Chapter 2

"Morning Sweeties," Rikki said kissing the foreheads of Charlie and Leila. Leila sat up almost immediately whereas, Charlie took her time. "First day back at school today girls," she announced, "Time to get up!"

The six year olds got out of bed and went to have their breakfast. For six year olds, all the mermaid offspring were amazingly intelligent, they had already learnt to write from copying their parents writing and they made great progress at school. The teachers were decided whether to get them to skip a grade or not.

The group had planted fruit trees and vegetable gardens to make themselves more self sufficient – it turned out the island's soil was very fertile.

Rikki went into her own bedroom to wake Zane who was snoring away.

"Sleeping Beauty, up time," Rikki commanded. He made no movement. She flung the covers off him. Still no movement. She rolled her eyes. She leaned over and kissed him. His eyes shot open. She laughed. "The best way to wake up Mr Bennett," she rolled her eyes again.

"Too true," he replied, "If I went to sleep again would I get another one?" She playfully shook her head. He pouted, "Aww,"

"Don't push It Zane." She laughed. "Besides, I'm gonna leave with the girls for their first day back at school,"

He bolted upright. "That's today?"

"Yeah! Duh!" This got him out of bed. He wanted to see them off. His kids really had him whipped.

Rikki kissed Zane goodbye and went to the moon pool along her with twin daughters. There Cleo, Bella and Emma along with Jennifer, Jacob and Eric met her.

"Ready?"

The mother's and their children swam quickly to the mainland. They surfaced on the beach behind Rikki and Zane's old place. They dried off, grabbed the hidden key and went inside. They had packed lunches for the kids the previous night and so they grabbed those along with their school bags. On the mainland, this place was like their hideout. This was the group's ritual, the kids who went to school did this regularly. After leaving her kids in Emma's capable hands, Rikki made her way to her namesake's cafe and the other women went to their works.

"Okay guys, let's go."

On the way, Emma consulted her five-year-old son.

"Okay Eric, you can't call me mummy at school okay? Call me Mrs Dove,"

He nodded solemnly with understanding far beyond his years. They made their way to the school.

A few weeks later...

Bella, Cleo, Emma, Rikki and Anna had kissed their husbands and kids goodbye, told them they loved them and then departed for a leisurely stroll across Mako. 'Girl Time' they had called it.

They chatted about random stuff as they made their way across. Anna had suggested that they go to the opposite side of the island to explore, her adventurous spirit not gone with parenthood. They didn't go to that side of the island much as there was no need, however they all agreed, it would be fun. Avoiding the long vines coming from the tree canopies, draping across the paths, hiding the bogs, avoiding the snakes and dangerous spiders they journeyed. They continued on their walk until they reached a rocky outcrop with a large waterfall and river. They walked across looking around as they did. "Isn't it beautiful?"

They heard a scream and turned round in time to see Cleo disappearing from view. She had fallen down a hole. They peered into the entrance.

"Déjà vu," Rikki murmured.

"You all right Cleo?" Bella asked.

"Yeah, I'm fine. This is so uncanny isn't it? It is so like the entrance to the moon pool,"

"Really?" Anna asked. Before anyone could stop her she slid down.

"Anna!" Emma yelled. Bella went down shortly after. Emma just sighed and followed them down.

"Rikki stay up..." she didn't get time to finish as she heard a yell and Rikki came sailing into her knocking them both to the ground. Rikki looked around.

"You were supposed to stay up there," Emma told Rikki.

"And miss all the fun? No thanks" she answered.

They got up and followed the passage way. "Man, this is déjà vu," Rikki said. Cleo nodded.

"Are you saying you guys have done this before?" Bella asked.

"Yeah. It was almost exactly like this when we first became mermaids," Emma replied. The tunnel came to a dead end. It was a circular room with rocks jutting out of the cave walls, a room like the moon pool only...there wasn't a moon pool or volcanic cone. There was also a wall on the far side covered with blue crystals. "Wow." Anna stated.

"Hey, these look like the ones that were in the moon pool before Sophie and Ryan destroyed it," Bella said. Rikki and Cleo both nodded their agreement. They all stepped closer to have a better look. Suddenly the wall lit up.

"Guys...is that supposed to happen?" Anna asked cautiously.

"Ahh..." Cleo said

"Nope...I don't think so..." Rikki began wearily. Out of the blue, a flash of bright blue light came out of the crystals and the power of it hit all five of them square in the chest, knocking them back. They were unconscious before they hit the floor...

A/N: I hope you are still enjoying the story. Please let me know what you think. Review! :D