Aquatic Kingdom Hearts: the Rising of Atlantis

Chapter 2: Meeting with Daddy; the Big News

Port Royal

Port Royal Cove

Late Night

It was night as the waves lightly hit the sandy beach with the cool evening wind. The oceans were beating against the rocks that lay ashore near the cove that something in the water rushed towards the beach in the dead of night. As soon as the strange object reached the shore, it stopped midway towards the sandy shore. As the waves and the moonlight hid it from any sight at all, a strange yellow orb in the water that glowed in the water, and then finally died out. And then all of a sudden, something encased in shadow caused by the moonlight slowly wadded out of the water that looked like a human shape.

As soon as the shadowy figure stopped in the moonlight, it was finally revealed to what… or who it was. It was a sixteen year old girl, Caucasian, but with skin as white as chalk, slim but slender figure, with black hair that reached her shoulders and spiked a little, with one bang that covered her right eye with a white streak going down, and only her left lavender eye was shown. She was wearing only a black shell bikini, a small crablike medallion around her neck, a black pearl arm band on her left arm, as well as a silk black skirt that went down and covered her bare feet.

She walked along the beach sand, with much grace and mystery shrouding her origin. She stopped as soon as she was on the main road… that overlooked all of Port Royal's island town. She tilted her hip right and placed both her hands on her hips as she sighed in exasperation, "So… this is where I'm supposed to find the Darkblade Bearer?" She shook her head as she made for the town, "Well… I might as well check as soon as I'm set up here."

The Next Morning

Thatch Residence

As the sun went through the window of Ariel's room, the radio alarm on her clock sounded off. Ariel, as she moaned as she turned over from her comfortable sleep, groaned as she reached over and lightly pressed the alarm clock off. She then got up and sat on her bed, slowly stretching out the kinks in her neck and back. She looked out the window, seeing the sunny morning as she smiled at this day.

After they had gotten back, she went straight to bed and slept. She got up and was about to head for the shower, until she turned to see Eric's room. She smiled at the adventure that they had recently had, and the friends that had come along with them. She turned to look at Milo's old room, now converted over for Kida to stay in. since Kida had come over, they had a majority vote on who she would be staying with; it was either Frey's place or Eric's home. And considering that Frey would have been in question about letting a girl stay at his place by his dad, they thought it would have been easy if she had stayed over with them.

Ariel smirked, but then noticed as she saw Eric's door opened, and no one was there. She peered in as she asked, "Eric?" and then walked on in when she didn't get an answer, "Eric, are you there?"

The room was completely empty as she walked out and went into Kida's room to see if she was there. She opened the door slightly as she asked, "Kida? Are you in there? Sorry to wake you up but I was…" but then she noticed that Kida was gone as well. She thought out loud for a moment as she had a pondered look on her face, "Something's not right here."

She raced down the stairway to see if anyone was even at home. When she got downstairs, she noticed no one was there. That is until she heard some rustling in the kitchen; she walked right in there to see who it was until she stopped and slightly chuckled from what she saw. It was Dax doing what he usually did best… make a mess out of the kitchen, looking for clams.

He was currently on the counter, sucking down a bowl full of clam chowder. And from the looks of things, it was a complete mess as he stopped for a moment and belched out… loudly. It was then that he heard a round of chuckling coming from his side, and saw Ariel as he smirked, "Oh, hey Ariel. Didn't hear you wake up." He then looked around and nervously chuckled, "Eheheheh. Guess I should've cleaned up, if I knew you were gonna be comin' down here."

Ariel chuckled at this, "It's alright, Dax." But then she looked around as she asked quizzically, "Um… do you know where Eric and Kida are? They're not in their rooms when I went to check on them."

"Oh that." Dax muttered as he answered like it didn't matter at all, "The two just went down to the swamp for a little survival practice." He then scooped up the bowl and scatted over to the sink, "Eric said that he needed to get that Zeus Fist of his a slight practice workout before there was any more trouble to be a brewin'."

Ariel looked disappointed as she asked, "But why didn't they wake me up?"

