Chapter 54: Flying Lessons

When Melody asked Lara if she could fly with her, she was not at all surprised Lara said yes. Lara looked as if she would fly Melody to the moon if she asked it of her.

That first flight was put on hold, however, by the ensuing celebration. And there was much to celebrate beyond Lara's exoneration and knighthood. The events that transpired in the throne room were nothing less than historic. Lara was more than a national hero. She was the first woman knight in the long history of the four Alliance kingdoms, and the first knight who was also a mage. She already had a widespread reputation in the Alliance as something of a "superhero," if such things existed. Now that reputation was guaranteed to spread beyond Alliance borders, and her name would be remembered in the pages of history. That was more than enough reason for Seahaven to throw a kingdom-wide party.

Oh, and to celebrate the arrival of Aria, Atlantica's newest princess to boot.

Melody would never forget the looks that crossed Lara's face as the celebration went on through the day. Awestruck. Grateful. Joyous. Happy. Relieved. Safe. The sun had set hours before the festivities in the palace wound down, but they were not done by any means. Lara and Melody snuck out to the Mermaid's Trove to celebrate with the townsfolk. The tavern was literally shaking with music, dancing, and laughter. It seemed there was not a man or woman there who did not want to congratulate Lara in person. John and Isaac had far too much to drink and made right fools of themselves singing on the bar. Even Melody came perilously close to overindulging in wine and mead. It was almost midnight when Lara flew the tipsy princess back to her room and lay her into bed. The mage promised they would go flying first thing tomorrow. Melody was not sure how she ever managed to fall asleep after all the excitement of the day, or with the anticipation of tomorrow running through her veins. She was going to fly! She was really going to fly! It was the last thing she thought of before she fell asleep, and the first thing that came to mind when she woke up the next morning. Not even the mild hangover knocking on her temples was enough to dampen her spirits.

But as Melody waited on the palace beach with her family and Grimsby, watching the morning sky and its distant clouds for signs of Lara, she felt apprehension beginning to mix with her excitement. She was about to experience something humanity had only been able to dream of with feet firmly upon the ground. Even the merfolk, whose movements through the ocean were often compared to those of swallows on the wing, held a speck of envy for the freedom the gulls, terns, pelicans, and petrels enjoyed. To be able to share the sky with them, if only briefly, was a rare opportunity. But the more Melody remembered watching Lara fly as she battled Maelstrom in the marina, and then again when she took flight after being knighted, the more the idea of leaving land so dramatically unnerved her. The sky was no longer a flat pane of blue like the surface of a canvas awaiting the painter's brush. There was a terrifying vastness to it now. An abyssal depth that seemed capable of swallowing the entire world. The scattered white clouds, so small in the distance, now made Melody acutely aware of the minute scale of her own existence. Even the breeze rustling the skirt of her crimson dress made her stomach tighten.

The sounds of feet running across sand briefly distracted Melody from her thoughts. She turned to see Alana and her husband Nemo rushing to the rest of the group.

"Sorry we're late!" said Nemo, taking a deep breath before straightening up and looking around. "Hold on. Where is Lara?"

Melody pointed up to the sky. "She's still 'warming up.'"

Alana's eyes widened as she panted. "Still!? Didn't she leave right after breakfast?"

"Indeed she did, your majesty. Which was…" Grimsby pulled out his pocket watch, glancing down his nose to the face. "Approximately eighty-six minutes ago."

Ariel turned to Eric, who was scanning the sky with his spyglass. "Any sign of her?"

Eric shook his head, careful to keep the instrument from aligning with the sun. "No luck."

"How did you lose her in the first place?" asked Attina. "She's not exactly inconspicuous with those wings of hers."

"Or that hair," added Arista from her wheelchair. Little Aria was asleep in her arms, swaddled in blankets like the precious treasure she was.

"No, but she's absurdly fast and very high up," said Eric as he started scanning again. "Flying into those clouds didn't help either."

Melody swallowed as she looked up at one of the clouds in question. "Yeah…very high."

Aquata did not fail to notice her niece's anxiety. "Melody? You alright? You look pale."

Melody shook her head. "Just nervous. And…a bit scared, if I'm honest. I mean, flying is…it's flying!"

"I see her!" Adella shouted suddenly. All eyes abruptly turned back to the sky.

"Where!?" asked Andrina.

"There!" said Adella, pointing to a cloud straight above them. "She just went into that cloud!"

Melody arched her head back to look at the cloud. She saw nothing but an unbroken white mass against the blue. Then she saw a small dark shape emerge from its underbelly, flying across it. The unmistakable spread of its wings, the long tapered tail, and the brief flash of bright orange left no doubt. That was Lara.

"I see her, too!" said Melody.

"Same here!" added Ariel.

Their assumption was further proven when the figure became a dot as Lara dove straight down. Melody thought Lara was coming straight for them, but quickly realized she was actually descending out over the ocean. Her orange hair became increasingly prominent as she fell, black wings pulled in tight. She looked like she was about to plunge straight into the water when she suddenly threw her wings open, leveling out just above the surface. She streaked towards the land, kicking up wisps of spray behind her. Then she drew up at the shoreline, beating her wings to slow down as she approached the group.

For a brief moment Lara hung suspended in the air before them, wings fully extended and hair waving about as the still rising sun illuminated her completely. She was wearing those faded and heavily torn black pants she favored. Her feet were as bare as her waist and shoulders, chest covered by a wrap made of white bandages. The morning's light glinted off the obsidian scales on her tail, and her eyes seemed just as radiant as her hair as it waved weightlessly around her. Melody felt her breath hitch for a moment as she beheld Lara. She exuded strength and liberty, as if she could shatter any chain, cage, or spell that tried to bind her.

Then Lara landed in front of them, pulling her wings in. She flashed a lopsided grin at the group's collectively open mouths. "Don't stare too much. You're liable to eat a bug, gaping like that."

Everyone including Melody realized they had been gawking at Lara, and quickly shut their mouths. Lara's grin widened, then she looked to Melody. "Well, I'm all warmed up now. You ready?"

Melody looked at Lara's wings, and then out over the ocean to where the sky met the sea. She was having earnest reservations now. "I think so…"

Lara arched a brow at her. "You think so? Not getting cold fins, are we? I mean, feet."

"Me? Scared?" Melody straightened up, putting on her bravest face. "Not in the least!"

Lara glanced down. "Then why are you death-gripping your skirt? You worried it's gonna run away?"

