Jasper approached the Cafe, with Carly already giving him a 'don't even bother asking' look.

"Relax, I'm not here to ask for my job back." He says.

"Good, because you know what the answer would be." Carly responds.

"So can I get a juice?" Jasper asks.

"Take a seat. I'll be with you when I can." She says as she enters the Cafe, not even looking in Jasper's direction as she does so.

Cam, who was watching and hearing their conversation, walked over to Jasper. "That might take a while." He says.

"I've got nothing else to do." Jasper responds.

"Where's Ondina?" Cam asks.

"I thought she'd be here. She must be swimming somewhere with Mimmi and Sirena."

"What about Manoa?"

"With Erik."

"You guys need some kind of sonar to keep track of each other."

"That would be handy."

"It's a pity you never saw the Trident. It had this stone that glowed whenever mermaids were around."

This immediately caught Jasper's attention. "The stone glowed?" He asked, "Not the Trident?"

"Yeah." Cam responds.

"And you saw this?"

"Yeah. Well, actually, I was kind of there when the Trident got broken."

"I thought the Trident was destroyed."

"Well, strictly speaking, no."

With this new information, Jasper called Erik and Zac, asking if they could meet up at his place. Zac said it was alright, but Erik wasn't too thrilled about it.

"Jasper, you know I'm out with Manoa right now. Can this wait?" Erik asked on the other end. "I haven't had the chance to hang out with her in a while."

"This won't be long." Jasper insists. "You can meet up with her after. Besides, this is kinda important."

After a pause and some sound from the other end Jasper couldn't make out, Erik finally responded. "Okay, fine. I'll be there in a few. You owe me for this."

He then hung up and the guys met up with Zac at his place.

"So I'm thinking it doesn't matter if the Trident is broken." Jasper starts, "It's the stone that's important. Remember how it glowed in the hologram in the Chamber?"

"So?" Zac asks.

"So, maybe the stone is all you need to activate it." Jasper says. "The next Full Moon is tomorrow night. Come on, Zac. If the three of us find the stone, we can do this."

"The mermaids took what was left of the Trident." Zac says. "My bet is that they would have destroyed it, including the stone."

"That might be for the best." Erik says.

"Are you kidding?" Jasper asks. "We don't know for sure. If there is the slightest chance we can get the Chamber up and running, we should take it. We've got to do it. We owe it to all mermen."

"No, we don't." Erik states. "We don't owe anything. We don't even know if it's safe to use. For all we know, the mermaids are right and it's dangerous."

"Erik's right." Zac adds. "I'm sorry... but as far as I'm concerned, the Trident is gone. You should move on."

"No." Jasper says, "If that stone's out there, I'm going to find it. With or without you guys."

With that, Jasper got up and left. Meanwhile, Zac and Erik met up with the girls at the Cafe.

"When the Trident got zapped, what did you do with the pieces?" Zac asks Sirena. "There was a stone in it, remember? Just like the one in the Moon Ring, but much bigger."

"How could I forget?" Sirena responds.

"What happened to it?" Erik asks.

"What was left of it, I hid." Sirena answers.

"The Trident wasn't destroyed?" Ondina asks.

"Why didn't you tell us?" Manoa adds.

"The Trident was broken." Sirena explains, "The stone wasn't active. There is nothing to worry about."

"Are you sure?" Zac asks. "We just... we need to know it's safe."

"Trust me, it is." Sirena says.

"The pod won't come back to Mako if there's any possibility the Chamber can be activated." Ondina states.

"When was the last time you checked it?" Erik asks.

Sirena remained silent and motioned for them to follow her, and she led them to the Grotto. Shen pulled a small container out of a chest and walked over with it.

"It's been in here the whole time?" Zac asks.

"I thought it was the safest place." Sirena says.

"And I agreed." Rita adds. "Not many people know what lies beneath my house."

Sirena then opened the container, revealing the stone. "It's okay. It's harmless now." She says, seeing Mimmi, Ondina, and Manoa's worried expressions. She then handed the stone to Mimmi to look at.

"It is like the Moon Ring stone." She says, passing it to Ondina.Manoa took it next, before passing it to Erik.