Dax shrugged, "Guess 'cause you were a little tired from yesterday." But before anything was asked further, Dax then gave Ariel an interrogating look in his eyes, "Incidentally… you've been a little more chipper than normal lately." He then hopped up on one of the chairs near Ariel as he went into 'Dirty Old Man Mode' and lecherously smiled, "Soooo… what happened between you and Eric lately?"

Ariel paled at this, realizing that Dax might know of Eric's proposal. In truth, she wasn't sure if she should have told anyone about this; she knew that Eric kept it to the two of them, save for Jack Sparrow. She grimaced at that small realization; Jack Sparrow knew that Eric had proposed to her. This would mean bad news later on in the future, considering he had a habit of blabbing out… even though it would always be incoherent.

She sighed as she looked to Dax as she started, "Well, you see…"

But before she could go on with anything else, the two heard a knocking at the back glass door… or rather a thumping. It almost sounded like someone was trying to go through the glass door. Ariel raised an eyebrow as she walked over to the door, and was surprised who it was, "Oh, it's you…"

Swamp Forest

In the outskirts of Port Royal's town and beach, lay the Swamp Forest. It was a virtual rainforest on the island community; completely untouched by the East India Trading Company's builders. Most people thought it was cursed; maybe because it was, considering they heard the rumors of a certain Voodoo priestess taking residence in it. The forest was as old as the time the settlers had taken residence in it. Most of it was pretty much an obstacle course made from the trees and the vines. Making it the perfect place for a small practice battle.

Jumping from out of one of the trees, was Eric Thatch, dressed in his black and blue pirate outfit, with the Seablade on his back and the Fist of Zeus on his left hand all activated. He landed on the ground in a crouched position, but then amazingly, jumped back up in the air next to a tree as soon as a pair of gauntlet blades slammed right at where he once stood.

Kida, all dressed up in her Atlantean battle armor, which she had packed with her, jumped right after him. As the two were running back and forth, the power of their crystal pendants had strengthened them both. When Kida had caught up on one tree, she shot out three shurikens straight at Eric when he landed on a massive tree trunk.

However, Eric swatted them away with his left arm, encased in the Zeus' Fist. The Shurikens were sent flying off in different directions, embedding them into the trees that hit them. as soon as Kida threw another Shuriken, Eric jumped onto one of the enlarged and vine-covered boulders nearby. Unfortunately, that boulder was immediately lifted upward by none other than the Atlantean humanoid turtle robot, Wally.

Eric gulped, "Did not see this coming."

And then with all his might, Wally threw the stone as far as he could through the jungle, with Eric still on it. Eric moved to the side of the boulder facing back to Kida and Wally's direction, and balled up the Zeus' Fist. With one powerful punch forward, the rock began to crack with Blue energy, until it exploded, causing the force of the explosion to throw Eric straight towards the two.

Kida saw Eric being rocketed towards them, and then lifted her left forearm gauntlet at him. It fired out a powerful steel-wired net with hermit crab shell tips to lock them in place. Eric saw this as the net furthered towards him; at the last second, he pulled out the Seablade with his right hand. And with no time, but with a little clumsy movement from Eric, he sliced right through the net as it reached him. He still rocketed towards them as Wally balled his three-digit fist up and swung it right at him… that connected to the Fist of Zeus.

The impact had sent Wally flying off to the other direction and straight into a tree, shattering it into splinters. And before Kida could counter-attack, the Seablade was at her neck at ready. The two combatants looked at each other, steel-gazing on who would make the first move. However, that was interrupted as a familiar voice called out, "Aaaaaaaand… TIME!"

And the Frey walked into the half-destroyed area, dressed regularly for the day as usual. He walked over to the two, along with a dazed and dizzy Wally, as he took out a stopwatch, and clicked it off as he looked at the time. He smirked to the two as he stated, "Only fifteen minutes. Not bad on long-range attacks. Next time we'll have to see how long you'll last in a close-range combat situation."

