Melody finished her story, recounting the events after her 12th birthday party. The way the sea witch, Morgana, had tricked her into stealing her grandfather's trident for her so that she could control the seven seas. How she almost died getting it back and returning it to its rightful owner. And finally, how she had spent the summer months with her family in Atlantica every year since.

"Wow…so, let me get this straight. Your grandfather is the King of the ocean?" Jim had been listening intently to her tale. He was astounded. An entire world, completely hidden in the depths of the ocean. It was almost too much for him to comprehend in his weak state of mind, but he had been trying his best to pay attention. It helped him stay awake.

"Yeah, I didn't even know he existed until 6 years ago. The worst part was how I blamed my parents for keeping the truth from me. I felt betrayed. And I felt it justified running away. It almost cost me everything," it was therapeutic, talking to someone about what she had been through.

"Well, to be honest, I would have done the same thing. You wanted answers, and you went after them. I think it was pretty brave of you, if a little misguided," Jim observed.

"Misguided?" Melody gave him a little splash. Jim laughed weakly, then shivered. "Oh my gosh, I am so sorry - you were finally dry!"

"It's okay, really," he assured her. When he had first regained consciousness, Melody had instructed him to lay flat on the driftwood to keep him out of the water. At first he had insisted that she should climb up instead, but then she explained that she was better able to regulate her body temperature in the water as a mermaid. He still had so many questions on that subject.

"So, can you only change when you're in the ocean?" he asked.

"Well, not exactly. Whenever I would visit my grandfather, he would use his trident to transform me into a mermaid. I've never been able to do it myself, so I'm not sure how or why it's happened now," she brushed her thumb over her locket. "Although I think it has something to do with…" she paused, debating on whether or not to tell Jim about the pearl. Her grandfather had made her promise to keep it safe, but she felt she could trust Jim.

"Something to do with what?" Jim prompted.

"Before coming on this trip, my grandfather gave me a parting gift. He wouldn't tell me much about it, only that I needed to keep it from falling into the wrong hands," she carefully opened the shell, revealing the blue pearl, which was now glowing. Jim's eyes widened.

"I've seen this before…" Jim was also debating on how much he should divulge.

"You have?" Melody wasn't sure where he was going with this. Had he been spying on her? He couldn't have seen it anywhere else since it originally came from Atlantica.

"Yeah, well, not in person. My mother used to read this story to me when I was younger, about these elemental stones. They were too powerful to be wielded by one person, so they were hidden across the universe. One of them was the Sea Stone, and there was a picture of it that looked exactly like this. It allowed its owner to control water…" Jim tried to remember what else the legend said.

"Control water, huh?" Melody repeated. "That would explain a few things."

Jim looked at her curiously as she focused on a spot in the water.

"Mel?"

Melody raised a hand, palm facing upward. A small orb of water simultaneously rose from the ocean, following her hand movement. She flicked her fingers away, sending the water droplets splashing a couple of feet away.

"Whoa…" they reacted in unison.

"So I guess that answers that," Jim declared.

"Why would my grandfather give this to me? If it's really as powerful as you say, then I shouldn't have it. It should still be locked away and guarded in Atlantica." Getting answers, as it turned out, only brought more questions.

"I'm sure he trusts you, and I bet he wanted a way to keep you safe while you were away from home. We would both be dead by now if it weren't for that stone," Jim tried to reassure her. He knew what it felt like to be in possession of a rare and mysterious artifact. Maybe the map to Treasure Planet wasn't as powerful, but he understood the responsibility just the same.

"I guess so…" Melody reflected on what Jim said. "I was even able to remove all of the water from your lungs when you almost drowned," she gave Jim a half smile, before giving him a most curious look.

"Is it bad...that I'm kind of glad we took this little detour?" she asked pointedly.

"Heh, speak for yourself! I'm still struggling to breathe over here!" Jim teased. "Seriously though, is the duke really so awful that you would rather be adrift in the ocean?"

"I wouldn't know, I haven't even met him yet to be honest!" Melody laughed. "However, if your question is, would I rather be lost in the middle of nowhere than have to marry some stranger, then my answer is, absolutely!"

"Well then, I can respect that," Jim smiled. "It must be rough being a princess, I take it? No sarcasm, I promise," Jim quickly added when he saw the glare Melody was starting to give him.

"Being royalty isn't all it's cracked up to be," she looked downcast. "I am the heir to my father's throne, and I am prepared to take over one day, but it just feels like my entire life has already been decided for me. I just wish I could live a life of adventure and do what I want, ya know?"

"More than you realize...I'll tell you the same thing an old friend once told me," a wistful smile warmed up Jim's face as he thought of Long John Silver. "You got the makings of greatness in you, but you gotta take the helm and chart your own course! Stick to it, no matter the squalls! And when the time comes, you'll get the chance to really test the cut of your sails and show what you're made of! And... well, I hope I'm there, catching some of the light coming off you that day."

