Chapter 35: Reconciliation

The rain tapped against Melody's window like the ceaseless rapping of countless fingers, broken by the occasional flash of lightning and roll of thunder. She watched from the edge of her bed as the drops ran down the glass. The beads of water joined together, forming small rivulets like trails of tears over the panes. The wind moaned and howled hauntingly as it blew, rattling her balcony doors. The necklace turned over and over in her hands, the broken chain slipping through her fingers.

Her eyes left the rain, catching her reflection in the window. Her cheeks were swelling where Lara struck her. It would have looked comical if not for the precursors of dark bruises forming. She could feel the spot where her lip split, which would have closed by now if not for her repeatedly tonguing it. She was going to be an ugly sight tomorrow. She looked down to the necklace, seeing traces of her distorted reflection in the gold.

"You want me gone so bad? You got your wish. You're on your own."

Melody flung the necklace into her pillow, the shell bouncing off and onto her mattress. The act caused her cheeks to shift, and she winced at the pain it caused her. Still, it did not hurt nearly as bad as the emotional turmoil inside her. Guilt, shame, anger, embarrassment, sadness, and confusion all pulled together on her thoughts. Everything in her head was out of place to begin with, and this morning brought it all crashing down.

"What would you know about being loved!?"

"I hate you! Do you hear me!? I hate you! I wish you never existed!"

"Nobody could love a freak like you!"

She flopped back on the bed, pressing her forehead into her hands. Her own words echoed over and over again in her head. What happened to her back there? How had she said something so bitter and hurtful so willingly? Worse, she felt good when she said it. She enjoyed it. She wanted to say it. She wanted to hurt Lara verbally since she could not do so physically. And for just the briefest moment, when those words left her lips, she delighted in the pain on Lara's face.

It was the sort of thing Morgana would do.

She felt so conflicted. On the one hand, Melody was furious at Lara. She ruined her chance to go to Atlantica, and she humiliated her. Melody knew perfectly well she could not even touch her, but she allowed Lara to tempt her into trying. She played with her like a toy, making the gap between their strength and skill blatantly obvious. But Melody was just as furious at herself for giving into her anger as she had. What she said to Lara was a terrible thing. She called her a freak. She called her unloved and unlovable. She said she hated her. Since when did she throw spiteful barbs and poisonous words just to hit back at people? She felt disgusted with herself. No wonder Lara struck her. No wonder her father looked at her with those eyes.

She looked to her nightstand. William's gift lay there, still unopened. It was starting to come apart from the hours she spent holding and touching it. The edges of the white box were weakening. The yellow ribbon was frayed and faded. It reminded her of a fallen tree, nature slowly breaking it down so that it could be reclaimed by the soil that once nourished it.

Lara started towards the edge of the pavilion then stopped, looking spitefully back at her. "He shouldn't have wasted his life on you."

A heavy weight settled in her chest. Was Lara right? Would William still feel for the person she had become? The Melody he knew, the Melody he loved, was optimistic, fun-loving, adventurous, and brave. She could be headstrong and tomboyish, and at times too curious for her own good. But never spiteful, vengeful, or cruel. This person she had become since he died was still her, and yet it was not. She felt like the character from that story about the charismatic and ambitious doctor who drank a potion seeking to separate good and evil within himself. Instead he turned himself into a monstrous depraved beast of a man. Melody thought she knew what he must have felt like after awakening from his alter ego. She felt like there were two of her now, each one vying for full control. Or perhaps the line between them was not so clear cut, and instead she was becoming someone else from their parts.

Knock knock-knock knock. "Melody?"

She cringed at her father's voice, sitting upright. He entered without her invitation, not that she felt like denying or granting it. She heard his footsteps approaching, catching his figure in the corner of her eye as he came to sit beside her. She shifted towards him slightly, but she dared not meet his face. She might die of shame if she did.

"Well, that could have gone better," he said.

As gloomy as she felt Melody cracked the traces of a smile. She immediately hissed at the pain it caused her, the swelling limiting her expression to neutral.

Eric frowned, noticing her discomfort. "Let me see."

Melody turned away from him. She could not bear to see his eyes again.

"Melody, please," asked Eric.

His hand came around, gently taking her chin and turning it towards him. He looked sad and tired. There was still disappointment in his face, but now it was with himself as well. He tilted her face to one side and then the other. He cringed at seeing the discoloration already starting.

"I'm sorry," he said, lowering his hand. He ran a hand through his hair. "I shouldn't have let that go on. I should've done something when I had the chance. I thought it would be best for you two to sort this out in your own way. Now you and Lara–."

"No," interrupted Melody. "This isn't your fault, dad. I'm the one who tried to run away. I'm the one who started the fight, not her. I'm the one who set her off. This is my fault." She looked away, her head hanging and shoulders sagging as her hands wrung the bed sheets. "It's all my fault."

They stayed like that for a while, not saying anything. Melody listened to the rain and thunder, wanting to focus her attention on it. As long as it distracted her from how wretched she felt inside, she wanted the storm to continue.

It was her father who broke the silence. "Melody, can I ask you something?"

She nodded.

"Do you really hate Lara?" asked Eric. "Do you dislike her that much? I know there are people you don't like, but hate? That's not like you at all. I didn't think there was anyone you hated. Or anything!"

"I hated the sea wall," Melody said quietly.

"You know what I mean." Eric sighed again. "Lara's been here almost a full a month now, and she's made friends with just about everyone. Carlotta likes her. Louis likes her. Your cousins like her. Most of your aunts and uncles like her. Your mother likes her. Grimsby…well, they still have some issues, but at least they're not hostile anymore."

"What about you?" asked Melody. "Do you like her?"

Eric scratched his chin thoughtfully. "Hm…well, she is unusual. And she definitely has a temper. And her manners are…how do I put this? A work in progress? Not to mention she can eat enough for ten people when she wants to. Wish I knew where she's putting it all! And she does tend to dress very comfortably. But…yeah, I like her. I think she's rather fun to have around. And interesting, to say the least. And I'm grateful to her. She's protected not just you, but all of us. Maybe she's hardly ladylike, and pretty rough around the edges. But she's not a bad person. And we're alive because of her."

He scooted closer to Melody, reaching an arm around her shoulders and pulling her in. "I understand you're upset we forced her on you. And I understand you need your freedom. It's why we decided to find you a guardian in the first place. So you wouldn't be caged in the palace day after day."

"You and mom didn't have any issue with it before the tournament," Melody grumbled.

"That's not true," said Eric. "We didn't want to isolate you. Melody, we know how much you love going out of the palace, especially to the sea. Your mother and I agonized over any other way to keep you safe, but we couldn't find one. It killed us to see you staring out windows day after day. So many times we wished we could let you go. But we were scared. We are scared. Losing you is…" His hand squeezed her shoulder tighter. "I don't know how we could go on without you. You're the most precious thing we have. Without you, our lives would be…empty."

Melody turned to her father. He looked hurt just by the very thought of her absence.

"We almost lost you again at the marina," said Eric. "And then when that creature attacked you. But because of Lara we didn't. There's no amount of gold or titles we could give her that would show how grateful we are." He released her and turned to face her completely. "So, I suppose I'm trying to understand why you dislike her so much when she's only ever protected us?"

