Cleo daughter of the sea I have come to offer you the chance to come and live in my ocean with your friends.
Ulmo I would love to see my friends again. I miss them so much, but I will only accept your offer
if I can bring the love of my life with me.
Very well Cleo daughter of the sea you may bring him with you.
Then I accept your offer.
Only sea children may come to Arda so you know what you must do?
Yes Ulmo I understand what must be done.
You and your love must be swimming in the sea holding hands an hour after the next full moon sets, and then I will take you both to the sea on Arda.
I understand thank you for everything Ulmo.
Cleo heads back to shore to tell Lewis everything. What she didn't know is that Rikki followed her out of the café as she was running out the door. Rikki heard everything that Ulmo said to Cleo, and Rikki goes to the moonpool to mourn the loss of her best friend.
When Cleo gets to the café she walks up to Lewis, and says.
"Lewis can we go somewhere much more private to talk?" Cleo
"Sure Cleo we can go to my favourite fishing spot on the beach." Lewis
Cleo and Lewis walk out the door hand in hand. When they arrive at the fishing spot Lewis turns to Cleo, and says.
"Ok Cleo what did you want to talk to me about in private?" Lewis
"Ulmo has offered me the chance to go to Arda, and I accepted." Cleo
"When do you leave?" Lewis
"An hour after the next full moon sets if you agree to come with me." Cleo
"Of course I'll come with you. I can't imagine living in a world without you in it." Lewis
Lewis kisses Cleo, and they go their separate ways to start getting their affairs in order for their departure next month.
Cleo walks home thinking about what she is going to tell her family when she gets there. Cleo decides what to tell them just as she arrives at the house. Cleo walks in the door, and sees her Dad and Sam looking at her like they are surprised to see her. Sam walks up to her, and says.
"Cleo honey is something wrong?" Sam
"No Sam nothing is wrong. I'm just really glad that I haven't applied to any universities yet." Cleo
"Why is that honey?" Sam
"Because I have accepted another offer that I'm really excited about." Cleo
"How good is the opportunity?" Sam
"It's a once in a lifetime opportunity." Cleo
"Then I'm glad you took it, but could you try to come home for a visit?" Sam
"I'm sorry Sam, but once I leave I can never come back." Cleo
"When do you leave?" Don
"Next month." Cleo
"Is there anything we can do to help you get ready?" Sam
Cleo thinks about this, and realizes that she should leave her crystal here so that the next time comet Eva comes the Sea Children will be able to help Mako stop it from hitting Earth. Cleo smiles at Sam, and says.
"There is do you have a small jewellery box that I could have to put my necklace in when I take it back to Mako?" Cleo
Sam thinks about this, and says.
"Come with me I have just the thing." Sam
Cleo and Sam walk up the stairs, and go into the master bedroom.
Sam is looking through her things wondering how this could have happened. One of her step-daughters is leaving, and never coming back. This is a really good opportunity for Cleo, but her accepting it means that she will never again see the step-daughter that she loves very much. Sam will do whatever she can to help Cleo to get ready for the next chapter in her life. Now where did she put that small jewellery box that she got on the way home from one of her trips. Sam looks a little bit more, and finds what she is looking for. She hands it to Cleo, and says.
"This should work for what you need, and if there is anything else that you need help with to get ready don't hesitate to ask." Sam
"I will thanks Sam." Cleo
Cleo hugs Sam, and leaves the room to put the necklace back. Once out the door Cleo puts the Jewellery box in her pocket then goes to Lewis' favourite fishing spot on the beach. Cleo gets in the water up to her knees, and transforms before swimming to Mako. When she arrives in the moonpool Cleo pulls herself out of the pool, and stream drys herself. Cleo walks up to the wall where the waterfall is, and takes the jewellery box out of her pocket putting it on the spot where they place the crystals. Cleo opens the Jewellery box (which should be big enough to hold all three necklaces), and takes off her necklace. Cleo puts her necklace in the box, and takes one last look at the moonpool before leaving.
Lewis has called the university in America, and now he is going home to tell his family what is happening the best he can without giving away the secret of the Sea Children. Lewis knows that he has to tell his parents something or they'll go out of their minds with worry. Lewis hopes that the university will have already called his mum which will definitely make it easier to explain things. When he walks through the door of his home his mum walks up to him with an angry look on her face, and says.
