Chapter 23: Woman of Steel

"Run!"

There was not a soul who heard Lara and thought twice about it. The guards scrambled to move the last of the wounded as others formed a defensive line. Ariel ran to help Eric with Melody while Aquata pulled Alana along, a contingent of guards following them. Alana stumbled and slipped out of Aquata's grasp, tripping them both. A guard quickly pulled them upright and had the two running for shore again.

Lara darted aside as a crate came down, smashing to pieces on the wharf. She shielded her face as splinters and shards of glass from the lanterns inside went flying. She barely lowered her arms down when a tentacle came swinging at her, forcing her to drop on her back. The wind rustled her hair as the tentacle swept wide, hitting the stern of the Glowerhaven galleon and cracking it. The whole ship lurched forward, knocking sailors off their feet and some off the ship.

The seaclops growled at Lara, its eye shimmering with glare. It lifted a tentacle, exposing the sword-like hooks and bone-toothed rings adorning its suckers before it swung down at her. Lara pushed herself up and hopped backwards, the tentacle slapping down with a loud wet smack that cracked boards and made stacks of cargo dance.

"Archers form up!" shouted a guard. "The rest of you with me! Don't let this monster reach town!"

Two score of swordsmen and lancers charged past Lara for the seaclops, shouting and yelling with weapons raised. Behind them a line of archers trained crossbows on the seaclops, a second rank forming up behind them.

"No! Stay away!" shouted Lara. "Back to shore, all of you!"

The soldiers ignored her and kept charging as the archers shot a hail of arrows at the cursed sea monster. The air hissed with the flying shafts like dozens of sharp-beaked swifts. The seaclops shielded itself before the arrows struck, protecting its large vulnerable eye.

But instead of piercing the crimson hide the arrows barely embedded half their metal tips into its skin. Several lancers hurled their spears at it. Their weapons had no more success than the soldier's swords as they began slashing and chopping into a tentacle that strayed close. They left little more than papercuts.

The seaclops brushed the arrows off its arms and roared, the noise causing the wharf to vibrate. It drew a pair of tentacles back and swept the swordsmen aside like annoying insects, flinging them into the water. It seized crates and barrels with its extra limbs and began hurling them at the archers. They scattered as the debris came raining down, most leaping into the sea. One of its tentacles lashed out and stretched like rubber, sweeping away the remainder.

Lara grabbed a guard by his jacket as he ran by her, jerking him back as a wine barrel came down where he was headed. It broke apart like a china vase, spraying he and Lara with dark red drink.

"Get going!" ordered Lara.

"But the monster!" the guard protested, reaching for his sword.

"Your sword isn't gonna do squat to it!" Lara barked, spinning him around and shoving him towards land. "Now get out of here!"

"Fire!"

BOOM! BOOM BOOM! BOOM BOOM! BOOM!

Plumes of gun smoke burst from the Glowerhaven galleon's cannons, spraying the seaclops and the unmanned schooner behind it with grapeshot. It howled and covered its face as more shots went off. One of the swivel cannons fired, blasting a spray of bent nails, chain links, and metal shards into the seaclops' side.

To Lara's shock and the sailors' horror the cannons had no more effect than the arrows. The shrapnel embedded in its skin with little more than superficial lacerations. The schooner suffered worse, the grapeshot ripping apart ropes and tackle while peppering the wood like a swarm of woodpeckers.

The seaclops lowered its arms, leering at the ship. It looked angry. Really angry.

One of the sailors cowered behind the galleon's railing, his frightened eyes peeking over the top. "I'm sorry."

The seaclops' response was to roar as loud as it could. The sailors abandoned their ship as the monster approached, diving for the safety of the water. A tentacle wrapped around the gangplank and crushed it to pieces. The seaclops drew a hand back and clenched it into a wagon-sized fist before punching through the vessel's side. The ship tipped hard, the entire frame groaning and creaking. The main mast cracked around the base, unable to bear the sudden force. Tentacles snaked into the cannon ports and began ripping at the ship from the inside, pulling out chunks of wooden innards as its fists flailed on the deck. Seawater was already leaking in, even faster when the tentacles burst through the bottom.

Lara barely noticed her back healing or the guard running away fast as a frightened jackrabbit as she watched the seaclops wrap several tentacles around cannons, ripping them free before smashing them into the deck. She knew a black magic curse when she saw one, and this one was especially powerful. Normal seaclops did not have red skin that could withstand close range cannon fire. Nor did they have hooked and toothed suckers like a giant squid. It was in a blind rage, lashing out at anything it could and everything that provoked it. Whatever this spell was it turned the seaclops into a true raging monstrosity.

A trio of sailors huddled on the deck of the doomed galleon, trying to untangle a rope from a man's legs. The seaclops saw them and snarled, its tentacles racing for them.

Lara gave a bitingly sharp whistle as she ran up to the seaclops, waving her arms overhead. "Hey, ugly! Hey! Over here!"

The seaclops flinched at the sharp noise, turning its head towards Lara. The sailors got their comrade free and made a beeline for the railing, jumping off the side.

"That's right! Remember me?" shouted Lara.

The seaclops hunched down and roared, gaping mouth bristling with new sharp teeth and blasting Lara with hot foul breath.

Lara waved the malodorous breath away from her face. "I'll take that as a yes!"

The seaclops' fingers sunk through the thick decking of the wharf as it pulled itself at Lara, swinging down a tentacle to crush her. Lara dodged by the skin of her teeth, the tentacle smashing the ground beside her. Stinging dust and splinters got in her eyes as she rolled. The seaclops slammed a hand down and Lara stumbled, rubbing furiously to clear the grit from her eyes.

Suddenly a strong force wrapped around her like a snake, pinning her arms to her sides. Lara blinked her eyes and saw the end of a tentacle wrapped around her. It tossed her into the air and the seaclops grabbed her with both hands. It held her in front of its face, snarling and growling as it glared.

"What's the mean face for?" asked Lara, struggling to get an arm free. "Mad about the face kicking? Or was it the ugly part?"

The seaclops squeezed her with crushing force. She screamed at the pain, unable to breathe as it clenched tighter and tighter. She felt her bones threatening to crack as it bore down on her.

"That the best–aaaaaah!–you got!?" she spat.

It squeezed even harder, cracking one of her ribs. Lara screamed louder, blood rushing to her head and turning her face red. It felt like she would pop before she was crushed to death. She struggled as hard as she could but the seaclops' grip was immense.

"Lara!"

"Your majesty, you must leave!"

Lara glanced out the corner of her eye to see a guard holding back Aquata. The princess had gotten ahold of a sword. Even in her agony Lara had to admire her intentions, foolish as they were.

"Aquata, run!" screamed Lara. "Swords don't work on it! Get away from here!"

"What about you!?" said Aquata.

"Forget me! Just–AAAAAAHHHHH!"

The seaclops tightened its grip even more, cracking another of Lara's ribs. It felt like her whole body was about to follow suit. She had to get free or it really would kill her.

So she did the first thing that came to mind. She twisted her right arm up with all the strength she could muster and pulled in what air she could, sticking her fingers to her lips before she whistled.

SHREEEEEEEEEEEEEE!

It came out like nails over a chalkboard, incredibly shrill and splitting. People covered their ears at the piercing tone, pained by how high-pitched it was. To the seaclops' sensitive hearing it was agony. It dropped Lara and covered its ears, howling at the pain her whistle caused. She landed on her feet only to have a tentacle lash out and strike her in the chest. She went bouncing across the wharf and smashed through a stack of barrels, her bokken coming loose and sliding off the wharf. Wine, water, pickled fish, and apples went everywhere as Lara rolled to a stop.

"That hurt…" she groaned as she sat up, dripping with wine, brine, and some of her own blood. She tasted all three in her mouth and spat, rubbing her eyes to clear them. Her chest was on fire as she breathed, her cracked ribs now completely broken. She was going to feel those for a while.

She blew her nose, blowing out blood and brine and sending spiking pain through it. She cringed and gingerly touched it, feeling the bridge angled farther right than it should be. Gritting her teeth she grabbed it and gave a sharp jerk, setting it straight. She swore loudly, punching the boards as pain went shooting through her skull.

