iA boat sits upon a beautiful lake, the moon lights the scenery and two sit, so close to kissing./i

iThey're overturned by eels, and splash in the water. The moment is ruined./i

iThe eels have a mermaid. A merman approaches an octopus./i

iThe merman requests the mermaid's release. A contact is shown./i

iNo./i

iHe signs./i

I wake up a moment, it all cycles in my head—what does it mean? Greed…?

Wow, I passed out so hard. The sun is shining and I'm awake, but I don't want to be. However, it's game day and I have everything to lose.

"I'm over weird dreams." I grumble.

I hear Leona yawn, and I'm getting up. "Morning."

"You're awake…?" He looks pretty tired. "After all that crying?"

I look, yep, Grim's still sawing logs. Quietly at least. "Sleeping after sobbing is the best sleep, Leona."

"—ugh. I can't wait to get you two out, I can't sleep worth anything." The lion complains.

I give him a look. "We could cuddle."

His ears are back. Did I just embarrass him? "-it's the third day. Win or lose, you two are out. Be prepared."

I don't call him out on the empty threat but… "I'm not losing, Leona. As long as you work with me, I'll be back at Ramshackle and you'll be here. Alone."

"That's how I want it." Arms crossed, I think I'm teasing him too much. "Are we doing practice this morning?"

Leona just looks at me. "You're not."

"Why?"

"You're going to puke, or faint, and I'm not dealing with that—the Dorm thinks you're anemic, and while pathetic, they're not jonesing for you over it. You're welcome." I'm a little surprised Leona lied for me.

"So that's my excuse then… that's a really good one." I have to give the lion credit.

"Bunny, just clean up. I'll do my end." And of course he literally kicks Grim out of bed. "UP."

"BWAH~?!" Grim cries out as he's rudely brought into the waking world, giving Leona a glare. "Why!?"

"We have practice. C'mon." A switch, and Leona's ready for the field, taking Grim with him.

I get ready—I've got Jack and the duo to meet up with after I pick and clean up my stuff, ready to take it back to Ramshackle. I've got a little homework I have time to do, too. I know this plan is going to work, so… I'm trying to reconsider making the three into sushi but I'm still running on hyper-emotional logic and most of that is unending rage. I've had three, four, no—wait. Hasn't this been a week-long pile of bullshit including the anemones? So I've had like a HORRIBLE week because of these three and I studied, so I definitely didn't deserve this.

Crowley should have never foisted this upon me, either. I'm not a property owner, I'm a student, so—this sucks. All of this absolutely sucks.

And I pick up the mess Leona's made, also re-making the messy bed he left behind. I feel sorry for his future bride or groom—really sorry. He's going to lure them in with pretty looks and money, then that personality's going to rear its ugly head. RIP.

But, the two return, and I give Leona a big grin. "We'll meet up later."

Leona scoffs, heading into the shower himself. "Sure, have fun swimming."

"Of course!"

"—so, you really think he's going to help?" Grim asks as we walk to the meeting point: the courtyard.

"Yep."

"Sure he is."

I give Grim a smile. "I told him I'd let you yowl at his door for tuna every single night until he graduates, and I would never, ever leave him alone if he didn't help us. Do you really think he's going to win against that, Grim?"

"Why are you so scary…?" Grim's ears go flat too. Aw… "I want my nice No back."

AW. THAT'S SO CUTE.

I'm going to cry that was just—I'm not sure if I'm upset because that was absolutely adorable or I'm upset because that was really insulting. Either way, tears are being wiped away. "Grim…"

"Don't DO that! UGH!"

I can't help but laugh as we wait for the arrival of our two dunderheads and Jack.

The three arrive together, they're all looking fairly downtrodden, I mean, fair, we've gotten our asses kicked two days in a row and for boys with egos that's a lot to take. So, I'm giving them a free, generous pass today. "Morning!"

"Why are you so chipper?" Ace asks, frowning deeply at my sunny disposition.

"We're going to go and steal the photo today!"

Why are they all giving me those looks?

"Seriously?" Jack asks.

"Yes, of course I am. We're going right back to the Atlantica Memorial Museum." I'm not sure why they think I stuttered or something?

"No, no way, No Wei." That was funny, Ace. I chuckled. "—how can we get the photo with the Leech Twins in our way?" Valid point.

"Splitting up." I respond.

"That's ridiculous…" Deuce adds in.

Grim, acting high and mighty for no reason, scolds them. "Oh, we have a plan my small-brained friends."

He called them friends! That's such a big step in the right direction! I'm SO HAPPY! We're making actual progress!

"Now listen up!" Bossy, too, but it wouldn't be Grim without that. "We're going to rob the museum by splitting up and distracting the Leech twins, while Leona takes care of the contracts!"