Melody stared at the floor. Did she like Lara? Not very much at the moment. She did just say William threw away his life for her and used her face for a punching bag. And Lara definitely had issues. She was unrefined and obstinate, not to mention that violent streak of hers when her anger flared. And she was scary. Those bright golden eyes were so unnerving, as though she could see right into Melody. The tattoos and piercings would make Melody cringe if she looked at them for too long. She gave off a persistent aura of danger as well. One that Melody could never shake.

But there was more to Lara than the merciless fighter. Melody could not deny what she had seen over the past month. For all the savage brutality Lara could show the enemy, she showed none of it to anyone else. Her younger cousins adored her. Lara had sometimes spent afternoons with them while she was at her studies, getting up to all sorts of antics. The fantastical stories she told were now a staple of their evening routines, and she seemed to have no shortage to give. Her immense strength, capable of smashing through boards and breaking men like sticks, was tempered by a gentleness and kindness she reserved specially for them. Lara would sooner cut her own hand off than lay a finger on a child.

As for everyone else, perhaps she could be crass and overly frank at times. She had a tendency of coming across as disrespectful, as some of the visiting council members had pointed out when they crossed paths with her. No blows were ever exchanged, but there were some sharp "comments" to Eric advising him to find a replacement. But Lara's bluntness did not seem to come from arrogance or condescension. It was more honest than that, as though she were trying to cut through the veils of practiced manners that permeated courtly life to the person behind them. And where was all that money she earned going? Lara should have at least a couple hundred coins to her name by now–a comfortable wealth for anyone. But if she was putting it towards herself, she could not imagine what it was for, because no one ever saw a trace of it. She refused her parent's offer to have new clothes tailored, even after their promises of not allowing Grimsby or anyone else to intervene. Nor did she buy luxuries or decorations for herself. So where was she putting it all?

And then there was the obvious. Lara was indeed courageous in her selflessness. She entered an arena of men ready to tear her apart for the sake of children who were not her own. She charged into a hail of bullets to keep Melody from being shot. She rescued Alana from pirates even after that row in the ballroom. She went alone against a cursed seaclops with only her sword. She stood between them and a nightmarish skinner, swearing openly she would stake her life before allowing any harm to come to her. Lara did not brandish that sword for herself or profit. She did it for others. She risked bodily harm and worse for Melody, despite the coldness and discourtesy she had shown the woman since assuming the role of bodyguard.

In light of all that, could Melody really justify hatingher?

"I…I…" Melody tried to form words, but nothing would come out. Nothing coherent at least. It was all getting tangled up inside her. "I'm not…I just…"

She groaned, flopping back in the bed again. "I don't know anymore."

"You know…" Eric got up and walked to the window, leaning against the side as he looked out to the storming sea. "That first day your mother came ashore, I wasn't exactly entranced by her."

Melody propped herself on her elbows to listen.

"Mind you, I had no clue she was the 'dreamwoman' I was searching for, much less a mermaid," continued Eric. "As far as I could tell, she was a pretty mute girl washed up from a shipwreck. I'll admit her beauty was the first thing that drew me to her. But she acted so bizarre it was difficult to find her endearing. Brushing her hair with a fork. Blowing Grimsby's pipe in his face and then spitting wine all over him–he was not happy about that last one. She almost gave him a heart attack when she went walking around the hall naked after her bath."

Melody grimaced at the pain from her involuntary smile, imagining how many shades of embarrassed Grimsby must have turned at seeing a sopping wet and completely naked Ariel wandering around the palace.

"I thought maybe she could communicate with us if she could write," said Eric. "But all she knew was Atlantican. It was just scribbles to me. Carlotta had to stop her from burning herself when she brought a candle in, and she banged her head into the windows a few times too. Do you know what Grimsby said to me after our first dinner?"

Melody shook her head. This account of her mother was entirely new to her.

"He said, and I quote…" Eric cleared his voice in preparation for his best imitation of the uptight advisor, standing perfectly straight with his chest puffed out, eyes heavily lidded and nose lifted. "Eric, I hope you're planning to keep your wits about you on this tour tomorrow. That young lady's not right in the head, I tell you. A madwoman if I've ever seen one."

Melody's eyes widened. "Grimsbysaid that? But…he adores mom!"

Eric grinned and shook his head. "Oh, not at first he didn't! He won't admit it, but those were his exact words. And I agreed with him more than I'd like to admit! Your mother was just so…strange."

Melody was hanging on her father's words now. This was news to her. She had never heard her father speak anything but love and affection for her mother her whole life.

Eric looked back to the sea, suddenly nostalgic in his gaze. "But there was something about her! Just being around Ariel made me feel…I really couldn't tell you what exactly, but it was wonderful. I had never seen anyone find as much joy and wonder in the world as she did. She wanted to see and do everything, and I wanted to be with her for all of it. That sparkle in her eyes never faded for a single moment that entire tour. Everything was exciting to her, even if it was just a child's puppet show or a cartload of chickens. I've yet to see another person so delighted about a pair of shoes as your mother when I bought her some. I thought she was going to cry she was so happy. And her smile…it was hard not to fall for her when she showed something that heartfelt to me. Maybe I wasn't in love that morning, but by the end of the day I was falling for her."

He smiled and gave a small laugh. "She must've had quite an effect on me. And made an impression on Grimsby, because he changed his tune completely. Suddenly she wasn't a madwoman. She was someone he saw a future for me with. He advised me to let go of my fixation on a dream girl who may not even exist, and consider what was right in front of me. I probably would have kissed her that night if…well, you know."

Eric pushed off the wall, walking to join Melody at the edge of the bed. "And let me tell you, just because Ursula was gone didn't mean our troubles stopped there. We were married seven months later, but not everyone was so open to the idea of a man and a mermaid being together. And I don't just mean your grandfather. Some of your aunts took more convincing than others. Ariel had to deal with prejudices from our own people, and for no other reason than she wasn't human at one point. But over time they came around, especially once they started knowing her."

Melody found it hard to imagine anyone could dislike her mother. Anyone who was not a villain, at least.

Eric put a comforting hand on Melody's back. "I can see why she and Lara get along so well. Yes, they have their quirks. And yes, they have a tendency to 'go against the tides,' as your grandfather would say. But ask yourself this–is Lara really so different from you? Because I think you two have more in common than you realize."

He leaned over and kissed the side of her head. "Just think about it for a while. Why don't you take a walk around the palace? It's always helped me think when I'm stuck on something."

Melody remained on the bed as her father got up and left, closing the door behind him. His words kept ringing in her head. Was Lara really that different from her? The question was, which Melody was he referring to? Who she used to be? Or who she had become?

She went to one of her windows, pressing her fingers against the cold glass. The storm was raging outside, churning up the sea as it pelted the windows with water. Melody saw a ghost of her reflection staring back at her. Bruises and swelling aside, Melody did not feel like it was her own face she was looking at. She felt like she was staring at a stranger.

She felt a familiar sensation down in her chest. That urge telling her to put her feelings into words as only mermaids could. The same one she felt the first time she experienced life as a mermaid. She felt like singing. She had not felt like doing that in months. Not since before William died. Now, with the rain coming down and the storm raging outside and within her, it felt as appropriate a time as any. Her voice came forth, resonating inside her room with a sorrowful beauty.