Melody looked to her hands, realizing they were clutching her skirt so hard her knuckles were white. She quickly let go, hiding them behind her back.

"Lara, just out of curiosity, why did you ask us to meet you here?" asked Ariel.

"It's a lot easier getting us airborne from here," said Lara as she stretched one wing across her body and then did the same with the other. "Gives me space for a running start. It was this or jumping off your balcony."

Melody swallowed again. "Off the b-balcony?"

"Surely you jest, Miss Anclagon!" said Grimsby as Lara began stretching her arms overhead. "Jumping off the balcony, indeed!"

"That, or the nearest cliffs," said Lara.

Eric leaned over to Grimsby. "I don't think she's joking, Grims."

Grimsby pulled on his collar, giving his throat space to gulp. "I am inclined to agree with you, sire."

"But seriously, how're you feeling, Mel?" asked Lara. "You look a lot more nervous than yesterday."

"I'd be lying if I said I wasn't," said Melody, wringing her hands together. "Lara, I have to ask. Why did you say I should only eat bread this morning?"

"Why? Did you eat something else?" asked Lara.

"No. But why bread? And only bread?"

"Because it tastes the same coming up as it does going down."

Melody stared at Lara for a moment, trying to understand what she was saying. When the implication struck her, she clapped a hand to her mouth. That tightness in her gut was now joined by a mild queasiness.

Lara gave a chuckle. "It's gonna be fine, Mel! It's like swimming! Only you're in the air! And it's faster!" She pulled her goggles off and handed them to Melody. "Come on! It's fun! You'll see! Just put those on and hang onto my neck!"

"I hope this goes without saying, Miss Anclagon," said Grimsby as Melody hesitantly took the goggles. "But you will be held accountable for any and all harm that comes to her majesty."

"Nothing's gonna happen, Gramps!" said Lara as she spun Melody around to adjust the strap on the goggles. "Gotta make sure these are snug."

Melody stiffened as Lara cinched down the strap. "Ow! That's too tight!"

"Sorry," apologized Lara as she quickly adjusted the strap. "How's that?"

"Better," said Melody, centering the lenses over her eyes.

"All the same, bear the princess's safety in mind before doing anything too acrobatic," asked Grimsby.

"Lara, all joking aside, please be careful!" said Ariel.

"Don't worry!" Lara turned her back to Melody, allowing the princess to loop her arms around her neck. "I've done this before! I know what I'm doing!"

"Exactly how many times have you done it?" asked Attina.

Lara looked up as she thought. "Hm…a few."

Attina frowned. "Which is how many?"

"A few."

Melody found her hands were shaking now that she had the goggles on. This was ridiculous! She wanted to do this! She asked Lara to do this for her! Now she was getting cold feet right when they were about to take off?

"Are you sure this is safe?" asked Melody.

"As long as you don't let go," said Lara. "Or fall off."

Melody gulped again as her shaking intensified.

"Relax!" said Lara, sensing her distress. "I'm not gonna drop you! Trust me! Now hang on! Takeoff is a bit bumpier with a passenger!"

A/N: "Cody's Flight" by Bruce Broughton

Before Melody could say anything else, Lara dropped into a crouch and then sprinted down the beach. Melody gave a startled yelp as she felt her feet leave the ground, legs trailing behind her as Lara kept gaining speed.

"Alright!" Lara shouted as her wings began to spread and then flap. She reached up and grabbed hold of Melody's arms as she turned towards the sea, bare feet pounding across the damp sand where the waves caressed the sand. "Here! We! Go!"

Lara took a bounding leap as she drew her wings up, and then jumped towards the ocean as she flapped hard. Melody felt her insides sink into her hips as Lara took off, shooting high into the air almost instantaneously. Then Lara suddenly dove back towards the sea, causing Melody to hang weightless in the air for a moment before she slapped into Lara's back as they leveled out just above the water.

"Still there!?" Lara asked as she beat her wings.

"I-I think so!" Melody replied. She looked down and saw swells zipping by them in a blur.

"That'll do!" said Lara. She beat her wings, causing a burst of acceleration that took Melody completely by surprise.

They were barely in the air for ten seconds and flying level, but already Melody could tell this would not be like swimming in the slightest. The wind roared in her ears as it blew her raven hair straight backwards, ruffling her dress as Lara took them further out over the sea. The air forced her almost flat against Lara, flecks of spray peppering her skin. But it was the speed that struck Melody the most. Lara was flying faster than Melody ever even dreamed of swimming, much less moving period. No horse, fish, or bird could ever hope to match this velocity. She was grateful for the goggles–without them, she doubted she would be able to keep her eyes open. And yet, fast as they were currently moving, Lara was only going faster with every beat of her wings. How was she able to fly like this?

Before Melody could ask how Lara was achieving her unbelievable speed, Lara suddenly listed to the right and began a sweeping turn. For a moment Melody thought she would roll off into the water, but the laws of physics had other ideas. She felt a force pin her against Lara's back as the tip of her right wing skimmed the water, cutting a streak through the surface. Melody looked up and saw they were taking a wide turn, Lara not slowing in the slightest. It was frightening speed. And yet, Melody felt something else displacing her fear. An exhilaration, thrill, and joy she had experienced once before. It made her heart pound harder and the blood race in her veins. Every hair she had was standing on end. It was overtaking her fear with every second, causing her to smile.

It was the same sensation she felt the first time she swam as a mermaid.

"How're you doing, Mel!?" Lara shouted. "Feeling sick?"

"This is…it's amazing!" Melody yelled back. Lara leveled out and beat her wings again, propelling them even faster as they flew parallel to the shore. They blasted past the onlooking crowd, giving Melody a brief glimpse of their awestruck faces before they were far behind.

"You think this is cool…" Lara glanced over her shoulder at her, a mischievous smirk on her face. "Just wait!"

"Lara, what are you dooooooiiiiiiiiiiinnnnnnnggg!?"

Lara abruptly angled up, shooting straight towards a billowing cloud. Her wings beat hard as she climbed with remarkable speed. Melody would have though such a steep angle of ascent would slow Lara down, but it did nothing of the sort. She could feel the strength coursing through those wings and Lara's back. They were undoubtedly the wings of a dragon – powerful beyond mortal reckoning, made for ruling every inch of the skies.