That's… oversimplifying, so I take over. "It's a multi-front plan, Leona's going to take care of Azul while we retrieve the picture at the Museum. We're going to have to divert into teams with the Leeches. They clearly can't harm me, so, I'll be able to get away while the rest of you occupy their attention—it depends on when they confront us, and when Leona actually gets there. The contracts aren't indestructible, and it only has to be produced for the master to be turned to sand… so really, as long as Leona performs, you'll all be free."

"But why go after the photo?" Ace asks.

"I want to win on every front." I reply.

Deuce whistles. "I think you've been here too long, No."

"—but really, that's… insane. Are we sure this is going to work?" Ace don't be a Debbie Downer.

"You really have the gusto of a Dorm Leader, No!" Deuce is all delinquent again. Good.

"And you're certain this will work?" Jack's also giving me a slightly weird look besides doubt.

"I don't think we have any other choice, Jack." At least Deuce is enough on my side here. "We're out of time."

"Yeah, so let's get going." Ace replies.

"Fine. Let's go." Well, it seems Jack is along for the ride at least. Good! I'm glad.

"You know, you're getting a bit too bold, No." Ace is along for the ride too, very good. "Yes, let's go!"

"We're going to get that photo!" Grim declares.

And that's all I need. Some team work.

It's not great, honestly, drinking the potion again and heading through the mirror. In all honesty, it's…

The sea is just as beautiful as it was before—I catch myself staring before having to swim off with them. I swear, with how my hair floats so freely in the water, and with my curls coming undone I might lose them if I come here again and again.

I sort of feel like a mermaid, but I've got legs still.

It's so nice, the pressure of the water relieves me of my cramps. I'm well equipped for being basically a submarine to keep—anyway. Ugh. I don't want to go back to the surface as we make our way toward the museum again. It's just so… peaceful. Like a dream.

A nice, easy swim there. We don't encounter the Leech fuckers, and in all honesty it's really nice. Except we get up to the gate and it has a closed sign.

"-it's CLOSED?!" I hear a chorus of shouts and I have to take in a breath. Well, it's been awhile since I've snuck around…

"—what bad timing." Jack remarks.

"That makes sense why we haven't seen the Leech Twins…" Deuce comments.

"So we need to break in." I reply.

"—what can we do? We can't run back with our tail between our legs, there has to be another solution." Jack suddenly gives me a look that he agrees, but doesn't want to. Hah. Join the dark side, Jack.

"I've got an idea." Ace grins, gesturing to Grim. "Come on, let's go talk to the guards."

"Eh…? Okay." Grim follows, and lets out a gasp. "Wow! Even the guards are merpeople! I guess that's how it is underwater."

"So I'm going to distract them, while you three get the photo." He explains briefly.

"EH? You don't need help? Jack asks.

"Deuce can't lie for shit, you're too honest, Grim is nothing but a liar, and No looks… like No." The fuck Ace Trappola. "Won't work. So, Grim, c'mon. We're going to scam."

But damn he's right.

Ace you dreamboat. We slowly slip out of sight while Ace approaches. I know exactly the plan now. My hero.

"WHAT?! REALLY?!" He shouts, looking at the closed sign behind the guards. They IMMEDIATELY take notice.

"Young man, what is the matter?" An older merman swims up to Ace.

"I-I can't believe it's closed! I—I was looking forward to coming here, and after all that work… it's… closed." Damn, give that boy an award. Ace looks absolutely despondent.

"W-we worked so h-hard…." And this is now why I will never, ever believe that teary-eyed look from Grim again.

"—Are you a human from the surface? Did you two come here alone?" The guard looks between Ace, and Grim clinging to his side. "—oh, you brought your familiar too?"

Grim just sniffles. "I-I wanted to see the museum…"

"Yes! I've—I've always wanted to come down here since I was a child. I've been in love with the world under the sea ever since I started reading books about it…" He looks so sad and longing, too. My God I will never trust Ace again. "It took so long to save up for a potion to get here, too…"

The other guard swims close, a much younger merman, to see what the commotion is about. He seems clearly invested in Ace's woeful tale with the back-up of a sad, sad kitty cat—familiar. Whatever Grim is, I guess.

But, that's when we take our cue to slip inside silently.

It's easy to slip into the museum, and it's absolutely beautiful. I'm surprised at all of the strange things—the decorations, and honestly it looks like this place is carved out of shell and stone. A large merman with a crown sits in the center of the entrance—a great beard, and holding a trident. I—swear I've seen his image before—was it in a history book, maybe? Ah, whatever. All of this is absolutely magnificent and if we weren't here for malfeasance, I'd like to actually tour the museum.

Azul's a bastard through and through—ruining good educational opportunities.

