Chapter 44: Secret of the Flames

The spyglass creaked and groaned in Remora's hands as she clenched it. Her teeth ground audibly in her ears over the roar of the gunship's batteries firing. Thin arcs of electricity jumped from her to the ship intermittently. Her body was taught like an overwound spring.

Remora thought she could be no angrier than when she saw Lara alive and well at the Tournament of Champions. She was proven wrong when the Master commanded her to take no action against her at the Glowerhaven ball. Now she was proven wrong yet again as she watched Undertow punch, kick, and smash the living daylights out of Lara.

The glass of her spyglass developed cracks along the rim as she watched Undertow slam Lara against the wharf and then stomp on her. Twice his foot came down like a sledgehammer on Lara's chest, causing her whole body to jerk. The third time his foot stayed down, trying to crush her flat. Lara swung at his leg with her sword, but his armor protected him. He brought his other foot up and pinned her arm down.

She peered sideways at the Master. He had not moved an inch from the prow since the barrage started, but Remora did not believe for an instant that he had become so absorbed by it that he forgot about her. No doubt he was aware of her watching him even with his back to her. That, and her acute hatred of him. If she tried anything, he would retaliate before she could lay a finger on him.

She returned her gaze to the wharf. She was not sure who she wanted to kill more right then–Lara, Undertow, or him.


Melody would have averted her eyes like Alana and Andrina were it not for the clockman's sword against her neck. None of them had been able to look away. They were either shocked into silence or pleading for Undertow to stop. Ariel was crying as she begged for Morgana to show mercy, but all the sea witch did was ignore her and urged Undertow on. She grinned as she watched Undertow press down on Lara with his foot, fingers drumming on a block of ice containing the shell with her stolen voice. Triton was too engaged with Ursula to take notice. Even if he did, Melody doubted he would help.

The shark-man laughed as he twisted his heel, causing Lara's agony to double. "What's that?" he asked, pretending to cup a hand to his non-existent ear. "You want me to stop? Speak up, then. I can't hear you." He cackled and pressed harder, causing Lara to claw at his armored foot with her free hand.

"Not so tough now, are you?" said Undertow, leaning onto her. "Face it! Without your magic, you're nothing but a little human worm! A bit tougher than the average one, but still a worm!"

He stepped off Lara and grabbed her head, lifting her up with ease. Before she could even strike, he released her and spun in place, striking her with the back of his forearm. There was a heavy wet smack as Lara was sent tumbling down the dock, stopping in a heap. She lay there for several seconds and then, slowly and painfully but steadily, started to get back up.

"Stop it!" shouted Melody as Undertow stalked after his quarry. "Morgana, please stop!"

Morgana sneered from atop her icy tower. "Why would I do that?"

"He's killing her!"

The witch's sneer became a cruel smile. "That's the whole idea, sweetheart!"

It had been a horrid thing to watch, this so-called "battle" between Lara and Undertow. She was completely overwhelmed from the beginning. Without access to her magic and the venoms crippling her body, Undertow had an obscene advantage. With his new body and strength, he beat on her like a child beats on a new toy drum. He only had a few cuts to show for their struggle. Lara, by comparison, looked like she had been tossed into a sawmill. Her clothes were tatters coated with splinters, dust, and no shortage of her own blood. Long gashes were torn into her everywhere. Her arms and legs were shaking so hard it was remarkable she was able to move much less hold onto her own sword. Her right eye was closed because of the blood running into it from her forehead and the swelling of her face. She spat crimson, keeping her good eye fixed on Undertow.

Lara grit her teeth as she got to her feet. She had not been beaten this badly since her ill-fated challenge against the Hive Queen. With the poison coursing through her system and no ability to use a spell to negate it, she was fighting a criminally unfair uphill battle. She felt so slow and weak. Her natural healing ability had been able to keep up with the damage Undertow dished out at first, but now it was struggling to overcome the severity and frequency of the wounds being inflicted on her. Panic and very real fear were eroding at what was left of her senses. She was in real danger of being killed unless something drastic and miraculous happened.

"So, this is all you've got," sneered Undertow, his face brimming with smugness. "This is the Lara Anclagon I kept hearing about? Venom aside, I expected a lot more from you. What a puny, boring disappointment. But tell you what? If you get on your knees and beg for mercy, I'll at least make your death quick. One bite and you'll be finished."

Lara shakily lifted her sword with one hand, using the other to give a 'come here' motion. She managed a shaky half-grin and then stuck her tongue out at him. The message was clear. She would not give him the satisfaction of seeing her plead for anything.

Undertow's smugness turned into a snarl. "If that's how you want it…!"

He rushed her again, drawing one giant hand back. Lara rolled aside as his fist smashed through where she was standing. Then, mustering what strength she still had, she righted and lunged to stab his stomach.

Too slow. Undertow's leg whipped around in a spinning back kick, driving his heel into her. Lara lost her breath and her last ribs before she was sent bouncing over the dock. Undertow ran after her with surprising agility, catching Lara as she skidded and then kicking her into a pylon. Lara hit it flat and bounced off, laying prone on the dock.

"Please!" begged Melody as Lara tried to push herself up, Undertow already advancing on her. "I'll do anything!"

Lara looked up at her. "Melody, don't!" she mouthed, forgetting her voice was gone.

Morgana raised her hand. "Undertow, stop."

The humanoid shark stopped mid-stride, turning to face her. "Huh? Why?"

"Because I said so, that's why!" snapped Morgana. She looked back to Melody. "So, you'll do anything to save your little friend here?"

Melody nodded.

"Anything at all?"

"Yes…anything you want!" said Melody. "Just don't hurt Lara any more! Please"

"Melody, you can't!" exclaimed Ariel. "Morgana, don't you tou–!" The clockman holding Ariel tightened its hold, cutting her off.

Morgana studied Melody, cold blue eyes scrutinizing her face. Steps of ice formed from her platform as she descended to the dock. The clockmen parted, forming a path for her to the princesses. "Well now! Isn't that very brave of you? You're just in luck!"

She gestured to the clockman holding Melody. Obediently it dragged her over, forcing her to her knees in front of Morgana.

Lara got to her feet but stumbled, falling to one knee. Her body was thrashed even more now. It was no longer healing anything. Not even the splinters in her skin were being addressed. She had nothing left to use.

"Melody!" Adella shouted as she tried to wiggle free, tears streaming down her cheeks. "Melody, no!"

"There is something I want from you," said Morgana, one tentacle lifting to brush a loose strand of hair behind Melody's ear. She shivered at the ice-cold touch.

"Don't do it!" said Attina. "She'll kill you!"

Melody swallowed. She knew Morgana would kill her. She could see it in her eyes. But what else could she do? She did not have magic. She did not know how to fight. She did not have a trident or magic sword, or any other weapon. All she had was her life. If there was even the slimmest chance she could save Lara with it, she had to try. She had to do something. "If you want my life, it's yours! Just please…let Lara go!"

