Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

The school bell rang, and children ran outside in a frenzy of cheerful screaming. Summer was finally here, and that sweet taste of freedom was in the air. No more homework and no more teachers! Except for the five students that would be preoccupied this summer. Kris, Susie, Ralsei, Noelle, and Berdly hung back as their peers ran out of the school building. It had been a few months since Queen lost her aquarium, and time did little to sate Toriel’s wrath. The group’s punishment would be to help clean the school and aid Toriel in her self-assigned town-mom duties. While these activities were punishments, Toriel promised they’d be fun, too.

Susie scoffed, “what’s fun about being stuck at school all summer?”
Noelle had more optimism. “Maybe… it won’t be that bad?”

A flashy, nervous grin from the fawn was all that was needed for Susie to rethink. The two had grown closer over the last few months. They tettered on the edge of a relationship, yet neither had committed to asking the big question. To onlookers, they were basically a couple already. They held hands in the hall and shared food. The two were practically an item by school-society rules. 

So, maybe Noelle was onto something after all. 

Berdly leaned against Kris’ shoulder, pushing his glasses up the brim of his beak. “Welp, Kris, looks like it's just us lonely, single high-net-worth individuals now, aye?”

“Uhm,” Ralsei waved a hand, “I’m also–”

“Yep! Kris and I are the epidemy of eligibility for the dating market! But I’ve learned my lesson,” he dramatically placed the back of his wing on his forehead. “The heartbreak! The woe of a dark foreboding presence in my– our hearts! To quote Dracula: ‘what is man? A miserable pile of secrets!’ Yet, we are bound by the unbreakable bond of friendship from mutual abandonment!”

Kris’ head tilted, eyebrows knitted. “Abandonment?” they signed.

Berdly pat their shoulder, “live in denial, good fellow, until your heart can bear it no longer.”

Kris’ eyes darted toward Ralsei, who shrugged in response. 

The door to their freedom closed as Toriel stepped in front of the group. The brooms in her hands did little to bring the children any hope for the fun she promised. “Who’s ready to begin on your first activities?” Her question was accompanied by a smile. Yet her expression was menacing. 

The group groaned in annoyance. Their dreams of summer fun officially beached. 

Kris stepped forward. “Mom, it’s the first day of summer. Can we please have one day to hang out?” they begged. If they expected to spend all summer sweeping and cleaning, they deserved at least one day. 

Toriel tried to hold her ground, “oh, Kris…” she tried to avoid their gaze. They lifted the bangs covering their eyes. Their bottom lip pouted, and their pupils shook. Puppy eyes were her one weakness. “Oh dear,” she deflated, “fine. You all may go, but starting tomorrow– !” She was too late. The kids already ran through the doors. 

Kris led the way for only a few seconds before Susie took the lead. “C’mon, slowpoke!” she yelled. “Last one to the dock gets thrown in!”

Noelle and Berdly were quick to pass. Only Ralsei remained by Kris’ side. They could tell he was holding back from running at his top speed. They’d be lying if they said it didn’t bother them. They weren’t nearly as strong or fast as their friends, even though they tried to be. Gym was always the worst class; it was something they loathed with every fiber of their being. At least this summer wouldn’t involve having to climb a rope.

As Kris and Ralsei neared the dock, the two eyed each other. Kris knew Ralsei well enough to know he’d slow down just before getting to the finish. He always did. The contrast between Ralsei and Susie wasn’t unnoticed by the human. Still, what else could they do? They were their friends. Kris ran up to the dock, panting heavily as the others looked like they’d barely extended any energy. In one swoop, Susie lifted Kris and Ralsei onto her shoulders. 

“H– Hey! I was last! Why are you picking up Kris, too?” Ralsei yelped.
“You always take one for them! Say hi to the fishes!” 

Kris covered their nose as Susie threw them from the dock. The few seconds in the air felt like they were frozen in time. The sun behind their eyelids, the wind in their hair, and the smell of salt flooded their senses. They crashed into the water’s surface, noise immediately muffled. They had to hold their legs under them so their flip-flops wouldn’t come off from the impact. They kicked up and gasped when they resurfaced. It took Ralsei a few extra seconds because his fur dragged him down. The two kicked, playfully shoving each other as they swam back to the dock. 

The group of dry monsters was laughing at them, especially at Ralsei. The poor goat was drenched. His fur hung in front of his eyes, and he stood with his arms out. His clothes clung to his fur, making everything feel uncomfortable. The laughter didn’t last long, though. Ralsei wrung out what he could from his clothes before shaking the water from his fur. Their friends shrieked as the water splashed onto them. Kris followed suit, copying some of Ralsei’s movements. They sometimes forgot that they weren’t a monster. They picked up a lot of mannerisms from their family, including this one. It didn’t seem to bother their friends, though, and that’s what mattered. 

The group’s antics eventually led them down to Seam’s shop. Snacks would fuel them for the rest of their adventures during the day. The group scattered about the store, each of them grabbing different foods. Seam gave the group a polite nod of acknowledgment. The shop had been renovated recently. It’d been expanded to make room for the large, transparent fish tank behind the counter. 

“‘Sup, Jevil?” Susie waved.
The sharp-toothed mer beamed and waved in her direction.

No one quite knew the connection Seam and Jevil had. The only thing Seam said was that they’d been friends for a while. Everything else was too vague to take seriously. Though, that was just the way Seam was. Despite how cryptic they were, Jevil was surprisingly more direct even though he didn’t speak. 

“Where’d the snack packs get moved to?” Susie called from over a shelf. Jevil tapped the location on the transparent map located on his tank. She responded with a thumbs-up. 

The group reconvened as they walked back to the front. They talked over each other, engrossed in their own world; until that world collided back into reality. Kris ran into a tall, solid force. Their peers gasped and took a few steps back as Kris turned around. 

Undyne stumbled, the coffee cup in her hand nearly overflowed from the brim. “Hey, watch it, punk!” she shouted. She cradled the cup in her hand, almost protectively. 

Kris ignored Undyne’s shout and asked, “is that coffee for Miss Alphys?” 

“No,” she groaned, “it’s for that jerk, Mettaton. Ever since he moved in, I’ve been treated like his damn secretary.” According to Undyne, the only time Mettaton was tolerable was in the presence of Papyrus. She didn’t understand why so many treated him like he was the pinnacle of all things magnificent. When he was in town, everyone fawned over his beauty, but they didn’t see him the way she did. He made her make him a steak with his face on it! His face! She couldn’t wait for him to move out of Alphys’ place. Perhaps then, she could cover that vacancy. 

