PART 11
Arista

"Nobody appreciates me around here! You have no idea how hard it is
just being beautiful!" Adella sobbed. Aquata moved back a little, now she
looked unsure about this whole thing as well. Adella wasn't acting right. And
WHY did Ariel suddenly know all about Adella's jewelry? I didn't even know
for sure how many necklaces Adella had, and I've borrowed a couple! Nothing
was adding up here.

   "Adella," I patted her back, as if to consol her. "WHAT DOES THAT HAVE TO
DO WITH ANYTHING!?" I screamed.

Andrina looked at me, shocked. "Ok, you wanna know who's acting weird now?"
She muttered. I shot her an exasperated look.

    "I've had enough!" I announced. I faced 'Adella' "Listen, I don't think
you're really my sister....or you either 'Ariel'. You're both acting very
strange. If no one will believe me, then I'll just go get Father and show HIM
that cave and tell HIM about all this! Maybe nothing is there, but maybe
we'll find the sea witch. I don't know, but I have to do something." I
couldn't remember the last time I had been so upset. I was shaking all over.
I just had to be right. These two couldn't really be Ariel and Adella....


Ursula:

    This was too perfect! Now poor little Arista was getting upset! I
enjoyed watching the show.

    "Arista, dear!" I said, swimming over to her, "you shouldn't throw such
fits, you'll get wrinkles!"

    "I thought you were upset about your jewlery," Andrina said to me. "Oh!
Speaking of jewlery, Ariel! I love the starfish necklace you're wearing! It
looks remarkably like something Adella was wearing! Do you mean to say she
ACTUALLY let YOU wear it? Well I'm jealous!"

    *Oh no* "Andrina!" I screamed, as she examined the starfish, "get your
hands off MY necklace! I didn't give you permission..."

    "But it's such a pretty necklace! I wanna wear it!"


Adella

Andrina touched the silver starfish necklace around my neck, and I
felt possesive about my beautiful new jewelry.  "No!" I said, pulling
away.

Ursula, who looked just like me, said, "Get your hands off MY
necklace! I didn't give you permission!"

"But it's such a pretty necklace--I wanna wear it!" Andrina protested.

"Not after you put that seaslug in my jewelry case!" I cried out.

Everyone grew quiet and looked at me, their eyes wide.

"Ariel?" Andrina asked, cautiously.

"She's in the..." I started to say.  But a shock shot through me, as
though I'd been bitten by an electric eel.  It shook me down to my
fins.  I looked over at Ursula.  She mouthed the words as they came
out of my mouth, sounding like my littlest sister.  "Adella let me
wear her necklace since I helped her count them.  She's in the most
generous mood today..."

I felt like I was trapped in the body of a puppet.  Like that little
boy with the long nose Ariel said she'd read about in a human book.

Andrina crossed her arms across her chest and looked at me.  "Why are
YOU so upset about my little seaslug prank?  I put it in ADELLA'S
jewelry case, remember?"

"Well, offend me, and you're offending my dear sister," Ursula said,
putting an arm around me.

I tried to open my mouth to speak, but I just couldn't.


Arista

"Why are YOU so upset about my little seaslug prank?  I put it in ADELLA'S
jewelry case, remember?" Andrina huffed, shooting a look at Ariel. She was
right! I was getting more convinced by the minute that something was
definitely wrong with both Ariel and Adella.

  "Well, offend me, and you're offending my dear sister," Adella announced,
putting an arm around Ariel. Hmm. I had never noticed them to be especially
close before. Ariel looked uncomfortable. I was about to say something, when
we were all startled by Father coming in. Aquata and Andrina gasped and
whirled around in surprise.

  "Girls!" Father started sternly. "It's much too late to be making such
noise. We are guests here, remember?"

We nodded, staying silent. We hadn't noticed how late it was. I really wanted
to tell Father what was happening...but even I wasn't sure just what was
really going on! I still didn't know if Ariel was really okay, or if she was
still trapped in that cave. Was this an impostor? I had convinced myself that
the other mermaid was NOT Adella though. Would Father believe that? He didn't
seem to be in a listening mood now.

  "Sebastian just woke me up to report that my daughters we making a
commotion. I certainly hope the Duchess didn't hear you." He frowned. "I
think it's time you all went to bed."


        Triton:

    I held my head... the commotion was unbelievable!

    "GIRLS!"