Morgana smirked as she traced a finger along Melody's jawline. "Oh, you poor sweet child! I don't want to kill you!"

Melody's eyes widened. "Wha–urk!"

Morgana seized Melody by the throat with her hand, ripping her out of the clockman's clutches and off her feet with ease. She brought Melody close to her face, those ice blue eyes boring into hers with a malice Melody did not know was possible.

"I need to kill you!" hissed Morgana. She threw Melody down, tentacles seizing and wrapping around her like snakes. "I need you dead more than a fish needs water! But first I want you to watch her die! Undertow, crush that witch to pieces!"

At once Undertow charged at Lara as fast as he could. Lara set her stance, preparing to meet him head on.

"No!" screamed Melody. "No!"

"You're mine, shrimp!" shouted Undertow. He swung at Lara and she ducked. His tail came around to get her, but she threw herself over it, lashing out with her sword into his chest. The blade scraped against the metal, throwing sparks. Undertow spun back around and drove his elbow into Lara's back. The boards of the dock shattered as she slammed into them. It was unclear if the crunching noise was from the wood or Lara's spine.

"Ha! Too easy!" Undertow grabbed Lara by the hair and pulled her up. Her mouth opened in a silent scream as she dangled there. She drew her sword back and swung, but Undertow caught her entire arm in one hand. He squeezed hard and Lara suddenly dropped her sword, face twisted up in agony. It landed with a clatter, and then was swept off the wharf by Undertow's tail. He released her arm, letting everyone see the unnatural way it dangled from her side. He licked his lips, black eyes filling with hunger. "Let's hope you taste better than you fight!"

Melody struggled hard in Morgana's grip. She had to get free. She had to get to Lara. She was going to die if she did not act right now!

Morgana grinned as Undertow's mouth opened wide, metal teeth gleaming as he lunged for Lara's torso. "Say goodbye to your friend!"

"No!" screamed Melody. "Lara!"

Undertow bit into Lara, his jaws clamping around her torso like a bear trap. He released her hair and shook her back and forth like a dog with a cloth toy. She would have screamed if she had her voice. The princesses and Ariel more than made up for her. Undertow kept going until Lara stopped struggling, hanging limp in his mouth.

Melody forgot how to breathe. Her heart forgot how to beat. Her brain forgot how to think. She was not seeing the burning ships around them, or Ursula's mutants hunting down the people trapped in the Marina. She did not hear her mother and aunts screaming Lara's name again and again. She just saw Lara–her protector, her friend, her sister in all but blood–hanging bloodied from the shark's mouth. Her mouth moved as she tried to find her own voice, and when she did, a single scream of despair, horror, and sorrow burst forth.

"LAAARRAAA!"

Undertow took Lara's legs in one hand and pulled her from of his mouth, holding her like a dead rabbit. "Eugh! This one tastes awful!"

"Make sure you don't swallow, Undertow," called Morgana. "Don't want any of the poison in you."

Undertow licked his lips and spat. "No worries there! You couldn't pay me to eat this trash!" He turned towards the land and threw Lara. She sailed through the air and hit a stack of barrels, glancing off them. She lay still on the dock, her life seeping out to drip onto the ice below.

"Disgusting," muttered Undertow, wiping his mouth on the back of one large hand.

Morgana released Melody. "I suppose you'll want to say goodbye. Better hurry. She doesn't have long."

Melody ran. She ran as fast and hard as she ever had. She tripped and stumbled once, skinning her hands and knees, but she did not stop. She ran right past Undertow, not giving him a glance when Morgana had to yell at him to keep him from swatting her. She did not hear him complaining that he needed something to get the taste out of his mouth, or Morgana's sharp retort that she wanted the princess to see her friend die up close. She just ran.

"Lara!" Melody dropped to her knees beside Lara, pulling her head into her lap. "Lara! Lara!"

Lara was outright mutilated. Enormous punctures ran in an arc from her shoulder to her hip, crossing through her chest. Blood left her with alarming speed, darkening Melody's blue dress as her skin began to pale. Her golden yellow eyes stared blankly into space, the light gone from them.

"No! Oh, please! No, no, no, no, no!" Melody pulled her up, cradling her in her arms as she started rocking. "You can't be dead! Lara, you can't! You can't! Not you!"

She looked around at the sound of an explosion. She looked up to see the metal gunship's enormous cannons blow a pair of frigates to nothing. A flash came as Triton blew away one of Ursula's lightning bolts with his own. Morgana was laughing as she returned to her tower of ice. Undertow eyeing a dead man's body hungrily. The clockmen stood at attention behind her mother and aunts, awaiting orders to attack.

Melody was scared to death. More scared than she had ever been in her life. Even more scared than when William died. More scared than when the pirates almost shot her. More scared than when the skinner tried to kill her. More scared than when she saw the clockman at the ball. Scared from the devastation around her, and because of who she was about to lose. For six months she and Lara rebuilt their relationship from scratch. For six months they shared everything they had. Every dream, every fear, every desire, every joy, and every sorrow. She let Lara into her world, and now she was a part of it. And for six months, Melody actually felt safe. Felt that as long as Lara was beside her, she would never come to harm. That as long as she believed it, Lara could strike down the fiercest storms and largest armies. Now, with Lara dying in her arms as the marina went up in flames, Melody felt so small and vulnerable again. She craned her face down, resting her forehead against Lara's. The tears fell off her eyes onto her guardian's face.

"Please don't go!" Melody begged, her voice a choked whisper. "Please don't leave! We need you! I need you! I can't lose you! You promised you'd protect us, and you never break your promises! So that means you can't die! You have to wake up! You have to wake up, Lara! Please wake up!"


Lara was weightless in the black. She felt calm for some reason. Had she ever felt so perfectly at ease? Not that she could remember, and truth be told, she did not feel like trying to remember such a moment. It would be too much effort. She just felt like slipping away to nothing. That sounded nice. Floating in this quiet, relaxing emptiness until she disappeared.

"Lara…"

She opened her eyes. A distant point of pale light flickered in front of her, steadily growing brighter. She felt its call, gently pulling her towards it as though it had looped an invisible rope around her. The distance between them was gradually disappearing.

"Lara…"

Lara felt no urge to resist, allowing herself to be drawn in. The closer the light came, the more she felt herself drifting off. She closed her eyes again, sinking into the sensation like a hot bath. It was like the moment just before she fell asleep, when the line between reality and dreams blurs over. She could bask in that sensation forever.

"Lara…what are you doing?"

Something bright flashed over Lara's face, causing her to grimace as it assaulted her eyes even with them closed. She opened her eyes to see an orange light hovering in front of her face. She shielded her eyes against the radiance of it.

"Answer me, Lara," the light demanded in a deep rumbling voice. "What are you doing?"

Lara lowered her hand. "Who are you?"

"What are you doing?" the light repeated.

"I…I don't know. I just…I'm going to the light, I guess."

