The coral was pink with the sun dappling down on it. In it's midst, surrounded by lazily swimming fish no bigger than a finger, was Ariel. The little mermaid was resting on a smooth section of worn coral which formed a loungechair, of-sorts. Her face was turned towards the tops of the coral, where they almost broke the surface of the blue water; her fingers absently twirled at her long flowing hair. Flounder lay motionless at her side; the warming sunlight made the little fish drowsy. Ariel looked at him with a gentle smile; her hand gave him a soft stroke, which caused his sleepy eyes to open a little.
"You know; I was wondering, Flounder,..." The little fish stirred and looked up at his best friend. "I wonder what humans do on a day like today. I mean, when it's still like this, and warm and sunny. Do you think they lay out like us and watch the sunlight?"
"I don't like to think about humans", answered Flounder, cautiously.
Ariel gave a gentle laugh. "You mean you never think about what they do up there? All the exciting adventures they might be having?"
Flounder fluttered nervously and darted a glance upward. "I know what they like to do. Catch fish like me!"
Ariel sat up. "But they can't do that all the time. They must do other things, too."
"Scary things", added the fish. "Your father knows all about them: if he says they're bad, they're bad."
Ariel leaned back on her arm, her face was unconvinced. "But maybe Daddy just hasn't seen the good ones. There must be,..."
Suddenly, Ariel gasped and looked up. A human's ship had appeared out of nowhere and had cut off the light from above. The girl only had time to clasp Flounder, when they saw a large object hit the water. It sank quickly; growing menacingly-large as it approached; revealing itself to be a huge barrel. Right above the stunned pair, it hit the jagged coral and burst apart; spilling a dark oily stain into the sea. The stuff was on them in an instant, but Ariel's quick kick pushed them away so that only a trace of it was inhaled. Ariel and Flounder coughed a few times as they cleaned their lungs of the dark liquid. Ariel helped the fish swim a few more yards away.
"Flounder, are you okay?", asked the girl, with tense anxiety; touching the fish with concern.
"Yeah,...I think so. What was that stuff? It tasted awful!"
"I don't know." Ariel looked back and watched with sorrow as the water around the barrel slowly cleared. "Maybe Daddy is right. Humans do such,...terrible things." Ariel looked down at the little fish and sighed. "Let's go home." The two friends swam off together towards the golden spirals that crowned their home.
Ariel was straightening up some things in her room, when Triton swam in. The girl looked up to see her father's kindly face.
"Ariel; we're going to have some guests over for dinner tonight. I thought, maybe, you'd like to invite Flounder and Sebastian, too.
"That's a wonderful idea, Daddy!", agreed the girl. "I'll go tell them." The girl hurried out of her room, with Triton smiling after her.
Ariel found Sebastian in his music room. The crab was looking grouchy, as he pointed his baton at his orchestra. A shrimp looked wide-eyed at his teacher as he held two clam shells, as large as himself, which served as cymbals. Sitting at the drums was an octopus. He was relaxed, because he wasn't the object of sebastian's attention either. Several other fish floated silently as they held their various instruments. The problem was a young fish who held a conch shell, which served as a trumpet. The little mermaid swam up to Sebastian, just as he was admonishing the fish.
"You're still too loud and too fast! Dis is supposed to sound like a ripple on the water. You got it like a typhoon!"
Ariel gave an amused giggle. "Sebastian?"
The crab turned to the girl as he shook his head. "Dese rockfish! Dey only know one way to play! I'm getting too old to keep up with dem." Sebastian smiled. "Well; what's on your mind, child?"
"Daddy was wondering if you'd like to join us for dinner", she answered, brightly.
"If you're having dat plankton stroganoff, you better believe it, Mon!"
Ariel smiled and swam to the door. "Good! Now, I've got to find Flounder. Have you seen him?"
The crab shook his head. "He ought to be with you, if he's anyplace."
"Oh well. I'll look in the palace; maybe he took a nap." She disappeared, with a swish, out the door.
Flounder's bed was in Ariel's bedroom; a soft sponge bed with seaweed covers. Ariel swam up to it and smiled when she saw the round shape under the blanket. "Flounder,...are you awake?", she asked softly. She gently lifted one corner and peeked underneath. Flounder lay there; he was pale and his eyes were half-shut.
Ariel drew her breath in alarm. "Flounder! What's wrong!?" She touched his forehead and immediately drew her hand back. "You're burning up! Oh, Flounder!" Ariel hugged her friend. Flounder groaned. Determination replaced concern on the girl's face. "Just stay right here; I'll get Daddy! He'll make you better!" With a quick, reassuring stroke on Flounder's brow, the little mermaid sped off for the throne room.
Ariel found her father talking to a servant about plans for the evening. Ariel was almost breathless as she took his arm."Daddy, you've got to come quick! It's Flounder!"
The King looked down at his daughter in confusion. "Dear, I've got to meet our guests; they'll be arriving soon."
"But Flounder's sick! You've got to come, Daddy!"
Triton turned to the other merman. "Tell my guests that I'll join them when I can." He turned back to the girl. "Take me to him." Together, Ariel and her father left the merman, looking on in amazement.
When they got back to Flounder, the little fish was still lying there, looking very sick. Ariel looked with tender concern at her friend.
Flounder looked up at the girl and groaned, "uhh,...I don't feel so good, Ariel. I think it was that,...stuff."
Triton's concern changed to alert attention. "What stuff?", he asked loudly.
Ariel looked cautiously up at her father. Then, looking back at her friend, her determination grew. "It came from,...up there." Ariel pointed up.
Triton's face grew sterner. "What was it?"
"Well,...I don't know, exactly. It was a round thing that fell off a ship. It broke open and black stuff came leaking out. Flounder and I drank some of it before we could get away."
Triton bristled. "Humans! I might have known! When are you going to stay away from those,..."
"Daddy,...Flounder,..."
Her father's rage calmed, and he looked down at the little fish. Using his trident, he passed it over Flounder, as Ariel watched anxiously.
"He'll be alright now, "said the King and he gently led Ariel out of Flounder's hearing. Triton looked down at Ariel and hesitated.
Ariel could tell that something was wrong. "What is it Daddy?"
"Ariel, dear. I've seen this before. It comes from the humans." Ariel looked up at him with dread and fear. "My power doesn't work on it. There's nothing I can do."
Ariel's eyes went wide as tears welled up. She suddenly dashed away in pain. Triton sadly watched her go; just as Sebastian swam up.
"I heard what you told de girl. There's nothing you can do?"
The King shook his head. "I'm afraid not. The only cure is beyond my reach."
"What cure, your Majesty?"
"Well. I've heard that certain barnacle shells will remove the poison. But they're only found on pilings around docks."
"Den let's go get some, your Majesty!", answered the eager crab.
"Docks with humans, Sebastian! Lot's of fish and,...crab- eating humans."
Sebastian's grin disappeared. "Oh."
Triton swam sadly away to leave Sebastian alone. He looked back at the little fish: pale and trying to sleep, and his face suddenly grew resolute. Quickly, he swam to find Ariel and found her weeping by herself.
"Ariel! Get up, girl! We've got to save Flounder!" Ariel looked up with tearful eyes full of puzzlement.
"There is a cure. And we're going to get it! Come on, girl!"
Ariel's face lit up with hope and she quickly swam with Sebastian out the door.
Ariel swam cautiously, but with loyal determination as they approached land. Sebastian trailed behind, looking scared. "Oh, Mon! I don't know why I let you talk me into dis!"
Ariel looked back at the crab. "You're the one who told me, remember?", she gently chastised.
"Oh. Dat's right."
"Shush! We're getting close!", urged the girl. The water had become shallow as they neared the shore. The docks were now in sight, but everywhere was the sound of humans, as they worked on their anchored ships; loading and unloading them. The water was so clear that, every second, Sebastian feared that they would be spotted.
Ariel looked up with nervous eyes too. "They're so close!", she whispered. "You were right about them, Sebastian. They're dangerous,...to everything in the sea."
"I'm glad you're learning some sense," answered the crab. "Now, if we can only find dem barnacles before dey snatch us up!"
Ariel's face lit up as she pointed to a wooden piling encrusted with abandoned shells. "There!", she said eagerly, and swam up to them. A ship was docked right next to it; it's ominous shadow fell over the water right where they stopped.
Ariel tugged urgently at the empty shells. "These things are stuck on good! Ughh!" Finally, two or three of the barnacles broke free and Ariel grinned in triumph.
"Good", urged the crab. "Now, let's get out of here!"
Ariel and Sebastian had just turned to flee; when they heard a loud voice call. "Hey, you two! Stop right there!"
Ariel felt paralyzed with fear. Uncontrollably, she turned around to face the voice. Her fear changed to surprise when she saw where the voice had come from. Aboard the ship, above them, the back of a young man's head could be seen over the railing. He was the person speaking; not to Ariel and Sebastian, but to two other seamen on board the ship.
"Those barrels aren't going aboard this ship, or any other, while I'm Prince!"
"But Sir!", answered one of the sailors, "we're just dumping `em in the sea. No harm will come of that!"
"Not for us", answered the youth. "But what about all the animals that live there. I want those barrels removed immediately. And I'll talk to your Captain to make sure it doesn't happen again."
Ariel beamed as she listened to the boy. "You see, Sebastian! They do care about us!"
"Hmmm,...Well; I guess some of dem do. Now, let's get going,...please!?"
Ariel turned away from the ship, and together, they swam for Atlantica.
Ariel and Sebastian came upon Triton close to Flounder's bed. The king started when he saw the two. "There you are! Where have you,..." Triton stopped short when he saw the shells in Ariel's hands.
Ariel's face beamed with happiness and hope. "Here's the shells, Daddy! Now, please help Flounder!"
Triton looked stunned for a second, then his brows lowered and he frowned at the crab. "Sebastian!"
Sebastian gave the King a sheepish grin and a shrug.
Triton shook his head and turned to Ariel. "Crush up the shells and mix them with dolphin milk. Then give them to Flounder."
Ariel darted away as fast as she could towards the kitchen.
The next morning, Triton went to Ariel's bedroom. Ariel and Sebastian had stayed by the little fish the whole night. Flounder was up now; his color was back and he was swimming with Ariel to regain his strength.
The girl smiled with delight when she saw her father. "Look, Daddy! Flounder's cured!"
Flounder smiled and muttered, "Yeah! But I don't know what tasted worse: that black stuff or my medicine!"
"Now, you've swam enough" ,said Ariel. "Get back in bed." The little fish reluctantly obeyed. Triton turned to his daughter ,with a wry smile. "You know, dear, those were the wrong shells."
Ariel's mouth dropped in shock. But Flounder's cured!", she insisted.
The King nodded. "Yes; I know. It wasn't the shells; it was the love that you and Sebastian gave him through the night that saved Flounder."
Ariel smiled joyfully and hugged her father.
Flounder swam through the palace until he entered a small cluttered room piled with scrolls and books. Ariel was sitting in the middle of them, her finger to her lips, in thought.
The little fish smiled and swam up to her. "Here you are, Ariel! I've been looking all over for you!"
Ariel looked up to Flounder and smiled with gentle amusement. "Hi, Flounder. I'm trying to find some papers for Daddy, but I didn't know what a mess they were in when I volunteered."
"You can say that again!", agreed Flounder, as he looked around.
Ariel picked up some scrolls and glanced at them, as if to re-enforce her words. "Here's a party list to the coral ball from last year,...and this one's a musical that Sebastian never finished,...How does Daddy find anything in here?" Ariel suddenly paused, as she looked at a crumpled old scroll. "Wait a minute. What's this one?"
Flounder looked over her shoulder as he read the paper in her hands. "Start at the foot of the seat of Atlantica", read the fish with puzzlement. "What's that supposed to mean?"
Ariel looked over the scroll with growing curiosity and excitement. "Look at all of these sentences; they're all directions for going someplace: turn right at the doughnut rock and swim til you see stars,..." Ariel looked down to the bottom of the scroll. "And the treasure will be yours! Flounder, this is a treasure map!"
Flounder's eye went wide. "Wow!"
Ariel grinned at the fish as she clutched the paper to her chest. "I bet this has been here for ages! Maybe the treasure is still there! Wouldn't it be fun to try and find it!?"
Flounder grinned. "It sure would!" The grin disappeared; to be replaced with worry. "But I thought you were supposed to be looking for some papers for your Father,..."
Ariel grinned as she hedged, "Well,...Daddy doesn't need the papers right away,...and it shouldn't take too long,..." She looked to the fish eagerly; hoping for agreement.
Flounder smiled excitedly. "It shouldn't take long!"
Ariel grinned and stood up. "Okay!" She looked down at the paper and puzzled over it. "Start at the foot of the seat of Atlantica,..."
Flounder looked up at her. "What's the seat of Atlantica?"
Ariel puzzled. "Hmmm,...seat of Atlantica,..." She suddenly beamed. "Why, that's Daddy's seat! His throne!"
Flounder grinned. "Yeah! That's right!"
Ariel darted to the door; with the little fish right behind her. "Come on, Flounder!"
Ariel and Flounder floated next to Triton's throne as they looked over the scroll. Flounder looked eagerly up at his best friend. "What do you suppose the treasure is?", he asked excitedly.
"I don't know! It could be anything!", answered the girl; sharing her friend's excitement.
"Maybe it's a chest of fun stuff, like skate-fish boards and trumpet shells", said Flounder.
"Or it might be human things, like pretty necklaces and jewelry!",added the girl.
"What's the next line!?", asked the excited fish, as he looked at the scroll.
"It says, "Swim between pillars til you reach pearl's home."
Flounder looked to the pillars on either side of the throne room. "Those must be the pillars!"
The two friends eagerly swam out of the throne room and through the front entrance of the palace. Once outside, they paused and looked around.
"Something's wrong, Flounder. Pearl lives on the other side of Atlantica; we're heading in the wrong direction!"
"Are you sure you read it right?", asked the fish.
"I think so,...", answered the girl, as she studied the paper.
As they floated there, a familiar merboy swam up. "Hey Ariel! Flounder! What's up?"
Ariel grinned and showed Urchin the scroll. "We found a treasure map!"
"Cool!", exclaimed the boy.
Ariel looked back to the map and her face lost it's grin. "But we can't figure out what it means. It says to go to pearl's home, but that can't be right."
Urchin looked at the map, then grinned and snapped his fingers. "Pearl's home!", he answered and pointed to the huge clam shell which stood at the entrance to the palace.
Ariel laughed. "That's right!"
The three friends swam up to it. "What do you think the treasure is?", asked Urchin.
"Ariel thinks it's human stuff, but I'm hoping for cool stuff to play with", answered Flounder.
"Maybe it's a bunch of coins", said Urchin, with a grin. "Then you can buy whatever you want".
Ariel looked over at him with a knowing smile. "I don't think so. Daddy would never let us spend too much,that's for sure".
"Well; I'm still hoping for fun stuff", concluded Flounder.
"What's it say next?", asked Urchin.
"Let's see,..."Follow the current til you reach a terrible noise.", read Ariel.
"What?", asked Flounder.
Urchin shrugged and pointed. "The current's going that way." With Urchin in the lead, they swam with the ocean's flow.
They had not swam far, when the three were stopped by a wing of the palace. "Looks like a dead-end", groaned Flounder.
"But it's made sense, up to now", protested Ariel. "Maybe the current's changed or,..."
Suddenly, they heard the sound of voices singing through the windows of the palace.
Ariel giggled. "It's Sebastian's music room!" She looked at the windows, then down to the scroll. "Enter a window and follow the noise to a stand". Ariel rolled up the scroll and swam to the window; accompanied by Urchin and Flounder. The mermaid peeked inside and saw the crab leading her sisters through a song. Ariel's eyes went to Sebastian's coral music stand; rooted in one spot. "The music stand!", she whispered excitedly.
Cautiously, the trio swam through the window and hugged the wall; trying not to be seen by Sebastian.
The crab was looking grouchy as he pointed to the girls. "Okay; we'll try it again! I'm needing Ariel's voice bad, but dat girl is doing someting for the King. She tinks she's being clever gettin' out of the lesson, but she'll only have twice as much to do next week."
Ariel started at this statement and almost knocked over a shell tuba. Ariel's sisters had seen her by this time, but she was at Sebastian's back. Their mouths dropped, as they watched the strange scene.
Sebastian frowned and looked as if he didn't know what to make of the princesses. "Well, your mouths are open but nothing's coming out,..."
Ariel made silent pleas to her sisters to stay quiet about her presence, and the girls started singing again.
The crab looked at them with frowning puzzlement. "Ariel must be rubbing off on you girls", he muttered as he listened to the song, while waving his baton.
Ariel, Urchin, and Flounder had almost reached a point right behind Sebastian, and the mermaid was reading the next step, when the Princesses could hold out no longer. They all broke down and started giggling. The crab stared at them in amazement, then caught Ariel's movements out of the corner of his eye and jumped three feet.
"What are you doing, girl!?"
Ariel and her friends looked up sheepishly. "Wellll,...", she started.
Ariel floated next to a large rock. Beside her was Flounder and Urchin,...and Sebastian and all of her sisters. They all looked eagerly at the scroll.
Sebastian grinned and rubbed his claws together. "Oh mon! I can't wait to see all dat treasure!"
"Whatdaya think it'll be?", asked Flounder.
"Dat's easy! Jewels and pearls and gold, of course!", answered the crab.
"That sounds alright to me!", agreed Arista.
"I still think it'll be coins", added Urchin.
"Fun stuff", put in Flounder.
"Turn right at the doughnut rock", read Ariel, as she looked up at the large round rock with a hole in it's center, "and swim til you see stars."
The group turned and swam, with the girl leading, holding the scroll in front of her. They came upon a large settlement of starfish.
"Stars!,...Hee! Hee! Starfish!", laughed Sebastian.
"The hand points the place to dig", continued Ariel. "There it is!", she said excitedly, and pointed to a staghorn coral, shaped roughly like a hand; in the midst of the starfish. A long coral "finger" pointed to a bare spot on the ocean floor.
With the palace still nearby, the group eagerly surrounded the spot. "Down three feet and the treasure will be yours!", read Ariel, with a grin.
The group began to dig.
"Jewels!", said Sebastian; anticipating.
Urchin shook his head. "Un uh. Coins."
"Fun stuff!",said Flounder; digging.
"Human things!", hoped Ariel.
The group quickly uncovered an old chest, which they pulled up excitedly.
Sebastian looked at Ariel with a grin. "Well; open it girl!"
Ariel bit her lip in anticipation, as she looked down at the chest. She opened the lid, and the group all leaned forward.
"Seashells", said Sebastian.
"Seashells?", asked Urchin, scratching his head.
"Seashells,...", groaned Flounder.
Ariel put her hand to her chin, in puzzlement. "Why would anyone want to bury seashells?"
"Alright! Just WHAT is going on here?, commanded an authoritative voice. The group turned around in surprise.
"Your Majesty!", blurted Sebastian.
"Seeing all of you out here was just too much for my curiosity, so I,..." Triton paused when he saw the chest. The King's surprise turned into a laugh. "Why; that's my old shell collection!"