"What were you thinking dropping out of university? You have just ruined your entire future, and I won't stand for it! You are going to call the university back and tell them that you were mistaken, and that you do wish to continue your education." Kate
"No mum I can't." Lewis
"Why not?" Kate
"Because I have already accepted another offer." Lewis
"What other offer?" Kate
"I can't go into specifics, but it is an amazing offer that I would be a fool to pass up." Lewis
"A better opportunity than studying to be a marine biologist in America?" Kate
"Yes a much better opportunity." Lewis
Kate takes a deep calming breath, and says.
"Since you have a good reason, and a plan for your future that you are pursuing I support your choices." Kate
"Thanks mum." Lewis
Lewis hugs his mum, and goes to his room to figure out what he needs to do to get ready.
Lewis goes to tell Max what is happening to the Sea Children including Charlotte. Lewis knows that Max really cares about Charlotte because she is Gracie's granddaughter. When Lewis arrives at Max's house he finds him out fishing just like he always is whenever Lewis comes over for a visit. Lewis walks over to Max, and says.
"Hey Max." Lewis
"Lewis how's it going?" Max
"Good things are good." Lewis
"So what did you want to tell me?" Max
"My friends are being taken one by one, and it would be selfish to try to stop it." Lewis
"Taken? Who is taking the mermaids?" Max
"The Sea Children are being taken by a sea god from another world named Ulmo." Lewis
"How many have been taken so far?" Max
"In order: Charlotte, Emma and Ash, Louise Chatham, Zane Bennett, and now Cleo is going to be taken, and she is bringing me with her." Lewis
"It sounds like this sea god is taking anyone who is even remotely connected to the moonpool. Is there any reason for me to be worried about being next?" Max
"No as far as we can tell he only takes a land person who has a strong enough connection to a Sea Child to turn of their own free will, and your connection is gone so you have nothing to worry about." Lewis
Max breaths a sigh of relief, and goes back to fishing while thinking about everything he learned.
Lewis goes to Mako Island on his boat to have one last look around before going back to shore to spend as much time as he can with Cleo here in Australia. Lewis goes to all the places he has been on the island before going to the moonpool to contemplate what he is going to have to do to follow Cleo. When he gets there Lewis sees a Jewellery box sitting on the ledge in the waterfall. Lewis looks in the box, and sees Cleo's crystal necklace. The reality of the situation hits him square in the face, and Lewis sits by the moonpool thinking about everything that has brought him to this point. After some serious thinking Lewis finds that he doesn't regret a single thing that has happened. Lewis is looking forward to starting this new chapter in his life with Cleo by his side. With these thoughts in mind Lewis leaves the moonpool, and returns to the mainland to spend time with Cleo.
The day the full moon is going to rise comes, and Cleo and Lewis go camping on Mako Island. They camp in the same place as they did when Charlotte was still on Earth. Just before the moon is about to rise they head to the moonpool. When they get there Cleo sits down on the sand while Lewis gets into the pool to wait for the moon to pass over the pool. The moon sits over the cone of the volcano, and the moonpool is bubbling around him with bubbles rising toward the moon. Lewis is looking over at the moon, and can't look away until the moon has passed over the volcano. As soon as the moon is completely out of sight Lewis gets out of the pool, and falls asleep on the sand next to Cleo. The next morning Lewis wakes up to Cleo's smiling face. Lewis smiles at Cleo, and she says.
"Want to go swimming with me Lewis?" Cleo
"There is nothing I'd rather be doing?" Lewis
Cleo and Lewis jump into the pool holding hands, and swim out of the pool to enjoy the beauty of the sea. An hour after the full moon has set Cleo and Lewis are taken by Ulmo in a bright flash of light.
On Arda Cleo and Lewis find themselves swimming outside of a sunken city. Cleo looks around for any one that lives here, and soon she spots Emma swimming toward one of the buildings. Cleo smiles, and says.
Emma over here. - Cleo
Emma looks over, and says.