Melody looked behind them to see the world rapidly shrink away. She could not see her family anymore except for tiny colored specks on the shoreline. The palace and town kept shrinking, as did all of Seahaven, as they went higher and higher. The marina looked like a tiny pocket where the vast stretches of the ocean attempted to invade the sprawling shoreline. The houses and buildings became nothing but shapes amidst a crisscrossing spider's web of streets and roads. Even the vast palace looked like a child's block structure. Then it all became a lone patch of civilization amidst the expansive stretch of the Emerald Woods and Howling Forest, trapped between the mighty ocean and the looming White Iron Mountains.


Ariel watched from the earth as Lara and Melody abruptly ascended into the sky. It was already impressive watching Lara soar out over the ocean like a living arrow. Now, seeing her rise towards a stretch of clouds, she was breathtaking. Ariel could not help but remember witnessing the Solar King for the first time, and how awestruck she was by his form and might. She felt some of that same awe now as she watched Lara take Melody into the sky. She really was his daughter.

"Fly!" she whispered. "Fly!"


Melody felt herself lurch upwards as Lara beat her wings again, causing the princess to shriek. She looked up and saw a cloud rapidly approaching. It looked so tiny from the ground. Now it was positively monolithic. Before Melody could contemplate the scale of it further, she and Lara dove into the heart of it. The air chilled rapidly, causing Melody to shiver. She squinted as water vapor condensed on her skin, the wind still howling in her ears. Was she imagining things, or was it getting harder to breathe?

"Come on!" said Lara. "Higher! Higher! Higher!"

The cloud seemed to go on and on. Melody thought it would never end. That she and Lara would climb forever through this void of gray, cold, and wet until they lost all sense of time and direction. And then suddenly the climb ended. A blinding light greeted them as they exited the vapor, causing Melody to shut her eyes and avert her face. Even with the wind and the chill of altitude, she could feel the sun on her skin. Then she felt Lara slow down and level out.

"Mel? Hey, Mel?" Melody felt Lara's shoulders and neck shift as she looked back at her. "Open your eyes, Mel!"

Melody slowly lifted her face, opening her eyes against the light. She squinted for a moment as her sight adjusted. What she saw next took her breath away more than the altitude could ever hope to.

Lara was gliding across the top of the immense cloud. From the ground the fluffy white cumulus seemed small and distant. Now, with its surface literal feet away, Melody realized it stretched out for miles. Rolling hills of white rose and fell across it. Off in the distance, great thunderheads many times taller than the palace reached towards the sun, which blazed as a perfect circle of light amidst the aquamarine sky. There were more clouds far above them, thin and wispy like cobwebs caught in the wind. The air was crisp and clean, if a bit thin and cold. Melody's mouth hung open as she looked around. Lara gently banked to the left, heading towards a rising mound of cloud. Then she put herself into a slow arc around it, her wing cutting into its side.

"Go ahead," Lara said. "Touch it."

Melody watched the wall of white pass by them. Then she slowly reached out and touched it, keeping one arm secure around Lara. She felt the coolness of it against her palm, but there was no substance. Nothing to it at all. It was like touching a ghost. Lara then turned into the cloud, enveloping them in white for several seconds before they emerged out the other side, following the gentle downward slope.

"Wow…" Melody uttered as she watched the vapor slip between her fingers.

"So, what do you think?" asked Lara.

"This is unreal," Melody loosened her grip slightly as she looked around, eyes wide with amazement behind the goggles. "Is it always like this? When you fly, I mean!"

"Not always, but it has its moments! Same as your ocean!" said Lara. "You want to go back yet?"

"Go back? No way! We just started!" Melody looped both arms around Lara again, securing her hold. "Come on! Show me what you can do! I'm ready now!"

Lara got that mischievous smirk of hers. "Alright! You asked for it! Hook hour legs around me and hang on tight!"

Melody did so as Lara beat her wings, her speed climbing once more. She dove towards a wispy strand of cloud. Melody thought they would go through it, but suddenly Lara banked hard to the left, going almost vertical as she skirted around the wisp. Melody screamed in both surprise and a bit of fright, afraid she would fall off. Instead she found herself pressed into Lara's back once more as Lara twisted and banked hard the other direction around another wisp, and then did it repeatedly as she wove between the clouds. Lara did another weave, except this time she did a full barrel roll before banking again. Melody briefly felt herself drift off Lara's back before she was glued to it again.

Suddenly Lara pulled up hard. Melody thought she was going to ascend again, but instead Lara kept pulling back until she was upside down. Melody screamed as Lara hit the zenith of her loop, both of them weightless for a moment. Then Lara dove back towards the clouds and leveled off above them as she hurtled towards a rising column of clouds, disrupting the vapor beneath them as they went. Then she put them into a wide banking turn as they climbed in a spiral around it. Up, up, and up they went, and then Lara suddenly plunged straight through the middle of the cloud, doing three barrel rolls as she went and earning another scream from Melody. Lara leveled out and then flew straight up, climbing through the cloud. She kept flying through it for several seconds, and then she and Melody breached the top. Lara flapped her wings, hovering in the air for a few seconds, and then she put herself into a slow circling glide.

"Feeling sick yet?" asked Lara.

"No!" said Melody. "But I almost feel like hitting you for those rolls you did! Almost!"

The way Lara smirked at her should have been a warning to Melody. "Let's see how you feel after this!"

Lara flew towards the edge of the column of cloud. Melody looked ahead over Lara's shoulder, and suddenly realized the column they were flying above was thousands of feet tall. How had they climbed it so quickly? And as she felt Lara begin to dip, another alarming thought struck her.

"Lara, don't tell me you're about to go dooooooooooooooooowwwwwaaaaaaaaaaahhhhhh!"

Melody's words trailed off into screaming as Lara plunged headfirst towards the clouds. Instead of tucking her wings in she beat them rapidly, propelling them faster and faster. Melody felt a queasy, tight, weightless sensation in her gut as she and Lara plummeted faster than gravity could drag them down. She thought Lara would level out above the cloud again, but instead she dove right into it. What once felt like and endless expanse of gray passed by in seconds before they punched through the bottom of the cloud. Melody gasped as she saw the endless blue of the ocean rushing towards them, and quickly.

"Lara, pull up!" Melody shouted. "Pull up! You're going too fast!"

"That's the idea!" said Lara as she pulled her wings in tight. Melody heard a growing whistle from the wind slipping across Lara's wings as they continued diving. The sea kept getting closer, but Lara did not slow at all.

"Lara!" Melody pleaded, holding onto Lara's neck as she closed her eyes. "We're gonna crash!"