Ariel looked up at her Father in wonder. "These are yours, Daddy?"
"Of course! My first shell collection I had as a boy! I remember now: I buried them out here; even made a treasure map to find them. All for fun, of course. I guess that I just forgot all about them".
Ariel smiled and showed him the map. "We thought it was a great treasure!", she laughed.
Her Father chuckled. "It was! At least, to me when I was young!" Triton looked at the group and smiled kindly. "Sorry for disappointing all of you treasure hunters. Maybe I can make amends. Let's go back to the palace and we'll all have some seaweed cookies and dolphin milk".
Ariel smiled warmly at her Father. "Okay, Daddy".
Together, they all swam back to Atlantica.
Above the sea, the sun quickly rose up out of the tropical waters, coloring it with a rosy flush. The tops of the spirals which crowned Atlantica sprang out of the darkness as morning came to the city. All was quiet, as the merfolk took in some last few minutes of slumber. One merlass, in particular, seemed quite content to sleep the morning away; having spent a busy yesterday exploring sunken ships.
Ariel curled beneath a pale blue-green blanket of seaweed which covered her soft warm bed. This is how Coral found the princess; as the woman entered the girl's room. Coral was the princesses' nanny; a gentle gray-haired merwoman who helped keep the place tidy and performed minor chores for the girls. Coral was humming softly as she entered, and Ariel stirred at this precursor of the day. The woman floated up to her; one arm had a seaweed blouse draped across it; the other reached down to gently push back Ariel's curl.
"Ariel, dear. Time to wake up", said the woman.
The girl curled and stretched; with her eyes still closed and a wide smile on her lips. Then she straightened; with her arms stretching out and part of her flukes poking out at the end of her blanket. With a gentle yawn, her eyes opened and she rose up. "Is it morning already?"
The woman nodded and turned to leave.
Ariel's eyes brightened as she sat up in her bed. She wore a thick soft night-shirt of blue seaweed. "Coral! You'll never guess what I was just dreaming about!"
The woman raised an eyebrow. "Did it have something to do with humans?"
Ariel smiled. "Oh,...that was too easy! There was all these human couples. The ladies had on long seaweed gowns, and they were dancing round and,..."
"You'd better not let your father hear that", warned the woman as she made for the door. "Now, off to the bath with you!"
Ariel clasped her arms around herself. "It was so romantic!"
Coral pointed out the door. "Bath!"
Ariel sighed; then hopped out of bed. She went to her dresser and pulled out her familiar purple shells. Then she swam out of her bedroom, with the shells in hand.
The mermaid entered the princesses' mirrored dresser room, just as Arista was coming out of the bathing room. Arista smiled wickedly, as she sat down at a mirror and started to brush her hair. "Sorry, Ariel. I just used the last of the hot water."
"Fibber", returned Ariel, as she went through the seaweed curtain. The bathing room had seven tubs brimming with hot water; filled by hot springs. Bath sponges and seaweed-wrapped bars of soap sat next to each. Ariel reached down to touch the water and sighed pleasurably: it was just right.
Outside, Arista had just finished combing her hair and swam back to the seaweed curtain to give Ariel a parting shot. Arista pulled the curtain aside and looked in; Ariel was sunk in the tub. Bubbles hid everything except her head and her flukes.
"I'll tell Father you'll be along for breakfast,...sooner or later", she quipped.
"Thanks", answered Ariel, dryly.
After the little mermaid had finished brushing her hair, she went to the royal kitchen to see what Otto was doing. The octopus was busy flipping seaweed pancakes with three of his arms, while two others were holding a bowl as another arm stirred the contents within.
"Good morning, Otto!", said the girl, brightly, as she swam in.
The mustached cook barely looked up, as Ariel peered into the bowl. "Good morning, Princess. I'm making some sea-grape jelly and I want you to eat plenty."
Ariel sighed as she smiled at the octopus. "Now Otto, not that again!"
One arm shook the coral spoon at her. "You need to eat! You're too thin!"
"I'm fine! See?" Ariel gave a twirl and raised her arms over her head.
"Too thin. You don't eat enough. Princess Adella now; she listens to me."
"Oh, Otto! You're hopeless!", said the girl. She took her finger and got a little of the sea-grape jelly from the spoon and tasted it. "I'll tell Adella you made some", she said with a grin and swam out the door.
When Ariel came into the dining hall, everyone was already seated. Triton cleared his throat angrily as the girl took her place; looking sternly at her for a second, before turning to Aquata. "You were saying, Aquata?"
"Well Father, since I am getting old enough, I've been thinking of finding a new place to live. Not too far, of course, but with a little more privacy."
Triton put his hand to his chin. "Hmmm,... Well; I'll have to think about that, Aquata. It's a big step. You are almost a merwoman now, but moving out,..."
"Can I move out too, Daddy!?", asked an excited Ariel. "I can live close to Flounder and we'll go exploring every day,..."
"No", answered the King.
"But I,..."
"No. You're still a child, Ariel", returned her father.
"Aquata's not that much older than me,...well,...just a few years,...", answered the girl with growing uncertainty.
"No!", finished Triton.
At this, Otto brought out their breakfast. Adella squealed with delight. "Oh boy! Sea-grape jelly!"
Ariel glumly rested her chin on one elbow as she watched Adella heap jelly onto her plate.
By the time that their breakfast was over, Ariel was in good spirits again; she even had a little of the jelly. Triton was touched, when the girl came up to give him his good-bye kiss before she went off to school.
He smiled lovingly down at her. "I hope that you're not still angry with me, Ariel", he said, gently.
The girl's downcast eyes rose to meet his. "No,...I understand, Daddy. I guess I'm still a little too young right now."
"You won't be "too young" forever, you know. You'll be grown up before you know it,...my little Ariel."
Ariel smiled; embarrassed. "Daddy!"
Triton chuckled. "Okay. You girls swim along now, or you'll be late for school."
With lunch sack in hand, the Princesses swam out of the room. They made their way to another section of the palace, where their tutor awaited them in a small cozy room. The girls sat down at their desks and looked to the front, where an elderly merman was studying some scrolls on his desk. After a moment, he looked up with a kindly face. "Good-morning girls", he said with a rather high quiet voice.
"Good-morning, Mr. Dab", answered the girls. They all liked the man; in addition to being the finest teacher in the kingdom, he was also very good with his students.
"Today, we're all going to be participating in the same lesson. We're going to visit the farming fields."
The man turned his back to the Princesses as he pointed to a map of Atlantica. Aquata put her hand to her mouth and imitated a yawn for Ariel and Alana. Ariel looked innocently at her sister.
"I know that you older girls have already seen them, but this will give Alana and Ariel a chance; and it won't hurt to refresh the rest of you, either. Now, here's where we usually plant our crops which feed the city,..." Mr. Dab pointed to a wide open section near Atlanta. "All of our seaweeds are harvested here, as well as much of our sea-fruits and kelps. This will be where we begin our field-trip."
Ariel looked out over acres of tall green plants; all growing in rows and reaching almost to the ocean's surface. The seaweeds differed in color and shape, as they did also in taste. The kelps and sea-fruits could be seen close-by. Widely dispersed among the plants were merfolk who tended and harvested the crop. Her older sisters looked bored, but, although Ariel had often seen these fields before, she listened attentively to their teacher as he described the operation.
"And after they're harvested, the crops are distributed among the families of Atlantica, who, in turn, pay the growers for their labor. In addition to the main crops, individuals also grow other crops which they sell directly in the marketplace. Among the more exotic foods are nuts and coconuts, which a few brave mermen gather from the world above."
Ariel's eyes lit up. The world above? Her father had never mentioned this before! "You mean they visit the surface?", asked the girl eagerly.
"Yes. The surface. Now, once the seaweed has been,..."
"Where do they go?;...the mermen who get the nuts and coconuts, I mean", interrupted Ariel.
Mr. Dab looked at the mermaid, in puzzlement. Ariel was a good student (even if she did tend to day-dream), but such eagerness about one subject was rare coming from her. "Well, I'm not quite sure, Ariel. If you're really that interested in exotic foods, you might try visiting the marketplace after school and ask around."
Ariel grinned. Her sisters looked at her with frowns: they knew she was up to something. Ariel caught their looks and put on a face of innocence; but she couldn't help smiling.
Flounder looked at his best friend and shook his head nervously. "I don't like this; Ariel! Un uh!"
The girl gave the fish a teasing grin. "Oh Flounder! Those men at the market do it all the time." Ariel and Flounder floated outside the girl's bedroom. The mermaid had her familiar "treasure sack" in her hand.
"Yeah,...but they know where to go and when to go,..."
"I got directions", answered the confident girl. "And they said they never see humans around."
Flounder gulped upon hearing the word "humans". "Humans! We're gonna get caught; I just know it!"
"Stop worrying! It'll be fun!" The girl grinned and started swimming. Flounder, with a groan, followed after her.
The sun was just setting, as Ariel and Flounder broke the surface of the sparkling water. Close-by was the shoreline of a small island. Coconut palms waved gently in the evening breeze, and Ariel gasped as she watched their beauty.
"Come on!", she urged the fish, with an excited, almost breathless voice. As they neared land, darkness fell, and the cool greens of the palms faded into gray.
"I can't see a thing!", moaned Flounder miserably. "Let's go home!"
Ariel turned to the fish. "The man at the market said to go at nightfall. It's safer."
"Well; in that case,..." answered the fish and he swam ahead. Ariel smiled and followed.
When she got to the sand, Ariel tried to pull herself a little way onto the beach. "It's still warm!", exclaimed the girl. She let some of the sand run through her fingers. "It feels different,..."
"Ariel! Be careful!", urged the edgy fish, as he watched his friend hop in the sand.
"Look Flounder! It's a coconut!" She pointed to a dark round object lying close-by. Ariel looked up to gaze at the swaying coconut palms towering over her, but they were hidden in gray shadows. The girl stretched to grab the coconut, then she put it in her sack. She looked back at Flounder. "It sure is hard to move around on this stuff,..." Then she lay on her back, closed her eyes, and sighed. "But it's so warm and soft!"
"What's that?", asked the fish, as he sniffed the air.
Ariel breathed deeply the scent of tropical flowers. "Mmmmm! It's sweet! Like sea-flowers!", whispered the mermaid. She opened her eyes and twisted; to rest on her elbow as she looked inland. "I wish I could see something! I bet it's so pretty!"
"Yeah! Then the humans could see you and they'd come and get you!", warned the fish. He looked nervously into the shadows beyond the beach. "I bet they're looking at us right now,...in the dark,..."
"Oh Flounder,...don't be so creepy!", urged the girl; although his words almost made her shiver. "Humans aren't that bad. Remember the one who saved the porpoise? Maybe he even lives close-by!"
Flounder shook his head. "I don't trust any of them. Remember what your father always says."
Ariel grinned and lay back on the sand. "I know,... humans are barbarians,... Maybe some of them are good; just like merfolk."
"All I know is, it's getting darker. Let's go home!", urged the fish.
"We just got here!", sighed the girl.
"Uhh,... but we can come back,...later, maybe."
Ariel sat up, as she got an idea. "Yeah! When it's light! Then we'll be able to see everything!", she said with a grin. "That's a great idea, Flounder!" Ariel quickly wiggled back into the water.
Flounder groaned. "Me and my big mouth."
Sebastian happened to be swimming past the girl's bedroom the next day and glanced inside. Ariel and Flounder were on her bed examining a round object, until they saw the crab. Ariel immediately jerked the strange thing behind her back and smiled innocently.
Sebastian sighed as he entered the room. "Alright girl. What's dat you got?" Sebastian expected a human (and possibly dangerous) knick-knack, but he was surprised when she pulled out a coconut. He couldn't help grinning. "A coconut! Why,...I haven't seen one of dem since I was in Jamaica!"
Ariel was also surprised at the crab's positive reaction; her excitement and delight immediately returned. "Isn't it neat! Listen!" She took the coconut and shook it next to the crab's head; making the coconut slosh.
"Of course, girl! Haven't you ever seen a coconut be,...hmmm; I guess you haven't. Come to tink of it,...how could you even get one,..."
Flounder gulped, but Ariel chimed in, "did you know they sell coconuts at the marketplace?"
"Oh yeah. I heard of dat. Never got one, though. Coconuts make me fat", said the crab, grabbing his belly.
Ariel smiled as she examined her prize. "How are you supposed to,...eat it?"
Sebastian chuckled. "Well, you can't eat it like dat! You got to cut it open."
"Oh!", answered the girl. "Come on, Founder!"
The three entered the kitchen, and Ariel gave the coconut to Otto. "Otto, would you please cut this open for me?"
As Ariel, Flounder, and Sebastian watched, the octopus took a hatchet and sliced open the coconut. He poured the milk into some shell cups and handed them out with his arms. "Coconut milk is good for you", Otto explained. "It'll put some weight on you."
Ariel smirked gently at the octopus and took a sip. "Mmmm It's good!"
"Just like I remember", mentioned the crab. "It's good and fresh", added Flounder. "I bet it just fell off the tree, Ariel, when you,...oops!"
Sebastian sputtered on the milk. "just fell off the tree?! Girl,...don't tell me,...no, you couldn't have!"
"Flounder!", moaned Ariel.
Sebastian put a claw to his forehead and shook his head. "Oh, Mon! What are we gonna do with you?"
"It was safe", assured the girl. "It was dark; like when the mermen at the marketplace go."
"It's dangerous to go on land! If your father ever found out,..." Sebastian looked up at Otto.
The octopus put an arm to his mouth. "My lips are sealed".
"Okay. Promise me you'll never go out at night to dat island!", demanded the crab.
"I promise", answered the girl. She and Flounder took their coconut and left the kitchen.
Sebastian stood there a moment and looked up at Otto with a frown on his face. "Someting's not right. Dat girl don't give up on an idea that quickly." The crab sipped the milk and puzzled.
"Drink up", offered Otto. "It'll put some weight on you."
Sebastian looked at the cup with dismay and hastily set it down. "Wait a minute! She promised not to go to dat island,...at night! I bet dat girl,...oh Mon! I bet she's heading there right now!" The crab turned to the octopus. "Where's these islands she's talking about?"
"I don't know. You'll have to ask the folks at the marketplace. Do you want me to tell the King about this?"
"No,...Ariel is in enough hot water as it is", answered the crab.
Flounder looked at the girl with anxiety. "Ariel, you promised Sebastian you wouldn't go." The girl smiled. "I promised him I wouldn't go "at night" It's not night-time yet!"
The water began to shimmer as they approached the surface. "But it's the same thing, really", answered the fish.
Ariel looked ahead, but her smile faded. She turned to her friend. "You're,...you're right, Flounder. It's like,...lying, isn't it?"
Flounder nodded his head.
The girl glanced up to the surface, then turned to her friend and smiled. "Let's go home."
Sebastian swam as fast as he could; hoping that he would catch them in time. "Dat girl is gonna make me a nervous wreck!", he gasped.
Ariel and Flounder passed him as they swam towards Atlantica. Ariel waved. "Hi, Sebastian."
Sebastian waved back as he swam past them. "Oh. Hi, Ariel,..." The crab stopped with a jerk and looked behind him. "Ariel!" He paddled frantically to catch up to them. "I thought you two would be heading for dem islands,..."
Ariel hung her head. "I,...was. Until Flounder showed me that it wasn't right. I,...lied to you."
The crab smiled gently. "Everyone makes mistakes. But you corrected your mistake. I'm proud of you. Now, let's go eat some of dat coconut. You could use some; you're looking kind-of thin."
Sebastian cleared his throat importantly and pointed to Ariel with his baton. "Okay, child. Let's have your scales."
The girl grinned and twirled round and round; showing off her tail.
The crab was not amused. "Dat joke is older than I am, girl. Your scales, please."
Ariel began to sing, "La. la la la la la la la!"
Sebastian nodded approvingly at her lovely voice. "Very good, child. Dat voice is coming along nicely. Of course, my teaching is what's got it dat way,..."
The other Princesses giggled, until the crab shot them a frown.
"Okay. I want to hear THE SIREN'S SONG."
"That one's too hard!", pleaded Ariel. The crab nodded. "I want you to try it, anyway."
The girl took a hesitant breath and started singing. She had almost finished, when her voice broke on a high note.
Her sisters giggled and plugged their ears, while Ariel blushed with embarrassment.
The crab turned angrily to the other Princesses. "Arista, can you sing dat note?"
The girl's grin vanished and she shook her head.
"What about you, Aquata? No? Any of you? Well; Ariel's gonna hit dat note one of dese days."
Ariel tried not to let her sisters see, but she appreciated Sebastian's words.
"Okay", continued the crab, "I want all of you to sing EVENING TIDE." Together, the girls began to sing.
After the practice, Ariel went looking for Flounder and found him waiting for her, close to the music room.
The little fish was happy to see his best friend. "That was pretty singing, Ariel", encouraged Flounder.
"Thanks, Flounder. Sebastian sure does push me hard, but I guess he just wants me to be the best I can be."
"Yeah! I bet that one note broke every shell mirror in the palace!"
Ariel laughed. "Anyway; that reminds me: it's going to be Sebastian's birthday next week and I've got a really neat birthday present in mind! You know how he's always talking about getting a "flame auger shell" for a baton; how beautiful they are and all that. Well; that's what I'm going to get him this year!"
Flounder's smile dropped. "But didn't he say he saw those shells near Jamaica?"
"Uh huh!", said the girl, grinning.
Flounder groaned. "You don't mean we're going to,..."
"Of course, silly! It's not far."
The little fish shuddered. "But it's full of ships! And lot's and lot's of humans! And it's not close either!"
"We can swim there and back in a day!,..or two. Ahh, come on, Flounder! Just think how happy we'll make Sebastian!"
"Yeah. He might even smile", grumbled the fish. Ariel grinned and looked hopefully at her best friend. "Oh,...all right. I can't believe I'm doing this", moaned Flounder.
The next morning, Ariel and Flounder sneaked out of the palace as soon as the sun broke over the waters with it's rosy light. The little mermaid had no chores or lessons for the day, so she hoped that she wouldn't be missed. In case of difficulties, Alana had promised to cover for her. As soon as they were clear of the city, Ariel began to ask around for directions to Jamaica.
"Pardon me, Mr. Mackerel, but do you know the way to Jamaica?", asked the girl to a long sleek fish.
With a flash of silver, the swift fish flipped around to the girl and smiled. "Of course, my child! It is North-West of here. Why, a pod of dolphins was going that way this morning. If you're quick, you might be able to join them!"
Ariel grinned. "Thank you, kind sir!" The mackerel nodded, with a smile, and then sped off. "Come-on Flounder! Let's try to catch them!"
The fish could barely keep up with the girl, so Ariel soon took him into her arms as she swam close to the brightening surface. Just as the sky broke into a beautiful blue, the two friends caught up to the dolphins. They were swimming leisurely near the surface.
Ariel took her empty sack and held it open. "Hop in, Flounder!"
The fish looked at the girl nervously. "Ummm,...what do I need to do that for?"
"Cause I can't hold you and a dolphin too! Come-on; it'll be so much fun!"
"Well, I guess I can try it. But if they get too fast, you let go; okay?"