The light drifted close to her. "Turn back."

Lara shook her head. "I don't want to."

The light flickered. "That was not a request. Turn back. It is not your time to leave yet."

Lara frowned and brushed the light aside. "Leave me alone, who or whatever you are. I'm going."

The light zipped in front of her. "If you will not turn back of your own volition, I will force you to."

Lara snorted dismissively. "Yeah? You and what army?"

The light flashed. Suddenly a tremendous force struck Lara. It sent her flying off into the dark. The distant pale light grew smaller and smaller as it shrunk away, and then it vanished. The pull of the light rapidly weakened and then broke. Lara continued to fly until she hit something hard and flat with her back. It should have hurt, but all she felt was force. There was no pain.

The orange light appeared in front of her. "On your feet, magus!" it barked, flaring with each word. "You cannot tarry here!"

Lara frowned as she stared down the light. "Why does an overgrown flash bug like you care what I do?"

A growl emanated from the light. "Because right now your charges are in danger! Can you not hear that? Or have you lost your sense of sound along with your resolve?"

Lara sat up. "Hear what? There's nothing in here!"

"Because you are not listening! How can her words not reach you? She is calling for you with all she has!"

Lara listened, straining her ears. She heard nothing in the black save her own breathing and a low hum coming from the orange light. It was quieter than the heart of the Devil's Steppe in this place.

"…Lara!"

Lara perked immediately. She definitely heard that voice. A woman's voice. A scared voice. It was faint and far, but unmistakably there.

"Lara…!" the voice called again. "Come back…!"

"Wait…I know her!" Lara stood up. "That's…!"

"Lara! You have to wake up!" the voice called, now as if its owner were standing right before Lara. She could hear the distress and pleading in it. "I'm begging you! Wake up!"

"Melody!" Lara ran past the light, looking all around her. "Mel, I'm here! Where are you? Mel!"

"She is not here," said the light as it floated to her side.

Lara whipped her head to the light. "Then where is she!?"

"Remember! Remember how you came here! Where is your body?"

"What are you talking about!? It's right here! And who are you!? What is this–!?"

It came back to Lara in a rush. She was going to the marina with Melody. They were going to meet Ariel and her sisters. The king of Atlantica was coming to take Arista home to have her baby. She saw Poseidon in front of her, with that infernal trident in his hand. She remembered what he did. What he took from her. She fought him. Then Morgana, Ursula, and that giant gunship appeared. They attacked the marina. More of those metal men crawled out of the sea. They captured the princesses. Mutated creatures started attacking the marina next. Then that giant shark man came at her. Undertow–that was his name. She was going to fry him, but then Morgana stole her voice with that shell. She could not use her magic. She was poisoned. The shark man beat her again and again till she was weakened, and then…

Lara's eyes widened as her breath hitched. She remembered the pain as metal teeth tore into flesh and bone. Remembered bouncing down the wharf bloody and broken as he tossed her aside. She looked down and saw a row of ragged bleeding teeth marks across her body. She placed a hand over her neck, feeling the pulse running through it. It was weak and thrumming, her heart struggling to pump what blood remained in her. Her skin felt cold.

Her hand shakily fell to her side. "I'm…dying?"

"Yes," answered the light. "You are still alive, but not for long. It is not only your life that will be extinguished either. Once you die, there will be no one to protect Melody and her family. They will share your fate. Eventually, so will Seahaven, and then the Alliance and beyond will follow in you into the Otherworld. Such is your fates."

Lara felt her insides violently twist into a knot at the thought of such a thing coming to pass. "No! They can't!"

"There is nothing you can do," said the light. "It is too late. Their deaths are inevitable."

"Bull!" shouted Lara. "There's gotta be something I can do! I can't let them die! I won't!"

The light flew up to Lara's face. "There is one thing. But you will not do it."

"I'll decide that!" Lara snapped back, clenching her fists tight. "Just tell me what! I don't care what it is! If I can save them, I'll do it!"

"Then use it."

Lara froze. She needed no translation nor clarification from the light on what 'it'was. There was only one possible thing itcould be. It was that magic. The magic that forced her to leave the eastern kingdoms. The magic that earned her the accursed name of Kaida Blackjaw. The same magic that…

"Wh-what?" she stammered, taking a step back.

"You know what," said the light. "Use that and fight."

Lara stepped back again. "No! Not after…I can't! I swore I'd never use it again! I swore on Yumi's life! On all their lives!"

"You said you would save them, no matter what it took. Were you lying?"

"No! I wasn't! But…not with that!" said Lara, desperation creeping into her voice. "There has to be another way!"

"There is no other way!" shouted the light. It swelled abruptly, causing Lara to fall backwards. "That magic is the only way you or any of them survive this! Yet you would rather leave the princess and her family to their deaths so you can continue running from your past? After you gave your word to protect them? Your cowardice borders on betrayal!"

"Lara!" Melody's voice was much clearer now. She sounded so scared. "Please come back! Don't leave us! I don't want you to die!"

"You swore you would protect her!" continued the light. "That you would protect all of them! You gave the king your word! Are you going to hide here and die while they are left to whatever terrors those witches have planned for them!?"

Lara sweated, her face paling as she looked to the ground. A tremor crept into her body as her hands clenched and unclenched. She bit her lip, teeth threatening to draw blood. "I…I…!"

"You once told the princess you did not know if you could be who you want and who she needs to protect her," said the light. "The time for you to choose has come. Will you be who you want, even if it costs their lives? Or will you be what they need, even if they reject you for it?"

The tremors stopped. Lara clenched her fists tight and then released them. The light was right. She put this off for far too long. Not because she was afraid of the consequences, but because she was afraid of confronting the evils she had committed. Because she thought she could outrun them if she went far and fast enough. And she ran farther than she thought possible. She ran clear across the Devil's Steppe to Seahaven, and then into the palace, and then into the closest thing she had to a family in over five years. But running would not help her now. There was nowhere left to go. Not without leaving Melody and everyone she cared about in this kingdom to their deaths. She had to do this. If she let Melody and everyone else to die because of her guilt for what happened in the eastern kingdoms, she would never be able to run far or fast enough to escape the guilt from the deaths she would permitting in this kingdom.

"Well?" said the light. "Which will you be?"

Lara got to her feet, looking unblinking at the light. "Both."

The orange light hovered silently in the air. Then a deep laugh came forth as it collapsed down to a small orb and turned a golden color, shining bright in the dark. Lara stared straight into it, not shielding her eyes against its luminescence.

"Then go!" declared the light. "Take your voice and return! Show these villains that you do not step aside for those who walk the path of evil! Your power is here! Reclaim it, and take the fight to them!"

Lara reached out and grabbed the golden light. Her fingers closed around it as a bright flash erupted forth, chasing away the darkness as everything became white.


Melody continued to sob as she held Lara. She could feel her heartbeat slowing as her life began to dwindle away. She grimaced as fresh tears flowed from her eyes, traveling down her nose to Lara's brow.