Susie clasped Kris’ shoulders and scouted behind them. “Sorry to hear about that!” she feigned sincerity terribly. She leaned in to whisper, “C’mon, Kris, let’s go,” she urged. 

It didn’t seem like Kris had a choice, though, as their friends pushed them forward. The group quickly paid for the snacks and left as fast as they had appeared. Kris waved goodbye to Undyne as they were pushed back into the summer air. 

Settling on the pier, the group sat underneath the railing, their legs hanging off the side. Berdly had bought everyone a popsicle. They were trying to finish them before the heat beat them to it. The sun blazed down on the pier. It had been a hassle to try and find any shade. Yet, even in the small amount they did find, the wooden panels still burned initially. Susie didn’t mind the heat, cold-blooded and all. Berdly occasionally had to shake the heat from under his feathers, but nothing that wasn’t manageable. Noelle and Ralsei were the most inconvenienced. 

Having lived in a semi-tropical climate, Noelle and Ralsei tried to keep their fur trimmed back when possible. The heat could be downright suffocating if they didn’t. Kris supposed that was the one good thing that they lacked from the rest of their family. They didn’t have horns, sharp teeth, and claws, but at least the temperature wasn’t a bother.

Since Queen’s aquarium was destroyed, the crowds had long since died down. Tourists still came and went, but now it was just for the beach. That said, the pier was pretty much empty except for those five. A few elderly townspeople were throwing out breadcrumbs for the seagulls, but other than that, nobody. The town was back to its old, tired, sleepy self again. 

For the most part, at least. 

A seashell was suddenly made airborne and hit Kris’ leg. They jumped back a little before looking under the pier to where the projectile had been thrown. The water was still a good distance below them. It was hard to see any movement at first. Then a swish of a large, multi-colored tail showed who the culprit was. 

The eel-like Werewire popped its head up from above the water. 

“Hey!” Susie shouted, slight aggression in her tone, “whaddya want, huh?” 

The mer circled the water a few times in distress before popping back up. It drew a box in the air and pointed at the open wound on its arm. It looked like a fishhook was responsible for the gash. “Oh!” Ralsei said, “you’re looking for the sanctuary!” He pointed beyond the town, up by the hilltop, “it’s that way.” The mer followed his finger before nodding and diving back beneath the waves. 

Kris pushed their bangs back to see clearly. The sanctuary’s angled roof barely peered over the trees in the distance. 

“It was cool of Noelle’s mom to allow the reconstruction of the research center,” Ralsei said. “Without the research center, the sanctuary never would’ve been built.”

Noelle laughed lightly, “I think she just wanted to get everything wrapped up as soon as possible, honestly.” Her mother was incredibly fickle about the town’s reputation. She’d spent a month in interviews, and the drama about the aquarium was finally dwindling. The mers were still a hot topic, but not nearly as much as they were. The world wanted to know what had happened and what would happen next. She, of course, had no direct answers for the presses. Someone else did, however, and she worked tirelessly to fix what had been broken. 

Rebuilding the research center was the first step they had taken to reconcile the damages Queen had caused. The aquarium was no more; in its place was a large research center with restricted access. Instead of tanks and mers, an interactive museum was in the front. Research labs were in the back, hidden behind coded doors and passageways. Underneath the research center, built into the cliffside, was the sanctuary. 

Mers were hesitant to trust the sanctuary at first. Being built in the same spot they had once been trapped brought back memories many would rather forget. Though, it wasn’t a feeling shared by the entire populace. Months prior, mers were rescued from poachers and given medical attention by Alphys. Some had found genuine safety in the aquarium. That is until they realized they’d be trapped there. 

The sanctuary was different. The waters surrounding the cliffside were protected. No soul was allowed in without proper clearance; only mers could tread those waves. Which in turn meant safety in a way that most mers had never known. Below those waves was a budding new community of mers. Some mers had decided to settle in the waters; dens and homes had been made for permanent living. With help from a few others, news had spread to the mers that those in trouble could find safety with Alphys. 

She owned the research center and the sanctuary, after all. 

In the sanctuary, she helped those who came to her of their own free will. Swimming up a pipeline was the best way to get to her. But even then, the new permanent dwellings in the water gave way for mers to expand their community. Mers that were rightfully weary of land dwellers could find help from other mers who knew how to heal. Alphys made sure that only those who sought her help would receive it. She wouldn’t keep them trapped like Queen had. 

Of course, new laws and regulations were enacted for protecting mers. The five children weren’t aware of the specifics, however. Surprisingly, it had been Queen who pushed for the safety of mers. She’d been arrested and admitted to everything. Her trial hadn’t lasted long. Her jail time lasted an even shorter amount of time. 

Susie scoffed, nostrils flared, “yeah, well, your mom did more for the mers than Queen did. Pisses me off. She paid bail and only got community service.” To prove her anger, Susie bit into the popsicle, the ice crunched between her teeth.

“At least she managed to help push that one law that it’s a criminal offense to capture, bait, or harm the mers,” Ralsei reminded. 

“She’s the one who organizes all the beach and ocean clean-ups, too,” Noelle mumbled. “Not that… uhm, that excuses anything. But… she’s still trying.”

Berdly nodded, “what she did was horrible but would we not be horrible ourselves if we didn’t extend her a chance?”

“Then maybe I’m horrible,” Susie snapped. “It’s gonna take more than a few clean-ups to make me forgive all she did.” She elbowed Kris, “what do you think, huh?”

Kris hesitated to respond. Queen was overbearing in her protection of the mers. She’d never meant them harm, yet she’d caused many mers distress. Her money certainly did help things around town. That didn’t mean she deserved forgiveness. Still, Kris wasn’t sure it was their place to forgive her anyway. 

They shrugged before speaking, “I think she did a terrible thing, but I don’t think she’s terrible. She’s helping for now at her own expense, not even because of the community service anymore. I think… as long as she continues to try, then that’s it; that’s all I could hope for.” They coughed into their hand and looked at the waves below. “I’m just glad we’re seeing a difference.”

That was at least one thing no one could disagree with. Queen worked tirelessly to improve the oceans. That was as close as she could get to repaying the mers for all she’d done. Especially since she was banned from the sanctuary. That didn’t stop her from donating thousands each month, though. 

As far as Susie was concerned, the only thing Queen had done right since then was treating Lancer better. The two spent a lot of time together after she had paid bail. Susie knew this because Lancer had become part of their growing group of friends. Now that it was summer, she couldn’t wait to see all the trouble she could get into with him. Pranking Rouxls every day seemed like a good start. 

“Yeah, well… whatever,” Susie shrugged. “C’mon, let’s go do something at the beach,” she stood from her spot and popped her back. 

