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Alex started a little, then smirked.
"Hey. So, we gonna look for a way to get you back to the ocean?"
O/O The Goddess is in Trouble (Open)
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Aukai shrugged. "I don't know. Do you have any ideas of where to start looking?" She walked towards him and tied her hair up with seaweed into a ponytail.
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"Honestly, no." Alex rubbed the back of his neck.
"What if we tried dropping you off in the water past the reef? I know a friend who owes me a few favors, and he has a boat I could borrow…"
Aukai's eyes widened and shook her head. "BAD idea. You're friend could get hurt. How about I show you first?" She grabbed his hand and started pulling him towards the water.
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"Um- okay then!" Alex moved next to Aukai, not trying to be a dead weight.
Aukai then realized. "Oops! You're not wearing a bathing suit!" She turned to him and studied him quickly before nodding and said, "Medium." Then she gestured and he was in a rash guard and trunks, his previous clothes neatly folded on the sand. "Okay! Let's go! She let go of him and ran for the water, diving in.
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Alex gasped. Not because she had magically put him in swim trunks, but because she had guessed his size perfectly. As she dove, Alex backed up a few steps. He took a running start at the water, and dove in close to where Aukai had.
Aukai giggled under the water. "Well. I suppose you're going to want to breathe under here, aren't you?" She flapped her pretty tail and swam circles around him.
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Alex nodded. He stared at her tail. It was… awesome.
Aukai zipped up in front of him and quickly pecked him on the lips. Now he could breathe. She blushed though and apologized. "Sorry, that's just the only way I can do it."
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Alex held his breath for a moment longer, then took a tentative breath. Finding he breathed just fine, he relaxed.
"Think nothing of it." He smiled.
Aukai smiled and did a back flip. She grabbed his wrist and started towing him towards the reef. "Okay, now I need to show you." She let go of him then sped at full speed towards the reef. When she got there it was like she had hit a brick wall. She floated slowly in the water, dazed.
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Alex swam down to Aukai.
"Are you okay?" He asked, holding her arm.
Aukai shook her head as if trying to get water out of it. "Yeah, I'm fine. But do you see what I mean? Try going beyond yourself." She patted the hand on her arm gently and looked at him, tilting her head almost curiously.
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Alex nodded, then started to swim. He was sitting for the impact, but it hadn't come yet.
Aukai watched sadly as he passed the reef. She motioned him back, her tail drooping.
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Alex swam back sadly.
"So, we know it's not a physical barrier."
Aukai sighed and sank down to the sand, curling up in despair. "I don't even know anything about this curse, much less how to break it…"
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Alex sat down next to her, putting his arm around her.
"We'll break it. I swear."
Aukai just slumped some more. "I'm trapped. I hear the ocean calling to me for help and I can't do anything about it…" She started to cry.
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Alex pulled Aukai closer to him. He rubbed her back, trying to calm her.
Aukai curled up to Alex, crying. Her tail split into legs and she held herself, feeling so lost.
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Alex held Aukai; he wanted her to know she wasn't alone. He was still rubbing her back gently.
Aukai slowly calmed. When she did, she looked up at Alex, sniffling. "What am I supposed to do now..? I don't know…."
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Alex looked down at Aukai.
"We work together to figure this out. Do you know of anyone who could have done this?"
Aukai thought about this. "no, but I remember something that they said. Before they sent me to the café, they said something about how I took their inheritance and how this was revenge against me…."
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Alex thought for a moment.
"I see. Well, I think we're gonna have to do some research on this."
Aukai looked up. "Library?"
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"Yeah." Alex looked into Aukai's eyes.
Aukai's eye turned bright grass green. She smiled and suddenly they were on the sand and dressed again. "Which one? I could also get us to the library of congress if you think we'll have more luck there."