"Lara, don't die!" she shouted, equally pleading and commanding.

"Get your damn tentacles off me!"

"What the…!?"

Melody jerked her head up at Morgana's exclamation. The witch was standing over the ice block with the nautilus shell, which was now glowing with a fierce orange light. Steam rose off the block as the ice began to melt.

"This is mine!" shouted Lara's voice from the shell. "Give it back!"

Melody choked on her sobs. That voice was Lara's for sure. She looked down. Lara's eyes were still empty. Her breathing was slow and shallow, her skin now cold and pale. So how was she doing that?

"You! How are you doing this!?" yelled Morgana as she started refreezing the shell. "You're dying! You've got one foot in the grave!"

"I'm not dead yet, Morgana!" yelled Lara's voice. "And don't you dare underestimate me! Just because you snatched my voice…!"

The shell started to glow brighter, melting the ice even faster. Morgana clamped down on the ice block with her hands, clenching her jaw as she tried to keep it frozen. The shell kept getting hotter and hotter, outstripping her ability to cool it.

"Stop!" Morgana yelled. "Stop it now!"

"It doesn't…!"

The shell began to vibrate as the glow intensified. Morgana poured more magic into the ice, but it kept melting. Cracks began to race through it as the ice lost its battle.

"Belong…to…you!"

The shell's temperature surged as it caught fire, shattering the ice and ripping the block apart. Morgana shrieked as she was pushed backwards, shielding her face against ice and shell fragments. The golden orb of Lara's voice sped towards the bleeding woman and into her throat before vanishing. Slowly Lara blinked, her eyes looking around before settling on Melody.

A/N: "Evey Reborn" by Dario Marianelli OR "Who Watches the Heroes" by Really Slow Motion

"Mel…ody," she croaked weakly.

"Lara!" exclaimed Melody. "You're alive!"

"This…is living?" Lara chuckled and then coughed, spitting up red flecks. "Sorry…hurts…to laugh."

"I can fix that!" growled Undertow as he marched towards them. "This time I'll make sure you're dead!"

Lara reached behind her and pulled one of her knives out. She held it up before her, arm shaking with effort. "Close…your eyes."

Melody squeezed her eyes shut as Lara said, "Fulgo." The knife suddenly shone like a small sun, causing anyone with their eyes open to look away. Undertow took the brunt of it straight on. He fell back clutching his face, yelling as he thrashed about blindly.

Lara sagged back against Melody and coughed, the knife slipping from her hands and crumbling to dust. "Crud…really…dying…now…"

The dread returned to Melody. "Don't speak! You're bleeding bad!" She looked out to the ocean, cupping a hand to her mouth. "Grandfather! Grandfather, we need–!"

She stopped, feeling Lara's hand reach up and wrap around hers. She looked down to see Lara smile at her. "Don't…"

"Wha–Lara, you're dying!" exclaimed Melody. "If Grandfather doesn't heal you soon–!"

Lara held up a finger. "One…more…" Her voice slipped away to a whisper.

"What?" Melody leaned closer.

"One…more…secret…"

Melody drew her head back. "What secret?"

"You'll see…" Lara's face tensed up as a bout of pain wracked her. Then she slowly reached one of her hands into the air. "Re...de…o."

The fires stopped.

Every single flame, from the raging infernos on the buildings and ships to the smallest candles on the far side of Seahaven, froze in place as though time had stopped. They remained suspended for a moment, and then leapt into the air like birds startled from a field. Countless threads of flame rose through chimneys and wound their way out windows, doors, cracks, and crevices. They merged together to form ribbons, then streams, and then rivers flowing through the air towards Lara. The sky of Seahaven became a converging web of torrents of fire, coalescing into a great churning sphere above the marina.

Melody's eyes widened as the piercings on Lara's face began to glow a luminous orange. "Lara?"


Ursula and Triton halted their fight as they saw the gathering flames above the wharf. "What is going on!?" demanded Ursula. "Triton, what did you do!?"

"This isn't me!" said Triton. "It's that beast!"

"Oh. Well then…" Ursula suddenly swung two of her tentacles at him. "No reason to stop!"


The flame sphere above the marina absorbed the last of Seahaven's flames, hanging in the sky like a sun brought down to earth. Then it spiraled down as a current of shining lights, wrapping itself around Lara. Melody all but threw herself backwards as Lara became shrouded in the firelight, leaving the princess and everyone wide-eyed and awestruck as she floated in the air.

"What is this!? Someone tell me what's happening!" shouted Morgana. She pointed a cold finger at Ariel and her sisters. "You! She's your witch! What's she doing!? Tell me right now!"

"I…I don't know!" stammered Ariel.

"None of us do!" added Aquata. "She's never done this before!"

"Don't you lie to me!" snapped Morgana. "She's been with you for months! You must've seen this! That or you're all too stupid to remember!"

"You think we'd forget something like this, you empty-headed squid!?" snapped back Arista.


It was one of the most wonderful feelings Lara knew. She felt the fires joining with her, giving the energy of their light and heat to her. All that energy merged with her magic, stoking it like a flame. The sense of vitality and warmth spreading through her made her head swim and her body tingle, but she did not stop. Even when she had enough for that she kept going, taking in more and more. She felt like she would burst, and still she kept going. She would not be stingy. Not when her friends were in danger. Not with the enemy she had yet to face. She would take every speck of power she could get.

Melody stared in equal parts shock, confusion, and awe as she saw Lara's wounds start to close. Her spilled blood turned black and flaked off, crumbling into nothing. Color returned to Lara's skin. Her hair and eyebrows lost their brown color, becoming a vibrant blaze orange like metal pulled from the heart of a searing furnace. The pain was gone from her face, replaced with tranquility as she rose up into the air.

"Undertow!" shouted Morgana. "Kill her! Kill her now!"

Undertow shook his head, his eyes still squeezed shut. "You kill her! I can't see!"

"You useless…fine!" Morgana held out her hand, a spear of ice forming in it. "I have to do everything myself!"

She drew back and threw, hurling the spear straight at Lara like a frozen missile. It flew true, but then suddenly evaporated before it could reach her.

"What!?" exclaimed Morgana. She made another spear and threw. Again, the ice was reduced to vapor mid-flight. "What's going on!?"


From atop the palace, the raven's eyes flickered as he destroyed one ice spear after another. Such magic was child's play for him. The spears were hastily made, and as such were fragile creations when exposed to enchantments such as his.

"You meddling little rat! Die!" screamed Morgana as she started throwing a flurry of ice at Lara, trying to hit her. "Die! Die! Die!"

The raven smirked as he obliterated each one, enjoying the spectacle that was Morgana's frustration. "You will not interrupt this, sea witch."


"Just die!" shouted Morgana as she threw one final spear. It met the same fate as the others. Her chest heaved as she screamed, "Why won't you die!?"

