The Greatest Hero of All Time

~An Afternoon with Merlin~

Sasha's POV:

I go to Merlin the next afternoon to begin lessons. I am excited to get more lessons in as I know I've missed a bunch of school with trying to rescue Henry and this whole journey.

We arrive at a lake, "When I said I could swim like a fish. I really meant as a fish" I ask, "You mean you can turn yourself into a fish?" Merlin, "Yes. After all, I happen to be a wizard."

I ask, "Can I turn into a fish for our first lesson?" Merlin, "Imagination,do you have one. Could you imagine yourself as a fish?" I beam, "Yes!" Merlin, "Oh."

Merlin, "Good. Then I think that my magic can do the rest." Archimedes was a bit cranky today, "When he stays out all night he is always grumpy the next morning."

I joke, "He must stay out every night." Merlin laughs, "Yes. Yes. Very good. Here we go." He casts a spell and he turns into a fish and he makes Ruby into one as well. All I have to do is think about transforming into a fish and it happens.

I ask Merlin, "Merlin? Merlin? Am I a fish? Am I a fish?" He picks up both Ruby and I in his hands, "Yes,yes. You are now fish. If you guys don't stop flipping and flopping around and get in the water you won't last long."

He brings us to the lake, "Now,stay right here in the tules-both of you and I'll be with you both in a minute." He releases us into the pond below and we swim around for a while until Merlin joins us in his own fish form:

It takes a while but we eventually get the hang of it as Merlin sees us struggling, "So,you thought you could take right off like a shot,didn't you?" He asks me.

Ruby, "Well,we are fish,aren't we?" Merlin, "You merely look like fish. That doesn't mean you can swim like one. You guys don't have the instinct. So,you will have to use your brains for a change."

Merlin, "You are living between two planes now,somewhere between the ceiling and the floor. Now,there are lots of ups and downs,like a helicopter."

I question, "Helicopter?" Merlin, "Yes. No. Nevermind. Every flick of a fun creates movement. So,first we'll start with the caudal fin."

I struggle even more,"No,no,girl. Your tail,tail" I try again and again and it seems to work right up until I crash into Merlin, "Now that gives you the forward thrust. Now,let's get a rhythm."

He actually helps me get a technique down immediately after. There were many creatures like frogs and turtles. Ruby, "Merlin? Merlin! I swallowed a bug."

Merlin, "Oh. What's wrong with that?" I add on, "After all,Ruby,you are part wolf." Merlin, "Instincts,you know. That's either there or not. The main thing is that you must set your sights upon the heights-especially you,Sasha. Don't be a mediocrity."

I ask, "Mediocrity?" Merlin, "That's right. Don't just wait around and trust to fate. And say that's how it's meant to be. It's up to you how far you go. If you don't try you'll never know. And so,lassies,as I've explained: 'Nothing ventured,nothing gained."

Merlin continues to hum a tune and giggle, "Let's swim through that tall grass again. It tickles." I do and he is right,we laugh so hard and bad because the tall grass tickles us relentlessly.

Merlin, "The water world has its forests and its jungles,too. So,it has tigers and its wolves. But that is what makes the world go round. You see,girls it's natures way. Upon the walk the strong one's prey."

Merlin, "It's human life,it's also true" I see the bullfrog from earlier swim ahead of me in a hurried rush with a scared look on its face. I turn around and I see a barracuda behind me.

I pulled Ruby towards me and we swim at the pace of Merlin. Ruby and I hide in a crack with a bullfrog as the barracuda swims past us but the bullfrog kicks Ruby and I out as I yell, "Merlin! Help! Help!"

Thats when Merlin notices the barracuda chasing after Ruby and I. He grabs onto his tail before he can open his jaw and eat us. The barracuda is able to flick Merlin off his tail and we get in a race to escape the animal.

Ruby, "Merlin! The magic!" I say, "No,we are on our own with this one!" Merlin, "Sasha's right. Now is your chance to prove my point,Sasha" I ask, "What point?"

Merlin, "He's the brawn and you're the brain. Now,don't panic!" Ruby hid behind Merlin as I swam away, "You use your head. Outsmart the big brute!"

I am about to trap the barracuda by getting its snout trapped in a big chain. Merlin, "Smart move,lassie. That's using the old intellect." The barracuda is able to yank himself free and he still continues to chase me.

I hold the tip of an arrow and I scream when the barracuda finds me and I snap back into action with the arrow in my mouth. I shove the arrow into his mouth and I swim away.

Ruby, "Bravo,Sasha!" Merlin, "Great strategy" I ask, "Is the lesson about over?" Merlin, "Did you get the point?" I say, "Yes,yes. Brain over brawn." Merlin, "Ok,lassie. I'll fix the big brute."

I swim as the barracuda once again continues to chase me, "Merlin!" We jump from outside the lake to back in and I jump up onto a cliff above the lake and the jumping barracuda below me.

Archimedes notices me struggling, "Help! Help!" Archimedes holds the jaws of the barracuda open as he helps me escape from a near death catastrophe.

The barracuda still continues to swim after me as Archimedes is now in the water as well. At this point, I am getting pretty tired of the barracuda chasing me.

I continue to shout, "Help!" At the top of my lungs as we make another jump out of the water and I notice the cranky owl, "Archimedes! Help!"

We jump out of the water again and Archimedes pries his mouth shut. Archimedes chases me up the barracuda's back and he catches me in his mouth and with a flap of the barracuda's tail,we fly across the lake,but he still follows us until we crash land onto land.

Merlin becomes a human again, "What? What in thunder is a monster like that doing in the moat?" He says while still wearing the knight helmet from when we were in the water.

Merlin, "By George,I'll turn him into a minnow" I flop and Merlin changes Ruby back into her human form. I shout, "Merlin!" And he says, "Oh,there you are,girl."

Merlin, "Remember what I taught you" I focus on changing form and I am able to change back into my human form. Merlin, "How in the world did you ever get out of that mess?"

I say, "I'll say. That barracuda almost swallowed me and Archimedes. He saved me" Merlin, "Well,what do you know about that?" Archimedes shouts, "I did nothing of the sort!"

Merlin, "Do you believe that,Sasha?" I say, "Well, I..." it is getting late, "Goodness. It's getting late. We should be heading home." Merlin, "I guess you are right."