Holding the shiny map ice slab in both her hands, Melody was trying to make sense of it as she turned it left and right in her hands. It was proving to be more difficult than it first looked! "Hmm..." She spoke in concentration as her eyes squinted.
The two of them were being carried upon the back of their kind whale friend. While seeing her do this as she lay beside her, Nozomi asked her, "can you make any sense of it Melody?"
Hearing her question the girl replied smiling trying to hide her own struggles, "oh sure yeah! Yeah I can! It's uh... South to two circles pass... then uh? North to, oh no no! Um... East to uh..?"
Looking at her she as she was trying to read it, Nozomi decided to ask her honestly, "you're struggling aren't you with this?"
Freezing as she heard her friend say this, after a moment Melody laughed awkwardly as she couldn't really bring herself to say it.
Smiling at her as she saw the embarrassed look on her face, Nozomi spoke, "here,"then gently taking the map from her red tailed friend's hands she said, "let me have a look!" With that Nozomi tried to make sense of the map.
Unbeknownst to the two of them, the whale unwittingly was swimming over a bed of tall swaying reeds of seaweed which were starting to tickle it's sensitive underbelly.
"Uhh..." Nozomi spoke as she turned the map left right and upside down! She looked at it annoyed as she said irritated, "man... couldn't she have given us something more tangible than this!"
Seeing that she was now struggling, Melody asked her, "you can't read it either?"
Shaking her head Nozomi turned to her as she told her, "well Geography was never one of my strong subjects but-
Suddenly the tickling for the whale had become more unsettling and now it couldn't contain itself as it started to shake badly!
Feeling this sensation, both Nozomi and Melody were on guard and quickly the red tailed mermaid asked perplexed as they shook, "hey! Hey! What's going-"
"UH! AH! AH!"
The whale suddenly sank it's back down, it was almost in the same way as a rubbed band on a slingshot when-
"AAAACCCCHHHHHOOOOO!"
SPLASH!
"WWWHHHHOOOOAAA!"
"AAAGGGGHHHH!"
Suddenly both girls had been set flying into the air by a watery blast from the whale who had let out an enormous sneeze along with a huge fountain of water! Then as they both fell they landed somehow upon a slippery and icy surface of a nearby glacier. Both of them were on their backs as they slid across it wide eyed from the shock of the unexpected lift off!
Blinking from the weird experience and feeling the ice under her back, Melody asked, "Uh...? What just happened?"
Nozomi recovering from the shock, became irritated by the experience as this was now the second time this had happened! She began to reply, "urgh! Well I don't know but my back's aching now and-"
Then looking up Nozomi saw something glitter and shine in the sky as it came hurtling straight towards her! "EEEKKKK!" She cried as she rolled over and got out of the way of the missile!
SMASH!
Looking at the shiny thing that had crashed into the icy floor and was now merely broken shards. Nozomi breathed in and out hard from the shock, then not liking the experience she cried out annoyed and upset as she sat on the floor, "why are things always trying to kill me!?"
Seeing this happen Melody became worried as she cried out, "Nozomi!" Then pulling herself back upright and sliding over to her upset friend she asked her, "are you all right?"
Nozomi hearing the concern in her voice, the pink finned mermaid looked to her friend as she told her, "I could be better... that was just awful! Why does this keep happening?!" With that she turned her head back down in total gloom.
Glad she was okay, Melody smiled gently as she then decided to cheer her up as she told her with a hand on her shoulder, "awww it's alright don't be sad! It could be worse? You're unhurt so cheer up! Okay?"
Hearing her say this, Nozomi looked to Melody and then seeing her gentle smile, the pink finned and blue tailed mermaid felt better slightly so smiling herself she told her friend, "okay... I'll do that... thanks..."
Nodding at this glad she'd been able to cheer her up, Melody went to investigate what it was that had crashed. Nozomi in the meantime getting her act together got over her little emotional moment, but as she did she looked up to the shining sun as she wondered about Mickey, Riku and Cait sith. Were they all alright? Where could they-
"Oh no!"
Hearing this cry Nozomi became worried and then moving herself over she asked hurriedly, "what's wrong Melody?! What's-"
With that she was stopped in her tracks as Melody showed her one of the broken shards of the thing that had fallen, on it was a design of the compass that had been on their map! Looking at it Nozomi then remembered the thing falling out of her arms and then it must have-
"Our map's ruined Nozomi!" Melody cried as she held the shard in her hands, quickly becoming depressed she asked her feeling horribly anxious, "how are we going to get to Atlantica now?!"