Kida smirked as she took off her helmet and smirked at the two boys, "I am pretty sure that Eric will manage in time." She then smirked at Eric's success so far, "So far you have begun mastering the gauntlet at this pace if you could evade and block my attacks with it."

"Well, that's good news." Eric quirked out, but then paled as he saw his left sleeve. On it, was a small cut caused by Kida's gauntlet blade, and gulped, "But I think I'm gonna need a little more work."

"LOOOT MOOOORE.", Wally hummed and whirred out as he walked with the others. However, that earned a playful elbow in the side from the Zeus Fist as Eric lightly punched him, sending him skidding a few feet until he fell on to his side.

As they made their way home, Eric took out the Atlantean crystal pendant that the King had given him. Ever since he started wearing it, he felt energized in more ways than ever. "I still can't believe that this little thing is what's making me a lot faster and stronger during the past few days."

Kida smirked as she nudged Eric, "What do you expect less? My father did say that those who wear them are given power, longevity, and protection." However, at that last part, she looked a little saddened by the mention of her father.

Frey looked at the disheartened Atlantean princess as he asked in concern, "Kida?"

She snapped out of it as she tried to hide her sadness with a smirk, "It's alright. It's just that… well…" she then sighed a little as she truthfully gave up, "I guess I just miss my father."

Frey just sadly smirked at her, and placed a hand on her shoulder, causing her to look at him. He then said, "Don't worry about it. I'm sure he'd be happy about what's been going on back at home."

Kida smirked at him as she placed a hand on his, "I know." Eric smirked at the two, as did Wally who caught up to them, as they continued to walk back to Eric's place.

Back at Home

As soon as the four individuals had come back to the Thatch Residence, Wally immediately went into the garage. When they saw the door open to the garage, they saw that Wally had turned it into his own little room of sorts. To which he converted the work shelves into a sort of collection, to which started out as small for the moment. The three teens just opened the door to the kitchen as they made their way into the living room, only to be confronted with something else entirely.

Ariel smiled as she was sitting down in one of the lounge chairs, now fully dressed in her usual casual attire, "Oh, guys. You came back a lot earlier than I thought."

Eric nodded as he set the Seablade down next to the couch as he sighed, "Yeah, well we…" it was then that he stopped as he saw who was sitting parallel to his girlfriend, and future fiancé.

Sitting in the other chair, was a Caucasian teenage girl around the age of eighteen. Like Ariel, she was slender and slim, wearing a blue bikini top, a blue sash skirt that went down to her ankles, which she had on two sapphire blue ankle bracelets, and a blue arm bracelet on her upper left arm. But on her right wrist, she had on a dazzling golden bracelet that had a shell embroiled as the main piece of it, as well as a Trident inscription on it. She also had dark brown hair tied up in the back and held by a blue blowfish design hairpin comb, and had dazzling blue eyes.

The girl was taking a sip of a glass of ice water as Eric removed the Zeus Fist and his jacket, feeling a little confused by this whole situation. Sensing his awkwardness and confusion at this time, Ariel gained his attention as she smiled and made the introductions, "Eric… this is my eldest sister, Aquata." She then turned towards Aquata as she finished up, "Aquata, this is Eric." And smiled as she said the last part, "He's my boyfriend."

"And future fiancé, I believe I heard right." Aquata said, sipping at her water, obviously not as enthusiastic about this.

Eric, a little surprised by that, looked to Ariel with a raised eyebrow as he calmly asked, "You told her?"

Feeling a little nervous, Ariel pointed out to her right, "Well… not at first her…" and pointed to Dax, who jumped on the couch, as she sheepishly confessed, "He's quite the interrogator."

However, they weren't the only ones in the room to hear that fiancé comment. As they came into the room, Kida and Frey had both heard that little comment. As they entered the room and gained the attention of the four occupants, Kida looked to Frey and asked, "Fiancé? That word does not make sense. Is it French?"

Frey shook his head, also surprised by what he had just heard, but explained, "That means that Ariel and Eric are sort of engaged."

"They are about to combat one another?", Kida asked, still confused.

Frey shook his head, "No, that means that Ariel's been proposed."