Melody saw the piercings in Lara's face become brilliant threads of light that lifted off her face. They swam though the air to the middle of her back, forming two circles of bright light and then sending glowing lines radiating across her body. A series of particularly bright lines ran down her spine to her hips, forming a third circle at the base of her spine.

Suddenly orange light erupted from Lara's back and hips, causing Melody to shy back and shield her eyes. When the light faded enough for Melody to lower her hand, she saw three long lobes of light extending off Lara, two from between her shoulder blades and one from the seat of her pants. They were large and formless, like luminous unfolded clay. Then the lobes began to take shape. The edges of the ones from her back drew in along the top, constricting where they met her spine. The lower edges pinched in and retracted, forming a series of arcs. The one from her pants became conical, then started to slowly sway about. The shapes became more defined, their final form clearer as they approached completion. Suddenly the lights burst out in a shower of sparks, flittering in the air before going dark. Melody's mouth fell open as she beheld the result of Lara's magical restoration.

Lara had wings now.

Not an angel's wings, pure white without a single tarnished feather. These were black, bat-like wings, powerful and large. Each one had to be at least ten feet long. Their membranes were smooth like the finest black leather. They joined seamlessly into Lara's back, the dark appendages merging into her sun-kissed skin with an abrupt but flawless transition.

And she had a tail. A reptilian tail as black as the wings and longer than she was tall. It was covered with minute scales like chips of volcanic glass. The ventral scales were thin rectangles, interlaced in an impenetrable layer of black. It melded with Lara's pants with neither tear nor tailoring, as though someone had attached it to her.

Lara breathed deep as she settled onto the dock, her vivid orange hair settling. She flexed her wings wide, giving them a flap as her tail swung back and forth.

"I missed you guys," she said, reaching out to run her fingertips down the inside of her left wing. She looked over her shoulder as she gave her tail a flick. "And you, of course."

"L-Lara?"

Lara turned to face Melody, revealing her piercings were gone save the ones in her ears. Melody could not keep her eyes from racing over Lara from head to tail and back again.

"What…how…?" Melody tried to speak, but she could not find the words. There were so many things she wanted to say. Countless questions she needed answers to. But she could not decide which to say first.

Lara gave a small, apologetic smile. "I'm sorry. I didn't want you to find out this way. I swear I'll explain everything. But first…" She turned her attention back to Morgana, scowling at the cecaelian atop her icy perch.

Morgana's hands trembled, not with fear but anger. "You little tramp! What did you do!?"

"What's wrong, Morgana?" called out Lara. "Don't have anything in your suckers to deal with this? I thought you knew all about my magic?"

A vein bulged in Morgana's forehead as magic surged into her hands, causing them to glow with green light. "Don't you get smart with me!" She raised her hands overhead as a ball off green frozen magic formed between them.

Melody's senses returned to her as she saw the swirling ball of magic in Morgana's hands. "Lara, look out!"

Lara extended an arm out as Morgana hurled the ball of magic at her, leaving a contrail of frost in its wake. "Claymore."

The sword burst up through the ice and flew into her hand, catching fire the moment Lara grasped it. She drew it back as the icy ball reached her and swung, striking it with the flat of the blade. It went flying sideways and into Undertow, whose sight had just returned. The humanoid shark managed a startled yell before it struck. He was instantly coated in a cloud of icy vapor, blown away moments later to reveal him encased in ice, an expression of alarm literally frozen on his face. Not dead though, as his rapidly moving eyes gave away.

Morgana's eyes bugged. "How did you–!?"

"Trust me, there's plenty you don't know about me," said Lara as she swung the sword, extinguishing the fires. "And sorry to say this, but it's true for all of you. There's some things I haven't come clean on. But we'll cross that bridge later." She rolled her neck and shoulders. "Right after I clear the trash off it."

Morgana grit her teeth, growling as her tentacles twitched angrily. "You've got a big mouth for a…whatever you are!"

"And you're full of hot air for a sea witch that uses ice," said Lara. "Now personally, I'd be happy to kick all your slimy butts right now and send you packing. But in keeping with the old ways–and because it's what dad taught me–I'm gonna offer you one chance to save your necks." Lara pointed her sword out to sea. "Leave. All of you, right now. Take your ship, your monsters, and your machines, and go. Don't show your faces here ever again. Do it and you live."

Morgana stared at Lara for a moment, and then she gave a loud snort and laughed. "You must be joking! In case you forgot, Undertow literally chewed you up and spit you out! The only reason he's not using you as his personal chew toy now is because you hit him with my magic! Even if you beat him–and that's a very big 'if'–you still have to deal with me, then Ursula, and then that ship! That armor you used in Glowerhaven wasn't shabby, but it'll take a lot more than some new appendages or that matchstick you call a sword to beat us! So unless those wings and tail are for more than just showing off, start begging for mercy!"

"You're right," said Lara as she stretched her wings to loosen them. "The armor isn't enough to defeat you. Even with my wings and tail back, I'll still come up short."

A breeze began to radiate off Lara as the air around her shimmered like the surface of a road on a hot day. Pieces of debris began lifting off the dock around her as her magic permeated the air. "So I'll take it one step further."

For a split second, a feeling of immense foreboding swept through Morgana, causing her arrogance to falter. "What?"

Lara's tail reached around and took her sword, tossing it back towards Melody. "Hold onto this for me, Mel. And find something to hold onto. This could get rough."

Melody made no move to secure herself. She just kept staring at Lara, struggling to process everything that just happened.

"Do it now!" barked Lara, snapping Melody out of her daze. The princess quickly snatched up the sword and ran over to one of the pylons, taking hold of a rope wrapped around it.

Lara returned her attention to Morgana. "You think you know me?"

Her hands clenched tight as she set her feet wide, the glow on her skin growing into an aura. The tattoos on her arms began to glow as she grit her teeth. Her expression changed into one of immense exertion. The muscles in Lara's arms, torso, and legs tightened visibly. That same inexplicable wind appeared from her as it did in Glowerhaven, starting as a breeze but rapidly growing stronger. An orange aura appeared around Lara, growing just as the wind did. Her hair began to glow with a light of its own, like the first flickers of a candle after it had been lit.

"You haven't…seen…anything…yet!" she grunted through her teeth.


Lara collapsed to her hands and knees as the aura vanished from her body. Her shoulders and chest heaved as she panted fast and hard. Her wings and tail sagged, drained of strength just like the rest of her. Sweat poured off her skin, darkening the gray rock beneath her. Her arms shook as they struggled to keep her from falling flat on the stone. She was so heated her sweat was steaming, although the cold morning air in the high alpine mountains also contributed.

Her father took a draw from his long-stem pipe as he watched, leaning against a giant rock nearby. "Again," he said, smoke emanating from his mouth.

Lara shook her head. "I…can't…" She rolled onto her back, gasping for breath. She draped her wings against the rock, letting it pull the heat out of her body.

"Try again," repeated her father.

