At dawn, Rosie was waiting for Rachel. "I thought she said she got an outfit already picked, but she didn't? Its taking her forever! Oh, I have to be quiet. the guards can't catch me here."

Rachel finally came. "Sorry I'm late. I had to get my stuff." said Rachel. "And all of that is in that bag? We're not going to a tea party you know." said Rosie. "Trust me. Everything I need for this little expedition is right here. Now let's get going. I found a way to get past the guards." said Rachel. "This better be good." said Rosie.

The girls sneaked down the castle hallway and reached exit. "They are guards there. So what's your plan?" asked Rosie. Rachel pull some stuff out of her bag. "Eggs? Great so, how's that gonna help? Oh I know, its not gonna help anyway!" whispered Rosie.

"Rosie, these aren't just any ordinary eggs. These are surprise eggs. One of my favorite things. The blue side holds two chocolate balls on vanilla pudding and the other side holds toys. I've never told anyone this, but half of the guards in the castle like surprise eggs like the ones standing near the doorway. Sometimes, we do bets for surprise eggs. I mostly win, so I have a lot. These guards sometimes easily get distracted so we can lure them away with these."

"Thats actually not a bad idea. But are you sure it will work? Ever since Sarah escaped, our dad has ordered to guards to pay more attention and guards all places of the castle." said Rosie. "Don't worry. It will work. I'm sure." asked Rachel.

A little while later, one of the guards noticed a surprise egg lying on the ground near them. "Look, did you think someone dropped it?" asked a guard. "Well, I supposed we could check it out. They found out that there was a trail of surprise eggs. They thought it was suspicious a first, but half of there mind was telling then to check it out. So, they did.

The girls came out of their hiding spot. "Wow, I can't believe that actually worked. You were really sneaky putting those surprise eggs on the floor without the guards noticing. I guess the changing you clothes part was helpful. You kind of blended in with the floor." said Rosie. "Enough talking. let's get out while we still can." said Rachel.

The ran all the way to the village. "Wow, that was close. I hope the guards didn't notice. Hang on, weren't you wearing a brown dress before?" asked Rosie. "I wanted to wear the brown dress to sneak pass the guards. I'm a quick changer. The brown dress is in my bag." said Rachel. "Seriously? That's crazy. Anyway that doesn't matter. We have to go to the gate." said Rosie.

They left the village gate and headed Northwest. They kept on going forward where they were at a path that led straight into the Never forest. Rachel gulped. "Its looks really creepy. Maybe we shouldn't go in. Isn't there a shortcut or something?" But Rosie didn't listen. "Come on, lets go in. It'll be fine."

As they went deeper and deeper into the forest, Rachel felt a strange tingle around her body. "Hey Rosie, I'm feeling a little weird. Are you?" "Yes. Didn't Stan say that the Never forest was like a portal to any land or place?" asked Rosie. "Yah. I think the forest is taking us to the realm where Zara stays." said Rachel.

Suddenly, Rosie called out, "Look out!" But it was too late. Rosie didn't have enough to to stop Rachel from falling in the mud. "Eeewww! Mud!" exclaimed Rachel. She looked like a mud monster.

Rosie got a some towels out of her bag and helped Rachel clean some of the mud off. Her hair was dirty and her dress had a lot of stains on it. "We just started this 'adventure' and things are not going well already." said Rachel. "The only 'bad' thing that happened was you getting yourself dirty." said Rosie. "I just want to get out of this forest. We're probably a few more miles away from the lake." said Rachel.

Suddenly, three goblins appeared out of nowhere and jumped on Rachel. "Aahhh! Help!" yelled Rachel. Rosie shooed the goblins away and they disappeared back into the forest leaving a scared Rachel on the ground.

"Are you ok?" asked Rosie as she helped Rachel get up. "I'm..fine." Rachel said. "You look like you're gonna blow." said Rosie backing up. "That's because I am. Now let's go to that lake and get Sarah back." said Rachel. She was smiling when she said that, but her teeth were clenched.

The next day, the kept on walking for a few hours. Soon, they reached a lake. "Oh great, a lake. I can wash some dirt out of my hair." said Rachel. "Don't do that! You'll make the lake dirty." said Rosie. "Fine, I'll scoop some water out then." Rachel got a cup and scooped some water into it. Then she poured it on her hair. Rosie sighed.

"Hey Rachel, do you remember what Stan said what we should do now?" Rachel rolled her eyes. Rosie was a nice girl, but she was mostly forgetful. "We have to say a chant. Then, I think a boat will appear. Follow my lead." Rachel and Rosie said the chant at the same time; The ocean waves go and flow away to where the mermaids stay.

