Zale's POV:

"Really Zale? How could you let our hostages escape? I gave you one job!" Mother says angrily.

I look at Lana who was frozen in mother's grasp. "Mother," I said as calmly as I can. "Let her go. Please." I add.

Mother pouts, "What happened to 'now'? My they changed you alot my son. Why do you want me to let her go? This is what we always wanted!"

I shake my head. "She doesn't deserve this! No one deserves this mother. We need to move on. Its all in the past. Please let her go."

She pretends to be shock. "Oh you got it bad, Zale. Her spell is stronger than I thought. The little brat is controlling you Zale. Snap out of it! Come and join me, and we can rule Atlantica together."

"Lana's not manipulative! She's kind, beautiful, and smart. She's good. Now let her and her family go. We can move on and be happy."

Horror spreads through mother's face. "Happy? HAPPY?! WE CAN NEVER BE HAPPY IN THAT CAVE! OUR KIND CAN NEVER BE HAPPY TIL WE GET WHAT WE WANT!"

She then starts to laugh. "Oh Zale, poor unfortunate Zale... You're weak." She shakes her head. "You're weak and pathetic. I can't believe you fell in love with the princess! Ha!"

I swim closer to mother. "Yes. Yes I did fell in love with the princess." I look at Lana and stare into her grey stormy eyes. "There's nothing wrong with that. She makes me good. She makes me happy. And I am not weak and pathetic. Im strong. Stronger than you actually."

She laughs with mockery. "You? Stronger than me? I raised you boy. I know all your tricks. You can't best the teacher unless they're dead."

"And thats what you'll be if you don't let her go."

"What?!" She screams in my face. "What you are going to kill your own mother for a girl?"

I raised my head up and glare in her eyes. "A real mother would never do what you do. And if that's what it takes, then yes. Yes I will."

She glower at me. "You don't have the guts to do it Zale."

"Lana!"

"Princess!"

Mother and I both look toward the intruders. Sebastian, the crab. And a big yellow tropical fish with blue stripes swims forward, holding King Triton's trident in its mouth while Sebastian held on to it with his claws.

Sebastian looks at me. "You! I knew you look familiar! Wait til I get my claws on you boy!"

I ignored him and stared at the trident with mouth hanging open. It is as beautiful as mother said.

It glow with power in the dark ocean. Seeming to be the center of attention.

Mother snaps out of her daze. "Give me that trident or the spoil brat dies!"

"Let her go!" The tropical fish said between his teeth.

"Give me the trident and Ill let her go. Easy as that." Mother says in a calm voice with a smile.

Lana shakes her head furiously. Mother's hand went around her neck and squeezes. Lana's eyes fill with panic and she starts choking for air.

I turn to Serenia who was gaping at the trident. "Serenia," I whisper. Snapping her out of her trance.

"Yes?"

"Go see where she's keeping Lana's family. Release them and get back here immediately with King Triton."

"You got it Zale." She says with a nod. "You don't think she'll see me do you?"

"No, she won't take her eyes off that trident as long as its close to her grasp. Hurry now, we don't have alot of time left." I warn.

She nods and quietly swims away, leaving a trail of bubbles behind her.

Like I told her, mother didn't even take her eyes off the trident. In fact, I don't even think she even paid attention to Serenia.

"Zale, take the trident away. We don't have time for this." Says mother. "I'll forgive you if you prove you're still committed. Its rather easy so hurry up now." She ushes me forward with a tenacle.

I swallow nervously. I look out into the ocean, but no sign of Serenia or King Triton.

Come on Serenia. Don't fail me now.

"Zale..." Mother says through gritted teeth. "Take the... Trident."

Sebastian and the fish glare at me. "You come here, boy and I'll snap my claws on your nose." He warns.

"Take the trident Zale!"  Mother shouts.

"Fine!" I growl, "Since you asked so nicely."  I mumble. I glance at Lana, her eyes was fill with doubt and fear.

"You better be chanting a spell right not and not talking back to your mother." Mother sneers.

I swim forward to Sebastian. The crab holds he's free claw up. "Stay back!"

I swirl my finger in the air. Chanting under my breath. Keeping my eyes open to watch the crab and fish. Then flicked my finger toward them. Their faces are fill with shock as a force pushes them back.

The fish had drop the trident and it floats to the ocean floor. I pick it up before it could touch the dirty seafloor.

I turn to mother, holding the trident in both hands tightly. Her eyes gleam with greed. Her body was basically shaking with excitement.

"Good boy," she says. "Now give mommy the trident. And we can rule Atlantica. I may even become powerful enough to break the deal with Rumplestilskin and then we can rule Oceanlan together!"