Ariel nodded, and the little fish backed into her sack. After putting the strap over her shoulder, Flounder was riding comfortably on her back.
The dolphins had moved some distance from them, and Ariel had to really kick to reach the pod again. "Here we go!", she said with a grin. She swam up to a gentle-looking dolphin and took hold of it's dorsal fin. The dolphin smiled back at the girl; it was in a playful mood too, and didn't mind the little passengers.They traveled at a gentle pace; Ariel could see smooth gray forms all around them in the warm, green water; bubbles danced with every swish of a tail, and bright, cheery squeaks and chirps darted back and forth between friends. The world turned into foam and bubbles, as the dolphins broke into the sunlight; the mist was refreshing and cool, and Ariel sighed with pleasure as the surface shimmered into view. The sky was as blue as the girl's eyes; pearl-white clouds floated here and there, nestled high in the clear blue. Ariel turned her face forward, feeling the warm sea breeze blowing back her hair, and watched the delightful dolphins as they splashed up and down in their play. She could see a hundred glistening backs, and then the foam came up and she was back under the sea again. She had only noticed the warmth and bubbles of the water, when the light returned and she was in the air once more. Even Flounder seemed to enjoy the ride. He would "ooh!" and"ahh!" whenever they surfaced.
"This isn't so bad!", he admitted, as the mist tickled his nose. "It's like riding the whale-a-coaster at the carnival!"
"It's,...so beautiful",...sighed Ariel, as she watched the sparkling waves; sunlight danced on every crest.
They had been traveling for some time, and the little mermaid's arms were starting to tire, when Ariel saw land. "Look Flounder! Maybe that's Jamaica!" Off slightly to their right was a large dark bump of land, still a few miles distant. The girl let go of the dolphin's fin and waved goodbye to their friends. "Thank you for the ride!", she called, as the playful mammals went on their way.
Flounder wiggled out of the sack and looked toward the island. "It sure looks big and dark! Let's start looking for shells out here where it's safe."
"We better ask someone first if that is Jamaica", advised the the girl. She flipped under the waves and saw a small butterfly fish swimming towards them.
"Excuse me, Butter,...", she began, but the fish took one look at her and darted quickly away. Ariel looked at Flounder in puzzlement. "Now, why do you suppose he swam away?"
"I don't know. He looked like he was scared of you", answered the fish.
"I don't know why,...wait! There's a parrotfish,..." Ariel swam over to the parrotfish, but before she could speak, it had already fled in alarm. "I just don't understand", said the confused girl.
"What about that big sunfish. She can't be afraid of you", answered Flounder, as he pointed to an enormous saucer-shaped swimmer.
"Excuse me, Miss Sunfish, but could you tell me if we're close to Jamaica?", asked Ariel.
The sunfish did not stop to speak; she did not even look at the mermaid, as she swam lazily along.
"She just ignored you", said Flounder. "This is really weird!"
"It's as if,...they don't understand me", said the girl.
"That's right, little Princess", said a strange voice. Ariel and Flounder turned to see a giant sea bass, watching them with a glint of humor in his eyes. "You're a long way from home, little Princess", continued the huge brown fish.
"Do you know me?", asked the girl.
The bass chuckled. "Well,...not really. But I've heard much from a friend about a certain little mermaid who loves to go exploring. And,..." The fish grinned. "Has a head-full of red hair. Dere can't be too many little mermaids with hair like yours. You are Princess Ariel?"
The girl nodded.
"And you must be Flounder. My name is Layfette. I am pleased to meet you both. What brings you out to my waters anyway, hmmm?"
Ariel looked towards where they had seen the island. "We were looking for Jamaica, and I thought I'd ask someone if that big land was it."
"Dat it is, little Princess. But you must be tired and hungry after such a long swim. Let me take you to my home for some refreshment."
"Thank you, Mr. Layfette! That would be nice! Flounder and I didn't actually do much swimming; we rode on a dolphin, but I am hungry and I bet Flounder is too."
The little fish nodded his head, although he was still shy of the big bass.
"Come along, den!" Ariel and Flounder followed Layfette towards the land which the girl had seen. "Pardon me for asking, little Princess, but why would you want to visit Jamaica? It is a very dangerous place for fish,...and mermaids."
"See! I told you!", said Flounder.
"Well,...we weren't really going to Jamaica", explained Ariel. "You see, we have a friend at home who's having a birthday soon, and we wanted to get him a special shell for a baton; he's the conductor for my father."
"Dis wouldn't be Sebastian, would it?", chuckled the bass.
"How did you know?", blurted Flounder.
"We have a mutual friend. Sebastian and I grew up together; this is his "stomping ground", so-to-speak. Yeah; it took years for de band to get over Sebastian leaving. We were glad he went to such an important position, of course, but we sure did miss him."
"Yeah", agreed Ariel. "He can be crabby sometimes,...but he's a true friend."
"Crabby's the word", agreed Flounder.
Layfette chuckled.
The three swam to a small reefy area, still some distance from the island, but looming much too close for Flounder. They could even see sailing ships here and there; tiny and hardly moving. The reef looked a lot like home to Ariel, but the water was so shallow that most of the coral lived only a few feet from the surface. Close-by was a tiny island; Layfette told them that the humans called it Pedro Cay. The big bass soon brought them to a bright spot in the coral, filled with friendly fish, and only a dozen yards from the beach.
An angelfish came swimming up to greet the strangers. "Layfette! Who have you brought to see us? A charming young lady and an energetic young lad!", spoke the thickly accented lady- fish.
"Molly! See here; dis is a Princess of Atlantica! Ariel is her name, and dis is her friend, Flounder."
The angelfish smiled and nodded to them. "Nice to be knowing ya both! I'll be fixin' you someting to eat, hmmm?"
"That would be wonderful! Thank you!", answered Ariel.
Layfette called to Molly as she swam off. "And go light on de spices, don't you know! Dese folks may not be used to such rich food."
"You leave me to be makin' de food", answered the angelfish.
Other animals soon came to meet the guests. Many of them had known Sebastian and all of them were very kind to Ariel and Flounder. Before long, they had all settled down among the soft sponges; swapping stories about the cantankerous crab or telling about their homes. Molly soon brought out some spicy sea-weed, and other Caribbean dishes. Ariel thought everything tasted delicious, but Flounder stuck to the less exotic offerings, which were very good too. For drink, they had mango and papaya juice; both of which could also be found in Atlantica, and which Ariel now enjoyed in refreshing sips.
The group talked the afternoon away, laughing at Sebastian's funny, endearing ways. Even Flounder began to fell at ease, despite the closeness of the land.
Remembering their earlier conversation, Ariel turned to the Sea Bass. "Layfette; earlier, you told me that I was right about the fish not understanding me. We all speak the same language,..." Ariel gestured to the animals sitting around her. "Why couldn't those other fish understand me?"
"Has your Father never told you about de animals of de wilderness?"
Ariel shook her head.
"Hmmm. Well,...it's like dis, little Princess. De sea, and de folks who live in it are not all de same. You and me, we can talk and understand each other. But de animals out dere,..." Layfette shook a fin towards the deep water, "are dumb. Dey can't speak. Dey can't understand. Dey don't have enough up here." The bass tapped his head with a fin. "It was de old merfolk who did it. Many, many years ago, little Princess, de merfolk came to live in de sea. No fish know where dey come from: some say dey came from de land; some say dey were born in de sea-foam. But they did come, and dey brought magic with dem when dey came."
"You mean, like Daddy's trident?"
The big bass nodded. "Yes. De trident was de mover of all dat happened. You may not know what power dat ting has, but your Daddy does. When de merfolk first settled down, dey built Atlantica. And de King (long before your Daddy, you understand) decided dat his people would be lonesome by demselves, so he used de trident to change de ocean around his city." Layfette pointed his fin at Flounder. "He say, "Fish! I give you knowledge", and de fish got smart. He point to crab and say, "Crab! You know what's what". He did dis to all de animals around his city."
"What about the Sharkadians and other seafolk?", asked the girl, in awe.
"Well; some animals took to the smarts better than others. De magic in de trident changed them til dey were almost just like merfolk. De King let dem go their own way and build cities of their own. Whenever merfolk took to colonizing around de world, dey took some of their animal friends with dem. Dat's why us smart fish are found all over de place."
"Gosh! I never knew any of this", whispered Flounder.
"Dat don't make you and me any less of equal to de merfolk, you understand. We just got a different beginning than dem. But we do owe them our knowledge, and should always be grateful to dem for it. Trouble is, not too many folk remember dat."
Ariel and Flounder were silent; pondering what Layfette had explained.
"Dat is why most of de animals of de ocean are dumb. You and me, Flounder, are de rare exceptions. You go out dere,... and you're in de wild."
Molly cleared her throat, and with a smile, interrupted. "Enough of dis serious talk! Who wants some more of de mango juice, hmmm?"
Ariel smiled and nodded, as she held out her shell cup. "Thank you!"
"You know", continued the angelfish, "it is getting on towards evening,...you're in for a special treat; eh, Layfette?"
"Oh yes!", answered the big bass. "De natives on de island,..." Layfette said no more about this, but turned to the girl. "So Sebastian's birthday is comin' up, hmmm? It's been so long I plum forgot when it was. You're gonna have trouble finding dat shell of yours, though. Those fellows moved out of dis neighborhood years ago; moved to de other side of Jamaica." Ariel's smile dropped in disappointment, but Layfette patted her shoulder. "But, I tink I know a present dat you can give him, just as good,..." The bass whispered in the mermaid's ear and her smile returned.
"Would you!? That's very kind of you, Layfette!"
"What are those?", blurted Flounder, and the friends looked up to see wavering yellow lights on the beach.
Layfette grinned. "It time to party!"
Ariel saw dark-skinned humans on the sand, gathering together, and she even peeked above the surface to get a better look.
"Be careful now", warned Molly. "Dey be mighty close; dey be seeing you."
"Let de girl look", answered Layfette.
The natives brought out drums and flutes; Ariel was fascinated by these graceful new humans. With torches kindled, and food roasting over fires, the natives struck up a lively tune and began to dance. Ariel grinned with delight as she watched the energetic pairs jumping and twirling to the music. The drums pounded out a calypso beat, while flutes whistled, and seated natives clapped their hands. Under the water, Layfette and his friends brought out their instruments and joined in the music. Soon, Ariel was dancing too, trying to imitate the natives' style, and pulling Flounder into the fun as her partner. The natives began to chant a song; Ariel couldn't understand the words, but they reminded her of Sebastian's accent.
Layfette sighed. "Dese folks have had many hardships, but they still keep their joy of life."
Ariel and her friends danced into the evening; the girl was moved by these happy people who laughed and sang under the flickering torches, and she wanted to share in their joy, too.
As the night wore on, sleep crept up on the girl, until she was yawning with half-closed eyes. Molly took her by the hand and led her to a soft sponge bed. The soft seaweed cover was hardly laid over, when the little mermaid was asleep.
The angelfish showed Flounder to a similar bed, then returned to Layfette. "Dey are a sweet pair", said Molly.
"Yes", answered the bass. "Sebastian has some good friends."
Ariel slept peacefully through the night, the sounds and sights of the dancing natives filling her dreams.
In the morning, Ariel and Flounder had to say goodbye to their new friends and head for home.
"I hope Alana could satisfy Daddy about where we've been", said the girl, nervously.
"I think I'll stay away from the palace for a few days", mumbled Flounder.
Ariel smirked at the little fish, took him in her arms, and swam faster. "You're not very reassuring."
As they made their way home, Flounder spotted the bottom of a fishing vessel; Ariel made a wide path around it. "You know Flounder,...that explains why humans still catch fish."
"Whatdaya mean?"
"Well,...Layfette said that most animals in the sea can't speak. That means that when the humans catch them, they're treated like how we treat,...well,...seaweed or kelp. the humans don't know that some of us are smart!"
"Yeah. But they still eat fish, and that makes them scary in my book!", shuddered Flounder.
"That's true. But they're not as bad as they seemed. They just don't know. They don't know about us."
Ariel got back in time for supper. As she sat at the table, the girl tried not to notice her father's stare. Alana looked as guilty as sin.
"Ariel", asked Triton, gently.
The girl looked up at her father, quickly lost control, and looked back at her plate. "Yes,...Daddy?"
"How was your visit?"
"My visit?"
"Yes. Your visit to your distant,...friend's house."
Alana coughed on her dolphin-milk and Andrina had to pound on her back a couple of times.
"Are you alright, dear?", asked her father.
"Fine! Fine, Father", answered Alana.
Triton turned back to Ariel.
"It was,...nice."
Triton smiled. "That's nice." The group ate in silence for a moment. "I'd like to hear about it, sometime", said the King.
Ariel looked at him and saw that he was still smiling. The girl blushed and grinned. "Okay, Daddy."
Sebastian's birthday soon arrived, and his friends all gathered in the crab's music room to surprise him. The King had some new instruments and supplies brought out to the grateful crab. Urchin gave him some ear-plugs. "Hmmm,...I tink I'll take dis as a joke", warned Sebastian. Flounder gave his friend some footwarmers. "And it wasn't cheap buying for so many feet", whispered the fish to Ariel. Each friend gave a gift, until only Ariel was left.
"Don't you have a gift for Sebastian?", asked the King.
"Well Daddy,...my gift,..."
"Ho! I am late, I see!", shouted a voice. All turned to see Layfette swim through the door. Molly and all of their friends followed behind.
"Layfette! Oh Mon! Am I glad to see you!", answered the crab, and he swam over to hug the big bass.
"Yes! De little Princess there got word to me dat your birthday was comin' up, and I just had to stop by to see you!"
Sebastian smiled back at Ariel, gratefully. Triton smiled too; a knowing smile.
The friends all gathered together to wish Sebastian a happy birthday.
Flounder looked up at Ariel. "You know. You gave him a pretty good present, after-all."
King Triton was on the outskirts of his city, overseeing the tunneling of a new dwelling for some newlyweds, when Flounder swam up to him.
The fish gulped, as he tried to face those stern eyes under the Kings bushy brows. "Your,..your Majesty,..."
Knowing of Flounder's timidity, Triton tried to let some of his strong character slip off, and even managed a gentle smile. "Yes, Flounder?"
"Uhh,...you haven't seen Ariel around, have you?"
Triton stroked his beard. "No. The last time that I saw her was at breakfast. She swam out pretty fast,...I didn't have a chance to ask her where she was going."
"I've been looking for her everywhere; I'm afraid she might be lost or hurt or something." The little fist fluttered nervously.
"I don't think that you need to worry about Ariel, just yet", answered Triton in a soothing, light-hearted voice. "Disappearing all day and then showing up late for dinner is more the norm for her."
"Yeah, but I'm always with her when she's disappeared!", worried the fish.
"Well, you just relax and wait until this evening. I'm sure that she'll tell you all about her latest "adventure" when she gets home."
"I sure hope so", answered the fish. He bowed and quickly left towards the palace.
Ariel did show up later that evening, just in time for dinner, and Flounder was there to greet her.
"You were worried about me? That's sweet,...but I'm okay; see?" The mermaid smiled sweetly and hugged her friend.
"I looked all over for you!", insisted the fish.
"Oh; I was just with a new friend", answered the girl, as they swam towards the dining room.
"A new friend?"
"Yeah. I just met him a few days ago at the marketplace. He's really a sweet guy."
Flounder hesitated. "Is he,...a fish?"
"Oh no. He's a merman. A very nice merman. His name is Durgon."
"You were with him all day?"
Ariel giggled. "Flounder! You're not jealous or anything, are you?"
"No,...no. Not me. Uh,...can I join you for dinner?"
Ariel took his fin and led him to the dinner table. "Of course! Since when did you need to ask?"
"Well,...I don't know. You might not want to see me as much now,..."
"Don't be silly! Me and Durgon have a totally different kind of friendship." Ariel kissed the fish on the nose, then she sat down at the table.
Triton swam in to join his daughters. After spotting the two, the King smiled. "You see, Flounder. I told you that she would show up."
"Yes, your Majesty. I had,...nothing to worry about."
The next day, Flounder went searching again; this time, for Urchin. He found the merboy with some other boys, playing blowfish ball. Flounder quickly told him about Ariel's "new friend".
Urchin put his hand on his chin and wrinkled his nose with concern. "This sounds serious. Ariel's done got a boyfriend!"
Flounder nodded his head. "Yeah! Ariel said they had a "different kind of friendship." That sure doesn't sound good!"
"They've probably already kissed! Ariel's not gonna be any fun anymore", confirmed Urchin.
"Why do you say that?", gasped Flounder.
"Well; she won't have time for fun stuff anymore. No more exploring,...no more games. Now that she's got a boyfriend, she's got to act grown-up."
"This is awful!", groaned the fish. Urchin squinted his eyes in thought. "We're gonna have to keep an eye on her,...just to see how bad it is."
When Flounder found the girl, later that day, Ariel was in the palace's kitchen, fixing an elaborate salad. The fish swam cautiously up and looked into the shell bowl. "Gee, Ariel. There's a bunch of stuff in there; you must really be hungry!"
"Oh, it's not for me", answered the girl. "It's for Durgon."
"You're fixing a salad,...for Durgon?"
"Uh huh! He doesn't get out a lot, so I thought I'd take him some lunch."
"That's,...nice." Flounder watched as the girl added some little touches to the salad, while humming happily to herself. "Uh,...Urchin wanted me to tell you about a big blowfish ball- game this afternoon. He thought you might like to watch it."
"I'd really like to, Flounder, but I thought I'd keep Durgon company today. Tell Urchin I hope his team wins."
"Okay. Well,..say "hi" to Durgon for me", sighed the fish, as he watched Ariel finish her work.
"I will", answered the girl, as she took the salad and swam to the door. "I'll see you this evening! Keep Urchin out of trouble!"
"Yeah! Sure,...", Flounder mumbled. That evening, Flounder once more floated around the dinner table, as the royal family ate. He listened, with growing distress, at Ariel's enthusiastic recollection of her visit with Durgon.
"You remember me telling you about him, Daddy?"
Triton nodded his head.
"Well; we had a long talk today. He knows such interesting things,(not as much as you, of course), but lot's of things I've never heard before: all about Atlantica and the ocean and sailing ships,..."
Triton raised an eyebrow. "Sailing ships? I don't like the sound of that."
Ariel bit her lip. "Well,...anyway, I did learn a lot. He's such a sweet guy!"
Flounder shrank back. the King would surely object to Ariel's infatuation. Instead, to Flounder's shock, he smiled.
"I'm glad to hear that, Ariel. Spreading kindness is a quality in you which I have always been proud of. You have certainly shown kindness to Durgon, since he has been alone for the week."
Flounder realized now that Durgon's parents must be away. That was why Ariel was seeing the merboy every day.
"I'm fixing him a special sea-berry pie tomorrow", put in the girl.
Flounder thought to himself,"Me and Urchin have got to do something about Durgon!"
The next morning, Flounder went to see Urchin again.
The merboy agreed that Durgon had an unhealthy influence on Ariel. "She stays at his place all the time; I bet he's just using her to get things, since she's a Princess and all."
