FSE

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Lara King awoke with a start, before choking and spluttering as she coughed up some seawater. The 23 year-old lifeguard looked around her new surroundings in astonishment. She was in a small cave, with a pool of twinkling water the only exit. There was a natural blue light illuminating the cave, and, as Lara slowly tried to get to her feet, she realized there was no way the light could be getting in. Her legs felt weak, and she sat back down, struggling to remember how she got here.

Of course, she'd gone out to help save the passengers on a small yacht that had run aground. With the ship on fire, she'd been dropped onto the deck from the Coast Guard helicopter, and had helped the passengers into the escape unit and to safety. And then...

The yacht had exploded. Lara remembered losing her balance and hitting her head on something, and then a second explosion which blew her into the water...

None of which explained how on Earth she had ended up here. Wherever here was.

"Unless I'm...dead..." she thought out loud.

She put her hand to her head, to where she expecting to find blood, or a bruise, or anything from where she'd hit it. There was nothing. No marks, no pain.

"This is...too weird..." Her swimsuit had a few tears and burn marks, but she knew it could have been much worse.

She stared into the water, marveling out how clear it was. She could see almost too where she assumed there was a bottom, and another tunnel leading off from that. As she gazed into it, a creature swam out from the tunnel, and up towards her.

A girl, she thought, with a tail...mermaid...?!?!

Lara moved back from the edge of the pool as the figure broke the surface, facing away from her. She shook her long dark hair, and began to place some shiny rocks and crystals on the bank. Lara's heart skipped a beat as the girl began to sing. The song wasn't in a language Lara could understand, but it was the most beautiful thing she'd ever heard. The girl fussed over the rocks as if organizing them, and then Lara moved slightly, dislodging a stone which plopped into the water. The girl turned to Lara, and beamed.

"Oh, you're awake! Oh, wonderful! Are you all right?"

The girl swam over to Lara, who was amazed at the beauty of this creature. From her face, she guessed she was barely 20, with a natural look of wide-eyed innocence, and rather large breasts. She rested her hands on the bank and looked up at Lara, still smiling.

"I'm sorry, you must be so scared. I promise there's nothing to be scared of. My name is Carin."

"I...I must be dreaming...you're a...mermaid?"

Carin giggled. "Yes. And you're not dreaming. Take my hand."

When Lara didn't, Carin smiled even wider. "Or at least tell me your name?"

"What...oh. Sorry...I'm Lara..." She slowly took Carin's hand in hers, and felt the girl's warm wet hand. She was real. She wasn't dreaming.

"Lara...that's beautiful."

"Where am I?" she asked.

"My home." explained Carin. "Well, not my birth home, but this is where I come when I want to be alone. I can spend days here...there are some very pretty rocks around here, I collect them."

"I'm sorry, I...how did I get here?"

"Oh, well, I like to watch you. Not just you, all the humans that play in the water. I know it's a bit dangerous really, but I keep my distance. I've actually been longing to meet one of you - in fact; I hoped it would be you."

"Why me?"

"You look like a human, yet you swim like a fish. Movement in the water seems to come as naturally to you as it does to me. And you help people. You are strong and beautiful. I like you."

Lara blushed. "Thank you..."

"That's all right. Anyway, I was watching you help those people when their ship hit the rocks. You didn't escape; you were thrown into the water. You come to help anyone, but no-one came to help you. At least, not in time. I couldn't let you die. I brought you here."

"Oh...you've saved me. Oh, thank you, so much..."

Carin giggled. "That's all right."

The two women looked at each other in silence for a while, and then Carin asked "How do you feel now?"

"Oh, much better...I'm sorry; this is just so weird..."

"I know." said Carin. "But, its good weird, isn't it?"

Lara smiled. "It is. I didn't think mermaids were real..."

"Well...it's lucky for you we are, isn't it?"

"Yes...Carin...I don't want to seem rude, but...what happens now?"

"You can go." said Carin. "I can take you back to the surface and...We can say goodbye. Or you can stay with me, for a bit. I was going to have something to eat soon, I'd love some company. You're the only person I've ever shared this place with."

"Sure," Lara said, "I'll stay a while." This is so surreal. "Um, forgive me for being ignorant about this, but what do mermaids eat?"

Carin smiled and said "I know what you're thinking. You're thinking I'm going to offer up a handful of seaweed and coral to eat aren't you?"

"Well," Lara said, caught.

"From the waist up I'm like a human, and that includes my stomach. What do you like? There's salmon, grouper, shrimp, tuna, trout..."

Lara gasped in horror. "You eat seafood?! Isn't that like cannibalism? I mean, um..."

"What else am I supposed to eat?" Carin asked, "It's not like I eat dolphins or any other intelligent creature. It's no different than humans eating a... a... oh, what's that animal that you get your hamburgers from?"

"Cow."

"Right! No different than eating a cow. How about some grilled shrimp?"

Lara had another question. "How do you grill anything down there in the sea?"

"Volcanic vents," Carin explained, "They give off plenty of heat, even in the water. Just give me ten minutes and I'll be back with the most delicious grilled shrimp you've ever had."

"Sounds good," Lara said, "I'll wait here."

"Don't go away," Carin said, winking before splashing down into the sea and disappearing into the deep.

As Lara for Carin to return, she took in her surroundings. The cavern was vast. A sheer wall shot up from the pool several hundred feet. Even if she had been able to scale the wall, there didn't appear to be any opening in at the top. While the water in the pool was calm and clear, Lara knew she wouldn't be able to hold her breath to reach the bottom. Besides, from there, she had no idea how far it was out of the cave and up to the surface.

Lara was both amazed and concerned about her surroundings. There seemed to be no way for air or light to enter the cave, yet she could see and breathe just fine. Of course, the realization the mermaids actually existed was still sinking in. She had no idea what Carin's intentions were, but she seemed friendly, and Lara knew that without her help, she would probably be dead right now.

Lara shivered and pulled her arms around herself. Her regulation red one piece bathing suit was cold against her skin. Her nipples stood hard and proud, straining against the thin fabric of the suit.

Lara dipped her toe into the water. It was warmer than she expected, almost like it was heated by some powerful source. Then Lara though about the volcanic vents. They probably heated the water.

Ripped and scorched, her suit did her little good, so Lara slid out of it. She spent a lot of her off duty time on the nude beach, so she wasn't too inhibited about showing off her body. Her rich, brown all over tan contrasted nicely with her blonde hair.

Lara slipped into the pool. It was really warm. The water felt good on her aching muscles. Lara relaxed and floated on her back. She closed her eyes and enjoyed the sensation of weightlessness the water provided.

A splash nearby got her attention, Lara turned and saw Carin holding two large clam shells like plates. There was a hearty portion of the largest prawns Lara had ever seen on them.

Carin swam to her with a broad smile. "Enjoying the water, I see," as she handed her a plate.

"It does feel really good," Lara said as she treaded water to keep her position.

Carin seemed to be expending hardly any effort. Lara looked down through the clear water and studied the mermaid's tail. It was multicolored, in various shades of blue, green and purple. Her tail was probably six feet long. It narrowed to a thin point at the bottom before a wide, thin, translucent tail fin spread out more than four feet across. Carin moved her tail only slightly to hold her position above the water.

Lara took the shrimp from Carin and began to eat. They were tasty.

"Mmmmmm," Lara grunted as she savored a bite. "You were right, these are incredible.

As they finished the meal, Lara looked and Carin and asked, "So, can you tell me about your people?"

Carin smiled. "I'm not allowed to...but I will. Well, we can live for hundreds of years, and we're all very beautiful. What else do you need to know?"

Lara giggled. "No, I mean where do they live? How come humans have never found them?"

"We just don't allow ourselves to be found. The sea's our home, we know it much better than your people ever will. Our villages are scattered throughout the sea at depths humans could never reach, and we're built for life in the water. Humans aren't. Of course, some of you have found us...back when we first tried to contact you."

Lara thought for a moment. "Sirens?"

Carin nodded. "We were trying to communicate with the sailors the way we do a lot things - very sexually. But they found us a bit too distracting, and we were forbidden to have anything more to do with you."

"Until now." smiled Lara.

"My parents would be furious if they knew how interested I was in you...your people, I mean. I've started to think maybe it's time for us to make contact with your kind again - not the same way as before, but we need to prove our existence."

"That would be dangerous." said Lara. "You'd probably be hunted down."

"It would be more dangerous if we did nothing. Your people continue to pollute our homes with your poisons. We have to get you to stop." She smiled. "I'm sorry. You're the first human I've ever met, and here I am ranting away."

"It's all right, I understand. I feel the same."

Carin grinned. "So, tell me about the land! I just can't imagine what it must be like..."

"Anything in particular you're interested in."

"Yes, your...legs...I can't imagine what walking feels like..."

Lara smiled. "I'll try to show you." She lifted herself out of the water onto the bank, and then reached down for Carin's arms. "I'll help you out."

Carin lifted up her arms, and Lara took them and pulled the mermaid out of the water, making sure not hurt her on the rocks. It suddenly occurred to her what an odd idea this was, and how embarrassing it could end up becoming. Nevertheless, she continued, by putting her arms around the girl's waist, and lifting her to eye level. Carin had a look of surprise and excitement on her face as her breasts rubbed against Lara's. "This feels so nice..." she said dreamily.

"It...does..." said Lara. The two friends looked into each other's eyes, and then...

Lara closed her eyes and leaned closer to Carin. Her heart was fluttering. She'd never even thought of herself as a lesbian. Never even considered kissing a woman, a human woman at least, but as she held Carin's slippery body next to hers, she had an overwhelming urge to ...

Her revelry was interrupted by splash in the water and a clicking noise.

Carin turned to the sound and smiled.

"Kiki," she exclaimed as she dove back into the water and swam to the dolphin.

Lara re-entered the pool and swam to the pair. Carin was petting the dolphin on the back and the animal was clicking happily.

"This is Kiki," Carin said, "She's my pet."

"I suppose that makes sense," Lara said. "Mermaids and dolphins."

"She's more than that, really," Carin continued. Dolphins are very intelligent. She's really my friend.

Kiki edged toward Lara and slipped her nose under Lara's hand.

Carin giggled, "I think she likes you."

Lara pet Kiki and the dolphin responded with more happy clicks.

"So what do we do now?" Lara asked.

"Well," Carin said, "The choice is really up to you. With Kiki here, she can help you swim out of the cave. Even though you swim like a fish, it's probably too far for a land woman like you to make it without help. If you want, I can help you make your way back to the shore. Or, if you like, you can come with me and I can show you my world."

Lara was flabbergasted. "How could I do that? ... I mean..." she stammered, you said humans could never reach the depths where your cities are ... and wouldn't you get in trouble, bringing me there and everything."

Carin shook her head and smiled, "There's no need to worry. It's quite simple really."

"I can turn you into a mermaid, temporarily of course. You'll fit right in."

"You could do that?!?! For how long??!"

"Of course, for as long you want. I've never done it, but it's easy...we used to do it a lot in the old days, when we weren't too restricted on contact."

"Oh...I could turn back, couldn't I?"

"Oh yes. But..."

"But...?"

Kiki made a slight clicking sound and Carin smiled. "But...well, the longer you are a mermaid, the more reluctant you'll be to change back to a human."

Lara considered that for a moment, and then grinned. "But I know that if I don't do this, I'll regret it forever...all right. What do I have to do?"

"Kiss me," Carin said. "I'll do the rest." Lara smiled and embraced Carin again, their breasts pressing against each other as Lara puckered her lips and laid a tender kiss on the mermaid's lips. Carin surprised her by not only returning the kiss, but shoving her tongue in her mouth, causing Lara to wonder if the mermaid knew of the concept of French kissing or if this was just a coincidence. Lara returned the gesture, their tongues making contact and the embrace growing tighter. After a few moments Carin released and pulled back, all smiles. "All done," Carin said.

Lara looked down at herself and saw nothing different: same legs, same hips, and same body. "I don't feel any different," Lara said.

"Give it a minute," Carin said, "You'll know when it starts."

Lara asked, "Does it hurt?"

"Oh, no!" Carin exclaimed, "The last humans who visited us in the old days said the changes were very pleasurable." Carin watched her new friend intently, eager to see her body change into aquatic perfection. "You have a most beautiful shape, you know. I can't wait to see you with a graceful tail like mine."

"I can't wait either," Lara said, her heart rate increasing from the excitement. Or maybe it was the changes beginning. She really didn't know.

"You have such interesting legs," Carin said, "No matter how many humans I see, legs always intrigue me. How do you move on the land without falling down? How do you use your legs to propel yourself upwards briefly? And how does the hair between your legs stay in a triangular shape?"

Lara giggled. "Humans learn to walk at an early age," she explained, "And jumping... that just kind of comes naturally. And as for pubic hair, it takes trimming and care to keep it that shape."

"Amazing," Carin said, reaching out to stroke her fingers through Lara's well-kept triangular fuzz. Her interest in one part of Lara's body was shifted to another as she exclaimed "Your changes! They're starting!"

"I... I think I feel it," Lara said, pleasurable sensations building up in her body. She had expected the feelings to center around her legs; after all, that's what would be changing. Instead she felt a warmth in her chest as her breasts began to expand, growing to the same size as her mermaid companion and nipples becoming more and more sensitive. She swore she was feeling each individual particle of water vapor brushing against her chest. "Oh my," Lara exclaimed, struggling to speak as the changes continued.

"Shh," Carin said, "Don't speak. Just let it happen."

Lara felt a tightness within her chest next; she guessed her lungs were adapting to breath both air and water. Finally the changes that Lara expected the most started as she felt her legs start to go numb. She felt herself losing balance and beginning to tip over, but Carin was at her side to hold her up.

"Easy now," Carin said, "You're almost there."

Lara felt her head begin to ache as her brain began to deal with the changing nerve signals coming from below her waist. Her muscles involuntarily twitched, brining her legs together and her feet pointing outwards. Slowly but surely she saw her legs begin to turn blue and pink as scales started to appear on her skin. Everything began to go dizzy for Lara when her legs began to meld together to form a mermaid's tail and just before she blacked out she heard Carin's voice reassuring her, "I've got you, babe, I've got you."

The next thing Lara heard was Carin's voice gently waking her. "Lara? It's over. You did wonderfully and you're even more beautiful now! Wake up, I have a whole world to show you."

Lara shook her head, still woozy from her transformation. Her senses seemed a bit off. At first she attributed it to the fact that she'd just allowed herself to be turned into a mermaid. 'I'm a mermaid,' she thought with a start, 'a real live mermaid!'

Regaining her composure, Lara realized that she wasn't dazed, she was underwater.

While Lara recognized that she was still in the cavern, her perspective was quite different. Turning her head upward, she saw the surface about 20 feet above her. Lara glanced at Carin with a wide smile. Carin returned the grin.

Next, Lara turned her attention to her own body. She ran her hands over her chest. Her breasts had grown larger, but the sensation from her own touch was nearly overwhelming. Lara shuddered as she tweaked her hard nipples. Still caressing her chest with her left hand, Lara allowed her right to drift downward, over her flat stomach and below her waist. There, her skin changed seamlessly into her mermaid's tail. Scales started about her hips. Lara was amazed at how pearly smooth they felt as she rubbed downward along the side of what had been her thigh. As she moved back upward and toward the center of her body, the scales felt rough. She could feel the scales pulling upward as she moved her fingers across them , confirming that they were 'hers.'

As Lara reached where her crotch had been, she grew concerned at first. After all, mermaids were supposed to be fish below the waist, and she had no idea how her human anatomy had adapted to this new form. Her fears were quickly forgotten as she discovered a small opening hidden behind her scales. A finger drifted inside and Lara found her clitoris. Just brushing against it sent a bolt of pure pleasure though her entire being, and Lara understood why mermaids were regarded as such sensual beings. That was a sensation she knew she'd enjoy again and again.

Controlling the urge to get herself off right there and then, Lara examined her body further. Her tail was beautiful. Like Carin's, it was much longer than her legs had been. It tapered evenly below her hips until it narrowed to a fine point. Then, spines reminiscent of her toes fanned out into a classic tailfin. A thin membrane stretched between the spines, and Lara could feel it moving the water aside with her subtle movements.

Without really thinking about it, Lara began to move her tail about. She was able to curl and twist it in every direction, in ways that her human legs would never move. Lara understood Carin's curiosity about legs, because the sensations of movement her tail gave her were so very, very different.

Lara looked at Carin, her mermaid friend was still beaming. "This is fantastic," Lara stopped, surprised by now only the fact that she'd just spoken underwater, but by the sound of her voice as well. "It sounded, similar, but it had a lyrical quality about it, something she knew others, particularly human men would find appealing.

Lara smiled again, "I think I'm going to like being a mermaid!"

"I'm sure you will," Carin replied, our legend has it that many human women who tried it never wanted to go back."

Lara thought about her friends and family. She didn't want to leave them. But this form, 'Being a mermaid,' was surely enticing. Lara hoped Carin's warning about staying a mermaid too long wasn't already beginning to affect her.

"Let's go," Lara said, "I want to see your home."

"This way," Carin said, "come on, Kiki."

Carin's dolphin rose to the surface to fill with air and then dove in front of them, speeding to the bottom of the cavern and into a tunnel.

Carin turned to follow, extending a hand to Lara, she took it and pushed off with her tail. She felt weightless as she propelled herself through the water. She moved her tail back and forth with gentle undulations, using her tailfin to control her direction, her arms were really unnecessary and she let them fall to her sides as she held Carin's hand in hers.

The tunnel was quite long, Lara realized she'd never have been able to swim it as a human. At the same time, Lara wondered how Carin had gotten her in it in the first place.

Emerging from the tunnel, Kiki sped upward to the surface for a breath. Carin and Lara followed. Lara was amazed at how much distance she could swim with little or no effort. They reached the surface and floated with just their heads and shoulders above the water.

Lara was still beaming, "Carin, this is so, so amazing. Thank you. Thank you so much!" She spread her arms and hugged Carin tightly. Their bodies rubbing together in the water felt fantastic and Lara wrapped her tail around Carin's to pull the mermaid closer to her. Their lips met and Lara opened her mouth to accept Carin's probing tongue.

The pair kissed and caressed for several minutes, until Kiki clicked a warning. They broke their embrace as they saw what Kiki was trying to alert them about.

Just as the two mermaids looked up at Kiki's warning, they heard a splash. A finely threaded net billowed down over them, sinking rapidly as the weights on the end pulled it downwards, deeper into the water.

"Hurry!" Carin shouted. "Swim as fast as you can down to the opening!"

Carin did a quick jack-knife move, and with a couple twitches of her tail, shot down towards the opening. Lara fumbled for a bit, then took off after her.

The opening was getting narrower and narrower. Would they get out in time?

Perhaps luck was on her side that day, but Lara managed to escape the sinking net that threatened to trap both mermaids. Carin was far more used to fleeing such things, and as such escape was easy for her. Both girls treaded water safe from harm's way when Carin said "You have to be just as careful down here as up above. There are all kinds of dangers." She reached over and held Lara's hand, adding "But I'll take care of you." Together they swam hand-in-hand deeper into the sea, the light fading the deeper they went. Lara found that, as a mermaid, her eyes had adjusted to allow her to see the darkness of the ocean bottom.

"Where are we going?" Lara asked.

"My city. There's so much I want to show you!"

Just then, as if on cue, the ocean bottom that was gliding beneath Lara and Carin ended, revealing a deeper section of ocean. Located in the center of the region was, to Lara's surprise, what Carin said was a city called Atlantis. And the city was...

The city was moderately sized. Even at a distance, undersea homes were visible and some mermaid entertainment places showed.

"So you call this Atlantis," Lara said, "Is it the ... you know, 'lost city'?"

Carin looked a Lara quizzically. "Oh, you mean, the human Atlantis legend. I've heard of that. This isn't that Atlantis. It was named by some human converts years and years ago, and it kind of stuck."

"Human converts" Lara asked, "Does that happen a lot?"

"Not anymore, in fact, we have some pretty strong laws about human contact. Don't let anyone know what we did. I'll get in trouble and you'll ..."

