Nadia-The Secret of Blue Water (Storyteller Version)

Chapter 26: The Secret of Blue Water

The next morning, exactly one year and twenty-five days since Jean and Nadia first met, the Gratan finally arrived at the African mountains. As the companions looked down, they spotted a peculiar mountain that contained a huge crater lake. This was exactly where Nadia's Blue Water was leading them to. Using the controls, Sanson and Hanson lowered the Gratan into the crater, landing it safely on the shore.

The companions threw open the hatch and looked out. All they could see was the vast lake stretching ahead of them. When Nadia stared at the sight, a look of recognition fell across her face. Then without warning the Blue Water glowed, and once again Nadia fell into a trance. Before her friends' astonished eyes, she began to stroll across the lake's glossy surface. Jean grabbed the Gratan's steering wheel and took off after her moments after the others clambered back aboard the tank.

JEAN: NADIA!

GRANDIS: Where do you think you're going, Nadia!? Come back here!

HANSON: Hey! Come back, Nadia! / SANSON: Snap out of it, Nadia!

When Nadia reached the center of the lake, the water around her began to swirl, and then... to pull away into a large vortex!

SANSON: You're going to sail right into it, Jean!

JEAN: I'm NOT gonna let Nadia go in there by herself! Grandis, get the balloon ready!

GRANDIS: (Gasping) Jean, we've already detached it!

JEAN: Wha—?!

Jean and the others held on tight as the Gratan plummeted over the edge of the enlarging vortex. With no balloon to support the tank, it plunged straight down. But just when it seemed as though the companions were done for... the Gratan stopped falling. Nadia, using her Blue Water, had caught the tank in a powerful energy force. Both Nadia and the tank gently drifted downward, gradually lowering into the ruins of an ancient temple resting at the bottom of the crater. As they disappeared into its opening, the spiral column of water closed up.

After floating through darkness for what seemed like a long time, the Gratan finally landed safely on the floor of an empty hallway. Nadia, unconscious, lay on the floor beside the tank. Jean rushed outside the Gratan and carried Nadia back inside. As the tank slowly journeyed through their strange new surroundings, Nadia stirred.

NADIA: Jean? I must've been dreaming.

JEAN: Dreaming?

NADIA: So terrible... The rain... the black rain wouldn't stop coming down. There was a flood... My body felt like it was empty. Water filled up every empty place. The rain kept falling... Everything was washed away. Everybody drowned. I kept crying and hoping it would stop, but my tears only caused the flood to grow. You, Grandis, Marie, and the others were all drowned, and you became fish! You flowed into my body along with the water! (Moaning In Pain) I... (Moaning) I heard a bell... (Moaning) Oh, my head hurts so much. (Gasping) Jean!

JEAN: Yes?

NADIA: Jean, I'm scared! I'm too scared to know everything! I'm terrified that it will all come true!

JEAN: Don't worry. I promised you, didn't I? I promised that I would come here with you. I will be right by your side. We all will! So you see, there's nothing to be afraid of.

Hearing Jean's words, Nadia felt much better. As they continued down the hallway, the Gratan rammed into something and stopped with a jolt.

SANSON: Oh, come on, now! What's this!?

HANSON: An invisible wall! What'll we do!?

AYERTON: I think we should head back.