The Stars Between -- (VLD)

[46] What did I do?

"Nyma!" Lance shouted, waving wildly as he approached Blue.

"Lance! Do you have the Queen?"

"Change of plans." Lance stopped, holding the Skisch that had been clinging to his back out to Nyma. She blinked, but rested them on her own hip anyway.

"Then where's everyone else?" She said, eyes scanning the waters around them.

"I told them all to meet at Blue, so hopefully not too far off." Lance replied, ushering the other two Skisch forwards when Blue let down her particle barrier and opened her maw.

There were a few loud noises, mostly shouts and various yells. One of the Skisch swam out in curiosity, only to get caught by Lance and pulled back again. "Oh, no you don't. It's not safe out there."

She pouted, but nodded regardless.

Several minutes went by, all of them restless as the sounds grew only louder.

"Skisch, stay with Nyma and Blue." Lance said abruptly, after a particularly loud yell. Something wasn't right.

"Lance- what are you—?"

"I'm going to go help."

"But--"

Lance didn't hear the rest of Nyma's protest, already exiting Blue into the water once more.

The first thing that came to Lance's mind when he found his way back into the palace was that three (frankly, a few sandwiches short of a picnic) mermaids had managed to - somewhat successfully - stage a full-on coup. Sure, Lance had helped, but the amount of chaos surrounding him was almost admirable considering he had met the ones behind it.

The guards were all rushing in one direction, so Lance followed, ducking behind the corner closest to the entrance.

There was a yell, all too recognisable, causing Lance's gut to twist sharply. Dread filled him as he moved as fast as he could towards the sound, jetpack helping in his movements.

There was another yell - no, a scream. The twist in Lance's gut tightened tenfold, just as he rounded the corner.

Roy was directly in front of the door, back to Lance as she held her ground. Judging by her movements, she was still brainwashed.

But that wasn't what worried Lance.

Olly was trying her hardest to hold her ground, grimace pulling at her features.

Lance had to physically grip the doorway to stop himself from reeling.

Because the water surrounding Olly was pink, the colour being swept around by the currents.

Lance was frozen, staring in mute horror. Olly caught his eye after a moment and gave a brave smile, though pain shone through her expression. She winced sharply as she leapt out of the way of an attack from Roy.

Roy pressed up against the wall, like a cat ready to pounce.

"How about—" Olly shouted, before breaking off with an audible wince. "You help?"

Lance shook himself out of his shock, launching at Roy and intercepting her before she reached Olly, pinning her arms to her side. She struggled in his grip, but Lance didn't relent. Instead, he pulled out the pufferfish, squeezing it directly in her face.

Olly immediately relaxed, drifting down to the ground. The pink trailed after her.

"Olly!" Roy shrieked, struggling in Lance's grip. He let go after a moment, and Roy shot to Olly's side. "Shit, shit, shit."