"I'll what," Lara demanded.

"You won't be allowed to leave ... ever. The elders say we can't take a chance with contact with land folk. Just try to fit in."

Lara grew concerned. As much as she was enjoying being a mermaid, she didn't want to be forced to remain one. "So what'll I do?"

"Follow my lead," Carin said confidently as they entered a crowded street. If anyone asks, just tell them you're my friend from Pacifica. It's far enough away that no one will challenge you, and their customs are a little different from ours, no one should call you on it.

Lara wondered if she had made the right choice. The streets were moderately crowded with mermaids of various ages. There were a few mermen, but mermaids outnumbered them by 10 to 1.

Stopping near what appeared to be a large undersea park, Carin said, "What should I show you first, .... I know ...

Carin led Lara down into the undersea city and into a neighborhood of homes that, at first glance, were built from bricks that appeared to be compacted sand. Lara wondered just how much industry the merpeople had; they certainly seemed to be advanced. Carin's house was one of the nicer ones on the street, consisting of a second floor while the others were single-story. Carin pulled the seaweed curtain door aside and beckoned for Lara to enter.

"Amy! Heather! Are you home?" Carin called out, her voice somehow managing to echo underwater. Lara couldn't figure that one out.

"Up here, sis!" a voice called back from upstairs. Carin headed upstairs (well, not really "stairs"; the way up to the second floor was a simple smooth inclined ramp) and Lara followed. They moved down the hall and into one of the bedrooms where they found Carin's sisters, Amy and Heather. Introductions were made and Lara noted that beauty must run in their family as well as large breasts. She also learned that Carin's the oldest sister, followed by Heather, then Amy, although they were only each a year apart in age.

"Nice to meet you," Amy said as she approached Lara for the traditional mermaid greeting. Lara was about to put out her hand for shaking when Amy hugged her, pressing their bare breasts together just long enough for each of them to feel stimulated by the experience. Heather was next in line for such a greeting. "So, Pacifica, huh? I've always wanted to go there."

"You should sometime," Lara bluffed, "It's a great place to be."

"So how long are you in this region?" Heather asked.

"Oh, just for a few days. I wanted to see this Atlantis that Carin's always talking about." Well, it was mostly true.

"How'd you two know each other?" Amy asked.

"Oh, we've been sending messages through sea-mail," Carin said, "You remember that Pacifican Pen Pall Program I signed up for."

"Um, yeah," Amy said, not really remembering because Carin had signed up for no such thing.

"We should all hang out tonight," Heather said, "Clamala is performing at the Conchshell in Squidport. We should go!"

"Yeah!" Lara said, not waiting to get Carin's reaction to the invitation. She couldn't pass up the chance to hear live mermaid music.

"Sure, sounds great," Carin said. "Hey Lara, come and see my shell collection." She tugged at Lara's arm and ushered her out of Amy's bedroom and into her own across the hall. "This is my room," she said as she closed the door made of seaweed. Once she was certain that nobody could overhear them, she said, "I thought I should tell you... my sisters want to have sex with you. I know you don't know how to recognize all the signs, but trust me, if we go to the concert tonight with them then the evening will end with all of us having sex. Are you OK with that?"

"How do you know?" asked Lara.

"The way they greeted you. They rubbed their breasts against yours, and that means they find you very attractive and they want to have sex with you. The concert is also probably very different to the ones you're used to. You know the song of a mermaid is very seductive, very sexual...well, groups like Clamala spend years perfecting their songs to make them almost hypnotic. The second they start to sing, you'll start thinking of nothing but sex and the beauty of their songs. It's basically a mass arousal, a mass orgy. I'm sure you'll enjoy it, but I wanted to tell you what you've agreed to, so that they don't find out you're not a born mermaid."

Lara had begun to think of sex a lot more than normal anyway. She grinned at the thought of the concert. "I would be honored to have sex with your sisters, Carin." She took her friend in her arms and whispered "Provided I get to have sex with you first..."

Carin smiled, and kissed Lara gently on the lips. "Of course you may. I hoped you and I could go...well, together...you know, as a couple?"

"You mean a date?"

"Yes. Unless you've seen another girl you're interested in?"

"I've seen no-one as beautiful as you, Carin. You saved me. You shared this with me. I want to be your date."

Carin grinned. "We've just got time to go get some dinner before the concert, would you like that? I expect your changes have left you hungry?"

"Oh, yes." said Lara. "Carin...I...I want to thank you. This has been one of the greatest experiences of my life. I still can't believe it."

Carin grinned, and took both of Lara's hands in hers, kissing them gently. "I promise you that soon this will have been *the* greatest experience of your life."

---

"C'mon, we're going to be late!" Carin called upstairs. Amy had yet to finish getting herself ready. Mermaids wore no clothes aside from some makeup and occasional jewelry, of course, so the girls had no idea what was taking her so long to prepare.

"How far is it to Squidport?" Lara asked.

"Too far to swim if we're going to get there in time," Heather said. "We'll have to take the dolphins." Amy joined them then and they all went outside where Kiki and another dolphin were waiting patiently. "This is Koko," Heather said, introducing the other dolphin. Amy and Heather climbed aboard Koko as one would ride a horse and the dolphin sped off faster than Lara thought she could ever possible swim. Carin gestured for Lara to join her on Kiki, and Lara sat behind her new friend.

"You'd better hold on if you don't want to fall off," Carin warned, and Lara put her arms around Carin, cupping her breasts teasingly. Once secured, Kiki took off with blinding speed.

Squidport was a massive city compared to Atlantis, with lots to see and do. Tall buildings were everywhere and Lara wondered just what kind of economic system the merpeople had in their society. Surely some kind of business went on in this towers. The concert arena was a large structure in its own right, complete with an open ceiling to allow the natural light of glowing coral to stream in from above. Lara was surprised to see that the concert was free and the four girls took their seats near the stage.

"You're going to love this," Carin whispered to Lara just as Clamala took the stage.

The lights in the auditorium lowered and colored spotlights illuminated the stage. The audience began to applaud as the curtain rose. Well it was carried upward really by three dolphins that stuck rings attached to the bottom of the curtain into their noses and swam upward.

Three mermaids swam onto the stage and positioned themselves behind instruments. A brunette sat at a drum set from a coral like material with fish skin stretched over it. The blonde one picked up a guitar like object. And the red head stood in front - clearly the lead singer. The audience quieted down and she thanked them all for coming.

"I hope everyone has a *really* good time." she commented. Most of the audience laughed out loud.

The music started. While it was pleasant and Lara found herself swishing her tail back and forth to the beat, she didn't find herself particularly aroused. She started to worry that the music wouldn't have the same effect on her since she wasn't a real mermaid.

The melody was slow and sensual, it reminded Lara a bit of jazz station she listened to from time to time.

Carin put her arm around Lara and pulled her close. Lara looked at her mermaid friend. She had her eyes closed and was rocking to the music. Lara looked around the section they were sitting in. One of the few mermen in the arena was staring at her. He was pure hunk. Back on land, she would have jumped him in a second. Then she turned and looked at Heather. She had a similar gleam in her eye.

Carin pulled Lara closer and began to rub her back. Carin's tail drifted over on top of Lara's and the mermaid stroked it slightly.

The song ended. Everyone clapped. Then Clamala launched into their second tune. This one was much faster. The singer's voice called out to Lara, and she found herself getting aroused. Really aroused. The music was having a similar effect on those in the hall. Pairs and even groups fell in together.

Lara felt she was going to explode from the sexual tension inside of her. She threw herself back and embraced the creature who fell on top of her.

"Carin...I'm...so...horny..."

Carin wrapped her arms and her tail around Lara, whispering into her ear "Don't talk...sex now..."

"Yes..." Lara looked around her, as all the other mermaids began to make love to each other. She smiled warmly at Carin, and planted soft kisses on her face, before her tongue somehow found itself locked with Carin's. The new mermaid gasped as she felt Carin begin to slowly vibrate her 'crotch' against hers, slowly, then quickly, teasing Lara and prolonging the greatest experience of her young life. Lara began to do the same, and she could feel her orgasm building, knowing that it would be the longest and most powerful she'd ever experienced. Just as she thought it was about to happen, Carin stopped, much to Lara's disappointment.

As Clamala's songs continued to ring sweetly in their ears, the mermaids kissed again and again, until Carin turned herself so that she was facing down. She stroked at the scales that Lara's clitoris was hidden behind, and gently brushed the flap back with her tongue, before gently inserting it all the way, and lapping at Lara's sex.

Lara screamed in delight, and grabbed Carin's tail as it floated almost hypnotically in front of her. She was amazed at how natural all this felt to her, and knew that Carin was right - this really would be the best night of her life.

She thrust her tongue behind Carin's clitoris scales, and began to pleasure her friend in a similar way. Both women began to thrash their tails around as wave after wave of pleasure tore through their bodies, and soon the pair was locked in a seemingly endless forward roll. As Lara began to feel that she'd be climaxing any second, Carin broke loose and grabbed her, going back to grinding their crotches together. That did it for both of them; Lara threw her head back and howled in more pleasure than she'd even known as Carin did the same. Their orgasms lasted many long minutes, and all that time she and Carin were kissed each other all over, screaming in sheer delight, as were many of the couples and groups around them. Eventually, they fell into each other's arms, kissing and cuddling.

"This is the best night of my life," Lara said, still embracing Carin.

"I'm glad I can share it with you."

"I haven't had so much fun since one night when my ex-boyfriend and I had sex on the beach. Feeling the sand all over my body and getting stuck between my toes..."

"Shh!" Carin hushed her, but it was already too late.

"Toes?!" a mermaid next to the cuddling couple exclaimed, "Did you just say toes?"

"A land dweller!" another mermaid screamed, and a riot broke out instantly as panicked mermaids swam for the exits, terrified of a human in their midst. The only people who weren't running away were four rather surly-looking mermen who were approaching Lara. Carin looked around for her sisters, but found that they too had swum away in fear.

"Oh no... please no..." Carin gasped, recognizing the agents of the Homesea Security department.

"What happened?" Lara asked as the agents approached.

"You'll have to come with us," the lead agent said.

---

Lara was disappointed yet impressed at the speed at which she and Carin were processed. Once at the headquarters of Homesea Security both girls were given genetic tests designed to reveal traces of human DNA as well as who may have provided the transformative agent. The tests did their jobs, indicating Lara as a human-turned-mermaid and Carin as the one who turned her. "You know the rules," one of the agents, a merman named Manheim, said. "No land dwellers are to ever be gifted with mermaid physiology. You've really put us in a bind here, Carin."

"I'm sorry," Carin said, her tears instantly absorbed into the seawater, "I saved her life and... I couldn't just leave her there. Something about her just..." Lara embraced Carin and kissed her softly on the cheek.

"The punishment for your crimes is final," Manheim said...

"Lara will return to the land and be transformed back to her native form. Carin will join her as a human, an exile from our society."

Lara could feel Carin shaking in fear, and she held her tightly. "No." she said. "That isn't fair."

"That is our decision."

"And I am *telling* you it isn't fair!!! She saved my life! She only made me a mermaid so we could spend some time together! That is no crime!"

"And how have you become an expert on our affairs? We came to realize long ago that humans are a risk to us. Your society is a self-destructive one, and we took the decision to isolate ourselves from you to ensure our survival. Carin has jeopardized that by letting you know of our existence."

"Lara wouldn't have told anyone!" cried Carin suddenly. "She's my friend, I trust her!"

"Is she really your friend, Carin? How long have you known her? How well do you know her?"

Lara thought she saw a glimmer of doubt, uncertainty or even regret on her friend's face at that comment. She had to keep fighting, for Carin's sake.

"Kill me." she said.

"What?"

"Kill me. That would take care of the problem, wouldn't it? I'd be dead, and it would be just like Carin had never saved me."

"Lara, stop it." said Carin. "They'd do it, and I...I need you..."

"Our sentence is final." said Manheim. "Killing you would not alter the severity of Carin's crimes, and our culture has evolved beyond such barbaric punishment."

"That's barbaric, is it?" shouted Lara. "You're cutting a young woman off from her family, her life...her whole race, for one act of total selflessness, and you don't consider *that* barbaric?!?!"

"That's enough. *You* are the reason Carin is to be exiled. You are the reason she is interested in humanity, and we cannot that interest to put our whole race at risk."

Those words made Lara feel sick. It was true. Carin was about to lose everything, and it was all her fault.

"What about my family?" pleaded Carin desperately. "I need to see them, I have to say goodbye, I-"

"No. Carin, you no longer have a family...you are not one of us anymore. Take them away to be reverted."

"NO! PLEASE!" screamed Carin, as a mermen began to drag her away. "LET ME SEE THEM, PLEASE!!!"

Lara was unable to speak as another merman grabbed her, and took her away...

"Carin, wake up," Lara said, gently rubbing the now ex-mermaid's shoulders. Carin stirred and inhaled deeply as she awoke, but the sensation of air hitting her lungs instead of seawater made her jolt awake in a state of fright. "Easy, easy," Lara said as she calmed her friend, "I've got you."

Carin looked down at her new legs. She had seen plenty of legs before on her secret trips to the surface, but she never thought she'd be seeing them from this perspective. She wiggled her toes experimentally and gently ran her hands up her legs and past her knees. "I can never go back," she said quietly. The diminishing sunlight provided just enough light to allow Carin to see her new human vagina and ungroomed patch of public hair. She tugged at it and yelped in pain when she quickly realized that pubic hair is not to be yanked. "How will I live like this? They've taken everything I ever knew from me."

"I'll still be with you," Lara said, "You will never be alone. I promise."

The conversation was interrupted by the squeals of Kiki the dolphin who had surfaced nearby. The aquatic mammal made a beeline for the rocks where the girls were sitting, but stopped suddenly as she drew close. The dolphin let out a wicked squeak and, with her tail, splashed the two and disappeared under the waves.

"What'd she say?" Lara asked.

"I don't know," Carin said, "I can't understand her anymore. She probably saw these," she wiggled her toes again, "And swam off in a fright. Even my own dolphin doesn't know me anymore. I don't even have a family anymore."

Lara hugged Carin tightly and said, "I'm your family now. I mean, if you want me to be."

"Oh yes," Carin said, sobbing, "Yes."

A moment passed, and then Lara said "We really should get off these rocks and to the shore."

"What? Go to the land world?"

"Well, we can't stay here, honey. C'mon, let's get to the shore and go home."

"Home?"

"You showed me your world," Lara said, "Now it's time to show you mine."

"Do you think you know how to use your legs?"

Carin looked down at her new limbs and shook them. "I think I need some help..." She looked up at Lara, who smiled and knelt down by her friend. "Come on then." she said. "Here we go."

She reached her arms around Carin and lifted her up, the new human's legs swaying limply underneath her body. Lara held Carin, who looked down at her legs. "What do I do with them?" she asked.

"Oh...um..." Lara didn't really know how to explain walking to someone who'd never done it before. "Well...you've used your arms in the same way. Imagine they're just another pair of arms."

Carin giggled. "That's silly."

Lara smiled. "OK, let's lay you down here." She gently placed Carin down on the hard rock. "OK. Lift yourself up on your hands."

Carin did as she was told, and Lara reached around Carin's crotch and lifted her rear end up slightly. "OK, now you do the same with your legs. It's all right, I've got hold of you. Try to use your legs in the same way."

Carin's legs slowly began to straighten, and press down against the rocks. "Am I doing it right?" she asked.

"That's it!" encouraged Lara. "Now, I'm going to take my hands away in a moment...you keep pressing your legs against the ground, and don't let your knees bend, all right?"

"Yes." replied Carin.

"OK, I'll be here to grab you if you fall, but I'm taking my hands away...now!" Lara gently released her grip on her friend, and Carin stayed on all fours. "Am I doing it?" she asked.

Lara crawled around in front of Carin and grinned. "You're doing it! Well done!"

Carin smiled. "This isn't the way humans move around though. And it's starting to hurt a bit."

"OK, we're going to try to stand you up now, so keep your back legs like that. I'm going to do this next bit for you." She took Carin's right arm and placed it around her own neck. "Hold on to me, baby." she whispered. She took Carin's left arm and did the same, and then wrapped her own arms around Carin. "Keep your legs like that. I've still got you."

Slowly, giving Carin time to concentrate on her legs, Lara began to stand Carin upright, until the pair were locked in a hug. "Now, Carin...do your legs feel tired at all."

"No. I'm keeping them straight, just like you said."

"Good. I'm going to let go of you now. You'll be standing on your own. Are you ready?"

Carin took a deep breath. "Yes..."

"Right...you let go of me now."

Carin did as she was told, and put her arms by her sides.

"I'll be here to catch you if you fall." said Lara. "Keep your legs and back straight, keep your feet pressing against the ground. I'm going to let go of you...now."

Lara slowly let go of Carin, and watched as the girl stood nervously on her own two feet, keeping her balance well. "I'm doing it, aren't I?" she asked.

Lara nodded. "How do you feel?"

"All right, I guess."

"Well done, Carin. I'm so proud of you."

Carin smiled. "I think I know what comes next."

"You think you know how to walk?"

"I've seen you do it enough. I want to see if I can do it without you telling me."

Lara smiled at her friend's enthusiasm. "All right. I'm going to take a few steps back...just enough so I can grab you quickly." She did as she'd said, and then opened her arms. "Come here."

Carin looked down at the ground, and slowly lifted her foot into the air, before moving it forward and taking a step. Her back leg instantly followed her, and she kept going, until she reached Lara's arms and was swept into a hug. "Oh, Carin, well done!" cheered Lara. "It takes humans ages to master that."

Carin kissed her friend softly on the lips, and smiled. "I had the best teacher."

Lara hugged Carin tightly. "I'm so sorry, Carin."

Carin looked into Lara's eyes, and smiled slightly, but Lara could see she was struggling not to cry again. "I know you are, Lara. You are my closest friend, and I know you regret what you said."

"I wish I had died out there...then I wouldn't have ruined your life..."

"Lara...please. Don't do this to yourself. It's nobody's fault...I knew my friendship with you was a risk, but it means a lot to me. Our friendship is the first of its kind for hundreds of years...I just wish...this wasn't permanent..."

Carin stared out to sea, thinking over and over about what she had lost. Lara turned Carin's head to face her, and kissed her, softly and tenderly. "I love you so much, Carin."

Carin smiled, and blinked back tears. "I know you do. And I fell in love with you a long time ago."

The girls held each other until the sun began to set, and then headed back to shore.

---

"Kiki, Kiki, slow down!"

Heather and Amy were trying to calm their sister's dolphin, as she frantically clicked and squawked in anger.

"Kiki, you knew Lara was human, didn't you?"

The dolphin nodded. "Why didn't you tell us?"

Kiki chattered some more. "We understand, Kiki. Your first loyalty is to Carin."

The dolphin clicked once, and looked upset. "Oh, Kiki." said Amy, stroking the dolphin. "We miss her too. There's nothing we can do."

Kiki growled angrily, and glared at Amy. "You're right." said the mermaid, looking at her sister. "If it was one of us that had been exiled, Carin would fight for us."

"What can we do?" asked Heather. "The decision's been made. She's gone."

"Then we fight that decision. We get her back. Kiki, can you take us up to where you saw Carin?"

Kiki nodded, and said something. "That's great." replied Amy. "If it's getting dark up there, we should be safe."

"Amy...she brought a *human* down here."

"Yes. One human. Both of us liked her, and I don't know about you but I certainly don't feel she could harm us. Heather, that's our big sister alone up there. Think how much she's done for us. She needs us now, and I'm not going to abandon her." She turned to Kiki. "Are you with me?"

The dolphin nodded and chattered triumphantly. "All right, Kiki. You get up there, and you find some way to keep her where she is."

Kiki squealed in delight, and swam out of the house at full speed. "Are you coming with us, sister?" asked Amy.

