Look Before You Leap

by jerry533482

5 years have gone by since the events of TLM2. Triton passed away shortly after the wall was taken down, and Ariel is as protective as ever. But when she finally begins to relent and takes her daughter exploring beneath the waves, a series of events unfold that nearly claim Melody's life. But she survives, and is given the opportunity to change history. Updates every Friday. :)

2. Chapter 2

Chapter 2

Somewhere else on the other side of the ocean a deep ravine seemed to carve up the earth in an area that many considered desolate of most forms of life. The bottom of it was not like many other cliffs in this county in that it was visible instead of seemingly falling right into the earth. Very near the lowermost rocks but not quite all the way, the faintest signs of a resident just barely shone themselves in an obscured chasm. The deformity was in fact a front door.

Inside that dwelling a merman lived.

The innards of the cave behind the rock beheld the roughest approximations of rooms; a living room, a kitchen, and a bathroom. In the living room was an older merman.

He was inspecting a vat just in the center of the room. Inside was a mixture, composed of deceased sea creatures. Not very legal in these parts of the sea. He seemed to dislike the concoction; not because he pitied the ingredients, but because he considered it archaic.

In a silent stroke he left the pot and made his way into the makeshift kitchen, clearing some things from a "cupboard" in the wall. Behind the items and some stalagmites a jar of just barely glowing violet crystals shone themselves against the glass.

It was odd; hiding things in here even though the place itself was obscured. Even if he was found his mere presence out of bars was illegal enough for the jar to be harmless to him. Perhaps he did it in case of thieves or some other reason.

He returned to the living room with the jar, setting it down and trying to think again. His stare was interrupted by a polyp in the background on the floor. Normally he wouldn't mind it but the creature now seemed to sport an expression of insubordination.

"Stop staring at me you worm!" He screamed at the polyp. "You brought this on yourself by coming down here." His warning went unheeded as the polyp just continued its glare.

"You think you're tough?" The merman said menacingly, before reaching his grasp for a jar of glowing powder. "Very well. You will make a fine substitute for the lamp tonight."

Suddenly the polyp's expression grew into terror, and it tried to move away, but its rooting would not give.

"Let's see how tough you truly are," The merman declared.

Atop the canyon and a good 50 yards away there was a stretch of shells from the clam vine. Suddenly one of them popped to life and spoke to the one next to him.

"Ooo, there's rumors that a seaquake is coming!" The clam said to his friend, who in turn sent the message further along the line.

"Ooo a seaquake, that's bad!" Another clam even further down exclaimed. The message continued along the vine, for many miles.

All the way to Atlantica.

A/N:

I'd honestly have to say without reading Ariel's Melody I wouldn't have seen the necessity for a background chapter. Again I will refrain from spoilers, but this guy plays a part later on. Like, a BIG part.

I would also like to say that from here on I intend to reply to any and all reviews that I get; given the fact that I've seen other authors of exceptional taste do the same. :)

-Jerry533482