Eric gasped as he watched Lara and Melody hurtle out of the cloud and plummet straight for the ocean. She was diving even faster than when she came down from her "warm up flight!" Too fast, even! How could she have any control at that speed!?

"What is she doing!?" exclaimed Ariel.

"She's going to crash!" shouted Andrina.

"She's lost her mind!" said Grimsby. "That, or she's become suicidal once more!"

"No! Lara wouldn't do that!" said Eric. "She must know what she's doing!"

Lara proved Eric right moments later. She spread her wings wide and pulled up, leveling out within feet of the ocean. Her wake threw water dozens of feet into the air, leaving a wall of white spray behind her. She began flapping her wings again, keeping her speed up as she flew straight at the gathered royals. Lara pulled up right as they reached the beach, causing the group to crouch down and cover their heads as the pair zipped over the top of them. Their heads whipped around to try and keep track of them.

"By the tides she's fast!" exclaimed Attina as she and everyone else watched Lara and Melody fly away.

"Fast doesn't begin to describe it!" added Adella. "I've never seen anything so quick!"

"She's like a falcon!" said Eric, raising his spyglass to follow them. "Or a cannonball!"

"No!" said Ariel. "She's like a dragon!"


Melody barely saw her family's awestruck faces before she and Lara left them far behind. Lara had not slowed her speed from her death-defying dive. Trees, grass, and rocks flew by in blurs of green, brown, and gray. A road passed by them in the span of a blink, and then Lara flew out across a farmer's field. She saw the startled man and his fieldhands stand up, only able to imagine their astounded faces as they watched them zip across the land. Then Lara banked a hard right to circle around the barn before following a dirt road out into the Emerald Forest.

"Sick yet!?" Lara shouted back.

"You! Are! In-sane!" Melody yelled. "I thought we were gonna die back there!"

Lara laughed loudly. "Not today we won't! But don't relax too much! Flight's not over yet!"

As though proving her point, Lara suddenly banked hard right and threw herself into a barrel roll before leveling out above the canopy. Melody saw the trees flash beneath them as they flew. The air felt different here compared to above the clouds. It was thicker and more humid. It was like water compared to the world at however-many thousand feet Lara brought her to before.

Suddenly Lara turned further right, heading for a narrow break in the trees. Melody discovered moments later the break was a river when Lara dove down into it, skimming above the water. She deftly turned, swerved, and banked as she followed the winding course of the river. Melody swore she could smell the coldness of the water and forest in the air itself. Her fear was being replaced by exhilaration once more, even as Lara tucked her wings in and flew beneath a fallen tree stretched across the river. Then she quickly angled upwards into a backwards loop, flying under the tree again before continuing her flight upriver.

"Lara, where are we going?" asked Melody a few minutes later as Lara took them through a winding section of the river.

"You'll see!" said Lara, choosing to fly over a bend in the river before dropping back into its path.

They banked through another curve to find themselves at the mouth of a large lake. It was a vast stretch of glassy blue-green water, its span easily measured in miles. Trees grew all around the edges, their roots stretching to the water. A large majestic waterfall fed into it off a high cliff in the distance. Before Melody could enjoy the scenery further, Lara went straight up into the air and stopped, pulling Melody's arms free as she did. Melody screamed as she went up over the top of Lara, arms and legs whirling frantically in the air. She tumbled forward and came down in front of Lara, who caught her under her arms. Her shoes came off, tumbling into the water with a pair of splashes.

"I gotcha!" said Lara, giving Melody a small toss so she could wrap her arms around her chest.

"What was that for!?" Melody shouted, gripping Lara's arms with fright as her legs kicked freely in the air.

"So I can do this!" Lara beat her wings again and then dove back towards the lake. For a moment Melody thought Lara was going to dive into the water as it raced up to meet them. Then they suddenly leveled out above it. Melody watched as hers and Lara's reflections kept pace with them as they flew across the lake. She could see the astonishment on her face. Melody reached out with one hand, the tips of her fingers skimming the surface. Ripples trailed behind them, growing out across the lake. She felt the coldness of the lake on her fingers as her reflection distorted.

"Ready for the next bit?" asked Lara.

"Which is what…!?" asked Melody

"Just keep your weight back and your heels down!" Lara suddenly flung Melody forward and let go, sending her flying across the surface. She screamed as her feet touched the water, expecting to plunge right into it. Then she suddenly felt hands on her lower back, pushing her forward. Instead of falling in Melody began to skim across the surface, her feet acting as skis. Her arms windmilled backwards as she started to lose balance. Melody looked back and saw Lara was flying just above the surface of the lake, pushing her along.

"I got you!" said Lara. "Keep those heels down! And lean with me!"

Melody looked ahead as she followed Lara's orders. She dug her heels into the water and felt the lake push against her. She was skiing over the lake! The feeling was as incredible as it was indescribable! She felt Lara start to turn to the right, and she leaned with her. Melody found herself making a wide circle as Lara took her towards the shoreline, and then began turning her back the way they came. They did this for several minutes, Lara using her wings to propel Melody all across the lake.

"You want to go back yet?" asked Lara eventually.

"No!" shouted Melody. "Keep going!"

Lara grinned. She beat her wings and pushed Melody along even faster. She laughed as she felt the thrill overcome her fear as Lara turned her towards the waterfall. They went straight for it, the roar of crashing water growing louder. Then Lara suddenly wrapped her arms around Melody and pulled her off the lake as they ascended straight up the waterfall. Spray peppered their skin as they rose hundreds of feet up the column of falling water, and then they blasted straight past the top of it. Lara then looped backwards before continuing to fly upriver. Melody thought that was all they were going to do as they flew along, but then Lara suddenly rose into the air and stalled out, turning herself around to dive back to the river and head downstream.

"Think you can do that skating thing again?" asked Lara as she came flush with the river again.

"I think so!" said Melody. Next thing she knew she was skiing on the river with Lara pushing her along, heading straight for the waterfall. "Lara…!"

"Get ready to jump!" said Lara.

Melody's eyes widened. "Jump!? What do you mean jump!?"

"You'll see!" said Lara.

Melody looked in front of her. The edge of the waterfall was rapidly approaching. "Lara!"

"Trust me! It's gonna be great! Now crouch down, spread your arms, and get ready to fly!"

Melody realized what Lara intended. She crouched down and spread her arms straight out to the sides. Seconds later they reached the precipice, the water gaining speed as it tumbled over the edge.

