Chapter 61: Revelation

Daylight waned rapidly amongst the trees, yielding the sky to twilight as it paraded in advance of the coming stars. The diurnal residents of Kodama's realm were already returning to their overnight havens, surrendering the forest to those who inhabited the night. The faeries' lights dimmed in their hanging homes as the eerie luminescence of glow moths, fireflies, and will-o'-the-wisps appeared. Large owls called to one another amongst the chorus of insects. Beasts of various forms slinked through the trees, visible for brief moments as shadows among the advancing gloom.

All of this was lost on the group inside the hollow. Ariel sat before Kodama, coated in a luminous green aura matching the glow from the Eternal's eyes. The light cast an ethereal air over the dancing firelight shadows. Melody, Sarah, Arista, and Lara sat nearby, watching silently as Kodama worked his magic upon the mermaid. Little Aria was in Arista's arms now, quiet as she nursed beneath the blanket Arista wore like a shawl. Her scales glistened with wetness, dampened with water from the nearby pond. Jenni was gone, returned to the encampment with the falling of the sun.

Kodama momentarily narrowed his eyes at Ariel, their glow increasing. Then he stepped back and closed them. The aura around Ariel disappeared. She looked herself over, then up at Kodama with confusion. He shook his head. The confusion became obvious disappointment tinged with despair.

Lara all but shot to her feet. "Whoa, wait! You can't turn her back!?"

"I cannot," confirmed Kodama. "The condition of her majesty is beyond my mending."

"But you're an Eternal!" Lara blurted out, her tail swinging in agitation. "Doing what can't be done is what sets you guys apart! How can you not transform one person!?"

Kodama turned to Lara. "What be needed is not transformation, but restoration. And there be naught to restore."

Melody stood as well. "What do you mean?"

Kodama lay down, his tails curling behind his body. "Thy mother did not suffer a remaking of her form. T'was an un-making. This newfound youth be not a façade, but the scars of a theft." A snarl exposed the tips of Kodama's teeth. "A theft most cruel."

"Okay, but why can't you change her back?" asked Arista.

"Because there's nothing to change her back into." Lara grit her teeth angrily. "The Master didn't turn Ariel into a mermaid. He reversed her life!"

Sarah shook her head. "That doesn't make sense. How can you reverse someone's life?"

Melody swallowed hard. "I think I understand what Lara's trying to say. Imagine our lives as books. Every day and every experience is a new page filled, and it keeps going till we're…well, done. Changing someone's form doesn't change the story. It's just another part of it. But what the Master didn't wasn't writing. What he did was like…like…like ripping the pages out and destroying them entirely!"

"What Mel said," added Lara.

Sarah's eyes widened. She looked at Ariel. "So…what does that mean for her?"

Lara looked at the queen as well. She could tell she was scared by what she was hearing. "As far as magic and reality are concerned, you're a sixteen-year-old mermaid and not a day older. You've never met Eric, been a human, a queen, or even a mom! That part of your life never existed!" She frowned, her expression as apologetic as it was resigned. "And you can't bring back something that's never existed."

She struck the ground with her tail, both disappointed and frustrated. "That bastard!"

Ariel looked at her hands and then at her fins. "You mean I'm stuck like this?"

Kodama nodded. "If it be thy wish, I can remake thy flesh to human form. But there be no magic, in this realm or other, that can return what never was."

"But…she's sixteen!" exclaimed Arista. "Eric's more than twice her age! He's old enough to be her father! I'm old enough that I could be her mother!"

Lara scowled. "And I'd bet the magic I've got left that's what the Master wanted. Killing Ariel would be easy. Too easy. He did this to hurt her. To hurt all of you. Even if we somehow rescue Eric and everyone else from Maelstrom, they'll pass away long before her."

A heavy sinking sensation gripped Ariel's heart. Arista and Lara were right. If she really was sixteen again, there was now a twenty-plus-year gap between her and Eric. He and her sisters would turn gray and wrinkled long before she developed the first crease of age. And mermaids were already long-lived compared to humans. She always thought they would grow old together. That they would live out their twilight years hand in hand. Now that was impossible. Her eyes started to water again, a pair of tears slipping out.

Melody went and hugged her mother. "We'll find a way to fix this, mom. I promise."

Lara frowned, scratching the back of her head with her tail as she tried to think of something to say. "Well, uh…at least he didn't undo you so far back you'll have to do puberty over again."

Melody shot Lara scathing look, but then dropped it when Ariel managed a choked laugh. "That's not funny, Lara."

"Yeah, it wasn't. I'm sorry." Lara sat down, sighing as she ran her fingers through her hair. "Kodama, you're sure there isn't anything you could do? Anything at all?"

"As said, the magic for such a feat is beyond all," said Kodama. "Even thy father, mightiest of us, would be incapable of such."

"Why not just age her?" asked Sarah. "Wouldn't that fix it?"

Kodama's air turned stern and severe, his hackles raising slightly. "Thou speaks of time, not flesh and blood. Such magics are taboo. Those who wade against its waters be fated to drown in them. Those who attempt to divert or dam its flow incur a terrible flood. And there be those who met far worse fates for trying its currents. For better or worse, the queen's story must be written anew."

"And don't forget, there's still the tracking curse to deal with," said Lara, glancing at Ariel's left arm.

Ariel wiped her eyes. "About that. I've been giving it a lot of thought."

"And?" asked Melody.

Ariel straightened up, taking a shuddering breath to compose herself. She held her arm out, the dark marks slowly turning round. "As long as this curse is on me, I'm a danger to everyone here. Knowing Ursula like I do, this was her contingency if Lara rescued me! So that I could lead Maelstrom to you! It may have been their plan all along! They could be on their way here this very minute!" She lowered her arm. "But if it's removed, they'll come here. And don't think they'll stop until they've made it in. And if they do, they'll capture or kill everyone."

"And they'll get this," said Melody. She reached under her bodice and pulled out her pendant. A pale blue radiance emanated from it as the sapphire waters gently swirled inside. "The Master wants this. And Lara's, too. He's already got two others like it. And I'm willing to bet that if he gets all four, he'll use them for something very, very bad."

"Thy reasoning be sound," said Kodama. "As so thy fears."

"What are these, anyway?" asked Lara, fishing out her own pendant. The fire inside danced and glowed. "The Master called this the Firebrand. And he called them Wellsprings."

"You don't know what that is?" asked Arista.

"No," said Lara. "I've never heard those names before."

"You said your father gave it to you," said Sarah. "What did he tell you about it?"

"Nothing, really," said Lara. "Just that it held some magic fire inside. And that it would respond to my own magic. He never said anything about Wellsprings or there being more like it. Much less it having power of its own." She looked to Kodama. "Do you know what they are?"

"I do, and I do not," said Kodama. "The Wellsprings are ancient as the realm itself. They be expressions of the elements by which this world came to be. Their origin is as great a mystery as their history and purpose, even to I. What I speak with certainty of is their might. Thou hast experienced it firsthand."

"And there were three of these inside the trident," said Melody as she tucked her pendant away. "No wonder it was so powerful."

"Yeah, I noticed," grumbled Lara. "But what would the Master want with them?"

"Only the warlock knows such things," said Kodama. "Whatever his machinations be, were he to gather all four to himself, it bodes ill for all."

"Which is why I need to leave," said Ariel.

"Wait, what!?" said Melody and Lara together.

"Leave!?" Arista tried to stand up till she remembered she had fins instead of legs. "Leave and go where!?"

"I don't know," said Ariel. "But the longer I stay here, the more danger you'll be in. If I go soon, maybe I can draw them away from this place."

"Ariel, no!" protested Arista. "You're not leaving!"

"She's right!" said Melody. "You can't go! Especially by yourself!"

"There's no other way!" said Ariel. "If I stay here, Maelstrom will find this place!"

"And Kodama will protect us!" said Arista.

"That's not an excuse!" Ariel said, cutting off Kodama before he could speak. "Even if that's true, and he does keep them out, Maelstrom will not stop! They'll keep coming again and again and again! It doesn't matter how powerful Kodama is! I can't put our people in any more danger!"

"If you leave, you'll be the one in danger!" said Arista. Aria squirmed in her arm, upset by the volume of her mother's voice. "Is that what Eric would want!? What daddy would want!?"

A lump formed in Ariel's throat, stopping her words.

"Dad's not here!" Melody shouted. Aria started to cry, her meal forgotten.

"Shh. Shh. It's all right," Arista whispered soothingly, gently bouncing her baby.

"He's not here," Melody said, her voice quieter now. "Neither is grandfather. Even if they were, there's no trident or Alliance to help us anymore. I don't know about grandfather, but I know dad would agree with mom. If Maelstrom finds this place, they'll do everything in their power to get in. He wouldn't risk the safety of our subjects, even with Kodama here. And he wouldn't give Maelstrom the chance."

"Which means there's only one thing we can do," said Lara. "Ariel and I have to leave."

Ariel shook her head. "Lara, I need you to–."

"Go with you," interrupted Lara. "My thoughts exactly."