She felt the wharf shudder as a shadow cast over her. She looked up to see the seaclops' gaping mouth of enormous teeth coming at her. She rolled away just as it bit down, the teeth sinking through barrels and into the decking but not her. The seaclops tried to lift its head, but its canines lodged in a thick support beam and became stuck. It tried again with no success. It braced its hands beside its head and pushed, the beam cracking as it worked itself free.

"Miss Anclagon!"

Lara turned back to see a guard running towards her. There was something long and red in his hands. Her sword!

"Throw it!" shouted Lara as she ran to him.

The guard pulled the sword back and lobbed it as hard as he could. It spun lazily through the air, the sun reflecting off the guard and scabbard. Lara bent her knees and leapt, catching it midflight. She twisted around and landed, rushing back for the seaclops. It was still stuck in the wharf. She had to strike while it was down. Stab it through the skull and blast her magic right into its brain. It would be over before the seaclops knew what happened.

She reached for the hilt, fingers wrapping around the–.


The bandit king backed away as Lara advanced on him, pointing his broken sword with quivering hands. He reached for his pistol as he threw the ruined blade at her as a distraction.

Lara rushed him, her sword swatting the blade aside before she pierced his chest and drove him back into the tree. Her sword sank into the trunk like a fish diving into water, pinning him as she seized his wrist before he could draw his gun.


Lara froze mid-draw. Her feet got tangled in a rope and she tripped, catching herself but forced to stop. The memory cracked her conviction like a dropped pot. She promised not to kill again no matter what. She swore on blood she would not. But for a moment she returned to that person she once was, ready to kill without hesitation. Her oath became trifling so easily, and it shocked her. It scared her.

The seaclops rocked its head side to side, its teeth coming loose with the creaking protest of the wood.

"Don't stand there!" shouted the guard. "Kill it! Before it gets loose! Kill it!"

Lara tried to draw her sword but could not. Her arm refused to obey. It was locked in place as she struggled with her conscience and memories. She had to kill it, but she could not. It was the only choice, but one she could not accept. Not if it meant breaking her oath. Not if it meant becoming a murderer.

Again.

Her hesitation cost her. The seaclops ripped its mouth free and came right for her. It swung a pair of tentacles at her from both sides as it drew its right arm back. Lara leapt to avoid the tentacles as they crashed together, dicing a trio of crates to mulch.

Her eyes widened when she saw the back of the seaclops' hand coming for her. In midair she had no way to dodge. She held her sword in front of her and braced for the hit. The seaclops hit her full on, knocking her out cold and sending her flying over the wharf like a golf ball on a long drive.


Ariel and Eric followed the guard carrying Melody. Alana and Aquata were already to shore. A circle of soldiers surrounded the royal family, archers following backwards to keep an eye on the seaclops. They could hear it roaring and the destruction it was causing behind them, but they dared not look back.

"Almost to shore, your majesties!" said one of the soldiers. "Just a bit further!"

Ariel glanced back to see a small and distant Lara get backhanded by the seaclops. She went flipping and twisting through the air, arcing over the wharf straight for them.

"Hit the deck!" shouted an archer.

Guards forced Ariel and Eric down as Lara went hurtling over their heads and smashed through a stack of crates. Packing straw, splinters, and bags of rice went flying as she burst out the other side, bounced off the wharf and smashed into a pyramid of barrels holding wine grapes. The pyramid folded in on itself, spilling grapes all over the wharf. Clusters of grapes were crushed flat, their juice dripping into the water below.

"Melody! Is Melody okay?" asked Eric as a guard helped him up.

"She's unharmed!" said a guard, pointing to a trio of soldiers already running for shore with his daughter. "We'll get her to the palace immediately!"

"What was that?" asked another guard as he corrected his cap.

"Lara!" cried Ariel as she got to her feet and ran to the barrels. "That was Lara!"

She grabbed hold of an open barrel and pulled, only succeeding in shifting it. She tried again but her hand slipped, and she fell back. The shift caused the pile to fall in further, many barrels rolling over the wharf or off into the water.

Ariel scrambled back over, pulling frantically at another barrel. "Lara! Lara, can you hear me!? Say something!"

A guard pulled Ariel back as the pile shifted again. "Your majesty, please stay back! You could be killed if one of these rolls on you!"

"Lara's in there!" protested Ariel. "She's hurt! We have to help her!"

A thundering roar made everyone turn to the seaclops, which was now coming towards them. Soldiers kept firing arrows and flinging spears as they retreated, only angering it further. They turned and ran or leapt into the sea as it came, unable to stop its advance.

"Get everyone out of here!" ordered Eric. "Now!"


Ursula could not remember the last time she enjoyed being evil this much. She knew the Tears of Ares would be powerful, but she never imagined mixing it with her own transformative potions could have this result. Shark, flatworm, starfish, squid, and octopus had gone into her concoction, now manifesting the strongest traits of each.

She cackled as the seaclops brushed aside yet another row of soldiers, flinging them out into the water. "Oh, this is too easy! Far too easy! If I'd known this was possible, I would've gone with this from the start! There's no way they can stop me now!"

Remora snorted at Ursula's boasting. "It's too early for bragging, squid bait. The mermaid's still alive."

"Bah! Not for long!" Ursula shifted her hands, the bubble's image moving to Ariel and Eric as they watched the guards move barrels. "Poor little Ariel. You had so much hope riding on that hired sword, didn't you? Like your daughter's neck?" She chuckled in that unique way of hers. "And now look at her! One swat from my beastie and she's flat as a sand dollar! Just like you'll be in a minute! Wa-ha ha! Wa-ha ha ha ha–!"

The red light of the bubble flickered, the image shifting back to the seaclops as it stumbled forward and fell.

Ursula's laughter cut out as she leaned close to the picture. "What!? What is this!?"


Ariel heard the crunching and squishing noises before she saw the seaclops fall. It howled and bayed as its right arm spasmed and squirmed. It reared upright, letting loose a roar as it clutched the deforming limb. It staggered back as the arm cracked and twisted, shriveling as it underwent rapid mummification. Its tentacles flailed about, the skin blistering and bleeding. The howling cut out when it suddenly bent over and heaved, hacking up dark red fluid and a pair of teeth.

Ariel could only gape as she watched the creature writhe about. What was happening to it?


Pain. That was what Lara felt when she came to.

She hurt from head to toe, as though someone practiced hammering nails with her body and then dropped a house on top of her. Her sword was in her left hand. Something heavy was on her back, and she smelled grapes for some reason. Why grapes? And why did she feel so sticky?

She started putting her memories back in order. She remembered catching her sword, jumping over those tentacles, then a massive fist coming at her, and then…the seaclops. She was fighting the seaclops and it got her. Hard.

"Lara's in there! She's hurt! We have to help her!"

"Get everyone out of here! Now!"

Lara opened her eyes. It was dark, but she saw cracks of light slipping around small clusters of dark marbles and large barrel shapes. She blinked a few times and the marbles became dark grapes. That explained the smell. The barrels had collapsed on top of her. That explained the weight. Only her unique durability saved her from being crushed, though it did little to lessen her pain.

"There's no time, your majesties! We must go!"

"But we can't just–!"

A loud roar cut off Ariel's voice as the wharf started to tremble.

Lara collected her wits instantly. The seaclops was coming! She had to get up! She had to draw it off so everyone could escape! She tried to sit up, but the weight on her was immense. She only lifted an inch before she was forced back down, gritting her teeth as it pressed on her ribcage.

Suddenly the roar changed. Not a fury-laden bellow, but agonized yowls like an animal with its foot in a trap. The rhythmic trembles changed to a heavy quake followed by discordant shakes, causing the barrels to shift a fraction.

Lara hooked her fingertips onto a board and twisted herself towards a gap in the barrels. She saw daylight and the wharf, momentarily obscured as someone moved past. She caught a glimpse of tentacles waving in the air, the howling continuing on and on.

"What's happening now!?" asked Eric. "What's it doing!?"

"I don't know!" said Ariel. "I've never seen this before!"

Lara narrowed her eye, craning her neck to change her view. What were they seeing out there?

