The sun was hidden by the thick clouds as a flock of seagulls were flying overhead. Though it would seem merely impossible for them to see through the thick fog, the seagulls did not mind and just kept on flying. Below them, in the crystal blue ocean, a pod of dolphins were leaping several times out of the water, all while clicking and squealing with joy and delight. As the dolphins were swimming happily, they suddenly parted their separate ways from a crashing wave. Amidst the fog and clouds, a ship was sailing through the crashing waves. From atop the ship, a group of sailors were chanting a jovial sea chantey:

"I'll tell you a tale of the bottomless blue

And it's hey to the starboard, heave ho

Look out, lad, a mermaid be waitin' for you

In mysterious fathoms below."

From the bow of the ship, a young woman with wild and unruly ebony-colored hair stared out among the vast ocean. Her name was Alexandria, or Alex for short, and she was a princess from the kingdom of San Theodoros. Though her days were mostly filled with endless lessons, lectures, and teachings of how to behave like a proper lady, Alex would find one moment to have a day off as a princess and explore. She was often accompanied by her pets, a white terrier named Snowy and a ferret named Rascal.

Breathing in the windy air, Alex took a moment to stare out among the sea. "Isn't this exciting?" she asked. "The salty sea air, the wind blowing in your face…a perfect day to be at sea!" She then peered over to her butler Nestor, who was slowly leaning over the side of the ship. "Oh yes," he mumbled sullenly. "Delightful." "Ah yes. Excellent, excellent," Alex's right-hand servant, Professor Calculus, had said. "The sun seems rather pleasant on this fine day!" One sailor who was manning the deck gave a sly wink at Alex as she returned to the deck.

"A fine, strong wind and a following sea, eh?" he asked. "King Haddock must be in a friendly-type mood today." "King Haddock?" Alex asked, slightly confused. "You haven't heard of that old sea dog?" another sailor asked. "Why, he's the ruler of the merpeople, lassie. Thought every good sailor knew about him." "Merpeople, my right!" Nestor declared. "Alexandria, you pay no attention to this nautical nonsense."

"But it ain't no nonsense! It's the truth!" one sailor, who held a fish, said. "I'm tellin' ya, down in the depths of the ocean, they live!" As he had said that, the fish he was holding flopped out of his hand, flopping onto the deck until he was safely out of the ship. "Hoist the masts!" the sailors exclaimed, unfurling the sails. "Man the deck!" They continued sailing back towards the kingdom in the clear skies.

Below the surface of the ocean, the little fish took a second to glance back at the surface. Breathing a sigh of relief, he began swimming away.

As he swam, an octopus, who had been watching, joined the fish, followed by several other colorful fish. As the light of the sun shone down in the ocean, the fish seemed at peace. Suddenly, a young mermaid swam along with the fish. She was then joined by other merpeople, some of them men, others women. Even the youngest mermaids eagerly joined them as they swam toward their underwater realm, the kingdom of Merlantica.

Almost half of Merlantica was gathering at the palace for the king's annual royal concert. As every mermaid and merman gathered inside the royal court and ballroom, the lights began to die down. Soon, a light was shining on a blue fish, the court advisor, as he was swimming madly to the center. Clearing his throat, he announced, "Ahem…His royal highness, King Haddock!" soon, the whole ballroom erupted in cheers as their king arrived in a chariot pulled by dolphins.

The fish then began to make another announcement. "And presenting the distinguished court singer, Bianca Castafiore!" he announced. Soon, a solidly built mermaid, accompanied by a court of seahorses, entered to the mild applause. "Aye, I'm looking forward to this performance," Haddock said. "Oh, Your Majesty, I am certain this will be the finest performance ever conducted!" Castafiore gushed excitedly. "Your subjects—they will be absolutely perfect!" "Aye, yes," Haddock said. "Especially the youngest one, Tintin." "Yes, he has the most beautiful voice!" Castafiore said. Then she paused for a bit. "But if only he'd show up for rehearsals once in a while."

As Castafiore arrived at the center of the court, she then arrived at a stand near the center. After a seahorse presented her with a booklet of sheet music, Castafiore took a deep breath. After singing her signature aria, a conductor then began directing the band in a jovial tune. Soon, three arches sprouted up, with giant seashells. The seashells then opened, revealing the group of singers, King Haddock's subjects. They began to chant:

"Oh, we are the squires of our Majesty Haddock.

A great king who adores us and named us well:

Malina,

Hanna,

Enzo,

Benton,

Yan,

And Young Park!

And then there's the youngest in his musical debut,

Our seventh younger squire, we're presenting him to you,

To sing a song Castafiore wrote, his voice is like a bell,

He's our squire, Tinti—!"

And as the grand seashell began to open and reveal the concert's finale, the other mermaids gasped in shock. The seashell opened, revealing that their young squire, Tintin, was not there! Castafiore was easily the most surprised, gasping in shock and realizing that the concert was being jeopardized.

It was pretty clear that King Haddock was quite upset. He tried to contain himself, but to no avail. He blew his top, and in frustration, he screamed at the top of his lungs.

"TINTIN!"