Chapter CLXVI: Searching For Harmony, Onwards To Atlantica! Part XII

Emerging from the waters quickly as she broke through the surface with a splash. A rich silky mane of orange hair swayed and was thrown back behind a pair of strong shoulders as two golden yellow eyes spied their unwary prey. For there amongst some rocks near the grand high sea wall was Jona who was quietly gazing upon Nozomi, Melody, Tip and Dash as they arrived from their triumphant mission!

Looking on she saw that the red tailed mermaid had acquired one toy in particular, "ah? So they've managed to get their hands on that powerful trinket have they?" For seeing the golden trident shining in the sun's light she smiled as she said aloud, "I'd say Uriax honey and that lady of his Morgana are gonna be real pleased!"

But as she thought of Uriax came again she became quiet... " oh but just what is my honey bunny up to now?" For after he'd left and entered the city she couldn't tail after him, so she had lost sight of him. Feeling a little sad that she couldn't see him, she couldn't help but moan, "oh I miss him already!"

So instead she decided to keep a trace on Nozomi and her pals... however she had a nagging sensation inside, "hmm well they seem happy enough... if that's so I better head on my way... otherwise later there might be some hell to pay!" For if she guessed right. Soon that Morgana would be a force to be reckoned with and would become absolutely untrustworthy!

So looking at the group further for a moment quietly, she already knew what their destination was going to be, so knowing this she smiled at them and murmured quietly, "I'll meet you at the finish line sweeties!" With that she left as she went to head towards Morgana's hideout!

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX XXXX

Diving and flying out of the water back and forth as they celebrated loudly, Tip and Dash were shouting madly for all the world to hear, "WOO HOO!" For their first proper adventure and exploration had gone amazingly! They'd managed to defeat a monstrous eel plus a shadowed king and had retrieved a golden treasure!

Realising what they had achieved, Tip landing upon a small rock that was amongst a small bed of them, he high fived his sidekick as he cried out, "we did it!"

Pleased Dash then replied straight back in total happiness, "yeah we did!" With that he high fived his brave leader again.

Seeing them celebrate Nozomi couldn't but smile too as she asked, "looks like you guys are proud huh?"

Hearing her say this, immediately Tip swam up to her and said, "obviously! How can anyone not be pleased here! We've done something colossal! Stupendous! Incredible! We've-"

"Yeah! Yeah! Yeah! I get it I get it!" Nozomi replied casually as she waved these extravagant adjectives away.

Seeing her do this annoyed Tip immensely, since she was downplaying their achievements so much. However before he could start a tantrum. Dash swam over as he asked with concern in his voice, "Nozomi aren't you pleased about what we've done?"

Hearing Dash ask this and seeing the worry in his eyes, Nozomi then answered honestly though as gently as she could,"oh no! Um, I am pleased guys with what we've done! It's just..." quickly she became quiet as she turned her head and looked in a certain direction.

As she did this, both Tip and Dash were confused at first until they too looked in the same direction. Their gazes then all concentrated on Melody who clearly wasn't happy as she stood under the shadow of the biggest rock that was there. It was a slanted one that looked comfortable enough to lie upon.

Seeing her depressed state everyone immediately became worried and so automatically they all swam to her side and Dash asked in his usual gentle manner, "you okay there Melody?"

Hearing the question the young red tailed mermaid began to answer, "I've just realised..." with that she turned her head as she told them all, "all this time, Atlantica was never that faraway from home."

Hearing her say this as she turned to look back again at what she was gazing at, Nozomi repeated puzzled, "home?" With that as she turned too, the mermaid keyblader saw the place that her young friend had called her home.

What she saw was a tall white seaside castle that had red roofs and hanging yellow flags that blowed gently in the wind. Around it there were many seagulls that floated above it as they circled around the grand building as though dancing in celebration of it's majestic beauty.

Before this castle though, was a tall white imposing wall that prevented anymore of the wondrous structure of the castle from being seen. Looking at it, it seemed to be so wrong having such a thing obstructing the view of this wonderful place.

Staring at it all, Nozomi's eyes widened as she whispered, "whoa... it's amazing!"

Nodding Dash was impressed too as he added, "yeah it is!" Then turning to Melody he asked her, "this is really your home?"

Hearing this Melody felt a little bashful at having to admit it as she replied to Dash, "yeah... well it used to be."

Nozomi hearing this spoke as she realised, "used to be?! Melody living there must have been incredible! I mean to be there you must have been a servant, or a courtier or a-"

"Princess," Melody answered simply as she interrupted her friend.