"It's hard to believe how much trouble that's caused." He adds before handing it back to Sirena.

"So, nothing to worry about." She says, "It's safe and sound." She then handed it to Zac, but when he held it, the stone glowed.

"Whoa." Was all he could say at that moment.

"What did you do to it?" Mimmi asks, standing up to get a closer look.

"I... I just touched it." Zac says.

Mimmi reached out to touch it, but when she did, there was a flash of light before she fell on the ground. On Rita's orders, Zac set the stone down and the girls helped Mimmi up.

"Mimmi, are you okay?" Sirena asks.

"I never want to feel like that again." The brunette mermaid responded. "It felt like the life was being sucked out of me."

"I'm so sorry." Zac says, "That has never happened before. It's only glowed around you guys, not me."

"You hadn't been through the seventh moon cycle before." Rita explains, "It's when your connection to Mako grew stronger. The stone seems to be connected to you. It's reaching out to you."

"That can't be good." Manoa says.

"Maybe the stone is the key to starting that place up." Zac realizes.

"And you just turned the stone on again." Ondina adds.

"If the stone steals our power, our magic..." Rita starts.

"Maybe that's what the Chamber does." Erik finishes.

Zac quickly went to a nearby desk and found a sheet of paper and a marker. He then drew the symbols on the pedestal in the Chamber and handed it to RIta.

"These are the symbols on the pedestal." He explains.

"And that represents the Moon Pool, right?" Rita asks.

"Right." Zac confirms.

"I think the Chamber was designed to draw the magic from the Moon Pool." Rita explains to the others. "It amplifies the effect of the stone to take all power from mermaids."

"So my destiny is to activate the Chamber and suck magic out of you?" Zac asks, confused. "I don't think so." He then picks up the container holding the stone. "I'm gonna put this somewhere it will never be found."

"I'll go with you." Erik adds. "We have to get rid of it." The boys then leave the Grotto through the bookcase.

"None of this would be happening if I destroyed the Chamber when I had the chance." Ondina says.

"It's okay." Manoa assures her, "Zac and Erik will get rid of the stone so the Chamber can never be started."

"Zac is the chosen one, and now he has the power to control the Chamber." Ondina adds. "And how can you be sure about Erik? Don't you think even part of them might be tempted?"

"I trust them." Manoa says.

"So do I." Mimmi says.

Meanwhile, Jasper met up with Cam at the Cafe.

"There have been a few developments since we last spoke." He tells Cam.

"Oh, yeah?" Cam asks.

"The mermaids did destroy the Trident, but not the stone, and I think that's what makes the Chamber run." Jasper explains.

"You're kidding." Cam says after a short pause.

"We just have to find it."

"What do you mean by 'we?'"

"Help me get it, and when I start up the Chamber, you get what you've always wanted." Jasper says, doing a hand motion meaning Cam could be a merman.

"Hang on." Cam says, "Even if you did have the stone, you can't open the Chamber. Only Zac can. All that 'chosen one' stuff, remember?"

"Let me worry about the details. This is a one-time offer. Don't make the wrong choice, Cam." Jasper then got up and left.

Back with Zac and Erik, they tried to figure out what to do with the stone, but neither of them were entirely sure. They then decided to take it to Evie and see what she thought.

"We wanted to hide it, but it was like the Chamber was calling to me." Zac explains.

"And we have no idea where to hide it." Erik adds.

"But you've resisted it before." Evie says.

"I know, but this time... with the stone right here, switched on again..." Zac starts.

"You mean... you wanted to start the Chamber?" Evie asks.

"We know that could hurt the mermaids, and that's the last thing we want." Zac says, "Being totally honest... yes I was tempted."

"So what are you guys gonna do?" Evie asks, taking Zac's hand.

"Yeah, what are you guys gonna do?" Said a voice behind them. Jasper. Zac, Evie, and Erik quickly stood and shielded the stone's container from him. "I thought you said this was gone." Jasper adds.

"It's not your concern." Zac says.

"I beg to differ." Jasper counters. "The Merman Chamber is not just your destiny, it's mine, and Erik's, and every merman's."

"Leave it, Jasper." Erik says.