"That's not what I was going to say."

"I know, but it's what's gonna happen." said Lara. "Because I'll tie you to one of these trees before I let you go off on your own. I don't like it, but I agree that we need to get you away from here. I don't doubt Kodama could hold Maelstrom. He could do it in his sleep. But I also don't doubt they'd keep hammering away no matter what, or that they'll use their prisoners as cannon fodder to do it."

"You think they'd really do that?" said Ariel.

"They've got Sable–I mean, Remora on their side," said Lara. Her hands tightened into fists. "Believe me, that witch has absolutely no regard for life. She'd sacrifice the entire Alliance if that's what it took to get us. I'm not willing to risk that any more than you are. But sending you out into the world alone is doing Maelstrom's job for them. Even if you get legs, you don't know how to survive out there. I do. And I'm the best chance you've got if Maelstrom does catch up with you."

"But–!"

Lara folded her arms, tail swinging sharply to the side. "No buts! I'm going with you, and that's the end of it!"

"So am I!" said Melody.

Lara turned to her. "Okay, now that I have some issues with."

"So do I!" said Ariel.

"There's no buts about this either!" said Melody. "Maelstrom wants me just as much as you two! If they find out I'm here, it'll be no different than if we stayed!"

"If they find us, they will kill us, take the Wellsprings, and use them for who-knows-what!" said Lara.

"They'll kill us no matter where we are!" Melody countered. "And I'd rather they kill me than put these people in danger! They are all that's left of the Alliance, Lara! If Maelstrom gets to them, it's gone forever! It's my duty as much as yours to keep them safe! And the only way I can do that is by going with you!"

Lara stared at Melody. Just the look in her eyes told her she was not going to win this argument. If they left without her, Melody would follow after them. And she was as much of a target for Maelstrom as herself and Ariel. Maelstrom wanted them, and they were not going to stop till they caught them, or worse. If they stayed here, all the refugees would be caught in the crossfire. And Kodama's realm would not know peace so long as they remained.

Lara sighed. "Fine. All three of us, then. We go together."

Melody nodded. "Together."

Arista reached out, taking Ariel's hand. "Ariel, please! If Maelstrom finds you, they'll –!"

"Whatever they might do, Arista, it's nothing compared to how I'd feel if Maelstrom found you because of me." Ariel gave her sister's hand a squeeze. "I'll be safe. I'll have Lara and Melody with me."

"I'll protect them with my life," said Lara. "You can count on that."

"You better!" warned Arista. "Because if you don't, Maelstrom will be the least of your worries!"

"Duly noted."

"Do you even know where you'll go?" asked Sarah.

"No," said Lara. "But probably keep heading east and put the mountains between us and them. There's a habitable band along the foothills before the Devil's Steppe."

"Devil's Steppe?"

"Sand Ocean, as you call it. We get to that, and we can decide where to go from there."

Sarah stood up. "Not to put a damper on your 'plan,' but this still doesn't do anything about Maelstrom itself. They have the entire Alliance under their control, not to mention our friends and families as their prisoners! I don't know about you, but I don't think they're going to stop! Which means they can't be left alone! How do we stop them?"

The mood dampened as though a storm cloud opened overhead. A heavy silence hung over the group as they all remembered the enormity and savagery of the foe before them.

"We can't," said Lara as she sat down again.

"There has to be something we can do!" said Sarah.

"There isn't." Melody sighed sadly. "It wasn't just Seahaven, remember? They defeated all the other kingdoms, too. And they didn't have Lara or a trident to fight back with."

"Which means they probably fared even worse," said Lara. She flicked a pebble with her tail, sending it flying out the doorway. "Even if I still had my magic and my sword and the trident and a decent power boost, Maelstrom has an entire army. Strihaven probably cost them some of their forces, but not enough to do any real damage. And they still have Ursula, Riptide, and Remora. Even Morgana's still kicking. Not to mention…" She paused to swallow. "Not to mention him."

Melody swallowed as well. "You think Richard was telling the truth? That he's still alive?"

"Yeah. He's alive." Lara rubbed her arms as though she felt a chill. "Destroying the trident hurt him, but it didn't kill him. He'll be back, and sooner than we'd like. I'm sure of it. If we cross paths again, it's not gonna end well for us. All the more reason to put distance between us while we can."

Melody looked to Ariel. "Is there anyone we could go to for help? Any kingdoms we could call on?"

"There's plenty!" said Ariel. "Corona, Arendelle, and Avalor for starters! And I can imagine most of them would be willing to help! But we'd have to get to the sea and charter a ship to reach them! And you saw what Maelstrom did! Even if we got the armies of every single kingdom we call friends, they couldn't defeat that!"

"Ariel's right," said Lara. "Maelstrom's weaponry is already superior to what they're using on the battlefields in the eastern kingdoms, if only just. They're not an enemy we can beat with numbers alone. Even if we had an army of ten thousand, swords and arrows aren't gonna work against guns and metal. Neither is run-of-the-mill magic. Are there even any kingdoms around here with mages in them?"

"Some," said Ariel. "Eric and I met a few during our travels along the western shores. But they're all alchemists and healers and such. Most people outside the Alliance think magic is a myth, just like mermaids. That, or it's gone from the world. All that aside, there's no one comparable to you, Lara. Daddy was the only one who came even close, and that was only because he had the trident."

"And now that's gone, along with my sword." Lara ran her hands through her hair, the orange strands slipping between her fingers. "Even if my magic was still at its peak, I can't take them on alone. Morgana and Ursula, sure. I could handle Riptide on a good day. But Remora's another matter, and I'd be toast if the Master showed up. We can't ask the other Eternals for help, either. Even if we could find them, they'd give the same answer as the Hive Queen."

"The dame's presumption be correct," said Kodama. "We do not intervene in the affairs of mortals. Including thy wars. Aid some may provide. But soldiers we will not be."

"Then what are we supposed to do!?" asked Sarah. "Just hide here while you run away!?"

"Watch your voice!" hissed Arista. "I just got Aria quiet again!"

"It's the only thing we can do, Sarah," said Lara. "I don't like it any more than you. But we go up against Maelstrom now, and we're dead. If that happens, it's all over."

The silence that followed was as grim as it was long. All of them were wracking their minds for something to give them a sliver of hope, and Ariel was no exception. She stared into the dancing flames of the fire, searching for an answer amongst them. Something that could give them a means of fighting fight back against their foe rather than cower in hiding. Nothing came to mind. They had allies, but none that could do anything of significance against Maelstrom. If anything, they would share the same fate as the Alliance. They had no army to speak of, nor the means of raising one. And no magic that could oppose Maelstrom's collection of witches and monsters. Against such a force, they had almost no hope.

Lara sighed again, resting her forehead on her hands. "I wish dad were here. He'd be able to think of something. He might even help."

Ariel's heart leapt into her throat. Bel'al! She forgot about him! He was still alive! Trapped by her grandfather's curse somewhere in the world! If they could find him, maybe he could help them! But his warning rang clear in her mind. One word of his existence to anyone, and there would be repercussions beyond herself. She could not add that to their current troubles. Even if they could find him, how would they free him? Her heart dropped into the pit of her stomach.

'Tell her.'

The hairs on Ariel's neck stood up. There was the dragon's voice, as loud and clear as if he were standing next to her. She blinked, and suddenly the hollow was gone. She found herself sitting before a very different fire. One within an infinite dark void, its light casting shadows onto nothing. And across from the fire stood Bel'al, his dragon form no less imposing even at human size. His four eyes met hers, glowing with power and flame.

"Tell her," Bel'al repeated.

"But…" Ariel straightened up. "You said to never tell anyone about you. That it was too risky for anyone to know you're still alive."

"The time for silence has ended," said Bel'al. "There is nothing to be gained by secrecy of my survival. However, there is much to be lost. And without my intervention, it will come to pass."

"I thought Eternals don't interfere with human events," said Ariel. "Or merfolk ones, either."

"In other times, you would be correct." Bel'al folded his arms together, wings wrapping around himself like a cloak. 'But those are times of peace, growth, and joy. Now come times of strife, of grief, and of bloodshed. What befell the Alliance is the start of a dark and ceaseless campaign. Our daughter's efforts stalled them but did not end their advance. In time, they will return, in force and with aspirations beyond these lands. Left unchecked, Maelstrom will spread across the realm as a blighting cataclysm. One you do not have the power to halt."

"But you do?" asked Ariel.

"I do," said Bel'al.

"And you would help us?" The dragon nodded. Ariel swallowed. "Why? Kodama and the Hive Queen already said they won't. So why you?"

"It is not the way of the Hive Queen or Kodama to intervene in such matters," said Bel'al. He stepped through the fire and knelt before Ariel. "For Kodama, these are but a surface nuisance upon the hide of the world, their consequence negligible before the march of time and the endurance of nature. For the Hive Queen, they hold no interest so long as they present no threat to her children or intrigue to herself. I am different. My race was born to confront the insurmountable. Tasked to ensure the survival of this realm. It is not our way to stand idle when evil stains tide and rock with innocent blood and turns fertile ground to barren dust. Nor to allow such barbarism to go unanswered. I have aided you thus far, and I will aid you further. I have already seen to the survival of your people."