Berdly stood and held up a finger. “My thoughts exactly, my fellow adolescent! Let us romp in the sand and salty breeze!” He turned on his heel, leading the way. The others followed if only to sate his fragile confidence. The group was halfway down the boardwalk when they were interrupted.

“OUT OF THE WAY!” If it wasn’t the loud yell, it was the rapid honking that followed. The group looked over their shoulders almost too late. The shiny red golf cart’s brakes screeched as Papyrus neared them. “SANS! LOOK WHAT YOU MADE ME ALMOST DO!”

Sans peeked over the newspaper he was reading. His eyes landed on Kris first, and gave them a curt nod. “sup, kiddos? vandalize anything recently?”

A series of confused trilling from the backseat quickly overshadowed his comment. K_K sat up from the backseat, looking dizzy from the rough stop. They shook vertigo off and steadied themself.

“ACK! WE’RE GONNA BE LATE!” Papyrus shouted. “SORRY, KIDS! YOUR CHIEF IS TOO BUSY FOR AUTOGRAPHS!” He slammed on the gas, and the golf cart jolted forward. K_K shot back, instinctually grabbing the back of the front seat to steady themself. K_K waved as they rode past the group of teens before hastily grabbing the seat again.

Kris smirked at the three as they disappeared down the boardwalk. Some things would never change, they supposed. 

≋

“SANS! YOU’RE JOKES DISTRACTED ME!”
“guess you could say i drove you car-azy?”
“SANS!”

K_K laughed behind their hands at the duo. Their conversation was soon lost as its attention fell to the passing scenery. The greenery sped past, and their gaze traveled along the bottom of the grass. He watched how it seemed to go by much faster than the treetops.

The past few months had been a series of ups and downs, but thankfully for K_K, its life had finally settled down. Its days were spent with friends and new-found family. Not to mention more music and happiness than he knew he could experience. 

Things were finally better.
Finally. 

A few moments later, the golf cart was stopped at the top of the hill, directly in the parking lot of the research center. Papyrus moved quickly to the back to unfold K_K’s wheelchair. Sans seemed to take his time, moving slowly, if not slower than normal. 

“C’MON! IF WE MOVE QUICK ENOUGH, THEN SWEET WON’T– !”
“Ahem.”

Sweet crossed their arms and tapped their foot at the front door. “You’re late,” their eye narrowed. Though their expression immediately softened when it landed on K_K. It seemed every time their eyes met that the speaker’s beat faltered. A flash of it falling backward plagued their mind. How close they came to losing him, to losing the life they’d been creating. It caused them to still, and for the world to freeze. They just wanted to hold onto its image. They couldn’t trust when it’d be their last anymore. 

The mer wheeled up the ramp to meet their partner. With no need to hide their tail, the blanket once used to hide it was now tucked away in an underneath carrier. It never hurt to be prepared. K_K hummed a greeting, Sweet immediately closed any distance. They leaned their heads against each other for a moment, K_K’s fins twitched in contentment, a hum behind its lips. Sweet took K_K’s hand before pulling away and sending a light zap to the back of its hand. The mer blushed and leaned in, giving their forehead a quick peck in return. 

Papyrus and Sans glanced at each other, feeling a little awkward witnessing the display. 

“You okay?” Sweet asked. “Had a good day so far?” Their hand squeezed his a little tighter. K_K nodded, happy to reaffirm. Sweet relaxed and walked with a hand on K_K's shoulder as they went inside the building. Papyrus and Sans followed behind, talking to themselves. 

“how’s the business been goin’?” Sans asked, nodding to the gift shop by the front door. Sweet didn’t hear him at first, so he repeated himself, “sweet. the business?”

“Hm?” Sweet blinked rapidly, “oh, uhm, it’s been great!” Their eye darted to the store. “We make a lot more money now since the shop is closer to town now. The customers like seein’ us work behind the glass.” When Alphys had bought the right to the building, she gave the trio the gift shop to do with as they wanted. She knew they’d been struggling financially and whether from guilt or a good heart, she gave them the newly designed gift shop. They had to pay to rent the space, but it was cheaper than expected. 

“s’good, s’good,” Sans nodded.
“Mhm,” Sweet said, returning to silence. 

They were often spaced out nowadays. They were still quite energetic, especially on stage– that would never change. Yet, their mind wandered; to where they weren’t sure. 

The group pushed through the main entrance. The museum was completely different from the aquarium. It consisted of two levels and wasn’t nearly as flashy but still had the sea theme. The top explored the known history of mers, which there was little of, and a plethora of discovered artifacts. The second level explored marine life in general. The only tanks in the museum were used for the marine animals that weren’t able to be reintroduced to the wild. 

So much had started, and so much was still regrowing. Some mers became interested in helping Alphys with her studies. Through their work, a group of mers even started to evolve the Language of the Sea into a written language. The mer's actual history could finally be recorded. No longer would the inaccuracies written by old land dwellers be referenced. 

The group turned down the hall to the nearest elevator. The music began to play, and K_K whistled to the tune. Papyrus was quick to join while Sans hummed. Sweet tapped their foot to the tempo. When the door opened, everyone stepped outside as if their impromptu acapella hadn’t occurred. 

“WOWIE!” Papyrus exclaimed, “THIS PLACE REALLY UPGRADED!”

The last time the skeleton had been to the sanctuary was when it was first being built. Back then, the sanctuary was hardly more than a reinforced glass wall outlooking the ocean with drywall and an exposed ceiling.

Exiting the elevator, the first thing to see was a banister. It had two curled staircases down either side, each accommodated with a wheelchair lift. The ceiling was high, and the wall to the outside was made of reinforced glass. Alphys hoped the natural light would help sick or injured mers feel better. On the floor were multiple pools surrounding one larger pool in the center. If medical emergencies occurred, there were rooms to the side. 

“K_K!” 

Sweet and K_K looked below the banister to see Cap’n and Alphys waving from the floor. It didn’t take long for the group to reach the bottom of the stairs. Cap’n practically threw himself into K_K’s arms. 

“Cap!” Sweet scolded, “be careful! Its tail–” their eye finally traveled to the bottom part of K_K’s tail. A long scar from a mix of welding and stitching remained. The cast K_K had worn came off after eight weeks, but according to Sweet, the tail was still fragile. Alphys insisted that as long as K_K wasn’t in pain, Cap’n was welcome to cling to their partner as much as he wanted. 

“I’m okay,” K_K signed before wrapping Cap’n in his arms. 