"Now!" shouted Lara. Melody jumped as hard as she could as Lara gave her a shove, swan-diving off the waterfall.

The sensation was unlike anything Melody felt before. The closest feeling was when she leapt out of the ocean as a mermaid, hanging in the air for a split second before falling back to the sea. She felt herself soar without weight, mass, or limitations mass in the air. She felt it wrap around her just like the ocean would if she were a mermaid. She felt the air push up against her body and arms as if she had wings of her own. The whole thing only lasted for a few brief seconds. But for those precious moments, Melody felt as if she were flying.

Then Melody began to fall, rushing towards the water far below. She was prepared to dive into it, but suddenly Lara appeared beneath her to intercept. Melody quickly reached out and wrapped Lara's neck, knocking them both down a few feet before Lara stabilized. Moments later Lara flew out across the lake and then began rapidly climbing into the sky, heading back towards Seahaven.

"How was that!?" asked Lara as they flew towards a cloud.

"That was incredible!" exclaimed Melody, smiling as she held onto Lara. "Unbelievable! I…I…I don't have the words!"

Lara grinned. "Give it time! You'll find them!"

"How long can we do this for?" asked Melody.

"As long as you like! Just not forever! We gotta eat and sleep at some point!"

Melody looked down and saw the land shrinking away once more. She saw the endless green of the Emerald Woods in spring, and the scattered homesteads among its trees. She looked out and saw the forest spread out to the northern horizon. It suddenly struck Melody how truly vast the world was. That, though it seemed the Alliance and its surrounding lands were vast beyond comprehension, they were but a small speck on the entire world. Even the great oceans Melody adored seemed but a tiny part of something far larger and grander. And that she, Lara, her family, and everyone else were connected to it. She felt small in the face of it all. But not alone. Never alone.

"Hey, Lara?" said Melody.

"What is it?" asked Lara.

"Thank you," said Melody.

"Ah, it's nothing," said Lara. She flapped her wings, a gust of wind pushing under them. "Besides, you knighted me. I couldn't really refuse your request after that."

"No, I didn't mean this. I mean, thank you for this too. But what I really meant was thank you for everything. For all you've done. Not just for me, but everyone. And…thank you for sharing this with me. For sharing yourself with me. Thank you."

Melody leaned down as she hugged Lara tighter, nuzzling her cheek against the crook of her neck as she closed her eyes. She let herself get lost in the sensations of flying. The wind in her hair and ears. The weightlessness as she and Lara both drifted through the air. The feel of Lara's muscles as her wings beat and the heat from her body. Even in this cool air she was still warm.

"I'm really glad you came to Seahaven," whispered Melody

Lara glanced back at Melody, her lips parting slightly at the princess's words. She allowed herself a small smile before looking back to where they were flying. "So am I, Melody. So am I!"

They flew on in silence for a while, both enjoying the sensations of flying. Then Lara looked down, seeing the town of Seahaven was now beneath them. Then they entered a cloud, gray shrouding the world away from them. "We better head back soon. Before–."

Suddenly a powerful gust ripped through the cloud, catching Lara off guard. She and Melody went spinning through the haze, losing all sense of up and down. Then it ended as quickly as it came. Lara quickly righted herself, shaking her hair out of her face. "Whoa! Talk about a headwind, right Mel? Mel? Hey, Mel?"

Melody was gone. Completely gone. Suddenly a piercing scream came from below, confirming Lara's fear.

"Melody!?" Lara shouted, her panic rapidly rising.

"Lara!" Melody screamed from below.

"Melody!" Lara quickly turned and beating her wings furiously as she dove after her.


Melody fell out of the cloud seconds later. This was not like the dive off the waterfall, or Lara's freefall through the clouds. She was tumbling uncontrollably through the air as the earth rapidly approached. Sky, cloud, sea, and earth whipped by her in an ever-shifting blur. Real fear had her now. She knew in her core she would never survive this fall. She would shatter like glass the instant she hit the earth. She relaxed her hold for just a moment. Just a few brief seconds. That was all it took.

"Melody!"

Melody somehow was able to stabilize herself, hands and arms swinging wildly as she looked back. Lara was pursuing her in a full dive, wings beating hard to close the distance. Her teeth were grit with equal desperation and determination, eyes squinted against the rushing wind.

"Lara!" Melody shouted back.

Lara reached out to her. "Take my hand!"

Melody reached back as far as she could amidst her tumble. Their hands grew incrementally closer, but Melody was just out of reach. Then she slowly began to slip backwards.

It suddenly struck Melody that there was something familiar about all this. Falling through the sky in fear. Lara chasing after her. It felt as if she experienced this fall and fear before. But where she could not remember.

"Lara!" Melody screamed. "Help!"

Perhaps Melody was imagining things, but she swore she saw a brief flicker of light in Lara's eyes and hair. Then Lara gave her wings one final beat and dove forward with a burst of speed, tackling into Melody. They both went into an out-of-control spin, Lara grasping onto Melody as she threw her wings out, trying to stabilize their fall.

"I got you!" Lara shouted as they kept falling, holding Melody like a bride. She was struggling to get herself straightened out, what with Melody in her arms and the force they collided with. "I got you, Mel!"

Melody wrapped her arms tight around Lara's neck. Then she looked down and screamed again.

"Ow!" yelped Lara. "Not in my ear!"

"Lara!" Melody pointed straight in front of them. "The ground!"

Lara looked down. They were barely over a thousand feet above the ground and still free-falling! And not just the ground, but the town itself! The very heart of it! Their point of impact would be the plaza! People looked up, at first confused and then alarmed as they saw the speed the princess and her knight were falling with. There was not enough distance to complete a full stop–not at their speed. Even if Lara could slow enough to make a landing, it would be incredibly rough. She could probably walk away with a few injuries, but Melody would not walk away at all.

"We're gonna crash!" cried Melody.

Lara grit her teeth. Then she quickly ripped the goggles off Melody's head with her tail and snapped them onto her own eyes.

"Not if I can help it!" said Lara, securing her hold of Melody. "Don't let go and try not to pass out! This is gonna get rough!"

Melody though they were going to plow straight into the center of the town. Then Lara put herself into a nosedive and pulled up as hard as she could, aiming for one of the streets running through the town. People started to scatter when Lara managed to level off below the roofs of the buildings, kicking up a wind that stirred dust and caused people to shield their eyes. Melody felt light-headed, struggling to remain awake. She felt as if something immense was pressing down on her body, trying to squeeze the consciousness out of her. Her grip began to weaken as she started losing awareness. Her vision tunneled as her hearing waned.