Ariel gasped. "Atlantica!? You mean–!?"

"The kingdom fell to the Master's power, as did your father," said Bel'al. "But not all of its people fell into his grasp."

"Where are they!?" asked Ariel.

"Far from Maelstrom's sight, and further from their reach," said Bel'al as he stood. "Traveling to waters that will shelter them from the coming storm. To my waters."

The fire began to wane, growing smaller and dimmer. The Solar King grew further away, yet he did not take a step.

"Wait!" Ariel shouted. She rose to chase after him, only to fumble and fall as she learned her fins followed her into this unknown realm. A tongue of flame leapt off the fire and landed on Ariel's hand, sinking into her skin. A glowing orange circle with a line piercing through it appeared on the back of her hand.

"Show this to Lara," said Bel'al. "So she will know you speak the truth. Then seek me out, the three of you."

"Hold on!" Ariel called to him. "How do we find you!? And how do we free you!?"

"Kodama knows the road to those answers," called back Bel'al. "The journey will be long and perilous, but it can be done! Hold fast to hope, and trust in each other! Do so and we shall meet again! And do not return to human form till that day comes, or your quest may be in vain!"

"Wait!" Ariel yelled. She blinked again, and she was back in the hollow, hand outstretched to someone who was no longer there.

"Mom?" said Melody. "Are you okay?"

Ariel looked around. Everyone was staring at her with worried expressions. All except Kodama. There was a recognition in his eyes, as though he were present through the entirety of Ariel's conversation with the dragon. He gave a single nod, answering the question she had yet to ask.

"Mom? I said are you okay?" Melody asked. "You were staring off at nothing. Then you just shouted out and grabbed at something."

"I'm okay," said Ariel. "And…there's something I need to tell you all. Especially you, Lara."

"Me?" said Lara.

"It's about your father."

Lara stiffened immediately. "What about my dad?"

"He…he's, um…the truth is…it's going to sound crazy, but I'm going to say it anyway." Ariel took a deep breath, then looked Lara directly in the face. "Your father is alive."

Lara did not say anything. She showed no emotion on her face. She just stared at Ariel, silent as everyone else. It was silent inside the hollow, yet Ariel's words echoed loudly in everyone's ears.

"Lara?" said Ariel.

"What…did you…say?" said Lara.

"Your father. He's not dead." Ariel shifted her fins to the side. "He's alive. The Solar King is alive."

Lara scowled. "Ariel, if this is your idea of a joke, it's the worst I've ever heard!"

"It's not a joke!" said Ariel. "I swear it! He is alive!"

"That's impossible!" Lara quickly stood up again. "I saw him die! I watched him drown!"

"He didn't drown! He's trapped by a curse, but he's not dead! I've spoken with him!"

Lara shook her head. "There's no way! No curse could hold him! He's too powerful for that! He has to be dead!"

Melody placed a hand on Ariel's shoulder. "Mom, are you sure you–?"

"Yes!" Ariel almost shouted. "I know it sounds crazy! Honestly, I feel a little crazy just saying it! But it's the truth! I'll prove it! Ask me something about him! Something only you and he would know!"

"I'm not playing this game!" Lara said tersely. She turned and marched towards the doorway, her tail swaying sharply in agitation.

"Lara, wait!" Ariel called. "Please! Trust me! Would I lie to you!?"

Lara stopped in the doorway.

"I know it's hard to believe!" said Ariel. "I can understand why you're upset!"

Lara glared back over her shoulder. "Can you?"

"Yes! Believe me, I do! If someone suddenly blurted out of nowhere that my mother was still alive, I'd be angry, too! I never want to go through all that grief and heartache ever again! But you know me! And I know how much he means to you! I would never make up something like this!"

Lara's kept looking at her, eyes stern and hard. Ariel could tell she was still considering walking out that doorway. Then she turned to face her. "Fine. Then prove it. Show me something that could only mean he's still alive. Something that couldn't have any other explanation. Do that, and I'll believe you."

Ariel felt something hot on the back of her right hand. She looked down and saw Bel'al's mark starting to appear. She held her hand up, turning it for Lara and the others to see. Lara's eyes widened as the mark materialized in full. She marched up to Ariel, grabbing her wrist. "Where did you get that?"

"Just now," said Ariel. "When I was out of it, I was talking with Bel'al. He told me to tell all of you that he's alive. And to show this so you'd believe me."

"That's impossible," breathed Lara. She ran her thumb over the mark, as if expecting it to smudge and disappear. It did not. "That's dad's mark! Just like his eyes!" She looked to Kodama. "Is he…is he really…?"

Kodama nodded. "The mermaid speaks only truth to thee. The Solar King be robbed of his freedom and much of his might. But his life and his will remain."

"And this isn't the first time we spoke," said Ariel. "He came to me shortly after you became Melody's guardian. He told me he put an enchantment on Melody so Morgana couldn't invade her dreams anymore."

"He did what!?" said Melody.

"And at the hospital!" continued Ariel. "While Arista was giving birth. He came to me again, and he told me how you two met. He found you on a beach. You were almost dead. He tried to heal you, but you kept fading. You'd given up on life. So, he gave you a choice. He could keep you comfortable until you passed away. Or he could try to save you by giving you his blood. The odds were against you, even with him doing it. But if he succeeded, he'd let you live with him so you wouldn't have to be alone anymore. And he'd train you so that you'd never be helpless again."

As she spoke, Ariel saw the confusion in Lara's face turn to astonishment. She already told Ariel and everyone else this part, but not in those words.

"When you answered him, your voice was so quiet he had to lean down to hear," continued Ariel. "And your answer was, and I quote, 'Do your worst, you–!'"

"Overgrown lizard," Lara said with Ariel. Her lips parted in perplexed astonishment. "How…how do you know that!? I didn't tell you that! I didn't tell anyone that!"

"He also warned me that Maelstrom was going to start a war!" added Ariel. "And that we needed to trust you if we wanted to survive it! I didn't know who he was then! I didn't know who he was at all until after Maelstrom attacked the marina! I wanted to tell you, but he said doing that could put you and him in jeopardy."

Lara stood, stepping back from Ariel. "You're telling me that…my dad…he's…he's still alive?"

Ariel nodded. Lara looked to Kodama and he nodded as well. She backed further away, her breaths becoming faster. "He's alive? He didn't die?"

"Yes!" said Ariel. "And he wants to help us!"

Lara looked down at her hands. "He's been alive this entire time?" Her expression hardened, her hands tightening into fists as her teeth clenched. "And he didn't tell me? He didn't help me!?"

A knot immediately formed in Ariel's stomach. She did not like the angry change in Lara's tone.

"Everything that's happened!" shouted Lara, her arms shaking with anger. "The eastern kingdoms! Bounty hunting! Lao-Xan! Yumi! Maelstrom! Everything I went through! That we went through! He was still alive, and he didn't say anything! Didn't do anything!"

"Lara, it wasn't like that!" said Ariel.

"Five years!" Lara yelled. The air around her started to heat up, a glow coming to her hair and eyes. "Five years I wandered through that eastern Pit-scape looking for a way back to him! And he could've just told me!?"

"He's cursed!" said Ariel. "He couldn't–!"

Lara screamed and turned to the wall, punching it with her fist. It went straight through, sending cracks racing across the wall. She struck it again and then kicked it hard, knocking a large part of the wall down. Aria started crying again, upset by the noise.

"He's the Solar King!" Lara shouted. She punched another section of wall away. "He's the strongest mage there ever was! The strongest Eternal! Practically a god! But he wouldn't even shift a scale to help his own daughter!?" She spun back to face Ariel. The glow in her hair and eyes was even stronger now. "He could've prevented all of this! I could've gone home! I wouldn't have become a huntress! I wouldn't have killed all those people! He could've saved Yumi! He could've stopped Mael–gah!"

Lara dropped to her knees and doubled over, screaming as she clutched her face. Her hair flickered as the orange incandescence began to darken, the first traces of crimson appearing in it as a fiery orange aura appearing around her. The Firebrand began glowing as well, the light growing more intense by the second. Ariel felt the pressure a split second later. It was not like the crushing, tyrannical presence of the Master's foul sorcery. This was a rampaging, blazing pressure like a wildfire burning beyond all control, lashing out with flames so hot no water could hope to douse it.

Kodama shot to his feet, eyes aglow and fixed on her. "Control thyself, magus!"

"Lara!" shouted Melody, running to her friend. "Lara, what's–!?"

Lara snarled angrily and swung an arm at Melody. A wall of hot air slammed into the princess, sending her rolling back. She would have hit the wall had Kodama not caught her with a tail. Lara screamed again, clutching at her face in anguish as she thrashed her head about. A palpable heat was coming off her now, growing stronger by the second as her aura turned red. Arista quickly backed away, dragging herself with one arm as she clutched a now wailing Aria in the other.