He knew that his partners had been going through their own struggles after the events that had taken place. The first few weeks had been the hardest. Sweet had been nearly inseparable from K_K’s side. Bedridden, there wasn’t much K_K could do than enjoy their company. Cap’n had been attentive to an almost alarming degree. Any minor discomfort was treated as if death was the consequence. He couldn’t blame them; after being separated for so long, K_K never wanted to let them go. 

“A– Alright,” Alphys clapped her hands, grabbing everyone’s attention. “L– Let’s get started.” The group followed her to one of the smaller pools. Cap’n hopped off K_K’s lap, the mer quickly moved themself to the chair lift. They were lifted up into the above-ground pool until they sat about waist deep. Alphys pushed her glasses up the brim of her nose and clicked the pen in her hand. “O– Okay, do your warm-up stretches a–and then you’ll do a few laps.” She scribbled a few details on the clipboard in her hand before walking away.

She walked from pool to pool, checking in on each individual. Most of the pools were multi-use. Some were used for holding the mers that had just received surgery. Others were used for reasons similar to K_K’s needs. She worked hard, maybe too hard, but she enjoyed her work. She was making a positive difference now. 

While K_K prepared, the others watched from the floor. The see-through sides made it easy for everyone to see if there was any discomfort or issues. Papyrus rocked on the ball of his boots as he leaned against a railing. Sans crossed his arms, leaning his head down and closing his eyes. Cap’n stood behind Sweet, his arms wrapped around their waist. Tired from the long day, the boombox dropped his head to their shoulder to rest his eyes. He closed the gift shop early so they could both be here. Not that K_K needed four people watching him, but the company was always appreciated. 

The mer hummed to itself idly as it went through the general motions of its warm-up. Twisting its waist, stretching its tail, gradually increasing the speed and force of its kick while sitting. Months ago, he would’ve needed help supporting himself in the water, but now he was able to swim by himself again. He scooted off the chair and dipped into the water. For safety and lack of confidence, he clung to the wall for a moment before letting go. 

The physical therapy would only be needed for a few more months, but the damage to K_K’s tail was permanent. He couldn’t bend or kick the same way he once had. Not only that, but the area that had been broken was uncomfortable to maneuver. At night especially, the mer found great difficulty in settling down. It constantly felt like something needed to pop. It wasn’t a painful feeling, but it would sometimes cause short spasms. 

Finding an excuse to break the silence, Cap’n decided to ask. “How’s the new recruit?”

Papyrus beamed, chest puffed out in pride. “NYEH HEH! WITH ME AS CHIEF, EVERYTHING IS GOING SWIMMINGLY!” He paused before quickly adding, “PUN NOT INTENDED!” Sans snickered to the side. “TRUTHFULLY, ASGORE IS DOING GREAT! A LITTLE SLOW ON THE OBSTACLE COURSE, BUT OTHER THAN THAT. HE’S JUST A BIG FISH– ER… GOAT IN A SMALL POND!” 

What else was the big guy supposed to do? After leaving previously, he’d been offered a job back in the ranks for his heroics during the aquarium battle. He wasn’t about to pass up a good-paying job. Though, no one had expected that Papyrus would push him so hard. 

Sweet leaned into Cap’n’s as they spoke. “And how’s Mettaton?”
A blush suddenly appeared on Papyrus, “AH. HE IS… WELL.”
Sans snickered to his side.
“YOU SHUSH!”
“i didn’t say anything.”
“YOUR THOUGHTS ARE VERY LOUD! DON’T MAKE ME BRING UP YOUR DATES WITH TORIEL!”

Sans raised a brow, “we go on long walks on the beach, i take her out once a week to a nice place. i don’t see what’s so embarrassing, bro.”

Papyrus’ teeth clenched, “YOU ARE INSUFFERABLE. IF THERE WEREN’T WITNESSES–”

Papyrus had stepped up since Undyne had stepped down as chief of the harbor patrol. Castle Port had never been a safer, cleaner place to live. While often more forgiving, he was incredibly attentive to his duties as the new chief. One might wonder how he rose through the ranks so quickly. Well, with the recommendations from the two former chiefs, it was hard to deny him the job. 

Speaking of Undyne, the elevator door dinged to signal her arrival. She walked in with a frown and a groan as Mettaton talked behind her. She didn’t hate him. She just found him increasingly annoying with every passing second. What was even more frustrating was that it seemed she was the only one to feel that way. His confidence was so damn convincing that he’d seemingly fooled everyone into thinking he was the coolest person to exist. Her friends included. K_K, Sweet, and Cap’n battled Papyrus for the title as Mettaton’s number-one fans. It was torture for her to listen to. 

Those on the floor waved to them, and K_K chirped a greeting specifically for Undyne as their eyes met. 

Sans covered his mouth as he snorted at the irony.
Papyrus’ eyes narrowed, “KEEP QUIET, OR I’M PUTTING HOT SAUCE IN YOUR DINNER.”
This only made the shorter laugh more. 

Mettaton walked down the stairs, coffee in one hand, “Undyne, go grab Alphys for me, would you?” Undyne’s jaw clenched but in her attempt to keep the peace, she complied. Meanwhile, Mettaton made his way over to Papyrus. “Papy, dearest!” he called affectionately. 

As Papyrus’ knees shook, Sans laughed over his brother’s nervousness. The two weren’t dating, but it was clear they wanted to. Mettaton met up with the group and threw his arms over Papyrus’ shoulders. “Oh, dear,” he said, “you’re a sight for sore legs.” Despite the absurd statement, it earned the bot the bashful response he wanted. 

While those two caught up, Undyne and Alphys were making their way back to the group. “Y– You guys came just in time! I– I’m supposed to have a pod showing up s– soon.”

Undyne stretched her arms, “finally, I’ve been dying to get in the water all day.” Underneath her clothes was a diving suit. She folded her belongings and placed them in a small locker by the large central pool. Alphys tried her best to hide her blush behind the clipboard as she climbed up the ladder and dove into the water. 

Mettaton rolled his eyes and elbowed Papyrus. “I give her a three for effort. Now watch my dive!” For added flair, or perhaps just wanting to show off, his wings expanded and ripped apart the shirt he wore. Papyrus’ eyes nearly popped from his skull at the sparkly display. Mettaton took to the sky before swan-diving directly into the center of the pool. The splashback was so minuscule that only a few ripples disturbed the water. 

When the two popped up, Undyne narrowed her eyes. “Not everything’s a competition,” she said.
Mettaton floated on his back, “Jealous says what?”

“Huh– HEY, WAIT A SECOND, YOU BUCKET OF BOLTS!” Sweet and Cap’n looked around the corner, Cap’n’s eyebrow raised. “Not you guys! I meant– ! He– !” Her eyes turned back to Mettaton, who now had a smug smile. 