Lara waited for her breathing to slow before answering. "Dad, I can't. That's the eighth time this morning. I'm totally beat! I'm gonna break before I pull this off!"

"The only thing in danger of breaking is your confidence." Her father took the pipe from his mouth. "Now on your feet and try again."

Lara turned over and pushed herself to her knees. "There's no point! All I'm doing is exhausting myself! I'm not ready yet!"

"Then when will you be ready? Tomorrow? In a week? A month? A year? No one is ever truly ready for anything, Lara. There are preparations that can be made. But to be ready for something, truly ready, means to have absolute certainty of success. And success is never guaranteed."

Lara groaned, lolling her head back. Her father could be so frustrating at times like this. "Just…I need more time. I don't have enough strength or magic right now to–."

Her father suddenly threw his head back, letting loose a loud laugh.

"What's so funny?" asked Lara.

"Magic? Strength? Bah! Is that what you think this requires?"

Lara stared in confusion. "Well, yeah!"

Her father shook his head. "Lara, Lara, Lara…this is not about muscles or magic."

Lara blinked. "What?"

"Magic and physical strength are useful for this, yes. But they are not the keys to success."

Lara stuck a finger in her ear, hoping to clean out something that could be messing with her hearing. "I'm sorry. Did you just say this isn't about my strength or magic?

Her father nodded. "You could have twice the power you possess now, or even a hundred times more. It still would not be enough to accomplish this."

"Then what do I need!?" Lara yelled as she shot to her feet. "You've had me out here running myself into the ground for half a moon cycle! What am I missing!?"

"Control of your temper for starters."

Lara's hair prickled as her tail twitched angrily. "Don't screw with me, dad! I am not in the mood! I want answers! What…do…I…need!?"

Her father sighed. "Will."

Lara stared at her dad for a long moment. "Will? As in willpower?"

"The same." Her father took another drag off his pipe.

"What does will have to do with this?" asked Lara.

"Everything." Her father breathed out the smoke, then dismissed his pipe with a wave of his hand. The pipe became smoke too, disappearing into the air. "Any mage can enhance their prowess with sufficient knowledge, practice, and time. It is no different than those who empower their bodies through rigorous exercise. No one is truly born powerful. The mightiest wizards and enchantresses began as novices, myself included. But will, the ability to decide and act upon one's desires, takes precedence over all those. Without will, there is no magic. Without will, one can accomplish nothing. Even the most gifted will amount to little if they lack the will to see things through."

Lara got to her feet, wiping the sweat off her brow. "And you couldn't have told me this from the start because…?"

Her father smiled. "Because if there is one thing I have learned about you, Lara, it is that you benefit from experience more than instruction alone."

"A hint would've been nice." Lara sighed, running a hand through her hair. "Okay. Willpower…willpower."

She closed her eyes and set her stance wide, clenching her hands as she focused her magic. She submerged herself in it, letting all her senses and thoughts become wrapped in its embrace. The aura reappeared around her.

"Do not focus solely on your magic," instructed her father. "You must do more than simply inflate your reserves. This strength lies deeper than that. In the same way a river is born from springs and snowmelt, you must find the place your power comes from. The very source of yourself. Look within and find the spark your flame rises from. Once you find it, take hold and imbue it with every ounce of magic and spirit you have. Then allow it to manifest as it wishes."

Lara squinted her eyes as she focused. She could feel her magic swirling within like a bonfire, flaring and hot and powerful. Before she tried to wrestle it to do her bidding, pulling more and more out of herself. Now she pushed past it, searching within for the wellspring it arose from. She went deeper and deeper, as though diving towards the bottom of an endless sea. Her body twitched and shook as she tried to focus, for the farther she went the harder it became to advance. It felt like hours passed as she drifted in herself.

Then she felt something. It called out to her like a flicker in the night, faint and distant but blatantly apparent once noticed. She felt a faint sensation, like the tickle of a single hair on the back of her hand. She concentrated on it, pushing her way towards it, grunting as she approached that single point.

"Good…very good," said her father. "You are much closer this time."

Lara's face tightened along with the rest of her. She was getting closer, but it was even harder to approach now than before. She was starting to lose ground and steam. Doubt creeped into her mind, blurring it with fears of failure.

"Really struggling here, dad," she said, grimacing with effort. "Any tips?"

"Hmmm…scream."

Lara's focus lapsed for a moment, and she almost lost sight of the thing she was pursuing. "Come again?"

"Scream. Shout. Bellow. Howl. Whatever you choose, use your voice. When you yell as you fight, it is not merely for show. Your voice brings out not only your strength, but your fighting spirit. It puts energy, focus, and resolve into your actions. The same principle applies to this. When willpower and effort have taken you as far as they can, let your voice give you the final push."

Lara took a moment to process what her dad said. He was not wrong. The yells she used when fighting were not without purpose. A well-timed yell could not only startle and intimidate an opponent, but also empower her strikes. But could it really do the same for her here? There was only one way to find out.

She focused on the sensation again. Slowly she crept up on it, but again her progress became impeded as she closed in. She started slowing until it felt she was coming to a standstill. Without hesitation Lara yelled, pouring ever frustration, fear, and doubt she had into it. She came this far already. She did not want it to end here.

Suddenly she felt herself drawing closer to that sensation. It was so close now, like she was watching the sun rise into the sky. Her yells grew even louder, determination driving her forward. She was almost there. She could do it this time. Just a bit further and…

It hit her like a bolt of electricity, making her eyes snap open. Power surged through her instantly, making her entire body feel like it was brimming with energy and magic. It was so overwhelming she thought it might break her, like a dam cracking as the raging waters of a flood pounded against it.

Her father stood up, sensing the change within her. "That's it, Lara! You found it! Give it everything you have!"

Lara set her stance solid as she screamed, focusing everything she had into her core. It responded in kind, returning immense might to her body and magic. Her eyes glowed as her hair began to wave about. Her aura flared, scattering dust off the rock as the air around her turned hot.

"You can do this!" her father said. "This is your power! You know your limits! Now break them and go beyond!"


A/N: "Vegeta's Super Saiyan Theme" by Friedrich Habetler OR "Fade to Black B13a" by FalKKonE

"Here it goes!" Lara shouted, light filling her eyes and hair.

The aura enveloping Lara swelled sharply as her voice burst forth in a full-bore scream. A fierce wind exploded off her, forcing everyone nearby to fight for balance and shield their faces. Melody would have been blown down had she not been gripping the rope. The wind did not let up, its howl adding to Lara's voice. Ariel and her sisters squinted their eyes against the wind. Even Morgana had to hold onto her spire as the rushing air caused her tower to shudder.

All activity in the marina halted. Triton and Ursula forgot their fight again as they turned to see what was happening. The mutants stopped their assault as the sailors and civilians stopped running, their attention on what the princess' guardian was doing.

Melody hid herself behind the pylon, shielding her eyes with one arm as she watched. "Lara, what's happening to you!?"