    They kept arguing... obviously they hadn't heard me. I moved closer to
them. "Girls! It's much too late to be making such noise. We are guests
here, remember?"

    They all snapped around and looked at me... they heard me that time. I
waited, but no one was saying anything.

    "Sebastian just woke me up to report that my daughters we making a
commotion. I certainly hope the Duchess didn't hear you. I think it's time
you all went to bed."

    Ariel swam over to me, "Oh father... we're sorry. You know how we get at
times."

    I looked down at her and nodded, "Yes... you seem to find trouble when
there isn't even any around."

    "You're right father," Adella said. "We'll stop all the loud racket. I
just don't know what got into us."

    "Fine... but now, it's time for you all to go to bed."

    "Yes father," they all replied in unison.

    I turned and started swimming back to my room, but someone came up and
grabbed my hand. Turning around, I saw Arista. "Yes dear? Is something
wrong?"

    She clasped her hands together and floated there for a moment.
"Father... I think..."

    "Yes?"

    "I think something's wrong with Ariel and Adella."

    I laughed silently to myself, 'Kids.'

    "Arista... I'm sure everything's fine. You know it's late and you know
how everyone's thinking gets. We traveled all day and none of you have slept
yet... of course you're all going to seem like something's wrong."

    She looked at me pleadingly, "But..."

    "I'm sure everything will look much clearer in the morning. Now, I'm
going to my room and try to figure out an explanation in case all of you
have disturbed the Duchess... luckily, you all may have been out of range
since you wandered so far. If something else comes up, you know you can come
get me... but don't let your worries get the best of you. Good night."

    I slowly swam back to my room and thought about what all had been going
on.


Arista

I had always been a good little mermaid. I mean, I didn't get into trouble
half as much as Ariel! But for once I was really tempted to not do what
Father said. He was already swimming off to his room. Well, a lot of good
trying to talk to him did. I thought Father would help... maybe I could try
to explain more in the morning. I didn't think that we had been loud enough
to wake the Duchess. Her chambers were all the way on the other side of the
Castle!

I slowly followed my sisters towards the west wing. I noticed that Adella
looked a little lost until the others had started moving. Hmmm. Then, halfway
to our rooms Adella stopped and mumbled something about leaving one of her
bags in the chariot. She dragged Ariel off with her. I watched as they
quickly swam off. Should I follow? Before I had time to think about it,
Sebastian appeared in front of me.

  "Come along Princess. You an' your sisters need your rest." He said,
ushering me forward with one claw. I blew out a stream of bubbles, a silent
defeat.

Once in my beautifully decorated room, I found it impossible to sleep. I
floated around tracing the carved horses with my fingers, lost in thought.
Just hours ago we had all been hysterical about the possibility of a
merghost. Now I was worried about the well being of two of my sisters. I had
no idea what Ursula had planned... or what she was capable of. I just hope
that Ariel really had gotten away, and that Adella was alright. One thing was
for sure, I wouldn't figure this out tonight, not on my own. If only someone
would help me. I made a vow to try and get someone to actually listen to me
in the morning. Then I fluffed my sea sponge pillow and eased down onto my
bed. I might have a long night ahead, but at least I would be comfortable.


Ariel

How long had I been here? The cave seemed to be getting darker. The ice walls
no longer glimmered... instead they looked almost slimy. I was tired of
staring at them. To top off the fact that it was very cold here and I was
chained up, I had a 'merghost' for a guardian. Every time I struggled any he
would make awful faces at me. I knew he wasn't really a merghost, but some
kind of illusion of Ursula's. So why did he think he could scare me? Well, at
least the Melvin mystery was solved.

I twisted my wrists as much as I dared, trying to slip out of the tight
chains. No use. Would anyone even know that I was gone with Adella posing as
me? Arista might know. I *hope* she knows. If Daddy found out, I would feel
it. He would be so mad the sea would quake! Flounder! He would know that I
was gone. I was sure no double could fool him. The bit of hope I had was
encouraging.

  "So what is Ursula up to this time?" I questioned the ghostly figure.
Hmm.....ok. Apparently he didn't talk. I could tell he heard me though.
That's another thing, it was SO quiet in here. Too quiet! Hey, that's it!
Maybe I could sing my way out of this. It hadn't occurred to me before, but I
might be able to sing this guard thing to sleep. Then maybe I could escape.
That is... if apparitions sleep. Now, what was that song I'd heard my sisters
practicing? I skipped music rehearsals as often as possible, and now I could
slap myself for it. Well, I'll just improvise.