The seaclops reared into sight. One of its ears was shriveling like a dead leaf, its right arm emaciated and desiccated. Blood dribbled from its eye, the muscles on its body twitching uncontrollably. It raised a net loaded with fish overhead and opened its mouth wide, revealing re-growing teeth. A pair of tentacles ripped the net open, the fish dumping into its mouth as fast as it could swallow. Its shriveled ear started to grow back as it ate, its arm regaining mass and movement.

Lara gasped but then bit her lip in grim recognition. She knew exactly what was happening.


Lara pulled the blanket tighter around herself, warding off the chill of winter's night. She could see her breath it was so cold, but with the warm fire before her it was tolerable. The wind whispered through the trees, the firelight making shadows dance on the snow around her. The sky was clear, promising a cold morning tomorrow.

Her father placed another log on the fire, the dry wood quickly catching. "You did well today, Lara. Your martial and magical skills are improving quickly."

Lara smiled, feeling a swell of pride at her father's praise. He did not give it idly. "You think so?"

"Yes. In half a year you've accomplished what others achieve in two. Therefore…" He seated himself across the fire from her, shifting for more comfort. "It is time for the next step."

Every hair on Lara's body stood up as her skin tingled. "Really!? You're gonna teach me your magic!?"

Her father nodded. "You are ready."

Lara jumped to her feet, screaming as she danced about punching the air. She felt like she could float off the ground and into the sky she was so ecstatic. She had been hoping and dreaming of this day, and now it was here! She was going to learn magic!

"I'm gonna be a sorceress!" she hollered while bouncing up and down. "I'm gonna be a sorceress!"

"You can become a sorceress," corrected her father. "But only if you devote yourself to the task. And if you stop leaping about and sit still. There's something you must learn first."

Lara sat so fast she stirred up puffs of ice dust. She scooted closer to the fire, eyes wide and eager as she devoted her whole attention to her father.

"Now then…" Her father waved his hand over the ground. Flickering golden specks of dust rose from the earth, collecting above the fire in a shimmering cloud. "Do you know what the fundamental law of magic is?

Lara nodded vigorously. "All magic has a price."

"Correct." Her father clenched his hand. The golden dust coalesced into a pair of elegant if flimsy looking scales. He blew at them and they drifted to Lara. "And how would you describe this law?"

"Every spell causes an action, and for every action there's a cost," said Lara, reciting from memory.

"Show me."

"The scales are the mage," she said. She picked up two rocks, holding one in each hand to see if one was heavier but felt they were about the same. "One rock is the magic, and the other is its price. If the mage pays the price…"

Lara set a stone on each scale. The scales tipped back and forth like a seesaw. Lara kept her hands out, worried she misjudged the weights and the whole thing would topple over. Then they leveled out and were still, finding balance between the rocks.

"Then the magic happens normally," she finished, lowering her hands.

"Very good. And what is the cost?"

"It depends on the magic. It can be the magical energy of the individual. It can be objects or ingredients or rituals. Or it can be conditions, like a certain time of day or the moon's shape or an e…an e…ellipse?"

Her father chuckled, smiling softly. "Eclipse. And yes, those are viable prices for a spell. You've remembered your lessons well."

Lara grinned, her cheeks blushing a shade at the compliment.

Her father's smile faded, his voice now stern. "Remove one of the stones."

"Huh? Why?" asked Lara curiously. "It'll just fall over."

"Perhaps, but it is crucial you understand the other possible outcome."

Not understanding why her father was suddenly so serious or what other outcome there could be, Lara removed one of the stones. Instead of tipping to the side with the stone the scales remained level. No doubt her father was using magic to keep it that way, but it still held Lara's interest.

"In most cases you are right," said her father. "A spell with a paid price will proceed normally. The inverse is also true. Without the price, the spell will fail or be incomplete. However…"

The scales started to shake, the metal groaning and creaking as though unseen hands were stressing it. Flakes began peeling off it, gathering on the empty side. The scale started to tip back as more weight was added to replace the missing rock. The scale became thinner and weaker until it broke in half with a snap, causing Lara to jump. It fell onto the stones and shattered, crumbling to the dust from which it came.

"What just happened?" asked Lara, watching as the wind took the dust away.

"The rarer but far more detrimental outcome," said her father gravely. "When a spell is cast but the price cannot be paid, most times that spell will fail. But there is also a chance the spell will take its price by force. Specifically, from the mage who cast it."

Lara gasped. "You mean it'll kill them!?"

Her father shook his head. "Not necessarily, but it is possible." He leaned towards her, the fire illuminating his face. "Listen closely, Lara. You must bear this lesson in mind as you continue your training. There are spells that cannot be stopped once they are cast. And they will not stop till their price is paid in full. Its magic is not picky about how it's paid either. Flesh, memory, emotion, energy, or even life is fair trade. When this happens, it is called..."


"Backlash," muttered Lara.

The seaclops gobbled down the last of the fish. It cast the empty net aside and seized four wine barrels in one hand, holding them over its mouth and crushing them like grapes. The wine splashed down its torso as it gulped down what it could. The blisters on its skin receded as its ear returned to normal, its right arm following suit.

Lara grimaced as she watched it grab another net filled with fish and begin eating, pausing when it coughed out more fluid. This curse, whatever it was, only made the seaclops appear indomitable. Underneath that sword-proof skin the magic was ravaging its body for the materials to maintain the transformation. Its sudden wounds were a consequence of those materials running out. Now the seaclops was trying to replenish itself, gorging on whatever nutrients were at hand. But it would not last forever. Eventually it would wither again, and it would have to feed or waste away.

It was dying.

Lara chewed the back of her lip piercing, gripping her sword tight. She was caught between an emotional rock and a moral hard place once more. The seaclops was obviously suffering. That degree of forced transformation had to be agonizing. It could not last much longer, and in that time it could still do tremendous harm to Seahaven and its people. She did not have the skill to purge the curse from it. Her magic was not so technical. The merciful thing to do was end its life before anyone lost his or hers.

But she could not kill. She did not want to start down that life again, for she knew the bloody road it led to. Enough graves had been dug because of her. If she broke this last oath it would be the end of every promise she made when she left the eastern kingdoms. She would be no different than before she left.

A loud belch came from the seaclops as it ate the last of the fish and started on a third net. Lara saw its right arm was almost restored. She was running out of time. She had to choose.

"Which weight would you carry from here?"

Lara startled, looking around hastily. Had she heard or thought that? It was so clear it felt audible, as though she spoke it herself.

"The weight of a bloody sword? Or the bodies of those you cherish?"

She looked to her sword, pulling the blade out a fraction. The flitting light gleamed off the metal. Her father once said one's value for life determined the weight of a warrior's sword. Lighter for each one saved, heavier for each taken. Any honorable warrior wishing to carry one needed strength in will, body, and heart to hold it, or one day it would be too heavy to bear. Lara could feel that truth in her sword, weighed down with the guilt and bloodshed of her past.

But a thousand blood-soaked swords would be light as feathers compared to the weight of the earth she would have to dig up for Jenni's grave if that seaclops made it into town.

She sheathed her sword with a sharp clack, set her palms on the ground, and started to push.


The seaclops swallowed the last of its meal, smacking its chops loudly. It flexed its restored arm and, finding it strong once more, turned its focus back to the humans. Its tentacles started pulling it along, making the wharf tremble with each slap against it.

Eric grimaced as the beast came towards them. "There's no more time! Everyone fall back to shore! Ready the cannons! Evacuate the marina!"

"Yes, sire!" answered the guards, the archers lingering to shoot final arrows before running with the swordsmen and lancers. The cannons were already being loaded, charges stuffed down their upturned mouths as men waited with wads and iron cannonballs to follow.

"No! Let me go!" pleaded Ariel, fighting against the guard trying to haul her away. "I order you to let me go!"

"Forgive me, your majesty!" he apologized as he pulled her. "But I can't obey that order!"

"Lara's still in there!" shouted Ariel, her shoes scraping over the decking as she tried to find some foothold. "We can't leave her! She'll die!"

"Not…like this…I won't!"

The center of the barrel pile heaved as Lara emerged, holding a full barrel over her head. With a shout she threw it into the water, kicking aside a barrel that rolled at her before grabbing her sword and leaping out.

