nodded, and Arthur boarded the ship with the mermaid. They were the last ones aboard, and the rest of the crew was waiting for orders. Captain Kirkland didn't make them wait any longer. The Queen Lady slowly pulled away from the docks and back toward the calm bay. A swift breeze filled the sails, and the ship seemed to glide across the water. It took only a few minutes to reach where the fog was and slip through the gap made for them. Arthur wasn't the least bit sorry that he didn't have to go through that again.

Once they were through the fog, the wind grew stronger, and the sails strained against the masts. The Captain hardly had to steer as the ship was guided by the steady wind. He checked his compass to make sure they were headed south, and then resigned himself to watch the horizon. It had occurred to him that a storm may appear at any time. He wanted to be ready. There wasn't much he could actually do against a raging storm, but he didn't want to be caught off guard. He had the feeling the last leg of his journey would be the most difficult.

I was amazed at how fast we were moving through the water. No natural wind had ever pushed us this fast, and I found myself pacing between rails and watching the water spray up the side of the ship. Maybe I was just nervous. What if we couldn't find the god? What if he didn't want to help us? I might be stuck like this forever. But was that really a bad thing? I had friends on the ship, a new life full of brand new experiences, and Arthur. It might not be the worst thing in the world if the god wouldn't help me.

A small hand tugged on my sleeve. "We're moving kind of fast, huh?"

"Yes, little one, we are." I smiled down at Peter, but he wasn't smiling. "What's wrong?"

"You're going to leave soon right?"

I was and wasn't surprised by his question. "Yes."

"I don't want you to," he said. He looked just like Arthur with his big brows knit together defiantly. "I want you to stay here."

"I'm sorry. It can't be that way."

"Why not? Because you're not human? I don't care! Uncle Arthur doesn't care! We want you to stay!"

"I know, little one, I know." I reached out to him, but he stepped away.

"No you don't!" he shouted over the wind. "You don't know! If you knew, you would stay!"

"It's not that easy-"

"But it is! Just stay here with us! We'll have a lot of fun everyday! We can be like a big family!"

My heart way breaking for the little boy as he tried desperately to convince me. "Oh, Peter. I wish I could, but I can't."

"Then you don't love us!"

"Peter! I-"

"No! Leave me alone!" He ran toward the stairs and disappeared below deck.

I was about to go after him when a cry filled the air. "Ship approachin'! There's a ship approachin'!" Squeaker yelled from the crow's nest.

I brushed the hair out of my eyes as I turned to look where he was pointing. Behind the Queen Lady, far in the distance, was a ship, and it was gaining on us. Christov ran to the helm and was speaking frantically with Arthur. I couldn't hear what they were saying over the wind, which had been steadily growing stronger over time. It didn't seem like the magically induced wind from earlier. This wind brought with it the smell of ozone.

"All hands on deck!" Arthur roared. "Get the cannons ready to fire! Prepare for evasive maneuvers!"

I ran to the helm, which was difficult to do as the ship buckled on the waves. "Arthur! Arthur what's happening?"

"Nothing yet," he told me, "but it may not stay that way long. There's a ship tailing us, and it's getting closer."

"How is that possible?"

"It's riding the same winds we are. The Queen Lady was by no means built to be fast, but that ship obviously was."

The other ship gained on us at an incredibly fast pace. At first I could only see it's black sails, but then its hull, then the small people hurrying around on its deck. A feeling of dread came over me as I watched the ship come so close that its prow almost touched the rear of the Queen Lady. Arthur furiously turned the wheel, and the whole ship peeled to the side. The other ship followed in response. Both ships were locked in a kind of dance in which they circled around each other, and I was finally able to read the name of the other ship. The Spanish Armada.

"Oh honhonhon! So we meet again, Arthur!"

"Francis," Arthur spat. The blonde pirate captain stood on the deck of the other ship and waved.

"Don't forget about me!" Another man stood at the helm of the Spanish Armada and tipped his hat.

"Antonio. Why aren't I surprised?"

"Hey! That's Captain Antonio Fernández Carriedo!"

"As if anyone could remember that," Arthur muttered. "What do you two want? This place is dangerous!"

"Oh, you offend me, mon ami. I just want to talk. After blowing up my ship I think you owe me that much," Francis practically purred.

"This isn't the best place to talk. Can't this wait until we get back to safer waters?"

"I'm afraid it can't, chico. We know what you're planning on doing, and we can't let it happen," Antonio said. Both ships slowed to a halt as the wind died down. They were close enough that I could have jumped from one deck to the other. "There's a certain chica on your ship we came here to get."

Arthur put an arm around me protectively and glared at the two captains. "No."

"I don't think you understand. That's not for you to decide."

"We've been following you for a long time now, my dear Arthur, just waiting for the perfect opportunity to snatch away your peu de beauté," Francis added. "We were determined to get her one way or the other."

Arthur narrowed his eyes. "What do you mean?"

"Oh, how rude. Let me start from the beginning. You see, when Toni and I heard you had gotten your hands on a mermaid, we had to see for ourselves."