   "Home is," I sang slowly and softly. I had to get the right tone and
rhythm to lull my guard to sleep. I sure hope this works!

"....a place of warmth and wonder, home is,
the sea and all that's underneath the waves.
We splash and play, where angelfish roam.
And sometimes being home is,
a funny flounder swimmin', home is,
a group of guppies grinning.
Floating by, below the tide, you're never alone.
When ya look around and see a friendly fin, it's home.
Wishin' on a starfish in the sand,
or being in a private place that's all your own.
Home's an underwater wonderland..."

I noticed the merghost...or whatever, was drifting off. Yes! I kept singing,
but took the long awaited opportunity to try and break one of the longer
chains with my tail. But to my disappointment just then I thought I heard
someone coming....


Adella

Ursula, still disguised as me, took me by the arm and swam me over
towards the castle entrance.

"Listen, sweetcheeks," she said in her own voice.  "I'm going to take
care of a few things.  Which room is yours?"

I glared at her.  "I'm not telling you anything, you old hag! 
Daddy!" I cried out.

A shock shot through my body, and I wimpered in pain.

"Don't try that again," she hissed.  "Now go be a good little Ariel
and make an excuse if anyone asks about me...or should I say, if they
ask about YOU?"

She swam away, and I, almost against my own will, swam back to the
wing where our bedrooms were.  I swam into Ariel's haunted room and
looked in the mirror.  The bright red hair floating around me
surprised me--I wasn't used to looking like my baby sister.  The
silver starfish hanging around my neck sparkled. 

Flounder was right, I realized.  After he had gone crazy and tried to
attack us, I found the silver starfish.  He had said the starfish was
dangerous, and since I had put it on, I had been acting strange and
had no control over some of my own actions.  I reached around my neck
to take it off when another shock jolted me.

I couldn't help the tears as they mixed with the seawater.  I felt so
out of control.  Throwing myself onto the seasponge bed, I cried.

"Ariel?" I heard a soft voice say.

I looked up and saw Flounder floating in the doorway.  "What do you
want, you poor excuse for a shark?" I snapped.

His eyes widened.  "Ariel, what's wrong with you?"

"I'm not..." I was about to tell him that I wasn't Ariel, when a
warmth spread over me.  "I'm not myself today."

The words were not mine.  My mouth continued speaking on its own, "I
guess the ghost must have scared me.  I'd like to be alone, Flopper."


Alana:

"I guess the ghost must have scared me.  I'd like to be alone,
Flopper."  I heard Ariel say...  I wondered "who's Flopper?" 
Perhaps Ariel made a new friend since we've been at the
Dutchess' palace.  Then, I turned the corner and saw Flounder... 

"Hey, Flounder!  What was that?  Why'd Ariel call you Flopper?" I
asked. 

That was weird, but they're best friends.  It must be an inside
joke between the two of them.


Dylan:

I headed to my room, stealthly following King Trition through the
colossial maze of the castle.

I started to think about how odd Adella was acting. Something was
indeed wrong here. I thought it was something in the water. We've
been breathing it in and out of our gills since we arrived.

That would explain why Ariel saw a ghost in her room, and why Adella
was acting strange. But there was only one small problem,
hallucinations not destroy rooms, and Ariel didn't have a destructive
fin in her body.

Watching King Trition gliding down the hallway he seemed like was
acting normal, and had his wits about him. And I still felt like
myself. So what was going on?

As King Trition entered his room, I waited in case something was
wrong, even though I was only worked the stables, my loyalities
belonged to my King and his family, espically Arista.

No out of the ordinary sounds came from the King's Chambers so I
headed outside to the Duchesses Gardens.

Walking about the garden, I gathered some of Arista's favorite sea
flowers.

Going back into the castle, I passed two penguin guards, I nodded to
them. They squalked a brief reply.

I swam through the corridors of the palace, once I reached Arista
door, I touched the handle of the door, starting to turn the handle...

All of a sudden I felt a flipper on my arm.

**Translated from the Penginese **

<What do you think your doing?> The guard asked.

"I'm putting these flowers in my mermaid's room!" I whispered.

<Lady Arista has retired for the evening.> he gruffly replied.

"Can I place the flowers in her room?"

<No. No one is allowed in the Princess rooms!>

"Okay." I resigned. "I'll leave the flowers outside
of her door."