I look at Lana. She was glaring at me. I wanted so bad to tell her how sorry I am. And that what she saw was not as bad as it look. That I was just trying to protect her. That I wish she never saw that side of me in the first place and to promise her I'll never hurt her again.

"Let Lana go and I'll give you the trident." I said.

Her eyes widen. "Why?! She'll never be with you! She thinks you're a monster. What makes you think she'll ever want to be with you? After what you did to her? Ha! Good luck with that.

"And even if she wanted to, you can't be together. Because you're a nobody! She is a princess! Its the rule, you imbecile!" Her tenacles swirl around her. "But you can forget about her and we can be powerful. Join me Zale and we can be the most powerful villains in the world!"

I bit my lip, pretending to consider the options. At the corner of my eye I see two figures approaching fast. I feel relief wash over me and I smile.

"You know mother," I say as I twirl the trident in my hands. "You have very valid points. A  tempting offer indeed, but..." I let the trident drop in my open palm. "I'll have to pass on that."

"What?!" She shouts confuse as I then throw the trident to the direction of the figures. It soars through the ocean and is catch by a hand waiting for it.

King Triton smiles as the trident gleam with power in his hands. His smile disappers when he sees mother holding Lana in a choke hold. "Let her go Ursula!" He commands.

I turn to mother, "Mother, come on. You're outnumbered. Give up. Its over. Let Lana go. Please. And you and I can be together and be a normal family. We can be happy. I know you don't believe in happiness, but it exists. And it can be ours. We just have to let go of the past and look into the future. Come on mother, give happiness a chance."

Mother looks to King Triton, back to me, and she lets Lana go. She watch King Triton gasp with surprise as Lana floats to the ocean floor. I rush to her side to make sure she was alright.

I look up to thank mother, but I saw her glaring at King Triton who swims to Lana. She stood behind him and I see her eyeing the trident hanging loosely in his hands.

It was as if time slow down before I see mother's tenacles slink towards it. As swift as I can I snatch King Triton' trident out of his hands before she could.

And I don't know what happen next. I believe the triton felt my panic and alert that it burst a yellow light from the sharp arrows and hits my mother. She screams in pain.

I watch in horror as she lights up. She's clawing at her body, her tenetacles curl at the ends then she burst into ash. And she was gone.

"Oh my-" I start as Im breathing heavy. Realising what I just did. "I... I killed her." I whisper, paralyze. To shock to move.

I felt a hand rest on my shoulder. I look up to see King Triton. I offer him the trident like it was burning me. He takes it and gives me a warm sad smile. "Some people think power gives them happiness." He says softly.

"But what it really gives you is a hole that fills up with greed." He continues. "Never to be satisfied. You're mother always thought power was everything, but it really isn't. Happiness is everything. If you don't have that then you have nothing at all. You did the right thing, Zale. You saved us all. I just wish it would've ended differently."

I take a shaky breath. I look to the spot where she was before. Something catches my eye in the sand. I swim towards it to see mother's seashell necklace. It was her favorite because it was the only thing her mother ever given her because it was useless, but mother proved her wrong. It wasn't useless. It holds the most important thing a person needs. Their voice.

I pick it up and turn to Lana who stood next to her grandfather. She sees it and her eyes light up.

I toss it toward her and she catches it. "When you get to shore, smash it and your voice will be free and you'll have your legs back." I said, "Serenia took your parents back to shore also. They're safe and Im sure they're waiting for you."

"You're not coming with us?" King Triton asks.

I shake my head. "Whats the point? I don't have legs anymore. And I don't think Lana wants to be with a monster." I spit out like the word was poison, but I knew it was true.

Lana glares at me. She opens her mouth to speak but nothing came out. She fumes silently. She clutch the seashell necklace in her hands. Wanting to break it.

"If you break it now," I start. "It wouldn't do you any good. You'll drown."

She rolls her eyes, then taps King Triton on the shoulder. When he looks at her she nods her head at me and looks to the oceans surface. Then press her hands together into a pleading motion.

King Triton chuckles, "Zale will you join us at the surface so Lana can talk to you? And Im sure her parents would like to... Talk to you as well."

"Uh sure," I said, nervously as I fiddle with my fingers.

King Triton turns around and see Sebastian and the fish come out of their hiding place. "Sebastian, Flounder, do join us. Im sure Ariel will love to see you again Flounder. Have a proper reunion."

The fish, Flounder, smiles. "Yes, your Majesty!"

"Alright then, let be off!" King Triton concludes as he leads us all to the oceans surface.

*******
I don't know what to say so... Ill just say that this book is either one chapter or two chapter away from being finish!

Comment your thoughts on this chapter because I would like to hear them. Wrote alot on this chapter I'll tell you that! Feel free to vote and share!