“O– Okay, we’re supposed to have… O– Oh! There they are, right on time,” Alphys smiled. She climbed onto the deck of the pool to greet her old acquaintances. Spotted scales were the first to breach the water’s surface. Yellow and multi-colored eyes followed shortly after. Though, the mer Alphys was to redirect her focus to the smallest of the group. “Sunny!” she leaned down just as the mer lifted herself from the water and sat on the deck. “H– How was it?” Alphys asked. 

Sunny tettered her hand. 

Those three were hard to track down and even harder to convince to return. After escaping, the three swam as far as possible from the area. Luckily, Sunny had been working with Alphys. The doctor had been kind to Sunny during her time at the aquarium, and the mer still needed a home. The sanctuary and the protected waters beneath it offered that. 

“O– Okay, let’s get those trackers and collars off,” Alphys said as she held up large chain cutters. Immediately, Stereo pulled his partners into his arms, teeth bared. The collars were scuffed and had bite marks along the metal rim. It was obvious they had tried to remove them but didn’t succeed. Sunny tried to explain the situation to them again. The mers spoke to each other in a series of noises and sounds before Stereo turned back around. 

His eyes narrowed, still untrusting. He pushed Mark and Caketon behind him as he neared her. He towered over the scientist, water dripping onto the deck as he placed his hands– each about half the size of her– on either side, trapping her. She cleared her throat and tried to steady herself beneath him, but the intimidation was working. She coughed once more before gesturing for him to lower his head. He did as instructed, Alphys walked to his side, still caged between his arms. 

The collars themself were what she had used earlier in hopes of helping with translation. Now, she had Sunny, Mettaton, K_K, and even some mers that willingly volunteered to help try and weaken the language barrier. It would never be able to be broken completely, but from what she was told, most mers preferred it that way. 

“I… I am sorry,” she whispered. Not that she thought her apology would be accepted or even understood. She’d tried to be nice to all the mers, of course. She apologized to each one, even if she knew they couldn’t understand her language. But they knew her tone, her body language, and when Stereo’s eyes softened, she hoped she’d been understood. 

With a few clicks on the collar, a flap opened and she used the chain cutters to cut the enforced wires. The chain fell to the deck with a loud clang. Stereo’s hand instinctually moved to his neck, feeling the sudden lack of weight. The process was repeated with Mark just as quickly, though she knew her words wouldn’t be enough of an apology for him. Instead, she gave him a handful of food and treats he’d been fond of. 

“A– And who’s your f– friend?” she looked behind them at the menacing mer. He looked an awful lot like K_K, except with more color and his fins were torn and scarred. 

Mettaton responded for her, “that’s their bonded partner. They were separated when the others got captured.” The mers looked in his direction and he tapped the container containing the jellyfish on his chest. They didn’t seem impressed with his eavesdropping on their earlier conversation. He shrugged, seemingly not caring. 

“W– Well, here, have some more food. In c– case you don’t decide to stay.” 

Caketon’s expression morphed from defensive to intrigue as he scanned the food bucket. The multi-colored land dwellers he’d lived with never gave him food like this. He eyed the bucket before quickly snapping it away and diving into the water. For added measure, his tail splashed the salty ocean water onto her as he disappeared. 

Undyne called out, “Hey! That was rude!” But the trio had already dived back into the water.
“It’s fine,” Alphys insisted. “Th– They had it rough.”

For the next hour, Undyne and Mettaton handled any mers coming in that needed assistance. Undyne had been working as Alphys helper for a while now. Being in that ambulance with K_K had opened her eyes. Back then, she had no idea how to help her friend. She’d been hectic in the ambulance, trying to listen to anything Alphys said to help him. It had scared her, knowing that she knew so little, that she could have lost him because of that. Plus, she liked this job more anyway. This way, she saw her girlfriend all day. 

Alphys' attention was focused on K_K during this time. The mer swam in circles in the pool, the jets would simulate currents in the ocean, and he’d fight against them. As of right now, the focus was on rebuilding the strength he’d lost while he’d been landbound. It had only been recently that he was strong enough to swim in the ocean again. Oh, how he had missed it. Especially the fish and the corals. With mers living closer together, he finally had other mers to swim with, too. It didn’t stop the heartache he felt whenever he had to leave Sweet and Cap’n on land, though.

After the hour was up, K_K went to the chair that lifted him from the pool. 

“Ready to head home?” Sweet asked.
K_K nodded as its partners helped dab him dry.
Goodbyes were exchanged as the trio left.

The first level of their home had been completely remodeled. Instead of a metal shop, it was a proper recording studio. The work tables and tools were long gone, located solely at the gift shop. In their place was a new wall that cut the room in half. On one side was the soundproofed room, complete with mics, drums, and Sweet’s keyboard. Directly opposite that far wall was a control table. Behind that, in the open, were a greenscreen and a couch with a camera. 

Podcasts were hip! According to Cap’n, at least. Plus who wouldn’t watch a podcast featuring the mer who destroyed a multi-million dollar establishment? That wasn't the focus of the podcast, though. Their podcast was mostly spent talking about music or themselves. Of course, during the editing phase, Sweet had to use a generated voice for K_K to be understood by their listeners. To keep things fun, each week the voice K_K used was different. It was almost like a game for their listeners to try and think of which celebrity voice they’d be hearing once they tuned in. 

It was impressive how fast their growth in the music industry had occurred. It wasn’t unexpected since there had been all that media coverage from that night. The three had quickly gained a reputation. Somehow the three had become known as the rebel band! However, with Queen gone, they weren’t sure who they were rebelling against anymore. They’d have to hold a poll on their next podcast. 

Going upstairs, almost everything was the same. It was the same couch and living room. The only difference was a startling amount of seashells and gifts strung about on their shelves. Conch shells, oysters, clams, and even fossils from ammonites. The wall behind their couch was slowly being used to make a picture of a seascape from all the different colored shells they found each other. It was a personal project of Cap’n’s. He thought it was a romantic way to memorialize all they’d been through together. A few baskets of shells were still stacked on the side of the couch, awaiting his meticulous hands to place them in the right spot. 

K_K and Cap’n immediately went into the kitchen together. Sweet, however, hung back in the living room. 

The kitchen had been changed minimally as of this time, but more changes would be made. For right now, pullout cutting boards and drawers had been installed in their cabinets. The entire group hoped to get lowered counters soon. It’d always been a hassle for Cap’n and Sweet to use a step stool or climb counters to reach ingredients. It aggravated K_K as well, so that was the next step in remodeling their home. 

Which they now owned! 

