It took all my willpower just to let the water take me. The darkness settling deeper under my skin, as the rapids dragged me under. Then, as quickly as it had begun, it was all gone. And I nearly stumbled when I suddenly found myself standing. I was … on the deck of the Seacow, my hand still clasping those of Xania and Qasven.

When I looked up, I saw that they, Raathgur, and Tab had woken with me. All returned and carrying heavy expressions like my own. The five of us all looked between one another with the same sort of sudden awareness. Dried tears stained our faces.

And in the distance, an infinite stretch of land.

We ... were home.

We all moved to embrace one another. Our pieces of the World had deemed us all worthy to pass through the Fog. Now and forever.

Suddenly, I felt the slightest hint of touch around my elbow. I looked down to see a final tendril of the fog wrapping around my arm. I opened my hand in intangible embrace before it slipped away.

I then turned, smiled and said, “Thank you all,” my eyes were already misty.

“Enjoy being with your family,” Qasven said. "It has been an honor having you as my apprentice."

"And you as my teacher," I said genuinely, emotions welling up inside of me.

"And as my comrade," Raathgur said, extending his hand.

I took it and nodded firmly at him.

Xania was the last to speak, seeming smaller than herself. In as quiet a voice as she dared, she said, "And ... as my Clover."

My eyes misted, and I had to force myself not to blurt out something in reply. Instead, I managed to get control of my emotions and said, "Can we talk, Xania? I mean ... when I am finished saying goodbye to Captain Tab?"

Xania seemed a little surprised by my response, but nodded.

I looked around, but Tab was now on the ground, having slid down Raathgur's chiseled body. She looked up and beckoned me to join her.

I did so, crouching to let my legs dangle over the water.

Tab climbed the bit of shirt between my breasts to use as a hammock.

As we watched the sun set on our adventure, I took a deep breath, trying to work up a certain amount of courage. "Can I ask you about something, Captain?" I finally said, my chest beating heavily.

Tab looked up at me with a lazy stare, but then turned back to face the sunset. "After this ... I don't want to miss this moment."

I nodded, the answer making me feel ... oddly settled for the time being. I decided to relax into the quiet, catching the sea wind between my toes.

"I learned something in the Mist," Tab said, like she'd been musing something for a while.

I raised an eyebrow, having already been deeply curious.

"Apparently, this whole adventure was a sort of ... symbolic porn parody of a dusty old book they make you read in college." Tab said this like she couldn't believe the gall of something so corny.

My expression fell flat at the fact that she had only now realized. But then I shook my head and asked, "Aren't we ... supposed to be enjoying the sunset?"

Right, right," Tab said, not sounding guilty for the matter in the least.

Another quiet moment passed, but I was now entirely distracted by Tab's grand revelation. And after everything I’d gone through, all Tab had learned was that this whole mess was based on another story. Kinda bullshit, if you asked me. .

I sighed and muttered, "Could have been worse, I guess." I glanced up at the last lights of the sun casting dark purple arcs over the horizon.

"Oh?" Tab asked.

I nodded, "At least it wasn't Moby Dick."

Tab furrowed her brow. "Wasn't that just ... a bunch of dudes hunting a whale for way too long?"

I shrugged. “Depends who you ask. Some people say it’s about obsession. Some say it’s about man versus nature. Personally, I think it’s mostly several hundred pages of horned-up sailors having very complicated feelings about whale fluids.”

Tab just stared at me. “… that’s really what's it about? The famous one, that they teach in schools?”

“One of the most respected in English literature,” I said with another sigh. "Why else do you think they were going after Moby's Dick?"

Tab said. "Wow ... it just goes to show. There's a little harmless BDSM ... and then there's the classical works of American literature."

I nodded in agreement, "I'd drink to that."

Tab nodded, finally pulling her gaze away from the night sky. "So ... what was it you wanted to ask me about?"

-O-

It was a few more days before the Seacow arrived at a port not far from the Other Place. From there, I bid farewell to my crew and continued home on foot. As accustomed as I’d become to the sea, it was still a welcome familiarity being back on land.

So I walked quietly, strolling unnoticed through the Other Place. From there, I made to the first Temple of Kavtagro, where I had first entered this world. As I paused to reminisce, I saw a familiar satyr-god sitting between gargoyles on the roof, waving at me.

All this time ... and Kavtagro was still waiting to make sure I made it home safely.

I drew in a long breath, ready to make good on my promise. “Shove it up your fist-gaped ass, you filthy cum-guzzling, disease-ridden feckless excuse for a slut!” I shouted, leaving myself entirely winded by the last word.

Kavtagro put a hand on his heart and smiled gently. “I love you too, Lilly, you sweet pain in my ass.”

I smiled, feeling love for the deity in turn.

