New Fish on the Block
I don't own Finding Nemo (sadly), but I do own this plot line because it takes place after the movie. Also, I own Teresa (Some of you may have noticed that in alot of my fan fictions the main female character's name is Teresa. That is because when I first heard this name, I loved it. Also, for me, the name Teresa represents female power, beauty, and an optimistic free spirit. Teresa may take on different roles and forms in my many fan fictions, but her personality will always remain the same.)
CHAPTER 1: Tragedy Strikes
It was warm Friday evening. The usual kind for Australia's Great Barrier Reef. The setting sun casted it's reddish-gold blanket on the shallow waters. Out on the open sea, the huge S.S. Pina Colada, partied down to funky "1, 2, Step" sung live by Ciara and Missy Elliot. The gathering was nothing more than a massive celebration for the birthday of the world's rarest, and most famous fish; Teresa. The ship was returning to America, after Teresa's big debut at a Sydney Exotic Fish Convention. As the planet's only known Pina Colada Clownfish, traveling from place to place was the norm for her. As the magnificent ship sailed on and churned the water, topside, Teresa looked down into the sparkling, clear blue water of the ocean, from her 20 gal. "traveling tank" positioned next to the boat's edge. She could feel the ship rock as it turned to go into deeper water and avoid the shallow reef. The sun shone down on her, warmed yellow body, and made her purple and white stripes glisten. As she basked in the sun's rays, she though about the sea.
"I wonder what it would be like to live in the ocean," Teresa pondered to herself. "Probably not as good as life is up here."
Meanwhile, beneath the surface, Marlin and Dory were returning from picking Nemo up from school. Along the way, Nemo told his father and friend about the day's events. About the lessons he learned, the tales Sandy Plankton fabricated, and the trouble Tad always got himself into. As they neared the reef, a huge shadow passed overhead. None other than the Pina Colada making it's journey home. Dory and Marlin took no notice of it, but Nemo stopped to observe the butt, uh, I mean boat. It's gigantic hull plowed through the water at quite an amazing speed for it's size. Inscribed on it's side was the letters; U-S-A.
"Usa? What does that mean?" Nemo wondered.
Aboard the ship, everyone was continuing to have a good time, and Teresa sustained her daydreaming state. As they say, "Those who don't learn from history are condemned to repeat it." Perhaps, if the captain had seen the movie Titanic, he wouldn't have the boat moving so fast. Either way, when the sharp coral "island" jutting from the sea struck the vessel, all 2,086 passengers screamed as they were thrown to the floor. Fortunately, the boat suffered no real damage other than some severe-looking scratches. More fortunately still, all the fish aboard the ship were required to be in "safe tanks" that were specially built just in case of such an event. All except Teresa, whose "VIF" status allowed her to be in the not-so-safe "traveling tank" on deck. Unfortunately, (You knew it was coming) this particular tank was held down by a single rope which snapped on impact. The tank was thrown over the Mahogany guard railing, sent plummeting the ship's height into the sea. Fortunately, (good news) the tank didn't shatter when it hit the water with a loud "Ker-splash". Instead, it slowly drifted through the water, and plopped on the sandy reef bottom, creating a small cloud of dust.
While the rest of the reef fish were startled by the thunderous collision of steel and coral, Marlin, Dory, and Nemo were more distressed by the glass "box" that had almost landed on them. Their worry intensified as the sound of coughing escaped it. When the dust settled, a pinned Teresa looked up at the faces of her "audience". Marlin, Nemo, and Dory stared at the bizarre fish. She was like nothing they had ever seen before.
"Hiya. Mind if I drop in?" She said trying to add some humor to her situation.
"Oh my goodness!" Marlin yelled, breaking from the trance of awe, rushing to her rescue, and attempting to lift the box to liberate her. "Dory help me!"
Dory continued to gawk at the newcomer for a moment, then swam to the other side of her, and lifted the box.
"Nemo, pull her out! Hurry!" Marlin shouted.
Nemo rushed to Teresa, grabbed her by the fin, and struggled to pull her free. With some effort they managed to save her.
"Thanks," Teresa smiled as she dusted herself off.
It took her a moment, but finally the reality of what had happened sunk in.
"Oh my gosh!" She screamed and swam for the surface.
When Teresa reached the top, she searched frantically for the S.S. Pina Colada. It was nowhere to be found. She started to twitch as the horror of being stuck out in the ocean forever struck her. She shook it off, and regained her composure.
"They'll be back," she thought to herself. "How can they leave in my ship, without ME!"
"Are you ok?" Marlin said, interrupting her thoughts.
He could sense something was wrong, and as much as he wanted to console her, he worried about the consequences of dealing with such a strange fish.
"Yes,……I'm fine."
"Well then, we have to go. Have a nice night."
Marlin, Nemo, and Dory swam off to their homes. Teresa was left alone in the darkening water. She watched as the last rays of sun disappeared from over the horizon. Then she dug out an entrance from under the upturned tank, swam inside, and situated herself in the soft sand.
"They'll come back," she comforted herself. "But if they don't,……… what'll I do? Well, there's no good in whining about it. I've watched enough episodes of Survivor to make it here in the……in the……wilderness."
With that she drifted off to sleep, still a little worried about what the next day may bring, but more than confident enough to handle it.