Ariel stared with the same dumbfounded expression as everyone else. Lara was covered in splinters, straw dust, wine, and blood. Her brown hair was dark and sticky, drips falling off her and the sword she carried. The red of the scabbard was still visible through the dust and wine coating it. Ariel thought Lara would have been crippled much less crushed by having that much weight on top of her, yet she moved without injury. What was she made of? Stone? Rubber? Steel?

"Lara! You're alive!" sputtered an astonished Eric.

"Don't sound too surprised!" said Lara, wiping her eyes off. "It'll take more than that to put me down!"

The seaclops' arm broke through a patch of weakened wood. It stumbled forward, smacking its jaw against the wharf. Its eye rolled about, dazed by the sudden fall.

"Sire, if I could be so bold, we really need to start running now!" offered one of the guards.

"Agreed!" said Eric. "Everybody head for shore!"

Neither Ariel nor the guards needed a second telling. With Lara alive they turned and ran for shore as fast as they could.

A loud crash made Ariel look back. The seaclops had pulled its arm free and was resuming its charge. Its eye was blooming with anger, clawed fingers and suckers ripping up boards as it came after Lara as she stood her ground. The beast snarled and–.

Ariel skidded to a stop. "Lara!"

Eric stopped as well, equally alarmed by Lara's steadfastness amidst the retreat. "Lara, what are you doing!?"

A/N: "Sanmittai/Trinity" by Yuki Hayashi

"All of you get to shore and stay there!" said Lara, not turning back to them. "I'll finish this!"

Of all the ridiculous things Ariel ever heard someone say–admittedly, some of which she herself spoke–Lara had just claimed first place in the rankings. "What!? Are you insane!?"

Lara raised her sword in front of her, grasping hilt and scabbard firmly. "Possibly."

Slowly Lara drew her sword. The metal shone like glass-coated silver in the sun as it left its scabbard. She raised it high then lowered it to her side, light shimmering down its length to a star-like gleam at its tip. Even with the seaclops bearing down Ariel was momentarily entranced by the flawless beauty of the sword. It was an elegant weapon, not beastly like an axe or rough like a mace. Yet it was unquestionably lethal in its form, no less than a longsword or an arrow. This was a weapon fine-tuned for the art of combat.

The seaclops suddenly halted, its eye fixed on the sword. It snarled and snorted at Lara, hands slapping the wharf and beating on its chest. Its tentacles grabbed cargo and smashed it against the wharf, hands pulverizing the pieces.

Lara narrowed her eyes. "So, that's how you want it."

"What's it doing?" asked Eric as the seaclops continued to bellow and flail but made no advance. "Why did it stop?"

"It's challenging me," said Lara. She tossed her scabbard back to Eric, who almost failed to catch it. "Hold onto that."

"Lara, I order you to retreat!" commanded Eric. "Swords can't cut it! That thing will kill you!"

"You hired me to protect your family," Lara said as she spun her sword around, the blade flashing and singing before she took it in both hands and held it beside her head, the tip pointing at the seaclops. It roared and surged forward even faster than before, sending crates, barrels, and anything else in its way flying.

Lara started walking towards it then quickly broke into a run, lowering the sword to her side. "So that's what I'm gonna do!"


Ursula scoffed as she watched Lara run at the seaclops. The brunette dodged a crate it threw at her, running even faster towards it. The seaclops did not slow its charge, running at her with abandon.

"Does that brat seriously intend to fight it?" she snorted loudly. "After the trashing it just gave her? She's stupider than I thought!" She looked to Remora from the corner of her eye, smirking toothily. "Looks like I'll be carrying out Richard's vengeance for him!"

The masked witch folded her arms, eyes fixed on the bubble. "We'll see."


The little girl smiled as she watched Lara and the seaclops run towards each other, bellowing and yelling at the top of their lungs. Just a few more seconds and they would clash.

Her smile widened, revealing pointed white teeth as her eyes blinked sideways. This was promising to be much more entertaining than a pack of pirates.


Lara saw the tentacle lift up, exposing the deadly suckers underneath. It swung down at her, intent on crushing her flat before its new armaments chopped her to bits. She twisted her sword, changing the blade's direction. "Claymore…!"

The edge of the sword turned red and then orange as it was filled with scorching heat.


Ariel gasped as the seaclops swung the tentacle down at Lara. Her hands covered her mouth in horror as Lara leapt at the incoming limb and swung. She would be crushed!

SHING!

"GRRROOOOOOAAAAAAHHHHH!"

The sword moved in a crescent flash of silver. Instead of glancing off the cursed red skin it cleaved through the tentacle completely. Blood flecked Lara's pants and boots as the seaclops roared in pain, rearing back as it swung another tentacle at Lara. She twisted in midair and swung up, cutting the incoming tentacle with no more difficulty than the last. She landed and ducked under a sweeping tentacle. She spun her sword around her, the blade singing before she cut through another tentacle and then a second. The seaclops backpedalled, clutching its severed limbs. It swung a hand at Lara, who ducked under it and slashed at the same time, splitting the side of its palm. She darted back from another tentacle and flipped herself over it, quickly leaping out of reach. Another tentacle came straight at her and she stepped aside before raising her sword and chopping down, slicing the tentacle clean off.

She twirled her sword like a baton, scattering the blood from it before settling into a stance. Sunlight ran down the razor edge, the gleam matching the flickering glow in her eyes.


Ursula gaped at the dismembered seaclops as it roared in pain. Lara cut it! More than that, she cut it apart! This seaclops' skin was now harder than a ship's hull and laced with rock solid ossicles! And that pint-sized, sunny-eyed, badly dressed brunette just lopped off multiple tentacles in seconds with an oversized fillet knife!

Remora chuckled, enjoying Ursula's shock. "Not as stupid as you thought, eh?"

Ursula's face curled in a snarl that would terrify a shark. "Don't get fresh with me! This isn't over yet!" She dug her fingers deeper into the bubble. "I've still got tricks up my suckers!"


Lara was about to rush back at the seaclops when the severed tentacles and bloody stumps glowed red. Then the lost limbs shriveled into dry black remains, crumbling like burned paper. Meanwhile the stumps grew out, restoring the tentacles in mere seconds. The seaclops growled at her, its tentacles swaying and twitching like an angry cat's tail.

Lara's eyes widened, her sword tip dipping slightly. "Oh, come on! That's just cheating!"

She had no more time to complain as the seaclops swung two new tentacles at her. Lara leapt, only to have the tentacles split around her to reveal a giant seaclops fist coming straight on.

"Not this time!" She pulled her feet up and reversed her sword grip, planting her feet on its fist as she stabbed between its knuckles.

The seaclops roared and flung its hand up, sending Lara flying into the air. She sailed higher than the tallest ship's mast, flipping about in midair. She twisted herself back to face the earth as she reached the zenith of her flight. The seaclops was right below, searching about for her.

She raised her sword overhead, gravity's greedy hands taking hold of her. "Up here, one eye!"

The seaclops looked up at her, shielding its eye against the sun. A tentacle shot up at her, stretching out as its tip became a sharp stinger. Lara swung her sword and parried the stinger away, cutting off the javelin tip. She twisted and then stabbed her sword into the tentacle. It split down the middle as she descended, the heated razor-sharp edge cutting through like it was water.

Another tentacle raced up to strike her. Lara shoved herself free and kicked off it, propelling herself at the seaclops' face. It jerked its head aside, but Lara was able to grab its ear with one hand. She moved to stab its skull but the seaclops shook its head, causing her to slice through its ear instead. She flipped over its head, catching herself when she stabbed her sword into its shoulder.

The seaclops bellowed, reaching up to grab her. Lara pulled her sword out and slashed its palm open. It immediately jerked its hand back, twisting its head around to bite at her. Lara backed away as the jaws snapped mere feet from her then darted forward and stabbed into its neck. An ear-splitting howl erupted from the seaclops. A tentacle reached up and snatched Lara's legs before she could cut further, swinging her at a ship with the intent to smash her like a bug. Lara cut the tentacle and went hurtling towards the water, righting herself in midair and landing on a small dinghy. The boat leaned violently onto its side, Lara gripping the edge to avoid falling off.