---

"Penny? Yeah, it's Lara...no, no, I'm fine, really...I know...yeah, I know, I'm sorry, I couldn't get in touch...well, it's a bit difficult to explain...listen, I need your help. I'm on the beach, could you come pick me up?...thank you so much, Pen...ooh, listen, could you bring along two sets of clothes?...yeah, I've made a friend, she's here with me, we're both safe, but we're a bit...nude...OK...all right, Penny...thank you so much. See you soon!"

Lara put the phone back on its hook, as Carin explained the telephone itself in amazement. "Who lives in here?" she asked.

"Oh, no one. This is a telephone...my friend has one of these in her house. She picks up the receiver, and she can hear me and speak to me."

"And she's coming here to see you?"

"She's going to give us a lift home, I hope."

Carin thought for a moment. "Why can't we walk?"

"We could, but it's a long way." Lara lead Carin out the phone box and back onto the beach. A car roared past, and Carin grabbed hold of Lara, terrified. "It's all right, it's all right, that was just a car. We use them the way you use dolphins, to get to places that are too far to go on foot."

"But...dolphins are beautiful and friendly." said a confused Carin. "The car is ugly and noisy..."

"You'll have to get used to them, there are far more cars on the planet than dolphins."

"Honestly?"

Lara nodded.

"That's...that's not right."

"No...no, it isn't."

"And your friend...Penny...she is going to arrive here in a car?"

"That's the idea. We get in, and she'll take us home."

Carin looked a little confused. "The land is...over-complicated."

Lara laughed. "You're probably right. Ooh, I can't wait to get some warm clothes on."

"Clothes?"

"To cover our bodies, to keep us warm. Don't you feel cold?"

"Very...I didn't want to say anything."

"Oh, Carin." Lara sat her friend down on the sand and put her arm around her. "You don't have to keep things to yourself. I care about you, and I know how scared you must be right now. Don't be afraid to talk to me."

Carin rested her head on Lara's shoulder and looked out to sea. "That's my home. I know you'll help me fit in here, and I promise you I will try very hard, but I know that I'll never be able to accept your world, to see myself as a part of it. I wanted to tell you that so that you wouldn't get angry with me..."

Lara smiled. "Why would I get angry?"

"Well, I know you'll go to such extremes to help me...I don't want to seem ungrateful when I get homesick..."

Lara placed her finger on Carin's lips. "Ssh. It's all right. I understand."

"You do?"

"I do."

Carin kissed Lara on her cheek, and snuggled closer to her for warmth. "Thank you, Lara."

---

"Kiki, are you sure this is the right place?"

The dolphin clicked her confirmation, and Amy pounded the water with her fists in frustration. "We're too late then."

"Amy! Kiki!" came Heather's whisper from around the other side of the rocks. The mermaid and the dolphin swam around to join her, and to see what she could see. "There she is!"

The trio could see Carin and Lara sitting together on the beach. "What do we do?" asked Heather.

Kiki knew what she was going to do. As loudly as she could, she frantically called out to Carin.

---

"Listen..." said Carin as Kiki's song carried faintly over the beach.

"I hear it." replied Lara.

"That's Kiki!" gasped Carin.

"Are you sure?"

"Yes! I don't understand the words, but I recognize the voice! I think she's calling to me!"

"Carin..."

"Why else would she be up here? Let me go to her, please let me go to her!"

Lara was about to reply when Penny pulled up in her car, the noise of which startled Carin. "It's all right, it's my friend." said Lara.

"Lara...please...let me go and find her."

Lara looked back over her shoulder at Penny's car and then forward again at Carin, eager to rush to the surf and find Kiki. Penny beeped the car's horn, causing Carin to jolt. "It's going to attack!" she shouted, grabbing Lara's arm and pulling her away from the car, "We have to flee!"

"No, no, it's all right," Lara said, "It's just the car's horn. My friend is trying to get our attention." In the background the dolphin chatter continued. Lara saw the pained look on Carin's face and said "I should talk to Penny. Go find Kiki, but please don't go too far. I wouldn't ever forgive myself if anything happened to you."

"I'll stay close," Carin said as she began walking towards the surf, her quick steps gradually becoming a run. Despite only having legs for a short while, the ex-mermaid was becoming skilled at controlling them. Lara turned and approached Penny's car and as she came into the beams of the car's headlights, the light allowed Penny to get a good look at Lara in all her naked glory.

"Where have you been?" Penny asked, turning off the car and getting out. "Your boss told your family you were dead! Here," Penny offered a towel and Lara began to brush the sand and water droplets off of her body.

"I washed up in a cove," Lara explained, which wasn't far from the truth. "When I woke up, I swam to the shore and called you."

"I called your brother on the way here," Penny said, "He was in the middle of preparing the funeral. Shocked the hell out of him when I told him you'd called. God, we all thought you were really gone and then you wash up here naked as the day you were born." Penny reached into the car and pulled out a t-shirt and athletic shorts which Lara put on. "I have another set for your friend. Where is she?"

---

"We won't let you stay up here with the savages," Amy said to Carin down at the seashore, "We'll find a way to bring you home."

"I know," Carin said, "I won't give up. Lara will take care of me until you come back for me."

"We will be back," Heather said, "I promise." Kiki added her own squeal of agreement.

Carin looked back at Lara and Penny near the car, their silhouettes lit up by the car's headlights. "I... I should go. They're waiting for me."

"Meet us here in one week," Amy said, "Hopefully by then we'll have this taken care of."

"I'll see you in a week then," Carin said, knowing that if she didn't walk away right now she'd start sobbing again. "I love you all," she added, turning away before her sisters and dolphin could see the tears forming in her eyes.

---

Lara toweled Carin off and helped her put on the borrowed t-shirt and shorts. "Why are you dressing her?" Penny whispered to Lara.

"She's not from around here," Lara said. "Different customs and all."

"Where are you from?" Penny asked.

"Atlantis," Carin replied, not giving it a second thought.

"What?"

"Atlanta," Lara chimed in, "Carin's from Atlanta. Look, we've been through a lot. Can you just take us to my place?"

"Yeah, sure," Penny said, wondering just what Lara wasn't telling her about all of this.

The trio walked to Penny's car and Lara opened the passenger door. Thankfully, it was a coupe and Lara simply motioned Carin into the back seat.

Trying to pay attention, Carin mimicked Lara's actions, settling into the seat behind her and putting on the seatbelt.

The car radio segued from U2's Sunday, Bloody Sunday into All Because Of You .

"Who's that?"

Carin asked.

Lara turned down the radio quickly, "U2," Penny said tersely, "Where have you been, under a rock?"

"No," Carin answered honestly, "Rocks can fall and hurt you."

Lara tried to divert the conversation, "So, Penny, can I borrow you cell phone?"

Penny handed it to her and Lara dialed her brother's number. Just then, Penny pulled forward and merged onto the coast highway.

Carin screamed in fear at the lights rushing toward her.

Lara turned around and glared at Carin. The ex-mermaid covered her mouth and tried to keep calm.

Robert answered the phone, "Hello."

"Robbie, it's me, Lara."

"Lara, where the Hell have you been. We thought you were dead! I just got off the phone with Mom and she's crying and everything."

"Look," Lara interrupted, "I'm okay. I'll explain later. Let's get together for lunch tomorrow."

"Sure," Robert replied. "I'll come by 'round two. I've got to cancel your memorial service and all."

A tear formed in Lara's eye as she thought of the pain she must have caused while she was missing. "Thanks, Robbie."

"Sure," her brother said, "Bye."

"Bye, Robbie, and, hey, I love you."

"Love you too, sis."

Lara hung up the phone.

---

Amy and Heather swam into the throne room for their audience with Queen Tritonia. The Prime Minister announced them.

"Your Majesty, these are the sisters of the mermaid who was recently exiled for bringing a land woman into our realm."

"Very good," the queen replied. "What may I do for you?" Amy and Heather did an underwater curtsy and began Heather began to speak.

"Your Highness, we love our sister very much. She was foolish and misguided, but the punishment is too harsh. We lost our parents a few years ago and since then, Carin had a fascination with the land dwellers. She only got involved with the human when she saved her from drowning. Her noble gesture should count for something. Please, your highness, we beseech you, please give us back our sister.

The Queen considered the request. She always tried to be fair to her subjects and encouraged them to do what was right. Yet, she couldn't simply allow the breaking of one of her most fundamental laws to go unpunished.

"I will give your sister an opportunity to redeem herself," the queen said.

Amy and Heather looked at each other hopefully.

"The Star of Neptune was taken from our people ages ago. I will give you legs and send you to your sister. If you return The Star to us, all of you shall be restored. If not, at least your family will be together.

"But, your Majesty," Amy protested, "The Star is just a legend. How will we find it?"

"SILENCE!" the queen ordered. "That is my decision. Accept the challenge or leave, now!"

Amy and Heather looked at each other, then said, "We accept," humbly.

"So be it," the queen ordered. "Now visit the Royall Apothecary. He shall see to your conversion and send you on your way.

---

Back in her apartment, Lara got Carin settled into bed in her room. She called her parents and her boss, Mitch. She was vague on the details and did her best to cover her disappearance. Mitch directed her to the Rescue Squad's doctor for a complete physical - standard practice when a lifeguard was lost. Lara scribbled down the address and got off the phone.

Trying to maintain some decorum, she set up a blanket and pillow for herself on the couch. Penny came out of her room.

"Look, Lara," she said. "I don't know what you're up to, but I'm not buying' this. You go missing, then call me, you and your friend there are naked on the beach. I mean what's up? She's not from Atlanta, that's for sure, and it's not *just* the lack of an accent that's giving her away.

"She really did save me after the explosion," Lara said, "She carried me to a cove and that's where I woke up."

"But..."

"Carin's a mermaid. Or was, rather."

"Excuse me?"

"A mermaid. You know, all fish below the waist. She turned me into a mermaid and we went to the undersea city, and then-"

"Are you sure you're all right?" Penny asked, "Did this girl do something to you?"

"No, of course not," Lara said. "I know how this sounds, but-"

"It sounds insane, Lara. Now I'm your friend and I'm worried about you, but if you expect me to believe such a bullshit lie then there must be something really wrong with you."

"It's true," Carin said, entering from the bedroom. She had discarded the pajama bottoms Lara had lent her, but retained the baggy top. Bare from the waist down, she approached the two girls. "I was a mermaid. My people exiled me for bringing Lara to our city, and-"

"What sick game is this?" Penny said, "I don't know what you did to Lara, but-" Carin moved towards Penny, but Pen took a step back. "Don't you come near me," she said, "You must be so twisted to take advantage of an injured lifeguard and fill her head with this nonsense when she's hurt."

"Don't talk to her like that," Lara said sternly, surprised at her own tone.

"Can't you see what's going on?" Penny said to Lara, "This bitch has some kind of a mental hold on your or something. Listen to yourself, hon., she has you believing she's a mythological creature for crying out loud."

Carin watching in silent discomfort as Lara and Penny continued to bicker, putting the ex-mermaid right in the middle of the argument. "I should go," Carin finally came out with, moving towards the front door.

"Damn right," Penny snapped.

"No!" Lara said, rushing to Carin's side. "You're staying."

"That's it," Penny said, grabbing her cell phone from the recharger and dialing. "I'm calling the police. One way or another, you need more help than I can give you right now."

The train of thought that ran through Carin's mind was rapid. She didn't know who this police person was, but she knew anger in a voice when she heard it. She knew that this Penny person was trying to take her away from Lara and she couldn't allow that.

Carin raised her right hand, and pointed it at Penny's crotch. Instantly, the human's breathing began to quicken as her body responded to Carin's power.

"No." she said firmly. "The only help Lara needs is from her friends. That's you and me."

Penny looked at Lara in panic. "Lara...what's she doing to me?...ohh..."

Penny began to shake, and she sat on , looking torn. She dropped her mobile, and Lara picked it up, switching it off and looking at Carin for reassurance. Her friend took her hand and squeezed it.

"I am pleasuring her." she explained sweetly. "I want to show her that I was, as she called me, a mythical creature..."

"Lar...ra...m-make her...sto-stop...ohh..."

Lara looked at Carin, who smiled. "I will if you want me to, Penny, but I don't believe you do. Shall I stop?"

Penny grimaced, and shook her head violently. "N-no...AGH! Oh God...keeeep going...p-please...uhh..." Penny began to tug her belt loose, and she thrust her left hand in to rub her aching, dripping sex. With her right hand, she reached under her shirt and began to massage her breasts.

Lara was shocked at her friend's display, but slightly aroused at the same time. Carin lowered her hand, and smiled at her. "I'm sorry. She would not listen, so I had to immobilize her before she called...police?...I did not wish to harm her, so instead I immobilize her with sheer pleasure. She'll be this way for a while...long enough for us to leave...or to talk to her."

Carin looked hurt when Lara didn't reply. "I have upset you. I'm sorry, but I cannot allow myself to be separated from you."

"Oh, no, baby...I just didn't think you had any powers..."

"Just this. I can't harm anyone with this."

"I'm a little shocked at seeing her like this. You know sex up here isn't as...common as it is where you come from. Penny's always been a bit private when it comes to talking about things like that."

"Why? It is love, it is simple and it is beautiful...surely these are good feelings, to be celebrated?" She sighed. "Your culture makes less and less sense to me."

Penny threw her head back and howled in delight as she hit her first orgasm, and she frantically continued to rub herself. Lara sat down next to her masturbating friend, and smiled at her. "Can she hear us?"

"Oh yes. But I do not believe she would reply to you. She is enjoying herself too much."

Lara giggled, and stroked Penny's hair. "Pen? Please, try to understand...Carin was a mermaid. So was I. Think about it...how can we survive on our own like that for three days? How can you be experiencing this now? Believe us...believe Carin. She's my friend, and she only wants to be yours."

Penny didn't reply, and Lara looked up at Carin. "When she comes out of this...will she be angry with us?"

"For what?"

"Well...sex is a very private thing to her. I don't think she'll appreciate being forced into this."

Carin smiled. "For a long time after she ceases pleasuring herself, she will be happy, and full of love, particularly for a friend such as you. If she does get angry, then I won't let her direct that anger at you. At least, I'll have proven to her that I...am supernatural."

"I'm still amazed that you could do that," Lara said, referring to Carin's amazing arousal-inducing ability.

"All mermaids can do it. It is no more a special ability among my culture than singing or swimming," Carin said as Penny continued to go at it.

"Should we help her into her bed?" Lara wondered.

"I do not think she would go," Carin said, "She will be fine here. You will not be able to sleep with her making so much noise. Why not share my bed?"

Lara wasn't sure if this was a legitimate invitation for her own sleep benefit or a flimsy pretext to get her into bed with Carin, but either way she accepted the offer. The two girls left Penny on the floor to enjoy herself and went into the bedroom, closing the door and turning off the lights before climbing into bed. In the darkness Lara heard Carin shift beneath the covers and then felt the ex-mermaid's completely bare body cuddle up to her. "You live in a strange world," Carin said softly, "But I know as long as we are together I will never be afraid." Lara smiled and squeezed Carin's hand in response, judging by her friend's relaxed breathing that she was quickly falling asleep. Lara herself soon followed.

---

"Lara!" Carin said, rousing her bedmate, "Awaken please!"

"Huh? What's happening?" Lara said, shaking the sleep from her brain.

"I am hungry and, well, there aren't exactly any shrimp or volcanic vents in your bedroom."

"Breakfast, right," Lara said, "Well, I don't have any seafood in the freezer. Have you ever had eggs? Or bread? No, wait, probably not. Well, no time like the present to try them, right?"

"I am in your hands," Carin proclaimed. She slipped her borrowed t-shirt back on and followed Lara out of the bedroom where they saw Penny, her night of a thousand orgasm over.

Penny was curled up on Lara's sofa, twirling her hair around with her finger. As Carin and Lara entered the room, she jumped to her feet and hugged both of them tightly.

"Thank you, Carin, thank you so much!" she babbled. "Oh God, I've never felt like that in my whole life, I just didn't think it was possible to feel so good for so long...I feel so wonderful...thank you!"

"I'm glad you enjoyed it."

Penny broke her hug, and giggled. Lara smiled at her. "No hard feelings, Penn?"

"No...no, no hard feelings, of course not! Look, as a thank you, I already made you breakfast. I don't know what you're used to, Carin, so I tried to give you a variety, and if there is anything you particularly want, I'll go out and get it for you!"

Carin smiled, proud of what she'd done to Penny. "I'm sure I'll enjoy it, Penny. Thank you. Do you believe us now?"

Penny giggled again. "I'd believe anything right now! But yes, I do believe you. Lara, you were a mermaid!?!? What was it like?!?!"

"It was...amazing. The best time of my life. It was lovely down there, so peaceful...so...lovely..."

Penny suddenly grabbed Lara in another hug. "I missed you, Lara. When they said you were probably dead...I-I cried for days, I-"

"Oh, Penny...I'm so sorry." She stroked her friend's hair back, and smiled. "I'm back, baby. You don't get rid of me that easily."

Carin felt a little unsure of her standing - she thought Lara loved her, because she certainly loved Lara. Trying to put those thoughts aside, she examined the strange-looking food that Penny had prepared for her.

---

"We need this as soon as possible." explained Amy. "Something that we can use to change ourselves into humans, and back again when we need to."

Crand thought for a moment. "There is...yes...there's these." He held up a small jar filled with small glowing pebbles. "Swallow one when you reach the surface, and one when you are about to return home. They will transform your tail into a pair of legs, and then restore it later. I must stress that if any human you encounter on the surface eats one of these, he or she will become a merperson. Take good care of them." he said, handing the jar over to Amy.

"We will." she said, putting the jar in a bag she'd made a long time ago from a large crab shell and some seaweed. "We have another request..."

"Yes?"

"Kiki?"

Carin's little dolphin slowly swam up to Crand, and began to chatter.

"Is she serious?" he asked.

"Very." said Heather.

"Well...I can turn her into a mermaid, and you can use those to turn her into a human, but...I don't know if I'd be able to turn her back into a dolphin again..."

Amy stroked Kiki. "Are you sure about this, Kiki?" The dolphin nodded, and Crand picked up another jar, containing some large jewels. He took one out and gave to Amy. "That will turn her into a mermaid." he explained. "I'll try to find some way to turn her back while you're gone."

Kiki examined the jewel as Amy held it between her fingers. "Well, Kiki...it's all yours."

Kiki took the jewel in her mouth from Amy's hand and swallowed it, eager to be a part of the rescue operation. She began to chatter almost immediately, but it was pure gibberish as opposed to the language she usually spoke that merpeople could understand. Kiki spasmed, shaking and swimming in circles causing the girls and Crand to back away.

"What's happening to her?" Amy asked.

"I told you," Crand said, "The jewel will turn her into a mermaid."

"Looks more like she's having a spaz attack," Heather said.

"Let's see how you react when you change species," Crand challenged.

All eyes were back on Kiki now, her changes well underway. Her dorsal fin was gone, absorbed into her changing form. Fingers began to poke out from her sides, eventually extending into arms. Her skin changed, becoming human flesh from the waist up and fishy scales below. As her blowhole closed up blonde hair sprouted and her skeletal structure continued changing, giving her a human head and face. The last of her changes finished up, nipples developing on her now-human chest and quickly becoming the centers of two nicely sized breasts. The changes over, Kiki had made the shift from dolphin to mermaid. Amy and Heather looked on in astonishment as Kiki said her first words.

"What a rush!"

---

"This is very delicious," Carin said, chewing a piece of cheese omelet, "I would like to try more of your... what were they? Hashed browns?"

"Coming right up," Penny said as she dished out more potatoes on Carin's plate. The happy girl whistled to herself as she left the kitchen and headed for her bedroom, a song on her lips and a smile in her heart.

"How much longer is she going to be like this?" Lara asked Carin. "I mean, I feel like she's brainwashed or something."

"I have done no such thing," Carin said, "Her brain is as dirty as ever."

Lara sighed; her friend was being too literal again. "No, I mean she's never this happy. It doesn't seem right."

"So you would wish your friend to be sad?" Carin asked, "I really do not understand your culture."

"No, I'm not saying this right. I want her to be happy, but I want her to be that way because she wants to be."

"I see. You are afraid that I have changed her somehow and that she is not the same Penny you are familiar with."