Listening to the sorrow in her voice, Nozomi felt really bad for this act of clumsiness and so she tried to think of something, "I don't know! Uhh... maybe-"
"HELP!"
Gasping as she heard this cry, Nozomi turned as Melody did in shock and as they did the keyblader mermaid asked becoming high on alert, "what was-"
"SOMEONE PLEASE HELP!"
Hearing this cry Melody looked around and quickly she saw where it was emanating from! Instantly she told her friend, "it's coming from this way!" With that the red tailed mermaid moved herself to a lifted edge nearby!
Seeing her go Nozomi quickly chased after her as she cried out, "Melody wait!" With that she slid herself after her friend!
Arriving next to her quickly then, both girls looked to see what was happening! It made their eyes both widen!
"Oh! Hold sweetie! We'll save you!"
"Help! Mama! Hurry!"
"I can't reach her!"
Looking on the two stunned mermaid saw that on a small floating ice slab was a baby penguin who was reaching up desperately to her mother. She in turn was trying to get to her with a ladder of five penguins in her wings who were all trying to reach down and save her infant daughter from a circling shark who was going around and around her!
"SOMEBODY HELP US!"
Seeing this and hearing this shout, with horrified eyes Nozomi quickly spoke as she said, "oh no!" Then turning to her friend she told her, "Melody we've got to do something?!"
Hearing her say this the red tailed mermaid looked to her friend as she asked her dumbfounded, "but what can we do?! That's shark and we're-"
Then she was interrupted as Nozomi told her urgently, "I don't know!? But we've got to something or-"
"DA! DAT! DA! LA! DA! DAH! DAHHHH!"
At this unexpected heroic chant, both girls turned back over again and saw approaching in the distance hopping over some floating pieces of ice, were a walrus and small penguin who were coming to the needed rescue situation!
Sounding confident and heroic the small penguin cried out for all the world to hear, "mightier than a hurricane! Braver than a killer whale!" Then as this cry came the walrus landing on their next icy step sent his friend flying and making him catch onto an icicle in the air! He then collapsed and plopped into the snow before emerging from his silhouetted hole and crying out with the spike of ice now as a makeshift sword held in his wing, "faster that a moray eel!"
Looking at these guys Nozomi couldn't help but whisper under her breath looking at these guys oddly, "and clumsier than a pair of banner peels!"
Then coming to the top of an edge, the penguin pointed to his imagined audience, "it's the fearless adventurers!"
With that as he hopped down, his companion was smiling after him as he said with a wave of one of his flippers, "slash explorers!"
"Titanic Tip!" With that the penguin arrived and as he did he exclaimed his name loudly with a thrust of his icicle sword! Then pointing his wings to his pal he declared as he arrived, "and his trusty sidekick Dash!" With that the walrus saluted proudly at his title.
Looking at these two, Nozomi was far from impressed as she said sceptically, "uhh? Well that's different?"
Melody though quite liked these two as she couldn't but giggle slightly at their entrance.
However the penguins making the ladder and the mother herself were all far from pleased themselves as one said dismayed, "oh no!" Then another said annoyed, "not them!" For when these two clowns got involved in something... it was not always a good ending that came!
Looking on at these 'Adventurers' Nozomi looked up for a moment as she wondered what they were both going to do to? Then looking down again she went to watch on and see-
"What're they doing!?" She cried out in disbelief!
For now the walrus was climbing down with his friend Tip on his head as he made his way down the ladder! As he did his leading pal spoke out with a clenched wing to the air, "Hee! Hee! This is it Dash! Redemption!"
Looking them as they did this, Nozomi asked aloud clearly appalled, "why didn't the walrus just take the top of the ladder and reach the other penguins down! He's just putting on unnecessary weight to the others on there and the mother holding onto it! Those dummies!"
Melody then told her friend trying to stick up for them, "oh they're just trying to help Nozomi! You can't think of them badly for that!"
Hearing this Nozomi told her friend, "I'm not thinking badly of them for that Melody... but it would have been better if they'd at least paused and thought things through before doing this!" For looking at the scene again she said, "cause I can't help but feel this isn't gonna end well..."