A/N: "Breaking the Habit" by Linkin Park

"Memories consume like opening the wound
I'm picking me apart again
You all assume
I'm safe here in my room
Unless I try to start again"

Melody let her fingers drag down the glass. It was causing some discomfort to sing with her injuries, but she pushed on anyway.

"I don't want to be the one the battles always choose
'Cause inside I realize that I'm the one confused"

She looked to her bed, seeing the necklace lying on top of her sheets. She reached over and picked it up then headed for her closet. She grabbed a simple maroon dress and pulled it on, quickly tying the back up before leaving her room. She walked down the hall to the tower, watching her reflection come and go in the windows. She stopped at the stairwell landing, breathing in before she sang again. She kept her voice quiet, yet it carried clearly through the vast space.

"I don't know what's worth fighting for
Or why I have to scream
I don't know why I instigate
And say what I don't mean
I don't know how I got this way
I know it's not alright
So I'm breaking the habit
I'm breaking the habit tonight"

She started down the stairs. She went slow at first, her steps cautious and deliberate. Then she went faster, her voice rising in volume as her pace did the same. By the time she reached the third floor she was running down them.

"Clutching my cure
I tightly lock the door
I try to catch my breath again
I hurt much more than any time before
I have no options left again"

Melody abandoned the steps and hopped onto the railing, riding it down all the way to the bottom. She ran out into the ballroom and headed for the door to the garden.

"I don't want to be the one the battles always choose
'Cause inside I realize that I'm the one confused"

She reached the door and threw it open, immediately greeted by the rain and a flash of lightning. She squinted her eyes for a moment as water ran into them, and then she stepped out into the storm. Rain beat upon her as she marched through the storm, heading back towards the sea.

"I don't know what's worth fighting for
Or why I have to scream
I don't know why I instigate
And say what I don't mean
I don't know how I got this way
I'll never be alright
So I'm breaking the habit
I'm breaking the habit tonight"

Melody ran across the garden to the pavilion stairs. She did not know why, but she wanted to go back there. She wanted to be near the sea again, tempestuous as it was now. She felt like it reflected her. She almost slipped on the stairs as she went down, but she caught herself and kept going.

The pavilion was slick with seawater when she left the last step. The waves were washing into the pool and splashing over the edges, or crashing against the seaward edge to send spray cascading in. It washed over the floor in floods, soaking Melody up past her ankles. She walked through the deluge to the pavilion's edge, bracing herself as a large wave swamped more water onto the floor. It tried to push her away, but she held her ground and then pressed on, singing loudly over the storm.

"I'll paint it on the walls
'Cause I'm the one at fault
I'll never fight again
And this is how it ends"

Melody reached the far edge, grasping one of the columns. The sea was a roiling angry canvas of high waves and whitecaps. Lightning flashed down over the water, illuminating everything for a split second. Moments later thunder rolled in, shaking the air. Melody leaned out over the water, belting her voice out through the din.

"I don't know what's worth fighting for
Or why I have to scream
But now I have some clarity
To show you what I mean
I don't know how I got this way
I'll never be alright
So I'm breaking the habit
I'm breaking the habit
I'm breaking the habit tonight!"

A wave came racing towards the pavilion. Melody quickly backed away behind the column, allowing the wave to crash against the side. The water flooded over the side, rising to her knees before receding into the sea. Melody leaned back against the column, closing her eyes as she listened to the rain and sea. Somehow, she felt she had her answer.


"So that's what really happened?" asked Lara, steering Tempest around a puddle in the road. "That's the truth?"

Ariel nodded. "I promise you that's everything."

Following the rogue wave, Lara took Ariel and Tempest deep into the forest. The ancient trees protected them from the worst of the wind, though not the rain. They spent two hours in there, letting the storm spend the worst of its wrath. Then it began to calm, the sky no longer dropping lightning bolts and the wind no longer blowing with gale force. The ocean had quieted as well, the whitecaps turning into rolling crests. Even the rain was lighter, falling with a steady mild volume. It was enough Lara felt it was safe to ride back.

Lara pushed a branch out of their way, causing water droplets to rain down on them. "You…" She suddenly coughed, traces of the seawater tickling her throat. "You were born a mermaid?"

"Yes," said Ariel.

"So, your sisters are all…wow. That explains a few things." Lara ran a hand through her wet hair as she looked back. "Still no legs yet?"

The women rode Tempest together. Lara because she was still coughing out ocean, and Ariel because she had no ability to walk. Though she had been out of the sea for hours, the magic ring had yet to return her legs. Hence why she was riding sidesaddle behind Lara, arms wrapped around the woman's waist. She still had the shadowsilk cloak on, covering at least the majority of her fins.

Ariel flapped her tail, rainwater sliding off her shimmering scales. "Nope. It's probably because of the storm. Attina said the ring would let me change back when I was out of the water, but I think daddy forgot to exclude rain when he made it."

Ariel told Lara everything as they waited out the storm under the trees, finishing as they rode back. The true everything. How she had been a mermaid once. How she grew up in a magical undersea kingdom. How she fell in love with Eric after rescuing him from drowning. How Ursula granted her three days on land in exchange for her voice. How the sea witch deceived them and tried to take her father's trident. How they overcame her, and Triton restored her legs so she could live as a human. How Morgana attacked them when Melody was a baby, and they spent twelve years hiding behind a wall until she learned the truth. How Melody was the one Morgana tricked, and the one she was thwarted by. Ariel told her about Atlantica, and the sea witches, and the trident. She held nothing back, and she felt better for it. She no longer had to carry the secret around.

"Well, hopefully a roof over your head will change that," said Lara. She looked ahead. The palace was still far off, its red roofs and those of the town hazy through the rain. "Though, that's gonna be a while by the look of things."

They rode on in silence. Ariel listened to the rain as it trickled through the trees, Tempest's hooves clopping along the road as he walked. She felt the rain strike her fins, dripping off the translucent tips. As much as Ariel loved being a human, there was something comfortably nostalgic about this form. As though a part of her were restored.

"Lara?" said Ariel.

"Hmm?"

"I'm sorry. About not telling you."

Lara sighed then turned to glance at her. "Honestly, I knew you were all hiding something."

"You did. You mean you knew?"

"Well, nothing specific. Definitely not the mermaid part. I just had a feeling you were keeping a secret from me. Especially after last night. Eric and Gramps are terrible liars."

The attack had slipped Ariel's mind in all the hubbub of the morning. Now all the worry and woe of the previous night came back to her.

Maelstrom. That was the name Ursula and Morgana's group called themselves. Their enemy was now known, and yet they also remained horribly unknown. All they had to go on was the aftermath of their attack. Urchin was stable, but his condition was still severe. He was the only one of his group left alive. He was still unconscious, and all attempts to rouse him had failed. It was unclear if he would ever return to his duties, much less wake from his coma. Gabriella lost her left hand and was unresponsive from the shock of seeing her love murdered. The fate of Ariel's other friends was unknown. No one escaped Eel Ectric City. They found it desecrated and deserted. Abyssum was completely massacred and obliterated.