"Yeah!", agreed Flounder. "First, she's making him salads and now she's baking a special pie for him. Before you know it, they'll be married and he won't even let her leave his house!"
"When was Ariel going to see him again?", asked the merboy.
"Right at lunch-time. She was gonna take him his pie."
Urchin squinted his eyes. "Let's follow her to Durgon's place. We'll just sneak along so she won't know. Then we'll find out just what this Durgon is planning."
Flounder nodded. "Yeah!"
The two boys waited for Ariel to swim out of the palace, then trailed behind; staying out of sight of the girl. Ariel swam with a smile on her face as she carried her special pie.
Urchin shook his head. "That Durgon's really got her love-struck", he whispered to Flounder.
Ariel made her way to a nice mer-dwelling, and knocked on the door.
Urchin and Flounder watched as a young merwoman let the Princess inside. "Who do you think that was?", asked Flounder.
Urchin shrugged in puzzlement. "Let's go look in through a window."
The fish followed the boy to a side of Durgon's home where opened, round windows emitted a warm yellow light. They peeked inside to see Ariel sitting with an elderly gentleman on a seaweed sofa.
"That must be Durgon's father", whispered Urchin.
Two young merwomen came into view. One of them was the person who had let Ariel inside. "We're so glad that you took the time to visit our father while we were away", said one of the women.
"Oh, it was my pleasure", answered Ariel. "Durgon told me so many interesting stories!"
The elderly man smiled and patted Ariel's hand. "And you were such a good listener too! If it hadn't been for you, it would have been a lonely week for me."
Flounder's mouth dropped. "HE"S Durgon!"
Urchin scratched his head. "I guess we were wrong."
The two boys watched as one of the merwomen brought out slices of Ariel's sea-berry pie and cups of dolphin-milk on a tray. The group sat together, laughing and talking as they enjoyed Ariel's treat.
Urchin hung his head in shame. "It was wrong of us to spy on her", he admitted.
Flounder nodded his head. "Yeah. Let's go back and leave them alone."
Just as they were turning to leave, a strong hand landed on their shoulders. "So! Spying on folks, are we?", growled a male voice.
Urchin and Flounder looked around to see a stranger looking down at them. "It's not like it looks!,...uh,...we know that girl,...that's Princess Ariel,...", stuttered the merboy.
The stranger smiled sarcastically. "Yeah; sure. I guess you won't mind telling it to the King, then. Come on!"
Triton was a little more understanding than the two trembling boys expected. The King stroked his beard after hearing about their spying. "It was wrong of you to look in on others without their consent. Flounder; your punishment will be up to your parents. Urchin; I'm beaching you for a day."
The pair nodded. "Yes, your Majesty."
"As for Ariel; I don't think you need to worry about any romantic inclinations from her just yet. Her head is too full of getting into mischief to have time for a boy." The King smiled. "When the time does come,(if I know my Ariel), you'd better just stand aside and let her go."
Urchin and Flounder gave such a puzzled look that the King just had to chuckle. "You'll understand,...in time."
Sebastian sat at a small coral desk, looking over the lyrics to be sung at the annual Winter Festival. The crab sighed, as he heard the light-hearted conversation going on behind him; the Princesses had only two weeks to polish up for their performance before the citizens of Atlantica, but they didn't seem to even notice. One voice was noticeably absent from the chatter; the prettiest and most talented voice had not even shown up yet,...as usual. The crab cleared his throat, picked up his baton, and turned to face the girls. "All right now, let's have some quiet, please! It's time to turn dat gabbing into music. De first song,..."
Sebastian was interrupted by a young mermaid who swirled into the room, full of red hair and a happy grin. "Hi Sebastian! Sorry I'm late!," chimed the girl, as she took her place among her sisters.
The crab frowned with puzzlement. "You're not late. Dat must mean something's wrong. You all right, child?"
Ariel shrugged and grinned. "Just fine! What's the first song?"
The crab paused, then snapped back to business. "Okay. De first song is "ICE ON DE WATER". Keep it peaceful, Alana; not a dirge, okay?"
Alana nodded, with a smirk, as the other girls giggled. Sebastian tapped his baton to shush them, then raised it for the first note.
"In winter-time when I was young,
I swam upon a glorious sight.
It was a mountain of frozen crystal,
A glittering jewel of bluish light."
Sebastian rapped his baton with irritation, and the girls stopped. "Arista. Dis song is supposed to be sung, not mumbled."
Arista bristled. "Well, it's not my fault! They're drowning me out! I can't even hear myself with Adella screeching in my ear!"
"I do NOT screech!", returned Adella, hotly.
The crab looked up in exasperation. "Girls! Please!"
"What's Christmas?", asked Ariel, with excited expectation.
Sebastian looked at her, dumbly. "What? Christmas?"
"Yeah! I was talking to Archemedes today, and he told me that humans are about to celebrate Christmas all over the world!"
"Ariel! What does dat have to do with your singing?!", asked the flustered crab.
"Well; Archemedes said that they sing songs at this time of the year, just like us!"
Sebastian lowered his baton and frowned. "Yeah,...well, they have dis holiday when they stop fighting each other for a few days,...all dis "good-will" towards each other and they give gifts and such. Just a bunch of human nonsense."
Ariel looked dreamily past the crab; as if she was trying to envisage Christmas. "It sounds wonderful to me,...maybe we could give gifts too!"
"It's a human holiday, girl! Just you forget all about it and get back to singing", urged the crab.
Ariel sighed. "Okay, Sebastian." The practice did not go as well as Sebastian would have wanted. Try as he might, he couldn't get Ariel to concentrate on her singing. Without her, the other girls fell flat. "It was dat Christmas stuff to blame!", growled Sebastian, as he retired for the evening. "Maybe the child will have forgotten it by tomorrow,..." The crab put on his seaweed night-cap, turned down his phosphor lamp, and crawled into bed. It wasn't long before his eyelids drooped, then closed. All over the Kingdom, lights went out and quiet fell peacefully over the sea.
Sebastian was snoring; making little whistling sounds; when a voice crept into his dreams: "Sebastian,...", it said. "Sebastian,..." It sounded like Flounder. The crab seemed to wake up, raising a heavy eyelid.
"Wake-up, Sebastian!" Flounder was there, right in front of him. His eyes were bright and he wore a cheerful grin. Something was different, however: the little fish was wearing a false beard.
"Flounder!", the crab groaned. "What are you doing here at this time of the night,...and with dat silly beard!"
Flounder laughed. "But I'm not Flounder!"
The crab raised an eyebrow. "Oh yeah? And who are you supposed to be?"
The little fish beamed proudly. "I am the spirit of Christmas past!"
Yawning and frowning at the same time, Sebastian shut his eyes. "Dis is not funny, Flounder. Play your little joke, tomorrow."
A sudden current of cold water rushed over the crab's bed, pulling off his covers and snapping open his eyes. "I am not Flounder! I'm the Spirit of Christmas past, I tell you. You gotta come with me; I'm gonna show you lot's of neat stuff! Grab onto my tail."
Sebastian was too stunned to say anything; he obeyed without thinking and his bedroom turned misty before his eyes. Flounder seemed to be swimming, but nothing was clear except for the rushing of the water and Flounder's cheerful voice.
"We're going to visit your past, Sebastian,...before you became such a grouch!"
The crab looked down, and the mist cleared. He knew this place! It was his childhood home; the clear warm waters off the coast of Jamaica. The bright sun dappled the corals and sponges with color. Tropical fish, who he knew by name, swam close-by.
"Dis is amazing! But, why did you bring me here?", asked the crab.
"To teach you the Christmas spirit before it's too late",announced Flounder.
Sebastian looked at the fish, and frowned. "Hey! Wait a minute! Fish can't grow beards,..."
Ignoring him, Flounder grinned, as he pointed a fin at the coral. "Look there!"
Sebastian turned and looked; he broke into a smile as he saw a group of fish, crustaceans, and other animals chatting together. "Why, dat's my old friends! We started a band together,...who's that!?" The crab couldn't believe it. There he was among the others! Of course, he was just a youngster then; he sat at a make-shift set of drums and held some drumsticks almost as big as himself. The other animals also had instruments, and they soon started up a squeaky tune.
Flounder wrinkled his brows. "I see why you switched from drums to conducting."
"Well,...I was just starting!", defended the crab, as he gazed in amazement at the sight. "Oh, Mon! Those were de good old days! What a time we had!"
"What tune are you playing?", asked the fish, with a twinkle in his eye.
The crab paused to listen. "Oh; dat's a Christmas song we once heard some,...humans play."
"I see", said Flounder, with a smile.
Suddenly, the water swirled, and Sebastian's friends were hidden behind muddy clouds. When they cleared, the crab saw a different scene: an older Sebastian was saying goodbye to his old comrades in music.
"We're so happy for you, Sebastian!", gushed one fish. "Playing at El-ectric City is a really cool gig!" The other animals patted an obviously proud young crab on the back. "Don't forget us after you're famous!", laughed an octopus. The young Sebastian smiled back at him. "Of course I won't! Don't be silly!"
Flounder looked over at a suddenly silent Sebastian. "Did you ever see them again?"
The crab turned his eyes away, guiltily. "Well,...no. But it wasn't my fault! I was so busy, you see. And I didn't have the time,..." The crab closed his eyes, sadly. "Oh, Mon,..."
"Oh, Sebastian! Wake up!", whispered a happy, feminine voice.
The reluctant crab opened one eye; there was Ariel beside his little bed. She wore a shimmering cloak of purple and a happy smile.
"Time to get up, you old sleepy-crab! We've got places to go!"
"Ariel?", asked the crab, desperately.
"Nope! I'm the Spirit of Christmas present! Weeee!" She giggled as she raised her arms and spun around.
"You didn't see Flounder leaving, did you?", grumbled the crab. "You couldn't miss him; he was wearing a false beard."
In answer, the girl took his claw in hand and pulled him out of bed. She swam so fast that all Sebastian could see were streaks of light in the darkness.
"Where are we going?", he gasped, after finding his voice.
"We're going to visit all of the Christmas cheer that's going on this year", laughed the little mermaid.
"Can't we visit it after I get some sleep?"
"Look! Here we are!",answered Ariel, as day sprang over the water. Sebastian saw that they had returned to his old neighborhood. There were his friends; grown-up now, and all gathered together.
"What are they doing?", asked the crab.
"They're giving Christmas presents to each other!",answered the happy girl. "Look at all the joy they are sharing!"
Sebastian looked at the old familiar faces, and had to admit that they were all smiling as they exchanged seaweed-wrapped gifts. One lobster shook his gift next to his ear, while a seahorse chuckled at him. Hastily unwrapping it, the lobster beamed as he admired an old pair of claw-warmers.
"Dose raggedy old tings aren't much of a present", commented Sebastian.
Ariel smirked at him. "It's not the gift that matters,...it's the giving. See?"
The crab saw that the lobster was warmly hugging his friend. "Yeah,...I guess so", said Sebastian, with some sorrow and regret in his voice.
Ariel took the little crab in her hands. "Time to go some- place else!", she said and off they went. When the water cleared, they were back in Atlantica. Sebastian saw Ariel and Flounder hanging decorations on a coral tree which the mermaid had set up in her room.
Sebastian looked from the "Spirit", who was holding him, down to the laughing girl hanging pretty shells on the tree.
"You two look an awful lot alike."
"Look at all the fun they're having!", urged Ariel.
Sebastian saw that his dear friends were having a lot of fun with this Christmas tradition. "Yeah; but I notice dat they didn't invite me", said the crab, with hurt in his voice.
Ariel lowered an eyebrow. "We did invite you, Sebastian, but you said you were too busy."
"Oh. Well,...maybe I should have gone with you. Is it too late now?"
In answer, the little mermaid took him back to his bed, kissed him on the cheek, and covered him up. "Now, you think about all the fun you're gonna miss by being too busy."
The girl faded, as Sebastian's eyelids started to close. He fell back into a troubled sleep.
He wasn't asleep long, when a powerful voice woke him up again. "Sebastian!", it growled. There was King Triton in his little room, just barely squeezing inside.
"Oh. Your Majesty. No need to bother with me; Flounder and your daughter have already taken me around."
Triton lowered his brows. "I am NOT the Sea King!"
"Sorry,Your Majesty", blurted the sleepy crab.
"I am the Spirit of Christmas future. Come with me."
Sebastian started to protest, until he caught the glare in the King's eyes. "Yes, your Royal Spirit."
They swam through a dark mist; when it cleared, Sebastian saw Flounder in his own little home. A girl fish floated beside him, and lot's of little fish played on the seaweed rug.
Sebastian smiled. "Why! Little Flounder's done got himself hitched!"
"Yes", answered the King. "He is very happy with his married life. He does have one sorrow, however. His old friend no longer has time to visit him any more."
Sebastian looked at the King with regret. "Me?"
The King nodded.
Sebastian returned his gaze to the happily-playing children, and his smile returned. "I'll visit them more often,...I promise. But what about Ariel? Where is dat girl?"
Triton stroked his beard in thought. "She has a family too, and is very happy. But her future is unclear to me; enough to say that she is unable to visit you. Now come. Let's see what life you now lead."
Triton took the crab to a dusty corner of the palace. An older Sebastian sat at his desk, scribbling out some musical notes. A pile of unplayed songs littered the unkempt room.
"I don't look very happy", sighed Sebastian. He looked over his future self's shoulder at the piece he was writing. "Not a bad song, though."
"Aquata and her husband play your works, of course. It is all the joy you have left, after turning away from friendship and pursuing your "masterpieces"."
"All the joy I have left. I don't want to live like dat! I want to have friends! Maybe have a wife and kids too! You've taught me, Spirits. I'll put more of de "good will" in my life!"
"That's the spirit! So-to-speak. As for the Human Christmas songs; you don't have to play them, you know. Don't forget; humans are barbarians."
Sebastian scratched his head. "You sure you're not the King?"
"Time to go home, Sebastian", returned the King. "Close your eyes."
Sebastian obeyed, and sleep took him once more.
The next morning, the crab peeked cautiously around before opening his eyes. "Good! No more Spirits! There's so much to do! Must see the King first!"
Sebastian jumped out of his bed and swam to the King's breakfast as fast as his feet could go. Ariel and Flounder were there too. The crab rushed up to them with a grin on his face. "Flounder! You don't have a beard!"
The little fish eyed him, nervously. "Am I supposed to have one?"
"And what's your name!?", asked the happy crab, as he darted in front of the youngest mermaid.
"Sebastian, are you feeling all right?", answered Ariel, with worry in her voice.
"You're not the Spirit of Christmas present, are you?"
" Nooo,... Try Ariel", said the girl, half puzzled and half amused.
"I might have known", growled Triton. "See Ariel! All of this Christmas talk has gone and rattled Sebastian"s brain!"
Sebastian rushed up to the King; still with his silly grin. "Oh, your Majesty! I need a favor from you. I need to take a few days off, if you don't mind. I must see some old friends who've I've neglected for a long time!"
Triton seemed taken aback. "Well, Sebastian; I don't know. What about the Winter Festival? Do you think my girls are good enough to perform?" Ariel jumped in to help Sebastian. "We'll practice twice as hard when he gets back, Daddy! Won't we?" She turned to her sisters, who half-heartedly agreed.
Triton shrugged his approval.
"Oh,tank you! Tank you, your Majesty!"
When Sebastian got back, he was humming with happiness. Ariel noticed that, even as he was working hard to improve the Princesses' singing, the little crab kept his smile. "You seem to be happier lately",noted the girl, after their rehearsal.
The crab nodded. "It's just the Christmas spirit, Ariel! Oh! By-the-way, I want to tell you all about dis wonderful human holiday!"
Ariel grinned with delight.
The Winter Festival was an enjoyment for the whole Kingdom, and especially the King; who thought his daughters sang as good as he had ever heard them.
After listening to Sebastian's explanation of Christmas, Ariel decided to decorate a tree; just like Humans do. Of course,Flounder wanted to help, too. Ariel went to ask Sebastian if he wanted to hang decorations on the tree. She found him in his music room.
Sebastian smiled, as Ariel asked him, and put down his squid-pen. "Of course, I'll help! I'm never too busy to have a little fun with my dear friends!"
Ariel sat at her rock desk, as Sebastian pointed at the blackboard. "Okay now; we're gonna learn about water today", he announced seriously.
Arista started giggling.
"Do you find that amusing, young lady?", growled the crab.
The girl looked up; embarassed, and blushed as she shook her head.
"So you tink you know everything about water; hmmm? Ariel; would you take a swallow of water, please?"
Ariel looked at the crab, in confusion. "I can't."
"And why can't you, young lady?"
"It would make me sick", answered the girl. Her sisters laughed.
Sebastian lowered his stick and smiled. "And why would it make you sick; do-you-suppose?"
Ariel shrugged. "I guess cause it's salty."
"Exactly", confirmed the crab. "Dat salt is mixed with all the ocean water! Every creature in the sea has to deal with all dat salt. Too much salt ain't good for you; It makes you fat and sick." Adella blushed.
Sebastian pointed to a sketch of a mermaid on his blackboard. "But we can get rid of all dat salt, you see. Every time you breathe out, your body releases all dat extra salt you don't need." He turned back to Ariel. "Now then; do you ever drink water?"
Ariel laughed. "Of course! We get it from a well in the palace!"
"Dat's right. Dat is called freshwater cause it don't have salt in it, you see. Now then; when you pump out dat freshwater into your cup, and it's sitting in there, it don't have no salt in it, does it?"
The girls were silent now. They were fascinated; especially Ariel.
"But all dat water around your cup's got salt in it, right? Why don't dat salt go into the water in your cup?"
No one knew. "It just,...doesn't", answered Aquata, at last.
Sebastian smiled. "I'll give you a hint. If you took your cup of water out of Atlantica, it would get salty."
Ariel put her hand to her chin, in thought. "So it's something about Atlantica which keeps them separated."
The crab nodded at her; tapping his foot. "You're getting warmer. Here's another hint: by the natural laws of nature, dat water would get salty."
"It's Daddy!", laughed Ariel.
"You got it! It's the power of the trident which let's you drink your freshwater. And dat's not all: milk stays in your cup, food stays on your plate. You wouldn't be able to take a hot bath or throw a sand-dollar frisbee. Lot's of these "Laws of Nature" can't mess tings up around here cause of the magic of the place."
"Laws of Nature?", asked Ariel, curiously.
Sebastian smiled; understandibly. "Well,...those aren't important dat you know. They're just a bunch of rules folks have noticed about how the world works. What I want you to remember is dat tings don't always work the way you would expect, outside of Atlantica."
After school, the girls made their way back to the palace. Ariel was still puzzling over that morning's lesson. "Isn't it interesting how Daddy keeps everything working right around here?", she mused.
Arista smirked. "What's interesting is picking out a recipe to win this year's carnival cooking contest! I can't decide which of mine I want to use; they're all so good."
"Strange how you didn't win a starfish last year", laughed Aquata.
Arista shot her a mean glare, then stuck up her chin. "My recipes have improved, since then. I'm sure to win this year."
