Featured song:

"Wild Uncharted Waters" by Jonah Hauer-King

The live-action remake of The Little Mermaid will NEVER top the original. I honestly don't think it did Halle justice as an actress (she did look lovely as Ariel and has a great singing voice in my opinion), I didn't like how they basically downgraded the music, and it still makes my blood boil that people's problem with it is Ariel being black instead of the downgrading of the story. But this one song, I actually liked.

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Omega and her brothers were in a real doozy now! Crescenda hypnotized all their royal guards and was holding their father and Arla prisoner. Now all seven of Jango's children were left to protect his magic trident, perhaps the only weapon they had to fight Crescenda. But that wasn't the only problem. Above the water, Omega and her brothers saw that everyone who'd been on the wedding ship was now in the water and the waves were becoming bigger and stronger, and the winds started to pick up too, making it harder for the flying horses to stay on course. Unfortunately, it didn't look like everyone there knew how to swim.

Omega knew she and the others had to do something, and fast! Quickly, the royal merfolk swam as quickly as they could to get to the bipeds struggling to keep themselves above the water. And the land dwellers were in for the surprise of their lives.

Drake was among those who couldn't swim, so he held onto a piece of driftwood, gasping for breath as he struggled to stay above the water. He wasn't sure he could hold up much longer, until he saw something that made him unable to believe his eyes swimming towards the crash site.

"Look! Mermaids!" he exclaimed.

Sure enough, none of the other bipeds could believe it when the seven merfolk came and started to help them. They'd all thought merfolk were nothing more than mere myth.

"How is this possible?" Obi-Wan gasped.

"Hang tight, everyone! We'll get you to safety." Hunter shouted.

Hunter and his siblings split up and began helping everyone who couldn't swim and helped them get onto the backs of the flying horses, or they grabbed a piece of driftwood and got as many people to hold it as possible and began to swim them back to shore.

"I gotcha, kid!" Wrecker said, letting Gabby hold onto him while he got her parents out of some wreckage.

Tech and Crosshair were quick to start clearing debris to make it easier to get victims to safety, while Boba was able to squeeze through some of the smaller spaces and help Hunter clear a path to get everyone to shore.

But among the victims waiting to be rescued, Omega desperately searched for Benni, and she found him swimming right to her.

"Benni!" Omega exclaimed.

Benni didn't give it a second thought; the moment he had Omega in his arms he kissed her right on the lips!

"I already lost you once, I won't lose you again." Benni said.

Benni and Omega were about to kiss again, when they heard the sounds of people screaming as Crescenda rose from the water and took out her flute again and started to play it... until Omega aimed her father's trident and used it to make Crescenda drop her flute. But then, Crescenda did something else. Using Arla's voice, Crescenda vocalized a very high note at a fortissimo dynamic, which threw Omega and her brother's off, and made Omega let go of the trident, and in a massive wave, Omega and the others were all washed away and onto the land.

Crescenda took possession of the trident, and she cackled as she held it high and victorious, the trident glowing as the siren now had possession of all three relics. Crescenda used the relics to fill the sky with dark clouds, and the waves began to get rough and choppy, very dangerous for any ship in the water.

Everyone took that as their cue to flee farther onto the land to find shelter, but Omega looked back to the water and realized her father and aunt, as well as all of Koralmino's citizens were still trapped beneath the sea. Omega couldn't just leave her family behind, but she couldn't put herself in danger by going back into the water without a plan.

Hunter quickly picked up Omega and ran with her in his arms as everyone rushed to get to safety.

"Everyone get to higher ground!" Benni shouted. He ordered the guards to get everyone to safety as quickly as they could while he and his friends ran back to the palace. "Follow me!"

Omega's family followed Benni back to the palace, and they got as many people indoors as possible to get to safety from the storm.

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Benni's royal guards boarded the doors and the windows as quickly as they could to keep everyone safe from Crescenda's storm. Everyone was also advised to steer clear of the windows in case the strong wind broke the glass.