"Wake up!" Lara shouted, feeling the strength in Melody's arms falter. "Mel, wake up!"

Melody snapped back to full consciousness. They were speeding down one of Seahaven's busiest streets. People dove out of the way, even though Lara was flying well above their heads. A tangle of clotheslines were stretched between the roofs, blocking Lara from flying up and out. Melody clutched tightly to Lara, accidentally constricting her airway.

"Mel! Mel, I can't breathe!" Lara gasped out. Her flight became unstable, wings rocking side to side as she drifted towards the buildings on her right. She pulled Melody's arm away, opening her throat up.

"Lara, watch out!" Melody exclaimed. A second later Lara's right wing began scraping the buildings, tearing a long gash across them.

"I see it!" Lara veered away from the buildings as she followed the street. It was getting progressively narrower and more crowded, the roofs going lower and bringing the ensnaring clotheslines down with them. Lara tightened her wings as she began weaving her way through the street at breakneck speed, steering clear of the clotheslines, shades, signs, and balconies lest she strike one.

Then the clotheslines came to an abrupt end, but so did the street. It branched sharply into a "T," the broad face of a building marking the end. Lara threw her wings wide as she listed hard onto her side, banking into a sharp left turn that brought her and Melody within feet of the building. Then Lara beat her wings hard and shot out along the street before climbing up and out of the hazardous town. Moments later they cleared the edge of the town, once again in secure open sky.

"Okay…we're good now!" said Lara. "You alright, Mel?"

Melody nodded, her body shaking. "I think so…you?"

"I'm okay." Lara began to slow down as she descended. "I think that's enough flying for today."

"No, wait!" said Melody.

Lara at the girl in her arms. "Mel?"

"Keep going!" said Melody. She was not looking at Lara. She was looking ahead, pointing to a gap in the palace towers. "Through there!"

"You sure?" asked Lara. "We almost just splattered all over the town! You're sure you want to keep going?"

"I'm sure!" Melody secured her hold on Lara's neck. "Come on! Please?"

Lara gave her a smirk. "Alright then! Ready for a quick spin around the palace?"

Melody nodded. "Abso-freakin'-lutely!"


Ariel almost had a heart attack when she saw Melody fall out of the sky with Lara in pursuit. The feeling persisted when they lost sight of them, only for it to vanish as Lara flew up above the cherry blossoms with Melody secure on her back. Lara started to slow, but then she beat her wings and flew faster, rising towards the highest towers.

"Wait, what is Miss Anclagon doing now?" asked Grimsby as Lara flew a tight circle around the tower before doing a barrel roll and diving down towards the garden.

Ariel laughed and shook her head, smiling. "Something Melody asked for, probably."

"Melody wanted that?" said Attina incredulously as she watched Lara fly back up and dart between a pair of towers, banking a hard circle around one before she dove off the backside of the palace.

Aquata watched the pair do a pass around the entirety of the palace. "This is Ariel and Eric'sdaughter we're talking about! Odds are fifty-fifty!"

Lara did one more loop around the palace, and then she flew back to the beach. Her return was much less dramatic than her departure. She kicked up sand as she slowed her descent, and then landed easily on the beach. Melody let go of Lara, only to stagger backwards. She looked like she was about to fall when she caught herself. Her hair was a tangled black mess, and her legs and arms were shaking visibly.

"Whoa! Easy there!" Lara caught Melody with her wing as the princess staggered again. "Don't go fainting on me now! So…" Lara pulled her goggles up onto her forehead. "What'd you think of your first flight?"

"That…was…absolutely…utterly…!" Melody paused for a moment as her balance wavered, but then she was stable again. "AMAZING!"

Lara grinned as she pulled her goggles off. "You liked it?"

"Liked it!? Lara, I loved it! I mean, I could've done without the falling part!"

"The what part!?" exclaimed everyone together.

"But that was…extraordinary!" continued Melody. "Unlike anything I could've imagined, and so, so much better!"

Lara grinned as she nodded towards the spectating royals. "You think I should…you know?"

Melody nodded enthusiastically. "Definitely!"

"Definitely what?" asked Ariel.

"We had a quick discussion on the way back," said Lara, taking her goggles off and twirling them on a finger. "And we both decided that, if I should take anyone flying next…"

Lara tossed the goggles to Ariel, who fumbled to catch them. "It should be you."

Ariel looked at the goggles, and then rolled her eyes. "Ha ha. Very funny, you two."

Lara turned to Melody and took a knee. "Do I have your permission, Princess Melody?"

Melody smiled and curtsied. "That you do, Dame Anclagon."

Ariel's expression turned fearful when Lara stood and walked towards her, tail swaying side to side. The grin on her face did not make her feel any more at ease.

"Lara, hold on a second!" said Ariel as she backed away. "You are not going to–!"

Lara was suddenly running towards her, unfurling her wings. Ariel gave a shriek of alarm and turned to run.

"Lara, wait!" said Eric, moving to intercept her. Lara spread her wings and flapped, hopping right over the top of Eric. Then she swooped down and seized Ariel like and eagle snatching a trout, hooking her arms under Ariel's shoulders and pulling her into the air.

"Better put those on, Ariel!" said Lara.

"Laaaaaaa-raaaaaaaaa!" Ariel shrieked as they climbed into the sky, her legs kicking frantically. "Put! Me! DOOOOOOWWWWWNNNNN!"


Unknown to the royal family of Seahaven, they were not the only spectators as Lara flew off with a terrified Ariel.

The Master, Remora, Ursula, and Richard stood around the enchanted pool in the Master's cavernous lair, watching as Lara flipped Ariel up onto her back, the queen clinging tightly to her neck. The titanic Riptide loomed over all of them, his giant yellow slit eyes gazing down.

"So much for turning the brat to our side," said Remora as Ariel squinted against the wind, now fumbling to put the goggles on.

"Anclagon is clearly many things," said Riptide. "But a traitor is not one of them. She was never going to betray them."

"Blame Ariel for that," said Ursula, a hint of annoyance in her voice as she folded her arms. She nodded to the image of Lara and Ariel flying under a cloud. The queen's expression turned from terror to fascination as she reached up, her fingers drawing through the fluffy vapor.