"Lara, snap out of it!" said Sarah. "What's gotten into you!?"

She got her answer when Lara lifted her face. Her expression was one of utter rage, brow furrowed deeply and teeth bared as she screamed in both pain and rage. But what was even more unsettling were her eyes. Her right eye was glowing solid red, and her left was rapidly turning the same color. There was a bleeding slit directly above her right eye, and another appeared above her left as her hair turned completely red. Glowing orange lines were crawling down her skin, smoke rising off her as they advanced.

Ariel's eyes widened. She knew exactly what was happening. "No! Stop! Don't do it, Lara!"

Lara snarled again. She leapt at Ariel, but Kodama was faster. The branches of his antlers grew forth and snared Lara by her neck and limbs, pinning her to the ground. Lara screamed and bellowed as she clawed at the dirt, tail whipping about furiously. Fire burst off her back as her wings reformed.

"What's happening to her!?" asked Melody.

"She is lost!" said Kodama. "A small ship tossed about amidst the tempest of her own anger!"

"It's what happened at the marina!" said Ariel. "Remember what I told you? After Morgana almost killed you? This is how it started!"

Melody's eyes widened. "What!?" She turned to Lara. "Lara, you have to stop! Please!"

Lara did not hear her. She screamed again, more a bestial roar than a human voice. Black smoke issued from her mouth as she took heavy harsh breaths. The aura around her was growing stronger and redder by the second.

Kodama growled, his eyes glowing. "Her mind is no longer present!"

"Do something!" shouted Melody. "She'll destroy everything if she keeps going!"

Lara roared, and then she suddenly clenched her eyes closed. She shook her head vigorously, grunting as streaks of orange appeared in her now red hair.

"Lara!?" said Sarah. "Lara, can you hear us!?"

Lara gave no reply. Her right eye flew open, revealing its golden coloration for a moment before it turned red again. The orange streaks faded from her hair. She screamed and slammed her face hard into the ground, drawing blood from her nose and lip. The blood caught fire seconds later, burned to tendrils of smoke that began spiraling around her.

"Lilith!" Lara shouted.

Kodama's eyes widened. "Daft, woman! Thou be daft!"

"Who is Lilith!?" asked Arista.

"That would be me!"

The Hive Queen appeared out of thin air, standing right beside Lara. Her child-like face split in an immense toothy grin as she beheld the berserk mage. "Ah! So that's why!"

"Leave her be, Empress!" barked Kodama. "Her wits are not her own!"

"I know! Exciting, isn't it?" She flickered out of sight for an instant, and Lara along with her. She reappeared with Lara bound tightly by her hair, flailing and screaming madly.

"Let her go!" shouted Ariel.

The Hive Queen laughed. "Not a chance! Lara owes me a dance, and I'm here to collect while the music's playing!"

"Unhand her!" snarled Kodama. His branches shot for them, but the Hive Queen was faster. Before anyone could say or do anything, she and Lara vanished. Melody ran to where they disappeared from, but there was nothing save the marks on the ground.

"Where are they!?" she shouted, spinning around. "Where did they go!?"

Kodama perked his ears, then looked out the doorway. "They are far from us. In yonder ocean of sand and sun."

"You mean they're in the Sand Ocean!?" exclaimed Sarah. "But that's…how!?"

"You have to get her back!" said Ariel.

"The daughter of Bel'al is drowned in her ire now," said Kodama. "There is no cure to a dragon's wrath save time and expenditure. And rare few who can withstand it."

Melody ran up to Kodama. "She's going to kill her!"

"Doubtful." Kodama looked at Melody. "If death were her aim, Anclagon would be with Her already. Methinks the creature's goal is far more selfish."


The Hive Queen re-entered existence on top of a sand dune, Lara's clutched tightly in her hair. She spun and tossed Lara down the face of the dune. She rolled out of control down the slope. Crimson fire grew off her skin as she went, leaving patches of burning sand in her wake. She stopped at the bottom, screaming and writhing as she radiated heat like a furnace. Black smoke was pouring out her mouth now, the lines on her skin turning red by the second.

"That's more like it!" The Hive Queen cackled gleefully, a maniacal smile splitting her face. Lara found her footing, staggering about as she raged. The red flames now covered most of her body, and there was a heated glow inside her mouth. She screamed and swung her left wing out. There was a crack like thunder as a blast of air erupted off her, striking a sand dune and blowing it away.

"Come on!" shouted the Hive Queen. "Keep going! It's just you, me, and a thousand miles of empty desert for us to play in! No reason to hold back!"

A/N: "Thoughts and Prayers" by Motionless In White

Black obsidian shards burst out of Lara's shoulders and back, causing her to scream even louder. The sand underneath her melted, causing Lara to slowly sink into the liquid glass. Her voice changed with each scream. She whipped her face up, glaring at the Hive Queen. Her eyes were glowing solid red, and a third luminous crimson eye opened above her right one. Burning holes appeared in her wings. Her pained screams turned into hate-filled roars as she stared the Hive Queen down, the smoke thickening as more black shards erupted across her body. Her blood dripped onto the desert, igniting as it touched the ground. Wind radiated off her, kicking up a sandstorm's worth of blinding grit.

"That's it!" said the Hive Queen. Darkness spread across her arms and legs as a glow came to her teal twin-slitted eyes. She clacked her sharp teeth together as black crack-like marks crawled up her neck and onto her face. "Let it out! All that rage! All that pain! All that hatred! Give it to me!" She raised a hand and made a "come here" motion. "Let's play!"

Lara snarled at her, a wash of scalding air pouring out her mouth and melting the sand around her. Six backward swept horns erupted out of her head as a fourth red eye opened above her left one. The red flames engulfed her completely as she threw her head back and roared to the sky. A massive explosion went off, forcing the Hive Queen to shield her face as a torrent of superheated air and spray of molten sand came flying at her. Sand dunes were leveled in seconds as the blast rolled outwards, scarring the desert. The roar of wind mixed with the shrieks and screams of devil worms, all fleeing into the desert as fast as their verminous bodies would allow. A roiling pillar of black smoke and red flame rose into the night sky, the stars turning red as the influence of Lara's rage spread through the air. The chaotic pillar spun and howled, and then it rapidly collapsed on itself and sank. The fires swelled as it descended, and then exploded again. The Hive Queen kept grinning as the flames went out, revealing Lara's monstrous dragon-esque form. Her four red eyes stared directly at the Eternal, molten saliva dripping from her elongated black jaws. The red lines on her armor pulsated like a heartbeat as she growled deep in her throat, the sound vibrating the air. The bladed tip of her tail dragged through the sand, leaving a trail of molten spitting glass behind.

The Hive Queen laughed loudly. "Finally! What I was promised!"

Lara roared and then launched herself at the Hive Queen, throwing up a massive plume of melted sand. She swung hard at the Hive Queen, intending to rip her head off with her blazing claws. The Hive Queen nimbly dodged aside, and again as Lara swung down at her. Her claws struck the desert with obliterating force. Sand and fire went flying in all directions. The Hive Queen drew a hand back and swung, striking Lara across the face. She went tumbling away, crashing through a sand dune before skidding to a stop. She leapt to her feet, hissing angrily. Then both Lara and the Hive Queen vanished. Barely a second later the desert burst with flashes and thunder from dozens of explosions. Beams of plasma-like flame, balls of red fire, and visible shockwaves went flying about in a storm, annihilating everything in their path. It was impossible for the human eye to follow what was happening. One moment the destruction was here, the next it erupted a mile away, and then somewhere else just as quickly. All that could be seen or heard was the inferno of devastation inflicted on the land as Lara engaged with her foe, leaving a path of devastation in their wake.

The Hive Queen appeared on top of a dune, smiling as her hair settled. "Better! That's much better than last time!"

Lara reappeared on a nearby dune, hissing as she ground her feet into the sand. It melted instantly, pouring down the slope like water. She growled and then bellowed at the Hive Queen, flames licking at her teeth. Even from afar the heat caused the sand to incandesce.

"But if all you can do is chase me around and glass this desert…" The Hive Queen cocked her head over. "You're going to disappoint me again."

Lara's eyes flashed and she roared at the Hive Queen again before flying directly at her. The air rent around her, struggling to slow her as she charged her foe.

The Hive Queen cocked her head over. "You think you can charge me head on and–?"

The glowing red lines flared on Lara's body. She suddenly accelerated, tearing the air apart with a loud boom. She flickered out of sight and then reappeared in front of the Hive Queen, swinging an incandescent fist at her. The Hive Queen quickly swung an arm out, blocking Lara's blow. She thought she stopped it, but then Lara's fist exploded. The Hive Queen found herself assaulted by a savage heat and launched backwards, tumbling head over heels through the air. She saw the top of a dune coming and righted herself, feet skimming the top as she went into a series of controlled flips before landing at the base of the dune. She did not have time to rest, however, as Lara came blasting out of the dune in a shower of sand and flames. She lunged to bite the nyctophile's head, but the Hive Queen's right hand came apart into ropy black tendrils that speared for her face. Lara slipped past them and bit into the Hive Queen's arm. Her teeth and the heat sheared right through her, severing the arm at the shoulder. Lara spat it out as she roared, lunging to bite the Hive Queen's head again. The creature's hair intervened, wrapping Lara's mouth and binding it shut. Lara's growls were muffled as she swung at the Hive Queen with her hands, only to have them bound by the hair as well. Lara pressed against it, momentarily gaining ground, but the Hive Queen forced her claws back.

