"Ngh..." Azul stirred away. He head was laid on Y/n's lap.

"Oh, hey, you're awake" Floyd smiled.

"Mhm. I'm glad..." Y/n smiled as Yuuna sighed in relief. The human had just finished healing everyone while Azul and Y/n were in memory lane.

"Azul, how many fingers am I holding up?" Jade asked, showing his fingers in Azul's view.

"Er...Eight?" Azul replied.

"Still in shock, it seems" Jade nodded. "But your blot-induced rampage has subsided at last"

"That little tantrum you threw really put us through the wringer, y'know" Leona crossed his arms, clicking his tongue.

"uh, Leona, I'm not sure you get to say that," Ruggie and Yuuna said in unison, eyeing the lion who only looked away.

"What did I...do?" Azul asked, looking around before he sat up.

"You overused your magic and overblotted, little Octopus" Y/n said, wrapping his wings around Azul to give him the warmth he craved for so long.

"You don't remember it?" asked Jade.

"You were sucking everybody's magic dry left and right, bawlin', 'Give me your poweeer!'" Floyd explained in a playful tone. "It was the cringiest thing I've ever seen. I'm still not over it" he huffed.

"Oh, no...Me, going berserk? I don't believe this..." Azul spoke in disbelief.

"Hey, I can't exactly blame a guy for gettin' bent outta shape when something you've been building up for years gets ruined" Ruggie stated. "I mean, if someone broke the coin bank I've been saving my money in, I'd hold a grudge for life"

"But all those shady business dealings gotta stop. You oughta learn from this" Grim spoke, crossing his arms.

Jack perked an eyebrow at Grim. "How about you guys learn not to coast through exams using someone else's notes?!" he shouted.

"I'll still amazed Grim got an 85, actually" Yuuna admitted.

"Indeed. You sure are amazing, little octopus. You'll be such a good king with the rest" Y/n hummed in delight.

"....what?" Azul blinked.

"Y'know, it's true. One all-nighter reading that study guide you wrote was enough to bag me over a 90 on my exams" Ace smiles sheepishly.

"Yeah" Deuce nodded his head. "It was seriously on point"

"I heard from the headmaster that you wrote that guide yourself, analyzing a whole century's worth of test question trends" Jack stated. "I'm still not okay with your shady practices, but your work took serious guts. That much I'll admit"

"Hmph" a bittersweet smile appeared on his face. "Your clumsy attempts at consolation aren't helping me in the last" he pouted.

"Fufufu, what's wrong my little octo-twerp?" Y/n teased.

"Are you gettin' teary-eyed, Azul?" Floyd joined in on the teasing.

"Dear me." Jade sighed. "You've got back to that ink-spewing crybaby again"

"Hey! Stop teasing me, angelfish!" Azul huffed before turning to the twins. "You two signed an NDA covering that exact topic!" he snapped.

"Right you are. My mistake" Jade smiled.

"Fufufufu" Y/n giggled.

"Oh yeah, that reminds me...Here's that photo of Prince Rielle you asked for" Yuuna said, taking out the photo from her bra.

"We got ahold of it. The sun hasn't set yet. I think that seals our victory" Jack grinned.

"What's this?" Leona asked, snatching the photo from Yuuna's hands. "It's just some picture of a buncha mermen fingerlings huddled in front of a camera"

"Is it some kinda group photo of an elementary school class?" Ruggie questioned. "What'd you want it for, anyway?"

"Aha ah, that takes me back!" Floyd chuckled, looking at the photo. "This is a picture from our school field trip. Me 'n Jade are right here" he pointed to the cute eels. "Aaand...See he kid sulking way off in the corner?" he asked, pointing to the octopus merfolk. "That's baby Azul!"

Y/n let out a gasp when she saw the picture. "AWW AZUL IS SO CUTE!" she fangirled.

"What?!" everyone else exclaimed, crowding around to see baby Azul.

"AAAH!!! No!" Azul cried, blushing in embarrassment. "Don't look! Please don't look!" he shouted, trying to grab the photo.

"Well well, Azul. You sure are spirited all of a sudden." Jade grinned. "Shouldn't you get a little more sleep? Considering how far things have already gone, it would be easier for you to let this one go"

"Let's see here" Ace muttered.

"What's in the corner...?" asked Leona.

"Are you talkin' about the octopus who's more rounded than any of the mer-kids, even holding the pic at an angle?" asked Ruggie.

"Whoa, Azul! I never knew you used to look like that!" Grim wondered.

