Alice stared at the floor where Kinsey disappeared, while Rachel stood tense, her hands balled up.

“She truly turned to the Darkness…” Alice muttered.

“The fuck is wrong with her?!” Rachel yelled, her voice booming through the room. “I can't believe she would turn on us like that!”

Noelle stepped forward to put her hands on both Alice's and Rachel's shoulders, a calm gaze on her face.

“Please calm down. We can free her from the hold of the Darkness, but it's the time and place that's the problem here. She has to be willing, and only those willing to free themselves from the Darkness will succeed-”

Right after Noelle finished her sentence, Alice's Twilight Fragment appeared in her hand, resonating with the World Core.

“Alice, there it is!” Noelle alerted. “It's time to seal the Dark Gateway of this world!”

Sapphira smiled. "Ah, the power of the World Core. It looks like it's chosen you," she remarked, her voice smooth and steady.

Noelle, looking at Alice and the Twilight Fragment in her hand, nodded. "Now's our chance. We have to seal the Dark Gateway before the Depraved enter this world too."

As Alice pointed the Fragment at the World Core, a ripple of energy ran through the intricate patterns on its surface.

"Do it, Alice," Sapphira encouraged, sensing the significance of this moment.

Alice took a deep breath, preparing herself for what was to come. With all eyes on her, she brought the Twilight Fragment closer to the World Core.

The air around them seemed to vibrate, as if the very fabric of reality was in suspense. The World Core and the Twilight Fragment began to glow in tandem, their energies melding together in an ethereal dance.

Alice closed her eyes, focusing all her energy on the task at hand. She could feel the immense power of both the World Core and the Twilight Fragment coursing through her, calling for her to wield it effectively.

With a determined look in her eyes, Alice fired a beam of Light from the Twilight Fragment onto the World Core. Immediately, a pulse of energy surged through the room, causing the walls to shake and a gust of wind to buffet the group.

Sapphira watched the scene unfold with anticipation. The power of the World Core and the Twilight Fragment seemed to be reacting positively, the glow from the two artifacts growing brighter by the second.

“This is taking much longer than the last time,” Rachel commented.

“Because the Darkness has more of a hold on this World Core than the one in Freelife Town, Rachel,” Noelle replied.

A dazzling beam of light burst forth from the point of contact between the Twilight Fragment and the World Core, expanding to engulf the entire space. The light pierced through every crevice, leaving no darkness behind.

Alice shielded her eyes from the intense light, feeling the overwhelming power coursing through her veins. The light seemed to be alive, pulsating with an almost soothing beat.

Zalgo, also captivated by the spectacle, watched with wonder and curiosity in her eyes.

As the light began to subside, a soft glow remained suspended in the air, emanating from the now solidified form of the Dark Gateway. The gateway looked like a rift in space and time, its edges shimmering and flickering.

Noelle observed the solidified Dark Gateway with a satisfied look on her face. "We did it," she said quietly. "We successfully sealed the Dark Gateway of this world.”

Alice, feeling a sense of relief and exhaustion, stepped back from the World Core. The intense use of power had taken its toll on her, but the sense of accomplishment was undeniable.

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Sapphira, impressed by their achievement, addressed the group. "You have done something extraordinary," she said, her voice echoing through the chamber. "Sealing a Dark Gateway is no easy feat, especially with the power you've just displayed.”

Rachel stretched her arms, a proud grin on her face. “And there's that! Now we can take our leave and-”

“Wait!” Sapphira interrupted, gliding closer to the group. “Before you all make your leave, I wanted to ask…can you take me back up to the surface?”

“The…surface?” Noelle questioned, blinking in confusion at the mermaid.

“Yes. I've spent centuries down here in this underwater palace, and I haven't been on land ever since. It was always my dream to revisit the surface, to see the gorgeous, starry night sky again…but the water pressure outside of this palace is too intense for me to survive the journey up.”

Sapphira's words hung in the air as the group exchanged looks of surprise and compassion.

"You've seriously lived here all your life?" Rachel asked, a hint of sympathy in her voice.

Sapphira nodded. "Yes. Ever since this city was built, I was tasked to stay down here and protect it. I've been alone for so long…"

The room felt quiet at her words, each of the girls feeling a mix of sadness and empathy for the mermaid.

Alice was the first to step forth, her voice gentle yet firm.

“We will take you back to the surface, Sapphira,” she declared, her hand resting on the mermaid's shoulder. “You’ve been trapped down here for far too long. You deserve to experience the beauty of the world above.”

Noelle, Rachel, Zalgo and Camilla nodded in agreement, their faces reflecting kindness and determination.

A faint smile tugged at Sapphira's lips, her eyes gleaming with gratitude. “Thank you…thank you so much. You don’t know what your kindness means to me.”

Noelle’s smile widened as she responded, “I’ll prepare an aura sphere, and we’ll ascend swiftly and smoothly. You won’t feel a thing.”

Sapphira nodded, her tense shoulders relaxing slightly, though her eyes still held a hint of trepidation. “That sounds like a good plan…. I’m ready when you are.”