At these words, Melody couldn't say a word for she knew it was true inside and so looking on with her friend she watched to see how things would transpire.
Both the walrus and small penguin had made it to the bottom of the ladder and as they did they were now doing their best to rescue the young baby penguin who was now reaching up to them! Tip proud about what they were doing spoke up, "we're gonna be heroes for real!"
Agreeing with him Dash said to his friend as he started to reach him down, "yeah! They're not gonna laugh at us anymore!"
Then as he got himself into position, Tip said to his friend almost smugly, "heh! This is too easy!"
Hearing this comment Nozomi couldn't help but reply to it as she saw the struggles the penguin ladder and the mother were going through, "not from where I'm lying... this isn't gonna go well!"
However oblivious to all of this as he was swung back and forth to try and get the baby penguin, Tip reached down and said as he went, "and one! And a two! And a shark!"
It was then he froze as he saw the shadowed silhouette of the hammer head shark under the water came clearly into view! Instantly the flight of fight mechanism centre acted in his brain! Flight activated first! "SHARK!?"
"SHARK?!" Dash cried out simultaneously! For then both bird and walrus scurried in terror to get back up the ladder as they yelled chaotically together!
"AAAGGGGHHH!"
The baby penguin forgot her fear for a moment as she looked at these two 'rescuers' with irritation as she put her wings on her hips!
Nozomi in the distance had the same frame of mind as she said aloud with a sigh, having expected something like this, "so much for the 'Fearless Adventurers!'"
Melody hearing her couldn't help but laugh a little awkwardly at the scene herself...
As Tip and Dash raced up the ladder and the leader of the adventurers cried out, "goin' up! Goin' up! Goin' up!" However the mother at the top sustaining the chain couldn't deal with this fluctuating weight and suddenly like a whip from the force she was thrown back! As this happened the walrus and small penguin made it to the top as a single cry came out in panic, "goin' down!"
"WWWHHHOOOAAA!"
Then watching on shocked the baby penguin saw a huge hill of penguins pile up, One, Two, Three, Four and Five then-
SPLASH!
"WWWHHHHOOOAAA!"
Suddenly as Dash and Tip had crashed into the floating ice they'd sent the baby penguin flying into the air as the platform had become like a see-saw! Then as this happened the baby was reunited with her mother as she was hugged her filled with relief and happiness! Her daughter though looked on perplexed at her mother as she couldn't figure out what had just happened!
Melody seeing this then clapped her hands glad at the safe reunion of mother and child, then turning to Nozomi she told her, "look! They did it! The baby's out of danger!"
Acknowledging this fact Nozomi told her, "well yeah she might be..." then looking down she finished as she told her friend, "but those guys sure aren't!"
With that hearing Nozomi's words, Melody curious looked back down as she watched to see what she was talking about.
Now the group of five penguins were all weighed down and stuck underneath Dash's heavy blubber while the two adventurers looked into the water's depths nervously. This in turn was causing the ice to tilt upwards like a see-saw once again!
Looking into the water, Tip and Dash then saw from their upside down position, that an angry red eyed hammer head shark was now coming their way with it's white sharp jaws exposed!
"AAAAGGGGHHHH!"
With that they panicked and jumped back! As they did the penguins that had been underneath Dash were released! They then all went flying into the walrus's flipper's and as they were held by him the hammer head shark flew out of the water! Then as it landed into the icy floating slab they were all upon, it was sent forwards and upward again like a see-saw!
Then at once all who were upon the slab were sent flying into the ice berg above! They all bulleted straight into the ice with a crash! Their lower limbs all stuck out through the ice like oddly growing leggy bulbs!
Staring at this scene as it occurred with odd eyes, Nozomi was quietly perplexed then she heard from within the depths of the ice, Tip say, "well that wasn't so bad!'
Then at these words the ice in the cliff started to crack and splinter and as it did Nozomi spoke her thoughts aloud again, "but that's worse!"
"AAAGGGGHHHH!"
Immediately in moments the ice smashed apart as it all collapsed with everyone upon and in it! All of it quickly came tumbling down and as the shark underneath looked on in shock and horror as one huge chunk smashed right into his head!