"Exactly."

"But I have not changed her. Her night of pleasure has released large amounts of positive brain endorphins. That is what has sweetened her mood. Once her brain chemistry has stabilized she will return to her normal self."

"I've just never known her to be this sweet or cooperative. It's a little freaky."

"There is nothing to be concerned about. Although I must say I do not remember ever seeing anyone react so strongly to an endorphin rush. Does Penny not engage in pleasurable activities often?"

"She doesn't date much, if that's what you mean."

"Then no wonder! Last night was like opening the.. what's the term? flood gates on her brain. She is swimming in positive endorphins that have been building up for too long."

"As long as it's all natural," Lara said.

Carin decided to test the waters, as it were. "I am surprised that as her friend you have not offered to share pleasure with her. You are so close to one another and you share close quarters."

"What? Oh... Pen and I don't have that kind of relationship. We're just friends."

"Are you and I... just friends?"

Lara reached her hand out and Carin gladly took it. "No... we're more."

There was a pause, then Carin asked "Would you like to experience the pleasure wave?"

"You mean what you did to Penny last night?"

"Yes. I can even teach you the technique if you want."

"You mean I could do it too? Humans can do that?"

"Since you were a mermaid briefly, you possibly have the brain chemistry necessary to do it. There's only one way to find out, however."

"I want to, Carin, really I do. But I've got to meet my brother and get my check-up. I'd better not, for now. This afternoon, we can...explore that?"

Carin smiled. "I can hardly wait."

Lara gazed into her friend's eyes and smiled. "You're so beautiful, Carin."

"Thank you, Lara. I feel the same about you."

After a few silent seconds, the girls shared a slow, passionate kiss, not knowing that Penny was watching them from her bedroom door, with a massive smile on her face.

"I love you so much, Carin..."

"I love you too, Lara..."

"Oh!" gasped Penny suddenly as she skipped out of her bedroom. "You love each other, that is *so* sweet!"

Lara smiled at the goofy expression on Penny's face. "How do you feel about Carin and I being...a couple?" she asked.

"Why ask me?" said Penny as she cheerfully began to do the dishes. "If you two are happy, then I'm happy!"

"Well, you're my flat-mate, my best friend. Of course I care about what you think."

"Oh...oh, Lara!" Penny left the sink and threw her arms around her friend. "Thank you for saying that! I think you two make a lovely couple, I mean that. I know I must seem kind of hyper right now but I know you two were made for each other!"

"Thank you, Penn. Well, Carin, I guess it's time to introduce you to something I hope you'll enjoy."

"What's that, Lara?"

"We've got an hour or so to spare...we're going to have a bath together."

---

Kiki grabbed her new breasts and squealed in delight. "Oh, these feel so nice!" she giggled. She turned to face Amy and Heather. "Hey guys!" she waved enthusiastically.

"...Kiki?"

"You just watched me turn into this, Amy, of course I'm Kiki! Don't look so shocked...oh, am I ugly?"

"No." said Heather. "No, you're...beautiful..."

"I want to see!" Kiki swam to inspect herself in a mirror on the other side of the room. She squealed in pleasure again at the sight of her new face, running her hands over it, and through her long blond hair. "I'm...pretty...Carin always said I was the prettiest dolphin she'd ever seen, I can't wait to show her what I look like now!"

Kiki swam up to and around the still stunned Heather and Amy like a hyperactive child. "Can we go get her now, please?"

"Yes...all right." said Amy, and Kiki clapped her hands in delight, as she'd liked to do when they'd been flippers.

---

Lara led Carin from the kitchen area into her bathroom. She smiled to herself, knowing that choosing the bathroom with the Jacuzzi bathtub would pay off someday. Sure, Penny got the bigger bedroom in the deal, but right now she had no regrets. She turned on the water faucet and let the tub start to fill.

"Now," Lara said, "Take off your shirt."

"Oh, finally!" Carin said, eagerly removing the borrowed shirt and standing nude before her friend and lover.

Lara shed her night clothes next and felt the temperature of the water with her hand. Nice and warm, she thought. "This is a bathtub," she explained, "It's one of the ways humans clean up. We have some soap here, and some shampoo, and some bath gel, and-"

"You mean we will be submerged?" Carin asked, "But we cannot breath from the water anymore."

"Not totally submerged," Lara said, She stepped into the tub and slipped beneath the surface of the water in dreamy bliss, then sat up and beckoned for Carin to join her. "I promise it's not deep," she said. "Look, I'm sitting here and the water doesn't come up past my boobs."

Carin took the plunge and entered the tub, allowing herself to enjoy the experience. She sat across from Lara, their feet touching playfully, and smiled. "I could get used to this," she said, happy to be back among the water even if for a short while.

---

"Come on, this way!" Kiki said, motioning Heather and Amy to follow her to the spot where Carin had said goodbye, "We're almost there!"

"Calm down, girl!" Amy said, "Were you this hyper when you were a dolphin?"

"I guess," Kiki said, "Everything's just so new and exhilarating!"

"Promise us you won't up and take off when we get our legs," Heather said.

"Of course not! We will find Carin together, like family! OK, this is the spot."

"So... are we ready?" Heather asked, holding the pebbles given to them by Crand that would transform them into humans.

Lara and Carin soaked on either side of the spacious tub for a few minutes before Carin cozied up to Lara and kissed her softly. Lara slipped her hand under the water and began to rub Carin's thigh. The new sensation was thoroughly pleasing to the mermaid and she responded in kind.

Shortly, Carin was perched on the edge of the tub, legs akimbo, as Lara leaned in to lick her sex. But after only a few seconds, Lara pulled away and grunted in disgust.

Carin looked confused and asked, "Lara, have I done something to displease you?"

"No," Lara said apologetically, "It's just that retro-bush of yours, I've got hair in my mouth."

Carin thought about her conversation with Lara about maintaining the thatch of pubic hair.

"I suppose I should clean it up a bit," she pulled on a hair, then screamed, "Ouch! That hurts, how do you stand that?"

Lara thought about the pain she endured at her last waxing, then realized she'd better offer Carin a more gentle approach. She rose from the tub and went to the vanity, returning with a pair of scissors, shaving cream and a razor.

Lowering herself back into the tub, she said, "It's easier this way. Now, what would you like, 'Dorito Chip', 'landing strip', or 'Brazilian'?"

Carin didn't understand Lara's first two references, but she had been to the southern Atlantic. The water was warm and beautiful there, and the land dwellers referred to their county as Brazil. The memory was pleasant, so Carin said, "Brazilian, I guess."

Lara smiled as she opened the scissors and began to snip away at Carin's ample bush. Carin gasped at the initial snip, fearful that it would be painful but relaxed as time went on. As the hairy patch yielded to stubble, Lara reached up and grabbed the shaving cream. Carin shivered at the cool sensation of the white substance being spread across her mons. Then Lara grabbed a fresh razor and began making deft strokes. Carin squealed as Lara inserted a finger into her pussy as she continued to shave. In a matter of moments, Carin sported a smooth, bald pussy.

Lara leaned in to lick at her lover's slippery snatch. That's *much* better," she said.

"YESSSSS! It Isssss." Carin screamed in reply.

---

With their bath completed, Lara helped Carin pick out some clothes to wear. She shunned the tight jeans Lara offered first and opted for a long, flowing skirt. Then they walked out hand in hand to Lara's doctor's appointment

---

"So... are we ready?" Heather asked, holding the pebbles given to them by Crand that would transform them into humans.

"I'll go first," Kiki offered.

"No," Amy said. "We can't be sure that they'll affect you in the same way. One of us had better do it."

The tide was in and the mermaids, still trying to conceal their presence were about 30 yards off shore in 15 foot deep water.

"Here goes," Amy said as she swallowed the luminescent pebble.

Seconds later, Amy's face went blank as she was surrounded in a blue aura. The mermaid's breath quickened. The sensation was obviously NOT unpleasant. As the aura dissipated, Amy let out a scream. She thrashed about in the water. With her tail gone and unaccustomed to legs, Amy sank quickly.

Heather dove below and grabbed her sister and raised her to the surface.

Amy sputtered and coughed for a few moments before regaining her breath.

"I think we'd better swim closer to shore before any of us try that," Heather said.

So the mermaid, mermaid turned human, and the dolphin turned mermaid edged onto the beach. It was a cloudy, weekday morning, so the strip was nearly empty. Once Amy could stand, Heather and Kiki each swallowed a pebble. They changed like Amy had and three naked women walked onto the beach.

"Who is this doctor you are seeing?" Carin asked as she took in the sights of the city through the car window.

"Dr. Kaplan," Lara said, "Since I was presumed dead my boss just wants to make sure I'm fit to return to work."

"So this is medicine then?"

"Exactly."

"We have something like this doctor person in Atlantis," Carin said, "The medicos could fix anything: fin fungus, dolphin cough, scale rot, you name it." Carin paused, then asked "Will this Dr. Kaplan have to examine me too?"

"No, don't worry about that," Lara said, then added "But then again, it would be a good idea to make sure you're a healthy human. Wait, what am I saying, we can't get you checked up. According to the system, you don't exist."

"But I do exist," Carin said.

"Well, of course you exist, but my country's government has no record of you. You don't have a history or any ID or papers or anything. No, it'd be best if we keep your past quiet for now."

"So without this ID I cannot exist in your world?"

"Not officially," Lara said. "Don't worry, we'll figure something out." They drove on to Dr. Kaplan's office.

---

"Amazing," Heather said, walking with her sister and former dolphin friend along the beach, "Legs are much easier to learn to use than I'd have thought."

"Legs nothing," Kiki said, fascinated with her new human genially, "This is much better than when I was a dolphin. The fur is distracting though."

"So where should we start looking for Carin?" Amy said, "Something tells me this land world is huge. This will be like finding a needle in a seaweed patch."

"We should try to blend in," Heather said, "Humans cover their bodies with some sort of fabric, right? We should find some fabric then."

"Just as long as I don't have to cover my slot," Kiki said, rubbing her hand along her clitoris and enjoying every moment of it.

---

The door to Dr. Kaplan's office opened and Lara returned from her medical check. "Are you well?" Carin, who had been waiting in the office quietly, asked.

Lara said, "Yep, everything's fine. I can go back to work this weekend. According to him, I'm in better shape than I've ever been."

Carin smiled. "I'm glad. When is this weekend?"

"A few days. Plenty of time for us yet." replied Lara as she took Carin's hand and lead her out of the building.

"I missed you." said Carin once they were back in Lara's car.

"I know...I missed you too. Which is silly, cos there was only a door separating us." replied Lara as she started the car. "I just couldn't stop thinking about you."

"Nor I you." said Carin. "I'm so glad I got to meet you...to love you."

Lara smiled. "So am I, sweetie."

"Are we going to see your brother now?"

"Yes. We'll be a bit early, but that's OK."

Carin looked out of the window. "There are so many men..." she said.

"Compared to Atlantis, I guess so. What do you think of them?"

"Oh...they're all right, I suppose. They don't excite me the way girls do though. What about you?"

"Me?"

"Yes. Do you like men?"

Lara laughed. "You're the first girl I've ever been with."

"Oh...why?"

"Why? Well...up here, that's sort of the way most relationships are. Man and woman. I never even thought about girls sexually...not until I met you."

"And now?"

"Now...I think I like them both. But I have you, so I don't need any of them."

---

"Kiki! People are looking at you!"

"I don't care...this feels soo gooood...mmm..." Kiki had sat down in the sand and was masturbating furiously, attracting the attention of passersby who were stunned by this naked girl's behavior.

"Kiki, stop it! We're a bit conspicuous like this!" hissed Amy.

"Just a bit longer...ohh..." With her free hand, Kiki began to rub her breasts and moan. "I've watched you two...ohh...do this...so often...now I understand...why you do it...mmm..."

Amy and Heather tried to shield their friend from the eyes of the humans, but they began to realize that they themselves were attracting attention. "I think we need the garments." said Heather.

"Yes, but how do we get them?"

"I don't know...oh! Look!" Heather ran over to some rocks, and held up a towel. "It's dirty, but I think we could use it."

"Sure, for one of us."

"Well...why don't you put it on and go find us some garments, and I'll stay here with Kiki."

Amy took the towel, and wrapped it around herself. "You stay here. Don't move or I'll never be able to find you again."

"I promise."

"All right...I'll have a look around a few of these stalls. I won't be long."

As Amy walked away, Heather lay down next to Kiki, who smiled at her. "I feel so good..." the former dolphin moaned. "Is it always like this?"

Heather smiled at Kiki's unashamed display. "Always."

"Ohh...gooood...mmm...oh...oh! Yes! Yes!...oooooooohhhhhhHHHHHHH, YES!" Kiki screamed in pleasure as she experienced her first orgasm. "Oh wow, oh wow, oh wow..." she moaned.

"Wow, Kiki...you enjoy that?"

"Oh...wow..."

Heather smiled. "It's even more fun with someone else."

Kiki grinned as she tried to catch her breath. "So I've noticed...Heather...have I ever told you how beautiful you are? Because you are."

Heather blushed. "Oh no you don't. You're not going to have me do that..."

Kiki pouted. "Oh...well...could you at least...kiss me?"

"Kiss you?"

Kiki nodded. "I want to be kissed by a pretty girl."

Heather sighed. "You won't tell Amy?"

"I promise."

"If I kiss you, will you stop attracting so much attention?" Heather asked.

"Maybe..." Kiki said coyly, pausing her hands for a moment. Heather leaned in and gave her a quick peck on the cheek. "No, not like that. On the lips. With tongues, like I've seen you do on dates."

"Fine," Heather said, eager to put this to an end. More people began to gather near the area, anxious to see the two supposed lesbians making out nude right there on the sand. Heather leaned close again, this time kissing Kiki on the lips and tickling her tongue against the former dolphin's teeth. Unfortunately for Heather, like most merpeople she found herself even more aroused by the goings-on and began to kiss her way down Kiki's body, paying special attention to her nipples as she worked her way southward.

"I love this!" Kiki screamed in passion. "I love you!"

Heather pulled back from the sexual scene, surprised at herself. After all, here she was making love with, for intents and purposes, her sister's pet! She stumbled back and bumped right into a man wearing red shorts and a gray t-shirt that read "BEACH PATROL". "Ladies, you'll have to come with me."

"We can't go," Kiki said, "Our friend is coming back for us."

The over-eager patrolman shook his head and said "You protestors have pushed things too far. This beach will never become a nude beach because of behavior like this. You know the rules; let's go."

"But we do not know the rules," Kiki said. The patrolman furrowed his brow. He hated when people resisted arrest.

---

Amy returned to the spot where she'd left her sister and pet-turned-friend. Clad in a aqua blue bikini, she had managed to find a fiery red swimsuit for her sister and a bright yellow one for Kiki. And now, after being told to stay put, they were gone. As she was wondering where they went she overheard a male human talking to another human. "Yeah man, you should have seen it. Naked and practically fucking each other! The tits on the one were-"

"Excuse me," Amy said, interrupting, "Did you say there were two naked women here?"

"Yeah. Beach Patrol took 'em away."

"Who is this Beach Patrol?"

"You know, the cops. Over there." He pointed at the small building near the road. Without another word Amy began marching towards the building.

---

"Whoa... sis... you're saying you're a lesbian?"

"Well, bi I guess," Lara said, "But now that I've found Carin I don't need anyone else." Carin gave Lara a quick kiss on the cheek, attracting a few glances in the restaurant.

"Unbelievable. Don't get me wrong, I'm happy for you. I just didn't expect this would be your news. I thought the whole not-really-dead thing would be the big story."

Robert sat slack jawed as Lara recalled the tale of her meeting Carin, her transformation, her trip under the sea and their exile.

"So, that's the truth."

"Yeah, right!" Robert began to laugh. Then he began looking around the restaurant. "Okay, where's the hidden camera. It's here somewhere, isn't it?

"You know, you had me going for a while there, the whole lesbian thing, but mermaids, magic, a whole society under the ocean. You went too far sis."

"Stop it!" Carin protested. "Lara was being entirely truthful, and I can PROVE it.!"

Lara grabbed Carin to stop her. "Not here, dear. That'll make too big a mess."

Robert paid the check and walked out of the restaurant laughing.

Lara was about to run after him when her cell phone rang.

"Hi Mitch," she grunted. Then her face grew red. "Oh, my GOD! No! You've got to be kidding me! They did? Okay, we'll, I mean I'll be right over." Then she slammed the phone shut.

"Who was that?" Carin asked.

"My boss from the beach patrol. Seems they picked up to women for indecent exposure and lewd behavior."

"What is that?" Carin asked shaking her head.

"Never mind what it is. You'll never believe who it is!"

Carin looked at her quizzically.

"Heather and KIKI!

"Oh, we had better go."

---

Carin was usually unnerved by Lara's driving. This time it was really scary. Lara sped through traffic as she weaved in and out of cars. Although it was a 30 minute drive, they arrived at the Beach Patrol headquarters in less than 10 minutes. Lara ran into the squad room and heard Mitch interrogating Heather and Kiki.

"Look," he continued, "you've GOT to have a last name. Tell it to me, NOW!"

"Delamre," Lara offered.

Heads turned in the room as she formerly missing lifeguard attempted to concoct a cover story for the mermaid and now human dolphin.

Carin stood nervously outside the Beach Patrol headquarters, feeling very conspicuous even though she was fully clothed. She kept expecting someone to somehow realize she wasn't a born human and take her away from her beloved Lara.

"Don't I even get a hug?" asked a voice she knew very well.

"AMY!" Carin threw herself into her sister's arms and hugged her. "Oh, I was worried about you! About all of you! Why are you here, have you been exiled too?"

Amy smiled. "No, not quite. You've been forgiven, Carin. Provided we can find something called the Star of Neptune, we can all go home."

"All of us?"

Amy nodded.

"What about Lara?"

"I...don't know about her. Does she want to come back?"

"I don't know...maybe. But if she doesn't, then I'll stay here. I've fallen in love with her, and I want to spend the rest of my life with her. Whatever we'll decide to do, we'll do together."

"Even if it means staying up here?"

"...yes." answered Carin a little hesitantly. "Let me look at you."

Amy twirled around, and Carin applauded. "Nice legs. Nice clothes."

Amy examined her bikini. "I like it. I've got some for Kiki and Heather too."

"Oh, Kiki...how is she human?"

"We had her turned into a mermaid and then into a human using some special pills. It was her idea, Carin, she wouldn't let us go without her."

Carin smiled at her pet's enthusiasm. "What's she like?"

Amy giggled. "She's...Kiki. She's beautiful. And I the last time I saw her she was chatting up Heather."

Carin laughed. "Oh wow...listen, Lara's inside trying to get them out. Let's go find her."

---

"Oh no, not you two. Hey Mitch."

"Lara...it's good to see you. You know these two?"

Lara sighed. "Yeah...that's my cousin and her friend."

"Hey Lara! It's us!" called out Kiki. Heather silenced the former dolphin by putting her hand over her mouth, and Kiki began to lick and kiss it.

"So why were they naked and doing it on the beach?" asked Mitch.

"Well...come here." Lara lead Mitch over to a corner of the room so that Kiki and Heather wouldn't overhear them. "Kiki there's a bit...you know...she isn't firing on all cylinders, and Heather tries to look after her as best she can. They were supposed to come and stay with me for the week, but I kind of forgot about them, and I guess Kiki just got a bit carried away...listen, if you could let me take them home and just forget about this, I'd be very grateful."

Mitch glanced over at the naked girls, one of whom was passionately licking the other and masturbating. "Well...as it's you. But get some clothes on her, and stop her touching herself."

"I will. Thanks Mitch."

"That's all right." Mitch left the room, and Lara closed it behind him before looking at her friends. "You two won't last long if you carry on like that in public."

"It was all her!" protested Heather. Kiki grabbed Heather's head and planted a passionate wet kiss on her lips. "I love this woman." she giggled.