And there was her father. It worried Ariel how little the report said of Triton. All she knew was he was alive, apparently unharmed, and he failed to get to Abyssum in time. If she wanted answers beyond that she would need to see him in person. She would go as soon as she could. Both for him, Urchin, and Gabriella. She had to see them all.

"What you said to Melody…did you mean it?" asked Ariel.

Lara said nothing, merely steering Tempest around a downed tree.

Ariel held onto Lara a little tighter. "Are you really going to leave?"

Lara remained silent. It was more worrying to Ariel than if she confirmed her intentions. "Please don't go. I know what Melody said must've hurt you. But she didn't mean it."

"It sure didn't sound that way," said Lara flatly, anger creeping into her voice.

"I know she didn't. Melody isn't like that. She's just…" Ariel sighed, resting her cheek against Lara's back. Even exposed to the wind and rain she felt warm. "William's death broke her heart. It broke her. She's been through a lot the last few months. She's scared and hurt and…I don't think she knows how to deal with it. I'm not sure I do either."

"Yeah…" Lara gently flicked the reins, causing Tempest to increase his gait. "I know how that can feel."

Ariel lifted her head up. "If you want to talk about it, I'll–."

"I don't," Lara interrupted.

Ariel flinched at the sharpness of Lara's response. "Oh. Sorry." She loosened her hold a bit, afraid her contact was not so welcome anymore.

"Wounds of the heart and mind…"

Ariel picked her head up. She barely heard Lara whisper it. "What's that?"

Lara sighed. "I don't want to talk about it. But maybe that's why I should." She brought Tempest to a stop and stepped off, her bare feet splashing in the mud.

"Come on," she said, holding out her arms to Ariel. The mermaid carefully slid herself into Lara's arms, who caught her easily. She carried Ariel over to a nearby tree, the ground beneath its boughs fairly dry. "I think it's time you got your legs back."

"How?" asked Ariel.

"Just need to dry you off." Lara closed her eyes in concentration. "Try not to move too much."

Ariel felt something in Lara's hands. A warmth started seeping out of them, quickly spreading across her skin. She was slightly alarmed by the sensation, but she remained still.

"Va'oro," Lara said, speaking the word clearly and with intent.

At once the warmth enveloped Ariel from head to fin. She felt hot, as though it were a sweltering summer day around them. The water evaporated off her skin and scales, rivulets of steam rising from her as she quickly dried.

At once flecks of light came off Ariel's fins, the jade becoming golden. She felt her scales turning into skin, her clothes reforming as the magic was undone. An abrupt sensation of separation went through her fins, causing her to gasp as her legs were reformed. The lights gathered around her finger, reforming the ring. In a matter of seconds, she had her legs back.

Ariel looked herself over, wiggling her toes inside her shoes. She was human again. "You undid the spell?"

Lara opened her eyes. "No. I just got rid of the water on you. You all right?"

"Let's find out." Before Lara could set her down Ariel hopped out of her arms, stumbling a step but quickly finding her balance. It was strange, feeling her lower half conjoined and then separated in such rapid succession. She quickly took off her ring lest it transform her again in the rain.

"Okay, that's pretty neat," said Lara.

Ariel smiled and turned back to her. "So is what you did with the water! And your sword! I thought that wave would crush us!"

Lara suddenly looked worried. "Ariel, there's something I need to ask you."

"What is it?"

"Why aren't you…well, afraid of me?"

Ariel frowned. "Why would I be?"

"You know why."

Ariel could see Lara was genuinely nervous. She looked tense. Her hands were fidgeting, and she kept shifting on her feet. Somehow, Ariel got the feeling Lara's statement came from experience, not pessimism. "This is about your magic, isn't it?"

Lara nodded.

"You said you had reasons for keeping it a secret. I'm guessing you didn't tell us because you weren't sure how we'd take it?" asked Ariel.

Lara nodded again. "Yeah."

"That we might banish or imprison you because of it?"

Lara shook her head. "Worse."

Ariel's eyes widened at the implication. "Wait, you thought we might–!?"

Lara's silence said it all. Ariel marched to Lara and hugged her before she knew quite what she was doing. Lara stiffened, taken aback by her sudden embrace.

"We would never do that to you!" exclaimed Ariel, both angry and saddened at once. "Never! You hear me? Never! After everything you've done for us! For those kids! For my family! For me! Lara, how could you think something like that!?"

"It's how most of the world treats magic," said Lara quietly. "They hate it. People like me…we're monsters to them. Heathens."

Lara moved to break away, but Ariel only held tighter, refusing to let go. "I'm not most of the world! You didn't have to hide anything from me! Or any of us! And if that's what the world thinks then the world is wrong! You're not a monster to me, and you never will be! Magic or not, you're still you! That's all that matters! It's all that should ever matter!"

Lara made no move. She just stood frozen in Ariel's embrace. Ariel was starting to wonder if something was wrong when suddenly Lara hugged her back, squeezing her in just as tight as she buried her face in her shoulder.

"Thank you," said Lara, her voice muffled.

Ariel let her keep hugging. Her heart was bleeding for Lara she felt so sorry for her. What happened in her past to give her such a bleak perspective of humanity? To make her think that just because she was a mage people would want her dead? That people were capable of such baseless malice? Ariel had been around magic since before she could swim. In her experiences, she had decided upon one definitive truth regarding it. Magic was never inherently good or evil. It came down to how it was used and what for.

She was suddenly aware Lara was holding her a little too tightly. Which was why one of her vertebrae popped, sending a strange and slightly uncomfortable sensation through her spine. "Lara, I can't…I need to breathe."

Lara quickly released her. Her eyes looked glassy as she stepped back. "Sorry."

"It's all right," said Ariel, smoothing out her dress. "So, will you come back?"

Lara gave a small laugh, wiping the corner of her eye. "Like I can say no after that?"

"I'm hoping you won't," said Ariel. She took Lara's hands. "Please come back. At least talk to Melody. I know her. She can't feel good about what happened. And even if she doesn't want you to stay, Ido."

Lara sighed. "All right. I'll go back."

Ariel smiled brightly. "Thank you."

"But…" Lara took off her sword, holding it out for Ariel to take. "I'm gonna talk to Melody first. Alone. Can you take that back with you?"

"Sure, but what if you need it?"

Lara grinned slightly. "I think I can get it if I do. You can ride back without me. I need some time by myself to think. Oh, and when you get back, I need you to do something for me."

Ariel carefully accepted the sword. It was heavier than she thought it would be. "What's that?"

"Send a carriage to the orphanage to get Sarah," said Lara as she helped Ariel onto Tempest. "And just Sarah. She'll probably be nose deep in a book."

"Why do you need Sarah?" asked Ariel, holding the sword in one hand and reins in the other.

"You told me your story," said Lara. "And you saved my life. I think you deserve to hear mine. A couple people do. So…any idea where I'd find Melody?"

It hardly took Ariel a second to think of the place.


Melody reclined against the column at the pavilion, now far enough inside the rain could not reach her. She watched the storm begin to wane, the royal galleon rising and falling in the waves. She turned her locket over and over in her hands in time with it. It gave her something to keep her fingers busy as she contemplated and reflected. She had been out here for hours now, alone with the sea and her thoughts. It gave her time to think as she slowly made some semblance of order out of the chaos that was her heart, mind, and soul.

