Chapter Text
It all started when the world would believe it would end. With the flashing of a truck's lights as it sped toward me. The slam of the brakes coming too late. Eyes closed waiting for pain but none came. Instead bright lights surrounded me and suddenly I was waking up in a new place.
"A Jane Smith."
"...no identification..."
My eyes blinked open and the first face I saw was a tall man with kind, kind blue eyes.
"I'm Doctor Gilbert. Do you remember who you are?"
I opened my mouth sure I knew the answer.
I could remember a family, a girl in a mirror that I thought was me.
Childhood memories, to shows watched, a life well-lived, well-loved. Then loss, loss of everything. And a truck rushing toward me. Whoever I was before, I felt I'd lost... I didn't have anyone anymore I was alone.
"I don't know. I think my name started with an...E."
I scrunched up my nose, but no name came came.
The Doctor shined a light in my eyes, and he turned toward the nurse next to him.
"Memory loss...possibly due to concussion."
The next few days passed in a blur. Child services, the police, all came by but no progress was made on my case.
It was when I was about to be discharged that Dr Gilbert came back to me.
"I know things must be overwhelming and confusing right now, but I was wondering if you would like to stay with my family and I."
"Is that really ok?"
The man smiled, "I've told my family about you. They would like to meet you. We have a spare bedroom and my eldest is just about your age."
So that's how I ended up living with the Gilberts.
At dinner that first night Elliot, the youngest, spoke up, "We can't keep calling you a letter, E needs to stand for something."
"Elliot." Dr Gilbert spoke up disapproving.
"Its ok." I shrugged, "I don't know. Would you like to find a name for me, Elliot?"
"Really?" His eyes nearly sparkled and he grinned wide.
"Are you sure?" Lisa Gilbert looked in concern toward me, a brief exchange of glances between her and her husband Dr Gilbert or Neil. "I don't want you to be pressured into anything."
Emma, their oldest, spoke up, "What if she remembers? You can't grow too attached, Elliot."
Awkward silence followed for a moment before I broke it.
"I have a feeling I have nothing left to remember." I fiddled with the cloth napkin in my lap before looking back at Elliot, "I'd be honored to be named by a Gilbert."
And that's how I was named Ember.
Mostly after 'the City of Ember' book that Elliot was fascinated with but I still liked it.
Emma took longer to warm up to me, but when she found I didn't disrupt their family's balance, she grew more accepting.
Emma still wasn't happy that she had to share her bathroom not only with her little brother but also a stranger.
Still when it came time for school, despite her misgivings, Emma introduced me to her best friend Cleo Sertori. The name wrang like a bell in my mind.
Emma Gilbert. Cleo Sertori.
Names I knew I had heard before.
Names from a TV show I had once watched with a family long gone.
I cried that night as I remembered.
Not because I was in a world once thought fictional, no I cried for the family I had once and lost.
A car crash took my whole family in one fell swoop. I had been at an academic camp when I had been told the tragic news. Even if I could find my way back to my time and dimension, I wouldn't have anything there for me.
I muffled my cries not wishing to disturb anyone, and I grieved again for the family I lost.
A single mother, and two little sisters. Little sisters that I would watch H2O: Just Add Water with over and over. Little sisters who had shaped and decorated their rooms after their favorite mermaids, Cleo and Emma's rooms.
Cleo took to me like how one day she would take to the water (not now when she was afraid but I knew one day her sense of justice would outweigh her fear).
I had made up my mind, I wouldn't stop canon from happening but I might try to stop Emma from changing. If I changed instead of her, the rule of three would still stand and Emma wouldn't have to give up her Olympic dreams. Either way I would seek to protect the girls from not just outside sources but also themselves. Many troubles they faced could have been solved with something as simple as better communication. Although entertaining for entertainment I didn't want the girls I had gotten to know in danger.
Rikki Chadwick sat with me in the rear of class and she'd give me a respectful nod when I minded my own business instead of making small talk.
So when the day came for the lives of the girls to change, it seemed to be like any other day.
I took to meeting Emma after swim practice and we'd work on homework in the library, Cleo often joining.
That day Cleo met me at the door of the pool building.
"Emma has a meeting with her coach. She told me to pass it on."
I had yet to get a cellphone, I hoped to get a part-time job soon to pay for one.
"Thanks Cleo."
She smiled, her dimples showing as she nodded.
"Can I walk with you?"
"Sure!" Cleo pepped up, her ponytails swinging side to side. "I was going to check if my dad's back yet in the marina, if that's ok?"
I shrugged.
After dropping off my backpack at my locker I walked alongside her towards the marina.
"Have you been settling in?"
"I think so." I smiled, "The Gilberts have been very generous to me."
Cleo nodded, "And school?"
Anyone else and I might have felt like this was an interrogation but this was Cleo. And Cleo actually cared. I always felt that Cleo wasn't given enough justice in the show. Either really sweet, scared or at times vindictive. But her actress did a great job giving her dimension. For a kids show the actresses of the main characters did an excellent job.
I shook my head, while Cleo looked at me oddly.
I tried to remember her question, "Oh, school...well its school."
It wasn't too much different to high school in America. I'd been placed in AP equivalent classes alongside Emma after my aptitude test came back advanced. I was in normal classes in math and chemistry alongside Cleo. Cleo was quick to partner up with me as lab partners and we bonded over our assignments.