Then shielding their eyes from the destruction that was occurring, Nozomi and Melody held their arms up as the white snowy dust went left right and everywhere! As she held her hands up the red tailed mermaid asked her friend, "how is it? Is everyone all right?"
"I don't know! Hang on!" With that cautiously opening her eyes Nozomi looked down to see what had happened! Looking she then saw the water where the shark had been along with the creature itself had all but gone! Instead there was now a thick sheet of snow everywhere! Pausing as she looked all the debris of ice and spouting icicles that were everywhere, the blue tailed mermaid looked for any signs of life.
Pop!
Quickly she then saw that from underneath the snow a head popped up! It was the baby penguin! Relieved Nozomi spoke up as she told her friend, "Melody look! Look at this!"
With that hearing the words from her friend Melody turned and saw with happy relief the baby penguin and then in another series of 'Pops!' More survivors were revealed and quickly she saw that mother and baby were reunited as they hugged one another happily!
Holding a hand to her beating heart Melody told Nozomi, "oh that's good! I'm glad they all made it!"
Nodding glad herself Nozomi replied, "yeah! So am I!" Though after a moment she added, "though I've got to admit that this is the most unusual rescue I've ever seen!"
Then at these words, quickly emerging from the ice and snow themselves were the rescuers! Looking smug about his success, Tip rubbed his wings together as he said proudly, "another plan... perfectly executed!"
Amused by this statement Nozomi had to roll her eyes as she said aloud, "sure!"
However the rest of the penguins who were there, were not amused at all! The mother started her lecture angrily, "what did you think you were doing!?"
Both adventurers becoming saddened with shame and said nothing at first as their heads were hung low as they both looked really uncomfortable, but then Dash tried to speak up as he said pitifully, "we were just trying to be heroes..."
However the mother wasn't going to have any of it as she said mad, "you call abandoning my baby heroic!" Then at once the baby held her mother tightly as she too became mad as her dear parent continued on, "you two boys almost got us all killed!"
The two 'fearless' adventurers couldn't say anything back to. They simply looked down and again sadly at the cold ice and snow all around them.
The other penguins all around then started to pitch in as one said, "oh yeah! Some fearless heroes!" Then another nudged him as he said, "more like zeroes!"
With that laughter broke out and rang from all the penguins who were standing there! This made the two 'hero's' feel even more small than what they already were!
Hearing this Nozomi then became appalled as she said, "now that's harsh! Sure they made a mess but they did try and help out! What's the point in calling people names!?"
Melody couldn't answer this and she saw that the sad pair were now exiting and leaving the jeering and hateful audience who were still mocking them both for their incompetence. Seeing them like this she felt terrible for them both, but then an idea occurred to her, "hey maybe they know the way to Atlantica?"
Nozomi hearing this turned to her friend as she asked, "Atlantica? You really think those guys would know the way?"
At her exclamation Melody turned to her and replied, "sure well why not? There's no harm in asking them is there?"
Listening to this suggestion Nozomi once again wasn't certain about this as she replied, "I dunno Melody... with what those guys did I-"
SPLASH!
Suddenly before she knew it Melody had taken off as she'd dived into the water! Seeing her go Nozomi became flustered as she cried out, "hey wait a minute! Hang on!"
SPLASH!
With that diving into the water herself, Nozomi chased after her friend as she cried out loudly, "Melody wait a minute!"
However unbeknownst to both mermaids, Uriax was watching on hidden in the shadows and as he saw them both go he grinned to himself as he said, "let's begin to set up the scene!" Then pointing a finger to his lips he uttered a silent dark incantation and in turn a dark furious flame began to burn... then it began to a living form...
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX XXXXX
Swimming forwards as Melody had taken the lead again and as she did this she was smiling to her friend, while Nozomi next to her said with a sigh, "you know I really wish you wouldn't just take off like that! You never know what could happen!"
Hearing her Melody told her, "awww you need to relax more Nozomi! Nothing's happened so far to us while we've been here has it?"
To which in reply the pink finned mermaid had to lament and agree as she replied, "no I guess not..." then with a small smile she told her friend, "but you can't blame me for worrying can you?"
As she heard this, Melody smiled herself as she shook her head and said, "no I can't! But what makes you think there'd be anything to-"
"AAAAAAGGGGGGHHHHH!"
Hearing this sudden scream startled both of the girls! Becoming alarmed Nozomi asked worried, "that was?!"
