Chapter 8

Author's note; Summary: Annie makes discoveries about Melora; Ava makes a new plan; in characters past, Dawn and Troy's relationship grows.

Portland Oregon, 1996

The weeks had passed since Dawn started going to school on land. Every morning she'd sneak away from the pod and go on to land. She'd met up with Susannah and she'd teach her about human life.

On the third day of school Susannah brought an outfit in her bag and gave it to Dawn explaining that humans wear different outfits everyday. Since then, she'd bring a new outfit for Dawn and she'd change into it in the bathroom. The two girls were becoming best friends.

Five weeks had passed since Dawn started going to Frank Benson high, Dawn had been a fast learner in the ways of human life thanks to Susannah's help and was doing well in school.

It was a rare warm day in October, Dawn and her classmates had just been let out of marine studies. Dawn and Susannah were walking down the hall when Troy came along.

"Hey Dawn" he said.

The girls turned around to face Troy.

"I was wondering if you'd like to go out sometime?" asked Troy.

"That would be lovely," said Dawn.

For the rest of the day Dawn thought about Troy. When the day was over Susannah invited Dawn over to her house.

Dawn was a little unsure, she had always gone straight back to the ocean when school was out to avoid suspicion and from the pod. She always liked weekends when she didn't go to school as it made her lay low. But She wanted to see the land, so she went with her.

Susannah's house wasn't far from the marina, when Dawn and Susannah went inside, Dawn was amazed by the house. The inside smelled of herbs and there were a few plants inside. There were trinkets and talismans on shelves and cabinets.

It was no surprise to Dawn that Susannah's family were witches.

"I can't believe Troy asked me out," said Dawn excitedly. "I was worried he didn't notice me."

"I think he likes you," retorted Susannah. "He's always looking at you."

"I'm kind of worried about going out with him," Dawn said worriedly. "If we go on his boat, I might get splashed and then he'll see me as a mermaid."

"Maybe you should just tell him," said Susannah. "He might be trustworthy."

"You know if mermaids fall in love with humans they get banned from their pods," reminded Dawn. "And I could be banished if they find out and revealed myself."

…

"You know my sister?" asked Melora.

"She's our vice principal at school in Florence Oregon," explained Annie. "That means she's the second in command at school. I'm Annie Yesconis and this is Irene Frost. I became a mermaid last year when I stepped into a moonpool. Your sister has been helping me deal to transforming and having powers."

Melora listened curiously.

"Dawn misses you, you know" said Annie softly.

Irene nodded in agreement.

Melora looked down sadly.

"I miss her too," she said admittingly. "I haven't seen her since she decided to go on land, and I never even get to say goodbye."

Annie and Irene exchanged looks.

"I'm sure she'll be happy to see you when we get back to Florence" said Irene sympathetically.

Melora looked up unsurely.

"I don't think I could ever face her again," she said. Her tone sounded that although she missed Mrs. Wellington, she was still upset about her leaving the pod in the first place. "She left our pod to be with a human."

Annie and Irene looked at each other worriedly. They wanted to reunite Mrs. Wellington with her sister. But Melora was unsure with going on land.

Down in the dungeon of the palace, Ava watched the conversation through a bubble, the sidhe popped the bubble and grinned evilly.

"Perhaps those sisters will come in handy" she said.

…

The next day, Rachel had called Parker to meet her at school. Trish and Kelsey were arriving when they met up with the two.

"Hey," said Rachel. "Annie was talking to me last night. She and Irene met Mrs. Wellington's sister."

Parker and the girls' eyes widened.

"Melora had mixed feelings when they told her about Mrs. Wellington," explained Rachel. "She seems to miss her sister, but is reluctant to see her."

"She's probably upset with her for leaving the pod" said Kelsey pointing out the obvious as usual.

"Maybe we should tell Mrs. Wellington to talk to her," suggested Parker. "I'm sure she'll want to see her."

"Annie said she wanted to bring Melora back to Florence to surprise her" replied Rachel.

Before anyone could answer the bell rang and they headed off to class.

…

Dawn returned to her pod's cave. Her parents and sister were waiting. Dawn didn't really pay attention. She was thinking about Troy.

"Where do you go almost every day by yourself Dawn?" asked her father in a serious tone. "Melora says she's been noticing you swimming off through the ocean these past few weeks."

Dawn didn't listen, she was thinking dreamily about Troy.

"Dawn, are you listening?" asked her father. "We've been worried about you."

"Hey wait dear," said her mother. "I think I see where she's coming from."

Dawn held her breath, did her mom know she was going on land and hanging out with humans?