Everyone was given towels to dry off, and a warm fire was set out as people were shivering after being trapped in the cold waters. Fortunately, it appeared Crescenda kept her storm confined to the waters, not touching the land beyond the beaches. So, it appeared as long as no one got too close to the beach, they were safe, at least for now. But there was still so much for everyone to take in, both for the land dwellers and the merfolk.

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Some hot cocoa was served to help everyone warm up. Of course, Omega's brothers were curious as to what it was.

"It's called cocoa," said Drake. "It warms you up when you drink it."

Wrecker, though, tried too quickly.

"Ouch! Hot!"

"Shoulda warned you. That stuff is hot." Ahsoka said. "Best if you blow on it a little first."

"That happened to me the first time too," said Omega, sipping her own cup.

So, Wrecker did blow it this time, and found that he liked cocoa... when it didn't burn him, anyway.

Benni, overall, was just glad everyone was safe and accounted for. But, he was also glad that his mystery girl was found, and she was here... with him.

"You cold at all?" Benni said, getting a little closer to Omega.

"Maybe a little." Omega said.

Benni pretended to stretch out, and he placed his arm around Omega, earning a protective glare from Omega's brothers, which had the prince hiding behind the girl.

"Uh, why are they looking at me like that?" Benni said, worried the mermen were thinking he looked like fish food.

"They're just protective." Omega said. "Merfolk are built that way."

"Only difference is we got sharks, who we can introduce ya too if ya do our sister wrong." Crosshair said, flicking the sea urchin spine he'd been chewing on at Benni, which only frightened the human prince more.

"Don't worry. Crosshair won't bite. Not unless provoked." Omega told Benni quietly.

One thing that was definitely the same between merfolk and bipeds, the scariest thing guys had to deal with when it comes to finding love was always meeting the girlfriend's family.

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"Let me see if I heard you correctly," said Obi-Wan. "Omega is a mermaid princess, all six of you are mermen, princes, and you are her brothers?"

"Yes," said Hunter.

"And she traded her voice to your estranged aunt to get legs because she fell in love with Benni after rescuing him, only for you to learn you could already become humans?"

"That's correct."

"How could you go years without knowing you could become humans on land?" Anakin added.

"For one thing, our father, the sea king, made it law that none of us were to go to the surface. But, Omega, being the curious one, disobeyed. And apparently, our aunt Arla, Dad's older sister and the original heir to the throne, was the only one who knew about our hidden legs, at least to our knowledge."

"Technically, our father also made it law that every merfolk was to wear a special pearl bracelet, which he said was a symbol of unity, but we recently discovered it was truly to prevent anyone from learning the truth, should any one of us be on the land for any reason." Tech explained.

"And that woman who impersonated Benni's mystery girl?" Obi-Wan said.

"We have no idea who she is," said Echo. "Or what she wants. But now she has our family and our royal guards under some kind of spell."

"Whoever she is," said Boba. "She took Aunt Arla's voice, and she and Dad could be in big trouble right now!"

"If we only knew more about that woman and who she is," said Hunter. "Then we might know how to beat her."

"Did you get a look at her tail?" Crosshair pointed out.

The other mer-princes thought back, and they remembered Crescenda's tail did look rather sharp at the ends; not a common quality in the typical mermaid or merman tail. And Crescenda also did have more fin-like parts on her arms and face that made her appear more monstrous.

"Didn't Arla sing something about how spending a long time in the dark sea made her body more monstrous?" Hunter pointed out.

"She did," said Tech. "That must mean, whoever the other woman is, she was in the dark sea for at least the same amount of time Arla was. Perhaps longer. However, the look on Arla's face after the strange woman stole her voice suggests that there is familiarity between the two of them."

"Aunt Arla might know how we can defeat her. We have to help her, and Dad!" Omega said. "I know Dad lied to us, and Aunt Arla did do some... questionable stuff... but they're still our family, and maybe our only chance to save everyone else in Koralmino."

Omega's brothers, deep down, knew she was right. As mad as they were at their father for lying to them all these years, they couldn't let him be trapped forever, and knowing how he'd treated Arla in the past, they held some sympathy for her too.