Melody's face glowed with a bashful smile, and she hoped it was too dark for Jim to notice the blush rising in her cheeks. It was uncanny, the way he seemed to really understand her, like no one had before. He wasn't judging her dreams and aspirations, or telling her that she was out of her mind for wanting a different life. It was rather...nice.

"You know Jim, you're not at all what I was expecting when I was first told about you," she said finally.

"Sorry to disappoint you, princess," he teased.

"No I mean, you're really down to earth, and you don't treat me differently just because I'm a princess. Between you and me, I don't have many friends, so it's really nice to be able to just...talk with someone who understands me. Plus, I was expecting you to be really strict and not let me do anything fun!" she giggled, remembering how he had chased her through the rigging that same morning.

"Well, between you and I, I don't have a lot of friends either. And you are the complete opposite of what I had expected! I thought I was going to be stuck watching some bratty, stuck up princess," Melody stuck her tongue out at him in response. "But you're not like that at all...you're really kind, and adventurous. Plus you know, you did save my life, so I guess that gives you extra points," he smirked at her, receiving a giggle.

"Oh yeah? What else do you like about me?" she batted her eyelashes flirtatiously.

"Oh fishing for compliments, are we?" he chuckled. "Well let's see...you're...reckless, unpredictable, stubborn…"

Melody had unwittingly leaned in closer and closer during their conversation, but now she was so close that their noses were almost touching. Up until this point, she hadn't really paid attention to his looks. Now though, she noticed how his eyes were the exact color of the stormy sea, and they contrasted attractively with his tan, leathery skin. She also noticed how his dark brown locks were hanging over his forehead, framing his furrowed brow as he squinted his eyes and chuckled. His jaw was so sharp and angular, yet there was a softness to him. He really was a handsome man…

Jim had trailed off in what he was saying, as he became slowly transfixed by Melody's big blue eyes. She was holding his gaze intently, and he noticed how the light from the moon highlighted her features. Her raven black hair, rosy cheeks, and that cute little nose…

What? Have you completely lost your mind, Jim?! She's not available! And you are going to be gone within the next couple of months to graduate and receive your official assignment. This cannot happen!

Jim tried to talk some sense into himself, but it was hard enough with his mind still being so hazy, without having this beautiful mermaid right in front of him, hanging on his every word. In fact, they had somehow ended up being drawn even closer to one another, and Jim couldn't help but imagine her rosy lips on his own. And was he imagining it, or was she leaning in with pursed lips? His eyelids grew heavy, and his breathing became even more ragged than it already was. His brain had officially turned off and he started acting on basic instinct. Their lips had nearly met, when he suddenly burst into another coughing fit.

Melody drew back, startled, before reaching out to steady him. His lungs were burning so badly, and his throat literally felt like someone had dragged sandpaper up and down its walls. He could hardly breathe, and tears were streaming down his face from the effort his body was making to expel irritants from his chest. It was honestly one of the more painful experiences of his life, and he couldn't seem to stop it.

Melody couldn't believe what had almost happened. Was I really going to kiss Jim? She couldn't deny that there was a part of her that had wanted to, but she couldn't! She had only known him for a day and a half, and she was somewhat spoken for already. And yet, she would be lying to herself if she said she wasn't disappointed to have their moment interrupted. She couldn't even begin to explain her feelings, but she didn't have time to worry about that at the moment. Jim needs water!

She scooped up a handful of water, then closed her eyes and focused. She concentrated hard on the salt and other minerals in the seawater, and filtered those things out so that they evaporated into the air.

"Jim, drink this!" she then carefully directed the water to Jim's mouth, waiting for a break in his coughing. Jim was finally able to take a few sips of the fresh water, and it seemed to do the trick, as his coughing slowly abated while the water soothed his throat. He rolled over onto his back, exhausted. His eyes were closed and his mouth parted open as his regular breathing resumed.

"Jim, are you okay?" He didn't respond. She had to get him to land.

Scanning the horizon, she could not make out any distant spots of land. Her father had taught her various ways to find land at sea, but there were no birds to be seen at this time of night that she could follow to shore, and she was never much good at reading the stars. Maybe the Sea Stone could help me…

She opened her locket and focused on finding land, trying to somehow communicate to the stone what she wanted to do. The orb started to glow faintly, and as Melody slowly turned in a semi circle, it began to glow brighter, as if signaling that she was "getting warmer." She dove underwater briefly and resurfaced at the other end of the raft, near Jim's feet. She grabbed a hold of the edge and propelled them both forward with her powerful tail. She didn't stop for what seemed like hours.

The sun had just started rising above the sea, painting the sky with vibrant oranges, pinks, and purples. It was a shame that Jim was asleep and missed it. Melody was so very tired at this point, but she was determined to press forward. Finding land could mean the difference between life and death for Jim. She was not going to let him die on her watch.