Hearing her say this Nozomi nodded as she said, "yeah or you must have been a-" Stopping though as she realised what Melody had just said, she repeated slowly, "princess?"

Nodding as she smiled still a little bashful and amused about her just realising it, Melody told her, "that's right... that's what I was."

Nozomi was blank then as it took a few seconds for it to set in her mind about what she just learned, but as it clicked inside of her she became shocked! "Whoa! You were a princess and I just-!" Then she felt ashamed at not having realised it as she became gloomy, "man I'm such an idiot... why didn't I realise it! All this time I've just acted like a total..."

Hearing her say all this, the young trident holding mermaid became worried as Nozomi turned to her and said apologetically, "I'm sorry Melody... I'm real sorry!"

At her words of apology the young mermaid asked her, "for what? Why're you apologising?"

Nozomi then told her, "for my behaviour! If I've offended you or something! I"m sorry if I've-"

Giggling as she heard her say this, Melody couldn't believe it! The female keyblader though stopped with uncertainty as she heard her laugh, for what was she supposed to do now? However recovering from her little bout of laughter, the young mermaid told her friend, "it's fine! You've been okay, you haven't done anything that's wrong!"

Hearing this Nozomi asked her surprised,"really I haven't?"

Shaking her head Melody told her smiling still, "nope! Not at all! So don't worry okay?"

Relieved and glad to hear this, Nozomi quickly relaxed as she smiled herself and said, "oh that's great!" Then she realised something as she asked herself internally, 'how many princesses have I met now?' As she tried to remember though she realised it had become quite a few, 'whoa... this journey's been amazing in more ways than one!'

Seeing a funny smile come across Nozomi's face as she seemed to be lost in some kind of weird daydream, Tip didn't quite get all this talk about princesses and stuff as he sat upon the head of his sidekick, though he was amazed at the news Melody was one as he said, "whoa! That's some crazy lineage you got kid!" However there was one thing that was bugging him more than anything else, so he had to ask, "but uh what's with that wall in front of your place? I know good fences make good neighbours, but isn't that a bit much?"

Nodding Dash had to agree as he asked, "yeah? What were you trying to keep out?"

However this one question had hit a sour note in Melody as she replied with bad memories resurfacing, "it wasn't built to keep something out." Nozomi then breaking out of her daydream as she heard this sour note, she looked to Melody and as she did she heard her young friend continue and say, "it was built to keep me in!"

Becoming concerned as she said this, Nozomi asked, "keep you in?

Melody nodded at this question, however she brightened as she said looking at their acquired treasure, "but now with the Trident, nothing will be able to hold me back anymore... then when we're mermaids permanently!" At the thought, the red tailed mermaid brightened as she said happily as she turned to Nozomi, "we can have all the fun we want!"

Hearing her say this and with that really happy smile on her face, Nozomi stared at the young girl... she felt guilty again and this time... she couldn't hide it. She turned her face away from her friend as she looked down at all the seawater that surrounded them.

Seeing her friend turn away from her, Melody immediately became concerned again and looking to her friend she asked her, "Nozomi?"

At the mention of her name, the guilty keyblader looked up and sadly she had to admit to her friend, "Melody... I'm sorry."

Confused as she said this sentence, the young red tailed mermaid asked her, "sorry?"

Nozomi then confessed to her, "... I can't be a mermaid forever," after saying this she looked up as she told her, "I...have friends who I need to find, I know they're waiting for me."

First shocked at hearing this news and now hearing this revelation, Melody asked her, "friends?... You've remembered-"

"I never forgot," Nozomi told her finally the truth, looking on sadly she revealed, "I pretended to have amnesia... I lied to you all this time, because I didn't know how to get around this world and... I didn't know how to explain how I found you or... well, anything like that so... I'm sorry."

Melody was shocked to learn this, she'd never forgotten? She lied to her? As this information sunk in, she had to ask bewildered, "why? Why did you lie to me! Did you think I was your enemy or-"

"No!" Immediately at these words Nozomi told her, "no! I never saw you as enemy or anything like that!... I just didn't know what to do! I mean... how were you going to believe me? That I fell out of nowhere from the sky? That I can wield a keyblade and fight monsters!... How would you believe any of that!? I just... I didn't know what else to do..."

Quiet again, Melody took the words Nozomi had given to her and gradually as it settled into her mind what she was saying, she responded, "I see, well that makes sense with the way you acted and stuff before... I had a feeling you were hiding something all this time." she felt saddened as she realised this and also that her friend didn't want to join her forever as a mermaid... but this lead onto another painful thought that came to her mind, "... so you were with me just to find your old friends right...?" Looking up she then asked Nozomi as she felt tears beginning to come to her eyes, "so that means you never really saw me as a friend at all, during this whole time did you?"