Something I hadn't expected were the girls were more mature than their counterparts.
Emma was more aware of her imperfections and Cleo would surprisingly call her out if she got even slightly rude with her know-it-allness.
When we we got to the marina, we found Cleo dad's boat wasn't back yet.
She shrugged, "Oh well, beach?"
Cleo never passed up the chance to soak in her vitamin D.
"Why not?"
"Hey Cleo!"
I wrinkled my nose. Someone who hadn't changed at all was Zane. Typical arrogant rich boy who always sought the next thing to feed his boredom.
Cleo looked over warily far too used to Zane's antics, having grown up with him.
"What do you want?"
"Oh why so wary. I just need some help."
It was annoying watching this scene in the show, but now in person...even more annoying. Even though I knew this was the start of it all, I tugged on Cleo's arm.
"Let's go, Cleo, he's just going to pull a prank on you."
"Hey, new girl, what do you know?" Brown hair and annoying squinting eyes that looked her over. What was his name? Ned, Nate?
"I know enough. You two are nothing but trouble."
Cleo looked worriedly at me as if what I said would only provoke the two guys and maybe it would.
Zane raised his hands up in the air as if in defeat, "No tricks, just need you to pass me some tools. New girl can help."
Despite my misgivings, Cleo still climbed into the boat while I sighed. Might as well join. I wanted to be in the mermaid club after all.
"See." Zane grinned, while his best friend laughed under his breath. "No harm. No fowl."
I looked at the machine, but it looked like something above my pay grade.
"Someone took my spark plug." The only warning before the boat was pushed away from the dock.
Cleo clung to me as it drifted further out.
"Let's sit."
Cleo looked wide eyed at me.
"There might be oars somewhere attached to this thing." I looked around while the boys laughed over themselves on the dock.
Cleo's brows furrowed, "Why us? We didn't take your spark plug."
"We were just convenient for him, Cleo. Some people are just...jerks." I censored myself.
Zane still grinned on the dock, "My dad will buy me another boat. Tell you what, you fix the Zodiac its yours."
I narrowed my eyes, "Promise?"
Zane crossed his heart, "Cross my rich heart and hope to die."
"Never swear upon something you can't keep, Zane."
We drifted further out, further and further away from the docks.
"Everything will be alright, Cleo." And in the long-run everything would be, with time and experience.
Cleo let out a scream as someone jumped onto the Zodiac. A flash of gold introduced Rikki to us, even expecting it I jumped a little.
"Hi Rikki, funny to see you here."
I leaned on my knee as she flashed a grin before showing off what had to be the spark plug.
"Coming to our rescue?"
Cleo looked from Rikki to the spark plug before pointing in surprise, "It was you!"
"Guilty as charged. Zane Bennett is a pig. He deserves at lease once in awhile not for everything to go as he wants."
Rikki placed the spark plug before revving the engine and went to leave the marina but not before sending a wave of water the boys way.
Cruising down one of the canals we spotted Emma walking on her way home.
"Hey Emma want a ride?" Cleo seemed to have pepped up, especially after the watery redemption against the boys.
Emma looked warily at the craft, before glancing at Rikki who was steering.
"Is she licensed?"
"Well if you are going to spoil the fun, you don't have to come, Emma." I was giving her a chance to back out, but of course Cleo had to give her her adorable puppy dog eyes.
Emma sighed, her arms crossed as she rolled her eyes.
"Fine. Just a hour then we come back."
"Yes, mother." Rikki chimed.
Emma stepped onto the boat, before Rikki turned to us.
"Want to go out to sea?"
"Is it safe?" Cleo nearly whimpered. The fear coming back full force.
"Maybe we should pick up some life jackets to be on the safe side." I spoke.
"Oh come on, chill out. We'll be fine."
Ignoring our worries Rikki took the boat out to sea, increasing the speed until we were out in the open water Mako Island on the horizon.
Despite the mass of water around us, I noticed some of Cleo's nerves had dissolved as we all laughed as the wind whipped around us. This lasted until the skiff's engine sputtered and the fun stopped as reality set in.
Rikki revved the engine but it kept stalling.
"Well are we chilled out yet?"
As Rikki and Emma began bickering, I looked to my left where Cleo sat frowning. Trying to look down at her lap and ignore the water stretched out on either side of her.
"Hey."
"Don't say everything will be alright."
My shoulder bumped hers lightly, "Will you believe me if I promise to take care of you no matter what happens?"
Her frown deepened, "I don't need to be babied."
I held my hands up, "No babying here, I promise."
"I think we are out of fuel." Rikki spoke up.
Cleo glanced at me, "It will be alright?"
"I promise."
Rikki held up a paddle, "Feel like paddling to Mako?"
I leaned forward, "Its our best bet, maybe if we get high enough Emma could get a signal on her cell phone?"
Emma looked at me, "How did you know I'm out of service?"
"You would be calling for help right now if you had signal."
Rikki handed Emma the ot
her paddle before Emma let out a sigh.
"Fine."
It took maybe a hour to reach Mako, we switched paddling towards the half hour mark and soon we were pulling the skiff onto the sandy shores of Mako Island.
"Let's get to higher ground."