And so Lara drove Carin, her sisters, and former pet back to the apartment unit she shared with Penny. As panicked as Carin was in traffic, three additional former mermaids added to the tension. Kiki only took time away from attempting to kiss Heather to scream about the oncoming traffic, for instance. On the ride home Lara and Carin brought the others up to speed and by the time they arrived the five girls were obviously eager to split off. Lara and Carin desperately wanted their promised time alone with one another, Kiki obviously wanted to get with Heather (who wanted to sit down and talk things out with the former dolphin), and Amy wanted to begin the search for the Star of Neptune. Inside the apartment introductions to Penny were made (who was still happily buzzed) who was equally pleased to meet more former mermaids.

"Listen," Lara said, pulling Penny aside for a moment. "Carin and I have an afternoon planned. Do you think you can keep an eye on the girls?"

Penny looked back at the scene in the living room. Amy, Heather, and Kiki had quickly discarded their bikinis, Carin was in the process of pulling her own clothes off, and Heather was trying to get Kiki to stop kissing her long enough to talk to her. "I think I can handle things," Penny said with a smile.

---

And so they separated. Lara and Carin retreated to her bedroom and soon both girls were naked, sitting across from one another in bed, and gazing into each others' eyes. "So," Carin said as she held up her hand to work the mermaid arousal mojo, "Do you want me to..."

"Not yet," Lara said as she began to rub her hands along Carin's thighs, "I have something else in mind first..."

---

Heather and Kiki, meanwhile, were seated next to each other on the couch. Heather had finally convinced Kiki to stop with the busy hands and actually talk to her. "Why do you resist?" Kiki asked, "I don't understand."

"It's not right," Heather said, "You're my sister's pet! It's wrong on so many levels and-"

"Do you remember," Kiki said, "When we were younglings? And you told me that I was the most beautiful dolphin in the sea?" Heather nodded. "And do you remember what I told you?"

"That I was the most beautiful mermaid in the sea," Heather replied.

"I've always felt a bond with you. Even though I was Carin's pet, I've always watched out for you too. And now that things are different... I mean, why can't we enjoy ourselves? I still want to watch out for you. You're the most beautiful human on the land now."

"But when we go back... it'll be weird..."

"I'm not going back to being a dolphin," Kiki declared, "I'm not going back because of you. I... I love you, Heather. I'll be at your side forever. If you'll have me."

That was the straw that melted Heather's heart. She reached over and began to massage Kiki's shoulders. "Maybe if we started slow," Heather said, giving into emotion.

---

"So you were a mermaid too?" Penny asked. She and Amy were in Penny's room, sitting on the bed and causally chatting.

"That's right," Amy said. "Have you ever heard of the Star of Neptune? My sisters and I need to find it so-"

"Can you, ah, do that trick that you sister can do?"

"You mean the arousal thing?" Amy asked, "Yeah, all mermaids can. Now listen, this Star-"

"Do you think you could, you know, do it to me? Please?"

Amy sighed. This human would obviously be no help in finding the Star of Neptune. She'd have to handle this one on her own. "Sure, fine," she consented. She raised her hand to work the trick, but Penny asked her to wait a moment. In seconds she'd stripped off her clothes and was laying on her back on the bed, arms at her side and legs slightly spread.

"Go ahead," Penny said, feeling the anticipation.

Amy gave Penny her wish and as the human squealed in pleasure, Amy watched her, and thought about what the afternoon would hold. She guessed that Carin and Lara would be making love, and that Kiki would be trying her best to make Heather fall in love with her. Everyone under this roof would be having sex...except her.

She smiled as Penny moaned from the intense pleasures she had granted her. The human was nearly senseless with pleasure, she knew, but this was the only companion she'd have for the whole afternoon. "Penny?"

"Mmm...hmm?...ohh..."

Amy stroked Penny's hair and smiled. "I don't know if you can hear me...but...can I talk to you anyway?"

When Penny didn't reply, Amy sighed. "I need to talk to someone...I need to know there's someone in this world who can be a friend...this world scares me so much. If we don't find this Star of Neptune, and we can't go home...I don't know if I could survive it."

Penny continued to gasp and moan in pleasure, but her left hand, which had been rubbing at her breasts, now rose into the air, grasping. Amy smiled, and took it in hers. "You can hear me, can't you?"

The only response from Penny was a whimper of pleasure, and the tightening of her grip on Amy's hand.

---

"We have to talk." said Lara. "But I want us to be cuddling as we do."

Carin grinned, and the two girls snuggled up closer together. "Is that better?"

"Ooh...yes...Carin...I love you. I always will love you, and I know that you will always love me."

"You're scaring me, Lara. This is sounding like a goodbye."

"Oh, no...no, it isn't...I was just wondering...what will happen to us if you and your sisters get to go home..."

"Oh..." Carin thought for a moment. "Well...I can be honest with you, can't I?"

"Completely."

"I don't really like it here...I would prefer to be back home...but I also know that you would prefer to stay with your family. I understand that. They thought they'd lost you once, and it would be wrong to put them through that pain again."

Lara sighed. "Yes...I don't want to hurt them again. If it was just a choice of my ideal home, then yours would be my choice, if I could go back there. But I don't want to hurt my friends and my family."

Carin nodded. "Listen...it's all right. I understand that. I don't know what the future will be for us, but I know that whatever it is, we'll face it together. But right now...let's put all that out of our minds. Please?"

"All right."

"So...shall I arouse you now?"

Lara grinned. "Actually...I want to see if I can do it to you first."

Carin laughed. "You should be able to. I gave you that power when I first changed you. Look at my...what did you call it?"

"Your pussy."

"All right. Look at my pussy. Look how beautiful it is...and it's yours. You want it, don't you? You want to pleasure me?"

"Oh yes..."

"Now...close your eyes. I want you to see only my pussy in your mind. Have you got that?"

"Yes...I can see it...it's so clear."

Carin smiled. "I think this will work, baby. Now...imagine that in your hand...is all the love, all the joy, all the happiness that has ever existed anywhere, ever...can you feel that?"

"Yes...it feels...powerful..."

"You want to use that power to make me happy, don't you?"

"As happy as you make me..."

"That's it. Now...use your hand...let all that power flow into my pussy...just for me..."

There was a few seconds of silence as Lara raised her hand, and suddenly Carin gasped. "Oh...wow..."

Lara snapped her eyes open. "Did I do it?"

"Oh...oh, oh...yesss!!! You did it!!!"

Lara was pleased with her mastery of this new ability, but before she could say anything, her own body was rocked with the power of Carin's hand, and she fell into her lover's arms, moaning and trembling with sheer pleasure. The girls lay back on the bed, locked in a passionate embrace as their bodies endured a pleasurable assault under their own unearthly powers.

---

"You have lovely hair, Kiki."

"You think so?" Kiki ran her hand through her long golden hair. "It feels nice..."

"It smells nice, too..."

"What does it smell of?"

"...home."

Heather slid off the sofa, and crawled in front of Kiki, taking her hands. "I love you, Kiki."

"I love you too, Heather...I always will."

"Kiss me, Kiki."

It had been an afternoon of love. Lara and Carin were still coupled, Heather and Kiki had made new ground in their growing relationship, but Amy... she had made herself comfortable in Penny's bed. Penny herself was still under the effects of Amy's power, shuddering and quivering in pleasure, silent but for the occasional gasp and quiet moan. Amy was still holding her hand, although she had been talking nonstop almost all afternoon and telling her life story to her very captive audience. "So we were given these magic pebbles, and... oh no..." Amy bolted from bed and burst into the room with Heather and Kiki.

"Girls, break it up," she said, separating the new lovers, "We have a big problem."

"What's that?" Kiki asked.

"The pebbles! We left them back on the beach! Without them we can't go home even if we do find the Star!"

Carrie Solomon sat with her friends Carol Engle and Morgan Harris. She peered through her sunglasses, keeping a watchful eye on her six year old cousin, Jessica. When the college freshman told her mother that she and her friends planned to spend the day at the beach, she had volunteered her to baby-sit Jessica there too.

Jessica was scouring the shoreline with a pail in her hand, collecting shells. Every few minutes, she would return with her treasure and show it off to Carrie and her friends.

"Here she comes again," Morgan said.

"I wish I had that much energy," Carol said as she rubbed sun block on her legs.

Carrie smiled up at Jessica as she approached. "What'd you find this time?" she asked.

"Pretty pebbles," Jessica said as she opened a small pouch and poured about two dozen glimmering pebbles onto the sand.

The magic pebbles sparkled a blue and green in the bright light of the sun.

"Wow," those are amazing," Carol commented.

"Want one?" the young girl asked.

"Can I?" Carol responded.

"Sure!" Jessica said, eager to make friends with the older girls.

"Can I have one too," Morgan teased.

"Sure," Jessica responded happily, "There's lots!"

And with that, the young girl doled out several of the pebbles to each of the girls, keeping a fair share for herself."

The group stayed at the beach for a few more hours. They noted a group of remarkably beautiful women pacing up and down the beach, clearly in search of something.

Amy, Heather and Kiki had made their way back to the beach. Remembering to wear their bikinis this time, they were using Kiki as a sort of tracker. Eventually, the former dolphin caught the 'scent' of the pebbles, and pointed to Carrie and Morgan, who were just packing up their things. Jessica had eventually worn herself out, and Carol had taken her back to their car.

"Hello?" said Amy. "Er...we...oh dear."

"Hi." said Carrie. "Are you all right? We've seen you going up and down the beach for the last few hours."

Amy smiled. "Yes...we're looking for something we left behind...some pebbles...they're very important to us."

"Oh...these ones?" Carrie held up the pouch, and Kiki snatched it. "Hey!" cried Morgan.

"Kiki." admonished Heather. "I'm sorry...but we need them..."

"My little cousin found those. She wants to keep them. Listen, she's only six, can't we keep them?"

"I'm sorry." replied Amy. "But...they're medicinal."

"What?" asked Heather, Carrie and Morgan in unison.

"Yes...they're medicinal...I take them to...to-"

"Listen." said Morgan, grabbing the pouch back from Kiki. "If you want them back...you'll have to explain to a little girl why she can't have them. Are they valuable, is that it? Maybe we could take half each."

"Oh no, no, we have to have them all." replied Kiki. "We can't trust you with them."

Heather and Amy sighed. "Kiki...please, leave this us, OK? She is right, in a way...you can't have them. Please, give them back to us?"

"All right." says Morgan. "But only if you explain to Jessica why she can't have them."

Amy sighed; she hated to break a little girl's heart (even if it was a little human girl) but losing out on the pebbles was completely unacceptable. "Where is she?" At that moment, as if on cue, Jessica came running up.

"Here she is now," Morgan said. She knelt down to Jessica's height to look the girl in the eye and said "Jessica, these nice ladies have something to tell you."

Jessica looked up at Amy and chirped an enthusiastic "Hi!" Amy knelt down and began to explain.

"Hi Jessica. I'm Amy. Listen, I hear you found some pretty pebbles on the beach today."

"Yeah!" the little girl beamed.

"Well, those pebbles belong to my family and I here. We need them back very badly. Do you understand?"

"But they're so pretty!"

"I know, but they're very important to my sister and, uh, cousin. Can I have them back please?"

"But I found them! They're mine!" Jessica said, approaching a tantrum.

"Let me try," Kiki said, kneeling down to Jessica's level. She smiled, looked the girl in the eye, and then said sharply "Gimme back those pebbles!" while trying to wrestle them away.

Morgan wasn't about to stand by while some strange women attacked her little cousin. Using her martial arts training she shouted "Judo chop!" and smacked Kiki down to the ground, then picked up Jessica (who still had the pebbles) and, with Carrie at her side, ran off towards the parking lot.

Heather and Amy were stunned by Morgan's moves and they rushed to aid Kiki who had fallen to the sand unconscious. Carrie and Carol gathered up their beach gear as Morgan spirited Jessica back up to the parking lot.

Amy rose to follow, but Carol cocked their beach umbrella like a bat and yelled, "Stay back, you freak! Stay the FUCK back!"

Carin and Penny were with Lara at the lifeguard station when they heard the commotion, Summer Quinn and Lani McKenzie were on duty at the station. They stopped their conversation with Lara and ran down to investigate.

Carin was close on their heels to try to protect her sisters and her - former - pet.

From her vantage point, Lara watched the group of beachgoers pile into Carrie's SUV and speed away. "Follow them!" Lara shouted to Penny who dashed to her own car.

Lara grabbed the binoculars and jotted down Carrie's license plate. Then she headed to the beach for round two of her damage control.

"They had them!" Heather shouted as Lara approached, "but the dark haired one hurt Kiki and they ran away!"

"Had what?" Lani asked.

Lara intervened before her mermaid friends. "Amy and Heather had some valuable gems on the beach this morning, they left them here. I was just about to ask you if anyone turned them in. Those girls must have run off with them."

"We've got to get them back! We've got to get them back!" Heather repeated.

"All right, all right, calm down." said Lara. "OK...Lani, can you get the name and address of the owner of that car?"

"Oh, Lara...oh, all right. You owe me for this, ya?"

Lara nodded. "Thank you so much."

"Yeah, well, you just remember this next time I ask you to cover for me." teased Lani as she turned on her mobile.

"Lara, those people were defending themselves." said Summer.

"No they weren't!" yelled Heather. "They hit Kiki first!"

"They did." mumbled Amy, whose mind was still replaying the events, wondering if there was another way to have handled that.

"And they stole our gems." added Heather.

"OK, OK." said Lara. "Right...Penny...can you take Heather and Kiki home, make sure she's all right?"

"Of course. Come on, Heather." Heather helped Penny put Kiki over her shoulder, and the pair took her back to Penny's car.

"Amy...did anything else happen?" asked Carin.

Amy nodded guiltily. "Kiki snatched the bag from that poor little girl. That's why that woman hit her."

"Kiki...she's...never done anything like that..." said Carin in amazement.

"No...I guess that cos her life's been so simple, she just figures the simplest way is best."

"I suppose so." mumbled Carin, but she was stunned that Kiki could do anything so nasty. Lara saw her lover was upset, and put her hand on her shoulder.

"All right, Lara, got the address here." said Lani. "Now, one of us should go over there and try to sort this out."

"Well, I can." said Lara. "I wasn't on duty, but I was around. And I take Amy with me...maybe an apology might help."

"All right. You let us know what happens ASAP, kay?"

"Sure. Thanks guys." called Lara, as Lani and Summer headed back to their station. As soon as they were out of sight, she covered her face with her hands and moaned in despair.

"Oh Gooooood..."

"I'm sorry." said Amy. "At least...we found them."

"Yes, but if they go to the police with this...come on. We'd better go see them."

And so, Lara, Carin and Amy drove out to where Carrie lived.

Lara pulled up to the address from Carrie's license plate. Carrie's SUV was parked in the driveway and she stood in the yard with Morgan and Carol speaking to a woman in her early forties that looked a lot like and older version of Carrie. Jessica was nowhere to be seen, but Amy gave a sigh of relief when she saw the pouch that held the pebbles in Carrie's hand.

"Let ME handle this," Lara said.

The mermaids looked back meekly. Lara parked the car across the street and walked toward the house Carin and Amy followed a few steps behind.

"Can I help you?" the older woman called out.

"I'm Lara King," Lara said as she fished in her purse for her ID. "I'm with the Beach Patrol." The lifeguard tried to look official as she flashed her credentials.

"My name's Rachel Solomon," the older woman said. "I assume you're here about the incident at the beach."

"Yes," Lara said, as she walked through the gate. "Can we go inside."

"Of course," Rachel said. She led the group into the house. Morgan eyed Amy with concern.

"I'm afraid there was a misunderstanding," Lara began.

"More like an attempted robbery and an assault! Carrie just let my niece off with her mother. The poor girl's scared to death." Rachel replied.

"We're very sorry about that," Lara continued, trying to sound as conciliatory as possible. "Kiki, is a little high-strung, she's not from around here and the situation got a little out of hand."

"You see, there was an earlier incident at the beach and Amy's bag got misplaced. It seems your niece found it and didn't want to give it back."

Rachel took the pouch from Carrie and let the pebbles sift through her fingers. "Look, I'm a marine biologist," she said," I do research down at the university, and I've never seen anything like these before.

"Can you tell me what they are?" Rachel asked Amy.

"Let me show you." Amy said as she took a pebble from Rachel's hand and brought it up to her mouth.

"Amy, don't!" cried Lara.

But it was already too late. Amy had swallowed the pebble. She sat down on the floor and smiled at everyone.

"You might want to sit down. I'm turning into a mermaid. That's what we all are."

"Oh God..." said Lara.

"What is this?" laughed Morgan. "You seriously expect us to believe this crap?"

"Believe what you see with your own eyes." smiled Amy. "I think it's starting..."

Amy's face went slack as the effects of the pebble took hold. In her daze, she realized that her bikini bottom would be a problem when her tail reappeared. Luckily, it was tied at each side by a pair of strings and the merely pulled the knots out and sat, bare bottomed with everyone staring at her.

Lara pulled off her jacket and tried to cover Amy's legs, but it did little good. Her legs were too long, and Lara knew that Amy's tail would be even longer.

"Look," Rachel protest, "just get out of my house, before I ..."

Rachel stopped in mid-sentence, her eyes growing wide as saucers when she watched Amy's legs grow long and flexible before the twin strands wrapped themselves around each other and shimmering scales popped along the length of what was undoubtedly a tail.

Amy smiled up at her stunned audience as the tip of her tail spread into a the wide, delicate fan of her tailfin.

"Ah, that feels sooo much better," Amy said as she flexed her tail back and forth over the floor. "I don't know how you humans can stand to go about on those stiff achy legs."

"Incredible!" Rachel said, "Simply incredible."

The scientist kneeled down and brushed her fingers across the scales at the tip of Amy's tail.

The mermaid giggled. "Hey, that tickles," she said.

Rachel turned to Carin and Lara, "So are you two?"

"No," Lara replied. She could see the interest in Rachel's eyes and hopped to protect Carin from becoming research subject number two.

"Well, Carin is," Amy volunteered.

'So much for that secret,' Lara thought.

"I have so much to ask you." Rachel began. But then she picked up the phone and started to dial.

"Who are you calling," Lara asked.

"My department head," Rachel said as she dialed. "We've got to get team down here right away, take pictures, samples, everything. This is the find of the century!"

Lara stepped over Rachel and pressed the button on the phone, hanging it up. "I can't let you do that," she said, "These are my friends not some research project.

Rachel became angry. "She's a sea creature! She's not even human. We need to study her!"

Then Carin had an idea. She stepped over Amy's tail and placed herself between the arguing women.

"So you want to study mermaids, do you?"

Rachel nodded. She glanced over Carin's shoulder and saw Amy chatting quietly with Carrie, Carol and Morgan.

"Help us and I'll see that you get the chance to study mer-culture first hand."

"Carin," Lara began to protest, "What are you doing?"

"Making a deal," Carin replied.

"What do you mean, first hand," Rachel asked, "Take me down in a submarine or something."

Lara grinned. It was clear that Rachel had no idea what a radical idea Carin was proposing.

"If you wanted to do it that way, I suppose." Carin responded.

"Here's the deal. We're on a quest. We need to find something called the Star of Neptune.

"If we find it, we can go back to our people."

Carin glanced at the handful of pebbles that Rachel still clutched in her hand.

"We won't need all of those. If you help us find the Star, I'll share those pebbles with you and bring you to my world .... as mermaids."

There was a gasp of excitement from behind Carin. She turned and saw Morgan gazing longingly at Amy's tail. She knew she had one.

Then she turned back to Rachel. The room fell silent as everyone eyed her with anticipation.

"You...promise?"

"I do." replied Carin. "And a mermaid never breaks her promise."

Carrie, Carol and Morgan looked up at Rachel - all three of them silently hoping that Rachel would agree to help.

"All right." she said finally. "Do you have any idea what this thing you're looking for is?"

"No." replied Amy, beating her tail gently against the floor. "We probably should have found out before we left."

"Can't you go back and ask?" suggested Morgan.

"I could do, I guess..."

Lara desperately tried to regain control of events. The mermaids were her friends, her responsibility - she had to look after them. "How long would it take?" she asked.