The seaclops shook its wounded hand, the laceration already closing up. It glared at Lara and roared, as though daring her to come back and face it. Not wasting time to catch her breath Lara jumped up to the wharf and leapt off one of the pylons to launch herself at the monster.


The little girl was grinning widely, watching as Lara slashed and hacked through an onslaught of seaclops tentacles and fists. She smelled the blood in the air and the scent of Lara's sweat. She heard the sword slicing through flesh and air, mingling with the bellows of the seaclops alongside Lara's shouts and yells like a battlefield symphony that made her spine tingle with glee.

She giggled as Lara slashed across the seaclops' stomach and then whipped around to cut an incoming tentacle. She stopped that one, but not the one that followed and belted her in the back. She went rolling away and smacked into a stack of crates, but immediately she was upright and back into the fray.

"Much better!" she said, the delight in her voice genuine. "That's the Lara Anclagon I remember! Now fight like her! Show me you haven't lost that killing intent!"


"RRRRROOOOOOOOAAAAAAHHHH!"

"HHAAAAAA!"

Lara spun aside as a tentacle went shooting past her, turning and cleaving up through it. It severed with ease, the separated part shriveling and crumbling as the rest quickly regenerated. She spun her sword and stabbed into another tentacle, running down its length to split it. She ripped her sword free and wove past three tentacles then leapt, slashing wide to cut into the seaclops' side. She flew past it and rolled away, but a tentacle swung out and clipped her foot. She lost her balance, saved from a graceless fall by throwing herself into a roll.

The seaclops took the opening and spun on Lara. It pulled a tentacle back and swung down like a hammer as she righted herself.

"Crap!" Lara set her feet wide and held her sword overhead, bracing it along her left arm as she poured magic into her muscles and bones.

WHOOM!

The boards under Lara cracked and splintered as the tentacle came down on her. The wharf shook as her legs and arms bent, absorbing the hit like springs. The sword caught on a tooth-ringed sucker, keeping the deadly hooks and rings from reaching her. She grit her teeth, veins bulging on her neck and arms as she fought to hold the tentacle back. The decking groaned underneath her feet in protest. Her magic took effect just in the nick of time. She felt strength surging through her as her magic was converted to raw might. It was hard on her body, but a temporary burst was all she needed.

The seaclops looked around its tentacle, shocked Lara was not crushed flat. It bore down harder, trying to squish her again.

"Nice try!" she grunted, trembling as she pushed the tentacle up. "But next time…use…your…fist!"

Lara shoved the tentacle up and swung her sword, cutting it in half. The seaclops roared and punched at her, but she dodged and it struck through the wharf instead. She quickly leapt and plunged her sword into its wrist. "Got–whoa!"

The seaclops' wound healed around the sword, lodging it inside its wrist. When it pulled its arm up Lara went with it, dangling over the side with legs flailing. It raised her in front of its face, growling as it glared furiously at her.

Lara pulled herself onto its hand, seeing a drop of blood leak from the corner of the beast's eye as its wounds and tentacle regenerated. Their fight was beginning to take its toll. The backlash was starting again.

The seaclops swatted at her with its other hand. Lara yanked her sword out and jumped straight up, the hand passing under her. She flipped forward and drove her sword into its forearm, tearing down its length. It bellowed with rage and pain, a tentacle shooting up and smacking Lara head on. She went flying off and hit the wharf hard, bouncing and rolling head over heels before sliding to a stop.

"Ow…ow…ow," she groaned as she pushed herself upright. "So that's what a billiard ball feels like."

The seaclops started after her, ignoring one of its tentacles shriveling up and turning black. It lashed out with its tentacles and fists with furious speed, forcing Lara into a retreat. She ducked, wove, and rolled as fast as she could, her sword cleaving any tentacles she could not avoid. Their deadly dance left a trail of blood and severed tentacles in their wake, bringing the seaclops ever closer to its end.

Lara leaned far back as a tentacle went passing over her, a toothy hook grazing her stomach. She twisted over and leapt away, avoiding a fist that destroyed where she had been standing. She clutched a hand to her abdomen, feeling the skin stitch together again. She caught a glance of the end of the wharf before she rolled back onto her feet. Another fifty feet and she would run out of space. She needed to take back the offensive and land a crippling if not killing blow before that happened.

There was a loud groan followed by abrupt cracking of wood. The seaclops stumbled sideways as part of the wharf gave way beneath it. It caught itself on a ship, the entire vessel listing over under the monster's weight. It grabbed the quarter mast to pull itself up, but it broke and came toppling down over the seaclops' head. Its head and tongue lolled about as its eye rolled, seeing sea stars and Lara in duplicate.


Remora held her face in her hand and shook her head in embarrassment. "That's some monster you've made, Ursula."

Ursula did not hear her through all the screaming and cursing she was doing.


Lara saw a chance. She bolted for the other side of the wharf, throwing herself into a sideways spin and scything through two tentacles at once. A third swung up and grazed her back, but she made it through and landed on the other side.

"Hey ugly!" she shouted. The seaclops turned around and shook its head, bringing Lara into focus.

"Yeah, you! You gotta be faster than that to squish me! Nyah nyah nyah-nyah nyah!" She pushed her nose up with her thumb and stuck her tongue out, blowing a loud and wet raspberry. "Pthbthbthbthbthb!"

Veins and muscles bulged over the seaclops body, the ones on its head throbbing noticeably as its rage hit a new high point. With a bellow it rushed at her and raised its hands overhead, driving down with boulder crushing force. Lara darted back at the last possible moment, the seaclops smashing a new hole in the wharf. It swung with such force it tumbled forward and banged its chin on the decking.

"Nope! Too slow!" said Lara, dodging aside as a tentacle tried to smash her. "Not even close!"

The seaclops snarled at her, getting up and punching again with no success, putting another hole in the wharf. Lara darted in and cut the back of its hand before flipping herself over a tentacle. She skittered aside to avoid another punch, only to have another tentacle swung at her. Instead of jumping Lara thrust her sword into one of the suckers, her feet skidding as she was driven backwards. The bone ring bit into her forearms but she did not let up. She set her feet harder, bringing the tentacle to a stop.

"Still not…enough!" She pulled her sword free then spun and cut through the tentacle. Blood wept as she leapt clear of another rage-fuelled seaclops fist, reducing the spot to splinters and driftwood.

"I said you have to be faster! Not slower!" she taunted, pulling at her ears and wiggling them. "Didn't you hear me? Or are those big ears just for show, Dumbo!?"

The seaclops roared so loud Lara's hair was blown back.


Eric watched from shore with Ariel, Alana, Aquata, and everyone else as Lara and the seaclops engaged in what appeared to be a life-or-death game of tag. The seaclops' fists and tentacles struck in a furious storm, determined to reduce Lara to a human pancake. Four of its tentacles were now dried and useless, blood leaking from its eye and discoloration spreading across its torso. Yet it did not slow in the slightest as it pursued Lara towards shore.

Fast as the seaclops was, Lara was faster. She dodged each strike at the last second, severing any tentacle that came too close for comfort. Eric could actually hear her sword cutting the air and the seaclops. But she made no counterattack on the seaclops or any move to end the fight. It was as though she were stalling for time.

The seaclops punched and again Lara evaded, creating another hole in the wharf. The boards beneath it cracked and groaned, warning of their impending failure.

Eric suddenly realized what she was trying to do.

A guard rushed up beside him and saluted. "Sire, the cannons are ready. Do we fire?"

"Not yet," said Eric. "Get ready to move them."

The guard's salute faltered, confused by Eric's order. "Move them, sire? To where?"


Lara backflipped away from another punch, allowing more of the wharf to be destroyed in her place. The seaclops drew its other arm back to strike again as she landed.

Crr–CRACK!

With each hole and strike Lara goaded the seaclops into, the wharf weakened that much further. It was a matter of avoiding its limbs and getting it mad enough to break the structure beneath. One section of wharf finally lost its ability to support the seaclops' massive weight and collapsed under the burden.