Terror gripped Triton as he saw the magic coating Lara from head to wingtip to tail, making it look like she was on fire. He knew what she was doing. What she was becoming. It brought back nightmares of long ago, and the events that precipitated their hostile reunion here. He could not allow her to complete it.

"No, you don't!" He aimed the trident at Lara, the forks glowing. "Trident–!"

A bolt of black and purple lightning struck next to Triton, throwing him into the air. The trident immediately summoned water to cushion him before he hit an ice floe, righting him to face Ursula's giant form.

"Watch where you're aiming, Triton!" shouted Ursula, pulling back her enormous inky trident before bringing it down like a hammer. "Your fight is with me!"

Triton was forced to swing the trident across, pulling a wall of water in front of him just in time. Ursula slammed her trident into it, sending water spraying everywhere. She pressed down, trying to force her way through to Triton, but the ocean held her back.

"Ursula, you must listen to me!" yelled Triton. "That girl is a monster! If I don't stop her, we'll all be doomed!"

"Oh, don't you worry about her, Triton!" Ursula pulled an arm back as it became covered in hard scutes. "I'll kill you long before she's your problem!"


"Sarah, be reasonable!" said Isaac as he followed his daughter down the stairs, the young woman tying back her hair as she went. "It's not safe!"

"I'm a doctor, dad!" she said as she started pulling on her boots. "People are hurt! The hospital's going to need every one of us!"

"A new doctor!"

"Still a doctor! I have to go!"

"At least wait till the explosions stop!"

"By then it'll be too late!"

A subtle vibration began to resonate through the building. Sarah and Isaac looked around and realized the entire structure was shaking. The windows rattled as dishes and glasses danced around in the cupboards. A candle holder drifted to the edge of a table and fell off, clattering on the floor. Dust fell from the ceiling as the entire structure shook, the children's scared voices coming from upstairs.

Isaac placed a hand on the wall. "What in the–!?"


"Blazes is goin' on 'ere!?" shouted John.

It was scary enough when the explosions started going off in the marina and then through the town. It did not help when every flame in the Mermaid's Trove stopped moving and then flew off with a mind of its own. Now the entire tavern was, for lack of a better word, trembling. Glasses, plates, and silverware moved across tables as they vibrated. Windows shuddered and cracked. An extinguished lantern fell from the ceiling and broke, spilling oil over the floor.

The same was happening all over the town. Buildings were shaking, sending their occupants fleeing into the street lest they collapsed. The plaza fountain toppled over as its balance was compromised. Animals called out in fright as they sought cover or ran off.

"It must be an earthquake!" shouted someone hiding beneath a table.

"Don' be daft!" replied John. "There ain't been an earthquake in this 'ere parts fer over a hundred years! This be somethin' else!"


"HAAAAAAAAHHHH!"

Ariel's eyes watered as she squinted against the wind and heat coming off Lara. She and everyone else on the wharf were having enough trouble just staying upright. The entire structure was shaking violently. Cracks were radiating out from the wharf through the ice, fracturing the frozen ocean. What remained of the masts from the ruined galleons strained against the wind, barely able to hold up against it. The aura around Lara was so bright and thick it she was barely visible within it, but the light from her eyes and hair stood out clearly.

More than that, Ariel could feel the magic coming off Lara. At least, she assumed it was magic. She could not think of anything else that would cause it. It was like the sensation she felt back in Glowerhaven, but different. Instead of an oppressive, suffocating darkness, she felt an immense, burning fury emanating from Lara. It was like standing too close to a roaring fire, the heat almost baking against her skin. It was unquestionably Lara's. Who else would have a magic that felt like this?

A loud cracking sound followed by a shriek caused Ariel to turn her head. A long fracture had cut through Morgana's ice spire, threatening to topple the structure. Other ice spires were already falling apart, unable to withstand the wind or quaking. Morgana quickly summoned more ice over the break in her tower, keeping herself from being dethroned as her suckers clung fast.

"Enough of this!" shouted Morgana over the din. "Clockmen! Open fire!"

The clockmen started to raise their guns, but then they stopped. They began to tremble, as though fighting against the order. The lights in their eyes flickered.

"Don't just stand there! Fire!" screamed Morgana, waving her fists angrily at the lack of compliance from the machines. "Fire! I order you to fire! What's the matter with you!?"


Remora gripped her spyglass so tightly the glass shattered. She lowered the ruined instrument as her hands crushed it into scrap. She knew exactly why her clockmen were not working, and she was to blame for it.

She built the clockmen for one purpose–killing humans and merfolk. To that end, their construction was flawless. They were far stronger than the fittest male of either species. They never suffered from the cold, heat, disease, hunger, or thirst. They never needed to rest or sleep. Their bodies were invulnerable to swords and arrows, and these ones were stronger than the prototype she sent to Glowerhaven. Short of a point-blank cannon shot, explosion, or dropping something very large and heavy on them, they were practically invincible.

What she had not built them for, however, was fighting magic. She had not fathomed anyone, much less Lara, being able to put out enough magic to disrupt the curse that held the souls inside the machine. Yet here she was witnessing it with her own eyes. She could feel Lara's magic climbing all the way from the ship. The raw volume of magic that was pouring out of the girl was weakening the curse, causing the souls to struggle against their bonds. In that state, the clockmen were effectively paralyzed.

"You brat…!" She threw the ruined spyglass aside as she stomped past the Master to the prow of the ship, planting one boot against the railing. "You damn brat!"

Remora turned back to her crew. "Aim for that light! I want that witch blasted off the dock, double time!"

"Aye, captain!" shouted a pirate from the nearest gun battery.

"No," said the Master impassively. "Hold your fire."

"Belay that!" shouted Remora. "All guns open fire on Lara!"

"Stand at your posts, all of you," continued the Master. "That is an order."

"Captain?" asked a pirate with four mechanical arms, looking between her and the Master.

"Shoot her!" Remora screamed. "Shoot her now! Blow that bit–!"

A tight pressure clamped on Remora's throat, choking her off. She fell to one knee grasping her throat, unable to speak or draw breath.

"If any of you so much as think of following your captain's orders," said the Master as he looked over his shoulder at the pirate. "You'll learn of things much worse than a painful death. Am I clear?"

The pirate gulped. As strong as his loyalty to Remora was, his fear of the Master was greater. "Aye-aye, sir." He scampered off, disappearing through a hatch in the deck. The other pirates quickly dispersed as the guns went quiet.

The Master looked back to Remora, who was now making strained gagging noises. He released her and she fell forward onto her hands, gasping for air. "You are on thin ice as it is, Remora. Do not push me."

Remora looked up at the Master, coughing as she rubbed her throat. "Are *cough* are you insane!? Do you have *cough cough* any idea what she's doing!? Can't you feel that!? We need to kill her! Now! Before she finishes whatever that is!"

The Master gave her no acknowledgement, looking past her to the light on the wharf.