"Not bad!" the Hive Queen chuckled, smirking as she stared into Lara's eyes. Suddenly Lara grabbed hold of the creature's hair as her tail whipped around and encircled her waist. The Hive Queen kept smirking. "You've caught me. Now what?"

Lara's eyes flashed. Suddenly a pair of glowing circles appeared on her wings, and then copies of her own dragon head emerged, mouths agape and glowing with searing flames and magic. A loud hum filled the air as their magic grew. The Hive Queen's eyes widened. She quickly swung her left arm at Lara, trying to knock her back. The blow cracked Lara's chest plate, but she would not let go. Twin blasts of fire erupted from the dragon heads, the Hive Queen lost in the blinding twin beams that raked across the desert towards the horizon, leaving a molten road through the waste. Suddenly there was a snap and a loud booming, and then Lara went shooting backwards. She went through one dune and then another before tumbling up the side of a third, righting herself near the top. Suddenly Lara turned around, snatching at thin air. The Hive Queen appeared, neck tightly in Lara's clutches. The nyctophile's left arm was gone as well, only a charred stump at the shoulder remaining. Lara hissed angrily at her, a shower of sparks spewing out her mouth.

"O-ho!" the Hive Queen choked out in surprise. Lara turned and slammed her as hard as she could against the ground. The earth shook and trembled as sand went flying, leaving Lara and the Hive Queen in the middle of a large crater. Lara spun and threw the Hive Queen into the air, then launched herself after the creature. She roared as she drove a burning knee straight into the Hive Queen's gut. She gagged as the wind was driven out of her, speckles of black blood flying out her mouth. Then the air tore and she went rocketing away, arcing miles through the desert sky. Lara went after her, catching up in seconds. She drew her hands overhead, a large fireball forming between them. The Hive Queen turned to face her right as Lara swung down, smashing the fireball directly into her. Fire and Eternal went shooting down into the sand, and then were lost in a blinding explosion. A cloud of fire burst towards the stars, lighting up the desert like a flash of sunlight before fading, a black mushroom cloud swelling into the sky. Lara inhaled and then spewed a beam of fire straight into the cloud, igniting a second explosion. She threw her head back and roared, the noise carrying far into the night as the fire burned below.

Suddenly the cloud burst apart from a rushing wave of air. The Hive Queen stood in the middle of the molten crater, looking up at Lara. Her child form was abandoned in favor of her adult one. Her white dress billowed in the air, black soot marks smeared across it and her skin. She looked to the stumps of her arms. The wounds quivered a moment, and then black tendrils burst out of them. They wound together tightly, reforming the lost limbs in seconds. The Hive Queen flexed her hands and smiled, looking at the crater Lara made. She looked up at Lara, her smile growing.

"Delicious!" She cricked her neck side to side, her long black tongue licking her lips. "Give me another taste!"

Lara snarled and dove at her, slashing for her face. The Hive Queen sidestepped the blow, grabbing Lara's wrist and then spinning around. She threw Lara away, who quickly righted herself with her wings. The Hive Queen immediately attacked, appearing in front of Lara and burying a fist in the side of her face. A new crack appeared in Lara's armor before she went flying with a noise like ten cannons exploding. The Hive Queen vanished and reappeared in Lara's path, spinning and kicking her in the spine to send her shooting back the way she came. Her hair went shooting after Lara, snaring her neck and yanking her back. The Hive Queen nailed her in the face again and then vanished to get in front of her.

This time Lara was expecting and ready. She spun, knocking the Hive Queen's fist aside with her tail before smashing her own radiant fist into the Eternal's face. The resulting explosion engulfed both of them, and then that was blown apart as the Hive Queen's counterpunch sent Lara into the sky. The Hive Queen leapt after her, landing a hard uppercut on Lara's jaw before spinning and kicking her in the stomach. Lara spread her wings to stop herself as the Hive Queen landed on the ground, barely rustling the sand. She roared, unleashing a small luminous fireball that darted through the air like an angry hornet. It streaked towards the Hive Queen, who raised a hand and swatted it.

The moment she touched it, however, the fireball exploded with devastating force. The desert was pushed away by the blast, the Hive Queen lost in the fire. Then she leapt out of it, landing on a dune clutching her hand. It was a mangled, charred black thing now, broken and useless as it continued to burn. The Hive Queen grimaced and then cackled. She opened her maw wide and shoved her hand in, biting the ruined hand clean off. No blood came from her wound as she chewed and then swallowed. The stump on her wrist filled with writhing tendrils as her hand reformed.

Lara roared, drew in a deep breath, and then breathed out a swarm of the same small fireballs. They descended after the Hive Queen, chasing her down as they blasted craters into the desert. The blasts kept missing her barely, the Hive Queen laughing the entire time. Then she suddenly vanished, reappearing behind Lara. Her right arm broke apart into more black tendrils as she drew it back, and then she sent them spearing at Lara. The tendrils pierced through her armor and out the other side, driving Lara into the earth. She bellowed as they pinned her to the ground like an insect specimen. The Hive Queen landed, an immense smile on her face. Lara suddenly roared, a dome of fire erupting off her body. The Hive Queen's tendrils were turned to ash instantly. Then Lara came shooting out of the blaze and tackled the Hive Queen around the middle. They went rolling down the dune, tearing into each other with blows that sounded like a rockslide. They separated as they reached the bottom, only to rush back in and lock hands. Lara roared at the Hive Queen as she let loose a screaming hiss in response, that smile still plastered on her face.

"More!" the Hive Queen shouted. "I want more, Lara!"

Suddenly the Hive Queen kicked Lara in the chest, sending her tumbling away. She struck a dune and blew it apart, rolling head over tail across the sand. The Hive Queen pointed a blackened finger at her, the tip turning sharp as a needle. Lara just found her footing when the Hive Queen's finger sent a tendril shooting out faster than any bullet, piercing Lara through the shoulder before retracting it near-instantly. Lara roared as fire burst out of the hole left in her, and again as the Hive Queen "shot" her through the other shoulder and stomach in quick succession. The Hive Queen laughed as she began rapid firing at Lara, filling her with holes. Lara kept trying to attack, only for the Hive Queen's assault to stop her each time. Her burning blood was scattered all around her, melting down into the sand.

"Come on!" yelled the Hive Queen. "Don't just stand there! Fight back! This can't be all you have!"

Lara's eyes flashed. Suddenly she bit to her right, the Hive Queen's tendril clutched in her jaws. The tendril turned incandescent and exploded, the glow traveling back down the tendril with supersonic speed. The Hive Queen quickly slashed through her finger with her other hand, cutting it off completely. Seconds later the glow reached the end of the severed digit and exploded, striking the Hive Queen with a wall of heat and fire. Lara charged right at the Hive Queen and grabbed her, pulling her in close and wrapping her with her arms and tail. Her skin burned against Lara's igneous hide, yet she kept smiling.

"Interesting!" Tendrils erupted out of the Hive Queen's body, piercing Lara all over. She roared with pain as she was turned into a living pincushion. "And how did this work out for you?"

She got her answer when Lara's entire body started to glow. The Hive Queen's eyes widened, her smile expanding. "Ooh! Very interesting! Go ahead! Give it your best shot!"

Lara roared again as her body turned incandescent orange. The Hive Queen's laughter turned to screams as she caught fire, and then she and Lara were lost inside an expanding, rotating dome of searing flames. The blast crept outward like a newborn sun, consuming the desert in a false dawn. It kept spreading till it was over a mile in diameter, and then it suddenly collapsed and exploded. The blast wave leveled every dune in its path, sending a tsunami of sand and glass out in all directions.

The light faded. Lara stood in the center of the glassed earth, her glowing orange armor cooling to black. She held the charred humanoid form of the Hive Queen in her tail, snarling as she stared at her. Then she drew her back and flung her away. The Hive Queen went arcing through the air and then hit the ground, deforming the pliable hot glass as she rolled away. She lay still, and then she started to move. The Hive Queen tried to push herself up, but her limbs were effectively charcoal. Both her arms crumbled apart as her right leg broke into pieces. Her hair was gone, leaving a bald peeling scalp. Her eyes slowly opened, their teal color standing out against the black.

"Pain." Her eyes watered, and then tears began to fall. "At last! At long last! I feel it again!"

Lara snarled, narrowing her eyes. She raised her right hand overhead and a single pinprick of white light appeared above her palm.