Then quickly hurrying themselves forwards the two came to a gap in the ice and looking through it they saw in icy enclosed space were both Tip and Dash! However the two of them were not alone, for there now swimming straight towards them with their nasty tridents sharped and aimed were a group of four purple Screwdivers!
Seeing these monsters as they approached the helpless mammal and bird Melody asked terrified, "what're those!"
Her eyes quickly becoming fiercely focused, Nozomi knew and spoke out one word, "Heartless!"
Turning as she heard say this word Melody asked, "Heartless? Nozomi what're you-"
FLASH!
Then suddenly startling the red tailed mermaid, Melody saw something emerge into her fellow mermaid's hand! It was something like a purple key decorated in white stars with a crescent moon in it's blade, looking at it she was shocked! But then before she could say anything her friend suddenly took off! Seeing her go Melody cried out alarmed, "Nozomi!"
Tip and Dash in the meantime were shivering in fear as the monsters were coming closer and closer! Their tridents were poised and ready to stab them! This was it! It was the end for them! This was goodbye to life and-
"Hey!"
At once the group of monsters turned, as they did their glowing yellow eyes and fishy heads fixed upon the blue tailed and pink finned mermaid that was coming towards them! Staring at this girl silently they then heard her as she cried out mad, "pick on someone your own size!?"
Hearing this as a trigger for attack, instantly the group of heartless changed target and were now coming straight for her! Seeing them coming at her friend, Melody was terrified as she cried out, "Nozomi! Run! You haven't-"
"Hah!" Instantly though and quickly the mermaid avoided each of the heartless as they all came propelling straight towards her! Dodging in and between all four of them as they each tried to strike her down, Nozomi grinned as each of them missed her! Then as she saw them turn in the water she asked smiling, "guess it's my turn huh?" With that she raced forwards!
Taking her keyblade she struck into all of them and as each tried to hit her she glided in and out between them with no trouble! Striking into one and then another, Nozomi thought to herself, 'wow! These fins and tail are making me more agile than normal!' Then as she struck another of the heartless splitting apart it'strident and then slicing it cleanly in half making its heart fly away! She thought to herself, 'maybe I am a natural in water!'
Then watching from the distance as she continued to slice into each and all the heartless, Dash couldn't believe what he was seeing! "Wow look at that girl go! She's slicing them all apart like sashimi!"
Tip hearing this however didn't wanna be shown up by a girl like this and so he replied, "you kiddin?' Those things are nothing! I was about to have 'em all right where I wanted them! Then that sweetheart had to come in and ruin the whole set up!"
Listening to this though Dash knew better, however before he could say anything he saw that Nozomi had finished off those monsters with one last fowl swoop! Then as it's heart fluttered away she wiped a bead of water from her head as she said, "wow! That was a good work out! It's been a while!"
Dash listening to her as she said this didn't know what to make of this girl! Just what was that weapon she'd used? Plus why was she? Then suddenly he noticed something coming up from behind her! Fearful he cried out, "hey! Look out!"
Hearing this shout Nozomi felt a tall shadow over her and quickly she turned as she asked, "what-"
ZZZAAAAPPP!
"AAAAAGGGGHHH!"
"Nozomi!" Melody cried out, for she watched horrified as her friend was sunk by a huge white and blue heartless with a single spiralling antenna on it's head! It was an Aquatank heartless!
Nozomi gasping from the fierce buzz gasped as she asked, "what was-"
Then suddenly she was slapped back by the enormous monster! Then again she was hit! Then again! It sent her hurtling into the cold ice to her side, several chunks fell left and right around her, "owww! That smarts!" She gasped as she looked up at the monster while cringing painfully!
Looking on she saw the creature was slowly coming towards her! As she hurt though she looked to everyone who was there, Melody Tip and Dash. As they looked at her with widened terrified and worried eyes. Nozomi knew inside she had to act now! She couldn't let them all down!
So quickly looking around herself she tried to find something that would help! She looked left, right down and then as she turned up, she saw it! That would work! So looking to the heartless she knew what to do! smiling she told it mad, "you wanna piece of me!" Then taking her keyblade she aimed it as she told it, "then come and get it! FIRAGA!"
With that the fire spell flew straight at the monster and struck it blasting it straight in the face! In moment the creature's head rolled back from the blow! Then as it went back forwards and realised what had happened! It became mad and quickly bubbles blew out from behind it as it was getting ready to charge at her!
