PART 5 | |||||
Ariel "Flounder, what's happening?" I stared at the pained expression my best friend wore. "Father, help!" I cried. Flounder got a wild look in his eyes and his teeth suddenly grew big and sharp! I swam back a little from him, still not sure what was happening. Then Flounder lost it and charged at me. I did my best to avoid his clamping teeth. He turned away from me, almost looking scared, and then attacked everyone else. Anyone who got near him he tried to bite! My sisters scattered with shrieks of fear. I never thought I'd see any of them afraid of Flounder. I had to stop him before he really hurt someone. I quickly swam over to where he was and positioned myself in front of him. He had been charging at Attina. "Flounder please! Stop! It's me! It's us!" I pleaded. Whatever had happened to him, I was counting on part of the Flounder I knew to still be there. His response was to ram into me as hard as he could. Flounder seemed to have suddenly gained some strength. I was thrown backwards, doing a backwards somersault as I went. I plunged down...straight for a seemingly bottomless reef. I tried to swim out, only to be pulled back in by a strong current. Thoughts swirled through my head as I flailed my arms desperation to grab onto something. What had gotten into Flounder? Why was he doing this? Would someone help me? Was I going to die? As I was being sucked down deeper my right hand caught on some coral! I held on tight and yelled for "HELP!" Daddy and my sisters appeared at the opening of the reef. "Hold on Ariel! We'll get you out!" Daddy called. How? I wondered, looking up at them. They were probably a good 20 feet away. Then I saw that they had a plan. Daddy gently lowered Aquata, Andrina, and Arista down towards me. Each had ahold of each others fins, forming a mer-ladder. My sisters slowly came closer to me. As the current slowed I grabbed Aquata's outstretched hand. Daddy hurried to pull us up. We made it safely! "Are you all right?" Alana asked me after we swam away from the reef. She and Adella were by the Chariot, probably staying out of Flounder's way. "I'm fine." I breathed. "But...what about Flounder?" I looked over Daddy's shoulder to see Flounder, he looked normal now. "Now, what could have caused such a behavior in Flounder? Things are getting complicated," Daddy stated. Who would have thought an innocent trip to the Arctic would be such an....adventure? "Adella, nooooo!" Flounder suddenly screamed. I whirled around, curious. Then I caught sight of Adella, she was picking up a starfish, one that was a sparkly silver and had seaweed attached to make a necklace. What was wrong with that? I gave Flounder a strange look. Taking the panicked fish aside I asked, "Flounder, what's the matter?" "I-It's that starfish! That's what made me act so....crazy." He pointed a fin in Adella's direction. "Oh Flounder, that's ridiculous. You have tried wishing on as many star fish as I have, and it just doesn't work." I liked to believe it would work, but it never did. So why would it now? "This one does." He insisted. I watched Adella, wondering if maybe Flounder was right. Was it possible? Adella Before I realized what had happened, Flounder was swimming around like a maniac, his teeth big and sharp. For a second, I thought he was imitating the sharks, but then Ariel cried, "Father, help!" Flounder turned around and started charging straight at me. It wasn't funny--the wild look in his eyes scared me. I shrieked as I ducked behind the chariot. He swam toward Arista, his jaws chomping like a shark. I tried to motion for Alana and Aquata to duck behind the chariot with me, but they were swimming off in different directions. Attina stood frozen in shock and didn't hear me call her name when Flounder turned and faced her. Ariel swam between Attina and Flounder. I thought that maybe she could talk some sense into her best friend. I grabbed Attina's hand and pulled her away as Ariel pleaded with Flounder. "Flounder, please! Stop! It's us!" Attina and I ducked behind a mound of coral and looked just in time to see Flounder charge at Ariel with full force. He rammed her, sending her down a reef. "Heeelllpppp!!!" her voice echoed. I swam toward where she'd disappeared over the edge of the reef and felt a strong tide pull me toward the chasm. "Aaah!" I cried. Attina grabbed me and pulled me away. "Stay back!" Daddy ordered us, swimming cautiously to the edge of the reef. My heart was pounding. Was Ariel okay? That was a powerful tide--it almost sucked me down, too, and I was still at the top of the opening. I heard a frantic cry from over by the chariot, and I saw Alana trying to outswim Flounder. I swam as fast as I could and tried to divert Flounder's attention. "Hey, little guppy!" I said. He turned at started chasing me. I remembered what Daddy had done with the sharks earlier, so I swam into a bunch of