"Aw. He's so cute and round" Yuuna fangirled as well.

"Right?! MY AZUL WAS SUCH A CUTIE" Y/n squealed. "MARRY ME!" she pleaded.

"AAAaaaaAAAaaaaaAAAAaaaah!!" Azul's face turned more red as he buried his face in his palms, completely embarrassed by his soulmate calling him cute and the sudden marriage proposal. "Angelfish, please!" he muffled.

Leona bonked Y/n head, causing her to pout. "Lioness, no need to propose. You're already going to marry that punk anyways" eh pouted.

"I...I get it. I totally get what you're feeling" Deuce comforted the embarrassed octopus. "Everyone's got a past they wish they could erase! I saw nothing! Neither did the rest of you, okay?! Never speak of this again!"

"Never pegged you as this, uh...passionate" mumbled Jack.

"Aaargh..." Azul whined. "I was going to expand the Mostro Lounge with a branch cafe and simultaneously erase the shame of my boyhood...and be with angelfish. It was supposed to be the perfect plan! Two birds with one stone!"

"Hey, you know what they say: a rabbit in hand is worth two in the bush" chuckled Ruggie.

"I got my schoolmates' yearbooks and the negative from the photographer...I succeeded in laying claim to every single old photo of me through a whole web of deals" Azul complained. "But they're just wasn't any legal way to dispose of that one last photo"

"That doesn't mean it's cool to make other people do your dirty work for you!" Grim scolded.

"why? I do it all that time" Y/n said, tilting her head in confusion.

"That's because you're a monarch, [nickname]" Yuuna mumbled, sweatdropping a bit.

"I don't see the big deal, really. I like the old Azul" Floyd grinned. "He'd make a better meal than the on we've got now"

"Floyd, don't mention any-!" Yuuna tried to stop Floyd but was interrupted. "Octo-sashimi...." Y/n drooled.

"That's not the point at all!" shouted Azul.

"You don't have to be that hung up on hiding it. You put in an incredible amount of work. Even [nickname] admired your constant diligence" Yuuna complimented, trying to ease the mood.

Azul sniffed a bit. "This is the worst. I could crawl into an octopus pot right now..."

"Ah! You still one of those?!" Y/n turned her head towards Azul with a crack. "You look so precious and cute when you were a kid! Can I watch you crawl in one?!"

"ANGELFISH, STOP IT!" Azul cried in embarrassment as he tried to hide his flushed face with his hat.

"Anyway," Jack butted in, as Yuuna held Y/n back by her gold chain that wrapped around her waist, to uh, protect Azul from Y/n fangirling. "We held up our end of the deal and brought the photo to you within the deadline you gave us. We've completely fulfilled your terms"

"Yeah. Real shame about the contracts gettin' sanded before we did" Grim sighed.

"But stealing just doesn't sit right with me. Azul, you're a law-abiding sorta guy, right? Take some responsibility and return the picture back to where it belongs" Jack added.

"I'll go with you" Yuuna smiled.

"We can all return it together" Y/n added.

"Fine...But at least let me switch it out for a version where I've been edited out of the picture" Azul mumbled.

"Hah. You just don't know when to let something go" Leona shook his head.

"He's right, you know. Records are a valuable treasure" Jade said, agreeing with Leona.

"Ooh, field tip! When do we go? We're goin' as a group, right?" Floyd asked. "I haven't been to the Atlantica Memorial Museum since our elementary school field trip. This is gonna rule!"

Grim began sniffling the floor, looking for a certain stone.

"Hm? Yo, Grim. What are you sniffling at the ground for?" asked Ace.

"My groumet hunting instincts are tellin' me..." Grim continued sniffing. "...that there's a pitch black treat as delectable as a truffle around here!"

Grim finally found it. "Myah! There it it- a black stone!" he cheered. "There's no foolin' gourmet hunter Grim's nose!"

"A...black stone?" Leona questioned as the females sweatdropped, knowing exactly when Grim was gonna do next.

"Time to chow down! HOMPH!" Grim cheered before stuffing the stone into his mouth. "Mmm...It's rich, with a briny punch like salted squid-guts...This would drive any discerning gourmand wild! Seriously top-tier stuff!"

"Really? You're eating off the ground AGAIN?" Deuce asked in disgust.

"Feels like a waste of breath to even tell him to stop at this point. There's just no accounting for a monster's palate" Ace said, shaking his head.

Leona grew quite as he crossed his arms. "Hey. Does that raccoon always pick up black stones off the ground and eat them?" he asked.