Hearing this Nozomi became shocked! How could she come to such a thought? Shaking her head the anxious keyblader told her shaking her head, "no!"

However Melody didn't seemed to have heard her as she said, "you didn't trust me at all! You lied to me just like my mother! Hiding things from me! I must really be that awful to the point you can't-"

"NO!" Nozomi practically shouted and then swimming over to her, the keyblader took hold of her shoulders as she told her firmly, "you're my friend too!" At this news Melody looked at her with widened shocked eyes as the two adventurers/explorers stared on equally shaken too as she continued, "you, Tip and Dash are my friends too! I didn't reveal the truth because of what I just said before and... if I wasn't your friend why would I go to such length's to help you! I just didn't want to hurt you...!" Then looking terribly sad she told her, "and I know that I'm doing it now... and I'm sorry," with that looking to friend again she told her, "I'm sorry Melody..."

Seeing the look of sadness in her eyes as she looked at her, the red tailed mermaid was stunned by her sincerity. Then as she remembered the various moments she'd come to her rescue along with Tip and Dash. As well as the time the two of them were learning to swim together amongst all the colourful bubbles, laughing and singing together... quietly she felt her truth... she was right it did hurt. But more than that she felt elation somehow as she told her, "okay... I see it now, you really didn't want to hurt me did you?"

Seeing that she'd understood this, filled Nozomi with a small amount of relief and as it did, she told her, "no... I didn't... I am sorry about all this."

Beginning to smile then Melody told her, "yeah I can see that... and it does hurt inside I admit that right now, but I'm glad too."

Surprised to hear this Nozomi asked her, "you're glad?"

Nodding Melody then told her, "yeah! Because you finally trust me! You trust me enough to reveal the truth to me...despite this pain," looking up she told her, "and I think that's a sign of real friendship!" As Nozomi digested this information she was shocked to know this, but she was shocked as her young friend told her finally, "thank you... thank you for trusting me with the truth."

Hearing this Nozomi was really surprised! For she hadn't even thought about trust! Well she'd already trusted her, but maybe she hadn't? Or maybe? However this was getting too confusing for her mind, but somehow she felt Melody's words to be true as she nodded and so as a small smile appeared on her face, she told her, "it's all right...thanks for taking it so well, Melody... you don't hate me do you?"

Shaking her head the young red tailed mermaid told her, "no I don't!... but, it will be lonely being a mermaid by myself."

Nozomi hearing this was depressed again, but she did have a bright note to give her, "yeah I guess that's true, but you won't be alone!"

Hearing this Melody asked her surprised, "I won't?"

Becoming a little brighter Nozomi told her, "yeah! Well because I'm gonna still need swimming lessons when I'm human again, cause... well I don't know if I'll be able to get around so easily and also-"

"You'll have us!" Tip declared positively as he pointed a small wing up triumphantly.

Melody along with Nozomi both looked to Tip and Dash surprised. As they did the gentle Walrus revealed, "yeah! We'll stick with you! Besides we're the great Adventurers/Explorers quartet no matter what form! Right?"

Hearing the question Nozomi and Melody were quiet but then both girls couldn't help but smile and as they did they nodded as they both answered, "That's true!" "Yeah!"

Glad to see that both of the girls were now on the same wave length again, Tip then declared, "now with the big dramatics aside! We both need to get you goin' before your spell's run out! You haven't got much time left have ya?"

At these words and quickly remembering, Nozomi said, "oh yeah!" Then turning to the bracelet on her left wrist, she saw quickly that the blue gem only had a quarter of it's power left! Realising this the keyblader cried out, "We're nearly flat out of time! We need to get going now!"

Hearing this news quickly Melody spoke, "right! C'mon let's go everyone!"

With that Tip and Dash didn't need to be told twice and quickly they went and as they did, Dash cried out, "geronimo!"

Then his brave leader cried out, "full steam ahead!"

As the two enthusiastic Antarctic animals catapulted forwards, the female keyblader went to follow Melody and as she did, the red tailed mermaid said, "Nozomi..."

Curious the keyblader asked her, "yeah Melody?"

The young girl quiet for a moment told her, "I'll help you find your friends when you turn back, so don't worry... and, thank you for becoming my friend too!"

In awe as she heard her say this, Nozomi was quiet. But then she smiled gratefully as she told her, "thank you Melody! Plus I'm glad I'm you're friend and I..." with that she turned to look at her side as she remembered something.