seaweed and Flounder followed. It slowed him down enough so I could join Alana behind the chariot without him noticing us. A moment later, I saw Daddy swimming toward us, followed by the rest of my sisters, Ariel looking rather haggard. "Are you all right?" Alana asked her. "I'm fine," she breathed. She sure didn't look it, though. "But...what about Flounder?" I wondered the same thing. I hadn't seen him charge back out of the seaweed. Then, I noticed that he was floating right over Daddy's shoulder. He was calm, but he looked dazed. I still didn't want to be too close to him--not until I was sure that he was back to normal. I looked over at the seaweed and noticed a silver starfish. They were so rare! I went to pick it up and saw that someone had made it into a necklace. Who could have lost a necklace out in the middle of nowhere? It was so pretty, and the silver brought out the shiny glints in my midnight hair. I knew it was silly to believe in wishes, but as I slipped it on, I whispered, "I wish things would get back to normal." "Adella, nooooo!" Flounder suddenly screamed. My heart jumped, and I swam back behind a rock. I was scared that he would charge me again. Ariel pulled Flounder aside and started talking to him. Andrina swam over to me. "Oh, how pretty!" she exclaimed. "Yes," I told her. "Since I can't have the whozit to wear on this trip, at least I have SOMETHING new. And no, you can't wear it," I added. This was MY treasure, and I was going to keep it all to myself. "Come now," Daddy said. "We had better get going if we want to get to the Arctic before dark. We've had enough of these interruptions," he said, shooting a look at Flounder. "I hope Ariel talked some sense into Flounder," I told Andrina. "His behavior was not funny, and he almost hurt Ariel!" "Do you think Flounder was just joking around?" she asked me. I thought about that wild look in his eyes when he was charging around like a maniac. "I don't know, I hope so," I said. "Maybe it was just the change of climate or something." We all got back on the chariot, and I held the starfish hanging around my neck. I secretly repeated my wish that things return to normal. Adella I sat back in the chariot and we got underway. Daddy was steering the chariot pretty fast, trying to make up for lost time, I guess. Everyone was pretty quiet, probably still trying to calm down after what happened with the sharks and Flounder attacking everyone. Even Sebastian was unusually silent. I held my starfish necklace with my hand. It was special, I thought to myself. I had never owned something so rare before, and I let my imagination run wild. Maybe it belonged to a sea princess hundreds of years ago...Or maybe it was a magical starfish lost by some enchanted mer-fairy... "Adella, where did you get that?" Ariel asked. "I found it," I replied. "Take it off, it's dangerous!" Flounder said, a strange look on his face. "What do you mean, it's dangerous?" "I found it back there, right after the sharks attacked us and..." "YOU found it?" I asked him, skeptically. "You were too busy ramming mermaids with that shark imitation of yours." "But Adella, that starfish is..." "Is mine," I cut him off. "Don't try to tell me it belongs to you." I just knew Flounder was trying to claim it so he could give it to Ariel. She has her own human treasures, why does she have to have the undersea ones, too? "I found it, and I'm going to keep it." I told him. Andrina: Before we all returned to the chariet, I found a smalll seaslug. *Adella sure could use a good joke* I thought to myself as I slipped it into one of her suitcases. "Andrina!" Daddy called, ""We're waiting on you! Get back in the chariet!" I swam back into the chariet. "I was just...making sure the luggage was still secure," I said. "My make-up bag better not have been damaged!" Adella said. "Oh, it wasn't," I smiled. Ursula: As I saw Adella put the silver starfish around her neck, an idea occured to me. Flounder had become a mad shark when he put it on, but the effect was slightly different on mer-people.I could control Adella's mind and get her to do whatever I wanted. I decided I wouldn't do anything more until they got to the Countess's castle. Once there, Adella would be in my power. "King Triton will never suspect that I am behind one of his own family members turning against him!" I laughed evilly... Ariel We were pretty quiet most of the way to the Duchess's castle. The sound of water rushing around us and the quietness of our chariot must have gotten to Andrina, she actually fell asleep on my shoulder halfway there. I wasn't sure if she had gotten enough rest last night, so I tried not to distrub her. I was so bored that I finally borrowed one of Attina's books. I didn't read much of it though, I just looked at the pages and daydreamed. At least nothing else happened to ruin our trip. I knew how much Daddy needed