Melody terrified as she saw the monster did this, looked to her friend as she cried out to her, "Nozomi! Get away from there! It's coming straight for you!"
However all Nozomi did was turn to her and smiled, then she gave her the sign that everything was going to be A-okay! Perplexed as she saw her friend do this, there was not another moment for her to speak because the heartless charged forwards!
Terrified Melody cried out, "Nozomi!"
Both Tip and Dash watched on both equally terrified! This girl was mad! For she'd die! There was no way she'd make it! The odds were completely against her!
However the mermaid girl only smiled and clenched the keyblade in her hands as the heartless came straight towards her! It was getting closer and closer and then!-
CRASH!
Melody was terrified as she covered her eyes in horror, as she did this she heard the crashing of falling ice! Both Tip and Dash too stared at the scene with widened eyes too! This was completely terrible! It was horrible!
The red tailed cowering mermaid was trembling as she felt tears of fear leak from her eyes, her friend had gone! She was lost forever and she'd never-
"Hey idiot!"
With that everyone turned in moments at this voice and there they saw Nozomi was alive and well and standing on the opposite side of the water! Looking no-one could believe she'd made it! The heartless turning from where it had smashed into the wall looked at the elusive mermaid and as it did, it heard her shout out to it, "you missed me!" With that she splashed a wave of water at it with her tail as she mocked it!
Nobody could believe she could be so arrogant like this! Especially against such a big monster like this! The creature itself clearly was mad again and quickly it went straight after her again!
Then seeing her plan was working Nozomi spoke, "okay! Here we go!"
CRASH!
With that she dived out of the way of the monster as it charged straight into the wall again!
Then swimming lightning fast and forwards in another direction, she cried out, "hey c'mon! You're supposed to hit me aren't you?!"
CRASH!
Again the monster smashed the wall where she'd been standing! However again it missed her and then seeing she'd got it where she wanted it, she told it as it started to turn in her direction, "well that's strike three and you're now out!"
Then aiming her keyblade she proclaimed to the monster, "have a taste of my own buzz!" With that she cried out fiercely, "THUNDAGA!"
With that the powerful thunder spell rained forth and struck the huge mountain of ice and snow that was above the monster and quickly in moments it rained down and crashed into the beast weighing it down! This damaged it tremendously as well as keeping it still! Then seeing it was time to give it the final blow, Nozomi moved her keyblade into position and as she did, she told the monster, "now it's time you fly!" Then with that she turned her keyblade quickly in her right arm in a fast circle and instantly her attack came, "Luminous Tornado!" With that a mighty glowing whirlwind emerged and quickly it sucked the monster up! In another second it was blown straight up and slashed apart by the fierce winds inside the attack!
Seeing her work was done as it's glowing heart floated away, Nozomi nodded hard as she declared proud that the battle was done, "good riddance!"
Melody was breathless as she saw the battle that had occurred! She couldn't believe it! What was that power she'd seen! Nozomi she was? With these questions racing through her, she quickly swam forwards!
In the meantime Nozomi clenching her hands sighed with relief that the battle was over, then stretching herself she got rid of some the aches and pains that were here and there, she said, "well that ached! I gotta pay more attention with my senses! If that had been a fiercer heartless I might not have-"
Then suddenly in the corner of her eyes she noticed something burning! Turning quickly she saw something tall shadowed and muscular appear to vanish away into a portal! Blinking she wondered what that was? Did she really see that? What was-
"Nozomi!"
Distracting her the blue tailed and pink finned mermaid turned to her friend who quickly came over, seeing her she smiled brightly as she said, "hey Melody!"
Quickly her friend asked her, "what was that! What's that thing in your hand!?"
Puzzled as she heard this, Nozomi asked, "thing in my hand?"
Nodding Melody pointed to her right hand and said, "yeah that!"
Nozomi then looked and saw it was her keyblade she was talking about! Then as she looked on puzzled she quickly became embarrassed as she realised that she'd broken madly from the act she'd been maintaing! Quickly she became awkward as she froze! What was she supposed to say now!
Seeing her go pale, Melody asked her, "Nozomi?"