Their landlord had sold the land to a new owner a few weeks after the events at the aquarium. A week later, the three received an anonymous letter with the deed and enough money to pay the entire mortgage. No more monthly payments! They had their suspicions about who their anonymous penpal was, but none wanted to ruin a good thing, so they never voiced it. 

“What’re we cooking for dinner tonight?” Cap’n asked K_K. It was its day to pick the recipe for dinner. K_K clicked his tongue as he pointed to a page in a cookbook. “Mushroom and sauerkraut pierogi, bet!” Cap’n leaned his head out the doorway into the living room. “Sweet, you gonna help with cutting the vegetables or filling the pierogies?” 

“I’ll fill them, just give me a second,” they replied.
“What’s keepin’ ya?” Cap’n asked from the kitchen.
K_K whistled in response.
“That’s what I’m sayin’,” Cap’n chuckled. 

Sweet huffed and rolled their eyes. “Shush, I was just lookin’ at the mural.”

At the sound of that, Cap’n stood a bit taller. “Oh? You like what you’re seein’, huh?” His eyes flashed from behind his shades, a sneaky smile on his lips. The tray of ingredients was handed down to K_K at the table.

Sweet purposefully bumped into Cap’n’s hip as they passed him. “I was thinking about if you wanted to go to art school now.” That caused the boombox to pause, and the teasing was suddenly gone. The speaker dug into the refrigerator and pulled out a tray of pre-cut dough. “I mean… you did want to go to an art school before we moved here. And we have more money now. Plus we’re our own bosses. I think… if you wanted to go, now would be the time.”

Truthfully, Cap’n hadn’t considered art school in some time. It hadn’t even been a genuine thought. He had always dreamed of going but never had the time or money to accomplish that dream. “You think I would be able to?”

“Yeah,” Sweet replied as he took a handful of the cut mushrooms from K_K. “And if you’re not sure, you can just sign up to take one college-level class online. One-time payment and then you just have to worry about materials, right?”

“It’s a bit more than that, but… yeah, I’ll think about it.” 

The idea certainly did intrigue him. He looked at K_K as they continued to cut the mushrooms and sauerkraut. He’d like to paint a picture of the moment. The three of them, in their kitchen, making dinner together. It felt so comfortable, he couldn't remember the last time he'd felt this sort of comfort. A photo wouldn’t do it any justice. He wondered if Sweet and K_K knew how grateful he was. He could try to find the words to say it, but ironically, he always thought K_K was better at those sorts of things. They made him feel at home anywhere he went, as long as they were together.

Hell, this apartment was becoming more like home every day. Little bits of each of them were scattered around. From the books Sweet left sitting on the coffee table, the seashell mural, and the scattered sketchbook pages in the bedroom. They were everywhere, their life, their story, their love. It overflowed onto the balcony, where a cactus was finally managing to grow. 

Music began to play throughout the kitchen as they continued making dinner together. The mer sometimes couldn’t help it; he always kept a CD loaded just in case. Something soft and groovy to match the moment. Forty minutes later, after Sweet filled and boiled the pierogies, Cap’n added the final touches. Some parsley sprinkled on would add to the dish, he swore. K_K made the drinks, lemonade, one of his favorites. 

They sat at the table, immediately digging in. Sweet wouldn’t admit that Cap’n was right; the parsley did add flavor. 

Then the door rang, silencing their music and eating. 

“Who’s that?” K_K signed, head tilted.

“Might be Papyrus,” Sweet stood and looked at K_K. “Did you forget anything at his place while hanging out?” K_K shook their head. As far as they knew, they had everything. “I’ll check it out, no worries,” Sweet responded. They were already halfway in the living room, after all. They walked down the stairs and to the door, swinging it open. 

He knew those boots.
“Hello! I– !” 

The door quickly slammed shut. 

Sweet panted, chest beating loudly, his back to the door. “(No. No, no, no).” They climbed up the stairs, tripping on the last stair before scrambling back to their feet. They sped walked back to the kitchen, sat down, and immediately began to eat again. K_K tilted their head and shared a glance with Cap’n. The mer placed a hand on Sweet’s forearm. 

Cap’n asked, “who was at the door?”
“No one,” Sweet replied quickly. 

The door rang.
Sweet gulped. 

“Sweet… ?”
“I’m tired. Aren’t you guys tired? Let's go to bed and uh– avoid looking out any windows.”

The door rang again. Cap’n stood from the table, but Sweet was quick to grab his wrist. They stared at each other for a few seconds, though it felt like minutes had passed in their stare-off. Sweet conceded, releasing Cap’n’s arm. Sweet and K_K followed him down the stairs and to the door. 

He opened the door.

Standing nervously, beads of sweat on her forehead, Queen stood. “I Have Come Bearing Gifts!” she exclaimed. 

The trio’s expression all but flatlined. 

The last time they had seen Queen was that day at the aquarium. For her to just show up at their house unannounced was not only rude but terrifying. On instinct, K_K slammed the door shut and brought Sweet and Cap’n into his lap. He tried to wheel back and create distance. Its grip was tight, holding them as close as it had the day they’d been separated. Its eyes looked around at the doors and windows as if it expected her workers to come out– to take them– to separate them–

“I Understand If You Do Not Wish To See Me,” Queen’s voice muffled through the door. “My Ignorance Does Not Excuse The Pain You Went Through.” K_K’s chest beat so loud the others could hardly hear her. “The Gifts… Are Quite Large, So I Cannot Leave Them On Your Doorstep.” She waited a few seconds before responding again, “I Will Leave My Business Card.”

Her words made the speaker rightfully furious. He shoved his way from K_K’s arms despite the mer’s pleas. The speaker threw the door open just as she stepped off the porch. 

“What do you want, huh? What could you possibly want with us now?” Queen would have responded if the speaker didn’t continue. “If you think we’re going to accept some apology, we won’t! You can take your gifts back. We don’t want them. And– And how dare you come to our home!” He stepped outside the door, pointing directly up at her. “You banned us from playing music, you separated us, you– you switched us off! That is a huge invasion of our privacy! And for you to just come here after all you did– !” 

Queen stood silently as the speaker continued to berate her. Cap’n and K_K remained in the house, neither of them moved. 

“So, what do you want?!” Sweet yelled. “Because if it's forgiveness, you aren’t getting it! You– !”
“I Do Not Want Forgiveness,” Queen interrupted.
“I knew you’d say that! Get off– Wait, what?” 

Sweet paused, blinking up at her. He hadn’t even realized he was on his toes until he fell back onto his heels. 

“I Have Gifts!” Queen beamed.