"Not constantly, but..." Yuuna mumbled.

"Grim can be such a glutton sometimes" Y/n continued.

"Something wrong, Leona?" asked Jack.

"Nah. Don't mind me" Leona answered

.

"There's no place like home, and this is as close as I'll get to one in this world" Yuuna smiled, feeling nostalgic at the feeling of the dorm's icy air.

"It's nice to see my masterpiece once again" Y/n smiled.

"Ah. You've returned...with Y/n?" a voice called out. It was Malleus. "Who would have ever expected you to win a bet with Ashengrotto?" he grinned. "For as doe-eyed as you look, you're quite the schemer"

"Haha..." Y/n let out a nervous chuckle.

"Your advice got me there, Tsunotaro" Yuuna bowed in a thank you.

"Ara ara? Horny gave you some advice?" asked Y/n who teased Malleus. Yuuna slapped her hand over Y/n mouth.

"Stop with that horrible nickname!" Yuuna whined as Y/n let out a muffled laugh.

Malleus eyes widen a bit at Yuuna's sudden gesture towards his fiance, but let out a sigh when she tried to stop his lover from calling him weird nicknames...again. "I wasn't trying to offer some cryptic clue or the like. Heh. in any case, I'm glad to know this icy garden will remain beautiful and quiet." he smiled.

"Ashengrotto's calm features contouring in frustration must have been quite the sight. Would that I could have been a fly on the wall." Malleus chuckled, hiding his sadistic side from Yuuna, but Y/n new all to well when her beloved means.

"Mm...it seems I had best be returning to my dorm now." Malleus smiled, walking closer to Y/n and kissed her forehead. "I bid you two a good night"

Malleus then teleported away leaving fireflies behind.

"Fufufu, Yuuna. Go back inside. After all, it's betting late" Y/n advised.

"A-alright. Excuse me!" she ran back to Amaryllis with a sleeping Grim in her arms, where he was there at the whole time.

Just before Y/n headed inside, she heard two familiar voices.

"Well? Is he here?" Silver questioned.

"No, I don't believe he's present in the vicinity" Sebek sighed.

"Perhaps he's near the western schoolhouse" Silver suggested.

"How could you go on an excursion unescorted?!" Sebek snapped. "This is your fault for taking your eyes off of him, Silver!"

"Ara ara, Sebek. Malleus isn't a child anymore"

"Mistress Y/n!" Silver and Sebek bowed down in respect.

"Are you guys looking for Mal-Mal?" Y/n asked.

"Indeed, your majesty. But I personally think that Sebek is worried to an inordinate degree" Silver shook his head.

"It won't be so inordinate if something happens to him. You must never replax, even for a second!" Sebek snapped. "Or do you not understand the gravity of your duty as guardsman?! You are lucky that he, Lilia, and Y/n took you in and raised you despite your humanity. Don't you dare forget!"

Silver let out a sigh. "I think we're getting off track...we're sorry for bothering you, your majesty. We'll take out leave now" Silver said and dragged Sebek away.

"Oi! Wait! I'm not finished yet!" Sebek yelled in the distance as Y/n let out a chuckle.

"Hehe. I'm glad those two never change" Y/n smiled as she teleported herself to her room and went asleep.

Y/n got ready to go to the Altantica Memorial Museum again, wearing a winter dress for the occasion. After all, it was like a little date with Azul.

Y/n then heard knocks from the door below. "Anya, may you get the door?" she asked.

"Yes, m'lady" Anya's shadow moved away from Y/n's shadow as he went to great the guests.

Anya shifted to his humanoid form and opened the door, seeing Jade and Floyd. "Ah yes, Lady Y/n has been expected you two to arrive" he greeted.

"I see. Who might you be?" Jade asked.

"I am Anya. One of Y/n's familiars. It's a pleasure to meet you" Anya grinned, being all gentlemen-like.

"Pleasure is all ours, Anya" Jade nodded. Anya then lead the twins inside of the palace and towards the stairway.

"Morning, Little Shrimpy, Baby Seal, Angelfish!" Floyd called out. "We're here to get you. It's time to go!"

Anya grumbled about how disrespectful towards his Mistress, but he kept his anger hidden.

Y/n descended the stairs with Yuuna behind her, wearing beautiful dresses for the Museum, as Grim was in Yuuna's arms as pure usual

"Erk!" Grim flinched when he saw the twins. "Whenever I see you two, I'm always worried you're schemin' something. Makes mt heart skip a beat"

"Please. We would never dream of getting rough with those who ain't in breach of contract" Jade stated. "The weather's quite clear today- perfect for an outing. On that note..."