The seaclops fell into the hole. Its clawed fingers and toothy tentacles reached out, ripping up boards as it tried to stop its fall. Its tentacles disappeared beneath the wharf but its hands found purchase on a support beam to keep its shoulders and head above the decking–which left it vulnerable.

Lara knew it was now or never. She ran towards the seaclops as fast as she could, sword drawn back for a thrust as she ran along its arm straight for its head. She held the blade back by her shoulder and then thrust it hard as she could right above the seaclops' eye.

CRUNCH!

The sword buried through skin and bone. The seaclops' body quivered when she gave a sharp twist before withdrawing and leaping back onto the wharf.

CRASH! WHAM!

The boards in front of Lara exploded as a tentacle erupted through, catching her completely off guard. It whipped into her gut like a battering ram being hit from behind by a larger battering ram at the same time. She lost her wind and another rib cracked as she was sent flying towards shore. She flipped herself over in midair and landed in a crouch, skidding backwards to a stop. She doubled over clutching her gut, trying to focus on breathing and not the pain it caused her. She looked up and saw the seaclops pulling itself back up, tentacles rasping over the boards. The stab wound in its head was…healingover!?

Lara would have cursed if just breathing did not feel like being stabbed in the heart. What was the curse on this animal? She stabbed it in the brain! The brain for crying out loud! That was supposed to kill (almost) anything! How could it recover from that!? If her sword alone was not enough, she was going to need magic to put it down. But with so many people present how was she supposed to do it without anyone knowing?

The seaclops reached for another board and pulled, only for it to snap. It slipped back into the hole but caught itself.

"Artillery halt!"

Lara staggered onto her feet and turned around. A sergeant was leading a group of guards rolling six cannons onto the wharf, more following behind with gunpowder and cannonballs. They brought the cannons to a halt, lowering their braces as others slid cannonballs down their muzzles.

The seaclops had half its tentacles on the wharf now, pulling itself out foot by foot.

"Take aim!" shouted the sergeant, the guards hurrying to do so. "Miss Anclagon, get clear! And fire!"

Just before the gunners lit the cannons Lara hit the deck and the seaclops smacked a hand and four tentacles hard against the wharf. The entire wharf shuddered, causing the cannons to shift off target before the powder lit. A cantaloupe-sized ball of iron went flying over Lara and blasted into the side of a ship, three others skipping down the wharf and into the ocean while the remaining two flew out into the water. Not one of them hit the seaclops. It snarled, pulling itself completely out of the hole with one heave.

"R-reload!" shouted the sergeant, voice heavy with panic. "Reload and fire!"

Lara knew they would never reload in time. The seaclops looked no less angry than before, and it would only take another pounding strike to send their shots wild. If it got to them before that, it was all over.

A smell caught Lara's nose. It was a thick smell, almost viscous in its weight. It was familiar as well. She smelled this before during her night shifts at the Mermaid's Trove, and sometimes in the castle. It always seemed stronger at night than in the day, but it was always strongest next to the lamps. And she just smelled it before she beat down the pirates.

Lara's eyes widened as recognition came to her. Oil lamps! The smell was from lamp oil! There was oil nearby, and it was close by the strength of the odor!

Wincing at her ribs protesting her sniffing she quickly followed her nose to a trio of barrels, their wood oily with the contents inside. She drew her sword back and slashed, cleaving one barrel's top clean off. Oil splashed onto the dock, filling the air with its smell.

Lara had another crazy idea. A very crazy, stupid idea, not to mention reckless and dangerous. But if it worked, she could end this with magic that not even the seaclops could survive. And no one would be the wiser.

She dipped her sword into the oil, coating it from hilt to tip. She grated it against the barrel's metal ring, causing it to spark. Immediately the sword was engulfed in flames, burning oil dripping off like liquid fire. She gripped the sword tighter as she let her magic flow into it unhindered. Within the heart of the fire the sword turned red hot and then orange, its light hidden beneath the burning oil. The flames burned brighter and hotter, consuming the oil in seconds but remaining aflame. Lara could feel her magic soaking into it, fueling its heat far beyond what oil could offer. She sent more to it, causing the flames to swell.

The seaclops focused on her sword, fixated by the flames. It roared at her as she ran at it as fast as she could, yelling back at the monster. She moved in a blur, the fire trailing off her sword like a phoenix's tail. The seaclops swung its remaining tentacles out, stretching far to strike her. Lara ducked one and slipped past another, the heat of the fire blistering the tentacle's skin. One came swinging down at her, but she leapt and cleaved it in half, planting her foot on the cauterized wound and leaping again for the seaclops' chest.

It punched with a mighty blow, but its strength was outdone by Lara's incredible speed. With a yell she twisted over and skimmed under the fist, pulling her sword back and thrusting as hard as hard as she could.

SPLURCH!

The burning sword buried into the seaclops' heart. Lara hit with such force it was knocked back, teetering on the edge of the hole. Even stabbed and burning the seaclops reached for her, intending to smash her against its chest.

"Claymore…!" Lara twisted her sword hard. "Scorch him!"

The sword drove all its heat into the seaclops in a jarring wave, causing it to seize up. It froze, eye staring blankly down at Lara and hands only feet from her. No blood came from its wound as Lara withdrew her sword and leapt off, landing on the wharf as the seaclops fell backwards. Smoke began issuing from its mouth and nose with the pungent smell of burning flesh. Its skin began charring as it hit the water with a loud splash and hiss of steam. Water sprayed up onto the wharf, dousing Lara like a heavy rain.

Lara panted heavily, her body aching with lost energy as her sword cooled, steam rising off the hot blade. Even with the sword acting as an amplifier she put more into that spell than she realized. She was going to need a veritable feast to recover from this.

She walked solemnly to the edge of the hole, watching the water bubble and churn as the defeated monster sank into the deep. She did it. She defeated the seaclops and protected her friends and Seahaven. Cursed or not, it would not be getting back up this time. Not with her magic burning it from the inside.

But she felt no desire to celebrate or pride in her victory. Her sword felt neither heavier nor lighter. She wished this could have ended another way, but she knew she was fishing for self-pity in an empty pond. She had no other choice, and it was the merciful thing to do. If not her then the curse would have finished it off, and with far more pain and suffering. Even if it had somehow survived and escaped it was doubtful those who enslaved it would allow it to live once they tracked it down.

She held her sword straight up before her, closing her eyes and resting her forehead against the back of the blade. She did not have two coins to offer, but this gesture she could. That and a hope the creature would find peace in the Otherworld.

As guilty as she felt, Death was a far kinder fate for it.


"No! No! No!"

Remora remained still and impassive as Ursula screamed, shaking the bubble vigorously as though it were Lara's head.

"You tramp!" Ursula shrieked. "You blasted human speck! How dare you!? How dare you get in my way!?"

She pulled her arms back and buried them in the bubble. Immediately the red light swelled to blinding luminescence, forcing Remora to shield her eyes.

Ursula leaned over the bubble, snarling with positively mad malevolence. "I won't be stopped by the likes of you, Lara Anclagon! Not now, and not ever again!"


"Lara! Lara!"

The brunette turned back to see Ariel and Aquata running towards her, the latter carrying her scabbard.

"Are you okay?" called Ariel. "Are you hurt?"

"Is it really gone?" shouted Aquata.

"It's dead!" Lara called back, resting her sword over her shoulder as she walked towards them. "It won't be–!"

A loud splash and a gargling howl were the only warnings Lara got before a tentacle whipped out of the hole and wrapped her like a python, pinning her arms to her sides. She whipped her head around so fast she torqued her neck, seeing the seaclops emerge from the hole. Half its eye was smoldering and black. Its left arm was deformed and both ears were shriveling like paper tossed in a fire. It roared at her as its right arm seized the dock, blood and smoke issuing from its mouth.

Had physics and biology allowed it, Lara's eyes would have bugged out of their sockets. It was still alive! That curse was healing it as fast as her magic was killing it!

"You've gotta be–!"

Before she could finish the seaclops lunged up and shoved her into its mouth.


Ariel had no words. She had no scream to make or tears to shed. She just fell to her knees, covering her gaping mouth in disbelieving horror at the monster that devoured Lara whole. She saw its throat expand as it swallowed, a noticeable bulge passing down its neck.