She heard Lara before she saw her. There was no one else's feet it could be. Not with that stride. She did not look. A part of her was afraid to. The other part wanted Lara to make the first move. The steps over the pavilion stones approached then stopped. Lara sat on the opposite side of the column, her legs just visible if Melody peeked around. There was mud on the hem of her soaked pants and her feet.

Melody waited for Lara to say something. The minutes stretched out without a word spoken. The awkwardness hung between them like fog, growing thicker by the second.

She was about to speak when Lara broke the silence. "Do you really hate me?"

Melody felt a cannonball of shame and guilt drop in her stomach. She bit her bottom lip. Yet another thing she wished she had not said, and Lara opened up with it. Talk about coming out swinging.

"No," said Melody. "I didn't mean that. I was angry because you beat me. I wanted so badly to prove you wrong that…no, that's not it. I wanted to prove myself right."

When Lara gave no response, Melody took it as her cue to continue. "I knew I couldn't win. Not against you. There's no one in Seahaven that can. But I hoped I could, so I could prove to myself that I didn't need you to look after me. That I wasn't so helpless or weak that I had to depend on you. That's why I did it. That, and…"

She paused, collecting her thoughts. This next part was not going to be easy for her. But she had to say it. She had to get this out in the open, for hers and Lara's sakes.

"Aaaaaand?" said Lara.

Melody scooted around the column until she could see Lara in the corner of her eye. She looked damp, her hair dulled and flat and her clothes dark with water. Her golden eyes briefly glanced at Melody before looking away.

"Just let me talk, okay? Then I'll listen to whatever you want to say." Melody took a deep breath and let it go. "Ever since…ever since Will died, my whole life's been flipped upside down. Nothing's the same anymore. There's monsters in the sea, pirates with those…uh, those…the really loud things."

"Guns."

"Right, guns. There are creatures hiding in shadows and wearing human skins. And somewhere out there are two witches and who knows what else that want my whole family dead. My friends aren't talking to me. I can't go anywhere without being afraid or feeling watched. I don't feel like myself. I'm not even sure I know who I am anymore. And then there's you."

Lara shifted in the corner of her eye then went still.

"I knew you were different the moment I saw you in that arena," said Melody. "The way you hid your face. How you moved. How you fought. What you did to Richard frightened me. You frightened me. You still do sometimes. Wait, I swear I'm going somewhere with this. When mom and dad told me you accepted the job, I was mortified. I didn't want you here, much less in my room or following me around. Even when everyone started accepting you, I still didn't want you here. And I used to think it was because I didn't like you, or I was afraid of you, or because I didn't want to admit I'm safer with you around."

Melody sighed. "I did some thinking after you left. Truth is, I don't hate you. I never did."

Lara snorted loudly. "You sure fooled me."

"I hate what you remind me of. What you being here means."

Lara's head turned towards her slightly.

"I want my old life back," said Melody. "I want an ocean without monsters, and no witches trying to hurt me or my family. I want to walk around without watching every shadow or needing an escort. I want my friends to come back and see me. I want…" She paused, gently biting her lower lip. "I want Will back. I want to finish that dance with him, so I can tell him how I felt. How I still feel. I want to know where we could have gone after that night. But…"

Melody gripped her dress, wringing the fabric between her fingers as her eyes started welling up. "I can't. I can't change what happened. I can't bring back Will, and I can't make any of this go away. No matter how many promises I make and stars I wish on, it won't happen. And I couldn't bring myself to accept that. I couldn't accept that this is the direction my life has gone because of what it's taken from me. It's taken my safety, my freedom, my happiness, and the man I love. And every time I see you it reminds me of that. Of everything I've lost. You're new, and different, and sometimes violent and scary. Just like my world is now. And I put the blame for that on you because…"

She released her dress, wiping her eyes on her sleeve before they could shed tears. "Because it was easier than accepting the truth. It was easier to be mad at you, or try to run away than stay here and confront reality. And it wasn't fair, to you or me. Because all it did was hurt us both. I let that pain fester in me instead of accepting it, and it's made me into someone Willwouldn't want me to be. Someone I don't want to be anymore."

Melody looked at Lara, their eyes meeting. "I can't promise to change overnight, Lara. And I can't be exactly who I was before. But I'll try to do better and not make things so difficult for you. Just…be patient with me. So, don't leave. Please."

Lara stared at her a moment, then she looked away. She said nothing for a while. She just sat against the column staring out along the shoreline without actually looking at it. Finally, she drew a breath and sighed.

"You're a literal pain in the butt," Lara said. "A colossal, royal pain in the butt. And I still think you don't realize how harsh the world can be. But I don't hate you either. What I said about your prince wasting his life on you …I said it because I was angry. I wanted to hurt you because you hurt me. It wasn't right for me to do. Neither was hitting you like that. If I'd…I just shouldn't have."

Melody glanced over at Lara. She was still looking away from her, face now turned towards the sea.

"I get not wanting things to change, and how helpless you can feel when they do," said Lara. "It's scary because you have to start over, even if it's for the better. And when it's for the worse, it's even harder to accept because you have to deal with whatever gets thrown at you. I've had to go through enough of those, so I have some idea of what you're experiencing. Not the whole picture, but at least a part of it."

Lara turned away from the sea, tilting her head back so she could look at the pavilion ceiling. "I think that's why I helped Sarah and the kids. And why I've stuck with this job despite your attitude. I remember being in your place. Losing people I loved. Feeling afraid and vulnerable. Worrying I might not make it through a day alive. Being at someone else's mercy because I couldn't protect myself. Never having peace because I didn't know how or when I was going to get hurt next."

She reached a hand towards the flecks of glass above. "And wishing on every star that I could get my life back, or that someone–anyone would come save me. And starting to lose hope when they never did. I couldn't just walk away from this and leave you defenseless. Yeah, it would've been easier to quit and go back to pouring drinks and wiping mugs and staying with the kids. It would've saved me a lot of trouble and pain. And weeks of your cold shoulder."

The guilty cannonball grew a little heavier inside Melody. "So why didn't you?" she asked.

Lara paused, looking at her palm before clenching her hand into a fist. "Because I can't just look the other way when it's convenient. I'd never be able to look myself in the mirror again. All I'd see is a coward who left someone to die because their problems weren't my own. I'd never be able to hold my head up knowing I could've done something and chose not to."

Melody had a feeling Lara was remembering something. And it did not sound pleasant. Not with that edge in her voice or the tremble in her arm. "So, are you going to leave?"

Lara lowered her arm and gaze. "Yeah. I'll go back to the tavern…"

Melody felt her heart drop next to the cannonball, her head drooping with her shoulders. She got her wish. Lara was going to leave, and right when she no longer wanted her to. Right when she started to pull herself back together, she drove away the one person that just might keep her alive long enough to see it through.

"When this is all over," finished Lara.

Melody's insides returned to their proper place as she whipped around to face Lara. The brunette glanced at her then returned her eyes forward.

"I'll keep protecting you until those witches are gone. Until they're all gone. I made a promise, and I'll keep it so long as I'm still breathing." She turned slightly, one eye narrowing at Melody. "That doesn't mean I'm not still pissed at you."