Rachel and Rosie the chant a few more times and then they waited. A boat slowly rowed toward them and then stopped. "Look, there's the boat." said Rosie excitedly. "Thats what we are going in? It smells like fish and we have to sleep in it. Stan said that it could take at least a day before we arrive. This is just gonna be great." said Rachel.

They went into the boat and a wave formed out of nowhere and it carried them. "Hold on!" yelled Rosie excitedly. Rachel was really scared!

Three minutes later, the wave lowered and then disappeared. The girls were no long at the lake. "Wow! We're at the ocean. The lake must've been a portal too." said Rosie. "Yeah, I guess that is kind of cool, but shouldn't the mermaids be here?" asked Rachel. "Good thing you spoke too soon because somethings coming towards us." said Rosie pointing.

A fast ripple of water was speeding towards them. Then it stopped right near the boat. "Hello there. What are your names?" asked the merman. "I'm Rosie and this is my sister Rachel. We're trying to find our other sister who ran away without telling anyone." said Rosie.

Rachel pulled Rosie and whispered in her ear, "Don't tell him that! Its kind of personal." "Well if he's gonna help us, shouldn't he know our problem? Hang on, I know what's going on." Rosie smiled. "My names Brandy. My sister is the one who sensed that we have to help someone. She's supposed to help me to help you guys. She's over there."

Not too far away was a mermaid playing with her hair. She had a little resemblance to Rachel. Her hair was gold, but it had more orange in it. "Oh, hi Brandy." the mermaid said not really looking at her brother. "Daphne, you were supposed to be with me when we were going to help them. You were the one who sensed that they were coming." said Brandy.

"Ugh. I did know that they were coming, but I thought you gave other mermaids the mission. I don't want to do it again." Brandy glared at her. "Fine. Where do you guys need to go?" she asked. "The place where Zara..." "No way. Brandy, just send other mermaids to do the job." Brandy glared at her again. "Ok, ok. Don't spray water in my hair I just combed it. Zara's place it is then.'

The mermaids guided them to Zara's place. After not too long, it was night time. Rosie gave out a yawn. Then she looked at Rachel. "Hey Rachel, are you ok?" she asked. "Yes. I'm kind of worried about Sarah." Rachel looked sad. "Don't worry we'll find her. Right now let's get some sleep."

Rachel and Rosie lied down on the boat. It was uncomfortable just like how Rachel said earlier, but luckily she got pillows. Even the mermaids knew It was time to sleep. They commanded the water to keep drifting them to the place where Zara is at and then they rested on the water. Rachel had a few thoughts before she went to sleep.

The next morning, Rachel woke up early. The sky was grey. Her sister was still asleep. She looked at the mermaids. Brandy's sister was also still sleeping, but Brandy was awake. "Good morning Rachel." said Brandy. "Good morning." Brandy saw that she had some worry in her eyes. "Are you ok?" he asked. "Yeah, I fine. Its just that, today's the last day that we have to find Sarah. I really hope she's ok."

"Don't worry. She'll be fine. I'm we're just at least 3 miles away right now." said Brandy. Daphne suddenly woke up. "Are you kidding me?! We're here already!" Rosie woke up. Not too far in the distance was an island that looked deserted and creepy. "Its Zara's island. Thats one of the reasons I did not want to come here." said Daphne with a shiver. One of Rachel's reason was that too, but there was no turning back now.

They pushed the boat on the shore. "Thanks for your help guys. We couldn't have done it without you." said Rosie. Rachel smiled at Brandy. "Yeah thanks." she said.

They said goodbye to their mermaids friends. Brandy and Daphne swam away, until they were out of sight. Then Rosie turned to Rachel and giggled. "You really do like him." she said smiling. Rachel wanted to say something, but smiled too. "Well, I guess. But its time too... climb the mountain." she said with a sigh.

The girls climbed the mountain with confidence. Soon, they were tired. "I'm huffing and puffing right now. I think my breath will be turned into an icicle right now." said Rosie. "Yeah, and I'm sweating like crazy, even though its cold up here. I think its because I'm wearing this cute, cozy, and comfy purple coat." said Rachel.

Rosie turned around. "What? You had a coat the whole time. Come on! I'm freezing right now." said Rosie. "Don't worry. I have a spear. Its also a cute, cozy, and comfy, but its a blue one that's one of your favorite shades of blue. And before you ask, yes, I managed to fit it in my pink, little, purse." said Rachel. Rosie stared at her. "I can't believe that you did that and you are using a lot of adjectives."

Half an hour later, they reached a place where the ground of flat, so they were walking. In the distance, they saw a big castle. It didn't have that much windows and some of its bricks were out of place. "Could that be...?" asked Rosie. "Yes." said Rachel staring at the big and dark castle.