Hunter looked out the window and saw the storm slowly starting to die down as it appeared Crescenda and her hypnotized army were now back under the sea. He and his brothers needed a plan and they needed one now.

The mer-princes' plan was this: once the storm settled a little more, they would swim back to Koralmino, using an escape route they remembered their father teaching them when they were little. This escape route was intended for the royal family to escape from the palace if they were ever invaded and needed to get out unnoticed. Therefore, they needed to take that route backwards to get into the palace, where they were sure their father and aunt were being held.

"The dungeon is the most likely location of our targets," said Tech. "However, there is one other possible space to hide prisoners in the palace. The cellar underneath."

"What do merpeople need cellars for?" Padme asked.

"It's where we store seaweed and coral we harvest for food." Hunter answered. "Either of these routes would be useful to getting past that woman. But, getting the relics back will be the real challenge."

"Dad and Arla are, so far, the only ones who know how they work," said Echo. "Once we find them, we can figure out how to defeat that other woman."

"When do we start?" Omega asked.

"We," said Hunter. "Will go down once the storm settles more. You, Omega, will stay here."

"What? Why?"

"You've already been placed in enough danger. That woman somehow knew you were key to getting to the relics, and she may try to use you to keep us from getting them back. You need to stay here, where you're safe."

"But Hunter-"

"Omega, for once, please stay put." Echo said. "This is the most important thing you'll do for your family."

Omega wanted to say something else, but her twin put his hand on her shoulder and reminded her of all the times he and the others covered for her.

"Now it's your turn to cover for us." Boba said. "At least one member of the royal family needs to remain safe."

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So, the next morning, as the storm finally settled down, Hunter, Wrecker, Tech, Crosshair, Echo, and Boba all took a path from the shore on the far side of the island to sneak back to Koralmino unnoticed. They advised everyone else to stay as far away from the beaches as possible and to ration as much food and supplies as they could salvage. There was no telling how long they would be gone. All the while, Omega was to stay in the palace with Benni, where she would be safe and loved.

"Keep Omega safe, or so help me, stormy waters will be the least scary thing you'll have faced." Hunter had threatened Benni before leaving.

Omega couldn't believe this! All these years, she'd wanted to get out of the water to be on the surface. Now, she finally had what she wanted, but now she wanted the exact opposite of that wish. Koralmino was still her home, and Jango and Arla were still her family. She felt so guilty for everything.

Omega sat on her bed, feeling sorry for herself.

"This is all my fault. If I hadn't been so obsessed with coming onto the land or being with you, none of this would've happened."

"Yeah, you're right." Benni said. "A lot of stuff wouldn't have happened."

"Thanks for rubbing it in." Omega said. "Now I'm starting to second Echo's question of what I saw in you."

"I didn't mean it like that! I mean, come on. Sure, we're all scared to go into the water now, and there's a witch in your house... but, you found the truth of merfolk. All these years, people thought they were monsters or just fairytales. But, you helped your people learn the truth, and now mine are learning too. And, if it weren't for you, I wouldn't have made it out of that other storm alive."

Omega shrugged.

"I just did what anyone else would've done."

"Sure, you can breathe in water, so you had an advantage, but still. Not everyone would face stormy waters to save someone, even a prince, from drowning."

Benni took Omega's hands.

"And I'm glad now I finally have the chance now to thank you for what you did. Ever since I heard you sing for the first time, I knew I just had to find you again."

Omega looked down; she felt sure Benni was just being nice.

"I'm serious. I've met so many girls before, and everyone's been urging me to find my future wife. Now, that's the last thing I wanted. Every girl I've met, she barely sees me or not at all. She just sees the chance to succeed my mom as the next queen of this kingdom. Those are some pretty big shoes to fill. Just another reason I didn't want to be married to just any girl."

Omega saw how sincere Benni was when he said all that, and she saw hints of sadness in his eyes to think of his mother again.

"What made you think I was any different?"

