Another side note: In the original episode Lewis' book was buried under the growing potion and I guess disappeared when they made the wish (?)
Well I'm pretending this didn't happen here and they still have the book
As they reached Cleo's house, they entered quietly. The house was empty, Kim likely out with friends, and their dad still at work. It was the perfect opportunity to discuss everything without interruption.
They settled in the living room. Cleo sat on the couch, trying to appear calm, though the anxiety bubbling inside her was hard to ignore. Rikki took a seat beside her, while Lewis pulled up a chair, the mermaid mythology book still in his hands.
"Alright, Cleo," Lewis began, his tone gentle but serious, "We need to explain everything from the beginning. It's going to sound unbelievable, but I need you to trust us."
Cleo nodded and started feeling really uncomfortable. "I'm listening."
Rikki took a deep breath. "Around a year ago, you, Emma, and I became mermaids after we went to Mako Island. We fell into a hidden pool of seawater on a full moon, and when we came out, we discovered that we had powers. Each of us can control water in different ways."
Lewis continued, "You specifically have the ability to manipulate water—like moving it or shaping it however you want. And whenever you come into contact with water, you change into a mermaid."
Cleo's eyes widened in disbelief. "That can't be real… I mean, how could something like that happen?"
"It's real, Cleo," Rikki said softly. "We've been living with it for a while now. It's not always easy, but we've learned to control our powers and keep the secret."
Lewis leaned forward, placing the book on the coffee table in front of her. "This book has a lot of information about mermaid mythology. It's how we found the wish potion and how we're going to figure out how to get your memories back."
Cleo stared at the book, then back at Rikki and Lewis. "So, you're telling me that every time I touch water, I turn into a mermaid?"
"Yes," Rikki confirmed. "That's why we've had to be careful, especially around people who don't know our secret."
Cleo's head spun as she tried to process everything. "This is all so… overwhelming. How do I even begin to accept this?"
Lewis reached out, gently placing a hand on her arm. "You don't have to remember everything right away, Cleo. We're here to help you through this, one step at a time."
Rikki smiled. "And maybe it'll come back to you naturally. In the meantime, we'll be by your side, just like we always have."
Cleo looked at them, her eyes filled with uncertainty but also a glimmer of hope. "I don't know how I'm going to handle all of this, but I'm glad you're both here. I don't think I could do it alone."
"You're not alone," Rikki said firmly. "We're in this together, just like always."
The three of them sat in silence for a moment until Cleo found the courage to ask another question.
"So...uhm...the place where we...changed, it's a secret magical pool on Mako Island?"
"Yup, we named it the moonpool," Rikki explained.
"Wow, that's a creative name," Cleo joked, trying to calm herself down a bit.
Rikki and Lewis both started laughing.
"Hey, you and Emma were the ones who suggested it," Rikki replied.
"Anyway," Lewis interrupted, turning towards Cleo. "Somehow you must have made a wish that made you forget about everything. Well, everything related to your mermaid abilities, and we've got to find a way to reverse that!"
"Why don't we try making another potion and wish for her memories to come back?" Rikki asked.
"It might be the only option we have," Lewis admitted. "But it won't be easy. The ingredients are rare. It already took us a week to gather them all last time."
"I'm sure we can do it, Lewis. We're mermaids," Rikki said confidently.
"Mermaids..." Cleo repeated, still having a hard time believing it.
"Cleo, would you like to see what your tail looks like? It might be better to do it now than when you're alone," Rikki suggested.
Cleo hesitated, her heart racing at the thought. "I... I guess so. But what if it hurts?"
"It won't hurt, I promise," Rikki reassured her. "Just a bit of water, and you'll see."
Cleo nodded slowly. "Alright. Let's do it."
Rikki got up and went to the kitchen, returning with a bottle of water. Cleo took a deep breath, her heart racing like never before. Rikki told Cleo to lay down on the floor for safety and knelt beside her, uncapping the bottle.
"Ready?" Rikki asked.
Cleo nodded, closing her eyes. "Ready."
Rikki poured the water over Cleo's legs. Almost immediately, Cleo felt a strange tingling sensation. She kept her eyes closed when her legs started transforming, merging into a beautiful, shimmering mermaid tail.
Her breath caught in her throat as she stared down at her tail, moving it slightly to feel the power it held. "This is... unbelievable."
Rikki smiled. "See, I told you it wouldn't be painful."
"No, it...it felt amazing, like a rush of energy," Cleo admitted.
Lewis grabbed a towel and helped Cleo dry off again. He was relieved to see that she handled it relatively well.
Once Cleo was back in human form she sat down on the couch next to Rikki again, slightly shaking from everything that just happened.
"Why don't we go out to the moonpool tomorrow?" Rikki suggested. "It might bring back some memories. I'll show you how your tail works in the water, don't worry."
"I guess I have to try," Cleo answered.
"I'll go through the potion recipe and write a list of everything we need," Lewis added. "Maybe you can find some of the things near Mako."
Cleo just nodded, feeling a bit more comfortable with the situation and hopeful that their plan would work.