"Off we go to the Atlantica Memorial Museum!" Floyd and Yuuna cheered, pumped their fist in the air, having a cute moment.

"Fufufu. Azul's arranged it so that we'll have the whole museum booked for ourselves. He's already gone ahead and it waiting for us on-site" Jade informed them

"That picture had better go back where it belongs" Y/n ordered.

"You're takin' this so seriously, Angelfish! We get it, don't worry." Floyd teased. "Now, time's a-wasitin'!"

Y/n was back in her Levia mermaid form when she walked into the mirror that lead to the Coral Sea.

"Duuude! WILD. So this is what's it's like inside" Ace awed.

"There's a staue of a legendary Sea King. Huh." Deuce looked around in amazement. "I guess there're more famous figures around these parts than just the Sea Witch"

Y/n smiled towards a statue of the great dragon spirit of water, Leviathan, feeling some warmth when near the statue of her ancestor.

"Wow. That king's pretty ripped" Jack stated.

"Welcome, everyone, to the Atlantica Memorial Museum" Azul greeted, approaching everyone. "The Mostro Lounge will be holding a study tour today. Or at least, that's the purpose of our visit on paper. Regardless, I bid you take your time and enjoy yourselves" he smiled. He turned to Y/n and hugged her. "You look beautiful in your Levia form, angelfish" he blushed.

"Fufufu, thank you, Azul" Y/n smiled.

"There you are, octo-tentacle Azul!" Grim yelled. "Only...you're not. Are you just stayin' in human form?"

"Yes. Betentacled mermen like myself aren't common around these parts." Azul stated. "I wouldn't want to draw nay undue attention to myself when our job is to return a photo on the sly"

"I see no reason to be concerned" Jade grinned. "No one would see the cute chubby little merman in the picture and connect that it's you"

"It wouldn't hurt you any swim around in your real form on a trip home!" Floyd said, swimming around Azul who was hugging Y/n. "Why limit yourself to two legs when you can have eight?"

"Hmph. Just drop it, please" Azul sighed. "I'm going to slip the photo back in its spot. The rest of you, feel free to explore the museum."

"Hey, check it out. There's display for the mermaid princess' silver hair comb" Floyd said, gesturing towards the artifact.

"A fork?" questioned Yuuna.

"I saw a picture of that in the pamphlet before. That's clearly a fork, no comb, right?" questioned Ace.

"Heh heh heh..." Jade chuckled. "Maybe that's how it looks to you land-dwellers"

"You're not joining them, angelfish?" Azul asked Y/n.

"I'm just a little worried about you" Y/n let out a close-eyed smile.

"No need to be suspicious of me, angelfish. I'll put it back right now" Azul sighed as he walked to the display the photo was supposed to be, with Y/n following him. "...I thought that if I could erase every photo of my past...I could erase my past itself- my youth spent mocked as a slow, dimwitted octo-twerp. The Sea Witch never kid her past misdeeds. She worked to restore her reputation and earned the people's respect that way. I kept saying I wanted to to be like her...But in the end, I couldn't accept my own past. I kept rejecting it."

"You're got a far greater power than magic, you know," Y/n said, placing her hands behind her back.

"What..." a blush appeared on Azul's cheek.

"Diligence is way harder to master than magic. It takes great skill after all" Y/n smiled, reaching to his hands. "Your incredible diligence is so rare, it left the headmaster at a lost" she chuckled.

"You...you think?" Azul mumbled. "Heh. You needn't try so hard to butter me up. All I wanted to do was get back at the kids who made fun of me" he then pulled Y/n closer to him. "Besides, I know have you as my soulmate..." he kissed her lips as she kissed backed. "I love you so much, angelfish"

"I love you too, my octo-twerp" she chuckled as Azul let out a cute pout.

"Hey, Y/n!" Grim called out. "You wouldn't believe the size of the dinosaur bones they had back there!"

"That wasn't a dinosaur. It was s sea dragon- a type of undersea monster similar to Levia-fae" Jade informed Grim. "The Sea Witch's cave entrance was built out of sea dragon bones...or so the tales claim"

"They've got a replica of the Sea Witch's cauldron, too" Floyd pointed out.

"Really?" questioned Deuce. "They have cauldrons under the sea, too?"

"This is so cool!" Yuuna had sparkles in her eyes.

"How do you heat things up in the water, anyway?" asked Ace.