this vacation....maybe we all did. So far it was more like a nightmare. I was sure all that would change once we made it to the Arctic. By the end of the long ride I was more than ready to get out and explore! "We're here!" I announced spinning around happily after I swam out of the chariot. The water was definately colder, but to me it was a welcome change. When I looked up I could see glaciers of all sizes near the surface. I wonder what the surface looks like in these parts. "Wow! Look at that." Alana pointed to the ice castle. "It's beautiful!" We had seen the Duchess's home before, but it was so long ago, time only made the place look more majestic. "It certainly is, almost looks like something out of a fairy tail." Attina added. "Uh, a little help over here?" Arista called. She was at the back of the chariot, struggling with one of Adella's bags. "I was trying to get my bag and THIS sort of FELL on me." Daddy quickly swam over to her, and took the heavy bag. "Arista dear, no need to strain yourself. The Duchess has servants." Then, as if on cue, several penguins came rushing out of the castle. They greeted us, then got right to work bringing in the luggage. "King Triton!" A female voice boomed merrily from the ice doorway. There stood the Duchess, wearing a flowing lavender gown. Only the tip of her tail and fins showed at the bottom. She looked a little different than what I remembered. Her dark hair now had gray streaks in it and her kind face had more wrinkles. "It's been too long old friend." The Duchess said, coming to hug Daddy. "That is has Duchess." Daddy told her, returning her hug. "My how your daughters have grown!" She exclaimed, looking us over. "So nice to see you all again girls. Come on in everyone!" The Duchess led the way inside. As I was swimming in I glanced back towards the chariot and was surprised to see Adella still over by it. "Adella?" I called, swimming closer to her. Her face had a worried far off look. "You okay?" "I guess, I just feel kind of funny." She said. "Hmm....well come inside, maybe you'll feel better." I suggested. Could it be the cold water that caused this change in my sister? Triton: My head was throbbing as I could see the castle up ahead in the distance. I was about to tell the girls that we were almost there, but they all looked so peaceful I decided just to wait till we arrived. As the chariot pressed onward, my mind ran over what had already happened... wild sharks, a crazed guppy, Ariel getting pushed into that reef.... what was going on?! I tried to push all of the worries out of my mind as the chariot pulled to a stop and we finally arrived. I turned to tell the girls we had made it, but Ariel was already opening her mouth. "We're here!" She shouted as she swam out of the chariot.. I eased out and felt the cool water surround my body. I leaned my head back slightly, taking it all in that I was on vacation... finally. Looking over, I saw Arista struggling with a bag. I took it from her gently and assured her, "Arista dear, no need to strain yourself. The Duchess has servants." Suddenly, the Duchess' penguins emerged, greeted us, and began to move our luggage. "King Triton!" I heard someone shout in the distance. Turning, I saw the Duchess swimming my way. "It's been too long old friend," she said as she embraced me in a hug. "That it has Duchess," I replied and returned her hug gently. 'Surrounded by my family, friends, and nice cool water... this was definitely taking a turn for the better,' I thought to myself with a smile on my face. "Come on everyone," the Duchess said as she spun to go inside. I looked around at the girls and saw Ariel and Adella still at the chariot. Maybe Ariel was telling her about the book she was reading. "You girls hurry along shortly," I called to them. "We don't want to keep the Duchess waiting for too long!" They waved in my direction and I swam inside. Flounder: Whew! This is queer. At one moment, everybody's shouting at me because, well, I'm the chicken of the sea. Now, not even Sebastian is talking to me. I really scared them, I guess. "Hey, Flounder! Cheer up! We're gonna have lots of fun here in the Artic," Ariel said, seeing me unusually quiet. "Thanks Ariel! Uh, I'm really sorry about what happened. I didn't..." "Oh, you don't have to be sorry for something you didn't do. That crazy shark-like guppy a while ago wasn't you." Ariel swam towards one of her sisters. Oh, well. perhaps Ariel's right. Gotta enjoy the vacation. But I'm still worried about that starfish, and about the sharks with their sharp, knife-like teeth, and what if I turn wild again and it wasn't really the starfish that caused me to be shark-like! But what if it's true that the starfish has an evil power!!! What would become of Adella?!!! "Snap out of it," Sebastian told me and made a signal for me to come along. He must be worried too. |
|||||
BACK |