"Are you kidding? You saved me. You did something no one else was brave or strong enough to do. That's the kind of queen Ipsidon deserves... I guess you could say, someone who shared my mom's values. She became queen by being the only one brave enough to stand up to a bad king, and she led everyone to drive him out of power. I'm not sure I would've been brave enough to do that."

"But you're half of her. You must have some bravery."

"You don't know everything about me."

Benni showed Omega his mother's seashell and told her more about what he could recall of his early life. Because of Mokko, Benni never knew his father, and he and his mother had no other family. Losing her changed a lot about the young boy. Instead of focusing on all royal stuff, Benni was always curious about the sea. Ipsidon was what he knew; it was his home. But deep down, he was curious about the ocean. He would always look out from his bedroom window, and seeing that line where the sky met the sea, it called to him, and he remembered all the stories his mother used to tell him about mermaids, sailors, and many wonders of the waters.

Growing up, Benni would take any chance he could to go sailing in an effort to be closer to his mother. Call it grief, but Benni swore whenever he sailed and let the wind run through his hair, he could hear his mother singing to him once more, with a voice like a beautiful siren.

"At one point, some of us were convinced she must be a siren," chuckled Benni. "But when we got her wet, we found out two things. My mom was not a siren, and when you throw water at your elders, you get in trouble."

Omega laughed at that last remark.

"I was only six!" Benni defended.

"Your mom sounds like an amazing woman." Omega looked down. "I never knew mine. She never woke up after giving birth to Boba and I. So, it's pretty much just been me, my dad, and my six brothers."

"No wonder you wanted to get out of there." Benni chuckled. "One girl in the village, she's got seven brothers, and she's always complaining about them."

"It's not like that. I love my brothers, every one of them. I admit, Crosshair can be a little too serious, Tech can be a little too.... technical, and Wrecker can be a bit of a brute, but I love all of them anyway. And Boba's my twin. We're side-by-side by nature. And Hunter and Echo have always looked out for all of us. That's what family does."

Benni definitely couldn't say he didn't find it sweet that Omega, despite being the only girl in her family all her life, always managed to find a positive spin on things. He spent a lot of his life wishing he'd had a brother or a sister of his own. Being an only child, it may have meant he had all of Mommy's attention growing up and that he got a lot of presents at Life Day and his birthday, but it was also lonely.

Benni, being a prince, did not always have time to find or spend with friends, and sometimes royal stuff kept him and his mom separated to different places. And being so lonely, Benni only ever found solace in what little time he had with the people he knew truly loved him. But when it came to his love life, it was another story.

"Your brothers are very lucky to have someone like you for a sister." Benni said. "Curious, smart, and you were willing to take a risk none of them were. And they must really care about you to be so protective and not want anything in return."

"That's also what family does. And my family, they're the kind of people who only come once in a lifetime."

Benni looked at Omega again. There was so much he wanted to say to her, so much he wanted to do with her, and he didn't want to waste any moment he had with her.

"A girl like you, also comes only once in a lifetime." Benni said.

Benni looked into Omega's eyes and told her that when she saved him, she did so much more than prevent him from drowning, and he wasn't talking about Ipsidon being left without a future leader. When he awoke and heard Omega sing, he also saw his entire life flash before his eyes. For as long as he could remember, ever since he started finding girls attractive, he felt like something was missing. He'd met so many girls. Benni met girls who were beautiful, girls who were smart, girls who were beautiful and smart, girls who could cook, girls who could dance, even girls who knew how to weave baskets with detailed patterns in them. But none of those girls Benni met gave him that sense of connection. With Omega, though, he felt things he never imagined he could feel.

Even though he'd been set up with princesses and young ladies of high society from lots of other kingdoms, Benni never thought much about searching beyond his home for a bride. Ipsidon was what he knew. But then he met a girl who was from an entirely different world from him, and that world wasn't even on land.

Benni took Omega's hand and showed her the balcony where he liked to stand to look out at the sea. It was calm now, and Omega couldn't believe how beautiful the ocean looked from high above.

"It wasn't until I heard you for the first time that I realized what I was missing. I've gone sailing so many times, but never thought about seeing what else was beyond the seas around my kingdom."