Adella giggled. "I can't wait to start on my recipe! I'm making sea-peach pie!"
"Uggh; that sounds fattening", complained Alana.
"So what are you making?", demanded Adella.
"I'm experimenting with sea-kelp casserole," answered Alana. "What are you making, Ariel?"
"She's too busy going on "adventures" to enter a neat cooking contest!", laughed Arista.
Ariel came out of her thoughtful quiet and shook her head. "I haven't really thought about it; I probably won't enter this year."
"See. I told you. She knows she doesn't stand a chance of beating me", answered Arista.
Ariel looked scornfully at her sister and swam off.
While she was playing with Flounder that day, a thought suddenly struck her. Flounder followed, in surprise, as Ariel swam to her secret grotto.
"I know it's here somewhere,...", said the girl, as she looked through her collection of human books. "Here it is!", laughed the Ariel, as she opened it to show her friend.
Flounder looked at it with puzzlement.
"It's a cookbook!", explained the girl. "Humans have recipes too! If only I understood human writing,..."
"Maybe Archemedes can read it", offered Flounder.
"Yeah! Let's go see him!", laughed the happy girl.
Archemedes scanned through the book in fascination. "I never knew that humans had such books as this. Most of the foods are unknown to me, of course. There is a section on seafood, but I don't think you'd like to hear it"
Flounder shuddered. "Nope! Don't read that!"
"Are there any recipes without,...animals in them?", asked the girl.
"Oh yes,...quite a few", confirmed the merman. "I see one in here that I've actually tried before. The humans call it "apple pie". A sailor was about to eat a slice, when it accidently fell overboard. I took a bite; it was quite good."
"Apple pie", repeated the girl. "Do you think I could make one?"
Archemedes studied the page. "Well, let's see,.... Flour,... That's like sponge bread. Salt; got plenty of that. Shortening. Well, that's like sargassum oil. Sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg,... You'll have to look through some shipwrecks to find those; they'll be in little bottles. The apples are going to be the hard part. You'll have to search above the sea."
Ariel's eyes lit up.
"We've got dolphin milk and butter. That's about it. I'll write it down for you in our language. The rest is up to you," Archemedes said with a smile.
"Thank you, Archemedes!", said the little mermaid.
As soon as Ariel had her recipe, she started searching for ingrediants. The spices, she found next to the humans' round metal crowns and dinglehoppers. "Odd that they should put them next to stuff for their heads", puzzled Ariel. She found a big sack full of white sand-like stuff. It tasted sweet; like sea peach, so she knew it must be sugar.
Flounder laughed. "Better not show that to Adella! She'll want all of it for her recipes!"
Ariel found the other ingrediants ( except for the apples ) in the palace kitchen.
Otto, the royal chef, tasted the spices with curiousity. "Not bad", commented the octopus.
"You're free to have all I don't use", offered the girl.
Otto shook his head. "I'd better not. If your father found out that I was using human foods in his meals, I might be on the menu next time."
Ariel laughed, then turned to Flounder. "Okay; time for the apples!", she said with a grin.
Flounder moaned. "I was afraid of that."
After the Princesses" singing lesson, Ariel went up to Sebastian and fidgeted.
The crab lowered an eyebrow. "You brought home a shark."
The girl shook her head.
"You want to miss singing, next week."
"Un uh", said Ariel.
Sebastian put a claw to his chin in thought."You want to go to the surface, and you want me to go with you."
Ariel grinned.
"Oh, no! No! No! When are you gonna learn, child? Dat suface is no place for mermaids! Or crabs either!"
"But I need apples for the carnival cooking contest!", pleaded the girl.
Sebastian shook his head. "No way, child. Just get dat notion out of your head." The crab turned back to his music, and Ariel turned away, sadly. As she joined her sisters, Arista was telling them about her recipe.
"Oh, yes! It's going to impress everyone! Even that snooty snapper who's judging this year is going to be asking for seconds. Oh, hi Ariel! I didn't think you were that smart, but it really was wise of you not to enter the contest this year! Your poor little effort would have been blown out of the water!"
Not wanting to hear any more taunts, Ariel left her sisters and swam back to her bedroom. She was lying on her bed, when she she heard someone clear his throat. It was Sebastian.
"Okay. Let's go get some of dem apples."
Ariel beamed with joy and hugged the crab.
"I overheard Arista teasing you, and I didn't want to be the cause of you being so sad."
"Thank you, Sebastian!", said the girl, gratefully.
"Okay then. If you don't want me being entered this year as crab cakes, neither one of you is to breath a word about this to the King. Understood?"
Ariel and Flounder nodded. The three friends had snuck out of Atlantica the next morning and were swimming for a closeby island that Sebastian had visited.
"It'd be a nice little place, if it wasn't full of Humans", noted the crab.
A small waterway cut right through the middle of it, and the three explorers swam cautiously into the village square.
Flounder saw a tasty doughball and started to take a bite, before Sebastian warned him. "No! Don't eat dat! It's got a hook in it!"
The little fish jumped into Ariel's arms, with fright.
"Don't eat ANYTHING!", warned the crab.
"You don't have to tell me twice!", promised Flounder; still trembling.
Ariel was trying to get closer to the surface to take a peek, but Sebastian kept her swimming at the bottom.
"You let me look, child. They don't mind seeing a crab, but if you popped out, they would be throwing nets left and right."
"But I wanna see too!", pleaded the girl.
"If you want your apples, you do what I say."
Ariel puffed at her hair and reluctantly obeyed.
The crab stopped and looked out of the water. "Okay. We`re in the marketplace now. There ought to be a human selling apples around here somewhere."
"So they have a marketplace just like us!", observed Ariel. "We're alot alike, aren't we?"
"Yeah Mon. And they got lot's of fish for sell, too."
Flounder shivered.
Ariel shrugged. "Well,...they're kinda like us."
Sebastian frowned at her, then started for some steps climbing out of the water. "I'm going to get some apples. You two stay put, right here."
Ariel and Flounder nodded. Ariel suddenly remembered her sack and stopped the crab. "Sebastian! Don't forget!" She pulled out a small bag full of pearls. "You've got to pay for them," she noted.
The crab smiled at her. "You're an honest little girl and your Daddy would be proud of you."
Ariel blushed.
Sebastian took the little bag and started up the steps.
He wasn't five feet out of the water, when giant feet jumped down next to him and he was picked up off the steps. A blond- headed boy held him up. "Look Dad! A crab! Wanna put him in the stall?"
Sebastian was terrified, as he heard an older man shout, "Bring em, then! Put em next to the oysters!"
Sebastian felt his brain knocked around, as the youth ran up the steps and across the courtyard. The boy noticed the little bag that Sebastian was carrying and snatched it away. "Look at this, Dad! The crab was carrying it!" The boy reached an awning- covered stall full of fish, and handed the bag to a burly, approned man holding a knife.
"You don't say?", marveled the man, as he took the bag.
"Give dat back!", squeeked Sebastian. He could hardly speak from fright.
The boy laughed and shook him. "The critter almost sounds like it's talking!"
"Holy,...", gasped the man when he poured out the pearls. "Will you look at this!" He ran his hand over his almost-bald head.
The boy's mouth fell open and he threw Sebastian carelessly among the fish as he gaped at the pearls. "We're rich, Dad!"
Ariel just couldn't stand it any longer; she was right in the middle of a human village! She just had to take a peek! When she gave a little kick, Flounder knew exactly where she was going.
"Oh no! The human's are gonna see us! We're gonna get caught for sure!", groaned the fish.
"Just one little peek", promised the girl. She broke the surface and looked around. She could see lot's and lot's of humans! The wall of stones along the waterway wouldn't allow her to see their legs, so they looked just like merfolk.
"They're just like us, Flounder! They might wear more stuff over thier bodies, but we look just the same!"
Flounder laughed at the men's hats. "Look at those silly things on their heads!"
"Maybe they're crowns or something", puzzled the girl. "Maybe it's a whole town full of Kings!" She noticed lot's of folks holding long sticks over the water; with tiny strands of seaweed or something tied to the end.
One of the humans shouted at the girl. "Hey you! Child! Don't you be swimmin' in here! You're scarin' the fish away!"
Ariel ducked under the water in fright. Then, she got an idea. The girl popped back up again, holding Flounder, and kissed him on the nose in front of the astonished fishermen. She went under again, giggling.
Flounder just had to laugh; from all of the ruckus that they had caused among the humans above.
They swam back down to the bottom again and waited for Sebastian to return.
The stallkeeper couldn't believe his good luck. His hand trembled so badly that he spilled half of the pearls onto the ground. Crying in dismay, he and his son fell down on their hands and knees to recover the rolling treasures. The folks tending stalls right next to them were quick to join them and a fight soon started over who found what. Someone shouted,"free pearls!", and a mob decended on the stalls; Sebastian could only watch in shock, as humans sprang around everywhere, knocking over carts and spilling food all over the place. A hand grabbed him and he was carried away from the stall again.
The boy, who was carrying him, looked up at a woman. "I got a crab, Mom!
The woman cuffed him on the head. "Not crabs, stupid! Pearls!"
The boy rubbed his head and threw Sebastian back into the water.
When Sebastian recovered his wits, he swam down to Ariel and Flounder. "I'm sorry, child. I didn't get no apples. I was lucky to get away with myself!"
Ariel grinned, as she held her sack,...full of apples. "What do you mean, Sebastian? You did a great job!"
Sebastian looked up to see all of the fruit which had rolled across the courtyard, down the steps, and now floated in the water. Sebastian shook his head. "Let's go home", he pleaded.
Ariel and her sisters sat among a big group of merfolk under a seaweed tent. All of thier attention was focused on a long table in front of them, where an elderly red snapper was judging which pie was best.
The snapper bent over Adella's sea-peach pie and gave it a haughty sniff. Taking a coral spoon, she tried a bite and shook her head. "Too sweet", she declared.
Adella pouted, while Arista whispered to her, "Don't feel bad! I'll let you hold the blue ribbon after I win it!"
The snapper looked up over her spectacles. "Quiet please!"
Next, she took a taste of Arista's sea-gooseberry pie and paused. "Not bad,...not bad at all", she announced.
Arista smirked with pride. Victory was assured.
The judge came to the last pie and gave a sniff. Puzzled, she read the label. "Surprise pie? Well,...it certainly smells different." She took a bite and dropped her spectacles in amazement.
"This is delicious!" The snapper took another big bite, while Arista gasped in shock.
"I've never tasted anything like this!", gushed the snooty snapper. She looked down to read the label and smiled. Swimming around the table, she looked at the contestants.
"First prize goes to Princess Ariel, for her suprise pie!"
Ariel grinned, joyfully, and swam forward. The snapper put a gold starfish, with a blue ribbon, in her hands.
"Congradulations, dear! That's the best pie that I've ever tasted! As a matter-of-fact, I've never tasted anything like it!"
Arista, bitter at not getting first place, quipped, "Knowing her, it's probably a Human's recipe!"
Ariel grinned and shrugged.
Shock spread on the snapper's face. "You mean,...it is a Human's recipe!? How horrid!" The snapper dropped her spoon in disgust and pointed a fin at Ariel. "Oh! You should be ashamed!"
Ariel hung her head and turned her eyes away. The snapper took the ribbon out of her hands. "Princess Ariel is disqualified. I declare Princess Arista and her gooseberry pie the winner!"
Arista beamed proudly, as the snapper handed her the starfish. Ariel clapped for her sister, although she tried hard not to cry.
The snapper turned back to Ariel. "Let this be a lesson to you, young lady! Just be glad that your Father wasn't here to see this!"
Ariel swam back to her sisters, and joined them in congradulating Arista. Arista grinned from ear to ear. "Nice try, Ariel!", she laughed, as she admired her ribbon.
Later that day, Flounder went searching for Ariel, and found her in her secret grotto. The girl was holding what was left of her apple pie.
"I've been looking all over for you!", said Flounder. "Alana won third place for her casserole."
Ariel tried to smile. "That's nice," she whispered.
Flounder rubbed, lovingly, against her. "Your pie was the best. I tried it myself, and you know how much I'm scared of Human stuff!"
"Thanks, Flounder. But it still hurts. Why did she like it so much, then hate it when she found out it was Human? I just don't understand."
"You did your best, and that's what counts; right?"
Ariel wiped away a tear and looked at her best friend. She gave him a hug. "You're right. It doesn't matter if I won or not; I tried my best."
"And we had fun doing it, too!", added the fish.
Ariel smiled. "Yeah; we did, didn't we?" She took her pie and tasted it. "I think it's the most wonderful pie in the whole world!"
Ariel lay in her bed, with the soft seaweed covers pulled half-way up. She was resting on one elbow, while she studied a small glass perfume bottle which she held in the other hand.
"Isn't this thing amazing, Flounder?" She sighed, as she turned it over and over, letting the soft lamp-light sparkle off the bottle's facets. After a pause, the girl twisted around to look at her best friend; his little bed was a few yards away from her's.
"Flounder?", she repeated, and saw that the fish was reading a little scroll. "What is it you're reading?", she asked curiously.
"Hmmmm? Oh,...it's a really neat story. All about "Rescue Ray" and his exciting rescues!"
"Rescue Ray?", asked the girl with a giggle.
"Yeah! In this story, he's rescuing a couple of sardines who get trapped in this cave by a wolf-fish. And this big wolf-fish is mean and nasty, but Rescue Ray isn't afraid. He goes right up and,..."
"Does Rescue Ray ever rescue humans?", interrupted Ariel, as she gazed down at her perfume bottle.
"...hits him on the nose! And this,...huh? Humans? Why would humans need rescuing?", puzzled the fish.
"If they fell in the water, silly!", returned the mermaid with a grin.
"Uhhh. I've never read a story where humans are rescued. There is this one where Rescue Ray saves a tuna from a fishing net. Do you want to hear that one?"
"No. I don't think so,...", answered Ariel, with a sigh. She looked sadly at her bottle. "Poor humans. There's no one to rescue them in my world. They're so,...helpless down here."
"As much as we are on land", agreed Flounder.
"I'll tell you one thing, Flounder. If I ever see a human in trouble, I'm going to try and help him; no matter what Daddy says."
Flounder shuddered. "That doesn't sound like a good idea to me. Humans are mean. You'd better stay away from them."
"Well,...I guess it doesn't matter anyway. Daddy won't let me get close enough to see them, much-less, rescue them." The girl put down her perfume bottle and gave a gentle yawn. She looked around her room, then back at her friend. "I'm hungry, Flounder. I wonder if there's any snacks in the kitchen."
Flounder smiled. "Let's go look!"
Ariel slid out of bed, and joined the little fish at the door. She looked out into the hallway; everything was quiet, as the palace's folks settled down for the night. The lighting was soft now. Shadows filled the crevices and nooks in the rounded walls where the yellow-green lamps could not reach. The little mermaid did not need the lamps, however. She knew the palace, even in the dark. Each room was an old friend to the curious girl. She passed a seaweed-draped opening; knowing that it was Alana's bedroom. All of her sisters slept in this wing, with their father's chamber situated at the end of the hall, where he could watch over and protect his children. Ariel was glad for the little shell door at the back of her bedroom. She could usually go exploring, and be back before she got into any trouble. Of course, there was no rule against grabbing a snack to eat before bedtime.
Another room passed by; it was the girl's old playroom. Ariel's toys were still there; giving enjoyment whenever the girl baby-sitted. Triton's library was next; filled with scrolls and old books, and then came his study-room. The hall ended in a large archway, which led to the family's lounge-room. Here, the girls could relax and chat together, or just be with each other while exploring their own interests. Aquata had a well-worn seaweed sofa that she liked to lounge in while she read; Arista would knit close-by; Adella would watch her while she snacked on sea-grapes. Ariel's favorite spot was close to one of the windows, where she could look up and watch the occasional sailing ships go passing by. Triton would still hold sway in a massive seaweed-cushioned chair, but Ariel found it hard to take him too seriously as he laid back, reading a book, with his flukes propped-up on a fin-rest.
At the other end of the room, the lofty hallway continued; leading to the other parts of the palace, including the kitchen.
Ariel caught movement further up the hall and froze, with a smile on her face. "Let's try to sneak past Blenny!", she whispered.
Flounder nodded. Slowly, they inched forward; keeping in the shadows when they could. A skinny merman, with helmet and spear, came into view; looking bored and sleepy. His watch was almost over and he was ready to hit the seaweed. Ariel pulled Flounder into the shadows and held her breath, as the guard swam past them. She tried hard not to giggle, but it was no use. Ariel put her hand to her mouth to stifle it. Blenny turned around, with a scared face.
"Who's there?", he warned; gripping his spear with white knuckles.
Trying her best, the girl didn't let out any more giggles, and the merman slowly relaxed.
"Probably Adella snoring again", mumbled the guard, as he floated past the kids.
Flounder grinned, and Ariel put a finger to her lips to shush him. When the guard disappeared down the hall, the girl whispered,"Come on!", and pulled the fish along with her. She was still giggling when they entered the kitchen.
Ariel looked around, trying to decide what she wanted. Flounder followed right behind her.
"Have we got any plankton cupcakes left? I want one of them!", said the rolly-polly fish. The little mermaid checked the cold-water box; clinking shell bowls as she looked around inside.
"Here's a plankton doughnut from last night,...wait a minute; here's one." Ariel handed Flounder a cupcake. "Now,...let's see. I think I want a neptune salad", commented the girl, as she pulled out some bowls. Putting them on a coral table, Ariel got a clean bowl off the shelf and started putting different seaweeds and kelps into it. She sprinkled some sea- flower seeds and little pieces of sea-peach and sea-grapes over it, too. She put the bowls back and pulled out a bottle of salad dressing.
"Mmmmm!", she said, as she poured some over the top of her salad. "Now, doesn't that look better than an old cupcake?"
"Nah! Sweets for me", answered Flounder with a smile.
Ariel smirked at him, as she put up the salad dressing. "What do you want to drink?", she asked.
"Dolphin milk, I guess."
Ariel pulled out two shell cups. "Two dolphin milks, it is!" She poured the milk and handed Flounder his cup. They sat down at the table and started to snack.
King Triton was awakened by Blenny, one of his Royal guards. "It's your daughter, your Majesty! She missing!"
Triton sat up and stared at the shaken merman "Who's missing, Blenny?"
"Ariel, Sir! Ariel and Flounder! I checked her room and they were gone! Her back door was bolted from the inside and they didn't pass me on my rounds!"
Triton tried to calm the man, but found himself growing worried too. "Did you check the other girls' rooms? Maybe she's with one of them."
"Yes Sir! I checked them all! She's gone, I tell you!" Blenny lowered his voice, and fear crept into it. "I felt something in the hall, your Majesty. Some dreadful presence."
Triton stiffened. "The Evil Manta?"
"Or Ursula", added Blenny. "I don't know which."
Triton swung out of bed and grabbed his trident. "Why didn't you stop her, Blenny? You ARE my guard!"
Blenny shrank from the King's wraith. "I'm as brave as anyone, Sire! But you know Ursula!,...she's so clever! She got past me without my seeing her."
Triton nodded. "In any case, you would have been no match for her. I'll take care of this. You guard my other girls until Chub comes on duty; then you can BOTH guard them."
