Echo needed a moment to take everything in. The kids had sat him down, explained everything from start to finish. From the moment Icarus fell into the pool to the moment Haru was crowned king. It was so much information at once he felt his brain melting. But the buzzing excitement of the fact he could finally go back home and he finally knew his daughter was ok was keeping his brain from exploding.

"So we're right? Right? That the liberty sunk because of the pod?" Aries asked.

"Yeah, you're pretty spot on. I knew the crew because we went to the same fishing club. I wasn't super close with them but we did go in several fishing trips together, hence that photo you found. It actually wasn't me that exposed the pod, but I was there. One of the kids at the time got splashed on the docks by some idiot teenagers on a jet ski and fell in. The crew went to jump in after him thinking this little human kids might down. But as soon as they got to the edge of the docks and saw the tail... it was over in that moment. I was there, I had to act quick and get the kid out of there before he could be hurt so I jumped in too and swam back to the spirit pool with him where we were all hiding out at the time..." Echo explained.

"And the crew went all monster hunter mode?" Icarus asked.

"Yep. The second they saw our tails they put two and two together. All the people that suddenly moved in a few years back seemingly out of nowhere, the aversion to water we showed, the extensive knowledge of the sea... it all clicked. We knew the second that happened he had to leave. We didn't know where to go though, so for a few months we were all just laying low around town and planning an escape. The crew confronted me about what they saw, wanted to turn me into some kind of government organisation for money. I knew if I stayed with Lucy and Icarus they'd get hurt, I wouldn't put it past the crew to break into the house and try and kidnap me and potentially the girls..." Echo explained.

The group figured some kind of altercation happened, and seemed they were right about almost everything. All the missing pieces were falling into place now.

"So, I ran. We all did. I have no idea how but the crew caught wind of when we planned to leave and went after us, tried to catch some of us. So we sunk the boat, we had to. It was all we could to go escape. After that I never found out what happened to them" Echo said.

"They left. The boat wasn't licensed so they skipped town to avoid fines or jail. That's why the wreck is still there, they didn't pay the remove it" Zagreus said.

"I wonder if they gave up on everything or if they're still looking for Merfolk out there somewhere" Pandora pondered.

"Whatever the case I'm glad they're gone. They went from nice to willing to literally sell me to science for money at the drop of a hat. Before I left though I made sure I left something for Icarus just in case she ended up with the mermaid gene. But you all already know that part if she's sitting right here with my ring and a tail" Echo said.

So they finally had the story. They knew they were onto something with that wreck, it all made sense now. But they still had some questions.

"So you guys have been island hopping ever since?" Aries asked.

"Yeah, it was all we could do. We needed to be near land to access clean water and to cook food. We've basically been camping for the past decade" Echo asked.

"And where's the others?" Icarus asked.

"On Trigg island at the moment, I'm a drone. I swim ahead to make sure there's no danger before we move"

So that's why he was the only one here. Everything made so much sense now, the group felt like all their questions had been answered.

"Tell you what, take this" Aries said, taking off the Nyxite necklace they'd found after the hurricane "use this as proof we're being serious and actually exist. We would follow to the pod but these guys have parents that still don't know they're mermaids, and have to get back soon. Explain everything to them, I'll go back ti Izroulia tonight and tell Haru we found you. We can meet up again and organise moving back home"

Echo took the necklace, eager to pass on the message and get everyone back to Izroulia where they were meant to be.

"I'll do that, and Icarus-" Echo began.

Icarus looked up at her dad, despite being 19 now Echo could still see the 5 year old he left saw in her eyes.

"We should tell your mum everything now we're safe"

"I was thinking that. I'll see when she's got time off work and we can take her to the spirit pool, explain everything" Icarus replied.

With all the details sorted, and plans to meet up again, they had to part ways and get back home before it was too dark. After a long, tight hug and a million 'I promise I'll see you again's from the reunited family members, they headed back home.

Saying goodbye for the day to the others, Aries went straight to Izroulia and practically ran into the castle. Past the guards who knew them at this point and didn't stop them, up the stairs and into Haru's office. He was still up, finishing some paperwork before going to bed. He looked a bit messed up, clearly having been busy.

"Oh hey" he said.

"What happened to you?" Aries snickered.

"Had to seduce Micha out of his history cave, he'd drive himself stir crazy otherwise"

Aries rolled their eyes and shook their head. Typical of the boys. But that wasn't the focus right now, the pod was. They excitedly slammed their hands on the desk and leaned in.

"143. There's 143 of them" Aries smiled.

Immediately catching on, Haru looked up at them in awe.

"You found them?" He replied.

"We found them. Including Icarus' dad. He confirmed it, 143 survivors. And all our guesses about what happened were right, we're meeting up again and organising how they'll all get home"

"Fuck I hope there's enough room for 143-"

"We might need a few more houses. But some of that number are kids and such who still live with parents. So it's not like we'll need 143 individual houses"

Haru didn't know what to say, 143 survivors? That was way more than they thought. And the number would go up over the years as they had kids, so any worries about merfolk being completely extinct in a century or so was squashed. That was definitely enough to keep the species and their culture alive.

"Fucking hell. Ok I'll get in it ASAP, and congratulations. You guys have done amazing working this all out" Haru smiled.

"Thanks, I'm just glad I'm not the only one left anymore" Aries smiled.

This was a big moment in the reclaiming of Izroulia and it deserved to be celebrated as soon as the pod was back, Haru knew that the people would be throwing festivals all week when the offical announcement came out. He was glad they were alive and could come home to their own land. But before he and Aries got carried away planning all night, he had one extra thing to ask before he forgot.

"By the way before I forget, can you do me a favour?" Haru spoke up.

Aries shrugged, why not? He'd done so much for them they should return that.

"Sure, what is it?" They asked.

"Find me a Ruby, the kind that come from the sea and form under all the pressure from the water"

"Oof, might be a bit hard but sure. Why do you need a Ruby all of a sudden?"

Haru couldn't help but smile to himself thinking about his plan.

"I'm turning it into a ring for Micha" he announced.

Aries almost got whiplash they turned to fast to look at their childhood friend.

"You're fucking PROPOSING?" They exclaimed.

"Shhhhh! Don't say it so loud. Yes I am, keep it secret" Haru replied.

"I knew this was coming soon, I could feel it. Done deal I'll find a Ruby"

"Thank you. You're in the wedding party by the way, the best man slash maid of honour type role. If that's ok with you that is?"

"Fuck yeah dude. Just don't expect me to make a speech I'll probably die of public speaking fright"

Haru shook his head and snickered, expected of the siren. They could sing lure calls for people but not do a basic announcement.

"Deal. Just sing for us at the party, no excuses you're a siren. You have the voice for it" Haru said.

"Hmm- fine. Give me a list of songs when you're planning" Aries replied.

"Deal. Keep this on the down low, the other merfolk can know so they can help you find that Ruby but no one else ok?"

"Can do. Look at you, all grown up and and stuff. A king, soon to be married, taller than me you bastard"

Haru snickered. Aries was always pissed off a that he outgrew them, Haru used to be the short one of the duo, but as a pre-teen shot up like a beanstalk. That was just dragon genetics, all dragons were super tall.

"How's it feel being short for a siren?" Haru teased.

"Shut the fuck up- I'm AVERAGE you literal giant. Bet that's why Micha likes you, everything about you is bigger than average" Aries sassed.

"That probably has something to do with it, yes"