"No!" screamed Aquata, stumbling to Ariel's side. "No! Lara!"

The seaclops started pulling itself onto the wharf by its tentacles. It dug a tongue between its teeth and spat something out at Ariel. A pair of black goggles coated in thick saliva bounced and landed in front of her. She shakily picked them up, hands trembling and stomach writhing like an eel.

Lara was gone. She was eaten. She fought and now she was gone. She saved Melody. She ran headlong into the enemy to save Alana. She defeated the pirates and stood against the seaclops alone. She put herself in harm's way to protect them all. She was brave and strong and fierce when everyone else was afraid. And now she was…she was…

"You…you…" Ariel clenched the goggles tight, hands shaking with anger as she glared up at the seaclops as though it was Ursula herself. "You monster!"

The seaclops glared down at her, as though riled by her words. It gave a bellow and pulled itself onto the edge of the hole, hand reaching out for her.

"Stubborn bastard!"

For a moment Ariel thought the seaclops spoke. Except it was a woman's voice coming from its mouth, and muffled as though spoken through a pillow.

A familiar sword pierced out the front of the seaclops' neck. It reared upright and went stiff, eye wide as Ariel and Aquata's in shock and confusion.

"Survive this!"

The blade twisted onto its side and swept through the seaclops' entire neck. Its body shivered as it gave one final startled, gargled gasp. Then its eye rolled up as it fell forward.

It was at that point Ariel and Aquata decided running was in their best interest. They beat a hasty retreat as the seaclops came crashing down, knocking them off their feet and collapsing the edge of the hole. They saw the seaclops' head roll away and off the edge of the wharf, splashing into the water below as its body slipped back into the hole and disappeared.

And there was Lara, on her knees and leaning on her sword. She was drenched head to toe in blood and mucus, dripping off her as though she were immersed in it. Her clothes were torn, and she was breathing hard, but she was very much alive.

Aquata and Ariel dashed as Lara started to rise, stumbling until they caught her shoulders and propped her up.

"Lara! Are you okay!? Are you all right!?" asked Aquata frantically.

"Say something!" said Ariel.

Lara tried to wipe the slime out of her eyes, but she was so coated in it she did nothing more than smear it. She felt around her head, worried when she did not find what she was looking for.

"Please *cough* please tell me one *p-tooh* of you has my goggles," she said before spitting again. A look of utter relief spread on Lara's face as Ariel held them up. "Oh, thank goodness! I was worried I'd have to go back in to get them!"


The little girl laughed as she stood up, clapping her hands in enthusiastic applause.

"That's it!" she exclaimed. "That's what I wanted to see! That's the Lara Anclagon I remember! Hard to keep down and even harder to kill! You haven't lost your edge after all! You just needed some motivation to bring it out!"


"No!" hollered Ursula as the bubble popped, clutching at her hair as she shrieked. "No! This can't be! How could she kill it!? How did…aaaah! I'll kill her for this!"

Remora twisted a finger in her ear, flicking away a piece of dirt. "And once again the 'greatandpowerful'Ursula screws up."

Ursula whirled on Remora, her skin starting to turn red she was so furious. "You! This is your fault! If it wasn't for you sabotaging my guns this would have–!"

"The failure is yours, Ursula. Not hers."

Ursula and Remora spun to the door. Shadows gathered on it, swirling together to form a black portal from which emerged the dark hooded form of the Master.

Ursula's face paled in record time. "M-M-Master! I-I was just–!"

"Quiet," he said flatly. Even Ursula's pounding heart seemed to quiet itself at his command.

The Master floated over to the cauldron. A ball of shadow formed over it, and then an image of Lara, Aquata, and Ariel appeared. Ariel was handing the brunette's goggles back, who almost accepted them till she remembered how much gunk she was covered in and asked Ariel to hold onto them.

"So, the queen is still alive," said the Master. "And the swordswoman as well."

"I-I can fix this!" stammered Ursula, swimming towards her supply of potions and ingredients. "Just let me–!"

A bolt of red lightning shot past her, blast her supplies to glass shards and smithereens. Ursula turned to see Remora pointing a gauntleted hand at her, red electricity crackling as it danced up and down her arm.

"No, you won't," said the Master. "Your part is done, Ursula. Remain here till I tell you otherwise. Remora, come with me."

"Yes, sir," said Remora, lowering her hand.

With that the two turned back to the door, Remora following a step behind the Master. They walked through the dark portal and then it shrunk to a single point of black and disappeared.

Ursula remained still, staring at the steel door. Then she slumped to the floor, breathing hard and shaking. She was still alive. She failed in her task, but she was still alive. The Master let her live despite her failure. But why? She knew her orders, and what would happen if she failed. The Master was not merciful in dealing with failure, and Remora was always eager to remind others of that. This should have warranted a severe punishment given it was her second failure of late. Yet the Master let her be. Even Remora had refrained from her usual habit of doling out brutal consequences for failure.

Why?


"Are you sure you're okay?" asked Ariel, helping Aquata pull up another bucket of seawater and dumping it over the Lara's head as she tied her sword onto her belt. Lara closed her eyes tight, shivering as the cold water washed over her. She scrubbed at her face and arms, loosing more blood and slime from her skin.

"I'm fine," lied Lara before she shook like a wet dog, sword jangling as she flung water everywhere. Ariel and Aquata shrieked, retreating from the spray.

"Eeek! Lara!" protested Ariel as she shielded her face.

Lara stopped, realizing she was peppering them with droplets of blood and mucus infused seawater. "Oops! Sorry!"

"How are you even moving?" said Aquata. "You got hit really hard! I thought that monster broke your spine when you went…" She mimed Lara flying through the air.

"I'm tougher than I look," said Lara, giving a cheeky grin as she leaned over the wharf's edge and wrung her hair. "By the way, where's Melody?"

"Asleep."

Lara turned to see Eric walking towards them, a trio of guards escorting him as more ran for the giant hole with weapons drawn. He was moving with slight tenderness, as though each step was causing him discomfort. He was breathing shallower as well. Clear evidence of broken ribs.

"And headed back to the palace with Alana," added Eric.

"It's dead!" exclaimed one of the guards around the hole. "It's really dead! She killed it!" He turned and ran back to shore shouting at the top of his lungs. "She did it! She killed the monster!"

"Eric!" Ariel ran to him and threw her arms around his neck, hugging him tight.

"Ah!" he exclaimed, wincing sharply.

Ariel immediately released him. "I'm sorry! Your chest! I forgot!"

"It's all right," he said, gingerly massaging his ribs. "Just not so tight."

A heavy shame and guilt came over Lara as she watched Eric assure Ariel there was not a more serious cause for his discomfort. She failed her job. She was supposed to keep Melody away from danger. It was the essence of being a bodyguard–keep the person safe from anything that would harm them. Instead of doing that Melody ran off under her watch and almost got shot by pirates.

"I'm sorry," she said, eyes cast down to the wharf. "About Melody."

Eric and Ariel looked to her. "What?"

"It's my fault Melody came here," Lara continued. "We ran into some kids who wanted my autograph on our way down here. I was paying attention to them when we heard the seaclops attack and she…well, you can guess what happened."

"Lara," said Eric.

"I've got no excuse. I was distracted and because of that Melody got away from me."

"Lara!"

"It's my fault she almost got killed! If it wasn't for my carelessness, she–!"

"Lara!"

A strong hand clasped her shoulder, and she looked up into the stern face of Eric. She cringed inwardly, bracing for the worst. He was going to chew her out and then fire her. She was sure of it. Provided he did not throw her in the dungeons first. Probably the stocks at least. Maybe the rack. Did Seahaven have a rack? They had to. Everyone had a rack nowadays.

"It's all right," said Eric.

Lara was not expecting him to say that, and it showed on her face. "Huh?"

"If it wasn't for you and Melody, this could've ended much worse," said Eric.

Lara tilted her head and lightly thumped it, loosing some water from her ear. "I don't follow…"

"Eric's right," said Ariel, taking her husband's arm. "If Melody hadn't run off then you wouldn't have gone after her. Which means you never would've come here."