One of Riptide's eyes swiveled down to the witch. "And how do you figure that?"

"Not to boast…" started Ursula

"Too late," said Remora.

"But I have more experience with that girl and her family than all of you put together," continued Ursula, ignoring Remora's snark. "I don't know what it is about her. Maybe it's her looks. Maybe it's her voice. Maybe it's her nature. I'd even go so far as calling it magic. But whatever it is, that mermaid has an annoying knack of bringing out the best in even the worst people. That, and somehow turning the tide at the last second. Seems her daughter inherited that annoying trait as well."

The Master made a noise in his throat between a "hmm" and a growl. Though he appeared uninterested in the conversation, anyone could tell he was listening to it as intently as he was studying Lara and Ariel in the pool. His mood was unamused and–dare anyone say it–perplexed.

And why should he not be? More than any of them, the Master was someone who expected and leveraged the worst in mortals. Especially humans. He thrived off it. Bent it to his whim. One could say he built Maelstrom upon that singular assumption–that mortals were fare more prone to their wicked tendencies than their good ones. He engineered the attack on the marina with that in mind. He used it to expose Lara's monstrous side for all to see, and she showed them far more than he anticipated. That Triton wanted her dead for regicide and patricide only served the Master's goals further. He thought he could use that and the people's fear and mistrust of Lara to destroy their faith in her. To turn her into an abomination in their eyes. That he could use that fear and Lara's own pain and anger to bring her into their ranks. Or, at the very least, exploit her self-loathing and reckless altruism to bring about her end. It was only the intervention of that freak child that saved her. How she did it was beyond the Master. She used that unnatural power of hers to block his sight right after she appeared. But the method was inconsequential in the face of the results. Still, he felt sure that the paranoia and prejudice of the populace would be the final nail in Lara's coffin.

Yet what did they do when they beheld her? What was their decision when Lara's blood-soaked past and monstrous nature were laid bare before them in the marina and then in the throne room? They forgave her! More than that, they accepted her! Made her feel wanted! Knighted her in front of the entire kingdom! Promised her a home–more than that, a family! One complete with the love and support any child deserved! Even King Triton, known for his short temper and immovable ability to hold a grudge, somehow found it in himself to pardon her! It flew in the face of everything the Master knew about humans. This was not what was supposed to happen. Humans were supposed to turn against each other at the drop of a hat. To have their reason and kinship drowned by fear, hatred, and prejudice the moment anything "different" entered their world. History was littered with such testaments to the frailty of mortal decency and compassion in the face of the unknown. Yet this time he had been proven utterly wrong.

The Master had no doubt Ursula was right about the cause of this upset. Were it not for Ariel and Melody, the events he set in motion at the marina would not have culminated in this failure. Time and again they went against the current. Against what the Master intended and expected. And time and again they and those around them emerged the better for it. All without raising a blade or firing a single shot. They might only be weak, unassuming mortals. But it was now clear to the Master they could not be underestimated. Whereas Lara had the power to annihilate kingdoms, Ariel and Melody had the ability to lead kingdoms. And that could prove just as powerful.

"Either way, the kid's still kicking and still in Seahaven," said Remora, interrupting the Master's thoughts. "Which means she's still our enemy."

"Do not pretend you aren't as delighted by her defiance as you are by her survival, Remora," said the Master. Everyone but Remora flinched, all their attention directed at him. "Your display in the Vat Forest made your sentiments obvious."

Remora smirked under her mask. "Yeah. I admit, I would've gotten a kick seeing Lara stab her friends in the back. That, or seeing them stab her. But I'll take the brat as an enemy over a comrade any day."

"What a shocker," Ursula muttered sarcastically. "Still think you can take her after what she did to us in the marina?"

Remora scoffed loudly. "Don't put me on the same level as you, Ursula! As any of you! I'll kill the brat, half-dragon or not! Just get me in the same room as her and finish her for good!"

Richard chose that moment to clear his throat and turn to the master. "Speaking of finishing things, Master. When do you intend to launch our final assault? Are we not ready?"

"Feeling anxious, are we?" hissed Riptide.

"Don't think you can hold up your end of things?" asked Ursula.

"Not at all." Richard folded his arms behind his back, the dark circles around his eyes accentuating the glazed-over look to them. "Professional curiosity is all."

"That, or you hold some lingering resentment towards your former allies," said the Master. He chuckled briefly before waving a hand across the pool, causing it to turn black. "Perhaps I did not 'cleanse' you as thoroughly as I believed."

"The boy's got a point," said Remora, interrupting Richard before he could reply. "Far as I can see, we've got no reason to hold off on this slaughter any longer! We're literally just standing around wasting time at this point!"

"Patience, Remora. And all of you." The Master turned and walked away from the pool. He waved his hand and bones came rolling out of the pool, racing in front of him to form his throne. He reached it just as the last bone took its place in time for him to sit. "A war is like a fine wine. It needs time to breathe before its flavor is enjoyed to the fullest. And we've only just uncorked this one."

He brought his fingers together, the blue light of his eyes flickering as his luminous smile appeared. "Let them have these final days in the sun. Their ruin will be all the more painful for it."


Lara sat in the window seat of Melody's room, a cup of steaming tea in her hands. A kettle sat on a tray by her feet, steam rising from its pot. Lara drained the last in her cup as her tail reached down and encircled the kettle. With dexterity rivaling her own arm and hand she used her tail to refill her cup, pouring the dark amber liquid and then setting the kettle back without spilling a drop. She took a sip, the scalding hot water not fazing her in the least as it swirled in her mouth and then was directed down her throat. Lara felt the heat from it absorb into her body, joining with her strength and her magic.

She took another sip and looked out the window. It was a quiet night for once. The stars filled the sky, the sound of the ocean drifting up through the open balcony doors. There was a coolness to the air. The kind that came with the fading of spring as the earth warmed. She shifted her back, allowing her wings to find a more comfortable position.

A quiet moan drew Lara's attention to the bed. Melody shifted in her sleep under the covers, nuzzling her face against her pillow. Lara gave a half smile as she watched Melody settle, the princess's chest rising and falling as she took a deep breath before releasing it.

Lara's smile vanished as she looked back to the window. She drained her tea in one gulp and then stood, setting the cup down on the tray. She picked up her sword and walked out to the balcony, closing the doors behind her with the quiet click of the latch catching. Then she turned to face the night.

"I know you're there," Lara said sternly. "Quit hiding and get out here."