"Not long...the sun is setting now...if I leave just after it gets dark, I can be back on the surface before it gets light again."

"Well...could we do that tonight?" Lara asked Rachel. "Send Amy back down there to ask what we're supposed to find?"

"I can run her down to the beach in my truck, and wait for her." replied Rachel. "I'm guessing you two would like to come along as well?"

"Yes."

"What about us?" asked Carrie.

"Can we go down to Atlantis with you?" asked Morgan.

"Um...no, not this time." replied Amy, reluctantly disappointing the humans. "It's just that our kind are mostly afraid of humans...taking four down with me would just make the Queen angry, but I will ask that you all be rewarded for helping us. You will all get to be mermaids, I promise."

That seemed to satisfy the girls. "Provided," added Lara, "that you all keep this absolutely secret. No-one else is to know. The mermaids want as little contact as possible with humans, and if it becomes common knowledge up here that mermaids exist, they'll be hunted...if we help the mermaids, we establish a link between our two cultures - a trust that's more valuable than anything we could get through charging down there and sticking our noses in. All right?"

The four other humans agreed, and Carin kissed Lara on her cheek. "Thank you, darling." she whispered.

"My tail's dry." said Amy. "Could I have some water?"

---

"Kiki?"

"Ohhh..."

"Kiki...wake up, sweetie..."

Kiki struggled to open her eyes. She smiled at the sight of Heather, but then moaned in as pain flooded her head.

"Owie..."

"Here, Kiki, drink this." Penny handed Kiki a glass of water, which she eagerly gulped down. "That should make you feel better?"

"What happened?"

"One of the humans hit you, Kiki." explained Heather. "The others went after them...we brought you back here..."

"I remember...I was trying to get the stones...the girl had them...she wouldn't give them to me..."

"Don't worry." said Heather. "You're safe."

Kiki frowned. "I did a bad thing...didn't I?"

Heather smiled. "Well...yes and no...you did it to help us...but you mustn't behave like that. It's not nice."

Tears began to well up in Kiki's eyes. "I'm sorry." she whimpered. "Don't hate me..."

"Oh, Kiki, no..." Heather's heart melted, and she hugged her tearful friend. "I don't hate you...I could never hate you. I love you."

"Can you ever forgive me?"

"Stop it...it's forgiven and forgotten." Heather kissed Kiki, softly at first but then more passionately. She removed her bikini, and then Kiki's, and then sat down on the sofa taking Kiki in her arms. The pair kissed again, until Penny coughed.

"Um...I'll leave you two alone...but could you...maybe..."

Heather smiled, and waved her hand in Penny's direction. "Ohh...thank you!" gasped the human, and she hurried away to her bedroom. Heather wrapped her arms around Kiki, and slowly pulled her new girlfriend on top of her.

Rachel, Lara and Carin loaded Amy into Rachel's SUV. They had wrapped her tail in a blanket so she would not attract attention from passing motorists.

The sun was setting over the ocean as they carried her along the beach. As they trudged through the water, Lara and Rachel looked around in all directions, hoping their curious behavior would not be noticed. When they were about knee deep, They lowered Amy into the water and she pulled off the blanket. She swam to deeper waters Lara and Carin followed her.

"We'll meet you her in the morning," Lara said. "Find out all you can about this Star of Neptune - or we'll be up her forever."

Even as she treaded water with her human legs, Lara thought of her brief existence as a mermaid. She hadn't thought about just how much she had enjoyed it or how much she wanted to be a mermaid again - forever - as long as she had Carin with her.

Amy hugged Carin and Lara tightly and then dove beneath the waves.

---

Lara and Carin cuddled on the beach as they passed the hours waiting for Amy's return. Rachel felt like a third wheel, sure that Lara and Carin would have done more if she were not around.

Finally, in the pre-dawn hours, they heard a splash. Amy swallowed a pebble and regained human legs. She strode out of the ocean looking much like a goddess with a sheen of water dripping from her naked body.

She looked annoyed when Lara wrapped the blanket over her shoulders.

"Well," Carin asked hopefully, "What did you find out."

Amy said nothing as she was led to the SUV. She settled in and Lara handed her back her bathing suit.

"Well ..." Carin said, a bit more urgently this time.

"I know what it is ..." Amy said triumphantly.

"Well, are you going to make us guess?" Lara asked, clearly annoyed.

"No," Amy deadpanned, "probably take you too long."

Carin rolled her eyes, "Tell us!" she demanded.

"Okay, it's like this," Amy began, "The Star of Neptune is a blood red pearl. It was formed in the deep reaches of what land folk call the Marianas Trench. It was lost during a storm ages ago and a landsman found it on the shore, but here's the best part. It has magical powers. In the hands of a mermaid, it can do amazing things."

"That's why the Queen wanted it back," Carin said.

"Of course," Amy responded.

"Well," Lara said, "we know what it is, we just don't know where it is."

Then Rachel spoke up.

"It sounds like...something we had once..."

"Had...once..." sighed Lara. "And where is it now?"

"Well...I don't know for sure. There was a break in, and it was stolen. It was rumored that a wealthy businessman has it...I can't remember his name, but I do have it written down in my notes, so when we get back, we can look it up. Anyway, supposedly he's got it, but it hasn't ever been proved."

"What could a mermaid do with it if she had it?" asked Carin.

"She could become a goddess. Literally." replied Amy. "For as long as she has it, there is nothing she could not do. She would be granted power over the elements, "

"Is it dangerous that this man has it?"

"Well, no, he isn't a merman...but if he somehow found out about us, and just happened to swallow one of our pebbles...then we'd be in trouble."

"That's not likely, is it?" asked Rachel.

"No...I hope not..." replied Lara, as they drove back to Rachel's.

Amy swallowed another pebble that morphed her tail into human legs. Rachel just looked on - her mouth agape at the sight. Then they helped Amy dress and the group piled back into Rachel's truck. This time, Amy was in the back seat with Carin, and though the two mermaids were getting more accustomed the human transport, each gripped the other's hand tightly as Rachel reached cruising speed on the interstate.

Lara picked up her cell phone and dialed her apartment.

"Hell .... helllll .... HELLO," Penny bellowed, obviously enjoying another mermaid induced orgasm. Lara shook her head as she heard Heather and Kiki in the background, clearly enjoying themselves equally.

"Penny," Lara scolded, "You've got to focus here. We've got a lot to do!"

"Okay," Penny said, trying to regain her composure.

Lara explained the situation and instructed Penny to meet at Rachel's house.

"You sure you're okay to drive?" Lara asked. "We could come and pick you up."

But Penny assured her that she was in control and capable of driving, so Lara agreed they would meet in 20 minutes.

As Rachel pulled into the driveway, she noticed a light on in the back by her pool. Carrie, Morgan and Carol could be heard cavorting and splashing about in the water.

Carin looked at Amy, "You have the pouch don't you, she asked."

Amy held up the pouch that still held a healthy supply of the transforming pebbles in her hand with a satisfied smile. Carin was visibly relieved.

But as the group descended on the backyard pool, Carin's initial fears were confirmed by Rachel's shriek of dismay. Sure enough, each of the young women now sported mermaid tails. Morgan was laughing as she sat on the side of the pool, dousing Carrie with bucketfuls of water as she slapped her tailfin against the water. Meanwhile, Carol was speeding back and forth beneath the surface, angling her body to make precise turns.

"Carrie," Rachel screamed, "What have you done!"

"Nothing, Mom," Carrie replied, "We're just having some fun."

Amy and Carin were hastily sorting through the pouch to retrieve a set of pebbles that would change the girls back into humans before someone stumbled upon the scene.

"Where did you get the pebbles," Carin demanded.

"We used the ones that Jessie gave us," Carrie admitted.

Then Amy thought about the pebbles that had been removed from the pouch. She counted them in her and, trying to account for everyone.

Rachel looked particularly concerned, "Does Jessica have anymore?" she asked as she contemplated how she could explain her niece's transformation to her sister. More so, she feared what the magic pebbles would do to such a young girl.

"No, Morgan admitted," we got them all from her before we dropped her off. We didn't want her to get hurt.

"Good," Rachel said, breathing a sigh of relief. "Do you have anymore?" she asked, glaring at the girls sternly.

"No," Carrie replied. "We were just bored, and it was just too tempting."

Amy and Carin seemed to understand as they passed out another round of magical pebbles to the girls turned mermaids. Dutifully, each swallowed one, though pangs of regret were evident on Morgan's face in particular as she swallowed hers.

The trio stepped out of the pool and wrapped themselves in towels just as Penny was arriving with Heather and Kiki.

As the group assembled in Rachel's living room, Morgan sat next to Heather and Kiki. "So, you two are mermaids too?" she asked.

"Long story," Carin interrupted as she looked at her sister snuggled next to her former dolphin pet.

Rachel came back into the room, shuffling through a raft of notes from her office.

"Here it is," she said. "Jacob Sharpe," Rachel said with a grin. The rumor was that he paid off a research assistant to steal the pearl, then gave her a job in his real estate development company as a bonus. But this was all innuendo and hearsay, so no charges were ever pressed.

"I know that guy," Carol said. "He's the one who wants to develop the coastline south of town where the turtles lay their eggs."

Carin hated this man more and more as she heard about him. Even if he didn't have the Star, she wanted to teach him a lesson.

Lara just stared at Penny.

"Are you sure it was Jacob Sharpe?" Penny asked.

"Uh Huh," Rachel replied.

"Sharpe Industries?" she asked.

"That's the one," Rachel responded, "Know him?"

"Sort of..." replied Penny. "I-I was at school with his daughter...and we were at college together."

"Do you mean...Terri?" asked Lara.

Penny nodded.

"Well, can she help us?" asked Amy.

"I...could try to get in touch with her..."

"It's important." said Carin.

"I said I would try!" snapped Penny. "And I will."

Unnerved by the rare sight of seeing her best friend in a temper, Lara put her arm around Carin and pulled her closer, before trying to change the subject. "What can we do, though?" she asked.

"We take the Star." said Kiki. "It's simple."

Heather laughed, and kissed Kiki on her cheek. "It's not simple, babe. We don't know where it is, and it would probably be guarded. He wouldn't just let us have it."

"You could just ask him." replied the former dolphin.

"Kiki..."

"Wait, that's not a bad idea..." said Rachel. "Maybe if one of you got close to him...get him to trust you...and then ask about it..."

Whilst the others considered it, Heather hugged Kiki. "Well done." she whispered. The pair kissed, and then Kiki moaned. "Oh, I love you..." She rested her head on Heather's bikini-clad chest and sighed gently as her lover stroked her long hair.

The others tried to carry on their discussion despite Kiki's display. "So...could you think you could get your friend to find a job near her father for one of us." asked Rachel.

"Maybe." replied Penny. "She doesn't like him, though, so I don't know how much contact they have."

"Well, if that doesn't work, we can always arrange for his old secretary to leave." suggested Carin. "She won't be able to work if she keeps having orgasms on the job."

Lara giggled at her girlfriend's bluntness, but Rachel, Morgan, Carrie and Carol were shocked. "What are you talking about?" Morgan asked.

"It's a power mermaids have." explained Heather. "We can give someone orgasms just by waving our hand, and we can make them as long and strong as we want."

"Can we do that too?" asked Carol.

"Probably." said Lara. "I can."

Carol, Carrie and Morgan smiled at each other. Although they hadn't realized it yet, their brief time as mermaids had made them bisexual...and horny. Their thoughts now turned to sex...with each other. Rachel was oblivious, and curious. "You have...powers?" she asked. "How do they work? It'd be an incredible study..."

"Do you want us to get some firsthand evidence?" asked Morgan, winking at Kiki. The former dolphin smiled, and licked her lips, before remembering whose breasts she was resting her head on.

Rachel suddenly realized what Morgan meant, and glanced at her daughter in alarm. If she had this power, then she would want to experiment with it...with these girls...Carrie suddenly looked at Rachel, who quickly looked away. "Oh, is that the time? Listen, I've got to get to work, but I'll be back in a couple of hours or so, OK?"

"OK." said Lara. "If Penny can get her friend to help us-"

"I want to go in the water!" cried Kiki suddenly. "Let's go in the water!" She dragged Heather outside, and Morgan and Carol threw off their towels and followed them.

"Meeting adjourned, I guess..." mumbled Lara.

"Mom!" said Carrie, as Rachel headed for the door in silence. "I...are you OK with me staying with them?"

Rachel smiled. "This is our home, Carrie. One of us has to stay, don't they?"

"No...I mean...about the sex thing, I-"

"Carrie. You're the most important thing in the world to me. But you're a grown woman now, and you have to make your own decisions without worrying about what I think."

Carrie wasn't sure how to take that, and Rachel was about to leave when Lara and Carin walked up behind Carrie, hand in hand. Rachel could see that the two girls really, genuinely, loved each other...and she wondered if Carrie was looking for a relationship that strong. She smiled, and hugged her daughter tightly. "I love you so much, Carrie."

"I love you too, Mom..."

Carrie broke the hug as she felt her towel slipping, but Rachel took her hands and allowed it to fall, admiring the beautiful woman her daughter had become. "Go and be with your friends." she said. "Look after them, huh?"

Carrie nodded, and Rachel watched with pride as her naked daughter ran outside to join the others in the pool. Rachel sighed, and looked at Lara and Carin. Part of her was wondering if this was the right thing to do...the other part wished she was twenty years younger, so that she could join in.

"Am I doing the right thing?" she asked.

"It's best to let her find her own way." replied Lara. "Just be there for her."

Rachel nodded. "Please keep an eye on her for me...just in case?"

Lara and Carin smiled. "I promise." replied Lara.

"Provided that you promise not to tell anyone about us." added Carin.

"Promise." said Rachel. "I'd better go..."

---

"Penny?"

"Mmm?" Penny sat on Rachel's bed, with the phone in her hand. Amy came in and shut the door behind her.

"Everyone's in the pool...I was wondering if you were coming?"

"Er...no, no, I-I think I'd just like to be on my own for a while..."

"No, you wouldn't." Amy sat down next Penny and put her hand on her shoulder. "You're crying...oh, what's wrong?"

"Nothing." said Penny, putting the phone back on the nightstand. "Please...I want be alone..."

"But I want to help you...and I can't help you if I'm not in here."

Penny looked at Amy, who smiled. "You listened to my problems. It did help me. " said the mermaid. "Now I want to help you with yours, if you feel comfortable sharing them with me?"

"I just finished talking to Terri...you know, Jacob Sharpe's daughter?"

"I remember."

"Yeah...it just brought back a few memories..."

"What kind of memories?"

Penny sighed, and Amy took her hand. "Um...well, we were friends...very close friends. One night, we'd had a few drinks, and I sort of...um...kissed her..."

"Right..."

"...that's it. It was a mistake, and she didn't take it very well...she moved out the next day."

"Why? If you were good friends, surely something like that-"

"I wanted us to be more than that...she didn't. God...why am I telling you all this?"

Amy smiled. "Because you need to tell someone. Does Lara know? She knew her name, so-"

"She knows...but she's the only one who knows. Please, don't tell anyone."

Amy squeezed Penny's hand. "No, I won't..."

"Thanks...I...since then, I've not...I've tried to hide my feelings. I don't want to misjudge hurt people again, and hurt them. I've not been with anyone since then. That was over five years ago, and it's starting to tear me apart...that hand thing you do...is all the sex I've had..."

Amy put her arm around Penny. "You need to move on, Penny. Maybe seeing Terri...talking to her...might help...what did she say, is she going to help us?"

"She thinks she can help us. She wants to meet with me, to discuss this...Amy, do you think I should tell her the complete truth?"

Penny paused, waiting for Amy's reply. The mermaid looked at her curiously. This was supposed to be a low profile operation, but boldness and blunders had caused the mermaids to reveal their existence and their plans to recover the Star of Neptune to a good many women. So far, the results had been positive. They now had many willing allies in their efforts, but there had to an end somewhere.

'Besides,' Amy thought, 'this was Sharpe's own daughter.'

"We'd better play it cool," Amy said, "We cannot risk your friend betraying us to her father. As long as he is ignorant of the Star's power, we have an advantage. If he ever discovers what it can do, he will be able to crush us."

Penny nodded, but she couldn't imagine Terry betraying her.

"Well, I'm supposed to meet her for lunch." Amy said, "Do you want to tag along?"

"Sure," Amy agreed, "If you don't think I'd get in the way?"

Penny leaned forward and kissed Amy lightly on the cheek. "That's so sweet," she said. "Let's get you dressed, so we can go."

With Amy suitably attired in Carrie's clothes, the pair departed with a shout to the revelry in the backyard. Those who could answer bid the goodbye, others moaned or grunted in a way to convey their best wishes.

Amy stumbled down the walk in a pair of high-heeled sandals. "It's hard enough to walk without these stilts. Why did you have me wear these!"

"I'm sorry," Penny confessed, but Carrie didn't have anything else that would fit."

Penny drove to the restaurant and Amy did her best to remain calm throughout the drive. She was thankful they didn't have to go on the freeway thingy. That was just too much.

Terry was waiting at a table outside when the couple arrived. "Penny, it's been so long," she shouted as her old roommate arrived. Penny hugged Terry and introduced Amy as her cousin who was visiting from out of town.

"I just love this place," Terry beamed, "They've got the best seafood in town!"

Penny noted Amy puzzling over the menu. She had a concerned look on her face, and the menu was upside down.

"I'll have the swordfish!" Penny volunteered, hoping that Amy would recognize the entree and order the same.

"I'm going to have the Dolphin Fish Oriental Style," Terry offered.

Amy gasped in horror. She had been told that the land dwellers were barbarians, but this was worse than she could imagine.

Penny patted her hand, "That's dolphin fish, right Terr? Like Mahi-Mahi..."

"Of course," Terry chucked. "What kind of a place do you think this is?"

Amy felt relieved. She remembered the swordfish and put two and two together, realizing that she had enjoyed that dish before. "I'll have the swwword-fish too," Amy said.

"So," Terry said as she rested her elbows on the table and leaned forward, "what's the sudden interest in my dad and his business."

"Well," Penny said, "I have this friend and she, well she kind of thinks that maybe, without realizing it, you know," Penny's face was becoming flushed as she tried to work around the subject the Star and its theft. She didn't want to accuse Terry's father of outright theft, but, 'If the glove fits....'

"Did he steal something again?" Terry blurted out.

Penny's jaw dropped.

"I hate when he does that, he thinks he's just so big and important. What is it?" Terry asked, "And more importantly, what does it do?"

---

In the corporate offices of Sharpe Development, Jacob Sharpe read over the agenda for that evening's town council meeting. One of his pawns on the council was going to propose that the town employ its power under eminent domain and take 150 acres of prime oceanfront real estate, so it could be properly developed by Sharpe Industries. It was going to make him a FORTUNE! Not that he didn't have one already. But Sharpe enjoyed the wielding power over his little corner of the world.

There was a knock on the door. "Come," Sharpe ordered.

Michelle Truant entered the room. The former marine biology Masters candidate at Shore University had recently come to work for Sharpe Industries full time - an extra reward for helping him 'procure' the red pearl.

While it was a valuable object, Sharpe could have bought a similar one ten times over. It wasn't about the money, it was about the power, the essence of his existence, being able to do what he wanted, when he wanted it and just how he wanted to do it.

"I have those environmental impact figures for the waterfront project," Michelle said as she pushed her glasses back up to the bridge of her nose. "Very good," Sharpe grunted without bothering to look up, "Thank you, ... Michelle."

Then, Michelle turned on her heels and retreated from the private office. Michelle spun back around as she passed through the doorway.

"Oh, by the way," she said, "I'd like to take the pearl back to my lab, for further study."

"Yeah, fine," Sharpe said as he unlocked his desk and pulled out the satchel that held the pearl and tossed it to Michelle.

Michelle clutched it tightly as she made her way to the lab.

"Now then...what am I going to do with you?" Michelle asked the pearl once she was safely back in her lab. She had no idea what tests she was going to carry out when she took it from Sharpe, but she could tell there was something unique about this particular pearl.