<That is fine.> he squalked.

I placed the flowers that the foot of the door.

"Good Night." I said.

<Good Night.>


I headed back out to the stables, where my room was. I didn't mind,
the night water might do me good.




Andrina:

    I headed to my bedroom when I noticed Adella sneaking out a side door of the palace. What could she be up to? Daddy told us to go to bed! No doubt she was on her way to see Dylan in the stables. She was not gonna get away with trying to steal Arista's boyfriend.

    I followed Adella, only to discover she was not headed to the stables, but to a cave out in the middle of nowhere.

    I watched as she went in, and almost shrieked in horror when I saw Ariel chained up. I tried to listen, but I could not make out what Adella and Ariel were saying.

    I waited until Adella left and swam in to help my baby sister, when I was startled by a merghost!



Pearl:

"Wow, it sure is boring here since Adella and her sisters left...
They *did* say that I could visit them if I could find some free
time, and I have all the time in the world!" Pearl thought outloud to
herself. She asked her parents if it would be OK to go visit her
friends for a few days at the Dutchess's palace, and they said she
could go for as long as she liked. So, Pearl packed her bags, and
went off to go be with her friends.

When she arrived at the palace, the guards escorted her to meet the
Dutchess, and from there she was given a room to sleep in, and was
then brought to her friends. The first one she greeted was her
closest friend, Adella. "Hey, I've missed you girls, so I thought I'd
come visit! What's gong on?" Pearl asked.


Adella

Flounder left and didn't seem to question why I had called
him 'Flopper'.  I hoped that he would realize something was wrong--
that the seawitch was controlling me with that cursed silver
starfish.  And when she spoke for me, calling him by the wrong name,
I was sure he would realize that something was just not right--that
Ariel wasn't herself.  Because she was me.  Or rather, I was her.

Oh, this was getting so confusing!

I tried to fall asleep in Ariel's bed, wondering if the merghost
would return.  I hoped not, because it had tried to push that heavy
ice book shelf onto Ariel before.  I had agreed to let her sleep in
my room, but I was now in Ariel's haunted room instead.  Maybe THAT
would tip someone off that something is wrong.

I absently swished my sister's green tail, and noticed that her fins
were a bit shorter than mine.  I missed my golden tail.  And I missed
my beautiful dark hair.  Not that Ariel's fiery red hair wasn't
pretty, I thought, twirling a bit of it in my fingers--it just wasn't
me.


Flounder:

"So, what am I going to do Sir?"  I asked eagerly.
    "If I could only directly help, I would.  However, the spirit world has its own rules and one of them is to never lift a hand to help the mortals just as it is forbidden to harm them.  Now, I trust you.  You have to think carefully." Melvin explained.
    "I don't understand.  And how could I trust you? Although I trust you already, maybe I shouldn't trust even though you trust me and I should trust you in return and I... Err- here I go again!"
    "Hahaha! You always make me laugh! I'm definitely going to love working with you! But what seems to be the matter?"
    "Mr. merghost," I started in a "professional" tone, "you see, my best friend Ariel almost got hit by that which killed you." I pointed at the huge shelf now on the floor. "And she was really really scared.  And she was positive that it was you who were behind all that.  That certainly wasn't a good joke just to laugh at! My friend never got..."
    "Oh that! That wasn't me.  That's why you have to figure all these out! A little help might be needed, but I know you'll make it! Solve the mystery!"
    "But..."
    "No more questions! We have little time left. Here goes...
        And just as evil like cupid, drew the
        bow of hex and shot a shaft deep into
        the heart of what may be the ocean's
        Medea, the golden nymphs played the   
        roles of Shakespeares' four lovers whose
        eyes were fooled and love redirected
        falsely.  During Medea's "Midsummer
        Night's Dream" all is false and nothing
        but Medea's craft is real.
       
    I will come back when time tells me to.  Do not fail me. Do not fail your dear friends."

    "Huh! Hey, wait! I don't..." I shouted but Melvin was gone.  Now, I have to solve this stupid riddle!  Sigh!  What am I going to do? I don't read books!   

*********
    Whew! I sure hope that Ariel's gonna be okay.  She looked really frightened after that merghost encounter with Melvin.  I've never seen Ariel so scared.  I can't even remember the last time she was afraid of anything.  I never thought spirits can be as deadly as giant sharks!  I wonder where she is now.