As she did this, the young red tailed mermaid was puzzled but before she could ask about it, Nozomi told her, "it's okay! I'll tell all when we get to Morgana's!" Then swimming on a little ahead she turned and asked her, "all right?"

Hearing her and seeing her do this, Melody was curious but just like her friend did for her, she trusted her and so she replied, "sure okay! Let's go Nozomi!"

Nodding happily the female keyblader replied, "yeah!' With that the two mermaids swam on together and as they did, Nozomi felt in her pocket again the little thing's she'd picked up in the sunken ship. She decided to give her little present to Melody later, for there were more important things to worry about right now!

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX XXXXX

Swimming on together as they all chased after the two Sting Rays that had come swimming into Triton's court, Riku, Ariel, Flounder Mickey and Cait sith were all busy trying to keep up with the elusive beasts!

The two of them were speeding off quickly while also turning left and right at the oddest of times! It was clear the two beasts were definitely trying to lost the band of persistent heroes! As they turned another corner, Cait sith cried out, "don't lose sight of 'em lads! We can't let these nasties get the better of us!"

Flounder hearing this from the small bubbled feline told him, "not planning to! But boy these guys are fast!"

Ariel hearing this as she concentrated hard told her old friend, "just to be expected from Morgana! Slippery and sneaky just like her!"

Then as these words slipped from her lips, the two creatures went straight through into an underwater cave! Seeing them go, quickly Mickey spoke up as he told them all,"c'mon fella's we can't lose 'em now!"

Nodding fiercely as he continued to hold onto Nozomi's summon gem in his hand, Riku then replied determined, "right!" With that everyone entered the darkness of the cave!

As they did, emerging from his stealth point and swimming to the entry point. Uriax brought his right hand forth with a smile and said, "let's get this started!" With that a glowing purple power began to swarm within his fingers!

Meanwhile within the darkness of the cave as they continued to chase after the two Sting Rays, nobody could see anything! All they could hear was the sound of the water and bubbles that flowed forth as they swam on ahead.

However in the darkness of the cave as he looked on ahead, something strange was happening! For looking on Riku saw a glittering purple light that seemed to dance around and surround something, the glowing force made odd symbols and shapes as it travelled on ahead.

Puzzled as he saw the shapes too, Mickey asked as they continued on, "hey what's that ahead? Where have those-"

However he was cut off for it was then, that everyone left the darkness of the cave! Then looking on they saw something that shocked them! For as they left the cave, there was now swimming around them hauntingly with sharp toothed grins on their ghostly white faces not two Sting Rays, but four! All of them were surrounded by glittering purple glowing magic which made them all the more strange and ominous... for what was that power?

Seeing them as they continued to circle around and around them, Cait sith was shocked as he asked, "what the bloomin' heck!? How'd them beasties multiply!?"

Then as this question was asked, the creatures swam around them in a hurried fast circle and instantly in another moment they dispersed as the two pairs of Sting Rays swam into two different directions!

Seeing them go, quickly Flounder spoke up as he cried, "c'mon guys let's go after them!"

However, "but which ones!?" Mickey cried for the two pairs were going in opposite directions making it impossible for them to chase both at once!

Looking at what was happening it was quickly clear to Riku that this was a diversion! However due to the darkness that they'd been in there was no way to tell which of the Sting Rays were their real targets! Something needed to be decided fast! So turning to everyone he told them all, "guys! I'll follow the ones who're going to the right! You guys follow the left!"

At this command quickly came, Mickey cried out as he saw him start to leave, "but Riku! I can't leave you alone to fight and-"

"I'll be fine don't worry about me!" With that Riku swam on ahead!

"But what about your heart pain from before!" Ariel cried out worried, "you'll need someone to help you if it comes again? So why not-"

"Don't worry! I only have this attack once in every world! Cait sith's already done the healing! Please you need to go now! We don't have time to talk!" Then trying to be reassuring, Riku turned his head as he cried out further, "just be careful!" With that said he was on his way!

Seeing that he had such confidence, Cait sith was glad to see that he had faith in his skills, "that lad's sure cocky ta think he can take care of business on his own huh?" But then turning to the others he cried out, "well you heard him lads! C'mon! Let's get back to chasin' our own quarry! Onwards mates!" With that he led the way for everyone as he headed in the left direction where the other group of Sting Rays had gone!

Seeing him go, the mouse king was clearly conflicted as he want to help Riku but he knew Ariel would be helpless alone! So after a moment of furious anxious debating inside he relented as he quickly cried out, "hey wait up Cait sith!" With that he went to catch up to his friend!

Chasing after him too, Flounder cried out with Ariel following behind him, "hang on guys! Don't leave without us!"