She sat down at her desk and took off her glasses, holding the pearl up to her eye and looking for any marks on its surface. None. It was perfect.

---

Amy suddenly dropped her fork, clutching at her head and moaning as if in pain.

"Amy? What is it?"

"It...oh no..."

Penny put her arms around Amy and held her tightly. "Amy! What's happening?"

"I...can feel...the Star...it's in pain...ahh!" She tried to stand up, and she staggered from the restaurant with Penny and Terry trailing behind.

"What is it?" asked Penny again, as she grabbed hold of Penny's arm.

"The Star...I felt it..."

"Penn, what's she talking about?" asked Terry.

"The Star...cried out...I have to go to it..."

Penny briefly considered what to do. "Let's get you to the car."

"Penn, what's happening?" Terry asked again.

"It's...oh, never mind. You'd better come with us."

The three women ran to the car, with Amy ending up in the front passenger seat. "I have to go to it, I have to!" she begged Penny.

"Do you know where it is?"

The mermaid nodded.

"All right - I'm going to drive, you tell me where to go, OK?"

"OK..."

"Right." Penny pulled out her mobile and dialed Lara's, and it seemed to ring for an eternity before it was picked up.

"Lara? It's Penn. Are the mermaids all right?"

"Yeah, they're fine. Why, is anything wrong?"

"There could be. Amy...has had a feeling. She says that the Star was in pain...and that she can feel where it is."

"Shall I bring the others out to you?"

"No...look, I'll call you back in about half an hour or so, and tell you what's happened, all right?"

"Sure. Be careful, huh?"

Penny smiled. "I will. Talk to you later." She put her phone back in her pocket, and glanced at Amy. "Can you still feel it?"

"Mmm...it's so strong..."

"What's she talking about?" asked Terry from the backseat. "Penny, what is happening?"

"It's a long story." said Penny, as she started the car. "And we don't have time to get into it."

---

Michelle's eyes snapped open, and the young scientist struggled to her feet. As she struggled to remember what happened, she reached down for her glasses...but began to realize that she didn't them. Having previously been short-sighted, her vision now seemed to be perfect. She also felt better than she ever had in her life.

She glanced at the pearl, and began to realize that this was something she couldn't allow anyone but herself to possess...

---

"You're sure about this?"

"It's in there."

"Hmm...and we're out here."

"Drive up to the gate." said Terry.

"What?"

"It's my dad's company, I've got unlimited access."

Penny and Amy glanced at each other. "You're not going to tell him what we're up to?"

Terry smiled. "Penn, how can I do that when I don't know what you're up to? That's the offer. You tell me, and I get you in there...Penny, look, I know we had our differences, but they were never because we didn't trust each other. Please? I want to help."

Penny considered it. "All right. Now, I know it's going to be hard to believe, but just trust us..."

History is often lost to time. That's not a secret. In the case of the Star conventional knowledge was that it was a mermaid treasure lost to the world of the land, but that's not really true. The Star's true history had been forgotten over the years. It was not a beloved treasure, it was a cursed gem. It wasn't lost, it was intentionally banished. The Star was really a magical holding cell for a malevolent undersea entity and now it had encountered Michelle, a girl that the monster in the Star recognized as a potential host. Working its power, the beast within teased Michelle, repairing her damaged eyesight and twisting her desires to match its own. The beast knew it would take some time, but this human known as Michelle would soon become its new servant, and to make the deal sweeter and harder to resist, the beast reached into Michelle's mind to make her wildest fantasies come true.

Michelle continued to study the Star, wondering what secrets it held. She ran her hands through her hair, and sighed. She looked around the room and felt so confined. The room was so small and her clothes were so tight. She grinned wickedly, knowing that this lab was secured and nobody would be able to come in without her buzzing them inside. Feeling naughty she unbuttoned her shirt and tossed it to the ground. Her bra went next, followed by shoes, socks, jeans, and panties. Sitting naked in the lab she smiled. Who said research couldn't be stimulating?

Inside the Star the beast was pleased. Things were in motion now.

Michelle's fantasy - that of becoming a giantess - was almost too good to be true from the beast's point of view. By enlarging her to such colossal size, the beast would soon have a host body capable of incredible devastation - which was all it was interested in.

However, the beast could sense, through the Star, that a mermaid was in the area - and it was seething with rage. The last time the beast had battled one of the merfolk, thousands of years ago, the battle had ended up with Neptune himself condemning the beast to eternity within the Star - at the cost of Neptune's life. His dying act was to transport the Star onto Earth, where no-one would be able to tap the power that it contained.

Until now.

Michelle threw her head back, and began to rub furiously at her pussy as she realized that she was actually growing - becoming a giant. Her first thought - that this couldn't possibly be happening - was soon replaced with another - *finally* it's happening! - and soon her body took up the entire room. With an evil grin, she kicked through the walls and smashed her fists through the ceilings - laughing as the tiny humans ran for their lives. The Star was buried underneath the rubble of Michelle's lab, and the above floors...but it was still glowing...

---

Terry showed her ID to the guards at the checkpoint, and they raised the gate for her. Just as they pulled away, Amy gasped. "Oh no..."

"What? What's happened?"

"It's free..."

"Amy? Amy, what's free?"

"The creature...there was a creature in the Star...a prisoner...it's taken her over!"

"The scientist you said you saw?" asked Penny.

"Yes..."

"Well, where is she?" asked Terry.

Amy shook her head, and then grabbed Penny's hand in panic. "Stop! Stop, we have to get out!"

"What? Amy-"

"Penny, *please*, trust me! If we don't get out right now, we're dead!"

Penny glanced at the mermaid, and then stopped the car, and the three women opened their doors. As soon as they did, they could hear screaming...and some thumping noises that made the ground shake beneath their feet.

"What is going on?" asked Terry.

Penny put her hands on Amy's shoulders. "Amy...what is happening?"

Amy looked to her right, and Terry screamed at the sight of Michelle, now 70ft tall, and chasing cars and people.

"My God...did the Star do that to her?"

"In a way..." Amy explained. "There was a creature trapped inside the Star. It couldn't use the Star's power, at least not to free itself - but it's found a way that use that power to change her."

"OK...and what are we supposed to do?"

Amy managed to tear her eyes away from the sight of Michelle. "Run, I think, before she sees us."

The three women made their way into the south side of the lab building, as everyone else tried to escape the growing giantess.

"I have to find the Star." said Amy, once they were 'safely' inside."I can use its power to stop her."

"Penn...I want to go find my dad." said Terry. "I know, he's a scumbag...but he's still my dad."

"And I'm going to go for the Star." said Amy, starting to run off, before being grabbed by Penny.

"Penn...I'll be all right by myself." said Terry. "Go with her...she's more important. Go on."

"I need you, Penny." said Amy quietly.

Penny glanced back at Terry. "I'll be all right." she said again.

Penny smiled. "We'll see you later, OK?"

Terry nodded. "Sure." With that, she gave Penny a gentle kiss on the cheek, and then she was gone.

---

"My God..." said Penny as they entered the remains of the lab. "She's...taken half the building with her!"

"The Star is under here." said Amy, kneeling down over a pile of rubble. "I can feel it."

Penny knelt down beside her. "Amy...are you sure about this? It's done this to her...and you didn't know it would."

"It did that because she's a human...a merman imprisoned the beast in here, and a mermaid can use the power of that prison without freeing the prisoner inside."

"But...it won't change you...will it?"

Amy blinked, a little confused. "It will make me a goddess, as powerful as Neptune was."

"I know...but...you're not going to leave, are you? Or become all...weird on me?"

Amy smiled. "I won't leave. I couldn't leave my sisters...or you. I promise, I won't let it change me."

Suddenly, from above there came an almost-deafening laugh. "Well, well well..." said Michelle, peering into the remains of the lab. "What do we have here?" She reached her gigantic hand in to grab the two women, but Amy held up her own, giving a quick flick of the wrist, prompting a roar from Michelle as she began to orgasm uncontrollably. The giantess began to masturbate furiously.

"That won't hold her for long." said Amy. "A few minutes, if we're lucky."

"It's just here, is it?"

"Yes." The pair began to pull away the debris that was covering the Star. Without warning, Michelle reached back into the lab, and pulled away a remaining supporting beam. The entire building began to crumble around them, and completely sealed them in. When the dust cleared, Amy was looking in horror at Penny, mostly buried beneath the rubble, with a large gash on her forehead.

"Penny! Penny, can you hear me?"

She was still breathing, but was completely unconscious. "Penny, please...please don't die...I love you, please..."

She suddenly realized...the Star! The whole room was glowing from its light, and Amy could actually see it now. She frantically cleared away the wreckage that still covered it...and then she picked up the Star of Neptune...

Amy picked up the Star, its light glowing brilliantly, and approached Penny. Holding the Star in one hand she reached out with the other and placed her hand on Penny's cheek. Attempting to channel the Star's energy, Amy did her best to push the gem's healing energies through her own body and into Penny. For a moment - just a moment - Amy and Penny's minds were linked and the mergirl could see and feel every atom of Penny's being: her fears, her wishes, her fantasies, her past, her emotions, her dreams. Hoping that she had done enough, Amy left Penny to heal and focused her attention on the giant Michelle. "Put that down!" the giantess shouted when she saw that Amy had the precious Star.

"When we get through this," Amy whispered to the still-unconscious Penny before going on to do what she had to do, "We'll make those fantasies come true."

"Drop it!" Michelle shouted, and the giantess crouched down to get a better look at the rubble. She smiled, for right now her own fantasy was coming true. Naked in public and oh-so-big... if the Star weren't in danger she knew she'd be fingering herself right in the middle of downtown right now. Such things would have to wait though. First she needed the Star... her Star.

Amy took a deep breath, and closed her eyes. She began to draw on the Star's power, taking it into her own body and allowing it to become a part of her. As she did so, the Star began to shrink in her hands, until finally there was nothing but a glowing red orb - all that remained of the beast. Now free, it flew from her hands and headed straight for the host body it had prepared, and Amy watched as it entered Michelle's body, causing the giantess to moan as it took her over completely.

The beast roared with triumph as it took control of its new body, running its hands over Michelle's chest and grinning. It glanced back into the remains of the lab - and could see only Penny.

"Where are you?" she asked playfully.

"Right here." said a voice from behind her. The beast turned, to see Amy, now grown to 150' tall. She smiled.

"Neptune...reborn as a woman." It laughed. "You didn't scare me back then, and you certainly don't scare me now."

"I'm not Neptune." said Amy quietly. "I am Amy."

"Ah, Amy...you know who I am, of course."

Amy nodded. "And I can't allow you your freedom."

"I don't expect you to allow me anything. It took all your power to stop me last time - it cost you your life - what makes you think you can stop me again?"

"I told you." said Amy. "I am not Neptune."

---

The girls were still playing in the swimming pool, when suddenly Amy's two sisters, and Kiki, all suddenly had a powerful orgasm at the exact moment that Amy gained full control of the Star's power.

---

Dark clouds had begun to form in the sky above the two giantesses, and the wind was beginning to pick up, howling across the parking lot. People were trying to keep on their feet, and get away from the giants before the inevitable fight began. Suddenly, a massive bolt of lightning flashed from the sky, straight into Amy's body, and she redirected it through her hands and blasted the beast with it. The beast was knocked off its feet, and fell to the floor with a deafening crash. Amy leapt onto it, pinning it to the ground, and the beast screamed as another bolt of lightning, and then another, struck Amy's body and was passed into hers, causing almost unbearable pain. The beast screamed, and she managed to summon the strength to shove Amy off her, causing the mergirl to land in the ruins of the lab building, although nowhere near Penny. As she struggled get up, she watched in horror as the beast pointed her hand towards Penny, and the injured girl was pulled towards it, until finally she was hovering between the beast's fingers.

"Silly thing to do." she said, as Amy stood up. "Such an obvious weakness. All I have to do is close my hand...and your little friend is gone."

"Put her down." said Amy.

"Oh, certainly." The beast opened her hand, and Amy gasped as Penny fell - only to be caught in the beast's other hand.

"She's so small...so fragile...I can read her mind...she cares a great deal for you...and you for her, I imagine? Perfect...regardless of what you do to me, she is going to die...and that's the perfect revenge - leaving you to live with your pain, forever."

Amy shook her head, and suddenly thrust both her hands towards the beast, who screamed as the mergirl caused orgasm after orgasm to ripple through her body. She dropped Penny, but Amy used her own telekinetic abilities to slow Amy's fall and then pull her in. She smiled at the tiny unconscious figure between her hands, and then with a wave of her hand, Penny was gone.

---

The girls had run into the house when the storm had started, and now lay huddled together on the sofa and chairs, watching the battle on television. They gasped as Penny appeared from out of nowhere on the floor in front of them. Lara knelt down beside her friend. "She's...all right...as far as I can tell."

Penny began to stir. "Amy..."

"Penn? Penn, it's Lara. You're safe..."

Penny opened her eyes. "Lara...where's Penny?"

Lara pointed to the TV, and Penny gasped. "She...must be enormous..."

"What happened?" asked Carrie.

"We...that woman had the Star...it changed her...and Amy must have used it to...turn herself into a goddess..."

---

Amy was standing over the beast, who was still moaning in ecstasy. "You...didn't...try...that...last...ohh...time..." she managed to say.

"I keep telling you...I'm not Neptune." said Amy. With that, she raised her hands again, and fired more lightning straight into the beast's pussy, causing her to scream as the energy invaded her entire body. Amy began to separate the beast from Michelle's body, causing the human to scream in agony as the demon was removed. She fell unconscious, and Amy held the beast in her hands. It looked up at her, and sneered.

"You can't destroy me." it hissed.

"No, I can't. But I can trap you again." Amy raised her left hand and clicked her fingers, and the beast began to struggle as it figured out her plan. A glowing void appeared in the air in front of them, and Amy placed the beast on the side of her thumb. It glanced up at her, in horror.

"This is for Penny." said Amy quietly, before raising her index finger and flicking the screaming demon into the void. She then closed it, forever trapping the beast in another dimension.

Amy took a deep breath, and ran her fingers through her hair. She'd done it. She'd defeated the beast...and saved Penny. She glanced around, noticing plenty of people gazing up at her in amazement. Realizing it wouldn't be too long before this place would be swarming, Amy knelt down beside the still gigantic body of Michelle, and helped her to sit up. She was weak, and barely conscious.

"Come on." said Amy. "We're getting out of here." The two giantesses vanished, leaving the stunned survivors of the beast's attack to figure out what the hell had just happened...

---

Three days later, they still didn't know. No one except the mermaids and their friends could explain what had happened - and even they didn't know where Amy was now.

Lara had taken Penny back to their apartment, and now she lay in bed, at Lara's orders, talking to Terry.

"How's your dad?" she asked.

"Oh...pissed off." smiled Terry. "He keeps on moaning about the Star, and saying that if Michelle ever shows up again, he's going to sue her for everything she has. Where is Michelle, anyway? And Amy...she's not here, is she?"

"No, she isn't...I don't know where they are."

"Do you think they'll be back?"

Penny thought for a moment, and then smiled. "Amy will be. She promised me that."

"I'm glad...and I'm glad we've settled our differences. You will keep in touch, please?"

Penny nodded. "I promise."

"Good. I'm...I'm real glad we're friends again."

"So am I."

"Aww..." Terry gave Penny a hug, and kissed her on the cheek. "I'd better go. I'm being interviewed."

"Interviewed?"

"Mmm...oh, don't worry. I haven't named you or Amy. It's just about my apparently heroic rescue of my dad." She smiled. "All I did was knock the old fool unconscious so I could get him out of there, but he doesn't remember, so...I can exaggerate a little. Anyway - I'll see you soon, Penn, OK?"

Penny nodded. "Sure. Take care, Terry."

"See ya. Oh, sorry." she said, almost walking into Lara and Carin as they came in.

"How are you feeling?" Lara asked.

"Tired..."

"OK...we'll leave you alone then. G'night."

"Night." said Penn, and Lara turned off the light and closed the door. Penny turned onto her side, and tried to get some sleep - but she couldn't stop thinking about Amy.

"Penny..." A soft hand brushed against her cheek, and she sat up.

"Amy!"

The mergirl smiled. "It's me."

"Oh, *God* I've missed you!" She grabbed the mergirl in a tight hug, kissing her on the cheek. "I was getting worried.

"Why? I promised I'd come back."

"I know...oh, it's so good to see you! Where've you been?!?!"

Amy smiled. "I've been...to places you can't even imagine. I needed some time to think..."

"Think? What about?"

"About...you guys. It's a bit embarrassing...I didn't want these powers, I didn't want to be a goddess...but I am. I guess I'm just a little shy about it."

"What did you do with Michelle?"

"Oh, Michelle...I couldn't shrink back down and just leave her to the mercy of humans...I made a copy of your world for her. She can still be a giant, and act out all her fantasies, and she isn't hurting anyone...anyone real, that is."

Penny smiled. "What was it like...being a giant?"

"It's...I can't explain it. But I can show you. Put your hands on my temples."

Penny did as she was told, and gasped as her mind touched Amy's. In just a few seconds, she knew everything that the mergirl had even known, experienced or felt...including her strong affection for her.

"Oh...Amy..."

"Don't say anything...you love me, I know. I didn't mean to find out, but..."

"You saved my life..."

Amy smiled. "I couldn't have let you die, you silly thing...I love you so much." The girls shared their first, gentle kisses, and Amy rested her head on Penny's chest.

Amy and Penny laid together in blissful silence for a moment, but then Amy spoke up. "Ever since I became a goddess," she explained, "I could feel people out there... people in need. There's so much that needs to be done in this world, and maybe even beyond."

Penny's eyes shifted, fearing the worst. "What are you saying?"

"I have to go," Amy replied, "I have these powers and that means I have a responsibility to use them to help make the world a better place."

Penny sniffed, tears on the verge of welling up, and all she could think at that moment was when Amy had found the time to watch her Spider-Man DVD. All that talk of powers and responsibility, really...

"I want you to come with me," Amy continued. "There's a lot to be done out there and I know I can't do it without you. I don't want to do it without you."

"Of course I'll come, but... I shouldn't. I'd just be a liability, a weak human always getting in the way."

Amy smiled and said "Somehow I don't think that will be a problem. I can protect you. I will always protect you."

Now it was Penny's turn to smile. "When do we leave?"

"No time like the present."

"We should tell the others-"

"No," Amy said, "They're not ready yet. Don't misunderstand me; I love them all, but things will be easier this way. Besides, I think by the time we're done out there, we'll be able to come back right to this moment and they won't even know we were gone."

"Then lead on, my goddess."

Amy embraced her friend and lover, pulled the bed covers over them both, and had anybody been watching them they would have seen the covers suddenly deflate, indicating the bed was now empty.

"Where are we?" asked Penny, glancing around at the moonlit beach she had suddenly found herself on.

Amy helped her friend to her feet. "We are in a country called...Australia?"

"Australia? You mean, you...?"

Amy grinned, and clicked her fingers. "Just like *that*."

"That's amazing...um...why are we here?"

Amy put her arm around Penny's waist, and they turned to look out at the sea. "Out there," she explained, "is a mermaid, lost and alone - and in danger. In a few days time, she will be dead, unless we help her."

"Why? What's going to happen?"

"She'll get herself caught in a net...and hurt herself while trying to get free. She'll be washed up on here, and captured - and she dies in captivity."

"That's terrible...what are you going to do?"

Amy smiled. "*We* are going out there to help her."

"How?"

"How do you think?"

"...a-as mermaids?"

"That's what I am...and that's what I can turn you into."

"...really?!?!"

Amy nodded. "If you wish."

"Oh, I do!...Lara said it was incredible..."

"It is."

"...well, what do I have to do?"

Amy smiled. "Take your clothes off."

Penny did as she was told, handing them to Amy, who made them disappear. She took the human in her arms and smiled at her.

"I'm so glad I have you with me, Penny...I love you..."

Penny's reply was barely a whisper. "I love you too..." She closed her eyes and moved in for a kiss, but was surprised when Amy let go of her.