Then she realised she had to say something! "uh? Yeah! Ha ha! Oh uh what's this? It's... uh?" Looking at Melody and seeing the curiosity in her eyes, Nozomi fought inside. For she still felt bad for lying.. so she decided she'd reveal some information, "it's um... it's a keyblade..."
Hearing this word, Melody repeated puzzled, "a keyblade?"
Nozomi nodded as she said, "yeah... it's a weapon that destroys those monster called heartless and..."
Seeing her pause like this, Melody asked her concerned, "what's wrong?"
Smiling sadly that she had to lie again, Nozomi told her, "I can't remember anymore sorry... it's the amnesia again, I guess I just instinctively knew what to do."
Hearing all this Melody was quiet with sadness as she replied, "I see..."
Nozomi was down herself, she didn't know what to say to improve the situation. But then she felt her friend come on over and hug her! Surprised the blue tailed mermaid asked, "Melody!? What're you-"
"I'm so glad you're okay! I thought that monster had got you! I didn't know what to do! I..." Melody however couldn't continue on as she felt all her relief pour out.
Nozomi hearing her and feeling her as she trembled she felt bad, for she'd unintentionally put her friend through so much... so moving her hand forwards she patted Melody's head as she told her smiling gently herself, "I'm sorry about that Melody... I didn't mean to put you through all that... I'm so sorry."
Hearing her say this, Melody looked up to her friend and as she saw her patting her head with that gentle smile. She felt all her worry and anxiety quickly vanish as she felt so reassured, so nodding to her she said, "thanks Nozomi."
Her friend nodded to her as she released her from her hug, then pausing for a moment she remembered about Tip and Dash. Turning around she saw that the walrus and penguin were still upon the ice where they'd been encircled. Looking to them both she decided to go over and introduce herself.
SPLASH!
Tip and Dash in the meantime seeing what had occurred didn't know what to think! Looking at these two girls, the sidekick of the adventurer duo asked his brave 'leader,' "what do you think Tip? What's with these two?"
Hearing the question the small penguin replied, "I don't know! But I say we shouldn't take these two too lightly! If that pink finned fiend can take out those things! She might even-"
SPLASH!
"AAAGGGHHH!"
"Excuse me?" Melody asked as she appeared from the water. Then seeing that she'd scared the two of them as they'd jumped back. She quickly told them trying to sound reassuring," you don't have to be scared! We won't hurt you!" With that she put a hand to her chest showing she meant no harm.
Nodding as she too swam on over, Nozomi added, "yeah! Definitely! Besides I already took care of those who were going to hurt you! Oh thanks for trying to warn me before too!"
Hearing this from these two, Tip replied trying to sound confident, "scared? Who said anything about being scared back there? Don't you two know an evasive manoeuvre when you see one?" Then quickly turning to Dash he whispered to him, "don't be pulled in by the sweet and nice routine!"
Quickly nodding as he heard this from his brave leader he looked at the two girls again nervously, Nozomi wondering what that bird was talking about then decided to try and ease the situation, "looks like there needs to be some intro's made here? Doesn't it?" Smiling she spoke on, "well let me start them, my name's Nozomi!" She told the two with a wave of her hand.
Smiling as she heard this herself, Melody chipped in too as she said brightly, "hi! I'm Melody!"
Then hearing these two be so open and nice with smiles on their faces, the walrus felt all his fear vanish as he immediately went over to introduce himself and his friend too with a smile, "this here's Tip" with that he pointed to him and as he finished he said approaching them,"and I'm Dash and we're-!"
Quickly acting though, Tip rushed down as he smacked his mouth shut as he told him mad, "excuse me! Mr I spill my guts to total strangers! You just blew our cover! I told you not to fall for the act!"
However Dash told his friend, "I was just trying to be friendly!"
Nozomi could feel where this was leading to! Sighing she looked to her left wrist and saw that the stone was still progressing with it's turning of red, so nudging her friend she told her, "I don't think we're gonna get much from these guys Melody! Maybe we should make tracks?"
Melody hearing this felt uncertain too, however she decided to give these guys more notice that their situation was urgent as she said, "guys! We really need to get going so if you could just help us we need to-"
"See now they're both gonna leave and it's all your fault!" Dash moaned to his friend.
Hearing this and becoming outraged and appalled Tip replied, "my fault!? AH!?"
Melody seeing what they were doing asked, "guys?"