"We made it inside…" Jack breathes a sigh of relief. It's really not far in as we look at the photos on the wall, reading them aloud. "The commemorative photo for the Musician Horatio the 12th, Fourth Queen's visit… Third princess… the mermaid princess from land… The infamous King-"

"Oh! I found it! Prince Rielle's visit from ten years ago! Wow, with all of these, I don't think anyone would notice one gone." Deuce is pretty excited. "—it reads, Prince Rielle, visiting with school children… this is it, right? Why would Azul want a photo of an elementary school field trip?

Probably because he's a weirdo on a power trip.

That's my current theory.

"Doesn't make sense why he'd want such a photo…" Jack comments.

I look at it, myself. "Aww… they're so cute." Little baby merpeople! "Oh that's such a chubby little octopus trying to hide! What a cute baby~"

I'm getting looks but KIDS ARE CUTE! I want four.

"Who cares?! Let's get this back to Azul so we can get rid of the anemones!" Deuce is big brained today. And that's when Deuce takes it down from the wall.

"Huh. No alarm system… I'm surprised." Me too, Jack. "It's just an ordinary photo, he was telling the truth."

Weird of Azul, isn't it?

And that's when a guard spots us. "What are you doing there?!"

"Well, let's take him out!" Jack declares.

Ah shit, it really isn't hard as Deuce calls out, "CAULDRON!" And that is an unconscious merman underneath.

Oof.

We make it out of the museum without much of a fuss with the unconscious guard in the hallway. It's easy enough to slip out and make some big ol' eye contact with Ace. We need to GO. We need to go now. I take the photo from Deuce, and tuck it away. I know we'll probably be met with problems and I'm the safest person to have the photo, at least.

Grim's still clinging to his leg.

"I can't believe he's still talking." Deuce comments.

"We need to get going." Jack declares, and he's right.

They're playing it up so well too, Grim's even asking questions—about a movie, I guess? Huh, right, they have movies in Twisted Wonderland. Isn't a club hosting one next week or something? I should go to that.

Grim and Ace rejoin us as they part. "Did you get it?" Grim asks, eagerly.

"Mhm!" I pat my jacket where it's tucked away. "We succeeded!"

"Let's get to school then." Ace looks cheered up.

"And we can show that we're victorious!" Deuce seems so happy, too.

At this point, even if Leona fails—which I doubt—we're covered so far. As long as we don't run into a certain pair of slippery, awful eels.

We're heading out, getting a bit away from the museum, at least far away enough that it shouldn't be a problem—and back to the way point we need to get to, to return to our ibeloved/i school. I feel good. I mean, I feel good mostly because I'm under water and I can completely ignore my sore, tired body while I swim until I get out of the water and I'm hit with a new, horrible wave of misery currently untold. But that's neither here nor there because suddenly I get a chill down my spine.

"Oh no-"

And the long, horrifying shadows of the Leech Brothers appear around us. I'm not surprised, but that's GOOD for our plan! We need the twins away from Leona! GREAT!

Hah.

JUST AS PLANNED.

I am getting a little too hyped up, so I have to put on my best scared face. "Oh no!"

"Ah—there you are lil' shrimpy!" I do not like how creepily happy Floyd is.

"Are you having a lovely trip this time?" Jade asks.

"The eels are back." Jack snarls. Good.

"And is that the photo I see, No Wei?" Oh shit, Jade's got sharp eyes. I push it more into my jacket.

"Maybe." I reply.

"That's impressive, but—we can't let you take it back, so let's play tag all day long!" Floyd needs to be locked in an institution and I can't be the only one thinking it.

"Ugh, of course this was too easy." Ace comments. "You two had to show up. So basically you plotted this all out, huh? Let us get the photo, take it, and screw everyone."

"Maximum profits and minimum effort, it is our business model." Jade comments.

"You're all evil bastards!" Jack declares the obvious.

"Well Dorm Leader, what's the plan?" Deuce asks.

"—Split up." I say. "Split up and swim around, we need to get out of here."

Which, is how we take off. I do my best, swimming around—but they're definitely trying to corral me without magic. The other four keep getting in their way, and trying to push them in one direction while I bolt off in another. It's not fun, and I don't appreciate the work out.

Honestly, we're probably swimming around for a good hour when I finally hear Floyd start to get bored. "This is so annoying! I'm over this game of tag…" Good!

"It's not too much longer, we're here to enjoy ourselves, Floyd." Jade looks… I just don't like his face.

"No—sunset is about to start, we don't have much time!" Jack calls out.

Grim looks worried. "Is it really going to work?" Don't doubt me.

I grin. "I mean, while we're here… Leona's already taken care of business."

Good. The twins caught that.