Melody flinched, quickly looking away. "Yeah, I figured you would be."

The silence returned, standing between them like a wall. Melody listened to the waves breaking against the pillars below, watching the rain make momentary ripples on the ocean before the swells disrupted them. The seconds started dragging by again, time stretching itself to an uncomfortable length.

Finally she could take no more. Melody closed her eyes and took a deep breath, leaning her head back against the marble. "I'm sorry for what I said to you, Lara. And the way I've treated you. Like I said, it wasn't fair. Not after everything you've done to protect me."

Melody let out a short sigh in solemn acceptance at another bout of Lara's silence. One apology was not going to miraculously make everything okay. There was a month's worth of frosty days between them. It was going to take a lot more than a couple words to make up for–.

"I'm sorry, too."

Melody's eyes snapped open.

"About what I said to you," said Lara. "And punching you. Twice."

She turned to see Lara looking at her. A small apologetic and characteristically lopsided smile adorned her face.

"But…" Lara stood up and moved away. "If you really want to apologize there's something you need to do."

Melody rose to her feet. "What is it?"

Lara turned to face her. "Punch me."

Melody's eyes widened, needing a moment before she could speak again. "Pun–wait, what?"

"I want you to punch me," repeated Lara, tapping the side of her face. "Hard as you can. Right here."

"What!? Why!?" exclaimed Melody.

"Because I punched you twice." Lara looked closer at Melody's cheeks and winced. "Yikes! I really punched you!"

"And that makes it okay for me to hit you back?"

"Fair's fair."

"You don't have to do this! I forgive you!"

"I'm not gonna forgive myself until you do it!" Lara shuffled about anxiously. "Or accept your apology! So, come on!"

Melody opened and closed her mouth, trying to think of something to say. Was this some sort of joke? Was Lara purposefully trying to shock her? She did not sound like she was joking. And that brief apology sounded sincere. As did that look on her face. She really wanted Melody to hit her.

"You're serious?"

"I know it sounds weird, but I'm not gonna feel right about any of this until you hit me at least once!"

Melody swallowed nervously. "And you're not going to hit back?"

"No."

"If I do this we're even?"

"We're at square one," said Lara, sounding more urgent than anxious. She closed her eyes and stood still. "Now come on while I've still got my nerve!"

Melody was still not sure she should do this, much less be considering it. She was not a violent person, and she had never actually hit someone. Not on purpose at least. She instinctively did not want to hurt people. But if this was what it took to set things right with Lara…

She walked up to Lara, stopping at what she thought was an appropriate distance. "Okay. Here it goes…"

She pulled her right arm back, trying to imitate Lara as best she could. She clenched her hand into a tight fist, glad she did not grow her nails terribly long.

She was about to swing when Lara opened one eye. "Wait!"

Melody stopped mid-strike. "What? You said to punch you!"

"I didn't say break your thumb, too!" She took Melody's fist and pulled her thumb from under her fingers, rewrapping it around the outside. "Okay, try again. And don't hold anything back! Give it all you–!"

WHAM!

Melody chose to go for it while she still had her own nerve. She pulled her fist back and punched Lara in her cheek as hard as she could. Considering how much swimming she had done over the years it was not nearly as weak as either woman thought she could hit. A jolt traveled through Melody's arm to her shoulder as her knuckles mashed into bone. Lara staggered back and tripped, landing hard on her behind as the right side of her face turned beet red.

Melody learned three very important things in that moment. She learned how to make a proper fist. She learned how to punch someone.

"AAAAAOOOOOWWWWW!"

And she learned that punching people really, really hurts.

Melody clutched her throbbing hand as she yelled. She could feel intense throbbing pain from her knuckles to her wrist. It was unbelievable how much it hurt. She broke her hand. She must have broken it. The bones must have shattered like porcelain. There was no other reason for it to hurt this much.

"Ow! Ow! Ow! Ow!" She sunk to her knees, trying hard not to cry despite already doing so. "Holy red sea monkeys! That freakin' hurts! Aaaaaaah!" She snapped her face to Lara. "You didn't say it would hurt so much!"

"It's my face, not a pillow! What did you think it was gonna feel like!?" shouted back Lara, rubbing her cheek tenderly. She looked genuinely surprised and a bit dazed. "Haven't you ever punched someone before!?"

"No! I'm a princess, not a boxer!"

"Well you hit like one! Why are we still shouting!?"

"I don't know!"

"Is your hand all right!?"

"No! I think I broke it on your stupid…your stupid…gmph…"

Melody tried to keep herself from laughing, but it started on its own. She made a choked snorting sound, the corners of her mouth starting to pull into a smile on their own despite her aching cheeks. Lara was not faring any better, covering her mouth as she tried to stop herself from giggling. It only made Melody want to laugh harder, which made Lara want to laugh, the two feeding off each other's humor.

"Your…stupid…!" Melody knew she was about to lose it. "Stupid…face!"

That did it. The two fell over laughing in hysterics. The whole thing was just too ridiculous to keep a straight face anymore. Moments ago, they were spilling out heartfelt confessions and apologies. Now Melody's hand felt like a bag of splintered bones because Lara told her to punch her as hard as she could so it would make things even between them. Melody laughed the hardest she had in months, her sides aching as much as her face as she cracked up. Lara was no better, holding herself as she rolled about.

"You–ha ha ha!–you broke your hand–ha ha!–on my face!" gasped out Lara, pounding the granite floor. "I'm sorry! Ha ha! I shouldn't *snort* be laughing! Ha ha ha!"

"You should–ha ha ha!–you should be sorry!" said Melody, tears of mirth and pain spilling out of her eyes. "You–ha ha!–you have any idea…how much this hurts!?"

"Probably less…than my face! Ha ha!"

"Ha ha! How…how do you–ha ha ha!–how do you hit people when…when it hurts…this much!?"

"A lot…a lot of practice! But–ha!–but at least…at least you didn't do…what I did the first time!"

Melody wiped a tear out of her eye. "What's that?"

Lara held up her hand, making a fist with her fingers wrapped around her thumb. Just like Melody almost had.

They descended back into hysterics, their laughter carrying out through the rain and over the water. They kept going until their gaiety faded into giggles and then nothing, leaving the two of them lying on their backs gasping for air, staring up at the sea glass ceiling with idiotic smiles on their faces.

Melody felt different. She had not laughed that hard or long since her tragic birthday. She felt lighter somehow, as though her body was less dense. A part of herself slid back into place. The pains were still there, and so were the fears and doubts. But a hole that had been left vacant was now filled, or was at least in the process of doing so. She breathed in, not remembering if she had always been able to breathe this deep or if it had just been so long since she did. She felt better than she had in a while. She forgot how good it felt to laugh like this, not caring why she did it or who heard her.

"Are you okay, though?" asked Lara, wiping an arm across her brow. "Your hand? Is it really broken?"

Melody raised it in front of her, wriggling her fingers. The pain was still enough to make her cringe, but it felt sore more than anything. Her pointer and index knuckles were red and swollen, but she did not feel like anything was cracked.

"I think it's okay," said Melody. "Just really painful."

"That's good. I'd hate to tell Ariel I made you break your hand."