"Proposed to what?"

"Marriage.", Frey finished, feeling that he wouldn't have been able to explain it any better.

After hearing that, Kida understood, and the look on her face at that moment was both happiness and surprise. As that was said, she rushed over to Ariel's side and hugged her dearly, surprising Aquata at that time. Kida broke the hug and congratulated Ariel on this 'proposal' to her dearest friend, "Congratulations, my friend. I wish you great Hapaku for you and Eric, and that you invite me, Frey, and everyone else to it…"

"Oh, we're not getting married yet.", Ariel cleared that one up, about to explain to them that they were planning to marry when they were eighteen.

But Aquata pointed out, "You're not marrying. Period." Before anyone shot out why, Aquata pointed it out… mainly at Eric, "Ariel, look at him. Do you even know what you're marrying? He's a human! A fish-eater! For all you know, he eats fish… probably our own kind, when your back is turned!"

Now Eric shot up as he stated, "Now wait just a…!"

"Aaand…!", Aquata stated, still not approving of this wedding as she distastefully pointed to Eric, "He's not even of noble birth." And then looked to her youngest sister as she set down her glass of water, "You know the Law: it must state that you be wed to a prince. A person of noble birth."

"I don't care, Aquata.", Ariel stated as she shot up, looking defiant and determined in her choice, "I love him."

Aquata turned her direction to Eric as he answered, "I'm not leaving her side on this, or anything else. I stand on my choice."

Kida stepped in, "And as Second Princess of Atlantis, I stand by my friends."

It was only after that, Aquata bolted out of her chair as she gasped, "Atlantis? You're from Atlantis?" And then turned her attention to Frey as she sarcastically asked, "And what are you? A Mer-eel?"

Frey just waved his hands in defense as he stated, "Hey, I'm just a normal guy in all this. I'm pretty much in this deep."

However, Dax pointed out as he rested comfortably on Ariel's armrest, "The facts of the matter, Princess Aquata, is that both Atlantica and Atlantis have a common enemy: the Sea Witch. If anything else, both of you need to put aside the petty differences and fears in the past and learn to work together. I mean, the youngest princesses are already best of friends here; you should learn from their example." And then he stood up, as he pointed to Eric, "And second of all… Eric here… ain't a commoner as you think. Since his uncle married to Kida's sister, both of whom are King and Queen of Atlantis…"

Then Frey pieced it together, "Then seeing that Eric's Milo's nephew, then that would make him…"

"A prince.", Kida stated, with a smile on her face, as did Ariel as they both realized this truth.

However, Aquata wasn't about let this happen on. She crossed her arms and defiantly looked at Ariel as she stated, "Well… if that's the case… then maybe we should take this discussion up… with Daddy."

Ariel gasped at that, as did Sebastian, who had scuttled into the room unexpectedly, but did hear that last part about seeing King Triton. Afterwards, he fainted straight down on the ground, clunking down on the ground, making the only sound audible as the toughest challenge would come to the teen couple's future engagement: meeting the girl's parents.

Later On

Atlantica

Triton's Palace

After a little convincing, and some volunteering from Wally, Dax, and including Sebastian, the two teens sought out with Aquata to Atlantica. After the trip through the West/East Current, they had made it to Atlantica without much of a sign of trouble or the Flying Dutchman at the chance of attack on anyone. As they made their way to the palace, Eric had been given a chance to overlook the magnificent world that was Ariel's home. The many sea creatures, the places that the Merfolk lived in, and even some of the Merpeople themselves.

They had bumped into Flounder, who was most glad to see Ariel, as they made their way to the palace. Eric, while in Mer-Dolphin form, stood or floated behind the gate door, with Flounder, Sebastian, and surprisingly, Dax and Wally, as they awaited what was going on behind the closed doors.

Wally was busy looking around the place, curiously exploring most of the artwork, the others were slightly brooding over. After Flounder had heard the news, he had made his congratulations to both Ariel and Eric, but now was worried more than ever. They were all worried on what the King's decision would be at this point.