From there, I made it back to the University, where I stopped in to see the Director, Miss Frostberry, and Professor Ozgrub. Apparently, they had already sent search parties for us. Even Jagras, at the Other Place had. And I loved them for that.

From there, finally, I made my way home.

-O-

It was early evening as I stepped into the three-room house that had become my home. Everything looked … almost exactly as it had before the storm. I stepped to each of my partners' beds, lifted their blankets, and breathed them in.

Of course, it wasn’t exactly the same as if they had been standing there, but it filled me with an unexplainable warmth. They would be back … and I would be okay, even if I had to be alone for now.

I then stepped in something that hadn’t noticed on my way in, a wet trail along the floor. My eyes lighting up, I ran out the door and toward the beach.

Zolreya’s boathouse was still standing after the storm. The door was open, but I saw nobody inside. Just as I began to walk away, I saw a familiar seahorse-like tail rise over the water.

Without thinking, I ran straight into the water and dove in. I swam deeper into the ocean, looking around under the dark waters. Then I saw her.

Zolreya.

I opened my arms just in time to catch her in an embrace. With her arms over mine, Zolreya squeezed my head as tightly as she could into her chest.

Being a bit thicker than the long and frail sea-horse mermaid, I had to be a bit gentler in my own hugs and squeezes. Still under the water, I desperately needed to breathe by this point. But I was putting it off as long as possible to make the moment last.

To my surprise, however, Zolreya reached over her shoulder and revealed a golden trident. In an instant, I could see under the water infinitely more clearly and breathe into … magical bubbles around my nostrils.

“You learned magic!” I said, my words somehow perfectly clear even in the water. By this point I was almost laughing with happiness.

“Lilly, you just jumped into the sea!" Zolreya said, like she couldn't believe it. "You’re not terrified!”

We pulled together into a passionate kiss–the magic bubble melting away.

I began to kiss down her long and elegant neck. Of course, I had to return up every little bit to get air from her mouth. But by how Zolreya was smiling self-assuredly each time, I think she was enjoying the arrangement of obliged kisses.

I was as well.

-O-

A few hours later, Zolreya and I found ourselves lying in each other’s arms, on the beach. It was night now, and I was again glad for the supernatural warmth of this world. I curled my arm beneath me like a pillow.

Warm waves sporadically washed over us as looked into one another’s eyes.

As special as the moment was, I couldn’t help but remember the final vision that Qasven had showed me in the magic pool. Of a world in which Zolreya had left our family forever. Not knowing how else to bring it up, I just decided to go for it as best I could.

“I know that I’ve been in a difficult place,” I began to say, trying to find the right words to show that I understood now that not everybody’s actions were all about me. “But if you ever need space, or you need more, or even if you just need to talk … I want you to know that ... I'm here.”

Zolreya glanced away for a moment, and then took a deep breath. After a few moments, she replied, “I’ll admit, things have been a little hard. Not with you or with anyone else but …” She sighed, seeming to have difficulty finding the words.

I just nodded and took her hand in mine. I was happy to wait as long as she needed.

Finally, Zolreya faced me again. “I guess … before the storm … I had been feeling like I wasn’t worth having around? Like my desires were selfish and cruel.”

I lifted an eyebrow, not sure what she could possibly mean by ‘desires’.

Zolreya sighed and continued to explain. “You know … with you being afraid of water … and me having to stay in the water. Well, before I had this trident, anyways.”

I gently squeezed her hand and replied, “I’ve been working on my aquaphobia. Even if I was ... kind of forced to ... with the whole being dragged out to sea thing. But even if that hadn’t been the case, you’re worth it to me.”

Zolreya smiled a little at this but then looked down nervously. “I … I’ve been afraid to tell you what you mean to me and what I would like … us … to be. And that was crushing me; I felt terrible and even thought about going-” Zolreya stopped before she said where.

Of course, I didn’t need her to tell me that she had thought of going away. I would tell her later about that part of my travels. For now, I knew that the important thing was to listen. “It’s okay,” I said and brought her slender fingers to my lips. I kissed them and said, “What do you want us to be?”

Zolreya swallowed and reached down to a small pouch at her side. She reached in, squeezed her eyes shut, and then pulled her hand back up. Between her fingers, she held a small ring. The base was made of what looked like pink shell, and the top was a simple pearl.

My heart began to race and I felt my heart begin to dance in my chest.

“I … would like it if you were my wife … and I yours,” Zolreya said, her words barely coming through.

“That would make me very happy,” I replied, happy tears already sliding down my face.

Zolreya seemed a bit concerned at first, but then softly smiled. She put the ring on my finger and then held my adorned hand. "Now we can stay here, forever. Put all of these terrible events behind us."

For the first time since I'd made it back to the continent, I felt like my heart had dropped into my stomach.