Melody shook her hand, as though trying to flick the pain off. "Your face is hard."

Lara chuckled. "So is your hand. I guess mermaids are stronger than they look."

Melody bolted to her hands and knees, her mirth immediately gone as she spun to Lara. Did she just say what she thought she said? Lara craned her head back to look at her, still grinning slightly. Any thought Melody had about denying or lying was blown away with that one look. Lara was not guessing. She knew. She had no idea how, but Lara knew her family's secret.

"Your mom took Tempest to find me," said Lara, rolling herself over before pushing up to a kneeling position. "It's a good thing she did too. I wasn't thinking straight and went out on a rock in the water. I fell in and she fished me out. The water was rough from the storm, so she had to use that ring your grandfather gave her."

Melody's lips parted, shocked by the revelation. If she had any reasons to doubt, they were washed away. "She told you."

"I won't tell anyone, if that's what you're worried about." Lara drew her fingers across her lips as though zipping them shut. Was Melody seeing things, or did Lara's face look like she had not been hit at all? "You've got my word."

"How much did mom tell you?" asked Melody, easing back into a sitting position.

"We had a while to ride back, so she filled me in on a lot. She told me about her deal with Ursula. And about the sea wall and Morgana. And about Atlantica and her dad. I thought you were all hiding something from me. I just didn't know it was…" Lara's cheeks puffed as she blew a long exhale, running a hand through her salt-crusted hair. "I'm still wrapping my head around it all, to be honest."

Melody found herself at a total loss for words. Ariel told her the truth. Not just the truth, but all of it. Lara knew their secrets now. She knew not just about the merpeople, but the events that brought the worlds above and below the waves together. In a way it was a relief they would not have to keep this hidden anymore. But at the same time, it was disconcerting, especially considering how much effort had gone into keeping that information from Lara. Was this really okay?

A thought occurred to Melody. "You said you were on a rock? And mom had to rescue you?"

Lara shifted nervously. "I, uh…sort of fell off."

"You fell off a rock, so she had to save you?"

"It was blowing hard, okay!" said Lara a bit testily. "And the water was deep!"

"Why didn't you just swim for shore?"

Melody expected some sort of snappy sarcastic reply. Instead she got a very sheepish look from Lara, shoulders hunched up embarrassedly as she looked away. Her fingers fidgeted with each other in her lap as a tinge of color crept into her cheeks.

Suddenly another, and more improbable thought came to Melody. "Lara…can you swim?"

Lara's cheeks turned bright red, her fingers now fussing furiously. She muttered something under her breath too quiet for Melody to make out.

"What?" Melody moved in closer. Lara mumbled a little louder, but it still came out unintelligible. "Lara, speak up. I can barely–."

"I can't swim!" shouted Lara.

Melody's eyes widened. "You…can't swim?"

Lara's cheeks turned sunburn red as she quickly nodded.

Melody could not stop herself from laughing again. She fell onto her side in a fit of giggles. The idea that Lara, someone who could knock out a seaclops with one kick and fight an entire pirate crew bare handed, could not do something as simple as swimming was too absurd not to be funny.

Lara scowled at the princess, wishing bleak thoughts upon her. Melody tried to stop herself, but only turned her laughing into a loud and rude snort. It just made her laugh harder.

Lara shot to her feet. "You think that's funny!?"

"No!" said Melody despite the traitorous smile on her face. "I'm *pfft* I'm sorry!"

"I almost drowned and you're cracking up! You want me to hit you again!?"

"No, no! I'm sorry, Lara! I'm sorry!" Melody took a deep breath, a lingering giggle almost escaping till she caught it with her hand. She pushed herself upright, getting to her feet as well. "It's just…swimming? That's the one thing you can't do?"

Lara folded her arms. "What do you mean the one thing I can't do?"

"You're faster, stronger, and tougher than any person I've ever seen," said Melody. "You're good enough with a sword to fight off monsters. I've seen you do handstands on my balcony rail. That, and you always hear and see things the rest of us miss."

"What's your point?" asked Lara.

"You don't seem to have any limits," said Melody. "Like there's nothing you can't do. You're…super-human."

Lara's expression and body relaxed. "There's a lot of things I can't do, princess. Swimming's just one of them. I've got my limits like everyone else. I might be strong, and fast, and tough, and handy with a sword and my fists. But I can bleed, bruise, and fall down. Keep me underwater long enough and I'll drown, too. Unless your mom is around, that is." Lara winced and coughed. "Sorry. Still got seawater in there."

Melody had to take a moment to look Lara over. For the last month all she thought when she saw her was how much she wanted her gone, or how abnormal she was in her appearance and behaviors. She was not like her, or any of them. She was like a separate species of human. Her body was an anomaly of nature, somehow endowed with capabilities men would envy. She was untouchable, invulnerable, and insurmountable, standing far above the masses of mere mortals for her golden eyes to look down upon.

Now Melody did not see that. She saw a woman barely a year older than herself, her damp clothes and brunette hair laced with salt. Suddenly Lara was no demigod but made of the same flesh and blood as herself. Subject to the same pains and wounds in body and heart as she was. She got hungry, and cold, and hurt, and happy, and sad, and all the things that made humans what they were. Not separate from humanity, but a distinct part of the whole. She was human.

Lara coughed one more time, wiping her mouth on the back of her hand. "What? Is something on my face?"

Melody shook her head. "Sorry. It's nothing."

Lara's eyes went to Melody's hand. "Is that yours? The thing that makes you a mermaid?"

Melody opened her hand to reveal the golden shell. "Only when I'm in the water. And I have to be wearing…

Her voice trailed off as she saw the broken chain. Her heart fell slightly, remembering why it was broken in the first place. Lara might have been the one who did it, but she pushed her to it.

Lara winced at her expression. "Ah. Sorry about that, too."

Melody smiled sadly. "It's all right. I'll just have to get the chain repaired."

Lara bit the corner of her lip lightly. "Maybe not…"

Melody's brow furrowed in confusion. "What do you mean? It's definitely broken."

Lara walked over to her, taking the ends of the chain in her fingertips to examine. "Hmmm…yeah, it's just a missing link. Hold it there."

"What are you going to do?" asked Melody.

"Your mom trusted me with your family's secret. I trusted her with one of mine, and now I'll trust you with it. Just…try not to freak out. And don't jerk away or it won't work."

Melody was feeling more nervous as she watched Lara lay the ends of the chain next to each other in one palm. Carefully she placed her other hand over it, interlacing her fingers securely. She closed her eyes, her face tightening in concentration.

"Diffingo."

Melody almost shrieked when small tongues of white flame leaked between Lara's hands, but she did not jerk away. The flames continued for only a few seconds, but in that time she was completely awestruck. The flames were without heat and gave only the palest light, yet Lara gave no sign they were hurting her. Then they went out, leaving neither smoke nor spark in the air.

Lara opened her eyes and then her hands, backing a step from Melody. The gold chain was restored into a single continuous loop once more. Melody shakily brought the chain close to her eyes. It was really fixed. The tiny links were connected in an unbroken strand, bearing no scar of the break they had suffered. She looked to Lara, who was watching her with an uncharacteristically worried expression.

"Was that…magic?" asked Melody.