“Wait, wait,” Sweet shook his head. “You came here and interrupted our dinner. Just because you want to win us back with flashy gifts?”

“LOL! No.” Queen said. “I Just Have Gifts, You Can Do With Them As You Want, IDC.”

Cap’n and K_K finally crept from the house, now standing behind Sweet. The speaker remained in front, arms crossed and rim turned down. “Then where are the gifts?”

“Oh, We Have To Drive To Them,” Queen stepped aside. A black van was parked outside, Swatch held the back seat door open with a bow. 

Sweet eyed the van before his eye quickly darted back up to Queen. “Band meeting,” he declared and turned around. The three huddled around each other, their arms draped over each other's shoulders as they ducked their heads and whispered. K_K only raised its head once to narrow its eyes at Queen before ducking again. 

“All in favor?” Sweet whispered.
“I,” Cap’n responded, “I’m not turning down free stuff.”
K_K responded with a few chirps.
“I guess me, too,” Sweet deadpanned. 

The speaker turned back into his original stance. He couldn’t believe they were doing this. Part of him wanted to insist they stay home, but a band meeting decision was final. It was out of his hands. 

“Fine. We’ll go.” They said and began walking to the car. “But if you pull anything, you’ll have our friends to deal with… again .” 

Queen hummed, “Oh, Yes. I Remember Your Friends Quite Well.”

K_K moved to the back seat, sitting between Sweet and Cap’n while Swatch drove the car. The trio remained silent and suspicious, but they felt confident they weren’t in danger. What would Queen have to gain at separating them again? They drove for a while in one direction until they recognized where they were headed. 

“Why are you taking us to The Cove?” Sweet’s eye narrowed.
“It Is Where Your Gifts Are,” Queen replied.
“How are we gonna be able to get K_K there quick enough? The trail is–”
Swatch interrupted, “I would be more than happy to carry K_K.”

Cap’n shifted forward, “that is not gonna hap–” He was cut off by K_K’s touch on his shoulder. He crossed his arms and pouted as he leaned his back against K_K. “Fine, whatever,” he mumbled. 

It took them twenty minutes to park and hike the trail to The Cove. With Swatch carrying K_K, their hike had taken no time at all. As they escaped the trees, Sweet and Cap’n gasped. This earned K_K’s attention. The mer pushed the branches from his view as The Cove came into view. The pebbled beach that once was nothing more than forest debris and litter was now clean. A compost bin and trash cans lined the outskirts. The rickety old dock they had met under was pristine and new. Though the most jarring aspect was what was attached to it. 

“You bought us a houseboat?!” Sweet and Cap’n shouted.
“And A Pontoon,” Queen added, “But That Is Already At The Marina.” 

The houseboat was only one level, but that didn’t stop the trio from being amazed. Sliding back a door, they saw the living room and kitchen. Everything was completely furnished with tables and chairs. Even blankets and pillows sat on the couch. The cupboards were stocked with plates and cups, the sink ran the water, and the counter had a built-in mini-stove. The wheel of the boat house was in this room as well. All the walls were slidable and could lock into place as needed. 

The bathroom was surprisingly large for the size of the houseboat. Its shower was fully functional, and there was plenty of room to move about without feeling too squished in the space. 

The bedroom was the same size as the living area. Underneath the bed was a storage area, and a closet was built beside the bed as well. The walls could still slide out, and sliding curtains were on each side. 

Cap’n and K_K seemed permanently starstruck by the new living conditions. Sweet, however, wasn’t swayed as easily. While the others continued to look around the houseboat, Sweet stood beside Queen with crossed arms. 

“This doesn’t mean we forgive you, you know.”
“I Am Well Aware.”
“We could sell this tomorrow if we wanted.”
“It Is Yours To Do With As You Want.”
“You can’t buy my forgiveness.”

“Normally, I Would Doubt That. But In This Case, If I Were You, I Would Accept The Gift.” Queen turned around, and the two leaned against the side deck railing. “K_K Can Go Into The Ocean Within Five Seconds Every Morning On This Boat. It Does Not Cost Much To Maintain… Especially Since Your Mortgage Is Paid On Your Home.” She flashed a smirk at Sweet, who remained stone-cold. “Think About It,” she leaned away. “When You Are Done Here, You Can Drive Her To The Marina, And I Have Tas There To Pick You Three Up.” With a wave, she began walking off. Swatch was a close second behind her. 

K_K and Cap’n were looking in the closet when the boombox gasped. “Sweet! Sweet, come look at this!” The speaker turned into the room to see Cap’n holding up two diving suits, though they looked bulkier than what Undyne wore. The two looked at the suits, K_K looking over their shoulders with curiosity, until Sweet found the tag. 

“Says they’re… drysuits.”
The duo stilled, their eyes rereading the tag over and over. 

“We…” Cap’n looked at the suits and K_K. “We can go swimming?” he questioned. “Like, swimming-swimming. Not just floating or on the surface for a little while?”
“I… I guess… yeah. Yeah, we could.”

It took all of one breath for the duo to immediately begin trying to put the suits on. They were form-fitting, and neither wanted to know how Queen had known their sizes. While their bodies were protected, their faces weren’t. So, they put some conveniently placed waterblock on, strapped on goggles, and stood in front of K_K. They looked odd in the bulky clothing. K_K wasn’t particularly fond of the goggles covering most of their faces. But, if this was how they were doing this, then so be it. 

K_K slipped into the water first. He watched cautiously as the two stood on the deck. They held hands as they jumped into the water together. Opening their eyes, the first thing they saw was K_K. Its hands cupped their faces, looking them up and down for any sign of pain or harm. Finding none, it pulled away to reveal the world Sweet and Cap’n had never known. 

Water once so littered with plastic and trash was now clear and bright. They could see the fish swimming beneath the dock and houseboat, the seaweed growing beneath them. K_K couldn’t help but smile at their stunned faces. It had only dreamed of sharing a moment like this, sharing his world with them. As long as they were safe, it was happy to show them anything they wanted. He swam around them in a circle, causing them to twirl in the mini-whirlpool he created. It was like they were dancing.

The duo breached the surface, gasping for air. 

“Whoa!” Sweet exclaimed. “Did you see the– ?”
“Yeah, I saw the– Did you see– ?”
“Yeah, I saw it, man!”

K_K’s eyes peered over the water, hiding their beaming smile. 

“K_K!” Sweet swam closer, “can you show us someplace? Like, anywhere you like, your favorite spot.” K_K thought for a moment before swimming in a circle. This was their favorite spot. 

“You know what we mean,” Cap’n replied, though he couldn’t hide his smile. 