The girls collectively moved towards the exit of the palace, with Noelle creating her protective aura sphere. The glowing orb encircled the group, including Sapphira, as they began their ascension.

Despite the rough start due to the oppressive water pressure, the journey up to the surface was smooth and rapid, the aura sphere cutting through the water effortlessly. Sapphira had her eyes closed most of the time, her heart filled with anticipation and anxiety.

As the group resurfaced, they were greeted by a glorious display of the night sky. Billions of stars, shimmering and sparkling, filled the blackened canvas above. The moon, shining as brightly as ever, illuminated the peaceful landscape around them. Noelle turned the sphere into a platform above the water, allowing everyone to see the sky without her aura obscuring the view.

Sapphira's eyes widened as she took in the sight. She had imagined this moment thousands of times in the past, but never thought she'd actually see it.

“By the Goddesses…” she breathed out, her voice barely above a whisper. “It's as beautiful as I imagined. If not more…”

She moved a hand up to her face, a single tear escaping from the corner of her eye.

Noelle, noticing her emotional response, placed a gentle hand on her arm. “Are you okay?”

Sapphira nodded, her hands curling into fists. She looked up at the infinite night sky once more, her voice choked with emotion.

“Yes, I’m... I’m more than okay. I’m experiencing something I never thought I’d experience. It’s overwhelming, but...it’s beautiful.”

She took a moment to collect her composure, her eyes still fixed on the stars. “I want to stay here for a while, if I may.”

“Of course,” Alice agreed, her voice filled with compassion. “Take all the time you need.”

The girls gathered around Sapphira, giving her a moment to take in the beauty of the night. They stood in silence, each understanding the magnitude of this moment for her.

Sapphira's eyes roamed over the sparkling stars, her heart filled with a mixture of awe and nostalgia. She had spent countless centuries trapped beneath the water, her view of the surface limited to memories and dreams. But now, she was here, on the surface under the vast night sky, something she thought she’d never experience.

She took a deep breath, the fresh tropical air filling her lungs, a sensation she had almost forgotten as she was used to the stale air of the palace. She looked at the girls surrounding her, their quiet understanding touching her deeply.

As the minutes passed, Sapphira closed her eyes. She wanted to savor this moment, every detail of it, the cold night air brushing against her ebony skin. The endless stars above, shining with a brilliance that was almost blinding. The silence that was only interrupted by the gentle sound of the waves. It was as if all the time she had spent trapped underwater was slowly fading away, replaced by the pure, unadulterated beauty of being on the surface again.

After a while, Sapphira opened her eyes and looked down at the dark waters below her. Despite its cold and unforgiving nature, she didn't feel any hatred for the ocean. Instead, a sense of peace washed over her.

“Thank you…all of you, for bringing me here. You’ve given me a gift that cannot be repaid. Seeing the surface again…it feels like a burden has been lifted from my heart. I'm eternally grateful for your kindness.”

Alice smiled. “Don’t feel like you owe us anything, Sapphira. We’re just glad we could help you experience this.”

Zalgo and Rachel nodded in agreement, expressing their happiness for her.

Camilla, ever the pragmatist, spoke up. “So, what’s your plan now?”

Sapphira let out a soft laugh. “To be honest, I don’t have one. I never thought I would actually see the surface again. It feels both overwhelming and…liberating.”

She paused for a moment, eyes fixed on the shimmering ocean in front of her. “I suppose…I suppose I just want to experience as much of the surface as possible. All the things I’ve missed out on all these years.”

"Fair enough," Camilla replied, a hint of a smile on her lips. "But where will you stay?"

The question hung in the air, as the girls collectively looked at Sapphira, curious about her plan.

Sapphira sighed. "I have nowhere to go, if I'm being honest. And I wouldn't want to impose on anyone."

She looked up at the sky again, her eyes tracing the path of a shooting star. "The palace has been my home, but now that I'm back on the surface, I feel free, yet somehow…lost. Maybe I'll just wander for a while, see where the wind takes me.”

"You don't have to wander alone," Camilla spoke up. "You can come with us, if you'd like. We have a room in a fancy hotel not too far from here. You're welcome to stay with us.”

Sapphira's eyes widened in surprise, touched by Camilla's offer. She hadn't expected such kindness from the group she had only just met.

"Are you sure?" she asked, the hope in her voice barely concealed. "I wouldn't want to cause any trouble for you all.”

"Of course we're sure," Alice assured her, a warm smile on her face. "We want to help you. We wouldn't offer if we didn't want to."

All the other girls nodded in agreement, expressing their willingness to welcome her.

Sapphira felt a wave of gratitude wash over her. She had spent so long in solitude, the warmth of friendship was a sensation she had almost forgotten.

"Thank you...thank you all." she said, her voice shaking slightly. "I'd be honored to come with you.”

"Then it's settled," Zalgo chimed in, folding her arms. "We should get going before it gets too late."

The others agreed, and with that, they began making their way back to their room. Sapphira felt a newfound sense of hope growing within her. For the first time in many centuries, she wasn't alone anymore.