"Our daughter is in love!" her mother exclaimed excitedly.

Her father smiled excitedly, Melora's jaw dropped in shock. Dawn although relieved didn't want her parents knowing about Troy and swum away before they could ask anymore questions.

"Who could the merman be?" asked her father. "She doesn't seem to hang out with any other merman in the pod."

"Maybe he's from another pod," suggested her mother. "Since they meet secretly."

They turned to face their older daughter.

"Melora," said their mother. "I want you to watch your sister and find out about this boy she has a crush on."

The next day, Dawn agreed to going out with Troy on Saturday. When Saturday came, Dawn snuck away from the pod and went on land and walked to see Susannah.

The girls went through clothes in Susannah's bedroom for a perfect dating outfit. Susannah's room was pastel blue and Dawn could see old fashioned books lying around. When she looked in them, she could see they were magic books, filled with spells and information about magical beings.

Susannah gave Dawn a blue dress with pink and purple flowers and a zipper neck.

"It's beautiful Susannah!" exclaimed Dawn.

"You're going to do just fine on your date with Troy" assured Susannah.

Dawn walked over to Troy's house and knocked on the door.

Troy answered and saw Dawn.

"Wow Dawn," he said. "You look so beautiful."

"Thanks," said Dawn blushing.

Troy and Dawn went to the movie theater and saw a movie called the rainmaker. Dawn was quite impressed about film and how real it all looked.

After the movie was over Troy and Dawn went out for lunch. Dawn had a fish sandwich and some fries. Troy was surprised at how Dawn enjoyed fish as he ate his chicken fingers.

For the rest of the day, Dawn and Troy walked around town talking. As the sun set, Dawn and Troy sat on a dock by the marina watching the sunset. They didn't see Melora hiding behind a pole watching them.

"It's so beautiful" sighed Dawn.

"Do you want me to walk you home?" asked Troy.

"No!" exclaimed Dawn, surprising Troy. "I mean," said Dawn calmly. "You don't have to walk me home. I'll be alright."

"Well, if your sure," replied Troy getting up.

Dawn and Troy hugged, Melora starred in shock at her sister and then Troy walked off and waved goodbye to Dawn.

Dawn waved in return and waited for him to be out of sight before she jumped into the water turning back into mermaid form.

"Dawn!" said a voice.

Dawn turned around in surprise to see her sister approaching with a furious look.

"Melora!" she exclaimed. "What are you doing here?"

"Mom and dad wanted me to find out about the boy you've been seeing," snapped Melora. "I can't believe you've been going on land and going out with a human. You know the consequences of this!"

"He's not dangerous," said Dawn defensively. "He loves the ocean like we do! I've been going to school with him and he doesn't even know I'm a mermaid. Only my friend Susannah does."

"You told a human you're a mermaid!" exclaimed Dawn.

"She's a witch!" cried Dawn. "She found out I was a mermaid because she sensed magic on me."

Melora's anger seemed to lessen after hearing Dawn's friend on land was a magic being like them. But she still seemed uncomfortable about her sister going on land and falling in love with a human.

"You won't tell mom and dad, will you?" asked Dawn worriedly with a pleading look on her face.

Melora looked at her sister's face. She didn't like her sister's choice of going on land, but they had been very close as kids and she didn't want to see her kid sister get punished.

"No," she sighed. "I won't tell for now."

Dawn smiled and the two sisters swum home.

…

Down in the dungeon, two mermen were swimming through the hallway guarding the prison cells.

Suddenly A bolt of lightning hit the guards and they dropped down dead.

Ava laughed evilly and blasted the door down with lightning and swum out of the dungeons.

"Your highness!" cried a mermaid swimming into the throne room. "She's escaped!"

"What are you talking about?" asked Morrow.

"Ava's escaped from the dungeon!" cried the mermaid. "She killed two of the guards and broke out."

"Have the guards search the castle and the ocean!" ordered Morrow. "See that we find her and captured again."

The mermaid nodded and swum off to inform the guards.

Annie was with the princesses in the classroom when dame Alexandra burst in.

"Ladies," said dame Alexandra urgently. "Ava's escaped from the dungeon. The king wants you to stay inside while the castle is under secure."

When dame Alexandra left, the girls chattered worriedly.

Annie and Celina exchanged looks. Irene was out with Sean and didn't know about Ava's escape.

"We'd better go find her," said Annie.

The two mermaids snuck out of the room and swum out of the castle and swum off through the ocean.

…

Irene and Sean were sitting on a rocky ledge looking at the view of the ocean. Sean grabbed a shrimp passing by and took a bite out of it.