K_K thought again before nodding. It knew the perfect place to show them. So, it grabbed their wrists in each hand. The duo wasn’t sure how strong K_K’s tail was. They knew it was weaker than before. Perhaps that was why they were surprised by the sudden jolt forward and the instant speed. What was quick to them was slow for K_K. 

He swam them past The Cove and along the outskirts of Castle Port. As they were pulled through the water, they saw the life they’d never seen up close before. They knew life existed beneath them, in the ocean’s depths, but it was shocking to see it– to be so close to this other world. The ground was sometimes visible and other times, gone in a matter of blinks. The scenery whizzed past them. It was like flying. They swam between a school of fish, breaking them apart in a shattering display of colors. K_K brought the duo to the surface for breaths as he continued to swim. K_K dove below again. Sweet could see the upcoming obstacle in their way. A few jagged pieces of land, an offshoot from the nearby cliffs. They closed their eye as K_K carefully maneuvered through the rocky terrain. It swam through a narrow tunnel between two jagged mini-islands. A land bridge connected them from above. The tunnel was dark and when Sweet and Cap'n tried to see they found only darkness. 

K_K could see it all, though. He twisted through the tunnel with caution. Rocks covered in algae coated the walls of the tunnel. Moray eels peeked their heads out from the crevices in the tunnel before shooting back in as they passed. Pufferfish expanded as the water was disturbed around them. Angel, butterfly, and leaf fish made way for the trio's exit. Sunlight danced in the opening and the mer quickly swam through.

When K_K stopped, it brought them to the water's surface for a breath before disappearing below again. Once the duo had air in their lungs, they followed close behind. A coral reef was below them. It wasn’t in the best shape but still had hints of color and life. It was in the process of regrowing what had once been lost. Manta rays swam beneath them, finding a home in a place once broken.

K_K took their hands once more, quickly swimming through the reef as it had once when it was younger. Twisting and turning, looping around, and making quick turns. Its joy overshadowed any discomfort as it reached the end of the reef and made a quick vertical turn. Its speed quickened, it could feel its partners try and kick their legs along with it. Their eyes closed as they flew from the water. 

In the air, they could see the edge of Castle Port for a brief moment. The town, the research center, all of it was in their view. 

Rise, 2, 3, 4…
Down, 2, 3, 4…

The trio crashed back into the water.
Their life and love were caught in those few seconds above sea and land.
In the water, that love was protected by their enrapturing embrace.

≋

As the sun set, Queen found herself walking the beach with her son. Lancer attempted to do a cartwheel with each step he made. Of course, it was more like a bouncy ball than a cartwheel. That didn’t stop Queen from complimenting each endeavor. 

“Wow. That Was Better Than The Last Time!”
“Stupendous!”
“Prodigious!”
“Tremendous!”
“Give Girldad A Second To Thesaurus More Compliments, Dearest.”

Swatch, Rouxls, and Tas were at the local Bistro, getting well-deserved breaks after a long day. She already had a great deal of respect for them beforehand, but even more so now. They even helped her practice her apology to the robotic trio. It was still a flop, but it was the thought that counted. Throughout everything, Swatch and Tas remained close to her. In honesty, she couldn’t fathom why; she was thankful for their friendship, nonetheless. She recalled the two trying to share the blame for the events that transpired. They didn’t get off scot-free, of course, but she couldn’t allow them to take the fall for her mistakes. Rouxls, ever faithful, took his loyalty to Lancer even more seriously. 

It wasn’t long before Lancer’s father heard the news about what Queen had done. King had found it quite funny to see her crash and burn the same way he had. He had called her just to laugh. Still, since Lancer hadn’t been hurt, she didn’t need to worry about anything. After summer, he’d be going back to homeschooling and living with his father. Thankfully, she still had time to watch her son roll around in the sand. 

He was a good bit ahead of her now, but still in her view. He tumbled through the shoreline, rolling into the ocean a few times before the waves would push him back. 

She paused in her walking, looking at the view before turning back to look at the town. So much happened these last few months. More changes were going to come, as well. Her money had helped a great deal in cleaning the ocean in her community, but more work needed to be done. There would always be more work. That’s just how life was when you try to make a difference. It’s for the hope of the future, that their workload might be less than the one she endured. 

Lancer deserved a world like that, and she’d make sure she delivered. 

Her thoughts were interrupted as she felt the waves brush against her ankles. She looked down to see something in the water’s foam. She leaned down to inspect it, looking around the area for any nearby garbage cans in case it was trash. 

She reached out for the object, pulling it from the sand.
It was a worn old sandal, something a little girl might have worn. 

She scanned the horizon, looking for any sign, any notion that It was out there.
“Girldad! Girldad, watch!”
Queen’s face turned, but her eyes remained facing the distance.
“Are you looking? Are you looking?”

Queen blinked, realization dawning on her. She looked at the sandal in her hand. It was so old that parts of it were missing. Most noticeably, the toe strap. Nodding to herself, she clutched the sandal as she faced her son. 

“Wow! That One Was Like… Whoa! You Should Be A Gymnast!”
Lancer ran to her side, “you think? Can I be an evil gymnast? My friend Susie and I– hey, what’s that?” he pointed at her hand.
“Hm? Oh, This?” she held up the sandal, “Just Some Trash I Need To Throw Away.”

≋

The sun sat beneath the waves and of Castle Port. Lights were flickering off, and to the east, the moon was rising. Purple and blue painted the sky, and white splashes of stars glimmered, their sparkle making the waves look more lively than before. The first day of summer held many promises for the townsfolk. The incoming tourist season, three months of fun, and many lives were finally free from fear. Castle Port would never be the same and those who lived there would forever be changed. 

Their stories were done.
Yet, another story still needed to be told. 

Beneath the waves, in the deepest trench, lay a story. In the mind that once knew Sea, Sky, and Land before the Great Split lay a being mers knew well. Its name was whispered in every nursery, Its origin never quite known. Asleep for hundreds of years, Its only job has been to protect the ocean. 

Only those who were brave or idiotic enough could seek out Its presence. Black, sticky oil clung to Its form like It was made from the trauma from land dwellers. The only way to find It, to hear this untold story; would be to follow the deaths of those before into the deepest depths of the ocean. Its very being, Its own health is linked to the ocean. It is almost the ocean itself.

For only It knows this story, for only It knows this history.
The Kraken has finally returned and It is waiting to tell this untold mystery. 

A land dweller trapped in the strings of fate, he’d been wrestling with the sea all this time. Mind cluttered, he raged against the waves with more anger than his body could hold. Sea storms threatened to break him and yet he refused to snap. When he faced the depths, it looked right back at him, and he would not flinch.