    I trotted (or more like dog paddled) around the palace looking for Ariel with all these thoughts streaming and clogging in my mind, but she was nowhere to be found.  Where could she be? All these have been really upsetting.  I had to find out what's going on.

    I decided to check out Ariel in her room.  The mere thought of going into Ariel's room where Melvin almost knocked off Ariel sent cold shivers down my spine! I never felt my hairlike fins get frozen and stiff like this.  Just then, I made the turn and I found myself in an instant at the far end of the hallway where the rooms of the princesses are.  There was Ariel's room, with it's door smashed by the trident.  I was sweating badly amidst cold waters.  I never knew fishes could ever perspire!

    "This is gonna be scaryyyy!!!" I managed to say out loud, seemingly trying to calm myself down at the same time increase my courage (if there's still anything left of it).  I stormed the room, eyes closed, my entire body quivering. 

    "Okay.  You're fine so far.  Nothing bad is happening.  Haha! You're okay Flounder! Now open your eyes, slowly.  Melvin can't be here." I said aloud, chuckling, trying to comfort helpless self.  I exerted every drop of bravery in me (and adrenalin too, just in case) as I opened my eyes... Suddenly, I was staring right into the eyes of Melvin! I screamed but nothing came out.  Melvin held me by my fins.  I couldn't move.  I struggled but he wouldn't let me go free.  It was hopeless.

    "Do not be afraid little one. There has been so many evil and mysterious things happening around the castle and I do not wish to embarass our family and our beloved Duchess by scaring our guests away.  I am here to help." the thunderous voice of melvin echoed in the room.

    I refused to believe him at first but when I accidentally glanced at his face, I saw the sincerity in his almost invisible but charming eyes.  I stopped struggling and he let me go.  I was still shaking but a little relieved.  I've never seen a real merghost before.

    "What can you do to help?" I asked.
    "No Floodder.  You should ask what you can do to help." Melvin replied.
    "Err- it's Flounder sir... I..."
    "Bwahahahaha! I really like watching you.  I've never seen a chicken swim before! Cockok Cock Cockoook!!! Waaaahhhahahaha!" Melvin's laughter filled the room that seemed to shook whenever he laughed.  It seemed though that this dangerous Melvin is just a ghost hanging around watching sea creatures     particularly those specially gifted with "guppiness" like me.  And though a bit of insult pinched my nerves, I started to like him as I found myself laughing with him.  I noticed one of the penguin guards pass by scratching his head, seemingly wondering what was going on.  He definitely couldn't see the ghost I was talking to because if he could, he would've zoomed away from the room.

    "Now," Melvin started, "Let's get down to business. You are going to be a real detective, little Phlunderr..."

***********
       "During Medea's "Midsummer
        Night's Dream" all is false and nothing
        but Medea's craft is real.  Medea...                         
        Hmmmmm..."
    I kept saying to myself what Melvin had said.  The words just don't mean anything.  Just then, Sebastian came swimming about.

    "Hey Sebastian! Uh- do you happen to know who Medea is?"
    "Oh, of course! Medea was believed to be the lover of Jason who was then trying to find the golden fleece.  She killed their children when Jason married another woman."  Sebastian stated as if he were a preacher and continued on his way.
    "That doesn't make any sense at all! Does that mean that there will be children killed today?! King Triton would definitely not do that to his daughters! And there is no such thing as a golden fleece.  How could anyone have believed that there is someway someone will be able to find that golden fleece?!" I blurted out, not knowing what I was saying.  Sebastian seemed to have overheard me.
    "Medea's some sorta witch. That's how she helped Jason in his quest."  Sebastian   
    "Huh!!! Witchcraft! That's it! I knew Ursula has something to do with this! But what? What is happening? I can't prove that Ursula is doing something evil when I don't know what she is actually doing! Everything seems normal, aside from Adella and the merghost that was Melvin but wasn't Melvin... Aaaaahhhh! This is getting crazier!"
    "Stop all that blather guppy!  You should know your history, which to humans is just parcels of mythology.  Remember the our king is the great great great grandson of the trumpeter Triton, son of the great god Poseidon and Amphitrite.  There were...."  Sebastian's preaching slowly disappeared as he went off farther and as my mind began keeping focused and busy on something else in the riddle that might explain what Ursula has been up to- Shakespeare's four lovers.  Now, that's not part of sea history.  I have to find someone who reads about human stuff! I have to find my best friend.
BACK