Clearly noticing, Zolreya touched my face. "Lilly ... what's wrong?"

I swallowed. "Zolreya ... I ... I like being a pirate. And ... I like that I've gotten another chance to become a full sorcerer."

Taking her hand, I turned onto my back to look up to the stars. "I love my crew. And this is ... the first I've felt like I was doing something that really felt like me. I love you. But ... I spoke to my Captain and ... we're going to be real pirates."

Zolreya didn't seem to know how to handle this, other than to force a smile. Just like ... what I had done ... for far too long. It hurt me to see it, but I also knew that I had to let her figure it out in her own time.

"I still want to marry you," I said, taking her hand to try to reassure her. "But ... wouldn't it be fun to have a pirate-wife?"

Zolreya smiled ... and gave her best attempt at a happy nod.

-O-

It was afternoon, many days later, when I heard something that sounded almost like … a helicopter.

I stepped out of Zolreya’s boathouse and saw some monstrous thing crashing from the sky. It looked … almost like a metal whale—with a single spinning blade in the back.

I didn’t have time to get much of a better look before it had crashed into the ground. I ran over, equal parts concerned and confused. Soon, I found myself standing over a pile of metal wreckage of unknown origin.

The metal began to shuffle, and a familiar set of massive two-fingered hands pried the bits of wreckage apart, enough to fit in a crowbar to tear it the rest of the way.

Then I saw Namali, standing up and dusting herself off. Wearing clothes out of some dystopian sci-fi that made me realize that I still had no idea what story Kavtagro had put her through.

But that didn't matter.

Without saying a word, I jumped into her arms.

Namali caught me and pulled me into her chest while I wrapped my legs around her.

After a moment, we pulled apart and kissed, deeply. Her muscular arms keeping me safe in her grasp.

Zolreya wasn’t far behind—also quite ready to embrace us both.

-O-

Another two months passed before the day finally came that there was a knock at the door. Namali, Zolreya, and I had been in bed together in the early morning. Something only possible because of Zolreya's new magic.

I froze when I saw Daava and Aamalyn standing in the doorway—both geared with elegant weapons and armor that they must have picked up on their journeys.

Over their shoulders, I just barely looked in time to see two giant eagles with ball-gags take off into the air.

Immediately, Aamalyn and I knelt—as we were accustomed—so that she, Daava, and I could embrace one another. Then, before I knew what exactly was happening, Daava was putting her tongue as far into my mouth as possible. Sending us both spilling to the ground, with our tongues intermingling.

At least until a very familiar bare foot wedged itself between our mouths. “Don’t be selfish,” Aamalyn said, arching her eyebrow at Daava.

“Fine!” Daava said with a mischievous smile, pulling away.

I kissed Aamalyn's foot before standing to go for her mouth. While Daava held us both by the waists.

It wasn’t long before Zolreya was there too with her many tentacles around us. And, finally, Namali, lifting us all up into her powerful arms.

At long last, we were all together again.

-O-

Standing on the dock, again just outside of the Other Place, I reflected on the strangeness I was feeling. After a month of shore-leave, I was again waiting for the Seacow to pick me up. I'd said my goodbyes ... but they didn't really feel like goodbyes anymore. More like ... another chance to say hello.

"Lilly, you bimbo!" shouted a magically-amplified voice I'd already missed.

I turned to see Tab, Raathgur, Qasven, and Xania all walking toward me. They all seemed as happy as I felt, that we were all finally back together.

I looked around for the Seacow, but it was nowhere in sight. "I ... thought you said you'd meet me at the East docks," I said, a bit confused.

"This is West, dear apprentice," Qasven said and then gave a theatrical sigh. "It seems you'll need a spell for basic cardinal directions."

Yeah ... admittedly ... I probably would.

"Of course, you don't have to just stick with magic," Raathgur said. He reached over his shoulder and produced a long staff. Tossing it to me, he said, "You'll need to learn to fight so you don't get knocked out senseless during our next raid."

I looked at it and smiled ... telling myself that this was one step away from a pirate's saber.

"But if you do get into trouble," Xania said, placing a hand to the small of my back and pulling me into her. "That will be okay too. It's like I told you, I won't ever let anyone take my pet away from me."

Xania pressed her lips against mine. I pulled my arms tightly around her head, returning the kiss with fiery passion.

"Okay, okay, enough smooching," Tab said, without too much conviction.

I pulled away from Xania with a helpless giggle and said, "Yes, Captain."

"We can all have a nice fuck when we're back onboard," Captain Tab said, beckoning us to begin walking back to where the ship was docked. But as we walked, she faced me again and said, "Lilly ... are you ready to become a scourge of the Wild Seas?"

A smile already creeping up the sides of my mouth, I shrugged and replied, "Fuck it, why not?"