The night gave Lara no answer. It made Lara frown.

"I said get out here," said Lara more forcefully. "Now."

Still she received no answer.

"Don't make me force you," said Lara.

Again, she only received silence in return.

"You think I'm bluffing? Don't forget who I am. I'm the daughter of Bel'al, the Solar King. And he taught me more than magic and fighting. He taught me about the Eternals…" Lara grasped her sword, unsheathing an inch of steel. "Including your names. Your real name…L–."

Something seized Lara from behind, squeezing painfully hard on her neck and silencing her. She thought her head might snap off it grabbed her so fiercely. She felt her feet lift off the ground, and then darkness consumed her vision. She went tumbling through it for several long seconds, and then she was violently ejected out of it and into the night once more. She went rolling head over heels down a long sandy slope before sprawling out at the bottom.

One look at the sky and one handful of sand told Lara she was no longer in Melody's room. She was in the heart of the Devil's Steppe. There was nothing around her but a vast, endless, rolling ocean of sand dunes. She groaned as she shook her head. She reached for her sword, but quickly realized it was gone. So were her knives.

"I know perfectly well who you are, Lara Anclagon."

Lara looked up. Standing in front of her was a tall, thin woman in a flowing white dress with long bone-white hair and skin paler than alabaster. Her expression was as cold as the glare from her twin-slit teal eyes, a harsh frown on her face. It made the frigid chill of the desert feel motherly by comparison. She was both incredibly beautiful and utterly terrifying.

The two slendermen standing behind her, however, were just plain terrifying.

"Seems you, however, are forgetting who I am," said the Hive Queen. Lara could feel the reigned in anger under those words. "I'm a Hive Queen. Not some pet you can summon at your whim."

"Had to get your attention somehow," said Lara as she stood up, rubbing her neck. "Nice form, by the way. Much more human."

The Hive Queen folded her arms crossly, eyes narrowing at Lara. Her hair came alive and wrapped around her entire body, the strands turning black. The writhing mass shrunk down and then broke apart, the Hive Queen emerging in her child form.

"Leave us," said the Hive Queen as her hair turned white. The slendermen bowed and then sunk into their own shadows, vanishing without a sound. "Don't test me, Lara. Speak so much as a syllable of that name again, and you'll wish I let the fire kill you."

Lara gingerly worked her neck back and forth, wincing as it popped loudly. "Duly noted."

The Hive Queen folded her arms behind her back and turned away from Lara. "Walk with me."

Lara knew from the Hive Queen's tone it was not a request. It was an order. And given she was already on the creature's bad side with her latest stunt, she would be wise not to rile her further. She quickly jogged up and fell in step beside her, tail swaying nervously behind her.

They walked in silence for who knew how long. Minutes. Hours. It was impossible to tell out here. Time seemed to have forgotten the Devil's Steppe. Lara honestly doubted there was any other living thing out here, devil worm or otherwise. Even if there were, she doubted any life would dare come within a mile of them.

"Thank you," Lara said finally. "For–."

"I didn't do it for your sake," interrupted the Hive Queen sharply. "I did it for mine. So, keep your thanks. They're meaningless to me."

"Right…" said Lara.

"So…" the Hive Queen took a breath. "What makes Dame Lara Anclagon want my attention for a change?"

"Still not used to the 'Dame' part…" Lara wrapped her wings around herself and stopped. She thought the Hive Queen would stop as well, but she just kept walking. "I need your help."

The Hive Queen stopped five paces past Lara. She stood there, not turning to face the mage as she let silence hang between them for several long seconds. "I've half a mind to laugh. That, or break one of your arms for thinking you can say that to me after you almost spoke my name. But I can tell you're serious. I feel the uncertainty in your footsteps. I hear the fear in your heartbeats. Which means you're serious. And if you're serious, that means you're desperate. Tell me what's brought this on."

"You saw it, didn't you?" asked Lara. "What happened in the marina?"

The Hive Queen chuckled, her shoulders rising and falling with the noise. "Every last moment."

"And the Master? You saw me fight him when I…?" Lara paused, licking her lips nervously. "When I changed?"

The Hive Queen gave no movement or answer. She just stood silently.

Lara swallowed. "I need you to tell me something. When I fought him, did I–?"

"Hold your own?" interrupted the Hive Queen. She chuckled again. "You don't need me to tell you. You already know the truth, and the answer to the question you keep asking yourself. So, stop wasting both our times and say it."

Lara held up her hands, looking at them. She did not want to say it. If she said it, she would have to accept it. She would have to abide by the awful reality that came with it. But she had to accept this. She had to face this head-on. If she did not, she risked losing everything all over again. She clenched her hands tight, teeth set hard as she grimaced.

"The Master…I can't beat him," Lara said.

The Hive Queen gave no response as Lara lowered her hands. "He's strong. Stronger than any mage I've ever encountered. No one I hunted in the east compared to him. No one besides you, at least."

When the Hive Queen still gave no response, Lara continued. "When I faced him in Glowerhaven, he defeated me just with his presence. He crushed me like a bug. He could've killed me right then and there, but he didn't. When I attacked him at the marina, I had more power at my disposal than I've ever used before. Even more than when I fought you. I beat Undertow, Morgana, and all their soldiers with ease. I even brought down that serpent, Riptide. But he…he dealt with me like I was a child swinging a toy. He wasn't even trying to fight me! And…"

Lara paused for a moment, taking a deep shuddering breath. "I don't remember everything that happened after I lost control, but I remember him. I remember pieces of our fight. He held his own against me, and I don't even think he was going all out. No…I know he wasn't. He was deliberately matching me. Performing at my level so he could push me farther. Testing me to see what I could do. He could've done more. A lot more!"

Lara looked at the Hive Queen. "If I didn't know any better, I'd say he's an Eternal."

Perhaps it was the low light of the desert night, or a trick of her eyes. But Lara could have sworn she saw the Hive Queen stiffen for a fraction of a moment.

"Is that what you think?" said the Hive Queen.

"Well? Am I wrong?" asked Lara.

The Hive Queen was silent for a moment, and then she glanced over her shoulder. "Would it change anything if he was?"

Lara returned her silence before answering with a shake of her head. "No…it wouldn't." She took a step towards the Hive Queen. "Which is why I want to make a bargain with you."

The Hive Queen turned around to face Lara. She looked at her face, and then a slow grin split her mouth into an inhumanly wide and toothy smile. "I'm listening."


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 =)