Cleo I'm so happy that you are finally here. - Emma
Would you like to show me, and Lewis around our new home? - Cleo
It would be my pleasure; Follow me. - Emma
After you then. - Lewis
Emma takes them to the residential area first, and says.
This is the residential area. Why don't you go ahead and pick out a house while we are here.- Emma
Cleo and Lewis look through the available houses, and pick the one between Zane and Miss Chatham. After they are thoroughly settled into their home Emma takes them on a tour of the rest of the city. Some thing has been bothering Cleo the whole time. She looks around the lounge hall, and says.
"Where is Charlotte?" Cleo
"Charlotte should be returning to the city any day now." Emma
"What do you mean returning to the city? Doesn't she live here with the rest of the Sea Children her people?" Cleo
"While we are her people the Elves are her people as well so we have to share her like Hades had to share Persephone." Emma
Cleo reluctantly nods in acceptance of this arrangement, but is looking forward to seeing Charlotte again after such a long time apart.
The next day after Charlotte arrives in Númenor Emma and Ash leave the Lounge Hall, and even the city itself to ask Úinen for advice like Charlotte suggested that they should. When they have left the city, and are swimming in the vastness of the sea they say.
Úinen we need to talk to you. - Ash
Please talk to us we need your advice on an important personal matter. - Emma
Úinen is interested that two of the Sea Children would ask her for advice instead of going to Ulmo directly. She goes to the Sea Children, and says.
What do you need to ask me? I will give whatever advice or knowledge I can. - Úinen
Now that most of our friends are here Ash and I want to start a family, but we are not sure how that works as Sea Children. - Emma
Úinen thinks over the question, and the situation in general. She looks over Emma searching for the desired information. Úinen finds what she was looking for, and says.
You can not reproduce as the other Free Peoples do. Instead you will lay eggs that are fertilized internally. Does this information help you Emma daughter of the sea? - Úinen
Yes it does thank you? - Emma
Can this be done when we look like the race of men, or do we need our tails? - Ash
Úinen thinks over the question looking for the truth. She finds what she is looking for, and says.
Since coming to Arda there is little difference between wet or dry in this area; So there should be no problem breeding while dry. - Úinen
Emma and Ash look at each other with smiles on their faces, and say.
Thank you so much for your help Úinen. - Emma
You are welcome Sea Children. Now go make your family, and I look forward to the day you and your little ones can enjoy the beauty of the sea together. - Úinen
Emma and Ash nod, and swim back to the city.
Emma and Ash go back to their house to start trying to make a family. When Emma is sure that her egg-sac is full and ready her and Ash are intimate repeatedly until Emma feels a strong tingling in her abdomen telling her that all the eggs have been fertilized. Emma leaves the house, and swims around in search of a place to lay her eggs. Emma finds a bowl shaped hole in the ground, and she lines the hole with kelp before laying her eggs in the newly made nest. Emma lays down next to her nest, and goes to sleep waking up only when she needs to surface for air. Emma goes back to her nest, and looks at her gold and blue eggs with so much love that she can't stand the thought of leaving them until they have hatched. As soon as the eggs have hatched Emma will take her little ones into the city, but it will probably be awhile before they can go into the buildings. Emma wants her children to know their father, and view Númenor as their home just like it has been her home for the last two hundred years. Emma hopes that Ash will come see her, and their children before to much time passes.
Back on Earth it has been a few days since Rikki told Bella what happened to Cleo and Lewis, and Will wishes for nothing more than to see his friends again. Will has lost his interest in competitive diving since it reminds him of his horrible, manipulative, and underhanded sister. Will is getting to the point where he just wants to let the sea wash away all his troubles, disappointment, and grief. Will notices that tonight is the full moon so Will decides that he is going to embrace the sea in a way that he had never dreamed of before. Will gets his gear together, and goes camping on Mako Island. Just as the full moon rises Will makes his way to the land entrance to the moonpool cavern, and waits next to the moonpool for the moon to come over the cone of the volcano. After awhile Will sees the moon start to peak over the edge of the cone, and Will gets into the pool before he has a chance to change his mind. When the moon is fully overhead Will looks up at the full moon, and can't look away until the full moon has passed out of sight. As soon as the full moon is gone from sight, and the pool is calm Will