Dax, sensing the mood at this point, swam on over to Eric as he plopped on his shoulder and reassured, "Ah, don't worry about it." He nudged Eric on the side, "Knowin' Ariel, I'm sure she's sweet talkin' her father into it."

Sebastian, who was overhearing this, scuttled over as he protested, "You don't know da King in dese situations, man. Even though he'd be ecstatic about one of his daughters marry… HE'LL FILLET US IF HE FINDS OUT EET BE WIT A HUMAN!"

"But what if he's not all that angry?", Flounder asked.

Then Eric shrugged at it as he stated, "Oh, come on. I'm sure he wouldn't be that angry about it." It was then that he got nervous and frightened looks from the three sea critters, and then realized that as he gulped, "Too much… I guess."

Throne Room

"MARRIAGE TO A HUMAN?", Triton shouted or boomed out, obviously not liking the news, "UTTERLY OBSURD! PREPOSTEROUS! WHY IT'S COMPLETELY LAUGHABLE AND INSANE!"

At this point, Triton was sitting, or rather right now, standing up at the throne, shouting out his dislike of what he had just heard. Before him were his seven daughters, including Ariel up front in her mermaid form. After hearing her father ranting over and over on how he disapproved of this future union, she had to voice out her reason before he said something he might regret. Or do something he might regret, remembering on what happened in her grotto.

She slightly swam forward and stopped a few inches from her sisters as she protested, "Daddy, I know you're angry about knowing this, but…"

"I'm not angry, Ariel…", Triton stated as calmly as he could to his daughter, until he erupted again, "I'M FURIOUS! Ariel I didn't send you up there to wed with a fish-eating barbarian, I sent you up there to be safe with someone I trusted!" He then mulled it over as he went on, "I only sent your sister up there, with one of the few Atlantican secrets to traveling on the surface, just to see how you were. After all, you didn't say or sent a word out to us for more than nearly five months now."

Ariel sheepishly scratched the back of her neck as she nervously smiled, "I'm sorry about that. It's just been a little busy up there. What with cursed pirates, and saving Atlantis…", but then gasped as she immediately covered her mouth from that small bit of information she let slip out.

Triton, on the other hand, went bug-eyed in anger as he heard those two small details as he shot up. He then furiously interrogated, "Are you telling me that while on the surface, you've been in constant danger? Even despite the fact that I've asked that human to protect you? Well have you?"

Ariel then merely shrugged, "Well… nothing… bad happened… mostly."

Triton just groaned at this as he explained as calmly and worried as he could, "Ugh. Ariel, I didn't allow you to stay with that human…"

"His name is Eric, Daddy.", Ariel insisted.

"Um… that human, Eric…", Triton corrected as he went on, "… just to have you put into constant danger with the Surface World. That, and the most disturbing news on you wanting to marry a human as well?"

Ariel shook her head, as she defiantly answered, "Daddy. Even if it's the surface or under the ocean, it'll always be constant danger. And it hasn't been always dangerous up on land; I've seen new places, and made so many friends up there." And then she shyly but feeling ashamed as to what she answered then, "And as for the marriage proposal. I… I haven't really given him an answer yet."

Her sisters looked at her, slightly in a mixture of confusion and surprise. Her father, on the other hand, had his eyebrow raised in uncertainty as he asked, "Yet… you were still planning to say 'yes' anyway. Am I right?"

This was answered by Ariel a little later as she nodded, "Yes."

Triton groaned at this as he stated, "Ariel. Even if he was introduced as a new Prince, he still lacks… "

"Lacks what?", Ariel interrupted, "Birth lineage? Refinement? Or is he lacking a real fin?" She shook her head as Triton turned his back to her, crossing his arms as she continued to plead to him, "Daddy, that doesn't matter to me in the least bit. I love Eric just for who he is; not because of his background or if he's human. And I know he feels the same way." And then she swam up to her father as she placed a hand on his shoulder, with his back still turned to her as she said, "And I'm pretty sure that it was the same way when you and Mom fell in love."