Lara nodded, chewing her lip piercing with obvious nervousness.

"You can use magic?"

"Ta-da," said Lara meekly.

Melody took half a step back from her. "But the crystals! You said…you said you're not a witch!"

Lara scowled. "Don't call me a witch! I hate that word! I don't do pointy hats, black cats, cauldrons, or broomsticks! Or tentacles! Or go around stealing voices! I'm a sorceress! Sor-cer-ess!"

Melody held the necklace up, giving a little jerk to make it dance. The chain felt strong and secure. It was completely fixed. She slowly put it around her neck, unsure if all Lara did was fix it. The only thing it did was hang without malicious intent.

"Would you please say something already?" asked Lara. "You're making me nervous."

"I just…" Melody started pacing back and forth, trying to wrap her head around what she just saw. Lara followed her back and forth with her eyes, patiently but anxiously waiting for her to speak. Melody was trying to think of something to say, but she could only think of one thing.

"You have magic!" Melody blurted out. "Why didn't you say anything!?"

"Because I didn't think it was a good idea," said Lara.

"A good idea? Lara, you have magic! How is that not the first thing you tell someone!?"

"I might tell you if you don't shout at me!"

Melody realized she had indeed been shouting. "Sorry."

"I didn't say anything because I didn't want mobs and pitchforks coming after me," said Lara. "And since your enemies are witches, I figured your dad might want me burned at the stake or something."

Melody's eyes widened. Not at the prospect, but because Lara was dead serious when she said it. She sounded as though someone had tried. Or she had seen it happen.

Lara started walking for the stairs. "I'll give you some time."

Melody did not let her get more than three paces before she darted in front of her. "Lara, wait! Look, I'm sorry if I'm shocked by this! I wasn't expecting it, that's all! I mean, it's…it's…!"

Lara's face darkened. "Like Morgana?"

Slap!

Melody was not sure what came over her, but hearing Lara say that angered her more than it should have. She just wanted to smack those thoughts right out of her, so she did. Lara's head whipped to the side with how hard she hit.

"Don't say that!" shouted Melody. "Don't say that ever again! You're nothing like Morgana! She's a monster! She's evil! If anyone's a witch, it's her! Not you! So don't ever compare yourself to her ever again! You hear me!?"

Lara rubbed her cheek, eyes wide with shock and confusion and a red handprint on her face as she turned back. "Melody…?"

"She's right, Lara."

Melody startled at her father's voice, as did Lara. They both looked to see Eric and Ariel walking down the stairs to the pavilion, pulling down the hoods of their rain cloaks. Ariel had changed into dry clothes, her ring hanging by a woven cord around her neck.

"Mom!" Melody darted up the stairs to Ariel, hugging her tight. "Are you okay? Lara said you had to save her from drowning!"

"I'm fine," said Ariel. "What about you?"

"I'm okay," said Melody. "Actually…yeah. I'm okay. More than I've been in a while, actually."

Ariel smiled at her. "Glad to hear." She frowned when she saw her cheeks. "Those look bad."

Melody shook her head. "I'll be fine."

"Ariel told me what happened, Lara," said Eric as he walked over to her. "About your slip on the rock. And how you protected her from the wave."

Lara took a step back. Melody saw her start reaching for her sword, only to stop when she remembered it was not on her. Come to think of it, where was Lara's sword? She left with it earlier, so where did it go?

"And…?" asked Lara, defensive in her tone.

"If you want my opinion, have Ariel and Melody repeat theirs." Eric stepped in front of her. "You're right that not everyone accepts magic, Lara. And I don't doubt there are kingdoms where just having it is a crime no matter what. Seahavenis not one of those places. And so long as we're here, it never will be. We won't allow prejudices against anyone for any reason, and that includes magic."

He looked back to Melody and her mother. "If there's one thing I've learned from them, it's that magic is what people make of it. Whether it's used for good or evil falls to the user. And you, Lara, are as far from Morgana and Ursula as anyone could be. If it wasn't for your magic, Ariel could've been killed out there."

Melody looked to Ariel, suddenly worried. "Mom, what's dad talking about? Lara said you rescued her from drowning, but she didn't say anything about you almost dying!"

"After I got Lara to shore, a rogue wave came in," said Ariel. "I didn't have my legs so I couldn't run, and I couldn't leave Lara behind. Luckily, she woke up and used her magic to protect us. If it wasn't for her, we would've been crushed."

Melody turned to Lara. "You did that? You saved mom?"

Lara frowned slightly with guilt. "If I hadn't gone out on that rock, she never would've been in danger in the first place."

"Regardless, neither of you might be here if you hadn't acted," said Eric. "That's three times now you've protected my family. Hopefully it will be the last time, too. But, if it happens again, I'd prefer you protect them with your full abilities."

Lara's eyes widened. "Wait, what are you…?"

Eric stood tall, chin elevated and arms folded behind his back as though he were preparing to address a crowd. "Lara Anclagon."

The authority and tone in Eric's voice cause Lara to stand at attention. She had not even thought about it. Her body just moved on its own. How did Eric do that?

Eric took a step towards her. "In keeping with your duties as Melody's protector, from this moment onward you are free to use your magic as you wish. All I ask is you do so with responsibility, and the same selfless and commendable spirit you've shown us already." Eric held out his hand to her. "And if anyone treats you any less for it, they can answer to Ariel and myself. You have my word on that."

Melody had never seen anyone look as thunderstruck as Lara did right then. Her mouth hung open as wide as her eyes, trying to speak but failing completely. She looked to Melody, eyes pleading for direction for what she should do much less say next.

"Go on!" mouthed Melody, gesturing for her to take Eric's hand.

Lara closed her mouth and swallowed. Slowly she reached out and took Eric's hand, as though afraid he might turn into smoke and this whole thing was an illusion. "I…I don't know what to say."

"Just thank you will do," said Eric as he released her hand. "Although, I wouldn't mind hearing this 'story' you promised Ariel."

Lara grinned in her lopsided way. "That I can do! That I can definitely–!"

A bolt of lightning dropped nearby, causing everyone to jump at the deafening crack and flash of light. The sound hit them as a physical force. Melody clutched Ariel tight, yelping with fright at how loud and close the bolt had been. Eric and Lara ducked low, clutching their ears at the noise.

"Uh…can I make a suggestion?" said Lara. "How about I tell my story inside?"


The raven watched from afar, shielded from the rain by a tree branch. He followed the four as they hurriedly trotted up the steps to the castle, eager to get out of the rain and the potential electrical bolts waiting to strike from above.

"Better," said the raven, the corners of his beak turning up in a smile. "Much better, Lara." His smile fell away. "But not enough. Not if it takes tidal waves to get you to open up."

He turned his attention towards the sea. His thoughts stretched out over the shore. He kept reaching until he felt them–two presences, courageous when it counted yet otherwise cowardly. They were far from Seahaven and anyone who could eavesdrop. He spread his wings and took off, the rain hissing against his feathers as he flew through the storm.


A/N: The storm is breaking. Amidst the pain reconciliation and realization are found, as well as understanding Lara has scarcely dared to hope for. Events are approaching a turn for Seahaven. But the darkness does not sit idle. And not all paths in the light are free of misery and loss.

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 =)