"Want me to catch you one?" he asked.

"No thanks," said Irene kindly. "I like seafood, but I prefer gourmet cooking over raw shrimp. You should've seen my dad's cooking. He died when I was young, but I do remember his cooking. He owned his own restaurant, but after he died some relatives took over. I've always loved seafood; I can't believe I didn't know my family were mermaids."

The two laughed.

"I can't wait to get home," sighed Irene. "I miss my mom and friends, and I miss my school. Annie and I got moonspelled, and we made a portal in the moonpool and got brought here. The princesses governess says that the spell for opening the portal into the oceanic realm was a spell for advanced mermaids on nights when the moon isn't full. But Annie and I were able to open it on the full moon. We've been trying to find a way home."

"Why don't you just use a transport pearl?" asked Sean.

Irene turned to face Sean in surprise.

"A transport pearl?" she asked.

"They're magic pearls that transport people anywhere they want, even other worlds," explained Sean. "You throw one into the water and a portal opens up. You think about the place you want to go as you jump in and it'll take you there."

"Where can I find one?" asked Irene excitedly.

"They grow in mussels in Avalon," said Sean.

"That land is where Ava's from" exclaimed Irene.

Just then Annie and Celina swum in.

"Hey guys!" cried Celina. "Ava's escaped from the dungeon!"

"What?!" cried Irene and Sean.

"Come on," said Annie. "We have to catch her."

…

Melora was swimming outside the city, she had been thinking about her sister and about what Annie had said.

Just then Ava jumped in front of her.

"Hello mermaid" she said cunningly.

"Who are you?" asked Melora cautiously, croaking an eyebrow.

"I'm Ava," said Ava. "I'm a sidhe. I overheard about what you said about your sister falling in love with a human. Humans shouldn't be in our world, they're nothing but useless mortals. Your sister even betrays the magic realm by marrying a human. If you team up with me we can take over the magic realm and get rid of those humans."

"No!" snapped Melora. "My sister's still loyal to mermaids, she just doesn't live in the water. And she's still my sister no matter what."

She used her telekinetic power to throw Ava aside. Then charged forward and grabbed her by the neck. Ava tried to pushed Melora away, but she couldn't.

Melora kicked the sidhe with her tail, sending her to the ground.

Just then Annie, Celina, Irene and Sean arrived.

Sean punched Ava with a fist, he then made a fireball and shot it at Ava, but then Ava used her lightning bolts to destroy it.

Annie stepped in and unleashed her own lightning. Ava shook from the shock and collapsed to the ground and with a flash of light, she was gone.

Morrow and Thelxiepeia arrived on the scene with Lacey.

"What's going on?" asked the queen.

"We had Ava," explained Celina. "But she's gone."

…

All night Dawn thought about Troy and what Susannah said about telling him her secret. She decided to show him.

The next morning, Dawn snuck out of the pod again and swum to the marina. She looked around for Troy.

She saw Troy walking along the dock toward his boat. Dawn smiled and swum closer to the dock.

"Troy!" she called.

Troy jumped up in surprise and turned to look at the water and saw Dawn.

"Dawn?!" he called down surprisedly.

Dawn started to climb on to the dock revealing her tail. Troy's eyes widened even more to see her.

"You have a tail!" exclaimed Troy.

"I'm a mermaid," explained Dawn. "Some mermaids can go on land and our tails become legs when we're dry. When we get wet our tails come back. I was watching you a few weeks ago and I wanted to see you. So, I used the power of a ring to transform into a human and followed you to school."

"Does anyone else know?" asked Troy.

"Susannah is the only one besides you that knows I'm a mermaid," replied Dawn softly. "She's a witch, so she figured out I was a mermaid. She suggested I tell you that I'm a mermaid, to see if you do like me."

She wondered what Troy was going to say.

Troy bent down

"I love you weather you're a mermaid or a human," he said. "You're beautiful and kind and love the ocean."

The two teenagers kissed in the sunrise.

…

Back in the castle Annie and Celina were talking with Melora when Irene and Sean came in.

"There's something I meant to tell you," said Irene. "Sean found a way for us to get back to Oregon. He told me about these pearls called transport pearls. They're found in Avalon."

"The land where Ava's from?" asked Annie.

Irene nodded.

"I'll come with you," said Melora. "I'd love to go back to Florence with you and see my sister again."

Annie and Irene smiled; they were looking forward to seeing their vice principal with her sister again.

Author's note; The transport pearls Sean talked about to Irene are based off the magic beans from once upon a time.