Finally, she saw it: the sweet sight of the shoreline in the distance. Reinvigorated by her goal clearly in sight, she pumped her tail faster than she had ever thought it possible to move. She guided the raft carefully over the small waves of the tide that was rolling in, riding each one to build up their momentum. At last, she felt the rough sand under her belly and tail as they skidded onto shore.

Jim was jarred awake by the sudden impact and rolled into the sand, getting a mouthful of it. He began coughing and spitting and immediately crawled back to the water to bring a handful of water to his mouth and rinse it out. He ran his hands through his hair to shake the sand out of it as well. What a wake-up call, he thought to himself as he surveyed his surroundings.

Melody, meanwhile, was attempting to dislodge her fins from the wettest part of the sand. It had dug itself in, similar to a shovel, and she was struggling to pull it out. Under normal circumstances, it would have been no problem, as she had gained decent upper body strength from her summers as a mermaid. This particular occasion, however, followed a night of strenuous swimming, and her limbs were not thanking her. She tried one last pull, and ended up flat on her back, with half of her tail still entrenched in the sand. Giving up with a huff, she took this moment to finally rest. No sooner had she accepted her predicament, than a shadow suddenly blocked out the sunlight.

"Jim?" she squinted her eyes, attempting to make out the figure who stood over her.

"Need some help?"

"That would be nice," she smiled sheepishly, still thinking of the kiss they almost shared the night prior. He nodded and crouched down near where her fin was buried in the sand. He used his hands to dig her out of the impacted sand. Once she was free, he sat back a moment and stared in amazement. He hadn't really seen her entire tail yet, just the tip of her fins when she had shown him last night. It was really magnificent, the way each individual scale reflected different shades of red depending on how the light hit them. He suddenly remembered his manners and looked up at Melody.

"It's pretty cool, huh?" she asked him, flipping her fins as if she was wiggling her feet.

"It's beautiful," he replied with wide eyes.

"Thank you," she blushed and looked away. Jim liked the way she looked all flustered, it was rather cute. No. Don't you start that again! he mentally slapped himself. He stood up, clearing his throat.

"So now what? Shouldn't you be in the water?"

"Technically yes...but I can still breath air for small amounts of time without water. Besides, we need to stick together, and I am not sending you back into the ocean without a boat," she looked up at him sternly.

"Well, I'm not sure how far I can carry you, that tail looks pretty heavy," he stroked his chin.

"Did you just call my tail fat?" she looked at him with her mouth agape.

"What? No, I..." he stammered. Then Melody burst out laughing.

"I'm just kidding with you, Jim," she winked. "And I don't expect you to carry me. I have an idea."

Jim watched as she lifted the locket from her neck and tossed it in the sand next to her.

"I hope this works…" Melody said hopefully, sitting back and waiting for something to happen. After a minute of no change, Jim finally spoke.

"Maybe the Sea Stone is still too close to you?"

"That could be...here!" she threw the trinket in his direction, which he easily caught. "Now be careful with that! We don't need you turning into a merman!" she was only half joking.

"Don't grow a tail, got it," he crouched in the sand a few feet away, making an "okay" sign with his fingers.

Melody sat in the sand, still wearing her drenched navy dress, which had gathered around her waist. She discreetly pulled it down to her knees before any changes happened. That would have been embarrassing, she blushed again. Then suddenly, she felt a pit in her stomach. It started emanating heat, pulsing down her tail, all the way to her fins. It was a very odd sensation, not at all what it felt like when the trident transformed her. She could feel her tail shortening until it was the same length as her legs, pushing each rows of scales upward before they began shedding, falling off like dead skin and revealing fresh human flesh underneath. Weird, she thought to herself, but so far, so good.

Then it hit her like a tidal wave. Her tail was pulling apart, preparing to separate into two limbs, and it was not pleasant. She could feel the central bones of her tail begin to crack and separate, forming the new structure needed for her legs. She winced as the pressure built up, then gasped in shock and pain as her tail started to tear down the middle. This is a nightmare! Something must be wrong!

"Jim!" she cried out through clenched teeth, digging her fists into the sand.

Jim was at her side in an instant, careful to leave the locket where he previously stood. He grabbed her by the arms and held her tightly against him as she writhed and moaned in discomfort. She clutched him like a lifeline as her legs finally took form, sealing up the tears in her skin. Next, her fins began to harden and thicken, until she had two long, webbed feet. They gradually shrank into their proper size and lost the webbing in between her toes. Finally, Melody could feel her gills closing and lying flat against her neck. She started hyperventilating, her brain readjusting to breathing without gills. It soon caught up with her new form, and instinctively told her to inhale deeply in order for her tiny lungs to inflate and expand into full size human ones. A sigh escaped her lips as she lost consciousness in Jim's protective embrace.