"Wait…" Remora stood up, staggering a step as she coughed again. "That's what you want, isn't it!? You wanted…no, you knew this would happen, didn't you!? Didn't you!?"

The Master gave Remora a quick glance, the corner of his mouth curling up in a poorly concealed grin.


Aquata was just as scared as her sisters when the clockmen grabbed them. But unlike her sisters, Aquata had also been waiting for a chance to escape since they were captured. Up till now the clockman holding her had maintained a dangerously firm grasp with its clawed fingers. She would have cut her own throat if she tried to escape. Now she felt the clockman's grip begin to waver as Lara's "magic" caused it to weaken.

"Now or never," she whispered to herself. Without hesitation Aquata planted a foot and threw herself backwards, knocking the clockman over. It hit the wharf with a loud clatter, knocking two other clockmen down. Its clawed hold on her neck loosened. She grabbed its arm with both hands and pulled as hard as she could. The machine's grip was strong, and its claws left shallow cuts on her neck, but it slipped enough for her to escape. She scrambled upright and bolted for Lara.

"Run, Aquata!" shouted Ariel. "Run!"

"I don't think so!" shouted Morgana. "Undertow, grab…oh." She looked down to see Undertow was still encased in ice. Morgana's tentacles flailed about as she pulled her hair in furious frustration. "Aaaaaaah!"

"Oh, sure! Run away! Don't worry about the one who's nine months pregnant!" yelled Arista sarcastically as Aquata skirted around Lara. Maybe Aquata imagined it, but the wind seemed to weaken as she ran by.

"Aunt Aquata!" exclaimed Melody, surprised and relieved to see her. "Here!"

Aquata quickly ran over, taking hold of Melody as she hunkered down with her niece. "Melody, what's happening? What is Lara doing?!"

"I don't know!" shouted Melody over the din. "Lara never showed this to me before!"


Lara continued to scream as she let the magic course through her. This was not like the magic she used in Glowerhaven. That was merely amplification of her own biology taken to the extreme. This magic was something entirely different. She was reaching into the very core from which her magic came and drawing it forth. It was taking longer than she expected, and she had never attempted it with this much power before. She had converted almost every fire in Seahaven into magic, giving her an excessive amount in return. Truth be told, she was a bit rusty at this. It had been over a year since she last used that, hence why it was taking so long. Nevertheless, she pushed on, forcing the last scraps of magic she had into it with willful determination. She had given it far beyond what was needed.

Now she needed to manifest it.


Melody saw Lara stand erect and throw her head back, screaming as loud as she possibly could. Fire burst off Lara's skin as her hair and eyes glowed even brighter. The fire spiraled around her, obscuring her form entirely in a cocoon of flames. The wind increased further as the fires spun furiously. The air heated further as the fireball roared. Lara's form was now visible as a dark shadow within the flames. The fireball shrunk further and further until Lara was left as a burning figure standing in a circle of charred wood. The heat and wind were beginning to weaken as well, whatever tumultuous process Lara had started finally coming to a close.

Lara drew her wings together and then abruptly flung them wide open. The fires exploded with a flash and a wave of sparks, forcing everyone to look away. A shockwave raced out, rolling Melody and Aquata backwards. Melody hit her head against the wharf, making colors flash over her eyes. The wharf shuddered as loosened planks fell from it. The ice holding Undertow cracked, weakened by the heat from Lara's magic. Ariel and her sisters were pushed against their captors, who were forced to step backwards by the blast. Even Morgana had to hold onto her spire as the whole thing shook.

"What now!?" the sea witch shouted, having to freeze her spire yet again to keep it from collapsing.


Triton and Ursula stopped their fight once more at the sound, the wave of air washing over them moments later. Triton thought to use the opportunity to strike Ursula and aimed at her face, but he faltered when he saw her expression. It was one of confusion, surprise, and…was that fear?

"What the…?" Ursula asked out loud.

Triton lowered the trident, and then swung it upwards. Water surged underneath to raise him into the air, lifting him high enough to get a full view of the wharf. His eyes widened as he caught sight of Lara, his expression a copy of Ursula's.

"I knew it!" he said, his grip on the trident hardening. "It was you!"


The Master smirked. "So, Gin was telling the truth."

Remora blinked rapidly, her vision swimming with blue and green spots from the flash. She squinted as things came back into focus. There was Morgana and the clockmen. There was Ariel's red hair among her sisters. And beyond her was…

A bolt of lightning shot off her, reaching down into the water to pull up the ruined spyglass. Electricity raced around it as the metal and glass were popped back into place. She jammed the instrument against her eye, hands working feverishly to bring Lara into focus. She stared for a long, hard moment through it, and then slowly lowered it from her face.

"What…is…that!?" she uttered in disbelief.


Melody groaned, holding her head as she got to her hands and knees. "Aunt Aquata, are you okay?"

Aquata did not answer her. Melody looked over to her, rubbing the growing bump on her head. "Aunt Aquata?"

Aquata was upright, but the look on her face was one of pure terror. She was staring straight ahead, mouth agape and eyes wide. Sweat beaded on her forehead, her body trembling with fright.

"Aunt Aquata, what's wrong?" asked Melody. "What are you–?"

Melody's voice caught in her throat as she finally saw Lara.

Every inch of her body was covered in black plating, as though wearing a tight suit of armor forged from pieces of obsidian. Her wings now had a polished sheen to them as well. Her fingers and toes were tipped with claws, and spikes ran down the blades of her forearms. Her hair was spiked and voluminous, glowing with a light of its own. Her tail was skeletal and segmented, tipped with a curved blade.

"L-Lara?" asked Melody.

Lara turned to face her. Melody felt her skin prickled with a bolt of fear. The armor on Lara's front was the same. Her mouth and nose were covered by a faceplate that looked like long, interlocking teeth. But it was the eyes that unnerved Melody most of all. Before, their golden color was so brilliant they seemed to have a hidden light behind them. Now they were literally glowing, as though fire burned within her. She saw orange in them as well now. Her faceplate split apart to reveal it was now her mouth. There were no teeth or tongue inside. Just a glowing orange light like the heart of a blacksmith's forge.

Melody was too shocked for words, but not only because of the transformation. She knew that form. She had seen it many times before.

Lara looked just like the demon.


The raven allowed himself a faint lopsided grin as he looked down upon the marina. "Welcome back, Lara Anclagon."


A/N: In the darkest hour, a spark of hope becomes a blaze when fueled by courage and a promise. Lara's secret is revealed – she is more than human. The revelation catches friend and foe off-guard, bringing a moment of silence to the battlefield. All eyes are on her now, waiting to see what comes next. But power is not all this form brings with it. With this revelation comes the reality that Lara's past is far more than she has told. She will have to answer for it. Does she have the strength to drive off Maelstrom? And even if she does, what will the consequences be when the dust settles? Will someone like her even be allowed to remain part of their world?

I hope you've all enjoyed reading this chapter! I won't be so quick at posting with the next one, but I'll do my best! Until next time!

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 =)