****Previously....****
"I'll do anything for my sister Celestine."
"Good. Then you lifetime sentence here is over daughter." Her mother said smirking at her.
Kristina smiled through her tears and hugged her mother fiercely. "I knew you'd come for me, Mum. You're the best in the entire ocean."
Before Annabelle could answer, the seafloor rumbled. A deep trumpet blast echoed through the dome. They spun around—only to find themselves surrounded by white-tailed mermen armed with spears, shields, and jagged clubs.
"Stay where you are. DON'T MOVE!" One of them shouted.
"Oh no," Kristina whispered. "The guards—they've seen through your disguise!"
Annabelle straightened, her eyes sharp. "Tina, listen to me. Go to the wall. Get out while you still can. I'll hold them off."
Kristina shook her head fiercely. "No, Mum. I'm not leaving without you."
The two locked eyes as the circle of guards tightened around them.
***Continuation...***
Kristina clutched the golden necklace with its glowing blue pendant. Her voice trembled.
"Mother… what are we going to do?"
Annabelle's eyes hardened. She unsheathed her sword, raised her shield, and stepped forward without hesitation.
"We fight our way out of this cursed place."
With a flick of her tail, she surged forward, crashing into the six white-tailed guards who had encircled them.
Steel clashed in a storm of bubbles. Annabelle swung her blade in a wide arc, sparks scattering in the water. Two guards lost their weapons instantly. She spun gracefully, her long tail whipping like a battering ram, knocking three others into the walls of the dome.
"Mum, watch out!" Kristina cried.
Annabelle turned just as a spear hurtled toward her. She raised her silver shield, and the weapon snapped in two against its surface.
Two more guards charged with swords raised. Annabelle hurled her shield, striking one squarely and sending him tumbling. She locked blades with the other, her strength pushing him back—until his eyes blazed violet.
"Shit…" she hissed.
A burst of purple laser energy erupted from his gaze, slamming into Annabelle. The force hurled her across the chamber, crashing her into a pillar of stone.
"Mother!" Kristina screamed, frozen in terror.
The violet-eyed guard turned to her, lips curled into a cruel smirk. He lunged at Kristina, sword gleaming.
Kristina's pulse thundered. The necklace in her palm seared with sudden fire, its blue pendant blazing gold. She raised her free hand instinctively.
A crack of lightning tore from her fingertips. It struck the charging guard square in the chest, vaporizing him in a burst of crackling energy.
The silence after was deafening.
Kristina gasped, staring at her own hand.
"I… I did that?"
"Nice shot, Tina," a familiar voice said gently.
Kristina whipped around. Annabelle was already behind her, unharmed, a proud smile on her lips.
"You are... alright?" Kristina cried.
Annabelle winked. "Yap!Thanks to Alora's magic. Come. We need to leave now."
Together, they swam toward the dome's shimmering wall. As they approached, it parted soundlessly, allowing them through. The barrier closed behind them, sealing off the prison.
However,relief was short-lived. What awaited them outside
"Mother… who's that?" Kristina whispered.
Above them floated a towering figure—bare-chested, long brown hair swirling like seaweed in the current. His light-blue, octopus-like tail shimmered with power, each movement rippling the water. In his grip was a massive golden trident crackling with stormfire. His piercing blue eyes bore into them.
"Poseidon," Annabelle muttered, her tone sharp. "God of the Seas and Oceans."
Kristina's face drained of color. "Oh no!We're in big trouble…"
Poseidon's voice rolled like thunder across the water.
"I believe you are breaking the laws of the ocean. And I will not allow such disorder under my reign."
His trident blazed, electricity sparking wildly. A sphere of blinding energy gathered between its prongs before exploding forward in a massive bolt of lightning.
Annabelle braced herself for a deathblow. Kristina clutched the necklace. Fear paralyzed them both and they forgot the had a shield and most importantly, the powerful Reverse Weapon.
At that juncture...
A golden portal spiraled into existence above them, swallowing the lightning bolt whole. The water vibrated with ancient power.
Another portal opened at their side, and from it stepped a radiant figure. A golden tailed mermaid with long white hair that flowed around her, her golden wand glowing with serenity. She smiled warmly.
"Over here, children. Quickly."
Kristina's eyes widened. "Goddess Alora…"
Fury twisted Poseidon's face. "You witch!" he roared, pointing his trident dangerously at her.
But Alora's wand pulsed. The swallowed lightning reappeared—this time above Poseidon—and came crashing down on his head. The god of the sea howled as electricity engulfed him.
"Go," Alora urged. "Save Celestine. I will hold him back."
"Thank you, Godmother," Annabelle breathed.
The goddess nodded once. Then her golden portals expanded, swallowing Annabelle and Kristina whole.
When the light faded, they found themselves adrift near the Blue Merpools.
Kristina's eyes lit up. "It hasn't changed at all…"
Annabelle smiled faintly. "Maybe you and your sister are the ones who will change everything." She kissed her daughter's forehead. "Now go. Save Celestine."
Kristina hugged her tightly. "I promise I'll bring her back."
Before Annabelle could answer, a furious shout echoed across the currents. Commander Klara appeared in the distance, spear in hand, her eyes blazing.
"You have to go now," Annabelle said, pushing Kristina gently forward. "I'll handle this one."
Kristina clutched the necklace and nodded. One final embrace, one final promise.
"May Alora's magic be with you Tina," Annabelle whispered.
Kristina nodded, turned and swam away, her heart pounding with hope and fear.
A bigger adventure in the land awaited her.
TO BE CONTINUED…