"There was no way we were going to let you keep her for yourself!" Antonio exclaimed.

"Indeed," Francis agreed with a nod. "Toni posed as an anonymous buyer while I made sure she was the real thing, although it looks like you've been through something rather unfortunate, ma chérie."

I watched the blonde man wink at me with disgust. All I wanted to do was rip out each and every one of his chin hairs, and I bet Arthur felt the same.

"I thought it would be much cheaper to steal her instead of giving you all that gold Toni promised, but that didn't work out." Francis' blue eyes darkened as if he was remembering the night we sank his ship.

"And then you never showed up in Gaal to make the deal," Antonio finished. "We kept a close eye on you so we could pick a good time to strike. She may not look like a mermaid now, but we still want her."

"Over my dead body!" Arthur shouted.

"Oh honhonhon! Please don't give me any ideas, mon ami."

I felt a strong hand rip me away from Arthur. An arm snaked around my waist as a sharp knife was pressed to my throat. "Don't try t' stop me, Cap'n, or she bleeds," Christov said.

"Christov, why?" I whispered.

"No talkin' or ya lose her tongue."

"Christov, let her go," Arthur growled.

"Don't take orders from yew no more, Cap'n," the burly man answered.

"Christov has been such a dear and was letting us know where you were going," Francis said with an infuriating smile.

"Traitor!" Arthur spat.

"Sorry, Cap'n. 'S not personal, just business." Arthur's eyes flickered to something just above Christov's shoulder. I didn't dare turn my head to look with the knife still pressed dangerously against my neck. "We'll be goin' now."

"Are you sure you don't want to stay a while longer?"

"Ah don't know what yer trying t' pull, Cap'n, but it ain't gonna work on me."

"I'm not trying to pull anything."

"But I am."

Alfred's voice came from behind me, and I felt Christov cry out in pain. His grip on me loosened enough for me to slip from his grasp. I turned to see the large man kneeling on the deck with a large gash in his side, and Alfred standing behind him holding a bloody knife. The boy nodded at me confidently, to which I returned the gesture.

"RRRAAAAAGGGGHHHH!" Christov turned with a bellow and slashed at Alfred, but Alfred was too quick. The two began to fight next to the wheel while I nervously watched. Christov may have been stronger, but Alfred had speed on his side. Now that his foot wasn't injured, he moved like a salmon through the sea grass.

"Open fire!" Antonio cried. Booms filled the air as cannons flew out the portholes in the Spanish Armada.

"Return fire!" Arthur roared as cannonballs tore through the Queen Lady.

Both ships were too close for any of the shots to miss. I dropped to my knees as the ship buckled beneath my feet. Water was probably starting to flood the lower decks, and I hoped Cook would be okay. That's when I remembered Peter. I looked around frantically for the little boy, but he was nowhere to be seen. Men from the Spanish Armada were starting to open fire with their revolvers, and Arthur's crew was doing the same. No one seemed to want to jump across the small gap separating the two ships.

I got to my feet, but Arthur grabbed my wrist before I could leave. "Where are you going?"

"Peter's below deck somewhere! I have to find him!" The ship lurched again after another volley of cannon fire.

"It's too dangerous!"

"We can't abandon him, Arthur!"

He finally seemed to understand and let go of my wrist. I gave him a quick kiss before running down the stairs. He immediate began shouting orders as I ran across the deck. The helm wasn't too far from the stairs leading below deck, but it felt like I was running for eternity. Screams and bullets whizzed through the air all around me. Somehow I managed to get to the stairs and climb down without a scratch.

It was difficult to navigate through the ship with it tilted so strangely. I could almost hear the water rushing in and knew there wasn't much time for me to find Peter. A thin layer of water splashed beneath my feet as I ran to the crew's sleeping room. It was empty, and so were the next three rooms I checked. The water now reached a little higher than my ankles.

There had to be something I could do to hold the water back. I took a deep breath and concentrated on the water at my feet. My mind flowed with the water back to its source, and I willed the water to go out from where it came. It was a slow process, but I felt the water level begin to lower. I willed it with more force, and the water flowed out much faster. Once it had reached a safer level, I broke my connection and continued my search for Peter. I hardly noticed how warm the charm had become around my neck.

He wasn't in the next couple of rooms I checked either. I was running out of time and places to look. On a whim, I ran to my room. It was a hunch, but it was all I had. Water sloshed on the floor as I ran for the room. I furrowed my brows in confusion. The water should not be this high yet. Then I heard something like an explosion outside. I didn't have time to waste thinking about this. I reached my room and yanked open the door.

Something small was shaking under the blankets of my bed. I gently pulled the covers back. "I've been looking for you, little one."

"W-what's happening outside?"

"We've run into some trouble with another ship."

"Are we going to die, (y/n)?"

His question cut me to my core. I had been too worried about him to consider it a possibility. "No. Not if I can help it."

"I'm sorry I shouted at you before. I didn't mean it. Honest."

"It's alright. I believe you." I hugged him tight. "We can't stay here though. We have to get up on deck, okay?"