"Which means Alana would still be the pirate's prisoner," said Aquata as she picked up on Ariel and Eric's reasoning. "And you would've had to give into their demands!"

"Point is, Lara, we're standing here because of you," said Ariel sweeping her hand to the people behind them. "We all are."

"No one else could have done what you did," said Eric. "You saved Melody, saved Alana, and protected us. No, the whole town!"

Lara blinked at them. "So, I'm…not in trouble?"

"In trouble?" Eric laughed, immediately wincing as it aggravated his ribs. He held out a hand to her, a sincerely grateful smile on his face. "Lara, we can never thank you enough!"

Lara stared dumbly at Eric's hand, not sure if she should take it. Sure, she kept Melody from getting shot. And she got Alana out of the pirate's hands. But did she really protect everyone? That seemed a grandiose claim for what she did. And there was still the fact she failed to keep Melody out of danger. Did she really deserve such gratitude?

Aquata scooted next to Lara and nudged her. "This is the part where you shake his hand."

Slowly Lara reached for Eric's hand. She hesitated for a second and then took it. He had a confident grip, firm without crushing down as they shook. Lara returned the grip in kind, Eric's shake wringing some of the doubt out of her. When he released her Ariel rushed in and hugged Lara tight, ignoring the water and seaclops saliva.

"Thank you," she said, squeezing her tightly.

Lara hesitated before awkwardly returning the embrace. She was still getting used to this hugging thing. And Ariel. "Just, uh…just doing my job."

Grrowr

Lara's stomach growled loud as a peeved wolf, demanding food after so much exertion. Ariel recoiled off Lara as though she had grown spikes, most of the color leaving Eric and Aquata's faces.

"Please tell me that wasn't what I think it was!" begged Ariel.

Lara's cheeks blushed a little. "No, that was–."

Grrrrrowrrr

"It's back!" shrieked Aquata, quickly hiding behind Lara. "It's come back from the dead for us! It wants our heads!"

Lara scratched the back of her head embarrassedly. "Um, actually…"

Rrrowwrrr…

The growl was even louder this time. Ariel glanced at Lara's midriff, realizing where the sound was actually coming from. "Wait, was that…?"

Lara blushed an even deeper shade of red, staring timidly at her feet. "That, uh…that was me."

Ariel, Eric, and Aquata stared at her for a moment, confused at how someone's stomach could sound like a giant sea monster.

Rrrrurk

All three of them burst out laughing. Aquata was doubled over with tears she was laughing so hard, and Ariel was not much better. Eric was trying not to because of his ribs but could not bring himself to stop.

"Ha ha! I think-I think there's a monster! Ha ha! In your stomach!" gasped Aquata, pointing at Lara's middle.

The noise was infectious to Lara, and she found herself joining in despite the pain in her own ribs. She laughed hard and loud, smiling so wide her cheeks hurt. To think her empty stomach scared them! It was too comical after what they just went through! She wiped her eyes as the laughing subsided. "I guess I should feed it then! Right after I take a bath! A long bath!"

"We better tell Louis to prepare a feast," said Ariel. "Sounds like you're going to need it!"


Remora followed the Master out of his portal, entering the haunting dim of his cathedral-esque lair. The air was chilly in here, and as deathly still as the water around them. Remora thought it an appropriate home for such a sorcerer. As vast, empty, unfathomable, and overwhelming as he was.

"A pirate crew and monster defeated by a young sorceress and her magic sword," said the Master as he walked across the viewing pool, a snap of his fingers summoning the bones for his throne. "Impressive for a human. Especially a woman."

Remora thought he sounded amused. "What's that make me, an impressive old woman?"

"I find 'human' an unbefitting title for you, Remora."

Remora smirked beneath her mask. "You know how to flatter a girl, sir."

Remora feared no reprimand for taking a sarcastic tone. She had been with the Master far longer than anyone else. There was no enslaving contract binding them except her loyalty and his appreciation for her proficiency and "talents." With that came a degree of freedom in how she interacted with him. But unlike certain cecaelians she never forgot her place in the hierarchy, nor carried illusions of deception or ascension.

"That's one interesting potion Ursula had stowed away," she said, walking to the edge of the pool. "Backlash is a killer, though. It would've ripped the beast to pieces if the brat didn't."

"Yes," said the Master, settling himself into his throne. "A potion that turns its victims into berserkers, and then uses their rage and life to physically empower them. A most interesting concoction indeed."

"Want me to look into it?" asked Remora. "See if I can tune the brew?"

"No. It served its purpose." The Master folded his hands together in pensive musing, his luminous blue eyes narrowing slightly.

"So…" Remora's gauntlet reformed into a pair of small throwing knives, which she started twirling expertly between her fingers. "Did it go as planned?"

"They never noticed," said the Master. "It entered before the seaclops struck. The sacrifices proved a better distraction than we anticipated."

Remora smirked under her mask. "Ursula was too focused on the queen to see anything else. Far as she knows the mission was a failure. Daft squid…she did just what we wanted and doesn't have a clue!"


"Anclagon! Anclagon!"

The assassin adjusted the guard's cap on his head in an alley near the marina, smoothing out the pheasant feather. The chanting of the soldiers and common folk was getting closer. Either that or word was spreading about who beheaded the seaclops. He lifted his boot and wiped a droplet of blood away, licking it off his finger before straightening his tabard.

Nothing remained of the uniform's former owner. There were no signs of a struggle in the alley or a body to find. The only evidence of his victim's demise would be when his absence was noticed. By then the assassin would be done with his assignment and long gone, returning to Maelstrom for his reward.

He could not help smirking at how easy a kill it was. Everyone was distracted by the seaclops and those fool pirates while it scurried along the underside of the dock like a gecko, moving unseen in the shadows. From there it slunk into an alley and baited its trap. Soldiers could be so eager to rush to the aid of a maiden in distress–or rather, the sounds of one. The expression of horror and surprise on the man's face when he saw the assassin was exquisite. He died without so much as a scream.

"Anclagon! Anclagon!"

He peered around the building's corner as the guards started marching by on their return to the castle, surrounding the royals and the still wet and slimy Lara Anclagon. It waited till they passed before slipping into the back of the ranks, unnoticed as all eyes watched the procession head back to the castle. They were still cheering for the bodyguard.

These humans celebrated so exuberantly, oblivious to the danger hiding in plain sight. They would cheer for now, but tomorrow those cheers would end.

And so would Princess Melody's life.

It joined in the cheering, if only to blend in and keep from cackling fiendishly. These monkeys would never see it coming.

"Anclagon!" it shouted, pumping its fist in the air. "Anclagon!"


The little girl watched from the side street as the procession walked by, shaded by the balcony overhead. She narrowed her eyes, a frown on her lips as she brushed a strand of her white hair behind her ear. That disguise might work on the masses, but it would not work on her. She could smell the assassin clearly beneath the countless odors of Seahaven. He stood out among them like a harvest moon against the stars.

She turned and walked into a backstreet, folding her arms behind her. She turned around a corner and then crouched and leapt, shooting up and landing on the building's roof without a sound. She looked down at the assassin then glanced over to Lara. Even doused in seawater and seaclops she could smell the woman's scent. Her unique impossible scent, as clear and intriguing as when they first met.

She shivered as she rubbed her arms, remembering the feel of that sword slicing through her body. How she ached to feel it again!

"You thought you were so clever, didn't you?" she said, as though someone was listening to her mutterings. "Slipping your wolf among the sheep while the hounds were barking at the rest of the pack. You must be feeling sure of yourselves, thinking you can take what's mine and use it for yourselves. But you've made another mistake. You've underestimated Lara Anclagon as a mere she-wolf. She's not a wolf or a sheep. She's a hunter. More than that, a hunter of monsters. And hunters kill wolves."

The little girl took a step and vanished into thin air.


A/N: With victory comes the assurance of safety from harm and shadow. But the shade is persistent. Where one light falls new shadow appears behind it. Always following. Always ready to pounce when the light fails. Keep your wits sharp and your swords drawn, lest the claws of the night sink into you next.

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DISCLAIMER: I do not own "The Little Mermaid," Disney, or any of its associated characters and intellectual property. I do not own the listed song(s). Everything else, however, is mine =)