"Part of you wants to start the Chamber." Jasper continues. "Am I right?"

"Ignore him, Zac." Evie says.

"You don't know what you're talking about." Zac tells Jasper.

"Hundreds of years ago, mermen wanted to start up the Chamber, but your royal ancestor wouldn't." Jasper continues. "He walked away, just like you're doing. Who's to say he was right?"

"The Chamber drains magic from mermaids." Erik explains, "That's what it's for!"

"So that's all mermen have ever wanted, to destroy mermaids?" Jasper counters. "I'm not like that. My ancestors weren't either. That place has to be something more."

"Why?" Zac asks. "Because you say so?"

"It's not worth it, Jasper." Erik adds.

"Being royal doesn't make you the only good guy." Jasper says, "And neither does your cursed girlfriend. How can you be so sure Manoa really loves you? That it's not because she's under Moia's Curse?"

"Because I love her." Erik says angrily. "And my relationship with her is not your concern, so leave her out of it."

Jasper just glares at Erik before stepping closer to Zac. "If you're not gonna take your shot, let someone else step up and do it."

"Give it up, Jasper." Zac says, stepping closer as well.

"Cool it." Evie says. "All of you."

"Go." Erik tells Jasper.

"Not without the stone." Jasper says before reaching for it. Zac and Erik try to fight him off until Evie's dad shows up, then they quickly stop. When he leaves, Jasper turns back to the others. "You're selling out mermen, Zac. And Erik, I thought you'd be better. Well, I'm not gonna let you two do it." With that, Jasper left.

"I had no idea he could be like that." Evie says as Zac quickly grabs the stone.

"I knew he could take things too far sometimes, but I've never seen him like this." Erik adds.

"This stone really needs to disappear for good." Zac says.

While he went to figure that out, Erik went to find Manoa.

"Hey, what happened?" Manoa asks. "Did you guys hide the stone yet?"

"Not yet." Erik says. "Jasper showed up and tried to take it."

"He didn't, did he?"

"No, but he is likely to try again. He still wants to start up the Chamber."

"Does he know about what it does?"

"I told him, but he doesn't believe me, or Zac. He insists that he doesn't want to use it to hurt you guys."

"We can't let him do it."

"Don't worry, we won't."

Back with Ondina, she went to go find Jasper after he suddenly left the Cafe the last time she saw him.

"What happened to you?" She asked him.

"I said I had some stuff to do." He replies.

"For so long?"

"I heard something interesting from Cam about the Trident having a stone that glowed when mermaids were around."

"Yeah, we think it might be the key to starting up the Chamber."

"You knew? Why didn't you tell me?"

"Because you ran off before I could."

"So this is our chance to find out what it's really for."

"Rita thinks it's to drain the magic from the Moon Pool. What if she's right?"

"What if she's not? What if it's not about draining magic, but harnessing it? What if it's there to combine our powers?"

"So why didn't Zac's ancestor do that?"

"I don't know, but the only way to find out is to start it up and learn how to control it. It's the only way to make Mako safe for mermaids again."

"Even if you're right, we'll never find out." Ondina says, "The stone's gone. Zac and Erik took it away. No one will ever see it again."

Speaking of Zac, his plan for hiding the stone? He gave it to Cam, who after giving it some thought, decided to bring it to the mermaids, hiding it in another container. He then took the old container with him to the Cafe, where he met up with Jasper yet again.

"So, any news?" Jasper asked excitedly.

"You know me," Cam says, "I've wanted a tail for a long, long time."

"Exactly." Jasper says, "So we're doing this, right?"

"I had to give it a lot of thought. The stone's got a lot of power. It'd be irresponsible for me not to think about what might happen or where it might end up."

"I'm not going to hurt the mermaids. I'm trying to protect them."

"You say you want to keep them safe, just like I do."

"So, we're in agreement."

"We sure are. That's why I had to think about where the safest place for the stone would be." Cam says, reaching into his bag and pulling out the container.

"You've already got the stone?" Jasper asks.

"I had a lot of options, I weighed them up." Cam explains. "Because I don't want a tail if it means using the stone against the mermaids."

"I won't hurt them. I told you that."

"I know. But I still needed to feel okay about it. About them."