Tip not hearing her though continued prodding his friend, "they're probably allergic to blubber!"
Then getting right in his face, Dash replied getting mad himself, "oh yeah! Well maybe they don't like birds who can't fly!" At this Tip looked like he'd been tazered!
Nozomi getting annoyed herself spoke up with a more angry tone, "fella's!"
The arguing continued, "well you can't fly either!" Tip spoke to his pal mad!
Dash though had one waiting for him, "and you walk funny!"
Melody tried again speaking louder herself finding this situation rather funny in it's own way, "guys!"
Tip at once started to reply as his feathers got all ruffled, "OH YEAH!" Then he tried to think of a come back, however he struggled to think of one, "well... uh," then he just repeated mad getting more in Dash's face, "YOU CAN"T FLY EITHER!"
"KNOCK IT OFF!"
At once both animals and even Melody looked to who shouted out so loudly, Nozomi in the meantime was irritated beyond all measure as she said, "honestly we don't have time for this! Now I know how the king must feel when-" Immediately she snapped her mouth shut! She was being too loose with info again as Melody looked at her oddly, what was she going to say there?
However remembering their predicament she tried to be a bit more calm about the situation as she told Tip and Dash, "yeah well, we do have to hurry up guys so... do either of you know how to get to Atlantica? We don't have that much time left."
Hearing this Dash asked curiously, "why do you both wanna go to Atlantica?"
Melody then went onto explanations as she swam back a little and revealed her tail as she said, "we have to get something that was stolen from a friend... if we don't we'll turn back into..." the red tailed mermaid though couldn't bare to say it!
Dash seeing her struggle gently asked, "what? Turn back into what?"
Nozomi though seeing that her friend didn't want to say it, she though didn't fear it entirely so she decided she was the best one to say it, "we'll be both returned to our human forms."
Then gasping loudly shocking both Melody and Nozomi, as they weren't expecting it. They heard Tip say with an accusing wing, "I knew there was something unfishy about you two!" Then walking away dismissing them he said, "tough break sisters! Drop us a line! Let us know how it all turns out!"
Hearing him say this Nozomi became irritated again as she replied, "fine! Don't help us then! After all I did to save you!" Then taking her friend's arm she told her as she started to swim away with her, "c'mon Melody! We'll find our own way there! We don't need-"
"Hey! Wait we'll take you!" Dash spoke up as he stopped his friend with his flipper and turned him back around!
Shocked as she heard this, turning quickly around Nozomi asked, "you will?"
Melody happily though asked, "you will?"
Tip not quite believing this either asked, "we will?"
Then whispering to his friend he told him his reasons, "Hey! That girl helped us before and besides they're damsels in distress! It's our big chance!"
Hearing this info being given to him, Tip still was for a moment apprehensive as he looked at the two girls, but then seeing their curious looks and almost pleading smiles... he felt himself giving in! Then he asked to the heavens above, "whoo! Boy I can't believe I'm doing this! Somebody stop me!" Then pausing for a second or two nothing happened! Then seeing this he boldly proclaimed to both the girls, "all right we're in! Onto Atlantica!" With that both walrus and penguin jumped in the water!
SPLASH!
SPLASH!
Seeing what they'd achieved Melody proclaimed to her friend, "we did it Nozomi!" With that she grasped her hands happily!
Laughing as she heard her say this Nozomi laughed too, "yeah we did! Now we'll be able to-"
"Hey!" Quickly getting the girls attentions, Tip asked them, "you coming with us or are we goin' alone on the way!"
Hearing this rolling her eyes, Nozomi thought to herself, 'he's like a birdy version of Cait sith!' But then quickly she replied, "fine! Fine! Keep your feathers on!" With that turning to her friend she told her,"let's go Melody!"
Nodding she agreed as she told her, "yeah let's!" With that both girls jumped!
SPLASH!
With that they dived into the depths of the ocean! It was time to go onwards to Atlantica! Then as they laughed and swam following Tip and Dash. Nozomi thought about that shadowy figure she'd seen... for in it's hands she swore she saw it... the Trident. Was the man who'd stolen it using the heartless? Was there more danger waiting ahead?
However hearing her friends as they went on laughing together, she decided it would be okay as long as she had the keyblade! She would be able to fight off what ever might come their way! So she smiled and let herself enjoy the journey with them!