"Okay." Peter crawled out from under the blankets.

We ran toward the door as more water started to rush inside. When we got to the stairs, it became apparent why the water was flowing in so quickly. A torrent of water was gushing down the stairs at an alarming rate. I realized it was rain as soon as my head rose above the deck floor, and a flash of lightning streaked across the dark sky. A storm had rolled in during the time I was below deck, and everything was in chaos. The Spanish Armada must have been hit by lightning because the main mast was burning, and the fire was spreading quickly. I almost fell down the stairs as the Queen Lady heaved on a large wave.

"We need to find Arthur!" I shouted over the shrieking wind. This was like nothing I had ever experienced before.

"Over there!"

Peter pointed toward the helm where a group of men were still fighting. Almost everyone else had stopped and was trying to take shelter. It also appeared that the crew of the Spanish Armada had abandoned their burning ship and were running around with the crew of the Queen Lady. Either no one noticed or they didn't mind. I took Peter's hand, and the two of us ran through the men toward the helm.

Three of the ones still fighting turned out to be Arthur, Francis, and Antonio. They watched each other warily with their swords drawn, their breaths coming fast. It seems like they've been at it for a while. The other fighters were Alfred and Christov. Neither looked like they had much energy left, but still they fought on. Arthur caught my eye. Then he looked at Peter. The gesture didn't go unnoticed.

"Oh honhonhon! What luck!" Francis cried as he turned to face us. "Your lover and your brat."

"You're outnumbered Arthur! Give up!" Antonio prodded.

"Never!" Arthur growled.

"You need to stop!" I shouted at all of them. "The ship is sinking!"

"Then give up!" Francis yelled. "I'm not stopping until I have what I want! Hold her, Toni, while I finish up here."

"Sorry, chica," Antonio said as he grabbed my wrist.

"Let go! I can stop the ship from sinking! Please!"

"I'm afraid I can't do that." There was no remorse in his green eyes. They were so similar yet so different from Arthur's.

I didn't have time for this. The ship was settling lower and lower in the turbulent water. I concentrated on the water below deck and willed it out of the ship. Most of the lower decks were full of water, which made it difficult for me to get it out. My body strained with the effort to move so much water, but the ship slowly began to float higher. I kept at it until the Queen Lady was no longer in danger of sinking, and then willed the water to not come back through the ragged holes in the ship's side. It took a lot of my energy, but it held. My Leviathan charm sizzled as rain landed on its silver surface.

"What are you up to?" Antonio asked.

"Saving...your stupid...bastard...life," I huffed. I didn't have much strength left.

Suddenly, a cry from the other side of the helm where Alfred and Christov had been locked in battle. They were still going at it, and had lots of wounds for their efforts. Christov had lost and ear, and Alfred had several small cuts on his arms. Their blades dripped with the other's blood as the rain pounded on their weary forms. Alfred feigned an attack, and Christov fell for it. Instead of hitting the big man with his fist, Alfred swiped from the other direction with his knife. Victory was in his grasp until the ship heaved violently.

Something collided against the hull. Something big. I watched in horror as a fin the twice the size of the ship emerged from the waves. It circled the ship once before a huge head burst through the surface of the water. A large eye peered down at up from a huge, ugly head. Scales glittered ominously as lightning flashed overhead and illuminated the beast before us.

"The Leviathan," I breathed.

It dived under the water and left an enormous wave in its wake. The water swept over the deck and threatened to capsize the ship I had worked so hard to save. I connected with the water again and forced it to keep the boat upright. My knees were growing weak, but I didn't let up. I wasn't going to let us sink. Someone shouted, and my attention was turned back to where Alfred and Christov were. I looked just in time to see both of them thrown overboard as the water from the Leviathan rushed over the rails.

"Alfreeeeeeed!" I shrieked.

I forced the water to find him. I willed it to search with all of my heart. The charm around my neck began to glow with heat as I used more and more ocean magic. Desperate, I commanded the ocean to be still. It became just a little bit calmer. I gave the command again, and it settled even more. Little by little, minute by minute, the ocean grew calm while my charm grew hot, but I still couldn't find Alfred. All eyes were on me as I refused to give in.

"(Y/n), you have to stop," Arthur said. The wind had blown away his hat, and the rain had plastered his hair to his face. "Please, you're going to hurt yourself."

"I can't...Alfred..."

"(Y/n)! You have to stop!"

"Nooooo!" As I screamed, I sent out one final command to find Alfred. I had to find him. I couldn't give up.

The heat from my charm was unbearable, but I hardly noticed it. I couldn't quit. I couldn't stop. My knees finally gave in, yet I still didn't stop. I could hear voices, but none of it made sense to me. My vision was becoming blurry. I couldn't feel the heat from my charm anymore. Everything was growing numb. I didn't remember falling to the deck, but I must have because everything was flipped to the side. My eyes couldn't focus. Blurry images danced before me as darkness closed in. The only thing I could make out before the darkness consumed everything was the faint, glowing outline of my charm before it burned itself into nonexistence.