"Yes, your Majesty!"
Triton stroked his beard. "I'll see the Manta first. He is more likely to try something wicked at once." With that, the King raced out of the palace.
Ariel was just finishing her salad, when Adella came swimming into the kitchen. She went straight to the cold-water box. "I know we had a cupcake left", she grumbled, as she rummaged around inside.
"Flounder ate the last one", said Ariel. Flounder gave a weak smile to the fuming Adella. "There's a doughnut in there", offered Ariel.
Adella turned back to the box. "That'll do." She pulled out the doughnut and started munching and talking. "Watch out for Blenny; he's in a nervous mood tonight. Almost didn't let me make my round to the kitchen."
After Adella left, Ariel pushed back her chair and smiled. "That was good! Ready to hit the seaweed?"
"Yeah. I guess I can finish Rescue Ray, tomorrow."
Ariel put their bowls and cups in the sink, then they swam out of the kitchen. As the two swam past Adella's bedroom, they could hear Blenny admonishing the girl about being gone so long. "Blenny really is in a nervous mood tonight", said Flounder.
"Yeah! Sounds like he's got Chub nervous, too", added the girl, as another voice continued the lecture.
They swam into Ariel's bedroom, brushed their teeth, and hopped into their beds. The girl pulled the soft, warm blankets up over her and turned down the phosphor lamp.
Triton swept back into the hallway, with concern on his face. Blenny and Chub, a heavy-set guard with a little mustache, watched the King, with worried expectation, when they saw that Ariel wasn't with him.
"It's very puzzling. I confronted the Manta and Ursula. They know nothing of the matter." Triton went to Ariel's doorway and looked inside. He gasped; then turned to the guards. One eyebrow was lowered. "Blenny. Would you come here a moment?"
Blenny was sent home to bed, then Triton swam into his daughter's room, and up to where she was snuggling-down for the night. Ariel looked up with sleepy eyes.
Triton gently brushed back her hair. "Ariel, dear. You didn't happen to,...go anywhere tonight, did you?"
"Flounder and I went to the kitchen for a snack. Why, Daddy? Is something wrong?"
Triton chuckled. "No. Nothing's wrong." He leaned down and kissed her forehead. "Get a good night's sleep."
"Good-night, Daddy."
After her father left, Ariel looked over at Flounder. "What do you suppose that was about?", asked the girl.
Flounder shrugged. "I don't know. It's been pretty quiet, if you ask me."
Ariel yawned, then turned down the lamp. "Good-night, Flounder"
"Good-night, Ariel."
On the day that the handsome merboy joined Pearl's class, the mermaid was determined to go out with him. When the first school-break came around, Pearl put on her most charming smile and swayed over to him.
"I suppose you've been eager to meet me", started the girl, with a flutter of her lashes.
The boy didn't seem to hear her. "Red hair,..."he sighed.
Pearl's smile soured. "I beg your pardon?"
The boy seemed lost in a daze. "She has the prettiest red hair,..."
"My hair is blond," corrected Pearl.
"Oh,...I'm sorry!", answered the boy as he came out of his trance. "Do you know the name of that girl over there?"
Pearl's eyes narrowed, as she followed his stare. It was Ariel! Plain, awkward little Ariel! That princess wasn't about to steal this prize away!
After school, Ariel swam eagerly for home; she and Flounder had found a bag of round, colored stones in an old shipwreck and she wanted to ask Sebastian what the Humans used them for. Before she could see the crab, however, the girl had to pick up some things in the marketplace. While at her first stop, Ariel felt someone tap her on the shoulder. It was Pearl.
"Hi, Pearl!", started the girl.
Pearl cleared her throat. "Dear little Ariel", she interrupted. "I'm here because I just can't bear another day of school watching your predicament."
"My,...predicament?", asked Ariel, in confusion.
Pearl sighed. "You need not cover it up. After-all, you're not to blame for your looks; you were born like that."
Ariel stared; angrily. "What's wrong with my looks?"
Pearl gave a short laugh. "Don't get huffy with me! I'm just trying to help you out."
"I don't see that I look any worse than any other mermaid", declared Ariel.
"Do you have any boyfriends?", challenged Pearl.
The girl shrank back and blushed. "Well,...no,..but I,...haven't really thought about it."
Pearl smirked and fluttered her lashes in disbelief. "Really, Ariel! Of course you've thought about it. You aren't noticed. And I can tell you why".
Ariel looked up, in alarm. "Why!?"
"It's your hair."
"My,...hair?", stammered Ariel.
Pearl nodded. "Boys don't like red hair. To be brutally-honest, they hate red hair.
Ariel pulled her red locks with her fingers and looked fearfully at it. "They don't like my red hair? I,...I never knew."
Pearl smiled. "Now you know. And despite your snapping at me before, I'm going to help you out and get you some boyfriends." Pearl pulled out a small bottle of dark liquid. "Shampoo with this tonight."
Ariel hesitantly took the bottle. "What will it do?"
"Your hair will take on the most beautiful colors of the rainbow. Boys will flock to you like minnows."
"What's a rainbow?"
Pearl sighed. "Oh,...it's something from the world above."
Ariel grinned with delight. "Colors from above! I,...don't know what to say! Thank you Pearl!"
"Don't mention it", laughed Pearl.
"I'll use it tonight! As soon as I get home!"
"You do that. Come tomorrow, your only problem will be choosing which boy to go out with first".
Ariel grinned and hugged the bottle to her.
When Ariel got back to the palace, Flounder was there to meet her. "Ready to go see Sebastian?", he asked eagerly.
The mergirl smiled. "I've gotta do something else first,...shampoo my hair!"
Flounder looked puzzled. "Shampoo your hair?"
Ariel brought out the bottle and showed it to him. "Yeah! With this! It's gonna make my hair pretty!"
"But,...I think your hair is pretty already", declared the little fish.
Ariel sighed and shook her head. "Boys don't think so. Boys hate red hair".
"I've never heard that before", puzzled her friend.
"Well; it's true", continued the girl, "and this stuff is gonna get rid of it."
Flounder shook his head. "Maybe you should think about this first, Ariel. I mean,...that's a big decision,..."
"Ariel!", called a deep voice. It was her father.
"Coming Daddy!", answered the girl.
She swam for the throne room, with Flounder trailing behind. Ariel's sisters were already there, and Triton spoke, after Ariel swam up. "We will be having some guests, tomorrow night, so I want all of you to be on your best behavior."
"Yes, Daddy", answered the girls.
Ariel swam to the Princesses' bathing room, then looked back at Flounder. "You can't come in here, silly! Wait and I'll be out in a minute."
The little fish blushed. "Oh,...sorry!", he gasped, and hot-finned it out.
Ariel bent over one of the large bath tubs and turned on the hot-spring faucet above it. The girl pulled at one of her long red locks. It glistened under the light.
"I've always,...liked my hair," she whispered. A tear welled into her eyes. "Why don't boys like my hair?"
Ariel opened the bottle and poured some of the shampoo into her hand. She stared at it for a long time, as tears trickled down her cheeks. Her long red hair rippled down her arms and she couldn't help but stare at it.
With a sniffle, the girl returned the shampoo to the bottle. "I like my hair." Ariel washed off her hands and wiped away her tears.
When she swam out of the bathing room, Flounder gasped, "Your hair! It's,...still red!"
The girl smiled at her friend. "Yeah,...if I ever do get a boyfriend, he'll have to like me the way I am; red hair and all."
Flounder hugged the girl. "You did right. And I like your hair just the way it is!"
Ariel hugged her friend back. "Thanks, Flounder."
That evening, Pearl came to the palace; in pretense to see Alana. Actually, she wanted to hear about the results of Ariel's shampoo. "So,...how is your little sister doing?", asked the girl, as she tried to supress a grin.
Alana shrugged. "Fine, I guess. You saw her today at school, didn't you?"
"Well,...I heard her say something about trying a new look", hinted Pearl.
Alana shook her head. "I haven't noticed anything. She did say something about her hair, during dinner.
"Yes?", asked Pearl, with a smile.
"She said that she thought her hair was pretty. Kind-of odd statement from Ariel; she usually doesn't pay much attention to her appearence."
Pearl's grin sunk into a frown. She fumed, silently, to herself. That little wall-flower hadn't even used it!. Suddenly, she got an idea. "I'll be back in a minute; got to visit the powder room."
"Oh; sure Pearl!, returned Alana. "You know the way; right?"
Pearl nodded.
It didn't take Pearl long to find the Princesses' bathing room. The mermaid chuckled, slyly, when she found the bottle of shampoo that she had given to Ariel, beside one of the tubs. She quickly spied Ariel's regular shampoo nearby. Carefully, Pearl poured some of her shampoo into Ariel's bottle. "All's fair in love and war", snickered the girl, as she swam out.
The next morning, Ariel got ready for school, as usual. Her sisters were the first ones to notice her hair, as she got out of her bath; they gaped at her with silent shock. The little mermaid knew instantly that something was terribly wrong, and felt her stomach knot with fear. Rushing to her mirror, Ariel let out a cry of horror. her hair was green!
"I,...I,...", stammered the girl; looking from the mirror to her wide-eyed sisters.
"My,...hair!!"
The girls showed up for breakfast very late, so the King turned a frown upon them as they took their seats around the table Then he saw Ariel.
"Ariel, dear. Why are you wearing that towel?", asked Triton.
"My hair,...I,..uh,...slept on it, last night. It's a mess", stammered the girl.
Triton returned to his breakfast. "Well; make sure that you "unmess" it before going to school".
"Yes, Daddy", gulped the girl.
When Ariel swam into her classroom, all eyes turned to her. All except Pearl; she was trying not to burst out laughing. Ariel had wound a purple scarf of kelp all around her hair; creating an enourmous turban. She looked and felt ridiculous.
Sebastian entered the room and tapped his stick. "Good morning, class. Today, we're going,...Ariel!! What is dat ting on your head?!"
The girl blushed and tried to smile. "It's,...a hat."
The crab frowned. "And just how do you suppose Jack is going to see over dat ting?"
"I'll,...trade places with him!", offered the little mermaid.
"Dere will be no "hats" in my classroom. Remove it, please."
Ariel shrank into her chair. "Can I,...talk to you, Sebastian?"
The crab sighed, then swam over to the girl, who whispered in his ear.
"You got what?!", exclaimed the crab. The whole class was giggling and whispering by this time.
Sebastian shook his head and returned to his desk. "Jack, just try to look around Ariel; okay? Now; let's get on with the lesson,..."
This wasn't going as Pearl had hoped, so she pointed at Ariel and shrieked in feigned horror, "Ariel's got green hair!!"
Everyone started, and gasped at the poor girl. Ariel threw her hands to her scarf; so upset and trembling that she dislodged the wrap and it unwound, exposing her shocking green hair.
The whole class gasped,...then started laughing. Ariel fled the room, in tears.
Pearl looked over, with satisfaction, at the new boy; he was laughing his head off. So much for Ariel stealing him away now!
Ariel snuck back into the palace and hid in her room the whole day. When evening came, Flounder came by to see her and found the girl hiding her hair under her bed-sheet.
"Uh,...Ariel? What's wrong?", he stammered.
The girl revealed her green hair and the little fish gasped.
"It was an accident!", cried Ariel. "This morning, I must have used the wrong shampoo by mistake!"
"Does your father know?", asked Flounder, nervously.
"No. Not yet. But I've got to be at that dinner tonight! What am I gonna do?!"
Sebastian swam into the room; he had come straight to the palace as soon as he could.
"You got your tail in a mess of trouble now, girl!", scolded the crab.
"It wasn't her fault!", defended Flounder.
Sebastian sighed. "Well,...if you're gonna be at dat dinner tonight, we gotta tink up something quick." The crab put a claw to his chin, in thought.
"What about a hat?", offered Flounder.
"She already tried dat at school. It didn't work", answered the crab. "No; we need something to,...color her hair."
"Like what?", asked the fish.
That evening, Triton ushered his guests, the Finleys, to the dining room. After seating them on either side of him, the King took his own seat at the head of the table.
"I'm pleased to introduce my wonderful daughters ,..."
The Princesses swam into the room and joined their guests. Ariel sat as far away from her father as possible.
The King looked over at the girl, with puzzlement. Her hair had never looked more lustrous; almost with a wet shine,..."
"And here is my chief advisor; Sebastian, continued Triton."If he looks worn out, that's because it was his turn to be guest teacher today!"
The crab nodded, then took his place at the dinner table next to Ariel. Flounder was introduced as Ariel's friend and allowed to join her at the table, too.
"Well now! Otto has prepared a delicious dinner for us tonight," promised the King.
Mr. Finley, a rather stout merman, grinned. "Good! I've brought a big appetite!"
Triton laughed,...then glanced over at Ariel again. Something was,...different about his little girl tonight, but he couldn't put his finger on it,...
Ariel looked back at her father, with a wide grin, as she whispered out the side of her mouth to Sebastian. "This,...isn't,...going to work!"
Sebastian grinned, nervously. "Dat's not a happy thought, child! Tink positive!"
Mr. Finley laughed. "I'm so hungry, I can smell the plankton pate already!"
Arista smiled. "So can I,..."
Ariel shot her sister a glare.
"Plankton pate is my favorite", added Mrs. Finley. "Especially sea-cherry plankton pate!"
"We may be out of that", noted Arista.
"So! What did you say you did for a living?", blurted Sebastian to Mr. Finley.
"I sell plankton pate", answered the merman.
Sebastian grimaced and covered his face with his claw, as Ariel sunk into her chair.
"I sure am hungry!", gasped Flounder, desperately.
Triton smiled. "Well,...here comes Otto now!"
The octopus brought out their dinners. He paused beside Ariel and looked at her hair, curiously. "Princess; that can't be,..."
"It isn't", affirmed Sebastian.
Otto stared at them, then left the room; still puzzled.
"This kelp casserole is delicious!", mumbled Mr. Finley, between mouthfuls.
Ariel nodded in agreement, and some of her "hair-color" splattered onto Sebastian's plate.
"Thank you! We're very proud of Otto", answered the King.
Sebastian noticed the pate on his plate and took a bite. The crab smacked his lips with enjoyment.
"Where did you pick him up?", continued Mr. Finley.
Sebastian began to take nibbles off of Ariel's hair.
"He was working at an inn near the marketplace; he already had quite a reputation for his cooking. Isn't that right, Sebastian?". The King's eyebrows raised when he saw the crab munching on Ariel's hair.
"Oh,...yes! Yes, your Majesty! Quite a reputation! So, Mr. Flipper; what do you do for a living?"
"Mr FINLEY sells plankton pate", growled Triton. "He's already told us that."
"Oh,...dat's right,..."
"My husband buys the plankton from the farmers and I make the pate", noted Mrs. Finley.
Mr. Finley gulped down another mouthful of kelp casserole and nodded.
"I love the stuff, but I'm a mess by the end of the day! It's so sticky that I get it all over me!", laughed the merwoman.
"Ariel has that problem too, chimed Arista.
Sebastian was absentmindedly munching on Ariel's hair again; Flounder stared, horror-struck, over at him and nudged the girl. Ariel yanked her hair away from the crab, while trying to keep her composure.
"Making it all day; you'd think she'd get tired of eating it!",added Mr. Finley.
Triton began to feel like something was very odd about this dinner.
After the first course, Otto brought out the next, and passed it around. "Plankton pate for everyone!", he announced cheerfully.
The King looked over at Ariel,... and it suddenly dawned on him. Plankton,...pate.
After dinner, King Triton ushered his guests to their carriage, then returned to the dining room.
"You were all very gracious tonight", complemented the King to his daughters. "I'm proud of all of you."
"Thank you, Father", said the girls. They turned to swim to their rooms; Ariel was hot-finning it away as Triton caught up to her.
"Ariel, dear. I know I'm going to regret asking you this, but why is your hair covered with plankton pate?
Sebastian spoke up; dryly. "It looked better than green hair."
Ariel smiled, shyly, up at her father, and shrugged.
By the next day, Ariel's classmates treated her hair as old news, and Pearl was too busy cuddling with the new boy to even notice her at all. By the end of the week, the hair-color had completely washed out, and Ariel's hair was back to it's normal, beautiful red again.
The girl smiled at Flounder after her ordeal was over. "I'm sure glad to have my red hair back again!"
"Yeah! And you don't have to wear plankton pate any more!", laughed Flounder.
Suddenly, Pearl came swimming up with a desperate expression on her face. "Ariel!! Ariel!! You've got to help me!!"
"What's wrong, Pearl?", asked the girl.
"It's that new boy at school! He wants to marry me! He follows me around everywhere! I can't get rid of him! Please help me!"
POLARA
(This story was written before "Land of the dinosaurs". Honest!)
In the summer when Ariel was fifteen, her father decided that the whole family should pack up and visit their Aunt Margaret. The elderly merwoman kept her home in the kingdom of Polara, near the Arctic circle. Although her older sisters had been there before, this would be Ariel's first visit, and she was very excited about it. She had seen cold waters before; by accident, she had wound-up in the Antarctic, while following a pod of whales. An older mergirl had dared her to do it, and had even suited Ariel up in her "seal suit". After going too far and getting lost, Ariel had decided to go on and follow the whales. Although she had a great "adventure", Ariel certainly didn't want to repeat the trip by herself, again. This time, the whole family would be braving the cold, but the trip, itself, would be much more comfortable. Triton had some servants bring out their "travel coach". It was an enourmous conch shell; big enough to house seven girls and one King; with even enough room left over for a reluctant crab and a "snuck-on" fish. Four pilot whales were harnessed to the coach; the cold waters of the Arctic wouldn't bother them, in-the-least. Each girl spent the morning packing; Arista had the most luggage, carrying enough clothes and make-up for three vacations.
"The only problem is I'll have to wear that horrible suit!", groaned the mergirl. Ariel and her other sisters nodded. The "seal suit" would save their lives in the icy water, but it was terribly ugly to look at.
Ariel turned to her sisters, as she packed some warm gowns in her shell-case. "What's Polara like?", she asked eagerly.
"It's cold and it's icy and it's no fun", answered Alana.
"You have to get used to it", added Aquata. "The whole city is made of ice; it's blue and beautiful and cold!"
Ariel shivered at the thought and added another thick gown. Arista smirked. "You won't need those. You have to wear that horrible suit all the time."
Ariel gasped. "The whole time? What do the merfolk in Polara wear?"
"They're all fat", quipped Arista. "They're even fatter than Adella."
"I am not fat! You take that back!", huffed the Princess.
Arista giggled. "Okay! Compared to the Polarans, you're not fat."
Ariel took Adella's hand and led her to the coach. "Don't listen to her; she's just crabby cause she has to wear that suit." They entered the big shell and saw Sebastian putting away his little luggage case.
"Who's crabby?", asked the grouchy crab.
Ariel grinned and raised her eyes. "Oh,...nobody, Sebastian!"
"Humf! Well; I am crabby! "Why in de world do I have to go along on dis silly trip? What do I look like; a penguin or someting?"