However as she swam chasing after everyone, Ariel looked back for another brief moment and said quietly, "be careful Riku!" Before turning her attentions to swim on ahead to keep up with the others and the Sting Rays they were chasing.

Watching from the darkness of the cave as now the most tenacious and truly irritating members of the heroes had been removed, Uriax smiled as he grinned with a terrible intent as he murmured to himself, "finally I have you alone...!" With that his right hand began to glow with purple pulsing light again, it was a sinister indication of his plans for the lone keyblader!

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX XXXX

Now finally back in the realms of the icy Antarctic, Nozomi swam on with Melody as they all headed towards the mouth of the iceberg where Morgana lived. Beside the two of them Tip and Dash were still caught in their happy mood as they spoke to the two girls, the gentle Walrus said with a smile, "you know Melody when you're turned into a mermaid permanently we'll be friends forever!"

Nozomi hearing this though had to ask a little mischievously, "oh and you won't be friends with me anymore?"

At this quickly Dash spoke up, "oh no! No! Of course we'll be friends when you're human too! Sorry Nozomi!"

Seeing that she'd made him flustered, the female keyblader told him with a smile, "it's okay! Don't worry I was only checking!"

Dash sighed as she said this and then Tip laughing added sitting upon the head of his sidekick, "well it doesn't matter human! Mermaid whatever! The four of us all make a great team! We'll be inseparable!"

Melody hearing this asked smiling herself, "really?"

Dash then nodded happily as he told her, "yeah nothing will ever come between us!" However as he said this one line, something popped up and swam in-between the two adventurers/explorers! Dash looking at this particular object immediately panicked as he cried out along with his bold leader, "SHARK!"
Then quickly Tip cried out urgently in a panic, "Run! Run! Scram!" With that in a hurried series of splashes and dives the two of them were gone quicker than the blink of an eye!
Seeing them go Melody cried out, "no wait it's just..." however it was too late, the so-called brave walrus and penguin had disappeared from view!
Nozomi feeling a little deflated breathed out, "yeah... nothing will ever come between us... except that," with that she looked down at the 'ominous' shark fin.

However who owned that fin was quickly revealed to be none other than Undertow as he splashed up with a keen grin on his face. Looking to the two cowards as they sped away he laughed and said, "leaving so soon boys!" Then becoming arrogant he couldn't help but say, "what can I say? When ya got it, ya got it."

Hearing this line Nozomi didn't like his tone as she replied, "cocky much?"

Undertow hearing this line didn't like her tone either, however before he could say another word he noticed a particular item, "hey! You guys got it!" For there in Melody's hands was the Trident!

Nozomi hearing this still feeling this wasn't a big deal, she told Undertow, "yeah, we did get it and it wasn't easy y'know! You wouldn't believe what-"

However too excited to let her finish, Undertow cried out, "sweethearts! You're my new heroes!" With that he turned as he told the two girls, "let's go! It's time for some magic!"

Annoyed that he hadn't let her finish her sentence, Nozomi looked at him with a creased brow. However Melody was worried about Tip and Dash as she asked, "but, but our friends they're-"

Laughing Undertow asked the girls in disbelief, "what? You mean you guys call those yellow bellied sea slugs your friends!?"

Immediately Nozomi told Undertow, "hey! That's too harsh! They're not that cowardly! Besides they-"

Undertow though wasn't in the mood for her as he replied annoyed, "oh whatever! Now c'mon do you guys wanna be mermaids or what!? Now c'mon! Times a wastin'!" With that he swam on ahead of them!

Getting further irritated by his behaviour, Nozomi spoke up and said, "geez what's with him!? Impatient! Rude! If we weren't in a hurry I'd so-"

Melody then swimming next to Nozomi looked down again, seeing this expression on her face she asked her, "hey? Are you okay there Melody?"

Hearing her friend, Melody looked to her as she said, "oh yeah I'm fine... it's just..."

Seeing her pause Nozomi asked her gently, "it's just what?"

After a moment as Melody felt her doubts beginning to plague her again inside, she shook her head as she told Nozomi, "no it's nothing... don't worry, let's just give Morgana the Trident and then when she fixes the spell, we can get Tip and Dash, then help you find your friends, okay?"

Hearing her say this, Nozomi then simply nodded after a moment as she told her, "okay then, let's go Melody."

With that she followed her friend into the darkness of the cave as Undertow leapt up from the water crying out now and again, "yeah! Power! Yeah! Power! Yeah!"

Nozomi was getting further annoyed with his mutters and as they went further into the darkness, she felt this urging to be on guard and so feeling it, she braced herself for whatever might happen next within this ominous icy domain...