"It's been so long," said the Hive Queen. Tendrils burst out from her body, reforming her wounds as she shed the black char. Her hair regrew along with her skin, bone white hair sprouting from her head. Strands of hair began weaving themselves together, reforming her white dress. "So long since I felt this sensation! This agony telling me I'm hurt! The uncertainty of survival! That trepidation making my hearts beat faster!"

The light in Lara's hand burst, swelling into a massive fireball. It grew and grew and grew, rapidly dwarfing her in size. It kept expanding, soon surpassing the size of a ship, then a mansion, and then a castle. The Hive Queen stood, her tears leaving wet streaks down her face as she watched the fireball keep growing. It looked like Lara was holding up a sun now, the fireball dwarfing everything in sight with its mountainous enormity. Lara was barely a speck underneath it, her armor glowing brighter by the second. The glassed desert began to glow and then hiss as the earth below turned molten. The Hive Queen stood atop the rapidly growing lake of lava, ignoring her burning feet.

"I was afraid I'd never feel this again," said the Hive Queen, the fireball reflected in her eyes as she stared at it. She looked at Lara. "But you did it, Lara."

Lara raised her other hand. The fireball rapidly shrank down, glowing brighter and hotter till it became the size of a cantaloupe. Lara held it overhead between her hands, her own body just as luminous. But those red eyes never changed. They kept staring at the Hive Queen, focused solely on her foe as she prepared to annihilate her.

"You made me feel…" The Hive Queen raised her right hand as the limb turned black. A pinprick of teal magic appeared before her palm. Her shadow shrunk into herself as strands of darkness spiraled into the growing spell. "Alive."

Lara roared and thrust her fireball forward. A searing beam of molten magic blasted forth, just as powerful and enormous as the one she unleashed against the Master. It went raging towards the Hive Queen, sublimating sand and earth as it went. Just before it reached her, a beam of teal magic burst out of the Hive Queen's spell. It struck straight through Lara's attack, slicing it in half. Lara's beam split around her, sending a torrential storm of heat, fire, and destruction flying by. Everything in its path was annihilated as it carried out into the desert, waning until it vanished over the horizon. Then there was a blinding flash as though a star fell to earth, night momentarily becoming day. Then that faded, returning the sky to the stars.

Lara looked at her now empty hands, then back at the Hive Queen. She was standing in the middle of a white-hot path of boiling earth stretching past the horizon. It was wide enough to sail a fleet through. The Hive Queen lowered her hand and started walking towards Lara, steam rising as she stepped across the lava.

"I applaud you, Lara Anclagon," the Hive Queen said. "For all the foes my predecessors and I faced, you are only the third mortal to inflict harm on a Hive Queen. And the first to do so in almost four thousand years."

Darkness crept over the Hive Queen's form, turning it pitch black. Tendrils grew off her, squirming about like worms. She grew taller, her form becoming less human with each step.

"I haven't been able to enjoy myself to this extent in just as long," she said, her voice turning echoing and inhuman with each word. "I've often wondered what it would be like to fight a dragon. You've offered me a glimpse into what such a battle could be. For that, you have my eternal gratitude. As such, I will show you something few have ever experienced."

Lara hissed and backed up. Then she stepped forward and roared, her armor turning incandescent again. She crouched and launched herself at the Hive Queen, leaving a blazing inferno in her wake.

The Hive Queen's eyes gazed at her. Then a third eye opened between the other two as a teal aura surrounded her transforming body. "My full strength."


Melody paced back and forth outside the hollow. A track was worn into the ground from her feet. It was well into the night now. Kodama lay nearby, chest rising and falling with easy breaths as he slept. Ariel, Arista, and Sarah were doing the same inside the now damaged hollow, huddled around the fire for warmth. Melody could not sleep despite the tiredness pulling at her eyes and body. Not till Lara was back.

"Where is she?" Melody said to herself.

"Thy pacing serves only to harm the grass and thyself, princess," Kodama said without opening his eyes.

"The Hive Queen's got Lara!?" Melody snapped. "You expect me to be calm!?"

"No. But it would serve thee to pursue it."

"You're the one who should be pursuing!" Melody marched over to Kodama. "Why didn't you stop her?"

Kodama opened one eye. "As I said, there be naught to stop a dragon's rage but time and expenditure. The Hive Queen will have her fun, and then she and Anclagon will be done."

"But who's to say that her being done doesn't end with Lara dead!?"

"And why would I kill my favorite mortal?"

Kodama suddenly perked his ears. He growled, baring his teeth in a snarl as he stood. Melody spun around. There was the Hive Queen, standing before her clear as day. "Where's Lar–aaaaaaaaahhhhhhhh!"

Melody lost all capacity for words as she screamed. The Hive Queen was a mess. Her white dress was little more than blackened rags. There were charred chunks torn from her body, and so was most of her skin and hair. Her left eye socket was empty, and her left cheek was flayed open, exposing the teeth on that side. There were holes in her torso and legs Melody could see straight through. Black blood trickled off her like rain. A bloodied and unconscious Lara was draped over her left shoulder, dripping so much red onto the ground Melody thought she was minutes from bleeding out.

"Here's your hero back," said the Hive Queen. She chucked Lara over to Melody, the mage rolling limply across the ground to her feet. "All in one piece, I assure you."

"Lara!" Melody dropped to her knees, grabbing Lara's shoulders and shaking them. Her head rolled about limply. "Lara, can you hear me!? Lara!?"

Sarah emerged from the hollow, rubbing her eyes. "What's going on–Lara!" She was awake immediately, running over to her. "Oh no! What happened to her!?"

Melody spun to the Hive Queen. "You monster! What did you do to her!?"

"What did I do to her?" The Hive Queen looked herself over. "You mean, what did she do to me? Besides showing me a good time, that is!" She chuckled and then started to say something, but then she rolled her jaw. She reached into her mouth and pulled hard, ripping out a tooth. "Huh…haven't lost one of these in a while." She popped the tooth into her mouth and swallowed.

"Is thy appetite sated, Empress?" growled Kodama.

"Oh yes!" said the Hive Queen, grinning broadly. "I can honestly say I've had my fill! For now, at least. It's been far too long since I was able to cut loose. I'll actually need to rest after this one."

Sarah pressed two fingers to Lara's neck and then put an ear to her chest. "She's alive. Help me get her inside."

"Allow me." Kodama's antlers grew towards Lara, the branches becoming long green vines. They wrapped around Lara, lifting her with ease. A trail of blood droplets fell in her wake as Kodama carried her into the hollow.

Melody turned back to the Hive Queen, glaring at her. The Hive Queen smirked. "No need for that ugly expression, child. It's nothing Kodama can't fix. Lara will heal, she'll sleep, and then she'll wake. And when she does, tell her our bargain is settled. She held up her end, and then some! But this is where my interventions end. The nyctophiles won't be involved in this any further. From here on out, you're on your own."

She was gone before Melody could say another word, vanished to whatever dark place she and her ilk called home.


Lara awoke to birdsong. She opened her eyes and saw the roof of the hollow above her. She groaned as she sat up, rubbing her temples. She had a piercing headache, and her body ached no less. Even her tail hurt. She tried to stretch her wings, then winced at the sharp pain it caused.

"Ow, ow, ow…" She carefully sat up, looking herself over. She was bandaged again, swathed with stained strips of cloth. She started pulling them off, the wounds they were placed for long gone. She shakily stood up, hissing as her muscles protested. She walked to the doorway, parting the lichen. It was early morning. She could tell by the quality of the sunlight and the cool dampness in the warming air. Ariel, Melody, and Kodama were over by the pond, the denizens of the forest going about their day in the background. Lara whistled at them, getting their attention.

"Lara!" Melody stood and ran to her. "You're awake!"

"Yeah." Lara winced as Melody hugged her, and again as they walked over. "What happened?"

"You don't remember?" said Melody.

"I remember Ariel telling me my dad was still alive. I remember being shocked, and then so mad. And then…" Lara froze, her eyes wide. "Oh no! Mel, did I–!?"

"Thou surrendered to thy anger," said Kodama. "And in doing so, allowed it to manifest. It would seem the weakening of thy magic has strengthened thy vulnerability to the monstrous aspects of thy lineage."

Lara swallowed. "Did…did I…?"

Melody grasped Lara's shoulders. "You didn't kill anyone, if that's what you're wondering. The Hive Queen took you away before that could happen."

"The Hive Queen!?" Lara exclaimed, then winced as she discovered her ribcage was just as inured as the rest of her. "She came back?"

"That she did," said Kodama. "And spirited thee to the wastes to settle thy debt."

"Do you really not remember any of it?" asked Ariel as Melody helped Lara sit down. She moved slowly, then dropped unceremoniously to the ground. She winced at the impact, and again as she shifted.

"It's all a blur." Lara rubbed her head. "I remember literally seeing red. It's all a blank after that. What happened?"

"You fought. She won. And she brought you back." Melody sat beside her. "Oh, and she said your bargain is settled. And that she won't be involving herself with us again."

"She's said that before," said Lara.

"I think she meant it this time," said Ariel. "She told Melody we're on our own now."