Ariel bent down and looked at him carefully. "Hmmm. Nope. No penguin. You look like a sweet little crab!" She kissed his cheek. "I'm glad you're going; even if you are crabby."
Sebastian sighed. "Kids. They'd be excited if dey was vacationing in Sharkadia."
Ariel and Adella put away their shell-cases and looked around the coach, as the other girls came inside. The coach had seaweed-cushioned shell-chairs along the wide windows. Each window was covered by a thin transparent sheet of seashell, which could be pushed back to let the current inside. A table was placed in the middle of the coach; for eating or playing games on. Seven seaweed-covered beds filled the back of the coach, and another bed (in front) was for their father. Sebastian had set his "crab-scout" sleeping bag on one of the little storage shelves along the side.
Ariel swam over to a seaweed-covered nook and peeked inside. "Now; you don't make a peep", she whispered to Flounder, who was hiding from the King.
"He's gonna be mad! I just know it!', moaned the nervous fish.
"Don't be silly!", laughed the girl. "He might be a little angry at first, but not for long; you'll see."
Ariel covered the hiding-place back up, then swam outside and around to the front of the coach. Triton was there; checking the harnesses. Ariel patted the friendly, eager whales.
"They look ready to go, Daddy!"
Triton smiled at his daughter. "And so are we." He laid a gentle hand on her head. They swam around to the side of the coach. Dudley came waddling up, and the King turned to talk to him.
"We're leaving now, Dudley. I know you'll keep things running smoothly while I'm away."
"Yes,...your,...Majes,.."
"Things have been pretty quiet lately. You shouldn't have any trouble with the Sharkadians."
"Well,...if,...we do,..."
"You're right; Turbot can handle any trouble that crops up. The Sharkadians can't stomach any resistance."
"How,...long,..."
"We'll be gone about a month. I know I'm leaving the Kingdom in capable flippers."
Dudley bowed slowly, "Thank,...you,...your,... Majesty."
"Bye Dudley! I'll bring you back something!", added the girl.
Triton took Ariel and went inside the coach. Closing the shell-door, he turned to his daughters. "Okay, girls; if you've thought of anything else you need, you'd better get it now. Ariel; I'm afraid the tailor has lost your seal-suit, so you'll have to wear Adella's old one."
"That's,...that's okay, Daddy", sighed the girl. Arista turned red and coughed. The King swam up to the front of the coach, where the wide window gave him a clear forward view. The whales reins fed through an opening below the window.
In the back, Arista was doubled-over with giggles.
Adella blushed,"I don't see what's so funny!"
Arista went over and pulled out Ariel's seal-suit. "Try it on, Ariel! See if it's roomy enough!"
Ariel ignored her sister and swam to a side window.
"Dat will be enough, young lady!", scolded Sebastian, who popped out of his nook.
It was Arista's turn to blush; she mumbled apologies and sat on her bed, trying to keep her composure.
After a few minutes, their father returned to the back. "So,...is everyone ready to go?"
"Yeah!!", answered Ariel, excitedly. The other girls joined in, "yes, Father!"
Triton smiled and swam to the front; his daughters joined him and looked out at the whales. The whales were eager to go too. Triton looked over at Ariel. "Odd that Flounder didn't drop by to say goodbye to you."
Ariel grinned and shrugged, "I guess he just,...couldn't say goodbye."
Triton nodded, and then took the reins. "Well; you'll have lot's to tell him, when you get back." The King felt something land on his shoulder; it was Sebastian; grinning and looking out, excitedly.
Ariel smirked at him and the crab shrugged, sheepishly.
"Okay", announced the King," Here we go!" With a snap of the reins, they were off. The coach slowly picked up speed, until they were moving at a good steady pace. The whales could go for hours, at this easy rate.. Atlantica quickly passed behind them, and they entered the deep blue of the open ocean. Tunas and other big fish swam past them, and even some big whales paused to check out the coach.
"What kind of whales are those, Daddy?", asked Ariel, as she watched the long graceful mammals, with delight.
"Fin whales. Atlantica's waters are a little too shallow for them. They try to avoid areas where Humans sometimes travel."
Ariel looked puzzled. "Why?"
Humans take particular pleasure in killing them", growled the King. "They take long spears and harpoon the innocent creatures. Then they haul them out of the water, onto their ships."
"How horrible!", gasped Ariel.
Triton nodded. "Humans think of themselves as above nature, and can do whatever they wish to it; without any thought to the consequences of their deeds."
"Not all of them, Daddy", noted Ariel. "Flounder and me once saw a human rescue a trapped porpoise from a net."
The King waved his hand. "Just on odd human."
Sebastian spoke up, "Don't forget dat human who opened the cage to let de penguins escape!"
"That's right! You remember that; don't you Daddy?", added the girl
Triton gave a bushy-eyebrowed glare to the crab.
Sebastian coughed, "Another odd human."
"Well; if I see any Human hurting whales, I'm gonna try to stop them!", promised Ariel.
"You just stay away from Humans", ordered her father, sternly.
"Yes, Daddy," sighed the girl.
"What are those, Father?", asked Adella, as she pointed up. The girls looked to see five big fish swimming near the surface; they appeared to have no back half to them; with only short caudal fins.
"Those are sunfish, dear. Harmless, slow, ocean swimmers", answered the King.
"Do Humans spear them?", asked Arista.
"I wouldn't be surprised", growled Triton.
"The,...whales seem happy to be on the trip, too!", sugguested Ariel; trying to change the subject. The blackish, bubble-headed mammals were squeaking happily back and forth, as their muscular flukes foamed the water. They were a delightful sight; set to a background of blue water and white bubbles.
Triton smiled. "They're good animals. They come by, every summer, in case I need them to pull the coach; or just send a message to Margaret. Polara is on their regular migration route, so they don't mind at all."
"I'm getting hungry. Do we got any snacks?", asked adella.
"You just ate breakfast", answered Aquata.
"It's all this traveling", noted Adella
"You make it sound like you're the one who's pulling the coach!", laughed Andrina.
Triton nodded to the back. "There should be some sea-nuts in the cabinet. Leave some for your sisters, too."
Adella nodded, and hot-finned it to the storage shelves.
Alana was pointing out some beautiful jellyfish, when they all heard Adella shriek.
"Flounder! You scared me to death!"
Triton looked at Ariel and raised an eyebrow. "Couldn't say goodbye; hmmm?"
Ariel grinned and shrugged. "He,...he didn't want me to leave. He said he'd be miserable!"
"He probably would have stayed out of trouble for a month, too", added the King.
Ariel grinned and looked at her father with pleading eyes.
Triton sighed. "I guess it's impossible to keep you two apart. He can go."
"Thank you, Daddy!", gushed the girl, as she hugged him. "Come up here, Flounder! You can see lot's of neat stuff!"
Flounder swam up, nervously, and blushed. Triton smiled. "It's alright, Flounder. I would have invited you along, too; if you were a little older. Now that you are going; you'll have to follow orders."
"Yes, your Majesty."
Triton looked at Ariel. "You are to stay with Ariel for the whole trip. I don't want you wandering away from her. Ariel; you're in charge of supervising him."
"Yes, Daddy."
Adella came back to the front; munching on sea-nuts. "Does this mean we have to share the snacks with him, too?"
They had traveled hundreds of miles, that day, but it was evening at last, and Triton guided the coach to the surface. After insuring that no Human ships were anywhere near them, the King opened the front window to let water escape from the coach; just enough so that they would stay below the surface of the water, but still have enough trapped air not to sink. He stopped the coach and unhitched the whales so they could sleep. The big shell sank a dozen feet, then stopped; held afloat by a bubble of air.
Ariel rose into the bubble and took a deep breath. Triton frowned and pointed a finger downward. Sighing with resignation, the girl ducked back into the water and joined her sisters; who were getting in bed.
It took Ariel a long time to go to sleep. She could think only of what the surface would be like: a fresh, warm night-breeze; a clear, jet-black sky, sprinkled with thousands of twinkling lights. It was the gentle rocking of the coach, and the faint chopping of the waves, which finally lulled the girl into peaceful dreams.
Ursula was out gathering evil ingrediants for her potions, when Flotsam and Jetsam slithered up and bowed to her.
"You hideousness! We have news you may want to hear!", hissed Flotsam. They paused and watched her.
"I won't know until you tell me", growled the witch.
Jetsam nodded, eagerly, "Triton and his daughters have left Atlantica!"
"They're gone to visit Polara. They'll be gone almost a month", continued Flotsam.
Ursula dropped the sea-spider legs that she had just plucked and put her hand to her double-chin. "Hmmm. Polara, you say?"
"Yesss!", they chimed, "Yesss!"
Ursula gave the eels a glare, and they shrank back in silence.
"I can't do much in Atlantica; that fish-bone-headed Turbot will be guarding it with his life. But,...Polara gives me an idea,...a nasty idea,..."
The sea witch snapped back to the eels. "I want you to find Scad."
Flotsam hissed, uncertainly, "You mean Scad, the sea-lion?"
"How many other Scads do you know?", growled Ursula,"Of course, Scad the sea-lion!"
The eels nodded, frantically, and sped off.
Ursula rubbed her hands and chuckled. "Sometimes, I amaze even myself with my cunning!"
Ariel and her family had traveled several days, and the water outside had turned, steadily, colder. Triton was especially cautious about getting near the surface. "The Humans use these waters to cross the ocean," he explained.
"Why here, Daddy?", asked Ariel.
Triton pointed out the window. "Humans are lazy, of course. The winds and currents are strong here; it pushes their ill-laden ships from "Europe" to "America", while they stand, idly-by, and fish.
"Amer,..ica?", repeated the curious girl.
Triton huffed. "Just forget that name! A country of barbarians!"
Sebastian, sitting closeby, nodded. "Yeah, Mon. Dey spend all their time going out in big boats and catchin' fish. Why; I had a cousin get caught in one of dem trap that those Humans set out! Never saw him again."
"That's terrible!", exclaimed the girl.
"Everything in the sea is in danger from them ", warned the King.
"Have Humans ever hurt Merfolk, Daddy?"
Triton looked down at his daughter and smiled gently. "Don't worry, my little pearl. No Human would ever harm you. I would destroy every ship that ever set sail."
"But have Merfolk ever been harmed?"
Triton hesitated. "Yes,...some have. There have been times when accidents have happened. Someone getting caught by a net and not found by the Humans until it was too late; a foolish merman who swam too close to a ship, and was mistakenly speared. Accidents like that."
"But those weren't intentional, were they?", asked the girl.
"No. But those were not all. Some folks have been caught on purpose and cruelly abused. Don't think that these Humans are harmless fools! They are evil and wicked! You must always stay away from them."
Ariel nodded. She looked out the front window and watched the green-tinted bubbles float past. Looking up, she could see the choppy ocean's surface; where a strange, different world began. A world ruled by Humans. Could all Humans be evil and wicked? She had seen, for herself, that they could be kind and compassionate. Perhaps, they were no different than the Sharkadians, or the Olympians, or even the Atlanticans. No people were totally evil. There was good and bad in all of them. Ariel promised herself that, someday, she would learn the truth about these strange folk who had no tails.
That evening, the girls sat around the table and played card games under the warm glow of an over-head phosphor lamp. Sebastian was in his nook on the shelf, scribbling down musical ideas on a little scroll. The King was laid-back on a seaweed-cushioned coral chair, at the front; reading some old Atlantican manuscripts. Flounder floated next to Ariel; looking at her cards and giving advice.
"Put that card down," he sugguested.
Ariel smirked at him. "That's my best card! I think I ought to put this one down."
Flounder shook his head. "Nope. I bet Adella's gonna want that one."
"If you don't mind, Ariel!", fumed Arista, "We're waiting on you!"
Ariel huffed, "Hold your seahorses!,..." The mermaid laid down the card which Flounder had sugguested.
Adella squealed, "Just what I needed!" She took the card and laid down a matched set. "Six butterfly fish! I win!"
Ariel looked at Flounder and raised an eyebrow, "I told you."
"Butterfly fish? I thought for sure she was collecting mackerels!"
Arista sighed, "I quit. I can't win, tonight". She got up and swam to her bed.
Aquata got up and followed her. "Me too. I'm getting sleepy."
"I think that's a wise choice, girls", advised Triton, from the front of the coach. "Better get to bed; all of you."
Flounder got into his little seaweed bed and Sebastian shut the curtain over his shelf. Ariel and her sisters got into their gowns and slipped under the warm covers. Triton swam to their beds and wished them goodnight.
"It's going to be getting colder, from now on, girls. Everyone will have to stay inside the coach, unless you put on your seal-suit first. It doesn't take long to lose all of your heat in water as cold as we're in now. Tomorrow, I'll show everyone the proper way to suit-up."
"Yes, Father."
Triton turned down the lamp. "Good night, and get a good night's rest."
The next morning, the water was choppy up above; with a stiff westerly breeze blowing under a blue sky. The conch-shell coach barely swayed, however, and the King had to gently wake his daughters. After taking turns in the bath, the girls prepared for Triton's lecture. Ariel and Alana were the only ones not familiar with a seal-suit. With Sebastian and Flounder at the front, behind a curtain, the girls put on thin seaweed tops and took out their suits.
Triton took out his own suit and held it up. "Of course; it isn't really made of seal-skin", noted the King. "That name is given due to the dark grey color."
"The ugly dark grey color", whispered Arista.
"Actually, it's made of different undersea plants; along with sea-rubber and tube sponges. Woven together properly, they can keep you warm; even in freezing water."
Ariel looked at her seal-suit with reluctance. The dark, rubbery suit covered every inch of a mermaid's body; with even big flaps to cover the flippers. A separate piece fit over the head, to seal the body completely from the water. A bulbous nose and mouth piece warmed the water that they would breathe; using intricate capillaries in the suit which used the person's excess heat to warm the water. Ariel thought it made you look like a flap-nosed elephant seal. Even the eyes were covered. A pair of see-through shells, ground thin, were placed into the head-piece. Special ridges, much like a zipper, closed the suit up and connected the head-piece to the rest of the suit. A small, zippered opening took care of sanitary needs. It certainly didn't make a young mermaid feel pretty.
"First, you slip your flukes into it like this", explained Triton. "Put your arms into the suit and pull it up over your back." Ariel had no trouble doing this with Adella's old suit, but the other girls' suits fit a little more snugly on them.
"Now close it up; starting at the bottom."
Ariel felt silly, in her baggy suit. The other girls tried not to laugh at her.
"Make sure all of your hair is inside your suit. Good! Now, put on your head-piece."
"Do we have to, Father?", moaned Arista.
Triton gave her a stern glance and Arista picked up her head-piece. The girls put them on; looked at each other, then broke out in laughter.
Triton smiled, "I know! You look foolish. But it's better than looking blue."
Arista couldn't help pointing at Ariel, "She looks like a starved seal! Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha! Oh!,...it's too much!,.." She bent over with hysterics.
Triton raised an eyebrow. "Okay. You can take them off, now. Once we get to Polara, however; you'll have to get used to them."
Arista was still giggling at her youngest sister.
Ariel blushed. "Yeah, yeah. You don't look much better, Miss walrus-nose."
After several days, the royal family entered the icy waters of the arctic. The girls "Oooed" and "Ahhed", as they stared at the beautiful view through the shell windows. The water was an icy blue-white, shimmering with sun-lit cyrstals, or rippling with blue shadows on the huge chunks of ice which floated past. This world was filled with the crackling of ice on ice; it was a cold sound which made the girls shiver. Aquata had been right: this place was beautiful; but it was also unforgiving to those not adapted to it. Unprotected, the girls wouldn't have survived a minute here. Ariel didn't think of the danger of this strange place, however. she was wide-eyed with wonder; drinking in the strange beauty which surrounded them. The pilot whales, pulling the coach, whistled happily. This was home, and soon they would be unhitched; free to visit their family and friends. Their happiness excited Ariel too, and she wished that she could go off and explore this glittering world of ice.
Triton spoke up. "Ahh! There's Polara! The ice is always changing here, so it took me a while to find it."
The girls immediately swam to the front window to see. Polara came into sight, like a giant blue diamond. Ariel gasped in wonder at the ice city, which glittered from a hundred facets. It reminded the girl of a Human's crystal hairpin, which she had once found in a shipwreck. Towers seemed to grow out of the diamond shape; as blue and cold as the base of the city. Blue-white lights glimmered all over the shiny-blue surface: windows for the Polarans to gaze out upon their icy world. As they drew nearer, Ariel could see tiny moving blobs along the path to the towering, spiked gates. The blobs turned into waving merfolk; Ariel had never seen merfolk so fat! They looked like over-fed white seals, as they bounced in their jubulation.
Triton looked back at his daughters. "Okay, girls. It's time to put your suits on."
Ariel and her sisters swam to the back of the coach, to change. Flounder looked uncertainly at the King. "What am I gonna do, your Majesty?"
Triton smiled. "I believe that the Polarans might have a suit that they can loan you."
Flounder smiled, happily; then looked over at Sebastian, who was trying to get into his little suit.
"Oh Mon! Dis is ridiculous! Where's my other leg at?" The flustered crab struggled to fit into the rubbery apparatus, which looked more like a twenty-fingered glove, than a suit.
"You got too many legs!", laughed Flounder.
Sebastian shot him a dirty look, and then continued his struggle. When it finally pulled together, Flounder giggled.
"You look like a rubber urchin!"
Triton reached over and helped to zip him up. Then he closed the crab's head-piece and looked at his advisor. "There. You look as dignified as any of us will."
Sebastian grumbled, "Dat's not saying much, your Majesty."
The girls swam forward, in their suits; looking totally miserable and embarressed.
Triton suppressed a smile. "There! You see! It's not that bad. Just think of all of the knowledge that you're going to learn from this culture."
"Yes, Father," chimed the girls.
Triton stopped the coach at the entrance to the city; just short of the towering gates and the cheering crowd. The King went to a shelf and pulled out his suit. He looked at it, wistfully. "Well,...I guess that I should match my daughters." Reluctantly, he put it on. The girls giggled at him.
"Daddy! You look as funny as us, now!", laughed Ariel.
Triton crossed his arms. "Oh, do I? That makes you feel better; doesn't it?"
The girls nodded.
The King smiled. "Okay, my little seals. Let's go meet the Polarans."
As the girls swam out of the coach, a fat merwoman cried in happiness and rushed up to them. "Ahh! Here they are! The little darlings! Oh, Red; how they've grown!" The woman looked to be in her fifties; with a jolly happy face, chubby cheeks and a button nose. She looked more like Adella than she did her brother. Her hair was dark, but it had lot's of grey in it, too. She was doing her best to pinch the girls' cheeks through their suits. "Little darlings!" Then she spied Ariel.
"This must be the baby!"
Ariel blushed, as the woman grabbed the little mermaid's face in her hands.
"Little Ariel! Oh! She looks just like her mother!", gushed the eldery merwoman.
Ariel couldn't figure out how her Aunt could see anything of her inside of her suit.
Triton smiled at her sister. "She's got my personality, though. Always getting into mischief!"
The woman swam to her brother and led him towards the gate. "Red! You haven't come to see me in five years! Five years! Honestly; Is that any way for a brother to be?"
