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Melissa was shocked, as I had predicted, but I didn't predict such a strong reaction. When I told her that Flet and Jet looked like humans, her sadness all but disappeared. It was as if a firecracker had gone off inside her head as she said "WTF?!" so loud that most of the other diners could hear it. I was totally embarassed, but I didn't show it.

"I know it's hard to comprehend. I'm still trying to get my barings myself, but please trust me when I say that I think they must have done something virtuous in order for me to find them like that. Besides, I was just as shocked as you."

Melissa was staring into her tea cup again, embarassed even now that the diners' eyes were back on their meals. "I need to go out for some air," she said. I shrugged and indicated a window with a door handle. (We were seated near the outdoor part of the restaurant that led out to the pier.)

She walked out down to the end of the pier. I watched her as she sat on the edge, eyes downcast at the waves. "She misses home," I mused, "and true love. Then again, if Ursula hadn't washed her up on the shore in the first place, I never would have met her. She doubts if I can turn her back; 'have some faith girl', I'd tell her. 'Do you forget who got you back your true form?'

"Miss?" I turned my head, startled out of my thoughts. It was just our waiter with our check. I paid him hastily and turned back around to find two hooligans carrying Melissa off the pier. 'OH NO! eek Don't tell me...' I didn't even want to think about it.

I hurried outside, the pier being my aim, when somebody called out my name from an alley. "Hey Ana, what's the rush?" I stopped stark still, recognizing this could only be one person: mat.the.swordsman. (Melissa had introduced us once, and yet I knew his voice anywhere.)

"Mat, it's good to see you," I said, turning around to see the voice's owner. He was leaning casually against the wooden wall of the Sea Shanty with a wheat stalk in his mouth and his sword loose in its scabbard. (What? All good swordsmen have wheat stalks in their mouths. Everybody knows that.)

"Did you see that?", I continued, indicating the pier as I spoke.

"Yup," said Mat, taking his foot off of the wall and turning to face me. "This fella over here was just about ready to bathe that pier in the blood of those two hooligans when he saw that too. I stopped him though, knowing this might not be the best place."

I raised an eyebrow. I didn't see anyone with him in the alleyway. He pointed upwards with one finger towards the rooftops. What I saw there nearly caused me to scream... with fangirl joy that is.

It was a mutual idol of Melissa's and mine. His white mask stood prominent against the haze of the foggy day as he leapt down into the alleyway. 'Good, he hates them just as much as I do,' I thought, 'judging by the look on the left half of his face.'

I knew now what we had to do: a swordsman, a sea-witch (in training, but that goes without saying), and the Angel of Music, off to save our friend, a land-locked mermaid. (Come on. The title should be a dead giveaway.)