After hearing that last part, Triton's face went a little surprised at that moment. The girls didn't see it, but Ariel felt that she had struck something inside her father. Triton sighed as he turned around as he announced, "You all can go… " and then looked to Ariel as he stated, "But I wish to speak to the human… alone."

As soon as the girls came out, Ariel was left alone with Eric and the others. She had explained to them the small situation with her father wanting to speak with Eric alone. It was after much encouragement and courage that Eric was standing at the edge of the door, hidden from Triton's sight.

Behind him was Ariel, Wally, Flounder, Sebastian, and even Dax on his shoulder, urging him on. He turned around and gulped, "What if he… ?"

But then he was interrupted by a kiss on the cheek from Ariel, as she smiled to him, "It's okay. I know you and Daddy'll get along."

Wally stepped up and patted Eric gently on the back, "GOOD LUCK."

Flounder nodded as he gave Eric a thumb's up, "You'll do great."

Even Sebastian swam up to the boy as he placed a claw on the boy's shoulder and sighed, "Good luck."

Dax swam up to the boy, and just patted him on the shoulder, smirking, "Nice knowin' ya.", and then swam back to the group as they all glared at him.

But before he did, Eric told himself to reassure his resolve in doing this, "Okay, don't get freaked out. Relax. Just relax." He then swam over to Triton, with a calm and cool demeanor, but when he got to Triton, that completely disappeared. "YES?", he spoke in a high squeaky voice, but then cleared it up as he asked in his normal voice, "Yes, your majesty? You wanted to speak to me, sire?"

Raising an eyebrow at that scene, Triton shook it off as he went straight to business, "Yes, I did." He then swam on over to the side of the castle, overlooking the city as he motioned for him to swim over, "Come over here. Let's talk for a moment."

Eric swam over to him as they stood or floated side-by-side. it was an awkward moment as Triton finally spoke up, startling Eric slightly as he spoke up, still overlooking the kingdom, "My hatred for humans stemmed out from when I lost my wife. Aside from my daughters, she was the center of my world. Ariel was very young at that age, almost around seven years old; we were on shore on an island that had never been charted by the humans. However someone knew about it all the same."

"It was none other than the Flying Dutchman. They had overtaken and invaded the area, nearly wiping out all those there." Then King then frowned as he sighed sadly, "My wife… was unfortunate not to escape, going after Ariel, who was nearly taken by them." Eric was a little surprised by this, but then listened on, "She doesn't remember most of what happened that day. I haven't told anyone this… not even my own children." He then sighed sadly as he looked to Eric as he caught the boy's attention as he confessed, "The truth is… I just want my daughter to be happy. Nothing I've tried had any effect for her, but…. "

The King cleared his throat as for what he was about to say wasn't easy. But then he got it out of his system as he looked to Eric and stated, "I think any man who can place faith in someone who risks their own life to save others, can easily place it firmly to them." he then let out a small smile, "Until two years, before this wedding starts, or even begins to start… please ensure that my daughter is safe and happy. For that is all I wish for."

After hearing that, Eric let out a small smile nodded, "I will, sire."

But no sooner after, Ariel busted into the room, and swam up to Eric in a tackle-hug, nearly startling the two. She cheerfully giggled, "This is great!" And then looked to her father, "Thank you, Daddy."

The King smirked at seeing his daughter happy like this. But then he shook it off, going back to his 'King Mode' as he cleared his throat, hoping to change the subject, "Now, ahem. Just out of curiosity, Ariel… what exactly are you doing with a tattoo on the back of your neck?"

Ariel paled as she swore, "Oh, great." She broke the hug from Eric as the two seemed slightly embarrassed by that small question. Even Ariel tried to cover the small tattoo on the back of her neck with her hand. But seeing that her father knew about it, it was a little too late now. The two teens sighed at all this, knowing that this was going to be a long story to explain for now.

Next Chapter: New Girls on Campus; Trouble on the Horizon

Incidentally, if you're all wondering on how this strange girl and Aquata are able to go on land without the use of a magical bracelet, you'll soon find out. It will be explained in the next chapter.