Triton chuckled. "I have a kingdom to run, Margaret!"
The girls followed behind the couple, as they entered the city. Ariel found it hard to keep up; the suit was very heavy to swim in. Her sisters weren't doing much better.
"That's no excuse! You know you're always welcome here! Goodness knows you need a woman, more your age, around. You've been alone since Aria passed away; the poor dear, and that's been,...Oh, I can't even remember how long!"
"I'm all right, Margaret! I have the love of seven wonderful girls; that's plenty!"
"You need a woman", insisted Margaret. "I can see that you aren't going to look for yourself, so I guess I'll have to find one for you."
Triton shook his head and laughed. "Oh, Margaret!" The King looked back and saw that his daughters had fallen behind. He paused, to let them catch up. Sebastian was among them, too; holding onto Ariel's suit.
"Poor little things! It's a shame they have to wear those awful suits! You haven't been feeding them enough, Red! Look at little Ariel: she's such skin-and-bones that her suit doesn't even fit!"
"She had to wear one of Adella's suits", insisted Triton.
"Well; they need fattening-up, and this is just the place to do it", answered Margaret. firmly.
Ariel gazed about her with delight. Everything looked like sparkling, blue-white glass. The folks, lining the street on either side, cheered with seemingly inexhaustible jubilation. Each face was pudgy and happy; they looked much like the merpeople back home, except that none had any facial hair, and their complexion was very pale. The children looked like miniature versions of the adults: fat and jolly. To her surprise, they seemed full of energy, and not cold, in-the-least.
Sebastian waved back at them, with a frown. "Yes,...yes. The sea-lion family has arrived. What am I doing here? I feel like a rubber popsicle!"
"What did you say, Sebastian?", asked the girl; looking back at the crab. It was hard to hear through her suit.
"Where's the kitchen in dis place? I want to crawl inside the stove."
"Are you cold?", asked the girl, with concern.
Sebastian hesitated. He wasn't really cold. "Well,...no. But I should be!"
Ariel smirked at him. "Oh, Sebastian! Don't be so gloomy! Look how pretty the city is!" She waved, happily, back at the crowd, as they passed through the palace's doors. Inside was a wonderland of sparkling blue columns and shining walls; hung with blue-white chandeliers, which reflexed their light everywhere. It was very beautiful to Ariel, although she thought that the multitude of colors, in her own waters, was prettier.
Margaret waved at the interior. "Well; here it is. Hasn't changed much, since you last visited. I did add another wing on the east side, but nothing fancy."
The woman turned her chubby face to the girls. "I bet you girls want to see your rooms. They're the prettiest in the palace; just wait and see! Oh,...Ariel; you've got a little bump in your suit,...right at the flipper,..."
Triton chuckled. "No dear; That's Sebastian. He's my advisor and musical conductor."
Margaret swam close to the spiny shape and saw Sebastian's eyes peering out of his suit. "Why,..it's a little crab! I didn't know they made suits that small! How ever do you get around in it, little fellow?"
"Believe me, your Highness; it ain't easy!", answered the surly crab. "Personally, I'd rather be at home, soaking in a hot tub."
Triton bristled with anger, but Ariel spoke up to help out her friend. "Don't worry, your Highness! This place is so beautiful and different from our city; I know Sebastian's gonna love it here." The girl leaned her nose-piece close to the Queen. "He's just grouchy cause of that suit", she confided, in a whisper.
Margaret nodded. "I can understand that." The woman smiled and turned to the Princesses. "Okay girls; let's go see your rooms!"
Ariel fully agreed with the Queen; her room was beautiful. A blue-green decor was the theme; with a huge ice bed carved into the likeness of a seal, in the center. Right above it, hung a gorgeous clear-ice chandelier, with blue-green phosphor candles mounted in it. The walls of the room were carved to resemble ocean waves; bubbles were sprinkled here and there; with two huge bubbles serving as round windows. Blue seaweed functioned as drapes, and as the canopy for the bed. The dresser was made of ice, too; with a delicate seal carved around it's ice-crystal mirror.
"It's all so beautiful!", exclaimed Ariel.
The Queen smiled. "Thank you, dear! This was one of my daughter's rooms, before she moved out. There's a lovely view of the ice, from the windows."
Ariel swam awkwardly (in her suit) to a window, and looked out. She could see the ice grinding against itself, all the way to the bright surface.
"Can,...can we see the surface? I mean,...go to visit it."
"I don't see why not; if your father has no objections."
Ariel lost her grin and hesitated. "Well,...Daddy doesn't exactly like me going to the surface. But, maybe if you brought it up,..."
The Queen nodded. "I gotcha. We girls have to stick together."
"There is one more thing, your Majesty. I have a friend in the coach; his name is Flounder, and he doesn't have a suit. Do you think one could be found that he could borrow?"
"Of course, dear. Another crab?"
Ariel smiled. "No; a fish. A dear little fish, and my best friend."
Margaret patted Ariel's hand. "I'll look into it right away."
Margaret was true to her word; she got Flounder a suit, and she talked her brother into letting the girls visit the surface, too. "Just think of the educational value of it, Red!"
Triton agreed; as long as they all stayed together, and he accompanyed them. The girls swam slowly, in their heavy suits, to the surface. Despite the natural tinting of their eye-pieces, the world around them was still glaringly-bright. Ariel looked around with wonder: the ocean was as blue as a sapphire and clear as crystal. Snow-white chunks of ice floated everywhere; some were as huge as all of Atlantica; while others were hardly as big as her. Whales, porpoises, and seals frolicked in the choppy waves. Cute penguins waddled on the ice, or dived for the abundent fish all around them. Beautiful white sea-birds soared and swerved overhead. Ariel was delighted with everything.
Sebastian, who was clinging to her flipper, stared about him, with anxiety. "Keep an eye out for Spot. I don't want to get flipped onto dat ice."
Flounder laughed. "I don't think he'd even know you were in that suit!"
"Look at the cute penguins!", noted Ariel, as she pointed to a big iceberg.
Arista sighed. "If you've seen one penguin, you've seen em all."
Triton stroked his beard. "Actually, there are quite a few different kinds of penguins. Isn't that right, Margaret."
The woman nodded. "Oh, yes. I've heard that some get almost as big as little Ariel. I'm not surprised; she being skin-and-bones!"
"It's just her suit, dear!", affirmed the King.
This gave Arista cause to look at her little sister again, and she broke out in giggles.
"Arista! Behave yourself!", warned her father.
Ariel swam over to a big floating slab of ice. She grinned at Flounder. "Think I can climb up?"
Flounder shook his head. "Look's too slippery."
"The seals can do it", insisted the girl, and she flopped up.
"Leave me out of dis!", cried Sebastian; letting go of her flipper.
The ice wasn't as slippery as Ariel had feared; maybe the suit gave her a grip. she managed to flop onto the ice and reach a level area.
"Get down off of that, young lady!", growled Triton, after catching her flopping around.
"Ah,...Let the girl explore!", laughed Margaret. "There's no danger!"
Triton huffed, but relented; much to Ariel's delight. She felt just like a seal; wiggling and flopping on the ice. "Come on up, Flounder! It's fun!"
"Un uh! No way!", answered the fish.
"Scaredy-catfish! How 'bout you, Sebastian?"
Much to the girl's surprise, Sebastian crawled up to join her. She even thought she saw a smile under his suit.
"Dis ain't too bad!" The crab skittered across the ice and slid a couple of feet. "Hee Hee! Kind-of fun!"
"Help me up, Ariel!", urged Flounder, as he tried to climb the ice. Ariel flopped to the edge, and, grabbing his suit-fin, slid him up onto the ice.
"Wow!", exclaimed Flounder. "It's all flat and white, up here!"
He couldn't move very well by himself, so Ariel pushed him along on th ice. Sliding was scary, at first; then the little fish began to enjoy it.
"Wheee!", squealed Ariel, as she pushed Flounder across the ice. He didn't slide far, because of his suit. The girl flopped and slid to reach him.
"Whoah Mon! Look out!", laughed Sebastian, as he skittered along; sliding up to join them.
Ariel heard a splash, and saw Aquata flopping onto the ice.
"We aren't going to let you have all the fun!" Her sisters were right behind her. Before long, seven mermaids were slipping and sliding on the ice; looking more like seals than Princesses. Flounder enjoyed getting passed from one sister to another, while Sebastian skittered and slid, at a safe distance from the bigger bodies.
Triton swam at the edge of the ice; keeping an eye on them. Margaret smiled at her brother. "I remember a young red-headed boy who used to do the same thing your girls are doing now."
Triton smiled gently; with old memories. Then he looked up, and watched his daughters in their play.
It was on the third day of their visit, when Ariel was looking out of her bedroom window, that she saw a young seal approaching her. It swam right up to her window; not at all afraid, and barked playfully at her.
"Hi there, fella!", laughed the delighted girl, as she watched him do a flip right in front of her. Ariel reached out and rubbed his belly; he was so gentle and docile! Even when she swam through the window to join him, the seal never acted afraid, or tried to swim away.
Ariel laughed, as they circled and looped over each other; the seal barked happily and rubbed against her suit.
"Ariel! Where are you?", called a little fish voice.
"I'm out here, Flounder! Come meet my new friend!"
Flounder swam through the window and watched the two doing flips with each other. "Wow! Where did he come from?"
Ariel gave the seal a friendly pat; then turned to Flounder. "He just swam up to my window and started playing. Do you think he's somebody's pet?"
Flounder shrugged. "Maybe he thinks you're a seal, too!"
Ariel giggled. "Don't be silly!" She looked at the playful seal and smiled back at Flounder. "Then again; maybe you're right. You don't think he's flirting with me or something, do you?"
"Maybe he thinks you're starving and wants to help you."
Ariel smirked. "Now don't you start that too!" She looked back at the seal and rubbed behind his ear. "He's so cute! Maybe Daddy will let me keep him and take him home!"
"I wouldn't count on it", warned Flounder.
Ariel nodded. "Yeah." She put a finger to her chin and smiled. "Of course,...if I could sneak a fish onto the coach, I don't see why I can't,..."
"Uh, oh. I don't even want to hear it!", gasped the little fish.
"Well,...maybe Daddy will let me keep him. I can always ask, can't I?"
Triton glanced at Ariel, at the dinner-table, and replied. "No."
The girl looked at her father, with exhasperation. "But Daddy! He's so cute! And he won't cause any trouble,...I promise!"
The King looked over at Margaret. "Can you think of a pet which causes less trouble?"
The Queen paused. "Well,...there must be something,...
Ariel sighed. The battle wasn't going very well.
"You've already got Sea-biscuit", noted the King. "Another pet will just cause problems."
"I can keep him in my room", promised the girl.
"He would have your room in a shambles before the first day was through", growled Triton. "You are not taking home that seal!"
Ariel slumped. Defeat. "Yes, Daddy."
The Queen smiled, understandibly, at the girl. "It's for the best, dear. Seals are just full of mischief. They don't make very good pets."
"I understand, your Majesty", sighed the girl.
Flounder whispered, "I told you,..."
Before they knew it; it was time to leave. Margaret was sorry to see the family go, and wouldn't be content until her brother had promised that he would return soon. She gave to each Princess a beautiful crystal-shell necklace. "Now, don't let your father forget his promise to visit again!"
"We won't, Aunt Margaret", answered the Princesses. Ariel was sad to leave the woman; she had been so kind and friendly during their stay.
"Maybe you can visit us, too!", sugguested the girl.
Margaret smiled. "I might just do that!"
Triton led his girls to the coach and helped them in. Then, he turned back to his sister, and gave her a hug.
"Goodbye, Margaret. We'll return soon. I promise."
Margaret looked at his face. "Take off that silly mask for a second."
Triton pulled off his head-piece. The woman smiled. "Now, that looks like my brother." She hugged him again. "Take care of yourself, Red. And take care of those girls too."
Triton smiled. "I will."
The coach pulled away, and the girls waved goodbye to the city of Polara. They hadn't lost sight of it, before Arista was tugging at her suit. "Get me out of this thing!"
Triton looked back, as each girl struggled out of her suit. Flounder had already given his back, and he watched as Sebastian struggled to get out of his.
"Where's the zipper on dis ting?", growled the crab. The King lended a hand and Sebastian finally puilled free.
"Brrrr!", squealed the girls in the back.
Triton chuckled. "It'll take a little time to get used to not having your suit on."
Ariel pulled out a warm gown and put it on. "I've got goosefish bumps all over!"
Alana called to her youngest sister, "Hey, Ariel! Isn't that your seal friend?"
Ariel swam over to a window. Sure enough; there was the young seal that had visited her, in Polara.. He swam right along side the coach; barking happily.
Ariel looked towards the front. "Oh, Daddy,...he followed us! Can't I let him in?"
Triton did not look back. "Absolutely not, young lady! He'll go on his way. Just ignore him."
Ariel groaned, unhappily; crossed her arms and puffed up at her curl, with dejection. Sitting by the window, she forced herself not to look out. The seal barked for a while; then it grew silent.Uncontrollably, the little mermaid turned to look out the window. Her seal-friend was nowhere in sight.
"I guess Daddy was right", sighed the girl, to herself.
She sat there a while, and was just starting to get up, when she heard a cry from outside. She looked out the window and saw the seal again. He was crying, as if in pain, and swimming awkwardly, like his flipper was injured.
"Oh no! The poor thing's hurt!", cried the girl.
Aquata looked over at her sister. "What did you say?"
Ariel bit her lower lip. She knew that her father wouldn't let the injured seal inside. She had to sneak him in.
The girl slowly made her way to the very back of the coach; to the door. "I'll just open the door for a second,...call the seal inside,...and,...hide him in my bed until I can bandage his flipper." Ariel went over the plan, to herself. She took hold of the doorknob. Just a little twist,...
Suddenly, the door flew open and cold water rushed in,...the seal almost knocked her down as he bolted into the coach.
"Ariel!!", cried her sisters, as they felt the cold water. The girl pushed, with all her might, and shut the door. She heard pandemonium; with her father's voice above it all, "Come back with that, you little rascal!" She looked, with shock, to see her father's trident in the mouth of the seal; he was darting all over the coach and Triton was trying to catch him.
Suddenly, the King stopped; as his reasoning returned. "All right",...he said; gulping down his anger. "Girls. Quiet."
The Princesses stopped yelling, and just floated there; shivering. Sebastian's crabby legs were knocking from the chill. The seal still had the trident in his mouth, and was swimming at the opposite end of the coach from the King.
"Girls; Put on your suits", commanded Triton.
"I'm,...sorry, Daddy!", offered Ariel.
"We'll,...discuss this later. Put on your suit."
"Yes, Daddy", sobbed Ariel.
The girls soon had their suits on. Triton put his on, too, and helped Sebastian with his.
Flounder didn't have a suit, but Ariel took him in her arms. "You can stay in my suit", she offered. She unzipped the front, and brought Flounder inside. It was so baggy that the little fish could squeeze in. Ariel left the front unzipped just a bit, to give Flounder fresh water to breathe.
Triton, seeing that everyone was suited-up, turned to Ariel. "All right, Ariel. Call your friend. Maybe, he'll come to you."
Come seal,...come-on boy!", called the girl. To her surprise, the seal just ignored her.
"I don't understand, Daddy. He acted like he was hurt. Now, he won't even look at me!"
Triton looked, suspiciously, at the intruder. "Something's not right about all this,..."
With a crash, the whole front window shattered. Icy water rushed inside; filling the coach. The girls screamed and grabbed onto something to keep from being swept around. If not for their suits, the whole family would have been frozen in an instant.
Triton looked around, urgently; making sure that his girls were not hurt. He swam back and, grabbing the dressing-curtain, swung it over the startled seal. Before the animal could escape, Triton had snatched the trident from his mouth. The seal shook free and darted out the broken front window.
The KIng turned to his daughters. "Are all of you all right?"
"Yes,...yes, Father", answered Aquata. "Just shaken up."
"If we hadn't been wearing our suits, we would have,...froze", gasped Alana.
Triton nodded. "And I wouldn't have been able to save us without my trident. Hmmm,..." The King swam to the front, as if waitiing for something.
The girls suddenly heard a new voice, from outside the coach. She was talking to herself. "My plan worked perfectly! Now, the trident and the sea are mine! Ha! Ha! Ha! I simply must have a look at the poor frozen little dears!" Ursula's evil face popped through the broken window. Her leering grin turned to pale shock when she saw Triton in his suit
"But! But!,...you're frozen!," she gasped.
"Not quite!", laughed Triton. "Thanks to Ariel's little mistake. But you must be mighty cold, sea-witch." The King pointed his glowing trident at the back-swimming Ursula
"Now,...Triton! You wouldn't hurt a lady!,.." The sea witch hollered and swam away as fast as her tenticles could squrm,.. as Triton sent a bolt to scorch her fat bottom.
"Triton! I'll get you for this!", she screeched, before disappearing into the deep.
Triton nodded; understanding now. Using the trident's power, he formed an invisiible barrier across the broken front window. Then he grabbed the whales' reins and started them on their way, once more. The girls swam up to him, and the King smiled.
"That was a close call, girls. Ursula was behind it all. She wanted to gain the trident, the Kingship, and get rid of us, all at the same time. It might have worked, too; if not for Ariel letting in all that cold water and forcing everyone to put on their suits."
"Except for me", said a muffled voice, coming through Ariel's suit. It was Flounder.
"You mean that the seal and the sea witch were,...together?", asked Ariel.
Her father nodded. "He's probably one of her nasty friends. You see, Ariel: looks can be decieving. He wasn't the innocent pet that you thought he was. He was sent by Ursula to snatch away my trident while we were still in freezing water. She was lying in wait, until he had succeeded. Then, all she had to do was to break the window, wait for us to turn into ice, and then retrieve the trident."
"But why didn't Ursula freeze?", asked Aquata.
"She probably cast a spell to protect herself", answered the King. "Although, being so cold-blooded, I doubt whether she even needed to."
Ariel looked down; ashamed of endangering her family.
Triton smiled and cupped her face in his hand. "It's all right, dear. Your heart was in the right place. You thought he was hurt and wanted to help. Next time, though; tell me about it first; okay?"
The girl smiled, and nodded. "Okay, Daddy!"
When the family got back home, everyone in Atlantica was there to welcome them with cheers and smiles. Captain Turbot saluted the King with over-seriousness, and announced that there had been no attacks on Atlantica while they were away,...thanks to his viligance.
Triton smiled and thanked his captain, just as Dudley waddled up.
"Wel,...come,...back,...your,...Maj,..esty."
"Dudley! I hear that everything ran smoothly while I was away! Good job!"
"Thank,...you,..your,...Majesty."
Triton patted the turtle on the back. "Okay, girls! Time to unpack!"
Arista jumped out and stretched with joy. "Ahhh! Wonderful warm water!", she cried. The other girls followed her, eagerly;.. glad to be home, and disappearing into the palace.
Only Ariel was left. She looked at her cyrstal necklace, then smiled up at her father. "Aunt Margaret is a really nice person."
Triton nodded. "She's a good sister."
Ariel looked back at her necklace and smiled warmly. "I hope we get to see her again."
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