"Honestly, that wouldn't be the worst thing in the world." Lara looked over the pond, seeing several fairies flitting just above the surface. "Ariel, what you said about my dad. Is it true?"

Ariel nodded.

"He's really alive?"

"Yes," Ariel said. "Lara, I swear it's the truth."

Lara looked to Kodama, and he nodded. "She speaks no falsehood. Thy father is cursed, but not slain."

"How?" asked Lara. "How can anything curse him?"

"By the last vestige of his greatest foe," said Kodama. "And by a trinity of the Wellsprings in subjugated synchrony. The curse he endures was meant for thee. One cast in hatred and blood and sustained by it."

"The trident?"

Kodama nodded again. "He took the binding upon himself, sacrificing his freedom so that thine would be preserved."

"And you didn't think that was something I should know!?" Lara hissed through her teeth. "Say, since the moment we met!?"

"Was not for I to divulge," said Kodama. "He was most insistent upon this, and rightly so. Solar King or not, a subjugated Eternal is a vulnerable Eternal."

"And he asked me not to tell you, as well," said Ariel. When Lara said nothing, she slowly reached out and lay a hand on Lara's shoulder. "I wanted to, Lara. I really did! But he said there would be 'consequences' if I told anyone. Until now, at least."

Lara's hands clenched tight as she drew a stiff breath. "Why would he do that?"

"He was afraid of what might happen if anyone found him," said Ariel. "Or what could happen to you if anyone discovered your connection. And he didn't want you to spend your life trying to free him. He wanted you to live for yourself."

"He doesn't get to decide what I do with my life!" Lara snapped, wincing as her body protested the outburst. "I spent years trying to find a way back to him! Why didn't he…!?" Her shoulders started to shake as her voice cracked. "Why didn't he tell me?"

Ariel scooted closer to Lara, hugging her from behind. "I won't say you shouldn't be angry, Lara. Or that you shouldn't feel hurt. I think he should've told you a long time ago. And that I'd feel the same if I was in your place. But your father is alive. And he wants to help us. But we have to help him first."

Lara arched a brow in disbelief and no small bit of offense. "We have to help him? Well, isn't that ironic?" She stood, walking to the edge of the pond. She stared down at the water, silent and pensive. Then she sighed and rubbed her face. "This is crazy, Ariel. Completely crazy!"

"I don't know if you've noticed, Lara, but crazy is the new normal for us," said Ariel.

"Do you even know where he is?"

"He's in Arcania, right?" said Melody.

Lara looked over her shoulder at them. "And do either of you know how to get there? He didn't happen to give you some sort of directions, did he?"

"Well…no," said Ariel. "But he said Kodama could point us to where we might find out."

Lara looked to the forest spirit. "Let me guess–you know where he is."

"That I do," said Kodama.

"But you're not gonna just tell us, are you?"

"No."

Lara's hair bristled. "Why…?"

"I am sworn to secrecy per Bel'al's wishes," said Kodama. "Even to you."

"What kind of bullcrap is that!?" Lara shouted. Animals scattered at her outburst and Melody and Ariel flinched. Lara hissed loudly, clutching her side. "Ow!"

"Lara, calm down!" said Melody.

"Do not tell me to calm down, Mel!" Lara snapped, her hair turning a tinge redder. "Not when this fluff ball knows where that good-for-nothing dad of mine's been hiding out for the last fifty-something years!"

Kodama stood, his emerald eyes glowing as he bared his teeth. "Calm yourself, child! Or would thou bring forth that abomination once more?"

Lara glared at him, but then closed her eyes and slowed her breathing. Her hair settled as she opened her eyes again. "Okay. Since you can't and won't tell us where he is, do you at least know something or someone that can and would?"

"Indeed." Kodama nodded towards the forest. "Trek against the sun's path for a day's span. Thou shalt come upon a river, and on its far bank a path. Follow it for seven days and seven nights, and thou shall find thy answers. To thy father's resting place, and to his freedom. Perchance to more."

Lara frowned. "You're not gonna give us anything else, are you?" Kodama's answer was silence. "So, the only lead we've got at finding my dad is a road that leads to somewhere, Ariel's word that he's alive, that mark she had on her hand, and…that's it." Lara groaned in exasperation. "This just gets better and better."

"Lara, I know it's a lot to take in," started Ariel.

"Oh, that is the understatement of the era!" snapped Lara. "Learning about merfolk was a lot to take in! Discovering your dad's the son of the merman who I thought killed my dad was a lot to take in! Finding out Remora's the same psychopath that murdered my mom and tortured me was a lot to take in! Losing my magic was and still is a lot to take in! This!? I don't have the words for this!"

"Fair enough," said Ariel.

"But we have a chance, Lara!" said Melody.

"Mel, I scoured almost the entirety of the eastern kingdoms looking for even a hint to where Arcania is!" said Lara. "And all I found were either fairy tales and myths that weren't even close to the truth, or nothing at all!"

"But we're not in the eastern kingdoms, are we?" said Ariel.

Lara gave another groan and kicked at a piece of moss. "All right. Let's assume we go down this road Kodama mentioned. Let's also assume it does somehow get us some sort of directions to where my dad is and how to free him, and we do it all without Maelstrom finding us first. We still need to get to him afterwards! Arcania's an island! And a remote one! For all I know, it's ten thousand miles offshore from the eastern coastline! It could be anywhere! And we've got to find it while outrunning Maelstrom and not drawing attention to ourselves, which is a very tall order! Even if we find it, I guarantee dad didn't leave it unguarded!"

"Lara," said Ariel.

"There's gonna be some sort of spell or enchantment or guardian protecting it!" continued Lara. "I don't have a way to undo his magic! Do you? And even if we get past that, there's the whole process of freeing him!"

"Lara!" Ariel said louder this time.

"We're talking about a curse that can bind an Eternal! And a dragon, at that! The magic required to break something like that is enorm–!"

"Lara!" shouted Ariel.

"What!?" Lara shouted back.

"Just…!" Ariel closed her eyes as she took a breath. "Just listen to me. I realize there's a lot of uncertainties about this."

"There's a mountain of them," interjected Lara.

"Bear with me, please. Forget the what ifs and maybes. I just need you to answer this. If we find out where your father is, and we find a way to free him, and if we can get to him…"

"That's a colossal 'if,' Ariel!"

"If we can find him and free him," continued Ariel. "Would he help us defeat Maelstrom?"

Lara looked at Ariel. And then she nodded. "Yeah. He would."

"Bel'al holds the title of Solar King," said Kodama. "As well as chiefest of Eternals. But he be more a knight than a monarch. If he has already made efforts to aid thee thus far, it is certain he would aid thee further. This would not be the first time he delved into such affairs. I caution thee – the aid he provides may not be what thou envisions."

"Ain't that the truth," grumbled Lara.

"Then that settles it," said Ariel. "We go find Bel'al, and we free him."

"All three of us!" said Melody.

"But before that," said Lara. "You're gonna need some legs, Ariel. You can't outrun enemies with fins."

Ariel bit her lip. "Um, I definitely agree with you, Lara. But…"

"But what?"

"Well…Bel'al said not to turn me back into a human."

Lara blinked at her. "What?"

"He said not to–."

"I heard what you said he said!" Lara shouted, then grimaced painfully. "Why do I keep doing that? What I want to know is what possible reason there could be to leave you as a literal fish out of water when we're trying to outrun an enemy like Maelstrom!?"

"I don't know!" said Ariel. "I'm just telling you what he said! But there must be a reason, right?"

Lara pinched the bridge of her nose. "Dad, you better still be alive! Because if we find and free you, I swear I'm gonna beat you within an inch of your life, you cryptic, lying, bloated salamander!" She took a breath and sighed. "All right, then. Just the three of us."

A loud neigh and the pounding of hooves announced Tempest's arrival into the grove. He ran up to Lara, neighing and throwing his head as he pawed the ground.

"Wait, really?" said Lara. "You want to come with us?"

Tempest nodded vigorously.

"But why? This isn't gonna be a ride on the beach! It's gonna be dangerous. And tough! You could get seriously hurt! You could get killed! You almost did already! I would've thought that'd be enough for you!"

Tempest snorted, rearing and then bucking before stomping the ground angrily.

"What did he say, Lara?" asked Melody.

"I'm not sure I'm interpreting him correctly," said Lara. "But I think he said Seahaven was his home, too. And he's not about to let those 'donkeys' get away with destroying it."

Tempest nodded again. He trotted over to Ariel, lowering his head to her.

"Or let us carry you the whole way there," Lara added.

Ariel reached out and ran her hand up and down Tempest's face, gently scratching with her fingernails. "Thank you. You don't know how much that means to us." Tempest nickered softly, swishing his tail.

Lara folded her arms together. "Okay, then. It's the four of us against all of Maelstrom."

"Don't sound so glum," said Melody, giving Lara a nudge. "You've done scarier stuff than this!"

"Yeah, when I had my magic! And sword!" She walked over to Tempest, giving his neck a pat. "Kodama, how far away is this road again?"