"Come into the water, darling." she said, and Penny followed her as she stepped into the sea, now completely naked. Penny swam out to the mergirl, and put her arms around her friend.

"You're so beautiful, Amy..."

Amy smiled. "So are you...Penny..." The two girls kissed, and the kisses became more passionate and frantic as Amy used her powers to turn them both into mermaids. As their legs fused together into one long tail, with their feet becoming fin and their skin breaking out in scales, the two women orgasmed repeatedly, until finally their transformation was complete, and they floated in each other's arms.

"Is it over?" Penny asked.

"Take a look."

Penny glanced down into the water, and saw that she now possessed a fish tail instead of her legs. She smiled, and then laughed as she tried to move it for the first time. "Oh...I'm...a mermaid!" She grabbed Amy in a tight hug, and kissed her again. "Thank you so much...my goddess."

Amy blushed. "That's all right...oh, you're such a sexy little mergirl. Come on, sweetie." With that, she dived beneath the surface of the water, but resurfaced a few feet away. "What is it?" she asked.

"Um...can I...y'know...breath down there?"

Amy smiled, and swam back to her friend. "Of course. I've adapted your lungs. Just...take my hand..."

Penny did as Amy said, and followed her friend beneath the surface, still holding her breath. Amy took her in her arms, and took several exaggerated lungfuls of sea water, showing that it was perfectly safe. Eventually, Penny released the air in her lungs, and gulped in the water...smiling at Amy when she realized it wasn't going to hurt her, and that it actually felt nice.

I said you'd be all right._said Amy, telepathically. _Come on. She needs our help...

"So which way do we go?" Penny asked, still getting used to her new tail. She struggled to stay upright, flopping from side to side just as clumsily as the mermaids had when they took their first steps on to dry land.

Amy looked around (but all the undersea looked the same to Penny) and pointed out to sea. "That way." She began to move forward, but Penny called out to her.

"Wait!" Penny called, "Um, how do I control this tail?"

Amy did a graceful somersault and moved into position behind Penny. She pressed herself against her lover's back, held and hands, and said "Hold on. I'll show you." And then, together, they rocketed off underwater at Amy's top speed.

"Faaaaaaasssssstttt!" Penny shouted, overwhelmed at their velocity.

"There's no friction down here, so we can really move. Is it too much for you?"

"Just takes getting used to," Penny said, holding on to Amy for dear life. Before too long Amy slowed down and the duo came to a stop. "Are we there yet?"

"She's close," Amy said, looking around. Then she pointed off into the near distance. "There." Not too far away from the two lovers was another mermaid. She was working her way through the sea, not particularly going anywhere, and really in no hurry to get wherever she wasn't going. "What do you say we introduce ourselves?"

"What do we tell her? That you're a mermaid goddess and I'm a part-time human?"

"Um... that's probably not the best idea. I'm still getting used to it myself. We're just two ordinary mermaids out for a swim."

"Got it," Penny confirmed, and they moved in to greet the other mermaid.

"Hi there!" Amy said, "Wow, haven't seen another mermaid out this far before. Where are you headed?"

The mermaid turned and said "Just leave me alone." She looked very depressed, and so Amy and Penny swam up to her, with Amy putting her arm around her.

"What's wrong?" she asked, even though she already knew.

The mermaid was about to shake her off, but she looked into her eyes and saw nothing but compassion there. "It's...my mate..." she managed to say. "I've lost her..."

"Oh, no..." As the mermaid began to cry, Amy held her close to her chest and allowed her to weep. She looked up at Penny, and telepathically explained that When a mermaid takes another to be its mate, they are bonded for life. It literally is like the two are now one person, and losing your mate is a horrific experience.

Penny looked sadly at the mermaid. But where is she? Her mate, I mean?

She's alive...but a long way from here.

Penny put her hand on the mermaid. "What happened?" she asked. The mermaid looked at Amy and shook her head.

"I don't really know...we were playing, out here...and we saw a human ship...she dared me to swim up to it, and I did...and then I couldn't find her...that was three weeks ago...I've looked everywhere, and I'm not going to find her, I know I'm not!" She broke down again, and Amy held her as she sobbed.

"Ssh...come on...it'll be all right, you'll find her. We'll help you."

"Why...why would you help me?"

"Because we want to. I know how happy my mate makes me...I'd be lost without her." Amy smiled at Penny, who swam around behind her and put her arms around her waist.

_I know we haven't talked about it...and it's not like either of us is an average mermaid...but...would you be my mate?_Amy asked Penny. Penny's response was to begin squeezing and rubbing at Amy's breasts, and kissing her softly on the back of her neck. Amy reached back with her tail, and wrapped it around Penny's.

"She isn't dead..." sobbed the mermaid. "I'd know if she were dead, wouldn't I?"

"Oh, don't say that...of course you'd know...look, I'm Amy, and this is my mate Penny. What's your name?"

"Sierra..."

"All right Sierra...we'll find her, don't worry. I bet she's just as worried about you as you are about her."

"But where could she be? I've looked everywhere..."

"Where, exactly?"

Sierra sighed. "All through the village...out here...I keep going back to our home every few hours, nothing!"

"It doesn't sound like you've searched too far out." said Penny, softly.

"Well, she wouldn't go too far out...there are too many humans in the water...oh no...if the humans got her-"

"Amy!" Penny interrupted. The three mermaids turned, to see a massive fishing net being dragged through the water not too far away.

"We'd better hide." said Amy.

"No..." said Sierra. "Those...things!...they've got my mate!" She darted forward, heading straight for the fishing ship.

"Sierra, come back!"

"Come on!" said Amy, taking Penny's hand and hurtling after their new friend.

"What have you done with her?" screamed Sierra as she approached the boat. "Where is she?!!?" She began to pound on the side of the hull, and when that attracted no attention, she glanced back at all the fish caught in the net. Without thinking, she swam straight into it, and was practically blinded as the thousands of scared fish hurtled around her, while she tried to find her way out. "Help!" she cried, and Amy and Penny heard her.

"What do we do?" Penny asked her mate.

"We get in the net," Amy said, grabbing Penny by the arm and jetting right into the net's path. The net quickly picked the duo up, putting them in the same boat as Sierra and dozens of fish. "Stop struggling," she said to Sierra.

_Hon, they're going to see us. They'll know that mermaids are real,_Penny said to Amy.

No,_Amy replied, _They won't.

Amy flexed her powers again just as the net was reeled in to the surface. Oxygen available to them all, she worked her powers and reversed the mermaid transformation, transforming herself, Penny, and even startled Sierra into humans. Can we not be reeled in naked, please? Penny said, and Amy conjured up suitable swimwear.

"Humans curses!" Sierra shouted, finding herself with legs and clothes, "What have you done to me?!"

"Quiet down," Amy said, "and follow my lead."

Three men were on the deck as the net was brought aboard, and Sierra struggled in vain to free herself. She could see them through the net, and they almost turned her stomach - the few mermen she'd ever met had been young, handsome, and utterly charming and caring - but these human men were all...old...hairy, and disgusting.

"Neptune help me..." she whimpered.

"Hey, Pete! What the fuck is this? There's some girls in with the fish!"

"What, like that fish-bitch?"

"Nah, they've got legs!"

"You OK?" Amy asked Penny.

"Sure." replied Penny, before kissing her mate on the cheek.

"Sierra?" Amy tried to move closer to the frightened girl. "It's all right..."

Before she could reply, the net burst open, and the three girls ended up face down on the deck, buried under the fish. Amy was the first to stand, and then Penny. Sierra was obviously struggling to get away on her new legs. "Help her, Penn." Amy said.

As Penny bent down to help Sierra, one of the men swore loudly. "Shit, what the hell happened?"

"The net just...tore open!" came the reply. "Never seen anything like it."

"Dammit...still...at least we got some pretty faces to look at." said the man, as Amy clambered out of the mound of fish, being careful not to tread on any of them, and stood on the deck, looking calmly at the men, who began to walk over to her. Meanwhile, Penny had freed Sierra, and was now trying to prevent her from throwing herself over the side of the boat.

"Not bad." said one of them. "Not bad..." He walked up to Amy, who smiled at him, before blowing into his face. The man staggered away, and slumped to the deck. The others glared at Amy.

"What the fuck have you done, bitch?" asked another, lunging for Amy and intending to grab her, but she blew in his face too, and soon he was asleep on the deck. The remaining four members of the crew were now all on deck, trying to figure out what to do about her. Two of them began to try to circle her, moving in opposite directions, but Amy merely held out her hands, and the two men were swept off their feet and towards her, and she blew into their faces. She smiled as she glanced down at the four men she'd put into a peaceful sleep.

"All right, you!" cried one of the two men still awake. "Get over here!" He was pointing a gun straight at Amy, and Penny's heart began to pound.

"Amy!"

Penny gasped as the shot rang out...and then another, and another, and another, the bullets having absolutely no effect, until finally there was just the sound of a trigger clicking in frustration. Amy was still standing - and she turned to smile at her mate.

_They can't hurt me, darling._she told her, before waving her hand and putting the other two men to sleep. "It just feels good to rub it in a little." she added.

"Don't scare me like that." laughed Penny.

Amy knelt down beside her and smiled. "I'm sorry. Forgive me?"

Penny kissed Amy on the cheek, and then looked at Sierra, who was huddled on the corner of the deck, sobbing.

"Sierra?"

"Let me go...I've not done anything wrong, please, let me go..."

"Sierra...listen...I'm not a human."

Sierra looked up at Amy. "You...have legs."

Amy smiled. "So do you."

"But...but only because you-"

"All right." Amy waved her hand, and instantly Sierra's swimsuit vanished and her tail appeared. The mermaid gasped.

"You could say thank you?" Amy said gently, before standing up and turning to face the massive pile of fish, flapping and thrashing on the deck. Penny and Sierra watched as the hundreds of fish rose into the air and were gently placed back into the water.

"What...are you?" asked Sierra.

"I am a mermaid, I swear..."

"You have powers that no mermaid has...unless..."

Amy sighed as Sierra began to realize what was happening. "You're not...you couldn't...I mean, the only person who had power like yours was...King Neptune?"

Amy put her hand on Sierra's shoulder, and the mermaid looked at it as if it were made of gold. "You...are Neptune?"

Amy shook her head. "No...I...just have all his powers."

Sierra's jaw dropped, and finally she managed to bow her head and close her eyes. "Oh, Goddess...I...what do you need of me?"

Penny smiled as Amy shook her head, embarrassed. "Sierra...look at me..."

"I dare not..."

"Please?"

Sierra nervously raised her head, and tried to not to gasp as she looked at Sierra. "I...am your servant..."

"Oh...stop it, please." Amy was blushing now.

"I-I meant no disrespect-"

"No, it's all right...I'm just new at this...it's a bit embarrassing. Please...just call me Amy?"

Sierra nodded slowly. "Amy...why have you come to me?"

Amy glanced at Penny, who smiled. "I've come to help you, that's all."

"W-why...me?"

"Because I can. You need our help to find your mate, don't you?"

"I...you mean...I will see her again? Alive?"

Amy smiled. "I promise."

"Oh...oh, my goddess, I-...I mean, Amy...thank you...thank you so much!" The mermaid hugged Amy, and then looked at Penny. "Are you also a goddess?"

Penny laughed. "No...I'm just a very lucky human."

Sierra glanced at Amy in alarm. "Human? I do not mean to seem disrespectful, but...she's human! She...you have to send her away!"

"Why?"

"Humans...are not to be trusted."

"Listen, Sierra...my older sister made contact with a human...a human she trusts, and loves with all her heart. I have the same feelings for Penny." she replied, putting her arm around her lover. "I trust Penny completely, and I trust my sister's lover too. There are some humans we can trust, and Penny is one of them."

"I'm sorry..."

"It's all right." said Penny, eager to spare Amy all that goddess stuff again. "I understand how scary we must seem to you. Amy...did you hear what they said?"

"About...fish-bitch? Yes...that could be her." Amy walked over to one of the men, and Penny was about to follow her when she noticed Sierra trying to drag herself across the deck. She knelt back down.

"Are you sure you don't want legs?" she asked.

"No...I like my tail...could you carry me?" Sierra asked.

"Oh...sure." Penny bent down, and picked Sierra up in her arms, enjoying the feeling of holding such a beautiful, helpless girl close to her chest.

"I'm sorry I was rude to you." Sierra said, as Penny helped her over to where Amy was now kneeling.

"It's all right - I told you, I understand."

"Ugh...mermen are nice...all clean, and handsome. Your men are all...hairy, and ugly." said Sierra, as Penny sat her down next to Amy, who was . "How could you have sex with something like that?" she asked.

"I don't know." replied Penny. "I never have."

"You've never had sex?"

Penny smiled. "I've never had sex with a man."

"Oh...I didn't know human women had sex with each other..."

"Some do..."

Sierra nodded. "The nice ones."

"Guys, could you just hold it a sec?" asked Amy.

"What are you doing?"

"I'm telling him to forget everything he saw here."

"Why not ask him where my Zara is?" asked Sierra.

"Because I already know." Amy replied.

"They took her ashore," Amy said.

"Where ashore? We have to get there!"

"I don't think 'where' matters," Amy said, "They sold her."

"Sold her? Traded my mate for goods and services?! To whom?"

Amy said "A science lab. They'll poke and prod her for data."

"I-I don't understand...why?"

Penny put her hand on Sierra's shoulder. "Because they won't know what she is."

"She's a mermaid, it's clear what she is!" snapped Sierra.

"Not to us...I mean, them." replied Penny. "First they'll probably think she's a fake, then some sort of mutant."

Sierra looked pale. "Will they come looking for the rest of us?"

"Maybe..."

"No, they won't." interrupted Amy. "Because we're going to get her out of there, and leave none of them with any memories of her."

"But...you are the goddess!" said Sierra, as if that solved everything. "Can't you just...bring her here, right now? Do we have to go onto the land? It...frightens me..."

Penny glanced at Amy. "Can you do that? How powerful are you?" she asked.

Amy sighed. "I...am extremely powerful...I do not wish to sound...pompous...but my powers are beyond the understanding of either human or mermaid."

Penny smiled. "I believe you...I mean, about not wanting to sound pompous. You don't."

"So...you can do it?" asked Sierra. "You will bring her here, and repair the damage?"

"Of course I can do it," Amy proclaimed. She held out her hand and snapped her fingers to set everything right, and then she found herself someplace else. She stood on the ocean floor, human but breathing comfortably underwater. In front of her sat a massive throne backed by Doric columns, and in that throne sat a mighty merman: Neptune. "Impudent one!" he bellowed, his loud voice echoing and pushing waves up above.

"Lord Neptune!" Amy gasped, recognizing the most powerful of all merfolk instantly.

"You have come upon my powers," Neptune said, "And already you have become consumed by your own ego! There is much more to being powerful than snapping fingers and fixing what you perceive as wrong."

"But... to reunite two lovers and conceal the ocean's citizens from the land... isn't this what I'm supposed to do?"

"Always searching for the easy way out, little one. You've been doing that all your life. Now you use powers... my powers... to take your shortcuts. This is unacceptable!" The ocean stirred again at his booming voice.

"So you're saying we should go ashore? Break into the lab and rescue-"

"You don't understand at all, do you?" Neptune said, growing impatient. "I should retake what is mine and banish you to the shore until you learn what I seek to teach you, but I know there is good in your heart. I set forth this challenge:"

Amy waited, nervous. Neptune's challenges were not to be taken lightly.

"You are faced with a quandary without a right and a wrong answer. Shades of gray, little one. You cannot fix this without hurting someone. Find a way to solve the problem and please everyone."

"So I should-" And all of a sudden Amy found herself back with her mate and her new friend, her hand outstretched as if she were about to snap her fingers. She put her hand down and said "No. We'll find a better way."

"I do not understand." said Sierra. "You can bring her here...please do it!"

Amy shook her head. "It doesn't work like that...I could fix everything, everywhere, just by thinking about it...but who am I to say what's right and wrong? Who am I to interfere with the affairs of mortals to that degree?"

A look of fear crossed Sierra's face. "Are you saying...you're not going to get her back for me?"

Amy smiled. "I...am saying...that you will have Zara back - I promise - but that I will do it without the unnecessary extravagance of using my powers to do so."

Sierra nodded. "I understand...I think. Thank you."

"It's all right...Penny and I are going to go ashore...do you want to come?"

Sierra looked torn. "I...don't know...I'm a mermaid...I don't ever want to be anything else. I just...don't want Zara to think I abandoned her."

"She won't. She loves you, Sierra...I feel that. I can hear her singing, and she sings of her love for you. Hers is a love that doesn't judge you...but honors and forgives you. Do not fear losing that. Do not come with us if you do not wish to...your fear is strong."

"I...wouldn't be afraid...were I with you." replied Sierra. "I am glad that you have received these powers, Amy. You are a good woman."

Amy smiled. "Thank you...Penny, could you help Sierra to sit up?"

"Oh, sure." Penny lifted Sierra up onto her lap and held her there. Amy brought her hands together, and raised them to Sierra's lips.

"Water!" said the mermaid, amazed.

"Take a sip." said Amy. Sierra did, and smiled as Amy took her hands away. She held the remaining water in her left hand, and put her right index finger into it. She placed that on Sierra's lips, and then poured the rest of the water over the mermaid's head. "Receive my blessing." she said. "May you never know sorrow, pain or loss...may your every moment be filled with joy, and happiness, and the love of your beloved. I will always be with you and protect you, my ch1ld."

Sierra was now crying, and she struggled to speak. "Amy...I don't know what to say...thank you..."

"Will you come with us?"

Sierra nodded. "I would die for you...my goddess..."

---

Amy set the fishing boat on course for the shore, and then produced a large tub on the deck for Sierra to sit in for the journey. Once she'd done that, she went down to one of the cabins, but Penny followed her.

"What happened?" she asked, sitting down beside Amy on a surprisingly clean bed.

Amy smiled. "What do you mean?"

"I mean...you were about to just bring Zara here...and then you changed your mind. What happened?"

Amy nodded slowly, before gently placing her finger on Penny's temple, and transferring the memory of her discussion with Neptune into her lover's mind.

"Oh...Amy..." Penny put her hand on her lover's shoulder.

"I feel so embarrassed..."

"No, don't...he was wrong, babe."

"No, Penny, he wasn't...I was going to do it."

"Only to get Sierra and Zara reunited quicker. Listen to me...you are the sweetest, gentlest, most selfless woman I have ever met. You care about people...that's all that counts."

Amy sighed. "It's not enough just to care...I have to help them."

"You think that's what he means?"

"I think so...Neptune is a central figure of all mermaid culture and belief...they worshipped him and he led them and protected them. Now...I should be leading my people in the same way."

"Is that why you...blessed Sierra?"

Amy nodded. "Yes...to make myself feel like a worthy goddess. I should be out in the oceans...uniting and leading my people. They became scattered and disorganized after Neptune's death - I must repair that damage, as he would want."

"But...if he's dead...then how did he talk to you?"

"A part of him does live on inside me...I have all his memories, and his powers...and I guess a little bit of his soul."

Penny took Amy's hands and squeezed them. "Then with his help, you will be the greatest goddess your people will ever know."

Amy smiled. "Thank you, Penny...how do you feel...about all this?"

"I feel honored...that a goddess would take me as her mate. I love you, Amy...I always will."

Amy kissed Penny softly on her lips. "I love you too. I'm just sorry that there may not be a lot of time for us to be alone..."

"Are you going to leave me?"

"...no, never."

"And how long will you live?"

"...forever. And so will you."

"Will I? Oh...well then...we'll have plenty of time for us...and we can start right now..." Penny's hands began to remove Amy's bikini, and then her own. She lay down on the bed, and Amy climbed onto her. "Is sex with a goddess...good?"

"It, um...will be, yes." replied Amy. "Neptune never had a mate, you know."

"That's probably why he's such a grump...he didn't get laid enough. But don't worry...you won't have to deal with that..." Penny began to kiss Amy, the first woman she'd kissed for over ten years...and the most powerful woman on the planet...