Benni wrapped an arm around Omega, thinking only of his feelings for her, and how they'd grown so much and continued to do so now. And whether she sang or spoke now, it called to him like a siren telling him to explore beyond what he knew.

Benni:

All I ever wanted

Was the open sea and sky

Freedom from the life I always knew

Now all I am is haunted

As days and hours roll by

All I ever think about is you

There you are, over me

Taking me with your song

To wild uncharted waters

Miles beyond the sea

Benni looked into Omega's eyes and danced with her to express his love.

I was darkness-bound, I had almost drowned

'Til you came around, and you found me

Now I am on the shoreline

But I'm still lost at sea

In these wild uncharted waters

Come find me again

Benni felt that adventure awaited him beyond the things he knew, but he couldn't do it alone. He needed not just a guide, but a companion, and now, Omega was the one he wanted to be that companion.

All I did was wonder

Who you were and where you'd be

In my mind, your melody goes on

Stronger than the undertow

The night you rescued me

Silhouetted by the rising dawn

Oh, over you

I could not get over you

In wild uncharted waters

Beyond where man can see

When your eyes outshine the horizon line

And you're finally real, here beside me

Now I'm right here on the shoreline

I'm right where you left me

And your voice is like

A siren that guides me

Benni lifted Omega and spun her, Omega enjoying the feel like she was flying as the wind blew through her hair.

To wild uncharted waters

Alone, just you and me

And I hope you're there in the open air

There's no map or compass to guide me, no

Time may change the shoreline

But time will not change me

If it takes my life

I will always find you again

In uncharted waters

Come find me again

Benni leaned forward, and once more, he and Omega kissed. And then, Benni got on one knee and said, "Omega, I know we've only been together a short time, and right now, we don't know what's going to happen with your family. But I know that I don't want to go through any more adventures if you're not part of it. So, if we do make it through this, would you do me the honor of becoming my wife?"

Omega felt overwhelmed with emotions by what Benni was asking her. This was just what she'd wanted, but if her family was in danger.... She couldn't just get married now. But, she knew her brothers wanted her to be safe, and Benni made it clear he loved Omega and wanted what was best for her too. So, Omega answered....

"Benni... I do want to marry you... it's what I've wanted for so long... but I don't know if I can, knowing my family is in danger."

That was not the answer Benni was hoping for.

"Okay, I guess you need to think about it... but, I do wanna be with you. I can't imagine spending the rest of my life with anyone else. And no matter what happens, I do intend to keep my promise to your brothers to keep you safe. No matter what."

That response actually helped Omega to think more about how to answer Benni. Her brothers may have threatened Benni before, but that was no different than any other time they'd seen her with a boy she wasn't related to, and that was just with mermen. She knew deep down, they would just want her to be happy, and Benni made it clear his intentions were good.

"In that case... Benni... yes."

Benni looked surprised by that.

"Yes, I will marry you. But, only after this crisis is over."

Benni chuckled again.

"Fair enough. Do I have to wait to kiss you again, though?"

"I don't think so." Omega batted her eyes.

And in response, Benni kissed Omega once more, this time very passionately.

Omega felt so many emotions running through her mind and heart as she felt Benni's lips against hers. Each time they kissed, the two teens could swear they felt a huge sparking sensation like a plethora of fireworks within them, as this was the first time either of them actually kissed anyone. And they just didn't want it to end.

Unfortunately, it was going to take more than a true love's kiss to fix the problem that was deep beneath the water.

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Hope you guys are enjoying the story. Haven't seen many reviews lately, so I don't know for sure how anyone feels.

But, while I'm talking about feelings, some of you probably already heard that legend James Earl Jones, mostly famous for voicing Darth Vader as well as King Mufasa, has just passed away. Pray he rests in peace.

In honor of the memory of this legendary actor, I've decided my next storytime will be a Jedi Storytime spoof of the Lion King. Be sure to be on the lookout for the first chapter of that story, especially since this one will be ending very soon.

Be sure to review.

Until next time.