"A day's march against the sun's path," said Kodama. "Then trek against the water till the seventh night, and thou shall find what thou seeks."

"Then we better get packing." Lara headed back to the hollow. "The longer we stay here, the more time Maelstrom has to close the gap. And I don't wanna give those maniacs an inch more than we have to."


It was just past dawn as Lara adjusted Tempest's saddle, checking the cinch and straps were secure. It was more an assemblage of saddle-like parts than a proper one, but it was what they could manage. A pair of saddlebags were slung across his croup and a thick bedroll tied behind the seat. His halter and reins were woven together from strips of cloth. Ariel sat on the ground beside the stallion, a canvas knapsack clutched in her arms. She wore a blue and white dress, the skirt lengthened to completely conceal her fins. Her red hair was tied back in a braid, a simple piece of blue ribbon keeping it together. Melody stood beside her mother, the maroon dress shortened to allow her legs more freedom. She had a pair of short-heeled boots on, generously donated by one of the survivors. Her knapsack was slung on her back, weighed down with everything she might need. Lara wore comparatively little despite the early morning chill. Her faded black pants were tucked into her boots, and the only covering for her torso were the white bandages acting as a breast wrap. The bokken was stowed through her belt, knives secure in the small of her back. Sarah and Jenni stood nearby with Kodama, along with the majority of the Alliance refugees. Arista sat beside her sister, Aria nestled in her arms.

"One more…" said Lara as she pulled on the cinch. Tempest gave a grunt as it tightened. "That'll do. All right, Mel! Time to mount up!"

Arista turned to her sister. "Are you sure about this, Ariel?"

"Honestly? No," said Ariel. "And I'd be lying if I said I wasn't scared, too. But if we want our home back, we don't have much choice, do we?"

Arista sighed and then nodded. She freed an arm and hugged Ariel tightly. "Take care of yourself. And Melody and Lara. Those two can't help but find trouble!"

"I'm standing right here, you know," said Melody.

"And we're not looking for trouble," added Lara. "Trouble is looking for us!"

"I know, and that's why I said it." Arista separated from Ariel, allowing Melody to kneel down to hug her as well. "Take care of your mother. She needs you."

"I will." Melody hugged Arista back. "And you do the same for Aria and these people."

"I've packed as much as I could," said Sarah as she handed the final knapsack to Lara. "It's not much, but you should be able to patch up the odd scrape or cut with it."

"You know I heal just fine on my own, right?" said Lara as she set the pack down.

"Not you. Them," said Sarah. Then she stepped in and hugged Lara. "I wish you didn't have to go."

"Me either," said Lara as she hugged her back. "But so long as that curse is on Ariel, we can't stay here. You're in enough danger already. And this is the only real chance we've got to stop Maelstrom. We have to try. If nothing else, we owe that to everyone they've killed."

"I wanna go with you!" pleaded Jenni, grabbing at Lara's belt. "I'll be good! I swear!"

Lara let go of Sarah and knelt, smiling as she tousled Jenni's hair. "I know you would. But where we're going is too dangerous for children."

"I'm not a little kid!" said Jenni, shoving Lara's hand aside. "I can take care of myself!"

"Which is why I need you to stay here and take care of everyone else. Sarah and Arista can't look after all these people on their own. They're gonna need someone they can rely on. So, I want you to promise me you'll do your best to help them."

"But…but…!" Jenni's eyes started to water. She sniffled loudly. "What if you don't come back? Like my mom and dad?"

Lara clasped Jenni's shoulders. "Jenni, I promise you we'll come back. All of us. And have I ever broken a promise to you?"

Jenni sniffled again. "No."

"Then you know I'm good for it." She pulled Jenni in and hugged her, the little girl's arms circling tight around Lara's neck. "Be a good girl. This isn't goodbye forever. It's bye for now."

Jenni nodded. "Bye for now!"

"Bye for now." Lara set Jenni down, giving her another smile.

"Lara, I know you know this already," said Arista. "But if anything happens to my sister or niece, I'm holding you responsible!"

"Yes, ma'am!" Lara said, giving a mock salute. Then she lowered her hand and knelt down to Arista's level. "I'll guard them with my life. I swear it. They're my family now, too."

Aria made a small gurgling noise. Lara and Arista looked down to see she was awake, the baby mermaid reaching towards Lara. Lara offered a finger to her, and Aria took it. "See you later, guppy. Hopefully you won't be too much bigger by the time we get back. And let your mom sleep every now and then. You hear me?"

Melody walked up to Kodama. "You'll look after them, won't you?"

Kodama nodded. "I swear by the sun and stars they will come to no harm. I will not march to war against thy foe. But neither shall I permit them to add these souls to their horde." He lifted his head and howled. The trees began moving, crawling aside to form a wooded archway. "Follow yonder path. Thy trail begins at its end."

Lara slipped her wings through the straps of her pack, adjusting them till they were snug. Then she knelt and scooped up Ariel. "Comfortable?"

"Yes," said Ariel. "Are you sure this is okay, Lara? I'm not too heavy for you?"

Lara laughed. "Your weight is the least of my concerns. And it's just till the road. After that, the wings and tail will have to go away for a while. Can't have people spotting them, can we?"

"A moment," said Kodama. He stepped forward, lowering his head as a branch grew off his antler towards Ariel. She reached out and took it, the end breaking off in her hand. The wood contorted into a small pipe with a single notch cut into one side. Tendrils of hanging moss grew out, lacing together to form a cord.

"What is it?" asked Ariel, turning the item over in her hands.

"This be my final boon to thee," said Kodama. "Blow upon this whistle three times, and I shall answer thy call even if it be at the ends of the earth."

"You mean we can summon you with this?" said Lara.

"Indeed. But once shall I answer it, and only once! 'Tis not a thing to trifle with! Sound for me in thy darkest hour, when thy hope and path be lost."

Ariel slipped the whistle around her neck. "Thank you. I'll take good care of it."

"And I shall take equal care of thy people," said Kodama.

Lara turned to Melody. "Well, this is it. You ready?"

Melody never felt so nervous in her life. She barely ate breakfast that morning there were so many butterflies in her stomach. She looked back to the crowd, seeing all the worried faces. Jenni was trying her best not to cry, and completely failing at it. Large globs of snot dripped from her nose as her cheeks became soaked with tears. Sarah offered her a smile, but her eyes betrayed her own sadness at seeing them depart. Arista smiled and gave her a nod. But beneath the tears and the fears, she saw hope in those faces. Hope that they could perform a miracle and bring them back home one day.

Melody turned to Lara. "I'm ready. Let's go."

Lara nodded. "Then mount up. We're burning daylight!"

Melody stuck her foot in the stirrup and then hauled herself up onto Tempest, taking the reins in hand. He turned to go, eager to start, but Melody held him back as she looked to the crowd one last time. "Take care, everyone! And stay safe! We'll be back!"

"Be careful, your majesties!" called someone from the crowd.

"That's our queen and princess you have, Lara! You better take care of them!"

"Good luck! Watch out for those monsters!"

"We'll be waiting for you!"

"May thy path be clear, thy footsteps light, and thy slumbers restful," said Kodama. "We await thy triumphant return."

Melody nodded. "We'll find Bel'al! I promise!"

"Yeah! And give him a solid one right to his face!" added Lara.

"Lara, before you go," said Ariel as Lara crouched down and spread her wings. "I wanted to ask if you could fly a little sloooooooooooowwweerrrrr!?"

Melody watched Lara leap into the air, her wings beating down forcefully. She did a wide circle and then headed down the path. "Mel, come on! You're falling behind!"

"Coming!" shouted Melody. She looked back to the crowd, and then to the path through the forest. This was it. No more delays. No more goodbyes. From here on, there was only the unknown. The great, terrifying unknown, filled with all manner of strange things.

And a part of Melody was eager to find out what they were.

"Hah!" she shouted, giving the reins a snap. Tempest neighed and took off at a gallop, chasing down Lara and Ariel with gusto.


Ursula stared at the map, watching the red circle move. It was a slow movement given the scale of the map, but it was undeniable.

"So, the little fish is swimming again?" she thought out loud. She rolled up the map, stowing it beside her chair. "All right, you maggots! Move out!"

Immediately the four clockmen hoisted Ursula's litter into the air, starting their march towards the mountains. Surrounding them was a horde of five hundred mutants, two hundred werewolves, and one hundred clockmen. All hand-picked by Ursula for this task. Her mutants may have been based around creatures of the ocean, but none of these were in danger of suffocation out of water. She saw to that personally. Their bodies were fitted with crude armor, serving as protection and weaponry. Those with hands bore bladed weapons, each design more cruel than the last. The werewolves howled as they shed their human forms, charging to the front of the battalion. The clockmen marched in synchrony, their steps like the beating of a drum for the rest to follow.

Ursula smirked, crossing her now human legs together as she settled into her seat. She shifted, adjusting the slim black dress she wore. "Run while you can, Ariel! We're coming for you!"


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