"Good. So, now you do."

"Actually, I don't." Cam says, sliding the container to Jasper, who opens it to find nothing there. "That's why I hid it. Somewhere you'll never find it."

"So you're giving up the chance of a tail?" Jasper asks.

"I used to think having one would be the best thing in the world. But I lost a good mate over it. And you know what? It wasn't worth it. I've moved on."

"Are you crazy?"

"Not crazy enough to risk someone that I care about. What did Ondina think about you starting up the Chamber?"

"You leave her out of this." Jasper says, standing.

"Have you even told her?" Cam continued, "I wonder if she'd agree. Not that it's gonna happen. The stone's gone for good." Cam then tried to stand, only to be forced down by Jasper using his powers.

"Just tell me where it is." The dark-haired merman says.

Lucky for Cam, Carly had been watching and listening to their conversation, and splashed Jasper with the water pitcher she was holding. Jasper angrily glared at the two before jumping off the edge and into the water.

While this was going on, The girls were discussing their plans for the stone.

"What will we do with it?" Sirena asked.

"We could bury it." Mimmi offers.

"Or drop it off an ocean shelf so that the only living thing that can ever touch it again is a giant squid." Ondina says.

"Let's go with that." Manoa says.

"Should we go and suss out a possible drop-off point?" Sirena asks.

"You two go ahead." Mimmi says, "Manoa and I will check Rita's ocean charts in case something stands out."

While the girls were doing that, Jasper searched through Zac's place to find the stone, but had no luck. He then decided to try his luck at the Grotto, and came in through the sea entrance. Manoa was the first to notice him.

"Ondina's not here." She says, catching Mimmi's attention as well.

"I'm not here to see Ondina." Jasper tells her. "I know the Trident stone is here. I'm not going to leave without it, so why don't you girls make it easy for all of us and tell me where it is?"

"We can't do that." Mimmi says.

"I'm going to find it anyway." Jasper says as he starts looking through the Grotto. "Am I close?" He asks, approaching an object. As he was doing so, Manoa held her gaze on him, while Mimmi kept glancing to where the stone was hidden. "How about now?" Jasper asks again, approaching another object. "Hot? Cold?" He then figured out where Mimmi was looking and that the stone was there. "Gotcha."

As he picked up the stone, Manoa slowly approached him, while Mimmi had a vision that Zac saw.

"Jasper, please." Manoa says, "Think about what you're doing. Think about Ondina."

"Don't you girls get it?" Jasper asks, "I'm doing this for Ondina."

"You activate the Chamber, Ondina will never forgive you." Mimmi adds. "You can't have her and Mako! You have to choose."

"No, I don't!" Jasper protests, "I can make it safe, I know I can!"

"That's never going to happen." Zac says, entering the Grotto. "Give me the stone."

"I'm a merman. That Chamber is mine and Eriks's as much as it is yours." Jasper says.

"No!" Zac responds, "It's mine. My ancestor built it."

"And he was too scared to use it." Jasper counters. "But I'm not."

"You can't activate the Chamber. I'm the only one that can." Zac says, "Give me the stone!" Zac then tries to use his powers to take it from Jasper, but the stone takes his powers instead.

"Jasper, stop!" Mimmi and Manoa say, but he doesn't listen. After Zac's power was taken, Jasper left, while Mimmi tried to help Zac and Manoa went to get Rita. That was also when Sirena and Ondina returned.

"We found a drop-off point!" Sirena says, but then notices something is wrong. "What happened?"

"Jasper took the Trident stone." Rita explained.

Ondina looked hurt by this, and Zac tried using his powers, but no use.

"What has he done to me?" Zac asks.

"The Trident stone has taken your magic." Rita explains.

"And what happens if he takes the stone into the Chamber?" Zac asks.

"It'll be as if you were there yourself." Rita says.

"Jasper will be able to start the Chamber up." Manoa realizes.

"And the Full Moon is tomorrow night." Sirena adds.

"We'll lose Mako forever." Ondina says worriedly.

A/N: Well Holy Crap this took longer than I thought! Also, things are starting to go down! Hope you guys enjoy the story so far! Next chapter will be the last!

~Sarah_Renai